#both as a woman in stem and the only woman in a group of “the best of the best in their respective fields” consisting mostly of men (joking)

[rhineposting]

okay pause on phone people posting to do some Rhinedottir Posting ™

I think that while all of the Five Sinners are generally around the same level of unhingement and gray morality, Rhinedottir was just Like That even before taking a dunk in the Eldritch and Forbidden. I think it's kinda funny.

"That's Surtalogi, he basically invented lycanthropy and has a pet multidimensional narwhal that eats French people, that obelisk over there is Vedrfolnir, the single greatest visionary to kinda-live, capable of restoring sentience to the cursed, and the lady over there is Rhinedottir, a revolutionary alchemist and she, uh... Yeah these days she's mostly printing flying dismembered dogs. No idea why. She's not even taking care of them, or of any other thing she ever made for that matter. Yeah, she made a bunch of her clones and dumped most of them into a vat of acid. No idea why, something about them not being good enough. Oh yeah no, that was before our country was nuked. I don't know what's her deal and honestly at this point I'd keep it that way. Anyways, that guy over there is Rerir and he uhhhhhhh-"

[loveemagicpeace]

Astrology Notes

Saturn in 4th house transit( not always ) but during this time, you may learn something about your family or find out that you are adopted. Although Saturn in this house is not bad, it can bring many benefits. it is the house in which Saturn otherwise feels comfortable.Very good transit for gaining independence and self-determination.

Neptune represents the grandmother, the wise old women. The first sign of a Neptune contact is a sense of loss, despair, hopelessness or confusion. Many people instinctively use this as a time to travel, a time to live on the surface of cultures, to  escape from their own world and drift through someone else's. When u have transit Neptune-Moon: a visionary, drug-sensitive, spiritual time where the individual experiences the dissolving of emotional responses. Time out from the world to unconsciously reorganize one's emotional reality.  Transit - Neptune-North Node: finding one's spiritual path, finding a group or "tribe" with a basis in the arts; healing; drug abuse; the metaphysical which propels one into a new life direction. Neptune-South Node: loss in the "tribe" of an old wise woman; a restructuring within the tribe of the spiritual leader, or the visionary one in the family; meeting a person from the past with whom you feel a spiritual connection.

When u choose your partner u will also feel compatible with him based on your sun. Your sun is your ego, joy, spotlight. So for ex.: gemini & gemini sun can be good in a relationship but the relationship can be very unstable. A sag sun woman & a taurus man will be difficult together. A woman will always need liveliness, playfulness, travel and passion. While a taurus man will be much more reserved, likes to stay at home and likes to be settled, he doesn't like too much change and a fast life. He likes stability and a woman who is stable. A gemini man is often associated with a merchant, a traveler. Geminis like to go through life without a plan and thinking. They get over relationships quickly and quickly find a new woman.

Virgo sun are very frugal people, they will only buy things they really need and do not like to waste money on unnecessary things. They like a practical lifestyle and like to do things that are productive during the day. They are also picky when it comes to money and won't buy something that is really expensive, they prefer to buy something that is worth it and that the price is as affordable as possible. Virgo man like order and cleanliness. They are quick to notice small details and like women who dress decently and neatly. They usually look for a woman who is a housewife or likes order and likes to clean.

The Sagittarius woman and the Virgo man are very different and rarely get along. The Virgo man doesn't like spontaneity or too fast a pace. The Sagittarius woman, on the other hand, is very unpredictable and loves adventures. Sagittarius women like to dress extra while Virgo men prefer to dress more neutrally and don't like to stand out and can sometimes be embarrassed when someone is very stand out. This is just based on sun sign. But I would also say that someone with a lot of virgo placements and someone with a lot of sagittarius placements will not find a common language or interests. They are quite different people.

It is said that the Gemini man's third marriage is the only one that is valid. However, statistics show that even among the third wives, there are almost no Scorpios. Scorpio women are such that they already accustom Gemini men to order in their first marriage. However, it is certainly true that these two must show a lot of mutual understanding if they want to live together. Gemini men should talk seriously with Scorpio women. This will also benefit their career.

Aquarius woman and Gemini man-Their relationship stems from love at first sight. They both have the same ideals, both are full of ideas that can make life more beautiful. Gemini and Aquarius love to flirt and have dinner at home. Such a marriage does not know jealousy. Gemini likes to adapt to the new ideas of their partner. And they act correctly, because Aquarius realizes what she has decided. She is sociable and with her he will meet many people who will be useful to him in his professional life.

A cancer man likes a woman who is family-oriented, fair, a homemaker. Many times they are looking for a woman who is like a mother. They are often moody and have their own habits that they stick to. They get a lot of their habits from their mother or from their family in general. They have a hard time adapting to new things. They are more inclined towards the past than the future. They have few good friends and their circle is narrow and private. They are very private about their home.

Cancer man and Aries woman are very different and often have difficulty getting along. Cancer wants a family and a peaceful life. Aries, on the other hand, can bring unrest and a lot of stress. However, they can be very compatible in the professional field.

Cancer man and Libra woman. Cancer is inward-looking, while she is outward-looking, and it is sometimes difficult for them to follow the same path. In love, they can complement each other. However, Cancer would like to marry a housewife who would replace his mother, to whom he has always been attached. Libra is excellent at her tasks, but she does not like to get her hands dirty. She likes to be a lady.

The Pisces woman has a lot of problems with men and many times they don't suit her the way she would like them to. The Taurus man and the Pisces woman are different in how they give love. With Gemini man, Pisces may feel that he is too light-hearted and not paying as much attention to her. It could also be that he won't be that loyal to her. Libra man and pisces woman are a good catch. However, he may be too focused on the attention of others or like to be adored by other women. Which a Pisces wouldn't like.

The Pisces man is naturally spiritual, gentle, in touch with his emotions. He is modest and does not care about money. However, he is very much in his own world and a dreamer. He has his own ideals and fantasies that he seeks in women. However, they are often disappointed in love. A female leo will be too fiery for him and he may feel too vulnerable or exposed around her. A marriage with a Virgo could fail because they are too different. He insists on his dream world, while she wants reality and order. She may become too critical of him over time. Libra woman and Pisces man -There is some risk in this marriage, although both long for eternal love. But sometimes they get entangled in contradictions and then they don't know how to move on. Libra should cheer up her little brain and pull it out of depressions. She is charming, but her emotions are sometimes just played. Her sensitive husband may soon notice this. Otherwise, they love peaceful coexistence.

You will usually have long-distance relationships with people you share the 9th house with. You will also travel a lot with them over long distances. These are also the people you will have the best time with on your travels.

The moon represents where you find the most comfort and how much home means to you. What you need emotionally. Venus represents the kind of love you want and the kind of relationships you tend to create. What you really want in a relationship and what you value most in the relationship itself.What will quickly attract you on the partner. Mars represents energy and what sexually attracts you to a person and at the same time what kind of energy you like in others.

Moon in Gemini -Communication is very important to you and you like stimulation in every given moment of your life.Moon in Scorpio-You value privacy and like to have a home that is deep and you need a lot of intimacy. Moon in Cancer-You like a home that is comfortable, safe, beautiful, and where you feel emotionally fulfilled.

Capricorn Venus- You show love through practical things and through building a life together with the person. You like someone who is serious and determined. Someone who will make you feel like they will never leave and will always be here with you even in difficult times. Sagittarius Venus-You like adventure, playfulness, and travel. In love, you will be very happy with a partner who will prepare a special surprise for you and who will enjoy life with you. Maybe someone who created a playlist for you. Aries Venus-Love can be something that takes you over and gives you a lot of passion but at the same time leaves space for you. A partner who will always be with you but at the same time understands your hot-bloodedness.

-Rebekah💗🌊

[cuckoo-on-a-string]

Ace folks are queer. Die mad.

There are still apparently folks (some with genuinely good intentions, some just looking to outrage farm) who don't get why asexual/aromantic folk belong in queer spaces.

I'm ace. So if you keep saying "Someone explain it to me!" here's your explanation, right from the source:

The queer community (at least in my part of the world, yours may be different) is for anyone who doesn't fit into 'standard' cis/hetero norms. Ace people are not attracted to the people we're 'supposed' to be. This often leads to very different values and lived experiences from cultural 'norms.'

It's a different experience than many other LGBTQ+ people have, yes. And it's easier to hide in straight spaces. But it's also easier to hide in straight spaces as a bisexual, cis woman than as a trans woman, or a lesbian woman, or any number of other things. Our camouflage options don't define us, just as they don't define you. You do not become a bush when you put on a ghillie suit. Is my experience different from yours? Probably. BOTH of our experiences may be different from a cis gay man's. That doesn't mean his experiences are invalid, unworthy of support, or not in need of protection.

Exclusionist takes stem from the same attitudes conservatives have about women's clothes. I'm not kidding (and I grew up in that space so @ me at your peril). If a conservative person lived in the 1920's, women shouldn't wear pants. Hardline view right there. But in the 70's and 80's jeans and trousers had become so normalized only the MOST conservative groups had any kind of opinion on them, and nowadays skirt-only groups are even rarer.

Exposure and experience made those garments cultural standards instead of something scary and new.

The same thing happens in all spaces, including queer culture.

Ace/aro folks aren't new to the planet, but we've only gotten any significant attention relatively recently. Because people may have to stop and consider out experiences instead of nodding along and going, "Yes, I know what gay generally means," the natural instinct is to push it away.

Challenge that instinct.

We're a community, not a clone factory. We're supposed to be celebrating diversity this month, not playing Mean Girls and defining our moral superiority by who we exclude.

