#enough to the point of considering himself ''weak willed'' to have started to believe in these visions dimitri has for the future

[gothamite-rambler]

Ra's Al Ghul began to wonder why Damian always acted "odd" compared to when he was a child. He had difficulty making eye contact, struggled to follow instructions at times, found it hard to share his interests, and had trouble expressing emotions—not in the way Ra's was accustomed to.

Silent concern gnawed at him. He feared Bruce might be doing something wrong, and the thought that he was ruining his grandson's development troubled him deeply. He couldn't admit that he actually cared for the boy; showing any semblance of weakness in front of his minions or even to himself was unacceptable.

So, he confronted Bruce:

Ra's: I've stayed silent about this for far too long, you better start talking, Bruce!

Bruce (dryly): Hi, it's good to see you again. What do you need?

Ra's: I need to know how are you raising him? Better yet, what have you passed down to him? He's struggling to look me in the eye, it didn't come from my bloodline. Tell me what you did cause I don't want him to end up as dim as you!

Bruce: Rude. There’s nothing wrong with Damian apart from the trauma you put him through.

Ra's: Trauma, you weak willed people. Well, there’s definitely something off about him and you're going to tell me!

Bruce: Ra's, you were around him for eight years. You didn’t notice anything about his learning difficulties?

Ra's: Hm, he did struggle to speak for some time. He has a hard time making eye contact, and teaching him certain things was a challenge. Plus, he’s not the best with emotions. But most of that is normal in my culture.

Bruce (smirking): You don’t know, do you?

Ra's: Know what? What did you do to him?

Bruce: I got him tested a few months after he got here. Ra's, he’s autistic.

Ra's locked up, horrified. His ideas about neurodiversity were outdated. At one point, autism was believed to stem from mothers not loving their children enough, I'm not kidding. It was considered a disease back in the 1900s and earlier (and to some idiots, it still is).

Ra's glanced over at his grandson, who was listening to music and twirling a pen.

Ra's: Oh Allah, how did this happen? Can we… What did you do? What did you give him? My poor grandson!

Bruce (trying not to laugh): I saw this coming, and I admit it’s still kind of funny. Ra's, he doesn’t have a disease; he’s not sick. He has a neurodevelopmental disorder, which is not a bad thing. I just have to raise him a little differently, no skin off my bones, honestly.

Ra's: Are you lying to protect your own ass?

Bruce: Nope. I’ve raised three kids before him, and each one is different. Damian is fine, he’s a great kid and my son. If you treat this like a problem that needs fixing, you’ll end up waking up in the Pit.

Ra's: Alright, I’ll believe you for the time being. But if I come back after researching this autism and I’m right, you’re going to be dealing with me!

Bruce: Cool, you can go now.

Ra's left, uncertain how to process this new information. He did the one thing many parents today fail to do: he researched the disorder and learned that it isn’t a deadly disease or a sign of parental failure, but rather something that one in every thirty-six kids is born with, and that they can lead normal, fulfilling lives.

Ra's defends his grandson

[asingleshampdition]

Sympathy for Jin Shirato

In all honesty, I actually feel just as, if not worse for Jin, than I do Chidori; especially in Reload, despite Chidori being the most fleshed out of the Strega three. This character analysis will not include developments from Shadow Cry, as I'm not aware of most of its contents enough to include it. (P.S. There are no visuals because for some reason, Tumblr doesn't want to save with them.) I think the motivations of the three Strega members are very important. All of them came from the same background, as child experiments; and thus, we can draw fair conclusions from them.

Takaya wants to get back at the world for hurting him. He's a man who is very weak-willed, and wishes for death, as long as it means others come along with him. He's adopted this view in which his only purpose in life is to bring everyone down with him: as he's been granted the power to do such (in the form of Hypnos), he's under the impression that his life is meaningless otherwise. This is why he's so unwilling to give up the Dark Hour to SEES; he's unwilling to start over, because in his mind, he's built up meaning for himself. Takaya doesn't really care for anyone; everyone he comes across, to him, is either an asset he can use to achieve his goal (Jin and Chidori), or an obstacle (SEES). As much as I'd like to believe Takaya genuinely did care for Jin and Chidori, I can't see it. At the end of the game, Takaya becomes a cult leader; Strega had always had parallels to such, and cult leaders, like Takaya, don't typically care about their followers. Rather, they see them as tools, to get their way. From my point of view, Takaya is an irredeemable piece of garbage, in the games, and cannot compare to Jin or Chidori in terms of sympathizing potential. As previously stated, I'm not accounting for Shadow Cry in this post, so I don't really know how the pathetic wet cat man is portrayed there. Chidori's motivation is that she, quite literally, has no motivation. She finds no purpose in life, and therefore, doesn't really care what happens either way. In her eyes, dying just means she'll never wake up again, and the end of the Dark Hour? "Cool, more days to live until I inevitably die," is probably what she would've made of it. Either that, or, "oh no, Medea!" Chidori's motivations are so radically different than both Takaya and Jin's motivations, and I believe this is why she was able to break away from such a cynical, nihilistic line of thought, much more easily than the other two. The only reason she followed, and was loyal, to Strega, was because Jin and Takaya were similar to her. Other than that, she held no regard for them, and did not consider them friends. It did not matter, to her, who she followed. If Takaya had been a better guy, maybe with hopes of reform, she probably would've turned out better as well. The only person she really cared about, until Junpei, was herself; as selfish as that sounds. She considers Medea her only true friend, as a representation of how she isolates herself, in order to not be afraid of death. So, where does that leave Jin? I believe Jin, unlike Takaya and Chidori, possesses a trait that neither of the other two have: genuine care for the few people close to him. The reason Jin doesn't want the Dark Hour to disappear is very similar to Takaya's; however, as shown in Reload, this isn't really the case. We have to remember that Takaya, essentially being a cult leader, even before he starts such, is incredibly manipulative and charismatic. Think of Jin as a young, impressionable dude, who is at an incredibly low point in his life; someone who is emotionally vulnerable, someone who can be targeted. The perfect candidate for a potential cult member. Then comes along Takaya: someone who is kind to him. Someone who treats him with dignity, with respect; someone who is there for him when he needs it most. Someone who 'saves' him. Kind of like Chidori, I believe Jin could've fallen for anyone; it didn't have to be for Takaya, it just had to be someone who was kind to him during the darkest time of his life. Unfortunately for him, Takaya does not truly care for him, unlike the vice versa, and whatever kindness Jin experienced from Takaya may or may not have been an act of manipulation. Kind of like how cults usually target young, impressionable, emotionally vulnerable individuals. Jin was manipulated into siding with Takaya; and kind of like a cult member and a cult leader, the member would align with the leader's ideals. Therefore, I do not believe Jin's true reason for standing against the Dark Hour's absence is the same as Takaya's.

This is not to say Jin doesn't have a 'real' reason; unlike Chidori, I believe he does. His statements on 10/31, being: "If the Dark Hour disappears, we might forget everything that happened, won't we? / I'd forget you and Chidori, the things we did together, our time at the facility... All of it." I find this line an incredibly simple way of painting Jin in a sympathetic way; and yet, it's incredibly tactful. Jin values the time he's spent with Takaya and Chidori; he values them. To him, they're like family. They are what SEES is to Makoto/the protagonist: his friends, the only friends he's ever had, and he'd rather die than forget about them. The only problem is that both Takaya and Chidori hold little to no regard for him. I'm somewhat sure he knows this, and yet, he still chooses to view them in such a way; even after Chidori pays virtually no mind to him as a person, and when Takaya separates from him in the final stretch of Tartarus, knowing that Jin would probably die.

This conclusion does raise some questions, though; when Chidori sacrificed herself for Junpei, why didn't Jin say anything? Rather, why didn't he try and stop her? After all, he's mostly silent, and Takaya does most of the talking during the sequence. Strega's philosophy on death is to not fear it, as it is inevitable. Perhaps this is also why Jin does not show sadness when Chidori dies? To Jin, as well as Takaya and Chidori, they've accepted that they will all die someday, because of the suppressants, as well as their Personas. Jin doesn't view Chidori's death as sad, not because he doesn't care for her, but because Strega has already established that death is inevitable for people like them. Another potential reason for Jin supposedly not caring for Chidori's death is the presence of Takaya. As a cult member is to a cult leader, Jin is dependent on Takaya. Since Takaya only views Chidori as a pawn, perhaps Jin would take on Takaya's view on the matter; to Jin, Takaya is wiser than anyone else. I really can't think of any other reasons as to why Jin wouldn't show much emotion during Chidori's death, other than either one: Jin specifically referring to Takaya, and only adding Chidori in as an afterthought, in his quote, or two: bad writing. The first one I doubt, as I feel like Jin would be one of the last people to tell a half-truth (to Takaya, of all people, to boot); especially since his last name is Shirato (white door), referring to how he can't keep his fatass mouth shut when talking about important information with SEES. I don't really think the writers would make such an oversight; adding Jin's sympathetic statement, and then forgetting to make him sympathetic otherwise. Not saying it's not possible; it definitely was, considering the quality of the villains' writing in the older versions of Persona 3. I just find it unlikely. This all just goes to show that Jin could've ended up just like the SEES members, if not to a greater extent than Chidori. He loved the ones he was close to, and he believed in bonds, to some extent. Of course, maybe not in the way SEES does, but the point is that he did; and bonds are the entire premise of the Persona series. Takaya never believed in bonds at all, throughout the entire game; he's too focused on himself, so he's out of the question. Chidori doesn't believe in bonds until Junpei shows up, even with Jin and Takaya in the picture. Jin is the only Strega member who would go as far to die for his found family, the only member who loved his companions from the start.

The more I think about it, the less I really blame Jin for who he became. Like I've mentioned before, you have to think of Jin as a cult member. A cult member who was 'indoctrinated' by Takaya, because he was naive, impressionable, and a lost soul; looking for someone to love him, respect him, stay by his side, and 'save' him. Would you fault a lost soul, someone who is incredibly emotionally vulnerable, as well as naive, for being manipulated into a cult? Sure, you could view Jin as 'stupid' for falling for Takaya, but that's the thing: people who become cult members aren't always stupid. They could be the brightest, most mature person you know; and that's not the point. Cults target people who are lonely; who want love. No matter how bright, mature, talented, well-read you are; at the end of the day, you are not immune to manipulation, if the manipulators pull the right strings. I think that's what's most scary about Jin: his story revolves around how someone so bright, so talented, someone who was one the right track, who more or less had the right mindset about relationships, was thrown off course, because he was also lonely, naive, and lost. It's very similar to many people who join cults; his character, even in Reload, can be written off as just some cynical, Takaya-obsessed bomb maniac, kind of like how a lot of people write cult members off as off-putting, evil, and sadistic. I think Reload did a terrific job at exploring this part of his character, even if it was just a few extra scenes. Or maybe I'm just overanalyzing because he's my favorite character lmao, who knows?

[annalacerda17]

Ho there! This is my frist time asking something so I hope it’s not too much of a bother.

so anyway, I was reading a MDZS fanfic called “Hua Xinal” and one of its recent chapters involved the character Mo xinyu (don’t know if I spelled that right).

