#she's introverted but not particularly socially awkward

[strangerwheelerthings]

Just saw an ask about Nancy’s lack of social behaviors that inspired some thoughts. I didn't want to intrude on them with my disagreements. They make a couple of reasonable points, but I believe they're missing some aspects of Nancy’s personality to interpret them. Obviously, some of this comes down to personal interpretation, but this is my understanding of Nancy Wheeler.

Addressing their points: Canonically, Nancy isn't a social person. She didn't reach out to Robin at all in the year after Starcourt Mall. The only people we see her regularly hanging out with, after Barb's death, is whoever her current boyfriend is. These are all facts. I personally feel her questioning Robin's presence in season 3 was less a 'I have absolutely zero idea who you are' reaction, and more of a 'why the heck is this new person helping us fight a monster and making comments, since when?' type reaction. This is up for interpretation though, so I won't argue that point.

However, Nancy’s lack of social life is not an indicator of a lack of desire for friendship. Nancy struggles with opening up to people. She finds emotional vulnerability and genuine connection both difficult and terrifying. We see this aversion present itself in her relationship with Mike, as well as signs of it presenting in her dysfunctional family. 

Barb was her only real friend in the beginning of the show. We see her change herself, to try to conform to Steve's group, but even then she is very distant from everyone but Steve and Barb. She relied on previous bonds in a social situation, and made no attempts to create new ones. Granted, Tommy and Carol weren’t people she cared to be friends with. However, this seems to be a pattern of behavior, as indicated by her social situations throughout the show. Another example is the party in season two, when she got drunk and only actually talked to Steve.

Nancy stays inside a social comfort zone. She is not outgoing without a purpose. She’s good at listening, but she doesn’t talk to people without an external reason, such as a story. What some people may forget, is that once Nancy is comfortable with someone, many of those barriers go away. She actually stays quite close to people she likes and feels comfortable with, especially in a distressing situation. She made Barb come to the party for this exact reason. 

The Upside Down dangers created the perfect situations to create deep bonds with Steve and Jonathan. They were forced into situations that lowered guards and allowed them to be genuine with each other. There’s a reason she ended up dating both of them, and essentially relying on them for connection over the years. It wasn’t just trauma bonding, but also that barrier free connection. 

Jonathan was the one to distance himself from Nancy in between season one and two. We see Nancy still reaching out at the beginning of season two. He had been placed in the comfortable zone, and as such, she was quite social with him, despite not dating yet. She ends up distanced from Steve because ex status took him out of that zone, alongside lack of communication in their relationship and the inability to be emotionally vulnerable with him. 

Then we go into post-season three territory. Nancy and Robin don’t talk after Starcourt. Why would they? The two saw each other in a dangerous situation, but they never actually connected. There was no bond, and I highly doubt that Robin took the initiative to attempt to develop one afterwards. Steve started dating Nancy because he put persistent effort into showing his interest. She’s not exactly the type to reach out first. Once within the trust and comfort zone, then yeah, she will initiate contact with a person, but she struggles before then. 

As for people outside of the Hawkins Gang, alongside her natural social aversion, there’s also the barrier of being unable to be completely honest with them. This is a major thing for Nancy, who likely values genuine friendships, and has little respect for superficial ones. This, alongside the trauma surrounding Barb, hinders her quite a lot.

After Jonathan moves away, Nancy is left relatively alone. She has working relationships with people in the newspaper, but not much beyond that. Perhaps there was the possibility of a friendship developing over time with Fred, but that was cut short. Even then, once again, the person she’s closest to got there because they were placed in a situation where she had an external reason to initiate contact.

Does that mean she doesn’t really care to make any more friends aside from Jonathan? Turn now to the famous line: "Does that make us friends? As in, officially?"  

Look at that smile, and try to tell me that she isn't ecstatic to have Robin confirm their new relationship.

This girl desperately wants a friend. She just doesn’t know how to make one. Looking just at that scene, Nancy is visibly nervous. She doesn’t say anything until Robin drops the friend-word, and then she feels the need to confirm it with her. She wanted it so badly, and was so relieved when Robin revealed that she felt the same way. This wasn’t a little thing to her.

How do they even get to that point in season four? First, Robin puts herself in Nancy’s orbit, despite Nancy’s discomfort. People have a tendency to discount her ideas and not listen to her. She was an unknown variable in a stressful situation. However, the situation allowed them to really talk and the start of a connection was created. Robin had listened to her, and had validated her theory. 

Nancy was starting to like her.

What did she do next? Take advantage of the situation they were in, to sneakily attempt to grow closer. It wasn’t just the fact that Robin was competent and Nancy respected her after the library, but because she wanted to spend time with her. There were plenty of options within the group of competent people, yet Nancy repeatedly singled Robin out. Nancy was trying to become friends.

I say take advantage of it though, because it is a lot less stressful to initiate conversations with someone if you have an excuse. ('They were in a dangerous situation, it wasn't about wanting to be her friend, whaaatt.' Lies.) Suddenly a lot of the normal social pressure and anxiety around initiating contact is decreased. And look at what Nancy does in that scenario, she immediately reaches out. 

Give her a reason, or a purpose, and she can go up and talk to anyone about anything. Take that away, and she gets too stressed or anxious to be the first. 

Anyway, to sum up, Nancy sticks to people she’s comfortable with. Robin, and maybe Steve depending on how the romance is handled, have managed to maneuver themselves into her comfort zone by the end of season four. She has confirmed friendship with Robin, and as previously established, once Nancy likes you, she is social. She will reach out to you, and spend time with you. 

Outside of danger, she likely takes a while to trust people, so anyone who wants to join in the hangouts would need to be willing to put in some effort and be patient with her, but it isn't impossible. She wouldn’t avoid them, just stick close to comfort people.

She's not completely anti-social. Nancy is an introvert who struggles to trust, but once you have that trust, she is a reliable friend.

[supermarine-silvally]

🌹

🌹 How easy is it for them to connect with others and make friends? On the flip side how easy is it for them to make an enemy of someone? Are they the kind of person who hangs around the food table at a party and never talks to anyone or are they the type who can talk to anyone?

Jumbo OC Ask Game

Not very easy for either case lol Yara mostly keeps her head down and doesn't interact with others beyond what she needs to. She's Mihawk's daughter, and it shows. She likes the idea of having friends and in an ideal world it would be easy for her, but she's just... awkward in social settings and doesn't know how to go about making conversation. And the resting bitch face/Dracule Death Glare doesn't help her case in the slightest lmao

At parties, she'd definitely be hanging around food tables or interacting with the host's pet, but Ace usually ropes her into being more social. She wishes she had even a fraction of his charm, but he always makes sure she ends up getting included in the conversation.

[anghraine]

I've been moving and navigating further departmental nonsense etc (my pseudo-dissertation got approved for defending, though! l o l). But it was interesting to see the Worst P&P Takes poll I reblogged accumulating more results and the general tenor of responses in the notes.

I mean, the results are definitely to be expected if you're familiar with the side of Austen fandom doing a lot of the reblogging etc. But still, interesting!

Many Tumblr polls specify that they're asking about personal preferences that may be irrational—favorite/least favorite, coolest/most annoying, or something like that. This one, though, asked for the worst interpretation of P&P, not the most annoying one—and the current leader is "Darcy is never really proud, he's just shy and probably has anxiety" against some very steep competition on the Bad Takes front.

I was thinking about why that seemed a kind of tediously predictable choice even though I agree that the take is wrong, and realized that while I do disagree with the shy Darcy interpretation and I particularly disagree with the specific formulation where he is never proud at all, it ultimately feels to me like a failure of nuance rather than just completely wrongheaded like some of the others. And this is probably my fundamental difference with a lot of Darcy takes I see!

In my opinion, a character who is introverted and who feels awkward in various social situations and who doesn't like common social activities and who has to work himself up to talking to his crush and who is repeatedly suggested to behave very differently in contexts where he's more comfortable being interpreted as shy and anxious is not that big of a leap.

