#ramirez spring 1

[pleasanttaleswithkaityb]

In a twist of delightfully dark irony, Lisa Ramirez, once ensnared in the doldrums of furniture sales, has triumphantly pivoted to the medical field—only to be caught in the throes of uncontrollable laughter, a condition proving fatal even as she secured a signing bonus in her new career. In Bluewater Bay, even the most earnest aspirations can lead to a hilariously untimely demise.

Y’all I was screamin’ when I saw the notification 😩😩

Previous || Next

Check out The Beginning of the Ramirez's Spring! Learn more about the Ramirez family here! (not updated at the moment)

[bootleg-cal-weathers]

ngl i feel like i disappeared off the face of the earth for a month or two…

i apologize to the ppl who have been in my inbox for so long 😭

i’m getting at it rn so wait no longer! 😘

i’m not really sorry, school just got crazy, sooo

[galacticspaceguy]

Post Cars 3 human!lightning headcanons:

(Also leans into a bit of AU territory but the AU starts after cars 3 so it’s ok)

-mid 30s

-doesn’t race with the rookies officially anymore. He holds dirt track races for him and all the older racers. People are allowed to come and watch. These races get real popular, but they quieted down after a while.

-he didn’t get a new car cause he’s to attached to his old one, and he refuses to alter it either.

-uses Docs old car a lot. He fixed it up because being a mechanic became a new hobby of his

-had a couple a scars due to the assassination attempt and the crash. he also takes a bunch of meds cause the crash messed him up real bad. A lot of people consider Lightnings crash one of the worst.

-has ADHD. It was really bad when he was younger (cars 1) but it’s calmed down now

-people talk about Cruz getting in a potential car crash due to it being almost a curse. Doc, Strip, McQueen, so people think Cruz is next. It doesn’t help that this is one of McQueens biggest fears.

-races Cruz as a part of her training

-hates it when people call him old. Everyone calls him old.

-usually wears sweatpants, a white shirt, a jacket that’s both his old logo and Dinoco themed, and his own merch (a hat and lightning glasses) as a crew chief uniform

-he let Cruz use his old racing suit (he also let her alter it a bit by adding some of her signature yellow to his red)

-lost a bit of his professionalism but not a bit of his charm

-gets a lot of appreciation from the rookies on the track (cause he’s practically a dad to everyone on the track now)

-Lightning is to Cruz like Doc is to Lightning but way more chaotic

-part time teacher at Rusteze racing center. It was a horrible idea to hire him, but the rookies love him

-Harv made him keep his hair cut short and clean, but now he lets it grow out.

-He also has a heavier accent now due to all the time he spends in radiator springs.

-Married Sally. Fans started calling her Mrs. McKing. Though there’s already a Mrs. The King. They are best friends and have their own fan base.

-Always carries a cup with him to all of Cruz’s races. None knows what’s in it, and when anyone asks, he always gives a very vague answer, so none knows. It’s become very popular online for people to guess what Cruz Ramirez’s crew chief is drinking.

-convinced all his old racing friends to help out in the pits or become crew chiefs of their own rookies

-doesn’t usually let Cruz race internationally. He knows it’s unfair, but he’s still a little wary after the whole assassination attempt. A few of the racers from the world grand pix actually reached out to him to tell him he should be less paranoid in the nicest way possible- but then again, people strapped a bomb to his best friend in a attempt to murder him

-tried to teach Sally to race. He always lets her win even if he knows he can beat her easily.

-either really rough with Cruz or really soft with her; but over all incredibly over protective of her

-casually mentions/references things that happened in movie 1/2 and the majority of the time, no one but the Radiator Spring residents what he’s talking about

-hasn’t let Cruz get an proper agent yet. He knows he should, but he and Dinoco are enough right now.

-can throw Cal over his shoulders and drag him around (no matter how much Cal screams at him to put him down)

-broke off his contract with Harv and put Harv on a no contact list. I don’t personally think Harv was physically or extremely abusive- I thinks he’s more exploit-y and mostly cares about fame and money. He was really distant with McQueen but he did have a good hold over the kid, I mean we all know how excited Lightning gets when he gets to talk to or even see Harv. The entire court case was about Harv taking more of Lightnings winnings than what’s legally allowed, and it really changed Harvs attitude towards Lighting, which led to a restraining order and a no contact order.

-I have another headcanon that Harv became Jackson Storms agent, which led to a whole other court case

-Sally was the lawyer for both those cases

[characterswithgodsnamesbattle]

Round 1 Poll 10

Jesus was a Jewish preacher and religious leader. For Christians, he is God the Son, the savior announced in the Bible.

Persephone, daughter of Zeus and Demeter was abducted by Hades and married him. She became the queen of the underworld. She's also the goddess of spring.

[rocketbirdie]

MASSIVE dump of thoughts about Rebirth. Obvious major spoiler warning for pretty much every story beat aside from side quests. That goes for the compilation as a whole.

Think of this as a collection of what would otherwise be literally hundreds of separate obnoxious text posts. Half-review, half liveblogging. Genuine praises and criticisms interspersed with unhinged nonsense. This post is so long it's making my computer lag, so make of that what you will.

To keep it organized and make it easier to find specific moments, this is split up chapter by chapter. I cover the Zack/Biggs stuff in a separate section just before the final chapter, and then follow up with some miscellaneous thoughts.

I'm not of hardcore OG FFVII faith. I love the original, and I view it as separate from Remake/Rebirth, so I embrace most of the major changes. This is generally a very positive review, aside from a few nuisances *cough cough WHISPERS cough* and only one genuinely upsetting letdown. Rebirth is more than I could ever have asked for, and I can't wait to spend the next 4+ years obsessively gushing about it. And now, without further ado...!

Chapter 1: Fall of a Hero (The Nibelheim Incident)

NAILED it.

Love seeing Cloud's teenage squishiness scrambled together with the Zack mannerisms. Restless as a little puppy! Body language, facial expressions, etc. I wonder if they animated a lot of it with Zack's model first, and then replaced it with Cloud? Modders are gonna have a field day with this when the PC version drops.

Sephiroth really was just Some Guy, huh? It's very refreshing to see him acting fully human for once. Helps sell the catastrophic mental shitshow that ensues.

Horfin' down those sandwiches Strife style

"You went into my room?" "I did..." LMAOOO THE SHAME IN HIS VOICE. Cody Christian doing god's work voicing this sopping wet pathetic mess of a man

Zangan manhandling Cloud like that was NOT on my Rebirth bingo card.

The bridge collapse scene is beautifully expanded upon. Such a delicious moment if you know the real story. RIP Ramirez. o7

There is NO fucking way Sephiroth just... stood there unfazed by waist high rushing water. Y'all have any idea how dangerous just ankle-deep water is at those speeds? At least the generous use of artistic license in physics is established very early on.

Tifa demonstrating incredible self restraint by choosing not to strangle Zack to death at the mako spring. I would have walloped his cocky ass lol

"Such a puppy." We're establishing the homoerotic tension right away as well, thank god.

oooOOOouhh the way you can pinpoint the precise moment that Sephiroth starts to lose control at the reactor. The way he walks up those stairs.......

Mwahaha-ing over the visual parallels. Raising his hand to the candle flame... Jenova's face flickering over his own... wow. Every shot, every angle is carefully chosen. Cinematography at it's finest.

OG painted a picture of "no survivors," so it surprised me how many people seemed to have escaped from Nibelheim. Although, it's not certain what their ultimate fate was. I imagine they did it this way to show that the incident impacted far more people than just Cloud and Tifa. Makes sense, considering "sheer scale of suffering" is a recurring theme throughout the Re-trilogy so far.

Sephiroth's mass slaughter is bone chilling. The music, the tension, the iconic shot of the flames framing his figure. Goddamn. And then there's the poor trooper, reaching out for his mom.........

"Why didn't they just shoot him?? They had him surrounded!!" 1, Fear doesn't give a damn about rationality. 2, It's SEPHIROTH. They were almost certainly correct in assuming that their dinky little hunting rifles weren't gonna do jack shit.

Catch me giggling over the most mundane shit. LOVE the detail of the sword tip clanking on the metal floor as Tifa drags it. I'm obsessed with lovingly crafted, nearly unnoticeable sound design like that.

"Mother, they have come again." THANK FUCK they kept this line. I don't even know why, it just stuck with me so hard from OG.

Not sure why people are cranky that the flashback cuts off. It ends at the exact same point as in OG. That's the point, it's supposed to be frustrating.

Seeing an unfathomable number of dumbass comments going "huh??? why did cloud tell the story all wrong??? that's not what happened!!" Dear Lord Please Give Me The Strength

AERTI!!!!!!! hell yeah

Tifa being proactive instead of stewing in confusion!! Love that for her. But damn it didn't go down well, huh. "I was so happy to see you again, but maybe I shouldn't have been." BIG OOOOOF

OUCH. Cloud. At least take off the pauldron if you're gonna sleep on that side LOL

Chapter 2: A New Journey Begins (Kalm and The Grasslands)

Very interesting news broadcast ya got goin' on there, Shinra...

Kalm is so so so so pretty. Feels like an actual full sized city now! Wish we could have seen more of it at night, like in the OG.

Broden!! I like him. I want the best for him. I know he's fucked. But really, it's cool to see more SOLDIER characters. We get to see Cloud's uh-oh brain static moments from the outside perspective, and boy howdy, it ain't pretty.

Broden says he's "...on your side. Got a contact at HQ." Meanwhile, my delusional ass: CONTACT? KUNSEL? IS IT KUNSEL? DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE NAMED KUNSEL?

Mentioned it in a different post— I suspected they changed the arrangement of Midgar's sectors. Sure enough, it's confirmed by looking at Rebirth's world map. Is this a meta fate-has-been-altered thing, or is it just a curious retcon? Maybe a bit of both?

HOLLOW REMIX HOLLOW REMIX HOLLOW REMIX HOLLOW REMIX HOLLOW REMIX AAAAAAAAAAAAA

Oh my god, her name is CHLOE????????? "Chole" was a typo this whole fucking time???? I can't handle this

NOT CHOCOBO BILL BLINDSIDING US WITH THE CLOUD GETTING DOUBLE PENETRATED IN A NASTY SWAMP SHACK IMPLICATIONS???? HELLO?????????

