Calf-Love (page 80)
Added 2022-04-01 10:54:00 +0000 UTCIt’s always worth being YOU. 💕
If you relate to Mansa AND feel comfortable talking openly about it to help make Mansa a more dynamic character I’d love to talk! Feel free to drop me a message any time about your experience and I promise nothing you tell me ever leaves our chat. That always goes for any of my characters, if you see yourself in them even just a little and think that you can offer a little insight then I want to hear it! And if you just want to enjoy the story that’s great too, as Song said: you don’t owe anyone anything 😊
Comments
Awwwwww...oh, Mansa...
Lizzie the OwlyCat
2022-04-03 18:52:53 +0000 UTCI wish I didn’t relate so hard to Mansa here. I wrote a whole GO fic on ao3 exploring some of this, but if you want more private chat about it I’d be willing, just lmk. It can be so complicated, especially when it’s a subtle, unspoken disapproval….
werebear
2022-04-03 15:45:24 +0000 UTCTW// mentions of suicide, homelessness I tried to do what Mansa had. Kept to playing the role my family wanted until I felt like I barely knew who I was. It got to the point that I couldn't bare the dysphoria. I started working towards getting top surgery. I was living with my sister at the time. She found some of my medical papers and became incredibly abusive and malicious. She kicked me out and outed me to my family. I was homeless and my family didn't come to my aid. I had to be hospitalized for having suicidal ideation. I was fortunate I hadn't graduated yet and my university stepped up to get me into an apartment and got me set up with a therapist. I finished my degree, had my top surgery, changed my name legally. It was the most free I had ever been. But I was struggling to find a job, so I had to stay with my dad for a few months. He was as transphobic as expected and made it clear he couldn't wait for me to be gone. But I stood up for myself. The last straw was my dad being angry that I held my sister accountable for being suicidal and said I was suicidal because I was too sensitive. I got a job offer across the country and took it without hesitation. I got out of that hell and now live on my own. I cut off ties and have no interest speaking to those people again. I honestly feel like, despite the discrimination, being queer is the best thing that could have happened to me. There is great joy in just being myself because I know what it's like to not have that. I know I won't be alone because I have a community to support me and who believes in found family. It was worth it. Whatever your situation is, you should always surround yourself with people who truly love you for who you are. Anyone who treats people with shame and guilt aren't worth having in your life. Everyone deserves love.
Ever Feather
2022-04-02 14:29:55 +0000 UTCI love the trust between those two... And I wish noone had to decide between being themselves and having a family. I guess both is hard, being yourself and distancing from your family, but also staying with the family and staying distant from yourself. But, in the long run, you'll be happier being yourself and you might even find a new family of people who endorse you, like Song...
Telda
2022-04-01 19:22:49 +0000 UTCI'm practically in the same boat, I can't really be out around my family because of their opinionated beliefs, but I'm out to my friends, partner, and elsewhere. It feels so difficult to move out because my parents think I'm not ready and shouldn't be living with my partner unmarried, but I'm slowly gaining the courage to tell them I'm moving out regardless
Elfabet_Soup
2022-04-01 16:14:59 +0000 UTCGosh I relate to Mansa so much. I‘ve always been very different from my family in so many different ways. I‘m liberal, queer, polyamorous, vegan, an athiest, and an environmental scientist. My family is the complete opposite in those respects and has always, whether intentional or not, made me feel like a complete other. Or gotten upset or angry at me for it. But I‘ve had to learn that hiding these parts of me or trying to be something I‘m not just makes me miserable. I still deal with their opinions, but it‘s more tolerable when I‘ve surrounded myself with people who understand and love me for me.
CanadianCaptain
2022-04-01 14:39:28 +0000 UTCI relate to him so much it hurts 😭 I can't be out as gq/nb and change my name where I am yet, its not safe, and I know that to be out and really get to be ME, I'm gonna have to do what Mansa did - leave. And I am absolutely terrified and anxious as to how to do that and how people are gonna react. I'm lucky that I know I won't lose everyone, but I also know some I definitely will lose and its not gonna be pretty whenever I manage it, but I need to. Your characters are amazing and so are you, thank you so much for their stories ❤
avery (ineffable critter)
2022-04-01 13:24:40 +0000 UTCThe way they're holding each other...! So much taking and giving of comfort! And this is their *first* date! And their second one happens when Song gets frikking stabbed?!?!! Ahhhh!!!
Ashfae
2022-04-01 12:13:52 +0000 UTCOh darling 😭
Ash S.
2022-04-01 12:05:00 +0000 UTCI have no contact with my immediate family because of something someone else did because I wouldn’t support them for it when they went to prison, my parents were never supportive of my mental health problems or being in a relationship with someone neurodivergent. After I moved out (which in itself was traumatic and stressful) I realised just how toxic and exhausting my mother is to be around.
Pears
2022-04-01 11:40:18 +0000 UTCI feel for anyone like Mansa and of course for Mansa. Everyone deserves to feel safe and loved and respected. It makes my heart ache that that isn't the case for so many people. I'm lucky to have family who are gay. They took away the shock of having someone like that in our family long before I was born. But with some of them it's still hard. I literally wish everyone had my mother and Grammy in their lives. They have been my biggest supporters and are so enthusiastic to spread love and affection to anyone. Wish I could share their love with you all as well 😭❤
Kyle Rose
2022-04-01 11:33:40 +0000 UTCthank you ❤️ and the same back at you, there will come a day for us to be our true selves ❤️
sick_pineapple
2022-04-01 11:30:14 +0000 UTCi relate to mansa more and more with each page recently, sometimes even on a subconscious level i hadn't realized yet. i'm always open to chatting about it, whiteley. i know you're a safe space, so feel free to message me any questions or anything else you like. he's such a cathartic character to me, and other folks too, it seems 🥰
Planetary System
2022-04-01 11:22:49 +0000 UTCfrom someone else who gets it and is still working towards the same, i wish you the happiest, most self-authentic future possible 💚
Planetary System
2022-04-01 11:19:36 +0000 UTCI... how do I stop crying? 🥺❤️ I always related to Mansa a lot, but these several last pages of this part of their story made me understand that I relate to him on a much deeper level, I see myself in him more and more with every page... and honestly, seeing who he becomes later in life when he decides to fully live his truth and his true self feels me with hope in a way? I'm still on a stage in my life when I'm not myself around family, I haven't come out to any of them, bc it's not safe and I still have my little brother to take care of, that I don't want to be forcefully separated from, but honestly, Mansa gives me hope that one day I'll change it for the better and will find strength in me to live as me after all... bc being yourself and being comfortable with yourself is absolutely worth it, I believe that thank you for him ❤️ give them both a hug from me ❤️
sick_pineapple
2022-04-01 11:10:59 +0000 UTCDefinitely relate to Mansa on a few things. Nothing beyond what's been said but it is hard when you can't be yourself around family.
YamiKakyuu
2022-04-01 10:57:31 +0000 UTC*gives them both a head kiss*
LupinsandLaurels
2022-04-01 10:56:08 +0000 UTC
