#especially for a sister. that while i love her. feels entitled to peoples help because shes “going through so much”

[bobby-r2d2-floyd]

The Nanny part 2

note: here's part two to the nanny! i'm hopefully going to try and start to get longer pieces out soon, i'm still trying to get back into the swing of writing fics again.

warnings: mentioned of parental death

trigger warning: one sentence in the fourth paragraph that talks about school shooting, but no violence actually occurs.

word count: 1.6k (sorry it's short, between yesterday and today i've had a headache that wouldn't go away :( )

no beta again, we die like men

inspired by: @roosterforme

previous part | next part

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You just moved to California, wanting a change from the cold Vermont air and where better to stay than with your aunt, Penny Benjamin. Penny was your mom’s sister, an unfortunate accident in 1999 took your mother and your father, you were 10 years old. Penny was more than willing to take in her only niece, even if it meant having you relocate to Virginia with her. 

Years had passed and Penny had done all but adopt you, she called you her daughter when people asked, made all your appointments for you until you were old enough to make your own, she helped you with boys, and then girls, when you came out to her. She held you while you cried over your first real heartbreak, she taught you all about your period and safe sex. She made you feel comfortable, like you could go to her with any problem that you had, and she would fix it for you.

Maybe it also helped that your grandfather was an admiral in the United States Navy, but that’s beside the point, Penny Benjamin took care of you when you had no one once, and she was more than happy to do it again. 

Being a teacher, especially in today’s world, is hard. You had to worry about whether or not your school was going to fall victim to the next mass shooting, if you could keep your kids safe in an environment where the legislators didn’t care. It was a hard choice to make, leaving the school system, because you knew that they were already understaffed, and that there were no qualified substitute teachers available to take over your position… but between the abuse from your principal, the students, and the entitled parents? You were done.

You at least waited until the end of the school year before packing it all up and moving west. It was a sad goodbye with all the students you had loved but for your sanity, it was what you needed to do.

Penny had an open bedroom, and Amelia was thrilled to be living with you again, mainly so you can help her on her homework, and of course you were happy to see Penny and Pete back together. You always loved having him around when you were a kid, and it really did feel like your relationship with him never waivered, even though you only texted each other for holidays and birthdays after the last time he and Penny “broke up”. 

You were laying on the couch scrolling through your phone, not paying attention to whatever it was Amelia had put on the tv when Penny walked in after her short shift at the bar; it was a slow weekend and Jimmy had it plenty under control.

“Hey, so I might have told one of the guys Pete works with that you’d be willing to nanny for him.” Penny says as soon as she walks in.

“Are you talking to me?” Amelia asks, not looking away from the tv and Penny laughs.

“No, your sister.” 

That catches your attention and you groan.

“I don’t want to nanny some old admiral’s bratty kids.” you say as you sit up and Penny sits next to you.

“He isn’t an old admiral with bratty kids, he’s 35, the same age as Bradley, and he literally just had an infant dropped off on his front porch today.” she tells you and you look over at her. “He needs a lot of help, and you would be perfect for the job. Aside from working at the bar you’re never doing anything.” she shrugs and steals some of the popcorn that was on the table and you look at her with your mouth open.

“Okay, first off. Rude. Secondly, I do plenty of stuff!”

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

“Uh, I help Amelia with her homework.”

“And you can help her while also helping Jake out with his daughter.” Penny says and you sigh.

“Fine.” you grumble and head into the kitchen, “do you eat yet, Pen?”

“Yeah, Pete brought me food to the bar.”

“Don’t you… serve food at the bar too?” 

“Not sushi.” 

You spend the next three weeks waiting to meet this Jake guy. Sure you knew of him, but you didn’t want to be persuaded by the ‘Hangman’ persona that he had before becoming a dad. Sure people don’t just change overnight, so you’re sure he still has quite the mouth and attitude, especially if this baby is keeping him up at night. 

You opened the bar early and the members of the Dagger Squad slowly filtered in. Bob was sitting at the bar with you while you were getting bottles ready, he was telling you a story from when he was a kid on his family’s farm and he was chasing down pigs and slipped and fell in the mud when the bell above the door rang. 

Looking over, you see a man you don’t recognize carrying a little baby in the cutest little dress you’ve ever seen, a diaper bag slung over his other shoulder. You shoot him a smile as he walks up to the bar.

“Hi! I’m Y/N Benjamin, but you can call me Saturn.” you say as you wipe a rag over the bar top, cleaning up some of the iced tea that Bob spilled. “You must be Jake?” 

This new man smiles at you and nods, “Yes ma’am.” he says, setting the diaper bag on a barstool. 

You watch his muscles flex as he shifts his daughter from one side to the other to give his arm a break and he catches you staring at her. “This is Avery.” he turns so you can see the little girl’s face and you let out a gentle little coo.

“Oh look at you! Aren’t you just the cutest little girl.” you say, talking in a voice that has her laughing and reaching out for you. You take her from Jake without even hesitating and she plays with the fingerprint pendants of your parents that you have hanging around your neck. 

Since the bar is still technically closed for another hour and a half, you make your way out from behind the bar and take a seat on the stool next to Bob who smiles at the little girl, pulling away as she tries to reach for his glasses but isn’t quick enough as she rubs her chubby fingers over his lenses. 

You and Jake just laugh at her antics and at poor Bob who is left with baby drool covered glasses for the time being, but even he can’t stay mad at little Avery. She looks up at you, blue-green eyes bright as she smiles her little gummy smile and laughs along with the two of you. 

Jake can’t believe how comfortable Avery already is with you, it took days for her to warm up to anyone aside from Penny; she still doesn’t like Rooster but Jake believes it's a hundred percent because of his mustache. Normally he’s nervous when she’s around strangers of any kind, even her own doctor when she first saw the woman, but with you he’s oddly… comfortable. 

Begrudgingly you hand Avery back to Jake, you have to open the bar in 20 minutes and you’re already way behind but thankfully Bradley volunteers to help you get ready. You’re standing next to him slicing limes as he cuts up some oranges.

“You know, she’s never taken to someone that fast before.” he says, making sure the slices are relatively uniform.

“It’s because I’m a woman.” you tease and he rolls his eyes.

“No, seriously. Penny was a given because she’s just the best, but Phoenix? Bob? She only just started to get along with them, and those two are the best people in this entire squad. It even took her a bit to warm up to Hangman and he’s her dad.” Rooster says, stealing an orange slice that he cut too thin before taking a beer from the fridge under the counter and walking away.” 

“You have to pay for that!” 

“Put it on my tab, Rings!” he calls out, throwing a wink over his shoulder and you roll your eyes, opening a tab for him before going over to the window and flipping the ‘open’ sign on.

You’re about halfway through your shift when Jake walks up to you, Avery sleeping against him despite the volume of the bar. 

“Hey, headed home?” you ask, taking the top off of a few beers before handing them to the patron that was waiting. 

“Yeah, figured she would prefer to sleep in her bed tonight than on the pool table.” he jokes and you give a gentle laugh.

“Yeah, probably.”

“I wanted to ask if you wanted to go out this weekend? Talk about what Pen offered? If-if you still think you can help me out?” he chews his lip a little, nervous for you to say you’re not interested.

“Yeah! Definitely, uh… here,” you grab a napkin and write your number down with a little cartoon drawing of a circle with a ring around it, how you always signed your nickname. “I’m off on Saturday and Penny isn’t opening on Sunday since it’s going to be such a hot night, she wants us to be off so I’ll be free whenever on both days.” you tell him and he tucks the napkin in his pocket with his phone.

“I’ll text you on Saturday? I can pick you up? Or I mean-” you cut him off with a laugh.

“You can pick me up, I assume you know where Penny lives?” he nods and smiles.

“Yeah, yeah I do.”

“Great, see you on Saturday, Dad-man.” you give him a wink before turning away to go help Jimmy out with the patrons that have gathered around the bar. Jake laughs and turns around to head out, Dad-man?

-----------

taglist: message me if you would like to be added! if your name is struck through, i wasn't able to tag you.

@mandylove1000 @zbeez-outlet @emma8895eb @buxkybarnez @classyunknownlover @caidi-paris @classycolorpeach @eugene-emt-roe @emorychase @missemrose @fighterpilothoe @crystal-lily-1011 @pookie-cleary @max-dalton @hisredheadedgoddess28 @elijahmikaelsonbitch @thegoddessc @yourfaveaquarius92 @blueoorchid @archaeologydigit

#glen powell imagine #top gun maverick #top gun imagine #jake seresin #hangman seresin #jake 'hangman' seresin #jake seresin imagine #jake seresin x reader #hangman x reader #dagger squad #bradley bradshaw #bob floyd #natasha trace #hangman seresin x reader #no beta we die like men #hangman imagine #hangman seresin imagine

[bottlepiecemuses]

Let’s Be Honest He Appeals To Women A Different Way

People call Oda Oda sexist, but in my opinion focusing on his target demographic isn’t bad. Girls aren’t excluded but I think it’s good he’s not automatically pandering to them through romance because in my opinion if he did those elements would feel forced in this show. And I think unintentional pandering to your unintended audience tends to be better than when you intentionally do so and it could potentially turned off that segment. 

The most obvious attraction that women have to this series is the dilf hot males, especially the villains. Seriously, it’s really the most unintentional of pandeirng that Oda creates these types of villains and the female audience eats it up. While most shonen series focuses on hot young men, this series give attraction to old men as well and we female fans are eating it all up. 

And again the female characters, despite the criticisms of same character mold I do think when it comes down to it excluding romance has helped. Seriously, while on the surface level the latter three are attractive and used for fan service, Oda does his best to also flesh out their characters. For instance, Nami and Robin are different types of smart guys on the crew and are critical to helping Luffy on his journey by traveling safely through the world and knowing the secrets about the messages of the Poneglyphs. In my opinion, it makes them stand out to me because they serve more than fanservice but also as people who have their place in the story. They might not get as much fights, but they manage to be strong female characters in their own right. 

Another is Vivi who isn’t the strongest fighter but has the strongest spirit and has taken on evil organizations and now the government itself to stand up for what she believes is right. Vivi might not be an official member but she is in spirit a close secret ally of the crew and her presence really brought a great dynamic from the crew that makes them all still miss her being around. 

And finally Big Mom why is she on this list, because interesting enough Oda could have just made her a one dimensional fat fuck, but instead he made her a complex character even though she’s a villainess. And even though everything she’s gone through is not an excuse for her behavior, it still makes her a compelling character to read because again someone like her ended up this way because so many people wanted to use her and enable her worst qualities for their selfish ends. And in the end we have a woman who not only can’t emphasize with people and feels entitled to everything due to how she was taught to see the world. In my opinion Oda, didn’t have to do this but I am glad and it makes antagonists like her very happy to see. 

