#I think part of this is my friends having trouble seeing nuance or understanding things in terms that arent black and white

[savagewildnerness]

O Earthly Lestat, I see now the trouble I’m going to have with S3 is I may have to defend Nicolas a lot…. And I don’t even know how he’ll be written for TV. But I know he means too much to me, and that’s just that. In a way Nicolas means the most to me. Not that he means more to me than Lestat. But that the elements of Nicolas that I relate to (& importantly as you can never get over this feeling - that I related to as a 12-year-old) I cannot think of any other instance in literature or any other fictional character I could relate to or who so exactly articulated something about me. And so I cannot help but always fight for Nicki 100% (even though I am not like Nicki in all ways.)

I want to CLARIFY! This is not some “Nicolas was Lestat’s actual great love” point of view in ANY WAY! LOUIS, is Lestat’s great love!

But this is: Nicolas loved Lestat. It wasn’t only Lestat who loved Nicki. And Nicolas loving Lestat enabled Lestat to love Louis.

I find it beautiful. YES, Nickistat ended AWFULLY! (And that there was mutual love makes it all the more tragic and beautiful to me!) But I just need to say here…

People acknowledge how much of Louis’ words in IWTV are shaded by his own struggles…. So I can’t understand why so many people seem to take Nicolas’ words in his final argument with Lestat (by which point, with whatever nuance you cut it, Nicolas is as described by EVERYONE as a mad vampire, his mind lost!) as 100% his always-truth!!!?! I just cannot comprehend it!!!?! I’d love if anyone would like to explain how you can see it that way, especially after reading the actual way Nicolas was pre-Paris, in Paris, when Lestat was stolen away… all until the moment he witnesses Lestat be shot. THEN it shifts for Nicki!

I’m also not one for blaming Armand for Nicki’s demise. The tragedy of Nicolas is, Lestat is very responsible for Nicolas’ demise, and simultaneously all Lestat did, he did through love. There are a thousand ways Nicki’s tragic demise is Shakespearean inevitable resonance… and yet…

But yeah, it’s actually primarily because of his music & things around his music that Nicki matters so much to me. But nevertheless, he matters & I shall fight for him!!! Lestat and Nicki's conversation matters deeply to me too, and what Nicki is for Lestat in that conversation. But where I connect with Nicki is in his music and how he feels about his music. I personally connect with Lestat's worldview on the other hand. Although in my personality, I am my self, of course, I also relate to some elements of each of them.

The thing with Nicolas I suppose for me though is there are various aspects of his self I relate to that I have never felt anywhere else except in my own self. Not in fiction & not in anyone I have ever known in reality either. And I guess that’s why I will always fight for him. Also, because most people should understand Lestat - we’re so in his heart & head 💛. But we don’t hear the story from Nicolas’ point of view, yet for me, at times it is like he is absolutely in my own mind & heart or I am in his, or it’s the same thing in some odd way I can’t quite articulate. I feel seen by him, and I see him. I understand some parts of him, reflecting how by existing in fiction, he has understood me.

Back to Nicolas. He kept Lestat’s dressing room at Renaud’s as a literal shrine to Lestat. He fought with his friends over Lestat’s moral integrity after Lestat went missing. Even when Lestat was gone, Nicki was still loving him, fighting for him, staying at Renaud’s, wearing rings Lestat sent him. If he felt as he said in his final argument, why did Nicolas even stay working at Renaud's at all? Why was Nicolas so distressed when Lestat sent him lots of money and gifts but didn't ever contact him?

I just list these things, which are just a few ways we see Nicki's feelings through his concrete actions. Nicolas truly did resent Lestat in the end. Just as Lestat couldn’t stand the sight of vampire Nicolas. But even that doesn’t negate love.

Mortal Nicolas DESPERATELY needed Lestat’s light. Vampire Nicki doesn’t. And I see his cruelty in the final argument (while not being entirely absent of truth) as being partly founded in love…. Nicki knows the dark thing he now is & he knows, even in his addled mind Lestat won’t leave him… and he knows Lestat. He knows Lestat must leave him or he’ll take Lestat to his death with him.

It’s ok that love was once & isn’t eternal. It’s ok that Nicki’s love for Lestat did exist, but turned to hate & yet was never entirely lost. It’s ok that Lestat’s love for Nicki never diminished even though he couldn’t stand the sight of him as a vampire. These things don’t negate love. Hate can be part of love. It’s ok that their worldviews were fundamentally different. It’s ok they were not each other’s eternal loves. There was love. Deep and mutual love.

As I see it, we can accept & enjoy that they BOTH loved each other, and that fact only deepens Loustat.

By which time, Nicolas is long dead.

But I genuinely believe when they were mortal, Nicolas’ love for all of Lestat (even when envying him too! And I don’t think it ever was envy. I don’t think Nicolas ever begrudged Lestat anything. He loved the all of Lestat. He just pitied himself for all that he, Nicolas could never be) meant Lestat could later love the all of Louis so unconditionally, as he had been loved that way before.

It’s an unpopular opinion, I know. But it’s mine. I express it with acknowledgment I can’t be objective about Nicolas. But that doesn’t lessen the strength of my truth!

In all honesty… we are all subjective humans. Can we be objective about any fictional character we have an emotional connection with?

And that’s the crux of it: when you CARE so much, ultimately it’s about whatever truth you need.

Maybe we ought to think on this on all of our favourite characters & imagine how it might apply to others for any character we love less unconditionally ourselves…?

[john-laurens]

is kinloch a good person? if not, why?

The study of historical figures is rarely so black and white. The question "Was this historical figure bad or good?" is not really one I'm interested in answering when I personally study these people - at least not from that exact perspective. I want to understand the influences and motivations behind their actions and the effects their actions had on the world around them. I want to understand how they perceived themselves and how they were perceived by their contemporaries. There is no perfect historical figure. They are all people who likely have done a combination of "good" and "bad" things. How would we decide what makes a person wholly "good" or "bad"? For many, there really isn't a straightforward answer. Painting historical figures with a broad brush erases the nuances of their lives and makes it harder to fully understand their actions and the world they lived in. The complexity of these people is what makes them so interesting to study. There is also a distinction between interest in a historical figure and approval of a historical figure. You can certainly study, examine, and write about a historical figure without condoning all of their actions. Researching historical figures is about understanding those whole lived before us, and that naturally involves the study of morally complicated people. I do not say any of this to excuse any harmful actions committed by people in the past. I just want to acknowledge that studying historical figures is complex and that the beliefs and actions of the historical figure being studied are not necessarily reflective of the person studying them.

