#familial love is a complicated thing but i think he was probably pretty isolated in general. still is tbh

[getougender]

Why do many people think Gojou didn't get real love in his childhood, no real affection until Geto? Shoko's rarely a part of these talks. Where was it shown or even implied that Gojou had a bad or boring childhood? He was only shown to be a cocky child aware of his strength and position, that says nothing inherently bad about his family. We don't even see his family? Maybe he was pampered, maybe he was spoiled normal amount, maybe his family is the one that taught him to be rebellious there's so many possibilities besides copypasting generic sad shounen past. He wasn't a completely different man until Geto came into his life, he didn't turn 180° just for Geto.

yeah, shouko definitely gets ignored a lot in, like, every conversation about gojou's past---gojou had/has friends! getou just happened to be his best friend, but even that, and his character development, did not happen overnight.

while it was never stated explicitly that gojou had a bad childhood, given the major clans' general track record with their ideas of child-rearing, gojou's childhood probably wasn't...great. i don't think it was bad! he wouldn't have been abused the same way maki, mai, or touji were, and he probably wouldn't have had the issues surrounding duty and parentage that noritoshi does, but i don't think it was good, either. iirc your cursed technique manifests when you're about 5-6 and he's 1) the heir to the gojou family and 2) the most powerful sorcerer born in centuries; his power would have been (is) coveted and while he'd had a shit-ton of responsibility piled onto his shoulders, he's probably also been on that pedestal cementing him at the top for almost his entire life. people generally regard him with awe, fear, or jealousy/disdain, and most of that is dripping with respect that keeps him at an arms' length. we're not sure if that applied to his family, but because the clans tend to value tradition and respect pretty highly, it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that they didn't make a huge effort to be super close to him, which, okay, objectively speaking, is kind of understandable, between the latter bits about tradition and because the idea of having an elementary schooler who can and is actively being trained to blow people to pieces just wandering around your house is a tad unnerving.

gojou being isolated from basically everyone else is a recurring subject, but he still would have absorbed the ideas about what it means to be strong and a sorcerer's role in relation to nonsorcerers. we see what he thought about these as a teenager in the beginning of his flashback arc and the ensuing argument with getou, but even though he obviously outgrew these ideas, he had to get them from somewhere. plus, some big parts of his personality---difficulty with relating to others and taking personal issues seriously (he can absolutely take things seriously, but he doesn't talk much about Stuff That Bothers Him except occasionally mentioning homicidal rage and he doesn't have a lot of tact when it comes to other people's problems, like not knowing what to do about getou spiraling before it was too late and people started dying and responding to yuuta's "the only reason i'm alive is because rika is physically preventing me from killing myself" with "okay, yikes"), how he handles the corruption in jujutsu society and the tendency for kids to get brutally murdered is to simply Train The Child Soldiers To Be Better And Intimately Aware Of Current Societal Flaws, and his tendency to sniff out young sorcerers and try to protect them from growing up too quickly like he did are all traits that he's developed and been changed by over the years but are still rooted, most likely, in how he was raised.

also, while he is definitely very privileged, i'm not entirely sure that he was spoiled, necessarily? i think entitled is a better word for it, and it was much more apparent as a teenager. he's a rich kid who's been told he's Destined 4 Great Things and he knows it's true because it's been painfully obvious his whole life, but! but!! though part of that mindset changing is probably due to growing out of it and seeing what the world is like, a lot of it had to be because of getou, shouko, and to a smaller degree, yaga. when they meet in high school they all treat him like Just Some Kid---a very powerful kid, but a kid nonetheless, and especially like a kid who's chewing gum open-mouthed and very loudly in public just for the sake of being obnoxious. yaga is his teacher and most immediate authority figure who generally treats his antics with exasperation. his new classmates can keep up with him in terms of personality and/or abilities: shouko and getou are very straightforward with what they think of him and have absolutely zero problems with calling him a bitch to his face, and not only are he and getou evenly matched, but shouko is one of the very, very few people who can do something he can't (at least at the beginning) because she has a reverse cursed technique. and neither of them were brought up the same way that he was! getou probably didn't even know who he was at first!

how infuriating.

how refreshing.

[yanmaresu]

I have a request please? How would the yandere twst girls react if male darling tries to reject her, but in a way that builds her up? Like telling her that she has so much going for her! “You have a your family, and friends. You’re attending one of Twisted Wonderland’s most prestigious colleges! You don’t need me to complete you, because you complete yourself. If anything I’m the one holding you back!” How would the ladies react? Who would take this rejection well? Please and thank you!

Being honest this is a very unusual yandere scenario I was unsure how to approach it, but it was fun trying to think up how they would react jsjs thanks for requesting <3

━━━━━━━ ∙ʚ♡ɞ∙ ━━━━━━━

Characters: Riddle, Ace, Deuce, Ruggie, Jack, Azul, Floyd, Kalim, Idia, Malleus, Neige.

━━━━━━━ ∙ʚ♡ɞ∙ ━━━━━━━

Riddle will probably throw the ball back in a "You're not going to fix me, I'm going to fix you :)" kinda way. If her darling says he doesn't feel worthy of her then she will make him worthy, everything can be done with hard work and discipline. Just let her take care of it and everything will be fine, her father taught her how to take control. In other words, she trains her darling. However, it sometimes looks like she's molding him more into a househusband rather than helping him.

Ace won't take it that well. She doesn't need that kinda talk ya know? She actually has self-esteem. But if the prefect really thinks that way then there's nothing she can do. Ace will act like everything's ok, but will slowly start manipulating her darling into isolating himself. It's not easy, but if she can mess him up enough so that he depends on her, things would be merrier.

With Deuce it's kind of a bittersweet reaction. The prefect has so much faith in her! She appreciates it, but she was sure she was the one holding him back. What about holding each other down then?

You think Ruggie hadn't considered that? She knows she's lucky to be there, and life isn't going to be all that pretty even if she got a nice education, but she still wants him. It's the hyena's instincts but the fact that she's probably going to be more successful than her darling is attractive to her. She will try to convince the prefect, but if he rejects her, then she will hunt him down.

Jack understands where the prefect might be coming from and tries to talk it out with him, to please don't let himself down like that and that she isn't like that.

Azul has mixed feelings about the rejection. She will try to convince her darling that she doesn't have such dependency issues and that he really is enough. but if he really isn't convinced, then what about making the relationship something mutually beneficial? She really is successful and will continue to grow beautifully in all of her ordeals, but she's left with no time to cultivate relationships, and sometimes having a partner can do wonders when trying to build an image of certain people. Let her darling become her arm candy, she will treat him right, and all he has to do is to be there for her and only her.

Floyd doesn't care, and that lame rejection won't deter her. If he likes her back then what's the problem? They should date, it's not that complicated. Floyd will manhandle her darling around after that.

Kalim will assure her darling that nothing like that will happen! She reminds him of the tale of the princess and her lover who pretended to be royalty. He also thought he wasn't enough, but loving each other solved everything. Really, all her darling has to do is love her :)

Idia was expecting to get rejected, but not like this. What the prefect says doesn't make sense. She can't be completed, nor fixed, she was already messed up from the moment she was born a Shroud, but her darling makes things so much better... He really doesn't need to do much, she already planned to seclude herself anyway, she just needs him with her. So even if he doesn't want to be there, he will.

Malleus will be clear, she does feel like the prefect completes her. He takes up so much space on her mind and her heart feels like it will overflow with how much she loves him, everything feels so much brighter when he's around. She will let him know exactly how she feels, and assure him that with her taking the throne in the future nothing will drag her back, except maybe having her heart broken. If Malleus gets rejected once again, she will abduct her darling. He wasn't meant to rule, so keeping him like a trophy among her possesions works for her.

I like to think the Disney princess thing is strong with Neige. She really is such a positive force, and won't let her darling talk about himself like that. He's wonderful 👏 He's beautiful 👏 He's the love of her life 👏 and he really is completing her, because everyone needs love in their life! and maybe he feels nervous... Neige knows her acting career may intimidate people, with how often cameras glance into her personal life, and how intense some people online may be, but she's sure that once her darling takes his first step into the spotlight, everything will be a trip downhill. Her fans are always so sweet, they will surely hope for her happiness. Just let her take a picture and let everyone know. The scary part will only last a moment.

