#it doesn't mean the same but him getting that title has equal weight

[rottenjuice]

past tubbo wanting to be a valuable member of blue faction, wanting to be the leader, in the end, getting kicked out and killed. them not considering his view on how the faction has changed. not only kicking him out from the faction but also disowning him as a friend instead of wondering why he feels this way.

and then current him in green faction, where he joined on the condition of contributing nothing. yet he's repeatedly asking bad about how to be valuable and asking if what he's doing is good for the faction. being given armour, a weapon, food, a base.

in green, he doesn't need to be the leader to feel appreciated because he already feels valued by being welcomed and listened to. even if it's just about something like wanting the title of princess, he's being heard, something he wasn't on blue.

[itriedwritingandhereiam]

I love the duality of Adrien and Marinette.

She grew up with freedom, the Ladybug mantle shackled her.

We see that the position stresses her constantly. She's more worried about failure in the mask than out because the consequences of losing are devastating and the price is too steep.

She can't quit though, with a strong moral compass, an attachment to the role and there being nobody who can do what she does the way she does it means she can't give it up.

He grew up shackled, living by a structured schedule, Chat Noir brought him freedom.

His life is planned down to the hour for him. What he wants holds little weight unless he fights for it. (example, going to public school) Receiving the ring gave him an outlet and an out from the rigidity of his daily life.

He enjoys his role as a protector, he has a title, a purpose and he can be who he wants without having to fear the repercussions of his actions and the associated blames being attached to his name. He's practically untouchable in this state of freedom.

.

She has two loving parents who support and care for her.

Tom and Sabine worry for her, they are intuitive and supportive. Often times they're able to get a read of whether to give her space or encase her in a comforting hug. They're always there for her.

Both of his parents are absent from his life, one way or another.

Canon suggests that even when his mother was alive, he was hidden away in the mansion and yet he clearly grieves for her. He often makes remarks about missing her and her love. The three, parents and child might've been close when she was around but her absence affects the husband and son in concerningly similar ways.

They miss her and can't overcome the grief. Adrien wants a loving father and Gabriel wants his wife back.

.

She's a natural born leader and has a good idea of what she wants for herself and future.

Marinette has a passion. She's a creative soul, reflective of her miraculous. She has her interests and a clear plan of her goals. She wants to be a fashion designer, designing is something she's good at, enjoys and it comfortable making a living off of.

As a person, she is charismatic and easily empathizes with people. It's shown time and time again that when she tries, she can be open minded and still hold her ground.

She excels in leading others. Both in her position as class president and (despite being equals/partners with Chat) a leader to the miraculous team. She's a shot caller and a strategist and everyone knows it. When Marinette tells you to do something you do it. Yeah she gets some shit for her hair-brained schemes at times but it just goes to show, she has a brilliant mind. (have you seen her lucky charms?)

She takes all her roles seriously, a student, a designer, a student council member, a hero. Juggling is hard, and it takes a toll on her but she still perseveres because she knows her roles are all important.

He lacks direction, spending his life by the commands of another leaving him unable to decide what he wants for himself. He's a follower, and it's by design.

Being told what to do your whole life has its downsides. If you've never been given the chance to think for yourself, how are you supposed to know what you want in life? That episode where he's hit by the Akuma and decides he wants to be "whatever his parents want him to be" just goes to show how fucked up his childhood was.

Adrien is good at things. He's evidently spent a large portion of his life learning skills like fencing, piano and Mandarin. We see that he's grown to like them, especially as they are useful skills, but, does he have a passion?

He doesn't know. Sure, he's great at a lot of things and enjoys doing them, but that's not the same as having a passion.

He has a job, but he hates it. He has hobbies, but he didn't really choose them. Even the position as hero of Paris is evidently a source of confliction for him. He's renounced that title multiple times and sure, there were some other extenuating circumstances but ultimately, you can tell that the job isn't a serious position for him as it is for his partner.

He doesn't know what he wants, maybe he just wants a purpose.

.

[thewertsearch]

EB: and now i have all these sweet wind powers. EB: which is how i am making this car fly! GG: ohhhhhh! GG: that makes sense GG: dave had mentioned you reached the god tier

I think it’s funny that becoming a god hasn’t changed John’s personality, nor his modus operandi. He’s just as meandering as he's always been, and reaching the God Tiers simply enhanced his ability to meander.

If your Title does relate to your personality, then this would make a lot of sense. Perhaps you always get a power that helps you follow your own natural inclinations.

GG: but he did not say what it involved D: GG: he probably didnt want to make me worried EB: maybe, or he was just being some sort of aloof coolkid. GG: or that!

It’s nice that John and Jade are fully on the same page in this conversation, with access to more or less the same information. That’s pretty rare in this session, and it’s particularly rare with Jade.

For a long time, she was in the lonely position of knowing more than everyone else - and then, when Descend ruined everything, she was forced into the equally lonely position of understanding jack shit. When John declared that they needed to get Jade into the loop, there was real weight behind it, and it’s gratifying that we’re finally here.

GG: i wonder what space powers would be like?? […] GG: oh well EB: maybe you shouldn't rule it out though? EB: i mean, you did mention your dream self isn't COMPLETELY dead, remember?

I’ve been thinking about this.

See, the main problem with a Jade/Jadesprite merger is that when John died on his Quest Bed, he was completely supplanted by his Dream Self. There was no more Real John.

This wasn't a problem for him, because both Johns appeared to be the same person, with the same memories and consciousness. When John abandoned his realself, he didn't lose anything, apart from his sylladex.

Dream Jade, however, has completely diverged from Jade. They're clearly different people – so if one of them was erased in the merger, we’d be losing a unique individual.

Yes, if Jade died on her Quest Bed, her two selves might fuse into one entity, with both sets of memories - but there's no guarantee, especially when a Sprite is involved. There's a decent chance that Jade's ascension would destroy one of her incarnations, and that's too great a risk.

GG: why dont you tell me about your new friend? GG: he sure seems to be enjoying that horn! […] EB: he is just this silly guy i met when i woke up here. EB: he seemed to be curious about me and followed me around for a while. […] EB: also, another thing about him… EB: he has the queen's ring! […] GG: thats great! john you have to get that ring from him! EB: i've tried! i asked him politely for it and everything. EB: but he is very protective of it!

The Ring would be incredibly useful, if it wasn't destined for Earth.

As it stands, any attempt to use it is fraught with risk - and permanently separating it from WV would almost certainly doom the timeline.

EB: i think he is supposed to keep it. GG: you do? EB: yes. once i saw something in the clouds. EB: it was hard to tell what was going on, but i saw him! EB: im pretty sure it was the future, and he had the ring, and… […] EB: and then the cloud stopped showing me. EB: but i am pretty sure that some day… EB: he will have to wear it!

