#[ it's a journey and he's still learning ]

[gurggggleburgle]

As a former horse girl I love the Binghorses drawn by @meltedmush because every weird and cryptid suggestion and art of them just existing makes me stop and go: no wait horses will just do that. Horses are so weird. Horse behavior is so much

Horses will just stare at you through a window and if they're smart they can figure out certain doors. There is a specific kind of surreal of watching a horse walk into your house that is both very cute and cursed. SQQ could totally wake up to a Binghorse having broken into his house and staring at him

Horses also are weird and poorly designed biologically so if they sit for too long they can actually crush their organs and won't be able to stand up again. So I can see SQQ fretting over a bingfoal and asking if they're okay. Also they don't have the ability to sense being full. It is completely possible for a horse to eat too much and die. So again fretting mother hen SQQ planning special Binghorse diet only for Binghorse to come back and drop a dead bird in front of him.

It is completely plausible that SQQ can look up one day and see a binghorse sitting in a tree. Both cows and horses will climb trees. Goats too. I don't know why. They just will. The horse loose in a hospital bit is funny because horses on their own will just do that. They do just end up in places. It feels absurd but it's true. Getting jumped scared by a Binghorse totally believable.

Imagine that SQQ sees a Binghorse with a broken leg! The death knell of any normal horse. He can frett over those beautiful terribly designed legs as Binghorse is kept suspended in a swing thing.

And then the moment you combine omnivore snatch hunter it gets even funnier because I'm certain a real horse would if it could. The fact that people are in any way convinced horses are just cute and sweet and not weird terrifying little horrors of biology will never not be funny.

[epickiya722]

I know what these last few chapters have taught me about BNHA...

Blocking people is useful! 😐

[bonefall]

I have a really bad feeling that Moonpaw is the kid of Night and Sun. There are no pregnant she cats rn and the name would align the sky theme of their names. Not to mention the ENTIRE CHAPTER where Sun and Night just talked about having babies before Breezey-P told them to cut it out.

I don't really enjoy NightSun, but it's not something that I hate either. So I wouldn't mind if they had kits at some point. I'd prefer they didn't since Nightheart is so young and the Clan is SO bloated, but... meh.

Plus, Sun and Night having a kid named Moon is, admittedly, super cute lmao. I will be charitable if an idea makes me smile.

What would bug me more is that we're stuck in ThunderClan again. I'm so very tired of being forced to split the POV between the plot and ThunderClan's Contractually Obligated Screentime.

I know we already got our lucky break with an all female POV cast (so it seems) but MAYBE we can double up with our first arc without a ThunderClan perspective too.

[yo-yo-yoshiko]

With me, Blazar!! 🤝

[jonsnowunemploymentera]

As far as character progression goes, I'd argue that the most important aspect of the RLJ reveal isn't just Jon learning that he isn't Ned's son. The most important part is him learning that he isn't Ned Stark's bastard son. He's spent all his life chasing after Ned's shadow, trying to prove to himself and to the world that he is worthy of being Ned Stark's son, "let them say that Eddard Stark had fathered four sons not three", “he was not a Stark but he could die like one” and all that. He's internalized the shame of being the one stain on honorable Ned Starks' reputation

“But it’s a lie,” Jon insisted. How could they think his father was a traitor, had they all gone mad? Lord Eddard Stark would never dishonor himself … would he? He fathered a bastard, a small voice whispered inside him. Where was the honor in that? And your mother, what of her? He will not even speak her name.

So it's important for him to finally stop chasing after that elusive shadow. It's important for him to understand that Ned's dishonor was a deliberate choice that he made by himself, and it's thus no fault of his own. Once Jon internalizes that, then he can finally move on and ask himself, who am I? What do I want for myself? What can I be in this world, just as I am? So far, he's been unable to do that successfully because he still has an incomplete (and false) understanding of who he is.

[dickheadcanons]

the secret key to writing in character dick grayson is that dick does not get enjoyment out of relaxing or doing fun things. its a hard mindset to understand because it's the opposite of what you or i as fandom people experience, but Dick is never shown to do things for fun. if he's watching a movie or playing a game, it's almost always to spend time with other people, not because that's his impulse (and lowkey he sometimes ruins it for other people by never being able to turn off his brain)

now, this is not to say that he's unhappy, or that he doesn't experience happiness in his day to day. but he doesnt get that from the things that we, as comic book readers and fanfiction writers, get enjoyment from.

