26 & Anxious

[mltfndmpenguin]

When Hannibal [NBC] fans hate Clarice or just try to replace her with Will in everything, it just makes me angry. Like, what are you gonna do, erase the original, canon, actually sailing ship? Erase a great female character, written by a man yet well done, just to make Hannibal gayer?

Like you can like the show and Hannigram if you wanna. But the show and the books are completely separate universes... Not to mention, if we have to consider one of the two as canon, it's the books. It's the foundation, the spine of it all, where every Hannibal and the other related characters are rooted in.

And people saying "they made him straight 🤢". No. Hannibal wasn't made straight in the books, because he already was. And if he wasn't, Thomas Harris never let us know, and only showed him having a romantic/sexual interest in women throughout the tetralogy.

Hannibal was made gay in the show, when he originally wasn't, and his character was twisted to make it a toxic yaoi yandere fanfiction/tv show. His personality, his attitude towards characters like Will —who, in the books, he absolutely hates and does not fall in love with—, his decisions regarding murders —NBC Hannibal kills more freely and often, when he's mildly upset or finds someone to be standing in his way, whereas book Hannibal is more measured, has different methods, be it manipulation, murder, and others, that don't always involve murder—...

And don't get me started on how he treats women. Book and movie Hannibal, we know, respect women. Book Hannibal punished a man for smacking his aunt's rear and for insulting her with his words, too. He punished Paul Krendler for the things he'd done to Clarice, the harassment and making her job hell, preventing her from achieving progress and all. And damn, even if he hurt a woman —we only ever know he swallowed a nurse's tongue, but she lived—, he never killed her AND she wasn't a minor.

NBC Hannibal? As far as I recall, he killed Abigail Hobbs —who was, at the time, around 17-18, so technically still a minor, still "vulnerable"—. He's killed many other women, I know. But couldn't there have been another way? Because book Hannibal knew ways of removing stones from his shoes without having to kill anyone just like that, as a first option.

Yes, in the book Hannibal "tries to brainwash Clarice", you'll say. He didn't. He misinterprets love because the most intense, true and devoted love he's felt was decades ago, with Mischa, and she died. He thinks his love for Clarice must be like the love he felt for Mischa, he values her integrity, her "worthiest place", thus misunderstanding his own feelings as he has never really processed this and thinking he wants to bring Mischa back through Clarice... But then he has sex with her, they become lovers... He can tell the difference now.

And even if he had brainwashed her, let's indulge the excuse for a moment... How is that worse than what Hannibal from NBC does to his Will?

Hannibal knew of his encephalitis, hid the diagnosis from him, brought out the worst of him, framed him for his murders, killed someone Will loved —perhaps not truly, perhaps just the ideas he projected onto Abigail, but the fact remains—, among many other wrongs... Manipulated Will, expressed his feelings in the worst ways possible... He hurt Will. A lot.

I'm not saying Will didn't hurt him, but we're talking about what Hannibal does to his lovers in the book and the show. If you compare it, he never harmed Clarice. Thomas Harris specifically states that the drugs she took were for therapeutic purposes only, and that they no longer have a part in their lives since years ago, in the epilogue. Whereas with Hannigram, the manipulation is constant, from both sides, the harm, everything.

In the book, he is all protective over Clarice, though he knows and respects that she is more than capable of taking care of herself. In the show, it's almost as if toying with Will's mind in a destructive way amuses or even arouses him, whereas in the book, Hannibal can't seem to stand the thought of harming Clarice neither physically nor psychologically. Talk about big differences.

Again, back to my first point. Hannigram shippers hating on Clarice, wanting to get her off the books... You do realize that, without her or without Clannibal, your little ship wouldn't have material to be born from? True, Bryan Fuller could have made something up, with enough effort and creativity... But if he could come up with a whole show by his ideas alone, why are most of Will's and Hannibal's dialogues, be it with each other or about each other, just a copy paste of Hannibal and Clarice's own, if only a little modified or adapted?

