tumblingxelian

[tumblingxelian]

To a homophobe, even the most chaste kiss on the cheek between gay people is exactly as disgusting and degenerate as a hardcore BDSM orgy hosted in the town square, so you may as well ally with the BDSM orgy enthusiasts to throw bricks at the cops who are going to try and arrest all of you together anyway.

[tumblingxelian]

[tumblingxelian]

dunmeshi is proof that if u ever have a lot of worldbuilding u want to share but dont want to make it forced literally just make one of your characters autistic. neurotypicals cant exposition dump. laios though....he can.

[tumblingxelian]

[tumblingxelian]

Dogshite website for real

[tumblingxelian]

i’ve decided i am in fact going to do a series of these!! im gonna draw all of team rwby bc i love them

R | W | B | Y

[tumblingxelian]

I've been feeling really stressed because of this scene.

This is my biggest fear. The idea that the people you think of as friends only barely tolerate you, and you're just too dense to pick up on it. And it would be my own fault for not being more socially aware.

I'm too conscious of the fact that I would *not* pick up on social cues like this. How many people talk about me like this when I'm not around? How many people would gladly be rid of me? The fear of this possibility consumes me. It regularly has me afraid to reach out to anyone. It causes me to isolate myself. I'm not sure more socially capable people could ever understand the horror of this. I can't get it off my mind.

[tumblingxelian]

Final one, low key cannot decide what'd be a more fun set up for the Aware of Abuse AU. Classic Chat & Ladybug, a rich kid trio somehow, or a Quartet, even more somehow, or even a five/six person team with a 3 to 3 split.

Regardless, low key taking these from a different chat, Kagami's Akuma:

Aku-Gami: (Bursts into Mansion) Mother, face me!! Tomoe: What a ridiculous display, cease this at once. Aku-Gami: There it is, your hypocrisy mother. Tomoe: You dare-

Aku-Gami: You raise a warrior but demand she become a docile wife! You train a soldier and expect her to be a slave! Your aspirations and commands are insane and contradictory! Tomoe: Your refusal to accept reality or your role is not on my shoulders!

Aku-Gami: Let us see then if you can live to your own standards! Aku-Gami: (Sword blast that turns Tomoe into a incomprehensible mix of hyper traditional wife & daughter on one side, kitted out warrior on the other, maybe overlaid with a school uniform meant to look like a business suit. You get the gist I imagine.)

Chloe: Ooh, maybe she shouldn't be foiled just yet. Adriem: One of us, one of us, one of us!

Let her go a little feral!

#Low key had forgotten Audrey says ridiculous when I wrote that #now it feels so wrong XD

[tumblingxelian]

do hugs always make you feel this warm?

[tumblingxelian]

Mhm yeah exactly, you get it, the miscommunication is key for helping foster a continued low level drama field that is no one's fault.

Mhm all this, both would feel they are doing the right and responsible thing and that the other is the one being weird/rude about it but they can't 'say' that because they are hosting/guest. So it just kind of festers in the back of their heads, with every other niggling thought that accumulates over time.

Mhm, I think the guilt would be something Chloe struggles to de-couple herself from conceptually. Cos while they are symbolic of her fathers neglect, the actual idea of, "I am sorry, here is something you will like" is not actually bad conceptually the way "I hurt you for fun" is. So it'd be more about learning why and how his gifts were a problem and the proper way in which to approach their use and communicate her intent for healthier relationships.

Yeesss, exactly, very well said there.

She's not going to get any of the snippy jokes about Gabriel being a joyless control freak with all the warmth of a dead fish. She's just gonna see a rich kid insulting the parent who gave him everything (& is a respected figure in her field) all for being what, a little stern perhaps? Such a brat! So yeah definitely something she'd need a lot more context for before she is able to work through it.

Second last one I swear, but one final hurdle for them all would be general miscommunication. Say Chloe does throw a pre school party, but Marinette brings food; Chloe doesn't insult it but is confused.

She's hosting, she supplies the good, is this a jab at the hotel or what? Meanwhile Marinette takes the confusion as a jab at her parents cooking cos guests bringing food is super normal to her.

Stuff like that would be so easy to happen and at the very least foster annoyance. Much in the same way Chloe buying someone an apology gift can be taken as a bribe. Where as she might be fifty fifty.

Cos on one hand its like her dad to buy use gifts to compensate for absence or emotional support. On the other hand, gifts are generally good and well received, & she put in effort to get someone something they'd like or a replacement for something gone.

There'd be similar stuff with Adrien or even Kagami and so on where the lack of context alone, or subtle differences born of class divide can foster mis-communication and vexation with neither side in the wrong.

God though yeah just the miscommunication for how things are done.

Because yeah all the parties Chloé goes to are catered events where she just has to show up all food is prepared. She's the Host it's her Job.

But Mari was raised to never attend a party without contributing food, and said parties are often ones where bringing food is very welcomed! Smaller groups of normal people rather than a fancy gala.

