#but goodness is something you can CHOOSE something you can BECOME and you can still have negative emotions and CHOOSE to be good

[hannahssimblr]

“I have to say, this is an impressive body of work.”

I shift in my seat, “By impressive do you mean that it’s good, or that there’s a lot of it?”

This gets a laugh. “Both,” says the man, Paul, flicking through a sketchbook with tattooed hands, fingers stained from nicotine. I notice things like this now. Hands. I notice their lines and their bones, all their interesting details, and perhaps Paul himself could gauge this now as he pours over my figure studies where there are pages upon pages of hands, old and young, my friends, my sisters at the piano, an old woman clutching at a handrail on the train, and my own, a hundred times in different ways, blisters, plasters, hangnails and bruises from the rugby pitch.

The woman, Ida, shuffles through a stack of watercolour paintings I did last summer, mostly seascapes, the beach and the rushes, the whitewashed houses and rusted iron of the Wexford coast. Just looking at them I can recall the grit of sand under my bare feet as I warmed them on the deck of our holiday home behind my portable easel. In three months I’ll return again for one last summer, and after that I expect I’ll miss it there. 

“And you said you didn’t do a portfolio preparation year?” She says, peering over the rim of her glasses. 

“No, I’m still at school.”

“Highly unusual for a sixth year,” her eyebrows climb up her forehead, “You've clearly dedicated a lot of time to this.”

I shrug, “Yeah, I like making art, I don’t know.”

It’s difficult to tell what this woman is thinking. Everything about her is harsh, dramatic, from the sharp fringe that sits straight and neat above her brows to the slash of her mouth, thin lips, pointy chin, hard eyes, but I have to assume for the sake of my own self esteem that she doesn’t positively loathe my portfolio. She spends some time looking through my work, slowly, methodically, sometimes leaning closer to frown at something, maybe some proportion that’s off, bad composition, a clumsy attempt at ambient occlusion that doesn’t hit the mark… 

“It’s beautiful,” she says simply, and I exhale. 

“Oh look, a familiar face,” Paul holds a portrait to Ida, “That’s the girl that we were interviewing a few people before this, what was her name again?”

“Michelle,” I say, “My girlfriend.”

Paul nods, “Michelle, right! Good likeness,” and places the notebook back onto the table. Leaning back in his chair, he cracks his knuckles, “Look, Jude, there’s no two ways about it here, your work is outstanding. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a portfolio that hits every mark, every requirement and goes beyond, I mean,” he lets out a puff of air and gestures to the table, “this is nuts. And for a sixth year? Come on. This stuff would blow some of our third and fourth year college students out of the water.”

I feel like I could melt off the chair with relief, but try to suppress my utter delight so that they don’t think I’m too hungry for validation.

“Cool.”

“It’s the sensitivity,” Ida adds, “Your observation skills, your sense of weight, movement, knowledge of anatomy. It’s rare to see this kind of work from a secondary school student. Your efforts are just… so impressive.”

“And look, we know it depends on your Leaving Cert points, and yeah, that’ll be a contributing factor when it comes to acceptance, but, like,” Paul looks over the table again, tossing his hands up conclusively, “as far as I’m concerned, we’ll see you in September.”

Ida’s mouth curls into a smile, “We hope. If you choose us.”

If I choose them? Am I dreaming? How have I become the kind of person who is coveted by an art school? Surely not. Surely soon I’ll wake up and discover that this whole interview has been a product of my dreams. Too much time spent stressing out over art, the requirements, the brief... Almost certainly I’ve fallen asleep somewhere and none of this is real. 

“That’s really kind of you to say. I’m glad you liked my stuff.”

“Blown away,” says Paul, and he leaps to his feet to shake my hand like I’ve just won a prize, “all we need is a pass in the Leaving Cert, you can surely manage it.”

“Yeah, I’ll make sure I do.”

They’re smiling at me as I gather up my work, and still smiling as I give them one last sheepish wave from the door, and I realise I am still smiling too as I face the hallway of waiting students, staring at me with portfolios rested against their knees. I probably shouldn’t look too overjoyed, it might knock their confidence, so I try to look very bored instead as I pass by, though I may explode from the inside out.

Beginning // Prev // Next

#lucky boy 2010 #he's back baby #looking cuter than ever #I love hipster era Jude so much?? #and c'mon #y'all know what's coming this summer #anyone recognise Ida?

[acewritesfics]

We Should buy a Horse | Tommy Shelby

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x Reader

Request: from @/runnning-outof-time

Warnings: None

Word Count: 747

Tommy Shelby Masterlist | Main Masterlist

“You know you don’t have to help me pour drinks,” Y/N says as she stands behind the bar of the Garrison with Tommy, who’s pouring a large jug of ale for one of the patrons.  

“We own the place now, so might as well do the work,” he smiles.   

Not wanting to dampen his good mood, she smiles back at him and kisses his cheek as she moves on to serving more customers.   

After handing the patron his jug, he steps back to watch Y/N as she interacts with the regulars as well as the new patrons, always with a friendly smile on her face. She always knows what to say and when to say it. He’s always thought of her as his ray of sunshine, poking through the dark stormy skies. She’s the love of his life and the only one he can see himself spending the rest of his life with. He knows that everything he does is for his family and for her, wanting to give her everything she deserves which to him is the world.   

