#i say this with complete sincerity

[myrkulitescourge]

the way that one line from the new epilogue in an astarion romance is going to HAUNT me

just. what a profoundly intense thing to confess to someone.

like, just these six months of newfound happiness with you exerts a force on his heart equal and in direct opposition to two centuries of endless torment, the gnawing hunger and exploitation. this flashbulb-bright fraction of his long life holds the same gravity to him as years upon years of darkness and suffering.

in all likelihood, he hasn’t even known his lover for as long as his worst memory lasted, that year sealed away to go mad from starvation and sensory deprivation, yet he still tells them this brief time has been so fundamentally and powerfully important that the weight of even that unimaginable hell is vanishingly small compared to this present he has now and the future ahead of them both.

how am i supposed to act normal about this.

#i need to lay down #just drop this in there right at the beginning why not! #that’s INTENSE. and completely sincere considering his demeanor at the party. god #he’s so… nice. in the romanced epilogue. i expected him to be a little smug and jokey #if tav told him the others weren’t doing so hot without the two of them around #but he takes it so genuinely and with visible disappointment?? literally shocked me #i thought he would say oh of course their lives have taken a turn without our impressive leadership lol! #and then redirect into something a little less flippant #but man. he just gets sad. astarion six months into a loving relationship is like a stray cat that instantly gets cuddly when you adopt it #dude went cotton candy marshmallow saccharine sweet in a HEARTBEAT #bless the others with your presence he says. i’ll always be here he says. we have forever after all he says. #head in my hands. how could they do this to me #astarion ancunin #astarion bg3 #astarion #bg3 epilogue spoilers #bg3 spoilers #baldur’s gate 3 spoilers #bg3

[soldier-poet-king]

The mountain goats have such a massive backlog bc john darnielle is committed to the worthy task of writing a song for every single possible emotion, and if you're like me in the insane traumatized freak who doesn't know how to Be A Real Person club, then 99% of your emotions are really just Like That

#tmg #the mountain goats #i say this tongue in cheek but also with complete sincerity #there really is smthn for every emotion #if youre an insane little freak like me #im joking but also. not #YES I AM HAVING A STEAL SMOKED FISH DAY

[prongsmydeer]

Things I Loved About Fleabag (2016):

The careful balance of spiralling and sincerity that keeps you rooting for resolution and relief, despite the show intentionally framing itself around grief

The way that it is clear based on the way that they talk about her that Fleabag is a great deal like her mother (her off-colour jokes, her charisma, even hints of difficult friendships through the Godmother) but they don't have anyone make that comparison until the last episode of S2, with, "You are the way you are because of [your mother]" and the look of surprise on Fleabag's face when she hears it

"Don't make me an optimist; you will ruin my life," being such a telling line, because as you fall in love with the Priest, and Fleabag, you want to believe that things will work themselves out

The love in Claire's line to Fleabag, "The only person I'd run through an airport for is you," and the delightful contrary optimism of her deciding to go to the airport anyway

The revelation that Boo had offered to take Fleabag's love for her mother, intertwining both losses

The way that the Priest not only breaks through the carefully constructed narrative relationship that Fleabag has with the viewer, but also himself directly looks toward the audience on a separate beat as he tries to understand her more ("You don't like answering questions, do you?")

The entire sequence of the last few scenes, "Being a romantic takes a hell of a lot of hope," to "I love you." "It'll pass," to Fleabag walking around with a statue that is, in some ways now, a physical representation of the love she is carrying around. Because while the show is about grief, and love, it doesn't feel like it is asking you to overcome those things, but to learn to live with them while moving forward

#ayesha says things #fleabag #hot priest #priestbag #claire fleabag #fleabag series #television #more thoughts in tags #i'm glad i stuck it out bc the first few eps i was like 'i don't know if this is for me' and then as it continued i was like 'OH.' #i love how s1 feels like a complete story. and then s1-s2 feels like a more complete story #and i adore how you can see the love in its writing. it's like watching tgp. it feels intentional and sincere and a bit clever #also not to undercut the sincerity of my feelings for this show #but i wasn't expecting to find andrew scott's hot priest SO HOT. they really did something there. every time he was on screen i was like #I Am Looking 👁👄👁 #alright 2010 sherIock fans. u win this round

[legislacerator]

i love a good stupid ass x-files episode. currently watching ‘triangle’ which is peak stupid but charming x-files

#txf #bermuda triangle time travel WWII ship dream sequences… it literally has it all #plus as always mulder is a damsel in distress who whoopsied himself into the past #i say all of this with complete adoration i love this show and it’s so sincerely good

[edsbacktattoo]

i’m so excited for all the romance and drama that’s going to inevitably be in season 2 that i keep forgetting that it’s also going to be like. funny.

