#or it equals glorification

[indeliblemarking]

abuse / trauma obviously isn’t an excuse for behavior and we see that notion applied (rightfully so most of the time) in fandom but i feel like in catra’s case you really can’t remove her suffering when analyzing why her redemption is written the way it is. she’s abused interpersonally and systematically as a child soldier from toddler age and it warps her perception of every relationship in her life to the point where she isolates herself to extreme degrees to the point that she’s consistently on the brink of a mental breakdown. yes she treats people like garbage yes she makes horrible decisions but her case is like…very extreme. and that’s not to necessarily play trauma olympics with characters in other pieces of media but i feel like people kind of downplay how that factors into her reasoning and also sort of forget how young she is throughout her entire story, flashbacks and all. so obviously the show is gonna have the good guys extend sympathy and not have her prove her worth. (which is one of the main ideas that messed her up in the first place) her arc needed more time but I think it’s unnecessary to devalue it just because the characters aren’t mad at her for as long as you want them to be, they offer her love and support as she exists but still don’t excuse or enable poor behavior and don’t allow her to be in their lives and make morally corrupt decisions. anyway ik it’s 2024 but that’s something I’ve thought for a while

[calibrationneeded]

Sometimes I’m normal and other times I remember Dean’s canon daughter and how Sam never got hounded for killing her by the fanbase but Dean is still treated like mayor of cunt city for mistreating Jack. Obviously two wrongs don’t make a right and Dean was very much in the wrong for how he treated Jack, but the fact Sam is seen as better than him for it despite doing arguably the same thing rubs me the wrong way. And this isn’t so much a dig at Sam as a character but rather a commentary on how the fanbase kind of puts him on this weird pedestal.

He killed Emma. Sam made up his mind about Jack in the same amount of time he made up his mind about Emma, but chose to kill her and empathize with Jack. Dean didn’t have an obligation to Jack, he didn’t know him when they first met, but Sam had an obligation to both Dean and Emma as a brother and an uncle.

I know he acted to save Dean, however- as a sibling, I know that if I were to kill my hypothetical niece or nephew to save my sibling that they would hate me forever, and that is a fact that would alter my idea on how to approach the situation.

Often Dean is viewed as this huge piece of shit for his behavior towards Jack in the beginning, because “how dare he assume the antichrist and son of the guy who killed Cas would be not great” but meanwhile Sam gets off with not so much as a mention to the fact he killed a young girl because she was a monster.

Where are the lines drawn? What makes a monster a monster? Are they less of one when you see yourself in them? Or was Dean in the wrong because Jack became a more important character. Hell, maybe it all ties back to the fact that Supernatural seems to hate women, who knows.

[sebdoesnothing]

There are a lot of problems you can find with Nolan and with Oppenheimer, but that film was not a Pro-Bomb movie. I thought it was kind of ridiculous that anyone would think it would be, but I held out and watched it, and can confirm that that film is definitively Anti-Bomb.

[tepkunset]

Marvel Studios is an American film and television production company. Marvel Comics is an American comic book publisher.

As of the current date, the official BDS Movement has called for a Boycott of Marvel Studios upcoming Captain America film that features a zionist Israeli character who supports apartheid. There has been zero mention of Marvel Comics - or anything else Marvel - in either of their two statements I can currently find mentioning "Marvel" on their website, unless something is missing from that tag.

April 27, 2023: "Palestinians call for widespread boycotts of Marvel’s 2024 film, Captain America: New World Order, unless it drops Sabra/Ruth Bat-Seraph, its “superhero” that personifies the apartheid state of Israel. ... We encourage creative, peaceful protests to challenge Marvel Studios’ – and its owner Disney’s – complicity in anti-Palestinian racism, Israeli propaganda, and the glorification of settler-colonial violence against Indigenous people. ... We urge conscientious audiences worldwide to join us in boycotting Captain America: New World Order, and standing up for freedom, justice and equality."

November 23, 2023: "Marvel’s next Captain America film features Sabra/Ruth Bat-Seraph, a “superhero” personifying apartheid Israel. The character’s backstory includes working for the genocidal Israeli government and its occupation forces. By reviving this racist character in any form, Marvel is promoting Israel’s oppression of Palestinians. It is complicit in anti-Palestinian racism, Israeli propaganda, and glorifying settler-colonial violence. Tell Marvel you won’t buy its toys, clothes or accessories."

It is my understanding that the only way a boycott will work is if it's organized and targeted - thus the reason for BDS in the first place. The demand was that Marvel Studios remove the Israeli character from the film. Since the demand has not been met, then the boycott remains in place. But boycotting some random comic book writer's work and some comic book shop that makes pennies, with nothing to do with the MCU, is not what is being organized at this time.

The character in question hasn't even been featured in comics in 10 years - though of course she never should have been created in the first place. But Marvel Studios is choosing to pull her out of nowhere, when they have thousands and thousands of characters they could adapt instead. Please boycott Captain America: Brave New World (formerly titled New World Order) set to come out February, 2025, even if you're a Sam Wilson fan.

[girlfishes]

Remember that “I think everyone should have the freedom and autonomy to make decisions regarding their own personal life” will never mean “all decisions and outcomes are equally good”.

Conversely, the statement “some decisions are better than others” does not imply the statement “decisions should be compelled.”

Freedom of choice liberalism has turned into a lazy ambivalence about how the choices we make either positively negatively impact ourselves and the people around us.

A critique of someone’s choices has been too often mistaken as an attack on their right to make that choice. For example, if I say that the glorification of tradwifery on TikTok will lead to bad outcomes for young girls, the statement “tradwives should not be allowed to post on TikTok” is nowhere near implied. If I say that wearing makeup encourages compliance by other women and perpetuates a patriarchal erasure of the image of women, I am not saying that I have any desire to make makeup illegal.

Those are certainly statements that feminists could make, but only assume that’s what someone means if they actually say it.

Opposing choice feminism does not an authoritarian make.

(of course this doesn’t apply to choices which directly aid or perpetrate sexual or physical violence)

[nemesyaaa]

pygmalion au // rafe cameron x reader

summary ; “ you love someone you can shape, who has no will to escape. ” artist!rafe x muse!reader.

warnings ; unsafe feelings. slight of angst. smut. kind of fantasy/magic. art glorification. attachment issues. innocent!reader. fear of losing somebody. first time. rafe being a lost boy. dubcon. pygmalion' weird story. toxic!rafe. mentions of drugs. oral (m. receiving). p in v. insecurities. praising. artist hands appreciation. minors DNI.

author's note : 3,5 k words for this. one-shot. also a lot of tummy appreciation (tysm @shawtycoreee 🫶🏿). out of the smut, i tried to write it so poetic 😭🤟🏿

— “ wrap me up, enfold me. i am small and needy. warm me up and breathe me. ” breathe me by sia.

it was alone and late at night that rafe cameron began to create you, not really knowing at the time he started his art what work you would produce. he only cut the stone with his hands. before forming your body, he fantasized about it internally, not really knowing what a woman's anatomy actually looked like. you were like a crazy dream he was trying to sort out, a fantasy he was trying to make real. he sculpted with his straight calloused and tired hands, manipulating the fragile and sensitive material with precision.

he hated doing badly, but it was what he did best. as he worked, he sank into his own fascination. you were magnificent, no, you were divine, the glorious treasure from his hands. it was scary and breathtaking. he had never done anything so beautiful, never created anything so charming. you had this firm, seductive chest, completely bare and hard, the movement of the stone making your belly round and chubby. you were carved in marble, an inanimate statue that had found favor in the eyes of his creator.

when he had finished your face,

he had been amazed but above all frightened by what his fingers had achieved. he had given shape to your lips, your nose, your mouth and your eyes. and now that you had a look, it was like you were confronting him. because now that you had pupils, you could look at him too, you could judge him too. you could be as superior as him, but also equal to his worth.

you were his most beautiful work of art, literally his ethereal and angelic muse. and above all, you made him nervous. not only were you realistic, but you were a woman, you were like one of the goddesses from greek mythology, completely naked.

