'I flirted with the idea that instead of being trans that I was just a cross-dresser (a quirk, I thought, that could be quietly folded into an otherwise average life) and that my dysphoria was sexual in nature, and sexual only. And if my feelings were only sexual, then, I wondered, perhaps I wasn’t actually trans.
I had read about a book called The Man Who Would Be Queen, by a Northwestern University professor who believed that transwomen who were attracted to women were really confused fetishists, they wanted to be women to satisfy an autogynephilia. And though I first read about this book in the context of its debunkment and disparagement, I thought about the electricity of slipping on those tights, zipping up those boots, and a stream of guilt followed. Maybe this professor was right, and maybe I was only a fetishist. Not trans, just a misguided boy.
About a year later, on the Internet, I come across a transwoman who added a unique message to the crowd refuting this professor. Oh, I wish I remember who this woman was, and I wish even more that I could do better than paraphrase her, but I remember her saying something like this: “Well, of course I feel sexy putting on women’s clothing and having a woman’s body. If you feel comfortable in your body for the first time, won’t that probably mean it’ll be the first time you feel comfortable, too, with delighting in your body as a sexual thing?”'
-Casey Plett, Consciousness
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To be trans is a curse. Sometimes I wish I was born in a body I'd be comfortable in, or wish I could make myself comfortable in the body I'm in now. Either of them. Anything to get out of this state I'm in now, where I'm holding my breath pretending to be someone I'm not, and the alternative is to breathe and mourn myself at the same time. To mourn the past self I killed. Or maybe she never existed. Or maybe I still am her, just all grown up and twisted into something unrecognizable. To be trans is something to be ashamed of, an ugly part of myself to hide from everyone who loves me. Even if they'll love me when (if) they find out, it doesn't matter, I can't love myself. To be trans is to hate myself, to probably hate myself forever. To be trans is to wonder what I did wrong, to apologize to everyone I care about and to try and do better, but I can't do better, because to do better is to not be trans, and I can't not be trans.
To be trans is to be a gift. Sometimes I think of how blessed I am, to be able to create my own path, to leave my old body behind and sculpt a new one. To be trans is to fight and fight and survive, and take a deep breath when the battle is won. And to be trans is to mourn for what I've suffered, to mourn for those that didn't survive these battles, but to take a deep breath and move forward regardless. To be trans is something to be proud of, something to be hidden only because it is too special to break, but something to treasure. Something to share, when I'm ready. To be trans is to live without apology, because my happiness is more important than anyone who wants me to hold my breath and pretend to be someone I'm not. To be trans is to try and do better, and the best way to be is myself.
To be trans is a gift and a curse, and both are true. I hate it and I love it. I'm ashamed and I'm proud. Transness contradicts itself, because to be trans is to be me, and I am filled to the brim with contradictions.
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Fellow morms
Recently, a loved one of a person dear to me passed away, but they are not of our community.
Has it ever happened to you and did you prepare funeral potatoes for them? Or do you happen to know if gifting food in time of grief is generally well received outside of our community?
Serious question
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are people not allowed to find a subplot/trope boring or uninteresting anymore? is a story boring if it doesnt have a cheating plotline?
every story needs to hit a quota of five extramarital affairs before I crack open the page that’s exactly what I meant
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what is castiel's greatest regret?
link to panel is here, timestamp: 20:54, images below cut
when he was god he could've fixed the world but failed to
'he harboured his feelings for 10 years without actually sharing them, and waited until he was about to die to share his affections'
he never really patched things up with his angel brethren in heaven
he never actually felt like he belonged on earth
(likely connected to above but) he had very few friends
he had a very, very limited wardrobe
as cas looks back on his life, it's probably nothing but one giant sweep of regret
misha did book-end it with:
"Well, I think, in the big picture, Cas... the thing that I like about that character is that he always tried to do the right thing, always tried to do what he thought was good and righteous. And sometimes he made mistakes, but that was always his North Star, and I quite like that about him."
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Something I forgot to mention until now is a little detail after you retire Jake early, because it prompts Roger to be like "hey why tf did you do that man" and you can just be a turbo cunt and say it was bc you couldn't stand his broken voice box and Roger just moves on but considering he has a natural stutter and not one caused by a mechanical failure knowing that that was the reason the last guy you knew got put down must be anywhere from uncomfortable to outright nerve-wracking for real.