And again even though One Piece isn’t about romance, it really gives compelling canon couples some spotlight. Seriously, one of them is Capone and Chiffon, who you wouldn’t think make a wholesome couple but they do. He seriously showers this woman who was so abused by her mother for what her sister did and adores the son they have together. He even goes up against her brother who was going to kill her even though she pleaded to leave her. This guy really does love his wife and would anything for her like a real man would. And again in my opinion, lovey dovey romance is something Oda will never do but I admit I think any woman would want a man like Capone to stand up for her like that. And in my opinion, if you ever see a married couple in this franchise you will bet your ass that married couple will have something deep and lasting. With exceptions being Yassop and Big Mom herself. 

#one piece #one piece oda #oda #big mom #vivi #king the wildfire #sir crocodile #doflamingo #charlotte katakuri #nico robin #nami #capone pez #capone bege #charlotte chiffon #charlotte linlin

[karin-gespenst]

Season 13 episode 2 & 3 combined rewatch

Phyllis teaching the student midwives about the privilege of attending to mothers during a home birth is a powerful scene. Joyce asks about the safety of hospital births and BOY has this question made people feel emotions ever since hospitals were an option for giving birth. of course, the options for giving birth vary a lot from country to country and region to region. Having choice is so important and infrastructure for emergencies is equally vital. But I'm sure what nobody really wants is families having no safe option at all. Sadly that's what I see happening in too many regions. The hospital where my kid was born is no longer a hospital but a hospice. The town where she was born will no longer have a hospital with a maternity unit in the near future. The next hospital with one will be 20 minutes drive away. And while that is not too bad in comparison to other regions, it would have been too far for me back then. Nobody wants BBA situations in cars or on parking lots, and not everybody can stay home safely. Also, there are not enough midwives who attend home births because they would have to pay a fortune for insurance and they don't get paid enough to do so. Midwifery being a calling does not justify the low pay. With the high responsibility and skill level and especially working conditions they should all be paid much more.

Joyce shows how quickly she learns when attending to Edna. Giving her encouragement and valuing her work makes such a difference. Shelagh is adding her own experience with the repeated suggestion of financial aid. I remember the episode with young mother Marion who did not want help around the house, and then a fellow mother gave her the right nudge with the simple words "You're entitled."

The driving "lesson" with Matthew is supposed to be comic relief, but all it does is give mood whiplash after the heartbreaking scene with Edna feeding her son.

Is learning to drive harder when you're learning in a van? Fred's van seems a little more three-dimensional than the tiny green thing Trixie drove before.

Nancy and Joyce talking about their mould-experiences and how hospital is lovely and clean - germs resistant to antibiotics were not as common back then. it's a shame they became so widespread. Maybe Timothy's generation of doctors will learn to not give everyone precautionary antibiotics just because they can.

I'm growing more and more fond of Sister Veronica. She has the bite that Sister Evangelina brought to the table, and her knowledge of the different possibilities for help makes her highly valuable for Nonnatus House. Her "embellishments" are sometimes just the thing that is needed to bring the right people in or move an obstacle and that is a chaotic-good character trait with a lot of potential for entertainment.

effin ineffable? Colette dearest, that's another show.

social worker training in only 6 weeks? They must have needed them very badly. Today it's three years study at least where I live.

What I love about the newspaper shop as a location is that we're getting to see a lot more newspapers and magazines. The prop department can show off their skills, likewise with the sewing shop, but the paper shop sells an even wider range of wares and that means they can use almost everything in there.

The way that other candidate says the word "mayor" it sounds like "Mäher" in German and that's exactly the kind of gardening device that Fred injured himself on.

Rosalind with the nursing book and ideas for postnatal classes: of course new fathers also need a bit of looking after, but it's not the new mother who should have to do that. It should be friends and relatives and neighbours and I think especially other fathers. The only instance I can remember of fathers looking out for each other is the Fleming family when Derek goes for a pint with his national service friend after Christopher has died. Or maybe way back Tony Amos and his father-in-law.

Gillian's husband looks very much younger than her.

Trixie does use a particular voice on the phone with the shop. The theatricals of being a Lady are like a role that she steps into. Her actual self is showing clearly when she's comforting Violet and preparing her to see Fred in the hospital.

How did you choose your couch? I got mine because I liked the outrageous color. Should I get a new one, it'll have to be one that can open up into a guest bed.

I had a look into how hip problems in newborns are treated today and the kind of hip problem Stephanie has is found in 2-3 newborns. The devices to treat the condition look a good deal more comfortable than the one we saw on the show. Some baby carriers can also help in keeping baby in the right position, with the legs and bottom in kind of an M shape.

they fooled me the first time I watched the episode when the doctors rushed to help the man in the bed beside Fred, and again when I rewatched the scene. Sister Monica Joan sunk into deepest prayer reminded me of how many decades of her life she must have spent praying. Would heaven hear her prayers all the more loudly because of it? Kind of like when Trixie called the shop as Lady Aylward to make them open up late. "This is the most senior nun of the entire order of midwives, don't you dare take our friend from this earth before his time!"

Mrs. Wallace is growing on me. We might not agree on religion, but I respect her sense of community and her attitude towards helping anyone who comes her way. I feel like she is the Miss Higgins of her church, keeping everyone in order.

Miss Higgins! her contribution this week will flow into a different post.

Reggie's idea with bringing Italian food to the hospital is fabulous!

#call the midwife #call the midwife spoilers

[dimitrescusistersplssteponme]

Bestie please your hcs on Cass! 👀

Hey!! I can't believe you're commenting on my post I feel so honoured!! So here's Cassandra! Sorry it's a bit late dealing with my wisdom tooth and I'll do Daniela once I'm done with the pain and this would be my last post for now! And will surely edit it-

Cassandra

Work:

Works as a supermodel as well but have part time job such as a fencing teacher

Fits the theme as "Dark Feminine" very much and was known for it

Great at her jobs but focus on her modeling career more

Has the powerful walk

Paparazzi would never try to get near her knowing she wouldn't be afraid to punch them with no hesitation

People know she has a bitchy attitude and she's aware of it but never really care

Actually loves her fan more than some of her co-models

Well supported from the community as well

She's more chill out of the spotlight and treat ordinary people normal and doesn't like entitled

Paparazzi couldn't do anything because Cassandra will be throwing things at them and doesn't care if she'll hurt them

Also has a persona on stage for being the seductive model

It's just the gays having gay panics

Nice to her fencing students since most of them are kids

Received a letter from an innocent young girl who confess that she has a crush on her from one of her students

She frame it in her room and was happy about it Personal Life:

Luxurious lifestyle as well

Has two IG accounts but the other one is a secret and only have IG

Likes reading

Same school as her sisters but have lesser decent grades than Bela but still a bit better than Daniela

Used to be in the fencing club throughout school

She only post on her public accounts

Doesn't like her personal life being too much exploited very much just to gain attention

Definitely made fun of Bela's emo phrase

Even though she did had one-

Troublemaker with Daniela as her partner by her side

Annoyed Bela 24/7

Or sometimes would annoy Daniela when she's feeling it

Somehow still alive when she tried to steal her mother's lipstick and draw on her mirror

Hate paparazzi and actually throw a rock on their face multiple times and didn't care about her reputation being stained

She just want to be a model with a normal life she grew up with like why the hell is she gonna be sorry? Relationship:

Met her during her fencing lesson and was a fan of her as well but you two didn't spoke a lot during the first few days since GAY PANIC

Her commanding voice just had an effect on you whenever she teach

Got a bit close a few weeks later till she ask to grab lunch together

Spend more date before eventually both of you to be in a relationship

Cassandra post a picture of you while training

Same like her sisters her relationship with you is low key despite her problematic relationship in the past she finds this low key relationship with you to be more peaceful

No one knows about you except for some people and that's all matters

Her fans were happy for her to be finally to be in a happy relatiosnhip

Most of your pictures are from your fencing lessons or sometimes or workout session together

She LOVES watching you work out those muscles and couldn't help but to take multiple pictures and post a few online

Even some of her fans were simping over you muscles

She tease you about it

And same goes for you, you post pictures of her with her face covered and MADE SURE something wouldn't link about her identity especially her fans are some detectives

Some dates sometimes includes a VIP bar section and made sure to hide you from the paparazzi or else they'll be breaking their cameras and face with no charges

Oh yea she did broke one when he tried to take pictures of you when the two of you were just taking a morning stroll

She make 100% sure your identity is private and no one would know you to the PR

#bela dimitrescu #bela dimitrescu x reader #cassandra dimitrescu x reader #castle dimitrescu #daniela dimitrescu #daniela dimitrescu x reader #re8 #resident evil village #cassandra dimitrescu #house dimitrescu

[joeey-dee]

Okay, so unpopular opinion but Oliver didn't really have a right to be angry at Moira after he found out Thea was Malcolm's daughter, or maybe he did but he had no right to judge her without even giving her a chance to explain.

One he knows better than anyone that people make mistakes. He has cheated on his past girlfriend several times, having a full blown affair with her sister, so getting mad at his mother for having been involved with a friend of his father's is a bit hyporitical. Just saying.

I get that he was hurt and very emotional, Felicity's awful timing in dropping that bomb didn't help and his first reaction being like this makes kind of sense given the entire situation he found himself in, but after the first shock and some of the initial feelings had passed, it would've made more sense for him to confront her and get the entire story, which he would've understood.

And two that knowledge changed nothing for him when it came to his feelings about Thea. So it didn't really matter and since he was also angry at Moira because she made a liar out of him because Thea could never know once again shows that he agrees with Moira's choice to not tell Thea. So they are on the same page and the actual person who turned him into a liar is Felicity. Moira wasn't the one who told him that secret and burdened him with that knowledge, Felicity was. Moira would've taken it to her grave.

Also, honestly, Felicity is more to blame than Moira. And I know a lot of people will disagree with me here but there was no reason why Oliver or Thea needed to know that Thea wasn't Robert's biological daughter. He had loved her as if she were his own. And after knowing who Malcolm was and what he had done it would've been a kindness on Felicity's side to not share that information, especially because she went against Oliver's wishes and behind his back to dig into his family's past. That is not okay.

Plus Thea being Malcolm's daughter had no effect on their lives until the moment Thea learnt about it. Had Felicity stayed out of the Queen family's business, they wouldn't have lost everything, the relationship between Moira and her children wouldn't have been fractured before her death and Thea wouldn't have gone with Malcolm and lost her trust in Oliver and been manipulated to kill Sara.

The fact that Oliver was not angry at Felicity also made little sense to me. Like Moira said, he'd hate Moira but he'd hate Felicity too, he should've at the very least been angry at her for going against him and purposely go to try and dig up dirt on his mother. I would've been. If someone who claimed to be my friend wouldn't listen if I told them to not go hack my family I'd be mad. It's my family and none of their business. But that's just my opinion.

Plus people are entitled to their secrets and Moira had good reasons to keep that one. It was the only way to keep Thea out of Malcolm's grasp. Her action was made out of love and in order to protect her daughter.

Moira made some shady decisions but I get this one, especially since Robert had been aware of it and chosen to love and raise Thea as his own. Not telling Thea was a kindness at that point in time and since both Moira and Robert had known how dangerous Malcolm is for years I think keeping the truth from Thea had been the right choice. Learning the truth messed her up so much which is proof that the choice to keep it from her had been the right one on Moira's part.

