#“Can create life and also destroy it”

[ms-demeanor]

Hi, this is maybe a pointless question where the answer is just "that's how life works," but how do you have energy for all the things you do? You seem to be constantly juggling 50 different projects and juggling them well. You create so many community resources, do deep scientific dives on your own time, excel at work, plus maintain social and familial relationships. I was able to maintain good work performance, a hobby, and social life for maybe six months last year before I burned out

The thing is I'm juggling it badly, it's just that you see the curated version here on tumblr! I've got probably five times as many stalled and unfinished resources/projects as I have completed ones, I am in a constant state of numbness/anxiety at work (since the new company bought us I'm really, really overworked and have been putting in 10-12 hour days pretty regularly - it's why my posting and writing here has dropped off and my fiction writing is basically not happening), and I'm actually a pretty shit friend because it's difficult for me to make time to communicate with people and leave the house.

My two tricks to make it seem like I've got it together are:

Just do a lot of shit. Some of it will get finished even if you end up with a ton of abandoned projects and if you do this at a high enough volume you can still get a lot done

Join some kind of club or regular hangout event; once a month I go hang out with the same group of people i've been hanging out with for twenty years and sometimes we'll plan things outside of that group and that's most of my social life.

I am also exhausted at all times but I've got the shark version of ADHD where I feel like if I'm not doing something I'll die.

I am probably deeply in danger of burning out but I've had the same "maybe if I get hit by a car I could take a couple weeks off of school without it destroying my life" feeling since i was 10 so it's hard for me to gauge if there's a collapse of any kind coming.

Have you ever tried to get yourself to sprint by falling forward and just putting your feet in front of yourself? It's like that, but I've managed to keep my feet under me so far. I'd say "if I had to deal with any obstacles it would make me fall flat on my face" but I'm actually more productive in catastrophes so. Who knows!

Mental illness. I think the answer is mental illness. I am not a healthy example to follow and I don't want people to think that the way that I act is A) Normal B) Healthy C) Effortless D) Sustainable.

I am just obsessive and weird and I don't sleep very much and I don't leave the house very frequently. I think things were better before the pandemic, when I was doing things with the band and could go to shows because Large Bastard wasn't immune compromised, but a lot has changed in the last five years.

[domiiomii]

It is interesting how shimmer came to be as an effort to bridge the gap in literal bodily strength/power against piltover especially seeing how so much of the population of the undercity is disabled and shimmer is used as a psychical enhancer by them (eg. sevika, silco, viktor) to close that gap. The negative association of shimmer as being a way to "unnaturally" overcome disabilities is also worth looking at, for example, Silco using it on his eye is one of the first actions we see of him and it is meant to create a negative/villainous association to shimmer, later on that same negative view is passed down onto Viktor as his use of it marks the beginning of his "downfall".

Silco's push to produce and use shimmer is based on the idea of Zaun finally having enough power to defend from the oppression of piltover, however just like Viktor's use of the hextech on himself, this is is seen as a negative because he is striving to destroy the status quo and therefore it is bad.

Despite the fact that shimmer is also shown to be literally life saving, in the case of both Jinx and Viktor, even then it has a negative portrayal as it is heavily emphasized that it permanently alters the person, in the case of Viktor he "loses his humanity" while for Jinx her mental state deteriorates heavily and she becomes even more paranoid. Even with Salo's more limited use of shimmer for medical/soothing purposes it is shown as something he has to hide and be ashamed of, as did Viktor when he began using it.

We can also see the difference in characterization when it comes to Sevika vs. Vi, there is this almost animalistic reaction in Sevika when she uses shimmer, her eyes glow, she growls, her whole body shakes, her body is being altered. By contrast Vi's hextech gloves, despite also being an enhancer are not portrayed as damaging to her because she is not disabled. In hand with this goes the fact that Vi's enhanced power comes from piltover and it is being put in service of defending it/the status quo. So in the same way that hextech is good as long as it only benefits piltover; enhancers are also good as long as they don't permanently alter the "natural" body and it is not disabled people using them to "unnaturally" overcome that disability and/or threaten said status. Sevika's "bad unnatural strength" losing against Vi's "natural good strength".

Much of the writing, in S2 particularly, has this heavy emphasis against anything that is "unnatural" no matter how beneficial it may be and how many people it may help. This negative association with the "unnatural" overcoming of disabilities is perfectly exemplified by Viktor becoming an "inhuman" being as a result of it alongside with the portrayal of the commune being unnerving because everyone is "unnaturally perfect". Meanwhile Mel's magic is never questioned as bad, because hers is natural, so there are no negative consequences to her using it unlike Viktor who literally "loses himself and his humanity".

This very reactionary writing culminates when the plot insist that "Viktor needs to accept himself" = not heal himself through "unnatural" means = accepting he has to die due to his lower social status either as a disabled person or as a person of the under city, however you read that, the plot leads to the conclusion that the "noble and moral" thing for Viktor to have done was just accept that the status quo can't be altered and he was wrong for trying to go against it.

[daughterearth]

Okay, I don't like to enter discourse and a pick rage bait but I cannot see this as a black and white discourse as a south asian woman. @organic-homegrown-boyfriend exactly let's see how far the rot goes - where is the line of people like us and not us is!!

A few things -

1. "Terrorist land" - Op knows nothing about geopolitical differences between south asian countries and their history. Indian and Pakistani culture, Middle eastern culture are entirely different branches. We are not abrahamic religion followers, we are not a branch of that culture. And indian export of terrorism is fucking nowhere. So stop grouping everything together. These are not coherent arguments. Because brown people's land =\= terrorist land.

Let me tell you about terrorism and land - The same land the European lady screamed about was the land her ancestors pillaged and ransacked and destroyed and earned enough to live this life free from coloniser's guilt. Who answers for the ecology, the resources, the people for creating these countries that they now can be fortified in from all the poverty and disasters Asia and Africa face that women have been pushed under into more physical and sexual abuse.

2. The same "European" roots she claims - have historically raped and killed and abused children and women in other countries. Even the countries where you consider "white" - the indigenous population and land has been decimated. You did what you could with your religion, your weapons, your illness, your frequent abuse over centuries - what you now claim as your lands. I assure you - "Europeans" they are not better people, they are not simply more "civilised" they simply did everything that you can to wash your hands off in lands that were far off. The illness that killed millions, the famines that put thousands to death were all European fucking exports.

3. "Refugees" - again, broad fucking generalisation because the regions these European countries destabilised with their army and money now can create a problem!!!

But, Let me get this straight -

1. Indian refugees - even if you want to look there - have been more in middle East than the European countries.

2. Maximum indian migration has been to the USA where they form the highest educated and well paid sector of the migrants incoming!

4. "Ugly" / Toxic culture - when radfems/aligned/leaning of colour complain of racism - this is exactly the point we put forward.

The coloniser's white washing/ the burning of our literature/ the killing of our stories/ the reframing of our beauty - will never be "white/homogenous" so it is ugly.

See racism is not a separate apartheid situation in this world currently - it's little prejudices that you insinuate = when we talk about racism this is what we talk about.

One - Every South Asian woman, every woman who has an experience has the right to say what it was - in its entire truth, barring no detail. It's a prerequisite for any conversation. And it is fully welcome and accepted.

But these blanket statements and then saying that women too can go back to their toxic culture is what is frankly revolting. We can pick sides but you have to see that so many European people were complicit in what has happened and continues to happen around the world. If we club everyone together - you also don't get to brush everything off from how the empire is built to what it costs!

Our cultural heritage is not sanitised and we don't pretend it is. We are not reaching for superiority over cultures or religions but it seems like this downputting has no end. Especially for Hindus and Indians. We have roots of every kind of evil but you pretending that yours is more different, more tamed, or much better or not evil all together - is just not seeing how you have been complicit in making all these evils true in other lands.

