#i need to look at it from a comedic point of view because it doesn't really work feeling wise especially now that junkyung is clearly

[dysfunctional-doodle]

TMNT FIC RECS

I got someone asking to recommend some angst TMNT fics so I decided to make a list of my own! I’ll recommend some of my favourite fics then a few of mine for those that haven’t read them :)

NOTE - I’m such a Mikey fan that almost all of these are Mikey-centric angst, my bad. Still very very good. Top tier shit:

Ok so I’m going to cut this because this list is massive, please keep reading!!

NOT MY FICS:

Feed Me Poison ‘Til I Drown (TMNT 2007, All Media Types)

Summary: Mikey’s tired of not being taken seriously by his brothers. Karai is very persuasive. As such, Mikey joins the Foot clan…mere months after Leo is sent away for training.

Notes: This is wonderfully written. A what if based on a cancelled TMNT 2 sequel where Mikey joins The Foot due to him feeling unappreciated and a burden. I personally love a unreliable narrator, and this captures that perfectly - you don’t know whether Mikey is being manipulated, or whether his actions (and how antagonistic they get) are of his own free will and not brainwashing. Chefs kiss. (Ao3)

All works by Justalittleobsessed.

All of them are perfect angst ranging from mild injury to absolute gut wrenching angst. Please check all of them out, they are some of my favourites for sure. (Ao3)

Radio Silence (All Media Types)

Summary: Mikey isn’t answering his shell cell, which isn’t like him, prompting his brothers to go look for him; Mikey has no idea what’s going on, but the rain is making nice sounds and moving hurts and there are noises coming from his shell cell that he should probably pay attention to.

Notes: Less angst and more hurt in this one, but still brilliant on capturing exactly how it feels to wake up from a serious injury, alone and confused. Perfectly describes shock and has a decent dosage of comfort after. (Ao3)

Missing Comedic Relief (TMNT 2003, All Media Types)

Summary: Michelangelo is the light of the family, he's always cracking jokes no matter what situation they're in. His family doesn't realize it, but his jokes help keep up the team moral. They always break the tension and make it easier to do what they need to do. So when Mikey isn't part of a mission, his family can't help but notice how empty their team felt. To make matters worse, the reason Mikey isn't part of their mission was because he was missing.

Notes: I love this one because the amount of emotional angst from the brothers not knowing where Mikey is and missing what he means to each of them is just amazingly written. The brothers don’t know where Mikey is but know he’s hurt and in trouble, and it largely follows their point of view as they search everywhere for him. Mikey himself suffers quite a bit too (cage fighting against a bunch of Purple Dragons, not fun) and it ends with comfort! Huzzah! (Ao3)

The T Subjects (ROTTMNT)

Summary: Mikey and Don face their worst fears when they're separated from their brothers by ruthless scientists.

Notes: If you want angst, this is the place to go, seriously. Explores the terrifying reality of what would happen when any of the turtles get captured by scientists who want nothing more than to study them. It’s heartbreaking reading about how Donnie is trying to keep it together for Mikey, but ultimately fails when he is separated from his youngest brother. And Mikey - god, he goes through it too much. His childlike faith in Donnie and genuine fear is written so well.

I will note that this is private, so you can only read it if you have an ao3 account.

I’ve Been Afraid of Changing (TMNT 2007, though can be read as general)

Summary: “You can’t make me go,” Mikey blurts, too loud. “I won’t. I don’t want to.”

“Jesus,” Donnie mutters, rubbing his forehead. He’s already so fed-up with Mikey after like three seconds of conversation that Mikey can feel his eyes start to sting. “The last thing I want to do is fight with you, Mike. I thought you liked Cowabunga Carl.”

It’s not fair. Donnie’s so smart. He’s tired and overworked and unhappy, but he’s smart. How can he get this one thing so wrong? How can he not know Mikey as well as he used to, like all of those years of being each other’s best friends and co-conspirators and secret-keepers from where they were relegated to the “B Team” aren’t as intrinsic and important and fundamental to him as they are to Mikey? How can he look at Mikey, right in the face, and not understand him at all? Something breaks.

Notes: a kind of AU of the TMNT 2007 movie where Mikey develops depression/has a mental breakdown due to how the other brothers have drifted apart. His birthday is forgotten, Donnie and Raph keep fighting, he hates his job - and he can’t take it anymore. It’s horrible reading Mikey’s breakdown, but it ends on a much happier note! If you want emotional angst this is FULL of it. (Ao3)

Nothing is Ever Simple (TMNT 2003, All Media Types)

Summary: When breaking up an arms' deal goes bad, Mikey is taken and Raphael is on the trail of his brother's kidnappers. You don't mess with family.

Notes: Mikey gets kidnapped and Raph is left following a small trail to find him. This fic is one of my favourites because of the way it focuses a lot on Raph and his own personal demons, and how much Mikey means to him. Also, Mikey gets tortured in a twisted way, and seeing him never give in is always a plus in the old angst book. Overall, though it seems it’s about Mikey it’s mostly about Raph. His own reflections, fears and loyalties to family. (Ao3)

Never Really Over (ROTTMNT)

What appears to be another routine Purple Dragons bust takes a devastating turn when one of the brothers gets infected with leftover krang sludge. Or; kraangified Mikey

Notes: what can I say about this one apart from Mikey gets kraangified. It’s peak angst, I promise. Absolutely amazing, read it. (Ao3)

That’s where the blood is supposed to be! (ROTTMNT)

Summary: Sometimes, you just get hit a little too hard (aka: mikey blames everything on low blood sugar for ~4K words)

Notes: Mikey is seriously injured but doesn’t tell anyone due to the high tensions between Raph and Leo. Come on - physical and emotional angst? Sign me up! Very good and accurate descriptions of injury and gore, and the build up of this one is just perfect. You know something is horribly wrong, and it’s torture. Poor Mikey. (Ao3)

A Change In Outbreak (TMNT 2003)

Summary: Shredder showed us that there are there infinite number of realities, thousands of dimension and each of them differ from the last when it came to the turtle brothers. This one is no different then the one we've known our Turtles to be part of, however there is one little detail, one small thing that's different. Instead of Donnie getting mutated, it's Mikey.

Notes: long time fans probably all know about this fanfic, it’s a classic! Based on the original idea that Mikey would be double mutated in the Good Genes arc rather than Donnie, it retells the events if Mikey had indeed been infected. It keeps it fresh by adding new elements and plot points, as well as a lot of angst surrounding the brothers after seeing their youngest and heart be reduced to a monster. Plenty of emotional and physical angst all round, it’s perfect. (Ao3)

Heated Arguments Don’t Warm a Frozen Family (TMNT 2003, All Media Types)

Summary: “He’s gotta be around here somewhere, I just kno-“ he suddenly tripped over an object buried in the snow.

“GaH!” Leo shuddered, pulling himself up quickly and brushing off the cold substance.

“Leo???”

Looking back to see what it was that caused his fall, his heart nearly launched into his throat. “Oh no.”

“Leo, what’s wrong?!” Raph’s voice echoed again from the phone.

Leo got onto his knees, ignoring the cold snow that he initially was avoiding. He anxiously brushed away a few inches of loose fluffy snow to see the familiar pattern of a shell. “Shit-“ He muttered under his breath “Get Donnie and come to my location now!”

“What’s going on?! We’re on our way now!” Raph sounded like he was already running.

“I found Mikey.” Leo’s voice cracked as he hung up the phone before Raphael could respond.

Notes: one of the first fics I read on this fandom and still one of my favourites. Lots of emotional and physical, Mikey centric angst in this one! (Ao3)

Everything by BrightLotusMoon

Seriously, they got me into this fandom from a casual watcher to artist and fanfic writer! Full of Mikey angst, and creator of the Empath! Mikey head cannon that lives rent free in my head and has inspired many of my own material! Read them all, they’re all bangers.

Revenge Always Tastes Sweet (But the Aftertaste is Bitter (ROTTMNT)

Summary: Actions have consequences and they come back with a vengeance when it's least expected. A trip to the Hidden City gives one of the brothers a taste of just how deadly making enemies with a yokai can be.

Notes: What, not Mikey angst?? Not this time - Donnie gets the full angst attack when he gets poisoned from an unknown enemy. Lots of well described hurt, end it has a happy ending! (Ao3)

Hyperactive Hyperthermia (ROTTMNT)

Summary: Snow day ruined for the second year in a row! They had expected a break, but they really couldn't ever catch one. How could they have known mystic fire was so uncontrollable?Maybe standing on the ice lake was the first bad idea.

---

OR: The brothers go out for a snow day, but it quickly goes south after multiple avalanches and other shenanigans leaves Mikey without any winter clothing and trapped with Donnie under the snow.

Notes: this one…this one is heartbreaking, honestly. You have to read about Donnie being trapped with a freezing Mikey, and he knows this but is helpless to do anything but watch it happen. The emotional angst in this kicks you deep in the gut, it’s terrible I love it. (ao3)

Nowhere Boy (TMNT 2003, can be read as general)

Summary: He was twelve years old, and he realized that his dreams were always the same. Every single one. "We need you. We'll find you," those indistinct figures would say, their eyes glinting in the darkness, shadows stretching out to him like hands. But he always woke up before they reached him.

Notes: I LOVE this one. It has lived with me ever since I read it, something about it is so heartbreaking. It explores the feeling of being lost despite not knowing why, and how much you miss someone despite never knowing them. It actually inspired a fic of my own, which I will link in my own fics list. I don’t want to spoil it, but please read it. Mikey centric angst heaven (ao3)

Unfamiliar Familiar (ROTTMNT/TMNT 2012 Crossover)

Summary: What the hell is Michelangelo supposed to do? Having woken up in a strange world with new brothers? Why is everyone here so nice? Why won’t they let him leave? The Rise brothers stumble upon a traumatized Mikey, and when they learn the reason behind all that trauma, there is no way they’ll let him experience that again.

TLDR: Rise brothers adopt 2012 Mikey

Notes: I am a sucker for slight 2012 bashing and this one fulfils it without being overly mean. 2012 Mikey has been traumatised by his brothers and his enemies, and finally gets the chance to heal and start again when he is thrown into the rise universe. Very popular fic, I highly suggest you read it despite it not being complete. So much emotional angst I swear. (Ao3)

Going under (ROTTMNT)

Summary: “Have a pleasant swim, little turtle!” they snicker.

Mikey’s eyes widen.

“NO!”

Then, he feels weightless.

He’s falling.

And falling.

And then —

His body hits the water with a loud splash and his vision flashes white.

Notes: Mikey almost drowns. Peak angst. (Ao3)

Sunshine in the Rain (ROTTMNT)

Summary: After a mission gone wrong, Michelangelo is taken by a government scientist named Bishop, how will he respond to this new environment, and more importantly, will his brothers be able to save him before he breaks? Let the game begin.

