#I replaced it with a clearer version

[oscahpitlane]

2024 FIA Prize Awards

Interviewer: Oscar, you have to do a dance!

Oscar: No, I'm definitely not doing a dance.

Interviewer: C'mon, this is your generation's thing, Oscar.

Oscar: I know, but... not yet.

[celaenaeiln]

Hiii, how are you? I’m new in the Batman fandom, but i saw a lot of people saying that Jason is actually Batman’s favorite child, and when i was reading the comics, i really though that Dick is Bruce absolute favorite, but i saw a lot of posts here on tumblr of the fandom saying is actually Jason and that the batkids all know its Jason, but i don’t know what is canon and what is fanon (quite honestly when it comes about the batfam i don’t like a lot about the fanon version 😭), so i wanted to ask you about it

And sorry if i said something wrong, english is not my first language

Hi and no worries at all!!

Yeah, canonically Dick is Bruce's favorite by a LONG shot and canonically the batkids all know this.

Infinite Crisis Issue #3

It's says right here in the comics. Really explicitly. But not only that, time and time again, there is clear evidence of Bruce's preferential treatment of Dick over the rest of the batkids.

One time the batboys and Bruce are searching for a guy that kinda is using the Gotham criminals as his subjects. So what they decide to do is split up to narrow him down.

Detective Comics (2016) Issue #1057

But they run into issues because the villains chose a 'divide and conquer strategy"

Detective Comics (2016) Issue #1057

Bruce gets swept away! Because of a carefully planned trap. But do you what he does the second he wakes up?

Detective Comics (2016) Issue #1058

JDAKFA;BFJALEC

BRUCE LITERALLY WENT: "I love Dick and all the other not-Dicks equally" !!!!!

As if that's not enough, Bruce's biggest fear is that he's not good enough for Dick.

Bruce's fear about Dick-

Batman vs Robin Issue #3

because he believes this -

vs

Bruce's fear about Jason -

Batman vs Robin Issue #3

because he believed he failed to do this -

Batman: Hush

Reminder: Joe Chill is Martha and Thomas Wayne's killer. Enough said.

If you want to be even more explicit about Bruce's preference for Dick over Jason it can't be clearer than here:

Bruce reflects on Jason's Robin tenure -

Batman (1940) Issue #428

Something a lot of people don't know/refuse to acknowledge is that Jason canonically did have anger issues. There aren't a lot of parallels between Jason and Dick but one particular thing that DC points out is that Jason and Dick both lost their beloved fathers. The difference is that Dick was able to move on and become cheerful even if he didn't get revenge. Jason wasn't able to get over the loss of his father and became angry. UTRH makes a specific point of talking about this too.

Batman (1940) Issue #645 "He knew that Jason Todd was NOT Dick Grayson."

Do you remember why Jason became Robin?

Batman (1940) Issue #416

Bruce wanted Dick. He took in Jason in replacement for Dick. But Jason was not Dick and even on the day he died, all Bruce could think of was that taking in Jason was a mistake.

The batkids are well aware of this. Damian actually calls Jason Bruce's mistake too when he's recounting the story of the robins.

Here's what he says -

Batman (1940) Issue #713

That's Damian's retelling. Tim's is even worse -

A Lonely Place of Dying

Ouch.

Truthfully Jason is like Bruce's 4th favorite. In order of how much Bruce loves his kids it goes:

Dick

Damian

Cass

Jason/Tim (tie)

Tim/Jason (tie)

Steph

I think there's so much confusion about Jason supposedly being the favorite because Bruce grieved over Jason's that but I think a lot of people are conflating grief and self-blame with love. There have been two significant deaths in the family: Jason and Damian. If you look at how Bruce reacted in each aftermath, it becomes clear that he loves Damian more than he loved Jason.

After Jason's death:

Batman (1940) Issue #429

Batman (1940) Issue #431

After Damian's death:

Batman and Robin (2011) Issue #21

Batman and Robin (2011) Issue #20

He would forcefully make Jason relive the worst day of his life so that his other son could enjoy his.

Bruce's behavior after Jason's death was self-destructive and isolative but his behavior after Damian's death was to beat bloodly every single criminal. His reasoning for beating Dick after Jason's death was "Jason was your replacement. If you hadn't left I wouldn't have had to take him in and he wouldn't have died." His reason for beating Jason after Damian's death was "Your trauma matters so little to mean that all I want is Damian to live again and I couldn't care less about how you feel."

In summary, Jason wasn't Bruce's favorite either as Robin or as an adult. But even if it's not Dick, claiming that Jason is the favorite is so far off that no one is DC would remotely believe it. You would think there would be more analysis on Damian's death in comparison to Jason's because they were two big official deaths but I guess not for some reason. I ran out of image space but yeah there's more than just this overall. This isn't to say that Bruce doesn't love Jason. NO! He very much loves him. But he just doesn't love him the most.

On a different note - coming from someone who went from TT show to YJ to fanfic AND THEN reading comics, I've had relearn a lot about each of the characters. But for people still in the process of transitioning from fanfic to comics or just in the fanfic stage, general rule of thumb when it comes to batfamily content - NEVER trust what people say if they don't provide the evidence for it. People in this fandom are so wild that they'll have you believing the earth is the center of the universe, that you'll fall off the world if you go too far left or right, and that pigs can fly.

[mcdfanaticx3]

Zane Ro’Meave redesign done… He has two versions one with a hood and one without

I decided to give him some more Irene Motifs mostly cause he’s her high priest. I think I went heavy with inspiration from Irene’s skin lmao

Anyway, in my rewrite, white, blue and purple are associated with Irene and are seen as pure and rich colours.

Zane wears those robes because of that association and because it makes him look pure. He has an image to maintain after all. (Very ironic considering) and i replaced his mask with a veil because i think its a banger concept

I also like to think Irene and Zane have parallels considering they’re both willing to do bad things for what they perceive is good and also because they both show an image of purity even though that is highly debatable

(The only other character that wears Purple is Aphmau... just to connect them and differentiate them at the same time.)

Also Decided to replace the crosses with Irene’s symbol, hopefully I did it justice

Aside from that, I gave him curly hair and you can see a scar under the eye he covers.

I’m thinking assassination attempt that injured him (he’s blind partially now) and killed Vylad from a political rival which also led to Garroth running away. Don’t know about this yet though.

Clearer representation of my redesign below

Without Hood

With Hood

Bonus under the cut

[petalruesimblr]

SimCare Medical Clinic

Sim File Share (currently slow due to traffic/site errors. I will keep trying to upload so check my Downloads page for updates.) Dropbox

Our SimCare team is dedicated to nurturing your health through proactive care and patient-centered treatment - whether you're seeking routine check-ups or specialized care. We’re here to support your journey toward a healthier life and ensure that you receive the best support for your health, every step of the way.

Price: 184, 065 Lot Size: 30x20 Lot Type: No Visitors Allowed Store Content: Click here CC Used: Click here File Type: Package Min. Required Game Version: 1.42 Packs Needed: The Sims 3, Pets (buydebug object), LN (elevator, floor, wallpaper), Ambitions, Generations, Seasons Simlish Clinic Signs (Add-on CC): Price: 1500 Environment: 7 HLOD: 122‬ Features: Shiftable, Frame is CASTable Category: Buy > Decor > Wall Decor Room: Living, Dining, Bedroom, Study EA Mesh Used: Painting Ranch 2x1 from The Sims 3 File Type: Package Min. Required Game Version: 1.42 Packs Needed: The Sims 3, Late Night

Hello and welcome back to my blog!

