Cg throwing a birthday party for their kiddo who never had one growing up!!!
💗 inviting all their little (or middle/big!) friends to celebrate
🎉 discretely dropping hints to see if their baby would like a surprise party or not
🧸 lots of toys and games and their baby’s interests
🍼 treats!!!! Cake and ice cream and candy or baby’s fav snacks!
🎁 making sure their baby knows that they are loved and cared for, that this day is just for them
🎂 prezzies!! Lots of presents, especially homemade gifts that cg made with extra love
🎈balloons!!! (If their kiddo likes them) when i was little my mom always put a b-day balloon in our room while we were sleeping so we would wake up to it!!
🥳 checking in throughout the day to make sure their kiddo stays safe, happy, and comfortable. Reminding them that its okay to need a break from the party for a bit!
(Now, I'm not talking about the problematic kind of weird but weird to the extent where they deviate from the societal norm and are seen as unconventional)
Roughly 3-4 years ago, I was just scrolling on youtube when I came across a video of a character named "Joe Blow" for the first time. Watching it, I at first felt oddly disturbed. At the time I was still struggling with globophobia so it made sense as to why it scared me a lil bit
Once the video was over, I didn't think much about it again for a couple weeks. But out of nowhere... I just couldn't stop thinking about him??? Not only that, but I came to a realization that the video I saw of this character didn't trigger my globophobia as bad as anything else would usually do. I however tried to shrug it off as I thought the character was kinda weird and unlikeable. Despite that, my initial reaction to the video made me somewhat intrigued, so I finally watched it again. Similar reaction to last time. Shortly after, I spiralled into the realization that online exposure therapy could possibly be the key to treating my phobia. And boy was I right.
Since that day, I began teaching myself how to confront my fear of balloons. Most of the things I've done weren't much, but even small steps can lead to major improvements. This gave me the chance to regrow my passion for balloons, which was originally an early childhood hyperfixation before it became a phobia.
Nowadays I can: Watch videos that have balloons in them with volume on most of the time, draw balloons+balloon animals, have less frequent anxiety attacks when it comes to the phobia being triggered irl, have dreams about balloons without feeling like I'm experiencing a nightmare, and I also now own a beachball.
The amount of progress I got through made me over the moon with happiness. I can finally express an internalized interest that I'd been struggling to tend to for quite a long time. A few years have passed now. In mid august, I was reminded of the mask animated series through a twitter post that was commemorating the show's 30th year anniversary. "The Mask:Animated series? Where have I heard it before?" I questioned.
I went straight to watching the show, and I was quick to realize that its the series that THAT character comes from. Joe Blow is his name, though he's mostly referred to as Kablamus due to it being his villain alias. Upon this realization, I decided to watch all three of the episodes he appears in/talks in most , alongside the rest the mask animated series. Considering the decreasing severity of my globophobia and the change in my moral beliefs, my opinion on the character changed. Something about the way he talks and moves around is so heartwarming, it gave me a strong sense of comfort.
I was in denial about this at first because I was unsure as to whether it was ok to like such a character. I worried that if I told people about him, they'd see that 'unconventional' part of him (He inflates a lot in the show, it's his main thing) and immediately assume that he's a weirdo, and see me as a weirdo for liking him.
But after opening up to a friend about it for reassurance, it made me feel better about having Kablamus as a comfort character. There are way worse characters out there, and thinking about it more, Kablamus's character really isn't a big deal at all. It really isn't that deep. Sure, he inflates, he has an obsession with balloons, but so what?! He still has a personality, an original design, backstory, and lore. Yes, it's of course understandable as to why people wouldn't like a character like Kablamus...but that doesn't mean that nobody out there will love them!!!People will allways find some sort of comfort in a character, and that should allways be treasured, reguardless if said character is conventional or unconventional. You never know how much a character may mean to someone.
Kablamus means a lot to me. For a character to immediately inspire me to confront a phobia I struggle with (mind you I've had globophobia for more than a decade) that consumed my life daily life and made it harder to socialize, is such a wonderful thing. Its what makes me care so much about him. I almost feel like I can relate to him at times. There's countless examples of things about him I find relatable: Not wanting to accept that he feels insecure about what other people think, making attempts to get help but somewhat failing, hurting others then regretting it, having a passion surrounding balloon art and finding comfort in such, treated differently to other villains, the list could go on forever to me.
Sure, it's corny. But to be cringe is to be free as they say. Never let anybody have a say on what you can or can't like. To know whether you're keen on something or not is something only you can decide and explore.