Yes, it's important that he is actually fundamentally confident and haughty, that he makes his personal feelings of discomfort other people's problem, and that he thinks he's such a unique and special butterfly that he doesn't need to even put in an effort outside his personal social circle. But it's a misreading that is easy to follow (and long predates the 2005 P&P, as I've mentioned before!).

The additional misreading that a shy and anxious Darcy is also never proud at all is a much more drastic leap, and in my experience, condemnations of shy Darcy interpretations rarely differentiate between "Darcy is shy as well as arrogant" and "Darcy is shy rather than arrogant" as interpretations (although their basic arguments are quite different). But even that as the worst possible misreading of P&P when Darcy is not even the main character is ?????????

I mean, for one alternative (not even the one I voted for!), the idea that Elizabeth is an author avatar Mary Sue seems a far worse misreading of P&P than basically anything to do with Darcy at all. The center piece of the entire novel is Elizabeth's epiphany of self-knowledge about her own shortcomings that do not particularly resemble Austen's at all, but were ethically a concern for her, and she's a complex, interesting character in general whom Austen correctly regarded as a major achievement. Inverting that into Elizabeth as an improbably perfect, reality-warping self-insert is deeply wrong and frankly pretty misogynistic as well.

(ngl though, it's a little funny to see such a blatantly terrible reading of Elizabeth rank so far behind the shy Darcy votes. I've gotten "does anyone actually think/say that?" so many times on my posts about Austen fandom's prioritization of Darcy's character development over Elizabeth's and yet...)

And even just going with the Darcy-centric misreadings, the idea of Darcy as a "bad boy" seems easily the most absolutely wrong take on him. His pride is at least complicated and the finer points can be fairly debated and it's a quality that actually changes somewhat throughout the novel, and you can have discussion over what happened when, whose testimonies should be weighted more, etc. But there is no point at which "bad boy" isn't utterly wrong for him. However, there's definitely a tendency in some wings of the fandom to find the idea of Darcy being misread too favorably more objectionable than him being read too unfavorably, regardless of the particulars, so it's not a surprise.

I suppose you could argue about what "worst" means in the context of variously bad interpretations. Like, is an interpretation that is about a fairly trivial aspect of the book but extremely wrong about it "worse" than an interpretation that is pretty bad but at least comprehensibly so about something very important?

[hamliet]

Hi! Which MBTI type are the hazbin hotel characters in your opinion? And what abt helluva boss? If you have watched it?

Hi! This is a fun ask.

Charlie - ENFP, the Campaigner

I can see an argument for ENFJ (the Protagonist), but I think she's an ENFP. Her chaotic energy is pretty clearly ENFP, and she's got great ideas but needs people who are more logical to help her enact her plans.

Vaggie - ISTJ, the Logistician

I initially thought she was an INTJ, the Architect, buuut I think she's more focused on the here and now than the future, particularly when it comes to how she handles her past and telling Charlie vs not telling her.

Lucifer INTP, the Logician

I could see an argument for an ENTP (the Debater), but his behavior honestly seems more introverted to me... as we've seen him thus far. This could change. It's hard to know because ENTPs do tend to be more introverted than other E types. Either way, the social awkwardness yet way of captivating people through sheer charisma? So him.

Angel ESFP, the Entertainer

Fitting for our p**n star. Lol. Angel is very much feelings-motivated. PersonalityDatabase lists him as an ESTP (Entrepreneur) but I would say they're just wrong lol. He makes decisions about how they impact people, not any innate principle. Even in his redemption, he's more interested in how it affects Charlie than in the practical ideas of right and wrong. He's a people pleaser as much as he likes pushing buttons (see how he handles Val), and he can push buttons precisely because he's very sensitive to others' emotions.

Husk - ISTP, the Virtuoso

The ISTP of ISTPs. He is very obvious.

Alastor - ENTP, the Debater

I mean, I think he's easier to type than Lucifer as a clear ENTP.

Adam ESTP, the Entrepreneur

Yeah. What's hilarious is that ESTPs aren't good at listening to rules... yet Adam proclaims to embody the rules of heaven. But as we know, he does not.

Helluva Boss, which I have watched:

Stolas INFP, the Mediator

He could be an ENFP, but the way he handles his relationship with his wife seems like classic INFP to me.

Blitzo ENTP, the Entrepreneur

Very fitting for someone who runs a business lol.

Fizzerolli ENFP, the Campaigner

Asmodeus ENFJ, the Protagonist

Octavia ISFP, the Adventurer

Loona ISTP, the Virtuoso

[zombiecicada]

Star-Crossed Hero of Dreamland: Wolfbell!

@kirbyoctournament

=General Information=

Name: She doesn’t remember her name before coming to Popstar, if.. she even had one at all. But the villagers of Cappytown are calling her Wolfbell, so she’s happy to stick with that for the time being.

Gender/Pronouns: Hermaphrodite, she/her

Species: Unclear, she herself is uncertain. While she does appear to resemble a puffball, several of her biological features do not aline with typical puffball anatomy.

Age: She appears to be a preteen. But just like all the other information about herself, she’s really unsure.

Abilities:

-flight (still a bit shaky at this, cannot fly for long periods of time without rest)

-control over soul magic, she can use her sword to focus blasts and streaks of red coloured soul magic. Her abilities allow her to sense other people with souls nearby her.

-appears to have some kind of empath ability, she is incredibly sensitive to the emotions of those around her.

-can phase through objects like a ghost, she has a hard time activating this ability on command.

-her bells on her ears will ring to warn her of oncoming danger, and when she is near someone she can judge them with the bells to see if they are safe or not. Morally good people will make the right bell ring, while people she should probably avoid will make the left one jingle.

-she is proving to be quite good at swordsmanship!

-her blue blood contains natural antifreeze proteins, allowing her greater resilience to colder temperatures.

-interestingly enough she can hold her breath for well over an hour before having to breath again.

-just might possibly be haunted???

Weaknesses:

-Has poor endurance for using her soul magic, constantly using it will rapidly drain her energy and make her collapse.

-Had complete retrograde amnesia, cannot remember where she came from, or truly who she is. She’s unsure what caused the amnesia.

-She is quite self critical, especially when it comes to failure. She is scared of letting others down, especially Meta Knight. She’s also quite socially anxious in general.

Likes:

-Long nature walks, gets her away from the loudness of society and everyone’s emotions… and judgement.

-Rock climbing.

-Training with Sword and Blade, training with her sword in general, she’ll practice her foot work even if she’s alone.

-Star gazing and the moon.

-Tea.

-Books and reading.

Dislikes:

-Loud noises, her ears are sensitive.

-Large crowds of people. Too many emotions.

-Eating veggies.

-Getting really muddy.

-The cappies’ judgement towards her for being different.

=Personality=

Wolfbell is a young warrior in training who tends to think to herself instead of speak out loud, she is a little awkward and tends to take a little a while getting a hang of new surroundings or changes. Around people she is quite introverted, but will force herself to try and be friendly even at her own discomfort, often leading to spastic moments of saying things that somehow sound actually coherent.

She has natural talent with swordsmanship, though like the modest person she is she often undermines her skills as nothing particularly special and has a hard time accepting praise.

She’s clever, intuitive, and alert, with a great love for the beauty of life and nature. She will try to be helpful always, and will valiantly and bravely rush to defend someone if she notices they are in danger or need help. She’s non confrontational in social settings, shying away or simply taking any kind of harmful gossip about her. Truth be told she’s very confused, and feels lost, she wants to know her origins as badly as she wants to fulfil this destiny of hers. Wolfbell is self-critical as is, and thinks lowly of herself.