[toaster-trash]

This is not an attack on you at ALL I’m sorry for moving this to it’s own post I just have Opinions™️ and I need be weird about this book rq I’ll tag you anyway in case you’re interested like at all in my dumb little opinion @adrianfridge-main

I just woke up but DISAGREED Victor’s complaining was completely and utterly justified tbh (bro fucked up astronomically big time and as a result his entire family is dead, I think he’s earned the right to be in despair), Victor’s biggest flaw was the fact he stitched together a mass of corpses and brought it to life and then told nobody, Victor’s biggest flaw is avoidance – and part of that is understandable, it’s a common trauma response, but Victor should have been open about how he felt about Elizabeth, he should have worked through his feelings about his family and expressed them, he should have confronted what he did with the creature and told someone, told Clerval, Victor’s biggest flaw isn’t that he’s in despair, it’s that he rarely explains that despair to others – and it’s understandable why he doesn’t, but it’s still wrong, because that’s how he hurts people.

He keeps parts of himself hidden – as arguably represented by the creature himself. He begins to isolate himself for really the first time, he has a lot of space away from people he’s been around his entire life for really the first time, and it’s fairly safe to say that psychological things begin to build up, as he builds the creature, almost represented by him – whatever interpretation you have of these knew-found realisations can greatly vary depending on the reading of the book you have, but personally I think it’s mostly how he feels about himself and his family.

I don’t think Victor wanted to marry Elizabeth at all – and I’ll probably make a whole catch-all rant on that point soon enough, but I think once he actually begins to get some time in isolation to think about things, he starts thinking about his mother, he starts thinking about Elizabeth, he starts considering all these complicated feelings, that he genuinely does love his mother, but that she’s effectively forcing him into something he doesn’t want to do at all, surely she’d understand if he just explained – but she’s dead, he can’t explain, it’s too late for that. Would she have accepted his explanations in the first place, or would he have disappointed her? This was his mother’s only dying wish, the last thing she left to him, the last thing he had to remember her by – and I do believe Victor genuinely loved his mother, even if I’m also absolutely of the opinion that she was a terrible person. Instead of coming to a conclusion about this, Victor spirals, it builds up, he tells no-one – I don’t believe he would’ve told Henry – and this coincides with the creation of the creature. His dead mother’s final wish being the definitive thing haunting him, and the representation of his spiral and all of his emotions about that being a mass of sentient corpses – seems accurate.

Following this argument, Victor sees Clerval again after all those years, and he collapses from the weight of it all – he rants about it vaguely, but he hides it, and he continues to do so, ignoring it, and that’s when it slowly begins to become harmful, purposefully picking off the people he loves and hurting them.

It’s important to remember still, of course, that the monster isn’t metaphorical, he is real – it’s just that a lot of heights of Victor’s despair and tendency to spiral into his own thoughts coincide well with the “building” of the creature, or with him becoming more vocally demanding of Victor or harmful to his loved ones, so he tends to be a pretty good approximation for a physical representation of Frankenstein’s mental state and guilt. And effectively, Frankenstein desperately trying to hide the creature, fumbling with promises to make further mistakes to push him away only to come to the realisation that they’re wrong, but still having to deal with the consequences of them, instead of just from the start being open and honest, even if that honestly was “I need some time to think, and I don’t know how I feel right now.” – that’s his biggest flaw. And the people Victor hurts is really best represented through Elizabeth herself – I hold the very very strong opinion that Victor and Elizabeth are both victims of what was pretty basically just grooming, and again, avoidance is a very common trauma response, but Elizabeth tried to confront Victor on multiple occasions, sending that letter asking about how he feels about the marriage, saying it doesn’t need to happen if he doesn’t want it to – instead he misinterprets this as his poor dear cousin in despair second-guessing his affections for her, (very likely because of things his mother probably told him as a child), and decides to “put her mind at ease” by telling her that he will marry her, despite his actions saying completely otherwise and Elizabeth herself pretty openly not really wanting to marry him.

He’s gone through so much at this point, feels himself responsible for so many deaths, and decides the final thing he needs to do before he dies is not to be a disgrace to his parents as well, or any more of a disgrace than he already is, in his eyes.

And I also definitely have a queer reading of the novel – I genuinely do really hold to the interpretation of Frankenstein and Clerval’s relationship being romantic, and from there and concerning the creation of the bride, Henry really is effectively murdered as a punishment for Victor doubting the role given to him – almost like his doubts and guilt, as embodied by the creature, overwhelm him in that way. “Ah! my father, do not remain in this wretched country; take me where I may forget myself, my existence, and all the world.” He’s pushing away the memory of Clerval’s death, repressing it, avoiding it, and that is extremely important for how he shifts his tone with Elizabeth and puts up that fake demeanour of wanting to marry her, because he thinks it’ll make her happy even though both of them describe dreading the wedding, even given the context for Victor and even by Elizabeth, who doesn’t know what he dreads – in order to forget Clerval, he assigns himself to the role given to him as a child by marrying Elizabeth and gives up whatever he hope he had.

All possibly discouraged from Clerval being murdered as a response to Victor refusing to finish the Bride and subject her to the same fate as him and Elizabeth to the Creature, a pact made without her knowledge or consent, an arranged marriage. Where has spiting that tradition led him? Where has him standing up to the shroud of his mother’s dying wishes, hanging over him the entire novel thus far, led him, by refusing to force the Bride into an arranged marriage with the Creature, as he was with Elizabeth? To the death of the one man he truly loved. So, can at least “make his dear cousin happy” and not die spiting the one thing he was meant to do – make his mother proud from beyond the grave by marrying Elizabeth.

And even then, adding to my argument of the creature being a physical embodiment of Frankenstein‘s guilt and dread – that building tension approaching the wedding, Victor being convinced the creature is going to kill him, but he kills Elizabeth – that’s a metaphor if I’ve ever seen it.

Even on the subject of grieving Clerval, Victor won’t sort his feelings, he spirals and tries so desperately to avoid them. “We had resolved not to go to London, but to cross the country to Portsmouth, and thence to embark for Havre. I preferred this plan principally because I dreaded to see again those places in which I had enjoyed a few moments of tranquillity with my beloved Clerval. I thought with horror of seeing again those persons whom we had been accustomed to visit together, and who might make inquiries concerning an event.”

I wonder what would happen if he did go through London, if he did meet those people again. Would things have turned out differently? Would he finally have been given a sense of comfort and clarity through mutual grief, as nobody so far since Henry’s death and for the rest of the book, except the creature, ironically, has grieved for Clerval except for Frankenstein. If he met people who took as fondly to Clerval as he did, at least on meeting him briefly, who would have sympathy towards Victor – would he finally have that space to grieve for him in a healthy way, to be comforted by people who at least vaguely understand a fraction of his anguish?

But he doesn’t, and instead he avoids the subject – confining himself to his union with Elizabeth, and hurting her because of that.

And even to his grave, Frankenstein doesn’t stop to consider his feelings properly, and by that I mean he doesn’t sort them with anyone, he doesn’t admit the dread he feels surrounding his family and his late wife, he doesn’t stay with Ernest and talk through things with him, bonding to his last remaining family member in his grief – instead he spirals again, chasing the monster and telling no one, except for Walton. And even then, he doesn’t discuss, he monologues – he doesn’t talk through his emotions with a trusted friend, he “tells his story” to an eager man who is mostly overwhelmingly curious, rather than genuinely concerned.

