🥀just a man🥀

hello! My name is Red 🤡Jack of all trades🤡 🖌️artist🎨 He/They

[iminato]

Reblog if you have mourned the death of a fictional character.

[ianoshea]

If you do not reblog this you are in fact lying.

[3redguy8]

I just watched project hail mary and I just wanted to say

Grace, I need you to become the third to rocky and Adrian ok, please kiss those stupid spider rock crabs for me bc I'm in tears!!

The end with all those little babies that are two apples tall, im—!

And if you think that's wrong I don't want to be RIGHT! I'm going to go cry in a corner now, k

[3redguy8]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Yautja din pt3!!!

Just some(fun)dinisims for now

I was thinking about posting some mondo/yautja world building stuff because I'm pushing an agenda about them and because I have headcanons that are trying to break free

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

• Yautja din tired from a long day after his bounty winding down with his friends when he feels a massive yawn coming on, he thinks nothing of it as a chittering whine build in the back of his throat sounding like a rusty door hinge struggling to open

• His mandibles spasm with a shiver, jerking uncontrollably making an concerning clinking of *tingtingtingting* sounding from his tusks vibrating against the beskar before settling back to their relaxed state

• Internally he wished he could rub his eyes but settles for squeezing them shut, blinking away the water bleary film he settles on a

“I'll turn in for the night, I gotta lay the kid down…goodnight” he says making a hasty retreat to the quarters that boba lent him distantly hearing the returned ‘goodnight’s

• The lounge is silent in his absence with the three humans eyeing each other for a long minute, as if to reassure themselves of hearing that spine-chilling sound

“He didn't even notice” Fennec muttered

“I don't think he did but he most likely will tomorrow” boba replied, that echoey sound in his head still replaying “perhaps he's finally coming around, if he doesn't avoid us tomorrow that is”

• Cobb downs the rest of his glass “Welp!” before heaving himself up with a cheerful “I'm going to have pleasant dreams tonight, y'all have fun dealing with that in the morning”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

• Yautja din who is *much* heavier than he seems, you cannot move that man if he doesn't want to move. He's a brick fucking wall and no one notices because he moves with no resistance from his family

• Always leaning into Boba, letting himself be pulled around by the town’s children, shifting when Vanth nudges or knocks into his shoulder/hip

• Turning with the friendly cuff to his buy'ce, being flattened by Fennec on the sparring mat ect…

• Now just imagine some idiot trying to shoulder-check din (who's playing security) because they're pissed off or something and- they just fucking *bounce* off of din's armour, falling to the floor whilst din's like “must've been the wind”

• Din just standing like a pillar in the walkway and people keep running into him, he doesn't even notice tbh…

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

• Din losing a fang (they grow back I decided) and gives it to Grogu, who when he goes back to school and he's showing off his new trinkets and telling all his friends stories about home

“that one looks new! Did your father make you another bead, grogu?” Luke gestures to the new addition to his necklace

• He Wonders if din found another creature to add on to the plethora of adorable trinkets he give to his son

• ‘It's buir’s! he said he lost it in a fight’ grogu excitedly jangles the long tusk

• Luke goes slightly pale as he reevaluates the trinket upon closer inspection

• A three inch long dagger of a tooth

• suddenly his mind is racing through all configurations of what kind of species has such long teeth for a humanoid but each time he comes up blank

His heartbeat thumps just a little harder than normal “That's…lovely Grogu!”

• He studiously ignores the bantha in the room and continues to listen to his students show and tell

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

• Din has a long tongue for a yautja that helps him speak and also eat, it's prehensile

I headcanon the yautja love spice because they're intense people who love intense things, thus din who likes to eat only the hottest of meals

• Or his secret guilty pleasure…spicey sweets, an accident on Grogu’s part never to be repeated and curiosity on din's

• Ever since then he tries to discreetly procure himself just a bag full whenever he's at the market with the kid, he knows it's not a true secret or something to be ashamed of but- old habits and all that

• So he's not exactly expecting anything when he reaches into on of his pouches, mouth already watering at the promised heat

• A garbled slithering noise muffled by his helmet as his tongue peaks from under his buy’ce, quickly darting for it's target and wrapping around the lollipop

• Din's eyes are already glassy from the powerful smell but doesn't stop the little growls and grumbles of delight as the sweet burn spreads with every swipe of his tongue,

• it's only then he hears a pointed cough

• He whirls to the noise already gripping his blaster but it's– Boba. Boba with a raised brow looking something unimpressed yet amused

“I didn't know you had a sweet tooth, vod’ika”

“Bo’a-!” Din nearly bites his tongue with how fast he pulls it with a wet ‘slurp’ choking on his saliva and practically drooling

• the burn in his throat now worse with embarrassed horror trying to control his own coughing fit

• The(evil)man throws his head back cackling, patting din on the back consolingly

Why is it always him??

