#it's the learning how to heal past abuse and how to understand that you abused people and what the hell you do

[a-wumper-on-the-internet]

I actually know nothing about whump terminology tbh, so: is this a trope?

I've been calling it the Mutual Caretakers. Two characters have both been whumped, either by each other or by a third party or one by the other and the other by someone else. Whatever the case, both are in pain and generally experiencing new, fucked up emotions the likes of which would make baffle any phycologist.

And then they have to caretake each other. Maybe no one else is around who can do it. Maybe it's just a situation where there is no one else but the two of them. Maybe there's a more competent caretaker available but these two just have a special bond of Trauma And Piss Poor Coping Skills that no one else can really touch.

It could be messy and bad for both of them, and make everyone involved significantly worse, or maybe it can actually help and become mutual understanding or some sort of weird-ass friendship. Or maybe they just self destruct. Who knows!

The trope pairs well with: Whumper redemption, whumpee corruption, complex/grey whumpers and whumpees, and general line-blurring between roles.

I realize now that every one of my ocs (there are more coming, I swear) all eventually end up like this. The whumper and whumpee equivalent of a get-along shirt. I need something to call it.

#this is NOT whumper turned caretaker OR whumpee turned caretaker btw #because this should specifically scratch an itch that these two are too broad to cover #it must be two characters who have been whumpees at some point (bonus points if either/both of them were also whumpers) #and who must caretake each other #with no caretaker present #with extra bonus points if neither of them know what the fuck they're doing #it's the healing. it's the breaking out of toxic cycles of violence #it's the learning how to heal past abuse and how to understand that you abused people and what the hell you do #it's the hurting and the hurting others and learning to live in spite of it anyway #whump #whump scenario #whump prompt #whumpee #whumper #whump prompts #whump tropes #whumpblr

[kindnessoverperfection]

I want to break down a common point of conflict when addressing NPD stigma.

A lot of hangups people have tend to be along the lines of "but I DO see a lot of people with actual NPD who are acting in toxic or abusive ways".

This will be kind of long, so bear with me.

Point #1: People are way more likely to be diagnosed if they exhibit "stereotypical" symptoms.

There's this image of NPD as a disorder that is only present in those with patterns of destructive behavior towards others. Many therapists have this conception. (Shockingly, the mental health field is not perfect & without stigma.)

Gonna copy-paste this here from my other blog (so forgive me if you've seen it before), because it's a good example.

Three people are criticized at work. Their boss yells at them for their performance in front of everyone. Person A gets mad and defensive. They yell back, using cutting remarks as a way to try and ease the distress they feel. Person B acts really mature and responsible the whole time, nodding along and agreeing and promising to do better, just desperate to maintain and improve their status. Desperate to be liked. Later they go home and handle their distress through self-destructive means, and spend the next few months overworking themself to the point of illness. Person C doesn't seem to respond much at all. They go quiet and seem distant. They don't lash out or lash in, but for the next month or so, their productivity drops. They simply aren't able to focus on work or self-care, no matter how hard they try. The stress is overwhelming. All three of these people have the same root issues, but only the first would be labeled a narcissist. Outwards behaviors and presentations don't reflect the pain, distress, and difficulties with life that are underlying them.

So, three main things happen.

There ends up being a higher rate of people with destructive behaviors who are diagnosed with NPD

The people who don't particularly exhibit behaviors and are considered ""too nice to have it"" are overlooked entirely (and never get any sort of help for their underlying issues, yayyy)

People are more likely to be more honest about "ugly" symptoms / symptoms that are frowned down upon than they are in other mental health communities.

(Also some people decide to act super edgy about it, which is annoying but here we are. Some of them are trolls.)

(And while I'm at it, some people are misdiagnosed with NPD because a psych sees someone who committed a violent crime and is like "uhh slap them with the Evil Asshole™ disorders!! no further thought given.")

Point #2: People who have messed up are not inhuman monsters who deserve no help or support

While I do think it's important for people to understand that patterns of toxic behaviors aren't the ONLY way NPD can present, I'm not going to let the conversation stop at "some of us are nice though!!"

Human beings aren't RPG characters who can be sorted into "monster" or "ally". Every single person has done something hurtful, has messed up, exhibits some sort of behavior that puts strain on their relationships sometimes.

So I'll bullet point some aspects of this that need to be talked about.

People without NPD also commonly exhibit toxic behaviors, but people ignore that nowadays. Either they armchair diagnose anyone who's slightly rude, or they only focus on it in pwNPD and ignore it in themselves or others. NTs can be jerks too, and they're probably less likely to acknowledge it than pwNPD who are constantly watching and checking themselves and analyzing their behaviors and attempting to do better.

Assuming that NPD makes someone abusive doesn't help anyone. Can it impact behaviors, and make it more difficult for people to be self-aware? Of course. But an important step in healing from any mental health condition (especially personality disorders, ime) is realizing that you're not inherently ""bad"", and that you can take responsibility for your actions and learn to deal with things in constructive ways. Just going "NPD makes people bad, full stop"- other than being a mean shitty thing to say- absolves people of guilt and asserts that there's no reason for them to try and improve.

Yes, it's okay for people to hate their abusers. Their abuser. Not an entire community of people who happen to (maybe) share a trait with them.

Building on the above point, people tend to go in defense mode when they hear things like "pwNPD who have acted in toxic ways can learn to improve their behavior", "people shouldn't be saying awful things about folks with this condition", etc. because they automatically try to apply this to their abuser. Interpersonal situations are very different from society-wide mental health access. No, don't stay with your abuser expecting them to change, and don't hold onto the hope that they will. No, don't censor yourself or your hatred or anger towards them. Just don't make blanket statements about a disorder that they may or may not have- blame their abusive actions, not their mental health.

"I hate you for your abusive actions and the harm that you caused me." =/= "I hate a group of people because of an inherent unchangeable part of them that's tied directly to severe childhood trauma they suffered. Because of it, they're evil and unlovable and are incapable of change. They're inhuman and will never experience real connection with others." ..........See the difference??

Even if there were a disorder with a 100% rate of toxic douchey behaviors, I'd want the conversation around it to be changed. I'd want different words to be used to divide up the spaces and conversations and resources, so that survivors of abusive or toxic behavior can get help, but that the disorder still has space to be treated. Otherwise, there are zero resources for healing. Nothing is being done to help these people or solve the issue. They're just told they may as well not try. They're blocked from healthcare entirely, despite how the entire point of being diagnosed with a condition is supposed to be to treat it.

There's a wide range of people who have NPD- it presents in many different ways, a person who has it may or may not exhibit harmful behaviors- but no one deserves to be denied treatment or told they're unlovable because of a condition they have that was formed from trauma.

Speak out against abusive behavior. Don't destroy healthcare for a medical condition.

#actuallynpd #npd stigma #narcissistic personality disorder

[ghost-proofbaby]

OH SAY LESS 14 WITH ASTARION PLEASE

so this is my first time publicly writing and posting astarion, so please be gentle. higher word count solely because i felt the need to add lore because, ya know, first time writing him! also, i changed the line just a tiny bit to better fit the character and scene. ALSO, uh... this is a little fade to black. i'm sorry. it just got too long.

14. "Oh, you're hard to please."

warnings: foreplay, sorta fade to black smut (it's there if you squint your eyes), an ungodly amount of pet names, mentions of past sexual abuse and healing from it, technical game spoilers, not edited, 18+ so minors do not interact

pairings: astarion x afab!reader (no pronouns used)

wc: 4.4k+

join the smutty party! send me one of these smut dialogue prompts with a character

How long had it been since Astarion had actually enjoyed sex? Craved it, even? 

If he recalls correctly, it had to have started to become tainted well over a century ago. Somewhere between the first and the third victim, when he’d realized how every single beautiful soul he had entrapped were simply being lured to their own death. And then, the sour taste left in his mouth only became more pungent the longer it went on, the more he came to the realization of just how used he felt. His body was no longer his own – it technically hadn’t been his from the very second he’d emerged from his own grave, and Cazador had been waiting for him – and everything about the act became an old rehearsed dance that he’d grit his teeth through. A chore, something to make his stomach churn, something to regret. A means to an end. 

Plainly put, it had been a while. 

But then you happened. You, who hadn’t blinked an eye when the first time you met him, he’d literally threatened you with a gods damned blade to your throat. You, who had repeatedly trusted him, even when it had been an objectively stupid thing to do. You, who had always offered him the utmost patience and genuine understanding, to the point in which if he thought about it too hard, he’d probably cry. You, who had led your group of misfits with brain worms right into victory, with plenty of personal demons defeated along the way. 

Personal demons including Cazador. 

Maybe that’s when things changed for Astarion. He’d already fallen for you before your group had reached Baldur’s Gate, he’d already gotten to know your body intimately before ever laying eyes on that ridiculously oversized brain you somehow made look easy to defeat. But that had been different, hadn’t it? He hadn’t really wanted to do that (not meant as an offense to you – certainly not after all was said and done), but had thought he needed to. To gain your trust, to gain your protection. And in the end, it turned out he never needed to do such a thing. You’d never said it outloud, probably at risk of making him feel even more regret after you’d learned all his secrets and darkest corners, but he knew. 

And knowing that you didn’t view him as something purely sexual, as a means to an end, as an item to use – well, it had the opposite effect of his request to no longer be viewed in that light. 

“What are you doing?” he says as he quickly looks up from his current book he’d been pursuing the moment you’d entered the room. He hardly cared for the words on the page – he just needed a way to pass the hours until you were available again. 

It was a hard habit to kick. Being so codependent on you, even with the end of the world resolved and the gift of safety being handed over to him on a silver platter. 

“We received mail,” you’re grinning wickedly as you hold up an embellished envelope, delicate fingers pinching the parchment as if it were the greatest gift to ever exist. He’d argue the real gift at hand was the last three months – time spent with you, in a place he can call home. But nothing could impede on your good mood as you throw yourself down on the mattress beside him, “From Withers, of all people!” 

His brows shoot up for just a moment before his face twists up with something akin to distrust, “Withers? What in the Hells does that sack of dust and bones wan-” 

“A reunion,” you cut him off, the look on your face warning enough against his attempt at an insult. “He’s reaching out to all of us to bring us together for a celebration, to check in on everyone, let us see each other again. Apparently, we were the easiest of the bunch to find.”

Astarion quickly lets out a tut as he snaps the book shut and discards it on the bedside table closest to him, “Well, we certainly need to fix that. Soon enough all of those little shits are going to end up on our doorstep, preaching about the power of friendship and how they want to check in on us.” 

You snort at that, laying flat on your back with your hair wildly spread out in a makeshift halo behind you. The sight causes something to stir within him, his gut twisting as he watches the way your knees knock together before slowly falling apart, your legs settling down as flat as the rest of your body.

He hadn’t taken you since that night at his grave. Before the epic final battle, before the two of you had made the decision to settle down somewhere for some well-earned peace and quiet. 

The moonlight dances past the open curtains, and his breath catches in his throat at the way the blue shadows dance across your skin. It almost reminds him of the first time he’d seen you fight. It hadn’t just been the blood splattered across your cheeks that had really gotten the better of his curiosity (even if that’s what he had told you when you asked), it had been the sunlight. Those rays of gold that had mingled with your own aura of warmth after you had helped the tieflings for the first time. 

You put the sun to shame, truly. And he missed it – Gods, did he miss it – but he was content to bask in the peace of night for a few months more before he finally cut you loose from the leash to begin your next phase of adventures to find him a cure. You had promised him you would, had already dedicated plenty of free time to research, and all you really needed was his word to begin. 