=Backstory=

Wolfbell’s story begins with the planet Popstar, which has begun to suffer from demonbeast problems. While a Star Warrior named Meta Knight lives on the planet and tries his best to defend it, there's only so much he can do. The townspeople began to see the demonbeasts everywhere as King Dedede ordered more and more of them to fulfil his tyrannical agenda. Eventually after several episodes of sheep going missing and numerous cappies seeing an octopus demonbeast, they go to Kabu and ask for an answer to their problems. The pebble of knowledge in the cosmic river of history says that the solution to their problem lies within Wolfbell. 

Confused by what this means, they ponder on what Wolfbell could possibly be when barely a full day later a stranger shows up from out of the blue, a young puff-like being who has the features of a wolf, and on either ear a small bell. Meta Knight sees immediately that she is not a Star Warrior, but with no other options he begins to train this stranger to unlock what he can only assume to be the power within her necessary to defeat the monsters and eventually Nightmare. With no name or memory of her past, she opts to just go by what the locals have been calling her: Wolfbell.

She manages to defeat the octopus demonbeast (albeit with a lot of running and lots of internal screaming) and is seen as the hero of Cappytown. This goes on for a while, she meets the residents of the town and castle, albeit the odd one out and the scapegoat when things go wrong for the cappies, with each new demonbeast she defeats she gets a little bit stronger.

However, little did she and everyone else know, defeating NME and stopping Nightmare was never her destiny.

-

Want to ask her a question or interact with her?

The arrival???

[special-interest-infodump]

Since Netflix has cancelled Shadow & Bone (yes I am indeed salty about it), have some modern Genyalina headcanons, including a few with chronic pain Genaya. Also, this is quite long so apologies 😅

Modern Genyalina Headcanons

They meet in university, probably as roommates.

They're a little awkward at first, both of them are shy of each other and neither's had a lot of friends before, so for the first month or two? They tend to avoid each other (one leaves if they're gonna be alone in the room)

Zoya is very protective of Genya and doesn't particularly trust Alina not to upset her. Mal is very much the same way with Alina and not trusting Genya

The way they eventually end up befriending each other is that Genya offers to make Alina a cup of tea while Alina is stressing about an upcoming test

Alina takes a break and they end up talking for a while about various things: Alina's time in foster care, Genya's friendship with Zoya, their classes, anything really. Genya is a languages student, while Alina studies child psychology.

Genya talks about her chronic pain, undiagnosed despite her best efforts, which upsets Alina. She noticed that Genya walks with a cane, but she'd always avoided asking about it.

And thus begins, not an unlikely friendship, but an unexpected one. Both of them are introverts, so they'd fully expected college to just be studying and occasional hang outs with friends they already had. But after they start being friends, the two of them spend a lot of time in cafés or in the library together

Alina walks Genya to morning classes, since her pain is always worst in the morning. This greatly endears her to Zoya

By the end of their first year, Alina and Genya are incredibly close, and even manage to make a few friends together. Going into second year, they move in together with Zoya and her boyfriend, Nikolai. The two of them make it their personal mission to get Genyalina together by the end of the year.

It takes 3 months before they finally manage to trick the girls into going on a date. Two previous attempts were also made (one involved sending them to movie together, and the other involved sending them to the beach) but both times, Alina and Genya thought it was totally platonic. The set up that finally works is setting up fairy lights and a picnic in their garden and then make themselves scarse for the night. Alina and Genya end up blushing and flustered but they have a very nice date.

They are such a snuggly couple, it's not even funny. They were already snuggly, even before they got together, but after they start dating? Genya is basically always curled against Alina's side, if Alina isn't already laying with her head in Genya's lap

Their favourite dates are just staying in and snuggling while watching movies, or reading to each other. Alina usually falls asleep during said movies, but Genya doesn't mind because Alina looks adorable.

Alina gives Genya massages whenever her pain is particularly bad. She also goes with Genya to doctor's appointments to argue with the dr on her girlfriend's behalf (they've treated Genya so bad when it comes to her pain for so long, that Genya gave up fighting a long time ago)

They graduate together, Alina becoming either a child psychologist or a social worker, and Genya ends up working as either a translator or some form of writer. They continue living with Zoya and Nikolai for a few years agter graduation, until they save enough to move in together (they still stay close to their friends though)

Genya is the one to propose about 4 yeats after graduation and Alina obviously says yes. The ring is platinum with both diamonds and rubies.

[yanderethings1]

headcannons and backstory for nova!

sorry it took so long ive been busy with school work!

Appearance and Personality:

She's very petite, with a delicate frame that makes her seem almost ethereal.

Her big, bright eyes often give her an innocent, doe-like appearance, masking her obsessive tendencies.

She has a soft voice that carries an almost hypnotic sweetness, making it hard for anyone to suspect her darker side.

Obsession and Devotion:

She sees her darling as the epitome of perfection, almost god-like in her eyes.

Every little thing her darling does is a miracle to her, and she keeps a diary where she documents their daily activities in meticulous detail.

She often whispers prayers to her darling when she’s alone, treating them with a reverence reserved for deities.

Horror Movie Enthusiast:

She has an extensive collection of horror movies and loves watching them, often imagining herself and her darling as characters in the film.

Despite the blood and gore, she finds comfort in the predictable patterns of horror plots, relishing the moments of suspense and climax.

Knives and Playfulness:

She has a fascination with knives, collecting them like some might collect stamps or figurines.

She enjoys the way light reflects off the blade and often daydreams while twirling one in her hand.

Though she would never harm her darling, she sometimes fantasizes about protecting them from potential threats with her knives.

Surveillance and Control:

She has set up cameras in her darling’s home, not to invade their privacy, but to ensure their safety and well-being at all times.

Watching her darling through the cameras brings her a sense of calm and contentment, knowing she’s always close, even when they’re apart.

She often whispers loving words to the screens, feeling connected to her darling despite the physical distance.

Affection and Interaction:

She leaves little gifts and notes for her darling, always anonymous but filled with genuine love and adoration.

In person, she’s shy and a bit awkward, blushing whenever her darling looks her way or speaks to her.

She’s always willing to help with anything her darling needs, from mundane tasks to more personal matters, always with a sweet smile and a slightly too-intense gaze.

Boundaries and Protection:

She’s extremely protective, going out of her way to eliminate any perceived threats to her darling’s happiness and safety.

If anyone tries to get too close to her darling, she’ll find subtle ways to deter them, all while maintaining her innocent facade.

Her ultimate goal is to become indispensable to her darling, making sure they come to rely on her completely.

Inner World:

Her thoughts are filled with elaborate fantasies about a perfect future together, where her darling finally acknowledges her devotion.

She often daydreams about domestic bliss, where she and her darling live in a secluded house, free from the world’s distractions.

In her mind, every act of devotion, no matter how small, brings her one step closer to this ideal future.

Backstory

Early Life and Isolation:

Childhood:

She grew up in a small, quiet town, living with her single mother who worked long hours to make ends meet.

From a young age, she was extremely shy and introverted, preferring the company of her books and toys over other children.

Her mother, though loving, was often too busy to give her the attention and emotional support she craved.

School Years:

In elementary school, her quiet nature made her an easy target for bullies. They teased her for her petite frame, her old-fashioned clothes, and her strange hobbies.

She often found solace in the school library, where she could escape into the world of books, particularly horror novels which offered a cathartic escape from her daily torment.

Middle School:

The bullying intensified as she grew older. Classmates would mock her relentlessly, spreading rumors and isolating her further.

She began to withdraw even more, avoiding social interactions and spending her free time at home watching horror movies, which became a comforting ritual.

Her fascination with horror movies started here, as she identified with the outcast or misunderstood characters and admired their strength in the face of fear.

Turning Point:

High School:

By the time she reached high school, she had become almost invisible to her peers. The bullying had lessened, but only because she was completely ignored.

During these years, her loneliness grew, and she developed a deep yearning for connection and affection.

One day, a kind classmate showed her a small act of kindness—something as simple as helping her pick up dropped books or sharing notes. This act, though minor, left a profound impact on her.

She began to obsess over this classmate, seeing them as a beacon of hope and kindness in her dark, lonely world.

