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eulangelo · 3 years

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callout for @genderfluidlucifer

google docs

tw for transmisogyny + TERFs + emotional manipulation

Transmisogyny

Lucifer is a huge transmisogynist who will complain 24/7 about how TERFs hurt the ace community, but the moment @randomclustermissile , a trans girl (who is not an exclusionist at all) tries to point out transmisogyny in inclusionist circles (in the most vague and general way possible, without pointing fingers nor calling anyone names) Lucifer will immediatly jump to block her and so they did with me (another inclusionist) and i have to suppose to everyone else who agreed with that post, even arriving to vagueing about us in private group chats to suggest that we were “sympathizing with exclusionists”. all because we dared point out transmisogyny in inclusionist circles. lucifer is TME but apparently they think they’re the authority on TERFs and their talking points but actual trans women are not, according to them, since this is the stuff that they would go and spew to other people. (screenshots from @enbyoctoling)

here’s more examples of Lucifer (again, a transmasc person) going deep in detail about how according to them, TERFs/SWERFs hate aro/ace people and are an active threat to us

1. link

[Image ID: Three screenshots of a post by Genderfluidlucifer. The first screenshot is of a paragraph that reads, "Hey. So I can actually answer this. Anon your commentary about how you thought terfs would approve of sex repulsed aces is sort of it. Except...not. Basically terfs hate ace people for not wanting sex in the approved by terfs way. Terfs are actually extremely interested in [forcing] amatonormativity onto everyone. Because for as sex negative as terfs are...they don't want to actually acknowledge or change the fact that amatonormativity is at the root cause of rape culture and misogyny."

The second screenshot is a zoomed in section of the post that reads, "So yeah no I have NO idea where exclus allies are getting this idea from that terfs would even remotely care about the sexual rights of ace people. Terfs generally hate any sexualities in the LGBTQ+ acronym that aren't LGB because they can't force a gender binary onto those sexualities. At least, not as easily. That's why it's actually a massive sign of someone who doesn't call themselves a terf being a crypto terf if they use the term LGB in a positive manner. Along with the term SGA, as it is deliberately exclusive of nonbinary and not inherently SGA centric queer-aligned sexualities. /END ID]

link to the full post, these are just excerpts but the whole thing is just a very long rant about how TERFs hate ace people and so on (i think it’s worth noticing that although the actual post is kinda long, trans women are never once brought op in a conversation about TERFs issues and the only time transmisogyny is mentioned is not relevant to the conversation)

2. link

[Image ID: A screenshot of a reblog by genderfluidlucifer. The original poster is nothorses. It reads, "Because apparently I have to say it: Testosterone is not a 'violent' hormone. It doesn't make you 'more aggressive' or a worse person, it doesn't make you 'dangerous,' or 'toxic.' Transmascs do not need to be 'warned of the dangers of T.' We do not need to spend our transitions terrified that we're going to become a danger to those around us - that HRT is going to turn us into a monster.

Everyone experiences mood swings during hormonal shifts (pregnancy, menstruation, menopause, estrogen HRT, etc.) and while you might have grumpy moments or feel anger/frustration that you need to learn to handle differently, that doesn't make you a bad person.

Testosterone can change the way you access/process emotions somewhat, but if you're already thoughtful about how you handle your feelings and treat others, you're going to be fine. It's normal to lash out on occasion, by accident, then apologize and work to do better. It doesn't make you a bad person. Everyone on HRT is prone to this, and everyone experiencing hormonal changes is prone to this.

Getting HRT should be positive and affirming; you should not have to spend your entire transition terrified of becoming a monster."

The post then has a reblog by captainlordauditor that reads, "The big danger of T is that needle ouchy." /END ID]

here’s them reblogging from known transmisogynist user @nothorses (once again, the irony that a post about how testosterone is seen as the "aggressive hormone" does not mention transfem at all which are literally the main victims of this rethoric in the first place)

3. link (1), link (2)

[Image ID: Two screenshots of posts by genderfluidlucifer. The first screenshot reads, "Queer exclus: We're not repackaging terf rhetoric! Saying that is transmisogynistic! Also queer exclus: Remove the plus from LGBT!" and has tags that say, "I will pay these people to grow some god damn self awareness. Imagine being this dense. Queer discourse." The post has 15 notes.

The second screenshot reads, "Honestly it is so stupid and frustrating to see ace exclus continue to deny that the ace discourse was started by terfs. Proof was given countless times. And a big name terf like galesofnovember even admitted to starting it. Those of you who demand proof but ignore all of this never wanted proof to begin with." and is tagged with, "ace discourse. The post has 38 notes. /END ID]

heres another two post of theirs conflating TERFs with ace exclusionism

4. link

[Image ID: A screenshot of a reblogged post by furbearingbrick. The original poster is boxlizard, Lucifer's old account. The original post reads, "By the way for people still in denial about it, here's galesofnovember, a terf, admitting that she intended to start the ace exclus movement. She's taking credit for it. Normally if the victims of this behavior weren't ace/aro or other queer identities y'all be ready to rightfully lynch her. But since it's us, y'all just still wanna stamp your feet and go, 'Nuh uh!' instead of acknowledging facts." The part that says, "admitting that she intended to start the ace exclus movement" is a link to a galesofnovember post.

There is then a reblogged addition from furbearing brick that reads, "archived versions of the receipts" and has two links to the webarchive. The tags read, "Bringing this back since it's apparently still relevant. Terfism mention. Aphobia mention. Queerphobia mention. Blocklist." and has 1,455 notes. /END ID]

this is their post that ive already talked about but basically they found a 52 notes post made by a TERF in 2012 and this one person said "i dont know why i dont get to be the princess of the anti-ace-brigade" and apparently they are convinced that this means TERFs started the ace exclusionism movement and that this is one of their goals. which is insane when TERFs in real life only care about making life miserable for transfem people first and foremost.

5.link

[Image ID: A screenshot of a reblog by genderfluidlucifer. The original poster is yu-gay-fudo. It reads, “Just in case you happen to be unaware, some of the “radfem lite” they post to warm you up to their rhetoric, just off the top of my head:

- Ace/aro exclusionism

- Bi exclusionism or claims that bi people are “less queer” bc of “straight passive privilege”

- Saying you have to be dysphoric to identify as transInvalidating nonbinary people

- Calling queer a slur regardless of context, saying people can’t identify as queer, and saying that it can’t be reclaimed

- “Mogai hell”, “kweer”, or otherwise mocking less common labels and claiming they are “just cishets who want to feel special”

- Excluding sex workers from feminist discussions or claiming that sex work is inherently evil

- Basically anyone who thinks they can determine what other people identify as”. The tags read, "queerphobia tw. twerfs tw. no id." and has 70,727 notes. It was reblogged on March 22nd, 2021 /END ID]

another example of conflating radfems to things that, while wrong, have little to nothing to do with them because being a radfem, again, is something very specific that has all to do with transfem oppression.

Emotional manipulation

Lucifer has done nothing but block, break boundaries, spread lies and vague about people, some of which were even mutuals with them knowing they would see the posts. when confronted about it Lucifer's only answer was "just say you hate me and block me" but they actually ended up blocking everyone first, making it impossible for anyone to set some boundaries with them or even just to calmly confront them about anything.

[proof: Io(popncourse) and Lucifer had a disagreement in a shared discord server, which prompted Lucifer to vague Io in a vent post. Io confronted them, as being vagued is one of buns triggers, to which Lucifer initially agreed to delete the vent post, but then proceeded to victimize themself and immediatly blocked Io. later on, Jude(malewifedeckard) was confronted by Lucifer, then after Jude told them “I’m worried that you’ll vague me just like you did with Io” they proceeded to block Jude and vagued about him too. when Io made a post (which was not a callout, it was just bun setting buns boundaries) explaining what Lucifer did, Lucifer immediatly jumped to victimize themself, acting like they were being called out and straight-up lying, even going so far as to say that no one tried to hear them out, which is a blatant lie if you consider the aforementioned Io and Jude’s attempts at doing so, with Lucifer immediatly blocking and cutting ties with the both of them. ]

(screenshots taken by @popncourse and @malewifedeckard)

as seen in the proof above Lucifer’s behaviour is not ok because they don’t accept any kind of confrontation and immediatly jump to blocking, and after blocking, they'd immediatly go and vague about the people who confronted them pacificly, spreading more lies and painting themself as the victim and even arriving to say “no one hears me out at all” which is simply not something you can say when you block people who are trying to hear you out in the first place.

this is by no means an invitation to go and harass them, send them hate or anything like that. i absolutely don’t want anything even remotely hateful or negative to be sent their way after this post.

this post was only made because:

1. as an ace person who fully supports the inclusion of aspec identities in the lgbt+ community i don’t want to support an enviroment that costantly downplays transmisogynistic oppression in order to be taken seriously. there are hundreds of ways to make aspec activism without acting like we(as in TME aspecs)are the victims of a system that seeks for the annihilation of transfemenine people in real life everyday. i especially don’t want to support TME individuals who act transfem-friendly but then block any transfem who tries to speak on transmisogyny without a second thought.

2. Lucifer’s behaviour has hurt two friends of mine and i don’t want to associate with someone who actively breaks people’s boundaries without taking accountability when messing up.

3. i cannot associate with someone who spreads lies about me accusing me of sympathizing with exclusionists all while having me blocked so that i can’t see it nor defend me. they complain about people not hearing them out but they’re the very first person who does not try to hear people out, and instead jumps to spread baseless rumors. this is not someone i can nor want to associate with.

(image descriptions provided by @malewifedeckard)

#genderfluidlucifer #transmisogyny tw #terfs tw #ask to tag #txt #long post #ok to rb

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marisandini-chu-blog · 3 years

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How Shadow and Bones Differentiate Villain and Anti-Hero

Alright, first I need to claim the fact that I love dark, edgy, but misunderstood bad boy in stories with the potential of epic redemption. Loki from Marvel. Jason Todd from DC. Captain Hook from Once Upon a Time. Zuko from AtLA. You name them, I simp them.

So when I watched this new show on Netflix and shown a tall, handsome man in dark clothing, both respected and feared for his power. I feel... nothing.

WHICH IS WEIRD! Like... he’s obviously my type. Complete with the sad backstory and vicious streak. So I kept wondering why I wasn’t enamored by the Darkling, Alexander Kirigan. I wasn’t surprised he was the main villain, I even expected it. But I usually at least have a bit of sympathy for them. This OOC behavior of mine made me introspect myself and the show, trying to find out which part gave me the red flags before Mother Darkling decides to pop the chosen one out halfway in the season.

That’s when it hit me; there were red flags! The show had been subtly trying to tell us Kirigan is a manipulative boyfriend not just by great acting and good directing, but by comparing him with the actual anti-hero of the story who I actually love; Kaz Brekker.

Here’s the list of signs you might not notice of why Kirigan is meant to be a Villain instead of an Anti-Hero.

1. The Eyes

"The eyes are the window to the soul" is a common saying and and the key to good acting for any good show. Eyes tell us a lot about what a person’s character is like and SaB showed us the difference of a sincere man and a man with a hidden agenda.

Look at him! Look at that little smirk. Look at the gaze. That's the look you find when someone's evil little plan is finally coming together. Not one awed by the power or by Alina. A blatant sus move is what I'm saying. Congrat, first flag planted.

Sure he could still fall in love with Alina, but that doesn't stop his agenda either. All it does is potentially create conflict for him to pick either his plan for revenge or life with Alina.

In comparison, look at Kaz when he said this to Inej; "She isn't like you, no one is." Straightforward eyes. Serious grim. No nonsense tone. Inej is one of the most talented and terrifying rogue-assassin and Kaz just blatantly said that he kept her from 'slavery' because of who she is, not what she's capable of. Like... the man has no shame being known to love her while still trying to be professional (or as professional a thief can be). I can respect that.

This is the eye of a man who would abandon everything to make sure she comes out alright in the end. Do not argue with me on this!

2. Leverage and Status

The moment Alina steps into the Little Palace she was treated like a princess. A palace, by the way, that’s managed by the Darkling. She gets favorable treatment; from the food, Zoya displaced when she fought Alina, a horseback ride just the two of them, asking her to call by his name to make them familiar, a black uniform that might as well be claiming???

Dude is desperate is what I’m saying.

Sure, this could all be romantic gestures. There’s the problem that Kirigan is superior in status and name, powerful Grisha, and has a vested interest in her power. Pursuing romance while Kirigan has the ability to make her life heaven or hell with a snap of his finger made every single decision be seen with wariness.

"Beware of powerful men," Genya couldn't put it any better.

Had they pursued romance after they destroy the fold, cementing Alina’s position as a saint more. Then I might have let go of that wariness.

I’m only proven correct when the moment Alina turned away from him, Kirigan made another leverage by (spoiler!) putting an antler to her collarbone... eeeewwww much?!

That’s how desperate the Darkling is to be in control of a person and a situation.

And when no letter came for Alina? That a big red flag because who else in this castle can control the coming of going of letter with the Savior. HMMMMMMMMMMM.....

Then there’s Kaz. My man. There’s no competition. This guy held no leverage on my dear Inej. When she almost decided to leave, Kaz didn't force or convince her to stay but he ask her. Doesn't remind her of her debt whether monetary or life debt to him. In fact, this guy needs money for revenge but instead mortgage his main source of income for her freedom.

HE POSTPONED HIS LIFE GOAL TO FREE HER FROM DEBT ASJHAKFSDJGLDFJ!!!

What more do I need to say?

3. Sympathy Card

This is the type of point you want to watch out from your partners, ladies, gents, and others. The sympathy card is the way to go when anyone wants to reach out to you so you can take care of them before they abuse or gaslight you.

While it’s good to share trauma and eased the burden, sometimes it's healthy to ask yourself whether the person can take advantage of you and to verify whether they lie to you or not.

When Kirigan shared about his past as a sympathetic boy with his secluded fountain and coin. Everything about that scene rang warning bells for me... the part he had requested her to use his color... requesting to horse ride with just them two... sharing sob story that may encourage Alina to help him...

Kudos to Alina to see through the fact she's seen as a means to an end.

It was only when Kirigan showed righteous anger and frustration of a war that's killing his people did Alina finally opened her heart to him.

Kaz however doesn't use the sympathy card. Heck, the man likes to believe he shed away any weakness and threw it in the harbor where it belongs. Kaz hates weaknesses. And garnering sympathy is an admission of weakness for him.

We still know there's a tragic backstory as any decent anti-hero would have... but by not sharing that, this implies that Inej and Jesper stayed because of who he is, and not because of who he was or how he came to be. They don't need a sob story to stay together and that showed a stronger bond between them.

4. Friends

To be frank, I find this the most hilarious because this point is the one that convinced me that Kirigan was secretly an evil bastard.

He doesn’t have any friends!!!

Like... dude had a literal witch army, a wife once, a fuck buddy, and a girlfriend but there wasn’t a single moment in the show where someone, outside of Alina and superior, to speak casually to him.

You’re telling me this person... the most powerful and influential Grisha in the East Ravka, charming as hell, handsome as fuck, and yet he doesn’t have friends?!

“I’ve buried good soldiers... friends...” Get the fuck out of here! WHAT FRIENDS?!?! Maybe if you get off your little power trip from your self-made pedestal, you can actually be less of an asshole and make one.

Sure he excused himself by blaming his ‘ancestor’ for being a shadow summoner. I can see how the fear makes it hard for him to get close to anybody. But all the other characters who are part of his army only ever shown to speak with him respectfully, and the royalty even commend him. No one disrespected him even openly and you’re telling me he doesn’t have one friend amidst all these people?!

