#something something Both Sides we need to have compassion for Everyone

[secretmellowblog]

Arcane season 2 reminds me of when X-Men stories suddenly stop being about “the fighting between the oppressive government vs the moderate Xavier faction vs the radical Magneto faction,” and start being about “fighting generic robo-monsters who want to Kill the Entire Galaxy for generic reasons.” The unique (even if not all that politically #deep) fantasy premise about different factions battling over the right way to achieve progress just stops mattering, and gets tossed out for a generic comic book battle to Save the Universe. And so you just watch the high-budget empty spectacle of the generic Robot Monster Fights like “aww…………I miss Magneto.”

[teaboot]

Things you can do as a security guard instead of acting like a dickhead: a vent post disguised as advice

Offer alternatives: IE, “Sorry, nobody’s allowed to hang out over there, but we have seats over here you’re welcome to use”. I recommend getting familiar with local parks, public seating, free food programs, outreach, mobile aid, etc., just in case those are needed.

Be polite: IE, “Excuse me, sir”, “I beg your pardon, miss”. This should go without saying but everyone deserves dignity.

Avoid phrasing requests as orders: IE, “Don’t stand in front of that” VS “Excuse me, could you move a bit to the side?”. This works best with an explanation, like, “There’s a sign behind you”, or, “you might get clipped by someone”. This helps communicate that you are asking for a reason, not just throwing your weight around. If you don’t have a reason, rethink whether or not you need to be doing anything.

Avoid directing blame or fault. Don’t say, “The owner says you gotta go” when you could say, “I’m not supposed to let people be here for X period” or “do X thing”. Again, try to have alternatives ready so people can use other resources or do something else instead of just abruptly changing plans.

Come from a place of compassion whenever you can. People are gonna tell you to get rid of the crazy screaming guy. They say that because they’re frightened and don’t know what to do. Your best approach is, “Hello sir”, followed by, “How are you today?”, “how’s it going?”, “are you doing alright?”, etc., depending on what the person is ACTUALLY doing / saying when you get there. You can offer help from there if needed, or leave them alone if they’re not in danger or a risk to anyone.

Remember you’re not a cop. This can mean whatever you need it to mean. For me personally, that means that with incredibly rare exception (like trying to sell to kids, contaminating other’s food or drink) I won’t report you for drugs. If I find you doing drugs on my site I’ll tell you a different place where you can do them instead and ask you to do them there. I have interrupted drug deals to ask the client and the salesman to both kindly move 15 feet to the left, I’m not kidding, I do not care.

Know who you can throw under the bus. Sometimes you gotta enforce rules and be the bad guy and if that’s the fault of some dipshit in a suit 200 miles away, you can say that. Sorry man, I can’t let you park your car on the lawn. I know you’re not hurting anyone and frankly I think lawn culture is stupid but there’s other parking stalls and if my boss sees you I’ll get a write-up for not doing my job. Shit sucks sometimes but if it wasn’t me telling you it’d be the new guy, and between you and me he’s an idiot and he’ll probably just report you to bylaw.

Don’t just act like you’re their friend, genuinely try to be a good friend. If you know that someone is doing something that will only result in a bystander phoning police, don’t let them go down like that. Let them know, “hey man, you seem like you’re having a shit time and I get it, I’ll do what I can, but we gotta have this conversation somewhere else ‘cause we’re freaking out the old ladies.”

Swallow your tongue. You can’t fix the world. People are gonna bitch at you about communists and 5G and gangster rap ruining the neighbourhood, that’s just part of the deal. Nod along, remain neutral, shut down any hate speech, redirect if you can, and keep a limit in mind where you’ll have to shut things down.

Accept that sometimes there are no solutions. Yes, that angry guy who blasts music will be back tomorrow. That homeless woman who asks you to help her find her dog that she hasn’t had in 30 years will ask again, and yes, you’re still going to take a description and promise to keep an eye out. That kid who smokes crack behind the building has been clean for a few weeks and still stops by to say hi, and you hope he’ll get his life together and be happy, but he also might relapse and OD before he hits 25. Sometimes you just have to do the best you can, even if nothing is guaranteed.

Be kind to teenagers. Being a kid is hard, and everyone’s on their ass all the damn time for everything.

Remember that the vast majority of bad people aren’t bad, just unhappy. The guy who keeps showing up drunk and puking on the carpet is unhappy. The lady who bitches about the service every single time and keeps coming back anyway is unhappy. The guy who leaves trash everywhere is probably unhappy. If they were happy, maybe they’d do better, but they’re not, and that’s kinda sad. You don’t have to let them get away with their shit, but they probably aren’t actually a worthless human being either.

It doesn’t matter if 12 is true or not. You need to believe it or you will become a harsh and bitter person. Look for evidence that people are not terrible and invent it if you have to

Don’t let yourself become a bastard

[totalswag]

Hi! I have a request if you are up for it!

Okay so how about reader and Drew are together and they have a fight before an interview with the obx cast. And reader is skipping her meals and didn’t sleep properly. During the interview she zoned out multiple times while fidgeting with her fingers. The others notice that she’s unusually quiet and are a little confused and concerned about what happened. Maddie pulls you aside when she notices that you’re hands are slightly shaking due to the lack of food and sleep and asks if everything is fine and maybe Drew hears it and is concerned. I just need some angst

fractured moments ⎯ 𝑫𝑹𝑬𝑾 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹𝑲𝑬𝒀

authors note super sorry this is so late! i’m catching up with my requests atm (bare with me lovies). please remember to take care of yourselves beautifuls. i hope you like this <3

taglist ⤕ if you would like to be notified every time i post you will type in your username then be all set to go.

masterlist

summary getting into a heated argument with your boyfriend, drew, before an interview with your co stars. you haven’t been taking care of yourself, you co stars notice and drew is concerned.

warning(s) angst, fighting, loss of sleep, not eating enough.

Today was gonna be scattered with interviews back to back⎯a long ass day. Been up since four in the morning to get ready then drive to the studio where the rest of your co stars await.

Drew and you had a fight. The fight had left both of you hurt and frayed. Words you couldn't take back echoed in your head, leaving a terrible taste in your lips. You both shedded a few tears.

When you arrived at the studio for the Outer Banks cast interview, you put on a faint smile, hoping it would be enough. The rest of the cast was already present—Maddie, Clarcia, Chase, Madison, Rudy, and JD—chatting and laughing as usual. You attempted to join in, but the pain in your chest made it difficult to concentrate.

"Hey, is everything okay?" Maddie asked softly, putting her right arm around your shoulder, pulling you in close, before sitting in the chair next to you.

"I'm good," you lie but making your voice promising to her⎯so she won't be suspicious.

The interviewer takes a seat across from you, introducing herself to everyone and preparing to ask questions. 

You, on the other hand, remained quiet. Drew was all you could think about, along with the fight. Fiddling with your hands on your lap and looking around your co stars. 

"Y/N, Scarlett, what do you like about your character?" the interviewer inquired passionately moving in her chair. 

You slowly move your head to the side, smiling as best you can. "I would say her compassion for friends and standing up for herself, even in difficult situations," you explain cautiously. 

The cast nods in unison, smiling at your response. Drew placed his right knee over his left, arms crossed over his chest, and intently listened to your words.

As the interview went on, your friends began to notice your typical laughter and outgoing self wasn't in the room. Out of everyone in the cast, you have a bunch of energy, always putting a smile on everyone's faces⎯making jokes, etc.

At the end of the interview, everyone said thank you and goodbye. Maddie's hand touched your bicep as you were getting out of the chair and guiding you to the corner.

Taking both hands, I said, "Baby, there's something going on in your thoughts. Tell me what's bothering you. We're all concerned.

"It's just⎯I haven't been eating lately, Drew and I had this fight this morning, I've been going through so much lately," you say, pausing in the middle of your sentence as you feel tears welling up in the corners of your eyes.

Maddie quickly hugs you, holding you tightly, rubbing your back in gentle circles, allowing you let everything out. Madison and Carlacia come over, giving you a warm hug. They tell you they're here for you and encourage you take good care of yourself.

"We love you so much, Y/N, it breaks our hearts you're feeling this way," Madison responds, "have you spoken to Drew?" Carlacia questions. 

In response to Carlacia's question, you shake your head.

All a sudden, Drew's voice appears, your head quickly looking up. Your eyes soften seeing him in front of you.

"Hey, could I please speak with her?" His voice was unusually quiet as he asked. 

After a moment of hesitation, Maddie nodded and gave your arm a comforting squeeze before leaving with Madison and Carlacia.

Drew's blue eyes searched yours as he stared at you. Why didn't you tell me, Y/N?

You said, without raising your voice above a whisper, "I didn't want to make things worse."

His face twisted. "I really regretted everything. What I said was not intended. I hate seeing you in this state."

His touch was warm and comforting as he reached for your shaking hands, causing tears to prickle your eyes. You muttered, "I didn't mean what I said either."

With one hand gently caressing gentle circles on your back and the other behind your head, Drew draws you close to his warm body. He apologized in a whisper and said, "I don't want you to treat yourself that way."

"I love you so much, baby." "To me, you are everything."

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[reallyromealone]

This doesn't have to be a request if you don't want to write it. But can you imagine what it would be like to be the boyfriend in a poly relationship with Zoro and Sanji? Like Zoro focuses more on his swords, drinking, and napping. But Sanji focuses on women, cooking, and smoking. I'd feel so bad because while you love them both, you just don't feel like they actually love you as much.

Sorry for that. I just saw a angsty headcannon on pinterest and my heart just broke. Also how is Lily???? We miss seeing her so much

Title: endings

Fandom: one piece

Characters: strawhat crew

Fic type: angst

Pairings: Zoro x reader x Sanji

Warnings: male reader, reader insert, angst, gay

Notes:

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

(Name) Loved his boyfriends.

He really did.

But... He often felt that they didn't love him as much.

Zoro was always out drinking or napping or showing more love to swords than his partners... Always blowing off (name)s ideas for dates or dinners or anything that he didn't want to do even slightly.

Want to go for a walk? Nah, rather nap.

Want to go to dinner at a nice restaurant? Nah rather get drunk with friends.

And then there was Sanji.

Flirting with women, cooking to the point of obsession and even snapping at (name) for entering his kitchen and a nicotine addiction that made him worry.

He had shitty boyfriends.

He was aware.

And so was everyone, seeing as Nami let Sanji flirt with her and buy her things.

What a traitor or was she ever on his side?

He was an outsider in his own relationship, unsure what to do.

But he believed he had an answer to it all and he hated it.

(Name) Walked to deck where he saw his boyfriends drinking and partying with the others, staring at Sanji chatting up the girls and Zoro absolutely tanked, eyes growing empty and distant at the sight.

It was usopp who noticed (name) first and went up to him "you alright?" He asked the other who slowly stared at the black haired man "I'm fine... I just realized I have something to do"

(Name) Took a quill and some parchment and wrote up his breakup letter before placing it on Sanji's bed, knowing he was more likely to read it before grabbing his bag and belongings.