When we talk about feminism and sisterhood in real life which is not black and white- I implore you to see how to say and what you mean and what historical context it has and what it means to the person it is targeted towards with some clarity of concept and ground reality of the real world.

A friend of mine who moved to Europe screamed on a Pakistani man's face in her uni to go back to his terrorist land. And i loveee her for that. Europe needs to deport all the south asian men back to their countries I AM SERIOUS. South Asian women literally move to western countries to flee their patriarchal cultures just to find the same cultural oppression brought upon by these ugly incels from India and Pakistan. I don’t care if these men are refugees or came for a better lifestyle, they need to go back. I also don’t care if they are some woman’s hUsbAnds or family if those women care too much about these males they can go back as well since they love their toxic culture way too much apparently.

[rholsof-film]

Krittika the Wild Woman

Aries: 26°40' to 30°00' - Taurus: 0°00' to 10°00'

Krittika refuses to be tamed but enjoys the game of the hunt.

When I first delved into Krittika Nakshatra, much of the information I found seemed overly negative. While it’s important to approach new insights with discernment, it’s equally crucial to peel back the layers and explore deeper truths. Many sources label Krittika natives as "homewreckers" or "husband stealers," citing their association with the knife, a symbol of separation. Scandals and infidelity are often linked to this nakshatra. However, scandals and mistakes are universal—no one is immune to human flaws. So, let’s set the record straight: Krittika's reputation doesn’t define its full potential or how it manifests.

Krittika’s mythology ties back to Kartikeya, the warrior god, who was raised by six Krittikas. This association gives rise to their perceived "affair-like" energy, but it also highlights their untamable and magnetic qualities. Women of Krittika Nakshatra are often highly sought after, critical thinkers, and fiercely independent. Blessed by the Sun, they radiate beauty, vitality, and magnetism, often maintaining a youthful appearance well into maturity. These women don’t rush into relationships; they are selective, choosing partners they hold in high regard, often marrying later in life or not at all. Their independence makes them unwilling to submit to anyone who doesn’t align with their high standards.

The fiery nature of Krittika, symbolized by the element of fire, underscores their untamable spirit. Fire cannot be controlled—it transforms, destroys, and purifies with purpose. Krittika natives act with intention, refusing to compromise their inner drive. Their focus and self-assuredness inspire those around them, especially women, whom they often nurture and uplift. When they speak, their words command attention, reflecting their natural leadership and authority.

Krittika’s dark feminine energy is rooted in its destructive and transformative qualities. As the first solar nakshatra, it carries a fascination with shadow work and the psyche, embodying the alchemical process of transformation—moving from darkness to light. This process involves spiritual death and rebirth, aligning with themes of liberation and being unapologetically themselves. Their journey mirrors the Lilithian archetype, using destruction as a means of creating space for new beginnings. This aura of untamed liberation often intimidates others, while simultaneously drawing them in.

Known as seductresses and huntresses, Krittika natives love the pursuit and the "game of the hunt," but remain untamable themselves. Dominant in relationships, they can struggle to find partners who match their energy or submit to their commanding presence. Saturn-dominated personalities often complement their solar dominance, creating a dynamic where the Sun woman leads. Their regal and radiant quality, a gift of the Sun, makes them naturally alluring.

Ultimately, Krittika natives are embodiments of transformative power. They pursue goals with precision, inspire others through their unapologetic authenticity, and embrace their untamable, radiant essence.

*So just because people note that Krittika is known for taking other’s partners, they are also known to be cheated on themselves. Let’s look at the entire scale. An being cheated on is not something anyone can control. However, just because you see a negative note of your nakshatra does not mean it will manifest that way for you. Krittika is a powerful nakshatra and everything should be taken with a grain of salt.*

*Also this is NOT the only nak with this reputation, Pushya is right next door with this rep!*

(All woman used have Krittika placements)

[thefadecodex]

In DATV, the concept of spirits evolving rather than perishing after corruption presents a profound shift from what was established in DAI. In DAI, when the Spirit of Wisdom was twisted into a Pride Demon, its redemption led to what Solas described as a form of death—a return to the Fade, stripped of its purpose and essence. However, DATV offers a more nuanced perspective: the potential for rebirth and transformation.

Rebirth: A New Purpose, A New Name

This revelation unfolds in the Hossberg Wetlands, where the side quest “Something’s Coming” introduces a haunting encounter with a Despair Demon called Despair Undying. True to its name, the demon reappears relentlessly, no matter how many times it is defeated, until the quest is completed. To resolve this cycle, players must collect three bundles of Broca’s Blooms—delicate flowers that only begin to grow after the side quest a specific side quest is completed.

Upon returning to the site of Despair Undying with the flowers, players find the demon is gone. In its place stands a spirit, Hope Unyielding. The transformation is not simply a return to what the spirit once was but a rebirth into something new. The dialogue that follows encapsulates this evolution:

Despair Undying: Light glimmers the surface. Flowers break through snow. Hope unexpected. I am such. Rook: Is Despair gone? Hope Unyielding: No. But nor was I forever.

This moment introduces a pivotal idea: corruption is not an absolute endpoint. A spirit can transcend its corrupted state, not by returning to its original form but by evolving into a new purpose. 

The Fade Codex speculates that Despair Undying may have originally been a Spirit of Compassion. The journey from corruption to rebirth could have catalyzed its transformation into Hope Unyielding, reflecting growth rather than mere restoration.

This shift in understanding deepens the metaphysical lore of spirits and their connection to purpose. It opens the door to themes of resilience, change, and the enduring possibility of renewal, even after profound darkness. In DATV, spirits are not bound to linearity—they embody the transformative power of the Fade and the infinite potential of purpose reshaped.

The Role of Broca's Blooms

At the heart of Despair Undying's transformation lies the quest "Something’s Coming." Broca’s Blooms, delicate flowers that thrive in adversity, symbolize life persisting in harsh conditions of the Blight. These flowers only begin to grow after players support the Grey Wardens fighting back darkspawn attacking the village and taking out blight boils. After this, broca’s blooms suddenly appear, which is confusing for everyone. By collecting three bundles of these blooms and bringing them back to the spirit’s location, players engage in an act of restoration—not through force, but through care and intention.

Broca’s Blooms are not simply tools; they are symbols. They represent the player’s willingness to interact with the Fade and its spirits on a deeper, more compassionate level. These flowers, growing in a place steeped in despair, signify the potential for renewal. They are proof that even in the darkest spaces, life—and hope—can find a way.

The Player’s Role: Patience and Recognition

Unlike the encounter with the Spirit of Wisdom twisted into a Pride Demon in DAI, the confrontation with Despair Undying does not end in violence or a 'death' so to speak. Instead, the resolution comes from understanding—an understanding that Despair Undying could not simply be destroyed, nor could it be forced back into what it once was.

When the player collects the flowers and returns, they do not "fix" the spirit. Instead, they create the circumstances in which the spirit can choose transformation.

This aligns with Solas's observations in earlier titles—that spirits are deeply tied to their purpose and the perceptions of those around them. This also aligns with comments made by Emmrich how surprised spirits (and maligned spirits) respond to kindness.

By bringing the flowers and offering a gesture of peace, the player helps shift the narrative around Despair Undying, allowing it to see a new path forward.

The Fade and the Cycle of Purpose

Spirits exist in cycles: they are born, they take form, they serve their purpose, and sometimes, they are twisted away from it. In DATV, the cycle does not have to end in destruction or death. The presence of Broca’s Blooms and the dialogue with Hope Unyielding suggest that the Fade is a space of potential. Despair Undying’s transformation was not about erasing its past or pretending its suffering never happened—it was about accepting that suffering and finding a way to grow beyond it.

This mirrors the philosophy present in many interactions with spirits throughout the series. Spirits are not inherently "good" or "bad"; they are shaped by purpose, perception, and choice. Despair Undying's choice to become Hope Unyielding represents a rare moment of agency for a corrupted spirit, facilitated by the player’s actions.

