#mostly just a vent post

[eldritchlittleblackdragon]

Astarion spoilers, cw: anti romani bigotry

I noticed in Astarion's backstory he was specifically attacked by people who belonged to the "Gur" people (and it was via this attack Cazador took advantage of Astarion and got his teeth into him), and I figured that was a bit of Forgotten Realms lore I didn't know about and I looked it up and... it seems they're very much supposed to be a Romani analogue.

And Astarion makes a racist comment about them when you talk to the vampire hunter, who also belongs to that ethnic group.

GRANTED, both you and the NPC can call Astarion out on said racism which is good.

Just. idk something about the situation really rubs me the wrong way, especially since I have heard of the anti romani stuff in connection with the book Dracula.

I feel like I'm struggling to put it into words but its like. Everything else about this game and most stuff associated with Astarion is so well done. But this detail bugs me. Maybe just. Makes me think of the whole stereotype of Roma folks being involved in stuff not above board?

Still love BG3 and Astarion but it's like. Hmm. Not sure about that part. Don't like that.

[scourgebff]

solidarity

[queenlucythevaliant]

Just to clarify my thoughts (since I've had a number of people ask me about it) re: Job and cursing God. There's a big difference between cursing God as used in Scripture and how we generally would think of cursing at God today.

Cursing someone, in the Bible, has a lot of depth to it. It's not just saying "screw you " in anger, it's got a sense of forsakenness to it. It's the opposite of a blessing, a removal of blessing. If the blessing is presence, your face shining on the person you're blessing, then a curse is absence. In some translations, Job's wife tells him to "renounce God and die," which I honestly think makes a lot more sense to modern ears.

Job says a lot of unpleasant things to and about God in his anger and grief. So do the Psalmists. A number of the Prophets. So can we. God can take it if we come to him with honest expressions of our emotion, including those not-so-nice ones directed at him. I don't think there's anything wrong with getting mad at God and saying, "How dare you, you bastard" when you suffer unjustly. You can say much worse, I think, without sinning, though I don't feel particularly inclined to give examples. But as long as it's an honest expression of your heart, I think you're doing exactly what prayer is for. You're presenting him your heart with an open hand. He can use that. Opposite of love is not hate but indifference, etc.

Job doesn't renounce God. Neither should we. But I think when you're truly suffering, you're gonna have those feelings toward God either way. He'd rather you address them with him directly than try to avoid them. Cursing at God in the modern sense is actually a great way to keep the relationship strong and not end up cursing/renouncing him in the Biblical sense.

[gloom-metal]

everyone and their mom, mainly people smarter than me, have talked endlessly about fallout and especially about both new vegas and 4, but fuck it, i'll add my two cents

i think my problem with bethesda's take on fallout as opposed to black isle's/obsidian's is that they're just too caught up on the Aesthetic™ of it. they try going so hard on the "50's retro futurism meets mad max" visual that they forget why that's the case in 1, 2, and new vegas.

the kitschy, 50's visuals are there not just to contrast the modern, post-apocalyptic landscape, it's there to contrast to how pre-war america operated. before the nukes fell, america was a totalitarian, military dictatorship that routinely engaged in human rights violations that wore the facade of idealized 50's suburbia. and 200 years later, it's the only thing that remains of its corpse. in new vegas, this part of the setting is acknowledged, but it's more concerned on the current culture of the mojave and a major theme of the game (if not the series) is how to build a new society that won't destroy itself like the one that came before (it's no coincidence some of the characters that cling harder to the past are more prone to have evil karma)

but to bethesda, there's no underlying point. the aesthetic is the point. here's a bunch of things related to nuka-cola, here's a quest where you play as a silver age-esque comic book character, here's group of people that treat power armour like 50's hot rods (and i have to admit, i actually think that's pretty cool), here's a door to door salesman but he's a ghoul, etc, etc. there's all this imagery and aesthetic choices but none of it seems to tie to any theme or actually try saying anything.

[borderlinereminders]

I just spent a good few weeks feeling so energetic and motivated. I was getting so much done and feeling on top of the world.

I think it’s over though. Suddenly I’m feeling so heart broken. I feel so sad and want to cry. And I don’t want to do anything.

This is a constant cycle and it’s exhausting.

What honestly gets me through is remembering this will pass like it always does. But dang, it really sucks to feel the good parts fading (the energy and excitement and motivation) and I try so hard to hang onto them and I can’t.

[spidersilksoup]

Guys, I just got back, I thought we were done with blaming Gwen's stupidity on her race.

