#to this day im still conflicted over whether or not i really wanted to be closer to her or i am in fact a lesbian

[caffeiiine]

god sometimes i rememebr i had this weird crush on my friend and k could not act normally next to her for a good month because i was having lovely internal monologues

[tsukasalvr]

Idk if your requests are open or not AAHH! But if they are:

(Possible TW in my request for mentions of depression, anxiety, commiting di3 joke)

Could you do a reader with bad depression and anixety. And maybe one day reader makes a joke about 0ffing themself and then they dont show up to school for a few days

Characters I would prefer(from TBHK): Kou, Teru, Hanako, Akane(boy)

You can add more if you like! :)

Im sorry its not very specific, this is my first time requesting something

Also sorry i know topics like these are difficult for some people <3

depressed!reader who makes su*cidal jokes

Anime/fandom: Tbhk

Characters: Kou Minamoto, Teru Minamoto, Hanako, Akane Aoi

Warnings: I don’t proofread, depressed reader, mention of suicide

A/n: just got broken up w by my pookie wookie☹️💔

Tbhk masterlist | Main masterlist

Kou Minamoto

Is immediately put off by what you’re saying and is immediately concerned, and gets even more concerned once you get together and just stares nervously at you while stuttering, not knowing what to say

“That’s so embarrassing, if that were me I would kill myself no doubt! Being so stupid like that, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself!” You casually said while looking at a post on your phone.

“O-oh… umm…” Kou is at a loss for words sometimes and tries to brush it off by moving onto something happier to distract you from thoughts like those

When you make a joke that’s one day too far he genuinely seems so much more concerned and ask if you’re okay. He gets so worried about you that it’s best not to make jokes like that near him.

If you don’t show up the next day, he gets worried and is immediately trying to leave school early even though he knows Teru will berate him later for it, he needs to see you’re okay and when he arrives to your house and sees you are, he’s very serious about not making jokes like those again and is invites you to his house more often to distract yourself and is willing to help you get help

Teru Minamoto

Gives you a nervous smile when you joke about suicide and even when you you’re dating he still gives you an obvious fake smile to not hurt your feelings. He knows that outright saying that if you need someone talk to talk to can be annoying sometimes so he’ll try to subtly let you know he’s there

Whether it’s from talking about a topic of a documentary of a tragic life of some celebrity and all they needed help to having Kou telk you that you’re part of the family and that you can tell them anything when you’re over at their house

“I can’t stop messing this up! God I really should’ve taken those pills when I had the chance, what the hell!” You said angrily at the fact you couldn’t get the string through the small hole in the needle.

Teru could only smile at you, he never says anything to your ‘jokes’, but then he stops and just goes to frowning hoping that you’re not being serious

When you don’t show up the next day, he’s not super worried and just assumes you’re late but sends you messages. But after a few hours the messages become more frequent and by the end of the school day he’s running to your house scared. When he sees you’re alright, he’s pissed and says enough is enough and he’s not taking anymore jokes and is instead going to help you

Hanako

He might laugh at your jokes, but it’s only so he doesn’t worry you. He’s not an unfamiliar when it comes to stuff like this and he knows you might now want to talk about it right away so he’s fine with trying to take it slow

On the inside though, his ghostly heart is scared that you’re it joking and you’re actually being serious. He can’t bear the thought of you dying—and especially dying this way so he keeps a close eye on you and has Kou and Yashiro even make sure that you’re doing okay

“God, I’m so stupid and useless” you say with a laugh as you look at your test result and shove the paper back in your bag

Hanako stares at you, and lets out a laugh that’s believe enough. He’s conflicted on what he should do, should he ask how you’re doing? What if you lie to him? Would you even want to talk to him?

It seems as if his worries have come true when you didn’t show up to school the next day and asks if Yashiro or Kou have seen you at all and to message you on those weird electronic things. Yashiro only agrees to go to your house when Hanako asked because she too was worried about you. Hanako waits impatiently the next day and sees you and you tell him you were just feeling sick. If he could, then Hanako would definitely cry and basically forces you to promise to tell him if anything is wrong with a scared and worried expression on his face

Akane Aoi

You’re the most precious person in his life so he takes everything very serious when it comes to you. A paper cut? He’s getting ready to call an ambulance for you and is frantically asking you if you’re okay.

So joking about such topics near him immediately alarms him and hea on full protective mode with asking if you’re joking or not. He takes everything you say seriously, he cares about you a lot so to see you laugh about it, hurts him a little

“What if I jump out this window right now? I really do want to do this test!” You whined and looked over at the window that was right next to where you were sitting.

Akane had a prominent frown on his face, he knew you weren’t exactly mentally okay and you’re jokes were becoming more and more frequent

He’s on full panic mode when you don’t show up to school the next day and the worst possible outcomes are immediately coming to mind. He hopes he’s wrong and is blowing up your phone and is willing to mess up his perfect attendance streak for you, he’ll fix it later. But when he sees you overslept and your phone died because wig wasn’t charged, he’s disappointed. He knew it was getting worse if you dying was what came to mind when you didn’t show up so he pledges to help you

[petrichoraline]

they should have left august have genuine feelings for day imo like we already saw him kinda disappointed it was not a date with mork... the whole kiss thing felt so wrong they did day (and august too tbh) dirty

to start off, thank you for indulging me with a ltts message 🥰 also I hope this isn't too long, i havent had the time to seriously think about this episode so this is my chance 💓

throughout the episode I began wondering if august was a legitimate contender and the thought bothered me for a few reasons: i had been under the impression the plot isn't really about that; that there would be no space to fit in a love triangle of this size if other conflicts were to be explored and resolved. basically that mork and day would have enough on their plate without august in the picture and focusing on those two would only slow down the development of the main couple. I did find the thought of august's intentions being serious intriguing though, a bit frustrating, yes, but also interesting.

now, I had a bit of trouble understanding your point but im guessing you mean we already saw that day was disappointed the party wasn't a date so we're aware of his feelings and they are not aimed at august anymore? so it wouldn't have been an issue if august just continued liking day because day doesn't like him that way anymore, right? because I get that, it wouldn't have been the first time that's happened on screen haha but also that's exactly why I'm not that fond of the idea. day and august having a mutual crush and that going for a few episodes? THAT I find intriguing, an actual relationship trying to figure itself out while it's doomed by the narrative because it isn't the main romance.

but august having actual romantic feelings for day and stepping aside (because the show wants this couple dealt with by the end of the first half, apparently, and it would have cut him off somehow) would be something both sad and also, in my humble opinion, redundant. I've seen it before, it's just a bummer for everyone involved and I don't need it here.

what the plot actually did was very nice, as weird as it sounds. it gave us a character who loves his mate a lot. I do not doubt that august has strong feelings for day. everyone is pissed at him at the moment, day is hurt because there was pity, mork is angry because there was lack of consideration but that boy cares for day, a lot. i suppose there are feelings of guilt, they were on the court together when day lost his vision and then he didn't contact august for over a year. august probably felt some sort if personal responsibility for day's condition or for his behaviour towards him while they were partners, for the fact day felt he couldn't tell him the truth. so there is guilt and there is pity but also there is affection for a friend, for a partner, for the person alongside which you aimed for your dreams. they have a bond (and im sure people have expressed a lot about their sync and dynamic that I haven't picked up on but a bond is undeniable).