Why This Matters

The transformation of Despair Undying into Hope Unyielding redefines how we understand corrupted spirits in Dragon Age. It challenges the assumption that corruption is always final and that redemption must come at the cost of self-destruction. Instead, it presents a gentler truth: spirits, like people, are capable of growth, change, and transformation, given the right environment and care.

In the end, Despair Undying did not "die." Nor did it revert to something it once was. It evolved. And that evolution was made possible not by force, but by compassion, patience, and the willingness to believe in the possibility of hope—hope unyielding.

[spectral-phases]

Tim Drake as Rook (and Blackbird)

I've seen posts floating around trying to suggest new names and new costumes for him, and I've seen really great designs (u/Hunkerdown_son's Gray Ghost suit) that I like a lot more than what he's gotten. (Poor kid's gone back to Robin and was feuding with Damian about who's the better Robin? Like, boy, you could be in college, you are a whole-ass adult now, god damn, can the writers let you develop). There's Cardinal, Flamebird, Redbird, every red bird there is. And like, I get it, Red Robin was one of his more iconic runs (pre-Flashpoint), his OYL costume was primarily red, he was Red Robin wearing basically a Robin costume for a little while there too.

One of the name's I've seen is Rook. And that fascinates me. I actually had a hazy image of it pop into my mind, like a terrible "got any more pixels?" JPG picture of an artbook all zoomed-in and blown out one, of what that might look like.

(Artist's recreation of the above described image)

So I made it.

(Look, I know. I know. That is not how "Rook" would be stylized for the logo, but listen, listen. Cursive k basically has a mini-R in it and I was having fun with this. Okay? I don't draw much these days and I'm not a comic artist/graphic designer. I do math for a living.) (I spent very little time on the logo for Blackbird, but you get the idea. The "R" gets twisted nicely into a "B" for Blackbird, in my opinion.)

Design choices and everything below. Very stupidly long.

Rook first because I know the color is going to be a sell.

Rook is a bird in the corvid family, with crows, so they're exceptionally smart birds. Rooks are also the name for the chess piece that can perform the trickster maneuver called castling where they trade places with the king (It's not hard to do, necessarily, just like, a 4D move compared to the normal chess moves, and not something the average person knows about). Being that he's been relegated to the "boy genius" role and he is vicious and cunning with his mind more than almost anything else (See Robin #137's "Show your face here again and we'll frame you for the kind of crimes even other hardened kills don't condone or forgive" speech, him blowing up the LoA's computers in Red Robin #8 after somehow creating a program/virus on their systems while under constant supervision, or all of Red Robin's "The Hit List" arc). (I know he's not the only one who can do or has done, things like this, but he does it a lot, is my point).

Rooks, the birds, as a symbol of death are also fascinating to connect to Tim. He's never "died" like the other Robins have, but his mantra in his introduction is basically "Batman needs a Robin." Because Batman/Bruce has been traumatized by losing his son, Jason, and is spiraling, dialing up the violence towards criminals, dialing down his ability to care whether or not he survives, destroying his interpersonal relationships in the process. Death as a symbol can mean the literal figurative death, but it also can mean the end of a phase of life, of letting something go, and moving onto a new chapter.

And that's what Bruce needed to do. He, of course, would always miss Jason, but he needed to move past the pain, move past the agony, become what Batman was supposed to be again. Tim's the one who got him there. He's the one who convinced Bruce to open that new door. Tim's the one who put the "family" in Bat-Family because Bruce sure as shit was not going to do that. Here, this post explains that a bit more eloquently.

https://www.tumblr.com/thattimdrakeguy/190044791065/would-you-consider-tim-the-heart-of-the-batfamily

Rooks, the birds, are also blue/purple in color, which I think is great for Tim. I know, I know, everyone wants him with red. I get. I really, truly, get it. But let's just...take a step back and go outside of the box a little for his color. Now, I know, not everyone keeps the same color consistently (the number of times Nightwing has just bounced between Blue and Red, for example), but there is usually a "main" color strongly associated with each member of the Bat-Family.

Nightwing gets blue, duh (and also bluebird). Red Hood gets red (and also Nightwing when he's having a shit time and also Kate Kane's Batwoman and also Damian's Redwing). Damian's Robin often gets green (though I low-key associate green with Tim's Robin more than Damian's, Tim's no longer going to be Robin here, so Damian can have it). The Signal gets yellow (and so does Cass's Batgirl/Black Bat/Orphan). Stephanie as Spoiler/Batgirl has purple (and so does Huntress and Barbara's Batgirl). And Oracle gets lime green.

We don't need any more red symbols in the family. It's already out of hand without throwing Tim in there. And out of all the siblings, he's the only one without a distinct color.

Anyway. If we dip into tertiary colors, we can fix all of that. I made a mock-up of what I mean drawing the symbols mostly by memory in a few minutes. For Huntress/Helena Bertinelli, I just used her mask.

See how Tim as Rook gets to be wedged in between Nightwing's blue and Stephanie's purple with Violet? Tim Drake is a Dick Grayson fan first, Nightwing fan second, and person a distant third, so going more blue with his scheme is a much better fit. You could come up with a name for him to be teal, but violet is better for Rook, and like he's also close to Stephanie's Spoiler/Batgirl colors and say what you will of his relationship with her, she is important to his character as friend/girlfriend/friendly-ex. And Dick went from "Red/green/yellow" to "Blue/black" so Tim can go from "Red/green/yellow/black" to "violet/black."

Oh, and it lets him get his "R" back. The one from the 90's that's just so iconic that he was literally introduced with as Robin. If we can have a million different bat symbols then we can have two different R's floating around and no one will be confused.

And anyway, with all of that in mind, and that terrible image haunting me, I decided to draw a quick reference sheet for what Rook might look like. I think I spent like 2 hours on the final version, with an hour and a half on sketches I hated/deleted. Anyway.

I had a nice dark green in here instead of sky blue and a dark purple instead of dark blue, but then I was looking at the purple/green combo and "I'm in dangered" my way out of the Joker color-combo.

Instead I decided, since he's a young person and the violet I chose was sort of blacklight-esque, then why not make him look like some kinda blacklight glowing guy. The youth these days still love that kinda stuff, right? And it ties into the themes of being a light in the dark and crime-scene stuff and all that. The colors came from how lead glass reacts under black light, and while I imagine the violet parts do show up in black light, it's the light blue parts that actually glow in blacklight.

If you want to draw this design or make up your own Rook design or tweak this design go ahead, like, for example if you wanted him to have the sharp pointy cuffs that I couldn't get to look good at all (but please tag me if you do, I wanna see it, unless you're shit-talking me. Then don't tag me.)(Shit talking means "my god, this asshole who cannot draw at all" and not "It was okay, but I thought it might be better like this/with some tweaks/more coherent colors" one I can take and the former will make me cry).

(If the notes are hard to read, they will be in text at the very bottom)

Obviously, I got a little too obsessed with the mask for my own good. I didn't want him to just have a domino mask, I liked the protectiveness of his Red Robin cowl (if not the look), and I wanted more coverage while also having his hair out because he has really good hair. So it goes around the back of his head in a band, protecting his temples and the back of his head, but nothing else for his hair to show. It is supposed to blend with his hair so we get the illusion of the cowl, but drawn by someone better/more time/shading it'd be fairly obvious up front where his hair and mask are, but less so from the back. And Tim has done the mask under a mask gag before and a self-destructing mask, so I feel like him having approximately 30-billion fail-safes to prevent it from just being pulled off of him is in-character.

And then I decided, that since Tim is Nightwing fan second, he can have a red version of the outfit named "Blackbird" for when he's feeling a little moody or feisty the same as Nightwing has the red Nightwing suit for...reasons ("We wear red in new continuities" or whatever. Why have one outfit when you can have several?). This time the colors were inspired by red cadmium glass under blacklight and the red winged blackbird.

