#also especially as you get into years 3-4 i think maintaining a relationship just becomes SO hard. bc we're all in the trenches | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

ririretry · 1 year

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A Brand Freaking New Year

My mom told me and my brother that we have to come up with some New Year's resolutions by the end of the week. I haven't started thinking about it, which is totally fine.

"It's only Wednesday," she says with no idea with what she wants her resolutions to be.

I'm not one that believes in New Year's resolutions. I used to, but then sometime, somewhere, someone on the internet told me that they're unsustainable. MAKES TOTAL SENSE! I agree! We write down a bunch of fluff that we think we can tackle by the end of the year, and by the 3rd week, we give up. That and my favorite argument that I always used was the whole, "why do you need one day to define your whole year" thing. Like, someone can make goals at any day of the year, why does it have to be January 1st - "if you really wanted to reach your goal, you'd start right now." And yeah, I get all of the sentiment. I understand. We're all little weak-minded individuals that need instant change and gratitude and can't handle the necessary means that it takes to set goals, fulfill them, and continue trudging through a generally sucky world.

But, here I am! About to write down some resolutions. I really think that I can do it this year. Looking back, I did do a few things on my vIsiOn BoaRd considering I looked at that thing once. It was very pretty.

ANyway. On with it

1. Reestablish healthy levels of dopamine

My only issue is my phone consumption and automatically, my social media consumption. THROUGH the roof. Embarrassingly too high. Makes me sick, frustrated, and unruly. I hate going on my phone, but I literally cannot help it. It really do be an addiction, so I'm gonna do whatever it takes to actually not be obsessed with my phone. Starting rn!! Timers to Snapchat and Youtube were set. I deleted Instagram off my phone because that's honestly an easier one to delete. Twitter and Instagram are still on my laptop, and I'm gonna keep that because I'm easily less likely to go on my laptop to scroll on the media. I also don't watch Youtube on my laptop that much?

2. Become my own best friend

Haha! I hate myself! Nothing new, but I’ve been slowly becoming my own friend again. Not yelling at myself all the time - allowing myself to make mistakes - not expecting perfection - not invalidating my own feelings - trying to build my own confidence again - being sure of my words and self even if I’m unsure, being sure of my uncertainty..... A lot. Yanno maybe take myself out on dates and make time for me. I just want to trust myself again, and be my own friend. I deserve that level of respect and love to myself especially if I provide that for my friends.

3. Invest in my hobbies, skills, and interests

With my newly established dopamine, I will also make more times for things that matter in my life such as: painting, drawing, guitar, bass, podcasting, writing on here perhaps, etc.. This goes hand in hand with my first resolution, so hopefully this comes naturally. I am a little nervous because I have neglected these things before as I’ve gone on this journey multiple times. I am going to have to figure out how I’m going to allot time to these things. These things require effort, and being on my phone did not. I’m naturally a tired person, but maybe that was my phone. I dunno! We will SEE!

4. Create meaningful relationships

I haven’t been the type to maintain friendships. I’ve gotten better. I have three solid lifetime friendships, which is more than most people can say and I’m so endlessly grateful for them. I have 4-6 solid good friends, which is also awesome, and a bunch of acquaintances that easily could be great friends had I put a little more effort. I’m not looking for more friends because I am very content with the people that I have, but I do want to make every interaction I have with someone meaningful and positive. This requires a little more effort in reaching out, keeping and making plans, and establishing a solid friendship even if it doesn’t last forever. I say this mostly because I’ve closed myself off to people - mostly unintentional, and I want to understand others more.

5. Mind, body, soul

Journal/Read, exercise/eat healthy, pray

Seems self explanatory, I’m pretty decent at like 1.5 of them. Praying is gonna be tough, but I do want to appreciate it more. But that want must turn into action, so I will pray. Maybe just listen at first, which I have done, but seriously like. It’s another outlet. I love my religion and what it stands for, so I should make time.

6. Understand my career better

Side quest, but a very important side quest. I wanna know what I might get into. How to do it. What can I do to understand it, so I wanna take a lot of time to really dig in and invest in my future.

FINGERS CROSSED FOR NEW HORIZONS

#newyears

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ladyprince202 · 2 years

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So… I had the strangest dream. Not gonna get all deep into interpreting my dreams…

But… I decided to do a Tarot reading for y’all!!!

(Btw thank you for the previous likes & repost on my last reading… i been feeling under the weather. But I’m back!)

Pick Your Tarot Reading of the Afternoon ✨

Please pick one of these, as the message will convey to you personally. (It has been shuffled and laid out with crystals and/or cowrie shells)

Now that you’ve picked the number✨

Card #1 : (Reverse) Cups 7 - A lost sense of wonder and awe. Your creativity and imagination 💭becomes your saving grace. You wanna do so many things in your life which eventually you procrastinate. TIPS: Sometimes your mind can imagine great things.. but it can also kill so much time in not doing anything. ⏱Time is ticking⏳… you are not getting any younger, what are you waiting for? Try to put as much time in doing something as much as you think .🤔💭 Since there’s 12 months in a year, it takes 30 days to form a habit. Try to form a consistent plan for 30 days and see if anything change in your life. Was what you were thinking about it a great idea to do? Or was the idea was just good to think about and not do it? I suggest you do things you LOVE to do… that way it’ll be worth it doing something about it.🤍✨

Card #2: (Reverse) Malika Swords - Absentminded. Forgetful. You may not think things through and are subject to the influence of others’ opinions. A widow. Divorcee. Broken Ties. TIPS: Sometimes collecting others opinions and theories to gain a better understanding is good; what is not good is NOT thinking for yourself. Do you like the color red because your parents or friends like it? Or because YOU like it? Ask yourself why? Question and answer yourself to understand where your head is really at. When you only subject yourself to other’s opinions, you sabotage your message, your viewpoints, your own opinions and theories. What you have to say is less important which the “widow” concept is death to your internal relationship. You don’t really take yourself seriously which means is you are stuck in this situation because you are stubborn about change. You must learn to “divorce” taking the advice of others and start taking your OWN advice. If you do come across someone with an advice, make sure that it is mix with your internal advice as well as theirs. That’s what makes you a character. 🤌🏾✨

Card #3: Wands 2 - You act as surveyor to all that you have accomplished and seek to research and develop new things. You contemplate that which success brings and a sense of responsibility. TIPS - Having responsibilities means to take on more roles you have to do. But being able to do it well means you organize your environment to keep tabs on your responsibility. You should be proud of yourself for maintaining responsibility; Especially, if you are a student or a worker during the pandemic or even a parent, then you have the ambition to keep going. Keep that positive uplifting attitude and you will be blessed in the long run. Someone will recognize your hard earn work.. don’t give up on yourself. 🤍✨

Card #4: (Reverse) The Sibyl II - Lies, ulterior motives, aloofness, isolation, and lack of awareness. TIPS: Are you ignorant? Did you know that ignorant means to ignore? Why are you trying ignoring the truth? Even though the truth hurts, you can move on faster than the long-term lies you projected in your mind. It’s time to grow up.. talk to the little kid in you and tell the kid, adult you wants to learn how to handle the truth responsibly. Adult you will meet many kinds of people in your life, some will stay in your life and others will leave for many different reason.. but these are the truth you have to face and let it teach you about yourself, your mind, emotions and spiritual views. Little kid you will cry internally but will trust you because you are all you got. Trust that you will be okay even when you are facing the truth.

If you want more Oracle readings, please reblog this post. Thank you ✨🙏🏾

#africa #african spirituality #african #afro witch #astrology #black spirituality #blacklgbt #lesbian #lgbt #spirituality #black tarot readers #tarot reading

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tentatechnologies · 2 years

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[Level 1] 8, 9, 18 With Marlo, 27 with Crush [Level 3] 3 and 6 with Crush [Level 4] 3 with Marlo

Pick and choose as you will!

180 Splatoon OC Questions

I don’t know how these tiers work. If I got the wrong questions let me know and I’ll tack them on OTL

8. Favorite weapon class and why?

Marlo doesn’t have one! Mostly he just opts for shooters, they’re tried and true. Although he can understand the value of other types and has played rollers in tourney he has a kind of simmering resentment at the idea of being made to use anything else.

9. Main tentacle color? How did they pick it?

Technically it’s Octo Valley’s Soda color, though I’ve kind of gravitated toward a darker, duller gray-yellow-green color over the years. In whatever case it’s not their birth turquoise, and was specifically adopted after the campaign to separate themself from their past. Easier to consider yourself a different person if the thing in the mirror isn’t recognizable anymore. In a desperate, ridiculous solemnity, “Soda” became synonymous with “Agent Three” became synonymous with “Not a person anymore”.

But it also mimics Cuttlefish and Marie’s colors, especially once Marlo starts greying in earnest, and it’s the perfect inversion of Nori’s, Octavio’s heir. And of course, Marlo will do anything to maintain that legacy.

18. Are they more positive or negative? How does it show?

Girl I don’t think Marlo knows what a positive attitude is. Externally, of course, they’re excitable and friendly, but that doesn’t reflect their frame of mind—so technically the answer is both, because anyone would read them as positive, but their actual attitude is more akin to soulful wailing in the River Styx.

Which is part of the reason Marlo doesn’t like to stick around and doesn’t have a lot of friends; at a certain point the lack of depth to their façade becomes clear. Marlo’s like spoiled milk, it’s fine until you let it sit around for awhile and notice the stink and are forced throw it all out for your own sake. It’s a slow souring in which it dawns on you, Wait, this person was fucking miserable and intolerable this whole time.

I know that’s harsh, but like, anyone who walks face-first into a tragedy because they’re convinced they deserve it isn’t someone you wanna get coffee with.

27. How are or were their teen years?

Monotonous. It has the dubious distinction of being the period he sank into the ‘Octarian Conspiracy’ in earnest and in entirety, and a solid 75% of it was spent online, exception granted for his education. Crush wasn’t outright neglected by his mom, but her attention was spread thin and no one ever checked in on him, so for the most part he sat in his room and browsed 4chan.

