#idk I feel like it's important to be honest about the process and experience of creativity

[vault-heck]

I'm convinced this is a very normal part of being a writer but like, the past few days, every time I open a WIP I feel so incredibly apathetic about it all. It's not even a hatred or insecurity about things I've written up until this point, even though I know the areas that need improvement.

No, it's just this blank and empty feeling that I recognize as The Thing That Kept Me From Continuing To Make Music. And I really don't want it to take fiction from me, too.

[third-arch]

Law’s Novel-Thoughts

Spoilers ahead!!

An unedited ramble

I’m just going to be honest and say I was kinda disappointed. I feel like this story had so much more potential that kinda just went down the drain. I think it had a really good idea but didn’t see it through. Like the first part of the story made me hooked. I was interested in his childhood, how he met Bepo, Shachi and Penguin, and Wolf. I thought how they got a job and trained was neat. But, I felt like the whole stuff with Wolf and his son wasn’t necessary. It answered a lot of questions about like the submarine and how they got their name as the heart pirates and how Law got his tattoos (which was super random to me LOL). It’s nice seeing that despite it all, he’s still a kid.

Also idk if it was just me, but I felt like in the beginning he really tried to not rely on his powers unless he absolutely needed to.

I guess overall it really changed the way I see Law as a character. It made me feel good that I’m taking his character in the right direction, obviously with some tweaking for romance and fluff purposes, but it just made me feel good that I get his character.

He’s a lot like Batman I guess.

After doing some research last week, I think his character just makes sense for me full circle.

Below, are all just my thoughts for why he did these things LOL

His drastic change of character is most likely due to the fact that he’s finally realizing that he needs to go back to Dressrosa. The start of his long plan is in motion, and emotionally and mentally it’s very demanding. He has to be serious (or at least he tells himself that). He’s living in the “now” and he can’t slack off.

Also despite it all he did sort of go against his convictions by stealing those hundred hearts. He probably did not want to do it, but it was the best way. And he didn’t want to kill, so he only stole their hearts. It’s why he’s called “Dr. Heart Stealer” and not “Dr. Person Killer” LOL. Again he’s like Batman. He doesn’t wish death upon others, it’s a reminder for himself that death will always be near him. Just how important life is, and to give him courage, all so he can protect others. “Putting himself in the frontlines/harms way”.

He doesn’t like making mistakes.

He’s a really good guy. But things will catch up to him and change him. He’s still a child at heart who wasn’t able to properly grow up, even with Wolf. He was always made to be the leader, always felt the responsibility to take care of others and hide his emotions because they’re “silly”. He doesn’t want to be seen as weak.

He’s focused and he’s not wanting to waste time. He thinks about a plan and listens to others.

Still, he’s bratty, he’s traumatized, and he needs to remember that others are there for him.

He struggles asking for help. It takes a bit to build up trust with him, but once he sees the good in you, he’ll validate you. It’s okay to make mistakes.

And lastly is that he wants to live. He wants to protect people and he does see the good in people. He judges people on their character and focuses on their morals. He doesn’t like fighting, he’s a protector and a healer. That’s his role as a surgeon. He’s giving it his all.

I think for my fanfic, I want Reader to serve as a reminder that it’s okay to be emotional. It’s okay to step down and be on the same level as others. And when he finally starts to fall in love, he starts to experience these things.

Overall it’s definitely a nice read. I skimmed over a lot of the fight sequences, really only paying attention to like Law’s dialogue and inner thoughts. There’s still a lot to his character I have yet to nail down, so it’ll be a process of trial and error.

[mari-lair]

the recent chapter was decent, but when I realised akane wasn't the yoshiro after convincing myself he was for a month i had to close the tab stare at the ground and like. process for a few seconds. how i wish he had been... i did enjoy mirai trying to save his life though, and teru recognising that they hadn't been going to their full strength because maybe they didn't care about the yoshiro, because as you said, they had been presented at a higher level and we didn't see that in chapter 109

I always had doubts about him being the Yorishiro, with Akane having 2 bodies and the supernatural one already being stabbed in the chest before, so even that reveal was more of a "oh, okay. Makes sense" feeling.

It's... kind of sad... my experience with this chapter. With this arc.

The only thing I like is Mirai saving Akane, and how rich with character quirks, values, and experiences, Akane's fight with Tsukasa is, it goes beyond just his judo skills (and Elise will talk about it when she has the time) But I'll be honest, I have no hope for this arc, no wish to think about it and theorize it or anything.

I am here for terukaneaoi and the way Aoi hasn't shown up even as a small panel since the clock was frozen is... very telling... Akane's 'betrayal' with Teru also saddens me, for the more I look at it, the more clear it becomes that it is a tool, not a conflict they planned as a means to clash ideals, learn more about each other, or strengthen/restructure bonds (like Aoikane in chap 69 or Kou and Teru in chap 87). When Aidairo does want to create character conflict, they are amazing at it! Which makes Akane and teru feel... that much weirder.

I never expected Teru to jump and try to help Akane, he is handcuffed and without his sword, but I did expect him to have some kind of thought about the situation while he watched Akane be beaten up in front of him.

We get no reaction panel about what he thought of the fight. At all. Akane isn't in immediate danger when we do see his thoughts but it still feels... Strange to frame chapter 108 in a way that highlights how much Akane's betrayal affects Teru on a personal level, to make chap 109's gag revolve around Teru being THAT angry with Akane and then... Make Teru not spare Akane a single thought.

Teru even takes into consideration Nene's lifespan, but absolutely nothing about Akane. No cursing him. No "oh he did almost die like I wished for, idk how to feel a bout that". No "it feels strange to not be able to do anything, just watch". No, "I guess he is a clock keeper not the boy i thought I knew". No "i'm glad he is not dead". Not even "he should have died", as cruel as it sounds, it would still make way more sense than just... Nothing.

He doesn't even refer to Akane by name.

Teru is someone who has taken things personally since his very introduction, unused to change and prioritizing his relationships over his duties (not exorcising Hanako so Kou doesn't get mad at him. Putting the intire school at risk cause Tiara wanted him to clean up a mokke in chap 39. Letting Akane punch him in chap 71, etc-)

He is pathetic and unexperienced when he takes things personally, he wants to be reliable and admired, he doesn't know how to handle not getting what he wants (especially with Akane, who always obeys). Even when he tries to be detached his pathetic nature still show up. It had been consistent.

But the guy that locked himself in his bedroom and hid under the covers for a whole day after his fight with Kou seemingly got over Akane betraying him in what must have been 1 hour without talking about it ? I know Akane is not as important to Teru as his family but it's insane that he got over it without even thinking about it or being able to move in any way to let his frustrations out.

The worst part is that even when I suspend my disbelief and go along with the idea that Teru "isn't taking things personally anymore and is in professional mode cause the situation is dire!" it still makes no sense.

