#Heart has also the same root as shell

[an-android-child]

Costillas in Spanish sounds like "small shores" if you even care

Ribcage is a hell of a word. Like yeah my bones trapped my heart inside my chest if u even care. I don’t know if it wants out

[moraxussy]

You Can't Take One Without The Other

Damian Al Ghul x Twin!reader

Content Warnings: mention of the word "abuse", nothing major, and not proof read:3

Despite her seemingly cold demeanor accompanied by her unmoving stature. Talia Al Ghul is a woman—a mother that lets her hard shell peel open when it comes to what's hers—her children.

Damian Al Ghul, her prodigy, blood born assassin, but also her beloved son. So composed and calculated yet also holds a temper that it easily triggered. Trained to kill on the spot without mercy, the young boy is honed to secure any emotion that hinders his mission—the Al Ghul's mission. He was made to not let any other being get in his way, to use all means necessary as long as he's able to give expected results, preferably exceed them. Yet despite his killer instincts and apathetic front, he is a boy of value. He believes blood over all matters.  He cherishes his family to such a strong degree that he's willing to kill just to preserve and protect it. No outer force can sever his belief on this. But it doesn't stop at family. Damian adores animals and takes care of them unconditionally. It pains him to see any of those creatures hurt in any way. Which pushed him to pursue the path of veganism.

The Demon Prince, Heir to the Shadows, and Son of Assassins....

Damian Al Ghul

Damian may possess the prowess and talents meant to satisfy the legacy of Al Ghul, never forget his other biological half, his twin sister.

The youngest, Talia's sweetheart, her doll, and her precious killer. Her little girl, the same as Damian, trained to be the perfect assassin for their family's legacy and for the preservation of the world, isn't just a weapon, she is also a daughter she dearly loved with all her heart. The mother might say she doesn't pick favorites, but one might think otherwise once you see how she treats the two differently. Although tender towards both, Talia can't help but train Damian a little harsher than her heiress. If you try to argue with her about this, she would just shut you down. But deep down, all she wants to do is give her daughter the childhood her mother failed to experience while also helping her build strong walls to protect herself once their mother leaves them on their own devices to strive for independence. Of course, this doesn't make the daughter twin an ordinary girl. She also values family and cares for animals but not the same degree as her brother. Believing that animals are a resource meant for humans for which they should be treated with respect and value if one wishes to utilize its maximum potential. This contrast in stands causes quarrels between the two during moments involving any animal. Not to mention she as well possesses the  strength and capabilities that qualifies her as an excellent assassin whose efficiency in the shadows allows her to parry and counter any attack thrown to her by her foes.

The Demon Princess, Heiress to The Shadows, Daughter of Assassins, and Talia's Second Chance...

You

The Duo of the Shadows, The Successors of the Demon, The Treasure of Talia Al Ghul

Together, no enemy can stop the twins. No matter how harsh nor how inhumane the training they are put through, as long as each twin is there to root for the other, they are ready to take the abuse. In the glory of their legacy. In the name of Ra's Al Ghul's greatest aspiration.

But what will happen if a new variable is introduced to the family of demons? A man of night once again reminded of his time in the shadows. A wake up call for the Dark Knight that what happened all those years ago gave birth to consequences that he now has to bear.

Will the bat be able to handle his demons? Will a mother finally let her young fly on their own?

Notes:

Hi so this is my first time making a batman based fic. I'm still new to the community so I'm basing on just common knowledge. I really wanted to try and focus on how Damian and the reader would be in the clutches of the shadows. I'm still learning though!

[viburnt]

Divorcing Izuku Midoriya Headcanons

I'm on a creative rush, and this may make zero sense because I'm tired lmao. Anyways, have some angst <3

Tagging the babes: @doumadono @shonen-brainrot @trickster-kat @angelshimaa (babe, you've missed some very angsty posts) @xhieru @mimisxs @dabislittlemouse

Content Warning: Divorce, emotional abuse and manipulation, mention of baby-trapping, alcohol.

• As I said in my last post, divorcing Izuku is a nightmare. Think about the most energy-draining and mental health deteriorating process, and multiply it for a minimum of 6 months. Izuku won't make things easy for you at all, trying to drag and prolong the whole ordeal just to keep you close. I've divided this set of headcanons by key moments/topics to keep some order. I hope you enjoy them, I'm pouring my heart on these (also pay attention to detail because I'm working on something hehe).

Denial and confusion: the first days after you serve him papers

• Izuku genuinely doesn't understand why you want to leave, refusing to accept the fact that you're not happy being by his side. He's given you all there is to give: a comfortable house, nice clothes, expensive cars, etc. So when you serve him papers, Izuku's first reaction is confusion followed by fear. In that head of his, he's made everything a good husband has to do! So why? Why would you not be happy?

• If you were smart enough and planned your movements with care, you should be able to go through your divorce without depending financially on Izuku or having to live in the same place. You'd have to deal with his incessant calls and texts, often having to block unknown numbers to avoid hearing his whines, but it'd be less difficult. If you weren't thoughtful about the situation and proceeded without the right steps, oh, you're in for a treat: there's nowhere you can go besides the house you shared with him, no place where you can be at peace. You're at Izuku's mercy, like it or not, but that's another story.

• In addition to his denial, Izuku starts to (unconsciously) guilt trip you. Phrases like "Sorry for not being enough," and "I know I'm very pathetic" become frequent. It pains your heart to hear those things because you know Izuku loves you, you are just not compatible at all. You try to let him see it's not about being enough, it's more about effort; with much patience, you set things clear to avoid any misunderstandings, but Izuku just doesn't get it.

• "Haven't I done this or that for you? Didn't I buy you all these things? Am I not enough?" "Izuku, I didn't ask you for any of this, all I wanted was my husband..." Conversations like this occur during this phase, and they can only be held through the phone (when he is sober and not yelling/hollering how much of a mistake a divorce would be). He tries to gauge sympathy from you, telling you that his job is important but that he loves you so much!

• He becomes an empty shell of the bright ray of sunshine the public knew. It goes unnoticed by many, but the people who work around him can tell. It is then when he starts telling others about his marital situation, and you end up seeing faces you've met once or twice during galas or hero events. You "accidentally" stumble across your husband's colleagues, like Ochako, who try to convince you to give him a second chance. "I- I know we don't know each other a lot but please, consider it. Izuku is a great guy a-and I'm sure you guys could fix any problem!" It is embarrassing for you because no one wants people to know their issues.

• What's so ironic about the moment when you serve him papers is that he receives them at his office, the very root of all the problems in your marriage. It was the place where he had spent anniversaries, birthdays, Valentine's... those four walls witnessed the beginning and the end of your relationship. Izuku has a mental breakdown when he finally reads the documents but, hey, he was still pro-hero Deku, right?

Negotiations and lawyers: The first weeks and months

• If having to deal with Izuku's colleagues trying to change your mind wasn't enough, be ready for your soon-to-be ex trying to negotiate. Midoriya suggests couple's therapy to talk this through, and for a split of second, it almost sounds like a good idea! But then you remember all those times when Izuku had promised you he'd be there for you and failed. It didn't seem plausible after that... Besides, all things considered, it'd be hard to find a therapist who could see your side of the story. Who would dare to tell someone as charming and popular as Izuku that he failed as a husband?

• Once therapy is off the table, Izuku brings up children. It may be considered a low blow, especially if one of your dreams was to form a family with him, so his offer felt cruel. "W-we can have kids! Wouldn't you want that? We can be a big family, with one- No, two babies!" "Ouch, it takes a divorce for you to even think about it, huh? That's uh, slightly concerning. Besides, a kid needs a father too... I'm not planning on being a single mom in this marriage" Now, Izuku strikes me as the kind that would try to . to stay. I'm sorry if it sounds terrible, but considering how sometimes he acts on impulse, he really could try it.

• Izuku also tries to be at home more often; he "cooks" (it's takeout disguised as home meals), brings you coffee to the bed, and calls you all kinds of sappy nicknames... It saddens you, why couldn't he care like that before? Of course, this point only applies if you still live with him during this whole process. If you don't, he starts frequenting the places where he guessed could find you: cafeterias, plazas, shops...

• Finding a lawyer for you was a hard task, especially because everyone sees you as a "dumb" woman who is trying to divorce Japan's number one hero. Not to mention they were very expensive, and Izuku was certainly not giving you money for that. You tell Izuku that mediations need to happen to progress with the divorce, but he never shows up to the meetings. There's always an excuse for that man! No matter how much you plea, he refuses to sign the paper. Izuku also becomes very mean towards you, outright berating you for not understanding him. It's gruesome to see him turn into such a monster during these months.

• As an additional point for this part, Izuku hires a private investigator to follow you around. He feels bad for thinking of it, but the idea that you could be seeing someone else while you're trying to divorce him eats him alive.

Last resort: Mediatic battle

• The media is very quick to pick up your marriage's fall down. Time after time you visited your lawyer's office for them to put two and two together, and Izuku takes that to his advantage. Sensationalist articles had already been happening, a lot of them being cruel and demeaning towards you. Titles like "Is she a cheater?" "No amount of success gives you the girl!" And "Pro-hero Deku will be looking for a new wife soon" started popping up. You have to take down any social platform to avoid being targeted.

• It is when Izuku gives a public declaration that things get worse. "I'm sorry, my wife is just not happy with me anymore. Please respect her wish! Don't harass her, I failed as a husband." It may seem like a hearty and sorrowful declaration from the outside, but Izuku picked word by word to gain sympathy and pressure you into changing your mind. People in the street call you "heartless", and the stress simply keeps growing for you.

• To put it in simple words, you were David against Goliath, except Goliath was a glorified person who had all the resources and support of the people. You were nothing but a tiny mouse squeaking to be set free of a relationship that was suffocating you.