Obsession and Devotion:

The Seed of Obsession:

The small act of kindness planted the seed of obsession. She began to follow the classmate discreetly, learning everything she could about them.

She meticulously recorded their habits, likes, and dislikes in a diary, and she felt an overwhelming desire to be close to them, to be their perfect companion.

The Evolution of Her Obsession:

As time went on, her obsession grew. She set up hidden cameras in their usual hangouts, watched them through her screens at home, and left anonymous gifts and notes.

She began to collect knives, drawn to their sharp beauty and the control they symbolized. They became her talismans, objects she could focus on while thinking of her darling.

Despite her intense feelings, she never wanted to harm her darling. Instead, she fantasized about protecting them, even if it meant using her knives against anyone who might hurt them.

Present Day:

Her Daily Life:

Now, she balances her daily life with her obsession. She maintains a facade of normalcy, but her thoughts are always centered around her darling.

She continues to watch horror movies, often imagining herself and her darling as the protagonists who face challenges together and emerge victorious.

Every act of devotion, every moment spent watching over her darling, reinforces her belief that she is their guardian angel, destined to be by their side forever.

Interactions with Her Darling:

When interacting with her darling, she’s shy and awkward, but her eyes shine with an intense, almost unnerving adoration.

She does everything she can to make their life easier, hoping that one day they’ll notice her unwavering devotion and see her as indispensable.

Future Aspirations:

Her ultimate dream is to create a perfect world for just the two of them, away from anyone who might come between them.

She dreams of a secluded house, filled with all their favorite things, where they can live in blissful harmony, safe from the world’s cruelty.

Becoming Friends

Initial Friendship:

Breaking the Ice:

She nervously but determinedly makes an effort to befriend her darling, finding subtle ways to be around them and offer help.

Her initial interactions are shy and tentative, filled with blushing and stammering, but her genuine kindness slowly wins her darling over.

They start spending time together, maybe sharing lunch or studying together, and she savors every moment.

Growing Closer:

Deepening Bond:

As they become friends, she begins to open up more, sharing her love for horror movies and other interests.

She is always there for her darling, providing a listening ear and offering support in any way she can.

Her darling starts to appreciate her reliability and kindness, often confiding in her and seeking her out for company.

Becoming Close Friends

Stronger Connection:

Trust and Support:

They spend more time together, both inside and outside of school or work, with her darling growing to trust her deeply.

She is always prepared to comfort them during difficult times, offering a shoulder to cry on and words of encouragement.

She subtly ensures that no one else gets too close to her darling, carefully manipulating situations to keep their bond exclusive.

Secret Devotion:

Increased Surveillance:

Her hidden cameras remain in place, allowing her to watch over her darling at all times, ensuring their safety and well-being.

She continues to leave anonymous gifts and notes, still too shy to reveal her true feelings, but hoping her darling will see her as indispensable.

Becoming Lovers

Confession and Relationship:

Confession:

She finally gathers the courage to confess her feelings, perhaps during a particularly emotional moment or after a scary movie night.

Her confession is heartfelt and filled with sincerity, revealing the depth of her adoration.

Her darling, moved by her honesty and the realization of how much she cares, accepts her feelings, and they begin dating.

Intense Love:

Deepening Obsession:

As their romantic relationship blossoms, her obsession intensifies. She wants to know every detail of her darling's life and be involved in every aspect.

She is incredibly affectionate, always finding ways to show her love, from cooking their favorite meals to planning special dates.

Her protective nature becomes more evident, as she becomes wary of anyone who might come between them, always on high alert for potential threats.

Becoming a Wife

Engagement and Marriage:

Proposal:

When the time comes for a proposal, she goes all out, planning a romantic and elaborate event that reflects their shared interests and memories.

Her darling, now accustomed to her intense but loving nature, is touched by the effort and says yes.

Married Life:

Complete Devotion:

As a wife, she is utterly devoted to her darling, treating them like royalty and ensuring their every need is met.

She creates a loving, comfortable home where they can share their lives in peace and happiness.

Her surveillance and protective measures continue, but now she feels more secure knowing they are bound together by marriage.

Perfect World:

Creating Their Own World:

She dreams of a future where they live in a secluded house, filled with their favorite things and free from the outside world’s intrusions.

She continues to watch horror movies with her darling, enjoying the thrill and the opportunity to hold them close during scary scenes.

Their life together is a mix of intense love, unwavering devotion, and a carefully controlled environment where she feels safe and content.

Balancing Obsession and Love:

Managing Obsession:

While her obsessive tendencies remain, she learns to balance them with genuine, healthy expressions of love and care.

Her darling becomes aware of her need for control and protection but understands it as a part of who she is, accepting it as long as it doesn’t become too overwhelming.

[professor-walnut]

Nemona is by far my favourite rival character in any game; she is also absolutely neurodivergent - hear me out on this.

I love seeing characters in media who are subtly autistic or adhd coded, and pokemon has a lot of them. But pretty frequently when writers create nd characters, they end up falling into a trope of genius/shy/nerdy/introverted/emotionless. And there is nothing wrong with that! I love all of these characters, and they do bring representation to a lot of people.

Nemona, right from the start of the game is absolutely the opposite of that type of character, however. She's loud, she's extroverted and excitable and in your face right from the start. She doesn't fit that cliche box, but she slowly shows more and more through her dialogue and actions through the storyline and postdated that she has her own struggles.

Her 'battle obsession' is a special interest, she will turn every topic into a conversation about pokemon battles, even when it's not appropriate to do so. She gets so wrapped up and excited about it that other characters frequently have to remind her that you, the player, aren't in fact a champion trainer, and you and your pokemon need to rest and might not want to battle over and over or go up against overpowered mons. She hyperfocuses on you as the character, sensing someone with even just a DROP of interest in the thing she is obsessed with and clings to you from then on, deciding with or without your agreement that you have to be best friends bevause of it. She physically bounces on the spot getting so excited whenever her special interest is mentioned, towards the end there's multiple times she will jog on the spot or shake her fists excitedly unable to even find the right words. (And let me tell you man, if that's not the most accurate portrayal of my own experiences vibing with a special interest. Sometimes it's like you have so much excitement your body can't even contain it and you must MOVE).

She misses social cues - which is particularly shown when you're in area zero as a group. The rest of the characters will be discussing heartfelt topics, Arven is going through some shit and everyone is worrying about Koridon/Miridon, but Nemona makes seemingly insensitive comments throughout, sometimes having to correct herself like -yes right of course I want our lizard friend to be okay and definatly not because I really want to battle it.

She reacts to things in inappropriate ways - when AI Sada/Turo starts glitching out over the audio (which by the way, being in an abandoned creepy base and just hearing an eerie voice being like "hello children- hello children - h-h-h-hello-he- chil-chil-children children children hell children hello ch-children :)" is nightmare fuel.) and the other three are freaked the fuck out, understandably so, Nemona is cheerful as anything and commenting on how it's making her even more excited, even to the point Penny has to point out to her that this reaction is not normal.

The thing that sold it to me the most was her short story post game, where you can talk to her at various places around the school. You watch her excitedly approach a random boy she doesn't know and try to rope him in to battling her. He gets awkward and uncomfortable and turns her down - she doesn't read the room and still thinks they're going to battle. You realise - for the first time in the game really - that dispite Nemona being a student president and a champion trainer, someone who looks and seems like they should be super popular and cool - you've never seen her with a friend. She doesn't have a social group before meeting you and getting to bond with Arven and Penny. She is extroverted and confident and talks to the teachers and gym leaders like peers, but she's awkward and misses important social cues and other kids notice. They're intimidated by her and her energy and her hyperfixiation.