My sweet son Chadley has returned from the time void.

Ok serious talk. Wtf is up with the audio mixing. Someone gave the thumbs up for this production?! The default music volume is WAY too loud and overpowers voice lines. Doesn't help that Remake's npc dialogue deluge in crowded areas hasn't been addressed at all. C'mon people, you had years to fix this shit. It's a shame too, because I would love to hear all of the beautiful music and talented voice acting, just... separately, please.

The Soggy Strife Agenda is off to a great start!

I know Midgar Zolom was a blind idiot translation, but I dunno man. Midgardsormr just doesn't do it for me. Zolom sweetie come home :(

FUCKING. FUCK. WHERE'S THE LINE. FUCK!!! Apparently Sephiroth Did Not Do This. Goddammit. Fucking blasphemy. Genuinely gutted that they didn't include that line. Imagine if they had pulled that shit with Me Gongaga. Unacceptable.

Chapter 3: Deeper into Darkness (Mythril Mines)

"Enough for her Standard Course twice, right?" keep it up Aerith you're doing amazing :)

Ah, the opening area of the mines has been converted into a museum. No wonder people are allowed to just waltz right on in.

ELENA!! Oooooh I love her voice!! She's got that young overconfident sass. Fits her perfectly. She's got me sweating bullets seeing her kick a grenade around like a soccer ball though YIKES

Those Boulders Are Not Made Of Solid Rock

Not much else to say about the mines. Love when the original version of the music kicked in. Barret and Red's dynamic is so good!

Chapter 4: Dawn of a New Era (Junon)

We just, uh, waiting for the bus there, folks? OH SHIT sorry about the bird of prey thing man, that sucks. Hope you feel better soon

Contrary to maybe popular opinion, but I actually love it when you know exactly what a character is going to say or do next. It means the writers have done a great job at getting that character across. Predictable does not always equal bad; tropes exist for a reason after all.

Under Junon. mwah <3

Priscilla!! Omg she's so cute and annoying. Just how I remember.

Soggy Strife Episode 2. This time featuring an off-putting amount of romantic tension between Cloud And That Dolphin

Lowkey disappointed that they cut the uncomfortably long CPR minigame. Gamers nowadays have no idea how good they have it. Back in my day, we had to give mouth-to-mouth for 5 minutes straight in deafening silence.

YUFFIE!!!!!! Oh my god the leakers weren't exaggerating about the naruto run

Yeah ok just. gonna do some good night crunches. Very. Uh. Normal of you, Cloud Strife. God I love this weirdo

ROCHEEEEE My Boyfriend Has Returned

Aerith and Priscilla doing the arm bump thing............ yeah...........

Yeah you work those tanker controls gay boy. I was really expecting a jumpscare as the tanker lifted up. Would have actually shrieked if Sephiroth was just like "sup lol"

WOW the sister ray!!! Honestly the first moment that made me go "DAMN this is Final Fantasy alright!" What a view.

Glad they kept Junon's silly amount of elevators.

Oh hi Glenn

So Aerith wants to know if there are any good restaurants in Junon. Well, maybe if this guy hadn't been busy barfing in an alleyway....

Gee Tifa and Aerith, it's a good thing you guys practiced your highly choreographed military drill, just in case you ever had to pretend to be a trooper during an inaugural parade. Gotta be prepared for even the most unlikely scenarios! (As a writer, I know how it is with suspension of disbelief. But it's still kinda doofy lol)

That being said, I'd let the commander have her way with me

THE MUSIC

Tee hee omg it's so cute to see Cloud in his element! Look at that boy go. He's so into it. I like hearing all of the Seventh Infantry's interactions, too. Really hammers it in that they're all just normal people with their own worries and hopes.

Oopsie daisy. I am not immune to Shinra Propaganda. Huh. Well done, writers.

THE GLABRESCENT!! EXCLUSIVE CLUB FOR BALD PEOPLE

Awww look at all the 1/35 soldiers! Man. This whole chapter is just one huge love letter to the OG. So much nostalgia, plus so much new exciting stuff. God I could go on and on

This Just In, Entire Junon Nursing Home Full Of Elderly People Dies Of A Heart Attack After Rufus Shinra Decides To Fire The Fucking Cannon

Roche please sign my forehead

Uh oh. Yuffie

Yeah Ok don't mind me, just a SOLDIER 1st Class, protecting these little infantrymen with my life. No parallels to be found here, folks

GENUINELY HONEST TO GOD I AM SO SORRY FOR SLICING YOUR BABY ANGEL IN HALF LIKE THAT ROCHE PLEASE FORGIVE ME. Cloud say you're sorry Right Fucking Now.

Oh good no hard feelings. Well. Actually. Uh

Chapter 5: Blood in the Water (Shinra-8/Ship to Costa)

Oh to be a girl hiding away in a cargo hold with another girl.......

Little bit of Traces of Two Pasts! So Aerith told Tifa about Faz, the weird guy that was a little bit too nice to Ifalna. Apparently Aerith is still shaken up by that. Don't blame her.

Ok. I've been avoiding the topic of Queen's Blood, because frankly, my opinion on it is completely unfounded and irrational. I fucking hate card games in video games that are not supposed to be solely about card games. I can't help it. I'm here for the pretty people rpg and the gut-wrenching t4t heartbreak, not for the Magic the Gathering subplot. Any time this game so much as breathes the name Queen's Blood in my direction, I feel something visceral welling up inside of me. So as you can imagine, The Chapter Where You Play Queen's Blood is not my personal favorite.

But I get it! It's not like there was much to do here in the OG. I like that they went out of their way to flesh the ship out and give it more to remember. And for people who like Queen's Blood, I'm happy for them!!

Silly boy humming the victory fanfare I love himmmm

*wiggles*

Gotta get me one of them bigass cardboard cutout palm trees to put on display inside of my grungy metal hallway. Wow what a vibe

DAMN RIGHT YOU SHOULD DEMAND THE MANAGER, RED

THE MOONWALK SJHSYAFDFKKFFJF oh mny fuckijngh god the terrified kid crying his eyes out LMAOOOOO

Dang It! I wanted to see what Cloud looks like swaddled up in that hammock. Why do you deny me that which I desire. Screw your fade to black.

Good to know Hojo is just as disgusting and disturbing as he should be! Yayyyyy :(

"Holy shit..." YUFFIE SAME????? TITOV BOUTTA BLOW SOME TITS OFF????

YEEEHAAWWWW time for another absolute fucking banger of a Jenova remix!!!! I cannot praise the soundtrack enough.

Chapter 6: Fool's Paradise (Costa del Sol)

Obligatory beach episode

Johnny!!!!! My favorite dramatic idiot with a heart of gold! It's ok babygirl I love your seasmell hotel. I'll stay there anytime.

Cloud acting like that lei is strangling him. Sameeee dude same but no really. This place sucks. Too many people trying to force this poor guy to have fun against his will.

If I have to hear "hang loose" one more time, there will be bloodshed.

I do not trust that man to ride safely and sanely on that wheelie. He can't even walk on his own two feet without endangering every physics object in the vicinity.

Empty materia moment actually made me gasp out loud

AERTI DATE AERTI DATE AERTI DATE AERTI DATE

OUTFIT REVIEW TIME

Cloud's Tits Out: An unusual sight. I feel like he should be smooth under there like Link BOTW. He looks a little too robust for someone who's got Big Oil And Brain Worms In There and hasn't slept in weeks. I appreciate the commitment to making him pale as paper and flat as a board. No top surgery scars lose points big time. I'm neutral about the toes. 4/10

Cloud's Business Casual: Immaculate. Tastefully hideous. That blue is NOT your color, girl. Chocobo imagery is always a plus. Absolutely mystified by the untied capris + 3/4 sleeve scoop neck combo. Pretty sure he's not wearing any socks with those tennis shoes. Sneakers in the sand is a helluva sensory experience for an autistic guy like him, I deeply respect it. 9/10.

Tifa's Frilly Miniskirt: Cute and confident. Split between it being utterly out of character for her, or 1000% perfect for her. The white and purple is a great color combo. Slightly concerned about the structural integrity of the neck strap. Uncooperative hairstyle is understandable but kills the vibe a bit. Jealous of the sandals. 8/10

Tifa's Tie Front: DAMN. Stripes with the collar, black jean shorts, hell yeah. The giant belt buckle is just asking for a nasty burn mark, though. Whatever. She's rockin' it. I dunno man, I'm at a loss for words, you just gotta see it to believe it. 10/10.

Aerith's Keepin' It Simple: Tried and true. Pink always works in her favor. Love the little matching flowers in her hair. The wrap around wallet chain is a welcome sprinkle of weirdness. Otherwise masterfully boring; it suits her city-slickin' down-to-earth attitude. 9/10

Aerith's Floral Cover Up: Classy. Got that Final Fantasy princess look with the ruffled sleeves and the push-up cut. The long skirt is nothing short of perfection. Lovestruck by the splash of lime green with the leaf pattern. Can't imagine how annoying those shin-high sandal straps might be though, that's gonna leave a mark. 9/10

Barret's Bear Wearing A Marshmallow: Pillsbury Dough Man at his finest. Faithful to the original, exquisite in 4K HD. Hoist hook arm adds that extra sailor flair, sealing the look. He's having fun with it, and that's what matters most. 10/10!

Ok back to reality

uh oh.

Yup, somehow they managed to make Hojo even more nauseating than ever before. Good. The more we hate him, the worse it'll sting when he keeps dodging his comeuppance. Hohohohoho.... That's Good Writing, Babie! Twist that knife. Keep us ravenously thirsty for revenge!!

Seen a lot of complaints about the women that accompany Hojo to the beach and shower him with compliments and oohs and aahs. Not sure why. Pretty sure it's heavily implied that they're being paid SHIT LOADS of gil to act that way. It's stated outright that they're working for Mayor Kapono, and it's well established by that point that the mayor is wrapped tight around Shinra's pinky finger.