august tried to be a better person, a warm one, someone day doesn't recognise. he tried to be everything he wasn't before because thats what he decided day wants and needs. the night at the bar he was already feeling bad about leaving day to hang. on a side note, while the episode was airing i ran to check whether the cast was there that night and if it was on the same arm. it was. august didnt lie and im paranoid lmao anyways

the scene was crushing for mork and us, sure, but it was also very hard for august. he had had an accident, he couldn't contact day and still went as soon as he could after midnight. when he heard the confession he ran which honestly felt like an appropriate reaction - indicating he was there would make day embarrassed and pretending to come in later also wouldn't work because his partner who recently came back into his life with shocking news after ghosting him for a year suddenly confessed he's in love with him. while he's exhausted and hurt. of course the kid needed time to process what the fuck is going on! and he came back the very next morning, ready to make things right.

the issue stems from the fact he had no clue what right is, his underdeveloped brain told him to be a better friend than before but it went too far off in the direction of that thought and landed at "be what he wants you to be to a T" which includes, well, a romantic interest. and that's just not something you can force but alas, earnest, stupid august tried to check off everything on the "make day happy" list.

that boy ran off crying (I would too if mork glared at me like a maddog but still) because he kissed and got kissed by someone he didn't want such contact with ( the reciprocated kiss was A Lot for him) and then realised he'd hurt the person he wanted to satisfy in every way. his words indicate he didn't intend the kiss to be just one, that he wanted to actively change the way he feels about day, that he considered being his boyfriend. I figure he truly realised that was not an option while the kiss was happening hence why the second one had him running away again.

we know august is impulsive and earnest, his intentions were coming from a good place but he couldn't plan to save his life. he acts with his heart and so he was relying on falling for day till the end with no backup plan. it's either that or he knew before the kiss and intended it to be a single gift and I can't tell which is worse. in any case he was aware of the big possibility him and days weren't going to work out so his actions were majorly irresponsible.

the kiss had me screaming NOO literally and then the second one nearly had me gripping my hair, idek what sounds I made from the beginning till the end of that scene but "felt wrong" is something I can understand though it didd feel wrong but maybe not in the way you mean?

i didn't know nor suspect august's intentions and thought process so the kiss felt real to me and though I was against it as an avid morkday shipper, I didn't think that narratively it was bad. day was done dirty a 100% (though he gets mork acting on his feelings finally so..glass half full..?). let's not forget that mork actively supported day's perception of the situation as flirting - not his fault, that's what august was doing after all - but it's something that made the fall that much worse. day was getting hyped up by mork the way he was by gee ABOUT mork before that. he gets affected by his friends' opinions because he relies on them to read the other's body language and intentions. so there is this feeling of helplessness not only because of the pity that guided august's actions but the fact he couldn't assess the situation himself. so yes, for this and many other reasons, day was done dirty by every definition of the phrase.

but as for august and the plot I'm not so sure. august as a character is, to me, much more interesting as this confused and, frankly, unintelligent young man whose heart seems to be in the right place..? but whose actions are totally misguided than if he were, let's say, a good guy finally acting on his crush after years. I suppose he could've stopped before the kiss and told day the truth and maybe day would be a bit disappointed but definitely more forgiving and less heartbroken..

but then how would we see that day can help mork tame his anger with just a touch of the hand? and we needed an act so grotesque that would lead them to have a conversation that makes mork want to scream "I do not pity you, I haven't pitied you for a second, you are so strong and smart and loveable, i love you, how could you ever focus on a nobody like him when you are everything, you deserve so much more, how could you not know that, why did i ever let him near you, i should have never allowed for this to happen, i love you so much god I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU" (yes thats what those eyes at the rooftop said, idk what yall heard.)

i believe the charm of this scene and this whole conflict is that no one there is acting out of malice. it's just people doing what they think is right. mork stepping aside was not the right move technically but it fits his character and the plot as well. imo august wasn't done dirty, he was made interesting and also he isn't a bad guy. he did some really harmful shit but by the end of the scene i didn't feel an ounce of malice from him. there could still be love between the two but one that's not based around day walking on eggshells and one that doesn't rely on august to be something he is not. when they arent forced by the outside to be in close proximity and make things work, when they can just tease each other comfortably without taking all of the other's happiness and well-being as their own responsibility, thats when they could have a nice casual friendship with a lot of appreciation for the other. i believe him and day would reconcile at some point in the future when day is ready to forgive and august is ready to stop running.

[thesherrinfordfacility]

it's high time that i redid the ✨masterpost✨ of all the shit floating around this blog where i say anything arguably insightful, existential/philosophical, or even just teetering on the cusp of being vaguely intelligent, so voila here you go and fucking enjoy:

worth having a looksie through this: longwinded anon (LWA)✨ masterpost

and then because i am actually so proud of these i did video edits to lewis capaldi (he's my hozier fight me) and im sorry but my beat matching is insane, godlike even:

season 2 (forget me)

season 1 (heavenly kind of state of mind)

also:

did i get emotional over crowley's fall and having to leave behind his creations and aziraphale's various conflicts in faith? you're goddamn right i did (credit to hillywood for the fall scenes that sent me into a frenzy)

stuff that is potentially relevant to s3 or is essentially my safe space to shit on these two incompetent-ass characters for being the most ridiculous beings god ever conceived:

(be warned, all of these will conflict each other bc im a loose cannon, a wildcard, and can't settle on a single thing)

(no seriously my opinion changes over time so interpretations that i once held might no longer be the interpretation that i have now, ya feel me)

you wanted a s3 plot prediction, right?

aziraphale brought an ak-47 to a fist fight and ohooo boy did it have Consequences

god i really ought to work out a tagging system in here, huh - this is my ramble on what i think could have happened during the fall

just a small one on the 1967 scene and the holy water thing (tw: suicide)

crowley found the book of life and tbh it was very james bond of him

saraqael rapidly slotting into my top 5 GO characters based on a singular hc wahoo

fuckin ✨1941✨ (this also upsets ALL of my interpretations of the Final Fifteen which... well what can u do)

a fucking rug just put shivers down my spine

more on raphael/azazel/scapegoat/fall theory, glorious smart anons are feeding me yummy soup

perhaps a more comprehensive rambling on omelas, scapegoats, and Those Promo Photos

an updated maggie rambling why not, she's still giving me a headache (and this ask neatly summarises some stuff too!)

my boy crowley really doesn't like change, does he wee baby (may develop this into a full meta who knows)

you know i think heaven might just be the bad place, i know - shocker

god i hope i was possessed by agnes nutter when i wrote this

a gifset format bc i cba to write, but aziraphale might have been, or might become, raphael

ive lied like a rug in previous theory posts: THIS one, this time travel clusterfuck, is the bottom of the barrel

spent hours studying michael sheens face in utter disbelief that he is capable of portraying every emotion known to man, and wrote about it (ie my take on the kiss)

i think goob might have been more important in the mega miracle than we initially thought (and no - not in the way you're currently thinking)

aziraphale and suffering are pretty well acquainted with each other (warning: i absolutely HATE this meta it's so bad)

um i guess you could term this as god is dead theory? nietzsche strikes again anyway

we REALLY hit rock bottom in the theory stakes with this one, lads (it's about whether crowley does in fact fully remember the fall)

(REWORKED) greasy johnson is the second coming. that's it. that's the post.

finally wrote about the book of life well done me

crowley was offered the same chance as aziraphale, im fairly sure, and as far as ive seen noone noticed??

