#He can (and has) tackle me!!!

[galgali]

stories where the main character is a hopeful, optimistic pacifist in a bleak world usually takes one of two routes: one, everything works out for them. the world shifts to their kindness and they’re allowed easy routes on account of their morality. two, they’re torn apart by the story for being naive. their hope is something to mock and beat out of them and they can only grow once they abandon it.

then there is trigun.

trigun says that hope will hurt you. you will let people into your life that you shouldn’t have and they will leave you with scars. your obsession with trying to minimize the necessary conflict right in front of you will cause more damage than if you had just fought that battle. you can’t run from your past and all the times you’ve tried to be kind and failed. you can’t avoid hurting other people and you will have to live with that for the rest of your life.

but—

trigun says that there is so much kindness in all of us, and we are more likely to act on love than hate. no matter how many dark nights you’ve cried through, there are brighter tomorrows worth living for. if you want to be good, you can be good. love is what connects us and connection is how we save ourselves. we have to believe in each other. you are made of love. love is all we have.

#trigun means so much to me man. #it's about the very real consequences of pacifism in a way that i've seen other series ever tackle before #despite the fact that the audience can sympathize with his morality things...don't usually work out for vash. #by not taking action things often become worse and his guilt compounds further #but. but! #it is very telling that the villain of the series is the one who's made up his mind that an entire group of beings are inherently cruel #while it is the hero of the series who has seen that species' cruelty but fights for its kindness that he has seen too #vash's love is what makes him who he is. it's what makes him good #it's all that keeps him alive #and trigun invites you to share that with him #trigun #vash the stampede #millions knives #wolfwood #man.

[sulliedsorrow]

going insane thinking about skk breakup dazai leaving the port mafia again because. he really just up and left without saying anything. not a word, not a goodbye, not a “chuuya would you like to come with me.” and he never said anything after. didn’t try to get in contact at all. no texts, no calls, no letters, no cryptic messages decipherable only to the both of them.

imagine being partners with someone. imagine forging a bond so strong that it’s been likened to a diamond sharpening another diamond. imagine spending three years with someone, forging a relationship, learning about each other and what makes them click and how to work together and how exist together.

imagine they throw it all in your face. they leave and not only do they leave, but they do so in a manner which shows that they never even considered you. they left as if your lives aren’t connected, they left as if it was the easiest thing in the world.

imagine everyone else finding out before you.

what was the past three years for then. what was them telling you that you gave them a reason to live for then. has it expired? has it run out? was it not enough? did they find something better?

and the lack of respect of it all. you never would have stopped them from leaving if they just explained why they had to. you would have been angry, you would have been pissed off because it’s the same story over and over again, you hurt everything you touch, you hurt everything you get close to, you’re never enough of a reason for someone to stay; but you would have understood. eventually. but they didn’t do that.

they wrote you so neatly out of their life that you wonder if you were ever a part of it in the first place.

#my writing #bungou stray dogs #soukoku #chuuya centric #he makes me sad #they make me sad #*smacks chuuya* the amount of abandonment you can fit into this boy #like what dazai did was just insulting plain and fucking simple #i’ve always thought it was more than him just leaving yknow. dazai has always been a flight risk and i think on some level chuuya was aware #but to not Say Anything #man. fucking blew up his car and thought that would be enough LMAO #one day i’ll tackle dazai’s perspective on this because i do think it’s incredibly nuanced #or at least it’s nuanced in my head #giving them the complexity they deserve #if asagiri won’t write it well i will #bsd #chuuya nakahara #dazai osamu

[randomnameless]

Fates unironically did the "muhritocracy" schtick better than 3H lol; the vast majority of the playable Nohrian characters are commoners who got into high-ranking positions in the Nohrian army due to being exceptional soldiers and getting rewarded as such, whereas the only commoners on Adrestia's side that aren't turncoats (or fodder soldiers that are stated to exist only in throwaway dialogue from faceless NPCs) are Ladislava (non-character with no screentime, personality or even feats to support that she did anything to help the Adrestian army in any significant way), Fleche (slightly more of a character, still does nothing to help Adrestia), Randolph (does nothing to help and isn't even particularly well-recognized or rewarded for his skills, if him being jealous of his superiors is any indication), and Dorothea (only got to a high-ranking position due to prostituting herself in order to get into Garreg Mach, befriending the crown princess of the Empire, and being made into a general of the Adrestian army due to nepotism from that same crown princess).

What makes it even worse is that Nohr rewarding merit for anyone and everyone, regardless of social class or status, is an irrelevant bit of background worldbuilding, whereas Edelgard wanting to reward commoners' merits is one of her most consistently-repeated ideals, but the only non-nobleborn CF playable character only got so far in life due to (literal) peepee-sucking and nepotism, and even the NPCs are either featless non-characters (Fleche and Ladislava) or complain about not being recognized enough despite his skill/is recognized enough and Edelgard just decided a power-hungry, immoral dumbass was meritant enough to be made into a general in her army (Randolph); shouldn't the order have been reversed? Like, the game where one of the main characters' principle ideals is to recognize and reward anyone who's skilled should be the one to have most of her allies be commoners, whereas the one where the concept of merit is completely irrelevant to the story, themes and characters could have just had the characters be mostly nobles instead of consistently making them commoners just for subtle worldbuilding? It's weird.

Want to see an upstanding posterchild of Nohrian muhritocracy?

