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micer2012 · 5 months

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a reflection on MatPat's plagiarism

Hello, my name is Della, or micer2012, and 2 years ago Game Theory plagiarized three Tumblr posts of mine, making a video that now holds almost 6 million views.

My posts explaining his plagiarism made their rounds on Reddit, Tumblr and Twitter, but despite the Hermits and Pooka commenting on it (generally in support of me or saying they don’t know enough details about the situation to say either way), MatPat and his team have never owned up to anything, and no mention of my name is present on the video. The one Reddit post they made denying it (which was made before my detailed takedown, which they have never responded to (though the mods on the r/GameTheorists Reddit were kind and made sure it stayed up)) didn’t even mention me by name, just referring to me as “a tumblr user”. (Though one of the screenshotted comments in the body of the post does say my name)

This experience was baffling, but it’s overall had a positive impact on my life. r/Hermitcraft gave me a Golden Apple Award (post of the year, 2021). My inbox was filled with excited fans, wanting to ask me questions or pose their own theories, far more than the hate I got. (Though the hate I got from Game Theory fans was VERY funny. I wondered why none of them gave me shit about saying “MatPat misgendered Evil Xisuma” before realizing none of them read that far into the post.)

And getting on a more personal, and much more important note, I met most of my current online friends through this, including my partner. It helped me grow closer with my irl friends as well and gave me an entertaining story that I tell whenever I have the chance. It was one of the first things in my life that really made me feel like my talents, my autistic hyperfocusing and analyzing of things I love, could be valuable. Useful. Exploitable. It blew my mind that MatPat thought an autistic kid’s ramblings about a Minecraft Youtube joke character were good enough to steal. To put an audible sponsorship on. To get 6 million views off of.

And that’s why I’m writing this post, this update years later. As you might’ve been able to guess, Hbomberguy’s Youtube video on plagiarism reopened this wound. It was really hard for me to sit through, it took days of pausing and taking breaks, because I had experienced everything he was talking about firsthand.

In my 10 page long takedown post, I wrote about how his rewording of my sentences made him say things that were incorrect, just like Filip did. The content farm production style that made big companies like Cinemassacre take one creator (AVGN/MatPat) and turn him and his content into a brand, a voice that reads out scripts by other people with other opinions/theories, is a history shared with Game Theory. What really hit me was Harris talking about how big creators only do this to people they think they can get away with doing it to. How they view their victims as lesser, as not deserving of their words, repackaging them as their own to give to an audience that can gain from hearing them, but deserves better than to have to listen to the original victim.

That’s the thing, I 100% think a video version of my theory to expose to a bigger community than “Evil Xisuma Fans on Tumblr” is a great idea!! Near the end of the video Harris talks about how video adaptations of things could be a great market, even an accessibility tool, and I completely feel that about my posts. I wrote them quickly assuming the reader was someone well versed on Evil Xisuma lore, after not even watching most of the CarnEvil series, and the diagrams I made to explain them are even less comprehensible. Harris makes a joke that I completely agree with,

“I’m sure some of my videos would do very well if someone translated them into English.”

I don’t think I would’ve ever made my posts if I didn’t have autism, and a special fixation on Evil Xisuma and Hermitcraft. I made them because I felt the character was being done an injustice, and because I wanted to share with other superfans this theory that might explain it away. I do think that MatPat plagiarizing me was ableist. I used to wonder a lot if this would’ve happened if my posts were articulated better, if they had been peer reviewed, if the posts themselves had been spread to a wider audience before MatPat made his video. At one point when the discourse was fresh (before I had the time to write out my 10 page rebuttal), a bigger YouTuber (100k subs at the time) messaged me and started talking on Discord, interested in possibly making a video on the discourse, but I think my style of typing and general enthusiasm drove him away. You can tell by a single look at my blog (or my original 3 posts!) that I don’t usually type like this. This post you’re reading now has been peer reviewed and edited, and took me hours to format correctly. That video could’ve been huge, the entire outcome of this MatPat situation would probably be much different.

I also used to stress a lot about “being the one who ruined Evil Xisuma’s story”. If you didn’t know, to me S8 Evil Xisuma’s story got wrapped up pretty quickly and unsatisfying (in my personal autistic opinion). (though this might’ve been due to s8 being experimental and ending early with moon big) There was no real culmination of the plot points and arcs going on, and I don’t want to blame myself, but when Xisuma said on stream (when the MatPat thing was first going on) that he didn’t want to focus on the discourse or draw more attention to it, it makes a lot of sense to me that he just wanted to wrap it all up as quickly as possible. For a while I beat myself up about it, of ruining the story of this character I love, but it’s not my fault. If anyone’s, it’s MatPats, but I don’t think it’s useful to just blame someone else. That’s how the story ended up going, and that’s fine. This is Evil Xisuma we’re talking about, their inconsistent lore is what made them such an interesting character. And notably, Pooka made an animation with an awesome culmination of Jeff, the Dreamer, Evil Xisuma, and his own sona’s story, and it makes me so happy to watch. Whatever Pooka does is of course his own choice, but I’m glad he got to give this personal story his own ending (if it is an ending, and not just the start of a new chapter!).

Typing this all out and getting it off my chest has made me feel a lot better. For a while I wanted to make my OWN video essay about Evil Xisuma’s lore and CarnEvil’s lore, actually going episode by episode to explain it instead of just assuming you knew as much about Evil Xisuma as I did. That idea is still not off the table, but MCYT isn’t something I’m that into right now. Maybe if something else comes out about Evil Xisuma I’ll get back on it, but for now I’m fine with letting that go. But I want to make other videos, share other theories and analysis… if I have the freetime I’d love to make YouTube videos, and if I don’t have the time I’ll continue posting to my tumblr and infodumping to my friends. Apparently my infodumping is valuable enough “content” to steal! Writing this out has made me feel a lot better though, I’m really glad I got it out.

If anyone ever wants to talk to me about the things I’m obsessed with, or reach out to me as a source in a bigger discussion about Game Theory or other channels, my inbox is more than welcome :] Thank you for reading!

Sincerely, a tumblr user.

#exiavojtmmc #hermitcraft #matpat #gt #game theory #hc #mcyt #evil xisuma #hbomberguy #plagiarism #james somerton #jeff the minion #mine #micer2012 #hcs9

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botanicalsword · 4 months

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Solar Returns Chart • relationship observations over past years

Sun in 6H - I had a highly disciplined lifestyle, strictly following a challenging diet and workout schedule. I was completely committed to their health and fitness goals and followed a meticulously crafted plan with dedication. I have set a fitness goal for myself, aiming to improve my physique and strength through training. I am determined to reach this goal, and I am willing to explore and employ various methods to achieve it. It was executed with unwavering discipline and intensity.

>> Other Solar Returns placement ⇦⇦

Venus in 7H - I feel incredibly grateful to have found myself in a new community where I have had the opportunity to meet new friends. The connections I have formed with these individuals are important to me, we primarily gather within a larger group setting and the level of compatibility and harmony we share greatly depends on the synastry between us.

8th House ruler in 2H -I had a strong desire to earn money and have been actively involved in running my own business.

Moon conjunct MC - Towards the end of the year, I had a sudden realization that I could put my talents to good use by embarking on some charity-focused projects. It struck me that instead of solely focusing on making money, I could leverage my skills and resources to make a positive impact on the community.

Venus conjunct Juno in 7H - I think I have encountered a person who has the potential to be both a romantic partner and a close friend. In our synastry, it indicates a harmonious connection between us. But there are challenges related to being vulnerability and publicity of our relationship, likely because of the influence of the 8th house and Lilith synastry.

>> explicit: Solar Returns • placement about love ♡̆̈♥♡̆̈♥

Moon square Juno - Marriage can make me question what it means to me and how it might affect my life's purpose. I was worrying that getting married may limit my freedom and hinder personal goals.

6H and 7H ruler in 9H - I enrolled in a course that not only provided me with valuable knowledge but also allowed me to form connections with like-minded individuals who shared similar interests and a desire for personal growth. Through this course, I had the opportunity to expand my community and make friends who were also passionate about acquiring greater knowledge. I also had the chance to travel to a new place that provided an enhanced learning experience, taking my pursuit of knowledge to the next level.

11H ruler in 6H - I have noticed that my friend's presence has had a big impact on our community - we shared 6H synastry. Thanks to our strong 6H synastry, he introduced me to this group of people, and though without him, we actually are not close-knit. He played a key role in bringing us together and creating a sense of camaraderie among us.

Chart ruler is Venus - This year, my main focus is on developing my personal value and refining my aesthetic taste. I am open to making changes in my style and appearance that may differ from what I've done in the past. I believe it's important to align my style choices with the image I want to present to the world. It’s also the possibility of starting a new relationship with a new romantic partner.