The moment that beach fight started, I knew right away... GRAB THAT UMBRELLA, DO YOUR LEGACY PROUD

Aerith showing her vengeful side, just a tiny bit. So much pent up hatred and grief. Love how it mirrors Cloud's character. She's so forgiving, she doesn't know how to turn anger into action. He's so caught up in his anger, that he forgets what forgiveness could do for him. Man. :'(

Yuffie joins the team!!! Cloud's just like. >:/ lol

Chapter 7: Those Left Behind (Corel)

Fun time is over folks

Huh. Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but that's not even close to being a Weapon. Major retcon, or legendary fakeout?

Sighh... Aerith looking up at the sky like that... The longing sure is long isn't it

WELL! Ain't that the dolly zoom of a lifetime! It's absolutely wild to watch Cloud's mental state worsen gradually in real time. Seeing him almost walk off a cliff was freaky. Good stuff

I WILL LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR CLOUD JUNIOR

Poor Barret...... damn dude. The people of Corel were nasty to him in the OG, but they cranked that up to eleven in Rebirth. Wow.

"She your new wife? Well good for you..." istg i'll reach through that screen and choke you out with my bare hands bitchass

"NO." Well that settles that! Gee I wonder why Cloud's not interested in helping out the doctor with his test...... hmm......

Yuffie honey... read the room.........

Chapter 8: All That Glitters (Gold Saucer First Visit)

And now for a jarring tonal shift! Yeahh... this game suffers from awkward pacing. A lot. Though I do suppose that's the point— hellish suffering juxtaposed with distasteful extravagance, just how Shinra prefers it.

Dio should snap him in half like a twig. I think it would be good enrichment for Cloud.

Ok. I'm pretty sure this is like. the fourth time Cloud's pupils have gotten all blown out upon seeing Sephiroth. There may be a clinical explanation for this, but there sure as hell ain't a straight one. The submissive little gasps are NOT helping.

I'm fucking pissed on behalf of anyone who has to stay the night at this dumbass hotel. Oh my god. How could anyone fall asleep in this obnoxious hellscape.

At least the receptionist looks good tied up and struggling ;)

Cait Sith meowing his own theme song is doing something unfathomable to the part of me that almost became a furry back in middle school. Oh god no he's so adorable. I'm screwed

I'm going to dismantle that tonberry robot bolt by bolt.

Aerith and Cloud commentating the races omg kicking my feet like a little schoolgirl i love them so muchhhh

The bike minigame is just not the same without Roche's "encouragement"

Jessie 😭

Ok I'm glad that it's made clear from the get-go that Barret isn't responsible for the shooting, and he also doesn't try to take the fall for Dyne. That left a bad taste in my mouth in the OG, so this is a welcome change.

Cait Sith is a little bit too enthused about the muggin' maimin' and murderin' lmao

OH MY GOD CLOUD. Baseball bat to the back of the head was genuinely shocking. As if he didn't have enough brain damage to begin with D:

Oh yuck. Gus is insufferable and nasty. I've known this guy for all of five seconds, and I already hate his guts. Fantastic characterization right outta the gate. The music is hilarious.

Billy???? How the hell did you end up here????? Kid you GOTTA get tf out of this place

LMAOOO Elena is my favorite turk confirmed. "NO VANILLA."

Oh man. Dyne time. This entire part is so damn good. Barret wants so badly for Dyne to be the beloved friend he used to be, but he's just way too far gone. So much resentment and grief.

Second half of the Dyne battle is a little bit weird, but I can tentatively accept it.

Was definitely wondering how they would handle Dyne's suicide given the teen rating. They circumvented the issue by having Shinra troopers gun him down in a crazed last stand. Different from the OG, but still believable and well written, considering their limitations.

Now that I think about it, this game is REALLY pushin' it with the teen rating. I'm willing to bet the rating boards were like, "yeah uh we can make an exception. it's FFVII we're talkin' about." Still... wonder why they couldn't go as far with Remake.

"You carry that guilt... That weight..." Wow. That line.

Annnnd jarring tonal shift! Robot frog fight versus the comedy relief villain. To be fair, I can't think of any other decent place to put this boss, either. On the bright side, Anuran Suppressor is awesome. Favorite fight in the game so far!

I need this soundtrack in my possession right fucking now.

Oh hi Glenn

Chapter 9: The Planet Stirs (Gongaga)

dune buggy :)

Oh Yuffie... just keep a barf bucket on hand or somethin will ya?

"I just... I feel like I've been here before." Well wouldja look at that... no jenova static...

Going over the hill and seeing the reactor... damn.

CISSNEI!!!! Ouuugh girl you know EXACTLY who tf he is, don't lie.

Noooo give Cait his little mushroom back you meanie :(

Ah. The deranged picnic music.

Gongaga has a much different vibe than it did in the OG. The intense feeling of mourning and hardship is missing. No hazy purple hues or Anxiety playing. Seems like they went in more of a CC direction, with the bright blue sky and uplifting soundtrack. Can't lie, I'm a tiny bit disappointed; I was really hoping for something more heavy and melancholic.

The existence of ordinary chickens in the FFVII universe has some frightening implications for the true nature of chocobos. If you have ever kept backyard chickens, you'll know what I mean.

Ohhhhhhh.... Zack's home............. :((((((

No. No. Don't play Sky Blue Eyes. Don't fucking do this to me. I'm gonna fucking cry. Oh my god no.

"They do say no news is good news, right?" I'm gonna do it.

You know shit's bad when even Cloud "I'm Fine" Strife admits he needs to have a lie down. Yikes.

Man, I really wish we knew more about Tifa and Aerith's chats. Dramatic irony's a bitch.

They sure went all out with the mushroom thing, huh. I know they were trying to differentiate Gongaga in terms of gameplay and worldbuilding, but I feel like they went a little overboard. Gongaga was its own unique thing in OG, not sure why they felt the need to quote unquote improve upon it. Just kinda weird.

Now the reactor is a different story. They did an incredible job here. The scale of the reactor, the unprecedented destruction—

Oh God Damn It The Whispers Are Back

Seriously trying so hard to justify in my own mind why the whispers are here. I don't despise them as a concept, but their implementation is awkward and overdone. In the Gongaga reactor, they fulfill the same narrative purpose as the black robes would: to facilitate the Reunion by mentally dragging Cloud along. Sigh... I get it's because they want to familiarize the player with the whispers in anticipation of future scenes, but it still pisses me off.

That being said, the whispers' theme goes HARD and I'm elated to hear it again. It also fits super well in the Gongaga reactor. So I guess I'm not that pissed.

Touch Me renamed to Amphidex. Can't have shit in Gongaga :/

ooOOOOO!!! The mako fumes getting to Cloud's head! Poor guy's about to pass out. Nice touch.

Sephiroth/Jenova taking advantage of Cloud's mako poisoning... Oh man... the instant change in demeanor is nuts. So fucking good. Here we get to see the first time that Sephiroth has total control over Cloud, and it does not disappoint. Ruthless.

Tifa honey how and why tf are you keeping it together right now. Girl, you do NOT have to fix him. You do not have to show him your boobs a second time. You do not have to take a single thing he says seriously. You can just get up and leave I promise he's doomed by the narrative until further notice 😭😭😭

Telluric Orca Vore Moment was also not on my rebirth bingo card but Okay

Teasing the lifestream. Sure, I can get down with it. Just... y'all got a bit of a whisper problem down here. Want me to call pest control?

"No! Don't take him too!" Damn...

I would not feel safe alone in a room with a man who just tried to kill me, let alone even remotely consider intimacy, but maybe that's just me. It is refreshing to see Tifa and Cloud actually talk things out for a change.

Cloud knows there's something wrong with him and he's so scared... man :'(

What does Aerith say to her???????????? ARRRGHHH

So we're all just perfectly fine with Cloud continuing to be in charge? Nobody's got any objections to that? Alrighty Then

SURPRISE Cid Highwind!! Leaks were right, he's cleaned up. No cigs, less swears, very friendly guy. Not as off-putting as I worried it might be. I'm convinced it's just because he's got a business to run— we'll see good ol' cranky Cid in part 3.

ROCHE NOOOOOOOOOO DON'T!!!!!!!! :(

Chapter 10: Watcher of the Vale (Cosmo Canyon)

Red's real voice reveal! Red's real name reveal!! Though I really would have preferred to see his name change to Nanaki in the menu and subtitles...

Cosmo Canyon is coming off as a hippie stoner tourist trap. Yeah all of these people are correct about the planet and the lifestream, but dang if it doesn't feel like someone's about to heckle me into buying healing crystals and dreamcatchers.

The nostalgia is A++. Beautiful remaster of the music, too.

BUGENHAGEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOO!!!!!!! SO jealous of him zoomin around on that sick af crystal ball. Screw the Costa wheelies, I want one of these bad boys.

...A legendary fakeout in the making, I think!

The observatory is stunning. Can't even put it into words. The planetarium brought me to tears, it's such a flood of nostalgia and a deeply emotional scene. I love the nice detail of the planet being different from Earth— mako tinted oceans instead of deep blue. Watching the model planet rot and crumble broke my heart.

Sobbing the whole way through Aerith's speech. My god. Poor girl. Knowing what her fate is in the OG makes it hurt even worse.

Gi Nattak. Would

Expanding upon the Gi. Unexpected but super cool. Their story reminds me of FFIX, with the parasitic planet Terra lurking deep within Gaia. The Gi and the Cetra seem to have something similar going on. Who was here first? It almost sounds like the Cetra and their lifestream are invaders.

I could easily relate to the Gi's opinion, that the endless cycle of the lifestream and the persistence of the spirit is tantamount to torture. Never being able to truly rest in peace sucks. Don't worry friends, I'll bring you the black materia! :) (THIS USER CANNOT BE TRUSTED WITH THE BLACK MATERIA)

Aerith sticking her hand into the mako..............