Notes: Mikey sacrificing himself to save his brothers from Bishop? Yes please, and thank you author. Seriously, this has it all - introducing Bishop in the rise universe, and Leatherhead! Of course, lots of angst in the form of experimentation. But that’s what we’re here for, right? (Ao3)

Quicksand (All Media Types)

Summary: Trapped in darkness, no one can hear you, no one can see you, no one knows where you are. The cold lingers, the fear rises, who will help us? Who even knows we are down here? The only people who might know are probably dead. Help us, someone please help…

Notes: Mikey and Donnie get trapped in a collapsing lair when earthquakes year apart their home. Leo and Raph are the only ones that can get to them, but the snow storm is stopping them. This is so brutal in the way NO ONE gets a break, the angst just keeps coming. Everyone gets it. I love it. Read it (fanfiction.net)

Ghosts of New York Past (TMNT 2003)

Summary: The turtles and Splinter have been transported 100 years into the future through Cody Jones' time window. Future New York is a lot to take in. But when the dust settles and the sun goes down, the big unanswered question is still there: how are they supposed to fit into a time that doesn't belong to them?

Notes: light angst, exploring the more emotional and wise side of Mikey that we don’t see often in the show. (Fanfiction.net)

Questioning Choices (TMNT 2003, All Media Types)

Summary: A fun family trip to the beach turns ugly when Michelangelo is injured and his brothers have to make difficult decisions that go against their morals in order to save him.

Notes: I don’t know why but I love this one too much. Mike’s slowly getting worked whilst the brothers have to go against their morals and steal from an ambulance? Perfection. (fanfiction.net)

Suffered to Slumber (All Media Types)

Summary: "Breathe quick, breathe slow, put the gun in your mouth and pull the trigger. Any way you like, you're gonna die down here."

Notes: this one is also BRUTAL. Mikey getting buried alive? It’s all the angst you think and somehow more.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (TMNT 2003)

Summary: What was supposed to be a pleasant Christmas Eve with family and friends suddenly turns to one of terror and uncertainty for the turtles. Will they make it through this Christmas together? Or will one fall?

Notes: one of my favourites. Mikey can’t keep out of trouble on Christmas Eve, and ends up paying the price this time. (Fanfiction.net)

It’s Much More Complicated (All Media Types)

Summary: After a late night patrol, Mikey falls ill. At first it's nothing to worry about, but something that seemed to be harmless turns into a race of life and death.

Notes: we love our favourite character getting deadly sick

An Agonising Secret (All Media Types)

Summary: Mikey tries to hide an injury from his brothers, but soon discovers that it wasn't as harmless as he thought it was...

Notes: more hidden injury? Yes please. I highly suggest look at this authors other works as well, lots of angst

Underdark (TMNT 2003, can he read as general)

Summary: He's hanging upside down in the middle of the great underdark, weighed down by a half hysterical turtle in the middle of a bunch of pipes and water and rock that are conspiring to kill us both off, and Leo still manages to sound like he Has A Plan.

Notes: do I need to even introduce this classic? Everyone knows it, it’s amazing.

MY OWN FICS

Helpless (TMNT 2003):

Summary: “No one comes. No one swoops in at the last second, nor does he manage to break the cuffs at the perfect moment. Instead, there is a collective shriek from the beasts below him as they all lunge forward in a hungered wave, their curled claws scraping against his scales and hideous jaws dripping with froth and drool.

Heart racing, Michelangelo hisses at the rodents. However, his warning is ignored by their destructive hunger. The hiss cuts off into a yelp when the first rat bites down on the exposed area between his skin and his shell, its grimy paws digging the pink flesh underneath away.”

What if, in the episode I, Monster, Mikey didn’t get out of the restraints in time? What if he was left, helpless against hoards of rats with no one to help?

TLDR: Mikey gets attacked by rats. It doesn’t end well. What can I say, I’m in a horror mood.

I’m Lost (But I Don’t Know Why) (TMNT 2003)

Summary: “He is mourning the loss of someone he never knew, doesn’t know, but it hurts all the same. He thinks back to the nunchucks, and the orange tape wrapped around them. The comic books hidden under the couch. The extra plate that he sets up everyday, has been for the past three weeks. The gap in their formation.

Missing, missing, missing, his mind chants, but he can’t know what. He’s lost, and can’t remember why.”

There have always been four of them - Donatello, Raphael, himself and his father. Or at least, that’s what Leonardo had thought. But something is missing. They are mourning the loss of another they have never even known. They are lost. But why?

TLDR: a curse makes everyone forget Michelangelo. Leonardo knows there’s something missing, but he doesn’t know why.

All I Ever Wanted (TMNT 2003)

Summary: Donatello vowed that the future he had seen would never occur. He wouldn’t let it. But he’s failed. He’s failed, because Mikey is bleeding out beneath him, his arm severed under a stormy sky. And no help is coming in time.

TLDR: Perhaps the future will not repeat itself, but it can rhyme. How Mikey, despite Donatello’s efforts, loses his arm in the cannon timeline.

Hunted (TMNT 2003, can be read as general)

Summary: What starts out as a late night adventure in the woods beside the farmhouse turns deadly when a group of hunters catch Mikey off guard. Alone and wounded, Mikey struggles to find his way to safety.

TLDR: Mikey is chased by a group of hunters with no way to contact his brothers.

The Shoebox (ROTTMNT)

Summary: Post “Snow Day”, Mikey tearing his coat has drastic consequences that result in him freezing and slipping into brumation.

TLDR: Box turtles, when hibernating, can have no detectable pulse or heartbeat. None of Mikey’s brothers are aware of this and believe that they have just watched their youngest brother die.

Don’t Wander Off (Stay Where You Are) (ROTTMNT)

Summary: Box turtles will keep walking in attempt to find their home if they ever get lost, even if they die doing it. Mikey shares that same instinct.

When he gets lost, he keeps walking. He finds home.

TLDR: Mikey centric angst where he keeps walking despite growing weaker.

Promise (ROTTMNT)

Summary: After the events of the movie, Mikey discovers that, with the increase in his mystic power, he gains the ability to see the future. However, every time he does, he forgets some of his present.

Year after year, a gift twists into a curse, crumbling the relationships between brothers and ultimately ending in a terrible price. But Mikey made a promise all those years ago, and intends to keep it.

TLDR: Mikey sees the future until he forgets everything of his present.

Vs The World (ROTTMNT)

Summary: The Kraang almost-invasion has been hard on the entire family. Michelangelo knows this, and knows he needs to be the one that keeps them all together, like stubborn orange glue.

But his brothers aren’t talking. They aren’t leaving their rooms, trapped in their own traumas. Mikey tries - so, so hard - but the silence is suffocating. He leaves the lair, only to find a stray cat left for dead. And suddenly, he isn’t alone anymore. But he is still breaking, slowly.

TLDR: Mikey find Klunk in the Rise universe whilst dealing with trauma and depression. I am bad at summaries, so give it a quick read if you want.

Wow, this is long. Happy reading @nat06cas, @brightlotusmoon and @sparklingsunkissedsoul and everyone else!

#tmnt #rottmnt #rise of the tmnt #save rottmnt #tmnt fanfiction #fanfic #tmnt fanfic #rottmnt fanfiction #rottmnt fanfic #tmnt fic #tmnt fic recs #fic recs #fanfiction recommendation #tmnt fanfic recs #fanfic rec #angst #probably too much angst #ao3 fanfic #tmnt fandom #rottmnt fandom #tmnt mikey #tmnt donnie #tmnt leo #tmnt raph #rottmnt donnie #rottmnt mikey #rottmnt leo #rottmnt raph #tmnt 2003 #tmnt 2k3

[funnywormz]

Did we ever get that rimmer gender analysis you promised us 🥺🥺🥺 if we did I missed it and I'm so sad and crying

I'M SO SORRY IT TOOK ME LIKE A WEEK TO ANSWER THIS ANON.......i can't quite remember, i think i may have done a small post abt it but it wasn't as detailed as i wanted??? sorry my memory for most stuff is pretty awful rip........

since i'm thinking abt it again now i will put a little rimmer gender ramble under the cut!! it's kinda repeating stuff that i've said in other posts but it's how i feel abt him and his identity, i hope you like it!!!! apologies if it doesn't make sense my brain has been full of sludge lately

OK SO. i think that masculinity has always been a very important part of rimmer's life, but a very toxic form of it. it's clear that his parents prioritised his brothers over him partly because they embodied more traditionally masculine traits, like confidence and physical strength. growing up, rimmer got the message from his parents that to be masculine was to be admired and loved. his parents abused him, and his brothers bullied him, and i think that although rimmer resents them for it he also sees it as being his fault?

i think it's because of this pressure he felt to be gender conforming growing up, that he feels he needs to force himself into some kind of macho man role. he fails at it miserably, and it's obviously not his true self, but he tries to keep it up because at his root, rimmer really does just want to be loved. growing up his parents showed him that their love was conditional, and he assumes everyone else is that way too, so he tries to shape himself into someone he thinks is lovable. unfortunately it only leads to unhappiness for everyone involved bc he's obviously putting up a front but he resents anyone who tries to pry it away.

rimmer's attempts at masculinity are clearly ridiculous, to the point where the show makes fun of him for it too. he's a coward, he's very petty and picky, the show takes every opportunity it can to have him crossdress, and it's sort of a running joke that lister's dick is bigger than his. to anyone around him, it's pretty clear that rimmer is often trying to pretend that he's someone he's not, and the show makes it a comedic thing a lot of the time.

rimmer doesn't know it's obvious, though. he's certainly not good at reading or understanding other people (i also heavily hc him as autistic but that's a post for another day), and i think a lot of the time he assumes he's successfully fooling everyone when he isn't. rimmer also has a longstanding habit of lying and then doubling down when he gets caught in the lie, even if it involves him doing something he finds unpleasant. i think his gender is one of those cases. his attempts at masculinity are "lies", but when that's pointed out to him he refuses to admit it even when it's clear he's putting up a front. admitting that he's not masculine would be, in his mind, admitting that he isn't worth his parents' (or anyone else's) love, and he can't stand that thought.

it's pretty telling, though, that whenever rimmer's inhibitions are removed or part of his hidden inner self is revealed, it's often feminine. when rimmer was infected with the holovirus, it seems like practically the first thing he did was put a dress on. wearing gingham dresses is NOT a universal holovirus thing. dr langstrom definitely wasn't wearing one. that's a RIMMER thing.

when the crew meet the "low" versions of themselves in demons and angels, while all of the other characters get relatively generic "evil" versions of themselves, low rimmer is basically wearing sexy lingerie with a dominatrix look and openly flirts with lister. considering that the lows are all meant to express the parts of the characters that they hate or view as the worst parts of themselves, i think it's a very direct (albeit unintentional?) way of showing rimmer's internalised homophobia and transphobia towards himself.

it's ALSO telling that rimmer specifically accuses ace of doing both gay and feminine things, like "wearing women's underwear" and "whipping the house boy". after all, ace IS rimmer. rimmer resents ace for being a better version of himself, and the most cutting insults he can think of for HIMSELF are insinuating that ace is gnc. stinks of projection to me. i think kryten agreed too, in dimension jump he almost seems to point out that rimmer is projecting before he's interrupted.