the motif of lies in job made me come over all poetic

relativity is NOT my milieu especially in GO but giving it my best shot

hahaha is everything aziraphale's fault hahahaha

fuckinnnn BOOOOOOKKKSSSSS

EVERY DETAIL MATTERS? YEAH I SHOULD FUCKING THINK SO (and im still keeping this on here bc if im right in s3 im never going to shut up)

job is crowley and crowley is job except job didn't get sent to sit on the naughty step

never thought id see the day where i analyse richard curtis' 4WAAF but this show has got me whipped, jumping through hoops and over stalls like a fucking show pony

i have the dreadful feeling that we might have been fools by sleeping on aziraphale's own angelic importance all this time

did the costume department just simply go ham in s2 or are the angel costumes Important?

more on outfits

ruminations on the fall, morality and omniscience vs. free will, and making choices as if i have any idea what im talking about

okay this one is a little shitpost-y but the message is sound and im an un-apologetic aziraphale supporter, sue me

a sprinkle of s2 symbology, a dash of ineffable plan speculation, and laure girlbossing on how the two go together mwah

this was sooooo tasty i love talking about nietzsche

honestly this one doesn't even have a theme i just like talking to people

okay so this is the genesis of my aziraphale defence league (population: like 15% of the fandom) but i will not stop until he gets the recognition and empathy he mf deserves

Cancel Metatron 2k23

this was pre-s2 but the concept still stands: something feels icky about crowley's fall narrative and the book of life is ringing alarm bells

the concept of pedestals is one of my juicy favourites in psychology and you will find out just how much if you stick around this blog long enough (aziraphale's critique)

and lastly crowley's narrative of his fall? hm, big issue there and honestly the root of all Crowley discourse on this blog, be duly warned

old stuff if you fancy having a giggle at my expense

come chat to me about things

[thoughtlessarse]

I’m having a hard time understanding a lot about this conflict. Today, in the USA (Chicago Illinois, San Francisco California, and in New York) Pro-Palestinian activists decided to block the bridges to prevent people from entering or leaving. As a result, people waited for a minimum of 5 hours before the bridge was completely opened for them to cross. I’ve been reading stories of people who were transporting stem cells, sick people, etc who weren’t able to make it out.

According to the protestors, their goal was to cause an “economic blockade” by causing everyone to not be able to go anywhere

Shockingly a lot of Palestinians were supporting this saying that inconveniencing Americans is a good way to bring light to the situation happening in Gaza. I’ve even had some say that the few lives that were lost because of this were “fine” because it’s for the cause. I don’t want to believe that everyone is this cruel, so I will give my thought generally speaking.

I’m not an expert on these things, I don’t know much so im just using logic. Joe Biden is not the supreme authority over Israel. So let’s say that the USA stops sending aid to Israel completely. Let’s say they cut ties. Where will the protesting end up then? Will it move to another country who may support Israel? The way I see it is, Israeli government is going to do what it wants to do whether America sends it money or not.

Secondly, why is it that Americans have to suffer for what we cannot control? Blocking the bridge did nothing for the people in control. They were comfortably in their homes, meanwhile working mothers and fathers lost job time because of this. People have children to feed. How is what’s happening in Gaza somehow the fault of innocent civilians?

This act today was just cruel and my heart hurt because of it. I in no way am turning a blind eye to the suffering of those in Israel, whether that be Israeli or Palestinian. But at some point we really have to think about where our actions will take us. I’m curious to know if anyone is sharing the same thoughts as I am. Again, I am not educated on the conflict to where I can speak confidently about it 100%, im just looking at this from a logical standpoint.

I've read a Daily Telegraph article on the protests in the US. The Telegraph is not known for its love of protesters, and certainly not pro-Palestine/anti-war protesters, so any deaths would have been reported gleefully. There were none. The Telegraph did interview a woman who had to walk the last stretch to O'Hare in Chicago. She said, “This was an inconvenience, but in the grand scheme of things going on overseas, it’s a minor inconvenience.”

None of the protests lasted 5 hours. Some were over within 45 minutes, and none was longer than 3 hours. In New York it was from 3:15pm and the bridge was completely open by 5pm.

The protests in Chicago have been every day since the Hamas attack on October 7. They are anti-war protests, not explicitly pro-Palestine,

Palestinians support the protests. Why is that shocking? It'd be shocking if they didn't.

The US is Israel's biggest donor. Israel could not conduct the genocide without US help. US munitions are responsible for the devastation visited upon Gaza. This makes the US complicit in the Israeli war crimes. Had the US stopped providing arms much of Gaza would still be standing and a lot more people would still be alive, 12,300 of them children bombed and shot in the four months to March 2024. From 2019 to 2022 the number of dead children in all the world's conflicts stood at 12,193.

Nobody else is in a position to give Israel some much, certainly not the Europeans, although, we too are complicit just not to the same extent. Russia is too busy fighting its own fascist war and anyway holds little love for Israel, despite the fact that they both use settler colonies to expropriate land. That would leave China, and I can't see them arming Israel.

There was a time when protest marches were all that was needed for those in power to take notice. However, such protests are easily ignored, so protesters have to up the ante. Civil disobedience has a long history. It got women the vote (US and Europe) and helped usher in civil rights in the US. It's drawing attention to the climate crisis around the Western world.

Lastly, I like to think that were I in an ambulance stuck behind a pro-Palestine protest and was still able to, I would leave the ambulance and join the protest.

[meat-pvppet]

Hiii hey helloooo really happy i found you! Im in love with your art, its so good! I wanted to learn about your ocs through that one post. Would love to get an answer for every single one, but to spare your time and fingers: alone, desire, future

I love Chasm and Tara so much you have no idea

YESSSS I GET TO TALK ABOUT MY GOOBERS HI HELLO ANON I LOVE YOU /plat

ok for this ill do both chasm and tara cuz theyre my little gabagoos and yes yes yes

ask game

CHASM

alone: How does your OC deal with loneliness? Have they ever been completely alone before? How do they act when there's no one around to see them?

Chasms alone most of the time so he's gotten kinda used to it, but he still has bouts of time where it gets to him, yknow?

Of course, hes never been truly truly alone cuz of Bridge, but generally speaking he gets really introspective about himself and how he interacts with others

how he wishes he could be more outgoing and expressive

hes tried that before though and its simply too draining to him

and it doesnt feel real cuz hes just acting and he knows it

so what would be the point?

he tries to distract himself as much as he can when he starts spiraling like this by doing maintenance on his guns, ship, sparrow, himself

read a little

do some organizing

anything to get him out of his own head

desire: What's one thing your OC wants more than anything in the world? Are they open with that desire? Why or why not? What would they do to fulfill it?

peace

whether that be peace in his own mind or across sol

he just wants all the fighting to stop

for the conflict to end

hes not even sure if he'll make it out of the next world-ending scenario that hes gonna get thrust into

or if his daughter will survive

he doesnt really talk about how he yearns for a day where a threat isnt looming over his shoulder every second of his existence

a day where he can freely relax with his daughter without wondering whether or not he'll get to see her again

or who will take care of her when hes gone

is that cuz he wants to keep up appearances? no

its cuz he knows everyone probably wants that too

no need to state the obvious

to fulfill it, to him, theres not much he can do than continue on as he is

continue on as a war machine

fight for his and all of humanity's peace

future: What's the worst possible future for your OC? Are they taking steps to avoid that outcome? Are they even aware it's a possibility?

