#except of course in her case it could be from trauma and she likes saying “brother” bc she hasnt seen him in a long time

[asharestupid]

I've said it before (I think) and I'll say it again: real life siblings do Not! call each other "big/lil bro/sis". The closest I've got to this is calling my little brother "young Padawan". Maybe while texting my friends (not talking to my siblings) I've said "my lil sister" but I've never heard anyone besides in fiction call their siblings "little bro" or even address them as "big sister" to their face. We call each other things like "shitbag" and "heathen" (lovingly, of course).

#scronkle #dear siblingless writers #fiction #writer #writing advice #story writing #creative writing #writing #writing siblings #watching the 100 for the first time and im in pain seeing whatsherface call bellamy big brother a thousand times #thats not what real siblings do #except of course in her case it could be from trauma and she likes saying “brother” bc she hasnt seen him in a long time #but in general #if you dont have siblings please listen to me

[elexuscal]

Ficlet prompt idea! Interactions between ART and Pin-Lee and/or Mensah in the time after NE but before SC.

More thoughts if you wanted more inspiration than a single line. Does Pin-Lee teach ART some new curses ('cause ART curses alot more in this book, and I wanna blame Pin-Lee like how Rhatti mentions the overlap between MB and Pin-Lee's curse vocab)? How great would their banter be, lawyer vs know-it-all-AI?!

Is ART still kinda shy/excited by meeting Mensah?

Thank you~ I really love your work!!!

Awwww thank you very much!

Oh man i was so spoiled for choice here but i really really struggled to think of an interesting take on this

Big thank you to @specialagentartemis who i paraphrased a significant chunk of this from as well as general Vibes

Asshole vs Asshole

So here's the thing. Here's the fucking thing, okay?

Twenty-three days. Twenty-three fucking days of waiting, of worrying, of preparing. Of nearly chewing her own arm off. Of thinking she was walk into a fucking blood bath.

And the Preservation Alliance rescue team finally gets to the scene of the crime, and no one is dead. Which is fucking good, obviously. Okay. She gets it. No one's dead, no one's lost any limbs, and praise the dark gods of yesteryear, no one has even been kidnapped. This is literally better than the best-case scenarios they concocted.

But surely, surely, Pin-Lee can't be the only one who thinks it is fucking weird to be having tea with the person who did the kidnapping in the fist place?

"Thank you, Perihelion," Ayda says, as a shiny blue drone finishes pouring tea into a cup. Just a whiff and a glance is all Pin-Lee needs to know it was brewed exactly the way Dr. Mensah prefers it.

The drone turns to hover to her. It pours a drink into her own mug. Pin-Lee glares at it.

Ayda doesn't look at her, doesn't so much as tilt her head. But they've worked together for a long, long time now, and Pin-Lee nonetheless reads the subtler body language. She grinds out, "Thank you."

She sips the drink. It is coffee and it is extremely bitter and it's warm-but-not-quite-hot and Pin-Lee has a sneaking suspicion it is at least a few hours old.

[You're welcome~] Perihelion's trills as the drone zooms away.

Peri. Fucking. Helion.

Turns out, it's the one that orchestrated this whole thing. The super-secret advanced spaceship that SecUnit apparently befriended while it was off on its journey of self-discovery or whatever decided that it knew exactly who could handle its little pest control problem, and hadn't much cared which innocent civilians got stuck in the cross-fire.

"There were extenuating circumstances," SecUnit had explained, face set like it was ready for a fight.

"It's all fine, water under the bridge," Ratthi had said. "No harm done really."

"Except for the new layers of fresh trauma," Overse had groused.

"But we're handling that, too," Arada had said, with a too-bright smile. "And it's a good thing we're here to help the colonists."

"Yeah yeah and you should see ART's hydroponics bay, it's super cool," said Amena, tugging on her arm.

So suffice to say she was kind of getting some Mixed Signals about this whole thing.

But okay! Corporates descending to steal the livelihoods of hundreds of innocents! Fine! There's a lot at stake! And this is what Pin-Lee is good at, and (sort of) what she was dragged along to handle, so she is willing to put this all aside for the greater good.

Pin-Lee sips at her under-handed-insult coffee and reads over the legal feed documents of this whole cluster-fuck of a case. "Okay," she says at last. "Okay, this is salvageable. But I'm going to need to some more info before I can fully revise this.."

"Of course," says the captain of The Perihelion, a note of genuine relief in his otherwise professional voice. "What do you need?"

"1: A full list of all the symptoms associated with the contamination, and its speed of spread. That'll influence what level of breach this is classified under. 2: Estimates for all of the colonists deaths that were directly caused due to their being stranded. 3: Monetary evaluation of all the colonists' remaining assets..."

"Of course," the captain agrees

Which is fine. Except fifteen minutes later some teenager not-much-older-than-Amena shows up and hands Pin-Lee a stack of paper.

"What's this?" Pin-Lee says, her eyes immediately skidding off of the hand-written tables and charts.

"That's our evaluation of the colonists' assets, like you asked for," the teenager (Turi?) says.

Pin-Lee looks at Turi, to the papers, and back at Turi again. "Can I get this in the feed?"

"Well.... You can..." Turi says, a bit of red in their cheeks. "But..."

"But no guarantee the numbers won't be doctored there," calls Karime from the other side of the lounge.

Teeth grinding in the back of her mouth, Pin-Lee manages, "What?"

[My numbers are perfectly accurate,] Perihelion protests. [It is hardly my fault if none of you are capable of following the calculations.]

Martyn snorts. "It would help if you bothered explaining all your sources."

[Find them yourself.]

Pin-Lee can barely believe what she's hearing. "Are you telling me... that your AI keeps fucking with the numbers so bad that you need to get a teenager to do the accounts by hand."

"I'm not a teenager, I'm twenty-three." Pin-Lee huffs; as if that's a meaningful difference. "And I'm a very, very good accountant." Turi pauses, then admits, "But that's the long and short of it, yes."

Pin-Lee can't help it. She drops her head to the table and hides it under her arms.

[Do you have a problem with this state of affairs?] the very aptly re-named Asshole Research Transport oozes in her private feed.

[You really don't need me to answer that.]

[You're right. I don't.]

She uncurls her finger and makes a rude gesture. Presumably one of its thousands of cameras will see it.

That summons SecUnit into the conversation. [Are you two fucking with each other again?]

[No,] they say in unison.

[Cut it out,] SecUnit says, and then drops away. Truly a master of conflict resolution, that one.

'I'll cut it out when you learn to make nicer friends', she almost sends, but catches the obvious come-back and stops herself. Instead she takes sip of her shitty coffee and gets to work trying to interpret hand-written accounts.

#murderbot diaries #network effect #system collapse #i want nothing more than ART and Pin-Lee to get on like a house on fire #'is that a good thing or a bad thing?' #yes #don't worry having someone to snipe at is enrichment for both of them #fanfic

[writingquestionsanswered]

Hello

How can I write a story when the main idea is about a character and their internal conflict? I'm not sure what my problem is, but I can't get any ideas for this. It's hard for me to explain...

Like, the writing can't just be about the character's trauma. Of course, it's the core of the story and what I find most interesting, but other things need to be happening. I haven't even gotten any ideas for what exactly the trauma is. I just know how they're gonna struggle processing it. But, they still have a life to live, like studying/working, friends, family etc. Does there need to be external conflict too? Or am I just super indecisive and uninspired?

Struggling with Character-Driven Story

Stories can either be driven by an external conflict (plot-driven), an internal conflict (character-driven), or both. What you're talking about writing is a character-driven story, because it revolves around an internal conflict.

The type and level of external conflict in a character-driven story depends on the needs of the story. Quite often the external conflict in a character-driven story is a result of the internal conflict or tied to it in some way. For example, Jane Austen's Emma, features a "man vs self" internal conflict. She victimizes herself and others due to her own actions resulting from being vain, stubborn, being unable to confront her own feelings, and thinking she knows what's best for others. With the exception of the arrival of Jane Fairfax in Emma's village, most of the external conflict results from Emma's own foolish actions, many of which are influenced or affected by Jane's presence.

Today, it's not uncommon for stories to contain both internal and external conflict. Quite often, the external conflict simply provides a stage upon which the internal conflict can unfold. For example, you might have a story about four teenagers getting lost in the mountains and trying to survive mother nature (external conflict), but the story is really about who these teens are and exploring and resolving their internal conflicts.

I would suggest first trying to flesh out your character's trauma, as this could potentially inform your story's external conflict. For example, let's say your character's trauma was growing up in poverty. You could potentially find an external conflict that brings this trauma to the surface and forces your character to confront it. This external conflict then provides a framework through which the exploration and resolution of the internal conflict can play out. Alternatively, you could choose an unrelated (or mostly unrelated) external conflict, such as a big shake up at the company where your character works. In this case, the external conflict is more of a backdrop, but it still provides structure for the story as your character navigates the events of the company shake up while dealing with their internal conflict.

Happy writing!

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I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

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[florallylly]

my PERSONAL OPINION on ro//nance: 

so a disclaimer: feel free to ship whoever you want to ship. these are just my thoughts and my perspective on the explosion of ro//nance since season 4. it’s not my intention to condemn or tell anyone to stop producing their content, i just want to scream into the void before it festers. 

your wish fulfillment is valid, but so is my opinion. so if that’s not smth you want to see feel free to skip !! 

diving straight in… i wanna talk about nancy wheeler. 

to be clear: i don’t hate nancy. i think she is headstrong and determined and knows what she wants. she sticks to her guns and definitely has the potential to be a truly good person. that being said, she is extremely selfish in canon. 

from season 1, my interpretation of her is that she’s infatuated with the concept of steve harrington and the status that he could bring. he’s a fantasy that’s suddenly become attainable to the nerdy miss wheeler. of COURSE she’s going to relish his attention. 

note: i actually don’t think anyone else except barb, mike, and steve himself, ever called steve an asshole. so . do with that what you will. 

anyway, nancy and jonathan act like steve suspecting that nancy is cheating is SO unreasonable. which honestly? it’s not. catching your girlfriend alone in her bedroom with a guy who TOOK NONCONSENSUAL ILLICIT PHOTOS OF TWO UNDERAGE TEENAGERS… that’s suspicious. perhaps his reaction wasn’t the best, but he’s also like 17 years old and protecting himself the way he knows how to. and of course his friends aren’t going to take that laying down either. 

i don’t know if any of the supporters of ro//nance have ever been cheated on, but it’s not just heartbreaking… it’s HUMILIATING. and such a hit to the self esteem. and i don’t care what the circumstance is, unless it’s nonconsensual. cheating is cheating and i firmly believe that a cheater will always be a cheater. 

in this case, it’s also reasonable for nancy to be pissed when she sees the movie theater because she didn’t actually cheat at that time. both of them had bad reactions but they also both had good reasoning behind their actions. 