All that being said, if you are interested in learning about Francis Kinloch Jr. because you think his morals will be similar to those of his friend John "free the slaves and burn the houses of the rich people" Laurens, then you will be sorely disappointed. Like Laurens, Kinloch was born into a southern elite family that profited from the slave labor on their plantations. I have a post that explores the wealth of the Kinlochs here. You'll see in that post that the Kinlochs owned, at the very least, hundreds of slaves. I unfortunately haven't been able to find many other details about the slaves owned by the Kinlochs. I assume much of that information would be contained in the papers of Francis Kinloch Sr., but these are either lost or not publicly available. Francis Jr. occasionally acknowledged the issues of slavery in his letters:

"I admire your ideas of slavery_ I heartily agree with you, but at the same time can not flatter myself that our country men will ever adopt such generous principles._" - Francis Kinloch to John Laurens, April 28, 1776 "for my part, I make no sort of doubt but What the fate of America is ere this determined. Should the Kingly government be reestablished, I immediately fly home, nor do I think that one who has near relations whom he tenderly loves, who likes reading, & whose hands can dispense happiness or misery to numbers, who, though of a different colour, are still his fellow creatures, can possibly lead an idle, or a disagreeable life." - Francis Kinloch to Johannes von Müller, November 13, 1777

Both of the above writings are fairly empty platitudes, and to my knowledge, Kinloch never openly opposed the institution of slavery or took action to free his slaves. While he was forced to sell his estate late in life due to financial troubles, he did sell the property to his niece's husband, so the property (and, presumably, any slaves) stayed within the family. Kinloch's involvement in slavery is certainly one of the most reprehensible aspects of his character.

Kinloch was also far from progressive in his views of women. He objectified women and often saw them as little more than vessels for his sexual pleasure. His writings from his time in Europe are filled with descriptions of the relative beauty (or ugliness) of the local women. Kinloch's spending on sex workers is outlined in the wealth post linked above. One thing that is particularly striking to me is his multiple references to sexual encounters with beggars:

"Pour les Mendiantes (translation: for the female beggars), I have been rather unchaste since my arrival, I am however very prudent, & can I think ensure Noses to my posterity_" - Francis Kinloch to Johannes von Müller, May 30, 1777 "Whilst I lived With You, & my Mind Was perpetually taken up, I was satisfied With the fortuitous enjoyment of a Savoyard girl, or a not-ugly beggar Woman_ But far different has been the case here_" - Francis Kinloch Johannes von Müller, February 2, 1778

It should be noted that Kinloch used the word "prostitute" elsewhere in his letters, so he seemed to make a distinction between beggars and actual sex workers. My concern is that Kinloch may have coerced beggar women into having sex with him in exchange for money, which is a situation of dubious consent.

Outside of these more obvious issues, there are areas where Kinloch's morality and decision making were more gray. For example, Kinloch was a staunch loyalist at the outset of the revolution, but he ultimately took up arms on the American side. He wasn't driven to change sides by any desire to protect his countrymen or to stand up against a perceived tyrant. He was largely motivated by a desire to protect his estate from being taxed or confiscated. Would you say this is "bad"? Perhaps selfish? Or would you call it prudent or pragmatic? This is where my interest in Kinloch starts to form. I see him as an interesting foil to Laurens. The glory-seeking abolitionist and patriot versus the loyalist, the reluctant soldier, the complacent slave owner. Kinloch's letters tell us about what it was like to be a young (rich, white) man during this revolutionary period. He was conflicted between the different influences in his life. His patriot mother called him home and urged him to defend his country, but he was hesitant to act against his loyalist guardian, who had become a second father to him. He longed to serve as a diplomat for England, but his hopes were dashed as the war dragged on and Lord North failed to find a position for him. He settled for the study of law, but he despised it and dreamed of a life that was never to be. I'm also interested in Kinloch's contributions to queer history through his incredibly prolific, affectionate, and heartfelt letters to Johannes von Müller.

Kinloch was not a man of outstanding moral character, but his life and writings can tell us so much about different parts of history, including the American Revolutionary War, slavery and the southern plantation economy, the Grand Tour tradition, queer history, and more. I aim to acknowledge both the "good" and the "bad" to give a more complete picture of who he was and the time he lived in.

[babygirlkaeya]

To put it in terms that purist ragbros enjoyers will understand:

If you hate on kaeluc shippers who ship them through the chinese context of sworn brothers, you're racist.

Like, sorry that you just can't grasp the fact that a ship that exists through the context of clear and cut cultural history because you can't pull off the westernized lens that it's been filtered through for your understanding, but to claim that an entire group in a fandom that is separated by race, region, and language must be wrong about the game that is from their country and natively in their language is racist.

ragbros enjoyers who dgaf are real ones. People who are uncomfortable kaeluc because it's not their preference are valid, but we really gotta stop with the whole kaeluc dni when it's really just a thinly veiled movement to ostracize people based on a long passed misunderstanding. If you don't like the ship, just ignore it and move on. People will spin romantic context out of any non-romantic pairing, but for some reason people find the most issue with it for kaeluc and find the need to blast 'kaeluc dni' everywhere instead of curating their own space correctly???

What are you classifying as an interaction; do people think kaeluc shippers are inherently evil and liking your posts is a terrible thing to do?? Sure, people coming into your space and spinning romantic context on something you didn't Intend to be romantic sucks, but trust me, those people are not checking your bio to see if you asked for them to dni with you; use the damn mute feature/block button if they make you uncomfortable.

And kaeluc shippers who Do ship them incestuously are in the same boat with sworn brothers shippers either way, outsiders view you all the same.

Fandom people have got to learn how to come to terms with people disagreeing with their views without being assholes about it, and doing some proper fucking research if they want to make a point.

"But I'm Chinese/my Chinese friend/significant other/family said--" Being a certain race doesn't make you an expert on its culture, especially considering the nuance of pre-existing prejudices (and let's not get into ABCs with their flawed judgements right now), but there are stories dating hundreds of years past the existence of the United States on what the sworn brothers trope is, what characters are used for it, what it means, and there's plenty of information out there to explain it.

It is unmistakable what their relationship is currently, based on existing canon content in Chinese. English mis-translation is a bane upon us all.

实在受不了这个情况���

YESSS YESS EXACTLY

and to add on; i think the only reason hoyo hasnt "fixed" the mistranslation yet is because, within the sworn brothers trope, it was used for censorship, it was used to Censor Gay Relationships, so i think the "oh its just adopted haha!" bit on hoyo's part is continuing to just censor it further so they don't get in trouble

^and thats really all the discourse boils down to.

[onigiriforears]

After approx. 2-3 months of studying Japanese I started to read free graded readers online and then graduated to a collection of short stories that I purchased off of Amazon. I thought that the reason I was starting to have trouble understanding sentences was because I didn't know enough vocabulary but it was because I neglected grammar completely. It was sorta drilled into my head off of Youtube creators to just study kanji, vocab and simple sentences as much as possible before even touching grammar. I feel absolutely lost, dude. I am at the 5 month mark now. I can "breeze through" kanji for the most part. (as in, I can actually retain it in a decent amount of time) I decided to study grammar about a week ago. It is SO FREAKING HARD. I don't know if there's something wrong with me or what. I don't know if it's supposed to feel like what I thought I knew is being ripped apart at the seams, stapled together, and then torn apart again....but it does.