And then yeah the gifts! All apologies from her dad were just him saying sorry, throwing a gift at her, and then continuing his previous behavior without change. So that's how it works! She doesn't have to change, she just has to say sorry and cheer them up with a gift! Which, technically, is a bribe to be able to get away with bad behavior. But it's also entirely genuine!

Re: Adrien you already mentioned on how Adrien's casual disrespect for his father would rub Mari the wrong way at first because like. Hey that's your dad you're supposed to respect your parents above all else they love and care for you! and it's a while before she realizes that Adrien's feelings are from Gabe's abuse and not being an entitled brat.

[tumblingxelian]

Now I know I'm worthy of you

(Oh can't you see, you could be with me)

[tumblingxelian]

I haven’t done a gif like this for a while..it was fun!

[tumblingxelian]

Great response, sorry XD and this line in particular jumped out at me for a different surprise reason:

She just doesn't understand why someone with a Perfect Life™ would change without going through some kind of suffering that forces introspection.

Because I am reminded of a fic that managed to speedily (Seemingly) weave in a Chloe redemption arc & Marinette friendship within the first like, week of the new school year in a totally believable way.

Long story short, Adrien fucking died during Stoneheart.

Specifically, he got crushed by a thrown car before he even got into his house. Gabriel went into a depression slump & Marinette blames herself.

Then she gets to class before anyone but Chloe whose not wearing make up, her hairs barely above a rats nest and she's wearing what is obviously a boys over shirt and quietly crying.

She's too nice to ignore that and then she finds out Chloe is crying about a boy "so lonely & so kind" he could evoke such grief and love from a girl Marinette previously thought incapable of those things.

Then Chloe completely breaks down in her arms & just... Does not bounce back to her usual energy after that.

Marinette, as well as a few others, continue to be gentle presences. To the point where Sabrina gives Marinette's picture to the door man so she can go up to Chloe's if she wants.

Then later, Chloe gets Akumatized into "Anti Hero" but she ignored Gabriel's orders for a week because her focus is on "saving everyone, no one else will lose anyone like I lost Adrien."

So yeah, that kind of event is one I can easily see Marinette perceiving as both revealing new depth to Chloe & that she could rationalize as inspiring change, thus inviting her understanding.

Also spoiler but Adrien's not for real dead, he got mixed with a butterfly, Plagg and Gabriel's wish to become perma Chat Noir.

Just thought that was interesting and a good contrast to show ways in which Marinette can be super compassionate and reach out. VS circumstances under which it would go against her every instinct to do so & both being totally valid reads on the character.

Semi-rip to Adrien but also like.

Yeah just. Showing how much Chloé can genuinely care for another person goes a long ass way toward the shattering of the illusion that she's a 2-dimensional bitch.

[tumblingxelian]

Sorry, one more musing on the Aware of Abuse AU regarding Chloe's behavioral adjustments and how she handles them or doesn't:

Type 1: Adjusting Sabrina: Would you like some cookies I made? Chloe: Ew, no, I don't want to risk something you made. Sabrina (Cringes in hurt or outright cries) Chloe: Wait! Ignore that! Belay those words! That was my parents talking, I'd love to try them! Sabrina: (OO) Oh, OK!

Type 2: Not adjusting Marinette: You were out of line as usual. Chloe: How was I out of line? It was a legitimate question! Marinette: Because you made Mylene cry, you jerk! Chloe: She's the one who chose to star in a horror film even though she hates being scared! I was not wrong for asking why!

Basically, if she evokes hurt & is not jumped on, she can course correct, or be guided to do so. On the other hand if someone gets defensive or sharp with her, then she instantly falls into fight mode.

I think it was a post of your I recall seeing that made me think of it. Namely, the one about how on Bustier's birthday Chloe was minding her own business until everyone got on her case. & then she decided to lash out.

Similar case here, she meets perceived hostility with hostility, but is much more open to the idea she's hurting someone as her parents hurt her and more willing to address that.

Oh yeah basically!

It's a lot easier for her to recognize that she hurt someone when they act, well. Hurt. Sad or crying. Obviously she made them feel bad, right? Obviously that was wrong, right?

But when someone reacts with anger, it doesn't quite feel like they're genuinely upset to her. It feels more like a 'how dare you not act like how I want!?' like with her mother.

And yeah that goes double in situations like Horrificator where she didn't intend to do something wrong. She wasn't /trying/ to make Mylene cry, just frustratedly snapping at the situation like everyone else was. There wasn't malice. So while she'll feel sorry for acting that way to Mylene, she'd defend herself from Marinette yelling at her about it.

#Mhm #glad that makes sense #& yeah much easier to process on her part #especially cos she likely hasn't internalized how perceived rejection from her classmates before hurt her #she was above them after all she never let it stick #& now she's very #new year new me #& just wants to move forward #That is to say she struggles to distinguish between her old hurt anger #and her old haughty elitism #so its difficult for her to process why a peer is yelling at her cos the are upset #as she kidn of rationalized away any of those feelings she had for them #leaving anger mostly reserved for adults #if that makes sense #Also yeah #if she wasn't even being like #insulting #in her mind #then its gonna evoke defensiveness even more #She's 'right' to ask #she's 'right'' to be angry about Alya snooping #being yelled at or it is unfair #and yeah would definitely remind her of her mother

[tumblingxelian]

Glad you liked the submission, as I have more on the Aware of Abuse AU!