Later into his teens, once most Inklings would’ve left the nest, he jumped straight into higher education and also started helping around the house and picking up some of his mom’s administrative duties. A lot of those years were spent on adjustment to a physical social circle and him figuring out what kind of persona he wanted to project—a preparation for getting himself in with the “inner circle” of the conspiracy, the actual New Squidbeak Splatoon.

3. Any siblings? How is their relationship?

He’s got a lot of them! None of them are biological; his mom, Sav, has either adopted or taken in the lot of them, including Crush. He’s a big brother to most of them, since all the kids older than him left when they could—he’s basically set to inherit the house if Sav ever gives up because he’s the only one that stuck around—and he isn’t in contact with any of those older ‘siblings’.

I don’t have traits or names for any of them so I can’t be more specific than that. Of course it varies in the minutiae, but the youngest kids like him best because he’s the one who takes them out for the day, to the park and Turf tourneys and stuff. Anyone who remembers growing up with him doesn’t like him nearly as much (and they’re all in a rebellious phase by now and most of them resent their situation).

6. Any found family or “school”?

Not in the way it’s used in fanfiction, but again, none of his family’s actually related to him. He doesn’t remember his birth parents hardly at all and doesn’t much care to find them; he likes the mom he’s got, and she’s done more for him than anyone ever did.

3. Any scars? How did they get them?

Lmao. Yeah, a few. Marlo has a trio of ‘main’ or prominent ones; the splash-marks on their ankles, the Litchenburg pattern on their hands, and the big bright starburst on their eye. The first was acquired from the Octostriker during its invasion of Bluefin Depot, because Marlo kept getting cornered and couldn’t fully outrun its Inkstrikes. And they still had to trudge home afterward, which gave the enemy ink time to sink into their skin and muscle, laying the foundation for their current mobility problems.

I don’t tend to draw the second, but they’re thanks to improper handling of the Zapfish; Marlo wasn’t gentle or grounded, so they got electrocuted. A lot. It didn’t fully splat them, but it did cause their hands to temporarily deform, and then reform imperfectly—technically the Lichtenburg patterns are the result of the skin stitching itself back together unevenly. As one would imagine this caused a lot of nerve damage in their hands and impacted their fine motor skills.

And of course, their eye wound is not from the Sanitized episode at all, but from an unfortunate Octosniper shot. It was acquired at the height of their power and confidence, hence their intentional baiting of the sniper during their own personal invasion of a civilian dome—but they were so far down and overwhelmed so quick after the shot that there was no hope of healing it.

[tactile eye trauma cw] Worse are the deep, frantic scratch marks in the surrounding skin from their attempt to remove the ink with their own nails. This worked about as well as you can imagine and is the reason they bother to wear the eyepatch; just an ink-stain wouldn’t bother them, but the raw scar tends to make folks’ stomach turn.

Marlo has a bunch of little burn marks, pockmarks, and flecks from other, minor injuries and scrapes as well; because their skin’s so thin (again a consequence of Valley’s badly-stocked respawn pads) they “bruise” easily. I have a lot of headcanons on how Inklings scar to explain all that but I won’t, uh, make a novel of it.

#inbox #shadow3142 #oc posting #oc soda #oc crush #ty<3333 sorry it took me a couple days to answer this one!!!

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djemsostylist · 2 years

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Always & Forever: Complaints

As with anything, TO suffers from writers disease. It suffers from a case of too much plot, annoying characters, and the sort of character assassinations that comes from playing tug of war with a character to make them fit a given plot. It is perhaps my biggest pet peeve, and it's certainly not unique to The Originals.

In the interest of keeping things neat, I'm going to try for a bulleted list. (split in two apparently, since tumblr thinks I talk too much)

My chief complaint, and this goes for the whole series, was the moments when the writers changed things for the sake of plot. Nowhere was this more egregious than season 4. We go from Hayley, at the beginning, saying that she has done things she is not proud of to keep her daughter safe and get back the people that she loves, and telling Elijah she wants to build a life with him, to talking about how the Mikaelsons, and Elijah specifically, are not safe for for Hope. She is suddenly shocked by Elijah's past, by his ruthlessness in the face of protecting the people that they love, and it doesn't mesh at all with what we know from the previous 4 seasons. Hayley has always known who and what Elijah is, and has been with him in his darkest moments since he came back to New Orleans. They keep nothing from each other. There should be nothing that surprises her anymore, especially because she is just as willing to do whatever it takes to save the people she loves. She says it, explicitly, several times. Even at the end of season 3, after Davina and Marcel, she is nothing but supportive and loving. Their final talk is almost beautiful, with the desperate way they say I love you, and their final kiss, but the bits leading up to that were both out of character and wholly unnecessary. And frankly, with Elijah and Hayley being arguably the least toxic relationship in the entirety of the TVDU, I'd argue choosing them as a time for the writers to express some sort of weird quasi-feminist morality was--a choice.

Season 5 was wholly unnecessary. It added nothing to story, and served really only to further destroy characters and relationships that had been a core of the show. In all honesty, season 5 should never have existed, and a few of the actors could have made guest appearances on season 1 of Legacies, and that would have been enough. Their fates at the end of season 4 were thematically exactly perfect for each character--there was really no need to go further, and killing Klaus and Elijah and making Rebekah human add nothing to the story.

From season 5, I would keep the following: Kol and Hope being close (it makes sense bc of the witch connection, and Kol is fine with physical distance), Marcel and Hope (are we seeing a connection here--again, Marcel and Hope being close makes sense, and then you have a way of getting info about Rebekah and etc, and having Hayley maintain some sort of tie to the family. After all, Marcel is a Mikaelson too), Klaus watching over Elijah and killing his enemies between bouts of debauchery (I actually really liked that bit--Klaus will sort of fade into the shadows, become the myth, forever keeping his family safe, but never able to see them), Rebekah rejecting Marcel's initial proposal (I would still have her go to see Elijah, just bc she's scared and guilty and wants her big brother and even though he isn't him, she finds some peace). Hayley I would have probably pretty much offscreen, but I would NOT kill her, maybe she is staying at the school and helping, or helping wolves, etc. She is content with her daughter (no love interest, but once a year she goes to France and Elijah gets his memories back and they have one day together (leave me alone okay I get to have this)) and the rest of the time she is just a mom to the one person who matters more than anything.

I also really hated the whole super vampire plot. It was dumb and super extra and having there be a "super vampire who can kill even originals" just felt--weird. and dumb. I liked the outcome (the 5 year time jump and such) but idk. This show kept one-upping itself in the bad guy department, and it got old fast.

The random several episode love interests that went no where. Gia, the redhaired witch whose name I don't recall, the annoying vampire hunter (Sofia or something idk). None of them were interesting or added anything to the story, and frankly could have been left out with no consequence.

Up next, characters!

#the originals #season 5 was trash and wholly uneccessary #they needed to stop randomly hating on elijah #that was some bullshit #but i did love this dumb fucking show #sigh #ill stop talking about this eventually lol

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wanderinglotus7 · 7 months

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Postcards from VA

There's nothing like being able to go home and get a nice recharge from my typical day to day of my new life. It's kind of weird saying "my new life". I'm still figuring out if Boston feels like home; or even if I can call Boston home. Every place that you live at has its pros & cons, you just hope that wherever you reside that there's more pros than there are cons. Some things I do appreciate about living in Boston (Newton) is that most places are walkable, public transportation is easy to access, I can always find something to do, my church community at NewCity, the history, and the diversity. Some of the cons are the lack of parking, the high cost of living, the busyness of the city, difficulties of establishing new friendships along with dating, and the overt/covert racism (and other isms). There's no such thing as a perfect place unless it's in my dreams.

Thinking logistically, If I cannot longer financially support myself in MA, I began looking into other living situations. Like relocating to Rhode Island or North Carolina. North Carolina would be my first choice because it reminds me of Virginia without returning to Virginia. If I want to visit home or attend family functions, I won't be that far away from everyone. Maybe no more than a 4-to-5-hour drive at the most compared to a 9-hour drive. Like Massachusetts there are plenty of job opportunities it just depends on what I am interested in pursuing. The job opportunities in Rhode Island seem a little small however, I can still work in the same line of work I'm currently doing. Yet, the work would be more related to domestic violence and sexual violence. Not much related to trafficking. If I were to relocate to any state in the US, I can always get a job as a school social worker. I'm not permanently attached to any one job or place. I think this is becoming my catch phrase, but I'm riding the wave. I'm remaining in my stillness.

We received word on Thursday that Adelante was rewarded the OVC grant. This means that the trafficking program has funding for the next three years. This also means I have a job for three years. If I want to continue my work in the anti-trafficking field but want to change the population I'm working with, I would work with youth in a counseling or mentorship framework; no case management if I can avoid it. Or I could go another route and teach a psychology or social work course or two at a university or provide mental health services to young adults (college students). Time will tell. I know for sure that I don't want to work more jobs than necessary. My work ethic isn't based on money. My work ethic is based on my passion and interest in the work that I am doing. Either way, let's see in 2 or 3 years where I am at in my life. I may be single now, but I might find myself in a relationship next year or my financial situation may change.

Roots. Home. Gloucester will always be home. So much has changed, but so much has remain the same. I was happy to see that my dogwood tree came back to life because the last time I laid eyes on it it was on the brink of death. Spending time with Snoopy, family, and friends was comforting, but also disheartening. Some people just don't change (smh). The answer to that is it to love those from a distance if they are worth my energy in maintaining those relationships especially when it comes to family. And sometimes it's best to let those relationships dissolve for my own growth and emotional well-being. I still get emotional when I think and speak about my Grandma Shirley and my granddaddy. It hurts seeing their homes empty. It's like all the life around there has been sucked away. I did take the opportunity to visit their grave sites, but it didn't make things easier. I do know that I can still feel their presence, but they make themselves known in different ways. I wonder when the pain will settle. I wonder when the pain will become less to bare.

#homesick #grief #changes

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localcactushugger · 3 years

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Does anyone else ever get sad thinking about the abuse Hawks went through as a kid? Because I keep making myself sad thinking about it.

It's so many different kinds of fucked up that just mixed together and created one huge toxic environment.