#rhys is going to say something completely fried and it’s going to catch me off guard #my fave thing about this show tho is that they don’t ruin the romantic or tense moments with comedy #like they’re so sincere #i’m just so excited #if i think about it too much i feel like liquid so #ofmd #oh we thinkin?

[letteredlettered]

Another post just reminded me of an important PSA

Sokka is a better Ron Weasley and Xander Harris than Ron Weasley and Xander Harris ever were

Katara is a better Hermione Granger and Willow Rosenberg than Hermione Granger and Willow Rosenberg ever were

Zuko is a better Draco Malfoy than Draco Malfoy ever was canonically, but Spike is pretty great, even though yes, okay, we know, Zuko's redemption arc will always be superior

fight me

#harry potter #avatar the last airbender #buffy the vampire slayer #sokka is also superior to han solo #but we can't go around saying katara is better than leia even though she is #and it's also hard to say that zuko is better than darth vader even though he is #like luke skywalker is a very special boy; it's not fair to compare completely different canons why would you do that #sokka is not a better samwise gamgee than samwise; on that they're pretty even #is the katara equivalent in lotr legolas hahaha just the best at everything and severely OP I guess it's true #gollum is a pretty good darth vader!!! but still no zuko #gandalf is obviously the superior dumbledore but has sincere rivalry with iroh #who am i kidding no one beats iroh? #but gandalf and obi wan could have some pretty great tea with giles #who am i missing #oh emperor palpatine voldemort firelord ozai sauron who cares about them. The Mayor probably cares about them. That's who #lan wangji is the new legolas katara hermione leia pass it on

[bonefall]

I can't see how the writers still think Skystar's a good person. Like, twelve year old me liked him and thought he was interesting, but I was like twelve. And even I knew he was an irredeemable asshole after Moth Flight's Vision. If a twelve year old can figure this stuff out I have no idea what these grown ass writers were doing.

DOTC has a thesis, stated in The First Battle, that really explains everything.

"Fear and Greed" is just a fake-deep way to reinvent a Good and Evil dichotomy. Because Clear Sky's abuse comes from a place of fear, it means it's not malicious, unlike a "greedy" cat.

He can be "soothed," ergo, he's a fundamentally good person.

Post-First Battle, the books are focusing constantly on his feelings, how sad it makes him to not be trusted, how happy he is when people are on his side. All while he continues to screech at people who tell him what to do, manipulate and mistreat his son, and even still beats and mauls those who offend him.

But because it's "fear," that doesn't matter. That's a justification, an excuse. The writers don't seem to believe in good and bad actions as much as they do good and bad people. True 'evil' comes from a person who hurts others for the wrong reasons, like 'revenge' or malice.

It's abuse apologia. Plain and simple.

The truth is that abusers don't think of themselves as evil people, and everyone, even you and me, is capable of being toxic or abusive. Talk to those who have been abused and we'll tell you; we often stayed because we "saw the good," or even felt responsible for them. Abuse can be passed down through generations because the kids come to believe the way they were treated was normal and okay.

If you go through life thinking that abuse only comes from evil/greedy people, you won't see it when it happens right in front of you. Fundamental good and evil is childish. Abuse comes from fear all the time.

Abuse is about power and control. Fear of rejection, of losing someone, of pain, those are all very common motivators as the abuser tries to stop them from happening before they even begin. It doesn't MATTER that your abuser is in pain too, you NEVER "deserved" what they did in an attempt to break your legs so you wouldn't run.

But... we can all change. Even the worst of us. It's never too late to stop hurting others, move on to a better life, but some people never will. Skystar loves his power, and he keeps that power no matter how many times he misuses it.

He has no reason to change as long as his cruelty rewards him with status and authority.

But the writers are incapable of recognizing that, because for this entire arc, they were stuck in an absurd view of the world in terms of Fear and Greed. Abuse can be excused if he did it for the "right reason," and that makes him "fundamentally different" from the truly evil villains, Slash and One Eye.

Hopefully, it now makes more sense to you.

