#and sometimes external motivation helps so

[eternal-sunflowers]

💭 Steddie WIP Weekend 💭

my life is falling apart at the seams, but at least i still have my silly little wips ✌️

taking inspo from @yesdangerpls to get some writing done 💜

Send me an ask with any number of emojis associated with a fic and I’ll do at least 3 sentences per emoji. There's no limit to asks or emoji, so go wild! 💜

Options for this weekend:

🎭 : Apollo's New Muse (more of the blind date, prep before the date, eddie's history, scenes with nancy, just more in this world)

🔮 : Bring Me Back to You (steve time travels to save eddie's life. what happens when you mess with the threads of time itself?)

🌻 : Wildflowers (more steve and el sibling scenes, probably)

⏱️ : Untitled (steddie oneshot for microfic may, prompt: delay; who knows, but i need to write it)

tags of people who i think might help motivate me <3

@yesdangerpls @probablyin-bed @daisydayes @sunshine-daydreams0809 @sofadofax @creeper-with-a-heart-of-gold @adverbally @saramelaniemoon

[britneyshakespeare]

Man is saying weird things to me again

[bitepire]

It feels strange, we've been planning the trip to visit our boyfriend/dom and it feels like this is the first time I've really gotten to make plans for things that I want to do, rather than just tagging along to the host's shenanigans. It's... kind of overwhelming. But it feels really good to have someone asking after me and making my desires a priority. Damn.

[alexisinnocent]

I don't really like the debate about Duke Thomas on if he's the "normal one" or "just as crazy" as his siblings because it's based on a false dichotomy that limits Duke's characterization in a fandom that already doesn't really know where to place him. The long story short is that Duke is like his siblings which is to say he does whatever based off of his sense of morality and he often has no scale of normal human behavior.

I'm pretty sure that the idea of him as the normal one comes from Wayne Family Adventures. (Though if this predates it in fandom please let me know). WFA chooses to play into his newness to give insights into the dynamics of Wayne manor and the larger batfamily.

I don't necessarily think this is a bad choice. I'm pretty giving to adaptations because it's hard to summarize 80+ years of comics into an easily digestible form. However, it was clearly written by a team who didn't have much insight on what to do with Duke outside of that, so his newness and uncertainty become his characterization and by extension him being the "regular one" in the family. The fandom that hasn't engaged with Duke outside of WFA run with that.

Which leads to jokes, skits, and fics where Duke is not only misrepresented but underrepresented. In a family filled with weird people with distinct dynamics what's the new, normal guy to do but sometimes stand in a corner and throw in a responsible one liner.

As a response people get frustrated with Duke's lack of inclusion in fics, skits, and jokes, so they bring up all the things that prove he's just as wild as his siblings (such as getting shot and thinking it's cool or jumping out of a cop car though my personal favorite is when he breaks into the iceberg lounge). However, without context this still isn't Duke. He doesn't just do insane things for the response he has a very clear characterization.

Duke is a child genius who has a huge problem with authority, primarily motivated by helping his community (though in the time between his parents disappearance and goign to live with Bruce he is a bit of an adrenaline junkie as a coping mechanism).

So, if we revisit some of the actions listed above:

Duke gets shot and thinks it's cool: This is Duke in his peak adrenaline junkie time, when he's riding the high of We Are Robin and all the potential negative consequences of superherodom haven't settled in yet. (This is also the period of time when he's getting into fights and is a bit of a playboy).

Duke jumps out of a cop car: This is Duke with his problem of authority (particularly cops) especially when they are trying to stop him from doing what he thinks is right. In this case, stopping him from We Are Robin duties. (This is also why he sneaks out of his foster homes looking for his parents).

Breaking into the iceberg lounge: This is peak Duke. It's him using his genius intellect to crack open a case and because he refuses to ignore it when he can help chasing the lead himself. It's also a little bit his adrenaline junkie sense as he's absolutely more reckless when there's a lot of external pressures.

TLDR: Duke is not the normal one. He's also not just a series of his wildest actions. He's a 16 year old, who wants to help the world and his own way of going about that, wether that's within or outside of our conception of normal behavior.

[maryrouille]

Toxic romanticization of studying

In a word of introduction, my profile partly shows that studying and exploring is wonderful. But as a person involved in science*, I would like to show healthy and true patterns of this beautiful adventure in acquiring knowledge.

The inspiration for writing this post this time was not the phenomenon from Tumblr (although you can also observe it here), but from Pinterest. There you can come across cycles composed of quotes and photos whose aim is to motivate young girls to learn, succeed and get good grades. These images often also show examples of characters from movies, TV series or real life that you can aspire to be like. Overall, I have to agree that it really works! But I would like to draw attention to certain elements that need to be verified.

1. You shouldn't get up at 5am

First of all, the correct amount of sleep is one of the most important factors affecting the proper and effective functioning of our brain. During sleep, nerve cells regenerate, organize information acquired during the day and consolidate memory traces, which is directly related to learning. Lack of sleep increases impulsivity, deepens negative thinking and slows down the body's reaction time!

2. You can be a genius without good grades

Of course, good grades are a pleasant confirmation of our knowledge and praise for hard work. However, sometimes it is worth considering whether the structure of exams themselves, especially those with closed questions, affects the results. We often study for one specific exam, the knowledge of which may be very… limited and sometimes not useful, so it is worth prioritizing the topics that we study hard.

3. It's not cool to think you're better than others

We are different and have different priorities in life. It is also worth considering how many people escape from the rat race and start a slow, stress-free life. So we have to agree that judging people based on grades or responses under stress (sic!) is not cool.

The good thing about romanticizing studying

As I have already said, these types of collages are really motivating. So let's talk about what's great about them and what's worth highlighting and saving for later.

1. Knowledge is beautiful, but your outfit and surroundings can also be

We know that we should never judge a book by its cover, but… the issue of social perception painfully confirms that we do and will continue to do so because this is how our brains work. And isn't it nice when someone looks at us and thinks this girl is so classy?

Moreover, a nice outfit that makes us feel good gives us a lot of self-confidence. There are also many studies confirming the positive impact on motivation and concentration of a neat and aesthetic workplace.

2. Not just cramming, but also discovering

Broadening your horizons is easier with passion and real commitment. And to achieve this, the topics must really interest us. Not everyone has yet found something that they are extremely passionate about in science, so that is why you have to dig deeper and discover different areas.

3. Don't be afraid to use your knowledge in practice

Schools and universities, unfortunately, have their own rules and they do not always allow you to show your 100% potential. Thus, share your knowledge with others externally, write essays, blog and social media. This form of activity also makes you learn things faster and easier. In addition, contacts with others will expand your knowledge.

