#proper introduction in tags

[epicfishangel]

BBBBBBBBBB

[stripeheart]

Me Esquecerás.

[starstrike]

Mithrun's desire as an SA analogue

TW discussion of SA and detailed breakdown of aesthetics evoking SA. The way I discuss this is vivid in a way that may be triggering, though there is no discussion of actual sexual assault. Just survivor's responses to it.

People relate to Mithrun and see his condition as an analogue for a few different things, like brain injury or depression. And I think all of them are there. But I also see Mithrun's story as an SA analogue, and Ryoko Kui intentionally evokes those aesthetics. I think it's a part of Mithrun's character that a lot of people miss, but I very much consider it text. This is partially inspired by @heird99's post on what makes this scene so disturbing; so check out their post, too :)

So to start off with, the demon invades Mithrun's bed, specifically. There's even a canopy around it, which specifically evokes this idea of personal intrusion; the barrier is being pulled apart without consent or warning. The way the hand reaches towards Mithrun's body from outside of the panel division makes it almost look like the goat stroking over his body. It's an especially creepy visual detail; similarly, the goat's right hand parts into the side of the panel as well. It's literally like it's tearing the page apart; but gently. So gently.

Mithrun is in bed. It is his bed that the demon is intruding on. He's in a position of intimacy. The woman behind him is a facsimile of his "beloved" that he left behind; the woman who, in reality, chose Mithrun's brother. He is in bed with his fantasy lover, who is leaning over him. While this scene isn't explicitly sexual, it is intimate. And it is being invaded. The goat lifts Mithrun gently, who is confused, but not yet struggling.

The erotics of consumption and violence in Ryoko Kui's work(remember that the word 'erotic' can have many different meanings, please) are a... notable part of some of her illustrations. I would say she blurs the lines between all forms of desire: personal, sexual, gustatory and carnal, in her illustrations in order to emphasize the pure desire she wants to work with and evoke to serve her themes. Kui deploys sexual imagery in a lot of places in Dungeon Meshi, and this is one of them.

In this case, horrifically. The goat's assault begins with drooling, licking, and nuzzling. The goat could be enjoying and "playing with" its food. But it can also be interpreted as it "preparing" Mithrun with its tongue as it begins to literally breach Mithrun's body. The goat also invades directly through his clothing; that adds another level of disturbing to me. There's nothing Mithrun can do in this moment of violation. Mithrun is fighting, but he is fighting weakly, trying to grip on and push away when he has no ability or option to. All he can do is beg the goat to stop. And it doesn't care. This all evokes sexual assault.

The sixth panel demonstrates a somewhat sexual position, with Mithrun's thighs spread around the goat's hunched over body. In the next, the goat pulls and holds apart Mithrun's thighs as he nuzzles into him. The way the clothing bunches up looks a bit as if it has been pushed up. It has pinned Mithrun down onto the bed, into Mithrun's soft furs and pillows. It takes a place made to be supernaturally warm and comfortable, and violates it. It's utterly and intimately horrifying. To me, this sequence of positions directly evokes a rape scene. I think Kui did this very explicitly. These references to sexual invasion are part of what makes this scene so disturbing; albeit, to many viewers, subconsciously.

This is also the moment the goat takes Mithrun's eye. Other than this, the goat seems exceptionally strong, but also... gentle. It holds Mithrun's body tightly, but moves it around slowly. It doesn't need to hurt Mithrun physically. But in that moment, it takes Mithrun's eye. Blood seeps from a wound while an orifice that should not be pierced is penetrated. This moment, the ooze of blood in one place specifically, also evokes rape. That single bit of physical gore is a very powerful bit of imagery to me.

Finally; it is Mithrun's desire that is eaten. After his assault, Mithrun can find no pleasure in things that he once did. He is fully disassociated from his emotions. This is a common response to trauma, especially in the case of SA. It's not uncommon for people to never, or take a long time to, enjoy sex in the same way again; or at all. They might feel like their rapist has robbed them of a desire and pleasure they once had. I think this makes Mithrun's lack of desire a partial analogue for the trauma of sexual assault.

Mithrun's desire for revenge was, supposedly, all that remained. Anger at his assaulter, anger at every being that was like it; though, perhaps not anger. Devotion, in a way. To his cause. I don't know. But the immediate desire to seek revenge is another response to SA. But on to Mithrun's true feelings on the matter.

This is... So incredibly tragic. Mithrun feels used up. Like his best parts have been taken away. Like he's being... tossed aside. This certainly parallels the way assault victims can feel after being left by an abuser. Or the way assault victims feel they might be "ruined" forever for other partners. These are common sentiments for survivors to carry, and need to overcome. In the text, it's almost like Mithrun feels the only being who can desire him is a demon who might "finish devouring" him. That that's his only use. It's worth noting that Mithrun trusted the demon. Mithrun's world was built by the demon, and Mithrun, in that way, was cared for by the demon. I think this reinforces Mithrun's place as a victim.