This is just something that's been bugging me for a while but I couldn't really articulate why until now, lol.

#oliver and thea #oliver queen #moira queen #thea queen #anti felicity smoak #heir to the demon #felicity was wrong and the one to blame #oliver is acting irrational here #moira had a right to her privacy and secret #oliver queen & moira queen #queen family #arrow #2.13 #felicity had no right #i get moira's choice

[clangenrising]

Haha, no offense, but starting now, I really dislike Aldertail. She judges cats by their covers (ahem, Mystique, ahem). Also, I am a Scorchplume Hater now. She used Mystique, who was kind enough to help her, and now is like, “She deserves it.” When she’s imprisoned. Once again, no offense intended, just my personal opinion.

You are definitely entitled to your opinion but hoo boy I'm about to go to bat for my girls.

Out of all of the characters in RisingClan, Aldertail and Scorchplume are the ones who have recieved the most trauma and abuse, both at Razor's hand (directly or indirectly). Both of them have been deeply affected by that abuse in ways that can be ugly and messy! And thats normal and okay.

Aldertail has severe anxiety and OCD. When she heard there was an Exalted cat in camp (not just that but the sister of the dictator she's been running for her life from) she very justifiably went into a panic attack about it! Youre right that she doesn't know before she judges here but she does know what the Exalted are like. Most of them are cruel or at the very least indifferent to the suffering of the Chaff.

This would be like if a person in a fascist regime was on the run because they were going to be put to death for a thing they didn't even do and then a cop from that regime showed up in their new home. They would be pretty justified in think that cop would want to have them put to death! It doesn't matter if the cop is a nice person, they're still a cop and they have a great deal of incentive to follow the law that would get this person killed.

And with her anxiety/OCD, those fears quickly get out of control as in she cannot control them. They become all consuming to the point where she gets physically ill and she starts compulsively tearing up the fur on her legs in an attempt to soothe herself. Aldertail is terrified and it's not a moral failing for her to be that way. Its a result of her mental illness and PTSD.

Now, Scorch is less justified in her treatment of Mystique and I understand the people who are wary of her. She enjoys being mean to people, especially when she's feeling scared or upset. But this is itself a defense mechanism and a result of her PTSD. She has come to associate the ability to talk down to someone with the safety of being above them. If she can hurt you and not face consequences that means she's safe in her mind and so it reassures her to say those kinds of hurtful things.

And, like I said in another ask, Scorch's anger at Mystique is almost entirely based in the idea "if you wanted to help me this whole time, why did you sit by and do nothing while Razor was abusing me?" It feels like an injustice! And since she can't do anything to make Razor accountable for what he did, she settles for making the bystander who enabled him feel miserable.

Is that healthy? No. If she continues to do those kinds of things, she will likely end up isolating herself from everyone around her. But it is a very common response to abuse and it shouldn't be a moral failing on her part that Razor fucked her up. Of course, she is responsible for her actions, but what she needs is someone who will love and accept her even despite her flaws and who will try to help her move past them.

This is what restorative justice is about! If anyone who developed a harmful or maladaptive coping mechanism was immediately disqualified from having friends or receiving kindness or sympathy that would be a deeply terrible world to live in, I feel.

So yes, while I understand how you feel and you're entitled to your own opinions, I would urge you to practice exercising compassion. Look at people and think "why are they like this?" instead of immediately writing them off as Bad and Wrong.

#not art #asks and answers #anon asks #Scorchplume #Aldertail

[lubdubsworld]

Blackberry Winters.

Part 1

Namjoon Werewolf Au !

Alpha werewolf!

Heavy angst.! Pregnancy, unrequited love, hate to love, prejudice, mental health issues.

-------------------------------

There is a tide in the affairs of men, which , taken at the flood leads on to fortune. Opportunities had to be seized and made use of and you had to be bold and confident in order to lead your people to fortune.

Namjoon, as the head alpha of the Kim clan, knew this better than anyone else. Which was why he was here, in a meeting with alphas from the three neighbouring clans lining his boundary lines, hoping to get permission to access the seven or so aquifers that lay to the east of the packhouse.

The rains had been kind to them, the reservoirs were full but he wanted to make sure they had a backup plan just in case things went south in some way. His father had taught him that. Being prepared for the worst was second nature to him now. The land around the aquifers was rich and fertile and Jungkook had already let him plant tangerines and apples in the area for the little ones. The harvest was generally shared between the two clans and Namjoon was grateful for the easy camaraderie that the alpha of the land offered him.

The land belonged to alpha Jeon , a dear friend by all means and he knew that Jungkook would grant him permission as he always did . But still it was never a certainty. The council members had the final say and many of them held a grudge when he refused to marry Jungkook's sister last spring. That had been a no brainer for him. Junghee was beautiful but also like a sister to him, besides being incredibly intelligent. He didn't need a wife like that. And that was why he had picked, Jiah.

Sighing, Namjoon glanced back at the campsite where the women were gathered, sitting in small groups and laughing around a blazing fire while a few alphas hung about roasting meat and passing out moats of wine around . His eyes fell on his wife, timid and shy , sitting away from the rest and regret churned. He had been impulsive. She was ill suited to be his wife , and the last three months had been a bitter wake up call. Namjoon was well read, eloquent and bold. His wife was barely illiterate, with a stutter and shifty eyes that never met anyone's gaze head on.

He had chosen her because she had seemed docile and pliant and while she was definitely that, she was also ....at the risk of sounding rude and unkind, very very boring.

A simpleton. She seemed to know nothing about anything, content to disappear into the shadows, to hide and hang back and practically become one with the upholstery when he asked her to sit next to him.

It had been three months and they had barely spoken beyond a dozen words. It was awkward and stilted and just plain uncomfortable, sleeping with her. Sex was supposed to fun and passionate and filled with excitement and desire but with her , it was a chore he couldn't wait to cross off his list.

Leaning back against one of the poles holding up the makeshift tent, he watched her as she scooted away from one of the older omegas in the Jeon clan, the lady looking startled at the reaction. He shook his head in despair. He hadn't even wanted to bring her along but his mother had insisted. Something about her being young and innocent, too shy to stay behind with strangers for two whole weeks while he traveled to the Jeon's .

How was he supposed to explain that they were strangers as well ? That despite the label of mates, despite the fact that he had been the one to choose her, he felt nothing for her? Not even the idle curiosity one felt for strangers?

It was partly her demeanour, but mostly her appearance. She wasn't well groomed and it always made him frown. He had hoped that she would at least keep herself presentable, maybe hire the weavers to make her a few new tunics .

Something colorful and patterned like the ones the other omegas wore during festivities. The Kim clan had a lucrative fabric trade with the Min pack , and Yoongi and Hoseok always kept the most luxurious and vibrant silks and fabrics for him.

Jiah had shown a brief and fleeting interest in the luxurious threads, when his mother had brought her along to the tailor to get her wedding trousseau done....but the moment the young beta had asked her questions about her likes and dislikes, she had recoiled and went back into her shell. Namjoon had watched the whole scene, annoyance growing with every passing second. He wanted her to be pliant but also independent. Low maintenance . But apparently he would have to hold her hand through everything.

And that's when he'd begun to actively distance himself from his wife. He didn't have the time nor inclination to help her navigate her new life. He was busy, what with autumn coming to an end and the first chills of winter already beginning to permeate the air. The betas and alphas in the pack were already occupied with hunting enough meat to last them the winter, the women busy with curing the meat with spices and salt.....

He should have left her behind with them.

" A coin for your thoughts, Alpha Kim?"

Kim Jisoo came to stand by him, her scent of floral dust and vanilla cloyingly sweet on his senses. She had helped him with many a rut and he had always nurtured a sweet spot for the omega who was well versed in many languages. She was also one of the courtesans they had brought along for the evening entertainment. Jisoo slipped her hands through his arm and he smiled, letting her brush close to his torso.

His gaze went to his wife, who was staring at him, eyes blank and lips parted softly. She looked a little upset.

Which was understandable but still annoying. They weren't in love or anything and he wasn't cheating on her. Jisoo was a friend. He was allowed to have those. Jiah had no right to look at him with suspicion or with entitlement. He didn't owe her all her time. He wondered if she would react if he were to confront her now. As it is , he let himself stare right at her, half wishing that she would talk back to him.

But the moment their eyes met, Jiah looked away, entire body shifting as though in embarassment. He frowned , but lightly patted the soft fingers curled on his arm. He turned to Jisoo with a smile, taking in the pretty elfin features. The perfectly curled hair , threaded with gold and jeweler pins fell in soft ropes around her face, her lips tinted red and her cheeks brushed rose. She looked enchanting and unreal and he felt his blood stir in arousal, the need to feel her under him suddenly overwhelming.

He glanced back at Jiah and she looked a little green , her face ashen. His eyes narrowed when she shifted and looked around in a mild panic. Oh God, what was it now?

Irritable, he gently pulled away from the beautiful omega next to him.

" Excuse me, dear. I need to check on my wife." He said apologetically and she frowned staring at where he was looking.

"What's wrong?" Jisoo asked sharply but he ignored her, already moving to his mate.

Which was just as well, because the moment he reached her, her eyes rolled back and she toppled right into his arms.

She had fainted .

---------------------------------

" I'm sorry we had to cut this short but I hope your mate feels better soon, hyung." Jungkook's voice was laced with genuine concern and Namjoon nodded, hugging the younger alpha tight.

Junghee looked just as sympathetic, next to him.

" She'll be fine . I tried to get her to stay but she's been panicking a lot and refuses to let any of the healers here examine her. I think she'll be more comfortable with your pack healer. " She said gently.

Namjoon nodded, glancing back at Jiah who sat side-saddle on one of the smaller ponies, her eyes wide and face still ashen. He had tried to tell her it would be okay , but she had insisted on going home. The stark terror on her face had unsettled him deeply. He didn't know why she was so scared of the Jeon healer? Could it be because he was a man? Whatever the reason she hadn't let him examine her and because he couldn't ask her to just forget about the whole thing ( he was still head alpha , he still had to set an example as a caring mate. ) Namjoon had been forced to arrange for their return back home.

He had left Seokjin and Taehyung behind to carry the talks on his behalf, and Jisoo stood a few dozen feet away looking annoyed as he gave her

an apologetic smile.

The journey back to the Main village would be a couple of days and he had packed enough food for the both of them.

As he turned back to mount his stallion, he caught a glimpse of her face as she stared at him.

She looked lost , apologetic and clearly upset.

And he wondered if he would have to spend the rest of his life reading her face, trying to figure her out.

He has no interest in either.

-------------------------

The journey became incredibly tiring, especially when the skies opened up on them. Rain Lashed the ground , intent on soaking the earth and Namjoon watched her shiver, trembling as they all huddled beneath the shade of some trees, blankets wrapped tight around her thin torso. Why was she so thin? Why did she look at food like it was poisoned?

