#ABOVE ALL ELSE

[flaringgoosebumps]

I'll never be over this actually

[frootbyethefoot]

halfway through v3 right now. it sure is a game.

[ID: a digital drawing of kaede akamatsu and shuichi saihara from danganronpa v3: killing harmony standing back to back. kaede is facing forward, and looking back at shuichi with a happy expression as they hold hands. shuichi is looking at kaede with a small smile. end id/]

[prydeparade]

The @izzyhandszines Captains are finally together with Con! Above all else, it's about belonging to something.

[count-vashula]

even though rwby’s future is unknown I am SO glad we got to see bmblb canon in real time. that shit took YEARS and man was it worth it…seeing the bees together in front of my eyes knowing that it’s CANON healed a part of my soul that no one can take away. even if rwby never comes back we still have that. we still have them. we won, even though if it’s not picked up and finished it’ll be a tragedy, but we won y’all. what we didn’t think would happen HAPPENED. and I couldn’t be more grateful for it.

[ilynpilled]

ik nobody who follows me gives a shit and will probably want me shot dead for even posting anything tied to aot (valid) but being called crazy and evil online repeatedly for a year straight for predicting the plot twist that eren is responsible for the death of his mom (in part to choose to set in motion the path that leads to his tragic attempt and failure to reach his own deranged abstraction of freedom) when this was as overtly established as a concept as early on as s1 with the visual subtly of an incoming truck hitting u with him burning his family alive with the justification of “i was born into this world”

[anundesirablechild]

peak / peek / pique

three different words. tricky, sure, but not impossible.

PEAK - summit / top of something. mountain peak, this is peak cinema, etc. noun or adjective

PEEK - to sneak a look. peeking around the corner, taking a peek, etc. verb or noun

PIQUE - to stimulate (curiosity or interest, usually). sometimes this word is also used to mean feeling irritated or resentful / describe a state of irritation or resentment due to wounded pride. piqued my curiosity, piqued by that rude attitude, left in a fit of pique, etc. verb or noun.

[moyazaika]

will you appear again before Christmas?🥲

YES HI!!!! WOWEE sorry for being away longer than i intended! estranged family member showed up on my front door after 18 yeARS of no contact?!?!? went to bali and lost my pasSPORT?!?!?! failed my driver's TEST!?!?!?!

#life

[sqebu]

I hope my art finds you like this.

[waffliesinyoface]

very fun to realize that Gundam Breaker 4, the game which just came out last month, has all of two witch from mercury models in it, despite that series first airing in July 2022.

like. you would think that they would look at what caused a massive upswing in popularity and go "we should capitalize on this" but no!!

bandai, if you're going to release a mediocre game whose sole draw is making custom gundams... why the hell would you not capitalize on the thing responsible for the series' strongest fiscal year ever?

[turnwashingtonsbaddies]

she just like me fr

[kaelleid]

Exactly 501 days since my last milestone post, my first fic in this fandom has hit 2,000 kudos.

When I posted it I never in my wildest dreams expected anywhere near this kind of response. It's been such a thrill and a source of joy, and it means so much to me. Thank you so much to everyone who kudos'd and commented and bookmarked, to @queuest for the extremely helpful and reassuring feedback, and especially to @bemusedlybespectacled for the inspiration.

This is the first fandom I've been active in since I was a teenager, which was 10+ years ago, and I don't think I would have stuck around here still Izzyposting if it wasn't for all of you being so kind and so lovely and so welcoming. Thank you 💕

[hotdiggitydollie]

So proud to contribute these two pieces to @izzyhandszines supporting Mermaids UK.

[daycourtofficial]

Eris Valentine’s fic dropping in t minus 1 hour

[deoidesign]

Someone told me my comic reads like a b-rate monster movie, or a cw show.

They meant it as like, an insult, but this is actually the greatest compliment I've nearly ever received. Literally exactly what I'm going for thank you

[ayashitetsuko]

Izzy the Hierophant: The Major Arcana that reminds us to get back to work

As a tarot student, I am fascinated by the interpretations made by fellow tarot enthusiasts in the Our Flag Means Death (OFMD) fandom, on which Major Arcana card best represents Izzy Hands. Popular fanmade decks such as The Cat Bandit Tarot by artist Jennie Planet see him as The Devil—a force that keeps the lovers apart—and Judgement—beating Ed down when he was already at his worst. Valid as they are, these interpretations see Izzy as a negative influence, but I like to offer an alternative take. 

