#this got way too poetic

[mintedwitcher]

I think that this episode showed without any doubt that Eddie loved Shannon. He didn't love the idea of her, he didn't just do the right thing, he isn't a closeted case because he married young to the first girl he has been with, he loved her deeply. He only figured it out too late, when he couldn't love her like she deserved and that's is what he's lamenting. I think the fandom gives Shannon so much sh!t. They often act like she was the most horrible person, like she left her son because she was tired of him not because Eddie never put her and her needs in mind at all.

Eddie deserves to be loved and he made a lot of mistakes that don't define him, but it's also unfair to act like he was without faults in their marriage. But Shannon, she is loved and she is understood. I think it's time the fandom let go of the idea of "perfect, victim Eddie" and recognise that Shannon too was only human. (Obviously this is an opinion and you're free to ignore it or disagree with it but as a disabled person myself I thought it's important to be said)

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Say it again and say it louder nonnie you're absolutely correct.

Shannon and Eddie, despite their faults and failings, truly loved each other. I really believe that they were a case of "right person, wrong timeline."

They both screwed up, they both made mistakes. They both ran from one problem only to cause another. They were so young and under so much pressure, but underneath the fights and the arguments and the bitter words and the running... they loved each other.

Shannon was the love of Eddie's life. And Eddie, I think, was the love of Shannon's life, too.

We're quick to lay the blame on Shannon for leaving but I think people forget why she left.

She was being constantly criticised and torn down by Eddie's parents. Constantly belittled and berated and undermined when it came to caring for her own son. She didn't have anyone in her corner. And when Eddie got back, he was so twisted up and angry about the war and everything he'd done and seen and survived, he couldn't see how fast she was sinking until it was too late to pull her back up to the surface. They were both sinking. Both drowning under the pressure and expectations and obligations of their lives, their family that began all too early.

They both ran away.

But it's no coincidence that Eddie chose LA to run to. LA was where Shannon was. He didn't know where, or what she was doing. If she'd moved on. But he ran towards her anyway. And they collided, burning too bright with all of that love turned bitter through time and separation, and they burned each other, they burned out.

And still, when there was even an inkling of a chance to do it all again, Eddie grabbed it with both hands.

He loved her. He just didn't realise how much he loved her until loving her wasn't an option anymore. Until he lost her completely to something so much more permanent than a divorce.

They loved each other. They broke each other's hearts. They hurt each other. They healed each other. They're married. They're not exes but they're not together and there's no way to fix that.

And now Eddie has to go on living like that, somehow, for himself and for Chris and for the memory of the girl he fell in love with and the woman he married.

She was the love of his life. She deserves to be recognised as such.

[aastarions]

(18+) it's probably so overdone but my head spins at zhongli worshipping you in a similar fashion his people continue to worship him

the way they bow at his statue mirrors the way he drops to his knees in front of you, his heady gaze never faltering from your own unless absolutely necessary

the compliments that spill past zhongli's lips – with hope that doubt shall never cast a shadow over his complete and utter loyalty to you – samples the praise his people still sing of him to this day

the ancient people of liyue once scrambled for just a taste of what they believed to be the sacred waters of rex lapis atop mt. hulao – what would they think if they were to witness their god savoring every drop of your release as you cum on his fervent tongue?

the only time he resonates with his most devout worshippers, those who dangerously blur the line between faith and obsession, is when he's buried inside the temple that is your body – that is when he feels most alive, most human

that is when he truly understands what it means to dedicate one's life to a higher being

[in-tua-deep]

My idea of how common knowledge the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is… wrong

[dent-de-leon]

Kingsley needs time in the spotlight. We don't know anything about how he's doing during the solstice. Is he having visions? Nightmares? I wish he was talked about and included more.

aHH yes I feel the same definitely!! ; ; Every incarnation of the Circus Man is very dear to me, and I would love to see more Kingsley. We just got him for so little time, and he's so fascinating and such a love letter to how far the Nein were willing to go to save Mollymauk's soul ; ; It does make me sad that he's the only one of the Mighty Nein we didn't get to see yet, but I am hopeful that maybe we'll finally get to spend some time with him soon!

