#i dont think there is any evidence that he was gay (although i did see a theory once that he and charles had a fling) but his depictions of

[uriekukistan]

matt or gojo for the character thingy?? (or both <3 if u want)

heck yeah i'll do both 😎 thank u for the ask!!

matt

favorite thing about them: there is so little canon material that we can just say whatever we want about him and everyone agrees. what r u gonna do? pull out the canon evidence against me?

least favorite thing about them: there is so little canon material that ppl can just say whatever they want about him and i cant disagree. what am i gonna do? pull out the canon evidence against them?

favorite line: "since when did the japanese carry such big guns" or whatever that line was. brother ur abt to get blown away i dont think its time for jokey jokes

brOTP: mellodramattic 🤞

OTP: also mellodramattic 🤞

nOTP: i haven't seen much of him with anyone other than mello or near which are both cool w me. i think i saw him w light once though which was so funny to me they would NAWT fuck with each other AT ALL

random headcanon: okay i AM a matt cigarette traditionalist truther for the most part, but i can see him buying them for the fun flavors and still continuing to smoke cigs because vapes "aren't real nicotine"

unpopular opinion: why do we spend so much time talking about him and his 5 seconds of screentime when we are overlooking slayful women like naomi and halle (although i've been glad to see more appreciation for them recently, and he does have a better role in the manga so)

song i associate with them: glamorous by fergie. saw an edit of him and mello to this song on tiktok so this their song now. they play it in the car while speeding away from the cops :D shut up and drive by rihanna would be another good one

favorite picture of them: beep boop :D

gojo

favorite thing about them: he's a silly little guy :) he uses his silliness to cover his deep loneliness :) how fun :)

least favorite thing about them: he uses his silliness and confidence to cover his deep loneliness TOO well and now 60-70% of the fandom, maybe more, doesn't fully understand his character

favorite line: HAHAHAHAA i'll murder you 😘🌸...ofc im also an enjoyer of "nah i'd win" and "yowai mo" just for the sillies

brOTP: now. coming back to that loneliness. he's not letting anyone get close enough for this one unfortunately

OTP: ofc has to be satosugu. doomed gays!

nOTP: gojohime. gojohime. have i mentioned gojohime? gojohime. also any ships of him with his students 😀👍

random headcanon: not me saying everyone should do ballet. but gojo should do ballet.

unpopular opinion: ask me again when ur caught up with the manga

song i associate with them: ...if i said daddy's home by usher would it be too cliche

favorite picture of them: okay mr. crazy! tell him what you think!

#once again not tagging bc jjk fandom scares me #especially when it comes to gojo

[demadogs]

this is random but what did you think about the mlvn r and j references? I personally think it's a case of Not That Deep (although if it is that deep, I don't think it's good for mlvn) but I was so irritated by everyone talking about it bc even if I think it was foreshadowing the end of mlvn in some way, I was still really bugged by people dumbing down r and j to being "a satirical critique of stupid teenagers" bc that's just. not what it is.

i dont think the romeo and juliet references are a stretch. i do see the connections and i’ll go into that in a sec but the thing that holds me back is that romeo and juliet really were in love. it was everyone else that were against them being together, not each other. star crossed lovers is defined as two lovers who cannot be together, again, implying that they really are in love but some external conflict is against them being together. these analogies honestly seem more applicable to a potential gay couple in the 80s. (also i read this years and years ago and did very basic google searches to jog my memory so plz let me know if you know the story better and disagree)

but the duffers do like to subvert plots so maybe theyre going deeper into it and that “external conflict” is mike being gay. the way mike explicitly said meeting el was “not fate its not destiny its just simple dumb luck” makes me think this is possible.

the script in s3 calls mlvn “star crossed lovers” after dustin was comparing him and suzie to romeo and juliet. thats kinda interesting but its just written in the script alone, which the main audience isnt even meant to see. the direct quote is “speaking of star crossed lovers, mike and el are purposefully lagging behind the rest of the group”. it could be possible though that dustins mention of star crossed lovers was also in reference to them.

argyle calling mike romeo at the pizza place doesnt seem that out of nowhere. that was pretty in character of him cuz he knew he was interrupting a moment.

the oven having “montague” written on it is interesting though. i just did some digging and there is an oven company called montague but their name plates dont look like how it looked in the show.

it still says montague but theres much more emphasis on the “hearth bake” so if they had kept the og name plate, i think it would be harder to pick up on the fact that it says montogue, which leads me to believe that they intentionally had that montague plate costume made.

another thing i found is that theres another big pizza oven company and their name plates look just like that montague plate. very similar font, all caps, and both with a red background. again, this makes me believe that they took inspiration from other vintage pizza ovens to costume make a company name for the oven that just says “montague” alone.

honestly i didnt really believe much about this theory until i looked into the ovens but now its suspicious knowing that they must have had to go through the effort of making a costume name plate. so now that im pretty sure its intentional im gonna try to figure out what it could mean.

also disclaimer, im fully aware that im indulging in confirmation bias right now. im choosing to see how it could represent/foreshadow the death of mlvn instead of how their love could be real simply because of all the other mountains of evidence for byler. if there was barely any evidence for byler i would look at this more from a mlvn point of view but i just cannot see how they would hint at endgame mlvn through a detail this tiny while theres blaringly obvious things for byler.

anyways so im thinking about romeo and juliet. romeo dies first after seeing juliet appear to be dead. he believes that shes really dead and poisons himself. juliet wakes up, sees that hes dead and then stabs herself.

i think that death scene in romeo and juliet is paralleled to mikes monologue because we see the montague name plate on the oven when theyre putting el on the table. mikes seeing el choking and not waking up and maybe thinking shes dying the same way romeo thought juliet was dead. the next part in r&j was romeo killing himself, but in st what happens next is mike telling el he loves her. i think him saying this essentially kills their relationship because he brought up her powers again and thats not what el wanted to hear. this is her face before and after he said “youre my super hero”. she looks mad.

next juliet wakes up and sees that romeos dead and kills herself. so i think this could foreshadow that el wakes up, realizes shes still unhappy, and kills their relationship or in other words, it foreshadows her breaking up with him.

idk though honesty. im kinda just spitballing here. another interpretation could be mike is killing his true self by saying he loves her when he is actually gay. which is very sad. idk let me know what you guys think of this.

#this is something that i could totally think a mlvn would call me crazy for and honestly i dont blame you that much #i cant believe i did research of vintage pizza ovens and shakespeare for the sake of byler #stranger things #byler #i probably shouldnt post this ten minutes before the script comes out no one will care about it #but maybe its late again who knows #eden answers

[trektism]

The rise of anti intellectualism is so fucking PALPABLE these days and excuse my misandry but men are the prime carriers of this disease.

A quick rant on the subject:

I remember when we were interpreting Kafka's metamorphosis in my higher level lit class back in 2021, the teacher decided to start off our work with an open discussion. People raised their hands and shared their interpretations of the work. The teacher was providing some subtle guidance as to what common tracks were usually taken for interpreting metamorphosis (absurdism, symbolism, autobiographical, metaphorical, stuff like that). Without fail, men of the class would opt in for the absurdist option. Not to invalidate that view of the text, it's undeniable that the work has absurdist themes, but it is also quite convenient to say, "It has no meaning!" and call it a day (which i might add, is not really a good interpretation for even the most absurd of absurdist texts). The men of the class wrote less on their essays, were more likely to call a text "stupid" or "boring" or just insult the author in some way. Simply put, they are more likely to look for a reason not to analyze the text, to not look into it, and to search for meaning in it. It's easier to shrug and say, "It's stupid and not worth my time" than it is to give a genuine and careful look at a piece of art and extrapolate is meaning.

My father, whenever I share with him my thoughts on art, movies, books, and shows, he often rolls his eyes at me or tells me to save it. "You're a little philosopher, but I don’t think it's supposed to mean anything. I don't think the authors intended for it to mean anything." Yes, maybe they didn't, maybe they did and maybe their meaning is different than mine. How is any of that a good reason not to interpret the work? Interpretation embedds meaning and allows you to see the depth of a piece of art, without it, your experience is shallow, and almost inhumanly mindless. Just like with the boys in the literature class, this is all just an excuse not to think. A choice to opt out of nuance, out of complexity, and exist only in the simplicity of literal representation. No subtext, no symbolism, no metaphors, no hidden emotion. It's sad, it's dull, it's empty, and its even facist!

Ah, another non-trek rambling essay on my page NO actually this ties into trek perfectly. Star Trek, the original series is FULL of subtext and of philosophical messaging. The relationship of Kirk and Spock (as you should fucking know by now) can very easily be argued as a deep love relationship, the kind that makes the trek bros scream and cry due to their phobia of homo's. I know this is gonna sound scary but go to reddit dot com and see what the old trek bros have say about the blatant gay subtext of amok time, or the parallels and subtext of the motion picture. 💀💀💀by the nine these bitches have never passed 8th grade lit and it shows. They hate TMP because they're moosh brained and take it far too literally and have no idea whats actually going on in the story, and they dont see amok time as gay because its not like they made out and had gay sex or anything. This is just idiotic. Rejecting or out-right ridiculing any interpretation beyond the literal one is definitely anti intellectualism.