The aftermath: Supposing you haven't given up and he signed the divorce papers

• If you somehow manage to divorce him after all these problems, congratulations. You survived 5% of the drama that awaits you! Now you won't be able to date someone without people snapping photos for entertainment news or judging you for leaving "such a great man". Izuku will still try to convince you to go back to him, playing his "sad lover" role in front of the cameras so well! He'll try to send expensive gifts and tell you to keep the house, he'll call you drunk in the middle of the night, and if you're not careful enough, he may try to gaslight you into thinking nothing wrong was happening in your marriage.

• One particular thing I must mention is that Izuku only signed the papers after you yelled at him at one of the legal mediations, hot embarrassment tears falling from your tired eyes as you begged him to let you go.

• Anyways, the list could go on, but those are the main points of divorcing Izuku :')

"Please, just sign the papers..." You said through the phone, your voice tired of pleading to someone who simply refused to hear you. "I will, I will! I'm just a little under the snow with work. Can you reschedule?" Izuku said, apologizing for not being there for you. Excusing himself for failing you, but refusing to let go. "You know how many articles I've seen with my face saying how much of bitch I am for visiting my lawyer's office?"

Izuku's silence was deafening, you could only hear him sigh slightly, perhaps feeling bad for putting you in such a position. "I don't want this divorce."

"But I do, so don't make things more difficult for me, please." He heard you say, biting his lip to hold back the tears. Izuku was glad you couldn't see him, sitting alone in his office with a half-empty bottle of wine you'd gifted him for his birthday. "Do you remember what day is today?" He asked.

"I don't know, Monday? I haven't slept lately." You answered unamused. "It's our anniversary... we married 5 years ago, on this very day." His words came out as a slow slur, his breath hitching as he crumbled through the phone. "I miss you a lot, please-"

"I'll see you on Wednesday, if you're not there I swear to God..."

...

"Mr. Midoriya?" Your lawyer called, her voice bringing your anxious husband back to reality. "Ah, sorry, it's me. Is... is she in there?" He asked, pointing at her office. She just looked at him with little sympathy and nodded. "On time, as always. Maybe you should avoid keeping her waiting, that's the least you could considering how many times we've had these conversations."

"There's no way I can fix this, is there?" Izuku asked as if the lawyer cared. "Wanna do something nice for her? Divorce her."

[cloudyswritings]

More vessel biology headcanons?

Vessels are actually really, really good at burrowing. It’s probably how so many escaped the abyss after they got sealed. They got it from both parents, and the void. Which per my silly little brain, can old be contained in round glass.

the void basically erodes/decays things in fast forward otherwise?

Vessels all have one major flaw or imperfection the void couldn’t remove, THKs was either a desire for perfection or being able to make familial bonds.

Ghosts flaw is an endless well of willpower. They will never, ever, stop. They inherited from their mothers conceptual side, because their will is the slow burrowing of roots through stone and the deceptively gentle trickle of water on metal. Greenpath vessels was a sense of adventure/desire to explore. And the nosk vessels all had a sense of longing for companionship which led to their deaths.

The vessels also seem to have physical flaws too? Like structurally I mean. The prime example is THKs missing arm, in the pure vessel boss fight that same arm is what they use for the void tendrils attack and by the time we fight them in the egg it’s entirely rotted off. I think it honestly was never as strong or stable as the other arm and was bound to be lost eventually. Broken Vessels flaw would be their third horn(the one that’s broken off).

Vessels actually do still have some of their own light, you can see this in game actually—even without the lantern you give off a subtle glow. I think that some vessels actually retained some of the godly light and status they otherwise would have had, only a little though.

The above idea comes from my headcanon that Wyrms specifically are really resistant to void as far as gods go, because they always dig deep and far and in that sometimes burrow into pockets of void far below the surface. They need to be able to survive contact with it in the short term at least. This nature would explain how some vessels retain minute traces of light, and why the pale king was the one actually standing at the mouth of the abyss waiting for vessels.

given time, soul, and light a vessel can grow to enormous sizes- or eventually metamorphose into a wyrm proper. Albeit one still tarnished by the void

in fact I wonder if any of the seeds/eggs dropped into the abyss hatched young Wyrms instead of vessels? Maybe they escaped or something? I don’t think this is likely but it’s a cool idea.

vessels are deceptively light, as in like hornet could carry THK on her back if she needed to- they’re literally hollow in a way

Void and water don’t mix, it’s like oil and water. That’s why we float in the blue lake.

The void itself might be the remnants of an ancient sea that covered the world beyond Hallownest before the age of bright gods. It would explain the trilobite creature we see in deepnest and the way the abyss and the rest of Hallownest appear to be made of fossilized shells. Plus if it’s the remnants of the sea then it could be something like a microbial mat that’s really toxic to life? Like maybe it’s a magic microbial soup? Magic microbial goop even. Vessels are goop.

Vessels are really really strong compared to other ways of containing things, like THK held the radiance for a long ass time. If a vessel tried to contain a weaker god they’d probably just be able to tbh. Like anything weaker than the nightmare heart if probably fair game for yoinking.

Vessels also sometimes inherit the hunger of Wyrms, and looking into their eyes gives the sensation of falling into the maw of some great beast. Godseaker did call Little Ghost a wielder of nail and eater of soul

Vessels are also really susceptible to outside influences, kinda like evee if they were Pokémon. This is how Ghost can use so many charms at once but also why said charms can change them so easily.

Theoretically a vessel raised by or containing a god could take on some of their traits-either by force or by accident.

Unrelatedly THK has a voice to cry out with…

I think radiance may have eventually tried turning them into something more like Grimm is for the heart, a body for her to use and a mind thoroughly broken to her will.

after-all she shines brightest against the darkness…

If they could eat, Vessels would have a truly remarkable number of tastebuds, because Wyrms will eat anything and I feel like the white lady has ways to “taste” the soil to see if it’s nutrient rich and has fertilizer.

man I’m just realizing, vessels would like some weird food, they’d definitely eat dirt

THK crunching on crystals?? Likely

Finally the horns of vessels are actually their “branches” and will keep growing indefinitely unless trimmed or broken periodically, this comes from both parents. Wyrms need to constantly replace burrowing teeth and Roots are beings of constant growth and pruning.

[seaofthesoul]

🪷 The Lotus Flower in Mysterious Lotus Casebook 🪷

i. Growing Deep Roots

As noted by difeisheng, Li Xiangyi is an image more than he is a person. He’s the “symbol” and “beating heart” of the Sigu sect; “he embodies everything [the sect] stands for” and “has become one with every person he represents” in his role as a leader. As such, one might say he doesn’t exist as an individual who’s allowed the luxury of flawed, fluid humanity. Rather, he’s fixed into an object: a shield protecting those under his care, a mirror reflecting those he’s taken upon himself to be the champion for.  

While a heavy burden to carry, this identity as image is also shown to be brittle, hollow, like a hazy mirage which is more dazzling appearance than substance. Even Fang Duobing introduces Li Xiangyi to Li Lianhua by showing him a painting of his shifu — ink on a page, a person turned into a hero to be worshipped and idolated. 

Li Lianhua, over the ten years that pass after the Great Battle of the East Sea, works to plant and cultivate a new identity in the same way one might grow flowers. Li Lianhua forms deep roots and grows out of the mythical hero’s shell he’d been carrying as Li Xiangyi, thus developing an identity which is solid and grounding in contrast — an identity which involves “walk[ing] within a crowd instead of [soaring] above it.”

This shift from image to person is itself rooted in the lotus mantra (written by Buddhist Layman Pang during the Tang Dynasty) which Li Xiangyi first encounters after monk Wu Liao rescues him:

一念心清净 莲花处处开

The heart attains peace with a single thought; Lotus flowers bloom all around.

Although the exact timeline is left to interpretation, it’s implied that the lotus mantra operates as a catalyst of change for Li Xiangyi and that he changes his name to Li Lianhua after reading it. Now what is it about it that speaks to Li Xiangyi so deeply in that moment? As noted in 《 人間福報 》, the lotus mantra teaches us that a pure heart will result in an open and enlightened mind. One subtle, profound thought rife with compassion is enough for a person to glimpse Buddha in a flower, a leaf, a grain of sand or a speck of dust. In short, “if you can find peace within yourself, then you will find peace everywhere.” Perhaps Li Xiangyi, at his lowest point, finds solace in the prospect of stripping his life down to its very core and searching for purity, wisdom and peace within his troubled heart.    

By renaming himself 莲花/liánhuā lotus flower, Li Lianhua takes his destiny into his own hands; he empowers himself into reshaping his identity and laying down the foundations for the person he wants to become. Similarly to The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity which tells us that “names are the shortest spells in the world,” Li Lianhua’s new name functions as a spell which speaks a new him into existence. It’s a deliberate choice, a conscious attempt at breaking free from the suffocating shell Li Xiangyi was trapped in and become a person of his own choosing. 

The act of (re)naming notably also extends to Li Lianhua’s abode which he dubs 莲花楼 “Lotus Tower.” In addition to this significant choice of name, it’s interesting to note that Li Lianhua starts growing vegetables inside Lotus Tower when he’s left with nothing after his demise at the East Sea and is facing starvation. As such, his home is quite literally a site not only of self-sustenance and survival, but also of growth — a growth which requires hard work, patience and faith and nearly brings Li Lianhua to tears when his hopes are finally rewarded and the seeds he planted begin sprouting. The act of physically planting vegetables and learning to cook those vegetables speaks of a refreshing and grounding simplicity — of something disarmingly vulnerable and human after playing the role of a god-like figure. Li Lianhua has sweat on his brow and hope in his heart; he plants seeds, watches them grow and keeps himself alive by his own hands.