He’s selfish. The two of you can find a way for him to walk in the sun once more another day; all he wants right now is to bury himself in your warmth, to slot his body between your thighs, to hear every breathy gasp and the way you’d practically sing his name-

“Star?” you’re looking up at him from an awkward angle, eyes owlish and chin tilted painfully far back as you clearly await an answer to a question he’d been too lost in a daydream to overhear, “Did you hear me?” 

He clears his throat and adjusts the pillows behind his back, keeping him propped up as he admires you, “Of course I did, darling.” 

“Then what did I just say?”

“Something about how we’re absolutely not going to this reunion, yes?” 

Your smile is nothing but patient as you flip onto your stomach. He watches the way your shorts ride up your thighs, how the top of the soft fabric bunches at your waist. His fingers practically twitch with the need to weasel their way under it, to press his cold fingertips into warm flesh and hear you preen. 

Whenever you’re ready, you had whispered to him one night shortly after saving the world. Just tell me when, and I’m yours. 

He was ready. Insatiably ready, really. 

“Very funny. I said we should go, though. It’d be nice to see everyone again, wouldn’t it? All our friends?” 

You’re still talking about this damned reunion. Astarion has half the mind to figure out a way to summon the insufferable skeleton right here, right now, and drive a dagger into his bones until he’s truly nothing but dust. Solely for the distraction. 

“Your friends, my dear,” he corrects gently, “We both know they’re only overly fond of one of us in this relationship, and it certainly isn’t the one that they repeatedly threatened to stake.” 

The furrow of your brows is impossibly cute – he knows that look of determination. It’s the same one you wore when he mentioned it was likely that the two of you would never find a cure to his condition. 

“Our friends,” you insist, “Karlach adores you, Star. And Wyll has always been proud of you, whether he told you as much or not.”

“And what of Gale?” 

Your lips twitch at that, “Gale… certainly wouldn’t stake you on sight.”

“Ah, yes,” he flourishes, trying to keep his eyes from wandering anywhere but where your hands press into your cheeks as you prop your face up to speak to him, “Not staking me. The ultimate sign of kinship.” 

Focusing is a losing battle when you roll your eyes, and he finds his mind overtaken with insatiable lust again. Imaginative ways that he could have your eyes rolling for him under different circumstances. 

“You’re not getting out of this. They are your friends just as well as mine – so argue all you want, but we’re going to the reunion.” 

“Are you sure there’s no other way I might be able to…” he pauses with intent, finally lifting one of his docile hands to your cheek, letting his finger graze the skin with a feather light touch before it travels back into the mess of your hair, “Persuade you otherwise?” 

You almost fall for it, too. Your eyes flutter shut, your head tilts into his touch as if you were starved for the connection. But even with the lack of sexual intimacy, you both know there hasn’t been a day that has gone by in the last three months where Astarion hasn’t found a way to get his hands on you.

Holding your own, resting his cheek on your shoulder, spinning you like a child in the kitchen – he had quite the sudden arsenal of romantic gestures that didn’t involve old wounds. It had been awkward here and there, some of them landing and some of them leaving you both looking like fools, but he was trying.

Almost as hard as he was currently trying to not jump your bones. 

When you recognize the innuendo for what it is, however, you harden immediately. Your shoulders set, a frown settles, and your eyes open with set determination he knows he can’t falter without speaking plainly to you. 

“No.”

“No?”

You’re quick to lift yourself up onto your knees, putting distance between yourself and his hands, “The days of weaponizing sex are over. I don’t even want to joke about that.” 

And, oh, he’s finding himself in quite the mood tonight, because as soon as you’re retracting, he’s following. As you settle on the haunches of your calves, he’s lifting up from his reclined position, leaning forward so that his face is breaths away from yours. 

“I mean it,” you warn, narrowing your eyes and holding up a finger in that small space between you two. 

He tests his luck, wasting no time in snapping his fangs just millimeters from your skin. You both know he wouldn’t actually bite you, but it still humors him to see the way you whip your hand out of his reach. 

“Were you not the one who insisted that we ask before we bite?” you snap, and his smile only worsens. Like a cheshire cat, like a child never scorned by the world – he’s radiant and basking in the moment. 

He lets out a small hmph before saying, “You’re no fun, my dear. Come on – just play with me for a moment, won’t you?” 

Your face softens at his teasing tone, and he can see the way he’s withering away your defenses one by one. There was once a time where he’d done it with malicious intent, but this time around, it’s with nothing but good intentions. 

If you asked him, he’d go as far as to swear it on his own grave. 

“I’m sorry,” you apologize as if you’d done something wrong, and it makes more than half of his own playfulness drain from his face in absolute displeasure. Before he can so much as open his mouth to scold you about unnecessary apologies, you’re continuing on, “I just… After everything we’ve been through, it’s not something I find particularly joyous to joke about.”

What a rare thing, to have found someone to bare your soul and all your burdens to, and watch them offer to help you shoulder the weight without second thought or regret. 

He’s never met someone like you in all his years, and he might never again. 

“And if I told you I wasn’t joking?” he asks slowly, carefully, trying to choose each word with the utmost care, “I’m not weaponizing – I’m offering.” 

Whenever you’re ready. Just tell me when, and I’m yours.

He was ready. Very, desperately, sorely ready. 

The topic of the reunion is all but forgotten as you process his words, nose twitching as you decipher all that’s he laying out before you. “I want more than an offer.” 

“Excuse me?” 

He can’t help the small laugh that leaves him as he sits up properly, leaning into your space fully now with one hand pressing into the mattress just beside one of your thighs. He can feel the heat radiating from you, smell your blood rushing to your head as you try to be sensible. It’s a pitiful excuse for an internal war; all he has to do is close that conveniently small distance between your lips with his own, and you’ll have lost all sense of logic. 

“You’re…” you trail off, searching his eyes as if he holds the answer you’re currently looking for, “You’re sacred to me, Astarion. You must know that. And it will take much more than some joking offer to convince me to have sex with you when I know-”

“I’m not joking,” he’s nearly whining, letting his forehead fall forward to press to yours, “Gods, I am not joking about this. Cross my heart and hope to die again.” 

If he has to beg, he will. 

He’s spent two hundred years in an insufferable position of pure misery, pure shit, and the realization that he’s finally free has everything clicking into place. Proof of the change exists solely in the fact that he could have resorted to his tired old seduction routine from his life before to get what he wanted, but instead, he’s trying to just communicate. 

It was a novel moment. 

But he could appreciate it later, when the crotch of his pants wasn’t becoming increasingly uncomfortably tight and he wasn’t watching you closer than prey. When his stomach wasn’t so tight with desire and anticipation, just waiting for your word to indulge. 

“Do I need to beg?” he sighs, his lips brushing against yours ever so slightly from proximity. He catches the shiver that runs up your spine. “We both know I’m not particularly fond of it, but if I have to get on my knees for you- well, actually, that’s the entire point of what I’m asking.” 

You laugh at that, and his gut twists again, because it’s the most beautiful sound he’s ever had the opportunity to hear. Something more breath than any vocality, something sharp and spelling out the loss of words on your tongue. 

Your silence is enough for him to push it all a step further. Forehead still leaning against yours, he properly presses his lips to yours this time, slotting them between softer than a feather’s caress. Finding home as he can physically feel himself steal your breath away. His fangs just barely nip your bottom lip, unintentionally but still eliciting a delicious reaction of a gasp that makes him graze you a second time just to feel the way you’re leaning into him more, becoming absolute putty in his hands. Pliable for his taking, and Gods, he wants to take you. 

Something snaps. 

All hesitation has vanished as he grabs at your hips quickly, making use of the way your brain has gone blank from a simple kiss in order to lay you out below him. He moves you with ease, incredible speed in slotting himself between your legs before he’s caging your entire body in with his own. The squeak that leaves your lips from his manhandling affects him even more than your gasps had, a low growl shaking his chest as he kisses you deeper. Tasting, begging, searching – he wants this, but he needs to know that you want this just as badly. 

Your hands find purchase on each of his shoulders, squeezing tightly as if needing something to tether yourself to. You pull him in closer for a second, eagerly returning the kiss, almost feverish in the way you drink him in. But the next, you’re pushing him away, a game of want and sensibility still clouding your judgment impossibly. 

You always were stubborn about things like morals. And, well, it wasn’t very moral to just jump right into sex with your traumatized boyfriend who had explicitly said not to view him in terms of sex, was it? 

It was Astarion’s own damn fault. 

He could have just acted like a normal person, initiated a normal conversation in which he renegotiated his boundaries. But you’ve been on his mind all day, and he’s long since proven since the very day that you met him that he has little to none impulse control. 

“My, my,” he murmurs, pulling back from the kiss, eyes wild, looking at you with even more hunger than he had the first night you’d given him a taste of your blood in camp, “You’re just an impossible thing to please, aren’t you? Do you want me near, do you want me far? Tell me, my love, what do you want?” 

He settles all his weight onto one of his forearms as the other slowly brings his hand to your side, caressing over the soft fabric of your shirt – a shirt he’s quickly realizing is actually his own. He recognizes those flowy sleeves, that lacing across the chest, the off-white tone that had seen better days. Given all its wear and tear, he’s almost sure that it’s one of his shirts he had grown most comfortable wearing during the nights of your adventures against the Netherbrain. 

It’s cute. A sort of domesticity that he can ponder over later, when your legs aren’t hanging on his hips and your breaths aren’t coming out staccato as he hovers just out of reach from you. 

“I want whatever you want,” you whisper. Your eyes flutter open, looking at him with pupils so dilated they could swallow him whole. 

“Let me be very clear, then,” he hums, cold fingers creeping their way to the hem of the shirt, slipping beneath with practiced ease to find the smooth skin of your hips below. They dance and skitter up, up, up until he’s brushing against your ribs, “I want you. I want that warm cunt of yours, I want to feel every gasp and breath as your walls squeeze around me. I want to fuck you until you’re unable to walk on your own two legs, until you can only remember my name. I want to watch you come undone, my dear, and for it to be my own undoing.”

Your lips quiver in anticipation, and he feels your thighs tighten their hold on him, “Such pretty words. And… and no ulterior motives? No sense of obligation?” 

“None at all,” he smiles, a predator closing in on his prey, “I’m choosing this. If you want it, if you’ll have me, then I’m ready, pet.” 

Pet. The nickname rolls off his tongue, and he can imagine your walls fluttering just as your eyes do. 

Your hands lift from his shoulders to bury in his hair instead. One cradling the back of his head, the other resting on the nape of his neck as you toy with a snowy curl. It unfurls him further, has him humming lowly as he dips down to recapture your lips and bring you into him even closer. Closer. He needs all and any space between the two of you to become nonexistent. To feel every inch of your skin pressed to his, to allow you to physically curl up into his chest just as you had his mind all those moons ago, to make a home in a room with your name on it already somewhere between his third and fourth rib. 

“Do you really have to doubt if I’ll have you, my love?” you mutter against his mouth, smile breaking the kiss momentarily before he’s back with a vengeance. You don’t care – you’re apparently in a chatty mood, dodging his kiss to get your last words in, “There’s been a space in my heart for you since the moment I first met yo-”

“Yes, yes, very romantic,” he interrupts urgently, suddenly tugging your shirt up, “But, truth be told, love? I’m hoping there’s a space between your legs for me at this moment.” 

You snort, eyes pinched shut as you attempt to shake your head at the ridiculousness of the words that just left his mouth. At any other moment, you might point out how the outrageous comment is just another defense mechanism, veering him away from having to acknowledge the gentle sentiment behind your own words, but now’s not the time. When you open your mouth, probably to say something exactly along those lines, he rolls his hips down against yours, pinning your lower half deep into the mattress. You feel just how hard he is through his trousers – it’s impossible to miss, but he’s deliberating being sure that you feel it as he lets the tips of his fangs sink into your bottom lip. 