In comparison, look at Kaz. He’s brash, crude, and unapologetic. He held true to his moniker ‘Bastard of the Barrel’ and yet this ass has friends. They show Jesper joking with Kaz, and Kaz has shown to banter with him back as well as tolerating his gambling addiction when it could have jeopardized the Job. Inej was shown to actually argue and have disagreement with Kaz when he’s technically her boss. Can you imagine the Darkling doing that? CAN YOU?!

No. Because he's a pretentious ass. That's why.

This is a great example of the use “show not tell” of how Kaz despite his obvious edges has a soft spot shown through his relationship with Inej and Jesper, who have a friendly dynamic. I can attest that while Kaz didn’t create a good first impression, I love Jesper and Inej (they are precious!) so much that I project it to Kaz in extension.

On the other hand, Kirigan’s goodwill had only ever been told by outsiders or himself. None from his inner circle (which he doesn’t have!) other than his mother, who ended up outing him instead.

So I applaud the writers and showrunners of SaB to actually have subtext signs of a manipulative bastard. The Duckling is a good villain character that's complex but unredeemable. Sometimes, you just have a good ol' charming villain you can't redeem and that's okay.

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ravnicaforgoblins · 3 years

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Ravnica for Goblins

Alignment

Figuring out where on the spectrum of beliefs, morals, and neutrality your character falls can be a challenge. One individual’s Chaotic Good is another’s Lawful Evil. To help clarify things, most campaigns include alignment for significant NPCs, and one can often draw a line between that NPC and that alignment. This doesn’t apply to every NPC, but the more important someone is, the more they come to represent a specific section of the moral grid in a campaign.

Ravnica does this as well, with most of the alignment chart represented by a Guildmaster. This isn’t completely uniform, however, so there’s wiggle room for an NPC to lean one way or the other as fits the story. There are some pretty safe bets, however, who can be counted on to check certain boxes at all times.

Isperia of the Azorius Senate: Lawful Neutral

Isperia represents the goal of the Azorius; objective devotion to upholding the laws as they are written. She was elected to her position because of her ability to look passed right & wrong, instead focusing solely on interpreting Ravnica’s 10d6 of Psychic damage legal system for all disputes.

Lazav of House Dimir: Neutral Evil

Lazav is the Dimir at their most annoying but least murderous. Blatant disregard for everyone’s privacy, but preference for stealing, secrets, and information over assassination. Lazav infiltrates every Guild, including his own, always determined to stay several steps ahead of any potential threat. This is not to say he won’t kill people if necessary, but his is a cold, “bloodstained calculus” methodology. It’s never personal.

Rakdos of the Cult of Rakdos: Chaotic Evil

On this plane, Rakdos is the living embodiment of Chaotic Evil, a title he takes very seriously. It’s just about the only thing he takes seriously, as he prefers to live without rules and have everyone else do the same. Unrestrained hedonism and mayhem are his bread & butter. You do what you want, whatever you want, whenever you want, however you want, regardless of what anyone or anything else says. No restrictions, no inhibitions, no hesitation. Encouraging this kind of destructive chaos in the streets is the only thing keeping Rakdos from embracing more orthodox Chaotic Evil behavior of slaughtering millions, enslaving thousands, and bowing to no one.

The Obzedat of the Orzhov Syndicate: Lawful Evil

Hard to believe there can be something worse than an actual Demon given permission to encourage every sin imaginable, but that is what the Ghost Council are. The Obzedat exist to stretch, bend, and twist every law designed to maintain order, neutrality, or justice so as to benefit themselves. What’s worse is how the Orzhov play innocent when they do it. Unlike the Dimir or the Rakdos who accept and even embrace society’s interpretation of their actions, the Orzhov refuse to be seen as anything but humble, spiritual, gracious public servants. The very antithesis of what they actually are; arrogant, miserly, manipulative bastards. They will point out exactly which laws they are not breaking, which laws there is insufficient evidence to prove they are breaking, and which laws prevent you from punching them in the face right now.

Trostani of the Selesnya Conclave: Neutral Good

If there’s one thing to be said for Selesnya, it’s that they are rarely the problem. The Conclave is perfectly content to keep to their fields & forests most of the time and focus solely on building up their own Guild. In a city where every Guild has a problem with every other Guild, Selesnya is the only one who at least tries to get along with everyone else. They don’t tend to get involved in matters that don’t concern them, but theirs is always a safe haven for those who seek it. Trostani is made up of three dryads representing Harmony, Life, and Order. You don’t get much more Neutral Good than that. The only problem is that Trostani basically never leave their Guildhall, so their influence only spreads so far. The reason they can live so peacefully is because so little of the chaotic city life overlaps into theirs.

Besides them, everyone has wiggle room and gray area to move around in. Both Niv-Mizzet and Borborygmos are canonically Chaotic Neutral, but with their most prominent personality traits being vanity & anger, respectively, the “Neutral” part of that can go out the window quick. Still, almost every Guild has at least a semblance of a position somewhere on the chart to start from. You can basically count on a member of each Guild to be at least:

Azorius Senate: Lawful

This is the Guild that writes the laws of Ravnica, after all. They literally draw their power from this ancient legal code, so it makes sense that, whether an Azorius leans more towards Good, Evil, or Neutrality, they do so lawfully.

Boros Legion: Good

If the Azorius follow the intellectual letter of the law, the Boros follow the passionate spirit for which said law was originally written. Justice, not legal-ese. Sometimes the law is good enough, but sometimes it fails its citizens. A Boros should be an inspiring force for Good, whether Lawful or Chaotic depends on the individual.

House Dimir: Neutral

The best a Dimir operative can hope to achieve, morally speaking, is neutrality. If you are working for this Guild, you are lying & stealing. Odds are you are infiltrating another Guild to find/steal information to report back to your superior(s). Not every Dimir agent does this willingly, however. Maybe a character only became a Dimir operative after finding out their mentor was. Maybe a character had nowhere else to turn and no one else to depend on. Maybe they just needed House Dimir’s connections to get them close enough to someone in another Guild who wronged them. Whatever the motivation, cling to that gray area of neutrality like your life depends on it. It’s all you’ve got.

Gruul Clans: Chaotic

Gruul are many things. “Lawful” is not one of them. If you’re a member of a Gruul Clan, you’ve definitely got a bit of a temper on you and a strong disregard for authority. Now, a Gruul can absolutely be a force for good, or, conversely, evil. Maybe you joined the Gruul after your ancestral home was bulldozed over for a smelly Izzet facility. Maybe you had a mental breakdown after decades of trying to uphold law in a city where the laws mean jack shit unless there’s a guy in blue sitting at his desk. Maybe you got tired of planting trees and getting stepped on. Maybe you don’t like the pretentiousness of so-called “artists”. Maybe you just like hitting things. Whatever your reason, the Gruul will welcome another anarchist.

Golgari Swarm: Chaotic/Evil/Neutral

The Golgari Swarm are the first Guild where you’re really going to find a lot of diversity in alignment. Some definitely fall into the chasm of Chaotic Evil Necromancers, others stand firmly in the fields of True Neutral Rot Farmer, and some idly wander between the two. Necromancy is pretty normal in Golgari society, and “Evil” can be considered a harsh word to describe it. It’s definitely more normalized in the Undercity than it is on the surface. A lot of typically Evil behavior is like that for the Golgari, lest we forget that this society of giant bugs, necromancers, zombies, medusa, etc also run the sewage system and food stamps program for the city. That said, there are definitely Golgari with sufficient ambition/motivation to become ready-made Big Bads. What is a Lich, after all, but a wizard who says, “No, I’m too important to die!”

Izzet League: Chaotic

If there’s one predictable aspect of the Izzet, it’s that they are unpredictable. For a Guild whose founding principle is “I wonder what would happen if....”, it’s best to accept that you’ll never be Lawful. Your job, as it is, is to look at laws (nature, physics, etc) and poke at them with electrodes to see what happens. Your focus will always be on things that haven’t been written down yet, as opposed to what already has. It’s almost literally impossible to be Lawful and Izzet for that reason alone. As far as Good, Evil, and Neutral go; that’s up to the individual. This experiment could replicate food so we never have to eat Golgari rations again! Or it could replicate essential personnel to prevent understaffing! Or, it could even replicate.... ME (cue maniacal laughter).

Orzhov Syndicate: Lawful

The Orzhov, like the Azorius, draw their power and influence from the laws of Ravnica. Evil is expected, though not mandatory, but Lawful is a requirement. An Orzhov who doesn’t know their way around Ravnica’s laws is a loose end, and the Orzhov don’t allow loose ends to jeopardize their schemes & ambitions. One can absolutely be a Lawful Neutral Orzhov, also known as an Accountant, but such individuals rarely find their way into a life of adventure. A Lawful Good Orzhov can exist, but your greatest adversary will be the large majority of your Guild who sees you as a potential threat to their illicit activities. In which case, you’ll want to know those laws even better than they do.

Cult of Rakdos: Chaotic

Chaos is mandatory, evil is encouraged. By “Evil”, we mean “things people tell you are Evil”. Anything you would do while drunk you should be able to do at all times! There’s really only three rules in the Cult of Rakdos:

Rule #1, Rakdos is #1

Rule #2, JUST DO IT

Rule #3, Don’t be boring

Being Neutral breaks Rule 3, being Good breaks Rule 2 and/or 3, and being Lawful breaks all 3 rules. Which reminds me of the fourth rule:

Rule #4, NEVER break Rule #1

Truthfully, being Chaotic Good or Chaotic Neutral is perfectly fine as long as you don’t impede on someone else’s hedonism without a reason, or lack thereof. As long as you’re being free & crazy, that’s what really matters.

Selesnya Conclave: Good

As stated with Trostani, Selesnya is a pretty consistent force of Good, if nothing else. They don’t really do hate, you know? Life in the Conclave is pretty uniformly Good, so why make trouble? Why can’t everyone just be Good? In short; ‘cause they don’t wanna, none of your business, go hug a tree, and/or because fire is FUN. Lawful fits some individuals but can just get in the way for others. Neutral is pretty solid but some things must call you to act. Chaotic is if you really want to embrace being a Nature Warrior in a planet-sized cityscape. Selesnya is the Guild for goodie two-shoes, as if that’s a bad thing.

Simic Combine: Any

The Simic Combine is the one Guild that can honestly fall anywhere on the alignment chart. The Guild started out as Doctors, Naturalists, and preservers of life. Now it also operates large-scale bioengineering. You can have a Lawful Good Simic Paladin committed to preserving life and health, a True Neutral Simic Forcemage (Druid) dedicated to living a simple life bolstering plant growth, or a Chaotic Evil Simic Wizard who has decided on everyone’s behalf that flippers and gills are now mandatory. Just like science can be used for great Good, great Evil, or mundane routine, the Simic Combine can turn its experiments to any purpose, depending on the individual. And whereas the Izzet are firmly Chaotic, the Simic have the foresight to think ahead before they try an experiment. You can be anything you want in the Simic Combine, just plan it out.

#ravnica for goblins #ravnica #goblins #d&d #dnd #5e #alignment #roleplaying #dungeons and dragons #dungeons & dragons #good #evil #lawful #neutral #guilds

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ericamzdm · 4 years

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S1E1 and Emotional Abuse

Apparently my feelings do expand beyond five screenshots.

So! I’m going to take the Catra/Adora segments from the first ten minutes of SheRa apart, with a focus on Adora. It’s going to be dry, and it’s going to be talking about emotional manipulation and abuse at length, so please feel free to stop reading if that’s not something you want to deal with.

Frankly, the Adora/Catra content in S1E1 makes my skin crawl on a re-watch. It’s not that I don’t like the characters - I’m actually quite fond of both of them! But this episode is extremely on the nose about what it’s means to be raised in an abusive environment, and how easy it is to perpetrate abuse when it permeates your sense of what is normal and how things work.

Before we get into the episode itself, a definition. (I did say this was going to be dry)

Abuse is:

Intentional - Accidents aren’t abuse. (although abusers will lie about intent)

Harmful/Controlling (to/of the victim) - harm/control is the primary mechanism abusers use to obtain their goal, rather than an incidental effect.

Beneficial (to the abuser) - Abuse is perpetrated to get the abuser something, even if just a ‘thrill of power’.

If it doesn’t hit all three, it may be bad, and it may make the perpetrator a jackass, but it’s almost certainly not abuse.

The first relevant scene is where Catra is late to class (sorry, “evaluation”). Adora’s “Where’s Catra/*scoffs* Not again/She’ll be here, I promise” is, in itself, fairly benign, but already shows that Adora’s concern for Catra veers into controlling territory. Who is she, to make promises on Catra’s behalf?

Catra eventually does show up, and we get a lengthy ‘playful banter’ sequence that almost reassures you that their relationship is reasonably normal and healthy. They have in-jokes! And laugh! And give/take jabs in good faith!

And then Shadow Weaver shows up. And this happens.

Just to be very clear here. Adora physically dragged a visibly uncomfortable Catra into an encounter with someone who we shortly learn (and Adora is fully aware) is her abuser.

BREAKING FOR A PSA: The above ALONE makes her a fundamentally unsafe person for an abuse victim/survivor to be around. I have cut people from my life for this kind of thing. DON’T FORCE PEOPLE INTO UNWANTED INTERACTIONS. IT IS SUPER UNCOOL.[/PSA]

*coughs* We now return you to an overwrought analysis of a Y7 cartoon...

Let’s review that definition of abuse!

Is Shadow Weaver acting with intent to cause harm as a way to benefit herself?

It sure seems like it! The intent and harm are self-evident. The benefit is a little harder to grasp - but ‘thrill of power’/intimidation would cover it.

Conclusion: Shadow Weaver is abusive. Also, the sky is blue!

Now, the more interesting question: Is Adora acting with intent to cause harm as a way to benefit herself?

...and (While the PSA holds) the answer is probably no. While the interaction wasn’t an accident, it’s pretty clear that the way it played out, and the harm caused, were not Adora’s intent. This wasn’t, strictly speaking, abusive.

It was, however, negligence and intentional ignorance that borders on abuse. Catra clearly knew how this was going to roll. Adora doesn’t exactly seem shocked by Shadow Weaver’s actions. So what the heck did she think she was doing?

The bright, happy explanation: Adora wanted her friend to be rewarded for her good work! She was being kind and selfless! She believes that Shadow Weaver is ultimately fair and rewards merit, because she’s just too intrinsically good to imagine a world that works any other way!

The ...less bright and happy explanation: Adora wants/needs Catra to be fairly rewarded, not for Catra’s benefit (“I thought you didn’t care about that!” is a refrain that will come up), but for her own. Adora needs to believe that the Horde/SW are as meritocratic as they claim to be, because if they are not, then her own accomplishments are meaningless favouritism; and to accept that would be an unrecoverable blow to her ego. So, into the line of fire Catra goes!

Catra rolls over, Shadow Weaver turns to exit and we get ...ugh, this.

A visibly distressed throughout Catra pulls herself together enough to manage a half-hearted ‘It’s Fine’ shrug at Adora’s Questioning Look. Adora blithely accepts the shrug with that smile (”Oh good, everything is okay!”).

This time, the disregard for Catra’s emotional state does slip over that border into abusive/manipulative territory. Adora is seeking (intent) reassurance/absolution (benefit) that requires Catra to bury/sublimate her own distress(Harm). The smile is the clincher - it’s what makes it clear that, from Adora’s perspective, this was the desired/expected response. Now Adora can run after Shadow Weaver guilt-free, looking for her Good Girl Cookies!

Not going to cover the hallway sequence in depth; will just note that it is itself a laundry list of abuse and abuse flags. Shadow Weaver is just all around awful, really.

A friendly reminder that this next Catra/Adora scene starts with Catra being happy for Adora! Tickled pink! Adora is going up in the world! They need to celebrate!

