#but I don't think it's particularly healthy

[moonsaver]

Okay, honestly, I'm still reeling from the entire penacony quest, but here's my take on Sunday so far;

He's manipulative, obviously.

But like.. the type that's kind of hesitant from time to time because he's still sincere to a degree. At least, when it comes to his loved ones.

So, I guess that hesitance decreases a lot if you're just some nobody. Even then, Sunday does want the better for everyone, too. It just means that others may bear the brunt of it for the most part before being able to get ahold of it.

Also, at the very least, even if some people suffer, at the end Sunday believes they will reach where they want to, after. In that case, however, Sunday suffers far more than them, without actually ever reaching his own destination or idea of paradise.

However, this view is a bit distorted. Sunday believes to be "sacrificing" himself, shouldering loneliness and burdens in order to uphold everyone else's "paradise". But to the others, he's simply a tyrant overruling everyone's will with his own idea of Order.

Sunday deeply cares. He cares too much. That's kind of the problem.

A bit of self-destructing tendencies when pushed too far, I guess.

Lets ignore logic established by the quest for a second (because i literally am still reeling from it)

Imagine Sunday first discovers this possibility. He's terrified of it, but at the same time, he truly thinks this is humanity's salvage – for everyone who has deeply suffered. He thinks of you.

You who have had your fair share of pain, who confides in him late at night in the quiet of your privacy, hushed voices like silenced by a thick blanket through the wall.

You deserve to live a sweeter life. He thinks. No. You deserve more. He knows.

The first person he ever wants to step into this paradise – you.

Now, although Sunday was defeated in the end, we all know that unfortunately, our ragtag team had to wake up again because defeating him first was a dream. This means at some point, Sunday did succeed.

And after everyone wakes, you don't. You continue sleeping soundly. So does Sunday.

The rest of the world can return to their miserable, bitter lives outside of this dream; but Sunday will be damned if he's letting you go. Perhaps.. it's not a selfless wish, anymore. Perhaps at this point, Sunday desperately, selfishly, grips onto you with the latches of a sweet, deep dream. One where he was fatally destined to never reach, only to control from the waking world. Now that everyone else has woken, he wants to return to the dream. He wants to return to you, who he has so lovingly entrenched deep into it.

Also, Robin. Im in SO much pain... PLEASW..

Do you guys think.. even if Robin was vehemently resistant against Sunday's ideas..

Even though Sunday knew she wouldn't stand for it..

Do you guys think.. he wanted her to also join him at the end and enjoy the "Paradise" he created aswell?

Do you think he would have wanted Robin to stop worrying about everything, to take rest, to finally come home, and sing to her heart's content inside the dream? The dream where they set the bird free? The dream where Sunday still has a sweet tooth? The dream where she never has to wear elaborate neck-pieces? The dream where neither of them was hurt? Where neither of them left each other?

Oh...ogh. . My heart.

Sunday would be such a scary lover, too.

I mean even normally, I don't think a relationship with him would be that healthy

Particularly because it seems so healthy

If reader was in a relationship with normal sunday, I mean.. it's gonna at least appear healthy and normal, even to them. It's probably just Sunday having to constantly burden himself with all the dirty strings he has to pull, the quiet rush of water when he washes his hands before caressing the side of your face, the tight, closed smile he would give if you ever asked him what was wrong.. he can't let you know.

I think he'll take a yandere route in an established relationship if you do happen to find out what's been going on behind the scenes. He'll have to calm you down, and you promise you won't peep about it. The build up is almost invisible, because things seem to go back to the way they were. Before Sunday starts acting a bit.. restless. That would be when his yan! Tendencies would start kicking in, for a variety of reasons.

I feel like y'know, out of all the hsr cast, he's one of the characters who is genuinely very close to becoming a yandere canonically. Control freak? Check. Twisted ideals? Check. Unchecked power? Check. Hypnotization/manipulation? Check.

Also, the slight difference of his color pallete as opposed to Robin's.

His is much more washes out than Robin's. It's more "duller" but also more professional, and the gold of his halo is more colder than the warmer tone of Robin's halo. They both still have white/grey as a major color in their palletes, but Sunday's is accompanied by deep navy blues, or washed out blues. Robin's is very vibrant and purple. The only blue segment of her pallete is her hair, and it's remarkably more vibrant than Sunday's.

Also.. Sunday's whole ideas on "weak" and "strong"

Of course, it wasn't all correct, but that doesn't mean they didn't hold some semblance of sense.

Regardless, this playing with yan! Tendencies..... HOOOOO boy

So many thoughts. Sunday manipulating his partner is quite possibly the most common theme in them.