It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? Life got in the way and honestly, I’ve been taking my sweet time with this new build. It also didn’t help that the Sim File Share site kept giving me errors whenever I tried to upload it and I was supposed to post this last month.

Even now, I’m still dealing with errors on the site and after some frustration, I’ve decided to look into alternative sites for uploading content in the future. But after all the setbacks, it’s finally ready!

Thanks for sticking around and I really appreciate all the likes/reblogs, you all are the best! 💜

Click on the ’Keep Reading’ below for more information and pictures on this lot.

📣 Right-click on a picture and select ’Open image in new tab’ for a clearer view.

This clinic is designed to give a real-life feeling of visiting a healthcare facility. Inside, you’ll find a: reception area, consultation/exam rooms, pharmacy, laboratory, x-ray/radiology, restroom, locker room, staff break room, doctors office and a large empty room for the rabbit hole rug/door. Now, a couple of things to keep in mind - the layout is designed with a small staff in mind but you can use the extra space in the second floor, where the rabbit hole rug/door is placed, if you want to add more offices or any other services. Just make sure that there is enough space for the rabbit hole rug/door to avoid routing issues. I had to get creative with the signs for this build as I couldn’t find anything that felt right or any CCs that matches the layout of the clinic so I made my own directory signs. It is included in the download file and I’ve posted the details along with this post as it is an add-on for the clinic. I’m using a font called Simlish Deja Vu by gazifu@MTS for the signs and I’ve also included translations in the picture above. It’s not perfect but you know what? It does the job! I have also placed a big sign shown on the clinic that translates to 'Pharmacy' and I know it might seem a bit out of place but honestly, it’s the only large sign I liked that fit the building aesthetic I was going for. 📣 Please note that the CC included in the lot are not included on the download file. I’ve compiled a list for those interested in downloading them separately (please click the links above or go to WCIF Navigation page) but those are not required and will be automatically replaced in the game. Any expansion packs with build items listed in the Details section above may be required for this lot to show up in your game. This clinic has been such a fun build to put together and I hope you all enjoy the build. This lot has been play-tested and let me know if you experience any problems on your end!

TSR Tutorial - Create Custom Paintings Sims Wiki - Poly Counts for Creators TSR Workshop Simlish Deja Vu font by gazifu Pixabay

[simsionic]

Updated Resource List: UI Edition (Updated 11/10/24)

This is all the mods in my downloads folder that changes the game UI and makes it look better on modern display, removes annoyances etc. My old resource list only listed 3 which have since been replaced.

I play on a 2k monitor with the game set to 1080p with the default UI because I like the nostalgic look.

If you use cleanUI by @greatcheesecakepersona, then many of the widescreen fixes are already included! Many of these also have an alternative version made for cleanUI.

Loading screen replacement:

UC loading screen by @eddysims replace the Fun With Pets logo and removes idle M&G sims on select menu (I use an older version to match the Super Collection for mac, but have combined with this to remove the idle sims).

UC startup strings by @simsllama replace the M&G text strings while loading to fit Ultimate Collection.

M&G to UC program name replacement (MTS) changes the program name to say Ultimate Collection on taskbar, when closing the game and in credits. I use the old original Sims 2 icon in start menu.

More UI mods below my loading screen.

Removed or disabled buttons:

No delete button in Sim Bin by Chris Hatch avoid accidentially deleting a family in the neighborhood.

No delete button in Buy/Build mode by Chris Hatch. I prefer to delete cc in the downloads folder instead.

Edited No useless town buttons by ePSYlord. Removes the AL, FT and Pets buttons from upper select menu in hood view. It also disables Custom Content Browser button to the old sims2 webpage, the camera and video buttons which I never use but always accidentially click.

Removed Auto Login button by ePSYlord. Removes the redundant option in settings.

No delete button in CAS, edited More Columns in CAS by ePSYlord. This is an edit of Chris Hatch's ui mod (cas300Extra) that adds the columns while also removing delete button from all categories. I had difficulty getting it to work for me, but managed after changing load order and removing specific cc hairs.

Remove hood popup dialog box reoploaded on MATY. No more nagging to add subhoods when entering a neighborhood.

Visual annoyances begone:

No CC icon in CAS (MTS) hides the star on custom content.

No pause frame by @simnopke removes the red frame from live, buy and build mode.

Add store icon to CAS by @jawusa. Restore the TS2 Store Edition icon on store content which can all be found here.

Widescreen fixes:

Wider change appearance by Chris Hatch.

Wider buy/plan outfits by Chris Hatch.

Wider family tree by SixAM!

Wider design tool by @lamare-sims.

Wider collections by Chris Hatch.

Menu fixes or addons:

Subhood selection by Mootilda changes menu from big button to list of selections instead. Useful if playing with multiple subhoods.

Select your cemetery (MTS) adds dialog box to move tombstones if all sims on a lot die.

Baby Last Name Chooser by @midgethetree adds dialog box to choose a baby's last name when born.

Marriage Last Name Chooser (MTS) adds dialog box to choose last name after sims gets married.

Misc. UI changes:

Clearer need bars by simnopke. It just looks nicer.

Season icons in color (MTS). Replace the blue with colorful icons.

LTW icons fixed by Lamare. Resizes the Life Time Wants icons to be consistent.

I think that was everything concerning the user interface in my game. A lot more than anticipated and most added in the last year or so. My game looks so nice now!

If you have other UI mods or dialog box addons that isn't on the list, then please leave a suggestion for me 🥰

[eriace]

almost ; chigiri hyoma

oneshot & angst ↪ in which reader breaks up with chigiri because of his ambiguous closeness with kunigami, and soon after, she leaves for the uk on a scholarship. but when kunigami returns from the wild card program colder and unrecognizable, chigiri begins to realize what he truly lost—and who he might still want to win back. ↷ chigiri hyoma ; blue lock

↳ an order of iced water from @sailorstar9 in the comeback cafe event !

THERE WAS A silence in Blue Lock that couldn’t be trained out of someone.

Chigiri Hyoma noticed it most in the quiet—when everyone else had gone to bed and the dorm lights hummed low. It wasn’t just the absence of sound that bothered him. It was the space that used to be filled by someone else.

Specifically, her.

The girl who once curled into his side during those rare movie nights. The girl who always stole his hoodies, complained about the cafeteria miso, and kissed his cheek before a match like it was second nature.

Now she was across the world. Gone.

The silence she left behind was deafening.

He still remembered the breakup. Clearer than he wanted to.

There weren’t any raised voices. No door slams. Just her—standing in his room, arms wrapped around herself like she needed to hold her heart in place.

“I don’t think I can keep pretending I’m okay with being second.”

To what? To Blue Lock? To his dream?

Or… to Kunigami?

He hadn’t answered fast enough. Hadn’t even known what to say. Because maybe—just maybe—he had been stringing her along without meaning to.

His connection with Kunigami had always been complicated. They were teammates, rivals, close in a way only fellow warriors could be. But there had been moments—ambiguous ones—where the line blurred.

And maybe she’d seen what he couldn’t admit.

Two weeks later, she was gone. Accepted that scholarship to the UK she'd mentioned once in passing, eyes bright with possibility. He didn’t stop her. Didn’t even ask her to stay.