Akane's betrayal should have filled his head with questions about the situation, about what changed, but Teru never even tried to connect his vague talk with Akane with the clock keepers seemingly being nerfed.

Why 'now?' feels like an important question. One that should stick, but Teru ignores it.

Which again. Goes agaisnt what is established of his opinion of Akane.

Why would he neglect the words of a colleague he considers wise? Of someone he is treating as fully part of the clock keepers now? Someone he always wanted to hear his opinions before even in his 'professional and smart' mode? Someone whose opinions we have been told he doesn't dismiss even when what Akane says clashes with his upbringing as an exorcist? I am just supposed to assume he is treating Akane as any other supernatural now? Is the betrayal an insta 'everything that has been established no longer applies' free card...?

So yeah, sure... This is a big improvement from chapter 109 but it has the same core problem as chapter 109, at least to me: Aidairo has no interest in exploring Teru as a character in this arc. Aidairo wants the spotlight fully on the broadcasting club, and they will tweak his character whenever it's convenient to set the stage. Just like Nene had turned into a kid with minimal agency, Teru has become a presence that doesn't ask questions, unless said questions will move the plot.

Feelings will also be reduced to what moves the plot, we don't need to know how he feels about being in a position with no power, no sword, and minimal knowledge for the first time in this manga. There is so much they can explore completely disconnected from Akane, despite putting a spotlight on their relationship in chap 108, but there is nothing for Teru's character.

Even when Tsukasa points at Nene, whom he isn't angry at, he has no reaction. He does not care about this guy targeting the little baby girl after witnessing Akane be dragged on the floor.

Of course he doesn't. This isn't about him, is a Hanako set up, Teru can't have even a panel of spotlight on him that is about his character, can't bring attention to his fall out with Akane, less the reader get any expectative from it, or take space in a manga that currently isn't about him.

Teru is a tool first, and a character second in this arc. Chapter 109 stuck him in a dumb gag box. Chapter 110 stuck him in a smart guy exposition box. His personality is picked apart when it is convenient not when it makes sense for a character that has been molded for 100 chapters.

I don't care about this plot. I care about my favorite characters, and how they would react to the circumstances the plot been put on. That's my priority. It isn't Aidairo's. Even if Teru does have a relevant role later, it's still clear that exploring his character isn't Aidairo's priority in this arc.

I told chapter 109 to make me care about the arc, and chapter 110 is way better but not enough to make me care. Which is very sad, I wish it did :(

...This was already a depressing enough answer as it is, I don't want to talk about it.

[laguezze]

P A C: Your life in a year

Feeling the blue color lately idk. Here's a song on theme:

W A R N I N G ⚠️

It's honest, it's blunt, it's me 💅

Also, gets a lil sexual at some parts so minors pls step out for this one. Do not interact. Please. Go live life to the fullest and stop worrying about the future, you're young so who cares?? Y'all got it.

Now, imagine you're in the beach, you see something. What is it?

Pile 1: A jellyfish

Pile 2: A couple kissing

Pile 3: The sky

All good? Now let's get to the piles!

Pile 1:

This could be the start of something new~

I see you will be shedding some old habits, perhaps you smoke or have an unhealthy addiction to something. Well that seems to be over with in s year.

You could be meeting someone new. I feel like they will bring some important lessons. They don't seem to be the one but they're definitely important. Don't avoid them.

Things will definitely change, you literally have no idea how much they will. It seems to me you think that a year from now your life will remain pretty stagnant. I hear "uh let's click on this pick a card, i doubt anything weird will happen to me in a year, though."

Well, bestie you're undergoing a rather dRASTIC CHANGE.

It's for the greater good, you need to know that it's fated. Please don't resent the universe for it. Just don't question it and go with the flow. It will take you where you wanna be.

Channeled song:

Pile 2:

They said I did something bad but why does it feel so good?~

Ope. . .

Listen. I'm trying to keep it PG.

I see you will be ✨experimenting✨ and 💖 getting to know yourself 💖 *aggressive winking*

Seems like right now you're saying: no way, no, i don't want that. I'm not like that.

Well, bestie, you will be like that in a year, it seems.

You're going to open up to so many new experiences and it's going to be a good time for you. Skfbksdjdj SORRY I CAN'T IM TRYING TO AVOID THE TOPIC

I mean if you're not like that why would you choose the couple kissing??? Subconsciously you want this, you wanna be ⭐ active ⭐

You have desires and it's ok. It's natural. Don't be ashamed.

If you're one of them minors i warned at the beginning you are not cool, i asked nicely to leave. Ugh you should be off the internet

Channeled song:

Pile 3:

I'm getting older, I think I'm aging well~

Ok I just have this immense feeling to tell you that I'm proud of you?? Like you've done something incredible or you're in the process. I feel like in a year that project will be finished and you'll be able to see how people enjoy it. I think you definitely have doubts about it right now but don't worry, in a year all is good and people will be quite surprised with you and what you've done.

You got this, keep working on it and don't give up! It will all be alright a year from now. You'll see the fruits of your labor!

Channeled song:

[drabbles-mc]

Things Like That

Danilo Garza x F!Reader

For Day 26 of @narcosfandomdiscord's July Smut Alphabet: zipper

Warnings: 18+, language, smoking, smut

Word Count: 2k

A/N: Idk what came over my brain tonight but it decided that we needed to get weird about someone new in the docs. And Danilo was the lucky winner. It was an experience! It was a time! I'm not upset about it!

Narcos Mexico Taglist: @ashlingnarcos @narcolini @cositapreciosa @hausofmamadas @artemiseamoon @garbinge @southotheborder (If you want to be added to any of my taglists, please let me know!)

The two of you were sitting in the car. The battery was on but the ignition was off. The shitty little light above the rearview mirror was barely enough to let you get a good look at Danilo’s face. The upside, though, was that he also couldn’t get a good look at yours.

“If you’ve got something to say,” he leaned back in the driver’s seat and looked over at you, “then just fucking say it.”

You shook your head, reaching for the glove compartment where you knew he kept a pack of cigarettes. “I don’t have anything to say.”

He scoffed, shaking his head as he watched you spark up a cigarette and toss the pack back into the glove compartment without even bothering to offer him one in the process of it. He didn’t want one anyway, but he still noticed it.

“You think I didn’t see the look on your face?”

You shrugged, exhaling a stream of smoke. The haze you created in the low light of the car only made it even harder to see. “I missed the part when you started giving a shit about my opinion about anything that you do. Or anyone’s opinion on it, to be honest.”

“I thought you were better than that.”

Your brows came together. “Than what?”

“I didn’t think that you’d lie about things like that.”

About things like that. You turned those words over and over in your head. Those four little words were qualifiers that would’ve been insulting coming from anyone else. Being called a liar by anyone outside your crew stung. But you were all liars in some way, at least a little bit. Most of it was lying by omission, some of it was much more malicious than that. At least you were all in good company.