They were only a mile from home but had to stop, the deluge was far too strong for the animals to see ahead of them.

Namjoon himself sat next to an omega from the clan. He recognised her as one of the maids his mother had given to Jiah.

" Is your mistress doing well?" He asked gruffly and the omega startled, bowing twice in respect before answering.

"I...she ... She doesn't say much, alpha." The girl blushed under his gaze, looking away nervously and he frowned, glancing back at Jiah.

So it wasn't just him, then. She didn't trust anyone. He stared at her till she felt the heat of his gaze and looked up, eyes wide like a startled bird, like one of the starlings that nested in the wooden beams of his hut. She looked surprised, then terrified, eyes darting away at once and he tried not to growl in sheer frustration.

He wondered if it was because of his face.

Namjoon had no large feelings about his looks but he knew he was far from beautiful. ( A/N : A whole lie , I know but please bear with me for the story :*) it was one of the reasons he had wanted a plain looking bride. But perhaps his own chosen mate had , had dreams of marrying a very handsome man? Perhaps she had been infatuated with someone like that , from the clan?

It wasn't a far fetched idea. But still, she had been free to refuse his proposal. When he had first met the clan's watchkeeper, old man Gong in the humble hut on the outer borders of the pack land, he had made it clear that it wasn't some kind of order. She was free to refuse.

But she hadn't.

She had merely bowed and agreed and promptly appeared with a satchel full of her things and followed him back to his own home.

So why did she continue to act like she was here against her will?

It irked him no end.

As the skies cleared, they began their trek again and Namjoon pushed thoughts of her out of his mind. He had to plan for the winter, make sure there was enough food and also make sure they had enough herbs and liniments and oils in the apothecary. Mind drifting off to the countless things he was responsible for, Namjoon forgot all about his awkward mate and the reason they were going back home in the first place.

Which is why, when they reached home and he took his bath, cleaning himself up and finally settling down to some delicious food from the kitchens , his mother's words made him drop the chopsticks in shock.

" She is with child."

Namjoon stared at his mother in complete shock.

Fuck.

---------------------------------------------

Authors Note : I had this idea and just had to write it. Hope you guys enjoyed it.

#werewolf namjoon drabbles

[icedflames]

Hello beautiful, can you list all the reasons why Elriel is not toxic and why it won’t be a toxic relationship. I’m tired of hearing people say that Elriel is toxic.

Alright, hang on... This is a long one. 

“Azriel just wants Elain for sex.”

False. Until ACOSF, we had no indication that Azriel had sexual feelings for Elain. Based on his thoughts in the bonus chapter, his actions throughout ACOSF, we can infer that Azriel has romantic feelings for Elain. His friend. 

The following scenes, read together, imply that Azriel has feelings for Elain beyond platonic or sexual feelings (I have only included my favorites for the sake of brevity):

ACOWAR

But Azriel asked softly, “What about Elain?” Something cold went through me. (Chp. 63)

From the shadows near the entrance to the tent, Azriel said, as if in answer to some unspoken debate, “I’m getting her back.” Nesta slid her gaze to the shadowsinger. Azriel’s hazel eyes glowed golden in the shadows. Nesta said, “Then you will die.” Azriel only repeated, rage glazing that stare, “I’m getting her back.” (Chp. 64)

The gray light of morning had broken over the world, mist clinging to our ankles as we headed into that camp, Azriel still cradling Elain to his chest. (Chp. 65)

She let out a sob at the sight of Elain, still in Azriel’s arms. (Chp. 65)

Cassian gawked at Azriel, and I wondered how often Azriel had lent out that blade— Never, Rhys said from where he finished buckling on his own weapons against the side of the wagon. I have never once seen Azriel let another person touch that knife. (Chp. 69)

ACOFAS

Azriel strode to the lone window at the end of the room and peered into the garden below. [...] “Azriel remained at the window. [...] Azriel said, turning from the garden window at last. (Chp. 16)

Az said nothing. No, he just moved toward her. Mor tensed beside me. But Azriel only took Elain’s heavy dish of potatoes from her hands, his voice soft as night as he said, “Sit. I’ll take care of it.” (Chp. 12)

I made to move toward her, but someone beat me to it. The shadowsinger was clad in a black jacket and pants similar to Rhysand’s—the fabric immaculately tailored and built to fit his wings. He still wore his Siphons atop either hand, and shadows trailed his footsteps, curling like swirled embers, but there was little sign of the warrior otherwise. Especially as he gently said to my sister, “Happy Solstice.” (Chp. 19)

Azriel mastered himself enough to say, “Thank you.” I’d never seen his hazel eyes so bright, the hues of green amid the brown and gray like veins of emerald. “This will be invaluable.” (Chp. 20)

ACOSF

“Because of the shit with Elain?” Azriel stilled. “What happened to Elain?”

Cassian waved a hand. “A fight with Nesta. Don’t bring it up,” he warned when Azriel’s eyes darkened. Cassian blew out a breath. “I take that as a no regarding the meeting topic, then.” [...] Cassian surveyed the shadows gathered around Az. “You all right?” His brother nodded. “Fine.” But shadows still swarmed him. (Chp. 20)

Azriel stiffened. “I know. I helped rescue Elain, after all.” Az hadn’t so much as hesitated before going into the heart of Hybern’s war-camp.” (Chp. 22)

He was still happy to be Mor’s buffer with Azriel, but there’d been a change lately. In both of them. Mor no longer sat beside Cassian, draped herself over him, and Azriel … those longing glances toward her had become few and far between. As if he’d given up. After five hundred years, he’d somehow given up. Cassian couldn’t think why. (Chp. 22)

“No. But we need to summon Lucien,” Azriel said, just a shade tightly, as if he didn’t like it one bit. (Chp. 31)

Elain just linked her arm through Nesta’s and led her toward the family room, where Azriel stood in the doorway, monitoring them. As if he’d heard Elain’s sharp laugh and wondered what had caused it. (Chp. 58)

I also want to add... That the notion that Azriel only has sexual feelings is immediately disproven by a close reading of the bonus chapter:

Rhys bared his teeth. "So you will leave Elain alone. If you need to fuck  someone, go to a pleasure hall and pay for it, but stay away from her." 

Azriel snarled softly.

Azriel snarled in response to Rhys’ suggestion that his feelings are only sexual. The entire scene was Rhys not understanding that Azriel actually had feelings for Elain. Rhys even suggested that Azriel still had feelings for Mor when Cassian had noted that Azriel no longer pined for Mor. 

To add, Azriel is not going antagonize Rhys and potentially kick off a feud between courts if he only wanted Elain for sex. 

ALSO!!!!

AZRIEL IS NOT GOING TO DECLARE HIS LOVE FOR ELAIN IN A BONUS CHAPTER. NO AUTHOR WILL EVER GIVE AWAY A MAJOR PLOT POINT/TWIST IN A BONUS CHAPTER. THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT AND WILL BE SAID IN THE NEXT BOOK!

Cassian never admitting his feelings for Nesta in Wings and Embers. Hell, Nesta kicked him in the balls. But we don’t doubt Nessian, now do we?

I answered another anon here comparing Wings and Embers to Azriel’s bonus chapter, comparing the themes and overall feel. 

“Azriel feels entitled to Elain as the third sister.”

False. Azriel began to show interest in Elain prior to Nesta and Cassian getting together. Please see the quotes above if you don’t believe me. Also, please see my post on the progression of their relationship here. 

Azriel is the first person to figure out what Elain’s powers were. He pulled her from her trance. Immediately after the seer reveal, we start to see Elain revert back to normal. 

Azriel is the one who defends Elain against scrying, a very dangerous thing in ACOTAR may I remind you, when she is not there to defend herself.

Azriel is the one who would sit with Elain outside in the gardens. 

Azriel lent Elain his most prized possession to keep her safe during the war. 

“Azriel coddles her.”

False. Azriel gave Elain truth teller to defend herself. I’d hardly call that coddling.

Let’s take a look at that scene that misguidedly causes people to think that Azriel “coddles” Elain.

Azriel stiffened, an outright sign of temper from him as he said quietly, “There is an innate darkness to the Dread Trove that Elain should not be exposed to.”

“But Nesta should?” Cassian growled.

Is Cassian coddling Nesta? No. They both have the same reaction. 

The coddling Elain experiences is from the Inner Circle constantly thinking she’s meek and reduces her to a simple girl who likes to garden. 

“It doesn’t matter what I think. Go back to Feyre and your little garden.”

and then when Nesta refuses to let Elain scry for the trove:

“Why?” Elain demanded. “Shall I tend to my little garden forever?” When Nesta flinched, Elain said, “You can’t have it both ways. You cannot resent my decision to lead a small, quiet life while also refusing to let me do anything greater.”

Very different scenarios. It’s one thing to be protective (one of SJM’s  favorite trope for romantic love interests). It’s another to belittle a person and then not let them grow. That is what Elain is referring to. That is the coddling she cannot stand. 

“Azriel is too messed up mentally to be with anybody.”

False. This is demonstrably false. It is fanon. When this argument is used, it’s used to discredit Elain as a love interest and prop Gwyn up. If Azriel is too messed up to be with Elain, he’s too messed up to be with anybody. Period.

Nesta parallels Azriel in a lot of ways. And everybody loves Nesta and Cassian’s relationship now. Azriel does not have any of the mental illnesses the WebMD doctors come up with every other day. At the most, he has issues with his self worth and possible depression. At the most. 

Saying that a character cannot be in a romantic relationship due to his mental health directly implies that individuals who are suffering with mental health issues cannot get into romantic relationships. That’s wrong and that’s mean.

In Conclusion

Elain and Azriel went from being strangers, to friends, to now possible lovers in a span of two years. 

Their relationship is the most realistic one SJM has written. Nothing about them is toxic. They are kind and considerate of one another. Their feelings have slowly progressed and there are barriers to their relationship (namely, Elain’s mating bond to Lucien). 

There is a difference between not liking Elain and Azriel together (an opinion) and saying Elain and Azriel are toxic together (a falsehood). 

#asks #elriel #pro elriel #elain #azriel #mine

[wingsfreedom]

Is Azula an abuser? Noticing this while browsing lately, never thought of her actions to Zuko as abuse.

Azula was not abusive because she was on the other side of the war. But you know, to many people, the main thing they like about Zuko is his victim narrative, which is why you see it gets unnecessarily and grossly exaggerated in fics.

In canon, from Azula's part, I see she suffers from two issues:

- poor communication skills:

First, Azula doesn't understand Zuko nor knows how to bond with him properly. These manipulations are proof of this failure of communication.

- her need to be in-control and how emotionally stunned/repressed/unavailable she is

Second, in Zuko’s eyes Azula is someone who's emotionally stunned; she shows no emotion, she shows no sympathy for Iroh or care for their mother's departure.

In fact, I think Azula believes her emotions are her weakness, and seeing how things eventually played out, she's not wrong. Part because she doesn't know how to handle/understand these feelings because of how strong she actually feel. The other part is because she needs to be in-control, always.

But Zuko only saw one side of Azula: the side who wants to be in-control.

