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starry-bi-sky · 2 months

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i need to get this out of my head before i continue clone^2 but danny being the first batkid. Like, standard procedure stuff: his parents and sister die, danny ends up with Vlad Masters. He drags him along to stereotypical galas and stuff; Danny is not having a good time.

He ends up going to one of the Wayne Galas being hosted ever since elusive Bruce Wayne has returned to Gotham. Vlad is crowing about having this opportunity as he's been wanting to sink his claws into the company for a long while now. Danny is too busy grieving to care what he wants.

And like most Galas, once Vlad is done showing him off to the other socialites and the like, he disappears. Off to a dark corner, or to one of the many balconies; doesn't matter. There he runs into said star of the show, Bruce who is still young, has been Batman for at least a year at this point, but still getting used to all these damn people and socializing. He's stepped off to hide for a few minutes before stepping back into the shark tank.

And he runs into a kid with circles under his eyes and a dull gleam in them. Familiar, like looking into a mirror.

Danny tries to excuse himself, he hasn't stopped crying since his parents died and it's been months. He rubs his eyes and stands up, and stumbles over a half-hearted apology to Mister Wayne. Some of Vlad's etiquette lessons kicking in.

Bruce is awkward, but he softens. "That's alright, lad," he says, pulling up some of that Brucie Wayne confidence, "I was just coming out here to get some fresh air."

There's a little pressing; Bruce asks who he's here with, Danny says, voice quiet and grief-stricken, that he's with his godfather Vlad Masters. Bruce asks him if he knows where he is, and Danny tells him he does. Bruce offers to leave, Danny tells him to do whatever he wants.

It ends with Bruce staying, standing off to the side with Danny in silence. Neither of them say a word, and Danny eventually leaves first in that same silence.

Bruce looks into Vlad Masters after everything is over, his interest piqued. He finds news about him taking in Danny Fenton: he looks into Danny Fenton. He finds news articles about his parents' deaths, their occupations, everything he can get his hands on.

At the next gala, he sees Danny again. And he looks the same as ever: quiet like a ghost, just as pale, and full of grief. Bruce sits in silence with him again for nearly ten minutes before he strikes a conversation.

"Do you like to do anything?"

Nothing. Just silence.

Bruce isn't quite sure what to do: comfort is not his forte, and Danny doesn't know him. He's smart enough to know that. So he starts talking about other things; anything he can think of that Brucie Wayne might say, that also wasn't inappropriate for a kid to hear.

Danny says nothing the entire time, and is again the first to leave.

Bruce watches from a distance as he intercts with Vlad Masters; how Vlad Masters interacts with him. He doesn't like what he sees: Vlad Masters keeps a hand on Danny's shoulder like one would hold onto the collar of a dog. He parades him around like a trophy he won.

And there are moments, when someone gets too close or when someone tries to shake Danny's hand, of deep possessiveness that flints over Vlad Masters' eyes. Like a dragon guarding a horde.

He plays the act of doting godfather well: but Bruce knows a liar when he sees one. Like recognizes like.

Danny is dull-eyed and blank faced the entire time; he looks miserable.

So Bruce tries to host more parties; if only so that he can talk to Danny alone. Vlad seems all too happy to attend, toting Danny along like a ribbon, and on the dot every hour, Danny slips away to somewhere to hide. Bruce appears twenty minutes later.

"I was looking into your godfather's company," he says one night, trying to think of more things to say. Some nights all they do is sit in silence. "Some of my shareholders were thinking of partnering up--"

"Don't."

He stops. Danny hardly says a word to him, he doesn't even look at him -- he's sitting on the ground, his head in his knees. Like he's trying to hide from the world. But he's looking, blue eyes piercing up at Bruce.

Bruce tilts his head, practiced puppy-like. "Pardon?"

"Don't." Danny says, strongly. "Don't make any deals with Vlad."

It's the most words Danny's spoken to him, and there's a look in his eyes like a candle finding its spark. Something hard. Bruce presses further, "And why is that?"

The spark flutters, and flushes out. Danny blinks like he's coming out of a trance, and slumps back into himself. "Just don't."

Bruce stares at him, thoughtful, before looking away. "Alright. I won't."

And they fall back into silence.

Danny, when he leaves, turns to look at Bruce, "I mean it." He says; soft like he's telling a secret, "Don't make any deals with him. Don't be alone with him. Don't work with him."

He's scampered away before Bruce can question him further.

(He never planned on working with Vlad Masters and his company; he's done his research. He's seen the misfortune. But nothing ever leads back to him. There's no evidence of anything. But Danny knows something.)