Also, the fact that the novel ends with defining Kingsley as Molly and Lucien both shaking hands, deciding to both come back together and try again...it's just so very sweet and cathartic to me, a transformation and rebirth, a miracle that amazed even one of the gods. A life born out of love.

And there's just so many fascinating directions his story can go! And so many interesting threads that potentially connect him to Rudius to me?? I mean, I still can't get over the fact that Molly was "born" in the Savalirwood, ground zero for Ludinus' first "communion" with Predathos; this cursed, corrupted forrest where restless spirits still roam. Not only that, in the comic he very much appears to be?? Born on a Ruidus flare?? If that's really the case, then...that's definitely something??

In another life, Tealeaf was warned never to trust other fortune tellers who use an "Oracle of the Red Moon"--a deck that mirrors and mocks the Moonweaver's, cards meant to manipulate and mislead, bring nothing but misfortune and misery to others. I can't help but feel like there's something very interesting there, that Molly was maybe the only one of all the Nein to be raised with superstitions about the red moon...Wonder if it would still make some part of Kingsley a bit unnerved to go there, even just subconsciously...

And even if Molly wasn't really Ruidusborn, we know that he/Lucien were fate touched. Thinking about how...it took a fate touched champion of the gods to power Ludinus' weapon. How it must feel to be a fate touched soul when everything Ludinus is doing is to sever the threads of fate and all connection to the divine. Would a part of him feel those bonds breaking, on some level?

And with all kinds of ancient arcane prisons breaking all over the world, I really can't stop thinking about how Kingsley spent years waking from nightmares about a primal scream and black chains. If Tharizdun has grown more powerful since the start of the solstice, do those dreams get worse? Does Kingsley have nights where he wakes still screaming? Or perhaps he has other dreams? Tealeaf, who was saved by the Moonweaver in every life--dreamed of her in every life--does he see her again one night, asking him for help?

Kingsley Tealeaf is born of both the Nein's love and a Divine Intervention of the gods. He's someone who's soul was found and cradled by the Moonweaver in every lifetime. Does a part of him feel indebted to the gods for that? Or perhaps it's just that he still loves the Moonweaver, sees her as something of an old friend? Would protect her the same as the Nein, because that's what you do for family?

There's just so many interesting directions you could go for Kingsley's reaction to the solstice, I think whatever Taliesin--and perhaps Robbie--decide to do would be just fascinating :') Also, I think it will be very fun if we get to see Robbie play King for the Nein episodes and I'm all for it, especially with how excited Tal was about it. But I do still miss seeing Taliesin as Mr. Tealeaf and hope he still plays him again someday too ; ;

[doedipus]

a large amount of time I've been spending on -untitled undefined scope original fiction project- since the last time I posted about it has been trying to develop the protagonist concept I came up with last summer or whatever into like, a character that would feel real and era appropriate.

it's fun research to do. naturally a lot of the details I assigned to her are things that I already think are cool, so it's been a lot of fun trying to trace her traits back through the relatively recent past, getting reminded of how much things have changed, or where the gaps in my intuition are, and then doing a flurry of reading to get a sense for exactly how someone like her and the people around her could have happened and what her life was probably like leading up to her present day. hopefully this results in some good good verisimilitude.

[lxmitlxss]

@penandswords

ׂ╰┈➤ The cool breeze of the evening felt nice, billowing through the crowded streets of the city around dozens of individuals whose faces seemed to blend seamlessly into a sea of hair and dark clothing. His own blond was like a beacon, shining out as he stood near a building.

ׂ╰┈➤ He flicked his hand, taking out a small metal lighter and with a quick snap, it was lit. His quirk wasn't on par with any of those flashier pro heroes or even with Mikoto himself - but it proved useful enough. His free hand glided almost reverently around the flame, blown from its perch on the wick to linger on his fingers. The warmth reminded him of him...

ׂ╰┈➤ Izumo pulled his cigarette pack from his breast pocket, shaking a single stick from the rest and tugging it out with his lips. After placing the box back, he snapped again - and clicked the lighter shut with a metallic ring. Smoke drifted from his lips as he pushed away from the building, only to accidentally knock into a body as he moved.