Dick is the definition of a workaholic. His only enjoyment comes from a job well done, helping people, and sometimes adrenaline (as his only real canon hobby is...skydiving)

Further reading: Flash Plus Nightwing (1997) (hating on the Hardy Boys)

Nightwing (2016) #43 (being unable to take a night off)

Nightwing (1996) #140 (skydiving)

The Titans (1999) #3 (being a terrible film watcher)

[muninnhuginn]

genuinely enamoured by how ugly shima's emotions are as they bubble to the surface.

he's doing better, right? he's taking his fate into his own hands, working hard at his acting after years of shunning it, so surely he should get something back from the world for this? but, well, sometimes it doesn't work out like that. sometimes it's not about him, for better or for worse. he's oscillating between feeling worthless and feeling entitled on a dime.

and that's starting to leak out in ways he's never let it before, risking hurting other people. it's going to be rough, sure, he *will* hurt others, but this is still a necessary part of his journey. he'll be able to get back up *because* he's fallen down

[ducktracy]

"posting this because i NEEEEEED this on my blog" is probably going to be the caption for 95% of the Shin-chan stuff i post BUT IT IS NO LESS TRUE BECAUSE OF IT. Masaaki Yuasa is quickly becoming one of my favorite animators and i want to have easy access to ogle at his work at any time. and i hope for you to do the same! so here's his animation for Ending 3 of the show from 1993

[the-monkey-ruler]

How many forms of the 72 changes could cultivated animals/yaoguai handle? You said that the heavenly soldiers could only handle a limited number.

I don't think I said that they "could only handle" like it's not a requirement.

It's more like an observation. And this is my PERSONAL take based on these observations

Overpowered (Wukong and Erlang) - 72 transformations

Powerful (Highest rank soldiers/runaway heaven yaogaui)- 36 transformations

Strong (Most celestial solider/Demon Kings) - 18 transformations

Impressive (training immortals/stronger earth yaoguai) - 1 to 2 spells

Common (most yaoguai) - humanoid body

Weak (cultivating yaoguai) - cannot speak

We see that Wukong having 72 transformations is considered unusual. On the level of like a once-in-an-immortal-lifetime kind of genius that happens once in a million years. The only other person we see with this same power is Erlang Shen who is considered the best fighter in all of heaven and the only man that can go toe-to-toe with Wukong. I cannot stress enough how powerful Wukong is as a demon and how he being able to single-handling take on all of heaven is something very unusual and a massive threat within himself.

So from that we can easily assume since only the two most powerful characters in the novel have the 72 transformations have this kind of power that this is not common and that other demons shouldn't not be able to have it. Personally I think that no one else but Wukong and Erlang have this level or even come close.

Then we see what is the next level with is the 36 transformations. This is what we see that Zhu Bajie has. Bajie who was the Canopy Marshall of the Reeds, who was in charge of 80,000 men alone and only answered to the Jade Emporer himself because he was so highly ranked. From this observation, we can assume that Marshalls or other extremely high-positioned celestial soldiers have the 36 transformations. Pretty much every powerful celestial that isn't Erlang Shen himself.

I would argue that only MAYBE some Demon King could have 36 transformations, but this is highly unlikely as most yaoguai cultivate through eating humans and not through proper training under a teacher. There could be leeway that perhaps heaven-runaway animals that claim to have cultivated through heaven-means could have this power. This makes it so that maybe 5 Demon Kings out of the nearly 30 could have this level of transformation, and especially the ones that have said they cultivated because they gained knowledge in heaven, not just ran away. I would say this is like Yellow Wind Demon, Yellow Robe Demon, Golden and Silver Horned Kings, Scorpion Demon, and Bull Demon King.

And last is the 18 transformations. This is what we see what Sha Wujing has and he was a Curtain-Lifting General, which is a slightly higher position but we can assume to be closer to the common celestial solider power-wise. This is what I believe that most celestial soldiers have been able to master and is the standard. And what I think that most Demon Kings are able to master as well. I would find it impressive if Demon King could gain a human form, let alone master other spells. I would say this is like Black Wind King, White Bone Demon, Singled Horned Rhino King, Nine-Headed Insect, Jupiter's Rival, Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord, and White Deer Spirit.