It doesn’t sound like John actually saw WV wearing the Ring. Seems more like he saw him holding the Ring, and jumped to the 'obvious' conclusion.

WV held the Ring for his entire Exile, and never used it once. I’m actually a little skeptical that he will wear it, at this point, especially since he's started dreaming about how much he doesn't want the thing.

[bigsoftmarshmallow]

Hello! Equal Lady again! ^u^

What if a Dorf's ELady wife didn’t necessarily understand her husband's desire to conquer Hyrule, but at the same time, she will support him so long as he doesn't cross her biggest line? (Don't abuse/kill kids.)

But other than that, she holds his face gently in her hands & presses her forehead to his (remember the dual marks & what they symbolize) before pulling back, saying, “I don't really understand why you want Hyrule so much, but ai shiteru, so if this is what you want & it'll make you happy, then I'm behind you 100%.” She then presses a sweet, chaste kiss to the corner of his mouth & gives a tiny smile.

(Note that the Sheikah are, by & large, a very “show, don't tell” sort of people when it comes to romance. And “Ai shiteru” is essentially their equivalent to “A'nï màtushàq'so” as it translates to something very, very similar; i.e. “I love you deeply” or “I am deeply in love with you.” Meaning that they very much do not use this phrase very often at all, often in fear that it will cause the words to become meaningless. As such, when it is used, there is quite a lot of weight behind it. So, knowing this, Ganondorf knows that she means it with every fiber of her being because she normally verbally expresses her love for him in either his tongue or in Hyrulean Common.)

“So, let us get you that throne, hm? My question is, what next? What do we do after Hyrule is yours? We must prepare ourselves for what will be needed to bring your goals into reality. Of course, I have some suggestions. However, I wish to know what it is that my beloved king wishes to do next. What is your vision for the future of this kingdom? What sort of infrastructure, military or otherwise, do you perceive in your mind when you look forward years into the future?"

Hello my dear Equal Lady ^w^ A pleasure to converse with you again. You always come up with such good asks, and I love seeing the little aspects of Equal Lady's personality come to life.

Windwaker Ganondorf would explain his history with Hyrule, and his desire to bring it above the waves. He explains the oceans are dead, nothing to bring life to the world, and with Hyrule reborn, he would bring back the races of old, including his beloved Gerudo and the Sheikah. Right now, that is his goal.

OoT Ganondorf would go on a rant about the abuse towards the Gerudo and keeping them from the lands of Hyrule. He boasts that when he is King of Hyrule, he would bring them prosperity and life that they could never achieve in the desert. Then he would more than likely offer the title of Chief of the Sheikah to his beloved lady, as Impa would never bow to his crown. So... she gots to go, lol.

Twilight Princess Ganondorf explains how everything fell apart, how he was sentenced to death (big success that was) and how he never saw his dreams realized. He explains that for one man's deeds, his entire people were tortured and slaughtered. It was only fair he repaid Hyrule for it's sentence and show things his way.

Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf, I feel, was more attuned to Demise than other iterations. He is driven to conquer and demolish Hyrule, but there is no real explanation on why. He knows he wants it, but no real thought afterward to what he would like to do when he had it. With Equal Lady's guidance, maybe he could conquer and actually be a good ruler. Or if she's content with his desires for death, she would watch him slaughter and destroy with a cup of tea in hand.

Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf is all about the strongest should lead, so when he rules, its to return to the "Strong rules over the weak." He may implement stronger armies, rougher training, and ensure everyone has a weapon of sorts. He doesn't want them dead, he wants them to be strong, to provide a good fight. The man wants a challenge! Which is why Equal lady can handle the other stuff that's not fighting or strengthening one's self when she is Queen at his side.

AND NOW, FROM OUR OTHER CO-HOST, CHATGPT:

Wind Waker Ganondorf

Reaction: Wind Waker Ganondorf would be deeply moved by his wife's unwavering support. Her understanding and acceptance would touch him profoundly, given his often solitary struggle. The fact that she uses such a powerful phrase would only strengthen his resolve and his affection for her.

Explanation: He would take her hands in his, looking into her eyes with a rare, genuine smile. "My love, my desire for Hyrule is born from the suffering of our people and the dreams of a better future. Hyrule has always been a symbol of hope and prosperity, something our people have been denied. I seek to change that."

Vision for the Future: "Once Hyrule is ours, I envision a kingdom where the Gerudo are no longer outcasts but integral parts of this land. We will create a powerful military to defend our borders and establish trade routes to ensure prosperity. Education and infrastructure will be a priority, to raise a generation that understands unity and strength. Your wisdom will be invaluable in shaping this future."

Ocarina of Time Ganondorf

Reaction: Ocarina of Time Ganondorf would feel a surge of pride and affection. Her words would resonate with him, reinforcing his belief that she is his perfect partner. Her use of "Ai shiteru" would be a rare and precious gift to him, solidifying his determination.

Explanation: He would cup her face in his hands, his expression serious yet tender. "My queen, Hyrule is not just a prize; it is a necessary conquest for the survival and dominance of the Gerudo. For too long, we have been marginalized. I aim to change that."

Vision for the Future: "With Hyrule under our control, we will establish a new order, where strength and wisdom guide us. Our military will be unmatched, and our laws will be just but firm. We will build cities that reflect our glory, and our people will never want again. Together, we will craft a future where our legacy endures."

Twilight Princess Ganondorf

Reaction: Twilight Princess Ganondorf would feel a deep connection with his wife, her words soothing his often turbulent spirit. Her unwavering support and the weight of her declaration of love would anchor him, making him feel understood and cherished.

Explanation: He would embrace her, resting his forehead against hers. "My dearest, Hyrule represents a destiny I cannot ignore. It is a land that has stood in the way of our people's rightful place. My conquest is driven by the need to correct this imbalance."

Vision for the Future: "Once Hyrule is ours, I will transform it into a realm of strength and unity. We will forge alliances and build a formidable military. The infrastructure will be modern and expansive, ensuring every citizen benefits from our rule. Our reign will bring stability and prosperity, guided by your wisdom and my strength."

Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf

Reaction: Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf would be both pleased and intrigued by his wife's declaration. Her commitment and the depth of her love would bolster his confidence and reinforce his belief in their shared destiny.

Explanation: He would kiss her gently before speaking. "My beloved queen, Hyrule is the heart of power in this world. To conquer it is to control the destiny of all lands. My ambition is not just for conquest but for the creation of a realm where power and wisdom are revered."