YES steve called jonathan a queer, but keep in mind it’s a common insult in the 80s, especially with the AIDS epidemic going on. don’t use modern standards to condemn him, but also don’t excuse his behavior. YES he was wrong, but he grew (obviously what with his friendship with robin). and do you really think he’s not going to go for the throat when he thinks that jonathan slept with his girlfriend? 

it’s a classic case of everyone’s the asshole but everyone’s not the asshole. 

moving onto season 2. BULLSHIT. nancy was projecting. like she felt so guilty about barb and associated that night with the first time she had sex with steve, so she associated steve with barb’s disappearance/death. she was processing her trauma which is totally fine, but also not an excuse to treat steve like that. to be fair, drunk words drunk words. 

what she forgot was that steve also experienced the same thing. maybe not the grief and loss that she felt, but it’s HIS house. he has to stare out at that pool every night and know that it’s a murder scene and a grave site. he may be processing his trauma by trying to forget and be a “normal kid.” and that’s fine. 

and to be SO clear: they didn’t technically break up. you could say that they did, or take that as your interpretation, but in my opinion they’re not broken up until they have a conversation explicitly discussing ending things. couples fight all of the time. it’s not uncommon to want a little space afterwards before apologizing/making up. 

so yes. nancy cheated. and she never thought about the consequences of her actions, especially regarding steve. imagine how he felt. in season 3, he admitted to being IN LOVE with her. and she called him bullshit and cheated on him. be so real, if this happened in real life, you wouldn’t be as kind as steve. he stayed friendly with BOTH nancy and jonathan, and continued to babysit their brothers. 

steve called himself a bad boyfriend, but did we ever see evidence of that? he was constantly wooing her and romancing her. like if she didn’t want that, she could have communicated that throughout the YEAR they were together. the only possible way that steve could be a bad boyfriend was regarding their difference in trauma response. which is not being Bad. it’s having different personalities and perspectives. so ??? just a gripe. 

SEASON 3…. so YEAH nancy is selfish. her and jonathan’s job at the hawkins post … like YES fight misogyny and feel infuriated because of your treatment. however, don’t strong-arm jonathan into supporting you when he NEEDS that job. unlike miss picket fence upper middle class nancy wheeler, the byers don’t have a lot of money. they’re living on a single income and jonathan works too. like he doesn’t have the ability to just drop the job. of course, he follows her in the end though. honestly, that only validates nancy’s perspective that she’s always right and her crusade for whatever is righteous. 

but she doesn’t care about collateral damage. she never took into account jonathan’s feelings. she never took into account the effect this could have on future jobs. employers DO check references sometimes fyi. (also i KNOW that it was due to a lot of misogyny, but irl new hires are often the company mule. like she could have tried to work her way up. she hasn’t even been working there that long, and she a high school student expects to be published within months?? just be a little realistic here) 

i honestly commend her because she’s bold and she’s brave. she makes a GREAT reporter. but she makes a bad friend and a bad girlfriend. from what i observe, she takes things for granted and gives too much credit to herself. these are just character flaws and that’s human to have flaws. it’s possible to be a good person and also do bad things. i actually like nancy a lot, but it has to be acknowledged that she rarely faces consequences for her actions, and has never been confronted with the fact that she constantly puts herself first with no regard for other people. 

just a quick note for season 4 bc this is getting SO long: when nancy told steve he “almost deserved” to get shot in the face. okay bitch. now i’m mad. bc? what did he do? and like. tbh WHO deserves to get shot in the face. i don’t care if it was supposed to be a flirty statement, it was SO out of pocket. 

it’s also clear that nancy takes credit for steve’s “transformation.” if i’m being honest, the only thing she really pushed him to do was to drop tommy and carol. STEVE made the decision to run back in to fight the demogorgon. STEVE made the decision to help dustin and fight the demo dogs. STEVE made the decision to stay behind to watch the kids while they stormed the lab. show me one instance where nancy influences his actions, and i’ll acknowledge it, but i just don’t see it. and i think she gives herself way too much credit. because she wasn’t there by his side working through it with him. she was dealing with her own problems (which is okay), but she can’t act like she completely transformed him and made him a heroic babysitter. think on that. 

into my thoughts on ro//nance: 

robin is steve’s best friend. she’s not JUST his best friend. he’s her platonic soulmate. when they were conceived, they were a being with four arms and four legs. but they were Too Cunt and Powerful so they had to be separated. they are literally two parts of one soul. 

now imagine: ur best friend admits he’s IN LOVE/HAS BEEN IN LOVE with his ex. and she broke his heart. that in itself already has me livid, but if i found out about the “bullshit” spiel, i would have to start throwing punches. 

i believe in season 4 that the reason why robin is so curious about nancy is because she wants to know what type of girl steve fell in love with. like what’s so appealing about nancy that she’s the only one he said he fell in love with? and i also believe she didn’t know about the cheating at this time because NO WAY would she have been nice to nancy if she knew. 

maybe you guys can forgive cheating, but i sure can’t. and especially when it happens to my best friend… it’s over. like sorry i treasure my best friend…. 

reiterating that nancy isn’t a bad person, but she just Doesn’t work with robin. putting aside robin’s opinions, nancy fucking hates her LMFAO. like she is So cold to robin out of? jealousy (a cheater is a cheater is a cheater). so it only really proves me right that nancy doesn’t actually care about the people she’s with. does she think that flirting with steve is okay after playing around with his heart before? has she ever taken into account the fact that steve may have been healing or emotionally unavailable? did she ever consider how steve felt after they broke up? 

robin did. and she’s ride or die. 

and a rebuttal to a post i’ve definitely seen before: yes, lesbians do tend to have a small dating pool which leads to a lot of friends dating exes. (i, a lesbian, have experience with this). HOWEVER, a cheater is different. because you have to acknowledge that a lot of lesbians stay friends with their exes. steve and nancy are AT BEST friendly in canon. if you would date someone who cheated on their friend, FULL OFFENSE, you’re not a good friend. that’s just a fact. 

you’re not only completely disregarding their experience, but you’re also forcing them to be in the same space as someone who betrayed them. and that’s more of a betrayal than the actual cheating imo. sorry but IN MY OPINION, i’d never want to be friends with anyone who ships ro//nance lol. it just shows me that you don’t care about your friends’ feelings like that. 

this is kind of a rant and totally nonsensical, but i have to yell about this bc i feel like it’s not even talked about. nancy is always characterized as a perfect girl, but she’s not. and that’s OKAY! but you can’t erase her history just to have two cute girls kiss. 

it’s also completely ignoring CANON love interests (vickie). which i get because she didn’t get a lot of screen time, but god can’t we find another alternative. 

and be honest: a lot of people ship ro//nance so that jonathan/argyle can get together too. or they act like it’s okay bc steddie get together and steve is happy now. 

THOUGH steve would approve of the relationship bc he’s a GOOD guy and KIND, i think that robin would have rejected it. she’d defend that man to the DEATH. 

so when you ship ro//nance, you’re erasing stobin. because robin would want someone who loves steve just as much as she does. someone who understands that he’s her soulmate and she can’t live without him. and nancy just isn’t that person. their history and nancy’s perception of steve just stand in the way of that kind of relationship. 

not to mention that steve and robin are One. like this is more conjecture but they are Literally the Same Person. and if steve wasn’t compatible with nancy, what makes you think that robin would be?  honestly, the whole concept of ro//nance just completely bamboozles me. i’m confused and i’m irritated. because it’s almost like none of you have actually had a REAL relationship. or YOU don’t care about other people’s feelings. nancy kin i guess. 

again again, my personal opinion. i choose not to consume ro//nance content, but somehow it keeps cropping up so i do have to put in my two cents. by all means, keep shipping and supporting them, but it would be nice if you read through this and thought about the characterization. 

#steve harrington #robin buckley #nancy wheeler #ro//nance #stobin #this isn't nancy wheeler hate #it's just my opinion and how i interpret her character #so take from that what you will #also would just LOVE for steve to have someone in his corner (WHICH ROBIN SHOULD BE CHARACTERIZED AS BEING THERE 24/7) #just like. just like think #get cheated on and then see how it feels #my fist is literally clenched bc some people will say anything to rationalize this #and that's your personal opinion but i'm also entitled to mine #kind of sick and tired of ro//nance though

[a-room-of-my-own]

As a barrister, I see many victims of domestic abuse being sued for ‘defamation’, for daring to speak about what their perpetrator did to them. Meanwhile, the world questions whether they’re a ‘real victim’ | Charlotte Proudman

“If she was scared to death, why didn’t she leave?” asked everyone’s favourite Hollywood heartthrob-turned-bad-boy Johnny Depp in court.

He was talking, of course, about his ex-wife Amber Heard, who he is suing for libel in the US over an article she wrote for the Washington Post in 2018. During her testimony, the actress has accused Depp of physical and sexual abuse.

If Depp’s phrase feels familiar, that’s because it is: survivors, families of victims and domestic abuse campaigners have worked tirelessly to stop society using such victim-blaming tropes. Instead of asking a woman why she didn’t escape abuse, ask the man why he abused her in the first place. That would be a good place to start.

Escaping an abusive relationship is one of the most dangerous times for victims. Just because the relationship ends, it doesn’t mean the abuse ends. Post-separation coercive and controlling behaviour is one of the most insidious and corrosive forms of abuse that I’ve ever seen.

Depp lost his defamation claim in the High Court in London in 2020. He was greeted with adoring fans throwing roses at him, blowing kisses and holding supportive banners. I stood next to him after we passed through security, he smiled and I gave him my best dead eyes.

The judge later found that Depp physically assaulted Heard (including headbutting her, tearing out clumps of her hair, and holding her by her neck) and she said she had feared for her life. Depp is alleged to have sent texts to his friend, Paul Bettany, threatening to burn Heard and “f*** her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she is dead”.

It is telling that Depp is dragging Heard through a second high-profile trial in the US, hoping for a better outcome. He is suing her for a whopping $50m – this looks to me like serious financial control.

Both cases in England and the US centre on silencing Heard from speaking about the abuse she says he inflicted on her. I see many victims of domestic abuse being sued for “defamation”, for daring to speak about what their perpetrator did to them.

The world sits in judgment, questioning whether Heard is a “real victim”. Does she look like a victim? Does she speak like a victim? Does she cry like a victim?

Where are the headlines asking if Depp is a perpetrator, judging him on every move that he makes? There are no special measures in court – Depp sits there smiling, while Heard relives abuse and trauma.

Depp’s lawyer is used as a pawn, a weapon to revictimise her for the world’s entertainment. The court has become a tool for a perpetrator to continue his abuse and control. What message does that send out to victims? Victims who don’t have money, fame, photos of injuries and texts threatening to harm them? How do they think they will be treated by the justice system?

The court is asked to pathologise Heard as being “abnormal”, “mentally ill” and “mad”. All too often, victims of domestic abuse are labelled with sexist diagnoses such as “histrionic and borderline personality disorders” by psychologists, rather than understanding that they are suffering with trauma caused by domestic abuse. Heard is no exception.

Dr Curry, a psychologist, suggested that Heard could have two personality disorders, while Dr Hughes diagnosed her with post-traumatic stress disorder. But why isn’t Depp pathologised? Where is his mental health diagnosis?

After all, this is a man who explained his abusive behaviour by calling himself “the monster”. Every headline that has commented on Heard’s mental health has stigmatised people with mental health challenges, while simultaneously undermining the credibility of victims who come forward.

Heard is due to be cross-examined by Depp’s team. I can tell you now how that will play out because I see it every day in courtrooms: “Why didn’t you say no? How drunk were you? You provoked him. You were abusive. It’s your fault.”

These questions blame the victim and render the perpetrator invisible. It’s a tactic that continues to be very effective and persuasive, because it plays on all of the myths we are taught about how abuse works. She lies; he’s a hero.

So, when I see hashtags trending on twitter like, “AmberHeardIsALiar”, I realise how deeply entrenched misogyny is in our society. It doesn’t matter that there is a High Court decision proving that Depp assaulted Heard, it wouldn’t matter if the world watched Depp physically assault Heard in public, people would still support Depp. Why is he above the law?

Is it because Depp is the definition of masculinity? Every man wanted to be him at one point. If even he can be a perpetrator of domestic abuse, with all the fame, glory, money and power that he has, it sends out a strong message to men that anyone can be a perpetrator of violence. Anyone can fall from grace – even you.