Chaos will always topple the ones who don't earn their status. It's folks like you and me who rise to the top. And the way we do that is by cutting down all our enemies.

I won't stop at captain. I will keep on climbing!

I'll be a king someday. I'll make it happen—you wait and see.

More seriously -

It's all about the what is actually rewarded.

I've already joked a bit about it, but basically Randolph and Nopes!Caspar want to demonstrate their muhrit by... invading countries, killing refugees or randoms who returned in their home after being ousted by the Imperial army.

Much muhrit, very uwu.

Take Whodislava, as you mentioned, bar being a named NPC who as less screentime than Kronya and is supposed to be a sad casualty for war, while being the posterchild of Supreme Leader's muhritocracy, we don't a thing about her. What has she done to be granted the rank of general? What are her achievements?

At times I'm pretty sure TS was partly written to laugh and mock FE16, but Avlora is basically in the same situation, save that Avlora has more plot relevance and exists bar being a sign the devs hold that's written "please feel bad about this character you've never interacted with and only has 5 lines of dialogue and is only here to garner sympathy when she dies I mean even Fates!Candace had more presence than her".

Avlora was an orphan, trained under Groma - a famous general - who continued to train even when Groma retired, became Adre- Aesfrost's top general and defeated Maxwell in a duel. We have her story - she came from nothing - her feats - she defeated the strongest warrior in Glenbrook - and the entire meritocracy angle sticks : Avlora was a nobody made general because she kicked asses.

The meritocratic Adrestia NPCs?

Randolph... tries to get muhrit, but fails as we protect people and only laments about his status in his House (as he is fucking killing people to gain more status, like dude, priorities?) - so in way, both Randy and Flèche are imo, counterexemples of Supreme Leader's muhritocracy : Randolph kills peons and invades an orphanage to demonstrate his "muhrit" because, otherwise, without any muhrit, iirc it's implied he and his sister will be demoted to randoms in House Bergliez (even if Flèche is supposed to be younger than Cyril iirc? Like how the frick do you want a kid of 12 to demonstrate her muhrit, else she'll be kicked out of her house?).

Whodislava... dies heroically, at least that's what we're supposed to get from her very "please cry" cutscene when she dies in front of Supreme Leader in Tru Piss - as Rhea and her family + knights tried to retake their ancestral home and she prevented them from doing so - or it's the same nonsense as "we killed Ferdie professor :(", we are supposed to feel bad about people who were fighting alongside a demonic beast when, in FE16, we fucking know what they are.

Since the FE5 banner released earlier this week, FE5 paints "honorable" Reinhardt as a pitiful man, because no matter how honorable or kickass or kind Reinhardt was, when it came to defect to protect children from being kidnapped or stop the general nonsense the Empire was pulling in Thracia... Reinhardt refused to do so, pretexting remaining by Ishtar's side, and when that became impossible, he choose death over rescuing toddlers. His situation is supposed to be compared to his sister's Olwen, who, when she discovers the truth of what is happening in Thracia, ditches the Empire to help Leif rescue the children - and, imo, Amalda (who's not in FEH yet!) who is also, basically, a commander who plays a larger Camus role as in, she tries to appeal to her Lord to stop the child hunts, her Lord tells her to eat shit, and when asked why she still fights and why she doesn't defect, Amalda says if she does so, her knights will be killed + Amalda appears as a NPC allied unit in a map to hunt bandits to save a village.

So, compared to those ladies who defect or try to protect whoever they can protect - their soldiers AND civilians who are being trampled by their own army - Reinhardt who doesn't do a thing and picks "death" is, as Olwen's ending puts it "pitiful".

Back to your ask anon, even if I disgress from the meritocracy angle - Flèche, Whodislava and Randy are such non-entities compared to characters with 6 lines from FE5 that even if they try to pull the "I have to do this for my family" or the "I came from nothing and still help my emperor because I am thankful to her for having raised me from being a commoner to a general", our Adrestians NPC feel very, very flat.

Are we supposed to cry for Hans's failed dreams of becoming a king when we kill him? No, but Randy and Whodislava's deaths are overplayed with so much pathos that the game is basically telling you "and here you should feel bad because they died" but... what is more important, the fact they tried to unlock a lot of achievments to demonstrate their "muhrit", or what the hell they were ready to do to unlock said achievments?

As for Doro needing to befriend people to enter Garreg Mach, remember that Doro, being touted as another example of the muhritocracy Supreme Leader's Adrestia aims to be, had to engage in sex work from a young age, to reach the diva status - which has very disturbing implications, that are glossed over because that's FE16 for you. Are we supposed to believe Doro "worked hard" to be able to catch the eye of some deranged fucks when she was a pre-teen to become a diva - or, as Manu puts it in a support that cannot be achieved in Tru Piss, muhrit alone doesn't work to become a diva, and it's actually a pretty font to hide the "dark" deeds young singers in Mittelfrank have to do to reach the "diva" status?

Minor tidbit though, Doro is famous enough for being Supreme Leader's dearest friend but she isn't promoted to "general" in Tru Piss, she's only BESF who's not, at least in her bio, a general Post TS.

Imo the question you raise is actually relevant to how empty Supreme Leader's muhritocracy's ideal is - in both game Ferdie has to remind her that to build "muhrit" or for commoners to be able to gather "muhrit" as nobles do, they have to start at the same lever, and receive education as nobles do.

IIRC, in Supreme Bullshit, despite their feats, Hubert tells Barney they're only a commoner - not even a worthy commoner like Doro - but a fucking random - when muhrit wise, Barney should at least be named general!

