#tho we do need more jade content

[local-ground-apple]

to that one (or multiple) apple(s) who had been sending me jade/tweels

yes, i see that (i will do it, mayhaps)

it's just making me simp for jade even more (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)

And, requests are closed for now !

To everyone who had sent something when they were open, yes, I will do them eventually

[ofmermaidstories]

I totally agree with you on not liking the current, "you must reblog or don't read it" mentality. While it's great to support fanfic writers if you're comfortable with it, there are a lot of reasons why someone may not feel comfortable reblogging a particular fic (for me personally my social anxiety sometimes gets the best of me and I simply cannot handle the idea of being perceived). I think the problem comes when people don't interact with fics and then start to ask for more content from the author (which I suspect is only a few people but it's enough to give some writers a really bad impression). I used to write for a very small fandom and even I had several experiences of people asking for part 2s or updates when the original fic had very little interaction and I was most definitely not a request blog. I've personally never written fanfiction to get comments but stuff like that made me feel used and I even had one interaction that toed the line of emotional blackmail and put me off writing for that fandom altogether so I can definitely see why some authors end up so jaded that they block anyone who doesn't interact positively (even if it's not something I really agree with). So yeah, I really don't think there's anything wrong with genuine lurkers but I fear sadly they've been given a bad name by the few people who do treat fanfic authors as content machines.

Anyway, I hope I haven't rambled too much and that you're having a good day Merms!

Oh yeah, absolutely!!! Like, true entitlement is such a problem that genuine lurkers are getting murked for; which is unfair because it makes a scapegoat out of them and doesn’t solve the real problem at all. And I say “true entitlement” because there’s a difference between a comment that’s like, “will there be a part 2? 🥺” and “part 2” LOL, which is my personal pet peeve, like—what happened to hi?? hello??? how are you??? 💀 I’m not a chat AI, you don’t get to input demands. 🤖📖🚫

Idk—I try not to be mean about even that, tho, because I suspect a lot of this behaviour is indicative of younger readers, but then it just circles back to the problem of like, how do we correct it on a community-wide scale? Because sure, entitlement like that might be coming from a younger reader, but it might just as easily be coming from an asshole LMAO. The only “quick” solution that I can see for it is directly addressing it when it happens. 🥺 And again I wanna emphasise that there’s a clear difference between a genuine enquiry and a throwaway demand!! Like, personally, I don’t mind people asking when I might update or whatnot, because I don’t hold myself to a schedule and my updates are haphazard. But if you’re a more structured and dependable writer (like andypants, for example!) then maybe it’s a different story idk idk. It’s literally case-by-case—which is how it should be, because we’re all individual people writing different things.

I’m sorry your other fandom experience was kinda soured for you though, Anon. 🥺 I would feel used too! I’ve actually come to really dislike writing generic, non-bigger-fic related drabbles because they’re always the pieces that attract the worst of the entitlement. 💀 I say that like it’s a plague of demands lmfao, it’s not, but it happens often enough that it’s noticeable—and I guess it’s just the nature of them being easily digestible without needing like 100k+ of backstory to get into it, but….. idk idk. It’s startling! 😦 And I think the only action we can take that’s even close to a solution is just gently addressing it whenever it pops up. 😔 Or blocking ig if that’s how u roll, LOL.

[insufferable-talkstuck]

Xenophobia

a post regarding xenophobia within The epilogues and HS^²

let me just preface this by saying, if xenophobia makes you uncomfortable you probably shouldn't read the epilogues, there's a long list of content warnings the epilogues have already but i cannot advocate for this enough do NOT underestimate how immensely fucked up the epilogues get when it comes to this.

Dubiously canon homestuck decides, for whatever reason, that xenophobia should be a plotpoint and that characters should go to fucking war. they use Jane as the major xenophobic douche politician

the way xenophobia exists on earth C, starts of as a belief, held by Jane crocker; that there should be reproductive laws for trolls and mothergrub. Jane expresses that the birth rate of trolls and their long lifespans in some cases, will result in the wipe-out of the human race, she says she's attempting to STOP xenophobia from happening.. by trolls to humans. because if they dominate the planet how could human reproduction ever catch up?

This logic in itself is fucked up enough, Jane wants to control how an entire species reproduces just because humans will be less in the outcome. there is no proper civil way to control this! and about the long lifespans, what would she do? kill the high blooded grubs as soon as they come out? i think you get why this is flawed.

but of course it doesn't stop here, tho at first Jane tries to be polite about this entire thing, more of her racism is revealed via comments that she makes on trolls. She is outright rude to karkat, which is made worse by the fact everyone else is actively ignoring how what she says to him is racist, and even telling karkat he's overreacting.

example one; Jade needed comfort at a funeral and Kanaya comforted her, Jane eyed karkat and exclaimed more of trollkind should be like kanaya.

example two; we can very clearly see she drops the nice act when she's actually mad at a troll, she calls gamzee an insect insultingly on multiple occasions

example three; various comments she makes that are sprinkled throughout interaction such as " im not xenophobic some of my best friends are trolls! " and "what's NOT xenophobic anymore??"

*WORTHY MENTION*

i really should have found a better way to include this because it is IMPORTANT. along with what is mentioned above, and how Jane's polite act falls if she's angered, her racist beliefs don't even stop here! she doesn't JUST want to control troll reproduction but believes trolls should be stripped of many of their rights, and not even be allowed to VOTE

I'm planning to make a list of all the chapters you can avoid in order to not be looking at xenophobia for hours if it's a sensitive topic, but as of now just know, the actual xenophobia spewed here, and the added offensiveness of everyone but karkat ignoring it's an issue can make the reading experience really hard if this is a trigger for you. Proceed with caution

[lesser-mook]

Lego Monkie Kid Season 1 (Show Recommendation)

Goku voices Sun Wukong and Sokka voices M.K, and the animation really had me like:

What else needs to be said.

Legendary Hero, greatest “1#”hero in the world that mentors a nobody that no one took seriously

Main protagonist is destined to succeed said hero

Inherits his fight against an ancient evil

Hotheaded rival with explosive temper

ect ect. You can see where i’m going with this

Wholesome

Pros:

The main character is THE MAIN CHARACTER, and he learns good lessons and trains. 

Good choreography in the fights

Great side characters, including villains

Voice acting is well done

Art direction is amazing & colorful for such a simple artstyle 

Set pieces are 100% eye candy, the art director did their due diligence. Almost all the establishing shots look like cartoonish concept art.

5-6 titular characters, not 20, not 30, not 50 that are ALL the main protagonist. Less than 7 in this show get focus. 

Mei (Titular Female lead) is very fun and likable, she’s full of so much energy. Not only is she in the action in Episode 0 but by Episode 3 she gets more characterization and an upgrade so she can get even more involved. (Won’t say any more tho)

Her character arc isn’t revolving around liking the main character, it’s regarding personal situations pertaining to her life. Not her life revolving around what someone else does.

She’s allowed to be cool and get W’s, not just the boys 24/7

Mei & MK have the most pure & cute platonic relationship, something people/society/kids need to see more of. We need more platonic.

(Now, be advised, i just finished Season 1 so things could change between them but seriously M&MK have interacted so much whatever they choose to do for them as a couple or NOT do, works regardless because they have an actual relationship vs this shit:)

Than Carrot dangling “will they, won’t they’s” for 6-7 years

YES, i’m looking at YOU “MY HERO”

Plus, her Jumpsuit getup screams a cool fusion between White Ranger & Green Ranger = Mei is who you get.

Ivory/Jade Dragon Warrior Mei

Episodes post the premieres are only 11min a piece, makes for great binging

Humor’s fast paced and the gags are ACTUALLY funny

Wholesome

Monkey King is 100% BADASS, lore accurate feats/representation of what this Monke is capable of. 

Sun Wukong China’s Superman for a reason, and if nobody considers him to be, ya’ll really should. 

There’s a reason why Goku’s base character traits took notes from both Superman and Monkey King

Cons:

Breakneck pacing (because it’s 11min, and the style is very fluid; The content is coming at you a little fast)

It is a kid’s show, so it’s not going to get super edgy or show serious blood or anything like that. That doesn’t mean people aren’t dropping the word “Kill”, this show gets serious, edgy. But not super edgy. 

(The writing is good despite it gearing to kids to buy Lego toys, Avatar style. Just because it’s family oriented doesn’t mean it can’t compete with Anime, boom. That’s what matters)

Just because it’s a “kid’s show” doesn’t mean lower the bar, doesn’t mean be lazy and treat your audience like they’re stupid because they’re children. And Monkie Kid did the exact opposite of settling for less.