for most of the series, rimmer is, to me, someone who is miserable abt being potentially queer and is attempting to suppress it. however, the promised land changes this.

in the promised land, rimmer initially resents his status as a hologram, but by the end of the movie he wears it as a badge of pride. likewise, his hero-sona the "mighty light" is kinda campy, he's wearing sparkly tight fitting clothes with expertly styled hair and all. you could definitely read the promised land's rimmer arc as a metaphor for him accepting himself for being queer, but i would argue there's a self acceptance there that goes deeper. perhaps he's finally accepted that he can be admired AND be more feminine. it's not a big step forward but it's SOMETHING.

rimmer's identity as a hologram is also something tpl reckons with. rimmer fully grapples with realising that his "true" self is dead, that he isn't "real". i think that gender could be a part of it. the movie doesn't touch on it at ALL, to be clear, but as rimmer learns to be confident in who he is now and embrace his status as a hologram, i can't help but feel that his connection to strict gender roles must have also lessened. after all, gender and sex are very human concepts, and he isn't human anymore. being a hologram, he could change his body and voice any time he wanted (or at least any time holly felt like being nice lol). him being a man seems sorta irrelevant in that context. he's out in the middle of space with the last human being left alive. i don't think that a strong sense of gender identity could even really be possible for him when he's so isolated from the world that invented those things, and when he has the ability to play around with it so easily.

this last part is definitely projection, but i just feel like being a hologram has gotta eventually lead to a more nonbinary identity. so much of what we consider sex and gender to be is tied up in our perceptions and interactions and what we feel is expected of us. rimmer doesn't have that anymore. human society is gone, he isn't even human himself........ his parents are dead, too. why should he keep on playing this charade with himself that he doesn't even believe in?

i'm not necessarily sure that canon rimmer would have the self reflection abilities to realise any of this stuff, but in my mind he becomes more comfortable with being nonbinary and queer after tpl. it feels like a natural progression from accepting his status as a hologram to accepting the other parts of himself he used to hate, y’know?

ANYWAYS, i think that's all i can really say on the topic at the moment. this post isn't really an analysis, more of a word vomit about my personal headcanons and things i've noticed. still, i hope you enjoyed reading it and knowing my thoughts about the Rimmer Gender Situation lol. if anyone wants to add anything feel free, but please be nice

#arnold rimmer #arnold judas rimmer #arnold j rimmer #red dwarf

[what-do-1000-swords-look-like]

I just read a few odd justification posts about why it was okay that Daemon ignored Rhaenyra calling out for him when she was in labor, and even more appallingly why it was okay for Daemon to choke Rhaenyra the way he did, one even going so far as to say he didn't mean to hurt her but to "bring her to her senses". That if he really wanted to hurt her then he would have crushed her windpipe.

While I appreciate these people's attempts to look at the situation objectively and investigate/analyze Daemon's motives as well as Rhaenyra's, as well as delve deeper into their characters...how can his actions be justified?

Why? Because he's played by a very talented and attractive actor? Because this is the common coddling of a Targaryen villain a la Daenerys style? I truly don't understand why this justification is done when grooming, greed for power, and now abuse are right in your face. But okay, I'll jump on that hot mess of a train for a second.

Let's start with what the showrunners have actually said regarding Daemon and Rhaenyra's relationship before they were married.

Anyone remember this scene?

Not only did it feel like a massive grooming scene to me but the showrunners confirmed it was! Daemon led Rhaenyra down there not only because he was trying to show her that sex was a pleasurable act which she could enjoy on the side when doing her duty/marrying, but also because he was trying to get her under his control. The showrunners literally say that Daemon left her the way he did because she was enjoying it and that turned him off.

Sound like the hero of the hour to you? A true prince? An all around good guy? You don't need to bring your personal experiences to the table to know that this is not only icky but not a good start between them or earmarks of a forming healthy relationship. It also becomes very apparent here that Rhaenyra is far more into Daemon (and is mystified by him and what she's feeling) than he is into her. He views her as a tool, as a key to the IT and also to piss off/get back at Viserys.

Now, delving deeper into the story, let's also look at this objectively:

Rhaenyra is now the proclaimed heir to the IT. While it might seem all romantic to some that Daemon is sneaking her out of the Red Keep, let's focus on the really important points. Rhaenyra is not only at risk but she also has a reputation to maintain. It sucks but it's true. In that world, as we see play out later in the episode, she does.

Then we see how the people in KL really feel about her being named heir, and we see this almost comedic moment where Rhaenyra reacts to what she's hearing. The point being: the people in KL's streets do not like her or support her. This increases the danger she's in should anyone recognize her (which is exactly why her hair is hidden at first when they sneak out). And even if Daemon jumps in to protect her, he is one man against a city of people (and let's not forget that Caraxes and Syrax are not as big as Drogon or Vhagar & is most likely in the dragonpit). We saw how easily Rhaenys got swept away from Erryk in the crowds in 1x09.

Knowing this, Daemon still decides to not only take Rhaenyra out but to push forward. Then they end up at the brothel: Daemon's target destination all along. And sure enough, we see him put his plan into action.

But to his dismay, Rhaenyra seems to be enjoying herself more than she is shocked or frightened or appalled. And then he does the unthinkable: he leaves her! All alone, defenseless, with no weapon to defend herself or with anyone capable of defending her should someone attempt to hurt her, take her hostage, or force themselves on her.

She is the proclaimed heir to the King on the IT, to be the next ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, and he just leaves her. Because she was enjoying what he was showing her. Because she was too into it. And he not only leaves her, but then goes and gets drunk. He doesn't give a flying fig about Rhaenyra's safety or wellbeing in that moment. Great guy, yes? Uncle of the year.

Then we see this scene:

Daemon's true motive comes to light completely here. He wanted to sully Rhaenyra's reputation, so she would be forced to marry. But he was betting that Viserys would be so desperate to marry her off that he would marry her to him. He used to be the heir to the IT; now she is. The math isn't that hard to do. If he marries Rhaenyra, he will be that much closer to the IT, in a different way coming from a different angle (King Consort and we already know he had no problem killing one wife), but once Viserys dies, Rhaenyra will be the only one standing between Daemon and the IT. Daemon's ambition, his goal is the IT and ensuring House Targaryen not only remains in power but that they are the most powerful family of all, if not in Westeros then the world. His idea of their house is very similar to Daenerys. (and we all know how that went) He even says as much. He wants to marry Rhaenyra and they can restore House Targaryen to its former glory. In laymen's terms, he is tired of the peace keeping and "working together"; he wants to dominate and he wants the Targaryens to be the top dog even more than they are now.

Even Viserys knows this: "Of course, it's not my daughter you lust for, is it? It's my throne."

But, as we know, Viserys doesn't give him what he wants and Rhaenyra is made to marry someone else. That doesn't stop him from wanting that goal to happen, though.

So even though it's Rhaenyra that convinces him to come back to the fold and to marry, that goal has never truly gone away. The showrunners have said that he was happy to be away from the Westerosi politics when married to Laena and he was across the sea. (this is what makes for a truly dynamic, rich, and multi-layered character a la GRRM style but it doesn't justify abuse, for starters) But then he was back in it. Don't think for one second that he didn't have that goal in mind when agreeing to marry Rhaenyra and they married in the old way.

Am I saying that Daemon is a villain through and through? No, I"m not. Like I said above, he is a multi-faceted and very grey character, which imho is what makes his story so compelling for people to watch, besides Matt Smith's incredible portrayal and charisma on screen. But let's not bury his actions (and motives) under the rug because he's good looking or is half of your preferred ship in the show or carries the name Targaryen.

That being said, choking someone is never okay. That's not bringing personal experiences to the table or viewing any media through that lens, it's facts. For example, how common was it back in the old days of media, in classic films and such, to see a woman get slapped by a man? Or how about Ralph Kramden's constant threat towards Alice? People viewing those pieces of media back then thought it commonplace (and in Ralph's case laughable) because back then, no matter how horrible the truth of it is, it was commonplace. Today's society knows better and yes, while we're watching a fictional show based on medieval times and we are well aware of it, that doesn't change the fact that we know this action to be wrong. Just like Daenerys massacring King's Landing. No matter where you fall on that line, that is a war crime (not something to be excited to watch or something to celebrate btw); it's wrong. Had Daenerys been real and done that in this world, no one would think it's cool and justified. How do you justify burning innocent children alive?

We can enjoy pieces of media that are fictional. We can root for our favorite characters. You are certainly entitled to your opinions. But you negate that when you say that you feel people are "overreacting" to not being on board with Daemon putting his hand on Rhaenyra's throat and applying pressure, to the point where she is struggling to breathe. That wasn't some kinky form of foreplay. She never consented to him taking that action. That's a form of violence against this supposed love of his life, that has already been confirmed in the show (through the dialogue and sequences shown) and by the showrunners did not start as this great big love story, this true romance.

For example, if Jon ever did to Dany what Daemon did to Rhaenyra, y'all would've been calling for his head. Hell, look at the reaction to what Jon ended up deciding to do in 8x06. And that's completely hypocritical of you. The goal posts don't move when it comes to abuse and violence against women by men. The rules don't change.

So I think people calling it for what it is are not overreacting and are actually seeing what is wrong with the Daemrya relationship (as the show intended), how ambitious Daemon is (similar to Dany in that they they have this grand delusion of what it means to be a Targaryen in relation to power vs the world around them), and how this will negatively affect things going forward. There is a definite power struggle there, and Daemon didn't only get frustrated by Rhaenyra's decision to stay her hand; he got frustrated because he wasn't the one in charge aka the heir aka the one sitting on the IT which is why we got the Daemon and Jacaerys scene which led to the "true loyalty" scene. It not only gave us more insight into Daemon's character moving forward, but it also showed us that he has a very different idea on how he wants to rule vs Rhaenyra. (and now with what happened to Luc, we'll see if her ruling style will now closely resemble his or if she'll let him unleash on the Hightowers) Before Luc's death, Daemon was all war and Rhaenyra was peace.

Regardless of how Rhaenyra is from this point on, it doesn't take away from the fact of what happened in that room on Dragonstone between her and Daemon. That scene shouldn't be justified or explained away. It was wrong, plain and simple. The show is not dancing around it. They showed it to you point blank, with both Matt's and Emma's performances. They don't need to "address it" because it is what it is: a scene where Daemon starts to show his true colors. Do I think that Daemon doesn't love his family? No. I think he does love them (which has also been shown to us throughout the season), but that love is twisted by his own ambition and delusions of grandeur. Which is even more interesting considering his line of "Dreams didn't make us kings; dragons did." And he's right, but as much as he criticizes Viserys for having dreams, he has his own. It just isn't the same.

I almost wonder how a meeting between Daemon and Daenerys would go, if that were even possible due to some time warp or something. I know that's not this type of story but for a moment, I like to imagine what it would be like. I feel like they would definitely have some things in common for sure. And then it would be Dance of Dragons 3.0 because neither would give up the IT to the other, especially Dany.

