#but in terms of anyone she cares about?

[clonesupport]

thank you @socially-awkward-skeleton and @natesofrellis for tagging me to do this uquiz!

lack of trust

this one isn't that difficult to understand. you're extremely secretive, and you're afraid that if you open up you'll get hurt (again?). you probably raise suspicion against others and accuse them of something they never did. you let your anxiety and worry influence the way you view people which is never good.

rude ash

this one shouldn't really be explained. you have no regard for the feelings of others and you like to bully and mock people. you even find it hilarious

manipulative

you're probably a passive aggressive person. you frequently lie, and gaslight to get your way. you never want to be held responsible for your actions so you avoid situations by either victimizing yourself, belittling others concerns, hiding the truth, and using threats to harm yourself or others

trapped in wonderland

you care too little about the world around you. you refuse to wake up in the real world, and you'd rather be surround in your own dream world with the things that comfort you. you are too stubborn or too fearful to leave your comfort zone

i think this has been around for a hot minute and has made its turns so i’ll lay off the tagging this time around TwT it’s been busy lately, finally catching up on this stuff

#i feel like marceline’s definitely fits when it comes to anyone who she’s not close to #if you don’t know her or if she’s only working for you or doing a job against you then yeah she don’t care about you lol #but in terms of anyone she cares about? #then it ain’t right at all #mateo’s fits post cultist matty #ronnie’s is spot on TwT #seph’s fits her grieving years #my oc: marceline kelly #my oc: mateo harlowe #my oc: ronnie kana #my oc: seph wilde

[muthaz-rapapa]

If Anne and Shalle weren’t so set in stone as the main couple of this series, I think Keith would be a very good match with her.

He respects her, looks out for her, encourages her.

He treats Anne as she wants to be treated as an artisan, shares her core values and despite them being rivals, they are also good friends.

Which just kinda makes this more painful to watch cuz even if/when Keith does develop feelings for her later on (if he hasn’t begun to already), the plot won’t allow Anne’s heart to wander too far to look at other choices

……goddamnit, Second Lead Syndrome!! 😅💢

#that’s a kdrama term so i totally saw that coming and now i’ll have to suffer for it #cuz I’m starting to like Keith more and more with each scene he’s in 🥲 #also that Bridget b*tch coming in so late into the anime was all for the sake of drama and nothing else really #like anyone’s going to waste time caring about her when she had zero chance to begin with #but yea still…every time she spoke I wanted to slap her cuz uggghhh I hate this type of woman 😒🙄 #sugar apple fairy tale #anne halford #keith powell

[omarwolaeth]

thinking 'bout how the lads interact with what the bracelets represent, especially in their decks

#marwospeaking #Yuuya is by far hardest to work with on this because he Varies. but that might just be him being opposite to Yuzu so it might count? #anyway Yuuya is a bushfire made by fireworks set off without proper precaution (the improperly set off fireworks being Zarc.. #.. being influenced into the position that made the lads through his desire to both destroy and entertain his crowds) #It's small sometimes. but in the right conditions is an unstoppable conflagration #Yuuto literally does not die. In a world where we never truly get the other two (Yuugo and Yuuri) interacting with their host (Yuuya).. #.. outside of duels. he very much does. He is undead in a way the others don't quite match (pre Zarc revival) and it's opposite to.. #.. En Bird's life (assuming it counts death too as part of its cycle) #Yuugo uses machine monsters - things that distinctly don't breathe. and in most cases have exhaust pipes billowing fumes #and machines can be warm to the touch at times. which you could feasibly slide against Rin's Windwitches for being Very Cold Ladies #Also he's trapped no matter where he is. Neo Domino has a stronger grip on him as a person than anyone else. and when he might finally.. #.. escape that. he's trapped in someone else's body with no canonical recourse. because the story ended on Yuuya's terms and no one elses #Yuuri is hardest to place but I think he's very stationary. Sere's monsters are dancers - constantly moving - and she's very able to #adapt as she goes despite how stupid she can be book-wise. Yuuri is rooted into his role. even when he discards his loyalty his role was.. #.. always in Zarc's interest no matter if he knew or not. The Professor's loyalty from him is an add-on to that #... I'd argue Zarc cared more about his pieces than Ray cared about hers also? He made cards for them on the fly so they'd Win #Even in moments where that victory is not in a wholly positive light - Odd-Eyes Raging and Gatlinghoul - but we know he's capable of it.. #.. a la allowing Yuuya to debut pendulum monsters on his behalf in order to win against Ishijima #something something this can then apply to the other lads. they never lose except to each other and Ray's girls (at least on screen) #Yuuto survived 3 years of war. even despite Yuugo and Yuuri showing up. so methinks Zarc must've had a role in helping him survive #Like. Zarc's distinctly present for his Lads. Ray's not present for her lasses until one of them speaks through her #Sure it's very possible that's a bracelet thing - they are floodgates at the end of the day - and not a Ray thing. but it also wouldn't.. #.. surprise me given Ray is an Akaba. we know they will sacrifice others for a gain later on - Ray's was sacrificing a whole world to make. #.. a safer one for everyone to live in. irrelevant on if they remember it or if they never existed originally. Except Leo Akaba. He does #(with memory reading tech) and it tortures him the whole time. she didn't mean to hurt him but Still #Zarc's distinctly not better than Ray - he's still broken wide open when it comes to his hatred of humanity (but not his human half) #and it resulted in multiple near-deaths the second time around - but I can't say Ray's that much better if it turns out the bracelets.. #.. weren't floodgating her ability to help her lasses #Completely unrelated but. I don't like what Arcray represents ngl. makes it seem like Zarc could never move on with the help of his lads #and has to rely on someone who killed him and sent him to purgatory about it in order to heal.

