#(not in any negative nor positive way. just. objectively)

[misskamelie]

I've already said, but this is language is sooo interesting and I get so happy as I feel myself understanding more and more stuff :)

[aspoonofsugar]

can I ask your thoughts on the direction oshi no ko has gone?

Hi!

I personally dislike it. It feels like tragedy for the sake of gloom rather than catharsis. It is an ending that de-powers everyone's arc really.

Aqua is the only one who gets a complete arc, even if negative. He has a tragic arc and fails to have a positive development. He literally dies idolizing Ruby in juxtaposition to Kamiki, who dies idolizing Ai. Narratively, it makes sense for him to die, as he kills his shadow (Kamiki), but I would argue it does not really work for the story as a whole. And that is because the overall themes and the other protagonists' character arcs are all sacrificed for this negative outcome.

Ruby does not get to solve her feelings for Sensei/Aqua and is stuck in yet another tragedy. I don't know how her arc will be solved. Probably in a bittersweet and yet positive way, but here comes the thing. I don't think it is believable psychologically speaking. Ruby grew a lot, but she is still defined by the loss of sensei and AI. Nothing in the narrative happened to make me believe she would not react very very badly to Aqua's death tbh. We'll see.

Akane failed her objective to help Aqua and repay him. As a result, her development up until this point does not get any catharsis nor resolution. It literally goes nowhere.

Kana is worse than ever. She did not get to properly convey her feelings for Aqua and she went from being the tritagonist to being a character, who quietly disappears in the background, in what is ironically an echo of her acting career.

Finally, Ai's death finds no thematic resolution and her two final wishes are not fulfilled. Not only her children do not manage to save Hikaru, but one of them even dies himself.

All in all it feels like the story set up a plot with specific roles for each character to fulfill and then decided not to have them fulfill them for the sake of drama, rather than theme. I also personally disliked we spent so much time in Aqua's head as he arrived about a self-realization about his identity and that the climax was all about it... That was never truly the point of his character nor the series. The focus of the story isn't if Aqua and Ruby are Aqua and Ruby or Goro and Sarina. The point is that they get a second chance at living, so they can solve their complexes. Aqua even lampshades this, before the climax.

Now, I like well written tragedies, but I don't think the series is written as a tragedy really. The structure sets up positive arcs until the end of the movie arc, where you can see the author started changing the order of things, so that it could end in tragedy. So, there was the fake good ending, which was positive, but very weak. And then, there was a twist, so that a more powerful, but negative ending could be delivered. Except, I would have preferred the positive ending with the struggle of the tragic one :''') Especially because I really think it would have been the most powerful one possible for this series.

Anyway, there are still a couple of chapters left, I think. So, we will see the denouement. That said, I think the series lost its power in the final arc, which is a pity cause up until that point it was excellent. Like, the Dark Ruby's arc is one of my favorite arcs ever. I reread it some weeks ago and I cried a lot. That is the kind of power I was expecting in the finale, but instead we got a theme attached on the story at the last minute and a forced twist. It isn't one of the worst ending ever (especially if you read the series and the chapters all together probably), but it is definitely below the level of writing this story had. These are just my two cents of course :)

[windvexer]

Got any super duper cleansing magical tips?

hell yeah I do brother (nongendered)!

this is just kinda how I do things and people definitely have different opinions but here we go, in no particular order:

If at all possible, physical cleaning is going to go a lonnnnng way towards magical cleansing. Even a little cleaning helps. If we're discussing cleansing something big (like, an entire person, a room, or an entire home), there may also be "key points" which deliver the most cleansing returns if physically cleaned. For example, a human person may find that their spiritual cleansing is very much aided by washing of hands, feet, and face - even if they can't fit in a whole body scrub.

Likewise, certain areas within a room may hold more influence than expected. A certain shelf, bookcase, or corner may alleviate the room of much badness if they alone are tidied and dusted.

In the home overall, look for major thoroughfare areas (perhaps near the front door or kitchen) which have little corners that have gone too far untidied, perhaps sticky with dust.

When it comes to objects, even a little wash, rinse under soapy water, wiping down with a damp cloth, and so forth, can go a long way towards magical cleansing. Often I do not magically "cleanse" at all, as a normal clean suffices for me in most situations.

I don't find physical cleaning to be totally necessary for magical cleansing, but it can be very helpful both as a first step, and to tackle stubborn cleansing problems.

Speaking of physical cleaning, home cleaning recipes also tend to work well for magical cleansing. A little vinegar is a very strong cleansing agent. Steep some lemon and rosemary in that vinegar for a few weeks, and forget about it - that's both a general household cleaner, and it'll cleanse the shit out of your magic stuff, too.

Ammonia is regarded to be an immensely powerful magical cleanser - one that must be heavily diluted, and tends to strip not only negative influences, but positive ones too.

Early on in my education, I was advised that a bit of bleach can go a long way towards destroying magical bonds. So, don't discount the household chemical cabinet.

For the own self, applying bleach or ammonia directly to the skin simply doesn't do - but a very gentle shower scrub containing a bit of salt, plus various kitchen herbs (dealer's choice - try sage and rosemary to start with) goes a long way. Wash from top of head to bottom of feet, and don't forget the back of the neck.

Other mundane things, like filling a space with fresh air or good vibes, are useful in cleansing in general, but may not suffice in heavy-duty situations.

A very fine cleansing charm is created with saltwater, this being from Paul Huson's rhyme in Mastering Witchcraft:

Water and Earth Where you are cast Let no spell, nor ill intention last Not in complete accord with me As my word, so shall it be

My personal lazy modification for the use of incense:

Fire and Air Where you flare Let no spell, nor ill intention last Not in complete accord with me As my word, so shall it be

Speak this over a little bit of salt water (after mixing) or incense (after lighting) and then sprinkle/wave it all about the thing to be cleansed. To be done when physically cleaning did not suffice, or when physical cleaning is not possible, or when feeling a bit fancy, or when preferring to just do magic.

In cases of emergency, or when it's desired to strip all magic and influence away from a thing, put it inside a plastic bag and bury it completely in salt. Seal this entire thing up (ziplocks are under the purview of true magicians) and then cover it up in a black cloth (or inside-out black graphic t-shirt, or oatmeal gray pillowcase, or whatever's on hand - doesn't matter really) in the back of the closet for 3 days and 3 nights, or until you feel like dealing with it.

When retrieved, the object should have no magical influence on it whatsoever.

In cases of confusing or unsatisfying results, consider if "cleansing" is really the action you should take. For example, if a tool is acting up and producing bad results, it might not be because it's "dirty." It could be that the tool needs to be fed. It could be interference from an ancestor looking for attention. It could be because your technique needs an adjustment.

Cleansing is a fine first step, and it's probably not going to hurt anything, but it's kind of like the "have you tried turning it off and on again" of magic. A lot of the times it fixes a lot of problems, but it's not going to fix actual issues that require a mechanic. (The good news is, the mechanic is you, so you're going to save a lot on repair fees)

In advanced cases, consider why things cleanse the way they do, and employ this to your advantage. Rosemary and frankincense may be considered to be "cleansing" because they "raise the vibes" and create an atmosphere incompatible with a lot of heavy bullshit. But, neither of these Allies are really attack dogs (at least, not in my experience).

Clove and Jalapeno are "cleansing" in that they will take the offending energy out behind the woodshed and teach it a lesson, and tell it not to come back to town or else. But, in my experience, neither of these allies really elevate a space with the heavenly touch of more celestial Allies.

So while I would say the average "cleansing formula" (whether it be a vinegar, an incense, and so forth) works in most situations, from time to time a more nuanced approach is helpful. Like a stubborn little stain, difficult-to-cleanse energies aren't necessarily powerful or bad - they're just nonreactive with whatever formula you're trying to use.

