#but let me know if I'm wrong I'm open to different views on the matter and holding a discussion

[thenntrewrite]

I've been thinking and I want to yap about this: The main catalyst for the entire story—Meliodas and Elizabeth's connection and being cursed by their parents—is in the rewrite. But execution wise, it's different. They sort of go from enemies to lovers to friends by the end.

I wholeheartedly feel Elizabeth didn't really have a chance to live her life out and flesh herself out as a character beyond the main character's love interest. I know she's empathetic, kind, very forgiving, but what about her life before Meliodas? I still think about the Bloody Ellie incident and how there's been absolutely no showing of Elizabeth being beyond the 'empathetic healer that used the power of kindness to drive the demons out' (As far as I can remember. I am overdue for a manga reread). The most damage she's done was to Meliodas the one time he was being a dick and forced her to slap the shit out of him with Arc (And one of the DK fights, but since they all fought him THREE TIMES, it's hard to recall if Elizabeth pulled off the gloves or not. The last time I read that ending was in 2020). Hell, the games do her more justice by giving her a staff. Nothing against healers, they sure do a lot as support for the fighters, but if you're going to insinuate that your character is beyond a healer, than at least show it. I just want Elizabeth to be a properly written character that stands strong on her own and have her backstory written, y'know?

And, well, I'm not the biggest fan of Melizabeth. I can respect Meliodas spending 3,000 years fighting for their love, and Elizabeth being his rock, but when you throw in a curse that bounds you for life, being by your reincarnated love's side when she's a baby/kid, knowing she's destined to fall in love with you again, it feels a lot less romantic. Especially when you look at the first episode in isolation without knowing the backstory, like you really didn't think twice on groping that teenager! I think they could've been super cute if, again, execution was better. But alas, it was not and it's left a terrible taste in my mouth.

[bettsfic]

one of the best decisions i've ever made was to stop arguing.

i'd always been an arguer. i was defensive about everything and mindlessly contrary. it wasn't all my fault; i was (and still am) talked down to and patronized a lot, and when you live your life that way, you become kind of a raw nerve and dedicate a lot of energy to trying to prove yourself. someone even told me once, "it's just fun messing with you. you get so upset."

at 23, i was working in an environment where about a half dozen middle aged conservative men were always telling me what to do and explaining things to me. i either argued with them when they said heinous things or stewed about it for hours or even days. and so my new year's resolution one year was simply: no arguing.

it felt a little like defeat at first, like i was no longer standing up for what i believed in, even though no matter how right i was or how much proof i had for my claims, no one had ever been swayed by anything i told them. part of that was because they had no respect for me and didn't take me seriously; the other part was the simple truth that arguments are almost never productive. when someone says something and you immediately reply with, "you're wrong and here's why," a wall goes up and nothing can go over it.

i couldn't just let these men talk at me though, so i started asking questions. not leading questions, not with an intention to prove a point or walk them into a corner. i genuinely wanted to understand how they came to shape the opinions they held. i realized that understanding and agreeing are two different things, and just because i seek to understand doesn't mean i condone.

a truly fascinating thing happened: these men walked into corners all by themselves. it turns out nobody had ever actually tasked them with speaking their opinions aloud to a neutral audience. no one had ever been sincerely curious about them and their views. sure, their loved ones probably asked, "how are you doing?" all the time as a show of affection, but that's much different than, "what do you think?"

knowing what i know now, i think that's true of everyone. how many people ask you for your opinion and listen to what you have to say without speaking their opinion back to you? without judging you? how many people actively and intentionally try to understand you?

it's been over ten years since my resolution and i think i can count the arguments i've gotten into on one hand. one finger, even. it's amazing what happens when someone tries to rile you up, pick a fight with you, and your only response is, "can you elaborate on that?"

you can work someone into a very open and vulnerable state when you ask questions. they eventually run out of their usual talking points and move into the personal. when i do this, it's not like therapy; i'm not trying to help anyone. and it's not like teaching; i'm not trying to educate anyone. i just want to understand how people reach the conclusions they've come to. even after all these years of asking questions and not arguing, it still amazes me how few people in this world feel understood, and how easy it is to get them to open up when you say, "i want to know what you think."

[theambitiouswoman]

Green Flags in Communication 💚💬

"I want to know when I hurt your feelings."

This shows they are willing to understand and acknowledge the impact of their actions.

"I don't want you to feel alone in this."

This shows empathy and indicates that the person is supportive and does not want the person to deal with issues alone.

"I've been struggling with ___”

This demonstrates vulnerability and trust, as the person is open about their struggles.

"How have you been feeling about ___? I know it's been on your mind a lot."

This shows concern for the other person's issues or worries, showing that they are listening and care about what's important to the other person.

"I feel __ when you __; are you open to trying __ next time?"

This is an example of constructive communication.

"What do you need from me when this happens with your family?"

This shows awareness and sensitivity to the persons family dynamics and a willingness to provide support.

"I appreciate when you ___.”

Expressing appreciation is vital for positive reinforcement and acknowledging the efforts and qualities of the other person.

"I didn't handle that well."

This is a sign of self-awareness and accountability, recognizing one's own mistakes and being open to learning and growth.

"I'm sorry, I was wrong to say that. I'll try to be more mindful in the future."

Shows you are able to apologize genuinely and a commitment to improving behavior.

"Tell me more about that; I'm really interested in hearing your perspective."

Indicates a genuine interest in the other person's thoughts and feelings.

"I noticed you seemed a bit off today. Is everything okay?"

It shows you are attentive to the other person's emotional state and a readiness to provide support.

"I'm here for you, no matter what you need."

Offers unconditional support, creating a sense of security in the relationship.

"I love how passionate you are about your hobbies. It's inspiring to see."

Expresses admiration for the other person's interests.

"Let's work on a solution together. What do you think would be fair?"

Focusing on collaboration rather than conflict.

"I trust your judgment on this."

Trust and respect for the other person's decision-making abilities.

"Your happiness is important to me. Let's make sure you're taking time for yourself."

Prioritizes the other person's happiness and emphasizes the importance of self care.

"It's okay to feel that way. Do you want to talk about it more?"

Validates the other person's feelings.

"I appreciate how you handled that situation. You're really good at ___."

Praises specific strengths or skills, boosting the other person's self-esteem.

"I know we disagree, but I respect your point of view."

Acknowledges differences in opinion while still maintaining respect and understanding.

[sleepless-dreams]

ON THIN ICE

summary: when issues threaten to steal the joy from your nephew, you have to choose; cover from your past or push past it and help him out

word count: 2k

₊⊹CHAPTER 3⊹₊

It isn't hard to slip into a routine. I pick up Owen from school on Mondays and Thursdays. We stop by his house to drop off his schoolbag, grab a quick bite and then we’re off to the East Ice Arena. I watch him and his coach move on the ice. When it becomes too much, I scroll on my phone and I make it my personal mission to avoid crossing paths with Hank at all costs.

By the time the calendar in my flat’s entrance hall shows October, some Owen’s gear stays permanently in the back of my car.

Today is one of the practice days. I’m sitting on the bleachers, watching the boys play a mock match. Owen’s team is losing, by a lot. As much as it hurts me to admit it, it’s largely because of the skill gap between Owen and the rest of the boys. Most of his teammates have been playing since they were young, but Owen picked up hockey just last year.

I watch the puck slide across the ice, Owen's skating after it with all the speed he can muster. It’s not enough. The opposite team's player gets to it first. My stomach tightens and I look away, scrolling aimlessly on my phone. Anything to keep my eyes off the rink. Off the sharp turns, the gliding movements, the endless comparisons clawing their way to the front of my mind. I push them away with a random article about some internet drama.

My mind goes back to what Hank told me when I first came here. Even if I don’t agree with his view, I fear he might be right. When the time comes to choose the lineup, I’m not sure Owen is going to make it. The thought makes my chest feel tight. Not just because I want him to succeed, but because I know the sting of being told you’re not good enough. And worse, the sting of believing it.

I can only hope there’s still time for him to improve before he starts getting bothered by the differences between himself and his teammates.

My worries come true sooner than I hoped they would. I was waiting for Owen in my car today, I went to run some errands during his practice. The moment he sits down in the backseat, I know something is wrong.

A quick glance into the rear-view mirror confirms my suspicions. His bottom lip is turned out into a pout, eyebrows knitted together and his eyes are glossy with tears he stubbornly refuses to let fall. The sight of him upset is enough to make my heart ache.

"What's the matter, buddy?" I ask him gently, continuing to watch him through the mirror.

He attempts to play it off, turning his head towards the window and acting like he didn't hear me.

"What happened, Owen?" I try again, addressing him directly to get his attention. It works, because he turns his head to meet my eyes through the reflection. A first tear makes its way down his cheek, soon followed by a second and then a third...

I furrow my eyebrows, ready to ask again, when he beats me to it.

"I'm done with hockey." He declares, his voice torn halfway between anger and sadness.

He catches me completely off guard. "What, why?" I splutter, turning sharply in my seat to face him.

"I'm dragging everyone down! I'm messing up the games.." He sniffles.

"Did the others tell you that?" I ask him quietly.

"Yeah, and they're right... I don't know how to play real hockey." He replies between quiet sobs.

In one swift movement I open the car door and slide out of the driver's seat. Coming up to Owen's door, I open it. I crouch down by the car to be at his eye level.

"That's not true, honey. You're doing well." And I mean every word I say. He's behind others, sure, but they had years to get to where they are right now. Owen isn't on the ice even a full year. He's still learning and he is getting better. But I guess that falls flat when he's in a team with boys who have been doing this for most of their lives.

