#but like. queerness is complicated

[direquail]

One of the many things I find funny and irritating is the slant of a lot of interpretations of Alecto's name (that it's about feminine rage)--on this here wlw internet in the year of our lord 2024, it's easily made to figure as rage against God, or rage against patriarchy, or religious oppression, and therefore an allusion to the idea that she's going to get her vengeance on John for betraying and oppressing her somehow, but like

John is the one who named her Alecto. He's the one who named her that. So, naming her "Alecto" is alluding to the embodiment of John's rage--their rage, since they are joined inseparably (John even explicitly says that when he first perceives her: "You wouldn't stop screaming. You were so scared. You were so goddamn mad").

He says of Alecto to Harrow, "In a very real way, you are [Alecto's] children". At a very surface level, Alecto is (depending on the text or tradition), one of the Furies--famously, in several surviving Greek tragedies, who punish Orestes for the crime of killing his mother. In fact, in Aeschylus' Oresteia, they declare that they are specifically bound to avenge matricide.

So the name "Alecto" alludes to the nature of John's mission and how he sees it.

It also implies that his divine rage, the rage that gives him power, the power that makes him divine, that he either represents or wants to represent, is feminine rage. He was chosen by Earth (which, Furies are sometimes the daughters of Gaia); he is her champion, however he's managed to fuck that up. Once the truth of that comes out, it becomes clear that all of his power comes from her.

And that's why you get statements from Tamsyn Muir like:

“[T]he God of the Locked Tomb IS a man; he IS the Father and the Teacher; it’s an inherently masc role played by someone who has an uneasy relationship himself to playing a Biblical patriarch. John falls back on hierarchies and roles because they’re familiar even when he’s struggling not to. Even he identifies himself as the God who became man and the man who became God. But the divine in the Locked Tomb is essentially feminine on multiple axes – I think Nona will illuminate that a little bit more."

So yes, he plays the role of Emperor and God and Teacher, with all of the things that implies. And I don't think it should be discounted. But he also is (and partly sees himself as) the chosen champion of a goddess, or what is for all intents & purposes for a human like him a goddess. He is her avenger, and while she sleeps, her avatar.

And I don't think we're meant to read him purely as a parasite who's taking advantage of her to gain power for himself, either. Or an oppressive, Kronos-like figure. Especially if you consider Palamedes' theory of the Grand Lysis, even if he was purely motivated by desire for power before (which I really doubt), there are parts of each in the other, now. What was clear and separate before is uncertain and interpenetrated. Is his rage his own, or hers? Is his mission of revenge his, or hers? If he wants power, is that his own selfishness, or her desire to survive?

And does it matter?

#the locked tomb #tlt meta #john gaius #i really wish there wasn't such an intense desire to find the worst possible interpretations of johns' actions #because like. they're plenty hurtful on their own! they're plenty shitty! #there IS however something tamsyn muir is trying to express through the series and it's fairly complicated-otherwise it wouldn't be a serie #and i don't think it actually helps us to turn john into a cardboard cutout labeled 'evil' #or apply tropes we've marinated in from radfem-informed segments of online wlw culture about how men are parasites on the Divine Feminine #or apply the messages of other shows with a big emphasis on queer and wlw themes--like spop--to something that just fundamentally isn't the #there is more than one way to talk about lesbian religious trauma and there is more than one narrative around it #and more than one perspective on it #i wish that people would try harder to experience the story on its own terms

[svnflowermoon]

btw please block me if you feel the need to gatekeep the queer community. cishet aspecs ARE valid and they ARE queer. the "they don't experience discrimination" argument is possibly the most stupid thing i have ever heard because aspecs experience insane levels discrimination and people are extremely dismissive of them. we our more than our suffering. our community is not yours to gatekeep it isn't fair to invalidate people's queer identities just because you can't fit them in your stupid little box of specific labels.

#like cmon guys its 2024 stop gatekeeping the community we are trying to make people feel SAFE but people are feeling the exact opposite #also like people are perfectly okay (as they should be ofc) with complicated gender identities but when someone's sexuality is complicated? #when someone's sexuality doesnt fit into a specific label or their idea of what queerness 'is'?? #people brush it under the rug and dismiss it because its 'uncomfortable' but fuck that actually people can be as complicated as they want #as someone currently questioning whether im aspec this debate is killing me why do people make it so impossible to just let people live #luc posts #queer #aspec #aromantic #asexual #aroace #lgbtq #luc rants

[uncanny-tranny]

I love trans people whose transness means that their sexuality is complex. I love trans people who adopt contradictory labels. I love transmasculine people who still have ties to old lesbian spaces and transfeminine people who still have ties to gay spaces (even if they themselves aren't lesbian or gay). I love trans people whose dysphoria has put them at a place where they don't want to engage with any type of sexuality. I love trans people who are confused, unsure, or questioning. I love trans people who toe the lines of queerness. I love trans people who are unapologetically embracing their sexualities. I love trans people who are working through internalized shame about their sexualities.

