#y'all kept me going

[nartml]

was it casual when i had a panic attack at the thought of you dying was it casual when you risked your entire carrier just to feed me lunch was it casual when you were willing to die protecting me even though you wouldn't accomplish any of the goals you devoted yourself to was it casual when i spent so many nights rolling around in deep thought about whether you think of me like i do about you was it casual when i wished for you upon a shooting star was it casual when i refused to let you continue your way down a path of self-destructive loneliness even though you wanted me to was it casual when you needed to kill me and only me to grow stronger and be entirely untethered from your past but you just couldn't was it casual when i preferred to bear your pain and hatred and die fighting you as opposed to giving up on you was it casual when i could trade blows with you (read your heart) even though your supposed wife couldn't was it casual when i was your one and only was it casual when the hands that we blew off of each other bore the evidence of our cosmic connection was it casual when you cried your first tears of relief and happiness after you lost to me was it casual when you kept in touch with me but not with your wife was it casual when we fought and laughed and became inseparable was it casual when i can't exist without you was it casual when i put all my goals on hold because how could i focus on them when i can't even save you was it casual when you were my main motivation for training to become infinitely stronger was it casual when i'd remain a fool my entire life if being smart meant that i had to give up on you was it casual when you know my heart i yours was it casual when

[my-current-obsession]

Something I both love AND hate about FF7 (the original game and everything after, including the Remake trilogy) is that it is just ambiguous and/or player-driven enough that no matter which side of the love triangle you fall on (assuming you do in fact ship Cloud with one of the girls), the majority of fans for that ship are 100% CONVINCED it's the correct/canon option.

Like, certain scenes are definitely up to interpretation, and people are going to thus have varying reads on those scenes and the characters/relationships the scenes are about. It doesn't help that several scenes change depending on the player's choices, which acts as a confirmation bias as you naturally get more time and romantic moments with the girl of your preference. It really seems to me that MOST people who ship Cloud and Aerith have one solid interpretation (with a plethora of supporting evidence) of the series and the romance, while most people who ship Cloud and Tifa have their own solid interpretation with plenty of evidence that is VASTLY DIFFERENT from the Clerith reading of the game.

This is not a case of "one ship is clearly, explicitly canon and fans of the opposition just like their pick better and/or think it made more sense narratively and WISH it was canon" - for an example of that, look to the Avatar the Last Airbender shipping wars. This is a case where both sides literally interpret the story just differently enough that they come to entirely different conclusions about which girl is Cloud's true love. And if either side reaches out to try and explain their viewpoint to the other, they're just met with "uh, no. You're wrong." Try and explain what Cloud might be thinking in a given scene with one of the girls, why he acts a certain way... "That's not it at all, where are you getting this? Are you delusional?"

Like, I am a Clerith shipper. I have played all the games in the compilation and watched Advent Children. I tried to be as completionist as possible, even. And I came out on the other side of really digging into the story of this game loving Cloud and Aerith's dynamic and pretty firmly convinced they were canon. Or as canon as possible in the timeline where she died.

As any Clerith fan who participates in the fandom would know, if you try and explain your interpretation of these characters and the romance to a diehard Cloti supporter... you're met with a lot of "you're misinterpreting! Cloud and Aerith were just friends! She loved Zack to the end and Cloud loved Tifa since childhood and never stopped! Also Aerith is actually BAD for Cloud because she's too pushy/abrasive. She's not helping him open up, she's just forcing him to go along with her and making him uncomfortable!"

All of this is of course infuriating, but I'd like to think I'm self-aware enough to know we are kind of guilty of the same thing. The majority of Tifa fans are SO happy about the kiss in Rebirth, while we're over here dismissing it because, one it's optional, and two Cloud is "obviously" using Tifa as a rebound or settling for her since Aerith is seemingly unavailable. But that's not how Cloti fans see it at all.

