#i'm told this is called 'method acting' but that is incorrect. i'm just like this :)

[clefclefairy]

very very quick post on current Fandom Woes that i want to throw out so i can put it out of my head and go do important things (making sword)

1: 'ugh this is so OOC just make OCs if you're going to do this' and how does fandom treat OCs, exactly? do you RT people's OC art? do you call OCs "cringe?" do you ask questions about people's OCs? do you commission art/fic of people's OCs? do you think you're the arbiter of what "in-character" is for an entire fandom?

2. i was there 3000 years ago, gandalf, and so i can say with confidence: "he would not fucking say that" used to be unilaterally applied to any LGBT content. any fucking queer ships would be told "this is OOC, they've never said they were gay in canon!" and if you tried to explain like, basic subtext or the long history of queer-coding to some internet rando they would just call you a stupid fangirl. i'm not saying that's always what is happening now, but i am saying that this is where that attitude can and did lead, and still leads for certain queer headcanons. (try calling a character trans coded. see what happens!)

3. sometimes people just want to have fun. sometimes people just make jokes that do not align with their view of the canon characterization for fun. sometimes people just like to mash their current favorites against a thing they like or find funny. acting like this is killing fandom rather than simply personally annoying you is ludicrous.

4. again, not every post with this attitude is saying this, but given the current social climate surrounding AI art/AI chatbots/AI fanfic and the complete and utter disdain for fanfic writers and artists, "why even write this it's so OOC" feels very...entitled. you don't know what emotions, life experiences, formative media, styles of interpretation, and methods of critique/analysis someone brings to any given character. everyone brings themselves to the table of fandom and that's supposed to be a good thing. (coda: there are some ways people can willfully misinterpret characterization and be incorrect. people can also just be missing necessary context in their analysis. people just might not be good at analysis and interpretation. piss on the poor, etc., but outside of malicious willful misinterpretation, this isn't like. evil. you can just block and move on.)

5. i don't care if a fic is OOC to my personal interpretation of the character. i really, truly don't. i hit the back button and move on. you don't know why someone writes or feels the way they do about characters, and sometimes people don't want to write OCs! they want to process whatever's going on in their life with their favorite characters! and that is fine! even if it doesn't make sense to anyone but them! even if it isn't good! fanfic and fanart needing to be good is bullshit. you can't and shouldn't try to quality control free writing and art like you would professional work. (coda for the piss on the poor website: this does not include malicious hate speech and imagery. it DOES include topics you personally find unappealing. not everything is for you.)

6. fandom is a collaborative community experience and not everything is to your taste. you don't know why someone writes or creates or draws what they do, or why they're doing it. have a private circle of friends to bitch about stuff you don't like together. trying to make other people behave in ways you don't find 'cringe' or write and draw what you want, for you, isn't happening. block and move on, mute and blacklist, use your back button on fanfics, and mind your own business.

#i promise i do not discourse much. i am a grown adult #but i am also an adult who has been in fandom for almost two decades and i am unsettled by some current popular attitudes #fandom wank #this isnt about anyone in particular or any post in particular #just a few months of noticing a pattern

[cipheramnesia]

Don't Lead a Conversation With a Punch

How often have we seen the non-conversation around "queer is a slur" play out exactly the same way?

Queer is a slur! It hasn't been reclaimed, that's wrong.

No it's not, that's TERF (radfem/exclusionist/etc) language! Queer is inclusive! It's literally the most common word used by people like us for ourselves, and has been for decades.

You can't say I'm using TERF language! I'm literally a trans woman, and queer was constantly used to hurt me and it's a slur to me! You can use it but you can't police whether it is a slur!

"Okay but you can't call it a slur." "How dare you mistreat this traumatized person!" "She is telling me who I am is a slur!" "But the word hurts her that's all she's saying." And onward.

Both sides have some valid points, what to do? Well, let's back up to the leading statement - queer is a slur. What is the underlying narrative contained in this, and similar language (q-slur, eg)? Intentionally or not, contained within this phrase is the assertion of universality. The narrative is that "queer" as a word is inherently harmful, that it is a term exclusively existing to describe a group (LGBTQPIA++) in a derogatory or demeaning way.