In both games, Linhardt is a general... but we don't see anything from him, bar his tropey "i want to study crests and nap and i dgaf about anything else" traits - if that's all there is to him, how and why the crap was he made general??

Why, it's almost as if "muhrit" is a smokescreen to hide the fact that the one who chooses/picks who gets to be important from who isn't does it on their own terms just like irl

What is merit, really? Who gets to decide what is merit from what isn't? Or who is the "best" at doing things, from another?

It's another instance of, imo, Fodlan's artificial feel, the game raises a question/issue, and starts some smoke about it, but without tackling said issues seriously we're left with "I agree and think starvation shouldn't exist anymore" milquetoast and cliché opinions that give the illusion this game is "very deep" when it's just, a puff of smoke.

#anon #replies #fodlan nonsense #those games are so ridiculous tbh trying to 'tackle' this issue with a spoon #and then people buy the 'see this game tackles this issue' #you won't drill a hole in a wall of concrete with a plastic spoon #Hans represents muhrit as in ok he can kill things dead yay #but morality wise? No matter how many people he can kill in one day he was arrested because there are more important things than #this 'he's the best at killing' muhritocratic angle #Amalda and Olwen defect when they are given the occasion and learn abotu the Empire's nonsense #but when Whodislava and Ferdie (and the BESF in general) side with Baldo'n'Waldi they don't? #And we're supposed to cry about their deaths when they fucking use mutated humans as fodder? #like I'm not following jjk that well #but i'm pretty sure Doro's not supposed to go full sad uwus “we've killed mahito professor :'( ” #FE5 #FE5 bestest game ever #they made me merciless on the Camus archetype lol #I really love Amalda and hope she'll eventually be added in FE heroes #FE16 #Avlora kicked ass in TS and even she has the realisation that the fuck she was doing was horrible #and faces consequences for demosntrating her 'muhrit' by slaughtering people

[ruvviks]

reid no longer evil he wants to be loved now (click for better quality)

#cp2077 #art:reid #nuclearocs #nuclearart #rbs encouraged <3 #ok so like. ok so listen. ok. listen. Listen. i'm sorry #he was supposed to be cassidy's evil ex boyfriend who dies at some point in the story but. well. i got attached #he was supposed to die and knew this and accepted it but then he was forced to live and deal with the consequences instead #and that changed him. and now he's just some guy who writes silly little stories and songs and has friends and is Loved #anyway. enough about that. look at him he's gnome sized #powerhouse of a man though he's a top he's ex maxtac he can tackle anyone to the floor if he so desires #entirely covered in body hair. actively giving me gender envy fr #i'm taller than him though lol which is hilarious to me

[recallback-art]

After a while of silence, I can finally share what I was working on!

I've been wanting to do a "times of the day" piece like this for ages, always been very intimidated by the idea, but I'm glad I finally got the balls to do it. This was incredibly fun and has me craving more pieces where I experiment with color a little or put characters in real scenes.

Feels good I feel like I'm really proving I'm getting better at this whole art thing.

#ocs #original character #monster oc #monster characters #recall draws #my ocs #laid out in lavender #oren kawaguchi #lucero ardenti #masaru yamada #wasnt rlly sure what to tag lmao but i think those will do #and it said i didnt need to tag it but ill still at least call out willow catmask of laika fame for being the inspiration! #have loved the times of day piece they did since forever and the way he plays with color shes a huge inspiration #that makes me wanna get more involved with my coloring beyond just the shading style i have #and this piece has given me that kick in the ass to want to do more as well im already craving my next big piece #i also just feel good proving i can draw True scenic pieces its something ive struggled with but now i feel i can and should tackle it #i still have a lot of work to do in that respect but i think its work i Can do #i feel good i feel like i rlly am a good artist :) my skills are meaningful and i make nice pictures and art is so fun #sorry changed some tags bc i was getting attention from spam accounts that are making me rlly nervous

[rainyrindou]

somebody help i’m suffering psychic damage from these images

#his hair does something to me i would probably scalp him on accident #it’s already so messy i want to make it Worse #and in the shower i imagined bonten koko with a messy bun #so that has to come to fruition in my sketchbook this week. obviously #i need to go to sleep #koko <3 #venus talks #the third image. can he shut the fuck up #i want to put him on his ass i want to tackle him to the ground #who does he think he is #daddy? or something #what who said that #the bunny on his shoulder is me btw #ok grandma let’s get you to bed

[svere-online]

New Kashir art for a new cold weather fit ❄️

(this is a fake scenario he does not enjoy the cold in the slightest he is not enchanted he is suffering)

#my art #oc art #dnd5e #yuan ti #kashir saint verna #my art style has improved so much over the past year it’s ridiculous #trying to tackle better poses next #me trying to design clothing for Kashir is like can you tell he likes flowers? can you tell he’s a lunar sorcerer? no? #back to the drawing board