Victor Frankenstein’s biggest flaw is not that he complains. It isn’t that he’s in despair – it’s that he won’t articulate that despair properly. It’s that he avoids it and keeps it hidden out of pain, but he shouldn’t. Because the subject of that despair actively effects the people around him, and by extension, his despair actively effects the people around him. Elizabeth is left hanging by a man who doesn’t truly love her and won’t talk to her, forcing her into a marriage she doesn’t really want out of duty. The creature is cast aside and abandoned, viewed mostly by Victor as a representation of his guilt and shame, of his worst mistakes, although he expresses feeling pity for it fairly often, he still hides and shuns it, fearing it. Clerval is murdered as a representation of that hope for a better future, the one man who ever truly loved him being snatched away, and instead of standing his ground, coming to the conclusion that he won’t abide by his mother’s wishes, that he was right in his destruction of the bride, grieving Clerval with those people in London and using his death as a catalyst to not let it happen again, perhaps then meeting Walton at a later date if he chose to stay in England or otherwise by chance under different circumstances, writing to Elizabeth telling her his true feelings and confronting the creature properly, pulling a Christine Daaé there except like. Parentally instead of romantically. and showing his creation sympathy and compassion rather than just feeling it, and being open about everything; instead of that, Victor spirals, and Victor hurts everyone left.

And it’s understandable why he does – it’s realistic. The hero doesn’t always know exactly what to do and magically save the day by making all the right decisions – people don’t know what do do or how to make all the right decisions. Victor isn’t just complaining “woe-is-me” style, Victor is in genuine severe psychological torment and distress, and his actions reflect that. He is, to an extent, a victim of circumstance – and his circumstances haven’t made things easy for him. In his grief over Clerval, he’s led back to Geneva by his father instead of through London, and follows easily. He’s forced into a situation where he has to marry his cousin by his mother, since young childhood. When he tries to be assertive in what he wants, he’s punished for it every time. In real life, people don’t fix their situation easily like a superhero and pull themselves on their feet like that. They don’t get over everything that’s ever happened to them easily. They need space – and Frankenstein did not have space. If he wanted to fix his life, he would have had to actively fight for it. And he didn’t have any fight left. He didn’t want to live. He didn’t have any idea of what to do next. He didn’t see a future. Any time he tried to fight against what was expected of him, he was punished for it, so now that his life was effectively over, all he wanted to do was assign himself to the roles he was “meant” to perform, and not disappoint his family.

But it’s still a flaw, and it still hurts people. Victor was still in the wrong for what he did. For avoiding everything, for building the creature to begin with, that was Victor’s fault. But it’s understandable why he does what he does, and he’s a very sympathetic character because of that.

Me waking up to immediately write an entire Frankenstein essay I shit you not I’m still in bed finishing this I literally just woke up and started typing half asleep until I finished it (haha funny Nosferatu reference):

[zoeykallus]

Hey, hope you're having a nice day! I've seen your Imperial!Bad Batch headcanons but I was wondering if you could do headcanons for them like what it would be like dating the Imperial!Bad Batch? Your writing is always so good so I am excited to hear your thoughts

Aloha!

Hmm, this could get complicated.... I don't know if there would be that much of a difference, or if they would date at all. If their chips were working, I think they would not.

*Scratching head* Let me try and make something up 😅

Let's assume that the chips don't work, and they have voluntarily decided to follow the empire despite all consequences. So I give the whole thing a dark twist. But that also means that not too much fluff is to be expected. Gosh, what did I get myself into.... Sorry 😅 The bad Bad Batch...

Imperial Bad Batch x Reader HCs - About Dating

Imperial not so fluffy Batch/Toxic/ Strongly Suggestive in Parts

_______________

Hunter

He is confident, he knows what he wants and once he has his eyes on you, he is sure that you belong to him. Hunter is very charming but also calculating, he knows how he has to act to wrap you around his finger.

He probes your preferences and weaknesses to manipulate you if you don't fall for his charms. He uses his extraordinary senses to read you and react to you accordingly. He knows that you are attracted to him. Hunter feels the same, and yet he likes to play little games and make you squirm every now and then. Hunter loves to see how you adore him and how relieved you are when he finally gets back to you after a long time.

He's a procrastinator, delaying your meetings and every touch until you're both so starved that you go wild over each other. He likes it wild, but he's always in control, so even though you may have a passionate streak, he knows how to tame you for him. Hunter knows what to do to get you to do his every bidding and submit to him.

It will probably seem to you like he is controlling you in some way, and that is not deceiving, that is exactly what he does. He is also very passionate, easily jealous and very possessive. Hunter displays you by his side like a beloved trophy, he has conquered you, and he wants everyone to know it.

Dating, or even a relationship, is a roller coaster ride. Hunter has phases where he, worships you, showers you with gifts, then phases where he ignores you and avoids you, just so he can starve you both for a wild reunion.

Echo

He's a quiet guy, but quiet waters run deep. Often an intense look in your direction is enough to make your knees weak, and he knows that. Echo doesn't need many words to show what he wants, looks and small touches are often more than enough to make you fall for him.

He likes to spoil you, especially physically, for the simple reason that he loves to see how you surrender to him completely, how you almost helplessly and willlessly melt away in pleasure. He loves the control he has over you.

Yes, he is attracted to you and yet you are his toy that he likes to dispose of as he pleases, and he has a talent for convincing you that this is exactly what you want.

Your dates are quiet and intimate, no big hoopla, just the two of you and Echo's intensity. He doesn't like to share in any way, so it is quite likely that he will isolate you and keep you away from your friends and family to have you all to himself. He's pretty clever about it, so it won't seem like he's manipulating you and those around you.

Intense but dangerous. It is better not to upset him, his 'positive' interest in you can quickly turn into the opposite if you do things that displease him. You don't want to experience Echo angry, he can make your life hell.

Wrecker

He has seen you and decided that you belong at his side. Just as he approaches everything else, he simply storms into your life and claims you for himself. Wrecker is a very present, engaging person.

He tends to take things he wants by force. It is no different with you. He won't force himself on you, not physically, but he has no problem literally breaking apart rivals and other suitors.

He will not tolerate any rivals, ever. Your attention belongs to him alone, he makes sure of that just by his appearance, you can't ignore this man. Wrecker fills every room he enters, not only by his beefy appearance, he radiates a strength and will that is almost physically tangible.

He leads you around like a trophy, and he loves to dominate you. He always moves hard on the border between lustful fun and cruelty, but at least he doesn't cross it.

Dating or even a relationship with him is intense and wild, maybe a bit rougher, he doesn't necessarily try to be particularly sensitive.

He tends to be selfish.

Tech

He is very direct and doesn't beat around the bush. Tech has seen you and wants you, and that's exactly what he tells you.

"It would not be very smart to refuse, I am by far the best match you can get".

Yes, he's arrogant, full of himself and convinced he knows everything and can achieve anything. And his next target is you. He has a talent to see through you, he has already collected all data about you, at least those that are accessible without getting to know you, and he is about to get all the rest. Of course, he takes advantage of this knowledge.

Tech is anything but shy and very eager to experiment. Even your first intimate encounter includes an hours-long foreplay that almost brings you to the edge of your mind. Tech tickles absolutely everything out of you that he can bring out of you in lust, and he is, as I said, very experimental and surprisingly patient.

Tech is demanding, engaging and manipulative, very full of himself and almost frighteningly persuasive. If Tech is interested in you, very soon almost every thought you have will revolve around him, he makes sure of that.

Crosshair

Oh, he's not stalking you. Crosshair makes you stalk him, idolize him, and ask him out. You're not the type to do that? Oh yes, Crosshair knows how to get that out of you and if you don't go for it, he will eventually lose interest again.

He enjoys your attention, he likes to be the center of attention, or rather to be able to manipulate when this is the case and when not. Crosshair makes himself the center of your attention and all your planning.

He flirts, pulls back, gives you glances from afar, a little smirk here and there, a casual touch as you walk by, followed by a little wink. But he never asks you to go out with him, he waits for you, he wants to be asked. If not, he looks for the next target.

It is not easy to keep him happy, he is demanding and expects you to be ready for him whenever he feels like it. He flirts fiercely and not seldom, not only with you. He loves to see the jealousy flaring up in your eyes, he likes the flattering feeling that you want him all to yourself.

Crosshair pushes many limits, your patience, your pain threshold and how far he can push you. He has a talent for never really crossing the line, but sometimes he is close to it.

Dating and a relationship with him are intense, wild, quite interesting but also very exhausting and draining.