How come you hate Clannibal, when your own little ship and your precious murder husband quotes about love, about the daily stab of hunger, about seeing everyday forever and remembering this time, are just adaptations of Clannibal moments? It isn't Clarice that needs to be replaced or erased. Because you might think that even if there was no Clarice in the books, Will could have become Hannibal's lover, you are terribly wrong.

Will and Hannibal hated each other. Will's morals and mind in the books are not like the Will's from the show. This Will actually is horrified by Hannibal's crimes, completely against them, and hates Hannibal. Same goes with Hannibal, who hates Will for catching him among other things, from taking his freedom from him.

Hell, Hannibal sent a fucking serial killer —Francis Dolarhyde— not after Will alone, but after his goddamned family —which he actually loves in the book—. His step-son and his wife. Thanks to what Hannibal does, he is terribly disfigured. He becomes an alcoholic, his life goes to hell... How is that going to become love, as you claim, when he has destroyed his life completely? Hannibal is controlled and composed, yes, but he still feels quite as much as anyone else, if not more. His hatred for Will Graham leads to this.

You can't hate Clarice Starling, finally, as a character or person regardless of your ship. She is an intelligent, strong, stubborn and resourceful woman who rose from the lowest she stood, from the loss of her father, from being sent away from her mother and siblings, from the trauma of the lambs, from the orphanage and poverty of her childhood... All to become what she truly believed in. A law enforcer who could actually do some good. Whose ideals and goals mattered more than greed or self advance.

Nowadays we criticize women written by men so damn much, because they're so plain, always the seductress or the damsel in distress, like a Madonna-whore complex. Yet when you are facing a strong, complex but coherent female lead, you can't seem to like her, be it for your preferences regarding characters or regarding ships...

It's rather interesting. Why is hating Hannigram homophobic, but hating Clarice Starling isn't misogyny? She is a strong woman making her way in a male-dominated field, in times were sexism and racism —which are still present— were, dare I say, even worse.

How come you can't stand a woman who actually earns her place, who doesn't bend down to corruption, who sticks to her values and her oath to serve justice?

And, for those who might not like Hannigram, but don't like Clannibal either because "it does wrong to Clarice's character"... Can you blame her for falling in love? For wanting better things in life? She finds the system as doomed, flawed from within, and if she can't change it... It doesn't make her become a criminal herself. It doesn't make her a killer or a complete opposite of what the idealistic heroine is. It simply frees her, opens her mind to the possibility of, for once, looking out for herself, pursuing something she wants, not obligated to duties anymore. For once, she allows herself to be selfish, to grant herself some happiness...

I don't think you can hate Clarice just because. I don't think she deserves it. She is a well written character, human, and not completely white, not completely black. She's a scale of gray, and I love that. She's not completely "good" or "ideal" because absolutely no human is. That's precisely the beauty of it all. She is so close to that, but still human.

And you can't hate Clannibal when you adore Hannigram, because Hannigram is a gay-fied, toxified version of Clannibal.

Will Graham in the show is far more like Clarice Starling than he is to the Will Graham from the books which he is supposedly based on...

So, like I said, it is irrational to hate Clannibal, as it is the source of the romance Fuller gave "Will" and Hannibal in the show. A house without a strong foundation falls apart, and Hannigram's foundation is Clannibal. You think about this...

Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.

[chaifootsteps]

I hope Stella’s “FUCK NO!!!” is at Andrealphus for suggesting marrying Octavia off. Stella’s a villain, not a monster. Everyone has limits and while Stella manipulates her, she does it and everything else out of a love for Octavia. Stella and Stolas both being horrible misguided parents that genuinely love their kid would be awesome. It’d humanize Stella just as much as Stolas without the narrative trying to make her into a good guy (which they unfairly do w Stolas when he’s a villain too)

Everybody link hands so we can manifest this happening. Just one protective mother Stella moment, that's all I ask.