[vaugarde]

seen both episodes of horizons now and holy fuck

#i was so used to being bored w jn tbh but this series already has me really hooked??? #liko is a really well realized character and no scene feels wasted everything feels carefully set up #the tone is also so good like liko and am’s silent conversation when he finds her hiding on the ship??????? #it was SO good and i like what theyre setting up with the new pokemon and i love the airship setting #i was nervous when eve told me it was another ‘’travel the world hub’’ deal but unlike jn #theres like an even spread of pokemon from other regions #and not only that but pokemon that havent gotten too much love in general like alolan muk snorunt and carkoal #speaking of which THIS WAS CARKOALS FIRST APPEARANCE??? #its also still being good w all of the starters too like so far fuecoco’s been the latest to show up #and it still has adequate screentime and personality to it #literally the only thing im hmmm abt is more charizard favoritism but like. i can forgive it with how even everything is #and i love that pikachu is their boss AND IT HAS VOLT TACKLE. BABYGIRL I MISSED YOU #what i was also worried abt was that theyd try to make it as close to ash and pikachus journey as possible #like same dynamic same setup same pikachu character (not really but same personality) #but no!! its all totally shaken up and the stuff that DOES evoke the original is still clever #and stands on its own!! like oh my god i cannot say enough how pleasantly surprised i am with horizons #i wasn’t pessimistic but i was like ‘’ill like it bc its pokemon regardless but wont be going crazy over it’’ #but im like. SO anxious for the next episode now bc SPRIG :( #but like oh my god it all stands out. the character design the characters themselves the pokemon the animation the artstyle the music #the story the tone the setup like EVERYTHING is so good here #echoed voice

[girlwithfish]

thinking abt my ex saying I can leave whenever I want and I pretend I'm trapped and he "doesn't know why" I want to slap him so bad I can't believe this clown just gets to live his dumb life what a foul person lol

#him taking my keys and it turning into a physical fight if i tried to get them back . him taking my phone and physically blocking me from #leaving or forcing me into rooms or trapping me in rooms or the closet etc etc :) U r literally a bad person and the str8 up denial makes me #sooooo mad. ur pretending ok classic gaslighting💀its almost comical #when he trapped me in my own home on thanksgiving lol #remembered when he tackled me onto the bed and got on top of me and was pulling my hair and hitting my face once all bc i got mad when he #snatched my phone out of mg hands pretty aggressively #Like wow it is literally like umm fucked up and #i hate that my mind just cycles thru the same handful of memories that i have and can recall like most of #Nd i fele weird abt how theres so many mroe memories i just dont remember anymore or are buried #but its probably for the better that i dont remember more bad stuff #idk. #idk why the trauma has been kinda difficult for like the past 2 days #i blame it on this dream i had abth im on monday #i dont dream abt my ex often either so its like . ok

[yeonban]

I adore how Wammy kids, whether they're trying to succeed L as detectives or go against L as criminals, always end up challenging him for the title of 'the greatest'

#* ooc. / posts. #It's a detail I Really love bc you'd expect them to try to be /as good as/ L since that's already an incredibly tall order in and of itself #but no... they're always going above and beyond to try and SURPASS L instead. #I have a feeling this stems partly from their upbringing at Wammy's aka having been told no one has managed to hold a candle to L #which is why ALL of them have a subconscious desire to prove this wrong and show that they can match; if not even surpass; L #though Tobias may not realize it; he's no different from the others on this. If L had lived and decided to crack down on Tobias' networks #rather than hide as a sane person would when faced w the best detective in the world; Tobias would've tackled the challenge head on #TL;DR: Do NOT bring L up when talking to Wammy kids bc they have just a bit of a screw loose in this regard 😭 #Although tbf... threads where L is brought up in the convo WOULD be great. I don't think Tobias has ever willingly allowed me to have one #but that's fine it doesn't matter what he thinks (<- man who's about to put Tobias in Situations)

[victimized-martyr]

21, 69, and 73 for the ask game. thank you for your time.

omg so formal. You are most certainly welcome, anon.

21. Who’s the optimist and who’s the pessimist?

Kyle’s deliberately optimistic. He’s naturally inclined to see the worst in people and situations, but because of his strong will and moral values, he fights against it and chooses to find what’s good and nurture it, in the hopes of inspiring better things.

Cartman… hm.. Cartman’s perception of the world is warped, no matter where he is on his own crooked scale of “health”. So… He’s optimistic if things are going his way and he’s getting what he wants. If not, he’s pessimistic. That's not exactly how it works, but that’s how Cartman works.

69. Who’s the most likely to hurt the other’s feelings unintentionally?

Cartman, and it’s mostly from him saying something completely out of pocket (see: bigoted as shit) or hyperbolic.

73. Whose hobbies/interests change every 2-5 business days?

Cartman’s doesn’t change every 2-5 business days, but to Kyle, it seems that way. In reality, Cartman cycles between things he’s already mastered (and if he hasn’t mastered it, he will in 2-5 business days) usually in accordance w/ whatever shit he’s cookin up that week. Kyle walks in one morning to find Cartman felting, of all things, and Cartman tells him he’s been doin it since he was seven. Whether he’s fucking w/ him and makin a wiseass comment doesn’t concern Kyle, it’s what Cartman felting has to do with the body he and Butters dragged in the night before.

#south park #kyman #asks #the way lil ficlets pop in my mind every time a kyman situation arises #wtf does felt have to do with some body? damn I wanna find out now #schemes aside ​ I also love the idea of Kyle indulging in Cartman’s hobby with him #read a moot’s ideas of how Kyle and Cartman process things and can unite to create cool shit inspired me #so like Cartman one month is rly into his music writing and Kyle doesn't know jack shit abt the creativity aspect but he picks #up on music theory quick #so Cartman’s in a slump and Kyle makes an offhand suggestion to freshen up the melody with incidentals or maybe not bring a phrase to #resolution and instead leave it hanging so that the next bar on the BIG chord has a greater impact #and suddenly Cartman’s tackling him and kissing him silly even tho Kyle doesn't feel like he did THAT much #Cartman’s spewing so many thank-you’s and looking at him like he’s the entire world so. Kyle ain't gonna question it

[hella1975]

ok you’ve convinced me to watch bsd so where can I watch it? and do I need to read the comics? if so, in what order and where can I read them?