TNG falls back on the gay subtext but still tries to be more meat than sauce when it comes to food for the mind. Plenty of episodes delve into difficult moral dilemmas that I end up chewing on for days and months at a time. Mind you, this is exactly why people find star trek boring. Too much thinking, not enough pew pew. My evidence for this is only anecdotal, from whenever I asked people for their thoughts on the series. How it usually goes is; "I'm more of a starwars fan, it's just more interesting." Really? How so? "I don't really know it's just better." They typically don't even analyze what they like about their favorite properties. EMBARRASSING!! Although this evidence is anecdotal, I'm sure you could find many substantial support to this theory via angry threads on old forums.

This entire subject enrages me completely, and im sure the more discerning trektism reader took notice to my unraveling over the course of this rant. I will not extend it any longer, its already been too long. Facism is a disease, kill it with fire, peace and love peace and love.

#rant

[sneez]

van dyck paintings which make all my bones fall out compilation

#You Know. You Know #i have been talking about van dyck nonstop on my private twitter this week it’s been a 24/7 van dyck party #i keep thinking about the way he paints men....like the delicacy and beauty of every man he painted regardless of how ‘attractive’ they were #i dont think there is any evidence that he was gay (although i did see a theory once that he and charles had a fling) but his depictions of #men feel so wonderfully gay to me. he painted men like a gay man would #maybe i am just saying that because i am a gay man and i find all the men in his paintings very handsome but EVEN SO #every day i weep at the fact that fairfax never had his portrait painted by van dyck. every day i cry #if i could go back and influence one thing it would be to get van dyck to paint fairfax. you dont know how much i would Give #AnyWay i am obsessed with van dyck’s artwork and i have many problems. and i love he #also i am so sorry i have been so absent recently my friends!!! term just started again but i will answer things soon :-) i love you #ghost post #some of these are cropped by the way because i like Consistency :-) the middle ones on the first and second rows are bigger in full

[bloody-wonder]

I kinda have a take and just wanna clarify its not @ u. (This is Part 1) So lots of ppl rlly like Aaron and that's fine ofc I cant tell anyone who to like and who not to but ppl that do tend to try and say that hes not actually homophobic in canon which is simply not true. Or they try to justify it somehow. Aarons homophobia honestly ruined any chance I had of liking him (same with seth) and ppl sometimes say that if u dont like Aaron for that then u cant like Neil or Wymack cuz they're ableist

(Part 2) and have they used ableist language? Yes. But is there actual evidence to suggest they hold prejudices against disabled/neurodivergent ppl? I dont think so. Neil only uses this language once and its clearly to rile Kevin up, theres so much evidence that he admires Kevin and I dont see Neil looking down on him for his disability at all. Wymack-he uses ableist slurs more but he still signs neurodivergent players and I cant say I genuinely believe he thinks any less of them for it.

that’s an interesting ask!

first of all, ofc no one can tell you which character to like and which to dislike. everyone chooses their faves for personal reasons and no one owes anybody explanation for why they like or dislike them. however if you want to explain why you dislike aaron as opposed to neil you’ll have to come up with different arguments bcs so far it looks like you have double standards. 

it’s true that aaron is homophobic. you say there’s no justifying it or explaining it away and i agree but aren’t you at the same time trying to justify neil’s and wymack’s use of ableist language, to discard it as unimportant and not worthy of calling out or being a reason for disliking someone?

has aaron used homophobic slurs? yes once, if you count “flamer”. how many times have neil and wymack and other characters called andrew crazy, psycho or retarded? i don’t know exactly but more than once. now you say that it doesn’t count bcs they don’t seem to hold any prejudice against disabled people. well by that logic any straight ally can use the f-word freely bcs it’s just a word after all. but it’s not just a word, it’s a slur and if you call somebody like that it won’t be a good look no matter how many lgbt people you know and how many fictional gays you ship. and the only difference between homophobic and ableist slurs is that the former ones at this point are taboo in a civilized conversation bcs we’ve learned to interpret them as signs of bigotry whereas the latter ones still aren’t even registered as slurs by most people.

when neil called kevin a cripple - what does it matter if he generally has no prejudice against disabled people? he specifically used an ableist slur with an intention to hurt. let’s imagine that kevin’s gay - would neil use an f-word in the very same situation to hurt him? probably not. but it speaks not so much of neil’s character as about how normalized ableist slurs are. for if neil has ever used an f-word it would be much harder for him to become a fan favorite, however words like “cripple” and “psychotic” directed at a disabled person and a person who probably struggles with mental disorders we just let slide. did he want to hurt them? he did. does he generally have any prejudice against disabled people? well idk the only ones he interacted with in canon are kevin and andrew and he totally used slurs against them with ill intention.

does aaron really have prejudice against gay people? it seems he does but if we continue this thought experiment then the only gays he interacted with in canon would be nicky, andrew and neil. when he called neil a flamer - this is the very same situation as neil vs kevin. aaron wanted to hurt and used the slur he thought would accomplish it. aaron never called nicky anything like that and all the rudes comments he made against him that are usually interpreted as homophobic are partly call outs for being inappropriate and partly expressions of discomfort at his relative graphically describing his sexual desires. 

if neil calling kevin and andrew, who he at that point perceived as dangerous, ableist slurs isn’t a sufficient indication of his prejudice than why is aaron calling neil, who he perceived as dangerous, a homophobic slur a sufficient indication of his?

i believe that disliking aaron has more to do with how the story is told from neil’s perspective - not only bcs they hate each other but also bcs aaron gets very little screen time. all that he is and does behind the scenes is surmised by the reader and so he either becomes a homophobic jerk who uses slurs in his head frequently (just like neil uses ableist language) or he becomes an angry misunderstood boy who’s constantly made uncomfortable by his cousin. there’s room for interpretation and only you decide which way it goes.

all aftg characters have done problematic things which range from making fun of each other’s grief and trauma to harassment to armed assault. if we put homophobia and ableism into this perspective the would be roughly on the same level of “badness“ in my opinion. the differences between them would lie not in which character holds more prejudice or uses more slurs objectively but in what type of bigotry you subjectively think is more unforgivable and likely to ruin a character for you. you will never like aaron bcs he’s homophobic, those other people will dislike neil bcs of ableist language and i will forever be angry at nicky and his rapey comments and actions. we all have double standards and we don’t like these characters for their “goodness“ and lack of problematic character traits bcs they all have some. we like them bcs something in their personalities speaks to us and in that we either acknowledge their flaws or ignore them. 

i personally think acknowledging is a better way.

tl;dr you certainly aren’t obliged to like aaron just bcs you like neil but explaining neil’s ableism away isn’t an efficient way to rationalize it. maybe there’s no way to rationalize it at all so you just say yes i dislike aaron bcs he’s homophobic and i just can’t ignore or forgive that and at the same time i like neil although he’s ableist without ignoring or justifying it. basically just acknowledge that your fave’s problematic and move on🤷

#aaron minyard #neil josten #kevin day #the foxhole court #all for the game #aftg mine #aftg ask #and life will become so much easier i promise #i dispensed with seth and wymack #there's much less stuff to talk about in their cases #and also idc for seth #he's more of a plot device than a character anyway #i've been writing this for like two hours #idk if it makes any sense #basically all the foxes are problematic but we still love them #and homophobia isn't inherently a more unforgivable thing #than any of the other bad things the foxes did #i'll stop rambling right about now

[secret-time-is-here]

The King and his Aid

Chapter 11: My happy end

This is, according to Ao3, the longest series I’ve written so far, coming at roughly 45K. I’m actually extremely happy with this end. Most of the time I’m mad because I’m unsure of how to end it, but while finishing up on the fanfic “Let’s talk” a oneshot I’ll be posting next week, it hit me and it was perfect.

This ending is a near complete closure, and actually loops back to the very first chapter if you want to read it again. I honestly wanted to cry rereading the last bit of it. Hope you enjoy! Also, tell me how you liked the series, I’d love some asks :)

Previous - First (Season 1) - First (Season 2)

While it may sound weird, almost getting caught for being gay was probably one of the best days in his life. Setting in motion so many things that made his life amazing. While they did have to travel and move ridiculously far from where they first arrived in america-classic definitely not happy with being stuck in a small kennel for some of the train rides. Hopping on and off of them to get across the country, but eventually, they did settle down again.

After months, they did find a small town that spread for miles of farmland, and with their leftover money, they bought several large acres of land in the backroads, hidden away by a long trek of trees with plenty of lands for them to start anew. On top of that, this time they didn’t need to worry about a house, a large farmhouse with an even bigger barn nearby. Plenty of rooms for them all, Gary and Roger following with them across the country, not wanting to lose either of them.

Years passed as they built up their farm, and one day, a runaway came, asking for help. Only wishing for shelter that night and nothing more, with some talking, the child ending up staying with them for much, much longer.

Tomas became their child, also unsure of their gay relationship at first, but quickly warming up to them and soon calling them his parents. More years passed, and his brother visited. The cousins finally met, and thankfully, Tomas and Martin got along wonderfully, despite some age difference.

There was good news that his brother and in-law brought with them however, Dean had stepped down, and in his place Martin was coronated and quickly changed all the absurd laws they had. Why did they even have a law about not being able to fish on the back of an animal? Nothing Martin could find gave any reason to have it!