Pt 1 here | pt 2 here

[silentturtle]

This.

[littlefreya]

I will forever reblog this every time it’s on my dash because it should be this loud and simple. 💖

[dolphincliffs]

💜

[3redguy8]

Would you believe me if I said I got into star wars from a superbat and 00Q fic?? Because that's kinda how it happened

I was like "what's a jedi? What's a Mandalorian??? Who is naboo and what is an anakin Skywalker??? Darth vader is WHO????" And so on and so forth but my favorite was falling deeply in love with obi-wan is the clone wars "who is this ugly kid-OH My-!" Me: in a nutshell

[3redguy8]

Obi-harem but make it a/b/o

Omega Obi-wan giving love to some beta ✨shinies✨

Shamelessly inspired by alphaVsAlpha

From Artemis_Neardos

https://archiveofourown.org/series/2538466

(Also keeping track of my favorite oc clone names, so far I've got, cupcake, darling, honey, cookie, trash-fire, sunny, bones)

I'd like offer Dazzle, Mutt, Tiny, for the oc troopers we have here today (they're all betas bc betas deserve love too)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

• Just imagine some new shinies finally being allowed into the pack nest

• They've been waiting patiently for Cody's approval to finally be near to the pack’s omega, only able to catch glimpses of him or the smell of his scent of where he's been but never close enough to touch

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CT 1033/Dazzle

• Daz’s thoughts have been pure mush since Cody nodded his assent, he's not built for patience! He's made for shock and awe, but he’s endured long enough to start bursting at the seams

• After stepping foot into the nest, Daz doesn't even wait before diving straight for the surprised omega with an ‘Oof !’ and a

“hello there, darling”

• He wastes no time snuffling into the general’s neck immediately and- oh, Little gods, he never wants to leave this paradise

• It's better than anything he's ever imagined, being in close quarters with alphas and other betas since they've been tubies this must be what heaven feels like

That scent! The general smells so good, like sweet fruit and warmth wrapped in delicious spices

• He can't help the soft whines aching his chest muffled against soft skin, embarrassingly, Daz feels like a pup all over again practically trying to suffocate himself in the Omega's scent wiggling his anxious excitement

• he needs to bathe himself in the general’s scent like he needs air and he knows he isn't thinking straight (Mutt says he doesn't think daz has thoughts to begin with)

he bares his throat with soft pleading noises and wide eyes

• The omega laughs, kissing his forehead before nosing into the crook of the beta’s neck with little nips and licks that leave him a whimpering squirmy heap, Daz flushes at his abysmal self control but that doesn't stop the purr rumbling in his chest

He thinks that if he were to die right now, everything would be worth it…

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CT 1036/Tiny

• Omega's were something they only dreamed about or heard about in passing from trainers, ethereal mythical creatures that to him existed only in fantasy and entirely beyond Tiny

•But their general is so soft and warm, completely different from the Vode when they all piled together on Kamino, disbelief fills Tiny no matter how many times he runs gentle fingers through obi-wan’s fiery locks it still doesn't feel real, the omega too beautiful and he doesn't feel worthy to be touching at all

• Tiny tries so hard to count the endless little dots their general seems to have all over tracing each mark with his fingertips; it's like the stars are making a map and Obi-wan's skin is the canvas although he keeps losing track, tiny doesn't mind really he just wants to give as many kisses as he can to each little mark, as many as he's allowed

And if he whimpers just a little when His general nuzzles back, well…no one says anything

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CT 1039/Mutt

• Mutt never thought he'd be here, hell, he thought that leaving Kamino was a pipe dream knowing he was destined for decommissioning, he'd always been too aggressive for a beta but didn't present as an alpha so he must've been faulty…

Unlike his brothers he's hesitant to move closer to the omega, unsure what to do with himself or if his touch would also be welcome

• As if sensing (he'd be unsurprised if he could being a jedi) Mutt’s inner turmoil the general smiles, an inviting twitch of his lips that sends a tingling shiver up his neck that he resists the urge to shake off

“You can come closer, my dear” his open hand, an offering.

• And something in Mutt's already broken mind just seems to crack as he all but belly crawls towards the Omega, burying his face in Obi-wan's palm with a needy sound

“Oh, my poor dear” the man tuts

• Cheek cradled lovingly, Mutt sighs every breath ending with a soft whine when the general thumbs a caress under his eye, melting bonelessly as the omega starts to purr

vibrations settling something deep in his bones eyes rolling back closed

fondness saturates Obi-wan’s scent spreading through the den with a faint huff of laughter

• But with his general's hand carding through his shorn hair it all feels so distant, Mutt struggles to remember why he was so hesitant in the first place

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This was supposed to be horny but the boys got all shmoopy and soft on me...