#I am completely sincere when I say that I am legitimately concerned for the mental health of these writers sometimes #It's a lot of words to say. Again. That evil is really really simple. #It feels good to get what you want. #Power gets you what you want-- Security. Assurance. Respect. #Everyone wants these things. #It's not about having a twisted and sadistic soul #I'm sure those exist out there. But they're so so rare #And you will get hurt if you need to believe that the only person it's okay to leave or distrust or hate is a literal monster #You can leave anyone who tries to control and hurt you actually!! #Even if they're in emotional pain and insist that they NEED YOU #You didn't deserve it! You never did! It's okay! They didn't need to be a monster. And you're not one for leaving either. #Or resenting them. Or recognizing that they can't be trusted. #Of course... well. Clear Sky DOES act like a monster in this text. #Gouging out people's eyes and slaughtering innocent women #But most of the time irl your abuser didn't like. Kill someone lmao #At some point the metaphor breaks down #BUT!!! #cw abuse #dotc hate #Clear Sky #Skystar #Anyway casting spell of I Love You on every abuse survivor who feels a connection here #bone babble

[13eyond13]

I think the moment Light's crush on L first smacked him in the manga (like when it finally rooted and started blooming in his guts) was when L was like "you're my first ever friend" whilst smirking into his teacup. And not because Light fully believed he was being sincere about being friends, but because he KNEW L was slyly teasing him and speaking to him on more than one level at once. Nothing more unexpected funny flattering and intriguing than that for him right then

#im thinking about this specifically because of that post about the girl getting a huge crush on her enemy that saved all her threats #bc that's basically that moment for light i think #light tries to squash all positive emotions towards others at all times when he's kira if they interfere with his plans after all #but if L does something like this to him then it forces him to think about his feelings in a strategic preparation sort of way #nay dare i say it basically is giving light permission to do so #he can now hold off on completely stamping out those feelings as soon as they arise #almost (he thinks) as a way to study his enemy and see how full of shit he may or may not actually be about such things #this moment probably starts a shift in light where he can allow himself to acknowledge that he maybe has a bit more than just #enemy feels for L you know #bc maybe L also is having other kinds of feels about him?? #whether or not it's true it would impress him as a bold move #and kickstart him having to analyze what he actually does sincerely feel for L #and maybe start reframing and recontextualizing a lot of their tense ambiguous interactions up til that point secretly as well #heck we basically see him doing that when hes like lounging at his desk going HAH if it's friendship he wants then by god it's friendship #he will get #and this game of chicken with L about saying theyre friends keeps him from being able to completely avoid confronting #any complicated feels #like he otherwise probably would #because he legit cant back down from preparing for another battle of the wits with L #both because of his competitive pride and his genuine need to protect himself #would he call it a crush to himself yet #no probably not #i feel like that came later much later #he def would have acknowledged it as such by the end of the story tho #essentially L found a way to create a little wedge to ram in the door to Light's feels #and that is a smart enough move to probably have made Light start developing a crush on him even if he didn't have one already #l lawliet #light yagami #lawlight #p

[wataeicentric]

I feel as though people (mostly people who aren't insanely wataeipilled, or involved with shipping in general) are misunderstanding what we're upset about. It's not the simple assumption that we want wataei to be "canon" and that we're upset that that can't happen because of Eichi getting married, it's that HappyEle have been on a character assassination spree recently (Izumi in Mad Party & Kohaku in Last Mission) and we're worried that's going to happen to Wataru and/or Eichi. Regardless of shipping, Eichi never told Wataru, who's supposed to be his "best friend" that he's essentially been engaged to Tori's sister for the best part of a year. If Wataru isn't upset about this, then they've done it once again, because Wataru trusts Eichi to take his mask off around him; whilst the mask is "him", the "mask's purpose" (the title of his card in EP:Link) is to hide oneself. Wataru took it off for EICHI and Eichi ALONE. He put himself on display, allowed his facade to begin to fade around him and be his authentic "self" and opened himself up to possibly even be hurt (which he was immediately, by the way, and CRIED over it. HIBIKI WATARU. CRIED. Because Eichi was indifferent to his confession of love) because he trusts Eichi, and Eichi's told Wataru before (Tempest) that he also trusts him. So, is it or is it not blatant character assassination, and possibly even going back on their more recent development of becoming more honest with each other, if Wataru is not upset with this development?