i think itd be either he dies, leaving tara alone to fend for herself

or she dies

one he can try to avoid but he can never guarantee

the other is unfortunately inevitable

teehee mortal daughter immortal father moment

TARA

alone: How does your OC deal with loneliness? Have they ever been completely alone before? How do they act when there's no one around to see them?

tara isnt usually alone since she'll be online talking with friends or (on the rare occasion) out n about with them or playing gigs

when she is alone she ends up alot like chasm a little

quiet and stone faced

she gets pretty lonely whenever shes not around other people, but sometimes she just doesnt wanna be around other people at the same time

so she'll rot in bed for a while

or play guitar

or do whatever to entertain herself

she kinda suffers from chronic loneliness much like her dad so yeag

desire: What's one thing your OC wants more than anything in the world? Are they open with that desire? Why or why not? What would they do to fulfill it?

same with chasm id think

she could wish and pray and hope for this but theres not much she can do about it

other than spread peace and love through her music of course but she wishes she could be more proactive about it

like her dad

future: What's the worst possible future for your OC? Are they taking steps to avoid that outcome? Are they even aware it's a possibility?

probably also losing chasm tbh

she already had the wake up call that chasm isnt actually immortal fully from the red war and him losing his light

so she knows he can die

and by the nature of being a guardian, he could die

and it would be a very violent death

[brainzzzeater]

I’m having a hard time understanding a lot about this conflict. Today, in the USA (Chicago Illinois, San Francisco California, and in New York) Pro-Palestinian activists decided to block the bridges to prevent people from entering or leaving. As a result, people waited for a minimum of 5 hours before the bridge was completely opened for them to cross. I’ve been reading stories of people who were transporting stem cells, sick people, etc who weren’t able to make it out.

According to the protestors, their goal was to cause an “economic blockade” by causing everyone to not be able to go anywhere

Shockingly a lot of Palestinians were supporting this saying that inconveniencing Americans is a good way to bring light to the situation happening in Gaza. I’ve even had some say that the few lives that were lost because of this were “fine” because it’s for the cause. I don’t want to believe that everyone is this cruel, so I will give my thought generally speaking.

I’m not an expert on these things, I don’t know much so im just using logic. Joe Biden is not the supreme authority over Israel. So let’s say that the USA stops sending aid to Israel completely. Let’s say they cut ties. Where will the protesting end up then? Will it move to another country who may support Israel? The way I see it is, Israeli government is going to do what it wants to do whether America sends it money or not.

Secondly, why is it that Americans have to suffer for what we cannot control? Blocking the bridge did nothing for the people in control. They were comfortably in their homes, meanwhile working mothers and fathers lost job time because of this. People have children to feed. How is what’s happening in Gaza somehow the fault of innocent civilians?

This act today was just cruel and my heart hurt because of it. I in no way am turning a blind eye to the suffering of those in Israel, whether that be Israeli or Palestinian. But at some point we really have to think about where our actions will take us. I’m curious to know if anyone is sharing the same thoughts as I am. Again, I am not educated on the conflict to where I can speak confidently about it 100%, im just looking at this from a logical standpoint.

Not sure why this question was asked to me but I’ll do my best to answer you as simply as I can put it. I try my best to keep myself informed every day about the genocide in Gaza and protest/boycotts occurring here in the United States.

Yes it absolutely was an economic blockade, because it disrupted a small section of the economy in major cities in the United States.

It isn’t shocking to hear Palestinians are happy to see major protests coming from Americans. In fact, I’m sure they see it as a beacon of hope that the main country funding the genocide in Gaza is not being supported by many of their own citizens. I have personally not heard anyone say that it was “fine” for lives being lost in the blockades. Though I will say it is saddening to hear that that happened, and I send my best wishes to those affected by the loss of this people.

If or when the United States stops sending Billions of dollars to Israel, no the protests will not stop. There are many countries that still hold protests despite their own government supporting Palestinians as well. The difference is HOW the protests are conducted. The reason they are more disruptive here in America is because we want to show the government that we do not stand behind them in the decision they are making to continue supporting Israel.

You are right. The protest did not directly/immediately affect any of the politicians or millionaires in the country. But one thing to know about our own economy is that it is extremely fragile. And the government HATES when we go out of our way to disrupt the order of “peace” they have kept around us. Protests, as we have all hopefully learned in any history class, are very successful ways to bring great change to the issues they are tackling with determination from the participants. In the grand scheme of things, the majority of Americans will NEVER suffer the way the majority of Palestinian families have suffered. Every single day there are entire bloodlines being murdered, children being sniped, innocent people literally being BLOWN UP. It would be selfish to turn a blind eye to what is happening to them.

Living in America fucking sucks. With the way things are going politically, if you are not a white cisgendered heterosexual man you will be targeted by your own government. The capitalist society built around us is so suffocating and draining that we are being worked to the grave. So a lot of people, including yourself, wonder why should I have to put the work in if it doesn’t effect me?

To that all I have to say is. I care about people. I have sympathy. Just because I will suffer does not mean I will not fight for others. I wish I could do more than just spread awareness, and give more of the little money I have. Sometimes all people can do is block a bridge and shout till their throats are soar to do ANYTHING to help innocent lives across the sea. And that is better than nothing.

[kozykricket]

somewhat heavy stuff about pets ahead, need to get off my mind. i kinda speedran this post and its ... unorganized and just a buncha random thoughts. maybe ill make a more organized post . i think i misworded some things in here, theres some lacking clarity. there, thats all of the clarifications. this may be kinda wrong with some specific things,

i have 2 lovely cats, and. we've had them for like. one for probably around 10 years, the other for about 7 or 8 but yknow its really. annoying how... just because they lived as outdoor cats for a while, my dad still doesnt let them have much time inside i mean okay. like. we have a basement garage, where my dad keeps tools and stuff. they have a bed, litterbox, water, and food there. but ive begun to... mmm, i know we wont have them forever, and ive just . been wanting to... atone for the lack of time spent with them. them just either being outside and doing stuff (which i know outdoor cats arent the greatest for the environment) or being in a dingy workshop-garage with nothing much of note so thats. why i try to see them every day. i find it hard to say bye because ... like. ill go back into the Entire Rest of the house and they'll wanna come... but i know my dad doesnt want that. because his allergies get really bad when cats are in the house but ive been sneaking them in the basement, big room with carpet we have. allegedly one of them is very territorial and was fixed too late so he still marks his territory a lot... but i dunno, if i watch over him, theres no issue i just want them to have more places in the house they can go. i dont want them to be spending all their time outside, but alas i think its better than them being secluded to a lonely garage so... yeah. tldr i spend time with my cats every day if i can, just an hour or two if possible, whether in the workshop or by sneaking them in the house. but i cant... just spend all of my free time like that. i want to spend time with my friends, and play games n stuff. so, its tough. im hoping i can come to some sort of deal with my dad. my mom agrees they shouldnt just be in the workshop all the time... though, in terms of "outdoor cats are bad for the environment" my mom, dad, and even therapist say its fine and good i dunno though. thjeres a lot of guilt attached to... decisions that arent necessarily mine. but its because i... i know i can make a difference. theres big conflicts in the world, which i cant make a big difference to. but ic ould... fix the injustice of my cats. atone for the ... years i spent barely ever leaving my room to see them. i dunno. i just want to feel happy for them even when theyre gone. i care for them a lot. one of them is the most lovey cat ever. hes got the soul of a lapcat, even if hes very. Wild and Feral in nature ...we do live in a big, big rural property, though, so its not so bad