A quick conversation with Luffy and a mournful goodbye from him and (name) left the ship, the captain understanding why he needed time to himself and to think things over, giving him a compass as a parting gift.

(Name) Didn't know how they would react or if they cared but he knew this was what he needed to do.

And hopefully he would come out happier.

[sarahsghosts]

the death and resurrection of jonathan price

john price x female, wife!reader

angst with an eventual happy ending

word count: 2,473

cw: we get a little bit steamy, here, folks. nsfw, we’ll also start seeing themes of ptsd crop up. language.

disclaimer: this is my first time writing anything nsfw so bear with me everyone

chapter 3

songs: break my baby - kaleo

as you approach the dingiest and most rundown apartment complex you have ever seen, you double check the address gaz had given you. this couldn't be right.

your gps had brought you to the worst side of town.

you walk up to the unit that he indicated was john's and stood outside the door, listening to police sirens somewhere in the distance.

you raise your hand to knock. he doesn't want to see you. you freeze right before your knuckles tap the door.

your stomach twists into a tight knot and you shake your head. john loved you. whatever he went through, you could face it together, now that he was home.

you rap your knuckles on the door loudly.

thirty seconds went by. then sixty.

you triple check the address.

after almost two minutes of you standing on the front stoop, you raise your hand to knock again, when the door swings open.

it took everything in you not to gasp out loud.

the man before you was almost unrecognizable as your husband.

his hair was choppy as if it had been grown out and then carelessly sheered down many times. his beard, however, was longer than you’d ever seen it.

his face was gaunt, his cheeks sunken in a little more than you remembered, and his eyes…

john had the most incredible blue eyes you had ever seen. they were vibrant and bright, always so expressive. but this man’s eyes…

cold. empty of all the love and admiration they normally carried whenever he looked at you, but somehow also wild. a little unstable. like the spirit of a cornered animal lived behind them.

you were not previously naive to what john was capable of. you didn’t know the exact details of his job, but you know it was brutal and unforgiving at times. often, when he returned from deployments, it took some time for him to adjust. get his head on straight.

but when he looked at you, there was always compassion. love. patience.

you couldn’t find a trace of any of that in this man’s eyes.

his harsh stare sent shivers through you. he really did look like a stranger for a moment.

but, no. this was john, your john, and he had been to hell and back. he needed you, dammit, even if he didn’t know he did.

your face must have betrayed your horror, because john’s eyes narrow.

he looks you up and down with a cold and unkind expression. when he speaks, his voice is rough, like sandpaper. “what are you doing here?”

you blink. “what do you—”

“i thought i made myself perfectly fucking clear,” he interrupts, “when i told gaz not to bring you around.” he glances around behind you, as if he expects to see kyle with you.

you want to say that he should’ve told gaz not to give out his address, then, but you don’t. “i had to see you,” you tell him, your throat tightening.

something about the statement, your tone of voice, or just you, makes john narrow his eyes further. “yeah, well, you’ve seen me now, haven’t you?” he begins to close the door.

panic seizes you and you put your hand up, holding the door open. “wait!”

john could have easily pushed through you, but he doesn’t. he pulls the door back, again. this time, he looks annoyed. “what?” he snaps.

“john,” you breathe out, trying to collect your thoughts. “i… we… you can’t just shut me out.” you mean it both figuratively and literally.

he watches you for a long moment, before he says, “there’s nothing here for you.”

your brows draw together and you look like you want to argue, but he continues.

“whatever - whoever - you think you came here to find?” he shakes his head. “not here.”

you take a deep breath, trying to compose yourself. you truly didn’t expect to feel angry, but your hands clench into fists beside you.

here he was, after all this time, directly in your line of sight and you can’t believe that the singular person keeping you from your husband was himself.

“bullshit,” you snap.

if he is surprised by your anger, he doesn’t show it. he crosses his arms over his chest, almost looking bored.

you take a step closer to him. “john,” you plead. “we can work through this. whatever happened—”

“that’s enough,” he cuts you off, his tone still sounding disinterested.

“john, i love you! don’t do this.” your eyes well with tears, but you blink them back. “let me in,” you urge in a quiet voice.

you take another small step towards him. he mirrors it, moving backwards and maintaining the distance between you both, but allowing you one step over the threshold.

something in his gut, primal and vicious, bellowed inside him at the sight of you. delicate, and still so beautiful. even more so than he remembers.

he had stopped thinking about you after almost a year in the gulag.

you, so ethereal and divine. not even the memory of you could exist in that hell.

no. he had become focused strictly on survival in a way that was primitive and animalistic. most days he hadn’t even felt human anymore.

but here you were in front of him, almost angelic, like something pure and perfect. that desperate look on your face, so fragile, with your brows pulled together in concern.

he wasn’t the man you had known. he hadn’t been for a long time. he wasn't good. he would ruin you. he would destroy you.

it was better that you stayed away.

“i don’t love you. if i ever did, i stopped a long time ago.”

you reel back as if you’d been struck. you stare at him, your eyes holding a mixture of confusion and distress.

then, to his surprise, he saw a gentle fury seep into them.

“liar.” your voice came out harsh and deathly quiet.

he hadn't expected you to get angry. in fact, he thought it was going to be easier to get rid of you than this. he really hadn’t expected you to put up so much of a fight.

“believe what you want, love. not my problem either way. if there was ever something between us, it’s over now. you’ve been gettin’ on without me for a while now, i reckon you’ll be just fine.”

you stare at him in disbelief. you tilt your head slightly and take a step towards him. and then another. this time, he doesn’t step backwards and now there’s virtually no space between the two of you.

you tip your head back to meet his gaze, anger still evident on your face. your eyes flit around his features, desperate for some sign of either deception or affection.

john loved you. he had to.

you crane your neck up so your lips hover over his. “you fucking liar,” you breathe onto them, before you kiss him gently.

he stands there, frozen under your kiss, and you start to think maybe this is how you’ll get through to him. you lean up on your toes and deepen the kiss.

his hands shoot up and grip your shoulders like a vice. he breaks off the kiss and in two large steps, has you pushed against the nearest wall.

he stares down at you, his eyes dark with something savage and narrowly restrained. his upper lip twitches slightly, and his voice is dangerously low as he says, “don't.”

something squeezes tightly in your chest and your gut is telling you not to push him, to get the hell out of there.

but this was your john, and you’d be damned if you ever stopped trying to reach him.

you hold his gaze and, despite all your self-preservative instincts screaming against it, you reach up, sliding a hand over his chest.

you grab a fistful of his shirt and stay like that for a moment, before you use it to pull yourself up to kiss him, again. it’s a hard and desperate kiss, and you pray it tells him everything that you can’t say.

i need you, it says. don’t send me away.

to your surprise, he returns the kiss roughly, almost mercilessly. his hands tighten on your shoulders, and he flattens you back against the wall.

excitement surges through your body and you reach up to trail your fingers across the side of his jaw, under his ear, and onto the back of his head, tugging at the hairs on the base of his skull.

your other hand releases his shirt and begins to trail down his abdomen and towards the buckle of his belt.

his hand shoots down, catching yours tightly, and you freeze, breaking your kiss.

you suck in a breath, your head feeling dizzy, and john tightens his hold on your hand, almost painfully so.

his chest heaves up and down and he looks as though he barely has any semblance of self-control. “this doesn't change a fucking thing,” he says gruffly. “understand?”

you shake your head, swallowing thickly. “i don't care.”

and you don’t - it just feels good to have his hands on you again. rougher, more calloused than before. his hold is almost violent as if he truly doesn’t care about your wellbeing. but it’s still him. there is an underlying familiarity of his hands on your skin.

it strikes you, suddenly, that he hadn’t had sex in three years.

that’s fine, you think. neither had you.

which is probably what explains what you do next: you sink down to your knees.

john immediately releases your hand and begins working his belt and undoing the button of his pants.

he winds his hand in your hair, tightly, painfully and you get to work.

the groan that rumbled low in his throat sends a desire through you that you haven’t felt in years. you move enthusiastically, opening your eyes in time to see him tip his head back, a low curse slipping from his lips. something about it sends a rush of exhilaration through you. you can feel your mascara stinging your eyes, but you don’t care.

it isn’t long before john tugs sharply on your hair, pulling you to your feet. he backs you against the wall and kisses you harshly, teeth clashing. he sucks your lower lip into his mouth, scraping his teeth over it. you wince, but he doesn’t seem to notice.

he reaches down and slides his hands around the backs of your thighs. he grips them tightly, likely leaving bruises, and lifts you up.

your legs instinctively wrap around his torso, and he begins walking you further into the tiny apartment. his lips suddenly latch around the sensitive point at the base of your throat, his teeth scraping the skin.

the little whine that slips out was completely outside of your control. “john,” you whimper, breathlessly. “i—”

one large hand shoots to back of your head, the other sliding under your ass to help support you as you still cling to his waist.

he balls his fist into your hair and tugs harshly, tilting your head back forcefully. “stop talking,” he growls in your ear.

he ungraciously drops you down onto his bed. your back has barely touched the lumpy mattress before he’s on you, pulling at your clothes.

your head spins as his hands swiftly work their way up and down your now exposed body. not in the loving and generous way like he used to, but in a selfish and aggressive way, groping and grasping your flesh like a man starved.

he isn't patient nor gentle with he pushes himself into you. “fuck,” he hisses through his teeth.

he grabs a hold of your wrists, one in each hand, and pins them to the mattress as he rolls and snaps his hips back and forth against yours.

he shifts his weight forward and it was possible you felt pain prick in your wrist bones as he does. you really don’t notice as you are riding a high that is building quickly and zealously.

after years of being touch starved, it doesn’t take much to undo you. the familiarity of the two of you coming together makes your heart race and your head spin.

every time he pushes into you, you shift your hips up to meet his, which elicits that same guttural groan from deep in his throat, that you heard before.

that sound from him, his matched enthusiasm, is the last thing you need to tip you over the edge. “i'm—” you gasp, screwing your eyes shut. “i'm going to—”

without slowing his pace, john releases one of your wrists and clamps his hand over your mouth, his hand covering the entire lower half of your face.

white spots dance behind your eyelids as you reach your peak. john’s pace doesn’t slow as you ride through your high, whining and moaning behind his hand as the post-orgasm sensitivity makes you begin to whimper.

his hands tighten on your face and wrist, and he leans down, pushing himself further against you, his face pressed into the crook of your neck, grunting as he finished.

his wild beard scratches your skin, and you feel his sharp breaths hot against your throat.

he lifts his head, his eyes meeting yours. for a moment, neither of you move, but you feel his hand loosen on your mouth. you pant hard, your chest, slick with sweat, rising and falling against his.

you only now notice that he hadn't even gotten undressed.

you wait for him to collapse onto the mattress next to you like he always had in the past, but instead, he pushes himself up and climbs off the bed. he stands there, looking at you as you laid still, a panting, sweaty mess. his eyes rake down your body one last time before he turns and walks towards the adjoining bathroom.

as he left you there, he said one thing, his voice gravelly and his tone impassive.

“you can show yourself out.”

part 4

masterlist

—-

TAGLIST: @fruitymoonbeams-blog @evergreenfields

[magic-shop-stories]

how would bts react to their kids being disrespectful towards their wife?