[eldritchdyke]

The recent Signalis anticommunism discussion on here made me stumble onto your take about it from last month, and while I do believe that Signalis is very... normie anticommunist (you seem to disagree), your post made me really curious, but at the same time it was very vague, and a lot of people interpreted it as "Signalis isn't anti-communist, it's anti-authoritarian". Would you be willing to elaborate?

Oof didn't realize there was more discussion to it than I thought so I won't wade into the whole of that cuz that wasn't what I was responding to at the time. Also just to preface two things; for one I am a communist myself and that did effect my reading of the text a great deal and for two I didn't say anything about the "Signalis isn't anti-communist, it's anti-authoritarian" thing myself that was a later addition from other people (personally I don't like the term "authoritarian" as a way to analyze the faults of certain socialist states but that's neither here nor there).

What I was driving at is the idea that the DDR imagery (and beyond that, as others have pointed out it isn't solely pulling from that) is doing a lot more than simple condemnation or any sort of post-war triumphalism over "dystopian" socialism. We can read a lot based on what was given attention in the text, and I think the ways that DDR imagery show up in the game are shown with a rather loving, even reverent light at times (you don't create a bunch of intricately designed DDR robot girl ocs and name some of them after historical DDR special forces units because you totally despise everything the DDR stood for). This is intentionally contrasted with the rotting and decayed state we actively find a great deal of these things in, which provides a great deal of contrast between the lowercase i ideal and the reality of an execution which was tainted by the literal bleeding psychology of collective trauma and the attempts at domination of individuals.

What results is less a coherent world as such that can be dissected as one might dissect typical worldbuilding lore and more an emotional portrait which depicts a sense of portrayal at the way the history of the DDR played out, and you may disagree with parts of that (I do with certain parts as well) but it isn't intended to reflect a dissertation on the flaws of the DDR. It's an emotion first conceptualization of tainted Ostalgie and the hauntological traces of a future which was not allowed to be for reasons internal and external, through that lens it is, to me, quite ambiguous over whether or not the source object was a negative or a positive. Instead its a truly conflicted portrayal of the emotional state one is left in after both the (again lowercase i) ideals of that revolutionary state and its practical execution, warts and all, have passed into the realm of cultural memory.

(I'm sorry that's probably a whole lot of words to not fully answer your question but tldr I don't think Signalis is as anticommunist as a lot of people think it is, I think people are generally reading the diegesis too literally and not really delving into the full emotional depth going on with how communist imagery is used in the game)

[mortalkombartwistedreflectionau]

Mirror Onaga/TR Onaga Bio

Many centuries ago, the dragon known as Onaga was born as a mutant due to mysterious causes, having a humanoid appearance none other member of his species had ever had. His case was one very discussed among his people. Many wished to cast him out due to ignorance or fear of what an individual with his strange nature could become, an action which would have had disastrous consequences… luckily, other dragons were wiser, and decided to look after him while also trying to unravel the mystery of his mutation.

Those dragons took the young Onaga to meet with numerous sorcerers of Outworld willing to help solve the mystery, even with their protector god, Shao Kahn, eventually. Together with their knowledge and abilities they discovered that something, or someone, was influencing Onaga’s body and mind, even though they couldn’t tell what it was, nor how to make it stop. While this revelation worried the kindest dragons who had decided to help Onaga, it didn’t stop them either. As they were advised by Shao Kahn, the best way to combat what seemed to be a negative influence was with positive influence.

Many kept looking after Onaga, adapted to his differences, made sure he wasn’t alone, and advised him every time it seemed like he was developing dangerous ideas, knowing that it was likely due to whatever was influencing him. They also made sure he could visit different places of Outworld, hoping there he could meet wise people to learn from, and he did. Outworlders, Tarkatans, Shokan, Centaurs. All of those people had at least someone willing to help, to share his experiences, to guide Onaga in the right path. Although it took time and effort, it really worked, allowing Onaga to surpass what was affecting him definitely.

The years Onaga spent learning from other Outworld communities also led to him developing respect and understanding for them, as well as sympathy for the problems many of them were facing. The isolation of Tarkatans, the seemingly unstoppable conflict of Shokan and Centaurs as well as other many territorial conflicts, etc. He wished to help the poor people affected by those problems in some way. With the powers he had learned from his many years of study, he could have easily started a quest to conquer his world to try and stop those problems by force, but he had also learned enough to know tyranny wasn’t the way. He decided to search for those who he knew shared his ideals in the different communities of Outworld, to form an alliance.

Onaga’s alliance is one based on negotiation, cooperation and respect, meant to offer a home for those who don’t wish to be involved with their communities’ conflicts any longer, and protection to communities of lower resources which have unfortunately been caught up in the middle of another’s conflict. Onaga himself, while the most known representative of the alliance, is just one of many representatives chosen by the citizens of the communities which form the alliance, his voice being just as important as the others. Although their main objective is to offer refuge to others, they have also tried to negotiate peace for the most violent conflicts of Outworld, especially the one between Shokan and Centaurs, which have earned them enemies.

Many have it clear that if the Edenian Regime haven’t been able to conquer Outworld yet, it has been mainly thanks to the combined effort of Onaga and those who decide to fight alongside him for Outworld, including Shao Kahn himself. Nonetheless, they know that the more this conflict continues, the more it is likely to become even worse, especially knowing that now Edenia has obtained the support of gods like Raiden and Cetrion. Onaga just keeps fighting for his realm while helping his different allies in all he can, hoping the obsessive search for ‘peace’ of the Edenian Regime and its allies can be stopped before it is too late.

And here it is an special one, especially done because yesterday was the 20th anniversary of Mortal Kombat: Deception! 🥳

For this one it is a must to once again mention my friend @cdr2002, since the backstory you have read is but a reflection of the backstory he came up with for Onaga in his fanfic Mortal Kombat: Requiem (which I will share below alongside a link to his fanfic if I may). I really recommend you to check up his stuff becuase it's incredible, and a personal inspiration. 💖

[dailyanarchistposts]

Finally is primitivism motivated primarily by a desire to return to a more innocent time in one’s childhood?

Ishkah: So the last thing was, I read what I thought was a good book by Saul Newman on ‘The Politics of Post-Anarchism’, his take on where we should be going, he kind of values do you know ‘le ZAD’ in France, which means ‘Zone of Defence’, so mostly separating oneself off from cities, but still rebelling, just not in a storming the Bastille way. In the book anyway Newman critiques you I think by saying how the desire for a primitive way of life is often a desire for a more innocent time in one’s childhood:

“Where Zerzan’s argument becomes problematic is in the essentialist notion that there is a rationally intelligible presence, a social objectivity that is beyond language and discourse. To speak in Lacanian terms, the prelinguistic state of jouissance is precisely unattainable: it is always mediated by language that at the same time alienates and distorts it. It is an imaginary jouissance, an illusion created by the symbolic order itself, as the secret behind its veil. We live in a symbolic and linguistic universe, and to speculate about an original condition of authenticity and immediacy, or to imagine that an authentic presence is attainable behind the veils of the symbolic order or beyond the grasp of language, is futile. There is no getting outside language and the symbolic; nor can there be any return to the pre Oedipal real. To speak in terms of alienation, as Zerzan does, is to imagine a pure presence or fullness beyond alienation, which is an impossibility. While Zerzan’s attack on technology and domestication is no doubt important and valid, it is based on a highly problematic essentialism implicit in his notion of alienation. To question this discourse of alienation is not a conservative gesture. It does not rob us of normative reasons for resisting domination, as Zerzan claims. It is to suggest that projects of resistance and emancipation do not need to be grounded in an immediate presence or positive fullness that exists beyond power and discourse. Rather, radical politics can be seen as being based on a moment of negativity: an emptiness or lack that is productive of new modes of political subjectivity and action. Instead of hearkening back to a primordial authenticity that has been alienated and yet which can be recaptured – a state of harmony which would be the very eclipse of politics – I believe it is more fruitful to think in terms of a constitutive rift that is at the base of any identity, a rift that produces radical openings for political articulation and action.”