The resolve of fighting against his wishes is quickly dissolved. One thing after another, and Astarion has you bare beneath him before any other distractions or annoying conversation can send the two of you further off track. Your, his, shirt is tossed to one side of the room. Your parents fly to the other side of the bed. Only once he has the entire spanse of your body nude and vulnerable to him does he take the time to pause, to look down at you with absolute adoration. 

“Gods, you’re beautiful.” 

He’s said those words to you a million times before. Consistently greeting you with them, muttering them in the dead of night, whispering them as he kisses you awake. But they never lose their weight. And certainly not now, as he’s looking down at you like it’s the first time he’s ever seen that freckle on your chest or the curve of your stomach barren before him. 

“Please, if you’re comfortable with it…” you start, voice laced with desperation, but he shakes his head. 

He’s full of interruptions tonight, “Consider me comfortable with anything unless stated otherwise for this moment, my sweet.” 

“Take off your clothes, Astarion.”

His giddy smile should annoy you. That smug satisfaction in finally, finally getting his way as he undresses himself at almost twice the speed that he had stripped you. And yet he knows you’re enjoying yourself just as much as he is. You’re reveling in drinking in the bare caricatures of his body, every inch and every curve exposed to you just as you are to him. And when his cool skin meets yours again, his body sinking right into that space between your thighs that you’ve granted to him, you let out a short gasp that reminds him that you want this just as badly as he does.

You’ve waited just as long as he has. 

It almost mirrors that night on his grave. The slow descent of his body against yours, the way he slides a leg up to spread your own even further for him as he crawls his way back home to your lips. Unlike that night, however, he isn’t taking quite as much care, his movements far faster and far more needy. 

He’s been waiting long enough. He’s denied himself long enough. 

It really doesn’t matter when the last time he had enjoyed sex had been, because all that he cares about is that here and now, in this moment with you, there’s not a trace of imperfections to taint his enjoyment. 

Cazador is dead. The brain has long since been defeated. You are both safe. 

As he sinks into your heat, the only thing on his mind is that contentment, overwhelmed with the feel and smell of just you. 

He’ll never be a slave again. Never be viewed as something to simply be used and disregarded again, if you have any say. And one day, some day, he’ll even feel the warmth of the sun again. Thanks to you.

But until that day, the warmth of your love is enough.

When you sigh his name out so delicately, jaw all but unhinging itself in bliss as your back arches in reaction to his touches, he knows he’s made the right choice. 

And he supposes he lied, in a way, earlier. 

You’re not that hard to please – not when it comes to him, at least. Not when it’s his hands trailing along your skin, not when it’s his lips and fangs nipping at every opportunity. And certainly not when it’s his name that’s being chanted like a prayer from your lips in time with every thrust, every stroke, every single movement with the sole purpose of making both of you come undone. 

Astarion no longer questions when the last time he enjoyed sex was in the aftermath of it all. With you, pressed into his side, sweaty forehead nuzzling his chest, the only thing he cares about is the next time he’ll be able to do so. 

“We’re still going to that reunion,” you murmur, half asleep, fading away from him quickly to fall into blissful unconsciousness. 

He almost doesn’t breathe in fear of disturbing you. He’ll waste the night away, laying here, still as a statue for your comfort. 

It’s no surprise when he refuses to put up a fight, instead his hand simply drawing soft stars across the back of your bare shoulder blades as he sighs, “Yes, dear. We will. Now sleep.”

“I love you.” 

The words tumble from your lips so carelessly, so easily and without hesitation, he nearly shakes you awake to hear them once more. Again and again, he needs to hear them, to be reassured that you feel for him as ardently as he does you. 

But he has the rest of your forever to hear them. So he lets you sleep, sending you away with a simple press of his lips to your temples as your breathing evens.

“And I love you, my dearest sun.”

#ghost's stories #smutty party #astarion #astarion x reader #astarion smut #astarion x you #my writing #there's a line in here that my best friend watched me write in real time IN PERSON that we both cackled about #i went 'i really shouldn't include it' and she went 'but it's HIM' #it's giving 'i'd rather be the only dark power inside you' #idk if this is good but it is what it is ya know #if the ending feels rushed it's because i felt terrible for how long it was getting lol #i just wanna love on the boy #i just wanna love him and he love me is that too much to ask #so many pet names i considered editing but the voices won

[emmitaaa4]

Azriel, you beautiful, complex man.

Anyone else ever lay awake at night thinking that it’s not that Azriel wants a mate, any mate: it’s that he believes only a mate—only someone who was meant to love him—could love him ?

Do you ever think about the fact that Azriel’s visceral response to Elain looking up at him with trust & hope, was to believe that there was no possible way she could ever look at him that way if she knew the things he’d done and been forced to do? If she knew that his scarred hands mirrored his marred soul? Yet we know Elain has never balked from him and has only ever seen beauty in his scars; in who he is.

Do you ever think about the way Azriel feels this need to prove himself useful—which is why he so clings to his titles and his job—for if he is needed, he cannot be abandoned?

Do you ever want to shout from the rooftops that Azriel is so much more than this « darkness » he cloaks himself in, and that he doesnt need someone to heal him & « handle his darkness ». Healing, for Az, does not mean fighting & ‘killing’ his demons, it means being at peace with himself & learning to live with them without needing to mask who he is. He needs to begin to believe that there is darkness and light in him to love.

Does your heart ever squeeze when you understand that allowing yourself to be loved, first means bearing yourself to another & willingly risking being hurt ? It requires an unparalleled level of emotional vulnerability from him. You ever realize that Az uses his shadows as an emotional crutch, that he so carefully masks his expressions, yet it takes but a look for Elain to read him? He, who finds his strength & perseverance in hope, found his match in her gentle, hopeful heart—and he physically has to keep himself apart from her, only allowing himself to act upon his feelings when she made the first move. Entitlement where?

Truly, how has the fandom decided that Azriel, who follows the sound of Elain’s laugh, who listened to her when no one else would & didnt let her be misunderstood, who trusted her with TT so she could protect herself & those she loves, who stayed up past 3am as she spoke of her passions, who made everyone wait for her to eat, who chooses to sun his wings next to her in peaceful, quiet company… is an entitled, flaky male that sees her as nothing but a sexual distraction?

Do people really not realize what it means for him to question the Cauldron, question the very core of his beliefs?

1) It is not his feelings he questions:

His mind is tortured by thoughts of Elain, so much so he can’t sleep;

They do not need words to communicate, indicating familiarity & understanding;

He IS showing more than “just lust”, it’s clear from their interactions since the first trilogy. There was something there before Nessian happened.

2) Not only does he believe himself unworthy of her, but that sentiment is reinforced by the fact that the Cauldron “broke the pattern”. I do not see the entitled man the fandom speaks of. What he is is a deeply traumatized man, who was abused as a boy by the people who were meant to love him & protect him.

The popular thought that Az would fold for a mate, regardless of who she (or he) is, is truthfully not attractive, not to mention that it implies he’d only risk love for a “guaranteed” happy ending.

=> “Az wants a mate therefore give him a mate” is counterproductive to his growth (tho to clarify, i am not saying he should not have a mate, just that there is a way the story should be told.)

We have seen him plan for snowball fights & tactical missions, yet never for his future: not with Elain—again, he never even actually allowed himself to consider pursuing her—but not in any other sense either:

Children? he tells Cass he doesnt know if he wants any—has he ever let himself imagine having a child? A house ? he has no place to himself. Remember that even after 500 years of existence, Az says he still does not know where he belongs?

Could you not imagine two people who make themselves what others need them to be, being brave enough to bare those hidden, repressed parts of themselves to the other. Can you not see the growth it would require from both of them should they give themselves a chance? To, on one hand, choose the other despite what is expected & the problems it would cause, and on the other, be vulnerable enough to receive that love & believe yourself worthy of it.

Love doesnt care for convenience. It could all go to hell but at least they’d know they had tried, and i do not see how that could ever make for a boring, 2 dimensional story.

#azriel #azriel shadowsinger #pro azriel #elain archeron #i love him and her and them #elriel #pro elain #azriel bonus chapter #acosf bonus chapter #acosf #acotar #azriel acotar

[janesgms]

Astro Notes - 04

✨️ Solar Return Edition ✨️

Sun in the 12th house: indicates a year of many transformations in yourself. You'll get through big changes in yourself generally. You'll isolate yourself from the world and will see it in a new brand perception. You'll enjoy the loneliness and the wisdom it brings to you. You may focus on your subconscious mind and in topics of ocultism and spiritualism. You may get profetic dreams or just very intense/meaninful dreams in general. If you have natal planets in the 12th houses, you probably will learn how to deal with them more easily. The dreams and death realms are very vibrant in your life this year. This can also indicate dangerous situations or a literal rebirth, meaning you could've went to an almost death situation somehow and you've survived it. This placement is a huge indicator of a spiritual awakening or just the end of a huge cycle in your life. Let go of the old and accept the new ✨️

Sun conjunct mars: you'll spend the biggest part of your energy on yourself (as you should). You'll cut off parasites and abusive relationships of your life and focus on your own well being. You'll be more active on working on yourself and your personal image. You'll focus on upgrading yourself to the maximum, specially in work places, like school, gym, etc. On a more literal note, this can indicate you'll understand more of the masculine energy around you and you'll probably have a better relationship with your father

Sun square neptune: you may enter on vicious cycles of self-made lies, illusions and daydreaming and this can cause you many pain/moments of stagnation in your life. Once you realize your idealistic acts (after a lot of suffering to be honest), you can get over it with a lil bit of dedication and start focusing more on real life, even if it's hard. That's why looking at neptune is actually so important, because it's a planet that clouds your vision.

Sun trine north node: Your life path this year will be heavily impacted by your personal image. How you present yourself and how you are generally will make you move forward and advance in your life. Being your true self will bring your opportunities and new paths, will make you closer to your true purpose in life.

Sun sextile south node: What you've already mastered in your lifes will be synchronized with what you're being in the present. Imagine that you're using all the weapons in your stock to get better and better. Everything you've learned in this life and in the others is being heavily useful to you now (even if you don't know anything about your past lives) and helps you out generally.

Sun trine chiron: Being your authentic self and accepting you identity is gonna help you to heal your wounds. It don't matter what your wounds are, if you start to accept you as who you really are, you will learn how to deal with them more easily.

Sun parallel moon: Your emotional needs will be in tune with your true essence. This might be a year where you'll understand more of your emotions and you'll express it better.

Sun parallel mercury: Your communication style will be closer to your identity. You may communicate with an easier flow this year. The words you say have an impact on who you are going to be. You'll be more confident in your speech because you really relate to it now. It's an indicator of mastering your words and becoming more eloquent.

Sun parallel pluto: It's your chance to work on yourself to be more powerful. It's another indicator of big changes on yourself. You may work a lot on your intensity and passions this year. You may also become more obsessive with people and general things, but this can also indicate people being more obsessed with >you<.

byeee see ya

#astrology #astro notes #astro observations #astro community #aesthetic #astrology notes #astrology observations #saturn #synastry #ascendant #solar return #solar return chart #12th house #sun in the 12th house #sun conjunct mars #sun square neptune

[synergysilhouette]

Everyone keeps talking about "traditional villains," but in retrospect, I wish Disney had gone in a different direction for the Revival Era. Hear me out...