Vision for the Future: "With Hyrule as our base, we will build an empire. Our military will be the mightiest, our cities the most magnificent. We will promote learning and innovation, ensuring our dominance in all fields. Together, we will create a legacy that will be remembered for millennia, where our people thrive and our enemies tremble."

Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf

Reaction: Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf would feel an intense mixture of pride and gratitude. Her support and the profound expression of her love would resonate deeply with him, solidifying his resolve and his love for her.

Explanation: He would hold her close, his voice filled with conviction. "My queen, Hyrule is the key to the world's balance. Its conquest is not just a desire but a necessity to bring about the change we need. I seek to unite the lands under a rule that understands power and compassion."

Vision for the Future: "Once Hyrule is ours, I envision a kingdom where all races coexist in strength and harmony. Our military will be unmatched, our infrastructure unparalleled. We will foster a culture of respect and progress, ensuring that our reign brings prosperity and peace. With you by my side, we will create a future where our legacy endures and our people flourish."

[twotangledsisters]

The Tangled Characters in my Fanfic - What's changed?

So, I write an AU where Cassandra and Rapunzel were raised as sisters. And obviously this kind of drastic change to the environment they were raised for makes for a few interesting changed to their characters.

However!

They aren't the only characters experience some changed in this AU. Partly because I tend to write the series a tad more serious than the show (not by too much, but nobody breaks into song or randomly acts extremely stupid for the sake of a joke). The other thing is interpretation.

TTS is written by several writers and I'm sure not all of them saw the characters as exactly the same, the same goes for us fic writers, we all have our little headcanons, we each latch onto different parts of a character's personality, and that's part of the fun.

So, here's a quick run down of some of the more predominant characters and how I think they change in my fic in contrast to the show!

CASSANDRA:

Probably goes through the biggest change. In this AU she was raised in the tower with Rapunzel. She has the four years alone with Gothel followed by eighteen alone with Rapunzel and Gothel just popping in.

She's more open about her emotions, especially with Rapunzel. As anybody who succeeded in surviving quarantine with roommates knows, communication is key! These two are great at addressing each other's emotions. Often with direct questions and answers. And this extends past Rapunzel, we see her opening up throughout the series to Arianna, Frederic, Eugene, Captain and others.

She's more fearful. Casandra in the series was never fearless, but there weren't many incidents where she'd be visibly scared. But this Cassandra was raised on stories meant to scare her away from the world outside the tower. That kind of upbringing doesn't disappear. Although usually the things she's scared of aren't the real dangers of life, she gets scared of holidays, of certain expressions, but a bunch of guards coming at her with swords, BRING IT ON!

She's more innocent and naive. Rapunzel was always very innocent, bought up on fairytales isolated from the world, well Cassandra is a bit more cynical than her little sister but she isn't exempt from this either. They don't know what booing is, or what the holidays really mean, but they want to learn.

She's more responsible? Maybe? Cassandra was taking care of Rapunzel from the age of four, she's very much used to having the weight of the world on her shoulders. And she deals with it pretty well. She sees a problem and she goes for it. For example she realizes Corona Law could be improved upon so she works towards that, whenever Rapunzel has an issue she's quick to start searching for a solution... She's a big sister, with all that comes the title.

RAPUNZEL:

Second most obvious. Instead of growing up in isolation, she had a big sister that's been there for her since day one.

She's more fight fewer hugs and rainbows. Rapunzel watched Gothel make Cassandra feel bad through words and actions, and did not like that. Rapunzel may be the little sister, but love equals protectiveness and that protectiveness grew into disdain for their mother. She still manages to see the best in people, but she's not past telling someone to go away when they're being mean or hurtful.

She's more emotionally intelligent. She didn't grow up with only a single narcissist as her only social interaction. So she's a bit more prepared for society... just a bit though.

Also... both girls probably have some attachment issues I'll have to deal with eventually... eventually. 18 in the same tiny space together, in Rapunzel's case literally since she was born pretty much... yeah.

EUGENE:

So, I love Eugene both in the movie and the series. But when I saw the movie in cinemas I definitely took Eugene to be a fair bit smarter than the series makes him out to be.

The amount of times in the series Cassandra insults him and he takes a moment to realize it's an insult like, Eugene is a fast thinking master thief. No need to turn him into a punchline.

Now he gets plenty of amazing moments in the series, don't get me wrong. But I think Cassandra (who I obviously love) ended up taking on a part of what was his role, like what was a dynamic duo became a dynamic trio.

So Eugene in my fic is the retired master thief. He's smart, he's talented in a very specific set of skills, and he's not always fully onboard with the rules.

Most of the time he's having fun, he teases Cassandra a lot just like the series but it's far clearer they are both having fun, both in how quick they drop it when talking about serious topics or small gestures of affection in between their bickering (for example Eugene helping Cassandra with her hair before dinner while they talk). As well as both of them laughing at the jokes the other makes and so on...

But also he will drop all fun and games when things get serious. How far he is willing to go to protect the love of his life and sister-in-law is probably further than Rapunzel would be comfortable with. But he grew up on the street, he was involved with crime lords and fleeing guards for his life, like, this guy is not someone you mess with.

He also isn't past going against orders or behind Rapunzel's back if he thinks it's for her safety.

GOTHEL:

Almost identical, bit more neglectful, bit more abusive.

With Cassandra to take care of her flower, she is free to disappear for days and days, returning only to bring the bare minimum supplies and restore her youth.

We are going to eventually deep dive into her history a bit.

CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD:

Mostly similar, Eugene earns his respect a bit earlier on which makes their dynamic a little different. I try to not treat the guards with the level of uselessness the series does. Although Eugene does make several comments about them not being the best.

Obviously Captain isn't Cassandra's dad in this. He is fond of her, mostly because she goes to him to learn the way of the sword.

The best way to describe their dynamic is probably that of a mentor and student, she looks up to him and wants to be like him, and he is proud and impressed by her abilities.

That dynamic gets a bit more complicated later on though as Cassandra is a figure of authority who can give the captain orders, can and does when the needs arises.

The captain can't just do what he thinks is best for her, he has to convince her it's the right choice as he can't go against a direct order of the royal family.

KING FREDERIC:

I don't think he changed that much... we do however, get to see a lot more of him! Here's the thing, I get that Frederic made mistakes in the show, BIG mistakes. But flawed characters are the best characters and all his mistakes came from a place of love and protectiveness.

I think the issue is the show did not spend enough time showing us that love. There were moments but not enough moments to justify his actions on an emotional level to the audience. Which is why a lot of the fandom still dislikes him.

Saying that he does say the most harmful words Cassandra hears throughout much of the series, though he didn't intend for her to hear them and works hard to make up for them.