It seems it’s not only Li Lianhus’a home, but also his very person, which steadily grow into a lotus flower. Li Lianhua wears a variety of hairpins directly linked to the lotus, and the colour coding of his garments moves from the red he used to wear as Li Xiangyi to a lighter palette filled with greens and blues — colours which are more obviously linked to nature.

ii. Life Borrowed and Given Away

The lotus, both traditionally and within the drama itself, is closely connected to the theme of rebirth. On a literal level, the exotic lotus flowers of Cai Lian Manor grow directly from the corpses of the victims drowned in the pond, thus embodying life born from death. thawrecka writes in their story that Li Lianhua is “nothing but a lotus nurtured by a walking corpse, a body that doesn’t realise it should already be dead.” On a figurative level, the lotus grows in muddy water but blooms unsullied every morning, thus symbolising rising from a dark place and growing into something beautiful and colourful despite all the odds. The different stages of the lotus’ blooming can be taken to represent the beginning, middle and end of a spiritual path in Buddhism — a parallel to the theme of 趟/tāng taking a journey which underscores the drama in various ways.

Li Lianhua’s journey, more specifically, is that of a lotus being reborn. The soundtrack piece 《 一壶莲花醉 》 “A Pot of Lotus Wine” emphasises this connection in the following lines:

问一句莲花的悲喜 断一柄弃剑入青泥

I ask about the joys and sorrows of the lotus; A broken, abandoned sword is thrown into the mud.

Not only does Li Lianhua keep stressing at different points of the drama that Li Xiangyi is dead and all that is left behind is Li Lianhua; he even breaks his own sword Shaoshi at the end of the story, thereby physically reenacting a process of destruction—death—and rebirth. As Li Lianhua writes in his farewell letter: 

剑断人亡

My sword is broken, and I will be gone.

The significance of Li Lianhua’s action is further intensified here by the fact that the sword in the song is said to be thrown into 泥/ní mud, the site from which a lotus flower grows.

Considering that Shaoshi operates as a device embodying Li Lianhua’s character development throughout the drama, the fact that Li Lianhua decides to break it in the last episode should be taken as a key moment in which he chooses how his own narrative is going to end. Li Lianhua decides to kill for good the glorious image of Li Xiangyi which has become sullied with pain and regret in his heart, so that a simple, fragile peace can begin growing in its place like a lotus flower amidst the mud.

However, the tragedy of Li Lianhua’s narrative is that the rebirth he works to achieve for all these years is not his own to enjoy and never was intended to be. After the Great Battle of the East Sea, as Li Lianhua is reborn from Li Xiangyi and starts planting seeds all around him, he has already accepted that he’s nothing but a ghost, “wandering in the jianghu to close his loose ends and finally [...] vanish without a trace, not even a body left behind.” As mx-myth remarks, even the shift in his garment colours to an overwhelming amount of white as the story progresses makes it clear that he’s resigned to go and has “already started dressing for his own funeral.” 

The lotus flower symbolism permeating the narrative accentuates this bone-deep, unshakable resignation. While imprisoned by Jiao Liqiao, Li Lianhua is full of an aching, bittersweet fatalism when he recites a section of Guan Hanqing’s《 窦娥冤 》“The Injustice to Dou E”:

花有重开日 人无再少年 不须长富贵 安乐是神仙

Flowers will blossom again, But a man can never be young again. Seek not eternal wealth; You only need to be content.

Independently from the original meaning of the lines written by Guan Hanqing, the words seem to take on a sad, wistful quality when spoken with a bitter smile by Li Lianhua. In this scene, while the speaker reflects that rebirth occurs outside of themselves in flowers, they acknowledge that their own reality is one inevitably bound to end in old age and decay. Instead of looking forward to a bright future, the speaker doesn’t express any dreams nor ambitions and is only grateful that they’re alive this minute, this second, without any future prospects awaiting them. Perhaps a similar sentiment is reflected in the following lines from 《 一壶莲花醉 》 “A Pot of Lotus Wine”:

了了心事只 不负众生 而已

After settling my worries,  I just want to live up to all sentient beings.

Li Lianhua’s connection to the lotus flower, in fact, was always meant to be one of non-attachment. While Buddhism believes desire to be the root of all suffering, the lotus symbolises non-attachment due to being “rooted in mud (attachment and desire)” while “its flowers blossom on long stalks unsullied by the mud below.” This explains in part why the lotus is considered pure and noble. For Li Lianhua, this non-attachment takes on sorrowful connotations: it means that he stubbornly refuses to reap the seeds he sows and focuses his purest heart and will into ensuring those around him get to reap them instead. Non-attachment means allowing himself enough (a roof over his head, food on his plate) to survive, but rarely letting himself indulge in the precious luxuries of reciprocated love and care — of carefree joy and thirst for adventure.  

The ten years he lives after his first death at the East Sea are, for him, only borrowed time he didn’t deserve — borrowed time not dedicated to himself, but rather dedicated to others.

In many ways, Li Lianhua’s path effectively goes full-circle by the end of the narrative. When he and Di Feisheng reminisce about the moon they remember from ten years ago, they conclude that today’s moon isn’t any brighter than the one alive in their memory: rather, it remains constant, unchanged, as though the past ten years never existed as anything other than a short pause in the story, a coma, long enough for wrongs to be righted but not  for an already-dead person’s fate to be changed.

It’s interesting and particularly significant that the Styx flower (忘川花, from 忘川 “River of Forgetting” in the original Mandarin) is said throughout the drama to be the only thing capable of saving Li Lianhua’s life. In traditional Chinese culture, the Styx or River of Forgetting is part of the process of reincarnation; only by crossing it (and forgetting everything they’ve ever experienced and everyone they’ve ever loved) can a person finally reincarnate. For Li Lianhua, salvation through rebirth comes at a high cost — a price he’s evidently been ready to pay since the beginning, even if it means turning him into a ghost who must vanish from the story in order for those around him to grow and thrive further.

When Li Lianhua breaks his own sword to allow for rebirth, it’s not himself he’s saving. His sole purpose throughout his journey as Li Lianhua is to use whatever meagre strength he has left, whatever passion and drive are still alive in him, to save the world in any small ways that he can. He becomes a doctor who heals people; he looks for answers and solves mysteries to atone for the sins he thinks he has committed and rectify the mistakes he thinks he has made, so that those he has hurt can finally find peace and comfort.

The most powerful legacy Li Lianhua intends to leave behind by the end of the story has nothing to do with himself and everything to do with the people around him who he never truly admits he loves — the messy, imperfect world that’s caused him so much pain but that he nevertheless insists on saving with everything he has. 

Most strikingly, Li Lianhua chooses—whether consciously or not—to leave the life and future he’s renounced for himself to his companions Fang Duobing and Di Feisheng. The only traces he purposefully leaves behind live in them: in the Yangzhouman coursing through Fang Duobing’s body; the home, dog and recipe book he passes onto him; the worthy opponent he leaves for Di Feisheng to fight in his stead after he’s gone… 

Fang Duobing, by the end of the story, has grown into more than a disciple and a friend to Li Xiangyi/Li Lianhua: he himself has become the lotus flower bringing renewed life after Li Lianhua has left the narrative, thereby taking Li Lianhua’s legacy into a hopeful, vibrant future. As mx-myth mentions in their colour analysis, Fang Duobing notably wears bright pastel tones including a large amount of green/blue — a colour coding which emphasises Fang Duobing’s connection to spring and, by extension, new life and beginnings. “Life will always go on if there’s spring”; and so Fang Duobing’s youth, vitality and optimism can grow in the empty space left behind by Li Lianhua after he fades into the autumn of his life.

While Li Lianhua’s predominantly light colour palette might appear to align him with other characters in the drama who have left the past behind and are looking towards the future, Li Lianhua made peace long ago with the knowledge that he’s destined not to belong in that future. Just as the Lotus Sutra teaches us that “the inner determination of an individual has great transformative power” and “gives ultimate expression to the infinite potential and dignity inherent in each human life,” Li Lianhua focuses all his transformative efforts on creating a future which, despite having no place for him, will be fertile ground for the entire martial arts world to grow deep, healthy roots. In Li Lianhua’s own words:

幼芽生枝 新木长成 武林也一样 这未来如何 谁又能说得清楚呢

The young sprouts and the new trees grow. The martial arts world is the same. What does the future hold? Who can say clearly?

Should we say, then, that Li Lianhua’s story is one of sacrifice, self-renunciation and resignation — of drifting inevitably towards death as a flower carried by a stream? As he disappears on a boat and is asked where he’s going, Li Lianhua gives a response which echoes his first death at the East Sea in a way that feels entirely deliberate:

小舟从此逝， 江海寄余生

From now on I would vanish with my little boat; For the rest of my life on the sea I would float. 

How are we to understand a person being reborn simply so they can pass on that new life to others, and being convinced that their only true value lies in their death?

Perhaps, in spite of it all, we can find some small comfort in the knowledge that, no matter how sorrowful Li Lianhua’s fate, it’s at least one that he chooses — one that he has full control over, even poisoned and robbed of his life force as he is. As the lyrics of 《 一壶莲花醉 》 “A Pot of Lotus Wine” underline, “it’s just a matter of picking an ending that you like.” Perhaps that’s all that truly matters. 

wuxia-vanlifer makes an excellent point when asking: “What would be more tragic? That he never believed he was loved? Or that he did, but vanished anyway?” While I don’t have an answer to offer, there’s one thing I can say. Li Xiangyi, Li Lianhua — they live and die by love. They can’t conceive of themselves as anything other than a sacrificial tool because, for all that they pretend to be aloof and untethered, they actually love others—and the world—in a bone-deep, profound way they’ve never loved themselves. That love is not only the true driving force behind Li Lianhua’s character and the fate he chooses: it’s the beating heart of the entire drama.

“In this life, I have loved and I have been loved. That is enough.”

