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why are Aerith, Tifa and Zack ALWAYS the target in this freaking fandom
#leave them aloneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee touch some grass!#the imbalance is crazy i never see hate about ANY character but those three#like don't get me wrong i *don't* want to see people hating on any character at all#but why is it always them... they are so lovely and so well-written i just can't believe they get so much hate??#i mean i know. it's because of the stupid ship wars#but goddammit it's getting more and more annoying 💀#that's the downside to being in a huge fandom you can't escape the toxic bitches who never even played the games#i'm glad tumblr is more chill. kisses you all#in this house we love aerti and zack 💖#my post
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Something I realized is that gege akutami doesn't create many punishments for ''bad'' characters other than death. I think an interesting punishment for the geto character was to create a binding vow in which he was obliged to save humans and never harm them I would have liked to have seen him save those he hates and abhors most.
⚠️ Implied spoiler warning for season 2 of Jujutsu Kaisen.
I think Jujutsu Kaisen has such an incredible unbalance between the lives of the "good guys" and the "bad guys" to the point of being hilarious.
SORCERERS
The show is from the perspective of the good guys of which there are never enough. They're also never quite strong enough. They are frequently shown fighting for their lives even when its a 2 or 3 on 1. They are struggling and suffering casualties and even Megumi vocalizes that losing a partner is not uncommon. Even innocuous missions like the one that introduces us to Megumi could end horrendously and it was not looking good for him before Yuji ate that finger which effectively leveled the playing field.
CURSE USERS AND CURSES
When I think of shows like Tokyo Ghoul or My Hero Academia, the "villains" are working in the shadows and condemned to move in secret. Not in Jujutsu Kaisen. The main antagonists are living their best life playing soccer on the beach, playing video games, relaxing while they lay in wait for their plan to come together. The quality of life compared to sorcerers is absolutely laughable and this sense of comfort stems from the fact that they are so numerous compared to that of the sorcerers.
THEME OF GOOD vs EVIL
If I thought about it, I'd assume that Gege Akutami is essentially using this imbalance to perpetuate the idea that there is no benefit or glory in being good. Empirically, anyone we've seen with earnest intentions has been killed or driven to their literal breaking point. Good guys who operate in a shade of grey or, as Gojo put it, are a little crazy, seem to fare slightly better. A perfect example is Nanami who left his salaryman job because the money wasn't worth how soul crushing it was to return to jujutsu society to stringently enforce the protection of children. Inversely, Mei Mei, his foil, is essentially a mercenary, gratuitously extorting others before she'll consider taking on a mission and comfortable with insider trading and being wildly inappropriate with her brother. Only one of these characters makes it to a vacation in Malaysia.
Mei Mei is just one example. We see that, even within the ranks of the jujutsu caste system, not only are some of the Big Three families unscrupulous as hell, but, even the elders handing out death sentences appear to be somewhat corrupt if Gakuganji and his off the books mission to kill Yuji is any indication. It's hard to stay good and sincere when the payment of trying to help people or do the right thing seems to just be... suffering. ✨ What do you think this persisting theme means for the possible ending?
PUNISHING GETO
Like, I know he "hated monkeys" but it was informed by the difficult position he found himself in. In his mind, he appointed himself a savior of the weak when jujutsu society just asked him to exorcise curses. Work not necessarily befitting a child, mind you, but he internalized so much pressure to give it meaning that it was always going to backfire because how much self-flagellation can on take before they begin to question the point of their suffering?
Lowkey, I think Geto was already going through it with his course of action. To our knowledge, his current kill count includes: the people in the village, his parents, the man who ordered the hit on Riko Amanai, and that one guy who accosted him when he was still haunted by curses after no longer contributing financially to Geto's group.
I'm not saying Geto is a good guy. But I also don't think he was radicalized so much as to not feel the weight of what he'd done, the original transgression. He had to give it a reason for it to sit right in his mind, had to vehemently commit by killing his parents to cement the idea of this conviction even though he knew it was unrealistic and impossible to achieve. I concede that I might be over humanizing the antagonist because, at the end of the day, if Geto could trick his mind and heart into believing his mission was pointing due North, perhaps he could do as needed without continued angst or questioning.
Especially since, after everything was said and done, homeboy looked like this. 👇🏾
Come up in the spot lookin extra fly-head ass.
Imagine how disgusted he'd feign, pushing off grateful people after they've been save and just spraying deodorizer spray like -
Let's take your idea and add a sprinkle of this comic by @keniaku as recommended by another anon to really turn up the silly.
#neon asks#anon asks#manga with me#manga with me jjk#jjk#jujutsu kaisen#suguru geto#geto suguru#anime#manga#jjk analysis#jjk meta#jjk character analysis#anime antagonist#gege akutami#akutami gege#good and evil
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What are your Extremely Italian Opinions? Anything from politics to pasta, drop some hot takes
mmmmm good question! even though i'm not a proud italian as i'm very critical of this country and i'd love to live abroad in the future, i do have typical italian opinions that i'm ready to die for. I’m sure these will be mainly about food, but let’s see:
-say whatever you want, but italian food is the best food in the entire world, not only it’s healthy but it’s also delicious and no nation can compare :) no you can’t change my mind :) every time i watch Ratatouille i cringe so bad at the beginning when they say that French cuisine is known to be the best in the world??? that’s so false and i don’t even find it funny, we italians take food so seriously and if you dare criticize something about our food we take it very personal, yes, IT IS THAT DEEP.
-idk if it's a take but i find it funny that we don't use ice that much?? like i was so shocked to learn that smoothies are made WITH ICE?? we almost never use it, we definitely don't put it in coffee and we have this strange belief that ice gives you stomachache, especially if you want to take a bath, we usually wait two or three hours before taking a bath after a meal, especially if there's ice in it somewhere lol i think it's a typical Italian Grandma Advice but we all follow it religiously. Even though i know it's bizarre i can't help but wait at least two hours after my meal before having any kind of contact with water
-No one dubs movies and cartoons like italians. Our voice actors are superior (but the italian Rebels dub is terrible, don’t watch Rebels in italian, everyone sounds very bad except for Thrawn, surprisingly his voice better than the original and i've already talked about this in my ig stories some time ago haha) and i often watch shows and movies in italian even tho it's "trendy" nowadays to watch everything in english. Tbh i think that a country with a strong tradition of voice acting shouldn't neglect it in favor of the original language, just because something was made in english it doesn't make it better. For example, the prequel trilogy is insanely better in italian, while i love Hayden's performance as Anakin i think that sometimes...it lacks emotion? the italian dub makes up for those parts, i couldn't understand why international fans used to despise the PT so much at first, especially the acting. There isn't one single character in the prequels that sounds bad, really. Same thing goes for Disney classics, i find them 100% funnier in italian (the most memorable example is Emperor's New Groove, the main characters are voiced by some of the funniest comedians we have, they all did an amazing job), even tho some characters are voiced by celebrities who don't do voice acting on a regular basis the result is always phenomenal. Honorable mention to the Genie in Aladdin who is voiced by Gigi Proietti, an actor and comedian of immesurable talent who passed away a few days ago, his performance is on the same level of Robin Williams' imo. So yeah, i'm a huge fan of italian voice acting in case you didn't notice
-regarding politics, lots of people here say that we have the "best democracy in the world" or something like that.........eh, i highly doubt it. I hate this country because there is no meritocracy, you're most likely to succeed if you have good connections or a powerful family. The worst part is that this applies to EVERYTHING and it's terrible. Also there's a big imbalance between North Italy and South Italy, so it's hard to succeed and have access to a good education if you're born in the South and you're poor. And it's a shame. I was lucky enough to live near a very good university so i pay for taxes and nothing else, but only those who are born in wealthy families in the south can afford university in the north as universities in the south are not that good in general. it's really a shame bc south italy is freaking beautiful but the government doesn't spend the same amount of time, energy and money and that's also one of the reasons crime rates are so high there. truly every single issue in Italy could be resolved by funding our education system but most politicians don't give a flying fuck about it and it shows :/
-University in italy is considered a privilege, something that people do because they are too lazy to go to work and get "a real job". we have one of the lowest rates of student getting a degree in europe and yet a lot of people are expected to be jobless for years after graduating uni. it's crazy. there is no respect or consideration for university students since you're not obliged by law to attend one but it's your choice. university professors are terrible, they act like we don't have a personal life and in most cases will make everything so hard that you'll need to take an exam even 15 times before passing it. a friend of mine who is a prodigy in Math attended a really good university in Switzerland and he told me that you can take exams a max of 3 times there but you usually don't need to because they are much easier to pass?? also exams are so hard to pass, my degree is a living hell, you have to take multiple tests, do projects and assignments to pass one freaking exam, while the entire world has the paper system, so you basically write a paper and then the teacher grades it and guess what??? YOU LEARN STUFF ANYWAY. i hate that university in italy takes so much years, tears and mental energy to finish and this leads me to my next point
-healthcare. Italy has one of the best healthcare systems in the world because, well, it's free! You have some kind of bills to pay, but they are not as expensive as in the US, the country got a huge debt at some point in the 60s/70s (i guess??) to afford free healthcare but it was really worth it!! HOWEVER, i think it's pointless to have free healthcare for literally anything besides mental health. sadly, mental health is a tough topic here, if you suffer from a mental illness you're considered crazy, an attention seeker, incapable of being a normal citizen and stuff like that. therapists are super expensive and only wealthy people can afford them. personally, i can't afford one and i would love to since i suffer from anxiety and maybe other things (but i guess i'll never know since my country doesn't give a fuck lmao). and university students are most likely to have mental health issues due to the terrible conditions we live in, yet society ignores us, this results in very high suicide rates among students in their twenties. i honestly hate it so fucking much, especially because studying psychology is considered "easy" and you'll probably be jobless after your degree. psychologists are doctors, they deserve to be paid like any other doctor because they save lives, for real.