#trans #transgender #queer #lgbt #lgbtq #ftm #mtf #nonbinary #honestly being trans has really complicated my sexuality in so many ways and i don't always see people remember this i guess #because i think people expect that trans people will assimilate into their gender and immediately adopt their sexuality... #...in an assimilationalist way where it is uncomplicated and understandable to even cishet people #but it's honestly more complex than that for a ton of us #like i've found myself in most of the situations i included in this post and i'm probably forgetting some more (feel free to add onto this) #because the reality is is that transness *can* make figuring out your sexuality more complex #and that is okay. we should acknowledge this in addition to recognizing that sexuality can be easy or less complex for some #we can recognize that transness can be linked in some way to a person's sexuality without being weird about it i think #because a ton of people are weird especially about trans people's sexualities or their assumptions about our sexualities #this blog aims to grow and encourage growth and acceptance - especially if *i* don't get it *personally*

[wis-art]

Women, so pretty, so shaped, i am so lesbian,,,

#im also incredibly dysphoric tonight #but i was told by my coworker im incredibly feminine by her earlier #and i mean yeah #..... #i am a tall weird internet woman who likes to draw #so funny how i thought i was bi #I'm just really into women... #my ex is a trans guy and he told me he thinks im lesbian and i had a “holy fuck this explains so much moment” #we broke up but we still have a weird queer relationship outside of social heteronormative norms that is hard to explain and only we #can really understand #im not into men because you know #im a lesbian #had a weird period in my life when i was dating a guy and said im a lesbian and i felt sooooo scared #turns out when youre on meds and your brain is working right you just stop caring about such things #i went on a parade wearing big lesbian flag and girls loved it :) #i dont really know if i ever want to date anyone again #but i think if you look at my art you can really tell my sexuality quite easily lolol #funny how love can be so complicated sometimes #i mean it was kind of inevitable we break up cause we're kind of incompatible but tbh #it was better for us #hehe

[gideonisms]

I will admit I hate the trend towards measuring how Healthy fictional relationships are. they're not breakfast cereals! we don't need to measure the amount of fiber! even if it did matter how much fiber a fictional relationship has "healthy" is also a very general, vibes-based word for concepts that I think we probably should get more specific about

#here are some great words: 'consensual' 'exploitative' 'fulfilling' 'draining' 'enjoyable' 'painful' 'affectionate' #we can talk about the ways a relationship is or isn't working for the parties involved #without falling back on 'health' #i think that what is considered healthy changes based on the time period and in general as a queer person i do feel a certain hesitance #to just like nod to health without specifying what i mean given the complicated relationship between queerness and #being considered unwell or unhealthy by society/doctors/psychiatry #ultimately this is a small thing and doesn't matter because once again #if everyone in a work of fiction stayed physically and mentally healthy throughout that would be a very boring story. to me #it's just not the type of story i like so it doesn't matter anyway it's just #sometimes i'm like. but we all know there is no one simple standard for health right? right??

[autosadist]

not sure how to articulate my thoughts here but sometimes "queer spaces" seem so intentionally hostile compared to other spaces, like, i went out to a lounge w a trans girl last night, we wanted to get in the hot tub so we did, she was fully topless and we were fully lezzing out, there were like 4 cis girls in there listening to music and talking to the guys they came with (who were clothed + not in the water with us), i got kind of quiet and wary of them because i didn't want anyone to give my friend trouble but they just kind of started dancing on us and offering us shots and being really friendly in general & i was actually sort of stunned because i expected like...not hostility, but avoidance, definitely not friendliness. i expecy that kind of nonchalant friendliness from "my spaces", not random establishments mostly-frequented by cis people

this obviously isnt to say i think these kinds of spaces are "better" or something like that, I will generally always prefer a "queerer" space, i just think cis people who aren't obsessed with trans people just do not actively give thought to us in some of the ways certain trans dudes or whoever might, like they don't have a "women and enbies" spiel or advanced language meant to exclude trans women they deem unworthy ready to go at a moments notice, its like any transphobia they have to offer is so uncomplicated and clear by comparison that when it isn't there it feels like there's just a big empty space where something shitty should be

#im so used to having shitty experiences at queer meetups like its stunning to me how complicated things can get when everyones trans

[isthatacalzone]

im kinda a bit obsessed with how Alex cares so deeply about Darlington, is desperate to get him out of hell, but it's the same sort of loyalty she has for the rest of her tribe. she'd go just as hard for Dawes, for example. she's clearly attracted to Darlington, but can't let herself believe in a world where she loves him because she's too much of a mess.