At their next meeting, Danny starts the conversation. It's new, and it's welcomed. He says, cutting through their five minute quiet, that he likes stars. And he doesn't like that he can't see them in Gotham.

Bruce hums in interest, and Danny continues talking. It's as if floodgates had been opened, and as Bruce takes a sip of his wine, it tastes like victory.

("Tucker told me once--") ("Tucker?") ("Oh-- uh, one of my best friends. He's a tech geek. We haven't talked in a while.")

(Danny shut down in his grief -- his friends are worried, but can't reach him. When he goes back to the manor with Vlad, he fishes out his phone and sends them a message.)

(They are ecstatic to hear from him.)

It all culminates until one day, when Danny is leaving to go back inside, that Bruce speaks up. "You know," He says, leaning against the railing. "The manor has many rooms; plenty of space for a guest."

The implication there, hidden between the lines. And Danny is smart, he looks at Bruce with a sharp glean in his eyes, and he nods. "Good to know."

The next time they see each other, Danny has something in his hands. "Can you hold onto something for me?" He asks.

When Bruce agrees, Danny places a pearl into his palm. or, at least, it's something that looks like a pearl. Because it's cold to the touch; sinking into Bruce's white silk gloves with ease and shimmering like an opal. It moves a little as it settles into his hand, and the moves like its full of liquid.

Bruce has never seen anything like it before, but he does know this; it's not human. "What is it?" He asks, and Danny looks uncomfortable.

"I can't tell you that." He says, shifting on his foot like he's scared of someone seeing it. "But please be careful with it. Treat it like it's extremely fragile."

When Bruce gets home, he puts it in an empty ring box and hides the box in the cave. He tries researching into what it is. he can't find anything concrete.

Everything comes to a head one day when Danny appears at the manor's doorstep one evening, soaking wet in the rain, and bleeding from the side.

#dpxdc #dp x dc #danny fenton is not the ghost king #dpxdc crossover #dpdc #dp x dc crossover #dpxdc prompt #man i just really need more dpdc stuff where danny and bruce have a good relationship. like man i NEED it. like i need to see these two #bonding together. and not in a cracky 'oh danny is a distant friend/cousin/etc' stuff but like. active participants in each other's lives #or as active as can be in this case. i neeeeed these two getting along and caring about one another #this idea came to me like last night and hasn't left since nd it was driving me up the wall to think about both positively and negatively b #i neeeded someone to hear about this or i was gonna implode #danny is the first son #tried to just get the general gist of the idea down but i definitely thought of the idea that bruce lowkey suspects vlad for having a hand #Vlad allows Danny to sneak off because he thinks Danny is alone. if he knew Bruce was there he'd be piiisssed and would put a stop to it #Sam and Tucker are alive they just got ghosted for a bit by danny bc he was in Major Grief and didn't wanna socialize. He couldn't go to #them because he didn't wanna put them in danger via Vlad.#oh that thing he handed Bruce? Yeah that's his ghost core. I have a headcanon (that isnt always applied) that ghosts can take their cores #out of their bodies at will and painlessly and without issue. and its common practice actually to do so bc they can be a not insignificant #distance away from said core before problems start to act up. and its common for ghosts to leave their physical cores at their lairs for #safekeeping because as long as the physical core is fine: so is the ghost. they can reform if their body gets destroyed. it also acts as a #fast travel sometimes. where they can reform at their core in an instant. its not inspired in the slightest by SU but i do see the overlap #most cores are pretty small for safety sake: its harder to hit if its small. and they're pr resilient too but its better to be safe than #sorry. so yeah. danny essentially gave bruce the physical embodiment of his soul and indirectly said #'if anything happens to me at least i'll be safe with you'#danny doesn't know he's batman btw #starry rambles.#was gonna go into danny becoming a vigilante beside bruce but im sleeeepy so i'll do that in a reblog. he's gonna go by nightingale if #anyone is interested. stereotypical but to be frank it is a *good* name imo. has a good amount of syllables and consonants to it #and the bird theme. and since its part of an ancestral name it has even more backing for it being bird-y without being meta

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nocek · 10 months

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The most precious spider with his fluffy companion :3

#pavitr prabhakar #spiderman #spiderman india #spiderverse #across the spiderverse #atsv #seriously this whole movie is obviously has ridiculous amount of effort put into it #and so much love and thoughtfulness #but i still think when it comes to best costume and move set pavitr is shining here #the most precious sunshine kid <3

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luxaofhesperides · 5 months

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Wings AU ; requested by @justwannabecat!

“Are you sure it looks good?” Duke asks for the sixth time in an hour.