We see only higher rank demons like Generals able to perform maybe one or two transformations and that was to escape combat. Only Demon King seem to have one to more than one spells. Or we see that some demons are able to master serval spells I would but they are not powerful as Wukong is easily able to overpower them. I say these impressive demons are like Tiger Vangarud, Tiger Immortal, Elk Immortal, Antelope Immortal, all Eight Tree Spirits, all Seven Spider sisters, and Iron-Backed Grey Wolf.

As for normal everyday yaogaui that have cultivated on their own I would say that they are not capable of transformation spells at all. Most demons we see on this journey are underlings and we see none (that I remember) perform any spells. Just that they are able to cultivate by eating humans to understand language and gain a humanoid body takes all their accumulated power, and they are under a teacher to learn more, they are following a demon king to serve. We see this like Sly Devil, Wily Worm, Hill-Pawing Tiger, Sea-Lolling Draong, Going and Coming, and Springe Grace.

And demons that are still cultivating and cannot speak like the Python Demon.

[chiropteracupola]

our dan :)

[thinkin about turning these into a shirt or perhaps a sticker]

[science-lings]

You all know how I like to make botw Link a nerd when it comes to potions and botany but I have now decided that it would also be neat if he was also more interested in mechanics and physics than he seems, like even before the calamity. 

I mean, just imagine, this kid who since the age of four has been naturally great at fighting, the latest in a long line of royal knights, his path only being reinforced when he’s discovered to be the reincarnation of the hero, his duty to the crown being reinforced in his head for years and years, and maybe at first he thinks that he and Zelda would get along due to their similar interests. But she immediately hates him for the sword on his back. 

So every time he escorts her to the royal tech lab, he desperately wants to participate and tinker but he’s just a guard, and all he can do is listen. He loves it when she rambles about what she’s doing and he finds it all fascinating but it’s also been fused to his being that he’s just a soldier meant to gladly die for her and his thoughts don’t really matter. 

Then, when he comes back from the dead, in a room full of mysterious ancient tech, the first thing he’s given is the sheikah slate. And the whole theme of the game is curiosity and discovery and exploration and why should that be limited to just the world? He should be so excited to get the runes and learn how to use them and be baffled by how they defy the laws of physics. He takes pictures and figures out puzzles and has a blast working through problems with the tools he’s given. (also the implied building mechanic in totk... you cannot tell me that he’s not super hyped about making his own car) 

He would think that the champions dlc would be totally worth it when he’s given the master cycle zero, he even gives it the new name of Vah Epona. He powers it with his near infinite supply of apples as if it were a living horse and balances zooming around with teleporting to shrines because that’s just as exciting. 

But in the end he’s still supposed to be the hero, so he can’t stay to talk about tech with Robbie and Purah, he’s happy with waiting for those lectures until Zelda is freed, he has a feeling she’d be interested in it too. 

[pompomqt]

Journey to the West Chapter 31

Man Pigsy just makes a habit of instigating stuff doesn't he? At least this time he's using that ability for good.

Anyways in this chapter of Journey to the West with @journeythroughjourneytothewest we get to see Sun Wukong back in action, and he's got a bone to pick. So let's get into it shall we?

So Pigsy gets dragged back to Monkey, who demands to know why he was insulting him earlier. Pigsy tries to deny it of course, but Monkey reminds him that he has super hearing. When Monkey threatens to beat him however, Pigsy finally confesses but asks to be spared for Tripitaka's sake. Which- was a bad move considering he and Monkey still aren't on speaking terms. When that doesn't work, he instead brings up Guanyin- which does actually work.

Monkey decides to get to the point and asks Pigsy what Tripitaka has gotten himself into this time. Pigsy once again tries to deny any trouble and insist that Tripitaka really just missed him- but caves when Monkey threatens to beat him again. So Pigsy gives Monkey a rundown on all the events that happened since Monkey left them. Afterwards Monkey asks why they didn't use his name to protect Tripitaka like he told them to. At this Pigsy gets an idea to push Monkey into action. He says that they did use Sun Wukong's name, but that the demon just scoffed and said that if this so called 'Sun Wukong' show's up, he'll skin him alive and boil him!

Monkey is never one to let people doubting his badassery slide so he is all geared up now to fight this Yellow Robe Demon. Oh and rescue Tripitaka while he's at it to he guesses. His little monkey's aren't so happy to see him go however, and ask him to stay with them instead. Wukong however tells them that Tripitaka just granted him a little vacation to see them all, but he has to go back now and finish his mission. Once that's done though, he'll come back home to them.