So uhm this was supposed to be funny but ended being very critical hahahaha
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asks :)
i love the post fic bundle of asks 🥺
WHO WAS THE SOULMATE???? ASDFHFHJFKFLF DID YOU MENTION IT? DID I MISS IT? The rolling coaster of emotions was too much sooo I think I might have missed it????
but if it was not mentioned, i'd like to think that it might be iwa or the other guys or gahhh, what if it was a rival????? I believe nothing would push Tooru to the extremes than learning that you're tied to his rival... 😳
Good job again, Rhi! Honestly these soulmate aus are my favorite!!! 💕
ahhh thank you so much!!!
and no, i didn’t actually mention who the reader’s soulmate was. i was initially going to write the fic a little more in line with what the asks said and have the reader overhear oikawa talking about it on the phone with iwa, and he’d say the name of her soulmate. it could have been anyone, but me being the whore that i am wanted it to be one of the characters, and considering that oikawa was never going to let the reader just wander off back to japan, i figured that the best possible choice for her to potentially meet her ‘soulmate’ would be when oikawa took him home with her back to japan for the olympics - and with the tight hold he has over her, the only people who could potentially come into contact with her, through iwa of course, would be the olympic team.
kags and ushiwaka were too obvious - plus the reader would have likely met them at some point during her life and while the bond wouldn’t have done anything too crazy, she might have felt something (plus i think oiks would have rubbed off on her a little too much - she wouldn’t hate them like he does, but romance? nah)
which then made me think, if you take those two out of the equation - who on the team would piss oikawa off the most to know was the reader’s soulmate...
there’s just something about that setter pride, right?
sorry for rambling 👀
I already knew I'd love ani soulmate au you write, but it still amazed me. It was wonderful! 😭🤧
you guys are too nice to me!! i’m glad you liked it bby! 💕
I loved your Oikawa soulmate fic! Did Iwa lie about the name on Oikawa? Or are there mismatches with soulmates and she is Oikawa's soulmate, he's just not hers?
Wait so does that mean that oikawa has no name on his wrist, he met his soulmate but doesn't care for them, or he has our name on his wrist but it's not actually "our" name it's just somebody who shares our name? Sorry I'm way to slow on this
Love your latest story! But I’m confused if her name was on his skin or not?
i’m answering these three together because they’re all kinda similar. so the name on oikawa’s arm - his soulmate - is definitely the reader’s. it’s a mismatch. basically it was my kind of interpretation of a yandere’s obsessive love - for oikawa, she’s it, the only one he’ll ever truly love, the one person he can’t live without, but even before the reveal of her mark, he’s already very manipulative and controlling towards the reader. he isolates her from everybody else but him and his friends, makes her rely on him because he needs her, not the other way around. it’s not the worst thing in the world, but the power imbalance is huge. whereas the reader’s soulmate would be the one person who would let her shine - help her grow and love her for who she is without trying to steal her away from the world. it’s not that oikawa doesn’t love the reader, or that the reader doesn’t love him, but her soulmate is the one person who would love her the right way, if that makes sense?
NOOOOOO my heart is breaking into a million pieces and oikawa's not even my fav he doesn't even make top ten but holy FUCK this fic is for SURE in my alltime top ten. u just have a way of writing him that makes my heart ache like i still cant reread home like i read it when u first released it n i have not been able to reread it again bc i cant handle strong emotions but like...this fic is the opposite i cant STOP reading it thank u thank u thank u ily sm for gifting us this fic 🥺
bby!!! you are in fact the sweetest? i love you?? pls come collect your kisses??
home is one of my all time faves ngl, and this kinda has similar vibes i guess, but maybe in reverse - home is all about the anguish of falling for somebody who hurt you because of the things they’ve done, and always is about the pain of still loving somebody despite the fact that they’ve hurt you. anyway, thank you sm, this message honestly made my day!
Ahhhhhh! That Oikawa x blind reader! Oh my heart. Soft insecure Oikawa 😭😭😭
he’s awful in this, but dontcha just feel a little bad for the guy? (low key wanna give him a hug for treating him so meanly in this - but he does kinda deserve it too)
now that i see u on my feed, imma read ur fics again hihihihi LIEK I READ IT FOR 10x ALREADT
💕💕💕💕the sheer dedication?? ily anon
uh.. hello.. the chubby seijoh manager.. i.. love it so much is it rude to ask for more?
the full fic will be out... eventually 👀
how do miya twins from breaking point/meet the parents react to overprotective dad (or not even really that overprotective just actually a good parent lol)? I think it’s a really interesting dynamic and obstacle for yanderes because so often everyone else seems fooled or mia leaving the reader really vulnerable. Honestly I wish I could just talk to you all day about your fics beyond being HOT they are also so intriguing and you’re just an incredible story teller!!!!
first of all how dare you make me all soft and mushy?!!?! this was v sweet anon, thank you
BUT i honestly think they’d both kinda write the dad off. if they managed to bully the reader into being in a ‘relationship’ with them, osamu might try to get in his good graces, maybe offer to cook dinner or something just to smooth things over - because it is somewhat implied that even though he despises the twins, if his daughter wants them around, he’d bite his tongue for her sake. atsumu would be the ass that deliberately tries to rile him up, seeing just how far he can get away with touching you, how many sly innuendos can he slip past your dear old dad before he snaps.
but eventually, whether you gave into them or not, they’d try to push you away from your family, isolate you. for one, they don’t want anybody in your life telling you that they’re not good for you when they’re your soulmates. also because they really don’t want anyone else in your life period. why would you need anybody else when you have them?
#fic q's#BD answers#BD rambles#no but like seriously i do not shut up#it's a problem#somebody needs to come whack me with a spoon or smthn#repeatedly
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Among The Stars Chapter 2
First Chapter Previous Chapter Next Chapter Masterpost
Summary: Logan Watts is a famous scientist, known by almost everyone in the galaxy. His most famous invention is his friend and assistant, a healthcare android named Patton. When they are called to another planet for a meeting with the local ruler, they're expecting a completely normal trip. Little did they know, this trip would send them into a daring adventure to protect their galaxy and stop a war. Teamed up with unlikely friends, including a runaway gladiator and an infamous crime trio, Logan and Patton have to figure out how to make peace and save their universe (and beyond) from being destroyed.