“Are you all right, love?” Y/N asks Tommy as she moves to stand in front of him as Arthur took over pouring drinks.   

“I���m more than all right,” he smiles at her again, his eyes sparkling like they use to before the war happened though not as bright. But the sparkle was still there. “Our betting shop is legal now, we have the Garrison, I have my family and I have you. Things are looking up, sweetheart.”  

Y/N cups his cheeks and brings him in for a quick kiss.   

“I love you,” she tells him once her lips part from his. “And I love seeing you happy again.”  

“I’ve always been happy when I’m with you,” he pulls her close, his arms encircling her waist. “And I love you too.”  

Choosing once again not to dampen his mood, she leans into his embrace until he lets her go, taking her hand in his.   

“I want to show you something,” he tells her, leading her to the office that now belonged to Arthur.   

As they entered the room, Tommy shuts the door shutting out the chattering of the people in the pub. “I think we should buy a horse,” he tells her as he searches through the papers on the desk. Frowning slightly, he mumbles something about her helping Arthur with the paperwork so he can keep it organized.   

“How many horses do you have already?” she asks him.  

“Those are racehorses,” he points out.   

“You want a pet?” she continues to question him, slightly confused about what. “Where will you put it?”   

“We could buy a home with a stable in the countryside,” he answers confusing her even further.   

“You’re saying we an awful lot tonight,” she points out. “Have you talked to your brothers and Polly about your plans.”  

“Why would I talk to them about it?” he asks her. “I want to do all that with you, not them,” he continues as he finds what he’s looking for and picks it up. “Look at the name next to mine at the bottom of the page,” he tells her handing the piece of paper to her.  

With confusion all over her face, she takes the piece of paper and finds Tommy’s name. As she reads the name next to his, her head shoots up, looking at him in shock before looking at the paper again. “Y/N Shelby,” she says aloud. “I... I’m not a Shelby though.”  

“I want you to be one,” he tells her, reaching into the top drawer of the desk.  

“Is this your way of asking me to marry you?” she asks unsure, the shock still on her face as she watches him.  

Pulling out a ring box, he opens it showing her the ring inside. “Will you do everything I just mentioned with me?” he asks her in reply. “Will you become Mrs. Y/N Shelby, and be my partner in the future I’m working on for me, you and our family?”   

“I thought you’d never ask,” she chokes out, her heart thumping hard against her chest, a sob stuck in her throat as she nods, a large smile on her face as she looks at him lovingly.   

He pulls her into a kiss as he slips the ring on to her finger.   

“I love you,” she whispers against his lips.  

“I love you too, soon-to-be Mrs. Shelby,” he says before deepening the kiss. 

#acewritesfics repost #peaky blinders #tommy shelby x reader #peaky blinders x reader #thomas shelby x reader #thomas shelby #tommy shelby

[evolutionsvoid]

Though the Church of Divine Wealth reigns supreme in this land, it isn't the sole faith that can be found. Just looking at the Church itself, you can find many sects that have formed inside and out. Those who worship a sole humor, or perhaps those who see their gods in different idols or flesh. At such a size, it was almost inevitable that fragments would break off and find their own way in this world, taking the good word and fluids to create their own truth. But beyond the reach of the precious golden Ichor are others who find worship in different places. Hearing songs from the depths of the ocean, or seeing hope in the stars dancing through the sky. And there are some who find the same faith in death and rebirth, but they have their own angels.

In this world, vultures are sacred birds, for none can deny their role in the great cycle. They are those who come from the heavens to mourn the dead and bring them back to the cycle for rebirth. With bowed heads, they consume the fallen flesh then ascend to the gods themselves, to ensure those who have perished can be brought back to the creators to be reshaped and reborn. It is said that the vultures themselves can bring forth new life, vomiting eggs from their maws, crafted from the essence of those they carry within. Eaters of the dead, birthers of new life, there is no surprise why some revere these divine birds. They who see these vultures as messengers of the gods, maintainers of the great cycle. These birds have a connection to the world that goes beyond nature, and into something far greater in their eyes. They carry the words of the gods, see the fates of those who live and determine who is worthy of divine rebirth. To have one's body consumed by a wake of vultures is an incredible honor, as you have been deemed a fitting soul. Thus, the followers of these birds believe in sky burial, leaving their dead up high so that the blessed messengers may come to collect them.

Of these followers are the Speakers of Carrion, priests and prophets who give themselves to the vultures and faith. The Speakers utterly worship these birds, to the point that it is their life's goal to become like them. Being eaten by a vulture is one honor, to be reborn as one is something far greater. So they don cloaks stitched from shed feathers, and wear masks that bear their wondrous visage. Clawed gauntlets upon their arms to give them talons, and hunched forms to share the same postures as their blessed birds. They wish to be like the vultures, and in turn choose to speak for them. Speakers of Carrion are said to be able to predict the future, divine one's fate and suss out secrets hidden in the world. Their connection to the messengers give them a vision and mind that can tease out the mysteries of the world. But in order for one to receive such wisdom, they must bring offerings to the Speakers. Food and dead flesh are simple gifts, but still eaten with appreciation. This shall gain you a few words and a paltry vision. What you really must bring them is a fresh liver, as that is the organa these vulture worshipers view as the most valuable. To them, the liver is the seat of the soul, and it holds great power and knowledge within its meat. Offer them a liver, and they shall greedily devour it and use its essence to answer your questions. One ability they are said to have is to be able to draw information from the life of the person the liver once belonged to, reading their digested essence to pull forth secrets and knowledge. Some will bring the livers of dead loved ones to the Speakers of Carrion to get answers for questions never fulfilled in life, to know what secrets were kept from them, or simply to hear their final words before returning to the cycle. Animal livers can help power the visions of a Speaker, but they are very much weaker than a liver pulled from man.