I was reading some of the comments to see how everyone felt about the chapter when I saw this comment

“interesting. the original author used mo xuanyu as a way to bring wuxian back. he was as bad as his family. he was a coward. he was willing to sacrifice another's soul to get his revenge. he didn't give a damn about anyone. he was a leach. i never care for the character because i saw him as he actually was. another and the last person that used wuxian for their own agenda. it worked out. the author didn't use a nice character for the purpose of bringing wuxian back. i disliked the character as soon as he was presented into the story. that why she used him as a vessel for wuxian, because he was a shitty character. the last one to use him and it would work out in the end. if it didn't wuxian's soul would be lost forever. he was willing to sacrifice someone else's soul for his cowardice. someone to do his dirty work. that is how I see mo xuanyu because he wasn't a child. he was a man that was trying ti leach from his family even though that family didn't want him there. never felt sorry for the entitled scumbag. i didn't like him in the story in chinese and or the english translation. in both languages he was a maggot.”

This got me confused as I never saw that in his character (I have not yet finished the books so there might be more info?) This got me wondering if there were other people that felt this way and I was wondering what your opinion about this is as your pretty honest about characters and don’t try to sugar coat anything when talking about them

sorry for the long ask

Hi,

It's no bother at all!

In the book, we get very little information about Mo Xuanyu, and most of what we do get is insults and mean comments from other people. Mo Xuanyu himself is dead when the book starts, so we never get to hear his voice. In my opinion, this makes it a bit tricky to judge who he was as a person accurately.

What we know about him is that most of his life was very unhappy. He was bullied by his family members for being an illegitimate child, for being homosexual, for being "weak", for having been kicked out of the Jin sect, etc.

Even when he was brought into the Jin sect by his father, it wasn't for a genuine reason, but to use him as a tool to put pressure on Jin Guangyao.

This also gives us a hint that at least some of what people say about Mo Xuanyu might have been part of a slander campaign against him, secretly orchestrated by Jin Guangyao, someone Mo Xuanyu is said to have had a crush on at some point.

As for the summoning of Wei Wuxian, I don't think it's enough evidence to condemn Mo Xuanyu as a despicable person on par with Jin Guangyao and Jin Guangshan.

Firstly, we don't know what information Mo Xuanyu had about what kind of person Wei Wuxian was. The fact that he chose to use such an array to summon Wei Wuxian, destroying his own soul in the process believing doing so would guarantee the destruction of his enemy, seems to indicate he probably thought Wei Wuxian was some kind of terrifying monster. That would be consistent with the rumors the cultivation world worked so hard to spread about Wei Wuxian. And the truth is that it's a lot easier to not care about a monster.

Secondly, Mo Xuanyu was willing to destroy his own soul in order to summon Wei Wuxian. To me, this is clear evidence that he absolutely believed that there was no possibility of Wei Wuxian failing. If he never considered that Wei Wuxian could fail, then he wouldn't have thought Wei Wuxian was actually in danger. Then, the only purpose of the curse array would be to force Wei Wuxian to get revenge for him. And as far as Mo Xuanyu would have known, that was what Wei Wuxian himself would have wanted. Let us not forget the cultivation world had spent 13 years painting Wei Wuxiay as the number 1 enemy of the cultivation world, and there were a lot of rumors that he would one day come back for revenge. Mo Xuanyu probably never thought what he was doing was harming Wei Wuxian, and to honest, I don't think he was thinking very clearly

Thirdly, Mo Xuanyu was very obviously not mentally sound. He was at the very least depressed. Probably traumatized. He actually chose to destroy his own soul for revenge. At this point, it's not even about him being selfish or despicable. To be selfish and despicable, he would have needed to be sound of mind when he made his choice, and I think it's more than obvious that he was not.

Personally, I see Mo Xuanyu as just another victim of the system. Stuctural injustice in society is one of the key themes of the novel, and several characters are victims of this. The novel explores how several different characters handle it. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji tried to cambat it in different ways, from two different positions in the social pyramid. Jin Guangyao tried to climb the ladder whatever the cost, Jin Guangshan and Jiang Cheng exploited it in different ways, the Wen remnants were exploited and victimized, and Mo Xuanyu was broken by it, and in that state of brokenness, he tried to get revenge in the one way he could.

What Mo Xuanyu did wasn't righteous, despite the eventual happy ending. But I think the point isn't whether he was righteous or not. The point is that he was a victim who was driven to a dead end by the people he had once trusted.

To me, it's not really fair to judge Mo Xuanyu based on how he summoned Wei Wuxian, because that was a man who had reached the worst point in his life, who had lost all hope, and who very clearly wasn't sound of mind. Most importantly, it's a man we never see. Like I said before, Mo Xuanyu never appears alive in the novel. We never meet him. All we get to see are rumors, hits and guesses. And that doesn't really tell us who he was as a person.

[wheresmycontent]

Sheep’s Clothing [Inuyasha]

Naraku & Kagewaki Hitomi x Reader [cis-female]

Note: Can you imagine how fucked up it’d be if you were married to Kagewaki Hitomi?

C|TW: 18+ not for minors, noncon

♦︎ Kagewaki Hitomi. A young feudal lord who cherished his wife and did everything in his power to make her happy. You were his everything so it’d only made sense that he spoiled you with his riches and love. Though he was a feudal lord that title never came up in your relationship. He was only ever Kagewaki to you, even at his worst.

While gossip within the castle walls is inevitable, Kagewaki was more than willing to punish or remove anyone who had something negative to say about you, his beloved wife. You weren’t noble by any means and most likely came from a humble life. Yet, he expected everyone to treat you with respect or he’d take it as a personal offense.

♦︎ Kagewaki loved to whisk you away and take a scenic walk around the castle just to have a moment of peace with you. The little things mattered most to him, even if they seemed mundane. He appreciated all his time with you and didn’t take a single second for granted.

Though he was a man of high status, his touch was never rough or demanding! During this time there were plenty of men who viewed sex as a means to an end, not once considering a woman’s feelings about the act. But it was more than just an act to Kagewaki, who always wanted your eager consent when he craved you. He didn’t just use you for his own pleasure or personal gain.

♦︎ I imagine that you were away visiting another village during your husband’s encounter with the spider demon. Maybe to see a friend or catch up with your family that you were more than welcome to visit if you wished. Either way, you weren’t around when Naraku slaughtered most of the people within the castle. One of them is your precious Kagewaki Hitomi, who loved you dearly.

♦︎ How could you have known that something was off when you returned home? Naraku is a hell of a demon, his acting and manipulation skills aren’t to be taken lightly. He could take on the role of a weak, lovesick, noble if that’s what it takes to get the shikon jewel shards. It’s child’s play!

“Kagewaki’s” eyes remained soft when looking at you, his voice didn’t raise when he spoke to you, and his touches were still the sweetest. It’s no wonder you’re oblivious to it all. You don’t start to see the truth until Naraku becomes annoyed at another failed attempt to collect a jewel shard.

♦︎ In his anger, Naraku slaps the fuck out of you when you enter your shared room. You are too stunned to move from your place on the ground. When you look up at who you believe to be Kagewaki, he says that you did nothing wrong, that he only needed quick relief and already feels better.

Not sorry, forgive me, or it was an accident. This man said he did it to feel better! After seeing Kagewaki at his lowest point along with his highest, you never believed he’d raise a hand to you. Definitely didn’t think he’d do it to make himself feel good. You’re stuck! What could you possibly do now that he’s hurt you after years of being his wife? You could leave but then he’d stop supporting your family. He could send for you and have you murdered for “betraying” the castle.

♦︎ As if that wasn’t bad enough, the four children you’ve had with Kagewaki aren’t faring any better. It’s like he hates them all of a sudden. Their cries annoy him, he can’t be bothered to read to his daughter anymore. You had to take a hit to the chest when you caught him trying to strike your son. It was clear that Kagewaki had changed! You don’t know why or care to hear the story, all you wanted was for this to end.

His mood had changed drastically when you decided to take the kids to your parents. Almost like a burden had been lifted from his shoulders, it was sickening! If you had any doubts before they were erased after watching him glow now that the kids were gone. It was a good thing you gave your parents enough money to find a new place to stay. Anywhere far away from you and the village since you couldn’t trust Kagewaki not to come after them.

♦︎ That Onigumo may have cursed him with “affections” for that damned Kikyo but your husband wasn’t able to leave a single print on his soul. Therefore Naraku doesn’t hold an ounce of love or weakness for you. He could cut you up and feed you to his demons without a second thought. He could drag you to your previous village and make you watch as he has them slaughtered. It would be nothing!

He won’t do it though. At least not so soon since he loves toying with this new hole of his. Not a human, not a person, but an object he uses to relieve stress. That’s all you are to Naraku. You’re in danger like the rest of humanity.

♦︎ Rough! He’s so rough! You have bruises and scars from his rough treatment. He pulls you around without regard for your body’s limitations. Your arm had popped out of its socket once when he suddenly snatched you from your seat. His nails are sharp as blades yet he doesn’t care to rip your garments to shreds, pleased to see the blood escaping your new wounds.

You’ve been limping around the castle doing your best to stay out of his presence since he gets off on your pain. Due to his selfish nature, you’re never quite ready to take him, and he doesn’t prep you before sheathing himself to the hilt. While you’re writhing in pain from the sudden stretch and burn, Naraku only seems to get more excited and lustful.

Kagewaki would have never done something so heinous, so painful to you his beloved wife.

♦︎ You’ve realized long ago that the Kagewaki you fell in love with was no longer around and that he was never coming back. But what could you do now that a powerful demon has taken his form and refused to let you go? You tried to run away from Naraku, you’ve learned was his name, the day you witnessed him remove his head.

He was livid when he dragged you back inside the castle before you could get far. Mad enough to crush your left rib cage and threatened to devour you if you pulled a stunt like that again. While the offer was tempting since you didn’t want to live another day with the demon, your fear of dying was still strong.

♦︎ What could you possibly do now that your precious Kagewaki Hitomi was never coming back?

[joanofexys]

i would love some more info of emiko and her time with the ravens

her relationship with the perfect court?

AHHHHH Emiko time!!! Current Em is a lot happier and kinder than Raven Em so that's kind of fun

So I figure the reason that Emiko doesn't start the perfect court and doesn't wear the number one is because she's a woman in the Moriyama family. And I'm sure if Riko hadn't been born that wouldn't have mattered since obviously they're largely cut off from the yakuza anyway but when Riko's born 5 years after Emiko anything that would've been hers is something that he's seen as automatically entitled to.

Despite this she's still pushed to be the best of the best. She still is the Ravens captain when she starts college and before Riko joins them. That intense competitiveness and vicious playing style is still ingrained in her.

Emiko in the Nest acts out of survival and necessity. Unlike Riko she doesn't lash out with cruelty or brutality just for the sake of it.

She'll break bones on the court but never off of it. She's the best when she needs to be and when Tetsuji's eyes are on her she falls into place. She only has as much power as she's given by Tetsuji and she only uses that power when she feels the need to.

She does still have an unfair power imbalance with almost everyone around her. I won't pretend that she doesn't technically hold power over Kevin or Jean. That she's capable of scaring any of her teammates if she chooses to do so. That technically she's entitled to hurt them and use them as much as Tetsuji allows and that it's only because she rarely acts upon it that it doesn't happen.

She's not eager to make friends but she is eager to make allies. She doesn't lose her temper often with her teammates. She doesn't hit them harder than she has to in practice. She knows they're already scared of her and that's enough. She'll be "gracious" where she can to earn their favor.

Exy is politics. She may be a backliner but to her the game is about more than just hitting people hard. She needs to win but a win is more than the points scored. It's the trophies and the fans and a night of reprieve from Tetsuji leaving new bruises on her skin. It's the respect of not only her teammates but her opponents. It's about knowing how to talk to the press in a way where they'll ask about her skills instead of the skills of her male teammates. Instead of the skills of her brother, who hasn't even graduated high school. Everything she does is strategic. I think in many ways, and despite the fact that she doesn't even know it, her and Ichirou are more similar than her and Riko have ever been.