#i stand with amber heard

[ollie-supports]

🌸INTRO!🌸

- did i accidentally say something triggering/disrespectful? please tell me so i can fix it! i am not perfect so i will make mistakes, but i am trying my best!

- feel free to ask any questions that i have not answered in this intro! additionally, please reblog if you believe you and your followers could benefit from this! /nf

edit: since this intro is large, all content is under read more to prevent clutter! at the end there is triggering content, but i have done my best to seperate it from the rest of the content. you should be able to avoid it by not scrolling below the tw!

hello all! my name is oliver, and i use any pronouns except she/her, including xenos/neos! i am okay with nicknames!

-"what is the purpose of this blog?"-

i am here to provide a safe, informative space for radqueers and transids! mainly, i am here to use the knowledge of my own disorders, traumas, disabilites, etc to help transids via asks! for example, somebeing who is transautistic can ask for advice on a transautistic subject and i will use the knowledge from my own cisautism to help them! note that in most cases, i'll have trouble answering something if it relates to an id that i dont have! i suggest finding somebeing else for those questions! i do not have any limits on how many asks you give me, what they are about, or their underlying tones! send me whatever!

-"what is your gender identity?"-

i identify as a transgender male! more specifically, a demiboy. as said earlier i use any pronous that are not she/her, including xenos and neos! i also consider myself a femboy!

-"what is your sexual orientation?"-

i am pansexual and ambiamourous!

-"what is your race/ethnicity?"-

i am a white person from the usa! i am majorly irish by blood, but i dont really know much about that so id reccomend finding somebeing more in touch with their irish roots for that!

-"what are your mental disorders?"-

(all cis and professionally diagnosed! nothing against selfdx, of course)

i have autism, adhd, gender dysphoria/dysmorphia, body dysmorphia, generalized anxiety disorder, severe depression, pyromania, maladaptive daydreaming disorder, and ptsd! i am also semiverbal due to my autism!

-"what are your physical disorders?"-

(all cis and professionally diagnosed! nothing against selfdx, of course)

i am an ambulatory wheelchair user and i have chronic vasovagal syncope!

-"what are your dnis?"-

i do not have any dnis as long as you are respectful! antis are allowed to make respectful asks! if you do not like this type of content, i beg you to simply block me.

unavailable anon signoffs: 🎀🥚, 🏹, 🔮📦

general tags:

#🌸.•°○ ask! ○°•.🌸 - for asks!

#🌸.•°○ ollie's rambles ○°•.🌸 - for any text posts that arent asks!

#🌸.•°○ repost! ○°•.🌸 - for reposts!

anon tags are formatted as #🌸.•°○ (signoff) anon! ○°•.🌸

❗️HUGE TRAUMA TW BELOW❗️

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-"what are your traumas?"-

(all cis)

i am a victim of sexual assault, unethical religious practices, and child neglect. additionally, i used to self harm.

#🌸.•°○ ollie's rambles ○°●.🌸 #🌸.•°○ ask! ○°•.🌸 #🌸.•°○ repost! ○°•.🌸 #🌸.•°○ 🎀🥚 anon! ○°•.🌸 #🌸.•°○ 🏹 anon! ○°•.🌸 #🌸.•°○ 🔮📦 anon! ○°•.🌸

[azure-firecracker]

ATLA Live Action Episode 5: Overall Thoughts.

I think this is an unpopular opinion but I didn’t mind that everyone got trapped in the Spirit World this time. This show tends to do better at crafting new material than adapting the original’s material, largely due to the fact that anything they do to that material will most likely pale in comparison. This isn’t to say I think they should rewrite the whole plot, but it’s cool when they get to explore a totally new thing. I like the spirit world as a setting, and I like the “creepy place that none of the characters know how to deal with” trope so that in itself did work for me. I saw people annoyed that Wan Shi Tong was there but I didn’t really care one way or another (with the exception of wondering what they’ll do if they get a Book 2 bc I love The Library). I also saw people annoyed that Aang knew who Hei Bai was right away, but to me that was required for this new plot so again, that didn’t bother me.

On Aang: this episode is where the show’s tone shift really got to me. I like that this show was more willing to delve into Aang’s trauma and how tragic his backstory was: while the original dealt with it well, it had limitations due to its being a kids show. This version had an opportunity to explore it more and I’m glad it did. But this episode was where I started to miss the levity of original Aang. It felt like every line was about his destiny, his guilt, his need to be a hero, etc. etc. And this is great in small doses but it can’t be Aang’s (or anyone’s) whole character. Aang needs to feel like a person beyond the backstory, and in this episode he didn’t (and I know it’s writing not acting because Gordon acted the hell out of those lines as usual). Aang being the only one who could resist the fog felt plot armor-y to me but it’s whatever. I liked the further development of Aang and Gyatso’s relationship, they’re very sweet, BUT this is the billionth instance of the show taking something important Katara did (in this case telling Aang he couldn’t have stopped the Air Nomad genocide) and giving it to a male character. They need to stop doing that.

Katara has gone back to doing nothing and having things happen to her but that was true for everyone this episode so I’ll let it slide THIS TIME! Her flashback was well-done (both Kiawentiio and whoever plays young Katara DELIVERED on the acting). The change of having her mother die explicitly because of her bending, while dark, has potential for really interesting exploration in the future, and also sets up some parallels with Aang if they want to explore that. There are also some rather problematic aspects of it relative to her arc as a whole (explained in this awesome post), but in isolation I think it works as a writing choice.

Sokka’s backstory was also well done and I liked that they laid the foundations for where his insecurities come from. I saw some people saying Hakoda would never say that, but I don’t think he was characterized thoroughly enough in the original to make that call. I also think that he’s a minor enough character that they can make those changes without much of a consequence. I do, however, think they needed to switch Sokka and Katara’s flashbacks in terms of order, because Katara’s is objectively way worse but having Sokka’s after it makes it feel like it’s not and it’s just weird.

Zuko didn’t do a lot this episode but Dallas Liu continues to be great.

Highlight of the episode was definitely the Azula scenes for me (and yes this is definitely influenced by my bias since she’s my favorite character). I wasn’t sure how I felt about her nearly burning the trainer because she’s not a RAAAH ANGER character and I didn’t want them to make her one, but I thought about it and realized it made sense if it was more of an “I’m practicing and I can’t stop” thing. I decided to interpret it that way and give it the benefit of the doubt. Of course I loved the “You’re perfect” “It’s not good enough” exchange. It’s an echo of Azula’s book 2 intro but with a younger Azula who’s with her friends and doesn’t have to wear the same masks and hasn’t beaten all the insecurities out of herself yet. I like that this show is allowing her to show so many emotions right off the bat. I loved Azula as a villain in Book 2 but it felt like the original didn’t decide they wanted her to be more than that until mid book 3. This show wants her to be more layered right off the bat, and as someone who always advocates for acknowledging Azula’s depth I really appreciate that. I also loved the shots of her training and just being so frustrated with herself during Gyatso’s final monologue. The narration suited her well and it was something I always pictured her doing when I imagined her life in between Zuko’s banishment and Book 2. It felt very in character.

My overall impression was that not a lot happened in this episode. Like, almost nothing happened. They introduced a cool new setting which I think worked. They used the lack of plot to do some good character work, with varying degrees of success. The flashbacks were good, but the show needs to do more thinking on how those events shaped the characters beyond just having them be their trauma. The main trio’s dynamic did improve a little bit in the spirit world. Sokka and Katara both got to be snarky which was great, but I do still feel like that dynamic is lacking and I can’t put my finger on why. I think it’s serious tone because every time the three of them are together they’re talking about some massive thing. They’re never just…together. I appreciated that this episode had some together time, even if only a little. Azula was by far the highlight (for me) I hope I like her future scenes just as much. And here’s a reminder that anyone who hates on Lizzy Yu for not looking exactly like a cartoon character is not welcome on this blog.

I’ll give this episode an 8.4/10 (elevated because of the Azula scenes).

#atla stream of consciousness #natla #netflix atla #atla live action #avatar the last airbender #atla #aang #gyatso #katara #sokka #zuko

[eggymf-archived]

of paper planes and wildflowers; 11

ft. ominis gaunt with f!reader (series)  

chapter warnings: angst, mentions of kidnapping, a lot of trauma, torture, partially proofread (teehee)

chapter summary: everyone has their dark sides, no matter how “clean” their record seems. the question is, would you be able to accept them once they've reared their ugly head?

word count: 5.9k

a/n: special mention to @freesiriusblack​, @cranetreegang​ and @iamintoomanyfandoms​ for enabling me to push through with my ideas for this utter bedlam of a chapter. personally this chapter was quite hellish to write, but yolkie persists! i’m still rather nervous if you readers will like this one though. one scriptorium chapter coming right up!  also, i made a wee audio of the first part of this for funsies. you can listen to it right here. (it’s sfw.)

main masterlist || series masterlist || AO3

The Great Hall was particularly quiet this morning, with most students likely sleeping in for the weekends. The vast space was illuminated in a slightly blue-toned day lighting that peered through the ginormous glass windows. Ominis was currently seated at the Slytherin table right beside Sebastian, who was helping himself to a hearty meal. Meanwhile, the misty-eyed male had halted his little eating session briefly: he had his wand pointed towards a piece of parchment that he held, skimming through the letter that he had received several moments ago from an all-familiar Great Horned Owl.

Dearest Ves, I apologize for my lack of reply ever since that note that you've given me. Many troubles are weighing within my mind, as of late, but rest assured that it's not regarding our little situation. That being said, I think I might have an inkling as to who you might be. However, I am not one to rely on just assumptions although you've made it quite blatantly obvious as to who you are. Instead, I shall gather concrete evidence that'll point me to you for good measure; just so I know that I didn’t make a mistake. By that time, I would’ve most likely accumulated enough courage to even confront you about the matter. I’m not one who would dare do such a thing, but I suppose I’m willing to make your case an exception. For now, I wish to indulge in whatever time that remains of this pen pal relationship. I find it hard to let go, if I'm being completely honest. I quite like exchanging letters with you after all — it was certainly an eye-opening experience plus an incredible joy to be in correspondence with a man of wit and grace. I hope you don't mind my horrendously bizarre request of relishing in the moment. With utmost sincerity and adoration, (Y/N)

Ominis sets the letter down, refolding the parchment and tucking it into the inner pocket of his blazer. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed as he took a bite out of his eggs on toast, mulling over the thoughts that had been injected within his psyche upon reading your letter.

This was yet another moment of him silently wishing that he had the gift of sight; perhaps if he were able to look at you from across the hall (if you were there to begin with, of course), then he wouldn't be formulating all sorts of pointless questions within his mind. Dark brown orbs stared at the lithe-framed male from the corner of his eye as he sighed woefully.

“Are you alright, Ominis? You're a little distracted this morning,” Sebastian asks before sipping from his cup. “Bad news?”

“No… It's nothing, really. It's about her, I suppose,” he mumbles in response. 

“Perhaps if you stopped skirting around the issue, then maybe it would be easier for you both,” Sebastian shrugs. “When are you going to tell her anyway?”

“She already knows, Sebastian. She just needs to confirm it for herself,” Ominis sighs while Sebastian gapes at his revelation out of sheer astonishment, paying closer attention to what the opal-eyed male has to say.

“She knows?! Isn't that a good thing? You could just drop the biggest clue and that'll solve your problems!” 

“Yes, but I'd rather spare her from my persuasive tactics for now. Must've been quite a shock to her that her pen pal was the blind lad all along,” Ominis grumbles. “Perhaps I paced this whole thing way too fast…”

“Oh?" Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “Anything happened lately?”

