Not Romantic Not Platonic But A Secret Third Thing (so Devoted The Lines Blur)

not romantic not platonic but a secret third thing (so devoted the lines blur)

Touch-starved whumpees...

Timidly asking Caretaker to hold their hand.

Brushing their fingers along Caretaker's in hopes that they'll grab their hand.

Melting into Caretaker's touch with an audible sigh.

Crying as they're held for the first time in years.

Resisting affection even when they're desperate.

Alternatively, accepting affection from someone who hurts them because they're that desperate.

Holding on tighter when Caretaker goes to let them go.

Shying away from Caretaker's touch.

Finding excuses to be close to them.

Leaning into Whumper's hand, despite every part of them screaming to stop.

Caretakers of touch-starved Whumpees...

Running their fingers through Whumpee's hair.

Kissing their head whenever they can.

Letting Whumpee guide their hands wherever they want (head, back, shoulders, etc.)

Giving them cuddle sessions where their full attention is on them.

Cupping their face in their hands and stroking their cheek with their thumb.

Holding them close by the back of the head.

Dropping everything to hold them.

Running their thumb along their knuckles.

Massaging their favourite spot just to see them relax into their touch.

everyone is strange, and being passionate is attractive. don’t be afraid to be who you are and enjoy life the way you want to

I’m getting fed up with this whole “feminism as an identity” thing. Time for “feminism as an action.”

So instead of asking “can a feminist do x?” ask “is doing x a feminist action!”

Can a feminist take her husband’s last name? Mu. Null. Question un-valid, please un-ask question.

Is taking your husband’s last name a feminist action? No it isn’t. It doesn’t challenge the patriarchy in anyway, it is the status quo thing to do, it is what is expected of women, and it carries a lot of historical baggage about ownership and shit like that.

But that’s okay, your life choices don’t have to be 100% dictated by your politics unless you want them to. And it’s okay to really want to take his name while recognizing that you also want to do the feminist thing and keep your own, and it’s okay to feel conflicted and have a hard time making the choice. But no more of this enabling “as long as I made the choice myself it is a feminist choice” -bullshit. Own your choices, even the ones that aren’t informed by your feminist politics. You are still a human being and people do shit that contradicts their politics and even interests all the time. Just stop pretending that everything you do is feminist because you are a feminist, that’s not how it works.

Writing is not about 'telling an epic story' or 'making something that will outlive you'. Writing is about going "You know what would be fucking awesome?" and then committing word crimes