With the perfect court specifically it's not just respect she has for them but love. As much as she hates to admit it now she loved Riko beyond belief. And she does mourn him. I've talked about it before but she holds a lot of guilt because she does believe that she could've changed the outcome for Riko and the kind of person he was. Of course that's without her considering the fact that she was barely scraping by every day. I think the best comparison I can make for them is that they're the option where Mary and Neil don't run. If as a teen she had decided to take Riko and run they both could've been very different people. Unfortunately, all Riko is in her eyes is her beloved brother and greatest failure.

Kevin gets the gentleness that Riko did not. Largely because he has always been much more willing to receive it. While Riko would huff and pull the covers over his head and roll away at bedtime stories, Kevin would let himself be tucked in and soothed to sleep by a little girl doing her best to replace his mother. Where Riko would start screaming if someone dared to touch his toys, Kevin would bring Emiko his as gifts. Where Riko would refuse her affection, viewing it only as some cruel trick to make him weak, Kevin would accept it openly and give it in return. I mentioned in another post that Emiko collects pictures of her happiest moments and most of them have Kevin.

Jean is someone she definitely still cares for but I think they're distant. He was just so angry. And her anger was something she understood but she could never understand why he would express it. I think they're the most similar. I think in a way Jean could've learned a lot of his behavior from her. Seeing the way she shut up and took any abuse that was given and did just what she needed to survive. And maybe when he falls into place with Riko he comes to view her as weak. Despite doing the same thing. Because she's a Moriyama and he's a Moreau and he knows his place yet she doesn't seem to know hers. Jean is likely always waiting for the other shoe to drop with her. And I don't think it's until after Jean joins the Trojans and Emiko joins Olympic Court and they start that forever process of healing that they grow closer. Maybe Jean and Kevin don't talk anymore, don't know how to, but he can dial Em's number at any time, knowing she'll answer, and listen to him as he pleads "why?"

Why him? Why was he picked? Why did he have to be a Moreau? Why did he have to endure? Why did he have to live? Why doesn't it feel like living at all? Why does it hurt to hear his name? Why was he the one to have his forever partner torn away? Why did he have to leave the Nest? Why does he have to relearn everything he's ever known? Just why?

and bonuses cause they're kind of perfect court:

Neil is unique. He's both everything and nothing. She doesn't know a single thing about him. He's the only reason her boys are alive. She blames him for leaving despite knowing it's not his fault. She's glad that at least one of them managed to run. Her relationship with Neil is largely dependent on his relationship with Kevin. And with Jean.

Emiko doesn't trust Andrew as far as she can throw him. He feels the same. The two rely on a mutual respect of the others skills and care. The ability to keep those that they care about safe. She likes Andrew if he's protecting the others. He likes her if she's doing the same. The two's relationship relies entirely on a silent promise that they'll never let their people get hurt.

[hero-deserves-to-be-happy]

Thinking about how Hero and Kel are both very selfless people but in different ways that really boil down to the fact that Kel is willing to set boundaries that Hero isn't. While they would both do just about anything for their loved ones, Hero is basically "The Giving Tree"—willing to be completely destroyed in a sort of silent martyrdom without setting any boundaries because he's too conflict-avoidant and lacks a certain sense of self-preservation that his brother has. Whereas Kel is selfless, but he isn't a doormat. He doesn't struggle nearly as much to say "no" when he needs to and can prioritize his own needs and self-care when appropriate and necessary (perhaps precisely because Hero was there constantly putting Kel's needs first for most of their lives).

Ultimately, at least on some level, Kel feels his needs matter and that he matters enough to set boundaries, even when he is taking care of other people; however, no matter the situation, Hero will always consider himself last and has trouble believing he has the right to ever put himself and his own feelings and self-care first.

More ramblings under the cut (Warnings: OMORI spoilers and heavy subject matter. Mentions death, grief, trauma, and depression).

This is really showcased in their reactions after Mari's death. Kel eventually reaches this point where he decides that he can't sit in that hurt anymore and needs to carry on living even if he is heartbroken. Despite how much he wants to keep everyone together, Kel starts to worry that all of his attempts to help are just making everything worse, and because he has this sense of self-preservation, he distances himself to protect not only his loved ones who he feels might be better off without him (even though that isn't true) but also to take care of himself and to distance himself from these feelings of failure and of being too weak and too helpless to care for his suffering friends, especially his brother. He does feel guilty about that, but ultimately, he makes the best decision that he can at the time. He never gives up on his friends and on the hope that they'll eventually be reunited (he keeps knocking on Sunny's door even after all these years, after all), and he hopes that taking care of himself and carrying on with his life will give him the strength to be there for his loved ones if/when the time comes that they need him.

Hero, on the other hand, never processes his own feelings, and his trauma and related feelings of guilt cause him to believe that he doesn't have the right to care for himself (even though that couldn't be farther from the truth). He sort of implodes after losing Mari—curling in on himself and spiraling into a deep depression, wallowing in his grief in a way that is all-consuming but understandable. He comes out of that not because he has reached a sense of closure and peace, but because he feels guilty—feels he has burdened and hurt the people closest to him with his problems. He begins to feel that putting himself first and getting the help he needs would be selfish, so he pushes his issues aside and tries to ignore them as if they will eventually just go away, which they don't.

After a year of spiraling in his own grief and misery, he swings to the completely opposite direction: living a listless life of "fake happiness" and pretending that everything is okay when it isn't. He blames himself for Mari's death and for Kel, Sunny, Basil, and Aubrey's suffering and feels like he should have been stronger and taken better care of them, but he also feels his hands are tied and there's nothing he can do. He wants to help, but he doesn't want to cross his loved ones' boundaries, pry into their business, or create conflict so he often chooses inaction and to give his friends space. Meanwhile, his own feelings of grief and guilt are, at times, too overwhelming for him to bear. He has been so beaten down by the trauma of the situation that he feels his own pain, suffering, and needs don't matter, and he can only derive a sense of self-worth from being useful and helpful to others. Caught between a desperate desire to be needed and a crippling fear of conflict, Hero never sets boundaries and feels his only chance at surviving this new life is to shove his own feelings away and take care of everyone else around him, without any consideration to how he may be hurting himself.

Hero and Kel are both incredibly kindhearted and altruistic people, but Hero's manner of “selflessness” can be unhealthy and, ultimately, harmful to him if it leads him to neglect himself and his own basic needs. The truth is he really can’t take care of anyone if he doesn’t take care of himself first. Kel understands this, but Hero does not.

[none-shall-caricature-me]

I've noticed that, probably due to a desire to alleviate the grim nature of the original, many xuexiao fanfic writers opt to focus on (twisted or fluffy) romantic feelings of the characters. The emphasis ends up being on their romantic / platonic / sexual attraction rather than their incredibly juicy ideological contest and the antagonistic tension mixed with intrigue that Xue Yang shows towards Xiao Xingchen. Basically, there is too much 'lovers / froends' and not enough 'enemies' in their enemies - to - lovers / friends story. (I'm not criticising that. I'm a sucker for their mushier side too. But I'm equally a sucker for a good brutal battle of creeds.)

So let me fill this gap by describing how DELICIOUS the exploration of the 'you're my enemy and u SUCK and your worldview is RIDICULOUS but I LOVE rotating you in the microwave testing the limits of your resolve' aspect is or can be. I'll use some moments from the show / novel that I find striking in this regard.

XXC is very kind but lacks the worldly experience to be spot - on empathetic (as others have pointed out). He's also rigid to a fault. This is a VERY unpopular interpretation of mine but I believe he can be selfish / negligent in his goodness - he sheds caution about possible repercussions on his near ones in his mission to fight evil. He was smart enough to figure out the Chang massacre and trace it to XY. He knows XY is incredibly vengeful and creative in his vengeance. He's had experience with powerful people who will obstruct justice. Yet he goes ahead with prosecuting XY even when Jin Guangshan acts shady and uncooperative. Didn't he consider that this might put a target on his well - known partner Song Lan ?

Welp, then the Baixue bloodbath happens and XXC very understandably blames himself. I know we like to say it wasn't his fault, and of course it technically wasn't, but he did commit a grave error in not thinking through the consequences. It could be a miscalculation, negligence or even cavalier tunnel - vision, depending on your opinion. But anyway, XXC's morale is shattered and as others (like ameliarating) have said, he determined to never end up harming others in his quest for righteousness again.

XY wiped out Baixue for revenge, but also to kill XXC's hopes and vision, again also mentioned by others. May be a stretch, but it could be XY's way of saying 'hah, you don't care to understand why the world is as awful as it is, and then blame ME for doing shitty things to live it up in a shitty world. So let me show you how things actually work, and why my existence and lifestyle are valid.' It's like a really fucked up method of self - affirmation for XY. (Just in case - I am neutral on XY's actions. The novel doesn't give us much insight into his thoughts, so I'll withhold judgement on the nature vs. nurture debate about XY. But he's definitely an interesting character).

Then XY starts infiltrating XXC's life in Yi City. Why does he stick around after healing ? I like to think it's initially because he's a) taking advantage of XXC's generous freebies cuz why not and b) wants to torment him, yes, but he's also very very curious about XXC. Maybe it's because XXC's still out here trying to do good when many people would've either quit and hardened their hearts, or been broken irreparably. So XY think's he'll get both schadenfreude and try to find out why this dumbass saved a highly suspicious dying man and continued on his goody goody quest instead of learning his lesson. The lesson XY tried to teach him. Maybe XXC's whole deal makes XY wonder how his life would be if he'd acted nicer and more socially acceptable. Would it have saved him any pain ? Would he have had true allies then ? Did he choose a life of callous crime because he is weak - willed and 'inferior' unlike the seemingly unbreakable superiority of XXC ?

So he makes XXC kill on 'night - hunts'. Perhaps to prove that XXC got manipulated into doing harm cuz he's dumb or full of hubris and refuses to wisen up, refuses to become more cynical and wary of people. This ties back into Baixue too. Also I think the book mentions the victims are residents who mocked / cheated XXC ? If that's true, it's like XY is 'introducing' XXC to taking bloody revenge just like XY did on the Chang clan and others who crossed him / his pals. Like he's enacting teaching XXC 'look, if you keep up the good deeds, eventually you'll meet someone who ruins you so you destroy that hope for humanity and become just like me. Your way will always end in disaster, and therefore I'm justified in living like I do.'

Of course, in the end XY realises that XXC's drive to better society was his way of coping with the harsh reality of humans, especially after being ousted from BSSR's mountain. XXC didn't want to live in a sordid world. Meanwhile XY's coping mechanism was to extort the sordid world for all he wanted.

There's a tiny moment in CQL where, after the fake night hunt slaughter, XXC walks past a smirking XY and his arm brushes XY's sleeve, whose grin grows larger. It's like XY's relishing in XXC so casually touching and hanging about him totally unawares. Also he's horny for XXC's combat skills.

So yeah. Antagonist obsessed with corrupting his enemy, wrapping him around his finger, but not willing to let go. He ended up being totally down to bask in XXC's obstinate kindness despite that being the very thing he wanted to disprove and destroy.

XXC hesitates to kill XY after the reveal. What does he get from XY? Maybe it was reassuring that someone as hard - hearted and self - centred as his friend was willing to stick around in no man's land with him. It's soothing because it makes it seem like the world isn't that cruel, that perhaps the potential for good exists in people, hence helping XXC cope with his existential anxiety. He has to hold on to that hope even as his friend's identity is revealed, else there's nothing left for him since he can't bear to live in a world of evil and exploitation.