“... I might've brought her along to Feldcroft to meet Anne.”

Sebastian nearly spat out the pumpkin juice he was drinking, quickly swallowing the sweet liquid and wiping the stray droplet with the back of his hand. He turns to Ominis, absolutely gobsmacked before crossing his arms with a teasing smirk on his face.

“So that's why you skipped classes with her!” the brunette laughed. “Merlin’s beard, you work fast! Even skipped an entire step in the whole courtship process. Meeting the family before dating? Oh boy. Whatever will your father say about this?”

Oh, if only Sebastian knew how far the jump truly was. He'd be absolutely floored.

“Sebastian, for the love of Merlin, just eat your damn breakfast,” Ominis groans. “It’s bad enough I’m worried that I messed up.”

While a rather grumbly Ominis continues to munch on his breakfast, Sebastian glances towards the Ravenclaw table, his eyes coincidentally meeting with yours. You instinctively averted your gaze by looking down on your empty plate, sipping on your own cup of pumpkin juice. A smug grin appeared on his face.

“Oh, believe me when I say this. You didn't mess up, Ominis,” he chuckled, leaning slightly closer and lowering his tone. “She’s been staring at you this entire time.”

The blonde-haired Slytherin sputtered, instantly grabbing his nearby cup and chugged its contents.

“Not when I'm eating, you moonmind!” he hissed, his face turning an angry red. Deep within the corner of his mind, however, he was relieved. Sebastian chortled at his best friend’s predicament, taking the last bit of toast in his mouth while Ominis refilled his cup with pumpkin juice. From a distance, a certain student clad in Hufflepuff school uniform motions for Sebastian to come over. 

“Well then, best be on my way. I'll see you around, Ominis,” he grins, patting the said male's back before scuttering over to Skylar, who was waiting with their arms crossed, the both of them exiting the hall together. Finishing the remnants of his meal, Ominis got up, making his way to the exit of the Great Hall. You quickly got up, trailing towards him.

“Gaunt!”

Ominis turns towards your direction, his cheeks flushing the faintest shade of pink.

“Is something the matter?”

The light thumping of your footsteps died out slowly as you approached him. 

“Alright, self. Keep it subtle,” your inner voice encourages.

“Uhh, do you have plans today? I was thinking if we should start on that Charms assignment together,” you suggested, masking your innocent little intentions with an air of nonchalance. Ominis raises an eyebrow.

“... Isn't that assignment due in two weeks?” he asked. “And Ronen gave it only yesterday too. What's the rush?”

“Alright, pack it up. We're leaving. NOW!” the once encouraging voice screeched within your head, unfortunately falling into deaf ears as you persisted in pushing your luck.

“...You know I'd rather not rush, especially if it's a group-related sort of task, right?” you asked, attempting to bury that particular incident about your first Transfiguration assignment with him back into the depths of your mind. Up until this very day, it was truly a grave reminder of your former unsavory antics. Not that you regretted or disliked it, of course.

A knowing smirk graced his visage, instantly sensing the slightest hint of your bashfulness. A verbal tease was threatening to spill itself from his lips, but he remained quiet despite his amusement. He has to control himself after or at least try to. His silence was deafening despite the mumbles, chatters, and sound of cutlery within the Great Hall while dread began to churn within the pit of your stomach.

“Wow, the floor certainly looks enticing right now. I wonder if it's willing to swallow me, never to return again?” you thought in an attempt to diffuse your ever-growing anxiety of rejection.

“You know, if you just wanted to spend more time with me, all you need is ask,” the male before you chuckled. “I would've gladly agreed.”

It was too much for your poor morning brain to handle. You stood there motionless, quivering with your face adorning a shade of crimson at his sudden flirtation. Goodness, it was as if you've spontaneously combusted on the spot — you wouldn't even be surprised if smoke was coming out of your head at this very moment. 

Ominis gave you a cheeky grin. Although he was incapable of sight, he was well-capable of sensing embarrassment from afar, especially if it was yours.

“T…That’s not—!” 

“Sure it wasn’t,” he drawled smugly, sauntering towards the exit doors and pushing it open before facing. “After you.”

You shot him a look of half-hearted disdain and exited yourself out of the Great Hall, with him following you right after. The both of you were headed to the library yet again for another study session, with you hoping that things will be a bit more uneventful for today. While walking together in silence, Ominis suddenly cursed under his breath.

“Blast… I left my summarized notes in the common room. That was supposed to make it easier for us…” he sighs. You raised an eyebrow this time around, a smirk worming its way to your face.

“For us?” you absentmindedly repeated rather innocently. Ominis scoffs in amusement.

“You sure like the sound of that, huh?” he drawls. “Why? Does the thought entice you that much?”

A look of bemusement was evident in your visage before realization dawned upon you, a tint of red coloring your cheeks for the umpteenth time no thanks to his antics.

“Is this another one of your tricks, Gaunt? Because I’m not falling for it!” you huffed while crossing your arms.

Ominis lets out a teasing chuckle, sparing you from the rebuttal he had intended to fling towards you. You half-heartedly glared at him, still flustered. Whether it’s out of bashfulness, agreement, or denial — you weren’t quite sure at this point. Truth be told, you actually like the attention.

For the most part, you patiently waited at the nearby staircase of the Slytherin common room for Ominis, secretly picking off dirt from your fingernails while mulling over the multiple topics that had to be written in the parchment later on. Soon, the large snake emerged from the foot of the seemingly blank stone wall, revealing the door to the common room. Your brows furrowed, however — there was a muffled sound of two awfully familiar bickering boys from the now newly-revealed door. 

You immediately sprang up to your feet the moment the doors swung open, revealing a frowning Sebastian alongside a vexed Ominis, who was stomping his way towards you with obvious annoyance towards his best friend. You let out a surprised yelp as his slender fingers wrap around your wrist, pulling you towards him as he makes his way to the narrow corridor on the right. You turned towards Sebastian, who was equally just as frustrated as Ominis with his arms folded across his chest.

The moment both you and Ominis reached the end of the corridor, his grip on you loosened. A sigh escaped his pale pink lips out of exasperation.

“Gaunt, what was that about? What's going on?”

Before Ominis could even whisk you away from the dungeons or provide you with an answer to your questions, you were both interrupted by the sound of running footsteps reverberating throughout the empty corridor.

“Ominis, wait!” 

His head whipped towards the direction of the new voice within the scene, his tone low and exhausted. 

“What are you doing here?” he asks towards Skylar, who was panting slightly after making that sprint towards the young Gaunt. Your eyes dart to and fro between the two, sensing the direness of the situation.

“I’ll uhh… Just go over there…” you mumbled, backing away from the new fifth year and Ominis. You scampered a considerable distance away from the two, the sudden urgency of their interaction befuddling your wits. Sebastian wasn’t far from you, but you kept your lips sealed — the freckled male still looked rather cross, and you'd rather not get involved with any spats or possible crossfires within the friend group.

Minutes passed, and the air was still as silent as ever aside from the faint chatters at the end of the corridor. 

Upon hearing your name and Sebastian’s being called, you immediately sped towards Ominis, who was pacing around at the corner of the hallway. Skylar then began igniting the nearby braziers, much to your absolute confusion, and the heavy movement of moving stone echoed throughout the desolated hallway, revealing a hidden dark stairwell that leads to a lower level in the dungeons. 

“What in Merlin's name..?!”

Sebastian and Skylar descended down the poorly lit stairwell, leaving you and Ominis at the entrance. A sense of dread was brewing within your gut as you glanced at the secret area. You were about to step closer to the entrance, only to be yanked back by the male beside you. Your head snapped towards his direction with a frown.

“You might not want to enter. What lies ahead is far too sinister.”

The obscurity of the situation finally roused the annoyed frustration within you, nearly making you snap at the blonde-haired male. Inhaling a deep lungful of air, you calmed yourself despite the intensity of your panicked confusion.

“You better tell me whatever it is that's going on in there, Gaunt. I despise it when I’m being kept in the dark.” 

“It’s not for you to know,” he insisted, his brows furrowed in agitation. “I shan't allow it. You can’t. We don't know what kind of Dark Magic—”

“Dark Magic?! And you three are blatantly putting yourselves in that sort of danger?” you hissed angrily. “I'm coming with you.”

“No, you're not!”

“Yes, I am!” you vehemently insisted in the heat of the moment before letting out a sigh. “...You might need me for what lies ahead.”

Ominis groaned at your blatant display of stubbornness, exhaling exasperatedly at the mess the entire situation had become no thanks to Sebastian and Skylar's poor timing. 

You were right — and he hated it. 

You are a capable witch, but there was this inner knowing that what has yet to happen within Salazar Slytherin's Scriptorium will completely go awry. To further add on to his tumultuous vexations, he knew well enough that you wouldn't back down no matter how much he insists. 

He threw his hands up in defeat, ultimately surrendering to your request.

“Fine, you can tag along. But stay close: we never know what might be lurking in there, and I’d much rather have you unscathed.”

“... I will.”

Upon the both of you slipping inside, the entranceway was immediately sealed shut, the stone wall sliding back into its place. His wand blinks red while you whip out your own, its tip emitting a white glow as soon as you casted Lumos non-verbally. You felt a faint brush against your pinky before his own intertwined itself around yours before leading you down the stairwell, where Skylar and Sebastian awaited. 

“Took you two long enough,” Sebastian drawls, leaning against the stone walls. “I was beginning to think that you'd leave us in here.”

“We had a small discussion. Nothing more,” Ominis said stiffly, letting go of your digit and leaning beside the walls near the large door within the confined space. Skylar shone their wand at the rubble, their eyes darting from the destroyed relief on the wall. 

“Reparo.”

The rubble started to piece itself back onto the wall and Ominis instantly pales, hearing the all-familiar, notoriously dreadful language of the snakes communicate with him once more. It had been so long since he had heard it or even used it, and it made him sick to his core of using it again after suppressing it for so long.

The true horrors started from the very moment the archaic language was uttered from Ominis' lips, his voice resembling a melodiously harsh hiss to a person incapable of understanding its meaning. The whole way to the scriptorium resembled a cruel game to test one's mettle in the pursuit of knowledge, yet it wasn't synonymous with triumphs and honor, but with vile prejudice and madness — a place that's only privy to the elites of the elites: the Gaunts.

Your lips curled into a frown as your brain began to decipher every last bit of detail within the musty, confined space. Within your analytical mind, the various components of this huge puzzle created by Salazar Slytherin himself was a symbolic representation of his long-standing lineage that prevailed throughout time.

The braziers were the first part of the puzzle: perhaps a witty little play of their plethora of generational secrets that is hidden in plain sight. The second part was the snake-decorated door that could only be opened by Parseltongue: the proof of their dedication in maintaining the purest of magical blood. Currently, you were at the third part of their trial, which consisted of snake dials that would strike the moment time runs out — a reflection of their hostile volatility.

One thing was for sure about this series of trials: the further you progress, the more harrowing it gets. It was a matter of time before this well-orchestrated symphonic chaos resounded its glorious crescendo of horror, and you were dreading what awaits all of you with every fiber of your being. 

Alas, there was no going back.

You've managed to solve one dial smoothly on your own while Sebastian and Skylar were busy solving the other two. You sauntered towards Ominis, who was leaning against a wall with his arms crossed. Mimicking his actions, a tired sigh escaping your lips, glancing at him from the corner of your eye with pure concern, his words heavy within your mind and heart.

“What lies ahead is far too sinister.”