Mainly, Martin changed all the laws on what he had found was called the LGBT+ community. It was nice to be able to call it something. To say they were apart of LGBT+, to know they weren’t the only ones out there that had to hide their lives away. Even better, Cecil was able to officially come out to the kingdom, and much like Edwin did when Neil was sick, basically give a giant middle finger to the court.

While Cecil was unable to show his true gender outside the kingdom, within the kingdom he was greatly accepted. A lot of the elders not understanding, but due to Martin pulling strings since he was young and able to understand the subject, near every adult and every child accepted him. With Ian as head, changing all the laws and putting new ones in place to protect LGBT+ was the easiest thing in the world!

Despite Dean’s pestering, and the new law that Martin helped to make, he stayed at the farmhouse. Whether he could legally be with Edwin or not in his home kingdom, this is where he belonged. It wasn’t too long after, that, with more than likely Dean and Cecil’s help by looking at the ring, Edwin proposed to him. They may never be able to get married, but being able to simple think that Edwin is his fiance was more than enough.

Then, something amazing happened. Across the world, laws started changing, although Martin was quick to correct him that they had been changing for ages some years, using evidence of prospering cities states and countries elsewhere with open LGBT+ communities to the court a big factor in allowing him to change the law in the first place.

Even better: The area Neil and Edwin lived in became an open community, and they began to plan their wedding near immediately.

“Do I look okay?” His brother laughed.

“Neil, never change.” Dean continued to chuckle, Cecil joining in, “You look perfect.” The former King continued as Cecil walked up, fixing his suit and making sure it was straight.

“Ce, I know you’re trying, but, I don’t think no matter how you try. It’s not gonna be straight.” Cecil gave Neil a knowing look, accompanied by a few more chuckles, “That suit treating you well?”

“It may not be my own wedding, but it’s wonderful to wear, for once, I fell so comfortable.” Cecil smiled, doing a quick spin in the light lilac suit, “Although I think if it’s too nice, Dean may get a little jealous.”

“That sounds about right.” His mother laughed as Dean pouted. The green silhouette of his brother’s and his balanced magic floating over to him. Circling him once more to make sure everything was in place.

Ian poked his head in, and closed the door behind him.

“Just a few more moments, then you will walk down the aisle together,” Ian tried to gave a genuine smile, but his fake emotions failing him.

“Thanks, Ian,” Neil spoke, giving the court head a strong hug before letting him go.

The ceremony was beautiful, and just like his dream those years back, he got to see all his friends again. Keith and Douglass hadn’t changed at all, but, a few others did, in a good way.

While Cross never really did makeup with his family, he did become closer with friends, and with the help of Keith and Dean became the new general, Keith retiring but visiting the castle often. Bernard was still Dean’s personal guard, but mainly for when he leaves the castle or big events happen, allowing him to spend time with his wife and child and give them an amazing life with the high pay.

Howard also retired, but he did so early, leaving so he could work more on the farm with his family and bakery, now making more profits there than as the head chef, they even got to see his family. The kids that were so young last time grown up, brother and wife with him as well.

Ian didn’t have much happen but works day in and day out with Martin, researching and helping out everywhere, but taking time off when Martin tells him to and adding gorgeous paintings and murals across the castle. Apparently, thanks to Ian, a symbolic mural of their story was painted across one of the castle walls, an extra path added and some landscaping done to make it an area reserved for the royal family to relax and remember.

Then, to their surprise, Ian’s wedding gift of plane tickets back to their kingdom. Tomas joining them, going to be staying with Dean, Cecil, and Martin while Neil and Edwin went to the beach house for their own honeymoon.

Together, they laid comfortably in the master suite, giggling together like children in an embrace. Happily, openly calling each other husband. Saying sweet nothings.

-----

Sunlight poured into the open room, breezes of early morning summer air going through. His eyes slowly opened, Edwin holding him close, and just staring at him with a kind loving smile.

“No duties?” Neil whispered with a groggy and sleepy voice.

“No list,” Edwin replied in kind.

“No meetings?”

“Just us, moon.” Edwin smiled, Neil leaning up for a slow kiss. Breaking away, Ed spoke, “Good morning, love of my life.”

“Good morning, Husband.” Neil smiled, feeling fully rested and relaxed for the first time in his life.

DONT WORRY I WANT TO CRY TOO

I’m gonna miss everyone one of these guys... :’)

Ink belongs to @comyet

Error belongs to @loverofpiggies

Reaper belongs to @renrink

Killer belongs to @rahafwabas

Horror and Scream belongs to @sour-apple-studios

Dust belongs to @ask-dusttale

Cross belongs to @jakei95

Tenpatch belongs to @kakimochi0820

Blue, Swap!Chara, Dream, Nightmare, and Nim belong to the undertale community

LaMacchi, Willis, Joel, and Rachel(Horror’s three kids) belong to me

Classic and Gaster belong to Toby Fox

#Undertale #Fanfic #The King and his Aid #The King and his Aid My happy end #My happy end #Error x Nightmare #Cecil x Dean #Blue x Chara #Neil Nightmare Joku #Edwin Error Joku #Dean Dream Joku #Cecil Ccino Joku #Tomas Tenpatch Joku #Martin LaMacchi Joku #Ian Ink Comyet #Roger Reaper Renrink #Keith Killer Raha #howard horror sourstu #Douglass Dust Tale #Curtis Cross Jakei #Bernard Blue Uncom #Classic Sans Tale #Gary Gaster Toby

[palmettofoxesthings]

… so. about that "Cicero was gay for Pompey" bit.

Yes. That bit. Ok.

I went for a trip up to my loft for my A-level notes for this bit because the idea of searching for all the quotes I want to back me up was frightening when I knew I had it all written down somewhere already.

in the 50s BC Cicero was exiled! Bye bye Cicero, no one likes you- the whole reason for his exile is kinda long but basically he was a political block at this point and he needed to go (I say this as someone who has had to translate his writing and honestly when he drags a sentence on for 10 lines you get a little murder-y). In response to this we have writing from Plutarch on the whole situation. At this point Cicero wasn’t exiled, but it was definitely not a good situation for him and it was either meet Clodius with an army and fight or flee.

Importantly these quotes:‘Cicero appealed to Pompey for help, but Pompey had purposefully got out of the way and was staying at his country house in the Alban hills’- now I dont know about you but that does not seem like something someone would do if they were just friends. this seems like far too guilt driven of a move for that.Cicero then sent his son in law to appeal for help and Pompey ‘could not face seeing him. He was bitterly ashamed when he remembered how in the past Cicero had fought his battles on many important occasions and had often taken a particular line in politics for his sake’- JUST BROS BEING DUDES YA KNOW

Then Plutarch describes how Cicero behaved in his exile (away from Pompey)‘he remained, for the most part, miserable and disconsolate, keeping his eyes fixed, like a distressed lover, on Italy; his spirit was not great enough to rise above his misfortunes, and he became more dejected than one would have thought possible’But, Imogen, I hear you cry, he could have just been sad about leaving his home. This is true. But ‘distressed lover’ just seems awfully well picked here.

But now we move on for more evidence of why Cicero was gay for Pompey to Cicero’s recall in 57BC. So at this point this Clodius dude has kinda taken over and he’s just not nice and the nobility do not like him. And we get this wonderful line from Plutarch again‘Pompey bitterly reproached himself for the way he had abandoned Cicero… he did everything he could to have Cicero recalled’As did the senate and others who were also being terrorised so it is a lot about self preservation I will admit. I just think it’s interesting that Plutarch singled out Pompey so much when you also had Caesar and Crassus floating around at the time.

Furthermore, while Cicero was exiled and people were talking badly about Pompey, something that never really happened before, supposedly ‘the senate were delighted to see him being insulted in this way, regarding it as nothing more than he deserved for betraying Cicero’- Again, why single him out Plutarch? Hmmm?? Hmmm?? And just the line as well sounds like a group of friends taking a side in a break up. And it wasn’t until Cicero was back that he ‘reconciled’ Pompey and the senate and Pompey ended up ‘virtually the master of all Roman possessions by sea and land’- this seems like supportive, and very forgiving, bf stuff to me.

In addition to this, we have Cicero’s known dislike of Caesar and I’m pretty sure it was mutual. Cicero in his own letters blames Caesar for Pompey abandoning him, essentially saying he has been dripping poison in his ear because his Pompey would never do such a thing without that. or that might just be a sense I get from them.

Also from Cicero’s own letters, this one written to Atticum after his recall, he writes that he ‘named me as the chief and said I should be his alter ego in all things’ (this is after Pompey takes charge of the grain supply due to shortage and demand for it).

My favourite bit of evidence for this comes from another letter Cicero wrote to Atticum in which he writes:‘Pompeius, my hero, has brought about his own ruin, a fact that causes me great pain.’ He continues to disagree with everyone Caesar and Pompey are doing to Roman politics at the time but says ‘But I do not oppose it there cause because of my friendship with [Pompey]’. And even though Cicero does not agree with what Pompey is doing and reminisces of old times where Pompey was applauded for his actions, he still says ‘Pompeius shows considerable favour towards me; he declares Clodius will not say one word against me’

Another letter Cicero writes about Pompey during the dislike of him. ‘Our dear friend Pompey… now a physically disfigured and mental wreck… I could not hold back my tears when I saw him on the 25th July addressing a meeting of the people about the edicts of Bibulus. What a sight! Crassus alone enjoyed it… He had fallen from the stars… it was with deep sorrow that I, who had painted and perfected this man with all the colours of my art now suddenly saw him disfigured. Though none thought that I should be his friend on account of the business with Clodius (the whole exile thing), such was my affection for him that no injury could exhaust it… they [the edicts against Pompey] are excessively cruel to one for whom I have always felt affection’

Cicero even quotes Pompey in one of his letters to Atticum! And also just reading his letters you get a sense of Cicero trying to absolve Pompey of any blame for the republic falling. 