Tim sighs and says, yet again, “It looks fine. Just give it to him! If he doesn’t love it, I’ll beat him up for you.”

“You wouldn’t do that.”

“I could! But you’re right, I wouldn’t. I would just psychologically torment him until he broke.”

“Don’t do that, please. I’d like to actually have a chance with him, even if he hates this.”

“He won’t,” Tim says. He actually stops typing to give Duke a severe look. “Go and give it to him. If you don’t go now, he’s going to think you bailed.”

Duke glances at the time, then jumps. “Shit! Thanks for your help, man!” He’s out of the door before Tim can say another word. He doesn’t bother with the front door, or even going down the hallway. Instead, he opens the nearest window and flings himself out of it, unfurling his tawny wings to catch the wind beneath them and ride them into the city proper.

He briefly considers stopping for a moment to change into his Signal outfit so he can fly above civilian jurisdiction, then decides that it’s far easier to just bend the light around him so he’s invisible. He wouldn’t want to be late meeting Danny, after all. Especially not for this.

He hadn’t been expecting Danny to be into traditional courting methods. Most people tend to go the more modern way of dating, but Danny had mentioned once or twice that he thought it was romantic. He had blushed, mumbling the words, but Duke heard them and went into researching courting methods to see which ones Danny might like best.

Sure, he could just ask Danny out on a date like he normally would if he liked someone, but if Danny wants to be courted, then Duke is going to court him!

It’s why he’s been planning this out carefully, gathering his primaries after his wings molted a few months ago so he could string them together into a thin wing covering.

Admittedly, this courting method isn’t super common, but the thought of giving Danny his feathers, making it look like their wings are one and the same, has kept Duke up some nights, wanting it so badly.

Besides, he thinks Danny will like it. Considering the state of his wings after the Accident…

Duke holds his handmade wing covers closer to his chest, flier lower as he leaves Bristol and enters Diamond District. The streets are busy, full of people. Most tend to stay on the ground, wings tucked close to their bodies, but there are plenty still flying above cars and buses that Duke has to carefully fly around.

It takes another twenty minutes to get to Robinson Park, where Duke drops down to the ground and takes a moment to make sure all his feathers are straight and neatly displayed. Then he walks into the park, heading towards their usual meeting place.

For once, it’s a nice, sunny day in Gotham. Everyone’s taking advantage of it. The park is full of couples and families, walking around slowly, and kids dart through the air, still unable to go very high with their wings not yet fully grown in. It’s nice to hear the laughter and general chatter of people wandering the park.

Duke doesn’t spend too long walking the paved paths through the park. He steps off of it near the second water fountain on the path, then heads into the trees, passing two moms on a picnic with their three kids rolling around the grass nearby.

Tucked away in this corner of the park is a small clearing surrounded by thin trees. The tile is dirty and cracked, no one maintaining it at all with it hidden away.

He sees Danny’s wings first, with long feathers that trail onto the ground, a black that shines dark blue in the light. He follows the lines of his wings back to his body, where Danny sits on a bench, leaning his weight back against his hands as he lifts his head up into the sunlight, basking in the warmth.

He really is so pretty. He insists that he isn’t, but Duke regularly spends time with the Wayne family, all who have modeled before, so he’s got a better idea than most about what pretty looks like, and Danny fits the bill.

“Hey,” Duke calls out softly, watching as Danny slowly blinks his eyes open and turns to give him a warm smile.

“Hey! I’m free for the rest of the day, which means we have so much time to complain about things today.”

“I didn’t keep you waiting, did I?”

“Nope,” Danny says. “I wouldn’t mind waiting, though. I like hanging out with you.”

Heart pounding in his chest, Duke walks forward. He doesn’t know if there’s something specific he has to say when presenting his gift, if there’s a courting tradition involved that he didn’t learn about. He’s terrified Danny’s going to reject it. He’s praying that Danny accepts it.

“Are you okay?” Danny asks, standing to get a better look at him. “You seem tense…” He trails off as he catches sight of what Duke holds in his hands, breath stuttering.

“I’m fine. I, um.” Duke steps into the clearing, entering the sunlight, and holds out his wing covers. “I made them for you. You mentioned before that you thought courting traditions were romantic… I don’t know if you like wing covers, but I thought you’d look good in my feathers… Only if you want it though!”

He’s trying so hard not to cringe away in embarrassment. He’s flirted with Danny before, half jokes and half serious, always playful. Duke was smooth then, delighting in how flustered it made Danny before he hit back with his own flirting. Now he’s a hesitant, stuttering fool, tripping over his words and struggling to find the perfect things to say. Maybe he should have thought up a speech, or something. Memorized a few lines to speak his intentions with this courting gift. Done literally any prep for giving the gift instead of focusing only on making it.