it was unexpected, but he had knelt before you, before your altar, on his legs and his hands. he was so white and desperate like a lost sinner having only his god to pray and glorify in order to survive.

you had seen his lips part in a prayer, his mouth tighten in a whisper. and you had ears, certainly made of stone, but you had heard it. you had heard his wish lost in the void. yet he had nothing of a believer, you could hardly imagine this man on the benches of a church, but you were also cruelly incapable of seeing and understanding who he really was.

when he stood up, you felt his hands on your skin, the coldness of his ring, but also the awkwardness of his touch. you could tell it was the first time he touched someone intimately, because he didn't really know where to put his hands but he also didn't know how to touch you without destroying you.

rafe cameron was not a god. he could break anything he touched. and maybe that was why he was so nervous and pathetic. you belonged to him now that he had created you so he refused to lose you without even knowing you.

he had hoped that god would make you a real woman, because you were perfect, too sublime to be just a piece of stone.

he didn't need to pull himself up to reach you, he was much taller, more intimidating in terms of size. he could lift you up and control you with just one hand.

you looked so alive so why, why did he only hear one heartbeat in the room? why was he alone breathing in this cold and empty room? why did you only have life in appearance?

you could feel in his look that he was questioning, that he was troubled, that all the beauty of his blue eyes was overwhelmed. but you had also felt his face so close to yours, his breath fanning across your molded lips. he had been hesitant, but his mouth had finally found yours.

and you surprised yourself by loving the taste of his pretty lips, but above all by being able to touch it.

and it was like that kiss had been real enough of how he felt about you that god had decided to give him a chance.

you had sensed all the ivory of your body, of your muscles, becoming sublimely gorgeous, all your stone beauty becoming human and alive. as if his devotion had allowed you to be free and to exist.

when he felt your mouth melt on his, he pulled back in fear. you weren’t supposed to be real even if he wanted you to be. since when did statues come to life?

"oh fuck, what's going on here?... i think i'm going crazy...all that fucking coke…”

“you created me.” you replied, slightly hurt by his reaction because he was supposed to be happy.

"no, you're not supposed to be alive. i mean, you're art, you can't be human."

“i’m human!” you contradicted, stepping forward from your marble base.

rafe wasn't sure if it was a nightmare or a dream. but his gaze was anchored on you, he couldn't take every inch of his eyes off your body. he was magnetized by your magnificence.

you came just close enough to take his hand and place it against your chest. “don’t be cold to me. don’t leave me. what would i do without you? you can't reject me. you need me. ”

maybe that was the game changer for rafe cameron. because he had just understood that since you were his, you belonged to him, you were entirely dependent on him. you couldn't escape, and above all, you had no desire to.

he could do what he wanted, you were like a doll created to respond to the slightest of his favors without ever complacent. you were not only perfect but unimaginable.

” be on your knees for me.”

and the next second, you were staring at him waiting for another order.

"mmh...i know your body by heart. i shape all of this. but you have never seen mine. no worry, i'm going to fix that, okay? you're going to please me tonight and not make me regret 'have given you life?”

you nodded in agreement and he smiled because you were too innocent, too sweet for someone like him. he had unzipped his pants, making them fall to his legs like his boxers.

and it was the first time you saw a naked man in front of you, but it was also fair for you because you had no clothes. “let me help you…” he offered with a smirk. his thumb had rolled over your lips, creating a slight slit between them. “ you need to open that pretty mouth wider...” he added, taking advantage of your vulnerability to use you.

"you know it will only hurt if you don't relax. so don't be tense. because even if it's big, you're gonna take it, doll. not gonna be easy on you because it's your first time. show me what you can do baby, let me feel how grateful you are for your creator. "

he had pushed his tip against your lips, forcing his way into your mouth, making you open bigger to accommodate his cock in your cavity. it was new to you, and you weren't even sure if you could satisfy him because it was the first time you had done something like that, and especially used your mouth in that way.

you thought this area was used to create intimacy between people, not to do dirty things.

“baby, i really appreciate how sweet you can be, but don’t let me do all the work…” he had scoffed. and your heart skipped a beat when he shoved himself further in your mouth, so much so that you felt him hit the back of your throat, all the speed of his harshly strokes leaving you breathless.

you choked on his movements, saliva pooling and dripping between the corners of your enlarged lips. “that’s what happens when you don’t do your part of the job properly…” his tone was falsely accusatory as you couldn’t catch your breath from his pace. he had no pity, you had turned on him too much. and to fix it, he blamed you by harassing your throat with his fat cock.

"but since you leave me no choice, let me show you how to be a good girl for me..." he had plugged your nose, pinching it hard, forcing you to take him entirely, without being able to breathe. his length swallowed in and out, your tongue barely able to support his weight which grew as he bullied your lips.

you belonged to him so he didn’t care if he ruined you a little. he told himself that he would repair you.

he released your nose when he felt you were about to pass, with a sadistic giggle. your eyes were wet with tears. “oh baby, don’t give me that look, you’re wasting your time, i don’t feel pity. ”

you continued to pump him until your jaw arched tighten and become more tense. he pulled out for a moment, spitting in your tongue, before using your throat again. his grunts were frantic and rapid, hot breaths in sync with the pornographic sounds that emanated from your sucking. his large palm was wrapped around the back of your neck, controlling your posture. “ give me that sweet eyes again, and i will make them cry.”

he took so much pleasure in watching you swallow him hard, grunting every time he entered your throat hoping to relax it but causing the opposite effect. "'ot finished. take those balls too." he had pulled back to lift his painfully throbbing dick and place it against his stomach, you had started to lick them, letting your tongue work the entire surface, coating them with saliva. "feel? how full they are. they're gonna stuff you real bad. " you sucked on them when he pushed them directly into your mouth, making him let out throaty sounds. your mouth felt so good, he wondered if your pussy would be just as her.

between your legs, it was completely soaked. your sloppy slit dripping onto the floor. it wasn’t like rafe was ignoring that mess. he was just purely mesmerized by your lips, by the way you cupped his balls so well, and how his cock reacted to each of your licks.

you were definitely his best work. it was more than art, it was heavenly. he was incapable of not using you after creating you. he had his urges, and you had to respond to them.

he had started fisting his length, leaving you lapping at his genitals dangling above your face. the cum had gushed through the air, landing on you. he had rubbed his trailing tip on your cheeks, giving a new color to your skin.

he wondered if you were human enough to feel all this degradation. in a short movement, he had placed you in front of the standing mirror of the workshop, and had driven his body against yours. he spat into his hand before jerking off a little, pressing the head of his cock against your sticky dirty folds.

he placed his arm across your stomach, one hand gripping one of your breast, pressing it more firmly once lodged inside you and grunted as he felt how tight you were, how hard your pussy stretched in his path. thanks to the mirror, he could see each of your reactions, but above all, see your part pumped each of his inches. all his size had disappeared between your flowing walls.

your twitching cunt clenched around his girth, your canal squeezing him. his thrusts were merciless, burrowing into your soiled folds. rafe rocked his hips roughly, as his dick bullied your puffy core. he wondered how a loser like him could have created a goddess like you. and he was desperate to know if he could make you stupid, if his cock that destroyed and filled you was good enough for someone like you.

you had created a mess and frustration in him.

he was in love with the bouncing flesh on your tummy against his arm, your tits swaying when you took him. it was a grace.

he reached out and hit your spot every time he buried himself inside you, his face sank in your left shoulder. you could feel the strands of his hair against your skin, his mouth against your collarbone. you were his, he was fucking you like this. you were only alive when he touched you. you could feel his obsession and adoration in every thrusts, no matter how brutal they were. it was his way of showing you that you couldn't escape him and that you could never.

his rhythm was hard, as your pudgy tummy jiggled under his strong fingers who were digging into you. you were so giddy, fucked like a ragdoll not able to said if it was the butterflies that make your stomach spiraling, or that thick dick shoved inch by inch further into your messy slick. his other digits at your clit, massaging the small and eager bud. he was big enough to maneuver you and embraced your small frame with his muscular biceps.

you were too little, too fragile underneath him.

he was your creator, he gave you air but he could also take it away from you. you were completely dependent, not only you, but every crumb of your body. he was pounding into you with the inability to detach his cock from your fluffy pussy. he loved hearing your voice choked with tears and moans against his ear. it was a sweet melody, a symphony.

your body was perfect, straddling his, your skin slapping his. your lips gurgling around his fingers that you could no longer take without dropping them, because of his violent assaults. you drooled all over your mouth, struggling with the drool that splashed all over his hand.

you couldn't see anything anymore, it was blurry. you didn't even feel tired anymore, you felt like a stupid doll, unable to think and reflect, only able to take this cock nastily harassing you and stretching you violently.

with his muscular and heavy hand on your throat, he forced you to look at the mirror. there was something incredible and perfect in his hands, and you knew it from the moment he started sculpting you. they were so good and incredible, covered with veins that systematically bulged. they captured your belly fat well. “don’t hide this from me. it’s my property.”

he had harpooned your flesh between his fingers, making it move and hang down more as he fucked you senseless.