Danilo was a liar too, in much the same way that you were. You didn’t know anything about his life outside of what you were all doing for the op with Walt. You didn’t know anything about it and you didn’t want to. If all of you started getting too honest about everything, it was only going to get messy. Everyone was in enough danger as it was without all of their personal business being common knowledge. Everyone’s lives were divulged on a need-to-know basis, and no one really needed to know much.

No one wore wedding bands, even though you knew for a fact that at least a few of the men in the crew were married. Again, it was just safer that way. You knew that some of them must’ve had wives, families at home, but you didn’t know which ones and you didn’t know how deep any of those roots went. You didn’t want to know. The thought had crossed your mind a couple times with Danilo, wondering if he had someone waiting for him at home. A nice girl who left the kitchen light on for him just in case. Kids who hadn’t been tucked in for bed by their father in far too long. You didn’t know. You didn’t want to know either, so you didn’t ask. Danilo also never asked if you had anyone at home waiting for you.

You lied about plenty. You were sure that he did too. Everyone lied when it was more important than the truth. But not about things like what had happened at the safehouse. The truth was more important then. You didn’t lie about things like that.

Tapping the ashes from the end of your cigarette out the window, you brought yourself back from the brief mental spiral you’d gone down at Danilo’s clipped words. “I’m not lying.” You saw the disbelief on his face. “What? You think I feel bad for him?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Then what the fuck are you saying?” You shook your head. “Since when are you anything but fucking direct about what you’re thinking?”

“You flinched.”

You scoffed. “Yea. An unexpected gunshot does that to people sometimes.”

“That wasn’t why you flinched.”

“You just got me all figured out like that then, hm?” you asked with a roll of your eyes. You saw the way he opened his mouth to keep arguing at you and you cut him off before he even got started. You gestured at him with your hand that was holding the cigarette. “Don’t fucking patronize me, Danilo. Don’t act like I’ve never been knee-deep in the shit before.” Your eyes were locked on the dashboard as you thought about all of the years, the ops, the injuries and deaths. “I’ve seen people do much worse for much less.” Finally, you peeled your gaze back over to him. “I’m not that easily swayed.”

His eyes locked onto yours. Even in the shitty lighting, even through the haze of cigarette smoke, you could tell that he was piecing you apart. There was a trace of smugness in his expression, the look that was there more often than not, usually trading out places with anger. You wanted to reach over and smack the look clean off his face but you didn’t. You weren’t going to give him that kind of satisfaction.

“Alright,” he finally said, apparently seeing whatever it was that he wanted to see in your eyes.

You nodded, tossing the butt of your cigarette out the window, slipping it through the narrow opening at the top. “Alright.”

You didn’t think that there was much more for you to say other than that. You still couldn’t tell if he had something more that he wanted to say to you, something more that he wanted from you. Very rarely did the two of you find yourselves parked in his car off a dark side-street just for the sake of talking. Maybe he was just wondering if he’d effectively ended the unspoken, grossly undefined arrangement between the two of you when he pulled the trigger. He hadn’t. You thought no differently of him now than you had when you’d woken up that morning. Maybe that said more about you than it did about him, anyway.

“Am I free to go now?” you asked, head dropping back against the rest of the seat behind you.

“Unless you want to stay.”

You saw the pull at the end of his mouth, the smirk creeping into his expression. You hated how easily seeing that made you mirror the same look back to him. He was absolutely insufferable when he got like this but when he got like this is was practically impossible for you to pull yourself away from him. Of course. It always had to be some guy with a bit of an attitude problem. That just had to be your type.

“I’ll stay,” you told him with a nod, “but only because you owe me an apology for doubting me and this is the closest thing I’ll get to one.”

He chuckled at that, a crooked grin flashing across his face. He didn’t try to argue it because he knew that you were right. Even without an argument, it was clear that he didn’t think that there was anything else to be said between you. In a flash he was shifting over, leaning enough so that he could pull you towards him and into a kiss. His lips crashed into yours, the action expected but still taking your breath away for a moment. Your hands settled on the collar of his shirt, gripping tightly and pulling him closer to you as much as you could with the console between you. All the weeks that had gone by and the two of you still found yourselves clamoring in the front seats from time to time like a couple of teenagers who didn’t know any better. Should’ve just cut out the middle man and hopped right into the back when the conversation started.

You were about to make a comment to that effect, or at least suggest getting back there now before things got carried away too much farther and it would be even more frustrating and inconvenient to switch locations than it already was. You pulled your lips off of his, went to make your suggestion, but apparently Danilo had no intentions of adding extra steps to the process now. The second you pulled away from him, his eyes shifted, his hand dropping to work the button and zipper on your jeans. The sound of him sliding the zipper down seemed obscenely loud in the otherwise silent car.

He didn’t even waste the time of trying to pull your jeans down off of your hips. The second your pants were unfastened and open, his lips were right back on yours again, blind to the rest of it but it didn’t matter because he could still feel you. The callouses on his fingers grazed across the strip of skin above the waistband of your underwear, fresh territory exposed now that hadn’t been before. Goosebumps broke out over your skin at the sensation even though it was hardly new to you anymore.

Then you felt the pull of the fabric, the way the waistband stretched to accommodate his hand that was slipping beneath the fabric of your panties. At least he knew not to expect frills and lace. If he was looking for that he could go find some girl in town who gave a shit about those types of details. You both had other priorities, though. It never seemed to be a problem before, and it still wasn’t now as his hand crept lower, just slow enough for you to be able to lift and adjust your hips, letting the pull of his hand shift your jeans down just enough for him to get the access he was looking for.

His fingers slipped into you with no resistance, the sound of your moans filling the small space the two of you were in. Danilo didn’t comment on it, how wet and ready you were for him despite what the last few hours had held for the two of you and everyone else. He wasn’t much of a talker, which you were exceedingly thankful for especially in moments like that when he could’ve dressed you all the way down with his words, and deservingly so. But he also didn’t talk much because he didn’t have to. Even as he kissed you, you could feel the smug grin on his face in between each reconnection of your lips. Bastard. But you couldn’t stop. Or rather, you could’ve, but you sure as hell didn’t want to.

You were bucking desperately against his hand as he fell into the rhythm that made your legs shake even when you were sitting down. The string of curses that fell from your lips were all the encouragement he needed to keep going. Your head went back, eyes shut tight as you soaked in the feeling of him. His lips dragged along your jaw, teeth grazing as he continued to work you over.

Before you could even think to say something about it, your walls tightened around him, arousal spilling over his fingers and into the rest of his hand as you came. Your fingernails were digging into his arm even though the thin denim of his shirt, but he didn’t utter even a syllable of a complaint.

“Fuck.” It was the only thing you could manage to get out.