[crab-people-overlord]

Season 27 Opener

Going into this episode, I was really hoping Paramount would be dragged for sucking up to trump, and I wasn’t disappointed by any means. Say what you will about Matt and Trey, but those guys will always stick up for free speech, and in a time that feels so fucking tense like we’re losing the meaning of that, they pulled absolutely no punches. It felt so validating to me and for so many others that feel like we’re losing our goddamn minds in all this nonsense. 

This puts Paramount in an impossible position, and it’s amazing to see. They just signed a MASSIVE deal with M&T, and are already facing a lot of backlash after both settling that lawsuit as well as firing Colbert. They were in the middle of just about literally sucking up to Trump so he’ll approve that stupid merger, but Trump obviously isn’t going to be pleased with this episode lmao. Love the shitty position this places Paramount in so much, because obviously, Paramount can’t cancel South Park.  They had to of expected something like this, but it's still nice to see regardless.

I was wary of them using trump only because the Garrison arc was so exhausting, but not only did they bring back trump, they did it in probably the most fucking hilarious way. Reincarnating Suddam but basically as trump was such a great callback to the earlier show and brought back earlier vibes of the show, but it was just great in general. I wasn’t sure I wanted them to get too political, but this was just fantastic. 

I watched this live with a big group of family and friends, and I don’t think I’ve ever watched one live (the other crazy historical SP episodes I didn’t get to watch live like this) that to this extent had so many folks simultaneously laughing with their jaws dropped as well as making sounds of delighted horror lol. 

Some other random observations:

A lot can be said about PC Principal, and it seems like they’re setting things up for him to play this role of the man who all of a sudden takes a sudden turn into right wing Christianity as soon as they feel their masculinity is challenged like we’re seeing so much of in the US right now. Could be interesting if they keep playing to it (seems like they might?). His office was wild. I wonder if Strong Woman broke up with him?

Also thought it was funny how stan just threw craig under the bus in the principal’s office, and funny how craig was the one of the group who’d told Jesus the table was full and that they couldn’t sit with them, idk why (just imagining him saying that in his monotone voice lmao)

A bus stop scene! Loved that, though will still always say that SP is lacking part of its original charm without all main four boys at the bus stop and those more frequent scenes. 

Butters is so ride or die (literally) for cartman. There was something disturbingly cute about them sitting together in the car for who knows how many hours lmao. Love it when the kids are stupid, and Butters and Cartman’s dynamic makes for some of the funnier stupid shit the kids do

Randy using ChatGPT as basically his wife was on brand. Sharon’s face in that scene 😭 Randy absolutely has an AI girlfriend 

Garrison’s dog?? Omgg 

I wish Kyle talked more (or like… at all), but his expression still said a lot. Poor dude looks exasperated

Kenny’s line was perfect. Hilarious. 10/10 kenny line

Stan’s little fist in the air while in the background on the news? Pls, that was so cute 

So glad Satan is back… but at what cost to him?

Jesus talking just sounded like Matt completely breaking the fourth wall. It was hilarious and disturbing at the same time

The SP reddit has had a very strict ‘no politics’ rule and has changed a lot overnight lol. Still can’t explicitly mention some things, but it very much seems the most political (and generally aligned) than I’m not sure I’ve seen in a while

All the trump paintings were hilarious and definitely stem from that one Colorado artist’s painting that trump didn’t like lmao

Whatever the rest of the season is, I hope we get this same level of fire from Matt and Trey. I think we’ll be more than okay if we do. Season 20 had nowhere near this level of sheer shots fired and pulling no punches. I also hope that if there is serialization, that it’s a bit more dynamic than Season 20 (interspersed with individual storylines, something they have been doing since S20 and had done before which I personally prefer), and above all, that they utilize the kids more for the stories than the adults. 

[swaglet]

jellybean is my favorite woman in stem alongside felicia the particle accelerator ferret. when jellybean was a baby she got really sick really fast (high fever, sudden inability to use her back legs) and we originally thought it was because we both had covid at the time and ferrets theoretically had the ability to be infected with covid because they have been documented to contract other human coronaviruses, which at the time would have made her the first ever documented case of human to ferret covid19 transmission, but her test was negative and her vets were at a loss for what was happening. thankfully someone in our ferret support group who was much more informed than us sent us a link to information about an extremely rare disease called Ferret Disseminated Idiopathic Myofasciitis, and we forwarded it to her vet team and put them in contact with the author of the article and it turns out that that's exactly what she had. i don't know the exact numbers but there's only like 300 to 500 cases that have been confirmed around here and afaik most of them were confirmed postmortem because until about 2010 the disease was considered to be 100% fatal. but we actually got to "meet" Katrina D. Ramsell (author of the article and the woman who first described the condition) herself over a phonecall which was genuinely very awesome and humbling and we got to discuss plans for experimental treatment and if she had our consent to do that. and we were like omg we are two undergrad students in biology who are both minoring in wildlife and veterinary medicine who might someday pursue something like this of course you have our permission, plus this disease is so rare who knows when you'll have another living case to try new medications and treatments on. she was so respectful and kind to jellybean the whole time and always put her wellbeing first. anyways jellybean is a woman in stem because she is a pioneer in experimental treatments for an extremely rare ferret disease and she got to work with the woman who discovered her disease

[princesssarisa]

I think in Wicked (the musical at least – not sure about the novel), there's a bit of an uneasiness between the theme of "everyone is morally gray, no one is all bad or all good" and the fact that Elphaba is a freedom fighter against a fascist government that commits atrocities against a minority group.

Yes, the Wizard has some sympathetic qualities, Elphaba has some flaws and briefly turns to villainy toward the end, and Glinda is a mass of moral grayness under her perky pink facade. But for the most part it's clear who the villains are (the Wizard and Madame Morrible), Elphaba's stance against them is clearly heroic, and Glinda's choice to work for them is clearly a moral sell-out, with which she struggles and from which she eventually redeems herself. When the Animals' treatment parallels the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany, you can't take a "both sides" view of the situation. But every now and then, the show seems to do just that – whether in the song "Wonderful" with the Wizard's talk of "moral ambiguities" (though of course in that song, he's trying to justify his actions and manipulate Elphaba into joining him), or Elphaba and Glinda's reconciliation in "For Good," where they paint themselves as having been equally at fault. And again, and again, I've heard people say "There are no real villains in Wicked: the whole point is that there are two sides to every story and neither side is all good or all bad." But if that's the intended message, does it honestly fit with a plot that involves fascism and racial persecution?

Another work of fiction that I think has some uneasiness between its themes is Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Namely between "the Beast as a suffering, misunderstood outcast" and "the Beast as a powerful bully who needs to be humbled and change." I think a lot of the controversy about that movie stems from the uneasiness between those two themes.

On the one hand, the Beast is a spoiled, selfish prince, who was cursed as punishment for shutting out a poor beggar woman, who has a terrifying temper, and who orders others around and throws tantrums when he doesn't get his own way. His beastly appearance and mannerisms can be seen as outward symbols of his bad behavior, which is based in toxic class privilege and masculinity. From this perspective, Gaston is his kindred spirit, which is emphasized by visual cues: e.g. their similar striking blue eyes, or Gaston's pelt-covered, horned chair in the tavern that looks like the Beast's silhouette. The difference between them is that the Beast finally realizes he was wrong and changes his ways, while Gaston only becomes more beastly. But on the other hand, the Beast is also an "other", who hides from the world, who struggles with basic social skills, who is full of insecurity and self-loathing, whom Belle bonds with because they're both misfits, whose bestial mannerisms and overpowering rages are at least partly because the spell is warping his mind (in other words, a magical mental illness), and whom a mob tries to murder just because he looks scary. Analogies have rightly been drawn between the Beast and victims of racism, homophobia, or other prejudice. From this viewpoint, Gaston is his opposite: the type of privileged boor who receives undeserved hero-worship just because he's handsome and charismatic, and who persecutes "others" like the Beast.

When people view it chiefly as a story about the taming of a powerful bully, you hear accusations of "Stockholm Syndrome" and of the dangerous fantasies of changing an abuser. Viewing the Beast as a misunderstood outcast, who finds acceptance in a fellow outcast and who overcomes his mental health struggles and bad coping mechanisms as a result, reduces those accusations. But if you view the Beast chiefly as a misunderstood outcast, then his character arc can feel disempowering: so much of it consists of learning to be more people-pleasing and self-effacing, not to mention re-learning "normal" human manners and behavior (as an autistic person, I know I've sometimes felt "He needs to mask to be loved"), and he becomes fully "normal" by becoming human again in the end.

Maybe there is no uneasiness between these different themes: maybe it's just complexity. Maybe my feelings on the subject shows that I'm autistic and struggle with things that aren't black-and-white. But in both of these works of fiction, I do sometimes feel as if the writers were trying to tell two different stories at once, which sometimes fit together, sometimes not.

Does anyone else feel that way about other works of fiction? Can you name any other stories with multiple themes that seem slightly opposed and uneasy together?