[deadandphilgames]

A note from Daniel (new epilogue from You Will Get Through This Night)

Thank you for reading This Night. Writing this book in 2021, while sitting locked down in a lightless basement apartment for months, had a certain self-fulfilling irony that was not lost on me.

In many ways, I wrote this book for not only my past self that I wish could have known these things when I needed them most - but for the guy sitting in an incredibly uncomfortable, hunched, t-rex-esque position typing, that needed it right then. Like many of you, I thought those particularly fun couple of years were a temporary inconvenience, that I wouldn't have to age the book by diving into. And here we are. I hope you enjoyed that new chapter about resilience and whatever the hell a 'polycrisis' is. Turns out certain global events do have an additional effect on our mental health - it's understandable that you may try to power through it and pretend it never happened, but we all deserve to take whatever time we need to honestly process how life makes us feel. I hope you're doing alright. My journey of reflecting honestly on my own life experiences and lifestyle while writing was …like spontaneously punching yourself in the stomach. "Wow. I really live like this? That is apparently not conducive to a healthy mind. Oops. Guess I'll go touch some grass." I'm happy if that made this a more entertaining read occasionally.

Even now, I find myself continually re-reading the book in those small moments of first emotional reaction to situations where I now at least think "Wait - what was I supposed to do here? Right. Not catastrophise." If this is you - that is fine. You are not expected to perfectly memorise this book or retain all knowledge you hear in life. I know I don't. If you're ever sat next to me in the emergency exit aisle of a plane, know that you may be required to physically throw me out of the door in order to inflate the slide because I was busy during the briefing, imagining how my life would have been different if I actually had the nerve to dye my hair black that time in school. I am at peace with that.

It was honestly terrifying for me to try and mine the content of my life to try and actually illustrate advice for people that may really need it …for me to honestly look at the balance between joking about my mental health, and really getting real. Hey - if your attempt at opening up via some humour comes out a bit offensive, you still get points for at least putting it on the table. That's progress.

This is not a book about me. I am here just as an example of terrible behaviour that you have permission to have an inappropriate public transport snort at, and as a writer who has repeatedly not finished traditional 'self-help' or scientific study books for being dry, unrelatable and preachy. I just hope you found this moist, identifiable and accepting of all of your beautiful flaws. So many flaws. I often worried if any of the material was maybe obvious, or something you could stumble across on the second page of Google - then I had a small moment of honesty with myself contemplating my own ignorance, commitment to procrastination, attention span …and the fact that factually just 0.63% of all people searching online, ever bother clicking to the second page of results. If you already knew some of this, good for you. Honestly. You must literally be happy with yourself. I'm just looking in the mirror and trying to do something for the 99.37% of humanity that spend their lives never successfully researching how to not lay awake at night fantasising about their doom. Look forward to the upcoming pocket size book of 'offensively self-destructive jokes' by Dan - or 700-page memoir of my yet un-girthy, mostly unremarkable life so far if that's what you're really looking for.

Perhaps the most terrifying result of releasing this book into the world, has been coming face to face with those of you that have read it. For in these moments, all of my protective self-deprecating persona comes crashing down in an instant when someone says this book made them feel better. Hearing that this book was the first time they finished anything tangentially related to self-improvement, or that just one thing they read was a new perspective on a part of their life they needed, makes me feel my mission in life is already complete. Seeing it be recommended by bookstores amongst all the other choices, hearing that people have shared it with their therapists or had it suggested to them by a professional, is an unbelievable seal of approval that I appreciate. I am so inarticulably grateful to have been given the opportunity to do anything that could make your life easier, more peaceful, more enjoyable. I've met people who annotated this book with post-its, told me they listen to audiobook exercises on their commute - and even a few people that have had illustrations tattooed onto them as a symbolic reminder of a message.

All of this puts that year of typing like some kind of infinite monkey at a typewriter into perspective. I'd do it all again. Mostly. It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the guy whose name is printed on this book, and I just hope that reading it helped you, as much as writing it helped me.

Love and good luck.

- Dan

[alice-after-dark]

Contains...Not Abusive StaticMoth?!

So anyone who has seen any of my content involving StaticMoth knows that I don't particularly like Valentino and don't portray the relationship as at all healthy. Heck, I frequently provide a trigger warning for my abusive StaticMoth content because I know many people enjoy the ship in a positive way and I don't want to ruin their fun by surprising them with it being portrayed as shitty and toxic. However, I am a complicated creature, as most beings are, and while I don't frequently talk about it, I am also 100% down for piece-of-rotting-shit Valentino who views Vox and Velvette as exceptions to the rule. I still see Vox and Val being at most fuck-buddies and not in love or anything, but yeah.