#1) The physical abuse.

Right off the bat, Chapter 299 starts with Keigo getting hit by his father for leaving the house. It doesn't actually show Keigo being smacked, instead it shows a panel of their "home". (although it's extremely small and looks more like a broken down shack in a field to me)

But the sound of the "smak" is very much punctuated in the panel, followed by Keigo hunched over with marks on his face:

The marks on his face are prevalent. Even in the smaller panel, Keigo still has a very obvious bruise under his eye and above his eyebrow.

THEN he gets kicked in the side/stomped on for "turning his back" on his father?? (Aka doing nothing. Literally what did he do?? Wtf?):

He's getting smacked and kicked around, but instead of crying or getting upset he just endures. Which brings me to:

#2) The Emotional and verbal abuse. (Strap in cause there's a lot of it.)

Keigo apologizes after his father kicks him for no reason, then he curls up into a ball, clings to his Endeavor plushy, and listens as his own father rants about how much he wishes that Keigo was never born.

^^^^^^^ LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID ASSHOLE. HE'S LITERALLY CLINGING TO HIS PLUSHY FOR COMFORT!! WHY ISN'T ANYONE HUGGING HIM??? CAN I HUG HIM??

Keigo says that he knew his parents were broken, so he endured because he wanted to avoid their fate.

Basically: "I know my parents are broken, but need to endure because I don't want to become broken too."

That's a horrible mindset for a child to have?? He's basically saying that he just needs to take the abuse and hope that he doesn't break because of it?

And I don't know how he wouldn't break from it with the way his parents talk to him, and all the horrible things they say:

The constant screaming/yelling. Like Shit.

"Don't do a damn thing!" " Who did you sell me out too?? You can't fool me!!" "Don't leave this house!" "Don't you dare lie to me!!" "Don't go talking to anyone!!" "You thought you'd get away with it didn't you??"

"How many times have I told you not to turn your back on me??"

"If only that punk was never born I'd be free."

"Why were you even born?" "Why do you even have those wings?"

He's gotten it from both parents. And every time it happens he just hugs his plushy a little tighter.

#3) The neglect.

In pretty much all panels of Keigo's home theres Trash everywhere. If you go back and look at the house there isn't a single panel without some kind of trash in the frame. I see beer bottles, wine bottles, wooden planks, trash bags, newspapers, dirty rags, dirty laundry hanging from the wall & hangers, floor boards coming up, leaks from the top of the walls.

The "house" is barely holding together as it is. It looks like it's about to collapse, and the inside makes you think a tornado ran through it. Nobody is bothering to clean up the mess. In fact the only person who seems to be patching up the house is Keigo. This seems to be a routine for him since he can be seen picking up a wooden plank to fix the wall. Too bad his father kicked him before he could repair the hole 🙃.

Seriously does the "house" even have running water? The windows are broken the walls are made of tin roofing tiles. Does it even have heating or insulation? It's obviously not suitable for a child. I'd be afraid that the roof was gonna fall on me while I was sleeping.

I understand they can't buy a proper home. But it wouldn't be so bad if someone acutely bothered to clean the inside a bit. At least maintain the house so your kid doesn't step on a nail, or glass from a beer bottle. IF A CHILD CAN PATCH UP A WALL SO CAN YOU. WHY IS KEIGO DOING ALL THE WORK?

You people are gonna get rats and bugs. (If you dont have them invading your "house" already)

And that's only the house.

What about Keigo? He doesn't even have shoes. His shirt is torn at the seams. And his parents didn't even notice when he left? Keigo's dad yelled at him for leaving the house and going outside, but was anyone even watching him in the first place? How does your child leave the house and make it halfway to the city before you notice? This little bird looks like he weighs 5 pounds! He's gonna get kidnapped!!

His mom is obviously unstable and she stares at the wall all day. And his dad hates him for existing. So I guess no one was watching him?

His mom also doesn't really seem to care when Keigo gets yelled at, hit, and kicked either. She just kinda stares at the wall. Then when her and Keigo become homeless and start living in a train station she guilt trips him into stealing for her. Like Really??

HE GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT TOO! You sent your child out to steal for you and he literally got into a car accident. He managed to save everyone involved but still, are trying to get your son hit by a truck? This is why I have so many mixed feelings about Tomie.

#4) Being held hostage in his own home.

This one is self explanatory. Keigo got hit in the face just for going outside. He was held hostage in his home for so long that he didn't even know heroes existed. And this is a society where heroes are everywhere. I'm sure it was a lonely childhood, kinda hard to make childhood friends when you get beaten just for leaving the house.

#5) Whatever the fuck "rough training" was.

I know we haven't seen Keigos "rough" training yet. Horikoshi only went into a little bit of detail about it when he mentioned that the commission taught Hawks negotiation skills as a kid. And then theres that one image in the Season 4 outro where Keigo has a blindfold on as a child during training.

But I still would like to know more.

Why would you put a child through "rough" training, strip him of his name, and tell him it's all because he's gonna become a "special hero" right after you've pulled him out of an extremely abusive situation. Like, you aren't gonna wait a bit? Preferably until he's a teenager? Not gonna give him therapy or something?

Isn't pulling a child out of an abusive situation and putting them through "rough training" kinda like transfering them from one abusive household to another?

LET THE BOY REST! LET THE KID BE A KID. YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CHILDHOOD AND HE'S ALREADY MISSED OUT ON MOST OF HIS!!

The training can wait.

If you want help him and support his family, do it out of the kindness of your heart and not because you think he'd be a useful hero.

I honestly don't know how this "training" went for Keigo, but considering that he doesn't currently have the best relationship with the HPCS . . . Well I don't know. All I know is that he never really seems too happy around people from the commission. He doesn't seem to agree with any of their ideologies either.

Honestly I just want him to find peace!

Based on what we've seen so far, (*cough* especially from the Todoroki family *cough*) you really shouldn't be training a child to become a hero in the first place. The training can start as a teenager if someone chooses to train.

Look at the way you massacred my boy! Give the kid a break for fucks sake!!

And these are just the early years. Don't get me started on everything else ✋🙄

#bnha #mha #my hero academia #boku no hero academia #hawks #bnha spoilers #keigo takami #takami keigo #bnha hawks #mha hawks #mha spoilers #pro hero hawks #hawks meta #hawks bnha #hawks mha #mha spoiler #bnha spoiler

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pupperofdarkness · 3 years

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Top 5 Ladies of Berserk ?

yoooo i’m here for questions like this. Gotta warn you though, I’m not the very good at going into depth about these things, but I’mma try

5. Slan

Honestly she’s terrible, but we stan lol. But seriously, I find her absolutely fascinating and I really wish we could have learned who she was before she ascended, what actually made her activate her Crimson Behelit, and who did she sacrifice. Really I think I’m just fascinated by the mystery surrounding her.

4. Schierke

Such a wonderful lil bean :’). I’ve always adored child characters who are wise beyond their years and Schierke is definitely one of my favorites. I mean, we’re talking about a 12-13 year old girl who ADULTS look to for assistance when it comes to learning magic or staying sane, here. That to me speaks volumes of her strength. What I love most about her, though, is her dynamic with Guts. It’s so sweet how, aside from Casca, she’s the only other person he’s ever been completely open with and the fact that he trusts and believes in her so much is just so amazing to me. Plus her and Isidro’s antics never cease to make me laugh.

3. Luca

She’s just a ray of sunshine in such a dark setting ☺️. I admire that despite living in such a bleak world and being in a hellish situation, she still remains, kind, selfless, and brave. And the unconditional, motherly love she has for her girls is just so heartwarming. I’ll be honest, I was pretty bummed when she didn’t join Guts’ party, but she had to look out for her girls so I get it.

2. Farnese

Ngl she got on my nerves at first, but I also found myself intrigued by her and the more I read, the more I ended up empathizing with her and liking her.

For all intents and purposes, she should have become a terrible person, hell she almost did. Though I will say that’s pretty understandable, given how she was raised. Growing up neglected, sheltered and lonely can be really damaging to a person’s psyche. And the fact that she only got positive attention by hurting others did NOT help her mental instability. But when she joined Guts’ party, became Casca’s caretaker, and became Schierke’s student, I saw a side of her that I never would have expected to see in a character like her. It turns out her sadism hid kindness and compassion and selflessness. She just needed an opportunity to let that side of her shine through. I especially love her relationship with Casca and how she went from being a protector to a close female friend for Casca to rely on (which is something Casca really needs atm).

Also, I thought it was cool how Miura wrote Farnese using her penchant for bondage and sadomasochism to do good after her characterization (i.e. the thorn snakes). She’s actually the first instance I’ve seen of BDSM being portrayed in a positive way with a story like this, so that was pretty refreshing.

1. Casca

Words just cannot express how much I love this woman. But I’ll do my best.

Everything about her is just so amazing and she’s probably one of the STRONGEST female characters I know. I mean, this girl kept the Band of the Hawk together and lead them for a whole ass YEAR in Griffith’s place and when the Eclipse went down, she maintained a level head and managed to calm everyone down before everything went to shit. That honestly says a lot about her strength and leadership prowess.

That’s not to say that she always has it together. She can be hot-tempered at times but even then, she still has good judgement. She’s also emotional, and tends to cry a lot, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Actually, the fact that she wears her heart on her sleeve is just another thing that I admire about her. Her vulnerability only ADDS to her strength and imo makes her that much more relatable, because it underlines that while she is a gifted sword fighter, soldier, and commander, she’s still a human not a machine or weapon. And Casca realizing this, learning to find value within herself and learning to consider what SHE wants out of life rather than letting her value be dictated by her usefulness to someone else is something I love so much about her. And you probably have seen this a lot across tumblr, but I love, love, LOVE that she’s a WOC. I mean, how many instances are there of a leading lady in a dark medieval fantasy being POC, especially during the ‘90s?

My only complaint about her was that it took so long for her to come back to us. I don’t mind that Miura decided to have her dissociate after the Eclipse (in a few ways it makes sense given all that she witnessed and what she had to endure at the hands of Griffith and the apostles), but I wish it didn’t take 20 irl years for her to regain her sanity. Tbh, I think it would have been better if she began to gradually come back to herself or learned to cope with her trauma over the course of her and Guts’ journey, but it is what it is, and I’m just glad she’s back.