EEK OMG YAY! okay so one thing about me im a little student girlie #ihaventboughtmilkinaweek so i will always consume media the free way lmao. the site i read the bsd manga on is 'bsdmanga.com' which seems very legit but does also do pop ups a lot for me so just make sure you've got an adblock going. if you want to properly buy them though ive seen bsd being sold in almost every waterstones! as for the anime, the sub and dub were both free on crunchyroll AND funimation back when i first started watching it, but not anymore bc everything is awful. the main less-legit site i use for anime is 'animesuge' and that has it there :)

#animesuge has literally never let me down i swear by it but like i said im p sure it's not as official #so again just be sure you've got an adblock! #okay okay back to bsd SO there's 4 seasons (the 4th currently airing!) as well as a spin-off called bsd wan that's more silly/lighthearted #and also two films in the form of dead apple (my favourite anime film of all time) and the beast live action #that i havent watched yet bc my go-to piraters are LETTING ME DOWN #as for the manga it's a tad confusing at first glance so i'll give u a quick rundown bc i promise it's not as intimidating as it seems #like it's a GOOD things that bsd has sooooooo much content like even i havent consumed it all yet im not strong enough #so there's the main manga that's now on chapter 105.5 (a VERY good chapter) #but i started reading where the anime ended (a good halfway through) and havent felt any problem with that #so if u dont want to tackle the entire thing you could do that! #there's also a bunch of light novels that act as prequels and/or is just asagiri writing fanfiction for his own story lmao #like what was beast if not fanfiction come ON #so yeah those are very good also #there's a lot online about what order to watch/read it all in if that bothers you #but honestly you should be fine sticking to the main content (the anime and main manga) and if you like it you can branch out #i watched all the animated content first before i even touched the manga/novels and that worked well for me #i will say i personally found the anime really slow for a while so my rule with reccing bsd is to tell people to at least wait for chuuya #lmfao like once it gets going it GETS GOING and also he is the most character of any media EVER #so just give it a chance! #okay ill stop talking now <3 #bsd #ask

[4giorno]

me at the end of s14

#like IDC ANYMORE i neeeeeeeed cas to fucking take his baby away from here omg 😭😭😭😭 #and i pray he does im actually done with this shit #i will personally tackle dean and get shot in the process so that cas can have the opportunity to take jack with him and leave <3 #im at the start of the finale and idc if things get sorted in s15 this is just my feeling rn #EDIT well two seconds later jack actually left himself so thats good but i will still tackle dean #im this 👌 close to smacking him on the tv GFJFHDHFJKGFK thank goddd cas is not relenting and clearly has his own plans/intentions #sam is not off the hook either btw him going along is pissing me the fuck off #youre only my ally if you fight back and thus cas is my only ally

[merlin-wolfgang-trades-hale]

One of my on-going project snippets. Avatar!Steve

“Why is Danny’s place still frozen?” Steve demanded as soon as he saw Duke. 

“Our water-benders are trying, but there is a limit to their ability,” Duke replied. 

Steve’s clarity was being disrupted by his worry over Danny, so he snapped, “Limit? It’s ice! They’re water-benders!” 

Duke often revered to Steve with the respect gained by his rank, in both military and as Avatar, as well as the respect he was born with as a McGarrett. But in that moment, he was an older Hawaiian native who gave a strict gaze as he reminded Steve of where they lived. “You have traveled far and seen many other places. Maybe it has escaped your memory that out of all the benders that live or visit our small islands, water is arguably the one with most restrictions and rules. Only a limited few water-bending masters exist here who are experienced with colder temperatures and ice or snow manipulation.”

Steve closed his eyes for a moment to collect himself before he opened them again and apologized. “Sorry, Duke. It’s...it’s Danny, y’know?” 

“I do. And I know that there’s no one else on this island who knows those ice bending restrictions better than him. Given how much flack he got in the early months of him being here. So I understand your concern...but these ice structures were created by Danny himself. They’re fortified with the strength that will take the Hawaiian August sun hours to melt. We can’t get inside yet.”

“Yeah, well...I’m here now. Let me work.” It was nearly a threat but it most certainly was a warning. Duke called off the benders and let Steve try. 

Steve has begun his water bending training but it was with the basics. Learning to alter the water’s temperature to make it freeze or unfreeze wasn’t anywhere near the curriculum. Didn’t mean he didn’t try. Except he was too angry because he didn’t want to be worried. 

So he stopped trying to water-bend the ice away and instead unleashed his fury with his fire-bending until he saw some of the ice give way before earth-bending a stalagmite to shatter it’s way through. 

I started thinking about world building rules and them being applied to different fandom. Implementing the Avatar bending to H50, and it made me think. Being surrounded by so much water, water benders are pretty dangerous. They always have a weapon, and if they’re mastered it enough the humidity in the air, even if there isn’t an obvious body of water, they still have access to it( never mind potential gangs and criminal organization potentially having Blood Benders). 