With that Pigsy and Monkey take their leave. On the way however Monkey takes a quick dip in the ocean to clean himself up a bit before he see's Tripitaka again. My guess is he wants to make a good impression so that he really will be invited back into the pilgrimage. Anyways after Monkey has his bath the two continue on their way to the demon's lair.

For the first order of business, Monkey kidnaps the two demon's kids, which of course causes all the minion demon's to report the kidnapping to the princess. So the princess runs out to stop Monkey from dashing her kids on the rocks below, demanding to know what he thinks she's doing. She warns him that her husband is rather frightening. Monkey introduces himself and offers a trade- he'll give the boys back in exchange for Sandy.

So the princess goes inside to untie Sandy, which she wanted to do anyways and was just trying to think of an excuse. She tells him that his older brother Sun Wukong is here for him, which absolutely delights Sandy. So the three disciples have a touching reunion and Wukong starts up phase two of his plan. So Sun Wukong immediately rescinds on his deal with the princess by telling Sandy and Pigsy to take the two boys to the kingdom and drop them at the palace. And when anybody asks who kids those were, tell them that they are the Yellow Robe Demon's kids, that way they can lure the Demon back here to fight Wukong instead of fighting in the kingdom and causing a bunch of collateral damage. Pigsy isn't to hype about this plan, since the demon will most likely come after Pigsy and Sandy for killing the boys while Monkey get's off scott free, but Monkey tells them not to worry about that and just lure the demon here.

So Sandy and Pigsy take off with the hostages in tow while Monkey has a little chat with the princess, who super isn't happy with him for refusing to hold up his end of the deal. Monkey however just calls her an filial daughter for being kidnapped by a demon and makes her cry. Yeesh. After that though he assures her that he will take care of her demon husband so she can return to her parents and ushers her off somewhere so he can disguise himself as her and take her place.

So while Wukong is busy cosplaying as the princess Sandy and Pigsy meanwhile have arrived at the kingdom and have killed the two boys by hurling them out of the sky and yelling that they are the Yellow Demon's children just as Monkey instructed. The Demon meanwhile is way to hungover to want to deal with this right now, and decides to head home to see if those really were his kids or if Pigsy is just trying to trick him or something.

The Palace meanwhile has been clued in on the fact that this guy is indeed a demon, due to all those serving girls that he didn't get around to killing and eating earlier who escaped and told them all about it. They can't really do anything about it however, so instead the king just has more guards assigned to Tiger Tripitaka because I guess knowing that other guy is a demon doesn't mean Tripitaka is in the clear yet.

Meanwhile the demon arrives back at his cave and theater kid Sun Wukong starts putting on the show of a lifetime and starts up the waterworks, crying for his poor kidnapped children. When the demon asks his 'wife' why she's crying, Wukong tearfully explains how Pigsy came by freed Sandy and kidnapped her children, and now she doesn't even know if they are still alive. The Demon of course angrily exclaims that his son's have been killed and he vows vengeance- after he takes care of his poor distraught wife of course.

Luckily the Demon has just the thing to fix his wife's heartache, he takes out his treasure, an internal elixir, and explains that all she needs to do is rub it on the spot that hurts and the pain will go away. He warns her however not to fillip her thumb onto the treasure for if she does it will reveal her true form. So Monkey of course proceeds to rub the treasure on a random spot before filliping his thumb and then swallowing the thing whole.

When the demon tries to punch him in retribution, Sun Wukong blocks the blow and reverts to his true from. The Demon of course has no idea who he is, so Sun Wukong explains that he is the eldest disciple of the Tang Monk. The Demon however doesn't believe him because when he caught Tripitaka earlier, he only had the two disciples, if he really is a disciple then why wasn't he with them earlier? So Sun Wukong explains that his habit of slaying monsters offended the monk, so he was dismissed. When the Demon asks why he's here if he was banished by his master, Wukong says 'Once a teacher always a father' and 'between father and son, there's no overnight enmity' so of course he came to save Tripitaka when he needed help.