Therefore, I must say that it is worth choosing your inspirations carefully. Nothing helps you enjoy studying better than a clear head and lack of prejudices.

*This post was inspired by my own experience with studying. If anyone is interested, I think I can share my mistakes that did not help me in an academic adventure :)

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Tips for writing about dark romance and gothic romance?

Writing Notes & Tips: Dark Romance & Gothic Romance

Dark Romance - Another crossover genre, dark romance takes the feel-good romance genre and makes it horrific. While this subgenre can simply include morally questionable characters and a grittier tone than most romance, it can also include:

kidnapping,

forced confinement,

BDSM,

psychological and physical abuse, and

sexual violence or sex where there is no consent.

Bear in mind that it still needs to include the tenants of romance stories, though.

This genre can produce some very controversial books and themes, so it’s essential to proceed with caution – especially as a first-time reader.

Writing Tips: Dark Romance

Embrace the taboo (with trigger warnings). Controversial elements and themes, like forbidden love, obsession, betrayal, and manipulation, are common in dark romance books. Readers expect them and often seek certain character dynamics, so if you want to write a romance novel that goes right past sweet and loving into the downright taboo, do! Embrace the darkness. But handling these themes with sensitivity and respect is essential – and a fine line to walk in this specific genre. You can hire a sensitivity reader who specifically reads this type of romance or make sure your professional book editor knows about and considers these in their edits. 

Create complex, wounded characters. Dark romance thrives on complex, deeply flawed, multi-dimensional, and polarizing characters. You need complicated character motivations, inner demons, and personal struggles (that they often lose). They should be hard to like and easy to hate. It’s what makes for the dark content in the first place. If you want to know how to write dark romance books, you need to focus extra time on the character arc. We recommend using a character bio template to get this right. But keep in mind that you don’t want your character to necessarily “outgrow” the taboo or dark elements, as if they’re wrong. They can outrun their demons, but those demons don’t have to be the fact that they’re into BDSM (this audience in particular will not take kindly to the idea that BDSM is something to outgrow). The point of dark romance books is that these elements are the norm for these people.

Master the art of creating (sexual) tension. Proper pacing helps with this a lot, but the tension also has to come from plot devices. This genre especially uses the story’s conflict to create a sense of urgency and passion. You can do this for your book by including external obstacles like societal norms, family opposition, or internal struggles like emotional trauma, self-doubt, and conflicting desires. The push-and-pull dynamic between the protagonists heightens the emotional stakes and adds depth to the romance.

Invest time and thought in the setting. The setting of a story always plays a significant role in creating the mood and tone. The scenario or setting can often be what’s taboo. Or you choose a setting that enhances the dark and brooding atmosphere of the story, like a fantasy underworld, decaying mansion, a haunted castle, or a forbidden island, evoking a sense of foreboding and mystery. On the flip side, if you really want a challenge or to swing the other way, choose a setting like a beach or a ski retreat to set the story. You’ll have to work extra hard to set the tone, but the jarring nature of the story with a bright, happy setting can make your book more interesting.

Go into the deepest depths of human emotions. Emotions are confusing, can be contradictory, and sometimes completely unwelcome. This emotional intensity—delving into the deep emotions of love, lust, desire, and pain—is a primary part of dark romance novels. Take time to describe and highlight your characters’ raw and visceral emotions as they navigate their complicated relationship. The deeper you can go, and the darker, the more invested a reader will be in your character. Again, ensure you include any advance content warnings for the depths you’ll be exploring.

Make the plot purposeful. The real answer to, “what is dark romance?” means understanding and acknowledging the morally questionable subject matter while still recognizing that there is a plot. Sure, there are many books that are more smut than plot. And while some readers certainly enjoy this, others truly want a good story to go along with their dark romance read. It’s not just about the romance. To maintain the tone and genre style, focus on plots that explore themes that either go with or completely contradict the romantic content you write about.

You should be willing to push the boundaries of societal norms.

And be prepared for potential backlash.

For this reason, many dark romance authors decide to write and publish their books under a pen name or with ambiguous titles.

Including trigger warnings in your dark romance book

Dark romance books can be highly triggering and even traumatic.

Not everyone may know what your book is about by the cover.

So authors of dark romance should consider including warnings for sensitive topics and themes that may disturb or trigger readers.

We suggest trigger warnings for the following:

Graphic violence or gore

Sexual assault or abuse

Self-harm or suicide

Substance abuse or addiction

Mental illness or psychological trauma

Dubious consent or non-consensual situations

Depictions of unhealthy relationships or emotional manipulation

Explicit sexual content

Death or mortality themes

Themes related to abuse of power or control

Including trigger warnings allows readers to make informed decisions about whether the content is suitable for them and helps prioritize their emotional well-being.

Gothic Romance

Gothic Romance - a genre of literature that combines elements of both romance and horror, set against a backdrop of dark, often historical settings.

It's characterized by its use of gloomy, mysterious environments, supernatural elements, and complex, often tormented characters.

The narratives typically explore themes of love and passion intertwined with fear, mortality, and the macabre, creating a uniquely intense emotional experience.

The Gothic element of romance is the inclusion of horror, mystery, and the supernatural as central components within a romantic story.

This element creates a tension between attraction and fear, often exploring the darker side of human emotions and relationships.

Settings like haunted castles, remote mansions, and other foreboding environments are typical, serving to heighten the sense of suspense and emotional intensity.

Writing a Gothic Romance Story

Set the Tone. The atmosphere in Gothic Romance oscillates between the chilling whispers of dread and the warm embrace of passionate love. It is an exquisite blend of melancholy, mystery, and a touch of terror, creating a unique emotional experience for the reader. The genre's tone invites us into a world where the line between fear and desire is blurred, and where the darkness outside mirrors the turmoil within the characters' souls. This nuanced emotional palette sets Gothic Romance apart, offering stories that resonate with the complexities of the human condition.

Possible Themes to Include. The theme of Gothic Romantic literature typically revolves around:

the exploration of forbidden desires,

the conflict between good and evil, and

the psychological depth of characters facing extreme situations.

It often delves into the complexities of love, fear, death, and the supernatural, examining how these elements interact within the human experience.

Themes of isolation,

madness, and

the grotesque are also prevalent, offering a profound commentary on the nature of human existence and the boundaries of societal norms.

Character Archetypes to Include. At the heart of every Gothic Romance are its characters—each archetype playing a crucial role in weaving the intricate tapestry of the story.

The Brooding Hero: Often a figure shrouded in mystery and tormented by a dark past, the brooding hero embodies the conflict between darkness and redemption. Despite the shadows that cling to him, his deep, often hidden capacity for love makes him irresistibly compelling.

The Ingenue: Typically young and innocent, the ingenue is thrust into a world filled with secrets and danger. Her journey is one of discovery, not only of the mysteries that surround her but also of her own strength and resilience in the face of adversity.