Why didn't XY move on after XXC's suicide ? If all he wanted was acceptance and shelter, he could've found so many other options. No, he was obsessed with XXC cuz he thought that if someone perfectly willing to kill him in the past over morals hesitated to kill him in the end, it must be an actual stable love. Where else, he thinks, would be find someone who loved him enough to not kill him despite them being such hostile opposites by character and circumstance ? Lots of people could love him cuz they agreed with his worldview or found it / him expedient. Who would love him even when their entire identity and misery opposed it ?

[howlingday]

Belladina Interviews

Oobleck: Right! Well then, why don't we start with a few questions for the parents?

Blake: (Thinking) Bartholomew Oobleck. Forty-seven years old. He has a doctorate in history as Beacon's history teacher and is housemaster of dormitory 7, Amber Hall. Regarded as intelligent, reliable, and open-minded. He's well-liked by his students, but is also known for speaking at a swift pace. The safest path to win his favor is with honest and straightforward answers.

Oobleck: I understand that this is your second wife. How did you meet your husband?

Blake: Straight to the point. It makes sense, since Beacon Academy is focused on family values.

Blake: My husband and I met by chance at the neighborhood tailor's shop. The same one where Beacon uniforms are made, in fact. It was the way he carried himself which first caught my eye. It was like he appeared out of nowhere. After the death of my first husband and being so busy caring for my daughter, I was hesitant to pursue a new relationship. But the more we talked, the more I realized I'd found a kindred spirit in him. I was touched by his kindness and how much he valued family. I knew he would be a wonderful father to my daughter.

Jaune: (Blushing)

Oobleck: I see. Same question, Mr. Belladina.

Jaune: Oh... Well... Blake is such a wonderful woman. And she's so good with children. She understood how difficult it was for me to be all by myself, and she welcomed me into her family.

Oobleck: Excellent to hear. Family is very important to us at Beacon.

Jacques: I see you're a man who must have low standards, Mr. Arc. Why else would you saddle yourself to a woman with a child? And a woman like her no less?

Goodwitch: Behave yourself, Master Schnee.

Blake: Jacques Schnee. Fourty-nine years old. A legacy hire, as his father-in-law was the headmaster, he is the business and economics professor and housemaster of dormitory two, Azure Hall. Greedy. Callous. His wife filed for divorce last month. His wife just won full custody of her children. In all of his previous interviews, his questions focused on directly disparaging the families of applicants. It's best to avoid provoking him.

Oobleck: On to the next question. May we ask why you have decided to apply for Beacon Academy?

Blake: For one reason, sir...

Blake: To get close enough to my target, Charlotte Malachite!.

Blake: The quality of the teaching staff at Beacon Academy is second to none. The instructors are cultured, knowledgeable, and talented. More importantly, I believe only the elite faculty of Beacon Academy can instill in our child the nobility and patriotism needed to stand amongst our country's elite.

Goodwitch: (Thinking) A most disciplined reply, Blake Belladina. I knew I saw something in you.

Glynda Goodwitch. ??? years old. Fitness Professor and housemistress of dormitory three, Lavender Hall. Personality: Elegant.

Oobleck: We would like to hear about Penny from the perspective of her parents. What would you consider to be her strengths and weaknesses?

Blake: Penny holds a deep and passionate curiosity. She is willing and eager to poke her nose into everything, sometimes to an extent that it could be considered as much of a strength as it is a weakness. And perhaps this is just a mother's bias, but I find her to be wise beyond her years.

Goodwitch: Wise? This girl here? Didn't she only earn thirty-one points on her entrance exam?

Penny: (Flinches)

Blake: In fact, she's so intuitive, I swear she can read my mind! Ha ha!

Penny: (Shivers)

Blake: But for a solid answer for weaknesses, I do wish she was less picky about her food.

Oobleck: Hm. And what do you see in her, Mr. Belladina, and how would you describe your parenting style towards her?

Jaune: Well, as we've already discussed, I am not her birth father. So I will admit that, at first, I may have spoiled her in my attempts to win her over. I had to learn how to be strict sometimes, for the sake of her future. I work hard to remember that.

Jaune: (Thinking) Just like we practiced.

Oobleck: Mrs. Belladina mentioned that your daughter can be picky. What sort of meals do you cook at home?

Jaune: M-Meals?! Oh, uh, I, uh... W-Well...

Blake: Actually, sir, I do most of the cooking. However, my husband is more than happy to help when I'm too busy.

Blake: Not that it's ever happened.

Jacques: You're kidding me. A husband who can't even cook? You need to work harder to be a better example for your daughter, sir!

Jaune: !!!

Blake: No one is perfect, sir. While my husband may not be the primary chef, he is incredibly neat and organized. The house is always spotless. And he is a most wonderful example for our daughter.

Jacques: That may be, but a man who can't even cook is hardly a good example for a child.

Blake: And who are you to-

Jaune: B-Blake, it's okay! He's right!

Blake: (Clenching her fist) He's right. Calm yourself, Nightshade. Why are you even upset? It's not like he's really your husband.

Jacques: (Thinking) Just a pair of lovebirds, eh? I could just puke. Well, I'll just keep pecking at those cracks and see what comes pouring out. If these smug plebians don't get rejected, then there is no justice in the world.

Penny: (Thinking) This man hates Mama and Papa! I need to do real good, or else...

Oobleck: Well, I think it's time we heard from your daughter.

Penny: Here we go...

Oobleck: Can you tell us who you are and where you live?

Penny: M-My name is Penny Pellapina. And I live in Vale... North. At 42 Space... Something. Mister sir!

Oobleck: And what do you like to do when you're not in school?

Blake: She knows this. These are all the questions we...

Penny: I like to watch at restaurants and eat the opera.

Blake: Huh?.

Oobleck: And what sorts of things do you want to accomplish while attending Beacon Academy?

Penny: Uh... Um...

Penny: What was the answer?.

Blake: Well, I know what I want to do while at Beacon Academy. Get close to Charlotte at a school event and expose the plans of the organization she leads. Then stop her before-

Penny: I want... to expose the secrets... of the boss... of the or-gun-eye-zay-shun.

Blake: WHAT DID SHE JUST SAY?!. The answer was to read all the books in the library!.

Penny: Oh, and library books.

Oobleck: "Boss of the organization"? Do you mean the headmaster?

Blake: Ah ha ha ha! Oh, excuse my daughter! She's very ambitious! She's so curious about the lives of the people who have achieved leadership positions.

Goodwitch: Hmmm... Seeking to learn from those at the top at such a young age... There is a degree of elegance to that.

Goodwitch: If that is true, then you mist know the name of our headmaster, young lady?

Penny: Um... It's, uh...

Blake: You know this! It's Headmaster Ozpin!.

Penny: Head pasture... All in. Mister sir.

Goodwitch: Eh... Close enough.

Goodwitch: And do you understand how hard one must work to succed as he has?

Penny: ...

Penny: Yeah! You gotta run through the jungle to get strong! And face life-or-death stuff over and over to get brave!

Blake: That was the training montage in yesterday's spy cartoon...

Goodwitch: Such incredible resolve! Perhaps I have underestimated this child.

Oobleck: Haha! Perhaps you needn't go that far. Now, I have questions for you about your parents. What does your mother do for a living?

Penny: She's a spy.

Blake: !

Penny: Spy... Spycial social work.

Oobleck: Are you alright, dear? You sound a bit congested. What about your father? What is he like?

Penny: He can be a little scary sometimes, but he's really nice!

Jaune: !

Oobleck: If you had to give your mother and father a score, what would it be?

Penny: 100 points! They're perfect and I love them. I want to be with them forever!

Jacques: Garbage like this is the last thing we need at Beacon.

Jacques: So, who do you like better? Your old daddy or your new daddy?

Oobleck: Master Schnee, that question isn't-

Jacques: Who cares? Are we who ask the questions not permitted to improvise and think outside the box?

Blake: May I request a different question?

Blake: I don't know how she ended up in that orphanage, but there's too good a chance her parents are...

Jacques: No. Answer the question or be scored accordingly.

Plip... Plip...

Penny: (Crying) D... D...

Blake: Penny...

Penny: (Sniffles, Wipes eyes) Daddy...

Jacques: Well, there you have it. She likes her real daddy more.

Jaune: (Comforting Penny) How dare you?!

Blake: Calm down, Jaune.

Jaune: But this is...

Blake: For the mission, we can endure this. We have to endure this.

Jacques: The dorms are full of children living away from their parents. This is no place for children who burst into tears over every little thing.

Blake: He can smear us all he likes. It doesn't matter. We're not a real family.

Jaune: "Every... little.. thing"? You think THAT is a "little thing"? (Fingers pop and crack)

Blake: Calm. Calm. Calm. It doesn't matter.

Jacques: What's your problem anyway, second husband? It's not my fault she doesn't love you.

Jacques: Ah, now that feels better. Hm?

Blake: (Swinging her leg for Jacques head) STAND DOWN, NIGHTSHADE!.

CRUNCH!

Jacques: (Stares at table split in perfect half)

Blake: (Removes her foot from the table, Reveals bug beneath) Forgive my behavior. There was a gnat buzzing around. (Turns) Thank you for your time.

Jacques: W-Where do you think you're going?! We're not finished!

Blake: If belittling the feelings of children is part of Beacon's educational philosophy, then I have clearly chosen the wrong school.

Jacques: HOW DARE YOU DISGRACE THE NAME OF BEACON ACADEMY!

Blake: Jaune. Penny. We're leaving now. (They walk ahead) Good day. (Slams door)

Jacques: YOU WILL NEVER SET FOOT IN BEACON ACADEMY AGAIN! DO YOU HEAR ME?!

Goodwitch: You went too far, Master Schnee.

Jacques: Oh? Are you questioning my methods, Goodwitch? I'd watch your attitude, if I were you. Big Nicholas may no longer be with us, but his name still holds a lot of weight around here. Send in the next family already!

Goodwitch: ...

???: (Memory) Those who beg and grovel at the feet of the powerful... They're such pitiful creatures, no?.

Goodwitch: ...She didn't disgrace the good name of Beacon Academy.

Jacques: Huh?

BAM!

Jacques: (Falls back, Unconscious)

Goodwitch: (Changes gloves) There. Handled with elegance. And with that, Mrs. Belladina, I think I can face you with the pride and dignity of a proper Beacon Academy educator.

[icedragonlizard]

Updated headcanons for dynamic between Dark Meta Knight and Shadow Kirby

Back then, I headcanoned these two to be enemies.... but as I now feel differently, I've decided to change these headcanons. This is one of the things I touched on in my post of things that I've changed for my headcanon verse, this post will go over the updates on my thoughts for DMK's and Skirby's dynamic in greater detail.

I now headcanon that they eventually become friends.

DMK and Skirby didn't get off to a good start. During the events of Amazing Mirror, DMK was of course helping Dark Mind on conquering the mirror world, which Skirby was against. Skirby however wasn't a good enough of a fighter yet to be capable of stopping the conquest, as he had to count on Kirby to do just that.

Even several years after the ending of Amazing Mirror, these two still didn't get along. Dark Mind was still alive as a weak fragment that then desperately needed DMK to do his dirty work, which he did. For a while, DMK was still doing bad things in Dark Mind's name. One of these bad things was helping Dark Mind feed dark magic to Joronia through the mirror that Taranza gave her, which eventually lead to her spiral into being a mad tyrant. Dark Taranza and then Shadow Dedede also came into existence to be additional hitmen for Dark Mind, increasing the threat even more. This needed to be stopped.