[riizetarot]

feelings toward seunghan's solo debut

it's been a while since i did a reading on the boys' personal feelings and was curious about their stances now. the reading ended up being longer than expected and energetically draining, so i'm just going to summarize the message i received as best as i can and why i think it's important to share.

right now, the boys are cautiously excited for seunghan's solo debut. they believe in him and believe that whatever seunghan does, he'll be successful. their caution stems from sm (surprise, surprise). they don't know if they can trust the company to take care of seunghan but have decided to intellectualize the situation and put aside any deeper feelings they may have. this wasn't directly in the cards, but i was getting a strong "we have no other choice" energy here.

seunghan's cards indicated that he's been reminiscing. he's in a nostalgic state, or perhaps he keeps being reminded of his past right now. he's also trying to trust in the guidance he's receiving, whether that be his inner guidance or the guidance of another person. (i will note that the high priestess card has come out before as a symbol of female leadership in the past, and this time, i noticed the woman on the card eerily resembles the c2 performance director. do with that what you will.) on top of all this, he's feeling a heavy burden and may be undergoing a powerful tower moment. which makes sense. debuting as a soloist destroys everything he trained for, which was to debut in a boy group. it's a complete upheaval from what he's always known and wished for.

next, i asked, "would riize want seunghan back in the group? would seunghan even want to go back?"

i shuffled separately for each question, and they both got the six of swords. the six of swords is the card of moving on from a lost battle, from a painful past. i then asked, "if sm did everything right, gave the boys everything we've been boycotting for, would that change things?"

the answer? yes, it would. at least, it would for riize.

for seunghan, it was clear that he would need more support. not only would he need sm to do everything right by him, riize would have to open their arms to him again. the two of cups emphasized to me that he needs things to be at equilibrium for him to want to return. there has to be a feeling of equal partnership. he needs justice, protections in place, support from fans, and finally, support from riize. thankfully, it looks like riize is up for the task, but this will only happen if sm does its job first.

so, what's the point of this message? the point of it isn't to be alarmist or negative. i promised i wouldn't sugar coat any of my readings and would always come forward with honesty. the reason i'm sharing this is because it personally struck me, just how crucial it is now that we band together and pressure sm to do what is right.

i feel so convicted in this reading. remember the cards that came out as signs of seunghan's return to riize (weekly check-in #4)? yeah, well, 4 out of the those 5 cards came out in this reading.

all of them except justice. quite on the nose, but symbolic, isn't it?

[prolifeproliberty]

Problems with Trump’s new proposal to make insurance companies/the government pay for IVF:

1. IVF is immoral. Human life begins at conception. Human embryos are human beings. IVF commodifies, destroys, and endangers human embryos. An embryo created in IVF is statistically more likely to die before birth than to make it to term. Even in “ethical IVF” where only one embryo is created and implanted at a time, for a woman under 35 that child has a 49% chance of dying before birth. There is no other circumstance in which we would tolerate putting a child in a situation where they had a 49% chance of dying. For women over 35 the survival rate goes down dramatically. Since older women are more likely to be candidates for IVF (you have to have been trying for a while before it’s even recommended, and many women today don’t start trying until their 30s or later), the chance of death for many embryos created in IVF is between 75-95%.

It is impossible to know the success rate for natural implantation, because a woman cannot know if she has conceived until after implantation has already occurred. However, it would be reasonable to assume that the natural method of conception would be less risky for the embryo than creating an embryo in a lab and trying to perfectly time the implantation attempt, often by using drugs that artificially manipulate the mother’s hormonal cycle.

Note: in the article linked above, a 60-65% success rate is referenced before they get to the age breakdown. However, it should be noted that that rate is for “genetically normal” embryos, implying that you only get that rate if you’ve already destroyed any embryos that are not genetically perfect. But even if you decide to be a eugenecist and not consider generally “inferior” embryos to be people, that’s still a 35-40% risk of death, which again we would not tolerate for any other situation involving a child.

2. Religious freedom. For the same reason we have the Hyde Amendment to prohibit federal funding of abortion, and for the same reason that Hobby Lobby won their Supreme Court case, forcing either taxpayers or employers to fund IVF is forcing people to participate in something they consider to be morally indefensible. Both the Catholic Church and the Southern Baptists have condemned IVF, along with many smaller denominations and individual churches/religious groups.

3. It is not the best solution to our birth rate issues. IVF will not get us to replacement rates. We need cultural shifts that encourage women to start having children in their 20s (many fertility issues stem from waiting too long) and better overall health for women (healthy food, less environmental toxins). Let’s instead focus on letting RFK Jr. step in as part of Trump’s cabinet and work on getting the toxins out of our food and fixing nutritional recommendations to reflect the actual science, not lobbyist agendas.

[lauren-likes-to-type]

Headcanons

[Raya and the Last Dragon] Raya x Female Reader

Summary: General and romantic headcanons for Raya with a female S/O.

Word Count: 1.63k Content + Warnings: None

Enjoy!

General

Overall, Raya is relatively laidback in terms of temper. Sure, she gets into fights relatively easily, though she usually takes a sarcastic way out of it if she can

With the people she loves and trust, she isn’t afraid to admit when she’s in the wrong in order to deescalate any random argument that might happen between them

With people she despises, however, she wants to be in the right. She may start bickering with them and come across as playful, but she’s internally getting more and more frustrated and will get physical if it gets there

There are times where she has to be pulled back or calmed down in some other way in order to avoid a fight, regardless of the fact she can win the majority of them

Trust is not something that comes easy to her

She had trusted someone blindly once before, and it resulted in the world breaking under the wrath of human discord and, of course, the Druun

After she and the others managed to put the dragon’s gem back together again and the world became Kumandra again, (with the help of Sisu) she learned to start trusting people again

It’s still hard for her, considering she lost everything by trusting the wrong person, but she’s working on it

She can be very patient, though this mainly comes from her years training both under her father’s guidance and while she lived on her own for six years

However, she’s generally only patient with fighting because she knows that she could easily be overpowered if she didn’t choose her steps wisely

With other people, specifically after they’re all brought back from the Druun invasion, she learns to be patient, knowing there’s so much left to fix once everyone’s freed from their stone prisons

This girl is sarcastic, and that’s clear throughout the film, though she knows when to bite back her jokes and snarky remarks

Her humor mainly stems from the way she grew up joking around with her father

Loves dragon-based jokes, though she has to watch which ones she repeats around Sisu

Training was a daily thing for her growing up. She was meant to be the next defender of Heart, so of course she was brought up learning how to do so

Even after her father was petrified by the Druun, she still made sure to make it a daily habit to train on her own, working on her strength and strategy as she grew up alone over the years

She’s not one to back down from a fight, and she unfortunately initiates quite a bit of them because of her distrust in others. Even after she starts to let down her walls when the Druun are defeated, she can be snappy towards other people, even if they aren’t intentionally trying to upset her

Raya is a strong woman, both mentally and physically. She has a good head on her shoulders, and after being hardened by survival the six years she was on her own, her physical strength grew as well

She can hold her own in a fight (granted she’s not bombarded with a large group) and knows when to call for help

Aside from training, I can see her having a few random hobbies here and there. She couldn’t really indulge in them during the six years she was fending for herself, but she was finally able to experiment more after peace was restored to Kumandra

She would definitely like either collecting weaponry or coming up with designs for her own

Reading up about dragons is one of her favorite pastimes, and after she makes amends with Namaari, they’ll both indulge in it together each time the different lands come together for a meal or a meeting

Romantic

Love language (giving) would likely be acts of service and quality time

She enjoys spending time with those she loves, and she wants them to know that she’ll do anything for them, even something as trivial as taking care of their chores for the day

Love language (receiving) would be the same: acts of service and quality time

She wants to know that her girlfriend will do the same for her and is willing to put the same amount of effort into their relationship as she is

Not sure if she’d necessarily be touch-starved, but I also can’t see her being opposed to it as long as it’s offered by someone she loves and trusts

However, because of how much she endured those six years she was left on her own and how many attackers she had to fight off, she might be a little iffy on more intimate gestures of physical affection such as cuddling or sitting in one another’s lap

With a bit of time and patience, she’ll warm up to it and even initiate those forms of affection herself

Because of how isolated she was for years growing up, both before and after the attack of the Druun, she has no experience with romantic relationships

It’s not hard for her to understand how they work, though. She’s a fast learner and is able to tell the right and wrong things to do, as well as how to bring them to light

She’s not really impressed by most gifts, though if you give her something she’s shown interest in – such as a blade she’s had her eye on or a tapestry or book of dragons – she’ll adore it forever

Gifts won’t be refused by her, but she really only cares for them if they actually have a lot of meaning behind them

Arguments with her are random, though they’re usually nothing serious. They’re either small petty bickers, or they’re over something silly like forgetting to fold the laundry or something

However, there are a few times where arguments with her can get bad. If she’s worried that something is going to happen or someone is going to hurt you, she’ll get very protective to the point where she’ll keep you in her room until the threat has passed

Whether or not you know how to fight doesn’t really matter to her in those moments. All she wants to do is keep you safe

She had lost so much so quickly when she was betrayed by Namaari, and although things were fixed over time, she can’t help but still be paranoid here and there

If you grow tire of it and confront her, she’ll initially brush you off and tell you there’s nothing to worry about. If you continue to press her for an explanation, she’ll snap at you and essentially tell you she can’t trust you leaving the room because she won’t be able to keep an eye on you

A few harsh words might be shared in those moments, but once you both take some time apart to breathe and calm down, she’ll return to you with apologies for what she’s said to you

You’ll have to work with her on it, and with a lot of time, understanding, and long breaks to avoid another outburst, she’ll gradually feel more comfortable with you wandering about on your own

Her people are there to look out for each other, and she knows they’ll look out for you too

She’ll put her trust in them, but most of it is put into you

Although she can be fairly awkward at times, she’s able to cheer people up relatively easily, or at the very least she can reassure them about whatever they may be worrying about

There’s no exception to her ability to comfort people when it comes to you

She’ll stop at nothing to make sure you feel safe and happy

If you have any worries about being alone or getting hurt somehow, she’ll stay by your side until you feel better

If you’re feeling insecure about yourself, prepare to be bombarded with compliments and small stories of the things she adores about you

If you’re just having a bad day, she’ll have something set up in the bedroom to make you feel comfortable while you try to unwind for the night (i.e. extra blankets, pillows, your favorite books, a tray with your favorite snacks, etc.)