Zuko finds this unraveling about her and reached the conclusion that she's just "so perfect", "lucky", "everyone adores her", "everything comes easy to her"...est. he thinks Azula doesn't "care" about anything because she's not lacking in anything. She just likes to flex her power.

From Zuko’s side:

- he's very competitive

Given the info above, Zuko's outlook on Azula leaks of jealousy and also very dehumanizing (by claiming that she's a perfect girl with a perfect life and has no feelings).

Part of Zuko’s decommissioning with Azula is due to the way she connects with him (it's a cycle they both created) but huge part of his competition and resentment was due to Ozai's abuse, not Azula's fault. Ozai's the one who pinned his self-worth on his sister after all.

(Azula didn't make the situation better for Zuko, because on screen she never questions anything Ozai does. She didn't shield Zuko from Ozai's hurtful upbringing or the way he pins her bother's self-worth on her.)

- he's selfish

Well, why would he bother to give "perfect" Azula anything when she doesn't need any? He just wants to see her lose. "Would you help put Azula in her place?"

Overall, it's a deeply damaged relationship and a murky water. This is why I prefer "move on" narrative post-war rather than "made up" lol because the toxicity and complications have been permeated throughout their relationship. But keep in mind, it wasn't always a terrible relationship; it was in fact implied to have started friendly in the show before it got dysfunctional, this is why you feel there's a bond at the root of their dysfunction no matter how much they come to "hate" each other.

I think Zuko learned to hate Azula for a very long time, but honestly I don't feel any hatred from Azula's side (probably disdain over how spoiled, immature and entitled he can be?) However, I think she does hate him post-war for what he did to her, their father and nation, especially since Azula attempted to be a better sister late Book 2 and Book 3 while Ozai restores his favor on him and the FN still loves him; and he betrayed them all (though, I believe she would not absolve herself fully from the blame).

#anon #rambling #i wish i made a better response #but this been in the drafts long enough #azula #atla

[antiloreolympus]

10 Anti LO Asks

1. TBH I wish Hera didn't change her mind do fast to suddenly support HxP because that would be so much better in terms of drama (esp since it's supposed to be a romance story and all) and it could have been more of showing and proving they're a good couple over the course of the comic instead of her having very real concerns then dropping it out of nowhere. It feels like that was the 1st case of RS being too scared to actually let HxP have any struggles so the story feels flatter for it.

2. So during the trial we can see Hades being super protective over Perse and not afraid to oppose his brother to the point he became aggressive over normal questioning. Such a good boyfriend eh? Where was that energy when his brothers made fun of Minthe? He didn't even bother to make them remember her name. He let his friends abuse her for the sheer fact of being a nymph. But what am I expecting from a guy who dumps his girlfriend for a teenager he just met🙄

3. Guys guys guy, the reason Persephone hasn’t made any female friends is because she’s so traumatized of her last friends dying. That’s why Persephone can’t make friends with other gods

Cause she can only make em

4. it's kinda funny but also sad LO is now in that group of media where critics/fans are basically like "yeah its a badly drawn male fantasy lying its feminist with bad writing and a mountain of bad ideas and countless inconsistencies but its not SUPPOSED to be GOOD" like?? what??? how is now a mark of praise its actually bad?? is this a new white fandom thing i dont get it 💀

From OP: I don’t get it either. Especially with LO since that implies RS isn’t trying to make LO a good story.

5. Just wanted to say Im really happy I found your blog, it opened my eyes to how bad LO is and i finally stopped wasting my money on fp. I think the part that gets me the most is how Persephone's character is not consistent. I mean, she's very naive but shes also super smart. She's had no experience with other people but she's also very good at manipulating situations (aka manipulating Minthe), she is very pure and never had any sex experience but she's also extremely sensual. Not to mention her body, she's not skinny but she's also not fat, she's tiny and kinda childish but at the same time has curves everywhere? It's like come on RS just choose one lmao

6. I saw the Tiny Head Apollo ask and. He looks like a goomba from the mario bros live action

7. I don't even think Persephone is (or really was) a bad character, she was fine if not underdeveloped, but Hades is like literally awful? Like we are introduced to what seems to be a socially awkward guy in a cruddy relationship, only to find out he's an entitled capitalist with violent temper tantrums who cheats on his mentally ill girlfriend with his sister in law, take advantage of impressionable young women who need the help, and literally owns slaves?? like he had negative development??

8. literally the most greek myth accurate thing in LO is that the SFX font is called "Phobos" (who he and his twin were cut to instead have random love named kids??) and thats it.

-----FP Spoilers/Mention-----

9. Episode 188 Spoilers:

Eris get out of here while you can, you shouldn’t be tarnished by a terribly written comic like this. Get out of here, girl, please (at least, I’m 80% sure it’s my girl Eris)

10. ExCUSE ME, Persephone wants to study Law? Since when?? And why tf do the Greek gods meet in a Gothic style building? I noticed the windows and other details. It makes it look like they are in the UK or the US? (For ep. 188) 

#anti lo #anti lore olympus #lore olympus critical #lo critical

[shewhotellsstories]

Your hatred for Su is pretty pathetic actually, have you ever thought about droping it?

1. Su apologized to Lin several times, but Lin didn't want anything to do with her, pretty childish if you ask me

2. Su is no longer a 16-year-old kid and has obviously changed, if Lin doesn't realize that, that's actually her problem

3. Su did not intentionally injure Lin, it was an ACCIDENT and accidents happen, especially among siblings

4. Toph is the one to blame for the whole situation, had she been a better mother, Su would not have tried to get her attention by robbery

5. Someone, who can hold grudges against their own little sister for 30 years is quite selfish and heartless

6. And then taking out your self-frustration on your niece, who has nothing to do with it, is just rude and mean

7. Lin's problem is simply that she is lonely, bitter, miserable and full of self-loathing and cannot have it, when others around her have a happy live

You should perhaps stop hating Su for no reason and start looking at Lin a little bit more critically, because she is far from perfect and should be held accountible for her mistakes as well

Pathetic? Says the coward hiding behind anon. Do you feel big and bad? Do you feel like you’re shaking tables by sending this to me? Beloved, I tag thoroughly, so if you don’t want to see my opinions about your garbage fave you don’t have to. Take some accountability, unlike your precious Suyin who consistently fails to. 

To address this whitewashed dumpster fire, a couple of points:

1) If you think “I gave you hard a time,” “you made sure our family stayed apart” and “I wasn’t a perfect kid,” are apologies proportional to scarring someone’s face when they were trying to stop you from assisting in a robbery then that’s just sad anon. There’s a saying that the apology must be as loud as the disrespect was. Suyin’s “apologies” were half-baked and she was just bored of Lin being angry as opposed sincerely sorry for her behavior.    

2) Suyin is at her core a careless person. It could’ve been forgivable if she’d truly changed but adorable things like working with people like Varrick who helped orchestrate a civil war for his own selfish gain and sending a group of teenagers out into the city to help her settle an old score told me that she was every bit as irresponsible as an adult as she was as a teenager. 

3)Yes, her highness didn’t wake up that day and have a master plan to scar Lin but she did. SHE. SCARRED. LIN. She scarred her when she was *checks notes* trying to stop her from participating in a robbery. You make it sound like an innocent training mishap, it’s been said before but Suyin was just expecting Lin to let her walk away from her bad behavior like Toph did.  

4)You seem to have a real issue with reading comprehension but I’ve said multiple times when I’ve gotten asks and submissions about Suyin that I know Suyin was acting out because she wanted Toph’s attention. I’ve said that I know Toph bares a lot of responsibility for the mess between her daughters. She was trying not to be like her parents and she caused damage in a different way. Check the my tags and enlighten yourself. 

5)You act like the “little sister” in question promised to return library books for Lin and forgot. This wasn’t a small transgression, she scarred her. Most people would cut ties under those circumstances. It seems like Lin tried to guide Suyin for years and what Suyin did to her was probably the last straw. And understandably so. 

6)Opal didn’t deserve being yelled at. Suyin shouldn’t be held against her and it was wrong of Lin to yell at her. But I’d point out that Lin didn’t want to see Suyin and her family anyway. She tried not to be there and got strong-armed into spending time with someone she’d excommunicated from her life. Maybe if Suyin had been more honest about why she and Lin were estranged Korra and Opal would’ve understood this wasn’t something they should get involved in and she wouldn’t have gotten her feelings hurt. And Lin does apologize and make it up to her by giving her good advice later. 

7)Yes that’s Lin’s problem. You’re so perceptive. The issue isn’t that she frequently puts her own hurt and pain aside to protect the people around her while getting next to nothing in return. Nor, that she was betrayed by the people she loved the most and instead of validation was told to just get over it. What was I thinking?

Lin was not perfect but she didn’t deserve to be used as an emotional punching bag by nearly everyone around her.

Last but not least, I wouldn’t have talked about this as much if people didn’t keep sending me asks and submissions about how uncomfortable they were with the way Lin was treated and how horrible they found Suyin’s behavior. You don’t get to hurt someone like that and be mad that they don’t forgive you on the time table you set. Well you can, it just makes you an asshole. People don’t need to stan a spoiled brat who breaks things and hurts people only to shrug it off and act oblivious in the aftermath. If you like Suyin that’s your prerogative. Live your life, but accept that your trash fave gave people reasons to dislike her every single time she opened her entitled mouth.

One final note:

#the audacity in this ask #asked and answered #anti suyin beifong #lin beifong #tlok salt #lok salt #lok critical

[xanadontit]

I’m sorry - what?

Dear Prudence,

I love my daughter but she has the worst taste in men. Put her in a room with 10 good men and one creep, she will run right up to the creep and let him ruin her life. I’ve watched her get her heart broken again and again: It hurt when she was in high school, but as an adult, it is not just her heart getting broken—it’s her car, apartment, finances, and career.

In college, her boyfriend smashed up her car after she let him drive it. He did it again after we replaced it and made her promise not to let anyone drive it. She still stayed with him. She has let one leech after another live off her until bank account is empty. She has quit jobs to follow a boyfriend of a few months across the country only to break up before her bags are unpacked.

She has moved home five times since she graduated college because her love life ruined her actual one. My husband and I help her get on her feet, try to get her in therapy, and wait for the next one. My husband says we are lucky our daughter hasn’t gotten pregnant yet and gotten permanently tied to one of these jerks. My daughter is nearing 30. She thinks she is just unlucky and bemoans there are no good men left. I told her she needs to look at the common denominator in all her relationships—herself.

That started a serious fight. My daughter was currently living with her sister and working with the man her sister was dating. My daughter was cheating with this guy. When her sister discovered it, she threw my daughter out on her ear. My daughter then lost her job. She wants to come home again. We told her no. Our family has imploded over this. My daughter has called us both crying—she made a mistake and is currently living in her car. We sent her money, but where does it end?

— Heartbroken Mom

Dear Heartbroken,

You’re obviously entitled to tell your daughter she can’t live with you, and I can understand why you’d be upset with her for cheating with her sister’s boyfriend. But why are you so mad at her for her history of choosing crappy boyfriends? Nothing she’s done has harmed you, and cutting her off is not going to help her make better choices.

