#(And also the architecture of his own destruction)

[asha-mage]

RWBY Musing: Adam's as The Beast

But god, Adam's allusion being The Beast is so good on so many levels.

What is the Beast's curse? To remain a monster until he can learn to love and love in return. What does RWBY establish again and again and again is the only way to heal from trauma and pain and injustice? To be shown kindness and compassion, and to learn to show those in kind.

What is the foundation of love in RWBY shown to be again and again? Friendship, companionship, security, understanding. What is Adam denied again and again, by both his own actions and the actions of others? Friendship, companionship, security, warmth.

In the movie, The Beast is surrounded by people who care for and understand him: not just Belle, but Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs Pots, etc. Even though their servants, and made into literal objects by the curse, their willing to help him, to guide him, to tell him when he's wrong or being an asshole, and to encourage him to keep trying. Adam is surrounded by White Fang members who are blinded by combination of adoration and fear, who lionize him as a hero for his capacity for violence and who are utterly unwilling to confront or challenge him, even when they know he's wrong. And when things go south as a result, when he no longer appears to be this flawless savior, this avatar of their vengeance, what do they do? Abandon him, because their loyalty was never real, never based on anything more then his capacity to do violence.

And then their's Blake: Belle is willing to stand up to her Beast, to tell him when he's being a jerk and to refuse to play along. Even though she's entirely in his power, she refuses to let fear control her actions, to just capitulate. They come to love each other because of this, because the Beast learns to do better and be better, and because Belle refuses to accept less. Blake on the other hand, as we see in the Adam Character Short, is perfectly content to accept less. She accepts Adam's excuses, his violence, his growing monstrosity, because she's afraid of what it will mean if she doesn't. She's left everything behind to be with him, and to keep fighting for the White Fang: her family, her home, the ideals she was raised with. And what happens when it gets to be to much? When she can no longer let herself be blind to what Adam has become? She runs, rather then confront him. Because she knows how he will answer that confrontation, the same way he deals with everything else: with violence.

Even the mirror: the Enchantress leaves the Beast a mirror that can show him anything in the world, a way to gaze out at what lays beyond his prison, to show him him humanity and teach him. And what what group is absolutely swathed in mirror and reflection symbolism in the RWBY world? The SDC and the Schnee family. And what does the SDC do to him? It blinds him in one eye. It takes away his ability to see, and in so doing destroy his ability to see the good in the world (like the mirror in Hans Christian Anderson's Snow Queen). The SDC enacts onto an innocent boy such a terrible violence that he is forever marked by it, and twisted by it.

Adam is the boy the world only hurt, again and again and so all he knows is how to hurt. That's the essence of his Semblance: he absorbs all the damage with his sword, all the pain thrown his way and channels it out back into a weapon. He literally takes the pain and turns it into a tool to lash out. Because that's all Adam has ever known: being hurt and hten hurting the world in return. Yang's Semblance lets her channel the hits she takes into raw strength, not just damage, and that's what allows her to snap Adam's blade in two, because their's a difference we're reminded again and again, between being powerful and being strong.

The only thing that can save Adam is being loved and loving in return and it impossible. His own violence destroys any chance he might truly be loved: he can only be feared or revered. The violence he's been through has kept him from ever learning how to really love: no one has ever shown him kindness and compassion so he doesn't know how to show them in turn.

And if you listen to Lionize it's especially sad because it becomes clear that all Adam wants is to be a hero just like the rest of the Beacon kids. But his reasons are different, neither as altruistic as Ruby's desire to save the world for its own sake, or as messy as Jaune's desire to live up to his family legacy. Adam wants to be his people's savior, to be adored and revered by them because he thinks that will finally be enough to heal what the SDC destroyed in him. But violence alone can not save the world, can not make peace, and violence is all Adam has to offer the Faunus, because he was never taught anything else. His ending, perusing the path of throwing violence against those who wronged him past all reason and sense, until it literally destroys him, is a tragedy. They even say it in Nevermore outright:

There's no cause to celebrate Another soul consumed by hate and spite Another destroyed life There's no pleasure, there's no joy It's just a story of a boy who lost his way Into shadows strayed

[hayanahed]

Emergency: Help Evacuate My Family From GAZA WAR

Dear Humanity,

I'm Haya from Gaza , from a family of 8 people: my parents, two sons, and four daughters (two of them suffer from allergies).

I've witnessed the evidence of the tragedy that has struck our lives in Gaza, where my family and I have survived amidst numerous previous wars. But today, we face the most dangerous and fierce battle in the current war. The urgent need intensifies for us, as we have nothing left and are unable to secure our basic needs such as food, water, and safe shelter.

Here is our story - On October 7th, our lives changed forever, my family and I evacuated from northern Gaza to southern Gaza, hoping to return soon, but it wasn't meant to be. Our home was surrounded, burned, and then completely destroyed, Our home, once a fortress of hope, now lay in ruins, a stark reminder of our shattered dreams.

The night before we left from the north to the south was terrifying. Shelling sounds were everywhere, making a loud noise that felt like it went through our souls. Every explosions shook the ground like earthquakes, sending shockwaves of fear through our trembling bodies. filling us with fear. The air smelled of destruction and blood, making it hard to breathe. When dawn came, we saw the devastation around us, realizing our home was now a symbol of loss and despair.

We ran into the streets and with each step we took into the unknown streets, we felt as if we were plunging deeper into the abyss of our shattered existence, leaving behind everything we own in our home: Clothes, important official documents, the car, and literally it's almost everything - the enormity of our loss weighed heavily upon us.

Our home it was where we found hope, safety, and made precious memories. Losing it felt like losing years of our lives, leaving us adrift amidst the wreckage of our shattered existence.

A brief video depicting the devastation that struck our home and our entire neighborhood in Gaza.

Desperate Plea: Escaping Gaza's Allergy Nightmare

I, Haya, suffer from severe allergy to penicillin-derived medications, and my sister, Amal, also suffers from severe allergies to medications from my family such as Paracetamol and Ibuprofen.

These allergies create a deep sense of fear and anxiety for us, as we live in a constant state of tension and fear of anything that may require a visit to the hospital. We fear being given inappropriate medications due to the unavailability of suitable treatments in Gaza because of war or lack of awareness and not informing the doctor of our allergies, which could lead to serious consequences threatening our lives.

MY Father Income

Our dreams are heading towards oblivion in the labyrinth of an uncertain future

My story, along with my siblings, represents a united team of four individuals, three of whom are skilled programmers and one graphic designer. We work as freelancers in the world of freelancing.

As for my younger sister, she is a student studying at the College of Architecture. She has always carried a big dream in her heart, a dream of being part of changing Gaza, of making it more beautiful and better. She looked forward to the day when she would receive her degree and start building this dream. But the beginning of the war changed everything. The destruction of infrastructure and universities cast shadows of despair over her dreams.

When I think of my brother in Belgium, I can't help but feel deep sadness. He has been suffering from unbearable anxiety and insomnia since the outbreak of the war. Sleep eludes him at night, and his physical and mental health collapses under the weight of these heavy burdens, negatively affecting his performance at work. Problems and challenges pile up in front of him without the slightest opportunity for rest.

We all feel psychological pressure and extreme anxiety. The war hasn't been limited to external attacks but has deeply infiltrated our daily lives. We search among the rubble for a little safety and the basic resources for survival. Every day comes with a new challenge that we must overcome.

As we sway amidst the rubble of shattered dreams, our souls wrestle and our hearts beat strongly challenging the ravages of war.

Our parents earnestly seek a way to rescue us from this hell, feeling the heavy responsibility for every moment we spend under the shadows of fear and destruction. They dream of a safe place where they can build for us a better future, filled with security and hope, for we deserve life in all its meanings of comfort and peace.

Perhaps this fundraising campaign represents a light in the midst of darkness, it is indeed the only hope we cling to firmly.

I appeal to the world as a whole to hear my cry and the mournful cry of my family in Gaza. We need the helping hand that reaches out to wipe our tears and build a bridge to safety.

Your donation is not just a donation; it's an opportunity to rebuild life and brighten a better tomorrow. Be part of our hopeful story, for we need your hand to start anew.

The purpose of the fundraising campaign

The goal of this fundraising campaign is to rescue my family - my parents, my siblings, and me - through the Rafah Crossing to Egypt, which currently requires $5000 per person. This campaign is our only chance to stay alive, and I humbly request your assistance at this critical time. I will provide you with a comprehensive breakdown of the expenses, committing to transparency and clarity.

All of our important links are here https://linktr.ee/hayanahed

Verified by :

⭐️ operation olive branch, number 26 on their spreadsheet. (On Master list)

⭐️ Project watermelon,line 249 on their spreadsheet. Or you could see it as number 212 here is the photo for more clear proof

Thank you for your kindness and support.

.جزاكم الله خيراً

yours sincerely;

Haya Alshawish.

[kiragecko]

Story Idea

Telekinetic supervillain who REALLY loves historical architecture. Living in a superhero universe where heroes keep crashing through stained glass windows and leveling entire streets. As well as the normal corruption causing building to be demolished or “restored” in extremely destructive ways.

Kinda has Poison Ivy vibes, without any of the femme fatale trappings - her entire focus is preserving historical valuable buildings, and she doesn’t really care if humans that get in the way die. But she also isn’t going out of her way to kill people.