Shoutout to the following authors and bloggers whose brilliant words and ideas inspire me, as well as this gorgeous video 💖

ao3: @extraordinarilyextreme @thawrecka

tumblr: @difeisheng @extraordinarilyextreme @mx-myth @wuxia-vanlifer @xinyuehui

[miilkphone]

MCD REWRITE LONGPOST :

The Divine Warriors/Irene powers/Relic Thoughts

okay so starting off. I know I did a poll over if I should rename Aphmau and people said to keep her name as Aphmau but I got attached to the name Amalthea

HERE !!! are a couple of Amalthea concepts, + a face close up of her after unlocking Irene/Malthasso's powers/memories AKA it's her starting her transformation ig + the beard she kinda has going on is her moth fluff, which also runs down her neck ON TO MY THOUGHTS

i will say that a lot of this is copy + pasted from where i rambled in a few disc servers

I'm considering naming the rewrite Metempsychosis

" me·tem·psy·cho·sis [ˌmedəmˌsīˈkōsəs, məˌtemsəˈkōsəs] noun metempsychosis (noun) · metempsychoses (plural noun) the supposed transmigration at death of the soul of a human being or animal into a new body of the same or a different species "

unsure if I actually will or not

I want to rename Irene to Malthasso because the name Amalthea is derrived from it, and it always bothered me that Aphmau and Irene's names weren't a little similar

all of the divine warriors have something buggy going on

Irene/Malthasso - Moth

Shad - Beetle

Esmund - Cicada(thinking of the golden cicada)

Enki - Spider (Because of the Web from TMA)

going along with the moth theme, when Malthasso slumbers to become Amalthea, she goes into a sort of cocoon? and eventually Amalthea comes out, Amalthea has very vague and fuzzy memories of the cocoon and the Malthasso dimension (probably also going to get renamed), but she doesn't actually know what it is until her and the others get sent to the dimension

Now for Malthasso's powers, I saw someone give her time abilities instead of healing, and I liked how they did it so I wanted to do something similar, but I think instead I want to do something similar to how Nhika's(The Last Bloodcarver book mc) powers work. It's a bit hard to explain, but by touching people Nhika can feel every bit of someone's body, all their organs, all their veins, etc., and she can go in and heal whatever needs healing but it's not an instinctual thing, she has to actually learn about the body and how it functions. It's a dangerous power that could either be used for good or bad, it's not only used for healing. Anyway, I was thinking of Malthasso's power working similarly, except instead of being just humans/animals, it could also work for plants n such, like she can feel every bit of the earth and the roots as if it was a body and veins

LAURENCE he does not get his sight back completely, either it'll be like Kenshi from Mortal Kombat or similar to Toph from ATLA leaning towards similar to Toph since he'd be healed from the effect of the Malthasso statue, or at least somehow from Malthasso/Amalthea's abilities, he'd also be able to sort of 'connect' with the world around him

Adding in relic thoughts,

Absorbing and having a relic taken are both very painful things too, as well as having your Jury title renounced(thinking of something specific for the Garroth n Katelyn scene)

Absorbing a relic, when not gone to it's "rightful" owner(but still to a compatible body), it feels very unnatural, suddenly your body doesn't feel like your own anymore, you feel stuck inside a hollow shell and there's always a part of you trying to claw it's way out

Absorbing a relic, when gone to it's "rightful" owner, it still feels unnatural but not in the same way, it just feels like you've gained another limb or organ, you feel more whole than before

Having a relic removed is like having an organ or your heart ripped from you, it's very very painful

I DO HAVE MORE MCD REWRITE THOUGHTS but I figured it'd be better if it wasn't shoved into one big post, trying to kind of 'sort' which thoughts go together. but anyway lmk if you have any questions:))

[fishenjoyer1]

Fish of the Day

Today's fish of the day is the giant tube worm!

The giant tube worm, known by scientific name Riftia pachyptila is a common marine invertebrate. Unlike the common ship parasite of the same name, this animal is found in the deep sea, only discovered in 1977 when exploring the hydrothermal vents off the Galapagos islands in the rift nearby. The range of the tube worm is concentrated at rifts and trenches formed by tectonic plates around the world, and although they are theorized to possibly be in other areas of the world, they have only been recorded in the Pacific and Indo-Pacific oceans.  Living anywhere from 2,564 - 2,673 Meters of depth (8,412- 8,770 feet) these animals have a life that is irreparable tied to the hydrothermal vents they concentrate around.

Due to their scarcity, hydrothermal vents are often misunderstood. These are fissure vents along the sea bed near volcanic activity that emits extremely heated water and chemicals. This supports environments of bacteria and archaea in the deep sea that previously could not have managed in the cold waters, with the trade off that the waters near them are anywhere from 60-440 degrees celcius (140-870 degrees fahrenheit). This works particularly well for the tube worms, as they prefer to live in warmer temperatures. In fact, when there were live specimens caught in 1998, the captive worms were found to enjoy living in environments around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. These hydrothermal vents also foster the bacteria that keep adult worms alive, the Campylobacterota phylum.

The giant tube worm has a life cycle similar to many others within its family, worms start life as free swimming planktonic organisms, which swim weakly and move via rows of cilia along the outer layer of their skin. Once they find a hydrothermal vent, this is when they enter a sessile stage as a juvenile, where they will begin acquiring the bacteria around the vent within themselves. These worms have no mouth, and the bacteria is an essential part of the organism, acting as their only source of sustenance in a kind of symbiosis referred to as chemoautotrophic symbiosis. Once they are stably rooted into a colony around a vent, these worms will grow quicker than any other deep sea animal, breaking the ideas in 1977 about how slow life in the deep sea was. They can grow around 1.5 meters within less than 2 years, reaching a total or 2 meters or 6.6ft total, giving them the fastest growing rate of any marine invertebrate known.

The campylobacterota takes root in the tube worms similar to an infection, through the skin. This bacteria will then bloom inside of its host, starting at what was once the mouth and esophagus in juvenile and larvae worms, before taking place in the midgut. This bacteria will then carve out an area within the worm called the Trophosome cavity, and the remainder of the digestive tract fills in. This bacteria subsists off of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, from which it can create all organic compounds needed to sustain life, releasing sulfur as a waste product. It gains energy by oxidizing the inorganic sulfur in a cycle similar to the calvin cycle used for photosynthesis.

After the worm has settled into its home along the vent and has entered the symbiotic cycle with bacteria, the worm will begin growing what is referred to as a husk or a shalth around it. This is a hard chitin shell that is used to prevent predation on the internals of the worm, along with protection for the trophosome cavity within. Then, above that is the vestimentum, which are muscle bands that can be used to pull in a gill structure above in the presence of predators, this is also where the genitals can be found, and the heart. The most striking and visible section of the worm is the branchial plume. This plume is a bright red color due to the extensive hemoglobin chains within it, despite the presence of sulfides, which usually inhibit hemoglobins. These plume gill structures are used for extending into colder water where more oxygen is available, along with bringing in carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfides for the bacteria.

Reproduction of this animal is not reliant on a season or specific age, but rather to the volcanic tectonic plate activity around it. During a spawning event, males within the colony will release spermatozoa into the water, which will locate female tube worms, swimming within the husk structure and into the ovaries. In laboratory specimens, this process takes only 30 seconds, but in the wild it is thought to take much longer and survival of the spermatozoa to rely upon the hydrothermal vent. Once fertilized, eggs will grow within the worm for several months, and when the hydrothermal vent conditions are right, the eggs will be released into the water column, relying on deep sea currents and buoyancy to carry them to the pelagic layer. The life cycle begins all over again.

Have a wonderful day everybody!

[general-cyno]

just when I think zoro's sacrifice in thriller bark couldn't be more meaningful than it already is chapter 1097 comes for my life (spoilers ahead under the cut)

as more of kuma's heart-wrenching story is told - we now learn that just like zoro took luffy's pain as his own during thriller bark, kuma had been doing the same thing for his fellow villagers back when he was a pastor in sorbet kingdom.

for kuma, whose life since childhood had been deeply marked by the discrimination he faced as a buccaneer and the slavery forced upon his family, using the paw paw fruit's power to free slaves and relieve those in suffering of their pain was his way of liberation - and this ideal was fueled in the first place by his belief in nika, the sun god who embodied the fight for freedom, which was passed on to him by his father. as ivankov later says, kuma now has "the hands of liberation that set people free".

of course, kuma's backstory is completely different from zoro's own, so they're not really comparable in that sense per se. but it speaks highly of both their characters that they're the only ones so far to have sacrificed themselves for others in such a specific way. this shows the strength of their spirits and bodies, how far they're willing to go for their beliefs and the ppl they cherish, the plain goodness and selflessness that's written into who they are within the story.

zoro is a bit of a curious case, in that he's "selfishly selfless/kind" just like luffy, and doesn't enjoy being treated nor seen as a hero despite what he and the crew do for ppl. still, his kindness and willingness to protect others have been there pretty much since the start. the reason why he ends strung up by the marines in shells town is because he chose to save a little girl from helmeppo's violent wolf. the reason why luffy chooses to recruit him as part of his crew is because he eats those stomped riceballs and asks luffy to thank rika for them in his stead. imo, luffy and zoro start out as the pillars of the crew (they are the first two after all) but zoro and the rest of the straw hats each represent all the good qualities luffy himself has and admires in others.

throughout his journey with luffy and the straw hats too, zoro starts driving himself to get stronger not just for the sake of his dream anymore but also to keep his promise to luffy and for his crew. of course, thriller bark is that one moment in which this part of his development is made perfectly clear.

also - while zoro's sacrifice was rooted in how loyal he is to and how much he cares for luffy (and by extension the crew), by going through with this, unknowingly, both zoro and kuma ensured, at least in this instance, that nika's fight for liberation would continue to exist within and later awaken in luffy via his devil fruit.

in the aftermath of thriller bark, kuma acknowledges that luffy has exceptional friends and says that "he's your son after all, dragon". knowing now about kuma's past and how/why he came to join dragon's revolutionary army, there's no one better suited to highlight this moment - the kind of loyalty, devotion and endurance zoro displayed for luffy's sake is not the kind that's earned without reason. this says as much about zoro as it does about luffy. considering that now luffy's unlocked joy boy/nika the warrior of liberation through his devil fruit and zoro's been revealed as a descendant of folks who have either been heroes and/or stood firmly against oppressors (ryuma and ushimaru), that both of them alongside the crew have fought for the freedom of different people/nations so far... well. you can see why zoro's sacrifice, why kuma protecting the straw hats and the sunny in sabaody have all become so much more important.