(tell me your favorite clone name, also if you see a typo no you didn't)

[3redguy8]

I'm the biggest supporter of obi-wan's clone harem

Give this man 5 husbands and 7 thousand boyfriends to be passed around like a conveyor sushi bar

I bet he has a checklist of who he's kissed this morning and who is kissed goodnight (cody is always first bc I said so)

I bet he knows everyone's names even if they hadn't formally met, Kenobi just knows and it makes the men all flustered and warmly pleased

I bet obi gets a kick out of flustering the shinies, giving them praise or cheek kisses or just even calling their designations/names in passing just to see them stammer and flush

Cody is of course long suffering (he likes it)

I could keep going but then I'd have to go to the alt acc ifkwim👹

[3redguy8]

Obidin? Or Obidinjas?

Time travel shenanigans

NEW SHIP IDEAS

Timeline, What timeline? canon is being put into a blender on high speed and I only have fanfics and wookieepedia for spice and knowledge

(I don't know how the force works, does anyone tho???)(I've been on a Star wars kick lately)

Kinda crazy this is such a rare pair tbh, din not knowing there are other creeds because of so much lost knowledge and being raised by the watch while still being absolutely mandokarla anyway??? + obi-wan who's practically a mando AND a jedi??? They would go crazy, their relationship could bridge the Jedi/Mandalorian enemy gap soo beautifully…

Obi-wan being that badass, compassionate man who knows a lot about mandalorians and Jedi

Din being completely confused by star wars™ but adaptive and badass like always Ready to fight for what's right (reluctantly)

And if you really want to get spicy

Jaster desperately wants to teach din everything and learn everything about the Jedi too from Kenobi, he gets the best of both worlds from these absolute mandonip men

Grogu is of course adorable and the light of everyone's life and a complete troll like yoda(I know it's true in my soul)

[3redguy8]

Unrelated to my usual fandom posts

But I'm going to go to a queer community center in two days by myself for the first time, I've never gone anywhere alone or by myself and I'm terrified

But not enough to not go, I keep taking myself in and out of it every chance I get. I'm going to go, I'm scared but I'm going to go

[grumpyjesterr]

on another note, watched The Mummy (1999) the other day and I couldn’t help  feel like the O’Connells and the Addams (Addams Family Values (1993) would get on really well ya know? The O’Connells are basically the pastel adventure version of the Addams, surely they would just be vibin’ over tea and crumpets in an extremely haunted mansion having a ball of a time

[grumpyjesterr]

Morticia: “So what is it you do for a living my dear?”

Evelyn: “We dig up dead people who often have monstrous curses placed on them!”

Morticia: “fascinating”

[grumpyjesterr]

Gomez: *leaping out from behind a pillar which is encrusted with ominous looking runes* en garde!

Rick: *grabs sword from equally ominous looking wall full of weapons one of which seems to be glowing* fantastic I was getting a bit rusty

Gomez: *nearly in tears* oh he’s screaming nonsensically, what spirit! what reslove!

[grumpyjesterr]

*Rick and Gomez, still frantically sword fighting*

Rick: Have I mentioned how wonderful my wife is yet, I really feel like I haven’t really expanded enough on how wonderful she is

Gomez: do go on, I would be delighted to hear about how wonderful your wife is, I strongly encourge all men to extoll the virtues of their wives with rapturous praise, however I should perhaps mention my wife is in fact better

*sword fighting intensifies as both men rapturously extoll the virtues of their wives*

[digitaldiscipline]

Jonathan and Fester and Cousin Itt watch from the bar, where Lurch and Thing are making the drinks.

[lemonsharks]

Jonathan and Thing knew one another from The War; each thought the other to be dead

Their reunion is highly emotional

[burntcopper]

Rick, whilst swordfighting:  My wife resurrected an ancient evil that brought about the plagues.

Gomez: What. A. Woman.

[3redguy8]

YAUTJA DIN PT2

-----------------------------------------------

didn't watch anything Star wars except the first movie so canon is my bitch!! And if any characters are ooc…shhh…it's okay

Reminder that in this little Head canon/AU din hasn't shown his face to anyone but grogu, now go forth!!

-----------------------------------------------

Yautja din who feels embarrassed about underestimating his prey (mudhorn) knowing his death would be dishonorable and foolish, closing his eyes awaiting for the impact

Yautja din who's in pure disbelief seeing the kid lift the mudhorn in the air, he takes immediate action as the little one passes out from exhaustion. Killing the creature in a graceful strike

Yautja din feeling pride and awe at such strength from such a young warrior. Even though this complicates everything, he can't help the pride filled chuffs as he bundled the little one up in his arms again.