TW for very brief mentions of non-consent and references A/B/O dynamics.

This came up in me because I was reading some ABO Hazbin fics (I'm not a huge ABO conossauer personally but they sounded interesting and were RadioStatic centric so you know I gotta) that had Vox being outed as an Omega who has been on suppressants for way too fucking long and having to basically defend himself from being forcibly claimed by an Alpha Valentino while going through so super intense heat for the first time in literal decades (fics can be found on this glorious list if you're interested). Now, like I said before, I am totally down for this portrayal. Valentino can absolutely be an abusive bastard any day with me.

However it also got me thinking...

Valentino who is worried for his distressed friend.

Valentino who leaves the room when he realizes there's a very high chance he'll jump Vox without his consent.

Valentino who is awkward about offering to help with Vox's heat because he wants to help in some way but also doesn't want to take advantage of his friend.

Valentino who gets protective as fuck and literally starts snarling at and very nearly starting fights with any Alpha who comes anywhere near Vox's room.

Valentino who is torn between wanting to stay far away from Vox so he doesn't accidentally hurt him and desperately needing to stay close to keep him safe.

Valentino who pulls an Asmodeus and asks a million "are you sure?"s when Vox finally calls and asks him to come help.

Valentino who literally has Velvette confirm Vox is coherent enough to consent to this.

Valentino who has awkward and clumsy sex for the first time in his afterlife because he's afraid of getting too into it and claiming Vox in the heat of the moment.

Vox post-heat deciding to let Valentino claim him so no one else can because he trusts him and knows he won't use it to hurt him.

Just saying.

[thespineoftherighteous]

given that I don't have anything filtered for it I think it's a miracle that I only have come across mild tsc spoilers and I know I am definitely pushing my luck but one thing about me is you'll never not catch me dancing with the devil that is content I should be avoiding

[butterflysonnets]

yes i'm rooting for m*leven breakup because byler is neat but mostly? i'm rooting for m*leven breakup for the sake of el and mike.

to me, their romance was always a puppy love born out of a combination of social pressures, naïve curiosity, and a lack of true understanding regarding intimacy and romantic love and what it really is. it was real in that they do truly, deeply care about each other and they are close friends, maybe even shared an attraction, but a maturing romance is so much more than that. they've grown up and out of being boyfriend/girlfriend, and that's okay! i think television/film needs to show more often that most of us don't have definite "soulmates" or first childhood loves that we spend our whole lives with. it doesn't mean these relationships meant nothing and didn't impact us, it just means they've run their course and that something else is in the cards, and this is part of life!

i've always felt el was at her best and most confident self when broken up with mike, discovering who she was and what she liked alongside another girl her age instead of just relying on mike for mentorship on how to live in the real world. she deserves more of an opportunity to find herself, her autonomy, and her independence, and to love who she is, and she's made it clear she's felt insecure in the relationship with mike because she isn't being loved and understood the way she wants, needs, and deserves from someone who is her partner.

also, it's okay if mike doesn't love her in "the way he should". he is not obligated to love her romantically and stay in a relationship with her just because she's a girl, because she "needed someone", or because he cares about her a lot. he shouldn't be pressured into a romance if it's not truly coming from his heart. he deserves freedom to find out and honour who he is, too, instead of just staying in his non-functional first relationship — one he got into as a child, essentially — and defining himself that way because it's what's expected when a boy and a girl are close. he loves her in some way, yes, but it's okay if he doesn't feel comfortable or secure being her boyfriend anymore, for whatever reason that is. he's felt insecure too, and that's valid and it matters.

they are their own people and are steadily growing and changing every day. they need time to figure out who those people are, and it's become clear (at least in my opinion) that those people aren't meant to be a couple at this stage.

they deserve freedom. they deserve to grow up and be authentic to themselves and not feel like they need to lie for the sake of a relationship. they deserve to move on from this version of their relationship that isn't making them happy and rekindle the best part of their bond: their strong, beautiful friendship. they don't have to be a couple if it doesn't make them stronger and better and happier people.

i think it would be healthy and wonderful for a show, especially one consumed frequently by young adults, to show a relationship starting, progressing, and ending on good terms in this way. sometimes things don't work out, and that is okay.

[bumblingbabooshka]

B'Elanna, Neelix, Tuvok and Chakotay needed to star in an episode where they just talked about their different beliefs and approaches to spirituality/religion. Paired off and all together. I need to gain more insight. I need characterization and I need it to be messy.

[uncanny-tranny]

One of the hardest things to actually accept, in my experience, is that you eventually have to forgive yourself for the harm you did to yourself. A good way to move on from that is just being able to let your past self rest in peace. Don't stomp on their resting spot, they need to be at peace. They deserve to be at peace, and so do you.