And the leader of the local superhero team can see where she’s coming from. And decides that just throwing her in jail every time she acts up is a sign they’re failing in their duty to protect the city. Instead, he starts trying to gain her trust. He doesn’t care that much about buildings, but he works on lessening his team’s collateral damage. He promises the supervillain that he’ll try to pressure the city government if she brings problems to him rather than taking them into her own hands. Eventually, he convinces her that she can protect the city’s infrastructure better by being on his team than she can on her own.

She’s incredibly helpful! She will keep burning buildings from collapsing until everyone can get out and the fire is extinguished. She’ll hold skyscrapers up while supervillains reign destruction down around them. She’ll deconstruct traps and grumpily direct her teammates towards the hidden mastermind who set them up. And when the crisis is over, she’ll see what can be salvaged and rebuild it if possible.

But she’s a PR nightmare.

Former Supervillain refuses to help people. She DOES NOT care. Your kid is trapped in the burning building? That is not her problem. Go bother someone else. Dude is holding a bunch of people hostage? It’s fine, he’s not causing any damage to the building he’s in.

People DO NOT like this attitude. People do not accept that she’s part of a team, and other heroes are capable of filling the “empathy” and “human rescuing” gaps.

And she’s high maintenance! The team frequently end up in situations where protecting lives is in conflict with protecting property. They take missions that mean very little to them, because they’re important to her. And the leader is constantly having to talk her out of rampages, pressuring the government to drop lucrative and unethical contracts, and making sure she’s sticking to the plan in the field. And she isn’t interested in interpersonal relationships or social niceties, so none of them are even doing this out of friendship!

-

Sometimes, you help someone not because they’ll be grateful, but because it will make your community better. Sometimes, you help the local drug addict not because he’s likely to turn his life around, but because he smashes less windows when he has a warm, quiet space to stay. And sometimes, keeping that community benefit takes a long term commitment.

I want to see a superhero team turn a villain as harm prevention and then willingly bear the cost of keeping that villain from causing harm. Not because it’s rewarding (though there are rewards) but because it’s more effective than any other method. And I want the villain to go along with it because the heroes actually found a more efficient way for her to reach her goals.

And it being messy for everyone, but I want them to make it work. And it to be worth it, in the end.

[two-stars]

fuck it. I’m analyzing Dr Ratio’s eidolons.

I interpret eidolons as different facets of a persons character, tying back into their journey in life. (Also this shit loooong so I’m putting it under cut)

1. Pride Comes Before a Fall: this phrase originates from the Bible (proverbs 16:18), which talk of how the sin of pride will eventually lead to destruction, and telling one to practice humility*. To me, this phrase refers possibly to Ratio’s desire to be noticed by Nous. His pride originating from his previous achievements, lauded and touted as a prodigy from a young age (this is, of course, speculation because MIHOYO WONT GIVE ME RATIO LOOREEE). Through this pride, we can obviously see what happens next: he is never noticed by Nous, this is his fall. Either in the eyes of others, or himself (as it is never outright stated that Ratio sought the gaze of Nous, but I subscribe heavily to this line of thinking, due to his voiceline when you max level him: “If this day I have not gained the recognition of Nous, it stands to reason I never will at any point in the future”).

2. The Divine is In the Details: This is an idiom, although it’s more commonly said as “God is in the details”. This phrase is meant to emphasize the importance of the smaller, overlooked details which make up the whole. This is used most often in art and architecture, but can be applied to many other things. I connect this to Ratio’s meticulous nature as a scholar and researcher, but I also draw lines to his 1st eidolon. After Ratio is rejected by the higher powers, he turns instead to the “insignificant” common people, realizing their importance— we know that Ratio values all life, even one’s “marked by failure”, which others may overlook. Real divinity is not the God, but rather the beauty of humanity’s falls and successes.

3. Know Thyself: This was a proverb written upon the temple of Apollo, in Delphi, Ancient Greece. This has many meanings, from knowing your limits (either as one’s place in the universe, or your own mortality), to the broader interpretation by Plato as knowing your soul, and a a common theme of through studying the self could one know the universe. All of these relate heavily to Ratio, considering his tenets of self-improvement. He also references in his line when he finds an enemy target, “You learn to know yourself before your enemy.” (Which is ALSO a quote from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War.) I think this one is pretty self explanatory as a continuation to the previous Eidolons, after his rejection, he seeks to reevaluate (relearn) himself and his stance in life.

4. Ignorance Is Blight: This represents Ratio’s goal to eradicate ignorance and stupidity across the universe, but it is also a inverse on the popular idiom “ignorance is bliss”. This idiom is basically everything Ratio stands against, he will know and say the truth unfiltered, even if it is uncomfortable. I also see this as Ratio finally discovering his calling as a teacher.

5. Sic Itur Ad Astra*: Written in the Aeneid, meaning “thus one journeys to the stars”. It has merged over time with another phrase in the Aeneid, “opta ardua pennis astra sequi” (meaning: desire to pursue the difficult-to-reach stars) becoming the common encouragement, “Reach for the stars.” We know Ratio never settles for doing anything in halves, and as a teacher, he constantly pushes others and himself to reach for high goals. Although his methods can be harsh, it is ultimately through strife (“— it is only in moments on solitude and despair, when help is absent, that fools grasp how to pick themselves up.”), that he seeks to unlock the potential of every person. This is most obviously seen in the Trailblazer Continuance quest: Crown of Mundane and Divine where he leverages the situation to try and topple the blind worship of the Genius Society on the space station.

6. Vincit Omnia Veritas: Meaning: Truth conquers all things. Surface level, this one is pretty straightforward too, Ratio values truth highly, and to him, it is the antithesis to ignorance, and therefore knowledge. As his Ultimate voiceline goes, he says, “Knowledge is the measure of all things. It reveals truth, and falsehood.” What I want to focus on however, is his pose in the eidolon. It is the exact same pose as Michelangelo’s David statue. This depiction is of David before his famous battle with Goliath. In this eidolon, Ratio is the figure David, who was also known as a symbol of the protection of civil liberties. And in by interpretation, Goliath is the stupidity he wants to eradicate. Just as truth conquers all things, Veritas will conquer all ignorance.

*— I also think this is why he consistently downplays himself and avoids the spotlight (calling himself a supporting character).

*— fun fact, this phrase is also used as the motto of Cambridge University, very fitting.

[skyeslittlecorner]

Can I request some scenarios between Mc and the kings? Like how MC is amused by the king's powers and they let MC play with it.

Yeah like play with Satan's weapons and be bitten by him, Mammon's golden hand and the ability to build buildings, Leviathan's monsters and ropes, Beelzebub... 🤷‍♀️ Not sure if playing with the clones or flies better 🫢 (it's just my thoughts, you can write the things that easier for you to write ofc :3)

As a descendant of Solomon, we have access to the power of kings (chapter 4 for example). I wonder how much fun they will have when we use these powers~

Satan's power isn't just about creating weapons. He can create anything from scythes to diamonds. It also works much better if you bite the one who loves you the most. At this point, the entire Gehenna will lie down at your feet, offering you their wrists, necks, or - nothing else, because even by offering the neck, Satan will kick their asses so much that they will fly for a week. He himself is at your service. He will be amused, wiping the blood dripping from your chin, and watching the destruction you bring in his name.

Mammon will offer you private lessons. Making fists is fun, but when you try something more complicated, you end up with very poor modern art sculptures. You need to have at least the basics of sculpture and architecture so that what you have in your head translates into reality. The wasteland where you practice will become an art gallery in the future, and the little demons will have to interpret what you meant. Of course, some of them are Neo Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon.

Beelzebub rather wants you to play with his teleportation than his clones. But okay, no problem, he can clone himself enough times for you to be a couple and a hundredfold. Of course, you can't be with him and the other demons like this. After all, stealing your lover is the ultimate crime, and you are still you. As for the insects, Beel is curious which of you they will listen to more. He will order them to submit completely to you so that you can have fun. He will show you the most beautiful of them, such as moths and butterflies, but also the tastiest... at least in his opinion.

Leviathan. Phew. Dear. There are *so many* possibilities here. Ropes, tentacles and a masochist, what more could you want? His monsters are not very cooperative, at least at first, which is why you will hear a few comments about your incompetence. Then you can shove all these words down his throat when, with a wave of your finger, you tie him up like a puppet and tell your tentacles to play with his own little tentacle. Or maybe you will play with them yourself and make him watch, enjoying his jealousy and fury… there are many options.

[blasphemousclaw]

thank you for being so normal about the hornsent 🙏 Thank you cause jesus christ. anyways for the ask ermm The hornsent npc melina or messmer

you’re welcome I just got so attached to the hornsent while playing the dlc! after watching Belurat burn in the story trailer, going into the ruined city in the game and seeing all the graves and mourning spirits really affected me, and I’m honestly shocked that such a huge portion of the fanbase didn’t feel the same way. also they are literally so cool like look at their art and architecture. their armor sets. their divine beast dancing lion. if people can’t enjoy that because they’re “evil” well I have great news. they are not real

anyway here’s capital H Hornsent my best friend Hornsent

• favorite thing about them

how his quest ends with him attacking us no matter what we do. I know I know! it’s so frustrating that we can’t convince him we’re on his side! but the fact that he tries so hard to push us away just makes me love him more! he refuses our second offering of scorpion stew because he isn’t here to make friends, he’s here to win he’s given his life for his revenge... his line “I wish not to friendship kindle” drives me crazy because we have this moment of human connection with him, which he acknowledges, but he can’t let himself lose sight of his purpose! admit it Hornsent. you like me

also his character design and voice acting are fantastic

• least favorite thing about them

I already like how his character is handled but I think it would be even stronger if he or someone else dropped a few more details about life in Belurat before the crusade. he enacts his revenge not just in the name of his murdered family but his entire culture, and it would be nice to learn a few more hornsent cultural details through him!