Chapter 11: The Long Shadow of Shinra (Nibelheim)

The intense gaslighting about Nibelheim was one of my favorite things about the OG. It also helped seed even more doubt into Cloud's existence as a real person, setting up his descent into madness over the black materia and vulnerability as Sephiroth's puppet. So the changes they've made to Nibelheim in Rebirth are... unnecessary, to put it lightly.

The villagers do not argue with Tifa or Cloud about their memories of the town. They greet them and tell them all about the town's development into a mako poisoning treatment center. Sigh... Part of what made OG's Nibel revisit so dreadful was the unshakeable feeling that you are not welcome there, and that you're being watched like a hawk. I feel a little bit too comfy here in Rebirth Nibelheim, with how friendly and open everyone's being.

Love the chat with Tifa in her old room. We get so much insight into her thoughts and feelings about Nibelheim, Avalanche, and about Cloud and herself.

"Every time we made eye contact, you'd look away. And when I tried to talk to you, you'd ignore me." ouch, don't gotta poke him in the autism like that

Ohoho. The hotel's digging up some memories. I've said my piece.

dillydally

LORD have mercy. This boy's noodle is scrambled like you wouldn't believe. Good news, he remembers Zack, sort of. Bad news, he thinks he fucking drowned?!???? It's intimidating to see the lengths Jenova/Sephiroth will go to to obscure the truth from Cloud. Damn.

Ok Yuffie is actually starting to get a bit obnoxious. Please stop interrupting emotionally charged moments. We get it, you're excited about materia. Cut it out.

If I were Tifa I would be shitting my pants terrified right about now. Girl I do NOT know how you're holding it together.

And now for the most distasteful tonal shift and momentum killer of all time. It's silly kitty cat hijinks time!! ...What the actual fuck. I like Cait Sith, but this is unacceptable. The basement is supposed to be a sickening place of fear and tragedy. Turning it into a cutesy little box chucking playground is downright disrespectful to the original FFVII. I can't even believe I'm writing this, it's so absurd as a concept. This is the only major change that I'm legitimately seriously upset about.

And by god does it drag on. Every time you think, surely this is the final section!... nope. It just keeps on fucking going. Fuck my life, my blood is boiling. Unreal. Remake's slow ass hand-crane highway thing is nothing compared to this. I'll take a Queen's Blood tournament and a hurricane of whispers any day over this unrivaled masterclass in unnecessary bullshit. Fuck.

At least to some people, the reward for getting through the Cait Sith Crate Slog is worthwhile— a few cutscenes starring Vincent Valentine, and a battle against Galian Beast. But if you're like me, and you're not utterly obsessed with Vincent Valentine or Matt Mercer, then by this point, you're just feeling drained and disappointed.

Overall... least favorite chapter. Mellow start, juicy build up with great potential, completely shafted by baffling nonsense.

RIP Roche. Heartbreaking. It's been a good run. Side note, Roche's conversion into a black robe was... quite bizarre. That's just, uh, how that works, I suppose? Okie dokie then

Oh hi Glenn

Chapter 12: A Golden Key (Gold Saucer Revisit)

Always felt weird about the Gold Saucer revisit in the OG. Unusual pacing. Well, at least Rebirth's being consistent in that regard.

What's the point of the theater if you're just going to do a VR performance instead? I know it's a silly little nitpick, but I wanna hear some soles squeaking on a hardwood stage!

Ah, that's the point of the VR. So Shinra can use a dead woman's likeness to keep selling tickets to their overhyped shows. Surprised none of the characters say anything about that, given Avalanche's well-established anticapitalist message.

This is what Genesis Rhapsodos decided to hyperfixate on? No wonder the guy's hair started turning grey and falling out in chunks. [SARCASM]

Barret sobbing uncontrollably, right next to Nanaki looking like a rejected Crash Bandicoot reboot clapping his paws together. Sums up this entire game so far.

The "audience participation" in the play is altered significantly from the OG. It's, uh, very neat and tidy. I strongly prefer OG's hysterical secondhand embarrassment and awkward ad-lib.

I NEED to know what happens if you fail all of the QTEs. Please tell me it goes off the rails and Cloud gets booed off stage PLEASE.

Pretty song. But my god if that is Not What She Would Sound Like.

The gondola rides!! Overall fantastic. So difficult to pick a favorite. Tifa's is obviously phenomenal, but I think I still have a soft spot for Aerith's. I like that Barret's is taken more seriously; it's such a heartfelt moment. Yuffie reminiscing about Zack was adorable, as well as Cloud relating to her being bad with feelings. The Cait Sith/Cid/Vincent one had me laughing out loud, it was so stiff and awkward lmaoo

THE SCOTCH AND KOTCH DISS TRACK IS SENDING ME???????? SKSJKHAGAAAFDSDSDHHBFD I'm so happy to see these freaks doing their thing again.

RUFUS SHINRA?????

Yeah, no Cait Sith, you ain't garnering any pity from me. Not happening after the crate incident.

Chapter 13: Where Angels Fear to Tread (Temple of the Ancients)

So the temple is to the north now. Understandable, since that's where the Forgotten Capital is, too. Still took me by surprise. Also means we won't be going back to Gongaga... aww :(

HOLY FUCK the way the temple assembles itself... now THIS is what I'm talkin' about!

Teasing us with that fractal square symbol since all the way back in Remake...!

Roche....... "my... friend..." :(((((((

These troopers are NOT getting paid enough for this shit lmao

Oh howdy there Rathalos from Monster Hunter, you look a bit different than I remember

Thank goodness the Cetra had the foresight to incorporate some aesthetically appropriate rest benches into their temple's design!

Aerith's seance + the camera angle of the whole team watching... beautiful nod to FFX...? <3

That better not have been Kunsel.

Reno jumpscare

Elena's pretty pink pistol with the charms and stickers is so goofy. I love her. Hopefully Cloud won't try to chop her head off within the next sixty seconds or anything like tha— uh, nevermind.

oooOOURGHH Cloud is SO fucking terrifying throughout the whole temple. Cody hitting it out of the ballpark BIG TIME with the voice acting. DAMN.

Everybody but Cloud has memories to retread... broke my heart. Sad and scary. By the way Hey uhh Temple? Why the fuck would you do this to us? :(

ugly sobbing

Followed up by the Gayest Thing I Think I've Ever Seen In Video Game History

YOU! WITH THE WING!! GET DOWN HERE!!! YOU'RE UNDER ARREST!

Oh god no you're going to make me fight Demon Gate aren't you

THERE'S TWO OF THEM??!?!?!??!?!!! AAHGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HORRIFYING BUT RELATABLE, CLOUD

Wait. Cloud. Hey. Can we talk about it for a sec. Come back please

"There's no point fighting over a fake." WHOA I actually straight up forgot about that twist! Hell yeah! What a wham line!

"I wish I hadnae skipped leg day." pFFFFT LMAOOOOO

"Yeah... I'm good." The Fuck You Ain't

PHHWAAHH HE JUST GETS CRUSHED AWWW!! RIP LMAO WHAT A WAY TO GO

The temple's transformation is breathtaking. And that music score, too, holy fuck.

Honestly I'm not even mad about the whispers being there, they're just a setpiece at this point. Adds to the frantic atmosphere. I'm choosing to ignore their narrative relevance until absolutely necessary.

ROCHE? YOU GOOD THERE BUDDY?

THAT BOY on his hands and knees SCRAMBLING for that black materia. Gayass

CLOUD AARHGRFGGFFFFF OHHGGHH SEPHIROTH HAS COMPLETE CONTROL OVER HIM HHHAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

OUUGRRHHHH OAWWWWGGHH

LISTEN. Listen I cannot formulate coherent thoughts about this. Go see it for yourself. Just go.

tee hee hee he's so proud of himself handing it over :3

It Begins.

Interlude. The Zack Moments so far:

Yeahhhh not a huge fan of Zack just dropping Cloud off at the nearest recognizable npc. Not after he almost gave his goddamn life to protect him.

MAN! Finally get to see what it's like to enter/exit Midgar. No fade to black, just on your feet and out the gate. Feels good; kinda surreal honestly. Never realized how bad I wanted this.

Regardless of what you think about the Zack thing, you gotta admit, the atmosphere during his sections is ethereal. So beautiful and calming in such a tragic way.

Love how he fights different than Cloud. Throwing punches, brutal kicks, shoulder checks, much like in Crisis Core.

HOLY FUCK don't mind me just gonna uhhh rip this five hundred pound metal post out of the ground and chuck it like a toy hammer. Suddenly the Buster Sword doesn't seem all that unwieldy.

......RIP Barret, Nanaki, and Tifa. Oof. What a way to go out.

DON'T MAKE MY SWEET BOY CRY LIKE THAT FUCK YOU!!! :(((((

Damn bitch you live like this??? To be fair, that's probably the most luxurious resting spot he's had in literal YEARS. Like wow there's a mattress!! And a roof!!!!!

Good to know that Cloud's goofy ass flinging himself out of bed straight into a combat stance thing from Remake is actually a Zack mannerism lol

Ohhh... my heart... seeing things from Cloud's perspective... I like the how this expands upon what the OG established, about "dreams" of this type. Sort of like the sleeping forest scene. Also makes Aerith's resolution scene in Remake all the more curious.

Aww... walking out onto the balcony and seeing the whole garden dead...

Obsessed with the music that plays during Zack's sections. Wow.

Awwww Marlene and Zack are such a silly duo :')

Biggs wtf did you do????????

Ziggs crashing hard onto my list of OTPs. Oops.

Divine intervention preventing a headshot? I'm sure some CS:GO players can relate.

Biggs' and Zack's conflicting memories of Cloud, plus the "broken internal clocks" is intriguing.

"Zack-of-all-trades" tickles me :D

All of their dialogue together is so self-aware... two characters who have had their narrative purposes torn out from under them, desperate to find a new one. The fact that there is no reason for them to be here is the whole point.

"We're all headed for the same place. You'll see your daddy and Tifa again." Oh ok yeah sure go ahead and rip my heart right out of my chest Elmyra

"Hello in there..." 🥺

So Remake Aerith bestowed memories of her future death upon Marlene. Is childhood innocence a prerequisite for this ability to work? Seeing as she did something similar with Nanaki. Otherwise, you'd think she would try to entrust her own fate with someone more influential, like Tifa or Barret.