There's also something to be said about Mithrun as a victim of his own possessive romantic and sexual desire. The mirror shows him his beloved just dining with his brother, and it infuriates him. He doesn't know if the vision is real, nor if she has really chosen his brother as a romantic partner. The goat then creates a whole fantasy world where she loves him. As Mithrun's dungeon deteriorates, she is the only person that continues to exist. Mithrun continues to have control over her. And that is the strongest desire the demon is eating, isn't it? There's something interesting there, but I don't know what to say about it.

In conclusion, I think Mithrun's story is an explicit analogue for sexual assault-- though, certainly, among other things! The way the scene plays out and is composed explicitly references sexual violation and invasion of the body. His condition mirrors common trauma responses to sexual violence. And, at the end, he finally realizes he can recover.

Let's end on a happy Mithrun, after taking the first step on his journey to recovery :) You aren't vegetable scraps Mithrun. But even if you were-- every single thing in this world has value. Even vegetable scraps.

[paradoxbeta]

What are your alien ocs thoughts on eating corn?

here's all my opinionated aliens! thank you for the question, it was very fun :) text transcript under the cut

YIEL: Um... I can't eat <nervous> but I wish I could. Apparently GAR'S old enough to have eaten before, he says it's nothing special but I think he's just never had anything good <skeptical>

LADY: I had corn once and, um... clogged the toilet. I'm sure your Earth exports are lovely, I just can't handle so much fiber.

GUNNELL: Ho-ho, corn? That's exotic exotic. I've had it before and I like the taste but I wouldn't eat it as part of a home meal.

THE PIRATE: Well maybe I'd have an answer for you if I could get my talons on anything other than NUTRIENT PASTE

CIPRIAN: Man, you can eat people for all I care, just clean up after yourself and we're cool.

STELLA: ...Bro

IUWAU: I HATE CORN. I don't even have anything against the taste, but the sound of someone eating it makes me want to leap out of my skin.

MOLLIMAR: Tastes okay, but pretty much everything tastes similar to me. I'll shamelessly piggyback off of Devon's opinion and say it's great.

BYZOW: It is unlike anything on my home planet! I like it. The taste is not good to me but the appearance is so funny.

PHIER-KEL: I love corn. I'm #1 corn warrior. Corn fears me. I'm the bane of corn. I love it so much, I have a t-shirt about it. The day I die is the day 70% more corn becomes available on the market. Corn. 4. Life. (He talks like this about all food he likes.)

DEVON: I'm no alien, but I'm out here for team corn.

[neolxzr]

more oc stuff bc its infesting my brain bye

[arthur-lesters-taint]

Hello limb posters, I have come to join your ranks, it was between this and taste buds, this was worse, but funnier

[junkmailmusubi]

normal game of monopoly at the petruzzello estate

[unfinishedrambles-art]

and that, franziska, is how i met your mother

[pelcrow]

Joaquin "Jack" Navarro is a lone wolf, cyborg, and quantum physicist with an infamous talent for time-fuckery.

In the 1970s, Jack and Maggie---his wife and research partner---spearheaded the exploration of spacetime manipulation, producing a pseudo-physical albeit unstable manifestation of time. Their ambitions created disastrous consequences, ones that deteriorated Jack's mind to a state of agonizing pain and madness while also garnering transcendental abilities. He lashed out at his family, becoming more like a rabid animal than a man.

His madness was contained by the very rift he created until he fell into the hands of a powerful coalition that seized the opportunity to transform him into a literal killing machine, giving him cybernetic enhancements in order to pursue their own desires of spacetime manipulation and to strike down any opposition. Here, Jack became a violent, remorseless, teleoperated executioner.

After years of this, Jack broke away from servitude when his cybernetic receiver decayed, and he isolated himself on a distant planet where he was able to start putting together memories he had lost in the madness and trauma.

He still carries a cold and violent demeanor, a raging pessimist and bitter man with a penchant for self destruction. He has no idea what he wants, teetering between wanting to restore what was lost and wanting to remain in isolation, knowing he is at the mercy of the unstable time he created.

[trixibebe]

New ref sheets wohoo!

[sunlitsorrows]

Does is carbon date me to say Welcome To My Twisted Mind?

(yes, yes it does)

AO3 Here (link under construction)

.