Do you have any tips for learning grammar? Is this feeling normal? Can you tell me when the pressure in my skull will subside? I am using Bunpro's free trial but I'm unsure if this tool will actually help me. I write tons of notes to flip through but I still fail to give them the nuanced answer they're looking for. I really enjoy the setup of Bunpro and I want to like it since it's similar to WK but I'm not sure if I'm going too fast or there's a better way to learn. I stopped learning 5 new grammar points a day and started doing only 2. (I also have Genki I and watch GameGengo. He explains things in a way that's easy for my brain to understand.) Sorry for the long post but any insight would be appreciated. I'm a bit nervous asking people in the language learning community for help or insight because a lot of them treat it as a way to show how fast they learned/1-up others. Tumblr's langlearn community is a lot different with what I've seen (or maybe I'm just following the right ppl lol)

Hi! Thank you so much for waiting for this response--I'm sorry it took so long. Your message was one of the ones that popped up when they locked my ask box (they actually still haven't answered me on why it was locked so 🤷‍♀️). To make up for that, I'm gonna be longwinded because I think that this is a super valid and important question that others may also want to know the answer to!!

Pls pls PLEASE DM me if none of this is helpful or if you'd like to talk more about what you think you need help with!!

I think that sometimes when we're learning a new language that we know is so overwhelmingly different from our own language, we focus on the things that we think will be the main hinderance and sometimes we forget the key points. You might be thinking "how did I forget grammar?" but I would say don't beat yourself up about it! Many of us focus on the things that we think are our problems(--the last time I studied for the JLPT, I focused on my weak point too much and then was frustrated with myself during the exam bc I neglected the other areas.)

I don't want to lie to you and say that learning grammar is going to get easier because that's not the case for everyone. Think of learning grammar vs everything else as learning different types of math or science--have you ever had a friend that was absolutely phenomenal at algebra or calculus but couldn't do geometry? Or a friend that was wonderful lab partner in chemistry but struggled in biology? They're struggling in biology because it requires a ton of rote memorization in comparison to practical application and math that's present in chemistry and rote memorization may not necessarily be their strong point. Personally, I think that's also why a lot of us struggle with certain grammar points. There are some that just click with us immediately and then there are others that we have to see over and over and over and over and over--you get the point--just for us to find a single sentence with it that we understand. If you're math oriented, we need to figure out a way to no longer make grammar points rote memorization for you, but to turn it into a formula of some sort. I actually write my notes out in ways that are like that--I use plus signs (+) in my notes not because the textbooks use them but because my brain genuinely reads it as "noun + particle + grammar point = a sentence that makes sense" because, for me, formulas don't fail. Your weak point doesn't have to be your weakness--you can turn the weakness into a strength that works just for you.

I've been going at this for years and every single professor or Japanese friend (or even people from the discord server) I have can tell you that I've struggled with pretty much any grammar point that included ~ように--and it wasn't because I wasn't trying, but because I couldn't find myself using any sentences that with those grammar points because I found the alternatives/similar ones to make more sense. Surprisingly, it wasn't until I was reading 夜カフェ for our book club that I was actually able to start grasping the meaning (ngl, I still haven't used it myself--I'm notorious for using alternatives); I was finally witnessing it being used in a way that made sense in my brain.

The frustration you're feeling when you encounter a new grammar point or overload yourself with too many things in one go is completely normal and I promise that a ton of us in the Japanese langblr community have definitely experienced it too! It probably feels like everything you know is being ripped apart because your native language may have a SVO (subject-verb-object) format while Japanese has a SOV (subject-object-verb) format--your 1-to-1 translations for your notes may not be helpful in the beginning because you're still trying to wrap your brain around the fact that your words still need to go in another order than you're used to. And then you add the new grammar points and concepts on top of that (like particles and other things) and it can become overwhelming and frustrating. Sometimes, you're going to find some grammar points just downright annoying--especially when you find that there's no equivalency to it in your own language. But don't give up!

I know this is a super cliché thing to say, but practicing them will help. If you can, I would make note of the grammar points that you're struggling with, try to make sentences with them, and ask somebody to check them and explain exactly why (or why not) they're working and then ask them for examples because they may have an even better way of explaining it to you than what you've come up with for yourself!

I can look back at old notes and see when I wrote a sentence as an example just because a textbook/professor used it but I didn't actually understand why it worked at the time and then I can also find notes where the sentences written as examples were added once I finally found something that clicked for me.

You've already done yourself a favor by learning a lot of vocab, kana, and kanji because now you'll be able to try out an array of ways to pick up grammar instead of just a textbook. (I will make a note that if you're looking to take the JLPT, I would recommend having a list of grammar points that you would need to know for the level that you're planning on sitting for because there's no guarantee of what will or won't pop up on the test.)

Another important thing while you're practicing: be comfortable with making mistakes. We all make them, but when you're learning a new language it's important to be ready to make mistakes and to welcome them with open arms because it gives you a chance to experience and learn in real time.

ALSO: for you specifically--because you're interested in reading, you might enjoy learning grammar through tracking the different grammar points through what you're reading and using the sentences as your examples because they're all going to be cohesive. And if reading books or other things totally turn you off right now, maybe games? Animal Crossing and Pokemon are very nice games to play in Japanese for people that are just starting out! You may also enjoy using Lingo Legend--it's an JRPG language learning app that I beta tested and I think that it's a nice way to review (it has some fun incentives). I'm not a big gamer, so I struggle with learning through games, but I've been picking up a lot of grammar through reading because I focus on finding things that I'm interested in, rather than things that are "at my level." When I start a manga, I will scour a ton of websites and forums and bug a ton of people when I come across a grammar point that I can't wrap my brain around because I want to be able to understand what's going on.

We have book clubs and gamers in my discord server, as well as places for people to post what they're practicing or to ask for help. We have people of all varying levels and different skillsets that love to share their wisdom with others.

I haven't used Bunpro, but I know that @sammilearns has, so she may be able to weigh in on that! And @tokidokitokyo @nihongoseito @chouhatsumimi @kanpeki-bekki @burgeoning-ambition probably also have even more tips that me--I'm trying to tag people that I know we all learn in different ways, so their tips and tricks might be just what you need!

Please weigh in, fellow langblr members! How have you been learning grammar? Are you game-ifying it? Have you turned it into math equations? Have you managed to tie it in with your special interest? I can't wait to see what people add to this post!

[sillywormz]

Reading your baehun meta I realize there’s so much more nuance to this ship than I gave it credit for! You are so right about how they did sort of enable their worst qualities pre-games. I enjoy that new perspective!

As the chief of the ministry of baehun, I wanted to submit my baehun thought for the day to you: I love that little story Jungbae tells in S2 about how he didn’t leave the picket line because he saw pathetic young Gihun crying in his sleep!

I’m not even sure it’s true that Gihun was crying (Gihun doesn’t seem to think so), but I envision Jungbae being protective of him especially during their factory days ❤️ Maybe that’s even part of why Malsoon likes him so much 🥹 because he protects her idiot son.

Based on how things went down in canon, I imagine a lot of their shared trauma about the strike went unsaid between them when sober, and they just resorted to escapism.

Oof that got long. I had many thoughts.