Danny doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t move either. He just stares, wide-eyed at the wing covers in Duke’s hands.

That’s a bad sign, isn’t it.

His hands lower just a touch, and he quietly prompts, “Danny?”

Just as he’s about to pull back, step away and try to fix things, messily attempt to salvage their friendship because clearly Danny doesn’t want to be courted by Duke, Danny’s hands snap out whip-fast and latch onto his wrists.

“This is… for me?” he whispers, awed.

“Yeah. Yeah, it’s for you.”

“And you’re courting me? Like, for real?”

“Yeah, definitely courting you for real. Do you accept?”

Danny throws himself into Duke’s arms, careful not to crush the wing covers between them. “In what world would I say no?” he laughs, bright with joy. He pulls back a second later, not giving Duke time to hug him back, and turns around, carefully stretching his wings out. “Put them on for me?”

“Of course.”

He starts by smoothing out some of Danny’s feathers. He doesn’t get to do this often; Danny hates having his wings on display for anyone, with how they spasm occasionally, and have empty patches where feathers will never grow in again. The Accident, all that electricity coursing through him, it permanently damaged his wings. There is no healing to be done.

His wings are lacking too many flight feathers and primaries for him to fly. He’s stuck on the ground now, unable to use his wings for more than a minute. Old burns are still visible closer to his spine.

Danny prefers hiding his wings away. He hates thinking about the Accident, hates how it’s taken his wings from him, how it’s changed him completely.

But Duke loves his wings. He loves the softness of Danny’s lower feathers, how they shine in the light, how they always puff up when it gets windy. He’s only gotten to preen them twice before, and he treasures those memories more dearly than anything else.

This easily outshines both those moments.

He gently combs his fingers through Danny’s feathers, straightening them out, then lays the first wing cover over his right wing. His own brown feathers drape over the top of Danny’s wings, hiding the featherless patches from view. He does the same to the other wing, then adjust both until they lay perfectly on Danny’s wings.

As soon as he lifts his hands away from Danny’s wings, Danny is spinning around with a grin, flaring his wings out.

“How do I look?”

“Perfect,” Duke answers. He was right; Danny looks good in his feathers.

He watches, fond and amused, as Danny spins, keeping his wings flared, admiring his new look. “I’m never taking these off,” he says. “I love them so much. I can’t really make one for you, though…”

“You don’t need to.”

“I can’t just accept this and not give you something in return!”

“Well… There is one thing you could give me. Something I’ve been wanting for a long time.”

“What is it?” Danny asks, leaning towards Duke. He’s eager, ready to please, so delighted to be courted.

Duke smiles. “A kiss.”

“Done.”

He doesn’t have time to react before Danny is pouncing on him, hands fisting the collar of his shirt as he tilts his head up and kisses Duke. He pulls back before Duke can kiss back, blushing and unbearably cute.

And all Duke manages to say is, “Cool.”

He’s so good at this.

Danny rightfully laughs at him, then grabs his hand and pulls him down to the bench. “Come on, I promised to complain about my teachers today and I intend to deliver. And maybe later, I could take you out on a date? If you want.”

“Danny, of course I want to go on a date with you. I’m courting you! I thought I made my feelings clear!”

“I’m just making sure!” Danny shouts over him, and Duke can’t resist the urge to pull him closer and pepper kisses along his cheek. “Okay, okay, I got it. You’ve made your feelings clear. I’m going to date you so hard.”

“You better. It’s about time you put some work into our relationship.”

“Excuse you?!” Danny gasps in mock outrage, and they start bickering lightheartedly as they always do.

Even with their feelings come to light, even with a courtship started and a date promised, it doesn’t feel like anything between them has changed.

It’s just them. Just as it always has been.

Duke couldn’t be happier.

#ghostlights #dc x dp #dp x dc #dcxdp #dpxdc #dc x dp fic #prompt fill #my writing #this was going to be longer bc i got into worldbuilding but then it got TOO long so i scrapped all that to focus on duke and danny #first time writing wing fic.... the amount of thought i put into how this world works had my head spinning #like this one: most people sleep in hamocks or have beds that are off the ground so they can stretch their wings out #regular beds like ours exist but mostly for kids/senior citizens/people with damaged wings who cant fly #like danny. so he has a normal bed and duke has a hammock which means the cuddling situation is Difficult #usually it ends with danny on his back and duke on his chest or danny completely wrapped up in dukes wings #just picture that. youre welcome :)