Zerzan: Well I know Newman, I mean he’s a classic post-structuralist, post-modern character. It gets down to basic stuff doesn’t it? I mean if you feel like presence is just an illusion, most basically because there’s nothing outside of symbolic culture, right? “Outside the text, there is nothing” Derrida, right? Well what if that’s not true? What if there’s an alternative to symbolic culture? To the whole representational racket?

I mean I think there is quite possibly, there is that possibility. In fact in practice there was… hunter-gatherer life, pre-symbolic culture, right? For over a million years, you know face-to-face community, non-hierarchical, these are generalities here, but they did quite well without symbolic culture, without art, without the concept of numbers, without a lot of things.

So you can make the assertion and you know a lot of it’s traced back to say Derrida or others, but just because you’re saying there is no presence, that’s just a fiction, that the presence cannot exist because you can’t get outside of the symbolic, well that’s one point of view, but I don’t think that’s true.

That’s just, you know it’s part of the general surrender politically, in more or less reactionary times you get philosophies like that, which sort of take over. The whole backward aspect of post-modernism, it really is a way of… at a time when there’s pretty much no social movements you get stuff like that and that’s a crude way to put it, but that’s part of the picture I think.

Ishkah: Okay, yeah I take your point, I think obviously they would say that about some primitivists. But…

I guess I don’t know how they’re defining symbolism, my perspective is animals are using symbols and language going way back to parrots and primates, but…

Zerzan: Well I think that’s more… I mean that is tricky, it is an open question, animals do communicate, but I think it’s more signals than symbols. It’s not really representational, in the way of symbolic culture that the humans have just because they communicate, of course they do, birds, all sorts of animals, they have to for survival, but that doesn’t make it very symbolic, it seems to me, but anyway that’s… These definitions have to you know… they’re sort of problematic because we’ve used these terms in different ways or inelastic ways that then the whole conversation becomes a little confusing, so I don’t want to take too rigid a position, but you don’t have to have symbolic language for there to be communication. Anyway that’s obvious I guess.

Ishkah: Well, yeah it’s tricky for sure, I mean I get into debates all the time with people who want to use language like abolish work and abolish prisons and I guess it’s an attempt to reframe the debate.

But, just in terms of this term presence, whether we should desire an authenticity of a long period of our evolutionary history as humans. I don’t know, like I think potentially we could be suffering more now for sure, but it could be suffering that we we desire to take on if we can get to this left-anarchist, pro technology future. It could be a source of virtue for us, striving for these intellectual skills.

And then authenticity, as a concept it’s only developed recently, like we used to think of authenticity differently as like sincerity. So, the effort you put into helping your family would be an indication of whether you were being authentic to yourself, if you were being just and fair to your family in taking on your responsibilities.

So, I don’t know whether it would be authentic for me to desire hunter-gather life, I know I would desire hunter-gatherer life more than the middle ages, but I think rather than just settling for primitive life or just settling for the middle ages, I think we should try and be aspirational to this future world of still being able to use some technology, like printing presses and penicillin and stuff, so I don’t know.

Zerzan: Yeah, it’s needed these different steps, and one requires the other, I mean now technology comes around to promise to heal what it has caused in the first place, so where do you try to arrest that progression?

And what does it all depend on? You don’t have any technology really without the extraction, without the mining, the smelters, the warehouses. And who do people on the left assume is going to do all that? It doesn’t exist without all that? So that’s a form of slavery, but they seem to be fine with that, to have the wonders of technology resting upon what? I mean not only the ruin of the natural world, of the biosphere, but you know wage slavery for almost countless people, for that to exist. That’s not a very liberatory assumption.

Ishkah: Yeah, and if I believed that we were just going the way of machines and we were going to create artificial intelligence and terminate ourselves by just letting them take over or becoming more machine like ourselves I would definitely worry…

Zerzan: And deciding everything and people don’t understand how they work, I mean we’ve swept along in this whole van of the progress with a capital ‘p’ and look where it’s gotten us, it’s just becoming horrible on every front, it’s one large crisis where all the parts of it are kind of merging into a very, very bad picture.

Ishkah: Yeah I don’t know, like I’m still researching, maybe I’m being naive in just advocating for something where that is more likely to happen, but yeah I worry that if people take direct action and try to just separate themselves off from technology and cities, that we leave people to suffer, like we lose hospitals… I mean I don’t know how useful you think hypotheticals are, but so definitely if technology is this thing that just manufactures consent and we get towards robots then that’s definitely bad and if we have a reasonable high confidence that is the future then obviously I would be on board with just trying to collapse the system in order to try and get back to primitivism, but hypothetically…

Zerzan: These are big challenges, you know everybody wants community, right? I mean we can all agree on that, except what happened to it? Why did it go away? Why has mass society all but obliterated that? All but obliterated the face-to-face human contact kind of world? Which I think really did roughly exist before domestication.

You know, this sounded so utopian to me when I first discovered the literature that I first ran into by accident, the whole anthropological deal, but it actually isn’t and it’s just just well known a lot of it.

I mean a lot of it isn’t well known, I grant you we can’t know precisely, or even vaguely, what the consciousness was, how satisfied people were in their lives. We really don’t know that, but I mean there was some pretty good non-lethal developments apparently, you know some contacts that were worthy of lasting for quite some time.

You know domestication, I mean that’s like one tenth of one percent of our of human species, anyway you know all that.

Ishkah: Yeah I really value some nomadic cultures that I’m worried that we’re encroaching on. I think there was a story recently about loggers in the amazon taking away the tribe’s bow and arrows so that they wouldn’t shoot at them, but then leaving them to starve in this horrible way.

What was it gonna say, oh yeah so I don’t know how useful useful you think hypotheticals are but in terms of like, say we realized this hunter gatherer world, but there were still some people who had the knowledge to create assembly lines for things like penicillin and glasses and stuff, and they saw people who were disabled or injured, and they wanted to create some technology to help these people. Would that be a legitimate target for sabotage or would that just be a consent issue, where you let them do that even if you worry that it helps restart technological society?

Zerzan: Well, I don’t know, I think we’d have to, if everybody could pitch in and try to find workable solutions as we go, I mean I think there could be intermediate steps, you know we don’t want people unable to live without certain technologies to just simply die off, but at the same time it’s not clear to me that we need the worldwide grid otherwise you can’t achieve that. I mean I think there are other methods, some of which are just simple things like when you’re peddling a bicycle with the light, you pedal and it generates electricity to light your tail-light or your headlight. So why can’t you do that with somebody who needs a respirator? You know, you don’t have to have a whole world system going may be to fix, you know to to help people in different situations and as we kind of try to go away from the dependency which has been really pretty fatal.

You know something like that, whereas it isn’t just a blanket theoretical rejection overnight or you push a button and it’s something else, I mean that isn’t quite a fair characterization of the primitivist thinking I’m familiar with.

Ishkah: No sure, it’s just a funny hypothetical for like thousands of years in the future, like my ideal feature is a pro-tech society that conscientiously decides not to use technology badly and I know you don’t see that as possible, but I don’t know I see some value in labor movement philosophy of if animals finds a use value in the land that we can just give them large areas to re-wild. And I would want people to have the option of being able to live in bear country and risk getting attacked by bears if they want to.

Zerzan: Sure, but that doesn’t seem likely, that goes against the logic of domestication, the only thing that was left for indigenous people is the most inhospitable places on the planet and you know same goes for other species, that’s why extinction is just running rampart and one species after another is either gone or threatened with extinction. That’s the logic of it, yeah we can dream up free spaces for somebody or another, but where would that come from? Where would you find the basis for that inside this system, which is so all enveloping, I would be in favor of it, don’t get me wrong, but it’s just hard to see if there’s a solution within the system.