If I have anything more to add to this explanation, I'll do some sort of edit or reblog at some point. I hope you enjoyed reading this post, and that it at least gave some sort of inspiration.
why am I thinking about rui and balloon art so much tonight why does my brain choose "hey lets think abt how your fav fictional character likes the thing that gives you panic attacks and anxiety"
BRAIN SHUT THE FUCK UP I HATE YOU. EXCEPT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT VIVID MAKEOUT SCENES. T-THEN UR CHILL.
Hi so uhhh idk where else to ask this at this point so I'll say it here
What do you do when you suspect that you might have a kintype of something you've got a phobia of?
Recently I figured that I could be Balloonkin , and I'm worried. I feel like trying to embrace it but at the same time I want to get as far away from it as much as possible.
It all depends on the color of the glass you're looking through 🎈🎨🖌️
Fluff and Comfort, a little bit of hurt in the middle
Type of relationship: Teacher and student (Non-Romantic)
Pronouns: She/Her
Gender: Femenine (Protagonist)
CW: Balloons / Loud Noises
Another day at the Academy.
After a few months of what happened at the Area Zero, things really calmed down for good.
The Gym Inspection went easy as cake, and the Academy Ace Tournament was really fun! Everyone agreed that they should do it again.
The Pokédex kept going on really well, but between adventure and exploration in this rich region, it's always good and relaxing to go back and take some classes at the academy and learn something new, or it wasn't going to be that easy this time?
It was a rainy day. Not a big storm, but wet enough to make everyone wanting to go outside think twice.
Juliana arrived just in time for Art class, one of her favorite subjects! Not that she doesn't like the other subjects, she learned a lot in every class, but Arts had something special on it, a special spark that can't be calculated or interpreted sometimes, like a Pokémon battle.
Also, Hassel, the teacher, was amazing on his job, you can see wonder in the eyes of his students, how he can bring a lot of emotions during the classes, even himself being a little emotional.
Juliana takes a seat on the first row as always, so that way she can listen better to the teacher.
"Hello again class. As everyone can see, today is not the most perfect of days, in fact, today I was planning an outside class to sketch some Pokémon, but sometimes plans change, and we have to adjust ourselves to the situation, like when we colour a drawing outside the line by accident. We can focus on the mistake and abandon the piece, or work or way through it and give or masterpiece a new perspective. There's always something we can do to work out weaknesses and turn them into virtues, or not. Not every work of art is a masterpiece, but it truly helps changing the color of the glass you're looking through."
Hassel always knew how to phrase his classes, always inspiring and uplifting. Almost as if his words alone made the rain stop and make a rainbow cross the academy.
"But enough talking, and since we're touching the subject of imperfection, let's start our class of today. Look at this sculpture of Professor Gibble I made, it's simple and not perfect, sometimes it's ok to take our time and learn from our mistakes, simple sculptures like this can be relaxing and entertaining. Can someone tell me what it's made from?"
Juliana take a good look at it, the gritty but light texture guve you a slight idea of what could it be.
"Paper mache?" Juli says, with a doubt in her mind.
"Yes! Very well Juliana, looks like you're an art expert. Paper mache is an easy way to represent something without a lot of materials, we only need for in this case: Paper, glue, water and, a balloon"
"A B-balloon?!" Juliana thinking inside herself, almost jumping when she heard the teacher say that cursed word, making a little frown.
Juliana has faced a lot if dangers on her treasure hunt: Dangerous Pokémon bigger than everyone could imagine, Rebellious students, strong trainers, fallen down to the Banned Paldean Crater, saw beast from other times, and even her Pokémon and her battled aggressive AI robots with bravery an strength, but nothing like that scared her as much as a silly balloon, one of her most embarrassing secret.
Of course, how the newly announced Champion of Paldea, who helped save the region from an ecological catastrophe, could be scared of balloons? That was inconceivable, no one has to know, just imagine a rumor like that spreading through the school? Nobody would take her seriously anymore.
Juliana was on the clouds overthinking about the stupid loud noise they make when they pop, almost not hearing how Hassel was explaining something about making a good paste for smother results. Her heart was rushing, but she was sitting still in place, no were to go, and the rain still pouring without signals if stopping
"Before we start you can choose one of you Pokémon partners to use as an example, or making by memory if you prefer it that way."
One of Juliana's Pokéballs started moving alone, making her alert again, and one of her Pokémon came out of her pokéball. Her old partner, already knew a lot about her since they've been in adventures for a long time, so the Pokémon must have feel the emotions of their trainer and just sit on her lap to help her calm down.
The time started to pass and she has barely started, scared to make a rough movement in case something accidentally pops her balloon.
*POP* A balloons popped making only Juliana jump, but her Pokémon help her calm down before it's too late and the classes notices.
"Haba! I was working with that! Don't bit the balloon again!" One of her classmates is reprehending his Fuecoco, who must have mistaken the balloon for food. "Cocooo..?" The Pokémon felt a little confused about what happened.