I cannot fucking believe that Zaclerith endgame is real. Am I dreaming

Aww Zack has Aerith's ribbon tied around his hand...

Chapter 14: End of the World (Forgotten Capital/Final Chapter)

Ok Tsengru shippers. I finally see it. You are 100% correct about them.

Now we're getting WILD with it. The timeline shenanigans are in full swing. Speculation aplenty ahead.

"...or 'homeward bound' maybe?" Still trying to make sense of what exactly these sky-rift worlds are. Aerith's line here seems to imply that this is some kind of purgatory...? Where timelines go to wallow in their death throes? That's my understanding, so far. Especially with all of the mournful npc dialogue.

Aww... Aerith's date with Cloud mirroring the one she had with Zack in Crisis Core :')

I tell you what, the Stamp figurine made me GASP. So that's three timelines now. Beagle, Terrier, Spitz.

So Terrier Zack goes to Hojo in hopes of finding a cure for Cloud. Not his finest idea... but oh well. Jealous of his motorcycle. ;)

Sephiroth is combing timelines for one version of Aerith in particular...? Am I on the right track here? Is this the same Aerith from her resolution scene in Remake?

THE PUG made me spit my fucking drink out. Hot damn, there's four! We saw this timeline's conception in the form of the bright flash of light when Terrier Zack chose to go to Hojo.

So Pug Zack instead goes to Biggs at reactor 6. I really, really love this scene. The pump is dry, the planet's life is flashing before its eyes. A heartfelt moment shared between two characters who have had their narrative purposes torn out from under them. Zack gets a delicious bit of character progression, wanting to take back control of his life. Price of Freedom playing in the background has got me wailing like an air horn.

"I'm sick of taking its shit!" WHOA Zack swearing caught me way off guard. He flees from battle for once, instead of facing Shinra head on in this timeline. Wonder how that'll change things.

"You don't look like you're on a date... More like 'at a funeral.'" Mhm. duly noted

Give it up for timeline number five! Corgi Zack is sitting on the stairs at the church.

"Cloud, Biggs, or Aerith... How the hell am I supposed to choose?" You don't have to, darling. It's called a polycule.

Sephiroth slashes a hole in reality, and the black whispers drag Corgi Zack through it. Starting to think I shoulda done my Lifestream Black/Lifestream White homework.

So far, Aerith+Cloud's date "dream" has taken place entirely in the Spitz timeline. It's not clear if this is also true of the scene inside of the church, especially since Sephiroth comes waltzing in after we just saw him outside in the Corgi timeline. I'm getting the impression that time and space are a very hand-wavey thing in this layer of reality.

HEART EXPLODING GHAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And now for one of the most exhilirating things I think I've ever seen in MY LIFE.

"Behold... The true nature of reality. When the boundaries of fate are breached, new worlds are born. The planet encompasses a multitude of worlds, ever unfolding. [...] In the planet's embrace, all life is as one." Sephiroth's entire dialogue here... I got goosebumps. That's all.

"Very poor form." LMAO

I notice now on my second watch through, that as early as the sleeping forest scenes, we're cutting back and forth between two different timelines, I believe. Whenever the black or white whispers rush past, we shift perspective from one timeline to another. Pay close attention. Two worlds, simultaneous, but different.

Cloud delivers the white materia from one Aerith to another. Is this the same white materia we see from the beginning of Rebirth? I don't think she swaps the materia out, just transfers its power into her own empty materia, then hands Cloud the newly empty one.

Interesting! Looks like the timeline had already split, all the way back when Cloud handed over the black materia. Previously we saw Cloud and Aerith fall, but now— the white whispers rush past— and we see him rescue her and pull themselves up before they fall. Interesting!

Some youtube theorycrafter will piece together the symbolic significance of literally every tiny detail in this prerendered cutscene and make perfect sense of it. Looking forward to it too, because this is WAY above my paygrade.

Hello, whiper pest control services? Hi, yes, I would like to know why the white whispers are suddenly getting in the way? I thought they were my friends :(

Aerith's prayer :(((((((((

OHHGH MY GOD fucking legendary use of the haptic/adaptive triggers. Holy shit.

👁️ 👁️

Meanwhile, Zack Fair

me, banging my fists on the table: KISS! KISS!!! KISS! KISS!!!! JUST KISS ALREADY!!!!!! KISS!!!

Lmao Zack is so indifferent to this interdimensional insanity. After being the protagonist of Crisis Core, he's just like "lol whatever this is fine"

"Look at you takin' charge! I like it!" 😏

Zack+Cloud synergy attack!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!!

"What in the hell is going on!?" SAME ZACK, SAME

AERITH!!!!!!!!!

OH FUCK IT'S THE SONG

the hand hold 💔

i'm incoherent. i'll figure out my thoughts about this some other time

Oh hi Glenn— OH SHIT??!?

THE SWORD CAN DO THAT?????? what

Man... the in-game skybox does NOT do that rift in the sky justice. Absolutely staggering in the final prerendered cutscene.

Next time I have a migraine aura, I'll be at ease knowing that it's just the timelines rippling and merging. No big deal

Two separate worlds, one where she lives, one where she dies. Realities overlapping and intertwined. Cloud's fragile mind fluctuating between both… wow. Can't wait to see where this leads in part 3.

Misc. thoughts, not chapter specific:

Love the accentuated mako in SOLDIER eyes. It irked me that the iconic mako color was so muted in Remake, so seeing it so vibrant in Rebirth is sexy as hell.

Um. No comment on Glenn, really. I'm not heavily invested in his story; maybe I'd be more interested if SE had actually done anything substantial with First Soldier and Ever Crisis. I don't mind that he's here, and the Jenova/Sephiroth twist was pleasantly surprising. Matt and Lucia name drop was also a nice touch. It's pretty obvious that the only reason Glenn is here is to help set up a confict against Wutai for part 3. Fair enough.

So no Kunsel? *SMASHES PHONE ON THE GROUND* *CRUSHES SKATEBOARD*

[theworldvsyoshiko]

The spring has come, and thus the first batch of adults are ready to head out into the world. Two fine young men. Also they've both lost a leg at some point. This is probably a normal rate of dismemberment for 18 year olds, so don't worry about it.

Stanislav has been here since he was 8, and he was the second kid to show up, joining Yoshiko in long nights of packing Ramirez around so they didn't choke to death in their own toxic fumes. Good times. But also Stanislav's loss is gonna hurt because, remember when he turned 13 and I said his stats + skills were a really nice combo?

This kid is ridiculously competent. Sure, Yoshiko's more broadly capable, but she's thirty and he just turned nineteen about three days ago. Stanislav's been either the primary or #1 backup person for practically half the work in the colony.

Grasshopper was a 15 year old party cannibal when he showed up, and while he got the support he needed to move on from that kind of a background, he also saw a giant cat eating his dead girlfriend that one time, so it's kinda a wash. He's less of a renaissance man than Stanislav, but he's been our main cook, and is the only person with the age + skills that will let him make good guns and armor.

... also he started hitting on Yoshiko within like a week of Lighter's death, and it's been a constant irritation for her. This is one nice thing about being able to adopt now. It prevents that sort of weirdness. So anyway she'll probably be relieved to have him gone.

That leaves the colony with nine people, which is still around the biggest that it's normally gotten. Yoshiko is no longer constantly unhappy that she's surrounded by so many people though, so that's a nice reprieve for her until the new #10 shows up.

[b-etter]

I was tagged by @the-shepherd-of-fire to post 13 songs I'm listening to at the moment. Tysm ✌️✌️

1. ONE MORE TIME by blink-182

2. Oxygen by BONES

3. Rest by Wicca Phase Springs Eternal

4. YEAH RIGHT by joji

5. All I Need by Radiohead

6. Sarcophagus II by Ramirez & $uicideboy$

7. Antarctica by $uicideboy$

8. Featuring Mark Hoppus by Hot Mulligan

9. To Whom It May Concern by Ghostemane & Parv0

10. Sextape by Deftones

11. Angels On My Wrist by smrtdeath

12. Everlong by Foo Fighters

13. Dog Days Are Over by Florence + The Machine

I got these from my On Repeat Playlist lol

Now I'm tagging @wolves-atthedoor @sarraaaa @paraphrasieren @soft-lunar-rose @leav3-a-light-on @joshydoesntknow @leextacy @bloodiedpunk @1-4263-5811-10-79 @cherryblood94 and whoever wants to participate

This is completely voluntary btw 😉

[sukipershipper]

WVBA Presents: THE LADIES OF THE RING!!

The WVBA finally opened up a bracket for the beautiful women from around the world! Exceptional and proud talents from all over! Managed by the beautiful, Ada Krowlinsky! Let’s get to know them!

JUNIOR CHALLENGER

Junebug (June Masters) Age: 17 Height: 5′5 ft Weight: 107lbs Home: Manhattan, NY, USA Record: ??? “A new challenger, hailing from the Big Apple, Junebug is a goofy, sometimes clumsy, fighter. Her ethics are heavily inspired by her trainer, who seemed to have a fighting past herself, and she is heavily determined to punch her way to the top!” MINOR CIRCUIT

3: Glacier North (Tala Williams) Age: 18 Height: 4′9 ft Weight: 113lbs Home: Iqualit, NV, Canada Record: 10-6 (7 KO’s) “A timid soul, but a fierce fighter. Glacier North is the youngest fighter in the CVBA. Though she doesn’t rank very high, many see her untapped potential. If only she wasn’t so meek.”