"I'm not! I can't do what they do and I slow them down! When we play matches my team always loses and it's my fault!" The boy shouts back at me, his sentences coming out bunched together, swept up in his emotions.

I reach out my hand, carefully laying it over his own that are balled up into fists in his lap. I give them a soft squeeze to hopefully ground him a little. I hate to see him like this, it hurts.

"You will get better. You already made such progress." I try to reassure him.

"It's not enough! I'm not good enough..." His voice gradually loses its strength, the last part coming out as almost a whisper. "Maybe it's for the better if I quit. I would spend the season on the bench anyway." he adds quietly.

I breathe out, deep, trying to ground myself as I think. I've been where he is and I wish someone was there to tell me what I'm going to tell him.

"Do you enjoy playing?" I ask, completely changing the current course of the conversation.

Owen gives me a confused look, his body trembling slightly as he hiccups. He stays quiet, thinking about his answer before tipping his head into a small nod.

"Good." I murmur softly, swiping my thumb over the back of his hand in a soothing motion. "It would be a waste to quit if you enjoy doing it," I add softly.

"We could ask the coach for additional practices," I suggest after a small pause to think.

He immediately shakes his head at that.

"Why is that?" I ask him, curious as to why he would decline that.

"It would be expensive," he protests, his voice tinged with guilt. "We don’t have money to spare on extra training."

I bite back a frustrated huff. Kids his age shouldn't be worrying about what he and his family can or can not afford. It's true that my brother is cutting back at cost with a second child on the way, but Owen shouldn't be aware of such changes. He's far too young for all of this.

I sigh, biting into my lip again.

"How about this..." I start, my voice careful. "You can come skating with me." I offer, pushing down the unease bubbling in my stomach. "I know I'm not a hockey player, but I can show you some things. Maybe it's worth a try," I explain, my smile small but sincere, a weak attempt to ease the tension.

He peers up at me, bringing his hand up to swipe at his face.

"Think about it," I say softly. "No pressure. Let me know when you're ready."

I know it's not the same as time with a hockey coach, but I’m no stranger to the ice. The fundamentals are the same. While I can’t help with his stick handling or puck skills, I can work with him on his balance and footwork, maybe even boost his self-confidence.

I reach out, pulling him into a tight hug. He hesitates, but after a moment, his arms circle my neck, holding on as if I might slip away. I hold him for a while, firm enough to offer reassurance, but loose enough for him to pull away when he needs to.

When he pulls away, I smile softly, ruffling his hair before getting back behind the steering wheel.

"And Owen?" I call as I slam the car door shut after myself. "Don’t let anyone take the joy from what you love. Trust me, it’s a mistake you don’t want to make." I tell him, looking back at him through the mirror. He doesn't visibly react, but I can see him process what I told him.

We sit in silence for a while as I drive, the soft hum of the engine filling the space between us. I turn the blinker on, signalling I'm going to the right on the next intersection. A divergence from the usual route we take to get home.

When I catch Owen tilting his head in curiosity, I give him a grin– something easy, something that feels like a break from the heavy air.

"How about a slushie?" I ask, hoping to pull him out of whatever thoughts were swirling in his mind. The sparkle in his eyes is a welcome sign that it worked.

On the drive back from the gas station where we stopped for the sweet treat, I ask a question that’s been worming its way through my brain since our conversation. "Who told you you weren’t doing good enough?"

The slurping pauses as he hears the question. He hesitates for a moment before answering.

"Ivan and his friends. But really, everyone gets angry or annoyed when I mess up," he says, shrugging as if it’s normal. I feel a surge of anger at the thought of him dismissing this so casually.

Ivan... Was that Hank’s son? It doesn’t surprise me that he’s the ringleader. With a father like his, it makes sense that Ivan sees winning as the only purpose and anyone who makes it harder as a threat. You can’t deny a kid’s upbringing, and it’s not surprising that Ivan has adopted his father’s views and behavior patterns. And while I’m angry about how Ivan pits the team against Owen for still learning, I also pity the kid. He’s being set up to not only be a loner and an asshole like his father, but also to face athletic letdown. And those are rough... I would know.

I let the subject drop after that.

By the time I drop Owen off at his parents’ house, the only remnants of his tears are his slightly puffy eyes and runny nose. It’s a relief.

I don’t stay for long, only walking Owen inside and exchanging a few words with his parents. The whole time I can feel the weight of my thoughts pressing down on me, still too loud, too overwhelming. I’ve got a lot to think about, a lot to process. The idea of getting back into the rink keeps circling my mind, pulling at me. At first, just watching the practices was hard enough, but the thought of skating again, getting back on the ice myself, it terrifies me.

I know I didn’t have to offer Owen my help. I didn’t have to get involved, but I want to. I want him to feel better about himself, to feel more confident in his skill. He finds joy in playing, and that’s something worth protecting. And if I can be part of that, even if it means pushing through my own fear, I’ll do it.

The drive home feels long. I feel disconnected, as if I’m running on autopilot, my mind far from the present moment.

When I get inside, I head straight to my room, shutting the door behind me with a thump. The air is too thick with thoughts, too heavy to breathe in. I find myself standing in front of my open wardrobe, staring at the white box that’s always been there, hidden under the clothes.

I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, the rapid beat in my ears, my hands trembling as I reach for the box. I sit down on the bed and set the box on my knees. My hands shake when I lift the top off. I can’t tear my eyes away from the skates inside, as if they’re mocking me. A tight knot forms in my stomach. I exhale sharply through my nose, trying to calm my racing thoughts.

But even with all the dread that fills me, there’s a small part of me, barely noticeable, that stirs with a familiar, old exhilaration.

[suusoh]

mwehehehehehhhhhheheheh... ok .... so my submission would be...

“Oh, to be eaten alive by you?” Johan chuckles quite loudly. a genuine, sardonically genuine chuckle. “What a pleasant way to die.”

(This one was surprisingly softer than I expected lol. Hope you enjoy riribells! Thank you for sending the dialogue prompt!!)

(tw: cannibalism mention ofc lol, slight yandere? catholic joke at the end, other than that, nothing else surprisingly)

Of course.

Of course, those are the exact things that he would say tonight. Though you really should have known better, than to watch some show with him where cannibalism is the central point of the plot. This one's on you honestly.

"Can—" you take a deep breathe before you continue, "can we please just have one, one, peaceful movie night?"

Johan's sitting beside you on your sofa as both of you stay in for your weekly night in, he's seated one space away from you, a small pillow acting as a barrier between you two. He always maintains that polite way of sitting when he comes over, like how one would sit when being a first time guest in a different home.

The only thing being that this is not in fact, his first time spending time with you here at your place. Numerous hang outs already happening within your humble abode, so maybe it's just your friend's general knack for good posture and deportment.

"Is there something wrong with what I've told you?"

He replies with a slight tilt to his head. You can't tell if it's from feigned or genuine confusion.

Your mouth just silently hangs open in a little 'o' shape. Thinking for a few seconds how you should even respond to that.

"Oh I don't know; the part where we're talking about cannibalism, the part where it's me specifically eating you, or the part where you find it a 'pleasant way to die' as you put it so nicely"

A small smile tugs on his lips.

He always smiles at you when seeing you react. Not in a way that's condescending (sometimes), but out of almost... genuine enjoyment. It didn't matter which approach you took.

Sarcastic or honest, nervous or nonchalant, bantering or silence. it was all the same to him: a front row view to you.

"I'm simply in topic. Are you telling me it's not normal, for people to discuss their thoughts and what they would do in the character's situation, while watching a show or movie?"

He's got you there you gotta admit. But still.

"Are we not even going to dissect your confession?"

"By all means." He nods.

His slight intrigue and the subtle excitement in his posture doesn't go unnoticed by you. You'll brush it off for now, another instance added to your growing personal collection of brushing off Johan's behaviour whenever he's acting kinda odd.

"...Actually, nevermind. I don't know where to begin with this. I'm just gonna not... talk... or think about it anymore."

You huff and lean back on the sofa again. His comment is out of pocket, sure, but you'll just let it go for now. Not really something worth making a big deal over. It's just another case of Johan being, well, Johan. And as he said, it's just harmless talk about what they're watching right now.

He watches you slump. He wants keep up this conversation, but he'll let you have your peace for now.

"Oh, alright then. Should I resume the show? We were— "

"— oh waaaaait wait wait wait a moment... did you say alive?"

You shoot up again. Eyes wide and brows furrowing. You know you look so cartoonishly shocked at him. You don't care. You are shocked. Why hide it?

"Hm, alive, yes. That's what I told you. Do you find this an issue?"

"You are alive in this theoretical cannibalism scenario with me. You are watching it unfold. You are breathing, you are conscious, you are awake, you are whatever else word similar with all those!"

Johan doesn't even move from his position. Still sitting and looking at you all politely. He is amused though.

"Should I not watch it all unfold? I'm sure it would be a pleasant sight..." his eyes look down and to the side as he revisits on some past thoughts. You see what almost looks like affection reflecting inside of it and you don't know how to feel about that. His eyes then return to you, holding his soft gaze with yours.

"I wouldn't mind. I'll even guide you through it."

"you'll... guide... me... through-"

you give up. You're done.

Exasperated groan leaving you as slump and deflate into the sofa . Mind too tired to fully talk about this right now. You grab the pillows near you and stack it around your head to aid in muffling out whatever word Johan says next.

You swear at this point, anything he says just gets progressively worse and worse. Baffling you more than cluing you in.