Yautja din clicking his mandibles happily with pride as grogu catches a frog swallowing it whole, before remembering It's actually not normal to let your kid hunt live creatures “hey! kid! No, spit that out!” He reluctantly demands chasing after grogu

Yautja din trying to hold his excitement back at the mention of hunting down imps or other strong bounties, using all of his self-control to not rip out their useless spines out and decorate his ship with their skills. He manages but only just…

Yautja din feeling like he can finally relax with his friends (boba, fennec) and have a drink, the straw is tricky but he's getting the hang of it

Yautja din who laughs at his friends outlandish stories, a harsh barking sound rumbling through both of their bones the click-clacking of his Mandibles chattering throughout the echoey palace

Yautja din going Statue still with out eerily he stops moving at the drop of a hat, his pulse shooting through the roof with fear as he eyes his friends doubt racing through his mind at how he can explain what that was, but before he can

Boba and fennec share a quick glance before roaring with laughter, wheezing and sputtering at din (they've been speculating ab din’s heritage) “what was that!” and “how even??” before more laughter followed

Yautja din who doesn't know how to feel about being teased relentlessly for his oddness, they don't ask questions outright and for that he's thankful even more thankful they're not scared of his…quirks.

'It's different ' he decides, they still trust him and he doesn't feel the malicious air like when he was younger, it feels like friendly ribbing and he knows they don't expect him to actually answer their equally outlandish questions

Yautja din who's instincts make his stalk his friends and family like prey (affectionate) and keeps accidentally scaring the shit out of them bc he's so quiet, silently hiding behind counters and peeking through hallway corners just lurking(checking in on them) and no matter how many times he promises not to do it each time they look he's just there hidden in the shadows only slightly given away by the shiny beskar, unfortunately for everyone involved din is only getting better at not being spotted…

Yautja din who knows that people think he doesn't like to be touched but it's more like they wouldn't want to touch him if they knew how monstrous he was

Yautja din who (happy) grumbles and growls when he spars with boba who concerned he's pissing din off but doesn't say anything, eventually boba realizes that din only does that when they're sparring and feel just a bit warmer every time he hears it

Yautja din purring and chuffing when he get wrangled by the children in Mos Pelgo when he visits the Marshall, being bullied into their games and being a personal jungle gym grumbling and complaining but doesn't leave

Yautja din who feels like dying of embarrassment as cobb finds him with four children climbing on him and one on his shoulders telling him a story, the Marshall swaggering over to save him (it's none of his business and he wasn't going to mention it to the Mandalorian, but he thinks it's absolutely adorable)

Yautja din who doesn't scurry away when the kids call him “Mr. Tooka” while cobb stifles a laugh behind his hand

“Not a word” din tries to keep the growl out of his voice

Vanth just laughs shaking his head

“Not a one, partner, not a one”

Yautja din who in one particular mission hunting imps just can't help himself, they are demagolka (the true real-life monsters)and they deserve only a death fitting

Yautja din clipping his newest trophy on his belt feeling equal parts guilty and vindicated, the skull jingles against the ammo containers somehow smaller than he'd thought but fits pleasantly, relief spread through his chest at having a reminder of what he's fighting for, who he's fighting for

And if he doesn't notice how people now give him an even wider berth than before, sharing disbelieving glances or fearful murmuring…well he's kinda busy at the moment.

The brain worms are strong with this one, I am trying (key word:try) to make some good art to go with these but it's hard so until then, just bite sized pieces

Please scream at me if u agree with this post, I crave engagement like a zoo animal

Pt1 here

[darlinglovedoe]

Omega!Robby who starts scenting Dennis almost as soon as he sees him walk into the hospital. Omega scent isn’t as strong as when alphas do it and Dennis is still so young he doesn’t even notice the older man is doing it.

Alpha!Dennis who shivers when the older omega puts a hand on him. His dick gets hard whenever he gets just the slightest whiff of him: woody and bourbon.

They walk circles around each other like dogs just meeting for the first time and alpha!Jack thinks it’s the funniest thing in the world when he’s fucking into Robby and the omega is just moaning out the young alphas name instead of Jack’s.