But, I digress. My point is: while you're entitled to your opinion and you can certainly have different viewpoints, it's a slippery slope to justify an act of abuse, fictional or not. Don't do that. Ship who you ship, enjoy the characters you enjoy, but don't do that. And certainly don't say others are overreacting (who disagree with your viewpoint) in the same breath you're saying that your opinions need to be respected.

It doesn't matter why he grabbed her that way (he did it not only to get his point across to her in that tyrannic way but also because he was pissed that Viserys told her something he never told Daemon when he was the heir which is what Rhaenyra also picks up on & Daemon's reaction cements it).

Daemon was wrong.

End of story.

#i can't believe it's 2022 and tagaryen villainy is still being stanned and justified #even when there's a choking scene #anti daemyra #hotd #house of the dragon #hotdposts #daemon critical #putting that tag to be safe #i'm not anti daemon #i just call it like i see it

[lilyandthegenshinbrainrot]

My most personal and intimate thoughts on Venti are so incredibly biased and based on myself but whatever

Venti is someone who places his value on his abilities, to care for his people, to keep up his bard’s legacy, to live up to Mondstadt's expectations. He is only as good as what he can give, and so Venti gives his all. His body in honor of the bard who never saw the blue sky, his voice to his children as he plays for them daily, his efforts in both encouraging the heroes into action and keeping up their spirits, and his time is given freely to anyone who seeks it from him. All of his actions are done by for the benefit of others and, maybe, to keep their eyes on him just a little longer.

He is also a character that I can very easily see myself in. A relationship early in life that defines how every other relationship is perceived, a shared grief of being other and alone from the people that used to be there, an imposter syndrome born from having expectations of great and mighty things and then struggling to meet those standards before tossing them for something that is met with little support, a strong sense of justice and free-will to the point of not understanding why certain things are allowed.

Venti is met with scorn and disapproval from most of the characters he's associated with, and whenever he is confronted by such, he flounders. This furthers his identity issues, as he doesn't seem to have lasting relationships on equal grounds, his most influential and positive relationships are with mortals. This relationships are unequal, with the power dynamic and lie that comes with God pretending to be Human. So, Venti is lonely. His relationship with Rex Lapis seems strained, neither of them regard the other particularly fondly but they aren't antagonistic. His relationship with Raiden Shogun is also distant, as they have fundamentally opposing views. He doesn't have friends that he can be emotionally vulnerable with. All his friends that he has been emotionally vulnerable with died after like fifty years. He's so mentally ill.

(It does not help that Hoyoverse cannot decide how they want him to be perceived by the fandom, as he is mocked and met with surprise whenever he is insightful in events but he is held in high regard and with kind understanding in the archon and story quests.)

So let's recap: we have self-worth issues, survivor's guilt, imposter syndrome, depression, and repressed/unprocessed emotions!!

Let's talk about his self-destructive habits. Venti is used as a comedic relief, except a handful of times when he is needed as Barbatos, the humor is found in his alcohol misuse. He is frequently seen intoxicated and looking for his next drink. I will not be going into detail about this as it's gen, but these implications are frequently seen in someone who is unhappy or uncomfortable with their present life, someone looking for an escape. He is a liar, a thief, unavailable, and hedonistic. All under the guise of freedom. I think that he truly believes that he is free in all his ways, and that he doesn't think that there's a better life simply because that life has never lasted for him. It's good for a few decades, and then his favorite human dies and he sleeps away his reopened wound of unprocessed grief. Which brings me to my second point, his frequent naps. Barbatos is known for sleeping for long periods of time, my best knowledge being his recent 500 year nap when he slept away the poisonous effects of Abyssal Magic from the corrupted dragon Durin. He is also known for napping for a long period of time after he reshaped Mondstadt's landscape and set his people free. I would diagnose him with sleeping to avoid confronting his emotional problems.

I see my own flawed coping mechanisms in the way that Venti represses his grief and loneliness, acting like a friend to all without opening up to one. I recognize his patterns of isolation and depression in the way he either makes himself busy or scarce depending on the day. He is wise, and capable of hard conversations and even harder decisions, but he is also afraid of the consequences of his actions. I see myself in the way he is willing to take on difficult and overwhelming responsibilities, but fail to do it correctly alone, as he did with Dvalin's purification in the beginning. 

He is very important to me, and I hope that he is treated kindly as the game continues.

#venti #venti genshin impact #genshin impact lore #genshin impact #lily's rambles #character analysis

[morganaspendragonss]

alright, i have slept, i have thought, i have done my normal wednesday stuff. so here it is.

firstly, thank you all the anons who sent me messages. i'm really sorry but i can't reply to them all individually, and many of them are along the same themes anyway, so consider this my reply to all of you. there may be some asks i do reply to separately because they're about a slightly different topic, but on the whole i can't.

i'm not mad anymore. i don't have the mental space, time, or energy to be mad about fiction right now. that being sad, i can't pretend to like this plotline and i am extremely uncomfortable with it. tarlos has always been presented as a strong couple who do have their flaws, yes, and they fight and they fuck up - but overall they have a good, healthy relationship

this has blown that to pieces.

tim says this has been in the work since season 1? well, maybe so. but they didn't lay any groundwork - they even cut that scene with carlos talking about iris in 1.05 - and the way they have developed these characters over the past three years does not match up with carlos being secretly married. i mean, we've also been told that carlos knew as soon as he saw tk in the pilot that he was going to marry him. sure, he thought iris was dead at the time, but that was revealed as wrong before tk and carlos properly began their relationship.

i'm actually fine with the marriage. i can even get past carlos staying married. usamerican healthcare sucks, it was the only way he could help her, fine.

what is upsetting me is that tk didn't know.

and you know what? maybe i do see the point about characterisation, because carlos has been proven to be somebody who doesn't fully think his actions through when it comes to helping the people he loves and he will do things that aren't particularly morally correct. but there is a huge difference between buying the loft and hiding a whole marriage from his literal fiancé.

by the start of s4, tk and carlos have presumably been engaged for several weeks, if not several months (and tim tends to work on a real life timeline so it's probably a safe enough bet that it's been seven months). even if you thought you had over a year to sort the issue out, that is a disgusting amount of time to hide an existing marriage from YOUR FIANCÉ and it's deeply unfair, not only to tk but also to iris.

(mostly to tk though)

there's literally no getting around that he deserved to know from the very beginning of their relationship. or at least from when it started to get properly serious. definitely from when they moved in together and by the time they were engaged......far, far overdue.

so, i guess i lied. i am mad. and i'm mad that tk didn't get to be mad, but after everything.... look, it's hard to parallel between this and the breakup or between this and 3.13 because they're all very different situations. so all i'm going to say is that tk has shouldered the blame (from both fandom and show) for basically everything, and carlos has been allowed to be angry and passive aggressive - in 3.13 it was even played off as comedic which honestly boils my blood because i've been in that situation on tk's side and, believe me, it's not fun.

i don't want tk to yell at carlos. i don't want another blow up. all i want is for tk to get to say - what you've done has hurt me deeply and i need some time to think. we will get through this and i know your heart was in (more or less) the right place, but you have fucked up and this does change things between us.

i will keep watching the show; i know i said i might quit should this happen but that was when i was sure it wouldn't. i'm in too deep to quit, we all know that. we'll see how they handle this. but it has certainly changed how i view carlos and the tarlos relationship, because now we have to look back over three full seasons, knowing carlos was lying to tk the entire time

#if anyone read all this congratulations #i'll review anon asks when i get home and try and answer a couple #911 lone star #lone star spoilers #ls season 4 spoilers #fandom discourse

[erisenyo]

4, 2 and 7???

2. How do you come up with your plot ideas?

For me, it usually starts with a particular scene or moment that catches my interest and builds from there by thinking through what would bring events to that point.

To use my Zukki series as an example, it started (via chat with Ash haha) with a scene--Sokka and Suki are trying to pick Zuko up, Zuko is oblivious to the point of absurdity, like they could skinny-dig in front of him and he would find a way to think it was just a friendship activity, and probably try to drown himself from embarrassment, and they'd try to rescue him and do CPR, and he'd be like moaning into it but also trying to hide his not-friends-boner--

So okay, we have this scene, and it's comedic. What would make it funnier? > If Sokka and Suki have been trying to pick him up for a while and they're at their wits end, just getting naked in front of him and seeing if that works.

Why would Zuko be oblivious to that extent? > Because he's actively working against himself, because he thinks he's going to ruin their friendship.

Why would he be worried about ruining friendships when Suki's practically sitting on his face? > Because he thinks his desire would be unwanted--like if he thinks Suki and Sokka are dating.

Why would he think they're dating? > Because he misread some exchange years ago and has been rolling with the assumption.

Why hasn't that assumption been corrected by Suki and Sokka? > Because they also misread an exchange years ago and have been rolling with their assumptions, and now they're scared to use their words.

And now we have a plot to start putting together :)

4. How do you channel characters' voices and personalities?

I start by writing down statements about the character, describing essentially their vibe and their major concerns. So when I was writing S1 Zuko for the first time, I had things like:

Z is into rules cause doing things the right way means you are safe- predictable - also need power to break the rules 

Things unspoken are a big deal in Zuko's life - he shouts and rages but he never says the quiet part out loud

Z views things through the lens of all the ways he is inadequate - he doesn't take risks to bridge interpersonal things - his father and Azula taught him it never works out - the one time he did he got banished 

Doesn’t lie because he can’t – gets shouty and avoidant instead

Does not ask for help, doesn’t beg, doesn’t say please

So this starts to give me a frame of reference now for how Zuko views the world, what he cares about, and how he'd react to things at this point in his journey, which I'll then translate into basically a set of notes and words and phrases for writing the character:

Zuko voice - more run on sentences, ands, long trains of thought

Zuko names the sensations and physical responses then slowly starts acknowledging emotions behind them

Z – emo angst, depressed, feeling useless awkward, short,– ellipses rather than dashes – overly full of emotions he doesn’t know what to do with

Thinks in degrees - curses like FN sailor - PTSD around water

Thinks in terms of waves washing over him, drowning him

Zuko actions/descriptors

Unimpressed looks, flat looks, blank, empty, impassive, still

Tentative, hesitant, uncertain, cautious, shy, wary

Concentration still, Awkward frozen, Rage immobile, Fear motionless

Huffs – exhales – silently laughs – blows out emotion

And then, to make Zuko's POVs feel distinct, I'll make sure other characters have different actions/descriptors and voices - if I compare character voice notes and they're too similar, I need to do more work. Sokka's, for example:

Sokka – protective, feels inadequate and that he needs to prove himself; persistent worry about inadequacies because he sees all the way things can spin out of control

Wants to be rational but really ruled by his heart – emotive

Tries to be buttoned up and macho but romanticism breaks through

Conflicted over what he wants vs needing to be seen as a leader

Thinks in terms of being lit on fire, consumed

Names his emotions

Thinks in hours

Talkative, rational, stressed, cynical, romantic at heart

Big gestures – talks with hands – emotive

Jokes to diffuse tension

Good of many > good of one individual

And now I have a lexicon of actions and descriptive words and ways of thinking/reacting that are unique to each character, to build up the feeling of each character and POV being separate and distinct.