Then I was thinking, how much of the average tourist would a)not know a fuck shit about the proper water temperature a place, it’s plant life, and animal life need to remain stable? And b)would be assholes to try and make their own waves or bigger waves or retaliate against anyone or to show off? 

Beaches in an Avatar AU would have STRICT rules in place. Lifeguards might need to be specially trained to like a military level to secure the peace, ensure the safety of native plant and animal life.

Water benders, no matter the profession or life style they lead/live, if they’re in Hawaii they are limited to just water bending. Healing, yes...but when it comes to temperature control...there are like...two official water bending MASTERS who know how to turn water into snow or ice. And it’s become a thing where it’s just been like that for so long that no one really questions it unless they’re not from there. 

I made Danny a Water-Bender and with how winters are on the east coast, and because I personally headcanon Danny to just have a more affinity to colder climates, to him ice and snow are second nature. And because he came from a big city where younger water benders as young as 7-8 year olds make their first bit of chump change by offering to snow-bend the drive ways of little old ladies or get more allowance if they wake up and defrost their parent’s car...when Danny first came to Hawaii as he followed Grace, seen as an outsider with the element that may have the most restrictions, particularly in his specialty. It was hard but Danny learned to ‘control’ himself..aka adjust his mannerism. (He’s always in control. Just...things that were normal for him are a big deal on the island, but he has never been out of control of his element. Danny is also a Blood Bender and that’s why but it’s not knowledge anyone knows and he’s terrified of anyone learning)  

Steve has seen plenty of Danny’s power, potential, and most importantly his control. It’s why Steve chose Danny to be his Water bending master instead of the native Hawaiian born they wanted to assign him. There are also a lot of deeper feelings involved, so Steve hearing that Danny elsa fortressed himself means something is very wrong! 

but on like a lighter note, when they need something from Kamekona, Danny has bribed him with water-bending him x-lbs of shaved ice. 

#what is time anymore? #some time ago I think my darling cowandcalf tagged me in a wip tag game but I haven't really had the time #I have two other fics in the avatar au verses but they were on a whim of what I wanted #which is valid sure but I do want to tackle it again but with...a more serious hand #The weight of the Avatar resting on Steve's shoulders as he came into his powers late #he struggles with being fair when he was brought up in the American Navy when he now has to represent the spirits and elemental benders of #ALL four nations as 5-0 becomes a more international/global kind of task force #Danny's backstory is expanded as his powers and abilities are applied in ways that would really bond him and Steve #through a lot more angst and trauma and they keep coming into these situations where they keep ending up choosing the other #when they've either never been the one chosen or the one left behind #And Steve's hero status is questioned by his loyalty to Danny because rather than let Danny be sacrificed for the greater good #Steve taps into his Avatar State to save Danny(probably from Colombia and in the process make political waters muddy) #And eventually Danny blood bends to save Steve and they would break or rewrite the rules of nature EVERY time if it means they can save the #other...whom they love with all their hearts #so anyway yeah this is something I'm working on when the motivation and inspiration strike xD

[snow--blanket]

laissez-faire

fandom: bustafellows

characters: mozu nile shepherd, teuta bridges (featuring the rest of the gang)

words: 2081

i just think they r neat.... also this is for bustafezine on twt and its FREE go read it if u haven't yet. okay love u bye!!!!

***

The sun was beating down on New Sieg, and Teuta Bridges was in between a rock and a hard place. Or, more accurately, between Mozu and a very stubborn man in shorts and a floral-print shirt, looking as if he had just finished his side gig of being an on-screen dying extra of a Jaws movie. Clearly, someone bought the wrong plane tickets. 

“Like I said!” The man yelled, instead of ‘saying’, “I don’t know where Kingfisher Park is! All I’m asking is for some help!”

“You have a considerable volume for what you think constitutes asking. And as we’ve told you, we’re in a hurry. I’ve shown you directions and typed in the search on your phone’s map, so all you need to do is follow it.” Mozu then paused thoughtfully. “Unless you’re incapable?”

The glare of the sun further emphasized the sheen of sweat on the man’s face, and his expression looked like he was a raging bull about to charge. Teuta didn’t need to guess that Mozu was his giant, waving, red flag. Except he probably didn’t notice that the flag he was waving was red, and that his opponent was more bull than man. 

“Mozu!” She tugged on his arm, “I’m a little thirsty. Can we get a drink on the way to Joneses'?” She tried to become the pure, ultimate embodiment of charm and endearing, words Mozu once used when discussing the history of cat domestication and its impact on nomadic lifestyle. She couldn’t catch a rat if she tried—but she had green eyes, and Luka always told her they were pretty. That had to count, right?

“Sure, in a moment.” Mozu turned his attention back to the man.

Pretty like weed and just as easy to ignore, I guess.

Unexpectedly, he slipped his hand in hers, and his tone took on a finality that she had only heard when telling off Crow and Shu on wasting takeout food. A smile sneaked its way onto her face. Go get ‘im, Mozu!

“We’ve done all we can to help. If you really insist on having us guide you, you can follow us to our destination and we’ll stop by the police department. One of the officers can assist.”

“Ha! Forget it. You New Sieg folk are all the same. I’ll find my way to the police department myself, and when I do, I’ll complain about how unfriendly this place is to tourists.” He sneered condescendingly, and leaned to look Mozu in the eyes with a stare she didn’t appreciate. “Give me a name to pin this down to.”

“Crow Miller,” said Mozu with no hesitation.

Teuta wanted to laugh so hard she thought she was going to throw up. 