And maybe that was the worst part.

Now, Kunigami was back from the Wild Card selection. But he was a ghost of himself. The fire in his eyes was gone, replaced with something colder. Mechanical. Like a version of him who’d survived the crucible, but lost the warmth in the process.

Chigiri watched him during scrimmages. They played like strangers now. No jokes, no passing glances. Just the hollow echo of something that used to be meaningful.

And for the first time, Chigiri wondered—

Had he fought for the wrong thing?

He sat alone on the edge of the pitch after training, phone in hand, screen glowing with a message he'd typed and deleted a dozen times. The cursor blinked like a dare.

hey. how’s london? it’s not the same here without you. kunigami came back, but he’s... different. like a version of himself that forgot how to smile. i think i finally get it now. what i lost. what i made you feel. i’m sorry. if you ever want to talk—about soccer, or dumb stuff, or maybe even... us—i’m here. always was. just didn’t say it when it mattered. – hyoma

He stared at the message for a long time.

And then he hit send.

It wasn’t a grand gesture. It wasn’t some dramatic airport confession or a sweeping romance.

But it was something.

A start.

A chance to say the words he never did.

© eriace ;; don’t repost my works.

[otp-after-dark]

The more distance I get from the THT show, the clearer it becomes: The show had gold in its hands and chose to water it down with moral lessons, muddled messaging, and motherhood melodrama.

The more I sit with Atwood’s original text — the more glaring it becomes: the writers (and most of the cast, not including Max Minghella) never truly understood what this story was about. Season 1 got it. After that, they got scared of it. They chose a political message over the truth.

Nick was never meant to be some ambiguous red flag. He was a double cop. A man surviving within the system to help dismantle it. Loyal to a fault? Maybe. But always aligned with the right side. Not a Commander. Not a cautionary tale for women. The show’s later seasons twisted his character into something unrecognizable — all in service of delivering a warped “feminist” message about distrusting disillusioned men. And in doing so, they erased the central truth: he was redeemed and transformed through love. Period.

I read a few fan fics over the weekend set in the post-4x10 world, and my favorites all remembered what the show forgot. They lean into the heart of it — Nick and June as partners in revolution. Equals. Still messy and complicated, but fully seen. They let June be brave and fearless again — not perfect, but raw and real. Someone who fights not just against the world, but for something: love, connection, freedom. It reminded me of who she used to be. Who Offred was. It’s a shame the writers let that version of her slip away.

But the betrayal goes even deeper than that. Around Season 2, they started to shift the focus from womanhood to motherhood. And no, they’re not the same as I've continued to yell. Suddenly, June’s every choice was framed through the lens of being a mother. Hannah became the motivator, the obsession, to the point where June’s identity outside of that role was flattened. It wasn't about sexual awakening anymore. Or desire. Or resistance through love. It was about sacrifice, obligation, and pain.

Characters like Eden and Rose didn’t exist to explore anything meaningful — they were plot devices designed to create friction, to keep June and Nick apart, to dilute the love story because God forbid a woman be driven by passion instead of duty. The message became clear: being a mother was noble, being a lover was selfish. And that’s a complete betrayal of Atwood’s thesis. I resent it completely.

Even when the show was compelling (and yes, I still think Season 2 had brilliance in it), it was already drifting. The boldness of Offred was being replaced by the martyrdom of June. The sensuality, the rebellion, the humanity — traded out for pain and politics.

Because ultimately, that’s what they cared about: delivering a political message. Not telling a story. Not honoring the raw, intimate, dangerously beautiful thing Atwood actually wrote. No — they wanted a thesis about fascism, about warning signs, about women’s pain as spectacle. And in doing so, they flattened everything that made the original narrative alive. They stopped trusting the audience to sit in complexity and chose instead to preach.

The love story? Too inconvenient. The desire? Too messy. The moral ambiguity? Too risky. So they sanitized it. Made June a symbol. Made Nick a question mark. Made the whole story about lessons instead of people.

This was never just a story about fascism or women's rights. I couldn't disagree more with anti folks saying that. Yes, those things are present — undeniably and importantly. Gilead is a dystopia built on patriarchal control. There’s no denying the show wanted to scream this could happen and pay attention. But reducing The Handmaid’s Tale to just a cautionary tale about political extremism completely misses the deeper current running through it. It wasn’t written as a warning manual. It was a character study. A psychological exploration. A meditation on intimacy, survival, and the war between outer control and inner freedom. To center only the politics is to strip the story of its emotional soul.

It was a story about desire. Love as resistance. Sex as survival. Not just romantic desire — though that, too — but the kind of hunger that lives in your skin. The longing for touch, for freedom, for selfhood. For danger. For someone who sees you when the whole world erases you. It was about love as rebellion. About how passion can crack open even the most totalitarian systems. About how claiming your own body — and your own heart — is the most radical act of all. That’s what Offred understood. That’s what Nick represented. That’s what made their story more than a romance — it made it the point. The engine. The core.

Let’s be honest — I got none of my Season 6 wishes. But the one thing I wanted more than anything was just one moment of emotional honesty from June. A full circle moment where she finally said the real reason she fell in love with Nick. Not out of convenience. Not survival. But because he saw her when she couldn’t see herself. When she thought she was dead inside, he awakened something in her that no man before her ever had or will. He made her feel alive and free to be her true self. He made her his #1, always. And she loved him for it. All I wanted, just once, was for her to own that. To say it out loud. To give him the gift of being seen, chosen, loved back — fully, clearly, with no agenda. Something I do believe the real Offred would have done. The one from the book. The one who knew how dangerous and beautiful it was to want in a world built to destroy you for it. And yeah maybe 6x03 and 6x06 hinted at it but she chickened out in the end when she saw the full cost of it.

Instead of leaning into that — the complexity, the fearlessness, the beauty in the mess — the show backed away. It chose martyrdom over passion. Message over humanity. And in doing so, it lost its pulse. Every great story I’ve ever known — the ones that stick to your bones — has love at the core. This one did too. Until it didn’t.

In the end, I’m left with the feeling that June was the cautionary tale, not Nick — not a character to admire, but one to pity. Not someone whose strength you aspire to, but someone you’re warned not to become. And that breaks my heart. Because she was bold once. Daring. Fearless in her desire and relentless in her love. She was complicated and alive and real. A woman worth aspiring to, not warning against.

And now? She’s a symbol. A warning. They traded her fire for a disillusioned feminist lesson — and called it empowerment.

[whateverisbeautiful]

If Jessie had survived No Way Out, how long do you think the relationship with her and Rick would have lasted, or if it would have happened at all. This is assuming both her sons survive. I love Richonne but it always irks that if Jessie had survived, somehow Michonne would have moved onto someone else and it wouldn’t have happened. Would love to know your thoughts!!!

Thanks for wanting to know my thoughts! 💖 If Jessie and her sons had survived NWO, I think whatever was going on with Rick and Jessie would have lasted for exactly 0 days going forward.

I detailed more about why I think that below ⬇️:

I really do believe Rick had come to his senses about Jessie before that arm chop even occurs, and whatever interest that had been there was pretty much gone after he kissed her. It was like after that kiss, he woke up to the fact that pursuing something romantic with her really wasn’t something that he wanted and wouldn’t be the Lori replacement nor the Running-From-Being-In-Love-With-My-Son’s-Best-Friend fix that he subconsciously thought it’d be.