Again, the episodes are 11min, so if you don’t like short watches, watch the show anyway. Trust me, it’s a good time.

The show’s aesthetic is like Rise of the TMNT (Which i’ll admit, i was a hater of due to my admiration for the 2012 take. But i’m going to give it a chance, i’ve seen some clips of the show, and i actually like what i see.)

Otherwise, the breakneck pacing which is personally NOT my style, but it’s not a deal breaker. Especially since this show is adapting a source material i admire: Journey To The West

Jokes are pretty good, wholesome show, the action is directed like i was choreographing this shit, just look at this gif:

These ARE LEGOS people, why are they really throwing hands on par with ANIME fight scenes (With the difference being if you pause it, you’re not looking at a derp frame, ALL THE FRAMES are for the most part consistent quality)

And the sound design, HOLY shit man.

I have at least a 3GB+ folder just for SFX for my edits, i love a good explosion and shockwave effect- so when i say it’s got good acoustics, that means it’s good.

First time through this show tho, Episode 0 is basically a movie (MAR 2023), starting Season 2 soon

First episodes per season are like 30min to an hour, all the episodes after are standard 11min stories- PER Season.

As of MARCH 2023, only 3 Seasons, so far. 

It’s not 11/10 or anything, but it’s a really good show, recommended.

[taruruchi]

Hello taru just checking in how are you doing recentlyyyy🫶🫶

FAVORITE AZUL HEADCANON GO!

HI SIPPYYY so happy to see you in my inbox!! I'm doing all right, no more having to go to school for now 💪 Finally free to draw and writeee 🎉🎉 I hope you're doing great as well <33

You're asking me to talk about Azul?? Oh, well— *tucks papers away in my suitcase*

My favorite Azul hc is he has a hot mom /hj (but it's true guys I've met her /j)

I don't know if I have a fave hc? Mostly bc I don't remember them sjkdfka My favorite things about him are canon, y'see, so hopefully it's okay if I talk about that instead? Prepare for a lot of rambling which I will put under the cut bc I'm afraid it'll be too long

One of my most favorite things about him was shown in Chapter 6: the fact that he still doesn't think he's doing enough and still wants to do SO much more. The scenes I'm talking about showed that he's super ambitious and wants to achieve all of those goals—beating Riddle at #1 in their grade, opening a new Mostro Lounge branch, etc. I already admired him a lot before because he's a dorm leader as a second-year, runs a business, does research related to economics, and tons of other things. I was like, “Wow, he's doing so much for his age and he's still doing so well?? I wish I could be like that.” It's especially because Azul and I are practically opposites I think? We're really different. That's probably mostly why.

Slightly going off topic, that scene is so special to me, though. Azul and Riddle know each other's strengths and how they both work hard to get to where they are and I'm just *sobbing on the floor*.

Anyways, continuing what I was saying, he also talks about when he was younger and how he didn't try as much before. He talked about how his family wouldn't be strict about schoolwork and just let him do what he wanted. He was spoiled when he was younger, but after he got bullied, he was motivated to become better (as he should, he did not deserve that and I'm WKSNCKSNF). And I'm just so proud of him because he didn't just give up and he became a version of himself where he could be more confident and I *curls up and cries* And this isn't even remotely close to a hc anymore I'm just talking about everything that's canon...

... I think that's it for that part. If you wanna hear about more light-hearted things, tho, we have: the fact that he can play the piano and he's REALLY good at telling what ingredients are in something just by tasting it like hello???

I'm a sort of musical person, I enjoy playing the piano, singing, listening to music, so. That's probably why the fact that he plays the piano stands out so much to me. You can tell me about any character that plays the piano and I will turn my head so fast. And I NEED CONTENT OF HIM PLAYING THE PIANO, DISNEY, PLEASE I'M STARVING

As for the second thing, the first time I read about it, I went “Wh. What?? Hello?? How did he— What?????” BECAUSE LIKE?? THAT'S SO IMPRESSIVE??? (If you wanna read it, it's Azul's dorm uniform vignette. Not completely sure if there's another time he does that but Jade does mention it either in the Applepom story or vignette, idk)

AND NOW I ACTUALLY DO THINK OF A HEADCANON. He's very good at cooking. Period. This is based on facts. I will not take criticism because I'm right. (And I cannot cook for the life of me, I am asking for his hand in marriage rn. This is why we'd be a good match /j)

[citadelofswords]

For Annabel + Kari: 🥂/ For Reuben/Marlowe/Morden: 🍭/ For Sable+Skye: 🥄/ For Max + Merril: 🍰 aaaaand for any/all of them: 💐

right jade has literally given me only ships that involve their characters (and the ot3 with a character of @strangeharpy) so obviously they both have free reign to contradict as needed

annabel/kari + 🥂 - how was their first date?

i feel like annabel probably made a whole plan to do something really nice because she thought that's what you need to do for a first date (having never been on a date before and only seen them on TV or in movies) and they got out to the restaurant and kari looked at her and was like "honestly i kind of thought we were just gonna get takeout and watch ghost shows on youtube"

to which annabel was like "we both make ghost shows for a job"

and kari was like "yeah all the more reason to drag other people who aren't doing it as good as us"

so they took the upscale restaurant food home and did exactly that.

reuben/marlowe/morden + 🍭 - what are their nicknames for each other?

ok so reuben is the person who uses endearments instead of names to refer to people; the key is to recognize what nicknames are them being a flirt and which ones are true endearments. "sweetheart" is a name they give to everyone; "tomcat" i think might exclusively be them being a little shit to morden; marlowe didn't get an ironic endearment for a long time because reuben was trying to be someone they weren't and maybe that was a sticking point for marlowe for a while. once they're together i think reuben sticks to affectionately calling morden and marlowe by name. that or the occasional love.

wow that was long. anyway morden is a "darling" and i'm genuinely not sure if marlowe nicknames either morden OR reuben. (for the record reuben accepts "ru" or "rube" as shortenings of their name but "ruru" is off-limits.)

sable/skye + 🥄 - who is the big spoon and who is the little spoon?

sable little spoon rights. i think sometimes they will big spoon skye but they prefer to be held close.

max/merril + 🍰 - which one bakes/cooks?

oooooh good question. i think merril likes to bake, but max might be the better cook, BUT since max tends to get lost in projects more easily you'll find merril cooking a LITTLE more often.

any/all of them + 💐 - is one more protective than the other?

this answer, for all of them, 1000 percent depends on the situation. more specifically: annabel and kari both habitually don't care about things and are more willing to let the other fight their own battles, except in very specific circumstances (i think annabel, confronted with Her or the hotel, would inherently be more protective of kari since that's a power she knows neither of them can combat) reuben also is willing to sit back and let morden and marlowe fight their own battles UNLESS it has to do with the Authority (whatever that might be in this universe) in which case they WILL rain hell down sable, knowing that they are the one person She cannot touch, will put themselves between skye and Any situation at a moment's notice, which is i think the One point of contention the two of them have merril is Extremely protective of max almost too a fault, but she's also like that with sol and (begrudgingly) kerri, and i also think she and max are the comic of the two people bending around each other to try to take the bullet sooooooo

wow this got long sorry folks hope you enjoyed tho

ship hc asks (ocs only please)

[musiclovingmoth]

writing down what happened when i met with my adjunct friend before i forget :’T

i say “before i forget” because i was so mentally not present that i just wasn’t processing anything properly. i was just so shocked that the moment i finally had to say goodbye for good came that nothing felt real in the moment. but anywayyyy

so first off i gave them the gifts: a card, herbarium specimen knockoff that i made with pressed forsythias (there’s meaning to them), and a mushroom pin from etsy. gah i hope that wasn’t too much i’m just very grateful to them! they really seemed to like them tho. we hugged too! they’re so tall so i had to stand on my toes :’)

and then i Very Awkwardly told them how much i had to thank them for- guiding me and teaching me when i started in the collections, teaching me general stuff about a mind-boggling number of subjects all the time (they’re the most well-rounded person i know that it’s scary), and just all the good times we had in between. i forget if i ever said this here but the way became friends was kind of funny- i was super scared of meeting The Grad Students because i was like “oh fuck they’re so smart and they’re gonna hate that a freshman’s here” but one of them right off the bat was super friendly and talkative to me!! i liked them a lot and talked to them when i could but the other one (now adjunct) was much more formal or at least we didn’t really talk outside of them directing me or me asking them questions. i retained some caution around them. i clearly remember one day when i was working high in a cabinet when i hear them bust into the room GASPING for breath and i was like “wtf” but they come up to me wheezing and red in the face just to. show me a meme. and it was a funny meme but i was rendered so speechless by this change in character that i was just like “???” but after that i realized “ah ok. so i CAN talk to them” and we became good friends slowly afterwards. we talk about lots of different subjects and share laughs and prop each other up when we need it. it was great to finally be in a class taught by them too, the shenanigans continued! i could not have anticipated having such an amazing mentor/friend at college especially considering how depressed and hopeless i felt in high school, which is why i’m so grateful to them.