Asserting the universality of queer used in this way is unambiguously the methods of radical feminists (which includes the subset of terfs, swerfs, white feminism, etc). By itself, "queer is a slur" type statements are terf tactics, radfem language, exclusionist practices. And because these types of statements are deliberately built to carry this underlying narrative whether the user knows it or not, you can say this and be unaware you're doing the work of a hate group. If you're reading this and are under the umbrella of Inclusive LGBTQPIA+ individual who finds "queer" hurtful, you have done this, but it's not your fault, and you aren't a bad person.

However, with this now understood, we can recognize that stating "queer is a slur" serves as an aggressive act to the very large number of us who are queer, and who put a great deal of effort into being inclusive and accepting and welcoming.

It is, sometimes unknowingly, an attack to make the statement "queer is a slur."

Let's look at the rest. Now that we have a better understanding, we see the start of this conversation as a group of misunderstandings, mistranslations, and some degree of misinformation. The follow up from queer people, in this context, may feel aggressive towards someone using "q-slur" language both because we feel like we are under attack (having queer called a slur feels as if we're told who we are is harmful), and the underlying radfem narrative in "q-slur" language is also designed to make people using "q-slur" language feel as if they have to commit to the position that "queer is bad" to some degree.

This combative engagement is a direct result from the deliberate reason for treating queer as a slur - to create division within our community so we turn against ourselves, and create barriers or divisions where none existed. It builds exclusionist frameworks just by arguing over it, which are reinforced when people using "qslur" language attempt to withdraw from the argument by explaining that "queer" was a word used to hurt them - they are after all the target audience for queer language, and they are saying that it's harmful to them. So how can "queer is a slur" be wrong if it hurt them?

Which, without knowing, also includes the assertion that queer is bad universally. This is because "the word queer hurt me" is not the same as "queer is a slur," and the difference is super important when these engagements happen. Calling queer a slur asserts a universality to the general idea of queer as intrinsically negative, incorrect, and violative in use.

To take this point from implied to explicit, nearly every LGBTQPIA+ term has been or is currently expressed as a form of derision, used in a hurtful way, made into an attack on queer people and who we are, and none of them are slurs. We love calling ourselves and what we love gay, or lesbian, or so on. It's fun and joyful. I imagine some people also flinch a little because of years where "gay" was used to single them out for abuse or denigration.

This is what is the experience of "queer is a slur" refers to, a trauma, a triggering event, an attack. However, this does not make it a slur. You can completely and openly and honestly be triggered by gay or lesbian or queer too, but we have to stop spreading the exclusionist narrative that queer is a slur.

Queer is not a slur. For some people, queer is a trigger. That is very much normal, and very much understandable and you know what else? It's not an attack on our community. It doesn't say "queer is bad" it says "queer hurt me, please be considerate." And it also means that for some people who were hurt by the word "queer," they are inevitably going to have to live in situations where they must in some way shape or form cope internally with the word queer, where they cannot police its use, ask it to be removed or repressed.

Some triggers are like that. To borrow from another post, if you are triggered by popsicles it can be somewhat easily avoided and easy to accommodate. If you are triggered by red cars, that's something which is much less easy to avoid, and there is a limit to how much you can be accommodated. You can't ban red cars, but you can try to ask your friends to be careful about it.

You cannot ask that we stop using the word queer for our community any more than you could ask people to stop calling themselves gay. You can work with friends to be considerate and accommodating. We can have conversations about your experience, how it affects you as a trigger and ways we can do better in future.

But it is not a slur, and it is not acceptable to call it one. Thanks for understanding. Let's be kinder.

#queer #queer discourse #queer positivity #long post #lgbtqia #slur discourse #Don't Lead a Conversation With a Punch #cipheramnesia

[peebleswrites]

Can I pleaseeee request something with Ulquiorra!? It's difficult to see him being sweet or romantic but I'm ready for whatever he can give 🤣

GASP. YAY. FIRST REQUEST. THANK YOU. Gotta say, this was a challenge! But it was always really fun and I enjoyed writing this piece. I hope you like it!

ULQUIORRA X FEMALE!READER

About three months had gone by since the Arrancars mysteriously appeared in the world of the living, sans the previously deep seeded hatred of humans and Shinigami. In short, they had no evil intentions whatsoever and seemed curious, some more than others, over the lifestyle of humans.