Dates with her are common, though they’re more casual. She just wants to spend time with you, so even doing something as simple as taking a stroll around the village is considered to be a date in her mind. Here and there, she may take you to Boun’s family ship for a meal, or she’ll pay him a little extra to ride out to the rivers to spend time alone from the entire village

In a normal fight, of course she’s too focused on trying to watch her back to show off. She needs to keep her eyes on the target and make sure she doesn’t leave any part of herself vulnerable

During training, however, she can get a little bit flashy here and there if she knows you’re watching

She might exaggerate some of her movements, throw out a new trick she knows is better visually than it is strategically, or even just flex her arms a bit to show off the muscle she’s built over the years

Ultimately, she’s a great partner. She’ll make sure you’re safe and will do everything in her power to cheer you up, even if it means she ends up getting on someone else’s nerves. There are times where she can get overprotective due to her past, but if you’re willing to put in the time and effort to work through those issues with her, she’s willing to let her guard down and trust you to be left to your own devices, knowing the people in her village are there to look out for you the same way she would

[timeagainreviews]

The Two Ranis

Before immigrating to the UK, I knew nothing about Eurovision. I may have heard the name before, but I wouldn’t have been able to tell you what it was. The only time I watched Eurovision was for its 61st song contest in 2016. I was with a group of friends, drinks were had, and commentary ensued. As introductions go, I had a lot of fun. It was kind of the perfect introduction and probably why I’ve not watched it since. I was able to soak in the atmosphere. The camp. The occasionally tragic choice of both song and costume. And to my surprise, an undercurrent of politics and controversy. It was a detached glimpse into a world I knew nothing about, and in that moment, I understood the appeal. The drama, the pageantry, the thrill of performance, it’s intoxicating. I understood then that I would never have a better experience watching Eurovision. I now walk the earth, raw dogging a Eurovisionless reality.

Part of my post-Eurovision journey has been one of casual interest in Eurovision. Like the Oscars or the Super Bowl, I might Google the results the day after. Because of this, I am only vaguely aware of any Eurovision drama, but going by the state of the world, I can piece some things together on my own. But we’re not here to talk about Eurovision, we’re here to talk about “The Interstellar Song Contest.” An episode which has not been without its share of controversy. I’ll get into it a bit, but I’m in two minds about it. Some may even say it’s frozen my dual brain stems and bigenerated me. I am both a Reviewer and the Reviewer. I have the me who watched the episode and the me who has been reading the conversation around the episode. That isn’t to say I didn’t have my concerns or that I outright agree with naysayers. 

Back in 2018, when I was a hopeful Whovian, I gushed in my review for “The Woman Who Fell to Earth” over the first woman Doctor. When Jodie Whittaker appeared, I cried. When she spoke, I cried. And yesterday, when I read Juno Dawson’s name on the credits, I cried. Before I get into anything else, I want people to understand that this moment meant something to me. I remember being in art school, having just come out as trans. I was worried about my future, so I asked my art history professor if trans people can thrive as artists. My professor responded with a flippant “Pssh, yes,” as if I had asked an obvious question. So early in transition, I was already conditioned to expect the world not to take me seriously. It may sound funny, but her casual attitude was what I needed. I needed to believe in a future that included me. While Dawson is far from the first trans person to write for Doctor Who, she is the first openly trans person to write for the show proper. The world has been rough lately, and I am going to take this victory lap.

One of the things I really like about Juno Dawson’s writing is that she plays up the camp aspects of Doctor Who. An episode parodying Eurovision is right in her wheelhouse. As a fan of the contest, Dawson seems intent on celebrating it with a light roasting. The introduction of Rylan Clark getting dethawed for yet another song contest felt correct. I know very little about Rylan Clark other than he looks like that, but I get the joke. I like that Rylan seems a good enough sport to take the piss out of himself like that. Watching him on Doctor Who Unleashed walking around the TARDIS console was genuinely adorable. I get why people give that guy stuff. I’d probably give him my PIN if he asked nicely. All of this is to say I like that the cast and guest cast felt game to be a little cheeky. The atmosphere around the production felt good-natured. Parody requires a level of respect for its subject, and this is a parody of Eurovision crafted by people who love Eurovision.

Speaking of a love for Eurovision, Interstellar Song Contest fan Gary and his husband Mike have been blocked out of their VIP booth seats by the Doctor and Belinda’s arrival. The computer reads their seats as occupied and won’t allow the couple access. I kind of love this because it explained how the Doctor was able to find an empty spot in a packed arena, as it was very lucky. But the TARDIS isn’t exactly dependent on luck. It is said that the TARDIS takes you where you need, and it’s ironic that even following the Vindicator’s coordinates, the TARDIS still manages to land the Doctor precisely where he is needed. Had Mike and Gary been in their seats when things go sour, the Doctor wouldn’t have had Gary’s expertise at triangulation or Mike’s help as a medic. I like to think of the TARDIS as a bit of a mastermind, using the Doctor strategically throughout time and space. The old girl plays 12-D chess, and I am glad she’s on our side.

The production value of the arena and the crowd cannot be understated. I loved the costumes and all of the new aliens. Oddly, however, the new faces are partly a disappointment to me. I would have loved to see some familiar faces in the crowd. Maybe a Judoon with a hot pink pincurls, a Raxacoricofallapatorian in a Pharrell hat, or a Draconian wearing a pride flag as a cape. Maybe they did that. I’ll file this away as an episode to freeze frame and do a Where’s Wally scan for Easter eggs. I’m sure WhoCulture or Screencrush have done an Easter egg video by now. The aerial views of the Harmony Arena reminded me a bit of the Senate Building from Star Wars. I found myself scanning the booths for a family of ETs. Now that would have been a deep cut. Even the halls of the space station were beautiful. Any references to the history of Eurovision found in the museum are lost on me. I hope for you Eurovision fans out there, that it was yet another fun game of I Spy. As settings go, the Harony Arena was brilliant. There was so much eye candy. Such attention to detail. Perfectly executed.

Speaking of perfectly executed, we’re introduced to Kid and Wynn, a pair of Hellions from the planet Hellia who have infiltrated the security system of the space station. The security droids reminded me of your typical Davies droid. They would fit in nicely with the Heavenly Hosts from “Voyage of the Damned,” or the leatherclad Slabs from “Smith and Jones.” I expected them to be a lot more dangerous than they were, but they were merely phase one of Kid’s three-phase plan, and he was about to crank it up a notch. Kid plays the dress rehearsal of the contest over the live feed, which alerts the Doctor when Rylan disappears from the footage. Suspecting something is amiss, the Doctor begins fiddling with a control panel on the wall. Meanwhile, Liz Lizardine takes the stage. By the way, did anyone else expect Liz to be a Malpha like the species from “Mission to the Unknown”? I mean, maybe Malpha is also from the planet Lizoko. My nerdy little headcanon will settle for “distant cousins.”

The Doctor’s arrival is noted by more than Mike and Gary, however. Mrs Flood can be spotted in the stands spying on the Doctor through a pair of opera glasses. Having been informed by Mo Gilliben that the Doctor was using a Vindicator, Mrs Flood seems perfectly happy with the results of the Doctor’s most recent triangulation. One is given the impression that perhaps even Mrs Flood was unable to get back to the 24th of May. Whatever she’s planning, she may not be in complete control of the situation. More on that later. Belinda is completely wrapt with attention as a Eurovision fan, herself. She even admonishes the Doctor for not paying proper attention to the songs since it will affect his ability to vote fairly. This entire episode is a shining spot for Belinda. In a weaker script, Varada Sethu can elevate her role with charisma alone. But here, Dawson has given her a wide spectrum of emotions to experience. Belinda is quickly becoming one of my favourite companions.

As Liz’s song peaks, Kid takes his cue to raise the roof, quite literally. With the livestream hijacked, none of the three trillion viewers back home realise what is about to occur. The kid cuts the power to the force field standing between the 100,000 concert goers and the vacuum of space. As devastating and evil plans in Doctor Who go, this might be one of the most shocking I’ve experienced. The moment is played masterfully as the tone goes from light and exuberant to chaotic and terrifying. The dreadful visual of the shining happy crowd helplessly flowing upward into space made me audibly gasp. It’s a horrific thing to do, and the camera doesn’t pull away from it. What I had expected to be a silly killer robots in Eurovision episode turned out to be a high-stakes ticking clock thriller. I was already on board, but now? Wow.

However, Kid’s plan doesn’t go completely to plan as Wynn saves the life of one of the contestants, Cora, by sealing the shell of her concert booth. Furthermore, the Doctor’s fiddling with the panel earlier has bought them a bit of time by expanding the mavity bubble. Before we move on, I really hope Davies has some sort of plan with mavity. Because if it’s just a joke, it’s not a funny one. I feel like I take 10 points of psychic damage every time someone says it. Russell, stop trying to make fetch happen. Initially, I had a similar reaction to the Doctor’s sonic sunglasses, but now I look back on it with a simple fondness. Regardless, it would be great if the joke was actually leading to something about the nature of the show’s current reality. If the Doctor is stuck in the land of fiction, perhaps he’ll get back to a world where gravity is normal.

Belinda finds herself regrouping with Cora and her music partner Len. I say regrouping, but in actuality, she’s falling apart. Having just watched the Doctor and the TARDIS get sucked into space, her window for getting back home has narrowed considerably. Luckily, Cora knows a thing or two about feeling disconnected from home. She knows what it’s like to feel adrift and she helps tether Belinda back to the present. Meanwhile, the Doctor slowly drifts through space as his body starts accumulating frost crystals. But a sudden vision brings the Doctor’s mind back to the forefront- his granddaughter, Susan, standing inside the TARDIS. Carole Ann Ford hasn’t been seen since 1983 when she and the Fifth Doctor shared a rather disappointing reunion in “The Five Doctors.” I would say it was a surprise, but they’ve been hinting at a Susan cameo for a while now. She was also in attendance for the 60th anniversary premiere. We already suspected something, so it was nice that they finally pulled the trigger.