King Magnifico's failed characterization and poor writing in "Wish" really bummed me out. I was looking forward to a complex villain who was kinda right. I was hoping it could usher in a new age of Disney villains who were more grey than black and white, who made the characer grow as a person because they challenged their perspective. But then I realized that the opportunity existed in earlier revival-era villains:

Dr. Facilier is a villain first and foremost, though thinking back on it, I do think he is kinda proto-Magnifico, granting people's wishes, only for them to find that what they wanted isn't what they expected. I do wish he tied a bit of truth in with his scams, mentioning (similar to Magnifico) how people's dreams are very difficult to achieve--especially in the post-WWI American South, particularly POC. Naveen is generally assumed to be a POC himself, so he could juxtapose this viewpoint as someone who's never really had to experience such hardships. Dr. Facilier could still be 100% villainous, but further emphasis on dreams, wishes, and hard work would be part of his character. However, this is the reverse of "Wish"; Tiana has already worked hard, but she's lost a lot of her innocence and light-heartedness trying to achieve it, thus causing her to reevaluate how important love is and how she may not have realized it, being more practical about her dreams. It all starts with a wish.

Mother Gothel was already right; the world can be dark and cruel, and will destroy any light it finds. However, similar to Magnifico, since she's completely evil, the protagonist she goes against doesn't really change to understand what she's saying. Rapunzel doesn't see the world as dark or dangerous anymore; it's the opposite, thanks to her experiences. Because of this, I do wish Rapunzel did have a bit more negative experiences independent of Gothel to prove Gothel's point rather than it being "hey, she's just saying that because she's the villain." Maybe Rapunzel tries healing someone and people start lusting after her hair.

Hans is DEFINITELY a missed opportunity. He was the anti-Anna; isolated and alone, and he became bitter and cruel because of it. It's mentioned that the deleted song "More than Just the Spare" was removed because it made Anna too much like Hans. I don't think that, and if anything, it furthers my point: Hans gave up on his brothers, who he felt overlooked by and pestered by (he doesn't even mention his parents). Maybe give Hans less brothers and feature them a little in the movie so we can see how they interact with Hans and how it's a "what could be" for Anna and Elsa. His evil character is exactly what Anna is trying to avoid, but she understands how he became this way rather than it simply being for shock value.

Yokai was a great villain to me, but the reveal happened too late. I'd have loved seeing a more thorough exploration of his character and parallels to Hiro (which were done great in the film; I just wish it was expanded on). Highlight how people quickly forget about the dead and don't always learn from history, how there's this cycle of loss and hatred that you have to break.

Bellweather was on a power trip, but I do wish she had a storyline similar to Judy and Nick, since--in an interesting twist--they come off as more interesting and complex than the villain. She doesn't really say what made her act like this, and comments that "fear always works." I wish we got more of that, especially to play the two sides card; Zootopia is mainly predator-phobic, and challenges to this, ie predators playing down predator-related crimes in order to get people to look past their identity (and the fact that many predators are in positions of power) may have caused Bellweather's abuse by predators to be overlooked, causing her to want them all gone.

Te Ka is interesting. Despite "Moana" being a great film, I do feel like Te Ka and Maui's storyline was underutilized. It's revealed Maui stole Te Ka's heart for humans, but from what we see, Moana lives in this ideal community where their heritage, culture, and nature is loved and respected. Maybe embrace the fact that Tala is the only one who tells the story of the ancestors and how being they became "comfortable" since they were no longer voyagers, being used to the hierarchy and their stagnant society. Highlighting some humans' selfish natures would've been nice rather than Maui just telling us about it, with Te Ka being a metaphor for the destruction and disregard for nature and love.

Namaari is such a missed opportunity. Despite caring about her community, she comes off as more villainous than an antihero since she doesn't show any sympathy or care for Raya--in fact, she seems rather smug about hurting her. By making her a villain burdened by expectations and love for Fang while slowly being redeemed would've been better to me, shifting her POV slowly, making Raya angry with Namaari but understanding her motives. Having some regret about her choices--even if she believed they were the right ones--would've gone a long way for Namaari's characterization.

Magnifico...well, you already know he could've been one of Disney's most complex villains. Horrifying backstory and powers that are the result of hardwork left him with a jaded view on wish granting. He wants to help others, but has MANY reservations about it.

This is just my POV, of course; some of you may disagree (or feel like the aforementioned villains already achieved what I ask for), but I do hope future Disney villains have that "they're kinda right, even if they're wrong" characterization. It'd be a nice new era as the successor to traditional villains and twist villains--though just like twist villains, this trope requires VERY good writing.

#disney #disney animation #disney princess #magnifico #king magnifico #the princess and the frog #dr facilier #gothel #mother gothel #tangled #hans #frozen #yokai #big hero 6 #big hero six #zootopia #moana #namaari #raya and the last dragon #disney villains

[katnissdoesnotfollowback]

Do you think Peeta strangling Katniss affects their relationship in the growing back together phase? Most seem to think it would be Peeta getting reassurance and comfort from Katniss but I find that a little wrong since it was her getting strangled and with the neck covered in bruises

Why does it have to be either one or the other needing/getting reassurance and/or healing from the strangling?

By the end of Mockingjay, both Katniss and Peeta are dealing with complex ptsd, which means both of them have an assortment, a complicated mess of traumas they have to sort through during the grow back together phase. That’s why it’s essential that both of them work with Dr Aurelius. So I absolutely believe that it does impact their relationship, at least a little. But there’s A LOT that is going to affect their relationship during the grow back together phase. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s just a fact of living with ptsd.

I agree with your hypothetical “most” that Peeta would absolutely feel guilt and responsibility over his trying to strangle Katniss. He put his hands on her and physically hurt her, left her marked and unable to speak for a significant amount of time. She needed to be hospitalized for her injuries. As a person with childhood abuse in his past, who we can readily assume wanted to break that cycle of violence, Peeta would be devastated to learn that he did that to Katniss. Just like he was devastated seeing himself throw Mitchell into the barbed net in the Capitol. Hijacked or not, he’s going to have to come to terms with the fact that he did it. He’s going to need reassurance from Katniss over it, and would have to learn to forgive himself as part of their growing back together phase.

As for Katniss… what I’ve seen argued is that she was more concerned with the verbal hurts Peeta inflicted upon her when he was recovering from the hijacking than she was with the physical ones… which I can see the case for this textually. She doesn’t fixate on the strangling itself but on the words he speaks and how she thinks he sees her, the “real” her in her self-loathing, after his hijacking. She almost acts like she deserved that violence against her body.

But here’s the thing. If we can assume that Peeta never wants to repeat the abuse his mother heaped on him by abusing those he loves… he’s going to feel like shit for the things he said to her in his pseudo hijacked phase as well. Peeta internalizes the things his mother said about him. She calls him a “stupid, worthless creature” in Katniss’s memory of the bread flashback. And in Catching Fire, Peeta lashes out at Katniss and Haymitch for keeping secrets from him by saying “Like I’m too stupid or inconsequential” to understand or deserve the truth…

Inconsequential is another way of saying worthless, my friend. He repeats what we know his mother has said about him. Because on some level, he believes that it’s true… symptom of trauma and abuse, my friend.

So of course, even if Katniss fixates only on the cruel things that hijacked Peeta says to her rather than the physical act of strangling her, there are still going to be a host of issues they have to deal with, and eventually, they’re going to have to deal with the strangulation aspect as well.

And Peeta’s no stranger to lashing out physically either. In addition to verbally lashing out, Peeta also physically breaks a lamp in that CF scene. Some people will argue that it’s a stretch, but it is still an indicator of his anger on occasion manifesting as physical ACTION. Lest we forget, he somehow kills Brutus in the Quell, and Brutus is billed as one of the stronger, more ruthless Victor Tributes in that arena. Oh and by the way, Beetee had Peeta’s knife at the lightning tree. So what in the fuck was Peeta armed with when he killed Brutus? His bare hands?!?!

Now, Katniss might not actively fixate on those things during Mockingjay, but I find it highly likely that she would flinch or visibly react to the possibility of physical violence when post MJ Peeta gets angry or distraught… because she knows what he’s capable of and knows that he’s lashed out physically before. And that is absolutely going to affect them both.

Do I think Peeta is abusive towards Katniss? No. Absolutely not. I don’t think that at all. But lemme give you a real life example.

I’m married to someone with ptsd. Some of that is a result of having physical violence inflicted on him personally. Some of it is just from witnessing violence and its results in real life. Some of it is from existing for long periods of time in a place where he was constantly in danger of dying. I have never physically hurt him. But one time, shortly after he came home, I playfully smacked his arm (not even all that hard, Anon) while we were hanging a picture on the wall, we were laughing and teasing each other… and he legit froze, completely tense, and whispered “Don’t… don’t do that again.” I had triggered a flashback.

So there is no doubt in my mind that at some point, Everlark has to deal with Peeta triggering a flashback in Katniss to the moment he tried to strangle her.

Conclusion: It’s both of them that will have to deal with it, will need to heal and need reassurance. I just think that it is going to take a lot of work for both of them to process, deal with, and overcome the verbal and physical violence in their pasts. I think really, the discussion you’re probably seeing right now is simply an acknowledgment that Peeta, as loving and soft as he can be, is also fully capable of violence, and he knows it, and he’s going to have to deal with it. He’s no cream puff. He’s got fire in him and is fully capable of biting back. But acknowledging what he has to deal with in terms of him almost strangling Katniss isn’t necessarily a dismissal of what Katniss will have to deal with alongside him. She’ll just be dealing with it from a different aspect and probably at a different pace.

❤️ kdnfb

#thg thoughts #everlark #anonymous #look at that ask

[crooked-wasteland]

Vivienne Medrano started her writing career on a comic by the name Zoophobia. A comic that lacked any sense of story whatsoever. While she would argue with comments about the lack of purpose by saying the story was Slice of Life, it was a forewarning of her future to come.

The story started with a concept of overcoming prejudice, but was quickly washed over with a bombardment of a large ensamble cast at the very start before introducing a whole separate but attached world that spun off into Hazbin Hotel. At no point actually finding a reason to care about the original premise of a prejudicial school counselor overcoming those qualities to help those around them that were substantially different from them.

Rather, Medrano has perpetuated the misnomer that Slice of Life is the same as storyless. And that's the greatest misunderstanding of a genre that can be achieved. Slice of Life being deemed meaningless time wasting as you look into the dull happenings of someone else's benign problems is a childish perspective.

Slice of life is the cornerstone of coming of age narratives like Grave of the Fireflies. For young adults, a slice of life mature story about what it means to grow up, or inner child healing, or how to move on would be a niche that could shape a generation for the better. Especially in our Era of the internet where most of us have spent more time learning socialization online.

Where people are stripped of their humanity and nuance, and tone is read into lettering on the cold blue light of a screen in the dark. Unless this little pixelated square and string of text makes me feel important by either agreeing with me and thus making me feel worth through their "support" for my beliefs or flatter me and validating my existence before disagreeing with my points, they are the villain of the second.

And especially being a show released at the height of a world trapped in quarantine, where all our sense of community and humanity came through a screen, Helluva Boss seemed to want to be a dark comedy that tackled the topics of damaged inner-children, relationship and abandonment trauma, self worth and moving on from past mistakes, and the complicated minefield of grey morality.

This is not mere conjecture either. Medrano has an outspoken love for shows like Bojack Horseman but lacks the understanding of why this absurd vision of slice of life was so emotionally and mentally profound to an entire generation of young adults. Medrano herself has liked sycophantic tweets comparing Helluva Boss to Bojack Horseman and subtly props herself on these pedestals alongside her idols despite not deserving of the comparison.

Blitz is the show titular Boss of the series and is very obviously a concept inspired by Bojack directly. Both Bojack and Blitz are performing artists, but while Bojack was immensely successful, Blitz was not.