Rick is a very physically affectionate guy, so when Jessie put her hand on his face in 6.08 and he had zero reaction or warmth back, that was another indicator to me that he knew there were no real feelings there. Everything about that Jessie pursuit stemmed from Rick being in a very rough mental state. Plus, I think in the eps leading up to NWO, Rick was already becoming more aware that Carl and Ron have real issues with each other, and so on top of him no longer being interested in that way, her son having major issues with him and his son really would have him knowing it was never gonna work with their families.

So even if they all survived, I think coming so close to losing ASZ and overcoming that horde in NWO would still have Rick getting reflective about how life is too short to not go after who you really want (Michonne), and so he’d stop the Jessie stuff very quickly. Rick and Jessie's thing was a dead end, and I think Rick was already on his way to knowing that and having a turning point around that time in S6. 

Regarding the last part of the message, I’m a proud member of the Richonne is Inevitable ministry, so I strongly believe Richonne would still happen no matter what. Now, if the writers had forced a Rick and Jessie official coupling (which would be such a wrong move 😖) then it'd be likely that they have Michonne pair up with some other guy (which a version of the TWD TV series where Richonne doesn’t get together feels like the darkest timeline for real lol). But in-show, I don’t think Michonne would even have time to move onto someone new because after the realizations both her and Rick were coming to around that 6.08/6.09 time, I think Rick would be setting his intentions to be with Michonne even clearer and be even more outward with his want for her. And Michonne would be much more cognizant that she sees Rick as much more than a friend. So Richonne would still have gotten together shortly after NWO imo. 👌🏽

[isimchi]

Hi hi! Could you please tell me where the colorful simlish recolor of the 4t2 cork board is from in your town hall lot?

Hi anon! It's another edited piece of cc that I never uploaded: @tony-veis' 4t2 conversion of the base Jobs cork board with new posters! It still uses all the original EA textures for the board itself, all I changed were the posters. It's a default texture replacement, meaning you'll have to choose between having this edited version or the original in your game:

Download Here (SFS) | Alt (MF)

Here's the swatch for a clearer look at what's on the board:

[gl1tchr]

Dano Riddler Is Actually A Very Standard Riddler He's Just Wearing A Freaky Mask

I'm gonna ramble here bc I bug the people of twitter way too much with my rants abt Dano Riddler. He is SUCH a good Riddler, he's just Handled very differently to others and I think to the average Riddler fan it's so alien to other interpretations, but he's actually. a VERY STANDARD RIDDLER in terms of his behavior. He's extremely self-centered, arrogant, and petulant. Yes he's suffered genuine trauma, but this absolutely doesn't excuse the fact that he's extremely uncharitable to others, does think himself Above everyone else, and doesn't care who he hurts. Other Riddlers have been abused by their own parents, bullied relentlessly in their youth, etc. and we obviously don't excuse their behavior for that, Dano Riddler is actually VERY CLEVER in painting his crusade as a populist revolution. He's a VERY dangerous Riddler because he recognizes that if he can silently concede some power/spotlight to others, he can gain even more attention and acclaim.

Edward is SO self-centered. He hides behind populist language to rally others to support him BECAUSE LIKE EVERY RIDDLER HE CRAVES ATTENTION AND OUTSIDE VALIDATION. He'll just never admit that. He'll paint this as rallying his troops, speaking for the people, but it's not. It's the exact same reason Riddler does the things he does in every other version - he wants people to SEE him. "Now they'll remember ME - they'll remember BOTH OF US". Your homework is rewatching the "Hey Guys" video but replacing all of his populist verbiage with I, Me, My, etc. instead of We, Us, etc.

"Oh but he puts himself down so often, how can he be arrogant" have you EVER met one of those really obnoxious guys who clearly thinks of himself as some amazing, wonderful dude and he's constantly like "ah I'm just lame, I'm a loser". It's that. His Actual perception of himself is someone who sees past all the "bullshit", and just because he genuinely did uncover corruption of Gotham, this doesn't make him some paragon of truth. He just happened to be in the right field of work to catch the funneling of funds through Renewal.

He also reminds me a LOT of Arkham Riddler the way he blows up on people. When he fusses at Colson for speaking over him, I was getting major Arkham Ed vibes. He stamps his feet and demands the game be played HIS way. Yes most of his breakdowns in the movie and comic are due to his trauma, but I also think a handful of them stem from him just being kind of immature. Specifically the Colson one, and the interrogation scene. I think those two specifically were not breakdowns, they were tantrums because things weren't going his way.

Dano Riddler gets a lot of guff for being a "sympathetically written" Riddler. He really isn't, people just find Paul Dano's performance very fun and he is - as we can all admit bc we are big boys and girls - very cute. But if he were maybe more off-putting, I think it would be clearer that he's actually a VERY standard Riddler, just in very unfamiliar packaging. And I think his evolution over the series is going to reveal more of his mean, bad natured behavior.

ramble over like and subscribe

[anoneyemoose]

This is a clearer version of the previous post:

I don't know who in the community needs to hear this, but don't refer to humans as apes! (No, "monkeys" is not ok either!)

"Humans are taxonomically great apes, so technically--"

This post is not about human taxonomy

"I don't mean it in a racist way!"

Ok but I need you to understand that it still very much is though. Don't say that shit. It happens in this community way too often.

So why is this being brought up? Because it is very, frustratingly common for those who identify as nonhuman to refer to humans as "apes" or "monkeys" in a derogatory manner. For some people, they consider themselves distanced enough from humanity that this suddenly becomes an ok thing to say, and it is not. Even in a non-derogatory sense, that does not erase that it's still, well, quite racist.

"What should I use instead then?"

Human. That's all. You don't need special vocabulary to replace "apes" and "monkeys" with when talking about humans. Just say human.

And "that's racist" is a scary phrase for a lot of people and tends to send them into defense mode, rejecting the possibility of ever saying anything racially insensitive. "It's not racist because I'm not trying to be racist" is not how racism works. You have to catch yourself. Because while we hate to say it, the alterhuman community can be quite racist (and appropriative, but that's a different discussion), and the reason people of color tend to be so uncomfortable in the community and avoid interaction is because whenever we speak up about these issues there is a sudden pushback.

If you are lucky enough to not have seen it then that is fantastic, but it can mean one of two things:

You were lucky

You just weren't able to recognize them

Neither of these things immediately makes you a bad person, but what you need to do in any case is listen and understand that this is a very real thing that many have to deal with regularly.

[googleitlol]

Okay, so really interested in the False Hero AU, but... with the events that go down in the show, Macaque's version of events really isn't sustainable.

It's probably sheer luck that the Buddha didn't call him out at the end of the journey. But eventually, the truth is going to get out, whether Nezha asks WTF Macaque is or the Camel Ridge Trio call Macaque out or even Lady Bone Demon.

How is Macaque going to react when the truth gets out? How is MK going to react when he learns that he's doomed to inherit a false legacy?

I should have made it clearer in the summary, but Macaque didn't just go around saying one thing was true. He acted as Wukong for a little while, the pilgrims never complete the journey in this au because Macaque replaces him and doesn't exactly care all that much if the pilgrims die. When he goes back to being himself and begins to enjoy being the 'hero', he enacts his big battle with a clone (we all know how dramatic he can be).

