#remain passive.

[raspberryjellybrains]

Morpheus is a truly fascinating character to look at from a moral perspective because he's such a dick but about 50% of the time it's on accident and the other 50% it's on purpose, but not because of any genuine hate or malice just... poorly directed sadness. Neither of these reasons make it okay, but they make it damn hard to see where the lines are regarding guilt, blame, and forgiveness. As if this isn't enough, hearing Morpheus' take on things (or appalling lack thereof) along with some others makes it even harder to grapple with.

When I'm analyzing this first 50%, I often come back around to asking whether someone should punished for something they didn't know was wrong, which is a normal hard and fast 'no', but this someone has had millinea to find out it is wrong and correct it and hasn't, which then pulls me into questioning where the ignorance becomes willful. Especially when the individual is so blindsided by the idea that there might even be something wrong. Morpheus is cold and aloof, which I put down to a general temperament thing; the problem is that he can't afford to be. This is, quite literally, a major reason why the series ends the way it does. He wasn't particularly mean to Lyta, just not very kind or understanding. He was busy and distracted and hurting and didn't explain what was going on or offer much sympathy (none in the comics). Is it okay that he did that? No. Do I understand why and feel sad that a trait that is innocuous to most was deadly to him? Yes, of course always, yes.

The other 50% where Morpheus is trying to hurt people, it's born out of his own hurt, as most cruelty is. He is not a malicious being; cruel, but not malicious. The way he treats Destruction is from his own wish to escape the weight of their existence and a frustration that someone did it, someone did it and he couldn't stop or join them. He doesn't actually hate Destruction, Dream clearly blames himself at least in part for his leaving and seems to miss him as much he wants to respect or exile him for the deciding to do so. He's on the fence about how to act and overcompensates by being desperately terrible, which is what he always fucking does. That's the worst part! I chose Destruction specifically as an example because the situation lays bare the core of his cruelty very, very well. Nada and Orpheus are good examples as well. Dream doesn't like not knowing what to do, doesn't like being scared and can't stand the idea of being thought of as anything less than perfectly confident and controlled at all times (wow, so healthy!). He doesn't want people to look at him and see someone who needs comfort so he doesn't let them look at all, and ensures they don't by pushing them away at the slightest offense. If they brush against an insecurity or hurt, he's trained himself to lash out rather than lick the wounds. He condemns Nada to Hell when she sees who he is and rejects him for it; He leaves Orpheus on an island for a thousand years because he reminded Dream that he can't fix everything, or even keep those he loves safe; He's so unforgiving and rude towards Destruction because he did what Dream desperately needed to do but couldn't.

Thing is, these are both fixable flaws with obvious sources, but he has spent so long living by them that he doesn't know any other way to do so. Maybe it makes me an apologist—I'm willing to acknowledge that I can tend to hold a warped perspective on things—but I see his core personal moral failings as holding himself to an ordinary standard of behavior when an extraordinary one is needed and feeling that somehow his power and suffering makes him better than just about everyone else (now think about that and Lucifer and lose your mind briefly.) He isn't, on the whole, awful and irredeemable. He's flawed and he's trying, but when one is endless there is very little room for such a thing.

Then I end up asking the question: did he deserve it? does anybody? And that's... hard. Morpheus caused real hurt and damage, intentional or not, across space and time. Does he deserve to die for it? I would like to say no, but I would also see reason in saying yes. The questions get big, applicabilty of death penalty and impact of intention on action big, and that's usually when I stop the train. The point of Morpheus' weird and complex morality is to drive the train straight into the sunset, which I fully encourage those who can do it safely to do but if I did, we would be here until tumblr was ash.

So I can't offer an answer with a neat little bow, or even a particularly persuasive argument as to the final moral determination of Morpheus as a character, but that wasn't necessarily my goal. I can tell you one thing for sure: he would majorly benefit from one (1) positive and healthy friendship.