Livers are not the only offerings they crave, as they can be prophets if gifted the right material. What they seek are pellets vomited forth from birds, common for some species but incredibly rare for the likes of the divine vultures. Inside these hardened nuggets are said to be messages of fate, written in code and bone. If one has the luck of finding an intact pellet, bring it to a Speaker so that they may tease it open and see what secrets it holds for the future. Their art calls for cutting open the pellet, and observing the materials held inside. Hair, bone and other digested pieces are words and letters within these pellets, and how they are arranged paints a picture. From this divination, they speak of things to come and what lays in your future. If you find a rare vulture pellet, they can possibly learn secrets that are kept from mortals, taking a peek behind the veil of it all. This divination may require a lot of patience, but when one watches the process, they will no doubt see art. 

In their pursuit to be like the vultures, the Speakers seek to eat the livers and essences of those who passed, so that they may carry their burden. For each soul they consume, they will add a carved weight to their back. Shaped from bone and crafted in the visage of man and bird, these are meant to symbolize the essences held within their guts. The heft of them to remind them of the burden they carry. It is their hope that if they play this role enough, that the vultures will see them as kin, and that they may be granted the life of a divine bird. Some believe that this rebirth will occur when they perish, and others think that this transformation will come in life. When they have consumed enough and pleased the gods enough, their feathery cloaks will swallow them and birth forth a new vulture, a new messenger. To the Church, these folk are mad heretics, worshiping false idols and denying the grandeur of Ichor. These folk are chased from the towns and cities, labeled as lunatics and liars. To go to a Speaker for their services is seen as blasphemy and imbibing in heretical knowledge. However, the Church's efforts against these folk has been quite lax compared to others they persecute. They keep them away from the settlements they hold sway over, dissuade others from seeking them, but do little else. It is said that the Church sees them as so useless and pathetic, that they don't want to waste their time on a few feathery madmen. And once war broke out across the lands, all efforts to keep these followers away have vanished, as they have greater worries now.   

So now the Speakers of Carrion sit upon their perches and squat within destroyed towns, reading the skies and beckoning to the birds. Those who have lost faith in the Church may seek them for hope and closure, trying to find anything to cling onto in these trying times. And sometimes, while you walk these ravaged lands, you may find a tattered robe of black feathers left upon the earth. Many would say it is the remains of fools who sit and preach while bandits and monsters run rampant. Another victim of this bloody madness. But to those who find these discarded garments, they can't help but look to the skies and wonder...

-----------------------------------------------------

"Speaker of Carrion"

In a world crafted from dead flesh, where bodily fluids are held as gods, of course the scavengers are seen as divine. And about time too!

#priest #prophet #vulture #bird #art #drawing #fall of ichor #blood

[trans-cuchulainn]

had a really interesting convo yesterday about ethics and whether intent or results matters (eg if you tried to make an ethical purchasing choice but the business was actually exploitative as hell, does that "count") and very much came to the conclusion that sure, if you're concerned with your personal immortal soul, as a christian might be, then intention counts. but if what you're focused on is your impact on the world, then intention means nothing if the actions have negative results, right? (that doesn't mean you're to blame for them! you didn't know! but you also don't get "ethics points" for trying, you know?)

and this also got me thinking about the whole christian idea that sinful thoughts are as bad as sinful actions because. they're just not imo. maybe for the sake of your Immortal Soul they are points against you, if that's your jam. but in terms of putting good into the world, in terms of your impact on other people, the ONLY thing that matters is what you choose to do with those thoughts. there is no way that "was kind to someone who was pissing me off, for the sake of community harmony" or "helped an acquaintance with a task even though I felt resentful about the time spent doing that" is a Bad Thing for the world

and it made me wonder how much purity culture and thought policing is rooted in (mostly evangelical) cultural christianity and this idea that ethical choices are an individual thing because what matters is the impact of them on YOUR soul and not, you know, things we do because of what we owe the world around us / because of love for others / because a world where people are trying to put good into it is a hell of a lot nicer to live in than one where people are only worried about themselves

i grew up evangelical but like. fairly mild evangelical and even though there wasn't a big focus on hell and stuff, i definitely fixated on imperfect thoughts and behaviours that were putting absolutely no harm into the world, rather than focusing on what i could do to put good into it, and that individualistic vs outward-focused approach to morality has been something i've grappled with a lot as an adult. but i never really thought about it as simply as this and really that's what it boils down to. are you making the ethical choice because you're trying to put good in the world, or because it would make you a "good person" to do so? because the answer to that 100% defines whether it's the thought or the result that counts