As for people calling him out, nobody knows that Wukong got sealed away and replaced, just that Macaque beat him after he went off on a rampage when the pilgrimage failed. The only person that could tell the two apart when Macaque was impersonating Wukong in the book was The Buddha himself, and unless he gets called on or something worse than the world-ending stuff in the show happens, I don't see him interfering with all of this. Hell, Macaque is even helping people now. There might be some that argue he was doing a better job than Wukong ever could!

As for what Macaque would do if the truth got out? His first step would be damage control. Someone is saying that he's a liar? Well, he'll just have to sit down and chat with this person to iron out any 'misunderstandings' between them. What's being said about Wukong being a hero? Those are just rumours. Besides, look at all the things he's done to help the world! How could anyone think he wasn't telling the truth?

Macaque will fight with every tooth and nail he has to ensure his version of events is the real one. Deep down, it's how he sees it all, anyway. Wukong is the one who betrayed him. He's the one that pushed for more sources of power and immortality, he picked a fight with heaven. It was Wukong who left him for those pilgrims and stupid journey! Once his little 'show' on the journey was over, he was the one that decided to become the world's protector.

If the world he fought so hard to mold and protect ever turned against him? He might just snap.

As for MK… hoo, there'd be so many emotions if the truth ever got out. MK looks up to Macaque in the same way he does to Wukong in the show, that's his hero, his idol! If you tried to straight up tell him Macaque has been lying, he just wouldn't believe you. There'd be tons of denial unless he could see proof himself of the truth. Even then he can't believe it. The person he's spent his whole life looking up to isn't who he thought he was?? How can that be true?! And if MK's mentor isn't the person he thought he was… what does that make him?

"This isn't true, right? Monkey King? You saved the world from Sun Wukong, right?" "…"

The tension between him and Macaque would be palpable. The world turning on him would be one thing, but MK? The people lining his home in those photos? He cares more about them than anything, they're his family– MK is his family!

If he lost them all… there would be nobody else to blame but Wukong.

[ganondoodle]

it may not look like it but this took a long time to make

heres a rough ability breakdown for the totk rewrite project (i know its hard to read in the pic so let me clear it up and add some extra info)

theres two ability wheels now, sages are not frame rate killing glitch ghosts around you but their abilities are selected through the wheel on the right (pic is rough concept, it is clearer what is selected and what isnt + it has names in final version, symbols are placeholders as well) and bound to the player, when you acitvate it an aura appears similar to the arm abilities and their ghostly form appears besides you, charging or firing when you hit A while the ability is active

SHIEKAH ARM WHEEL

ANALYZE: zelda tells you info about targeted enemy/NPC, it gives you info about it and informs you more dynamically about important things than the foto-entries do

FOTO its fotos :) zelda joins selfies tho and does silly poses with you

REWIND: functions like the time recall in canon, but this time it is a more developed version of stasis instead

AMIIBO: its ... amiibo

HOOKSHOT: grab onto anything (perhaps restricted but not yet decided), you pull yourself+zelda to heavy stuff, light weight objects are pulled to you (including light enemies like bats or small slimes) grab onto something and hold onto it, usable like a vine (think, ww grappling hook) but with limited duration (battery power?)

AUTOBUILD: like in canon but it uses luminous stones if material isnt all there (or other material you put out to so its more versatile and you are more aware of what you have, no accidental spending then)

BUILD: similar to canon, but no glue (it kinda just fuses with no extra graphic unless pehaps like a bolt or sth), you put stuff together anyway you want; build is also used for weapons (no extra ability needed), you just build a weapon on the ground and pick it up afterwards (it has to be a weapon handle part and then sth else to it, otherwise it wont turn into a weapon)

INFUSE: infuse somethign with ancient energy, useless on normal objects usually(?) but reactivates broken or deactivated tech like elevators and doors; used to dynamically access caves and especially labs (labs serve a similar function as shrines, they are old shiekah labs that broke over time, puzzles are diverse things like traversal and little quests in which you help the researcher ghosts of the people that died in these labs (by the calamity, earthquakes, accidents, or killed by the royal army when their tech was banned and they refused to give it up)

SAGE WHEEL:

WIND GUST: same as in canon

LIGHT SHIELD/LIGHT LASER: zelda uses a shield of light to protect herself in combat, it does not affect the player (or perhaps only when you happen to be within range, which is small, this is more a character thing for her than useful for you) for the player through the selection wheel; aim and tell her to shoot a light laser like rauru did in the moldora cutscene in canon totk (a bit more dynamic) it deals very high damage to anything hit but has the highest cooldown of all abilities; deals extra damage to miasma enemies

THUNDERSTRIKE: similar as in canon, it charges through you however (so the charging only gets stopped if YOU shoot an arrow or get hit)

FIRE .. BOOM THING: similar as in canon but yuno has a little animation of daruks shield around him again :)

YIGA TELEPORT/KOGA CLONES (undecided yet): A: target a location in range and koga grabs you like a naughty kitten and teleports you both to the targetted location, you spawn in a little above ground giving you time to either perform a bullet time move or a sword attack from above B: summons a bunch of koga clones that serve as a distraction for enemies and combat support, they die in one hit (reference to kogas and monk moz kyoshias similar moveset; since there are no sage ghosts around you all the time and a max of two companions (zelda always, sage in sage dungeon) it serves as a replacment for that)

WATER ...WELL(?): sidon gives you a shield of water, elemental effect is applied to weapon and lasts as long as the shield does no matter how many times you attack; if it is hit by an enemy it breaks but you dont take damage; if the shield lasts it entire duration without getting hit it it grants you a percentage of your missing health back upon dissolving (ref to mipha healing powers anyone??)

im open to constructive feedback but overall im quite happy of makign it work out like that, although there are quite a few things that need polish i think this is both realistic and works well with what else i have been writing; remember tho, this is my rewrite so im undoing the things i dont like, like riju never being there when you need her bc she runs right up to the enemy and her losing her charge bc she keeps getting knocked over + overall uselessness of minerus robot (to me)

(totk rewritten project)

[sombersummerskies]

A Sage's Regret: Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Crystal Clarity