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lizzibennet · 13 days

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the way people seem to be purposefully misunderstanding the addition of two (2) scenes in which colin is having a threesome like. he’s traveled all around the world in order to find himself and maybe it worked but not to extent he’d hoped for. he comes back and then plays the part society expects of him - rakish rogue - because he thinks that will help him feel fulfilled. and in that sense, what could be more “manly” than getting with two women at once? juxtaposing that first scene with the second in ep 4, it’s so clear that we’re meant to understand the reasons why he goes there are fickle and not what he truly wants. that’s why he’s so desperate to go after penelope!!! when he understands what he values and what about him is truly worthy he immediately wants to go after her because after all he’s always valued her even when he couldn’t see it. he went everywhere else literally to find his meaning at home, literally - within himself and with the person he’s always been closest to. “he was at the brothel” is not the gotcha you think it is!!!

#like i have to admit. when that scene was first there i didn’t like it #i thought they were trying too hard to make him sexy by putting him in sexy situations without *him* actually being sexy #but that scene does not exist in isolation!!!!#why would they add an almost identical scene w the same girls where it no longer works to satisfy him!!#YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO UNDERSTAND THE SCENES TOGETHER OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#ME? DEFENDING POLIN? i know just like!!!! you are purposefully misunderstanding #bridgerton #bridgerton spoiler #colin bridgerton #penelope featherington #polin #i like this show a normal amount

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ciderjacks · 3 days

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infantilization

#dungeon meshi #aj art #kabru of utaya #Thinking about the way Kabru is regarded by the elf community he was raised in #Even when he’s pretty clearly an adult #As a spoiled child who needs protecting #Bc they don’t view the short lived races as serious humans who deserve respect #And Kabru recognizes this because he grew up with elves #Adding art detail tags bc I put an embarrassing amount of thought into this #I tried to give him duller and rougher colorjng nd shading #And gave all the plushies soft cartoonish shading and bright colors #To illustrate how he actually is vs how he’s being categorized by the elves #I also tried to give him more specifically adult features like arm and leg hair #Eye bags shaven facial hair and scars #To make his body look lived in #Again illustrating that he’s an adult who has lived a life #Which makes him contrast to the cutesy childlike stuffed animals he’s surrounded by #Bc to us and to him the way he’s treated by the elves is really weird #He shouldn’t be lumped in with childlike things when he’s a grown adult #Also I made it so that all the stuffed animals eyes are closed #And his are open #Bc 1. the elves don’t really see him as a person and 2. They don’t really recognize how they’re treating him or why it’s wrong #But he does #He sees it clearly and knows why they’re acting like that

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falmerbrook · 9 months

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please click on the images for details!

I think it's a bit of a shame how Vivec's appearance changed in the games after Morrowind. I always got a sort of uncanny vibe from his Morrrowind appearance, like he's staring straight into you, that I feel like wasn't captured as well in his later appearances. I picture him with a round face (for a mer), and huge eyes and ears. Just absolutely big-ass orbits and ears big enough to move like a cat's.

The first set is from February (you can thank it for giving me hand/wrist pain), and so I'm not keen on finishing it, but liked it enough to post it anyway.

(AKA: vivec sketch dump)

#the eso design also has some masculinization/nonbinary-erasure issues but this post aint about that #used 'he/she' for the pronouns in the second set because this also aint the post for my vivec gender headcanons #morrowind #tes #the elder scrolls #vivec #my art #mine #i have put an embarrassing amount of thought into the tribunal's designs but ill spare you from all the details #some of my thoughts on them have changed since feburary so thats why the other two sets aren't going to be posted #you can see the change in quality between the two so well becasue i have had to limit how much time i spend drawing :(

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magnus-rhymes-with-swagness · 10 months

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OKAY who wants to hear about why i think nimona challenges amatonormativity? you do! 🫵

one of the main ways this is accomplished is through ballister and ambrosius’s relationship. it’s arguable that it doesn’t necessarily fit the traditional model of romance - not only are they a queer interracial couple, and not only is their relationship ambiguous in the book, but there are certain instances, especially in the movie, that subvert traditional ideas of romance and friendship.

one instance that really stands out to me is when the director asks ambrosius what’s on his mind and he goes on his imagined rant about how arm-chopping isn’t a love language - you know the one. when he mentions ballister, he refers to him as “the man i love, my best friend.” and not just one or the other, but both! the man i love, and my best friend. he places equal emphasis on both the romantic and platonic aspects of the relationship, valuing ballister in both a romantic context and a platonic context without treating either one as more important than the other.