[abandonmutt]

Just thinking

#I’m good at balancing enough to feel like. pleasant normally. but fuck I hate being reminded of just how deep my disordered thinking goes #I rly don’t know how I’m gonna like. heal in the long term #like obviously I’m gonna try but like #I am so desperately adverse to receiving more than very minimal help from anyone #and half the time I don’t even know what would help #the fucking knots I tie myself into are so convoluted and impossible that I kinda feel it’s better for me to just handle it #I don’t know how to be helped. I barely know how to be cared about. I fear that nobody will be able to handle whatever it’s gonna take #to break through all of that shit #like fuck man I don’t even remember how to cry about shit #I probably still need to cry over my moms stroke but it feels stupid now bc she’s fine #i don’t know what to do about that #I never thought I was a self hating kinda guy I thought I was pretty self neutral #but literally the bare minimum opening for shame or for feeling like I’m failing can snag me #even if it’s completely irrational #ugh.

[seilon]

kinda wild how you can have almost every aspect of your life deeply intertwined with someone else for years and then have all of that thrown in your face when that person decides none of it meant anything and, in fact, was toxic and purge-worthy

#hahahaha it’s been a bad day #and I am spiraling and all around not having a good time #I keep looking at the bulletin board in my room that used to make me so happy to look at because of all the good memories on it and the #reminder of there being people who care about me and now it just sorta. does the opposite #most of it just makes me feel. dread. #he’s in almost every picture and 80% of the people in the pictures in general I don’t talk to anymore for one reason or another #mostly people who just drifted away because I’m absolutely terrible at staying in touch with people #like not in a quirky way. like actually actively ruins relationships for no reason level bas #but some of them are people who purposefully don’t talk to me anymore #found out recently about one of these people. it’s someone I’d been friends with for like 15 years. purposefully blocked me #I believe because of whatever bullshit my ex has told her. she never asked me about anything so whatever she knows is #heavily biased and probably warped #because I don’t have anyone advocating for me. lol #even my close friends- the extremely few I have- are ‘neutral’ on it. which. im gonna be honest hurts me quite a bit. I have no one who #truly condemns him for the way he’s handled (lack thereof) all this and bolstered all my trust issues in the process and has made me #constantly critical of my own intentions because I can never trust that what I do or say is manipulative or ‘unhealthy’ anymore and I don’t #think I’m an all around good person on top of that because of my low empathy and all that and etc etc etc. it’s really fucked me up #but yeah anyway. yeah. they’re still on good terms with him more or less (though not as close as I am but that’s partly just due to me being #physically close rather than in another city). and it honestly hurts me that they could actively be centrists here #like I. just. really don’t trust anyone anymore. how the fuck could I #uh. anyway. im not sure if i want to take the board down all together or just take off almost all the photos on it #not sure what’s more depressing #cause they’re both pretty bad lol. almost all my major good memories from the past five years have included my ex so they’re basically all #tainted and unpleasant to look back on now. really just wasted five years of my life for this #another reason I’m constantly contemplating my own intentions these days is because I have a lot of thoughts and urges that I’d never do but #that are. related to purposefully hurting others or myself physically or emotionally or both. like. every part of me wants to deck my ex in #the face but obviously I’d never do that. but even just the compulsion feels like a justification of his narrative/view of me as a person #like haha maybe I am a shitty toxic abusive manipulative bastard. maybe I do just deserve to be alone where I can’t hurt or think about #hurting anyone. it’d definitely be better all-around if I didn’t fucking exist. burden lifted. but you know. #not sure how im like this but also egotistical and self centered but alas here we are. anyway I’ll delete this soon sorry