You practically melted back into the seat behind you as he pulled his hand out from your jeans. You caught him in your peripheral, cleaning off his fingers in the most sinful way known to mankind. You were glad you weren’t facing him head-on as he did it, or you’d be reduced to a mess all over again.

“Anything to say now?” he asked, his tone and his self-satisfied expression saying much more than those four words ever could.

You huffed, something between humor and exasperation. “Fuck you.”

He laughed, shrugging as he refused to look away from you. “We’re already here.”

You rolled your eyes, tongue darting out across your bottom lip. Leaning over to him, you kissed him hard, your hand instantly working at his belt buckle. “Yea,” you undid it, the sound of his jeans coming undone filling the car now, “we are.”

[itsjaywalkers]

hi love! i need writing advice and i figured who better than to ask than little miss insane writing incredible prose world shattering dialogue?? anyways: everything ive ever written is character based. the plot is the characters and the relationships they have with each other, with any events designed to catalyze these relationships, trigger character development, serve as background noise or pretty environments, or to generally disguise that it is all about the characters. i am CURRENTLY writing an actual plot. like a grade a, "seven basic plots - the quest" plot. meaning the story is more important than the characters, which is first. how on EARTH do i do that??

HI MOKI BABY <333 sorry it took me so long to get back to u, i wanted to give ur ask a proper response and work has been actively trying to kill me (more than usual)

anyways, i feel so incredibly flattered u came to me for writing advice but i'm . so not very qualified . i should be the one making this questions to YOU because your writing is absolutely mindblowing and i admire u so much it's actually a bit concerning

to be honest, i also struggle a lot with stories that have complicated plots and heavily rely on it bc i'm also a character-driven writer. in fact, one of my wips, the fucked up road trip fic, is just like this and i'm actually terrified of actually starting it bc of this reason. i feel like i'm gonna mess up so badly bc it's so hard for me to focus more on . the story than the characters and their relationships

my approach to this is to . first outline the whole plot without giving too much thought to the characters. like yes, they need to be there and you're gonna have to mention them while outlining BUT try to keep it to a minimum, it's enough if u know where they are and what they're doing during each arc. the point is to have your whole story written down so u know what u wanna do and where u wanna take it. after that, it's just a matter of . figuring out how the events affect each character, and how these experiences shape them. you used to come up with stuff just so they could grow in the direction u wanted them to, but now the plot is More Important, and it has to happen a certain way regardless of what the characters want or need. which is also fun in its own way!! they still matter and they're still there and they're still gonna change and evolve. but this time, they're the ones supporting the narrative, and not the other way around yk?? idk if i'm making any sense, i don't tend to write plot heavy stories bc it absolutely drives me up the wall

but well, i hope this helped, even if just a little, and if u have more questions or u just wanna . complain about the whole writing process, my inbox + dms are always open for you sweetheart <3 we're both in this together and sharing the suffering always makes it more bearable imo

kissing u a hundred times MWAH <333

[prettyboykatsuki]

i’m so over this new era of newgen watchers of rlly anything if i’m being honest. i’m gonna sound gatekeepy and annoying but i’m willing to put up with it if it means i get to rant about this to someone who might understand. i just idk maybe it’s just me but i feel like back then interacting with media wasn’t this popular? not just anime but shows in general i’ll go as far as to say book and movies also? like before covid i know lots of people who would tell me they didn’t watch tv n i feel like after it specially with the rise of tik tok these new watchers don’t know how to interact with said media?? n demonize any kind of movie or show that isn’t ideologically pure?? like idk i just see people n maybe it’s cause i’m on tik tok a lot so maybe it’s on me but i just feel like they don’t know how to watch stuff if it makes sense?? n get fake morally outraged at anything n anyone💀💀 i feel like they never learned how to take the characters out of the context of a story n enjoy them as separate entities?? idk like watching media has become this pseudo intellectual experience where these creators pat themsleves on the back for saying a bunch of words that mean nothing rlly as long as they sound smart. n it’s pissing me off. of course i think there should always be some kind of discourse revolving the stories we are watching but idk💀💀 ik it’s not important what a bunch of teens think of a show i watch but also i’ve seen the power of tik tok n it can be a lil scary thinking about the way they can just influence public opinion if making a tik tok about colleen hoover got z library taken down n the guys who made the site sent the prision

HELLO ANON YOU SENT THIS MANY DAYS AGO AND I REALLY WANTED TO GET TO IT WHEN I HAD A BIT OF FREE TIME AND THAT TIME IS NOW

so the tldr for this is that i agree. like. i don't really think this opinion is gatekeepy at all and i think its one of those things that on the surface seems unimportant but it speaks to how society is function (or in this instance... not function)

there's like. a lot of layers to this particular issue that i think would be very difficult to dissect meaningfully on here but i will try my best to try and explain my viewpoint of what it is. i actually talked about it on my sideblog the other day and i think we're sort of harping on the same point

we're always talking about media literacy on this app and how it's important and a lot of the time - i get feedback from people saying it isn't that deep. sometimes i'm inclined to agree, but i think more and more i'm coming to terms with how people are becoming increasingly... dependent? on escapism and fiction to give them moral guidance and substantiate their own goodness.

it happens especially in teens, especially younger teens but i think young adults aren't exempt from this either.

and the reason i think this is happening is because because of late stage capitalism and the increasingly predatory attempts to market off of fandom culture through sanitization.

this obsession with ideological purity and the lack of empathy towards real human beings is basically one long response to that collective state of exhaustion. 2020 was a year that showed companies how profitable fandom could be and in attempts to increase that profit - there was action taken both in the production and marketability causing the actual processing of content to become extremely evangelical and morally pure.

late stage capitalism has also created a sense of isolation. in karl marx theory of alienation - he details this phenomenon better than i ever could. but the basic concept is that the larger the gap becomes between the proletariat and their labor, the more people will lose touch with their humanity. and in that their sense of self. we're effectively seeing that happen in real time, and it's explanation for all the invasions of privacy, casual bullying, and generally lacking sense of self that people experience.

when you take extremely sanitized media and people estranged from a clear identity - you create a breed of people who are aimlessly seeking to become part of something in order to reconnect. no matter how negative or dangerous (which is also why we've seen a major increase in violent and cult like reform / fringe movements). when production of that media is so fast and so easily available, you get people who are mindlessly consuming things and creating these incredibly pseudo-intellectual and nonsensical debates in order to feel connected to that false identity.

i don't think it's gatekeepy to point out that this is happening. this obsession with creating fake moral panic about problematic and entirely fictious media is doing almost exactly what it's supposed - which is taking away real and legitimate critique of the world around us by ensuring and reinforcing that ideological purity and goodness can be bought in sold much in the same way we buy a can of coke off the shelf.

if you watch the right movies, and read the right books and watch the right shows you can be good without any effort. that's what people are often convincing themselves of. because its both messy and exhausting to confront that goodness within a human being is deeply complex and easier to uphold these weird and impossible beliefs.