You were beginning to see why Ominis would say such a thing. Although your partial ignorance enveloped you within a protective shell, you were still cursed with the ability to piece even the most obscure of clues together. The entire situation was a complete mess, but amidst the flurry of incoherence, you were absolutely sure that the rumors pale in comparison to the truth of this ancient family's culture.

“Just how many atrocities have you gone through, Ominis?” you woefully queried within the privacy of your thoughts, taking a quick glance at the said male who held a morose expression on his face. 

The final gate was soon opened, the sound of metal echoing throughout the series of empty rooms. Sebastian and Skylar immediately rushed into the room with you and Ominis following them with reluctance, the nearby torches instantly ignited by magic. Your eyes wandered to the door at the opposite end as you strode nearer to it. It strangely resembled cooled, molten lava that had been molded into the shape of people letting out an anguished screams. 

Ominis grabbed your arm, preventing you from straying too far from him. The hairs on his skin were standing upright, and the mere acknowledgement of that accumulating fear left a bitter taste within his tongue.

It was likely to be the final room, for it held the most sinister trial compared to the previous rooms that the four of you had traversed through. Sebastian and Skylar were near the enchanted door, observing the pile of bones along with a piece of parchment that laid beside the remnants of a once living being. 

Noctua Gaunt — Ominis' missing aunt.

The chaos that ensues right after that grim realization gripped the entirety of your being as panicked words were exchanged amongst the other three while you stood in silence within the safety of Ominis right by your side. The contents within your brain, however, were in a state of pandemonium. You could hear your own heartbeat pulsing within your ears, and cold beads of sweat were forming at your nape and temples. 

Your hearing was selectively fragmented at this point: your brain was only paying attention to the relevant information that the other three parties with you were spewing out. It was akin to grasping at Billywigs, but you were desperate for any crumb of information to at least make sense of whatever that was happening around you.

“... Cast Crucio…”

“... Ominis… Most experience…”

“...Cruciatus Curse…"

The hushed conversation between Skylar and Sebastian made your skin crawl, and it worsened the moment Skylar started to approach both you and Ominis. Your mind was racing, hurriedly piecing the shards of information to give you a better picture.

“... If this is a place accessible only to the Gaunts, and casting Crucio is inevitable, that means…”

The weight of the truth dropped upon you, crushing your heart. Nothing was registering within your head as you finally wrapped your head around the matter. Despite Skylar's pleas and improvised propositions, Ominis was adamant in not dirtying his hands any further. You, however, stood there in a daze with a dull throb pulsating within your poor head.

Eyes of mortified realization began to trail towards the only Gaunt within this room, eyes turning glassy as the fog enshrouding his past cleared up even further, finally giving you a distinguishable context of how much Ominis has truly suffered over the years.

His lack of sight…

The foul reputation that he garnered just because of his last name…

His aloofness…

His efficiency in chores despite his wealth…

His chosen family…

This entire situation…

The curse of being an heir of Salazar Slytherin.

"That spell is the reason why I have no family left!" 

His heartbreaking revelations echoed throughout the space, the cold hard facts now set in stone. Ominis inhaled sharply, temporarily soothing his nerves before turning to Skylar once more.

“You and Sebastian will need to sort out another solution,” he finally says calmly. Skylar sighs with a look of dejection.

“... I understand. What about you?" they asked, turning towards you. Ominis’ lithe frame instinctively obstructs the ancient magic wielder coldly as his expression morphs into an icy glare.

“Leave her out of this,” he snarls at Skylar, who immediately backs away, not wishing to further incur the male’s anger. Ominis turns to you, immediately noting the small trembles that racked through your body and your slightly erratic breathing. He intertwined his fingers with yours, rubbing circles on your soft skin with his lightly calloused thumb. 

He found himself in a pickle, unsure of how to navigate himself through this precariously placed situation. Your current state was a cocktail of all sorts of nasty emotions, consisting primarily of fear, confusion, and agonizing despondence. All he could offer for now was his silent, unspoken promise.

He will absolutely not let anything or anyone hurt you, especially with the Cruciatus Curse.

Sebastian pointed his wand towards Skylar, inhaling a deep breath to focus himself on the task at hand. The Hufflepuff stood still, trembling as they shut their eyes tight, bracing themselves for the alleged unimaginable pain. You turned away with your eyes closed, unwilling to see the vile act play out before your own eyes.

“Crucio!”

The tip of his wand shot out a small flicker of red before immediately fizzling out, much to his sheer frustration. He casted it once more, only to be met with the same results. 

“Dammit!” Sebastian yelled exasperatedly, eyes glossing over with frustration and anger. “I can't cast it, Sky. Not on you.”

“You have to, Seb. You're the only one who can! I… I don't have the heart to do such a thing…” 

The despair that loomed over everyone in the room became denser as you swallowed thickly upon hearing the new present problem. You turned to Ominis, your gaze drifting from his hand that held yours firmly to his sullen expression, recalling what he had said before the both of you decided to dive within this situation.

“I’d much rather have you unscathed.”

With a sorrowful sigh, your other hand reached for his fingers that held you with protectiveness, gently wrenching yourself out of his grasp. You gave Ominis one final apologetic look before sprinting towards Sebastian and Skylar, your unspoken apology driving a dagger through your chest.

“I'm sorry, Ominis.”

“Sallow,” you somberly called out to the brunette as you stared at him piercingly with firm resolve. Ominis' sightless eyes widened, his throat running dry the moment you spoke the words he never wanted to hear from you.

“Cast it on me.” 

Sebastian darted his eyes from you to Ominis as his grip on his wand tightened. With an exhale, he points his wand towards you while Skylar backs away to the nearby wall. Every inch of you slowly relaxed despite the inward fear that ran rampant within you, acceptance seeping into your being as your eyelids fluttered shut.

“Perhaps this is for the best… For Uncle Lawrence… For Simon… For atoning my sins…”

Deft, slender fingers gripped his own black wand handle with ferocity before hurling a spell towards the freckled male.

“Cru—”

“EXPELLIARMUS!” 

Nearly blindsided, Sebastian quickly encases himself within a thin, spherical shell, deflecting the spell that Ominis had casted in the heat of the moment. 

“What the hell, Ominis?!” Sebastian yells, glaring at the blonde-haired male who pulled you closer to him grabbing your wrist possessively, taking slow steps back away from the door. His wand was pointed towards Sebastian, the frown on his face deepening upon feeling the prickling sensation of Sebastian's glower towards him.

“I meant what I said that only the both of you are to sort this out on your own, Sallow!” Ominis spat in vile disdain, warningly articulating his every word. “Leave her out of this!”

Sebastian scoffed contemptuously, his actions now fueled both by sheer anger and annoyance.

“This is not the time to play the hero, Gaunt,” Sebastian snarls, his wrath bubbling within him. “I'm not going to die in here just because you're being utterly ridiculous with your damned morals!”

“Sebastian, stop it!” Skylar hissed. “That's enough!”

Sebastian's eyes darkened, finally hitting his boiling point as he scornfully glanced at each one of you. Your eyes widened at his change in demeanor. His usual playful brown eyes now had a dangerous glint that you've seen countless of times within your occasional nightmares. 

The shackles of terror immediately ensnared you once again when Sebastian fired a spell aggressively towards Ominis, who quickly pushed you away and deflected the spell back by a hair's breadth. You sat on the floor helplessly, watching Sebastian hurled spell after spell towards Ominis, who was struggling to keep up with the barrage of light jets that were sent towards him out of maniacal fury. 

It was just like that day of great tragedy — the day that two precious lives were lost and you were the only one that made it out alive. 

If only you hadn't insisted on sneaking out of the estate on that fine summer day.

If only you weren't so darn helpless.

If only you weren't that curious in venturing into the unknown.

It was all your fault.

From your perspective, you were no longer within the dungeons. You were back in that dimly lit, dingy, dilapidated warehouse, seeing your younger self trapped within a cage alongside your elder brother whilst seated on the filthy ground. A cloaked, towering figure looms before you, his heavy footsteps getting louder and louder. Your eyes were met with another pair that contains the same dangerous glint that you had witnessed within Sebastian's eyes.

Anguished regrets welled up within you as he flashed you a sardonic smirk, whipping out his wand, and aiming it towards the cage beside you. Your eyes trailed towards the said direction, but to your sheer horror, it wasn't your younger self and Simon who was still manacled and trapped within the cage.

It was Ominis.

The cloaked figure raises his wand, his smirk morphing into a maniacal grin. You gritted your teeth, finally snapping and unraveling the ugliest side of you that you had desperately tried to keep under wraps for the sake of moral standards. Gone were your reservations of maintaining the upkeep of your so-called reputation as you shakily stood up, arming yourself with your wand. 

You won't let the same fate happen to anyone ever again — especially him.

Every ounce of the pain you've accumulated over the years coursed through your veins, serving as kindling for your long dormant unbridled rage as you stared at the root of your anguish straight into his eyes.

You wanted to hurt him — to inflict a pain so great that he grovels and begs for his life in tears. You inhaled blissfully at the thought, before casting a cold, condescending gaze towards him, uttering the incantation icily with no hint of remorse.

“Crucio.”

“SEB!!!!”

“... Seb?” 

A red blitz shot out from the tip of your wand, piercing through the chest of the person that stood before you. Crackles of red lightning coursed through their frame as they writhed in the worst pain of their life, screaming and crying out in pure agony. You released the person from the spell, your eyes beginning to focus on your present reality, only to be horrified upon realizing who you had casted the spell on.

Skylar Evans.

Your knees buckled as you watched Sebastian cradle them gingerly in his arms with a panicked, regretful expression. The Hufflepuff looked back at him with a weak smile on their face, attempting to reassure the brunette that they were alright despite taking the hit that was initially directed towards him. Guilt seeped within your pores, goosebumps resurfacing from your skin as your previous actions slowly ingrained itself within your brain.

“What have I done…?”

Your hands trembled as you bitterly gazed upon them with nothing but remorse before tucking away your wand back into your inner pocket. You couldn't bear to even hold your own wand at this point. It felt vile and disgusting, and you wanted to throw up just by thinking about the heinousness that you had committed in a fit of traumatic despair.

Ominis approaches your trembling frame, your breath ragged and tears prickling the corner of your eyes. He pulls you into a warm embrace, desperately trying to comfort you by rubbing your back gently, as shudders racked through your body. A sob escaped your lips, gripping his robes tightly.

The sounds of your sorrows crushed him, and he wanted nothing more but to soothe and rid you of  your pain, but all he could do for now was to remain still until you’ve completely calmed down. He felt your tears seep through his clothing, and he held you even tighter, softly hushing you as he ran his slender fingers through your locks of hair. You inhaled his familiar scent, slowly relaxing while listening to his steady heartbeat. 

He releases you from his embrace after a long while, cupping your cheeks to brush away any tearful remnants from your cheeks.

“I'll go check on Sebastian for a little while. Will you be alright?” Ominis softly asks. You nodded in response, a slight hiccup escaping your lips.

Meanwhile, Sebastian helped Skylar to stand up on their feet before the both of them ventured within the now accessible scriptorium. Mentally looking back at the aftermath with a hint of remorse etched onto his freckled visage: Ominis was visibly shaken from that unsolicited duel, you had just relived a traumatic event, and Skylar sacrificed themselves to save him from an Unforgivable Curse. The severity of the situation should've been discouraging to an ordinary lad, but not towards Sebastian.

It was a moment of triumph for him, and a step closer to finding a cure for his own twin sister's malady. The enthusiastic reaction from Sebastian upon finding Slytherin's spellbook caused Skylar to furrow their brows. It was as if the prior events didn't happen, and that brought a sinking feeling within their own gut.