The upset comes when Catra is informed that, not only is she not getting an equitable reward to Adora, despite equal performance (It’s fine. She doesn’t care. she does She knows that was never going to happen.), but that she’s not getting any reward at all. And yeah, that’s upsetting! It’s grossly unfair, even by Shadow Weaver standards (we are led to infer). “What is her problem with [Catra]?”

(Unsurprisingly, neither of them recognize ‘separate the victim from their support structure’ as the blatant abuse tactic that it is, rather than anything they could have had a hope of influencing.)

And Adora comes up with this. This right here.

This is well over the line into manipulative/abusive - Adora is blaming Catra (harm) with the implicit goal (intent) of avoiding addressing the fundamentally unfair nature of the situation (benefit).

As above - Adora’s self-worth hinges on the rewards she receives being ‘valid’. If she accepts that they aren’t - that her success is a product of favouritism (or, you know, victim grooming) - it would shatter her.

But this defence mechanisms is actively harmful to Catra; it prevents Adora from acknowledging Catra’s treatment as unfair/abusive. Rewards in the Horde must be fair; if Catra is not being rewarded, it must be because of something that Catra has chosen to do/not do, just like Shadow Weaver said.

(The Just World hypothesis is a heck of a thing.)

Oh, hey, we’ve got the first instance of Catra being genuinely mean. It just took Adora victim blaming her.

So, is this abuse? Let’s see.

The harm is easy - Adora is upset at being called a people pleaser.

The intent - Well. Catra is clearly aware that this will upset Adora, but is upsetting Adora her goal? And...I don’t think it is, really. Catra’s intent - her desire - is to have Adora admit she enjoys and seeks validation. That she is, in fact, a people pleaser.

And this is basic Hierarchy of Needs stuff? It’s like wanting someone to admit that they enjoy food and shelter. Of course she does! Everyone does! Adora’s denial here is low-key bonkers, and speaks to her dysfunctions around love and validation.

So what we have is: “Catra wants (intent) Adora to admit she benefits from the validation she receives, and thus acknowledge Catra’s lack of validation as hurtful (benefit)”. This isn’t abuse, because the harm is incidental. The upset Adora experiences isn’t necessary (and is in fact interfering with the goal).

All Adora had to do to defuse this was say “Yes, I do like being rewarded. It sucks and is unfair that you weren’t.”

Instead. Well.

We get this. A classic sorry-not-sorry.

Adora wants (intent) Catra to stop being upset and forgive her (benefit), so implies that Catra’s upset is invalid(harm) [she can’t be angry over not getting something she didn’t want].

Adora tries(intent) to guilt-trip(harm) Catra for having had other emotions, so that she will go back to being happy for Adora(benefit).

And it’s only when that doesn’t work that she breaks out the skiff key.

Getting someone an extravagant gift (”love-bombing”) isn’t abusive in itself, but it can absolutely be part of an abusive cycle. Adora has decided that, instead of assessing her own behaviour to identify and address the valid reasons Catra is angry, she’s just going to do something reckless and extravagant to temporarily please her. It’s selfish and manipulative, and doesn’t solve anything. All those hurts are still there, and are inevitably going to boil over again, even if Plot didn’t interfere.

And, just. All of this. All of this stuff coming from Adora is super, super unhealthy. A lot of it is textbook emotional abuse. And I know where she gets it from! Shadow Weaver is her model for a Reasonable Authority Figure! It’s a wonder she’s not worse.

But, I find it ... not a little distressing that people can apparently go back and watch this episode and go (depending on anti status) either “LOL Catra so terrible.” or “Oh boy, what a beautiful, romantic relationship.” Because. Yergh.

You want to know one of the things that makes emotional abuse so awful? No one sees it. Adora isn’t yelling or hitting or being angry, so it’s not possible that she’s hurting Catra every time she trivializes her feelings with a smile, or smirks and blames Catra for her own hurt. Why, Adora is sad when she demands Catra’s preformative joy! Clearly Adora needs that validation more than Catra deserves ownership over her own feelings!

No, it’s clearly Catra who’s at fault, because she’s the ANGRY one. She’s the one hissing and yelling and running away and pushing back about all this hurt that clearly never happened, because hasn’t Adora always been so wonderful and calm? If Catra was right, why can’t she be ~rational~ about it? She’s must be just crazy, bad, selfish, abusive.

And...can we just not? Can we just, for once, take a miss on looking at a fictional character who is being explicitly emotionally abused and blaming them because they aren’t reacting like a perfect pristine angel, and are at fault for not Calmly Discussing their way out of an abusive situation? Please? Just for this ten minute segment?

#abuse #emotional abuse #emotional manipulation #spop #adora #catra #shadow weaver #I have so many feelings #look this stuff is upsetting #i don't know how they got away with including it in a kids cartoon #this is as done as its going to get #i should go work on something soothing for a while

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serpenteve · 3 years

Note

I have been meaning to get this off my chest for a while, but...well. First, I am 100% "ship and let ship" type of person, and I'm also a big multishipper myself. But a certain percentage of M*lina fans have been getting to me because M*l is so very much like an ex who I will call Dave. We were friends, though I was taken for granted and overlooked tho i had low self esteem, so it didn't bother me at the time, and I crushed on him big time. Any scrap of his attention had me floating on cloud 9. Eventually I kinda gave up, got a good job, and started hanging out with a new man in our friend group. I guess Dave got jealous or was angry I no longer gave him constant attention because he then swooped right away in and asked me out. I said yes because i thought it was a dream come true but it was actually a nightmare. He didn't hit me but the emotional stuff...gaslighting, berating me, tearing me down, jealous my job was better than his and my salary higher, hated if I paid any attention to others, never wanted to talk about me only him, controlling, manipulating me so I always thought I was in the wrong and the one causing all the problems in the relationship, I apologized for something every day it felt like. I'm fine now, I left his bitch ass, but it shook me when I read the books because it was so like M*l! And I honest to god don't mind M*lina shippers, but the ones that act as if it is a purely healthy relationship kinda bother me because clearly it isn't...there are thousands of Daves and M*ls out there everywhere, it is not the worst abuse but it is abuse, and it worries me that people think it is acceptable or normal or say "he was just a dumb teenager he didn't know any better" because that is not an excuse, consistent patterns are behaviors that don't magically go away overnight you know? It doesn't need to be the worst blatant abuse to still be toxic/abuse. I adore our girl Alina but it makes me sad because that is my fantasy "what if" if I had stayed (ok that sounds a bit dramatic but that was my first thought haha) sorry for the long rambling, but like I said I just was thinking about all this for a few days and had to get it off my chest. I love your blog and thanks for reading !

I'm so so sorry you went through that 😔 No one deserved to be treated that way and I'm glad you are out of that relationship! Thank you so much for sharing because so much of your experience reminds me a lot of my own.

I grew up in a very cult-ish environment where it was basically expected that the highest role a woman could achieve was a wife and mother. The men were deeply insecure and felt 'emasculated' if their partners dare succeed at anything so they made it their job to constantly tear them down, gaslight them, and shame them for having goals and interests that didn't revolve around a guy. If you were unmarried, you couldn't be seen talking to another guy alone because then people would start talking shit about how you were obviously a whore and your future prospects were ruined 🙄 It was like living in a puritanical Victorian novel where your only value as a woman was to be somebody else's trophy.

I don't mind people shipping M*lina and after watching the show's version of the characters, I would also be a show!M*lina shipper because I really like how Archie has played him and the changes they made to his character. Hopefully, he will still be likable in Season 2, especially since the second book is where most of the problems emerged in full force.

However, people claiming that book!M*l and show!M*l are the same character literally triggers my fight or flight response 😂There was a time I actually considered blocking the ship tag because it's not a great place to be when you've been in a real-life relationship with an asshole like book!M*l and see a bunch of posts from people claiming he's such a great guy. If Alina was a real-life friend and I saw her being treated the way book!M*l treats her, I'd tell her to 👏🏽 DUMP 👏🏽HIS 👏🏽 ASS so fast and cuss him out for being a toxic asshole. No one deserves to put up with the crap Alina did in the books. It's like she did not know that relationships don't have to be that hard and miserable. If she had been allowed to explore other healthier relationships (and I'm not sure she really ever had that option), I can't imagine she'd have settled for M*l.

#censoring the tag because i dont want m*linas to find this fml #cw: abuse #cw: gaslighting #viv answers #anti mal

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tinyshe · 3 years

Video

youtube

Story at-a-glance

Behind the scenes of many of the companies that provide the products and services you use each day are two investment firms that own more shares than other shareholders. The list includes social media, transportation, news media, food manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies

Blackrock and Vanguard hold large interests in pivotal companies, and Vanguard holds a large share of Blackrock. In turn, Blackrock has been called the "Fourth Branch of Government" by Bloomberg as they are the only private firm that has financial agreements to lend money to the central banking system

Blackrock also developed the software used by the Fed to manage financial transactions; one Princeton University lecturer has said Blackrock controls the Federal Reserve and has more power than most governments

Ascertaining who owns large portions of Vanguard is more difficult as it is a private company that is not publicly traded. It's important to think globally but act locally to protect your civil rights, including supporting state legislators who support your right to choose health care

Until recently, it has appeared that economic competition has been driving the rise and fall of small and large companies across the U.S. Supposedly, PepsiCo is Coca Cola's competitor, Apple and android are vying for your loyalty and Pfizer and Bayer are battling for your pharmaceutical dollars. But what is revealed in this video, using publicly available data you can check, is that this has been an illusion.

On the surface, all appears to be the same as it always has been. But the growth of a few corporations, beginning in the mid-1970s, has all but destroyed the competitive market on which America's strength has rested. As demonstrated in the video, a quick look through Yahoo! Finance shows that Vanguard and Blackrock have been the puppet masters behind nearly every large industry that affects your life.

As you can quickly discern, the global economy may be the greatest illusionary trick ever pulled over the eyes of people around the world. Without doubt, we are in a new place and facing new challenges. It will take accurate information and local action to continue to have the right to take control of your health.

Behind the Scenes, Two Companies Own the Supply Chain

As you watch the video, you'll see that most of the large corporations that supply the food, information, data and drugs used every day are controlled by a select few investment firms whose sole goal is a greater return on their profits. Of course, that's been the backbone of a competitive economy — to grow your profit margin while competing against other companies for the same market.

In theory, this competition drives innovation, advancement and price structures that benefit the consumer. However, when one, two or three large companies own most of what you use, competition becomes an illusion, resulting in a monopoly where companies can set a price and there are no other products from which to choose.

As the World Economic Forum1 and United Nations2 collaborate to "build back better," it is crucial to pay attention to how large corporations across the world may contribute to a societal shift that moves more money into the hands of billionaires and creates a new depth of poverty across the world.

One of the mandates for the Federal Trade Commission is to ensure there is competition in the marketplace. For example, in 2000, a federal judge ruled that Microsoft had maintained a monopoly with Windows and tied the company browser, Internet Explorer, to the operating system, thus gaining a greater economic foothold.3

The company barely escaped being split up, until it agreed with a settlement to curb its practices. More than 20 years later, the Department of Justice is now looking at antitrust allegations against Google's business dealings that have hurt smaller competitors.4 But the two major investors in both these companies appear to have escaped unscathed.

As you go through the list of companies in which Vanguard and Blackrock strategically hold a large investment interest, consider how the products and services provided by these companies are inextricably intertwined with your daily life.

Google

YouTube

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Amazon

Alibaba

Pfizer

Bayer Pharmaceuticals

AstraZeneca

PepsiCo

Coca Cola

Microsoft

Apple

Netflix

Reuters

Viacom (CBS)

ATT

Tesla

The New York Times

Agricultural Bank of China

FedEx

American Airlines

United Airlines

TUI AG

Zimmer Biomet Holdings

Volkswagen AG

Ford Motor Company

You may recognize many of these names and some may not be as recognizable. You can do your own search on Yahoo! Finance,5 typing in the company and clicking "holdings" in the navigation bar. The companies span a variety of aspects of daily life, including:

Social media

Shopping

Food manufacturers

Technology and software

Pharmaceutical companies

Entertainment

Communications

Airlines

Medical equipment

Transportation

Holiday companies

Car companies

World media

However, as comments on my Twitter feed indicate, it is not always apparent why this information is important to your rights as an individual.6 It may be difficult to imagine a world where your news is being manipulated. As is illuminated in the video, Vanguard and Blackrock:7

"... own the news that's been created, they own the distribution of the news that's been created, they own the lives of the reporters that are reporting the news that's being distributed that's being created on your TV screen. CBS, FOX, ABC, it doesn't matter which you're watching.

They all are using that wonderful phrase from Davos now — build back better. The point being is that you've got very few people controlling everything and that's information. Talk about information is power, well not only do they create the information, but they have all the distribution nodes to literally change the world mindset as it were."

Every Media Chain Using the Same Narrative

Davos is a ski town in the Swiss Alps but has become the shorthand for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting that's held in the town.8 It is a chance for some of the most powerful figures in the world to collaborate. The meeting has been headed and organized by Klaus Schwab, an 83-year-old German engineer and economist. As you consider what you're hearing in the news, remember:9

"Everything we see on the shelves in the shops, what you buy online, who delivers it, who is making the COVID jab, who is distributing the jab, who is reporting on the jab, who is censoring alternative information about the jab, and all the rest of it. It's all the same people."

The consistency of news reporting across mainstream media should now make sense since each of them have similar major investors and those major investors have a singular focus of raising their profit margin while pushing the Fourth Industrial Revolution. How can you believe what's being told in the news when every news channel is saying the same thing?

It may have been that Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, who broke the Nixon Watergate story in 1972, were the last investigative journalists working for a major news media company who were allowed to follow a news story to conclusion without blatant censorship.

Around the world, doctors are being silenced. At the beginning of the pandemic, medical professionals were told not to speak to the media about a lack of personal protective equipment within the hospital. Although the American Medical Association10 initially came out in support of a physician's right to speak out about the care conditions, the tables have since turned.

In the quick, six-minute video below, Dr. Dan Stock from McCordsville, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis, speaks to the board of the Mount Vernon Community School Corporation. He provides the board with documentation to back up his claim that the way in which the community was addressing an attempt to stop the spread of infection was, in fact, ineffective.

The video went viral11 with several million views within a day of its posting on YouTube, before it was taken down for “violating YouTube’s community guidelines.” August 11, 2011, Tucker Carlson featured the video and Stock on his Fox show,12 where Stock said, “It seems to me that focusing on immune system improvement whether through a vaccine or non-vaccine methods is the more rational approach to this.”

Yet, even though Stock provides research evidence and speaks knowledgeably about the transmission of viral illnesses, the rest of mainstream media have not picked up on the story and this information is not being communicated to the public. Those in power want to ensure this type of information is not shared because it's contrary to the narrative they are promoting.

House for Sale? Blackrock Is Interested

A recent expose in The Wall Street Journal warns, "… yield-chasing investors are snapping up single-family houses to rent out or flip. They are competing for houses with ordinary Americans, who are armed with the cheapest mortgage financing ever, and driving up home prices."13

Yet, why would institutional investors be interested in overpaying for single family homes? To gain a greater understanding of the answer, you must take a look at Blackrock's partners, which include the World Economic Forum. The company manages assets that are worth $5.7 trillion and appears to be focused on pushing the average American out of the housing market.

If most of the available housing is owned by investment groups and corporations, they become your landlord. This is one of the ways in which the World Economic Forum envisions society in 2030. It's the part where you will "own nothing and be happy."

While it sounds like it came straight from George Orwell's book, "1984," it is in fact the agenda published on the World Economic Forum website.14 In fact, Forbes15 published an article in 2016 titled "Welcome To 2030: I Own Nothing, Have No Privacy And Life Has Never Been Better," which was written by the World Economic Forum.