All that aside however, Sun Wukong has a bone to pick with him, how dare he abuse him behind his back? The Demon of course has no idea what he's talking about, and points out that Pigsy is a lying liar who lies. However it's to late for that anyways, since Sun Wukong has already made the decision to kick his ass. The Demon however isn't to worried, after all he has an army. Sun Wukong also isn't worried because he's never been one to be intimidated by the other side having superior numbers.

And so the fight begins with the Demon rousing his army, only for Sun Wukong to respond by changing into his three headed war form and absolutely demolishing the army, until only the big boss demon is left. So the two of them fight for a while before Sun Wukong uses a bit of trickery in order to whack the demon on the head. However the second he does, the demon vanishes. So Monkey scans all for directions, only to not see him anywhere, so he concludes that the demon must be a heavenly spirit. So Wukong immediately breaks into heaven in order to take a role call and see who's been missing.

Turns out that the Wood Wolf Star, has been missing for thirteen days in heaven, which translates to thirteen earth years. So the Jade Emperor has the Wolf Star's colleagues call him back to heaven. When he arrives he is greeted by Wukong who would very much like to hit him, but is being stopped by the Wolf Star's friends. However while he's not in danger from the Great Sage for the moment, he still has to face the Jade Emperor for what he's done.

So the Wolf Star explains his story, that the princess he kidnapped is also a heavenly spirit, a jade girl in charge of incense. The two wanted to elope, but such a thing couldn't happen in heaven. So the girl went down first, and then he followed afterwards and took over a mountain and kidnapped her so they could be married. And wow, that is one strange relationship... but whatever works for them I guess? I still think there had to be a better way to handle all that but oh well. And the Jade Emperor agrees with me because he has the Wolf Star demoted to be an assistant for Laozi, with the chance to be restored to his rank if he did a good job, and punished further if he didn't.

Monkey is satisfied with this outcome and takes his leave with a single bow, which most gods find rude, but for the Jade Emperor, any day where Sun Wukong leaves heaven in peace, is a good day. So Monkey returns to the Princess and gives her a rundown of the situation, just as Pigsy and Sandy also show up ready to help Monkey fend off the demon army. Monkey informs them that, that's taken care of, so the three of them then proceed to fast travel with the princess all the way to the kingdom. Pity they can't ever do that with Tripitaka.

So they perform a trade with the king, they give him back the princess and explain the story to him, and he brings out Tripitaka who is still trapped in the illusion of a tiger. Monkey of course takes this opportunity to mock Tripitaka for his fearsome appearance when he is such a good monk, and asks why Pigsy doesn't save him since he's the favorite disciple and all. Eventually though he get's around to freeing Tripitaka by asking for some water to spit on him in order to break the spell.

Surprisingly Tripitaka is actually thrilled to see Wukong again, even more so when Sandy explains the whole situation to him. So Wukong is welcomed back into the group with open arms and the pilgrimage is united once again and ready to continue on their journey to the west.

Current Sun Wukong Stats: Names/Titles: Monkey, The Stone Monkey, The Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wukong (Monkey awakened to the void), Bimawen (Banhorseplague), The Great Sage Equal To Heaven and Pilgrim Sun. Immortality: 5 + 94,000 years. Weapon: The Compliant Golden Hooped Rod Abilities: 72 Transformations, Cloud-Somersault, Ability to transform his individual hairs, super strength, Ability to Summon Wind, Water restriction charm, and the ability to change into a huge war form, ability to duplicate his staff, ability to immobilize others, the ability to put others to sleep, and the Fiery eyes and Diamond Pupils, intimidating horses, churning large bodies of water, sleeplessness, seizing the wind, enhanced smell, discerning good and evil within a thousand miles, Spirit Summoning, lock picking, object transformation and distance reduction. Demon Kill Count: 5+ Unknown Number of Minions Human Kill Count: 1006 God's Defeated: 20 + Unknown number Defeats: 3 Crime List: Robbery, Murder, Mass Murder, Arson, Theft, Coercion, Threatening a Government Official, Resisting Arrest, Assault, Forgery, Employee Theft, False Imprisonment, Impersonating a Government Official, Treason, attempted murder, failure to control or report a dangerous fire, desecrating a corpse, breaking and entering, trespassing, violating Tree Law and looting corpses. Cry Count: 4 + 1 fake cry Mountains Trapped Under: 1