[delivish]

‎

[ask-tay-relic]

Teach me how to be cool like you.

[[Be loving and kind. Treat others with respect for who they are and who they dream to be. Value honesty and the heart in all things. Strive to help all who want to help themselves; do not allow others to drag you down just to make themselves feel better. Understand that you cannot control someone else's actions and you can only choose your own; if at any point you 'dread' a message from someone. Distance yourself from them, even just a little bit. Your time in the world is limited and use it to help others and brighten the world around you, while making yourself healthy and happy of course. When you are in a safe and healthy environment, strive to help others in situations 'harder' than your own, even just a little bit of support can help a lifetime.

I think stuff like all that would make someone pretty cool. I think it should also go without saying but I'd say nonetheless, don't give this kind of courtesy to people who are cruel or mean, bigoted or hateful. If they want you dead for just being alive. Then they do not deserve your time or interaction.]]

[musical-chick-13]

I'm the LAST person to suggest that you have to preface every single comment you make about a character/fictional relationship/etc. you like with a reminder that you Know™ it's pRoBLeMaTiC, but I DO question what the point of acting genuinely for real like there were no problems is.

[daisywords]

actually my toxic trait is that I've never ever thought that my writing was bad idk what you guys are talking about

[lunejump]

doodle of me and younger me in public transport

[thelittlemermage]

Sometimes it infuriates me sooo much that, while the CM of Animaniac's twitter account and everyone who worked on it can post the wildest things like shipping content, writing "love" in capital letter and talking about French kissing (or worse innuendos) ... But like, only because it's backstage, while the actual show is very careful and doesn't allow a big part of that. It makes me think about how much they want to be allowed to do that...

Yea, I mean plenty of people on staff obviously ship the mice. And I think the A! account sees that a huge chunk of people who interact with them are brinky shippers so they lean into it as much as they're allowed. But it was never in the cards for them to go all the way with it. Because they're existing IPs they weren't allowed to stray too far from their original concept...which I am well aware how one can still argue that being queer coded was always a part of their original concept (or at least how they ended up once their characters were established), but they were never explicitly 100% a couple. So they're doomed to be eternally ambiguous v.v" unless something changes by their next appearance.

[canineical]

introducing the writer tag game

tagged by @iloveyou-writers ! thank you ^ ) ^

rules: fill in the blanks with as much or little detail as you would like and tag some writer friends to play too. you can find the original template to fill in on @introducing-writeblr

hi, there! my name is xalli (or dominic). i'm a writer of the literary fiction, magical realism, and poetry genre(s) and i love to write about relationships between people and their selves, each other, and the world around them generrally.

I am generally sfw (though i do write non-explicitly about sex and the like) and write about mental & physical health issues and just generally dark/difficult issues involving violence that minorities experience (especially in amerika), so just be aware of that. tropes you will never find in my writing include pretty much nothing and also everything since i don’t really write according to tropes! i do friends to lovers and stuff like that obviously just because that’s like... how writing relationships will often go, but it’s not something i focus on so i don’t really acknowledge tropes in my writing

in my humble opinion, my best work i've posted is call it dead weight (tw for violence and pregnancy & the... difficulties that come with that) because i think i did a really good job with imagery and emotional intensity. my current favorite poem i’ve written & posted is ode to skin on skin because it’s just a very sweet, sensual poem about queer love and i’m proud of the rhythmic feeling to it! my all-time favorite character(s) I've made is/are mac & dalton from a gay cowboy story i wrote a long time ago that’s honestly not great but holds a special place in my heart

something I'd love for you to know about my writing that isn't listed in this game is my writing is incredibly ill defined because i mostly read by region and topic as opposed to genre (for example, i read a lot that comments on social issues and love african & japanese lit a lot), so that bleeds into how i write, but i hope you’ll give my work a chance! it’s pretty cool and weird, i think

thank you for reading and now i challenge the following people to fill this out: @encrucijada @poemwithoutahero @luquid @tuoyu @howdywrites @abalonetea @halcionic

[bobbimorses]

hey do you think if clint needed to have a good ol breakdown he'd be ok losing his marbles in front of kate or would he uhhh be like nah i have to be strong in front of kate and hit snooze on it

idk about "losing one's marbles" but is the breakdown aspect not kind of what went on in v4...just more drawn out. anyways, i'd never describe clint as stoic--

--usually when he's holding something back with the reasoning that it's for the sake of others/the team, it's injuries or exhaustion. so do with that what you will

[softwaluigi]

I think anyone who creates or writes for a show focused entirely on teenagers having sex with each other should kill themselves