• favorite line

“What’s this? Do you think me in need of alms? Ah… but this dish. Tis fare o’ the tower. I remember fondly this kin-clad scent. …Brings back memories I’d all but forgot. This, by my troth, is but a dismal copy. Indeed, I think it rather plain to see… things once broken can never be the same.”

I love the scorpion stew interaction so much! “things once broken can never be the same” hits so hard after exploring Belurat and seeing the city’s destruction, and pairing this dialogue with the scorpion stew description is even more tragic: “Traditional meal of the hornsent. Once made with love by a certain elderly woman for the family table.”

• brOTP ОТР whatever this is

Hornsent and Tarnished. what if I could fix him

• nОТР

I don’t think about this at all

• random headcanon

the marks on his face are burn scars from the fires… I think he had hair but it mostly burned off. maybe I’ll draw what I think his face looked like without the limitations of the npc character model sometime

• unpopular opinion

I don’t think he was a greater potentate! I think it’s strongly implied that he lived in Belurat before the crusade, not Bonny Village. I think he sought out the potentates’ caterpillar mask because it’s used to enhance focus and banish feelings of doubt in one’s purpose, which makes perfect sense for his revenge quest

• song i associate with them

once again please leave any suggestions in the replies/tags!!

• favorite picture of them

not to boost my own content but this was hysterical

[beardeddetectivepaper]

$40,191/$80,000‼️‼️‼️

Unfortunately our old fundraiser deleted after collecting 82457€ , but our ultimate goal was 150000€ , so I’m asking you to read the last update before start reading my words to understand everything ❤️ My name is Abdulla Daoud , I’m a 4th year medical student at Al-Azhar University Of Gaza , I have 7 sisters , four of them are married, and have their own families , one of my sisters and her family were lost in this war I’m fundraising for me and my family , to survive our souls , and catch up the remains of our lost dreams , we fully lost everything we own (homes, works, futures, souls and loved ones) We were briefly displaced from our home which is completely destroyed , and moved to more than 7 places . One of this places was my Dear Sister’s home , Noura Daoud , which is already destroyed over their heads , and killed with her family , and the only survivor of this genocide her son , Muhammad shaheen ,with an eye injury , but thanks god for him , he had a medical transfer to Turkey , and unfortunately we couldn’t leave the war with him. Another place , my sister’s home , Hend Daoud , which we escaped death from a few minutes before its destruction . We reached another bad news about my dear sister, Heba Daoud , along with her husband and children, that they were under the rubble, injured, and there was no way to get them out, and they remained there more than 48 hours under bombs and fire belts, Her husband's family all killed , but by God’s mercy she escaped by walking on foot with her injured husband . I was dreaming of being a doctor such as my father , and already finished 3 years of the journey , which costs me 15,000 dollar per year, As like as My sister , Menna Daoud , was dreaming of being an architecture , and since 7th of October our academic education is stopped for unknown period. My father is a doctor lost his clinic and lost his job as a lecturer in Al-Azhar University which is also destroyed. A week after 7th of October was my sister's wedding ,Asma Daoud ,but everything destroyed .

The bombing is getting hard day after day, and the nights is getting worse and we cannot sleep safely anymore, we wake up every day and see the remains of martyrs being buried in the lands next to us , there is no place to live anymore , no memories, dreams, childhood, or even clothes left , and we all escaped death many times we hope you help us to get out of Gaza very soon , and if the war ends the rebuilding will take years and a huge amount of money. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of the expenses, provided for transparency and your clear understanding. Breakdown of Expenses * Rafah/Egypt crossing: 5000$ per person ( a total of 65,000$ for fourteen family members) * Visa application fees: $300 per person ( a total of $4,200 for fourteen family members) * ⁠Passport fees: $100 per person (a total of $500 for five children ) * Flight from Cairo to destination (one way): $650 per person (a total of $9,100 for fourteen family members) *My father treatment 30,000$ * Minimum living costs: $5000 per month (a total of $30,000 for six months) * My education : $20,000 per year ( a total of $60,000 for three years ) * My sister education : $15,000 per year ( a total of 75,000 for five years )

[useless-catalanfacts]

Did you know that the Catalan vault can be found in many buildings of the United States of America?

Here's some examples:

Grand Central Terminal, New York City. Photo from Getty.

Boston Public Library. Photo by Michael Freeman/Boston Public Library.

Ellis Island Registry Room, New York. Photo by Mike Ward on Flickr.

City Hall station of the New York subway. Photo by Michael Freeman.

The Catalan vault is a brick arch that is widely used in traditional Catalan architecture. It's also present in other parts of the Mediterranean, but not as common. Its main characteristic is that it's built with the longest side of the brick facing down (usually, ceilings are made with the shortest side facing down) and with a very gentle curve, resulting in a strong self-supporting vault that allows covering a whole room without needing columns or pillars in a way that would be impossible with other kinds of masonry, and also makes it possible to build it quickly and without needing centering (the wooden structure used to support the vault or arch while it's being built, and which is removed once it's made).

So how did it make its way to the USA?

It was brought by the Valencian architect Rafael Guastavino i Moreno (1842-1908). He had already designed important industrial buildings in Catalonia, including the factory that later became the Industrial School in Barcelona and La Massa theatre in Vilassar de Dalt, among others. At the time, in Catalonia, the Catalan vault was being widely used to cover ceilings in factories.

In 1881, Guastavino moved to New York City (USA), where he used the Catalan vault to cover big ceilings, which made him gain some fame for it. He patented the vault in the USA with the name "Guastavino system".

At the time, Americans were very worried about buildings catching fire, because it often happened and had caused a huge destruction in the Chicago 1871 fire. As a response, in 1883 Guastavino bought a patch of land in Connecticut, built two houses in it using the Catalan vault, and set them on fire. He took photos of the whole process to document it and prove how this architecture style is efficient in the case of fire. He wrote about it in the magazine Decorator and Furnisher and soon won the contest to design the Progress Club's building in New York City, which made him famous among architects in the area.

He created his own company (Guastavino Fireproof Construction Company) which was focused on building the Catalan vault. He was hired for many buildings and this architectural element spread. Most churches with stone vaults built between 1890 and 1940 in the USA were designed by Guastavino's firm, as well as many other buildings across the country, particularly New York and Massachusetts.

He's buried in the St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville (North Carolina, USA), a building he designed.

[momentov1vere]

Assigning PJO/ HoO characters to Knights Radiant orders (+ my reasoning)

I put too much thought into this not to share it somewhere so here’s a sort-of character analysis that is much longer than it needs to be (bc I was bored and stuck in a car for 10 hours) :)

Not sure how much of a crossover there is between the PJO and Stormlight Archive fandoms but this was mostly for fun (and I want to see what happens lol)

Here we go!

——————————————————————————

🔱 Percy Jackson : Stoneward

The powers don’t rly fit (Cohesion- manipulating objects at a molecular level- & Tension- changing the stiffness of something) but none of the Radiants have water powers so 🤷‍♀️

Loyalty is pretty much the #1 belief of the Stonewards (“Though sometimes gregarious, they are never flighty. If a Stoneward is your friend, they will be there for you”) and Percy’s fatal flaw is literally loyalty so that’s that

Percy is said to be one of the best fighters seen like anywhere in a long time and Stonewards are the order that is viewed as the best soldiers of the Radiants

They like a challenge and will often take on more than they can handle (like Percy choosing to take on the Great Prophecy)

Stonewards are also good at being able to find a solution to a difficult situation with only few resources and Percy often comes up with things on the fly/ improvises

I struggled SO MUCH picking one for Percy oh my god he had similarities to like half of them (I almost made him a Bondsmith or a Windrunner but they didn’t seem right)

🦉 Annabeth Chase : Elsecaller

Powers : Transformation (changing an object into something else- aka ‘Soulcasting’) and Transportation (looking/moving between realms); Annabeth likes creating new things (architecture) so there’s a bit of a connection to the Transformation power even tho she doesn’t really have powers

Elsecallers are always trying to reach their full potential, like how Annabeth is always be seen trying to learn new things and become the best version of herself

They are regarded as the ‘wisest’ Radiant order (just like Annabeth/ the Athena cabin are viewed as the ‘wisest’ demigods)

Annabeth always has her goals in mind but also always trying to lead and encourage others (like Damasen) which is common amongst Elsecallers

🐐 Grover Underwood : Edgedancer

Powers: Abrasion (altering the friction between surfaces) & Progression (quickly growing organic objects faster than normal- including plants, skin, body tissue, etc.)