[biromanticbookbabe]

The Spring of Sapphic Satisfaction (2023) by VBL (me)

This is a rewrite in the form of a comic strip of Radclyffe Hall's The Well of Loneliness (1928). Her novel was about the butch lesbian heroine, Stephen Gordon. The ending is really sad so I wanted to rewrite the story so Stephen got another girlfriend who stays with her. Pipah was a character who came to me to fix that.

There's a glare on the last panel because it's already framed for an art show that they do in my local community.

The mediums are pen, ink and colored pencil. I hand drew/wrote it.

#I did this in less than two days because I didn't realize the show was so soon #and my school break ends in a few days! already #the spring of sapphic satisfaction #the title is very suggestive but the comic itself almost g-rated #Pipah was a character that came to me on one of my walks #and she was like PLEASE let me be Stephen's girlfriend!!! #and I was like 'girl we are going to make this happen!' #because really the depressed butch girls make me sad #so essentially I flung Pipah at Stephen to try to fix the ending of the story- yay? #we can add Radclyffe Hall to the list of historic figures who haunts me- I don't I'll ever be normal about her sorry #my drawings #mychatter #radclyffe hall #the well of loneliness #fanart? #pen and ink #colored pencil #also they're both in their 30s if anyone cares... which was the same time that Hall started her two long term relationships #also Stephen was like 35 or something at the end of the novel any way? Pipah might be like 33 maybe? #this is what I decided to enter into the community art gallery for a local art show #sapphic #wlw #lesbian #they are both lesbians #butch/femme #femme lesbians #butch lesbians #lesbian literature #1920s #brit lit

[larentslovechaos]

You had a daaaaate? 🥺👀👀👀👀👀👀👀

hiii yes I guess you could call it that! 🥺

I just hung out at the bar with a girl I dated when we were pretty much just kids lol (we were like 13). but we've been very good friends/also a recurring situationship for a very long time. we were just hanging out with her friends, but she did buy my drinks, so yeah i guess you could call that a date, right?

i did sleep over her house the other night though, which was very nice. I'd like to think things haven't been *this* serious with us before. but I could be wrong. at many points over the years we were very much a recurring situationship, but this feels different. guess we'll see where it goes..

#she never talks about her feelings with me but actually has been this time around #it's very strange and different lol #the way she just didn't care about anyone else around us at the bar was crazy #like she literally told me ''it's always been you'' 🥹🥺🥹 #and basically said '' nobody else in this room matters'' #it was very sweet but i have trouble believing her because 1. she drinks heavily and 2. just got out of a long term relationship lol #she also told me she was talking to another girl that was there #so i'm being very.... cautious #it very much feels like she just says what she thinks i want to hear #i've never felt anything for anyone that compares to what i feel for her #for suchhh a long time too like we didn't talk for almost 2 years and we're... like this now🥲 #so sorry for rambling sjfjdksk #but thank you for asking 🥹💖💖 #katelyn rambles in the tags #personal post

[guidingsbolt]

i think fen's relationship with uoser is crazy... she really respects him and wants his respect in turn but hates that she had to rely on him to help max instead of being able to handle it herself and she hates that he's sick and she can't help and she's balancing a desire to make things right with him and following through on all her promises she made to her little group and herself and her party whom she likes and trusts and respects and doing the best she can to help people while knowing captial chews you up and forces you to make extremely hard choices where no one wins but she knows as long as she's still standing she has the means to help someone else. and she's angry that he doesn't seem to see any of that in her intentions and is just disappointed in her. headinhands.