[2n2n]

ch. 112!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! ah the good times they keep a-comin...

I love the opening sequence aha, it's so direct... it kind of hurts my heart in a way, I feel like Iro-sensei makes a lot of consistent effort to get people to understand their stories, to recap things in a simple, concise way... but I feel like a lot of people still don't quite understand... but I think they've come very far from older written stories...!

I love... describing Amane this way....

Sickly plant, unwell roots... diseased.... can't bloom....

the people we love.... we love them just the way they are, don't we? What we make with the people we love... even if it doesn't make sense, even if it looks hopeless, even if it looks like fruitless wasted effort.... we cherish it!

I think the twins understand that too, Nene-chan....

SHIJIMA-SAN--! She looks like she might be a teacher, based on the fact she's much taller, and not in a uniform nor in some sort of gimmick outfit. Her birthdate is 1973-- the manga as-is takes place in 2015. That means this Shijima-san MIGHT be 42? She could have become an art teacher...

It's shocking, but I suppose anything could occur to upswing Shijima-san's illness. Perhaps in this world, a doctor caught something earlier on, or perhaps she was diagnosed incorrectly in the past timeline, and received more sufficient treatment in time. We don't know precisely what she suffered from, so we don't truly know if it was incurable, or just handled poorly by the system.

I figured Kou wouldn't know Nene-chan, but would still just have a normal crush on her... he finds her cute, objectively.

laughs, I ASSUMED Mitsuba would just be dead, it's just as funny if he's alive... his death was an extremely random circumstance, I'd easily believe anything even slightly to the left would evade it... perhaps he cooked a cake instead of a curry for his mother, perhaps he had remembered those potatoes just earlier when shopping, perhaps the curry didn't need potatoes after all, perhaps he didn't even notice them missing, perhaps he just caught himself when he slipped on the steps... !

What's kind of funny is that even like this, Mitsuba and Kou are still the sort of difficult and bickering sort of friends, and Kou still just like Nene-chan... you two... it's like I'll never be able to find it beautiful or sweet lol.... sigh...! you have all the time in the world now and this is how it is eh....

sigh... now, I've seen people. confused by this? This Hanako is not really there. He doesn't exist. She imagines/hallucinates him. She's daydreaming. There is no ghost Hanako. She's only remembering his existence.

haunted by the hazy memories of your sad little dead boyfriend... </3 so sweet... YOUR boy....

This bitch--!!

I swear Teru is like, too alpha to ever want to just listen to Akane.... well, godknows what Akane wanted him to do!!! Nene-chan's on her own then!!!!!! The power of love alone shall guide her!!!

I really do wonder how Teru will feel. He had a lot of development with Kou... positive and negative. And with Aoi....

He finally opened up to Kou about his suffering... but, he also fought with him, for the first time ever. Kou is defecting, in the old timeline... resisting and, no longer looking up to Teru as only his hero. But, he also saw a little more of Teru's true self.. (just a little). Does Kou still want to be an exorcist, in this timeline? Does he adore Teru? What does Teru cherish...?

I wonder if Kou is extra dumb & loyal to his family bloodline, or if he's busy with other things, with Mitsuba alive with him.... hm!

ah here we go Iro-sensei.... CONDENSED TIME. THREE DAYS!!!! I'M READY!!! DAY BY DAY!!!!

slay!!!!

I wonder if you are retired.... or dead...

The Yugi were born in 1955. It's 2015. That means, Amane would now be 60 years old. It's not impossible that he still be around, just perhaps no longer a coworker.... I cannot make any sense of the labels on the photo lol, but it would be interesting if he retired in 2011...

I'd love it if he was alive, but residing in the Red House... I wish Nene-chan could visit him at his home, had to seek him out--!!!

AGEGAP HANANENE WOOOOOOO!!!!!!! I KNOW AIDAIRO HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhh I'm so ready for it haha. Woo!! YEAH WOOOOOO!!!!

Kinda hope Tsukasa is trapped in the Clockkeeper's boundary... this would be such a tragic and miserable circumstance... I feel like ah, Tsukasa's got this... eternally trapped damsel quality about him... be it in the clutches of the Red House, or Hanako's boundary... it would be so interesting, if the Clockkeepers did something to contain him, somehow want to utilize the God....? Or at the very least, are INCAPABLE of KILLING it... and need to do something else to him... I don't trust them, still... we were explicitly shown the Clockkeeper's ability to subdue/freeze him, I would imagine not for no reason.

Hope we also get a little 12 year old living Tsukasa showing up to try to coax Nene-chan on how to fix the timeline... </3 just before he's snatched... ahhhh! So exciting!!!!!! Edge of my seat!!! SO many interesting balls in the air oooooo!!!!!!!!!

[flimsy-roost]

I'm getting really tired of the Um Ackchooally responses to neurodivergent people casually sharing their experiences. It obviously comes from an ableist place, but in a way that also completely ignores the kinds of conversations we're trying to have.

Say someone were to share, as a completely random example, a meme like this:

[tweet by user SketchesbyBoze, text: growing up, were you a "reads the encyclopedia for fun" neurodivergent or a "listens to the same song on a loop until you die" neurodivergent]

Ableist fuckfaces may hypothetically find it and get up in arms because "that shit's normal!!!!" "I did that and I'M neurotypical!!!" "omg you're not special!!!???!!!"

These reactions, from the position of an ableist fuckface, come from a logical place: these experiences place them in proximity to neurodivergency, which they cannot abide. They therefore must affirm that these experiences are NOT diagnostic criteria and we must be WRONG and SPECIAL SNOWFLAKES to present them as such.

Only... we're not calling them diagnostic criteria, or even predictive of anything in particular. We're discussing them as something more akin to common cultural traits and experiences. Not every neurodivergent person relates to these experiences, and they are not exclusive to neurodivergent people, but they're common enough that we can meme about them.

If you're from Cincinnati, Ohio, you may have strong opinions about Cincinnati Chili. You may have friendly rivalries between local chain allegiances in a family group chat. Maybe your buddy worked at Gold Star and helped you clone the recipe. Maybe you've moved across the country but can bust out a decent four-way as a nostalgic novelty meal.

Maybe you're from Cincinnati and think Cincinnati chili is gross. Maybe you're vegan and don't partake. Maybe you just never bothered to try it. No problem. That doesn't make you any less "from Cincinnati," but it doesn't deligitimize the cultural object.

Maybe you're from Wisconsin and tried a recipe on a whim. Maybe you have personal ties to Ohio and developed an appreciation for Skyline. No problem, there's nothing unusual about liking food from somewhere else, that doesn't make you "from Cincinnati," nor does it deligitimize the cultural item.

If someone were to charge in saying, "Well ACTUALLY I'm from HOUSTON and I like Cincinnati chili, and I am Houstonion, so therefore Cincinnati chili has no cultural significance to Cincinnati!!!!!! Liking mystery meat on spaghetti is FINE and NORMAL and you're NOT UNIQUE OR SPECIAL!!!!!!!! I'M NOT FROM FUCKING OHIO I'M A PROUD TEXAN!!!!!!!!"

...bitch what are you even talking about?

I'm fully aware that a lot of these fuckers are ableist trolls and I'm not trying to exonerate them in any way shape or form. However, I've seen enough people in my own life get sucked into milder forms of this mentality because they truly misunderstand, and believe that we are declaring that any kid who deigns to read an encyclopedia must be neurodivergent.