While DMK continued following Dark Mind's orders even with the latter being a fragment, Skirby often left the mirror world to go find Kirby and ask for training on how to use copy abilities. Just like his pink counterpart, he wanted to be a protector for his homeland, as he was determined to stop the threat of Dark Mind for good.

Eventually, after Skirby learned how to use copy abilities and became well-equipped to fight thanks to Kirby's help, he then set off to stop Dark Mind's persistent threat. He was able to succeed in this as he found Dark Mind's fragment and destroyed it with the Sword ability. This angered DMK, who then attacked Skirby in attempt to avenge his master, but failed.

Skirby had trained well enough by that point, and was able to beat DMK in a fight. He then told DMK that Dark Mind was a horrible influence on him, and that he was better off without that vile master around to keep convincing him to commit crimes.

DMK scoffed, as he was stubborn and wasn't willing to believe Skirby. He went on to "try to find a way to bring Dark Mind back". But at one point, he gets jumped by both Dark Taranza and Shadow Dedede, who considered him a 'traitor', but luckily Skirby was nearby to help DMK as they teamed up to beat those two and make them go away.

That right there marked the start of when DMK and Skirby started becoming on better terms. DMK initially didn't want to admit it, but he was actually grateful that Skirby helped him out there. It could've gone badly for him otherwise. It took a while for DMK to truly warm up to Skirby, but they eventually became friends. He didn't want to do this at first, but DMK managed to get to the point where he came to terms with not having Dark Mind be a part of his life anymore.

Dark Taranza and Shadow Dedede didn't care to follow suit. They just decided to go on with their lives elsewhere in the mirror world, not caring enough to get along with either DMK or Skirby.

Although despite becoming friends with Skirby, DMK wasn't really interested in redeeming himself. He wasn't interested in becoming a good person, and he didn't care enough to seriously participate in mirror world society. He just wanted to do his own thing and live unplugged from other mirror worlders. He claimed Moonlight Mansion as his home, with the previous residents leaving the place to go elsewhere. Most mirror worlders live far away from Moonlight Mansion now, as it's DMK's residence.

Skirby was fine with this, just as long as DMK isn't complicit in being a threat to the mirror world at large again. Skirby regularly stops by to visit. DMK didn't mind it; he's largely antisocial and doesn't really care to change out of that, but doesn't mind Skirby's company at times.

A lot of the time they have together, they just chill out in peace.

This routine largely continues on even after Star Allies.

DMK initially did not plan to join Kirby and all the other dream friends during the events of Star Allies. And for a little bit, he really didn't even want to. But because the Jamba heart pieces reached the mirror world and threatened the place, DMK felt like his hand was forced. As a matter of fact, it was originally Skirby that was going to leave the mirror world to then presumably join Kirby and co, but DMK decided that he wanted to "put this shit to a stop himself" and made his move.

DMK became the one to leave the mirror world instead of Skirby. He told Skirby to stay in the mirror world to protect it from the Jamba heart pieces that entered it, as DMK then went out to stop the source of the threat, joining Kirby and all the other dream friends in the process.

By the way, during Star Allies is when DMK first became friends with Kirby. It was also when the vast majority of the other dream friends first met him.

After Star Allies, some of the few friends that DMK made decided to occasionally visit him in the mirror world. It was the others of Wave 2 that visited him... Daroach, Adeleine and Ribbon. Skirby met them in the mirror world and became friends with them. Skirby effectively joined the Wave 2 friend group, as he grew a big liking for them all. He then decided to hop out of the mirror world out of interest to meet all the other dream friends later in time.

DMK and Skirby sometimes visit Popstar post-Star Allies. There are times where it's together, and other times when it's just one or the other.

Funny enough, most of the other dream friends get along better with Skirby than they do with DMK. DMK does not give a crap about most of the other dream friends. He's only friends with Kirby, the rest of wave 2, and Flamberge. The only reason he cares enough to visit Popstar sometimes is to visit Daroach and Adeleine, as he considers the former to be his best friend.

Skirby is DMK's second best friend, but they're still buds in a way. Even now, DMK is still antisocial, stand-offish, rude and still not a good person. He's still prone to unnecessarily violence and is not exactly welcome in many parts mirror world society, but he's grown to care about Skirby. Even if he has trouble coming around to admitting it at times, but he in fact does.

Skirby sometimes gives DMK company, and he also works to keep him in line from going too far in doing shitty things. And while Skirby understands why DMK is unpopular amongst most of the other dream friends, he comes around to help stop many fights that DMK has gotten into with some of them, mostly Marx + Wave 3 who DMK has pretty serious beef with.

What a journey these two have had together. The mirror world counterparts of Kirby and Meta Knight have made a decent bond, even if their dynamic isn't quite the same as their regular counterparts.

[tgrailwar-zero]

There was a moment where the connection to AVENGER seemed to shake a bit. Waver, slightly, before showing a different scene in tandem. Two moments at the same point in time, a lone Servant, a RIDER, laying on a bed and slowly waking up, the pit-like feeling in his stomach akin to hunger. He turned to look, seeing two Servants.

Both muscular, one with dark hair and even darker expression- the other a bit brighter in demeanor with blond hair.

The blond-haired man spoke up, with a disarming smile.

"He's Berserker. And I'm Saber… technically. I guess you can call me 'Furioso Saber'. Or maybe just 'Furioso'. True Names and all that. Mana's running low, huh? Caster said that your levels suddenly started dropping as you reached the Port."

RIDER was quiet for a moment, a bit surprised that it was that obvious, before shaking his head. It seemed like the Saber cut straight to the point on matters.

"I'm… fine."

Right. They… those Masters… had left… he sighed, pushing himself up to a sitting position as the two Servants looked down at him. He certainly wasn't feeling great. Fine enough to draw his sword, too weak to actually use any of its abilities. Not without a consistent source of mana. It was a rather frustrating feeling, but he managed to stamp it down from the time being, as the 'technically Saber' kept talking, perhaps just to fill in the silence.

"Berserker just left the Nameless City. We're leaving it to Archer and Assassin for the time being, since we lost Ruler and Pretender is still on the loose."

At the mention of PRETENDER, BERSERKER tensed up, his grimace revealing sharpened teeth.

"Pretender… kill him… need to…"

'FURIOSO' put a hand on BERSERKER's shoulder, shaking his head.

"Cool it. I know you're not as noble as you used to be, but Heiliger Saber has rules. He doesn't want anyone to die, if possible. Not if we can make them allies first."

With a scoff, BERSERKER looked away.

"Hrn. Impossible. The Blue Faction… are nothing more… than beasts…"

He turned, trudging out of the room. 'FURIOSO' chuckled, scratching his head a bit nervously.

"Don't let Berserker's demeanor get you off guard. His Majesty's personal Skill is actually making him even more agreeable, at least until combat starts up and his Mad Enhancement flares up. Still, some of his 'self' is in there. Not much, but enough to check in on a new teammate, right?"

RIDER seemed a bit hesitant, though really he didn't detect any sort of malice from BERSERKER. He seemed like a man difficult to read.

"That's actually what I came here for. Your Masters are gone, right? Which means your mana is going to plummet without proper support. So, since you proved that you're good enough to handle a Lair Servant, His Majesty is willing to make you an offer to fix that mana issue. Himself and Lady Caster but…"

'FURIOSO' looked around surreptitiously, before leaning in with a whisper.

"She's beautiful, seriously beautiful, like… absurdly beautiful--"

RIDER raised an eyebrow, as 'FURIOSO' sheepishly grinned, realizing he was getting off track.

"…But you know… she seems like trouble. At least that's what 'Bouclier Saber' keeps saying each time my own form of madness starts going, you know? After 'Historia Saber' gives me a good slap across the face. I'm actually not allowed in the same room as her anymore, can you believe that?"

…RIDER honestly could, but kept that to himself.

"Point being, you can't hold onto that mana you have forever. So…"

'FURIOSO' shrugged.

"Well, it's just an offer. No reason to rush- just rest up for now, okay? Conserve the energy you have, maybe come by the Commissary to grab a bite, and we can talk more later."

"...I'll consider it. Thank you."

With that, he turned and left the room- RIDER falling back down onto his back with a bit of a groan.

'Decisions, decisions'… RIDER thought, as you felt the connection strain and switch back to AVENGER once again.

[timberline-falls]

cw: child abuse

Gerik awoke with a start, jerking his head away from what he quickly realized was the stench of ammonia. He instinctively tried reaching for his snout, but found his hands were bound in place at his sides by a thick cord that wrapped around his body, as well as the chair he didn't recall placing himself in.

"Alchemy! What--" The Disaggregator narrowed his eyes at the darkness in front of him, asuran eyes dialating to parse out the form of a charr. "Who are you?"

"Does that matter?" Gruffed his apparent captor.

It was the same voice that cried out when he bit their leg. Gerik could still taste their leather boot, and he grinned. "Ah, you again. Afraid to face me on equal ground yet again, I see."

"You'll speak when spoken to, Inquest."

"Disaggregator Gerik."

"I know who you are, Inquest, which is the only reason you're still alive. When we've extracted what we need out of you, we may consider a pardon.. But consider that unlikely." The charr approached him, entering enough light from the above lamp that Gerik could make out telling facial features. Scars and age had weathered the tawny charr, and they were missing a horn as well as at least one ear. They were no one he had come across before, but he could surmise they were a Pact veteran. Possibly someone quite important.

Gerik folded his ears and snarled through a smile, "Your attempts to intimidate me are tiresome. Can I expect some form of barbaric torture next?"

The charr frowned, casting an eerie shadow over their features. "Unlike you, we have standards. We don't resort to torture so easily."

Gerik rolled his eyes, "Get on with it. What exactly do you think you'll be 'extracting' from me, hm?"

"You're going to tell me where the Magistrix is," the charr leaned down to his level, close enough that the asura felt their breath on his face. "Or you'll never see that progeny again."

To his dismay, those two key points rendered him breathless: Pwitt was in danger, and Kezza was, possibly, Alchemy willing, still alive. If the Pact had gone this far out of their way, she had to be. His heart pounded at a frequency he hoped those twitching charr ears couldn't detect, and he swallowed back the anxiety. "The Magistrix is dead."

"We have reason to believe she isn't, and that you would know her whereabouts."

Gerik huffed, "I saw it myself. She died saving her progeny from the likes of you."

The charr had the audacity to laugh, "Nice try, Inquest, but we know damn well she's responsible for the disturbances in Metrica Province. Which is where we found you, incidentally."

"You found asura in Metrica Province? Congratulations on your intrepid sleuthing skills."

Suddenly the charr lunged, their claws pressing into the stone chair's back posts. Gerik refused to flinch, meeting the angry glare with a growl of his own.

"Answer me, or should I remind you again that you put the child at risk with these games?"

"Not even your kind would threaten progeny," Gerik hissed, though the conviction was quickly waning.

"Try me," the charr withdrew into the shadows, and after a moment, Gerik could hear shuffling. Then a small, weepy voice.

A voice he knew. One that sent shivers down his spine to hear in a place like this. Soon the charr reemerged, with the progeny clutched in a single claw. Gerik barely registered his own slackened jaw before he impulsively cried out, "Pwitt!"

"Uncle Gerry!" Pwitt managed to answer before a sharp claw over his lips silenced him to a whimper.

Gerik struggled at his bindings, flexing and twisting in every way he could to find a weakness in the steadfast cable holding him in place. "Release him! Release him, you savage!"

"I don't think I will. You need a lesson in humility," the charr grinned, cold and toothy. "I said we don't usually resort to torture. While that's true.." They eyed Pwitt, petting his head with the lightest touch of deadly claws. "This is no usual circumstance, now is it, Disaggregator?"