#he's literally right that it's bad so many people are in danger from the hatchling but it's not like fen disagrees! #she's MAD at uoser!!! that he would imply she doesn't care about the lives of the people in barlock's rest and has no qualms #with using fabiano as bait #and that she hasn't thought through this situation and isn't aware of how bad it is #but mostly she's mad that he would imply those things AND suggest that the hush ignore the problem alltogether and let the swampers #handle it #if she and her party don't handle the hatchling then who else? who else will die while the swampers search for the hatchling? #who else at barlock's rest would die if the delved with uoser today instead of waiting for the hatchling? #i don't think fen actually cares about the derogatory nature of the term ratcatcher but she IS offended that uoser called her one when #she is only trying to help #fen takes problems into her own hands she can't stand relying on someone else to get something done #she WON'T let this be someone else's problem when she's sure they can handle it tonight. and GOD i hope we fucking finish this thing #fen is in captial putting herself in mortal peril basically every day because she knows she can provide for her little community #she is building her strength and her magic and her connections so she can continue to do so #so one day her little group won't have to live in the stacks and they won't have to rely on favors from more powerful people and groups #and she CARES about people she wants everyone to have as much autonomy and respect that she thinks she deserves #and so anyone assuming she is being careless or thoughtless about lives or that she isn't making the best she can of a bad situation #something she is ALWAYS doing #then she's mad! #i wish i had the exact wording of that conversation so i could read it over again but that was one of those moments where playing fen #was So easy. she's thought this through. she will do whatever she can to save as many people as possible. the situation will end because #she knows she can finish it #and if she's wrong well. grimace emoji! #ch: fen

[tragedykery]

thinking about ty lee with ehlers-danlos and mai with chronic fatigue…

#not tagging this with anything bc this like a zero effort post but just having thoughts #them having days where they just lie in bed together #and the other kyoshi warriors come bring them food and help them out etc #bc while they’re a group of warriors they’re also very much based on community #and care for it etc #elli rambles #just having a lot of thoughts about the two of them and kyoshi island/the kyoshi warriors #obviously they’ll getting away from the fire nation and healing #but what would mai’s role be specifically? like would she be like a house wife (using that term very jokingly here) to ty lee? #would she run a shop? would she join the warriors? just train with them sometimes? would she have another job than that? #I can see her being creative #like writing poetry #but the question is be whether she’d share it (with anyone except ty lee) since she’s a very private person #etc etc anyway I should probably go to bed

[mxbitters]

i met someone at this pride event that happened in town (first time this has happened) and like honestly i really really wanna get involved w what she was doing, my mom like introduced us since apparently at the opening thing my dad was talking about me coming out(again. smallish town pride event and my parents are fairly active) and like yeah !!  she’s an older trans woman (though it was really fucking funny  she said i was ‘older’ in regard to like time being out) and president of this group that’s like, she was explaining it as a panel that goes to different schools, colleges, etc. around the state and it’s just like, queer people and allies talking about their experiences and she like invited me to join and like, i put my email and stuff so i think i’m just gonna need to wait to hear back from her???  honestly i think the wait is the worst part like i’m sososo excited to potentially do this, i’ve only talked on a panel at the true colors conference once though that was kind of a pathetic occasion because uhh. NOBODY came even though they were invited but i think even just being able to like sit with other like queer people, teachers, administrators, family members, etc. and just like talk was great so like i really feel like this is something i want to do and also i could probably use the public speaking experience lmao but yeahh

#i think the conversations i was having with her were p eye opening in a way though #it reminded me of the nuances of queer issues particularly labels and who historically fit under them #but like not in the chronically online way yknow? #in particular there were drag performances happening and she was talking abt the term transgender and whether or not drag performers were #and like yeah i was like talking abt how yeah i mean historically those lines were kinda blurry so it's an interesting topic #and like yeah ok gender expression is a thing anyone can play with #but it was really interesting! like in my experience i view my own gender as a sort of performance sometimes #or like.. how do i put it. like my gender is like.. relative. it's only there when someone is there to perceive it #it's schrodinger's gender. it only exists when someone is there it's like INHERENTLY a performance of sorts for me #so like there is a certain performativity to gender for me anyway. and drag is like.. a PERFORMANCE performance of gender #so like it may not mean the same thing to everyone but there's something to be said abt how performance and perception impact our genders yk #like i'm the type of person that really just tries to like curate how i'm perceived like #i'm very careful about HOW i'm perceived and this can be for safety or for fun but i think it's just really interesting to think abt #im sorry if these tags make noooooooo sense but like i cant stop thinking about what she was talking abt #long story short i REALLY wanna get involved and i would also like to be friends #also helping her break stuff down was really fun i like being taller than people it means i get to be helpful :) #(it's a rare experience. i'm 5'6)