Red Winged Blackbird's symbolically are "a sign of change and transformation. They represent the power of love and compassion, as well as the need to take action in order to make positive changes in your life. The red winged blackbird is a symbol for spiritual growth, inner strength, courage, determination and self-awareness." Which. You know. Fits Tim. And there's red. So. I feel like that's an easy sell. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I wanted to reference his OYL, Post-Crisis Red Robin (regular and data alter), and Robin (Post-Crisis/Rebirth) outfits for the design. I didn't care for much of his post-Flashpoint Red Robin outifts, adding Nomura/Kingdom Hearts zippers levels of belts to him or just being Robin with two "R"s for a symbol and bad hair. You can see the OYL in the edges of the cape and the interior of the mask. Robin, Rebirth in particular, with his elbow pads and knee pads, shoulder armor and the shape of his boots. Red Robin in the bandolier harness/belt thing he's got, but every thing on it is one of those hammer space utility belt pouches the Bats are so well known for, so he can have a bajillion of them as the "tool using" Robin. The "V" center and arm-stripe/finger-stripe combo is, obviously, reminiscent of Nightwing, and his Red Robin data alter, which is also reflected in the larger mask (though the nose is not as beak-like).

(OYL References, the dialogue in the second to last panel of the first reference is misattributed, in case you were confused as to why Tim is dissing his outfit and Dick is talking like Tim)

(Red Robin References)

(Robin References)

And obviously, I just put his "R" symbol on a circle and called it a day. Although I was clearly going off of memory instead of a direct reference, but whatever. Whatever. It fits better in a circle the way I did it. And a circle is a better buckle/clip than the oval, which was a deliberate choice. So. Anyway.

Notes (from top left to bottom right, grouped by what they're describing):

Shoulder Shot: "We're brining back his iconic 'R' from the 90's for 'Rook. (pointing to the R symbol)." "The cape can be rolled back to reveal some light shoulder armor that doesn't change his silhouette when the cape is down (pointing to his shoulder armor and the rolled back cape that is reminiscent of his over the shoulder "black with yellow" capes)." "Feather pattern that emulates Nightwing's arm/fingerstripes (pointing to the side of his arm)." "His elbow pads have the same shape as his kneepads for the skaterboy vibe. (pointing to the pads over his arms and knees)."

Sketch of harness: "Bandolier harness hides under the cape that clips into his insignia (pointing to the symbol in the center)." "Each space is a pouch (pointing to every area between the pointed ridges (which are hollow tubes with screw caps that can also hold things for maximum hammerspace))."

The detailed shot of the mask: "The face mask is partial emotive with white lenses that have thermal and night-vision (next to the white eyes)." "The foil layer of the mask can peel off unless actively held when the mask is lifted, and cling to his skin with a static charge that makes it almost impossible to peel from his skin (pointing to the teal circuit bit that is lifted from the pointy bit of the mask (the circuits are water/sweat proof, don't worry))." "There are dozens of magnetic locks that have to hit in the right on/off pattern to life all layers of the mask. Each finger in his gloves can have an active magnetic charge, so there are over a thousand combinations (pointing to the foil layer and the inside of the mask)."

The sketches of the mask lowered and raised: "The back of the mask is made of interlocking combs that seal together with metal locks to avoid it coming off unintended (pointing to the back of the raised mask)." "Durable, flexible rubber-like material (pointing to the sides of the mask, back, and the expanding fan like section that allows it to raise while still being one-piece and the top of the mask that would roll against his forehead)." "The mask can be lifted up when the locks are undone (pointing to the raised and lowered mask and the expanding accordion like structure)."

The sketch of a side profile of his head with his bangs and face half there: "Where does the mask end and his hair begin? Like Kujo Jotaro's cap, the world may never know (pointing to the back of his head where the black mask and black hair would blend together)." "The back of the mask combs through his hair and the top layers of his hair cover it (providing an actual answer)." "The nose of the mask has padding that protects his nose from breaks and conceals the shape of his nose and cheeks (next to his nose, which is half covered by the mask)."

[banana-bread-connoisseur]

METAL SONIC. METAL SONIC. METAL SONIC. SONIC METAL. METAL SONIC METAL SONIC METAL SONIC PLS P,S SP,SL PLS CHOKES..METAL SONIC METAL SONIC

Tell me you love me first

Pairing: metal sonic x francis (can also be read as x reader)

Abridgement: Francis going woof woof for metal sonic, quote literally... Metal sonic getting chased on all fours by francis. And a surprise for reader at the end

TOP PART IS FOR FRANCIS (the one who requested this) AND THE BOTTOM HEADCANONS IS FOR THE READER

Warnings: Francis, metal sonic getting chased, crack fic, this was supposed to be an x reader but whatever😭, my grammar

Psst, bakers secret: I liked sth till I was 9 and then I left the fandom and now I'm back so anyone giving me lore or where to start tips would be immensely appreciated

Heavy metal footsteps assaulted anyone's ears nearby, The ground shaked a bit with each step as the metal kept running. The Android(Aka metal sonic) was a clone, so why did he prefer it?

"GET BACK HERE WITH THAT SLUTTY WAIST"

For some reason, there was a real life human, not like the doctor that created it, but a human who was very eccentric.

That doesn't matter now, because Francis was on all fours and chasing him like a wilda beast

Could the robot even feel emotion? Francis didn't know but he didn't give a fuck "PLEASE, ONE CHANCE, I HAVE A MESSAGE FOR DOCTOR EGGMAN"

Both of them paused, the secret audience in the bushes froze, did he really have a message for the doctor?

Metal stopped, the Android soon turned on its metal heels. It slowly walked towards the, now on both feet, human. Could metal even feel fear? It felt empty, but it felt something else, something it wasn't familiar with at all

"Yeah, anyway-"

It wasn't for the doctor..

NOW ONTO THE X READER;

Francis ik you're reading this but oh em gee tone down your fan behavior for metal sonic😭 IT'S AN ANDROID ROBOT WHO CAN'T EVEN TALK CUZ IT DOES NOT HAVE A MOUTH

but anyway I'm still learning about the sonic fandom but from what I know about metal sonic is that the Android yearns to be an organism, like a real life human organism. Not even human just an organism or animal

Since he was created to be a direct clone to sonic, he isn't really seen as anything else by most(except his papi eggman ofc) his non existent soul thirsts to have a real one he can cherish and keep safe with a real body

If metal sonic were in a relationship you'd face backlash by everyone (primarily sonic and his gang) even if you try to defend them both most people look at you weird and will never look at you with the compassion and kindness their gaze used to hold

Now onto the real relationship with metal; metal still doesn't understand humans and their emotions, how to act in a relationship, communication, how to be respectful, how to properly take care of a loved one and all that jazz

He needs a lot of guidance and reassurance, kind of a prerequisite for loving a robot made to be a clone, destroy and fill the place of the loveable blue blur

About the blue blur, I feel like he'd be the only one to *tolerate* your relationship since he sees the good in everyone and everything

The second one would be amy

Third one would be tails, I'd put him b4 knuckles cuz he is more supportive by nature, he still would be skeptical cuz that IS a robot

But even then you still know that metal sonic loves you, or maybe it's your own love filling the cracks of the relationship

To be honest, from how I see metal sonic with a partner, the relationship would be a 6/10

And then I was shot(it's late at night someone rescue my outta control mind)

[futurefemcel]

Dear Friends,

I hope this message finds you in good spirits.

I’m reaching out to share something deeply personal and important—please take a moment to read it.

My name is Ahmad , and I am a 14-year-old.

The war destroyed our life and we lost everything.

I respectfully ask for your help. Even a small donation, like $5, could make a meaningful difference in our lives. If financial support isn't feasible for you right now, sharing this message with others may also help us reach those who can assist.