Bojack's history is that of two abusive parents who had no love to spare for him. Instead, his only worth came in the form of performing. It was the only time he felt any ounce of love from his cruel mother, Beatrice, who used him as a means to elevate herself socially while simultaneously feeling any form of worth through the validation of strangers. Bojack is aware his mother was not a great parent, but he has a damaged inner child still desperate to get her approval and affection. Even though he genuinely hates her, he has a lingering empty maw within himself that begs for her love. Bojack suffers from a fear of loss.

When Sarah Lynn drinks his alcohol, he throws the hair dressed under the train to save himself. Despite his honesty having a high chance of being seen as the accident it was and excuses being made for him, Bojack was too insecure to recognize his protection through his popularity. He grew up with a mother who was the definition of conditional, and any small or large mistake could be the catalyst that took everything he had worked and waited for away.

Bojack's sabotaging of Todd also showsbthis fear of loss more blatantly. However, it lacks the understanding as to why Bojack would want to keep Todd near while also chronically putting him down. This is where the lack of understanding best shows between what Medrano thinks is happening and reality.

Blitz begins his story much the same way as Bojack. Instead of a slave driving mother profiting off her son, it's Cash Buckzo, Blitz's father and owner of a circus, who slave drives his children to perform. Blitz loves performing but is not deemed talented enough to be valuable. He has an implied sick, unseen mother who is treated as his motivation for complying with his father.

Medrano doesn't seem to realize that an external motivation lacks the emotional depth needed to have an audience empathize with the character. This is a repeated issue in every character.

Blitz isn't seeking a parent's approval but is instead held hostage by the desire to help someone else, and to do that must be submissive to an authority who has no care for him.

Stolas isn't at war with himself over cheating on his wife due to the fact that he is a gay man in an arranged straight relationship but instead is a victim in his own life. He is told what to do and how to do it by every other person in his life and doesn't have an internal sense of responsibility that he is contending with. He has no needs vs. wants. Instead, his wants are universal. To be loved is a base desire, and Medrano puts no effort into expanding on what that means for her character. Instead, utilizing the natural inclination in her audience to pretend there is depth in Stolas' conflict.

Loona is similarly a victim. She and Stolas are not fighting their own emotions, but the bullies contrived in the plot for them to confront. Her fault isn't her own insecurity that she must overcome. Rather, it is the fault of every other character for not coddling her insecurities due to her having a sad history. Actively fighting against the notion that people should ultimately be responsible for themselves.

This gives the impression of someone who believes a sympathetic past must justify one's behavior in the present. It's a blatant misreading of the idea that everyone has their own storm to navigate. The idea behind that saying is that you should be kind despite what you are going through because it is easy to believe you win the bad day Olympics when you're in the middle of it, not because someone else may be going or has gone through something worse.

Wrapping around, the Todd and Bojack relationship is a clear parallel to the Moxxie and Blitz relationship. But while Medrano uses the line "I'm hard on you because you can do better" as to why Blitz is a chronic asshole to his "friend", the writers of Bojack are not at all interested in justifying abuse. The reason Bojack ruined Todd's chance to leave can be seen as sympathetic because he is afraid of being alone and the loss that comes with that. But he isn't cruel or rude to Todd to make him better, rather it is the systematic disintegration of Todd's sense of ability and self worth to keep him codependent to Bojck and less likely to leave. It is only when Todd is away from Bojack that he actually comes into his true potential. The support of those around him telling him how badly Bojack treats him and instilling confidence in Todd to try things once again ultimately results in him escaping Bojack. It is a slow process for Todd to leave. He doesn't just walk away like it feels in the episode. Rather, he has spent seasons slowly becoming more and more distant from Bojack with new relationships and hobbies, even as Bojack tries to brow beat and insult him into complacency.

Instead, Medrano thinks things just happen from large, grand gestures and emotional beats. That a sad past is a free ticket to being an awful person who is accountable to no one. Much like the villain of Bojack Horseman.

#helluva boss critical #helluva boss criticism #helluva boss critique #vivienne medrano #vivziepop #helluva boss #spindlehorse criticism #spindlehorse critical #abuse survivor #narcissistic abuse #bojack horseman #vivziepop critical #vivziepop criticism #vivziepop critique #slice of life is not nothing #writing critique #writing criticism #characters need growth #these characters deserve better #zoophobia #bojack netflix #bojackthoughts #essay writing

[wizardsix]

i guess i have to say it a million times since people insist on being dense: gale is just as much of a victim as the other companions. this isn't the trauma olympics. everyone has been through shit and deserves healing and redemption.

gale is not the self entitled, manipulative abuser people are painting him as. he's a lot of things, but nothing so heinous. he was groomed by a goddess who has a history of preying on wizards that threaten her power, and as a result, gale's ambition and faith was what drove him to discover the netherese orb. what he did was for mystra - in his mind, it was to prove his love by restoring her missing power - and by extension for the betterment of mortals. his actions were never malicious or selfish, in fact he puts himself so low on the priority list it's pretty much non existent. he was never going to use that power to usurp her, but mystra definitely saw it like that, which is why she didn't hesitate to present suicide as his only solution. he never crossed her personal boundaries in the way people are twisting it, he only wanted to cross the boundaries she put on wizards and their power.

people who insist he's all of these things and more clearly only spoke to him once or lack the reading comprehension to see past how much of an unreliable narrator he is. i can understand first impressions might put some people off, but you can say the same about the other companion introductions. i don't like comparing but since people insist on doing it; gale is one of the easiest companions to get along with just by being a good person, yet his honesty and selflessness makes people think he's secretly evil? while the companions with the capacity to be evil don't even try to hide it? how are people being so backwards about this? it's genuinely baffling and tiring to see people continuously spit out incorrect takes all too confidently.

no one is forcing anyone to like him, but it's unfair to completely mischaracterize him because you refuse to learn critical thinking. i promise using your brain is not as scary as it seems, or you can just. not talk about things you don't understand.

#all of them have issues but that doesn't mean they're irredeemable monsters. unless you push them to but that's on you #people are shocked that astarions ascended ending is so bad. yeah what did you expect from a soul sacrificing ritual for power lol #i cannot stress this enough. i don't care if people don't like gale. i care and am annoyed about the complete lack of media literacy skills #to the point where people are ruining such interesting characters. its a shame people can't appreciate good writing when we finally get it #anyway whatever idk if this makes sense its like 4am and ive looked at this post for too long #i have so much more to say but again its like not worth telling if it falls on deaf ears #gale dekarios #baldur's gate 3 spoilers #bg3 spoilers #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #six speaks #and no obviously im not saying the others are worse im just saying how do people accept astarion when hes Actually manipulative but not gale #i love star but we cant pretend hes not like that . and we cant pretend that gale is

[nottapossum]

Itty Bitty Sinners Chapter 1.1: The Test!

Summary: Classification tests aren't typically taken by sinners, they're usually taken by the hellborn. But still Charlie decides it might benefit the hotel if everyone took the test so they can better understand them.....Chaos ensues

Notes: Hazbin hotel be like: You’ve been waiting for years and now you have this super dark yet meaningful story about mythology, the complexity of human nature as well as other worldy beings, redemtion, abuse, abusive relationships, substance use, toxicity, redemtion, corrupt systems and overall the fight between good and evil and how it's more complex than we're lead to belive.

Me be like: Aw! Babies! 😍

⚠️ READ ME! ⚠️This work is an Age regression/Classification fic. So there will be things such as Diapers and their usage, pacifiers, cribs, bottles, exc.But there will also be cursing and talking about sex, abuse, drugs, alcohol and lots of adult things when characters are out of headspace, and it also mentions some trauma. (Any future trigger warnings will be added to chapter notes if needed. Be careful.)

❤️Age regression is not sexual, it’s a safe coping mechanism.If this ain't your thing. Just don't read it.💜

“Okay everyone! Today I have a bit of an experiment for you all.” Charlie announces. “You are all going to be taking the infamous Classification test!” 

“The what now?” Angel asks.

“This test will determine what kind of person you are! And it will help us better understand your needs to better help you. The types in question are: Littles, Caregivers, Babysitters, Pet regressors, Handlers, Guardians, and neutrals.” She explains. “Hellborns take this test when they turn fifteen to find out their best possible place in our society to live their best lives!” 

“Wait, so all hellborns take this test?” Angel asks.

“Yeah, is that new information for you?” Vaggie asks. “It's pretty common knowledge.”

“I have never heard of that!” Angel says.

“You know, you should go outside every now and then, maybe you'll learn something.” Vaggie says.

“Do you have any idea what happens when I go outside?” Angel asks her. “Not a lot of learning happening.” 

“Don't worry, I have all the definitions riiight here. I'll read them out for you.” Charlie says. She clears her throat and reads through the classifications: “First we have: Littles or regressors, these people will often regress to a younger state of mind to help them cope with day to day life. They're usually traumatized individuals who either had to grow up too fast or those who had a bad childhood, regressing allows them to heal their inner child. They also need to be properly taken care of by Caregivers.” 

Angel raises an eyebrow, but Charlie continues: 

“Caregivers are the ones assigned to take care of littles, these people usually have natural instincts

Much little Littles, Caregivers are thought to have a traumatic past but they cope by helping others.” Charlie explains. 

“Guardians or ‘protectors’ I think is pretty self explanatory. These people are very strong, fearless leaders who are very protective of their loved ones.” She reads, smiling at Vaggie at that part.  

“Pets or pet regressors are a lot like Littles, except instead of regressing to a child's mindset, they regress to an animal mindset.” 

“And Handlers are a lot like Caregivers except for pets. Usually Caregivers and Handlers go hand in hand, so it's rare for someone to get this classification.” Charlie explains.

“And what's the purpose of these tests? Like what happens to you afterwards?” Angel asks.

“Well, anyone who gets at least fifty percent little on the test will be assigned a caregiver, either a parent could adopt them, or a partner,” Charlie holds Vaggie's hand. “Or they'll be taken to an adoption center to meet their adoptive caregiver or assigned caregiver. A caregiver assigned by the people who run the program. Usually this is a last resort though.”

“Caregivers are very similar, having to have a little, and if they don't have one, they'll be assigned one.” Vaggie adds. “They usually can't get away without having one. Unless they're royal or have kids that is.” 

Angel's mouth hangs open. “...And this is just something you do? You assign people to other people and force them to live their life based solely on a random test they took when they were fifteen?!” Angel asks.

“Yup, pretty much.” Vaggie says. 

“And you're all just fine with this?!” Angel asks.

“It's a flawed system, I will admit. But it has helped a lot of people too.” Charlie says. 

“In what way?” Angel asks. 

“Well, Littles have someone to take care of them, and Caregivers have someone to take care of.” Charlie explains.

“That's stupid.” Angel says. “I am not taking that test.” 

“Oh, come on, Angel. We just want to help you.” Charlie says. “Everyone is going to be taking to, so you won't be alone.” 

“Who says I'm taking that test?” Husk asks as Vaggie tries to hand him one. 

“Everyone is taking it.” Charlie says again. “It'll be fun!”

“Wait a minute, if all the hellborn take this test, does that mean…you've taken the test?” Angel asks Charlie.

“Oh yeah, of course!” Charlie says.

“If you're going to be knowing our results, isn't it only fair that we know yours?” He asks.

“Okay. Well, I'm a classified caregiver and little.” She says, moving some hair back awkwardly when mentioning the little part. 

“You can be both?” Angel asks.

“Yup, 50/50. She says.

“Well, just because you're okay with it, doesn't mean I am.” Angel says. 

“What's wrong, Angel? Scared?” Husk asks.

“No.” Angel says. “I just-” Angel didn't know how to say it. “Fuck you!”

“Come on, Angel. Get on board.” Charlie encourages, handing him the test. 