"You're mad. You wouldn't--"

"Do you want to test me?!" The charr snarled, and Gerik quieted, returning the smile to the feline's lips. "No, I didn't think so."

Gerik's ears folded as he held his glare on the charr. "It's going to be alright, Pwitt. Uncle Gerry promises."

"Don't lie to the kid, Inquest." The charr scolded with an undue playfulness. "Only one of you is getting out of here, and that decision is up to you."

"What do you want," Gerik spoke through a low growl. "I don't have the information you think I do."

Pwitt squeaked. The grip around his frail frame had tightened.

"Stop! What are you doing?!"

"You bring this on yourself, Inquest."

Gerik again tried to thrash against his constraints, though they dug into his arms. "Pwitt! Unhand him immediately! I'll--" The Disaggregator felt himself fall, and land against the stone ground with a painful thud. He had taken the chair with him. Somehwere under the charr's chortle, he heard the progeny's muffled cries.

The charr approached him, casually squatting down to address him quietly. "You can put a stop to this at any time."

"Just let him go, you overgrown feline. It's me you want."

"You're a stubborn one. It usually works when I threaten family members." They mused, and Pwitt stifled a sneeze. His allergy was only going to make this worse.

"I'll tell you. I'll tell you anything, if you just let him go."

The charr huffed, "Is that supposed to be a promise? From the likes of you? No," they swished their tail, and drew it in to encircle Gerik. The guard hairs were rough against his face. "I want you to ask me politely, in front of the little one here."

Gerik averted his eyes. "Let him go. Please."

Another squeak from Pwitt, and the Disaggregator looked up in furious horror.

"Try again."

"Please let him go. It's me you want. I..I beg you."

The charr hummed, and thought for a while as they examined Gerik. "I thought I heard you say something. What was that again?"

"Please."

"Not that."

Gerik steeled himself. His ears folded back and a pained gaze cast to the stone floor he rested on, he repeated in defeat, "I.. beg you."

"Mm. That's more like it. Now, can we have ourselves a civil working relationship?"

Gerik was silent. Pwitt sneezed again, whimpering.

"Well?"

The Disaggregator nodded.

[oldrockformations]

Physically disabled fan here and I have so many thoughts about the ending and Viktor’s whole arc in general!!!

A large part of Viktor’s character is his own feelings of inadequacy. A good portion of those feelings stem from him being a Zaunite, but a ton of it also stems from his disability. We see it in his flashback, when he avoids other kids his age. We see it in the way he lets Jayce be the figurehead for Hextech, when he refuses to go on stage despite Jayce wanting him there. And he has a valid reason to feel this way—he is unwelcome in Piltover. Jayce and Heimerdinger seem to be the only people who don’t treat him like absolute shit, not to mention Piltover’s lack of accessibility (note the emphasis on Salo’s wheelchair going down stairs). So it’s no wonder Viktor harbors a lot of internalized ableism. It’s what the world has shown him he should feel.

And this internalized ableism, as well as the ableism he experiences externally, is what causes him to push himself so hard. He wants to help people, and he feels he hasn’t done enough. He needs to prove himself. So when he realizes he’s dying, he abandons his own morals in favor of extending his life (note his reaction to Rio as a kid, vs him saying he understands now as he is the one dying) and continuing his work. But when he uses the hexcore to try to cure his terminal illness, the first thing it changes is his leg. All of this shows early on that Viktor is willing to cross lines in order to fix what he considers “weakness.”

Now this whole time, Jayce has always viewed Viktor as his complete equal. The reason Jayce and Viktor work so well together is they provide new perspectives for each other. Jayce is a dreamer, and Viktor shows him reality. But when Jayce gets too caught up in politics and forgets his own privilege (the whole “I’m from the undercity” scene) Viktor feels betrayed. Jayce has abandoned him, and he throws himself into his work, becoming even more reckless and resulting in the death of Sky. And at this point, Viktor is overcome with guilt and believes he is unlovable, to the point that he is suicidal.

I’ve seen a lot of folks saying that Viktor’s arc in season 2 was wildly out of character, or that the writing was ableist, but I think they’re missing the point. At the start of season 2, Viktor is still mentally at rock bottom. I don’t think his change from “I am wracked with guilt because I acted recklessly during an emotional crisis and got someone killed” to “emotions are a flaw and I need to rid myself of them” is that far of a leap considering the circumstances. Especially once you factor in the hexcore messing with his head and using a manifestation of his guilt (Sky) to manipulate him. Viktor has always wanted to help people, and when you combine that with his internalized ableism, it makes sense that he would turn to “fixing” people’s disabilities if given the chance. He genuinely believes he is helping people like he always wanted, and he’s receiving the validation and respect he craves.

So when Jayce “kills” him, effectively killing everyone Viktor has “healed,” he is once again faced with overwhelming guilt and, not knowing how to handle that, he sinks further into the mindset of the Machine Herald. He avoids taking accountability by letting the arcane take control and he justifies his actions with this Glorious Evolution.

So when Jayce, a man Viktor still loves despite everything, looks him in the eye and tells him that he is beautiful, disabilities and all, Viktor doesn’t know how to rationalize that. It doesn’t fit into his current worldview. At this point, Viktor knows that Jayce has a bad leg, he’s fought him. And Jayce is still here saying that it does not make him weak. Ableism and self hatred are ingrained so deeply within Viktor that being told he is worthy of love shatters his mask, literally and figuratively. We see his face again, and he gives up his facade of being this emotionless herald.

Jayce’s message was cheesy as hell, but it was less so about actual disability, and more so about the mindset that is drilled into you when you are disabled. I think it’s impactful to me at least because Jayce chooses to say this instead of fighting. By all accounts he should be trying to kill Viktor, but he risks everything to tell Viktor how much he loves him. That he always has and that there is nothing that could change it. It didn’t come off like a motivational poster like that type of shit usually does, it sounded like an expression of devotion.

That’s my take anyway sorry for writing a whole ass essay lmao. I am very normal about Viktor arcane and I am tired of seeing his character arc being misinterpreted!! Big win for gay people and a massive L for ableism

i’d really like to hear some disabled fans’ takes on the ending of arcane season 2!

because however cute jayce’s sentiment is, when he said:

«but you were never broken, there is beauty in imperfections»

my first instinct was:

«yeah, easy to say when you haven’t experienced being sick and in pain literally your whole life your body failing you in countless ways…»

but that’s only from absorbing stuff my disabled friends have said (i’m able bodied), so if any disabled folks in the fandom wanna weigh in, i’d love to hear your thoughts and takes!

[merakiui]

I was reading through your tags and you mentioned at some point the kazuscara roommates finding your onlyfans and I think I completely combusted—thus i present to you my brain rot of late: you attend the same school as them but you’re not actually friends, all you know about kazuha is that he’s the friendly regular at the cafe you work at, who makes polite conversation every now and then but otherwise is nothing of note. In reality he’s been stalking you for weeks ever since your first encounter, and is dead set on the idea that you’re this innocent, weak thing that needs to be protected (maybe he stepped in when you had a bad customer and your meek reply helped fester his delusions?). Scara, on the other hand, is only aware of your presence since you’re his favourite cam model that he recently found. (Since he’s a harbinger he’s probs loaded) Weeks of funnelling money towards you cause him to feel this unwarranted possessiveness, believing that since he’s been providing so much in your “relationship” that it’s time you reward him in turn. However, despite the unbridled interest they have toward you neither are aware of each other’s feelings for you— that is, until you happen to run into the both of them heading to your class. While both are known for maintaining their stoic masks, they’re friends for a reason— and instantly can tell the attraction their roommates have towards their own “lover”. After kazuha finds your onlyfans he’s certain that you’ve been coerced and wants to save you, while scara thinks it’s time that he’s stopped letting other plebeians look at his possession—so, despite their initial reservations, come together to form the ideal plan. When you find yourself waking up groggy in a room you don’t recognize, all they can do is look on with glee whilst planning their next course of action with their new belonging. They’re friends after all, and good friends share though, don’t they?

This is v long srry lol you can ignore this ofc!!

AAAH, ANON!! YES!!! <3 I couldn’t resist writing more on this concept. orz They make for such a terrifying pair when they work together!

(cw: yandere, stalking, nsfw, implied kidnapping/drugging, unhealthy behaviors/relationship, delusional thoughts, savior complex, implied violence)

What if Kazuha and Scara were just acquainted with one another and actually became closer through their mutual obsession with you? Yes, they’re roommates and ought to get along because they’re living together but they haven’t exactly clicked yet. They talk every now and then and know little things about each other. Nothing too special. They don’t really hang out outside of their dorm either, what with their class schedules being vastly different. And Kazuha’s always out of the dorm doing who-knows-what. Most of his time is spent at a café, where he’ll write and read and stare at you while you work. On the other hand, Scara prefers to stay inside if he doesn’t have a good reason to go out. He likes his alone time. Although he has enjoyed going to the library every now and then to study.

So maybe they need to find some common ground. Maybe they need a push in the right direction before they get closer.

Kazuha likes to stare. Talking to you is great, but he worries he’ll say too much and then he’ll be a nuisance, or you might not want to talk to him at all since you’re working. But you always regard him with a warm smile, happy to scribble his name on the plastic cup because you remember him. Because you recognize his familiar face and soft, gentle eyes. He’s the one who saved you from that rude customer, after all, and he’s a polite regular. Why wouldn’t you know him? You might look like you can handle those types of situations, but what Kazuha saw that day was something entirely different. You were nervous—so soft-spoken and scared. He absolutely has to protect you from those kinds of people now, doesn’t he?

And he does exactly that. He’s your second pair of eyes—your valiant knight in shining armor—who sees and hears all. Sometimes he goes to the café with the intention to simply watch over you and make sure no one’s bothering you. He can recall one time when a customer was speaking rudely about you because her drink hadn’t been prepared in a ‘timely manner.’ In reality it’s impossible to make a drink within a few seconds, especially when you’re already preoccupied with making another customer’s drink. She must’ve woken up on the wrong side of the bed, or maybe she’s just a hateful person in general. You didn’t deserve to be on the receiving end of such fiery insults, though.

Her eyes just can’t see your perfection and therefore she does not deserve to see out of them.

Kazuha’s willing to wrestle with all of this darkness if it means you’ll stay safe, oblivious, and pure. You’re like a defenseless kitten, unable to protect yourself from the scary world. He writes about you a lot in his journal; you’re his muse—someone who constantly shows up in poems and short paragraphs where he tries to describe what your dream date might be or what type of wedding you’d prefer. Things get darker the deeper you delve into his writings, where you’ll find entries in great detail. Kazuha writes a lot and he doesn’t even mean to. He just has to get all of his thoughts on paper before they abandon him and he’s left with emptiness.

Everything you do is pure; you’re almost an equivalent to a holy being. Your smell is pure. Your body is pure. Your actions are pure. Your smile is pure. Even when you’re on the verge of crying from harsh customers or when you’re turning down a confession, you’re still pure. And Kazuha likes that about you because it’s special. There aren’t many people in his life who are completely pure. He’s been through a lot of rough things and has seen firsthand how impure people can be. It’s only fair that he gets a chance to protect purity itself.

He might have some impurities, but that doesn’t deter him from watching over you. As gentle and unassuming as he is, there are times when even he loses his composure. Not many are privy to these dark emotions of his. His smiles are sharp and venomous and his eyes fill with a gloom so dark it can swallow you whole. You’ll never see this side of him; he won’t allow it. Instead you’re treated to his sweet, calm side, where he feigns perfection in hopes of catching your interest.