“if i shaped you like that, that meant i wanted you like that.” your tummy was caged in his grasp. “ i mean, look at that belly, it's all beauty, i swear.”

he had moved his hand to the lower part of your stomach, pressing that area of your skin, feeling his bulge farther in you. in this corner of the room, there was only you and him, only your whimpers against his fingers and the pleasure you felt. there was only this mirror that stared at you and reflected you in the darkness with the only light of the moon as a beacon.

you were divine, you had the perfect body of a goddess. and even having cum with you, even causing your third orgasm, he didn't want to pull out. it was as if he was afraid of the emptiness he expected after this. and maybe you too were dreading the emptiness inside you after he filled you up so well, your soaked pussy dripping with his cum, drooling all over the floor.

he had finally taken it out, his fingers entering you to collect his mixture and place it against your lips. “don’t let it go to waste.”

you had cleaned his fingers until they were pure again.

he had his eyes on you, like a human in front of art.

he still didn't realize. but he refused to let you escape. but it wasn't like you could. he had created a home here, all over this room and in you. he had established a domain in every inch of your skin. he only had to see you to know that you were his own creation.

you kissed him, slightly awkwardly but he made up for it with his mouth on yours. “you can’t abandon me.” he whispered. “i don’t want to abandon you.”

and it felt good to hear your words. you didn't know him well enough, or not really, to know how sick he was. but you felt grateful that he gave you life, because it was priceless. he had made you, and you were his.

“ what are you doing?” when you felt chains encircling your wrists, you weren’t sure if you liked it. "i really want to believe in you sweetheart but i also can't trust anyone. you have legs, you can run away from me but with this metal, you're stuck.”

“i don’t really like it…” you admitted and he replied “no one likes it but the difference is that you don’t really have a choice either. you're mine. your feelings, your body, your eyes, all of that is mine. even that pouty sweet face of yours. ”

you turned your head to let him know that you didn't appreciate it, and to give him the silent treatment. and he smiled. “it doesn't kill me, baby. you can pout. ”

you didn’t respond. "you really want to give me this treatment? maybe you really don't want me to be nice to you after all..."

he had smiled. “"okay...I'll give you what you want." he had disappeared for a few minutes before coming back with an object that you couldn't identify. " what is this ? "

"now, baby wants to talk...but it's a little too late, i'm making the rules here so...say hello to your new favorite toy. it's a gagball.”

you didn't feel it was useful until the ball went into your mouth and stopped you from speaking. you could only drool and grumble around the object.

"why that face, baby? that's not what you wanted? i swear you still look pretty. just quieter. i'm going to go to sleep. and tomorrow you'll show me how sorry you are for that attitude. you want to know if i would forgive you? maybe it would be too easy, you understand? you have all night to prepare excuses and they better please me because i can be even more creative than that to punish you. “

the next day he woke up in a good mood. and above all, you were always there.

he had picked up the bottle of water from his table, wondering if you were thirsty. but when he arrived in front of you, he changed his mind. he used it to wake you up.

"i'm so clumsy...sorry, baby." but there wasn't an ounce of regret in his voice so you knew he was joking. you learned to read his face.

“you know how sorry i am…” he added, facing your gaze.

“you’re not…”

"yes, right. such a clever baby. are you thirsty?”

" yes..."

“maybe if you show me how good and nice you are today, i can consider bringing you another bottle.”

"what do you want..."

“it’s not what i want, sweetheart. but what you will do to satisfy me. see the small difference ? ”

it had been several weeks, a month in fact, since the day of your creation. you had spent your time in this workshop, chained to this wall. you were only alone when rafe left, when he left you in the shadows.

in fact, he was clearly having fun with you. you were dependent on his affection, and he knew it. you reacted to the slightest attention he gave you, even the most mean and bad. but above all you were incapable of hating rafe cameron.

he had made you a magnificent creature, a living human, you would be even crueler than him if you hated him.

after all, you were his muse. he had the right to use you. that was also the thought he had drilled into your brain.

everything he did was for you. and you should be grateful.

but sometimes he wondered, if he killed you, would you come back to life? was there magic in you or was he just in a fucking wonderful dream? he did enough coke to get high for days but this time it lasted too long for it to be fake.

your relationship was strange because sometimes you felt loved, especially when he hugged you after being rough with you, his palm gently caressing your back. like any human, there was tenderness in him. he could be nice. he knew how to be one but that didn't mean he enjoyed being one. he just thought that if he was too mean, you would disappear.

and that was not something he could tolerate. during all this time spent with you, he had not learned, no, he had not succeeded, to live without you.

artists brought art to life, but art gave meaning to the artists' lives.

before you, he was alone.

he had prayed for you. he needed you. it was his final call.

rafe cameron fell in love with you before he created you, before he even imagined you.

and maybe that was why he was so mean to you, because he never knew love, so how can you blame him for not knowing if you loved him back or make fun of him?

he was pathetic, full of rage and violence. but you couldn't hate him, because you and him shared the same tears. the same pain.

he made you, and you made him. he was afraid and you were scared. you wanted someone to love you, and he wanted someone that could love him.

“ i swear, y/n. don't leave me alone. even when you looked away, you make me feel like a monster when i'm not. so please, do the same as me. ”

“ what ? ”

“ don't make me feel like somebody else exists. i'm the only world you can live in. ”

[effieotto]

So Effie created the Spring Saturnalia (sotr)

A festival that was known in the Ancient Rome for it’s temporary suspension of social norms, where slaves and masters exchanged roles and enjoyed festivities together. Yeah, we’re saying that the woman who always made sure to bring kindness and respect for her tributes, even before the glorification of a victor, had created a festival that it’s main purpose was to promote social equality, even if for a small period of time, when she wasn’t even aware of what real social inequality meant!!!!!! We are saying that when she was still a kid in university and surely ignorant about the situation of the Districts, she already lived under the principles of mild ideological equality, despite the government trying to shove down her throat the idea that she should feel superior to that pack of stud!!!!!

She had created the festival “where participants were momentarily detached from their fixed societal positions and experienced a unique sense of community”, and then she proceeded to make sure Katniss and Peeta were having the best time of their lives during their short staying in the Capitol, stuffing them with food and candy and comfortable clothes. She treated them with kindness and made sure they were ready and comfortable to what they were going to have to endure. She rebuilt the concept of what a Escort represented, so she could give her tributes the dignity they deserved, even if for a short while.

I mean, we can clearly see that, while Drusilla and other Capitol citizens behaved like those kids were no better than animals or foolish entertainment, Effie had done her best to keep their relationship as light as possible. She asked Maysilee’s opinion about how to do Lou Lou’s makeup. She made sure they were all proper dressed and well prepared for their interview. She promised Haymitch she would do her absolute best to give his token back to Lenore Dove if he died…and she did all those things because she believed they had the right to be seen as people. It wasn’t just empty kindness, she honestly saw them as equally deserved of sympathy, and that is crazy…

Effie Trinket wasn’t a rebel, she didn’t know how she could change things. She didn’t believe things could ever be different than the reality she had born into. But she was resilient, and her kids would never be seen as less than what they were. Just like the Saturnalia, her job was to embrace the sense of equality and afford her tributes the right of being momentarily detached from their pain and poverty, so they could enjoy all the things she could grant to make their time a little less difficult. Effie has always been about humanity —from the very beginning

[rose-in-a-fisted-glove]

Gentile antizionists who care about antisemitism, take a cold hard look.