We can talk until we're blue in the face about how TIFA deserves better than Cloud because she shouldn't be the second choice - the one he settles for. But I think most people who really love Cloti genuinely don't see it that way. In their eyes, she's NOT second-best. Cloud loved her all along and this kiss is finally confirming that. And nothing we say will dissuade them, just as nothing they say will actually change OUR minds about Clerith.

It is honestly really difficult for me to try and see the story and romance the way Cloti fans do, but I know the reverse is also true. Both groups of fans interpret the characters and relationships differently. The compilation ALLOWS us to interpret them differently. And this is why the ship war for a game from 1997 is still raging on.

Because both camps are certain they're right, they defend their position viciously. Sometimes that means invading the "other side" to tell them how wrong they are. This discussion/rant was prompted by a Cloti fan on a Clerith vid who wanted to debate MY comment about how wonderful the ship was and how good they were for each other. He was "confused" and "concerned" because Clerith fans were reading the story wrong or warping it to suit our ship.

I wanted to tell him, "buddy that's what YOU'RE doing". I wanted to write a goddamn essay explaining why Clerith is canon actually. But considering in my INITIAL comment that he first responded to I'd already brought up why I thought Clerith was great, and he was IGNORING that... I knew it would be pointless. There is nothing I could possibly say that would change his mind. There is nothing he could possibly say that would change my mind.

As long as both sides of this war are fully convinced they're right, this war is going to be endless and brutal. And that's why my absolute biggest fear for part 3 is an open, ambiguous ending regarding the ships. Maybe it will canonize nothing. Maybe it will canonize BOTH by having the actual ending change depending on which girl the player favors.

Either route will offer no relief to this eternal battle. I would honestly prefer for Cloti to explicitly and unambiguously win than an ending where neither girl does. Because I can accept a loss. I can accept being told that actually I WAS interpreting the story wrong, but I'll only accept it from the text itself. If anything, a Cloti ending might encourage me to go through the entire compilation again trying to view it with that canon couple in mind. I'm sure I'd see things differently, even if I'd always have a place in my heart for Clerith. And I sincerely hope that if Clerith were to win that Cloti fans could do the same.

All I know is that I'm sick and tired of this ship war. I personally have never gone after Cloti fans or engaged in Cloti content with the intent to debate or hate on the ship. But I don't speak for all Cleriths. I'm sure at least a few fans of my ship are guilty too. I have seen many obnoxious Cloti fans invading our spaces to disparage us - mostly on YouTube and Twitch, less here on Tumblr - but I KNOW there are plenty of kind Cloti fans who just happily enjoy their ship and leave us to ours as well.

At the end of the day, regardless of how part 3 ends things, I just wish we could live in peace. Please enjoy your ship. Your interpretation of the text and romance is valid. But so is mine. If neither side can agree, then the best thing to do is leave each other alone.

[skynapple]

♡♡♡ Shout-outs to some LNDS people for being the most precious, most uplifting, creative, and inspiring people on this website who make this fandom such an absolute joy to be in. I love following y'all and reading everyone's thoughts like the morning paper. I love this community like nothing else. Much love ♡♡♡

@hirayaea

@nobodys-saviour

@caisjunlis

@amywritesthings

@dawnbreakersgaze

@astridthevalkyrie

@exactlycleverpirate

@sncrly0urs

@yaxinqs

@xavierbunbun

@unluckywisher

@yooraiyah

[jonathanbyersphd]

Close enough. Welcome back, Exes with Matching Bangs Jancy

[torra-and-the-toons]

One of my favorite au’s to draw in any fandom is oddly specific merfolk. 

I have everyone written down but for now just have the BOIS

[cottonii]

BASH IN MY BRAIN AND MAKE ME SCREAM WITH PAIN THEN KICK ME ONCE AGAIN AND SAY WE'LL NEVER PA- 💥💥💥💥💥

(extra versions w/o the text and some rose petals i added last minute as well as an alt font for the text. i am very indecisive.)