Pairings: (Eventual) Logicality, Prinxiety, and Demus
Word count: 2,660
Author's Notes: This chapter is a little bit shorter than I usually go, but I like it anyway. Until the three groups of characters meet each other, the chapters will be from a different group's perspective each time. It won't be like that for too long, but this one is.
Roman looked at himself in the small mirror he kept in his room. He could say with absolute certainty that he was ready to go back out to that arena, but he'd be lying if he said he was looking forward to it. He had been a gladiator for a long time, but it was never what he wanted to do. He wanted to be royalty, but that would be impossible. One, he wasn't born into it. And two, this city didn't have royalty, they had a president.
He was a local of this planet, so he had the crystals around the corners of his eyes, on the back of his neck, and on his shoulders. All the crystals- and his eyes- had many warm colors in them, like red, orange, yellow, and pink. He always liked to show off, so he usually wore shirts with short sleeves, or no sleeves at all. His hair was mostly brown, with a couple of bright red streaks in it.
He had gotten up and dressed a while ago, because in his time working in the arena, he'd learned to rise with the sun. You never knew when you'd be a part of the first battle of the day, and you could almost never get away with being late. The whole day lasted from sunrise to sunset, and most people battled multiple times a day unless they were badly injured, or worse. Needless to say, he really hated it there. And he wanted nothing more than to be able to leave. But unfortunately, that wasn't going to happen. The only way to legally leave was to either be fired, or die. Roman wasn't planning on dying any time soon, so that was off the table. And for some reason, no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't get himself fired. He would occasionally wake up late, break or 'lose' things on purpose, things like that. But he just couldn't get fired.
So that was when he started planning his escape. Who was going to care that it was illegal, because he certainly wasn't. He wasn't going to come back to this planet once he left anyway, so it wasn't like anyone would be able to find him. He would sneak out, maybe to one of the emergency evacuation ships, and silently make his leave in the night. No one would ever know, except for maybe when they noticed he was gone the next morning. But he would work out the finer details later.
He had already read and memorized the schedule for the day, so he knew he would be next on the list of battles. He also knew he'd be facing another person. Sometimes the leaders of this ordeal would catch some sort of beast for one of Roman's colleagues to fight. He was lucky he wasn't doing that, because gladiators who had to battle those creatures usually didn't get out alive.
The buzz of the intercom system turned on in his room, and he looked up at the speaker on the wall. A slightly static-y voice spoke.
"Roman Northbrook, you are needed in the arena." The intercom beeped to show that it had turned off.
"Yeah, I was expecting that." He muttered, going to grab his sword.
It was a bright red double-edged blade with a smooth cylindrical handle. Even the handle had a point on the end, so it was like a second weapon. He slid two gold bracelets on each of his arms. They didn't touch his skin, but instead hovered around his arm so his wrist was in the center. He sometimes used them to block attacks, since he was never given a shield.
He left his room, walking down the pristine silver hallway into a chamber that greatly resembled a jail cell. He always thought about what an ironic metaphor that was.
He could hear the commentator announcing the battle. The audience started to cheer, and the bars on the wall began to rise. He walked slowly to the center of the arena, and everyone went quiet. Then his opponent charged, and the crowd began yelling again. Roman tuned them out, because there was no way he'd be able to focus unless he did.
When the other gladiator was close enough to strike, Roman easily dodged their sword. He was tall and slender, so he could move quickly. While his opponent was in shock, he swung his sword and hit them in the side. He didn't use all of his force, because his sword was ridiculously sharp, but he definitely hit them hard enough for it to hurt. They stabbed towards him with their sword, but he simply turned and the sword went right past him. He grabbed his opponents wrist, sliding his hand to the handle of their sword and seamlessly plucking the weapon out of their hand.
"That was easier than I'd expected." Roman smirked. The other gladiator stared at him, completely dumbfounded. The battle seemed to be over before it had even begun. He raised the two swords to his opponent's chest. A hopeful silence fell upon the crowd, and Roman rolled his eyes internally. He looked around at the audience and raised his voice so he could be heard. "You want to see some real blood, don't you?"
The crowd went wild. Roman's ears were filled with the sounds of people yelling. He could tell that his opponent was experience pure fear. He winked at them discreetly, and a little bit of it went away.
"Well you're not going to get it." He lowered the swords. Suddenly, the cheers from the audience became jeers and insults. "What's wrong, were you expecting me to actually do that? I see a lot of familiar faces in this crowd, you know! Some of you come here every day to watch these battles and yet, for some reason, you're not entertained unless the winner is willing to stoop low enough to meet your standards! There will be other battles! There will be other people out here, people with fewer morals than me. But you aren't satisfied! And I'm sick of it! Maybe if you got out of this arena long enough to see anything else, you'd know why!"
He stabbed one of the swords into the ground, holding on to his own still. Then he started walking away. He was originally going to wait until night, but it wasn't worth it anymore. He ran out of the arena into the darkness of the hallway, where a security guard grabbed his arm tightly.
"Try to get out of this one, tough guy." The guard scowled behind dark glasses.
"Gladly." Roman kicked the guard in the stomach and kept going. At first he was walking with purpose, but as a group of guards built up behind him, he started running with purpose. As previously mentioned, Roman was fast. Really fast. So he had no trouble running from the guards. And soon enough, he had lost them.
He burst through the front doors, barely slowing down. This was the first time he'd seen the sun in what felt like forever, because even the arena was closed off. He took a deep breath of fresh air, and couldn't help but smile. He bolted down the street, past the presidential skyscraper, all the way down to the parking lot. He saw a small ship that was already started, and the top was open. It was prime real estate. The only problem was that the owner of the ship was already there. The ship's owner had bright blue hair and was wearing what looked like a white lab coat. Not that Roman had time to care about any of that.
He just pushed this stranger out of the way and jumped into the ship. The door automatically closed around him, and he was faced with the reality that he wasn't a pilot and didn't know how to fly a ship. Not to mention that the random scientist yelling at him from the outside of the ship didn't help.
Roman began pressing a bunch of random buttons. His eyes widened in surprise as a screen popped up in front of him. It had a picture of a planet on it, with data next to it. His eyes went directly to the part that said 'Population'. It didn't really matter how many people lived on the planet. But in Roman's mind, the less people that lived on the planet, it was better for him. He looked up for a second, only to see the group of guards quickly approaching. He scrolled through the different planets as fast as he could until he found one that said 'Population: Zero (?)'. He completely ignored the question mark next to the number and pressed the button on the screen that said 'AUTOPILOT'. The ship began to lift into the air and Roman cheered. He could just sit back and relax while this ship did all the work. Unfortunately, the loud noise got the attention of the ship's owner again. As it took off Roman felt a slight imbalance in the ship. This could mean many things, but he assumed that it meant that the scientist had tried to grab on to the ship before it got away. That was a crazy thought, Roman knew it wasn't true. Or at least, he thought he did.
Soon enough though, the ship balanced itself out again. He was back to smooth sailing. He let out a sigh of relief. Finally, at long last, he was free. He checked the fuel on the ship. It has almost a full tank. He didn't know how long this trip would take, but he assumed that would be enough. There was a seatbelt attached to the seat he was sitting in, but he wasn't using it. He had a basic understanding of how ships worked, so he was sure he'd be able to land it safely. His sword was in the seat next to him.
The moment his planet was out of sight, he came to a realization. There was no one else on this ship with him, and no one on the planet he was going to. He would drive himself crazy eventually.
"Well it has to be avoidable, right?" He muttered. "Oh, great, I'm already talking to myself… How long is this flight anyway?"