TYSM FOR THIS ASK IT MADE ME SO HAPPY ‼️ i'm so glad to be the chief of the ministry of baehun 🫡 i am so honoured lol

YESSSSS i think tbf because so many gihun ships (esp sangihun and inhun, the 2 most popular ones) are very openly messy and toxic, it's easy to look at baehun in contrast and be like "well it's just wholesome and cute". and dgmw it still is those things LOL. but it's more than that too and i'm glad i was able to help you see it in a more nuanced way! :D

i think that honestly the story abt gihun crying in his sleep during the factory strike could be either true or false, but in the end it doesn't rlly matter imo :') bc jungbae was using it as a way to express his feelings of protectiveness and loyalty and love to gihun, but going about it in such a way that wouldn't make gihun feel uncomfortable or pitied. it was also part of his plan to piss gihun off a little in a friendly way to help to distract him from the games....... regardless i think you're so right abt jungbae being protective of gihun regardless of if the story is true! in s1 jungbae definitely comes across as the more balanced and "normal" friend and i think he was like gihun's rock during/after the strike. like he provided a kind of steady normalcy that gihun could hold onto. (pre s2) gihun strikes me as someone who was unpredictable and emotional and could get overwhelmed by his own feelings easily, whereas i think jungbae was a kind of mediating influence who helped to calm him down sometimes..........

i love the idea of malsoon liking jungbae bc he looks out for gihun that's so sweet :') i can definitely picture her asking jungbae to keep him out of trouble and take care of him sometimes, which is kinda ironic bc jungbae was definitely an enabler/active encourager of gihun's bad habits and behaviour 😔

i do think that them both being there during the strike and having the same experience is something that's rlly important to their relationship, imo. after it happened they were both two desperate people with young kids, failing marriages, enormous amounts of debt and financial struggles, and i think that they were the only ones in each other's lives who truly knew what they were going through and could rely on each other to understand what it was like......... i think it was good for them to know someone else who would understand but equally it was bad for them too bc they encouraged each other's gambling addictions and alcoholism.

i think you're so right also that both the gambling and alcohol was a form of escapism for them. jungbae was barely keeping his head above water financially and gihun has just sunk completely into massive amounts of debt with no way out. and i think their lives were miserable and very difficult. gambling was a way to get a quick and easy feeling of accomplishment and achievement by winning in a world that was exclusively making them feel like failures in every other aspect. and alcohol was a way to forget their problems and dull the pain of it for a little while. waaaaaahhhhghhghh. literally every dynamic and relationship in squid game has been affected by capitalism and the character's struggles to survive within it and it makes me so insane

[boylied]

Animorphs Book Club- Megamorphs 1

This book. This is one of the first Animorphs books I actually owned. I don’t know where I bought it or when. But I do remember reading this book out of order. And I clearly remember looking at the faded cover and reading it over and over and over. But, like all of the Animorphs, I don’t think I’ve read it since I was maybe 15 or 16. This is gonna be a good one. 

Damnit. I forgot we start off with Jake.

Also, I just realized the comparison. They keep saying “you can never know if the person you’re talking to is a controller.” “They can be anyone.” “Evil lurks behind everyone’s eyes.” And it’s like yes. I grew up queer in the South. I have experienced this level of anxiety. 

Jake immediately outs Marco’s mom.

Tobias, like the common farmer, is prejudiced against crows.

Rachel is reluctant to take a break from killing.

Cassie is afraid of responsibility again.

Marco, Tobias, and Ax being the three scrooges. Marco comes up with a dumb and convoluted plan, Ax is naively pressured into helping without understanding the nuances of the plan, and Tobias tags along to chastise them, but also because he wants to see what’ll happen. I wish we had more of these three being dumb kids together.

The amnesia trope. In general, I like it. I think it’s an interesting device to allow for various shenanigans, and I’ve used it before in my own writing. But I think this is my favorite use of it. A character who can’t remember anything about herself wakes up mid morph? She’s half eagle and has to figure out whether she’s even human or not? The dramatic irony is JUICY.

“I’ve probably dialed that number every day for years.” My most old man take is that I miss when it was normal and exciting to call your friends daily. I wish my friends called me.

Also, I forgot how weird the pacing in this book is. The chapters aren’t super long, but maybe it’s the constant pop jumps? Things just seem to be moving very quickly. But at the same time, not fast at all. 

I remember being flabbergasted as a kid when I got to the part where the homeless woman alludes to the yeerks. The idea that someone is a freed controller was so strange. But now in hindsight, it’s even more interesting. I read a post somewhere that she was probably someone whose yeerk died of starvation after they destroyed the kandrona. I also am having trouble remembering a bit where a yeerk, dying, tries to get out of a host’s head, but dies halfway and leaves half their dead body in the host’s head. Could this cause a sort of madness we’re seeing in the homeless woman?

Let’s take a moment to acknowledge that these children are investigating the wreckage and the only conclusion they can come to is that their friend was Brutally Murdered to the point where absolutely no remains were left. 

Interesting chapter from Cassie here. She continues with her fear from earlier: deciding who lives and who dies, wanting to stay safe without letting down her friends, her confidence in her role within the group, etc. I feel like the fandom hates on her a lot for these insecurities, but let us remember that she is, like 13 years old. But more importantly, she wonders if Jake is being sexist in sending her to the mall. She notes that no one, especially Jake, would do that to Rachel. The self comparisons go both ways between these two. I remember a post somewhere that talked about how the girls simultaneously both value each other’s qualities/role within the group and also resent each other for those same qualities. I just wish they had the time and space to be able to mature enough to value themselves the way they value each other.

And now we get Ax’s chapter where all is revealed. Really, we couldn’t get this exposition any other way. It also explains to us why the creature didn’t attack Cassie who is currently morphing at the mall.

“Some of my advisers have been suggesting you terrorists were human,” yeah, because not too long ago they DEMORPHED TO HUMAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEERK POOL FOOD COURT

Honestly, fuck whoever called the cops because they thought someone was sleeping in the empty house. Mind yo business and house the homeless.

A moment of silence for Cassie’s dad’s pick up truck.

Wait. Rachel just learned her name, but she knows that she once looked up how much the largest elephant ever found weighs? How do amnesia work?

Jersey drivers catching strays outta nowhere.

Once again, I gotta defend Cassie. I know a lot of people hate her and point to this moment, where she did nothing and let the veleek take Marco. But let me say again, that she is a CHILD. She is terrified. I helped raise both my little siblings and let me tell you, either of them at 13 would have done the same thing. I protected those kids from shit and I saw how they reacted to danger. Sometimes kids take a little while to toughen up and that is fine. Cassie has her own strengths and the team sure has hell uses them. If she could do everything, people would cry about her being a Mary Sue. So back up off my girl.

I’m crying at how they gave Tobias a one page chapter where he’s literally just looking for a whale. I get that they left him out so far, but come on now.

Also the return of the magical talking whales.

[password-door-lock]

Mystictober Day 16-- Theater

You and Saeran discuss Zekyll and White before watching Zen’s performance (866 words).