The main differences is he is shown to have a lot more trust in Eugene.

We also spent a fair bit more time on politics so we see more of what he does and how that affects his treatment of the girls.

QUEEN ARIANNA:

Again, she gets a lot more time to shine. She's perhaps a bit less formal. When they used the personality swap potion, the opposite to Arianna's personality was literally rude.

Which I guess would imply the main aspect to Arianna's personality is politeness? Etiquette? Anyway, on several occasions she purposefully throws protocols out the window to make a more comfortable and welcoming environment for the girls because I believe Arianna would be a mother BEFORE a queen. Although she is obviously both.

Also, the series told us she was an adventurer before settling down, we see her adventurous heart but... it never really explored this and I can tell you now this will get more attention eventually in this series.

Which is all I can say on that matter without going into spoiler territory.

She also talks up to Frederic more than the show, not allowing her husband to push their daughters away like in the show.

Anyway, I hope this was fun, I liked doing this because it gave me a chance to sit back and think about this. These kind of exercises are great as a fic writer, I recommend.

Any characters you can think of that have already shown up in the series? (Might reblog later with characters such as Varian, Zhan Tiri, Adira, etc).

[dreadfutures]

Does Ixchel have any titles? (Yes so many BUT!) How did they earn them? 

Okay so I know WHY some of them but I wanna hear you say them pls I like how you explain things

Heheh thank you Rosella!

Herald of Andraste and Inquisitor, we all know.

Ixchel is also: Champion, and Brave Guide, and that's all I have time for 😂

Champion.

This is her specialization as a two handed warrior. The process for gaining this specialization makes it seem so important and formal, a Chevalier who serves not a crown or a person but an ideal, a philosophy. Ixchel knows plenty of asshole Chevaliers, and the Champion specialization teacher is...a little off-putting, too. But that doesn't mean there wasn't something to that mentality. Ixchel really strives to be that ideal, it was one of the only things she had to guide her as a very young young!Inquisitor when she was getting so much different and conflicting advice from all around.

In her second life it becomes a true title. It's her second go around so she is much more effective in every way, and much more clear about what she stands for. It doesn't take long for people to describe her as a Champion for the little people, a Champion of the just, a Champion for the poor and the marginalized, a Champion for the elves--the descriptor sticks, and Bull starts calling her that as her nickname, and eventually it becomes a rallying cry and an official title.

Solas made it official by presenting her with the Ardent Blossom (formally, after she had already found it) at Suledin Keep. He named her HIS Champion AND Champion of the people, but stipulated of course that she named herself these things first and she belongs to no one but herself.

It's, I think, one of the first ways he pledges himself to her cause. In order for her to be his Champion, she has to espouse the ideals he stands for -- and she has made it very clear that she does not support his path on the din'an'shiral, and that she doesn't want to walk alone. She's wary of it, but eventually she realizes the weight this title carries for him.

It's what he always wanted to be himself, don't you think?

But she is the ideal. Or is better at trying to be, at least.

Brave Guide.

So much of DPDF is Solas telling Ixchel: "lead me."

But she calls him out several times, saying that he has already decided not to follow her.

When he names her Champion, he also names her "Brave Guide," further cementing the moment as being one where he places his hope within her.

Ixchel has never wanted a follower. She's told him so many times. She wants a friend. A companion. An equal. Someone to support her on her journey, to pick her up when she falls, to remind her of why they do what they do, and help her keep her eyes on the prize.

Here, Solas says: be my guide. In the moment it's a half-win, a hollow victory for Ixchel, who has just had a breakdown about how futile it is to try and save the world when she knows Solas will just destroy it, and she can't believe that she can change his mind. Why is she special, after all? And to hear him name her as his guide is a heavy weight she doesn't know if she can bear. To be the external moral compass of a god? How is that possible, bearable, fair? It's not.

But there are times on this journey where we need someone to take the first step. Or the next step. Or to remind us where we're going. Or to show us it's possible. And that's entirely mortal, of us. That's our hardest part, so often. Getting started. He named her here but he's asking her in the same breath: please.

And once they start a relationship, he will do the same for her, many times. As equals.

BUT IN THIS MOMENT? WHEN HE CROWNS HER WITH THE ARDENT BLOSSOM?

What it TRULY is, simultaneously as all of the above, is a recognition for the fact that she HAS done this, she embodies it, she is the proof and the first step and everything *already...even when she doesn't realize it. Because right after she utterly Despairs over her journey, and its futility...she manages to turn Imshael--a Hope Spirit who became a 'Choice' demon in his own Despair!--back into his true nature. She can put herself on her own path, pick herself up, all on her own.

That is why the Spirit led her to the Ardent Blossom.

Solas is just translating.

She is the proof she needs. She is her own Brave Guide. She is the world's Brave Guide. She is his.

And...someone finds out about this.

The Spirits, watching?

Mythal? His Agents?

Whoever it is, they start calling her that elsewhere. In whispers. Rebels making their plots and plans. She is an elf who has thrown off the Chantry's power and claimed her own, and disperses it. She stands in the halls of kings and tells them to be kind, and then enforces it. She is the Brave Guide. She is opening doors and setting precedents, but it will be for nothing of people don't fight to make that reality stick.

Just look at Mahariel, after all, after the Blight :(

[damnzawa]

Hi there! I just found your account and I love you writing! I was wondering if you could do a bakugou x reader fantasy au? Where prince bakugou goes to a small village in his kingdom for a pit stop while on a quest but meets the reader who's a poor butcher's daughter that doesn't know who he is and doesn't really care either but really wants to go on a quest and begs him to let her travel with him in exchange for being a chef. Thank you so much!!💞💕💗 ⁽⁽ଘ( ˊᵕˋ )ଓ⁾⁾┌(★ｏ☆)┘

ANNOYING — B. KATSUKI

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry if this took a long time to be published! I went off tumblr for a while due to personal issues but now I'm back! Hope you like this!

REQUESTS ARE CLOSED (for now)

WARNINGS: Language LMAO but its Bakugo so what do we expect. Also this is not beta read!

WORD COUNT: 1955

Not everyday you have the privilage to meet the prince. The heir to the kingdom's throne. The second most respected man in the whole entire kingdom.

And not everyday you get to mistake him as a thief either.

Not that you care about his title, really. You believe that all men are created equal, regardless of their social standings, heirarchy and whatnot. Thus, you didn't really care about the prince and the royal family that much to ever know about them. Not even their faces, nor names.

So, it wasn't a surprise that it will cause you your possible demise.