[luthiest]

I want to start learning Violin! I have a background in Percussion (7 years) and woodwind instruments (4 years) but I have no idea where to start when it comes a good starter Violin. Do you have any recommendations for brands or examples of what I should look for?

exciting !! id definitely start out with a rental, but price and quality is pretty variable and dependent on where you are

i know a lot of people go through shar music for online rentals, and they also do rent to buy so you’d be renting with the intention of keeping it if you like it. potter violins seemed to be popular too, though that may have been a regional thing since i grew up in virginia. (these are both domestic us only i believe, unfortunately i don’t have any personal experience w online rentals outside of the us ://)

if you’re just looking to purchase outright, i’d honestly recommend getting an appointment at a local shop, letting them know your price range, and just trying things out. it’s a little more difficult if you don’t have things like scales and a piece or two in your back pocket yet to compare sound quality, but it’s really important to pick an instrument based on the sound and how it feels in hand. when you’re looking to purchase, most shops will let you take instruments out on trial for some time, so take advantage of that if you can.

bows are super important to how an instrument sounds too, so when testing different instruments, try to keep the bow a constant. i know it’s a little tacky to talk dollar amounts, but i would say if a nice student violin usually starts at around 2k, a nice bow is likely going to start at about 500? these are by no means hard figures, and the most important thing about playing is the sound. i would definitely ask to try out at least a few different bows, if ur able

also, don’t shy away from contemporary american instruments and chinese instruments ! you’ll have a lot of people trying to push you towards german and italian violins, but they’re not necessarily better and likely are a lot more expensive than the quality would dictate. older and european doesn’t necessarily mean better !!!!!!! chinese factory instruments get a bad rep but honestly? they’re not all terrible and can actually be really cost effective, especially if you’re just getting started and dont plan on sinking a ton of time/effort/money into a violin. but if they don’t let you take it out on trial, please, please do not purchase !!!!!!!!!

last bit: i know i said sound is the most important but let’s be honest, the aesthetics do kinda matter lolol.. you don’t like the shape/placement/height of the chin rest? easily changed. you’d like more decorative pegs? easily changed. the tail piece is ugly? easily changed. i love my viola, its served me well and is perfect for the type of playing i do, but man… the second i get a chance, im stripping the varnish and changing the color because i cannot stand how red it is. idk that i have a point with this part besides if you hate the varnish now, you’ll likely still hate it in 10 years

sorry for the info dump, i know a lot of it is probably a bit premature for where u are in the renting/purchasing process, but i hope it’s a least a little helpful ! if u want more specific advice later on strings/setup/rosin/case stuff or even just a second opinion on pricing, i’d be happy to help <33333

[braintapes]

I have lots of thoughts about online art tutorials/resources and I could go at length if given the opportunity HOWEVER. I wanna share just one which is that:

I hate that "don't shade with black EVER" is such a common piece of art advice. 99.999% of the time I see it it's purely a style thing - "Don't draw this way because I personally think it looks ugly." "Never EVER do this it will make your drawings look so so awful and terrible DO NOT SHADE THIS WAY" dude who cares!!!!

There's no way of drawing that's gonna make your work inherently better or worse. Shading IN ANY WAY can be just one part of the process (though doesn't even have to be present at all!) and you can do it in all kinds of ways! Personally, I'd recommend experimenting and trying different styles/methods to see what you personally enjoy the most. Whether that's with solid black, cel shading, using a bunch colors in your shadows...What's important is that YOU like what you make however that feels right for you. If you enjoy yourself, it will show through in your art.

This 'advice' is often aimed at beginner artists and...Idk I think treating shading with black as a beginner thing that you just grow out of as you learn how to "actually" shade is pretty shitty both to beginners and to people who, y'know, DRAW WITH THAT STYLE!!

I'm constantly inspired by artists that shade with black, whether they're friends of mine or just artists I follow whose work I admire. Personally, as someone who enjoys using lots and lots of color, I'm always in awe at how much use they can get out of it...the DYNAMISM and INTENSITY!! It's such a unique and striking look, and that's not even getting into all of the comic books, video games, and other similar places where this art style is commonplace and looks gorgeous!

And as far as beginners go...Why tell someone they have to do it this way and not that way when maybe 'this way' could end up less fun and more overwhelming? Color is a whole dimension of its own to learn. Shading with black can, if reaaallly nothing else, make it a lot easier to learn values. If we gotta get into the weeds about it.

But like honestly truly it's FINE. it looks FINE. Great, even! Like, look. Okay. I was on dA a decade ago where you got your ass chewed out for using dodge-and-burn to shade/highlight as a kid. I get it. But we don't have to live in that time anymore. Open your heart to the creative possibilities!! Look at some chiaroscuro! Challenge urself, try shading in black and give it a real honest to god try!!!! Who knows, it could be fun for you !

Or, even if not, we could at least retire the phrase 'don't shade with black [if you want your art to look good]' from any and all art advice.

[mirrorcatcreditcard]

Season 2 Episode 20 (#62) commentary/theory session.

(This is a more organized version of my original comment on Webtoon.)

I would like to state that I'm finding the most recent development interesting according to the plot and storytelling we've already seen.

Despite the whole soulmate concept being a building block to the many things, romance is not actually a very heavily pressed issue. I've seen some theories stating that she might not get with Omega and the two end up just having a really close bond. I find that to also be an intriguing outcome. Platonic soulmates are underutilized in stories.

My theory I want to happen and believe there's a chance of happening is below.

Sibling/familial dynamic with Delta and Anya is a very positive outcome in my opinion. Many fans are quick to jump to the gun of shipping, but bonds are deeper than that (not saying romance cannot be deep; though to me, a best friend has always seemed closer than a lover.) A brother you have chosen to call your own is so much deeper in tune with you than a blood connection you cannot choose, no? The people you choose to keep in your life are more important than the people you have no choice over being around.

Anya has shown to be starved of the sibling aspect in life. Her younger sister is dead (and past chapters have shown that Alexei blames her for it). Her older brother is a self righteous prick who seems to hold very few humans with value beyond practical purposes. No other familial connections besides her mother are to be noted (I wonder who her dad is). To have Delta as her adoptive sibling/cousin/etc would be very great development for her healing process.

Despite a few panels where they have close bodily contact for various reasons (i.e. checking on Anya's health, keeping the other safe, etc.), there has been no inclination of romantic attraction or even anything beyond going the next step after trust. He was the internalized bias she has known all her life. She is finally opened up to seeing him as someone she can trust and rely on (I'm thinking maybe even beyond the initial deal to a point but that has no backing). Anya is a very empathetic and emotional person. She wants to understand Delta. It's one of the first steps to peace in her view.