ׂ╰┈➤ " Ah, whoops. " He mumbled, pulling the stick into his hand. " Sorry about that, guess I wasn't paying attention there. You okay? "

[dcyllom]

i'm writing my fic and my brain jumped ahead to the ending for some reason, except it's not at all how i want to end it and is also really sad. i'm just going to have this super sad and tragic ending stuck in my head for ages until i get around to finishing lol, might write it and let it rot somewhere in my google drive so i don't have to think about it constantly.

[wodkapudding]

philippe besson: venice beach (original: un homme accidentel; no english translation available for now)

mini-playlist:

miley cyrus — psycho killer (talking heads cover)

noir désir — à l'arrière des taxis

shiny toy guns — stripped (depeche mode cover)

robots in disguise — the sex has made me stupid

lana del rey — fucked my way up to the top

challengers soundtrack

[dootznbootz]

opinions on helen of sparta being compared to prey animals? blink blink

*blink blinks back* Then immediately sits like this because of the question.

It's a good question that I'm happy to answer! It just makes me mad.... I sincerely hate the wording of "prey" being used to describe her.

SHE IS A VICTIM! THAT DOES NOT MEAN SHE IS "PREY"!

I can...see how people in ancient times may have used that word and still meant it in how she is a victim... but modern-day English-speaking people calling her that??? (considering how in different languages the word "prey" could have different meanings.) I'll just say that as someone who has been "prey" herself at one point, I REALLY hate that word as a descriptor. Just say victim or survivor. 👍

Honestly to call ANY victim "prey" is so fucked up. "Prey" to me, feels like "it's meant to happen." "Prey" are part of the food chain and so that's what happens. And to compare that to abduction and SA? Almost as if "that's our place"? It also kind of implies something being "eaten" or killed... Helen SURVIVES. She's traumatized and definitely needs healing and support but it's not like she can't find joy or peace ever again. Prey just feels so fucking gross.

Also, if someone calls victims "prey", I hope they know that Moose, Elk, Boars, Bovine, ZEBRAS, etc. are technically "prey". And these are VERY aggressive animals while still being "prey" for some other animals. And also that doesn't mean that "Oh, they're powerful! Clearly they should've been able to stop it." That's victim blaming :P

She is a clever, determined, caring woman who was ripped from her home for YEARS because Paris was a dipshit who decided he needed the prettiest woman in the world despite already having a wife. He didn't care about the fact that Helen didn't want to be there and was already married. He is so selfish that he will not let her go back even when THOUSANDS have died in the war! EVEN HIS BROTHER HECTOR AND PRIAM DO NOT BLAME HER! Granted, we do not know if Aphrodite would have let him undo their deal of "I want the prettiest woman" if he DID end up feeling bad for Helen and he wished to let her go home (I doubt it based on his personality though).

"Oh, if she is so independent/strong, then why didn't she just kill Paris and leave?"

AGAIN! Victim blaming!!! First thing, people who ask that have media literacy that is piss on the poor. You also have no idea about the political implications that would have happened if she DID kill Paris. She literally cries about staying there and argues with Aphrodite about seeing Paris, only to get strongarmed by Aphrodite as, guess what? A GODDESS WILL ALWAYS OVERPOWER A DEMIGOD. (This isn't Percy Jackson where he "killed" Ares as a 12 year old (Percy, you were my childhood, but that's bullshit.))

Even confined in Troy, she ARGUED with APHRODITE about going to see Paris! She is not some meek woman who just does as she's told with no pushback! She argued with a GODDESSS! Very few survive doing that!!!

She's not "Prey to fate", she's a "VICTIM of Fate".

[amee-racle-ofmyown]

Csptaineer art request 5. admiring them from afar

dear anon, I know you asked for art but I had intended these as writing prompts! however!! I may doodle something for this later anyway, because it's cute :3

and still, never do we tire of watching stars glow

head engineer mark x reader (the captain) | words: 877

For as long as you'd known him, he'd always had a certain look of awe about him when it came to space:

When you were kids, huddled up in blankets watching a documentary about The Solar System while you shared a bowl of cookies.

And as teens, laying side by side in the dry summer grass, gazing up at the stars dotting the sky, laughing and pointing out constellations and making up stories about what it would be like when you got to be among them. 