2: Luz Fiesta (Luna Ramirez) Age: 32 Height: 5′11 ft Weight: 192lbs Home: Bogota, Colombia Record: 12-13 (9 KO’s) “The life of the party, Luz Fiesta is here to put a smile on your face, dazzle you with her antics and knock out her opponents while dancing around in the ring. What fun!” 1: Mama Belle (Leah Belle) Age: 40 Height: 5′11 ft  Weight: 200lbs Home: Houston, TX, USA Record: 10 - 3 (4 KO’s) “Sweet as a button and coated with sugar, Mama Belle delights the ring with her sweet, southern hospitality and a punch that will make her opponents cookies crumble.” Champion: TJ Storm (Maria Teorokai) Age: 19 Height: 6′2 ft Weight: 203lbs Home: Rarotonga, Cook Islands Record: 17-10 (13 KO’s) “From across the sea comes a storm, TJ Storm. She’s mighty, she’s brutal and she’s determined to knock out her opponents, no matter what. Though far from home, TJ never forgets where she’s from and many assume the reason she fights so well is because of the family who she has close to her heart.” MAJOR CIRCUIT: 3: Louella Swansong (Alla Vinogradov) Age: 25 Height: 6′3 Weight: 166lbs Home: Saint Petersburg, Russia Record: 10-9 (5 KO’s) “A beautiful dancer, part time worker in a stage theatre, and a graceful disposition wherever she goes, Louella is a talented performer and even more talented boxer, and knows how to pack quite a punch when she isn’t fuzzing over getting her mitts dirty”

2: Sheriff Dusty (Winifred Parris) Age: 32 Height: 6′2 ft Weight: 189lbs Home: Frankfort, KY, USA Record: 20-7 (11 KO’s) “From the countryside of Kentucky, Dusty is a hardworking and fun individual. Inspired by one of the champion boxers in Branch A, she took the ring almost immediately, wanting to experience the thrill, failure, but mostly joy that being in the ring had to offer!” 1: Rosa Mariposa (Carmen Balmori) Age: 20 Height: 4′11 Weight: 122lbs Home: Madrid, Spain Record: 19-3 (2 KO’s) “The gorgeous gem of Madrid, and girlfriend of the Major Circuit Champ, Don Flamenco, Carmen, otherwise known by her pseudonym, Rosa Mariposa, is an elegant opponent. With a spring in her step and a flutter in her heart, she wows the crowd with her presentation and a few moved she learnt from her Amor”  Champ: Barbella Bambina (Bella Mancini) Age: 29 Height: 5′8 ft Weight: 230lbs Home: Milan, Italy Record: 23-4 (19 KO’s) “From Italy, and proud to be it, Barbella is a strongman in the same circus as Mad Clown! Though she has an intimidating appearance, she can be quite funny and goofy, though she is a bit daft with her jokes now and again. But when it comes to the ring? Ohoho, you better watch out, before she drops her bar on you!” WORLD CIRCUIT

4: Heat Wave (Sydney Robinson) Age: 30 Height: 6′0 ft Weight: 192lbs Home: Sydney, NSW, Australia Record: 25-2 (21 KO’s) “As fiery as her name suggests, Heat Wave brings a fistful of fire to her matches. She’s the hot personality that is sure to knock the socks off of folks both in and out of the ring. However, though fiery, she has been seen being very *chill* outside the ring, and especially around her best friend, Blaze Hinabi.” 3: Cajun Jewel (Edmee Boudreaux) Age: 68 Height: 5′8 ft Weight: 118lbs Home: New Orleans, LA, USA Record: 24-2 (20 KO’s) “Dubbed The Beauty of the Bayou and The Voodoo Queen, Cajun Jewel is one old lady you don’t wanna mess with, always carrying a new trick up her sleeves. A true pioneer of the Louisiana spirit, you best watch out when her eyes start to glow, it never ends up good for her opponents!” 2: Mane Event (Becky Smith) Age: 31 Height: 6′1 ft Weight: 202 lbs Home: Las Vegas, NV, USA Record: 19-2 (11 KO’s) “A masked felon, Mane Event is the true heel of the woman’s bracket. Hiding behind her mask of shame after trying to kill a soul singer in Vegas, she took to boxing as an outlet. She’s a vengeful and ruthless soul, uncontrollable but still no match for her own inner beast...maybe one day...” 1: Maple Rose (Rochelle Lavoie) Age: 30 Height: 4′9 ft Weight: 199lbs Home: Montreal, QB, Canada Record: 25-1 (22 KO’s)  “A gorgeous and graceful soul, Maple Rose is the true show stealer, with beautiful attire, personality and pretty much everything else, the only thing she could be missing is a bad hair day. Maple Rose may look dainty, but don’t let that fool you, this is one rose who isn’t afraid to hit you with her thorns.” World Champ: Blaze Hinabi (Emi Sato) Age: 21 Height: 6′1 ft Weight: 130lbs Home: Kyoto, Japan Record: 27 - 0 (27 KO’s) “Whether she be a crackling bonfire, or a calm, flickering flame, Blaze literally blazes through her opponents and lays waste to anyone who stands in her way. Proud to stand in the ring as the youngest Woman’s champion to date, she is a cool fire that will never, ever die.”

[st-clements-steps]

Thank you @rainhalydia ♥️♥️♥️s and more ♥️♥️♥️s

3 ships you like: only 3?? Rhaenicent, I will continue shouting at people who have never watched HoTD about them, Jamie x Roy x Keeley, they’re just so sexy together, Barty x Bellatrix, they need advocacy, so much potential, so few stories

First ship ever: Hal x Hotspur in the kids Shakespeare version of Henry IV part 1, the rivalry, Hal, the less proficient swordsman, the less physically ferocious, killing Hotspur and then cradling him completing his dying sentence:

O, I could prophesy,/But that the earthy and cold hand of death/Lies on my tongue: no, Percy, thou art dust:And food for--

For worms, brave Percy: fare thee well, great heart!

I could not have articulated any of the above at 8 or 9 but fuck, I knew I was crying heart eyes on the floor.

Last song you heard: I’m not sure but Florida by Taylor and Florence is stuck in my head right now.

Favourite childhood book: I was talking about the Wolves of Willoughby Chase and shipping Bonnie, Sylvia and Simon the other night, so let’s go that.

Currently reading: Femina, a New History of the Middle Ages, Through the Women Written Out of It by Janina Ramirez (very slowly). The Sybill Trelawney fics I didn’t write in Marauders Sapphic Spring Fest 2024

Currently watching: This Town, early 80s UK, politics and class and race and Catholicism, Michelle Dockery (Downton’s Lady Mary) with messy hair and sad eyes, boys with bad dads with violence they don’t want embedded in their souls and poetry they don’t know what to do with on the tips of their tongues.

Currently consuming: like Lydia I’m not sure what this means, but I did buy some new knickers yesterday.

Currently craving: someone who’s happy for me to trace the contours of their back whilst I fail to sleep.

Tagging @luna13e-blog @selkiewife @attonitos-gloria @thistle-and-thorn @owlsinathens @thistlecatfics if you want and anyone who wants to please do and blame me.

[pleasanttaleswithkaityb]

Lisa, embracing her newfound zeal for life, decides a bubble bath might wash away the last remnants of Grim's ghastly visit—because nothing says 'cheating death' quite like a good soak. Yet, in a twist that would make even fate chuckle, her laughter bubbles over once more, and who should waltz in but Grim even the Reaper can't resist an encore when the performance is this enthralling.

Ugh- I hope he's able to save her again! Previous || Next

Check out The Beginning of the Ramirez's Spring! Learn more about the Ramirez family here! (not updated at the moment)

[yourartmatters-itswhatgotmehere]

Representation matters!-in YA novels

-i am, obviously, not able to type ALL here, but the ones i know and love dearly+the ones I think are most important for the readers♥- I WILL KEEP UPDATING THIS WHEN NEEDED♥) +obvi not in any important-order!!

-BUT FIRST BOOKS THAT HELP FIGHT RACISM/EDUCATE/INFORM ABOUT BLACK LIVES:

-White Fragility: Why it’s so hard for white people to talk about Racism by Robin DiAngelo

-Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

-The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X

-The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

-The Source of Self-Regard by Toni Morrison

(thank you for this list Dakota Johnson!)

+

-The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

-Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama

-Becoming by Michelle Obama

-BOOKS EDUCATING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE/CRISIS list:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/139102124?shelf=climate-crisis

-BOOKS EDUCATING ABOUT AIDS/HIV list:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/139102124?shelf=about-aids-hiv

1. BISEXUAL-BI-REPRESENTATION (as a bi person myself I still think this should be represented more in media everywhere)

-bi boys: Isaac Sullivan (The Devouring Gray + The Deck Of Omens (duology), Jesper Fahey (Six of Crows, Grishaverse), Ness Arroyo/Eduardo Iron (Infinity Cycle Series-Infinity Son + Infinity Reaper as for now), Rufus Emeterio (They Both Die At The End), Nathan Allan (I Wish You All The Best), Magnus Bane (The Mortal Instruments), Nick Nelson (Heartstopper), Alex Claremont Diaz (Red, White & Royal Blue),  Winter Young(Stars and Smoke), Jonah Collins & Dylan Ramirez (They Hate Each Other), Ash Ashton Taylor (The Law of Interia), Will Tavares (Only Mostly Devastated), Enrique “Quique” Luna (This Is Why They Hate Us), Adam Parrish (The Raven Cycle Series), Will Solace (Percy Jackson Series),

-bi girls: Violet Saunders (The Devouring Gray + The Deck Of Omens (duology), Nina Zenik (Six of Crows, Grishaverse), Maribelle Lucero (Infinity Cycle Series- Infinity Son + Infinity Reaper as for now), Vivi Duarte(TheCruelPrince-The Folk Of The Air), Imogen Scott (Imogen, Obviously), Cleo Ferrara (The Girl Next Door), Nora Holleran (Red, White & Royal Blue), Lara (Only Mostly Devastated), Jules Lu (The Charm Offensive), Lea Li Zhang (How to Find a Missing Girl), Sutton Spencer (Those Who Wait),

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/139102124?shelf=bi-bisexual-characters-done-well

1b. ASEXUAL REPRESENTATION

Ling Chang (The Diviners Series), Tolya Yul-Bataar (Grishaverse-ShadowAndBone), Tori Spring (Heartstopper),  Isaac Henderson (Heartstopper),