#also i feel like Sinful Thoughts Are As Bad As Sinful Actions... #as well as being bullshit... #is just like a one way trip to moral ocd and a whole lot of guilt spirals #and i just don't think it's useful! you can't necessarily choose your thoughts! #you can however choose your actions because Good is something you do not something you are #ethics #i do think The Good Place did more to make me interrogate my evangelical upbringing and ethical assumptions than anything else #but also this idea of putting good into the world... idk. it's kind of encouraging AND scary #i don't think I'm naturally a very good person but i can choose to do good #i can be bitter and jealous and resentful and still help people and make their lives a little easier #and my feelings are not actually impacting on the world whereas my actions are #at the same time in a society built on exploitation and corporate greeed #it's hard not to be conscious of the harm my actions are doing without me trying #i didn't necessarily make an unethical choice but all of my choices cause harm to someone somewhere #living in the west and the global north and whatever you become very conscious of that

[lord-squiggletits]

Y'know the thing about writing feral/unhinged versions of Orion/Optimus, is that you can't go too far into the feral/unhinged direction to a point where OP's core character traits are lost or become too diminished. After all, in a multiple-continuity franchise like TF, part of what makes the stories make sense is that even if details change (sometimes major details), the characters are still recognizably themselves to one degree or another. (Although this isn't always the case due to executive meddling or some characters being such blank slates from their initial G1 appearances that there's basically nothing to model them off of, but I digress.)

It's pretty much another reason why I love IDW1 Optimus, bc he literally is a canonical feral/unhinged Optimus who's unhinged as a direct consequence of who he is as a person and what he's been through. Like, he still has those fundamental character traits of trying his best to be moral and make good choices, trying to be a role model, etc, except after 4 million years of war and untreated depression he's basically holding onto his sense of self by his fingertips. So when he "goes feral" e.g. losing his temper and beating up/killing people or saying hurtful things, he's feral in a way that's directly tied to his normal personality and not just as a random quirk he has.

IDW OP's feral moments arise from the gaps between "Optimus' attempts to be who he thinks he needs to be" and "the reality of the world that he can't fix/seems to only make worse" that cause him to lose hope, or become cynical, or lose his temper. But in this case, the unhinged-ness makes perfect sense because it arises out of Optimus trying and failing to be the best person or to make the most morally good choices he's trying to make. Basically, the "feral/unhinged" label is just another way of me trying to say that he's not just unhinged because he's weird or because he's a bad person, but because it's an emotional reaction (more like an emotional explosion due to pent-up emotions) to the context he exists in.

I'd also say that IDW OP's personality being generally reserved/stoic and (trying to be) noble works in tandem with those moments he has of going feral because it makes him more realistic. His psyche is treated in a way where the writers are like, "Hey what if the pressure of having to be everyone's idol and be the best person in the galaxy at all times actually broke Optimus down mentally and emotionally?" It makes IDW OP far more relatable. Instead of naturally being a perfect Christ-like figure who never wavers in his morals or convictions and is just naturally a nice person who always has the wisest and best answer, being a good person is something that IDW OP has to consciously strive to be. Even when he feels like it's useless, or the cycle of violence will never stop, or any attempts he makes to help only ends up with things becoming worse.

And I feel like this does a service not only to IDW Optimus as a character, but also as a sort of moral/philosophical perspective for the reader to ponder upon? I feel like culture at large (or at least my experience of it) tends to believe that "goodness" in a person is simply an innate feature that people are born/not born with, and that being "good" means that you must be good at all times, both in your actions as well as the way you feel emotionally about yourself and the world. Like, there's a tendency for our vision of "a good person" to be good in every aspect at all times without having to try to be a good person. So I think IDW Optimus' character stands as a good example of how someone can be good at heart but still struggle to maintain those feelings of optimism and hope and justice. It's a good idea to have such a paragon of a character (in-universe and out-of-universe) be so conflicted and to even be mistaken, misguided, or make things worse because it shows that goodness is as much about "trying to behave/act in a way that is good" and not just "existing as an innately good person."

It's way more realistic for a person to want to be good, try to be good, and sometimes/often fail than it is for them to just be a good person. I enjoy the fact that IDW Optimus is both a good person at heart, but also has to strive to be a good person and live up to other people's expectations of what they see in him. I like how he wants to be a good person and change society for the better, but he also spends a good amount of time either feeling hopeless and alone or being angry at/detached from other people because of how frustrated they make him. He's realistically portrayed as someone who wants to be good and hopeful and change things for the better, but is also mentally and emotionally broken by that burden because of how impossible it is for him to Fix Everything and be the Perfect Prime/Leader/Autobot that people see him as. It's this fascinating mixture of "yes, this is who he is as a person" but also "there are things he desires to be that he could never possibly become or live up to."

This got really far off based from feral/unhinged Optimus sdklfjaslkdlfkas. The TLDR is that if people want unhinged OP, I feel like they should give IDW OP a chance because he IS unhinged but he's unhinged in a way that's a realistic/thematic representation of how being an Absolute Good is impossible. And how being a good person isn't just about Existing And You Are A Good Person, but rather goodness is a constant state of flux in which you adjust, you make mistakes, you lose your temper and feel hopeless, but then you pick yourself up and try again.

Also IDW OP really likes climbing in dangerous wilderness and jumping out of flying vehicles which I think is very feral and sexy of him to do.