This is someone who has been a staunch supporter of Palestinian statehood and equality for at least two decades now.

This is someone that you all keep claiming isn't who you mean when you say "Zios should die" or "Zioscum"

You keep claiming you want to be a safe space. This is what your movement has led to. Jewish antizionists afraid to go to Jewish spaces. And afraid for good reason.

What are you going to do about this gentile antizionists? About the glorification of violence and proliferation gleeful hatred in your movement? The ball is in your court.

[tomb-bloom-noctem]

Can't wait to watch the adult show intended for adults about Hell and sinners and what even is redemption anyway and not be completely bombarded by people who think that the depiction equals glorification which equals encouragement to go out there and be the worst person ever. Because if that happened that sure would suck.

[koiblossom5]

As a chinese-canadian and a long-time user of xhs (xiaohongshu/little red book) I thought it might help to have some information and gentle reminders addressing the many rules + what kinds of content you can post on the app :)

To start, there's a lot of misconception about being able to post anime content. We aren't averse to Japanese content or media- as a matter of fact, there's a pretty big anime and cosplay community, especially on xhs!

Here are some photos from my trip to suzhou! (dungeon meshi and skip to loafer content was a mythical pull lol)

With that being said, it is disrespectful and offensive to post media and content containing or associating with the glorification/apologia, themes, symbols, etc., of Japanese imperialism and involvement during WWII. This includes AOT, MHA, and many other other popular animes.

Please note that I do not support censorship: I believe that people should have the freedom to post, express, and create media on social media platforms as well as have the ability to watch different kinds of shows - but considering xhs is an app from a foreign country, it is important to contextualize its local policies through historical lens. I strongly implore non-Chinese users to research Unit 731 and the Nanjing Massacre to better understand why certain types of content from Japan are banned and blacklisted in China.

2. There are active LGBTQ+ communities on xhs- and for many queer people in China, where the country's ideologies are still pre-dominantly conservative, social media platforms is one the few safe spaces where they can express their sexuality and/or gender identity, particularly for wlw (or le). It is important to keep in mind that progress in the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the East, specifically China, is at a very different stage compared to the West; please be respectful of the fact that the Chinese LGBTQ+ community has their own culture, their own slang, and their own ways of expression in a country where LGBTQ+ people continue to face legal and social discrimination.

3. When you first create your account, you might be quite daunted by the long, long, long list of rules and community guidelines, specifically the first section, where it states, "1. Values - XiaoHongShu encourages users to post content that aligns with current positive social values. All content posted should:

Adhere to the Chinese Constitution and laws.

Practice the core socialist values. (A list of values promoted by the Chinese government, which includes: prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, the rule of law, patriotism, dedication, integrity, and friendship)

Promote patriotism, collectivism, and socialism.

Spread the correct views on history, nationality, state, and culture.

Promote the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation.

Uphold social ethics, professional ethics, family and personal virtues, and respect public order and good customs.

Promote scientific thinking and popularize scientific knowledge.

Advocate a positive, healthy, and progressive lifestyle and social trends."

No, this does not mean the content you post or interact with has to be about praising the CCP or saying, "I love communism!! 🤩". It just means you cannot be comparing Xi Jinping to W*nnie the P*oh (ifyyk).

The point is, try to avoid political discourse or criticism regarding the Chinese government on xhs, especially since xhs is a platform more akin to Pinterest or Instagram, where its more so a lighthearted place for travel tips, recipes, aesthetic fashion and makeup tips and inspiration, cosplay, cute animal videos, productive lifestyle and snapshots of simple life, etc! You can still discuss different things about Chinese culture and society, such as healthcare system, attitudes toward foreigners, income and spending, etc. But please be mindful that there are real people behind the screen; people who are not their government. I promise you, Chinese people are just as capable of poking fun, referencing brainrot, and interacting with non-Chinese people normally 💀.

Anyways, please take the time to review these rules and guidelines, especially since xhs is very strict about implementing them and can potentially lead to your account getting banned. This includes things such as:

excessive displays of wealth (be considerate of others' financial situations)

only sharing scientifically proven information/avoiding misinformation (no pseudoscience)

respecting boundaries (no nudity or sexual/sexually suggestive behavior; you can definitely show skin, but if you're making a grwm video please don't show up in your underwear - even on tiktok I never understood why influencers do that 😅)

etc, etc.

Many of the community guidelines are in line with social norms that are prominent in East Asia, which is understanding that a social media platform is a public space to be shared with others in a civil and respectful manner. And many of these guidelines refer to explicitness as a measurement - (fake) blood is fine, but gore and other such obscenities are not. You can kiss your significant other in a cute video, but you shouldn't be posting each other fornicating (this applies to both heterosexual and homosexual couples). You can swear, but you shouldn't be yelling racial slurs. Honestly, a lot of this is just common sense - xhs is supposed to be a wholesome, inspirational, and chill space!

4. Take this as an opportunity to learn about another culture, another language, and even make new friends! As long as you're civil, kind and respectful, xhs is super fun and entertaining! Of course, it's not representative of the Chinese internet space as a whole; the majority of users are women (so consider using "sis" or 姐 instead of "dude" or "bro" ). With that in mind, please be respectful in your comments - many of the women posting makeup edits or fashion videos are seeking appreciation, not sexual harassment 😅 even if a someone is posting a thirst trap, try to be tastefully humorous! If you're trying to communicate in Mandarin, I would suggest using the simplified Chinese Pinyin keyboard (QWERTY) and start learning the four different intonations of each character so you are able to sound out and type sentences using the alphabetical keyboard!

I hope this was helpful and legible, even if by a marginal amount (if this was actually incoherent, I apologize, I learned English by watching My Little Pony💀), and I hope everyone has a really fun experience on the app!

[luneengene2]

If ever are you gonna do a maknae line ver of "Accidentally Hurt/Injure (Verbally or Physically) You During an Argument "?

&Team Maknae Line : Accidentally Hurt/Injure (Verbally or Physically) You During an Argument

• Warnings : ANGST Content, Harua (Insult to the status of parents, kiss of life Haneul mention, status glorification, strangulation, mentioning about killing, rant, pet name), Taki (mentioning the mother who was killed, Venting of anger), Maki (His mother died, mentioning a robbery and threat), Grammar errors, tell me if I missed something.

• Note : YIPPIE! Finally I can make the Maknae Line version (aka complete)

• Harua •

(Oldmoney!Harua x newmoney!fem!reader)

Shigeta Harua, the only son of a high-class jewelry company owner that existed around 1913. His family line was aristocratic, having been very wealthy even before World War I broke out. You are his lover, starting from you being his childhood friend. Your father's company is a subsidiary of the Shigeta family, the Shigeta family is the largest investor in your father's company. Your life is perfect, isn't it? Born into a family that doesn't make you suffer, and your lover is from the upper class who loves you very much.

A perfect life line, but your relationship with Harua may not necessarily be smooth sailing. You and Harua have a secret relationship, your relationship with him has never been made public, even to your parents. Harua asked for that, because he wasn't ready to hear what his parents had to say about his girl. Harua knows how his parents are. His parents were strict and very detailed in every aspect. They always wanted 'high' things for their only son. Girls from rich families do not guarantee that they will like you right away. They seemed to really want someone to be their equal, an aristocrat. Harua's parents do love you like their daughter, moreover you are Harua's only childhood friend, but Harua doesn't think that means they immediately want you to be their daughter-in-law. He is afraid that if his parents find out about this relationship early, it could fall apart. He always assures you that he will slowly try to talk to his parents.