You enjoy the peace and darkness of your little soundproof world. There's bit of shifting on the sofa, then one by one, the pillows slowly move their way out of your face. He removes the last one, revealing you to the sight of Johan looking over you curiously.

"You know..." he puts the last pillow gently under the base of your head, "... all I'm saying is, just like the characters in the show, if there were truly no presence of food at all, absolutely nothing, and you were starving to the point of dying..."

He lightly pats your head.

"I think it would be a waste to not use my flesh for sustenance. There's nothing bad about it in the situation. Did you know that the people in the Andes mountain plane crash made a pact to their friends, that in the event one of them dies, they want their body to be consumed, in order for the others to keep on living?"

He smiles softly at that and something fills your chest with a slight warmth upon hearing his intentions. His explanation on the matter does make it seem a bit more pragmatic in a survival situation, not to mention it oddly has a sense of camaraderie to it.

"Well that's... very thoughtful of you then." You quirk a brow at him. Playful laugh almost bubbling out of your lips.

"Mhm. The reason I say 'alive'... well, I doubt you'd be able to do it without me instructing you. You'd be a blubbering crying mess while making all the wrong cuts, and I'd have bled out for nothing." He flicks your forehead.

"Hey!"

"Am I wrong?" he follows up by soothingly rubbing the spot where he flicked you.

"If just the mere thought of eating someone who willingly gives up their flesh for you to consume gets you this worried already... I wonder how you'll even be able to fare when you have to do the real thing."

You roll your eyes at him and swat his hand away.

"You're expecting me to act like that's the easiest thing on earth: eating the blood and body of a person you hold dear to you. I can't be normal about that, Johan!"

Johan can feel his finger twitch slightly. He stills himself impassive. How you effortlessly called him a person "dear" to you. Said with so little thought, and yet so undeniably genuine.

He thinks the notion odd, and nearly baseless. He's even sure at one point in his life he'd think you naive for that. But then again, he doesn't blame you. He does present himself as a friend to you... in fact, it's all he's ever been doing with you so far. Surprisingly. Also he did quite literally confess to letting you consume his flesh for your own benefit.

Not that he won't be getting his own benefits in that scenario.

With each bite you'll take, he gets to see parts of himself sustaining you, filling you, going inside of you and eventually being absorbed.

You'll swallow him, and he'd be so deeply ingrained by you at that point that you can't deny that he would be the blood running in your veins, he would be the branches in your lungs making you breathe, the ghost of him living within you, squeezing and squeezing your heart each second to pump it, as he lets you live another day.

He is inside of you;

mentally and physically.

Of course, the sight of you in tears and covered in his blood is just another adorably lovely cherry on top, but he won't tell you that. Saving all those intimate details for himself, preferably when he's alone.

...eating the blood and body of a person you hold dear. I can't be normal about that, Johan!

He chuckles softly. Patting your head again.

"Well, you obviously haven't seen Catholics. If they can do it, so can you."

[nexadarling]

I have to tell yall something that none of you are going to like....

It's not the same gear.

I know, I know, we all want it to be the same gear from when Jayce and Viktor first got the Arcane to work for them, we all want Viktor to have kept it with him for sentimental reasons, i know. Trust me, I do too. But it's not

Don't get me wrong, it still represents the same thing! Their relationship, the whole "two sides of the same coin" thing, what they've built, how connected they are. The corruption that's taken over. It still means the same, it's just a different gear.

"But Nexa how do you know?!" I hear you scream. I'm so glad you asked.

Let's look at the gear in question

Pretty, right? And the gear's pretty cool, too

Now let's look at the gear from That Scene in s1

Do you see the problem yet?

They're very different sizes. The original gear is much smaller, and the center hole is wider in relation. Viktor's corrupted gear has a smaller opening but is honestly overall pretty large as far as gears go.

Here's one more view of the corrupted gear for comparison

(Sorry, sorry, I know it hurts. But it's a really good close up)

Aside from the increased detail, I think this shot shows pretty well that the center is too different for it to be the same. The animation in Arcane is honestly too meticulous to miss that.

Which makes sense, Viktor and Jayce wouldn't have really had time to grab anything from that lab as they left. And Viktor didn't hold on to the gear, he let it float away. Even if he did remember exactly what it looked like, he'd have to go find it while the enforcers and Heimerdinger were already there, and I highly doubt they were inclined to let that happen.

So instead I propose a different solution! Viktor grabbed that gear on his way out of the lab for the last time, likely planning to never again see Jayce - or at least all they had built together - after that.

All in all, this distinction doesn't really matter and please keep writing heartbreaking stuff where it is the same gear cause I feed off that shit. I just wanted to share this particular observation. And also I think Viktor grabbing a gear on his way out as a reminder is equally heartbreaking.

[loveofdetail]

Let's talk about Gale's sex scenes

I love the astral sex scene and it means so much to me, and I have some problems with the way I've seen it talked about.

I should start by saying this post is not intended to critique anybody's personal preferences. The license to do Whatever The Fuck in an rpg is sacrosanct and there are no wrong choices. But I’ve also seen people imply that the astral scene is not “real” sex, or that Gale romancers “deserved more.” I hope I do not have to explain why that's kinda fucked.

Additionally, I think it is a saddening misread to call the astral scene “performative” in contrast to the bed scene (which gets correspondingly framed as “showing Gale that you want the real him.”) But doing a grandiose magical gesture IS the real him!

I know I'm not alone in viewing Gale as autistic; for me the astral sex scene is a big contributor to that. For one thing, it resonates with the concept of having unusual sensory wants. For another, it reads to me as Gale opening up and showing his passion for magic to the PC in a way he’s never been able to with another mortal before. What neurodivergent person has not had someone view their passion as too weird or too over the top? Have you ever been at a level of enthusiasm that wraps back around into seeming “performative” to others? Ever wanted to show a loved one something that matters to you, but worried they’d never understand—or, worse, they’d actively cringe?

In the astral sex scene, Gale shows the PC how much he loves the Weave (which is not the same as loving Mystra), and the PC does not cringe.

If all the glowing merging translucent bodies, the nebulae, the multiplying limbs, the spinning, the trippiness, the celestial music—if all these trappings made you, the player, cringe: there is nothing wrong with that. But I do think it is a misread to say that the bed version constitutes “helping him heal from his trauma.”

Maybe I have a hair-trigger for anything that implies “becoming more sexually normative = character growth.” Or “vanilla sex = a more intimate connection.” But they are just such tiresome concepts.

I understand that some of the dialogue in the game also suggests that idea, but all that dialogue is coming from the PC. What Gale says is that having bodily sex is “a small gesture toward your comfort.” This has been widely glossed over, imo.

Ultimately the two versions of this scene fulfill two different narrative functions: the bed version is to show the player that Gale will set these wants aside for you should you ask him to. But the astral version is there to show the player who HE is and what HE wants. And I think it is sad to write off this beautiful, lovingly crafted, unique and creative approach to a sex scene as merely something “performative” that he only does because Mystra made him think he had to.

“Stay with me now. There are endless worlds out there. Countless ways to declare love. Infinite ways to express it. Too much for one night... but we shall try.” I've admittedly got a ways to go in the game, but so far this is my single favorite line of dialogue. I genuinely don't understand how people can hear this line, the way it’s acted, and think it's just for show. He knows he's about to get weird but he longingly, vulnerably asks you to stay there in his weirdness with him.

Many writers, when they are writing something kinda out there, have doubts of the form Who is this even for? If the astral scene just isn’t for you I don't have beef with that. But the people who saw the astral sex scene and went "Oh, my god, now THIS is FOR ME"—are perhaps people who only very rarely get to watch a sex scene and have that reaction.

I'm glad Baldur's Gate brought something this beautiful to this particular table and I think it deserves consideration as a serious element of Gale’s characterization.

[th3-c0rps3-r0gu3]

Ravens

pairings: Natasha X fem!reader. Established relationship.

Summary: y/n always feeds the ravens. People bully her for it. But what happens when her kindness pays off.

Warnings: swearing (minor).

y/n always fed the ravens outside the compound. None of the other Avengers knew why and some made fun if her for it. Specifically Tony. This was one such day.

Y/n was on the rooftop feeding the ravens again. It was a habit. Y/n had always been a bit if an outcast to the Avengers. But she never minded. And then she had gotten close with one. Natasha Romanoff. And one thing led to another and now she had an amazing girlfriend. Y/n smiled as the raven closest to her grabbed sed from her open palm. Out of all of the birds this one was bravest. And y/n could always tell which it was due to the fact this particular raven had a white beak. Y/n had even taken the liberty to name the raven. The name in question was nyx. She had chosen it because of the fact nyx was the same name as the goddess and personification of night.

"feeding the crows again y/n? Really?"

Tony stark said coming up behind her scaring the ravens away.

"not crows, ravens tony."

Y/n corrected.

"like there's a difference."

Tony snarked. Y/n sighed before responding.

"ravens are bigger than a crow is. They have a larger bill and tail shape and flight pattern."

Tony scoffed.

"I should nickname you bird nerd. Who cares about the difference between them."

"you asked."

Tony once again scoffed. Tony loved to scoff.

"it was hypothetical y/n"

Y/n turned around and glared at Tony while he just grinned at her.

"leave her alone stark"

A commanding voice rang out as Natasha came to view. Tony sighed.

"aww c'mon rushman you've got to admit your girlfriend's habit is weird."

He said. Tony had never stopped calling Natasha her Alias name as he knew she hated it.

"it's Romanoff stark. And her habit is fine. There's nothing wrong with it."

