the-professor-of-gallifrey

[the-professor-of-gallifrey]

Vibes for Characters #3

Who Wear a Mask So Well, They’ve Forgotten Their Real Face

(The ones who are always what other people need and don’t know how to be anything else)

⛧ Mirrors the energy of whoever they’re talking to. You like jokes? They’re funny. You want quiet? They’re calm. You want deep? They’ve got metaphors. ⛧ Looks in the mirror and always thinks something feels… off. Like they’re wearing skin that isn’t quite theirs. ⛧ Doesn’t have favorite things, only the ones that make other people smile. ⛧ Says “no worries!” while bleeding out emotionally behind their back. ⛧ Knows exactly what to say to make someone feel seen, but has no idea how to ask for that in return. ⛧ When alone, they go silent. Like the absence of an audience erases the performance—and there’s nothing left. ⛧ Changes tone, style, even posture depending on who they’re with. ⛧ Has friends in every circle, but no one they call at 2am. ⛧ Desperately wants someone to look past the glitter and say: “You don’t have to do that. You’re allowed to just be.” ⛧ Tells stories like they’re happening to someone else. ⛧ Always “fine.” Always helpful. Always on. Until they’re not. ⛧ Has a dream version of themselves they only let exist in daydreams. Somewhere where they’re messy, soft, real and still loved.

Who Would Die for Everyone but Don’t Think Anyone Would Mourn Them

(aka the quiet martyrs, the ones who love big but feel forgettable)

⛧ Always offering to help. Always the one who stays behind to clean up. ⛧ Doesn't ask for favors—not because they don’t need them, but because they don’t believe they’re allowed to take up that kind of space. ⛧ When someone thanks them, they brush it off with “It was nothing.” ⛧ Treats their own pain like a footnote. (Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired.) ⛧ You could compliment them, and they’d smile, but their eyes would still say Why are you being so nice to me? ⛧ Constantly afraid of being annoying, even when they’ve barely spoken. ⛧ Hides their breakdowns by being “the responsible one.” Always smiling, always functional, quietly unraveling. ⛧ Finds comfort in tasks. Dishes. Errands. Anything that gives them purpose. ⛧ Would take a bullet for you and apologize for bleeding on your shirt. ⛧ Thinks no one really knows them, but blames themselves for that. ⛧ Their phone background is a quote that hurts. (“You are enough” makes them cry a little in the dark.) ⛧ If someone did tell them they matter, they’d cry, and then probably never believe it again.

Who Are So Emotionally Numb, They Don’t Realize They’re Already Breaking

(For when burnout becomes a personality trait and disassociation is just Tuesday)

⛧ Says “I don’t care” a lot. Usually means “I can’t afford to.” ⛧ Lives in a weird fog, can’t remember what they had for lunch or what day it is, but somehow still functioning. ⛧ Never first to speak in a group. Often doesn’t speak at all unless directly asked something. ⛧ Laughs at the right times. Smiles when expected. You wouldn’t know anything was wrong unless you really looked. ⛧ Hasn’t cried in a long time. Not because they’re fine, because they forgot how. ⛧ Avoids mirrors. They don’t recognize the person looking back. ⛧ Can’t get excited about anything anymore, but keeps pretending like they can. ⛧ Keeps busy to outrun the numbness. Lists, routines, always moving. ⛧ Their sleep is either 12 hours or none at all. No in-between. ⛧ Gets caught staring at nothing, often. Blames it on “spacing out.” They’re not. ⛧ Doesn’t think about the future. The idea of hope is exhausting. ⛧ Still shows up. Still tries. That might be the most heartbreaking thing of all.

[the-professor-of-gallifrey]

Emotional Confession Scene Prompts

♡ Voice trembling on the edge of something bigger.

♡ A truth blurted out mid-argument, raw and unpolished.

♡ Avoiding eye contact, but finally saying it anyway.

♡ A confession disguised as a joke.

♡ “I wasn’t going to say anything but...”

♡ Whispered during a moment when they think the other person is asleep.