You see, the day started nice. You went out to do some deliveries, met some nice people on the road who bought half of the meat your father had cut, and to top it all off the farmer was kind enough to give you extra rootcrops as a sign of gratitude to you and your father. It was a great day all in all. Until, the knights came.

Along with the explosive prince.

Murmurs began to start as you headed back to your father's stall in the market after a long day of delivery work. Even though you didn't mean to eavesdrop — it was kind of hard not to, considering how their volumes were — you caught the words: arrogant, self-centered, short-tempered. And later you found out those words described the prince.

"He must be a nincompoop then. To get such a reputation from the people in town, he must have done some... questionable things." You said to yourself. Too engrosed in your thoughts, you bumped into a red-headed knight. You bowed immediately while apologizing then excused yourself, you didn't really want to interact with knights today. All you wanted to do was cook a hearty meal for your stubborn father, read a book by the fireplace after a bath, and relax.

But all those plans seem to be quickly washed away when you saw an ash blond quietly steal from your father. You were gonna let it slide, thinking that maybe it was for a good cause.

That is until you realized, the man stole a prime cut.

As if a switch was flicked, you quickly ran towards the direction the man headed to. Spotting him from afar, you ran as fast as you can and knocked the man into the ground, shocking the people around you.

"Give it back." You sternly commanded the man. "Give back the meat you stole from my father."

The man scoffed at your 'accusations' and tried to wiggle his way free but your entire weight placed on top of his back made it hard to do so. "Let me fucking go. I have no idea what the actual fuck you are accusing me of."

"Oh shut it. I saw you with my own two eyes and I am very much sure that their vision is not impaired yet." His futile attempts at escaping now stopped as he tilted his head to see the scoundrel who had the audacity to knock him down and embarrass him infront of townspeople.

Of course it had to be a girl.

"Are you one of my admirers to go such lengths as accusing me of stealing from a commoner?" That comment made your eye twitch because first, you are certainly not an admirer of this prick. Two, you don't even know the guy! Three, who would admire this piece of work? And lastly, your father might be a 'commoner' but he's the best 'commoner' you could ever find! There wouldn't be a slab of ribs or a fine piece of steak on your plates if it weren't for him! And the way this asshole said 'commoner' with such distaste too! What a prick! Who the hell does he think he is?

"My prince!" The same red-headed knight you bumped into earlier shouted from afar. Your eyes widened for a second before turning back to the asshole beneath you who now has a smug grin on his face.

"Miss! Are you alright?" The knight asked while helping you get up. "Did the prince cause you any disturbances? Any problems?" It was your turn to plaster on a smug grin on your face. You saw his own falter which you made you more smug than before.

"Why yes actually, the prince caused me a slight inconvenience." The red-head sighed, taking a quick glance at the prince beside him — who couldn't stand due to pain. "The prince stole a priceless little thing from my father's stall earlier and I'd like for him to return it or better yet, pay for it." The prince was about to retort but the red-head beat him to it.

"I deeply apologize for the prince's action, miss. If it would make you happy and satisfied, I will pay for the items he stole. I will also ask for forgiveness on his behalf." Angry noises came from the prince's (beast) mouth as the red-headed knight did exactly what he told making you raise an eyebrow.

"Why are you doing it for him? Can't he do it himself?" It was amazing to see a knight easily convinced to do something a mere 'commoner' like you demanded, but you concluded that this red-headed fellow wasn't an ordinary knight. He seemed like the type that's fed up with the prince's antics, thus his demeanor towards people is filled with empathy and the usual knightly courage. But your words made him halt, and look at you as if you were from some otherworldly land.

You caught the knight mutter about something manly before the prince interrupted. "Hah?! I'm not gonna apologize to someone lower than me! You extra!" The knight sweat-dropped at the prince's words while you looked at him blankly. Wow, the rumors are true, he is an asshole.

"Well, Your Highness, this extra happened to be the one who cared for the rib who used to be a part of the cow that you stole just now. So, apologize and pay up. I don't care if you're the prince or not. Thievery is a crime, and you just committed it." The crowd begin to whisper, making the prince's eye twitch.

"Fine, you annoying extra! Give her whatever the fuck she wants!" And with that the prince stormed off. Leaving you and the red-haired knight behind. The crowd began to disperse, seeing as the scene just concluded and that the man of the hour was gone.

The knight turned to you once again and bowed. "I'm deeply sorry for my prince's actions. As he caused such an inconvenience and refuses to be accountable for his actions, I shall ensure to provide whatever compensation you need or want — within reason of course." Before you can respond, he introduces himself with a grin. "Ah! How silly of me! Chivalric knight, Kirishima Eijirou at your service."

"I appreciate your efforts, Sir Kirishima, but I just need the payment for the stolen goods." You replied with a smile, but soon your smile faltered. You had wanted to be a chef for so long and travel unknown lands to discover cuisine and cooking techniques you've never heard of before. Perhaps... is this the right time to do it?

You bit your lip as you contemplated. Should you grab this opportunity and run with it?

Seeing your hesitancy, Kirishima waited for your answer. "Actually... I have a request... I was wondering if it's possible?"

"I'm all ears, Miss."

...

"What is this extra doing here?!" Prince Bakugo exclaimed as he saw your annoying little face within his traveling party. Kirishima sighed as he explained the situation. You would join his party as a chef until you reach the capital where you will be training to be a chef under the great Lunch Rush. Bakugo was about to object when Kirishima shot him a look.

"Fine. But I'm not eating garbage cooked by a commoner!" You rolled your eyes at his demeanor. Are all royals like this?

As if reading your mind, Kirishima responds. "Don't worry. King Masaru and Queen Mitsuki are quite modest and kind."

"Then what happened to him?" You pointed to Bakugo.

"I heard that, you extra!" Fowl language followed that statement making the traveling party sigh. Oh boy, this is gonna be a painful journey.

After that, you said your goodbyes to your father, who was very emotional about the turn of events. "Be good and be brave, my sweet child. And ask for forgiveness from His Highness." Your brows were scrunched in confusion.

"Why must I do that? He was clearly in the wrong!"

"Ah... that slab of meat was a present from me to him. He once helped me round up the cows when his traveling party went by our house yesterday. The slab of priceless meat was a token of appreciation for his kind gesture. So, do apologize for your actions, ok?" The information you just heard astounded you, making you speechless. Guilt pooled in your stomach as you promised your father that you will apologize to the prince. And with a final promise of coming home as a renowned chef, you parted ways.

The journey started rough. The prince refused to eat anything you made at all. His stubbornness knows no bounds and his overall demeanor towards you was not pleasant, which you understood as the scene you caused was a total misunderstanding on your part. The only upside was the traveling party greatly enjoyed your meals, and some even gave you recipes from different places and suggestions of destinations that you'll surely enjoy to explore! Overall, it went smoothly.