I encourage you and your husband to sit down and talk about your goals for your relationship with her (not for her relationships with men) and whether you think punishing her for her bad romantic choices by letting her live in her car will get you there. I don’t think it will.

I don’t know all the details, so disregard this if it doesn’t feel like a fit, but would it be worth reflecting on what her relationship with you and her father was like growing up? Is there anything there that might represent the beginning of a pattern where she seeks love from people who don’t respect her and treat her poorly? Did she go through anything especially difficult that harmed her self-esteem? If there’s anything you need to apologize for or heal from as a family, now is the time.

*******************************

Idk, I think this certified non-genius could stand to feel some consequences for her shitty actions. She boned her sister’s boyfriend while the sister was letting her stay with her (yes the boyfriend also sucks) - she’s choosing to burn her relationships to the ground and of course this affects the parents! But sure it’s because the parents expected her not to be a train wreck of a human. That’s gotta be it. 

[farfarawaygirl]

hi, this is just to start a conversation and in no way I’m saying that one opinion is wrong or whatever, we all entitled to have one.

That being said I do want to start with I enjoyed the last episode, I had my hopes low because of the poorly written this season, children abuse will always be hard to portray but as a survivor of it, I really love the way the show did it. Yes it wasn’t perfect but neither real life, I see comments about lucy not being supportive, and I can see why they think that but I didn’t see it like that, she was in an incredible uncomfortable position, imagine doing your work when your partner is going about his abusive childhood with his sister and they put you in the middle, I don’t support Genny actions in this episode but I can see where she is coming from, she was desperate and alone, and let’s be honest if Tim didn’t want lucy there she would have made her go, but he was comfortable with her, he said the horrible things his father did to him and as a child of abuse that is huge. And finally the Tim test line, Her saying, “Tim test.” out loud, was her piecing things together. We’re all aware that Lucy talks things out when she's thinking, it was obviously an accident that she said it out loud, It was literally a “oh that’s why he does that” realization, yea I can see why this line has so many negative takes and that is because of the poor writing, but personally I didn’t see it like she was mocking him. And I really enjoyed the last scene, Lucy didn’t even tell Tim to set aside his trauma to support his sister, though. She specifically said they should support each other. Not “Tim ignore what happened to you & help your sister” but rather “you both went through some shit so help each other deal with it together not alone”.

And this is the last one I swear but I was really pissed off that a white man (Nolan) had to control the emotions of a Latina woman (angela) I was deeply offended with that like they are willing to sacrifice other characters to lift Nolan, the white savior and I’m so sick of it. Sorry for the rant, hope you having a nice day!

Nonny,

We are in agreement on that the show is willing to sideline, or vilify, or assassinate the character of any WOC, to further the plot that Nolan can do no wrong. Which has been an issue for a while. The moment I think it went to far for me (this season) was when Lucy somehow 'missed' the tripwire, and Nolan swooped in and reprimanded her. 😬

I know some people love John Nolan. Or they love Nathan Fillion and can't quite separate the two. I would like Nolan a whole lot more if he had a single flaw. Instead he teaches detectives, has Tim's endorsement, and craps gold bars.

We both agree the writing this season has been uneven.

You are right, no one opinion is fully right. My feelings around the Tim and Lucy off it all this last episode are very different than yours. I wrote about my feelings here - which in no way are meant to invalidate your experience as a survivor of abuse. In fact, I want to tell you that you would have unique insight into this! I was especially glad to see you write survivor, that is what you are. And you have the grace and kindness to start a conversation (with me!) about that tough topic.

I know that no reaction to disclosure of this topic can be perfect, but I do wish media was more gentle with it. I hope there is some more kindness next episode.

Thank you for this ask! For you thoughts, and for the conversation! 😉

#emma shouts into the void #be critical of the media you consume #ask emma #the rookie #john nolan

[gwynrielendgame]

Nyx and Isa part 4

I am feeling very uninspired these days yall. Good news though, I got a job 🥳🥳 woohoo.

"You two can go wander through the gardens now, if you'd like. Violet why don't you go with them? Someone needs to keep them out of trouble."

It was as much a dismissal if Nyx ever heard one. He rolled his eyes, but stood to leave anyways.

"I would actually like to listen in. If I am to be high lady some day, best I hear it all."

Nyx's parents shared a look. Whatever they wanted to discuss with Tamlin and the rest of the family was not information they wanted his daughter to know. Must be something about her.

"Very well. Nyx could you check on your sister, Velaris? I haven't heard from her all week."

Nyx was annoyed that he was being dismissed once again to check on his oldest sister, of all people, even though Isa was allowed to stay. She was much less trustworthy than him. He turned to leave with his younger sister in tow, but a snicker from Isa made him send a quick glare in her direction.

"Yes, run along now. Like the good little prince you are."

The sarcasm might as well have bit his skin. The entire room stopped their small talk to re-assess the situation before them. The last anyone had heard, Nyx and Isa had resolved any conflict from the recent fight they had. Although neither of them had spoken since Isa had revealed what she gave to protect Nyx.

"Stop this, Isa. Petty arguments do not become you."

"Oh look at prince Nyx. Once again taking the moral high ground. Shocker considering who your parents are."

"Did we...miss something?" Lucien interjected, clearly to lighten the mood which had zero effect on the arguing pair. They continued their banter as if Lucien never even spoke.

"You want to talk to me about my parents? What about yours? Your father abused my mother, only to impregnate, who I can only assume by your own standards, is a vile, evil witch."

She sucked in a harsh breathe. She told that to him in confidence and now he was throwing it back in her face. His anger fueled harder than his guilt. Nyx had walked back to the table at this point where he stood, glaring at his friend.

"Once again you stand on some moral high ground. The world is not black and white, Nyx. Your mother would like to convince you otherwise though, no? Must be her savior complex."

Her accent was much heavier with how vehemently she was talking. Feyre decided it was best to intervene.

"Okay, why don't you two separate and cool off. Obviously, emotions are running high."

Once again, the pair ignored anyone else speaking to them.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Isa. I am not the one that sold off my unborn first child, so of course, you do not have many moral qualms." Nyx threw back at her. She rolled her nose up in disgust.

"Would you have rather I let you die?"

"I am glad I am not dead, but what you were willing to give up for me is not something I would be willing to do for you." He crossed his arms. She scoffed.

"Maybe you should have mentioned that before you had sex with me!" She threw a roll from her plate at him. He let it bounce off his head with a roll of his eyes.

"Oof" Violet muttered while glancing anywhere but at the pair sparring off at the dinner table.

"Do not act as if I tricked you into that! I have been crystal clear about us. I am waiting for my mate, which you are not."

"Nyx," his mother tried to interject once again, but Isa stopped her.

"How do you know that? How do you know I am not your mate? The bond is hard to sense before it has snapped into place." Everyone recognized the desperation in her voice. She was pleading with him to love her in the way that she loved him. Unfortunately, it was also clear to everyone that Nyx was rather indifferent towards Isa as a romantic partner.

"Come on Isa! Be realistic. Our parents did not work out for a reason." He tried to reason. He thought they had just been having a bit of fun. Must have meant much more to Isa than she had been admitting to him.

"Perhaps you do share too much with your mother. Your self-righteousness is certainly straight from her handbook." She lashed out. Nyx recognized her feelings were hurt and that was the reason she was saying the nasty things she was. That did not mean it kept him from getting just as angry.

"Well, I am not the only one who takes after my parents. You are exactly like your father." He spit at her.

Nyx was tired of listening to her discuss his parents in such a way. She wanted to play rough? Well then he would play along.

"What is that meant to mean?"

"You are an entitled bitch who does not seem to understand when someone does not love you back. That's what I mean."

She flinched at his harsh words and he automatically wished he could take them back. She retook her seat, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. They both remembered what she accidentally admitted to him and the words he had not said back. He was breathing heavy from his own vehement yelling, but now as he looked around, he felt regret. It felt wrong to air out their grievances among family and friends, especially when he threw so much back in her face.

"Yikes..." Violet unhelpfully broke the awkward silence that had engulfed the room. Nyx noticed at the same time as everyone else that the table was shaking. It started to shake so much that he thought an earthquake was hitting Velaris. It was not until Tamlin spoke up that everyone realized who, instead of what, was making the table shake.

"Calm down, Isa."

She took a slow shakey breath. One lone tear fell down her cheek which she roughly wiped away. Nyx wanted to wrap her in a hug and apologize, but he stuck in his spot as her tattoos began to glow. They often glowed when she was using her witch magic, but never like this. This was bright, almost blinding when her normal glow was a light luminance.

"I am trying." She spoke softly. "I just want it to stop." Her hands went to her head and started clawing at her temples.

Nyx was not sure what she wanted to stop, but one glance around the room told him that this meant trouble. He wanted to help his friend, but no one moved a muscle and his father sent him a look that kept Nyx from speaking. Tamlin's reaction was even worse. He looked scared. Whether that was for his own life or because his daughter was in danger, Nyx would never know.

"Isabelle, stop."

"I can't." The word broke off at the end as she finally opened her eyes. They were glistening with tears and her expression would haunt Nyx until his last days. It all seemed to happen in slow motion. Tamlin propelled forward, over the table. He wrapped Violet in an embrace as they fell to the floor.

And then a gust of power broke every piece of glass in the room. Every window, wine glass, and vase shattered. The power from Azriel's siphons reached out at the last minute and protected Nyx and Lucien from the blast of power. Nyx was still thrown into the wall from the sheer force of it. He managed to look over at his parents to see his dad protecting his mom. Tamlin must have known what was going to happen before it did because he reached Violet a second before it happened.

"Knock her out!" Tamlin yelled. "Before her eyes change."

Nyx looked up to see that Isa was still crying, but a swirl of power encircled her. She had sunk to her knees on the floor at this point and she still gripped her head as if it hurt. The power was unlike anything he had ever seen, so he assumed it must be her witch power. He knew he should get up and talk to her, but he did not want to make it worse. He watched as Lucien attempted to physically get to her, but the gust knocked him away. Both his parents tried using their daemati powers. Nyx was afraid of what would happen if that did not work. Tamlin shoved Violet behind a couch before approaching his daughter.

"Isa, you can control it. You have done it before. Focus."

She began shaking her head wildly.

"Get out of my head!" She screeched.

"I can't get in Tamlin. Whatever is happening is too powerful." Nyx wondered who was inside Isa's head if not his parents.

"Use your Night power to knock her out." Tamlin gritted his teeth as he slowly inched his way toward her. It was a physical feat unlike any other because the wind was powerful enough to keep Nyx on the ground.

"I can't. She's disarmed our fae magic."

Nyx tried to conjure his own magic, only to realize his dad was right. He did not think it was possible without the use of faebane. Isa had mentioned being able to temporarily disable fae magic, but she claimed the cost was too high for witches to use it often. He was worried she would end up killing herself before the night was over.