and i wasn’t expecting this but- they said that while they were still a phd student they got burnt out/apathetic towards the whole ordeal because they’d been in the grind for a loonnng time, a little longer than you’re usually supposed to do your phd. but having me around (aaaaa) reminded them of what it’s like to be passionate about biology!!! and to think that i could do that for someone, especially a close friend, makes me so so happy!!

other stuff we talked about:

showed each other pictures of when we were kids. they showed me a pic of them from middle school at disneyland on their favorite ride (”i think you’re going to enjoy this one”) and i had to show them something as cringy so i pulled out the middle school homestuck cosplay. it was jade harley if you must know

HOW MUCH UNKNOWN THERE IS IN THE WORLD!! personally i’m content with not being able to know everything about anything- that’s what makes life fascinating. we both agreed that it’s amazing that even if you dedicated every second of your life without sleeping to studying, you’d never get to every book, song, anything in existence. there’s always something new to look at and there always will be, but it’s not attainable in any one person’s lifetime, and that’s what makes the pursuit of knowledge so fun. and we were like “how could anyone think they know everything AND be satisfied with it” and then they said something to the effect of “who would want to live a life like that? that’s just dull” and they said it, especially the last word, with such a. god not to be a wannabe poet or whatever but it was with such a sparkle in their eyes and a smile that just totally embodied the excitement of the unattainable infinite knowledge we both love. i’m never going to forget the look on their face when they said that.

HOW PEOPLE THINK TEACHERS ARE HOT?? i told them i saw a rmp review of one of the very old ento professors at school that called them hot and i have NEVER seen their face contort into such shock and disgust. it was kind of hilarious. then we looked up professors we knew on rmp. did not have the heart to tell them that as an undergrad, i also hear firsthand about other undergrads thinking the people in my lab (INCLUDING THEM LOL) are hot

interesting conversation about fathers. we have a lot in common including that, it seems

we were just generally screaming and laughing so much that other professors in their offices in the hallway closed their doors whoops

banter as usual :p “PLAYING HARD TO GET I SEE.... (talking about catching insects)” “they don’t know that species aren’t real... i could ruin their lives...”

ya and then we had to say goodbye. it felt super anticlimactic because i was so out of it tho :( and it’s not like this is the last time i’ll actually see them, they’re coming to my defense next tuesday. and i have no idea how i’ll react then.

one thing i think i forgot to say was how much i’m going to miss them tho

[twisted-wonderland-but-gayer]

Not a ranking but some thoughts on the twst characters and porn

Riddle: DOES NOT WATCH PORN AT ALL. He thinks it’s completely inappropriate even in private and the thought embarrasses him too much. The kind of guy who wouldn’t even know what to look for. I think he if ever did jerk off to something it would be something embarrassing and soft core. Like, 50’s pin ups you could have on your wall soft core.

Trey: does watch porn, probably pretty often tbh. I feel like he has a preference for povs. Prefers homemade stuff bc he finds most porn shot in a studio tacky and overdone

Cater: doesn’t actually watch porn that much, he’d rather use his own imagination (Or his clones but we aren’t gonna talk about that) He does probably have a couple favorite actors he sticks too when he does watch it tho. I feel like he’d have a think for tattoos?

Ace: definitely watches porn lmao. And it’s the corny “oh no I am stuck in this random hole in the wall, whatever will I do” or “I’m sorry mr pizza delivery man, I don’t have any money” type shit. He has zero taste

Deuce: also watches porn, not very often tho. He probably started out with very basic porn and one day he tripped and fell into a very specific niche kink he hasn’t been able to escape. He will never admit to it tho

Leona: the type of mf who would watch porn and not even delete the tab before letting someone borrow his phone. Also a fan of povs. Most when the other person is receiving. I feel like he would mostly watch it with the sound off bc he finds the exaggerated moaning irritating

Ruggie: doesn’t watch it super often but when he does it’s probably something that toes the line between satire and porn. He strikes me as a gangbang man

Jack: knows of porn but is too shy to actually look it up. He might find a loophole in erotica or playboy style mags (tho I don’t see him being into that stuff either) rip wolfy

Azul: doesn’t watch it super often but he does have a super secret account where he saves his favorites and revisits them. I think he might enjoy audio povs

Jade: I feel like he’s into porn but he’s so fucking weird I feel like he’s on a mailing list for like. Niche porn where it’s just people fucking in the woods while foraging or something. He watches it 50% for the porn and 50% for the plot

Floyd: another one that would enjoy satirical porn. Mer porn definitely exists in this universe and I think he would specifically enjoy porn involving land ppl and mer people. He’d probably find all the ways to mesh their anatomy fun

Kalim: has access to porn and has watched it but prefers his own imagination. Something about him doesn’t strike me as a porn guy. Maybe some like? Really fancy erotic artwork? But even then that’s more of something to get him in the mood, not to Jack off to

Jamil: likes role play porn with clear D/S tones. He knows what he likes. Too bad he doesn’t get much time to himself 💀

Vil: another one who doesn’t really enjoy watching porn. If he did he’d probably support individual adult content creators on other platforms. He’d send them lingerie and stuff and even then it’s more of a beauty thing than a sexual thing

Rook: another fan of the more homemade style of porn. He likes how intimate it feels. Probably another one who takes interest in specific actors tho he usually only stays interested for a little bit before moving on

Epel: didn’t have access to porn really until he got to NRC. Now he’s a mean lean masturbating machine. Just holes up in the first empty room with a lock at his dorm and picks the first video he finds. He’s got range (or a ton of pent up hormones)

Idia: hentai, I don’t need to elaborate. He’s a freak

Malleus: does not watch porn, probably doesn’t know what it is, would be somewhat interested but not really into it. He strikes me as the kind of guy who’s really only turned on by someone he knows well and is attracted to.

Lilia: he’s seen porn throughout the ages! (Id love to see an exhibit on that) a few videos might check all his boxes but over all there’s not much that does it for him. He’d rather use his imagination

Sebek: lmaooooo too repressed to watch porn. Some of the other first years might show it to him and he’d be scandalized. If he did give in and get off to it he’d be so ashamed afterwards tho

Silver: falls asleep in the middle of it. Probably watches it and tries to jerk off before bed but passes out before he’s done. Hopefully he wears earbuds or something.

NO THESE ARE SO ROGHT IM CRYING.

Ace has such shit taste and thinks those "stepbro" memes are funny. Floyd likes to find very fucking weird satire or expirmental videos like "how many ___ can i shove up my ass" and occasionally sends them to other people to mess with them. Jade and Deuce are part of the 'hyper specific and niche kink club'. Malleus can watch it with a straight face cause he's not interested.

Riddle and Sebek are so unbelievably down bad and repressed.