Natasha defended. Y/n shot her a grateful look. Tony scoffed again before leaving. Natasha walked over to y/n and gave her a hug.

"just so you know I love the fact you feed the ravens. I think it's sweet of you."

Y/n was quick to reciprocate the hug and she smiled at her girlfriends words.

"thanks nat. I'm also proud of you for remembering their ravens and not crows."

Y/n said smiling.

"well I would be a pretty shit girlfriend if I can't even remember the type of bird my girlfriend feeds."

Natasha joked. Y/n smiled again.

"let's head inside and grab some snacks and we can watch some movies."

Natasha suggested taking y/ns hand in hers. Y/n smiled and nodded before tossing the remaining seed for the ravens to eat. Unsurprisingly the first of the black birds to approach was nyx. The two women disappeared into the compound but y/n saw nyx just before they vanished into the building.

Y/n still fed the ravens. Despite Tony's constant teasing she still fed the ravens. "I feed them and they keep me company" y/n always reasoned. Nyx had gotten to the point of eating out if y/ns palm and was even starting to sit in her hand to eat. Something y/n was really proud of. And despite everything Natasha still supported her girlfriends hobby no matter how curious.

The day had started normal for y/n and Natasha. Natasha woke up first had coffee, dragged y/n out of bed and then they had breakfast together before Natasha went to train and y/n went to feed the ravens. But today the ravens weren't there. Y/n spread the seed but no bird came. Disappointed y/n went back into the compound. The next day was the same. As was the next. It would be a week before y/n saw any raven near the compound.

Natasha and y/n stood on the rooftop. Natasha had noticed how y/n was a little down after the ravens stopped appearing. It didn't help that Tony kept making jokes about how they abandoned her. Y/n was sitting cross legged in the roof throwing the seed around the roof hoping that maybe, just maybe, the ravens would return. Her hopes were low but still. Natasha was just about to call her girlfriend back into the compound when suddenly a familiar raven swooped down and landed Infront of y/n.

Y/n held out her hand with seed and smiled. Nyx was back. And that meant alot. The black bird however had other plans then eating. Nyx hopped onto y/ns hand but completely ignored the seed.

"someone plots against you my lady."

Nyx said almost excitedly. Y/n stares at nyx in shock.

"I have the other ravens watching them as we speak but from what we've gathered over the past week they plan to attack you and your roomates."

Nyx spoke again.

"you... you can talk?"

Y/n asked shocked.

"to you. You are kind and feed us. You aren't cruel to us."

Nyx answered. Y/n took a deep breath.

"do you know who is planning to attack?"

She asked the bird.

"a place called HYDRA"

Nyx responded. Y/n nodded but concern crosses her features.

"do you.. do you have a name or can I keep calling you nyx?"

Y/n asked.

"nyx. My name is nyx. It is what my lady deemed me so it is my name. You feed us even during tough times. Us ravens owe you."

Nyx stayed confidently.

"I owe you nothing. But... thank you for the warning."

Y/n looked down at nyx as she spoke. The raven nodded.

"then let us aid you as a thanks for your aid."

Nyx seemed as though she wouldn't take no for an answer. Y/n nodded and nyx hopped onto her shoulder.

"I will be your main advisor of ravens and will monitor and translate the others for you as I am the only raven to have picked up on human language."

Nyx stated. Y/n nodded taking in this information surprisingly calmly.

"I'll keep my window open for you."

Y/n said. Nyx bobbed her head before y/n turned to a shocked Natasha.

"you heard nyx we need to prepare for an attack. Let's go warn the others."

She said shaking Natasha out of her shell shocked state. Natasha nodded eyeing the raven but she went into the compound to warn the avengers.

"can I please rub this in Tony's face."

Y/n whispered to nyx.

"god yes. He is a nuisance and to annoy him would be a great relief to me."

Nyx replied. Y/n smiled and waltzed into the compound with nyx on her shoulder after Natasha.

A/n: no idea what I think if it. Lmk if it's shit or not.

[angeliteeyes]

Can you do Aoi asahina x androphobic male!reader?

Of course!! And thank you for trusting me with this topic. I did my best to research it properly and sincerely, so hopefully that came through in my writing. Here you go!

Aoi Asahina x Androphobic Male Reader

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

The night sky glittered up ahead. Seeing all the stars shine like this as you walked home was a sweet reprieve from the difficulties of daily life. Those stars brought you peace with their stagnant simplicity. Beautiful, but far away. Visible, but incapable of viewing you. Strong, but never hurting you. In an odd way, you could call them "perfect".

The group of boys huddled together in the street embodied the exact opposite qualities: dangerous, perceiving, and much, much too close for your comfort.

You hurriedly ducked behind a nearby bush. If you wanted to get back home, you'd have to walk past them. But... even now, you could hear their loud laughter roaring in the middle of the road, making your body tremble. It didn't matter if they would hurt you; it mattered that they might. And no matter how small that possibility, how unlikely, it lingered within your brain. Taunting you.

"Hey, what's got ya shakin' like a leaf over here?"

The sound of a woman's voice pulled you out of your spiral and made you look up at her. Oh, you recognized her from somewhere. Aoi, was it?

Seeing her helped you calm down a little, yet explaining the situation felt a bit humiliating. You weren't sure if she'd even understand. Many didn't, with your gender and androphobia being falsely perceived as incompatible.

"Um, it's just..." You pointed timidly over to the group's direction.

"Huh? Are those guys causing problems for you? Urgh, lemme go over there and teach 'em a lesson—" She begins to stomp over to where they're at before you hastily pull at the end of her jacket sleeve.

"No, no, they haven't done anything wrong. It's just..." The full truth was too much to say, but if you didn't stop her protective tirade, who knows what she'd do. "It's just how I am. It's so dark out, and there's so many of them. It's... it's scary."

You braced for a negative reaction but received none. Instead, you watched as Aoi thumped her enclosed fist into her other, open hand. Her face beamed at you with a bright, excited smile.

"Ohhh I get it, so this is a challenge for you. I know what to do. Let's run past them together! The more challenges you face, the easier they'll get." Full to the brim with energy, she assisted you up from your crouched position. You could feel your heart beating faster at the thought of her plan. Before you could back out, though, she grasped your hand and nodded reassuringly at you.

"In 3... 2... 1... Go!"

Within the first few seconds, you'd already started to stumble. Clearly, she hadn't taken into consideration your differences in athleticism. She corrected herself, though, and eventually slowed down to your speed. Her hand firmly pulled at you to ensure you stayed upright, offering much-needed support.

The two of you eventually found a steady rhythm together. But now was the time for the real challenge: getting past the men. At the thought, your head started to get dizzy and your breath faltered. Maybe you couldn't do this, after all. Maybe the running would draw their attention. You looked up and—

Oh. You already passed them.

"That should do it!" Aoi's hand drew away from yours, now instead being placed on one of her hips. "You're headin' home, right? We close to it yet?" Your head swiveled around to look at your familiar surroundings.

"It's right here, actually. Thank you so much. I'm sorry for bothering you." She rubbed the back of her head shyly.

"Aw, don't mention it. I was itching to get a good sprint in anyway." Aoi shuffled a little from side to side. She tried to play it off as if she'd barely done anything. In her eyes, maybe she really didn't. But in yours, she'd managed to help you face your fear without even a second of judgment or disbelief. That's... well, that's kinder than the other ways she could've reacted, that's for sure.

"No, really, thank you. Um, I guess I'll go inside now. Bye." You started towards the entrance of your house until you heard her call out from behind you.

"Wait a minute. I'm still feeling fired up! That's it, you gotta train with me tomorrow. Got it? No excuses!"

You turned around in disbelief. "Huh? But you're way faster than me. I'll just slow you down, won't I?" Despite your attempt to reason with her, she merely doubled down.

"I said no excuses! I dunno why, but my instincts are yellin' at me to train with you, so I'm gonna listen to 'em. I'll see you soon!" In a flash, she was gone and out of sight.

You entered your house and crawled into bed, but not before looking out of your window one last time. You gazed at the stars, and felt strangely nostalgic for the bond that had just formed beneath them.

Beautiful, strong, perfect. You quietly recounted that previous description of the stars to yourself. This time, though, you were talking about something—or rather, someone— else.

---------------------------------------------

Author's note: Dear everyone reading who struggles with androphobia/any other life-altering phobia, this is a safe place for you. You should never feel ashamed for something that is not your fault. I wish the best for all of you and your futures 💙

[missedmilemarkers]

Hi again!! Figured that since you were technically open to any question, I want to hear your thoughts or views on this. I'm not sure if I could message you (because I'm very awkward and I can't exactly hold a conversation based on small topics) But, how do you feel about choosing something practically over passion? This question has always plagued me ever since it was brought up during class, and it provoked to me how practically was always chosen over passion as it would technically "help" them more than pursuing their passion.

Was choosing tech for you a more practical choice or were you passionate about it? I don't want to sound rude over this question, but it only occurred to me when you mentioned that you were working in a field that is quite more on the technical side. Do you see it as something similar to an art form as you develop products that could help improve lives tremendously? Or is it just a job that you expect to pay good?

(P.S Sharing these photos I took some time ago, I believe it was last year and it was submitted for a class. Hope you enjoy them as well! Not as much sun as the last one though)

First off. Before going into any of the content of this post. THAT GIANT SNAIL IS SOO COOL! I just recently found out that they exist and was just amazed by the size of them. GREAT PICTURE!!!

Alright lets unpack the content of this ask.