Until you get nearer the end when Cicero is very obviously mad at Pompey for disregarding his counsel and bolstering Caesar’s career. BUT he does write ‘all this I will pass over’ as if to say, oh well it’s been done, I still love him, until he says that is because he departure from Rome was even more shameful and irrational than anything else he’d done. BUT HE IS STILL TRYING TO REACH POMPEY! ‘Where shall I find safety until I can reach Pompey?’ so even though he is angry at Pompey for bolstering this man who is destroying the republic he still wants to go to him. It also seems to be that although Cicero is mad at Pompey for going head to head with Caesar to gain control of Rome, he is angrier still at the people who are betraying Pompey.

And there ya go. I am sure I could find more evidence and quotes if I was so inclined, however, ya girl can only read so much of Cicero in one day before she wants to tear her eyes out. So. In conclusion. Cicero gay for Pompey, and possibly vice versa.

#ancient history #pompey #cicero #ancient rome #roman history #plutarch #it's only 1.2K this time!

[bjro233]

The Life of a Gay Man and His Need To Prove It

#1 The “Gay Gene”

               Although it has only been found in males, a linkage to males and homosexuality has been discovered by Dean Hamer and colleagues. On X chromosomes there is an unidentified gene that these scientists have named Xq28, which they relate directly to homosexuality. It’s a very controversial theory but ultimately purposes so many answers.            

#2 Evidence is Mounting for Homosexual Men

               “In 1993, genetic variations in a region on the X chromosome in men were linked to whether they were heterosexual or homosexual, and in 1995, a region on chromosome 8 was identified.” says Andy Coghlan from thenewscientist.com. This just proves that no, gay men don’t just wake up one morning and say “Hey, I wanna try dick today.”

#3 The Third Gender: Muxes

              In southern Mexico, the Zapotec people recognize a third gender called Muxes. In our culture, they would be known as homosexual people and transgendered people. This just makes me realize that some cultures, although so old, are so ahead of their time, open-minded, and progressive. Another reason to yell @ Donald Trump, don’t build the damn wall.  

  #4 We Are Not Alone

              Listen, science isn’t the only thing that proves this theory. Look at our environment and what isn’t directly affected by or altered by humans. “Homosexual behaviour is a natural biological feature and is common among non-human animals. In at least one species – sheep – individual animals have been known to form lasting preferences for same-sex partners.” says Australias Science Channel. Fun Fact: the oldest living tortoise who was thought to be female but was actually male only mated with males. Thus showing why no babies were being born.

#5 Should We Care About Giving Reason To Being Gay?

                Of course, being gay myself, you’re faced with a lot of harassment, questioning, judgment, and bigotry. Religion really attacks you, and you’re forced to feel like an outcast and forced into a stereotype. So, given the chance and these scientific findings, it can help explain to people who don’t believe/understand. It normalizes sexuality, it lowers being/feeling like a minority. “It adds yet more evidence that sexual orientation is not a ‘lifestyle choice’. But the real significance is that it takes us one step closer to understanding the origins of one of the most fascinating and important features of human beings.” says Dean Hammer from newscientist.com.

#6 Being A Watermelon in A Sea Full of Cacti

                      One word: Grindr. If you’re a gay male, you either gagged or hid your face in shamefulness for using the app. My need to prove myself starts here, it completely drains lives of romance and relationship oriented people. It sends a message that all gay men are they same, they’re horny and only want to bone. “The mental health professionals I spoke to are seeing problematic Grindr use in their clinics. And there is little published guidance on how to help those who are struggling.” says Jack Turban with Vox.com. This app is notorious for only being used to have sex, and it’s showing and obviously causing detrimental effects on gay men.

#7 Breaking Stereotypes One Straight @ A Time

                    Growing up, I only had girlfriends. Instead of playing basketball or throwing a football at recess, after school, in college, etc... I jumped rope. I learned how to french braid, I sang and danced. I yearned for the male on male friendship, or bromance you may say. I never got it because theres a stereotype, “I don’t have a problem with gay guys, but if he hits on me its game over.” Now, I can say once straight cis men give me a shot, they realize the stupidity behind it. I always here, “I’m not gay, but you’re one of the coolest dudes.” which isn’t ideal, but it’s progress.                    

#8 Trouble in the Workplace

                     When I bring up LGBTQ issues to acquaintances, a lot of the times i’m faced with “I don’t think gay people have a lot of issues nowadays”. But we dont, thats why I feel its so important for me to prove myself, my life, and what comes along with it. The facts, the struggles, the ugly truth. “59% said that where they live, they are less likely to be afforded employment opportunities because they are part of the LGBTQ community. One in five stated that they have had difficulty when applying for positions.” says victoryinstitute.net

#9 Let’s Prove Stats Wrong!

               Statistics can be demeaning, not all the time are they helpful or good. Sadly, for the LGBTQ+ community, the stats are disheartening. For example, LGBTQ people are 5X as likely to commit suicide than heterosexual people says thetrevorproject.org. 77% of LGBTQ youth reported are depressed, have anxiety, and/or have feelings of worthlessness says hrc.org. So, to all the heterosexual people out there wondering where their “Straight month” or “Straight parade is”, you have it, 11 months out of the year because you dont have struggles like that.

#10 Trans People are Simply, People.

                  Working with white, privileged, conservative, middle-to-upper class women, i’m forced to hear a lot of what they believe and how they think and what political decision they have recently made. Now and then, obvious and not so obvious transgendered women come into the store to shop and they outwardly treat them different or question the “real gender” of the person. I ask myself why whatever is under their clothes matter so much to them. When I tell them they are a woman, and that’s all they are, they are confused and partly agitated because I didn’t give them the answer they wanted to hear. Saddening fact? In a national study, 40% of transgender adults reported having made a suicide attempt. 92% of these individuals reported having attempted suicide before the age of 25 says thetrevorproject.org. Maybe if we stop making people feel so different, and start working toward progression instead of sticking our nose where it doesnt belong, we could actually get somewhere. Proving myself, to help the Trans community.

#11 “Gay People Can’t Naturally Reproduce”

                          I want a family, I want someone to call my husband. My son or daughter, my family. I need that in my life weather it is “natural” or not. People are so pressed about the natural way of things, but they can’t see that a majority of LGBTQ people who don’t reproduce via a man and a woman, help reduce the amount of foster children.14,000 foster children are being raised by Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual foster parents says Movement Advanced Project. Just because I am a man, married to a man, with our own children doesn’t make us any less capable for raising a family. 

#12 LG(B)TQ+

                Another group of people that are drastically hated on for being themselves. Human beings can’t grasp that someone may actually be more concerned about someones personality rather than their sexual organs. According to 2013 research by the University of Pittsburgh, 15% of people did not categorize bisexuality as a legitimate sexuality, with straight men being three times as likely to think it's "not a thing." People looking at you and just thinking you’re fake or just too horny. It’s pathetic, hence another reason to prove myself, my sexuality, for the other groups in my community.

#13 You Can Be Cured With Some Treatment & Religion - Mackelmore

                     Ever since before me, for a very long time, we were taught that there are conversion treatments, that being gay was a mental disability, a deformity. There were actually shock therapy treatments and conversion camps for LGBTQ+ people, people were killed in the midst of these treatments. But heres, *tap tap* the mutha f*ucking, *tap tap* TEA! American Psychological Association undertook a thorough review of the existing research on the efficacy of conversion therapy and their report noted that there was very little  research on sexual orientation change efforts (SOCEs) and that the "results of scientifically valid research indicate that it is unlikely that individuals will be able to reduce same-sex attractions or increase other-sex sexual attractions through SOCE." says hrc.com. Today there are still states that legalize this method!! Stop this!!

#14 The Importance of PRIDE

                   This isn’t just a time for LGBTQ+ people and allies to strut down the street in cute colorful clothing. This parade we participate in is a lesson, its teaching others about what we’re trying to do. Policies, laws, and other arguments we want and need heard. During the 2000s, battles at local, state, and national levels were being fought for marriage equality. Pride parades were utilized to educate the public, generate support, and encourage lawmakers to vote in favor of LGBT rights says thegayfamilylawmaker.com. We need to educate people on the education pride parades actually do. If it wasn’t for these parades, we wouldn’t have made the progress we have today. 

#15 The Audacity!?

                 My need to prove myself may be... borderline pathetic. HOWEVER, it’s so important and necessary in today’s society. The fact that just in 1982, it was okay to openly discriminate against LGBTQ people. IN 1996, it was BANNED to marry unless it was between a man and a women. Only in 2011 was “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” finally repealed. This may sound like good news... but then BAM! THIS YEAR, President Trump banned Transgender people from being in the military.(CNN.com) Every time we feel like we’re ahead, we get knocked back down a few steps. This is why it is important, this is why it is necessary, this is why i’m doing it. 