and even moments such as the first “i love you” and the kiss manage to subvert tradition. both of these things are generally seen as a pretty big deal, especially in fiction - if the characters are kissing or saying “i love you,” it’s usually a moment in which everything changes. a line is drawn, dividing the story into after and now. sometimes it’s dramatic and climactic, with fireworks and a swell of music, but even when it isn’t it’s still seen as a turning point of sorts. now it’s official, now it’s real. but this isn’t the case in nimona. both moments are certainly significant - they do a good job of showcasing the character development and where ballister and ambrosius are on their respective journeys, and are certainly important in terms of representation - but neither one follows the path that most fictional romance does.

another way in which nimona challenges amatonormativity would be the emphasis on friendship! in the tavern scene (in the movie) when ambrosius suggests killing nimona, ballister disagrees and says “she’s my friend.” ambrosius replies with “aren’t i more than that?”, implying he’s more important than a friend - thus upholding amatonormative ideas. ballister becomes angry at that and leaves - challenging this idea and prioritizing his platonic relationship with nimona over his romantic one with ambrosius, as nimona is the one he wants to defend.

additionally, a big part of this scene is the way ballister deliberately rejects institute values while ambrosius unintentionally upholds them. and because the story challenges homophobia and transphobia (and other forms of bigotry) through the lens of the institute, it would make sense for it to challenge amatonormativity too! it’s something that’s become incredibly normalized, to the point that lots of people don’t even know it exists, and this is reminiscent of the institute brainwashing, especially when it comes to ambrosius - he’s been manipulated his whole life and probably genuinely doesn’t understand the level to which he’s internalized institute beliefs.

ballister prioritizes nimona many times, actually. when he tells ambrosius she’s “smart, kind, and quite sophisticated,” when he’s overjoyed to see her again at the end, when he refuses to kill her and saves her instead. over and over, he proves how much he cares about her, even when this involves directly going against what ambrosius wants - which, of course, is really what the institute wants. a core tenant of amatonormativity is the false notion that romantic relationships are more important or valuable than other types of relationships, but ballister actively goes against this!

to conclude, as a story that at its core is about identity and challenging societal beliefs, nimona defies expectations and traditional ideas of what it should or shouldn’t be. it’s possible that amatonormativity wasn’t what the creators had in mind, but the story still manages to challenge it with grace and elegance. just like its main character, nimona refuses to conform to what others want it to be.

#nimona #nimona movie #ballister blackheart #ballister boldheart #ambrosius goldenloin #ballister x ambrosius #ambrosius x ballister #nimona netflix #nd stevenson #nimona spoilers #i could go on tbh but i think this is a digestible amount #often when i’m writing a meta i’ll walk around in circles talking into my phone recording my thoughts out loud #and then i’ll play it back and put the most coherent stuff into a list which eventually becomes paragraphs #and the combined recordings for this one are about half an hour in total lol #i’m just. absolutely in love with the whole story. both the book and the movie mean so incredibly much to me #changed my life shaped me as a person etc etc :’)#OH i almost forgot. this analysis is dedicated to the person who sent me aphobic anon hate about it before it even existed lol #i know i said i wouldn’t post anything if people couldn’t be normal but idc actually. seethe with rage! <3 #my words #meta

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forestgloss · 2 months

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hey aphblr ‼️

laurmau at the ren faire 🔥

ft my best friend who i recently introduced to mcd as my aph <3

#u cant tell from looking at it but i put a terrible amount of thought into my outfit #also makeup but u guys cant even see that #aphmau #aphblr #aphverse #laurance zvahl #laurmau #laurance mcd #aphmau mcd #minecraft diaries #mcd #mystreet #buggy lookbook #buggy speaks

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saltpepperbeard · 1 year

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y’all i’m in both david and mark motherbaugh’s walls for this one.

i was going through bits of footage for gifs as i do, and realized that the little note progression in the alma+stede scene sounded very familiar. sure enough...

it’s the same little progression as the pre-kiss confession, just in another key. it’s the lead-in to the love theme.

something something the handling of stede’s heart in both scenes. something something love but in different ways, hence the same song but in different keys. something something love towards stede finally progressing to the intended point.

...tldr, this show is insane for its symbolism and motifs and it’s wild that we keep discovering things over a year after the first season dropped.

