#asked

[artist-issues]

You don't believe in love. You believe in people SUPRESSING a part of themselves, not caring how much it ACHES for them to do so. You are objectively wrong, and you do NOT belong on Tumblr. Any arguement you try to come up with against this is pointless.

You are NOT a real Christian.

People “suppress” parts of themselves all the time—for love. If by “suppress,” you mean, “I don’t choose to identify with everything I feel.” I feel like screaming at my mom when she hurts me. But I love her, so I’m not going to say, “gotta be true to myself, gotta live what I feel.” Many people feel like alcohol is what they need and without it, who are they? Many people even feel like depression is “a part of who they are,” so they don’t give it up.

Don’t you understand? What makes something I feel fall under the category of “who I am?” Because not all feelings are good, and most of them aren’t even rooted in reality.

Your feelings lie to you all the time. Right before death after years of dementia or a terminal illness, a person can suddenly become more alert and energized than they’ve been since the start of their illness. They get up, talk, and their feelings tell them that they’re better. And the reality is they’ve never been closer to death, and they’re dead moments later. It’s called “terminal lucidity,” and it’s been happening since humanity’s earliest history. And it’s just one example of your feelings lying about what’s real.

So how can you tell if the things you feel are a part of who you are, or a cancer you need to cut out of yourself because it’s hurting the “real” you? That’s what you’re calling “suppression,” and yeah, it aches, but letting it grow and calling it “part of yourself” is worse.

Figure out what standard you measure “who I am” by.

A Christian measures it by Christ. Who He says you are, not what you feel you are. After all, He calls us to die to ourselves. What did you think that meant?

And a Christian measures everything by what Christ says. That’s how I know “the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked.” It’s how I know you’re right; I don’t belong on tumblr. I don’t belong on this corrupt planet anymore: “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but you are not of the world, for I have chosen you out of the world; this is why the world hates you.” And it’s how I know what real love is, and it’s Him. He invented it, He gets to define it.

And that’s the point of this argument. To get it out in front of people that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and nobody has a restored relationship with God, nobody can be their “true-selves” unless they die to their old-corrupt self and come to God through Jesus Christ.

So thanks for giving me the opportunity to answer and get that out in front of people again.

[cream1111]

Caleb’s the type to spoil you so much getting whatever u want to but there’s always a price if u get too bratty of disobedient to him (BREEDINGGGGG SESSSSHH)

he def is! one of my fav dynamics is a bratty spoiled princess type mc and a loyal servant / eager guard dog caleb, like an mc who has never had to lift a finger bcus caleb has always been there to do everything. [this fic does this dynamic rly well!]

⠀⎯⎯⠀⠀caleb/mc!reader, drabble, incest, dubcon, free use(ish), possessive

he would do anything for you, and if you were ever met with hesitation or resistance (rarely) all you'd have to do is pout and bat your lashes at him and he'd melt. he told you he wanted you to come to him first for everything and he means everything.

chores you didn't want to do, clothes you wanted to buy, food you wanted to eat. he'd do it all. how can he ever say no to his sweet little sister?

and if you cramp your hand or get too lazy when touching yourself, you can call him into your room, no matter how late at night, to finish you off. he'd finger you so nicely, or offer his thigh for you to rub on, all while telling you how happy he is, that you let him do this for you.

so when you ask zayne for help with some homework and caleb finds out, he loses it. hasn't he always given you whatever you wanted? it's a simple request really, him, ask him first.

the next time he's helping you get off, he's waits til your blissed out and can barely speak before leaning in real close and asking you why you needed zayne's help when you have him. you barely have time to register his question, let alone pout and apologize before he replaces his fingers with his cock, pushing into you in one harsh snap of his hips. he doesn't give you any time to adjust, settling into a brutal rhythm that knocks the air out of your lungs.

he keeps going for hours, round after round. you lose count of how many times he forced you to milk his cock, filling you to the brim. how many times you say you get it, he made his point, only for him to reply that he doesn't believe it yet, and fuck his frothy come back into you. he wants to drill it into your pretty head.

"remember, come to your big brother first for anything, everything"

[m3dieval]

You seem to know a bit about armor. Do you have any cool facts about armor made for amputee knights? Or was that even a thing?

There was Götz von Berlichingen and his iron hand (16th century).