Susan’s pep-talk invigorates the Doctor enough to channel his inner Pinkie Pie and arm himself with a confetti cannon. Using a blast of gold confetti, the Doctor rockets back to the arena like Wall-E with a fire extinguisher. Luckily, Mike and Gary are there to receive the Doctor, and I do mean that as a double entendre because those guys were thirsty. Mike revives the Doctor, and the trio set about regaining control of the space station. I will say at this point, I found the Doctor’s use of the sonic screwdriver a bit over the top. The Doctor uses the sonic to pop robot heads. He uses the sonic to blow up a gun in Kid’s hands. He even uses it to blow up Kid’s doomsday device. Ncuti wasn’t lying when he said he loved the Third Doctor because not since the Pertwee era have we seen the sonic screwdriver blow up so many devices. The Doctor manages to hack into the system, which draws the attention of Kid. Kid and the Doctor have a curt conversation, which Belinda is able to overhear due to Len’s own hacking. There is hope for Bel once more if the Doctor is alive. Unfortunate for Kid that the Doctor doesn’t know Belinda is also still alive.

During the Doctor and Kid’s brief exchange, we learn that Cora knows both Wynn and Kid. Len’s prejudiced attitude toward Cora after discovering she was a dehorned Hellion illustrates the type of bigotry the Hellions have experienced. We also learn of the abuses of the corporation and the contest’s main sponsor, Poppy Honey. Did anyone else find it weird that in the previous episode we had a brief appearance of Captain Poppy from Space Babies, and now we have a storyline with the word Poppy so central to the plot? If that’s just a coincidence, it’s a weird one. We’re in that part of the season where anything could be a plot thread to the bigger story. I know it’s been a few years since the Chibnall era, but I am still thankful to be in a position where I’m engaging with the show once more.

The Hellions have caused the biggest stir within the fandom. It’s hard not to see them as a direct allegory to Palestine, especially given the undercurrent of Eurovision politics at play as well. But I found myself wondering just how direct of an allegory they were. Like the pro-life allegory from “Kill the Moon,” I’m not convinced it exists. I spoke about the optics of UNIT during a time when ICE raids are ramping up, but I wasn’t suggesting UNIT was an actual stand-in for ICE. The kindest criticism I’ve found of the Hellions is that they handled the story clumsily. I’m more in that camp, myself. I don’t for once think either Juno Dawson or Russell T Davies set out to make a pro-Israel storyline. Nor do I feel like they were setting out to demonise Palestinians. That feels like an extremely unkind take on the episode. I do agree that the messaging is muddled, and I don’t believe they stuck the landing. There were even times when I found myself confused as to what point they were trying to make. I’ve seen people online referring to Kid as a freedom fighter, which I find very weird. You kill 100,000 people and then plan to kill three trillion more lives, you’re a murderer. I don’t think that should be controversial to say.

Furthermore, I don’t believe the episode loses control of the narrative. Everyone involved knows that the Doctor takes things too far with Kid. It’s kind of the point of the scene. The Doctor and Kid are more alike than either of them would like to admit. Both of them took things too far in this story. And in the aftermath, they both blame their trauma as an excuse. I don’t see Kid as a freedom fighter. I also don’t see the Doctor as a great guy who was in control of his emotions. It’s messier than that. This is a Doctor who thinks his companion has just died. This is the wrath of a Time Lord. This is the same Doctor we see torturing the Dalek in “Dalek.” This is the Timelord Victorious from “The Waters of Mars.” It’s poetic that in this moment of great weakness that the Doctor should once again see Susan, his first companion. The Doctor knows not to travel alone because he gets like this. All of that comes tumbling back when he sees Belinda’s look of hurt. I don’t like this scene because I agree with the Doctor. I like this scene because the show clearly knows what the Doctor is doing is wrong. This isn’t the Doctor casually giving a brown man to the Nazis and the show pretending like it’s normal. This is a low point for the Doctor, and I am happy to see his fallibility back in all of its complex glory. Call me crazy, but I like those occasional moments when the Doctor is the scariest person in the room.

Please don’t construe this as me belittling how this episode may have made you feel. I’ve been reading people’s opinions on the episode, and I appreciate the perspective. As I said, I don’t necessarily agree with the assessment, but I’m glad people are talking about it. I simply have a hard time seeing any malice behind this story. There is a real effort to show that the Hellions are, in fact, victims. Even our beloved Mike and Gary have blind spots from the corporation’s smear campaign against Hellia. They’ve been told that the Hellions brought ruin to their own planet. They have no idea that the surface of their beautiful world was left pillaged and scorched by an uncaring corporation. Poor Cora’s horns were cut from her body. And even Kid is called Kid because his parents were murdered before anyone could ask his name.

It’s interesting that after all is said and done, I find myself feeling compassion toward Wynn and Kid, which is why I feel the Doctor has a lot to atone for. For starters, I am not exactly pleased with the way the Doctor refers to Kid as “Kid” in such a derogatory manner. It’s a bit of salt in the wound when you consider how Kid was given the name. The Doctor also reiterates that the ice in his heart toward Kid is still there. Luckily, the Doctor has two hearts. Maybe within the other one, he can find some sort of forgiveness or love. I don’t believe the Doctor is off the hook for his behaviour, and I’ll be paying attention to how they approach this aspect of his character in the future. The Doctor took things so far that I practically expected Ood Sigma to show up and wag a finger at him. Much like the Ood, I think the Doctor owes Hellia one after this. The Doctor shouldn’t simply be able to walk away from the experience with no consequences. As much as I disagree with Kid’s actions, I also disagree with corporal punishment. The Doctor has a reckoning with his darker side on the horizon, and I feel like Susan might be instrumental in that.

I’m glad that they didn’t pull a total “Kerblam!” by letting the corporation off the hook. After the Doctor and his husbears Mike and Gary beam the spaced people back to the satellite, Cora is given the spotlight to sing what I assume is a Hellion song of deep cultural significance. Even Len’s jerk ass has to shrug off his grudges. It’s not a fix for Hellia, nor is it justice, but it is the start of a new narrative around the people of Hellia. Once again, we return to the theme of a controlled narrative. It’s ironic then that this episode should air on the same week Andor has come to an end. Not only does the story of the Ghorman Massacre echo the ravaging of Hellia, but there is also a strong message about the spread of information. I’m reminded of Mon Mothma’s stirring speech to the Senate when she said- "The difference between what is said and what is known to be true has become an abyss. Of all the things at risk, the loss of an objective reality is perhaps the most dangerous." Whoever controls the narrative controls reality.

The Doctor and Belinda reconcile, but not without a stern word from Belinda. She’s finally able to tell him how wonderful he is, but also to remind him that his actions scared her. The Doctor gave in to his weaker impulses, and she doesn’t let him forget about it. I love any companion that holds the Doctor to a higher standard, and Belinda is just that companion. However, their reconciliation is cut short when the TARDIS, attempting to land on May 24th, is filled with fire as its doors blow open. Is this the TARDIS exploding yet again, or maybe the Rani has broken through the doors with an assault similar to the one that killed the Sixth Doctor. Oh yeah, did I not mention Mrs Flood is the Rani? If you recall from my pre-season 2 blog, I guessed that Mrs Flood wasn’t the Rani. I didn’t want to believe it, but I’ve been hurt one too many times. But holy jumpin’ George, it’s finally her! And she bigenerated? How freaking fun is that?

You may wonder why I love the Rani so much. She’s only ever been in two televised stories (three if you count Dimensions in Time), and yet so many of us wanted to see her return. She calls herself Rani, the Hindi word for “Queen,” which fit her original actress, Kate O’Mara, like a crown. She had a regal egotism that the Master could only fake. And, like the Master, she enjoys a bit of subterfuge and disguise. Lesser men have referred to the Rani as the “Chick Master,” but that’s Anthony Ainley they’re thinking of. No, the Rani is far more calculating and far less mad, which makes her slightly more terrifying. There’s a cold logic and patience to her that makes her dangerous. She’s far more meticulous than either the Doctor or the Master. You get the impression during “The Mark of the Rani” that she’s shaking her head at these two Time Lord idiots who burn through regenerations like matches. I wouldn’t be surprised if her first appearance is still her first incarnation. You even get a sense of her no-nonsense approach by the way Mrs Flood automatically becomes subservient to the new Rani. Where the Master’s incarnations kill one another, hers follow a logic that the eldest incarnation is in charge. Squabbling is a thing for idiots.

Curiously, they decided to reintroduce one of the Doctor’s more science-minded villains in an era where magic and Chaos Gods have taken centre stage. I have two possible predictions about this. Either the Rani is fabricating a fictional world, or she’s looking to control this new form of science like she did its previous form. Does this mean she’s in control of the Gods or will her hubris bite her in the ass? Is she the Boss the Meep referred to? It’s tempting to say yes, but what’s interesting is that on two separate occasions, we’ve seen her die due to circumstances seemingly outside her control. Sutekh was able to reduce her to dust, and Kid’s plan shot her into space, forcing her to bigenerate. Either she’s a victim of circumstance, or these were calculated risks she had already factored into her plans. If it’s the latter, that’s kind of bad ass.

