welcome to the ffxv wiggler

Gorgeous hardware

The thing is that while both Gladio and Ignis have servant positions and Gladio is more clearly associated with the weapon role, there is more ties around Gladio that do not unilaterally tie him to Noctis. In a way, the fact that the whole Amicitia name is branded as the king's shield de-objectifies the concept: Gladio is born to serve, the way his father was born to serve, but that is a relationship they have together, and Gladio has ties with Cor too. His DLC, while also tied to his worth as a servant, is still mostly something he does for himself and his father, separated from the group. Overall, while it is fun to examine the lengths of his devotion and obedience, the story diffuses the objectifying nature of it, making him an element of the crowd rather than a guard dog for Noctis alone.

Ignis gets nothing of all that. While he is not sworn servant at birth, he is sworn young enough that the difference isn't felt. He has a family, we are told, but it never becomes relevant. The story doesnt give him anyone. Instead, everything about him is made about Noctis - every flash back and anime episode and DLC, is made about his use to Noctis as a person and Noctis' bodily integrity especially. And he is willing to sacrifice his own integrity for him.

This is the compelling argument about objectification--not that he is a weapon, or a guard, or a savior, but that he is also the cook and the driver and the guy who cleans the apartment. and nothing else. nothing but an extension of, not even Noctis' will, but simply Noctis' existence. So unwilling to exist in a reality that doesn't include him, so incapable of it, that he gets an alternate reality just so he can save - and continue to serve - his prince.

@crispydestinyconnoisseur absolutely!! I want the story where Regis knew what he was doing and used Ignis as a safeguard against his son's sacrifice (fucked up, ruthless, delicious) but I also want the story where no one thought about it, regarded him as just a child toy to give to the child prince so he wouldn't be bored, and he grew to become a universe-bending force.

Spicy-brained friends, I would like to propose an update to the very useful ‘if you hate everyone, eat, if everyone hates you, sleep, and if you hate yourself, shower’ mantra to live by

Have you suddenly become a petty, hateful little gremlin who thinks people should face the firing squad for (checks notes) leaving teabags on the counter, breathing loudly, or daring to exist in the same space as you? Perhaps mundane and reasonable requests like ‘hey, we agreed to hang out now, let’s hang out’ make you want to scream and move to a yurt in the woods.

You. Are. Overstimulated.

People talk a lot about being overstimulated, and the physical/mental effects of it. What I haven’t seen is people talking about what it does emotionally, and it took me an embarassingly long time to link up those nitpicky, resentful emotions with the state of overstimulation/meltdown/shutdown.

These feelings do not mean that you’re a bad person! They probably aren’t how you actually feel about the people around you. They probably do mean that your nervous system is at its absolute limit and any request/demand/stimulus is Too Much and taking you into fight or flight territory.

Go lie down in a dark room for an hour, or find somewhere safe and familiar to stim for a bit. If it’s happening a lot, schedule yourself regular low-stimulation shutdown time

Signed: someone who moved in with their nearest and dearest only to have a massive crisis of faith about Suddenly Hating All of Them. I don’t hate them, it’s just overstimulating living with people. If I can spare anyone else a similar 9 months of suspecting that they may actually be a bit of a shit person, then this post is worth it!

and if the sun ain’t shining for you I hope the moon makes up for it

genuinely, the best thing about Roy and Hughes' friendship is that Roy is a brutal pragmatist who is haughty, ruthless, and often cold and Hughes is a goofball who is always friendly, cheerful, and welcoming, but Roy is the hopeful idealist and Hughes is the cynical realist

you say it's my villain era and what you mean is that when you were six you panicked about wearing the right thing to kindergarten, what you mean is that in middle school nobody was eating, what you mean is that you spent high school prepping for college and college prepping for adulthood and adulthood fucking lost in the system.

what you mean is that you've been good. you were a good team player. you would have never considered yourself perfectionist - those are people more popular, prettier, more successful - but you carry any flaw like a secret in you, terrified someone will desert you for the simple reality of your personhood.

if you were good you could be loved. you could be loved if you were selfless and thoughtful and caring. if you bent over for every person, if you went above-and-beyond, it would absolve you of who you actually were. deep down, how horrible that you had needs. that you had boundaries, that you had desires. you learned young that you cannot afford to cut people out of your life - you would have nothing left. it is better to live in the service of others, to supplicate. to worship. you weren't exceptional, you had to make up for it in some way. to prove to others you were worthy.

if they need you, it's the same thing as loving you. if you are always-there, always-listening, always-friendly, you are filling a role. you have a purpose. you are living correctly.

villain era, you repeat. you mean: yesterday you finally told a man no. for hours afterwards, you couldn't control your heartbeat. you mean: you've been saying positive affirmations on repeat, trying to teach yourself any new thing about how self care is necessary. you mean: three weeks ago, due to a scheduling conflict, you finally told a coworker that no, you couldn't do them a "quick favor". you have felt bad about that ever since. sure, it would have made you work late and it would have been extra stress - but you feel bad about it nevertheless.

you tell your therapist you have been leaning into evil. she asks what that means. when you tell her: sometimes i prioritize my own needs, she doesn't find it funny. she looks at you a long time.

"and that's evil?" she clarifies.

"well," you say. "feels evil to me."

inspired by this post

This is delightfully cursed masterpiece!

“My Lord Commander…”

Fond memories

alisaie’s unique little animations this patch were so cute

Dedicated to moonlight / Menphina FFXIV

Dedicated to moonlight / Menphina FFXIV

Gideon the Ninth is trending? Here, have a compilation of art I have done

Gaia and Ryne are at the rainbow rock holding hands!!!!

happy starlight from ishgard! ❄️✨

misc requested npc doodles from twit again

reunited and it feels so good-

bonus: