#I AM THINKING MANY

[starglossie]

Mel is the textbook example of how black female characters are treated in fandom. This is not to say that there are not people who love her or appreciate her character in all of its facets.

I'm just scratching my head at some of the takes on her character that feels, to me, like a gross misrepresentation of who she is and how she is presented in the show.

It is true that she is a politician. It is true that she knows how to navigate social situations. She was raised by Ambessa! She knows the tricks of the game better than anyone! But then I see people calling her manipulative? And then feel vindicated by Jayce screaming at her (unnecessarily so, btw bc that scene was SO crazy) that she was manipulative (when by the way, we all agree Jayce was not in his right state of mind at the time and then apologized afterwards because he realized he crashed out on her for no reason). When she... never has been manipulative?

So if someone sees your potential, and wants to see it flourish, is that manipulative?

Jayce LITERALLY wanted her to take a chance on his and viktor's project. It was MUTUALL BENEFICIAL for Mel to help Jayce posit himself in a position of power that would get him better access to the resources he needed to get where he wanted to go.

That's not manipulation. That's investment.

Mel is a complex, black female character. It is not to say she is perfect. She's not. She has her flaws but one of those flaws is NOT manipulation and I cast a side eye at people who think Ambessa is a great, well-written character and then think Mel is not. I have to. Because Ambessa is written to be aggressive, and cold, and strong, and tough--even her design emulates this rough edge. And I HAVE to think, why do I see people write essays on how bad Mel is but not Ambessa? Is it because Ambessa carries character traits that are more palatable to a non-black audience?? Character traits that more align with people's subconscious associations with blackness?

ANYWAYS.... I'M YAPPING. I could go on about how Mel is soft, and kind, and strong, and her character arc is about finding out who she is not as a child of Ambessa or an exiled daughter, but who is MEL MEDARDA, and what do you do with this newfound discovery. What do you do in the wake of grieving your mother who died by your hand?

I could go on. But I am so tired of seeing posts dogging Mel and taking scenes out of context and if Mel was a MAN.... I don't think she'd get half this flack. And if Mel was a WHITE MAN......... LMAOOOOO.

Anyways I love Mel she's pookie.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Hey now, Let her cook!

[proxycrit]

Day 44- GERUDO TOWN

Bug Zapper 9000 worked too well. Not only did we get the terrifying normal corpses, we accidentally found its brood mother that can summon localized sandstorms to protect its underlings.

At least it got chased away by Riju’s lightning. Big win.

This totk au is called familiar familiar! It all started when zelda didnt fall back in time and devolved into wild violence

((Wanna support me? Check out my patreon, with my throw away sketches and references! Remember to use web or android folks, apple charges 30 percent tax.))

[astearisms]

catalysts, protectors

[hinamie]

subject, specimen, spectacle;

should i say that you're dead?

[peachdalooza]

some grief Paulings

[doomedclockworkdotmp3]

his therapist woulda had a field day at their next appointment

[paintedcrows]

Holiday Classics

Been thinking about Ford watching the 70s Animated Lord of the Rings Movies... (companion comic to this post!)

[inkskinned]

you know, you know. no gods, no masters, no kings on pedestals. everyone is fallible. death of the author. you know! you are balanced about your intake of media - you allow the wiggle room, the grace, the gratitude, the skepticism. nobody above criticism.

but still. a weird gut-punch feeling, something akin to betrayal. you read the article. surprise! an author you love is actually: a serial fucking predator.

well, shit. what now. no, you knew he was a person (all people are), but now you're wondering - what have i overlooked by accident? what messages have i internalized that are strange and cruel? and also, like, what the fuck?

his actions lay a thick glaze on top of everything. like each place is now ruined, opaque in a new way. but okay, fine, you've done this before. you knew better, right? you've been betrayed by many a cherished childhood author.

still, this stickiness. fuck. can you pick up that book again. will you read it to your children. you've recommended it to others - will you ever do that again? and of course, of course, no parasocial relationships. you were theoretically above this kind of sentiment. but the artist informs the art, right.

so it's not something as clear-cut as feeling he owed you, specifically (a stranger) better behavior - just that you kind of, in a distant and odd way... sort of trusted him to do better. it's not like a real trust or something speakable, just the faint hope that the product (good books) was a thin representation of the soul. now it feels like the product (good? books?) was a mask. in some small or insignificant way, your previous support of this person lent them power. your money and your time and your laughter.

and the thing is - you have this terrible, echoing sensation. how many times will this happen? over and over. you find out that the singer you love is actually a predator. you learn over drinks that your favorite high school english teacher is in jail for what he did to her. you listen to the news idly and suddenly discover that a woman you used to idolize has been abusing her kids for an actual eon.

what can you touch without the static melting off. you can't even really complain about it too much (you were supposed to know better, and besides, you don't want the same re-split "it's not your fault, love what you love" basic advice), but now it's here. somehow, it feels like - you let him into your life.

it's not that things need to be pure or an artist has to be like, endlessly perfect, mindful. demure. it's more just this terrible truth that has been replayed through your veins so often it feels criminally vain. power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. did you want any one person to be worth that power?

it's just that he wrote books where he seemed to understand that. he seemed to know about hierarchies and unfair systems and bigotry and privilege. you thought they were books about what it means to struggle. you thought they were about having power and still using it for good rather than for control. he spooned you a narrative of being a good guy, a kind soul. you fucking bought what that fucking monster sold.

maybe that's why they were fantasies, after all.

[egophiliac]

I'm really hoping that after book 7 they release all the overblots as cards. Also if this is the year of Riddle I think they might release the equestrian club finally and I can see him in the new years event since cater and Trey have done It. Which club r u most excited for? I can't wait to see them all.

at this point I, too, cannot wait for my sweet HORSE BOOOOOOOYS

...although I'm also VERY curious as to how 1) they're going to wrangle a super special club uniform out of the board game club, and 2) how they're going to force Idia into wearing it. will there be dice pockets? I hope there are dice pockets.

[tarvalian]

XII - The Hanged Man, Upright: surrender, sacrifice, faith, perspective

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

...Turns out gay sex actually was the solution.

(This is basically a redraw, come read the real deal over at Tiger Tiger)

[rogueshadeaux]

“I hate the script, the vault dwellers sound so cheesy—“ my Brother in Steel you realize that’s the point, right? They were bred to act like the physical embodiment of an HR e-mail. Did you not catch the memo that Vault-Tec put out regarding their experiment facilities?

[reichurine]

"but you won't be there, damn gambler."

👊after 'rota fortunae'

[hinamie]

"I'll show you every day that choosing to live was worth it"

some of my favourite scenes from @hijinks-n-lowjinks' fic things i would miss from the other side . this fic tore my heart out fr but like in a good way and i wanted to pay it homage the only way i know how <3

[cametotheshowinsd]

TAYLOR SWIFT: THE ERAS TOUR (2023)