[cats-in-the-clouds]

my sister got engaged and we’re all really happy for her but my bitter rain cloud of a dad (who naturally she told last) is giving her a bit of passive aggressive grief about it despite her boyfriend being like the best man of our generation (presumably either because he’s not catholic or because my dad sees them as young dumb unemployed people who aren’t ready for marriage or because he’s mad he barely has any real love with his own wife or something). so like pray for us? i wish i knew what to do

#if my dad had any brain cells or observational skills whatsoever #he’d realize that in terms of our faith the problem is not the boyfriend. that guy is brilliant and open minded and would probably ace RCIA #the problem is my sister. who is catholic in name but it’s clear to me how hard she’s fallen away from the faith #but like my dad has created such a bitter home environment we never have meaningful conversations with him #so like he doesn’t know *anything* about our inner lives #all he sees is labels. all he judges people by is labels #literally you can still get married in the church to a non catholic it’s just a matter of expecting them to convert eventually #and promising to still live according to the principles of the church and raising your children as such #but my parents are absolute fools if they think that’s the issue. if my sister was true in her faith her bf would have converted already #i am sure of it. the guy is smart he just needs to be guided the right way #evidently my parents don’t realize that about him either #if my dad could become a decent parent for once and stop trying to drive his kids away from the faith by only cherrypicking the parts of it #that intersected with republican/conservative boomerisms #ugh. if he was a virtuous father she’d be a virtuous daughter and therefore all her friends and loved ones would be virtuous as well #should i blame my dad for all our family problems? no.. not rightfully…… #but like. the impact a father has on one’s life cannot be understated #ugh i’ve had the sense for a while that God wants me to be the one to fix this family #because looking around it doesn’t look like anyone else is gonna do it #but that’s such a daunting task… especially alone… i don’t have any true friends (ie who share both my faith and life experiences) #and like. it’s really hard to try to assume the role of a teacher or counselor when someone is older than you #or uh. in a position of direct power over you for that matter. esp when clearly deeply mentally ill #the concept of trying to essentially parent my own parent while i myself am miserable and unstable #esp when he is the primary cause of that #just. ughhhhh it’s such a vicious circle #like i’ll do this if i have to i’ll undertake that daunting mission but i have to be so careful and really sort myself out first #or for that matter if i were to volunteer to like. catechize my sister’s boyfriend (heaven knows she couldn’t do it) #i’d have to really study my stuff bc i think the intellect is the only real appeal here #like i said tho his conversion can probably never really happen as long as my sister remains the way she is #what i know is that the first step is fixing myself. i have to be a pillar of virtue if i wanna stand as any sort of authority on the faith #problem is i suck and shouldn’t be regarded as a role model for anything. i have the knowledge down but that alone won’t fix me

[embervoices]

[Transcript of a conversation on Bluesky]

K.B. Spangler @kbspangler.com

One holdover that's stuck with me from Trump's term in office is how few people actually call in. My congressman's office said they were BOGGLED at how many calls they had gotten on a particular issue, so I asked how many...

They replied, "Seventeen."

jamie quinn 🏳️‍⚧️ @threnody.bsky.social KOSA is moving through the senate right now, where it has significant support. but nothing's final until it's final. if your senator's a democrat, call & email. use this script. it's timed to 1:00 and it won't take long. even with enforcement moved to the FTC, this bill is too easily weaponized.

[Embedded Text Image Transcript]

My name is _ and I'm one of your constituents. I'm calling to urge you to vote NO on KOSA - the Kids Online Safety Act. The bill's sponsors claim it will protect kids by placing a duty of care on online platforms to prevent anything that could be harmful.

The power to decide what's harmful has been ceded to the FTC. FTC leadership is made by presidential appointment. Current president Lina Khan may proceed fairly, but what happens when the next Donald Trump is in the Oval Office? What if it's Trum himself? Do you trust a Trump appointee not to abuse this enforcement power?

KOSA claims to protect kids, but it's poorly designed and, given time, it will absolutely and without question, harm LGBTQ children, adults, and anyone who needs information on reproductive health or abortion.

KOSA author, Senator Marsha Blackburn, said she introduced KOSA in part - and I quote - "to protect minor children from the transgender in our society." The Heritage Foundation proudly said they'll apply pressure through KOSA to block information about abortion, reproductive health, & LGBTQ issues.