#crossing my fingers as always that this is coherent #i enter the tumblr posting mode and my brain frays into rope every point i try to make #basically!! hes not that bad he just needs A Lot of therapy and it makes me sad that he never gets it. #i dont even necessarily mean psychotherapy just some way to process his feelings in a healthy way #big fan of stories where he lives because he gets a chance to learn and feel without the pressure he puts on himself to know and- #remain passive. #my brother in christ you are allowed personhood by virtue of your personal sentience. clearly you are more than a reflection! act like it. #he is so infuriatingly blind to his own nature that if i were delirium i would be so pissed at him all of the time #putting him my mouth and shaking him aggressively like hes a chew toy #dream of the endless #the sandman #raspberry tart #the sandman spoilers

[melrosing]

one thing I also find v frustrating in this fandom is that a 'passive' female character is considered somehow backwards, uninteresting, or unsympathetic. passive and active are just about what a character's relationship to the narrative is. it does itself not determine whether that relationship is an engaging one or not, or what degree of importance that character holds. women are often relegated to passive roles, so necessarily within ASOIAF there are going to be characters who operate from within them - and that is still worthy of commentary and engagement. it's great that we also have a high number of female characters with active roles, but that is not the only way to write interesting women. you can have whole fucking novels about passive characters and many of them are the best ever written so can we stop with the Barbie 2023 dir. Greta Gerwig level feminism im tired

#like The Remains of the Day is one of my favourite novels led by a passive character #where the conclusion of the novel is that he will remain passive #it's stunning it's beautiful it's an incredible commentary on the human condition #so what is wrong w that for women

[analexthatexists]

So about this whole “Reverting Nightmare back to Passive” stuff…

…Okay, I still emotionally fall for everyone this happens, but I’m also a little tired of how the reversion itself is done. I’m fine with the idea of Nightmare somehow transforming back into Passive, but the way it’s done is growing a little old to me.

Usually, it’s the corruption/goop melting away and revealing Passive’s body underneath it, safe and damage-free. And I like this idea, and I think it’s very cool from an artistic perspective, but…

…the number of times I’ve seen it is kind of shocking, maybe even ridiculous.

What doesn’t help is that, commonly in past versions of media, this change resulted from immense mental stress and guilt expressed by Nightmare, which is mischaracterization on plenty of levels. Nightmare should not feel guilt for the actions he’s made, especially when it comes to tormenting Dream. That’s…kind of why he’s the bad guy? That’s why Dream has to GROW AND ADAPT, realizing the Nightmare he saw as his brother is dead, so to suddenly reveal that Nightmare’s still there despite the corruption is…strange? I guess? So then what was the point of Dream’s adaption and growth? His whole character arc? Uncorrupting Nightmare can still work in favor of Dream’s arc, as the sudden whiplash of finally getting over his brother to his brother suddenly returning albeit with the constant threat of losing him again is…an interesting arc you could really work with if you’re good with writing. Additionally, Nightmare still retaining the mindset and personality of Corrupted yet having to deal with mortality and the sudden degrading of his power and Dream trying to help him work through it like he had to could make for something bittersweet. Dream would still have to accept that the original Nightmare is gone, but can still try and make the most of what remains of him, even if this “new” Nightmare will never come to accept his peace or comfort.

Over time, this concept of Passive visuals and visions within Corrupted Nightmare have changed, more so that Nightmare uses the visuals of Passive underneath him as methods of threatening and traumatizing Dream rather than signs of weakness or guilt. However, this is still not enough for me.

I want to torment this old man without the cliche “I feel sorry for everything I’ve done” routine. I want to make him suffer through mortality.

I believe I’ve seen this “Child Nightmare” idea that strips him of his power and presence, which while going through the same “reverting back to Passive with the goop melting away” process, it still differentiates itself by making the reason different; it doesn’t come from Nightmare experiencing guilt or regret and it happens out of his control.

Can someone please help me find that post by the way; I was trying to find and link it but I couldn’t and I forgot to like it :(

My take on a reversion AU would to, instead of having the goop wash away to reveal Passive underneath it, the opposite happens.

Let’s talk about The Lich from Adventure Time. He’s this big, menacing skeleton dude who means no good until Finn slaps him with whatever this gunk is, which begins making him grow organic matter and skin. This turns The Lich into a giant baby named Sweet Pea, who’s been (mostly) freed from his original self and ways. This was actually the thing that made me want to write all of this! The Lich and Nightmare already feel like very similar characters from how they act to parts of their design, so why not take this a step further?

Btw, that’s why I drew this ;)

Through unknown means, an outside force that could either be working alongside Dream or not curses Nightmare for whatever reason, suddenly forcefully (and rather painfully) sealing his body away into the body of the skeleton he had once killed for his own benefit. Have him live out the pains of mortality and despair that he had pushed Dream into without softening or hurting his characterization. Have him despise his newfound life, yet pushing help from others away even if it means he’s only hurting himself and his chances of turning back to normal. Have him use this form to his advantage to torment Dream, who’d still be on the path of getting over his brother’s death.

HAVE HIM. BE. A JERK.