TLDR:

You got this I believe in you. Stand tall and proud and go for whatever your heart and head want. If they disagree pick one and evaluate later. Even if your heart and head dont know that is OK as the story of your life unfolds the path will become clear. If you are honest you can always move with confidence and never lose a moment of sleep.

I am choosing to dive deep into this again for a few different reasons. The reason I am doing this you are at a moment in time which you perceive to be important (final exams, deciding about life etc etc etc). The unfortunate thing is this moment is no more important then any other you will experience. All it is would nothing more then a "MileMarker" which you will use for evaluation later in life. That does not mean its not important. All that means is every decision you made every action you took got you to the moment you are in RIGHT NOW. So dont worry no matter your choice you will always make the right decision. Even if its wrong you will always gain insight and that insight will always lead to success if passion is applied.

how do you feel about choosing something practically over passion?

I am not sure if there is exactly a correct answer for this one. If there is I think the best one would be do whatever makes you happy, and the only way to find out what makes you happy is to try. One thing I have learned is sometimes money or love is not enough. One can have all the money in the world and be miserable. Same goes for love. One could be loved by the world and be empty inside. That answer is kind of B.S. for someone that is seeking input. With that being said I will go over some of my experiences. My very first job was at an auto mechanic shop. I used to love working on cars. I would spend my weekends doing it. I would hang out with my friends and all have a great time. So i figured it would be a good choice to work as a mechanic. So I went and got that job. I worked it for about 5 years. At the end of it I never wanted to work on cars again. To this day I will not even change my own oil because I hate it so much. Am I upset it turned out that way? Not at all. Life is all about the experience nothing more nothing less. That lesson for me was finding out what I did not like in life and was just as important in my journey as knowing what I liked. At the end of my mechanic experience I figured I should just go be a garbage man. I would get the same blue jump suit but instead of the trash coming to me I would go to the trash. Really all we can do is to try. There is no wrong answer. Even if one makes a choice and find out its wrong for you that is OK.

Was choosing tech for you a more practical choice or were you passionate about it? "Neither and both"

The reason I brought up the above being a mechanic. If i did not want the same thing to happen on my outlook of computers as it did for mechanics. It was because of this I did not get into tech. I loved it so much I did not want to risk ever hating it. So that is passion but born of practicality based on what is important to me and only me. This is was dictated by my previous experiences and not wanting to have any regret in life. More on this: I have always been interested in computers and tech. I grew up in a very poor household. We only ever had exactly what we needed and nothing more. My childhood was amazing. Yea at the time I wanted more but after I got older and realized how the world was I landed on the outlook of "I could not have asked for more and it was amazing even though it was viewed bad at the time". One of my best friends growing up his family was very rich. It was through him that I was able to get access to technology. From that my obsession was born. I loved tech so much I avoided it professionally because i did not want the same thing to happen as did with mechanics. Then one day just purely by happenstance a neighbor offered me a job. I decided at that moment you know what try it. Why not, I now knew the signs of when i might start to hate it. so why not. We can never have any form of regret. So at that first job I literally ran around a call center unplugging and plugging back in headsets. Was this something that made a difference in this world. No, was it something that I found great internal satisfaction. No. At this point did it provide me financial security. NO IT SURE DID NOT! It was until many years went by to get a chance to shine. When that moment came I was ready and I crushed it. From that moment it was all different. I gained both functional and passion in my career with huge paychecks. But you know what, none of that matters now. The only thing it provides is a story for others of my personal experience. None of it means anything right now and clearly I cannot seem to pay the bills. That is ok. I would not change my situation, the outcomes, my choices or or any aspect of how i got to this moment right now. As long as I continue to try, learn and adapt I will find my way. However none of that will happen if I never take steps on my own and try with every fiber of my being each day.

how practically was always chosen over passion as it would technically "help" them more than pursuing their passion.

Based on that statement I feel how you are looking at this in the wrong context. That statement is taken from the third person. You need to have it worded something more like this. how practically was always chosen over passion as it would technically "help" me more than pursuing my passion. The context of that change is huge. Lets take a moment and reflect on that. I bring special attention to this because 1. We can never know what is best for any other person. Its hard enough knowing what is best for ourselves. Its ok to use other peoples stories and experiences as guidance in our own actions and decisions. It should never be our place to dictate what is best for another. We can never know that persons experiences, thoughts, emotions or context. We can offer guidance and feel happy we had an opportunity to share. 2. This now forces an action from the third person to a first person. This logic dictates something must happen. Even non action is an action and should be evaluated later and potentially adjusted. Sometimes non action is the best action. Often times its not though. Its all about that re-evaluation. 3. Experience is the most important thing in life. If you are struck in any form of "I wish I could...", "I always wanted to...", "Why cant i just...", "I don't know what ...". The only way to fix that is to do anything different. If you are frozen in a conversation start with one single word "Hello". If you are struck with any form of indecision just make one that is easier and more open ended. Instead of "I will make a final decision by", change it to "I try to evaluate my choices on", then take some time do a proper evaluation. Ok i wanted to try but i was unable to do that. Its ok that happened what can I do differently to "try anything else" and step with confidence in whatever choice you make. Even if its wrong there is never any regret because you made the best decision for you at the moment. Changing the view from "Observer" to "Doer" is what this context change provides. When an honest action is taken you can always do it with confidence no matter what it is. to Your final question. Money is a sign of a job well done. If you enjoy what you do you never work a day in your life.

In final thoughts: Tomorrow will never come and yesterday is just a story that only you care about. People might want specific things for you but none of that matters. Anyone who truly cares will want your happiness above all else. If that person cant understand that then they are probably not the best person to spend your time with. If you are living in the past you are depressed. If you are living in the future you are anxious. Its all about right now nothing more nothing less. Just smile, be confident and just do what is best for you and no one else. No decisions are final, you are free to change your mind at any time. Its ok not to know. We can never know the story of life through any other way then just living it how we choose. If future you is worried (anxious). Then present you should do something to set that person which don't know but implicitly care about up for whatever that success is defined as such by you. If past you is upset (depressed) about something then future you (currently present) can do something about it and make a change. Even if that change is wrong you can tell past you (depressed) that you tried and ask that person for advise and make adjustments accordingly. As long as you try you will always get exactly what you need. Survival is a very strange thing like that. It always is right up until it is not. The moments of survival in most cases outnumber the moments of conclusion. So dont ever worry the statistics are on your side.

Time is the only thing we never get back. I choose to spend my time happy. My personal definition of happiness has changed many times throughout life (story). Money will come for me as a result of that. So far it has worked out for me. To date I have survived (lived) far more moments then i have concluded (died). The same thing can be said about anyone reading this.

Conclusion: Each time i chose based on passion, One time I lost a passion. The other time I did not. Each time I was able to survive. Each time i gained valuable experience and understanding of who I was. I always succeed because I will always try hard and hopefully learn from my mistakes just enough to be good. I want to be happy in life and If at any moment I am not that is my measuring stick to make some kind of change.

Much like the seasons change is forced.

But we will always find the beauty of tomorrow. Even though we might have suffered a broken arm.

[adhd-riddled-crow]

✨️ OH, IT'S WIP WEDNESDAY TIME ✨️

I was tagged by my darling friend in this weird ass world @alystrin03 <3

Tagging the only other people i know who are crazier [said with love] than I am @dragonagegayz @whispersleo

Let's continue with Mahanon's stress induced angst, shall we? Don't worry, Dorian's here to bodydouble and comfort our poor elf in his time of need. As he should 💚✨️

“You're overthinking again.” Dorian was sitting at Mahanon's desk in his quarters, purely for the purpose of being there as his partner packs for their trip to Wycome.  “I know my mother. I have every right to overthink.” The elf said with a sigh, “I just want her to have a good childhood. One where she feels loved by those around her. And one where she doest feel ostracised for being different from the others. A childhood unlike mine…” his hands stop refolding Ashwin's blanket for the umpteenth time and come up to hold his biceps, his long fingers squeezing at his bare skin. “This is a bad idea. Perhaps we should wait until she's older. Or- or we could call this off entirely. I could send a letter to Fíadh telling her that something came up and I was needed elsewhere… yeah that could work.” His fingers squeezed tighter around his arms, his nails digging crescent moon shapes into his skin, as he continued to spiral.  “Or– and hear me out here– we could go so that you can see your siblings. I know you haven't talked about them much, amatus, but I can tell from Fíadh’s letters alone that they miss you just as much as you do. If not more,” Dorian had come up behind him somewhen during his tirade. Hugging him from behind, the mage rests his chin atop Mahanon's shoulder and places a kiss to his right cheek. “Even if your mother doesn't entirely approve of us as a whole, what matters most is that they do.” Mahanon fidgets with his hair and lets out a saddened chuckle, “How did I get someone like you in my life?” “I should be the one asking you that question. A handsome man such as yourself? I'm the lucky one here.” “I'm not that handsome. I'm far too pretty to be handsome.” “And who said you couldn't be both?” Mahanon turns around and leaves Dorian's embrace at that, his hands on his hips and an eyebrow arched in challenge. “And if that's true, tell me. Name one thing that amounts to either of those words.” “Alright, for one I adore those beautiful bright blue eyes of yours, I could lose myself in them for hours. Second, you cut one handsome figure, darling, and I simply cannot get enough. Third, your hair is stunning and I think you should wear it like this more often. When you drape it over your shoulder I get a perfect view of that delicious neck of yours. I could keep going, but I think you've heard enough, for now, amatus.”  Mahanon was just standing there now, his hands running along his braid as he sports a deep blush. Dorian however was sporting a knowing, yet adoring, smirk. “Others may have said in the past that you ‘didn't deserve’ or that ‘you'd never be worthy’ of anything. But they couldn't have been more wrong, Mahanon. Your mother couldn't be more wrong. And if he weren't actively busy currently,  Cullen would agree with me too.” The elf opens his mouth to protest but nothing comes out, only a quiet whimper as tears well up in his eyes. The tears kept flowing down his cheeks, like an endless stream of emotions bubbling over the edge. His eyes an overflowing sink, his tears the tap that won't stop running. Why won't it stop? “W- why won't it stop?” He rasps, his emotions running high enough that they were affecting him more than usual. “Oh sweetheart.” Dorian coos. Mahanon falls to the floor, his seemingly never-ending tears still flowing.