♡ A tearful outburst after staying calm for far too long.

♡ “You weren’t supposed to find out like this.”

♡ Telling the truth while staring at the ground.

♡ Letting it slip accidentally, then freezing.

♡ Writing it down instead of saying it.

♡ Starting a sentence three times before finishing it.

♡ “I didn’t know how to say it until now.”

♡ Sending a message, deleting it, sending it again.

♡ “You asked how I’m doing. I lied.”

♡ Finally saying what’s been obvious to everyone else.

♡ Speaking in metaphors because the truth feels too vulnerable.

♡ Telling someone else first.

♡ Breaking down halfway through the sentence.

♡ “I’m scared you’ll hate me if I tell you.”

[the-professor-of-gallifrey]

the first draft is allowed to be bad. the second draft is also allowed to be bad. unfortunately, the third draft now owes me rent and a will to live

[the-professor-of-gallifrey]

When a Character Has a Crush and Is Absolutely, Pathetically, Hilariously in Denial

This is not slow burn. This is oh-no-I-accidentally-fell-for-you chaos with a side of emotional whiplash...

⭑ They suddenly become weirdly aware of everything that person does. Chews their pen? Heart attack.

⭑ They insist they’re “just friends” but act like they’ve been married for 40 years.

⭑ Their friends all know. The mailman probably knows. They don’t know.

⭑ They make fun of the other person flirting with people. Then sulk. Then deny they’re sulking.

⭑ They get flustered over the dumbest things. A smile. A shared drink. A hand on the shoulder.

⭑ They remember everything about them... dog’s name, birthday, and act like it’s totally casual.

⭑ Their voice gets weird around them. Higher. Quieter. Rougher. It’s never consistent.

⭑ They get competitive. They don’t know why. (It’s jealousy. Surprise.)

⭑ They notice new clothes. New hair. New earrings. And absolutely say nothing while staring too long.

⭑ They get mad when other people point it out. Mad and embarrassed. The “shut up” is always immediate.

[the-professor-of-gallifrey]

Sparking Chemistry Between Characters #1

⇢ Emotional Timing ( When One Opens Up and the Other Isn’t Ready, Yet)

There’s something so devastatingly real about when characters miss each other, not physically, but emotionally. One’s finally ready to be honest, to be seen… and the other? Still hiding. Still pretending. That emotional dissonance creates a whole different kind of electricity: one rooted in vulnerability, silence, and the ache of almost.

“I trust you,” she said, voice low, eyes steady. He looked at her, and for a second, he almost said it back. But then his smile cracked, soft and sad, and he looked away like the words were burning holes in his throat.

This isn’t the moment they fall into each other’s arms. This is the moment they could have. And those moments still haunt.

Use this when:

You want slow burn that hurts a little

Your characters are stubborn, scared, or emotionally constipated (bless them)

The closeness builds from not-quite-connecting, until one of them finally breaks

⇢  Silent Support ( When They Don’t Say It, But They Show It)

Sometimes the most romantic thing a character can do is just… be there. No speeches. No dramatic gestures. Just showing up, quiet, consistent, unwavering. The kind of person who notices when your laugh sounds tired.

He didn’t say anything when he found her curled up on the kitchen floor. He just sat next to her, their shoulders barely touching, and slid his hoodie off without a word. A minute later, she was wearing it. Five minutes later, she was breathing again.

This isn’t about grand declarations. It’s about the kind of love that doesn’t demand to be acknowledged. The kind that waits. That steadies. That speaks fluent silence.

Use this when:

You want to show love without “I love you”

You’re building intimacy through actions, not words

Your characters aren’t the touchy-feely, talk-it-out types

⇢ Emotional Whiplash (When Conflict Turns Intimate Too Fast)

This is the classic “We were fighting five seconds ago and now I want to kiss you” moment. Because nothing stirs up feelings like frustration mixed with closeness. When characters clash, especially if there’s emotional history or denial involved, it creates heat. They’re already fired up. Already in each other’s space. Now throw in a little vulnerability and BAM, you’ve got magnetic chaos.