[youngpettyqueen]

im gonna make a separate post for my thoughts on the Garak/Julian content in A Stitch in Time because I want to first give all my thoughts on what most of the story was about, of course, which was Garak and his life. so, without further ado and under a cut for your convenience, my thoughts on A Stitch in Time!

first of all I loved this book with my entire heart and soul. its an incredible piece of character writing, strong from beginning to end, and it came as no surprise that Andrew Robinson captured Garak perfectly. you can really tell how much love and work went into this book and into capturing Garak at these different points of his life, and so much of what we see of him in his early life really tracks for what we see of him in the show, and reinforces in writing what we could've already gleaned from him in the show. seriously, just on the basis of how good the character writing is, I will recommend this book to any DS9 fan

I was always looking forward to reading this book just as a Garak fan. he's a fascinating and compelling character, with a lot of layers and complexities, and an incredible amount of emotional depth. and this book truly delivered in diving into all those layers of all, all those depths and nuances. Andrew Robinson makes it very clear why Garak is the way he is in DS9, and how he's always been the way he is, for better or for worse. there was never a moment of this book where I went "this isnt Garak", from childhood to post-DS9. you truly get to see how Garak's youth shaped him, and set up who he would become, and it all makes such beautiful sense

I love that throughout the backstory pieces, Garak's sentimentality is constantly his undoing. and I especially love that no matter how hard he wants to stop, he cant. this comes through the most with Palandine, from his days in Bamarren with her, to when he has an affair with her, to when he cant help but see her one more time even when he's been warned away and it ends with his capture. but we dont just see this with Palandine, we also see it with Lokar in Bamarren when Garak lets himself be lulled into a false sense of friendship, and is subsequently blindsided and betrayed. and again, with Remara, even though he is suspicious of her, he cant help but be drawn to her. and later still, to the Federation negotiator. he's a sentimental sap who craves connection, and love, and this bites him in the ass over and over again, but he cant stop himself from trying. how compelling, how beautifully tragic. it makes the end of the book, with its hopeful look at Cardassia's future and heavy focus on Garak's connection to Julian, all the sweeter. because finally, Garak can be sentimental and open and connected. finally, its working out

I love the unflinching approach Andrew Robinson takes to Garak's past. we know from the show that Garak's past is dark and unpleasant, and in this book it isnt sugarcoated. Garak hurts people, he kills people, he manipulates and lies, and he enjoys controlling others through fear. he's capable of great cruelty. I love that this is an internal conflict at times- when he's on Romulus, raising a deadly poison in the garden, and he wonders how Tolan would feel if he saw what his teachings were being used for. but what I love for the most part is that Garak treats torture and killing like its just another day at work, cause to him, it is. its just another job. another assignment. the casualty of the horrific things he does is just so well written

speaking of ways that Garak sucks- love the way his feelings towards Bajorans was presented. in the show I always felt it was a bit unclear whether or not he actually believed what he was saying about Bajorans, or if he was just doing it to piss people off. A Stitch in Time makes it very clear that Garak does believe that Bajorans are an inferior species, and that he is incredibly prejudiced against them. but it also establishes that even with that, he's BETTER than a lot of Cardassians are about Bajorans, which I find interesting. he thinks Dukat is a barbarian for how he treats Bajorans, the enslavement of Bajorans disgusts him, and there's an extent to which he feels pity for them. like dont get me wrong, he's still awful about Bajorans, but its interesting to see where he draws the line compared to other Cardassians like Dukat and Lokar

Garak's family life had me by the neck the entire time I was reading. finding out he didnt even know Tain was his father until he was into adulthood... I need to rewatch every episode with Tain but especially In Purgatory's Shadow/By Inferno's Light because I need to see that final scene between him and Garak again with this knowledge. and Tolan, I loved Tolan. I loved him a lot. I love that he wanted to be Garak's dad, and desperately wished that Garak could've been his son. I love how influential he was throughout Garak's life, and how he was the source of his sentimentality and all his soft parts. I love that Tolan clearly wanted to save Garak from the path he saw him going on, and that in many ways, he succeeded. it wouldnt be for years and years to come, but eventually, as we see- Garak is on the right path. Garak embraces what Tolan taught him, and thats what allows him to heal. to step up into his place and work for a better Cardassia

to me, one of those important scenes for this in the book is right towards the end, when Garak is in the meeting with Madred and the others. and how he's fully planning on being here as a double agent, doing what he's always done best, and then it just hits him how ridiculous it all is. how ridiculous this group is. and he laughs, and he leaves. this is Garak choosing not to stand in the shadows. this is Garak stepping fully into the light, and stepping up, and embracing a brand new role. he's no longer one of Tain's night people. he's free. its a beautiful scene, I could've honestly been cheering if I wasn't so sick while I was reading it last night. one of my favourite scenes in the entire book

ill tie that scene into one of my favourite dynamics in the novel- Garak and Pythas. I love that they were genuinely friends, and that they took pleasure in each other's company, and cared about each other. this is really the one major instance where Garak's sentimentality doesnt do him in as he's growing up, and I love that, and I love how it makes him cling to Pythas all the more. I was fucking ecstatic to see him and Pythas reunite towards the end. I love that Garak got that one bit of happiness, to see his old friend alive, and still happy to see him. that was incredibly important to me, and I couldnt be happier with how it turned out for them

I did love the Garak and Palandine relationship. it was sweet, and desperate, and always doomed to end in tragedy. to me, Garak's relationship with Palandine confirmed what I already knew- Garak has never been able to deny himself what he wants. he knew having an affair with Palandine would end badly for him, but he couldnt stop himself, because he loved her. I also love that we dont get to find out what happened to Palandine. personally, I think shes either dead, or she fled off-world. and I think its important that Garak doesnt get that closure, and he doesnt pursue it- to me, this is where he has to deny himself what he wants, and I think its crucial that he does it not for his own sake, but for Kel's. and he's right to do so. Garak is the man who killed her father and broke her family, so to pursue her for answers about her mother would be an incredibly selfish act on his part. him choosing to leave Kel be, to not approach and to simply attend the meetings, is a massive sign of growth. I was legit emotional while I was reading that bit, but that might be partially because, again, I was incredibly sick last night while I was reading it so I was very sensitive

some other Garak dynamics I loved seeing. I loved that we got a few scenes of Garak and Odo, and their very strange friendship. I love that Odo asks Garak to make clothes for him. I love that Garak genuinely enjoys the task. I love that Odo will join Julian and Garak sometimes for their lunches. I love that we saw the first stages of Garak and Quark's relationship, which I would read as somewhere between professional association and genuine friendship, as much as either of these characters will allow. and the surprising sweetness of the Garak and Rom dynamic took me by surprise, and left me wanting more. I love that Garak is just genuinely fond of Rom and likes him, and that Rom is just chill with Garak and talks to him. the Garak and Kira scenes were so good, and so insightful into them and their strange dynamic. I love that Garak looks back on talks he's had with Kira, and finally has to understand her rage. I'd love to know if he ever reached out to her sometime post-DS9. that would be an interesting relationship to explore

gonna wrap this up now. I truly loved this book so much. what an incredible character exploration. I cannot give Andrew Robinson enough props for so effectively setting up everything we know about Garak, from his sentimentality to his tailoring to where he'll go post-DS9. every chapter had me by the neck, wanting more more more. I could barely put the book down. I think the scenes inserted into DS9 were incredible, and read so well I had no trouble visualizing them. but most of all, I just loved getting to see all these different stages of Garak. I loved seeing what made him into the man he is in the show. I loved seeing what he's doing after. I loved where this book confirmed what I already knew, and where it challenged me and kept me guessing. every choice and interaction and line felt so true to Garak's character, and thats a truly impressive feat. seriously, I cant praise this book enough. I thoroughly enjoyed myself every page of the way

if youre a DS9 fan and you love Garak, and you havent read A Stitch in Time- I highly recommend it!