[jokeroutsubs]

We want to wish everyone a happy 1 month anniversary since the Stožice concert! 🥰💗

This is a translation of an online article published today, 6.11.2023, by Suzy magazine, a subsidiary of the Slovenian newspaper Slovenske novice. The author of the article is Polona Bohorič.

Audio version by IG Gboleyn123 can be also listened on Spotify, iTunes, and other podcast platforms.

ODE TO JOKER OUT

What do these guys have that is lacking in the world?

Respect. To everyone. To their roots. To the world. Compassion. The desire to be human. Playfulness. That inexhaustible companion of creativity.

[Photo caption: They give off the feeling of an old, well-rehearsed rock band. PHOTO: Mediaspeed]

Fever

I actually don't even remember when and how I got the Joker Out fever. What attracted me? The lyrics for sure, words have always been a sacred tie for me, a fundamental element. Rhythms and melodies were not far behind. Likeable. Enough to awaken my attention, followed by curiosity and then the excitement of discovery.

Charisma, honesty, open-mindedness. The incredibly complementary collection of members, both in personality and in their image, works as if they had been put together by some giant professional American or English production company. But they have built themselves. Step by step, as it seems, since childhood... With resolution. With learning. With a freshness of their own which is brimming in them, and which they are showering over people far and wide... Material that is good enough to set one small country on fire. And this fever knows no bounds and it is spreading.

In a world where we are all the media, it's not that hard to create one hit. But keeping and stacking the material to maintain and even increase the temperature is a task that many have already undertaken. Only few succeed.

The first time I heard the song "Novi Val", which is becoming the anthem of a whole generation, I was as struck as if I had opened a textbook with instructions on how to exist and at the same time embrace life. Youth is always finding it's own way, circumstances are constantly changing. The rebellion of yesterday is not the same as the rebellion of today. However, the inner strength that drives the world forward is the same.

[Photo caption: What do these boys have that is lacking in the world? Surely something profound, something that every young heart naturally longs for. PHOTO: Mediaspeed]

Authenticity

There are five of them. Five points of a star.

Their roles in the five-pointed community are so natural. It doesn't matter who occupies which place, when or why, but more importantly that they blend in with the others- just as the points in a star blend together. What matters is that everyone enjoys it. Playing, complementing. And growing. I perceive them as coexisting in total acceptance of one another.

If they have made their way to the stage by by walking the road laid before them by their role models, this influence has brought them to a point where they seem to have found not just each other, but their own star.

One role stands out despite their unity. This role is not called frontman for nothing. He is simply in the foreground. Born for the stage, regardless where or with whom, but at the same time a sensitive soul and a perfectionist. I was struck by how subtly he slowly turned the stage spotlights onto his friends in the band, so that they all came out of their shells or got rid of their reservations. The wisdom of a leader, hats off.

Mastery

The boys are precise and skilled in their work, although (or maybe because of it) their performances in smaller clubs seem casual, as if they had just dropped in on their way. Their mileage of being onstage is noticeable. They give off the feeling of an old, well-rehearsed rock band. But the magic happens when the audience feels that the pleasure is theirs. The wave that lights up on the stage ripples in both directions.

[Photo caption: Bojan Cvjetićanin, born for the stage, regardless where or with whom, but at the same time a sensitive soul and a perfectionist. FOTO: Mediaspeed]

A crowd of a few hundred or a few thousand - there is no great difference in the response - is spellbound from the first to the last chord. This desire to move with everyone on and below the stage is more than the individual bras, bracelets and glasses, which are already becoming a collection. It is a powerful force of invisibly woven feelings, emotions, memories and visions. It is the enthusiasm of youth, regardless of age.

Who is part of the generation of love and hope? The Stožice stadium gave me the answers.

A six-year-old girl, sitting calmly cross-legged on a slightly raised technical prop in the arena, silently moves her lips with each word in the song, and as the boys leave the stage, she wisely observes, "It's not over yet. Carpe diem is still missing."

Her father, who looks at her with wide-eyed pride.

Thirteen-year-old best friends, accompanied by one of their mothers, experiencing the ecstasy of each song individually? Their own experience follows the band and the stage, and with the obligatory recording on the phone, they sing to each other, confessing and commanding each verse, with the full conviction that it is theirs.

The mother is stoically tolerating what is happening, obviously aware of the importance of this moment for her daughter.

In the stands, the seats are not filled because all the ticket holders are on their feet, dancing, singing.  And they undulate. Fans and admirers in a crowded fan pit, who have been preparing for this moment of unity for six, eight, ten months.

Friends and colleagues of the five guys, scattered all over the arena, keeping a watchful eye on every move.

Two ladies in their fifties, standing next to a fence, dancing and reliving their youth.

[Photo: Mediaspeed]

Slovenia, Europe, the world. Twenty-seven countries are present in one space and united in one chorus. An ode to youth, rebellion, trust and determination. It lasts for two hours in this place, but lives in the heart in each moment, pulsating in a single beat.

No, it is not hypnosis, it is a wave of hope and trust. A belief that youth can do anything. This youth is not really defined by numbers.

Values

What do these guys have that is lacking in the world? Surely something deep, something that every young heart naturally longs for. When it merges into the same river with them, that deepness can be drunk in long draughts.

Respect. To everyone. To their roots. To the world.

 Compassion. The desire to be human.

 Playfulness. That inexhaustible companion of creativity.

Cooperation and cohesion. Powerful weapons to prevent the ego from growing like a wild weed.

The ability to maintain distance without arrogance. The ability to accept without becoming greedy.

Gratitude and modesty. These two keep your feet firmly on the ground.

[Photo: Mediaspeed]

Courage and hope. Two invincible forces that help to spur and tame even the wildest horses and lift them up to the unknown, the incredible, the dreamlike.

I perceive their strong mindsets through their gestures, words, concerts, interviews. Although it is quite clear how responsibly and professionally they have embarked on their journey, I hope that the weight of what they have already experienced does not press them into too much deliberation about the way forward. I sincerely wish them to remain in tune with their authenticity: childishly mischievous, youthfully seductive and juicily mature.

This world is already all theirs ...

-~-~-~

Translation by @kurooscoffee. DO NOT REPOST!

[thoughtportal]

Luce (mascot)

Luce (Italian: [ˈluːtʃe], lit. 'Light') is the official mascot of the 2025 Jubilee. Designed by tokidoki founder Simone Legno, she represents a Catholic pilgrim. Luce has a pet dog named Santino and friends named Fe, Xin, and Sky. The designs of Luce and her friends have been compared to anime characters.[1]

She has blue hair and wears a yellow rain jacket, which is colored in reference to the flag of the Vatican City as well as a symbol for "journeying through life's storms". She carries a pilgrim's staff, which represents "the pilgrimage toward eternity", and wears mud-stained boots to represent "a long and difficult journey". Her eyes have highlights in the shape of a scallop shell, a traditional symbol of Catholic pilgrimage; her shining eyes were described as "a symbol of the hope of the heart". She also wears a rosary. Simone Legno said that he hopes "Luce can represent the sentiments that resonate in the hearts of the younger generations".[2]

Luce was unveiled by Rino Fisichella on October 28, 2024. He said that Luce was inspired by the Catholic church's desire "to live even within the pop culture so beloved by our youth."[3] She is planned to represent the Vatican City at Lucca Comics & Games in 2024, which will be the first time that the Vatican officially participates in a comic convention.[2] Luce will also represent the Vatican City at Expo 2025 in Japan.[4]

Following Luce's unveiling, she quickly spawned Internet memes. Users on websites such as Twitter made jokes about the Catholic Church embracing anime visuals, and some drew comparisons between Luce's design and the design of Ai Ohto, the protagonist of Wonder Egg Priority.[5] However, her debut also sparked controversies among some Catholic groups due to designer's public support for LGBT, including Pride Month, and collaborations with a company producing sex toys.[6] Other, less-hinged criticisms call Luce Satanic because a possible name for Satan that appears once in the Vulgate - Lucifer - shares the same Latin root - lux, meaning "light" - as the mascot. [7]

[bat-eclecticwolfbouquet-love]

Ok i gotta say it 410 and 411 have me thinking. I have some views on Shigaraki and it's not all " Yes win baby" or "Look at my king" thoughts. Of course I want him well at the end, that hasn't changed. He's still my all time fav character even if a certain other Mha character is right behind him, Tomura will never be knocked out of 1st place in my heart. Now with that being said I sincerely want Izuku to beat some sense into him.

His hate is corrupting his own mind and heart. He can never be happy or at peace like this. Hatred eats up your soul leaving a shell of nothingness behind.

I love how extremely powerful and Godlike he is, but I also miss the old tantrum throwing guy who didn't know how to display his emotions. Or the guy who fought Giga and took the PLF. The amount of power he has is scary cause he can't live in mha with that degree of power. No I'm not saying he will die but he will have to lose it somehow.

Does he still care for the league. He once told Toga he wouldn’t destroy what she loved, that he wanted his allies to have what they wanted, yet he's destroying the very country they live in. The destructive Villian who was feared but had a heart and cared for those around him was what alot of people found endearing, often mentioning it as a reason he would be OK at the end. That guy is gone. (Temporarily I think)

Went from wanting to destroy All Might to Hero society to all of Japan. This is what happens when hate takes root in your heart. When no one REACHES OUT A HAND TO HELP.