💌 Reply:

Ahh, I hope this is what you wanted... I took me way too long, but I got so many ideas while writing this.

This blog is honestly turning into BTS Parent AU (crying in orphan) - I started with a J-Hope Dad fic and end up writing Dad Headcanons for whole Bangtan - well, it kinda heals my childhood lol...

Thanks for the Request and feel free to reach out 💜 and HAVE FUN reading ✨️✨️

“Respect isn’t a rule, it’s the soil we grow in. If you poison it, nothing blooms.”

NAMJOON

Philosopher-leader

introspective

values growth through empathy & dialogue

Reaction & Consequences

Initial Response:

when he hears the disrespect, his grip tightens on whatever he’s holding, knuckles whitening

closes his eyes for a beat, exhaling through his nose

you know how his jaw clenches? THAT!!!

his voice is low but steady, deliberate calm masking his hurt

“That language isn’t acceptable. Let’s take a walk.”

Internal Feelings: 

disappointment curdles in his chest

mentally files it away to process later

blames himself first before focusing on guiding his child

Teaching Moment

Nature Walk

takes his child to a quiet park or riverbank

points to tangled tree roots: 

“See how they hold each other up? Families are like that. When you hurt Mom, you shake our roots.” 

asks them to find a smooth stone and toss it into water

“Words are like ripples, once they’re out, you can’t take them back.”

Punishment

1) Apology Letter & Reflection Essay

his child writes two things

heartfelt apology to their mom, including specific examples of her sacrifices

A 1-page reflection on “How My Words Impact Others,” using a metaphor; e.g., “Anger is fire,it burns the person holding it too”

2) Community Service

would volunteer with his child at a local community garden for a weekend

“You’ll water plants and see how care grows something beautiful. Like Mom does for us.”

3) Lost Privileges

no screen time (tablet, TV) until both letters are completed to his standards

Internal Conflict

Self-Doubt:

later, he vents in his journal

 “Did I overreact? Am I too abstract for them to understand?” 

worries his calmness comes off as indifference

Frustration & Compassion

part of him wants to yell "How dare they hurt her?" but he swallows it, knowing anger won’t teach

instead, texts his wife: 

“I’m sorry you had to hear that. We’ll fix this together.”

Guilt

buys her favorite latte and leaves it on her desk with a sticky note

“You’re our bedrock. Thank you for enduring my learning curves too.”

Follow-Up

Family Meeting

gathers everyone to discuss “healthy communication.”

uses a whiteboard to map emotions

e.g., “When you’re angry, here’s how we express it without explosions”

lets his child lead part of the discussion

Ritual

starts a weekly “Gratitude Stone” tradition

each family member drops a painted stone into a bowl while sharing something they appreciate about the others

the bowl stays on the dining table as a visual reminder

_________________________________________

“Respect your mom, or I’ll revoke your WiFi and your right to laugh at my jokes. And trust me, you need both to survive.”

JIN

playful disciplinarian

fiercely protective

humor as a bridge to vulnerability

nurturing with a side of theatrics

Reaction & Consequences

Initial Response:

Dramatic Flair

whirls around, clutching his chest like a K-drama lead

“Yah! Did I just hear disrespect in this household? To the woman who gave you life? Are you a villain in a weekend drama now?” 

his voice drops, dead serious

“Apologize. Properly. Now.”

Body Language

looms over his child (playfully intimidating), arms crossed

winks at his wife to reassure her he’s handling it

Internal Feelings

hot flash of anger - How dare they hurt her?

masks it with humor to avoid scaring his kid

secretly wonders - Did I joke too much about respect? Is this my fault?

Teaching Moment

Cooking Lesson Consequences

drags his kid to the kitchen

“You think parenting is easy? Let’s see you handle dinner.” 

carefully forces them to peel garlic, chop onions, and stir a bubbling pot while he “supervises” from a stool

Metaphor Time

 “Mom’s like this stew, holds everything together. You insult her, the whole family falls apart. You wanna taste chaos? Here...” 

lets them sip over-salted broth

“See? Without her balance, life’s spicy in the worst way.”

Punishment:

Apology Performance

he'd make them sing an apology parody of Super Tuna (Jin writes lyrics if they're younger/need help) (too personal opinion)

“I’m sorry, Mom, I was a fool / I broke the golden respect rule!”

complete with fish-themed choreography

Mom’s Personal Assistant

for a week, his kid acts as Mom’s “manager”

bringing her coffee, massaging her shoulders, and taking notes on her daily tasks

“You’ll learn how hard she works and say ‘Yes, Queen’ with a smile.”

No Joke Privilege

bans his child from his dad-joke sessions (their favorite bonding time) until they earn back trust

“Comedy’s a privilege for people who respect their co-stars.”

Internal Conflict

Guilt & Second-Guessing

after bedtime, he stress-eats kimchi pancakes in the kitchen

mutters to his wife: 

“Was I too harsh? Should I have hugged them first?” 

(if she reassures him, he still texts his mom at 2 a.m.)

“How did you not disown me when I was 13 and edgy?”

Protective Fury

secretly grinds his teeth remembering the disrespect

Humor as Armor

buys his wife expensive skincare “just because”

glares at hiskid’s homework like it personally offended her

cracks a joke during the apology song

“Your high note needs work, but the remorse is chef’s kiss”

makes sure his child knows he’s dead serious underneath

Follow-Up

Family Dinner Theater

institutes a weekly “Appreciation Roast” where everyone playfully roasts each other, but he'd end up praising his child and wife

“Your mom’s so amazing, she makes the sun jealous. Fight me.”

Secret Spy Mission

assigns his kid to stealthily document Mom’s daily acts of kindness (e.g., packing lunches, fixing Wi-Fi)

“Mom Appreciation PowerPoint.” = Jin adds meme slides for flair

_________________________________________

“Your anger’s a tool. Use it to fix what you broke, not break what she fixed.”

SUGA

stoic realist

quietly protective

values actions over empty words

emotionally reserved

deeply introspective

Reaction & Consequences

Initial Response:

Cold Silence

freezes mid-task (producing beats, fixing a coffee)

eyes narrowing to slits

voice drops to a low, icy register

“Repeat that. Slowly.” 

room chills, even the air feels heavier

Body Language

leans back in his chair, fingers steepled, jaw clenched

a vein pulses at his temple, the only tell of his simmering rage

Internal Feelings

visceral flashback to his teenage self snapping at his parents

guilt claws at him

“Am I failing like I thought he did?” 

referencing his own father’s emotional distance

Teaching Moment

Studio Session

drags his kid to his home studio at midnight

slams headphones onto them

“You’re angry? Scream. Spit it into the mic. Let’s hear exactly what’s rotting in your head.” 

records their raw, unfiltered outburst

plays it back, deadpan

“This what you want your legacy to be? Noise?”

Lyric Exercise

forces them to transform the rant into structured rap verses 

“Anger’s useless if it doesn’t build something. Mom’s your hook, write a chorus thanking her.”

Punishment

Gratitude Ledger

his child must document every thing Mom does for them for a week, down to folded socks

present it as a spreadsheet

 “Numbers don’t lie. Now apologize in data.”

Manual Labor

assigns them to clean the studio top-to-bottom

“You wanna disrespect the woman who cleans your messes? Learn the weight of it.”

Tech Ban

confiscates their phone/laptop until the rap is perfected

“You’ll communicate face-to-face like we did in the trenches.”

Internal Conflict

Fatherhood Ghosts

stares at old family photos late at night

his father’s stern face haunts him

“Will my kid remember me as a wall or a weapon?” 

texts his mom

“Did I ever make you feel small?” 

she replies with a heart emoji, he saves it but doesn’t sleep

Emotional Paradox 

wants to hug his child but fears coddling

leaves a new pair of sneakers (their size) outside their door -no note

Protective Rage

slips cash into his wife’s purse with a scribbled 

“Buy silence. Spa. Dinner. Whatever. I’ll handle the chaos.”

Follow-Up

Family Cypher

hosts a living room rap battle

he goes hardest on himself

“I’m a flawed king, but Mom’s the throne. Diss her again, and you’ll rap alone.” 

his kid’s verse earns a nod

“Better. Still trash flow, though.”

Silent Ritual

every Sunday, he and his child cook his mom’s kimchi jjigae recipe

no talking, just chopping, stirring, and passing ingredients

“Respect’s in the labor,” he mutters once, and his kid finally gets it

_________________________________________

”You can’t fake respect like a bad dance cover. Nail the basics, or you’re benched from my WiFi."

J-HOPE

radiant disciplinarian

structured yet warm

balances positivity with unwavering principles

thrives on growth through accountability

Reaction & Consequences

Initial Response:

The Judge Face Activated

the moment he hears the disrespect, his signature smile evaporates

eyes narrow into a laser-focused stare

brows furrowing into "courtroom glare."

stands tall, arms crossed, fingertips tapping his biceps

silent countdown to explosion

Voice

sharp and clipped, volume rising just enough to sting

“Hold. Up. Did you just speak to your mother like that? Do you need a mirror to see how ugly that sounded?”

Body Language

steps between his child and his wife, a protective shield

his usually animated hands now rigid at his sides, fists briefly clenching

Teaching Moment

Choreography of Consequences

”Respect Rehearsal”

forces his child to practice bowing and polite phrases

”Yes, Mom,” “Thank you, Mom” 50 times in front of a mirror “You wanna act up? Perfect your performance as a decent human first.”

Gratitude Graffiti

hands them poster boards and markers

“You have one hour to turn this disrespect into art. Every color is a reason Mom deserves better.” 

stands arms crossed, critiquing laziness

“That’s yellow effort. I’ve seen your TikToks, do rainbow.”

Hope’s Homework

assigns a essay titled ”How My Words Dance on Others’ Hearts”

must include a choreography metaphor

“If you can’t write it, we’ll literalize it. Ten pirouettes per paragraph.”

Internal Conflict

Post-Punishment Panic

“Was I too much? Did I break their spirit? What if they hate me now?” 

after sending his kid to their room, he paces the kitchen

stress-eating gummy bears

texts Jimin: 

”Hyung messed up. I went full dance captain on them 😭”

Guilty Glimpses

peeks into his child’s room later, heart aching if they’re crying

leaves a bowl of their favorite fruit with a note

”Anger fades. Love doesn’t. Let’s talk tomorrow.”

Wife Reassurance

kneads his wife’s shoulders that night, voice small

“Did I… overstep? I just... I couldn’t let them think it’s okay to dim your light.” he exhales shakily

Follow-Up

Apology Showcase

makes his child present their poster and essay at a “family meeting.”

he claps loudest, eyes misty

”This… this is hope, right? Growth!”

Kindness Choreo

creates a ”Respect Routine”

his child must perform one act of service for Mom daily (e.g., making her coffee, tidying her shoes)

Dance Floor Therapy

blasts upbeat music, pulling his kid into a silly dance-off. 

”Life’s a stage, yeah? But Mom’s the main audience. Never forget.”