Chart ruler in 7H - this places a strong emphasis on building meaningful 1-on-1 relationships and fostering genuine friendships. Despite experiencing betrayal in the past, which has left me carrying a certain level of distrust towards others, I deeply cherish the connections I have made with each of them. This past betrayal has taught me the value of appreciating the genuine relationships in my life. I’m also recognizing the importance of opening myself up to new connections and allowing myself to appreciate the authenticity and sincerity of those who have proven themselves trustworthy.

Vertex in 9H - I feel a strong connection to nature and spirituality, and I have a desire to learn more about philosophical truths. It helps me think and understand myself better.

Uranus in 7H - I'm having trouble building the kind of relationship I want with the person I'm interested in. It's more than just a sexual or friendly relationship, but it doesn’t seem to head in the right direction.

8H & 12H ruler in 7H - I developed feelings for my friend, but I couldn't confide in anyone about it because I lacked trust in anyone with whom I could share this deep affection.

Moon conjunct Neptune / 8H ruler Neptune in 8H - I ended up in this totally forbidden relationship, and I had no clue about all the messed-up stuff going on. It was a crazy mix of getting physical, constant lying, tangled finances, other people meddling, a secret love affair.

Neptune in 5H - I'm trying to determine whether my feelings are genuine love or if they stem from an obsession, and I'm contemplating whether these emotions might be a delusion. (I’m Neptune dominance in Natal Chart) It seems that I am more captivated by the concept of love itself rather than the specific person I have feelings for. Even when we are apart, I don't experience a strong sense of longing or missing them. My focus seems to be more on the idea and idealization of love rather than the individual involved.

Venus conjunct Uranus - As the year comes to a close, I am bursting with new and artistic ideas. I am ready to take daring risks to explore and bring these ideas to fruition. I'm excited to step outside my comfort zone and see where these ventures lead me. >> Astrology Transits of New changes ☆★☆

❥❥❥ More: >> Solar Returns • Sun placement • Part I >> Solar Returns • Sun placement • Part II

❥❥❥

>> Back to Masterlist ✧ Explicit Content

Quick Access to : ❥ Astro / Asteroid Indicators ❥ Synastry / Composite Chart Observations ❥ House Stellium Observations ❥ Astro basic info / Brief reads ❥ Asteroid database ❥ Personal studies ✧ spiritual journal

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/ instagram : @le.sinex / @botanicalsword

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mirohlayo · 6 months

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WONDERWALL | LN4

wonderwall (adjective)

someone you find yourself thinking about all the time, a person you are completely infatuated with.

( lando has fallen in love with you. and now he can't stop thinking about you. )

warning : none, fluff

word count : 2.8k

note : fem reader !! didn't put it in the summary but it's a friendship that ends up in a relationship. will also write another post related to this one, like in the same type but with a different situation. enjoy :))

!! english not my first language !!

- Lando, you listen ? Are you still with us ? Zack's voice brings back Lando to the reality. What are you thinking about ?

The driver blinks many times before coming around. He looks lost, as if he was unconsciously dreaming.

- Huh nothing, sorry. So what were you talking about ?

Zack sigh, examining Lando's expression.

This has been happening for a few months now. The McLaren driver would often be in a daze. Not just when he's talking with his team or his friends, it also happens when he's alone, sitting or even when watching his phone. At first, not a lot of people noticed it. Actually, nobody has a single clue about Lando's behavior. Sometimes he was dazing but not for long, then he would be concentrated again on what he was doing. But since he works his majority part of the time with his race team, of course people started to notice it.

If someone asked Lando what was on his mind, his answer would always be the same. Oh god. You. Just you and only you. His thoughts were only about you. But of course he would never say it out loud, no one have to know that he has a crush on you. Well, a big crush actually.

At first, it was just a silly little crush. His heart beat a bit faster when he crossed your eyes, his cheeks would turned pink when talking to you. But soon it became more and more serious. He started to always make sure you have a seat next to him, he is clumsy and acts awkwardly when you're around him. He feels jealous when a random man talk to you, especially if the latter makes you laugh and smile. Because for him, your smile is so precious. He wants to be the only one to whom you show your beautiful smile. So he also started to make you laugh everyday, and if you didn't ends up getting cheeks cramps then his goal was not completed. He always try to free time just for you and only you, and anytime you ask him something, he don't even think twice and execute what you want him to do. He is so in love with you it's just adorable. Never he has wanted someone so much, never he has wanted to kiss someone so bad. It's funny how much impact you have on him.

Since the first day he saw you, he was completely amazed by you. And since then he never stopped thinking about you. The way you talk, the way you smile, the way you look at him. His heart feels light every times he sees you. Just your person drives him crazy. And you were the most beautiful woman to his eyes, never he laid eyes on such a pretty face and person before.

His mind was just full of you. And it don't even bother him that much.

Today is a new important sunday for Lando. The race must be as perfect as possible. He is determined to win and give the best of himself, for him and his race team but also for you to be proud of him. He wants to see you looking at him with pure proud and sincerity in your eyes because it makes him feel so special and also proud of himself. Because we all know Lando can be very hard on himself. You think that you're his number one fan, but to him you're the number one in his heart. There is only you in his heart, like there is only you in his mind. And that even during the race.

Lando is racing, chasing after Verstappen in second position. He is doing a great job, and his engineer points it out to him. Of course, the Mclaren driver is focus on the race. But he's even more focus on you. His mind is running a miles, thinking about if you're watching him. He keeps pushing and trying not to make mistakes to impress you, to make sure he's the only driver you're focused on, the only driver you're proud of. So every good moves he does, the second later he's already wondering if you have seen it. Gosh, you're never leaving his thoughts.

As soon the race finished, he jumps out of his car fast to look out for you. He can't not wait a second anymore, he needs to feel special under your gaze, he needs to see your proud look and your shining smile. Even when the races are bad, just seeing you makes him feel better. That's how much you impact him and his feelings.

- Hey great job man ! You're definitely the best, we're all proud of you today !

Max approaches his best friend and hug him.

- Thanks Max. Y/n is here ? She was watching, right ? She's also proud of me ?

Lando looks so concerned about you, and Max thinks it's just adorable. Like the driver just finished a 2 hours race and the only person he's thinking about is you.

- I know you're in love with her but wow I didn't except you being more excited to see her than me.

- Oh shut up please.

Max laugh at him, because Lando knows damn well this is the truth. But then, Max sees you coming into the garage in the corner of his eyes. And oh, in a fraction of second his best friend is already standing in front of her, smiling so hard and also struggling so bad to not kiss and hug her. Max rolls his eyes playfully. Yeah, Lando was definitely in love with you.

- Lando come here, the chat want to see you.

Max calls his friend who is near him, lying in the bed.

Lando stands up and come in the frame of the camera, waving to say hi to the viewers.

- Hello guys !!

Max is streaming, answering some questions that the chat asks to him. Some are about Lando, so obviously he had to call him to answer them. The latter also spotted a funny question.

- You guys want to know what would be our perfect date ? That's such a silly question I think,

Lando laugh at the question and that made Max earn a grin.

- No but it can be interesting actually. What your perfect date would looks like ?

Max questions his best friend who is now looking at him with confused eyes.

- My perfect date ? He asks like he didn't hear the question.

- Oh come on, it's not hard to answer since you're so obsessed with her.

- Please stop !!

Lando slaps lightly Max's arm, who was dying of laughter. Now the chat is going crazy, asking about who is "her" and if the driver has a crush on a girl.

- Guys don't listen to him, he's just saying bullshit.

Lando tries to soothe the viewers because he don't want them to suspect he has someone he loves. The chat starts to calm down a bit.

- Anyway that's not the point. So what is your perfect date ? Max asks again.

Max and the chat don't know that, but it was such a easy question for Lando. Because he already thought about it and imagine it since he started to loving you.

For him, his perfect date would just be doing things you like. Everything would be up to you. If you want to go the movies, then he'd bring you there. If you want to play arcade games, he'd play with you and even try to win a plushie for you. Or if you just want to netflix and chill at home, he'd definitely follow your choice and sit close to you under a shared blanket. He would just follows what you like.

- Look at him, don't tell me he doesn't look completely in love,

Max rolls his eyes and starts to laugh at his friend.

Lando was just dazing again, imagining him and you spending time together and him eventually kissing you softly. He was smiling stupidly, a silly smile glued on his face. Now all he wanted was to be with you. He misses you even more.

- Okay, I think we should leave him alone with his stupid thoughts. You see guys, you're looking at Lando when he's in love.

The chat is once again going like crazy while the driver is still smiling by himself, already choosing a gift for you the next time he'd see you. Even when he's streaming, thinking about you make him completely lost.

Lando is lying on his bed. The clock displays 2 am. The driver can't sleep. It's been 3 hours now since he tried to sleep. But trying to get some sleep after a tough race is obviously hard. And he hates that. So instead of forcing himself to sleep, he takes his phone and clicks on your instagram account.

He don't know why, but looking at your pretty posts and highlights help him to sleep. Not in a weird way like a psychopath or something like that. But just seeing your beautiful face appeases him and he feels like you were sleeping next to him. He'd also re-reading your texts messages and giggle all alone in his bed because of how funny and flirty was the conversation.