1c. PANSEXUAL-PAN-REPRESENTATION

Parisa (The Charm Offensive), Iris Blackthorn (How to Find a Missing Girl),

2. GAY/ LESBIAN REPRESENTATION

-gay: Wylan Van Eck (Six Of Crows, Grishaverse),  Henry DuBois IV (The Diviners Series),  Griffin Griff Jennings(History Is All You Left Me), Brendan and Winston (Shatter Me Series), Prince Henry- Henry George Edward James Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor of Wales(Red White&Royal Blue), Amir Azadi(How It All Blew Up), Charlie Spring (Heartstopper), Orion Pagan(The First To Die At The End), Valentino Prince (The First To Die At The End),  Clark Huckleton(If I See You Again Tomorrow), Beau Dupont (If I See You Again Tomorrow),  Baz Pitch-Tyrannus Basilton Grimm-Pitch (Simon Snow Trilogy), Reynolds ^ Bartholomew Brimsley (Queen Charlotte), James (The Law of Interia), Ollie-Oliver (Only Mostly Devastated), Ronan Lynch (The Raven Cycle Series),  Nico di Angelo (Percy Jackson Series), Emil Rey (Infinity Cycle Series- Infinity Son+ Infinity Reaper as for now),

-lesbian: Arriane Alter (Fallen Series),  Ling Chang (The Diviners Series), Tamar Kir-Bataar (Grishaverse-ShadowAndBone), Nadia Zhabin (Grishaverse-ShadowAndBone), Darcy Olsson (Heartstopper), Tara Jones (Heartstopper), Charlotte Thompson (Those Who Wait),

2b. Non-Binary Representation

-Ben Benjamin De Backer (I Wish You All The Best)

-Wyatt Fowler (The Feeling Of Falling In Love)

-Gem Echols (Godly Heathens)

-Jude Ricci(Okay, Cupid)

+please go read “Gender Euphoria“ by Laura Kate Dale

3. TRANSGENDER PEOPLE REPRESENTATION

- Wyatt Croft (The Witch King)

- Felix Love (Felix Ever After)

- Neil Kearney (The Feeling Of Falling In Love)

- Noah Byrd (The Borrow A Boyfriend Club)

-Enzo Truly (Godly Heathens)

-Gem Echols (Godly Heathens)

-Yadriel (Cemetery Boys)

-Huy Trinh(Okay, Cupid)

+please go read “Gender Euphoria“ by Laura Kate Dale

4. ASTHMA REPRESENTATION

- Arthur Penhaligon (The Keys To The Kingdom Series)

4a. DISABLED CHARACTERS REPRESENTATION

Kaz Brekker & Jesper Fahey & Wylan Van Eck (Grishaverse-Six Of Crows), Genya Safin(Grishaverse-Shadow And Bone), Ling Chang (The Diviners Series), Harper Carlisle (The Devouring Gray,The Deck Of Omens), Griffin (History Is All You Left Me) (OCD),

4b. EPILEPSY in Literature(Thank you for the list The Cameron Boyce Foundation)

-100 Sideways Miles by Andrew Smith

-The Idiot by Dostoevsky

-The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

-Dings by Lance Fogan

-What the Wind Can Tell You by Sarah Marie A.Jette

-Mustaches for Maddie by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

-When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

-How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets by Garth Stein

-The Thing With Feathers by McCall Hoyle

- The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman

5. DIABETES REPRESENTATION

- Cassie Salazar (Purple Hearts)

6. ADHD REPRESENTATION

- Jesper Fahey (Six Of Crows, Grishaverse)

- Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series)

- Alex Claremont Diaz (Red, White & Royal Blue)

- Anne Shirley (Anne Of Green Gables Series)

7. DYSLEXIA/��DYSGRAPHIA REPRESENTATION

- Wylan Van Eck (Six Of Crows, Grishaverse)

- Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series)

8. BLACK PEOPLE AS THE LEAD REPRESENTATION

-The Hate U Give- Angie Thomas

-Pride- Ibi Zoboi

-Beau Dupont (If I See You Again Tomorrow)

-Jesper Fahey(Grishaverse-Six Of Crows)

-Memphis Campbell(The Diviners Series)

8b. LATINX MAIN CHARACTERS-REPRESENTATION

Jude & Taryn Duarte (The Folk Of The Air Series starting with The Cruel Prince),

Alex Claremont-Diaz  & June Claremont-Diaz (Red, White & Royal Blue),

Lila Reyes ( A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow ),

Infinity Son-Infinity Cycle Series, (many!)

This Is Why They Hate Us, 

The First to Die at the End,

Rufus Emeterio (They Both Die At The End), 

Cemetery Boys

9. THE PROTAGONIST WEARING GLASSES REPRESENTATION

- Emma Morley (One Day)

- Lewis Barnavelt (Lewis Barnavelt Series)

- Harry Potter (Harry Potter Series)

-Mateo Torrez (They Both Die At The End)

-Elle Argent (Heartstopper)

-Dev Deshpande (The Charm Offensive)

10. MUSLIM REPRESENTATION

-A Very Large Expanse Of Sea/AVLEOS-Tahereh Mafi

-An Emotion Of Great Delight/AEOGD-Tahereh Mafi

-All My Rage-Sabaa Tahir

-An Ember In The Ashes Series-Sabaa Tahir

-How It All Blew Up-Arvin Ahmadi

-Other Words for Home-Jasmine Warga

-My Heart and Other Black Holes-Jasmine Warga

11. NARCISSISTIC/ABUSIVE PARENT REPRESENTATION

-Aaron Warner (Shatter Me Series)

-Adam Kent (Shatter Me Series)

-Wylan Van Eck (Six Of Crows, Grishaverse)

-Ness Arroyo/Eduardo Iron (Infinity Cycle Series-Infinity Son + Infinity Reaper as for now)

-Evie O’Neill (The Diviners Series)

-Henry DuBois IV (The Diviners Series),

-Maxon Schreave (The Selection Series)

-Cardan Greenbriar (The Folk Of The Air Series)

-Sydney Sage (VA-Bloodlines)

-Adrian Ivashkov (Va-Bloodlines)

-Prince Kamran of Ardunia (This Woven Kingdom Series)

12. VEGAN REPRESENTATION

-Luce Price (Fallen Series)

-Emil Rey (Infinity Cycle Series- Infinity Son+ Infinity Reaper as for now)

-Bea (The Law of Inertia)

13. JEWISH PEOPLE REPRESENTATION

-Sam Lloyd/Sergei Lubovitch (The Diviners Series)

-Mabel Rose (The Diviners Series)

-Nora Holleran (Red, White & Royal Blue),

-Just One Day-Year-Night series by Gayle Forman

14. ASIAN PEOPLE REPRESENTATION

-Only a Monster by Vanessa Len

-James (The Law of Inertia)

15. LOSS/ GRIEF REPRESENTATION

-The Devouring Gray Duology-Christine Lynn Herman

-History Is All You Left Me + Infinity Cycle Series-Adam Silvera

-The Diviners Series-Libba Bray

-Grishaverse-Leigh Bardugo

-The Shadow Of The Wind- C R Zafón

-They Both Die At The End + The First To Die At The End-Adam Silvera

-This Woven Kingdom Series- Tahereh Mafi

-One Day-David Nicholls

16. WRITERS/AUTHORS REPRESENTATION

-Anne Shirley (Anne Of Green Gables Series)

-Daniel Sempere (The Shadow Of The Wind-The Cemetery Of Forgotten Books Series)

-Julian Carax (The Shadow Of The Wind)

-Emma Morley (One Day)

-David Martin (The Angel’s Game-The Cemetery Of Forgotten Books Series)

-Memphis Campbell (The Diviners Series)

-Orion Pagan (The First To Die At The End)

-Prince Henry- Henry George Edward James Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor of Wales(Red White&Royal Blue)

[alrpikachu29]

introduction

name: abby

gender: gender fluid(afab)

pronouns:she/her/he/him

sexualty:pansexual

aperance:dark dirty blonde hair, blue-gray eyes,glasses,earring, skinny, scar on my forhead.

favourite books:harry potter, heartstopper, percy jackson (pjo,hoo, mc,toa,tsats), five feet arpart, hunger games, the fault in our stars.

favorite movie:harry potter,fantastic beasts, five feet apart,the fault in our stars,enola homes(1 & 2),Troll hunters rise of the titan,crush, descendants(1,2&3), zombies(1,2&3), aliens in the attic.

tv show: the owl house,stranger things,wednesday,alexa & katie, xo kitty,sweet tooth,marvels runaways (discontinued), huntter street, amphibia, star vs the forces of evil, gravity falls, bunke'd, bizaardvark.

favorite colour: blue and yellow.

favorite animal:penguins and turtles.

favorite book character: will solace,nico di angelo, bianca di angelo, alex fierro, magnus chase,luna lovegood, ginny weasley, remus lupin,sirius black, hazel grace lancaster,nick nelson, charlie spring,tara jones, darcy olsson.

favorite moive character: remus lupin,luna lovegood, newt scamander, tina goldstien,stella grant,Poe Ramirez, hazel grace lancaster.

favorite tv series character: luz,amity,willow,skara(toh),hunter,max, nacy,steve,enid,xavier,alexa,katie,jack,kitty,alex,Quincy(Q),florian.

hobby: drawing,reading, writing novels.

[sercphic]

𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐀 𝐍𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐎 ; twenty-nine years old, residential real estate agent at river reality group. trigger warning(s): stalking, abuse, ptsd, adoption

『 CIERRA RAMIREZ, CISFEMALE, SHE/HER 』 wait a second! isn’t that ( CATERINA NAVARRO ) who just walked into jack’s bar? rumor around town is that the local is approaching their ( SIXTH ) year in virgin river. in the meantime, you can find the ( TWENTY-NINE ) year old working as a ( REAL ESTATE AGENT ) at ( RIVER REALITY GROUP  ). rumor around town is that ( SHE ) has a reputation for being a little ( BRUSQUE ), but they make up for it by being ( ALTRUISTIC ). 『 mar, 24, she/her 』

001. basics:

full name:  caterina navarro

nicknames:  cat, rina, c

gender:  cisfemale

pronouns:  she/her

sexuality:  biromantic/bisexual

age: twenty-nine

date of birth:  october 29th, 1994

zodiac sign:  scorpio

occupation:  real estate agent for residential but historically started her career in commercial; she has a passion for residential so she can help people find their forever home.