_________________________________________

“You’re my blood. But if you cut her, I’ll bleed harder. Fix this.”

JIMIN

affectionate empath

fiercely loyal

balances warmth with unexpected intensity

prioritizes emotional harmony

Reaction & Consequences

Initial Response:

Surprising Fury

his doe eyes harden into a steel-gray glare

voice dropping to a razor-sharp whisper

“What did you just say to her?” 

steps closer, posture taut as a bowstring

“You don’t ever speak to Mom like that. Apologize. Now.”

Body Language

hands tremble slightly, not from fear, but suppressed rage

he grips his child’s shoulder, not roughly, but firm enough to ground them

“Look at her. Look at how you made her feel.”

Internal Feelings

flash of his own childhood guilt surfaces

that time he snapped at his mother during trainee stress

his anger is laced with panic: 

“Am I repeating cycles I swore to break?”

Teaching Moment

Emotional Bootcamp

Apology Art

forces his child to create a “Heart Map” collage

photos of Mom’s sacrifices, surrounded by handwritten apologies in every color

“If you can’t say it, show it.”

sits silently beside them, tears brimming as he points to a photo of Mom staying up late with homework

Role Reversal

makes them act out a skit where they’re the parent

Jimin plays them, mimicking their harsh tone

feigns sobbing into a pillow

“Feel good? Proud? This is what you did.”

Service Sentence

his child must take over Mom’s chores for a week, packing lunches, folding laundry

he supervises, arms crossed 

“You think her love is free? It’s labor. Respect it.”

Internal Conflict

Guilt Spiral

after confrontation, he locks himself in the bathroom, splashing water on his face

“Did I scare them? What if they think I’m a monster?” 

texts Jungkook: 

”Messed up. I sounded like a monster”

Midnight Check-In

creeps into his child’s room at 2 a.m., tucking them in

whispers

“I’m sorry I yelled. But Mom… she’s my soul. You can’t break her.” 

leaves a handwritten note: 

“Anger is love that’s bleeding. Let’s heal together.”

Wife’s Reassurance

clings to her that night, forehead pressed to her shoulder

“Tell me I’m not failing. Tell me they’ll still love me.”

Soft Family Resolution

Pillow Fort Summit:

builds a blanket fort in the living room

stuffed with snacks and fairy lights

initiates a feelings circle

“I’m sorry I yelled. I felt scared; scared we’d lose us.” 

“Love is sticky, yeah? Messy. But sweet when you knead it right.” 

encourages his child to share

pulls them into a cuddle pile

Baking Therapy

bakes cookies together, Jimin guiding their hands

feeds Mom the first bite, eyes soft

Dance of Apology

plays a slow song, swaying with his child

“This is how we say sorry without words.” 

by the end, they’re both laughing through tears

_________________________________________

“Disrespect your mom, and you erase the art of our family. I’ll burn the palette until you paint her properly.”

TAEHYUNG (V)

artistic empath

whimsical yet profound

values emotional depth and creativity

fiercely protective with a tender heart

Reaction & Consequences

Initial Response:

Quiet Intensity

his playful demeanor evaporates

tilts his head, eyes narrowing into a piercing gaze

voice low and steady

“Did I just hear you disrespect the universe that holds our family together?”

his tone is velvet wrapped in steel

Body Language

steps closer, crouching to his child’s level

hands clasped tightly behind his back to avoid trembling

“You think words are just air? They’re echoes. Let’s make sure yours don’t haunt us.”

Teaching Moment

Metaphor-Driven Lesson:

”Broken Vase” Analogy

brings out a delicate ceramic vase

smashes it deliberately

“This was us. Now fix it.” 

hands them glue, forcing them to piece it back

“Apologies are glue, but cracks remain. Choose your words wisely.”

Songwriting Therapy

drags his child to the piano

“Turn your anger into music. Write a chorus for Mom, every line a reason she’s our melody.” 

plays minor chords until his child’s lyrics shift from defiance to remorse

Silent Gallery

curates a “Mom Exhibit” in the living room

photos, her favorite scarf, a recipe card

forces his child to stand there for an hour

“Breathe in her soul. Then tell me she deserves disrespect.”

Consequence

1) Art Ban

revokes access to paints, instruments, or cameras until the vase is repaired and the song is performed for Mom

“Creativity is a privilege. Use it to heal, not harm.”

2) Memory Journal: 

assigns a diary to log daily acts of kindness from Mom 

“Fill 10 pages. Then burn one and see how it feels to erase her love.”

3) Shadow Day: 

his child must follow Mom for 24 hours, documenting her tasks in a sketchbook

“You’ll learn her language of love—it’s spelled S-A-C-R-I-F-I-C-E.”

Internal Conflict

Doubt in Darkness

late at night, he stares at the fractured vase on his shelf

texts Jin: 

“Hyung, what if I’m too abstract? What if they don’t see?” 

vowing, “I’ll be the parent who stays in the frame.”

Guilt in Gestures

secretly films Mom’s daily routine, editing it into a montage set to his child’s song

leaves it on their laptop with a note: 

“Her love is your legacy. Don’t let it be a silent film.”

Protective Poetry

writes a letter he never sends: 

“I’d raze galaxies to keep you safe. Both of you.”

Resolution

Family Portrait Session

dresses everyone in coordinating hues

directing a photoshoot where Mom is the focal point

whispered to his child: 

“See how she outshines us all? That’s why we orbit her.”

Midnight Storytime

gathers them under fairy lights

recounting a fable about a boy who lost his voice after hurting his mother

ends with, “Love is the only language worth speaking.”

Collaborative Art

paints a mural together titled “Home.”

guides his child’s hand to outline Mom’s figure

“Without her, this canvas is empty. Now fill it with light.”

_________________________________________

“Disrespect Mom, and you’ll spar with me until your heart matches your mouth, strong enough to lift her, not tear her down.”

JUNGKOOK

gentle protector

resilient softie

leads by example

values hard work and emotional honesty

channels intensity into growth

Reaction & Consequences

Initial Response:

Silent Fury

freezes mid-rep at the gym, dumbbell hovering

his muscles tense like coiled springs

jaw clenched so tight his cheekbones sharpen

sets the weight down with deliberate calm, turns slowly, and locks eyes with his child

“You think you’re tough enough to disrespect your mom? Let’s test that.”

Body Language

cracks his knuckles, rolling his shoulders back

his gaze is volcanic

his voice stays eerily quiet

“Gym. Now. You wanna act hard? Be hard.”

Teaching Moment

Boxing Bootcamp

drags his kid to his home gym

forces them into gloves, pads him up, and drills combos

“Hit the pad. Harder. Harder. That’s your anger? Mom’s felt worse from your words.” 

makes them sprint between rounds

“Respect isn’t a game, it’s a discipline.”

Breakdown: mid-session, he stops, chest heaving

“You think I’m mad? I’m terrified. Because if you break her heart, I don’t know if I can fix it.”

Punishment

Labor of Love: 

assigns 100 burpees (he does them too)

“Every rep is a ‘thank you’ for Mom’s sleepless nights.”

Gratitude Gauntlet

forces his kid to handwrite 50 reasons Mom “outworks them daily.”

critiques each one

“’She drives me to school’? Weak. Dig deeper. Sacrifice.”

Tech Timeout

confiscates gaming gear until they’ve detailed Mom’s daily schedule in a spreadsheet

“You’ll see her 18-hour shift. Then we’ll talk ‘fair.’”

Internal Conflict

Regret & Vulnerability

after the workout, he sits alone in the gym, head in hands

texts Yoongi:

”Hyung, did I go full drill sergeant? What if they hate me?” 

stares at a family photo on his phone, zooming in on his wife’s smile

Guilt Gifts

sneaks into his kid’s room at dawn, leaves protein pancakes and a new hoodie (their favorite anime print)

scrawls on a napkin

”Anger fades. My love for you doesn’t. But never hurt her again.”

Protective Paradox

books his wife a solo vacation, "growling" at his kid

 “You’re stuck with me. We’re rebuilding what you cracked.”

Soft Resolution

Sparring Therapy

returns to the gym days later, gloves on

this time, he lets his child hit his pads while venting

“I get it, anger’s easy. Loving’s harder. But Mom? She’s worth the reps.” 

ends with a fist bump

Tattoo Talk

shows them his “ARMY” tattoo

“This means I fight for what I love. You’ll earn yours when you learn to fight for her, not against.”

Family Night

teaches self-defense moves

positioning Mom as the “VIP to protect.”

his kid must shield her from his playful attacks

“Guard her like she’s your last round.”

_________________________________________

[maxpilote]

I started replaying Mass Effect because I wanted to romance Garrus Vakarian. But because I'm a weird ass, I couldn't JUST play Mass Effect 2 and 3. And because I play at weird hours and have access to the internet, I've had a running commentary going on my Facebook.

Things I have said about the Mass Effect trilogy, thus far:

I love the first Mass Effect game but Bioware is a coward for not letting my romance Garrus Vakarian until the sequel. LET ME HUG MY DINOSAUR BOYFRIEND!

Garrus in ME1: You know, you've shown me that it's always worth doing the right thing, even if it's a hard decision. I'm going back to C-Sec. Garrus in ME2: My moral compass died so now I'm Batman.

Garrus: I hope you know what you're doing. That's the secret. I don't.

Do I love Mass Effect 2 as a game? Yes. Do I hate the cover system almost as much as I hate certain CEOs? Also yes.

I'm sorry but a fucking Batarian lecturing me on my moral choices is a fucking laugh.

I'm really trying to be mostly paragon but that reporter really be testing my patience. I did not come back from the dead for this bitch to needle me.

Honestly, the biggest difference between ME1 and ME2 is that Shepard not only has more of a personality, but can also swing wildly to both extremes of said personality. Yea, I'll help this guy not bleed out. But I'm gonna be a bitch about it. And that's paragon. ME 2 Shep just woke up from being dead and is frankly over everyone's shit.

Seriously. Shepard woke up from being dead and decided that she was just fucking over all this bullshit. Even the paragon options have an edge of anger to them. lol

Bruh. After you break Jack out of prison, a guy named Billy sends you a very cheerful message saying that he has to kill you because you shot at him. LOL Okay. Go off, dude.

The struggle with paragon and renegade actions is constantly mixing up my right and left! lol

There should have been a side quest where you're doing something important and then Billy shows up. And it's just played for laughs. Oh, that would have been a perfect little addition to the Citadel DLC.

I ran out of witty things to say because I did the Kasumi loyalty mission. Not only did she make me wear a dress, but the mission was bugged and I had to restart the final fight three times.

I forgot about the greatest character in Mass Effect 2: The asari matriarch working in the bar on Illium who has a Krogan dad and really likes asses.

I kick a guy out of a window and Garrus "Archangel" Vakarian said that I was being harsh??? We will talk about this later!!

Every now and again, Miranda says something I agree with and then I want to punch myself in the mouth.

What I thought my Shep should have said after the Samara recruitment mission: "I don't know what the fuck an Ardat-Yakshi is but I know it's about to be my problem."

Me: I hate Miranda. Miranda: I hate myself. Me: Okay. It's not fun if we both do it.

