#yapping sessions

[sketchy-mf]

Me watching the Gaslight District when this mf shows up

Sir

M'am

Distinguished metal fella

👁👁 I AM LOOKING LIKE A HOE

[gabbiecasso]

Just me and my reflections on Shikatema

I’ve been strangely hyperfixated on Shikamaru and Temari recently, so I spent some time reflecting to really unpack why I’ve loved them for so long - especially now, as an adult and as a demi/ace LOL, so bear with me while I yap.

As a demi, I’ve always had a complicated relationship with romance. Most romance-focused stories tend to either overwhelm me or leave me indifferent. Thankfully, after a lot of introspection, I noticed a pattern: I prefer romance that isn’t in the spotlight. Side pairs almost always appeal to me more than main ones, and that’s exactly where Shikatema fits.

Having spent over a decade watching and reading Naruto, I’ve grown a close affinity for these two characters. They impacted my childhood profoundly without relying on the dramatic emotional flair that many other characters exhibit. They’ve ultimately become my favorites because I see parts of myself in them—their traits, their tendencies. It’s also not surprising that they ended up together; their relationship develops slowly and naturally, never feeling forced or shocking.

Unlike other pairs in Naruto, where one character often overshadows the other or fixates obsessively, Shikatema operates on a level playing field. They’re both competent leaders and strategists, capable of recognizing and respecting each other’s strengths. There’s no need to change one another or prove their worth. They are fully their own people, and that independence and mutual respect shine through from early in the series and continue into Shippuden

I personally dislike being the center of attention or constantly having to feed someone’s focus on me, so I naturally gravitate toward people who are deeply invested in purpose, duty, or service; things bigger than just my presence. Shikatema embodies that dynamic perfectly; their relationship feels like a true partnership rather than a romance built on dependency.

Both occupy important roles in their respective villages, and they are fully aware of the weight and responsibility that come with them. This explains why they’re so self-sufficient, independent, and capable. They take their duties seriously, and you never see a scene where either craves the other’s attention. It’s almost amusing how they’re fully immersed in their responsibilities while in each other’s presence; you could literally say they’re there for each other while simultaneously fulfilling their roles as diplomat escort/advisor and diplomat/royalty

Another value I hold deeply to my core is individuality, and I’ve always adored how Shikamaru and Temari maintain their sense of self while thriving together. It’s one of the main reasons they see each other as true equals, and why neither ever overpowers the other.

Shikamaru, laid-back and often understated, complements Temari’s directness and assertiveness. His relaxed demeanor helps her stay grounded and objective rather than just taunting in combat or in general LMFAO

Meanwhile, Temari, confident and comfortable taking charge, brings a certain buoyancy to Shikamaru’s abilities. She openly calls out his BS, and he welcomes it because he knows how unassuming, and at times self-deprecating, he can be. He never seeks the spotlight and often downplays his own strengths, which is where Temari’s outspokenness perfectly complements him. This dynamic is also quite evident in Shikamaru Hiden.

Both characters challenge gender norms in subtle ways. I’m inclined to believe that the slight biases in their early portrayals were intentional on the writers’ part (there’s an active discussion on this) and I genuinely feel it served a purpose. Young Shikamaru complains that Temari is too troublesome because of her relentless spunk, while young Temari critiques him for being overly emotional, as he seems to lack emotional training.

Over time, Shikamaru’s honesty and vulnerability allow Temari to soften, witnessing genuine acts of kindness from someone who wears his heart on his sleeve - first notably during the Sasuke retrieval arc at the hospital, when Shikamaru experiences an emotional breakdown. In turn, Temari’s unwavering strength and energy push Shikamaru into action when he might otherwise hesitate. She often banters with him, nudging him to commit to his decisions rather than overthink, creating a dynamic of mutual growth and balance

Both characters also possess innate leadership, which is one of my main points of attraction. I’ve always been drawn to leadership as an act of service. Shikamaru leads through his introspective, analytical nature, while Temari leads with assertiveness and confidence.

This dynamic was first evident during the Chunin Exams, when they were pitted against each other. Both read their opponents with remarkable precision, demonstrating battle awareness, composure, and effective execution of strategies. It’s no surprise that Shikamaru was promoted to Chunin, while Temari rose to Jonin and Ambassador - though the exact timing of her promotion isn’t clear, she is already in those roles early in Shippuden and frequently visits Konoha.