Some short laughs, including from the teacher, can be heard across the room. "No laughing matter..." Though Juliana.
"That's what I was talking about when I mentioned mistakes, everyone can make one, but we don't have to let them discourage us, we have to learn from them. Tell me, was something you wanted to improve from your sculpture?" Asked Hassel. "Well, actually yes, the face was looking weird, I wanted to start again but the the glue was drying up and it was a little late..." "Good then, start again, use what you learned to improve your craft, and let's feed this hungry fella.." Hassel offered a berry to the Fuecoco, wich happily munched while his trainer worked again in peace.
Juliana wasn't herself, and the clock was going extra slow today, it was hard to concentrate with all of the noise on the background, she barely made the base of the head and couldn't get through the class. Her Pokémon stayed by her side the whole time, being a good model and letting being pet whenever Juliana was feeling nervous.
*DING-DONG DING-DONG, DING-DONG DING-DONG*
The bell indicating the class was over scared Juliana a little, but at least the suffering ended ended.
"It looks like our time is over, I hope you learned st least one thing new today. And don't worry if you didn't finish your pieces, you can come back and finish them whenever you like".
While Juliana was quickly putting her thing in her backpack, she hears a familiar voice calling her name. "Miss Juliana..." Hassel say across the classroom. "Oh no, did he noticed?!" Juli thought scared "Can you help me with sort paperwork here for a moment?" Hassel pointed to a chair at his sides of his table, where mixed art projects and teacher's stuff was scattered. "Y-yes, sin problema! Coming!" Said with a little of relief on her voice. She let her Pokémon by her side, still doing it's work of a companion in case of a panic attack.
"Please help me sort this papers, put the drawings by this side and the notes here, inside this binder" Said Hassel, while waiting for the last students to retire from the classroom. Juliana takes the seat and begins to work, her Pokémon on her lap taking a nap and and working as a weighted blanket to help it's trainer.
Minutes later, the last students left the class with his Pokémon, their steps can be heard in the distance. Time for Hassel to make his movement.
"So, miss Juliana, how was the class today?" He asked. Juli waked up, she was daydreaming again, as a copping mechanism to evade her surrounding when she was scared.
"Huh... Great! It was an amazing class as always!" Juliana answers, but, this answer sounds very... automatic to Hassel, who has seen this studen in better days.
"Did you sleep well last night? I suppose, the melody of the rain help everyone sleep... And what about breakfast? Aren't you hungry?"
"Hmmm... No... I mean, Yes! I ate a sandwich this morning" Juliana starts to doubt, so she shots "Why are you asking?"
"Hmmm, for nothing, it's just, that it's... weird I think it's the word? It's very unlikely to see my best student so down like this". Juliana straights her back and wakes up fully, noticing that there's no one in the room, just she and her teacher.
"No no no, I'm fine, I had a good sleep and ate well this morning, I'm completely fine" She said with an awkward smile trying to hide her nerves.
"Are you sure?" Asked the teacher "You barely worked on your sculpture today, usually you're one of the first in finish, and look at your work today" Hassel pointed to her 'Pokémon sculpture' on Juliana's working table, was barely resembling her Pokémon, but missed a lot of details and color in comparison to the work of other classmates. "I know I said you should take your time, but this isn't like you..."
Juliana barely looks at it, and then barely looks at his teacher in the face, almost fully evading them "Yeah yeah I'm fine, I think it was the weather".
Hassel had his doubt of the answer "Ok, I believe you, but please remember, everything I do it's for the greater good of my students, if there's something wrong that you want to tell me, please let me know so I can help, ok?" Juliana looks down at her Pokémon, and her mon looks back at her. "Ok, thanks you, I'll have that in mind..." She said while organizing the last papers.
What they both, teacher and student didn't notice while chatting, is that one Skwovet has entered in the classroom and by accident, like the Fuecoco earlier, the little guy bitted one of the balloon mistaking it for a berry.
*POP*
"AAAAAHG" The once relaxed Juliana screams, jumps and hugs her Pokémon very close to her, starting to hyperventilate.
"Here you are Cheeks! Excuse me! Sorry, for bothering, he gets intro frenzy mode when he's hungry and runs away" One student enters the class to pick up his Pokémon and quickly goes away, closing the door.
"Don't worry, be careful next time!" Said Hassel quickly before looking back at you.
"Oh Juliana, are you ok my child?!" Hassel looks worried, putting his hands on her shoulders to try to ground her.
After petting her partner and looking like the area is clean now, Juliana calms down.
"Y-yes I'm f-fine, everything fine now!" She looks to the other side, embarrassed, to evade a possible judgemental or funny looks from the teacher.