Word Count: 4006

CW: None

Want all the chapters? -> Masterlist

~~~ <> ~~~

An exasperated sigh escapes you as you stare down at the blade in your hands. It was a weapon you’d fashioned using the horn of a slain Black Lizalfos, fused to a damaged sword you’d picked up some time ago. You had just finished sharpening it- rather, you’d sharpened it about four times as you let your mind wander. It would be a fine weapon, for now, until it inevitably broke. A decent sword, but nothing could compare to the one you had lost so many weeks ago.

You had been able to silence your racing thoughts ever since leaving Zora’s Domain. In your head, you kept a mental tally of the facts: you had lost your arm and it had been replaced by the arm of the Ancient king Rauru. The mummified figure you had found beneath Hyrule Castle was the Demon King and he was now awake after a long imprisonment. Zelda had disappeared after receiving a secret stone. Secret stones were objects that gave the bearer great power. The princess had appeared in the past as well as in the present, though you only saw her from a distance.

The most recent fact of your life was that you now had a… companion.

Prince Sidon’s avatar.

“No, that’s wrong,” you mumble as you sheath your sword, “he’s not the prince anymore. He’s a king now.”

Though you hadn’t stuck around for the coronation, you knew this to be a fact. Not only because you fled moments before the announcement, but also because when you summoned the Zora’s avatar you could see that the silent, blue figure now had a crown atop his head as well. It seemed that the vow from the sage would update in real time.

Currently, you are sitting on the field of a small sky island. Frequently, you had taken to returning to the sky, as the crisp air helped you calm down and think clearer. The added benefit is that no one else in Hyrule could bother you when you were up so high above the clouds. The privacy was a welcome addition to your life.

You weren’t entirely alone, however. Standing a few feet away was Sidon’s avatar. He was silent, almost unnervingly so. The real Sidon was nearly never so quiet, and to have a version of him that could not speak felt uncanny. His vacant eyes glowed dimly as he stared off into the distance, though you knew that he was constantly alert despite seeming so calm. He had already proven useful to you, helping you fend off a camp of monsters that had caught you off guard.

Setting the sword aside, you huff out a breath of air as you turn your head to face the copy of the sage. “I wonder,” you mumble, running your fingers along the blades of grass, “can you even hear me?”

Almost immediately, the avatar’s head turns to find your voice. He gazes down at you, though he is still silent and unwavering in his stance.

“Maybe I should reword that,” you sigh, “I know you can hear me. Can you understand me, though? Are you processing any of this? Or are you simply sort of… autopiloting?”

He tilts his head to the side. Still, there is no response.

You feel disappointed, though you’re unsure what you were expecting- or, perhaps, what you were hoping for. At least, that’s what you want to convince yourself of. Deep down, you knew that it would have been perfectly convenient to have another version of Sidon. One for yourself, a walking, talking, living, and breathing copy that was just like the Zora you loved. It was an incredibly selfish thought, one that you knew better than to cling to. Still, it wasn’t going to help you soothe your aching heart.

“Forget it,” you groan, pushing yourself up off of the ground and collecting your belongings, “there’s no point. You’re not a person, you’re a- a- a weapon. A vow. A promise made, I suppose. But that’s it. You’re not him.”

You want to delude yourself into imagining that you can see a hint of emotion on the avatar’s face. A pout of the lips, or a furrowed brow, or a downtrodden expression. It doesn’t happen, but maybe if you stare hard enough, you can convince yourself that it’s the case.

“We should get moving,” you mutter, mostly to yourself but loud enough for the avatar to hear you as well, “I think we’re going to the Gerudo Desert next. The sandstorm looks far too big not to be causing issues.”

You secure your weaponry and sling your travel pack over your shoulder- newly restocked with elixirs and enough food for a few day’s worth of meals- with how much chaos the land had been thrown into due to the Upheaval, you were never too sure when was the next time you would have access to a stable or settlement. Standing at the cliff’s edge, you gaze down below, charting your next route that would take you to the south of Hyrule.

For just a moment, you let your eyes flicker to the side, though. It was impossible not to allow your gaze to wander back to Zora’s Domain. As you prepare to leap off the edge, you can’t help but wonder.

‘How is Sidon feeling after his coronation?’

…

The council’s meeting room was in complete and utter turmoil. Various voices were shouting over one another as scrolls and pieces of parchment were scattered across the table as the elders desperately attempted to search through the palace’s archives. In spite of how chaotic the room was, there was a smile on King Sidon’s face.

He had completely subverted the rules. Gone against tradition, gone against the elders, and gone against even his own worries. And it was all for you.

“This is completely outrageous!” shouts a councilman from across the room, “you cannot ascend to the throne without a queen- you cannot undo the terms of your engagement!”

Lady Yona, who was sitting calmly at the table with an equally relaxed smile, simply tilted her head in response. “Oh, but he can,” she responds, picking up one of the scrolls and unrolling it in her hands, “there is nothing in the historical texts that states otherwise. There is no previous precedent that goes against him. The ascension to the throne with a spouse was a mere tradition, and there are no binding rulings in its favor. And, he is the king now; the law of the land is his to decide.”

Sidon and Yona had both been sure to thoroughly pour over the texts in the archive before making this decision. In Sidon’s favor was the fact that he had been forced to read through the broad amounts of literature many times over in the past at the request of the council. All of that reading had done him good, as now he was equipped with all of the knowledge to back up his last-minute change to the coronation proceedings.

On the king’s other side was Muzu, and the elder could do no more than let out an exasperated sigh at the scene unfolding before him. “You know, this will have all of them in an uproar for the next month, at least,” Muzu chuckles dryly, “but, I will say, I am proud to see you stand firm in your beliefs.”

Sidon feels his heart swell at this. His mind had been set, he knew what he would have to do to ensure that he wouldn’t lose you. But he had been incredibly worried about losing his family in the process. Would his brash decision to circumvent the traditions of the royal Zoras cause him to sever his ties? But thus far, seemingly, it had caused no damage. He hoped that he could maintain it that way.

Deciding that enough was enough, though, the king stands up at the table. Once he does so, a hush seems to fall over the room, with all the bickering council members ceasing their arguments so that they could turn to face him. The majority of them seemed displeased, but they would still have to follow the protocol and listen to what it was that Sidon had to say.

“I know that many of you are unhappy with me,” he starts out, keeping an even tone, “and I know that it may take some time to come to terms with the choice that I’ve made. But my decision is final. I have read through our historical archives a multitude of times. I know them like I know the scales on my own hands. There is nothing in our domain’s past that states I cannot ascend to the throne on my lonesome.”

A voice shouts across the room, “but it is tradition!”

“Tradition is nothing more than a recommendation,” Sidon retorts, a statement which draws a wave of hushed whispers. “There are no laws, no decrees, and no rulings that say I must have a spouse when I ascend to the throne. So, for the time being, I will be unwed. Consider this my announcement that the engagement between Lady Yona and myself is, henceforth, called off.”

This causes yet another small uproar, which Sidon raises a hand to silence.

“With Yona taking up the mantle as head of the council, I trust that she will be treated with the utmost respect and regard by all of you. Her assistance to us will be critical; not only does she have insight to offer, but having her here will help us maintain one of our most critical alliances,” the king continues to explain, warmly smiling at the Zora beside him.

Lady Yona speaks up, stepping up to the table, “I am thrilled to take on this responsibility and begin working with all of you. Zora’s Domain is my home now, and I feel so blessed as to have been accepted with open arms. It is my hope to continue forging a path forward into peace and prosperity so that this domain may continue to shine as brightly as it always has.”

A small wave of murmurings floods across the room once more, though this time, they are more positive. Sidon brings an end to the meeting, bringing attention to how late it is. Once all the council members file out of the room, he lets out a deep, exhausted sigh.

“Tired?” Yona asks with a small laugh.

“Very,” Sidon replies simply, walking beside her as the pair leave the meeting room.

“I think you did quite well,” she murmurs, keeping her voice low as they walk through the halls of the palace, “they’ll come to terms with it eventually. It’s shocking, but all change is.”

“I’m glad you think so,” he chuckles, “I do not regret my decision by any means, but it has filled me with quite a bit of anxiety. To know that you and others support me, though, is a great help.”

Yona grins, clasping her hands together, “I do hope you know that I’m quite proud of you! You’ve followed your heart, and that is something I do not think anyone can blame you for. What’s important now is that you continue to follow your heart, wherever it may take you.”

“Meaning?” Sidon asks, his pace slowing as they approach the bedchambers.

“You know very well what I mean,” Yona laughs, casting him a sideways glance, “after all, is there not a swordswoman who may want to know about the availability of the king?”

He feels his face flush as he smiles bashfully. But his dear friend did have a point. He had done this for you- but when would you learn about subversion at the coronation? He had no way of easily contacting you during your travels, and he knew not when you would next arrive in the domain. Would you learn from a newspaper? From the gossip of a stranger? Or would he be able to confess the news on his own someday?