“Do we have everything we need, my love?” Saeran asks as the two of you linger outside the door to the theater. 

You consider the question, patting your pockets. “Tickets, check. Here’s yours.” You hand Saeran the small cardstock slip. “VIP badges, check.” You tug at the sky blue lanyard around your neck, which indeed contains the laminated VIP badge which will get you backstage after the show. “Flowers for Zen, check.” Saeran is holding the bouquet, which he put together specifically for this event. “Shoes, pants, shirts, et cetera, check. Am I missing anything, dear?” 

Saeran giggles at your joke. “I don’t think so, my sweet. Let’s go in.”

“Alright. Let’s go in.”

You take Saeran’s arm with an air of elegance which only serves to exacerbate his giggling as you lead him into the wonderfully decorated venue for Zen’s performance. You’re over the moon to be seeing your friend’s latest musical, especially after hearing so much about it on the messenger. You and Saeran settle into your assigned seats, which, of course, allow an amazing view of the stage.

“It’s a good thing they postponed this until after the trouble with your father was over,” you whisper to Saeran as the other members of the audience begin to file in. “I would’ve hated to miss Zen’s show.”

You know Zen has worked very hard for this— as has Yoosung, for that matter— and that he would have been devastated if you and the twins had missed the production. The director was very understanding of the safety concerns faced by the entire RFA, including Zen, and so he agreed to the rescheduling. The entire group will be able to make it to the theater, and then to the late dinner you’ve planned for this evening. 

“And it gave me time to read the book,” Saeran reminds you. He’s spent the past day-and-a-half or so utterly engrossed in his copy of The Strange Case of Dr. Zekyll and Mr. White. The novel is short, but Saeran, as it turns out, is a very close reader. He annotates his books carefully, with neat commentary written on removable notes so as not to damage the pages. 

“Hm,” you hum. “What did you think of it?” This subject has been bothering you for a while— you worry that Saeran might not feel comfortable with the portrayal of Mr. White, considering the things that he was told about himself at Magenta. As you understand it, one of his reasons for reading the book prior to the show was to ensure that he’d be prepared for the topics of the musical. An adaptation like this could easily turn into a cruel caricature if not executed with requisite care. 

“The novel is just about how everyone has a mix of good and evil in them,” he explains, “Mr. White was created by the author to make the point that nobody in real life is completely evil. I don’t relate to the story very much… Saeran wasn’t evil, and neither was Ray, no matter what Rika told me. I’m strong enough now to understand that’s the case, but the book was still interesting to read.” Per usual, Saeran’s understanding of the media is nuanced and complex. You get the feeling that he wants to say more, and you’re looking forward to talking it through with him on the drive home. 

“It was written a long time ago,” you muse. “But I can’t wait to see Zen playing both characters. I know this was a huge challenge for him.”

“Mm,” Saeran offers you a contemplative hum, “Especially considering that White is supposed to be shorter than Zekyll. I wonder how they’ll show the scene where Zekyll’s employee meets White and doesn’t recognize him.” 

“Well, I guess that’s the magic of theater,” you shrug. “I’m sure the costume changes are going to have to be really quick.” But you know Zen can handle it. He once told you that his fastest complete costume change took him only fourteen seconds.

“It might get confusing to have one actor playing both parts,” Saeran muses, “But Zen is good at his job. I’m sure he’ll pull it off. Although… I’m curious to see how the adaptation will be structured, since the book doesn’t have much plot until the very end when the main character reads the doctor’s letter. If they show the story in chronological order, it might ruin the mystery.”

“You know what, now that I think about it, what happens in Zekyll and White?” You’re familiar with the concept, of course, but you don’t know anything about the actual plot of the novel. Maybe you should’ve read it alongside Saeran to better prepare for the show. 

“Shh, my love,” Saeran shushes you gently, with a loving hand on your wrist. “The lights are coming down. You’ll just have to wait and see what happens, won’t you?”

“Oh, you’re right, darling,” you whisper. You were too engrossed in the discussion to notice the lowered lights without prompting, apparently. “We’ll have to continue this discussion later, though. I want to hear your thoughts about the play.”

“Mhm,” Saeran agrees, holding your hand tight as the curtain is raised. 

[nerdypatrolcollector-blog]

Human Connections in 23.5

This show has completely taken over my mind and I am incapable thinking of anything else. In this essay, I will… no but seriously it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a shown affect me this hard in a long time so I had to write about it. None of my friends watch this show so I’m relaying my thoughts to (hopefully) kind internet strangers. 

At its core, 23.5 is a show about the craving and wanting of human connection. It’s such a beautifully written story full of nuance and consequences but ultimately is about the choices the characters make for the hopes of making a connection and keeping it. Let’s take a look at it through the lenses of our 3 main characters, ongsa, aylin, and sun (sorry Luna we don't know enough about you).

The easiest one is ongsa, this is her story and her journey through finding family, friends, and love. It is very much implied that before she moved to Bangkok, ongsa was a very lonely kid, having trouble finding friends. The more she missed out on these connections the more desperate she got and the lower her self esteem was. Maybe starting to think that it was something about her that made people not want to be associated with her. Moving to Bangkok was her chance to start over. And in the first episode we are shown how those experiences informed her view of the world, constantly blaming herself for the problems that she faced that day. And sure the show plays it off for the shits and giggles but there’s an inherent sadness to it. That desperate need for connection to sun makes her do stupid things. Of course she regrets the things she’s doing, she’s human after all, but the alternative is so much more scary so she doubles down and digs the hole even deeper. However, there’s a light at the end: tinh, chaoren, real sun, aylin. It’s only through the extension of a helping hand from tinh, chaoren, aylin and sun (people who are also craving more connections, we’ll come back to them later) that pulls her back in. And guess what? She didn’t have to change one bit. They accepted her just the way she is. Love, respect and acceptance will come but they will come to a version that is authentically us. The whole show is a journey of ongsa figuring out that lesson. 

Aylin, my favorite little alien, how long have you been screaming for someone to listen? At face value it seems like she’s the only character in the show that doesn’t care if she makes a connection with a human. With her constant insistence of “I don’t associate with human” and air of indifference. But that’s not really true. She is perhaps the most human character in the show. She spends countless hours of her life trying and desperately hoping that there is something out there that understands her. She was betrayed by her own kind and in her own desperation to find a connection she looked outside to something that might or might not exist but it’s the possibility that keeps her going. What’s more inherently human than that? We as a society spend millions on exploring outer space for the hope that we are not alone in the universe. Aylin just wants someone who is willing to sit with her and wait.

Ironically, ongsa and Aylin’s situations are mirrors of each other. They are just two people desperate to make a connection with someone else. They just adopted different ways to deal with that desperation. We are all searching for the same thing. The need and want for human connection. All of us are screaming into the endless void of the universe hoping to find someone who understands and responds. But unfortunately for so long, ongsa and aylin found out that sound doesn’t travel in space. The worst part is not only sitting alone in our own darkness and loneliness, but feel like we’re the only ones doomed to see it. 