[chaifootsteps]

Ah but you see giving Stella any good qualities, like for example motherly love for Octavia, would make her less bad. And if you make her less bad then it becomes harder to justify stolas’s very single action (and then Octavia’s “you never loved mom” in sinsmas would make sense). And make it harder for Octavia to then forgive stolas and say she was wrong for ever doubting his love for her as stolas would have cheated on someone that Octavia might feel positive emotions towards.

This is what some would call writing

And every time someone has a negative thought about Stolas, it causes Viv's blood pressure to tick up another notch! Do you want her to die? ~Someone out there in the fandom unironically, probably.

[phurpurr]

rereading arc two and i think that its so funny that brambleclaw hates on squrrielflight for judging hawkfrost for who his father is when he literally hates on hawkfrost for not being clanborn back when he doesnt know they share the same dad LMFAO

[booksofstars]

(name cropped out for privacy)

he can have his moments as a good dad and is fine when the three are kits, but this kinda goes out the window when they become apprentices.

brambleclaw is consistently cruel when “provoked”. when disappointed in the three, he’s liable to be incredibly vicious with them verbally and has been noted to cuff them over the ears. he only shows that fluffy, fatherly side when hes proud of them or trying to get them to ignore very serious issues such as lionpaws abuse from ashfur. its largely squirrelflight we see caring for the three and the bramblesquirrel kits in earnest, not brambleclaw.

when lionpaw is being abused by ashfur, brambleclaw ignores it and tells hollypaw to keep quiet about it when she expresses her concerns to him. he also tells her that the abuse is fine, because lionpaw is stronger for it and that ashfur is a wonderful warrior. notably, ashfur is revealed as having gone to brambleclaw to excuse the abuse he was putting lionpaw through, appealing to brambleclaws ego by saying lionpaw will be stronger. brambleclaw then proceeds to heap praise on hollypaw, telling her shes mature and must keep her brothers in line (THIS is where the little thinker comment about hollypaw comes from).

lionpaw is also growing increasingly violent due to dark forest training around this time. instead of seeing that his son is showing worrying behavior, brambleclaw whines to lionpaw about how tigerstar was misunderstood and such a powerful warrior, leading lionpaw to have to comfort him. lionpaw is a child who should not have to play therapist for his father, especially when hes literally excusing TIGERSTAR of all characters. tigerstar who lionpaw trusts as a result of brambleclaws opinions about him.

the cold behavior towards the three ramps up after the reveal. though it is reasonable that brambleclaw is upset by this, it does not give him the right to treat the three (or squirrelflight) as he does. he disowns them, refusing to talk to or engage with them and frequently declaring that they are not his. beyond the three, he isnt a good father to his biokits either. he does very little to support either of them, especially alderpaw. alderpaw is noted as deeply fearing the disappointment of his father, who seems let down and disinterested in him at every turn. sparkpelt, in squirrelflights hope in particular, is forced to watch brambleclaw emotionally and verbally abuse squirrelflight throughout the book, rather than try to comfort her through the horrific time shes going through. at no point does he seem close with his biokits, nor does he ever really reconnect fully with the three.

the narrative defends all of this, just as it does with his abuse of squirrelflight. this gets absorbed into the fanon around him as well, leading even people who hate him for how he treated squirrelflight to at least think he was a good dad. he was not. with him having died in the newest book, this in-text excusing of all of his actions is at an all time high. furthermore, the new tnp graphic novels coming out, people are bound to forget what the original text showed of his character. it is important that people read the original text themselves, rather than just absorbing information from fanon versions of the character. brambleclaw is not a good mate, or a good father. he is an interesting character.

if you like brambleclaw, you arent wrong to do so! hes a very complex character (probably unintentionally) with a lot to analyze about him. but you cannot ignore what actions he actually takes in text in favor of what the narrative and fandom may say about him. this goes for all characters in any media! its important to look at stories and characters with a critical eye, rather than a passive one.

bonefalls posts on the topic were a massive help in this and much of what ive said is rehashed from those posts. please take the time to read them for more context.