REFERENCES

https://australiascience.tv/science-of-sexuality/

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/cross-cultural-evidence-for-the-genetics-of-homosexuality/

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2155810-what-do-the-new-gay-genes-tell-us-about-sexual-orientation/

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/genetics-dna-homosexuality-gay-orientation-attractiveness-straight

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/10/giant-study-links-dna-variants-same-sex-behavior

https://www.cnn.com/2015/06/19/us/lgbt-rights-milestones-fast-facts/index.html

https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/4/4/17177058/grindr-gay-men-mental-health-psychiatrist

https://victoryinstitute.org/issue-at-a-glance-lgbtq-employment-discrimination/

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/preventing-suicide/facts-about-suicide/#sm.00001tfv8n5yekdvsq5f6al6h6i7u

https://www.hrc.org/resources/2018-lgbtq-youth-report

https://justlists.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/familyequality/

[marshmclaren]

Bad habits ~ Drarry Prompt

Hi guys this prompt was sent to me by the amazingly wonderful @framedfaun!!! I hope you enjoy it! 💗💛⚡️

Draco: lights up a cigarette Harry: ... Draco: "Dont worry I don't smoke, it's just for the aesthetic." takes a drag of the cigarette Harry:...DRACO LUCIUS MALFOY YOU PUT THAT CIGARETTE OUT RIGHT NOW OR IM GON- Draco: blows smoke in Harry's face

Draco stood on the astronomy tower balcony and peered down at the lake below. Everything seemed so serene, almost as if half of the castle wasn't destroyed in his 7th year. He missed this castle though he wouldn't ever admit it out loud to anyone. The last time he had been here he had been about 30 steps from where he currently stood. Draco had been given a choice, kill Dumbledore or let his family be killed. Obviously for any 17 year old the choice was clear, so how could anyone blame Draco for choosing his family?

When the time finally did come to kill the Hogwarts headmaster, Draco couldn't do it, believe it or not. Dumbledore was good to Draco, despite Draco's malicious words to him. Not that Draco would ever tell a living breathing soul this, but he also hadn't been able to kill the headmaster because Dumbledore meant a lot to Harry and he knew if he killed them all possible redemption attempts would be whisked away.

Yes, Draco the snake king and maker of 'Potter stinks' badges had a crush on the golden boy. If choosing who you loved was a choice, Draco would've picked anyone but Harry Potter, unfortunately though for Draco life had never worked like that and never will. So for now Draco was stuck pining over Harry Potter and his perfectly disheveled hair.

He never dreamed of telling anyone about his fondness of Potter. It scared him senseless. He knew his father would disown him if he was to ever find out. And although Lucius and Narcissa had shifted opinions on things after the war, Draco figured 'gay for potter' fell no where on that list.

Since this year had begun, the year of revival for Hogwarts, Draco and Harry had given one another mutual respect. They weren't friends, but neither were they enemies. This, of course, caused Draco's crush to grow because now instead of scowling at him every time they made eye contact, Harry smiles, teeth and all. They wouldn't ever speak more than I rushed 'Hello', but whenever the green eyes of Harry's met Draco's silver ones they would give another a curt nod and a smile if it was a good day.

The loud splash of the lake's giant squid pulled Draco from his thoughts. He brought a cigarette to his lips and Inhaled deep as he watched the squid swim carelessly through the almost black water. He wasn't proud of it, but he had picked up smoking while living in Muggle London for a bit. He found it relieved his tension and make him focus less on the stress of his life, even though the war was over. Draco knew that the cigarettes were deadly, it had been repeated on the television set that sat in the corner of his apartment, but anything to get his mind off the bloody war was his new best friend.

Not a lot of things were able to do so though. Not even coming across Weasley and Granger snogging in the room of requirement fazed Draco long enough to cease his thoughts of the war. In all honesty, it made Draco feel more lonely than he had previously been feeling.

This caused Draco to be more observant of Harry, or rather Harry's lack of a girlfriend these days. Harry often walked to class alone, when Weasley and Granger were busy. He no longer held the hand of Ginny as he traveled class to class. Draco also observed that Ginny now had a fondness of a certain dotty, blonde haired girl named Luna. Harry hadn't even glanced at the girls now, once again, throwing themselves at him, which gave Draco a little spark of hope. Although he knew nothing would ever happen between him and Harry because Harry was oblivious to everything and Draco was a coward.

As Draco slowly lit one cigarette after the other he finally found himself at peace. His head, less congested with intrusive thoughts, began to drift to a less violent place. He thought about the last year. Draco had spent a month in Muggle London right after the war, but began traveling after discovering that staying in a musky apartment begins to eat away at your subconscious and drive you a bit mad. He then traveled to the Americas, then to Tokyo, and Ireland, Scotland, and Norway for a while. He had discovered more about himself on this trip that he would've preferred.

It was the Rolling green hills of Ireland that made Draco think of Harry's striking green eyes, and finally for the first time in his life, Draco came to terms with liking Harry Potter.

He couldn't stop picturing the perfect quite life in those hills, a life he would love to live. For some reason the 'perfect' scene was never complete without Harry in it. He then knew, the boy he was believed to hate actually meant more to him than he thought.

A quick set of footsteps caused Draco to reach for his wand then turn around with it lifted threateningly in the air, in fear it was more 6th years that had come to hex him. Luckily it wasn't them, unfortunately for Draco who had previously cleared his intrusive thoughts, it was Harry Potter who was surely to cause a storm inside his mind. Draco lit another cigarette in an attempt to prepare himself.

Once Harry's eyes landed on the small stick in Draco's hands his eyes widened. Harry was raised from a baby to age 11 in the muggle world, of course he knew of the toxicity of the cigarettes. He knew what it could do to Draco. And that caused his nose to scrunch ever so slightly in disdain. Draco noticed it immediately.

"Don't worry yourself into a fit Potter, it's only for the aesthetic." Draco joked in an attempt to ease the tension that suffocated the room.

Draco was embarrassed of his habit, even more so now that Harry saw. Draco lived through the war, he was a survivor, when more deserving people were dead, many close to Harry. He know threw that away by slowly killing himself with a stupid addiction. He also was embarrassed because of the look of worry that spread over Harry's face like a wild fire, the look that slowly formed into one of disappointment.

But the amount of concern that flashed on Harry's face hardly went unnoticed by Draco and it scared him. He didn't want Harry caring about his wellbeing, no one but Narcissa had cared about him before, so caring was foreign enough to Draco. He clearly remembers the feeling in his stomach when Hagrid, the schools gamekeeper, walked onto the school grounds with Harry's seemingly lifeless body. Draco also remembers the screams that threatened to escape him after the screams of "Harry potter is dead" echoed through the air. If that is what caring felt like Draco hadn't wished anyone to feel that for him, let alone Harry.

But of course, Draco's stubborn personality refused to quit, so naturally he once again brought the cigarette to his mouth and took a long drag.

"DRACO LUCIUS MALFOY, YOU PUT THAT OUT RIGHT NOW OR IM GON-" Harry began to shout.

But in order to get Harry to quit yelling and worrying, Draco took all the smoke held in his mouth and blew it back in Harry's face. This caused the golden boy to cease his yelling immediately.

Once the smoke cleared it revealed a very blushed Harry with a scrunched up face. Draco smirked as he waited for words to finally catch up to Harry. And once they did, he noticed the soft eyes that now stared him down.

"Draco what are you doing?" Harry asked, while searching for any sign or emotion on Draco's face, but Draco kept his face completely neutral, refusing to loosen up.

"I believe I'm doing what I want Potter. And I'm not seeing why it's any of your bloody business." Draco knew he was being rude, but he honestly couldn't help it. He feared that had he not been, his affection for Harry would become evident as the day.

"It became my business when I saved you in the room of requirement, I hadn't been aware that you were going to throw it away."

"I never asked to be saved, Saint Potter." Draco spat, not being able to stop the hurt that soared through his body at the thought of Harry regretting saving him.

Harry let out a frustrated groan and ran his hand harshly through his hair.

"Why do you have to be such a twat? I am trying to help you Draco!"

"I don't want your help! Why can't you get that through your thick skull? Or are you just so heroic that you have to 'save' every person you ever laid eyes on?"

Now they glared at one another faux malice burning in both of their eyes. Both dated one another to look away first, but after awhile both of the big began to see the childishness in their action. It wasn't until Draco started laughing, did the Harry finally break. Draco didn't just give a short laugh, it was a laughter that shook his whole body. At first this action stunned Harry, haven't ever seeing Draco like this but he too soon started laughing and beaming at the blonde boy.

There was a glow that emanated from Draco's body in this moment, one that Harry hadn't seen since their fourth year. A glow that Harry had missed.

Once they had composed themselves once more they turned back to one another. No more malice, no more rivalry between them. They were once again just two boys, not a golden boy and a death eater, just teenage boys.

Harry didn't know what possessed him to speak but he did it anyway.

"You know I never thought a Malfoy was capable of laughter, let alone You."

"Oh piss off Potter. I don't believe friends say that about one another." Draco joked.

"Friends?" Harry had said in a disbelieving tone.

Draco felt himself stiffen. Had he read the situation wrong? Fear consumed him like the night did the day. He shouldn't have ever even opened his mouth. Now Harry was going to spit his words back at him. All hope of things being different between them had been crushed.

Draco's flare for the dramatics had definitely taken over at this point. He should've known that Harry wouldn't ever spit something back at him, especially not now.