I just love her sooo much, holy shit 😩.

(btw, sorry it took so long for me to answer, I’m not used to people asking me stuff like this and I wanted to answer it the best that I could)

#casca #farnese #schierke #luca #slan #berserk #loooong post #asks #sorry if I got anything wrong about the characters I’m still pretty new at this sort of thing 😅

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thevirgodoll · 4 years

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Doll Diaries: Becoming the Woman You Desire

This is a requested post in response to an anonymous question.

You must acknowledge that you can be the woman you desire with layers. You can be assertive, but classy. You can be confident, but humble. There is no black and white scenario, you create components of your desired personality. The reason why I have posted Phylicia, Aaliyah, Olivia, and Beyoncé is because they all have qualities that I relate to and admire. Aaliyah and Beyoncé specifically can explain who The Virgo Doll is at her core, because I naturally relate to them as people. I will give you an analysis of what you can learn from the women I have mentioned to become the woman you desire.

1. Poise

Phylicia is known for playing Clair Huxtable, and it was an easy role because in real life, she is that same woman. Clair Huxtable was known for her poise, as I have mentioned on my blog in another post. When met with ignorance, Clair eloquently addresses it while defending herself. You will never see someone like her out of control of her emotions. She was highly intelligent (more than Cliff) and a successful wife and mother. She was never caught looking disheveled because she knew that she came first. She also had self awareness to last a lifetime.

What you can learn: Clair Huxtable’s Poise

•Handle conflict gracefully. No subtweets, no drama, just direct and simple. Only speak if you have something beneficial to share. Avoid gossip, and avoid mean spirited comebacks. Speak with truth and grace.

•You can be the woman you desire. You can have the career, the family, and the wisdom to do it all well.

•Your intelligence speaks for you. There is nothing to prove. Always seek to build your intelligence, and learn more.

•Be self aware. Reflect on life through practices such as journaling, expressions of gratitude, and prayer. Know how you’re feeling at all times. Know when to take time for you. Know that you come first. All of these things will balance you and you will avoid snapping on others because you have taken time for yourself.

-> Example: Clair Huxtable addresses ignorance in her home from Elvin

2. Maturity & Clarity

Aaliyah was adored because she had wisdom beyond her years. She was mentally ahead of other women her age. She had maturity that grew even more with time, and it set her apart from the rest. Anytime she spoke, it was from the heart. She was a good conversationalist, and kept everyone’s interest. She was alluring because she was truly a mature woman and knew how to conduct herself in the public eye.

What you can learn: Aaliyah’s Maturity & Clarity

•Have a warm spirit. Be genuine. People will naturally be drawn to your authenticity in a world full of wannabes. Stay true to yourself and your values.

•Know the value of social skills. Being articulate and well spoken will naturally make you mature. Take time to answer, be careful with your words, and keep eye contact. Enunciate, and avoid mumbling. Keep an appropriate volume when speaking, and have a reasonable pace when expressing your thoughts.

•Be trustworthy and dependable. Be true to your word. Your word is all you have, and your word is what everyone will remember.

•Know the significance of subtlety and simplicity. Keep things subtle, and don’t try too hard. Keep your sense of style timeless. Embrace your sensuality, but keep it modest enough to create mystery and allure.

3. Confidence

The fictional character, Olivia Pope, is known for her confidence. Above all, she knew the importance of her own opinion and intuition. She trusted herself, even when it was hard. She acknowledged shortcomings, while highlighting her strengths. She didn’t display arrogance, but an air of humble assurance. She had boundaries, and often expressed them in her relationships. She knew her worth. Kerry Washington even said that playing Olivia taught her about strength, resilience, and courage.

What we can learn: Olivia Pope’s Confidence

•Trust yourself. Validate your perspective. Be respectful of differing opinions, while firm in your stance. When something needs to be said, know when and how to say it.

•Have clear sight of what you want in life, and make goals. Don’t let other people get in the way of your dreams. Be a leader, not a follower.

•Know how to plan. Make it a habit of planning what you’re going to do, and eventually you will naturally make the right decision based on your intuition.

•Create clear boundaries. Do not let others violate you or dishonor you. Don’t apologize for what is important to you. Know your worth, if anything. Let it speak for itself. Know that there is nobody like you, and that you’re someone that others want to be.

-> Example: Olivia Pope “Earn Me”

4. Privacy, Charisma, & Work Ethic

Beyoncé is someone to be admired for her private nature on social media. She will not air out all of her business, even if it’s career related. She understands the element of surprise. When vulnerable, she withdraws and checks in with herself. She knows her limits. Bey is also known for her undeniable charisma. She has always had a standout personality, and it showed in her days in a girl group without her trying. Lastly, her work ethic has been commended by her peers. She is a hard worker, and will not stop until everything is right to her. She sets the bar for herself. She believed in herself, even when the record label said she wouldn’t have hits on her debut. “I guess they were kinda right, I had five.”

What we can learn: Beyoncé’s Privacy, Charisma, & Work Ethic

•Don’t reveal everything. Maintain a semblance of privacy, especially with acquaintances.

•Always do your best. Your best is enough at the end of the day, even when other people don’t think so. All that matters is that you’re giving the best that you have in everything you do. Seek excellence in every facet of your life, and watch magic happen. Have high standards.

•Be independent. Rely on yourself at all times. Advocate for yourself. Be your own best friend first.

•Make it a point to make other people remember you. Be unforgettable. Don’t talk about yourself, but let everything speak for you. Have straight posture, impeccable style, and an attitude that doesn’t make room for haters.

Hope this helps! Your dream journey awaits.

xoxo, thevirgodoll <3

#dolldiaries #confidence

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hollyhomburg · 2 years

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what is your biggest regret? (storywise and personally if you feel like it)

my biggest regret storywise as of the moment is not giving jimin that fucking tattoo in the first few chapters of bily- now you guys understand why he should have had a snake tattoo.

i have a few others- i feel like early in my career as a writer i should have been more careful about starting series that i had no intention of finishing. while i think certain ones taught me a lot about maintaining stamina as a writer I think I feel a lot of shame for both- not being able to finish them, and second for them not being good enough to receive love.

like with stories like bily- my enjoyment and yours is about 50/50 but that's the highest ratio it's ever been for a fic like- certain stories got discontinued simply because I felt like there wasn't enough love for the story left and the anxiety of living up to the love previous updates had gotten- got in the way of me wanting to update at all. my experience writing bily is the oposite of that.

this last weeks updates was EASILY the worst update like- it did about 3/4th's of what the previous two chapters had gotten, but i'm still planning on writing today, im still looking forward to writing today for it.

i remember when the same thing happened with ofal i cried for a good long while and decided to take a step back from writing for a while to get a healthy relationship with writing again, and of course bily came out of that downtime so i can't be angry at myself for it but yeah. im glad i know myself better as a creator now but i still regret getting peoples hopes up!

as for my own personal life, I regret two things the most- one is never learning how to hold onto people. like seriously- when I tell you that my own self-hatred and low opinion of myself has ruined virtually every single one of my relationships- it has.

After leaving someone (like leaving college friends or leaving other countries where I've lived) I've always default assumed that I mattered less to people than they did to me. It's to the point where I get immense anxiety about reaching out and maintaining friendships because I'm worried that I'm bothering people or that they love me out of pity- but almost to such an extreme point where it literally keeps me from ever considering reaching out or responding when people send me texts asking because i assume it must have been a fluke? or a mistake? or that they meant to send it to someone else?

somehow i've ended up in this intensely lonely place where i have no ability to maintain friendships simply because my mental scheme can in no way incorporate a world where I am desirable as a friend, companion, or otherwise. which is part of the reason why I think I love going on here and talking to you guys?

like I know that if a random person pops up into my inbox they want to talk to me, i don't have to second guess it, i don't have to be anxious about living up to their expectations because a lot of the time they don't have any expectations! and i know at times it's been a crutch, but a lot of the time- especially during the pandemic when communication got less and less frequent- it's been really comforting for me.

As for my second personal life regret; I really regret not dropping out of college when it became clear I was struggling, like after my first year when I was so so lonely and I was doing some very not healthy behaviors to cope, I should have just left- I would have been so much happier at a school that was less difficult.

take this from someone who went to a school that is literally harder to get into than Harvard- if you are struggling just leave. no one is going to think you are weak. What Yoongi said "giving up decisively also counts as courage" is so so so true. I am literally so burnt out from that place that I don't even want to take a 4-week course to re-get my TESOL certification T-T learning should never have become a place of anxiety for me but it really is.

yeah thats my regrets! it's okay to admit that you have regrets, it means that the past matters and that you're at least trying to make your future better. i think people get maybe a little protective when they talk about their own regrets when we shouldn't? regrets are things that keep us human and i don't think we should feel ashamed of them!

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thegingeralien · 3 years

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Thought I might share my “doing homework with adhd” tips in case the might help even just one person (because that would make me feel happy).

Who am I to be giving you advice? Good point! I am still terrible at studying and I’m 26 and at University for the millionth time. But I have studied A LOT in my 22 years of schooling with varying degrees of success.

I see a lot of people, especially teenagers or first year university/college students, with ADHD asking for tips on how to study. But if you do a google search most of the websites and advice that comes up can be extremely ableist. So I hope I can help someone!

TIPS TO HELP YOU STUDY WHEN YOU HAVE AN ADHD GREMLIN BRAIN!:

1. Chewing gum!

- This might come across as a weird one, but it has actually really helped me. I use it as a form of stimming to help keep me focused and concentrating. Other forms of stimming can potentially end up being more of a distraction when you actually need to be reading or writing - but they can help if you just need to be listening. Try not to get a bubble gum or fun flavoured one though - as they can end up making your mouth feel dry, lose flavour quickly, and just give your brain way too many sensory things to become distracted with.