Post by @bonefall

💬 0  🔁 26  ❤️ 133 · May i ask why do you think that Brambleclaw wasn't a good father? not saying i disagree if that is what you think, but w

Post by @bonefall · 2 images

💬 2  🔁 23  ❤️ 115 · i cant remember correctly if this is true or not, but wasnt there a scene in po3 (?) where lionblaze used a dark forest

Post by @bonefall

💬 1  🔁 33  ❤️ 167 · what concerning behaviors does bramble show in fatherhood? Genuine question I didnt read PO3 and I haven’t really heard

[jesse-pinko]

I think Brambleclaw has always been jealous of Squirrelstar, actually. I think he’s always been hyperaware that he came from a disgraced bloodline while she was the daughter of the clans’ most revered leader, I think he has leftover resentment from Firestar treating him like a ticking time bomb when he was an apprentice and he takes it out on her because he doesn’t dare direct his anger at her powerful father, I think he’s envious that she has such a close relationship with her sister when Tawnypelt left for Shadowclan, and most of all, I think he hates her because every step of the way she has proven that she is her father’s daughter, and he has proven that he is his father’s son.

[lepoppeta]

@breegd is one of my oldest and dearest online friends, and i always like seeing their character redesigns, so i wanted to give these two absolute QUEENS a shot.

you can find the original designs and art here and here.

[chaifootsteps]

(Stella Understander anon)

First of all, THANK YOU FOR THE SHOUTOUT I REALLY APPRECIATE IT, sometimes I get worried about if people care or not.

Second, I get so annoyed when people try to be like “if Stella were a man, you’d hate her!” Maybe, but guess what? If Stella were a man, you’d love her. Then she’d be a tragic character, get more attention in the story, one that would be allowed to be seen as nuanced and layered. I bet Stella and Stolas as a ship would be incredibly popular, considering how popular Valangel (throws up) is. So no. Stella being a man wouldn’t make me hate her. It’d make the fans love her. But because she’s a woman, she’s hated.

Also, I’ve seen people be like “It doesn’t matter if she’s a victim, she’s still an abuser, I hate that [misogynistic slur]!” Even though they love Valentino (rapist) and Stolas (rapist) and Lucifer (who brags about banging Adam’s wives as if they were objects, what a feminist huh). Like, I think you just hate women, I’m gonna be so real with you. Like, incredibly real with you, I think you don’t like women.

Third of all, I know I’m the Stella anon, but I’ve also been thinking about Lute. Lute’s also a tragic character to me. All her life, she’s idolized and looked up to one man, Adam. She was groomed by him (unclear if he even loved her back) and sees him as the only soul who ever completed hers. And then she had to watch him brutally die, and the system she’s sworn to protect turns against her and her very beliefs to defend the enemy.

I’d crash out too if I were her! I’m not better, if that happened to me, I’d also wanna kill everyone in hell! She’s so interesting to me, she gets a BANGER of a song and crashout, but then the show does nothing with her except call her a misogynistic slur to further a male character’s development, and then leaves. We have to wait until season FOUR for her to do something???? WHY GIVE HER THAT SONG THEN???? ARE YOU KIDDING ME????

Once you notice the misogyny in this show, you can’t stop seeing it everywhere. It’s driving me insane. Maybe if I think about Stella and Lute kissing, it’ll fix my emotions at the moment. I’m their defense lawyers in court at this point.

Couldn't have said it better. Thank you for all the truth you speak, Stella Understander Anon.

[chaifootsteps]

I think I got the enlightened take on Stella:

Yes, she’s an abuser and did abuse Stolas. That’s not excusable. Abuse is bad. She’s not a good person.