He pressed the button that caused the screen to pop up the first time. This time, there was a timer on the screen. It said 'Flight Duration: 1 day, 22 hours, 50 minutes, 16 seconds'. He covered his face with his hands out of frustration, leaning back in his seat. This was going to be a long ride.
He passed many different planets along the way. All of them were completely different from anything he'd seen before. One of them was made entirely out of water, with an entire village floating on what looked like wooden rafts. Another one was completely uninhabited. It looked like it had a core of lava, with patches of rock over top.
Two days later, Roman was woken up from a nap by a blaring alarm. Red lights were flashing inside the ship. He reflexively reached for his sword to fight whatever was attacking him. When he finally came to his senses, he realized that he wasn't under attack. The screen read 'AUTOPILOT FAILING'. He dropped his sword and grabbed the steering wheel. He tried to turn it and control the ship's trajectory, but it wasn't working. Then he saw what the problem was. The ship was completely and totally out of gas. Then it started falling.
He caught sight of something below. It was the surface of a planet. There was no gravity in space, so he came to the conclusion that he was already inside the atmosphere. He frantically buckled his seatbelt, bracing himself for impact. It came sooner than expected.
The ship crashed into the ground head-on, and even though he had a seatbelt on he went flying through the roof. The glass shattered and he was thrown to the rocky terrain outside. His sword landed next to him, stabbed into the ground just a few inches away. He was lucky that he hadn't been just a little bit to the side.
He was covered in cuts, scrapes, and bruises. But he didn't think he had any broken bones, which was good. He saw the ship a few yards away, and he realized that he must've flown far. He stood up, took his sword out of the ground, and walked over to the ship. The top was completely broken, the engine was smoking, and the screen Roman had been reading off of was cracked. The last thing he could read before it went completely dark was 'Destination Reached'. Which meant that this was where he'd decided to go.
"Great! I crashed the ship, I don't have any food or water, and there aren't any people on this planet!" He hit himself in the head. "Why do I have to be so stupid all the time!"
Luckily no one else was around for miles, otherwise they would have heard many loud swears and screams of frustration following that statement. He kicked the ship repeatedly before sitting down on a nearby rock to calm down.
"Okay, time for a plan I guess…" He muttered to himself. "Maybe the ship has food in it? That's my best bet right now, otherwise I might need to find some animals or something…"
He climbed into the ship, being very careful to avoid all the broken glass. He let out a sigh of relief when he saw wooden crates that were being stored behind the seats. He used his sword like a crowbar to open the boxes. The first one was full of bottled water.
"Plastic bottles." He picked one up and looked it over. "A little old fashioned, but I'm not complaining."
He kept looking through the boxes. There were two more that had water in them, three with non-perishable foods, and two with clothes for different climates.
"Must've been an escape pod." He concluded. "No other ship this size would have this much in it."
He dragged some of the crates out of the ship, just in case. That ship was pretty damaged, so he was mainly concerned about it exploding and destroying everything inside. He used his sword to slice some of the rocks so they could be used to build a shelter. As previously stated, that sword truly was ridiculously sharp. He started stacking the rocks until he had a solid shelter. He was proud of himself. But that pride only lasted a moment before a small breeze blew and the entire shelter crumbled to the ground. He sighed, getting back to work on rebuilding it. This time he packed dirt between the stones to stabilize them a little more. When he finally finished building it a second time, he sat on the ground and looked up at the sky. There wasn't really anything interesting up there. Not even any stars. The sky was so cloudy that it was just a sheet of gray at all times. He regretted picking somewhere so boring to travel to.
At least back home there was always something to look at. It didn't matter if it was the city, or the people, or even the stars. There was always something. But on this planet, it was the same in every direction. Just hills and rocks and dirt.
Then he realized something. He never thought that he would have experienced it. He thought that when he left his home planet, he would finally be happy. But he wasn't. He was miserable. Not only that, but also something else.
Looking up at the empty sky on the empty planet, he realized that he was completely, totally, unbearably, undeniably homesick. And there wasn't even anything he could do about it.
Taglist: @idkwhyimhere0o0 @icequeenoriginal @mostpeopleannoyne @007ardra @logan-is-my-spirit-animal
#sanders sides#roman sanders#creativity sanders#ts roman#logicality#prinxiety#demus#fanfic#science fiction#scifi#among the stars au
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Dear Trick or Treater
Dear Trick or Treater!
Please don’t feel obligated to use my prompts! This letter is just in case you might want to poke at some more of my prompts/likes. Generally, I’m open to a lot, and I will be delighted with any rating from gen to explicit. My AO3 account is here.
If you want to write me a crossover, great! If you need to check if I know the canon please go through the mods.
My prompts are pretty ridiculous in places. That is not a preference to the treat-side, that’s just where my brain goes first. If you want to scare me, then definitely go for the creeping existential horror. It doesn’t even need to be detailed, I freak out really easily.
(If this letter cribs a lot from my other letters, it’s because I’m lazy, and my likes don’t change around that much :D You can find some of my other letters under the exchange letter tag. I hope you have fun creating!)
General likes:
loyalty
odd couples
found family, dysfunctional families that nevertheless love each other
historical stories for same-sex pairings that aren't unhappy but that fit with the society of the time (so like, spinster ladies living together; bachelors-for-life)
cultural differences, age differences, height differences
heists, rescue missions
dragons, fairy tales, magical realism, urban fantasy
competent characters
people not realising they’re the most competent at their job/hobby
people failing their way to success
happy endings, earning your happy ending, open yet hopeful endings
cynical humour
mutual pining
suits, corsetry, fancy dresses
Identity shenanigans (secret identities, mistaken identities)
Blatant Lies
Enemies becoming friends and/or lovers
outsider POV
epistolary
orange/blue morality (that is, not entirely human morality); grey/grey morality
people not usually found in law enforcement solving crimes
non-verbal expressions of affection
Kinks:
wall sex
shifting power dynamics
semi-public sex
lots of foreplay, drawn out orgasms, edging
desperate sex, drunk sex, we-just-can’t-help-it!sex, sex for life-affirming
sex toys
sex toys in public (though I get embarrassed if someone else notices)
General dislikes:
infidelity in mentioned pairings
suicide
non-con (dub-con is totally fine though; as are consent issues due to power imbalances, people not knowing all the facts, or drunken sex-polleness)
The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
Silas, Miss Lupescu
trick or treat; fanart or fanfiction
I'm very interested in their backstory, alone and together -- how did they meet? What's the purpose of the honour guard aside from killing all the Jacks?
But if you want to explore Miss Lupescu’s death — that would also be terrific (fix it! or make me cry because I will cry; either way is good)
Also here for: what scares a vampire? Other adventures Miss Lupescu went on. Where did she learn how to cook? What's up with the ghoul fighting? (How do Silas and Miss Lupescu earn a living? Do they pay taxes?)
Wynonna Earp (TV)
Xavier Dolls
trick or treat; fanart or fanfiction
Xavier Dolls is (SPOILER ALERT) a dragon. What's up with that? Does he hoard weapons? books? uncomfortable situations?
I'd be very interested in something that explored his supernatural side. Does his dragon-self work like a werewolf? Is he only mostly dragon? does he need to bathe in lava to grow?
Also terrific would be: Xavier Dolls knows that dragons exist, and revenants -- but ghosts?
Alternatively, Dolls hoards a collection of hats. Doc and Wynonna can never know.
Nirvana in Fire (TV)
Consort Jing
Trick or Treat; fanart or fanfiction
Consort Jing is very quiet. She also has a lot of dead friends. Maybe she's constantly surrounded by them?
Or: The real reason nobody stands in her way is that she’s a world class assassin. Or a witch, maybe.
Would also most definitely read a lot of words before anyone died and she was happy. Would also read her mothering her son, or Lin-shu, or quietly helping the other concubines in the palace.