The Byronic Hero: Charismatic yet flawed, the Byronic hero is marked by intense passions and a disdain for social norms. Driven by a troubled past, he challenges the ingenue and the reader to explore the depths of love, redemption, and the duality of human nature.

Together, these archetypes and the genre's distinctive tone create narratives that are as thrilling as they are emotionally rich, offering readers a deep dive into the dark, yet ultimately redeemable, facets of love and the human spirit.

Tropes to Consider. Gothic Romance thrives on a set of recurring themes and tropes that form the backbone of its narratives. These tropes, ranging from haunted settings to forbidden love, play a pivotal role in shaping the genre's distinctive atmosphere and plot dynamics. Below, we delve into 5 main tropes that are quintessential to Gothic Romance, exploring how they contribute to the genre's allure and depth.

Haunted Mansions/Castles. The setting plays a crucial role in Gothic Romance, often acting as a character in its own right. Haunted mansions and castles, with their hidden passages, secret rooms, and ghostly presences, are more than just backdrops; they mirror the complexity and secrecy of the characters' lives, serving as a metaphor for the human psyche's hidden depths.

Damsel in Distress. While traditionally portrayed as vulnerable and awaiting rescue, the 'damsel in distress' trope in Gothic Romance often undergoes a transformation. These characters evolve from mere victims to resilient survivors, challenging traditional gender roles and highlighting themes of empowerment and inner strength.

The Byronic Hero. A staple of the genre, the Byronic hero is a complex character marked by dark secrets, a troubled past, and a disdain for societal norms. This archetype adds layers of moral ambiguity to the narrative, compelling readers to explore the blurred lines between good and evil, attraction and repulsion.

Mystery and Suspense. The essence of Gothic Romance is sustained by an atmosphere thick with mystery and suspense. From the unraveling of family secrets to the discovery of forbidden knowledge, these elements keep readers on the edge of their seats, eager to explore the shadowy corners of the human heart and the unknown.

Love Beyond Death. Exploring themes of eternal devotion and the supernatural, the 'love beyond death' trope adds a poignant layer to Gothic Romance. It challenges the finality of death, suggesting that love can transcend the grave and bind souls across the divide of life and death, adding a deeply emotional and sometimes spiritual dimension to the narrative.

Together, these tropes weave a rich tapestry that defines Gothic Romance, engaging readers with their complexity, depth, and emotional resonance. Each trope not only serves to enhance the atmospheric tension but also to deepen the exploration of love, fear, and the human condition.

Quirks of Gothic Romance. These can include the pervasive use of symbolism—where storms, darkness, and decay mirror the tumultuous emotions of the characters—and the blending of terror with romance, creating a juxtaposition that heightens the emotional impact of the narrative. Another quirk is the genre's exploration of taboo themes, such as forbidden love or the supernatural, inviting readers to question societal norms and delve into the darker aspects of human nature.

Your Ending. The conclusions of Gothic Romance stories are as varied as the tales themselves, ranging from tragic to redemptive. A few common ending types:

Tragic Endings: Some Gothic Romances conclude with a sense of inevitability, where the fates of the characters are sealed by their actions or circumstances, leaving a poignant commentary on the human condition.

Redemptive Endings: In contrast, other stories may offer a glimpse of hope or redemption, suggesting that love and virtue can prevail even in the darkest of times. These endings often involve characters overcoming their inner demons or external challenges.

Ambiguous Endings: Gothic Romance also embraces ambiguity, leaving readers pondering the fate of the characters and the true nature of the events described. This open-endedness can add depth to the narrative, encouraging readers to engage with the story on a deeper level.

Sources: 1 2 3 4 ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

You can find more details and book recommendations in the sources. Hope this helps with your writing!

[shadowmor]

Mc is not fluent in Japanese part 2

Idea/summary: The Mc/Reader is foreign and knows just enough Japanese to express basics ideas (almost A2 level).

Part 1

-> Hotarubi & Sinostra house

✋️Obviously, this is not canon. Just a scenario idea

Kusanagi Haku

He already had some doubts about you being from outside Japan before interacting, but he quickly confirmed it.

"No, I'm not taking you to a clinic. Yes, to Darkwick, do you know it?"

But instead of seeing you searching on a search engine, he noticed that you typed the institution's name (incorrectly) into an online dictionary. Oh.

"No, Darkwick is an academy."

"Ah."

Before saying goodbye when you were taken to talk to the teachers, he briefly asked what your native language was. – You only understood the reason behind the question when he greeted you in your native language the first time you entered the Hotarubi house.

He studied some greetings (lazily) in case he saw you. If being cursed was already horrible, imagine not being able to express yourself the way you want?

Even if it wasn't much, Haku thought that by learning your language, you would feel less lonely and scared.

Besides, he noticed that his pick-up lines go in one of your ears and out the other since you don’t seem to understand unless it's in a literal sense.

"..."

"..."

"You didn't get it, did you?"

"I just didn’t understand the comparison between me and spring."

"Of course..."

Don’t be surprised if he throws a pick-up line at you in your native language —somehow, he sounds quite fluent in that aspect. (Maybe the color change on your cheeks and ears when you hear it is part of his motivation to practice more.)

Overall, Haku is a great teacher. Extremely patient with your mistakes and playfully teasing in a way that doesn’t make you feel mocked.

Oh? Speaking to me in such a casual tone... are you implying that we are actually closer than I imagined?"

Haku hates working more than necessary, let alone studying. But well, he won’t say no to a study date with you.

That is, until he realizes that you two weren’t the only ones in this study session. He looked at you strangely as you brought the Frostheim newbies.

"Maybe I misunderstood, MC. Wasn’t it just the two of us?"

"Is there a problem?"

"No, not really." It was.

He also learned to say your name correctly on the first try, just like Tohma.

Haku seems to know a mix of languages, from the most well-known to those he selected out of personal interest (yours made it onto the list).

Subaru Kagami

Although I sometimes doubt that Subaru's external personality is completely genuine, I'll write assuming it is.

At first, he didn’t realize you were a foreigner. Like Alan, he vaguely thought you just weren’t good with words. – For a moment, he felt identified.

But doubts arose when you two started communicating directly. A few pronunciation mistakes here and there, confusing text messages, and the fact that Haku always greeted you in another language made him suspect.

"Hm."

"What’s wrong, Subaru?"

"If I'm wrong, please don't take it personally, maybe I misunderstood. MC, are you from another country?"

"Yes"

Subaru quickly joined the study group, even though he firmly stated that he wouldn’t be very helpful, but demonstrated the complete opposite.

He is a great teacher, simple and direct in explaining grammatical sentence structures or the meaning behind some kanji simbols.