If you're in the latter group, I would request that you examine why you have such a viscerally negative reaction to even theoretically being associated with neurodivergent people. In the meantime, let us hang out in peace. Cincinnati has its chili, the usamerican south has guns, the LGBTQIA+ community has brunch, we neurodivergents have encyclopedias and songs on repeat.

(I was both, btw.)

[dzthenerd490]

File: OC 32

SCP#: AJQ

Code Name: Dreaming Melody 

Object Class: Apollyon Thaumiel

Special Containment Procedures: Due to the meta-psychological nature of SCP-AJQ it cannot be contained. However, the Department of the Impossible have not been asked to contain it as the anomaly is more beneficial given its anomalous properties. 

Description: SCP-AJQ is a growing phenomenon within the Foundation where staff that originally had depression, Anxiety, and PTSD are suddenly becoming happier and more relaxed at work. The reason seems to be these particular staff having strange dreams of a girl in a white dress with deer horns playing lovely tune with a violin to them. This entity is not harmful in any way and memetic treatment has shown there are no long-term side effects on those who have been affected. 

SCP-AJQ seems to appear in any dream whether it be a calming dream or a nightmare, the only underlying condition has to be that the person is in a mentally negative state. Once SCP-AJQ enters a dream she starts singing, playing her violin, and dancing around like a slow but graceful ballerina. As she does this the person will start to rest more peacefully and soon whatever negative aspects they had before are now gone. Afterwards the affected person will wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and now be able to work and live their life with no worries or regrets and with great efficiency as well. A common trait that has been recorded among affected individuals is that they tend to sing or hum harmonic tones to themselves from time to time.

It should be noted that Dr. Clef has received an unusual number of gifts since the incident and from personal reports SCP-AJQ seems to resemble her if she was to have black hair instead of blond hair. This has unfortunately led to more questions than answers as Dr. Clef have expressed that though she enjoys music she herself is not a good singer nor instrument player. Furthermore, she has expressed no desire to change her hair color and there is no one in her genetic bloodline, or the bloodline of her wife Captain Iris Clef, that has black hair. As such the Foundation has no leads to where SCP-AJQ came from.

SCP-AJQ was discovered in 2014 oddly the first ever report of its existence is the first-year anniversary of Dr. Meri Clef’s and Captain Iris Clef’s marriage. After its discovery it was reported that Foundation staff productivity had improved by a staggering 52%. This is more than any of the other positive projects or protocols that the O5 Council or Ethics Committee have implemented in order to boost Foundation morale and work. 

In order to find out more in regard to SCP-AJQ the O5 Council utilized [data expunged] ensuring the requirements [data expunged] allowing O5-[data expunged] to enter a dream scape and hopefully interact with SCP-AJQ. Please see Addendum X-75 for details.

***

Addendum X-75

The following is a written transcript of the interaction between O5-[data expunged] and SCP-AJQ.

***

Begin Recording

O5–[data expunged] begins dreaming and sees SCP-AJQ walk towards him with tears in her eyes.

SCP-AJQ: You didn’t have to do something so horrible to yourself just to see me.

O5-[data expunged]: Don’t start with that, I’m little miss innocent bullshit, just get to the point. Why are you here, and why are you helping Foundation staff be happy again.

SCP-AJQ: Do you dislike it?

O5-[data expunged]: ANSWER THE FUCKING QUESTION BEFORE I TEAR YOUR SOUL INTO PIECES!

SCP-AJQ: … I want to save the Foundation; it must be strong if it is to fight in the Final Battle against the Scarlet King.

O5-[data expunged]: And why the fuck would a [Offensive Content Redacted] like you care if we win or lose.

SCP-AJQ: I can't say, not yet at least.

O5-[data expunged]: Sounds like an excuse for someone who doesn’t value their existence. Or a fucking [Offensive Content Expunged], either one fits you perfectly.

SCP-AJQ: You may threaten me if that makes you happy, but fate must not change. This is happening because it must. I will not allow the Scarlet King a single chance at victory. 

O5-[data expunged]: We can win without you, we don’t need your shitty music.

SCP-AJQ: How can you be so sure?

O5-[data expunged]: because [Data Expunged by Order of the Administrator]

SCP-AJQ: … You really shouldn’t have told me that. Besides you know that is not an end all solution. 

O5-[data expunged]: You seem to know a lot about the Foundation, who the hell are you?

SCP-AJQ: You already know… don’t you?

O5-[data expunged]: … How?

SCP-AJQ: Who knows? It just happened.

O5-[data expunged]: Does it have something to do with the Reset?

SCP-AJQ: Probaby. But not directly I feel.

O5-[data expunged]: Ugh, I fucking hate gods. 

SCP-AJQ: I believe this is enough, please let us end this here.

O5-[data expunged]: … This isn’t over, from now on stay out of our way.

SCP-AJQ: But I’m helping you.

O5-[data expunged]: That doesn’t make us friends, if you ever so much as sneeze the wrong way I’ll tear you apart myself. If you know so much about the Foundation, then you know exactly what I’m capable of.

SCP-AJQ: I will never betray the Foundation; you have my word.

O5-[data expunged]: ... The words of you anomalies mean nothing. 

Recording Ends

***

The O5 Council have refused to reveal why they have such distain for SCP-AJQ despite her helping its staff.

Update 2015 - SCP-AJQ has been confirmed to be related to the recently discovered Group of Interest: The Cosmic Melody Union. She is in fact a spiritual fragment of their leader whose purpose is to help spread joy and positivity into the world and suspiciously even the Foundation. 

Update 2017 - The birth of twins [Data Expunged by Order of the Administrator]. None of this information is to ever be revealed to the children even if they come of age.

.

SCP: Horror Movie Files Hub

[sleidog]

2, 4 and 6 for Runa AND someone else!

2. How much do they remember from the Dream? Did they have any particular experience in it before awakening? Runa isn't particularly attached to the dream like other sylvari- he has a tether to it, but his version of the dream given his age is mostly just his way to be in tune with others around him [and it's only present while he carries 'the facet' which is a preserved scale from mordremoth he wore as a necklace until it fused to his body post burning Teo has a complicated relationship with the dream and it's teachings. as a sapling, he was plagued by voices in his head that couldn't be explained, and the dream had no answers for him [until mordremoth awoke, and he assumed it was the dragon! but it wasn't, it was an revenant echo] Teo's experience before awakening was very discordant, very few memories align with his experience out of his pod which gave him a bit of a skewed idea about it. 4. How was their awakening? Did something particular happen? What's their first memory? Runa's awakening was... different. he was the first from his tree, much like trahearne was the first from the pale tree. he was pretty happy alone, and the more saplings that joined him the more complicated things turned. he only had a total of 12 treemates Teo's experience awakening was going from quiet, to everything being too loud and his thoughts being crowded by not only his thoughts, but the thoughts of those around him and the revenant echoes. he ended up reluctant to leave the safety of his pod until his twin coaxed him out 6. What did they do after leaving the Grove? Did they feel a particular call or did they just roam and explore Tyria? Would they still feel at home if they went back? Runa never experienced the grove, nor a call to visit it after he left his own tree! Teo ended up joining Slei in lion's arch as part of his little gang of honorable rogues, it gave him a sense of being and purpose, as much as his twin objected to it [and reluctantly joined them as well] Teo doesnt' at all feel at home back in the grove, in fact it has more negative memories for him than positive.

