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Thirteen years on this hellsite? God am I old.

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On this day 125 years ago the newsboys of New York City had a rally, a meeting for all of them to discuss what happened. Several important strike leaders spoke at this rally and I think its so important to remember and talk about what happened.

As a fan of the movie and musicals and who recently did several deep dives into the real dark and huge history. I still have so many un answered questions that I think could only be answered by the newsies. But even if we don’t have all the answers we still know what happened.

So for the sake of all the newsies not just the ones we know the names of like Kid Blink, Racetrack Higgins, Annie Kelly, David Simmons, Morris Cohen, and Henry Butler, but all of the newsies who were in the strike and remember this amazing piece of history.

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That fuckin smile at the end

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Happy 10 years in the ball pit

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tumblr users love reading. you literally stopped for this post just because it has words in it

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to be honest it would make me a lot more comfortable if you guys would show a little concern about trump running for president again. Do not inbox me and say you don’t like joe biden omg i already know. but can we show a little concern. about donald trump. being the republican candidate for president. for the third election in a row.

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LET’S GO!!!

The new chapter is out on mangasee!

https://mangasee123.com/read-online/The-Heroic-Legend-Of-Arslan-chapter-129.html

Wow, that was fast! I'm pleased nobody has to wait this month!

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The UK right now:

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Hmmmm. But we will know how this plays out, right?

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Bit telling that for years and years evangelical religious extremists have been allowed on university campuses with their bullhorns and horrific imagery where they harass students into physical altercations and when students complain to the university’s administration they just shrug their shoulders citing freedom of speech but when those same tuition-paying students start protesting against war and genocide they call SWAT

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Thank you for your kind words! Yes, I love that neither ascends by blood right — their ascent by heroism rather than succession is what makes them both hero kings. Not that Kaykhusraw’s blood means nothing, as Hilmes could still draw Rukhnabad… maybe that will come up in the final battle once more?

Arslan does indeed possess the qualities of these two great historic kings. Tanaka adding a rumor that Arslan must be related to a different king is quite good world-building, in my opinion. Pars values dynasties; it makes sense the people would try to associate Arslan with another king to give him more credence, even if doing so grates against the new order Arslan tried to create.

Your comment about this story being the “actual events” of a new legend has a fantastic implication: that like Arslan, Kaykhusraw had his own team of talented misfits. (Narsus would 100% think to build a small army of stout youths by saving one from each fatally destined pair and mixing the other’s brain with that of a ram!)

Hilmes really is the inverse — thank you for flagging that great analysis of yours! That inversion makes the forthcoming final battle between Hilmes and Arslan even more poignant and powerful. But I still hope Hilmes gets an ending closer to the one he had in the novels.

Arslan Senki 127

This chapter opens with the titular Legend of the Snake King. I was struck by the many parallels between Arslan and Kaykhusraw illuminated by this tale:

Kaykhusraw’s mission is to overturn Zahhak, an evil that terrorizes his people; Arslan’s mission is to dismantle slavery, an evil that terrorizes his people. They both move toward their goal with small numbers of supporters.

Kaykhusraw first allies himself with Zahhak’s cook — like Arslan, he sees the value of individuals outside of the nobility and military.

Early in his mission, Kaykhusraw faces the reality that he cannot save everyone and settles for saving one person from every pair to be slaughtered for Shoulder Snakes™️. Arslan routinely balks at “settling,” and with the assistance of his allies can generally — but not always — avoid it.

Kaykhusraw’s small army is comprised of 365 “stout youth” who were saved by his partnership with the cook. Arslan quite similarly collects allies by offering grace and mercy.

These points emphasize the most important parallel: Kaykhusraw was the “Hero King” who gained his throne by overturning an unfair and oppressive power — not through the usual succession. Arslan is on the path to do the same. Despite not sharing blood with Kaykhusraw, his mission makes him the true successor to the Hero King.

Alfarid was great in this chapter. I absolutely love who she’s become in Arakawa’s hands. Giggly and love struck? Yes. A skilled leader and warrior who prioritizes practical, immediate needs? Also yes. We see that after Zahhak’s retreat in 127 part 2:

The Zot clan have enormous respect for all dead, not just their own — remember that they will not rob the bodies of the dead, nor the sick and dying. To leave a comrade unburied weighs heavily on them all but imagine how difficult it is for the leader of the Zot to leave members of her clan, her family, unburied and without their final rites.

In many ways, this call is one only Alfarid has the authority to make, and she does so in a frank (but not disrespectful) way. As Arslan has grown in his skills and confidence, his need for advice has diminished. We’ve seen Narsus refuse to make recommendations, leaving the choice to Arslan. Alfarid is effectively Shāh of the Zot, a clan that does not recognize Parsian authority. In this moment she speaks to Arslan as his equal, and thus gives the group the time they need to create as much distance as possible between them and their slithery opponent with regenerative powers and acidic blood.

Alfarid also gives Etoile a fresh horse from one of the fallen Zot members. It’s another sign of Alfarid’s authority and also a lovely indicator that Alfarid sees her as a core part of the group.

They all survived this time… I wonder what the outcome of the final battle against Zahhak will be.

In the novels, the final battle against Zahhak takes place after Arslan’s ascension to the throne. I’ve wondered how Arakawa planned to either condense the time between these events or unify them (and I leaned towards unification, because it’s way more dramatic). The Shoulder Snakes™️ slithering towards Ecbatana with Kaykhusraw’s disintegrating body between them hints at one option — and it involves a new host.

I think Hilmes is about to find out how Zahhak’s devotees plan to put him on the throne.

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Tumblr already has a personalization algorithm it's called my beloved mutuals who have great taste and only wish to psychologically damage me sometimes

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NO OTHER PLANET IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM GETS TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSES!! THE SIZE AND DISTANCE OF OUR MOON FROM EARTH AND THE SUN MAKE THE PERFECT CIRCUMSTANCES TO GET TOTALITY!!! THE EARTH AND MOON ARE SOOOO COOL AND OF COURSE OUR SUN!! I LOVE LIVING ON EARTH I LOVE YOU EARTH I LOVE YOUUUUU MOON I LOVE YOU SUN

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