Studying with him is always nice because, in the end, fresh tea and some cookies are ready for your break.

He rarely corrects you outside of study hours, and when he does, he always seems reluctant or annoyed with himself.

If he’s with you and someone misunderstands you, he’ll try to clarify the situation.

Subaru already wanted to study your language to get closer to you and make you feel more comfortable, but what really pushed him was hearing you murmur in your native tongue —he found the intonation so beautiful.

Certainly, it would be a shame if you couldn’t speak in such an expressive way.

Like Alan (again), he prefers learning directly, but to avoid being a bother, he also studies through other resources. – Haku brought some textbooks he found in the library.

He only mispronounced your name twice.

Zenji Kotodama

The best of the best 🙌

He thought it was just a peculiar way of your speaking, but he admires that you went to another country despite not being fluent.

Although his songs may seem a bit confusing, they actually help you correct your pronunciation because he enunciates each syllable slowly.

He sometimes follows you around the academy to keep you away from trouble caused by your lack of comprehension.

"No, no, no, gal! This young man understood something else! Repeat after me so he doesn’t get confused."

He asked you to sing in your native language—he found it nice and tried to imitate it. (It sounded more like phonetic gibberish.)

Now you've been admitted to work with Haku in managing Zenji’s posts!

Congratulations, you're now responsible for adding subtitles to his video-songs in your language. The more people who understand and appreciate the meaning of his words, the better the world will be, right? He needs to touch more hearts.

Zenji is better at explaining the meanings of symbols than strict grammar, but he's still good.

"Oh, my dear. It’s not this, it’s this here. Write it again."

He pronounces your name in an overly dramatic way

He doesn’t mind if you speak to him casually (even if it’s by mistake).

When he accompanies you to the library, you just need to point at a symbol, and he will express what it means. (Maybe his metaphors confuse you, but he will try to be clearer if he notices your confusion.)

---------------------‐----------------------------------------------

Taiga Hoshibami

You almost got grazed by a bullet when you spoke informally to him upon entering the casino for the first time.

Interacting with Taiga is a bit unsettling —one moment, he's laughing at your funny way of speaking, and the next, he’s pressing a gun to your forehead, ordering you to speak properly.

He doesn’t correct you; he genuinely enjoys watching you mess up. Sometimes, he pretends not to understand just to see you desperately trying to replace the word you used.

You might end up being subconsciously registered in his mind as the girl who speaks funny. (Not a good thing. If your Japanese improves, he might pull out his gun again in your next conversation. Better be known as the kitten.)

He might start pointing at objects, waiting (forcing) you to say their names with your flawed pronunciation.

No, he still doesn’t remember your name. If he already struggles to remember the honor student’s title, imagine a foreign name.

Like Subaru, he heard you murmuring in your native language and immediately asked you to speak like that while using your thighs as a pillow. But don’t try saying anything funny—Taiga is extremely sharp to know when someone is making fun of him.

If someone mocks the way you speak while he's around and still remembers who you are, someone’s going to need medical attention. It should only be funny for him.

Taiga seems to know other languages; he might know yours, but I highly doubt he’ll speak it with you—unless he has a real reason to threaten you.

Romeo Lucci

The audacity you have to speak to him so casually using his first name.

Romeo likely knows other languages, being a noble businessman that he is.

He knew you were foreign at first glance and pronounces your name correctly after hearing it once.

You were truly an annoying thing—not just because of your writing mistakes in the reports, but also because even after he explained abbreviations, you still seemed confuse.

"You are such a WOE!!"

"..." Just from your expression, he knew you didn’t understand.

"Waste Of Effort!!"

Yet, there was that same blank look—how the hell did you not get it, even when he patiently explained?

If he knows your language, he might make a slight effort to communicate about necessary matters using it — like Kaito’s routine or about a mission

His corrections always come through frustrated sighs or yelling.

Yet, he somehow always returns your reports corrected, helping you understand what symbols you got wrong.

Ritsu Shinjo

He possibly knows other idioms —a lawyer must be aware of their client’s needs in any circumstance! How would he defend someone without understanding what they’re saying?

He still has your audio response to his question about you being a foreigner (why).

If he has time, he will join your study group. However, he already corrects you in any communication you two have.

Ritsu corrects you directly, pointing out the mistake and the solution. He doesn’t really care about how he’s explaining things or whether you feel embarrassed—similar to Jin in that aspect. Why are you embarrassed? He’s helping you.

As his business partner, your communication must be clear, objective, and efficient.

So, if he doesn’t know your language, he will find ways to learn it. You found it amusing that, just because you’re his associate, he spends nights studying your language. (And he doesn’t understand why that surprised you.)

Despite his "lawyer-like" demeanor, Ritsu is very helpful. He gathers books for you, ranging from basic to advanced Japanese.

He mispronounced your name a few times (maybe three in total).

.

.

.

Sorry, maybe i did wrote too much. Please forgive me for any grammar mistakes TT

[talonabraxas]

“At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.” ― Lao Tzu

Galactic Sun Center Talon Abraxas

Saturn in Aries 2025-2028

Saturn moves into Aries on May 24, 2025, where it will remain until September 2, 2025. During this window of time, we will get a brief glimpse into the lessons and gifts of Saturn in Aries. Saturn will later return to Aries in February 15, 2026, where it will remain until April 14, 2028.

Saturn moving into a new sign of the zodiac indicates the opening of a new generational cycle that can help us to level up and reach a new point of mastery. Saturn is considered the Lord of Karma, and tends to press on areas of our lives that we need to step up and take greater responsibility for.

Saturn highlights where we need to do the most growing and encourages us to rise up and take ownership of the life we want to lead.

In Aries, Saturn will be guiding us to work on our impulses, the speed at which we do things, our level of confidence and motivation, and our willingness to take leaps of faith and start new things.

Saturn’s presence in Aries may create a feeling of inertia, stuckness, and even a lack of confidence, but this is only to bring these qualities out from deep within us.

Let’s take a deep dive into Saturn’s journey through Aries, and what we can expect.

Saturn in Aries 2025-2028

Aries is the leader of the zodiac. It is fast-moving, loves starting new things, and relies on its impulses. Saturn, on the other hand, is all about moving slowly and steadily in order to achieve its goals. It is calculated and risk-averse. It wants to understand the ins and outs before moving ahead.

Saturn in Aries could definitely slow things down and put a dampner on all the new ventures or projects we wish to pursue. Saturn will want to enforce boundaries and restrictions and make sure we are following the rules to the letter.

Impulsive Aries may struggle with this notion. Aries is a risk taker and wants to leap ahead into new, unchartered territory. It is bold and confident and believes in itself. Saturn will push the pause button, and its cautious nature may even instill some self-doubt.