“Weak-ass name for a weak-ass guy. Figures. You’ll see what’s coming to you soon!”

Oh my GOD—

“Okay,” Mozu said easily as the man sauntered off, and if she could, she would make ice cubes with his breezy tone for a hot summer day. Or, right now. They were out of the house by 1 P.M., and it was 1:45 P.M.! And here they were still, ice cream-less. Mozu gave her hand a squeeze and turned her way. His voice gentled, taking a far more ‘considerable volume for what constitutes asking’. “Are you alright? I’m sorry we got stuck here for so long.”

“It’s fine, it was funny to watch. I was just hoping he wouldn’t punch you.”

“Punch me?” 

“Yeah. When you asked him if he couldn’t even follow directions, I was sure he was gonna start swinging.” She flashed him a toothy grin. “Don’t worry though! Shu started giving me tips on self defense. I know what to do if he tries something!” For good measure, she even made a show of some moves with her fists.

“What did he teach you?”

“Go for the eyes, then balls.”

“So why the fist?”

“Uh… finisher move, I guess?”

“But it’s self defense. Isn’t that what you said?”

“It’s just for bonus points. Like that game Crow always plays!”

“I see,” he nodded solemnly, and she wasn’t sure what he did see. But damn if that didn’t make him all the more lovable to her! “So that’s how he took it. I was just asking if he couldn’t follow directions because I get lost sometimes too. The lines on the map and colors make it hard to see if I’m cycling the right way.”

“Makes sense,” Teuta hummed, leading the way to Trader Joneses’. I hope there’s still some left. “But with the way you say it, Mozu, an innocent question sounds like a comeback. It’s kinda funny.”

He frowned slightly, deep in thought. “...I see.”

***

“By the way,” Limbo mumbled through a mouthful of ham sandwich, “Don’t think it needs to be said since you guys probably know better, but be careful going out. There’s been this ongoing schtick where some guys ask for directions and then mug you at the spot.” After swallowing, he said: “Not that this would affect Crow in any way. For people with jobs, it’s important.”

“Hey! I do have a job! Anima, tell ‘em!”

Schedule: Clear, rang Anima’s voice throughout the house, with much more clarity Crow probably wanted. Teuta couldn’t stifle a snort. 

Ignoring Crow, Helvetica chimed in: “I’ll be fine, but Mozu, didn’t you say you had overtime recently? Will you be alright?” Her arm shot up in the air quicker than her mouth had words to formulate for it. “It’s cool! I’ll be around.” Honestly, it was pretty hard getting alone time with Mozu recently. They could have a bite before going home and catch up, and the timing was opportune…! Well, not for the ones that got mugged, that is. Her condolences, and all that, but she wanted to talk to her boyfriend!

“Honestly, if one of you gets mugged, you’d deserve it.” Shu said after beating Crow in a game, patting his back with a there there. “You all live with criminals and you don’t know how to tell if something’s up? Embarrassing.” 

“I think we actually had someone pull that over us while we were on our way to get ice cream. Right, Mozu?”

“Mm, yeah.” Mozu took a pair of tongs and served the finished spaghetti into a large bowl. “He threatened to complain about us to the police if we didn’t comply.”

“What?!” The ever-easily-shocked-despite-being-legally-dead Crow turned from the TV with his eyes wide like saucers. “Isn’t that like, bad? Did anything else happen?”

“No. And it wasn’t a threat to us anyways. We used your name, Crow.” Mozu laid down the plates in one stack and put down forks on the counter. “Come eat, everyone. Before it gets cold.”

“Why’d you use my name, out of all things? This should go into the Respect Jar!” “Mozu never insulted you though, dude.” Shu slithered into a chair, and Teuta still cringed at his posture to this day. He’d be a great Hunchback of Notre Dame if they ever needed someone who was tall. “And ‘sides, what’s it called. The bad boy effect, or whatever? Having a record might get you a girlfriend.”

Helvetica sat at the opposite end of the counter, elegantly twisting his spaghetti onto his plate. “Not that it matters. He’d have to get out of the house for anyone to know he has a criminal record.”

“Rather than Crow, you shoulda seen Mozu talking! He pretty much dunked the guy like a biscuit.” Yeah, so what if she was bragging! Her boyfriend was as cool as a cucumber, and everyone deserved to know.

“Tsk tsk tsk, Mozu. I thought you were the civilized one. I’m the one supposed to be dunking people with words.” Despite finishing his sandwich, Limbo shamelessly found himself around the big plate of spaghetti. I guess it’s for his growth? But he’s twenty seven…

“...It was nothing. Just a misunderstanding.” Mozu nudged a plate of spaghetti her way, voice quieter than before. “Eat up.”

***

“This biodegradable straw is too effective,” Mozu frowned, looking at his now disintegrating straw that he used only seconds ago. “I don’t see the point.”

“Want me to get the ones they use for coffee? Those ones are plastic, but they’re a bit smaller.”

“It’s fine.” With a stare that could passably be called judgemental, he looked at the plate of cake in front of her. Two plates of cake, in fact. “Are you sure you’ll be able to finish that?”

“It’s fine, it’s fine! I was hungry.” She spooned a luxurious and sweet-salty bite of caramel cake into her mouth. “Plus, they’re two different flavors. They taste different, so if I ever get sick, I just need to switch plates.”