Image source

You'd probably like this article: "He remembered that he had once seen another injured knight wearing a prosthetic hand and using it ‘to fight as well as anyone else’. Feeling inspired and once again hopeful about his future as a knight and mercenary, he quickly seized upon this idea and commissioned a prosthesis of his own."

↑ I checked out the author and she wrote her PhD on "The Material Culture of Physical Impairment: Assistive Technology in the Late Medieval West, c.1400-1600" so she seems like a good scholarly source. It's a bit generous to call the 16th century medieval, but I'm betting that was an SEO compromise (see: corset discourse).

pursuingtheknightlyarts is a reenactor who also happens to be missing a leg. He just wears the armour as normal and doesn't bother with a greave on the one side. This also seems like a reasonable solution.

[themusicsweetly]

Psst...Did you know there's a (short) clip of S & C talking about their last scene ever on YouTube?... Think you'll like it. :) 😢 🥹

Hi Anon! Thanks for the ask.

I believe you're talking about this one from AP?

"Everything had this sort of double meaning. There was a lot of talk about goodbyes."

Have I mentioned that I AM NOT READY?? I'm so glad we get a proper final season to wrap up their story how they want. that Caitriona + Sam particularly were dedicated and passionate about it enough to give that to the fans. And that we'll get a whole round of promos with them. But it's going to be so hard saying goodbye to Jamie x Claire. I can't even imagine how much Caitriona + Sam cried on their last day(s) 🥺

[dark-night-hero]

"Hey isn't that-?" "Shhh!" "What? What! Isn't that Mich-!" "You think I don't know? Just keep your voice down if you don't want to get kicked out." "W-what?" "The owner of the Cafe." The girl utter as her eyes trail on the figure in a kitcken apron now emerging out of the kitchen with a tray of freshly baked dessert in it, carefully putting it on the display stand. "And Michael Kaiser" The girl now looking at Michael Kaiser who finally looked up from his phone and is now looking at the owner with intense yet gentle gaze. "Were lovers." "No shit."

"Sorry, did you wait too long?" You asked as you went out of Cafe back door, now dressed in a casual attire as you finally manage to close the Cafe after a long day of work and baking. You did not hear your lover reply causing you to look up and there he was looking at you. "Let's go." He spoke nonchalantly but did not forgot to reach out a hand for you to take in which you did not dare not take. Wrapping one hand into his arm, with the other reaching out for his hand as you cuddle close to him. "Are you cold?" "No." He replied softly.

Imagine walking in the midst of the buzzing city of Berlin, the two of you walk hand in hand. Already on your way at home to get some rest when the two of you happened to come across an old alley. "This bring back memories." You chuckle, eyes glancing over the alley. "Hey remember when we were children, no one was really with me at home so I got into baking. Then I happened to bring some with me in my room and forgot it was pipping hot I have no choice but to put it on the window and went back into the kitchen and by the time I come back for it, it was missing."

Imagine the way Kaiser hummed, his blue eyes glancing over the alley. "So? What happened to it?" "To that tart?" You pause like you thought for a moment before smilling sheepishly. "I don't know, I thought it was just a rat. Turns out the theft was a very cute boy." You chuckle. "To be honest at first I was mad but then I have come into conclusion that maybe my tart was just that good he couldn't help but to stole it." "Quite a narcissistic claim." Kaiser spoke with a small smile that was hidden by the shadow of the night, keeping you close to him.

"Oh! I'm sure he loved it. I always left a piece by my window whenever I make an extra piece and its always gone by the sec I look away." He just humm in return. "I always try to get a glimpse of him but its annoying how I never got to see him until I got sick one day." You smile at the memory and cuddle more into him, heck if only you could stuff your self into his arms you would. "Are you cold?" He asked. "No, I just want to be close to you." You smile at him. "You know, I really thought I was gonna die back then. I have no one around me and I was getting delirious because of the fever." Then you pause, earning a look from him and to stand on your toes for a kiss. "Thank you."

"Well my baker is going through something, I don't wanna loose them over a goddamn fever." "But I heard later on you got in trouble with the nearby pharmacy." "Is that why you started handing over a bigger portion of the pastry?" "..." "Is that also the reason why you had given me that letter?" "Idunnowhatyouaretalkingabout." He just humm in return, a smirk tugging his lips as the two of you finally reach the building where his penthouse was, something that was once within out of reach.