But he also wants to talk to you. Right now. He knows you're probably sleeping but talking to you was now a need. So he starts typing a text. But he don't know what to say. Hello ? Hi ? Are you sleeping ? Are you awake ? He's lost. Fucking lost. And he's stressing because he don't want to wake you up if you're sleeping. But fuck he craves talking to you. So he just send the first thing that comes into his mind.

Wow and how big is his smile when you read his text almost immediately. Like you jumped on the notification. You reply to him and Lando feels so happy. He loves talking to you during the night, because he knows there's just the two of you giving each other all of yours attention.

Lando always reply back to back to your texts. He don't want you to quit the chat. Just you to stay as long as possible with him. And every time you say you're going to sleep, he begs you to stay a bit more. Like a like a child throwing a tantrum. And he feels so relieved when you say you're staying. But he also knows you need to sleep. He don't want to ruin your precious sleep, he don't want you to be tired just because of him. So reluctantly he would say good night to you, hesitant to send a red heart.

And then he'll turns off his phone and sleeps immediately, because just talking to you help him so much. And of course dreaming about you. Silly dreams, but oh gosh he loves dreaming about you. And just you actually.

You opened your door as soon as the ring bells. A smiling Lando appears in front of you.

- Hello Lan !

You say and smile back to him.

- Hello y/n ! Hum, this is for you...

He hands you a bouquet of your favorite flowers, and first it melted your heart because he remembered what are your favorite flowers even though you said it just once to him. You notices that he remembers every little things about you. And that's cute.

- Ahw, thank you Lando. So pretty !!

You wrap your arms around him to give him a hug. He's shocked by your action but pull himself together. Luckily you can't hear how fast his heart is beating. He hugs you back, a little tighter and when you pull away he struggles to let you go. He already misses your touch.

- Come !

He comes into you apartment. You guys decided to spend the evening and night together, chilling and watching a movie and then sleep.

- We should start cooking now, you say before putting the flowers into a beautiful vase.

- Okay, join me.

You walk towards him who is already behind the kitchen counter.

- I think you must put on an apron you clumsy dickhead,

You say, earning a grin from your crush.

He rolls his eyes and a second later you give him an apron. He thanks you and try to put it on. You starts the recipe, cutting some vegetables when you hear a growl.

- Fuck, I can't put it on. Help me please.

You sigh and laugh at him.

- What ??

- You suck at everything.

You tease him and he shows a hurt expression, of course that was fake.

You pass your arms around his waist and tie the apron. Fuck. He has to concentrate on something else so as not to hug you. He look down at you and fight the urge to kiss the top of your head. He finally inhales calmly once you stopped wrapping his waist.

Cooking is just super funny, like you guys follows the recipe but ends up in a food fight and that makes you laugh so hard. And Lando can't help it but pictures this moment in his mind, knowing it would be a memory he would think about before sleeping.

Soon the food is ready, and you guys eat it like it was the tastiest meal you ever had. But it was kind of disgusting actually.

Now you are sitting on the bed, blanket on your body. The TV is on and you're searching for a movie on Netflix. You feel the side of the bed shift and Lando sitting next to you. He comes closer to you, a pink color on his cheeks. And his heart beating faster. Yours knees are touching like your shoulders, the shared blanket warming yours two bodies.

- Let's go with this movie.

You start up the movie and move closer to Lando. The low light didn't show it, but lando's face was red. He's never been so close to you and it's freaking out all his senses. Now he can't concentrate on the movie because of you. He wants to turn off the TV and cuddle you close to him. But he tries as best as possible to not dot that.

The night passes, and the movie was getting boring. Just for Lando actually. It was now a kind of romantic scene, that you of course are enjoying because the two principal characters reveals their feelings. And then the character say "I'm in love with you".

- OH MY GOD !! Finally !!

Maybe you overreact but you were so done with them. Like you just wanted to see them reveals their feelings for each other and it finally happened.

- What ? What happened ?

Lando asks confused, lifting up his head from his phone. Yeah, he was scrolling on tiktok because the movie is so boring.

- He said "I love you" !!

Lando didn't know what happened in his mind at this moment, but he just didn't think before replying.

- I love you too.

And then he realizes. He places his hand on his mouth like he said something bad and he is definitely shocked. You blink at him, not sure if you heard him well.

- I-I mean huh... Like I just- It's not what I wante-

- I'm also in love with you Lando.

You cut him off and you pray you didn't say it out loud. But the fact is that you say it out loud. He looks at you completely lost, examining every parts of your face. Then his gaze soften, and a shy smile appears on his face.

- So I can kiss you ?

You stay blocked for a second, not realizing what he asked you. The same shy smile crosses your lips and you nod shyly.

- Y-yes, you can.

And he immediately leans in. He kisses you gently, like he didn't want to hurt you. Oh fuck. He always dreamed of doing that, and now that it's happening he can't help but delight in the warm and amazing feeling. Your lips are so soft and warm, he can't stop kissing them. He lays you on your back as he deepen the kiss by rolling above you.

You pull away and can't hide your big smile. His face is resting in your hands, as you stroke gently his rosy cheeks.

- I´m so in love with you y/n. I love you so much pretty girl.

You feel yourself blush really hard and you put your fingers over Lando's eyes so he can not see your red face.

- I love you so much Lan.

- Don't hide from me, you're adorable when you're blushing, he says and moves your fingers so that he can look at your beautiful face.

- Oh please just stop.

Lando giggles. His dream finally came true. He is the happiest man on earth. And you two finished the night in the arms of each other, sleeping deeply, cuddling very close.

Lando was sure now. He'll never stop thinking about you from now.

#lando norris imagine #f1 imagine #lando norris x y/n #lando norris x reader #lando norris x you #ln4 imagine #lando norris fluff #lando norris #ln4 x reader #ln4 fluff #ln4 fic

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xoxoemynn · 4 months

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For OFMD Tumblr friends who want a S3 and are scared of Twitter

First, no judgment from me. I very much get it. I resisted Twitter for a long time, and even though I'm now a bit more comfortable on it, it's still not my Fandom Home. There are a TON of valid reasons not to be on Twitter, but if you REALLY want to keep OFMD visible right now and help its chances of returning for a third season, Twitter is the best place to do it. Like it or not, Twitter is still the best social media platform for raising awareness and for instant news updates.

Tumblr posts don't make headlines. Topics that have been trending on Twitter do. And if we want this show to come back, we need to make OFMD impossible to ignore.

By now you've probably seen just how close we came to a S3, and if you're like me, you are RAGING and donning your battle jacket. But I get it can be intimidating to get on Twitter for the first time, so I thought I'd address some common anxieties I see. I'll put below a cut because this got a bit long, but I promise it's a quick read.

I don't know what to say! Where do I even start? That's okay! You don't have to create your own tweets (although it's great if you do). Amplifying other people's posts is also important. Go ahead and like/retweet/reply to other people's posts. This may also help you get an idea of what you may like to say in your own tweets.

Hashtags...yes? Yes! Although don't use too many or you may get flagged as a bot. The biggest one that seems to be emerging is #SaveOFMD. Other popular ones are #RenewAsACrew, #RenewOurFlagMeansDeath, and of course, #OFMD and #OurFlagMeansDeath.

Should I just be tagging all the streaming services? Per @renewasacrew, no. It's counterproductive. You'll want to tag one streamer at a time and be specific. Below is an example of a tweet I made the other day -- use specific reasons why that that particular streamer may benefit from picking up OFMD.

I'm scared. People are mean. Yeah, people are mean. But I will say the vibes over at OFMD Twitter are currently the best I've ever seen them. People seem to have united for the greater good and are being overwhelmingly positive and just trying to do whatever we can to save the show. (That said, again, I already had a pretty curated feed, and was very liberal with blocking users/terms I didn't want to see, but I've been able to spend so much more time in the For You tab than I ever have without being jump scared by something.)

But I don't know anyone there! Wouldn't I just be shouting into the void? Not if you use the hashtags! Fans are being really good about following those and engaging with the tweets. Plus, [Stede voice], I'm your friend. I'm xoxoemynn over there as well, I'll follow you back and engage with any of your posts that I see. Plus, what's been REALLY lovely to see is that SO many lurkers have come out of lurkerdom to support the efforts, and they are being welcomed with open arms, so you will not be alone. Again, I am telling you, vibes? Best I've ever seen them.

I can't get sucked into another social media platform, I don't have the time. The beauty here is you don't need to spend a lot of time. I've been on Twitter more in the past week than I have in the entire year I've had an account, and I'm still only on for maybe an hour total the entire day? I open the app, I check a couple accounts, I engage with a handful of posts, and I close the app. It takes all of five minutes. It's an extremely small lift that can have a very big impact.

My bet is on Zaslav expecting us to be upset, and that there may be a day or two of outrage, but then we'd move on. I'm sure right now he's trying to convince everyone that this is a fluke, and that it'll blow over soon. Don't let him win. Keep OFMD in the news. Be loud (but polite) and make Max and other streamers take note of what a passionate, loyal fan base this show has. Make their stocks continue to drop. Make it clear this is NOT just a fluke, it is NOT business as usual. It's a BIG fuck up with lasting consequences.