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Tuvok says that Vulcan children are very well behaved and have a lot of emotional control by the time they’re ~elementary school aged which makes sense but also makes me want to see what a Vulcan toddler or kindergartener acts like since they can’t be reasoned with as well (can’t really meditate) + are babies and also brimming with near irrepressible violence/emotions.
Vulcan toddler is just quietly accompanying their parent along on an errand. They stop and point to a toy of some sort and ask politely if they can have it. Their parent explains that they have enough toys at home. The toddler immediately throws the tantrum of the century. Just turns into an absolute wild animal in their rage. Other Vulcans are just like “aaa I remember when my children were that age” but any aliens around are like “oh my god is that thing OK??”
I imagine even older Vulcan children would have issues with emotional control given that they’re also children! Though they’d of course know they needed to control themselves and behave...sometimes you just slip up.
Vulcan children are playing together harmoniously. Then one breaks the established rules of the game.
“I made contact with your arm. You are now the chaser.”
“You did not make contact with my arm. I dodged your attempt.”
“You dodged unsuccessfully. I made contact with your arm.”
“I did not.”
“You are cheating.”
“I believe you are the one cheating.”
And an adult has to rush over as one pounces on the other and they both begin screaming and clawing at each other’s eyes. The rest of the children are watching with interest or perhaps grabbing implements to assist their friend.
Little lapses in emotional control would probably be common until they reached like....highschool age. I can imagine an eleven year old Vulcan hearing they can’t sleepover a friend’s home and immediately shattering a vase before apologizing and cleaning it up.
It also seems like bullying would be very prevalent on Vulcan. Spock is canonically bullied frequently and it seems natural that Violent, Extreme Emotions in teenagers would lead to that kind of behavior which isn’t outwardly unacceptable (like crying, laughing, etc) but still satisfies an illogical desire towards cruelty and establishing dominance.
Vulcans schools probably have so many ‘Bullying Is Illogical’ seminars that do nothing and everyone makes fun of behind their teacher’s backs.
Two Vulcan teenagers bullying each other, trying to see who has the more emotional reaction. If you cry or get mad you lose. Only babies cry and get mad...seems pretty illogical(cringe).
Vulcans seem to be very focused on respectability so I’m sure that as bloodthirsty teens there would be a lot of accusations and rules...if you hang out with X then Z,H and Y won’t talk to you. If you apologize too soon then they might accuse you of behaving too emotionally and gossip about you...if you don’t apologize at all they might accuse you of behaving too emotionally and gossip about you. It’s very stressful.
Tuvok also said when he was a teenager in that one flashback that he was ready to fight over the girl he had a crush on (saying he’d “issue a challenge” or something) so I’m implementing that into my personal understanding of Vulcans...like adults do NOT want these kids to fight but amongst other teens they’re like:
“Seynar is my boyfriend.”
“I disagree. He sat next to me during meditation three times this week.”
“Only because I was absent.”
“Then he is fickle and will be mine soon enough.”
And then they challenge one another to a secret duel after school. Dueling to the death is very cool and grownup v_v (teens rarely die from such duels though bc either the other teen stops or someone told an adult). It makes sense to me that teenagers with violent urges would fight one another in a way that they consider acceptably adult. (mimicking the marriage ritual thing or even pon farr...romantic and cool.)
Imagine being a teen Vulcan and your crush starts hinting that they have another person who might be interested in them....hmmm.....and you know you’re gonna have to duel for them or lose em. Such is life.
Vulcan teens seem like they’d either date a lot (emotional whims) very non seriously (because they’re all betrothed) or date not at all because they’re gonna get married to their betrothed anyway.
Loving someone other than your fated match is probably a pretty big trope in Vulcan romance stories...or maybe the opposite? Like someone bad tries to steal your heart but you remain resolute and return to your fated match as is logical.
Anyway all this to say that I think Vulcan children and emotional control is something that’s fun to think about. Especially regarding how Vulcan children would act around adults vs other children.
Vulcan child to adult: I will do my best to get along with my sibling.
(2 seconds later once mother has left)
Vulcan child: You may play with the red toy. If you play with the blue toy I will harm you. Bodily.
Meanwhile their older sibling is rolling their eyes like ugh....threatening violence is for babies....now to prepare for my logical and very adult duel for the love of my life whom I have known for three months. v_v
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