Imagine in the midst of the peaceful dinner, "if I had known you were coming home early I would have gone grocery shopping. Do you know how shocked I was to see you sitting in there earlier? I thought I was hallucinating." "Why would you even hallucinate? Did you started missing me so bad you started to make up an imaginary version of me? For someone who told me they wouldn't miss me even if I was gone for a whole year, you're quite the clown." "The real clown is you in that neo ego-" You were cut off with a spoonful of meal as he glare at you causing you to burst into laughter. "Oh my goodness Michael, you're still not over it?"

Imagine it was late at night but there you are, baking for some dessert which is now laidnto rest in the oven as you sat by the kitchen counter, legs dangling as you humm into a familiar tone. "Is it still not done?" "It'll be done 5 minutes." You did not turn around, not when you can hear his footsteps approaching you. "Miss me already?" You smile as you pull him in embrace, wrapping your legs around his waist. "Hah- you wish." "What a shame, I was baking your favourite along with tarts. I guess I'll just have to give-" You were cut of with a kiss. "You wouldn't dare." "Try me, Michael."

"Hey Michael, do you still have the letter I give you?" "..." "Do you still have it?" "No." "You hesitated." "No." "You still have it." "No." "Michaellll." "Let's go to sleep." "But-" "Good night Schatz." "..." "Goodnight Michael. Ich liebe dich." "Ich liebe dich auch, süße träume, mein Schatz."

Dear stranger,

Let's fill these days with the kind of joy and desserts we'll remember forever. Let's make this a great childhood memory, one we'll cherish for years to come.

I'll make more desserts in the future so feel free to drop by anytime. Thank for the last time. Also, can you tell me your name next time?

From your friendly baker neighbour.

[ⓒdark-night-hero] 2025°

: You see, I'm trying to learn german.

: Also, this imagine is dedicated to @yumiko0987 , thank you for the prompt ideas and I'm really sorry this one took so long 🙏

[somethingstrangeisherehehe]

I think we can consider this little interactive with colour palettes finished, and I wanted to summarise the results.

I enjoyed doing this so-called challenge, to be honest, it was like those computer dress-up games from my childhood☺️ I'm also very pleased that so many people responded to my post and participated😇🙏

I want to duplicate all the artwork because I want them all in one place.

I'd like to thank @skeletonspirt @inanelemon @maylalupa @scorpio-sarah @micoumbra @wideeyedlittlechild @scars-wife-31 💙

You're the best😘

[courtmartialme]

thinking about genderbend royai and like-

AUGH

i need them carnally

omg anon you were sending the vibes directly to my brain because at the time i got this ask i was sketching them HELPP here you go ...

[doverstar]

I just realized: One good demonstration of CS Lewis's "Humility isn't thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less" is P&F's episode Thaddeus and Thor.

In that one, Thaddeus and Thor use their insane builds as a way of showing off and making themselves look better. Phineas and Ferb do theirs strictly for the love of building and/or to give themselves and their friends a fun time.

Phineas and Ferb do not falsely put themselves down (which would absolutely insult everyone else), they're just not thinking about themselves at all. They just want to make something cool and then share how cool it is with others (plus Phineas is a natural showman).

Heck, despite blowing those two out of the water, they go out of their way to compliment Thaddeus and Thor on the licorice dispenser because they think it's a cool idea.

100% correct. It's one of my favorite episodes. It shows how Phineas and Ferb could be, and how they are not that way, not just in action but in dialogue. It never occurs to them to compete with Thaddeus and Thor, or argue with Thaddeus when he starts baiting them. Security is silent.