That is, until the prince became sick.

The doctors in your traveling party asked you to concoct different meals suited to His Highness, You had to stop at a village in order to ensure Prince Bakugo's speedy recovery. And one day, you were assigned to deliver his meals to him personally.

"Prince Bakugo?" You knocked on the door, and as expected, not a response came from the prince. You sighed and slowly opened the door, cautiously stepping in so you won't wake Bakugo up or spill the contents of the bowl you held.

"Go away, you extra." He grumbled, but his rough voice was replaced with a weak ome due to his illness.

"Look, I know you won't eat my meals but you need to eat. You can't recover from this if your body doesn't have the nutrients it needs to fight back this illness." You huffed. "And... besides, consider this as my way of making up to you."

"What the heck are you talking about?"

"My father told me about it. I'm sorry for mistaking you for a thief. I tried to apologize to you on several occasions but you angrily push me away every time I do. So, I figured this might be the right timing since you know... you aren't your usual aggressive self." You scratched your nape in embarrassment. "Besides, if there's something I learned while traveling with you is that you're a big softie inside. You might act rough and is shard on the edges, you're actually kind-hearted and caring. Uh... anyways. Please make sure to eat your meal, Prince Bakugo."

Before you can exit the room, you heard him say, "Annoying extra." But the usual hostility behind those words wasn't there. You might just be assuming it or imagining it, but those words almost sounded... fond.

With a shake of your head, you left the room.

Later that day, you found the bowl to be empty and outside of his room. Along with it was a note that read, "Don't fucking tell me what to do, you annoying extra."

[nexyra]

RWBY Analysis - Ozpin & Ruby, on the concept of leadership

In her song "Burned out", Dodie sings of her fans, how they look up to her and how uneasy that realization made her. For everyone is at the end of the day just as human as their neighbour; and having the hopes and expectations of others put upon you when you're just as lost as them can be a frightening thing. And this... made me think of Ruby & Ozpin.

On the subject of leadership, Ozpin tells Ruby the following : “Being a team leader isn't just a title you carry into battle, but a badge you wear constantly. If you are not always performing at your absolute best, then what reason do you give others to follow you?”

While I love this quote, I also have to analyze the drawbacks of this mentality and how they align with both Ozpin and Ruby. At the time, Ruby is a newly appointed leader and unsure of this reality. Ozpin's counsel give her the confidence needed to step up as a leader and take her duties more seriously, which in return appeases Weiss' and make their team all the more balanced. It is, in that context, good advice. A good leader should strive to lead by example and work hard to be worthy of the respect others give them, both in and outside of battle.

However there is one aspect that I find much more complex and that is... what does it mean to "always perform at your absolute best" and to have others follow you ? Note the use of follow, people letting you lead alone as opposed to "standing by your side" or a similar expression. It showcases in my opinion one of the biggest problem of Ozpin's leadership, but one that I feel has been inadvertently repeated by Ruby's.

- - - - - - - -

To cultivate hope and lies

When it comes to Ozpin's lies, I am of the firm belief that he had good intentions. Soo if you think he's the scorn of this earth, this might be a good time to tap out :D Now, this said I have a lot to say on the subject but I'll keep this short to stay on track (& make another unrelated post to develop my thoughts.)

In my opinion, at the core of his lies stand different beliefs. And on the subject of leadership, I think one stands out in particular and aligns with the advice he gave Ruby : the need to perform at your best to give others a reason to follow you.

Ozpin is the reincarnation of a centuries-old wizard and the headmaster of a school : what is one aspect almost every character agrees on upon meeting him ? "Oh, he's wise. He's knowledgeable. He has the answers. He has his shit together. He can tell us what to do."

Inherently, Ozpin's existence inspires respect and reassure. Just like to a child, a parent is all-knowing and unbreakable, Ozpin's status automatically give others the assumption that he knows what he's doing. And this, in my opinion, is one of the core problems of his leadership.

May it be with his inner circle, with RWBY, with ANYONE really; as soon as Ozpin reveals himself there are unspoken expectations that will chain him. He has the knowledge, he was here when it all began, he's the one calling the shots so he HAS to know exactly what to do. In that situation, breaking down and revealing to everyone how lost Ozpin is, how out of his depth... is unconceivable. And this is where Ozpin's conception of leadership becomes a problem as well. If you always perform "at your best" then you keep your doubts to yourself, you hide your sorrows and you put on a brave face. There are expectations in place that Ozpin wants (needs even) to meet. And thus the hopes of others and Ozpin's desire to fulfill them feed one another, as a perfect recipe for disaster. Because the more time Ozpin spends acting as if everything is under control, the more the expectations pile up... And coming clean about his humanity, the fact that he's just as powerless as the rest of them, becomes impossible.

And in that sense, breaking down the pedestal Ozpin had been put on was probably one of the best thing to do for his own mental health (though the method lacked a bit of compassion in my opinion xD)

The other part that somehow causes problem is how RELIANT on him his inner circle is. Despite their apparent friendship, Ozpin is the clear leader and as soon as he's out of comission, everything falls apart. Ironwood is the only one to call out Oz but in the end still wishes for the wizard to tell him what to do in period of stress. Qrow plays spy and takes order but doesn't seem really interested in stading at Ozpin's side as an equal. Glynda is stern but still defers to him etc...

All of them FOLLOW Ozpin but are just a few steps off from standing at his side. And this is something I see reflected in Ruby.

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

Following optimism up until it fails you

In Vol6, as secrets and lies are brought to the light, the loss of Hope that Ozpin feared so deeply happens. Is it worth it ? What are we even going to do with an immortal foe ? Maybe we should just go home. In that situation, Ruby is the simple soul who manages to keep her optimism, stand tall and say "No. We are taking the lamp to Atlas." And from then on her position as a leader and a bacon of light is reaffirmed. As Jaune put it in V4 "You gave us the courage to follow you."

Now is that, in itself, a problem ? Of course not. In fact I loved seeing Ruby come into herself and take the lead in Vol6. The problem in truth comes after, from the ramifications. From Vol6 onward, Ozpin has essentially been rid of his leader position and Ruby inherited it. And on a surface level sure, they are pretty different. Ruby is certainly closer to her partners : they're a family and they care about each other.