[supercorp-hosie]

My thoughts for Legacies 315:

1) for the Star Wars, I have no knowledge about it, I saw some parallels of characters after the episode, it seems accurate, but I still have no idea why Hope’s characters in it didn’t even have a backstory or name lmao. I’m just overall unfazed;

2) the background of the trio and Alaric! There are like so much to address and I don’t know how to fully share my thoughts in-depth organisedly. I’ll try;

3) facts first: so it’s canon that Lizzie’s mental problem is diagnosed at earliest 11, but specific time unknown;

4) Jed activated his curse earliest at 11, since Lizzie had a crush on him for two weeks. I mean who would’ve thought that, common headcannons seem to incline on Josie x Jed tho😂. That just doesn’t randomly cross my mind🤣. Anyway, it doesn’t deny that Jed and Josie could be a thing too, since the twins often have the tendency to crush on the same person? I’m feeling like 60% of the time? I mean they obviously have the same preferences for LI, bad girl or bad boy type, anyone? Rafael, Sebastian, Jed, Jade, Penelope, Hope, Finch. They kind of have this thing with new people to their lives, for Josie, Rafael, Finch, Jade(it’s arguable but I think people tend to have a whole new lens when reconnecting with a disappeared person in your life for years when you’re very young. The perspectives are not the same, like you’re meeting a new person especially you don’t really know them before);

5) especially Lizzie, she definitely has a thing for new people that seems like bad boy/girl. I emphasised on the new people here bc I don’t think ethan is exactly that type, it’s just how Lizzie imagine him to be in that AU. Raf, Sebastian, Ethan....(maybe Jed was new when she crushed on him too, who knows), more specifically, it’s Strangers to Lovers trope for her romance department, so she can imagine as much as she wants and have the wildest dreams (bgm intended). Maybe Josie’s it’s not as much like this considering we don’t know how Posie happened, and with Hope her crush is canon when she was 12, but we don’t know how long exactly the crush was and when did it started, I just have to count that not being new person into her life. But I do get that why Josie said Lizzie always get the boy/girl Josie crushed on too, mostly they have the same type and preferences. Though they can randomly blurt out characters that we all don’t even know as more solid examples.;

6) Alaric and the fact of him being quite an absent father since the twins were 11 is solid canon. I understand the need to care for Hope because the world can’t afford a tribrid went uncared for and went around killing people, but still, the different perspectives of Hope and Lizzie to Alaric are very sad. To think that your father would betray you for another child, is very sad, even for Lizzie, the more dramatic one. So I understand that Caroline wasn’t there for the twins either, another absent parent. About the mother figure being diminished here, I’ll address it in another point. What’s left for Lizzie? Josie.

7) So basically Josie had to handle herself and Lizzie’s all by her own? That’s very hard! My BFF is bipolar, we are not living together, but before, my whole situation [for being in love with her + her situation] had really been hard for me too. I couldn’t imagine what’s it’s really like for Josie. (Another point that I need to address is the real mental problem that Lizzie has) Sure Alaric might not always be absent, but the intensity of Lizzie’s perspective begs to differ. Josie had to understand what is Bipolar at a very young age; had to be there for Lizzie when she had her outburst; had to be the one constantly check on Lizzie whether she had taken her meds; had to digest the emotion impacts from Lizzie after the outburst; had to understand how Lizzie functioned when she was down. None of that are easy, and there’s no one there to ask of what Josie really feels. How Josie pent out? What does she need? Josie might feel the need to be not wanting things and always be good so that she can get the love from Alaric (I remember in season 1, Josie felt the need to lose the game to get on Alaric good side) . So she just started to suppress her voice and her needs, because Lizzie need them the most. Over time or years of suppressing in front of her dearest family, she most likely felt unneeded by her parents, and forgettable to her parents(the girl that’s so quiet that her parents forget about her, the girl that Penelope won’t fight for anymore). She needed to feel needed, so she just let Lizzie take all of her, from whom she felt needed the most. So all of these from Josie’s perspectives, it started a vicious cycle for the twins. And leads to how the twins dynamics and how Josie are in present days. But her problem was never solved, they just accumulated day by day, year by year, leaving the good and dark side from Josie being so separated and unbalanced. The inner turmoil is always there. These lead to the extreme polarity of Josie’s good and bad side. When she’s doing bad, Josie would be especially aggressive than she needed to be because that’s an instinct to compensate the lack of action before. After long suppression, once being released, the instinct would be stronger than usual and harder to get it under control. Under the influence of dark magic, Dark Josie felt like another personality inside Josie here to take over the whole Josie and protect their interests that true Josie are neglecting. Kind of like dissociative identity disorder but not really it?? It’s just an understanding that I’ve been wanting to express, but so hard to organise it, because it’s so complex. By this understanding, I do still think that Josie should still be held accountable for her actions, even when dark magic was influencing her, like even people with mental health illness should be instituted and lost their freedom. I just think that it’s not fair to think she’s straight up very evil and do nothing good for people. It’s not like she’s being dark for no reason at all. This just mean that the dog that doesn’t bark can be more harmful than people think. These doesn’t mean that when Josie goes dark, she doesn’t deserve any leniency at all while holding her accountable. (And it’s not like she’s not beating herself up for most of the things she had done) Oh and sure, Josie should do the healthy way of voicing out these needs and all, to encourage a healthy dynamics between them like she’s the only healthy one between them, but still the problem is, they both lack the environment and guidance to make a healthy working relationship between themselves. How could they know what is healthy when the environment was already lack thereof.

8) Reading Lizzie’s diaries is bad, I understand, because you literally need to understand what leads to what, to gain control when your life is a chaos, but still. It’s even worse when you have that need to confide in another person to get things out wrongly. (I was having a phone call during the diary sharing review, but this is what I vaguely get) a) Josie is confiding the contents very specifically to another person that Hope can somehow reconstruct a sequel to it? b) Josie chose the wrong place to confide it since when she gets emotional, people can probably hear what was shared. At least from what I guess I got, it isn’t stated that she spread it to the whole school nor it was spread to the whole, even if that’s the case, it may not be on purpose, and she chose the wrong person to confide in. Like about the reveal in 112, she made up that Hope talking bad about Lizzie to the whole school, but it doesn’t mean that she spread it nor the whole school actually knows. Another case is, even if the school knows, it could easily be known by any passerby to Lizzie outburst and spread in the school. From what we saw from 101, the kitchen is a public space, the utensils and cutleries breaking should be very alarming, and there are students with intensified senses in the school. By that fact itself, it doesn’t really help Lizzie in being discreet of her illness. Still, sharing your sister’s diaries after reading it is really bad. But I do get that, sometimes you really need to talk to someone that know some of the situation but don’t really know the person in question to recalibrate yourself. But that person have to be like the dead end of all school gossip but not close to Lizzie, so it can do no harm (because he/she/they literally have no use to talk to someone with all these, usually there’s this no name policy, but with Lizzie being her sister, it’s useless hiding, maybe) when you disclose something related to her pertaining your own issues. Josie should apologise for sharing Lizzie diaries, even if Hope was not meant to know that, despite her werewolf hearing. For the reading part, did we get the apology tho? I guess we had? If negative, apologies needed.;

9) From Lizzie perspective, we can see her does Josie wrong but didn’t apologise either. Like Lizzie being princess but Josie being her android, personalised valet? It just showed that during that period of time(specifically from when until when tho, that’s a question), after what Josie had been enduring, taking care of her, Lizzie thought of herself being princess but didn’t actually think Josie as her equal? Like how the Android was programmed to bow to Lizzie? That’s just the habit of the twins dynamic showing, also partly Josie mistake, but Josie does deserves to be perceived as more than that, even when she’s derogatory to herself, Lizzie should uphold that for her. Their dynamics is just sad because it’s not entirely the twins fault, it’s also due to the absent parents in the household, they didn’t know better, they can only depend on each other. They’re orphaned like Hope in a way when their parents are still present. Even though they have privileges as Alaric’s daughters, but that doesn’t help with their real situation. This is just a perfect example of how your family shaped you, but we can still fight to shape ourselves after the power that our parents have over us gradually diminished, like how they’re starting to shape themselves more now as they’re coming to age.

10) What really warms me from the Android situation, despite Josie feeling like she’s being degraded the whole time, a subject to Lizzie, is that from how Josie is the combination of two Androids, also shows that how Lizzie actually looked up to Josie. Maybe it’s not addressed, but I see that. For Lizzie, Josie can really do so much things for her, take care of her so closely that Lizzie can count Josie as her personal valet. Derogatory, yes, but that place is also very important to prince and princess, bc they can literally do nothing to take care of their daily lives themselves well, like Merlin for Arthur (I mean the actions, not the presumably romantic relationship). Without Merlin, Arthur life is a mess! And the knowledge for Android part, it means that in Lizzie’s mind, Josie actually is like the person who knows everything😂 usually that figure should be our parents😭, but for Lizzie, it’s Josie, like she knows the answer to all. It’s sad and warming at the same time. Just more appreciation will do! And the fact that the special sword that they’re finding the whole time was in Josie’s thigh, just show how the trust that Lizzie had in Josie, not even their parents can triumph it, because Josie was the one being there the whole time. So they really deserves each other despite all the shitty things they have done to each other.