2. Buying colour coded stationary!

- New stationary can make me really excited to start studying, but that excitement never lasts long and the act of buying stationary can sometimes become it’s own hobby. That’s not what we are going for here. I really recommend, especially if you are a visual learner like me, to buy colour coded stationary. This means removable page markers, different coloured post it notes, highlighters, sometimes even pens. This way if your mind jumps from one topic to the other, it doesn’t matter. Go with the flow. Forcing your ADHD gremlin brain to focus can be extremely counter intuitive. So pick a colour for each topic, and stick to that system to find organisation among your own chaos!

3. Buy a really cheap, boring year diary with hardly any writing inside.

- Not sure if your school/university has their own diary but they can be perfect for what I am on about. Generally you can find them for really cheap, soft cover, no writing or designs within the dates. Just dates, days, weeks and lines where you can write your homework. This helped me a lot in High School. I wish I had kept doing it in University, but I am good with giving advice, and not so much with taking it. I used to decorate the outside of it however I wanted. Some years I would redecorate the same diary every semester. In the public holidays or holiday days I would colour those lines in with different highlighters to make it look like a rainbow. But every assignment due date, homework, draft, rewrite, form I had to bring back, library book due date, school activity days, ANYTHING to do with school I would write in there with reminds and check lists. Important due dates would be highlighted, general homework and daily to do lists t(o help me not leave my assignments to the last minute) would have a tick box beside them (because ticking tick boxes is free dopamine). Try to not put birthdays or fun things in it. This is a small way to stay on track so it helps you actually stay on track with the big things when you’re home.

4. Big whiteboards stuck on the wall where you can’t avoid it.

- This is not something I had in school, but I so wish I did. I have been using this recently to keep on top of house work (as maintaining your own house is tiring) and my small business or other things I really can’t avoid. If I physically write it down (not just in my phone) it psychologically does help you commit it to memory. Again, physically putting a line through a task you just completed is a hecking great rush of dopamine. But the biggest reason I love my white board, I can’t ignore it. It is stuck to the wall and is never out of sight, out of mind. I can’t put my phone or diary down and then refuse to look at it until I’m past the due date. Again, I’m not a perfect person, there are days where I don’t do anything I have written on the white board. But the great thing is, I don’t have to continuously feel like I failure, as I can wipe it all off the next morning or week and start fresh. I also put important things I have to remember that I’m doing during the week so I don’t forget them.

5. Icky Medication.

- I know not everyone wants to be on medication, and I understand. I am not forcing you to. No matter what your opinions are, you lovely gremlin who is still reading this post, regarding medication, you are valid and I respect you. My personal experience with medication has not been the best. I have been misdiagnosed for a severe chunk of my academic life which has seen me trying to focus and maintain school work under some even worse states then I am unmedicated! However, since receiving my diagnosis and finding the right ADHD medication for me, I have the ability to get so much work done without having to unnecessarily struggle. It’s unfortunately not magic, it will not turn me into a robot that makes me do work and turn out incredible, noble peace prize winning assignments (as much as I wish that were possible). I still have the ability to be a lump, doom scrolling through tumblr, forgetting to eat, and ignoring responsibilities. But it really helps me when I sit down and start that thing that isn’t fun. Yesterday it helped me hyperfocus on cleaning my office which was a terrifying room to be in. So it’s pretty close to magic in my opinion!

6. Accessing Disability Support at your place of learning.

- Not all of you taking the time to read this will have either a) an offical diagnosis or b) a good disability support available to you wherever you are completing your studies. And that is okay. This dot point just won’t be for you right now. But keep it in mind for a time when it might apply to you, as it’s something I never thought I would need, but will never take for granted ever again.

- If you have an offical diagnosis and Disability Support, make an appointment with the disability support adviser. DO IT NOW! Get your psychiatrist to write a diagnosis letter outlining that you have <enter superpower that makes you hilarious here> and that you are receiving <enter x,y,z treatment here> and that you would benefit from receiving <enter what you have always wished you had on the days you can’t make your ADHD gremlin brain do the thing here>. Now these benefits can be, but not limit to: automatic extensions on ALL assignments, extra time on exams, extra breaks to walk around while taking exams, special consideration when marking assignments, my university allows me to take exams in a separate room with only the other students in my subject who also have disability support (occasionally I have taken an exam alone with only a tutor present) so I don’t get distracted, permission to take fidget items into class or exam (I have the option to wear headphones, as long as I can display that they are not connected to anything). Maybe you can come up with some great ones for you with your disability advisor or your psychiatrist.

- The disability advisor will often go through your course outline with you at the start of each semester or year. This is annoying and a great time for disassociating, but can be useful in hindsight because you are made aware of everything that will come up during your class so you are not surprised. Because lets be honest, it is unlikely you are going to look at the course calendar too often.

- Side Note: I make an appointment every semester with my disability support officer for my area of study to make sure I have my special considerations for the year. Now I may go through the whole year without ever using my considerations. However, the fact that I know they are there takes an insane amount of pressure off of myself. If I’m having an insanely screwy loony tune mental health moment, I can email my coordinator my disability plan and say I need an extension due to personal reasons, and WHOOP, there it izzzzz.

7. Dedicated one thing or a few things that have nothing to do with food/alcohol/other substances to reward yourself with for doing the thing!

- This may not work for everyone. It doesn’t always work for me. I used to reward myself with food, but that only reinforced my stimming with overeating and my already bad relationship with food. And I feel as though that would be the same with any other substance that can be linked with addiction. (Addiction is a tough word, cause what aren’t I addicted to, I have ADHD, but hopefully you get what I mean!).

-Now, boring try and not choose this aside, lets think of somethings that work really well as rewards!

- My partner likes to come give me a kiss and a hug when ever they have written and reread a paragraph, you might buy a book when you get a really good mark, you might want to go make a cup of tea and watch an episode of your hyperfixation after studying for <enter a good period of time here>, you might allow yourself to partake in an activity you usually do while procrastinating (but at least this time you know you aren’t putting something off), talk to someone who you know will tell you they are proud of you as they understand the mental struggle you go through to concentrate (if you can’t think of anyone, it is 110% okay if that person are the amazing people on tumblr or the adhd tumblr chats. We will freaking pop a bottle of champagne for you cause we get it!).

- Try and make what ever you choose be something in a different room or away from your working space. Getting out can really calm you down.

8. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance.

- This is true for anything, but I don’t mean just asking your teacher to give you extra help understanding the task and marking rubric. Many people online, tutors, librarians at your school, past or present students offer assistance rereading and making small edits (they won’t make it magical unfortunately) to your assignments. If you are like me and once you have written or completed the dreaded thing, you can not imagine or force your gremlin brain reread or edit the thing. So it can help to just delegate this to someone else, who hasn’t read it before, so they won’t disassociate or skim read it. They will often notice things you never would have even if you were neurotypical as that is just what happens when you have been working on something for so long.

9. Repetitive music.

- It generally helps if this has no lyrics. Lo-fi is amazing. Classical is alright too if it works for you, but both my partner and I agree that it can really assist you to keep up pace and focus when the beat is a high and repetitive (almost meditative) tempo.

10. Limit your screen space.

- This is a tip completely from my partner @dr-adhd who also has ADHD, is an avid PC gamer and is consistently in a battle with their gremlin brain to focus on completing their PhD. They have discovered that it really helps them to limit their screen space - simply put, work on one screen only. They have done more work more easily when they have their one screen on their laptop to focus on. Whereas their office has multiple screens so they could be playing runescape, watching YouTube, listening to lo-fi and doing work - which never worked (shocking right hahaha).

11. At the risk of sounding like a Mum... Put your phone and other electronics other than the assignment necessary one, away.

- I am a Mum, but to a fluffy puppy dog, so I hate to sound like my Mum when I was in high school, but she was right. Mobiles are the single easiest and biggest distraction in ADHD history. I often, even at coffee shops, have to turn my phone over so that I am not consistently looking at it every time the screen lights up to say the pizza place has sent me a coupon, or a carpet place that has been having a sale since I was born is... still having a sale, or a friend from school wants you to watch this TikTok. Even though you might not want to ignore your friends, because people pleasing, difficulting making/keeping friends and RSD are hecking real things, but they can all wait. Trust me, none of them are urgent. That TikTok will still be funny in an hour or two. And I’m probably completely right when I say that whomever just messaged you, never replies as quickly as you want them too. So I doubt they are going to think twice if you are MIA to finish your thing.

My partner or I might add to this later, but at the moment I already know that I probably wouldn’t read this wall of words if I was the one reading it, so if you are still with me, THANK YOU and I really hope I might have helped you. Sorry for the mound of words, but maybe you can reblog, screen shot, or save this and read a dot point at a time or refer to it when you need. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, I promise what ever it is, I’ve asked the same thing once in my life or something MUCH stupider.

#ADHD #Study tips #actually adhd #autistic #adhd #neurodivergent #adhd study tips #advice #adhdstudytips #studying with adhd #adhd advice #ask adhd #adhd mood #adhd life #adhd vibe #disability support #uni support #school advice

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onepieceheadcannons · 3 years

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Can I please have some NSFW headcannons for Marco please? P,H,O,E,N,I,X please? Thank you!

Hey, thank you for sending in a request <3 I appreciate it loads

Marco The Phoenix (NSFW Alphabet edition)

P - Pace

Sensual, he wants his partner to feel everything. He'll do whatever his partner wants, if they want it hard and fast, oh boy he will give you hard and fast, especially if its quickie/one night stand. But if you are long term and you want to feel loved, he'll make you feel love with his thrusts. Making sure he hits the perfect spots repeatedly to push you over the edge.

H - Hair

Totally yellow. He understands the need to be hygienic, so he does keep it well maintained. He doesn't like it bald, he avoids getting in grown hairs or anything of the sort. So he trims about once a week, if he is busy then every two weeks.

O - Oral

In his teen and young adult years, he did prefer getting, he won't lie. But, he always give in return. As he got older, he started to prefer giving. He got very good at it, doesn't matter who the partner is. He can find your spots, he will make you squirm and beg for more. He loves giving people their release.