Samara: Shepard, you're going to be bait for my murderous daughter. You'll need to go in alone and unarmed. Garrus, standing five feet away: Excuse me??

I can barely flirt with Garrus and he's an awkward dork. I think Samara has way too much faith in my ability to be smooth. Ma'am, I just got back from a mission where I head butted a krogan!

I love Kal'Reegar. You got a question? Best go ask the nerds. He's just there to kill shit.

Shepard. Everytime you touch a Prothean artifact, something goes terribly wrong. MAYBE STOP TOUCHING THEM!

FFS WHY is Cerberus letting me keep an INERT PROTHEAN ARTIFACT on my COFFEE TABLE!? They have to know my history with these things.

[ellestra]

Beyond the Wasteland of Vengeance

I just watched Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and I loved it. It was hard at times as this is a harsh world and the rule of prequels tells us who has to die. But it was so worth it. We already know this is story of hope in the end. We know how Furiosa's Fury Road ends. It's starts with the same unrelenting determination (like the way she makes sure no one could tell of her home).

The cast is great (even if Chris Hemsworth fake face is somewhat distracting) but I think the most impressive was Alyla Browne who is Furiosa much longer than I expected for a film marketing Anya Taylor-Joy so heavily. She has some of the most badass parts (if you thought you hated Immortan Joe's sons before... well, thinking of their deaths is even more satisfying now). She is also made look so alike Anya that I initially missed the moment they switched.

But Immortan Joe and his band of monsters are just background creeps showing the decay of the world in general. The main villain is the one who took everything she loved from Furiosa. And didn't even remember half of it because he destroyed so many lives hers was nothing special. The one who set her on this path.

There is something sad about Dementus. You can almost feel, not compassion, but at least pity. You can see glimpses of a person he used to be before children died and you see how the end of the world destroyed him. It's like the voiceovers at the beginning describe what happened to his mind and soul when everything fell apart.

He's embodiment of that rot (and him going through white to red to black phases makes it even more clear). And he destroys everything he touches. At least the lords of Citadel, Bullet Farm and Gas Town built something. Something horrible and cruel but something. He can only destroy. He thinks finding Abundance will save him but he will only destroy that too. As I said, allegory.

Furiosa is his opposite because she doesn't let the cruelty of the world destroy her like this. She doesn't let the rot take hold of her and use her to spread. She never trusts the monsters surrounding her and she doesn't believe any of their promises. There is no safety in just letting them do that one thing. The cruelty will not end and will not be just that one thing.

I loved how she never stopped fighting. Not during her kidnapping. Not during her imprisonment. And then she found a way to escape one into another and then escape that one too. Using the very way those men wanted to poses her to plan her escape. Even when she loses her way home (figuratively and literally) to have her revenge it doesn't last. Even if she needed help in to follow her dream.

It's hard to trust in this world because a single act of kindness may cost you everything. But not everyone is evil. Even in Wasteland she finds someone who actually gives her help she needs. Someone she wishes to share her goal with. This films actually did "not all men" and it was great because it was earned but also because it helped explain why she would trust Max eventually. She already knew there are ones you can trust.

I tried to be pretty generic so far but behind this cut are SPOILERS for the very end (even though I don't say what it actually is - you can watch it yourself).

That ending was perfect both as foreshadowing who she will become but also as a callback to the beginning of the movie. Dementus tried to make her his daughter and use her to replace his children but she rejected him completely. Even if that was just swapping one monster for a bunch of even worse ones. And here at the ends he gloats about turning her into his daughter anyway. One in spirit anyway.

That like him she becomes creature of revenge and cruelty that nothing will ever satiate. Someone so obsessed with vengeance she will never stop even when the other side just want to leave (the mirroring of all the time he chased his prey and her chasing him was pretty nice). He thinks his death would just seal the deal because his suffering will never be great enough to soothe her pain.

You know, your standard - you will become like me spiel a villain does in moment like these. And lesser movies have heroes let villain go to prove them wrong (and then he tries to kill the hero anyway so the hero can have “my life was in danger” excuse to kill them anyway).

And she does lets him live but she doesn’t let him win. Once again she rejects him just like she did as a child. She remakes him into a symbol of her new purpose. She creates life out of a rotten man who did nothing but destroy lives of those around him. She makes him suffer for all the suffering he caused but that suffering is to build something new. And to create hope and future for those who have been abused by men like him.

And just like he asked she made it epic but as one last “fuck you” to him trying to control her story no one knows (well, almost no one). It’s epic and it’s a secret.

There is also something poetic that Furiosa eventually took over the Citadel - something he wanted so badly and never achieved. It retroactively made ending of Mad Max: Fury Road even better. And since it only took few days of them being gone he’s probably still there as she remakes it into the new Green Place.

[lunalit-river]

Overinterpreting Aizawa. The important character to bring out L's humanity.

Inspired by this post by @moonnote31

I never had too much hate for Aizawa. I believe he’s a character who brings out L’s gentleness and human side, and he also represents the perspective of an ordinary police officer in a high-profile case.

Ukita's Death

He cared about Ukita on a 'nakama' (仲間) level, and his response was exactly how a 'nakama' would react (imagine Luffy's relationship with the crew members.) L’s immediate decision to stop Aizawa from going to Sakura TV shows how L always acts on logic. (It's very different from a typical human, so I'd rather think manga L is more like an alien.)

Aizawa was frustrated, grabbing L and demanding to know why he stopped him from going to Sakura TV. And L’s response revealed that he did care. Without being the moral compass, we wouldn't see how L thinks of the task force, which is that he does care, but expresses it differently.

Resignation from the Task Force

When the NPA cut off support to the task force, it forced the members to choose whether to stay or leave. Most task force members were likely single and unattached, able to devote themselves entirely to the case.

Compare Soichiro and Aizawa, both men with families.

Soichiro’s "devotion" is rooted in sacrificing his family. Sadly, that’s often considered acceptable in the police force — a field shaped by masculine ideals that prioritize duty over home life. The Yagami family, financially secure and with grown children, could afford that kind of sacrifice.

Aizawa, as the sole breadwinner of the family, with a daughter still very young, needs to think about their future. Even though he worked in a traditionally masculine field that prioritizes duty over family,

[This could be traced back to how Confucianism's cultural influence on asian moral beliefs. Sacrificing yourself for a greater good was something 'selfless' and upheld. Confucianism impacted bushido (samurai morals), and bushido developed its own moral code. However, the self-sacrifice for a greater good and justice is still embedded in bushido. Personally, Soichiro is a very typical kind of bushi-type character and moral IMO.]

Aizawa still places his family equal, or at least no less important than his work. I personally think if Aizawa did stay in the task force and anything happened to him, it was pursuing a greater good, and sacrificing fairness to one's family, is also creating another injustice.

Probably no one else experienced more struggle and fear aside from Aizawa.

If it were not for Aizawa's situation, we wouldn't have seen how L would choose in this scenario.

This Reddit post discusses why L had to 'test' Aizawa.

A more emotional take by u/OmegaRebirth

He wanted Aizawa to leave so Aizawa could take care of his own family. He is the sole breadwinner of his family and unlike the Yagami family who has a top scoring university student that has a bright future and a father that had saved a lot more money, Aizawa has a daughter that wasn't even in high school.

My pragmatic take:

L needs 100% loyalty from the people who are working with him. He is always suspicious of everyone and everything, therefore he had to have 100% devoted task force. He doesn’t want loyalty to be a transaction, because that implies it’s conditional or negotiable.  That's why initially he didn't tell everyone that he would provide financial support. A case like the Kira case, L cannot risk any possibility of betrayal. It would not only result in his own death, but also perhaps the whole task force.

Combining both concerns, Aizawa's situation made L think about more aspects, on the pragmatic level and also the emotional, human side, which would be concerns for Aizawa's family. Instead of L testing Aizawa, for the audience and L fans, it was more like Aizawa becomes a narrative test for L, and L passes by choosing compassion over control. Whether it was a pragmatic or emotional choice to make Aizawa leave, it was a humane choice. To protect Aizawa's family, or to protect the task force from betrayal.

If L had malice, he could continue to use Aizawa, or use his family against him to make sure Aizawa was loyal, instead of providing financial support (or maybe both). Seems a more powerful way to control this person's loyalty, right? But L didn't do that.

If it were not Aizawa, we wouldn't see how L chooses, and therefore, we wouldn't have a glimpse of a more considerate, human L. (still going back to discussing L, I'm sorry)

[missmoonfrost]

Want to watch a movie? - a wolfstar microfic

@wolfstarmicrofic - January 13: First Murder - Words: 682 - Warning: mention of murder

The flat always seemed extra noisy when one of them was about to return from a mission, the floor creating sudden creaks or the wind making weird whistling noises in the ventilation to make Sirius jump and glance towards the door. At least this time Remus wasn't late. If anything, he was unexpectedly early.

"Hi", he smiled wearily and shuffled his feet inside.

Sirius was with him in an instant, hugging him closely. The time for worrying about what the other thought about showing too much emotion was over. With the war, there was no room for that. Thinking back, the way they had danced around each other now just seemed childish.

Remus sat down on the sofa with a sigh and Sirius shuffled close to his side, soaking up the bliss of Remus' arm around him and face nuzzling in his hair.

"Are you okay?" Always the same first question.

"Mm. Are you?"

"Yes."

Remus stroked up and down his arm until he stilled and Sirius felt him drawing a tense breath. Remus chewed on his lip and looked at the floor.

"I... I killed one of them." A quick glance up at Sirius, then he looked at the floor again.

"Oh, Remus! Oh, baby..." Sirius wrapped both arms around his neck and held him in a tight embrace.

"I’m okay", Remus protested. "We all know what we signed up for, right?"

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He looked at Sirius for a moment, then shook his head.

"I need to write a report. Then I'm thinking a shower and an early night."

Sirius kept a close eye on Remus while he went about his day just like he used to. It was funny, Sirius had always imagined he would be the first of them to have to cross that threshold. An aspect of the curse of violence in his blood he had worked so hard to disprove, yet had somehow still believed. Maybe it was for the best this way? Remus had always been the stronger one of them. Proven now if not sooner.

Sirius silently tried the thought, if this changed anything. Did the fact Remus seemed so unaffected bother him? No. All he felt was compassion.

When Remus had unpacked and emerged from the shower Sirius had dinner ready and was plating the coffee table.

“Want to watch a movie while we eat?”

“Sounds perfect. I’ll just throw some clothes on.”

Sirius turned on the TV, then heard cursing from the kitchen and went to investigate. He walked in on Remus, always calm and kind Remus, kicking a cupboard door.

“Sorry, I just can’t find the pumpkin soda…” he mumbled with a hand over his eyes in embarrassment, ”I know I had some and I know you don’t even like it and -”

“I put it in the fridge for you,” Sirius said in a flat voice.

“Oh. Thank you,” Remus said and wiped his eyes.

When Remus didn’t move, Sirius opened the fridge and got a can out for him, only to see more tears appear just as quickly as Remus wiped them away.

“Oh, love…” Sirius put his arms around Remus.