Darlington, on the other hand, just wants to fuck her so badly.

#hell bent #you understand im generalising here #like his relationship to her is obviously more complicated than that but like #idk how to explain it other than his attraction to her is simpler. he's devoted & in love #Alex's on the other hand is. it's queer love #all encompassing and non denominational #she loves as the protector #she does not love as someone who wants anything for herself #Darlington's feelings toward Alex are all about wanting and devouring #idk! its so interesting to me!!! #hell bent spoilers #alex stern #darlington

[babacontainsmultitudes]

Also... Post-canon lovesong... If you even care... "Is Sparrow still with Rebecca?" that part is a choose your own adventure babeeey~

#Posts for like 3 friends maybe #but sure I'll tag it #dndads #lovesong #See regarding Sparrow and Rebecca... #Hm. I've always had mixed/complicated feelings there. #Like I think the love was there (I do ship it I do) but maybe this wasn't meant to be a forever thing #Or in another lifetime it could have been #Or they just needed some change of sorts! #Like heh. You know. Opening up the relationship. #Specifically to let a certain wet cat inside #In the divorce scenario though well I like that for Sparrow period cause I just want to see him choose himself for once? #And. Controversially. I rather like Rebecca and Lark together haha I think they're quite cute frankly. #But open relationship and/or polycule is nice to think about too- #They're both poly but haven't figured it out yet your honor. ESPECIALLY Rebecca. #Or at the very least they would thrive in *some* kind of queer relationship structure your honor #this is my truth ok #sparrow oak garcia #nick foster #nicky freeman #rebecca swallows oak garcia #And I will keep the not so safe for work tags tooo myself

[13eyond13]

the only gay rep I truly care about is

1. countless lives are destroyed because two proud people can't fully admit their gay crushes on each other

and

2. someone hides being a murderer as a metaphor for also hiding being gay

#miss me with that perfect wholesome gay rep stuff #in theory like yeah its good to have that too but does it resonate with me no #like is it probably homophobic to always make the obsessive weird villains creepy and gay yeah #but is that also by far the most fun yeah usually it is #theres this lesbian couple with basically opposite taste to me in my book club #and we read something with a shitty queer coded villain and im like yay #and they're like thats homophobic #and im like youre not wrong but id rather die than give 5 stars to the h/ouse in the c/erulean sea #i feel the 'bad rep' feels different when its a gay person writing it too... like clearly it is complicated #p

[eggshellokay]

singlehandedly the only thing that convinced me of byler endgame

#byler #like of course the film bros are trying to be poetic and special #of course theyd show two variations of the queer experience to make their story more complicated #im no longer a doubter #1k

[grymmdark]

listen i know im a vashwood main but i also think that in stampede vashmeryl is a much stronger ship. like they're so much more to work with there and im surprised that stampede vashmeryl isnt significantly more popular.

i get that part of the reason stampede vashwood is so popular is because it's such a strong ship in the other trigun iterations as well as the stuff thats in stampede, but in terms of just stampede vashmeryl is stronger.

personally when it comes to stampede i think mashwood is best tho cus all 3 have very interesting dynamics, both in terms of in pairs and as a whole

#grymms spectacular fucking posts #trigun #trigun stampede #tristamp #vashmeryl #vashwood #vash the stampede #meryl stryfe #i wanna make it clear that this is not me putting down vashwood at all but trying ro bring more attention to vashmeryl #im a multishipper and think that multiple dynamics can be interesting to explore #either in tandum or separately #and also im aware that fandoms tend to lean more towards m/m and that might also be part of it but thats also a complicated topic bc of #stuff like amount of male vs female characters in shows and also people looking for representation for queer relationships etc etc #anyways thats not the point. the point is i love meryl and her big weird boyfriend she found in the desert

[booksandpaperss]

my hot take in this whole discussion is probably that while I don't want cheating byler to happen in canon to the extent we're discussing it nor do I think it will, I also don't think it's nearly as unrealistic and out of character as a lot of you guys are making it out to be

like yeah this is just a hypothetical scenario but like they're queer 15 year old boys in the 80s both hardcore pining for each other while mike is in a very ambiguous situation with el rn. Cheating in these types of messy circumstances is pretty common (again not saying it's okay just that it's something that happens), and i'm gonna be so for real with you guys most teenagers are usually not that focused (if at all) on sticking to a set of moral values when confronted with something they really really want and that's all I'll say on that for now