[johnnys-breastmilk]

Wally anon: Speak on it. Hating something is just as important as loving & you already know we have overlapping issues with him. Yup, which is why I'm so ??? about them constantly going to that well with her as an excuse to keep her teamed up with Hopper when Hopper should no longer be apart of the equation. It's why I don't similarly take issue with El cause, like you said, her side of the story always brings the scifi element. But yup, the Hawkins crew REALLY held it down where most of the rest of the plotlines did not do so for me. So, while I can see why the split works for you for some variety...the variety was mostly not delivering. 💔

I suspect it was a lot of...physical exertion regarding a certain appendage. Can't go around wearing them in that state, now, could he? 🤫

Yeahhhh, not a very inspiring marketing campaign. I was lucky I saw the trailer first & was interested in the plot cause if I just. saw the poster, I know I would've been like, "Alright, no thanks." I'll keep my fingers crossed that they entirely avoid it cause the writing for the show IS really good so far that it would feel like completely undermining everything they had built up if they just. made it out to be a love triangle at the end of the day. 🤞

You're on the frontlines fighting in the size difference wars. A great service for us all. 🫡 But, huh, I had never really given much consideration to keep out of reach (which probably makes sense with my ~not even thinking about own height~ behavior). Wally would have me rethinking that for sure, though.

And barely patience cause you know he would be ready to pop outta that seat long before detention was up lollll. 🏃‍♂️

Oh, I completely believe it. It would be nonstop unless you gave him the tiniest amount of attention & told him that you needed to concentrate. But, even then, that wouldn't be enough cause he obviously doesn't have to care about these classes anymore & just wants to get to the bottom of things. Very needy, but in an endearing way.

Please do, everyone else who sees the Wally x male reader vision will be extremely grateful. 🙌 And you know he's insatiable cause even after just doing it, he's ready to go again cause he can't get enough of you (or your throat) & the fact that you can physically interact without any of the mess (unless he makes you cum & oh, he will, many times). It's all just so new & exciting to him & he constantly wants his hands on you. And you can barely keep up, but you're just so infatuated with him that you can't say no.

Yesss, hope the writing goes well. There's so much material we've discussed that you'll probably start thinking of even wilder scenarios. 🥳 Oh, he would absolutely be a tease, going on about comparing his stats to yours & how he'll have to plan an extra special workout to really get you in shape if you couldn't breeze through the gym class. And you could just feel his eyes all over you while you stripped off the sweaty clothes, went into the showers, &...I'll let you finish the thought. 🫣

IM SAYINGGGG ugh they wanted variety and two out of the three plot lines did, in fact, not deliver one bit.

Ohhhh so he was big enough to rip the fabric I see🫣 that’s a new level of big. Might buy him underwear just to see him recreate that because… dayum.

Don’t get me wrong, a love triangle could be good… if Maddy chooses the right person… (cough cough wally cough cough). Jk, I don’t want there to be a conflict like that unless both sides are in its entirety, so like ghost dimension vs the real world but no love triangles. None at all.

Wally would make you feel like a midget—a vertically challenged person fr. Who cares if you can reach on top of fridges and the very back of cabinets like him?? He’ll still be taller, and he won’t let you forget it‼️

Teacher!reader x Wally is slowly forming in my head… whether anyone else wants to see it is up to mysterious anons (student topping teacher is underrated)

He definitely wants to get to the bottom of things. I wonder if he gets handsy, or gets under the desk if it’s big enough to tease and tease to his hearts content, taking in the satisfaction that you can’t go anywhere unless it’s to the bathroom… and we know how that ends. (The plan falls apart because of his height, but he’ll try to squeeze himself under that desk.) He’ll only do this after endearingly annoying you for the first few classes of the day, then he finds other kinds of fun.

I can see Wally almost coming off as a sex addict to you, which his drive is very much high, but his constant need for it is thanks to the few decades he spent getting off by himself. It’s probably why your college application is filled with exemplary, time-consuming extracurriculars. The more you were at school, the more you and Wally could fool around. And he’s going to do anything and everything with you, the sky is the limit on that.

I can think of a dozen more scenarios that are crazier than what we’ve talked about😮‍💨 Ugh Wally being a coach to help us get in shape is so sweet of him but also intimidating because he wants gym class to be easy! But really, it’s just a reason to get some blood pumping and flowing in other parts of the body (his massive dick) The showers are definitely his favorite part of your five-day-a-week routine together. It’s when he gets to come up behind you, feel you up, help wash all that sweat off you (even if he can’t actually make a difference). You do your best to make it look like you’re just enjoying a long shower until anyone else in the locker room and showers has left… then the real fun starts. How freaky should I get with these…

[eddies-house]

Underground update! 😍 im so pleased that a longer chapter won out. thank you for giving us the choice 🖤

Her character is getting more concrete in these flashbacks. Her choosing to sit on her own rather than with Steve to avoid his friends, being known as one of the shy ones, her berating herself over thinking anyone would even be interested... its all so heartbreaking. I feel like loneliness is such a big theme in this chapter, she was lonely at school and she's lonely present day, thinking everyone has essentially been having a laugh at her expense.

Especially Steve, so he was there for the falling out that she describes as heartbreak, helped her through it and cant not have known there were bigger feelings there for Eddie, whatever happened. Yet Steve still chose to get his 'selfish needs' met with him. Thing is, his needs being met wasnt her issue at all, just who he chose to meet them with. The way Steve thinks about this kinda makes me think it might just be hooking up, no big feelings, and i cant decide which would be worse, him choosing someone who hurt her just for the hell of it or that they do genuinely like eachother. But then if they do really like eachother, where does that leave R? I need so much more information! The flashback parts seem to say Eddie was into her just as much as she was him, which even Steve saw! (Plus Eddie's internal conflict over selling, not wanting to become his father - so sad 😢) I wonder how a conversation went between Eddie and Steve after last chapter. I kinda want them to call their thing off, but what if they are in love and stuff? I mean, I dont think they are..

And then R and Eddie's interaction present day, she thinks hes a liar but whhyy? What did you lie about Eddie?! I mean, he says nothing.. so who's in the wrong here? And he seems just as angry at her.. I need more info before i pick a side 🤣 and then her feeling so alone, not wanting to bother anyone and feeling so isolated from all her friends 💔 Plus still having to go into work because bills and just the stress that situation will have caused her, felt it big time. I hope Will in particular doesn't let her keep feeling that way.