As Ominis enters the scriptorium, you trudged towards the remnants of Noctua Gaunt, gazing upon her bones gloomily. Albeit your current reluctance to use magic no thanks to the harrowing series of events, you conjured up a gilded silver box encrusted with emeralds, putting the bones of Ominis' late relative within it after you've shrunk it down temporarily, holding the box firmly within your grasp.

You finally mustered enough courage to enter the scriptorium itself, approaching Ominis meekly, who still looked rather vexed with the entire situation as both Skylar and Sebastian left the place. Hearing your footsteps approach him, he gently smiles towards your direction. He was about to grasp your hand with his, only to find out that you were carrying a metal box of some sort.

Before he could query about what it contained, you beat him to it, erupting in shy stammers to explain your actions.

“...This isn't a good final resting place for your Aunt Noctua, so I figured we should at least bury her somewhere…” you mumbled. “... I could put her back if you don't—”

“No, please. I appreciate it, truly,” Ominis cuts you off as a pleasantly warm feeling engulfs his chest. 

How could he not possibly fall even harder for you at this point?

Ominis cleared his throat instinctively to diffuse his bashfulness.

“Shall we head back to your common room first? Perhaps discuss it on the way there?”

You smiled gratefully at his offer, agreeing instantly. 

The both of you exited the scriptorium promptly after, engaging in a rather casual conversation with each other while walking slower than usual to prolong your time together. Before heading to the Ravenclaw Tower, you and Ominis made a short trip back to the Slytherin Common Room, keeping the gilded box in a safe compartment within his own cupboards.

It was nearly lunch hour soon, yet it felt like an entire day had passed with how much had happened within the several morning hours. The both of you wanted nothing more than to just retreat into your dorm rooms for a long nap, or perhaps head to the hospital wing for some extra vials of Draught of Peace. 

“We're here,” you say to him as the both of you reach the stairwell leading to the Ravenclaw Common Room. Pleasantly enough, the place was desolated, with the good majority of students probably seated at the Great Hall for their meal. 

“Will you be alright?” he asks while you gaze upon him fondly with a chuckle escaping your lips.

“I will. A nap will probably do me wonders after all that chaos. As for my lunch, you don't need to worry. I'll just head over to the kitchens when I wake up,” you reassure him, your voice giving away how truly exhausted you are with its lack of usual mirth. He smiled gently in response.

“Very well. I shan't stall you any longer. I'll be in the Slytherin Common Room if you need me.”

You slowly inched back to the stairwell, a giddy little grin present on your lips as you stared at him with no reservations regarding your affections this time around. Ominis' heart fluttered, feeling the unspoken attraction floating about in the air.

“Thank you. I'll see you later, Ominis.”

You climbed up the spiral staircase with a slight skip to your step this time around, a hue of pink twinging your cheeks. You have to admit: the man possesses this uncanny ability of effortlessly making your day a lot better despite how jarring things get. 

How could you not possibly fall even harder for him at this point?

You soon approach the knocker of the Ravenclaw Common Room, its melodious, feminine voice speaking out a random riddle.

“I hurt the most when lost, yet also when not had at all. I’m sometimes the hardest to express, yet also the easiest to ignore. What am I?”

You smiled at the question, almost chuckling at the pure coincidence. You confidently spoke your answer with a faint smile.

“Love.”

< chapter 10: desiderata

chapter 12: the art of subtlety >

taglist (just let me know if you wish to be added. also please check if you have done the necessary settings for me to tag you)

@xadriianaaa @roohuh​ @pugsnotdrugs92 (i will never remove you from this list) @wolfiehardz​ @auxiliare​ @ohantonia​ @superblyspeedydragon​ @pnikfoyld​ @gh0stgirl333​ @butterfly-lies-chase-them-away​ @solene88​ @msfantasy​ @lilith-motherofdemons @marriedtoeddie​ @shameless0shenanigans​ @coruscaret​ @ladylizzieofdarbyshire​ @stuffyownswrld​

#ominis angst #ominis gaunt #ominis gaunt x reader #ominis gaunt x oc #ominis gaunt x y/n #ominis gaunt x f!reader #ominis x f!reader #ominis x you #ominis x reader #ominis x y/n #hogwarts legacy ominis #hogwarts legacy

[be-the-glenn-to-my-maggie]

So, I really like Spider as a character. I think the concept is interesting and am really curious about where it could go and I love a lot of the dynamics people are cooking up for him in fics. However, there is one thing that I’ve seen popping up that has me puzzled, and that’s how some people are like… genuinely angry at the Sullies for not taking him in? Idk if it’s just me, but I feel like they were under no obligation? Like, they are people of a different species w/ a child on the way soon after the war (I guess 2 w/ Kiri) and one of them has trauma when it comes to humans so… idk, it just doesn’t feel like they should have, were in any position, or under any obligation to to begin with. In my eyes thats like if people blamed two parents for not taking in their children’s best friend or something. I feel like the best place for a human child at that time (given the na’vi’s very recent experiences with the majority of the humans) was probably with other humans, and that was a reasonable course of action.

Do I think that Neytiri owes Spider an apology for her treatment of him? Yes—when she’s truly ready, has thought about her past actions, and will mean that apology to her fullest. But thats it, honestly. Trying to rescue Spider would have been suicide, the Sullies were under no obligation to adopt him in the first place, and how he was raised is on those who he was actually put in the care of.

But who knows. Maybe I’m just being insensitive or don’t know all of the facts?

Hello anon. I do think that it is an extremely complicated situation, and one that we won't ever see in much detail. We skipped all those years, and in this movie we the audience were shown Spider's story in a highly sympathetic light in order to help the audience understand his decision with Quaritch. This is not to say his story isn't sympathetic, because it really is, it just easily could have been shown much more sympathetically from Neytiri's point of view. Hers is honestly a point of view we haven't ever really gotten fully, Neytiri is always a secondary protagonist.

But anyways, I agree with you for the most part. No, the Sully's were not under any obligations with Spider. Certainly the Na'vi weren't. People expect a lot more from protagonists in media than antagonists. Viewers praise Quaritch for kidnapping Spider but then stopping him from being tortured for longer, and vilify Jake for not rescuing him. Praise Quaritch for not killing Kiri because "he didn't ever intend to," and vilify Neytiri for not killing Spider because "she would have done it." A morally grey action means a trend in the right direction for a villain, and it means a trend in the wrong one for a hero. Idk, we're all very simple I guess. We have a lot of empathy ready to go for those who are already at rock bottom just in case we ourselves are ever there, but we can't wait to drag good characters down to our level.

I don't really hold Spider's childhood against any of our charcters except maybe his guardians, the McCoskers. I've worked in schools for a long time now, and one of the main things I've learned is that being able to judge someone else's situation is a privilege, because I don't know what I would do in it. There's a lot of living situations for kids that I've thought were less than ideal, but the parents were doing literally everything they could or giving everything they had left which wasn't much. Or, they needed a little guidance or support to be able to know how to do better.

Impossible situations are impossible, and I feel like there's a ton of judgement for Neytiri especially for how she handles the unthinkable, that I really don't enjoy. Idk, I've said it in posts before; I think Spider is best off with the Sully's now that they've made that choice. It's a choice the kids made long ago. But they weren't raised as siblings, because that wasn't a choice Neytiri and Jake were in any place to make before. They placed him with a human family to raise him. People argue that they should have noticed his foster family weren't treating him well and it's their fault he was with them; it's something kids hide and professionals miss all the time. Sometimes, and as much as it sucks you get it drilled into you, kids slip through the cracks and there isn't anyone specific to blame. You just try to patch them up and make things better and heal. Isn't that what most of our classic Spider Sully fics are about, lol.

#oh and i do think neytiri should apologize to spider when she fully is ready #and that attempting to rescue spider would have been suicide #miles spider socorro #spider socorro #spider sully #neytiri sully #kiri sully #jake sully #miles quaritch #avatar #avatar the way of water #james cameron avatar #melissa is an english major #melissa's asks #melissa on avatar (cameron)

[astrid-nomically-steddie]

Just being silly 🤭😋

(If you don't like angst maybe scroll away this is gonna hurt)

Another exhausting day. Another day pretending it never happened.

He sighs and rubs his face viciously, his wire framed glasses moving to his forehead. Steve takes them off and sets them down, feeling suddenly tired of staring at a screen. He slowly blinks to try and form some sort of vision. Without his glasses or contacts it's not much help, all he can see is the blurry shapes and colors of his office.

His leg has been extra persistent in making his life hell (again) today. And his headache is worsening by the minute. He leans back in his chair and starts to spin around, looking up. The lights look and feel like nothing but white and a burning sensation in his retinas. He stops spinning. Steve feels his headache comeback full force since this morning as a way to say how stupid he is for staring at lights.

He takes a moment once he's sure he's facing the office door again. His hands are holding onto his desk for dear life while he waits for the throbbing to tone down. He takes a few breaths and puts his glasses back on. Steve just stares at his door waiting for his vision to fully come back. Once it does he listens for sounds of anything, just in case.

When he hears nothing he sighs again and checks his watch.

11:43 p.m.

Another late night at the school. Steve feels like his brain is about to explode with how much more work he still has. He hates re-emailing people. Don't get him wrong, he loves his job, loves the kids and gets along with the teachers. Except for Eddie of course. But who can blame him. He doesn't remember.

That breaks it for Steve. Tears start trailing down his cheeks and he feels his face getting hot.

He doesn't remember... none of them do...

He holds his head in his hands as he full on sobs into them. Feeling everything he's been wanting- needing to forget coming back full force. The pain, the horror, the trauma that they promised they'd never had to remember again. It started two months ago, when he woke up from a nightmare of a demogorgon chasing him. That's when he remembered.

All of it.

The demodogs (he still can't believe he's calling them that now), the tunnels, the Russians, the forth of July, Billy dying, Vecna, the four chimes, the bats, Nancy, Robin, Eddie... how he fell in love with all of them. How his love for Eddie was the only thing that kept him going. He didn't know it then but now that he's accepted himself, he realizes that he was in love with Eddie Munson. He loved him so much he went back even when Dustin himself said it was ok. That he was dead. Steve chose not to believe it. And he was right because he saved him. Because he's alive. Right now. Eddie is alive.

Because of Steve. Because he chose to go back.

But he also chose to forget.

To forget everything. The good and the bad. Mostly the bad. They all knew what they were commiting to when they signed the contract. To forget all of this ever happened. To pretend and live life like normal.

But how could he? When Eddie is still here. When he's walking the halls of his school and smiling at the kids. Caring for them like he did the party. How can Steve choose to forget Eddie's smile. His laugh. His gorgeous face. The way he loved him so deeply it almost hurt. Almost.

Because it didn't hurt. Because he didn't remember. He didn't want to. Past Steve didn't want to remember. He wanted all of it gone. Even Robin...

Poor sweet Robin. His soulmate. The one he was bound to by the cosmos. He chose to leave her. To let her live alone. By herself. How can he pretend when Robin is by herself? When she needs him? Except she doesn't...

Because she doesn't remember. She didn't want to remember. She wanted to forget. Forget Steve. Forget the upside down. Forget everything. But how can he blame her for leaving him? How can he blame anyone?

He doesn't. He doesn't blame them. Can't blame them. He wanted to forget too. But the nightmares and the scars and the hearing aids and the glasses and his fucking metal leg won't forget. His body won't forget. It won't let him.

So he's stuck. Stuck wanting to reach out. Wanting to find them. Wanting Eddie. Wanting Robin. But he just can't put them back in this mess. Not when they chose this. Not when they want to live in peace. And who is he to disturb that? Because his body wanted him to remember so everyone else has to too? No. No way is he forcing them again.