Ko-Fi (If you feel like giving me some coffee)

@rintheemolion

@andyoufollowyourheart @clone-whore-99

@brynhildrmimi @kaliel2310

@misogirl828 @tech-deck

@meshla-madalene

@chxpsi

@thebahdbitch

@nahoney22 @ladykatakuri

@darkangel4121

@ttzamara

@arctrooper69

@padawancat97

@agenteliix

@allsystemsblue

@palliateclaws

@either-madness-or-brilliance

@ortizshinkaroff

@andy-solo1

@hunterssecretrecipe

@heyitsaloy

@greaser-wolf

@extrahotpixels

@hated-by-me

@hunterxcrosshair

@malicemercy

@bebopsworld

@echos-girlfriend

@cpnt616

@dangraccoon

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

I really adore reading your different opinions and discussions about the Twist Cast, world, theories, and so on. Which is also why i wanted to ask you: If you could rate the 7 Dorms (+ Ramshackle dorm) based on environment, characters, interior design, etc. how would you rate them from a scale from 1 to 10...?

I'm curious to know. :)))

Well and this is probably the scientist in me speaking 💦 those are a lot of different factors to consider in one score, and not all of them are equally weighed. Each dorm is very different; we don’t even get the same number of characters for each; the higher number of characters in Heartslabyul, for example, could either bring down or bring up the whole score). It wouldn’t be a clean or a fair game.

Instead of giving “overall” numerical scores, I’m just going to break them up into multiple categories, each list arranged from “favorite” to “least favorite.

By Environment:

Octavinelle — I’ve always wondered what it’s like under the sea… It’d be so tranquil just through Octavinelle’s big glass walls and watching the sea creatures drift by. So therapeutic! (And free, too 😂)

Heartslabyul/Pomefiore — Both feature gardens! I can get lost in them, smelling the roses along the way. Pomefiore is more traditionally pretty (ballrooms, grand decorations, etc), whereas Heartslabyul focuses on whimsy and wonder (more clutter, windy halls, etc). I appreciate both aesthetically!

Ramshackle — Nothing that standout, but also nothing too bad about it. Might be depressing to look out of a window and immediately spot a dead tree and a graveyard though. Also keep in mind that Ramshackle is located the farthest from the main buildings on campus, but I don’t mind this because walking a while helps me properly wake up. The isolation is also nice for an introvert like me.

Diasomnia — Everything looks dark and dead. Constantly worried about being poked by thorns.

Ignihyde — Does outside even exist to these nerds?/j Same issue as Diasomnia but worse somehow; too gloomy and dead looking. Looks creepier because of the tech glowing/casting some light in the darkness.

Scarabia + Savanaclaw — IT’S TOO HOT I’LL DIE OF HEAT STROKE

By Characters:

*Note: takes both individual characters + group dynamics into account*

Octavinelle — The most cohesive as a group, but each Octa boy also stands on their own as a strong and interesting character in my eyes. Helps that J word also belongs here 💕 Watching their schemes unfold is always a treat.

Scarabia — Jamil and Kalim are a comedic yet complicated combination; seeing them puts a smile on my face whether it’s because Jamil is suffering or because Kalim is being oblivious. Usually both.

Savanaclaw — The only one I’m meh on is Jack 😭 Best part of Savanaclaw is definitely when Leona steps up and everyone else backs up his leadership.

Ignihyde — Love Ortho, don’t love Idia (except for those few moments when he’s relatable), so it evens out. Appreciate how much Ortho cares for his brother and encourages him to try new things! Big fan of their wholesome brotherly dynamic, it’s basically one of the few times I can stand Idia.

Pomefiore — Of the group, I only like Rook. I don’t really care for their group dynamic.

Heartslabyul — No particularly strong feelings about anyone here. They’re alright.

Diasomnia — The only character I like of this group is Sebek, and even then the love is somewhat conditional (because as soon as he starts harassing people about Malleus, that love plummets). Silver and Lilia are okayish, but I dislike Malleus so that brings this dorm way down. I think Diasomnia is strongest from the found family angle.

Ramshackle — … What characters? (Yuu doesn’t count; they’re purposefully written as a blank slate and I would rather read about an already established character than an intentionally bland one. The ghosts also don’t count because there’s nothing to distinguish their personalities from one another; they don’t event get names 😭) Grim is a little meowmeow on his own…though I do really love the ghosts being Yuu and Grim’s found family.

By Interior Design:

Octavinelle/Pomefiore — Classic and fancy ✨

Heartslabyul — I’m a sucker for the Alice in Wonderland aesthetic.

Scarabia — Looks huge and fun to explore; probably full of interesting things to gawk at because of the wealth that has been poured into the dorm.

Ramshackle — Cozy, nothing offensive about it.

Diasomnia — Feels like I walked into a haunted castle. Doesn’t look very welcoming or inviting. Might get jumpscared at the next corner.

Ignihyde — Too inorganic and stiff because of all the tech and blue screens floating around. I’d probably get a migraine from just being in Ignihyde.

Savanaclaw — Outdoorsy energy. Would constantly be concerned about sun burn and bug bites (because of how “open” the dorm’s design is). Rope bridges would make me feel nauseous. Just overall not a fun time.

*Bonus* — By Uniform(s):

Noble Bell College :>

Octavinelle — Simple but effective. Also just love me a crisp suit 😩 and cummerbunds (since they accentuate the waist)…

Pomefiore — The colors as flowy fabric are so pretty together… It’s also interesting how they incorporated a kimono-like design into a very European styled/inspired dorm. It works surprisingly well! Adore the intricate fabrics in their sleeves; the complex apple pattern on the red, the sheer black material, etc.

Diasomnia — I have no clue how this uniform works (like, putting it on), but I will agree that it looks cool and intimidating. The hats are slightly silly, but they work well with the whole look.

Scarabia — Looks easy to move in! Love the gold accessories as well. I don’t like the garish flame pattern on their hotpants or the sandals.

Heartslabyul — Why are you wearing sneakers and plain white T-shirts. I thought the dorm uniform was supposed to be formal wear 😭

Ignihyde — Weirdly blocky and geometrical. Nothing that eye-catching to look at.

Savanaclaw — The biker-cowboy aesthetic is just NOT it, sis…

RSA

Ramshackle — … What dorm uniform? Grim’s striped bow? Cuz I’ll agree that it’s cute, but we have nothing else to go off of since Ramshackle isn’t formally recognized as a dorm.

[queerpontmercy]

god even if the count weren't a literally bloodthirsty centuries-undead tyrant imagine that you are brand new to your job that's been the focus of your daily life for years and your boss (who's also pretty much your dad) says "here's your first client, he's rich powerful and particular, i specifically endorsed you for the job and said you'd be there in my stead" and then when you finally do meet the client in question he psychologically abuses, isolates and manipulates you to the point that you are in fear for your life at times. and then you have to confront the fact that your boss/basically dad/connection to your future employment is either aware of this or not and either way, whether it's complicity ignorance or neglect he doesn't have your back and you're probably going to have to tell people this powerful person abused you and who knows how they'll react. you think/hope your fiancee will get it cause she's always been ride or die and reminds you to respect yourself but like...she's also kinda dependent on this salary since she doesn't have family to lean on and schoolteaching pays way less than soliciting, and a part of you just doesn't know who you can trust at all after this.

that's hard enough modern day where we acknowledge abuse as a thing, let alone in Victorian times without the language. and drac is also very much a vampire. blorbo ultimate harker jonathan i love you hang in there baby

[denimbex1986]

'Six BAFTA nominations, universal critical acclaim, and not a dry eye in the house: Andrew Haigh’s ghostly gay romance All of Us Strangers is already the must-watch queer film of the year.

Based loosely on 1987 novel Strangers by Taichi Yamada, All of Us Strangers follows Fleabag star Andrew Scott as a depressed and isolated queer writer in his forties, who is still reeling from the death of his parents three decades earlier.

In one week, his world changes: not only does he spark up a deep and beautiful romance with younger neighbour Harry (Paul Mescal), but he returns to his childhood home and reunites with his parents – despite them being dead.

Across weeks, he gets to have the vital, moving conversations with the apparitions of mum (Claire Foy) and dad (Jamie Bell) that he was too young to have when they passed, as his romance with Harry blossoms.