"Isa!" He started. As soon as he spoke, the power surrounding her intensified. "I am sorry. I did not mean it." He took a few tentative steps towards her even after his dad called out a warning. It was difficult due to the wind, but he managed to get close enough that his shouts were heard by her.

"I was lashing out because you hurt my feelings." The power started to ebb as she raised her head from her hands. "You are my friend and I did not mean to hurt you."

She looked at him for a second, her guard dropped, and when she blinked, her eyes opened again, completely black as the finest spun silk in all of the night court.

Fuck is all he could think.

Tamlin used the split second she was distracted by Nyx to make his move. She was in his grasp and being winnowed away before anything else could be said.

"Shit." His mother muttered from her spot on the ground.

"What the hell was that?" Azriel looked to Lucien for answers as he stood from the ground. It appeared everyone had been knocked to the ground from the force of her magic. Lucien wiped away blood from his forehead that kept pouring into his one good eye.

"How many witch, high lord children have you heard of?"

"None." Azriel grimaced. If he had not heard of it before, then it was likely few and far between that held that same heritage.

"Emotion is a highly sought after price by the spirits. Not many witches are willing to trade their emotions for the aid of the spirits. They feed on it which is why the children are so dangerous. They are one tantrum from killing their entire coven. Why do you think their numbers dwindle?"

"She's had how many years to get this under control?" Rhysand quipped back sarcastically only to get a withering look from Lucien.

"No amount of time prepares you for your first heart break. Especially when the cause of that embarrasses you in front of another court by declaring he does not love you back." Lucien gave a pointed look to Nyx with narrowed eyes.

"Not my finest moment." Nyx cringed as he thought back to all he said. Nyx walked back to Violet to help her up from behind the couch.

"The spirits feed on her emotions. She let her guard down, but they cannot take without giving. They gave her too much power to control with her emotions as tumultuous as they were. The more negative the emotion? The more all-consuming and dangerous that power becomes." Lucien explained. Although it hardly made any sense to Nyx.

"How can they feed if she does not call on them? Why do they not feed on our emotions?" Violet asked as she wiped dirt from her dress.

"The tattoos, a price she has paid for a past use of witch magic, acts as a tracking device. Much like you build mind barriers to keep other Daemati out, Isa needs to keep her barriers in place to prevent the spirits from taking freely. The tattoos call to spirits when they glow and the loss of her mind barrier allowed them in without her permission. As for the reason they do not feed on our emotions? Unsure. Isa jokes that regular fae emotions must taste bad." Lucien finally grabbed a napkin to press to the wound above his eye. He muttered an apology to Feyre for ruining it.

"Why did she not kick them out once she realized?" Feyre asked instead of responding to his apology.

"She probably did not realize she was giving her emotions freely to the spirits. They rewarded her with power. Mix in some fae magic, shape shifting abilities, and boom you have an uncontrollable dangerous cocktail in the form of a small female."

"The eyes?" Azriel quietly mentioned with raised brows. His shadows were moving erratically all around him.

"That is not up for discussion along with her mother." Lucien sent Nyx a glare.

"I know it was a low blow." He admitted. He would apology as soon as he was allowed.

"Isa loves her mother very much. You can love a person and despise their actions. Right Feyre?" It was an accusing statement. Everyone could see what Lucien was insinuating. His mother at some point or another loved Tamlin even if she pretended she never had. Feyre only rolled her eyes, but Rhysand sent a glare of his own back to Lucien.

"I should apologize. I do love her." Nyx felt the need to admit to everyone. "Just not in the way that she wants." He threw himself down on the couch. Violet followed his lead and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Not now. The reason witches do not readily offer their emotions is because it leaves them numb. It is a very unpleasant feeling and will be like talking to a wall." Lucien grimaced. Nyx assumed Lucien was thinking of the last time it happened.

"Has this happened before?" Azriel inquired.

"When her mother died. That's it." Lucien shrugged and dropped the napkin.

"I didn't know. I never meant to hurt her." Nyx felt the need to explain himself, but found there were no words to do so.

"If I know Isa, all she wanted to hear was that you care for her in some capacity."

"She knows that." Nyx insisted. He rested his head on top of his sisters. He was suddenly overcome with exhaustion unlike any other.

"Does she? Cause you had me fooled otherwise tonight." Lucien quickly winnowed away after that. A look around the room showed disapproving looks from everyone.

*****

"Thank you for coming." Tamlin shifted awkwardly in his chair. The Night Court inner circle looked on from their respective chairs in what Nyx assumed must be the formal sitting room. His parents, himself, and his sister squished together on one couch. Azriel took an arm chair to the left of Tamlin and the last chair remained unclaimed. Nyx stared at the chair as if he could make her appear simply from his stare.

"How is she?" Rhysand cleared his throat to ask. Tamlin gave a tight smile.

"Fine." He paused, debating whether he should say the next thing. "We lifted the ward on this room. If things should get out of hand today, you may winnow away."

Feyre narrowed her eyes at him.

"I thought you said she had it under control."

Tamlin sighed heavily and slouched in his chair. He rubbed at his temples as if this entire meeting exhausted him.

"You will see that you are in no danger. It is just a precaution."

Azriel went to say something, but stopped and looked towards the door. It was utterly silent. A few minutes later, Isa walked through the door with her head down. She looked...bad. In the kindest way possible because Nyx knew she had been through a lot mentally. It had clearly taken a toll on her physically. She shuffled to the last available seat without making eye contact. When she finally looked up, Nyx's heart lurched. She was pale with dark circles under her eyes. Her cheeks had sunken in from weight loss, leaving her looking like she consisted only of skin and bone. It was jarring considering how solidly built she had been previously. She had always been muscular; now though, he saw no hint of it. Her dress must have been fitted to her recently since it fit her well. It was a light green color similar to her eyes and flowed around her like a wedding dress. She might look beautiful if she did not look so sick. Nyx made eye contact with his sister's wide, shocked eyes. A quiet gasp left his mother's lips. Isa tried a small smile, but Nyx noticed her fingers nervously traced the new tattoos on her other hand.

"I apologize for my little display last week." She started. "I thought I had a better grip on my powers. Obviously not. I have spoken with my coven on the matter and I will be returning home for additional training."

Nyx contemplated whether he should speak or not. Last time they only exchanged spiteful words. He did not want those words to be the last she heard from him. He cleared his throat.

"Does your coven know about the first born debacle?" He felt it was a neutral enough of a statement. Isa replied simply.

"No."

"It is best if that is never discussed aloud." Tamlin interjected.

"How long will you be gone?" Violet asked. They had become friends as well and his sister looked sad at the prospect of her leaving.

"Until I need to claim my position as High Lady." Isa stared at her hands as she spoke. Violet gasped at the information.

"But that could be hundreds of years!"

Nyx frowned. He thought it might take Isa a few months to lose interest in himself and then they could return to just being friends. This seemed extreme, but perhaps they could still visit each other every once in a while. Isa only shrugged. Nyx felt dread at Isa's lack of emotional display. She had been rather devoid of anything else. The effects of the spirits must be taking more of a toll than anyone else assumed.

"That will leave you unprepared for your role as high lady. You do not have many allies or friends," Azriel started what appeared to be an oddly placed reprimand. "You should use all the time you have to form relationships with the other courts and possible emissaries."

"Lucien said he would help me when I first take over."

"That is not enough." Rhysand agreed as him and Tamlin shared a look.

"You will help me, no?" She asked.

"We may not have the time to devote to helping you run your court." Feyre said. Isa's eyes slid past Nyx's and landed on Violet's.

"I could help." His sister offered with a smile that looked so similar to their mother's.

"It would be very much appreciated." Isa tried to give a smile of her own but it only succeeded in showing how miserable this past week has been for her.

"You may want to consider marriage." Azriel felt the need to mention. "You will be at a disadvantage when you return, but a well aligned marriage could work. The prince of the Summer Court is unmarried, but you may find yourself at war with Amren over him. There is a princess of the Summer court that may be interested." His shadows tucked in tight to him.

"I shall consider that. Thank you for the advice, spymaster." No hint of her accent could be heard. Nyx realized she was focusing on disguising the accent in order to focus her attention. Her eyes kept wandering around the room as though she could not keep focus on the current conversation.

Tamlin appeared to nudge Isa subtly. He gave her a stern look before she turned back to look at Feyre.

"I apologize for the things I said about you." She said barely above a whisper. Feyre gave her a soft look which must have urged her to keep going. "Sometimes I feel angry at you because I see a life I could have had. With you as my mom. It is not fair, but it is true." Nyx could see tears in his mother's eyes that she quickly blinked away.

"I understand that sometimes we say things we do not mean. Right, Nyx?" Feyre gave her son a look. She was giving him an opening to say his piece while simultaneously avoiding responding to Isa. He should tell Isa that he did not mean it.

"Isa, I do love you. Just not in the way you are wanting." He tried to make eye contact with her so that she knew he was speaking the truth, but she did not look up from her hands.

"Okay." She gave a simple shrug.

Nyx felt his eyes brows furrowed at that. He was not sure what he expected her reaction to be, but something more than that. It made him feel something he was not ready to admit. And at this point, would never admit.

"Okay?" He asked with raised eyebrows. Isa was still refusing to look up at him, so he look towards his father who kept signaling with his eyes to go and comfort her.

"Yes, I understand I cannot make someone love me." The bland delivery of the words encouraged Nyx to move towards her. He kneeled before her in her chair and grabbed her hands, forcing her to look at him.

"I do love you." He emphasized. He did not want this to get lost in the mess of everything else. Something about that seemed to spark something in her eyes though. The sight of it made Nyx relieved.

"Not in the vay I vant to be loved. Not in the vay I dezerve to be loved." Her accent was extremely heavy and she began to grip his hands back just as strongly as he was holding hers. Tears gathered in her eyes but they did not fall.

"I vill no longer give you more than you dezerve, Nyx." And with that declaration, the last of her fight left her. She softly pulled her hands away and stood up. Her eyes were blank once more.

"I apologize once again for putting your lives at risk. It will not happen again."

And then she was drooping back to her room with slows steps.

"That went...well." Violet offered unhelpfully. "Right?"

#nyx acotar #acotar #tamlin’s daughter #feyre archeron #rhysand #tamlin

[ilikekidsshows]

I edited the ask slightly to make it clear this is about apologists making excuses for Chloé's behavior and not fans who just feel frustrated over not getting an arc they wished to see.

Anon said: I think what really annoys me is Chloe apologists that cry she’s, “just a kid she can learn to be better and outgrow her abusive tendencies” seem to gloss over or ignore that Chloe has been given MULTIPLE chances to do better for 3 seasons and at every turn she always returns to her spoiled bratty bullying ways. Especially in season 3 where she didn’t listen to Ladybug about never getting the miraculous and felt entitled to the power.

It’s just so annoying how chloe apologists act like she’s the real victim just cause her mommy doesn’t love her, news flash she’s not the only character in the show who has a bad relationship with a parent. It doesn’t give Chloe the right to degrade and abuse people. Im not sure if Chloe needs to hit rock bottom before she turn things around or this is heading towards a corruption arc. However im also annoyed when parts of her fandom claim it’s misogynistic that she doesn’t get better.