Interestingly, the World Economic Forum once had a link to the article on their website under "agenda," but that link is now dead,16 even though a WEF Twitter post17 touting it in 2017 is still up. The link on the Twitter post, however, is also dead. And, curiously, in February 2021, Reuters did a "fact check" which claims the WEF never had anything to do with it.

The Fourth Branch of Government

BlackRock not only is an investment firm, but also has been called the "Fourth Branch of Government" because they are the only private firm with an intimate relationship with the Federal Reserve and financial agreements to lend money to the central banking systems. Interestingly, software developed by BlackRock — Aladdin — is used by the Fed to manage their financial transactions.18

In comparison to other large financial investment firms who have political ties to one party or the other, Blackrock "possesses a power that's more technocratic."19 The firm has a global influence as well. They were tapped as an adviser to the Bank of Canada and the European Union hired them to advise them on incorporating governing and social practices.

According to an analysis by Bloomberg,20 the company may be paid as much as $48 million a year in fees, which could cement the company's ties with powerful policymakers.

To put this into perspective, BlackRock, an investment firm, has more power than most governments and controls the Federal Reserve, Wall Street mega-banks like Goldman Sachs and the WEF's Great Reset, according to F. William Engdahl, a strategic risk consultant and lecturer who holds a degree in politics from Princeton University.21 They don't just want your house, they want your life.

But Who Owns Vanguard?

When you take a look at who owns the largest portion of BlackRock, you learn its Vanguard.22 But ascertaining who has the greatest investment in Vanguard is a little more difficult. The company has a corporate structure that makes ownership challenging to discern.

It appears it's owned by a variety of funds, which in turn are owned by shareholders. Aside from these shareholders, the company has no outside investors and is not publicly traded. As reported in the featured video:23

"The elite who own Vanguard apparently do not like being in the spotlight, but of course they cannot hide from who is willing to dig. Reports from Oxfam and Bloomberg say that 1% of the world, together owns more money than the other 99%. Even worse, Oxfam says that 82% of all earned money in 2017 went to this 1%.

In other words, these two investment companies, Vanguard and BlackRock, hold a monopoly in all industries in the world and they, in turn, are owned by the richest families in the world, some of whom are royalty and who have been very rich since before the Industrial Revolution."

Although getting to the bottom of the major investors in Vanguard is difficult, it's important to keep in mind that BlackRock and Vanguard, individually and combined, own enough shares in Big Pharma and mainstream media to have control over what is produced, shared and distributed.

This information is important because it is the drug companies and media that are driving the response to this infection. Thus far, it has all endangered rather than optimized public health and the official narrative continues to be false, leading the public further astray and fostering fear based on lies.

To have a chance of righting this situation, we must understand the central players and why these false narratives are being created in the first place. In the Global Justice Now December 2020 report entitled "The Horrible History of Big Pharma,"24 they review the shameful history of the top seven drug companies in the world.

These companies are now developing and manufacturing drugs and gene-based "vaccines" against COVID-19, while mainstream media have helped suppress information about readily available older drugs that have been shown to have a high degree of efficacy against the infection.

Think Globally and Act Locally

Just as the market collectively impacted the downfall of the Grocery Manufacturers Association,25 you have an impact in your local community. It may be overwhelming to consider how quickly the world is changing, but you can have a voice in your local community.

As you may know, after my articles have been published for 48 hours, they are no longer available to read. This means, to reference the information you need to protect your health, you must copy and paste the articles and keep them on your hard drive. I encourage you to share these with your friends and family and encourage them to share as well.

It may be inconceivable to think about making a difference on a national scale to protect your civil rights, but there are approaches you can take on a local level that will make a big difference as people across the world speak up.

Many large communities and states are forming groups to stand up for individual rights, to prevent vaccine passports and limit governmental power in a peaceful manner.26 It's also important to find a group with which to work and to support your state legislators who support your right as an individual to choose your health care.

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edda-blattfe · 4 years

Note

How do you think the main guys would flirt? ( this can be crack if you want it to)

Riddle

- Who needs flirting when you can simply command your crush to like you?

- Seriously tho, this kid does not do flirting. He’d much rather subtly order you to stay by his side.

- Trey tried to teach little red hot how once. It didn’t work out....and everyone else suffered for it.

Azul

- Smooth af!

- You know how good he is at manipulating people into a contract? Now imagine that silver tounge spinning saucy remarks your way. He’s got a knack for this sort of thing.

- Will say whatever it takes to get you completely flustered, and this boy has little to no shame in that regard!

Kalim

- Wholesome!!!

- Kalim’s flirting comes in the form of blatant complements and praises. Doesn’t even realize that what he’s doing is flirting!

- The sweet dumbass who will ask if you have a fever once he notices you’re flustered.

Vil

- Positively princely!

- Can it even be called flirting? It comes off more cordial than that...perhaps courting is a better word?

- Will compliment you in all of the right ways. Vil’s honeyed words are heart melting, leaving you flattered and full of butterflies!

Idia

- Nope!

- He can barely hold a normal conversation, let alone flirt with someone he likes.

- Might give it a shot, but it’s all cheesy pickup lines delivered in the most awkward fashion! Will probably curl up in his emo corner afterwards.

Leona

- F**king tease.

- Leona has experience and raw confidence on his side, not to mention the arsenal of sexual innuendos stashed away in the back of his mind. His goal is to reduce you to a blubbering red mess, then leave before you get the chance to regain your composure.

- Likes a challenge every now and then. Fight back with your own wit, see what happens!

Malleus

- Him? Flirt? Pft!

- Idk, y’all. I think Mal is a lost cause. If he does flirt, it’s gonna be in a dark morbid way that definitely doesn’t come off the way he wants!

- Will end up summoning a demon with his aweful pickup lines.

#twisted wonderland #dorm leaders #ask

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elyvorg · 4 years

Text

Still a Hero - author’s commentary (part 1)

I spent almost all my time for two months planning and writing this fic of mine centred around Kaito’s issues, and that amount of thinking-about-something doesn’t just go away once the thing is finished. So this is the first of two posts (the second being here) full of some of my thoughts about the fic, for any readers who might be interested. This one’s focused on Kaito’s issues and character arc in it, kind of like one of my regular Kaito analysis posts except that it’s about the fic rather than any canon Kaito content.

Why this fic exists

People familiar with my Kaito posts (and if you’re new to my blog because the fic brought you here, I suggest taking a look at this one in particular before reading this) will know how much I like to think about Kaito being terrified he won’t be able to support or inspire his sidekicks any more if they see his weakness, and how excruciatingly wrong that is of him. And it’s not just wrong because of course his friends will still care about him and be inspired by his Kaito-ness no matter what, but also because the fact that he’s suffering and yet fighting through it anyway only makes him even more inspiring of a hero than if he wasn’t struggling with anything at all.

This should be obvious to Kaito – he spends so much time calling himself a hero and wanting to inspire people that he should perfectly well be able to realise that overcoming genuine struggles is more impressive and inspiring and heroic to others than simply winning everything without effort. But since he hasn’t already figured this out and remains convinced that heroes simply have to be invincible or else they’re not good enough, it always seemed to me like Kaito was never going to be able to figure this out on his own. I assumed that, to fix things, he’d need someone else to point at his concept of heroes and go “hey, that’s stupid, and here are the obvious reasons why”, letting him finally see things from a new perspective and realise “huh, yeah, it kind of is, now that you mention it”. That’s why most of the AUs I’ve thought about that would eventually lead to Kaito seeing sense about this tended to involve somehow forcing him to show weakness against his will at first. That way, his sidekicks can realise what the issue is, in order to then be able to talk him through why it shouldn’t even be an issue at all.

However! The scenario of Kaito being tortured with the stakes being his sidekicks’ lives offered a unique opportunity: to make Kaito realise what being a hero is really about (and therefore that it’s okay to show weakness to his sidekicks) entirely on his own.

I realised this as I was throwing hypothetical ideas for this scenario around with my friend antialiasis without any intention of ever actually writing a fic of this. At first I was imagining how Kaito would react in the aftermath of being tortured, namely in his usual Kaito way of insisting he’s Completely Fine. Since his friends knew he’d been tortured, there wouldn’t be any point trying to hide his injuries, so okay sure whatever it physically hurt and his wounds need some time to heal – but he’d still be insisting that psychologically he’s obviously totally unaffected and not letting it get to him one bit. And Maki would call him the absolute fuck out, because she’s been tortured and she knows that nobody could possibly be psychologically okay afterwards, and this would be the inroad needed in this universe for her and Shuichi to gradually talk Kaito into showing vulnerability and letting them help him.

It occurred to me that this situation in particular might make things a little easier for Kaito to accept that being weak doesn’t make him less of a hero, because no matter how hurt and scared he was by the torture, he still never actually let his sidekicks down by giving them up to the cult, and that’s the most important part. And then, because of this, it occurred to me that, hey, why even wait for the aftermath? Kaito might just be able to realise this while he’s being tortured, before Maki and Shuichi even rescue him, without them needing to help him come to that conclusion at all.

And I just had to write that. Kaito figuring it out on his own is such a unique way, one that had never even occurred to me as being possible before, to reach the Kaito-learns-to-show-vulnerability outcome that I always crave from Kaito-centric AUs.

I genuinely think this might be the only way it’s possible to get Kaito to figure this out all on his own. He’s such an idiot about this that he’d need to have this blatant, illustrative example of himself indisputably not letting his sidekicks down even while being very openly “weak” and scared. I’m not sure how else that could even happen. (I mean, I’m open for suggestions of other scenarios that could do this, but I can’t think of any myself.)

Three phases to the arc

As I thought about this some more and things started to take shape in my head as a narrative, I determined that Kaito’s character arc throughout this would essentially come in three distinct phases.

Phase 1: stubborn posturing in which he tells himself he’s totally fine and basically invincible and the torture isn’t getting to him at all, not really (because if it was then he couldn’t possibly be a hero, and he needs to be a hero). While it deteriorates somewhat as things progress, this is nonetheless by far the longest phase, lasting most of five chapters or about half the fic’s page count, because Kaito is just that stubborn. That and he’s legitimately very resilient with very high pain tolerance, such that the torture genuinely isn’t getting to him quite as fast as it would for the average person, even beneath his false bravado.

Phase 2: having finally properly admitted to himself that the torture is getting to him and that he’s hurting and scared as all hell, being convinced that this means he’s weak and letting his sidekicks down, because this is all the things a hero should never ever be (right?). As such, he becomes openly terrified of breaking, and almost certain that he’s definitely going do so any moment, as soon as the pain gets bad enough that he just can’t take it any more.

Phase 3: realising that no matter how hurt and scared he is, he’s still not breaking and is never ever going to. (Because of course he never would; that part was never in question. There is already infinite canon evidence that Kaito is more terrified of letting his sidekicks down than of any amount of pain and suffering he could ever go through himself.) Once Kaito realised this, even his own self-loathing and unreasonably high standards wouldn’t be able to deny that, actually, no, this is freaking amazing of him and not weak at all, leading him to finally figure out that this is what being a hero really means and that he’s always been one this whole time.

These three phases should make it clear why the fic needed to be as long as it ended up being. Phase 3 was the ultimate goal of the fic, but that couldn’t happen without first reaching phase 2 in which Kaito openly believed he was about to break. And getting through Kaito’s ridiculous levels of surface stubbornness in phase 1 to even get him to phase 2 in the first place was going to take some doing. That process was also something I really needed to show happening – I couldn’t just skip most of phase 1 offscreen to jump in at phase 2 and expect people to buy it, because Kaito as an openly terrified near-broken wreck is so antithetical to the general image of Kaito that something like that needed to be earned with enough build-up to show how things got to that point. Hopefully I did a satisfying job of gradually breaking Kaito down in every way except the only one that ever truly mattered (the way in which he’d never break at all).

The psychological approach

In order to not make the fic be any more drawn-out that it needed to be, I spent a lot of time thinking about how to break through Kaito’s stubbornness as efficiently as possible, deliberately using tortures that’d get to him psychologically as well as physically. His physical endurance and pain tolerance really is incredible, so if he’d been suffering just physical pain and nothing else, it’d have taken way longer to get past phase 1 than it already did.

(This is also kind of where most of Takehira’s character as someone very carefully psychologically manipulative came from – he needed to be the kind of person who’d have made the same choices I had of how best to go about breaking Kaito as fast as possible. Except, of course, for the part where Takehira had absolutely no idea how genuinely strong Kaito was beneath it all and believed he’d just actually break once his surface stubbornness collapsed.)

In particular, I had a running theme of things that would make Kaito feel helpless, because I knew that’d be the absolute worst for him. Usually, as we see in canon, Kaito can more or less deal with basically any kind of awful situation that’s thrown at him so long as he’s able to feel like he’s doing something to make a difference. Even if he knows it might not really make much of a difference at all, so long as he has something, he can focus on that to distract himself from how bad things are. But take away whatever sense of power and control he’s trying to cling to and make him feel like there’s nothing he can do at all, and suddenly Kaito finds it a lot harder to cope.

And having something to do is important for Kaito not only in that it helps distract him from the pain but also in that it helps distract him from thinking about how he’s feeling, namely the fact that this is getting to him psychologically and surely that must mean he’s weak and not a hero at all. In a way, the biggest contributor to the gradual breakdown of Kaito’s stubbornness throughout phase 1 is not Takehira’s psychological tactics but Kaito himself: his own unreasonably high standards for heroes and the way he treats himself when he inevitably doesn’t match up to them. Kaito is absolutely the type to torture himself, and that’s not just in a literal physical sense like he did in chapter 2, but also in the sense of constantly berating himself and tearing himself down over any kind of “weakness” that slips through his defences. He beats himself up far too much simply for being a goddamn human being who suffers when he’s tortured, because obviously real heroes wouldn’t ever be that way, right? If it wasn’t for Kaito’s tendency to think like that, he’d have lasted so much longer before reaching absolute rock bottom.

Kaito being alone here also significantly affects how he responds to this compared to how he usually acts in stressful situations – because he has no-one to keep up a heroic façade in front of in order to encourage them. If one of Shuichi or Maki was also there and being tortured along with him, or even if Kaito just happened to be being tortured alongside one of the other kids from the cult, the possibility that he could help them through their suffering by continuing to put a brave face on things would have allowed him to do that so much more than he could on his own. That’s really an automatic thing for him: that selfless luminary instinct of “I need to be strong so I can give them strength” genuinely fills Kaito with a near-bottomless fountain of strength completely unconsciously, as well as giving him something to be distracting himself with and feel like he’s doing to make a difference. But because he’s the only one here, he simply doesn’t have that to draw on.

(And even then, even though it shouldn’t matter to him what anyone else in this place thinks of him because none of his torturers are going to be helped by it, Kaito still cares way more than he should about how Takehira and the henchmen are seeing him. This is really about nothing but how Kaito’s own self-image is slowly deteriorating, especially since Takehira makes it clear from the start that he already sees him as weak and believes any strength is just empty posturing, yet Kaito still frequently frames things in terms of what he must look like to them. His self-image is so rooted in other people’s image of him that this just keeps being a thing even when it shouldn’t actually matter. And what’s fun is that I didn’t even consciously think about having Kaito do this; my mental simulation of Kaito just did, and I made this observation about it after the fact.)

Why Kaito lies to himself

You may have noticed how Kaito spends the first chapter and a half avoiding any direct acknowledgement of the fact that he’s even in pain, and much longer than that, basically the entirety of phase 1, refusing to admit that he’s scared. This might just seem to be because Kaito is well-practiced at lying to himself – but the thing is, he’s not.