He has proven (from what we have seen) to be honorable to his word despite all the pushing backwards he has done fudging drama king. He's proven to be bloodthirsty and fight with an almost animalistic vengeance despite being quite tactical. He pretty much tells her not to get too comfortable because he is a cold blooded killer; but I feel she has stopped listening to that show of intimidation at this point. She is shown smiling, almost in an amused sense, after the most recent honesty dump.

I feel they have finally passed the point of him making elaborate shows of drama (cause he's a dramatic ruler and we all know it) to make her realize how scary he truly is and entered the the stage of being honest with feelings and opening up to the other. Truly, a development.

They currently have a unique relationship of "I'm gonna analyze you and try to make you talk about feelings and the past" though the intentions for the analyzing are completely different.

Delta—beyond keeping Anya healthy both physically and mentally—has only shown active interest in Anya as an experiment of sorts. Regardless, I'm almost certain he'll warm up (in his own quirky way) in the next few episodes after the fight (Anya is impossible to not warm up to). He has made himself appear to be cold, protective, and calculating to a cruel degree; but if you read closely, you will notice he shows sparks of unnecessary kindness and emotion. His humanity is still very much inside whether or not he believes it.

Anya, on the other hand, has shown much interest in learning about the androids and their origins as well as current social/political/war (idk what to call it) issues. She wants peace between everyone with minimum bloodshed if possible. Her hesitance towards certain topics and interactions is understandable after the trauma she has gone through and situations of constant fear she's put in.

I genuinely believe that if Kat and Ali don't throw a plot twist in (though this whole series is a series of plot twists and angst) Anya and Delta will come back from this with a deeper bond. One bonds from saving the other's life, no? Let's see how the creators plan this out.

I'm really curious as to your theories. The fandom is so small. I'm curious if I'll find anyone else here to talk about the story with.

Bonus:

Younger Omega

I need more of Omega before the war.

[cryptturon]

idk man fionna and cake was deliberately about finding a reason to keep living. i know the ending fionnaworld got might feel unsatisfying to some because her conditions didn't really change but. i think that's the point. the world isn't gonna change for you in a snap no matter how much you deserve it and how much it owes you that. it's not trying to be too neat about it or anything, it's just honest. and that's why it's important to take what you learn each day and cultivate hope, change perspectives a little, maybe open up more.. bc speaking from experience, i find that it's easy to gain and lose that hope over and over. but literally like minerva told simon after he was worried he'd forget what he learned from his adventure: life is just a process of learning and forgetting and relearning. im in a shit mental state rn and fuckin watching fionna and cake gave me the same conclusion its namesake got. life goes on as it was, but you learn to love it more than you did

[skyloftian-nutcase]

Hey! I saw that "maybe it was an adventure" reblog you made with your lil' mini rant and... it probably sounds kinda outta the blue but I wanted to tell you thank you.

I honestly probably have as much respect for good people in the medical field as I do military veterans. I deeply respect what you do and how you help people, regardless of however much or little that entails.

If I can be frank for a minute-

I've nearly lost my mom to some horrible genetic medical issues- she lost the draw in nearly every aspect of that, and it's been more than once, now, that I have watched her taken by ambulance and didn't know if I would ever see her again.

It'll be a trip to the ER, a life threatening problem, an emergency operation, a hospital stay, a complication or an infection or a NEW problem, an extension of time away from home, on and on and on almost every. single. time- of which there have been more than I care to count.

Half way through high school's when it forced me to finish growing up. And I'm sick of hospitals because of it. I'm sick of the sight of ambulances, too. I'm sick of calls about the ER at work. I'm sick of the sound blue rubber gloves make, sick of that sterile scent that greets you at the door, sick of the sitcoms playing in my peripheral that are always re-running-- and I'm downright terrified of simple doctors' visits, at this point.

Just. All of it.

But... I'd be damned if ever I were to become sick of an honest medical professional. First responders and nurses have saved my mom's life, and are legitimate, real heroes in my eyes. Period. And they are the wonderful, refreshing, kind, human part of it all.

I dunno what all you've done in the medical field- what lives you have or haven't saved, or whether, maybe, all you've done is the busy work around others with more experience and simply observed the happenings- but you made it clear in that post that you've made a difference for- not just yourself- but a lot of people around you over time; and that means more than I could ever adequately express, so... Again, thank you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

(for the record I know that's a really long "ask", and might be more personal sounding stuff than you want to address publicly; idk your preferences on that, but I myself won't mind it either way. You don't have to answer this or acknowledge it in any way if you don't want to, but if nothing else I just suddenly felt it was really important I express this to you. Idk 🤷‍♀️)

I admit, I was hesitant to answer this simply because I wasn't too comfortable publishing something so personal for the world to see if you didn't want it, but you said you didn't mind, and I really wanted to reply to you.

I've reread this ask like fifteen times trying to adequately process my feelings on it. Thank you for your heartfelt words, truly. I'm sorry you, your mother, and your family in general have had to endure so much. No one outside of the healthcare profession should have to be this familiar with healthcare, to remember the distinct smell of a hospital as soon as you walk through the doors, to have so many imprints of sights and sounds. I hope and pray that things manage to improve for you and your family.

I just wanted to say that your thanks is probably the most heartfelt one I've ever gotten, and it really touched me. I appreciate it. <3 You seem like a beautiful, kind, empathetic, and resilient soul and I hope you and your mother are doing well, or at the least as well as you can be. <3

[qhazuban]

thoughts as i read "savage tongues" by azareen van der vliet oloomi, part 3

i think the problem that i’m having with Azareen van der Vliet’s writing here is that there are a lot of great and important insights, but it’s written in the stream of consciousness perspective of someone who has already figured so much out — many of the questions have also already been figured out — even the acknowledgment that there is always more language to be languaged is already figured out. and this feels incomplete and a little boring at some point. i want to stay with the moments of total whiplash and confusion, where the narrator is in the thick of it.

and maybe it gets better, or there are parts like that — i have only begun the book — but it’s not a great sign that so many pages are already just in this retrospective “figured it out” “profound insight” mode. maybe it would seem more revelatory and radical if i had read it in college without much knowledge of these subjects (colonialism, feminism, the western gaze, orientalism, the ironies and devastations of desire and empire) — i expect so. which sounds haughty — like i’m saying i already know everything! lol. i really don’t.

but like. if it’s not a conversation. if it’s just an explanation, and that explanatory overstated style is being treated as a radical literary subversion, an intentional technique — and seems really profound for people who haven’t necessarily studied or lived these things so much — then ok, but it’s like, the irony is that it really is being written and expressed for a social milieu of erudite elitist westerners then — to restate and proclaim our findings. it really is. perhaps cross-cultural, diasporic ones, but the language of “i have figured out these profound insights about my pain and how history has inscribed it” etc etc, like, this is only really interesting if we genuinely ask questions and show that process, yeah i guess “show don’t tell” again, but i mean.. ugh! there’s *some* validity in that!