His smile use to be almost sweet and calm and now has elements of deranged power behind it (yes he's still gorgeous hot sexy, I'm just stating thoughts)

The leader who cared for his comrades and took revenge when they were hurt yet hasn't wondered if they are OK. Sure, he mentioned Spinner, but idk it was off like an BTW moment

He doesn't see himself as human. What he does see himself as was not mentioned but im willing to bet he sees himself as a God of destruction.

With all this said YES I belive he will be alive at the end (well I'm about 80% sure he will, if not he will always be in my heart) and no I don't think he will be locked in some prison, it wouldn't serve a purpose for Hori to keep him alive just to lock him up now that's not saying he won't be in some program to actual HELP HIM cause if he lives (he will) he won't have a quirk, I dont see it. And lastly somehow Izuku will have to literally reach out a hand to him. Seriously how many times has the actual image of someone physically reaching out been shown, dozens.

Also the whole make him a kid again is stupid. Tenko and Tomura are the same person, he doesn't have a child living in his body, his heart...yes. Tenko represents all that Tomura Shigaraki has repressed, his dream of being a hero, the sweet little boy who cared for his friends (hmm the more powerful he got the less we saw this quality) so he becoming Tenko again refers to his heart not having that black hole inside it. It means his heart will be free. Not that he will revert to 5 years old. There is still a chance Hori could do that but even if his writing can be questionable I don't think he'll go this off the grid.

[sonic-gallery]

Another World Ogiri February 2023 [What are Amy and Blaze doing...? ]

I came here because I heard it was a shocking egg fortune telling, but it was even better than I imagined.

Two characters appear every month in surprising outfits and situations! Let's enjoy Ogiri together with illustrations that will make your imagination run wild!

This time, two good friends appear as a fortune teller and a magic princess (?)!

It seems that Blaze, wearing a cute costume, has come to see fortune teller Amy for advice...?

What kind of lines or narration would you use?

You can set it up with the two's usual atmosphere and worldview, or you can make it bold... Enjoy it freely and tweet with the tag #Isekai Ogiri on Twitter ♪

We will introduce the good ones in a reply from Sonic's official Twitter account.

We are looking forward to your fun Ogiri posts!

Act2: "The Magic Princess's Yuutsu"

<<Smack! >>

A flash from an elegant upper stance. A hammer is swung down on a boiled egg, and the shells fly off.

"So far...? Is this arrangement...?"

Amy crawls to the floor to check for shell fragments, takes a seat, and loudly declares:

“With the guidance of Clothesline and Egg, your problems will be resolved in no time!”

A ``Fortune Telling Hall'' was there before I knew it. Amy's "Egg Fortune Telling" has a great reputation for being very accurate. A girl with many worries visited Amy again today.

``I have been fighting as the Magic Princess for many years, but I have only been able to save a few hundred people at most... At this rate, I will never be able to eradicate the roots of evil and save the world.'' Am I... powerless? ”

She is Blaze...a just "magic princess" who saves common people from the clutches of evil. Her never-ending battle begins to destroy her confidence, and she confides her troubles to her long-time friend Amy...

As soon as she takes her seat, Amy is full of confidence and speaks in a gentle preaching tone.

"Okay, Blaze? You've already saved hundreds of people, haven't you? Be proud! This is no place to be depressed! You know, that's what you see in the eggs, too, right?"

Ignoring Blaze, who looks at the egg again with confusion, Amy continues.

"You are not helpless. Think about it? All the hundreds of people you saved will surely help someone else again. That chain, that connection of hearts, will one day save the entire world. Isn't it?" "Uh, um..."

Blaze was under pressure, but eventually he looked down and quietly smiled bitterly.

"I guess it's a mistake to try to solve everything by yourself..." "Yeah. But, nothing would have happened if you hadn't started it, right?"

Amy opens the window and lets in the night sky.

"See? The clothesline is great. You can hang any laundry to dry. It's you, and it's everyone at the same time. If everyone supports each other, the world will eventually become a clothesline. .The arrangement of the eggshell also shows this."

"I-Is that so...?"

Come to think of it, Blaze remembers that this was a fortune telling. The eggshell that fell on the floor and the constellation ``Clothespin'' in the night sky shine in the light of the two blue moons.

It was a strange fortune-telling, but at any rate, she felt a sense of reassurance, as if her sinking heart had been supported by something warm. Did Amy's "clothing rod" arrive?

"See! With my worries resolved, there was another message in the egg fortune-telling. That was...'Break out of your shell and challenge the unknown!'" " ... .T-Challenge!?”

``I tell you to wear a cuter, frilly costume! You've been wearing that for years!'' `` No, I'm already wearing this outfit...it's embarrassing, but...'' ..” “If you decide, let’s go shopping! Don’t delay!”

Amy said as she grabbed Blaze's arm and started running. Blaze, who is overwhelmed, tries to keep up with him while somehow popping a boiled egg into his mouth, thinking that he shouldn't waste his food.

"Come on, Blaze! Follow the egg's guidance and get the cutest outfit!"

Later...The charm of the new costume Magic Princess has rapidly increased the number of fans. The day when the chain of peace-loving hearts will cover the world is certainly near.

"Night has dawned..."

The content is completely different from the shadows. It seems that various changes are occurring depending on the region.

Amy's former home has been turned into a fortune-telling hall.

The night sky looks completely different, with two bright blue moons and strange constellations. It's as if this place has become a different world.

It seems that Amy and Blaze's hearts have not changed, but...

The mystery only deepens.

(to be continued)

[tokiro07]

Undead Unluck ch.197 thoughts

[Rider Kick!!!]

(Contents: speculation - Haruka, thematic analysis - life)

Tozuka, we need to talk about your sense for chapter titles. It's "ready, get set, go" not "get set, ready, go." Maybe it's different in Japan?

Anyway

HARUKA DEVELOPMENT!!!

Seeing that Haruka's soul is still her child self from her original backstory, I wonder if we'll be seeing a flashback of how her tragedy was averted. Given Isshin XII's statement that Haruka's heart hasn't matured, my supposition last week that Fuuko's soul resembling her appearance from when she just joined the Union symbolizes that she's the same person at heart seems to have been correct. The shape of a person's soul is a reflection of who they are; Andy is an old soul, Fuuko is a member of the Union, Lucy is a free spirit, and Haruka is a scared child. Cowardice has been a core trait of Haruka's the entire time, and while this arc seemed to suggest that she'd grown out of that between loops, this moment implies that just because she's braver doesn't mean that she isn't scared

Presumably the circumstances of her becoming Unbreakable contributed to her soul taking that shape, a moment in her past that she can't move on from. I doubt her father died the same way this time if at all, but even if it was just the shock of seeing her grandfather die of natural causes, I could see that rooting Haruka's heart in a particular time. It would also be interesting if Tozuka uses that plot point to elaborate on why Haruka got into cobbling, what inspired her to make that choice specifically, and how her relationship with Top developed after she saved his friends. I don't know if that's a story that Tozuka is interested in telling, but it's one I'm interested in reading, for sure!

The other major element of this chapter was Isshin XII's advice to Haruka. "Use the power of those who never merely live and die." Therein lies the thesis statement for this arc and possibly the entire series: "[humans] never merely live and die." We aren't alive just because blood pumps through our veins (Victor's original view) or because we have thoughts in our heads (Andy's original view); we're alive because we can form connections, because we can leave an impact on the world, because we can create

A beast lives on instinct. A beast kills and eats to survive and breed, and one day dies so that something else may feed and survive. As UMA Beast said, beasts do not desire coexistence. I would argue that they don't desire anything, their biology simply compels them to eat and procreate, even if they don't have what we would call an "understanding" of the purpose of their actions

A human, though, can eat to survive, but doesn't have to. Eating can be a purely utilitarian experience, just a way to fuel up the body for the next day, but people don't typically do that. People cook, they maximize the taste of the dish as well as the nutritional value if they even pay attention to it in the first place, and they partake of their meals communally. We do understand the purpose of eating, but that purpose is of secondary concern to anyone outside of a life-or-death scenario; instead, the priority is to enjoy our meals, whether it's through the company we keep, the flavor of the dish, or even simply the joy of creation

And that, I think, is where Unbreakable's true power comes from. Unbreakable isn't slapping two scraps of metal together and calling it a shield, it's an artform, a craft that one dedicates their life to, the culmination of skill and pride passed down for generations. It's not enough to simply know how it works; watching a knitting tutorial on youtube isn't enough to create a beautiful quilt, you have to understand the materials and the tools and the techniques intimately

There's no pride or craftsmanship in Beast simply growing Unbreakable armor. Does a tortoise build its own shell and take pride in it, or does it simply happen to grow around an otherwise oblivious reptile? As I've said a thousand times, Undead Unluck is a series about "the proof of a life lived," and the mastering of an art, the inheritance of a legacy, is just another in a long line of angles that Tozuka has chosen to tackle this theme from

Haruka's new Unbreakable, seemingly able to reconfigure her armor to match someone else, suggests that she has achieved that mastery and pride. Unbreakable is not about rigid conformity to one shape, it's about the ability to adapt to the scenario; "the reed which bends in the wind is stronger than the oak which breaks in a storm." Beast has no understanding or appreciation of the effort that forged Unbreakable itself, much less the armor it creates, and thus does not have the pride nor conviction to allow for it to be flexible or adaptable

Beast has Unbreakable, but he does not have the spirit to create. Beast devalues that which proves that one has lived, and that will ultimately be his undoing

Until next time, let's enjoy life!

[ohhiimweird]

hey there! i read 'new romantics' and i love your writing! is it alright if i request some romantic hurt/comfort hcs with an overworked gn reader for the turtle family? (Like the bros + April?) This week has been uber stressful for me and reading fics like yours always calms me down hfdhjds

Bold of you to not be anonymous...

Reader: Gender Neutral

Characters: Donnie, Raph, Mikey, April, Leo

Relationship: Romantic

Content Warnings: None!