I gave this a lot of thought upon realising I was going to have to write this in Kaito’s POV, which was not a thing I’d done before and quite a more daunting task than writing Kaito from the outside. How much weakness Kaito shows on the surface is an easy thing to predict, because we get so much evidence in canon of how that works for him (the answer, of course, being very goddamn little). But how much he consciously acknowledges to himself beneath the surface even though he doesn’t show it? That’s a matter that’s much harder to gauge.

That said, there are some pieces of canon evidence that can help us get a sense of this. The first is the two scenes where we see Kaito coughing up blood on his own. Because he’s alone, this should be a lot closer to the way he deals with things inside his head than anything we see when he’s around the others. While he’s trying to remain determined in the things he’s saying, you can tell from his demeanour that he’s clearly very consciously aware of how bad things are and how scared he is. It does not for a second look like he’s actually managing to convince himself that he’s Totally Fine like he pretends to be in front of the others. He knows how bad things are; he’s just trying – not all that successfully – to stay as positive as he can about it, because doing otherwise would be pointlessly moping and practically tantamount to giving up, and Kaito hates doing either of those things.

The other even more clear canon evidence of the extent to which Kaito consciously acknowledges his “weakness” beneath the surface is his Harmonious Heart event. This is the one time we actually get to see a small snippet of his inner monologue, and, delightfully, it’s in a context which is extremely relevant to this. He calls himself “weak” for having just a brief pessimistic thought, then goes on to berate himself for it and get caught up in worrying about what would happen if Shuichi ever saw this “weakness” from him. So, clearly, even though he never admits to it on the surface, Kaito very much can and will consciously notice his weakness, and apparently this is liable to set his thoughts off into a self-deprecating spiral of feeling like this means he’s not good enough for his sidekicks. This is some excellent, exceedingly useful information for this fic that I’m very glad I had. Have I ever mentioned that Kaito’s Harmonious Heart event is the freaking best.

Still, even if Kaito believes he secretly is weak, so long as his sidekicks don’t know that and he continues to appear on the surface to be the invincible hero that they totally need to see him as, then it’s okay and he’s not failing them. All he’s dealing with in that case is the fear that he might possibly fail them one day, if he slips up and lets them see some kind of weakness from him. This is the case in the canon killing game when Kaito has plenty of things to be scared about – and while it wouldn’t have been a thing in UTDP during his time at Hope’s Peak, in which Kaito genuinely was completely fine, it would have become an issue in my AU once they were on the run from the cult. Kaito would have been fully aware of just how lost and terrified and not-actually-invincible-at-all he was beneath the surface, and he’d have been constantly afraid that if his sidekicks ever realised that, there’d be nothing at all he could do for them to keep boosting their spirits and no reason for him to have even come along. The evidence from canon indicates that he’d still have been able to acknowledge that weakness to himself, even if he’d have hated doing so.

However, while Kaito is being tortured, it’s a very different thing altogether. Usually, Kaito’s worry is that he will fail his sidekicks if they see his weakness. But here, suddenly the apparent problem is that if Kaito is weak at all (and he’d already begun to feel like he is during their time on the run), he will fail his sidekicks, so badly that they will die. This entire thought is such an absolutely inconceivable Nope for Kaito that, from the moment he realises those are the stakes here, he begins to block out acknowledgement of any kind of “weakness”, completely subconsciously.

Right at the beginning of chapter 1 of the fic, I very deliberately put in a few brief bits of Kaito acknowledging pain (when his head hurts from the drug he was kidnapped with) and at least vaguely acknowledging fear (when he freaks out upon thinking Shuichi and Maki might already be dead), specifically to try and illustrate that Kaito would usually be okay with somewhat admitting to these things in his head. But all that stops the moment it hits him that he’s going to be tortured. Lying to himself this completely is not normally a thing that Kaito does or is even that good at doing – but in this situation, it’s his only way to escape from the notion that he’s already failing them.

Kaito appears to compare the thought that he’s about to be tortured to the event horizon of a black hole, as if, once he acknowledges what’s going to happen to him, he’ll be sucked into an awful inescapable abyss. But the real black hole isn’t the thought of the torture itself, but rather the thought that he’s not going to be strong enough to endure it. Kaito’s mental spaceship does absolutely everything it can to stay outside of that event horizon for as long as possible, and it manages to do so for almost five whole chapters. The narration says the “spaceship” swerved off-course, but it never actually says it swerved towards the black hole. It was actually swerving even further away.

In the usual situation where Kaito is terrified that the breaking point would be letting other people see his “weakness”, he can avoid that by just stubbornly refusing to let anyone see it. He is very, very good at this and can practically keep it up forever, which is precisely why he’s never going to learn on his own that he really has nothing to be afraid of. However, in this situation, where the terrifying breaking point is just him being “weak” in the first place, and so he tries to avoid it by lying to himself about it – well, that’s not something he can keep up forever. So, sooner or later, Kaito is going to be forced to confront the supposed breaking point and ultimately see that nothing was ever going to break at all. That’s why being tortured is quite possibly the only situation in which Kaito would ever figure this out on his own: for the exact same reason as why it makes him try to lie to himself in the first place.

The event horizon

As Kaito justifies to himself at one point in the fic, he’s not stupid enough to have literally tried to convince himself that being tortured wasn’t even going to hurt. Him not acknowledging the pain for a chapter and a half is less him trying to make himself believe that it’s not there at all and more just him trying to gloss over thinking about it, because obviously it’s irrelevant and totally something he can just ignore. (And, again, canon evidence indicates Kaito is legitimately very good at ignoring constant pain, at least up to a certain point.) A real hero would definitely be able to grin and bear the pain like it’s nothing, right?

As the pain gets too much for him to just ignore and begins to get to him in ways that he can’t quite fully deny, this wears down Kaito’s confidence in himself and makes him begin to worry that he might not be strong enough. But since pain is after all supposed to be the point of torture, he can just about let himself concede this much while only ending up a little less sure if he can hold on, rather than finding himself utterly certain that this means he can’t. Acknowledging the fact that he’s hurting is not quite enough on its own to be the event horizon that pushes him irreversibly into phase 2.

Fear, though, is an entirely different matter. Fear is all in the mind, and therefore it’s definitely something Kaito should have control over, isn’t it? He should totally be able to just prevent himself from feeling it at all, obviously. Any halfway-decent hero would be able to do that. And so, if he does feel fear anyway, then that’s just him being weak and not remotely heroic. More to the point, if he’s letting himself be scared of the torture, that means that sooner or later he’s going to be so scared of it that he’ll definitely betray his sidekicks just to make it stop, won’t he?

…The thing is, Kaito is not one of those people with a misconception about what “coward” means in that they think simply being scared in the first place makes someone a coward. He knows what courage is, and he can apply that concept completely correctly when it comes to helping his sidekicks face their fears and overcome them (or when it comes to villains who are cowards). But heroes? It’s different for heroes. Heroes are not supposed to get scared in the first place. If they ever do, then the question of whether or not they’re able to be brave about it doesn’t matter, because they’ve already failed the moment they let themselves become scared at all. So it just doesn’t even cross Kaito’s mind that of course he’s still brave enough to refuse to make the torture stop even though it’s scaring him.

Plus, because he’s blocking out acknowledging his fear in general, and because he’s blocking out any thoughts of getting his sidekicks killed even harder than that, Kaito never gets a chance to properly reflect on the fact that he is quite obviously more scared of letting his sidekicks down and losing them than he is of the torture itself. If he’d realised that, he might have been able to figure out from the very beginning that it was simply not possible that he’d ever break.

But he’s not capable of figuring that out. As such, the mere thought that he’s scared is the awful inescapable event horizon of definitely-getting-his-sidekicks-killed that Kaito is so desperately trying to avoid for the first half of the fic. It’s therefore also the point that I needed to force him into in order to get him to phase 2 of his character arc and closer to the fic’s goal.

Thinking about nothing everything

Chapter 4, despite being the shortest Kaito chapter in the fic, is perhaps one of the most important for this, because Kaito spends almost all of it doing nothing but thinking. He would have distracted himself by going at the rail again, but one single attempt reminding himself of the horrific ordeal it was last time was enough to put a stop to that. And then he would have distracted himself by just deliberately thinking of something unrelated, like another Space-Themed Coping Mechanism, but since he was trying to sleep, he didn’t really want to do that either – plus he might have been too mentally exhausted to even be able to focus on something like that for long.

So Kaito spends most of that near-sleepless night trying to think about nothing at all, and therefore constantly having his empty mind bombarded by intrusive thoughts about all the things going on with him that he doesn’t want to acknowledge: his immediate physical problems of being hurt and hungry and thirsty, not to mention his worries about how he’s failing and losing. He’d begun to make noises that sounded undeniably like screaming, and he also couldn’t really deny that he’d basically given up trying to break free from the rail and any words claiming otherwise were empty, both of which are clearly very unheroic things for him to have done. As much as he tried to wave away thoughts like that whenever they came, being as exhausted as he was made doing so more difficult than it’d usually be, and a whole night of barely-suppressed self-deprecation really wore down his confidence a lot.

But even worse than Kaito’s gradually-increasing self-loathing over how he’d responded to what he’d already been through were the thoughts of what was coming up. He knew full well that the torture was only going to keep getting worse, and he’d been very pointedly avoiding thinking about that from the beginning. Doing that might lead to the notion that he’s scared of how bad it’ll get, especially now that he’s growing more and more sure that he’s not really strong enough to handle it at all. If he properly acknowledged these thoughts and followed them to their endpoint, he’d already reach the conclusion that he’s never going to be able to hold on long enough to keep his sidekicks alive. Out of his sheer unconscious determination to avoid that event horizon no matter what, Kaito somehow still stubbornly manages to dodge any direct acknowledgment that he’s afraid for the entire mostly-sleepless night. Somehow.

I honestly wasn’t entirely sure how he’d managed this at first, only that he had to have done so one way or another for his arc to progress like I’d planned. So writing Kaito in the beginning of chapter 5, before the water torture starts, was kind of interesting in that I didn’t really realise until after I’d written it that the mindset I’d instinctively written him being in actually answers that question. He’s just kind of in-the-moment, passively reacting to the things happening without thinking beyond them. He fights back against being tied up, but that’s more just for the sake of wanting to seem like someone who’d fight back than because he actually has any conscious intent to try and escape. And for the whole time he’s being dragged towards the sink, he doesn’t even register that that’s where they’re taking him, let alone worry about why that might be; he’s only thinking about how being dragged hurts and nothing more.

That’s because the only way Kaito could get through the night without falling apart already from how scared he was of the future was by subconsciously shifting himself into a mindset that doesn’t even acknowledge that there’s a future at all. He began to only allow himself to think about whatever’s happening right now, and nothing else. As such, it’s hard to be afraid of or want to try and escape what’s coming when he’s refusing to even let himself think about the fact that something bad is coming in the first place.

Another interesting thing I didn’t really do on purpose in chapter 5 is that Kaito barely even invokes the word “hero” to himself in it until the breaking point, despite having done so all the time in the past four chapters. He’s already subconsciously learned from all the thought-dodging he did all night that trying to tell himself he’s a hero is only going to lead to the conclusion that he definitely isn’t really one at all. (The one time he does use the word is the brief bit where he first sees himself in the mirror, since that’s a whole new source of proof-he’s-not-a-hero that he hadn’t already spent all night training himself to avoid thinking about.)

The space-off

Kaito’s whole space thing in the main part of chapter 5 was more than just a coping mechanism – it was also kind of a desperate last stand of his surface stubbornness and “strength” and insistence that this isn’t getting to him at all. And that’s… kind of why he falls apart so completely when he trips up on it just the once.

If he’d properly acknowledged it as a coping mechanism, accepting that that’s okay because he kind of needs one right now against this water torture that’s awful and terrifying and incredibly hard to hold on through, then it’d have been easy for him to pick it right back up after he forgot Atlas that one time. He’d have been able to reassure himself that sure, that’s bound to happen once or twice, but it’ll still be easier for him to cope if he can keep it up for as long as possible. But, you know, that’d have required Kaito to accept and be okay with his vulnerability, which, ha ha, not a chance, not in phase 1.

Interestingly – and this is another thing that kind of just happened without me deliberately meaning it to – Kaito’s other Space Coping Mechanism of picturing constellations at the end of chapter 3 is something he was rather more consciously aware of being a coping mechanism than the one in chapter 5. He basically admitted for that one that he just needed something to distract himself, and deliberately began doing it with that in mind.

I think the reason that the one here in chapter 5 is different is because Kaito is so close to the precipice of realising how “weak” he is and falling apart. In that state, he can’t afford to admit to even the slightest ounce of needing a coping mechanism like he could just about allow himself to do before. So while he starts the planets thing out of a subconscious desperation to find a way to distract himself and cope, on the surface of his thoughts he twists it into something different, something that totally proves he’s strong and in control and winning at last.

Which is really just setting himself up to crash and burn hard, sooner or later. He made it into this competition that he had to win in a last-ditch effort to prove after all that he doesn’t lose, as if that’d put him back to how relatively-strong he felt at the beginning and totally erase all the many times he feels like he’s lost up to this point. And to prove that, his performance has to be perfect without even the slightest crack or flaw, just like everything else about him has needed to be. So, upon messing up just once (though he frantically scrambles to justify that as an outlier he can paper over because of course he doesn’t want to admit defeat so easily), that means he’s not good enough, proving once and for all that all those losses really were deserved and he was never as strong as he thought. Especially when he opens his eyes and sees himself and realises what this looked like to his torturers – of course it was never actually “proving” that he’s invincible and not even remotely suffering, and they never saw it that way. Still, what they probably actually saw it as was a frustratingly effective coping mechanism that he was being really annoyingly stubborn about keeping up. But Kaito can’t see that; he can only see the fact that he needed such an extreme coping mechanism as proof of how pathetically desperate he’d become.

The black hole’s centre

If the “event horizon” of this metaphorical black hole was Kaito admitting that he’s scared, then the black hole’s gravity, the pull that he can no longer escape once he’s admitted that, was the force of Kaito’s own self-loathing when he doesn’t live up to his unreasonable standards for heroes. The torture only nudged him closer to that event horizon by weakening his mental fortitude and ability to fight against it, but he was really pulling himself in the entire time. Compared to how impressively long it took Kaito to get from “this is fine, I can handle this” to “damn it, I’m scared” throughout phase 1, it’s a really quick descent from there into the endpoint of “they’re going to die because of me” in phase 2. That’s a mental leap that you’d expect would take much longer for most people than the first leap. And he doesn’t even spend that much of that period being actually tortured.

…Okay, so I’ll give Kaito some credit: he did still try and fight back against being pulled all the way in to that point. My original plan of his thought process in chapter 6 went somewhat differently to in the finished fic: he was supposed to lament how he shouldn’t have come on the run with Maki and Shuichi earlier, and then those thoughts would lead in to the realisation that they were going to die because of him. Except, as I was writing Kaito after he’d failed to get at the antidote and was left alone with his thoughts, he just… utterly refused to think about Shuichi and Maki at all no matter how I tried to write it. Apparently, he was already subconsciously aware that being this scared obviously meant he was going to get them killed (you can see this in chapter 5 as his desperate wish to see them again ends with an unresolved “but…”, because he already felt like he wasn’t going to). So he just didn’t even want to think about them at all, because it’d inevitably lead to him having to consciously confront that unbearable fact. Even in phase 2, Kaito was still being stubborn and trying to lie to himself about this one last thing.