Current Tang Sanzang stats: Names/Titles: River Float, Xuanzang, Tang Sanzang, Tripitaka Abilities: Curing Blindness, making branches point a certain direction (allegedly), reciting sutras, pretty privilege, memorization and Heart Sutra. Cry Count: 16 Tight Fillet Spell Uses: 27 Paralyzed by fear: 5 Bandit Problems: 2 Kidnapped by demons: 3 Falling Off Horses: 6

Current Bai Long Ma Stats: Names/Titles: Bai Long Ma (White Dragon Horse), Prince of the Western Ocean, and third prince jade dragon of the dragon king Aorun Abilities: Transforming into a human, a water snake, and a horse, eating a horse in one bite, flight, Magic of Water Restriction, Singing, and Sword Dancing. Cry Count: 1 Crime List: Arson, and Grave Disobedience. Contributions to the plot: 2

Current Zhu Wuneng Stats: Names/Titles: The Marshal of the Heavenly Reeds, Zhu Wuneng (Pig who is aware of ability), Zhu Ganglie, Pigsy, Idiot and Eight Rules. Weapon: Rake Abilities: 36 Transformations, parting water, fighting underwater, cloud soaring and size enhancement Demon Kill Count/Kill steals: 1 Human Kill Count: 1 Failed Flirtation/romances Attempts: 3 Cry Count: 1 Crime List: Sexual Harassment, Murder, Kidnapping and arson.

Current Sha Wujing Stats: Names/Titles: The Curtain-Raising General, Sha Wujing (Sand Aware of Purity), Sandy and Sha Monk Weapon: Monster Taming Staff Abilities: Fighting underwater and Cloud soaring. Kidnapped by Demons: 1 Human Kill Count: 1 Crime List: Breaking a Crystal Cup, murder, and desecration of a human corpse.

[hadesknockedupintheunderworld]

What if I was insane again about the first thing Alpha Grim Sonic hearing when Nine creates him is his purpose—that he is Nine's friend?

Friendship as a concept in Prime is handled interestingly among its main characters. As Sonic (who thinks he knows a lot about friendship) comes to deepen his understanding of what it means to have a home/be home, I think it's safe to say his definition of friendship develops along with it. Compare this to Nine, who's learned everything he knows about "friendship" and personal relationships in general through his relationship with Sonic (at least, after his childhood of bullying).

So of course I think about Nine, who never wants to be hurt again, yet can no longer bear feeling alone (not after feeling that sense of companionship and belonging with someone else), which results in him creating a warped version of friendship for himself (one where he is surrounded by people, but people who only do whatever he wants, who have no opinions and thoughts of their own, who can't backstab him). And so I think about Alpha Grim Sonic, who is the very first robot Nine creates under this idea of frienship and companionship.

Nine is his master, and Alpha Grim Sonic is his protector, his bodyguard, his weapon

But he's also his friend.

Alpha Grim Sonic doesn’t talk back (can't even if he wanted to), but his purpose has always been clear to him: be Nine's friend. That's what he was created to be.

So I imagine Alpha Grim Sonic performing his purpose to the T at first under Nine's framework. He's Nine's friend, so he does whatever Nine commands, he never talks back or challenges authority, he protects Nine at all cost. And then, perhaps unbeknownst to Nine, he begins to shift ever so gradually. Sure, he's never insubordinate, he never offers up opinions, he still can't speak, but the lines of devotion begin to blur.

Is it in his code? Is out of a real sense of feeling?

Alpha Grim Sonic does not understand friendship, no matter whether it believes it does or not. But it's ironic to me if, despite being created under Nine's warped idea of it, the robot slowly grows their own soul, witnesses other displays of frienship and care, and drifts outside the bounds of that idea (a carefully crafted painting begins to leak out of its frame, expanding the masterpiece). They protect Nine, they do only what he commands, and yet they hate to see Nine in pain, they wish to bring Nine comfort (and so it feels good to him when Nine commands him to do such things that might bring his master comfort).

Does this make any sense? To believe that friendship means to hold one person on a pedestal, to protect them, to only listen to them, to never talk back, to never have opinions, and yet, despite believing what your creator tells you of friendship with them (your very purpose in this existence), to slowly fall further into those feelings that true care and love for another person brings, to wish to comfort someone the way one might describe a true friend would, despite not realizing any of this.

[stormyoceans]

Sell Last Twilight to me GO!