[santoschristos]

Runa Raido by Mahaboka Today August 29th we enter the Runa Raidho manifestation period, which will last until September 13. Raidho- Wheel- Travels-Path (path meant as physical travel, not spiritual, also of the Soul The Runa Raidho or Reid represents the movement and strength of a person in the decisions to be made. A journey to be undertaken in search of everyone's values and consequently in search of oneself. Getting back on the right track and in order. The message in the Runa Raidho is that those who can see beyond the appearance must be prepared to embark on a journey, both in the mental as well as the spiritual and physical dimension in search of new horizons and new knowledge. On the contrary, the one who remains sitting in front of the stove in his house, waiting for a guru to ring at his door to sell him samples of prefabricated wisdom, will not go far. The journey that needs to be undertaken is an exploration of the unknown as well as a search for values that best fit to the consultant, therefore the journey leads to self-discovery. This requires loyalty, effort or sacrifice. The result pays largely for the adversity endured, because it coincides with self-affirmation and the awareness of what you can do and what you want. Raido reminds us that nothing is eternal, so he asks not to let adversity bring you down, just as you have to go through difficult times, in the same way, in the journey of life, you will also come across positive experiences. Divination If in the phase of divination the Runa Raidho comes out Straight, it is associated with communication and harmony of the elements at the end of a long journey, indeed Raidho also means search and struggle. Upside down on the other hand indicates impediments and delays in plans and projects already planned, disturbances, sudden trips and full of inconveniences. Indicates that, we need to observe. It’s very likely that we haven’t achieved the goals we set because our mental attitude is negative (that is, we don’t believe in our plans, nor in our abilities) and because we’re acting in the wrong way. We need to stop justifying ourselves and not accepting reality, face the facts and make the necessary decisions, even if they turn out unpleasant. This is the only way to go further. Raidho remembers that we need to move forward, step by step, without fear of facing adversity. When this rune appears, we need to trust that the problem beset us will soon be solved for good, provided that we keep our objectives clear and persevere. Raidho therefore advises us that, when the time to act comes, we should do it with confidence in our own forces. Raido can also announce the achievement, in a short time, of desired results or the next arrival of positive news from abroad. Regarding Love, Raidho warns us that there will be exciting and passionate moments in the love sphere, experiencing a sense of completeness seeing the need to love passionately fulfilled. For work instead: Raidho tells us that you need to prepare well and acquire proper training if your purpose is to achieve important professional objectives. In the case that at work what was expected has already been achieved, a period of calm and order will follow. And in the end, but not because of importance.. Hello. Regarding Health, Raidho warns us that health problems exist, they are not worrisome. In any case, Raidho recommends walking outdoors, doing yoga and exercising. Correspondence Syllabus : r Deities: Sun and Moon Tree : Oak Herb : Lavender Crystal : Chrysoprasium Color : Maroon Zodiac sign: Leo, period from July 23 to August 6. Animal : Nobody Tarot: V Major Arch - The Pope Astrology: Sun in Sagittarius / Moon in the third house I Ching: 45° esagramma, Ts'ui - 4.1251111111111 Rating 4.13 Fountain Runemal the Book of Runes Runica Paths of light The Power of the Runes the magic of the runes source --L'Antro celtico

[vellichorom]

Hey I have a genuine question and I dont mean it is a mean way at all. This is me being actual confused /lh

In ur pinned post it says:

"abuse-glorifying whatever freak people by ANY other name are NOT welcome here."

But you have shown a deep care for goreguts and have talked about how unhealthy it is and hold them in a light that really doesn't seem to be not glorifying their relationship? Maybe I've read this all wrong or something but it was something that kinda bothered me when I read ur pinned. Again, I ask this question in a genuine way and mean for no feelings to be hurt, sorry if it does though, im bad with that kinda communication

Highlighting ( again ) that Goreguts is unhealthy, NOT abusive.

They're impossibly, mutually co-dependent & neglect to see the other's fatal flaws or the flaws in the relationship because they're all the other has now, but are otherwise happy & content to be together. They're also freaks who kill for mutual recreation, but ultimately don't mean the other actual, malicious harm beyond what they can't themselves enjoy. Unhealthy & strange, it didn't start off great & I certainly don't recommend it, but not ABUSIVE.

Now, every abusive relationship is OBVIOUSLY unhealthy but not every unhealthy relationship is outright abusive; it's often complicated, or not great for one reason or another, but not to be held to the same comparison standards as an objectively abusive relationship just because there's negative aspects to it.

Said negative aspects I highlight regularly regarding Goreguts, as MUCH as I may highlight the many better parts of the relationship.

WHICH you can discuss! & I will! At the behest & interest of myself, my sibling, others, we're fleshing out & exploring this complex & multi-faceted relationship, which includes touching upon EVERYTHING, including the better, more positive parts of the relationship - which Goreguts still retains a lot of for still being unhealthy. That much you CAN still discuss while also while also acknowledging it's obviously not the best relationship overall & still stating as much.

Which I do. I certainly don't beat around the bush with this ship & will eagerly tell you or anyone that they kind of suck together ( at least within the canon default ), but I'm not going to tack an addendum saying as much every time I say something positive about the ship or hype it up to any degree or joke about it, nor should I have to just to convey that I'm not glorifying it or the more questionable aspects of it.

I'm genuinely sorry if you took any of the silly shenanigans OR positive highlights my sibling & I do with this ship as glorification, but that's not the case, nor is it intended to be whatsoever. So I hope this ask clears things up a little bit.

[star-trek-fandom-confessions]

Hi! I’m the person who wrote the recent Jadzia Dax confession. I saw someone responding to the confession in reblogs and wanted to respond to the response, if that’s allowed? (If not please just ignore me)

So, I know my opinion on the character is a “me problem”- but I think this is also true of literally any opinion of any character ever, positive or negative. It’s all fully subjective. I understand other people like her, and have reasons for liking her, and that’s great! I’m genuinely glad other people connect with and enjoy the character even if I don’t. I *personally* still just feel she’s an underwritten character- that’s what I meant by “I’d struggle to describe her to other people”- I don’t think the writers gave her a super consistent or sharply defined personality or a very defined overall storyline. And for what I meant about wishing Ezri was the character from the start- I maybe framed that badly in the original confession; what I more mean is, some of the storylines Ezri was already starting to get (namely I think struggling with not necessarily wanting to be Joined and how to navigate that, and especially unpacking how dealing with being Joined effects your connection to your family- or generally to people who knew you the *host* and not just people who knew you the *symbiote*) and some of Ezri’s general personality traits that supported those storylines beyond that, too, should have been ones written into the first character and explored in depth over the course of the show- whether they’re more Jadzia or Ezri beyond that doesn’t matter so much. Because yes, we *do* know the basics of the Trill because of Jadzia, but I think that’s basically *all* they give us through her. The few times they used her to try and explore issues with Trill society, it didn’t quite work and was imo, as I said in my confession going for the least interesting “complications” over ones that could’ve given the Trill more depth as a whole. I do think a character like Ezri could exist from the start of the show, if you drew her personal storylines out over time and mixed them with a general attempt to expand on and explain Trill society to us. Maybe my end thought here is a concept like the Trill shouldn’t be tackled at all if the writers aren’t willing to make them a semi-focal point and dedicate *significant* time to unpacking their society, and maybe DS9 ultimately had too many other things going on already for any Trill character to work, and I just have to hope maybe a future show introduces a character where they’re willing to spend the necessary time with them to do the overall concept justice.

TL;DR- of course my feelings about Jadzia as a character are ultimately about my personal dislike and I don’t think my opinion is objective in any way nor do I mean to say anyone who likes her is wrong! Ultimately my feelings about her as a character are very tied to my feelings that there’s a lot of wasted opportunity with the Trill as a whole, and that if you took some of Ezri’s characterization and storylines and gave them more time to grow, you could’ve had some cool stuff happen that they never really got around to doing with Jadzia. Basically, I just wish they’d done more with her and her character concept, and I feel like I can see so many places they could have and that’s just always been frustrating to me.

.

[checkoutmybookshelf]

"You're a 15-Year-Old in a Bespoke Suit and Nobody Died!"

Well...it wasn't quite that nobody died, Angeline (honestly it's a miracle that Holly doesn't have a complex about beloved CO/mentors dying on her watch), but based on Artemis's reaction to you buying him jeans and a t-shirt, it's fair to say that we might need to recalibrate expectations. Let's talk Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex.