While this sounds like a challenging dynamic to work with, there are many gifts that this energy dynamic can bring.

Gifts of Saturn in Aries

In Aries, Saturn will be teaching us to sharpen our instincts and impulses. If we have been too rash, headstrong, or impulsive, Saturn in Aries will help to temper this so we can better listen to our instincts and intuition.

Saturn in Aries may slow us down and deflate our confidence for a period, but it will also get us to focus on finding a deeper strength and inner self-worth. We will have to dig through the layers to access new portals of confidence and self-determination. We may find that we are able to shed confidence that comes from our ego, or from external validation, and instead find something purer and more unwavering.

By the time Saturn is wrapped up with its journey in Aries, we very well could feel a new, mature confidence in our abilities and what we wish to achieve. We may feel that we know ourselves better and have found a new strength from within.

Saturn in Aries can also narrow our focus, helping us to align with projects and ventures that truly serve us. Aries energy can sometimes be scattered and erratic, causing us to spread ourselves too thin or uncertain of what to be a part of. Sometimes, Aries energy is good with starting projects but not following through.

Saturn will help with this by allowing us to follow through and bring new projects and ideas to their completion point. We may find projects or decisions that we begin under this alignment have a greater chance of standing the test of time as Saturn will implore us to put in the hard work and stick it through.

Ultimately, Saturn in Aries will allow us to feel more grounded, more aligned, and more in tune with our impulses and intuition. It will also give us the stamina to follow through on the new ventures or leaps of faith that we do take.

Saturn in Aries Themes

On the world stage, Saturn represents authority, law enforcement, and rules and regulations. In Aries, we could see a fiery rise in support of or against these areas. There may be more unrest or distrust when it comes to how the law is enforced. Long-standing laws and regulations may also be challenged.

Aries can bring combative energy, which may resist or try to go up against Saturn’s more grounded and practical nature. Aries will want to fight and can cause heated emotions to rise, whereas Saturn will want to take a more methodical and practical approach.

Saturn will not give much room to entertain the heated emotions of Aries, and will instead want to follow logic, structure, and order.

Saturn in Aries can also help societies to create more sustainable products and ventures as we use the innovation from Aries coupled with the grounded, responsible nature of Saturn.

We may start to notice a greater push towards sustainability and supporting businesses and practices that consider the long-term consequences.

Saturn in Aries may also slow down the emergence of new innovations in favor of innovations that have a tried and true past. There may be a resurgence of the “old ways” of doing things, and people may be more willing to wait rather than receive instant gratification.

Saturn and Neptune in Aries 2025-2026

As Saturn enters Aries, it will hover close to Neptune, coming to an exact conjunction on February 27, 2026. Saturn and Neptune touring Aries together is a very rare dynamic that will color our experience of both these transits.

As mentioned already, Saturn is about structure, rules, and boundaries, but Neptune is about dissolving, dreaming, and feeling. These two planets coming together will help to melt away some things but reinforce others.

We may find that Saturn is able to give more structure to our spiritual ideas and help us take a more practical approach when it comes to our creative visions.

Saturn and Neptune can be a somber combination, helping to expose the harsh truths of life. But it can also lead us to a greater spiritual connection and understanding.

[rederiswrites]

I wrote this out for FB and then thought I might as well share it here as well. So if you have ADHD, are a late-diagnosed adult with ADHD, and most particular if you are a person with a uterus and/or have children, this one might be for you.

...

Last couple of days have been a little...weird. Let's start at the beginning. Buckle up and learn something.

As many of you already know, I have ADHD. It's a condition with a PR problem--a lot of people, often even medical professionals, have a very distorted idea of what it does, and a very limited one. For starters, it's not about parenting, or lead paint, or lack of discipline. It's genetic, *highly* heritable, starts in childhood and persists throughout life, and is a sufficiently severe disability that it comes with a decrease in life expectancy of up to 13 years. It is a visible difference that can be perceived in brain scans. These are all, at this point, well established and thoroughly attested in the scientific literature. ADHD affects up to 5% of the population and appears across cultures. It is very common.

It's not just about lack of attention--in fact, plenty of medical professionals think the name should be changed, as in fact the problem isn't the volume of attention but the way we struggle to direct it. We are motivated by interest, and struggle to properly weight future goals and consequences, specifically because they are in the future. If the robin outside the window is more immediately rewarding to our brain, we will watch that, and not the teacher. Our ability to properly weigh the consequences of that choice is negatively impacted by our own biochemistry.

We struggle with many of what are termed the "executive functions", the self management systems of the brain. Degree and presentation varies from person to person, but initiating tasks, completing tasks, staying ON task, restraining impulses, emotional regulation, and working memory are among the things impacted. My working memory is notoriously horrible. When they send you those activation codes on your phone? I often have to go back and read them out several times to enter a six digit number. I have to stop and remind myself what I'm doing between every step of my morning bathroom routine, or making tacos. Sometimes I take off my glasses to put on my contacts, reset, and reach for my pill bottles while I still can't see. My long-term memory is also affected, with my husband de facto serving as the memory-holder of the family.

Another common symptom I personally experience is "time blindness", which can mean both that you have no "internal clock" that has a clear idea of the passage of time, and that our ability to properly weight the importance of things in the future is impacted. So, for example, I can know intellectually what's coming, but it takes some really complex and exhausting antics to actually focus and work on those things if they're more than a week or sometimes even a couple days away.

Without externally imposed controls, many ADHD people flounder and fail to meet social markers of success. Estimates of how many ADHD people manage to complete college range from 5% to 15%. Again: 5% to 15%! I have failed twice myself. WITH externally imposed controls, ADHD people often have to work far harder to make their brains do what is required, and either fail and develop an image of themselves as failures (usually with plenty of external help), or keep fighting and suffer crippling burnout.

To that point, ADHD is HIGHLY comorbid with a whole range of knock-on conditions, some of which stem from the same brain patterns that give rise to the ADHD itself, and others from the trauma of living with a disability, but they include very high rates of depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia, social isolation, and addiction. I have dealt with depression, anxiety, and fibromyalgia my entire adult life. I have never ended up in the trap of self-medication but let's be real, that's partly about having supports and a healthy social environment. It's not some accomplishment I praise myself for, nor is addiction a sin I shame anyone for.

And anxiety has a very different texture to it when what you're really anxious about is the next time you fail in some catastrophic way. Lock your keys in the car. Completely space on a doctor's appointment. Go to pay for groceries and find that your wallet is next to your computer at home. Because the anxiety is not irrational fear of some generalized bad thing. These things do and will happen, regularly. Sometimes it feels like the only fix is getting good at recovering. Because no matter how many times you manage not to blow it, there's always another chance.