This episode was a lot of fun to watch and less fun to write about. I don’t relish having to breach sensitive topics, and I wish their messaging had been clearer. Juno Dawson showed a great flair for exciting and creative ideas. I loved the weird stand out moments like Dugga Doo (10 hour Dugga Doo cut on Youtube, please) and Holo-Graham Norton (how did nobody make that joke?). The costumes and makeup were top shelf. The sense of danger was real and palpable. The characters and villains were both complex. As much as the characters or the audience would like to draw black and white contrasts, the story is much more interested in exploring the uncomfortable middle ground. Kid and Wynn do have real cause to be upset. The Doctor’s actions weren’t great. I commend the story for not landing hard on any conclusions. Perhaps that is this episode’s secret strength. It is better to start a dialogue than try and control the narrative.

[ateez-himari]

SUMMER SONIC FESTIVAL

Atiny show concern over the physical health of the group.

August 19, 2024 (2:55PM)

ATEEZ's consecutive performances at the Summer Sonic festival mere days following nearly two months on tour raises concerns about the members' conditions, as some were seen struggling in the blazing heat. While the sets were indeed much shorter than normal concert performances, only fifty minutes, the weather that day was so humid even locals have found it unbearable.

While the moment was only partially captured as it took place behind two flags used during the Guerilla introduction, the youngest was seen nearly bowed down in pain while clutching her chest and members who witnessed this happening hurried over immediately. Using the recently released statement from KQ Entertainment netizens were able to infer that they were likely on edge due to the cardiac arrest she experienced the previous year, which stemmed from a level of fatigue quite similar to the one that was observed during the festival. It would seem that there is no need to panic as the vocalist rapidly regained her composure and with the flawless performance that followed, attendees standing away from this area remained unaware of this slight mishap.

Another thing that caught attention however was the return of an elastic rib brace, which was only seen during the first week of touring while she recovered from surgery that reportedly took place in the middle of the year. It became visible during day two when the heat had exhausted her to the point of having to use the main rapper as support during one of her verses, although with their interactions now being more freely close it seemed rather inconspicuous. His worried expression while gently steadying the young woman with two hands around her waist was what gave away the situation.

"Baby, do you need to stop ? Do you need me to get you some water ?" Could be seen being asked by Mingi in a video. His girlfriend simply denied and went off to dance in front of fans after giving him a quick kiss.

Attendees exiting the stage area in order to watch other artists also noticed that medical staff was already on standby the moment their set ended, one of them immediately checking the youngest's pulse while holding her upright. When these clips began circulating through social media fans were shocked as there seemed to be nothing wrong during their performance, the energy behind every aspect of it being the same as during regular concerts.

During the exiting bow on day one attendees noticed that the extreme heat had gotten to another member as well, San, who was seen biting down on his thumb briefly in order to stay conscious prior to stumbling away backstage. Throughout both performances he was seen stumbling during choreography, his facial expressions having also lost their usual animation with much more tiredness becoming visible. One singular video of their main vocalist, Jongho, looking as though he was about to faint any moment went viral alongside these clips which lead to atiny wondering whether they were truly getting enough rest.

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[hoodienanami]

no future: punk, politics and british youth culture, 1976–1984 by matthew worley

love the connection worley draws here between dury and lydon. they both survived childhood ruining battles with illnesses that left them physically disabled (tho dury's disability was a lot more visible and debilitating, lydon's messed up spine and partial blindness definitely count as being a disability) and therefore unappealing/unmarketable in the music industry that, even before the hyper-visual mtv era, had little place for anyone considered physically unappealing by the cultural standards of the time. dury and lydon are both stars who could only become stars through punk as punk prided itself on celebrating the 'grotesque' and 'freaks' of the world

but more to worley's actual point and not just focusing on one sentence, i find it interesting how many ppl in our modern world consider the sex pistols some sort of hyper-masculine band when, during their existence, they were far from being considered as such. jon savage, author of england's dreaming and foremost historian on english punk, has talked quite a bit about how a major part of why the sex pistols appealed to him so much was how non-masculine johnny was compared to ppl like joe strummer and the rest of the clash who savage considers to be too macho. theres a reason why their first fans were all gay men and bisexual women

obviously this androgyny didnt always get positive responses, esp since it wasnt femme or even technically gnc which is often easier for ppl to swallow as they can put it into one of the two gender boxes our society allows for. the view of male punks as either having no gender or being some sort of third gender that was neither man nor woman stems, in part, from johnny due to his status as the most high profile member of the subculture in the 70s. the makeup other male punks, such as adam ant, wore ofc made this already incredibly homophobic and transphobic view of english punks a lot louder and more violent but johnny's status as YouthTM first human male second def did a lot to create that attitude. that infamous interview with a group of teddy boys talking about why they hate punks has johnny name-dropped during a conversation that also features one teddy boy admitting that his hate for punks stems from viewing them as a third gender and how that disgusts him to the point of wanting to commit violence

i find all of this very fascinating. johnny isnt particularly feminine but hes def not masculine, even when hes on stage. as worley says, he bypasses gender all together. due to the sex pistols splitting long before he could get any older then 21, the cultural image of johnny rotten remains as an eternal teenager

maybe thats why johnny's teddy boy outfit makes him look like hes doing drag. its an exaggerated performance of masculinity by someone who isnt actually like that...or maybe its bc hes wearing a collar and has bright orange bowie hair

[eaxmxae]

So I have these OCs that have been in my head for a hot second so here we go:

Before we begin, I haven't read any of the comics, I only got like halfway through Batman: Year One and a little bit of Catwoman. I also watched Young Justice and Teens titans. The rest of my knowledge stems from mostly fanfiction and this app.

So, an unnamed villain of a woman took DNA from Dick when he was still robin, and quite young (12-13 ish) and made 'Clones' using her and Dicks DNA to eventually use against batman.

She originally wanted two boys nearly identical to Dick, but stuff went wrong because the DNA she used from herself had the wrong Alleles and so on.

In the end, there was a girl and a boy. The girl looked more like dick (facial structure and all) and the boy looked more like herself.

She originally planned to send them off to Gotham (From England, We'll say) when they were the same age when dick became robin.

Then Dick became nightwing and Jason came and died.

Assuming the twins were born when dick was 14 and Dicks and Jason have a three year age gap, they would have been 4. So not quite yet 12.

She wanted to take advantage of Batman and Nightwings grief and effectively sold both children to different groups.

The girl, being a carbon copy of dick, was to be made into the perfect bait and then dropped In the streets of Gotham where hopefully the Joker would find her.

The boy would be conditioned into being an assassin.

They are both 5 at this time.

Then the mother dies.

And the contract between both organisations is broken.

The girl is killed almost immediately. They are at sea when they receive the news so she is chained to a brick and thrown into the north Atlantic ocean.

The boy is effectively made into a slave for 3 years. He's violent and never really stayed with one master for long. They eventually just starved and punished him so much that he died in a cell and they left him there.

At this point, for reference, the boy is now 8. This makes Dick 22, Red hood is on the rise/ in his duffle bag era (I'm not sure how long Jason was with the LoA tbh) and Tim Robin again. I don't think Damian is quite in the picture yet.

The fun begins here: due to the nature of their deaths, intense emotions and lack of graves they become ghosts. As ghosts, they are stuck in the state they died in. This means even though the girl has been a ghost for much longer, she is unable to move much because she still has to carry the weight of the chain and brick with her 5 year old body. The boy found her eventually when they were chronologically 10.

If a change is made to their physical bodies it applies to their ghost forms if that makes sense. The boy was able to remove the bricks from her chain so she could move.

They are able to take on a more human form that would look like their chronological age, but their ghost forms are the age they died.

They spend the next 3 Ish years finding and taking down the organisations that killed them as well as pretty much anyone that had anything to do with their mother.

Which is where they find out about the reason they were created and about their father.

So to Gotham they go and fanfic logic says they get spotted by a Wayne for their resemblance to dick and many loopholes later they end up at Wayne manor. Some more slightly unethical DNA tests later shows that these two apparently 15 year old twins are 27 yo Dicks and a Villains biological children.

Some more of Bruce's patented Bat suspicion™ and Tim's stalking™ later and a confrontation occurs.

However, these apparently 15 year olds are as emotionally mature as an indoctrinated and terrified 5 yo and a violent, abused and too-exposed 8 year old.

Some tears and accidental ghost forms later.

Chaos ensues

I made half of this up on the go and I'm 90% sure it doesn't make sense😭😭

[choerypetal]

Lost Souls / Sejanus Plinth

summary : You were Coriolanus's closest companion, much like Sejanus. While you and Coriolanus seemed to embody the ideal image of true love, the snowfall couldn't dispel the lingering shadow of a phantom, preventing anyone, including Snow, from witnessing the genuine happiness you sought. Consequently, you were implicated in Coriolanus's criminal act, coerced into playing a role in his misdeed alongside Sejanus, only to be betrayed. What if this entire ordeal was a meticulously crafted plan to make Coriolanus face the consequences of his actions and instill in him a yearning for a love that was forever out of reach? The roots of this scheme trace back to District 12, where Sejanus fled, ultimately reuniting with the one he truly loved—you. Two fractured souls, both attempting to escape a haunting past that seemed destined to linger.

ps: english isn't my first mother tongue language so i deeply appolagize for the small errors etc. (which will be corrected shortly) also this story was requested by @anonys-world! hope you will all enjoy. + pls do not copy my work without proper credit as it can be marked as flagged or being ban if doing the case, thank you!