Because regardless of looks, this is still the corrupted guardian of negativity we’re talking about. He may LOOK like he’s been redeemed, and that without his power and weakened negative aura he’ll be nicer and more anxious, but that doesn’t necessarily means he has to be nor is. Looks can be deceiving, silly! And he’ll use those looks to his advantage. And yes, he would be immensely weaker than he originally was, but like Dream, Nightmare too, will adapt. He was already good at manipulating and controlling others, but a more unassuming form has only benefited him in this regard.

Because who expects a helpless bully victim to be capable of killing?

It’s the same mistake that hundreds of people have died to in the past.

#dreamtale #nightmare sans #dream sans #dreamtale au #passive nightmare sans #alex says stuff #undertale au #utmv #sans au #honestly this idea kinda remains me of the portrait of Dorian gray in the way I’m portraying nightmare #<- and I mean like I don’t hate it #adventure time #the lich

[essektheylyss]

my toxic trait is that if someone tries to orient me while giving directions with anything other than cardinal directions, I will straight up stop wherever I am to be like "I don't know WHOSE fucking left you're talking about. try again."

#apropos of nothing i just saw a post that made me think about it lol #I do passively know which direction is which moooost of the time #(not like. automatically. but I kinda remain oriented unless i wake up in the car or was reading in the car lol #or got off the subway at an underground stop and its super cloudy or night) #but oh my god left and right are so relative and it drives me nuts #the WORST THING is when Google maps isn't clear about which way on the road you're supposed to go when you start #and its like 'go toward x st' WHERE IS THAT. HELLO. if I'm at HOME thats fine but if I'm at a random place in the city? NO. #i will happily tell you which way is north but you gotta work with me here

[ojirocardigansniper]

ouguhhh just read the summary and article from this post about alexandre baril's work on suicidism (oppression of the suicidal) and the opening paragraph of the conclusion in the full article. thoughts. rotating

i was thinking about the. thick white gloves. while reading. remembered that one post about how csa being horrifically taboo to talk about compounds survivors' trauma and shame and went Maybe something similar re: suicidality and suicide... the suffering multiplied by the silence, the risk of dismissal or instant change in perception in anyone you tell... and even in 'mental health' spaces the perception that suicide as a topic is dangerous to talk about- that it could be triggering instantly and automatically- is like. i think there's some paternalism there and there's some shamefear and there's some oversimplification and there's the fact that it plays well into the existing well-taught impulse to avoid the discomforting. but like. this post also about how getting through suicidality is maybe only possible by considering the option thoroughly. i am just thinking. idk. yall know me yall know i think about this topic a lot

#chat #as someone who HAS mostly recovered from passive suicidality- mostly recognizes its suicidal intrusive thoughts as demands for life change- #im def one of the people who can be susceptible to recovery-only mindsets when like assisting or relating to suicidal people. so i need thi #me and one of our stranger sysmates (maze-body) were reading the article together and it kept standing against my reflexive questions + #discomforts because it understands suicidality as both an experiencer (in a weird way) and an already-dead thing; it could confidently- #dismiss my concerns as both fixable and less relevant than the experience and autonomy of the suicidal party. #its whole thing is being- not anti-recovery but like. unrecovered and incurable. which is a perspective we need to remember and have spoken #no matter how much harm reduction + barrier lowering + healing we go through. it as a frank eternality will still remain+need recognition. #its a weirdass way of coping with the inevitability of pain and suffering while not giving up on our locus of control but we're doing it ig #and i think theres a lot there you can relate 2 chronic/passive suicidality- just a companion no matter how much you make life worth living #whatever. anyway #suicide / #in case anyone has. tag blocking but not content blocking fsr

[metanarrates]

no actually my friends and I were shocked at how often tlt had an excuse for its PROTAGONIST to not be included in the plot. she's not interested in the plot. she's been ordered to stay in the room while.harrow does plot. she has to be silent so other characters can talk plot around her while she doesn't participate. she's not interested in the plot again. and again. she almost died and is in a fugue state so she can't be included in the plot. she's not interested again. she's gonna be bored while other characters talk plot. what's that? she's taking action? just kidding. it got interrupted by something. also she doesn't care about the plot. She Got Fucked Up Again And Is In A Fugue State. She Doesn't Want To Do The Plot. She's Too Snarkily Disaffected. Fuck You.