I see Izzy’s energy and role in the canon (and eventually, in my personal life as the viewer) as the Hierophant. An energy often found uninspiring, but when used correctly, it can help people make their dreams come true. 

In her book The Holistic Tarot (2015, North Atlantic Books), tarot master Benebell Wen uses Tradition, Conventionalism, and Institutionalism as the keywords that explain the Hierophant card.

“The Hierophant is a holy man, an important figure in his society … People rely on him to be a channel between heaven and earth. In a reading, the card typically indicates a desire to follow conventions and norms, a traditionalist—one who holds traditional values,” she writes. 

The Hierophant is often seen as the card that calls for querents to be conservative. Instead of thinking outside the box, it expects them to open the manuals and follow the instructions. When discussing making our dreams come true, the Hierophant energy is often seen as an obstacle—curbing creativity and exploration in favour of traditions. 

We did see these traits displayed by Izzy in various scenes, such as in Episode 4 when he demanded Ed to come up with a defensive plan after they noticed a Spanish ship coming their way or when he threatened to blackmail Lucius for … you know what he did.

While these scenes might cement Izzy’s role in the story as the Bad Guy, his role is also a reminder of the importance of maintaining a structure—even on a pirate ship. Because this structure, no matter how dull it is, enables us to function and create the impact we want in our personal and professional lives.

The Hierophant energy

The Hierophant card is known for having a restrictive–perhaps even oppressive–energy. In my early days as a tarot student, I tended to roll my eyes whenever it showed up. It was not the kind of nuance I wanted as a young person. But eventually, I learned how the Hierophant energy could positively impact one’s life when used wisely. Instead of preventing progress, it can help with it. 

As someone who works in the tech startup community, I regularly meet people driven to succeed. Buzzwords such as “innovation” and “disruption” are being thrown around lightly; everybody wants to be the next big thing that changes the world. Big ideas, even the most unrealistic ones, are cherished and encouraged.

But people are being brought back to Earth rather quickly in this industry. There are even statistics to prove it: Up to 95 per cent of startups fail simply because they cannot find product-market fit, according to various sources. In layman’s terms, they create products and services that nobody needs. This is why startups are commonly advised to implement rigorous market research and product testing to prove that their ideas work; to have the discipline to do more than just talk.

On an individual level, the Hierophant energy is one I tap into to achieve my goals. To be productive, I need to run my days smoothly. This means clearing my housekeeping tasks before leaving home, logging off social media during work hours, and ensuring I eat my vegetables to stay healthy. They are boring AF, but they provide me with a structure to keep the machine well-oiled.

When I look back on my life, all the times I managed to achieve and create something good for myself (and hopefully others) are when I stopped daydreaming and started implementing the Hierophant energy into my daily life. While it is important to explore new ideas, all of them will be pointless without the structure that ensures it is being developed properly. 

Now, back to Izzy

One might see Izzy as a traditional pirate who is resistant to change. I mean, what the fuck is even a retirement? It does not exist in this line of work. 

This context places Izzy as a counter to Stede Bonnet’s “fresh, groundbreaking” ideas about piracy. It is easy to see Izzy and his beliefs as outdated and needing disruption. But we must remember that piracy is a dangerous business. While pirates generally entered the business with a ready-to-die mindset, a structure that allows the crew to be functional and prepared to handle risks should be appreciated instead of being seen as a threat. 

This is especially more relevant in a situation where a leader struggles to function properly. Ed is a smart and gifted captain, but his short attention span and mood swings have made it hard for him to function on some days and for the crew to maintain their trust in him. His wit may have allowed them to survive another day, but will it be sustainable without a system to ensure that? What happens when he is having his moment? At the very least, they would need a plan.

This is a calling for us to look into our own lives and see: In which area do we need a first mate to yell and remind us to focus?

--

This article was first published in Above All Else: An Appreciation of Izzy Hands, a zine dedicated to Con O'Neill's Izzy Hands from Our Flag Means Death.

[arealasstree]

Time to bring up Saint Izzy