Thaddeus and Thor's talents are only remarkable in a realistic setting. Because in real life, boys their age could probably, with prodigy-level brains, build the fort that they built. They could. But the thing about Phineas and Ferb's success is, not only can they build that, they can build things that defy logic, budget, and nature - at age 9. (Because they're cartoons.) In real life, if you were to pit them against Thaddeus and Thor, you would be watching two sets of kids - one set builds an actual fort with a licorice dispenser, and it's structurally sound and everything, and that's amazing. But then the other set builds not only that, but extra - something you wouldn't have believed of adults, funding or no funding. In the universe of the show, that's what you're looking at, essentially. Phineas and Ferb create for the joy of creating, most often to benefit others; they never do it just for themselves. Everything they make is made to be shared. They're just that good at it. And do they boast? Do they challenge other creatives? Never once. They love to think and build and create and help, and it literally does not come into their heads to talk about their talents, choose themselves over others, or decide not to help someone who needs it. If you have a need and they hear about it, boom - they're already halfway done fixing your problem before you've finished speaking. Even if it does nothing for them. Candace wants her mother to see the boys at work. She doesn't think very far ahead about what that looks like, because she's not doing it to hurt them, she's doing it to keep them safe, to prove it can be done, and that she's not crazy. She doesn't consider that this would mean they would be punished. Phineas and Ferb, more than once, attempt to help Candace bust them because it will make her happy. When they hear her summer's been a series of failures and she feels alone and defeated, they go out of their way to get her to see it differently and make her feel better. Phineas saying things like "Can we cook or can't we?" is not bragging. It's him being excited and satisfied with his work, and he's almost always saying that kind of thing to Ferb, who also worked hard. And like you said, when Thaddeus and Thor are standing open-mouthed at the foot of the boys' architectural anomaly, Phineas and Ferb's disclaimer at the end of the tour is that Thaddeus and Thor's licorice dispenser was cool to them and they liked it. They showed what they'd done, and then they ended it by complimenting the other boys' creativity. Because it doesn't even occur to them to think about themselves or put themselves on any kind of pedestal or into any kind of spotlight. 90% of the time, Phineas and Ferb are thinking about other people, not themselves.

[artist-issues]

“At least it's not ferociously attacking God quite as directly as Steven Universe did…”

Not that I’m surprised by this statement, but can you elaborate on this? Kinda intrigued by your thoughts on Steven Universe.

Okie dokie, you’re not the only one who has asked me about this, so I suppose I’ll poke the hornet’s nest. 😅 I haven’t talked about this before because I assumed that everyone who wanted to hear my kinds of opinions on stories wasn’t watching or interested in Steven Universe.

It’s like asking vegetarian if they enjoyed a turkey dinner. The turkey dinner was so obviously not made for vegetarians to enjoy, so why would the vegetarian even bother analyzing the turkey?

But I think if some people are asking me why I think Steven Universe is anti-God (of the Bible) its because maybe they don’t know what the turkey is. Not completely. (Maybe not you, because like you said, you’re not surprised by my comment.) So I’ll explain my thoughts on Steven Universe.

If you’re just following me because you liked some stuff I posted, but didn’t realize that I’m a Bible-believing Christian and don’t want to hear about it, unfollow me now. Because I’m going to talk about some hot button issues here and the trolls will come out.

Steven Universe is really well-done. The jokes are funny, the writing is believable, the characters have great chemistry, great design, the concept is fascinating, the slow build-up and reveal of the plot elements is great. But when you watch the throne room scene in the last episode of Season 5 “Change Your Mind,” it’s alarmingly clear how much the whole show is not just settling for defending and championing the LGBTQ+ worldview—it goes all the way to attacking what Christians believe, on the other side.

Anything that’s pro-LGBTQ+ is doing that by default, but this show goes out of its way to do that.

You have to understand: God created and designed us. Deeper than that; He created and designed romantic relationships, and invented marriage. He didn’t just create love—He is love. So when humans come along and do what we’ve always done since the fall, and say, “I’d rather define what Your thing is and how it works for myself, God,” it’s not only an incredible slap in the face, it’s an attack on God’s actual identity—and it’s destructive for us and the people around us. Like a fish insisting it can breathe oxygen.

But Steven Universe goes beyond that. It knows that the Christian worldview is it’s biggest opposition. It digs right down to the heart of the worldview-battle. LGBTQ+ worldview says, “I should get to love what I want and be who I am, because I’m me. Love is love. (By which I mean, any action or relationship I choose to call love is love, because I’m the one calling it that.)”

Biblical worldview says “No, wait, you shouldn’t base your decisions on you alone; what you want changes day to day, and you’re broken, so you can’t ever be satisfied based on what you want—the Bible says God made you for something, and you rejected that, and it broke you. You’re not how you’re meant to be: even what you want and what you think love is is twisted up and can hurt you and others. But if you submit to God He’ll help you, He’ll fix what’s broken and give you new life by making you how you were supposed to be: He’ll live in you and through you.”

Are we beginning to get the picture?

See, the whole thing with the opposing views between LGBTQ+ and Christian people is as old as time. It’s not a new debate. It’s Satan and Eve in the garden. She says, “This is not how God said things should be,” and Satan says, “Are you sure that’s what He said? He knows if you do this thing, you’ll be like Him. You’ll be god: you’ll get to decide ‘how things should be’ for yourself.”