The part at the end of her storyline, where you are in her dorm room talking, and she describes her feelings as having an invisible wall between her and other kids - that hurt me on an emotional level. Because that is exactly what it's like to be a neurodivergent teenager with one hyperfixiation special interest you pour everything into. For me it was art, when I was a teen I was obsessed, I drew in every lesson, from the moment I got up to the moment I went to bed, I collected art books and watched art tutorials and it's all I wanted to talk about, think about, DO every second, I couldn't bare the boredom of anything that wasn't that. And that level of obsession and passion was too much for other kids, it scared them, it weirder them out. That small section of dialogue where she talks about feeling distanced from other kids really hit me in the feels, and I kinda wish I had been able to experience this characters story back when I was a young teen in the same place, it would have hit me all the harder.

When you look back at the beginning of the game after playing it through, it makes so much more sense why she comes across as a little clingy to you as the character - why she makes insecure comments about you not needing to battle other people when you could be battling her, and why she follows you around from gym to gym as if your journey is her own. You're the first person to - in inelegant terms - 'put up with' her energy. You are her first real friend who not only accepts her sort of aggressive special interest infodumping but embraces it, endulges in it because it makes her happy. If course she clings to you, the playable character is probably the best friend, maybe even the first real friend she has ever had.

Anyway that's my aggressive rant over having too many emotions about fictional characters for today, thanks for coming to my Ted talk. I just really love seeing a different variation of neurodivergent character portrayed in franchises, it makes my little heart happy for all the neurodivergent kids out there who get to vibe with someone, you know?

[catsofemma]

this is gonna be a positively silly post…

but i have a crackship i need to share

stephanie x kate

HEAR ME OUT

so i saw this post a couple years ago and the content itself made my heart melt, but just thinking of it in the lego friends context just :0 had my mind explode. bro was flabbergasted

TELL ME THIS ISNT SO ADORABLE

but just thinking of lego friends kate writing this was so cute. kate is such a specific character, and while mia x kate is definitely my go-to ship, i just think this is so so cute and would have stephanie herself melt in a heartbeat

I MEAN THEY DID HAVE A SET TOGETHER

AND APPEARED IN COMMERCIALS TOGETHER

its very specific, i know 😔 but yeah. kate isn’t the most romantic person. and she definitely isn’t the best in social situations. so the dynamic of awkward, introverted kate vs. loud, extroverted stephanie would be an interesting pairing. but they’re both particularly smart people, so i image they’d get along pretty well on adventures :3

[stephanie-black-swan]

Hello to you, who will read these few lines 🙂 I don't think Taylor Swift will read my message here, but rather to a member of her team? Anyway hello!

I am writing this somewhat special message today to ask a question. I know my post will be just one of 1000, but maybe someone will read it anyway.

I am Stephanie, and I live in France. I have my ticket for the Eras Tour. For me it will be in LYON at the GROUPAMA STADIUM N2 on June 3, 2024. I have a VIP FOSSE OR LEFT ticket with early access.

Here, we do not have postal or email addresses that we can use to contact our favorite international artists (or their teams). So I am trying my luck on this address, hoping that someone is interested in what I write here. And even better, that someone reads my message to the end.

I am 28 years old. Apparently, I am an adult. I think? In any case, I never stopped writing and dreaming. If this makes me a child, if this is the price to pay, I accept it! Maybe I have a slight Peter Pan syndrome.

Despite everything, I am a fairly introverted and reasonable person. I am very rational, I like to analyze everything, and I hate being noticed. As a result, I have never been a “fan” as people tend to say. I have never gone after an autograph or a photo with a public figure. Besides, most of the time, I don't care if a person is famous or not. I myself would absolutely hate being famous. I also never claim that you can truly know a public figure solely through their image and the marketing around them. Above all, stars are not Gods, just people like the rest of us. They also have their fears, their joys, and their demons. But all this rationality does not, sometimes, prevent us from admiring a person. Not because she is famous, but because she shakes our emotions and our thoughts through her art.

Since childhood, I have been very socially awkward. I was teased and harassed most of my schooling. For what? Oh, just because I was already 5' 11" tall at the very beginning of middle school, and I often sat in my corner scribbling poems and stories on my sheets of paper. I was listening to music in my ears non-stop, and I was in my own world. And besides, I haven't changed that much. Maybe it's also because I have autism, that's what the psychiatrist told me haha. Words and music have, are and always will be my only escape in this sometimes brutal and dark world. I still write, whenever my emotions need to be expressed. Because I never express them as well as with words. After my father died of cancer when I was 18, words and music were kind of the only thing in the world I still had. And that's what kept me going.

You now see very well where I was going with this: yes, during this period, I discovered and listened to the music of Taylor Alison Swift. So obviously not only that, I've listened to thousands of different artists, and there are a lot of them that I love. But no other artist has touched me like Taylor Swift has. Apparently people say she's a witch? No, she is a magician with words. The poetic magician of the 21st century.

I read everywhere that at a concert, people were chosen to interact with her during the song "22", and others to meet her before and/or after the concert. But also that these people were often chosen based on their super stylish outfit, their screams, their dedication on the internet. But I have neither the time nor the energy to create "fan pages" on social networks (besides I don't particularly like social networks), I don't have the means nor the desire to spending fortunes on merchandising or "cosplay" clothing to attend the concert, and above all I don't have the "thing" to scream and move in all directions. As I said, I am not a fan per se, and Taylor is a human being. Besides, I don't care about autographs, even photos. I don't want visibility on the internet, that's not what I'm looking for. I don't want any gifts. I don't need all these things.

But that doesn't stop me from dreaming of one day having the opportunity to shake the hand of an inspiring artist. Look her in the eyes and simply say “thank you, for your music, for your words, for everything”. Yes, I dream of that. And I admit, in my life I am often saddened by the fact that I never had luck. Please note: I am not complaining. I have a wonderful mom who I am very close with, I have a wonderful boyfriend who I love with all my heart, and they are the most precious things in the world. But regarding the little extra thing, the bonus, the little dream moment: I always watched others have it. I know for a fact that many others are like me, and that I am not a special person compared to others. And most of the time I don't care if they get lucky and I don't, I don't need it. But for this time, just for this, I would really like to have a joker and be able to say "hey, this time I'm the lucky one today!". But no matter what, this Joker would never happen alone. Luck provokes itself, it decides. This is why I sent this message, to try to induce luck. For the rest... Fingers crossed!

For the person reading these lines (IF someone read this), and if they have made it this far: thank you from the bottom of my heart, and have a wonderful day :)

@taylornation @taylorswift

[ryker-writes]

Hey! Congratulations on 1.2k!!!! That's Amazing!!

This is my about me for the matchup event. (I may have went overboard).

I go by Caine! (and a few other names)

I'm considered an ambivert, but lean more towards introvert. I'm very socially awkward. I'm autistic with ADHD, anxiety, and depression.

I love collecting monster high dolls, cats, Alternative subcultures, oddities (ex: bone collecting), the color teal, true crime, horror media, cartoons, anime, taking naps, my plushies, drawing, and listening to music.

I strongly dislike spiders, mean people, people who hate on others for things they can't control, really little kids (under 1 to 2 y/o), hot weather (bc sensory issues), snow, mosquitos, itchy fabrics, pickles, olives, most spicy foods, and eating mushrooms (looking at them is fine).

I want someone around my height. I'm around 5'4 (162 cm).

My love language is physical touch. Though my second highest was words of affirmation.

Thank you so much! I love the theme of your blog and the Draculaura profile pic btw! I used to be a big monster high fan too and my favorite was Abbey Bominable. She's so cool. Anyway, onto the matchup!

"Caine! Welcome in! I'm glad you asked for a matchup, but I must admit, I almost immediately knew who to put you with. Maybe it's just so clear that he's perfect for you, or maybe my...matchmaking powers are particularly strong right now. Either way, I know who to give you.

Lilia is obviously the perfect man for you."

he would definitely be interested in Monster High and no one can convince me otherwise

Lilia is a jack of all trades and likes almost all the same things you do!

he will bring you back so many little things from his travels

late night horror dates? Heck yeah

cuddling together and watching horror sounds amazing to him

he will help you in any social situations that you need him too, he's great with people after all!