And as cadets, the first time you voyaged beyond Earth's atmosphere.

Now the Captain of a ship he'd built from the ground up, it took you by surprise when you looked up from your data tablet one day to see him gazing at you with that same look of wistfulness and wonder.

His expression lasted for the briefest moment before he registered that you'd seen him, eyes widening and cheeks flushing almost imperceptibly from this distance. He immediately averted his gaze to anywhere but yours, busying himself with whatever he could.

You let out an amused huff, an incredulous yet flattered smile tugging at the corners of your lips.

It was far from the first time you'd caught someone giving you a starstruck or near-mesmerised look, especially within your own crew. But for him to be the one staring like that? The same admiration and fascination that you'd seen in his eyes when he beheld an eclipse, or a meteor shower, or your new home planet, directed at you…? 

You couldn't deny the small flutter in your stomach, or your heartbeat slightly quickening its pace.

You brushed off the thought and continued working, but from then on you couldn't help but keep noticing the awe and longing when he looked at you, whether it be from across a room or in conversation. It made you wonder if this was a recent phenomenon, or if you had simply been blind to it for a long time.

It was one of those moments of catching his warm, starlit gaze in which you were caught off-guard once again.

You met his eyes with the same intensity once you realised he was watching you, raising your eyebrows slightly to get his attention. He looked embarrassed and a little taken aback, as he always did in such scenarios, and you could practically see the gears turning in his head as he decided whether or not to abandon ship. Instead, his mouth curved into a smile that crinkled his eyes with fondness, followed by a quick wink. 

Now it was your turn to look surprised. 

It's not that the gesture was out of character or that he couldn't be bold when he wanted to. You just hadn't expected it now.

Later, you found it in you to be direct.

‘What's with all the staring lately, Mark?’

His eyes widened at the question. It wasn't particularly like you to be so upfront about something like this.

You watched as your head engineer’s expression turned apologetic and a little guilty, like he'd been caught red-handed.

‘Uhh- I'm sorry. Am I in trouble, Captain?’

You giggled quietly. ‘Nah. I never said I minded, just wondering…’

He visibly relaxed at your response.

‘Oh, well in that case. To be honest, Cap, it's sorta hard to look away sometimes.’

You felt your face flush at this, but were given no pause to utter a reply even if you’d had the words; he continued quickly, as if just realising what he'd said aloud and in the same moment deciding to fully commit to speaking his mind, before he could let himself back out.

‘I just- I love seeing you doing your job, you look so happy and assured. And proud — of everyone you work with, proud that you're part of the team. You're always so willing to help out and listen to what everyone needs. And watching you take command of a situation- You just– you have this aura that screams that you belong here, this is what you were meant to do, and you have a positive effect on everybody around you. We're so lucky and grateful to have you as our Captain.’

And here you are, stunned into silence for a moment. 

He stands there, trying to gauge your reaction, a little flustered himself but steadfast in his confession.

You feel a little giddy, but take a breath to soothe your racing heart, finally composing yourself again as the smile you can no longer hold back paints your face.

‘Thank you, Mark. That's… that's really sweet.’

He grins. ‘Just being honest.’

‘And I feel exactly the same about you, by the way.’ 

He tilts his head in confusion.

‘Watching you in action, it's the same.’

You can see it in his eyes when it clicks.

‘Wait, Captain, are you saying you-’

‘Almost as much as you,’ you chuckle. ‘Except I don't get caught. You could definitely use some improvement in that area.’

He looks away, smile becoming sheepish, the tint on his cheeks you are sure matches yours from only moments ago. 

‘But… like I said,’ you speak up again, drawing his attention back to you. ‘I don't really mind. It is kinda cute seeing your reaction when I catch you.’

[qqqqqqqqqqq0]

i did a thing

[olympiansally]

I know the most likely outcome with Fyolai next episode is the whole “the antidote was the poison all along” switcheroo, but personally, I would love to see Fyodor undone by his own over planning.

Nikolai has been pretty straightforward and honest so far about his feelings for Fyodor and his motivations for wanting him dead, so even thought I doubt something like this could actually happen, I think a more beautifully tragic ending for them would be for Nikolai to be telling the truth, but for Fyodor to be incapable of trusting his intentions.