and i feel like there needs to be — some kind of scientific curiosity there, like let’s see what happens if we explore this event or train of thought or encounter or experience — beyond what we know, however profound our knowledge already is… hmm, and i can see the value of this book being a conversation among diasporic intellectuals, yes, but even then — like can there be more curiosity? peril in the unknowing? idk maybe i’m being too harsh, this is why i never fit in anywhere, i always start with critique!!!

and i do run into the problem where i presume too much, of course i do. (this is reminding me of that time i really launched into a critique of a couple of [a particular poet's] poems, after many of her poems i loved and was jealous of — and how she excoriated me for my critique, which definitely presumed too much, and i definitely overstepped! it’s so embarrassing to remember. although i do think her whole attitude that her work should somehow not be critiqued or whatever was also rather frustrating. but like, that was a clear example of me burning a bridge rather than being kind, but then again the bridge was nonexistent and it was all futile anyway. but anyway….)

i do wish it was actually just — like i wish we could get beyond whatever tenderqueer bullshit about active listening and somatic whatever and never critiquing anything and blah blah blah and be able to give honest critiques, ask difficult questions, of each other’s art and writing. like there has to be some kind of other way of doing things than just “no critique, only conscious affirmation and listening!” OR “i am going to rip this poem apart for its lack of literary sophistication according to elitist standards” …… and i think that that in-between needs to really tackle the personal, the vulnerable, the political that cannot be separated from who we are and who we are figuring ourselves out to be. like art *is* interpersonal. trying to be fucking professional about it is such capitalist imperialist bullshit!

[traumasurvivorshelpingsurvivors]

tw sui mention

[ you can call me/tag post with kiana!! ]

lmao my behaviour recently has drawn me to realise how terrified of getting hurt again i am

for context my ex caused me lots of trauma (i don't want to say he was abusive because i don't think his intention was to hurt me but it still traumatised me nonetheless)

he lied about several major things, such as an "irl friend" who committed suicide (that friend never existed), an original plan to commit a double suicide with that nonexistent friend, and having cancer (acute myeloid lukemia).

funnily enough the relationship was pretty healthy in the beginning, but we only connected (online) when he began lying about everything. it's funny how i met his younger brother, met his actual irl friends, and was an important part of his life, as he was an important part of mine.

nearly two years after our breakup/no contact, i still find myself bitter at him for lying about so many major things and actually causing me to experience grief that impeded with my ability to live a normal life.

and recently i ghosted someone again after trying not to engage in the behaviour. i know it's born out of avoidance, not wanting to engage in confrontation, and overall not a healthy way to deal with my issues even if it has nothing to do with them. this time i genuinely just kept forgetting to respond but when i did finally remember i felt so guilty about it that i just couldn't seem to bring myself to respond.

and i was talking about my feelings with a friend last night but i haven't responded since because initially i got scared of potential hurt that i might experience if i responded and now i just don't know what to say. i don't want to lose either friend but i'm lost because i've never really understood what an issue this was until now but it feels so overwhelming??? like just to talk to someone, i don't know why.

idk. some advice would be helpful ig

Hi anon,

I'm so sorry about what happened to you. It makes sense how being lied to about so many different things can affect your trust in other relationships.

It's important to remember that communication is essential to a stable and healthy relationship (a friendship is a kind of relationship), and so it may help to be honest about any concerns or questions you may have. But that being said, it can definitely be hard to open up, especially with experiences like yours, and that's understandable. But your friends cannot necessarily interpret your silence to mean what you want to say. It may help to approach these conversations by apologizing, and then explaining what's coming up for you.

Overall, healing from your experiences may take some time. You may benefit from looking into getting a therapist, as they can help you process your experiences and learn how to approach your friendships.

If anyone else has any comments or suggestions, please feel free to add on. I hope I could help, and please let us know if you need anything.

-Bun

[interstellarfamous]

H&R, Week 3 -- September 26, 2022 Response

“Creative entrepreneurs” – I love that the podcast opens with that, as at one point, my concentration looked to be centered around creative entrepreneurs and innovation. Around the time that I read the book Creative Economy Entrepreneurs by Alice Loy and Tom Aageson over 3 years ago, I determined that artists and creatives of today have begun to mobilize to the point of becoming an entirely new class of creators, known as creative entrepreneurs. These innovators learned how to capitalize on their powerful ability to create reality, rather than simply create art. As artists work to shape reality to a certain degree– emphasized through the idiom life imitates art– the work of creative entrepreneurs commercializes the spaces/realities that are tapped into by artists and sells that experience to consumers. Here are some of my favorite notes from the podcast:

“Being famous online isn't about being liked, it's about using that following to determine that your IP is legitimate.”

“Thinking like a business person and thinking like an artist are diametrically opposed.”

Bringing your whole creative self to your career is a human problem. Business is taught like a set of rules and can come off as inflexible. 

Need tools of economics to own your creative outputs

It doesn't make what you’re creating any less creative, it makes it more sustainable 

There's a layer of artistry that's just the brainstorm and there's another layer for those who make it in the industry 

We should be honest about the process it takes to support yourself as a creative 

The idea of a brand is stagnating

You should be creating so that people think that creative labor should be done for the joy, despite the work– they think you’re a sell out if you have ads

They think if you have a large following, you’re getting a lot of money

Independently, How do we make it? The people at the top don’t really want us independents to make money. It is not the people at the tops best interest to support us

Creators have a weird place of being in high demand but also being valued very low

I dont think a lot of creative people want to do their creative career full time, they will 

I don't compare my career to anyone elses career because idk what they want, but I know what I want. No one else will have what I have. “Nobody gets your web series, your oscar, whats there is for you and its gonna be there for you when its time for you to have it”

In the “What Happens If You Hire 50 Bodyguards?” video, I feel as if the presence of bodyguards elevates the individuals they are “protecting” to a level of obscurity and untouchability to has traditionally been associated with high ranking members of society. The video actually reminds me of the show The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. In that show, whenever the owner of the hotel that Zack and Cody live in is featured– or even talking to his daughter London Tipton– Mr. Tipton is surrounded by a group of bodyguards.

Thinking back, this would always seem to elevate his perceived position of power, and let the audience know that Mr. Tipton was not only important, but also very wealthy. As the video reveals, hiring a bodyguard– or 50– is actually quite expensive, so even knowing that it illustrates how Mr. Tipton always being surrounded by bodyguards exaggerates his wealth. 

I appreciated the explanation of how much it cost to maintain that many bodyguards, and also how the video featured sponsorship which was also mentioned within the podcast– to what some would consider selling out.

[juriyuna]

Juri for the ask thing!

HER..........

Why I like them: Jeez, where do I start? She's probably my favorite Arc 2 girl. Y'know when people talk about how they have an absolute terror of a dog that they still love to bits anyway, even if it chews on everything, barks all the time, yanks on the leash, and constantly gets into trouble? That's how I feel about Juri, haha. I love her for how much of a badly-behaved mutt she is. Her personality isn't always the best, and she's not very bright, but she has a good heart and loves her friends and family.