So, the struggle to be a reliable person, to be a consistent parent, to be a dependable life partner, is continuous. And it is so so so hard and it sometimes feels like you're not actually making any progress at all. I have tried therapy. I have tried three (or four??) different non-stimulant medications that sometimes help people. One of them DID help. ALL of them had catastrophic side effects. There were times as I was trialing these medications when I needed to be minded because I wasn't capable of taking care of anything, not even myself. Without Jacob, I don't know where I'd be. Not here. Probably in poverty, which is where he found me.

I have tried probably most organizational tools you know of. I have tried imposing schedules, all of which turned to dust and ash when the next fibromyalgia flareup or the next major life disruption happened. I don't think a new schedule has ever lasted a month before.

I HAVE felt like I'm made progress lately. I learned things that really helped my fibromyalgia, which gave me the space to work on other things--just like getting the borders of a puzzle finished. Enough things were spiraling upwards, and I think I might be cementing some gains. I have felt optimistic.

But in the meantime, I asked my doctor if, now that no less than three cardiologists have insisted my heart is Perfectly Healthy, I could finally try stimulant medications. After decades of use, Adderall, Ritalin, and a couple related stimulant drugs are still the gold standard for ADHD treatment and improve outcomes substantially for many people. And stimulants are in serious international shortage. Have been for many months. The only one she thought she could get me was Adderall. And she didn't dare try anything but the standard 30mg because nonstandard dosages would be even less attainable.

So now I'm taking Adderall. One week on 30mg, which I stopped when it was clear my function was being seriously impaired rather than improved. Reassessed with the doctor, now trying 60mg, because that's two of the pills I've already managed to obtain. It is....too much. And in some ways it fixes problems I wasn't working on, while so far making my executive function, my initiation or even *contemplation* of tasks, virtually nonexistant. Which was, of course, the thing I was trying to fix.

So yeah. When you have the context, I figure you can understand the substance of my frustration yourself. If you have children, I don't think you need my help to imagine what it would be like to know that you are unpredictable, or to see that your children are used to to you undergoing events that make you act strangely and erratically. I think just knowing that often, new medications introduce themselves by giving me a migraine, and I know this is possible when I take that first pill, is fairly self-explanatory. And so I expect you can imagine what it would be like, with all of this as a backdrop, to experience worsening of your symptoms, probably because of age-related hormonal changes. To in desperation try something you'd previously been denied. And to learn that it probably won't help.

In a week, I will either give up on Adderall for now or find a way to make it work. I'll put together the pieces yet again--at this point, possibly my strongest personal skill--and continue that upward climb as far as I can get. I'm incredibly fortunate in that regardless, I will be fed and dry and warm and loved. But right now, I feel justified in some serious dismay.

[velnna]

Can I ask you how you motivate yourself to draw so often? You seem to post quite often and have a comic and all sorts, I aspire to have that level of drive so any tips would be appreciated 🙌🏼

I just have a lot of ideas and scenes and sources of inspiration all the time so I never really run out of things to work on. Sometimes I burn out a little on a specific task (or comic or whatnot) but since I have multiple things to tap into all the time I just try to context switch and do something that's more fun at the moment to get the spark back

Drawing fast definitely helps too because it means each idea is relatively quick and effortless to execute, so I don't feel discouraged when thinking about starting something (and since I finish most drawings in 1-2h I also frequently get a sense of accomplishment that feeds into back my motivation

(If you browse my "tutorial" tag there's a couple of posts on how I got fast and became comfortable with drawing, etc)

Aside from that it just has to do with how obsessive I am, how I balance my workload and the fact that art is my job so I have a lot of external and internal factors pushing me to draw. I will say one thing I rarely do is force myself to work on something I don't feel motivated to (if I have a choice). I think walking away from art and doing other things that bring you joy when it's not working out can be a very effective way to deal with burnout tbh

[otaku553]

What advice would you give to someone who's been drawing for a really long time, but is always frustrated and burned out?

This became quite long, so I'm going to go ahead and put it in a read more!

If you’re frustrated and burnt out, it can help to pinpoint why it is that you feel that way— for me it’s often that I’m unsatisfied with the level I’m drawing at and feel I can do better, or I know I’m getting stuck doing what I know and am comfortable doing but it doesn’t feel like enough. Other times it’s externally motivated, such as finding my pieces aren’t doing so well anymore on social media.

If you fall into the habit of drawing and don't want to stop, I find studies to be the most helpful. This can be anything, but I like to usually draw on photos and reality. I would specifically recommend realistic studies to people who do a lot of rendering and coloring, because it's a gateway into starting to observe reality around yourself and picking out how to draw what you perceive on a daily basis from just looking at the world.

Studies are, in essence, going back to how many of us learn how to draw: copying. I think this is a really good way to feel proud of your work again while also feeling a concrete sense that you're improving! Because when you copy something, it gives you the muscle memory to replicate it again when you need it, like a clothing fold or a specific perspective or pose, or the way light reflects off of something.

This is versatile too: you can focus on drawing any object, maybe isolated clothing folds or accessories, or drawing hands, or maybe doing quick figure drawings. You set the parameters for this yourself, and come up with something that helps you grow as an artist or feel good about your art as needed.

Another way to combat dissatisfaction with your art is to discover something new to love, such that the desire to see this thing drawn overcomes your dissatisfaction. Watch new things! Play new games, maybe draw a character you've never drawn before. The funniest and probably best advice I've seen before on consistently drawing is to become obsessed with one guy and draw them all the time for years. I do subscribe by this! My interests are in flux usually but you can often find individual characters that I take a liking to and keep on drawing until it becomes second nature. When it doesn't feel fun anymore, I find another one.

And that's where the third one comes in: sometimes you have to give yourself time to find a compelling reason to draw again, to fall in love with your own art again or fall in love with someone else's art and want to honor them with your own. It's difficult to draw when you're forcing yourself to draw and staring down a blank canvas, but it's a lot easier when you're in the middle of doing some work or something and the thought of a character or something makes you just want to put down everything if even just to scribble them on a post-it-note, right? Passion ebbs and flows and sometimes you just have to trust that it'll flow back to you in time, even if you can't predict it.

I hope this helps, and I hope you're able to find reasons to love drawing again. :)

[opbackgrounds]

So Oda's doing the thing here where he has a character spell out another character's entire motivation and development, and while that can at times be a sign of bad writing, here it works really well. Franky's in some deep denial here (ironically kind of like how Usopp was when they had their conversation about the Merry) and needs to hear what Iceburg's saying. And again, it's more effective because it's Iceburg who's saying it. Their history has been so fraught, but they're still brothers.