Takehira’s line where he reacts to Kaito’s desperate antidote gambit by pointing out that this proves he’s already broken was added after I realised this, so that I could externally nudge him that final step into acknowledging the last thought he was running away from. Then it only made sense for Kaito to acknowledge the thought that he was getting his friends killed and break down crying first, before thinking about anything else. Only then, with the awful “truth” out in the open and absolutely nothing left to lose psychologically, could Kaito finally let his thoughts flow as freely and as self-loathingly as I wanted them to.

There were a lot of those thoughts to get through, after all. Having Kaito in this broken state of not even trying to convince himself he’s a hero any more was a rare chance to have him openly admit to all of the things that he’s always been secretly afraid are true: that he can’t do anything to help his sidekicks, that he doesn’t even deserve to call them that when they obviously don’t need him, that if they’re really the heroes then that must mean they’re basically invincible and totally never suffered at all. None of this is anything especially novel to this specific situation – it’s all basically stuff I’ve lengthily talked about in many of my Kaito rambles in other posts – but still, it deserved to be here, too.

As I mentioned earlier, while Kaito would not usually be outright lying to himself about worries of this nature, he’d also normally be forcing himself to stay optimistic, trying to pull himself off any trains of thought like this before he reached their destination. He’s not supposed to wallow in bad thoughts when he could be trying to find a way to stay positive! But here, with how much he’s been suffering and hating himself, and with his surface stubbornness and determination to find a way to be a hero just completely broken, Kaito doesn’t have it in him to even try and stop it any more. Especially not after having just had a huge awful sobbing fit, the lingering emotions from which would make him way more likely to just hop on negative trains of thought than he’d usually be.

Even so, some of this part didn’t quite read right in an earlier draft. I’d made the tone of his thoughts sound just a little too much like pessimistically accepting defeat, which still didn’t quite feel in-character for Kaito, even at rock bottom like he was. I had to do some more editing on some of these bits, keeping the content of his thoughts the same but making the tone of them come across as more angry and bitter and viciously self-deprecating. That read better, because that’s a lot closer to behaviour we know Kaito definitely leans into when he’s not having a good time. But giving up? Not quite. Not really, not even when he thinks he has.

Finally honest, but so, so wrong

See, one very fun thing about writing Kaito in phase 2 was that, now that he’s openly terrified and not even slightly trying to gloss over how awful the torture is, it becomes more and more obvious just how strong he’s being to endure it all. Yet he’s so consumed by his own self-loathing over not being straight-up invincible that he completely fails to notice that himself.

At the end of chapter 5, Kaito wonders why Takehira’s even still asking the question when Kaito’s already obviously lost the “competition”. He got so wrapped up in feeling like he had to “win” by never running out of planets and moons to answer with that he practically forgot the reason why Takehira was actually asking him where his sidekicks are. Really, Kaito won that whole thing by never telling the truth – heck, he refused to even say they were on Earth! No matter how terrified he became, it never even crossed his mind that there was a way he could end it! But because of how vehemently he insisted on the space thing as something he had to win, because he thinks that simply being scared is unacceptable, he utterly fails to realise how strong he’s just been and ends the chapter feeling like a horrible pathetic failure rather than the shaken but defiant victor he actually is.

(Takehira just about managed to pick up on this, and that’s why he stopped when he did. He was expecting it to only take a little more to break Kaito after he lost hold of the coping mechanism and became a lot more visibly terrified – but Kaito’s “go to hell”, pathetic and desperate as it was, proved that he still had some fight left in him and probably wasn’t going to break quite so soon after all. Takehira could have kept going anyway, but that ran the risk of making Kaito realise that he was still winning and possibly restore some of his confidence in himself. Can’t have that. …Again, in some ways, Takehira is basically a manifestation of my writing process as I figured out how best to psychologically break Kaito – except for the part where Takehira really did think the water torture would be enough to break him entirely and was quite frustrated when it didn’t. Strike-9 is expensive, damn it; he was hoping he wouldn’t have to resort to that.)

And then there’s the beginning of chapter 6 when Kaito tries to sit up or at least glare at Takehira – sure, he’s hurt and scared enough that he can’t quite manage either, but the fact that he tried at all still shows defiance and proves that he hasn’t given up, not really. Despite Kaito becoming absolutely convinced that he won’t be able to hold on against the poison forever, he still never stops trying to do anything he can to hold on for at least a little bit longer anyway. He genuinely believes at this point that it’s impossible for him, but even though he’s not remotely consciously thinking about making the impossible possible, that’s still what he’s trying to do, because that’s just a completely instinctive part of what makes him Kaito! If Kaito has anything that could really almost be thought of as a superpower, it’s a complete inability to truly fall into despair no matter how bad things get, and that even applies when on the surface he very much thinks there’s no hope left.

Even as Kaito is increasingly tearing himself apart and calling himself weak and pathetic for being a human being who suffers when he’s tortured, he is also being increasingly amazing for still refusing to break regardless. I may be the author of this fic who’s out-universely responsible for putting Kaito through this hell in the first place, but I also spent most of phase 2 wishing I could just reach into the story and tell him over and over again how strong and brave he is until he believes it.

But, well, the point of this fic was to get him to figure that out on his own. To do that I needed to keep dragging him towards a terrible moment of being absolutely certain he’s going to break right here, so that when he doesn’t, he can finally begin to see himself for the hero he is. Chapter 6 ended up way longer than I was expecting it to be, partly because there were a lot of self-loathing issuey thoughts I wanted Kaito to get through while he was in a state of mind in which he’d openly think them, but also just because Kaito really did need to spend that long in increasingly awful fear and agony before he reached the apparent breaking point. Kaito is still so amazingly resilient even when he doesn’t realise it, and it didn’t feel like it would seem right that someone as strong as him had been brought down to really genuinely thinking he couldn’t take it any more without such a long period of agonising build-up. This fic needed to be as long as it is both in phase 2 as well as phase 1 because, even when he doesn’t believe in himself at all, Kaito is incredible.

His friends didn’t come too soon

It might seem like it would have been better for Shuichi and Maki to have rescued Kaito earlier if they could have, in that he’d have suffered less torture. But if they’d done so before he had his epiphany that restored his confidence in himself, things would have been way worse for Kaito’s psychological state in the aftermath, despite him not having suffered for quite as long.

How bad exactly would have depended on where Kaito was in his character arc when they got there. If he’d still been in phase 1, he’d have probably been able to more or less paper over his psychological trauma and pretend to be Completely Fine like the hero he still totally is (right!?!?). Which definitely wouldn’t have been great for him, and Maki and Shuichi wouldn’t have believed for a second that he was actually okay, but even that would still be quite a bit better than if they’d come while he was in the openly-terrified self-loathing of phase 2.

Kaito was so emotionally fragile at that point that I don’t think he could have scraped together any kind of façade to try and convince Shuichi and Maki he was fine as they reached him and got him out of there. But that’s the problem – even as he wouldn’t have been able to help accepting their hugs and comfort because of how badly he needed it, beneath it Kaito would have been hating himself for needing it. He’d be convinced that this was yet more proof he’s not a hero and they’re obviously secretly disgusted with him and thinking how pathetic he is, aren’t they? He’d have started crying in their arms out of desperate relief and gratitude, but then that’d have made him feel worse, twisting his sobs into ones of pain rather than relief, because he’s still failing them right now and he can’t stop himself. No amount of Shuichi and Maki reassuring him that he’s safe and it’s over and nobody’s going to hurt him any more would be able to calm him down, and they’d be very, very worried by this.

And once Kaito had recovered enough to be able to hide his vulnerability again (which wouldn’t even take that long, because Kaito is far too good at hiding vulnerability), he’d push away the support he still desperately needed – his suffering is irrelevant and shameful, after all – and be convinced he didn’t deserve his friends at all because he was obviously about to get them killed any second, right? All in all he’d just be a massive ball of excruciating self-destructiveness, still psychologically torturing himself long after it should have been over.

Shuichi and Maki wouldn’t quite realise why Kaito was still hurting so much and would just believe that the torture traumatised him even more than they’d been expecting it to. They’d never dream without him saying so (and of course he’d never tell them) that he’d actually believed he was going to break and that that’s hurting him more than the torture itself did. This’d leave them with a familiar problem: even if they know that Kaito is suffering and want to help him, without understanding the root of his issues, it’s very difficult to broach the topic of his suffering with him in a way that won’t make Kaito hate himself for being weak in front of them and clam up more. (See: when Shuichi offered to help Kaito to his room at the end of trial 4, the three non-optimal outcomes of Kaito’s Harmonious Heart event, and also something like this.)

So really it’s for the best that Maki and Shuichi come for Kaito only after he’d figured out on his own that it’s okay for heroes to be vulnerable and need others. That way he can actually let himself break down in their arms and accept their support with basically no self-loathing about how badly he needs it. He still does have a remnant of his instinctive “no, showing weakness to them is Bad, stop it”, but that voice is small and quiet enough that it only even piped up after he started crying, and he can shut it down himself with only the slightest of outside evidence. If they’re hugging him back, that clearly means they understand what he figured out and aren’t disappointed in him being like this at all. He can look at what it meant when Maki cried and needed a hug and apply that to himself as well with barely any hesitation; his horrendous double-standard for heroes has just vanished into nothing and it’s so lovely to get to write a Kaito like this.

While Kaito’s now fully aware that it’s okay for heroes to suffer and that overcoming trials like that only makes them more inspiring, he might however have swerved juuust a little too far in the opposite direction of feeling like he needs to suffer to be a hero, which is also not a healthy mindset. He did, after all, spend several hours in horrible agony while clinging to the thought that this proves he’s a hero, and that’s got to have left a psychological mark. But Shuichi and Maki were there to snap Kaito out of it when he found himself a little too ready to think about going through hell like that again. They’ll be able to help him work through that and stop thinking that way before he goes and internalises that too deeply, now that he’s actually willing to talk about his issues with them.

Physical injuries aside, Kaito’s going to have a lot of PTSD and trauma to work through here in general – but he’ll be determined to face it head on and not let it hold him back forever. With his friends’ support, his newfound willingness to accept vulnerability, and his incredible resilience, he’ll be okay in the end.

A couple of bonus thoughts

Shuichi calling Kaito “bro” for the first time was something I’d had in mind not specifically for this fic but just as a thing he’d do in any universe in which his and Kaito’s relationship finally became the equal, mutually-supportive one that it desperately deserves to be.

Shuichi canonically really does think of Kaito as a regular best friend as well as an inspiring hero to the point that you’d think he wouldn’t have a problem reciprocating the way Kaito addresses him, to give this mutual sense of casual close-friends-ness. But he doesn’t, giving me the impression that, despite their friendship, Shuichi still instinctively feels there’s a sort of distance between him and Kaito that he doesn’t feel comfortable trying to close. That’s almost certainly rooted in the fact that Shuichi looks up to Kaito and subconsciously believes he’s invincible and wouldn’t ever need the kind of support that Shuichi needs so much of from him. So in any situation in which he finally realises that’s wrong and that they’re equals (and that happens instantly in chapter 0 of this fic the moment he hears that Kaito’s going to be tortured), Shuichi would begin to feel that of course he should be calling Kaito “bro” in return, that’s just the natural thing to do for a friend like him, and why on earth did he never feel inclined to do so sooner?

In Japanese, this would of course instead be Shuichi beginning to call him “Kaito”, with no honorifics, instead of the “Momota-kun” that it always was before, to match how Kaito’s always called him “Shuichi” and not “Saihara” since they became friends. I very deliberately avoided the urge to have Shuichi use Kaito’s name prior to calling him “bro” in chapter 7, so that that line being the first moment he does so would hypothetically work the same way in Japanese. (Though maybe I shouldn’t have bothered, given how most of the entire rest of the fic would literally not even work in Japanese at all, what with Kaito’s hero thing to his sidekicks not even using that word in Japanese, grumble grumble.)

Another thing that was more just prompted by a general thought of mine about Kaito than by anything specific to this situation is the fact that whenever Kaito’s narration refers to both his sidekicks by name, it’s just about equally likely to be “Maki Roll and Shuichi” as “Shuichi and Maki Roll”. That’s just because this is the UTDP universe.

If I was writing something set in killing game canon from Kaito’s POV and having him think about both his sidekicks a lot, it’d always be “Shuichi and Maki Roll”, every time. Each of his sidekicks are equally important to him in terms of how much he believes in them and wants to support them – but in killing game canon, Kaito also has his whole mound of jealousy and issues that make him particularly fixated on Shuichi in a way that doesn’t apply nearly as much to Maki. So the Kaito in that universe would always instinctively put Shuichi’s name first, even though he wouldn’t consciously realise he’s kind of showing favouritism there.

But in UTDP, Kaito’s Shuichi-centric issues aren’t a thing (or, at most, they’ve only vaguely begun to surface while on the run in a way that applies equally as much to Maki in this case), and therefore both his sidekicks genuinely are of equal importance to him in every single way. I wanted to show this by repeatedly alternating which one he gives top billing when he’s thinking of them together. It’s just basically random chance each time which one he puts first, because he’d put them both first if he could. Kaito is good like that.

#danganronpa v3 #kaito momota #kaito whump #character analysis #ramble #kaito's hero issues #writing #torture #shuichi saihara #(part 2 won't take this ridiculously long; it's already mostly written)

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writerseven · 4 years

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i would love commentary on the ending conversation between jason and bruce from present if you're willing (sorry i tried sending the actual passage but tumblr kept rejecting my ask for some reason when i actually pasted it) love your fics!!!

Thank you!! yeah tumblr is a nightmare, but no worries about not pasting the section; this works too! I'll include it here myself

When he returns to his bedroom, Jason is finally sitting up, hair still rumbled and face imprinted with the pillow's creases. He looks around the room before squinting up at Bruce.

(gonna be real I just love the contrast of Big Scary Jason having pillow imprints on his face. also I just found another typo from doing this booo)

“Where's the kid?” he asks.

Bruce raises his eyebrows in judgment. “It's Monday. He's at school.”

Jason, as always, falters and then steels back up at the implied insult to his intelligence. “Yeah. Right.”

Before he can wake up enough to become irritable, Bruce glides over to him for a deep and forceful kiss. Jason catches up after a moment, grasping handfuls of Bruce's shirt to hold him close, and then shoving him away.

In terms of word choice/little micro writing decisions, describing that judgmental 'he's at school' took me a minute. Even though this fic is 100% Bruce's PoV I originally imagined that moment more from Jason's, where it's easier to just describe Bruce as judgmental and Jason as upset. Writing it in Bruce's PoV unlocks all the underlying motivation—Bruce knows he's being a condescending dick, doesn't even think Jason is stupid, and just figures the insecurity will put Jason on the defensive—and I wildly over-explained all of that when I first wrote it

(A consistent problem for me: I am always trying to talk myself down from explaining too much, and reminding myself I can trust readers to put things together themselves. That's also just a good writing tip in general! Trust your readers to pay attention!)

“Alfred kept breakfast warm for you,” Bruce says, belaying whatever Jason meant to say and redirecting to safer topics. “I think he mentioned showing you the remodels to the library when he returns, if you're up for it.”

Jason grunts, shifting off the bed. “I'm taking a shower.”

It's not a no. Practically the same as agreement.

OKAY so writing any given scene is a lot easier when I know what I'm trying to accomplish with it, and this scene was for two things. The first was just to sort of establish time moving forward and give a baseline for what everybody will be doing.

Lure to present all take place over the weekend with very few pauses left to the imagination between events, but I knew I was going to jump ahead a little bit going forward (and switch temporarily away from the Bruce/Jason/Tim trio with Dick's PoV), so I wanted to briefly establish that Jason is still at the manor even with Tim gone, and Bruce is probably using various little activities and excuses (and Alfred) to keep him around. It may just be me, and I definitely get far more intense about time lines than most people, but I knew it would bug me if I didn't give some indication of where Jason would be and why. He probably wouldn't stick around without the Tim-excuse on his own, thus Bruce guiding to safe topics like “Alfred wants to show you stuff!”