7. How do you handle writer's block or moments of creative stagnation?

These are two different things for me! If I'm just feeling uninspired, wanting to write but not having inspiration for what, I'll turn to other people in the fandom. I take a lot of inspiration from other people's enthusiasm, so art can spark ideas, tag rambling, shit posts, screenshots of text exchanges someone tags with a character - I've made fics I really love off of all of that. I want to say at least 13 of my fics are gift fics or inspired by another work. Enthusiasm begets enthusiasm for me :)

(Which means it's pretty easy to inspire me to write something you want to see by just being really enthusiastic about the idea and like shit posting back and forth about it with me haha)

Usually when I'm stuck in a fic, though, it means that one of the character arcs isn't flowing right. I've found what works for me is to...

Go back to the start of the scene - is it starting in the right place? Too early, so it's taking too long to get to the relevant/fun stuff?

Write down what the scene is supposed to be doing - taking a step back to think technically about the purpose of the scene (to advance plot, characterization, conflict, etc.) often helps me see where I need to take it or how I need to reframe it

Write down what the larger portion of the is doing - this is more for longfics, but if I'm still stuck I'll step back even further and write down the themes, how the characters are growing, what their arc is supposed to look like - this frequently helps me realize that an arc itself needs to be reworked because of how I've written preceding scenes vs how I've planned

Scene map the whole fic - this is a dire last resort because it takes TIME, but if it still feels off, I step back even further and map chapter by chapter, character by character and interpersonal relationship by interpersonal relationship, what is happening vs what I think should be happening - and when I can see it all visually, I can see that something doesn't have space to breathe, or that a certain character isn't present enough, or that I'm not laying the groundwork for an arc - and then I can work on fixing things from there (example of what this looks like below the cut)

From this Questions for Fic Writers game!

Example of my trying to un-fuck my draft lol.

In case anyone was wondering, the solution was "you focused too much on Hakoda and forgot to give Sokka and Katara arcs" which does, somehow, feel very ironically appropriate

#asks and answers #ask games #fic writing #Probably wayyy more than you thought you'd be getting lol #(hopefully you meant this and not the choose violence game - let me know if I mixed it up!)

[confusedspaceotter]

Daily avatrice analysis (day 5)

day1 day2 day3 day4 day5 day6 day7 day8 day9

Oh analyzing ep 8 is going to get personal because of the coming out scene 

I’ve already decided to split Ep 8 into 2 parts because there is just too much to cover 

today i’ll mainly focus on the first half of ep 8

and I’ll talk about the rest tmr

So

Ep 8

we start with the beginning of the episode where the gang is reading the warrior nun journal 

got nothing deep about the scene but I do believe part of ava is this vine:

At least I am(the way kty say Et defunctis requiem IM WEAK)

anyway moving on 

I think there are a few reasons why Ava seems so eager to proof herself here

One

As someone who was quadriplegic, she knows what it’s like to be powerless and weak, since she spent most of her life receiving help from others

Makes perfect sense she’s she will jump into action the moment she got a chance to proof to herself that she is useful 

Two

She wanted to fulfill her job/destiny as the halo bearer 

Leaning from the journal, she realized how serious this is and she is the only one that can stop it

(You know things are serious when Mary said oh shit

Third

She wanted to protect her new found family(mainly Beatrice 

“If we get rid of Duretti, we can get the OCS back together.”

Will Ep 1-5 Ava cared about the OCS?

Probably not 

This is why ep 6 is so important to Ava’s character 

She needed to see the good that OCS is doing 

And not just some high trained nuns who’s after the thing on her back

That’s why she came back to the Cat’s Cradle

To help innocent people by accepting that she IS the warrior nun now

And it’s what happening here as well

Before we get into the training scene 

Two thing i wanna point out 

One

Absolutely love the way this guard go "oh shit she’s here again she better not break my table this time"

Two

Who the fuck give permission to Ava/Alba to look this good in that leather jacket????

Since the jacket is a tad bit oversize I’m guessing that’s Mary’s?

I would like to headcanon this happened:

Ava: *visible shivers from the cold*

Mary: *yeets the jacket to ava* 

Or it could go like this as well:

Ava:*visible shivers from the cold*

Beatrice: *notices Ava shivering* Mary? Do you have a spare jacket?

(either way i love this jacket i want it)

Now moving on to the actual training scene

say it with me ava silva is not only a genius but also a comedic genius 

(we love traumatized character who use humor as a coping mechanism) 

look at how precious Ava is 

her little whoo baby girl is so proud of herself

and so is Bea apparently 

love this genre of Avatrice where Bea smiling because of Ava’s smile ughhhh

Moving on to the next training scene

we can see supportive gf Beatrice

even when Ava is panicking all she did was to remain her composure and give her clear directions on how to get out 

even though she is probably worried sick on the inside as well

If avatrice have a timeline 

here is where Bea knows she definitely cares about Ava a tad bit much 

but she still trying to convince herself is platonic and she is just doing her job by taking care of Ava

I mean do friends cup each other's faces as gently as Bea did here???

Also the way Ava eyes lingers on Bea is something so personal to me

after she rushed towards Ava the first things she does is to touch her face

physical touch is definitely an Avatrice thing

and is such a vital part of their relationship because is how they communicate with each other

is them subtly asking: "hey you good?" and answering "yeah im good"

which we will see a lot more in season 2

Here we can see bea hesitates to help Ava up/touch her

feels like Bea was so worried about Ava after she cupped her face she panicked a little 

I think she is like “oh wait that's a little fruity in it”

and that's why she retracted her hand here

imo once you repressed you emotions it doesn't just go away in an instance 

it takes time to open yourself up again

which i think she did in season 2

but for now, Bea probably still views her feelings towards Ava as something she shouldn't have

Still doesn’t stop her from calming Ava down though putting her hand on her back tho

what can I say Avatrice is endgame from the beginning 

After Jillian said that she had been able to amp up the halo’s output 

notice how Bea was gonna say something?

she look almost hopeful for a second 

like she is glad they had found a solution to their problem 

truly live up to the name “the strategist of the group”(which i just decided to call her that)

btw side note

I love how Bea talks slower compared to other characters

because she really did think it though about what she is going to say

and we can see that in scenes where the gang is grouped up together to discuss something

you can tell she is always trying to find the best solution and consider all the possible angles

compared to Ava "punch first ask questions later" Silva

Avatrice is such endgame material because they fit so well

today feels like me fangirling over avatrice then an analysis but oh well

tmr we are going to get emotional and talk about possibly my favorite coming out scene in media 

stay tuned :)

day6

#daily avatrice analysis #we ramble today #we cry tomorrow #avatrice #ava silva #sister beatrice

[sporksaber]

How i'd do a clone high reboot/second season.

I would not set it in 2020s and there's three reasons for it. First and the smallest one, that setting jump is huge. The changes are drastic and jarring and its really not needed. Sevond, there arent strong signifyers for the current decade. Things move too fast and you cant pin specific lasting traits until you have hindsight. Any joke made will be dated by the time it airs. And 2020 teen stereotypes have been done to death. Third, any political comedy would benefit from a degree of separation.

I wouldn't keep it in the 90s. The 90s at this point is so far removed and so attached to recent aesthetics and tropes I think it would be better to push forward. I'd set it early to mid 2010s. It gives separation from current politics and a solid frame while still leaving room for relevant issues to be brought up. It wasn't that long ago but there's a significant safety gap.

Onto plot things, I think it's important to discuss Abe first. He's the most central character in the original. I don't like the bashing angle the pilot used. I love to hate Abe, but it's not fun to watch him fumble around and whine in the background.

His life revolves around his two best friends and cleo. One friend is out of the picture but I'll get to next. The other is moving on and I think that's important. And cleo would never let the shit he pulled slide. So he's more or less alone episode one. Joan does still talk to him, but she's carving our space for herself and isn't going to coddle him. Abe has to reorient him self (and by extension the show) in a way where he can function without his friends and relationships as crutches. And he has to form a conclusion that works even if it's not the right one (not the right one being both more in character and better for jokes).

On to Ghandi. He is integral to the comedic pace of the show and also one of the best characters. I'm not going to go into ways to replace him or work around his absence. The way I'd deal with him, ignoring possible corporate decisions on his inclusion, is this:

if I put hum in the first episode I wouldn't acknowledge any differences at all, just have him be called by a comedians name and identify as that person with no other changes. Not going that route though, I wouldn't have him in the first episode beyond showing him still frozen. If we dealt with him immediately the episode would be overcrowded. Episode one needs to reestablish cleo, jfk, Joan, and Abe while also setting up new characters in the new setting. Instead he'd be found in episode two, determined by shadowy figures to be a clone of a comedian, and upon being dethawed he just goes with it. The name ghandi is never mentioned. When he meets back up with his friends he stops them from saying hi by emphasizing his name and they're like, may wierd, but they also go with it without question.

Option two also allows for ghandi to explore his new identity for the first time in a much more lighthearted way than Abe and Joan. It gives him a base interaction with shadowy figures that can lead to plot lines later. And it meas you can bring back cleo not knowing his name because he changed it.

Speaking of cleo, her lack of popularity would come from her no longer being part of any school organizations (she used to be cheer captain and dtudent body presdent). But she will regain her power and subjects, she's just not sure how yet.

Joan does get along with the current popular kids, who are on student council and also in various student activist groups. She gets the chance to thrive in episode one. Later on there will be drama and backstabbing but for now she finally feels like she belongs. Also, look wise her style is viewed as sort of retro grunge chic and kind of cool. She enjoys the compliments at first but they bother her later on.

Jfk follows Joan. He doesn't really care about the environment but he's certainly interested in the sustainability of Joan's pants. And gay people are cool, he has gay dad's. He's not gay tho (admiring other dudes' thighs is a totally normal straight activity). I actually think I'd give him an adoptive sibling this time around. Both because it'd be good for him and to vibe him non Joan and popularity centered plot lines.

I'd keep joanfk going strong throughout the reboot. I'm a strong believer in active relationships being more compelling than will they won't they shenanigans.

I think that's all the main characters. Scudworth and mister buttlertron would proceed as normal. I didn't particularly like the new shadowy figure overseer, she didn't show off anything other than being blandly intimidating and lizard. I like the og shadowy figure. He was fun and had good vibes with scudworth. I'd deffs bring him back.

As for smaller characters: van gogh should get a hot bitch Era. Maybe assisted by Marie currie who has always existed on one. It could be part of a ghandi subplot.

#clone high #clone high reboot #clone high season 2 #this is all fir now might add more later #also van gogh joins the gsa with jfk #ok im done

[luffythinker]

said it was ok for me to come back and talk about Shigaraki/Dabi so now im gonna do that. Like, im not going into canon events all that much and my version of LOV is like face view these are bad guys but they are people and everything isn't happening back to back so take it as a silly scenario i guess? possibly an AU?