"I like that. Draco Malfoy, my friend. Definitely has a better ring to it." Harry smiled.

His words caused Draco's eyes to widen. He soon found himself beaming at the shorter boy. Things really had been changing, and Draco decided that maybe it wasn't so bad. He and Harry were friends now, and that was one step closer from where they had been. Draco felt luckier than any tosser who was running around high on the power of Felix Felicis.

A new title for the boy who lived now occupied Draco's mind, this own currently better than any others. Harry Potter was now his friend.

⚠️* Thank you for reading!!! Let me know if you enjoyed it and if you have any prompts you would like written just drop them in my ask box! 💕💗*⚠️

#drarry blurb #drarry #harry x draco #draco malfoy #harry potter #eighth year #hogwarts #slytherin #gryffindor #bad habits #writing prompt

[jhopeislovelifehappiness]

I dont know how this works (?) Can you write a "Are you hurt?" One?? Either with reader or with suga, please :) (sorry my english sucks )

Thanks for requesting! You’re the first one, so that is very special to me.I went with J-Hope X Suga for this one. It’s like a high school boarding school AU. (Your English is fine by the way 😉)

Hope you enjoy! ^_^

It was a warm fall day, and Jung Hoseok was in his room all alone. He had asked his friends Seokjin and Jungkook if they wanted to do something, perhaps go to the park across the street or watch a movie, but they were both busy. Both Jinnie and Jungkookie had attained girlfriends recently. It wasn’t necessarily that Hoseok was jealous…, but he was jealous. He was happy for his friends, but he felt left out much of the time. He didn’t show it, but he was hurting.Not only that, but he wasn’t even sure he liked females, and he was worried that his two friends might soon ask him why he had never asked a girl on a date now that they had girlfriends of their own.

Hoseok had never trusted anyone enough to tell them that he had thought about boys; he was too afraid that he might lose a friend over it. Not only that, but he had never even kissed a boy anyway, so how could he really know for sure whether he was… gay? He supposed that was what he was. He had never really labeled himself as such before, but… it kind of had to be true, didn’t it?

Hoseok shook the thought out of his mind. He didn’t want to worry about such things; that was for another time.

He sat by the window in his dorm. He could see the public park just outside the school’s gates. He observed the people down below his three-story-high room, and then decided that he was too cooped up there to stay any longer. Even if he didn’t have anyone to hang out with, he could use some fresh air.

Out Hoseok went, down the flights of stairs to the ground floor, and then out the gates of the school. Upperclassmen were allowed out on the weekends (and Hoseok was a junior).

He took a few steps outside and stopped on the pavement. He looked around a moment, admiring the trees and grass, and the nice breeze that came through and ruffled his hair. He took a deep breath and sighed. This was his kind of weather.

All of a sudden, Hoseok heard someone yell “heads up!” just before he got hit in the head with something. He toppled to the ground, a bit dazed. When Hoseok looked up, he was looking right at Min Yoongi, a senior at his school (and a very handsome one at that). Hobi had had the hugest crush on Yoongi since his freshman year at that school, but he had only spoken to him once or twice.“Are you hurt?” Yoongi asked him. He picked up the soccer ball that had evidently hit Hoseok’s head.A blush formed on Hoseok’s cheeks.“Oh- No, I’m fine, thanks.” Hoseok tried not to stutter. Yoongi laughed a bit, but then his smile dropped.“You sure about that?” He pointed to Hoseok’s wrist, which had taken the brunt of the fall. He was scraped up quite a bit, which to be honest Hoseok found kind of embarrassing. If he was more athletically inclined, he might’ve actually been able to catch the ball and go about his day.

However, if he was more athletically inclined he also wouldn’t be talking to Min Yoongi.

Hoseok looked at his wrist as drops of blood actually started to seep out through the tears in his skin.“Oh, wow,” he said. “I guess I should probably go see the nurse or something…” he muttered as he propped himself up on his arm and began to get up. Yoongi extended a hand to him and helped him up.It was about then that Kim Namjoon, a friend of both Hoseok’s and Yoongi’s, ran over.“Hey man,” he said to Hoseok, “are you okay? I didn’t mean to kick the ball that hard… although it was pretty cool,” he laughed.Hoseok smiled. “Sure, I’m fine. I’ll probably go see the nurse for a bandaid or two, but I’m fine.”“Cool,” Joon said. “Want me to take you?” It was here that Yoongi interjected.“I can take him.” He turned to Hoseok. “If you want.”Hoseok blushed so hard that his face tingled with excitement and embarrassment all at once.“Sure,” he replied.

Yoongi and Hoseok walked into the school building together.“You were in my bio class a year or two ago, right?” Yoongi asked him.“Yeah,” Hoseok agreed. “I think so.” (He totally knew so.)“Yeah,” Yoongi said. “Yeah, I remember! You did a presentation on snakes. You were really into that project. And then some of the older boys made fun of you for being so smart. I wanted to say something to them but I didn’t. I’ve always regretted that.”Hoseok didn’t know what to say.“That’s okay.”Yoongi stopped walking and looked at Hoseok. “It’s really not. You know, they say being a bystander is just as bad as being the bully.”Hoseok wasn’t sure what Yoongi wanted him to say to that, so he managed to get out, “well… it’s okay. At least you’re telling me now.”Yoongi sighed and continued walking. Hoseok followed.Right before they got to the nurse’s office, Yoongi turned to Hoseok again and stopped walking.“Let me make it up to you.”Hoseok looked at him, confused, so Yoongi elaborated.“For not standing up for you. We can hang out sometime… or something.” Yoongi looked anxious to see Hoseok’s reply, and Hoseok noticed.“You mean like a date?”

The words fell out of Hoseok’s mouth without permission. He realized the second they hit the air that he could have just made the absolute worst mistake of his life. The tension in the hallway seemed to suck the breath out of both of them for a few seconds.

Yoongi was caught off guard at first, but then he smiled. He chuckled a bit before replying, “Yeah, I mean like a date.”

#requested

[pearlrebs]

I guess i wasnt very clear. Easy to seem angry over the internet unintentionally. I mean to say; rebs url (a small thing) represented something to us. Xe left and we all really miss xer. Xe mattered to us and was a special part of tjlc. 1/8

In many peoples eyes this is an aggressive act. Im sure that you can see at least a little how we would see it that way. 2/8

I wasnt implying that you are not queer or that i hate queers. i was saying that, this is the internet, im not going to always believe everything everyone tells me. 3/8

Most queers i know, try and stick together despite our differences. And the fact that you seem very angry (could be reading into it) at a group of people who are predominately queer tells me that you COULD be something other than queer. 4/8

As you yourself said this is just a tv show...but its more than that isnt it? Why you spend so much thought throwing shade at rebs or the tjlcers or whoever, tells me that theres something else going on and that it is important. 5/8

banding together with like-minded people is the solution to the political shitfest we are in. I'd like to think that we could work thru our differences to reach our common goals assuming, we have common goals. (if im wrong, please let me know) 6/8

I dont see myself as a victim, im only sad. not in a pitying way. Its hard to describe. You were probably the victim of an angry tjlcer on here or witnessed the chaos and theres really no excuse for hatefullness (im admonishing my own camp here). 7/8

debate, yes, but never being mean just to be mean. That doesnt get anyone anywhere. I hope this makes sense and im not trying to offend you. I just think life is too short to hate. And its sad that there has been much on here. 8/8

I’m actually not angry, I think it’s all kinda funny. Though I do try my best to respond seriously to serious messages. The “go fuck yourself”s will always be met with a “sounds good,” but when someone takes the time to send a message like this, I tend to pay attention. Anyways...

First you say you’re not going to always believe everything everyone tells you, then you turn around and say that the tj//lc group is predominantly queer. Who’s telling you that? Hard evidence? Demographics data? A census taken by a neutral third party to determine age range and sexuality, and what direction they believe the show should go? As I answered someone before: anecdotal evidence is inadmissible in science and court for a reason. Of course since you’re a lesbian (a factoid gleaned from your profile, but if this is inaccurate, please inform me. But I could easily say you’re not, but I don’t, because when someone tells me they’re queer, I believe them, who the hell wants to be in a [most places on the globe] hated minority? [by “hated,” I mean high risk of murder, bullying, and homelessness, and possibly being a criminal act depending on where you live]), your experience is going to be skewed towards finding other queer people. You think the group is predominantly queer people, but from the outside looking in, even as a queer person, I’ve mostly seen a bunch of straight women geeking over two middle aged white dudes possibly touching dicks, and using “representation” as a mask. I haven’t mingled with your community — I’ve got my own, who are and aren’t queer all the same.

And again, I say that with full knowledge that it is anecdotal evidence from my viewpoint and experience. I could be wrong. But that doesn’t mean you’re right either. 

Moving on. Most queer people (I don’t like the term “queers” personally, but as a queer person, you can reclaim that word however you want) you know stick together despite the differences. Okay. But if our difference is that you don’t think I deserve rights, or that my life is somehow worth less than a straight person’s (voting Dump/Pence, specifically Mike Pence, who would rather a gay person go to a conversion camp — where the risk of suicide is nearly 70% — than be gay), then that’s not a “difference.” That’s almost a hate crime (and it actually is in some countries). 