If this is your first time with us, please be aware that THIS IS A SPOILERIFIC ZONE below the break!

Headings worked so well for me the last time that we're going to keep going with them here, because there is a lot to talk about for this book!

Turnball Root

They say that every good villain is the hero of their own story. You flip the perspective on Turnball's story, and it's a twisted version of Romeo and Juliet surviving to become Anthony and Cleopatra. Just with more black magic runes.

Turnball makes me so, so sad as an antagonist, because you don't fall in love and enthrall the object of your affection while hanging on to the signs of your glory days if you have any level of self-worth and self-respect. Opal Koboi revels in her own inflated sense of self-worth, but everything about Turnball screams that he has some deep unresolved issues with himself as a person. That makes it really hard to enjoy him as a villain the same way I enjoy Opal, but I appreciate the nuance and weight and depth to his character that the massive red flags herald. If something had gone just a little bit different, if Turnball had been confident in his worth and his value, he could have been much more like his little brother. Julius Root was not perfect, but self-worth was not an issue he dealt with.

Artemis says it himself at the end of the book: Nobody wins when Turnball is "defeated." Anthony and Cleopatra have died by their own hands, and neither Rome nor Egypt are better for it.

Leonore talking Turnball down and basically saying he can help her or stop her is also heartbreaking, because it's so, so clear that she would have loved him without the thrall rune and--again--if Turnball had had the confidence to let her love him on her own, they could have been happy without the evil schemes and separation while Turnball was in jail. Leonore doesn't get a whole lot of character development in her own right, which makes sense for a middle-grade/YA-ish book that just doesn't have the space to develop yet another secondary character, but she's compelling in the sketch we do get, and I believe that Turnball would actually throw everything over for her. His last words in the book are in service to Leonore and Leonore's well-being as he helps her. He couldn't have done anything else, and that choice says so, so much about what could have been.

For me, Turnball is ultimately a tragic figure who was covering his own insecurities and self-loathing with sheer drama and villainy. He absolutely does bad things, and I'd even go so far as to say that he's a bad guy, but the tragedy is that he simply did not have to be.

The Atlantis Complex: Artemis and Orion

Ok, so my book is literally about representations of physical and mental disability in Shakespeare, but this freaking book manages to be more nuanced and more real in terms of the fact that mental health is COMPLICATED. Experiencing it is complicated. People's reactions to signs and symptoms of mental illness is complicated (and often objectively ableist and shitty). Everyone involved is often trying their best, and often it's just not enough. Sometimes it is.

While I was conceptualizing this review, I spent so much time going back and forth on minutiae: What was a positive representation, what was a negative representation, who said what and was it hurtful or not, the nuances of having symptoms in life-or-death situations. It got to the point where I could have written an entire post just about this, but then it occurred to me: I don't have to do that, because if I'm going back and forth this much and if there is so much evidence for both positive and negative representation, then the book isn't trying to do one or the other: it's simply allowing Artemis's mental illness to exist in the story. Which is MIND BOGGLING since so many stories--if they deign to mention disability at all--make the disability the whole thing. Frankly, Colfer pulled off a story where Artemis experiencing psychosis during a life-or-death situation was just...part of the story. It wasn't the main focus, it didn't warp the rest of the world and the plot around it, and it acknowledged the complicated peice where it can be both a help and a detriment in the situation.

Basically, it was allowed to be messy. And it was allowed to be complicated. And it was allowed to be emotional. But nothing derailed the plot.

There was also something really interesting that I'm not going to articulate terribly well here because I'm still processing it, but I want to at least nod to it. In terms of negative and harmful stereotypes about mental illness, Colfer manages to do this thing where he acknowledges that they exist, and there are moments where characters lean into them, but almost as soon as they do, another character pops up to call bullshit on it. For example, at one point Foaly makes a (totally in-character) crack about Dr. J. Argon strapping Artemis into "the crazy chair," and then immediately calls himself out on having said something absolutely shitty. "Crazy" is an ableist term, but it gets tossed around all the time in the real world. For Foaly to make the crack and then immediately walk it back isn't something you see often, but I think showing the crack, immediate self-correct, and then improved behavior going forward is critical. Humans are imperfect, but to self-correct and change for the better is important, and showing that is rare and I really appreciate it.

Ok, I'm going to stop ramling in circles about something I'm still processing, and move on to talking about Orion. I'm going to treat Orion as a separate character here, partly because the book does and partly because I am a) not an expert in mental illnesses and b) do not personally experience any and I don't want to speak from experience I don't possess. What I do want to say is that writing Orion as a blatant charicature of a fantasy medieval hero is AMAZING and HILARIOUS and holy cow I loved it so much. The contrast with Artemis is excellent, and the fact that ORION took Butler's lessons to heart was fabulous.

Artemis and Angeline

The other amazing relationship in this book is Artemis and an Angeline who knows exactly what Artemis's deal is. Between telling Artemis that girls are frightened of him because he's "a 15-year-old in a bespoke suit and nobody died" and her insistence on him spending at least two days a week in the jeans and t-shirt she's bought him, Angeline is absolutely fabulous.

Artemis and the Butlers

Oh Butler...dear heart, you get done so dirty by the son of your heart in this book. You were hired to be a bodyguard and what Artemis needs more than anything in this book is mental health support. You've done well with his mental health so far, but this is so, so far outside your wheelhouse. And then Artemis is one of perhaps three people on earth who know how to actually hurt you, and he DOES. He pushes you away, he invents a threat to Juliet, and then worst of all, he takes away your trust in him. Butler needs therapy almost as much as Artemis does in this book, and it's just crushing to see their relationship take this pounding. When the bullet is your principle's brain, a bodyguard cannot stand between bullet and principle.

On top of all that, Butler has to make the phonecall to Angeline explaining that Artemis has Atlantis Complex. That is one of the worst possible phonecalls to make, but he does it and he does it with grace and compassion. Domovoi Butler is objectively too good for this world.

Juliet Butler is out here living her best life, and frankly we love her for that. She's loving the hell out of her professional wrestling career, and she's found her own feet to stand on, not only with Butler but also with Artemis. She quite rightfully calls out his bullshit a couple of times, which is just delightful. She marries the girly/feminine stuff with the totally badass (and traditionally coded masculine) beautifully in a way that finds joy in both. So many "strong female characters" are strong because they reject everything girly/feminine, but Juliet gets BOTH. It's my favorite thing.

And her match against a dickhead gnome at the end is A+ no notes.

Holly and That One Time She Dated Her CO???

Ok, so I don't actually have a whole ton to say about this except...OMG OMG OMG HOLLY AND TROUBLE WENT ON A DATE!!!!! Which has to be immediately followed up with "Is this how Holly's complex around beloved and respected commanding officers dying horribly on her watch manifests?" And then naturally we have to side eye the absolute hell out of Trouble Kelp because dating subordinates has got to violate workplace ethics. Not that either Holly or Trouble have a great relationship with the rulebook, but Trouble is in charge now, so....Broski. Meet rulebook.

Now, all of that said...I am so mad that this date happened off-page. I would have killed to see it. Especially if Grub showed up at any point in the evening.

Finally: Artemis asking if Holly and Trouble have any plans to bivouac in the near future is INCREDIBLE and deserves both a slow clap and a slap.

A Brief Moment to Hate on Ark Sool

Ark Goddamn Sool full-on went to the dark side. He is MERC-ING for Turnball Root. He doesn't even have the scrap of integrity or loyalty to join the crew properly, he's in it for the goddamn money. We HATE Ark Sool. So. Freaking. Much.

Butler crushing him to death is better than he deserves, but it is IMMENSELY satisfying.