Because sometimes bad people stay bad and never get better, it would be a very powerful lesson to teach kids who are in toxic abusive relationships especially with childhood friends that sometimes you have to let them go and cut them off because they’re causing you harm. It was very powerful of Adrien to stand up to Chloe multiple times as an abuse victim and not let her drag him down to her level. All the people mad at him for queen banana don’t realize that Adrien can’t make chloe a kinder person. No one can make someone mean good.

Plus the show is chock full of actual good and kind girls with positive supportive friendships so having one or even two female characters turn out bad isn’t sexist to me. Same with people who claim Zoe is a Mary Sue and it’s wrong that she’s replacing Chloe. Which is weird because Zoe can’t replace what Chloe never was, a friend to the main cast. Chloe was never close with the class or their friend even if she tried to be involved in their projects he never tried to get along with the others.

Plus Zoe made a mistake by trying to emulate her family and be a bully but eventually realized being awful like them wasn’t worth their approval. Whether she’s a better hero or deserves the miraculous is another discussion but we’re talking about Chloe here. If she continues down the path of selfishness and hate becoming like her mother and her sister Zoe, who also comes from an abusive family, doesn’t that just means one overcame their trauma and the other didn’t.

Sorry for the rant just I’m so tired of seeing the tag be cluttered up by Chloe apologists who won’t stop crying or complaining about her character.

With what the canon actually gave us, Chloé's arc could have gone, and could still go, either way on the redemption/corruption scale. Yes, Chloé messed up royally in the season three finale, but she was under duress to a degree. While Chloé showed few signs of becoming a selfless hero, since most of the people she helped as a hero were people she put in bad situations to begin with or she helped out to get to hang out with Ladybug, she's also showed no signs of becoming a true villain the same way Lila has. We can clearly see Lila developing into a supervillain, but Chloé is very much stuck in the middle and could go either way if she suddenly got superpowers with no strings attached.

The real issue here is Chloé's civilian life. She's never been kind to her classmates and goes out of her way to make sure they have a bad time. This has never been influenced by whether or not she had a Miraculous, so obviously something not-superpowers-related needs to happen for her to see anything wrong with what she's doing.

And there's a real chance Zoé is meant to be that thing that makes Chloé see. Chloé could see how her sister was forgiven and welcomed by her classmates and realize how easy it is to stop being awful and get validation and friendship from the class that way. This realization might make her look down on the class as gullible fools, like Lila, or it might make Chloé want to belong and try to adjust her behavior, having her follow Zoé's lead.

Of course there's still a chance that Chloé will just keep swinging between sitcom arch nemesis and not-quite-a-supervillain, that she'll still be used as a civilian life obstacle for the heroes to overcome and she's not meant to be redeemed or corrupted. In this case I can see this fandom discourse continuing for years to come, since it's the uncertainty of Chloé's role that's fuelling it so much.

Crying misogyny every time your favorite female character is treated in a way you don't like, when it’s used in a way that’s clearly just a buzzword meant to manipulate people, is something I'm just so done with. In the case of Miraculous, though, it's especially misguided, with how much the creators clearly try to be feminist. It's one thing to say something they did fails at that goal and leans into sexist attitudes and another to say they're being purposefully misogynistic because the show isn’t to your tastes. Because, let’s face it, a lot of the show’s attempts at being progressive have been tone deaf, but it usually seems to happen by accident and sometimes, at least with Fei’s design, they seem to be willing to amend a mistake when it gets pointed out.

Also, because sexism and feminism are about gender politics, the thing with discussing sexism is not actually comparing a female character with other female characters, it's about comparing a female character with male characters. If a show aims for gender equality, a character's gender can't influence how they are treated. This means we need to see if we can compare Chloé's character to a male character and find equality.

And we can. Miraculous Ladybug has a male character who causes others pain on purpose. This same character has several chances to stop being awful with "not being awful" costing him nothing. He even shows a softer side in 'Style Queen', just like Chloé in that same episode, but ultimately tosses that change aside when he finds something he thinks can help him gain his goals, like Chloé does in 'Miracle Queen'.

I am of course talking about Gabriel Agreste. I have repeatedly said that Marinette and Chloé are mirrors, what the other could be if they changed how they view other people and themselves. Gabriel is a foil to Marinette, so he naturally mirrors Chloé as well. However, Gabriel's arc has a similar forwards-and-backwards beat as Chloé's does. Even Chloé Apologists recognize the similarities between the two, since I've seen them voicing concerns that Gabriel might get redeemed while Chloé doesn't, because they think Gabriel having sympathetic aspects is a sign of a redemption arc for him like it supposedly was for Chloé. Instead, they are still both firmly in the area of antagonists and villains.

Although I will concede one key difference: Chloé is still way more likely to get redeemed than Gabriel.

I also think that, even if Chloé does get redeemed eventually, it’s still important that Adrien didn’t just hang on waiting for it when she spent so long proving again and again that she didn’t want to change. Because the other characters couldn’t know for sure if Chloé would change. Just like in the real world you won’t know for sure if your toxic friend will ever change, so you might have to let them go for your own sake. Even if they might get better one day, even if you’re not their target, it’s not on you to stand by them when they do things that are against your personal ethics.

#ml fandom salt #long post

[spongebob-autisticquestions]

So I posted this story on Reddit of what happened this weekend, and decided to copy-paste it here. I'm still very annoyed

"Firstly, until this January, I lived with my parents, my older brother and younger sister.

My relationship with my brother has always been strained to some point. We have clashing personalities and thoughts. I'm autistic and he's frequently poked fun of autism, commonly using the r slur and whatnot. When I lived with my parents, we'd do stuff like watch Pokémon together at night or play video games because it was what we had in common. At this point I need to emphasise, he's 29 and I'm 27.

However, he never liked it when things wouldn't go his way. If I agreed to something, I'd have to do it otherwise he'd call me a liar or other insults. He's also had problematic opinions, for example he once asked me if my partner was trans (assuming male to female) in a very judgmental tone. For that reason I've never felt comfortable telling him personal stuff, which he fails to understand and thinks I'm just "keeping stuff from him". (I'm currently closeted trans from him and I worry how he's going to react when the day comes that he discovers the truth. I also should mention my partner is non-binary, so I will be using they/them pronouns for them.)

Anyway, last January I moved out into my own apartment with my partner (well, they'd stay with me sometimes, but also had a lodging arrangement elsewhere.) The first month, I admittedly didn't keep in touch with my brother due to a lot going on, such as the sudden serious surgery for my partner, and work and whatnot. By March, I was kinda scared to contact him due to fear he'd get angry for not talking (ironic, I know.)

Later in March, my brother got in touch and we agreed I'd come to my parents' home to visit for Easter. Unfortunately a few days before Easter, my partner's landlady tried to get in touch over rent payment when they were working. My partner is autistic and hates phone calls, and also can't phone at work, so they requested the landlady talk over text. She got overdramatic, demanding to call and then they gave an ultimatum for my partner to collect their stuff in 2 weeks or it will all be thrown out. (I should mention, the landlady was very abusive.)

Because of this, we had to figure out a way to move their stuff into my apartment. I called my parents and asked if they would be able to help us, and my mum suggested going the day before Easter, and I'd come home once their stuff was in my place.

My partner's autistic, and during the day we were getting all the stuff moved, the fact they were in the presence of their abuser and also trying to get stuff out as fast as possible resulted in them having a bad meltdown. My mum managed to get us all to agree we'd take half the stuff home today, and then do the rest of the job Easter Sunday. Now, because of the meltdown, I opted to stay at my place with my partner to make sure they would be okay. That was when my brother called angrily, accusing me of breaking my promise and trying to say my partner was manipulating me.

The next day, my mum came to help us get the rest of my partner's stuff. As we were packing, I got a very angry text from my brother, insulting me, saying I ruined Easter, insulting my partner, and telling me not to bother coming home. I told my mum that I would love to come home, but couldn't as I did not feel comfortable in the presence of my brother. It was at that point I decided to stop talking to him for a while until he calmed down.

Around late May, we were having washing issues as due to work, the only day we could go to the laundromat was on a Saturday, and they were only accepting appointments in advance due to Covid. My partner tried to call but the laundromat said they were fully booked. I asked my mum, who was visiting, if she'd be okay with washing our clothes at her house and my mum happily accepted. We weren't trying to take advantage, we were happily going to repay them for their kindness. My dad also told me my brother was complaining that I never called him, so I agreed to give my brother a call.

However, that night I received yet another horrible text from my brother. He was angry as he couldn't wash his clothes as my mother was washing ours, and apparently he needed to get his washed for work the next day. He sent a horrible text calling me a failure, and giving multiple insults to my partner. After that, I decided I wasn't going to call or speak to him.

That takes us to this week. My brother got back in touch earlier this week, and we agreed I'd visit this weekend, apparently I'd agreed I'd stay the night to watch Pokémon with him. That weekend I'd also be getting my haircut at my parents' home by a family friend (we were all getting our haircuts, the friend was getting paid), so it made sense to spend the night that weekend. However, as the time got closer, I started having second thoughts. I realised I still wasn't comfortable spending the night when he'd be there, especially since I didn't want to go back in the closet about being trans, and with all the insults he gave to me and my partner. I also remembered I also had important stuff to do the following day regarding work. Additionally, it bothered me that he did not understand the fact I had my own place with my own issues, and I couldn't just sped the night because he wanted me to. When he found out, he called me angry, and tried pressing me to confirm if I would stay the night or not. I knew what his tactic was, so I tried not to confirm anything, and he just hung up on me before I could explain further....

That leads to today, when I went back home to visit. He asked me if I was staying the night, and when I said I couldn't, he started a very angry and somewhat abusive speech. He called me a snake, a liar, a monster, and that "I've changed". He went on about how I never talked to him, and I responded with how it's because of how nasty he's been with his texts. He acted all offended about how I wouldn't spend time with him at night, and how most people he knew who moved out usually visited for weekends regularly, I retaliated that many people who still live close, like I do, usually visit for the day. (I refrained from telling him he's the reason I don't visit, because I don't like his abuse. I will admit I really need to speak to my sister more, as she's done nothing wrong, but that's more because when it comes to her, I just don't know what to talk or ask about.)

He also brought up my partner, and how I shouldn't "get our family involved in their stuff because they are not family" (his words, not mine.) I got angry about this and cited how I couldn't just let them struggle with moving out of the other place, and my parents were happy to help. He was angry because it "ruined his and my sister's day". Mind you, my sister said nothing and he has a habit of exaggerating. He cited that if he had a partner, he would go to the family for help with her issues, and how partners should seek help from their family and their friends. He also threatened that if he found my partner's laundry in the house again, he would cut it up with scissors personally.

All this just pisses me off. It makes me feel like I'm the asshole, although he doesn't realise his entitlement and judgmental behaviour is what causes me to not want to be around him."