Gokusen (Manga)
Sawada Shin, Yamaguchi Kumiko
Trick or Treat; fanart or fanfiction
Holiday-appropriate fic! Ghost houses! A school trip to the ghost forest where people kill themselves. One of these three is not like the other, but I would read all sorts of stories about these characters. Post-canon would be great, but anything goes really. I'd like additional appearances by any other of the cast, but it would be icing on the cake.
Focusing on just one character would be terrific. Kumiko has adventures with another class, or her minions! Shin goes to Africa, but gets lost in a different universe on the way there!
I ship Shin/Yankumi but gen is delightful also.
10 Things I hate about you
Kat Stratford, Patrick Verona
treat or trick; fanart or fanfiction
Kat and Patrick go to make-out in an abandoned factory. Too bad there's a ghost interrupting them every five minutes.
Would also read: Zombie apocalypse; Kat is a literal witch who devours boys and Patrick is her (virgin?) sacrifice. Obviously, you can probably come up with much better stories :D A look at what they do in ten, twenty years would be great, too! Separately, even!
Miss Marple - Agatha Christie
Jane Marple
treat or trick, fanart or fanfiction
St. Mary Mead’s police is convinced there’s a ghost robbing/murdering people. Miss Marple is convinced they have all been too deep in the bottle.
Miss Marple has always been able to see ghosts. They usually have nothing much to say, and are quite nonsensical, but this one is different.
Or: zombie apocalypse! Or it’s Miss Marple who is the ghost.
Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch
Molly
treat or trick; fanart or fanfiction
Tbh, I just want Molly to be the protagonist of her own adventures. Molly is the best at riding the Folly of vermin like bed bugs, ghosts and the occasional angry spirit. Her cooking is a little bit magic.
Or: She has to fight with the traders at the market for magic ritual ingredients every time, since the Folly isn’t well liked among the demi-monde.
Also, what’s up with her heritage? Fae? Not Fae?
Original Works
Space Traveler, Incubus, Ghost Jellyfish, Incompetent Fortune Teller, Part-Time Ghost Exorcist, Eldritch Abomination In A Human Skin-Suit, Time-Travelling Artificial Intelligence, Long Abandoned Sentient Ship
trick or treat; fanart or fanfic
I think these tags speak pretty much for themselves. Feel free to combine them! I read anything from gen to explicit. Femslash, slash or any other relationships are great, too. If you want to take a look at my likes/dislikes see my letter.
How would a ghost jellyfish be different from a non-ghost jellyfish? Why would it turn into a ghost?
What kind of ghost stories do they tell in space? Space halloween traditions?
Tbh, I would read a story containing all those characters. It is by no means necessary, though!
Space Traveller: Tell me of the Halloween traditions that survive into the space age! Are there new traditions? What kind of scary stories do they tell in space?
Incubus: I have a thing for magical creatures doing totally mundane things, while being supernatural about it. Would also work for me if combined with any of the other characters! Also here for an Incubus dub-conning someone with sex pollen.
Ghost Jellyfish: How would that work? How would a ghost jellyfish be different from a non-ghost jellyfish? Why would it turn into a ghost? Maybe it’s a familiar of the Part-Time Ghost Exorcist?
Incompetent Fortune Teller: Ooh. In what way are they incompetent? Do they tell people what they want to hear, because they are incompetent at telling the future? Or are they incompetent at being a fortune teller, and tell people their future? Maybe they only see two seconds into the future -- maybe they are cursed and nobody believes the truth they are telling ;) Would also read if the Incompetent Fortune Teller was made incompetent by the Time-Travelling AI and was pretty angry about that... or any other combination, really
Part-Time Ghost Exorcist: As I mentioned, I love when the mundane meets the supernatural. What’s the other part-time? Is the ghost exorcising business only hiring part-time workers so they don’t have to insure their workers? (This is admittedly very US centric. Would also love an AU where a part-time job can have a living wage! Or any other setting) Would also love a space travelling ghost exorcist.
Eldritch Abomination In A Human Skin-Suit: Existential horror freaks me out pretty quickly, but this is such an interesting concept. Why is the Eldritch Horror using a Human Skin Suit? Because they can? Is it like, a life-style choice? Is the EA doing it for the experience, or to be edgy? Would also read if the Eldritch Horror is the thing that gets exorcised. Would also read if there’s no existential horror.
Time-Travelling Artificial Intelligence: What is the AI doing while time-travelling? Does anyone find them out? Why is it time-travelling? Does it abide by Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics? Would also read a story where the AI figures out to be human -- or tries having sex with someone, or maybe they get best upon by an Incubus and there’s confusion all around.
Long Abandoned Sentient Ship: How does the sentience work out, did it become sentient through its abandonment, or is the ship even self-aware? Does it model itself on its creators? Is the ship going crazy in a mild way, or in a creepy way? Or maybe the sentience isn’t very human-like, and it doesn’t need contact at all, and is just merrily continuing its mission to map the unknown space? Maybe it collects hitchhikers. Maybe nobody knows how or who had created it, and it’s just there.
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READER HOROSCOPES FOR JANUARY 2017
As the planet spins on, so the pages turn
CAPRICORN
Hello and very happy new year, beautiful Capricorn! I hope you're basking in the glow of the past few weeks (the end of 2016 worked out quite well for you, you can admit it) instead of succumbing to the societal pressure to make lists of resolutions. Is it good to have goals to work towards? Of course! But don't drive yourself crazy trying to change every other part of your personality in order to fulfill some imaginary “new year, new me” quota. Think about your life right now: what are you thankful for? What have you been blessed with? Once you've made that list, then think about which areas could use some growth. Take inspiration from the heroine of your lucky book this month: a woman who capitalized on her talents and used them to go after the life she truly wanted. She had some rough beginnings, but she didn't let the more difficult aspects of her life bog her down or overwhelm her progress. Take courage - 2017 is blank slate, a song just waiting to be written. Grab your pen and your guitar and get to work!
LUCKY BOOK: Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein
AQUARIUS
Every dog has its day, and this month, gentle Aquarius, is yours. After the manic pace of the holidays - that persisted right up until the new year - it's time to slow way down and catch your breath. If you're feeling like you've got a couple screws loose, trust those instincts; you probably do! Use this time of renewal and new beginnings to attend to yourself in the way you've been longing to: return those phone calls and emails, complete the projects you left undone, systematically tie up any loose ends that have been keeping you up at night. Most importantly, do these things at the most leisurely pace you can muster. Disconnect from the frenetic pace of your social media feeds - you'll be shocked at how much more clear and rested you'll feel when you stop the mindless scrolling. Does the thought of going analog make you itch? Let your lucky book this month be your guide: follow the stories of several Americans doing their best to live more authentic lives: not necessarily by leaving technology behind, but by doing what they can, bit by bit, to simplify the way they approach their daily existence. Breathe deep, take in the beauty surrounding you, and use each morning as a fresh start.
LUCKY BOOK: The Unsettlers by Mark Sundeen
PISCES
Quite the socialite, aren’t you, popular Pisces? You’re starting the year off surrounded by a community of family, friends, and admirers, happy as a clam. Well, perhaps a bit harried, too. But in the best way! Even though you have to get really creative in your responses to invitations (Why double date when you can quadruple date?) you’re feeling all the love the universe has to give right now, and now you want to give some of it back. How will you channel this benevolent energy? The main character of your lucky book used his creative powers to create political cartoons that rocked his entire nation - with consequences that far surpassed his expectations. When you have any kind of platform, taking a strong political stance is always a calculated risk - but is usually well worth the effort. Take advantage of the attention you're getting, and think about how to best use it for good. You never know just how influential your words - or actions - may be.