#OFMD #Our Flag Means Death #OFMD Vid #Revenge Rambles #Gentlebeard #Blackbonnet #Stede Bonnet #Alma Bonnet #Edward Teach #I'm just #The amount of DETAIL paid to things like this #Be it costuming or music or other symbolic elements #It drives me BANANAS (affectionate)#I love it #Because it's like a TREASURE HUNT #I love finding all the little things they put in here for us #Or even better: I love finding small details that they put in for THEM and thought we wouldn't notice #But we did because we analyze every microsecond of this show HSLKDJS

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afraidparade · 4 months

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UPDATED GHOSTSTORIES REFS + COMPREHENSIVE LORE MASTERPOST

UM SO THESE ARE REALLY OVERDUE... but here are fresh 2024 refs of pazu and theo! if you're just interested in their surface information then there you go, but if you would like the really extensive lore on how the world of exorcists and ghosts work (this applies to #itsybitsyghost too) then check under the cut! :-)

The Phenomenon of Lingering Spirits and the Role of Exorcists:

Human bodies do not last forever, but the material of their souls do. Death is merely the expiration date of a physical form, and should one’s role on the physical plane be fulfilled, their essence will be returned to the collective consciousness of the universe itself; a mysterious and incomprehensible force coined “the Divine Beyond” by those with the greatest understanding of it (which is to say, still not very much.) There, souls become energy, and that energy, though silent and intangible, is everywhere, maintaining the balance of life and death. And should the universe decide it is time to assign that energy another role, a soul will be born anew with fragments of past life essences.

But should one’s role on earth remain unfulfilled at the time of their passing, the universe will reject this incomplete soul from the Divine Beyond. These pseudo-beings have many names — apparitions, spirits, ghosts — but essentially, they are the result of unstable soul fragments without a vessel or means of passing on. As such, they remain in this world alongside humans, and without the memories retained in their physical bodies, are unable to remember who or what they are. They are invisible, intangible, and inaudible to most of the living. Most, but not all.

Exorcists are humans who, either through rigorous training or genetically gifted, are able to see, hear, and physically interact with ghosts. Though their numbers are very few and scattered throughout the world, they carry out their cosmic duty to hunt lost souls and remove them from the physical realm. The majority of these exorcists belong to one of three (though in recent years, that number has dropped to two) major clans, each with their own methods of dealing with the dead. Some adhere to the belief that ghosts are still human souls and should be exorcized with dignity and respect. Others believe they are monsters that must be dispatched efficiently, by any means possible. Some even see the potential to work alongside them to better understand the mystery of the Divine Beyond.

Regardless of their methods, an exorcist’s primary duty is the protection of humanity. Should too much energy remain lingering on either side of the boundary, universal laws that act as the threads of the physical plain will begin to unravel. Vigilance and prescience is imperative, lest the world as we know it reach a point of no return.

Facts About Ghosts:

Generally speaking, ghosts are the lingering fragments of distressed souls, and tend to act impulsively and violently as a result. They rarely resemble people at all, often taking loose, shifting, monstrous forms of impure energy, ranging from the size of a golf ball to the size of an average human. Since they are largely unintelligent and act on pure instinct, it is very uncommon for a ghost to be able to utilize or understand any spoken language. A ghost displaying any of these uncommon traits should be considered a major threat and eliminated immediately.

A ghost’s primary instinct is to attain more power, and the only way to do that is to absorb spectral energy – that is to say, they cannibalize each other to grow stronger. Because of this phenomenon, fresher, smaller spirits tend not to last long before being consumed by a stronger nearby ghost. Increased power often leads to increased size, intelligence, and motor skills. At a certain level of awareness, ghosts are able to consciously reallocate their power to differing areas of their form; this can manifest as sacrificing their intelligence for enhanced size, or vice versa. Ghosts at this power level can also choose how to adjust their outward appearance to their liking, though this is often seen as a sign of arrogance as it has little tactical value.

Exorcists have developed a classing system to determine a ghost’s danger level, consisting of: Wisp, Apparition, Wraith, Nightmare, and Demon. A ghost’s class is determined based on the amount of souls they’ve consumed, which can be inferred via the traits of their form and level of aggression.

Even a seasoned exorcist would pray to never face a Nightmare Class ghost; this makes Demon Class ghosts a once-in-a-century cataclysmic event. Demon ghosts are assigned special names that reflect the severity of their class: Pazuzu (Pazu) and Lamashtu (Lam) are examples of this.

Facts About Pazu:

Like all ghosts, Pazu does not know how he died or what his life was like. Any time it comes up, he changes his answer and gives a completely fictitious (and often over-the-top) story.

Several centuries ago, Pazu inevitably attracted the attention of exorcists and ultimately ended up defeated (though not without claiming several of the lives of his pursuers). Because even the most prominent clan couldn’t manage to subdue him long enough to exorcise him fully, he was instead sealed within a shrine and left in isolation until his energy spent itself to nothingness. The seal on the shrine could only be tampered with by the blood of those who sealed it, and even Pazu can’t believe his unprecedented good fortune in being released.