Twitter, for all its sins, is the best place to do this.

Now let's get our damned show back.

#ofmd #our flag means death #renew as a crew #truly BELIEVE ME I get wanting to stay away!!#and if after we get picked up again you want to delete your account please go ahead and do that!#but this is a really easy and tangible way to show Max/other streamers #just how beloved the show is and how it would benefit them to save it #I love tumblr but it's not going to give us the kind of impact we want #it's for fans - not for external folks/key decision makers #ANYWAY I am by NO MEANS a twitter expert but I'm getting better #and I've seen some people be nervous about getting on the platform so I thought I'd try to help <3

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piratecaptainscaptainpirates · 5 months

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Need more positivity on my dash, so I wanna talk a bit more about how fucking amazing OFMD's writing for its characters of color is!

Now, I'm a professional historian (phd student 😔🤘🏾) and I read and watch a lot of historical fiction because I love it, right? And I have literally never seen a piece of historical fiction that is so respectful to its characters of color.

Usually, in works of historical fiction that actually bother to include characters of color, they fall into two big camps. The most common one is trauma porn, where poc only exist so White characters can save them, feel sorry about them, or so White audiences can pat themselves on the back for feeling sorry about them. Also popular are works that include characters of color but don't bother thinking about how race impacts their experiences in historical settings (shows like Bridgerton come to mind; they want to include poc but handwave racism). And in general I prefer the latter but it still takes me out of the story.

But OFMD hits just this amazing balance. There are many characters of color, and the racism of the world they live in impacts their experiences and perspectives in realistic ways. Ed remembering how his mom told him that fine things weren't meant for people like him has me by the fucking throat, it's so tied up in race and class and it's the root of so many of Ed's self-image issues into adulthood. But the real kicker for me - poc always get the last laugh in OFMD. Yes, the racism in this show is often very realistic, but this isn't a realistic show at its core and it is so, so comforting to know a character who starts acting like a racist dickhead is a dead man walking.

It's so carefully written, and for me it's such a huge comfort: race in OFMD is never hand-waved away, and it's thought-provoking and realistic and relatable. But the show always feels so safe because we know racism in the show is never excused. They tell us in the pilot that if you start being a racist asshole, someone's gonna stab you. Even Stede, our main character - when he makes a racist assumption in the second episode of the show, the narrative encourages us to call him out for it and has a character directly call him a fuckin' racist! He's held accountable and he fucking grows, because unlearning racist biases is important and he doesn't get a pass because he's the main character!

It's not just that OFMD has a lot of characters of color. It's not just that one of our main romantic leads is an indigenous Jewish man. It's not just that characters of color are consistently depicted as smart, clean, competent, and respected. It's that the show respects them enough to think about how racism realistically shapes the world of OFMD, while at the same time providing viewers with a wonderful fantasy of racists getting what they deserve. In the genre of historical fiction, it stands out because it completely avoids the trauma porn and hand-wavey angles, and I can't articulate strongly enough how much I appreciate that.

#ofmd #our flag means death

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starlithumanity · 6 months

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I don't even know what you can say to the people who somehow missed that all of Ed's violence is a) anti-imperial, b) protective against direct repeated threats to himself and his loved ones, or c) self-destructive in the hopes someone will respond by killing him during his suicidal spiral. (That last example is fairly indirect and performative and comes from a place of severe nihilistic suffering.)

I don't know what you can say to the people who somehow missed that the violence is triggering and traumatic and exhausting for Ed, and that he is desperate for a chance to live differently but has also never known any other life. Stede gave him the one true glimpse he's had of something gentler! Ed didn't fully know how fucked up his life was before because that was normal to him. That's what growing up traumatized does to you.

I don't know what you can say to the people who somehow missed that the suicidal spiral is a result of Ed's circumstances: of Ed being threatened by Izzy after Izzy repeatedly found ways to force Ed back towards the violent life Ed wants so much to escape, of Ed losing his one glimpse at safety and happiness through Stede and now having to face the darkness knowing he nearly found something different, of Ed feeling like the only way he can survive in this world is by being an "unlovable" monster he hates--and then he's confronted by Izzy telling him he's still not getting it right. Of course Ed gives up then.

I don't know what you can say to the people who somehow missed the show's themes about how much harm is caused by toxic masculinity and by masking your true self and by cultures founded on trauma and self-hate and burnout. (You do see the burnout in Ed, yeah?)

I do get why some people might not understand the complexities of Ed's relationship with Izzy--how codependent and enmeshed their identities are--or the layers of symbolism that position Izzy in the story as a metaphor for traditional pirate culture and its harmful impact. (Which is particularly triggering for Ed on a daddy issues level because that's his original trauma.) If you understand those things, the unique nature of the physical harm Ed does to Izzy in this story makes even more sense.

Ed also frequently communicates through metaphor himself. Him cutting off Izzy's toes is not only a show trying to convince Izzy he's playing Blackbeard right and not only a response to Izzy repeatedly threatening Stede/continuing to threaten Ed, but also is meant to physically represent the harm that Izzy has done emotionally to Ed. Ed is communicating to Izzy the only way he knows how anymore: "See how it feels to be forced to lose parts of yourself? Stede was a part of me. My hopes of softness and joy were a part of me. You cut those off too."

There is so much evidence against the thought that Ed is some irredemable, monstrous lover of violence who will hurt Stede someday. Stede would have to repeatedly and directly threaten someone else Ed loves first (which Stede won't do), and even then, Ed would really have to fight with himself.

It's not his nature, y'all, and I'm so frustrated that some people keep insisting it is. I'm frustrated about what that says about people's ability to empathize and consider reasons for or contexts behind behaviors--particularly when the character in question is an openly queer and likely neurodivergent indigenous man. Is it so hard to have compassion and forgiveness for him? Please don't get stuck in that punitive, dehumanizing mindset.

Redemption is so important, which is why I appreciate that Izzy gets a growth arc once he stops centering his entire identity on the Blackbeard persona and clinging to toxic masculinity. (Seeing Stede's impact, how different things could be, vs. the harm caused by the traditional ways, changes Izzy too!) Izzy's time, as a side character and mentor figure and piracy metaphor, does end, but first he gets to live with more meaning and unlearn many of the negative behaviors. That's the goal, right? To move forward.

#i try to avoid negative discourse but damn guys #edward teach #our flag means death #izzy hands #stede bonnet #my stuff

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mermaidlighthouse · 5 months

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I want to talk for a moment (or a LONG few moments but…) about my special little angel face, honeysuckle, cuppie cake…Stede Bonnet

From the start of the season, Stede is desperately seeking a person who he’s afraid will think he’s not good enough, that he is somehow lacking. He’s afraid he blew his chance at real happiness because he was scared and panicked (as he explicitly tells Ed in Fun and Games) but there’s so much more going on here. He wasn’t just scared and panicked because they were moving so fast during all their time together- he DIDN’T KNOW what they were doing. He didn’t realize they were falling in love because he didn’t know what it meant to be in love.

He was scared that running away to China was just going to be a rash decision borne out of a need to escape - he didn’t understand his value in general but more importantly, in that scene, to Ed. He didn’t understand that the “You wear fine things well” moment was special for Ed - we see that he’s come to understand that NOW in the flashback in Red Flags. He didn’t realize that to Ed, Stede is special. In all the moments that we understand Ed has been vulnerable because he’s willing to open up to Stede, Stede doesn’t have our insight. Not because he’s emotionally unintelligent - I would argue he’s generally well aware of how people see him - the problem is that NO ONE has seen him as worthy before and therefore is very easy to undervalue his significance.

If we look at all the scenes that we as an audience can tell are meaningful to Ed, from Stede’s perspective he’s either unaware of Ed’s motivations even though the audience is aware (the treasure scene) or can, through the dialogue or lack thereof, discount the importance because of his poor self-worth. For instance, in the bathtub scene, Ed specifically says he outsources the big job - Ed has told Stede he doesn’t kill people not personally - it implies Ed’s decision to NOT kill Stede isn’t all that big a deal or at least to a person who doesn’t see their value (Stede) it would be very easy to write off the idea that Ed specifically didn’t want to kill Stede. Stede is aware that the fuckery has been triggering for Ed - this doesn’t make Ed’s confession any less impactful but it does bring into question the reasons behind his decision to not kill Stede. For Stede, it can easily be explained by saying “Ed has just relived a traumatic moment, he’s currently dealing with a heavy emotional burden, Ed doesn’t kill people (he just said so) and so he doesn’t want to kill me because it would be further trauma. Ed didn’t even see me as his friend so I’m simply a random person who happens to be here.” There, a neat little box of reasons that has nothing to do with Stede - not in any meaningful way, he’s merely a prop in the story.