Please think of us as part of your extended family. Your compassion and willingness to share could help lift us out of this struggle. To those who have already contributed, I am profoundly grateful. If you are able, your continued support would be invaluable. Feel free to share your donation anonymously if that’s what you prefer.

Every bit of help matters greatly to us. Even if you are unable to donate, a share of this post along with a few kind words could inspire others to join our cause.

It’s essential to recognize that you never know when life may turn, and you might need help one day too. By contributing to our cause today, you might pave the way for someone else to extend their hand to you tomorrow.

Today, my family and I are surviving on a single meal that barely eases our hunger. If you could consider forgoing a meal and donating that money to us, it would be an incredible act of kindness.

I am immensely thankful for the support I receive through my posts, and I invite you to follow my accounts @ahmadfamily5,

@ahmadwaleed5 to keep up with our journey. While my posts may receive many likes, we are still in urgent need of donations.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Your kindness and compassion are deeply appreciated. Wishing you all the best.

#167 on the vetted fundraising list created by @/el-shab-hussein and @/nabulsi

Warm regards,

donate and spread the word!!

[homestuckreplay]

Seeking Friends (MUST be named John)

(page 1129-1136)

tiny jade tiny jade we got tiny jade!!!! look at them both <3

Unfortunately this is now a Grandpa Harley hate blog. That ridiculous amount of force used to kill a butterfly. (a transgender butterfly at that!!) The unnecessary show of power and dominance. And for what? To show a small child that destruction of life is his idea of fun? No wonder Jade has such a refusal to hurt animals – I feel like she’s associated with life and growth while Grandpa is associated with death and destruction. Like on the one hand, having to handle her grandpa’s death at a young age and being the only one around to clean up and stuff the body must have been incredibly traumatic for Jade, and being alone ever since can’t have helped. But I don’t think she’d be doing much better if he’d lived! This is not a tragic situation where Jade almost had a good guardian! In fact, Jade regularly acting like her grandpa is still alive could come from him being SO omnipresent and overbearing while she was alive that she never really spent any time without him, until he was entirely gone.

Although I’d say Bec is already acting like Jade’s actual guardian, as he’s clearly the one taking care of her while Grandpa is destroying the beautiful landscape with his inappropriately large firearms.

We still have all scenes occurring on a beta kid birthday, but there’s no year on this one. What does Grandpa Harley think is the right age to introduce Jade to the thrill of the hunt? Probably way too young, but Jade can already read well as she has no trouble with John’s note, so I’m gonna say this is her 6th birthday. December 1, 2001.

Unfortunately you cannot open it yet! This package has an important journey to make first. You are planning on delivering it momentarily. Good thing you already know what's inside. Otherwise you would surely be consumed by curiosity and suspense. You sincerely pity anyone who might be forced to endure such a fate. (p.998)

The reveal of Jade’s package is really cute. I think the above quote is intentionally hinting that Jade knows what’s in the package through the power of Prophecy and Visions, but it’s actually the more mundane (kind of?) reason – she already opened the gift years ago! And inside we get the fabled ‘dear jade,’ page, completing the set, plus a note that contains SO much beta kid lore that I’m so excited about.

Jade wears blue and takes up gardening because she receives this package, creating a stable time loop around these interests. This Blue Slime Ghost shirt could be the first shirt used to make the wardrobifier, as young Jade is wearing a plain shirt.

We don’t know when Jade started seeing dream visions, but from her reaction to John’s letter, there’s no indication that she thinks about things in the weird past/future, seeing herself as an agent of the timeline way that she thinks in 2009. I would bet that this is the beginning of her relationship with predestination. I also think this might have caused her to wake up on Prospit, as she’s been contacted directly by the future, and this makes her more open to temporal communication

John thought he was going to be so late with Jade’s present when he remembered how far away she lives, but he actually got it there incredibly early, so huge W for John. (and an even bigger W for the heroic mail carrier PM). Jade’s response was ‘john thats ok really! im sure will get to me exactly when it needs to and it will be a nice surprise when it does!’ and she was right. The gift was definitely a nice surprise, as tiny Jade had no clue it was coming, and if it prompted Jade’s interest in gardening and potentially her visions – a key source of guidance for her especially after she loses her grandpa – then it did happen at exactly the right time. I like the idea that all of Jade’s weirdness was prompted by the seemingly most normal character.

John has NO supernatural awareness in this letter, and is totally stumped as to why Jade’s pumpkins are disappearing – but he’s listened to her when she’s talked about her gardening woes, and his ‘i'm sure you know the fun is in growing them and taking care of them until they're ready’ is a good read; it feels like something Jade herself would say. And John gives Jade a shirt that not only matches his, but is ‘way more awesome’, so he’s really putting her first. There is something about John’s gift to Jade that feels somehow lesser than his honestly inspired gifts to Rose or Dave – it ended up being really impactful, but wouldn’t have been if she had received it in 2008, where it would’ve just related to her existing interests. But I understand that, because sometimes when someone is THAT important to you, it’s impossible to represent that with a physical gift.

John also went to a store, and to the post office! I feel very vindicated because I find the idea that John does leave the house and interact with other people but still feels alone, alienated and ‘homestuck’ way more compelling than the idea that he’s literally never left the house and yard or spoken to anyone outside his family. Similarly, he signs all the notes to his friends with ‘(john)’, so he wasn’t literally named on his 13th birthday - ‘it is only today he will be given a name’ is more a statement about independence and coming into his own. I like this official confirmation that some of the video game aspects aren’t meant to be taken literally, and I think it opens up more angles for interpretation in future.

Finally, we learn that John met Rose and Dave through Jade! So either Jade was the common link that met all three of them individually, and then brought the group together, or John and Jade were friends and Rose and Dave were friends, and Jade united the pairs. I think the first is more likely, as having received this letter, Jade will be on the lookout for friends named John, Rose and Dave, and may get hints to her meeting them when she starts seeing visions on Prospit. As usual (but also for the first time), she will have a head start while everyone else is oblivious.

As if the Package storyline wrapping up wasn’t proof enough, the adventure map shows that we really are at the end of act 3. I cannot wait to see how the act ends and where the story will go in act 4.

> Jade: Tie giant shirt around yourself like a wizard’s cape.

[kitty-rebl0gs]

Dear Friends,

I hope this message finds you in good spirits.

I’m reaching out to share something deeply personal and important—please take a moment to read it.

My name is Ahmad , and I am a 14-year-old.

The war destroyed our life and we lost everything.

I respectfully ask for your help. Even a small donation, like $5, could make a meaningful difference in our lives. If financial support isn't feasible for you right now, sharing this message with others may also help us reach those who can assist.

Please think of us as part of your extended family. Your compassion and willingness to share could help lift us out of this struggle. To those who have already contributed, I am profoundly grateful. If you are able, your continued support would be invaluable. Feel free to share your donation anonymously if that’s what you prefer.

Every bit of help matters greatly to us. Even if you are unable to donate, a share of this post along with a few kind words could inspire others to join our cause.

It’s essential to recognize that you never know when life may turn, and you might need help one day too. By contributing to our cause today, you might pave the way for someone else to extend their hand to you tomorrow.

Today, my family and I are surviving on a single meal that barely eases our hunger. If you could consider forgoing a meal and donating that money to us, it would be an incredible act of kindness.

I am immensely thankful for the support I receive through my posts, and I invite you to follow my accounts @ahmadfamily5,

@ahmadwaleed5 to keep up with our journey. While my posts may receive many likes, we are still in urgent need of donations.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Your kindness and compassion are deeply appreciated. Wishing you all the best.

#167 on the vetted fundraising list created by @/el-shab-hussein and @/nabulsi

Warm regards,

sorry, i can't help personally, but i will spread your message, i hope you will be okay!