As for Scara… He doesn’t really care about Kazuha in the beginning. He’s just someone he has to live with. It’s not a big deal and as long as he doesn’t try to make lots of pointless conversation everything will be okay. He prefers the peace and quiet, considering he’s acquainted with people who are far from peaceful and quiet. Scara’s relieved that Kazuha leaves the dorm so often because it gives him an opportunity to watch his favorite cam star’s most recent video. He’s your most loyal follower—someone who’s paid lots of money just to have access to the highest tier of rewards and such. He even got a private video where you addressed him and moaned out his name with lustful thoughts of him. Having lots of money comes in handy.

When he finds out that you go to the same school as him, he’s a little shocked. He didn’t expect you to be so close. You’re practically within touching distance. If only he knew your schedule. If only you were in one of his classes. It’s really annoying that he only knows your online presence and not who you might be in your personal life. The last thing he’s going to do is consult Childe, that popular athlete who knows literally everyone in the school for whatever reason. Surely he knows you. But he’ll die before he ever asks Childe for a favor.

Scara loves you out of every other cam model because you’re different. You’re not just trying to get fast cash. You’re genuine. You listen to your subscribers and their feedback. You do your best to improve and do even better streams than the previous ones. All of your hard work is overlooked by the other fools who watch your streams, but it isn’t overlooked by him. Scara appreciates your attention to detail and the way you’re able to hook him with your breathless voice alone. You’re very skilled at what you do, so it’s only fair you get paid for it.

But buying your services isn’t enough. It’s not a real relationship, but it certainly feels like it when he buys preferential treatment. Private shows, special requests, odd favors—you do it all because he pays for it. But this relationship isn’t going to be one-sided forever. You’ll have to pay him back in full eventually. Scara likes to think he has patience and that waiting is fine. It gives him more time to plan his next move—to figure out what he should do to finally have you all to himself. So that those private shows he watches through a screen can finally be real.

Scara finds the journal sitting innocently on Kazuha’s bed, its maroon cover and maple leaves pulling at his curiosity. He might not know everything about Kazuha, but he’d recognize this journal anywhere. His roommate almost always has it on his person. Scara wouldn’t be surprised if he slept with it. To say he’s curious would be absolutely correct. He can only wonder what Kazuha writes in that thing. Perhaps it’s just notes for a class. That’s what anyone would think, right?

Scara opens it and flips through the first few pages. They’re normal for the most part. Just a bunch of haikus and other useless scribbles. When he skips over some pages, he starts to find things that are far more interesting than poetry and doodles of cats. He finds the majority of the journal is comprised of information. More specifically, there are facts and other knowledge about you—the cam model he’s been obsessed with ever since he stumbled upon your onlyfans. He reads through as much of the journal as he can and instantly learns so much: your address, your roommate, your workplace, your friends’ names, names of any potential exes. The list goes on and on.

Scara doesn’t have anything against Kazuha. His first impression of him wasn’t anything groundbreaking. He thought he was a pushover at first. But now that he knows what this journal holds… Well, it sheds an entirely new light on his roommate.

Just days before Scara took a peek inside his journal, Kazuha discovers your secret online life. He snoops through Scara’s laptop when he steps out, having left it open and unlocked. He’s just trying to find what could have caught Scara’s interest, as he’s almost always glued to his laptop on specific days at specific times, with his headphones on and his gaze unyielding. He doesn’t intend to find the file of one of your private videos—something that was meant only for Scara’s eyes.

He clicks on the video out of interest. He’s not sure what he was expecting to see, but it definitely wasn’t this. Kazuha sits there and stares at the sight before him. You’re dressed in skimpy lingerie and you’re muttering the dirtiest things while coating your fingers in lube. And your hands are stroking a thick toy and you’re addressing Scara and you’re lining it up to your hole and— He shuts the laptop before it can get even more explicit than it already is. He’s so conflicted, fraught with a betrayal so strong it weighs his heart down.

Why would he have this sort of video on his laptop? Did you give it to him? Did he make you do this? Are you in danger? Are you still pure?

Kazuha can’t kill on campus. It’s way too risky and he’d be one of the first suspects if Scara’s body is found. Besides, it’s not like he has the full story. He doesn’t know whether or not Scara’s done something that’s worthy of death. You could just be in a tight spot. He knows how easily you give in when you’re under pressure. Maybe you’re just doing this because you feel like it’s the only thing you can do. Not to worry; Kazuha will save you before Scara can ruin your purity with his twisted fantasies.

They confront each other when the time feels right. Kazuha struggles to keep a smile plastered to his face for the sake of politeness, while Scara holds in his raging temper so that he can bear some semblance of cooperation. Neither of them is happy to hear that the other went through their stuff, but they force themselves to make up because a more pressing issue is at hand: their connection to you.

Kazuha says he’s your secret admirer. Scara says he’s in a relationship with you. There’s no way you’d ever date someone like Scara—Kazuha knows this for a fact. Yet he falters at the confidence in Scara’s tone. That can’t be the truth, right? Despite this, Kazuha still strikes up an offer: If they work together to get what they both want, they’ll be unstoppable. With Scara’s riches and his influence and Kazuha’s charisma and clever thinking, they can easily get their hands on you. Of course this means they’ll have to share, but it’s not a big deal when they’re already in so deep. They both know the other’s secret; now they’re swearing to keep it in the pursuit of having you all to themselves. And luckily Scara agrees to the deal, but that doesn’t give Kazuha a reason to lower his guard.

However despite how well they work together when it comes to planning the kidnapping and actually executing it, they both have their own reasons for wanting you. Scara wishes to make his relationship with you a reality—to toss aside the screen that once held him back and finally do all of the things he could only do in his dreams. Kazuha seeks to protect your fragile heart, lest you crumble under Scara’s intense way of doing things and cling to him for salvation. You can’t do those sorts of things with Scara; he won’t allow it. Your purity is meant for him and no one else.

But sharing is caring and some have to learn that the hard way. It definitely brings Kazuha and Scara closer together, even if neither of them will admit it. If they look past their desires, they can be friends. And soon enough they’ll have to accept this new friendship if they want to avoid any unnecessary complications.

However there are times when they’ll cooperate in order to do things with you. They’re a packaged deal you can’t get rid of.

[starwarsaddiction]

https://darkcomicsbookslibrariesthing.tumblr.com/post/689847028601241600

^^^ THE JEDI ARE NOT EVIL!!! I HATE THIS SHIT SO FUCKING MUCH!!!

Ah, yeah, tell me you don't understand SHIT about the Galaxy Far Far Away without telling me.

I mean, obviously, the Jedi are evil, they teach emotional awareness and control in a communal environment, they strive to be better all the time, and they grow their children to be trauma free and to be able to help others, who would ever want for their kids? And don't get me started with Obi-Wan and Yoda, warning Luke that Vader is bad, that he wasn't ready to confront him, considering that he wasn't trained enough and that they couldn't tell him point blank that that murderer was his father. How rude of them to prepare him for the idea that there could be no good in him to the point that Luke could have to kill him just to defend himself. I mean, it's not like Obi-Wan himself witnessed Vader killing random people just to lure him from his hiding, dragging him into the fire just to make him suffer, watched him saying that there was no Anakin left in him because he killed him himself! How could Obi-Wan not see that Anakin was a victim at that point?

Ok, I'm being sarcastic, because it's incredible, even more now after the Kenobi series, that people still think that Jedi are arrogant, selfish and entitled. It's absolutely dumb. Or in bad faith, and I think that it's like that for a lot of these video makers, not to count how many of them reeks of fascism and white supremacism, especially when they totally forget the Asian cultures that have influenced the making of the Jedi Order.

George Lucas said it: the Jedi are the most moral people in the galaxy. He wanted the story to be about them and their struggle, how evil can rise against the light and wipe it by the hands of someone that was once a nice kid and was conscripted into the Sith by his greed for power. It's an easy story, told in black and white nuances because it was meant for kids to understand a simple moral story. There is no other way, no grey Jedi, no balance after what Anakin did to the Jedi order. And it was just for the great compassion of his son, who claims to be a JEDI, like his father before him, that Vader can overcome his own greed for power.

Vader wanted Luke to join him, defeat Palpatine and became the ruler of the Galaxy, and THIS is still greed for power, it's still his mindset, until the point when he sees Luke stop fighting, choosing peace and self-sacrifice instead of joining the dark side, that he stands against the Emperor.

I also think that Obi-Wan letting Vader kill him in front of Luke, two films prior, was a sort of lesson on the importance to accept defeat, of self-sacrifice for the sake of others, and Luke accepted and embraced it. He was willing to die, instead of choosing the path to the dark side, and that's something these people don't want to see because, in their eyes, their favourite baddie can't lose because he's wrong, he can only lose because the opponent is stronger, not because he's morally better. It's a sort of barbarian mindset, only the strongest will win, so if Luke doesn't want to fight anymore it means he's weak, so how can he win in the end?

My friend, it's really pointless to read these people or watch these videos. They don't want to understand, they are watching another franchise. One done in their head that doesn't match reality. Even if GL and all the authors are saying in simple terms that the story is about how good were the Jedi, they will never believe it, mostly because they don't want it, for whatever reason.

[lightcreators]

Well, it had been something he had to anticipate … Within one look, considering how weak his defence had been, of course, he wasn’t going to be believed at all. It always had been the problem since the beginning of this year: his beloved illusions, all lies he had built like a magnificent castle, were starting to break … for emotionally having exceeded his limits. Another naive remembrance from a previous life who took another dimension once the truth had been understood: his metaphoric twin had lied to himself and other beyond everything he could actually mentally and emotionally bear and it had been in middle of despair he had perceived the ending, and regardless, managed to manipulating it for his benefits … he was a willing sacrifice for his values because as much possibly some people could be here for save him, other selfish intent would distracting them to do that …  which generating with him an vivid trustful problems since as much he could perceiving things, he didn’t get guarantees. Minus maybe one, minus one single anchored reality about how destruction will be pulled towards the wizarding world, break everyone illusions, if he didn’t achieved to succeeded his desired ascension, for be dramatically killed before  --- which was truthfully his main current fear.

A feeling apparently who seemed never stopping to following him down. No care was considered towards the dark glance he had received in return, in which simple seconds were enough for understood he might creating offence --- but not big deal. How he was going to twisting reality over his state was another issue, but he needed something for bring reassurance over the professor common lie that everything was fine and he was alright, to the very end, whatever he was calling out for it … It ended up quite brutally pinned on the wall, as reflection about how he was treating with exasperation Potter outside appearance world, who created an vivid panic reaction he had been unable to swallowing back completely. Strange instant when his brain was disconnecting within the past and the future, what could possibly happens to him someday and the current meaning, betrayed anguish inside his features. Fact that he noticed there was no one around turned circumstances worse. Couple of years prior, he would have frozen in place, and would have struggled to reaction --- now, he pushed behind with horrible efforts an immediate anger that just exploded within him. It was about illusions. It was about his illusions. It wasn’t just big deal, wasn't important.