Sun's need for connection is pretty straightforward and is mostly focused on romantic love. Sun is so desperate for a romantic connection that she feels like she's been lacking for so long. We are still unsure if Sun has ever had a crush on someone before, but she seemed pretty confused as to why she was reacting to ongsa's presence (ma'am that's called lesbianism). She thought she found that connection with Earth and in a desperate ploy to keep that connection she makes reckless decisions that only end up hurting her more.

This ended up WAYYY longer that I expected, but I just needed to get it out there. Not sure if anyone cares about my thoughts but I am throwing my opinion out there anyways.

[askmalal]

The Primarchs and their brothers, Part 3:

Fulgrim

1. The Lion:

“(he) quite literally defines the phrase ‘peacocking.”

2. REDACTED:

“He is a beautiful man. And, in truth, he is also a troubled one.”

4. Perturabo:

“Purple armor is a very good way of alerting the enemy to ‘shoot here,’ but I think that is rather the point.”

5. Jaghatai Khan:

“The Phoenician. From a world that has never heard of Phoenicia, given a badly transliterated name based upon his original cognomen (‘The Phoenix,’ or ‘The Phoenix Lord.’ ) That, I think, says a great deal.”

6. Leman Russ:

“No human being should wear that much perfume, cologne, musk, or… whatever it is he drapes himself in. I like my brother. I care less for migraines.”

7. Rogal Dorn:

“An exceptional soldier. Our tastes in art… vary somewhat.”

8. Konrad Curze:

“There is much to be concerned about. But much more to recommend him. He cares a great deal for other people, and this sometimes comes close to breaking him. If he does break… ”

9. Sanguinius:

“Speaks, sings, even thinks with the voice of an Angel. A being so suited to the restoration of culture, and yet so often expected to exterminate it. He is complex. There is nuance to him. I cannot say I always like him. But I do understand him.”

10. Ferrus Manus:

“Art is a wonderful thing. But not every thing we do should be labeled as such.”

11. REDACTED:

“A self important popinjay. Opinionated, self referential. Too much lapping powder. But for reasons I cannot quite describe, we are quite fond of each other.”

12. Angron:

“Blood stains and art meet only in the mind of an eldritch terror.”

13. Roboute Guilliman:

“A brilliant demonstrator of the practical.”

14. Mortarion:

“He has a talent for… making the most hideous thing beautiful. I am unsure how to process this.”

15. Magnus:

“The man has done more to save what remains of human physical culture than… just about anyone else now living. Which is ironic, given his calling, I think.”

16. Horus:

“The best and most capable offensive strategist I know. And, including my father, I have known nineteen paragons of that martial paradigm.”

17. Lorgar:

“The temples he has saved! The cathedrals he has destroyed!”

18. Vulkan:

“He is a polymath among polymaths. He has graced our forges, and our hearts. He is a fine man, and one of my dearest friends. Do not allow the silk wrappings to mislead you.”

19. Corvus Corax:

“The man is pained. I feel it in his words. I see it in his eyes. There is goodness there undoubtedly… but… there is something more, and it is something he hides well.”

20. Alpharius Omegon:

“My brother has the heart of a Lion, the personality of a Peacock, and the Moral Compass of a Viper. At times I love him. At times I loathe him. But he is always a presence to be carefully considered. Will he bite the heel, or protect the nest? Difficult to predict from moment to moment.”

[shiawasekai]

For Nela!

2. How do they feel about Areelu Vorlesh?

8. What do they desire the most?

26. Did they separate from any companions? Why? (Consider killing a companion too for this question)

Thank you for much for the questions, Dujour!

2. How do they feel about Areelu Vorlesh?

The most vicious and (self-)destructive mix of love and hatred.

Plainly put, Nela herself hates Areelu for taking her entire life. What she did is, emotionally, not different from razing her entire hometown and murdering her family. It's worse in a way, even. Yes, she didn't personally kill them; but Areelu took away her home, her culture, everything she knew and understood from her. Areelu took years of her life, her own self changed irreversibly by aging (both physically and mentally). The world has shifted beyond what Nela can recognize. Her family spent their entire lives thinking she died and she'll never get the chance to correct them. Her parents died thinking she was gone.

Areelu destroyed more than words can express, and Nela understandably despises the woman who did it.

And yet, the experiment was a success. A part of Areelu's child lives within Nela, and that part loves her mother. It disgusts Nela, to feel such a thing for that woman, but she cannot stop it. For two souls that so easily coexist in the diminished state of the child's, that's the one true point of conflict.

Guilt and disgust tend to appear whenever Nela pays these feelings any mind, and the results are never pretty.

8. What they desire the most?

For most of the game? Going back home.

It's impossible, but the desire is made all the stronger because it cannot be fulfilled. There is nowhere to return after the Crusade is over. Everyone else gets to return to their lives before, or set forth to fulfill their dreams. Her dreams, her life before, they're gone.

Moving on feels like a betrayal. Even when Nela starts to build a new life in Mendev, there is the knowledge that this life wouldn't be even possible if she hadn't lost what came before. She wouldn't have met any of them.

I've mentioned it before, but if she was truly forced to choose knowingly between her life before and her life after? For most of the game, she would choose the life before. It would be a hard choice, yes, but one she would take nevertheless. It's one of the reasons it's so hard for her to talk about her issues with others: it means confessing she would abandon them if given the chance. It eats her inside, especially with some of the companions.

Let's leave the romance aside. Saying to Woljif, who considers her after his companion quest his first friend, that she would just leave him behind like that? To Arueshalae, for who she has been such a great support? "Yes, I would leave you to your devices and possibly fail your redemption to have my life back"? Screw your brother, Sosiel. I'm out of here.

It's selfish, it's ugly. She just cannot say it to them. Even when her feelings start to change into something more nuanced, as she grows to love these people, she knows the truth about herself. She knows what she wants most.

26. Did they separate from any companions? Why?

Wenduag dies in Act 3. I had trouble figuring out how Nela would feel about Wenduag for quite long. Nela believes in redemption, but she isn't a fool about it and won't compromise the Crusades for it. Wenduag has obvious reasons to do what she does, you could think there is a chance at redemption. Wouldn't it make sense for Nela to give it to her?

The thing is: Nela despises Wenduag for very personal reasons. In Wenduag, Nela sees who she could have become if she had listened to those darker instincts that one time. If she hadn't pushed back against her fear and decided to risk her life to save those slaves. Sacrificing others without a second thought for power, for knowledge.

Nela cannot believe in Wenduag's redemption, and doesn't want to either. The idea of having her around is simply beyond what she can tolerate anyway, so I won't say it eats at her conscience.

The other companion to "separate," as in die, is Camellia.

This time wasn't out of hate, but it wasn't out of the goodness of her heart either. As I said before, Nela doesn't expect perfect morality from the Crusaders or her companions, to do so would be foolish. What she expects them is to not be an active problem.

After what happens in Act 3, Nela cannot trust Camellia. The waste on resources trying to keep her watched would be ridiculous, and pointless given the mythic powers. It would be an active issue and a constant source of worries. Nela is knowledgeable enough to notice something is off with Camellia's explanation but, even if Mireya were real, Nela would still have no way to ensure Camellia sticks to only pre-approved targets.