11) about Lizzie mental illness, I was recommended a post informing people about how Legacies fucked up Lizzie’s illness. After my own research, I do agree with the OP, I think that Lizzie situation is more like borderline personality disorder rather than bipolar, but that doesn’t make the whole situation easy. I can provide the table I made the next time regarding that.

12) Hope being Lizzie’s villain is really fitting, lmao, the intensity of Alaric care for Hope is so much that even Lizzie thought that Alaric would betray the twins for Hope.

13) I like Hope’s look. Josie being the Android that malfunction sometimes is funny too, especially when Josie is angry the whole time, cuz it’s infuriating too🤣🤣

14) Hope and Josie during Lethan kiss is me. How they’re totally in the same team when Lizzie being like that? Hosie are both wary of their characters and backstory? Hosie rights. Hhhhhh, oh Hope might be jealous of Ethan😂 Hizzie rights.

15) Another Hizzie rights, Hope wrote a sequel to Lizzie fanfic. And..... is Hope officially a nerd too???? I can’t! Hhhhh but maybe not, or else Hope would have known who she was.

16) Lizzie says, maybe deep down I still feel that you’re the chosen one (IN HER OWN STORY)

17) Younger Hope kind of break my heart more. It’s so sad😭😭 how she’s in denial of their parents death, and blame it on herself.....no baby. How Hope just have to tell herself all that again. And about Hope being scavenger, I think it’s fitting too. Her life, like the twins, is in pieces too. She had to pick them up herself, and build a world where her heart and hope can rest safely, and that just make her not mad at Josie burning down her room gayer. She was so closed up to herself that her room is like another world for her. So forgiving Josie just because of her crush, is like Josie and her crush on Hope meant the world to her???? Hosie rights! Anyway, Josie still messed up with that.

18) Having Younger Hope saying those things to Josie, oh my heart! Josie is a protector for Hope! Hosie rights! And Hope knowing the truth to stop Lord Marshall! Malivore, and Josie just stop talking because she doesn’t want to encourage Hope to die😍😍 Younger Hope actually wants to be best friends with the twins!!!!

19) Hope literally just stop growing taller after 12/13 like I did, is fact! And I’m comforted by that, sorry not sorry, lmao!

20) For real I don’t understand why Hope is suddenly full tribrid at the end. When she fights with Malivore.

21) The gun fight and sword fight is so weird! It’s like the gunners don’t know how to shoot at all, like they’re in slow motion, difficultly level easy to the audience, it’s so fake. I’m for Hope being badass, but it seems like the show doesn’t know how to portray a good fight scene. The sword fight is like in slow motion. And if Hope is to combine magic with sword fighting, she should combine them more. I don’t feel she’s badass at all, cuz it’s literally level easy😑

22) Star Wars AU have brought up so many childhood unresolved for the trio to understand each other more and be a better team. I love them ended up being all supportive and the panda promise🤣🤣 I love that the twins just agree not to let Hope die like that. But they’re like promise that a little later than Cleo and Landon? My team Sowanby! Applause to Handon, but please don’t be together again! Strike three, no is no!

23) for MG, Jed, Kaleb, they really need to make up with each other, I’m glad that they finally made it. And Kaleb being jealous of Methan? Lmao! And MG didn’t even say Ethan name? I love Maleb bonding, and MG never left his man behind!! Another things is, what’s wrong with those boys fighting scenes? We saw them throwing valuables to distract the monster again?! What if the keys are damaged? How are you going to go home? Oh and Jed being useful!

24) Jed last name is Tien, 田/填 in Chinese, I’ve shared enough in my other post. But still WE DONT ACTUALLY HAVE JED FIRST NAME! Give us that!

25) Still, I don’t understand how the wendigo is not dead yet. And how come it’s defeated by fire this time??

26) I don’t quite actually know what’s happening with Dorian. Is he okay? I bet he is, so Emma is coming back, right? Based off what the conversation is? We need Emma, really.

27) regarding Emma, is the lack of mother figure that I want to address when stating the twins dynamic. I don’t actually know a lot from TVD or TO, I just happen to know some general things and snippets from edits. But I know Hayley’s words before she dies, like “I’m not going to teach my daughter it’s okay to let people she loves die” and paint art, have at least one epic love? But for real, in legacies, all I get for Hayley is 103, Josie paying her respects, but none other than that. It’s all Klaus. I believe that Hayley is an important figure to Hope too. But she’s not mentioned enough, it’s kind of erasing her impact on Hope?? Like Caroline too, we get her phone calls, the twins trip to Europe to treat their problems off-screen, the letter for Lizzie in 302, the recommendation for Lizzie to go to the witch retreat, but not vetted by Alaric.....yes she get all these and Jo Laughlin being there in 106 (I cried so hard). But still the mother figure is still being minimised. Like in Lizzie’s fanfic there’s never a place for Caroline? How surreal? It doesn’t make sense. (I understand the actress is just not returning). But still these doesn’t change the fact that the show is lacking a mother figure as a whole. Emma should be that.

28) Clarke!!! Like it’s predictable! But what’s unpredictable is that he went straight to shower🤣🤣🤣 I love his snarkiness! Clarke meeting Hope half naked! Holarke! Hhhhhh

I’m too tired, sharing this episodes thoughts is exhausting me. There must be something I left out, please feel free to remind me!

[pinkpruneclodwolf]

Pinkpruneclodwolf doing more big brain things.Do I see Heartslbry dorm character analysis in the future.May I ask a free questions about your takes.You can skip any you don't feel like answering.

1-What got you in to Twst

2-You is your favorite character or dorm(or event (

3-Any unpopular opinions.

4-Spicey or sweet

5-How to feel about grim

6-What frustration do you have with the game

7-Are you following the manga(or are you reading any manga or anime)

8-Do you have any other games you recommend?

9-Do you think Yuu got more agency over the last chapters.

Have a good day.And thank you for your content.

I think what got me into twst was def was in 2019, I was on YouTube and I saw this video Otome Ayui I think translating twst and I was hooked okay then @broken-synchronicity came thru with Lost in Translation and it was over for me okay

I did have a lil hiatus in 2020 to late 2021 (I'm talking around May) and I honestly wasn't planning on being so active but something shifted as soon as I posted my lil story.

My fave dorm is Savanaclaw, yes I'm pulling an Epel, but it needs to be said bc Ruggie is by far my fave character there bc he just resonates with me.

An unpopular opinion of mine would have to be a whole post within itself but I'll give two:

Sebek's very much heavily mischaracterized because of his slow development which i chalk up to him being part fae, he's very arrogant towards those who he doesn't respect and his human peers which ends up distancing him from the first years (which is why Vil calls him a Cucumber instead of a potato)

And two: Trey is actually terrifying. Like he's in the leagues with Jade and Rook bc so many ppl over look his sadism in favor of him being the perfect lil male wife when it's been shown that he does get irritated/uncomfortable with people being too dependent on him— mostly because he's got that "average guy" thing that Jamil has going on but we at least know that's not the case for snake boy.

But if he's so average, how did he get accepted into a school of villains?

Uhhh, sweet, which why I side eye Sebek and Trey sometimes.

Pacing. The pacing of Savanaclaw and overall wonky writing still makes me upset since Octavinelle, Scarabia, and Pomefiore (ignihyde hasn't finished so I cannot say) were all somewhat cohesive, some theorize that Savanaclaw isn't truly over but.....

I'll probably rwork my own lil Savanaclaw fix it but for now It'll remain in the drafts.

I don't really play phone games as much as I wished to (i haven't logged into fgo in a whole month and I just uninstalled obey me to free up space for twst). Subway surfers is always a safe choice tho.

I absolutely think Yuu has more agency this time around, and I'm glad to see it. I wonder where Chap 6 will take this new found energy or if its just until Yuu gets Grim back—

Also, I really enjoy Grim, he's the cat son I wish I had, very much a baby and reminds me of my lil sis. I'm hoping to see character growth tho, can't have the Great Grim learn nothing after all.

Thank you so much for the interview, I hope you remain in good health and grace during these times.