❝  What difference it made ? ❞ He coldly asked with disinterest, as he was going to pretending none of this conversation involved him in the slightness emotionally. ❝  How you can be sure I’m lying ? ❞ Offence of disappointment felt about failing to offering glitter to the person who needed the most resonated inside his second sentence, as naturally, Potter treatment exposed. Eventually, as much Potter was insisting and searching every manner possible to find some tiny margin for convincing him to do different ( or be honest two seconds ), as much he wasn’t fooled around by his little act, he dropped at some point the issue, angry and sad in return, but he was fucking left him alone with that loneliness path he picked ! Well, with professor Snape, it would be good if one Dark Lord just ignored how sometimes, nah, he could be totally uncooperative. It would triggering his rage further, and he might just want fucking desiring his death further --- and like, taking a big deal of further risks with one director to convince ! Mixture of mockery, condescendence, amusement, welcomed Snape statement. Yes, he was preparing himself to die, and was horribly terrified of it! Yes, he knew the only ending possible for him what to be wonderfully murdered, but yet, as much he was searching to mourn everything, there was that poisonous hope in which he wanted to believe someone might saved him from it … He didn’t wanted to be honest, but was trapped over what to responds. ❝  Common case of insomnia? ❞ He repeated with mockery. Considering years he stopped sleeping well, and lose notion of a mere dream to begin with, he knew perfectly himself how his brain had been damaged in the process … since a while. What he was going to say ? How he was going to bounce back ? Confession concerning the pressure he was going though could have be a nice exit, and well … he had another pressure of the underground, concerning behaving as an misbehaving and harmful brat who mustn’t be boring for the observers who were far more important than the threat of an Dark Lord, that must feeling how much he wanted him to suffer for had touched his damn family ! Anger wanted to betray his features once more; an unpleasant growl escaped his lips. He disliked been perceiving within his lies, than he was unable to offer an understanding option. Hopefully, his following sentences were able in some manner to light up the atmosphere. ❝  I know exactly what you do for me. ❞ Brutality of his sentence resonated like some kind of tiny scream and edified truth, in which he was self controlling himself towards his anger. Concerning the second part, a playful condescending smile appeared. He had been lying to everyone. He was supposed to fucking L I E inside every breath he was taking, which was sparing him to feeling that powerful despair slowly eating him alive inside. It wasn’t the first, neither the last time. ❝  It’s my responsibility as far I know, mh ? ❞ He bounced back with disdain. Not concerning the part about killing Dumbledore, he was expressing sincerely that sentence, with an anchored determination concerning a Dark Lord who needed to return to his tomb, shouldn’t have never left to begin with, wouldn’t have never did offence in front of his fucking face to search immortality as he will not fucking acknowledging raise of that asshole. ❝  How would you want assuming whatever responsibilities on it for help me, mh ? ❞ Playfulness remained yet.

He would become special only if he was embracing Illusions as a whole. Already, he had transformed that second word: no, he didn’t have been chosen for acting like an insignificant piece gaining the role just for do the dirty work, he chooses to be nasty for his own values and his own little ambitions, and he CHOOSES main villain as his target. Ah, glittering illusions over these two words, he still remembering how he has clinging over an false meaning, how he had wanted to believe how it will be heaven … without realization real implications behind. Anguish didn’t removed from his expression as the grip disappearing, when the mental confusion and experienced terror were able to be appeased … but sensation to have experienced physically something he was constantly feel generated permanent discomfort. He wasn’t feeling well, simply by the remembrance. He was oppressed, everywhere, and there was no escape. Respectfully he didn’t answer immediately, as he would preferring be sparred of another condescending remark. For a couple of seconds, he focused to breathe. For an couple of seconds, he processed the fear he had lived prior, as it would be one of these rare moments he would be allowed to do that, whatever if not admitting how triggered he was.  ❝  How you want to help me ? ❞ Simple question resonated inside an tone who expressed he could at least heard what he proposed, when his expression yet remained same amount of uncooperation, as much he desired pulling an compromise about which side he was. With the stress he was currently under, he would have loved an hug, of whatever acknowledgement over the struggles he was going though … but it had been better for his brain to slowly accepting no one anymore would ever hugging him or giving him two fragments of affections for be unworthily of it, besides to be last straw that would making him cry for real. Concerning the acknowledgement --- Snape somewhere always giving it to him, and could hardly say he had been happy to facing something he was searching to hide. With the previous anguish, he was obligated to swallowing up another time temptation of tears, as his heartbeat was giving him something different than be disconcerted …

You can’t save me; it was sincere confession he wanted to bring.

Severus's lips curled downwards as the blond's response reached his ears, and he swayed smugly, on the spot, unfooled by the boy's excuse. His dark eyes narrowed, flashing dangerously in Draco's direction, as he suddenly pulled the boy against the wall, pinning him with his hands, and looking around to make sure that they were alone.

"That..is a lie..." He whispered, harshly, through gritted teeth.

"I can see what you're going through, and it is much more than a common case of insomnia," he observed, having gone through all of the same symptoms, himself.

"I have put my life on the line for you, and now you dare to stand there and lie to me?  You cannot go this  alone, there is no sense in it, not matter how special or chosen you may feel."

His eyes softened,and he released him from his grip. "You must let me help you," he said, his voice still at a whisper, but a bit softer than it had previously been.

@lightcreators

[cinnamonest]

I am loving all these "Bitter Albedo getting revenge and doing as he wants with the reader"— but also, equally as bitter Creator! Reader growing resentful towards Albedo and wanting to do to him what he's done to her, or even _worse_. Anything to take him out of her life, so she half bakes a plan to "finetune" later, first starting off by building up some trust to get on Albedo's good side, she "gives in", plays nice and gets to work on alchemy with him.

She follows this routine, playing the loving glorified "housepet". But all the while, she's been fine-tuning her escape plan. It would either put him in an equal disadvantage to him, or it might kill her. At this point, either outcome would be mercy. She tells him there's still things from the Art of Khemia she hadn't taught him.

Things she'd learned in her travels while experimenting, not long after they'd gone their separate ways.

It starts out with gathering ingredients for tamer recipes, and just like she'd promised

New techniques, new creations and new knowledge was gained.

She makes him believe that she's adapting to his existence, maybe even tolerating him, but he didn't expect for her to only grow more and more bitter as time went on. The only thing growing in her heart was the resentment she harbored for him, any sort of admiration or genuine adoration she held for her creation all but crushed. She wanted nothing of him ever again, he had gone too far, miscalculated even, in his theory that reluctant "love" would follow his treatment.

Over the course of a few weeks, she has him carefully wrapped around his finger, unknown to him that she would show him just how much mercy she showed him when she sent him his own separate way. He was suspicious at first, of course, but in his moment of weakness, in his need for the approval she had been "showering" him in, he pushes the thoughts aside when he sees that her claims seem to be "valid enough".

He follows her instructions, and each time he gains new information on old, or even lost, techniques. Raging from little things she'd kept to herself so that he wouldn't have to interact with him when they worked together, To combinations only a mad woman who's challenged nature would dare think up.

and one day, she's telling him that she thinks he's ready to try the last thing she had managed to research on her own. He mixes the ingredients according to her instructions, everything seems to be going fine until he adds the last thing— and it's immediately reacted in a messy blast.

Albedo finds himself blinded by the fallout, as well as finding a surprising lack of digits on where his hands should be. His ears are ringing, obviously, such a blast would deafen anyone.

It's the creator's way of getting her own vengeance for the position he's put her in, at least this way, maybe, _maybe_, she can have a chance to finally put her failed created behind her. After all, he was always her most _disappointing_ creation.

AHHHHHH anon that took me aback at the last bit I was not expecting that. Poor little thing, how could master be so cruel...?

After the obvious resulting chaos (and agony), he'd be quiet for a long time. He ties you to the bed with what's left of his hands, having to use his mouth to tie the knot, and... leaves. Usually he's good about leaving you food when he goes out for the day, but not this time. He doesn't say a word as he leaves, even if you call out to him.

And he's gone for several days. You're starving, but even when he comes back, he doesn't say a word at first. Doesn't acknowledge your presence, no matter how many times you call out to him. It goes on like that for hours until eventually, without prompting, after you've given up calling for him, he just simply states a few thoughts.

He was... too kind. He understands that now. You didn't deserve it. You didn't appreciate it properly. So now, you will earn your way back to the way things were.

For starters, he takes the legs off at the scar. No real reason other than to hurt you. To see your horror when you fully wake up, pain, having to adjust. He pulls the same shit where he makes you beg for anesthetic and painkiller, but it's infinitely more painful this time. He keeps you just a little bit awake for the whole thing, even if you beg enough to be given some anesthetic during the procedure.

And after that, he stops talking to you. For good.

He himself is learning to adjust, having been given a prosthetics for fingers (literally Fullmetal Alchemist lmao) that he can make do with. You can learn how to adjust, too. Having *no* legs is actually different than just having numb ones, and learning to live without them is harder than you thought it would be -- your center of gravity and sense of balance changes, you have to avoid certain positions or risk a sharp shooting pain, etc. But even when you stumble and fall, and call out for help... nothing happens. You have to fix it on your own, or, if stuck too far to move, wait until he comes by up to hours later and silently sets you upright. If you call out in what sounds like high distress, he might come running over to make sure you're not in immediate danger, but after looking you up and down and ascertaining you're just uncomfortable and/or stuck, he slowly turns back, deciding he'll help you when he feels like it later.

You don't eat together anymore. He feeds you in a bowl on the ground. The first time, you turn your nose up and fold your arms in disgust... even though you haven't eaten the entire time he was gone. You're just that stubborn. No matter. Eventually, you cave, maybe the second day, maybe the third or fourth. He doesn't say anything the whole time, just takes the food when you make it clear you won't eat it, and puts it out each night, until you give in.

You sleep on the floor. Chained by the neck to the bedpost. You understand the message without needing to be asked out loud. You hated him so much, didn't you? You'd much rather be on the cold, hard floor than in bed, since he's in it, wouldn't you? Since you hate him so much?

And still, he doesn't talk. Somehow, that hurts the most. He was never very talkative, but he'd comment every now and then, ask you for your thoughts on something, but he now acts like you're not even there. No matter how many times you call out to him, he acts like he doesn't hear it.

It goes on like that for a month or so until you finally break down. Latch onto his leg and sob and plead. You feel like you're going insane, you say. You just want him to acknowledge you exist again.

...But why should he, he asks? It's the first thing he's said to you since the leg removal. He won't turn his head or eyes to look at you. What does he get from talking to you? You were so mean. For the few months leading up to the incident, you were so, so, so mean. He tried to be nice and get you adjusted, and you fought him every step (well... not that you were taking many literal steps) of the way. Remember? You were mean from the moment you woke up then. And then, when you were finally nice -- when he trusted you -- you went and did what you did. What reason does he have to acknowledge you? You'll either be mean to him or plot against him again. And that's all he's willing to say.

A few more weeks. A few more breakdowns. You know the intention -- he wants to truly, completely break you in a way that he never could when he was showing you any kindness. And, you hate it, but it's working. You find yourself begging. Sobbing. Rocking back and forth and clinging to his legs. Utterly pathetic, pitiful, humiliating displays of neediness and weakness. It breaks you down until he finally deems you complete, and one day finally makes eye contact with you for the first time in months.

There's not much left of "you" per se, though. The nasty attitude you had back before is almost completely gone. You're finally happy when he talks to you -- something that, after so many months of going insane from silence, you consider a privilege. After so many breakdowns and humiliation, you don't have much pride left to get in the way of begging, no shame about anything you do. It's perfect.

Not that it doesn't come back, sometimes. Sometimes, when you're having good days, you get a bit too comfortable, you forget what a privilege it is to be like this together, and you almost get mean again. But it's fairly easy to shut down with a very specific look that shuts you up immediately.

Oh, and he finds a way to fix himself, in the end. Being an artificial creation, he has a different compositional makeup than a person, so there are... ways to adjust and repair the body he has. In fact, he might even find one that would work on even an organic human, a miracle regenerative formula.

Not that he'd give it to you. But he makes sure to tell you all about it, showing off just how perfectly it regenerated his hands... just to see the look on your face.