[leafith]

So uhm, for space problems I had to delete Sky but I'm still in the fandom and I still love it ;-; hopefully one day I'll be able to find a better device and to play again in the shape of a newbie. Hopefully no veteran will "hate" me for being new like old people do with young people (like "Back to our days we players didn't have a home").

[lab-gr0wn-lambs]

Look I'mma be honest every time twd kills off a long-beloved character at this point I'm just

[stabbyfoxandrew]

okay

survived the hair cut and i look so faggy now (positive)

[lucyshypemaster]

evret hayle is MY roman empire.

[stormyoceans]

I NEED A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM IN MY ROOM RN IMMEDIATELY IM LOSING MY GOD DAMN MIND

[vaethryn]

it doesn't really come as a surprise but atm twitter really killed any hype I had for TWW lmao

[malaierba]

Thinking about Karamatsu/Nozomi whole looking through some web weavings, and if I ever write something for them (currently in the phase of trying to come up with key events and organise them chronologically so it makes sense, thematically) I think I'd like this to be one of the take aways

In the event of a bad ending (dunno if I'm strong enough for that though 🫠 SHE CAN CHANGE HIM WITHOUT DYING im better than that), I hope that Karamatsu still finds it in himself to stop being so passive about his life. Like,

To stop waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect answer to dawn on him, and instead take life by reins and... Just start being an active participant in his own life. To embrace self-determination and the risk of committing to something that may not pan out but still forces you to take conscious and mindful action every day.

[thebirdandhersong]

i'm having my Fancy Black Tea (purchased at the best tea shop in this city.......... I love it so much. it is for special occasions, which at present moment, means whenever the heck I feel like it) right now but, as a semi-broke jobless student trying to save on money, my go-to tea for any and all occasions (first of all, the go-to is not Starbucks because I can't afford to pay 7-8 CAD for a hot beverage in this economy. I reach for a hot beverage when I'm upset, and I'm upset easily and often these days. or maybe I just want tea all the time, and that would be a lot of money. Also now that I'm home I no longer have near-instant access to three excellent coffee shops within walking distance, which is probably just as well) during Hard Times or Medium Hard Times or Annoying Times or I Just Need Tea Times basically goes as follows:

Tetley's black tea (the best option out of the cheapest possible options in this neighbourhood). Throw that teabag into a mug

steep it for a long time (I put in the water, I forget about my tea, I sprint back in a panic. The tea is dark by then)

Oat milk (splish splash of it). This should result in tea that should be the colour of tea.

Spoonful of honey (preferred sweetener)

[papa-evershed]

I was here admiring your last RJC gifset and wondering if maybe you'd make a compilation of the gifs that really shows that beautiful nose of his :)

Hey there! You are absolutely speaking my language as I adore that man's damn nose. 👀 I'm unsure if you wanted a new gifset though or just a compilation of previously made gifs and because I've had a lowkey crap evening, I'm just going to round up some of my personal faves under a read more as a distraction. 😂 I hope that's okay but if you want a new gifset, I can try and see what I can come up with that isn't already here!

Enough about that though, lets talk about his NOSE. 👃 It's fucking perfect and I'll fight any bitch who has the audacity to disagree, including him. 💪 It has just a touch of character while also being the most lovely thing that's ever been planted in the middle of someone's face, thanks.

Putting gifs under a read more for length though.

Gonna try to get this bad boy from all angles because I'm extra as fuck. 🤡

Okay I'm gonna end it here because this is long enough. Even his god damn nostrils are pretty. 🫠

[brother-emperors]

The Doom of the Nobiles, Ronald Syme

Hope in Ancient Literature, History, and Art, edited by George Kazantzidis and Dimos Spartharas

how it started, how it's going etc etc

sometimes I think about how, eventually, there's no distance between the names of crassus and pompey. like, you go far enough down the family tree and the calpurnii are removed from the equation, m. licinius crassus frugi marries a descendant of pompey, and they name two of their sons after crassus (following the regular father-son naming conventions) and also pompey (fascinating). sucks that all of you got executed, but doomed houses and all that.