I really like how they subverted the "angry fire-themed character" trope for her (more on that below). It's also cute how easily excited she is, and how invested she gets in cheesy romance and shonen manga. :') Plus her design and voice are both great.

... and maybe it sounds funny to say this, but she's surprisingly relatable??? She experiences emotions at 0 or 100 with little in-between, gets agitated and stressed having to sit in class, struggles with studying because the words on the page Just Will Not Stick, forgets important assignments, and apparently shows up late to things often enough that Ao teases her about it. idk if Juri's "sickness" (unspecified canon mental illness) is supposed to be ADHD, but F4 nailed it anyway. RIP juri i know it sucks

Why I don't: ... I can't think of anything! Even the shitty stuff she's done was interesting from a story standpoint.

Favorite episode (scene if movie): There are a few others I love (CR and her MSS), but I'm gonna go with this:

because holy shit, just-- everything about this scene. Internal screaming over the CG aside, I think it's one of the best dives into Juri's character in the game. Yuna finds Juri about to attempt suicide, tackles her down to stop her, and Juri still tries to laugh it off as a misunderstanding despite how obvious it was.

Eventually, after some prying ("Do you really think our relationship is one where you can pull the wool over my eyes, Juri…?"), she concedes that... yeah, she was trying to kill herself, and says:

Juri: "…To be honest, havin' me out of the picture would be a huge plus for Futatsugi right now. [...] I've always been a troublemaker, and I can't control my power when it builds up."

Juri: "When our fight with Kamihama is done, I knew I'd wanna try to kill you again. You're tryin' to hold everything together, and I'm just getting in the way."

Sure, she acts all "too cool to care", but deep down, she hates herself more than anything. She feels like all she's good for is causing trouble and hurting everyone around her. The reason she lashes out so often is because violence is the only way she knows how to vent the stress and energy from her "sickness". She can't even see a future for herself because her "sickness" causes her so many problems. It doesn't sound like she had any real friends growing up- she even says in her Kagome interview that hanging out with PB has changed her outlook on life. But now that she has close friends for the first time, she's scared of dragging them all down with her "sickness". She thinks that the only way everyone's gonna get to live in peace is if she's gone, and struggles to process the idea that she could ever change.

Gonna awkwardly soapbox for a minute here, but... I've been there. I've gone "between my anxiety and ADHD mood swings, I'm never gonna be able to function in society, so what's the point in going on?" more times than I can count. Nothing feels as hopeless as being stuck with a shitty brain. You ever get mad at yourself for getting mad too easily, then get stuck in a neverending feedback loop of rage? The writers really captured that feeling here.

It's painful from a pure storytelling/character perspective, as well as from a #relatable perspective. I almost never cry over games, but man if this didn't try to get me close. Juri needs a hug. ;;

Favorite season/movie: She's only in Arc 2, so, uh, that.

Favorite line: Again, she has a lot of good ones! But this time I'll pick her Awaken 3 quote:

"Yeah, I killed a bunch of people. Selfish? Maybe. Point is, they're part of the reason I keep the flames burning, and it's why I can't afford to lose. That's why I call myself Juri the Great. Sure, it's a bluff, but it keeps me strong 'til the bitter end."

Between this and "I'm gonna make this city a place where magical girls never have to fight to the death again" at the end of CR, I'm (´༎ຶོρ༎ຶོ`) JURI!!! knowing that she cares so much... that she puffs her chest up and drives herself to keep winning so that all the lives she had to take won't be in vain.....

Favorite outfit: I've always liked her magical girl outfit! Before I got into Arc 2, I thought the wings and tail were part of her outfit, but learning that they're part of a little dragon-shaped backpack made them even better. It's fun; it suits her.

OTP: [rrips my fuckign shirt off] JURIYUNA!!! AAAAAAAAH I love everything about them...... it is incredibly compelling to see how their relationship grows and changes- for better or worse- through the course of CR, their MSSes, and the main story. They simultaneously bring out both the best and worst in each other, but still come back to each other over and over.

It's... endearing, in a way, how much Juri relies on Yuna. Probably not exactly healthy, but man. The way half of Juri's life revolves around Yuna, to the point where she literally breaks down crying when Yuna says "I'm not fighting you while you're injured" in CR... The fact that she straight-up says she "belongs" to Yuna... When her teacher gave her some ice cream to share with her friends, and she immediately started smiling to herself thinking about bringing Yuna a surprise present..... That Juri's doppel quote is "Encouraging unfettered atrocity is love"....... Absolutely perfect disaster couple. ;_;

Brotp: Juri+Ranka! Every scene between them is a delight, honestly. They have such a fun dynamic together. Before they even knew each other's names, Juri jumped in to fight arguably the most ruthless magical girl in Futatsugi (possibly along with the other Monzenbashi lackeys) because the Bat made Ranka cry. They've been ride or die from the start, haha.

Also-- that scene in CR where Juri is sulking alone after losing a fight, trying to tell Ranka that she should give up on her too, and Ranka tells her she's not leaving... Actually, the scene where Ranka talks Juri down from a suicide mission is cute too. They butt heads a lot because they're both bad-tempered, but they're so good for each other.

Headcanon: A small, kinda silly headcanon I have is that her dad is/was involved with the yakuza. When she was a kid, when her dad had to be away from home for a bit, one or two of the other gang members would come over to look after her. She never thought anything about the fact that her babysitters were always shady-looking dudes covered in wild tattoos because she was like, 5. But now she's got a bunch of badass honorary uncles, which she thinks is pretty damn cool. (yuna finds out and is like "ah. that certainly explains a lot.")

Unpopular opinion: idk how unpopular this is as I live in a hole away from most of the fandom, but: While she was a villain for the first 7 chapters, she reads as more "traumatized kid with untreated mental illness" than straight-up a bad person. She wants to change (although she doesn't know how/if she can), which makes her absolutely redeemable in my eyes. (The first step to fixing a problem is admitting you have a problem, after all!)

A wish: Please... let her learn that things are gonna get better... let her see that she's not a lost cause... ;_;

An oh-god-please-don't-ever-happen: If she dies (even if it's to save Ao), I'm gonna be... I don't know. It'd leave a really bad taste in my mouth after she said "I'm never gonna have a future because of my sickness; nobody's ever gonna be happy as long as I'm around". Killing her off would feel antithetical to PMMM/magireco's message of "even when everything feels bleak, there's still hope".

It doesn't seem super likely, since 1) it'd end up feeling like a rehash of Sakuya and Yuna in ch.7, and 2) Juri dying would probably push Ao even further off the deep end, but the possibility is still there.

5 words to best describe them: My Baby Needs Advanced Therapy

My nickname for them: Just "Juri"; I don't generally have fun nicknames for characters, aha.