Then both boys at the coffe shop and thier totally different approaches was interesting. Steve getting straight in her face didn't do much good, and Eddie's peace offering.. yea it was sweet, but pal, it's going to need much more than a coffee. Loved this as always, got me in all the feels 🖤🖤

you have no idea how excited I was when I woke up and this was in my inbox 🥹 I LOVE YOUR COMMENTARY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IT EVERY TIME

lmao me worrying about it being 9.9k when the poll said like 10k-12k IT WAS ALMOST 10 OKAY but it needed to end where it did

Yeah loneliness fucking sucks even when you do have people around you cause it’s like well why are you lonely? And it’s just this thing you can’t really explain so you self isolate and make it worse especially in times of need. UGH SHES REALLY GOING THROUGH IT

I can’t say a lot but Steve done fucked up

we’ll have to see their story unravel more to see who’s right about the past and whether Eddie actually lied or not cause after all, there’s two sides to a story and then there’s the truth.

yeah Steve is a little inept in that way, tbh everyone is just so emotionally stunted in some way or another in this situation 🫤

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR THOUGHTS AND IT MAKES ME ALL GIDDY AND EXCITED

[sarcophagid]

you said senju rebirth and got my full attention

ok it's still being worked on bcz i got the idea like, this morning 😭 so the idea exists as a bunch of questions but basically:

in the bonten timeline senju dies in drakens place - july 7th 2008. reincarnated that same night (?). 10 years later, kanto becomes bonten. sanzu and kakucho are assigned on a job to negotiate with some sort of mob family (?). the head's daughter is referred to as a 'princess' because her birthday is 7/7 (on the lunar calendar, this day is a festival celebrating the folklore romance of 2 deities, one being the princess, orihime) (also a reference to senju being called the 'princess' of brahman lol).

im still deciding on the following:

does senju remember her past life? (i think it would be more interesting if she did, but i sort of want to have the memories come in bits and pieces over the course of the story rather than knowing everything from the start. maybe as dreams? also senju is a character who wanted a good life, but circumstances barred her from that and a lot of people were taking advantage of her power; so having another shot at life but still being in a situation where she can't be free is rlly tragic T-T i want to give her a happy ending. i havent decided on the end or whether i'll write it or if ill just draw a few comics or smth)

^(another thing is that her personality and character in general will likely be dramatically different from who she was before. like, juggling fragments of a stranger that is you, but also decidedly not-you. there are a lot of directions this could go in!)

how she got reborn... (idk how much i want to lean into the supernatural part of tr with this one bcz i don't want to think abt the rules of magic here.)

but these i think i will add in the story:

senju haunting her family really bad, accidentally at first then a little bit intentionally later

i wanted to have the major characters revolve around a one word idea, ex. mikey - death. senju's would then be vengeance. (not revealing sanzu and kakuchos yet). idk i wanted to explore what each character thought was fair/just, bcz bonten is usually seen as the worst corrupted versions of the characters.

i digress lmfao, the next part is hard to explain but: mikey killed the person who (though not fully intentionally) had senju killed. senju's death was unfair, and it seems that having the opposition killed was an act of revenge, but there was no intent of revenge. south's death was an arbitrary act of violence brought on by a 'curse'. what did shinichiro's karma from killing an unrelated stranger have to do with south? the conflict was about people, their wills and desires, the human justice; but it's execution was more like a random act of nature.

unrelated: i wanted to give senju a friend or smth bcz shes literally all alone in the world, and she does later consider kakucho friend/family-ish but thats in development still

[skybrightpixie]

Do you have any advice for someone who would want to make themes for their ocs? I think it would be fun but I was curious if you had any like. Pointers or something :V

this literally JUST showed up in my inbox and it was apparently sent 4 days ago hello

anyways yes (and im assuming you already have the means to make musical themes. if not, i personally use bandlab and then download it so i dont have to upload anything publicly)! BUT, im not gonna give technical advice bc that's not how i think of music anyways, so sorry if that's what you're looking for asjkdkjsa. i would find a way to message @sounddesignerjeans if that's the kind of advice you're looking for. take a lil class, if you need it!

i always think about the character's personality, their motivations, or what you're imagining the character doing and what those things make you feel. and when you get that feeling, how does that translate to how the sounds you're going to produce will be like. basically, tell a short story with your character using music!

i'm gonna expand more on that with examples under the cut if you're curious about that. maybe it'll help!

i'm going to use snippets from INVASION (Tóm's main theme) as my example for this.

i naturally drift towards the minor key in some way when i write music, which works really well for Tóm. he's a morally grey (or maybe specifically dark grey depending how you view his actions) character, so a minor key will. he's also an alien, thus the spacey synths.

i gave this main part a lot of energy because while Tóm himself is not a particularly ~energetic~ person, the joy he finds in killing his victims matches that of the loud crashing cymbals and reverberating synths.

in the first half of this snippet, most of the instruments/synths are at rest to let this one synth bass drone through. Tóm needs control, and he hangs onto it as best he can through a lot of different means. i like to use a droning bass to signify that because it's a long and steady sound.

in the second half, though, a main synths return to "fall down." dont ask me about the actual musical theory term for this, i dont remember it anymore dskjfdskj. anyways, i used this falling synth to show him unraveling over the course of the day. i use music very literally to show what i want people to understand. it works better for me personally than to use a lot of different complex chords and cadences.

as i've mentioned recently, this part is Tóm's leitmotif! ...or at least, this is one of em. the "scary" one.

i used in the "break" part of the song so that it would be the main focus. it's mostly used here to make it very obvious that this is his song. very in your face, also not unlike the featured character. if your have a more shy or mysterious character and you create a leitmotif for them, it might be fun to hide it behind other melodies but still be juuust noticeable enough.

AND THEN... i like this part, my personal fav:

the first 15 seconds is the character having a conflict. i wanted it to sounds like he was arguing with himself back and forth about whether what he's doing is really justified, and losing on all fronts. the next part up to the 28 seconds mark is derivative of his leimotif, but constantly "falling." and then the rest with the piano is meant to sound like him hesitating and taking a moment to think about it before... well! he's already come this far and he can't take back what he's already done! and then the main chorus comes back 👍

and another quick note, this might just be something interesting for those who like to use visuals to "feel" music: find a way to watch the waveforms in your music. if your character is high-energy, you might want your waveforms to jump a lot, and lower-energy or sinister characters might want a smoother waveform.

that's all k thanks bye. i hope it was interesting to read and listen to, if nothing else!

[wantonwinnie]

Kenobi Review

9/10. This is about the legends novel by John Jackson Miller, as opposed to the show (which is also good!). Spoilers ahead.

When I saw this was a 14-hour audiobook read, I was interested to see how it would spend that much time. A few hours in (during the setup), I wasn't sure why we were spending this much time around the characters. But it’s always hard to tell whether it’s worth it until the payoff. (By the way, if you're still tired of all the time spent on Tatooine in recent shows, maybe wait to pick this one up, because everything happens there). But once you're ready to dive in for the long-haul, it’ll be worth your time.

The novel offers a compelling tale of small-time heroism, local politics, ancient tales, and unique perspectives. Perhaps most important, I really appreciate Obi-Wan's characterization here. Much like in the canon show, he still hasn't (at all) come to terms with what's happened to him the past few years (or even the past few days, since it starts right after ROTS). He's witty, wanting of action, diplomatic, thoughtful, and empathetic. Most important to me is how he interacted with the Tuskens. In stark contrast to the other settlers, Obi-Wan knows there is goodness in all life, and more so, that the Tuskens are not "savages" or uncivilized. He is unafraid to protect settlers against Tuskens as necessary, but is easily convinced to protect the latter, as well.

Speaking of, the Tuskens are easily one of the hallmarks of the book. All three perspectives (Annileen, A'Yark, and Obi-Wan) are important, but A'Yark adds a new dimension that is largely unexplored. The book plays off of how many people probably remember the Tuskens' depiction in the OT - raiders that stand in the hero's way. Here, they are a living culture, and their plight is well-documented and well-developed. They certainly use violence to achieve their ends, but that end is to rid Tatooine of the settler population that extracts resources from the environment, a far cry from a one-dimensional outlook.