LUCKY BOOK: Reputations by Juan Gabriel Vásquez
ARIES
Balance, Aries, it's all about balance. In addition to a lucky book, you get a key word this month, too. Think of the next few weeks as gently flowing waves, and you're rising and falling with the tide. You're not doing any heavy lifting this month, so unclench and relax. The beginning of a new year often brings enormous pressure to transform into a brand new iteration of yourself that you probably feel little to no connection too. So why that disconnect? Imbalance. (Told you.) Bringing baggage from 2016 into the light of a new year - whether it be emotional, physical, psychological - is guaranteed to throw you off and have you losing the game before you get a chance to start playing. Take a step back and examine your priorities: how are you feeling about your career? Your relationships? Your home? Yourself? Do the necessary work of dotting I’s and crossing T’s that you've been neglecting, and then you can truly begin on a clean slate. Your lucky book this month is a mind-bending exploration of our perception of reality - time, space, physics. All of the things we know of, but struggle to explain; that we trust, but can rarely see. All of the disparate pieces that somehow hold together the very fabric of our existence...all connected through a most complex and delicate balance.
LUCKY BOOK: Reality Is Not What it Seems by Carlo Rovelli (1/24)
TAURUS
Auf wiedersehen and bon voyage, Taurus! You're grabbing 2017 by the horns and shaking it - that is to say, you aren't taking any winter blues lying down. No, you're throwing your sunscreen and phone charger in a weekender bag and peacing out (and who can blame you?). A giant dose of wanderlust at the very top of a new year can do wonders for expanding your knowledge, refreshing your worldview, and giving a much-needed jolt to both empathy and creativity, which often go hand-in-hand. How would we learn authentically about other people’s lives and experiences if we stayed cloistered within our hometowns, unwilling to venture out and be an outsider in a new place? The protagonist of your lucky book this month shares your desire for traveling beyond the comfortable or familiar: she goes to a Middle Eastern country in search of an ancient text, but ends up discovering so much more. Witness to an incredible love story, mounting political tension, and a family’s struggle to navigate their country’s increasingly precarious hold on peace, she discovers what it means to be a stranger in a land that is physically and culturally different even as her emotional attachment grows ever stronger. In the midst of your adventures, don’t miss your chance to make a deep connection with what may at first feel strange or foreign. You’ll be all the richer for it.
LUCKY BOOK: A Word for Love by Emily Robbins (1/17)
GEMINI
Feeling a bit touched out, Gem? We all have those days. Err...months. No judgment, seriously. Coming right out of the holiday season, where it seems like everywhere you turn, there’s another nosy relative, ugly sweater party obligation, or guilt-inducing ad, it’s no wonder you are desperately seeking a room of your own. Consider this your pass to embrace the hermit you’ve been trying to suppress all November and December! You are welcome. Use this time to think about boundaries: have you been careful with who you allow into your space, whether it be physical, mental, or emotional? Have your loved ones been mindful of your needs? There is no shame in being exactly who you are, despite what the people around you (and on your feed) might feel about it. The beginning of the year can be tough - the pressure to change can feel more like a burden, particularly when the exhaustion of the weeks past doesn’t actually melt at the stroke of midnight on January 1, like the world would have you think. Stand firm in who you are, what you need, and what you enjoy - and don’t be afraid to turn your back on whoever makes you feel as if you are inadequate. When you’re curled up under a warm blanket and blissfully ignoring the world outside, you’ll want a copy of your lucky book: a beautifully heartbreaking true-life account about a young man who was made to feel ashamed of who he truly was, and his journey to radical self-love. Despite all odds, and despite hate masquerading as righteousness, he found the courage and strength to say yes to himself, and overcome a lifetime of no. Now that’s a story worth snuggling up to.
LUCKY BOOK: Boy Erased by Garrard Conley
CANCER
It takes two, baby!!! Cancer, take a minute to make sure your phone isn’t in airplane mode and that you’ve got your notifications ON, because this is your month for partnerships! Maybe you need a cuddle partner for the cold winter months - or if you’re in warmer climes, a buddy to hit the hiking trails or In-N-Out with. Either way, the stars have decreed that the going will be easy in terms of of establishing and/or strengthening connections with the ones you’d like to get a little closer to this month. But that doesn’t mean that you can sit back with your arms crossed and expect love or companionship to find you: it’s all in your ability to recognize what’s in front of you, and perhaps even what’s been in front of you for some time. It’s in your willingness to open yourself up to possibilities you may have previously thought impossible. No woman is an island - or, at least, shouldn’t be for too long. Your lucky book is testament to that fact. Isolation and loneliness can be incredibly damaging over time, and should not be equated with strength of character or some kind of emotional fortitude. Nadia had to learn this lesson, however slowly or painfully, and ultimately, learned and grew from her connections with other people - despite, and in some cases, because of her missteps. Growth is change, and change sometimes hurts. But taking the first step is more than worth it, as any character in your lucky book would tell you. Consider the possibilities, and embrace them! Life is too short to go it alone.
LUCKY BOOK: The Mothers by Brit Bennett
LEO
Aaaaaand...ONE and TWO and THREE and FOUR! You’re high kicking and downward dog-ing your way into 2017, and good for you! We’re in the dead of winter and that’s normally the signal for morose hibernation and comfort snacking, so be proud of your strength of will in such trying times. Keep yourself well hydrated, stock up on a healthy munchies, get plenty of rest. And, most importantly, don’t give in to the temptation to subscribe to the latest fad diet or Instagram fitness craze. You know what feels right for your body, and trying to fit into anyone else’s standards of beauty or fitness is just a long, slippery slope to dissatisfaction and depression. At this point in your life, whatever point that may be, you know that embracing your inner strength and resolve is what makes you feel truly empowered. It’s incredibly easy to lose sight of that strength on a daily - and sometimes hourly - basis. But as long as you continue exercising your body and mind (you know that level of discipline you have accounts for some serious mental heavy lifting, right?) you’re golden. You’re creating the life that you want, rather than just existing. And the quickest way out of or away from any rut - whether it be a “midlife crisis” or simply an awful week - is to live with purpose, with intention. To approach each crossroads as a fresh beginning rather than an inevitably unfulfilling choice. Grab your lucky book this month for a wellspring of insight and inspiration for any day when putting on your running shoes feels completely insurmountable. You’ll be back on the track in no time.
LUCKY BOOK: Life Reimagined by Barbara Bradley Hagerty
VIRGO
Well, Virgo, it may be cool outside, but you are HOT. We aren’t sure what exactly it is, but you’re making heads turn all month, and good luck keeping your weekend evenings free - you’re the belle of the ball, so don’t be surprised by all the requests to hit the dance floor! Enjoy yourself, but this won’t be all fun and games - expect some serious relationship vibes to find their way to you and whichever sweetie has been on your mind for some time. The time is now, no day but today - what’s your move going to be? Coupled Virgos, a monumental next step could be coming - you know exactly what I’m talking about - while single Virgos, have your defenses at the ready. Heady romance and passion are all well and good, but beware the untimely return of a former lover. Take any mysterious reappearance as a sign - to run! Don’t be wooed by the same mind games that you escaped from once already. Your lucky book has enough of those already. Haunting, breathtaking, and utterly captivating, you’ll tear through this small book and be left completely on edge and completely stunned. Nothing like some healthy fear to counterbalance a bit of amorous passion, right Virgo? This will be a thrilling month indeed.
LUCKY BOOK: Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin
LIBRA
Oh, lovely Libra. The holiday season is enjoyable, sure, with all of shiny bells and baubles, and goodwill to all men. But the unrelenting busy-ness can be a bit much, so you aren’t too mournful in saying goodbye to the madness for another year. So, onto much more satisfying things: your warm bed. Your cozy apartment. An intimate group of friends and family, just sharing snacks, telling jokes, and watching movies without any of the frenzy that typically bleeds into similar get-togethers in November or December. If you’re feeling like a homebody, that’s completely fine, because you love your home and are proud to be in it, and so are the loved ones you invite into your space. That warm glow of comfort and friendship - it’s completely irreplaceable, isn’t it? This month, you share a lot in common with the title character in your lucky book - a comparison you may find unusual, but stick around. This is American history like you’ve never experienced it before, although the character in question is actually French. That’s right, General Lafayette, that dashing, daring, revolution-loving soldier may have fought battles and navigated thorny political conspiracies, which you will probably never be called upon to do - but at the heart of his tale lies the impact he made not just on history, but on the people who surrounded him. His friends. His admirers. The people who he could kick up his feet and shoot the breeze with. It’s easy to forget that historical figures had inner lives that so resembled ours - so this month, bask in the knowledge that you and General Lafayette could both appreciate the simple pleasures of spending time with good company. La vie est belle, non?