Vote NO on KOSA.

[/Embedded Text Image Transcript]

K.B. Spangler @kbspangler.com

So, yes, your voice does make a difference because if everyone else is thinking "Well, my voice doesn't matter so why bother" then you and sixteen of your online buddies can go ahead and straight-up boggle a congressman.

Feb 15, 2024 at 12:34 PM

[/Bluesky Transcript] (Emphasis mine)

#Stop KOSA #Call #Write #do whatever you have to do #YOUR VOICE MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

[intcrastra]

Love the idea of the little wings at Robin’s waist and head fluttering whenever she’s flustered.

#✮┆ ( .ooc. ); #hc; robin #//Love the idea of her little wings at her waist fluttering whenever she kisses a much taller partner; like they’re thing to help her reach #//Love the idea of them being a little sensitive to the touch; so she really makes a point to keep people from touching them #//Not even really in a suggestive way for the most part; it’s kinda like how cats don’t like being touched on the pads of their paws #//Nerve receptors and all that—however she will give her partner leeway; bc she knows they wouldn’t hurt her #//Plus she thinks they might like seeing her flustered—she might find it embarrassing; but if THEY like it #//She doesn’t mind letting them have their fill of fun; she rlly Likes their smirks & chuckles #//If they get a real kick out of seeing her flustered; she gets a kick out of seeing THEM smug #//Thinks it’s sooo attractive #//Whoops veered a little lol #//If her partner likes her wings; she would actually tend to let them unfurl and flutter more for them to see and touch #//She Knows how to show off and would utterly THRIVE under their attention; esp any admiration/compliments to her wings #//she takes V good care of them; after all. Also; partners who volunteer to help her preen them? she would ADORE them #hc; sunday #//Bc he too has that same habit with his wings. All the above. Basically applies EXCEPT #//Sunday is even MORE particular about touch on his wings; HATES having them mussed up even the slightest bit #//Only a VERY trusted partner is allowed to touch them (or him at ALL); anybody else might trigger him a bit #//He’ll keep himself together until he’s out of sight; then immediately lose his gottdam mind & need a Moment #//When he DOES allow touch; he gets a little overwhelmed with it. Mans is SO touch starved #//But at the same time; can’t stomach it half the time. And don’t get me started on how Weak he is for cocky partners #//Drives him NUTS; both in terms of being attracted to them but also Annoyed with them lmao #//he is just as proud of his wings as his sister is; perhaps even MORE so #//Might posture and show them off unprompted the Instant he knows his partner likes them (when one-on-one) #//You can practically see him GLOWING at any compliments he gets over them and how neat his feathers are; how glossy and lovely #//Preening; though: he is EXTREMELY particular abt it. He never trusts anyone outside himself but Robin to do it (bc she has them too) #//His partner has to be VERY close & trusted to even be allowed to SEE him preening; much less be allowed to do it FOR him #//He’s so v particular abt his presentation; he will NOT want them to see him (&his wings) anything but perfect #//Which is why he’s got such mixed feelings abt his partner teasing & riling him up; losing that control/composure over himself #//For them to have him like that; SEE him that flustered & Vulnerable—it leaves him quite Uneasy; but it is also undeniably Exciting

[simplyghosting]

Love my family, but if I hear “I get my water intake from lettuce” said in full confidence one more time I’m going to start throwing tables

#ghost posts #one of my extended family members REFUSES to drink water #and thinks it is healthy behavior #it drives me nuts #and it’s one of the lesser things that she says that does so #I do not care about your ‘water weight’ or whatever please act like a human being #if I hear anyone talking about water weight I’m going to round on them #whoever came up with that term in terms of diet culture deserves to go to jail #please drink water

[justtogetthrough]

My workplace is having an epidemic of people not doing their fucking jobs and idk how it still manages to shock me at how helpless and incompetent people are getting, but not a week goes by where someone throwing in the towel before even looking into a request or issue makes me and my manager go what the FUCK????? Seriously?!?!?!

(The issue is that things keep getting brought to us being like oooh nooo CAS/a family/a kid is asking for [something], whatever will we doooo. And it is not our role to figure it out. We are not case management. It’s so fucking obvious what to do 85% of the time and we can’t figure out why everyone gives up so easily when all it takes is 10 minutes of critical thinking and bouncing some ideas around. Our jobs have gotten cumbersome because of how much time we are required to spend doing other people’s jobs lately. It’s garbage.)

