Paladin

Ragathas button eye is because something, most likely caused by her mother, happened to that eye in real life.

Pomni got attacked, violently, by someone or something she trusted.

Gangle getting hit by the truck wasn't a metaphor, it most likely actually happened.

Jax was made into a laughing stock, stripped of dignity, or more likely, actually stripped (he's 20 or so, it could have been hazing).

And Zooble was straight up drowning in her own self identity, although, that's probably not as bad as the other ones.

Between Pomni, Gangle, and Ragatha, it wouldn't be inherently off the table that the whole reason they're in the circus, via headset as we see in the ep8 beginning flashback with ragatha, is because they were hospitalized and were offered the VR as an "escape." Potentially Ragatha was surrounded by friends when it got put on, which is why she calls out for "you guys." Although, we don't really see how zooble or Jax might be ended up in a hospital, it's possible that the overwhelming emotions from body issues/social issues led both of them to some sort of extreme hospitalization.

Also, since Kinger is so shocked by Queenie being in the circus, potentially she was a hospital patient they test ran it on. After all Kinger did say Scratch had crazy ideas, so if he had left some way to tell them to keep using it on extreme hospitalization patients, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility. Although, Caine does say "copy their mind files" during his breakdown in his office, potentially meaning that there are still living breathing versions of them, out in the real world, stuck in a hospital, completely unaware a copied version of themselves is going through essentially digital purgatory.

Except for now.

When Natlans trailer dropped and I saw Kinich I immediately decided that this was going to be my boy and I was going to get him and his weapon on my team.

It's controlling if you're s/o *forces* you to share your location constantly.

They're not the same, one is a trait, the other is abusive. It's a matter of force and free will. You're best friends partner isn't being a controlling abusive partner just because they want them to be home before 10pm. You're best friends partner who picks them up when you're friend calls them and is done for the night isn't being abusive or controlling, it's called being there for ur partner.

I'm extremely goddamn possessive, but I don't let that control me till it's abusive. My bf can hangout with his friends, go out with em, whatever; I just want to know his schedule for em or if smth comes up during em.

Remember, the line between possessiveness and controlling a partner, is a matter of consent and a respect for boundaries on both sides. Them being "a little possessive" and digging through you're phone isn't okay. Them being "a little possessive" and blocking you're friends and deleting your social media isn't okay.

Not to personal at all, dw about it! I guess it's just something I realized, since all human's know what love is, whether it be to a pet or a favorite movie or the sunrise or to their parents. I just knew that I loved them, that I trusted them completely, and that they made me more happy than anyone else. I may have never gotten crushes myself, but Ik what they are. Media and Public School Gossip(TM) are v quick teachers, which is why I realized I didn't get em.

I pretty much define romantic attraction as the want to date/be romantically with someone else while not being in a romantic relationship with said person. Wanting to kiss em and date and other stuff before you're together.

I've seen aro defined as lack of attraction whenever I went digging through aspec stuff, but since most allos don't understand aspec stuff, there is a lot of them trying to define it as smth else even though theyve never experienced the complete lack of attraction.

This is wrong. It is wrong now, it was wrong then, and it will always b wrong.

Aros are defined as people without any romantic ATTRACTION. They can date, fall in love, or maybe they never will, and they find happiness in that.

Aces are defined as people without any sexual ATTRACTION. They can fuck, fuck around, make dirty jokes, or maybe they never have sex, or are uncomfortable with even the idea being brought up.

Ik this, because I'm aroace, and I'm in a poly relationship. I love my two partners, my boyfriend AND my girlfriend, but you wanna know what? I was never romantically or sexually attracted to them. I, oh so simply, just fell in love with them. I trust them completely, and I love them more than myself.

If I was not in love with them, I would not be in a relationship with them. It's as simple as that. I am not allo, I find no meaning in pretending to be attracted to someone. I've dated before, although it was more from societal pressures than any feelings, and that is why I'm so certain.

I never got a crush phase, never got the butterflies in my stomach or the fantasys about someone I was not close too.

Many aros/aces/aroaces will probably never want or find such relationships with a person. And that's okay, but it does not mean all are like that. People under the A-umbrella are 1000% valid, regardless of their wants/needs to have or not to have a relationship.