----------------------------------------------------------

I'll Cover for You

Donnie:

He's the type of person to try and get to the root of the problem. But, that doesn't mean he won't let you rant a little

He'll be working on something while you sit and rant about your assignments at school or a job. Just know that he is listening to every word you say. You don't have to worry about that

Expect a pat on the shoulder or head from one of his mechanical arms on his battle shell. This is Donnie we're talking about after all

He'll ask a few questions and suggest what you can do when you've calmed down a little.

He might need to calm down a little too, though. Because Donnie was probably freaking out the moment you entered the room on the verge of tears

Donnie will give you some kind of alarm that tells you when to take a break from your work. If you ignore the alarm, Donnie will know

All in all, he loves and cares about you more than his tech. That is saying something

Raph:

Raph is the oldest sibling, besides April. So, he knows how to comfort people. It's basically an instinct for him

Doesn't matter if you're stubborn. He will carry you over his shoulder if it meant getting you away from your schoolwork. Don't underestimate him. He's done it to Donnie

He lets you hold one of his stuffed animals while you vent. You can just hold it without saying anything too. Just be careful with it because Raph loves those guys like they're his children

Raph will hold you too and give you comforting words. He might slip into a baby voice if you're stressed enough. That's more of an instinct

Once you're calm, he reassures you that you're doing the best you can. You're just one person after all. He's impressed you can do the schoolwork you do at all

He'll start to check on you more often after this incident, making sure you're not stressed out like that again

The experience as an older sibling may have helped, but Raph still prides himself as someone you can go to. Even though that's what being a couple is all about

Mikey:

Mikey knows you're stressed before you can even tell him. He's much more in tune with his emotions. It comes with him being the youngest and also the family therapist

The first thing Mikey does is gently pull you away from your assignments and toward his sketchbook

this usually works and you're venting while making several marks on the paper. this only works if you're not stubborn however

If you are, he's pulling out the glasses. You will have to run if you don't want to deal with Dr. Feelings. Actually, I don't running will work. That boy has stamina and will find you...

Once he gets the words out of you, Mikey smothers you with physical affection. I'm talking hugs, cuddles, and many kisses

He reassures you that he loves you, and tells you that it's okay that you're busy

Mikey would give you his heart if it meant you'd never be stressed again. Please don't let go of that heart

April:

Mayhem is now your certified therapy-dog. Although I don't know whether or not he's a dog. But that's okay because he's a dog in spirit

Anyways, back to April. She's your shoulder to cry on and someone to hold

She's also going to hype you up and tell you you're doing great. If you need someone to point out the good things from your failure, she's your gal (she's known to struggle with failure too, man)

If you're struggling with a class she either took before or has the same class as you, she'll try and help you

She'll invite you to stay the night if you need it. You'll do some self-care together

Much like the others, she's affirming that she cares about you and loves you

Through your stress, April is going to worm her way through it and reach out

Leo:

Motherfucker is portaling to your room and pulling you away from your schoolwork

"Leo, I was working!" "No <3"

He's taking you into a pillow fort, pulling you under the blankets, and putting on Jupiter Jim

Despite how he presents himself, Leo has a keen eye. He may not be as emotional as Mikey, but he knows when you're stressed and swamped with work

So, he does what any good boyfriend does and makes a fun night out of comforting you

Again, you're watching Jupiter Jim, he's doing an entire skin routine with you. By the end of it, he's holding you as you grow tired and fall asleep

He knows you won't stop working until you have nothing left, however, he'll let you know that he's always going to be there no matter what

Thank you for requesting! Hope you enjoyed reading these headcanons

[teeful-corner]

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ "'Cause for me, it is always you.".ᐟ. . . Timeskip! Kuroo Tetsurou x Reader | Gender Neutral Reader

ੈ˳For Tetsurou, is was always you; You where the only person who was able to make him a better man than he has ever been. Subsequently, you had been the only one who has managed to break his professional shell at a National Men's Volleyball game.

Maybe it was just nerves pinching at you, whether those be your own nerves or the conjoint nerves of everyone in the room, that caused you to break out in a light sweat. You were leaned forward in your seat, barely sitting on it anymore as your legs supported the wait of your crouched body. Sweaty hands gripped onto the railing that kept you up and away from the court, yet still allowed for the perfect birds eye view of everything that was happening. Here you were, at the finals of the Olympic men's national volleyball game: Japan Men's National Volleyball Team vs Argentina Men's National Volleyball Team. It was everything that you had been told it would be and more. The crowds roaring in cheer whenever their team would score, the overwhelming feeling of everyone in the room, the crashing of the volleyball and the long rallies. It all lived up to the hype and more, you couldn't help but feel like an excited little kid amidst it all. It was wholly, solely, extraordinarily just an unforgettable experience, how so many people's hearts beat as one for the same team and how they cheered in (almost) perfect unison; doing all they can to keep their team fired up for the several long, grueling rounds of back and forth between the net, the only aim of their game being to keep the ball in air and drop it on the other side of the court. You hadn't been admit on Volleyball, at least not as admit as your fiancé or any of his and yours friends; you had never been big on sports, it was just something that didn't widely interest you as you wanted to take other paths in life. Sure, in junior high and high school you had tried out for some of the teams, but nothing really came about it. You'd usually find a way to reason yourself not to show up to practice one day, then continue that train until the coaches and the players forgot your name and face entirely. But now, standing in this stadium and being engulfed by everything made you think; Had you missed out on some of the best years of your life? Had you been foolish not to try one more sport, go to one more practice, get to know one more person?

Maybe the simple answer to that question is yes, had been foolish. Maybe there was a more deep rooted and straining answer that justified your way of doing things. Or maybe, there was no answer at all and that was simply just a opinion biased answer, all keen on a person's morals and outlook. "Just watch as #10, Hinata Shoyo, runs across that court like a hungry wolf ready to get his next point! In combination with number #11, Miya Astumu's, serve he was able to leave the blockers on the Argentina Men's team completely rattled!" A sudden uproar filled the crowds, a rally from those supporting Japan equaled with the upset from those supporting Argentina engulfed the stadium in noise. It was louder than a lion's roar, stronger as well. It invoked fear, yet also dignity and fire in the players down the court and you couldn't help but rally along. It was a powerful, moving thing. Though no matter how many voices pierce and whipped the air of the stadium, Kuroo could always find yours. Kuroo had been situated down on the sidelines of the court, a spot in which he could see the game from the same level as those playing on the court. Being one of sports promoter for Japan Volleyball Association, he always had a spot down on the court's sidelines to feel just a little more connected to the team than the other spectators. It allowed him to get a good feel for how everyone worked together, how the cogs turned and what extra pieces could be substituted or added in to get everything flowing as neatly as it can. When he had first told you about the job offer that the office wanted him to take up, to travel over to the stadium that was hosting the Japan Men's vs Argentina Men's Volleyball game, he would have thought his offer for you joining him would had been declined. You usually didn't come with him to many of the games he had to go to, whether that is to check on the progress of the National's men team or whether that's to go scout out new recruits. You usually would stay home, not finding any interest in the sport but never discouraged him to not go. It had how the two of you had been living since Kuroo obtained his job and you no longer went to go support Nekoma's volleyball games because of him. Yet, you had turned his expectations on his head when you had agreed to come; saying how you needed a break from your job, and how your boss was almost forcing you to take a break soon as you never really used up any of your 'sick days.' Either way, no matter if you decided to come on force of your company or on your own free will, Kuroo was esthetic, and a little prideful, to have you here. So, when you even started cheering, joining in the crowd's big rally to encourage the Japan Men' National team, he couldn't help but beam. His smile grew from ear to ear, turning to look at you and all your immaculate beauty; shouting and cheering like you have loved the sprot since you were a little kid, shouting and cheering like you had done for him when he played with Nekoma. It brought something out of Kuroo, causing his voice to start to bubble deep within his chest and quickly rise; combining together, swirling around and conjoining with all the cheers. Subsequently, he burst out in cheers, joining the rally in supporting the team he helped promote. You had always been able to bring out the best side in Kuroo, and he couldn't ever thank you enough for that.

"What was that?!" Exclaimed Bokuto as he came hurdling, bouncing over to Kuroo after the adrenaline rushing match. Bokuto couldn't hide his big grin or even bigger, contagious personality which quite literally took up the size of the whole stadium; infecting everyone around him with this positive attitude that wasn't easily shaken off. This rub of influence was most notable in Hinata, Astumu, and Yaku who came to quip and question Kuroo as well, having heard his voice yell so loud and clear for their team; something that did not happen often when Kuroo was off on the sidelines of the court, as he tried to keep a more professional attitude. Kuroo turned to the team, some being his long-term friends other old rivals from when he was in high school, and couldn't help but knew his gut instinct was right; he just knew after his outburst they would be rushing him like confused dogs seeing their owner for the first time, excited to bark and jump on them. "Hey! You were all like- AAAHHHH!" Hinata exclaimed, waving his hands frantically in the air as Yaku and Bokuto where right by his side. They were nodding their heads furiously in agreement, and Kuroo couldn't help but let out a slight chuckle. These guys haven't changed much since highschool, he thought to himself as a snicker grew across his lips. Placing his hands in his pockets, Kuroo leaned back a bit in a suave motion that captured the attention of the three players in front of him. "Let's just say, I brought a little 'reinforcement' that inspired me to go all out this one time." Chuckled Kuroo, his snicker growing ever so slightly when he mentioned you, his little reinforcement. Though Hinata gave him a confused look, subsequently with Bokuto tilting his head to the side and scrunching his eyebrows and nose. And as Yaku stood there in thought, wondering who Kuroo could have meant by reinforcement (he hadn't seen anyone particularly special in the crowds or talking to him, before or during the match) you had made your well-timed entrance. Bokuto had been the first to realize you were coming, as you walking in from behind Kuroo (where you had been seated) and he was quick to extend an arm out. He waved frantically, shouting your name as if you couldn't see the group of four and you had been aimlessly wondering around the stadium in search of them. You chuckled slightly at Bokuto's boosting, which was followed by both Hinata and Yaku greeting you as you drew closer. "Hey, long time no see!" Yaku called as you took your spot next to Kuroo, who had promptly wrapped an arm around your waist and drew you closer to him; it was a subconscious habit he had picked up through all the years the two of you had spent together. You didn't mind, in fact you enjoyed being in his arms. So, you didn't pay him any attention as you waved to the three players in front of you. "Hey Bokuto, Hinata, and Yaku. Crazy game, huh?-" You started, your tone as light was whipped cream yet soft and a little hoarse from all the yelling it had suddenly endured. You usually don't raise your voice any louder than normal speaking volume, so the sudden shouting and screaming, crying like the world was ending anytime they lost a set was something I wasn't used to. That, Bokuto knew well; it was only a given with how much he decided to drop by our house unannounced, or even announced. So, it was no shock to you for Bokuto to notice your voice was a little hoarse, "Hey, hey! What happened to you?!" Bokuto asked, as intrigued as a little child. He leaned forward at looked at you with his eyes, all big and round, like he was still captain of the owls; and you couldn't help but chuckle a little. You reached up and rubbed your soar throat, smiling softly at Bokuto as you tried to reassure him and his concerns. "Ah, nothing. I just haven't shouted that much since I was cheering for Kuroo at Nationals." Having been informed of your decision, a surprising one at that, Yaku was the first to realize who Kuroo had been speaking of!