He’s able to make plants grow faster using his magic reed pipe so that would translate into Progression

Abrasion would kind of fit for him too, bc of the goat legs (he’s able to navigate more difficult terrain than humans)

Edgedancers care about the ordinary/ overlooked people of the world and spend most of their time making sure those people are protected. Grover cares deeply about nature/ animals and always tries to protect them bc humans often deem nature unimportant (nature = ordinary people in this scenario)

☠️ Nico di Angelo : Dustbringer

Powers: Division (control over destruction/ decay) and Abrasion

I don’t know if Nico has anything that really fits the Abrasion power- except for maybe the fact that his shadow travel helps him get places quickly- but Division is definitely similar to his power over death/ earthy materials

Dustbringers typically don’t get along with others (including people in their own order) because of personality differences and stereotypes about their powers like how Nico is often ostracized at first bc he scares people

☀️ Will Solace : Edgedancer

Powers: Abrasion & Progression

Will is a healer so Progression would be a good power for him to have; while he doesn’t have any powers similar to Abrasion I think it would be useful for him to have to get to injured people faster

Will cares about everyone and will do his best to heal anyone because he doesn’t want anyone to suffer, and he doesn’t just focus on the powerful demigods- he makes sure to lend his power anywhere it’s needed

Fighting is not the the Edgedancers’ main concern, preferring to protect/help the injured (especially people who aren’t necessarily warriors) and Will also is more like a wartime medic than a fighter (though he- and the Edgedancers- can fight if necessary)

They want to see and understand both sides of something, even their enemies, rather than seeing everything in black and white. Will struggled with this in TSATS but eventually realized that places like the Underworld aren’t necessarily just about death/decay, but are also about life

🌩️ Jason Grace : Windrunner

Well first of all the man flies and that’s basically what the Windrunners do lol

Their powers: Adhesion (temporarily sticking two objects together) and Gravitation (changing the direction/ strength of something’s gravitational pull)

He cares a lot about protecting innocents/ the defenseless and keeping his friends safe which is a main idea of the Windrunners

Windrunners are very militaristic in general and Jason was raised by the wolves and the Romans to be that way as well

Tempest would be his windspren & prefer a horse form cus they can do that (I think)

⚡️ Thalia Grace : Windrunner

I know she hates flying but I don’t think it’s really a requirement of the Windrunners to ‘fly’; they mostly just change the direction/amount of gravity that’s pulling on them so she could find creative ways to use Gravitation (walking on walls/ceilings which then appear to be the floor to her, etc)

The Hunters of Artemis are pretty militaristic as well (they have a specific leader & ways of doing things, similar to the Romans)

Thalia cares about innocent people/creatures and is very protective over the people she cares about (Annabeth, the Hunters, etc)

Windrunners tend to attract “big-sibling types” and Thalia is definitely a big sibling type lol

🏹 Frank Zhang : Stoneward

Powers don’t rly fit him either but personality-wise I think it’s right

Frank is really loyal to his friends (sometimes to the point of attacking/fighting people more powerful than him to save them) and will always be there for them both in battle and for personal issues

He’s pretty good at improvising and his shapeshifting allows him to come up with creative solutions (turning into an iguana to get out of the Chinese handcuffs lol)

He’s also pretty quick to come up with creative solutions without many resources (using his firewood to free Thanatos when there was no other heat source, etc.)

💎 Hazel Levesque : Lightweaver

Powers : Illumination (illusions) and Transformation

Hazel learned how to manipulate the mist from Hecate, essentially giving her illusion powers, & she can change the shape of earthly materials (can’t change the material but it’s close enough to Transformation); this is one case where I almost made her a Stoneward but Lightweaver just fit better for everything else I think

Lightweavers are the ‘artistic’ order and attract people who love art/ creativity (Hazel is an artist)

They tend to not follow rules the way other orders do, instead choosing to reach their goals by their own means (ex. Hazel choosing to go her own way and make her own choices rather than taking one of the paths Hecate gave her in HoH)

🔥 Leo Valdez : Dustbringer

Same as Nico; both of them being Dustbringers would be an example of contrasting/ clashing personalities within the order

Fire is definitely a destructive ability similar to Division (they can burn things) and without a level of control (which Dustbringers need to learn before they can advance their powers) things could get bad (and have- rip Esperanza Valdez)

Leo hasn’t really been ostracized for his personality like Dustbringers could be but his powers originally made people scared (they didn’t know he had them at the time but his cabinmates did say a that having that power was dangerous and they hoped no one would ever have it again so he took that a little personally)

🗡️ Reyna Ramirez-Arellano : Bondsmith

She’d be bonded to the Stormfather (1 of 3 beings who can gift Bondsmith abilities), allowing her to generate Stormlight and infuse other Radiants with it; this is incredibly draining and similar to Reyna’s ability to share her strength

Bondsmiths’ main focus is unity/ bringing people together and Reyna definitely spends a lot of time attempting to unite the Roman and Greek camp (after all, she did spend an entire book helping Nico and Coach Hedge get the Athena Parthenos back to CHB as a peace offering)

Bondsmith powers aren’t typically used for fighting but rather for assisting other Radiants and keep them fighting; Reyna is skilled with weapons but doesn’t use her powers to fight, only to help others keep up their strength/ motivation

🕊️ Piper McLean : Lightweaver

Piper had some personal things that she had to work out (lying to her friends in TLH, etc) before she fully embraced her power, & Lightweavers have to come to terms with truths about themselves before they can progress as people & as Radiants

There aren’t really any Radiant orders that work with manipulation magic so it’s hard to bring the Charmspeak in but the illusion magic Lightweavers have does allow them to change their appearance, so I’d imagine her using it to make herself super beautiful for espionage purposes or smth (maybe using it to transform into someone’s loved one?)

Transformation would allowed her to turn something into something else (etc. mud to food) which kind of relates to her cornucopia & how it makes food out of nothing

——————————————————————————

Hooray we made it to the end!! Sorry that this was so long, I had a looong time to think about this and wanted to get all my thoughts down

I mostly used coppermind.net and the descriptions of the Radiant orders on Sanderson’s website so some of this info may be a little inaccurate but this was just for fun lol

[sepublic]

So the jokes comparing Skar King to King Louie over their appearances, with a remix of I Wan’na Be like You playing in the background, are funny and all. But they’re also more true than most might realize???

In the Godzilla vs Kong novelization, it explains that the Great Apes were like any other titans in Hollow Earth… But then they became very intelligent. They got into groups, formed languages. They established hierarchies, made tools, created architecture… And also began enslaving other titans. They conquered and pillaged, expanded past their original roles in the ecosystem.

In essence, the Great Apes became too human. Which is a great way to build off of Kong showing how human he can be in that very film, which introduced his sign language, as well as emphasized that in Mothra’s absence only Kong can defend humanity. He’s always had a symbiotic relationship with the Iwi, and with the stereotype of apes and humans being alike, you could say Kong is the most human of our giant monsters.

So the inverse of that is fascinating to take into account as to why Godzilla fought with Kong’s ancestors, and blasted their empire back into the Stone Age as retaliation for the above-mentioned advancements, which in his eyes were transgressions; I dunno if humanity had already begun the same as the Great Apes, which came first, but one must’ve reminded Godzilla of the other. In fact maybe they evolved into civilizations alongside one another.

And that brings us to Godzilla x Kong and the introduction of Skar King, who is revealed as the original leader of the Great Apes that started that entire backstory. Adam Wingard described him as the most human of the Monsterverse Kaiju, in the worst way possible; He’s the dark reflection to Kong and us in that way. He wanted the Great Apes to become human; Maybe not in the sense that he was emulating us specifically, but in that he wanted to make his species act in all the ways associated with humanity. Dude even has a harem which hammers in how depraved he is.

And like any human leader, he’s not much on his own; But the armies he leads, the tools he has, the beasts he tames, that makes him dangerous. He is just a man in the end; Nothing without his followers and society. Skar King’s ambition in the past led to Godzilla knocking down the Great Apes a massive notch, which led to some fleeing to Skull Island; This sets Kong’s destiny in stone when the Skull Crawlers emerge there and kill his parents. The Godzilla-killing axe must’ve been created under Skar King’s rule, in fact he may have personally made and/or wielded it to begin with; Skar King could’ve recognized that weapon, and been reclaiming it when he first met Kong.

Skar King is responsible for Kong in a sense; To him, Kong is a feral child who just now has reconnected with society and begun to realize how intelligent he can really be; Hence the traps at the beginning of Godzilla x Kong. He’s a reverse Tarzan, funnily enough; Lost his parents and spent more time in the jungle with humans, who are his ‘apes’. Skar King created Kong, in other words his own downfall, just as he sired Suko who rebelled, enslaved Shimo who retaliated, crafted the axe that spelled his downfall, and angered Godzilla who fought back. Skar King made his own demise, he brought his kind to ruin in his attempts to control nature.

So when we go back to the comparisons with another red-haired ape who also wants to act human, in a very destructive way via mastering fire. Yeah I guess Skar King Louie really does wanna be like us.

[agentrouka-blog]

I would (partially) forgive condal & co of their writing crimes against humanity (😂) if they insert whatever house whent theory is because it would be hilarious as fuck (highly doubt it though with how much TB a$$ kissing they are doing).

I may searched about this upon seeing your post and read some reddit posts and saw some TB are calling this TG's delulu fantasy but seriously? It would be TG's biggest mic drop that aha, the current Starks actually have Targ blood, but do they know? Nope. Would they care? They'd probably have one second of existential crisis and an "ew" then going back to being badass and proud Starks and conveniently forget this.

Although it would still be nice that they don't have a shed of Targ in them because their family fought the long night even without dragons so duh they are quite capable and magical in their own right.

But you know, it also reminds me of this quote

"The northern girl. Winterfell’s daughter. We heard she killed the king with a spell, and afterward changed into a wolf with big leather wings like a bat, and flew out a tower window."