#squiggposting #idw op love #idk if i adequately explained it in the body of the post. but i really do feel some kind of way about the idea of like #being a good person isn't about just being static. always being the same person. just naturally being good and nice all teh time #but rather being a good person will cause you to be CHALLENGED and being a good person calls you to ACT #and you WILL make mistakes. there's never a situation in which you're all wise and always have the right solution or are infinitely patient #but goodness is something you can CHOOSE something you can BECOME and you can still have negative emotions and CHOOSE to be good #like being a good person is a continuous process of self improvement. you aren't just born a good person #and i'm not trying to tear down the notion of 'goodness' or say it doesn't exist #rather i'm trying to say that it's far more comforting to hear that you don't have to be The Best Person at all times #it's comforting to know that good people aren't just Effortlessly Good because they were Just Born That Way Naturally #there certainly are some people like that but most of us aren't like that. and i just like idw op for that reason #he shows that like. you can be a fucked up mentally ill guy who despairs and loses his temper and is basically suicidal #but you also still genuinely try to be hopeful and try to help others. like you are good because you Try To Be Good #and you Try To Hold Onto Your Principles bc giving up or becoming evil isn't an option for you #but also trying to be A Good Person drives you fucking crazy bc we live in a universe where that perfect good simply isn't possible #so the result is an optimus who's at once Noble Paragon and Unhinged bc he's unhinged as a result of trying to be a paragon

[carnivorous-arboretum]

survivors' guilt

short little thing i intend to expand upon [probably through more mini comics]: i write cas as having DID

#oc; cas eversong (it's a stage name) #ffxiv wol #ca's art #ffxiv #there's something cathartic abt becoming the hero you needed #and the hero that parts of you still need #healing not through killing gods but through the everyday acts of kindness #showing pieces of you that only knew pain that things can be kind and good #because despite all youve suffered you WILL choose kindness #idk shrugs

[crescentfool]

i think something that is important to me to remember is that there are small ways i can do things to spark joy for myself and others without waiting for someone else to do it... (conjures up little sparklies from my hands) life is so whimsical!!!

#lizzy speaks #for full transparency i cannot make sparklies emit from my hands unfortunately #but i can imagine that i can and i think thats cool i'm like a swaggy little magician #anyways sometimes i see announcements for games and im like #ok! cool! some people are very excited and happy. so awesome!! happy for them!!! #but personally i think i've found much more joy in doing my own thing #and it's ok if you're not particularly enthused about a new thingy because sometimes you still have other things you can do #or you have other things that feel much more gratifying to you. and thats ok!!! #this is a vague toward reload and splat3 (specifically splatfests) #it's become clear 2 me that reload is curating a different experience for pee 3 with the new mechanics they introduce #and i didn't realize how attached i was to how fes's mechanics (tiredness + fusion spells) can inform's one characterization of kitaro #until i kept seeing the new things for reload. still interested in reload's alternate interpretations but wont be following the news closel #and for splatfest. turf is not my favorite mode in splat by a long shot' but at least i can salmon with friends! or play another game #i think it's always important for me to remember that not everything will be for me and that's a good thing #when i see things that dont excite me as much. it reminds me about what i care about the most and to remember to hold those things close #i can make my own fun with my own little creations i don't need to wait for games to host events for me i can just draw silly little guys #or i can choose to make silly little clownery happen on my own terms and i think thats neat #even if i'm not hyped about something that others are hyped about that's okay because i'm nourishing myself and that's really fucking cool #and hey maybe i will find the joy in those things eventually. or not! and thats ok. who knows!! anything can happen!! #anyway if you read all of this thank you :3 and i hope that you will always be able to find your way to find something that excites you

[hecksupremechips]

RE danganronpa not having the best writing I was talking to a friend the other day about v3 about how it sucks that they set up Kaede to be the protagonist but then killed her off because while yes, Shuichi is a very good protagonist and he’s the only one that really gets interesting character development, Kaede could have so easily been an insanely interesting protagonist if she got to live because she has plenty of room to grow since she’s very clearly scared shitless and is deeply insecure about her ability to motivate and lead the group, but she smiles through it and lies about her feelings so much that the player doesn’t even know about her creating an elaborate murder scheme. And I realized that the way to keep her as a protagonist is for there to be a way that the first trial ends and someone else is found to be the killer (for example it could be Tsumugi if she weren’t the mastermind, or maybe someone else was in the library and killed Rantaro) and they get executed and thats that. Then at the end of the chapter we get a scene where Kaede is alone in her room and sighs in relief as it’s revealed that she hatched an elaborate plan to kill the mastermind but she wasn’t found guilty, either because she wasn’t the actual killer or because she was being protected by the mastermind. And so we the player have to proceed with the new knowledge that Kaede not only wanted to kill someone, she actually went through with a whole plan to kill someone and we didn’t even know about it and neither did any of the characters. And Kaede is on edge because on one hand she has to live with the fact that she was perfectly okay becoming a killer and that she failed to kill the mastermind so the game is going to continue and someone else was unlucky and got executed instead of her,but on the other hand she’s relieved that she wasn’t the one who died and that she was given another chance to find the true mastermind and no one has to know what she did. And as the game progresses it gets more and more stressful for her because she tries to keep up the positive energy but she’s living with this massive secret and she can’t let anyone find out about what she did and she finds herself still wanting to kill the mastermind so we the player don’t know how much we can trust Kaede anymore since she’s lying to everyone including us and she can very well kill again if she wants to