He lied and said that disobedience would satisfy her. That she knew what her own heart needed better than the God that made it did. That the very act of being imperfect would make her godlike.

And then Steven Universe comes along and says “if every pork chop were perfect, we wouldn’t have hotdogs.”

And has a cast of created being characters who’s imperfections (Garnet’s forbidden “love,” Pearl’s obsession, Amethyst’s insecurity) are supposedly “the best thing about them; what makes them who they are.”

And has a main character who used to be a part of the god-like creator relationship, but used her power to come down to earth and completely change who she is into a fully different person.

And has a godlike Creator character who claims she “doesn’t need” her created beings (just like the God of the Bible) but they all have a little part of their creator in them so she has to repress their imperfections; she holds them all to a standard that’s impossible to reach called “perfection” and punishes them when they don’t meet it even though it hurts them to try; she expects them all to do what they were created by her for; she fixes them when they can’t meet her standard by shining her light through them and making them extensions of their Creator.

And has a main character who argues, fights back, tries to stop her, and is answered with lines that sound surprisingly like what LGBTQ+ people hear when Christians argue with them: “you’re only making things worse; you’re just deceiving yourself; even while you resist it your actual light can’t help shining through,” etc.

White Diamond just wants everything to be perfect. Like her. She just wants her created beings to “be themselves.” But what she means is, be how she created them to be.

And she’s the bad guy. She’s playing God in this show, and Rebecca Sugar is saying, “If God is telling us that can only be happy by being perfect, as He is perfect, and doing what He created us to do, then He’s wrong. Our imperfections are what make us special—unique—individuals—free—and there is nobody who has the right to take that freedom away from us, not even out creator!”

And you know what?

If God were like White Diamond, like Rebecca Sugar believes Him to be, Steven Universe would be right.

But He is NOT.

God is not a dictator who forces us to conform to a standard of perfection and then smashes us when we don’t meet it. He is a King who made us perfect to begin with, and we rejected him, because He allowed us to do that. He knew that true love was love that had to be chosen, and He wanted us to love Him by choice, so he gave us the option. But Rebecca Sugar doesn’t understand—there was never “Choose God or Choose Yourself.” There was only, “Choose God or Choose Nothing.” There was nothing except God. Then He created everything. There is no version of reality where you have something better than God, or even slightly less good but different, to pick. You’re not jumping from one ship into a smaller one, but at least it’s yours—you’re jumping from one ship into a void, and then complaining that there’s no other ship. That’s humans. That’s not God. / White Diamond didn’t make her creations perfect (Amethyst) and she didn’t make them for love. She made them for power. That’s not the God of the Bible.

Even when we did choose to try and love ourselves instead of God, and therefore warped our ability to perfectly love at all, He didn’t smash us. True, everything fell and was cursed, which is exactly what He warned us would happen if we chose it, but it was a natural consequence of breaking ourselves. And then He didn’t leave us that way. He didn’t give up on us. And He certainly didn’t just zap us, snap His fingers, quick-fix it and turn us all into robots who are extensions of Him, who say they love Him but only because it’s His voice puppeting us to say it.

No. He came to us, chose to give up His life at the exact point on the timeline when Romans, masters in the art of slow, humiliating, torturous death, would be the ones to carry out His crucifixion, and saved us Himself. Through the sacrifice of His own life. And even then, we still have a choice. We get to choose to accept that incredible self-sacrifice when we don’t deserve it, and be given new life and a relationship with the Creator who knows us and loves us better than we can love ourselves or receive love from others—OR we can just keep stubbornly insisting that our slavery to the opposite of what God wants is somehow freedom, and our twisted versions of love are genuine, and we’re not broken, and die like that. Die broken creatures who lived their whole lives stomping their feet and screaming “I’m not a creature, I’m a god!”

White Diamond sacrifices nothing, because Rebecca Sugar doesn’t know the God of the Bible. She just knows her idea of Him. She’s never actually gotten to know Him. If she had, she’d learn how silly and twisted her idea is.

Because you know what, yeah, if every pork chop were perfect, we wouldn’t have hot dogs. But people aren’t pork chops. And hot dogs have flavor (not better than pork chops) but they are awful for you.