On the cliff, that was the first time he was even aware he was having an impact on Ed in any sort of meaningful way. Ed had literally, just walked away, yeah he came back but it’s not that difficult to see how it seemed easy for Ed to leave. Ed opted not to be Blackbeard anymore ostensibly to save Stede but, Stede is aware that Ed’s been thinking about packing it all in for a while now. Stede doesn’t understand how big an influence he’s had on Ed. It would be easy to say that he did ruin history’s greatest pirate because he put Ed in a position where he felt obligated to save Stede. Stede knows that Ed knows that Izzy sold them out. Ultimately, Ed put Stede in the position of being found by Chauncey and his first mate made that possible. It’s not that much of a stretch to assume that Ed simply feels guilty for putting Stede in that position and is saving him from the firing squad because of that guilt. Stede doesn’t see his worth and can’t imagine that it’s him as a person that Ed is attracted to, that Ed adores. That Ed’s quasi- or Izzy’s direct involvement in bringing about the situation has nothing to do with Ed’s decision because that would mean giving himself more credit, giving himself more agency and Stede has routinely been told that he has none, he never earned his status and he never will. The things he enjoys are worthless and weak.

Stede so undervalues himself that excuses for people NOT hurting him or saving him can’t be due to his appeal or importance. He’s unimportant, therefore Ed’s reactions and decisions have little if anything to do with him.

This is the repressed trauma that he carries around with him, that he buries beneath the smiles and silliness. He has moments of working through that (“I am adequate”) but that doesn’t remove the deep-rooted insecurities. The fact that he gets up and smiles and allows himself to be silly speaks to his strength of character. The moments when the demons rear their heads are so impactful but the fact that they return below the surface doesn’t mean they go away, it doesn’t mean he’s defeated them. Is it healthy? No. Is it still so courageous? Abso-fucking-lutely. He’s simply one of the strongest, most capable, genuinely wonderful characters BECAUSE he does all he does, saving the crew, working against his selfishness (most of the time), trying to figure out who he is and where he fits in the world while carrying this burden of internalizing his worthlessness.

#anyway Stede is so underrated while still being gushed over and that's a mindfuck #stede bonnet #the gentleman pirate #edward teach #ed teach #blackbeard #gentlebeard #blackbonnet #ed x stede #our flag means death #ofmd #ofmd season 2 #ofmd s2

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andreabandrea · 5 months

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I absolutely don't mean this in a bad way, but I think a lot about how Pokemon is a power fantasy for kids. And I know this is obvious because it's a game for children, but let me ramble.

Think about it: you can go wherever you want, knowing you're safe because your Pokemon will protect you. In the later games, you can dress however you want and express yourself freely. You can connect with nature and communities of friendly kids and adults around you. You can make a meaningful, positive impact on the world. You can stand toe-to-toe with adults who, in real life, would ignore or even belittle you because you're just a kid. (And, of course, you have superpowered pets that love you.)

I think about how in the original games, Brock and Misty are presented as kids/young teens and become friends with Ash. But, Lt. Surge presents a difficulty spike-- if you chose Bulbasaur, you can easily sweep the first two gyms with it, but now you don't have a supereffective match up unless you plan more. I think it's meaningful, then, that Lt. Surge is portrayed a big, scary adult man and military to boot. In the anime, he's presented as being condescending and intimidating toward Ash. But, you as the player are able to overcome this intimidating man through the power of your Pokemon. The same can be said for people like Team Rocket and Giovanni-- Giovanni's original sprite in Red & Blue makes it look like he's looming over you, sneering at you.

It can easily be forgotten by adult fans, but you're seeing this world through the perspective of a child. Giovanni looming over you represents how it feels to be a child, powerless, and face an adult who's cruel to you. But you defeat him at every match up.

Satoshi Tajiri would go on to say that Pokemon was inspired by his childhood, in which he'd go out and collect bugs. Miyamoto would say that the first Zelda game was inspired by his childhood in which he'd explore the local area and caves and so on.

It makes me sad to think that, as the world becomes more modern, more urbanized, and (as parents tend to see it, at least) more unsafe, this childhood that inspired these classic games become further out of reach for kids. When I was growing up, I lived in a suburb full of concrete. I couldn't walk anywhere, and even if I could, my mother was too anxious to let me just go around unsupervised.

This is why getting the bike is such a big moment in Pokemon-- you can go so much farther as a kid on a bike! But, I also could only ride my bike up and down my boring street before running into a major street full of cars going 50 MPH that would have murdered me instantly.

This isn't a doom post. I still believe that we can repair the damage that capitalism and cars have done to the world. But, I think that in times like this, it's more important than ever for kids to have access to these power fantasies, these escapes from a world that they have no ability to fix, but still suffer from regardless.

Ironically, I think that when I play Pokemon now, I play it to feel smaller rather than to feel bigger, the opposite of how I played it as a kid. Now, it's comforting to escape from work and stress into a world in which your only concerns are walking to the next town, catching a new Pokemon, and maybe fighting a gym leader. The same can be said of any piece of media that someone is nostalgic for, but I think Pokemon feeds into it well because its design is so baked in the experience of being a child.

When I'm playing Pokemon, especially when replaying an old game, I still remember things like only saving in Pokemon centers so that my character could sleep there in a nice building, or imagining them setting up camp if I had to save and quit on a route. If I had time, I would feed my Pokemon some Pokeblocks or etc. at my little 'camp' so they wouldn't be hungry (which is why I felt like the cooking and camping systems from SwSh were so real for me, haha).

I don't think that there's a 'wrong' way to play Pokemon-- I know people enjoy competitive Pokemon, and strict challenge runs, and stuff. And I can enjoy that, too! But, for me, Pokemon is about childhood, you know?

#bandrea blabbers

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llamagoddessofficial · 1 year

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some more of @aka-indulgence's lovely HMF Sans... tw, a fight and some blood, but it's over pretty quickly.

---

“E-erm... so... what can I get for you all?”

... You weren’t prepared for this. Nothing could ever prepare you for this. You hardly had the emotional capacity to serve one frightening mob guy, and he did little more than stare at you and order the same one thing every day.

Today? There were three other men at his table with him.

I didn’t sign up for this.

They were human, but they looked important- pretty damn important. Expensive cut suits, fine cigars in their mouths, they weren’t the usual rabble that stumbled into this bar. They looked like the kinds of people who would consider Sans their peer.

... Though notably, they sat across the table from him, none willing to sit close to the beast himself. It seemed like even those at Sans’ level of society were afraid of him.

You couldn’t blame them.

You had waited until they’d all stopped talking before you approached. You were terrified of being accused of eavesdropping on something you weren’t supposed to hear. Your hands shifted around your notepad, and you glanced at the skeleton... he was quietly tapping a claw against the table. For some reason, you couldn’t pin why, you were slightly comforted by the fact that Sans was far more frightening than any of the new men- though the human men certainly were intimidating none of them even came close to being as scary as the massive skeleton monster you’d been serving the past few days. He absolutely dwarfed them, both physically, and in terms of sheer presence. Like a tiger sitting at a table with a few alleycats.

(Would that make you a mouse, then?)

... Sans looked just as ‘pleased’ as you to have them there; you’d been around him enough to start recognising a few of his expressions, and the one he was wearing at that moment was a scowl sharp enough to cut glass, jagged and scarred face shadowed heavily by his hat. The whole time you’d been watching them, waiting for the right moment to come in and ask for their order, the human men had been exclusively the ones talking- Sans had barely moved from his slightly slouched position, and he hadn’t said a single word. He usually chose the seat closest to the wall, but today, he’d chosen the seat closest to the edge. You momentarily considered that he might want to be closer to you... but you disregarded the thought. It was probably because he wanted to leave.

“What an ugly bar, Sans. Why did you make us come here?” said the guy directly opposite Sans. You were half offended, half inclined to agree, it probably just wasn’t the kind of place he was used to visiting. “It’s out of the way, I’ll give you that. But it’s dark, and it stinks.”

... He turned to you. You didn’t like the way his moustache moved when he grinned at you. You could smell smoke on his breath, your hair prickled.

His voice was patronising. “Took yer damn time gettin’ over here. Get us a few beers, yeah, girl? And try to pick up the pace a little.”

He leaned over... and smacked your ass.

You barely had time for the disgust to hit you.

Sans reached across the table and slammed the guy’s head, face first, into the table’s surface. Full force. The slam was so loud you felt it in your chest, and the force of the impact sent the little ashtray flying and spitting cigarette butts into the air. You let out a tiny scream of terror and jumped back, dropping your notepad- the two other men at the table startled like spooked horses, the one sitting closest to the offending human swore loudly and moved in his seat like he wanted to jump up and run.

The man sat up, clutching his nose, blood trailing from between his fingers. You staggered away. But Sans wasn’t done, he stood, suddenly at his full height, looming over the human men like the goliath he was... his face was obscured by shadow, but you had never seen his eyelight that bright or small, constricted in total fury. He reached over again, grabbing the guy by the collar of his expensive shirt, dragging the struggling human up with him as he left the table.