(also: “It's not a no. Practically the same as agreement.“ he’s just the WORST)

“Jason,” Bruce says, stopping him as he reaches the bathroom doorway. He's had a month to adjust to it, but the mere ability to speak his son's name again still fills some part of his heart long left empty. “Last night was...” Revelatory. A perfect gift.

“Thank you," he finishes. "I don't know what I'd do without you.”

(two typos ughhhhhhhhhhhh)

The second goal was making that extremely unsubtle parallel between Bruce's manipulations of Jason and of Tim with I don't know what I'd do without you. There have definitely been some parallels already, but I really liked making it super blatant. (Hey remember three seconds ago when I said I tend to over-explain? Whoops. Hopefully this one was merited and enjoyable.) It's a comment on how awful Bruce is, but also a little bit how lazy he's gotten—he doesn't even need to come up with anything else, because he just uses the exact same line on both.

...the embarrassing addition here is that the first version I posted left it unclear who said that last line, which I didn't realize until a commenter referred to it as Jason speaking. 😬 Tbh the idea of Jason already knowing exactly what Bruce was going to say was super cool and interesting and I straight up wondered if that be better and I should canon-ize it—but ultimately it just doesn't work with where I'm pushing the characters. Unfortunately for Jason, as aware as he is of Bruce's manipulative tendencies in general, he completely fails—or perhaps subconsciously refuses—to notice Bruce is using them on him too.

Subtler parallel: Jason's initial confusion at Tim being gone, having completely forgotten about the concept of school, lightly mirrors Tim in the previous fic thinking about how strange and distant “real life” felt. (Though Jason has the excuse of, you know, not having school and a “normal” life since he died)

That sort of calls back to one of my favorite parallels (though probably not as noticeable since it's between fics)—Jason noting in surrogate that everybody brushing their teeth together is the weirdest thing he's done, and then Tim noting in prevaricator that seeing Jason eat breakfast like a normal person is the weirdest thing he's seen. They're both SO USED to this ridiculously fucked up situation that mundane and calm events are what register as wrong.

And jumping back for one last thing:

He's had a month to adjust to it, but the mere ability to speak his son's name again still fills some part of his heart long left empty.

I wanted to remind everyone that Jason's return was very recent (because I know typical batfic picks up awhile after it) but more importantly, I wanted to make it clear that Bruce really does...care about Jason.

It's a shitty, manipulative, controlling kind of care, but he loves his son. I've read various sorta similar fics where it turns out Bruce never liked Jason (or even arranged his death!!!) and I wanted to take very much the opposite path here. imo it's more twisted and more compelling the less black and white things are. Bruce isn't a heartless monster who only wants to abuse his kids and doesn't care for them; Bruce is a horrible person who abuses his kids but still fully believes he loves them in his own way, and would absolutely protect them from any danger (except, yknow, the danger Bruce poses himself).

This commentary is way longer than the actual passage, but hopefully y'all liked reading it as much as I liked rambling. Thanks for the ask, anon!!!

#7ask #anon #new ask game: send me sections with typos and see if i actually notice them on the fifth read through #props series

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theangrypokemaniac · 4 years

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I'll state from the beginning that the images below display the sort of sweet synchronicity to which only love can give life:

MaAndPaShipping is the best ship, and here are five reasons why:

1. It Made James

Like the boy do yer? Ever felt the slightest tingle of warmth at the mention of his name?

Well get down on yer knees and give thanks to his mother and father for gifting him to the world!

Where would we be without their remarkable commitment? Could James have grown into the dandified dream boat of your desires if deprived of the safety provided by his parents?

Had they not brought him up, he'd be dead, The Dog of Flanders fantasy made reality. If miraculously he survived, foraging in the wild is not conducive to a foppish personality.

Is that to yer fancy? No? Then let's have a little respect. The luxury Ma and Pa gave enabled his macaroni tendencies to reach such heights.

Their love created him! How can it not be celebrated?

You lot would ship Jessie's parents but you can't, because she has no dad, and I don't suppose you'll ever assent to his obvious identity of Windy Miller, although 'Jessie Miller' has a wonderful ring to it, so what can be done?

Should a Pa Jess be conjured for the purpose, he still buggered off, didn't he? Where's the allure in a faithless git?

I can't comprehend the obsession with Ma Jess. As soon as here she's stiff, and what is there to remember but coercing her daughter into eating snow?

Hey, I named her. What more do you want from me?

I'd rather have the living, visible ancestors, if you don't mind.

Yeah, says the history fanatic.

Why not make the most of the chances offered, and follow a devoted couple whose love made a difference to your existence?

2. Canon!

There are many ships which I find repulsive for involving depravity, or absurd as the subjects haven't met, or don't inhabit the same fictional universe.

Video et taceo: I see and I say nothing.

Neither does anyone. Forcing decent folk in to incest, bestiality etc. is quite alright.

Perverted ideas are left alone, but woe betide a Rocketshipper, because that's offensive.

It may be the only original ship left standing, with proper evidence and sanctioned by Nintendo, but no, it's fair game for undermining. People pick at your arguments, quibble constantly and NEED to register their objections NOW. You MUST be made aware of opposition. You're not to be permitted your views the way those with twisted tastes are indulged.

Why, out of tens of thousands of combinations, does making Jessie and James an item provoke hostility?

The strength of negativity actually serves as validation, for why be so concerned if it's an impossible relationship?

However sick they are, I'm not anti any ship. I can't muster sufficient interest to do it, and if I scroll on, I forget. I certainly don't attack those responsible.

Anti-Shipping is inherently nihilistic for promoting loneliness. They aren't against Rocketshipping through wanting Jessie and James to be with someone else, as an alternative is not readily available, so the outcome of it is neither finding a companion.

MaAndPaShipping attracts no sourpuss silliness, for 'tis canon beyond question. There's nothing about being 'just friends' when married with a son.

How's the state of your O.T.P.? Not looking too clever I expect, and what's your contribution: wishing, and hoping, and thinking, and praying?

Cast it off! None of that longing is necessary in these quarters, as MaAndPaShipping is a fait accompli.

Hallelujah! Wallow in that Love!

Don't you yearn for at least one ship that all of us accept by default, to the extent these aristocrats are spoken of as a single unit?

Across the internet, Ma and Pa are bracketed as 'James's parents', never 'he' and 'she', always 'they', barely counting as distinct characters. That's how undeniable the love is between them. Sheer indifference has awarded it a blessing from everyone.

MWAH-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!

Of course, now I've drawn attention to it the moaning will start, but we all know a spoilsport when we see one.

If they had any legitimate complaints they ought to have mentioned 'em before this piece highlighted the marriage!

Except it won't have occurred to 'em previously, proving the eternal, indissoluble quality of MaAndPaShipping.

You get good value with this one.

Find a post referring to Ma and Pa as individuals and I'll have written it, for that's what you call ironic.

3. It's a Fine Rocketshipping Proxy

I was at primary school when Pokémon hit the West like the bright, bearded meteor it is, atomizing all competition for a child's attention.

I have shipped Jessie and James before I knew anyone else did it, unaware shipping was even a thing.

There are other pairs where I think: 'That seems to fit', but it's incomparable to what I feel for them.

It is part of me. I bleed it.

I have shipped it longer than most Tumblerries have dwelt upon the earth.

I used to believe, what with the hints and manga finale, that this resolution was inevitable, and all I had to do was wait.

Well I've been patient for two decades now, thus when I look at the modern incarnation, and realise it's no nearer to that goal, and instead is further away, waiting starts to wear a bit thin.

I resent the lack of appreciation shown to the fans by the cretins in charge, how any meagre shippy inclusion is done not with an interest in deepening bonds, but with the blatant cynicism of moulding us into performing monkeys dancing to their manipulative tune.

I dislike being treated like a sea lion, expected to clap me flippers at the wave of a fish, or as a panting dog begging at top table, where, because they're desperate to maintain the status quo, every scrap flung down from above now comes with an Anti-Ship kick in the teeth, just to be sure nothing progresses. Not whilst the franchise can still be milked for all it's worth.

I have lost faith Rocketshipping will happen. What passes for Pokémon today carries not the remotest indication of any intention on the so-called writers' part to finish it that way.

Even if it did, it's not my Team Rocket, it's those skeletal, gargoyle bastardisations. My Jessie and James never got the reward they deserved.

I'm somewhat in the market for a replacement. Beneath this loathsome carapace of acid and ice beats the tender heart of a true romantic, and it must have an outlet!

Shipping Ma and Pa provides a certain spurious relief, because it's as close as you can get to Jessie and James without it being them, both biologically as his parents, but they're so similar to the duo it counts as proof in itself.

Holy Matrimony! is prime Rocketshipping territory, not merely the balloon lift, but many slight additions are as important, like the haircuts matching.

Ma and Pa are therefore Jessie and James in the past, present and future:

The past for representing Jess 'n' Jamie gone Victorian, and we've all wondered how that'd turn out.

The present as it's there right now, absent of suffering the shameless whims of morons to get what you want. 'Tis yours to savour.

The future as a glimpse of Jessie and James once married with children, and they agree:

That's how they play it given the opportunity!

What, James in blue, for his and Pa's hair, and Jessie wearing purple, like Ma's, with a red shawl for her own, and Ma Jess's orange earrings to copy the beads?

• Money!

• Bun!

• 'Tache!

• Classy pad!

• Fancy gear!

• Pampered pet!

• Identical cups of Earl Grey!

4. Original Blend

Ma and Pa have only got two fans! We care more than the entire fandom has in twenty years!

Rocketshipping art is ten a penny, so why not display a pioneering spirit, sharpen up those pencils and be inspired?

Let your mind expand and marvel at the possibilities of these unchartered territories, and I'll reblog it if it's nice.

Pay attention to the condition of it being nice. I'm not putting up with any old toss.

Real Ma and Pa is what I want too, not those Sinnoh coffin-dodgers.

It's never been done! Every drawing breaks new ground!

I don't like fan fiction, but I wouldn't say 'no' to that either. Recall the 'nice' stipulation again.

Come on, be the first amongst your friends and get ship shape!

5. It Gives Us All Hope

Suppose your favourite amour one day became canon: you imagine that's the end of the matter?

Well it ain't.

Between Ash, Misty, Brock, Jessie, James, Gary and Tracey, there are three-and-a-half out of fourteen parents (Flint doesn't count as a complete man) and one out of twenty-eight grandparents, and that's not enough!

If the series drew to a close with your beloved couple apparently walking into the happily-ever-after, there's no guarantee it'll endure. In fact, the odds are they'll split up within a few years and leave another generation to fend for themselves or starve.

That's right, so don't presume the final episode is all you need to worry about. Can you rest easy knowing it'll go pear-shaped once the camera stops rolling?

It's futile soothing one's worries with:

Oh, but they know what it's like to be alone. They'd never inflict such stress on their children.

Oh really?

Look at that poor showing of grandparents. Either Pokémon has a system reminiscent of the sci-fi film Logan's Run, where everyone over thirty is vapourized, or these disappearing maters and paters were themselves victims of abandonment.

I bet when they settled down, they thought it'd be different for their kids, they'd make sure of it, but no, off they went down that same route of feckless self-indulgence, and that's being kind assuming they intended not to repeat history.

Depressing eh? What's the good in any of us surrendering to romance, real or otherwise, if love is but a mayfly of emotion, and all dreams are doomed to die?

Then Ma and Pa arrive, and suddenly the storm clouds part for a ray of heavenly light.

It's not only that they made the effort in what was probably an arranged marriage and have stayed together from youth, it's that they've stayed together when no one else has, which augments its value.

When separation is commonplace, sticking it out becomes rarer and rarer as any belief in the sanctity of wedlock erodes with every failure.

If they didn't bother, why should I? What's the use when it won't work?

Once that idea enters your head, it's over, and your gloom-laden attitude fulfils itself.

Society is collapsing about Ma and Pa's ears, but they persevere nevertheless, refusing to buckle under the turgid malaise engulfing the arrogant and weak.

It's bloody beautiful, man!

You may suggest an environment of supreme wealth erases normality, and to their class and time period divorce is still taboo, so they don't really have much of choice but to remain wedded.

Ah, but it's not as if they simply tolerate one another for appearances, or carried on for the sake of their son (which is more than anyone else did besides), not when he walked out on them.

They've been married longer than James has lived, so at least eighteen years (don't all squeal at once), and they're still blissfully contented!

They hold hands!

They use terms of endearment like 'dear' and 'my precious'!

They were made for one another!

They work as a team!

They want the same thing for James!

It could bring a stone angel to tears it's so beautiful!

See what success can be achieved when you try? When you endeavour to love the one you're with and make yourself worth loving in return?

Better that than chucking 'em at the first sign of trouble.

Ma and Pa is such an irrevocable union even the despair of losing their only child failed to tear 'em asunder, and that'd defeat many, but not this husband and wife.

Be grateful, for it means all is not in vain.

It doesn't have to be misery and pain: love can last despite the pressure of a wretched, hollow culture bent on self-destruction. Your ship might just succeed too.

God bless 'em for keeping the magic alive!

...

Why do I have the presentiment that I'm going to regret encouraging support?

#maandpashipping #team rocket #ma james #pa james #ma and pa james #james #jessie #james's mom #james's dad #james's parents #rocketshipping #kanto #holy matrimony!

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agape-philo-sophia · 4 years

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➝ The term Hollywood derives from the holly tree.