In other words, Camellia becomes a liability that only makes her life harder and hinders the Crusade. Nela does wonder sometimes if she did the right thing, if there was an alternative way... but she also knows that Camellia had way too much power for the risk to be worth the potential salvation.

[sarahsyna]

What is Aldo's relationships with the Scions like? Who does he get on with best/least?

I think Aldo’s relationship is overall good with them. He took a long time to warm up to anyone (except Meiyi, who is one of the few quick connections he’s ever had) but over time he’s grown to care for them in the same way he did the people of his village. They work together, they hunt together. They are part of the pack.

In particular he gets/got on well with Urianger, Lyse, and Papalymo.

Papalymo To start with, he and Papalymo had a lot in common. They both had that thing of being perceived as the ‘handler’ to someone loud and ditzy, and that perception being only a shallow understanding of the friendship.

As well as that, Aldo just had a lot of respect for him. Papalymo was a fantastic mage, and a damn good Scion. He was a great person to talk to and to have aetherological discussions with.

Urianger Aldo has absolutely no trouble understanding Urianger, and he’s always a bit confused when everyone else says that Uri is incomprehensible because the guy is perfectly understandable to him. It’s just slightly flowery language, what do you mean you don’t get it?

It’s definitely not Aldo’s own way of talking though, he prefers to be direct, nigh-on blunt. So you have these two lads talking about a treatise they’ve both read, and one of them is using this very high language and the other is speaking with all the subtlety of a brick.

“Wherefore didst one acquire this misunderstanding of the fundamentals of the text?”

“My understanding is just fine, Urianger. Yours is just lacking nuance. Would you like to see my citations? Because I have plenty.”

“Oh, most gladly.”

Uri’s probably also the only person to refer to him as Aldous instead of Aldo or Al.

Lyse Aldo is a quiet guy so a lot of people assume that he doesn’t get along with people that are loud and cheerful. To the contrary, they probably have the easiest time. He doesn’t push people away so much as just not seek them out, so extroverts have an easier time with him.

Because of this, Lyse is one of the first people besides Meiyi that he bonded with in the Scions. She was just friendly, and it helped a lot. He did always have this feeling there was something she wasn’t telling people, but he also figured it was none of his fucking business.

When Papalymo died, I think he was able to give voice to some of Papalymo’s own perspective, help Lyse understand why he did what he did. He was also able to tell her how Papalymo would talk about her when she wasn’t around. It worried him that she might have considered herself a burden, and he felt he owed it to both of them as his friends to set that straight.

As for those he gets along with least, I’d say Thancred and Y’shtola.

Thancred’s long absences mean that Aldo’s never really warmed to him the same way as a lot of the others. Like I said above, he needs time to get to know someone.

He’s also run into some friction with Y’shtola. Aldo thinks that despite positioning herself as ‘the smart one’ she’s far too prone to taking risks without considering the consequences. She’s an intelligent woman doing godamn stupid things.

Now, he doesn’t dislike her. If anything, he’s more irritated because he does actually like and admire her and he wishes she’d stop doing things that could, would, and nearly do get herself killed.

[girlonthelasttrain]

I understand the sentiment, I really do, but like... maybe years ago fans didn't use marketing lingo, but I think this kind of reasoning has always happened in fandom, especially where numbers were available for all to see. Pretending that fandom has never been a competitive place, or one where popularity doesn't matter ("BNF" is definitely not a new concept), doesn't serve us very well I think, and now that AO3 has been giving us metrics for over a decade the cat is not only out of the bag, it has lived its full life in the wild. Measuring something is in the first place a way to make comparisons in a more abstract, and therefore easier, way. I don't think we can blame people for doing exactly that with numbers so readily available. Comparisons, and further down the line, optimization as well.

I totally agree that data doesn't capture the whole endeavour of making fanworks. Even if you measure the hours you spent on something, there is no way to meaningfully translate 'I put my heart and soul in it' or 'this fic marked the start of my friendship with one of dearest people in my life' into numbers. That is in the realm of interpersonal connections, and I personally support the idea of 'fandom as a community' more than 'fandom as a market'. But the former is just way more difficult to build and maintain and to understand the dynamics of, plus every circle of fandom is different, while the idea of a market of individual writers and readers is a paradigm we're all already used to and affords us a schema that doesn't need to reckon with the nuances of interpersonal dynamics. It's, frankly, easier for someone interested in participating in fandom to pick up. The still essential task of forming relationships between readers and writers can then be done through the appropriate method, ie marketing.

For what it's worth, I don't particularly like this either. Every time I share or reblog a fic on the sideblog that has more followers (another metric), I am keenly aware that I'm applying a marketing strategy. Less leople would read the fic I'm sharing if I had less followers. But I will be blunt: I don't think saying 'you shouldn't do this' achieves much at all here. You can't shame people out of a thing that ostensibly works, and if we're posting fic on the internet then part of our goal has to be that we want people, especially people who aren't just out immediate circle, to read it. Otherwise we would just write it down and never post, or just share a gdocs link with our friends.

I think a better rebuttal to the marketing thing is that it's not that accurate. A market paradigm, with the limited data we have, has trouble accounting for the many injustices, big and small, of fandom. It can't account for a clique taking a disdain for an author or for a writer of color being shunned for daring to address racism. There is no amount of marketing that can rectify either situation. It may be easy to use, and yes sometimes it works; but not for everyone, and pretending that every writer (or reader) is on equal footing with every other individual in the 'fandom market' and acting rationally is a distortion of reality. That's the real rub for me. That's not how it works for everyone.

[amelikos]

More interviews. They were released when chapter 3 was ongoing (translation here).

There are several interviews with different VAs. As usual, I'll go over the parts I find interesting to keep reference of them.

Liko's VA (Minori Suzuki)

Liko's VA talks about how Liko used to be introverted and insecure and how she grew a lot over the course of her journey. Her whole answer to the "Early on, Liko often acted due to external factors, didn't she?" is great all around (Liko growing to understand her own desires, her optimism becoming more pronounced, going from having lots of internal monologues to putting her thoughts into words to convey how she feels to others etc). I love Liko, and I love seeing so much care and understanding put into her character arc.

I also have to point out that part with Minori Suzuki bringing up Liko's monologue when she wondered if she was the lead in a shoujo story. This is not the first time I see Horizons being called a shoujo in interviews and the likes. I remember another interview mentioning it. Some of the Horizons manga are also officially serialized in shoujo magazines (such as Liko's treasure). There is basis for this stuff. Truly, Horizons is my favorite shoujo anime (anyway, something something, if Horizons shoujo, then AmeLiko budding shoujo romance etc).

There is also talk about Liko's Pokemon, mentioning that Nyarote comes off as an older sister (which is super cute). They also mention the battles Liko had against Chili and how Minori Suzuki felt voicing these scenes.