#we don’t get paid enough for this #it’s created a positive feedback loop where because she and I keep ~saving the day~ #people start believing we have power to pull miracles out of our butts #we don’t. we just spend the time thinking about things and discussing them together. #every supervisor and their manager should be doing this too. me and mine are some dream team of getting shit done #we both just care about the people we have responsibility towards and we want to help and we both driven by a strong sense of justice #we ARE. a great team because we’re so compatible #but the solutions we’re re finding are RIGHT THERE and so accessible to anyone who looks #im waiting for any month now for people to start dropping like flies onto stress leave #our staff has shrunk so much there’s no one to cover extended leaves and we’re all struggling with workloads #but inevitably we are all burning out and people’s brains/bodies are gonna force them to take time off work #and we have no capacity to cover long term leaves. like. over two weeks even. #our agency is so fucking mismanaged and it’s going to run us into the ground #personal #work stuff

[jytan2018]

I read the comic in one sitting less than an hour after finishing the movie, and wow I have many Thoughts™.

- It's very obvious the two versions were meant to cater to different audiences AND tell different messages. I don't get why people are going "But the comic was better! It had more nuance!" just because Nimona was easier to root for in the movie.

- The comic was written back when ND Stevenson was still trying to process a lot of stuff, so all the characters are morally grey/straight up evil and the climactic battle is between a Ballister who regrets turning against Nimona, even if it was to save others vs. a Nimona who's too hurt to care if her lashing out was going to hurt innocent people.

- By the time Nimona got a movie adaptation, ND was a lot more secure in his sexuality, so the climactic battle was Nimona vs. the Director, the symbol of religious oppression and bigotry. It's not just about your friends turning on you because you're "too much" for them anymore, it's also about a society that would rather bring itself to the brink of ruin than coexist with you.

- (I totally get why people were upset about Ballister's surname change, though. Like come on, the media dubbing him Blackheart just to be mean was RIGHT THERE).

- Nimona's metaphor for not shifting is such a neurodivergent thing. Even in the comic, Nimona's parents insisting she's a monster who replaced their daughter is reminiscent of the changeling myth, which is what many parents thought their neurodivergent kids were—changelings who replaced their "real" children.

- Ambrosius being trained to cut off HIS BOYFRIEND'S WHOLE FUCKING ARM instead of merely disarming him is a very cop thing to do. As much as cops claim they're trained to de-escalate situations, their training still teaches them to treat everyone as a potential threat, and that level of constant vigilance can turn anyone into a trigger-happy/arm-choppy bastard. Even the Director, who can use a sword but probably hasn't actually fought someone in ages, STILL can't see Ballister reaching for the squire's phone without assuming he has a weapon.

- And on that note, the Queen getting killed simply because she was trying to reform the Institution and allow commoners to become knights? That's the best "no such thing as a good cop" metaphor I've seen. Because even if there ARE good cops and they ARE in leadership positions, the system will crush them before they make any meaningful change. It's not a good institution that turned rotten, it's an institution that only exists to spread its rot and refuses to be good.

- That's why Ballister's characterisation is so different in the movie vs. the comic. Comic Ballister had 15 years to come to terms with his trauma and the Institution's evildoing, while Movie Ballister is still freshly traumatised and hasn't found a way to define himself beyond the role he was assigned by the Institution.

- Not to mention Comic Ambrosius was not very noble to begin with and genuinely believed Ballister was better suited to villainy than heroism, while Movie Ambrosius never wanted the glory that came with his lineage in the first place and only antagonised Ballister because of indoctrination he needed to unlearn (which he did, all by himself, after witnessing the lengths the Director will go to just to kill Nimona).

- It really shows how important it is to surround yourself with loved ones who are open to change. Comic Ambrosius can love Ballister all he wants, but he'll still blast his arm off because he thinks Ballister deserved it anyway. Movie Ambrosius will stop to question what "the right thing" even means, even if he didn't love Ballister enough to defend him unconditionally.

I have so many more thoughts bubbling beneath the surface, but I'll probably address them some other day. In conclusion:

[ID: A pink-haired Nimona grinning evilly while holding up a knife.]

Watch Nimona. This is not a request.

Edit: Added more thoughts!

#nimona #nimona meta #nimona comic #ballister blackheart #ballister boldheart #ambrosius goldenloin