She's a dumb, stupid teenager, who did some dumb, stupid shit (on what I see as a misguided trip) but not all of that dumb, stupid shit had to do with the fact that she was white.

Shoes on the bed? Yeah.

Disrespecting parents? Partially.

Lying? What?

Betraying? Literally, what?

Condemning dude to unknowingly live through trauma for character development? My guy, what?

Yes, the movie is about race, but it is also about identity as a whole. It is about trust and distrust, struggle and progress, failure and loss, responsibility and determination, but also being a dumb, stupid teenager and making dumb, stupid decisions.

I'm not trying to belittle race's role in the movie, just emphasize that there is more going into a character's choices than their skin.

[daenerys-targaryen]

daenerys is a cultural icon but she is most certainly one of the most misunderstood characters which is so crazy to me considering she’s such an easy character to understand. she’s the only character whose motives are questions and twisted 24/7 when it’s clear she’s a selfless young girl who tries to see the best in others and make the best of the horrible awful shitty situations she’s in. she’s the only character whose abuse and rape is either mocked or severely downplayed, some even say she benefited from it. shes the only character who is going to ‘go mad’, when the other two targaryen contenders (both men, mind you) will not go mad, kill her, get her dragons and titles and rule instead of her. she’s the only character not allowed to get angry or have sexual autonomy. she’s the only character who is vilified for watching her long time abuser die. she’s the only character who’s abuse at the hands of her brother is completely disregarded. shes the only character not allowed to kill those who hurt her / those she loves. she’s the only character not allowed to retaliate against her baby being murdered. she’s the only character who’s entire childhood is downplayed and ignored. shes the only character who’s special connection to magic and dragons is so incredibly overlooked and downplayed and vilified. she’s the only character who must die in the end to ‘pay for her ancestors crimes’, when no other main character is (as if the work she’s doing isn’t actively going against her ancestors?) it’s all so fucking infuriating and this isn’t even all of it.

[lucaonthropy]

Overheard someone saying T*re Liy* is the best author in my country and subsequently took psychic damage

[agentrouka-blog]

Robb is the Stark that never goes home. The Stark who chose other things and other people over saving his family. The Stark who actually had power and a say in how he used it.

Robb.

Not Sansa.

[forestlovesyou]

might be kinning Tohya but in a trans allegory way like

"Someone died in me who isn't me and sometimes i feel like it's a 'her or me' situation where i'm scared for my own right to exist, but other times i feel like she's the ghost of a poor girl who deserves to be comforted and put to rest"

[thathopelessromantic]

I want to read something new but nothing sounds good or is holding my attention and I am crawling up the walls

[seventh-district]

not even gonna tag this properly bc i don't wanna get Involved but i do have some Thoughts i need to get out into the void so here we go

(aaa quick edit: CW for mention/discussion of Boothill leaks)

[wren-writes-things]

So I’m just going to make a note on this because I’ve been struggling to respond to texts, but my mental health has taken a dive due to circumstances outside of my control. I’m hoping that once my living situation changes it might improve since currently I’m staying directly in my parents’ house and that limits a lot of the things that normally keep me healthy.

But if you don’t hear from me as much I promise there isn’t any ill intent behind it. I care about everyone on here a lot, my brain is just being inconvenient right now.

Thanks for reading this.

[palant1r]

After watching my state's legislature introduce several anti-LGBTQ+ bills under the guise of protecting minors from nudity and sexuality, I have completely lost my patience with the sex-negative reactionaries on this site. Being progressive does not give you license to spout the same pearl-clutching conservative bullshit that has put people and books in the crosshairs of the culture war. For some of you, the only tangible difference between your views on sex and the views on sex of the average Republican legislature is that you got interested in TV shows and didn't get the opportunity to join a legislative body and start ruining people's lives.

If you're one of the "no kink at pride" people or one of the "we should ban amoral fiction people" or whatever, get off the internet. Study queer history and media law. Touch grass. Read a newspaper. Weighing in on issues of queer sexuality when you have absolutely no knowledge other than your unearned confidence in the precepts of your ingrained cultural christianity is a harmful act. If you're going to be willfully ignorant, at least shut your mouth.