Lilia's going to cook for you and he takes great care to avoid the foods you don't like...that doesn't mean it's good though

he's constantly giving you affection with physical touch and words of affirmation

it's natural for him to just give you hugs and compliment you and tell you how much he loves you all the time

honestly, it happens every time you see him

[niobiumao3]

A lot of the things which make NOPE such a good movie are how it's an excellent example of Show Don't Tell. (It's not that I think exposition is always bad, it's that I definitely feel showing something is just as good and often hits harder.)

The strongest example of this is the two side characters, Antlers and Angel. We don't engage with them a ton and yet we know a LOT about them from all the little things we see, their behaviors. Of course plenty of that is the actors being top notch but also the writing was note perfect. Antlers initially comes across as an artiste and general dick, but when you hear him talk on the phone with Em you realize it's not that at all, he's just not particularly personable. He's an entirely okay guy, is honest and straight forward with her, doesn't even blow her off when she straight up admits she wants to film a UFO. He just warns her to be careful.

Angel is the polar opposite; he's a very extroverted, friendly sort who craves companionship. He's a tech person in the extreme, awkward but trying his hardest to connect to people. He's excitable and rebounding from his breakup HARD. He loved that girl and she bailed on him.

Similarly, I got a real ND vibe from OJ. He struggles to communicate with people, is intensely socially anxious, particularly in a setting with a bunch of folks staring at him. He's introverted to the extreme. But around people he knows he's entirely comfortable. And this is never told to us; we're shown in all his interactions.

With Em it's the most subtle. Everything about her cries 'mom who died very young and Em wound up being raised by a dad who had NO IDEA how to raise a daughter'. So she lashes out if she feels stifled, she strikes out on her own, tries to be her own person since her father wouldn't let her. Yet she loves her brother dearly, doesn't bail on him despite him giving her leave to do so several times. Her family is deeply important to her no matter how difficult it was for her to feel like a part of it. In the end it's her victory, too; she gets the photo. No one else.

[overwatchfics]

Can I get a match up please?

I am Bi with a girl pref.

I'm a 5'3 girl with brown eyes, black curly hair, tan skin. I enjoy playing games, drawing, baking, going to museums, going out for walks, and I love science. I also LOVEEE shopping. Any kind of shopping makes me happy. I love animals too!

I am mainly introverted but I get those random burst of energy where I wanna be mad social. I am told I am quiet, nice, thoughtful, and I'm generous.

My favorite type of music is mostly pop. You will totally catch me listening to some Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepsen, Selena Gomez, Beyoncé, and more. I will occasionally listen to R&B and rap.

I match you with...

D.va! - Hana Song

Fun fact D.va is actually 5'6 so being with someone shorter than her gives her a sense of pride she hasn't felt in a while, usually being relatively short on the teams she works with.

Forehead and cheek kisses, also expect her to act smug when you ask for her to grab something off of a taller shelf (that she totally put up there so you would ask)

Hana loves looking at art, I feel she just scrolls through tumblr looking at fanart of her favorite games, anything you draw she is sharing immediately. Your #1 fan.

Hana herself is very similar in terms of being introverted but having bursts of social energy. She's a hardcore gamer who loves sharing a quiet comfortable space with you as well as going out on the occasional night out with friends or what not.

Hana can be pretty chaotic, so your mellow energy really balances her out, she overworks herself to bone and someone needs to be there to calm her down and in turn she'd spark some energy in your life (Hana is basically your caffeine) and get you to try or do fun things you've never done before.

Love to shop, sometimes you have to drag her out or vice versa

Legit I feel like D.va would listen to the type of stuff you do. She'd take you out flying in her Mech, jamming to your Spotify playlist. Also, if it's been a particularly stressful night for either of you, you'll both get dressed in fluffy pajamas and have an emergency dance party, just shake that stress out.

Brigitte Lindholm

Brigitte is very very tall. She doesn't mind your height at all! She'd love nothing more than to pull you close and squeeze you in her arms. Biggest spoon energy, she will be your shield and your blanket this girl I swear.

This girl is such a history buff I feel like. She loves hearing Reinhardt's stories of the good Ol' days and museum trips are something she love to go out and do with you.

Her mom is a pro baker, if you love baking, she'll take you to her parents' house and have you do recipe swap with her mom. Bake a really good pie and you basically win her parents over

Brigitte is an engineer which in itself is a form of science so scientific discussions are a yes! Though if it's in the field of biology she might be a little lost, but she'll still listen and inquire!

Brigitte feels like a full introvert to me. She's a lil awkward, but she's trying her best! Our goofy lil crusader also likes going out occasionally with some friends or coworkers.

LOVES ANIMALS HAVE YOU SEEN HER KITTY, BIG GOOFY LIL BUDDY SHE EVEN MADE ARMOR FOR HIMMMM. LOVE HER CAT AND SHE'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER.

I have the idea that Brig sings Taylor Swift in the shower so be prepared for that lmfao. Very good dancer so if you've got that stuff playing you might see her grab a whisk from the kitchen and use it as a microphone

Other people who I'd match you with: Lucio, Echo, and Mei.

[jisungsongs]

Tying Up Loose Ends.

Chapter One.

“One cappuccino and one flat white for…Anna?” Cree called out as he read the order ticket and placed the drinks in the cup holder. He left it at the counter as the girl, who he assumes is Anna, thanked him, took the drinks, and headed out of the small shop.

Cree let out a small sigh as he looked at the time and groaned, still has 3 more hours till his shift ends.

“You know if you’re doing more work then the time will go way faster,” Caroline pointed out. Caroline was Cree’s co-worker and close friend, she’s the reason why he has this job in the first place.

Cree gave her a playful glare and leaned against the counter as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“There's nothing to do, and I’m not cleaning the bathrooms.” He emphasised, Caroline couldn't help but let out a small laugh as she shook her head. Cree tried to keep a serious look on his face but couldn’t help but feel a smile form on his face. 

Cree and Caroline have been friends since their sophomore year of high school, they met through their mutual friend and they’ve been friends ever since. But if you look at the two you’d never guess they were friends in the first place. Close friends at that.

Cree wasn’t that tall but he wasn’t particularly short either. He had dark brown almost black hair that was long enough to hover over his eyes, and his hair mostly looked like a ‘mop on his head as others call it he had a rather slim figure and well fitted, only because he’s a dance major and has to keep himself at a healthy weight, he’s almost certain that if he wasn't a dance major he would just be a lazy person, more so a lazier person. He always kept to himself and mostly just knew people rather than having many friends. Cree was more on the shy side but only because he's awkward around people and doesn't know how to keep a conversation going. The way he dressed matched his personality, he wore clothes that were just a tad bit bigger than him but they looked good, to say the least. He also wouldn't call himself an introvert since he likes going out with a friend, but he definitely wouldn't call himself an extrovert. He was just a person that was there, nothing extreme ever happens with him or any drama of the sort, as said before he just keeps to himself and moves on with life.

Caroline on the other hand is very social; she has many friends and is very friendly. She had long thick brunette hair and was rather tall as well, taller than Cree. She had a perfect figure (as Cree would call it) and a colourful personality. At first glance, you 

I wouldn't think that she would be one of those mean girls you see in Tv shows and movies, but she was the opposite of that. She was caring and always made sure that the people around her were okay, which was one of the many reasons why she has so many friends. The way she dressed also matched the way she acted as well. Caroline wears mostly soft clothing, including tennis skirts, cardigans, dresses, etc. But Caroline wasn't as girly as she seems to be, She was more in the middle. Even on the days when she wore sweats and a cropped shirt, or like her mom would say ‘dress like a bum’, she always made it work. She majored in fashion but that was no surprise. But the brunette-headed girl was just a bubbly person in general.

So when you see the two together it was rather surprising.

“What are you doing after this?” Caroline asked the boy as she grabbed a rag and spray bottle and then started to clean the counter. 

Cree let out a small huff and just shrugged.