"I'm sorry for my intromission, but, were the, balloons bothering you during the class?" Hassel says in the sweetest and calmest voice possible, to avoid loosing confidense from his student.
"No nonono not possible! Me? The newest champion of Paldea? Scared of balloons?! No way! It was a confusion! Eeemmmm... Thissss, this little guy just bite me! Y-yeah that's it!" But when she looking down at her lap, wanting for an excuse, Juliana's Pokémon wasn't there! Instead, it was now in the middle of the middle of the classroom playing with one of the balloon on the ground, chasing it around the room.
"*Eeeeeeek* Nononono buddy come here come on left that there please!" A scared Juliana covers her ears with her hands while calling her Pokémon back at her side.
*Fliiiiiiiiiu* Hassel whistles slow a quiet, calling the attention of the Pokémon and making it sit right at his side.
"Hmmm, who said that the dragon tamer's whistle would work on this friend huh?..."
Both teacher and student can feel the awkwardness filling the air. Juliana looks to her side to avoid crossing his eyes, crossing her arms and resting them on the table, while Hassel pets the Pokémon.
"...Excuse me again, but... Are you sure there's nothing you what to tell me? I understand if you don't want to say anything, I can't force you to talk, of course, but I always believe in confidentialit-"
"OK FINE YOU WIN!" Juliana can't take it anymore and screams "Yes, I'm scared of the balloons! I hate the loud noise they make, they make me uncomfortable, I couldn't finish my job because of that!" Hassel can feel in his student's voice a great weight being release, like something you hide for long time, feeling that he already knew very well.
"It's ok, you can laugh, I'm used to it, just please don't tell it to anyone, I can't imagine if people knew about this.... *Sniff* Embarrassing for a champion..." Juliana felt more relief, but sad by the way she had to tell this to her teacher.
"*Sniff* Sorry, I'm sorry, I made this awkward, I know this isn't the way..." Juliana looks embarrassed.
"Please, young Juliana, don't be sorry, I understand, it's something you can't control..." "I'm... I'm the one who should be sorry, for making you go through..." The teacher apologize "No please, don't say that, there's no way you could tell.."
"Yes, of course..." Said Hassel while thinking about that day when a Driftloon scared you, or the tender but skittish way you leave your Flamigo squeaky clean, as if the Pokémon themselves could pop at any moment.
"Don't worry, this conversation will remain between us, and please let me always have an eye on you in case you need help" "Y-yes! Thanks professor Hassel!" Juliana exclaimed more happy than before.
"Thank you... " Juliana wakes up and hugs her teacher, who is almost crying again, but recompose himself to look more professional.
"I have to mention, you still have to finish your work, I hate leaving work unfinish" Hassel says making Juliana shiver "But do not worry, well work together on that" Juliana gaves an awkward smile, hopping that doesn't mean what she think she means.
*EXTRA*
Of course, being at the Art class, means Juliana wasn't alone, Penny was also there, but because of her fear and because Penny usually sits in the back, Juliana didn't notice her this time.
When Hassel called Juliana after class, she wanted to gossip on what about he said to her, so Penny activate the Cassiopeia program in Juliana's SmartRotom and heard the whole conversation. EVERYTHING.
Wanting to test a theory, Penny sends a Team of Pokémon to Nemona ask her to "test the power of this team". Nemona was always happy to help, and Knowing Penny isn't the best fighting, she innocently accepts.
The team was: A Flamigo, a Jigglypuff, a Driftloon.
One by one the Pokémon goes to battle, Juliana being very nervous, makes her Pokémon do weird combo attacks.
I have globophobia but I've never heard of Ligyrophobia, I'm a bit curious as to what it is, can you explain it to me?
Of course!
Ligyrophobia is the fear of loud (sudden) noises, such as screaming, thunder, firecrackers/fireworks, motorcycles, loud speakers, corks, party poppers, balloons and similars.
It's also called phonophobia, but this word is more used to refer to a fear or disconfort to all noises in general, or just sound aversion.
Ligyrophobia comes from ligyro(sharp/sudden for sound meanings), and phobia.
It's one of our core fears as humans that we develop at the moment we born, with the fear of falling (aka high places), but is with the everyday situations that we live with, the way we handle those fears as we grow up. Some people are more sensitive to those stimulus than others.
As an example, you can have globophobia because you fear the balloon popping, therefore, you may have ligyrophobia. Or maybe you just have ligyrophobia but no globophobia, so you can handle balloons, but fear the popping.
Or be scared just to a certain type of sound, like me! I'm scared of balloons and fireworks/firecrackers, but I'm not scared of thunder. The combinations can be as unique as all of us.
I hope this helps to clear things up! And any questions I'm here!