Christians aren’t perfect cuts of meat with no individuality or flavor. Just because we all know and love the same God doesn’t mean we have no personalities. It just means we don’t think so freaking much about what we are, or who we get to be, or what we like and want. Jeez, what a self-centered, narcissistic, self-obsessed way to live. She plays Steven like he’s this wonder-child, innocent and full of heart, who encourages his friends to love and keep trying. But honestly?

This is very pretty animation but it’s not real. Steven looks happy hugging Steven but self-love doesn’t ultimately get you that.

That’s all based on the premise that what he’s encouraging them to do is actually good, and will make them happy, and will help them love better. And it just won’t. Not in real life. That’s not how any of this works. Self-love is just self-obsession. And that is a sure-fire way to hurt you, and everyone around you.

You’ll never be free by choosing to run to a worse master. You’ll never be satisfied with your crappy attempts at loving yourself, because you were made to be loved flawlessly and forever by someone who is Love Himself.

And choosing to identify with your imperfections doesn’t make you uniquely you. It just makes you exactly like every other human being marching in the same line since the Fall.

White Diamond’s not relational. She’s up high and distant. That’s not God. He made you to be in relationship with Him. He loves you, totally and perfectly, and He proved it by sacrificing for You.

So yeah. That’s the problem with Steven Universe. Come get me, SU fans.

[codenamesazanka]

We all know why Spinner likes Shigaraki, but why does Shigaraki like Spinner in your opinion?

This incredibly messy rambling is entirely my take and speculation, but when Spinner first entered the bar, in that ridiculous Stain cosplay, prob giving big chuunibyou-vibed declarations about how great Stain is and how he's gonna make Stain's dreams reality - (and remember, Shigaraki disliked Stain a lot at the time, even after accepting that he will be using Stain's influence to expand the League) - I bet Shigaraki was def plenty annoyed—but I think he also could saw through to who Spinner really was - a weak-quirked heteromorph nerd from the (notoriously-anti-heteromorph) countryside, with no previous criminal history but so wanting something more he would ditch everything to join up with villains.

In other words, Shigaraki saw someone who needed help. Someone that's been mistreated and excluded and flailing about with no purpose and coming to him because they had nothing else. And because that was Shigaraki's core - to be a Hero to the outcasts - he accepted Spinner. Now that's true for all the League, but Spinner was particularly pathetic, with the cosplay and weak quirk and no prior criminal experience. Spinner was such a loser, that Shigaraki had to take him in.

But I don't mean it's all because Shigaraki felt sorry for Spinner. That could be/provably was part of it, but remember that Spinner, despite all that, also somehow managed to show up, to ditch everything he knew to come find a group of villains; to be able to find and contact Giran to be introduced to the League, and then to demand being recruited despite his lack of power and skills.

That takes resourcefulness and wild guts! Which I'm sure Shigaraki took notice of, because Shigaraki does have a habit of admiring that kind of determination even in his enemies (Eraserhead protecting his students on his own, conceding to Deku's desire to save).

So it's my perception that Shigaraki had taken interest in Spinner the moment he showed up, because Spinner was such a weak, nobody guy with such a ridiculous, intense heart. Felt the need to acknowledge and help such a person.

I think that feeling only increased when he realized how alike the both of them are. They're both sullen nerds with awful hikikomori habits and they like video games, sure; but their despair and hatred of the world are really similar, too.

There's a reason Spinner becomes the closest to Shigaraki, and it's because he's the one who's also closest to hating what Shigaraki hates. Like, IMO, the other League members don't have as broad the amount of hatred for the world that Shigaraki does? Twice doesn't hate the world as much as wanting a place to belong; Toga never hated the world until the final battle; Dabi's hatred is more focused on Endeavor and radiates outward from that; and Compress talks of reform, signifying a level of hope for things to be different.

Shigaraki hates heroes but also people in general, the society they're all in, 'everything that created that house'. He's wants to destroy everything because of that. Spinner didn't have that depth or breadth at first, but his hatred was, at the base, the most similar. He hated his life and his community - his world; Stain is the one who allowed him to realized that hatred and rage and turn it on Heroes, but as he yells to Shigaraki, it wasn't just that. "That was the day I realized how suffocating society really is." And so once he heard Shigaraki's dream, he found himself supporting it.

But remember - Shigaraki declaring he would create that destroyed horizon was itself basically in response to the rant that Spinner yelled at him. His answer to the question Spinner asked of him about purpose.