LUCKY BOOK: Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell
SCORPIO
Whew, Scorpio! Have you slowed down since the ball dropped on January 1? You’re a whirling dervish this month, spinning from one activity to the next, accepting as many invitations and lunch dates and dinner gates and hangout plans as your poor little calendar can hold. Not to knock your hustle - you’re feeling the energy that comes from a fresh new start, and your “new year, new you” vigor is unstoppable. After all, community is crucial, your networking is working, and you certainly don’t have time to waste! But to that point, take a second every now and then to double check your daily agenda - double-booking can happen all too easily. Barring that, go on and live your life in glorious, unfettered splendor. You’re embodying the spirit of your lucky book this month, which explains why untidiness and sprawl is actually integral to the way our minds function, and can lead to innovation and creativity. Is your room a mild disaster area because you’re too busy to put your things away? Fine! Is your desk strewn with papers and post-its? Great! You’re subconsciously keeping yourself engaged, attuned to unusual patterns, and primed for new ideas. 2017 is already your year, Scorpio - and you haven’t even made your bed yet. If you want to rub it in your mother’s face, just don’t tell her we sent you.
LUCKY BOOK: Messy by Tim Harford
SAGITTARIUS
Wow, Sagittarius, you’re looking quite large and in charge. You’ve got a swagger in your step and twinkle in your eye - as focused as the archer for which you’re named. Yes, you made a list of resolutions, and what of it? You’re not the kind of person to abandon them after two weeks, no ma’am. Setting manageable, yet ambitious goals for yourself is a wholly affirming exercise: it inspires reflection on what’s been working for you so far, and helps you dream of what you’d like to accomplish next. You’re feeling totally grounded and in control this month, Sag, so this work is both essential and instinctual. Be sure to think through all of the logistics of each goal: what resources are required to make them a reality? Who might you need to rely on for help? How much time will you give yourself to achieve each step? You’re thinking like a visionary, so it’s only right that your lucky book this month be a sparkling how-to guide for the creative, forward-thinking soul. Take it from an expert: the power of soulfulness and positivity cannot be understated. But they don’t come naturally, no matter how good you may be feeling right now, in the second week of the new year. Put in the practice now to make these values a habit, and watch how your vision boards manifest in 2017. You got this!
LUCKY BOOK: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
#riverhead#riverhead books#happy new year#horoscopes#astrology#january horoscope#reader horoscope#readerscope#zodiac sign#capricorn season#books make us happy
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representation matters
On last week’s 99th episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the precinct’s resident terrifying(ly awesome) Detective Rosa Diaz came out as bisexual.
A handful of words in a scene less than a minute long, a scene thrown in among all the other wonderful scenes that made this landmark 22-minute masterpiece of an episode. It was not a *GASP* cliffhanger moment, and there was no indication that the scene was all that significant - it did not precede a commercial break, which is often indicative of “oh wait- there’s more!” it was simply a moment between two friends, not an epiphany nor a revelation. it was simply a moment of honesty, a few sentences to the backdrop of the Texas Boyles’s cow-orgy soundtrack.
It was two sentences.
“I’m dating a woman. I’m bi.”
It was classic Rosa Diaz - brief, direct, to the point. And it was so much more.
Rosa Diaz knows she’s a cop. She is the kind of woman who does own an axe. She knows everything about bikes and is highly (frighteningly) proprietary of her own. She oozes swagger and knows she’s a badass. She’s very aware that she scares people, and she likes it that way.
Of course, if people are scared of you, they won’t push against your boundaries. That, too, is classic Diaz. She’s erected a barbed wire fence around the human part of her and is all cop.
In the first two seasons, Rosa’s running gag was the fact that no one knew where she lived, or ‘any details about my life.’
She wasn’t a standoffish character nor was she a passive observer; she definitely involved herself and joined in the fun and games the precinct is famous for (”Jimmy Jabs! Jimmy Jabs!”). She was always daring, rebellious, and famously has blood on all but one of her vast collection of leather jackets. She’s always been funny in a deadpan sort of way - ‘RoboCop. I love that movie. It has everything I like. Gratuitous violence.’ She is very matter-of-fact and practical, two attributes that work well to cover any possible show of softness.
From the start, Diaz believed in and loved the squad as a whole, although it could be argued that if she did venture so far as to name any of them a friend, it would be her Police Academy buddy Jake Peralta of the thousand push-ups. We did watch as she developed a reluctant but obvious affection for fellow detective Amy Santiago’s Amy-ness. Her Sergeant, the amazing Terry Jeffords, was always determined to get closer to the real Rosa Diaz. Colleague Charles Boyle, whose initial over-the-top, never-to-be-requited love for Rosa somehow went from creepy fanatic wannabe lover to someone who is now one of Rosa’s closest friends on the show, with Charles all sweetness, Diaz all snark. Gina makes her laugh, Hitchcock and Scully make her threaten them with myriad sharp implements, and Captain Raymond Holt inspired great respect, from a distance. She was never the eager-to-build-closeness kind of character. She appreciated the rest of her squad, but never seemed to actively encourage a depth of friendship beyond serving and protecting together.
We knew she lived close enough to the station to squeeze in a shower when, in 48 Hours, Jake screwed up everyone’s weekend by jumping the proverbial gun on an arrest with no evidence. We knew, based on a brief flashback and offhand comment, that she chose Amy’s Thanksgiving celebration over her own sister’s because she had zero desire to attend the latter, which appeared fairly torturous and uncomfortable. We learned about her deep dark past as a ballet dancer - but only because Terry refused to let the topic go, and eventually found out that it was, unsurprisingly, that charming Diaz brand of threat and intimidation that derailed her dance career.
We knew Dias was and is viciously loyal, the cop you’d want at your back. She was always the scary-as-hell Detective Diaz, but it has only been over the course of the show that we’ve come to get an understanding of who Rosa is.
In the second season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine we are given two disparate views of Detective Diaz, as a cop and as a girlfriend. First is in ‘The Return of the Pontiac Bandit,’ in which Jake ultimately gives up his dream of catching the devious Doug Judy to help revitalize Rosa’s stagnant task force investigation. What results is a ‘major win’ for her task force, and the squad duly celebrates that win with a drink at their bar of choice, Shaw’s. Here, post-win, she is straight up giddy. Her last scene with Jake features a giggly, smiley Rosa we’d never seen. Jake had never seen this Rosa either - when she says she can’t stop smiling, his face telegraphs his thoughts, which are pretty much ‘What. Is. Happening.’
The squad is aware that Rosa, circa season two, is dating none other than her CO’s nephew Marcus, much to her chagrin (or, more accurately, uncomfortable loathing). Here we get the joy of watching her relationship with that CO as it develops. Rosa is deeply discomfited at the thought of her work life and personal life colliding, but she finds the perfect match in her equally taciturn captain. With Holt, Rosa finds a confidant who will listen to the occasional thoughts and worries she barely manages to discuss. You can see that it physically pains her to address her emotions, and none but Captain Holt can offer her what she needs: someone to talk to who would understand the underlying feelings she so hates acknowledging, but would never presume (or want!) to poke and prod and try making her actually talk about those feelings.
Later in the season, with Boyle’s encouragement, Rosa’s romance with Marcus gradually becomes more serious. By the late season two Boyle-Linetti wedding, Rosa admits to Charles that inviting her boyfriend as a plus-one seemed too... big. But she does it anyway, mid-reception, and upon Marcus’s arrival, she verbalizes her growing feelings by telling him those three magic words.