So he doesn't.

He watches. Watches Eddie. Walk past him with a polite smile. An indifferent smile. The smile you give to random people on the street. The smile that makes his heart break into a million pieces.

He doesn't remember. None of them do.

He misses Robin. Misses the way she'd hit him whenever he said a bad joke. Misses the small amused smile everytime he did. Misses the way she'd make fun of him and his lack of charm. Misses the way she used to cling to him. Misses the way she used to love him. She used to know him.

Used to.

He wishes she was here. Wishes she remembered. Wishes everything went back to normal. Wishes they never signed anything.

But she's not. And she doesn't remember. And nothing is normal. And they did sign it. Signed away their lives. Signed away memories. Signed away everything that made him happy. Signed away Dustin. Signed away Lucas. Signed away Max. Signed away El. Signed away Will. Signed away Mike. Signed away Erica. Signed away Joyce. Signed away Hopper. Signed away Johnathan . Signed away Nancy. Signed away Robin.

Signed away eddie... signed away any hope in ever being more than what they were. Signed away love. And family. And support.

He signed away everything.

He wished away his life.

And he'll never take it back. Never be able to. He'll never get Dustin back. Or the party. Or Joyce. Or Hopper. Or Robin. Or Eddie.

All he'll have is faded memories and a strangers smile. A strangers smile that breaks his heart. That tears his torn heart into even more pathetic shreds.

They won't remember.

Thank you so much for reading!!!! Just an idea I got. If you have any more ideas or things I can add that'd be great! <333

#stranger things #steddie #steve harrington #stobin #platonic stobin #angst no comfort #steve x eddie #eddie munson #steve harrington is broken #hurt steve harrington #disabled steve harrington #dedicated to my platonic soulmate fern i love you and also your very welcom for the angst #astrid nomically steddie

[girl4music]

“It’s exactly like a Greek Tragedy. There should only be Greeks.”

I swear to God this is my favourite fucking line in ‘Restless’. It’s not just the truth of it. It’s that it’s Anya that says it - but it’s also that it’s also not… because it’s Willow’s dream: everything is in her perspective.

This is how she perceives of Anya perceiving her.

She somehow knows - doesn’t know when or where - that she’s going to fall into her Greek Tragedy. The same way she knew she was “bad” in ‘Bad Girls’. The same way she knew she was a “loser” and a “geek”.

Out of her insecurities/anxieties/repressed emotions.

But also the layered mental mechanism she has of how she thinks OTHERS perceive of her because it.

Her dream in ‘Restless’ is so fucking clever and profound because it’s just so truthful to that.

On the surface it’s imposter syndrome but there’s just so much more going on in that girl’s head that you can’t completely put it down to that or any condition that she has actually - because they’re all part of her complex trauma. They’re all part of her Greek Tragedy.

And because it’s ANYA. Anya - the one character in the show that Willow butts heads with most. Anya - constantly commenting on how useless and worthless Willow is. Anya - seeing Willow’s dark side arguably before anyone else really did. Anya - always wary of what Willow could become if she accumulated as much power as she once had as a vengeance demon.

It’s not just that the line said is the truth of it.

It’s that they picked the PERFECT character to say it.

And that of course - OF COURSE - Willow would unconsciously choose Anya to be the one who does.

‘Restless’ is not just excellent character arc foreshadowing. It’s also excellent at showing and telling us what we already know but may have overlooked because we’ve never considered it relevant until we look back on when and where it happened and how it informs all that is to come. Is becoming. It’s your honest look-in to who all these main characters are. But I just find Willow’s dream to be the most profound because she’s undecided on who that is. And she’s not only undecided - she’s also unaware.

That’s why she has EVERYONE ELSE say it for her. Because if they see it in her, then it must be true right? Except no, it’s not. It’s only true because she worries it is. Because she thinks it is. Because she believes it is. And that’s why it’s so damn clever and profound. Because it’s a whole construct of Willow’s perception. None of it is true - at the time. But it ends up true because self-sabotage and self-corruption is possible. So when Joss is making a case for imposter syndrome in this dream… it’s only half-accurate… because the only real condition Willow has is her own self-doubt.

And she never would have fallen from grace otherwise.

Okay… I just have to carry this on. Let’s look at ‘Buffy’ in Willow’s dream both when she’s in “costume” in the “play” and when she’s not. What she says to and about Willow. And by extension - what Willow says to and about herself. Think about all the lines “Buffy” has in Willow’s dream. All the quirky cryptic one-liners.

Even her whole “Men and Sales” monologue.

Why is Willow NOT this character in her dream?

Why does Willow not perceive of HERSELF as the one confident and outspoken and competent?

Why does she unconsciously give Buffy this persona?

Because it’s how she sees Buffy!

And therefore it’s also how she DOESN’T see herself.

And then when they’re not playing characters and they’re not in costume, why is Buffy suddenly so course and harsh in the way she speaks to Willow?

Why is SHE the one to expose Willow’s greatest fear?

Because when Willow’s around her - she is nothing special. She is nothing to look at and be in awe of. She’s not of any use or value when the Slayer is there

Except… she ends up being THE ONLY REASON the Slayer is there. So is what she believes the objective truth of her? No, it isn’t. It evidently can’t be the truth.

It only is because she chronically FEARS that it is. And fears can do some messed up shit to our psyche until we eventually see them for what they are. Just fears.

#buffy the vampire slayer #restless #willow’s dream #willow rosenberg #alyson hannigan #anya jenkins #emma caulfield #it’s exactly like a greek tragedy #there should only be greeks #perception #character representation #character development #character study #analysis

[mable-stitchpunk]

Do you think The Mimic is pure evil or just one very unfortunate bot? seen a pretty big group of people lately saying its just pure evil but I'm unsure if a learning AI can actually be pure evil, esp when you could potentially contain and correct its behavior and AI.

While I do hate what the Mimic is now and that its just a charmless Ennard, I do think the Mimic has a ton of potential especially if a redemption path is taken with it, its a learning AI, its not set to be what it is forever, and with the theory that Cassie survived as well as Roxy I think its a perfect set up for Mimic redemption.

The Mimic could watch the positive interactions between Roxy and Cassie and learn like its supposed to, while I don't see it being immediate the Mimic could go from hostile to just... not exactly nice but not murderous, harsh, cautious, curious. And personally if anyone was going to befriend the Mimic I do think it'd would be Cassie, she feels empathy even for scary things that chase her.

But I doubt this would ever happen, its taking away a big scary bad guy from the plot and not putting another one in, even if I think the new big bad should be whoever owns Fazbear Entertainment now, there is some super shady stuff going on there. I think unfortunately the Mimic may be doomed to always be a shallow Ennard, a big scary monster and nothing else, even if it shouldn't be.

I feel like, from what we've seen in the books and game (and ignoring the random inconsistencies through some of the interpretations, that Mimic is pretty much just an evil supervillain who is bad. Sort of like Eleanor except sometimes it strictly mimics and other times it's aware. If it's possessing Helpi when his eyes go yellow, then it also occasionally acts like some of the variations of novel William.

By which I mean, Mimic could be a complex villain, but I just don't see it happening. A lot of what it is was piecemeal from other characters and backstories, which already doesn't show much originality on its part. And looking at the characters who directly inspired it, Eleanor, I don't foresee Mimic to be anything more notable than Afton replacement.

There of course ARE a few routes they could've or could go that would make Mimic more interesting. Here's some ideas:

Have Mimic actually not a sentient creature but instead does just mimic everything. In that case, it could mimic someone like Cassie or Roxy and become friendly- only to risk becoming aggressive again if it gets the chance to lock onto another subject to mimic.

Have Mimic be Edwin's child and have his resulting aggression and switch into villainy triggered by what Edwin did to him. A sort of reverse-Henry scenario. Plus, maybe there can finally be some thematic repercussions for the abuse and trauma the haunted animatronics went through. The new villain being a victim.

(I don't personally like this idea, but in case you want a shocking twist) Maybe had the Mimic be Glamrock Freddy. Recontextualize Freddy's "when she brought me down here" and "I am not me" lines. While clearing out the basement, Vanny accidentally awakened the Mimic who then overtook Freddy's body. Mimic then became convinced he WAS Freddy. Of course, this would only be effective if it was set up and revealed in Security Breach. Even then, it would still be a twist for the sake of a twist.

Have Mimic actually be Ennard, lol. I don't know how he got there, but those wires could probably squirm into a random suit more easily than a random endoskeleton.

Have Mimic start mimicking Roxy and Cassie get control of it through its programmed bond, then have like an alternate Gregory/Freddy relationship except it's Cassie and this extremely aggressive endoskeleton that thinks it's Roxanne Wolf.

Of all the options, Mimic being a redeemable or an easily manipulated villain would certainly be more interesting than just bad because evil. Maybe even go a Fabrication Machine route somehow.

In 9, the Fabrication Machine unleashes a war against the humans and kills them all off. While in the movie the Scientist suggests this could be because the machine doesn't have a soul, in the Scientist's Journal it is shown that the machine was overworked creating war machines for the humans and that its resulting turn on them was likely triggered by that.

In my opinion though, I think it would've been cooler if it was The Blob luring her down there. The Blob, under the right circumstances, could be very terrifying. It is a monster, but imagine it luring a child with the voice of another... perhaps because it believes it's a child too.

A mat of wires comprised of numerous victims, numerous bodies, numerous voices. It may not have any souls left inside of it, maybe it does but they cannot distinguish themselves. All it knows is that it wants out and it cries out for help from a 'fellow child'.

But there's no helping it. It is simply too dangerous- because unlike Mimic, who can barely move faster than a light jog, who can be broken apart by an elevator door, who is destructible... You cannot destroy writhing wires. There's simply too much to take it out.

You may try to suffocate the voices of agony, but they will continue screaming from the depths until someone comes to find them.

I don't think Mimic ever had a chance to be that cool. 😔

#The Mimic #Fnaf #The Blob #The Tangle #Eleanor #Villains #“Oh you're a villain alright just not a super one” #“Yeah? What's the difference?” #“PRESENTATION!”

[beevean]

Is it too soon to speak of the concept that Lanolin has wasted potential yet? Because I am so convinced she could have been a far more likeable, or at least tolerable character if:

We got an actual explanation for why she acts the way she acts, because right now we simply have no idea why she suddenly is so bitchy. I really do think that showing that she acts this way because it is how she thinks leaders act (stern, always right, always knowing what to do, always in control) and then learning that no, being leader means respecting those around you and knowing that you are not high and mighty above your subordinates, makes for a far more interesting character than... well, this.

It didn't constantly appear as if she hates her teammates and everyone else around her except for Duo. This isn't from recent issues either: she's been drawn odd, bored, tired, annoyed, etc etc more than a dozen issues ago already.

Like... give me a Lanolin who is such a control freak she starts stressing out and panicking the moment things go south because she knows she is not cut out for this yet. Someone who sees Silver and Duo arguing and knows she cannot intervene, thus she lashes out and stops the argument before it can, in her mind, go further south. Someone who sees Whisper accuse a new teammate and clumsily tries to calm her down, which does not work. Not that constant anger and irritation, especially aimed at Tangle, and her sheer contempt for Silver. Someone who is really doing her best and wants to do well, but who has the entirely wrong idea of what constitutes the role she has put herself into. No more disappointed kindergarten teacher who is never called out by anyone in the narrative.