[dhddmods]

hopefully this isn't an uber weird thing to send in, I feel weird adding directly to the post lol! but uber fuck with your takes on the whole afab perisex transfem thing, also cool to see other systems out there with transfem headmates where that aspect of identity intersects with being in a system. one of my headmates is a trans woman whose innerworld experiences affect her gender identity a lot and she loves hearing about other people like her.

anyways, something I feel that was weirdly not touched on at all in the og post was the like, not exceedingly unheard of experience of detransitioning, and I've actually seen multiple instances of people who ended up detransitioning deciding to label themselves as still being trans but in a different way, regardless of their AGAB or original developmental pathway. Someone who was AFAB and/or originally experienced a TMDP who ended up socially and/or medically transitioning to affirm their gender when they identified as a man, for example, but ended up identifying as a woman later and thus socially and/or medically transitioning again, can be considered transitioning into womanhood and therefore 100% has the right to consider themselves a trans woman. and I honestly feel like people who have experienced transition in this way or anything adjacent are a super erased group, so it sucks seeing them denied relevance once again.

and a cool (not cool) thing - before I was ready to accept I was intersex (and still considered myself perisex) I sort of played around a lot with related labels, because it was the only way I knew how to express my gender while dealing with shit I didn't know how to explain. but I came across a similar take as what was expressed in the original post while trying to read up more on intersex shit, and let me tell you... it was crushing. I felt unbearable shame and was afraid of expressing myself too openly out of fear of being assumed to be a bad person, all while I was dealing with difficult feelings with regard to gender and my experiences with sex. It undid so much progress I made with self discovery, both because I was afraid of describing myself The Wrong Way, and because I felt I couldn't consider myself intersex no matter what because I was probably just subconsciously imposing my weird evil desires on shit and finding excuses to use terminology I had no right to. So, I genuinely hate arguments like this. they're not just wrong, but I would argue they have the capacity to harm others. making people out to be Probably Bad People and Fetishizers who Know Nothing for taking on a label they feel a strong connection to is a great way to stunt self understanding and to make people afraid of exploring.

sorry for rambling and probably sounding incoherent, I just felt weirdly passionate out of nowhere and did not intend to go on this long (,: but ultimately I'm glad there are others around here willing to be critical of these sort of random limitations.

~ chimera-summer

Fully agree with you here. Like 90% of detransitioned people we've seen have still identified with some form of trans, and having a non-linear transition is a huge aspect of that that status-quo-hater seems to have completely left out of the discussion.

All around it was very odd to be so supportive of contradictory labels, only to throw this out in the open.

It's also quite frustrating to be in a system and have singlets talk over us. Singlets don't have a right to dictate the identity of systems, only other systems have the right to input on that.

The world sees us as trans. Our innerworld experiences and outerworld experiences directly interlock. People treat sysmates differently than they treat singlets. That's just a fact of plurality. When I (Weniviere) told someone I was wolffipathian in the innerworld, toxic singlets in my life immediately start debating the validity of my gender.

And we still cannot get over the binary-centric view of non-binary women that it was putting out there. Mulleripathian non-binary women still have to do all kinds of shit to be recognized as their gender, and most of the time, they are still misgendered by people around them, by having the transness of their identity erased.

[hooked-on-elvis]

hi lally! i wanted to know what books about elvis you have read so far, if that's okay. which ones are your favorites? have you read priscilla's book? i wanna read it, but with the way people speak of it makes me apprehensive cuz i like elvis a lot i'm scared of getting disappointed or something like that lol. anyways, i just wanted to know your opinion :D

Hi, friend! I'm honored you considered listening to what I think on this matter. Thank you.

Well, first of all, on fearing feeling disappointed at Elvis, I had that fear too - and at the first bad story I heard about him I was shocked and I thought my adoration for him was over. That's what Elvis feared, actually... that people would not love him anymore if they knew everything about who he was... but fortunately his life doesn't let us hate or feel sorry for him or whatever... His life, him... he was a lovable person and that couldn't change by anything we hear said about the bad moments in his life, really. As soon as you read everything they say about him, the better. Your love for Elvis will only grow, I promise. You read one bad thing about him and (if it's not a lie, which you will find out as you go reading further, different stories from different people from around the same period in time the events took place), then you read 10 good things about him, amazing things he did or said that only makes our love for E grow stronger. I'm an Elvis fan because of his legacy, his art, but also because of the man he was, and he was the best he could be. I sincerely think Elvis was one of the best human beings ever walking on this earth, so don't worry about getting disappointed with some of his actions because it's not a lasting impression if you read enough about him. Trust me. You just have to read and try to walk on his shoes to understand why he behaved certain ways. One thing you have to keep in mind is that everything said about him is a point a view, not the whole truth, and it comes from a particular place and time, it doesn't mean he was always doing wrong. Another thing to keep in mind is that E was not a perfect man... Never was, never claimed to be and couldn't be such even if he tried his hardest.

Well, now back to your question. I've read some books on Elvis, almost all of his main girlfriends' memoir (my favorites by far are June Juanico's book "In The Twilight of Memory", Kathy Westmoreland's "Elvis and Kathy" and "A Little Thing Called Life" by Linda Thompson). Those are amazing books because those women really loved Elvis. You can feel it by the way they talk about him. They were concerned about what WE would think of him while they were writing those memoirs. It's really lovely.

One of the first ones I've read (I needed to read that book) was Priscilla's memoir "Elvis and Me". To be honest, I feel that book is unbelievably heavy concerning its energy. I think Priscilla knew Elvis too much to respect his memory, you know what I mean? Family, you don't walk on eggshells, you just say whatever you feel and think... and she kinda did just that in that book. Not that blunt and open and harsh in words, but she made us think Elvis was... a terrible partner most of the time, and that's not true. You only know that if you read other girlfriends' memoirs too.

I think at the time Priscilla wrote that book she was still resentful for everything that went wrong between them. I genuinely believe she loved him at some point and that he loved her back, in their own respective ways, but he just wasn't the marrying kind because he had women throwing themselves at him and couldn't fix his mind in one only. And Priscilla knew that but she had high expectations and they just didn't see eye to eye. It wasn't meant to be. That's sad. But anyway. I think Priscilla talked much more about her disappointment concerning Elvis and their marriage, on his flaws and wrongs, than in the good about him, that's why I think that book is heavy. But if you go as I did, after reading that one try to balance with a more light-content books on Elvis and you're safe. Truth be told: when it comes to his love life, Elvis is kind of a disappointment but what do we have to do with that? His cheating on his women has nothing to do with us enough to make us not love him as much as we do. Besides, by all accounts, he was a gentleman, very sensitive and kind and generous... but he was also deceiving. I'm mentioning this because that is the only lasting bad impression the all the books on him will cause on you, but you can make your peace with it and separate the Elvis we love from this little part of him we don't agree with. He wasn't a faithful guy, that's not news but reading about it can be shocking, the details and how his women felt about it... it's heartbreaking. But I can guarantee you one thing: There's ways and ways of talking about it and that matters! Linda Thompson and Kathy Westmoreland, for instance, always talked about how Elvis cheated or dumped them (respectively) in a light manner, choosing to take the good instead of the bad. Priscilla on the other hand was very resentful and you can easily feel that reading her memoir book. It's not like she's wrong in feeling this way... If you love someone and you're disappointed at their behavior it's normal you're gonna "hate" that person for what they did to you sometimes but that's a heavy book and that's it... that's how I felt reading it, melancholic. And I will never understand how Priscilla Beaulieu, Elvis' ex wife and the woman who was by his side for the longest time, doesn't have as many funny and cute stories about him to share in her book as the other women he dated. I will NEVER understand that. Now, there's one part in Priscilla's book that is very, very dark and it makes me sick every time I think about it, so beware. What I did was research, and it turns out I found out Priscilla said things weren't exactly the way she described in that specific moment of her book (and some of Elvis' friends don't even believe it happened at all). That's why I believe she hold resentment against Elvis, at least until the moment her book was out.

Well, that being said now let's talk about Elvis by himself.

I began getting to know Elvis in a very funny way, I guess. In 2022, when I watched "Elvis" by Baz Luhrmann, I had to find out who that guy portrayed in the movie was. That was the first time I've seen the real Elvis - not just in pictures from the 50s. Well, I was kind of in love immediately. He was so handsome and sensual, my head was spinning, and his music was good... so I wanted to learn all the bad things about him right away before I became a fan and felt like I've wasted my time just to learn he was a bad person when that realization could break my heart. That' why the first book I've read was "ELVIS WHAT HAPPENED" by Red West, Sonny West and Dave Hebler as told to Steve Dunleavy.