But she isn’t glowing. She is awkward, unsure, uneasy - the opposite of everything Detective Diaz is known for. She is not celebrating finding love, not like she did the night she celebrated her Giggle Pig Task Force. She is, if anything, scared. Because Rosa Diaz doesn’t say ‘I love you.’ Rosa Diaz doesn’t do emotional bonding. Rosa Diaz doesn’t smile giddily.
And yet, task force win? Infectiously grinning Diaz. But “I love you”? Terrified, anxious, why-did-I-say-this-emotions-are-stupid Rosa.
When the Rosa-Marcus relationship ends, part of the reason is precisely because of “I love yous” and all that emotional connecting. Hilariously, and sweetly, she and Holt practice acting out the big breakup, and as always, Holt is by her side in his uniquely Holt way. His squad is as much his family as his nephew.
In season three, Jake reveals feeling put-out and hurt that his partnership with Rosa is nothing like that of their Scotland Yard equivalent, the detestable Swedes, who know every horrifying detail about each other. By the episode’s end, Rosa, recognizing Jake’s hurt and wanting, but not exactly knowing how, to ease it, chooses to tell Jake she’s dating someone.
She has to down approximately five thousand shots of liquor before she’s able to actually tell Jake her new boyfriend’s name, though.
Later in season three, Rosa experiences a hormone-fueled bout of madness with the brilliantly weird appearance of Adrien Pimento, former undercover agent, current borderline psycho. It’s made clear that Rosa has no problem talking about sex, or about sharing public displays of aggressive affection. The Pimento-Diaz relationship is a sex-charged whirlwind, shocking to the squad (and not a little traumatizing for Terry) as it goes from heated public indecency to full-on relationship, whatever that means in the world of Adrian Pimento.
At this point, we’ve started seeing more of the layers that make Rosa a person, not just Detective Diaz, but those layers are still coated in teflon. Yes, she will admit that the claim to Robocop being her favorite movie was a lie. In fact, Rosa’s real love is director Nancy Myers’s work. She will also threaten bodily harm if you tease her about her real cinematic love.
Then Pimento is forced to fake his own death, and we see Rosa emoting (albeit in a stilted manner) in front of a crowd of strangers at his ‘funeral.’ She confides in Amy about how worried she is for Adrian, wonders why he hasn’t come back to her, and nearly causes a panic attack for Amy when Rosa looks at her friend and colleague with tears in her eyes.
Season four brings the joyous and creepily-sex-charged return of Pimento. Rosa does love him, in an entirely dysfunctional way. I personally think his absolute insane (probably PTSD-driven) antics are the appealing factor. After all, he doesn’t know the difference between being hungry and being horny. Pimento is a pedal-to-the-metal type who brings out Rosa’s fun, spontaneous, crazy side. She’s intoxicated by it all, but when Jake and Amy separately confront the couple about not being ready for marriage, Rosa recognizes the truth in Amy’s words. She doesn’t say get aggressive and curse them out or tell Amy to stay out of her life. Instead, she considers what she’s hearing and realizes that (per usual) Amy is dead-on.
So now we have a Rosa who isn’t quite so violent when it comes to other people trying to connect with her, a Rosa who has proven that she is capable of romantic love and is working on navigating its treacherous depths with Adrian. We have a Rosa whose relationship with Holt has strengthened to the point that he asks her for advice, a Rosa who advocates for Amy as union rep, a Rosa who’s memorized an entire monologue from her favorite tv show - and is willing to recite it word for word with Jake at her side.
We also have a Rosa who reaches out a little more. When she becomes convinced that Pimento is cheating on her, she goes to Terry and Amy and willingly shares her fears. She reaches out for help in figuring out the mystery that is pimento. Ultimately, she tells them enough to make her realize she’s concocted a fictional love affair in what’s really an act of self-sabotage. At some point she’s realized that Pimento is passion and paranoia and psychotic hilarity. But none of that is in any way healthy. She doesn’t want this man, but she is unsure of her moves and wants to force his hand rather than reveal her own, thereby creating his imaginary affair.
This is a Rosa who’s discovering what is right for her and what she wants in herself and from others. This is a Rosa discovering that having friends might just be on the “pro” side of life, and that to show emotion isn’t showing weakness. This is a Rosa who recognizes that she gets to make her own life decisions, which includes making the decision to share herself with those closest to her.
And then of course, we have Big House, season five Rosa in prison. It is acknowledged that she spent time in solitary, given ample silence and isolation in which to reflect on who she is. And this self-reflective Rosa, who is, more than anything, lonely, slowly started letting the people who love her get a tiny glimpse of the emotions she’s always been too scared to express.
She showed vulnerability to Terry and Holt while in jail; she showed insecurity over her conflicting feelings for Pimento and actively sought advice from her friends. She rebonded with her family. She actually chose to unzip that leather jacket, revealing the custom family t-shirt and the fact that the shirts were her idea.
As a character, Rosa is at a major turning point. Once no one knew where she lived; now she’s bringing Jake to dinner. Once she answered Kevin’s question about her family with something along the lines of, ‘I have one.’ Now she’s celebrating holidays with that family, and we’re meeting her parents. Once she enjoyed talking about casual sex - never emotional attachment, pure physicality - like when in the very beginning of the show her advice to help Jake get over his slump was flying to Montreal and getting laid.
And now... now she is WILLINGLY, happily chatting on the phone with her significant other - where once she hated that Marcus always wanted to talk about things. She is easily, naturally saying things like, “I’d much rather be hanging out with you.” TO SOMEONE OTHER THAN HER OWN REFLECTION. She is discovering herself in bits and pieces, and part of the discovery is that (and here I’m leaning on Stephanie Beatriz and her comments about Rosa’s sexuality) she doesn’t have to deny the part of herself that is attracted to both genders. Steph said Rosa’s bisexuality was always kind of there; she plays the character and knows Rosa better than any of us, and she recognized the deep emotional imbalance in her character as Rosa consistently rejected an intrinsic part of herself. Because sexuality is intrinsic. Even for someone who is asexual, sexuality is part of their very identity, albeit in a way different from heteronormative standards.
Some people are born with crappy vision, some people are born without a sex drive. Some people are born with prodigy-level talent, some people are born ready to love anyone, regardless of something so menial as gender. We’re all born people, though.
Rosa Diaz is gay, and she’s finally ready to let people know. She is finding the courage to acknowledge who she is to a family that (based on the little we know) is very traditional. The character is finding that courage so that she can be her true self without feeling the need to keep any pieces hidden in a security deposit box. Rosa may never be the type to talk about her feelings or to delve, vocally, into her sexual identity, but she is the type to claim it and make it her own. She is pinpointing personal attributes that she perhaps considered shameful and embarrassing and she’s saying - maybe in a whisper, right now, because nothing is overnight - fuck you, world, this is me. I am strong and brave and beautiful for it, and I’m not hiding in the shadows your bigotry casts for another second. I’m embracing every aspect of myself, because there is only one me, and that me has a voice, and even if it’s shaky now, it will grow louder, it will grow harder, I will be a force to be reckoned with.
Rosa Diaz is finding her voice, finding her identity, exploring the depths of what makes her uniquely her.
And that’s exactly what we, as viewers, should be doing.
For those of you out there who are already “over” the Rosa Revelation, who want the LGBTQ+ community to stop shouting pride from the rooftops already... maybe you need a little time in solitary. Start reflecting. Stop getting irritated with the deserved celebration of a bisexual woman of color claiming herself for herself. And maybe think about why you’re bothered in the slightest by the celebrators and the celebration. About why you’re annoyed or feel defensive. Find your mental security deposit lockbox, where your hidden pieces lie. Find the courage of those like Rosa Diaz, like Stephanie Beatriz, and look at all the parts of you. Bring them into the light. You just might see something wonderful.
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