[3redguy8]

YAUTJA DIN YAUTJA DIN YAUTJA DIN YAUTJA DIN YAUTJA DIN YAUTJA—

*gun shot noises*

Hello I am about to scream into the void LISTEN TO ME!!!! I didn't watch the Mandalorian so Star wars cannon IS my bitch and I can do whatever I want! Anyway--

Brain worms courtesy of this fic right here👇

https://archiveofourown.org/works/34033117

We desperately *need* more non-human din! The more monstrous the better, I love human din too but we need this, I need this

In this little head canon/AU din doesn't take off the helmet in front of other but grogu yet bc I said so

Yautja din djarin who was adopted after his home was destroyed, always felt 'other' because of his species and terrifying appearance but his skills got him a position to take care of his covert off-world

Yautja din who's instincts keep coming out no matter how hard to tries to hold back, feeling the ultimate thrill from bounty hunting taking the *most* non-lethal trophies from his prey— bounties ...

Yautja din who keeps his more bloody trophies hidden in a secret compartment on his ship, teeth, finger bones, and is devastated when it's all lost from the obliteration of his ship

Yautja din who's beskar rattles with inaudible rumbling growls when he's irritated or the throaty purrs when grogu is tucked in his arms, knowing he's safe and anyone would lose a limb trying to get through him first

Yautja din's mandible's clicking and chattering with laughter before going silent with fear at his own inhuman qualities, stiffening his posture and walking away without a word

Yautja din near delirious with fear as he shows grogu who he is for the first time, preparing for his child to scream with fear at the sight of his monstrous buir and reject him altogether

Yautja din shaking in disbelief as his son squeals with joy, patting and stroking his father's thick leathery skin. Gently tugging on his lower mandible cooing as the little one stares in wonder as if trying to commit him to his memory

Yautja din who struggles with certain vowels and consonants in basic giving him a thick accent, defaulting to his other plethora of languages he knows

Yautja din's nails consistently blunted to fit his gloves and his quill-like hair always cut uncomfortably short to fit under his helm, thankful for the ambiguous shape of it

Please let me know if this too is ruining your life and for pt2, bc there will be MOAR

Pt2 here

[3redguy8]

INSANE LOKIUS RAMBLINGS

Sorryyu I'm not sane rn and the fanfics are cooking my poor brain woorm

They're so *soft*

This is genuinely one of my softest ships and it shows, all the others have such pain and angst but these two are so gentle and sweet with each other I'm going to eat glass!1!

PLEASE, someone get me!!! Somehow they're just so in sync, clicking together and knowing each other soooo well (loki expert indeed) in such a short amount of time I'm calling soulmates. Please help they care so much about each other I'm going to commit die

[gahdamnpunk]

American Girl stories were the best tbh

[that-catholic-shinobi]

Dude, read the books, she and her mom freed themselves in Book 1. We don’t disrespect American Girl in this house

[allthefandomss]

Don’t you dare disrespect Addy, or any of my girls for that matter. American Girl used to be legit. Good stories, good dolls, good movies.

[smugkoalas]

Felicity’s story was set in the beginnings of the American Revolution, and addressed the conflict that she faced when her loved ones were split between patriots and loyalists. It also covered the effects of animal abuse, and forgiving those who are unforgivable.

Samantha’s stories centered around the growth of industrial America, women’s suffrage, child abuse, and corruption in places of power. Also, it emphasises how dramatically adoption into a caring family can turn a life around.

Kit’s story is one of my favorites. Her family is hit hard by the Great Depression, and they begin taking in boarders and raise chickens to help make ends meet. Her books include themes of poverty, police brutality, homelessness, prejudice, and the importance of unity in difficult times.

Molly’s father, a doctor, is drafted during the Second World War. Throughout her story, friends of hers suffer the loss of their husbands, sons, and brothers overseas. Her mother leaves the traditional housewife position and works full-time to help with the war effort. They also take in an English refugee child, who learns to open up after a life of traumatic experience.

American Girl stories have always featured the very harsh realities of America through the years. But they’re always presented honestly, yet in ways that kids can understand. They just go to show that you don’t have to live in a perfect time to be a real American girl.

[chaos-in-the-making]

Dont you fucking dare disrespect the American Girls in my house. ESPECIALLY Addy!! That was my first REAL contact with the horrors of slavery, as I read about her father being whipped and sold and her mother escaping with her to freedom, but also how freedom was still a struggle.

A slave doll. Please. Read the books.

[ironwoman359]

Don’t forget Kirsten, the Swedish immigrant who had to deal with balancing her own culture and learning the english language and customs of her classmates, or Kaya (full name Kaya'aton'my, or She Who Arranges Rocks) , the brave but careless girl from the Nez Perce tribe, or Josefina, the Mexican girl learning to be a healer.

And then there are the later dolls, that kids younger than me would have grown up with (I was just outgrowing American Girl as these came out), like Rebecca, the Jewish girl who dreams of becoming an actress in the budding film industry, or  Julie, who fights against her school’s gender policy surrounding sports in the 70s, or  Nanea, the Hawaiian girl whose father worked at Pearl Harbor.