There are also a lot of funny moments. Like with everything he does, Kenobi seems to always get into the middle of the action everywhere he goes. The only thing he can do is completely seclude himself, which I reckon is one of the lessons he takes from the experiences he has here. Plus, everyone seems to fawn over this guy, even his enemies. It’s hilarious and highly appropriate.

By the end, I really appreciated the time the book took to develop the environment of the oasis and A'Yark's tribe. I enjoyed seeing the character arcs develop, and I think Obi-Wan was highly affected by these events too. Of course, there are parts that do conflict with canon (in the book he immediately moves into his Jundland wastes hovel), but his emotions and actions are still appropriate and interesting for canon-purposes. If you can square those in your mind, it'll still be a fun ride, because like 90% of the rest of the book is canon consistent anyway.

Miller is two for two, and Im very interested in his other works as a result. A New Dawn is one of my sneaky favorite novels, and I could see this one in the top ten. It’s a methodical but fulfilling read, and I recommend it for anyone.

[crunchyharold]

Heather and Owen for the character bingo!!

fun fact my gf sent in owen and i said someone had already asked for owen and then she sent in heather and i said that someone had also already asked for heather so congrats on unintentionally ruining her day lmao

i know that most people have a lot of thoughts about heather whether they love or hate her but i honestly ,,, don't??

i do find her arc quite interesting and the fact that we actually root for her in world tour after how awful she was in island is suprisingly impressive for fresh tv. i wish there was more focus on her internal conflict rather than it just being implied because that one conversation she had w harold in total dramax4 island (I WISH SHE HAD MORE INTERACTIONS WITH HAROLD TOO BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE SO MANY THINGS IN COMMON I COULD TALK SO MUCH ABOUT THIS) was so nice and gave context for why she behaved the way she did

actually now that i think about it maybe i do have a lot to say about heather but i think i just have a lot to say about everyone

also fun fact every time i see the name heather my brain automatically does alejandro's HEATHERRRR when she drops him off the train in im gonna make it

that reminds me. her win in world tour was so girlboss like good for her good for her i think aleheather is one of my favourite canon ships i just enjoy how they both genuinely really like each other but would still screw each other over for money without a second thought we love villains

owen is another main character i dont have much to say about. or maybe i do have a lot to say about him who even knows at this point

the jokes the show made about him got old really fast which is probably what prevented me from liking him too much, but i do appreciate how he's one of the few characters to stay pretty much the same throughout

i have started liking him a bit more recently since i got my gf to watch total drama and she said he's one of her favourites because of how genuinely nice he is, and as a fan of nice people (very uncommon in this fandom i know) i see her point. i fully believe he just joined the show to make friends, and that makes his elimination in world tour (and how noah treats him in rr) really.... sad.

but anyway <3 he's not my fave but he is good boy i want to pat him on the head

[magioffire]

what’s the best thing about shipping for you?

what’s the worst thing about shipping for you?

do you have a pet peeve when it comes to shipping?

do you prefer to plot a ship, or would you rather “wing it”?

do you prefer fast plots, pre-enstablished relationships or slow burns?

shipping questions (sfw edition) ; accepting

whats the best thing about shipping for you?

god i have to say i really love is the conflict and tension that arises when two characters are forming a bond together. each 'stage' of shipping has its own benefits but i think its the best part of the 'honeymoon' or just starting out phase of the ship. i like the build up almost more than i like the actual aftermath of the ship itself. another favorite thing about shipping is finding things like pictures, quotes, music, that reminds me of the ship and sending it to my ship partner/tagging them in it like look!! i also really am a sucker for writing affection, whether physical or words or acts of service or whatever the love language of the day is

whats the worst thing about shipping for you?

i think the worst thing is that it can be kinda hard to legitimately ship with vali. like a full blown relationship with vali, not just someone he messes around with or has some romantic feelings for hes never fully expressed, like a full blown committed relationship on both sides no matter how weird the circumstances of the ship are. vali is...not an easy person to have a relationship with, hes hard to even *get* into a relationship with. hes easy to sleep with, casually date, but even if he develops feelings, thats all he will ever allow himself to consider it unless there is a push to do so, conflict urging him to express his feelings and desires. this can make it pretty difficult to develop deeper relationships because it requires a lot of time and dedication on part of the muns and the characters. this leaves a lot of my ships in a state of suspended animation where vali is unwilling to take it to another level out of fear of rejection/being hurt. and honestly...i feel like a lot of people are okay with their characters only knowing vali on a surface level in a relationship, that the relationship stay casual, and thats fine, vali needs relationships that are more casual, but it makes me a little sad cuz im like...holy shit *no one* actually knows vali. i guess thats a fatal flaw of his character that gets in the way of relationships and makes it more difficult whihc is why i included it here, as a facet of shipping specifically with vali, and not just shipping in general.

whats a pet peeve when it comes to shipping?

uhhh honestly when people hit it and quit it. i dont mean: rp partner took a break and the timing just so happened to be then or like, you know, the normal fluctuation of interest in the rpc. i dont expect people to ALWAYS be giving me ship content or always engaging with the ship or me for that matter (shit sometimes i go weeks or even a few months without talking to people but the vibe is still chill). ive just noticed over the years it happens sometimes where i'll have someone acting very interested in a ship and the build up is great, the smut happens and its great too, but then interest very quickly teeters off after that, not just ic interest but ooc interest too.

like on one hand, from an ic stand point, im like yeah that sounds about right for vali sadly. thats like the story of his love life for a good chunk of his life, people hitting and quitting, but i cant help but feel a little shitty from an ooc point of view just because its like. if you just wanted to write smut i would have been down for that. as i said before vali is hard to ship with, so i can understand why someone might feel disheartened or stuck in regards to how to approach or continue a ship with him, but i'm more than willing to work out an issue like that, its nothing a little plotting couldn't fix if our characters already have chemistry. but usually these people werent stuck or disheartened or taking a break or experiencing normal levels of fluctuating interest like that is NORMAL af, they just got what they came for and lost interest and just didn't think to bother to tell me annnd it usually ends in a ghosting :( it REALLY peeves me off

do you prefer to plot ships, or just 'wing it'?

a little bit of both. it really depends on 1. the nature of the character approaching vali with romantic intent 2. the sort of dynamic i feel like could work with these characters and 3. how easily the mun and i hit it off. i would say in general, its a 50/50 split. i usually like to figure out the basics, like where and how would they meet, what do we think the general 'vibe' might be between them, spitballing ideas, discussing what we are looking for. usually that goes well. i find that if i plot too much, it leaves little room for the character's relationship to organically grow, and if i plot nothing at all, then i run the risk of the characters having a 'wrong place wrong time' situation where they just dont click, despite any potential chemistry they have, simply because they were not put into a situation that would force them to interact with eachother long term.

do you prefer fast plots, pre-established relationships, or slow burns?

again it depends but i generally lean towards slow burn and having a basic, generalized idea of what sort of relationship we might be shooting for (like enemies to lovers, or found family, or partners in crime, or whatever) otherwise we might be on totally different pages on what we are looking for in the ship. i like slow burn, but vali kinda forces it to be a slower burn than some people might prefer in terms of emotional and relationship development. the physical stuff can happen real fast, but the rest can take a loong time for vali to open up at all. in that respect, i want my partner and i to be on the same general page, so we dont have wildly different expectations of what we are going to get out of the ship.