#doesnt mean teenagers are automatically bad ppl either it just means humans are complicated #and ofc we're adding queerness to it all which adds an entire new complex layer #byler #also i like how this is genuinely going as like a discussion for once and ppl arent agressively attacking each other like were just vibing #slay guys keep up the good work #this is basically group-wide open character analysis #byler tumblr

[inconclusionray]

If I see one more "poor Izzy was in an abusive relationship for twenty years :'(" take I'm going to set this pirate ship on fire.

#you don't get to erase the gorgeous fucked up mutual toxicity of their consent-free sadomasochist trauma survival relationship on MY watch #they SAVED EACH OTHER and MADE EACH OTHER and FUCKED EACH OTHER UP and it was so so bad it was sooooo gooooooooood #like i know disk horse has trained us to think there can only be The Abuser and The Abused and one is always bad and one is always blameless #but babies sometimes relationships are fucked up and when it's fictional it can be so gorgeous like come on #izzy got so hard when fed his toe I'm surprised he didn't have an aneurysm and die right then #if you're gonna claim him as queer then let him be QUEER not an uwu sanitized self insert okay? #he was fine with losing his toe he wasn't fine with losing his playmate #and blackbeard came back WRONG #this thing the two of them created this fucked up dangerous pirate game called blackbeard wasn't about belonging anymore #it wasn't about the two of them surviving the cruelty of their former captain or the worse cruelty of civilized society #it was a caricature and it had to die #and it did in the end #and Izzy realized he didn't need it anymore #and Ed didn't need it #and he was so so happy about it #that was worth dying for #ugh I'm so in love with this story #anyway Izzy wasn't abused & he was abused & he was an abuser & he saved Edward & they were so bad for each other & they loved each other #learn to love complicated fucked up harmful problematic things babies #because you are one #and you deserve love too

[agrebel18]

amphibia is wlw solidarity and hostility at the same time

#inspired off of a tweet I saw last night #technically it is because the complicated bond between the girls is like the second most important thing to the plot #and 2 out of 3 are canonically queer #i hope this makes sense #amphibia #calamity trio

[cyborgpulsebooks]

actually you know i bitch about shb!thancred a lot and how his whole arc in the expac (as well as in post-hw let’s be real) reduces minfilia to haunting the narrative and also he doesn’t always treat ryne great, BUT,

i would be lying if i didn’t say that his relationship with ryne makes me uh, fucking cry. the fact that his first instinct when he hears that she exists and that she is being locked away and abused by a theocratic dictatorship with the largest military in the world is to go free her as soon as possible no matter the cost makes me cry. the fact that even with all his butthurt and trauma and his flaws he has the presence of mind to eke out some semblance of family with her and urianger makes me cry. the fact that he teaches her how to defend herself first makes me cry. the fact that despite everything he fucking pulls his head out of his ass and learns to relate to her as a real father and child instead of a standin for someone he misses makes me cry. the fact that despite everything ryne keeps him in her life and in her heart makes me cry. thanks for coming to my ted talk

#cyborg rambles #it's just. #when stories about found family happen it's usually all perfect right away #like #you find your people and you find that they're going to keep you safe and make you feel loved and everything's better immediately #the ryne and thancred relationship is complicated in a lot of ways #and the fact that they are able to love each other so dearly and ultimately in a healthy way despite the flaws and fuckups at the outset #its just #yells #we stan a traumatized playboy who becomes a queer af dad

[freckliedan]

Do you still think they want kids one day? I mean obviously Dan has a video called why I don’t want kids. But also. He lies. So………

i don't really think so at this point in time? they haven't talked about wanting kids since before/around when they got massively popular. it's something they had similar answers about at the time, which: very sweet to me that it's something they'd discussed!

but like. i honestly don't think they'd bring a child into their slice of the public eye ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

also like? as much as i'm a wedding hill truther i also like. love that they're not sticking to the heteronormative marriage + house + 2.5 kids & a dog = happily ever after. queer lives & queer futures don't have to fit the mold perscribed to us by society! happily ever after can look different for us.

#jam replies #anon #jam thoughts #i do like have very complicated thoughts on marriage as an institution in general. i'm married ! happily ! still going to be a queer #relationship anarchist abt this institution