Despite his exaggerated claims of love and friendship, Pazu loathes Theo. Through no fault of his own, of course – after all, Theo is too inept of an exorcist to pose any threat, and even so kindly broke Pazu’s seal – but him being a descendant of the clan that caused Pazu so much trouble is the only excuse he needs to torment him for as long as he lives. That, and he also looks horribly similar to someone Pazu has a grudge with.

Pazu is an incredibly powerful ghost - possibly the most powerful ghost in centuries of history. The form he presents himself with, massive though it may be, is a shrunken avatar he uses to subvert expectations and stay better hidden. In the time he’s been released from his seal, Pazu has never assumed his true form in full.

Pazu is able to shapeshift to anything within his size threshold (which is, frankly, extremely vast) but refuses to limit his size to anything less than “huge.” The only exception is if he is actively possessing someone.

Speaking of ghostly abilities, Pazu is able to possess one person with full autonomy or multiple people simultaneously with limited autonomy, interact with physical objects (though even for a powerful ghost, this requires a good deal of energy), alter the memories and perceptions of a human mind, and, of course, interact effortlessly with Theo or any other exorcist.

Pazu is very secretive about his motives. He certainly possesses enough power currently to inflict serious damage onto the mortal world, yet he still chooses to keep a (relatively) low profile and consciously avoids causing too much chaos. The most information he’s ever given about the subject is that he is “biding his time,” but for what, it is unclear.

Facts About Theo:

Although his decision to abandon his exorcist-related duties and move abroad certainly upset his family, they are still on good terms and care about each other’s well-being deeply.

Theo has not and will not contact his family about Pazu’s release for several reasons. Firstly, he’s mortified about being the one to accidentally unleash a monster that several of his relatives died just to contain, but there’s also the threat of harm ensured by Pazu should he reach out to them in an attempt to exorcise him.

Theo is an office worker for a rather generic sales company. He’s good at his job and plenty friendly, but his somewhat scary face and inexplicable ghost-related mannerisms tend to cause his coworkers to steer clear of him.

His only close friend is his cheery coworker, Gabriel. He knows about Pazu, but Theo frequently lies about Pazu’s demeanor and tells him that he’s a friendly ghost. Gabe is the only person in Theo’s life who has witnessed Pazu’s actions and didn’t have their memory altered. Furthermore, it appears that Pazu absolutely despises Gabe. Theo has no idea why.

He originally only sought out Pazu’s sealing place out of curiosity upon hearing a nearby shrine existed in his family’s name. Having forgotten a good deal of exorcism training from his youth and in being deceived by Pazu, he ended up accidentally nullifying the seal.

Theo has three older sisters. He loves them, but does not particularly miss the childhood regularity of being pushed around by them.

He enjoys collecting antiques, tending to his houseplants, and visiting coffee shops. Minus all the ghost business, he’s a very normal guy.

Facts About Exorcist Clans:

The term "exorcist" refers to anyone with the ability to see, hear, and physically interact with ghosts; whether or not they actually choose to exorcise spirits is not a factor in that title. There are very few exorcists in the world, as these spectral abilities are can only be attained by biological inheritance or rigorous training. Exorcists' abilities are attached to their souls -- more specifically, the shards of souls from past lives that cycle between the material plane and the Divine Beyond. It is a near certain guarantee that a child born into an exorcist lineage will possess an aptitude for exorcism, though there have been rare cases of both a child in an exorcist family being born without abilities, or a child from a family with no ties to exorcism receiving these gifts inexplicably. Although it is possible to awaken some spectral abilities in a soul without these shards, it is no easy feat, and regardless of the effort put in, manufactured exorcists can not compare to natural exorcists in terms of spectral senses or arcane abilities.

For many centuries, there have been three dominant exorcist clans. Clans can be organized based on family ties, common interests, or even have a school-like structure; regardless of the criteria for belonging to a clan, each one embodies its own belief systems and trademarked techniques.

(Please note this section is a W.I.P. More detailed profiles on each of the three main clans will be added in time.)

The existence of three clans played a key role in governing smaller exorcist organizations, freelance exorcists, and even each other in a harmonious balance. However, with the mysterious disappearance of the third clan, tensions between the remaining two have run high, and reports of rogue exorcists are increasing.

#now you all get to witness the embarrassing amount of thought i've put into these silly characters #this is what happens when you date someone who loves making oc lore as much or if not more than you do #ghoststories #oc: pazu #oc: theo #g/t ocs #gt community #oc reference #lore #oc: gabriel #oc: lam #they're mentioned i guess

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