“Probably going to just stay home tonight, hang out with my best friend in the world, my couch,” He stated with much pride laced in his voice. Caroline looked at the boy with a raised eyebrow before spraying him. Cree uttered a rather pathetic yell as he jumped like a cat. The customers looked over at them and Cree gave them an apologetic look then turned to Caroline and glared at her.

“Don't spray me with that weird chemical!” He yelled at her, Caroline was dying of laughter as Cree ran to grab another rag to clean the yellow chemical concoction off of him.

“This isn't funny.” He grumbled as Caroline’s laughter died down.

“I’m sorry- you're just so dramatic” She snickered. Cree glared at her and was about to say something before the bell rang, indicating someone walked into the small shop. Cree threw the rag at Caroline (who caught it) and walked up to the register. 

The person who walked in was a boy who looked around the same age as him and also looked lost. Cree didn't realise that he was staring til Caroline elbowed his side.

“Jeez why are you so abusive-” He mumbled as he rubbed his side.

“You’re staring, and you look like you’ve never seen a guy before,” She whispered to him. He glared at her for the hundredth time today but quickly corrected his posture seeing the boy walk up to the counter.

“Now please bare with me here” The boy started, Cree gave him a sceptical look but gave him a nod before the boy took out his phone.

“Alright, I need one latte, extra cream, a Cortado, a cappuccino with extra sugar, and one black coffee.” he rambled, reading off his phone before looking back up at Cree, who was just staring at him.

And Caroline once again elbowed Cree, which made him double over but it did pull him out of his thoughts as he wrote down everything on his notepad as he put the order in. 

“Is that all?” Cree asked as if he was scared that the boy was going to order more drinks. The boy gave Cree a small smile as he shook his head.

“Yes, that's all…Cree?” He questioned, he squinted his eyes a bit looking at the boy's name tag. Cree unconsciously looked down at his name tag before looking back at him.

“Yes, now I need your name., '' He told him, but it sounded like he was demanding it, which probably explained the questionable look the boy gave him. But Cree quickly realised the way he said it and threw his hands up and waved them around trying to explain himself.

“Sorry that sounded weird– I meant for your order- so we know who ordered all this..yeah.” He sputtered out. He deflated when the boy let out a small laugh.

“Nicholas, you can put Nick for short,” He said, before taking out his wallet, Cree forgot that the boy- Nick- had to pay.

“That's gonna be $18.47,” Cree told him. Nick took out some cash and gave it to Cree, Who then put it in the register before handing back the change. He then went to work on the large order, seeing that Caroline had just gone on her break.

“So I take it that all these drinks aren't just for you?” he asked Nick. Nick gazed across as the short barista made his drinks. The taller one let out a playful sigh as he nodded.

“No, they’re for my annoying friends,” Nick chuckled at the end of his sentence. Cree had a smile on his face without him even realising it.

“Well, you guys must be close if you're buying all of them drinks, I could never” It was Cree’s turn to let out a small laugh as he finished the first drink and placed it aside, and started to work on the others. Nick watched him and Cree was nervous, to say the least. Does he know why? 

Of course not. 

“It was my turn to buy drinks so here I am, we usually don’t come here but this was the closest one near our school” Nick explained, Cree hummed in response as he finished the second drink and placed it in the cup holder along with the other drink he made previously. 

Nick eyed him for a second before letting out a small laugh, which caused Cree to stop what was doing and raised an eyebrow at the boy.

“You’re laughing because?” Before grabbing the two drinks, he asked the taller Nick to straighten his stance.

“Nothing nothing just, you remind me of a friend I used to have,” He sympathised. This caused Cree to look up at the boy with a raised eyebrow.

“Is that a good thing or?” He questioned him,, Nick was quick to raise his hands in defence and shook his head no. Cree chuckled a bit as he was finishing the drinks. For some reason Cree felt comfortable talking to Nick, he felt like a creep just thinking about that. If you take a look at the two, you would think they were close friends with the way they’re talking to each other.

Nick and Cree continued to talk to each other even after Cree finished making their drinks, and it felt nice to talk to someone who isn’t Caroline.

“Well, this is my cue to leave, if I don’t the guys will get all upset” Nick chuckled as he picked up the drinks, Cree gave him a small smile and gave him a nod

“Go go, you’ve been here long enough, it was nice talking to you Nick,” Cree told him as he put the rag aside.

“It was nice talking to you...Cree” He looked back at Cree before Nick left the shop. He sighed and turned to go to the break room but saw Caroline with her arms crossed across her chest. 

“Was that a nice conversation?” She asked him, Cree rolled his eyes and walked past her, and took off his apron. 

“It was actually, finally I had a conversation with someone who isn’t you.” He fired back at her as he sat down and the two started talking, and Cree slowly forgot about his and Nick’s conversation.

Meanwhile, Nick walked out of the shop and the smile on his face quickly disappeared when he got into the car, the other four boys looked at him and started yelling at him. 

“Dude you took forever, what took you so long?” Killian asked him as he grabbed his coffee, Nick took a deep breath and looked at the others. 

“I saw Cree.” He uttered in an uneasy tone, the others stopped their conversations and looked at Nick with their eyes widened and confused. 

“What do you mean you ‘saw Cree’? “ Cory was at the edge of his seat as he raised his hands to make air quotes. Nick couldn't help but roll his eyes at the raven-headed boy. 

“I mean, I saw Cree. What more is there to say?”  He asked rhetorically. The four boys were dumbfounded at Nick’s words.

“Well for one, what did he say? What did you say?” Iro spoke up and the others seemed to agree with him. But they didn't expect what Nick said next.

“ He acted like he didn't know me?” He told them as if he was asking a question. Killian raised an eyebrow at the boy and was about to say something but August beat him to it.

“And you didn't think to ask him like ‘Hey Cree where have you been this last year?”  August couldn't help but feel annoyed by this.

“I didn’t even know it was him at first until I read his name tag. Either way that’s not the point, he doesn't remember me. That or he's just a really good actor.” He joked at the end of his sentence but overall, he was confused. 

All he can think about is one thing.

Why did Cree act like he doesn’t remember?

[thesoulprophecies]

My Favourite Book Characters.

As a socially awkward introvert, I often prefer book characters to real people. There’s just something about being able to relate to people in fiction that is so much more interesting than the real world, although, any good story should be able to transport the reader out of the real world. I particularly love characters that are honest, sincere and quirky, and I can’t get enough of strong and smart female characters, and emotionally in-tune male characters, they are great role models for young people today. Imperfections bring characters to life, perfect characters are nice, but they sometimes lack the humanity of characters who have some flaws. Here are a few characters who have stood out to me over the last decade…

R – Warm Bodies

‘None of us are particularly attractive, but death has been kinder to me than some. I’m still in the early stages of decay. Just the grey skin, the unpleasant smell, the dark circles under my eyes. I could almost pass for a living man in need of a vacation. Before I became a zombie I must have been a businessman, a banker or broker or some young temp learning the ropes, because I’m wearing fairly nice clothes. Black slacks, grey shirt, red tie.’ R, Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion.  

R is a zombie who has thoughts and even, sort of, feelings. He is the first character that made me ask myself: ‘what if zombies weren’t just mindless killing machines like we see in films all the time, what if they actually did have thoughts? What would a zombie even think?’ It’s an intriguing question and puts a new spin on the zombie stereotype.

The zombies’ need for brains is clever as when they eat a living person’s brain, they see the memories that person had, and they experience a glimpse of life. It’s almost as though the zombies crave brains because they crave being alive again. R first ‘sees’ Julie through eating her boyfriend’s brains and for once feels something more than just a desire to eat living flesh, he chooses to protect Julie. I loved how R’s character viewed the world around him and questioned his existence, despite being technically dead. His awkward friendship grows slowly with Julie, and as he gradually becomes more human and starts to fall in love with her, he feels guilty for being responsible for her boyfriend’s death. The complex nature of R and Julie’s relationship, and the burdens of being alive and being dead, along with the desire to live life breathes realism into these characters.