They both grow as leaders who prioritize serving their people before themselves in their respective villages, a trait that extends even further during the war arc, where their dedication benefits not just their own villages but the entire Allied forces

Both were also Chunin exam proctors, so ain't that great LOL I think it’s one of the many reasons I never doubted their parenting; Shikadai grew up to be such a disciplined shinobi with a strong moral code. They did seem to occasionally question each other’s approaches (Temari favors intense training while Shikamaru leans toward leisure) but it strikes me as a perfect balance. Both have fostered Shikadai’s sense of agency, allowing him to draw his own conclusions and make decisions through critical thinking, which makes sense given that Shikamaru and Temari themselves share the same values and mindset from their youth.

In the series, high-intensity emotions are often the norm in relationships, but Shikamaru and Temari’s bond is more subdued. They don’t need long stretches of dialogue to understand each other; all it takes is experience, observation, and a little deduction.

They never feel the need to prove their worth to each other (or to anyone, really) because their connection is built on deep understanding rather than overt passion. Even though the manga takes a slightly different approach, both characters humorously agree that marriage is troublesome, LOL (but well, here we are)

The last point is that both are exceptional strategists. Chess has always been my comfort, along with puzzles and tactical games that demand mental effort, so, naturally, I gravitate toward these two. I tend to appreciate strategic characters who also wear their hearts on their sleeves.

They approach strategy differently: Shikamaru is highly logical and analytical, relying on foresight to plan for nearly every possible outcome. Temari, on the other hand, is decisive and action-oriented; she commits quickly to decisions and adapts on the fly, analyzing her opponent’s motives in real time.

This contrast was clearly showcased during the Chunin exams. Shikamaru leveraged his environment with meticulous precision, while Temari’s quick-thinking and adaptability allowed her to counter his tactics effectively. Though she may not be as creatively inventive as Shikamaru, she excels in using intelligence, reason, and logic to formulate counters. This is why their battle was prolonged, stretching Shikamaru to the limit of his chakra.

I deeply admire how both value planning, precision, and patience in combat - these are qualities that stand in stark contrast to other characters who rely primarily on raw power, relentless tenacity, and speed (lol Naruto and Sasuke)

Irl, I share the same values in chess, games, and puzzles, so it’s no surprise that I’m drawn to them. Their strategic minds allow them not only to connect emotionally but also to challenge each other mentally in every moment they share on screen.

Thanks for coming to my yapping thread if you ever made it in the end LOL

[sketchy-mf]

I don't get the whole "Kinger pretends that he's not lucid in the light to hide from Caine" thing

Hide what? I'm genuinely confused about the end goal here

Also I thought that Caine already knew about the whole darkness thing since, in the president Pomni adventure, Kinger had his "instruction papers" mention that there was a dark spot under the desk in case of trouble or something like that

You could argue that Jax made them since it was his suggestion but at the end of the day Caine is the one that has to actually create stuff for the adventures so he had to make those papers and the desk too

But even ignoring that, I'm just confused about the overall theory. I don't get what purpose pretending to be "crazy" would serve, also, we saw Kinger acting the same way he always does with the others even when Caine wasn't there, so, again, ?????

Maybe the theory will turn out to be true in the future and I'll look like a complete fool, but, as of now, it just confuses me

[sketchy-mf]

I feel like I gotta put my level of dumbassery out here for people to see

I'm only now watching Devil May Cry even tho I knew of its existance for ages

Why? Well first of all I kinda forgot it existed

Second

When I discivered about it was back when I was a kid and I was studyng Dante, as in Dante Alighieri, first ever self insert fanfic writer, rest in peace you would have loved AO3. For the record I'm Italian so that fucker pretty much follows you through your entire school career.

Anyways we started studying Dante and I found out about Devil May Cry, both game and old series, and I looked it up cause I thought it was an adaptation of "La Divina Commedia".

So little kid me looked it up all excited and imagine my disappointment when I came face to face with this white haired dude. I was like, who the fuck is this? Wtf is this shit? Not accurate at all, and then closed the tab.

And then I proceeded to forget that it existed

Time skip to 24 year old me rediscovering it thanks to mootie and addimg Dante to the bbygirl list 💀

I took one look at him and I was like "idk what kid me was smoking to just walk away" 😭

[sketchy-mf]

I hate this fuckass new tumblr update

Why is the search bar in people's profiles hidden?

Why when clicking on a profile answering an ask does it take me to the person who asked the question's profile instead?

Why does the share button look like a download button?

The fuck?

[sketchy-mf]

Someone exaplain to me how "Grande fratello" breached containment like a fucking scp and got outside of Italy

If you go in the comment section under Annalisa's cover of "Ti sento" on youtube, there's a bunch of people talking about Helena and Zeudi IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE 💀

It's so funny, pls, how did this happen?

[sketchy-mf]

Waking up to my coffee machine being broken IS FOUL (AO3 is down)