And how Sansa is currently the heir presumptive of Harrenhal as she is sill posing as Baelish's daughter.

But I see this more as an Alys mond also being a foreshadowing to Jonsa than the Starks being A&A's descendants?

(Alayne would not be heir presumptive of Harrenhal because she is a bastard.)

(I also don't see the jonsa in this so much as Melisandre or even Lady Stoneheart.)

But ultimately, I love how it's kind of irrelevant. The magic in that line is already far more interesting on Alys's side than on Aemond's, so if Catelyn's line is obscurely descended through Alys and Aemond, I would consider Alys as a native Riverlander so much more important to it. If there is one thing HOTD did well it's to showcase the fact that the Riverlands are "ancient" and tied to the old gods and the new, same as in the main series. The Ghost of High Heart appears to be an albino Child of the Forest, wreaking havoc with her prophecies in a way that sent House Targaryen spinning off the utter rails (again), sending Rhaegar diving through old Valyrian scrolls and dooming his whole dynasty. This is thousands of years after the Andals destroyed the sacred weirwood groves, and the GOHH is still shuffling around to make prophecies to Arya and Beric like it's no big deal. There's a whole cursed castle built out of weirwood on the edge of a lake with an island no one dares visit where there may or may not be an ancient magical order of green men guarding magic trees. Is that less powerful than what's going on with the "dragonblood" or what's happening in the North, all things considered?

Alys strikes me as powerful in a similar way. If there's magic informing the path of House Stark, it's the magic of the old gods and the Riverlands, and if there's Targness diluted in there, it's no more significant than the remnants in House Baratheon or House Martell or House Velaryon or House friggin Longwaters, or potentially House Hightower, House Tarth, or any further unrecorded descendents.

The Targaryens are a bit of a blip in Westeros, historically speaking. Harren Hoare's cursed legacy architectural project is going to outlast the dragonriders who melted a few of its towers from the way it seems, so... ultimately, it doesn't matter. They came, they self-destructed, and Westeros is carrying on.

[tokiro07]

Ichi the Witch ch.10 thoughts

[(N)Ice Boat]

(Topics: thematic analysis - Death for Death/talent, character analysis - Hisame, speculation - Kumugi/Magik/Minakata)

Dammit, I was wrong again, Ichi really did just make sashimi instead of turning Hisame into an outfit...I think @wickedsick predicted that, so good job, Wick

It was certainly well telegraphed, he was literally fileting her, and Desscaras/Kumugi were wearing the iconic sushi chef headband, I just was hoping for something a little more on-theme I guess

I'm not at all disappointed in this outcome, mind you, I'm just bitter about how I keep whiffing on what seem like easy pitches. I'll probably feel a lot better about it on reread, but right now I'm just a bit embarrassed

Enough lamenting though, let's focus on the chapter itself!

Good Enough to Eat

The sashimi boat really is the perfect solution to this trial, honestly. First and foremost, it's a solid reflection of Ichi's philosophy of Death for Death. As Ichi says in the flashback, the sashimi boat is an artistic and ritualistic expression of both respect and gratitude for the prey, the core ideology behind only killing when it is necessary for survival and not wanton destruction in the name of entertainment. The prey's life is not more valuable than the predator's, so Ichi wants to honor the life that he has taken for his own by treating it with dignity

Moreso than just the spirit behind Death for Death, it is also literally taking that philosophy to its logical conclusion by reflecting Hisame's own actions upon her. Hisame enjoyed putting her victims on display, making their frozen corpses into macabre architecture, so it's only fair that the same would be done to her. A punishment that fits the crime

However, it also is what allows Ichi to actually pass the trial because while it is a gruesome fate, it is not actually a punishment for Hisame. Like I said, it's a reflection of her own artistic sensibilities turned back on her; she is now the one being put on display as a grotesque art piece - of course she'd find that more beautiful than being trussed up in flowers or frills! She was telegraphing it the whole time!

It's also a fun play on Desscarass' attempt to cheat last week by saying true beauty is on the inside - by rending and exposing her flesh, Hisame can see her literal inner beauty in a way that is both novel and a perfect encapsulation of her sense of aesthetic

I do think that turning her into an outfit would have ultimately had the same effect, but focusing on Ichi's established specialties works much better as a bookend for this arc's themes

Playing to Your Strengths

While I initially wanted Kumugi to learn the lesson of individual capability directly, having her see it firsthand through Ichi's talents is a great way to set her arc on a slow burn rather than simply cooking it all the way through in one shot

Before, she was simply told of the idea, and now she's merely witnessing it in action, but she has yet to personally experience or internalize it, steps that will come later as she's forced to contend with her own shortcomings and insecurities

My guess is that she's meant to be more of the Usopp of the team, who even to this day is struggling to recognize just how far he's come in his personal journey. Like how Usopp had to learn to be brave in increasingly personally challenging scenarios, Kumugi is likely going to be put in scenarios that make her feel less and less suited to them, but through emulating Ichi, will slowly come to learn that her unique capabilities make her just as skilled as Ichi in her own way

But again, I'm getting ahead of myself. For now, what matters is that Desscaras' line about Ichi doing things that only he can do seems to have resonated with Kumugi, even if she doesn't fully understand why just yet

Speaking of things we don't fully understand yet, this chapter has left me with a couple of questions that I'm very excited to see addressed in the future

Gotta Catch 'Em All

First, as this is the first time we're seeing a non-combative trial, is it common for Magiks to be so peaceful when they become magic stones? Obviously Uroro was distraught, but should we expect most of them to be satisfied or even happy to be bested?

And for that matter, what does it actually mean to be turned into a magic stone? We know they can be returned to normal upon the death of their spell holder, but is it more of a seal or a cycle of death and rebirth?

Cus if it's the latter, then Magik psychology must be fascinating, as they're likely able to accept their deaths because they have such clarity of purpose in their lives. If it's the former, though, that raises a bunch more questions about their cognition

Are they conscious while in stone form? Is there any circumstance where they can be retrieved?

Uroro is obviously an exception where he can manifest of his own will, but when Ichi cast Inazuri and Inazuri appeared, was that simply an apparition to represent him, or was it literally Inazuri coming to summon the lightning? He didn't say or do anything, so it seems like it was just imagery, but is it possible that with more advanced mastery of a spell that a Witch can fully materialize a Magik as a familiar?

I'm starting to suspect that this might be the case, as Hisame's last words were "I wouldn't mind letting you take me on a date." Perhaps she meant it metaphorically to represent giving herself to Ichi as a stone, but with how bombastic and unique her personality was, I think it would be a huge shame if she's just gone from the cast forever

On the other hand, though, how many Magiks is Ichi going to acquire? He already has three, and one is already a major cast member; will the other two and all subsequent Magiks become a rotating ensemble cast, throwing in their two cents whenever the author deems it funny or interesting but forgetting about them the rest of the time because there's just too much to keep track of?

Or will they simply be inert, effectively dead to the narrative and only contributing as MacGuffins to solve increasingly specific and harrowing challenges with no semblance of personality or individuality ever again?

Both options sound bad when you put them like that, though they both serve a specific purpose to the narrative that would help it flow. I'm pretty sure that's why Shaman King abandoned the Pokemon-esque ghost of the week premise pretty early, since it wouldn't do to have Yoh juggling a bunch of side characters when one would perfectly suffice. Come to think of it, I think Kagamigami did the same thing...

Only time will tell, but I do hope there is a way for Ichi to connect with his Magiks on a more personal level, especially if it turns out that it's something Witches either weren't aware of or deliberately don't do to avoid forming personal attachments

Even if we don't get more insight into Ichi's relationships with Inazuri or Hisame, though, there is one relationship of his that I'm confident we're going to be seeing a lot more of

Teach a Man to Fish

I have no idea what role he's is going to play going forward or how long it's going to take to get there, but there is simply no way that Minakata isn't meant to be important

Minion to the Big Bad? The Big Bad himself? The Big Good?? I don't know! But mentors that protagonists fondly remember and were heavily inspired by as children always do one of two things: turn evil or die horribly. Sometimes both! Lookin' at you, Kite HxH

I don't want to speculate too much since we've basically learned nothing concrete about him, but being that he's a wanderer with a mysteriously hidden face, I'll bet right now that Ichi's going to meet an oddly large man later, walk away none the wiser, and then the man is going to pull out the deer skull mask and say something cryptic about how much Ichi has grown

Buuut just to make a particularly wild shot in the dark now with no basis whatsoever: I won't be surprised if it turns out that Minakata has something to do with Ichi becoming a Witch. Maybe Minakata did something to him, maybe Minakata is also a Manwitch. Either way, there's definitely going to be an explanation for Ichi winning that lottery and Minakata is currently the best (and only) lead we've got on that

And with that, we've completed the first full story arc. It's definitely proving to be as fun as I expected it to be, I'm just surprised it's taken this long to establish a long-term goal. I won't be surprised if we get another mission to establish a bit more of a daily life-style pattern, but I worry in Jump's current climate that waiting too long to raise the stakes will prove detrimental to Ichi's longevity. It was around this point when Shigaraki showed up in Hero Academy, Geto showed up in JJK, and God was established as the antagonist in Undead Unluck, so I'd say we'll at least get a glimpse of the antagonist in the next few chapters hopefully

Until next time, let's enjoy life!