It doesn't hurt that the message itself is so, so important. Franky undoubtedly contributed to Tom's death, and everything he's done since then has been a form of self-punishment trying to atone for that mistake. But that's not what Tom would have wanted. It's not anything Iceburg or Kokoro or anyone else demanded of him. The only thing keeping Franky from living his dream is a cage made of his own guilt.

One Piece is a series that prioritizes freedom above all else, but the road to that freedom is usually blocked by what seems like insurmountable obstacles that can only be cleared with the help of others. Sometimes those obstacles are external, but just as often they're internal barriers that prevent characters from pursuing their own happiness. And for all the issues Iceburg and Franky have had in the past, this is what Franky needed to hear in order to unlock that cage and live his best, freest life.

[auset66]

How to get out of this stuck feeling? 🍓🏡 (tarot)

1. Blue girl 2. Sleeping girl 3. Green girl 4. Cat girl

2. Sleeping Girl 🛏💤

If you are looking for a sign that if you should go for that obviously very unrealistic goal yes go for it. You do have it in you and you sure can do it. Here it is as simple as to get your routine kicking and do things you are passionate about develop hobbies and just trust yourself. Talk to friends go out and yeah that's it just believe in yourself. I feel you are an ambitious and hardworking person you don't need motivation that much from external sources to go for something you want.

3. Green Girl ☘️🍃

I feel you are just confused jack of all trades. You are confused so that's why you are doing nothing cause what to pursue what to put time and energy then? Yeah so first of all you can actually pursue all these things all at once yes even if they seem obviously clashing one wants medical study and other wants engineering study type of situation, yet you can yes pursue it all (everything's on youtube). Secondly start writing your feelings everyday and re read it everyday even it random shit just write down your feelings everyday like a dairy it will help a lot to give your dreams and hobbies a shape which is what you are lacking right now. Also Pay attention to your dreams they might also help a lot to see what your subconscious really wants.

4. Cat Girl 🐱🥐

So I see you want to talk to either this one person or just want to talk to people be out there but your own thinking about yourself is keeping you from doing it. You are assuming things right now without any proofs. It's kinda sad. So for some it could be that you did something bad in past or it's just your own thinking about yourself that you feel you will just mess up either way or you don't deserved to be talked to all of it is keeping you from people as whole or that one particular person but either way finally doing it will help. Take the lead whatever Will happen atleast you won't feel this stuck up and you know this Choked up guilty feeling so yes first of all just have the courage to speak your truth and follow it like you always do.

[randomasfuk]

Absolute Insanity

Jason Todd

I was tagged in a fic rec post and it gave me motivation to write another but I didn’t have a clue what to write so I shit you not I looked up fic ideas on Pinterest and going ware the wind blows me on this one so if it’s shit blame the wind and people saying I make good fics bc have an unhealthy need for external validation.

Jason was, without a doubt, a dramatic fool and a complete lunatic. Despite loving Bruce to death though he’d never admit it, he lived for spiting the man as much as humanly possible. And now, he had come to you with one of his ridiculous schemes, teetering on the edge of outright begging for your help.

Well, no—he had actually come over to eat your entire kitchen, play Mario Kart, and talk shit. A shared pastime of yours, and one that was never boring. Whether it was him burning a pizza that you then had to resuscitate while he watched in awe, or the two of you trash-talking each other within an inch of your lives, there was never a dull moment. Even your deeper conversations—deep for Jason, anyway—had their own rhythm. You could talk about your opinions, your thoughts, your experiences, and he’d do the same. But when it came to his past, that was where he struggled.

Not you, though. You trusted him enough to tell him everything, and he listened—not with pity, never pity—but with a quiet, obvious sympathy that you deeply appreciated. If you were drinking, those conversations sometimes led to him squeezing your hand, and occasionally, a hug that lasted a little too long. Not that you minded. His embrace was intoxicating, and though he’d never admit it, he didn’t want to let go either. But he only got that affectionate when he was drunker than he’d ever usually allow himself to get, so it was a rare comfort, one you weren’t often graced with.

You probably knew more about Jason’s past and how he truly felt than most people ever would. And you never judged him—no matter how twisted his thoughts could get, you understood. After all, who were you to judge, given your own past and the darkness you carried? Jason never judged you either. He wasn’t good with feelings, but the way he looked at you told you everything: nothing but sympathy, and maybe anger—but never at you. No, that anger was reserved for the people who had hurt you. Primarily your father.

What you didn’t notice in his eyes, however, was the adoration hidden beneath the surface. And the ridiculous request he was making now only made it harder to see.

Jason had technically made up with Bruce—to a degree—but he was still far from happy with him. So, naturally, his next course of action was to irritate him in every possible way. And this, apparently, was step one.

He was lounging on your couch, while you stood in front of him, arms crossed, thoroughly unimpressed by whatever big idea he was trying to sell you on.

“It’s just for one weekend.”

“Would you just do me this one favor?”

As if you hadn’t put your ass on the line for him more times than you could count.

And then came the part that actually hurt. His grand plan—the brilliant scheme that was supposed to drive Bruce insane—was pretending to be your boyfriend.

Of course, it wasn’t just that. His entire strategy was to get under Bruce’s skin with small, calculated irritations that would eat away at him slowly—things Bruce wouldn’t be able to call out because, A) it wasn’t technically his place, and B) it wouldn’t be worth risking his semi-functional relationship with Jason. And step one? Inviting you along on a weekend trip with the family, where Jason would introduce you as his girlfriend.

And you knew why he picked you.

Because you were a freak, even by Bat standards.

Ex-rogue. Daughter of the Joker. Topped off with your weird style and bad reputation.

You knew that wasn’t what he meant, but that’s how it felt.

You knew Bruce hated you, but that wasn’t what stung. What hurt was the implication that Jason saw you that way, too. That he still thought of you as the freaky, villainous mess you used to be. That all your effort to change had been for nothing. That no matter what you did, it would never be enough. And worse than all of that—he was ashamed of you. That any real relationship between you would be a joke.

Which sucked, by the way, because you’d been in love with him for ages.

Since his Robin days.

Back then, you were The Mime, always running instead of fighting when he chased you through Gotham. While Batman fought your father, you did everything you could to avoid getting caught up in his atrocities. Not that it mattered—nobody ever asked what you actually wanted. Nobody ever cared that all you wanted was to get as far away from your fucked-up father as possible.

And when Joker had Jason locked up, you were the one who snuck in. You tended to his wounds in secret, gave him water, sometimes leftover food—whatever scraps you could take unnoticed.

You never spoke much, just pressed your fingers to your lips and whispered apologies as you worked.

“I’m sorry. I’d let you go if I could, but he’d kill me… plus, I’m sure Batman will be here soon.”

You really thought he would.

And you blamed yourself for what happened next.

Maybe that was why you always went to such ridiculous lengths for the absolute twat sitting in front of you now.