He cleared the bar floor in a few moments, he walked like he was carrying little more than a bag of groceries; moving like he wasn’t thinking. He threw the guy up against the counter, grabbed a loose beer glass in his offhand, and crashed it hard around his head- glass shards sprayed out at all angles, showering the countertop. Everyone was watching Sans throw this guy around like a ragdoll.

...

Sans paused. He looked over his shoulder; his eyelight landed on you. Your back was against a table, hands twisted in your apron in fear. When he looked at you, you flinched.

...

He exhaled sharply through his nasal cavity. He turned back to the battered, bleeding human- but now, something was missing from his massive body. You didn’t know what it was. He unceremoniously dragged the guy away from the counter, to the doorway.

... Sans kicked open the door, and literally threw him out. Lobbing the human out into the street, as if just tossing the trash. The miniscule amount of effort he needed to (one-handedly) toss a fully grown man a significant distance was a terrifying visual testament to the strength the whole bar had just witnessed.

Turning around, he probably knew the everyone’s eyes were on him. The total silence said everything. But he didn’t seem to care... he made his way back to the table, passing you wordlessly.

He sat heavily into his seat.

...

He wouldn’t make eye contact with you. He suddenly looked like a child, caught in a lie, hunched and avoidant.

...

You didn’t know what to say.

...

One of the two men shuffled in his seat. You glanced over at him- looked at you, and spoke.

“I’ll, uhm... just get a water. Please.” He said, quietly. “ ...Miss.”

...

“S-sure. I’ll... get that for you now.” You said.

#llama writes #hmf sans #i loVE HIM SO FUCKING MUCH ARRHGHGH

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major-wren · 8 months

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I love the "ARK siblings" concept and I love cute lighthearted fanart of them being siblings but I feel like a lot of people forget that they literally canonically share a soul and that her death is, in my opinion, I think supposed to represent a part of one's self dying and that they're supposed to be, symbolically, a lot more than siblings.

I always saw Shadow's story as a symbolic way to express the way your inner child and innocence is sacrificed in order to survive complex childhood trauma. Maria's color scheme and the way she's written is, I think, clear to all of us how she's meant to represent innocence and youth. I mean, she doesn't really function very well as a stand-alone character or realistic depiction of a child, shes always been more of an.. idea.

I'm not sure if it was purposeful, but the moon's "Maria" are craters that formed from the moon repeatedly taking the hits of asteroids at it's points of gravity. These points of gravity attract asteroids and draws then away from the Earth. The craters are mostly on the side of the moon we see, so the dark side of the moon, or "shadowed" side is better protected because of that. I feel like this is an extension of Shadow and Maria's symbolism. She took the bullet for him, protecting him, the same way Maria takes the comets, and the same way your brain will sacrifice your inner child (or freeze/rush your mental development) in order to survive intense childhood abuse. I know it all sounds extreme lmao but at the end of the day characters and storytelling are used to explore and express hard emotions and I don't think this randomly tragic character sprung out of nowhere for the Sonic games, which, before that point, always had very lighthearted positive characters (except for the echidna extinction in the game right before Shadow's). Having a character that was easy to approach, yet could represent scarier concepts as a child-friendly stand-in, felt like a very important tool to me growing up. I just hope that that writing can be appreciated in his character, with an understanding of how messy production can be and how a character can get pulled between many different people and ideas. I do think this symbolism was intentional to some degree, especially when it gets to the blatant soul-sharing and how characters insist that Shadow can't be a weapon because Maria's soul (his inner child and true morals despite the damage done to him) makes him "good hearted."

There's other things that uphold this symbolism of Maria dying as representing his inner child being killed, like the rushed/suspended mental development in the face of trauma being illustrated by the fact that Shadow was forced into a dormant cyro slumber right after Maria's death, symbolizing the way he had to basically skip childhood or hit pause on development until he could escape the people controlling him. Much like how victims will have to pause everything and go on autopilot with only a goal of survival until they can escape their situation; only after they feel safe can they begin growing as a person and find their identity. In the Japanese language, there are different types of pronouns people can refer to themselves with instead of just "I" or "myself." In the Japanese dub of SA2, Shadow's creator said in an interview that he had been very insistent on Shadow using the pronouns reserved for young boys, despite Shadow's menacing villain role in the game, because he felt it was important to show Shadow's purity and his lack of experience in life so far. That "live and learn" theme.

And then in his self titled game, Shadow is searching for a way to reconnect with his past and to find the truth about this Maria person he keeps seeing in flashbacks, but in the end he throws away her picture and accepts himself as he is now, forever changed and stained by his past, but more than just a product of his situation. He is "all of him," including the negative impact he never asked for, and including the parts of himself he lost, but also the parts of himself he chose to become. Your environment and childhood shapes you even if you didn't want it to, but that doesnt mean you cant have control in your identity and recover your inherent nature once you've escaped the negative influence (nature vs nurture theme). He will never be the person he used to be, or could have been, (represented by Maria as a pure and untouched youth), but he still has a say in what that grows into.

I just feel like a lot of Shadow's identity issues and inner conflict stem from this whole soul sharing situation with Maria and that his character ends up inevitably being misunderstood if you water them down to just siblings. Especially considering that it was never answered if Shadow actually even ever met Maria or if they're just memories planted by Gerald or caused by the shared soul. In Sonic Battle, it's also said in Gerald's diary that not only do Maria and Shadow share identical souls, but that Gerald literally modeled Shadow after Maria out of his love for her. I'm not sure to what degree or in what ways, but Shadow is supposed to share purposeful similarities with Maria, likely through the content of her character and her morals. That's what makes them so much deeper than just psuedo siblings, he's not only made for her, but designed after her too. It can't really be compared to, for example, Sonic and Tails.

I also think its what makes Shadow's character so substantial and meaningful. His self titled game's entire theme was purity, morals, what is good and bad. This question of purity and morality spreads into his appearances in other stories too- This question that, if you were badly hurt in your youth and shaped by evil- does that leave you impure? Stained? Destined to continue that cycle of harm and cruelty? I think these insecurities feel very real and relatable, and that it's even more realistic that despite these insecurities, that hurt and damage is actually what fuels him to protect others. Just as he said in Sonic Battle, "There's no need to repeat past tragedies! Nobody else ever needs to go through the things that I have!"

Statistically (despite media portrayal) abuse victims RARELY become abusers, because they understand the pain on a deeper level and can't bring themselves to force someone else into experiencing that same pain, knowing the permanent damage it causes. However, childhood abuse leaves people socially stunted and conditioned to harshness, which causes them to accidentally hurt others without meaning to. Or they end up hurting people out of desperation if they feel endangered (like Shadow's "means to an end" approach where he'll prioritize violence if it means reducing the end-impact). Also, they are more susceptible to being abused again after escaping the first abuser, because they are so susceptible to manipulation- Just like how whenever Shadow does switch sides, its usually because someone manipulated him into it or literally brainwashed him. I think Shadow conveys all of this so well, and that Maria's true role is an integral part of it all that can't be ignored or misunderstood, or else Shadow ends up reading as unnecessarily violent or overly obsessed with her when you interpret her as just a sister-figure that he knew for... who knows how few years.

I think this symbolism runs deep with his writing. Just like Maria's meant to be that inherent purity and inner child, I think the black arms DNA is that stain that abuse or trauma can leave on you, that causes you to act out or feel like you're always holding back and trying to keep control over some darker part of yourself that was left behind in the damage done. Especially since they literally have a mind link with Shadow. In the Sonic Universe comic, they succeed in brainwashing Shadow and turn him against his friends. These mind-links, soul-sharing, and brain-washing from both Gerald and the black arms... To disregard the fact that he's deeply connected to these people on a metaphysical, identity altering level is to water down his character and leave it feeling as though his motives are too weak to justify his harsh actions. I've seen people poke fun at his amnesia or insecurity in his identity, as though his confusion isn't justified, and I think it's because people don't realize he has these... literal fragments of other people inside of him, that that's pretty much what he's made of, kind of franken-steined together between a little girl's hopes and morals, an alien race's hivemind greed, a weapon-hungry government and a revenge maddened scientist's painful grief, and even the chaos emeralds which we all know are spiritually whacky and potentially connected to another alien race's memories and energies (the ancients from sonic frontiers). With all of that going on, plus some amnesia mixed in and his memories having been altered by Gerald- I mean.. you'd be searching for the "truth" of your identity too, who you really are. And of course, prone to frustration and aggression, or even a "wish-washy inconsistency." I think there's always a constant tug of war inside of him and that his whole development was a game of tug of war between Gerald, G.U.N and the black arms too. "Am I a cure, am I a death-bringer, am I earth's protector, am I it's destroyer," etc etc

Idk I just think a lot of problems people have with Shadow's writing stems from not realizing how deep things go and what they symbolize. Not to say that something like his boom characterization is of good quality or anything, but I think it's unfair to call him inconsistent when a confusion in his own identity and purpose/goals is kind of the point. And I think people not realizing Maria's deeper, physiological connection to him and influence might be part of the problem.