[gutsybitsies]

jason grace as a city planner!!!!!!!!

has an unnatural knowledge of city codes and ordinances, doesnt mind red tape. can and will recite relevant codes on the spot. is this his Jupiter aspect or the autism? who knows

will infodump new city code facts on nico, who infodumps new ghost facts on jason right back. then the two of them argue about who is worse, jason's boss or nico's boss. nico thinks he has it worse because he's literally working for the king of the underworld who has deepseated Issues. Jason thinks he has it worse because his boss is a Trump supporter

loves creating blue prints of walkable cities and eco friendly landscapes. annabeth keeps trying to headhunt him into her Olympian architectural firm that dabbles with mortal projects + mythical projects, but he refuses because he likes public works too much.

likes making lil diaramas of his favorite projects.

the mortals in his department thinks hes a bit insane because occasionally he would spend his own money to dig up a tree and relocate it if they can't plan a new road or building around it. those are when the plans are too large and he can't Mist his way out of derailing the destruction of a tree with a nymph in it.

occasionally drops anonymous tips to the police department about crimes because he's friends with nymphs who saw the crime happen. also when nico straight up tells him what the ghost said.

once wore a $10k rolex into the office and sparked an ethics committee meeting about possible bribery.

jason: my friend nico gave it to me? he said it looked nice. i can't give it back or not wear it, itd hurt his feelings. besides if i give that back i'd have to give back this suit he gave me as well

enter @thatshortangryperson 's opinion that now of course everyone in the government thinks this "nico" is jason's sugar daddy

jason has no idea. he's humming along gluing tiny lil pieces to his diaramas and drawing up city plans and filling out paperwork

[pjo-tvs-version]

Fanfic no. 3 !! Wohooo!!! I never thought it would happen. I am sticking with Annabeth POVs currently as I enjoy writing them. This one's based on @liesmultixxx's suggestion of the day Percy goes missing. Title from Love Story by yet again Taylor Swift. Enjoy!

Beggin' you, "Please don't go, " 

I stand outside by the gates of my school, excited. It was a lovely Saturday afternoon and Sally had insisted on having lunch with her. The crowd around me was buzzing with enthusiasm too. Today was the last day of school. Everyone was planning their summer vacations. I smiled knowing that I had already planned how to spend the entirety of the few days I got. Training at camp, finishing the plans for the renovation of Olympus, helping out with the architecture of the new cabins, teaching the new campers a few tricks, chatting with Sally and of course, spending time with my Seaweed Brain.

I was told by a particular green eyed boy that I often get lost in my thoughts. As much as I hate accepting that, it's the truth I realise now. As I’m happily going over my to do list for this summer, I hear a car’s horn, startling me. It’s Paul’s Prius with Percy in the driver’s seat, wearing his orange camp shirt. “Did I scare you, Wise Girl?” he says mockingly. There is a mischievous twinkle in his eyes and it feels wonderful to observe it without a Greek apocalypse taking place.

I dump my books in the back seat, taking my place beside Percy as we set off to his New York apartment. A lunch by Sally’s and then we will be off to Camp Half Blood. I was eager to go to camp as I hadn't seen it in a while. I am looking forward to seeing the new campers, even the ones from minor gods. Yesterday Chiron had even Iris messaged me about my requirement for building the new cabins. Percy was most probably picking on my thoughts (that was something I realised that he is pretty good at doing since we started dating.)

 “Well someone looks happy today despite her pessimistic attitude”, said Percy. “Let me remind you that you have an English research paper to write a History project to work on and not to mention solving questions from Trigonometry” I replied.  Percy let out a groan and said “Well you take the win on this one but please tell me you are helping me out with trigonometry.” I laughed. It was so funny to see the Savior of Olympus complaining about maths homework. I retorted “Only if you give me an extra blue cookie.” Percy looked aghast and I was just enjoying the banter. I knew I hit the right bargain.

 “You drive a hard deal Annabeth. Can’t we just stick with something nicer like I give you an extra goodnight kiss and you help out with the soul destructive maths?” “Hmm let me think about it” I pause dramatically and pose to be in deep thought and then add “nope.” “Please Miss Owl Head. I am begging you” Percy adds with the cute baby seal eyes. Oh no! I stared at them and it was a mistake. The eyes always got me. “Okay fine the extra goodnight kiss it is in exchange for the maths homework. But I am warning you beforehand, I’ll just teach you the method, you are solving them yourself. Also the good night kiss better be good.” I say with a sigh. He grins and I can’t help but adore his raven coloured hair. The rest of our ride passed with more banters about school, camp and dates. I enjoyed every minute of it.

I waited as Percy parked the Prius. Sally is already standing at the door. I could smell the delicious lasagna bubbling in the oven. As always Sally hugged me. She smelt of cookies and honey suckles. It always filled me with warmth whenever I was with Sally. She was like the parent figure I never had. She always treated me so warmly, like her own family. It always managed to make me feel cosy and warmed my heart every time.

“Come in quick! The lasagna is almost done, my dear. The blue cookies are in the oven right now. They will be ready soon too. "Sally said as she beckoned her inside the Jackson apartment. Percy eyes always glazed with amazement whenever a Sally Jackson styled blue cookie was in a 1 mile radius from him. Percy helped Sally set up the dining table as I went to his room to freshen up and change. 

When I returned to the table, a table was ready for three. Paul I had been told by Percy was in school, teaching. Sally and Percy were seated already and were waiting for me. A dish full of mouth watering Lasagna, Sally’s classic seven layer dip with tortilla chips and a jug of lemonade were kept, ready to be eaten.

“Dig in '' Sally said and that is exactly what we did. Gods, it was delicious. We talked as we ate. Sally inquired about my school, Percy sprouting out facts about marine life and me going over my plans for the summer. There was utter chaos as the three of us ate and chatted and it was soo much fun. When our meal finished, I along with Percy helped clear up the table. It sounds weird but I had fun doing the dishes. 

When everything was done we sat on the couch with the blue cookies. Percy’s eyes rolled up in ecstasy at the sight of them and I was pretty sure that my face was pretty much the same. As I savored my last chocochip bite, I glanced at the watch. It was almost 4. I stand with Percy in tow. We had to leave for camp now.

Sally hugs us goodbye, packing a few cookies for our trip to camp too. We hail a taxi to Long Island. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Percy and I stood on Half Blood Hill, enjoying the view. Camp Half Blood was buzzing with excitement everywhere. Many of the Apollo kids were doing target practice. The satyrs were playing a sweet tune on their pipes to grow the strawberries. The sun was dipping and the view was breathtaking. “Race you down the hill. Whoever loses doesn't get the last cookie” I shout before sprinting down the hill. “Hey, that's not fair! You went first. But you're on Chase. Anything for my blue cookies.” Percy retorts and he races against me. 

As always it ended as a tie so the cookie will be divided into half. Chiron was there to greet us. After exchanging a few hugs, I went to meet my siblings in Cabin 6. Malcolm welcomed me back warmly. I make my way towards my bed to start settling in. Unpacking took way more time than I expected. “Hey Annabeth, time for dinner. We are even having a campfire tonight.” Malcolm calls out as I stack my last book on the shelf. Perfect timing. “Coming Malcolm," I reply.

After a filling dinner everyone gathers around the fire for a song night. I sit beside Percy, a little at the back of the crowd. We sing, laugh and dance till our throats are sore from shouting and our knees are worn out from the dancing. The crowd dispersed albeit reluctantly since we were having so much fun. Me and Percy walk, hand in hand towards our cabins.

The walk was purposely slow since we were savouring the solitude. As we reach the entrance of his cabin we both halt. A drop of water fell on my nose then another on my shoulder and then on my hand. Before I knew it, I was standing under a mini raincloud. Percy was getting drenched in the rain too but he was smiling, that classic troublemaker smile and his sea green eyes were full of amusement. “May I know exactly why Perseus Jackson is it raining only above us? Considering that you are a Son of Poseidon, it puts you in a quite suspicious position. There is no scien-” I say before I am cut off. 

Percy’s lips are on mine as kisses me soft and slow. As he pulls away grasping for breath, I remember that he kept his promise about the goodnight kiss. Something must have shown on my face as I leapt to the realization because Percy’s smile widened. “So this is your special goodnight kiss I see. Where both of us are drenched in rainwater” I say. “I always wanted to kiss you in the rain. Might be romantic you know. But I kept my promise. So math homework tomorrow?” he replies. He really is a Seaweed Brain. He looked so cute with his hair plastered across his face and pearl like water droplets on his eyes that I could’nt help but kiss him again.

I will begrudgingly admit that it was actually kind of romantic but there is no way I am saying it out loud. We pull away and I say with a sigh “Okay, maths homework lesson in the morning in the strawberry fields. Okay?” “Thank you so much Wise Girl. Good night.” he says with a yawn. “Goodnight Seaweed Brain” I reply, feeling sleepy too. I make my way towards my cabin with my heart content. Tomorrow will be a fresh new day and I can finally enjoy myself after so many taxing years of war.

I wake up to a sunny morning. I freshen up and grab my supplies. Chiron had requested me to meet him first thing in the morning as he wanted to discuss a few new cabin designs for me. As I make my way to the Big House, I am interrupted by Clarisse. “Have you seen your kelp-filled headed boyfriend? He was supposed to spar with me to a death battle.” Clarrise asks. I laughed. So Percy and Clarisse are going toi spar. Guess I’m going to watch a good show. “I’ll go check on him. He’s most probably snoring in his cabin.” I reply. Clarisse nods and goes to her cabin. 