[bellshazes]

my new year's intentions include being more of a hater so mostly for my own record i'll swing the bat in the other direction: this complete mechanical void of novelty which will inevitably consume itself also applies to player interaction. there is no mechanical basis or method through which players may create interesting alliances, and this line of gameplay development has been entirely abandoned since season 2.

if you want to be a purist about it and "what the life series is about," the iterative design moving from third life where the red-green/yellow alliance was a defining feature of the series (irrespective of whether you consider this "narrative" or "roleplay" or not, it's simply true) to last life was the institution of a total ban on a) carrying over grudges/continuity and b) red/non-red alliances. the very first social rule change is to destroy all that came before it! because NOVELTY!

double life represents a final attempt at smoothing over the completely futile interaction rules of last life, before there stop being any actual mechanics addressing them for the remaining seasons. it implies player dynamics, and gives a launching point, but like the awareness that there will someday be reds when everyone is green, sharing health and damage is more of a liability and a source of tension rather than a relational mechanic.

the admittance of grudges, references to the past, and cross-color alliances in double life on are a concession, not a mechanic. it probably speaks to a very lovely faith in all participants to create entertaining dynamics anyway, but this is why it's a godawfully D&D brained approach: our game mechanics can support any kind of play - in fact we need no rules, because it's all pretend and who needs "rules" or "constraints" or "thoughtfully tailored game design to produce a specific play experience" anyway :).

but youtube doesn't care about good game design, neither the almighty mysterious yt algorithm which does in fact value exhausting every last drop of novelty until there is nothing left of the original, nor yt audiences who - esp in mcyt spaces - tend toward a philosophy of I'll Love Anything You Put Out You Could Be Staring at A Minecraft Brick Wall. which is sweet, but staring at a wall is also bad game design, even if everyone has fun doing and watching it.

i keep trying to articulate a thought abt wild life as a logical step in the life series design philosophy but all i can manage is that - and i mean this in the most negative way possible - it's such a fucking D&D-brained approach to game mastering. lol

[ninjautizm]

YOOOO WE MIGHT BE GETTING HINTS ABOUT LLOYDS ELEMENTAL POWER..

[emberfaye]

Obsessed because this face?

That is the face of a dude who is thinking "Ah yes, I performed social interaction well, a thing that is both definitely achievable and normal to want"

and honestly, moooood

[fumifooms]

Dungeon lord Chilchuck

What would his wish as a dungeon lord be? What would he be like? Headcanons & speculation post for fun. But I’ll start with analytic lead up because that’s always fun for me, though feel free to skip and skim.

When it comes to what Chilchuck’s dungeon lord desires could/would be like we have mainly 3 hints: His nightmare, his succubus and what the winged lion says to him.

Why: — From what we see nightmares are based on the person’s worst fears and insecurities, both Laios’ and Marcille’s nightmare were closely tied to their dungeon lord wishes (Laios’ dream monster being summoned to crush the ghosts of relationships that represented the pressure to fit in and belong, Marcille seeking control over death and aging through magic to avoid loss), the fuel behind their desire/goal if you will. Fear and deep-seated desires are seemingly closely tied, something also supported by Thistle and Mithrun’s reigns as dungeon lords (Thistle proving his worth through fulfilling his given duty + protecting his loved ones, being listened to instead of having to listen, Mithrun escaping rigid two-faced elven society and living in a wonderland where he has no enemies and he’s loved, free from everyone he knew yet propped up by the person symbolizing his brother being chosen over him, the bastard child).

— I’ve talked about the significance I assign to the succubi often by now, but rundown: What we see of each character is all very telling if you care to listen, it shows not only someone’s "ideal form" but what they want from it. Izutsumi’s is familial, offering a hug and comfort, Marcille’s is romantic with a character she knows and loves, offering a kiss on a hand and a connection regardless of how distant it actually is, and Laios’ is platonic, arguable at first but then Laios’ fear of judgement is placated and he is offered the picture perfect friend group that accepts his interest (if you want my full look at Laios’ succubus go here). They take on the most alluring form, most ideal person of their victim, even uncovering deep subconscious desires, so precisely and effectively to the point it leaves victims physically frozen before the object of their desire. Succubi and the demon are themselves tied in lore and it’s easy to see how similar their core skill are. Succubi don’t give a good idea of what a character would wish for on their own but they certainly give hints on what they crave, regardless of how you want to read it.

— Last bit is self-explanatory. To placate Chilchuck and win his compliance over, the monster that reads your soul like an open book offers to give him something specific. But! It’s also important to remember that the lion isn’t offering to fulfill Chilchuck’s dream world wish here, it’s a second prize, because his goal with what he promised Laios is that they’d stay in this world, away from everyone and everything else. Chilchuck wants to get away but is kept back, and it’s here the lion placates him with "hey it’s okay! You can’t do that but I can still give you this! This is enough right? It’ll make everything easier on you".

What each bit says: — Long version in another post. Tldr: His daughters and family are obviously important to him, and this reinforces that he takes on the role of protector a lot, he’s constantly worried for his party members’ lives and implicitly his family’s. Safety and stability, both economical and otherwise, are his core values and goals, and he berates both others and himself if someone fails on those fronts. Here, there’s the fear of not being enough, of not having been able to protect, and of course of loss.

— Chil’s succubi are obviously sexual, and not only that but agressively and straightforwardly so. It’s not like Marcille’s where there’s personality involved, all they do is give him sultry looks and pretty smiles before jumping on him. His succubi aren’t like Izutsumi’s, always the same exact person and appearance, so it’s not someone but an appealing general idea. The idea of a sexual being he can regard as simply a gorgeous piece of meat and a good time no strings attached. In my interpretation, especially with my reading of Laios’ succubus where even with deep-seated desires negative emotions can be too intense to effectively freeze a victim, I think this doesn’t contradict his character. Relationships have been painful to him in the past, in the succubus scene when his wife gets mentioned his immediate reaction is to yell "Don’t bring her up now!", like with his habit of drinking and as a tallman liking his senses feeling dulled, it’s about not having to feel emotions with how difficult they are to deal with sometimes and just feeling good, or at least not having to think, for a while. If a succubus showcases someone’s ideal connection with an ideal person, then Chilchuck’s is with a pretty person that doesn’t stir any negative memory or drama, someone low stakes and low maintenance that doesn’t require him to manage or talk out feelings because there’s none involved in the first place.

— Once more, wife and family are important! He does long for his family, not only his wife but his daughters, and vice versa. This suggests not only that he wants good relationships with them but that he wants them to be with him, a family life. Far from the cut communication they all more of less have during canon, and perhaps far from their life pre-canon when he worked away from home a significant amount of time. We’ve seen recreations of people by the winged lion before with doppelgangers and monsters (naga), and though he claims he can make satisfying imitations, what we’ve seen is that they base themselves on the best memories of that person, like with Marcille’s dad, or twist behavior to be more pleasant, like Mithrun’s lover (and possibly twist appearances depending on the person’s view of them, but that’s Mithrun analysis). The line does suggest Chilchuck would want his family members as they are in reality and not idealized versions, but the circumstances are chaotic and urgent enough in the scene (and again the lion isn’t fulfilling Chilchuck’s wish but trying to make him content for Laios’) that it could just be the winged lion saying what he needs to to convince him the fastest possible, and like we see with Laios that can crumble to give way to deeper or more complex desires.

On top of that we just have general info on Chil. How does Chilchuck deal with his issues? What does he like to do? He likes alcohol and ignoring his problems. We have to remember there is a split between what someone would consciously wish for and what their soul uncontrollably irrationally craves. As always with Dunmeshi, there’s a narrative of irrational deep-seated desires vs active wants, what you crave vs what you strive for, what you dream of vs what’s actually good for you, the animal vs the human inside you, heart vs mind. Chilchuck craving a harem of hot babes in his fantasies but wanting his family life & wife back again is not mutually exclusive. You may crave becoming a monster and tasting what humans are like a little but still want to save the world & your friends more.