03/18/25 Currently Reading:

A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan (audiobook)

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk (paperback)

Current Fixations/Fandoms/Favorites:

Arthuriana | The Batfam | Elementary | The Murderbot Diaries | Watership Down | 11th & 12th Era Doctor Who | Tattooine: Amavikka | Zombie Apocalypse | Final Fantasy 7

.

No DNIs because it’s not your job to curate my online experience. I try to block tags not people, and to tag everything everything (relevant) I can think of, let me know if you need something tagged a certain way for blocking purposes I am happy to help you curate your online experience.

[campredmoonofficial]

IM HIJACKING THIS ACCOUNT AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

-🌳🕸️

[vulturetime]

ok istg I’ll be active soon (school just needs to be over) so while I’m getting through these last few weeks… mayhaps reblog so I can find other writeblrs/artblrs?

[lapiedranumerodos]

hello tumblr people of tumblr i'm gonna try to post art here again!!

i'm active-ish on instagram if anyone wants to check out my current art in the meantime (my username is the same)

[resetting37]

Various Haramitsu doodles. Gonna give them some context, left to right.

Avery and Haramitsu used to work together at the temple, and she's actually one of the few people who still advocate for Avery when the rest of the world turned its back on her. Little does Avery know, Haramitsu has the upper hand on the friendship

Tatsuo vs. Haramistu, the ultimate sibling rivalry. they hate each other so much <3 (tumblr post credit) (Haramitsu the witch hater vs. Tatsuo the with)

Haramitsu with aforementioned ex-fiance, zack. Their marriage was arranged by their parents years ago, but they still manage to have their own weird relationship

Oh, who is that cute goth girl ? It's Eve, the clone of the creator of the city of Evelow ! Haramitsu is sure such a worshipped being should never flirt with him, even if Eve's only doing so in order to get information out of him.

Don't judge Haramitsu's search history, everyone has weird searches they're kind of embarrassed about lol

[latenitewaffles]

Webslinger lore 👀👀👀👀👀

Ok I'll take this and @sirenspells liking the original post as a yes!

Hero Log - Earth-6283

Webslinger

Nathan "Nate" Chase Baker (He/Him)

Enhanced Mutant Human

Age: 20

Height: 5'7"

Powers (1): Enhanced endurance, strength, and physical resistance, near-telepathic reactions (named spider-sense), ability to stick to surfaces (appears to possibly bend gravity around him), night vision. Powers were gained by being bitten by a radioactive spider.

Powers (2): Ability to absorb, hold, and release kinetic force. Ability to hold force is not infinite. Powers are mutant (x-gene) in origin. (notes; properties of mutation seem similar to vibranium. May require testing. Additionally, mutant powers are frighteningly similar to Sebastian Shaw's. Likely a coincidence.)

Family: Mother, two Brothers, estranged father, large extended family

Friends: James Rogers, Gwen Stacy, Eddie Brock, Hope Pym-Van Dyne, Henry Pym-Van Dyne, Cooper Coen, Kitty Pride, Bobby Drake, various New York based heroes

Romantic Interests: Bobby Drake (Iceman)

Affiliations: X-Men, Defenders, Spider-Society (Former)

Webslinger (AKA, Nate Baker) was bitten by a radioactive spider at 15 years old while on a field trip to Alchemax Labs. Over the next few days, Nate would slowly develop superpowers while feeling very sick, destroying things, and accidentally reveal said powers to his friends Hope and Cooper, both of whom suggested that he should become a superhero. Hope created the web shooters, Cooper made the first costume, and Nate made his debut as New York's one-and-only Webslinger.

8 months later, Nate is assisting his grandfather, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, with a case involving Venom (Flash Thompson). After taking down Flash and subduing the symbiote, an on-edge cop shoots at Webslinger in the dark (mistaking him for Venom). Nate's grandfather takes the hit for him, and while dying in the hospital, reveals that he knew that Nate was Webslinger the whole time, and that he's proud of him. Now, for most spider people, this is where they're told that with great power comes great responsibility. But for Nate? His grandfather, whose been dealing with Heroes for decades, drilled that into him since he could walk. Nate swore to stick to that for the rest of his life, and his grandfather passed.

(More info and costume below!)

Nate is a musician! He plays guitar and trumpet.

His identity is private but not fully secret. His mom, one brother, non-hero friends, maybe 4 oc heroes, and a good portion of the X-Men know his identity.

Why do the X-Men know his identity? He currently lives with them! It's a long story, but when he was 19 he awakened his mutant powers at a family gathering and ran off before anyone could figure out what happened

That being said, he's been friend with Bobby Drake and Kitty Pride for a while

Despises Reed Richards and mildly dislikes Hank Pym

His rogues gallery is similar to standard, with some differences that I'll get to later.

Below is his second costume, which he made after his grandpa's death.