I think it would be really interesting to reflect on how this situation would be kind of a drawn out grapple for Marinette. This is in no way salt and I think if it was written she'd both warrant having hear grievances hear, but also could definitely come off as a bit antagonistic, or at least wary.

(Exactly how hostile she defaulted to with Chloe tended to oscillate episode to episode so ya know how it be)

Marinette would have the easiest time getting close with Kagami. She has no history like with Chloe & no baggage, IE friendship with Chloe, like Adrien. Tomoe is not someone Marinette admires and its much easier to see abuse in the physicals side. While she'd struggle to see it more in the verbal or negligence side; or otherwise be able to rationalize the negative behaviors such as over protectiveness.

Meanwhile Adrien would be tied a lot closer to Chloe going into school as she'd be being less overtly antagonistic or vain. Plus, they'd have a much stronger "We need each other to keep from falling back into old patterns and to survive" mentality.

Plus Adrien would be a bit more overtly snarky and less respectful to authority or stuff like Gabriel's fashion shows. He still is very nice and super wants to be liked by everyone all the time, but it'd be a lot easier for her to see the negatives in his behavior.

Chloe meanwhile would probably rankle and outright frustrate her the most. Not just because she'd still be hard to get along with in general, or because she still is not against ignoring rules or disrespecting authority figures. But because...

No clue what your religious views may or may not be, but have you heard those talks of "Catholic guilt" and the idea of needing to suffer, do penance, ETC before one can be redeemed?

Marinette wouldn't strictly think or want that, but there would be a part of her that would sort of... Well resent that Chloe is seemingly just choosing to change and not even necessarily enough.

That is to say, Chloe might still rudely reject Sabrina's cookies out of hand but then instantly walk it back and have some.

But more in that she's suffered no defeat, she's not been taken from her previous luxurious circumstances, she hasn't seemingly lost anything and even more she'd not even be overtly contrite.

That is to say, Chloe wouldn't be doing stuff akin to the Lady Luck AU (Nothing against it, great fic!) where she'd frequently reflect on how much of a 'fuck up' she was. Or or say stuff like, "I know I was a bitch but I am trying to be better". Or feel guilt in the "I can't even be mad they assume the worst of me cos I probably would have done X."

She's just choosing to be different and on some level its deeply unsatisfying and even frustrating.

(Where is the arc, the climax, the catharsis!?)

Especially if some people roll with it or let her get away with it when she starts falling into old habits.

Marinette doesn't want Chloe to suffer or beg forgiveness or hate herself she doesn't. She just doesn't understand why now? Why at all? Why because of her friend? Why because of how she was treated and not how she treated others?

Why couldn't she care enough about hurting Marinette to change!?

That I think would be the lynch-pin and one that is, from Marinette's perspective, as well as others in and out of universe entirely sympathetic, she was hurt after all.

But in that same vain Chloe's an abused child lashing out due to trauma and taught such terrible lessons she sometimes couldn't process that she wasn't doing 'right'.

Marinette's been hurt, and that would need to be properly addressed. But it wouldn't need to happen in a self recriminating manner necessarily.

Not that I don't love those, self hating characters rife with issues are fun to explore. It is just that I think it'd be interesting to explore both, changing as a person, and a "Bad" victim getting help before they actually even start processing over much how others might warrant reoperations.

Does that make sense?

The story "restorative Justice" sort of dips into this from a different middle ground angle and most stuff by Generalluxun often have elements of it too.

Oh yeah no it's.

Marinette doesn't understand why Chloé is Like That™ in the first place, so she can't fathom her wanting to change.

From Mari's perspective, Chloé's life is pretty perfect. She's beautiful, she's rich. She can do whatever she wants whenever she wants and always gets her way through money or influence. She's always bragging about how she's so much better than everyone. Clearly her parents must adore her because they spoil her with gifts and never tell her 'no'. Any 'hardships' are just minor inconveniences that Chloé brought upon herself by being mean.

So why would Chloé choose to change? If it's not broke, don't fix it. Chloé's life is Perfect™, why would she do something to make it different?

It's not that she wants Chloé to suffer, or thinks that she /should/ suffer. She just doesn't understand why someone with a Perfect Life™ would change without going through some kind of suffering that forces introspection.

#Mhm great breakdown there #compound it with some fairly black and white thinking #and a presumption of parents inherently loving their children #and she'd not be able to perceive Chloe as a victim very easily #so even if she did get context #it would not stick easily #Marinette didn't hurt others when she was hurt #so how can Chloe feel that makes sense? #Its all so divorced from her lived experience #and from her understanding of Chloe as a person that it'd be immensely hard to wrap her head around it #and generally feel extremely unsatisfying

[tumblingxelian]

I don't understand why people think Oscar is "stealing Ruby's screen time and character development" when like...

He just BARELY has more screentime than Sun.

Because they need to scream about something. Accuracy has nothing to do with it.

[tumblingxelian]