Angel takes it and looks through it skeptically. 

Suddenly Charlie gets a phone call. She checks her phone but her eyes widen. “Oh.” She looks at everyone and presses the phone close to her chest. “Uhh… I'll be right back, you guys just answer these questions as honestly as you can.” Charlie instructs before walking out.

Vaggie looks at Charlie with concern and wordlessly follows her into the other room. 

~~~Charlie and Vaggie:~~~

Charlie got off the phone quickly, the phone conversation only lasted a few minutes, and even then she exclusively answered with small answers:  ‘mhm’ ‘sure’ ‘uh..okay.’ and finally ‘Yeah, bye.’

“Everything okay, Charlie?” Vaggie asks. 

“Everything is super!” She says, smiling brightly and adding extra enthusiasm to her voice to make sure Vaggie wasn't suspicious. 

“Oh good. So, who was on the phone?” Vaggie asks.

“Just- my dad. Don't worry about it. It's nothing.” Charlie says. 

Charlie was about to leave, but Vaggie grabbed her hand. “Hey, you know you can tell me anything….right?” 

“Of course I know that, silly.” Charlie laughs. “Everything is fine, I promise.” She says. 

“Okay…I trust you.” Vaggie shrugs, keeping a smile on her face. 

What else could she do? If something is wrong but Charlie doesn't want to talk about it, it would be wrong to pressure her. 

Charlie grabs Vaggie’s hand and smiles kindly. “Let's go back to the others. Also, you need to take the test too. I wanna see your results.” 

Vaggie rolls her eyes. “As if you don’t know what I am already? You're the one taking care of me all the time.”

“I'm just curious.” Charlie says. “And of course I will always take care of you, we take care of each other. It's kind of our job.” She chuckles. 

Vaggie smirks. “Well, yeah. But, you're not as young as I am.” She says. 

“Or as absolutely adorable!” Charlie baby talks.

“No way, you're way cuter, little or not.” 

“You keep thinking that.” Charlie says, booping her beloved girlfriend's nose. “But we both know you're the cutest little ever.” ~

~~~Husk~~~

“Come on, Angel. Get on board.” Angel mocks once Charlie left the room.

“That bitch is hiding something.” Husk says. “I can tell.” 

“Who cares? I have work to do.” Angel says, getting up and leaving the test behind. 

“It's the weekend.” Husk says. 

“Yeah, but Val has a party tonight and he wants me to help…entertain the guests. If you know what I mean.” He smirks. 

Husk rolls his eyes as Angel smiles at himself. He always looks so proud to get under his skin or make him feel uncomfortable. 

“You sure you don't want to take this with you?” Husk asks. “The princess won't be too happy when she finds out you're walking out on yet another activity.” Husk smirks in an attempt to tease him back. “...You might get in trouble.”

Angel gasps. “Oh please, I'm so scared.” He says sarcastically. “She won't do anything. The worst thing she could do is tell me she's very disappointed in me or some shit.” He scoffs, continuing to walk away. 

“Angel?” Husk asks him.

“What?” Angel asks. 

“Just…be careful. Okay?” He asks.

Angel frowns for a moment, then smiles. “Yeah…I will. Thanks.”

Alastor looks over at the cat, and smiles at Husk wordlessly. 

“Mind your own fucking business!” Husk snaps at him. 

Alastor laughs. “Well, if you didn't make everything so obvious, perhaps I would.” 

“I don't know what you're talking about.” Husk says. 

Alastor chuckles. “Of course you don't.”

Husk looks away from Al, turning his attention on anyone else-

It's what he always does… he observes. 

Sir Pentious and Niffty were already working on their tests, Niffty rather fast and violent and Pentious very slow and hesitant.

“This test is impossible!” Sir Pentious complains. “How can they expect me to answer these hard questions? What am I supposed to put for gender?”

Husk looks at the test, the questions varies from mildly personal, complicated, to way too personal: “How do you deal with your failure?” He reads out loud. Wondering how the fuck that could tell them their place in…

As Charlie put it: ‘Society,’

“I put down: kill tiny things and drink their blood.” Niffty says. 

“Blow stuff up!” Sir Pentious says. “Or perhaps I'd try try again? Oo! Both!” 

“You are all such a pleasure to have around.” Alastor says. Very quickly finishing his test with no issues. 

Husk was honestly surprised he was going along with this. He probably found the idea hilarious. 

Husk sighs, normally he wouldn't engage with something like this either, but he knew Charlie wouldn't stop bothering him if he didn't. It was a lot easier to just do it and then get the rest of his day over with. 

~~~Charlie:~~~

Charlie enthusiastically returns to the main room. “So, how's everyone doing?” She asks. “Where's Angel?” She asks before anyone could answer her first question.

“He left.” Husk says. 

“Oh.” Charlie says. “That's…fine. He can just take it when he gets back!” She says.

Vaggie sighs. “When is he finally going to take anything we do seriously?”

“I don't think Angel knows what serious is.” Husk says. 

They continue their tests, and Vaggie starts hers.

~~~~A few minutes later:~~~

“Finished!” Niffty says, handing her test back to Charlie. 

“Perfect, thank you Niffty.” Charlie says. 

“This test is impossible!” Pentious says. “How am I supposed to know all these personal questions?”

“Don't over think it.” Charlie says. “Just write the first thing that comes to mind.” 

Husk leaves his test on the table, and Alastor leaves his on the floor, then both of them go back to their business. 