But you're already at the peak of your annoyance. He never does what he says. Never tries to talk to his parents. Your annoyance and anger grew even more when the media started spreading rumors about him. Rumors that he will be matched with one of the daughters of an aristocratic family who has always held the highest position in government for almost 90 years. Won Haneul. It's been almost half a year that the media has been reporting it, and half a year you have to hold back your emotions. Plus, Harua and Haneeul are often at the same event, the Aristocrat family gathering.

Patience has its limits, and yours is running out...

"You came to my apartment at this late hour just because of your jealousy?!" Harua smiled bitterly, you didn't realize his face was very tired right now. But, because of your anger, you certainly wouldn't care.

"This isn't just my jealousy. You can't keep your promise, Shigeta Harua!"

"You know, I'm sick of hearing you always say that you'll talk to your parents about our relationship. But you never do, even to this point." — You

"You think it's easy? You think I haven't tried all this time? Shut your mouth if you don't know anything!" — Harua

"You didn't try, but you acted cowardly," Harua glared angrily, he stood up from his sitting position on the single sofa, his fists clenched tightly.

"If I were a coward, I wouldn't have taken the risk of dating you," he would explode, blurting out words he shouldn't have. But you didn't realize that yet. You and he are both still emotional. Your emotions will still explode equally.

"Why? Is it because you are just a coward who can't maintain a serious relationship?" — You

"No, because I dared to date the daughter of my father's servant," You felt like you wanted to slump when he said that, your family's pride, including your father's, felt like it was kicked into one lump. Your father and his father are business partners, your father is not his father's servant.

"Typical aristocrats, always feel on top," — You

"What about the New Money? Hoping to be on par with the aristocrats? Your class and mine are even different. It turns out that what some people say is true, even though they are very rich, the New Money people will not be able to be equal to aristocrats. It took about 50 years to be on par with the Aristocrats," You clenched your fists, your emotions like an egg on the tip of a horn. You smiled bitterly, giving him a glare that was both glaring and mocking. Your heart aches? Oh of course, he started glorifying his family's aristocratic status to bring you down.

"Do you think Old Money is that clean? Most of them are also very greedy. Using their children for their ambitions until their children grow up to be jerks like you," Harua glared, of course he would be angry. His parents never taught him to be a bad person even though they were strict.

"Like your parents. Your family's wealth is abundant, but they are still not satisfied. Maybe they control the media so that you and Haneul are like a perfect couple. Your parents want a place in politics. You don't realize, your parents are greedy, very greedy. Always wanting abnormal perfection, yes like their attitude, abnormal and stupid. So they have a loser son. The dumbest combo ever," You said some pretty harsh words, oh really harsh ones to be exact. Cornering him with insults. How to defend yourself because he also glorifies his status.

Silence... No one said a word.

But, a few seconds later...

"YOU IDIOT GIRL! HOW DARE YOU!" Harua walked quickly towards you, as if he wanted to attack you. Making you scream in shock.

Harua grabbed your neck tightly and pushed you hard against the wall until your head hit it hard. You could feel the anger exploding from him, his face was red, and his eyes were completely blazing.

"Who do you think you are?! My parents love you so much but you insult them, you know how they are behind their backs, trash? My father helped your father to raise his poor company, his stupid company that was difficult to raise. One of the people who can make you live so full of money is my father, without my father maybe your parents would be living in a trash place! Don't forget the fact that the one you call greedy is the one who helped RAISE your fucking family. The family that gave birth to a damn bitch like you who doesn't know what gratitude is. A family that almost became part of the sewer rats," His anger really triggered him to take his insults to the highest level. Your heart is like being stabbed by a thousand knives, his words are piercing. But you realize, this is all because you were the one who insulted him first, triggering his anger when he actually just needed to sleep. He's just tired...

You also felt your breath hitch, oh of course. He was choking your neck quite hard. He also didn't realize he was 'abusing' you. "Don't forget the fact that you almost lived in a trash can or even became a prostitute without my father's help. You would only be in poverty without my father, you shameless bitch!"

"Ha-Ha-Harua let go-Heghhh!" You struggled to speak trying to catch your breath and push him away, the air slowly not seeming to enter your lungs. The strangulation factor was also strong because it was triggered by his emotions which were still exploding.

Tears started to form in your eyes, your hands trying to push him away, it was painful and could kill you from suffocation.

"H-Harua s-s-sorry, please," He still doesn't hear you, his ears are even deaf for a moment because his anger has not subsided.

With the rest of your strength, you step hard on his bare feet with the high heels you are wearing, automatically he screams in pain and releases his grip. You immediately pushed him away from you, he hit the small table beside the sofa so hard that the small lamp there fell to the floor and broke.

You immediately fell down, gulping as much air as possible after almost losing your breath. A cough that can make your chest hurt. Your neck was red, very bad. Not long after that, you immediately cried hysterically. Pour out your painful emotions.

And that's when Harua realized what he had just done. He didn't wince, his head immediately turned towards you in a 'pathetic' state. A condition he had never seen in the dozens of years he had known you. His body was shaking so hard seeing you like that, he almost killed you.

"If you want to kill me, throw me out of the balcony! Don't torture me before I die, you stupid bastard!" You screamed at him, tears already wetting your clothes.

Just because he doesn't want to understand your condition, he hurts you or even almost kills you. He insults you, belittles you because of his tiredness. "Y/N," his body was so weak from what he had done to you.

"Angel-"

"Don't come near me, you damn dick!" You snapped at him harshly as he stood up and started walking towards you. Harua stopped in his tracks, he was already crying. He messed up your feelings, even your body.

"Angel-"

"I'm not your fucking angel, Shigeta Harua! I'm a shameless bitch!" Crushed. His words had backfired on him. A painful boomerang. "I'm a lucky, ungrateful bitch who's dating an aristocrat."

"Angel no, please. For God's sake don't say that. You can hit me, but please don't say that. You're not like that, I'm the jerk here. You're not at fault here. You're not a shameless bitch," Harua cried, he hated it when you repeated the harsh words he said to you.

"You can do whatever you want, Angel. Don't say those words. Please forgive me,"

• Taki •

(Prospective Cadets!Taki x General daughter!reader)

"How could you fail the second year entrance exam?” You stare at Taki's Imperial Japanese Military Academy entrance exam results paper stating that he failed to become a cadet there. This was the second year he had tried this test, but failed for the second time.

"I don't know, maybe because I lost to the sons of high-ranking military officials," Taki smiled bitterly. I don't know why he could think like that.

"Maybe it's not your time yet, Taki. There will come a time when you can achieve it all. Many children of high-ranking military officers also failed, not all of them will pass even though they use their father's background," You rubbed Taki's shoulder, giving him words of comfort while 'refuting' that not all children of high-ranking officers entered the military easily.

But Taki was fed up, he felt like he was being pushed around by those who prioritized a child born into a high-ranking family, and that wasn't fair. Even Taki feels that there are people who are less fortunate than him, but those people can get into the things they want because of the privileges they have.

"You said that because you are the daughter of a General, Y/N. You have many privileges that can definitely make it easy for you to get what I want. You can hold power, just ask your father, and you will get it. Unlike me," Your expression immediately changed, annoyed? Oh of course, he said that as if your life didn't have such a heavy trial too.

"You blame the lucky kids who can achieve their dreams just because you failed? You should introspect why you failed, not blame those who can achieve what they want.You may fail because you may also have problems," Taki snatched the paper from your hand, made it into a ball and threw it. He crouched in front of you, giving you an angry look.

"Getting what they want but by cheating, pushing behind someone who has greater and better potential, using their money to buy a place. A place that should be owned by the right people," — Taki.

"Privilege doesn't mean they cheat, you know since childhood they have also been trained to be perfect, if they can get that place, it means they are perfect. If you fail, there are two possibilities. You are not perfect, or you cannot shine yet." — You.

"You say that because you were born a privileged child. Of course you will hide the cheating that your 'friends' do, because you must have done it too," Your heart sank, he was sad and upset because he failed in his second year, but why did he take it out on you? What did you do wrong?

"You better fix your stupid self, don't keep blaming others, Riki," you called his real name, giving him a bitter smile.

