like sit down and GENUINELY consider why the idea of something cute and pink existing also equals woman and also equals hate and rage in ur brain

I don't think it helps that so many stories these days are marketed tropes forward as if they were fanfic when that really shouldn't be how original novels are written or marketed. They're a different genre. So it's either old formulaic problematic stuff or new stuff aping fanfic & missing the mark.

I had to find particular authors who focus more on creating likeable characters w/ chemistry & so tropes follow from story rather than are the start point. Also queer, neurodivergent, &/or BIPOC romance authors as they tend to step out of the norms. Went on a big Courtney Milan kick last year.

We are still amused by him protecting the ladies at one point by *punching them out of the way*

It's wild how there were actually Very Good Reasons for him to be so angry, tho.

There's also the fact that video game worlds, even & especially MMOs, tend to remain static for the shared leveling experience, even as Plot Marches On. Yes we've made peace with the Allied Societies (no longer Beast Tribes), but for those still leveling in ARR, gotta fight those Amalj'aa, Ixal, etc

Since time between the First & Source is still a tad wonky, & StB was a little longer than 1 yr to me, I have less time passing in the Source than in the First until they sync up better by the end of 5.3. Everything done in the 6.x Void arc further stabilizes the link & times.

This is a huge part of why so many people think we're in the middle of a widespread "anti-woke backlash": Small movements opposed to social progress are collected into trend stories by conservative media. Far larger movements that want more diversity are ignored or cast as threats.