Everyone was of course wary, worried they’d fly off the handle and a war would once again loom on the horizon in the minds of both the soul society and the world of the living. Until Y/N was the first to offer an extension of goodwill to the once evildoers, thus triggering a snowball affect of successful communication between the three parties.

And so, the former Espada remained in the world of the living, assimilating into the culture and assuming somewhat normal lives!

“Say Y/N,” Orihime began one afternoon during lunch upon the roof. All eyes trained to the busty bubble of joy as she posed a question in Y/N’s direction.

“What’s your type? I mean, what sort of guy are you interested in?” Pretty much everyone was equally surprised as they were curious which included a certain arrancar who’d normally find such drabble ridiculous and an utter waste of time. 

Since his arrival, or rather, since those of his kind had been accepted in this world, Ulquiorra had taken something of an interest in Y/N. She was the first to accept him, all of them, and he’d always been curious concerning her reasoning. Surely, she intended to gain something by having them as allies, right? Y/N was just a human. It would make sense for her to align herself with the strong.

Yet…she didn’t appear to him as the type to use people for her own advantage. This only made her all the more interesting. As such, he used any and all opportunities afforded to him. All in efforts to garner what her true intentions were.

This was one of those opportunities.

“My type? Mmm…I guess someone who’s smart.” Y/N started before considering the rest of her response.

“Heh, that excludes you, Shinigami.” Grimmjow was first to comment, roughly punching Ichigo in the shoulder with that snarl of a grin covering his feral features. The jab nor the remark was taken well by the aforementioned male who soon retaliated with an equal amount of force.

“What the hell?! That means you too, dumbass!” And of course, that triggered the beginning of their usual bout which everyone had gotten so used to, it was pretty much ignored.

“I do like the strong, silent type, too. Oh! And a bit of spontaneity! You know, keeps things interesting!” While everyone seemed to agree, secretly they began to wonder just who among them she might be interested in. Meanwhile Ulquiorra was on an entirely different wavelength.

If Y/N found these qualities to be appealing, perhaps he could gain her trust by assuming these roles and therefore fulfill this self-appointed purpose of discovering her true intentions, thus deciding for himself if she were truly someone worthy of his trust.

No, it didn’t sound at all crazy in his head.

He has the smart part down and feels sufficiently confident in his intellect. Nothing to worry about there. The same can be said of his strength and more so of his silence. He is neither loud, nor boisterous. And while he wouldn’t call himself antisocial, he is prone to speak when he feels it is necessary to speak. Silence with a purpose.

That leaves the spontaneity.

In order to tackle this trait efficiently, he took to the human world dictionary!

“Performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse or inclination and without premeditation or external stimulus…” This may be something of a challenge for him. He never acts without thinking, without purpose. In fact, he is hard pressed to believe he could start. But not entirely convinced…yes, he could do this.

He would start by following Y/N. Not in the creepy stalker sense but more along the lines of trying to get to know her likes without actually asking himself. He would use the ever talkative Orihime to do his bidding.

“What sort of candy do you like, Y/N? I like something sweet and tangy but also sour and a little bitter with a fluffy kind of texture!” Dear gods, what could she possibly be describing was the expression that Ulquiorra currently wore while listening to the conversation. Y/N assumed a rather uneasy expression before responding accordingly.

“I like F/C. Not really a fan of much else.” Y/N’s response was simple something Ulquiorra could appreciate and perhaps do something with.

“So that’s what she likes…”

The next day, all eyes were on the former fourth espada when he strolled into class, dragging a large sack behind him which he dumped onto Y/N’s desk without a word. She stared at him then the sack partially obscuring her vision before opening her mouth to respond

“Uh…Ulquiorra? What’s this?”

“Don't ask useless questions.” And that was all he said before casually walking to his chair like he didn’t rouse the entire class with a cloud of confusion. With furrowed brows, Y/N peeked into the sack, only to spot copious amount of her favorite candy! It looked like a whole year’s supply of it! What the heck…

Who could’ve known that he’d been listening in on her conversation with Orihime? Or that he’d continue to do such in order to exercise this growing need to display his spontaneity. Which, he realized at one point, wasn’t really spontaneous at all because he was thinking about these acts way too hard!