“Why do you care what I do?” she snapped, stepping closer. “Because I...” He bit the word back, jaw tight. His fists clenched at his sides. She stared, breath caught in her throat. “Because I do,” he said finally, quieter this time. “More than I should.”

Enemies to lovers. Friends to what even are we. That line-blurring, heart-pounding tension where the air is thick and the truth almost slips out, that’s where this trope lives (I Love It).

Use this when:

You want chaos, angst, and chemistry all at once

Your characters are in denial and one good argument away from kissing

You want something to break open and then immediately regret it

[the-professor-of-gallifrey]

Emotional Walls Your Character Has Built (And What Might Finally Break Them)

(How your character defends their soft core and what could shatter it) Because protection becomes prison real fast.

✶ Sarcasm as armor. (Break it with someone who laughs gently, not mockingly.) ✶ Hyper-independence. (Break it with someone who shows up even when they’re told not to.) ✶ Stoicism. (Break it with a safe space to fall apart.) ✶ Flirting to avoid intimacy. (Break it with real vulnerability they didn’t see coming.) ✶ Ghosting everyone. (Break it with someone who won’t take silence as an answer.) ✶ Lying for convenience. (Break it with someone who sees through them but stays anyway.) ✶ Avoiding touch. (Break it with accidental, gentle contact that feels like home.) ✶ Oversharing meaningless things to hide real depth. (Break it with someone who asks the second question.) ✶ Overworking. (Break it with forced stillness and the terrifying sound of their own thoughts.) ✶ Pretending not to care. (Break it with a loss they can’t fake their way through.) ✶ Avoiding mirrors. (Break it with a quiet compliment that hits too hard.) ✶ Turning every conversation into a joke. (Break it with someone who doesn’t laugh.) ✶ Being everyone’s helper. (Break it when someone asks what they need, and waits for an answer.) ✶ Constantly saying “I’m fine.” (Break it when they finally scream that they’re not.) ✶ Running. Always running. (Break it with someone who doesn’t chase, but doesn’t leave, either.) ✶ Intellectualizing every feeling. (Break it with raw, messy emotion they can’t logic away.) ✶ Trying to be the strong one. (Break it when someone sees the weight they’re carrying, and offers to help.) ✶ Hiding behind success. (Break it when they succeed and still feel empty.) ✶ Avoiding conflict at all costs. (Break it when silence causes more pain than the truth.) ✶ Focusing on everyone else’s healing but their own. (Break it when they hit emotional burnout.)

[the-professor-of-gallifrey]

This part is so sweet to me because Halt absolutely did not need to be there. He could have so easily just left Gilan alone to sleep and he wouldn't have been in any danger at all, and Halt could have gone and gotten ready for the fucking war. But no, he chose to stay with Gilan for six fucking hours.

(I know he probably didn't stay the whole time but it's sweeter if you think he did so I'm going with that)

[the-professor-of-gallifrey]

When a Character Is Lonely but Doesn’t Know How to Say It

It’s not always visible. Sometimes they’re surrounded by people and still feel like they’re drowning in the silence between sentences.

⊹ They linger a little longer after conversations. Just in case someone notices.

⊹ They always ask “how are you?” but dodge it when it’s asked back.

⊹ They invite people to things... but laugh it off if no one shows. “I didn’t really care anyway.”

⊹ They scroll through old texts and consider replying. Don’t.

⊹ They talk to themselves. Out loud. Just to hear something.

⊹ Their smile is quick, but their eyes are slow. Tired. Watching.

⊹ They keep themselves busy. Loneliness echoes louder in stillness.

⊹ They volunteer. They help. They overgive, because maybe someone will need them enough to stay.

⊹ They laugh at inside jokes they weren’t there for.

⊹ They crave being chosen. They’ll never say that. But oh, how they ache for it.