However, considering how in the system she’s grown up in and was groomed by, I get why she snapped and lashed out. Because like, let’s go through the list of the shit she was dealt with:

Her entire purpose in the system is to have babies and heirs to a throne she likely will never have

Possibly lusted after by her brother for who knows how long

Forced into an arranged marriage (which women have historically suffered the most through compared to men) to a man she doesn’t love

Forced to be impregnated and have a child while having to pretend she wants it

Having her husband publicly flaunt that he’s cheating on her with no remorse

Constantly talked down to and demeaned by the people around her, especially her brother

Like man, if I were a woman in her position, I would’ve fucking snapped and wanted Stolas dead too. I’m not better, how could anyone in Stella’s position grow up to be completely fine and happy with their position in life? You wouldn’t feel that anger and resentment for everyone around you bubbling inside? She’s not a good person, but how could anyone be in her position?

“We love imperfect victims!” Until it’s Stella. “We love messy complicated female characters!” Until it’s Stella. “We stan our problematic faves!” Until it’s Stella. “It’s set in hell!” Until it’s Stella. It’s not her fault that the writers clearly didn’t think about the implications and did absolutely nothing interesting with her character and baggage, because we gotta have toxic yaoi, don’t we?

So yeah, that’s my two cents. To quote a perfect song for Stella: “If you’d had been there, if you’d had seen it, I betcha you would’ve done the same!” And “I didn’t do it, but if I’d done it, how could you tell me that I was wrong?”

This, this, this, 110% this. It boggles the goddamn mind how this can be such a simple concept.

Stella and Stolas are both bad and abusive people. Stella physically, verbally, and emotionally takes out her pain on Stolas (and the imp servants), while Stolas retreats into fantasy and treats Blitzo as a plaything (and also physically abuses the imp servants.) They're victims of their respective horrible family members, they've been suffering this way since they were children, and they've grown up to be broken, terrible people who are now drowning together.

But only one ever receives any compassion from the fandom, which is one thing, or the narrative, which is another. And that's its own tragedy.

(Also, high five for being a Mapleshade fan! If I manage to get any free time I might just draw this myself, because she's one of my favorite Warrior Cats characters.)

[vincent-van-gtg]

[chaifootsteps]

I've come to a realization that the problem with Vivzie's character writing is that she's still writing characters as a list of fun facts.

Every one of her characters feels like it was written by a teenager using the common oc writing thing of adding unneccesary info like their favourite colour, animal, song etc.

Most people grow out of this era of character writing pretty quickly but I would put money on that she's still making like/dislike lists and unnecessary family trees because it fucking feels like it

That's why she constantly tells us about the characters in social media posts instead of the shows themselves. She still sees "asian" "black" "gay" etc. as a fun fact on the side of an oc sheet instead of a character trait she actually needs to WRITE

This. It's like she never had a real desire to improve and no one ever pushed her to write beyond this, and so she never did.

[breegd]

Yayyyy more of my Hellaverse redesigns!! I posted them all to my Twitter but figured it was high time I put them here too

1.) Lilith:

I wanted her to look like the MOTHER OF MONSTERS ok? Not just some white karen because what is it with everyone being white or gray in this show??? Also LET HER HAVE A MOM BOD

2.) Lucifer:

I wanted to do several things with this design - I wanted him to look Celestial but not HOLY, Y’know? And to imply that this may not be Lucifer’s “True Form” but an avatar he uses to the public.

3.) Vaggie and Angel Dust:

I based both of them on their pre-pilot designs, back when the pair of them were a couple because that’s when I personally believed they had the most potential instead of being stripped down to just “mean lesbian” and “trauma porn gay”

4.) Moxxie:

I made Mox a hybrid- Shark and Imp specifically as I never understood how his dad- as an imp- became as powerful as he did even in the mob. I also made his mom a Greed Imp instead of a Wrath Imp

[breegd]

Hello, my name is Saja. I’m a mother to a beautiful 8-month-old baby girl, writing this from a place I never imagined I’d be — surrounded by destruction, holding on to my daughter while the world around us falls apart. 💔

We used to have a home. 🏚 A simple place, but it was filled with love. Now it’s gone. What remains are memories, silence, and an overwhelming fear of what tomorrow may bring.