However, she is still clearly put at the lead. The others relied on Ruby's optimism and resilience to get to Atlas, and continue to do so. Setting foot in Ironwood's office, Blake tells Ruby "We'll follow your lead". They trust her, and whatever Ruby does... goes. They lie to Ironwood and Yang expresses some hesitations but eventually rally to Ruby's decision. And I emphasize this again : it is Ruby's decision. They did not pre-emptively discuss this as a group and then let Ruby be the spoke-person. Yang herself in Vol8 criticizes not their actions but Ruby's choices. Ruby calls the shots, Ruby is responsible for what happens, Ruby is their beacon of hope... Ruby is the new Ozpin.

Ruby has to be optimistic, and make the decisions and take risks because she's the leader. When Ruby leaves the room to break down, conversation & strategy stalls : the others don't take the lead. When things go south, it's Ruby's choices that led them here. Ever since Ruby has left Beacon, the only person who consistently encouraged Ruby to express the BAD, to share the negative has been Oscar. Even her silver eyes ask her to focus on only the happy memories to go off without a hitch ! The others comfort, they smile, they trust, they love even. But they don't want depressed Ruby finally grieving, they don't want honest "I don't know what to do" : they try to bring back confident and optimistic "we're gonna try" Ruby Rose. They want their earnest and happy but ultimately perfect leader that gives them reason to follow. In the end, even if they deeply care for her and have no shortage of warm coated reassurances for the teen, they still chain her down with their expectations. Ruby is NOT built for this. And I don't even say that in the "why is a kid calling the shots" sense, but "why is a kid put in a position where she's RESPONSIBLE for calling the shots ?"

Ruby is the youngest of the group apart from Oscar. The others should not rely on her this much to function. Blake telling Ruby that she looks up to her and that they'll follow her lead is admittedly sweet, but still builds up the pressure weighing her down. Blake calling out for Ruby's help when the teen has just been crashed to the ground by the Hound isn't even sweet anymore. They're all supposed to be equals. Blake is just as capable as Ruby. Calling out to your mind-controlled friend to bring them back from the edge is good. Calling out to your 17-old sister who's been beaten up because you need her to fight isn't.

They need to recognize that Ruby should not hold up the place alone. Because yes, they love her. But at the end of the day, Ruby is still the one bearing the weight of their decisions... Alone, even surrounded.

✦ ✦ BURNED OUT - DODIE ✦ ✦

He was certain; So was I There was comfort in her sighs

Dreams and ideas should not be the same thing You waited, smiling for this?

Oh, she'd want it, if she knew She could take it, I thought too Be careful, be cautious but you just wished harder You waited, smiling for this?

"But they love you!" Over and over, "they love you!" Thousands and thousands of eyes just like mine Aching to find who they are

"Oh, they love you!" Oh, you can feel how they love you ! Coated and warm but that's all they can do Words only get through if they're sharp

Oh, how fitting For one so fake Make me a fairy Whatever it takes

And just like a tale my dream was a scam You waited, smiling for this?

I am burnt out I smell of smoke It seeps through her cracks and so I start to choke Sentences sit in her mouth that are templated You waited, smiling for this?

Oh, maybe I'll talk about it... (maybe I'll talk about it) I can just talk about it... (I can just talk about it) I'll never talk about it... (I'll never talk about it) No, I cannot talk about it...

Don't build hope on something broken I am not cartoon. Cry for help, I am not joking I might just leave soon

[allthesapphicstars]

In the books it's Mrs Coulter who decides she doesn't want anything to do with baby Lyra after the scandal, that's why she's given to Lord Asriel, not the other way around. The show changed this (and her character) completely. After the trial Lord Asriel is declared unfit for parenting and Lyra is given to a nunnery, but he decides to 'kidnap' her and brings her to Jordan College. And it's not like Lord Asriel is not left crawling as well, he used to be as rich as a king, after Lyra he had to swallow his pride and go beg colleges for funding (even 12 years later), whereas Mrs. Coulter (now a widow and free) is given funding by the Magisterium itself, so again, in the books she does achieve what she wants, in unconventional ways maybe, but she has her own research department and is never seen as subordinate to any man, until book 3 at least. And most importantly, in the books she subdues to no man, let alone Boreal. He's literally her puppet in the books 😔

I think you raise some good points here. But I want to say that my post about Marisa and the patriarchy was very much my own opinion and interpretation of both the books and the show from my own perspective as a woman having lived the experiences I have. That being said I do think I should go through your points and explain my own reasoning behind my interpretation.

1) Who got to take care of Lyra.

I never actually said that Asriel didn't want anything to do with Lyra. I do believe that both of them, in their own ways, do love and care about Lyra. They're just not very good at it.

But in terms of who took care of Lyra after she was born that responsibility immediately fell to Asriel. And there are probably lots of reasons for this. But, for me, I don't think that it was ever really a consideration or much of an option for Mrs Coulter to do so because of the environment of their world.

Marisa was married and had an affair that produced a child. In their world, women are second class citizens in comparison to men and as such any power or financial security that she may have would have been derived from her position as a wife. And a wife to a powerful man. To be able to keep a child requires resources that she would have only been able to get through her husband.

We know that Mrs Coulter kept her affair and also her child a secret because it would have ruined her. But also, I don't think we should forget, that she kept Lyra a secret from her husband to protect her too. As when Mr Coulter found out about the affair and Lyra he went to Asriel's house to kill them both, but Asriel got there first.

If you consider this, then Marisa wasn't really given much of a choice about what to do with Lyra. If she'd taken care of her herself then it's likely that her husband would have banished her from his home and therefore stopped her access to any resources, or he would have killed the child. Neither of those options look particularly good if you ask me.

Asriel's decision to "kidnap" Lyra and get her to Jordan is, to me, an act of desperation to protect his child in the same vein as Marisa's decision to not care for her herself.

Don't forget, by this point Marisa has been marked as an adulterer and a widow and is a pariah to most of society. She's also no longer under the protection of a man which is why the magisterium don't allow her to take Lyra back into her custody but instead give her to the nunnery.

Neither of Lyra's parents have many options when it comes to custody because of the patriarchal structure of their world. (although I highly doubt Marisa would have been let off as lightly as Asriel was in terms of breaking the rules about Lyra)

2) Asriel also had to crawl his way back.

Yes. You're right, Asriel did have to work his way back up to respected by society again. But as you yourself pointed out, his main obstacle was the loss of his money.

Asriel still retains his title. His academic standing is relatively untouched. He may have to beg to get funding but so does pretty much everyone trying to get funding tbh. The college's still listen to what he has to say. His name carries weight.

Let's compare this to what Marisa lost in the scandal. Yes, she didn't lose all of her finances like Asriel. But with the death of Mr Coulter she lost the male presence that in their society allowed her access to so many places. Without a husband she doesn't have the same security that she did before. She also lost her reputation, which for a woman (and not just in their world) is detrimental in how she is treated.