These books, these characters, are fantastic pictures into life for girls in America throughout the years, they pull no punches with the horrors that these girls had to face in their different time periods, and in many cases I learned more history from these series than social studies at school. And that’s without even mentioning the “girl of the year” series where characters are created in the modern world to help girls deal with issues like friend problems, moving, or bullying. We do NOT disrespect American Girl in this house.

[razzleberryjam]

American Girl is probably going to be the only exposure young girls are going to get to history from a female perspective. This is actually kind of important considering that in history classes we dont really get that exposure. We dont hear about what women felt and endured during these time periods cause schools are too busy teaching us about what happened from the male perspective, which is not unimportant, but we need both. Girls need both.

[star-linedsoul]

These books were such a crucial part of my childhood and shaped my love of history, which still ensures today. These books can be a young girl’s first lessons in diversity and cultural awareness (hopefully burying that insensitive “we’re all Americans” tripe) and looking at history from more perspectives than just that taught in school. They also are an example of how women have ALWAYS been part of history, which some people would rather us not believe.

I think Kit and Kaya were the newest American Girls when I started “aging out” of the books, but hearing about some of these kinda makes me want to revisit them!

[breezeinmonochromenight]

I wasn’t gonna say anything, but you know what?

Nah.

OP (of the tweet thread) was either a actively trying to start shit or is just a huge fucking moron. Probably both.

I’d like to point out that the company that makes American Girl dolls actually doesn’t skimp when doing their research and they don’t make the dolls with the intent to be offensive in any way:

[physicsandfandoms]

And they departed from the norm in Kaya’s doll to fit her culture! The other dolls all show their teeth, and Kaya does not because that is considered rude in the Nez Perce culture!

It is absolutely true that these books covered the stuff in history that was absent from our history books. I still distinctly remember reading about Addy being forced to eat bugs she missed on tobacco plants, and that started me out from a different perspective and made it easier for me to know to reject the sanitized version of the slave trade we’re taught in school. And these books are targeted at ages 8+, which is a pretty critical time for developing your own thinking and morals.

[lunacorva]

Reblogging for general awesome

[hey-marlie]

when i was in 3rd grade i was reading the Meet Addy book at school & a couple boys made fun of me for reading a “doll book” - my teacher overheard & started reading Meet Addy to the class after every recess. everyone became extremely invested & by the end of the year we had read the entire collection of Addy books & did a presentation on the civil war at the end of the year that we all presented to the class one by one.

i think back on this & realize that as third graders we were talking about how awful slavery was & because we were simply innocent kids without any societal or institutional influence yet, all of us could kept saying “why would you treat a HUMAN like that ?!” this one girl for her birthday invited all of us for her party & she got the Addy doll - every single one of us (boys included) held her & was in awe of this doll - it was such a touching experience.

i went back home about a year ago & ran into my third grade teacher in the grocery store. she said that year opened up a whole new teaching structure for her. she now reads american girl stories to her students starting day one of class every day to calm them down after recess & she’ll get through maybe four or five sets of books a year. she has the dolls in the room with packets on information from the doll’s time period that her students can “check out” to take home for weekends to care for them.

we oftentimes overlook how powerful toys can be in influencing young children & american girl honestly knew that kids could read intense moments in history & synthesize the issues to learn how to be a better person. my grandma bought me my first doll, molly, when i was only six & the dolls became a huge part of my childhood. when i turned 21 a couple years ago - we were living in minneapolis - she took me to have lunch for my birthday at the american doll place in the mall of america & bought me the Addy doll for my birthday. it was such a powerful moment i hasn’t expected.

i’ve since gotten rid of majority of my childhood toys, but i still have every single one of my dolls & all the books that i plan on gifting to my future children.

[iamthecutestofborg]

I’m white and my first real introduction to slavery and the underground railroad was Addy. She was a young girl like me I could connect to and care about her story. American Girl does a great job of making history relevant to kids.

[boldlygoing-nowhere]

Also American Girl sells all sorts of books unrelated to the dolls. The Care and Keeping of You books were super important as I started puberty and were the most comprehensive, non judgemental account of what was going to happen.

They also have “the smart girls guide” series which covers topics like crushes, worry, middle school, drama and gossip, sports, friendship, the digital world, communication, money, confidence, etc.

[iamthecutestofborg]

Oh I had those too and I loved them!

[fishfrommars]

I want to say I think there was an American Girl Doll magazine series that came out, but don’t quote me on that. there were lots of helpful girl guides that used the American girls as examples for doing good or learning lessons or trying to understand why girls did what they did

I learned a lot of my core beliefs from these girls.