Even though Mozu did work overtime, he was sometimes too taxed to do anything but rest at home after work. Today happened to be a lucky day, and so Teuta proposed a bite at Harry and Keith’s for a recharge. Mozu for his energy, and her for her Mozu-battery. No matter how many cakes it would take, she would order as much cake as she needed to extend the date as long as she could. Her stomach would just have to suck it up.

Although silences with Mozu were often the comforting kind, Teuta felt like something was amiss. After swallowing another hearty spoonful of now cookies-and-cream cake, she spoke: “Mozu, do you have something on your mind?”

“Yeah, but I don’t know how to say it,” he said, and let out a rare, small sigh. “Teuta, do you ever feel like I’m putting you in danger?”

She bit back a No, never, from barely rolling off her tongue. Mozu looks… “Not at all. It’s the opposite. You’re the one that’s helped me out of danger so many times, Mozu.”

They would occasionally meet up with Ivy now and then and catch up—as friends, but also as adults. She’d been around the Fixers (and was one of them, now) for some time, and although she never got direct contact with anything close to a dead body, there were still memories of past events that crept up in nightmares when sleep was elusive. How worse would it have been for a teenager?

“I know I’m different from other people, but I’ve never considered that a bad thing. I don’t dislike who I am, and I’ve never done or said anything I didn’t want to. I think that’s important. But I realized that it could be dangerous for you if I continue doing things the way I’m used to.” As if he’d tasted something bitter, his expression tightened slightly. “Just like with that guy that tried to mug us, and… Troy. What if I say the wrong thing unintentionally and put you in harms’ way?”

“Mozu, you’re smart.” She didn’t even need to think before saying that. “You know when we’re in a dangerous situation and when we’re not. I trust you.” Pausing, she put her hands on her hips as a triumphant show of don’t worry! “And if I think otherwise, I’ll let you know—two heads are better than one, after all!” 

“Still, if I had been more careful with my words…”

Teuta clanged her dessert spoon on her plate, bringing his attention directly to her. “Savoir faire. Do you know what it means?”

“No.”

“It means, uhh…” She scrambled for her phone in her bag, opening her notes app for her column ideas. “Ahem. It means ‘the instinctive knowledge of the right course of action in any circumstance, knowing just what to do and how to do it’. Mozu, do you think that’s a good thing?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” he blinked, and she grinned. 

“Nope! I actually think the opposite. To know just what to do, how to do it, for any problem, doesn’t that mean you need to know everything and have expertise for every subject? Do you think it’s reasonable for one person to know everything and always be the one to make the correct decisions?”

Although she knew he didn’t like to make assumptions about where she was leading him, there was a hint of a smile showing on his face. 

“You don’t need to be good at everything, or make all the hard decisions yourself. I’ll be here. And, if we fight about something…” She laughed fondly, “Well, don’t we have Ana for that?”

The bud of a smile on his lips bloomed into a flower, and she felt her heart soar. “You’re right.”

#bustafellows #bustafe #bustafellows teuta #teuta bridges #bustafellows mozu #mozu shepherd #mozu nile shepherd #gotta put some respect to his full name #anyways i think its neat when two characters are just so (clenches fists) accepting of one another that their acceptance leads to #natural growth and uplifting each other bc their lives .... are made better w the other in it #AUGHHHHHHHH #i do like me some mentally ill lil guys to shake like a snowglobe. but i would like to personally put mozu into my front pocket #and keep him safe and secure #i love writing mozu cus he has some struggles that i share and its fun to see how he tackles them #as well as how he solves his problems cus he's rlly logical + straightforward #OUGHHHH MY BELOVED #i esp loved his ummm 'speaking for myself is tiring enough but speaking for others? no thanks.' #SOOOOO TRUE KING. ITS THE ND URGE TO NOT WANT TO MISREPRESENT PPL UR SPEAKING FOR CUS #SO MANY THINGS CAN AFFECT YOUR MSG LIKE BODY LANGUAGE TONE WORD CHOICE GESTURES ETC #so true. but i loved how teuta responded to it too AUGJHHHH THEY R SO GOOD TOGETHER #my king and queen ... i love u both #okay thats it i think bye

[the-cat-at-the-theatre-door]

Struck by the Tumble and Etcetera are cousins agenda this evening.

#not by blood but they're cousins <3 #Tumblebrutus #Etcetera #extemporize back chat #i get struck most effectively by like tiny coincidental relationships between cats in my hcs #tumble would only go along with asapargus to visit auntie jelly if he promised etcetera would be there #not because he doesnt like auntie jelly but because dad and her talk *forever* about boring stuff #and he gets so *bored* but at least if etcetera is there he can snatch her quietly from her basket and bring her outside to play #or she'll run out behind him when they come in and tackle him so he'll piggy back her out (he has no choice) #tumble isn't so good at the 'make sure she doesn't get into trouble' part #etcetera is very good at the 'hey! leave him alone! *reveals something extremely embarrassing about him #that inevitably makes it worse and he gets cross with her for involving herself but you know what actually #it's kinda nice she stood up for him but never do that again*' #'why are you dragging her along?' 'cause she's such a crybaby! 'i'm gonna tell! i'm gonna tell if you don't let me come!' #while etcetera sticks her tongue out at him #and when they're older they're keeping that good olde theatre cat generational tradition alive #because they're the ones left who...understand i suppose? #because they grew up fully under that influence #while jerrie and teazer were exposed to less of it #not for any other reason than they weren't super interested for the longest time #so tumble and cettie carry that quiet weight of mutual understanding