“Sorry I’m such a baby”, Remus mumbled and pressed his forehead into Sirius' shoulder.

“This is not about the soda, is it?”

With a jolt, Remus pulled Sirius with him to the floor where they both ended up on their knees. Remus cried so much he had to gasp for air, clinging to Sirius as if his life depended on it. Sirius held him close and stroked his hair until he eased his grip and sobbed:

“I don’t regret it. That’s the worst part! I would do it again if I had to. I just wish… that it didn’t have to be like this.”

“I know. Me too, love. I’m so sorry.”

Eventually, Remus sighed deeply and kissed Sirius, their equally wet cheeks and salty lips pressing against each other.

“Still want to watch a movie with me?”

“Of course, baby. Whatever you want.”

Remus smiled faintly. “Something animated where everyone is kind.” 

[evanhereonearth]

They have both known the terror of disappearing in plain sight.

With every eye on them, with upturned faces watching them in hope, pleading with them for deliverance. With the ferocity of enemies turned upon them, with everyone certain they know exactly who stands at the forefront of the revolution, the movement, the breaking wave of history—they have both been caught by the riptide and dragged under where there souls can no longer breathe.

“You came here to help, Solas. I won’t let them use that against you.”

“And how would you stop them?”

“However I had to.”

The simple first moments of seeing and being seen. A spirit long since wrenched from the Fade and given physical form he didn’t seek, waking in a world where no one sees him as a person. A prisoner turned religious icon looks him in the eye and says she agrees that spirits are people. And he recognises the spirit in her for as rare and marvellous as any he’s seen.

Quiet curiosity. Trust. Patience. Love.

The brutality of trauma. The bonds of desperation. The self-rejection of long-festering shame. Sowing seeds in the hopes that they will not die, that something of the truest self will remain no matter the tales the world tells of either of them. Murderer. Traitor. Heretic. Hero. Harellan.

This is the journey. The paths had to diverge, had to give time to those seeds to sprout and bear fruit.

But love. Oh, love, building back self under the weight of the world. Stretching out roots that allow a spirit to grow.

Acceptance. Grace.

He is still Wisdom. He knows the burden of a wound that turns septic; he remembers the regret of his own naïveté and will not take advantage of hers no matter how healing her heartbeat against his.

And she learns.

She learns as he walks away twice. As she feels him in the Fade, returning, always returning. To her. To her heart, where he hides his truest self.

“Tell me you don’t love me!”

“I cannot do that, vhenan.”

She learns the weight of his regrets and the wisdom of his reasons. She seeks out the din’an shiral not to blindly follow but to walk beside; she gives him the space he needs.

She knows the paths cannot help but converge.

She finds those seeds sprouting in her heart, the truest knowledge of seeing and being seen—that he trusted her with himself because he knew the world would wound him from Wisdom into Pride anew, and he needed the shelter of her heart of Grace. So someone would remember Solas instead of Fen’Harel.

When she finds her understanding, she tends to the vines that grow between their hearts. She does not sever them. She has planted seeds of her own in his; her faithfulness and her compassion, her ferocity in believing he is worthy of being saved.

She knows his deepest fear, and she watches him face it on that fateful day when their paths converge once more, watches him walk towards an endless future of being alone until his death. The finality of forever.

Her power, her Wisdom, her strength to take up her path by his side.

“I will go to seek atonement.”

“But you do not have to go alone.”

So much love in simple words. So much truth beneath their surface.

You are worthy of healing, she says.

You are worthy of forgiveness, she says.

You are worthy of grace, she says.

And we have waited long enough.

[veryace-ficrecs]

BatFam Fluff Fic Recs

This list will include all ratings and tags, so read at your own discretion! :)

Of A Genius' Legacy by sparkoflena - Not Rated

What is the point of being a child genius with an eidetic memory if that brain can't be used to catch up on a lacking education? OR Tim takes a couple of months off in order to catch up on two and a half years of school all in one go - and graduates high school. He knows he deserves a celebration. He just didn't expect his whole family to show.

Cat Dad by Nanimok - Rated G

How Tim went from being unattached to a cat dad of three and ends up solving the mystery of Gotham's missing vigilantes.

The Right Substitution is Key by AddictedApple - T

“The Red Hood has been good for Gotham,” Robin continued. “Crime in Park Row decreased by sixty one percent almost as soon as you showed up, and that’s even taking into account all the crime you commit. Drug overdoses have decreased by twenty two percent in adults and seventy nine percent in minors. Homeless minors are ninety two percent less likely to—” “Kid,” Jason interrupted. “Enough statistics. What the hell is this about?” Robin slowly lowered the tablet with his powerpoint presentation and looked up at Red Hood. “You care about Gotham,” Robin summarised. “Gotham needs Batman. Batman is missing and so is Nightwing. We need you to fill in for Batman.” “You want me to cover Batman’s patrols?” Jason clarified. “No,” Robin said. “I want you to be Batman.” Jason bluescreened. (Or: Batman and Nightwing mysteriously disappear before Red Hood has even started antagonising them, Robin is desperate, Gotham needs Batman, and Red Hood is Batman-Shaped.)

First Priority by avaya29 - Rated T

After Tim completely derails Jason’s beatdown attempt by asking him for a hug, Jason’s first priority is to get this touch-starved kid more cuddles. Tim’s first priority is to avoid Dick’s traps. Jason learns a lot about his brothers and what happened while he was away, and something about himself too.

Tag, You're It by K1tsun3_Kats (S13222) - Rated T

“Fine!” Jason raised his gun, growling, “If you don’t surrender, I’ll just shoot you myself.” Barbara paused then turned back around. “You wouldn’t.” “Why does everyone keep saying that!” “Because you never do it.” “I shot Dick!” She gave him a pointed look. “It’s Dick.” OR The Batfam play an unorthodox version of Tag involving lots of paint and lots of blood. Jason suffers.

Midnight by Cephalogod - Rated G

Drabble writing challenge, prompt word "Midnight" Featuring Steph, Damian, snacks and late-night TV watching.

Can you get the light? by ALzzza - Rated G

Dick doesn’t at all lose his pout, brow furrowing. Bruce reaches over to tug at his cape only for Dick’s hand to immediately dart out and bat him away. He shifts from Bruce’s side, nearly rolling away. Bruce twists as he loses sight of him. Dick’s escape ends in him collapsed into his pillows; cape pulled over his head. “Hmm.” Bruce looks to Alfred after a moment, to which Alfred sends him a dry look. “Couldn’t barter the cape?” Alfred’s eyes narrow as if this is entirely Bruce’s influence. Or I had a very abrupt thought of ‘omg do you think dick ever refused to take off his robin suit as a kid’ and here we are

I never knew I could want something so much, but it's true by BlueBedo - Rated G

Or, Bruce finally gets to hold a baby.

For decades now, that young boy has perplexed both Bruce and Batman alike. Whether it be inhuman acrobatics that Bruce hadn't thought possible, a pure love and compassion for the world that Batman had forgotten long ago, or the challenge of parenthood on someone long-believed to be a child himself - Dick was the cause of all Bruce's happiest moments, greatest heartbreaks, and strongest migraines.

This, however? This takes the cake

Wayne Publishing (Or, How to Make Bruce Cry) by Lumeleo - Rated T

Tim has a new project: Wayne Publishing. He drags everyone else into it.

to float around (and ghost my friends) by couldyoublameme - Rated G

Tim hiked a thumb over his shoulder, glancing warily behind him before lowering his voice. “Is Red Hood sitting at our dining table?” Duke nodded, firmer this time. “Uh, yeah. Think so.” “Right,” Tim stared at him for a long moment, eyes narrowed but also slightly glazed over, and then continued his well-worn path to the coffee machine. “Quick follow up question, then. Um, why is Red Hood sitting at our dining table?” Duke blinked. “Oh. Does that... Is that not normal?” -- 5 times Jason showed up randomly around his family, and the 1 time they came to him

[irmise]

I dreamed about you

After so many years of waiting, here is finally the epilogue of this love story... And of course, Michonne occupies all his thoughts, she is his strength in trying to escape, the letters he writes to her, the drawings of her allow him to keep a little hope even when everything seems desperate. He is ready to cut off his hand to escape because whatever happens, his wife, his daughter will always remain his only  choice.

From their first interaction in TOWL, we see a parallel with their last: both moments come straight from Rick's imagination and they both highlight the importance that Michonne has in his life.

Rick was left hallucinating on that bridge telling Michonne that she was his family and that he had found her. Michonne telling him why she fell in love with him, because he never gave up. Even in agony, he remembers that she believes in him. It's seeing her that gives him the strength to get up and try to fight one last time.

And now, torn from his family, it's her he dreams about, in a world without apocalypse, he dreams of what could have been their first meeting. Michonne appears to show him the road to take when he is lost, she believes in him to find his way.

Isn’t that what she’s always done? The one who believed in him when everyone else doubted, when HE doubted himself. She didn't have to be on the same page to know that he would always do what was right in the end. She always showed him the right direction. I remember writting on an old post: "Rick guides Alexandria, Michonne guides Rick" : She always believed in his leadership and she was his compass to guide him and she still is in his dream.

That’s the most beautiful here, in a single dream we find their dynamic, the one we have seen since the start of their journey.

Are you where you want to be ? That's the whole question. Where he wants to be is close to her, it's where he feels safe, it's near her that he feels stronger. So much so that this place he is looking for in this dream no longer matters because he found her.

She became his family, his reason to be happy and to believe in the future even after the darkest times, even after Carl. She once asked him “Don’t you want one more day with a chance?” and he agreed to follow her and hold on to a little hope. And today, even far from her, it’s dreaming of her that keeps him going.

The second dream bears so many parallels too, Michonne with her white dress, like the dream of what a happy ending would have been for Rick in an ideal world.

It made me think about Glenn's death when Rick imagined this moment with all the family he had created in this apocalyptic world. I thought of this scene because of the white dress Michonne was wearing. I remember that at that time, I said to myself that there must be something symbolic in him imagining her in a white dress.

And there we are, her wearing a white dress again and him asking her to marry him. Michonne, his wife, that's his purpose...

The two of them can get through anything and even in his dreams it's a certainty. Together they are invicible by the strength that each gives to the other: "We can make this whole damn world ours if we want to". Like an echo of what he had said to her one day, when nothing seemed impossible with her by his side... “The world’s ours, and we know how to take it”.

He needs her to get there even if it's only in a dream because as she tells him before he wakes up, she believes in him as always...

And that's the problem… All his dreams, his letters, these drawings on these phones, are so many hopes that he must erase if he really wants to be able to become the "savior" that Okafor asks him to be. Agree to forget the love of his life to try to save as many people as possible, sacrificing the little hope he had left. Because even if he found a way to escape, he would put her and their family in danger if only because Okafor found his letter... Rick finally understands that he must give up. And that's also what this episode was about, Rick who gradually loses hope of finding his family, to the point of wanting to kill himself, to the point of no longer dreaming of Michonne, to the point of destroying everything which allowed him to fight.

So desperate that when Michonne takes off his helmet in the last scene he has his eyes closed ready to accept his fate until he opens his eyes and faces hope.