Think about it, Nikolai, happy to get what he wanted but didn’t allow himself to want — finally able to have Fyodor is his life without feeling trapped by it because he let go and left it to chance and Fyodor won anyway — giving Fyodor the antidote only for Fyodor to refuse to take it.

Fyodor’s undoing should be thinking that he knows better and doubting that someone who truly wants something would ever leave it to chance, doubting Nikolai’s plan is actually just what he said it was, no additional hidden motivations or manipulations, but truly and actually just letting it unfold as he told them all he would.

Because while Nikolai does want his freedom, he has also been very open about being fond of Fyodor. It’s why he wants him gone in the first place.

To have them both get everything they wanted only to lose it at the last second, for Nikolai to realize there is no freedom, because even if he lets go of what he feels and leaves it to chance and Fyodor wins and everything works out perfectly, then there are still Fyodor’s feelings and those are the feelings of someone used to scheming and unwilling to trust, if Nikolai lets go only to be hurt anyway, I feel like that would be hauntingly beautiful.

Specially considering all the talk of bonds and trust that’s been brought up by this arc, this could all line up for a perfect tragedy.

Bsd doesn’t really do many permanent deaths, specially not when the characters have been with us for a while, but if Fyodor is supposed to be gone at the end of this arc, I think this might be a pretty devastating way to do it.

In all honesty, I don’t think it will go like this at all, but kind of want it to.

As someone who enjoys their dynamic for how twisted their reluctance to have affection makes them, I think it would be interesting to see that reluctance be what takes them out. If Nikolai could accept having Fyodor as a friend, the poison wouldn’t have been given to him in the first place and if Fyodor could accept that Nikolai is his friend in a deranged, but genuine way, then he would take the antidote.

As it is, they could destroy each other just by how they’ve been destroying themselves :’)

[scattered-winter]

category 18 event (thinking too hard about the lions again)

[blurryface-never-left]

Lane Boy has the lyrics "They say, Stay in your lane boy, lane boy, but we go where we want to". It can be interpreted as being forced to stick with one style or art form of their work, regardless if they want to mix it up and experiment with something else. A different medium, a different sound. Its a good message. Staying in your own lane, repeating something the same way until you lose your joy in it so you don't lose your success. Its a common occurrence with artists.

A controversial take:

A lot of the clique literally proved Tyler's fear of being stuck doing the same shit in order to keep their career and fame a valid fear by releasing SAI and it getting a lot of hate for not sounding like how TOP usually sounds like. They stepped outside the norm for their music, made a more upbeat, colorful album after having two smash hits that were dark and depressing, and even though SAI still continued the dark messages, they chose to add things that went against their own grain. They were immediately called sell outs, that they fell off, that they'll never top Trench, and even some fans straight up wished Tyler and Josh would go back to being miserable because they only made good music when they were depressed.

I don't think disliking SAI is wrong or bad. Everyone has their tastes and its okay to have work from an artist your a fan of not click with you. But some fans took it way to personally at the beginning of the era, bashing the band themselves, and personally attacking Ty n Josh like they committed a war crime.

Thankfully this hate has dissipated a bunch, either a lot of them either grew to love SAI or have since left the fandom, or just learned to stay quiet, but I thought this was an interesting observation.

Lane Boy tells us we need to stay to the path, to the lane. Stay with what you know, what people know you for, and don't you dare step off that path to something else. There will always be someone on the sidelines waiting to push you back in, threatening to take your success away if you so dare do something that doesn't appease them. But Tyler risked it, he learned a new instrument, he explored new sounds, and made something that he liked. And honestly, Id rather have work that my favorite artists enjoyed making than having work that was miserably made just so the artists fans can have what only they want. My happiness shouldn't come at the expense of someone elses.

[kaeyachi]

hsr spoilers in the tags!

[kay-is-dying]

rewatching last night's raw and Kevin on commentary actually calls Rhea 'the mastermind behind the Judgement Day' alongside the wildcard SEE WE'VE BEEN SAYING SHE'S THE REAL LEADER SINCE THEY KICKED EDGE OUT AND EVERY WEEK THEY VALIDATE US MORE YESSIR