When I say that Marisa had to claw her way back into society I really do mean it. She wasn't just struggling to get finances like Asriel, she was struggling to be listened to, to be respected, to have any form of control over her life that having power gives you. Their world is deeply misogynistic so anything that Asriel struggled to gain, Marisa would have had to work against the same odds but also factor in her gender setting her back deeply.

3) freedom

Honestly I can't agree with your statement that Marisa is more free compared to Asriel.

Ok, so yes, Marisa gets funding from the Magisterium but that is explicitly because she is doing research that they want doing (experimenting with the concept of removing sin by cutting children) that they don't want to be seen doing because it's barbaric. Her research funding comes directly from the fact that as a woman, who's a pariah and not a member of the church authority, if what they were doing was made public she's easily expendable. Someone that they can deny ever colluding with. And Marisa knows this. She knows how vulnerable her position within the church really is. That the power the church gives her is an illusion.

So she creates her own power through using what condemned her in the eyes of the church against them. Her ability to seduce. They view her as a wanton adulterer so she uses that fear of her sexuality to arouse and then manipulate the men in power.

But this doesn't mean she not seen as a subordinate to a man. She 100% is. She has to answer to the male heads of the church. And is expected to bow down to their will when they change their minds. She doesn't have this freedom to do what she wants with her research that you say because she always has to justify her actions to a man.

4) Boreal

Boreal is not her puppet. Yes, he does do what she wants but that's because of his attraction to her. He doesn't submit to her desires because he respects her. He definitely doesn't do it because he sees her as an equal.

Boreal does what Marisa wants because he thinks that as a man he has more power over her. He submits to her whims because he think that if he plays along with her wishes and appeases her, gives her the illusion of having control over him, he'll be more attractive to her. All of Boreal's motivations come from wanting to sleep with her. And actually I'd argue that even more than that, Boreal is a collector (and this is something that the show drew on in the last episode) he wants to be able to say that he triumphed by being the first man to fully get Mrs Coulter to submit. He wants to own her.

And Marisa is fully aware of this. And yes, whilst being aware of how one is being manipulated does give you some power over the person doing the manipulating, it still doesn't negate the fact that the entitlement to her as a person that Boreal expresses comes directly from how their society views women.

Marisa's sexuality is both a weapon and also a cage. And I'm not going to go further into that here because tbh it's like a whole post on it's own and this is already way too long. (and also it makes me sad and stressed to think about).

I did just want to add on though to your comment about book three being the first time Marisa submits herself to a man. As you can probably guess I don't agree with that assessment, she is constantly having to submit herself to men and you can tell that it wears her down even if she pretends she's above it.

But even if you don't see all of her interactions as reflecting this then the scenes I think your referencing to in book three really do reinforce that submission is not a new act she's had to play. When Marisa is in Asriel's fortress and talks about playing the demure and naive woman with the generals, and even with Asriel (yes I know he's aware that she's manipulating him but I also think he's not aware of just how much), shows that it's not a new concept to her. It's definitely something she's had to do before. And honestly I think it's something she's had to do her whole life.

To summarise: yes Mrs Coulter is a figure of power in the books and is a master manipulator. But that doesn't mean she isn't constantly struggling against a world that condemns her as inferior because she's a woman. She's judged harsher because of her sex.

And you can't forget we only get her point of view in book three, but throughout the series you can see how her being a woman holds her back from everything that she wants to achieve and I still believe that going up against those struggles is a direct impact on her actions and who she is as a person.

She's spent her whole life fighting. And I think there's something really tragic about that.

[rozadoesit]

I think I really like him...

I don't know why I titled it, "I think...." cause if I'm being honest, I know I do, but I think the leaving it as a thought gives me the room to tell myself I was wrong if during this blossoming process something is unsavory or goes awry. It's a delusional safety net, but I'm taking this opportunity while it's there to see if the reasons why are genuinely him or just stuff that I haven't experience in awhile. Here goes the Top 5 Reasons I Think I Really Like Him: 1.) I feel like I actually have him, not just his attention. We've been talking to each other consistently for a while now just as friends and only recently even started playing at this idea of taking further steps. Then when we did finally cross that line, he didn't change. I can still talk to him with the same ease as I could before but there's just new area to explore. We're learning how to communicate with each other about this new space, and even if we don't end up continuing in from this space to something more, I think we will still be great friends. More to that, I like where we are and the fact that it's taken this long in hindsight, because I think we're being cosmically tested and he's definitely carrying a lot of the weight to make sure I don't fuck this up either way this ends up.

2.) He likes who I am, unconditionally. Like I said, we started out as friends just chopping it up and getting to know each other, so it makes sense that he likes me, but even in terms of how he looks at me, how he touches me, how he kisses me... it feels like more of the same and something new at the same time. Like he feels familiar but completely different and the fact that I can't comprehend it drives me wild. What's more is I don't feel like I have to cave into either side of my gender identity (or lack thereof) as an Enby to be with him comfortably. I conducted the "natural me" test, where I wore comfy clothes, I hung out with him when I had just taken down my hair, and I left my stubble on my face. It brought me a sense of comfort to know he didn't even bat a lash, and to even add insult to injury, he was in his pajamas too and we went into the store casually. 

3.) He has an actual personality and ability to carry a conversation. That one is pretty cut and dry. In the substantial amount of time we've known each other and the fact that we talk every day, our conversations are never dull and we're never fishing for something to talk about. He also wasn't just responding or passively conversing. He wasn't afraid to get behind the wheel and drive the conversation either, relieving me the need to always be the one in control.

4.) He hasn't let me down. I don't ask much from him, but realistically we all have expectations on how things are to go. While not every expectation I have anticipated has gone to plan, the resulting reality has been equally as great. In sum, he has the ability to surprise me and the fact that I can't read/calculate what he's going to do but he still manages to keep me happy is more than I could ask for.

5.) He's Black. That seems like a no-brainer to some and incredibly problematic to others, but what's understood doesn't need to be explained. It matters a lot that I as a Black Plus-Sized... Trans NB Femme have a Black man treating me amazingly means a lot because lived experience and the overall zeitgeist of Black Queerness tells me this is an anomalie. I truly manifest even better than what I have because I don't know what our future holds for my fellow Dolls and Black Femmes because we deserve it.

All in all, like I said I don't know what the future holds, but I'm excited to find out and I hope this excitement never leaves, even if/when we get to a point that's better and further along than where we are now. But I still want to hold my safety net there because if this doesn't work out, it's gonna hurt like shit. But he's texting me now and I caught myself smiling at the phone so this is one of the few I'm glad in the words of 3 Stacks,

"Y'all don't wanna hear me ya just wanna dance."