And maybe that was why, despite your better judgment, you agreed.

Okay, sure, it took him almost an hour of borderline begging and offering to cover your rent, bills, and food for a month—but still, you gave in. If anyone else had asked, you wouldn’t have hesitated. But this was Jason. And your feelings for him made it complicated.

You didn’t trust yourself not to fall completely.

On the other hand, you’d be staying in a gorgeous cabin for free, getting front-row seats to the most insane reality TV show ever. Maybe you’d finally get over him. Maybe he’d fall for you (unlikely, but hey, miracles happen). Either way, you were going to abuse the shit out of his wallet.

“I can’t believe I’m basically paying you to be my freaky girlfriend,” he said, smirking. “Do me a favor and act like an even bigger weirdo—really make B-man’s skin crawl.”

Insulting each other was practically your love language, and normally, you wouldn’t think twice about a comment like that. But this time, it stung.

Because now you knew—this wasn’t just banter. This was him, actually seeing you as a freak.

A circus act.

And you knew you were being ridiculous. You knew Jason valued you, that he saw you as a close friend. That, in his own way, he loved you—platonically, of course. But still. It hurt.

“Do you want to do this or not?” you snapped.

“Yes, ma’am,” he grinned, completely oblivious to your feelings.

“Before we do anything, we need ground rules.”

Jason raised an eyebrow, waiting. When you didn’t continue, he prompted, “Well?”

You thought for a moment. “Okay—no kissing. Any PDA should be kept to a minimum and only in front of your family. We go back to normal when nobody’s around. And absolutely, under no circumstances—no, no, NO kissing. Got it?”

He nodded, watching you closely. “Anything you wanna add?”

He considered. “No ridiculous pet names. None of that ‘sugar plum’ shit.”

You blinked, confused. Jason knew you weren’t the type for pet names—especially extravagant ones. “Didn’t plan on it.”

He tried to hide his smirk. “Good.”

Sighing, you flopped onto the couch. “This is insane, you know that, right?”

“What else am I supposed to do?” he shot back, sharper than intended.

“have you tried being honest?” You knew he hadn’t tried being honest with Bruce. And he knew it, too.

He didn’t know how to go about explaining his big, complicated emotions to Bruce, of all people—the most emotionally stunted, unstable, and, quite frankly, emotionally ignorant person who should not be considered clinically insane. Although you doubt he had been checked.

“Okay, so I’ll pick you up at nine o’clock on Friday. They know my girlfriend is coming with, but they don’t know it’s you.” He was getting ready to leave.

“Okay, see you then.” You knew there was no point in pressing him on the matter; you knew it wouldn’t get either of you anywhere because you know him inside out.

But what you forget is that it’s because he lets you know him; he lets you see the deepest, darkest parts of him—things, feelings nobody else sees or understands—because he trusts you, values you, respects you, and, God, he loves you.

[theambitiouswoman]

Answered asks:

“I get some inspiration and ideas from the lives of under but im unsure what direction to take to live a life true to ourself”

It’s totally normal to feel inspired by others, but it’s also easy to lose yourself in the process. Looking outward can be motivating & shows you what’s possible. But too much comparison or chasing what looks right can lead you down an unauthentic path. Take inspiration without letting it override your own desires. Pay attention to what feels right for you, not just what seems impressive

You have to tune into your own voice

Ask yourself

What excites me, even if no one else understands it?

What values feel non negotiable to me?

When do I feel most alive?

Remember that growth and fulfillment are found in the journey. And that journey becomes meaningful when it’s aligned with who you are at your core

Now that you’ve seen what’s possible and have an end goal, you follow what feels right

You should shut off all the excess noise and outside influences. Yes, even the ones within your control. You have to move how it feels most naturally to you, without external pressures and opinions

Start by spending time alone. Sometimes we are so influenced by our immediate surroundings, society and social media that we end up adopting personalities, interests and opinions that aren’t even ours. Only when we distance ourselves from it can we actually have clear thought and figure out how we truly feel and think. This will help you gain clarity on what actually matters to you. Most importantly trust your small desires. You don’t need a full map—just follow what sparks curiosity in you and your path will become clear and you will truly be you

[tjodity]

Elaboration on the tr!Ros disability thing--

I am making this connection largely because I am a bit chronically ill and have mental health issues, both of which contributes to me needing varying amounts of assistance with life compared to an ordinary person. That is to say I don't necessarily believe that this is an intended reading, I'm just connecting parallels because of my personal history.

That said, I think there is something about tr!Ros's whole struggle that really does resonate with that experience. Ros places such a high importance on being competent and independent. The most visible motivation for this is her desire to be helpful to the people around her, which is what she has voiced as her reason for wanting to become stronger most frequently.

But below that is the certainty that she will be left alone, that she will have no one to turn to when it really matters, which is something she's been voicing at the start of the Realmathon.

And below that, much more rarely voiced, is the desire to be a fully fledged, autonomous human being, capable of doing great things and treated with respect.

I think this is why tr!Ros is so continuously resistant to things like being handed armor and weapons, given physical protection and immunity from her harmful actions, and does not internalize any assurances or compliments she's given by the people closest to her. She is sort of treated with kid gloves by the people closest to her.

Aimsey loves her, but will also frequently override her decisions, brush aside her concerns, and corral her back into the castle to keep her safe. The Kingdom cares about her, but they also don't really ever acknowledge that she has an interiority and problems that run deeper than resources and physical protection. She is treated like she is extremely susceptible to harmful external influence and fits of emotion, and not like she has a complicated, flawed system of morality and logic she operates off of. She is frequently shut down, isolated, dismissed or demeaned under the pretense of her safety or her own good.

And I think the consistent conflict and the parallel start to come in here when this desire intersects with the fact that she is somewhat dependent on other characters. She dies a lot. She struggles with fighting on a PvP and PvE oriented server. She is easily overwhelmed emotionally and physically. She is prone to destructive behavior that leaves difficult consequences. She is suicidal. She loses important items like her elytra on a somewhat regular basis that make large chunks of the server inaccessible for her.

And I feel like the fact that she does need help with a lot of stuff is frequently used against her to undercut her desire for autonomy and the fact that she's a fully fledged adult human being. She is corralled into the empty Castle and told to stay there. When she talks about how she wants to do things on her own she is scoffed at and immediately handed whatever item or resource she was working for. When she expresses jealousy or dislike towards anyone on the server she is dismissed as childish. When she talks about wanting to be independent her need for assistance in the past is used to shut her down. Her violent actions are used to wave away any perspective on morality she may have.

IDK. I feel like tr!Ros's struggles are relatable to the struggle for personhood when you are disabled and/or mentally ill in a way that requires assistance and how people sometimes treat you.