Vaggie picked them up so as not to lose them. 

~~~Charlie and Vaggie, Later:~~~

All Charlie had to do was scan the tests on their computer and the test results would print themselves. They had gotten access to the program the test centers use. Perks to being the princess of hell. 

Her and Vaggie both awaited the answers for everyone. 

“This will be so great! Getting to know everyone better so we can help them." Charlie says. "I can't wait to find out what the results are!"

“Just- be careful. Okay? I don't want you to blow this out of proportion.” Vaggie says. 

“Psh, Vaggie! When have I ever done that?” 

“When you found out I was a little, you bought me the whole little store!” Vaggie says. 

“I gave it back after you told me to.” Charlie says. “I just wanted to make sure you had everything you needed.” 

“I know.” Vaggie says. “I just want to make sure you don't get yourself hurt...or scare anyone away. You know?"

“Ooo! Your results are in!” Charlie squeals, grabbing the paper from the printer. 

Vaggie rolls her eyes, but she's still smiling. She can't help it, Charlie is too cute. “What does it say?” 

“Fifty percent little, fifty percent guardian!” Charlie says. “As I expected.” She says, in some sort of accent to make her sound smarter. 

“Sounds right.” She says. 

The next results get printed. “Husker!” Charlie  sings.

Vaggie grabs the paper and reads it. “Seventy-five guardian, twenty five Neutral.” 

“Niffty: Fifty percent Handler and…” Charlie tilts her head. “And unclassifyable nonsense.” She reads. 

Vaggie nods. “Also sounds right.” 

“Ooo, Sir Pentious is sixty percent little and fourty percent neutral.” Charlie says. “Little snake!” Charlie squeals. 

“Okay, calm down there.” Vaggie laughs, taking the paper from Charlie. “Just grab the last one so we can get started planning the actual activities.” 

Charlie grabs the final test result. “Uhhh.” 

“What does it say?” Vaggie asks taking the paper from her. 

Charlie couldn't even answer, she just stayed quietly shocked as Vaggy looked over the results. 

Vaggie's eyes widen. “There's no. Fucking. Way.”

Alastor: 

100% Little. 

Taglist: @todayimfour

#helluva boss age regression #Itty bitty sinners #age regression fanfic #hazbin hotel agere #Little!Alastor #Niffty #charlie magne #Little!Charlie magne #Little!Charlie #Little!SirPentious #Hazbin hotel age regression #Ittybittysinners #Hazbin hotel fanfic #Little!Vaggie #Vaggie

[kimbap-r0ll]

What if reader flinches whenever the twist boys argues/moves suddenly/makes a movement towards them because their ex was very toxic and abusive. How'd they react? Sorry if this makes oyu uncomfortable, feel free to ignore this request if you want. Just want some comfort headcanons with the twist characters because I had a very crappy break up with a recent abusive boyfriend of mine...Also, I love your work!!

Hi! Sorry I'm getting to this so late ;-; I'm glad you like my writing! I hope you're doing better too, and for anyone who is going through a toxic relationship or had experience with it I hope you are/will be in a better place now. I'll put this under the cut in case this is sensitive to anyone, but I'll choose the characters as Floyd, Riddle, Sebek, and Deuce.

tw: implications of an abusive relationship

Floyd, Riddle, Sebek, Deuce with an s/o who experienced an abusive relationship

Floyd

At first he didn't think much about his aggressive even dangerous behavior around people. He thought it was funny to see people look scared when he threatened to squeeze them and things like that. Even with his behavior, you two somehow started dating (perhaps it was your love of basketball or maybe similar interests in the sea).

He once punched the wall more or less because he was annoyed at someone (it was not you at all) and was muttering to himself about the said person. However, when he looked up to see you (who was there studying with him in his room), you were frozen in place and just staring at him.

This caused a different emotion from him to rise up: fear. It was the fear that he scared you, caused you to see someone that hurt you for so long and so much. His usual grin or threatening aura disappeared immediately and he carefully approached you. However, you backed away, flinching when he tried to reach out his hand to you

Floyd and you end up having a long talk that day about your past relationship. If anything, Floyd was ready to find whoever your ex was and beat the shit out of him. However, what you needed from Floyd the most was comfort, which he did by giving you what felt like the softest hug you had ever received in your life. He didn't have the words to comfort you as he was not experienced in softness, but he listened to everything you had to say, told himself what he needs to do to help you heal.

Floyd is extremely attentive, even for someone that may seem so careless. He never again acts violently in front of you, rather opting to give you surprise (gentle) hugs and joking around with you. Seeing you laugh and smile always made his heart flutter. However, seeing you smile after hearing your past makes him want to protect you more. You're in safe arms, he tells himself that when your with him. He'll make sure of that

Riddle

For someone who grew up in a strict, painful childhood, Riddle thought he would understand how to not make people cry. However, the habits he learned from his mother seemed to replicate in his actions as a dorm leader. You and Riddle seemed like an unlikely match with how kind you were, but somehow you two quickly became friends and started dating

Riddle never raised his voice at you, he was the complete opposite of the way he acted to his peers. However, Riddle one day raised his voice at you when you came back to the dorms late. He yelled at how worried he was as it was storming outside, that you could get hurt and how you had to fix that habit. The next thing he knew, he was looking at you holding yourself away from him, almost like you were scared

It was as though he was seeing a reflection of himself from his childhood, one that was frightened but unable to move. HIs heart felt sudden pain, especially when he tried to talk to you but you turned your face away from him. Riddle softly said an apology, swearing he would never do that again and that he would listen to you if you wanted to talk about it

When Riddle learns about your abusive past relationship, he can't help but wish to slap himself back when he yelled at you. He wished he had known, perhaps then he could have worked harder to make you feel safe with him and never worry about being pulled into something so traumatic again. Riddle tells you he's grateful you let him know about your past and that he would do everything he can to help you and protect you. For the first time, you see your uptight boyfriend loosen up, hugging you gently and placing a kiss on your head

He will speak softly to you as he usually did (Ace and Deuce may ask you how you accomplished this) and will always be there when you need comfort. He has warm tea when you call him over because you just need someone to talk to, and he's happy you trust him. He knows it can be hard to open up to people after such a horrible experience, but if anything, Riddle will make sure the two of you walk together and that you are safe with him

Sebek

As uptight as he is, he was never one to throw hands (though the threats of doing so are much more common). He prefered being classy, almost professional in school. Perhaps that was how he met you, either through opposites attract or through similar interests. Either way, he quickly fell in love and the next thing you knew it the two of you were dating (and Lilia thought it was the cutest thing ever)

Though it seemed like you two were very close, there was one thing that always stuck to the back of your mind: his voice. It was handsome when he spoke to you gently, but there were times when it would scare you. One day, the two of you had a heated argument and he yelled your name, perhaps in a vain attempt to get his point across. However, this resulted in you freezing up, feeling tears well up in your eyes and just holding your breath, perhaps waiting for something to hit you

Sebek saw this, and he immediately knew what he did wrong. He knew his impulses were horrible, but the last thing he wanted was for you to be affected by it. All the fiery anger diminished, his voice was almost a whisper when he said 'sorry' and asked if you were alright, saying he was in the wrong for raising his voice like that.

Sebek will give you time to calm down and talk to him about what happened. He has a feeling it was something traumatic, but what he hears makes his heart break. How could someone hurt you like that? Who could do such a thing to someone so kind, so amazing, that you had to live with that fear in the back of your mind? Sebek will tell you he never wants you to be afraid of him and that he's grateful you told him about your abusive ex. If anything, it will be a promise for life that he will protect you rather than harm you

Sebek isn't the best at comfort, but he can be surprisingly gentle when he wants to be. Quiet dates around the forest or reading in the Diasomnia lounge is common with the two of you. He will try his best not to raise his voice, and he can be overprotective of you. If he ever runs into your ex, he may have the urge to beat him up. However, you come first to him, he will make sure you are safe.

Deuce

He's never had the best reputation, he knows. That's why when he went to NRC he decided to completely change his ways and become an honor student. What he didn't expect was for him to fall in love with you and ask you out (in what you could say was the cheesiest way possible). You two went on dates right away, often causing Ace to complain about being a third wheel (though he thought you two were super cute together)

You knew about Deuce's past as a delinquent because he told you about it. However you never really thought about seeing it happen until one day when he ran across some rowdy people at the seashore you two were hanging out at. The men not only catcalled you but tried to grab you, causing you to flinch. Deuce didn't think before throwing a punch at them, telling them in the most aggressive way ever to stay away, and eventually scaring them away enough for them to run. When he turned to you, he didn't see you smiling, rather you were burying your face in your arms, crouched down and trying to hide your tears

Deuce gently crouches down too, telling you it's alright and that the guys are gone. However you ask him about the violent reaction, and he realizes something's wrong. You were scared of him too. Whispering your name, he slowly pulls you into a hug and lets you cry, whispering you'll be alright and that he's sorry for scaring you like that. If you want to talk about it at a later time, he'll wait and listen when you do

If anything, Deuce would want to punch the living shit out of your ex for causing so much pain. At the same time, Deuce will want to be even more protective of you, wanting you to feel safe with him and making happy memories together. He'll make sure of that by promising to not act out violently with you around and to protect you from harassers. He'll give you a warm smile and pinky promise it too

Deuce is a bit awkward and cheesy when it comes to comfort and hugs, but it's what makes you smile. He loves seeing you happy, it's like walking through a sunny day to him, and he'll do everything he can to protect your smile. He will listen to you if you need to talk to him, and sometimes the two of you go on a magical wheel ride (as that is a way he de-stresses). If anything, he will be protective of you, but super comforting at the same time

#twst #twisted wonderland #twst imagines #anon ask #twst scenarios #twst headcanons #twst x reader #tw #twst floyd #twst floyd x reader #twst riddle #twst riddle x reader #twst sebek #twst sebek x reader #twst deuce #twst deuce x reader

[goamu-blog]

I think I figured out why I didn't care much for Shen Yuan as a character. It's his attitude and mindset. Didn't like how he treated SQH. It was too close to antifan behavior and cyberbullying. Even if SQH didn't seem to mind as long as he was paid.

When he transmigrated, he was nice to everyone, but being decent doesn't take much effort, and I don't think I would call SY a kind person. To me, SY is rather self-centered and callous. He was mainly concerned about himself, which is fine and understandable, but he also doesn't seem concerned with the well-being of others. He was fine with letting the story go on as intended, with LBH terrorizing the world in the future, as long as he stayed alive.

He did return to the sect when LBH attacked it, but that was when he found out that LBH didn't want to kill him. He did help stop TLJ, but he had LBH and his protagonist halo at his side. Seems to me like SY is one that as long as it doesn't affect him, he will not care what happens.

SY never once thought if he could change the story in some way even if he had to follow what the system told him to do. All he had to do when the abyss happened was say something like, "LBH you can't control your powers and I can't protect you from the sect, you need to leave and the only way to do that is the abyss because we are surrounded by cultivators". But he never even tried to think of a different way the story could go.

He doesn't really understand emotions. The scene at the end of the mausoleum, when LBH was angry that SY seemed to be running from him again, and SY had the audacity to be so upset about that. When all SY has done up to that point was run and refuse to talk to LBH. There was no understanding as to why LBH was so upset.

It seems like the only way for SY to come close to understanding LBH emotions is if he goes through LBH mind. SY does care about LBH, but he doesn't seem to be able to deeply understand LBH without going through his mind. Seems like SY can't have a conversation with LBH where they come to an important understanding with each other.

It feels like SY and LBH getting together kind of just happened. Like SY just went along with it. Also, it feels like LBH puts more effort into the relationship than SY does, LBH is the one the usually initiates. And SY never apologized to LBH for how he treated him. I think that's why I don't care much for them as a couple.

SY never cared for the fact that he took over someone else's body even when he found out the truth of SJ. While yes, SJ did horrible things, he was also an abused former slave who never got a chance to heal from his past. And SY doesn't care that he essentially erased SJ and took over his life. SJ was always pushed to the side.

SY was a privileged young master that unwillingly took over the body of a former slave and got to benefit form the work that SJ did, and SY didn't pay him any mind every when he learned the truth. SY already had everything in his former life, and because of the work SJ did, SY was in a position to get even more, and SY doesn't care. He just pushed SJ aside.

Another thing that got to me about SY is just how oblivious and dense he is. Having oblivious characters is fine to a point, but SY level of obliviousness was borderline stupidity. Even by the end, I still don't think SY knows how emotions work.

A couple of other things, his internalized homophobia is never really addressed, nor his mentality about men and women. He is rather narrow-minded, and he doesn't really change throughout the series. He constantly commits my biggest pet peeves in characters, refusal to communicate, lack of self-awareness, and denial of reality. To me, SY feels like a surface level character. Even when he does realize something, it feels surface level to me.

Overall, I think SY didn't make me feel much for him, and when he did make me feel something, it was irritation because of his attitude and mindset. SY doesn't really change much throughout the series. On the other hand, SJ and LBH made me feel for them. SJ was only in one chapter and one extra, and he made me feel more the SY ever did. I don't think LBH was in the story as much as he should have been, but when he was, he made me feel something.

I feel like the series went too fast. It went from one event to the other without much breathing room in between for the characters. And characters like SJ and, to a lesser extent, LBH, were not in the story as much as I would have liked to see. The extras did help, but it wasn't enough for me.

#svsss #shen yuan #shen jiu #luo binghe #shen qingqiu #original shen qingqiu #danmei #mxtx #scum villian self saving system #scumbag system

[kittyandco]

breathes in

okay. i have literally never seen anyone advocate for hans' potential redemption because he "never did anything wrong," or solely because he was abused and therefore free of all blame (and yes, his abuse is CANON), or ESPECIALLY because he's hot. ever.

what fans are saying is that they want someone who's been hurt by the people who should have been protecting him and raising him and loving him finally achieving some kind of freedom from such deeply ingrained trauma, beginning by making amends with the people he hurt. his reasons are inarguably linked to his past; he didn't decide to commit attempted regicide and treason out of nowhere, and we know that. he saw it as an out. a desperate, last-ditch effort.

we want to see him move on. because, decidedly, he was not dealing with what he went through in any meaningful way. he was pursuing something that he thought would free him from constant inadequacy, but it was only reinforcing the same hierarchy that, in part, pushed him to this point. he wanted to achieve some semblance of freedom by escaping the southern isles, and he felt that this was his only way... but in many ways he would be living in the shadow of his family. he'd be proving that power & status is all that matters, no matter the cost, like his family (especially his father) taught him.

he's been treated as nothing more than a servant, a doormat, an easy target. why would he suddenly stop believing these things about himself the moment he became king? that's just it: if he takes the steps to redeem himself in some way, he may be able to break free of this self-image. he can be better than his family, and especially his father, who he doesn't want to become but whom he is dangerously close to becoming.