“You’re quite right,” he nods, “and I will be sure to follow through with that. In terms of the engagement, however, won’t your father be upset with you? The deal has effectively been called off.”

“The next time that I see him, I shall convince my father of the value of my position as chief advisor,” Yona responds with a confident look, “I see no reason why our allyship cannot persist with me as chief advisor compared to being the queen consort. If he cannot see that I am perfectly suited for this role, then he is a fool.”

Sidon’s eyes widen, though he laughs all the same, “bold words, my friend. It is getting quite late, though, and I need not want to keep you up late at night with my worries. I will see you tomorrow, Lady Yona.”

She bows her head in response, “rest well, King Sidon.”

He laughs at the sound of his new title. It was going to take some getting used to. Once inside his bedchambers, he allows himself to finally, after a rather long day, decompress. A deep sigh escapes him as he removes the crown from his head, holding it delicately in his hands before he sets it down atop his desk.

One day down, though a lifetime as king awaited him in the future.

As he readies himself for sleep, he feels an unfamiliar tug in the back of his mind- and it confuses him greatly at first. Quickly, though, he reasons that this was an effect of the vow he had made to you. Seemingly, if you were to summon his avatar, he could feel that action from a distance.

This brought a smile to his face, knowing that even when he was in the domain, he could be of help to you. Protecting you. You dedicated so much of yourself to protecting Hyrule, he wanted to ensure that there was someone looking out for you.

He could only hope that wherever you were, you were safe. And that someday, hopefully soon, he could have you in his arms again. That he would be able to call you his once more.

…

“Alllllll I need to do is get my fingers on a Bubbul gem, then I’m sure to turn into a Satori! And the rumors are true, there are creatures in these caves called Bubbulfrogs, and they glow just like a Satori. Gaaaw, but I didn’t think they would be up sooo high on the walls or run about all nimbly-bimbly like that.”

Standing before you was an odd-looking Hylian- though not unlike one you had met before. Koltin was his name, the little brother to Kilton who you had befriended years ago. Similarly to his sibling, Koltin had an odd obsession. Where Kilton was fixated on all things monster-related, Koltin had his mind set on a creature called the Satori- so much so that he had dressed himself to look like one, with glowing face paint and antennae.

“You’re Kilton’s little brother, yeah?” you ask once he finished his spiel, standing before him and his stand with you arms crossed, “I’m interested in helping. But why a Satori?”

“It’s simple, really,” he replies, in a simple tone as if this were all obvious, “I dream of becoming a Satori! You know… the creature of myth! Piercing eyes… blueish-white fur… oooh, how I’ve admired them since I was a wee Koltin! And then I read these ancient texts and they told me how to transform myself- transform me, Koltin- into a Satori!”

You raise a brow at this. The idea of transforming one’s own body was taboo. It was something that you had only read about in fictional texts from the past, and it was a concept that was severely frowned upon. To change one’s own body is to forsake one’s self- but it was something you occasionally found yourself pondering. It has lingered in your mind ever since the day that Kilton had secretly explained the Zora mask to you.

“Well, if it’s caving you need I can do that no problem. I can probably track down some Bubbulfrogs,” you reply, thinking about the various caverns you’d explored ever since the Upheaval, “in fact… I’ve probably found one or two already.”

“If you get hold of a Bubbul gem, pleeeease give it to me! I’ll give you a treasure in trade, I swear,” he pleads, clasping his hands together and grinning- something which lets him bare his sharpened teeth.

You take a moment to dig through your satchel, sorting through the various valuable gems you had collected while traversing the land. Mostly, you had been hoarding quite a few gemstones that you planned to sell in Gerudo Town for a profit, knowing well that the jeweler there would always give you the best prices for any precious minerals you managed to collect. Hidden among the pile of topaz and rubies, however, was a glowing, pale blue gem about the size of your palm. You’d acquired it in a cave after shooting an arrow at what you now knew was a Bubbulfrog (at the time, you assumed it to be a new enemy).

“This is one, right?” you ask, handing the crystal over to him, “I got it from a frog in a cave not too long ago.”

“Th- th- th- that’s a Bubbul gem!” he exclaims, stammering over his words in excitement as he quickly snatched the gem out of your grasp, “that perfect shape, and the faint blue glow… it’s a real Bubbul gem! Real as can be! Now I can transform into a Satori just like the ones I adore! Thank you so very much! Please, take this gifty in return!”

From his cart of goods, he produces a mask that resembles a Bokoblin. You quickly recognize it as being one of the monster masks that his brother Kilton had sewn and created. You chuckle softly as it’s handed over to you, idly playing with the floppy ears atop the cap.

“We’ve collected all sorts of monstrous treasures- that is, monster parts and goods that make you look like a monster,” he explains, though he keeps his eyes trained on the crystal in his hands, “but at last! The time has come- time to gobble down the Bubbul gem! Cheers, and bottoms up.”

He chomps down on the rock, a clacking sound ringing out through the air that makes you flinch in discomfort. He breaks the gem into smaller pieces before swallowing, an action which seems as though it takes a substantial amount of effort (you don’t imagine that crystal matter goes down the gullet easily). After eating, he looks down at his body, searching for any sort of difference in his form. “Gwah? My body isn’t changing… but I do feel a strange sensation washing over me,” he says, mostly speaking to himself, “it can only mean one thing… I’m on the way to becoming a Satori! And that means more Bubbul gems! I need more of them!”

You slowly nod, a plan formulating in your mind as your eyes glance up to look at all of the goods he had in stock. “I can find more for you, of course. I have one thing to request in return,” you reply, quickly drawing his attention back to you, “your older brother once told me about a set of masks in his possession; I can only assume you have access to these too. Not these monster masks. They’re masks that can change a person’s body.”

Immediately, you see the way Koltin’s expression falters. He seems to grow nervous, anxiously clasping his hands together as he averts his gaze. “Oh…” he mumbles, “those masks.”

“Yes,” you reply simply. You knew it wasn’t right, but if he was going to ask favors of you, then you knew you wanted something in return. Kilton would never lend one of these seemingly forbidden masks to you, but perhaps his little brother would be more malleable. “The Zora mask. How many Bubbul gems do I need to get for you to trade it to me?”

He grumbles quietly, and you can hear the barely audible whispers as he seems to do the calculations. You could tell that he was weighing his options- he knew that his brother wouldn’t approve of the Zora mask being given to you. But he was desperate for the Bubbul gems at the same time. He eyes you warily before making his decision, “at least fifty. Based on the minimal effects, I suspect this is how much I will need.”

This pulls a small hum out of you. Fifty individual caves and fifty individual Bubbulfrogs would be no easy feat. But to satiate your curiosity and learn more about this mysterious mask, you’d do it. “Deal,” you retort, “I’ll keep an eye out for you as I travel. Have a nice night, Kilton.”

As you walk away from the Hylian, continuing down the road to the next stable, a sense of guilt gnaws at the back of your mind. You knew that this was a fool’s venture, surely the story behind the mask couldn’t be true. And yet you felt so drawn to it, inexplicably so. If the story was true, if this was a mask that could turn you into a Zora- what would you even do? Stroll into Zora’s Domain and collapse into Sidon’s arms-

“He’s married, for Hylia’s sake,” you groan, chastising yourself as you drag your feet along the path.

It was too good to be true, and that’s what you would attempt to convince yourself of. But you knew very well that it was a cause you would continue to chase. At the very least, you knew you wouldn’t let this distract you from your real goal.

You needed to find Princess Zelda. Something was off, you could feel it in your gut. Between seeing her floating at the castle and then being told that she had attacked Dorephan- you knew something was wrong.

Even if you had to scour all of Hyrule, you would find her.

…

Your rupees clink softly as you set down a handful on the table.

“I hope you rest well tonight, champion. With this sandstorm, we’ve had very few travelers this far into the canyon. All our beds are vacant- save for one, the leftmost bed is occupied by the blonde gentleman.”

“Thanks, Piaffe,” you reply, giving the stablehand a nod before entering the building. Having four walls around you would be a pleasant respite from the gritty wind outside. You hadn’t even entered the true desert yet, and there was so much sand in the air that you had to wrap your face in cloth to protect it.

You decided that you would spend one night in a stable before venturing to Gerudo Town. If you had to trek through such a dangerous sandstorm that limited your visibility to mere inches, you wanted to ensure that you were fully rested. As you toss your belongings onto one of the free beds, you glance across the room. True to Piaffe’s word, there was in fact one other traveler who would be spending the night.

‘Who else is crazy enough to come to the desert in a storm like this,’ you wonder, half laughing as you slowly peer over to investigate.

Whoever it was, they were in quite a state. The curtains around the four-poster bed hadn’t been drawn shut, and they seemed to have practically collapsed atop the mattress. You could tell they must have fallen asleep in a hurry, because their armor was still attached and their rusted sword was haphazardly cast aside on the floor. As you walked over, you were able to see his hair- unruly and blonde and splayed out in all directions around him. Then you get a peek of his pointed ears, the small scars on his cheeks, and when you finally see his face, you gasp.

“Link? What are you doing here?”