Btw can we adress the irony of him terrified of being the last one alive, of being left by his daughters and wife, of having left and coming back home one day to see everything gone or rampaged, yet not caring about dying of liver failure himself, knowing every time that he enters a dungeon there’s a real risk he may not come out. Die somewhere I can’t see you. I prefer leaving you than being left behind. He’s selfish and shortsighted like that… Chilchuck is selfless in many ways of course, but perhaps also due to his own relationship with his parents, he often undermines the effects he has on others in his relationships, both the good and the bad (he talks himself down about being cowardly and greedy yes, but never hints at his bad health habits, alcoholism and starving himself, may have affected his loved ones, doesn’t question his wife falling into a bad mood the night before she left, and talks about the possibility of dying here and there very casually, though obviously he tries his best to stay alive when it doesn’t concern his health).

Chilchuck king of "Let me just avoid and ignore my problems surely they’ll go away, things might work out and if they don’t well tough luck I’ll survive and I probably deserve it anyways". If I don’t look at it it will dissapear <3 Why care when you can simply not think about it.

You might not understand Mister "my love will stay strong through months of work travel and also 4 years of separation" and Mister "well idk my siblings and me are kinda strangers and my dad is dead but that’s kinda whatever", but typically relationships need some form of maintenance and emotional availability…

The actual headcanons finally

I kinda have 2 routes in mind for dunlord Chil and both of them are centered on "I care too much, i wish things were easy", so first is a lot like his succubi, it’s full on indulging in his guilty pleasures like alcohol and bodies and it’s to keep him in a constant state of thrill and euphoria and distracted, unfeeling about stuff that really matters. "Nothing matters except that I’m enjoying the moment!" vibe. He gets to live a life worthy of Dionysus, with alcohol and women and debauchery and like— never having to think again, never having to feel anything but pleasure again, never have to feel guilty or shitty or angry or sad. He has a harem and gets everything on a silver platter.

Breaking news demon magic-induced rush of euphoria and power still not enough to cure this man of his self-hatred nor his capacity for thought!! But in his case a state of euphoria is what he seeks I think, to kinda mask or replace the Everything Else.

The other is what I think closer to what canon suggests, with what WL implied too with "I’ll make you a new wife and kids like the originals!! 😊", it’s a (spoilers) Wandavision type thing where it’s a slice of life where he’s never at work and always at home and the family eats lunches at the dinner table together and everything and everyone at any moment is just. Happy. No issues. It was all a dream, this is real and everything is fine and your family is perfect and happy. I like to think the timeline would be wonky, his daughters would fluctuate in age, but he’d want to be there for what he missed, would want them to still rely on him and look up to him like when they were young, would like to forget that they’re now independent adults and the distance that grew between Chilchuck and his siblings is happening between them as well. Chil would want doppelgangers of his family imo, at its core just a general wish for a peaceful happy family life with no drama, no need to compromise, a little paradise of unconditional love and no consequences. It’s for sure straightforward, but Chilchuck is a man with straightforward desires…

But see Chilchuck is a greedy man, and he wants it both ways without having to sacrifice anything or expanding any efforts himself. He wants to have his cake and eat it too. I think playing with these two opposite directions and mixing and matching is most fun. Him leading a life where he indulges in all his worst habits while still having everything he wants… Him getting to have BOTH his wife and any woman he can imagine up, his life like two sides of a coin he can flip at any moment where he’s partying then he’s at home enjoying the quiet and his toddler daughters playing with toys on the carpet. Christ when you remember it’s all an illusion that’s terrifying, the doppelgangers and succubi from the winged lion playing chilchuck ping pong.

A safe little haven both security-stability wise and emotionally. Gets to have both the relaxing and the thrilling in any dose he wants, mixed or separatedly. What I’d argue he had pre-canon too: Can live it up in taverns away from home, stays away from home for long periods of time, and can come back to home aka the symbol of relaxation and safety whenever he decides to. Something he can leave and come back to at will, an anchor he can trust in (until it’s taken from him and his wife leaves. Or in his worse nightmare people rush in and kill his daughters). The ideal of a house and family to a working man, perhaps…

I think it’s fun to think on wether or not these desires would be interesting at all to the winged lion… In canon he seeks out "rare/complex desires", common simple things like I imagine riches, sex, substances and pleasure would be are boring to him, he’s eaten those so many times already. So perhaps he wouldn’t last long as a dunlord, the WL would want to eat him fully quick, can’t keep him interested or waiting long for a meager meal, too much effort raising the cattle and too low quality meat. By making it more twisted or layered Chil’s desire would become more desirable to the demon, it’s part of what’s fun with the third option to me. But whatever. Has he ever eaten a guy with this much repression and self-sabotage... Like trying to get the meat out of a walnut, enrichment…

Other dunlord Chil takes I’ve seen that are fun and good:

@feelo-fick and @pluvio-floret have a dunlord Chilchuck AU project dubbed "tragedy AU" where Chilchuck is said to be "on vacation", in a weird delirious state, only half-there half of the time… From which he doesn’t want to wake up </3 Quoting Feelo, this is why the vacation thing is only a half-joke cause he is 1) letting all his responsibilities go 2) indulging in himself and 3) "spending time with his family" <- lie but you get what i mean. Additional comments that have me vigorously nodding: because changing is hard why cant things just be okay right now without the effort !!! Life is hard he’s so so tired he just wants to feel good… he just wants life to feel nice and easy for a sec while he can learn to breathe again and lose the stress and trauma he’s accumulated…….. spoiler alert yes !!! in fact a depressed person can suck themselves into their job and lock out the world who wouldve thought !!!

And then Cabinette I know posted about his dunlord take once but I don’t have the link, in which Chil has a lot of nosebleeds because of mana overload which is fun and interesting to think about imo~

In dunmeshi, where characters get underground pockets of the world as their playground disconnected from everything outside and the rest of the world, it’s important to remember to face reality even if it has conflict and people with different views and stances from you, it’s something Chilchuck and Marcille and everyone needed to learn, and the thing with a dungeon lord AU is that you imagine a timeline where he fails to <3

A timeline where his dungeon lord wish is to desire nothing bc hope and want has only ever hurt him would also go so hard. Very universal thing though I suppose.

… And this is why a Chilchuck-centric Coraline AU is really really interesting and fitting and topical— Ok that’ll go in a separate reblog/post at @Fumiku I need to let this end

[sunkissedliterarylightofchrist]

@artist-issues - why do you believe the death penalty should be completely and totally abolished? explain?

*cracks knuckles* Justice is one of the things I am most passionate about in the entire world and I am so glad that you asked. So presenting-

Why The Death Penalty Should Be Abolished - from a Christian

[This is a heavily condensed version because Tumblr is mean and deleted the entire thing the first time I wrote it, so, here's the short answer]

There are two different theories of justice that are used in the sphere of law. Retribution and Restitution. Retribution is when you punish someone as vengence for an act that they committed, and restitution is when you establish justice in a way to pay back the wrong that was done in the crime. They are two different schools of thought and there are a lot of arguments each way and the more you learn about it the more fascinating it gets, but I firmly believe that the way that God has created justice and law firmly sits in the way of restitution, and all Christians should come to that conclusion when studying the Bible and advocate for such.

According to its use in the Bible, God instructed the Israelites to use the death penalty in cases of rape and murder. To quote @/artist-issues from the comments-

A lot of God’s commands about civil law and justice seem to have to do with what can be *restored* to the victim of the crime. If the criminal takes something that doesn’t belong to them, for example, Exodus 22 shows the principle of the thief restoring what they took, and giving back double—so they’re restoring, and they’re losing something, themselves, in addition, because of their sin. But when someone rapes another human, they’re taking something they cannot restore to the victim. Ever. Same way when they murder; they’re taking something that can never be restored to the victims (plural, because not only is the murdered party dead, but they’ll never be restored to the other victims: their loved ones.) Plus, human life has inherent value. Which really means something, with real-world consequences when that value is totally defiled and ignored. That’s why Genesis 9:6 says “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” So God commands the death penalty. I think both because it IS the just thing to do, and because, knowing humanity’s sinful nature, God also knows that the death penalty is the only way to get depraved humans’ likelihood to COMMIT those crimes to actually drop in number. But both those things are sort of irrelevant for you and me: the bottom line is, if God says it’s okay, it’s okay.