[daddyplasmius]

hand on my stupid heart flashbacks

this is a No One Knows AU & Full Hazmat AU where Danny ended up in the Ghost Zone & didn't go back into the human world initially because he thought he was dead. by the time he realized he is, in fact, at least half alive, he'd already been missing for at least 2 weeks. will probs never finish homsh sorry. i wrote this a couple years ago in a haze & just haven't been able to finish it because i can't replicate the style, which i find is what i love about this fic the most. it wouldn't be the same without it. posting the flashback introsーwhich are meant to be read between chapters/the actual plot, starting after chapter 1ーcuz fuck it. excuse typos & shit, i never properly edited it, as i forgot it existed immediately after i wrote it original description of homsh: Danny Fenton has officially been missing for over a year. Maddie & Jack Fenton refuse to give up on their son. Sick and tired of the police running them in circles, and the case getting colder by the day, the Fentons turn to their last resortーPhantom. 800~ words (full unfinished fic is 20k~)

-

When Danny woke up surrounded by thick, green fog, and couldn’t breathe without swallowing heavy air that was more like water than anything, he was sure he was dead. The portal glowed behind him, illuminating the pitch darkness around him in soft, yellow, warm light.

He almost went back.

Almost.

He was dead. His parents were ghost hunters. They had drilled into his head from the moment he was born that he could never, ever panic in death. That he would accept it. That he would not be scared. So he would be prepared to be brave in the face of death and would not become a ghost.

He panicked. He did not accept it. He was terrified. And so he woke up in the Ghost Zone.

-

Danny went back through the portal when he saw some ectopuses acting… strange. Like they had an idea in their heads. Like they had a plan.

Which was weird, with animal ghosts. He had only been in the Ghost Zoneーmom and dad called it that, he rememberedーfor a couple weeks. Or, he had already been there for two weeks. Or maybe time worked differently and he was there five minutes, or four years orー

The ectopuses went through the portal and, despite everything, Danny went after them.

While he was busy reeling at being home, the ectopuses immediately attacked dad. Danny was horrified. Jack was overwhelmed. Danny stepped in, in a moment fueled by sheer adrenaline and stupidity, snatching a Fenton Thermos™ off a shelf and releasing his shaky invisibility. The ectopuses didn’t stand a chance. And when they were safely in the Thermos, he slowly turned around to dad, ready for the confrontation. Ready for the “what happened to you?” and the “where have you been?” and the “we’ve missed you”.

Dad scrambled to shoot at him.

Danny fled.

His parents didn’t recognize him.

-

The Lunch Lady attacked when Danny was mourning Halloween.

He’d waited all year. He made a costume that summer. He wouldn’t get to go trick or treating with Sam and Tucker this year. Or any year. For the rest of his lifeーor existence. Whatever.

The Lunch Lady appeared in the school and demanded in straight fury, “Who changed the menu?”

Everyone pointed at Sam.

Danny hadn’t known just how powerful ghosts could be. His parents never told him the specifics. Just that they were dangerous.

This ghost grew and her aura hit him like a hurricane, almost physically pushing him back. It was so strong that the students in the Casper High cafeteria seemed to feel it too.

The Lunch Lady was a much harder opponent than the ectopuses. She levitated meat. She used it as a weapon, and seemed to bring it back to life. She created weird meat creatures that grew sharp teeth and claws out of bones. They were mindless, attacking everything that got too close to the ghost. Danny would have run away without hesitation, if Sam hadn’t been in the crossfire.

Danny fought the Lunch Lady. It was a long struggle, but he caught her in the thermos after over an hour. When he turned to Sam and Tuckerーboth of whom he had to save due to Tucker trying to jump into the fightーall three of them bloody and bruised, he cringed. But a part of him hoped. Desperately.

Surely they would know him on sight.

“Wh-what are you?” Sam gasped at him finally.

Danny flinched as if she had struck him. “J-just… your friendly neighbourhood phantom.”

-

Danny didn’t know what possessed him. Oh. Pun not intended.

He just barely caught the Fentons leaving in the GAV, dragging suitcases behind them. He couldn’t help himself. What on Earth were they doing?

They were going to Vlad Master’s mansion for their college reunion.

It was a whole thing. But something was off. Besides all the adults reminiscing about the 80’s.

Danny sensed ghosts immediately but he couldn’t see anything. Unfortunately for him, Vlad could also sense him. It was two days of Danny staying invisible, and Vladーthe halfa? Is that what Danny is?ーtrying to kill Jack. Somehow, Danny managed to fight off Vlad, not turn back, and without the Fentons getting hurt. His secret intact.

VladーPlasmius, also learned about Phantom. And Vlad hated him. The manーghostーwhatever, seemed to only care about one thingーpossession. Of money. Of things. Of people. He was more ghost than Danny had ever seen. Vlad’s obsession was overwhelming.

Danny couldn’t believe someone so much like himself could be so disturbing.

[daz4i]

i will admit . i am scared