"I'm not stupid, just pushed around by privileged spoiled brats in a dirty way. I can't imagine if I married a spoiled brat, it would only cause me trouble," he didn't say it directly to you, but you immediately knew who he was referring to as Spoiled Brat. Yourself.

"You know, since I first met you, I envied your life. No pressure, complete parents, and no need to force a smile to the media or people. I wish I could be like you. I always wished I wasn't born as a general's daughter, didn't hear the fact that my mother died because she was killed by my father's rival. If my father wasn't a General, my mother would still be there. That privilege, I'd rather be pushed back by others than have that privilege. That way, I won't lose my mother," Your tone of voice is still normal, nothing has changed. But drop by drop, your tears start to flow.

"I'm not an annoying spoiled brat, I never use my father's name to get what I want. Because I know, if I continue to use privilege, I will not be able to be independent," Taki was silent, he didn't say anything. He just realized, he made a mistake. Taking out his anger on you.

"Sorry if I made a mistake with my words, Taki," You actually apologized to him first for your words that a few moments ago could have hurt him without you realizing it. In fact, you were also hurt by his words.

He messed everything up, unknowingly hurting you. The girl who always supported him and always accepted him no matter what. But, he hurt you just because he was annoyed at always failing to achieve what he wanted.

• Maki •

"You know, that necklace was a gift from my late mother! Why did you give it away so easily!" You flinch when he snaps at you harshly. Maki lent you a necklace that belonged to his late mother. Before his mother left, she said she wanted the necklace to be given to her future daughter-in-law. He had entrusted the necklace to you, but you lost it.

The necklace was very precious to Maki, because it was his mother's favorite item. Maki always guarded it carefully.

"I'm sorry, Maki," you were almost crying and shaking, seeing her like this must have scared you. Maki was really this angry. It's like he wants to eat you alive. "What did you say? Sorry? Your apology will be useless if the necklace my mother left me doesn't return to me! I want that necklace back!" He gripped your upper arm tightly, making you wince in pain.

"I want that necklace back, do you fucking understand?!" —Maki

"I will replace it with a new one, with the exact same design," — You

"No, I want my mother's original necklace, not an exact replica. Give me back the necklace or I'll end this relationship, Y/N. We're done if you can't get the necklace back," You glared as he threatened to end your relationship if you couldn't bring back his mother's necklace that you said had been lost somewhere.

Maki released his grip and walked out of your house, but you immediately pulled his hand back. "I admit I was wrong and I can't return your mother's necklace, but I don't want it to end, Maki," You sobbed, gripping his arm tightly, you were afraid of losing him forever because of this. Maki smiled bitterly, looking at you with hurt.

"So return the necklace to me, Y/N. If you can't, then goodbye, I don't want to see your face again," Maki pushed you quite roughly, he didn't realize that he was taking out his anger too much, not thinking about what he had just said.

"Well if you really want it to end, because I won't be able to return the necklace. The necklace is in the hands of the robber," Maki stopped in his tracks when he heard your slightly choked words. Robber?

"If I hurt you, I apologize for not being able to look after your late mother's belongings. Because actually I didn't lose it because I was careless, last night I was robbed on the street and threatened, Maki," His jaw dropped when he heard what you said, the water bottle he was holding fell to the floor. His girl was robbed. At night, and he couldn't help.

You lowered your head, clenching your palms as you told the real reason why his mother's necklace was lost in your hands. It was because you were robbed. "Not only your mother's necklace, my cellphone, wallet, and bag were also taken by them. They threatened to kill me if I reported this to anyone else. I was so scared, they also pointed a gun at me," If Maki couldn't support his own body, he would definitely collapse to the floor. His girl almost lost her life last night, but he just made her feel even more hurt. That night, Maki could lose the woman he loves for the second time.

"By God, if I could save your mother's necklace, I would rather give up my belongings than cause you pain." You sobbed even harder, guilt filling you.

Maki realized that he hurt you, even after you had an incident. You should have been hugged and asked nicely why the necklace was missing. Maki couldn't even see when you were 'lying' you were shaking so much. Because he was already filled with a furious anger.

Suddenly, you felt a warm hug come to you. Maki hugged you tightly with tears that were no less tight than yours. "Screw that necklace, my mom would kill me if she were still alive for seeing me treat you like this, Y/N. Oh my gosh, up there he must have swore at me," He hugged your body tightly, he trembled violently imagining what it would be like if what he was hugging was your lifeless body.

He hurt you after you almost lost your life, he even threatened you by leaving you if you couldn't bring back his mother's necklace.

[cacodaemonia]

I was unfortunate enough to come across this ask from someone I don't follow a while back. It was one of those wtf moments that was so strong, I had to show the screenshot to a friend who isn't in fandom and never has been. They know the basics of how fandom works, and I've told them about the pro-censorship people in fandom, but this post really required some extra explanation, and I thought I'd share how I broke it down for them:

Obviously, most antis are very young. We all know this. That doesn't mean that all young people are anti-sex, pro-censorship, or unable/unwilling to distinguish fiction from reality, but it's much easier for young folks to get caught up in dangerous and toxic communities—in both real life and online.

From what I've seen over the years, there are all kinds of reasons why antis campaign against fiction they don't like and why they harass other fans and small creators. But I think a key point is that they seldom target big name authors, movie studios, or other media companies who make 'problematic' things.

That right there tells you a lot about one of their primary motivations: power over others.

They want to feel morally superior to people who create art (including writing, etc.) that they dislike. And because they can't influence powerful individuals and companies, they turn their personal disgust and outrage on people who are their relative equals or on those who have even less socioeconomic power—especially marginalized groups like queer and disabled people, who make up large portions of fandom.

There are plenty of other factors that impact this radicalization, of course, but I really think that the power aspect and feeling like they're one of The Good People are the most important elements.

But anyway, the screenshot above got me thinking about how someone could reach the point where they genuinely believe that government censorship of fanworks is necessary to... what? Prevent people from making (subjectively) 'gross' art because... that will lead others to commit actual real life crimes?? That's what the anti above seem to be suggesting with the slippery slope comment, and when I got to this point in the explanation to my non-fandom friend, they were BOGGLED. They simply could not comprehend the massive leap of 'logic.'

So I paused for a moment and considered how I could explain it, based on the various stages of indoctrination I've seen among antis over the years.

I think that a lot of these young people are probably very new to fandom. They find out about fanfic and go onto AO3, and they likely assume that some algorithm will handfeed them what they want—even though they haven't bothered to learn how an archive like AO3 works and haven't used any search filters to include or exclude things they like or don't like (this required a whole explanation about AO3 filters to my friend btw).

So anyway, these people who have grown up on sanitized mass media fail to heed any of AO3's many warnings, including creators' tags, and they come across something that they think is gross or that makes them uncomfortable. For example, "Ewww, fics about underage characters having sex is gross and makes me uncomfortable." That's fine. Hit the back button and use filters to avoid that. Problem solved!

But then maybe they go on social media and complain about someone making art they don't like, and they rapidly get sucked the echo chambers of cult-like anti communities. And this is where they all amp each other up by exchanging conservative talking points dressed up in ostensibly progressive language. They begin to feel angry and self-righteous and certain that they have to do something about this issue they've collectively fabricated. After all, "Think of the children!!"

I should also point out that most antis don't seem to even understand the words they use. For example, in that screenshot, it's pretty clear that the op is using 'censorship,' 'glorification,' and even 'slippery slope' as emotional catch phrases rather than words that have useful and concrete meanings outside of fandom.

Finally, their crusade against the fiction they dislike becomes such a huge part of their identities and 'friend' (more like mutual purity surveillance) groups that they just keep building it up into this huge moral panic until they're unironically saying things like, "Writing a fic about a 17 year-old and an 18 year-old kissing is actual pedophilia and the author should be harassed and doxxed and imprisoned."

When I got to that point, my friend was still boggled, but it was more of a horrified sort of boggled, where you just stare into space and contemplate the merits of a giant space rock hitting earth in the near future.

I really wish people getting sucked into anti mindsets would take a moment to consider how bathshit their beliefs sound to the average human being on the planet who doesn't spend huge amounts of time on social media.