What do you think about trans Shigaraki coming out to Dabi while drunk? like Dabi just accepts it and when Shigs done with his hangover the next day he remembers he came out to him like "oh shit i really did that" and now he's insecure because he thinks Dabi's gonna view him differently, not that his view matters but it does.

This needs context. Lets say after kamino that's when the gang really started to be friends they all started treating eachother with a little more respect but your all still my bitches - everyone in the league probably 2023 lol

Dabi and Shigs have been getting super close, like it's not boss and henchmen it's we are almost equals but you know im in charge winky face. After a heist they always have pizza partys or whatever they can steal for dinner cause we don't have kurogiri :( Shigs and dabs always sit close enough for their shoulders or knee to touch and Dabi notices Shigs getting a little too up in the air. Dabi is not gonna be that ass so he takes Shigs outside to get some air and water away from everyone "can't see out leader looking like a he got drugged at the bar" and when i say he picks him up he throws him over his shoulder, nobody says anything cause he's just taking care of Shigs they just get a comedic voice from Twice like "STRIKE, your out!" followed by laughter Dabi gets him to get some water going through his body but he's high as a astronaut and sweating, Dabi makes sure his gloves are on and is just genuinely taking care of him complaining about how he rather not be but he really doesn't mind he's just putting on a show for noone, Shigs is mumbling and crying fake/real? tears about how being "Tomura" is hard work and at first Dabi thinks he's just talking nonsense until he starts complaining about his binder and how he fucking can't breath in it 9 times out of 10 of the time and Dabi's like "wait, what?" and he just continues to go on about how his shitty dad would always dress him up in a dress want him to be a propper young lady while sticking his pinky out and everything. He was compared to his sister all the time and he hated it Dabi is being flooded with information he can't have time to processes and he ask Dabi "If i told you i was trans would you hate me?" Like any of this is supposed to mean something to Dabi and Dabi tells him he needs to go to bed. After that night Dabi is internally freaking out "What just happen? why???" and he can't sleep that night after the fact Shigs is avoiding Dabi which is strange for everyone to watch and they think their in a huge fight. Himiko keeps asking Dabi what he did and Dabi tells her to butt out.

if you care about this i'll come back for a part 2

i honestly hold bnha canon events very in the back of my mind, at this point i barely remember the order of things, so yeah don't worry about staying truthful to a timeline or anything cause i assure you i most likely don't remember muchdjjdflkfk

and i absolutely love trans shigaraki, even in canon he gives me big non binary vibes so!!!!

oh my god i love how you painted this picture, his childhood was super hard with his father and transphobia. He probably felt like himself for the first time after he left the family and could explore his gender by himself. He knew since early age he wasn't a girl, so he would fully invest himself into looking like how he feels. I think AFO giving him a new name also marks his transitioning, he has always had a smaller chest so the binder helps with keeping it flat, but it is shigaraki so obviously he doesn't have the greatest relationship with himself, so he wears it super tight to the point it hurts him (i think its some kind of internal punishment). He never really told anyone about it because it's not anyone's business, but he likes dabi so it just feels so weird to not tell him that, not that he really wanted to because he doesn't want things to change but he also lowkey wants to be accepted fully as he is, while also too scared of being rejected again.

telling dabi about it while he's drunk is so on brand because he would never master up the courage to do it sober, i think the day after he would act like nothing happened and hope dabi wouldn't bring it up, but I'm curious to see how dabi would confront him about this from your pov!!!

(this might be weird but i really like shigaraki, like i think he's such a good villain)

#shigadabi #shigaraki tomura #dabi #mha #bnha #rei replies

[iamacolor]

just make them be friends again omg

#true beauty #these two reconnecting is what I'm here for #not that they're not hilarious as 'ennemies' #but i know that fake love triangle that is basically just them trying to take revenge on each other in parallel to liking junkyung is going #to get annoying real quick #i need to look at it from a comedic point of view because it doesn't really work feeling wise especially now that junkyung is clearly #crushing on suho #but at least it gives these 2 more 'chances' to interact and like aknoledge each other again #and they make for a really great comedic duo tbh! #vinformation #kdrama

[mimicofmodes]

I keep seeing corset discourse cross my dash, and I make a real effort to just ignore it, but for some reason lately it is really intense and I just can't anymore.

I know that there's a long-standing tradition of people popping up on social media, particularly Tumblr, with an exciting revisionist take on history that turns out to be bullshit - a misunderstanding of the history at best, deliberate misinformation at worst. That is not what's happening here.

It's a well-established fact in fashion history that corsets weren't that bad. No, really. Valerie Steele's The Corset: A Cultural History, the landmark book that complicates the popular view of (mainly) Victorian corsetry, was published by Yale UP in 2001. And then the other side I'm seeing argued here is based on ... logic? just knowing?

The problem with "just knowing" that corsets were terrible and hated by their wearers is that ... look, I don't want to say "you are not immune to propaganda" for a couple of reasons (the definition of propaganda, for one), but at this point we have:

- centuries of overwrought opinions from male moralists and physicians decrying the corset/stays, usually in order to impute irrational vanity to women or to effectively blame them for their own medical conditions

(medical conditions that in most cases are still more present in women despite the lack of corsetry today)

- a tiny, tiny minority of primary sources by women that are explicitly negative about the corset, frequently accompanied by statements that make no sense, like saying that even wearing a skirt with a tight waistband without a corset can cause hideous health problems

- nearly a century of popular culture created by people who never wore corsets that show the stereotypical scenes of a) women being comedically uncomfortably laced in by a maid or sister or mother or b) women fainting or complaining of being short of breath explicitly because of their corsets

- also nearly a century of academic and popular historians writing books that don't have anything to do with corsets but mention how bad they are in passing because It Is Known and doesn't need to be cited

And I'm sorry, but if you have been passively taking in all of these things - which you have, because they saturate pop culture relating to the Victorian era and earlier - and not actively working to get a better sense of the reality, then your opinion that the costumers who talk about how they like wearing corsets or the people who want to see fewer films/books that go on about the badness of corsets are wrong or dumb and don't even realize how anti-feminist they're being is just uninformed and anti-intellectual.

Yes, the pop take is often reductive. People frequently ignore the social pressure inherent in anything that's a norm in a society as well as the tendency of late 19thc descriptions of corsets as solving problems of the body (ie too plump, too thin), because these are complex topics, and they focus on their personal experiences and tastes. However, that doesn't make the overall point wrong. It just means that they aren't expressing it as well as they could be.

There is plenty of room to disagree with specifics, or to say that a particular discussion is misinterpreting this or that source, etc., but I'm getting tired of seeing people I otherwise respect just being jerks about anyone who doesn't adhere to their very specific Whiggish view that is more informed by pop culture than anything else. People who want to talk about the corset as a neutral-to-useful piece of clothing need to do better at contextualizing; people who want to do the opposite need to do a lot better at contextualizing as well. Friends, you NEED to learn about the explicit and implicit misogyny in a lot of the anti-corset literature; you need to deal with the fact that there are nowhere near as many accounts by women of hating their corsets as you think, and that perhaps dress reform was unappealing to women because the claims did not match their lived experiences. You need to stop exaggerating the stances of the not-anti-corset crowd into absurd stereotypes and insisting that they represent the bulk of the discourse on the topic.

Quite frankly, as a Legit Fashion Historian, I would much rather deal with people who are perhaps a bit overexcited and rosy-eyed about Corsets Being Good, Actually, than people who are pretty much stating that they know more about why Corsets Were Terrible than me because it's Manifestly Obvious.

#haha sorry for the long discourse post #corsets #corsetry #undergarments #victorian

[dragon-ball-meta]

There is no such thing as toxic masculinity.

There absolutely is. The problem is, most people don't use the term properly. It's in reference to a certain view of masculinity and what it SHOULD be. Obsession over stereotypes of the "Alpha Male", this bizarre belief that strength = value in a character, the idea that certain characters cannot be paired with others because they belong with "Alphas", the idea that prioritizing something as "lame" as books or your job over being god-tier powerful and seeking battle, this notion that your height and musculature is determinate of your machismo, etc. Much of the hate for Gohan involves him setting aside being a warrior for being a scholar and family man first. This is why they still thirst over his bloodthirsty moments during the Cell Games; to them, THAT'S what Gohan needed to be. So different from himself that he was almost unrecognizable, so different and cruel that it even scared Vegeta a bit. That's what they want from him. When they don't get that, and instead get the bookworm whose motivation is to protect his wife and daughter rather than simply be "Alpha", they say he's been "ruined". This is why you see the inclination to "fix" him all the time. To randomly have him be into fighting like Goku or Vegeta for some reason. They try to depict him banging several women, including his friends' wives to prove a point about his machismo. They give him a harem and have him go on quests to kill gods. Why? It's not him at all. But it IS their idea of being "Alpha". Ridiculous, but there it is. Much of the hate for Krillin doesn't even really come from strength so much as his size and kinder, gentler nature. I mean, it can't come from strength, really; he's the strongest of the Earthlings, yet Tien gets more respect than him to the point that people say it's an insult that Krillin is stronger. Why? Because they see him as the traditional warrior type. He's taller. He's more muscular. He's got a deeper voice and harsher personality. Therefore, HE must be representative of the strongest or it's an insult to the male ego. Nevermind that Krillin has also trained his whole life, nevermind that he also has a character arc of overcoming abuse and childhood trauma, constant reminders beaten into him that he'd never amount to anything and had zero potential only to become the strongest human being to walk the face of the Earth, that doesn't matter. What matters is... he has a softer voice. A softer complexion. He's more willing to extend a hand in friendship, and prioritize his wife and daughter over himself and his wants. He'll climb a tree to get someone's kitten down, help old ladies cross the street, go shopping with his wife willingly and play & cook with his daughter. That's not MAN enough, and thus he's popularly assigned the role of a "Beta", a "cuckold" who can't please his wife and lacks the spine to stand up for himself should he find her in the arms of another man. It's why even his deaths, no matter how serious the moment, are treated as jokes; people legitimately think they're MEANT to be comedic because... well, look at him. He's not got the rugged, handsome face of a serious character, right? He doesn't have the deep voice of a manly man, right? Also ridiculous. That's not to say these are the sole motivators for everyone who may not favor these characters, sure. But they sure as shoot are VERY common reasons, arguably even the dominant ones. I've met several people who don't particularly care for Krillin who will straight up admit he gets disturbing amounts of hate for no reason, and even some of the people who are disappointed with Gohan will do the same for him. It's kinda rampant. Now I'm not gonna say everyone who tosses the term around is correct with it, but that's not a topic for this blog. Toxic perceptions of what masculinity is very much do exist though.. This fandom is chock full of it. To pretend otherwise is foolish.