#major mumbles #shadow the hedgehog #ark siblings #maria robotnik #gerald robotnik #sonic the hedgehog #sth #shth #sonic adventure 2 #shadow the hedgehog headcanon #sonic headcanon #sonic analysis

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inmyfxith · 1 year

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Being a member of the Sully family (Oldest child version)

A/N: Female reader.

Being born before Neteyam, making you the oldest after Spider as you were already in your mother’s belly when your father transferred his consciousness into his avatar self. Bonding with your mother and the Pandoran collective consciousness through the Tree of Voices instantly after your birth and developing a strong connection to Eywa and the natural world.

As the daughter of Jake, you may have inherited some human physical traits due to your father's Avatar status. One such trait could be the presence of five fingers on each hand, rather than the four fingers that are common among the Na'vi. That would maybe lead to you experiencing discrimination or prejudice due to being a hybrid of both Na’vi and human ancestry.

As the oldest daughter of Jake Sully, you would have the opportunity to learn a lot from your father, who would encourage you to develop your curiosity, independence, your sense of adventure, and to pursue your own passions and interests. For example, your father might take you on hikes through the rainforest, teaching you about the different plants and animals that you encounter and encouraging you to ask questions and explore your surroundings. He might also teach you how to defend yourself and your loved ones, showing you different techniques and strategies that you can use in combat. Additionally, your father would likely encourage you to follow your heart and pursue your passions, whether that be in the arts, sciences, or other fields.

You would also have the unique opportunity to learn about both the human and Na'vi cultures. Jake would teach you the ways of the Na'vi and the importance of protecting Pandora. You would follow in his footsteps as a warrior, a leader, and a defender of your home, learning how to use your natural abilities and connection to Eywa to protect and defend your people. You would also have the opportunity to learn about human culture, gaining insights and understanding of their ways and customs. With your father's guidance and support, you would develop the confidence to become a strong and capable leader in your own right, using your unique perspective and connection to both cultures to make a positive impact on Pandora.

You can count on your father to be there for you whenever you need him. He will always be there to support you and help you through any challenges you may face. For example, if you were feeling overwhelmed, your father would be there to listen and offer advice and guidance. He would also be there to help you celebrate your accomplishments and successes, and to encourage you to pursue your dreams and goals. Additionally, your father would always be there to protect you and your family, using his skills and training as an Avatar to defend Pandora and ensure the safety of all its inhabitants.

As Jake and Neytiri’s oldest child, you would be expected to represent your family well in all your actions and words. This might mean working hard in your training and duties as a warrior, upholding the values and traditions of your clan, and always striving to improve and better yourself. You might also be expected to be a role model for others, especially younger members of your clan, and to be a strong leader who can inspire and guide others.

You might feel pressure to live up to Jake's legacy as a skilled warrior and respected leader within your clan. Jake has achieved much in his life, and you might feel that you have to work hard to measure up to his accomplishments. Being Neytiri's daughter may also involve a certain level of scrutiny and pressure from the community, as Neytiri is a respected tsakarum and leader within the clan. This could be both a source of motivation and a source of stress, as you strive to fulfill the expectations placed upon you.

Being Jake's daughter also comes with certain privileges and opportunities. Jake is well-respected and influential within your clan, and his position as your father could open doors for you and provide you with access to resources and support that might not be available to others.

Your father may also rely on you to help him in his leadership duties within the clan, such as mediating disputes or assisting with important decisions. However, Jake's overprotection and control could also be a source of frustration for you, as you may feel that you are not being given the same opportunities to make your own mistakes and learn from them as your younger siblings are.

Overall, you would have a close relationship with your parents and siblings. But you may also struggle with jealousy and resentment towards your siblings, especially if you feel that Jake favors one of them over you. This could lead to conflicts within the family, and you may need to work on managing these emotions in order to maintain a healthy relationship with your siblings.

Neytiri would likely be a strong influence on your upbringing and would teach you about the importance of harmony with nature, the sacredness of Pandora's wildlife, and the role of the Omaticaya clan in the spiritual and cultural life of Pandora.

You may also have additional responsibilities towards your siblings, such as looking after them and helping them to learn the ways of the Na'vi. You may also feel a strong sense of loyalty and protectiveness towards your family and may be willing to put yourself in danger in order to defend them. As the older sister of Neteyam, Lo'ak, and Tuktirey, you may also have a close and supportive relationship with your siblings. You may act as a role model for them and help to guide them as they grow and learn about Pandora and the Na'vi way of life.

You have a close and supportive relationship with your younger sister Kiri, and you often act as a mentor and guide for her even if you’re only a few months older. You try to be patient and understanding with Kiri and to be a positive influence in her life. You deeply love and care for Kiri and you are always ready to lend a helping hand when she needs it.

Neteyam and you often work together on various activities, whether it’s hunting or exploring the Pandora wilderness. You also share a strong bond through your shared experiences and challenges, such as growing up in a world filled with danger and uncertainty. Despite the occasional sibling rivalry or disagreement, you deeply love and respect Neteyam and value his guidance and advice. You have a deep understanding and appreciation for each other, and you know that you can always rely on each other for support and love.

You have a supportive relationship with your middle brother Lo'ak, although you sometimes struggle with his reckless and impulsive behavior. Despite this, you deeply care for Lo'ak and you are always ready to stand up for him when he needs it. You try to be understanding and supportive of his feelings and to see things from his perspective.

Tuk often looks up to you and seeks your guidance and support. You also deeply care for Tuk and you are always ready to lend a helping hand or offer advice and guidance when needed. You try to be a positive influence in her life.

#avatar #avatar headcanons #avatar the way of water #awow #jake sully #jake sully x reader #neytiri #neytiri x reader #neteyam #neteyam x reader #lo'ak #lo'ak x reader #kiri #kiri x reader #tuk #tuktirey #tuktirey x reader #headcanons

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bastardbvby · 9 months

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dream truly is such a genuine creator holy shit like hearing him talk about how people in the community were scared about lower view counts in comparison to what they were during the pandemic and seeing how these clout hungry creators use his name and face for a boost in views is so insane because he is just so unbothered! he just wants to make a positive impact on the world and whether it’s a couple thousand or millions of people viewing his content it’s okay because he’s doing what he loves and sharing stories and that’s what’s important :((

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tania2199 · 7 months

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OFMD SPOILERS

Okay, maybe the unpopular opinion right now, but I actually really loved the finale.

Was it a bit rushed? Sure. I am positive it would be better with 10 episodes as many people have said, but they still managed to make something worthy and good and beautiful even with limited time.

I love Izzy. I really really do, he has become my favourite character this season, his arc was fantastic and he had the best moments and lines in the entire season (the speech about piracy - are you kidding me - it got me so emotional). And I adore Con, he is a gloriously amazing actor and truly a wonderful fandom supporter.

But I also think that his death was a good writing choice - it was devastating, unfair, heart-wrenching - all those things audience should feel when character dies. It was meaningful and impactful and I cried like a baby.

I only wish they allow crew a little more time to mourn, to feel the loss. I wish they mentioned him at the wedding (which was beautiful and a great reminder that even amongst sorrow there are moments of happiness). I wish the unicorn leg was shown somehow as the beacon of hope for the crew. But it sucks that it requires screen time, which they didn't seem to have much.

Stede and Ed moments were so sweet. The kiss mid-battle, the love confession, the letter, the happily-ever-after. They got what they deserved and maybe it's not really the end of their adventures, but it's a start of a life together.

This show is so important to me, and it's about belonging to something - just like Izzy said. It got so much heart and joy - also sorrow, but most of all it's clear how much it means to creators and actors. And I can only hope that even people who completely disagrees with finale can find positivity and love there. Because one thing this show is about is love.

And I do trust that David has even more great stories for us if the show returns for season 3 (fingers crossed).

#our flag means death #ofmd #our flag means death spoilers #ofmd spoilers #ofmd season 2 #izzy hands #blackbonnet #gentlebeard #my post

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izvmimi · 1 year

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cw: exhibitionism (like the most exhibitionism), (extremely) public sex, aerial sex, unlikely sex positions, tentacle porn-adjacent (blackwhip), loving to rough sex, a bit of impact play, mild sadomasochism, praise kink, odd sense of humor, fem!reader

summary: you told izuku you were afraid of heights and he decided to help.

a/n: this is a repost, but original notes are the same lmfaooo - i was told about aerial sex and lost it.

perhaps you shouldn’t have told him you were afraid of heights.

where you and izuku are now is uncharted territory in more ways than one - clinging to him for dear life, you float high above an expanse of sea, where there are no people for miles, no signs of life even despite the clear sky above and the bright shining sun warming your bare skin.

izuku’s given you a new meaning to skinny dipping, whatever the opposite of the phrase is. you are still stripped to essentials anyway, your naked body pressed so tightly against his muscular, scarred one as you hold on to him frantically. despite the fact that he’s got you wrapped so securely in his arms, you’re still somewhat trembling, teeth chattering from a combination of embarrassment and fear, holding back the yelp and dread in your stomach every time you look down.