Snow embodied the ethos of his era—a man rooted in tradition when deemed necessary, yet undeniably a shrewd egotist with a proclivity for favoring purity over squalor. In his aspirations for the presidency of Panem, he envisioned himself alongside a woman he once loved and now considered his closest confidante, Sejanus. Sejanus played the roles of both friend and foe in Snow's perception, especially when faced with the earnest plea for forgiveness. This plea stemmed from actions Sejanus himself had committed, contingent upon Snow's willingness to acknowledge his own transgressions. However, Snow staunchly denied any possibility of having erred, viewing Sejanus' contrition as nothing more than a theatrical display in his own eyes.

Fortuitously, Sejanus managed to elude capture, albeit not without difficulty, as he had been keenly aware of his vulnerability during Snow's attempt to eliminate another tribute. Subsequently, when he found himself compelled to take the life of his closest friend. The revelation of these events came to you, ensnared in the intricate web woven by Snow's devious plans. You, too, were drawn into the narrative when Coriolanus's name was invoked in a plea for release, a plea tinged with the assertion that the situation was a grave misunderstanding. Contemplating how this news would reach you, it was likely to be delivered abruptly, considering Snow's peculiar interest in your affairs. This was a certainty that Sejanus was intent on ensuring. And for Snow, it wasn’t enough. 

On a rainy day, you discovered that Sejanus had managed to find his way back home, despite your exile and nomadic lifestyle. Luck favored him, when he had heard that a small group of familiar Peacekeepers aligned themselves to escort you from your current dwelling. This meant that Sejanus had to navigate through various deals and threats to pinpoint your new residence. However, even with his friend Snow's assistance, it was clear that no amount of persuasion could make Snow divulge the truth. Conversations with him only yielded a cascade of lies. Thus, Sejanus began his journey to find you– Find home. 

While you held onto a glimmer of hope that Sejanus would come home, it wasn't because he sought to return to his District and face a father intent on shaming him as a distasteful and ignorant child. Sejanus's primary aim was to reunite directly with you. He longed to hear the soothing cadence of your voice, feel the delicate touch of your fingers in his curls, and share deep, comforting embraces, all while listening to your soft singing. However, this desire became complicated as Snow's intense animosity toward the Plinth escalated, leading him to harbor resentment towards you as well. Consequently, both of you became the targets in the crosshairs of a man driven solely by aspirations of wealth and power. 

Before his departure, Sejanus had intended to pen a letter expressing the sentiments he had shared that night. The letter encapsulated his commitment to stand by you even before tending to the needs of his own people. He envisioned a future building a family with you, whether it meant establishing a life beyond the District or securing an apartment in the Capitol with you at his side. Regardless of the path chosen, Sejanus planned to formalize the relationship upon his return. Despite the vehement hatred from his best friend, Snow, Sejanus remained indifferent, embracing his own pride. The prospect of witnessing Snow's rage only fueled his determination, understanding that Snow would never comprehend a love as profound and meaningful as the one he sought with you.

It was in that same day, you received the letter, and read it as followed: 

                 Dear, Y/N. 

How I yearn to be in your presence. My comrades and I successfully completed our duties ahead of schedule, taking strategic measures in our actions. When our commander learned of my last name, suspicions arose, prompting him to curtail my Peacekeeper duties and training. At my father's urging to return home promptly, little does he know that I won't be heading to District 2 but to our shared sanctuary with you. Fear not; I've discovered through fellow Peacekeepers that they aided in your escort right after the Games. My love, please be patient as I make my way back to our home. I'll be reunited with you soon.

Love, 

Sejanus. 

The letter was a gift from Tigris, and as you held it, you couldn't shake the suspicion that it might not be Sejanus's handwriting, at first. Yet, as you read the words and felt the essence of his expression, it became clear that it was indeed his authentic account transcribed on paper. Unbeknownst to Snow, the spectacle of witnessing his best friend's hanging was merely a staged performance. Sejanus, genuinely fearful that any Peacekeeper might release the cord prematurely, managed to escape District 12 right after the act. Consequently, as long as Snow remained alive and well, both of you would need to conceal yourselves, disappearing from sight to avoid any further repercussions. 

"I disclosed nothing to Snow." Tigris asserted during her visit to assist you in unpacking at your new home. "He's only kept tabs on your well-being and made sure to update you on Sejanus..." Despite recognizing Tigris as a friend, a twinge of sympathy welled up within you, understanding that she was acting only to bring joy to her cousin. With the realization that she still had some family left while you faced complete exile, survival instincts kicked in, overshadowing any sense of pride. "As long as he remains unaware that Sejanus is alive, I'm content with the information." You quietly expressed, hoping not to arouse suspicion when Tigris communicated with Coriolanus in the future.

Sejanus's journey appeared to be heading north. As he received updates about your whereabouts, he understood that in a short while, he would be left alone. The companions who had accompanied him would return to their respective Districts. However, for Sejanus, a compelling need drew him back to the person he cherished the most. This individual had once too, been broken by the actions of Snow, experiencing a sense of betrayal and utter brokenness that could only be healed by genuine love. Sejanus's plans centered around reuniting with the one thing he loved above all else—you.

Arriving home, he was aware of finding you peacefully asleep. Not far away, a cabin caught his eye, and a wave of relief washed over him as he noticed the subtle glow of light inside. It signaled that life had continued to thrive. Approaching, he made his way to the front door, eager to be the first to comfort you as you shed tears in your slumber. These were tears he would gently wipe away, planting a tender kiss on your cheek. After all, the two of you were nothing more than broken souls, central figures in Snow's machinations, destined to be reunited for a chance at living in undisturbed peace. 

The knock on the door that evening caught your attention, and though you suspected it might be Tigris with her usual errands, Sejanus casually heard your voice, responding with a quick "Coming." A surge of relief and comfort washed over him, and excitement filled him at the prospect of seeing your beautiful and now rested face. As the door began to creak open, your face and entire body froze in place. Sejanus smiled at the sight of you, standing right in front of him. You wore your usual flowery dress that he adored, but this time, Sejanus's hair had been shaved into a style that brought out the depth and honesty in the color of his eyes. "Seja—" you began to speak his name, only for him to chuckle at your disbelief. "But Tigris told me you would only arrive later—" He cut you off, gently cupping your flushed cheeks with his hands. His face drew closer, his breath mingling with yours, and your lips almost brushed against each other as he spoke in his defense.

"That doesn't matter right now, Love. Did you receive my letter?" Sejanus inquired, and you nodded, exhaling a soft sigh of relief. "Snow doesn't know I'm here, and neither do my parents. Everyone believes I'm dead. I was planning on bringing you back to the Capitol with me, but father knew about our plan long ago." There was a hint of sadness in his voice as he attempted to spare you from further difficulty. However, in the grand scheme of things, the chaotic planning didn't matter as much to you in that moment. What truly mattered was seeing him here, alive and well.

"You can't imagine how long I waited for you, Sejanus." You confessed, your voice delicately threading through the words you had struggled to find. The vulnerability stemmed from Snow, who had taken great pleasure in exploiting it to your disadvantage. "At this moment, Snow couldn't care less about me, either." You finally expressed your feelings toward the situation. The emotions resurfaced not long ago, with Snow killing Mayfair and Sejanus being thrown under the bus. The plans were twisted, part of Snow's undoubtedly sadistic scheme, leading him to believe that his closest friend was now dead.

Sejanus’s features darkened at the mention of a friend he once trusted. “Does he know anything of your whereabouts?” He asked, a little serious this time, as you shook your head a confident ‘no’. “I made sure that Tigris would only use the “She is okay” or “Living in the Capitol safely.” He has no idea about your current status. You have no idea how scare I am, what if she has to accidently slip away our little secret. Little do we know he could become aware of it anytime soon.” You tried to make sure not to sound frightened yourself when in reality you were completely aware of what Snow was capable of and please what he favors in the moment. If only you had the audacity the object his actions but if you had done such things– who knew if you’d remain alive at the very least. 

"Hush..." Sejanus's voice softened as he realized the tremble in your fingers, a manifestation of your grief. It wasn't just the fear of the plan's potential failure that shook you, but also the realization that, had things gone differently, Sejanus might not be by your side at this very moment. His hand gently caressed the back of your head as he allowed you to bury yourself in the comfort of his chest, absorbing the familiar scent you had longed for. "Snow acted recklessly for our benefit. If we maintain our resolve, he won't come close to us, let alone lay a finger on you. I promise." He reassured. Little did both of you know, Snow was already privy to your whereabouts. It was only a matter of time before he discerned his cousin's peculiar behavior while inquiring about your well-being, signaling an impending discovery. This time, however, Sejanus might not be in the equation. 

However, in the current moment, the present took precedence. Being in Sejanus's company was all you desired, and he shared the sentiment. As you reluctantly broke away from the embrace, you noticed a piece of paper threatening to slip through Sejanus's uniform pants. Your curiosity piqued, and you furrowed your brows, prompting you to reach for it. Yet, Sejanus, with a swift reflex, intercepted your hand, his eyes pleading for you to refrain from picking it up. "Don't—" He uttered firmly, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on yours, his grip tightening as a silent plea to respect his request. It became evident that whatever the object was, it held significant meaning for Sejanus. "Quite amusing, isn't it?" He remarked with a touch of sarcasm as he retrieved the crumpled item from his pocket.

"And I used to believe that this moment would mark the beginning of a special friendship." His hands seemed almost compelled to crumple the already battered piece of paper, which once held a photo of Coriolanus and Sejanus together. It was a day etched vividly in your memory, a day when he had also taken a photo with you. Snow had envisioned celebrating the exceptional prowess of two extraordinary peers for the 10th Hunger Games. However, it turned out to be a complete disaster, a spectacle that Sejanus perceived as a grotesque display orchestrated by a man devoid of humane intentions. As you gazed at the photo, you noticed Sejanus's voice cracking on the last sentence. His tears were tainted with bitterness rather than sorrow. How could someone so heartless, someone who only considered his own interests, be the same person you once admired? 