[the-professor-of-gallifrey]

I am a huge fan of retiring to my quarters

[the-professor-of-gallifrey]

I like the idea of that even though Will doesn't fully believe the whole "rangers are evil sorcerers", or "rangers arent human" thing, he also didnt fully disbelieve it whrn he first started training because he had grown up around people who told him that.

So then when he's just living with Halt he's scared and nervous and stuff, and when Halt does literally anything that shows he's a human, even things that no one thinks about usually, like being tired, or being frustrated over small things or just fucking relaxing or having special little autistic interests outside of ranger shit, you know, normal fucking things, Wills just like 😱.

He's just like "what do you mean this scary forest cryptid of a man can feel things? What do you mean he's human and a normal person? I don't believe you.

[the-professor-of-gallifrey]

post-WaT adolin and kaladin need to go on a boys trip and get some fishing in. just seven hours of casting line and splitting brews on the lake. i think they’d both do middlingly but adolin would chop it up with some more experienced anglers nearby who’d give them tips and bait and kal would eventually pull up something monstrous onshore because he’s kal. i think it would do wonders for them

[the-professor-of-gallifrey]

When a Character Is Grieving Someone They Never Got to Say Goodbye To

✧ They talk about the person in past tense… then correct themselves. Then stop talking entirely.

✧ They touch things that belonged to the person like they’re fragile, sacred, about to disappear.

✧ They hoard the last voicemail, last message, last anything. Play it. Don’t play it. Just knowing it exists hurts enough.

✧ They leave something untouched, an empty seat, a half-packed bag, a coffee order that isn’t theirs.

✧ They get irrationally angry when someone else seems to be “moving on.” As if forgetting is betrayal.

✧ They don’t let themselves cry all at once. It comes in pieces. Like they’re afraid too much grief will drown them.

✧ They over-apologize. For being quiet. For being distant. For not being okay.

✧ They become hyper-aware of time, dates, anniversaries, time zones, the exact moment everything ended.

✧ They get superstitious. Ritualistic. As if doing things "right" might reverse something.

✧ They smile when they talk about the person. But it’s brittle. And it never quite touches their eyes.

[the-professor-of-gallifrey]

When a Character Is Grieving Someone They Never Got to Say Goodbye To

✧ They talk about the person in past tense… then correct themselves. Then stop talking entirely.

✧ They touch things that belonged to the person like they’re fragile, sacred, about to disappear.

✧ They hoard the last voicemail, last message, last anything. Play it. Don’t play it. Just knowing it exists hurts enough.

✧ They leave something untouched, an empty seat, a half-packed bag, a coffee order that isn’t theirs.

✧ They get irrationally angry when someone else seems to be “moving on.” As if forgetting is betrayal.

✧ They don’t let themselves cry all at once. It comes in pieces. Like they’re afraid too much grief will drown them.

✧ They over-apologize. For being quiet. For being distant. For not being okay.

✧ They become hyper-aware of time, dates, anniversaries, time zones, the exact moment everything ended.

✧ They get superstitious. Ritualistic. As if doing things "right" might reverse something.

✧ They smile when they talk about the person. But it’s brittle. And it never quite touches their eyes.

[the-professor-of-gallifrey]

As a writer, I spend 90% of my time googling synonyms or searching for words I know but have incidentally forgotten right in the moment that I need it for once.

[the-professor-of-gallifrey]

I've reblogged before, but it got so much better since then

You’re an ancient Greek man coming home from 4 months of war to find your wife 3 months pregnant. Now you’ve embarked on a solemn quest: to punch Zeus in the face.

[the-professor-of-gallifrey]

"If you use em dash in your works, it makes them look AI generated. No real human uses em dash."

Imaging thinking actual human writers are Not Real because they use... professional writing in their works.

Imagine thinking millions of people who have been using em dash way before AI becomes a thing are all robots.

REBLOG IF YOU'RE A HUMAN AND YOU USE EM DASH

[the-professor-of-gallifrey]

“Letting go. Everyone talks about it like its the easiest thing. Unfurl your fingers one by one until your hand is open. But my hand has been clenched into a fist for… years now; its frozen shut.”

— Gayle Forman