#danganronpa #kaede akamatsu #of course we couldnt have something like this happen cuz yay misogyny killed kaede and also like mentioned #dr doesnt have good enough writing to pull this off lol #yttd is at least able to pull something similar off with sara so at least i have that but still god like can you IMAGINE #how good v3 wouldve been if it had done this and like what i think is really fun is like #shuichi figuring it out cuz you know he would hed know in the first trial but in this version doesnt say anything #and he doesnt have to cuz kaede conveniently isnt the culprit #but like now hes stuck with this knowledge that she so easily couldve been #and you know shuichi is just like that last person shed want to know about this #but shed also be eaten alive by guilt from keeping it from him cuz she trusts him most and was the one encouraging him to pursue the truth #even if its unpleasant #so i like to imagine one of two scenarios like either shuichi eventually confronts kaede about this after shes become a bit more corrupt #and he plans to tell and shes forced to kill him to keep her secret #or a scenario where shuichi chooses to protect kaede over the truth and he becomes her accomplice #both scenarios would fuck up kaede quite a bit #and then i guess itd be really interesting to see if she becomes more and more corrupt and eventually does get executed #or if she owns up to her mistakes and decides to reveal her truth that shes actually fucking terrified #and she doesnt have as much control as she wants to and she has no clue if its gonna be okay #i think that would fit so good with the truth/lie theme too #goddddd like im so mad now cuz this is just like so good like why cant dr just be good its so easy

[thebeautifulfantastic]

<3

#been thinking a lot about how whenever i have a dream or an idea marinating in my brain for long enough it then becomes something that i am #determined to pursue. and that no one can really dissuade me from #it simply becomes a permanent part of my creative direction in life #i guess you could say that's kind of the same thing as having a special interest but not QUITE #like for example. what i'm thinking of right now is my desire to start a band #and i come up with a lot of crazy ideas on a day to day basis but a good amount of them end up being simply fleeting or dictated by my mood #the ones that stay though... those are the one that actually HAPPEN #i've wanted to sing in a band for at least a year now #to be honest it's probably been longer but it's been at least a year of me being consciously aware of it #and it just made me realize. this desire has stuck around in my brain for quite a while now #and i think that means it is going to happen someday #i don't know exactly how yet because the way i originally thought it might happen (me going to music college) didn't work out #but it's been a year and i'm still thinking about it and keeping my eyes open in case i meet the right people to make music with #i know from experience that when i put my mind to something i WILL get it done #in the sense that i will surprise myself with how stubborn i can be when it comes to not stopping chasing my dreams #and i've had big goals in the past that i did achieve because of this #i'm also like. surprisingly adaptable??? i only recently learned that about myself but i be pulling Plan B's out of my sleeves #so that's all to say -- i'm choosing to believe that i will start my band someday and it will be better than i can imagine right now #and in general i'm choosing to believe that the things i truly love and truly want in my life will only become more clear over time #even if i'm confused and lost at times NOW... if i keep moving forward in time it will all make sense #and a lot of times situations do work out exactly the way they were meant to but in the most unexpected of ways #i don't know how coherent this all was but yeah #starting a band is only the most recent example #belle speaks

[blairwld]

Dark One Hook taking after Rumplestiltskin + the one time he didn't

#they are foils your honor #how much of dark hook is just that dark part of rumple that is still with all the other dark ones #it's a little of. becoming what you hated the most #you can't fight someone for so long without taking something from them #but also!!!!! #at the end hook choosing to change. and rumple choosing to stay the same. #hook saying maybe i'm bad but i'm choosing to change for good vs rumple saying i'm bad and there's nothing i can do to change that #ugh i'm obsessed with them #ouat rewatch #i am rambling

[levil0vesyou]

Having a post get popular enough to be independently reblogged by someone you follow but aren't mutuals with is. Wild

#yes it was the sex poll obvs #given the person is a minor i'm very glad they picked answer one lmao #like i do think minors in general are allowed to want and even have sex (with each other obvs) but when it's a minor i personally follow it #would just make me feel pretty weird lmao. like on a personal level ya feel? i mean when u reach an even closer level it becomes not weird #again like my dear friend ness (17yo) who afaik doesn't actually HAVE any sex but occasionally wants to and i support her hot girl summer. #but as stated this person barely knows i exist i just follow his blog (i used they earlier but this was incorrect but tumblr won't let me e #edit the tag 😔) and he's 16yo so seeing him talk about wanting and/or having sex would have been. uncomfortable. like obvs he'd be allowed #to because my personal discomfort is no indication of morality but you get it. like if my big little cousin (she's 15 now by god the years #don't stop coming) were to talk about sex and stuff to me or within earshot i would ummm. throw myself out the window? but like i'd still t #try to be supportive and if push comes to shove then yes i would give her condoms 😔 cuz like if a minor wants sex i will not be able to sto #stop them lmao but i can at least try and make it somewhat safe y'know #actually i remembered i have literally given a 15yo a condom before lmao she's prolly over 20 now but like as the adult dormmate it was alm #almost like a responsibility y'know like what do you want me to DO?? let her get pregnant?? anyway enough tangent lmao #btw all this is also why in the poll i included 'too young' but didn't specify an age cuz that's individual y'know. some people are p late #bloomers (i was one) while others choose to have consensual sex by 14 y'know. not something i like to think about but that doesn't mean it #won't happen ya feel. i mean what am i the american education system? lmao. so some ppl have interpreted being 17 as too young but there's #also folks like this who clearly consider 16 old enough and that's defo ppl's good right. and again i usually don't mind just the fact that #he in particular is someone i already knew made it uncomfy. but anyway yea back on topic it's very interesting in general when your post #gets big enough to independently make it to ur dash thru a non mutual lmao. love the hellsite honestly where else amirite #personal #mine #ok to rb ig #like the actual body of the post anyway. i'd be pretty uncomfy if said person saw my tags on this cuz y'know it's kind vagueing even if it' #not negative but anyway. anyway #*kinda