"Hey—" Your fingers gently cradled his face, echoing the comforting gesture he had extended to you just moments ago. It was a consoling touch you had inherited from Sejanus's mother, a gesture he had come to hold dear. His lips formed a strained yet hopeful smile, and he endeavored not to falter in your presence. "Snow manipulated both of us. He was the puppet master... But we won't let him control us any longer." you asserted, striving to convey confidence in your words. However, a lingering suspicion gnawed at you, especially as Snow's persistent quest to discover your exact whereabouts began to cast a shadow over your assurance. 

Honestly, Snow eventually uncovered the location of your exile. However, uncertainty shrouded Sejanus's whereabouts, leaving room for the unsettling possibility that his old friend might still be alive but in a place where Snow could find him with nefarious intentions. Despite Sejanus hanging onto your every word, he found himself unable to restrain the tears he had been trying to hold back. While you continued to cradle his face, he leaned in to touch his forehead to yours, closing the gap until he could feel the tender brush of your lips against his own. In the paradox of the situation, love felt secure within each other's arms, leading both of you to share laughter through tears. Sejanus, in a spontaneous gesture, swiftly tossed a memory he once cherished directly into the fireplace. 

"We'll face this together." He uttered in that moment, fervently desiring that the two of you could navigate through whatever challenges lay ahead, even if it meant making sacrifices to cherish every precious second and moment together. 

“Together.”

[youeverjustmarryabountyhunter]

Okay so this is controversial but I'm going rant about it anyway because it really does bother me.

I don't like Satine Kryze. Now, hold on. I'm not some misogynistic woman hater, I actually think she's a really interesting character. But, I don't like her. The two things can both be true, alright? Character wise I understand what's she's after. Ultimately she was a little girl who watched her family be torn apart by civil war and took on a more pacifistic root because of it. Trauma does that. She wanted to stop corruption and I cannot fault her for that but to ignore the damage she has done as a whole alongside the blatant racism of her actions is just infuriating.

I want to talk about the racism first. Now, am I saying Satine herself is racist? I think it could be argued that, yes. Does she say anything to portray that she is? No. But she doesn't have to. I also think it could be argued that she simply wanted Mandalore to be peaceful, but when you look at what she's done to the culture as a whole, it's a bit jarring.

I'd also like to point out that I think a great deal of my complaints largely fall onto the writers, because at the end of the day, their beliefs are reflected onto the characters. And while Satine is not without faults, she is a fictional character at the end of the day. However, that being said, her beliefs? Are reflective of people's real beliefs and there in lies the issue.

And when I say that characters reflects writers beliefs I want to be clear that having a bad character (morality wise) does not mean a writer supports their morals and or actions! But when said actions are portrayed to the audience as the 'correct' stance, that's when things get messy. Let's get into it.

To understand Mandalorians first we're going to have to get into Temuera Morrison and the blatantly obvious fact that he is NOT a white man. He is Māori, and that is reflected heavily in Jango Fett's characterization. A great deal of Mandalorian culture stems from Morrison's own culture and to deny this is frankly racist in and of itself.

So when were discussing Mandalorian's and their culture, it's important to keep that in mind. You are not only critiquing a fictional culture, but one that is tied heavily into a real person's very real culture.

Mandalorians, from the start are established as a warrior culture. Start is used very loosely here because we only have Mandalorians because George Lucas thought Boba was cool. So bare that in mind. But when I say start, I mean that when we actually get to learn about them and their culture.

They have a creed/code that they live and die by. This is their way of life. And in that creed there is one very specific rule I want to focus on and that is children are sacred. Foundlings are the future. Mandalorians do not care about blood ties. They don't care about who your father was, only the father you'll be. (A common Mandalorian saying btw)

So, where does that leave us?

With a culture that is not only heavily tied to Morrison's very own culture, but one that also harbors a belief of adopting without care for heritage or one's differences.

What does that have to do with Satine?

Look at Mandalore when we first see it under her rule. And I mean really, honestly, and truly, look.

Why are they all white? Why are they all human?

Okay yes, you can probably find some instance where they aren't, but the vast majority of what we see on screen is white humans and if you don't see a problem as to why what should be a very diverse cultural group would all be white humans then I think maybe you need to think about that for a second. And this is why I think it's important to remember that tidbit I said early about the writers affecting characters beliefs. Because this was a decision decided on by a real person. You could chalk them all being humans up to being sake of convenience in animating if you wanted. I think it's lazy, but it is easy. But it's not difficult to portray different races. At the very least they could have added different skin tones. But they didn't. That was a conscious decision.

And as I said, this reflects on Satine and her own beliefs.

Because in an effort to 'cleanse' Mandalore of any corruption and war she has erased any and all diversity. I don't think I need to explain to you why a white woman ridding a planet known for it's diversity of any cultures and beliefs differing from her own, is wrong. And yes, while I can sympathize with a young girl traumatized by war so much that she wants to rid it completely, but in doing so she fundamentally managed to erase any and all individuality.

I'd also like to touch on that I don't necessarily think that we the audience are supposed to agree with Satine in her entirety, but the amount of people that I have seen defend her so vehemently is what drove me to write this is the first place. And while, like I said, I don't think the intended purpose was for us to agree with her, there is never once an instance where anyone bothers to acknowledge the blantant racism. Satine's changes are just regarded by everyone, even in cannon, as just a way to stop war. The only critique she's given is about her pacisfism and while, yes, stripping a warrior culture down to her pacisfistic beliefs is also racist and a big deal! It's as though they do not grasp that aspect of it, or how much deeper it goes.

The lack of armor, weapons, diversity, is all there as plain as the eye can see. I didn't have to dig to find it. I didn't read some obscure comic from legends, it's right there in the clone wars.

And while we're at it, let's also discuss Satine being a white woman and why that makes her actions that much more of an issue. Because as I stated earlier she is a Mandalorian, a culture which is based on the Māori culture. You know, people that aren't typically white?

(I will say in fannon, I have seen some truly wonderful artist depict her as a Māori woman and I think that's incredible! But that's not what I am discussing)

Because in cannon, she is portrayed and painted as a white woman. Now I'm not here to argue on if you can have white people as Mandalorians or not, because frankly Mandalorians don't care about your skin color. You could even go as far as to say that I'm the racist for assuming she's white when for all we know she could just have a lighter skin tone. You're welcome to believe that. Regardless of the case, I think it says something about the writers when they chose to depict a white passing woman as someone who needed to 'cleanse' Mandalore of its roots, don't you?

Making Satine white or white passing, along side pushing the agenda that she wants to change Mandalore for the better, when previously one of the only other Mandalorian's that we know about so intensively is Jango Fett, a person of color, is frankly, a little weird, don't you think?

I won't get into the details of how they've tried so hard to strip Jango (and Boba!) of his culture, because I fear I may never shut up, but I think there's an underlying issue of trying to paint Jango(a person of color who was upholding his cultures traditions) in a negative light while placing Satine (a white person attempting to erase a culture of its traditions) on a pedestal. And when I say painting Jango in a negative light, I am not referring to his hand in creation of the clone army. I am talking purely about his stance as a Mandalorian, and how Satine even goes as far to dismiss him as one, despite Morrison's portrayal of him being the reason for the culture in the first place.

Am I arguing that making her a person of color would fix things? No,not by any means.

My goal here is not to 'fix' things or to paint Satine Kryze in a better light. I do not think Satine Kryze needs to be painted in a better light. My goal here, if I have any at all, is to showcase the racism in her actions, and to illustrate my frustrations with the lack of critique towards it. The amount of people I've seen defend her actions greatly outweighs the number of people I've seen critique her.

I don't have ill intent towards people who do like her. You are allowed to enjoy characters who do bad things! God knows I'm guilty of it myself. I just want to vent my frustrations, alongside shed some potential light on an issue.

[breadraccoon]

Gwen angst thoughts. But when shit gets rough in her life, Gwen has a bad habit of ghosting the people closest to her.

Part of it is because a lot of her problems are Spider-woman’s problems so she can only talk about them with a small select group of people, but also she hates feeling like a burden. I just see her as a very independent kind of person. Her ability to resolve issues on her own is very important to her. While she doesn’t see asking for help as a weakness when other people do it, if she has to rely on someone else, she sees that as a personal failing.

All these feelings stems from childhood. Gwen mother passes either when she was a baby or when she was really young and her Dad was ill equipped to becoming a single parent. He tried is best, but he wasn’t around enough to give her the emotional and physical support she needed. Gwen and George both tend to throw themselves into their work when they can’t deal with their emotions. After Gwen’s mother passed, George started to subconsciously avoid Gwen with his job. Gwen looks just like her mom. And George doesn’t have to emotionally intelligence to handle that. It took either CPS or the Parker family to call him out for Gwen’s home life to get any better.

But at the end of the day, that whole experience left Gwen scarred. She doesn’t trust her father to always be there when she needs him.

Even with her childhood friends, Peter and Harry, Gwen took more of a protective, nurturing role. Peter was often bully and Harry ostracized because of his father. As much as she was there for them, I don’t think they were as there for her. Whether that’s because she couldn’t let them in or because they were too blind because of their own sorrows can be debated, but she was often put into a position she needed to be strong for someone else.

Being around people who aren’t emotionally available to her left her with the impression that her problems should be her own burdens. Her independence became a core component to how she sees herself. If she can’t manage by herself, then who is she.

Adult Gwen struggles to let people in at all. It takes a lot of time and consistent affirmation. Even those she has let in can easily get kick out. A life time of uncertainty has left her wanting security. In the role she’s taken up, no one can really offer that.