E - Experience

No matter if you are going pre-time skip, or post-time skip, he has experience. He is in his 40's and quite an infamous guy. He is a pirate, he has partied and had his fair share of one night stands, relationships, and friends with benefits. But, he is also a doctor. So he knows all about the human body and he learns quickly. He will notice your pitch, faces, and overall reactions to the things he does, and he makes sure to make a mental note of it.

N - NO

Daddy kink, it'll just remind him of Whitebeard and he does not want to think about Pops in the bedroom. He doesn't want called it and he definitely doesn't want to call you it.

He also doesn't like age play, he is a grown ass man, the idea of him or you acting like a kid just annoys him.

I - Intimacy

He does like to be a bit playful, so whenever you guys are having intense eye contact, he will definitely give a smirk or even chuckle, it isn't anything against you, it's just he is serious in so many aspects of life so he likes letting loose and having laughs when he can. He can have intimate moments, he likes holding you and whispering sweet and romantic things... that eventually become everything he is going to do to you later.

X - X Ray

He isn't small, whatsoever. Now one piece average is kind of hard to factor because I doubt those giants have 6 inch dicks. But, he is around 7 inches, with about a 3.5 - 4 inch girth. He is a grower not a show er. Soft, i'd say 3.7 inches, with a 2.5-3 inch girth.

#one piece x y/n #one piece reader inserts #one piece reader insert #one piece #marco the phoenix #marco the pineapple #marco the phoenix x you #marco x you #marco the phoenix x y/n #pineapple x reader #🍍

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luna-rainbow · 3 years

Text

Lifton's postulate for brainwashing

Er, so this is really not my field or comfort zone, but I was researching for my fic/meta and came upon this list, which I thought might be of interest to people.

Robert Lifton is a renowned psychologist who studied PoWs and came up with this 10 step process with which people were "brainwashed", which are also often seen in cults and indoctrination. To me, it also feels like some of the techniques are used by abusers in toxic controlling relationships, because it creates a dynamic where the victim feels like they are dependent on the abuser for guidance and the need to "do good".

See...my take on Bucky's amends is that it was part of the military's process in "reforming" Bucky to align with their purposes.

These methods need the person to be isolated to work, which unfortunately Bucky already is.

1) Assault on identity: "You are not who you think you are"

2) Guilt: "You are bad"

3) Self-betrayal: "Agree you are bad and your family/friends are wrong"

The point of steps 1-3 is basically to make people doubt who they are and what their self-worth and belief systems are. Because of what Bucky's experienced, he doesn't actually need a lot of push to go that way - he already thinks "the Winter Soldier is still in there" and that "I am crazy". The key would be how they play on #3 - would it explain why Bucky suddenly cut contact with Sam? Because they kept feeding him propaganda and he wasn't sure how to talk to Sam any more?

4) Breaking point This is the point the abuser wants to reach with steps 1-3, and HSW explains it best in this quote:

When the target reaches his breaking point, his sense of self is pretty much up for grabs -- he has no clear understanding of who he is or what is happening to him. At this point, the agent sets up the temptation to convert to another belief system that will save the target from his misery.

At this point, people would become highly suggestible to external influence, because their sense of self and their belief system is disrupted.

5) Leniency: "I can help you" A lot of abusive relationships hinge on this point to maintain it. They offer a reprieve from the abuse they've been dealing out, and because it is so different, it almost feels "kind".

While not the same situation in Bucky's case, this may be the purpose of the "pardon". Never mind that he was a prisoner of war subjected to extensive periods of torture and mind-control, never mind that at least in the final few years he was under the control of the secretary of a government organisation...They perpetuate the notion that Bucky himself is guilty, and their offer of pardon is their leniency.

6) Compulsion to confess: "You can help yourself"

7) Channelling of guilt: "This is why you're in pain"

8) Releasing of guilt: "This is how you can change that" I think @ifandomus raised a good point some time ago about how the government would have tried to get Bucky to reveal information - or at least reveal how much he knows, because that may affect whether or not they trust him to be out there potentially revealing things they don't want people to know about.

#7 and #8 play directly into the amends. The guilt is painted as a personal failing, and Bucky is given a personal quest as an outlet and a path (however damaging to both him and the WS's victims) to resolve the guilt. We don't know how he made that list. We don't know why some people's names are on it, while others are not. We do know that Raynor is aware of the list and is probably also aware of the actual names on that list (even before episode 6). What are the chances that - during a period where Bucky was highly suggestible and uncertain - even the amends list was curated by the government?

9) Progress and harmony: "Here is a new belief system that will make you feel better"

10) Final confession and rebirth: "I accept the new belief system" I don't think Bucky quite got to the final 2 stages, and it's probably because he reconnected with Sam and came out of that social isolation where he didn't have an anchor.

I feel like Bucky got the sense that they were trying to get inside his head, hence his antagonism with his therapist (I can't imagine how he would feel after 70 years of people breaking inside his head, to be faced with someone doing it again). But I also think - especially without any sort of background in psychology or even social interactions for decades - he isn't sure whether she really is trying to help and it's just his own distrust getting in the way, so there's a bit of a see-sawing dynamic he has with the psychologist because sometimes he thinks maybe she has a point, and at other times he's on edge and closed off.

My feeling is that he latches so hard onto Steve (Stucky aside) because that is his only guarantee of something being true. Hence a lot of his actions and arguments are based on what Steve did, what Steve said and what Steve left behind.

(I know the show isn't really going this way with it...but I like the thought of Raynor and the therapy sessions all being a giant scam to get Bucky to be a pliable war dog again)

#bucky barnes #medical meta #kinda #meta #tfatws #the falcon and the winter soldier

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agentofmischief · 3 years

Text

Birthstone Legacy Challenge

Ok, I don’t post a lot on here, but I’m a huge fan of the sims. I’ve been playing it since gen 1 back in 2000. So, I’ve been having fun with challenges, especially the past couple years with 100 Baby, and I’ve found online. And after reading hearing and reading up on Lilsimsie’s Not So Berry Challenge, I had an idea of my own challenge. So, I thought I’d share if anyone else wanted to play along.

Disclaimer: These challenges mean nothing in regards to people born in that month. I simply took symbolism and cultural aspects of each stone to create a challenging and interesting playthroughs you might not think to do.

Lifespan requirements: Normal (not sure if it’s possible on Short, but if you want hard mode, do it).

The idea is to start with your month’s birthstone, then each generation is the next month’s stone for either 10 generations (traditional Legacy), or 12 if you wan to do the full year. You could also start on the month after your birth month with a full year play-through, so your birth month acts as a “finale”. Might be helpful if say your birth month is April, and you know your month’s stone is Diamond and to you it sounds like a finisher, or if your birth month is December, and you’d just prefer to start with January’s stone. It’s up to you.

These will just be listed month by month, so they are easy to find.

Like in the other color challenges, you want to model your sim with the stone’s colors in mind. You should also build their house with their stone’s color in mind.

1. January stone: GARNET

Color: Dark Red

Garnets have a high refractive index, which causes them to look as if they are emitting light. Due to this phenomenon, travelers during the crusades would carry them to ward off evil. The stone represents Faith, Love and Constance.

Traits: Good, Ambitious, Cheerful

Goals:

- Complete the Soulmate aspiration

- Complete the Law career as a judge.

- Must maintain career until death (meaning no retirement, quitting, or being fired).

- Must have at least 2 kids after the soulmate aspiration is fulfilled.

- All children must be raised with all green character values and no lower than Bs in school.

2. February stone: AMETHYST

Color: Purple

The word Amethyst comes from the Greek word, amethystos, meaning “not drunken.” This comes from a myth where Dionysus was so enraged, he vowed his wrath on the next human he saw, which was a young woman, Amethystos. To “save” this woman, Artemis turned her to stone (note to self, don’t ask Artemis to save you ever, because her track record sucks). Dionysus calmed at seeing the stone’s beauty, and poured his wine on it, giving the stone it’s purple color. In more recent centuries, amethysts have been associated with piety and rank in the Catholic Church, as bishops are given amethysts when they are appointed.

Traits: Genius, Bookworm, Snob (If you have Snowy escape, replace one of these with Proper).

Goals:

-Complete the Knowledge - Renaissance Sim aspiration.

-Complete the Education Career as a Professor.

-Can not go to bars or nightclubs

-Max out Logic, Writing, and a musical skill (Violin, Guitar, Piano, or Singing)

-Can never marry or enter into an official dating relationship; HOWEVER must have at least 1 kid at some point to continue the legacy. This can be through adoption, which is more likely if you want to play pure piety or you have an Ace sim in mind, and the adoptee must be a child or teen. The other option is through secret woohoos if you want to play the more historically accurate, seedy way. **If you are playing with Risky Woohoos, you can have max 2 kids living with you. All others children must be removed from the house and into a Townie’s home once they become toddlers.

3. March stone: AQUAMARINE

Color: Light Blue

Due to aquamarine’s sea-like color, they’ve long been associated with traveling and the sea. Sailors used to put them under their pillows to calm themselves. They are said to inspire peace and ward off poisons.

Traits: Loves Outdoors, Glutton, Loner

Goals:

-Complete Angling Ace aspiration.

-Eat out of the trash 5 times without getting sick.

-Have an aquarium with 10 fish.

-Catch a vampire squid. ** Or if you have Island Living, you must become a mermaid.

-Must eat and learn to make Pufferfish Nigiri.

4. April stone: DIAMOND

Color: White/Silver

Diamond is the hardest stone on Earth, and is often associated with wealth and treasures. The word diamond comes from the greek word adamas, meaning unconquerable. They are the most popular of the stones, and so recently have been “Lab Grown.”

Traits: Ambitious, Insider, Perfectionist

Goals:

-Complete the Scientist career.

-Complete Leader of the Pack aspiration.

-Find all the crystals.

-Must clone a diamond.

-Become best friends with Judith Ward and have a framed selfie with her in your house.

-Date/marry someone in the Style-influencer career.

5. May stone: EMERALD

Color: Dark Green

Emeralds are an old stone, first mined in ancient Egypt. Cleopatra was known to wear them frequently. They are said to symbolize fertility, wisdom, and Spring. It’s also said to heal heartbreak.

Traits: Jealous, Romantic, Materialistic

Goals:

-Master Gardening skill.