And she is correct and spot on, I agree with almost every syllable of this dissection of Scripture. God has permitted the death penalty in response to rape and murder.

HOWEVER. I think once you start to add in other factors of historical context and modern day society, if you stick to that conclusion to the same degree you are sorely mistaken.

I believe that as of today, in 21st century America, that the death penalty should be overturned in all cases and that no crime whatsoever justifies its use. While our justice system is a lot better than some countries currently or historically and I am very thankful for the fact, it is still messed up.

People are on death row for years, which utterly destroys them physiologically, there is systemic racism and injustice in the bias against minorites (see the very end of this post), it is incredibly expensive for all parties (most notably taxpayers!), the methods of execution like lethal injection can be cruel and unusual, those with intellectual disability and those living in poverty are targeted, and lengthy trials hurt everyone. And most importantly, the rate of how many of those cases the defendent is actually innocent is incredibly staggering and gut-wrenching. And, there is no reliable evidence that the death penalty deters murder- in today's context.

We live in a different world than the Israelites did, plain and simple. Society's ideas of justice have progressed, and I'm not saying that as a way to crap on the ancient world and how uncivilized it was, far from it, I'm just saying that these values have changed, and most of it due to Christiantiy in fact. So we have to look at things in their historical context.

They lived in a revenge culture! If A stole B's camel, B would go kidnap A's sister, then A would murder B's parents, which would make B go burn down A's house and land with all of their family inside, A would torture B to death which would make B's children take up arms, and it could continue to escalate until there were multi-generation bloody wars going on. And do you know what God did when he introduced the concept of capping punishments to the Israelites? It stopped. Very little at first, just among them, but over time and as the other nations saw the power of the Hebrew God, they listened and changed themselves. And now, because of how God has changed society's concept of justice, there is no more need and very little want for extreme and overbearing punishment.

But, with these developments, the fear of punishment has slipped, undoubtably so. People think a lot less about punishment before commiting a crime unfortunately. Because it isn't as extreme anymore, or if it is its for all the wrong reasons in all the wrong places. And because of this, after decades of research, there is no solid evidence that the death penalty has any influence whatsoever on violent crime. Today, having life in prison is a far better way to correctly punish someone rather than excecute them, because now we're morally imprinted on a society that God has shaped to view punishment differently.

But more so- because there have been so many screw-ups when it comes to this that it makes me weep. Please read Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. Please go and take a look at that link and think about what you read there. Human error and sin have lead to so much pain and suffering that was totally undeserved and evil. Innocent people are dead, mentally disabled, or physically so. People who were in fact guilty still faced heinous circumstances that outweighed the wrong that they had done by a staggering amount. And both the innocent and guilty have staggered under the weight of injustice that has wrongly convicted them and ruined their lives- if they lived.

Also, we need to remember that our job today with the justice system is not to give out the final punishment that person may or may not deserve in this life. That's Jesus' job on judgement day. The laws that Ancient Israel had back then should be treated differently than 21st century America today. The law is good if used properly- but the death penalty isn't that today. The holy men who used to distribute God's justice in Israel would do so by God's standard, and everyone understood and submitted under His authority willingly. They understood the why behind it. Did those guys who decided on punishment ever screw up like today and commit injustice? I don't know. I'm not going to speculate. But what I do know? According to the way that God outlined what the acceptable use of the death penalty, that is good. That is justice. I completely and totally agree with that.

But that isn't America today. America is not a Christian country. And we don't function as a theocracy. A lot of very powerful people blaspheme God and do not care about the morality He has laid on our hearts. And people are wicked and will do wicked things, not caring for those they have hurt. They have wielded the justice system to hurt people, the innocent yes, but also the guilty more than they deserved. Which is also unjust. And because of people's action, or inaction, so much pain and suffering has manifested in the world.

And look- God can do anything. Absolutely, 100%. The heart of kings is like water in His hand. Even if we screw up, His plan will come through anyway and He'll use it for good. But Scripture makes abundently clear that our actions do indeed have consequences and do have an effect. I'm not God, there is a lot of gray area, I don't fully understand it or how it lines up for or against His plan, but all I do know is that He has set things before us to achieve and it is our duty to carry them out with everything that we've got. All I can see when I look at the justice system today is overwhelming evidence for a need for reform and to protect the incarcerated- those who do in fact deserve to be there, as well as those who are innocent and are suffocating under the weight of injustice.

Unfortunately, the death penalty is not unconstitutional… as of right now. We can amend it to be so however. And same with abolishing it on a state by state level, we could get there. Which is why we sorely need more Christians to go into law, civil rights, and politics, despite how hard and ugly they can be. We need more people to stand up and shout that this is vile and wrong and hurts the world. There have been some huge wins against capital punishment! In Furman v. Georgia it was decided that the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment when the punishment was not proportional to the crime. This lead 35 states to pass refined death penalty laws and Congress to pass statutory guidelines for death sentences. Praise God and hallelujah! If we can continue this and stregthen it, we very well could be on the way to better justice and abolishment in the not-so-near future.

I doubt that our country will ever reach a place of being able to perfectly align the legal system with Old Testament law and advocate for the death penalty in the cases that the Bible states. Because society and culture today are different. A majority of people in the judicial system are not religious, let alone Christian. So they're not thinking in the way that we think about these things. And I've barely touched on the fact that logistically, the death penalty costs so much money and time that it is literally cheaper to feed and care for someone spending seventy years behind bars than it is to pay for the legal proccess of that person's case, on both the defensive and offensive's accounts, but its true. A HUGE reason to totally abolish the penalty due to our culture today and how its changed. And it is going to be far better to advocate for life in prison rather than death- because that means anytime there is human error, we're looking to release people from jail with a big check rather than mourn over the fact that if we had just been a little bit better at our jobs in the legal system, we wouldn't be leaving flowers at their grave.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that it is the calling of the faithful to save as many people as we can. That means that we evangelize and preach the Gospel to the world no matter what. While Jesus is the only one who saves, and one only comes to the Father if He has first called him, we’re called in Romans 10 and many other places to tell as many as possible. Because how can they come to God if they never know Him? Which is why Christians are called to preach the Gospel to every tounge, tribe, and nation.

I apply the same philosophy here. I am going to do everything in my power for the rest of my life to save the physical lives of as many people as possible according to my convictions and what I see God calling for us as His children to do to the justice system as it is the way it is today. Because how can I hope to save someone who is dead, or so mentally damaged they may never be able to grasp the Word? Before I can work to save their souls, I have to save their life.

SIDE NOTE: anyone reading this who doesn’t believe in racial injustice needs to wake up and go read some statistics and go look at the EJI website, It is real, it is happening, and it will keep happening until we stop racial inequality. Believe it or not, while there are no laws that spell out racial inequality that are still in force, it is still very much present and active socially, especially in the Deep South. If you do not believe in racial inequality and how its affecting innocent people, either ask me more about it or just unfollow me. I might not post about this topic often but it doesn’t mean I am filled with a fiery passion and conviction to bring forth change every time I think of it.

Reminder that the death penalty is highly unethical and should be completely and totally abolished with no exceptions.

[chocolate-cream-soldier]

Oh my gods now that I know that there's a very real possibility that Agatha and Rio are maybe inspired from God Shiva- Devi Parvati it's all making sense to me in much deeper level now. I don't even know how to explain but YES their story is a direct parallel when you think about it..I need someone to come and scream with me. My mind is reeling!