"YOU'RE THE REINFORCEMENT!" Pointed Yaku, his grin beginning to beam from ear to ear as he now understood why Kuroo had been so excited earlier! Only you were able to break Kuroo's professional attitude on the court sidelines, get him to scream and shout like he had been; bringing out the old captain that rested inside of him, a captain that would always look at you during a match and get even more pumped than he had been. Even when he is on his last leg, thighs burning and stamina all depleted, you where one of the major factors that kept him motivated and kept him running that extra step forward. Realization rang in Boktuo and Hinata, "OH!" They both reeled, looking between you and Kuroo as you couldn't help but become rather perplexed by the sudden events. You rubbed the back of your neck, glancing up at Kuroo with one eyebrow scrunched down and the other cocked upwards. There was a sneaky, questioning smile on your face as Kuroo playfully shrugged his shoulders, acting like he had no idea on what they were talking about. You knew he did though. "You were cheering us on?!" Bokuto roared, fists balled in as all the energy he had lost playing Argentina surged back into his body. Hinata looked as shocked, yet ready as Bokuto did; and for some reason you couldn't help but wonder if your cheering was somehow contagious? "Yeah, I was cheering you guys on. You played an amazing game today!" You laughed gently, waving trying to wave off Bokuto's sudden excitement. Yaku's beam couldn't be brighter, but his face soon turned playful, "What did Kuroo bribe you to get you to cheer? Nevertheless, cheer so loud that Kuroo heard you over everyone else in the crowd? Money? A nice date? maybe something m-" "Alright, Yaku, that's enough!" Kuroo was quick to interject, acting as though he was a knight in shining armor; here to save you from anything that the three players tried to through your way. You couldn't help but roll your eyes at Kuroo antics, the ones you knew the best and loved the most. You silently raised your hand, slowly counting down from three to one. When you lowered your first finger, subsequently reaching zero, Kuroo quipped, "Of course, I wouldn't protest if I was able to get some..." Kuroo started but was quickly shut down with you shoving your hand in his face, effectively making him eat his words. Something that caused Yaku to start to howl with laughter, followed by Bokuto. "Nope." You shut Kuroo down completely, causing him to pout into your hand. He reached up, gently took your wrist into his hand, and brought it down to his chest. He melodramatically tossed his head back, sniffling and pouting like a toddler as he drew up his free wrist to wipe away non-existent tears. "Oh, my dear, you pain me so much!" Kuroo cried wolf, "You're so mean to me and for no reason? Is my love not enough for you, do you need my money too? Listen how my heart aches for you, aches at all your harsh words and aches for your touch!-" "I didn't expect Kuroo to still be this whipped for you 5 years into your relationship." Mumbled Akaashi as he now stood next to Bokuto, who seemed more than (playfully) disgusted at Kuroo's show of affection towards you. Yaku was playfully snicking his finger into his mouth, his tongue drawn out as he fake gagged at the whole situation. You were left shaking your head slightly, bitting back giggles at Kuroo. "You know him, never can over the puppy dog phase." I teased as I drew my hand away from Kuroo's chest, reaching back and tauntingly rubbing his back like a parent trying to soothe their little kid. "I feel bad for him sometimes, thinking he needs to act all cute for affection. It hurts, but nothing I do seems to fix it." Akaashi raised a hand to suppress his chuckle, a small grin having lined his lips as Kuroo looked down at you bum hurt at your statement; maybe he was also hurt that you played along with Akaashi and not him. He was prompt to place a hand on his waist and look away, "Well, at least you love it. I can saw that for sure." Kuroo huffed, causing you to chuckle.

"Yes, I do love your weird, childish antics as much as I love you and your bed head, Tetsurou." I squished Kuroo's face, forcing him to make duck lips so I could entertain myself with his slightly scrunched face. Yaku seemed very much entertained about the duck lips himself as he sneakily took a photo of Kuroo, his camera shutter being the only thing that gave it away. "Shit." Yaku mumbled as Kuroo whipped his head around towards the Libero. "HEY! Yaku what the hell-!?" Subsequently, Bokuto sprung at the chance to try and retrieve the photo from Yaku before Kuroo could take his phone and delete it.

©this work belongs to teeful-corner.ᐟ please do not plagiarize, copy, or steal this work; like, relogs, and saves are appreciated :D

[raayllum]

TDP Reflections: Lost Child breakdown 

“Know your roots and know yourself…”

Loss of sense of self motif for Viren, Claudia, Callum, and Rayla continues.

Claudia blinked in surprise—she didn’t realize she’d been followed from the campsite—and the creature blinked back. She tilted her head, and sure enough, the homunculus did the same.

LIKE A MIRROR REFLECTION YOU SAY, aaravos transforming her like a butterfly for his own ends

Something flickered behind its lamplike eyes—like someone passing in front of a flame—and Claudia realized that the air in her lungs was growing stale.

fire elarion motif (his touch a blaze, a gift, a spark) nobody’s business

Burbling happily, it offered her the mess like it was the prize of its many labors. Worms dangled helplessly in the air, many broken apart by the being’s sudden movement, their blunt ends wriggling in confusion.

IT’S FUCKING FISH B A I T, like bait on a hook, hook line and sinker

She uncorked her flask and plunged it into the pond. Bubbles sprouted from the lip, like someone drowning.

Her hands itched with the horrible lightness of each scattered piece, her feet ached as she walked and walked and walked to gather her father back together… And then the voice, the thread she had caught and clung to and used to haul herself out of the darkness.

I know the patience of a woven tapestry, how the weaver plaits the purpose of every thread, even as they disappear into the beauty of its design. (Patience, first Aaravos short story) / string and puppet symbolism

+ bonus dark isn’t always bad / light isn’t always good continued thread of symbolism / duality

It’s up to me again, she thought. It’s always up to me.

It’s also a perfect parallel to their own dynamics with their respective boyfriends. Terry is right there, actively supporting Claudia, but she can’t seem to fully trust that she can rely on him (just as Rayla feels she can’t fully rely on Callum - without getting him killed, perhaps) because they’e both too wrapped up in their tunnel vision of “I’m the one who has to sacrifice to keep other people together/safe” even when it’s detrimental to them and untrue. 

“So is that it?” she asked. “Aaravos left me too, huh? Like dad and Soren, and my mo—”

Lissa had left her years ago, but the space she had owned in Claudia’s heart remained. It was a dark place now, hard and hateful, its edges raw as a wound that had forgotten to heal.

A FESTERING WOUND / dark and light symbolism again as well as a parallel to Aaravos’ (missing) chest piece and according Key to his Heart theory

Surprised, Claudia looked up to see the homunculus. Its wings caught the sun, bathing it in a soft halo of lavender light. Its eyes glowed gold and luminous, almost warm, almost… patient.

A moment later, she blinked into the pond; her reflection beamed up at her. Her eyes brighter, her face fuller, more color in her cheeks. Small changes, but still—There I am, she thought.

Not only is this a smaller version of Viren’s butterfly spell to hide his physical dark magic corruption (and seemingly rejuvenate himself too) and it shows Claudia going down that path, but it’s also a parallel to 3x03:

But instead of being brought into the fold by someone else (and therefore supported through clarity rather than guise), Claudia is alone, because of course she is. 

“Let’s go,” Claudia told the creature. “I can fix this. I can fix anything.”

Her brother squirmed. “Clauds, Biscuit’s—” “—I know. But I fixed it. Now we can still play with her.” (Rise Again, S4′s Claudia short story)

She reached for its hand—and flinched. The remains of the second snail coated the homunculus’s palm, a stain of crushed flesh flecked with colorful shards of shell. The being seemed unperturbed. It gazed up at her, eyes bright and luminous. Like a helpless thing, Claudia thought. Like a child.

Re: Sir Sparklepuff being compared to both Claudia and a child, thus tethering Claudia to that same childlike comparison makes me find it especially interesting that seconds before this, Claudia reaffirms her sense of herself that she’s uniquely Strong vs her father’s “If we are led by a child king--” “He’ll make bad choices?” “He will make weak choices” as well as the juxtaposition of This, always: 

as well as the whole concept of being Lost (with Ezran and now Aaravos’ “lost and found” / game of “hide and seek” thing that’s going on) and Rayla’s “Don’t look for me and don’t follow me, I don’t think you’ll find me anyway” and Clarity of Vision amongst blackened (dark magic) / whitened (possession) eyes and