I remember being very invested in Molly, Addy, and Kaya. Mostly cuz I look like Molly, and the other two had a lot of information on two of my favorite time periods. But I owe a lot of my personality to these lovvely girls

[dragonqueenzoyaa]

yo don’t forget my girl Caroline. Her father was captured by the British during the war of 1812 and she basically learned how to sail and rescued him herself.

[janeslandrys]

omg yeah i love caroline

[beggars-opera]

I can confirm that they really do their research - during the creation of Caroline the company called a museum I was associated with and quizzed them extensively about what sort of food kids would have eaten at the turn of the 19th century.

[kurganfilledwithbearbones]

When i was like ten I wrote a letter to the American Girl magazine saying that the girls in their magazine were all really skinny and it made me, a chonk, really sad because it was showing that I couldn’t wear any of the outfits they suggested, and I got a personal letter back from the editor apologizing for making me feel that way and saying they would work on that. Dunno if they actually did, i can’t remember, but they did promptly personally respond to a letter about something that was not exactly on the radar for girl’s media in fucking 2002. So there’s that.

[torchlake]

I’m happy to report that the messages from American Girl have only gotten better in recent years.

These are from one of their latest books, A Smart Girl’s Guide to Body Image:

They got a lot of flak from conservative parents for this and they did. not. back. down.

Their newest historical doll, Claudie, is a black girl growing up in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. Her story is about Black artists thriving, and making a safe, beautiful place for themselves in a society that tries to reject them. It teaches about the NAACP’s protests against lynchings, in ways kids can understand, but there’s also so much Black joy and creativity showcased in her story.

Another historical doll, Melody, is growing up in the 1960s during the Civil Rights movement. She faces the struggles and triumphs of attending a newly integrated school, and learns about the bombing of a Black church in Alabama that killed four little girls her age. Her stories show how black people found support and community within the church, as well as music— she loves to sing! If you have a free hour, I highly recommend watching her special on Amazon (free with prime). It stars Caila Marsai Martin from Blackish and it will make you weep.

The girl of the year for 2022, Corinne, is Asian, and her story touches on the issues of anti-Asian hate in the wake of covid. When conservative parents threw a fit about this, American Girl went ahead and made the girl of the year for 2023 Asian, too.

Any of their dolls can be customized with assistive devices like hearing aids, service dogs, and wheelchairs. They also have bald dolls, to include stories about girls battling cancer or alopecia. And it’s not just girl dolls— they have boy dolls now, too! And dolls with no gender assigned to them! People complained that they couldn’t find any dolls in the Just Like Me line that looked like them, so they now give people the ability to create their own custom doll, with tons of different options.

I’m not claiming American Girl as a company is perfect, but I am saying they’re important. Girl perspectives, girl stories, and girl communities are IMPORTANT. If there are kids in your life who would benefit from these stories, or if you’d like to read them yourself, you can find any American Girl book for pretty much dirt cheap on eBay, and libraries usually stock tons of them!

[3redguy8]

JAYVIK MAKE ME SICK

Hi, sorry I just fuckin can't I have to get this outttt please tell me if I'm tweaking or wrong (haven't watched the show) but I was wondering why jayvik hurts so much more than anything other ship I love??? And maybe I found the answer (fork found in kitchen probably)

THEY—!!1!!1 never hated each other EVER, felt hurt or betrayed maybe but never once (could be wrong) have they ever regretted meeting one another or their partnership, they valued and saw each other as equals in everything. Respected, listened and learned from each other !!!! Even when it went to shit and became "enemies" no hate, no loathing... No animosity towards each other??? Viktor WANTED jayce to join him and was DEVASTATED when he didn't, jayce didn't (fail) kill Viktor because he hated him and in the end it never mattered because he just wanted his PARTNER BACK, he knew Viktor was still in there!!!!1!1 he didn't fight him out of hate or regret (except the obvious) but because he wanted to save him...IM gonna throw UP!!

How this hurts more than other fandom ships is most likely because those one are enemies to lovers or some variation that develops deeper, jayvik were fucking married from the get go- it was the fuckin reverse partner to (reluctant) enemies in my opinion, to know someone so closely and feel kinship with from the start isn't just star-crossed from what I've seen. It damn near unconditional if not just that (I COULD be wrong but It makes me happy to think about them this way)

Please share your own jayvik devastation

[3redguy8]

Merthur plot bunny pt1?

(DISCLAIMER: I didn't watch the fucking show so if this is wrong or inaccurate I'm so sorry I'm not coherent rn! This is clawing my brain) (ps. Writing on my phone I am NOT a writer sorry if it sucks)

Concepts

•magic stuff

•AU

•pinning/grieving Arthur

•immortal Merlin(we'll get there ;)

•"what if?"