#narrates #she does stuff sometimes but its kind of hilarious how much the story doesn't want her to #we genuinely think harrow may have been the protagonist in early drafts. SHE'S always doing stuff offscreen #SHE has reasons to involve herself. the story cares quite a bit about deciphering her feelings #but somehow our pov character just remains a weird passive noncharacter

[cosmosiscollective]

Is it really a second chance, Or am I stumbling on my first? This glitched, broken mind's dance- All reflected and refracted In vampire's thirst.

There is a world outside that is so blurry and grainy. It truly doesn't feel like my own life! To be broke, truly destitute- And yet to know a mother's love. These are things that feel foreign to me. As does this female body.

But at you, my new and yet old "boyfriend" Or so the others like to call us I steal a glance I would face this personal hell Over 9,000 times In order to be with you Perhaps in time their teasing will become true For now, we wait in the awkward, silent moment In order to find out

But know that I am willing to brave this world outside In order to be with you

#seto's poetry #mai's poetry #Mai helped me remain focused. Her passive influence might also be present. - Seto

[pinkfey]

i often think about how liberals water down leftist terminology to make it more palatable for conservatives. “abolish the police” became “defund the police” and both historically and now “from the river to the sea, palestine will be free” is too “radical” of a statement because it leaves no room for their two-state solution.

#the two state solution is the stupidest shit i can’t stand hearing it. the liberal zionist’s idea of palestinian liberation involves no #direct action or freedom from an oppressor. it implies there are two sides. it implies this is a mutual ‘war.’ #it allows the settlers to continue to live on stolen land. a liberal adores this ‘solution’ as if it’s a solution at all #it’s passivity and centrism and allows the boot of israel to remain pressing down on the neck of the world #and comparing israel to nazi germany misses the biggest point which is that the german government was legally taken control of by a fascist #political leader. the state of israel was ‘established’ for the purpose of displacing palestinians and dominating their land #to erase palestine from the map. #israel is not a country. israel has no right to exist. #free palestine today tomorrow forever #anyways.txt #delete later

[qsmprambling]

Admins please give Bad some lore he's so bored he's gonna literally join the Federation 😆

[serpenteve]

thinking about how alina starkov was written to be such a bland generic YA protagonist so that any reader could relate to her but that in and of itself makes her one of the least relatable characters because she doesn't come across like a fully dimensional human being that makes decisions you can understand but rather like the author's selectively sentient plot device?

#idk man she's just so.................passive its infuriating #lb tries in the later books but...meh #the other characters will forever be more interesting to me #every time alina remains passive in the story im just like........wHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS #why are you even the heroine???? #why can't you just get your hands dirty? #why are you such a simp for the imperial monarchy whose wars killed your parents??? #for the nobility class that didn't give a shit about you at the orphanage??? #her motivations just makes.....zero sense

[natsmagi]

i know you know homestuck and this has been eating away at me so i need to know. do you think eichi is a passive class or an active class

i dont think theres necessarily a clear cut answer here so im interested to hear your thoughts

(or any other enstars classpecting thoughts in general lmao. i dont check your blog often so idk what you may have touched on before)

omg I HAVENT REALLY READ HOMESTUCK SINCE I WAS LIKE.12. SO I DONT REMEMBER MUCH OF HOW CLASSPECTING WORKS AND STUFF SO I CANT REALLY GIVE THIS A FULL PROPER ANALYSIS so forgive me if i fumble it but i will. try my best

but honestly id probably say passive ?? like. eichis actions have been incredibly selfish, but theyre selfish in a way where he wants to help others. eichis actions havent exactly benefited him in the end, and iirc actives work more for their own gain while passives benefit others. i think his class being a passive one would be a cute and unexpected turn of events for everyone, as everyone probably would've expected an active class of him. i enjoy subversions......... and i feel like him being of a passive class could lead to some very interesting moments and challenge both his character and his class, were these aspects to be featured in a story

#ask #i cannot emphasize enough though of how little i remember of homestuck omg its like only faint visions remain #BUT I HOPE MY ANSWER WAS OK ! #also feel like eichi himself would be taken aback by being a passive class. Good stuff

[softness-shelter]

Decided to write down names, as we tend to forget. One or two names I just made up on the spot...as a couple did not have them yet. 🌙

(4/21/23)