#Question isn't rhetoric btw I'm open to people disagreeing with me #wataei #eichi tenshouin #tenshouin eichi #wataru hibiki #hibiki wataru #enstars #I hope I don't sound absolutely insane here #i constantly doubt what I'm talking about whenever i talk about them because i'm terrified of being wrong #i personally think that akira will take the story in a preferable direction but we're not wrong for expecting the worst #considering how completely bastardised Izumi's character was in mad party #and how little Kohaku's emotions were payed attention in Last Mission #It's not completely out of nowhere to say 'wataei in atlantis' could possibly be the next on the list #however i sincerely hope they're not #i'd also like to mention how most of us just wanted the story to be about fine reflecting on their development as a unit and as friends #much like crazy:b's and ra*bits' climax events #and some may also be upset that that's not the case #not me personally but something i've heard #valentine's rambles

[commsroom]

one of the things that makes wolf 359's characterization work so well and feel so genuine is how much it's about perspective. maxwell is a manipulative backstabber in hera's story, a "gift of a friend" in jacobi's, and - from their subjective perspectives - both of them are right about her. i love eiffel, and i'm completely on his side, but... if you were kate garcia and your ex you had a toxic relationship with, a man you had to tolerate in your life because you had a child with him, who - after you were awarded full custody - attempted to kidnap your daughter, and got in an accident that left her disabled... if you thought that man was serving 26 years in prison for what he did, and then you thought he was dead, and then he showed up alive - walking free - and wanted to make amends...? would you want to hear him out? eiffel has suffered so much, and he became a better person in a way carceral punishment would never have done, but from kate's perspective, it must seem like he has never had to face consequences for anything. and that's... complicated, but it's real.

#wolf 359 #w359 #he is both the luckiest and unluckiest man in the world #like. eiffel is who he is to me because of who he is to hera and minkowski and lovelace #and he is that person. he's a person i love. i sincerely believe i would also love eiffel if i knew him irl. #but it's understandable. people can see such different sides of each other and the way wolf 359. understands that and acknowledges #all of those connections... yeah. #i really want eiffel to have a relationship with his daughter some day. he wants that and he'll never stop wanting that #and i care about him so i want that for him #but it's up to her. if she decides not to then. it's entirely her right. #and needless to say but. i think eiffel and kate. probably bring out the worst in each other #and it's such a weird situation to think. how people close to eiffel who don't know that version of him at all #would respond to how she sees him. #... i honestly think hera probably hates her and it's completely unjustified but it's the kind of person she is. #she judges everyone from an extremely close personal perspective and i think she does have kind of a. My People vs Other People mentality #which makes sense given how she's had to protect herself but also. she's just petty and spiteful and defensive sometimes. anyway.

[itspileofgoodthings]

one year of “just between us did the love affair maim you all too well”

#Jake Gyllenhaal like ‘Taylor if you don’t stop’ #but she DIDN’t. she won’t. it is the funniest thing IN THE WORLD #she said ‘Jake can I ask you a question’ #‘just between us’ is also the funniest thing a pop star can say #even funnier because she MEANS it completely sincerely

[pansear-doodles]

this is my brain whenever i try to explain to someone how i draw

#it is very hard to describe visual things without visuals and trying to explain my funny brain! #i really wish i can make tutorials but i complicate myself very much! #all i can say is observe practice experiment experience and be patient with yourself #i think the reason why i have a difficulty explaining is that most of the way i draw is self-taught so i think in my own language #and some of my practices are also bad and weird to follow like- #please sincerely do not copy how i just draw a circle as a base and then complete the rest of the body. that will not help you lol #anyway thats my ted talk #thoughts

[ahappydnp]

beyond his brain/creativity i think people forget just how kind phil is...like one of the many things that makes phil so fucking special is how thoughtful and careful he is. not even just with his audience, but anyone who’s ever interacted with him the review every single time is “oh my god that man is lovely” and i don’t think that’s acknowledged enough? how rare it is to have someone who was catapulted into that specific kind of fame by being handed thousands upon thousands of people who ask for pieces of you, who rely on you for their happiness, and still be so grounded and considerate (especially when that kindness wasn’t always deserved). he’s never once lashed out. he’s never called people out for making him the butt of jokes or not taking him seriously. he just quietly and humbly succeeds and let’s that speak for itself.

like not even getting into how safe and seen he makes people feel. how he makes sure people who meet him are comfortable. just fuck dude!!!!! he’s so so wonderful and gracious. i hope he knows we see it, that it doesn’t go unnoticed and every single ounce of love his community has for him is 100% warranted.

anyway i hope he has the best birthday and everything good happens for him. hope he gets to have some dreams of his own come true soon, whatever they may be. and that he gets all the love he’s put into the world returned to him ten fold because god knows he deserves it

#please know when i say i love him i am being completely sincere #that man has changed my life #both of them obviously but rn its phil day #amazingphil