And that's their story isn't it ? She always appears when he's lost, to guide him.

[moattemptstoarticulate]

"We need more complex characters!" You guys couldn't even handle Gale Hawthorne.

This is going to be a controversial post and probably very long, but I am and have always been a Gale Hawthorne defender. Not necessarily an apologist but I am a firm believer that the amount of hate he receives through-out the series is largely unwarranted.

I do think this is partially due to the fact that a lot of people who read the books did so when they were too young to fully understand the message. It being marketed as a young adult uprising story, similar to other dystopian series released at the time meant that the critique of politics and war theory wasn’t something entirely comprehensible to the audience it was aimed at. This is partially why Gale versus Peeta is minimised to a simple love triangle when it holds so much more nuance than that. 

As I said, what a lot of people seem to do when we look at Peeta versus Gale is treat it entirely as a love triangle and minimise the nuance of the two characters and how they work against each other. Both are symbols of the two sides of war and in my opinion are meant to show Katniss a middle ground in her morals and what are the "justified" lengths someone is willing to take in order to achieve relative peace and freedom.

From the beginning of the trilogy we get an idea of the society that these characters live in which I believe is best shown through the tesserae system. Immediately it is apparent to the audience that district twelve is in extreme poverty with food being used as a manipulation tactic by the capitol. Gale, with his father dead and three younger siblings, is forced to have his name in the reaping forty-two times. This sets-up the world view that will shape these two characters and their paths for the rest of the books. They live in a system where you must pick between starving to death or increase your risk of dying in the arena. Gale is quick to condemn the capitol and suggest a way to rebel, saying he and Katniss should run away. Katniss at the beginning of the books has become complicit in a system she cannot change. She doesn’t think that voicing her anger will change anything and so she opts to stay quiet, this causes her to turn down Gale’s wishful request by pointing out the lack of practicality in his plan. Suzanne Collins, with this unsuspecting conversation, foreshadows Gale’s role in the books and in Katniss’ life.

Inherently Peeta serves as Katniss’ moral compass or conscience. There are a lot of subtle ways this dynamic is shown with Peeta. His hope, altruism and kindness shows Katniss one outlook on war and oppression during the course of the books. We see it first when he gives Katniss the bread from the bakery. A small but kind offer with no expectations which isn’t often seen in district twelve due to the society they function in. I also find it interesting that everyone Peeta kills through-out the books is either out of self-defense or mercy. He refuses to engage in violence as that’s what the Capitol wants. This mindset is persistent throughout the books. Peeta isn’t opposed to the revolution but he is firm in his stance that they should always do everything in their power to do the right thing and he believes that violence and sacrifice is not the right thing.

If we look at Peeta as Katniss’ conscience/moral compass, we can look at Gale as her sense of justice and rage. Gale, like Peeta, actually seems to be a very loving character, raising his family after his fathers death, Putting his name into the reaping a multitude of times in order to feed them and his love for Katniss (which he definitely had even if he didn’t do so in the best manner) The first real thing we learn about him past being Katniss' friend is that he is sacrificing his safety to feed his family. From the beginning we know Gale hates the Capitol and wants to rebel and after Katniss goes into the games he is forced to play along with Capitol propaganda, get brutally punished by Peacekeepers and watches district twelve get destroyed. His disdain is only amplified as the books go on and the tyranny of the Capitol persists. He believes that the ends always justify the means, even if it means extreme violence and sacrifice. He is incredibly angry and having not met anyone from the Capitol like Katniss and Peeta, struggles to humanise the casualties of the war.

Both of these outlooks are shown very clearly in the Mockingjay. Despite Peeta not agreeing with a violent rebellion, what I feel convinces Katniss to partake in it is when she sees Peeta on TV after being kidnapped by the Capitol. As I’ve established I feel Peeta is representing her conscience and what is considered the “right thing” to do. Katniss is convinced to join the rebellion in order to save her conscience, Peeta. Joining the rebellion, which Gale is a major part of, is the first time I think we see Suzanne Collins trying to convey that neither side is “right” and that to win a war there needs to be a middle ground.

Katniss is us as we watch both viewpoints and decide where we fall on this spectrum. We are shown the downsides of both ideologies. With Peeta getting hijacked and Gale getting dubbed the "Prim Reaper" by fans. As I’ve said Peeta isn’t un-political, but contrary to Gale he tries to rebel without violence but manipulation of the media. We see Peeta waving out the window of the train trying to charm Panem and again in the interview he plays along with Caesar's jokes. He aims to humanise himself and Katniss to Capitol citizens when he mentions the crush he has on her. He does so again when he says his infamous “if it wasn’t for the baby” line. Now I could give an in depth discussion on the commentary behind this line alone but not today. The main point I’m getting at is that Peeta knows how to play the media. We see that after this line, suddenly the Capitol citizens no longer agree with the Quarter Quell or the idea of the hunger games.

Peeta becomes a beloved figure because he does not blatantly voice his rebellion. It’s so subtle that the Capitol Citizens see him as complying to the regime with a joking smile as he discusses something as mundane as the smell of the showers. He talks about how the showers in the Capitol are much nicer. He is playing up to the idea that Capitol citizens believe, that they should feel lucky to be where they are and be treated so nicely. They are not aware, unlike Snow and the other tributes, that everything Peeta says in an act of subtle rebellion. He comes across as humble and charming and a little cheeky. In TBOSAS Snow comes up with ideas to get more people to watch the games. A quote directly from him explains why Peeta’s tactic works so well.

“If we need people to watch we should be letting them get closer to the tributes before the games. To make the stakes personal.”

Peeta never clearly insults or condemns the Capitol making it so no one can recognise his want for a revolution. He becomes personable and likable in order to plant the seeds in the minds of the viewers by being outwardly complicit yet lacing it with a message. When he says that he can never be with his crush because they’ve both gone into the arena together, it saddens the citizens who are rooting for him because even if he does win, his crush dies in the arena, and if he doesn’t he never gets to be with her to begin with. To the viewers it's a movie and you root for a character (much like it is to us as the audience) but in their world, their favourite tribute dying doesn’t hold weight in the same way it doesn’t hold weight to us because at the end of the day they are fictional characters. This perpetuates what we already know, that the Capitol citizens are so desensitised that the tributes aren't real lives or people. There is definitely a message behind this but this post is already ridiculously long so I’ll save that for another time.

We know that the citizens don’t react well to condemnation when Johanna and Beetee speak negatively upon the Quarter Quell and we hear the crowd getting angry. Peeta takes the same approach that garnered him sympathy and love in his first interview when mentioning his crush on Katniss. In "Catching Fire" he says  the line “We’ve been luckier than most. I’d have no regrets at all.” This is him once again playing humble and lovable and he makes sure never to blame or speak negatively about the Capitol or the Games themselves. When he says “if it weren’t for the baby.” it doesn’t come across as rebellious but as a genuine unfortunate coincidence. Peeta is an adored undercover Rebel who the media and Capitol Citizens trust to be loyal and well-meaning and also put on a good show

Whilst this tactic worked well in Catching Fire, with Capitol Citizens needing to be mollified, not because of someone speaking negatively about them but because they are genuinely enraged at the circumstances, it is used against him when he is hijacked and he is forced to ask for a Ceasefire in an interview with Snow. Because he is now seen as a trusted Capitol Darling who is known to perform well on TV, no one suspects that he might be saying these things under duress. Seeing this interview pushes Katniss to be the symbol of the revolution. Her symbolic conscience is having his own non-violent form of rebellion used against him and also getting tortured and in order to save him she realises that sometimes violence is necessary.

SOMETIMES being the key point and why Gale is there to show that the other side of the spectrum is not good either. I feel like a lot of people like to point out that Peeta also lived in district twelve and didn’t react in the same way that Gale did. I need to point out that whilst both of them grew up in poor conditions, Peeta lived in the Merchant’s village as the Baker’s son. This is not to say that he didn’t have a hard life. Katniss learns that they couldn’t afford most of the ingredients they baked with and lived off of stale left-overs but we can also infer that the family was never so poor that they were on the brink of starvation like Katniss and Gale have faced. (The way I’m speaking implies that I think the food conditions for anyone in twelve or the other districts were okay. They were not, I’m speaking relative to the world and characters in this conversation.) Gale, in order to put food on the table had to sacrifice his chance of safety from the arena and have his name in the reaping forty-two times and I think this gives an interesting differential between the two when we’re discussing why they took such different paths in their reaction and stance on the rebellion.

Gale believes that anything they have to do in order to take down the Capitol is necessary, even if that means sacrificing people along the way. He is one of the leading voices of the rebellion and chosen to be Katniss’ right hand when she agrees to become the symbol for it. He is the total extreme of the measures one is willing to take and we see Katniss struggle with this a lot. Suzanne Collins took Peeta out of Katniss’ life in the books as a way to explore Gale’s ideology more. With her conscience gone, it leaves Katniss to decide on her own what she deems just action in this fight. The longer Peeta is away the more violence we see Katniss use. When the rebellion goes to district eight, we see her fighting as the circumstance permits. The difference between Katniss and Gale is that Gale doesn’t see the Capitol citizens as people but as numbers to win the war. I honestly don’t think this is absolutely crazy for him to do. Gale, unlike Katniss and Peeta, has never met anyone from the Capitol, and hasn't had the opportunity to humanise them like they have. Given that the Capitol are the people who view the deaths of the children from the district as entertainment and who put them in that environment, I find it hard not to be sympathetic to his outlook. It is not to say it is the right outlook but one I think can be understood.

There's a point in the book where Katniss comes across a Capitol citizen and when she goes to speak in order to warn people of their arrival. Katniss shoots her through the heart. She does this to the woman because if she doesn’t, they will almost certainly be caught, tortured and killed. Before she does this she describes how the woman looks. She isn’t just a number to Katniss, she is a human who she has killed. This is one of the best examples of the middle ground of the book and poses a question. Was it morally justified for Katniss to kill this woman? Most of us would say yes given the alternative. This is Katniss straying towards Gale’s view where the ends justify the means but the description of her beforehand, the humanising, that’s Peeta pulling her back to the middle. Yes, the woman had to be killed in order to protect Katniss and the rebels but she also acknowledges that it was A PERSON she killed, not a just another tally mark in aid of ending the Capitol.

It’s now time to discuss what we’ve all been waiting for. Prim Reaper.

Now, this is one of those conversations that I don’t think I’ll win anyone over if you don’t already agree with it to begin with. I do not think that Gale is the person to blame for Prim’s death. He was definitely complicit in it with the creation of the bomb, but if that’s the reason everyone blames him for her death, why not blame Beetee too? I also think it's worthy to note that Gale did not authorise the attack that killed Prim. We learn that he didn’t even know it was a plan, and it places doubt on whether it was actually Gale’s technology that killed her in the first place. The reason Suzanne Collins killed Prim was to show, like with Peeta getting hijacked, that too much of one ideology will eventually result in failure. Killing Prim, a character we know, rather than a group of random healers, portrays this enough for both Katniss and us as the audience to entirely rule out Gale as a plausible option in both his war tactics and as a love interest. Prim’s death is when Katniss, through personal loss, realises that whilst violence is necessary, sacrifice to the extent that Gale views as sufficient is no longer justified but rage fuelled vengeance.