The holly tree was used by Druids who were known for being priests and also wizards. The character of Merlin in the legend of King Arthur was a Druid wizard and he used a wand made of holly wood. Hollywood movies are forms of sorcery using psychology, subliminal messages, and manifestation through what is called "lesser magic" and bewitchment. Today many actors in Hollywood practice witchcraft and kabbalah. The Kabbalah Centre International is located in Los Angeles California and many actors and entertainers are members including Madonna, Demi Moore, Brittany Spears, Ashton Kutcher, Rosie O'Donnell, and Mick Jagger. Most of them can be seen in photographs wearing the "red string" bracelet which represents the red Gevurah sephirot of the Kabbalah Tree which symbolizes fire, wrath, and judgement and this is all related to Mars despite the cover up. Mars is known as the "god of war" in Roman Mythology and the red string Kabbalah cult is covertly promoting a war and holocaust. Mark Breakspear is a Hollywood special effects designer and he comes from the English Breakspear family which produced the only English Pope in history Pope Adrian IV of Nicholas Breakspear who also conquered Ireland for Rome. The name Break-spear translates to Rotti-Lance in Italian for the Lancellotti family. Lancellotti or Breakspear is where Lancelot comes from in the King Arthur legend. The Lancellotti family own a palace in Italy with a hedge maze and clock tower. These symbols are used in the Hollywood movie "Alice in Wonderland" and mazes or labrynths are meant to confuse or bewitch the mind. Movies pushed what was acceptable with each passing year and immorality was blatantly promoted in many films. Today, it has only gotten worse. Movies have depicted every sin imaginable. Beside the blatant perversion displayed in many films, all Hollywood films have the same source: they come from a movie system called Hollywood. Holly wood is a substance used by the Druids of ancient England. Ancient druids cut branches from holly trees which they fashioned into magic wands used for casting spells (Onstott). This spell-casting with magic wands continues to this day in the form of Hollywood movies (as well as in its original form as a wand). It can be proven that nearly all Hollywood movies have subliminal messages, occultic references, and hidden Masonic / Illuminati symbolism throughout. Square and compass symbols, all-seeing-eye symbols, the number 33, the number 666, pentagrams (upside-down, five-pointed stars), satanic symbols, satanic “as-above-so-below” symbols, and other symbols occur in numerous scenes throughout most Hollywood movies and TV shows. Some are more blatant, while others are more subtle. One occultic reference is found in the Star Wars movies: “May the Force be with you.” This phrase is what witches use to greet each other. The late David J. Meyer, who was a former witch who became a Christian, wrote: 'This is the oldest con game ever hatched out of hell. As a real witch, I learned about the two sides of "the force." Apparently, so do many "Christian" leaders. When real witches have sabats and esbats and meet as a coven, they greet each other by saying "Blessed be", and when they part, they say "The Force be with you." Both sides of this "Force" are Satan. It is not a good side of the force that overcomes the bad side of the force, but rather it’s the blood of Jesus Christ that destroys both supposed sides of the satanic "Force."’ ("Harry Potter?...”). The Lord of the Rings movies are filled with witchcraft. David J. Meyer wrote an article titled “A Former Witch Looks At The Lord Of The Rings [sic].” Meyer said that as a former witch, he “can spot witchcraft in a moment, and I recognize it well” ("A Former Witch…”). He had “practiced astrology, palmistry, and numerology among other devices of the craft” ("A Former Witch…”). ‘The first thing a neophyte or beginner witch is taught is that there is a “force.” The “force” has two sides and can be controlled by magic spells, words, potions, incantations, rope magic, rings, amulets, and so on[.…] Witches also teach that battles are fought in the Middle Earth and in the astral plane causing upheavals both above and below. […] witches emphasize that good must triumph over evil, but it is all witchcraft.’ ‘[…] The ring [of Frodo] has an inscription on which is written a message in the witchcraft language of runes. We must remember that these runes are real and are used in the occult. […] The runes on the ring are interpreted as follows: “One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them”’ ("A Former Witch…”). Deuteronomy 18:9-12: 9 When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Revelation 13:16-18: 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. Why are these symbols and Antichrist themes so prevalent in movies? They are designed for casting spells, just as magic wands were (and are) used for casting spells. A spell causes a person to be more open to deception or misdirection. Do spells work? Ask a witch. They most certainly do if you give place to them! Giving place to spells can be as easy as watching a movie. Witches call up demons by means of demonic symbols and rituals. These evil beings are servants of Satan, the angel who rebelled against God. Their goals are to deceive and to lead people away from the truth and into rebellion against God. Movies, TV shows, Rock Music (that is another topic), video games, false doctrines, false religions, etc. are for the purpose of leading people away from the true God and away from eternal salvation. ➝ Cabala Cult of Leon: https://www.minds.com/blog/view/902958822861545472?referrer=MindCom ➝ The Pedophile Agenda: https://www.minds.com/media/1017873232308129792?referrer=MindCom https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1083769775022829568?referrer=MindCom -------------------------------------------------- #Truth #HollyWood #Satanic #Manipulation #Sorcery

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agentaletha · 5 years

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YA Ace Secondary Character - Dread Nation

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Published 2018 by Balzer + Bray

I recently read Dread Nation by Justina Ireland, an alternate history where the Civil War was put on hold when zombies started to rise. Slavery has been abolished, but due to a new law called the Negro Reeducation Act, our protagonist, Jane, is at a training school to become a companion/bodyguard for a white family. One of her classmates is Katherine, her rival. Jane saves the day, but gets blamed and she and Katherine get sent off to a mysterious settlement out west.

Some light spoilers after the cut

Jane passes light skinned Katherine off as white when they arrive and their relationship changes from rivals to partners. Eventually we find out that Katherine is ace when she complains about having to lead the sheriff on to accomplish their goals. Katherine is pretty, smart, and good at manipulating people, as she says:

“”What did you expect Jane? I grew up in a whorehouse. If there’s anyone who knows how to put on an act, it is a women dependent upon the appetites of men for her living.” There’s a sharp tone to her voice, a reminder that she’s playing this role because I asked it of her, not because she wanted to.” p.357.

It is YA, so there is some love triangle action going in, but less than Jane thinks. Katherine: “I did not fancy him. I don’t fancy anyone. But he was a good person and his passing is unfortunate.” p.334.

She goes into more detail a little later on, about passing and more explicitly saying she’s ace:

““I don’t want to live the rest of my life as a liar. To turn my back on my own people. And I definitely don’t want to be someone’s wife. I don’t want a man.”

I shift uncomfortably next to her. Is this your way of telling me you fancy women?” Not that I mind that. I’ve been distracted by a pretty face every now now and again myself. But trying to imagine Katherine pledging herself to a life as a spinster doesn’t quite fit.

Katherine jumps to her feet and begins to pace. “No!” I don’t fancy anyone. I’ve seen the way you look at Mr. Gideon and I’ve seen the way you look at Jackson. I’ve even seen the way you used to look at Merry Alfred when she was at Miss Preston’s.” ...

She keeps talking like I haven’t said a word. “ But I don’t feel that way about anyone Jane. I never have and I’m not sure I ever will.”

“Oh well, there’s nothing wrong with that.”

“But that’s what makes it so hard. I don’t want to get married. I don’t want to chase after some man or set up housekeeping with another women. I’m just not interesting. I want to see the world!”” p. 362-363.

The word asexual is not used, but that fits with the setting, and the explanation goes into a fair amount of detail, also ruling out that she likes women instead. Jane accepts it surprisingly well, considering she has no frame of reference for it (and as they discuss, is bi herself). She may be aro as well, as they’re not distinguishing between sexual and romantic attraction.

This seems to be a book that is either very much your thing or not at all your thing. Neither zombies nor civil war era history interest me that much, and the fact that this was clearly the set up for a longer series made this more of a slog than I expected. Yay for women of color as protagonists, yay for bisexual character, and I also enjoyed many of the other women characters. Also lots of blatant racism, but with a more nuanced examination about passing. I’ll definitely pick up the next one, but I’m less interested in the plot than the characters.

#actually ace #asexual character #ace characters #ace fiction #actually asexual

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land-of-brains-and-chocolate · 5 years

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god it WILL NOT stop bothering me until i talk about it. the way we got here. it’s not just about the book anymore, not at all, and it’s certainly never been about “shipping”, at this point it’s how helpless the tactics of the guy make me feel.

step one: refer to people who have read previous venom books and noticed the trend throughout the nineties to portray eddie and the symbiote as a man and an agender alien in an ambiguously or not-so-ambiguously romantic relationship, which was picked up on and completely unambiguously canonised in the very last run, consistently refer to these people as “shippers”, lovingly condescend to them, do not ever treat “the ship” as existing beyond their imagination

[I LOVE THAT YOU GUYS EXIST]

result: make people forget that this is a complete misrepresentation and he has received no criticism whatsoever for “not making a ship canon” because that is not what he did, he decanonised it and then denied doing so and painted everyone it ever meant something to as essentially deluded - and, considering that that’s all they are, he’s being awfully kind and accommodating, isn’t he?

evaluation: a reason to harass him? no! really kind of manipulative? yes!

step two: actively seek out these no-good shippers on tumblr! tell them that you’re watching them! read their detailed posts in which they express their grievances about your comic book to their friends and misrepresent their points on your twitter so your bajillion followers can affirm that Those People are categorically wrong about everything!

[EDDIE IS CODEPENDENT]

people are mad at him because he said eddie was codependent! not because he’s reframing the extremely rare story of a troubled queer relationship that was ultimately still a redemptive force in these characters’ lives as an unhealthy compulsion that corrupts, hm, what a fresh and unfamiliar take, no reason why this would strike a nerve - and, recently, of course, as something inherently abusive, every bit of hope and change for the better vile and fake.

literally just start vaguing about people’s personal tumblr blogs on your professional twitter account with the little, little blue checkmark and everything, use that to make passive-aggressive references to people’s posts! why not!

[LOVE EACH OTHER]

people talk about how they like a symbiote and its host getting along (and they did, that very night, talk quite a lot about ngozi)? that is so dumb and lame.

[EVERYTHING IS AWESOME]

people get sick of edgy shock factor writing that throws one dark theme after another at them without treating any of them with the consideration they deserve? people expect some moments of levity in a venom book?

they’re asking for stories with no conflict where nothing bad ever happens! but it’s okay, he knows better, he knows you just don’t know what you want! it’s not like endless sadness is just as likely to be dreadfully boring or unintentionally hilarious as endless happiness!

result: o w n e d god he sure is shutting down every point no one has ever made

evaluation: a reason to harass him? no! really kind of manipulative? yes!

step three: literally get so mad at people on tumblr talking about your comic that you not only boil their opinions down to THE SHIIIIP but literally say that their opinions don’t matter because they literally would never say it “to your face” literally because it’s “easy to be brave on tumblr”

literally

say these words

[IT’S EASY TO BE BRAVE ON TUMBLR]

call people chicken shits for NOT talking to you directly! and then! BLOCK everybody who talks to you directly! or quote retweet them so your followers can descend like vultures! actually acknowledge that it takes bravery to interact with you if you’re in the Tumblr Demographic, you know, one of Those People, and frame yourself as in the right for it???

am i losing my mind???

[SIX PEOPLE ON TUMBLR]

get so mad at people on tumblr talking about your comic that you not only claim they’re the only people ever to talk badly of it but imply that you’re one step away from namedropping the specific perpetrators. that’s not ominous at all!

it’s an age-old question: how many times does one of marvel’s top writers with legions of fans have to imply his antagonistic awareness of your specific existence before you’re on a first name basis? and also paranoid?

result: stir shit. be a shit stirrer. faint when your shit stirring does in fact stir shit. you can’t go “you would never” and be surprised when people do, you... can’t...

evaluation: a reason to harass him? no! really kind of manipulative? yes!

step four: whip out your ally card... to whip the people you’re supposed to be allied to with it. try to use your knowledge of queer issues to shut down actual queer people.

[I DON’T THINK IT’S APPROPRIATE TO ASSUME GENDER]

either that, or straight-up make a “did you just assume my gender” joke. i can’t find the original tweet anymore, so it’s possible it was that and he deleted it because it was too blatant, lol.

result: MAYBE YOU GUYS WERE THE PROBLEMATIC ONES ALL ALONG

evaluation: a reason to harass him? no! really kind of manipulative? yes!

step five: remember that interview where he outright stated that he just wants to, just to be the definite venom run? just to put the biggest dent in canon he can? just to break everybody’s toys and emerge victorious as the one person with the valid take on venom?

yeah, those things become more noticeable in the actual book, over time, and acceptance of that is, uh, not universal? not everybody’s up for him spending several issues in a row on e s t a b l i s h i n g d o m i n a n c e by having eddie sit around as other characters tell him that a ton of stuff other writers from michelinie to thompson to costa to kaminski to slott to jenkins have done actually sucked and was wrong and fake and never happened? through retcons that make no sense, like, factually don’t fit?

people don’t like you walking back character and relationship development to further your end goal of recasting the symbiote as the personification of addiction and abuse instead of itself a survivor of extreme abuse who has been constantly denied personhood in a way that is frighteningly resonant and who has been going through a genuine redemption arc for years now?

people don’t like you acting like eddie never had a reason for being who he is before and you had to make one up? one that doesn’t fit the character at all, which you didn’t realise because you apparently thought the character had no characterisation before you came along?

you can imagine how these things might spark nerd rage?

and you can probably imagine who this nerd rage was blamed on, yeah?

these criticisms inherently require knowledge of venom canon, because they’re largely about disrespect for it, these criticisms are not related to shipping of any kind - but of course the only thing people could possibly be mad about is the "ship", the only ones making a fuss are those “shippers”, those casuals, Those People who only care about One Thing and don’t understand the real gritty reality of the, god you get it i’m making fun

[I KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT]

you’re the only one, don. it’s true.

and i know, i know for a fact, that he’s been aware of criticism from other groups all along, that he was, for example, witness to this livestream that spends like a solid hour a month mercilessly dragging him through the dirt, and you know what the extent of his response was?

thanks for checking the book out.

that’s it. that’s all. this guy hasn’t gotten any less loud about criticising him, either. wishing for his book’s cancellation and retconning. but nothing more. he gets to keep to himself. he is #valid.

people have been taking the piss out of him on youtube, on reddit. only tumblr ever earned his ire. only tumblr gets namedropped at convention panels.

and now, now more than ever? you better believe your regular run-of-the-mill nerds, straight, male, utterly uninterested in the icky stuff, everything, are mad. almost everyone who’s truly tits deep in venom lore is mad.

and so he’s said he’s received threats. and i’m sure he has. i’ve received threats. you’ve received threats. it’s never okay. it sure as shit never helps to send them.

he’s gotten a lot of fucking inappropriate personal vitriol! lots of it actually “ship”-related! i’m categorically against contacting the guy for any reason!

but who is to blame? who do people accept as being to blame? who do news outlets report on as being to blame? when, i presume, not every single one of them actually went “i’m doing this specifically because i’m a (thunder clap) shipper”? when large-scale retcons are literally always met with nerd rage? when a shipper-less fandom probably still would’ve had threats?

[THIS IS INSANE]

[IT’S THE SHIPPERS]

result: if all criticism = “shippers”, and “shippers” = harassment, then everyone who has no actual idea of what’s going on but who doesn’t like “shippers” is automatically on his side and nobody who isn’t a “shipper” wants to risk the association by criticising him.

get this stuff out to his followers, to news outlets, to people completely uninvolved and contextless, and watch the bile run over everywhere because lots of people are ready to accept this narrative in comic book spaces.

have people in the replies and comments eagerly discussing how this is more proof that c+o+m+i+c+s+gate was right and they’re the only reasonable ones. how disgusting and crazy "shippers” are. how donny should keep doing his best to trigger the gays. there’s no pushback against these ideas.

and i’m so fucking stuck between wanting to defend the man, wring my hands and apologise on behalf of the other These People, because i don’t see anything justifiable in their actions, and in being... just... just so frustrated... with everything... with throwing everyone out to the dogs... and claiming that he doesn’t mean to... when he has this whole history of belittling "shippers” specifically... of making sure their public image is that of people who just don’t know what they’re talking about and are in no way worth empathising with... of only drawing attention to the aggressive ones and blocking the reasonable ones

when he literally only stands to benefit from doing all this.

this is massive amounts of free positive pr.

this makes him essentially immune to criticism of any kind.

evaluation: a reason to harass him? no! really kind of manipulative? yes!

i forgot! somewhere along the line, he did do something very good and disavowed association with co/mics/ga/te!

[C0M1C5G8]

why the fuck am i censoring? tumblr search stopped working decades ago.

anyway, it should come as no particular surprise why these people assumed he would side with them. not that any high profile writer who values his standing would, really. are there any? maybe there are, i’m not up to date on this drama.

i just think it’s funny - genuinely not his fault, but hilarious - that this was apparently enough to inspire a “boycott”? and it was a fart in the wind?

which is the least surprising thing ever because there is actually nothing whatsoever to hold these people’s ire to be found in venom? excluding aliens, there has been one real and present character who isn’t a white guy in 11 issues? it is actively less queer than it was before? donny has never caved to the essjaywoo pressure in any way, shape or form? what were they... thinking? it’s almost like these people are dumb?

all they've done is ensure that, without it actually doing anything, venom gets the commendation for being A Comic The Gators Don't Like?

anyway.

what do we do moving forward? i don’t know. nothing. not harassing anyone. keep being salty on tumblr. do not engage him. i think i’m more about stalling the chain reaction he’s caused than the man himself. if you’re not a “shipper”, of course, keep posting your criticism, maybe stand up for “shippers” who are being dogpiled over genuine criticism, don’t let people say This Is All Proof Of How You Can’t Have Queer Content Because Queers Are Crazy.

and be nice to mike costa.

#i feel a lot better actually #it sure took a lot of words to achieve that

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