[deangelis03]

We Need To Talk About Auguste!

Laurent's brother haunts all the narrative of the Capri trilogy and still we know almost close to nothing about him, execpt for all that glorification due to his position as Crown Prince, which puts him on an altar even Laurent has difficulty to take him off of it. Not only because the characters are always comparing the two of them (even Damen, who barely knew Auguste at all), but also because Laurent canonically adores and worships his older brother, putting him even higher (and here my intention is not to discredit Auguste. I'm sure he was hardworking and dedicated, but come on, guys, he was also human.)

Which takes us to the subject I've been very curious to discuss and see the fandom's POV about: The Parentification of Auguste. An inevitable event in almost all older siblings life (and I say this as an older sister who had to help raise her little one.)

Now, we know (or at least we assume to) the basics about Vere's Royal Family dynamics thanks to the hints in each book. From my interpretation (and you can correct me here) Aleron favoured Auguste, which lead us to conclude Hennike was closer to Laurent. We all know "Auguste was the protector and would do anything for his younger brother''. This adoration is mutual to both brothers. Now let's talk about Auguste's early years.

Let's talk about a lonely Prince. One who indeed got his parents attention grewing up, but only briefly and ended up delegated to his nurses as soon as more pressing matters appeared. His parents were King and Queen, after all. There was always something to do; and we know how noble children used to be educated. Let's think about an Auguste who was close to his father yes, but in a King and his Heir way, which to me looks like a professional/academic way. I'm sure they had their moments of course, all families do. But do you think someone truly knew Auguste before Laurent was born? Not Auguste De Vere, the Golden Heir to the Throne, just Auguste? I don't think so. Auguste was a Prince. His life was full of formalities and appearances, he was a symbol. There was always expectations on him. Until Laurent came along.

To me, Laurent's birth gave Auguste something he'd never had before. An equal . Auguste was a Prince. He had every luxury his heart could desire. People adored him. Were ready to die for him if necessary. But Laurent was neither servant or sovereign. For the first time in his life he was in a position that required nothing more than his very true self. He didn't need to be Crown Prince Auguste, to Laurent he was simply Gus. So I think he fell in love the moment his eyes laid on newborn Laurent and never stoped loving him ever since.

Nobody can convince me Auguste, who knew exactly how the experience of growing up alone even thought living in such an attentive place was, would ever let his sweet, dear baby brother go through the same. With Aleron always on a tight schedule being King and Hennike intercalating in between being bedbound due to sickness and doing her Queen duties, I don't doubt Laurent's nurses and tutors answered to Crown Prince Auguste most often than not. I can clearly see him teaching Laurent, telling him stories and listening to his; patiently dealing with tantrums or calming him after a scare. I can see Auguste putting his baby brother to bed (and allowing Laurent to sleep on his bed most nights). I can see an Auguste worried sick as he and Paschal care for a sick little Laurent and Auguste vehemently refusing to leave his side even though he risks getting whatever bug Laurent has or letting him win their secret little games.

For the first 12 years of Laurent's life, there is not a day Auguste is not present. He is there every step of the way. So much that it wouldn't surprise me if a baby Laurent had first called Auguste papa instead of Aleron because in his infant mind he had beautiful yellow hair just like mama so therefore that must be papa .

Laurent was the best gift Auguste ever received and his most prized possession, I'm sure of it.

Laurent did not just lost a brother at that camp in Marlas. He lost his father figure. The only one who cared and loved him without titles and expectations and just for who he truly was.

[cosmichorrorlesbians]

new Silt Verses ep was so incredibly good and there's so much to talk about but I keep coming back to Sibling Rane.

I think Jon and Muna do a great job of making even minor characters feel distinctive and resonant with the main cast, and the disciples of the various faiths are one of the places this shows most strongly. The disciples of the Trawlerman are the people Faulkner has made himself responsible for and as early as Chapter 22 a thread develops that many of them are naïve, and young, and almost comedically earnest.

And yet, at the same time, these 'children' are part of-- at the forefront of, even-- Faulkner's acquistion of power within the Parish. In the same episode, Thurrocks accurately articulates both the depth of the faith they have in him and the result to which it is already leading.

So. Young members of the faith as (at least superficially) earnestly artless and yet having a dangerously fervent power of belief. Rane, when we meet them in Chapter 30, seems like another genuine and ardent neophyte.

They're eager and conscientious and I half expected them (like Jasp) to last less than two episodes. But they become a quiet background voice to Faulkner's downward spiral. They take on administrative tasks, attending to Roemont when he visits the Gulch, and-- increasingly-- becoming an emotional and social anchor for Faulkner as he slides into depression.

Rane doesn't seem to be a born diplomat. Earnest. Naïve. Clumsy. But I think that ambiguity the stage directions draw out is interesting. Is Rane really so ingenuous? Are they 'pretend[ing]'? They've taken on so much responsibility for the faith, smoothing over awkwardnesses, arranging things in the background, organising transport and supplies while Faulkner broods. Is it earnest? Pragmatic? Both?

I think it's very easy to read Rane as having unreciprocated romantic feelings towards Faulkner. I certainly do. Their devotion shades into excess, and in the moments where the pair seem to engage almost as equals, like the car ride in Chapter 38, there's this real sense of simultaneous shared joy and an underlying desire on Rane's part to 'get Faulkner's attention' and prove themself worthy of it. To impress him.

This Chapter sees Faulkner experience a dark night of the soul. He's already depressed to the point of suicidal ideation, detached from his surroundings and utterly anhedonic. He's clearly not equipped to acknowledge or accept love from others, romantic or platonic. This episode is about caring for someone who is fundamentally disconnected from you, who will never see things the way you do but must be loved and kept safe nonetheless. It's also where Rane saves Faulkner's life.

Rane, acting as caretaker, quietly reverses the established power dynamic of their relationship. Faulkner's attempted drowning directly parallels his childhood experience of conversion as recounted in Series 1. He becomes the lost, frightened child in their dynamic.

This speech obviously underlines Faulkner's insecurities, his youth, and the validity of his prophetic status as "chosen". We know he's engineered and manipulated his own glorification.

But it also draws attention to how Rane acts as a parallel to Faulkner. Faulkner, when we first meet him, seems precisely this enthusiastic if inept younger disciple. 'Was I like that?' he asks himself about Thurrocks. Maybe he was once. Because we see the same kind of darkness surface in Rane. As Faulkner clearly no longer cares if he lives or dies, they take on more and more of the unspoken burden of leadership.

They 'stage-manage'. They become the structural surety at the heart of the myth of Faulkner, putting in his hard work, handing him his kelp wreath, shoring up his crumbling facade. They recognise the gap between what he is and what his people want him to be, what they need him to be.

'It will be different when it's written'. Did Faulkner trip, or was he shoved? Does it even matter? We don't truly know whether Rane has taken the wheel as the endgoal of some Machiavellian scheme, or as a decision of pure pragmatism motivated by their faithful zeal, or out of desperate, genuine, self-deluding care for Faulkner, but is it important?

Faulkner isn’t just made up of Faulkner any more. Rane is being quietly assimilated into his legend. 'When it's written', I doubt they'll be much more than a footnote in his story. But I would also dispute whether High Prophet Faulkner isn't substantially a creation of unnoticed, unappreciated Sibling Rane.

[hrizantemy]

While this is just me speculating, I have a pretty big feeling that the Night Court is the type of place to openly have both slaves and child soldiers in it, and that both wouldn’t only be excused but treated as completely fine by the narrative. 

You’re absolutely right to raise that point—and you’re not speculating without reason. The A Court of Thorns and Roses series does establish that the Illyrians begin training their males from a young age in ways that are brutal, dehumanizing, and entirely militarized. That’s textbook child soldier conditioning—trained not just in combat but in obedience, endurance, and silence under pain. It’s romanticized under the “warrior culture” label, but if you strip away the glamor, what you’re left with is systemic abuse.

And you’re right—if you’re still a child at 80 in fae years, that makes it even more insidious. We know the Illyrians don’t age like mortals, and yet the Night Court (especially Velaris) conveniently ignores the ethical implications of turning “young” boys into lifelong soldiers. There’s no moral reckoning, no deep examination—just “this is how it’s always been.”