I gotta say, I was between gasps and laughter reading that book. Some of the stories were shocking but I found out further on it was a matter of HOW they told those stories. Remember I said you have ways and ways to say the same? Some people talk in a very dark manner to pass a message on when the same could be delivered in a lighter way. We know Red, Sonny and Dave were mad at Elvis for him firing them, therefore they were indeed resentful while writing that book and couldn't care less about hurting Elvis and his image (that's why I think Priscilla was also in this mood when she wrote her book). But all in all, I LOVE THAT BOOK! And you know why? Because many of the things inside are true but when you read other books, you see the way they spoke about Elvis is just out of proportion and you keep only the funny stories inside those pages in your heart. I remember laughing a lot while I was reading this book (not at Elvis, of course, but the stories... he was so funny and his gang, his cronies, all of them together were very amusing in a way).

From that tell-all book, I took a leap and landed on Elvis' faith. Funny, isn't it? Hahaha. I don't know why, I just bought this book not knowing what to expect.

I'm a Pisces and a very spiritual person, so I think I felt like it would be an adventure to understand which kind of faith a person like Elvis could have, specially when we grow up knowing a bit about the fame he had of a womanizer and after reading that book above I mentioned previously. I was very curious to understand this side of him, his faith, and I don't regret having this for my first book on Elvis I bought a print for myself. It's small book called "The Seeker King: A Spiritual Biography of Elvis Presley" by Gary Tillery. I purchased mine translated to my mother language (Brazilian Portuguese), thus the cover is different (the one below to the right), and I love it better. If you know Elvis enough, you just know he was the sweetest, caring person he could be and it has everything to do with his upbringing and God. I feel conected to him when I hear him singing gospel songs and talking about God because I know he felt God the same way I do, as a member of his family, as his only trustworthy confidant, as his best friend.

Now let's talk about my favorite part: his music.

I have to recommend you to read Trina Young's book "Elvis: The Army Years Uncovered: Behind the Scenes of the Two Years That Changed The King of Rock and Roll's Life" – it has an incredible collection of stories, told in chronological order, about Elvis in 1958-1960. I had a lot of fun reading that book and it was amazing to understand how Elvis' music changed in just two years... the influence opera had on him and how much he was dedicated in improving his singing skills, in being a good artist and not just a rock and roller/handsome guy. That book also made me understand more how Elvis was just a red-blooded boy as he sings in "Girls! Girls! Girls!" and that is important to understand as we talked before... it was always there and everybody knew it from the start (Priscilla really fooled herself on this).

I also need to recommend to you my Elvis Music Bible, my favorite book of all the ones I've read so far and I know it's gonna be my favorite book on Elvis regardless of how many books I read from now on: "Elvis Presley: A Life In Music" by Ernst Jorgensen and Peter Guralnick. This one, tho, is EXCEPTIONAL! It's a complete recording sessions history that goes through it all, all of the years of Elvis' music and acting career (soundtracks, tv shows... All included). I always look for answers on this book when I'm listening to Elvis' music and trying to get understand him better... where he took inspiration from? who were his idols? which kind of music touched him? why he chose to record certain songs? what made him record the ones he didn't like? where was he looking like feeling when he recorded my favorite songs? ALL THE CLUES ELVIS LEFT BEHIND, LET BE SEEN, WERE TAKEN FROM HIS LIFESTORY AND RECORDING SESSIONS TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AS BEST AS IT COULD. I LOVE THIS BOOK MORE THAN ANY OTHER.

I'm far from reading that many books on Elvis, dear, but everything I've read so far made me love him even more because I could see the good in him, and understand the bad in him too.

Here are, probably, all the other ones I've finished reading until now. All great books:

I've read excerpts from a few others but never read them fully yet, thus I'm not going to mention those ones.

Below are the ones I'm currently reading. I read more than one book at a time and that's not a problem to me, but I take my time reading the books... whenever I feel like having my undivided attention on the stories told I read, because most of the times I find little parts that I want to share with you here on my blog (I just can't let it go without sharing), so that's why I'm taking so long to finish those books but I'm enjoying them very much so far:

See? That's what I'm talking about. To get to know a bit about who Elvis Aaron Presley really was, you have to read many different books and magazines articles, watch as many interviews as you can find, on top of watching his films and concerts and listening to his music, and put all the little pieces together.

Elvis wasn't perfect but he was so talented, dedicated, wise, funny, sweet and caring that whatever you read about him that doesn't put him on a good light, you take as a moment in life he wasn't feeling okay and let the bad emotions take the best in him, but the more you read the more you understand the bad things he did were not coming from his true nature. Most of the time, Elvis was great human being. I'd love if I could have the pleasure to be his friend and share a bit of his splendorous light. He had a great mind for the things in life.

Well, that's it. I hope you're a bit less concerned about reading books on Elvis now. I guarantee you're gonna have a great time! I laugh A LOT with the stories about E interacting with his family, friends and fans, he was such a funny character! I'd love to know which books you've read, if any, and what are your thoughts about them. Take care, friend. ♥

[sorry-i-got-the-jams]

Blorbo ask game: 19, 3, 17, 23, 7, and 24 :) (was thinking about Arthur but feel free to answer with the blorbo that inspires you the most)

Ah, asks, I love it! Thanks!

19. when it comes to Blorbos, do you have a type?

I think so. Men with traumas, dramatic background, who keep trying their best but the universe seems to hate them. They have grey morals and make questionable choices and are a mess. Most of the time middle aged guys, but you can find a young one time to time (as Raskolnikov). Sometimes they are plain psychopaths with no morals too, but give them all the traumatic background and constant on going drama, please. I love seeing my Blorbos suffering.

3. was there any specific point / any specific moment that suddenly made this character your Blorbo, or did you slowly grow to love them more and more until they became a Blorbo to you?

I'll go with Arthur here, since you asked about him. I already loved him in 2019, Joker became one of my favorite movies back them and I know I rebloged some posts about it, digged a tiny bit, but never got into the fandom. I don't know, I was probably obsessed with something else (Hello Monster, I think! So Lee Joonyoung had all my attention). It was after Folie when Arthur became my blorbo. I don't just loved the movie too (I don't care about what others think about it, I enjoyed it, it was perfect to me, different of what I was expecting but in a good way), I felt Arthur a lot and I got into the Obsession. So I wanted to dig in the fandom as soon as it finished and I left the theater with fic ideas. I guess it was a matter of timing. I wasn't obsessing over anything else when I went to watch the movie and I had finished writing my last book and was just editing, so my writer mind was ready to start something new and Arthur was right there being my type and suffering like hell. Just perfect.

17. do you like seeing your Blorbo suffer?

Oh, I think I've already replied to this ahaha Yes, I do. I really do. If you go through my AO3, angst is probably the most common tag. Hurt no comfort and hurt/comfort too, probably. I live to see them break.

23. is your Blorbo a victim of badly written script / bad plot / character assassination in the hands of canon?

Yes! :') Going about Arthur again. I don't think he is a victim of badly written script or bad plot, but yes to character assassination, my boy. I get it and I usually prefer movies with sad/hard endings. I like an ending that lets me with a bitter taste and a lot of thoughts. Happy endings my feel nice but don't make you think twice about the movie, don't give you the rage, the emptiness, the powerlessness. So I get the end of folie (and how that ends the saga for good, no more Arthur) but it still hurts because I would love to have more of Arthur. But at the same time, that was exactly what inspired me to write, to create that alternative ending that gives me all that the movie didn't, so it's quite good, I think

7. what’s the one thing the fandom gets wrong about your Blorbo?

I'm not really sure about this hmm I haven't interacted with the fandom that much, maybe I should read more about other people's opinions on Arthur to see if I think they are getting him wrong. But I don't know, because I understand that characters are really open to interpretation, so people havin't a different view or perspective of him than me wouldn't feel as wrong, I think? Just different.

Maybe what I think it's wrong is the people who say that Arthur has a narcissistic personality disorder or is a psychopath or a "sociopath". Nah, not at all. I think he has severe complex PTSD that sometimes causes him strong symptoms of dissociation and psychosis. When I saw the first movie and even the director was saying he had NPD I was like... nah, bro. I'm sorry but that doesn't fit (nothing wrong with having NPD, love NPD characters and NPD people, they are some of my favorite kind of patients, actually. Just, that isn't Arthur's case). Still, I'm not that much into diagnostic labels, people are more than a diagnosis or their symptoms, but well, that's what I think that goings on with Arthur and that maybe most people don't get it.

24. if you could change one canonical thing about your Blorbo, what would it be?

A part of me would say... maybe don't kill him? But as I've said... I like sad endings, they hurt more and stick with you. Still... I would like Arthur to have a chance. Surviving that attack, getting proper therapy, fiding a place for himself and people who cares... It would have been nice seeing him improving and being happy and loved for real at least once. Not just used and betrayed. I like to see my blorbos suffer, but sometimes I wanna give them some of the comfort too, right? So well, make him survive and give him a bit of real help and understanding!

Thanks again for the ask! It's fun to reply ^^

[isan0rt]

I’ve been listening to the Horizon soundtrack again and man, the two different versions of In the Flood kill me. Specifically, having the main version be Aloy’s anxieties about not living up to Elizabet’s example and expectations, but Lovisa’s version be Beta’s view of Aloy and feeling she isn’t living up to Aloy’s example and expectations, is so fucking compelling. It says so much about them as people, and it also is really the first time we get a direct viewpoint of Aloy from a different first person POV, and how much she is to Beta as Elizabet is to her.

So I’m gonna talk about their songs.

Aloy's version of the song is straightforward.