I assume you and I have similar goals — stop the carney-handed mango. I assume all but the 14% of LGBT people who did vote for that cheeto in a wig, do. Hence why I make a point of saying I don’t hate Rebs as a person (although the fact that xer Patreon is still up, and xe’s still collecting money, despite the fact xe’s publicly declared xe has no intention on ever making videos again, and even taking the existing ones down, is a little less than the perfect angel everyone is insisting that xe is). 

Tbh, maybe I tend to befriend more queer people irl, but you know what else is important? Straight allies. To me, being LGBT+ is a description of where I put my genitals/my gender identity, and I don’t exactly bond with people over that. A shared struggle, yes, and if I see a queer person being bullied, I will step in. I can support a gay man’s rights, even if that gay man is going out there campaigning for the orangutan in a suit (and some did). I’ll say he should be allowed to get married to whoever he wants, and when his Nazi buddies turn on his ass, I’ll be helping him find a visa out of here, but dear Ahura Mazda, I wouldn’t be caught dead having a beer with him. In fact, they most criticism I’ve ever gotten for being trans, is from other trans people. Yes, they should have rights, but fuck them as individuals, holy shit, don’t tell me how to transition. You can be trans (or any LGBT+) and still be a shitty person. 

But like... about 10%-15% of people are queer. 10%-15% of people couldn’t have voted for our rights and won. Meaning we have a ton of straight people on our side. And that’s what we are: we’re people. I love Steven Universe and pizza. I’ll find people that love Steven Universe and pizza that didn’t vote for literally satan. 

I’ve personally never been wronged by a hateful tj//lcer. But as you pointed out, there was a lot of hatefulness that was slung around. I watched as people attacked Mark Gatiss for not making their ship canon, or call him straight (they really care about representation, don’t they? /s), attacked other queer ships, tags, bullied some other queer shippers into self-harm, etc. 

No, that wasn’t you doing any of that, and that wasn’t anything you participated in... This blog really isn’t about you, I don’t know why you’re so sad about it. This is about everyone’s actions that I’m starting to suspect we both found deplorable. Though I guess if you were a close follower of Rebs, you hated Mary from second one, which was really uncalled for (hate her for shooting Sherlock — I don’t, but it’s a reason — but that didn’t happen until we knew her for two whole episodes, half of a third, and she was just a lovely person until that exact moment). 

The thing is, it IS just a show to me. I’m just responding to hate until I get bored with it. But tj//lc it became so much more to a bunch of people, and that’s why it got so toxic. 

Again, THE PROBLEM is tj//lcers were demanding representation from a show, and writers, who were always honest that they weren’t going to give it. At least not in the way they wanted (and when it wasn’t in the way they wanted, they had tantrums, which is why I say: it was never about “representation” for some of them.). Rebs, even if it started as just a hobby, quickly became, and fed into this mass conspiracy that ultimately did end up hurting a lot of people. Possibly including xerself. That’s why I don’t feel bad taking your symbol: it is just a show, everyone had prior warning that jxhnlock wouldn’t happen, so the conspiracy was always just going to be fanfiction, and Rebs did some shitty things. 

The way people are freaking out... they need to get over it. Or if not, okay, soak in grief forever over a fictional ship, but there’s probably better ways of dealing with all this besides sending me hate. Because honestly, what does anyone hope to accomplish by sending me hate? Me to delete? Sure, let’s say I did that. Jxhnlock isn’t going to be any more canon, and Rebs isn’t going to be any less wrong, and all of the hate xe encouraged is still going to be out there. Oh, and I’ll keep responding, which really just makes it worse. 

Had people just ignored me — never sent any messages — there would be precisely one post on this blog, which was my original announcement that I had it.

Also — what have I said that’s “hateful?” Yeah, okay, I called rebs a “twat” for being a misogynist, I thought it was delightfully ironic, having a misogynistic slur juxtaposed next to that observation (like saying, “don’t fucking swear”), but no one got the joke, so I took it down. But otherwise? Saying John Watson is Straight is just a fact. Jxhnlock never happened, and since it didn’t, the insistence that he’s bisexual has no standing. He’s always said, “I’m not gay.” I never took that to mean he was saying, “I’m not gay, but I like men, I’m bisexual/pansexual.” Jeez, no, if he was part of the community at all, I imagine he’d let it pass, rather than get angry about the assumption (like Sherlock does, who is, said by the writers, to be neither gay nor straight. In fact, I’ve often heard that if you’re a good straight ally, it means not being upset if people assume you’re gay for standing up with them — so in some interpretation, he’s actually a bit homophobic). I’ve also pointed out that xe was wrong, which xe is. My banner is of Gatiss confirm jxhnlock wasn’t happening again — this is a thing that happened. Are facts “hateful” now? 

Also... “life is too short to hate.” I mean... I think I’ve got enough life left in me to hate the sentient tire fire that uses too much fake tan cream, and the apparent resurgence of Nazis in America. Don’t you? Shouldn’t you? 

tj//cers are definitely not on that level, but I don’t hate them, is the thing. I said this before: I hate no one in particular, just what the legacy produced. 

[baobao0331]

My hope for the Sherlock fandom

A disclaimer: I ship Johnlock. But this post entry is NOT about why I believe in this relationship. This post is about my thoughts on the different reactions from the Sherlock TFP, why there are such strong reactions, and what should we do about it. I also enjoy other ships: sherlolly and Adlock. And I follow people with different ships. All ships can sail and should sail, in each shipper’s own universe. That is the enjoyment of being in the fandom - to make our fantasies come true on Tumblr, share it with like-minded souls, and see what different ships look like.

Jan 29 is the anniversary when John first met Sherlock. I think very few people will disagree, that John and Sherlock share a very special bond, they care for each other, they understand each other, they are willing to sacrifice their lives for each other … that they share a very strong emotional bond, which can best be described as love. What kind of love it is - romantic or bro, intimate or plutonic … has never been explicitly confirmed by either the book or the TV show (no kiss in TFP). Many johnlock shippers are hugely disappointed, and many are still angry. I was disappointed at first after TFP. And without the kiss, I lost the bet to my husband. But with help from some blogs from Tumblr, @ivyblossom in particular, I got over it, and now I see, that the ambiguity is a gift that the show gave to all the different shippers in the fandom - a freedom to hold on to everyone’s fantasies, and dream on. The show give permission to fan’s imaginations to run free, and that, is a beautiful thing - all shippers can sail freely, in our own alternative universe.

From a story telling point of view, leaving lots of room for people to keep guessing is a good and often adopted approach, it keeps the story living on, and inspires all fans to continue to guess and debate, long after the show is finished. Will he, or won’t he? Many great literatures have done that.

Commercially speaking, I can also see why the show runners left Sherlock’s emotional journey unclear, and dropped hints that made all ships have reason to go on. Sherlock has been a huge commercial success globally, and confirming one ship is to deny other ships. In particular, if johnlock is the intended ship for the show runners, confirm it explicitly would have meant a much less global sale and refusal for entry in quite a few huge markets, such as China and Russia. While many, especially young people, would like to argue that for a right cause it is worth it, and I myself feel the show missed a historical opportunity to be a true trail blazer, I respect the creators’ choice, whether it is for artistic or commercial reasons. It is their show. And a brilliant and successful show it is.

About Johnlockers’ deep disappointment - it is natural for any shippers who have their fantasy / speculation denied to feel disappointed. But the blow of the ambiguity to the johnlockers is particularly hard. Many are very bitter, many are angry, many lashed out to the show and to other shippers in the fandom. This level of resentment is unusual. Why? It is not just about a ship, a wish for two persons to be romantically involved. To many people, johnlock is about the LGBTQ community finally has a main stream world wide popular show that can champion their right to be recognized and accepted. Also I do believe that there are a lot more hints and evidence of johnlock in the show, than any other ships, so johnlockers felt very convinced that they know what the show runners’ end goal is, when when it did not happen, they felt cheated, and worse, betrayed. But considering john and sherlock are the two main characters in the show, it is only natural that people will find more evidence to support this relationship than others. To be fair, even though Molly and Irene have a lot less scenes, the show has provided enough evidence for these two ships to ring true, to their believers.

Why so angry and drastic reaction? In human’s progress and fight against injustice and discrimination, minorities being oppressed often have to resort to more extreme measures to shake and wake people up and make their voices heard. There are many examples. The women’s liberation movement - many burned bras, some went to the extremes of undergoing operations to give up their ability to bear offsprings. But now in western countries, although the discrimination still exists to various degrees, overall women have a lot more choices, and the movement is a lot milder - because we (I am a woman) now have a lot more equality with man than before. Our rights are a lot better protected than before. The fight for equality for women continues, but at a much more confident and calmer level.

Imagine years from now, when same sex marriage is widely accepted (even if just in western, developed countries), when many LGBTQ people no longer feel the need to hide their sexual orientation, when their rights are truly and thoroughly well protected under the law, even if it may still be imperfect, even if there are still wide gap to fill (just like women’s equality issue now), do you think some johnlockers will react with such strong emotional responses? I think not. Because by then, their disappointment would have only due to their ships not sailed, but not about their identify and hope for acceptance and equality, which is every single person on earth’s god given right. I am confident that day will come, in the not so distant future, because I believe that civilization is progressing to be more and more supportive of a society where people are equal, maybe we will never reach there entirely, but we get closer and closer, even though there are bumps along the way.