and in a film like frozen, where "letting go" and acknowledging your pain head-on, seeing hans actively not do these things, rather painting over it all with power and status, hurts a little. if you relate to any of the characters in any capacity, then you probably understand the hurt that comes with denying your feelings, your experiences that got you here, all your traumas and fears, and how quickly it can spiral. how it can turn you into a different person entirely, often a person that you don't like being.

that's what hans represents for so many people. for many, he's what we could become (hence why he's symbolic of the evil mirror from the original tale). but he also represents protection in an unsafe situation that you feel that you cannot escape. he blends in easily with any situation; he had to learn this for his survival. all we want is to see a reality where he doesn't have to do any of this anymore, just like we wanted to see elsa free of the fears of herself and her surroundings that held her back, and it begins with him being honest about what he did and trying to make amends.

i could go on and on about the ways i personally relate to him. but these are just a few examples and how redemption plays a role.

this is not "apologia." (i know it's coming.) this is simply an explanation as to why people might connect with someone like hans and would want to see him heal. in a film about healing relationships with oneself, a redemption arc would fit right in, and would show people that it's never too late. elsa & anna don't have to forgive him, but the fact that he might be able to try to seek forgiveness and a brighter fate is enough.

you don't have to sympathize with him, or even empathize with him. you can say he belongs in the trash can forever for all i care. but don't misrepresent our wish to see someone we connect with improve meaningfully and the reasons why we would want it.

#screw it; it's going in the fandom tags! i'm so passionate about this and i won't back down (there's so much more i could add too) #frozen #prince hans #i love him for the evil bastard he is in all honesty but the redemption route is tempting. it'd be beautiful #meows

[vilentia]

Unspoken Wounds

Billy Hargrove x reader

A little story to suit my current mood with what I think is the most appropriate character to go with it. 🥲

The night was heavy with tension as you entered your home, weary from your late outing with friends. Your heart sank as you laid eyes upon Billy, sprawled across the couch, a victim of his own alcohol-induced stupor. The frustration that had been building up inside you erupted like a volcano, and in that moment, you couldn't bear to be near him.

You stormed past the unconscious Billy, making your way to the shared bed, seeking solace in its emptiness. Your mind echoed with unspoken words, anger and disappointment consuming your thoughts. How could he disregard your pleas, your worries, time and time again?

The following day dawned, heavy with unresolved conflict. The atmosphere in the house was suffocating, and you couldn't bring yourself to face Billy. Each passing moment only served to deepen the chasm between you, as you avoided any interaction with him. Deep down, you longed for resolution, but pride and resentment held you back.

Billy, though hurt by his own actions, understood the silence that enveloped your relationship. He realized the depth of his mistakes and knew that words alone would not mend the fractures he had caused. Respectful of your need for space, he resolved to give you the time you required, hoping that one day, the wounds could heal.

Days turned into weeks, and the distance between you seemed insurmountable. But amidst the darkness, a flicker of hope remained. One evening, as the sun cast its golden hues across the room, you found yourself unable to ignore the longing in your heart. Slowly, you approached Billy, a vulnerability radiating from your eyes.

"I miss us," you whispered softly, your voice quivering with a mix of pain and love. "But I can't keep living like this, Billy. I need you to understand."

Billy looked at you, his eyes filled with remorse and a desperate desire to make things right. "I know, babe. I'm sorry. I've let you down, and I've let myself down. I don't want to lose you."

Tears welled up in your eyes as you spoke from the depths of your soul. "I love you, Billy, but I can't bear to see you destroy yourself like this. We need to find a way to move forward, together."

In that vulnerable moment, both of you recognized the love that had brought you together. The obstacles that had threatened to tear you apart suddenly seemed surmountable, as you vowed to support each other through the darkness and celebrate the light.

From that day forward, Billy sought help for his alcohol abuse, attending support groups and therapy sessions. Together, you embarked on a journey of healing and growth, learning to communicate openly and honestly with each other.

As time passed, the wounds slowly healed, leaving scars that served as a reminder of the strength of your love. Your relationship transformed, blossoming into a profound connection built on trust, understanding, and forgiveness.

Through the trials and tribulations, you realized that love could overcome even the darkest of moments. And as you held each other tightly, basking in the warmth of your renewed bond, you knew that together, you could weather any storm that life threw your way.

#billy hargrove fic #billy hargrove stranger things #billy hargrove fanfiction #billy hargrove drabble #billy hargrove x reader #billy hargrove imagine #billy hargrove #billy hargrove oneshot #billy hargrove au #billy hargrove angst #billy hargrove x you #billy hargrove x y/n #billy hargrove fanfic #billy hargrove blurb #billy stranger things #stranger things billy

[zvtara-was-never-canon]

I don’t understand Zut’s obsession with bloodbending. This technique, as we can see, is used for taking control over other body for the purposes of fighting the enemy, torture, abuse. We see Katara’s horror at having to learn and use it in the Puppetmaster and her disgust of the idea that someone should invade the body and control other being against their will. We see her using it in Southern Raiders and realizing that she went too far from the line she drew for herself – and it works to show her pain there. But to take it and say she should have used it more, for healing and power? I don’t get it.

Their logic is "This looks cool, therefore it is empowering, and she only ever used willingly one time, when Zuko was around, so OBVIOUSLY that means Zuko empowers her."

Nevermind that, like you pointed out, Katara did NOT feel empowered during these moments: on the first one she felt coerced, abused, terrified, and manipulated, and on the second she felt like she had betrayed her core vallues in a moment of blinding rage.

And it's just crazy to me to notice how zutarians are constantly trying to force parallels between Zuko and Katara - yet they are ignoring the one that is right in front of their faces.

Zuko was disfigured by his own father, who justified his abusive behavior as being for his son's own good and "teaching him a lesson. Hama masks her intentions of forcing Katara to learn bloodbending by claiming she just wants to bond with her as her teacher.

On the day of the eclipse, to keep Zuko around until he's able to try and kill him, Ozai manipulates his son by using his love for Ursa against him, offering to tell him what actually happened to her. To force Katara to bloodbend, Hama uses her love for Sokka and Aang against her, controlling them so they'll kill each other unless Katara steps in.

When Zuko has his Agni Kai with Zhao, he almost gives him a scar as well, but decides to spare him at the last moment because, even though he's still in denial about being abused, deep down he already knows he doesn't want to be a monster like Ozai. When Katara uses bloodbending on who she thinks is her mother's killer, then realizes her mistake, she gets quite a brutal awakening that makes her realize she's not simply going after justice or even revenge, but rather allowing herself to fall victim to cycle of violence and abuse like Hama did.

This is a genuine, not at all forced parallel between Zuko and Katara, and that the writers basically handed to the shippers in a neat little bow - and they threw it in the garbage because it did not allow them to glorify violence, romanticize Zuko's past as a villain who was prone to violence, pretend Zuko and Katara only have positive traits in common and could only ever bring out the best in each other, and demonize Aang as this abusive person that wants to control what Katara can or cannot do.

And ironically enough, in doing so, they not only disregard the meaningful theme of an abused child refusing to repeat the same mistakes of their abuser, but they also make excuses for the ONE person in the entire show who was everything they claimed Aang is.

Hama felt entitled to Katara's loyalty, obedience, admiration and respect. She felt she had the right to dictate how Katara should or should not fight, what was or wasn't against her moral code. She was deliberately manipulative to get Katara trust her, then waited until there was no one else around to help her to make her true intentions clear - and then proved she was VERY willing to react with violence if she didn't get what she wanted.

Zutarians go on and on about how their ship is the "feminist, pro-Katara ship" and how Aang is totally abusive, then turn around and glorify the actions of the ONE person in the entire show that fits the definition of "Katara's abuser."

#anti zutara #pro kataang

[that-ari-blogger]

The Turn Of The Seasons

If you were to look at an episode of television, or any self-contained story for that matter, the first few minutes would probably establish the themes and core questions of that story. For an overt example, Star Wars tells you outright in its opening.

Obviously, you can apply this analytical framework to a series as well, with the first episode setting up the plot of latter episodes. The second season of She-Ra and the Princesses Of Power begins with The Frozen Forest, and I would argue that it establishes three core themes: Consequence, change, and harmony.

Let me explain.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Here is something interesting about She-Ra and storytelling as a whole: Themes aren't separate. There aren't moments where change is the entire focus, for example. All of the themes weave together to tell the story. Think of it like the rgb colour wheel, every part of this story has bits of each theme in it to form a whole. It may focus on one element, but the others will still be there, influencing the scene in minour ways.

With that said, I am going to try and talk about the themes separately for a moment, before bringing them all back together. I will talk about the constituent parts of the story, and then see the end result. I just feel it is important to understand that the separation is artificial.

Consequence is a theme carried over from the previous season and the series as a whole. Although, where the first focused on the overarching cycle of trauma and abuse and the direct result of that, this season focuses in on the consequences of specific actions on the world on a whole, and on the fallout of the story up to this point.

First, the framing of this episode. The Frozen Forest takes place not long after The Battle for Brightmoon, and so the Whispering Woods is still recovering from the ice that nearly destroyed it. This is a series that engages with the fallout of spectacle, and now, even though they have won, the princesses are on the back foot. Where the Woods Provided a border, now the alliance has to hold off the attacking army itself, and it is spread thin trying to do so.

Meanwhile, Catra and Adora are dealing with the consequences of not learning the lesson of the previous season. Adora is still working for Light Hope, and still processing Catra's words at the end of the previous season. Her response to any new development in the Horde is "ah, Catra," and her self-confidence has been eroded, and Light Hope has found that as a weak point and is keeping pressing.

Catra, on the other hand, has moved past Shadow Weaver. Right? She has defeated her in single combat and now her abuser sits in a cell, in shambles. So... why am I talking about it?

Unfortunately, that's not how healing works. Moving on isn't as uncomplicated as hitting someone in the face. Catra hasn't quite worked that out, so she goes to Shadow Weaver to gloat, and Shadow Weaver reads her like a book.

"If you're doing so well, why are you here? It's Adora, isn't it?"

But how does Catra respond?

"I let her win one.  We're gaining ground, and our armies are growing!  When they're ready to roll out, I will be at the head!!  And you'll be here rotting. Thanks, I needed this."

She lies and she blusters, because Catra wants to feel powerful, so she puts Shadow Weaver down. But, does she want to feel powerful? Is that the core desire going on here?

I would argue for something else. I think that Catra wants to feel safe, and she has associated control with that safety. I think Catra lashes out because she feels herself losing control and gets scared. That last line, "I needed this". I don't think its entirely a lie. Catra did need that, at least in her mind. She needed a moment to release all of her anger, but I don't think she recognises that. I would argue that Catra just said that to try and get at Shadow Weaver, to try and tell her that she hadn't won, being correct was entirely accidental.

There is also the fact that Catra's only release is letting out her anger at Shadow Weaver, and whether or not that is healthy is debatable, but what happens if Shadow Weaver was to escape. Where would all of that anger go?

Catra also leads into the theme of change rather well, specifically with her treatment of Lonnie, Kyle, and Rogelio. Once again, Catra has tried to move past Shadow Weaver, but here we show where she has gone after that. Catra is taking her authority the only way she knows how; she is becoming Shadow Weaver.

Back on the princess side of the war, there is a meeting about a change in tactics. Things have been going ok for the alliance, but nobody is sure how often they can continue, so Bow proposes a new strategy, and we see what that means to him. Intelligence comes in various forms, and while Entrapta is the inventor and scientist, Bow is a strategist, capable of maintaining a big picture perspective eternally. So, Bow suggests doing something different, a tactic that won't win the war, but it will buy time to figure out the next step. Bow also prioritises a change in perspective, focusing on knowledge about the opponent, believing that will inform his decisions.

Glimmer is also changing, and her development is mirroring Catra of all people. Overly Sarcastic Productions has a video on the parallels between these two characters later on in the series, but it is neat how early that starts. Glimmer takes on a role that is a lot like her mother in this episode, specifically in her relationship with Frosta. She becomes overprotective, and panics when Frosta gets herself in danger, and because she is Glimmer, her instinct is to push away responsibility. She is rebellious, so it takes her intentionally thinking about her actions to develop and apologise.

I’m sorry I yelled. It's just -- I guess you remind me of... me.  And I can do some really dangerous stuff sometimes.

And this weaves in with the final theme of this episode and this season: Harmony. Specifically harmony with each other.

The opening of the episode shows how the alliance is all made up of individuals who are formidably fighters, but who's miscommunication is holding them back. The band is together, but they ain't playing the same song, so what's the point? This episode shows them why they need to think as a team, and the conclusion where the power of friendship literally saves the day shows this off. Magic in this world is associated with that harmony between princesses, and so when they achieve it, the magic rewards them.

It is telling that Entrapta, Scorpia, and Catra do have this harmonious relationship already, and to me it actually looks like more of a found family than the princesses. These are people who all feel safe around each other, and in this episode at least, Catra actually shows some healthy behaviours towards those in her life. She is supportive of Entrapta, if a little overbearing, for example, and the scene of all of them watching tv on the couch deliberately evokes that familial atmosphere.

All of these moments connect with other themes as well. Adora's attempts to get over Catra are the collision of change and harmony, for example. She wants to get over Catra, but there is that loyalty there. The war council shows the consequences of the Horde, the need for a change, and the complete disharmony of the alliance.

But, the scene that, to me, shows the three themes in full, while letting them both individually shine and mix with each other, is that final scene of the episode.

Consequence: Entrapta's "death". Change: Entrapta's "death". Harmony: Entrapta's "death"

The desire for change stands on its own with Bow trying to adapt his methods and taking a more scientific approach to the war.

The consequences are on display from the previous season and the episode up to this point. The bots are getting better, and the war is getting more tense.

The harmony is on display through what got Bow here in the first place. The fact that it took the entire alliance to bring down the bot and let Bow take a look inside it.

But that all comes crashing in on itself with the reveal, and how it is framed. Often, a fake out death would be brushed off, but here Bow dwells on it. A single change has altered the way he sees both the consequences of the previous season, and the harmony of the princess alliance. Suddenly, he has more agency in Entrapta's fate than he realised, and Marcus Scribner kills that final line.

"Hold onto your hat, Future Bow. Entrapta's alive, and we left her behind."

Final Thoughts

Thus begins another season of She-Ra, and I do like this episode as an opener. The themes are really well done and its telling that, when you think about it, everyone in that War Council Meeting was right, and wrong. Perfuma was right in that they needed cohesion, Mermista was right about needing that change of perspective. Its just the ways that they went about it that was wrong, because teamwork takes time and understanding of each other's boundaries, and the group hadn't worked that out yet.

Next week I'm tackling Ties That Bind, so stick around if that interests you.

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