•merlin being a magical creature

What if Arthur didn't get stabbed but Merlin took the blade instead,

just think about it...I've always thought that Merlin was a creature of magic and magic itself. Anywho *cracks knuckles*

•His heart stops. But that can't be true as it thunders underneath his chest plate but clearly it must've just like the air in his lungs stop moving but this can't be true either, the gasp ripped out of Arthur's chest must be his as he stares unbelieving at his man-servant and the blade protruding through his torso

•arthur must have screamed Merlin's as the stunned man half turns his head before sinking to the floor, it's dead quiet or maybe Arthur's just stopped listening to the clash of swords only feeling the hard ground beneath his heels

•just narrowly making it in time as Merlin's head meets his palm instead of the unforgiving dirt, hauling the boy into his arms "no- no no no, you idiot!" He can't seem to control his voice as it cracks trying to staunch the blood pooling uncontrollably around the sword but fear of causing his friend more pain stops him from touching it

•his mind is running in circles trying to find a way to fix this, protect his stupid servant and save him once again but he knows it pointless knows Merlin couldn't possibly survive an injury of this magnitude

•arthur grits his teeth, jaw creaking under the strain as he wills his hands to stop the miniscule tremble it seems to have started

"Why did you- how-" he incoherently mumbles

•he doesn't even remember closing his eyes, clenched tightly ignoring the deep stinging and what it means. He can't—doesn't believe- it's not real! His mind and body in a war all it's own knowing he should've been back on his feet yesterday, Hearing a wet cough and shuddering breathing below him and it's enough to wrench his eyes open black spots littered his vision

•he wishes he didn't

•arthur's breath stalls. Catching the pit in his throat as those Ernest eyes that never failed to captivate him are already on him, gleaming with the brightest amber he's ever seen. Like molten sunlight suspended in time making it's home in Merlin's eyes, filled with an emotion he can't begin to decipher Those lashes clumped together with tears of what must be abject agony yet the fool gives him a watery smile "I always meant to tell you..." His voice a horrible gurgling rasp that feels wrong to Arthur's very marrow

•It can't be...but it is, the evidence lain at his feet in the worst way possible "no...no you can't be-" he chokes trying to understand the impossible "but why- you aren't— I..." It feels like arthur is grasping sand

•merlin's expression tinges with a sad resigned look, smile turning as brittle as his broken body and Arthur wishes he was ran through ten times over for being the one to put that look on his servants face. Who lay dying in his arms his treacherous mind slams into him and it's like the feeling increases tenfold

•Merlin's State is deteriorating before Arthur's eyes and he can't do a damn thing, the anger washes over him like a wave "damn it, Merlin! You foolish-!" Then just like that it vanishes with a hissing breath, shaking his head feeling that deep stinging sensation come back full force

• "I'm sorry" arthur feels that sickeningly familiar hand rough from the daily work of Camelot and yet somehow longly elegant, delicate in their own right gently lift his chin moving a caress to his cheek. A wounded sound leaving his lips as if struck a blow instead helpless to it all as he lifts his gaze into those devastating eyes, flickering between sunset and cool waters makes his stomach feel like lead

•merlin's hand is impossibly steady even now, even as every breath is daggers in his lungs rattling his chest "it was for you, my magic is only yours to command...I was—" a cough takes him over, blood on his lips "-am yours. I always was, Arthur" and Arthur can't get enough air no matter the small pants coming from his mouth

•he doesn't even realize he's bowed over his friend, begging for- he doesn't even know. Nothing makes sense anymore, not if Merlin is there with him everything will only be wrong "stop, please-" he pleads with a tight throat

•but in true Merlin fashion, stubborn to the very end Arthur would laugh if he was concentrating on not screaming at the injustice of it all "if you believe anything... believe I was always yours".

•merlin's clamy hand loses it's steady fixture on Arthur's messy bruised cheek, falling onto his blood soaked chest

•To arthur's paralyzed horror he stares at the glimmers of of gold-flecked blue eyes dim, the life draining out of him unable to look away at damnable eyes fluttering close

•He's almost angelic, as if he's fell asleep and relaxing into Arthur's embrace the way his body sags with his full weight and lax face

•And Arthur just stares, can't look away afraid if he moves a muscle Merlin might jump back to life or something equally just as terrible

•the longer he stares the more a numb sensation spreads through his chest

•arthur stares

(if this is horribly occ, forgive my sins)

(Hey so sorry that was terrible and long, death isn't that slow I was dragging it out bc of reasons! I'm done for right now but it may come back :) (apologies for grammar and spelling, yes English IS my first language)