002. appearance:

faceclaim:  cierra ramirez

height:  5'1"

eyes: brown; honey brown when she's super excited and/or in love.

hair:  raven/dark brown

piercings:  ear, belly button

tattoos:  (2) a rose that says "la vie en rose" above her elbow on her left arm & a small lil heart on her left shoulder.

003. personality:

traits:  competitive, protective, zealous, evasive, capricious, loyal & altruistic.

likes:  balsam & cedarwood candles, journaling, and doodling in between clients, mexican football (soccer), speaking spanglish, manicures, morning jogs, virgin river trails, iced caramel macchiatos, the sun creeping in through foggy morning, heels against hardwood floors. guilty pleasures are lifetime movies.

dislikes: sleeping with curtains open, people who nitpick, hangovers, her bmw getting stuck in the icy dirt roads during winter, sore losers, nosey people, and knitting.

phobias: spiders, heights, the ocean & storms.

004. family:

mother:  veronica hernandez-navarro (deceased)

father:  giovanni navarro (living)

siblings: none !

spouse / lover:  none !

children:  none !

pets:  a 1 year old golden retriever named "sunny".

005. faves:

ice cream flavour:  cookie dough

time of the day / night:  twilight

weather:  sunny

season: spring

breakfast food:  crepes

dinner food:  spinach ravioli

colours:  yellow, red, melon, pink

song:  'wings' by birdy

006. biography: tw: stalking, abuse, ptsd, adoption

born and raised in santa barbara, california, caterina navarro was raised by two hard-working middle class parents. giovanni was the main breadwinner with his sole proprietor business of buying abandoned homes with little to no value and flipping/selling them. her mom was a maid who cleaned offices and residential homes in the neighborhood.

caterina began working at the age of twelve, working with both her parents and learning how demanding both of their jobs were. she is proud of her career in real estate which is a reflection of both her parents' humble professions. veronica hernandez (mom) was a very strict, woman of few words and caterina craved her attention and validation. meanwhile, giovanni navarro (dad) adored his little girl and could never see any wrong in anything she did. she also adored him just as much.

giovanni and veronica split when caterina was fourteen as giovanni had an affair and it ruined the already crumbling marriage. this destroyed caterina's world and everything she thought love consisted of. she began hanging with a group of friends who peer pressured her and as a result, she did foolish things for attention. she met her first boyfriend who took advantage of her desire to be seen and validated and things were good for awhile, but as soon as he couldn't control her, things took a turn for the worst. caterina desired freedom and wanted to go out with friends, enjoy her youth, and all the typical things you'd want to enjoy being in your early twenties.

their fights became more frequent and so did his nasty verbiage, which was almost always degrading in some manner. one day she grew tired and reached for her stuff in an attempt to leave their apartment, but he grabbed her and threw her against a wall. he ended up choking her and left marks behind. caterina withdrew herself completely from friends and family until she reached a point of no return, unable to take the abuse anymore, she moved back in with her parents, escaping while her boyfriend was at work. soon after her mom passed and it was just her dad and herself alone in the childhood home.

her ex boyfriend's efforts to get her back were detected by all of those around her, but law enforcement wasn't able to actually nail him. after dodging him and his attempts to reconcile, he became more and more desperate. he went as far as breaking into her home and threatening her father's life. this terrified caterina and they made arrangements to move in with cousins in oregon. after moving, she found herself pregnant with his child, but she couldn't imagine the idea of being on the run with a baby. since caterina got in the habit of moving often to protect herself, she carried the child, but agreed to a no-contact adoption believing this would keep the child protected no matter what. presently, virgin river is the longest place she's lived since growing up in santa barbara. she lives in constant fear for the day her ex might return. she typically has a hard time letting people in because of this.

007. possible connections ( fill in ):

cousin:  open

best friend / ride or die:  open

rival: open

crushing on:  open

fwb / drunk hook up: open

nemesis:  open

coworkers: open

previous client(s):  open

[hellomynameisbisexual]

In the coming-of-age series with a refreshing, queer-forward plot, Connor plays a British high school rugby Nick Nelson, alongside classmate Charlie Spring, played by Joe Locke, who falls in love with him. Over the course of the eight-episode series, adapted from the graphic novel of the same name by Alice Oseman, Nick starts to question his own sexuality amid his growing feelings for Charlie.

The show was so well received when it launched this year that it’s already been renewed for two more seasons. It is one of the first to center LGBTQ characters — both Nick and Charlie, as well as others in the main cast — geared towards a teen and young adult audience. Unlike shows like “Sex Education” and “Euphoria,” which, while also wonderfully sexually and gender diverse, are more explicit.

Calls for Connor to address his own orientation started this spring with taunting on Twitter, which he addressed in a tweet, saying, “twitter is so funny man. apparently some people on here know my sexuality better than I do…” Still though, that pressure did not abate, and Connor became a target of what social media mobs dubbed “queerbaiting,” with claims the show was attempting to reel people in with broader LGBTQ-inclusive themes without being deliberate in revealing his character’s identity — and perhaps that Connor was doing the same.

The truth about Nelson’s character, as well as Connor’s real-life identity, may be much more nuanced. Nonetheless, Connor, who clearly felt backed into a corner, tweeted on Halloween to his 1 million followers that he was bisexual: “back for a minute. i’m bi,” he wrote. “congrats for forcing an 18 year old to out himself. i think some of you missed the point of the show. bye.”

There is a lot to unpack in this story, not least of which is that a young adult has been forced to share very publicly parts of his own identity that are very private — and may still be in flux.

Connor felt the pressure of a moralistic social media mob, a force quick to attack and slow to forgive, that demands you answer its questions immediately and with no room for nuance or context. It is not the way we ought to be operating as a culture.

Sometimes the Twitter mob forces real issues into the light and brings them to favorable outcomes more quickly. Other times, it just blows everything up and walks away, not caring what casualties it leaves in its wake.

Connor’s outing is the latest in a string of celebrities recently forced to out themselves, lest tabloid media exposes or “leaks” do so for them, and stands in contrast to the long history of Hollywood celebrities forced to remain in the closet or else risk their careers.

From closeted actor Rock Hudson in the 20th century to the openly trans actor Elliot Page today, performers have long had to live double lives and hide their true identities to remain on the A list – even to remain safe and alive. It took Ellen DeGeneres decades to rebuild her career after she came out on the cover of TIME magazine in 1997, at the same time as her character in the eponymous ABC sitcom.

It’s true that many LGBTQ characters in contemporary media have evolved — from murderers, murder victims, sex workers and one-dimensional characters who provide a punchline — into actual human beings, including those who aren’t just the sidekick but the leading roles.

They include Michaela Jay Rodriguez, Billy Porter, Dominique Jackson and Indya Moore on FX’s “Pose”; Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres on “Grey’s Anatomy” (and, yes, as Che Diaz on “Sex and the City” spinoff “And Just Like That”); the casts of this year’s movies “Fire Island” and “BROS”’ and Zendaya as Rue Bennett from HBO’s “Euphoria,” to name just a few. We’ve come a long way in a short time in terms of representation in media.

(HBO and HBO Max are both owned by CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.)

Now LGBTQ audiences are rightfully asking the hard questions about who gets to play LGBTQ characters. Does a cisgender person playing a transgender character amount to a White actor in blackface, or playing a role of a BIPOC person, or is there a different litmus test? Does acting mean playing a character distinct from the actor’s personal identity, or are there rules we have yet to adequately draw and maintain?

Cisgender actors like Eddie Redmayne, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role playing a transgender woman in “The Danish Girl,” later said he regrets stepping into the role and that it should have been reserved for a transgender woman. But other casting choices, like Cate Blanchett or Mara Rooney playing lesbians in the stunning 2015 movie, “Carol,” feel more forgivable. Perhaps casting someone to play a character they do not identify as in their personal life is more palatable if they were cast by a director, producer or writer who does inhabit that identity authentically.

Who gets to create queer art and media — and what qualifies as accurate representation? Would a television series or movie get attention if a star-studded cishet cast was replaced for the sake of aligning representation? What if the show’s writers or directors are queer, but the actors aren’t?

While it’s progress that openly queer actors are being cast in leading roles, weaponizing criticisms of queerbaiting and appropriation as an excuse to force a teen or any actor out of the closet is not the answer. Those conversations have reached a fever pitch, and the result is hurting people who should be allowed to make their own decisions when and how to come out, if at all.

For thousands of years, humans have felt the need to categorize things in the world in order to make sense of them. Younger people are disrupting that rigid framework with more fluid gender identities and romantic expressions. That makes some people uncomfortable (read: the current culture wars targeting trans kids, LGBTQ rights, literature and school policies, among other things). But many of those disrupters are also demanding people like Connor now put themselves a box with a label slapped on the front — and share it with the world in short order.

Coming out is not a one-time act, or something that remains fixed, and why should it be? Identities are malleable, and many young people are still on the journey to find themselves. What we shouldn’t do is publicly shame someone into disclosing a part of themselves they may not be ready to or want to share.

With LGBTQ rights under heightened threat across the US and around the world, coming out involves a whole different assessment of risk and repercussions. There is only person who should drive that decision, and no, it’s not a Twitter troll.

Note: There are plenty of resources available for those who want to learn more about how to best support those who are coming out as LGBTQ, and for people who are exploring the queer corners of their own sense of self.

[nerd-at-sea5]

happy asexual week to georgia warr, darcy olsson, kj brandman, erin tieng, thalia grace, reyna ramirez arellano, sam fraser, josh johnson, stiles stilinski, annabeth chase, nico di angelo, maddox, ricky bowen, max mayfield, nancy wheeler, will byers, dustin henderson, ziggy berman, tori spring, marcy wu, amity blight, and ca$h piggot!

3 canon, 1 heavily implied, 18 headcanon