[gloriousmonsters]

💣💖💗💔

💣ship that pisses you off

under the cut cause we're starting Spicy

unfortunately xi.yao is currently claiming this spot. it used to be 3/zun but now my feelings are more just a jaded blank, plus I can semi-effectively filter it out of my field of vision on a semi consistent basis. xi.yao is near inescapable if you're a jgy fan, which is the main reason it's reached the level of irritation it has.

it's actually something i still ship, i just feel like i ship it in a very different way than a lot of people do--i think it was always a flawed relationship and always will be and that's what makes it Flavorful for me, but a lot of people tend toward a... Better. and more romantic interpretation than i do. (specifically guanyin temple. other xi.yao shipper's commentary on GT pretty much never fails to make me ??)

this is another certified Feel Kinda Bad About This because I know and like people who ship this and used to ship it a lot more myself but alas, this is how it is

still like it as a leg of sms/jgy/lxc, tho

💖ship that needs more love

well i was JUST mentioning xisuyao, which has like. 1? fic on ao3--and feels like it ought to be appreciated more as a songxuexiao esque throuple (you, me, and the guy you love that i hate but he loves you but we also have a complicated connection) with the added fun of the villains being the ones with a majority vote. get on it, people

--but also shout out to xue yang/jin guangyao/su minshan. where's my Oops! All Villains throuple content. where is it

💓 ship that you didn't expect to ship but now you do

su minshan/lan xichen and su minshan/nie huaisang both qualify, sms/nhs a bit more perhaps because it REALLY came out of nowhere, but when I first got into things I definitely didn't expect to ship sms with people other than jgy; sms/jgy is just SUCH a good ship for so many things i love that i didn't look outside it for a long time. funnily enough now sms is bordering on being my fandom bicycle (i don't ship him with everyone but i've had/considered more ships with him than anyone else except maybe wwx) and jgy i do not ship with anyone unless sms is involved, which... again, not what i would have predicted at all. the heart wants mysterious things

💔 ship that makes you sad

honestly i don't.... usually think much about ships that make me sad at the moment. i need seratonin too much. i mentioned nielan last time I did this, that still stands. all of my ships have shit that could make you extremely sad if you thought about it (it's mdzs) but I mostly Just Don't

[wishallthatiwant]

didn’t liveblog this episode but i have Many opinions on it

first off hosie brainrot. coincidently also the name of my hosie playlist, which i listened to to hype me up before watching this episode. i saw like two spoilers ahead of watching it, and it’s all i could think about for the three hours i couldn’t watch it. the staircase scene just means... everything to me. the parallels to 2x15 and “fight it” UGH I LOVE THEM

i love lizzie saltzman more than i love myself, which isn’t really a high bar, but,, anyways the lizzie content wasn’t the best, it felt like she receded a little bit into her season 1 self with the assuming the worst in everyone thing with finch, but i appreciate the thought of protecting josie. also, i love her. the talk she had with mg makes me frustrated because i ship mizzie AND methan so yknow head hurts a lil bit. and i understand needing boundaries BUT I WANT LIZZIE TO HAVE EVERYTHING GOOD IN THE WORLD SO PLEASE MG JUST EAT ICE CREAM WITH HER

WE FINALLY HAVE A LAST NAME FOR FINCH. not that i remember it cause it was like two hours ago BUT IT’S THERE AND WE HAVE IT. now do the same for jed and jade and wade. i reconfirm my need to make sure that this sweet girl is happy. but she won’t get her happy ending with josie and i want to CRY. her grandfather is also a dick, turning her into a wolf, at what? seven? i’m assuming the rest of her family condemned her for it, which is why she got emancipated. n e ways it’s really funny to me that she wound up in mystic falls, home of the supernaturals, and didn’t know that any of them exist. 

about the finch/lizzie feud thing. i see both sides. i see finch being exposed to a whole new world that she didn’t know existed, not trusting anyone like she was told to, i see why she called lizzie a monster. i don’t think it’s fair, but i get it. and i get why lizzie came on so strong to finch too. she loves josie, doesn’t want her to get hurt, so she thinks the worse and does whatever to find out what she did. i simply think that they could be the best duo if they made up

um not a lot of opinions on kaleb n cleo? they’re cute i guess and i’ve always been a staunch advocate for shipping more than one ship, but i choose to believe that cleo is a lesbian and also in love with hope, and kaleb and jed. so yknow. i think they were ADORABLE tho.

different post for landon theories. now that that’s done with HOSIE RIGHTS I WANT TO CRY WHENEVER I SEE THEM I EXPECT GIFS AND EDITS AND EVERYTHING GOOD IN THIS WORLD FOR THEM. my favorite part might be the hope apology. not a huge fan that it was like two sentences but THEM THEM THEM THEM

other thoughts: mmm wade/landon cause he was the first to notice something was off; ethan my lil baby drink some vamp blood and don’t die; KALEB BACKSTORY <3; and as always, alaric sucks ass.

[pokkop15]

This upd8 has cemented my conviction that The Muse is just as bad a narrator to have as The Prince. Because let's not forget that she is in fact the one currently doing that. And you can find her voice in the things she chooses to highlight and how the pacing of scene descriptions in the candy timeline (including the bonus content other than the treatise)

I saw someone say that the characters feel like they're responding in character to the extremely ooc situations they're in. In other words, most of the out of character actions and things have happened off screen with out even proper allusion to them. In example most recently, the ENTIRE thing with Yiffany.

Rose seems confused about why she wouldn't have told her wife she would be acting as a surrogate for Jade because not telling her was out of character for her, AND SHE KNOWS THIS. But the narrative had already established this as TRUTH (or maybe it's just as "truth"? I'm still holding out for the Pumpkin timeline tbh) so she had no choice but to accept it as something that happened and to react to it to the best of her ability. The Muse seemingly likes petty soap opera narratives but isn't necessarily any better at writing stories than her brother was. What she is good at tho is INSPIRING. That's why since The Muse has taken over narration of Candy the characters within it have been able to come back in to their full potential and make such great outward progress, Jake reawakening his HOPE, John reconnecting with his family, the omega kids becoming more than just the set dressing they were in the epilogue, and so on. Vriska is another strong catalyst obviously and I'll need to reread some meta on the roles Vriska played in the original canon to even start on the irons in that particular fire.

I'm gonna hop over to The Prince, and how his narrative style influences the Meat timeline in comparison. First off, his voice is FAR more obvious than The Muse. The Prince is by far the most attention seeking Strider in paradox space, and falls just shy of Davesprite's lowest points when looking at insecurity rankings. And I don't mean that The Prince isn't as confident or cocky or self assured as he presents himself (he isn't, but that's not what I was saying). What I mean is that he lacks security of self. He is the ULTIMATE PRINCE (ACTIVE DESTROYER) of HEART (SELF/IDENTITY/SOUL/ESSENCE of BEING) like there is no way he's stable. (I also plan on writing a post on ultimate selves after I'm done with this one) anyways back to the narrative mumbo jumbo. The characters under the narration of the Prince suffer from more direct interference on their actions and stories so when they do act out of character we are more likely to see it but due to the nature of homestuck, they can ALSO pick up on it much easier than their Candy counterparts, who are simply INSPIRED to act in different ways retroactively. This also means we see the characters in Meat introspectively look at themselves and wax purple prose about what a shit show their lives continue to be. The Muse is not absent from Meat but her influence is contested and marginal. What is absent from Meat however, and stay with me here, is Aradia.

The Maid of Time is currently kicking it on the moon in Candy which has no observable impact but I love Aradia and as such Meat is inferior and is the timeline that will be overridden without she who HEALS TIME. Ok but actually I feel like this is RELEVANT, I just don't know why yet.

Meat is NECESSITY and I feel it plays the role of setting the paradoxical space stage where as Candy is RELEVANCY and is there to provide us context (chaotic and FUBARed context, but context so the same) for how the characters who will play a major role in the felling of the Prince got to the stage. And Pumpkin will be TRUTH. Pumpkin? What pumpkin?

Anyways if you expected a neat and tidy ending to these ramblings there isn't one and if you attended this TedTalk I'm sorry.

P. S. If you possess information that invalidates everything I've said here specifically about The Muse narrating Candy, with all my love, keep it to yourself. Allow me my blissful ignorance. If I wanted to be sure about something before posting a crack theory I would've looked it up, again with all my love, look y the other way. Please, I'm begging you.

[dottie-wan-kenobi]

DOTTIE’S BATFAM FIC RECS

hi!! so, no one asked for this but,,, I wanted to make one anyway! I really love the batfam a lot and I see a lot of ppl in the fandom wishing it was easier to find good fics. this is by no means all of them but they are some of my faves, generally not too fanon-y! all fics are gen/family fluff with little to no ships (which are not bat/cest). 

feel free to message/ask me about triggers if you’re unsure!! and lmk if I forgot to tag anyone ❤️

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Homecoming by Ionaperidot / @iowriteswords on tumblr

https://archiveofourown.org/works/10966704/chapters/24414906

Summary: “Your son’s grave. It’s been disturbed.” In which people actually notice when Jason breaks out of his grave, and Bruce finds him before Talia does.