[evakant]

my life's one long string of "surely i won't be alive next year" and then i wake up one day and it's a year later and, what do you know, i'm still alive

#funny how that works. #besides. actually. it's one long string of 'surely i won't be alive next year so why work towards something or choose something. i'll just #fossilize here when the time comes' and yeah like i said one year later and i am not even on step one of becoming a fossil #i can't fossilize because i am stagnating. that makes me a swamp. #as a note i am not suicid/al i just think being alive is a bother and i didn't ask for it and if i had a choice i wouldn't have said yes #but not in a kms kind of way just in a surely this can stop now way #in a 'okay this isn't funny anymore and hasn't been for a while way' #listen idk how to explain it just know i'm good and not at risk and #making silly little text posts is basically old timey doctor putting leeches in my brain to fix this #you know bloodletting! #i shouldn't post this i'm drafting it lmao #negativity / #suicide mention / #just in case #edit: that one post from before reminded me i had this in my drafts and yeah! lmao love it love the swampiness of it all #if you read this at all (you shoulnd't) but if you do and are worried despite me saying i'm fine: #genuinely truly really i am okay! i don't need to be cheered up i don't need help of any sort! i'm alright! #and i can bet you i'll still be alive next year! let's all meet up on this post one year from now <3 #fra.txt

[rubberbandballqueen]

just talked to my sister abt an issue i had w/smth she did just like i would w/anyone else n for some reason it felt so strange. like, being whiny and accusatory to your siblings when they do something you don't like is so normal. i did it for like twenty years, even after i stopped doing it to people outside the family.

it just feels so weird to just be like, "hey. i appreciate that you decluttered the bathroom n stuff, but i think you threw away my pen cleaning tools. can you tell me next time you declutter one of my spaces so that i can help instead?" like.

???

#i also noticed that i was clearer/more communicative with my parents when i got upset at them this year so it's like. baffling all around #n i don't think it's bad it just feels unnatural even tho this is like. what polite mature adults do #that one post was right. that maturity comes in patches and moments that get longer n more frequent as time goes on #instead of just a Thing you Are one day #i think hearing that when i was in high school was really good for me bc it meant that i no longer felt like #i was Expected to just Be Mature some day all of a sudden; that this was something i'd inevitably grow out of #bc ofc the teenager is defensive of their sense of self; it's their first time developing it wholesale!!! #the idea of maturity being a slow transition n transformation i think allowed me to let those moments of maturity in more #instead of shutting them out bc 'i don't wanna be grown up just yet'. kids can be mature; it doesn't mean they're grown #still the idea that i'm gonna be like. gentle n polite by default rather than smth conscious i have to choose to be on purpose to people #moving forward is like. mind-blowing. i'm becoming the person i want to be instead of the person everyone feared i'd become???? #that wasn't just a pipe dream?????? suddenly i feel as mature as i imagine teenagers think me to be when they ask me for advice #the worm speaks

[paganinpurple]

AO3 Etiquette -UPDATED

Based on both decent and not so decent replies, I have made some changes to my original post below.

It would seem a whole new kind of AO3 reader/writer is emerging and it is becoming clear not everyone quite understands how the website community works. Here is some basic guidance on how most people expect you to go about using AO3 to keep this a fun community archive that funtions correctly:

As well as likes, kudos is for when the story was interesting enough to make you finish reading. If it sucked or was badly written, you probably left. If you finished it, you liked it - so kudos.

If you really liked it, you should try to comment. It can be long and detailed or a literal keysmash. Writers don't care, we just love comments.

No critisism unless the author has specifically asked or agreed to hear it (so use your notes to say if you want some constructive feedback). Even constructive critisism is a no-no unless an author note tells you it's okay. No, posting it online is not an open invitation for that. Many people write as a fun hobby or a way to cope with, among other things, insecurity and just want to share. Don't ruin that for them. I've seen so many authors just stop writing coz they can't handle the negative emotions the critism brings, and it's only meant to be a fun thing shared for free (pointing out tagging errors is not included in this).

Do not comment to ask the author to write/update something else. It's tacky and off-putting and will probably have the opposite effect than the one you want.

There is no algorithm, it's an archive. Use the search and filter function to add/remove the pairings/characters/tropes etc. you want to read about and it will find you the fics that fit the bill.