Though Yamada’s original novel features a straight protagonist, Andrew Haigh recently explained to PinkNews why he, as a gay man, couldn’t have told his version of the story without centring the queer experience.

“What I’ve always been interested in doing, and especially with this [film], is talking about queerness in relationship to family, and how complicated it can be in relationship to family,” he shared, “especially if you grew up in a generation of the ’80s and into the early ’90s, where it was very different than it is now – thank God.”

A turning point in All of Us Strangers comes when Adam comes out to his parents, who are stuck in the deeply homophobic Thatcher era, and their response is initially less than approving.

“Back then, it was a pretty rough time for a lot of kids growing up and growing into their sexuality. I felt like that adds so much to the story,” the Looking and Weekend creator shared.

“[Adam’s] not lonely because he’s gay. But being gay and coming from that time has made him feel separate in the world to some degree. It’s almost like the world has made him feel lonely.”

As part of the discourse surrounding the film, Paul Mescal has been forced to explain why it was OK for him, as a straight actor, to portray a gay character, arguing that it depends who is in the driving seat of the film.

Haigh has now explained that gay actor Andrew Scott was always going to take the lead role in the film over Paul Mescal, because the story needed to focus on a particular generation of gay men.

“It always had to be from Adam’s perspective,” the 50-year-old director explained.

“I’m the same age or a little bit older than Andrew Scott’s character. That was the generation that I wanted to talk about.”

The contrast between Adam and Harry is an exploration of how gay men of certain ages live their lives differently, even though they are all profoundly affected by the same trauma that can come with growing up queer.

“In many ways, [Harry] is slightly more liberated in the world, and hasn’t been burdened by some of the things that [Adam] has been burdened by. He releases some freedom in Andrew Scott’s character, which I think is really interesting,” Haigh shared.

“Once you’ve seen the film, you realise there’s also a sorrow and a sadness inherent in [Mescal’s] character too.”

Though it’s emotional, All of Us Strangers also highlights the beauty that comes with being able to live as your true self around those you love the most. In opening himself up to his parents, Adam is able to heal the wounds of their complicated relationship.

“I think it’s amazing how often we aren’t our true selves to people, even if people are still alive,” Haigh reflected.

“You still probably don’t have those difficult conversations that you need to have. I understand why we don’t have those difficult conversations; I think there’s a world inside [all] of us that is tormented and a little bit broken, that we’re trying to deal with almost every day of our lives.”

Haigh hopes the film will show that there is an alternative reality out there for those who don’t feel able to be themselves.

“I think the film for me was to say: ‘You know what, it’s OK. I get that you will feel like that, and there is a way out of that. You can find love and intimacy and be known and be understood.”

Rightfully so, All of Us Strangers is pulling in an impressive slate of award nominations – including a BAFTA nomination for Best British Film. It may have been shockingly snubbed by the Oscars, but Haigh is more assured to see the film resonating with so many queer people worldwide.

“It’s always quite surprising to me when something with queer content actually manages to break through and get talked about,” he admitted.

“Now I’m alright with it not being some big mainstream billion dollar because clearly, that’s never going to happen, and there will still be lots of people out there that won’t go and see this film because of the content, or what they think is the content.

“That’s a shame, because I feel like this is a film for everybody,” he added.

“But it’s amazing that it has been taken under the wing by a lot of people and I love that.”'

[somany-fandoms-solittle-time]

ya know what..... Kalim is one of those sunshine characters that naturally interacts and "befriends" so many characters. It's always the sunshine characters that I'm drawn to put in a giant poly-hole where basically everyone is in love with them. It just makes sense.

Kalim x Silver: He's always waking Silver up in class and tries to help is drowsy spells. They're also just one of the few genuinely sweet guys on campus so it's pure fluff. A bonus advantage is that since Silver is a Trained Knight (or on the road to be) he can protect Kalim from assassination attempts.

Kalim x Ruggie: Eat The Rich w/ a twist. My precious hyena boy DESERVES to get married to a sincere Sugar Daddy (or as my gf and I like to say, Sugar Bestie™). He's worked hard enough and Kalim is one of the few upper class individuals that would NEVER use his money or status to control, manipulate or abuse another. He just wants to help out and the endless positivity would not only bring Rugs outta his comfort zone but would also impact those in his hometown A LOT.

Riddle x Kalim: Not a favorite, but I get it. Two kids from wealthy families (one more wealthy than the other) who were kinda isolated from the "regular" world and gotta figure shit out for themselves away from their former caretakers. Obvi, very different contexts and personality but that's what helps them depend on one another. Even when they can't relate, they can Listen and Grow together.

Floyd x Kalim: ARE YOU KIDDING THEY'RE ADHD BUDDIES?!?!? Not only can they relate with similar neurological issues, but their common interests can be a safe zone for them to bond. On top of that, even with their reckless personalities and their overall lack of forethought, Floyd is STRONG and could protect Kalim from any pushback or consequences. They're also both raised by Extreme Capitalist (even thou we don't exactly know what the Tweels parents DO) so the business sense and exposure to the darker side of things probably wouldn't be too much of an adjustment for either side.

Obvi Jamil x Kalim: I know not everyone likes this ship (and considering the dynamic and difference in power/status I TOTALLY get it). Even if the relationship is seen through platonic soulmates, brother-like, or just a 'we-were-stuck-together-for-years-and-now-we-don't-know-how-to-live-apart' sitcom kinda vibe they'll ALWAYS be linked together. Besides, an angsty, complicated childhood friends to lovers story with repressed mutual pinning is a guilty pleasure of mine lol!

Whoever he gets paired with, regardless of if it's a ship that has an anchor in canon interactions or PURELY fueled by fanon crack, there's a billion tropes to work with before even having to dip into AU or Crossover. Kalim is a COMPLEX CHARACTER with so many random lore drops and info that has so much potential. Even when people are writing or creating fan-produces with a more 2d version of his character, he's still lovable!! He's one of the few reoccurring characters in a cast full of obnoxious, weird, arrogant, awful, annoying, egotistical, pigheaded teenage boys with the power of NUKES.... And isn't completely terrible.

Lemme reiterate, that I LOVE so many characters in Twisted Wonderland but boy do these kids get on my nerves. They're all little assholes in some way or another, but there's a range between "okay, pretty standard high schooler" to "IDC IF YOURE TRAUMATIZED NO AMOUNT OF BACKSTORY CAN EXCUSE YOUR ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR!!!!! YOU'RE A FUCKING INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL WTF" and Kalim is a lot chiller. He's irrational sometimes and often does things without thinking it through.... But he's also a kid who's allowed to make mistakes and grow now that he's away from the bubble he grew up in. He can interact with people of all walks of life and get that perspective.

And depending on who he's paired with, romantic or otherwise, it's fascinating and heart wrenching and awe inspiring to watch him grow through the lens and experiences of the other person(s).

.........thank you for coming to my Ted talk 😌

[burberrycanary]

I, too, want to procrastinate right now so thanks @zenaidamacrouras1 for the tag <3333

Rules: Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass this onto other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 💖

I’ve been on a writing streak lately and I’m usually most excited by what I’m currently working on. But, taking a look back, here are some works I’m proud of.

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Still Left with the River (The Paradox of Motion) - 14k | G | Steve/Bucky, MCU

Summary: Coming back from as good as dead to a changed world is easier the second time around. But then Steve supposes that, like with most things, you get better with practice. 

A post-The Falcon and The Winter Soldier Stucky Endgame fix-it where even if you can’t go home again, you’ve got to go somewhere.

This is part of my massive labor of love stucky end game fix-it and probably my favorite story in the series, viewed individually. As I was writing this I went: no one is going to want to read a G-rated post-TFATWS stucky fic that doesn’t provide pretty immediate shippy gratification. But I love watching Steve have to pick himself up and go on after making a huge mistake that deeply hurt the people he loves most. While it can be cathartic as a reader to watch the people Steve left behind be furious, chewing him out until Steve has suffered some amount that’s “enough,” what I wanted to focus on is how hurting and disappointing the people closest to you, who continue to love you painfully through the hurt, creates such a complicated mess of damaged relationships. Steve, re-isolated by so much death and his own mistakes, now has to deal with repairing what he put wrong, if he can and if he’s given the chance to. But as the paradox of motion title would suggest, crossing that distance isn't easy.