#Krillin #Gohan #Son Gohan #fandom #Dragon Ball #Dragon Ball Z #Dragon Ball Super #DB #DBZ #DBS #Dragonball #Dragonball Z

[thewebcomicsreview]

Ummmm I feel like someone should...DO something about Sandra and Woo at this point. As of strip 1316, I'm sensing the content is beginning to get a bit...questionable?

So, in a vacuum, "teenagers look at porn and get embarrassed" isn't a particularly weird premise for a joke (and I suspect people would be less weirded out if it were boys looking at pictures of naked women), and S&W is a lot less weird about kids than basically any anime. And yet...

Ring ring

I think the reason Sandra and Woo comes off as uncomfortable so much is that they don't do "Character gets horny and does a stupid" so much as "Character sees something sexy or is told about something sexy hypothetically happening offscreen and gets uncomfortable". It's basically "Anime boy getting a nosebleed at seeing a boob", but made PG for the kids. It's not that Zoey finds a Playgirl somewhere and talks about how much she finds dicks gross while scooting closer and closer to it, it's that she's being made to look at sexual content, and teenagers being forced to view sexual content, even by other teenagers, is gross.

Ring Ring

It also doesn't help that the strip isn't funny at all. A "Penis-themed top trumps deck" is supposed to be comedically over the top, but it's just weird and fetishistic and "adult" in a way that even like a porn magazine isn't. It's much more of a bachelorette party thing than something you'd have seen when you were a horny teen yourself, and also I kept reading it a penis-themed top Trump's deck, like it was entirely Donald Trump erotica. What's the joke here even supposed to be? "Zoey says she thinks penises are gross but one of of 52 she kind of liked"? lmao? Without a solid punchline there's nothing to distract us from the creepiness of the premise.

Ring ring

And I think the writer even kind of knows all this because he has Zoey explicitly state that this is too wacky for her to feel sexually harassed. But if you need to interrupt your joke so that Zoey reassure the audience she's not being sexually harassed that bad by your protagonist, you might need to re-evaluate if your protagonists are irredeemably terrible, and it certainly detracts from the cutesy "Remember how cringe being a horny teenager was" vibe this comic is generally going f-

Ring ring

Excuse me a moment, that's my discord calling, it must be very important if they're calling me while I'm in the middle of a post.

Yes, Commissioner Discord? Zoey is a thespian? Well it's good for her to have a hobby I suppose but I don't know what acting has to do with this strip that's so- Yes? No? Oh, she's a-

Oh, she's a lesbian?

She's a lesbian and the premise of the strip is Larisa making fun of her for not being attracted to penises and forcing her to look at pictures of penises?

Good.....God! It's worse than I thought, Anon. This comic strip isn't just badly executed and a little uncomfortable, it's homophobic! And while you could devil's advocate that the creepiness is an unintentional side effect of a moderately edgy joke that's badly executed, it's a lot harder to call the homophobic element accidental. There's something problematic underfoot, anon!

#Sandra and Woo

[we-are-inevitable]

re: your werewolf au!! is david the only one of his kind?

are there more like him, maybe the whole jacobs family, deeper into the woods that he’s been sneaking away from bc of his fascination with humans? or was he turned this way somehow? maybe a very long time ago, he was human, but it’s been so long that’s he’s unfamiliar with it now?

idk if you plan on actually writing it or not, but the concept is fascinating!!

oh fuck oh FUCK okay so i kind of have the basic... Plot?... mapped out but 1: the concept of davey being so isolated and alone that he's barely clinging onto his humanity is so TEMPTING i fucking love it

okay so before we get into the fun jacobs content, i want to explain my views on what being a "werewolf" means (in my au specifically). buckle up, folks, this is gonna be a long one!

PLEASE feel free to ask anymore questions!! @ any of you!! here's the original concept!

right off the bat, i hate modern werewolf aus and how they handle being a non-human creature. personally, i'd much rather have:

"this is a wild feral creature in the woods that looks human but you can tell this isn't human and are they howling at night? are they the one creating this unsettling atmosphere? there's a deer skull three meters from my back porch. are they trying to be kind to me?"

instead of

"Yeah this is fuckin Chad he's a city boy that turns into a wolf dude during full moons and accidentally kills people but he doesn't remember doing it"

now that we have that out of the way, here are my personal favorite worldbuilding thoughts that i've had since middle school:

unnaturally bright eyes; not to a comedic point but there's just something *off.*

sharper teeth than normal humans

taller, faster, stronger than normal humans

they don't speak much english; unless they absolutely have to, they don't interact with humans much (but some get curious, like the way im picturing davey in this au)

on that note, they have their own ways of communicating. obviously as wolves they have their Instincts but even in human form they have a completely different language because they've been so isolated.

LANGUAGE NOTE: they have names but they're not in english.

i imagine their human names are just more of a "we needed this just in case" thing and not a "this is a conscious decision" thing? so their names don't mean anything, they're simply there because "this sounds human enough"

they're much more reserved and aren't violent, just protective and often defensive because they've been taught that humans = bad bad hurt bad not good bad

there’s not really a ranking system? no A/B/O dynamics; most families are run by the matriarch and the cycle continues with every generation.

also they can shift whenever they want bc the full moon thing is boring

BUTTTTT shifting is an incredibly painful process if you don't do it often

theyre just. wild and feral and don't have much socialization with humans and i love it so much

now, getting into david specifically:

his name, in his mother language, is diaad. (dee-ahd)

he's like. 23? and so is Jack in this au!

mans is easily 6'8. mans is also jacked. mhm.

his eyes seem to glow; they're much brighter in color than a normal human's. i'm torn between david's eyes being blue or a golden/hazel mix, so this is up to your interpretation for the time being!

he's so intelligent, even though he doesn't really know human stuff (which causes jack to kind of infantilize him at first; to be fair, david does the same thing to jack bc jack doesn't understand his culture)

but david is so versed in his culture. there are certain traditions they keep, like celebrations on the nights of the solstices or the family-oriented nature of all packs. he's so fucking smart! just in his own way.

he has an accent when he speaks; wolves know english out of precaution. they don't come into contact with humans often, but they have their own stories to cycle through whenever they do. (david doesn't like this. he'd rather learn about human culture; he doesn't want to be human, he just wants to coexist.)

in wolf form, david is fucking huge. he's already pretty large in human form, by wolf standards at least, so in his wolf form, he's fucking Big. his coat matches his hair color, dark enough to be mistaken for black, and his eyes are bright in this form too. he's speedy and strong. not all too coordinated, though; in either form, he's a bit too lanky for his own good, and can be a bit clumsy.

his whole thing is that he's grown to fear humans (im imagining a big "hunt down the wolves" moment in the lore for this), but then he meets Jack, who helps him when he's vulnerable and in pain (probably in human form). that's kind of the shift when he realizes he Wants to know humans (at least Jack) and know what's up with them!! like a science experiment at first but then as a friend thing)

and finally, some jacobs family content!!

i'm still coming up with names, but so far: David is Diaad, Sarah is Sahjah and Les is Leomah, Mayer is Manjah and Esther is Eshana (this is not completely set in stone obvi; also, they're ~inspired~ by Arabic names but theres not really a connection there! just to cover my basics)

Esther pretty much runs the family!

they have a "house," but it's mainly just for appearances sake; if anyone stumbles upon their little area (not likely) they'll see the houses and see humans and just think. huh. maybe this is a weird fucking religious thing. so they have clothes, they have houses (with no furnishings, really), they have some Normal Human Things but nothing that makes them actually human

they live with their extended family, all of them, in this huge pack/compound thing. Sarah and David have like 20 cousins; the Jacobs family is one of the smaller ones, with only 3 children, but everyone else has over 5 per each parental pair.

Esther is really good with wounds and fixing people up!

Mayer takes care of the children while Esther hunts, especially when they're younger; there's not really a gendered tier, everyone hunts, but Esther is better than Mayer so,, yeah!!

ok this is so fucking long but !! yeah !! i love this so much !! ty ty !!

#ask a jac ! #david jacobs #davey jacobs #newsies #livesies #newsies musical #jac txt. #jac writes #sarah jacobs #les jacobs #mayer jacobs #esther jacobs #newsies live #deep in the forest au #for lack of a better name .. #anyway!! #kath tag

[tinkertayler]

Love, Loyalty, Power, Insanity.

You know that part in “Meltdown” where Aeryn says "I love it when you take control" and John says "That's the drexim talking" and Aeryn raises her eyebrows and says "No it isn't". That part makes me FERAL, every time, because while I know it might seem like just a sexy, flirty, throwaway exchange, it's honestly anything but.

John Crichton is an unhinged bastard with whom Aeryn is hopelessly in love. She is willing to follow him anywhere, anytime, under any circumstances. She’ll follow him to the ends of the universe, into the face of mortal danger, and down paths that lead to almost certain death, again and again (and again). She would quite literally follow him into the swirling, all-consuming, universe-destroying vortex of a wormhole if he asked her to (and eventually, he will). She loves him. She respects him. She believes in him. She is loyal to him beyond good sense or reason, and is willing to commit herself to every single one of his impossible, insane, foolhardy plans.

"I love it when you take control" she says, and oh, it's true. When she says it, I can't help but think about the many times throughout the seasons we see just how true it is.

Exhibit A: Liars, Guns and Money (s2)

John is at peak instability at the end of this season and he presents a crackpot plan to the group. Aeryn is a freak, so she finds it arousing. Seriously--she's turned on by his mad genius here. She wants to jump him. When I first watched this scene, I thought "Wow, okay. Aeryn has never wanted to fuck John more than she does at this moment. Interesting. A lot to unpack." She is slightly scared of (and for) him, but mostly she's just really into John when he demonstrates his intelligence, charisma, adaptability, ingenuity, and capability as a leader by taking charge of situations--even, maybe especially, when he exhibits the fearless confidence and nonchalant rule-breaking, dangerous risk-taking behavior of an absolute madman (P.S. Aeryn needs therapy).

Exhibit B: Fractures (s3)

She just lost him to a suicide mission, and now he stands before her again, proposing yet another suicide mission. She's shattered, emotionally decimated, a shell of her former self. She can't even look at him. And yet... and yet. She still can't say no. She knows she can't say no. John has a vision and a plan--a crazy one, as always--and she's prepared to follow it dutifully, as always. She'll follow him anywhere. She'll follow him to his death. She'll follow him to hers. The level of loyalty she feels to this man... it’s beautiful, and also terrifying.

Exhibit C: We're So Screwed (s4)

John is insane in the membrane... AGAIN... and delivers another half-baked plan sure to go awry. He is legitimately the most powerful man in the room, and Aeryn has never been more in love. I find this blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment deeply poignant; the look they exchange is made of pure love, reverence, sadness, and understanding. It is equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking. There's something sorrowful yet ultimately peaceful about her attraction to him here. Aeryn is in love with and committed to John and by this point, she knows and accepts the risks. She knows he could die. She knows SHE could die. Been there, done that (more than once!). Whereas previous seasons find Aeryn loyal yet conflicted, there's virtually no conflict here. She knows who John Crichton is and what he is capable of: he's a man who has been driven to the brink of insanity; who has the most formidable, destructive knowledge locked in his brain; who is able to command rooms full of the most powerful beings; who can bend the fabric of the universe to his will; who can singlehandedly destroy entire galaxies; who is fundamentally pure of heart yet willing to commit atrocities; who has selflessly sacrificed his life to save millions, but most importantly to save her; because, above all, John Crichton is utterly, unequivocally, viciously in love with Aeryn Sun. She knows all of this, and she’s content in her commitment to him. They've been through the ringer (and will almost certainly go through it again), but she has resolved to stand by him till the bitter end.