-Date and 100% romance a politician, then break up with them.

-Have at least 3 kids from multiple partners (each must have reached 100% romance first).

-Breed a frog worth over $100

-Must complete Fabulously Wealthy aspiration

-Does not marry, UNLESS you have Strangerville, and can marry an Officer in the Military Branch. However, when they die, so does your sim.

6. June stone: PEARL

Color: White/Cream

Pearls are created by oysters and are considered the “perfect” gem, as it needs no man-mad alterations. Pearls are often attributed to wisdom through experience, as well as innocence and fertility.

Traits: Childish, Perfectionist, Family-oriented

Goals:

-Must have 5 kids before becoming an adult.

-Must complete the Curator aspiration.

-Must master 10 skills. ** If you are using Tiny House perks, 15 skills.

7. July stone: RUBY

Color: Bright Red

Rubies are well known for their blood-red color, earning their association with health and vitality. They are also symbols of love, passion, and prosperity.

Traits: Self-Assured, Romantic, Self-Absorbed

Goals:

-Complete Serial Romantic aspiration.

-Master Cooking, Athletic, and Charisma skills.

-Complete Doctor Career.

-Must Woohoo at least once in each: Closet, Jacuzzi, Observatory, Bush, Spaceship, Lighthouse, Pile of leaves, Shower, Coffin.

8. August stone: PERIDOT

Color: Light Green

Peridot is the stone of compassion, bringing health and peace to emotions and the mind. It inspires eloquence, creativity, and good cheer.

Traits: Creative, Vegetarian, Goofball

Goals:

-Complete the Painter Career.

-Master Painting, Photography, and Handiness skills.

-Paint 5 Masterpieces.

-Craft a bathtub of excellent quality.

-Complete Painter Extraordinaire aspiration.

9. September stone: SAPPHIRE

Color: Royal Blue

With the most famous sapphires being Princess Diana’s iconic engagement ring and The Heart of the Ocean in Titanic, it’s now wonder Sapphires hue long been associated with nobility and power. The stone symbolizes strength, loyalty, and focus through self-discipline.

Traits: Materialistic, Genius, Insider ** If you have snowy escape, Proper takes place for Materialistic.

Goals:

-Complete the Law Career as a Private Attorney.

-Complete the Mansion Baron aspiration.

-Must start a club with Wealthy requirement ($30,000+). *If you start a fraternity/sorority in University, it counts if wealthy is listed as a requirement.

-Max out Charisma, Logic, and Writing skills.

-Must marry another club leader.

-Must get Gold in Wedding Social Event, and pay full $1750. Minimum of 10 guests.

-Must have a son. (He does not HAVE to be the continuation of the Legacy, but he can if you want. Also, if you have a born daughter, but decide to transition her, that does not count. Since it’s a click of a button without game mechanic influence, it’s kind of cheating. HOWEVER, if you decide your born son should transition, it still counts. This is mostly to take the steps during pregnancy to make a boy (since we’ve all watched others influence for a girl 1000x), That or to keep going until “the odds are in your favor.”)

10. October stone: PINK TOURMALINE

Color: Pink

Pink Tourmaline, also known as October rose, represents humanity, sympathy to others, and humanitarian work. It’s believed to carry the virtue of love that is unconditional, offering comfort to children and lasting friendships.

Traits: Unflirty, Gloomy, Outgoing

Goals:

-Complete the Politician career as a Charity Organizer.

-Complete Friend to the World aspiration.

-Adopt 2 kids (Do not have to be legacy continuation).

-Max out friendship/be best friends with 4 sims before becoming an Adult. The friendship must be maintained throughout life.

-Have a rose garden.

-Write 5 Children’s books.

-Volunteer with family 5 times.

*If you get the pop-up asking to donate to charity, you must if you have the money.

11. November stone: CITRINE

Color: Dark Yellow (almost Gold)

Citrine’s yellow stone radiates happiness, creativity, and wealth. Named for it’s citrus like color, it’s no wonder it’s the stone for a month known for it’s food. Citrine is known also as the Merchant’s stone for it’s golden color.

Traits: Cheerful, Foodie, Creative

Goals:

-Complete Culinary Career.

-Complete Culinary aspiration.

-Master Cooking and baking skills.

-Own a fruit and vegetable garden with every possible fruit and veggie in your game.

-Own a Bakery or Restaurant.

-Cook an Excellent quality Grand Meal.

-Learn 10 Food Stall recipes.

12. December stone: Turquoise

Color: Blue/Green (Teal)

Turquoise is an odd one. In European cultures, it’s the stone of friendship and attracts money and luck, but is also frequently used in Evil Eye talismans. Historically, Montezuma II gifted these gems to Cortez, the Spanish Conquistador. The Apache used turquoise as well, as a charm on their bows for better aim.

Traits: Evil, Outgoing, Kleptomaniac

Goals:

-Max out Mischief and Charisma skills.

-Complete the Criminal Career.

-Complete Public Enemy aspiration.

-Start a Kleptomaniac club.

-Steal an object worth $10,000

-Marry someone with the Good trait, and cheat on them 5 times.

Happy simming!

#thesims #the sims legacy #sims challenge #legacy challenge #birthstone #The Sims 4 #sims 4 challenge #sims 4 legacy #Birth Stone Challenge #birth stone legacy #birth stone #gemstone #gemstone challenge #gem challenge #lets play #color challenge #color legacy challenge #sims 4 color

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houseboatisland · 3 years

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I'm rather curious for your own takes on Thom Thom~✨💙

Edit credit to @/ComradeOpThomas from Twitter, this is my ideal Thomas!

(Season 5 Thomas is the best Thomas, I don’t make the rules)

I started this hoping for it not to become a whole biography, but it just kept pouring out of me, so here's a very, very long post indeed lol

Thomas is NOT an L.B.S.C.R. E2 Class. He’s actually a unique design born to the North Western Railway in its earliest days… and in remarkably sad circumstances.

When the Railway Executive Committee first took over in August 1914, they were repulsed at the state of the Sudrian railways. Here were several argumentative companies operating in isolation from one another, with geriatric engines and stock, and one of them hadn't even run a train or maintained its permanent way since the start of the century. A key agenda item of the R.E.C.'s was a continuous, efficient railway system to quickly move men and materiel to the Island's eastern coast were Ireland to side with Kaiser Bill against John Bull. The existing standard gauge railways would have to be more or less torn up and rebuilt from scratch, and several new miles of track laid in to make for a single fluid network.

This required, among other things, many new engines. Several came over the Channel as and when could be spared by the Mainland, but as it became increasingly clear that the war would not be over "by Christmas," this wasn't an ideal long-term solution. The R.E.C. was especially upset that it had to put so many of its tender engines onto construction trains when their strength could be better used on other work. Two tank engines off the former Wellsworth and Suddery Railway, No. 1 "Short" and No. 2 "Stumpy" were by now nearing fifty years old, and exhausted mechanically.

The R.E.C., out to keep costs down and use resources to the fullest, ordered the N.W.R. to scrap these two engines and use the best parts of each to create one new engine. Measurements were taken, plans were hastily drawn up, and Short and Stumpy were quietly cut up in January 1915. Several fittings were made new for what odds and ends neither engine could contribute a usable part. The resulting new engine was "Thomas," who was put to work fresh off the shop floor.

Thomas at this point became the N.W.R.’s No. 1 quite by accident. He was the first engine to be built at Crovan’s Gate, and the REC misinterpreted this on his builder’s plates as an intention by the N.W.R. TO make him No. 1. So when Thomas gained his number, the R.E.C. and the N.W.R. both assumed this was deliberate by one another. And it was just too much of a hassle and too unimportant to change, so No. 1 he stayed.

As for his name, Thomas is named after Thomas Reginald Payne, the North Western Railway's first Chief Mechanical Engineer. Payne had made Thomas' construction a reality, from drawing up his blueprints to supervising his piecing together. Payne, who was CME from 1914 to his death in 1951, never forgot this connection to "his" engine, and often wanted to be on the shop floor whenever Thomas was in for repairs.

Thomas’ “infancy” was in a word, harsh. He was working around the clock, surrounded by engines who came and went, and did little if any socializing. Foremen were ordering him about at every turn. His first friend ever was the new N.W.R. No. 2, Edward, the former Wellsworth and Suddery Railway’s No. 5 and only tender engine, who knew his old crewmates were chopped up to make Thomas. Thankfully, Edward knew better than to let Thomas in on this, lest he give him some sort of existential crisis, and he made quick work of making himself a mentor to the little engine.

In these conditions, Thomas’ “cheeky” and anti-authoritarian streak took shape. His whole life thus far had been work and taking lumps from his superiors, most of whom were English and not Sudrian. This morphed into a disrespect for big engines, who wanted him to be their errand boy as construction work began to ebb and focus shifted to running trains. Ever the contrarian, Thomas only doubles down on his disrespect for tender engines when he finds out that that’s “the traditional order of things.” Edward is of course exempt from this attitude, but in his tensest moments Thomas can even lose patience with HIM momentarily.

The war finally ends. January 1919 sees the N.W.R. out to make an identity for itself as peacetime takes hold and Parliament quietly rumbles about Grouping or outright Nationalization. Thomas is the first engine to wear "Hatt Blue with Red Stripes," the company's planned standard livery. This isn't unique to him for long, however, and Thomas' new line of work from hereon is Station Pilot for Vicarstown. Needless to say this is upsetting to him. He's not moving up and down the Island like he was when building the railway. He's still rushed off his wheels. He's expected to be answerable to tender engines as he makes up their trains. Most importantly, he's still having as much difficulty as before to make time to make friends. This new job is in every respect everything Thomas could have wanted to avoid, and there's no telling if he'll ever even get out of it. January 1919 is thus where "Wants to See the World" Thomas begins.

Thomas still gets to see Edward regularly, and he is for a pinch joined by two other tank engines shunting at Vicarstown. They're also ex-Wellsworth and Suddery Railway, Nos. 3 and 4 "Edwin" and "Victor." Thomas befriends Victor, who is a friendly old joker, but dislikes Edwin who has become cranky in his old and as a 2-4-0T has a tendency to slip and not be of much help. They leave him too, in 1922, when The Fat Director relocates them to run other branchlines on the Island. So, 1922 onward, we meet Thomas as the sole pilot, thoroughly busy and thoroughly lonely.