I knock on the doors of cabin 3. No response. I knock again but still not a single reaction. That was weird so I just pushed against the doors to find an empty bunk bed. Where was Percy? He most probably must be playing one of his pranks on me. I step out and call out his name. Still no answer. I find Chiron waiting at the steps of the Big House. I’m sure he would have some idea. “Have you seen Percy Chiron?” I ask. There is a look of concern in his eyes. “Annabeth, dear I thought Percy was somewhere with you though it is unlikely that he would be awake so early in the morning.” Chiron responds. “What no! I just got up and was on my way to your office when Clarrise asked me if I knew where Percy was. I said no and went to his cabin to find him but he was’nt there.” I say, panic seizing me. “Annabeth, you are not the first camper who inquired about Percy. Are you sure you have no idea where Percy is or is it some joke?” he asked me.

“I swear on the Styx Chiron that I have no idea where Percy is.” I say as my dread increases in my heart. “Well this is serious then. I am going to announce this immediately” Chiron said.

Every camper was searching every possible place. I was getting terrified with every passing second. Percy pulled off pranks but they were light hearted. When I find him, I’m seriously going to threaten him about this. He has no right to give me such panic attacks. After a while of searchin everyone gathered in the Amphitheater. “We’ve looked everywhere, only the strawberry fields are left for us to-” Connor says before I cut him off.

The strawberry field, of course he must be there. Maybe he wanted to surprise me by getting up early and being ready to study. I race against the wind. As I reach the entrance of the field I shout out “I’m here Seaweed Brain. Time for maths.” Still no reply. He was’nt there. My heart was thudding against my chest and I fell to my knees. Where was Percy? The rest of camp arrives to find me there in this miserable condition. Malcom approaches and kneels beside me. “Don’t worry Annabeth, we'll find him. He must be somewhere, I’m sure of it.”

I burst into tears not being able to control them. Percy was gone? Overnight? He kissed me goodnight yesterday and now he is gone? There was no trace of him. He wasn't in camp and I realise with a foreboding fear that this isn't a prank. Chiron removes the crowd as Malcolm hugs me fiercely. “He’s gone, he’s gone” I say with shuddering breaths. “I was supposed to teach him maths, go on a date with him tomorrow and…”. “Annabeth, it's okay. He will be fine” Malcolm tries to reassure me. “You don’t understand. Where is he? Is he alive or���….” I didn't complete the sentence. That’s not possible. I was going to search for him until I found him. A part of my brain nags me- what if I don’t. I push that thought away. I stand up with shaky legs and reach for my cell phone and dial Sally. After a few rings she picks up, “Hey Annabeth how are you and Percy? Any issue?”. “Sally is- is Percy at home?” I say even as my heart slows with dread. “No Annabeth! Why would he be here?”. I can’t reply. I lost my voice and I didn't know how to respond. What should I tell her. Sally must have sensed the silence was not a good one because there was concern in her next words “Annabeth honey Annabeth are you okay? Is Percy okay…” If only I knew that my happy, planned summer was going to be my worst possible one….

So how was this? Positive criticism is appreciated. Thank you @liesmultixxx for the lovely suggestion. Hope you liked it!!!

You can read it here on AO3 too

[reason-with-the-underdog]

ningguang & kaveh are interesting foils

thinking about ningguang & kaveh, whose ambitions are literally encapsulated in grand architectural marvels of their own design

both bankrolled & were heavily involved in every step of the construction process

their buildings were destroyed due to choices they made

they chose to rebuild anyways

both care deeply about their impact on the future generations, of which their buildings are a key part of their intended legacy

but their buildings (jade chamber + palace of alcazarzaray) convey entirely different meanings/purposes

jade chamber is ningguang's office, where she conducts both her government and personal business work. it also affords her a birds eye view over all of liyue and figuratively serves as her throne atop the heavens.

she chose to sacrifice it to defeat osial & protect liyue harbor

that choice is made easier for her (but no less important) as ningguang knows that by doing so, she preserves liyue so that it can continue towards a more prosperous future (<- also shown in her being invested in children's education + welfare)

she's satisfied with liyue's current state & thus subsumes her personal ambition temporarily for the sake of liyue's continued progress. importantly, ningguang can and will guide liyue onwards and rebuild her beloved palace amongst the clouds as part of that process

meanwhile the palace of alcazarzaray is kaveh's "magnum opus"-- it represents the pinnacle of his aesthetic ideals in a time where the mainstream in sumeru did not value the arts

the palace's first destruction was at the hands of the withering (which kaveh takes personal responsibility for since he chose its location over a cliff) so its destruction isn't an active investment in continuing the status quo, like the jade chamber's was

the palace's loss represented the difficulty of pushing against the status quo (dori's commission was particularly enticing for kaveh as an incredibly rare opportunity to advocate for the arts at a time when the akademiya's official stance was to shut cultural activities down)

so while kaveh rebuilds the palace of alcazarzaray, much like ningguang rebuilt the jade chamber...

kaveh rebuilds the palace as a swan song-- he put everything he had into reconstruction as if it were his last message to a society that no longer recognised his values. he calls it a "magnum opus" (his greatest work, implying he may never do better, or that nothing else will come after)

ningguang's jade chamber is a monument to her ambition & her desire to shape the continuance of society thru leadership/oversight over liyue

kaveh's palace of alcazarzaray is a monument to his ambition & his desire to build something wonderful in defiance of what society valued

the temporary destruction of those ambitions-as-buildings affect them very differently as a result...

another lens to look at them is through their nation's AQs and themes

liyue's AQ was about humans taking control of their future governance...

while sumeru's AQ was about humans going too far with their pursuit of power/governance & crossing the line against the divine

both ningguang and kaveh are highly influential important people in their nations in positions of power to do great things for their nation and share their ideals/dreams with the public

but ningguang's story has her take charge of her nation and actively defend liyue in crisis

while kaveh is positioned more as an outsider to the akademiya government bureaucracy & as alhaitham asks in the AQ "Where were you when Sumeru needed you most?"

they have other parallels too (having a taste for luxury, being high income earners from their chosen profession, caring deeply for the development of children's education and welfare, having teasing & at-times combative relationships with their romantic partners)

LOOK I JUST REALLY WANT THEM TO MEET... IMAGINE IF KAVEH HAD AN ACTUAL GOOD PATRON INSTEAD OF DORI LORD SANGEMAH BAY

crossposted from twt

[kittykat299]

Thundercats (1985) Headcanons

As per my last post this is entirely conjecture based exclusively on the 1985 cartoon and nothing else. I have never watched the 2011 show or read the comic.

Reader beware, you're in for.... a lot

Thunderans in general

They have tails. idc what the show says they have tails. Some of them have lost their tails, in battle or otherwise. Will note which characters have which.

They can purr and hiss. Also they slow blink to show affection (like real cats!)

Wildly different heights from canon. Might update with height chart to elaborate later.

OG Thundercats all come from nobility and their paranatural abilities are a noble bloodline thing.

Thundera homophobic? It's more likely than you think. You know we love to hurt ourselves.

Lion-o

Was 12 when Thundera was destroyed. 17 after being sent to Third Earth. 20 when they discover the new Thundercats.

Autistic Himbo who loves ancient history. Could spend hours every day studying ancient history and views what little remains of First Earth as a treasure trove of ancient mysteries.

Bisexual. Had a crush on Cheetara as a teen, but once the new Thundercats showed up he fell head over heels for Bengali.

Cis man (he/him)

Speaking of which, marries Bengali, who he adores. He would die for his wife but he won't let him.

Has a tail. It only reaches his knees so is fairly out of the way.

Grew up feeling very isolated in the palace. There were servants, sure, and his nanny Snarf and mentor Jaga, but rarely got time to leave the palace and didn't interact much with his parents. He'll do about anything to get people to like him and fears the people closest to him will eventually abandon him.

Survivor's Guilt hits heavy when someone says to your face "we cannot save these people, we are prioritizing you". Even worse when your mentor dies to save your life.

Loves going camping and spending time in the wilderness. He picked up many survivalist tips from the people of Third Earth. He hates being cooped up inside and is slightly claustrophobic, and roughing it out in the woods every so often keeps him happy and calm.

Every so often he comes to Lynx-o just to ask him about his father, about Thundera's history. Lynx-o likes any excuse to tell his stories to people who haven't heard them a hundred times already.

Tygra

Was 20 when Thundera was destroyed. 25 on Third Earth. 28 when they find the new Thundercats

Gay gay homo sexual gay

Cis man (he/him)

Perfectionist with self-destructive tendencies. Addictive personality (both drug abuse episodes in the series were about Tygra, much to think about)

Has a tail. It used to be longer but he lost around half of it in an incident he still doesn't like to talk about.

Long term relationship with Panthro, they get married on Third Earth

Adopts the Thunderkittens along with Panthro. These two are the first the kittens turn to for parenting and comfort. At first they don't want to broach the topic in case the kittens get hurt but the kittens approach them after hearing Bengali and Pumyra talk about how Lynx-o has become a father to them and they call him dad sometimes.

Had strict, demanding parents who expected nothing less of perfection from him in everything he did: architecture, gymnastics, science, mental abilities, all of it. He regularly burned himself out trying to earn their approval until he became a Thundercat, at which point he ignored all contact from his family.