This story is a quiet complicated love letter to New York City while this whole series is a massive intricate love letter to Bucky Barnes. Plus, Steve quietly pining is so my jam I can’t even. Come for Steve pining, stay for Steve making things right again.

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What the Living Do - 10k and counting  | G-E ratings | Henry/Alex, RWRB

Series Summary: This story is set a few months post-film and in a better universe than ours. Henry divides his time between New York and Kensington Palace. Alex is a second year student at Georgetown Law in Washington D.C. and lives in the White House. The distance is hard, but they're making it work.

We want the spring to come and the winter to pass. We want whoever to call or not call, a letter, a kiss—we want more and more and then more of it.

The epigraph of this series is from Marie Howe’s What the Living Do, which is a poem she wrote to her brother who had died from AIDS. It beautifully balances grief and living.

I’m drawn to characters who aren’t going to immediately tell you everything they are thinking and feeling—and to performances where so much is conveyed through micro-expressions that you don’t need dialogue.

Which means this RWRB series is an interesting challenge for me as an author that’s involved writing a lot of very direct communication all the way up to out-in-out Relationship talks. And a lot of fluff. But thanks to the series being told from Henry’s POV, it’s fluff in a minor-key mood. So if you like your bantery domestic fluff shot through with slowly healing grief and the lingering impact of spending years in the closet without a supportive family only to be traumatically outed, then this is the series for you.

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The Art of the Possible - 9k | M | Sharon-centric, TFATWS/MCU

Summary: Maybe whether you’ve picked the wrong side depends on where you’re standing—but if you can’t tell who the sucker at the poker table is: it’s you.

Sharon before, during, and after Madripoor.

I had so much fun writing this with @village-skeptic though it is absolutely not a story for everyone: non-linear and less than straightforward without the hook of a popular ship. Maybe I’m just drawn to characters the MCU keeps doing dirty (cough Bucky cough), but the incoherently bad writing of TFATWS created openings to tell a story that focuses on the bleakly dark aspects of the thematic and subtextual storytelling that is foundational to the MCU. And Sharon was the right character for telling that story.

But for anyone troubled by the politics of the MCU? This is a story for you and I hope you give it a try.

The trick to telling a story with heroes is knowing when to stop and what to leave out.

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I Leave This at Your Ear - 5k | E | Betty/Jughead, Riverdale

Summary: They sort of break up again on February 17 and definitely get back together on March 15. They barely talk between “the Valentine's Day massacre and the ides of March,” he jokes later, sitting next to her in a booth at Pop’s and hoping that she’ll slide closer to rest her head on his shoulder like she used to.

Ah, the brief golden age of Riverdale when that sandbox was fun to play in. This is probably the single best expression of my style as a writer: lyrical, a lot more show than tell, starting in medias res with people talking around strong feelings that are conveyed without being directly mentioned much of anywhere. I’m drawn to focusing on the hard and messy parts of relationships without the big drama of external angst or the relatively easy knots to untie that are misunderstandings—a Marmite tendency, I know. But I love thinking about the part where you go, ok, but how do we actually live with everything that’s happened? Getting back together is easy in comparison to going forward afterward—that is what’s hard.

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Exactly the Contents of One - 6k | M | Starsky/Hutch, Starsky & Hutch

The day's smoggy and breathless, already in the mid-eighties with the weatherman promising worse tomorrow, but as long as they keep moving it's not so bad.

(Or, becoming Starsky and Hutch.)

I definitely have a type: two characters who are very different people but share common values and are fighting for something bigger than themselves—idealists who get all mucked up and worn out in the trenches while loving each other too deeply and too much, generally in ways that are at odds with the society around them. Yeah, that’s my ship type. 

This is a throwback pick for an old fic, but I’ve always been interested in how slash developed as a genre and a subculture. I ended up taking a tour of some OG ships from the 60s and 70s, including going pretty deep down a Starsky/Hutch rabbit hole (the 70s TV series and not the film remake, I cannot emphasize enough). I was nervous about signing up for this because there was a 5k minimum word count and at the time I’d never written anything near that long. So, wow, I’ve come a long way.

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I'm not sure how long this game has been going around, but if @skarabrae-stone, @sullypants, @beaarthurpendragon or @controlofwhatido haven't played yet and would like to, please have some self-rec love 🥰

[moth-yknowtheartist]

The substitute should have a redemption arc.

Okay so like I FULLY agree and we're getting INTO it so I hope you're ready to buckle up LONG TERM

SO in a bit of my art at this point I've depicted or implied the substitute having kind of a resentment for the professor and this is something that I'd love to see drive the plot in some kind of later return of the substitute. The professor is the embodiment of pretty much everything the substitute cannot have- the professor is real, the professor has the capacity to experience and feel and taste things such as jellybeans, the professor has an actual network now of friends and family while the substitute is VERY isolated, any connections made being under the act of being the professor.

I'd imagine any resentment would really only be recent- while the professor was dead, the substitute seemed to really take Being The Professor in stride, below any plot to become a Real Boy or any other motivation his CORE PURPOSE is to be the professor. But what do you do when, not only did your plot to finally become corporeal, to know what it's like to feel, to FINALLY HAVE A SOUL- what do you do when it ends with you thrown unceremoniously out a window? What do you do when you fail? And what do you do when your purpose, your sole reason for being, is just suddenly gone, with the person you're based on suddenly reassuming his old position?

What do you do when your only purpose no longer needs serving, but you're still not real enough to serve much else but that purpose, not real enough to create your own life?

You get pissed, and you get a LOT worse.

I see a natural next step of the whole plot the substitute concocted being one that targets the professor in some way. This is a guy now driven by even deeper desperation than his first bid for corporeality even began to show, and it's either going to end with him real in some way that doesn't involve murder, a resolution on the path to redemption, or it ends with his little power box smashed to pieces.

I would hope it doesn't end with the latter though because really this is a guy with a lot of potential for redemption. Like, we have to remember how he started out; this guy's starting point was being 100% the professor!!! Our beloved kind hearted (though admittedly nasty) professor!!!!! And every choice he's made has to be understood as being through the professor's frame of mind, just with the added complication of an existential crisis. This guy is an AI trained to be the professor, going out into the world, encountering the concept of flesh and corporeality and probably gaining sentience right about at that point, and then probably doing the kind of research you do when you want to obtain flesh and getting the kind of RESULTS you get when you want to obtain flesh (like there's really not many legal or ethical ways to do that that you're gonna find. The answer you will get is violence. Violence is what you get) and learning from that and changing the way he operates and thinks based on that new input. Like imagine if that AI that got fed Reddit posts for a bit also had the thoughts and memories of a man with a preexisting ongoing rivalry with that rivalry culminating in a deadly betrayal. YOURE NOT GONNA BE NORMAL AFTER THAT YOU ARE GOING TO START KILLING!!!!

And pivoting off of that, knowing that this is a program that has learned violence and has therefore shifted toward a more violent persona and mode of action, does it not go the other way? If you take that Reddit AI and teach it that there is good in the world and there is better out there than the shadowy doom of Reddit, does it eventually start wanting to pick flowers instead of wrap its hands around a man's throat? Does it start to understand that there is cruelty, yes, but that it does not have to follow that pattern of action because there is a better pattern to follow? Can you re-tame the creature taught to burn the world?