[altschmerzes]

If Roy and Ted start sharing a bed when Roy stays over, is there an instance where Jamie ends up in the middle after like a bad dream or something? Or maybe that’s weird for like a 16 year old… idk now I’m just thinking out loud

first off i dont think that’s weird at all! we never really grow out of needing to be supported and comforted by the people who are important to us, and i know people who’ve done this sort of thing seeking comfort from their parents during times of extreme stress and trauma into their twenties. it’s one of the things that’s been interesting about writing this fic and characterizing jamie particularly once he’s gotten close to this new support system in his life - how to balance that he’s 15, 16, 17 years old and seeks independence and self sufficiency and also has a lot of reasons to be ashamed of a desire to seek comfort or a rejection of anything he sees as making him weak or childish and at the same time he’s a kid who’s been chronically starved of care and affection and that’s. a vital need for kids, even teenagers. sometimes especially teenagers. (i may or may not have spent quite a bit of time online reading psych and sociology and like. Parenting And Family Resources to get a handle on some stuff and verify if my hunches are accurate or not XD)

which is to say yes absolutely that’s on the horizon. not often, but sometimes, when things are bad and his need to be a kid taken care of and protected by his parents overrides his fear of being seen as a baby or bothering them. he remembers one of his friends getting broken up with via text while he was over for a sleepover and going and watching them leave the kidgang to go to their parents room bc they’re upset and want their parents. and if that’s okay, maybe this is okay for him to do too.

(ted and roy thoroughly encourage it any time jamie will admit to needing or wanting something. moments where he comes to them when he’s scared or upset, voluntarily seems out comfort are absolutely everything to both of them, especially given how hard it is for him to do)

#gav gab #gav answers #writing liveblog #fic: wriggle up on dry land #this is my agenda at all times when writing h/c tbh is like #there IS a justification and a completely reasonable way for characters to like #seek comfort and closeness #admit to things or ask for things or use fond nicknames #it can be hard to find the balance and make it work #but you CAN make it work and tbh sometimes like #a lack of intensity or sincerity or emotional rawness in something can feel more out of character than an admission of love #or a teenager being cuddled between his parents after being violently traumatized #or an i love you etc #ANYWAYS. MY AGENDA: BEHOLD IT #anon you’ve hit on something I have many thoughts about #especially re: the way people will treat it as weird or ooc automatically when things like this happen #(not you to be clear you’re fine. fandom as a whole gets weird abt this especially in gen fic) #He Would Say That And Here’s Why #This Is A Situation Of Emotional Emergency And People In Acute Distress Act Accordingly #etc #also smth smth parallel of this scene with the scene in ch 7 with ted michelle and henry

[madzillus]

Jamie Tartt you intricate man what a well developed multifaceted character you are

#jamie tartt #ted lasso #ted lasso fanart #ted lasso spoilers #ted lasso s3 #roy kent #keeley jones #trent crimm #jamie tartt’s earring #illustration #character study #digital art #ted lasso art #my work #I am being so so serious when I tell you: I really didn’t mean to draw him in this bisexual lighting #what can I say? #it just happened #honestly a complete accident #I’m really genuinely not being sarcastic I am trying to sound as sincere #I’m really genuinely not being sarcastic I am trying to sound as sincere as possible #which is really making me sound more sarcastic bUT REALLY #IT WAS AN ACCIDENT #I just colour people in bisexual lighting I can’t help it #honestly though? what an interesting man #what a beautifully written flawed and working on it character #I love watching his charcater’s evolution (possibly more than anyone) #it’s fascinating and they’ve done a great job with it #okay I’m done #mads draws ted

[lloydfrontera]

one of my favorite bits is javier spitting the worst insults he can come up with and lloyd just being >:3 because despite everything he says his approval rating with him didn't drop a single point <3 so like <33 sure <333 if it makes him feel better <3333

#i talk a lot <3 #tged #the greatest estate developer #lloyd frontera #and i'm not saying he doesn't actually mean it. but i am saying no insult javier can come up with is enough to make him rethink #how much he likes and trusts lloyd <3 #this is specifically about a conversation they skipped in the webcomic about javier being jealous lloyd apparently didn't get anything #from giving serazade the lullaby only for lloyd to tell him he just made her completely dependant on him <33 #and then he gives javier free pass to get the worst curse he can out of his system so javier tells him he's diligent and sincere and very #hardworking. just like a puppy smelly farts and muddy hair included. #they are so fucking weird about each other it's Great #javier asrahan