“don’t worry baby, i’ve got you,” he coos, as though none of this is ridiculous, nor ridiculously dangerous. with that said, his hands shift, and you tense, and he laughs, a gentle lyrical thing in your ear, settling one of his hands on your ass and using the other to hook your leg around his waist.

the warm thick part of him presses against your tummy as you’re forced to remain this close and you shiver at the thought of it inside you, wondering what brought this chain of events, from lounging at a private section of a beach to dozens of miles away, making a first attempt at aerial sex.

“y-you’re crazy.”

“a little,” he admits. his grin is wide as he watches you shake like a leaf, twinkle in his eyes in response to the genuine trepidation in yours and the way your fingernails dig into the skin of his back unintentionally any time his quirk wavers even in the slightest. it excites him in a way that is almost twisted.

his forehead presses to yours.

“it’s important that you not be afraid,” he whispers and his eyes seem to darken, the hushed tone seeming almost too laced with lust for the situation. he’s a bit of a sadist after all, even if the history of injuries suggests otherwise. he presses a kiss to your forehead, heralding many more, as you nod and wrap your arms tighter around his neck.

“eyes open,” he instructs.

“i-i can’t.”

he nips at your lower lip with his teeth and shakes his head.

“you can,” he nudges you further, and a gentle upward adjustment of your body against his shifts the location of his shaft between you just enough that you remember it’s there.

“izuku,” you whine, and he swallows it up in a kiss. as he does so, a few dark tendrils of blackwhip arise from his built shoulders and dance in the wind. they do nothing yet as you continue to suck each other’s faces, his tongue playing with yours, dizzying you even more than the act of being suspended in the air.

once he pulls back, the fear returns and the tendrils move, caressing your face gently as he lifts you even more gently, and additional long tongues of flowing energy part your legs to sit on his cock.

“relax, love,” he insists, rubbing your thighs, but how can you relax? there’s sea and a direct drop of death to you, fear coursing enough through the nerves in your skin that your nipples stand on end. izuku takes a pebbled one in your mouth as he eases the head of his cock past the folds of your pussy, as the very tip of a tendril runs the most delicate circles onto your clit, as you let out a gasp at the stretch of entry and follow it up with a long drawn out moan. you lean forward into his arms and he cradles you affectionately, a hand petting your hair.

“that’s good, baby. you’re doing so good for me.”

your fingernails dig into his skin harder as he starts to move, slowly first, savoring the feeling of your walls clenching tighter and tighter around him, then faster as time builds and you wet yourself further around him. blackwhip caresses the back of your neck and playfully tightens around the circumference; you whine at the sensation, and he moves faster, serious now, and tipped just slightly forward, something that makes you tense even tighter around him, enough to make him groan. he slaps your ass tight, a loud clap, then squeezes, biting your ear as he fucks you faster, losing himself in the desperate way your thighs clamp around him.

"d-don’t... let.. me fall!” you eke out, words jumbled in your mouth as he fucks you freely.

“i would never,” he replies, breathlessly. there’s something particularly intoxicating about the heavy lidded look in your eyes, the fact that you’re nearly horizontal now, with no surface to support you, the gentle sloping of the waves many miles away as the backdrop to your fucked out expression. the sun’s rays are highlighting your features, and you nearly glow beneath him, and he can’t help but blink faster, in disbelief of how beautiful you look.

“izuku,” you whimper again, and it occurs to him that all you can see is him, and no longer the distance, and he pushes even further, flipping you around so that he is behind you, his arms wrapped around your midsection, blackwhip tendrils tight around your breasts, tight around the meat of your thighs.

you’re suspended like a marionette in the air and you scream.

“you won’t fall,” he insists.

all you can see is water, water, water. potential death.

but he holds you tight, secured in every way possible, kissing your neck, kissing your ears.

“you’ll be fine, trust me,” he insists. “i’ll never let you fall,” he whispers again.

your heart pounds, as he pounds you again in this position - piledrives you actually, hard and fast, enough that you can’t think about the idea of nosediving in this position. each drag of his thick cock against your walls is disorienting, as is the way the tendrils play with your nipples and breasts, caressing back and forth. izuku replaces his strong arms around your midsection with his artful whips of energy and instead presses his palms on either side of your face. it’s gentle, despite the calloused surfaces, despite the clearly dominant action. his hips continue to snap forward as he speaks.

“see? look beneath you, baby. you’re fine, you’re fine, you’re - fine.” the word is accented with a final hard thrust that tips you over, where you cry out, cumming hard enough that you’re practically drooling.

panting, he quickly gives you a few more strokes to catch up to you, perhaps reconsidering the idea of cumming into you while keeping two quirks in use at the same time. it takes a moment to find your blankets where they’re hidden on the beach, to wrap you up, and fuck another orgasm into you, within the sweet grip of gravity. one final thrust, a final kiss and he finally finishes inside you, pumping you full enough that you drip into the sand and collapses onto you, breathing heavily.

“izuku,” you sigh, also tired out from climax as you languidly beat against his back, his weight pressing against your chest and distorting your voice. he catches his breath for a second then rolls off of you, laughing as he apologizes.

“you’re completely insane.”

“i admit that was harder than i anticipated.” he pulls your hand by the wrist to press against his chest, looking at you expectantly, freckled face nearly beaming in his smile.

“was it good?”

you reluctantly nod, the warmth of more than one climax still running through your skin.

“still afraid of heights?”

you frown. “if i say yes, are we gonna fuck in space?”

“maybe.”

“izuku!” you exclaim, and energy renewed, izuku rolls over to kiss you into playful submission.

#izuku smut #izuku x reader smut #izuku midoriya smut #pro hero deku smut #mimi's notes #daydreams: bnha #thoughts: izuku

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danibeanie · 3 months

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Cancer mars post 🤍

(Also moon-mars aspects!)

-I really feel like this placement resonates the most with me when it comes to my natal chart. The funny thing is that it makes NO aspects with any other planets.

-I’ve heard somewhere that a planet that doesn’t make any aspects with other planets is important because it’s just itself with no other influences.

-wherever you have this placement with definitely influence that house x10. I feel like planets in their fall or detriment just impact your whole chart in general.

Positives 🩵

-your intuition is literally amped 100 by this placement. someone can be talking to me in a different tone than usual and I can just sense there’s something wrong and they’re like HOW DID U KNOW??😭

-emotions are strong and it’s because it’s influence links with the moon. we know that the moon is who we are deep within, our hidden feelings. anything I do makes me want to work even HARDER because it’s all sooo personal to me 🥲

-strong empathy with this placement you naturally put yourself into others people shoes, want to take care of others and it just comes by instinct.

-people many call you super nice and your just talking LMAO. I have this placement in my 3rd house which is ruled by communication so it’s just natural for me to embody the placement when I’m talk.

-ex you can have this in the 7th house and your just super giving into any relationships kinda intense lol, 10th house people at work may see you as mother😋 (kidding) a nurturing person.

-a lot of passion, many people forget that cancer mars is a CARDINAL sign which means it’s easy for these people to fall into a leader position. we are go getters and can be a bit competitive.

Negatives🩶

-any conflict that we have is literally the end of the world. It’s feels like impending doom when I’m mad at someone because the only way I can control this is by crying 😭

- we hold grudges *sigh* , no but really it will take me so long to forgive someone and it’s hard to let go of that bitterness. Its just that we are so considerate so when someone does something we would never do it’s hard to let go of that situation.

-mood swings are there and other people can easily get affected by this as well. we can be fine and dandy then we think about something that hurt us from 5 months ago and then we get passive.

^im very self aware of this and I try not to let it happen and when it does I isolate myself

-most of our anger is directed towards family???😭 idk if it’s just me but my family tends to see the ugly side of this placement. no one’s ever seen me SUPER-mad except for my parents.

-does anyone else get HORRIBLE,UNBEARABLE periods?!? I feel like no one talks about this.

-AVOID CONFRONTATION like no other and then we wonder why we hold grudges cause WE DONT TALK IT OUT LMAO.

-it’s easy to get drained of tasks that your not emotionally invested in or see no future in. I can make a whole rant on how this affects my school life but that’s too much.*sigh*

Influential musicians 🩵

chester bennington(lead singer of linkin park) also had a cancer mars.(may he rest in peace🤍) A lot of rock and heavy metal musicians have cancer mars which is ironic because they put all that passion and emotion into their lyrics and singing.

-lana del rey is a cancer mars and I feel like she embodies this placement fully. even by her lyrics and just the way she talks.

IN CONCLUSION 🩵

-being a cancer mars has its ups and down and so many people pertain to its negatives. I believe that people with the fallen/detriment placements all naturally have their positives as well. it’s definitely a placement you have to live and learn by. I love this placement because it humbles me, gives me empathy and kindness ,but don’t cross us cause then we’ll reciprocate that rudeness 10x harder.

#cancer mars #astrology content #astro observations #astro community #lana del rey #cancer placements

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