Spinner and Shigaraki are kindred spirits; they are this quote from CS Lewis:

Friendship arises out of mere Companionship when two or more of the companions discover that they have in common some insight or interest or even taste which the others do not share and which, till that moment, each believed to be his own unique treasure (or burden). The typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, "What? You too? I thought I was the only one." ... It is when two such persons discover one another, when, whether with immense difficulties and semi-articulate fumblings or with what would seem to us amazing and elliptical speed, they share their vision - it is then that Friendship is born. And instantly they stand together in an immense solitude.

And so I think got to Shigaraki. Enough that he would want to destroy Fuji for Spinner, then give only Spinner his last words.

Summing it all up: I think Shigaraki likes Spinner because Spinner is 1) a weak, pathetic guy 2) with admirable spirit 3) who likes and hates the same things in the same way he does.

(and 4) is a worthy gaming opponent.)

That's my take, anyway. Everyone is encouraged to tell me their takes too. go to my ask box now.

[themusicsweetly]

Do you know if Paleyfest will ever be available to watch publicly? 👀

Hi Anon, thanks for the question!

I believe they should at some point. I think they've (unfortunately) been inconsistent with it in the past and 92Y has been better about it, but I really hope they'll do it soon. Or at the very least, once their 2024 PaleyFest season is over. There are parts I really, really, really want to GIF lol

Here's a little tidbit to tide you over for now. I was yelled at and couldn't get more than this short video, but this is Caitriona + Sam getting emotional and teary after watching the scene at the stones in 2x13 "Dragonfly in Amber"

And here are some of my favorite photos from the event!

Sorry I can't give you a more definite answer, but hope this helps Anon!

[jespardon]

completely unrelated to my last asks what do you think about sniper tf2 road head *said while my dick is hard*

i'm introducing a new rule called "mind reader's privilege" where if you inquire about something that i'm actually already working on you get a special glimpse at it

[firelxdykatara]

Do you ever find it slightly weird how Zuko freeing Aang as the Blue Spirit is treated by the fandom as the first sign of him being good, when actually it's sort of one of the most morally bankrupt things he does (competing with stealing from Song and siding with Azula when he already kind of knows the war is wrong). Like, it's actually pretty similar to the siding with Azula thing, because it's him placing his personal desires to go home over what he should think is the good of the world. In S1, he should believe that the Fire Nation capturing the Avatar is a moral good, even if he loses his shot at going him.

To play Zuko's advocate, it's possible that at that point he just didn't see Aang as very much of a threat to the Fire Nation/was incredibly overconfident about his odds of keeping Aang captured, but... it just strikes me as weird how the Blue Spirit is treated as Zuko's better side, when in most cases (other than freeing Appa) it seems to be his worse one.

Anyways, just some thoughts that I was curious what you might say about, since I generally like your ATLA metas.

Oh no this is super interesting! I've thought about it before but not quite in these terms, and I think it really does illustrate a fascinating disconnect between the result of an action and the intent behind that action, and therefore what it means for Zuko's characterization and its purpose in his overall growth.

Because you're absolutely right! Zuko was not actually attempting to 'free' Aang from Zhao. He was attempting to steal him.

That the net result was Aang being able to escape and return to his friends doesn't actually translate to Zuko having used the Blue Spirit persona to help him. Particularly because Zuko was not trying to save Aang from Zhao, even though it's easy to think that way since visually, Zhao presents a much more severe threat--in large part because he shows up immediately after the opening episodes to be the true villain of Book 1 and act as an antagonistic force not just for the gaang but for Zuko himself to fight. This presents Zuko as the lesser of two evils from almost the very beginning of the show, thus setting him up for a redemption arc that ultimately spans 75% of the show and leads to a very satisfying conclusion.

But the Blue Spirit persona is not, at the start, an indication of altruism or goodness. In s1 I'm not sure if I think Zuko believes that capturing Aang is a moral good that will serve his people, if only because I don't think doing the right thing for his people is actually on his mind at all. He is very singularly focused on being able to earn his way out of exile, and the Avatar is his only means of doing this. Therefore, if Zhao is the one to successfully capture and return him, Zuko will be robbed of his one and only chance to return home and regain his honor (which is, narratively, a stand-in for his father's love which he will not fully realize is not something that he should have been able to lose for any reason, nevermind simply speaking his mind, until much later), so he would rather risk losing the Avatar and having to pick up his trail again later than leaving him in Zhao's custody and allowing someone else to earn credit for his capture.