As for Hewn City, it’s a different kind of horror. We’re not explicitly told they use child soldiers, but considering it’s described as a den of violence, cruelty, and unchecked power, it wouldn’t be shocking. If there aren’t child soldiers, there are certainly victims—children raised in an environment where subjugation and manipulation are norms, especially for girls.

All that to say: your instinct is sharp. The narrative may frame the Night Court as a haven of progressive ideals (especially Velaris), but underneath that surface is a disturbing level of complicity in systemic violence, and not just through inaction—through glorification.

I don’t know if we’ve seen explicit slavery labeled as such in the Night Court—but they absolutely seem like the type to rebrand it under more “palatable” language. Terms like “working off a debt,” “lifelong service,” or “oaths of loyalty” feel like euphemisms they’d proudly use to skirt around the reality of coercion. It’s all about optics in Velaris, after all.

And every servant we’ve seen in the Night Court is either described or implied to be “lesser fae,” never High Fae. The cooks, the cleaners—they’re all “lower fae” or mixed blood. Never equals. Even in a city that’s supposed to be a utopia, there’s a clear class (and species) divide that no one seems interested in addressing.

[michanvalentine]

Hey

I wrote the following bellow ages ago on a Discord server I'm in

Wanted to get your thoughts on my observations around Cazador's demise, if possible

"For all their wealth, power, & influence, true vampires are incapable of any real happiness

Whether that's from the nature of their true Vampirism or from having been tortured as spawn themselves, or both even, they're clearly suffering

Which wouldn't in itself warrant what I'm about to say next

But, because true vampires tend to get off on hurting those beneath them, be they spawn or mortals (not accounting for blood drinking imo. As far as I'm concerned, I can't really fault a vampire, spawn or otherwise, for needing blood anymore than I can fault a lion for needing meat), I can't help but come to the conclusion that the kindest thing you can do for a true vampire, & for the people they're terrorising, is to basically eliminate them

Not a nice conclusion to come to, admittedly

But, the fact is, they won't stop hurting people until they are stopped

Sometimes the world is made a better place when certain people (especially dictators & tyrants) are no longer in it"

It's not a conclusion I'm comfortable with tbh, It's admittedly a very dark one to cone to

Especially knowing there was a time Cazador could have been saved, once upon a time, but that it's now passed

But, I wanted to get your thoughts on this

I believe it's a thought-provoking contribution. It’s a complex and painful reflection that touches on multiple themes and presents us with an ethical choice. It almost echoes the question the Withered One poses to Tav/Durge at the beginning of the adventure: “What is the worth of a single mortal life?” At first glance, it seems easy to answer—of course life matters, and all lives are equal and deserve to be lived. But what happens when we speak of a monster? And not a "monster" like a vampire spawn such as Astarion, who is, in many ways, still “innocent,” a mere instrument in the hands of a master who owns him body and soul.

It’s a question that challenges beliefs and morality, even the most steadfast ones, and yet demands a clear stance and a sense of responsibility.

The analogy between pureblood vampires and tyrants is powerful because it touches a universal theme: corrupted power and the systemic violence it breeds. Cazador, in particular, is not just a predator by biological necessity, but a sadist who takes pleasure in absolute control, in torture, in the erasure of another’s identity. He is an executioner, not by nature alone, but by repeated choice. As you said, he’s far beyond the lion that feeds out of hunger. And that’s precisely why Astarion’s ascension crosses that thin line between necessity and monstrosity—because that’s where the choice becomes heavy and leads to the suffering of thousands of souls through a deliberate, conscious act. An act that makes him, in every essential way, just like Cazador.

This is meant as a moral weighing of the scales, before anyone jumps in to say “but AA is different from Cazador, he loves Tav/Durge, he’d never torture them”—that’s not the point I’m making.

Saying that “eliminating him is the only truly kind act” isn’t a glorification of violence, nor an excuse—it’s an ethical stance against a structural, irremediable evil. It’s a reflection on the responsibility to end the cycle of abuse when the abuser not only shows no remorse but continues to inflict pain as an act of will.

Moreover, as you said, true vampires (as Astarion defines them) are incapable of real happiness. And here, I’ll take a small detour into the broader cultural imagination of the vampire—a figure that’s existed in global folklore for centuries. In virtually all interpretations, vampires are the dead who need the life essence of the living—blood—to “survive.” They’re parasites, in direct violation of the natural order. In some readings, especially through a Catholic lens, vampirism takes on the characteristics of a punishment. A divine one, even—meant to bring suffering to those afflicted.

Hence the widespread belief that vampires fear crucifixes, burn in holy water, are harmed by blessed weapons, and so on. But even if we step away from that perspective, we can still see how vampirism is understood in broader literature as a condition that inevitably leads to suffering. We can grasp this even through simple reasoning and common sense.

Eternity is a curse: the world changes, vampires don’t—or not easily. The people they care about die, one after the other, over time—if they ever manage to find someone to care about. Boredom, the stagnation of their condition—they’ve done, seen, and said everything. The absence of sunlight, of their own reflection, the constant hunger. They are stuck, forever, in a liminal state—neither living nor dead. Damned to wander the earth without ever being able to move on (and here we circle back, slightly, to the Catholic idea).

Anyway, all this is to say that vampirism can be seen as a true curse—a kind of hell on earth from which there is no escape... unless, of course, one is killed. So ending Cazador’s life could also be interpreted as an act of kindness—even from this angle.

And no, I don’t believe ascension can “fix” any of these aspects—except maybe the more material ones like reflection, sunlight, and hunger. But as for inner peace? I see little hope. In fact, realizing that even ascension can’t bring peace to a vampire must be a crushing blow. Just as money doesn’t bring happiness (nor fame or success), neither do “things.”

And in fact, Cazador—who has everything Astarion thinks matters: wealth, status, and power—says:

“These deathless dreams hold memories of a mortal life once-forgotten. Of the boy I was, the man I became, the monster that will not end. I sleep, but cannot rest. I live, but cannot die. I’m eternal, and I grieve.”

The message couldn’t be clearer.

But let’s take a closer look at what he says: deathless dreams—this means he keeps having them, over and over again, every time he closes his eyes. They’re deathless, after all; he can’t get rid of them. And what do they do? They hold. A beautiful word, one that somehow suggests care, even a certain gentleness. And what do they hold? The memories of his mortal life. It’s heartbreaking. He mourns the boy he was, the man he became… in favor of the monster. The one that will not end. He knows perfectly well that this last part is the strongest, the most pervasive, the one with no end—swallowing him whole.

That’s why he sleeps, but cannot rest—because the memories of who he once was torment him. He regrets who he used to be. He is "alive," but even if he wanted to end it all, he can’t die—he’s forced to drag himself through this non-existence. He’s eternal… and that’s why he grieves.

I’d say there’s little more to add… it perfectly conveys just how horrible his condition is, and how he’s willing to do anything to change it—without realizing that every attempt is futile and will only serve to feed the monster that will not end.

God, how much pity I feel for him…

This without even bringing in the D&D lore, which portrays vampires as distorted and sick in their perceptions, emotions, and feelings. But I believe that an eternity of suffering would slowly, inevitably, turn even the most virtuous, pious soul into something entirely different.

At the same time, recognizing that there was once a time when Cazador could have been saved is important. Because it shows that no one is born a monster, and that the system which produces violence—even in abusers—is real. And this applies to the real world as well. But when the chance of salvation becomes impossible even to imagine for someone who’s fallen that far, perhaps the most compassionate act is no longer forgiveness, but the liberation of those who suffer from their actions.

In this sense, your conclusion is harsh but deeply self-aware. It doesn’t romanticize or justify. It reckons with the moral weight of saying: “You cannot remain—because you continue to destroy those who still have a chance to live.”

It’s tragic. And it’s profoundly human.

Thank you for giving me the chance to reflect on these themes. <3 I hope I wrote in a way that's understandable! xD Sometimes my translations feel a bit messy to me…