My thoughts: Bruce’s voice in this is seriously perfect, plus Dick, Jason, and Tim are great as well!! This fic honestly helps inform me of my Tim characterization!

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The Wound Begins To Bleed by audreycritter / @audreycritter on tumblr

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13295661

Summary: Now that Tim’s moved back to the manor, he just wants a few afternoons a week without Damian around. Funny how getting that was the catalyst for him becoming a better big brother.

My Thoughts: it makes me emotional okay it GETS me right in my HEART!!! both Dami and Tim are so so so good I can’t rec this enough

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just hold a smile by RecklessWriter

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22777705

Summary: That's the thing about smiles, Dick thinks. If you flash the right one, no one knows there's something more going on inside. Five times Dick faked a smile and one time someone saw through it.

My Thoughts: Dick & others, including Tim and Cass. Dick is really good at hiding his feelings from others, and I love how in this fic, a lot of times, he’s hiding them to “protect” whoever it is

(more under the cut!)

life, if well lived by CaptainOzone

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18378512

Summary: Jason wakes up from a time-travel mishap to find Thomas and Martha Wayne hovering over him. Just another day in the life, right? ...Not quite.

My Thoughts: this one had me crying like a baby!!! the characterization is great and I love CO’s Thomas and Martha

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one shot, two shots in the night by discowing / @dykewing on tumblr, @/wlwdiscowing on twitter

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18871864/chapters/44792710

Summary: The New York Times ✓ @nytimes · 4h

“A Shot in the Dark” remains on our bestseller list for the fourth week in a row! Read our review of @brucewayne’s tell-all memoir here: nyti.ms/3Fs9k2E

My Thoughts: TALK ABT MAKING ME CRY. this gets me every time, and it’s absolutely worth ALL of the rereads. such a great Bruce.

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The View From Jade by lowflyingfruit

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11329791/chapters/25359972

Summary: Being transported to the past is not the sort of thing one normally expects. But this having happened, and with no easy way back, Jason's determined to make the most of it. Though the Bat still stalks Gotham's streets, the city's crime is run by the mobs instead of the rogues. There's no Joker yet. There's no Robin. Maybe there shouldn't be.

My Thoughts: Jason & Dick, and also Bruce somewhere in there too. this is SO! GOOD! I absolutely love Jason’s voice, and Dick is so in character. plus Bruce and Alfred are awesome as well!!!

---

The Birds Who Smile by Raberba girl / @raberbagirl on tumblr

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12972324/chapters/29656290

Summary: "Dark Nights: Metal" AU where Bruce adopts three of the Robins who once belonged to the Batman Who Laughs.

My Thoughts: I think this was the first fic that introduced me to Duke, actually! and while there are a LOT of characters involved, they’re all pretty great and realistic. they have their moments to shine and it’s,,, *chef’s kiss*

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The Thing about Apples and Trees by Cdelphiki / @cdelphiki on tumblr

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22192747

Summary: When Jason agreed to let Bruce adopt him, he thought that meant Jason felt happy and safe in Bruce's home. But when Jason's nightmares only increased, and his panic attacks and meltdowns started happening more often, Bruce was at a complete loss for what to do. But then, Jason finally opened up to him, and he was able to quell some of Jason's worse fears. Perhaps a midnight chat and a few hugs wouldn't fix everything, but it was a step in the right direction.

My Thoughts: this is part of a series but might be okay to read on it’s own? tho really I suggest the entire series, it’s amazing. but this fic specifically has great kid Jason characterization (and also made me cry, I think!)

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Kitten by lurkinglurkerwholurks / @lurkinglurkerwholurks on tumblr

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18194294

Summary: Bruce opened his mouth, prepared to give the unemotional, no-nonsense explanation he had cobbled together between his walk to the car and now. Instead, his mouth went dry and nothing came out.

“Bruce?”

Bruce was saved from answering by the thin cry that cut through the silence. He winced, then reached back with one hand to shush the dimpled, kicking legs.

“Bruce, tell me I did not just hear what I thought I heard.”

My Thoughts: so so so cute! plus the gangs all here!!!

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Yes Ma’am by lurkinglurkerwholurks

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22004695

Summary: Jason had shuffled into the bedroom and had just finished pulling his shirt over his head when he paused, arms still trapped in the fabric. A pair of eyes glowed at him from the bed, reflecting the dim light from the hall.

My Thoughts: I also have to include this one bc it was a gift to me, and it’s so cute & angsty & just dkjsfsdjkhfksjah I love it so much

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The D-Word by AutumnHobbit / @autumnhobbit on tumblr

https://archiveofourown.org/works/9597686

Summary: "See, Tim?" Jason called over his shoulder sardonically. "Dad agrees with me."

He turned back to his food for a moment before the thought suddenly occurred to him that the Cave had gone near silent. He cautiously glanced back at the others. Alfred was still working away at stitching Tim up. Tim looked a little pale and sweaty, but he was glancing over at Jason with a look that was a mixture of concern and confusion. Bruce was standing stock-still, seemingly staring off into space.

My Thoughts: I constantly reread this when I want funny and then heart breaking Jason & Bruce feels. I always know what’s coming and it STILL GETS ME

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baby wonder by drakefeathers / @drakefeathers on tumblr

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1887807

Summary: (baby!damian AU) Bruce dies, Dick becomes Batman. But the Damian that Talia leaves in his care isn’t a ten-year-old warrior, he’s a ten-month-old baby.

My Thoughts: oh my goddd this is so good, it hurts but it’s SO CUTE at the same time??? ugh dskjfhkjsadhf

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a hat fashioned from tin foil by discowing

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14356020

Summary: nightwang @karakurachou – 8 hours ago

jason todd is alive and faked his death so he could become robin: a conspiracy theory thread

Batfam conspiracy theories meet social media.

My Thoughts: !!!!!!! so good!!!! seriously one of the best social media fics I’ve ever read.

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Bet Your Bottom Dollar by jerseydevious / @jerseydevious on tumblr and twitter

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17971160/chapters/42447017

Summary: Dick's been having kind of a hard time, recently. When it boils over, Bruce is there for him.

My Thoughts: I reread this one a LOT when I need Dick & Bruce feels

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Metanoia by AlannaOfRoses / @alannaofroses on tumblr

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21943249

Summary: Jason's bleeding out, Dick's overtired, and a half-serious offer turns into their new normal. Sometimes you just need somebody else around.

My Thoughts: this one was also a gift to me!! it’s got amazing brotherly bonding and it made me laugh a LOT

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a hundred miles through the desert by acrobats

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18197330/chapters/43045388

Summary: Finding himself nearly three decades into the past hadn't been part of Jason's plans for the day, but he could manage. Having no idea how he got there, no clear path home and a recently orphaned Bruce Wayne determined to drag Jason into his search for his parents' killer - that might be a little more complicated.

My Thoughts: ughhh this is such good Jason content (and such amazing Jason voice, too) I adore it

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oh, where do I begin? by LazuliQuetzal / @lazuliquetzal on tumblr

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21988693

Summary: “No, no, nothing’s wrong,” Jason says. “We’re a-okay. Just peachy. Good times.”

“Oh,” Duke says, lamely, working himself out of crisis mode. There’s an awkward silence for a moment before he speaks up again. “Why did you call?”

“Right, right," Jason mumbles, which seemed a little out of character to Duke. His sort-of wayward brother was generally intimidating, even when he wasn't trying to be. "Uh, Dick said that you had a guinea pig when you were younger. How do you take care of a guinea pig?”

_____

AKA, not-exactly accidental guinea pig acquisition

My Thoughts: this was ALSO a gift to me but it’s so funny and sweet and there’s amazing Duke & Jason bonding so I absolutely must rec it

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Latchkey by goldkirk / @goldkirk on tumblr

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21672928/chapters/51685639

Summary: or, How Tim Drake Found A Family, Became A Photojournalist, Learned To Love Coffee, and Grew Up, not necessarily in that order.

Tim Drake is thirteen, runs the famous BatWatch blog that has spiraled hilariously out of control, has absentee parents that suit his purposes just fine, is training himself to run the streets at night, and is doing absolutely peachy, thank you.

Alfred and Jason disagree, and get Dick and Bruce involved in figuring out their weird nextdoor neighbor kid’s life. Everything goes uphill from there.