Like when she expressed a desire to have more rice in her lunch, so he proceeded to give her extra portions the next day. Or when she grew tired during gym and he suddenly picked her up over his shoulder to run the rest of her laps. Or when she complained over the lack of sleep she was getting due to the neighbor’s dog barking all night so he insisted on training the canine not to be noisy.

Okay so…maybe he was being spontaneous, but Y/N had grown suspicious enough and needed some answers.

“Ah…Ulquiorra? Could I talk to you for a moment?” Y/N approached him after class one day, appearing somewhat nervous. He agreed with a simple nod while teeming on the inside with anticipation. This could quite possibly be the moment he has been working for so diligently. His efforts were at last being acknowledged.

“Uh so…listen, it’s about uhm…how you’ve been acting recently…” If it wasn’t obviously, Y/N was having a hard time expressing what she really wanted to say. Ulquiorra, of course, noticed this.

“Speak, woman.” A curt response that Y/N honestly should’ve expected prompted nothing more than a sigh.

“What’s your problem?!” Which triggered an explosive response that Ulquiorra honestly didn’t see coming if the sight of his eyes widening were any indication.

“Elaborate.” Eyes that soon softened to their normal size while gleaming with hints of mild apprehension for he never expected her of all people to express feelings of displeasure with him.

“You keep doing these weird things! First it was the candy! Then all the rice! Then you carried me around the track even when I told you to put me down! Now my neighbor is telling me you trained their dog! Are you making fun of me? Is this some arrancar way of bullying?!”

“You believe I am bullying you?”

“Yes!”

She was yelling at him. And calling him a bully, of all things. How could his intentions have been so horribly misinterpreted? How could she misunderstand him to such a degree? Could he have been wrong? Were his methods misguided or incorrect? It would seem he would need to evaluate his form of spontaneity and employ a different tactic.

“I see. I will try something else, then.” Yes, he would go back to the drawing board, reconsider his options, his resources, and try other ways of being spontaneous.

“Wait!” Y/N name suddenly grabbed onto his arm. His eyes instantly fell to her hands. Her touch triggered a slither of a response, a tingling sensation that was unfamiliar. When’s the last time anyone had laid non-threatening hands on him, he wondered.

“What?” Visibly she flinched back but maintained her countenance alongside the ever-present confusion.

“What are you trying to do? What’s all this about? I want to know!” This expression. The raw emotion on her face. He remembered it well. It was this stubborn, foolish disposition she maintained that played a key role in the Shinigami taking their presence as a non-threat. It was this expression that led him to find a purpose through her.

It was this very same gleam that triggered perhaps the most spontaneous act he’d committed thus far, the cupping of his hand upon her cheek. He wouldn’t be able to explain what caused him to do it or why his hand stayed. He just knew her cheek felt soft and warm and he sort liked the way her expression shifted as his hand remained.

“Your ‘type,’ as you humans refer to it, is someone who is spontaneous, is it not?” He brandished his usual emotionless façade, awaiting a response from her aside from the stunned silence she seemed to be trapped in.

“I…you…ah…you want to be my type…?” Dumbfounded. She was utterly dumbfounded. And he couldn’t understand why she was behaving so shocked. Wasn’t he being obvious?

“In a manner of speaking, yes. I see now that my actions are ineffective.” How ridiculous. For him to fail at such a task was unprecedented. He could hardly fathom such a thing. As such, he needed to take time away, regroup, and think of different ways to convey this message to her.

“If you’ll excuse me.” His hand fell away from her cheek only to be grabbed by one of hers. A second extension of contact and a second shock that shot up his senses. He eyed her once again with his empty stare, but she didn’t appear at all perturbed by it. In fact, she offered a rather hopeless smile.

“I…I think it’s working. I mean, you’ve got my attention.” Once again, she stunned him. This time, not with her gleaming determination but with a meek smile and subtle, gentle, squeezing of his hand. He couldn’t have imagined such a small gesture could be so impactful. How strange…

“Oh? I will continue, then.”

“Wait, no—.”

It would seem he was at least on the right track to deciphering her true intentions while simultaneously gaining her trust. Surely, he’d get it this spontaneous act right eventually.

A/N: Poor Ulquiorra. He means well. Again, hope you enjoy! Also this is my first time doing this so I hope the format isn't weird? Thanks!

#bleach x reader #bleach #ulquiora schiffer #ulquiorra x reader #fanfiction #bleach requests