Exhibit D: The Peacekeeper Wars (s5, kind of)

Remember when I said Aeryn would quite literally follow John into the swirling, all-consuming, universe-destroying vortex of a wormhole if he asked her to (and eventually, he would)? Well, here we are, folks. John reaches peak destructive insanity and Aeryn doesn't falter. Her commitment to him is almost as terrifying as his commitment to his cause and his willingness to do whatever it takes--whatever it takes--to get what he wants. I would say Aeryn follows him blindly, but to suggest that would be an insult to her as an autonomous, self-directed being. She doesn't follow blindly. She knows what she's doing by choosing to align herself with John, as much as he knows what he’s doing. And that's the kicker: John has never been more lucid than he is at the end of PKW. His insane actions have never been more calculated or considered. That's what makes this the most dangerous and terrifying brand of insanity we've ever seen him display. And Aeryn supports him. She joins him. The Aeryn of PKW retains all the inner peace and resolve she had in s4, but with darker and more sinister undertones--this is the most complicated, vivid depiction of Aeryn's love and unwavering loyalty, respect of John's power, and willingness to join him in absolute insanity. Together, they make quite a team: destructive, deadly, diabolical. Their commitment to peace is violent. Their heroism is villainous. They are prepared to die for what they believe in, and they are willing to take everyone else with them.

"I love it when you take control."

Yeah. She does. She really does.

ANYWAY... Gotta love a show wherein a single comedic line (from an episode that could, at first glance, be viewed as little more than fluffy fanservice) is actually important, and speaks to fundamental truths about the characters, their relationship, and their choices over the course of the entire series. Gotta love it.

#...okay #i think i'm done #do you ever just wake up plagued by Thoughts #this weekend's descent into insanity brought to you by: caffeine and avoidance of actual responsibilities #john x aeryn #john crichton #aeryn sun #farscape

[rovelae]

Why Saiouma isn’t toxic

(CW: in-depth discussion of abuse, discussion of rape/noncon)

           Disclaimer(s): This is an intellectual discussion, not a screaming match. If you’re here to argue with facts and evidence, I don’t mind debating with you. If you just want to throw a tantrum because I like something you don’t, I’m going to tell you to take a Xanax and go to bed.

           I’m combining the terms “toxic” and “abusive”; though they aren’t technically the exact same, they’re similar enough for the purposes of this essay.

           This essay isn’t meant to convince you to ship Saiou. If you don’t like it, you don’t like it. But it’s not right to scream ‘abuse’ where none exists; it hurts fans and content creators, and it “diminishes the importance of that word and it reduces [it] to something volatile and stupid.”

           To begin with, we have to identify what makes a relationship abusive. The way I define it, an abusive relationship involves manipulation, an inherent power imbalance, and/or physical or sexual abuse. Most of the hate-posts I’ve seen paint Kokichi as the abuser and Shuichi as the hapless victim, so that will be the focus of this essay.

1. Would Kokichi manipulate Shuichi for personal gain?

           There’s no denying that Kokichi is a manipulative person. He’s a liar and he did some awful things in the game. No one’s saying he’s a morally white character. But it would be wrong to say he’s entirely evil, either.

           I’ve already covered in this post why Kokichi can’t be said to lie for personal gain, but I’ll quote a bit of it here.

           “The motivation [behind Kokichi’s lies] isn’t self-serving—he’s motivated by a desire to end a death game and stop anyone from having to go through what he and his friends have ever again. The smaller lies, though, like lying about his favorite foods? It would be annoying to be tricked like that, but it’s way too much of a stretch to label it psychological abuse.”

           We know that Kokichi’s DICE organization has a moral taboo against murder. We know he hated the killing game, to the point where he orchestrated his own suicide in order to ruin it. And almost every time Kokichi lies in the class trials, it’s either for comedic relief or to push the cast toward finding the culprit.

           “But Chapter 4!” you protest. “Kokichi manipulated Gonta into killing Miu!”

           My response is threefold:

-        Miu started it. Kokichi wouldn’t have done anything at all if his life wasn’t in danger and he wasn’t desperate.

-        It’s wrong to think that Gonta is incapable of making his own decisions. Kokichi may have influenced him in that direction, but Gonta actively made the choice to kill Miu—his own avatar confirms it at the end of the trial. (See also: Impytricky’s “Gonta Gokuhara Character Analysis: When a Genius is Treated like a Child”)

-        Kokichi felt terrible about what happened in Trial 4, to the point where he begged Monokuma to execute him along with Gonta. He didn’t need to do that, and it throws off his whole “I’m the mastermind” act just a few lines later, so we must assume he was being honest about that. It’s clear that he doesn’t enjoy hurting others.

           If that’s still not enough for you, consider: desperation, and, by extension, the killing game, brings out the worst in people. We can’t accurately judge a person’s character if all we have to go off of is the worst parts of them. Would Leon have killed Sayaka outside of the killing game? Would Hifumi have agreed to help Celestia kill Taka? Would Gundham have killed Nekomaru?

           So, would Kokichi manipulate Shuichi for personal gain? No. His whole character is motivated by a desire to help the others, and his lies are either manifestations of that motivation or harmless pranks meant to entertain.

2. Does the Saiouma ship have an inherent power imbalance?

           Shuichi is, by his own admission, weak. Kokichi has a strong personality and likes to be in charge. That doesn’t mean that Kokichi doesn’t respect Shuichi and his opinions. In fact, each class trial is packed with evidence of Kokichi listening to Shuichi’s point of view and respecting his intelligence. For instance:

-        Kokichi sided with Shuichi during scrum debates 2, 3, and 4

-        Kokichi pointed out most of Shuichi’s lies during the trials (and back routes), but in most cases, didn’t fight him on it

-        Shuichi is the only character identified as “trustworthy” by the white board in Kokichi’s room—i.e., Kokichi trusted him to at least be on the right track in the trials.

           Kokichi is also shown to care about Shuichi’s feelings in the game, like when he told him he’d rather bring Kaede back to life in Chapter 3, because it would make Shuichi happy. To reiterate: he wants Shuichi to be happy even if it means they don’t end up together. That says a lot.

           Additionally, I already mentioned that Shuichi is weak, but it’s important to realize that he isn’t so much of a pushover that he’s entirely incapable of standing up for himself. Look at his interactions with Miu, for example: he sharply told her that “I can wear a hat if I want” when she made fun of him for it, and in her FTEs, he refuses to eat the hygienically questionable food she made for him.

           Shuichi’s kind of a simp and tends to get roped into things, yes. But he’s able to stand up for himself—especially after Chapter 6—to the point where he wouldn’t enter into a relationship unless he wanted to. If you think Kokichi would somehow be able to force Shuichi to be his boyfriend, you have no faith in Shuichi—and Chapter 6 proves you wrong.

           So, is Saiouma inherently imbalanced? No. Kokichi respects Shuichi’s feelngs, intelligence, and opinions, and Shuichi’s a stronger character than he’s given credit for.

3. Would Kokichi physically or sexually abuse Shuichi?

           One needs only to look at Kokichi’s Love Hotel event for the answer. While the Love Hotel isn’t canon to the game’s timeline, the characters are still in character— that is, Kokichi and Shuichi are acting as they normally act.

           It’s important to note that Kokichi is the only character who backed off of Shuichi after Shuichi either appeared visibly uncomfortable or told them to stop. Kaede asked for Shuichi’s consent and was given it; Angie, Himiko, Kiyo, Miu, and Tsumugi all took advantage of Shuichi in some way or another; and the rest just didn’t have sexual connotations. Kokichi made advances on Shuichi, noticed that Shuichi was uncomfortable, and immediately backed off.

           “But wait!” you cry. “Just because one character didn’t rape the other doesn’t mean they have a good relationship!”

           Of course, and that’s important to realize, too. But recall that the purpose of this essay isn’t to convince you to ship Saiouma—it’s to prove that it isn’t abusive.

           Keep in mind that this was Kokichi’s fantasy— he would have been able to do whatever he wanted to Shuichi with zero repercussions, and Shuichi probably wouldn’t even remember much when he woke up. And still, Kokichi chose to stop the moment he realized Shuichi wasn’t on board with what was happening. That says a lot.

           And what about outside the game? We know from the Salmon Mode ending that Kokichi is desperate for someone to “figure him out.” He’d be very careful not to jeopardize his relationship with someone who genuinely wants to understand him.

           And Shuichi does genuinely want to understand him:

           So, would Kokichi physically or sexually abuse Shuichi? No. It’s just not in his character.

“But what if Kokichi was lying about EVERYTHING IN THE WHOLE GAME?” you yell. “There’s no way we can trust anything he’s ever said ever!”

           If every Danganronpa character was polite, kind, open, and honest, 100% of the time without fail, the game would be incredibly boring. If that’s the kind of media you’re into, I’d recommend something like Reader Rabbit or Winnie the Pooh. Danganronpa is a murder mystery, where characters hurt and betray and lie and actually kill each other. You can’t trust anyone; that’s the whole point.

           So I advise you to go back through the game with an open mind and try, actually try, to use reading comprehension skills to understand the characters. Examine their motives, think about what they might be feeling when they make the decisions they do.

           Danganronpa is not the kind of game to spoon-feed you easy-to-swallow characters. You have to pick them apart yourself.

           As for everything Kokichi has ever said possibly being a lie? Maybe. Maybe every character is lying to you. But if you hate Kokichi just because he’s dishonest, then it follows that you have to hate Rantaro, Kaede, Shuichi, Kaito, Maki, Himiko, Kiyo, Miu, Tsumugi, Kirumi, and Kiibo—which, at that point, why are you even a fan of the game?

           And if you deny everything Kokichi said just because you think it’s a lie…

 In conclusion

           You can dislike Saiouma because it’s not your thing, but it’s wrong to spread hate over abuse that doesn’t exist. Hating and attacking people for having a different opinion than you won't magically sway them to your side. If you can't articulate your points in a way that doesn't antagonize, you probably shouldn't be talking. People like what they like for a reason, and spitting on what they like won't make you any friends.

           And throwing around weighted terms like “toxic” when you just don’t like something? That makes YOU the toxic one.

#Rov talks #a lot #Saiouma #abuse mention #rape mention #character analysis #I doubt that the people who *should* read this *will* read it #so this might be more of a vent I guess #Feel free to reblog/quote/repost with credit #References: users oumakokichi; impytricky; and chibigaia-art #The first two do great meta pieces #and the last spits more fax than an office