I personally would wait until the end of this whole story arc before deciding how much of a waste she is. It's what I did for Surge and Kit... and even then the comic is bringing them back so who knows what's going to do with them 😂

Lanolin is more of an interesting case of writers clashing, because you just know that ABT had a completely different personality in mind when he designed her.

You've seen anything like this so far? Lanolin being more of a stepford smiler? Yeah, exactly.

Lanolin's behavior would make sense if we had confirmation that she, like Whisper, has been left with trauma after everything she went through off screen. She would be a foil to her! Whisper became an introverted loner, Lanolin now insists on forming teams and having them hyper-organized. Whisper's personality is withdrawn, Lanolin forces her (fake) personality on others. Hell, even her overreaction over being grabbed could be passed as one stemming from trauma!

But I don't get that. Lanolin doesn't seem to be high-strung. She seems, as you say, like she can't stand a single person around them and only interacts with them out of polite courtesy. She's mean as a personality trait. And it's not even that she clashes naturally with certain kinds of people, like say Tangle who is scatterbrained so of course the control freak wouldn't stand her; the only person she has shown something resembling respect so far is Sonic, and even then not always. Around Tangle, Silver, Whisper, she has this constant disdainful look on her face.

Who pissed in your cereal, ma'am? This isn't funny! She's mean! And Tangle has fallen far down in my list of liked characters, but ffs she hasn't done anything to deserve this glare!!

Anyway, to get at your point. Lanolin has shown one moment of vulnerability very early on, when her operation failed. That was the one time she admitted she didn't know what she was doing. That was a moment of relatability and sympathy for her, because the audience could see a hidden side of her and understand where she was coming from.

It hasn't happened so far in this arc. Again, I have no idea how much we're meant to understand Lanolin. I only know that so far she has only shown one emotion, and it's contempt against people who don't deserve it. This is not how you write a likeable character, not even as an antagonist. She's not fun to hate. She's just a bully.

#fans don't look

[magnumdays]

Magnum PI 5.12 - Three Bridges review

Little bit late this week because I had trouble finding the ep and well this new mid-week airing time, it's at a pretty inconvenient time of the week for me.

Anyways...

The promo for this episode was misleading as (when is it not) but in this case it was a really good misleading. We did get funny sting-ray case but that was just a side plot for laughs.

And for me it worked so well because it gave us more Miggy scenes and man, do I love how they're doing Magnum and Higgins as a couple now. It's established, comfortable but still sweet with that hint of sexy they always had and IDK, why can't we just have 10 seasons more of this?

The Case

Seems like a semi-straightforward "trusted the wrong person and got my money stolen" case. But this being Magnum PI, there is of course a huge trafficking ring behind it and the bad guy is actually a good guy and everyone (except for the Triad) gets a happy ending. (Brushing over the trauma of trafficking and being used as a human sheild at and also sort of betrayal of trust and stealing lots of money from people, and all that jazz. Because goodness will win out and happiness reign supreme -that's just how we roll in Magnum PI land.)

I liked it, even if finding the hotel (which granted took the combined power of Kumu and Higgy) and then just getting walked straight into the heart of the Evil Overlords organization was a bit convenient. Like if I was a boss bad-guy I would have just told my underlings to walk potential spies and cops and other interested parties off the property. And then just moved my operation.

Just saying, a bit sloppy for a 97-million-dollar operation...

The end bit with findning Haun (Han?) after he'd been sold off again, maybe that should have ended sadder or more dramatic. Like Haun could at least have gotten shot in the arm or something... just a little suggestion.

Or Higgy should have gotten shot because she was just walking straight into the path of this guy's bullets...

The Miggy

What took you so long?

I was about to ask you the same thing.

They are so adorable and just maybe the ultimate modern battle couple of all time.

Seriously was there one Miggy moment when the banter was not on point?

"Get where it's going and intercept it!"

Side note: does someone on this show have like a drowning kink? I feel like waterboarding is the to-go torture method of choice for all bad guys. I mean Nuzo was water-boarded before he died, Higgy was, then she almost drowned and now we got TM getting all drown-y.

And love the look Magnum gives the guy when the bad guy is all "This ain't gonna work - go get his friend". Like from mildly smug (above) because hey, Mr. Navy Seal "I can hold my breath for five minutes" isn't worried about anything to 'not amused' in like a second.

(I mean of course Higgy being all kick-ass going to get her Hubby, also lovely.)

TC - Sometimes you just need your mom

So TC pushing everyone away after last week when he seemed to be opening up and doing a bit better with Shammy and Kumu felt like a step back, but also very real. Because rehab and progress is not linear nor does it "make sense" for most people in a logical way.

Mommy-TC showing up and both showing him that she not leaving because she loves him and wants to be there for him and talking to him about weakness and stubbornness, was the right play. Because when life sucks sometimes you just need your mom right?

It's also a nice call back to last "season" which they've been so good at during season 5. Like with Higgy and the Mandarin and just little references to stuff (still waiting on the tattoo though...)

Rick and Love

So I guess Piper was only in the picture to push Rick and Suzy together then? Maybe? I kind of hope she sticks around and has some other nefarious purpose. But if she's not in the next episode or 14, I guess she was just there to get the Suzy/Rick ship to sail.

Which, I mean, we did all want that and it is sooo very cute and I'd want to see happy-family feels! Let Suzy or Rick have a birthday and we can end with a surprise party or something this season (and bring a real baby this time).

Overall + I'm on a break next week

I enjoyed this episode so much, possibly a bit more than last week's ep even, and I'm a bit annoyed with myself it took me like 4 days until I could watch it. I guess, part of why I postponing watching is because each week means one episode closer to the last one. Urg, why did they end our show!!! It's such a freaking shame because it absolutely feels like they've found their groove with the Miggy relationship and just the whole vibe of 5a and so far 5b!

Next week I'll be traveling so I might not be able to get access to the episode at all before I return home, which sucks because it's my favorite plot-device: my faves going undercover.

But yeah, 13+14 might end up being a double episode for me (+ double review!) in two weeks but we shall see!

#magnum pi #miggy #Thomas Magnum #Juliet Higgins #Magnum PI season 5 #Magnum Pi my review #Magnum PI review

[aeide-thea]

deeply frustrated and disappointed to realize how much of the way i interact with Baby Sister is actually about my own stasis and shame

like a lot of it is very tiny things and none of it is maliciously intended and most of it doesn’t seem to bother her particularly (though i could be wrong about that!), but like, when i think to myself, okay, what was my, like, perlocutionary aim in saying/doing this, so often it’s like. partially about trying to reestablish a sense of intimacy, which is fine, but then also partially, if you dig down a little more, about, like, angling for dominance in some domain i don’t even think is that valuable—if i thought it were, i wouldn’t tease her about it! i love her and spend a lot of time trying to tell her how excellent she is!—in an attempt to reassure myself that i’m not a *totally* worthless piece of shit. except that of course what if anything really makes me a piece of shit is behaving like this!

and then there’s also the aspect i blogged about earlier, where like, i find ways that she’s distanced herself from the version of her i’m more familiar with to be alienating and/or threatening, especially when her old habits were more comfortable or congenial for me than her new ones, and react to that alteration in a variety of ways i’m not proud of, because i can’t help perceiving it as both a rejection of me and inherently a demand that i set aside my own preferences in favor of her new and improved ones, because i don’t actually understand how to compromise, just how to crumple

and of course none of this self-scrutiny is even all that useful, because it doesn’t really suggest to me any obvious ways to behave better in the moment, going forward—it just leaves me feeling like, ‘okay, all my instincts about how to behave socially are wrong, cool, love that for me,’ which is both unhelpful and reminiscent of a lifetime of adhd trauma in a frankly triggering way!

(also like. minor addendum left over from the other day, but: very extremely do not love being told that i’m being ‘aggressive’ about something when i (a) genuinely don’t mean to be, but also and more importantly, (b) can’t, even on later reflection, see that i was. like what do you even do with that feedback!! it’s not actionable without more specificity!! not to mention that tbh i have no way of knowing if i was objectively behaving badly or if something abt the intensity of my engagement with the (totally innocuous) topic up for debate was just, like, triggering for her? which, dgmw, i would still want to try and accommodate, but in that case i’d appreciate not having the dynamic framed as though the problem objectively lies with me, instead of somewhere in the space between us?)

#blegh. #feelingsblogging #this is probably not hugely externally legible tbh but i wanted to set it down #for my own reference and also just to purge it #engagement not unwelcome but not mandatory either

[petterwass]

Hey peeps. So something I ended up discussing on Facebook is how old Ifrit is and I thought it was fairly interesting so I figured I'd post it here as well.

The true answer is that we don't know. Ifrit does not have a official age. But we can infer some things based on her profile, personality and actions.

Firstly, Ifrit is not short. At almost 160cm she towers about her adoptive mother, Silence by a couple of centimeters, though she has some way to grow still before she catches up to her adoptive father, Saria.

Purely by virtue of her body shape (she is very lanky, much like a real teen, all flat planes and sharp angles, elbows and knees) as well as her impressive height we can assume that she is not a pre-teen or a early teen. Indeed, purely by a visual basis I'd put her between 14-16 years old, thought she could well be older with malnutrition making her not develop any curves.

(I'm using her Coral Cost skin because it shows the most of her body)

She weights either 43kg or 48kg depending on if you use the normal or the corrupted data on her profile. We will use the normal one, so 43kg.

She is also noted to behave like she was about 6-10 years old and in another place like she was 5-6 years younger than she actually is. I'm other words, she has a emotional immaturity, Which is not uncommon in victims of trauma, abuse, or torture, and Ifrit is all three of those. Likewise, we have no indication that she ever had a normal childhood, likely being raised in a lab or acquired while very young, all of which would retard her emotional maturation.

Looking up some growth charts, 43kg would but her as in the lower normal weights for a 14-year old, the absolute youngest I think she can be.

I will assume that most races in Arknights are built mostly the same as humans, with the exception of those with major inhuman bodies (Tomimi's tail for example, probably accounts for a significant part of her body weight!) or those that are noted as being very strong (Vouvre) or very light (Liberi).

I'm this case, as a Sarkaz with a fairly significant tail at 50cm long at two 23cm long horns, we can assume that Ifrit's normal healthy weight would be somewhat above that of a human.

So for a 14-year ond She's a bit underweight.

However, I don't think she's that young! I think Ifrit is a good bit older than so.

I think that due to her nature as a lab experiment and torture victim as well as suffering from very advanced magic turbo rock cancer.

I also think she she acts more mature most of the time than a 6-year old. She's more like a 10-12 year old in my mind, which I'd we accept her real age as 4-6 years older than her emotional age would put her at about 16 years old, which is what I believe to be true.

160cm is a decent size for a malnourished 16-year old and many Sarkaz seem to be quite tall, se we'll even put it down to somewhat short for her age.

43kg is of course gravely underweight for a 16-year old. But I assume that between Oripathy and massive amounts of trauma that she is malnourished and some days may have problems keeping down food.

I'm sure the Greater Rhine Labs Polycule is doing what they can to keep her fed, but making teenage girls gain weight can be tough even for normal girls, much less traumatized torture victims with a fire demon living in her head!

Further supporting this age is that in the Siesta event she was handling the BBQ grill all by herself, which is not something I'd feel comfortable letting someone less than say 15-years old do not matter their pyromantic skill.

So my conclusion then, is that Ifrit is around 16 years old, but severely malnourished and traumatized, both of which make her look and act like she's younger than she is. Likewise her experience as a combat operator can make her sound older and and controversially, even more emotionally stunted than she actually is when taking about acts of violence and burning people

#Arknights #Analysis #Ifrit #Arknights Ifrit #Ifrit arknights #Tw torture #Tw eating disorder