MOMENT OF PANIC AS THE PRESSURE GETS TO ME AND I FORGET EVERY SINGLE WORD I’VE EVER KNOWN IN ANY LANGUAGE SO I HOPE YOU CAN FORGIVE ME IF I STEAL SEA’S AND P’AOF’S ONES

the thing is.. i could honestly spend hours screaming about this show as i try to convince the world to give it a chance, but i do think all of my yelling can be more effectively summed up by what sea and p’aof said here. this is gonna be a story about two characters, one with disability and one with a criminal record, who, albeit in different ways, can’t see a future for themselves because our society tells them that there is no place for them in it, but by meeting each other they’re gonna come together to find a new appreciation for life and build a home in this world. so whatever people may think of the director or the actors involved in this project, i really wish everyone will be able to look past that and appreciate this show for what it is, which is ultimately a story about hope, and i think we all need some of that, especially right now

[jonsnowunemploymentera]

“Dead. He’s dead.”

“No.” The eunuch’s voice seemed deeper. “He is here. Aegon has been shaped for rule since before he could walk. He has been trained in arms, as befits a knight to be, but that was not the end of his education. He reads and writes, he speaks several tongues, he has studied history and law and poetry. A septa has instructed him in the mysteries of the Faith since he was old enough to understand them. He has lived with fisherfolk, worked with his hands, swum in rivers and mended nets and learned to wash his own clothes at need. He can fish and cook and bind up a wound, he knows what it is like to be hungry, to be hunted, to be afraid. Tommen has been taught that kingship is his right. Aegon knows that kingship is his duty, that a king must put his people first, and live and rule for them.”

(ADWD Epilogue)

Varys’ words to Kevan Lannister about Prince Aegon are so interesting because of the overarching insinuation that the boy has had a slew of advisors and teachers who have carefully and extensively prepared him for the task of ruling. His listed examples to that point are rather peculiar, however: a knight to train him in arms, a septa to train him in the faith, and various tutors to train him in history and languages.

Now there’s nothing inherently wrong about Aegon’s educators but one has to ask, what do these people even know about actual ruling? What have they seen about the nature of ruling and the nitty gritty of it? What experience do they have? And if they themselves don’t really know what it means to rule, what does that say of their young prince’s education?

It’s an important question to ask when we consider Aegon’s narrative foil: Jon Snow. Jon does not have the expectation of ruling. In fact, as a bastard, he knows that he can never ever get a lordship let alone a crown/throne. Yet Jon has, unlike Aegon, a crew of experienced tutors who have shown him the nitty gritty of ruling. Every single one of his on-page mentors is either a ruler or a leader of men; in addition to the other tutors he had growing up.

So I wanted to take a look at Jon’s mentors and the positions they have held to contrast their experience (and thus the validity of the lessons that they give Jon) as opposed to the lack of experience in Aegon’s crew.

Ned Stark - Jon’s first and (arguably) most impactful mentor. While teaching Jon important lessons about rulership, he was serving as the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North; thus making him one of the most powerful men in the entire realm. He then went on to serve as Hand of the King - the most powerful official save for the king. The irony is that Ned didn’t teach Jon as a successor. Robb was the one meant to succeed him. Yet Jon absorbed his lessons all the same.

Benjen Stark - we don’t actually see much on-page mentorship from Benjen, yet he still is one of Jon’s many father figures in the series. He is a a man of the Night’s Watch so he is sworn to hold no lands or titles. Yet as First Ranger, he is undoubtedly one for he highest ranking officials in the Watch and potentially a skilled warrior. He takes on the role of the knight or leader of men among Jon’s teachers.

Tyrion Lannister - despite being an ‘outsider’, Tyrion comes to hold considerable power. He is an exceedingly learned and intelligent man and managed to impart important life lessons during his short time with Jon. He rises to become Hand of the King and later Master of Coin. Though he doesn’t actively teach Jon how to rule, he’s still an important part of Jon’s character development.

Maester Aemon - one of the anomalies in this list. Yet his impact on Jon’s life cannot be understated. He is a teacher to Jon; we have various references to Jon going to Aemon for advice on how to lead. Aemon also gives Jon advice meant for kings: “kill the boy and let the man be born”. What makes Aemon an interesting addition is that he is a would-be king. And an interesting contrast between Jon and Aegon is that both parallel Aegon V; Jon more organically, Aegon rather artificially. If we remember, Aegon V was a hidden prince who ultimately became king. This is the very same trope that Jon and Prince Aegon are following. And it’s interesting that Aemon, Aegon V’s brother, gives advice on governance to Jon; the same advice given to the unlikely king. So it’s Jon who is carrying the torch of kingship from Aegon V, not Young Griff.