My Thoughts: this is SO GOOOOD the Tim feels are amazing!!! the family interactions!!! everything! sdkjfhsjdfhksdhfajh

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Blood in the Water by MishaBerry

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12734052/chapters/29037474

Summary: We all do stupid things when we are lonely, and in faraway lands, we hardly expect the consequences to follow us. Bruce certainly never thought twice about an American woman in Jaipur after one night with her. He hardly expected to see her ever again.

The universe, on the other hand, had different ideas, and the tides of time and chance brought Tim Drake to Bruce's life over and over again.

My Thoughts: this one is more AU than a lot of the others on here but it’s a lot of fun!! it has Tim & Damian & Jason feels, plus the rest of the family on a smaller scale

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so these are just SOME, and honestly you should go and check out other works done by all of these authors!! also would like to suggest reading the fics of @renecdote , @caramelmachete , @redtruthed , @rredarrow , and @schweeeppess !!!

[notepadsandtealeaves]

Tilly Jackson x GN!Reader in: With Lots (and Lots and Lots) of Love

From the van der Linde Ladies, With Love 💌 || VDE 2021

MINORS/AGELESS BLOGS DO NOT INTERACT || 18+ ONLY ||

|| ao3 version | event m.list | rdr tag | main blog ||

|| rdr vde (gents) | batboys vde | bnha vde ||

I want to sigh wistfully as I curl up deeper into your warmth while we watch the rain fall through the window; to giggle like children as we putter around in the kitchen, making more mess than food; to dance under the stars, and wander aimlessly though bookstores and antique shops, and kiss you deeply in front of the whole of the watching world. I want all that silly, stupidly sweet stuff and I want it with you, baby.

Your love is something fit for a screen…

↠ Requested By: My burning desire to receive a love letter lol ↠ Reader Gender: Neutral ↠ Content Type: SFW fluff ((but my blog’s 18+ if minors want to consume my sfw stuff while still respecting my wishes of them staying out of this space, they can head over to my AO3)) ↠ CWs: None ↠ Betas? Nah, we don’t do that here. ((tho we should, honestly)) ↠ Total WC: 500~

|| With Lots (and Lots and Lots) of Love

To my sweetheart,

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

I’ve always adored this holiday, even before I had someone special to share it with. A whole day dedicated to love is just so, well, lovely. Before you came along the best part was all the discount goodies and holiday themed trash movies (blame Mary-Beth for this particular guilty pleasure because I certainly do), but with you here…

Honestly I kinda want to live one of those movies, insert myself—us—into every cliché scene. I want to sigh wistfully as I curl up deeper into your warmth while we watch the rain fall through the window; to giggle like children as we putter around in the kitchen, making more mess than food; to dance under the stars, and wander aimlessly though bookstores and antique shops, and kiss you deeply in front of the whole of the watching world. I want all that silly, stupidly sweet stuff and I want it with you, baby.

The sad truth of things is that things in my past relationship left me jaded in so many ways. Once I finally got away from all of that—well, I’d kinda given up on the idea of ever being close with someone romantically. How could I ever trust, let alone love another person after everything that had happened? I was convinced I couldn’t, shouldn’t, and I had made a sort of peace with it after a while, but… You’ve just got this way about you that makes even the scariest of prospects seem not just bearable, but things to be conquered. What I’ve endured cannot be swept away with a few sweet nothings, this I know, but the love, care, and support that you’ve covered me in for as long as I’ve known you has gone a long way in helping me heal–

Annnd this is getting way heavier than what I intended, but ____, sweetheart, I really need you to know just how much I appreciate you and all that you’ve helped me to accomplish.

Thinking on it now it’s plain to see that you’ve already given me that rom-com romance. You’re just as willing to dance with me in the aisle at the grocery store as you are in our kitchen; you let me sing you to sleep even though my voice isn’t exactly the best; you watch the stars with me and make pictures out of clouds, and pepper me with kisses in the early morning when we’re both still too sleepy to keep our eyes open, and love me so right that it feels like there’s nothing and nobody else in the whole of the universe outside of us.

You do all of this and so much more, and I love you for it—I love you for you, and the beautiful way you’ve changed my life.

I know that love isn’t a balancing act, but it is about give and take, so today I plan on giving you all the love you can handle (and then some) and you just have to take it. I have a few things planned, but they’re best discussed face to face, I think, so until then…

With lots (and lots and lots) of love, Tilly

© notepadsandtealeaves, 2021 || Please do not repost, translate, or otherwise alter or distribute my works without my express permission. And for the love of god keep it away from Youtube and TikTok lol…

[telaraneas]

What are your thoughts on the Sylph of Breath title? i'd love to see an analysis of it :)

ok so sylphs as i see them tend to be the ones who introduce their element to the story in an almost literal sense. basically everything we know about the matriorb and the mother grub is given to us exclusively in the context of kanaya's quest to preserve the species, which was in turn something she has always been in charge of and that she carries with her as a duty, and she functions as basically jade's tutorial for the frog making process, which is again the first time the audience hears of it

similarly aranea is basically a literal exposition fairy whole journal and later entire ass presence exists to introduce lore to the story, even to the point of breaking the golden rules of exposition- she sits there explaining things she already knows, and which the character she's talking to (meenah) ALSO already knows, for no discernible reason, other than because she wants to Give Exposition so bad that she will literally pay others to do so; later, she does her game over timeline bullshit in which she aggresively introduces a lot of information that had been obscured so far (what jake's powers actually do, what would and wouldn't count as just and heroic deaths since vriska's death scene dodged the question) but harnessed to get things to go her way in her big dumb plan

like, we are told sylphs are healers but imo their narrative function is as heralds and keepers of their element- kanaya's arc, introduced by her presence, centers around her duty to continue her species, and aranea's function in the story as concluded by her big proactive move is entirely for the benefit of bringing previously unknown things into certainty, and advancing a stagnant plot into a place of certainty (which IS what she meant to do, she just definitely didnt picture it going like it did lol. aranea's actions DID in fact heal the timeline, by putting it in a position where the ONLY WAY FORWARD was an eleventh hour powerup that escapes everything defined by the story so far, thus forcing John forward in his hero's journey. as a creature of pure function, aranea is successful, her personal downfall is trying to make herself out to be the hero)

...yeah sorry i just rambled about sylphs for a while there, i just realized i technically never elaborated on why i talk about sylphs like i do lol

anyways, like i rambled about before, breath is kind of the aspect of narrative contrivance. ive never really mentioned why im so certain of this other than john and tavros' arcs supporting that thesis, but well

wind/breeze/breath really HAS been consistently depicted as the aspect which almost literally embodies "the story bails you out via handwaves" and i do believe john's arc as a heir of breath consists of him being nurtured and carried by his element until the time comes when he must BECOME his element in service of everyone else as well as the story itself

all of that said, a sylph of breath is. when taken as a narrative function, someone who introduces narrative contrivance and mantains its presence, i can't help but think of it as being almost literally just a Deus Ex Machina character lol

i mean, as aranea showed, on a meta level sylphs have a ridiculous narrative power in that they can basically function as the conduit for an author to literally dump whatever element is necessary to keep the story going, and breath is often this same principle but applied in action; a sylph of breath can very well be a double whammy of Get Out Of Jail Free Card for the writer

note that i dont literally mean sylphs have metanarrative powers, i dont think anyone has actual literal metanarrative powers (...again disclaimer i havent read the epilogues and im not taking them into account), just that they can be the sort of character that the author can use as a conduit for a lot of problemsolving. like, characters dont literally introduce elements to the story, authors use characters to introduce elements to the story. aranea didnt literally create the cherub's lore, but her role in the story is such that it is from her mouth that we first hear it, and it is her nature that we never need to question where SHE learned it. in-universe she is repeating information that already existed, but on a meta sense she is being used to introduce information to the story that previously did not exist within it, and it's not a coincidence she is how we are introduced to the existence of the ancestors into the story both as mindfang and in the dreambubbles.

the ones who get the closest to awareness of the narrative conventions they represent are, fittingly enough, light players, and even they seem more than content to just play their role out (the only hiccups being when their role turns out not to be what they thought it was)

breath tends to break the rules tho so like. im just saying. if there was ever a character whose introduction broke the percieved rules of a story so hard that the entire perception of that story's mechanics has to retroactively change to acommodate for it, it would probably be a sylph of breath? lmao