Thus, it is ultimately a selfish action. And I think part of what I love most about the parallels between the Blue Spirit and Katara's Painted Lady persona--because both disguises are, at their core, about Zuko and Katara respectively being true to themselves in ways that circumstances would otherwise prevent them from behaving. For Katara, it is ultimately about helping a village full of people she doesn't know and who will not thank her (and in fact turn on her when they realize who she is and where she's from)--because she can't find it in herself to turn away, and so she does what she has to (fakes an illness for Appa, dons a disguise to mask her identity and let a spirit take the credit for saving the village) in order to stay true to herself and help them. For Zuko, it is ultimately about helping himself--foregoing any real notion of honor (because, being honest, there's no honor in cheating! that Zhao is considerably worse of a villain at this juncture is incidental, because at this point, he and Zuko remain ostensibly on the same side, which is why Zuko needs to make sure he isn't recognized) to make sure he doesn't lose his only real shot at going home.

And it is likewise important that, later, he dons the Blue Spirit while he and his uncle are fugitives in the Earth Kingdom in order to steal so that he and Iroh can survive--and then, near the end of book 2, he dons the mask one final time to rescue Appa, one of his first truly selfless acts which marks a moment of significant growth (and is pretty important ahead of what will seem to be a moment of significant backsliding, when he sides with Azula and returns home seemingly triumphant at last, having lost far more than he gained and not yet able to realize it), and he discards the mask, watching it disappear as it sinks into the water, and if that ain't symbolic of something idk what is lmao

But yeah, you don't get to all of that deliciously juicy growth without starting at the bottom--with Zuko utilizing the Blue Spirit for his own selfish needs, and putting himself and his own quest over the 'need' his country might have for capturing the avatar.

[courtmartialme]

how about genderbent riza's face-off with lust? would lust allude to boy! riza's bad taste in women or sth?? idk

i misread the ask the first time i read it and thought you wanted lustriza yaoi so i drew genderbent lust. then i read it correctly and drew the second thing lol

i think riza is too colonelbrained in any universe to look any other way but i think he should be treated badly by a beautiful woman and secretly enjoy it anyway

[doverstar]

Funny idea for that Mabel x Ferb ship is that while they're doing romance stuff, Phineas and Dipper are on an adventure. Because it'd be hilarious to see the high-strung Dipper Pines interacting with the nearly unfazable Phineas Flynn.

Also, Doofenshmirtz is trying to attack McGuckett for allegedly ripping off his Inator. While he's stopped by Perry, the offending invention is destroyed. Fortunately, that's a completely legal way of handling disputes in Gravity Falls since its founding.

Oh and maybe later Dipper is paranoid about Perry but finds nothing.

This is super cute! I can't imagine Ferb going off and doing anything romantic with Mabel when there's a day to be seized with Phineas (if this crossover happens when they're still kids), but I can imagine Mabel repeatedly flirting with Ferb during the adventure and Ferb accepting all hints by literally going along with whatever she's doing. Because he does reciprocate but he's Ferb. Brings him a treat? He eats it with a thumbs-up. Falls from a crazy height due to a grappling hook error? He catches her. Grabs him by the arm and volun-tells him they're gonna go get supplies/hunt for clues together? ("You know who'd make a great team? Me and this guy! Am I right? Who else can feel this? I can feel this.") Ferb's in. That kind of thing, definitely! Phineas and Dipper would be amazing together for exactly your reasoning. Phineas is so confident and capable and easy. Dipper is so not. I don't think Dipper would even suspect anything about Perry - I think he'd be way more interested in the statistical probabilities of the boys' contraption both working like a dream and disappearing before Candace's mom can see it every day. But I can also see him wanting to find/prove something and marveling at how easy it is for Phineas and the gang to do just that - everything always works out for them. Not something Dipper's ever experienced, really! And your idea for Doof made me think of an alternative, but maybe not as funny idea where he and Fiddleford work together on building an inator and Perry has to fight both a mad genius and a mad homeless man. In bare feet. I just - the idea of a summer in Gravity Falls and a summer in Danville intersecting is too easy and too funny and too wonderful. No matter how you slice it. Dwampy and Alex, where is the crossover, I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR US-