Jeor Mormont - one of the most direct mentors in Jon’s arc. Not only is he a surrogate father to Jon, he does what Ned never did: he directly grooms Jon to be his heir. Jon gets to watch Jeor actually govern the NW as his steward but it’s interesting that he shadows the LC through servitude. Though Jon is intended to succeed the Old Bear, he has to humble himself; he has to follow before he can lead. It’s a contrast to Aegon who would hold power over most (if not all) of his tutors.

Donal Noye - the other anomaly save for Maester Aemon. He is a humble Blacksmith. Yet he has been in the service of kings (having served the Baratheon boys who would all end up as kings). He plays an important role in bringing Jon’s ego back to earth and helping him sympathize with those less fortunate than himself. Despite his humble origins, he does briefly take command of the Wall during Mance Rayder’s attack and then transfers that command to Jon, purely because he believed in Jon’s ability to lead (and he was right).

Qhorin Halfhand - another who takes on the role of a skilled master at arms for Jon. He is an undoubtably powerful warrior. But he is also a leader of men. He teaches Jon important lessons on leadership during their time together beyond the Wall - e.g., to lead your men you must first know them. And in true ‘fridged mentor’ fashion, Qhorin dies so the young prince can take over and grow as a leader.

Mance Rayder - the King Beyond the Wall and one of the most important leaders in the books despite spending all his time in the North. Mance’s role as a mentor for Jon is doubly important given that he also takes on the role as a Rhaegar proxy. Despite Jon coming to him as an (undercover) enemy, he’s still able to impart powerful lessons on how to command an army and wrangle support from different factions of men. Jon learns a lot about diplomacy from observing and being under the KBTW. Mance is a skilled warrior, commander, and politician. A charismatic and gifted man - the picture perfect king for Jon to emulate.

Tormund Giantsbane - a leader of the freefolk who rises to become an unlikely ally for Jon. A skilled warrior and proven leader (we know that he took charge of a couple of thousand of freefolk), Tormund becomes important when there’s a transfer of power from Mance to Jon as leader of the freefolk.

Stannis Baratheon - by law, he is the rightful king of the seven kingdoms. According to prophecy, as Melisandre says, he is the promised messiah. Despite a less than ideal personality, he’s still an important part of Jon’s political arc in ADWD. Arguably a man of immense administrative potential, Stannis is also one of the most successful military commanders in the series; which is great for Jon since he also learned from Ned, who ran an undefeated streak as a battle commander.

The total count now comes to: two kings, two Hands of the King, a ruling lord, three warriors, one wise maester (who has counseled a king), and one commander. That quite a resume for Jon. All these men have some experience leading men and commanding armies, however big or small. So Jon’s preparation has been quite thorough.

What a stark contrast between the two boys, then. Varys’ words give us a roadmap of a “perfect ruler” (or as perfect as one can be) yet when we actually take the time to examine what we see in the text, Aegon is not at all suited for that role - Jon is. In fact, not a single character in ASOIAF has had the intensive preparation to rule that Jon has.

It’s beautiful irony. The prince, the one promised to rule, is actually quote underprepared for the task of it. Meanwhile the bastard, who is at best promised a life of servitude, is the one with the most preparation (and experience) for rulership. It’s the way Aegon, as a narrative foil to Jon, acts as one who validates Jon’s journey. There are certain things needed of a ruler. Jon has them, Aegon doesn’t.

Winds isn’t out yet so we don’t yet know for certain where these two boys will end up. But I’m almost sure that young Prince Aegon is doomed and though he may hold the throne for a while, he will not be the king at the end of the story. And it just might be his inexperience that ultimately dooms him. So what does that say for Jon then? Aegon can’t hold the throne as he’s unprepared for it, but what about Jon who is?

[mossiestpiglet]

I remembered the thing david jenkins said about the ending mirroring the first scene literally while asleep and dreaming, and now I’ve woken up I am genuinely just pleading to the universe that it’s gonna be an Izzy-Stede duel (probably for show) and Izzy gets gut-stabbed to match Stede and Ed and it’s very dramatic and bloody but they use the carnage to hide the fact that Izzy actually survived.