~~~ <> ~~~

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

[squirrelwrangler]

I always figured the best odds were going to be Leane versus Leane and Siuan versus just Siuan.

Because the plot is tighter if there’s only one character, let alone a show version of said plot. Because in the books- Leane was forgotten and it sucked. And the optics of depowering the Amyrlin and then only letting her be the disregarded advisor to the young replacement, to never regain a position of power and even when she gets her Power back to only be a fraction of it. If Egwene’s actress was white it’d be even more of that specific subservient vibe. You know which one. And it’s a powerlessness Siuan never escapes- she never gets respect again and even Egwene moves on from her halfway through the Rebel Tower plot, new Keeper, no impact in Egwene’s penultimate growth or Last Battle. Long before her rage-inducing because of how stupidly blink-and-miss pointless her death in AMoL is. And I'm saying this as someone who deeply enjoyed Gareth/Siuan- at least the edited version in my head and something written long before a New Spring. Which, show version of those book endgame pairings was never going to happen, thank god.

The role of manipulation in the early days of Salidar to get Egwene her position and help her gain her footing to tug off her puppet strings - that smallness of a role fits Leane. Important, but limited. And only needed as a character for that midpoint. It’s an easier pill to swallow to have a Former Keeper raise a new Amyrlin than it is a former Amyrlin. Who won’t be so odd and dissatisfying to not regain a position of even Sitter. The motivation is so clear: I won’t fail this one like I did my first. This one who has the threat of death so much stronger and clearer now, who the audience will fear for. Leane the Warder now. With her dead Aes Sedai and the single-minded single-character vengeance. Who will probably die in Egwene’s capture instead of not even bothered to clarify/most anticlimactic ending in AMoL.

add: also the Logain and Siuan dynamic in the show was changed and I didn't feel it'd work- but Logain and Leane can team up. Please let them have a bickering enemies-to-lovers arc. Actually that would be the most hilarious and non-tragic Leane Endgame: get my pick elected head of White Tower, then move over to newly formed Black Tower and politic my pick of head of Black Tower.

[invested-in-your-future]

Thinking of character designs, it's interesting that the show feels like it would change them just "because it needs to".

There's this fascinating thing within visual storytelling where character designs can reflect character development and experiences. Sure, most often it's conveyed via the cutting one's hair trope and all that, but it doesn't have to be limited to that.

When I am writing I tend to picture characters in my head and how they look, what they do. And the most important question that pops up in my brain is why.

For example, for me, Ruby's outfit would transform throughout her journey, sure, but why? She left in her usual outfit, so why would she need to replace parts of it? For me, that ties into her recklessness we see at the end of V3 and her growing turmoil inside as she is no longer able to just bottle up all those feelings, locking them behind a smile. So her outfit would get more damaged, and parts of it would change, her cape would become far more torn up than usual, far less neat.

She'd favour practicality, of course, due to her tunnel vision as a method of coping with the newest trauma. Outfit parts that would make traversal easier, fighting more efficient, faster, and so on. Maybe army-style boots, maybe pants instead of skirts, and so on.

Obviously, she'd carry a keepsake, a memento. Maybe she would have one of Penny's swords with her or something? She did grab one of those instinctively in the arena back then, so why not follow that up?

She'd also barely have any time for her hairstyle and so on so obviously it would be a wilder version of her V3 look (something V4 got right for once).

Oh look, suddenly the changes within design become clearer all through characterization and story beats.

The show does do that overall, early on. V1-V3 designs have decent amount of thought put into them.

Ruby's cloak is meant to hide her, which ties into her closed-off nature. It's a shell of red, and Red Like Roses associates red with turmoil, death, and despair in her memories. Thus, she is literally hiding away via her trauma.

Weiss side-ponytail lends to her asymmetry, which not only matches her scar but also epitomizes her rebellion. It signifies that she is not going to be just a proper puppet for her father and that she wants to upend the order governing her family.

Blake's sleek design is tailored for mobility, for easy escape. The hair bow also serves as a necessity to conceal her identity and species. Thus, she is someone who hides and runs away.

Yang's bright, extravagant design is meant to act as a shell for her vulnerability and insecurity. She wears extravagance on her sleeve so people don't have to look inside. It's a polar opposite method of concealment than that of Ruby's.

What's more, the outfits also consist of the characters' colours. Red, White, Black, Yellow. Each design also feels distinct from the others.

So, why would the characters stop wearing what they did and wear something else? What is the story's reason for that?

Why does Ruby suddenly dress like a tavern waitress with an obsession for belts? Why does Weiss suddenly dress all blue and forgo the asymmetric nature of her outfit? Why does Blake and Yang get butt capes? Why do Blake and Yang have nearly identical clothing styles for absolutely no reason? Why do they change outfits again for the Atlas arc?

People claim Yang's purple scarf-thing is significant, and sure, that would make sense had Blake and Yang, by that point, actually gotten their character and relationship development and resolved their issues for that to have meaning. Since they didn't, it's just there.

The best thing you could do as a VERY implausible reach is to tie Yang's shades as something that hides her anger and vulnerability further. And I don't think that's intentional, because Yang's characterization at that point has been flanderized to "Angry Cool Puns Girl" with none of the depth implied in the first three volumes.

It's like the show forgoes the narrative aspect of the design process.

This is how you get the abomination of Weiss' hairstyle in her later designs, or whatever was going on with Justice League crossover designs...

There's just so many decisions that don't have underlying reasons in the latter seasons, and it's fascinating that years latter I keep discovering new ones...