#🌙 #shelter friends #mrrps #frog remains unnamed on principle. #roy is named after being a 'Courdy Roy' croc #Ganz was Kell's first webkinz as a child so they named him after the brand on the tag #Magma's name was lost to time until I suddenly recalled it #-While making this. #Pup I just named pup because that's what I called it in my head #I'm fairly certain Rosary is named for the 'beads' (rattle tail.) #Mint and Mocha are a gay couple. They probably do things like eat brunch and discuss herb gardening #......I find it odd that I am thinking about all of this so thoroughly. I will just blame passive influence #Nimmow is handmade by Kell. They gathered materials and made themselves a fraggle pattern (pattern destroyed in process.) #Same with [Tsuchinoko]...Kell was bored one day. Rotund little snake..... #Lemonade was named by May...who loves lemonade (beverage) and thought a citrus-ish name sounded cute #Oswald was named by Kell and has been the biggest comfort plush of the group. #He has been a sleeping aid for a while. #I'm unsure why he is named Ozzie...perhaps because he is an (O)rca that is Fu(zz)y? Ozzy -> Ozzie? #I can only guess.. huhu #Anyhow......it is very late. I should really be asleep by now but putting names to these beasts was calming #Goodnight ✨ #ozzie #lemonade #roy #nimmow #mint #mocha #grass #pank #rosary

[falllpoutboy]

idk whats going on with selwyn in asoiaf but he better not be a secret targ loyalist. hell FAWKING no

#id rather he just remain neutral like it was said or he just passively declared for renly #he better serve so hard like ik brienne has a cunty dad

[essektheylyss]

.

#I do think anyone is allowed to complain on their own blog but like #at a certain point if you're going to other people and aggressively demanding that they share your opinions #or putting your complaints on the content you want people to reblog whether it's art or gifsets or fics #and then you're viciously mad that people aren't engaging with that? or worse being all haughty about people blocking you? #this fandom really needs to get it through their heads that blocking is for curating your space #and that someone getting fed up with them over something is not them 'winning' #I'm sure people have blocked me cuz they were fed up with my chatter! that's fine! I'm annoying and I will continue to be annoying! #I am on the annoying chatter website! and everyone has different annoyances that they enjoy vs will not tolerate! #but if all you're doing is being passive aggressive (or outright aggressive) on your fandom content? people won't wanna hear it! #I have a very low tolerance for 'I'm going to make creative content passive aggressively but also expect you to appreciate my ~art~.' #if it doesn't have to do with the art I find it irritating and if it does have to do with the art the art better be damn convincing. #complaining to complain is fine but the moment you want me to share and/or endorse your complaints you better fucking convince me. #frankly most people I talk to in fandom are ones who will actually go hard building an argument for their positions #and like. just shitting on a different thing without any actual context taken into account is not an argument. #if you don't wanna do that that's literally fine! but at that point you don't get to complain when people remain unswayed. #and you especially don't get to get mad that other people are enjoying canon or even just something different.

[iftitah]

hi do y'all remember lj

#this is not about lj #its his roommate #he's the only person in boys that bcg don't actively talks to and im sure they don't like each other #and he is my friend because he is my practical batch so more than anyone he is around me all day #and i really like being his friend he's witty he enjoy doing laboratories and would make you enjoy them too #but idk why he's so bummed about me choosing bcg instead of lj dude it's been 6 months what the fuck #and he shouldn't have a say in it #lj is literally moved on is really good friends with bcg and talks to me just fine #but i don't seem to understand why this guy literally has a problem he'll make indirect jokes about me choosing bcg #so much too the point lj shouted on him said kya faaltu baat karta rehta hai bhenchod #and he kept asking me why did you chose him what did you like specially the question why did you go in so quick #no?? you think i was quick because you didn't see what was happening all the time #and idk after batches changed and roll number shuffled and we came in second year he's only really the person that's remained from my #previous batch so im comfortable with him #but why the passive aggressive attacks on bcg #and whenever i stopped it he was like chill can you take a joke #but im at my limit rn #literally

[37q]

ok somebody else said it already so now im feeling more comfortable to express this. i love that anthony bourdain post abt eating on a date because it describes my wife to a T but also like ummmmm idk how to say this i feel alienated from its conflation of beauty with someones sense of ease around food. its his own personal sentiment of course but when everyone else signs off on it too it kinda makes me feel like there remains a larger stigma in my circle around those who are mundanely neurotic, particularly regarding the relationship between someones emotional liberation, their attractiveness, and food. its worthwhile to associate dietary autonomy with personal and even civic autonomy, but adding beauty or desire into it works as both a celebration for those who can get to that point of personal emancipation and punishment for those who still suffer imo! so at the very least if you see this post before you reblog it please tag it with like eating disorder or something because it just makes me feel eternally ugly and unrecoverable :)

#this isnt passive aggressive im just trying to remain positive during my first food panic attack of the week