This seems more or less canon, but The Fat Director probably sent Thomas to Wellsworth after his runaway with Edward's trucks in anticipation of giving him the Ffarquhar Branch once he was a matured engine. He didn't give Thomas the line just because he rescued James in fine style, that was really what made his mind up.

Thomas looks kindly enough on Henry as a big engine at this time, he and Edward as mentioned aren't necessarily the kinds of "Big Engines" he dislikes. He'll occasionally give him a tease or two, or lose patience with his health, (something he now deeply regrets years later,) but there's no real malice in it. Think of him as the little brother poking fun at his bigger brother for having one arm in a cast, but altogether still feeling sorry for him and accommodating him how he can. Henry for his part appreciates Thomas, but takes his teasing very seriously considering how sensitive and implicating it is to, you know, his whole existence.

My idea of Thomas' relationship with Gordon is heavily inspired by @/mean-scarlet-deceiver's: Thomas is initially awed by Gordon's arrival and finally confident the N.W.R. can survive, but quickly resents him when he shows his true colors as a "big engine" through and through. I wouldn't even call Gordon and Thomas "friendly" until their alliance at Toryreck Mine. From 1923 all the way up to then, depending on when you place it, they... legitimately dislike each other. There's no affection beneath all the ribbing and jibes, they ACTUALLY disliked each other that whole period of time.

I'm still hashing out my headcanon of 98462 and 87546, (just know that those aren't actually their numbers,) but it's safe to say Thomas hates their guts, and '62 and '46 hate his guts in return as a servant willing to speak up for himself.

Thomas and James were a couple from 1924 to 1933, when they broke up amid the Big Engine Strike. I'd really rather reserve this for a post of its own at a later date.

Thomas and Percy are good friends, but I wouldn't go so far as to call them "best friends" like the TVS has so often hammered in. They clearly come to blows whenever the tension's too much. I like to explain that away as a shift in Thomas' character. With him doing more passenger work as Percy and Toby handle the stone trains, and his increasing fame, Thomas begins looking down on Percy, not long after he transferred to Ffarquhar in 1955 in fact. This might also have to do with unresolved feelings between them both. (Hey, remember that little green engine you kissed once just to try it over twenty years ago? He's your roommate now, probably forever. Play nice!)

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hayleysayshay · 3 years

Text

On Wu’s backstory:

Wu is a character many people find annoying, but I enjoy. His backstory is vague at best. Here is what we know.

Wu is the grand nephew of Hou-Ting. He is the only heir to the throne.

At some point he moved to Republic City. Commentary implies that he was there doing a degree

At some point Mako was made his bodyguard. Commentary implies that Mako was his bodyguard for the three years.

The canon status of all commentary is debatable. As far as I see it, the show is true canon, the only reason we take the commentary as canon is because nothing contradicts it, but it is particularly substantial.

So, let’s analyse this backstory. This is all my personal opinion and headcanon and based upon what I find interesting and what fits Wu’s character as we see it in Book 4.

Was there a Royal Family massacre and is Wu traumatised?

We don’t see any other family members than Hou-Ting in Book 3. In Book 4, we are introduced to Wu, and only Wu. He is the heir to the throne.

At the end of book 3, Ba Sing Se falls to a the angry citizens of Ba Sing Se. We do see them enter the palace. They are seen looting and burning.

So, did this mob murder the rest of the Royal Family? Wu is the only heir. He is the grand nephew. This implies both his parents and grandparents are dead. What happened to them? They all must have died fairly young if Wu is the heir as a twenty something in Book 4.

I believe this is the basis of the ‘royal family massacre’ argument. Wu is too young to be the only heir to the throne. And the mob were angry. Therefore, the heirs above Wu were killed.

Now to be clear: the real reason Wu is a young heir is because Bryke wanted someone young for Mako to bounce off of. He’s around the same age as Mako but has a completely different life to him. Wu is not serious whereas Mako is. Wu is flippant and Mako is serious. Wu is extroverted and Mako is introverted. Wu is rich, Mako is not. This contrast is more fun if they’re the same age.

I say this because I think it’s clear that Wu was created with no clear trauma in mind. Wu does not act especially scared, or traumatised by the past. He is cautious and scared of hearing of Hou-Ting’s death, but acts in a comedic manner (fake strangling sounds) but then resumes a proper mourning action (may she rest in piece). Wu acts fairly silly throughout the series, enjoys the attention from fans, and even towards the end he creates a plan that he hopes will gain him attention from Korra. Wu is breezy and flippant and shallow, only really maturing towards the end and appears to be genuinely committed to dismantling the monarchy.

The trauma seen in fan works is a result of fan expansions, and personally I don’t really see it having a strong basis in the show. Wu is never really shown to be scared, or withdrawn at any points. Wu is never shown to be angry at the local populace who killed his family, as although Wu is shallow he never treats anyone badly. So is he masking? That’s totally up to your interpretation. Wu could be burying all his negative emotions and is acting out to hide his trauma. This is perfectly plausible. Personally, the lack of anger is what slightly damns this interpretation for me, I’m sure he’d show something.

Also I don’t think Wu not being fully prepared to take the throne is unreasonable— it makes sense if he was going to finish his education before starting public duties and gaining more political experience. And he could have made public experiences but still be fairly shallow. It’s implied that the Dai Li have a great degree of power so Wu not taking things that seriously or having a lot of experience is perfectly reasonable: it’s not needed for him to do so. So no, I don’t think Wu being the primary heir to the throne has to be sudden and unexpected because Wu isn’t very well prepared or serious.

How Old is Wu?

If you take the idea that he was in Republic City doing a degree when Hou-Ting was murdered, he could have been eighteen at the time, and twenty-one by the time of Book 4. He could be older. He could have started the degree at a younger age however, so he could even be nineteen at the start of Book 4.

If you ignore the idea that Wu was in Republic City prior to Book 3, and only came to Republic City to be safe after the Queen’s death, he could he even younger, potentially around eighteen in Book 4 if you HC him as young, but he could also still be older than Mako. Basically nothing confirmed, but I think it does depend on how seriously you take the commentary about the degree.

Have Wu and Mako worked together for three years?

This is going to be my strongest opinion, but I don’t think their relationship makes much sense if they’ve known eachother for three years.

I feel like this was meant to explain what Mako was doing for three years, but Mako doing his job as a detective was enough. So I don’t think it was needed.

In the episode where Wu’s coronation is ruined, Wu has a breakdown. Mako asks why he even wants to be King. He apologises, and Wu says that ‘no-one ever spoke to him like that’.

No-one has ever spoken to Wu like, even Mako. For three years? I don’t buy it. Mako is professional but he does talk back to Wu. Mako doesn’t think Wu is deserving of power just because he was born into it. I can’t believe Mako would his tongue on Wu for three years.

Also, I think Wu and Mako have a nice arc over Book 4. They get to know each-other more deeply. Mako sees the more mature side of Wu. I just don’t get the impression that they really knew each other that well beforehand, and I think you’d learn more about each other if you were together 24/7 for three years.

Obviously a lot of fan works expand on this and make the whole three years together thing make sense (by making them fuck usually and then having ensuing drama), but my critique is that I often think this over explains Wu’s character and ignores the very real shallowness Wu does show in early Book 4 by making It doesn’t meant I don’t love these fics, but I just don’t really ever reconcile them with the version of Wu we see in the show.

What I headcanon.

Again, this is literally just headcanon, and the events have no real confirmation in canon, it’s just what I think is both interesting and what I think matches with Wu’s characterisation in the show, whilst also giving him a backstory and more depth.

Wu’s grandparent and heir to the throne had one child, who became Wu’s father. This grandparent and heir dies. This grandparent dies young.

Wu’s parent’s were married. It was a political arrangement as Wu’s mother was from a rich family. Their marriage is strained. They have one child, Wu and don’t really talk to eachother much. Wu’s Dad dies young from partying too hard. Wu is left the only heir.

Wu’s mother remarries a wealthy baron or something. Because of not doing widowhood properly she is not welcome at the palace and moves away from Ba Sing Se. She and Wu have a strained relationship, since she never really wanted Wu in the first place. They sometimes exchange letters. (This could be swapped for his father and his mother was the heir but honestly I just wanted a strained relationship with a maternal figure. She got her happy ending but not with Wu).

Wu and Queen Hou-Ting have a very strained relationship as Hou Ting considers him weak, and despises animals which Wu loves.

Wu ends up with no real close familial relationship and is used to never really caring about anything. He is very isolated and is mostly raised by Dai-Li appointed carers.

At twenty ish Wu decides he wants out and asks to study in Republic City. The Queen is against this but Wu is insistent and she sees it as an excuse to get him out of her hair.

Wu moved to Republic City. After the fall of the walls, the Dai Li are in disarray as much of the leadership flees the city. Wu was previously appointed Dai Li bodyguards but Republic City officials replace them with city appointed bodyguards instead to maintain order. Unsure of how to proceed with Wu, Raiko and the other leaders agree that Wu shall complete his degree whilst Kuvira restores order. Wu is rarely included in meetings that decide the Earth Kingdom’s policy because they don’t like him and everyone just accepts he will be a King supported by his advisors and won’t rule himself.

Wu is of course horrified but he has a lack of personal stake in the death of his great aunt other than the realisation that he is now under a lot of pressure, which Wu mostly just ignores.

Wu completed his degree. After this, he begins to move into the public sphere and begins to make public appearances. Instead of a rotating team of bodyguards he requests a personal one, Mako, because he saw him a newspaper and thought he was hot really cool. This happens around six months before Republic City.

Mako treats Wu as a job, but the events of Book 4 eventually push them to become better friends and get to know eachother. Wu matures What happens next is either comics canon or my own ideas.

This is complete headcanon and I expect some people disagree! Hope it makes sense.

#wuko #Prince wu #mako #legend of korra #tlok #lok #avatar

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