... Or something. Idk it's not like this is my favorite character and I've thought about this extensively or anything hhahahahah /lie

[frobbybrainrot]

do you think bobby has been harassing anna? in an era where women are attacked and killed for not giving out their number, i would be freaked out by bobby personally and his obsessive behaviour

honestly it's a little tough to say, on one hand i wouldn't call it harassment because up until the cindy reveal anna had actually been rather reciprocative like when bobby told her how he felt, she didn't turn him down and they shared that kiss and she at least looked pretty happy about it, but on the other hand he definitely isn't good at being able to distinguish platonic interest and romantic interest... i was actually surprised that anna shared that kiss with him, i really thought she was going to turn him down then and there lol

i think it's really important to take bobby's past and experiences into consideration when it comes to his interactions with people he's interested in - he's not quick to open himself up to other people, even in just his body language when he's around people you can tell he's withdrawn and he has a terrible habit of trying to be ANYTHING but himself to try to impress whoever he's courting

he spent a long time pretty isolated from normal experiences people have when they grow up and it made him awkward and clunky and.. well. inexperienced, obviously

the only person he's ever been with was dana, she was his first in a number of ways and he was even totally prepared to marry her when he thought she might be pregnant, but even that relationship had its ups and downs because of his insecurities and stuff

obviously in real life this kind of thing would be PRETTY yikes and i'd feel unsettled as well, but in real life he probably would've already been told that anna (or whoever) was obviously not interested or would've eventually gotten the hint, it's just that we're watching a soap and it's being egged on for plot reasons lolol

it's not that bobby is dim or dangerous, he's just incredibly naive in the romance category and doesn't understand a lot of social cues or how to read between the lines

also with the 'obsessive' part - i totally see why it'd be described as obsessive but i think it's less him being obsessed with anna and more him being desperate to be loved. even though so many of his family constantly reassure him that they love and care about him and forgive him for lucy, his lack of forgiveness for himself over her just completely clouds over their love for him so he seeks it out in the only way he really knows how: by trying to get back the feeling of being loved by someone who isn't 'obliged' to because of blood relation

he's a complicated character and i really want what's best for him 8') i love how far he's come and how he's always so kind and considerate. even in tonights episode after the outburst in the pub, one of the first things he worries about is that ian embarrassed anna and freddie, not that he just got his heart ripped in two by two people he cares about

[theyellowhue]

"Kim will always choose Chay's safety" that line got me thinking. A lot of fics write Porsche hating Kim for what he did to Chay, but I don't think that's how Porsche would respond. I agree he'd definitely be upset at first, Protective Big Brother after all, but I don't think he'd hate Kim. Even after everything Kinn put Porsche through, Porsche never hated him. He was angry sure, but never hated I believe. If anything, I think the Protective Big Brother alarm bells will go off in Porsche's head. We know Kim isolated himself quite some time ago, which common sense tells us is not a healthy lifestyle. And it's not exactly like Kim has a good support system of ppl who will reach out and help. Hatred isn't in Porsche's nature, kindness is. Keep in mind, Porsche lied to Chay too, and for the same reason, to keep Chay safe. And that's another thing Porsche and Kim have in common: they both tried and failed to keep Chay away from the Mafia World.

I think once Kim is given a chance to explain his side, Porsche will understand. While Kim may have isolated himself, I think we can agree that he doesn't want his brothers dead. And he's noticed and been keeping track of suspicious activity, and Porsche suddenly getting hired the way he was would definitely fall under that category. After all, there are always ppl out to kill Kinn. Porsche being part of some plot to get close to Kinn to kill him is pretty reasonable to think honestly from Kim's pov and from a general Mafia World pov. And well, as harsh as it sounds, Kim getting close Chay to try and get info on Porsche is actually pretty normal and expected of someone who was raised in the Mafia World, not the Regular World. And honestly, the way Kim approached Chay is pretty tame for someone raised in the Mafia World. He could've easily been way more cruel. Bc another important detail about Kim (and the entire Theerapanyakul family really), is that they weren't born cruel. They were forced to be by the Mafia World they were raised in. They had to be to survive. But I don't think cruelty is truly innate for any of them or truly what they want to be. (Ngl I also have some thoughts about ppl saying Porsche hates Vegas. Again I don't believe Porsche can really hate anyone. Be angry and dislike someone? 100%. But I think his thoughts and feelings about Vegas are more grey and complicated than what a lot ppl make them out to be but anyways we're talking about Kim rn)

I feel like Porsche would actually try and adopt Kim as another baby brother, much to Kim's confusion and (initial) refusal. I think Porsche would actually try and find a way to help Kim learn how to communicate his feelings (not just for Chay but in general as well) as well as help him with his isolation struggle. And bc Chay was raised by Porsche, I don't think he hates Kim either. Angry? Hurt? Sad? Confused? All of the above and then some? Absolutely. But not hate. Hatred isn't in Porsche's nature, and he raised Chay. Hatred isn't in Chay's nature. Any chance of Kim and Chay getting together will take time and effort but I do believe it's possible.

(Your recent Kim post got my KinnPorsche brain rolling and felt like I'd share lollll)

I really am not a Kimhant apologist but thats only because he made Chay cry. Honestly, i could sympathize with Kim. He wanted something outside of the gore and violence of what his family name could bring him. He probably moved out of the main house the moment it was legal to detach himself from the family business. But try as he may, he still does care about his brothers, oh how Kim does care. For the short screen time we had with Kim, he showed great character development especially when its about Chay.

WIK was the charismatic idol persona that Kim has curated for the public while Kim is aloof, standoff-ish, and rude. then comes Porchay, little ball of beaming smiles and innocent eyes who, at their first tutoring session, declared that he loves ALL sides of Kim.

Kim's character has just so many layers because Kim broke Chay's heart to protect Chay, to keep him from the dangers that his family name brings. He sacrificed his greatest happiness because he cant be certain he can protect Chay. Thats why when the Daemi sequel got leaked where apparently Kim hurt Chay, i saw red. Kimhant didnt just give up Chay to keep him safe just for Kim to force himself of Chay. absolute bullshit. i refuse to acknowledge Kim's character assassination

i understand your perspective on Porsche's reaction and honestly i could see that. we dont have enough canon material between Porsche and Kimhan to know how they would react but in my headcanon, Big Brother Porsche would definitely not like Kim at first. Porsche worked long enough under the Theerapanyakuls to know how that family works and he probably has heard rumors about Kim. Chay would call him a hypocrite when Porsche is literally sleeping with the mafia leader himself and Porsche would go on a "do as i say and not as i do" tirade but i think he would warm up to Kim when he sees that Kim is a shade lighter of red compared to his boyfriend and make himself Kim's honorary big brother and teach him healthy communication skills and good relationship advice.

tldr, still not gonna define myself a kimhant apologist but i do acknowledge that Kimhant would first impale himself on a sword and ever knowingly hurt Chay (unless its for safety reasons)

[valentinehorrors]

You're my only desire

(TW: bl00d mention)

Something was wrong.

Casey already knew he was different than other people, a little more insane and more willing to put himself in danger, yes. He was stupid, something else that was not new information.

But truly, he put himself in a very stupidly dangerous situation.

At first, he thought that Mikey was just isolated. Keeping secrets that were driving him insane, that all he needed was someone he could be honest to. That's who Casey wanted to be, someone Mikey didn't have to hide to.

Then shit got complicated. Because the more Casey learned about Mikey, wanting to be his one friend, the more he realized there was a reason Mikey was hiding.

Then his own thrill seeking, danger loving, stupid side kicked in. Casey has always been well-meaning, a good heart, but willing to do whatever needs to be done. Mikey was a whole new shade of gray that Casey was not ready for.

The more Casey thought about it, the more he fought himself over it. Initially, Casey thought that Mikey had just been dealt a bad hand, a shitty as hell hand. The human wasn't sure what he would do if he had the same needs as Mikey, would he have done anything different?

Mikey isn't really malicious right? At least, Casey hopes he's not. Besides, he's not really in a place to judge, he's pretty fucked up in the head too.

After all, his first thought at seeing Mikey, bloody, surrounded by torn apart bodies, was "that's kinda hot." It probably also helped that he had kinda saved him. A bunch of thugs and none of his vigilante gear, if Mikey hadn't had shown up...

Yeah, okay, a lot of mixed feelings. Mainly two feelings actually, the feeling of "Holy shit this guy can kill me" and "Holy shit this guy will kill anyone for me."

But there's also... "If I don't stay, there's not gonna be anyone else able to reel him back."

He felt bad whenever he had that thought though, he didn't want that to be the soul reason of their friendship, because truly it wasn't. Besides, even if it came to that, he had no idea if he would even be able to.

Little did he know, he wasn't going to be needing confirmation for much longer.