Had a hero crush on Panthro for a very long time, thought he'd grown out of it but when he became a Thundercat and began seeing Panthro in person it changed into a real romantic attraction.

Had multiple casual flings before actually dating Panthro.

Views Bengali as a little sibling, he sees his own naivety in relationships in her and wants to protect her but also they pick fights with each other a lot (mostly Bengali starts fights tbh).

Panthro

Was 29 when Thundera was destroyed. 34 on Third Earth. 37 when they found the new Thundercats.

Gay asf look at that harness. In the 80s??? That is a gay man

Cis man (he/him)

Had a tail, but it was cropped when he went down the route of becoming a fighter. A tail is just another weak point.

For relationship and adoption of kittens, see Tygra's entry above.

His and Tygra's relationship has been strained and they separated shortly before Thundera's destruction due to tension, but never stopped loving each other. Got back together shortly afterward.

He's not very good at expressing his deeper feelings, especially love and fear. This has been a source of tension in his and Tygra's relationship but it's mostly because Tygra can't see the way Panthro looks at him when he isn't looking at Panthro.

Grew up in a competitive household with a brother who would hurt him for fun, and always got away with some excuse or other. His brother was the golden child while he was often left out of the spotlight.

Actually pretty good friends with Bengali, they often end up working in the same spaces on their projects and occasionally collaborate on new gear.

Cheetara

Was 27 when Thundera was destroyed. 32 on Third Earth. 35 when they found the new Thundercats.

Bisexual

Cis woman (she/her)

Has a tail almost as long as her legs. Uses it for balance while she's running.

Has been athletic all her life, she finds comfort and destresses by working out regularly. Sometimes forgets her duties and responsibilities because she gets so in the zone.

Cheetara and Pumyra spend a lot of time working out together, both being more athletic than the other Thundercats, and developed feelings towards each other through athletic competition.

Goes on a morning run every day, usually to the Tower of Omens to go see her girlfriend.

She used to resent her psychic abilities, back on Thundera she was often made to use them as essentially a party trick despite how exhausted and hurt she would get afterward. As such she barely practiced using them. On Third Earth she was only rarely called upon to use them, only in emergency, and always given time and help to recover afterwards. She slowly grew to appreciate her ability and began to practice it until she could execute it more safely.

Struggles with feeling valuable when she isn't being useful, but has difficulty telling that to the others to get the support she needs as she's used to having to support herself.

Pumyra is her "exCUSE me, she asked for NO PICKLES" girlfriend.

Wilykit

Was 8 when Thundera was destroyed. 12 on Third Earth. 15 when they found the new Thundercats.

Still figuring herself out. She/her

Has a tail. Tries to take care of it, but with all the running around she and Kat do it's hard.

Has far more teenaged behavior than in the show. IDC what the show says those two are teens by s2 and dont talk or act like little kids anymore.

Usually the instigator of their shenanigans, especially the ones that land them in hot water.

She looks up to Panthro especially and often spends time watching and learning as he works on machines, even when she doesn't have to. Wants to build her own super cool vehicle, maybe with a sidecar for Wilykat.

She's the one who decided to talk to Tygra and Panthro about being adopted by them. They already had been, essentially, but nobody wanted to actually say anything in case feelings got hurt.

Wilykat

Was 8 when Thundera was destroyed. 12 on Third Earth. 15 when they found the new Thundercats.

Still figuring himself out. He/him

Has a tail.

See again: teen behavior. They still make poor decisions and can be childish, but they're not little kids anymore.

He's the first to break when they get in trouble, he's a bit more sensitive than his sister.

He doesn't start shenanigans, he just has very poor judgement and emotional control and will often make bad choices especially when he's angry.

Most likely to argue with the others, but also the first to apologize once he's cooled down.

Cheetara takes him under her wing in a sense and teaches him how to use exercise as an outlet for his excess energy. Tygra joins them too every so often, happy to see his adoptive kid enjoying himself.

Snarf

Age indeterminate.

He/him

Has a habit of still treating Lion-o like he's a child, even after he's a fully grown man and officially Lord of the Thundercats. Lion-o doesn't mind most of the time.

Much grayer in the face than the show depicts.

Doesn't really like sleeping in his own bed, will nap pretty much wherever in common areas so if something happens he can know about it.

Spends a lot of time worrying about something bad happening to Lion-o, especially when he can't come with and has to guard Cat's Lair.

Often thinks about retiring to the planet of Snarfs but can't bring himself to leave. He does retire eventually but mostly stays on Third Earth with the Thundercats he's gotten so attached to. Regularly visits the other Snarfs.

Initially distrustful of Bengali but has grown to like him, especially after seeing how happy he makes Lion-o.

Lynx-o

Was 50 when Thundera was destroyed. 58 when found by the Berserkers.

Kind of beyond dating for the moment, but prefers men.

Cis man (he/him)

Has a tail, but it's a bobtail like real lynx.

Was a martial arts instructor on Thundera, highly adept at most forms of hand to hand combat.

Never intended to be a father but after meeting Pumyra and then Bengali, has developed intense paternal instincts. He'll adopt everyone in this team if he has to.

Tygra and Panthro made up some braille signs for doorways and equipment for when Lynx-o visits Cats Lair.

As a young fighter on Thundera had a huge hero crush on Jaga. Used to be embarrassed by it but honestly is beyond that by now. Nobody's sure how to tell him Jaga's spirit is kind of hanging around still and can hear Lynx-o talk about him like that.

Will randomly approach Pumyra, Bengali, and/or Snarfer and drop Dad Lore before walking away. Those three are still trying to piece together his life story based entirely on Dad Lore Drops.

Pumyra

Was 21 when Thundera was destroyed. 29 when found by the Berserkers.

Lesbiab. Lesbiam. Less bien. Girls

Trans woman (she/her)

Has a tail. Sometimes grabs it by accident when she's going for her belt/sling.

Not really a specialist in any area beyond her athleticism, takes interest in learning as many skills as she thinks could be useful. Combat, first aid medicine, building, hunting and fishing, crafting clothes and tools. She'll climb the walls if she isnt learning and practicing some new skill or other.

Views Bengali and Snarfer as her little siblings, for better or worse. Was the first to be essentially adopted by Lynx-o and is the oldest of the three.

Short tempered, and just plain short. She's around Bengali's height- he is also short.

Sometimes spars with Cheetara. Always claims it's for training, but really she just wants an excuse to engage in homoerotic battle with a taller, stronger woman.

Lived stealth on Thundera, Lynx-o helping connect her with the medical assistance necessary to help her transition.

Speaking of which, once their survival needs were met her new biggest worry was not being able to get estrogen anymore. Once the Thundercats arrived she realized she could use the medical database and computers along with material found on Third Earth to create a new, steady supply.

(if they can solve all their problems with magic and if science can make shit like invincible superpowers real in this universe [i.e. the ep where vultureman does just that], i think sustainable HRT isn't too big of an ask)

Bengali

Was 17 when Thundera was destroyed. 25 when found by the Berserkers.

Genderfluid (he/him or she/her, depending on the day. Mostly prefers he/him) Gay (just likes men)

Had a tail. Lost her tail in an accident. Doesn't mind because without it he can show off his ass better.

Eventually marries Lion-o. Fell in love the moment he laid eyes on Lion-o. Anyone else notice throughout the series Bengali says that "Lion-o needs us" to do XYZ thing, when he means the team as a whole needs them to do it? His first line on seeing Lion-o is him stammering.

Didn't start experimenting with gender until Third Earth, at which point went nuts w it. Loves being called the Queen after marrying Lion-o. She doesn't have a name for it but it's essentially what we'd call genderfluid. Sometimes feels fem, sometimes masc, sometimes neither or both.

Grew up in an isolated tribe of Tygrans called the Ben-Gal whose culture was distinct from other Thunderans. They're smaller than other Tygrans and more likely to be born with white fur instead of orange.

Apprenticed at a forge from a young age at his parents' insistence (his father was a former blacksmith and wanted his kid to follow in his footsteps). Was something of a prodigy.

Entered a secret relationship as a teenager with one of the smiths working the forge who was in his twenties. When his parents found out, they kicked him out. His "boyfriend" refused to take him in and he ran away to the capital where he met Pumyra and Lynx-o, who took him in and tried their best to keep him safe. Pumyra became an adoptive older sister of sorts and Lynx-o was a father figure to both of them.

Partied hard after running away. Faked ID to get into clubs and drink and hit on men too old for him. His self destruction only really stopped when Thundera was destroyed and he lived for 7/8 years on an island with nothing but his found family and two Berbils.

She has adopted Snarfer as her baby brother and if anything were to happen to him she'd break the code of Thundera and end lives.

Snarfer

10 years old.

He/him

The fridge at the Tower of Omens is covered in his drawings.

Has a habit of standing in the room with people he wants attention from and just staring at them until they pay him attention. He has accidentally scared the others countless times doing this. The only one immune is Lynx-o, who will always eventually start up a conversation.

Listens to music as he does chores since it helps him focus on doing the work. The others don't really get his taste but if he's happy they're happy.

Has something of a know-it-all attitude but kind of grows out of it as he gets older.

Ropes the others into playing games with him. Hide and seek is his favorite but he needs to be careful because one time he fell asleep in his hiding spot and when they couldn't find him they were beside themselves and Bengali was about to disassemble the Tower before Snarfer woke up and came out of hiding.