For this to work, writers must tag and rate stories. This avoids readers finding the wrong things and missing the stuff they want. I don't care how cringy that trope is in your eyes - it gets tagged.

The tag exception is if you don't want to tag a million things or spoil your story, you can rate it as "chose not to use warnings," and maybe tag the bare minimum.

Don't censor tags. How can someone exclude a tag if the word isn't typed out correctly? There are no content bans for terms so don't censor them.

If the tags are mostly content/trigger warnings, especially if they are things considered very fucked up or graphic, you might want to use "dead dove - do not eat" to ensure people know that you're not messing around with tags and what they get is exactly what you've warned them about.

Character A/Character B means a ROMANTIC or SEXUAL relationship of some kind. Character A&Character B is PLATONIC, like friendship or family.

Nothing is banned. This is an rule because banning one thing is a slipperly slope to banning another and another, until nothing is allowed anymore. Do not expect anyone to censor for you. Because of the tags system, you are responsible for your own reading experience.

People can create new chapters and sequels/fic series any time after they "complete" a story. So it's considered perfectly normal to subscribe, even to a finished story. You can even subscribe to the author instead just to cover your bases.

Do not repost stories or change the publishing date without an extremely good reason (like a complete top to bottom rewrite or an exchange youve written for going public). It's an archive, not social media. No one cares what's the most recent, only what fits their tag needs.

Instead of deleting a story you wrote if you hate it - consider making it anonymous or orphaning it so others can still enjoy it, without it being connected to your name anymore. If you still want to delete it, fair enough.

It's come to my attention that metaworks ARE allowed on AO3, which is something I wasn't aware of. So if you do post an essay or theory, please tag it as such so others can choose to search for it or exclude it. Art is also allowed.

The only reason this archive works is because NON ONE PROFITS. Do not link to your ko-fi or patreon or mention monetary gain in any way or you violate the terms and risk having your account removed. If anyone does link, it leaves the archive open to people claiming it's for profit and having the whole thing removed.

I KNOW there's plenty more I missed but I'm trying to cover most of the basics that people seem to be struggling with.

I invite anyone to add to this, but please explain, don't berate.

#ao3 #using ao3 #archive of our own #fanfiction #fanworks

[furby-organist]

// A streamer (who is married) made the point that, while talking to a trad redpill type who was arguing that non-traditional relationships don't work, that "relationships on average don't work." Like, all relationships. And he's right. Alexa agrees.

The streamer said that, ignoring that 50% of marriages end in divorce, relationships don't work. If a relationship ends in a breakup, it didn't work, and if you're not married, then technically, it hasn't worked yet. And it doesn't mean that relationships aren't worthwhile experiences. Alexa agrees with this! Especially at this point in his life, he's very selective about his relationships and they're very worthwhile to him! He just knows that empirically, on average, they don't work in the long run. That's ok!

One great thing about humanity is that previous generations are able to pass on knowledge to future generations, and we have the information to show that relationships fail more than they succeed. So if you have all that information, and you still think you're so special that your relationship is 100% failsafe until one of you dies, and you don't have a contingency plan? He thinks you're dumb. Lol.

#// his relationships are SO worthwhile to him because he IS so picky and because every day theyre a CHOICE. #breakup/divorce are not devastating unspeakable horrors. parting ways with anyone is always gonna be painful but if we can accept that #sometimes even the closest friends can part ways then we need to approach relationships & marriage with the same acceptance. #sometimes you become a different person over the course of several decades. we accept that this is a fine reason to part ways #with a friend. why is divorce such a tragedy then? maybe you become too different from your spouse and that's ok. it's sad but ok. #anyway... once you stop seeing separation as something to be afraid of and you see it as a likely outcome then a relationship becomes more #of a free choice than something you stay in due to fear of the alternative. he actively & fiercely & passionately chooses to be with his qp #(inactive but still present in his heart) and he actively & steadfastly chooses to be platonique husbands with his husband. #anyway... xoxoxo #also the streamer's name is destiny. he is edgy and has some bad takes but he also has some good ones.

[hermajestyimher]

Be Comfortable With Being the Villain

In my country we have a saying: "I am not a golden coin to be liked by everyone". It doesn't matter how "nice", correct, and appeasing we may behave with others, there will always be those who will dislike us for no apparent reason. Learning to not only be ok with them disliking you, but going as far as to embracing it can propel you forward.

Many people will dislike you because you trigger something in them that makes them feel threatened, less-than, or jealous. That is a them problem. If those same people proceed to lie about you and attack you to try to take you down, you need to be prepared to be ok with being perceived in a negative light by them and the people who choose to believe them. At the end of the day their talking is just that, and it cannot affect you if you choose to rise above it.

Learning to embrace being hated means that you can stop trying to seem agreeable and nice to everyone and instead pursue respect. Someone doesn't have to like you to still respect you. Respect and status will allow you to rub shoulders with people who can improve your life in meaningful ways, and place you in spaces where you can flourish.

Being liked is overrated and at times useless. Instead, be a woman of influence, power, and good character. When your brand speaks for yourself, the naysayers become powerless and desperate, and others will be able to see right through their lies.

#things ive learned #level up journey #growth mindset #boundaries