Concluding Thoughts

Overall, I have a lot of affection for this entry in the Artemis Fowl series. It has a complexity and a humor to it that I actually don't think any other book in the series has ("I'm the nut!" anyone?). It does sort of bring the arc of the series as a whole to a grinding halt to have a tragedy about Turnball Root and give Artemis Atlantis Complex, but I'm not mad about it. There is some really damn good character work here, and it paces quickly enough that the book really rocks on by as you read.

[ashinaisshin]

A more direct EN translation of some of Alhaitham’s voice lines in CN

(Note that in order to show the meaning in CN more clearly, some translations might not sound as smooth as the official EN text to stay closer to the CN.)

tl;dr: dude is in general more of a piece of shit in CN (no) LOL

i love he

About the Vision

To be honest, a Dendro Vision isn’t of much help to my research. But I do hit people harder now that I have elemental powers, so it's still useful enough.

[Personal opinion: I really wish the translators had kept his cruder/rougher wording in CN here, instead of making him sound kinda formal with the “settling a physical dispute” “proves useful at times” and all. (There are other lines, including some during the archon quest, where I’ve noticed that the EN translators made him sound more “formal” like this.) Despite the strong “rational/logical” image that he has, in CN Alhaitham rarely uses the kind of “academic” or “smart”-sounding language that one might think he does unless the occasion calls for it, and I find that aspect of his character really charming. Like Alhaitham says himself, “Rather than lacing my words with rhetoric, I prefer speaking factually” – I love hearing his lines because this guy is so good at making sharp, concise comments using his iconic crude and down-to-earth language. The writers really did a fantastic job portraying this smart and badass and hilarious character while intentionally (imo) breaking the stereotype in the use of an “academic” tone.]

About Us: Helping Each Other

You are very capable of taking care of yourself, so much so that you can even look after the companions around you. I don’t have any advice for you, and you most likely don’t need my help.

[Unlike in EN, it’s not very obvious that he is specifically referring to Paimon there in CN. It’s also a general trend that he is more curt/direct in CN, not hedging his statements as much with words like “seem” “frankly” “tend to” etc..]

About Kaveh: Compassion

He shows too much compassion towards everyone and everything. Probably because he is too fragile, he’s always making a fuss over nothing.

[The word choice in CN is more positive. At least “关怀” is a positive word – more along the lines of “compassion/care” – while “sensitive” is a neutral word that could be understood in either way, and probably negative in the context of “overly sensitive”. While Alhaitham is arguably also using some sarcasm in CN, I still think “sensitive” is neither an intuitive nor a fitting translation for 关怀.]

Birthday

Happy birthday. I’ve always thought that people invest an unnecessary amount of enthusiasm into celebrating the day they were born; it’d be more practical to channel that energy into getting more joy out of each day of their lives. You’re doing an alright job with this. I don’t know what kind of gift to get, so I’ll just reserve one pass for you through a special application channel.

[Funnily enough, he is less nice to you on your birthday in CN lol… I appreciate the sheer objectivity in “alright job”, bro Especially the “gift” he prepared for you, in my understanding, the special channel is only effective for once in CN and not permanent as the EN version seems to suggest, LMAO. Alhaitham, you just really don’t want to put extra effort into this huh Idk, maybe the EN translators just wanted to make him sound nicer to the players 😆 I can appreciate it either way though.]

Opening Treasure Chest: I

Hold on to them yourself.

[Aka: I don’t need this stuff. How nice of him.]

Opening Treasure Chest: II

Hurry, it’ll be hard to pick them up once they roll away.

[But he’s also genuinely being such a good (and fourth-wall-breaking-ly helpful) teammate kekw]

Joining Party: II

Let’s do business the business way. / Let’s keep things straight business.

[OK, if all the other discrepancies in translation are mostly just me being nitpicky, this one, I would argue, is a significant mistranslation that almost gets the opposite meaning across. “Let’s get down to business,” in my opinion, makes it sound like Alhaitham feels the need and is potentially quite willing to join the party, while in CN, “公事公办” is an idiom that clearly conveys the meaning that Alhaitham is Not joining you because he wants to/thinks he needs to but rather he’s treating it as Business, as a Job. In JP this line is straight up translated it as “公務に私情は挟まない” – “no personal feelings involved in official business.” In fact, linguistic elegance/cultural factors aside, I feel like for Alhaitham’s voice lines at least, the JP translation in general stays much closer to the CN text compared to EN. Like I mentioned in my last CN/EN comparison post, some EN translations make Alhaitham sound like a leader, while a big part of this dude’s life is just rejecting any and all leadership responsibilities thrown his way.]

---

Some additional translations FYI

More About Alhaitham: IV

Once order is disrupted, the consequences will spread rapidly. I don’t like this; it will get in the way of the life I have right now.

Feelings About Ascension: Conclusion

Can’t let those slackers from the Akademiya know that I’m making progress yet again, otherwise they’ll do everything in their ability to push trouble my way. Of course I won’t accept any of it, but the back-and-forth in communication is always going to waste some (of my) time.

Low HP: III

This will take up more (of my) time.

[progressivemother]

Morality and How To Teach Children

The philosophy of ethics are fascinating. What is the proper basis for morality? This question comes up frequently in discussions for various reasons – it tests the limits of science, the role of philosophy, and the role of religion. There has always been a vibrant discussion on the matter.

Many of those in religious circles will argue that religion is a source of morality but this couldn't be more far from fact. First, there isn't a general consensus on whether or not there are dieties of any kind. There are thousands of religions in the world and one cannot say that one in particular is fact. The "fact" of religion is really up to each individual and their beliefs shouldn't be shunned nor should they push their beliefs onto others. There is a philosophical dilemma inherent in basing absolute morality on religious faith.

I feel that moral reasoning should be based on science, philosophy, and an individual's own ethics. This is what I teach my children. They learn about different philosophies (including religions) and about sciences. They are learning that morals are more of a subjective thing instead of a objective thing. This way, they can grow into their own person with their own morals.

Morals can only be understood within the context of an individual. We all have things we care about; family friends, ourselves, out homes, etc. We have evolved our own sense of morals based on what we have learned throughout our lives. They are not based on what we are told to think by others. At least they shouldn't be. We need to think for ourselves.

As social animals, we have come to understand that we affect others both negatively and positively. We do naturally care about others, especially those we hold close to us. But we have to remember that there is no such thing as "natural" or "unnatural" morals in society. To think is such a way is a fallacy. Morals will always be subjective. Objective morals just do not exist.

The example I give most is that people say that one should never harm or kill another. But if we think about it, we cannot honestly tell a soldier that. They are there to defend their country and loved ones. Besides that, people need to be able to defend themselves. Killing is also a subjective moral.

You cannot tell others how to believe, what to believe, or how to live their lives based on your morals. Whether an act is regarded as “morally good” or “morally bad” must be a statement about how an individual feels about the matter, not those around them.

Saying that morals are “subjective” does not imply that they are unimportant. If morals were “objective” then they could be entirely unrelated to what matters to us. Subjective morals does not it mean your values are better than another's values nor does it mean you can't tell someone they are wrong. But my children are taught that only a few values matter in an objective matter such as murder for fun rather than necessity, lying without a good reason, or stealing unless necessary.

They are taught that murder could be necessary to protect someone, lying could be necessary to protect someone, and stealing could be necessary if someone is too poor to feed or clothe themselves. They are taught to mind their business if someone is stealing food if they cannot help them. If they can find a way to help without breaking laws or harming another, then they should. Buying food for someone who cannot feed themselves can be a good thing to do.

In the end, an individual's own ethics is what determines their morals. There are not objective morals in nature and to think so is fundamentally misleading. What my children and I know is that most humans are by nature good but humans are also selfish creatures by nature. Being selfish isn't wrong just like following your own morals isn't.