To me, blaming Gale for Prim’s death is like blaming the gun rather than the person who pulled the trigger. Gale is as much of a victim of the Capitol as anyone else in the books. He becomes a ruthless revolutionary not because he is a horrible bloodthirsty monster but because he is a teenager raised in a society where he’s always been forced to make sacrifices in order to keep himself and his family alive. If the Capitol and the games did not exist, Gale would never have been in an environment where he had to become so desensitised. Is he a good person? No, but is he a bad one? Definitely not. He is there to show how any extreme ultimately results in disaster, as is Peeta.

The scene where Katniss shoots Coin and leaves Snow to be mauled to death by the citizens is where this attitude is best shown. The suggestion of a game for the Capitol children is completely obscene to Katniss. She knows that Coin is extremely similar to Snow. One could say they’re two sides of the same coin…! She chooses to kill Coin in order to achieve peace. These are the two ideologies finally settling in the middle ground. Ending the cycle of violence to achieve peace with one final violent act. It’s hard to predict how the books would’ve concluded without Gale. Would Katniss have rebelled so publicly in catching fire were it not for Gale’s influence? Would she agree to be the Mockingjay? Would Peeta’s rescue mission be successful if Gale hadn’t been the first to volunteer for the team? Would Katniss have shot that citizen or let their location be given up and have it ultimately result in their death and torture? Would she have killed Coin or let the tyrannical cycle continue? Obviously I can’t answer any of these questions because we simply don’t know what the books or Katniss would look like without Gale’s presence because he is important. He is fundamental in the war efforts, whether his actions are ethical or not.

I think the final note I want to leave is what Katniss thinks the final time we see Gale in the trilogy. Katniss, right before she goes to kill Snow and ultimately decides to kill Coin, speaks to Gale in the aftermath of Prim’s death. He hands her the arrow she’s meant to use, which I think is symbolic, the final act of violence handed off to her by her sense of vengeance before they never see each other again. After he leaves she thinks. 

“I want to call him back and tell him that I was wrong. That I'll figure out a way to make peace with this. To remember the circumstances under which he created the bomb. Take into account my own inexcusable crimes. Dig up the truth about who dropped the parachutes. Prove it wasn’t the rebels. Forgive him. But since I can’t, I guess I’ll just have to deal with the pain.” 

Katniss can’t forgive him because it’s just too personal, but she understands why he did what he did, knows that he did what he felt he had to do in the situation he was dealt. Do you really think Suzanne Collins aimed to villainise Gale? I don’t think so. She is too complex a writer to make us hate a victim of oppression. Katniss’ thoughts after their final interaction doesn’t scream to me that she thinks Gale is a villain of the story. Just another victim who ultimately went too far in their attempt to reach their goal. The line “Remember who the real enemy is.” is so consistent through-out the series that it baffles me that people have decided they hate Gale more than Coin or Snow. Gale Hawthorne is by no means a perfect person, no one in this book is. But he is not a bad person either, he’s simply a boy who couldn't see the middle ground through his need for vengeance against an oppressive power.

All that being said I may have completely missed and I am entirely open to hearing opposing opinions of this discussion. These books are so complex and there is no way I could do an entire in depth analogy of Gale or Peeta or their environment. That being said I hop you enjoyed my attempt to articulate my thoughts on Gale

[descendant-of-truth]

On principle I don't really like the idea of Sonic being sent after Shadow at the request of G.U.N for two reasons:

It robs us of the god-tier cold open of the original game where Sonic busts out of a helicopter to escape arrest

I always loved the setup where Sonic and Shadow meeting was pretty incidental - neither of them had any idea who the other was, but Sonic thought Shadow was impersonating him on purpose while Shadow just thought he seemed fun to mess with

But depending on what the surrounding context is, I can see how the movie could make this plot point interesting in a completely different way that still complements these versions of the characters, even if I don't prefer it to the original.

So, some ideas:

G.U.N has been the villain of the last two movies, so in order for Sonic to be working with them, they must have a pretty good deal for him. My guess is that they promised to leave him and his family alone - no more schemes, no more kidnapping, nothing of the sort - on the one condition that "Team Sonic" helps them deal with Shadow.

This would already function as a narrative parallel to Sonic enlisting Robotnik's help later for the same thing. The name of the game becomes "we don't like each other, we're enemies, but we need to work together to deal with this guy because he's too powerful," which becomes a triple threat if the whole cast including Shadow gets to team up at the very end to save the world

I think it would also be very fun if Sonic is trying so hard to talk things out with Shadow in large part because he heard that there was another hedgehog on the loose, and wants so badly to be friends with someone like him that it takes at least one full-blown beating before he gives up on that idea

(The other reason he keeps trying is "it worked on Knuckles" of course)

Now, this puts Sonic in a fascinating position, particularly when using the game as a frame of reference. SA2 was very straightforward with how it presented its conflict at first: you have a Hero Story and a Dark Story, and as such you're primed to think of everyone on both sides as either being good or bad.

And most people, I think, were inclined to play the Hero Story first; it's the one with Sonic in it, and the select screen hovers over it by default, too. It tells a very simple story of Sonic and friends stopping Eggman's (admittedly very threatening) evil plan, developing some new rivalries along the way.

It's already a little bit of a twist for Sonic and Knuckles to have formed a respectful relationship with Shadow and Rouge by the end, since you see them as villains initially, but they still remain antagonists. Rouge returns the Master Emerald pieces, but she's still working with Robotnik. Shadow thinks Sonic is pretty impressive, but he still tries to kill him to stop him from saving the world.

But then you get to the Dark Story, and then the Final Story, and you think, oh. It's really not that simple.

For starters, you get to see more of Rouge's bond with Shadow. There's some conflict inherent to their relationship because Rouge is a spy and is only here to get information on Shadow, but after he saves her life, there's a definite shift to their dynamic. There's something genuine there, even if it doesn't get a lot of screentime dedicated to it.

But most important to the story is what we learn about who Shadow is, in part through his interactions with Rouge.

Shadow is cunning and ruthless - heck, his goal is to literally blow up the world. But whether out of compassion or survivor's guilt or both, he can't let Rouge die, so he saves her and then lies about his motivations for it to seem colder than he is.

And even though the things he's doing are definitely bad, his motivations are famously sympathetic; he wants revenge for his best friend, a young girl who was killed by the G.U.N military during a raid.

(It was implied that there was some sort of brainwashing done on him by Gerald after Maria died as well but that part of the story is incredibly vague)

By the end of the game, Shadow comes into his own as a hero and helps save the world instead of destroying it. And suddenly it makes sense why the stories weren't called Hero and Villain, because neither Shadow nor Rouge are especially villainous characters; Rouge is selfish, and Shadow is driven by grief and hatred, but they're ultimately kind at the end of the day. Both of them find people to care about - each other, as well as Knuckles and Sonic respectively.

But y'know, there wasn't a lot of ambiguity about who the heroes were in the Hero Story itself. Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are pretty clearly The Good Guys, and nothing they do is really questioned because they're always fighting The Bad Guys.

So what I'm seeing here is an opportunity for Team Sonic to not be totally in the right for once. Yes, it's good to stop Shadow from going on a rampage and destroying the world, but look at who they're keeping for company here. G.U.N? Robotnik and Agent Stone? As if either of those groups are trustworthy enough to not stab them in the backs as soon as it's convenient. As if they're not going to find some way to exploit Sonic for their benefit.

And frankly, Shadow is totally in the right to hate G.U.N, and Team Sonic for working with them. Given that his backstory seems to be largely unchanged, it's kind of impossible not to be on board with him fighting the protagonists at least a little bit.

Besides, I don't think it's a coincidence that Shadow is doing the wrong thing for the right reason, while Sonic is doing the right thing with the wrong people (and maybe also for the wrong reason). That has the potential to be very clever if executed well.

I can only imagine the dawning horror on Sonic's face as he realizes just how much he's not on the right side of this conflict; when he learns about what happened to Maria and everyone else on the Ark. Especially if Tom's family was involved in it, like the current popular theory going around.

Also, last-second realization: what if there's something more to that line from Tom, "it wasn't always easy, but you didn't change who you are in here"? Most likely it's going to be used as a way to show how Shadow is different from Sonic, because he did change who he was in response to trauma and it'll be really poetic when he "finds himself" again

But also, consider: maybe Sonic does end up changing throughout the movie. Maybe he does something that goes against his core principles in order to get an advantage in some way, and they kind of play around with the idea that Sonic is similar to Shadow in ways that aren't always flattering to either of them. I want those hedgehogs to make each other worse before they get better

In any case, there's a lot of potential here, and I'm very curious to see what they ended up going with

[mayadoesfandomstuff]

On a note about physical disabilities that come from a traumatic incident, it always annoys me when it's so clear that the people talking about it in the lens of a fictional narrative are only talking about it in relation as a metaphor for something else typically mental only rather than also being a lived reality that people have to go through.

I'm not even saying that there can't be a discussion of the mental toll and grief that comes with becoming physically disabled because of a traumatic incident because yeah, that sorta comes with the bonus features of the disability and we really desperately need more stories that genuinely tackle the complexity of physical disability and how it affects someone mentally, but those discussions of certain characters that only seem to be concerned about the physical disability as nothing more than an allegory for some other mental hurdle that everyone can relate with is so prevalent and some of these discussions even act like real people don't actually experience these things and if they do, they're so minuscule in the population that it doesn't actually matter if we don't think about them.

When some of these people do think about physically disabled people from traumatic incidents, it's often to fuel angst or to make sure that their fanfics are #accurate but never to really understand the disability and offer compassion to those in real life who have them or even just to analyze the character who has this in order to understand them more at the very least.

It's good to see characters actually gain realistic disabilities in fiction and it's important to represent them with accuracy and it's absolutely amazing to see people still enjoy these characters even if they can't relate with their disability, and even relate with some of their mental struggles even when they don't have the same issues, but then most discussions about the character and their disability often just lead to mainly prioritizing just the mental side of it and ignoring most of the physical side that usually, in real life, actually makes the mental side of it so much worse and is actively intertwined with each other.

Physical struggles affecting the mental and mental struggles affecting the physical. One could probably be worse at one stage of recovery or stability but both are intrinsically linked to each other.

How most of these discussions pan out just doesn't sit right with me.

It's also especially even more annoying when these characters get written in a way (either in canon or in fanon) to suddenly have some sort of mobility aid that their struggles with their disability suddenly disappear and they become as good or even better than they were when they were able-bodied. Even worse when there's a magic cure that makes them able-bodied again and now suddenly, their time being disabled is never something they think about on a regular basis save for like maybe a short moment or two where the scene needs angst if we're lucky to even have that call back.

Like, as much as how annoying some fans are for completely ignoring physical disabilities, it's also upsetting to see the people who do acknowledge these disabilities only use it when it's convenient and forget about it when there's a "fix" for the problem.