R is a character people can relate to, he’s done a lot of ‘wrong’ things whilst being a zombie, he’s literally been to the lowest point you can go, dead, and he’s trying to rise above it and find reasons to live life again. It’s also nice to see a male character getting in touch with their emotions.

James Carstairs – A Clockwork Angel

‘He wore a light loose-fitting set of trousers and a collarless shirt, with a black silk dressing gown tied loosely over them. She had been right. He was young, probably the same age as Will, and the impression of youth was heightened by his slightness.’… ‘No wonder that in the moonlight his pale skin seemed to shine like Will’s witchlight. His hair was pale silver as well, as were his angular eyes.’ JEM, A Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare.

Jem is a musically talented, kind and intelligent character. He is quiet and reserved but brave and doesn’t like people worrying about him or his illness. He has a quiet confidence and strength; unlike his friend Will who is loud and brash.

Jem is the definition of ‘life not being fair’. He is fighting an illness that has no cure and he also falls in love with the same woman as his best friend. I think for a lot of people there are times when life isn’t fair, so having a character embody this feeling immediately makes him relatable. He’s also another male character who seems to be in-tune with people’s feelings and his own emotions.

Ophelia – A Winter’s Promise

‘The nose kept coming. Soon after, a pair of glasses emerged, then the arch of an eyebrow, a forehead, a mouth, a chin, cheeks, eyes, hair, a neck, and ears. Suspended there, above the shoulders, in the center of the mirror, the face looked to the right, then to the left. Next, a bit further down, a bended knee poked through, and in tow came a body that pulled itself right out of the mirrored wardrobe, as if from a bathtub. Once clear of the mirror, the figure amounted to nothing more than a worn-out old coat, a pair of gray-tinted glasses, and a long three-colored scarf. And under these thick layers, there was Ophelia.’ Ophelia, A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos.

Ophelia is a petite, intelligent character who prefers museums and books to people. She lives on an Ark called Anima and has the ability to ‘see’ the history of objects that she touches in the form of visions. Ophelia is practical, fearless and shows virtually no interest in romance. This is in complete contrast to how a lot of female characters are portrayed in other works of fiction. To quote Shakespeare ‘Though she be but little, she is fierce’ accurately describes Ophelia.

Arya – A Game Of Thrones

‘Sansa had gotten their mother’s fine high cheekbones and thick auburn hair of the Tullys. Arya took after their lord father. Her hair was a lusterless brown, and her face was long and solemn. Jeyne used to call her Arya Horseface and neigh whenever she came near.’ Arya, A Game Of Thrones by George R. R. Martin.

Arya feels like a misfit compared to the other girls and her sister. She’s not good at needlework or musically talented. She prefers the pursuits her brothers are allowed to enjoy; riding horses, archery and swordplay. After devastation hits her family, Arya is forced to flee and turns away from the life of a gentle lady and becomes stronger and skilled with weapons. Brienne of Tarth, the only female knight in A Game Of Thrones is similar to Arya, both being women who choose to pursue stereotypically male pursuits. It’s the feminist statement that women can do commonly male associated things just as well as any man, and it’s great to see characters like Arya.

Frodo – The Lord Of The Rings

”A stout little fellow with red cheeks,’ said Mr. Butterbur solemnly…. ‘[Taller] than some and fairer than most, and he has a cleft in his chin: perky chap with a bright eye. Begging your pardon, but he said it, not me.’ – Gandalf describing Frodo and leaving a letter with Barliman Butterbur, The Lord Of The Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.

Frodo is a loyal and brave character who takes on the burden of The One Ring when nearly everyone else is afraid to touch it. He is compassionate and is not afraid to go to Mordor alone in order to protect his friends, although Sam does not let him go off by himself. Frodo is almost a perfect character; he is recognised as being uniquely different by other characters in the story, namely though his ability to carry the ring for so long. Though Frodo is full of doubt, every obstacle he faces he doubts himself but with help from his friends and some determination he manages to get through. Frodo is a weak character, lacking strength and the power of typical heroes, but his will is strong.

Hermione Granger – Harry Potter

‘She had a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth.’ – Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone by J. K. Rowling.

Hermione is strong, brave and book smart. Her intelligence often saves her, Harry and Ron as they go through the years at Hogwarts. It’s great to see a female character portrayed as strong and intelligent and not immediately obsessed with boys and relationships.

[mamamittens]

Nikia Character Details for Reference (Updated 6/26/23)

reference sheet for Nikia (my SI/OC). Maybe one day I'll actually have consistent character design lol

Updated with blue hair (Dark blue top with gray streaks and teal undercut) but otherwise remains identical

Name: Nikia

MB: INTP

Zodiac: Gemini

Age: 27

Sex: Female (Gender Apathetic but defaults to she/her)

Orientation: Demi-pan sexual/romantic

Race: Skypiean Adjacent—no official title

Birthplace: Summer Isle

Occupation: Rescue Ranger and Writer

Skills: Advanced flight, stealth, sniper, writing, violin, and advanced observation Haki.

Morality Alignment: True Neutral

Personality: Introvert, quiet, socially awkward, shy, dry humor, and mischievous.

Favorite color: Tie between jewel tone colors, pastels, and neon.

Random details:

Wings are more emotionally expressive than her face, which has strong RBF energy.

Wings and hair is more wavy/curly, particularly when longer. Feathers not strictly on wings, covering the area immediately around the base of her wings and up her shoulder blades.

She has incredibly bad eyesight and is nearsighted.

Doesn’t enjoy uninvited physical contact unless she’s close to them, but will accept light contact if asked. Usually.

Hates having her neck touched or exposing thighs and arms.

Sensitive to the cold but tolerates heat well.

Enjoys naps, reading, and winter.

Lightly germophobic and will not eat/drink after others.

Prefers smaller social groups.

Has southern (American) accent that strengthens when she speaks fast, gets frustrated, or passionate.

Curses a lot but occasionally uses softer curses like “ah, beans” for humorous effect.

Weird about eye contact (all or nothing) and likes structured days.

Nervously fiddles with her hands such as picking, cracking her knuckles, preen, and vague gestures.

Has issues with textures on her skin and with food.

Often scares people by politely waiting for them to finish what they’re doing off to the side. Does find this funny despite not usually meaning to do it.

Prefers layered clothing like sweaters, sweatshirts, and jeans. Cannot wear heels.

Basic rapid fire background

Lives on the Winter Isle, which is very close to the much more popular tourist destination Summer Isle. Both function as tourist destinations with modest local communities that are a mix of human, sea-folk, and a local variety of Skypiean who naturally have larger wings (typically from head to knee in terms of relative body length). They fish, hunt, and host a variety of activities on both islands.

Winter Isle in particular is known for luxurious natural hot springs as it's main draw. Summer Isle is naturally known for its beaches and luxury spas that compliment the one on Winter Isle. A ferry service runs between the islands daily to facilitate travel without overwhelming the ports or overly disturbing local fishing expeditions.

Nikia happens to be one of the first that have spontaneously grown wings large enough to support flight with evidence that this is a growing trend for the local population. She often has to hold her wings back and out to prevent excess dragging on the ground in leu of heels.

Nikia typically lives alone in a cabin that can accommodate her wingspan and larger guests. She works on writing between her normal duties as an Elite Ranger for the Winter Isle. Due to her ability to fly (and the required skill of Observation Haki for Rangers), she is one of the first called to find lost tourists, particularly children that she can easily carry with minimal equipment.

Since the isles are tourist destinations, it's often visited by would-be slavers. Unbeknownst to the tourists, these slavers are spotted and isolated to be 'disposed of' without ruining the upbeat atmosphere. Nikia is the first, and currently, only user of a specialty made rifle capable of shooting from high altitudes through blizzard conditions for sniper shots on particularly dangerous opponents. Her use of this weapon is passed off as self-defense or for hunting predators on the mountain to keep her guests at ease.