So I do understand, deeply, why such anger among many johnlockers, in particular at this point, when there is a major setback in the US for minority rights, with the election of the new president. Johnlock is no longer just a fantasy about a relationship, to many people in the LGBTQ community and their supporters (myself included), it became a beacon of light, a symbol of what could be and should be, but did not.

This is not to say, that sending hate mails to the show or to others who do not share the same ship is right. Those who have done so need to realize, you should treat people the way you would like to be treated. And no one want to receive angry or hate messages, or have people lash out to them, simply because they do not share the same view. Those people need to understand that, people who do not confirm or support johnlock in no way equals to people who do not support LGBTQ community.

Many are hating this show which they had been loving and supporting for the past 6 years simply because the kiss did not happen. But I would like to remind everyone, in addition to its enormous entertainment value, how much this show has done to unite and inspire the LGBTQ community, and how much it has raised awareness of LGBTQ issues around the world. Take me for example, I am a straight married woman. Before the show I was fairly indifferent about LGBTQ issues and the discrimination against this community. But with this show, and through following people on tumbler, I understood the issues a lot better and gained a deep empathy, not just for this community, but for minority groups in general. I got to know several people from this community in Tumblr , that I adore, respect and admire. As a result, I am trying in my work and life, to find ways to support minority groups, whether it is LGBTQ or women, Muslims, etc.

Think about it, how can some people send hate mails to Mark Gatiss, an openly gay man who has devoted so much of his life in getting the community equal rights and raise awareness? How doe he feel that some people in his own community resent him, while he has given so much of himself to the cause? Mark deserves better. I sure hope, being a celebrity, Mark has thicker skin and can brush such negativities off easily, although I certainly can not, and I dont think he can either. Celebrities are human beings first, they can be vulnerable, they have the same feelings as us, and they have every right to be respected.

My hope: johnlockers who are hurt and angry, could calm down and channel your imagination and energy into continuing supporting LGBTQ community, and let your johnlock belief live on in your hearts and in your own fan arts, and let that continue to be an inspiration to you. Don’t harbour hate, it not only hurts the people we lash out to, it also hurts and poisons our own heart, and our own cause.

My hope: others who do not share and support angry responses to the show, can champion the voice of reason. If you feel that you are strong and in a good mental place and have the capacity to support others, then reach out and help those who are suffering, be understanding and tolerant. The people who are hurting now, are the same people we shared our joys of the show with, and they are going through a grieving process; If you feel you are not in a position to support or not have the willingness to help those who are suffering now , by own means don’t. Stop following angry posts. You have every right to do so. You need to take care of yourself and your own mental health first.

John and Sherlock have such a beautiful relationship (whatever it is), let’s simply treasure it in the way we interpret and want it to be. Whatever you think, as long as it keeps you happy and content, you can do no wrong.

Wow, this is long. I know the likelihood of this post gets read by more than even 10 people over Tumblr will be slim. But I take the comfort that I have said my piece, organized my thoughts, and cleared my head through this writing process. I am more determined than ever, that today, I will go to the next step to proactively reach out to support minority groups, within my sphere of influence, whether it is through work, through volunteering, or even through Tumblr. I know exactly what I am going to do today, and the next day, and the next day, to make a difference. DO YOU?

This is after all, what Benedict Cumberbatch would have done, and in fact, what he is doing. All I need to do is to follow my angel.

#benedict cumberbatch #sherlock #fandom #johnlock #minority rights #compassion #lgbtq #mark gatiss #stop discrimination

[heres-what-i-got-blog]

politics n shit, don’t reblog

like. i’m still trying to sort out election stuff. i want to be right, and i want to be compassionate and genuinely understanding for people different than me, and i want that to include people with different ideologies than me.  people rarely fall neatly into ideological boxes, and things get messy and complicated.  especially when it’s people you love.  

my family is so politically divided, and i want to look past that, but all i see are ways they are intolerant or ignorant in ways that will negatively affect people.  they don’t see climate change as a threat, when the scientific community is in agreement that it’s a problem, a human-caused problem, and if we don’t act quickly (using stuff that’s already available) it’ll get indescribably worse.  they’re ok with racist jokes, homophobic jokes, transphobia, and islamophobia.  they justify it with “not actually using slurs” or hushed tones in front of the kids, and being friendly enough to poc/lgbt to their faces, but underneath i’m aware it’s there and it bothers me so fucking much.  even the more left-leaning side of my family, posting stuff about bernie sanders all day on facebook then telling racist jokes at dinner, or my one cousin sending REALLY racist/sexist/homophobic memes in the cousin group chat.  i’ve stopped responding to the group chat, and i don’t laugh or smile at the jokes, but i’m so pathetic, i’m the worst kind of “ally” because you’re supposed to stand up for people no matter what. but i get so flustered, and i’m bad at even standing up for myself, how can i stand up for others? who aren’t even there and against people i still love? it bothers me so much, makes me so uncomfortable, but i’m so bad at articulating even generic stuff, and i’m too much of a wimp.  

i know they can change, on homophobia alone i know in like 2008ish my parents were “marriage is strictly btwn man & woman no questions asked” then by 2012 they were “ehh... i dont want it called marriage and it’s still weird and stuff, but they are devoted couples and should have the same rights” and now its just kinda... i guess not on their radar as something to be opposed to anymore.  they’re kinda in the “born this way” ideology like “they just cant help it! and they can’t be changed, why be a dick about it?” but still making comments about how “weird” it was when we went to a friend’s son’s wedding-type-ceremony-in-a-state-that-at-the-time-didn’t-have-equal-marriage and making “not that there’s anything wrong with that!” jokes at even the vaguest hint that someone might be (stereotypically) gay

ugghhghgh the best i did to stand up was when my dad was going on about how “clean coal really is” and what a lie climate change is.  like, imo that shouldn’t even be a politicized thing, it should be what we should do about it, not whether or not it exists.

i’m so fucking afraid for the future, pissed beyond description that a shitbag like trump won, but also, how do we get through this? it’s not just one area of government, and with congress and the supreme court in his favor (presumably, although maybe he’ll be too out of line for his own party, even if there’s no evidence of that so far) he’ll pretty much be able to do whatever he wants.

russia- well, i wasn’t around for the cold war, but this is the closest i’ve come to really understanding the cold war history unit (and i had several intense units about it in high school in both american and russian/ussr history classes).  i mean, in theory, we should try to be peaceful with them, but they’re doing shitty things, in their own country and in others, that i don’t agree with.  but those largely don’t apply to us, at least directly, and i don’t think its our job to get involved every time someone does something.  especially not with another nuclear power.  but... they also hacked us.  to what degree, i don’t know, there’s so much swirling around about that, its so difficult to remember what is true and what’s rumor.  but we do know they hacked us in an apparent attempt to swing the election towards trump, even if that’s not what got him elected, even if it wasn’t directly hacking the polls, it was still an attack.  and the fucking president-elect has been beating around the bush about the whole thing, like he and putin are pals, but also no one can control putin like him, like... what?? and then he doesn’t rule out using nuclear weapons, he proposes expanding our arsenal in a fucking TWEET??? 

jesus christ. we are beyond fucked.  i don’t agree with everything any president has said or done.  i wasn’t happy about obama being elected in 2008 (a teenage girl in a small conservative town proud to parrot off whatever her parents or fox news was spouting that day), but i wasn’t scared.  my parents werent scared.  they might have been angry, or bitter, or disappointed, but they weren’t afraid for their safety, or the wellbeing of their friends.  the thought of nuclear war was so far off, and their main concern was money and higher taxes.  buddy, if that’s all you’re worried about, that’s not too bad.  yeah, it isn’t always good, but jesus, now i know the meaning of a bad election result.  

and the thing, to tie it back to my family again, the thing that gets me is no one in my family voted for trump.  not even the staunch conservatives.  they didn’t necessarily vote against him either though, but at least no one liked him.  still just a couple months later they’re defending him.  calling people who are anti-trump special snowflake babies, and the like.  they don’t know my political beliefs, they don’t know i have friends (some of them the same friends since elementary school) that are lgbt, or (heck) even democrats.  they don’t know who i voted for, and they only asked me once; i gave a vague non-answer.  i know my candidates (a fairly enthusiastic bernie sanders voter, turned fairly lukewarm clinton voter/very anti-trump voter) were not perfect, but given our political system it’s not like i had another choice, and i felt i was doing my part.  but hearing them bash not only my candidate/s but their voters on a personal level, saying they should “put plastic bags over their heads” was... yikes.  like i know nasty things are said about trump voters, but those are against people who’d vote for a man who has said downright (and allegedly done!) disgusting things regarding women and minorities.  i have no respect for him (and literally never will. at age 70 if he hasn’t gotten his shit together by now he is irredeemable in my eyes), i try to understand people who voted for him, but its difficult... how do you look past all that?? i know many are desperate, many don’t like him, or whatever, but... dude??? 

there’s no way for him to earn my respect, and people defending him lose my respect as well.  my only consolation is that i still don’t think he’ll last long, and while pence as president would be absolutely horrific, at least it would resemble a presidency.  we would be set back decades, but not into an unfamiliar dystopian future with rampant war and corruption.  its not much of a consolation, but it’s all i have for the next four years. i love my country, but what. the hell. happened. 

#text post #don't reblog #sorting through some thoughts