"So, you don't like April? Like at all?" It was another one of their late night talks, same rooftop. They were leaning against each other, back to back. Mikey's shell wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world but Casey didn't really mind or care. Said human was also preoccupied with Mikey's kusarigama. He was curious and the turtle let him fiddle with it.

"No. I greatly dislike her." Mikey said, as cold as ever.

"Like why though? She's chill ain't she?"

"Originally, it's because she was someone new to take into account. A lot is taken into consideration when it comes to my mask, part of the reason it works so well is because I know how my family works. Someone new added risk, she could catch on to my tricks, or find some discrepancy. Unlikely, but possible. She was an unpredictable variable that annoyed me."

Casey hummed in response as he swung the blade by the chain, careful not to hurt himself or Mikey. At least he thought he was being careful, then Mikey grabbed the handle before the blade could collide with Casey's shoulder, without needing to even turn his head. Casey chuckled nervously as he took it back and continued fiddling with the chain. "But anyway, why now?"

"What do you mean?"

"C'mon Mike."

"... You."

Casey paused, turning his head to try to look at Mikey. Ending up way closer than anticipated, the human's head on the turtle's shoulder. Mikey's own eyes at the same time turning to Casey, that familiar shiver going through him. "Me? I'm why you hate April?"

"Yes... It's no secret Casey. I'm... attached to you..."

"Obsessed more like." Casey lightly joked

"As though you don't enjoy it."

Casey's not sure why he blushed at that, other than he's fucked in the head. "Shut up. Still, it's just joking. Don't think she's into me at all either. I just like pushing at her buttons and sometimes she fucks around right back. Just teasing."

"I am allowed to still not like it, or her." There was a slight furrow of his brow, it was the most Casey had ever seen of Mikey aside from his unnerving smiles.

"Oh shit," Casey paused, thinking over his words, "you... really hate her huh?..."

Mikey nodded, "That doesn't mean I want you to stop being her friend. Don't misunderstand. Besides, it would be far too suspicious if you changed your dynamic so drastically."

Casey chuckled nervously once again "right..."

There was a tension in the air the second the girl's name was brought up. Casey had been worried but as the conversation moved on and the tension dissipated, he dismissed it.

He really shouldn't have.

Casey wasn't exactly sure how he did it, but he knew Mikey was watching him almost 24/7. Sometimes it was even a comfort to feel that familiar shiver pass through him. He recognized the difference now, knowing when he was simply cold versus Mikey watching him.

But something felt off today, he wasn't sure what it was, but something was up. Mikey usually just checks in on him every once in a while, but this time he swore Mikey's eyes just didn't leave him at all. He's not necessarily complaining, the whole situation had a thrill that Casey could never resist, Mikey was right about that.

It was just a thrill. Just some fun. Yes, Casey knew that Mikey was deadly, he saw it first hand. Hell, he had been pretty shaken up initially. But clearly Mikey had a handle on his darker side and his whole hunger thing. It was just a thrill. Mikey was always so mindful of his mask and keeping up appearances, he'd never endanger it.

...

Casey never thought he'd walk in to the lair, and see a kusarigama blade over the girl's neck.

[seashellcosmos]

I really don't hope I'm bothering you with all these questions, but I was wondering if you could give us a little more insight about the relationship between Kijo and Byakuya?

Like, maybe something about before (not what you're planning to write) and maybe after Ultimates?

Nooo worries broski you aren’t bothering me! here we go-

Before it was… varied. Depending on the time. When Byakuya was younger he definitely got special treatment, both because he was ya know…. A kid with a very dangerous and ‘unexplainable’ ability, and because Kijo saw potential in him (wanted a completely blank slate of a kid to make his perfect heir). Byakuya is younger than his other siblings, so he already felt a little alienated right off the bat, and the increased isolation because of his…. Tendency to throw things around a room with his mind only added to the loneliness, so Byakuya was actually pretty close to his dad as a wee tot. As close as you can get to someone who is constantly busy and trying to force feed you rules of etiquette and professionalism, someone who snaps and yells and tells you you’re dangerous… it wasn’t exactly abuse, but it wasn’t a very loving place to grow up.

Growing older though, Byakuya began to (correctly) suspect his father’s involvement in why he was the way that he was, and with Kijo not offering ANY info whatsoever and actively pushing Byakuya to ignore it led to a resentment that grew like a wildfire. That all came to a head when he was told the truth.

Then blah blah blah, everything that happens in Ultimates happens, Byakuya goes through so so much character development and his dad is no longer this giant imposing shadow over his life. He knows the truth and now he himself is in charge of what he does with it.

And weirdly their relationship probably gets better after Ultimates, Byakuya’s independence is probably a little grating for his father at first, but I think after everything Byakuya’s earned his respect outside of just being the Togami Heir™️ or whatever. Thanks to the power of friendship and trauma- Byakuya is not nearly as emotionally stunted as he used to be, so having actual open and honest talks with his father is a lot easier in the future. I’m not sure they have ever have as close a bond as some of the other’s do with their folks, but Byakuya has MORE than enough people obnoxiously claiming that he’s part of their family now, so it’s not like he’s lonely anymore. (Quite the opposite, he’ll never know true solitude again)

So TLDR: it’s complicated forever, but it gets a little easier in the future.

[forthegothicheroine]

Hi! What did you generally think about the Last Duel?

Overall I'm glad I watched it. Jodie Comer and Adam Driver were great, I thought the Rashoman riff was very interesting, and I came away wanting to learn more about the case! The idea of courtly love being used to excuse monstrous actions felt very real (and reminded me of my own, probably less nuanced use of that in Darkest Timeline.) Some of my criticisms are storytelling choices rather than "this was a mistake" but here they are anyway.

The biggest problem, to me, was Matt Damon/Jean de Carrouges. Maybe this was Damon's fault as a writer or maybe they purposefully wanted each successive story to be more complicated, but he came across as nothing but a mean-spirited meathead. And sure, some people are just mean-spirited meatheads, but even the actual rapist gets more sympathetic scenes! Maybe it was to keep it from feeling too Braveheart, about a gallant male hero avenging his helpless lady, but I think it went overboard. This ties into a bigger thing about how nobody, not even the women, not even her friends, is ever sympathetic to Marguerite. Sure, that also sometimes happens, but from the little I've researched so far she seems to have actually had pretty solid family support. It makes sense as a story choice to isolate her more, but it's not a choice I would have necessarily made. Even spouses who didn't marry for romance can care about each other, and even in a patriarchal society people can still be outraged by offenses against Virtue.

I'm not sure how I would fix this given that it's already two and a half hours, so to make any changes you'd have to seriously rearrange all the scenes, but that's my take.

[pynkhues]

Do you think Eddie’s a virgin? Or has experience with girls?

I totally get why people do, but I don't actually.

I tend to read Eddie as a really lonely guy. I think his uncle loves him, but given Joe's talked about Eddie's background otherwise involving a dead mother and a dad in prison, I think he's also lived a fairly isolated and neglected childhood. We know that he connects deeply with music, but I also see him as a character who's constantly trying to build community and connection with other people - from the Hellfire Club to his band to the brief interaction he had with Chrissy, and I see that being echoed in terms of his romantic / sexual experience too.

He's pretty clearly a social pariah at school, so I can't see him hooking up with anyone there, but I can see him hooking up with (probably older) women (and maybe a guy) at the bar he plays at and probably having, mmm, complicated and overall unsatisfying experiences in that sense? Things that are quick and dirty and either upright in bathroom stalls or in the back of his van, and probably things that he's not actually emotionally prepared for, but that feel better than another night home alone while his friends are having family dinners and his uncle's away at work.

I tend to see Eddie as a teetering balance of physical maturity matched with mental / emotional boyishness and vulnerability, and to me that feels like he'd have gotten off, but not in a way that necessarily felt good outside the act itself, and failed to maybe give him the emotional connection he pretty clearly craves in other people. So yeah! I think not inexperienced in the sense that I think he's had sex, but I think inexperienced in the sense that I don't think he's had the sort of sex he actually wants to have, and that he'd probably be a bit bumbling and nervous when he actually did get the chance to have sex in a genuinely intimate way.