"Am I the one to hold // this crown of ash and salt? // Their kindness calls to me. I have to block it out." All through Zero Dawn, she was seeking belonging and identity, but she can't afford to seek kindness now. She is the heir to Elizabet's legacy, the legacy that is falling apart in her hands. She has to ignore it, she has to be more than human.

"My voice has grown so somber // these words don't seem like mine // but the iron won't subside // no matter what I try." Aloy feels she is losing herself - there is nothing but the mission. She feels like she is getting nowhere and it is shredding her psyche.

"Am I raindrops in the flood? [...]If I falter, if I fall // the wave inside my soul // carries all I know // Who can take my hand in the flood?" She can't tell if she's making any difference, but the world is on her shoulders. She can't see how anyone can help her. She is on her own - and if she fails, everyone on Earth dies. The pressure is crushing her, but she has to stand strong anyway. 

"A voice calls me forth // through darkness unknown // my heart with silence burns through solemnness and bone // the edge beyond the shore // this weight of wood and rot // I long to reach the other // to find the path we lost." I think it's significant that the only voice Aloy is hearing at this point in the game (the opening credits) is her own voice - the same voice as Elizabet's. She is letting herself be subsumed into the identity of Elizabet, and it is crushing her ability to see anything in the world but the death and darkness. 

The refrain repeats here, except that the lyrics change from "If I falter, if I fall" to "If I'm broken, if I'm torn-" Aloy is faltering, she can't carry this alone, she’s tearing herself apart, but she can't afford to break. She is desperate for someone to take her hand, but can't imagine who could possibly bear the burden that feels like hers alone.

All very straightforward - terrible, anxious, crushing, but straightforward. She is worried about her mission, and she has the weight of the world on her shoulders. She is barely thinking of herself as an individual anymore. This song is a desperate cry for help, from someone who doesn't believe help is coming for her. She feels like she is alone, and always has been.

But Beta. Beta has a very different, much more complicated theme to her version of the song.

"My hands are full of flowers // my ears are full of songs." Right off the bat, we get such a loaded, complicated line. For the first time in her life, Beta is seeing life. The base is as sterile as the Odyssey was, but Zo has filled it with plants and music, specifically for the reason that the sterility felt unnatural to her. Beta flees these things into the barren server room, but they are still there, all around where she’s hidden herself. At the same time, I think this line foreshadows Varl's death - the flowers and songs of a gravesinger, the loss of the first person to treat her like a human being and not a machine.

"My heart has had enough // I'd rather just be wrong. I listen when you talk // your words all make sense // but underneath it all // I hear where we are going with this." Where Aloy's version is just crying out into the silence, Beta's is addressing someone specific, someone capable of speaking to her. This feels so clearly about Aloy's frustrations with her - how many times did Aloy come try to cajole her into being brave, like Aloy? She's tired of it. She's used to being told she's stupid and wrong anyway. She'd rather Aloy just be mad, because;

"I am raindrops in the flood // I am emptiness." Beta does not feel significant. She is certain she's as useless as raindrops in a flood; there is no question as in Aloy's version. She is a tool. She has always been a tool. And yet...

"I am hope. I am lonely in a crowd // but when you hear me // you'll be near me// stay with me in the flood." Even though Beta still thinks of herself as helpless, Aloy inspires her to feel differently. She is so conflicted about it. She's emptiness, but she is hope, too - she is Elizabet's legacy, too. But more importantly, when Aloy is near her, hears her, then maybe...

"In dreams I never left // I  had courage like the beast // My eyes they never fled // my arms would always reach." These are some of the clearest lines to illustrate this is Beta speaking, and not Aloy. She dreams of having courage, but implies that the idea of being able to keep her eyes high and forward is just a dream. She knows she is timid and scared, as a person. Her feelings of weakness continue here.

"You've hardened with your words // maybe fear is armor too // my voice is not that strong // when hurricanes come running from you." Aloy scares her. Aloy is so different from her - Beta's voice is weak and trembling, Aloy's so fierce even hurricanes flee her - but something about that inspires Beta, too. Beta feels stronger by exposure to Aloy, even though Aloy kind of scares her. And she looks up to Aloy, despite her fear;

“The little child inside // is jealous of your strength // The way you hold your head // When everything's aflame-" This is another clue this is Beta speaking - Aloy does not speak of Elizabet in the present tense. She is always asking what Elizabet would have done. Beta is seeing what Aloy does do, right now - she holds her head up even in the most dire of circumstances. Beta cannot see Aloy's fear and desperation, that Aloy only expresses within her own head in her own version of this song.

"Your back is straight as you walk away // Straighter than an oak in a storm // Only I remain // Should I have bent, been reshaped in your image? // Is that what you want?" Beta can only see how Aloy is different from her - strong, fierce, aggressive, yelling at her to be stronger. To be more courageous. To be more like Aloy thinks she should be - Aloy pushing her own feelings of trying and failing to be like Elizabet onto Beta. But Beta can't see that Aloy is angry at herself; she can only see the ways she's inadequate, the ways Aloy gets frustrated and walks away from her. Of course she wonders if Aloy just wants Beta to be another her.

And yet, the refrain repeats here, three times as opposed to Aloy's two. No matter how much she feels Aloy doesn't want her the way she is...she is inspired anyway. She wants Aloy to hear her, stay by her. Because when Aloy is there...maybe Beta can stand up through the flood.

Beta is the one who can take Aloy’s hand. Aloy does not have to be alone - and as much as she is falling apart inside from the pressure, none of that is obvious to Beta. Beta can only see her as the same inspiring figure Aloy imagines Elizabet to be - but unlike Elizabet, Aloy is here, real and alive, someone who can actually have feelings about Beta, be proud of and love Beta. Aloy is to Beta what Aloy has always needed from Elizabet - and Beta helps Aloy realize that what matters is not what Elizabet would have thought of her, but what Rost did think of her. Beta looks at Aloy and sees the person Rost made her, and is inspired by her. She can live in the here and now, and they can stay with each other, and endure the flood together.

[quitealotofsodapop]

Was thinking of FFM, specifically the bit about the island being effectively isolated from the outside world. That means it's entirely possible for different strands of plant life that otherwise went extinct or had evolved different characteristics remain in suspension, only affected by the things Wukong himself brings onto the island.

Pigsy is a food connoisseur. He only uses the freshest ingredients. In Century Egg Au and Slow Boiled, he effectively becomes a parental figure to Wukong. One, who would very much likely make many a trip to FFM to check up on Wukong. Same for TMKATI except Wukong doesn't live in the mountain in that one and therefore there's less reason to visit. Imagine how he'll react when he realizes the mythical island not only has the freshest ingredients but the rarest as well!

Pigsy seeing an isolated island with some very tasty looking rare tree fruits from the view of Sandy's ship, only to learn that it has a impassable magical barrier:

He's ok to let the matter slide... for now. He reasons with himself that whatever is on that island is better off without his mitts on it.

Until he's shaken awake by a very excitable Tang, holding a book on island isolation and evolution, rambling at a mile a minute about how the plant and animal life on the sheltered island has likely evolved completely separate from the outside world, and if this island is part of the fabled lost country of Alolai - then it likely is teeming with wildlife that evolved after the mythical Floods and Burning.

Pigsy, groggy: "Tang... how'd you get in my room???" Tang, highly-caffienated: "I haven't slept in two days!" Sandy, texting: "Is he at your place now?"

Eventually after forcing the scholar to calm down and take a rest before his heart gives out, Pigsy is told something that really tickles his inner connoisseur.

Tang: "Before it was introduced and selectively bred, potatoes could only be encountered in remote areas of the Andes mountains." Pigsy: "And?" Tang: "Imagine if you discovered the next potato." Pigsy: *squeal of intrigue!*

Needless to say, Pigsy has his own Nerd Moment™ the first time he actually touches down on the island and recognises a bunch of rare species.

Pigsy, side-tracked by a tree: "Sweet Chang'e! This is looks like a button mangosteen! I've never heard of them growing this far north! The skin is more red-orange though, maybe it's a branched variety back when the islands were connected to the mainland? Button Mangosteens taste closer to tangerines than their purple cousins, I wonder if that intesifies based on colouration." Sandy, delighted for his friend: "You seem to be having lots of fun!" Pigsy: *nodding happily*

He's equally delighted in the TMKATI au to have "Such a resourceful employee!" when Wukong comes back from his visits to the island bearing gifts. It caught him off guard the first time though.

Wukong: "Hey boss, I got you something." Pigsy, opening a box: "Wu... are these fresh truffles?!" Wukong, wondering if he did something wrong: "Yeah, why? Did I mess up? I overheard you talking about wanting to have enough to experiment with and-" Pigsy: "No no! I'm... I'm so grateful, I don't even know what to say... How did you even afford these?" Wukong, genuine confusion: "Afford? I just gathered a bunch from the lime orchard at home. There's hundreds of these things - I don't like 'em personally cus they taste like dirt to me. I normally just toss them in the hotpot when I run out of the chicken-tasting ones." Pigsy: "Excuse me."

I hc that in the direct aftermath in returning to FFM during the White Bone Spirit chapter of JTTW; Sun Wukong did a lot of gardening and farming in order to ensure that his people would have a sustainable source of food. Probably convinced Zhu Bajie to "show off his super-cool 9-Toothed Rake" to start the farmers off.

He also plants a bunch of super-rare and super-divine plants on the island that he picks up in his travels.

Wukong, chilling on a tree clearly not native to the island: "What? I like using the leaves as nesting material."

And lets not mention the super rare species of animals that managed to survive/escape the Burning.

FFM probably has an undiscovered wild cat or two that Sandy accidentally befriends.