Each day, I wake up not knowing if we will make it through the next. My daughter should be learning to walk, to smile at strangers, to feel safe in her world — but instead, she’s learning to live in the middle of a war zone. 🕊️

I’m not writing this to ask for pity. I’m sharing our truth because silence won’t protect us. Maybe, through this message, someone will hear us — and care. 🤍

If you feel moved to share our story or offer support, it would mean more than words can say. Every kind act ripples outward. ✨

🔗 Donation Link 📌 Post Link

Thank you for taking a moment to listen. 🙏

🩵

[doodler16]

Heres a cool concept:

When Alastor faces off against Adam, he talks like he's broadcasting another episode of his radio show. Here's an example:

"Its extra bloody & vicious today here in Pentagram City, folks! And whats this? Looks like we'll be having an incredibly special guest joining us this episode! And its none other than the first man himself!"

I love this line. It’s so pilot Alastor coded along with tying in his radio aesthetic and career. But it references “Stayed Gone” and Alastor’s non canon prequel comic (I don’t know if you did this on purpose but still great either way). The way Alastor introduces Adam with such charisma, ease, and energy is the cherry on top.

I can already imagine Alastor purposely broadcasting the fight on the radio and sinners immediately tuning in to hear the juicy bits. Once Alastor gets folded, the sinners immediately no longer fear him and bully the hell out of Alastor.

[doodler16]

User and anons’ opinions of Vivziepop’s being on the asexual spectrum. And of course, there is a hot take sprinkled in.

Context regarding Vivziepop’s sexuality:

Context regarding the Kendraw’s situation:

In 2020, Vivziepop was not only warning a redacted user about Kendraws but venting and ranting about them. She would say many serious allegations towards them and call Kendraws a “monster” and many other things.

In the dms, Vivziepop would accuse Kendraws of posing as asexual. She would mention a specific character, Kendraws was drawing. Recently this year, Kendraws would reveal in tags the character (named Xavier) Vivziepop was referring too.

Alastor’s asexuality in Vivziepop’s words (Hunicast, 2019):

As you can see, Vivziepop has said a lot of ignorant and ace phobic things regarding asexuality in the past and it has gotten worse in Helluva Boss specifically with Mammon. As an Anon mentioned up above, I too hope Vivziepop realizes her mistake and acknowledges it.

Even if she doesn’t publicly acknowledges and apologizes for her mistakes and past views of asexuality, I do hope she uses this opportunity to improve on writing regarding asexuality in future seasons of Helluva Boss and by extension Hazbin Hotel.

People on the asexual spectrum have every right to criticize Vivziepop on her asexuality representation. Her being on asexual spectrum doesn’t automatically mean she is in the clear.

[chaifootsteps]

Stolas didn’t end the sex deal because he genuinely respected and cared about Blitzø, he did it because Blitzø rebuffed his affection after their “date” at Ozzie’s, and he thought that by cutting things off, it would mean he could get into a more intimate romantic relationship with Blitzø without there being a “good excuse” for why he wouldn’t want to. At the end of the day, even if Stolas is saying that the deal is wrong, he’s only ending things to fulfill his own desires, it that’s made abundantly evident when he gets upset and kicks Blitzø out for not returning his feelings and calling him out on his mistreatment of him.

This. His concern for Blitzo and the inequity of their situation lasted literally as long as it took Blitzo to deny him what he wanted. The second he did, Stolas turned on him and started blaming him for "always making it about sex."

[doodler16]

I really hope and pray Stella’s backstory is an actual backstory. Every time someone on the Spindlehorse team or in Vivziepop’s writing team hypes up a character’s backstory it ends up being a montage.

I’m getting tired of these lame montages, Stolas is literally the only character who has a proper backstory (meeting Blitzø during his childhood). I want to see an actual timeline and see what these characters went through!