Minori Suzuki also describes the bond between Liko and Nyarote. I like the description that they aren't too close, but not too distant either and how both of them maintain a perfect balance between the two. She also describes what she thinks is the ideal bond between trainer and Pokemon (and she mentions Friede and Cap).

Roy's VA (Terasaki Yuka)

Terasaki Yuka talks about how Roy has grown through his adventures. I like the part where she mentions that Roy used to run off and do his own thing when Friede was watching over him, but he's grown to be more conscious of how his behavior would affect others since he started traveling with only Liko and Dot and would warn them before going off on his own etc. It's a very neat detail (I don't like when male characters cause lots of trouble and let girls pick up after them, so Roy is a real one for not being like that). The mention that Roy would encourage Dot by saying the destination isn't far away when she says she is tired is also very cute (genuinely gives me more appreciation for the character because I didn't consider that he would be trying to encourage her in his own way by saying that, which is very sweet).

They also mention other sides of Roy's character, such as how he is observant and intuitive, on top of his straightforward nature.

I also liked the mention that the sound director specifically told Roy's VA to deliver a line in HZ052 (telling Hogator to stay away from the water etc) as if she was warning her own child about danger, and not just saying that to a friend.

Also, the answer to "which group would you join" question is heartbreaking in its own way ("Amethio always looks like he is suffering so much...").

Dot's VA (Yoshino Aoyama)

Just like with Liko and Roy, they talk about how Dot has grown as a character. Dot's VA brings up the fact that Dot's desire to entertain others as Gurumin is something she inherited from her mother and her love for talking (I like this side of Dot, since it shows a lot of nuance in regards to her relationship with her mother).

They also talk about how reliable Kuwassu is, Dot's relationship with her Pokemon, and how they both motivate each other.

Dot's VA also talks about Nanjamo and Poppy and her thoughts on their characters.

"You learn whether you win or lose" is also a line that stood out to me.

--

Afterwards, there are many interviews with the Elite Four VAs. They all bring up interesting stuff. Such as how Dot's battle against Aoki was more of an evaluation to ascertain Dot's skill level than an all-out battle. The interview with Chili's VA was also a nice read (lots of talk about Liko's character).

They also ask the cast their thoughts on the Elite Four characters. Roy's VA talking about how Chili is great at psychological warfare (putting Liko on the spot by telling her she represents her school and then making her relax with a joke afterwards) is something I didn't consider. Chili is a fun character for this.

The VAs for Liko, Roy and Dot also talk about how they feel about each other's characters (summer love letters to each other). Liko's VA talking about how she feels about Roy and Dot's characters, and so on. It's pretty interesting seeing how they perceive the characters.

The parts that stood out to me were: Dot's VA talking about how different Liko's relationship with Nyarote is compared to Dot's relationship with Welcamo (the talk about Liko's love is cute too), and her insight on Dot's friendship with Roy. Roy's VA talking about how considerate Liko is (which is not something easily done) and how trustworthy and dependable she is, and her talk about Dot taking steps forward. Liko's VA talking Liko's respect towards Roy, and her insight on Liko's friendship with Dot. Especially liked the mention that Liko and Dot's friendship is not one-sided, and Dot's loyalty towards Liko and how she shows courage for her friend, and the way she analyzed Kuwassu's relationship with Dot.

Overall, very interesting read. These interviews had lots of stuff to ponder about. I just like reading what the VAs have to say and how they perceive the characters, and seeing the things they point out which I don't think about, etc. "An introverted girl, a boy who longed for adventure from an island, and a girl who used to be holed up in her room" describing our current trio is still something I find amazing.

[niconiconwo]

liking to charge up “shoot Elon to space”

can we include Thiel, Yarvin, and Vance? I really despise the tech-right and the way they’ve been co-opting legitimate discontent with the system. Genuinely more unhinged than all but the most out there nativist/fascist types, and much more dangerous because they’re more palatable to normies.

If those guys all mysteriously [redacted] I’d stop being an agnostic.

But yeah, was definitely thinking Trump 2 would skew more towards regular Trump 1 America First type stuff: middle-east saber rattling, ramping up deportations, morality laws, etc. partially obnoxious but survivable. The NRx guys making a legit power play has got me on edge.

I definitely know what you mean about the dumbing apart of the alt-right, there was a pocket that used to have this very interesting Mosley-ite anticapitalist thing going on, and I miss those guys. Now it’s all Qanon dopes or the Nerd Reich.

my own politics are pretty muddled rn, but I at least have the compass of “whatever Peter Thiel doesn’t want”. Leftists think I’m a bigot, rightists think I’m a hippy, libertarians hate me (it’s very mutual), and neoliberal centrists just think I’m a crazy person.

I wonder if China will still take in westerners for any reason? Might be time to formulate an exit strategy, although I hate to turn and run at the first sight of trouble

I hear parts of SEA are very nice, do they need spreadsheets made or trees planted? I’m also possibly the only business major I know who can drive a forklift lmao

It's insane to me the amount of influence three tech-bro vulture capitalists have. Especially their tacit involvement in NRx. Yarvin most especially since he literally wants to disestablish the republic in favor of a fucking neo-monarchy lmao.

I echo your sentiment, I didn't figure Trump 2 was gonna be such a wild ride. Even less so not even 90 days into the term. NRx bullshit aside, just the incredible level of aggressive action is startling. It will be a chaotic year ahead with that alone but now we gotta contend with legitimate threats to our republican federation. Slowly it's looking like we'll be lucky if all that transpires is a failed Putin-esque takeover and a shattered failed-state situation. I have yet to see a reason to be optimistic the republic will survive unscathed. But yeah didn't have Moldbug Fundies Federal Gambit on my bingo card.

It's probably too late to ask Uncle Xi for a sleepover, but maybe not. I've stopped passing judgement on the stay and fight/seek a future elsewhere question because both suck and neither is really a moral failure. It's much more nuanced than that really and both paths to me are understandable. I'm not an adherent to end of history nor to exceptionalism so I don't believe that America is some special wrinkle of fate; if we collapse it'll be just a chapter in a history book with all the others. As Rome perished so too will come our time, and so forth.

Thanks for the interesting ask, my enlightened anon friend.

[thegayathena]

I’m starting a project on the role of stories in the development of morality, and could really use some more examples, so if anyone has the time, I’d love a response on what your favorite book, series, show, etc, was when you were young, and how that has affected your worldview and moral code today. I’ll start:

My favorite series of all time is Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and while there are probably a million examples I could use for how it has affected my worldview, I think that the main three are an appreciation of diversity, a nuanced view on activism and social change, and an understanding of how the cycles and stories of history continue on into the present day.

On the first point, I don’t credit Percy Jackson quite as much with my appreciation for diversity in the traditional sense, as in the diversity of race, gender, sexuality, etc, as I had already picked up a lot of that from my parents. What I needed had more to do with appreciating people of varying personalities, worldviews, and skill sets. As a very stereotypical “gifted kid,” I had trouble interacting with anyone who wasn’t “book smart.” In previous books I’d read, like Harry Potter, I latched onto the Hermione of every story and basically rolled my eyes at everyone else. While I did latch onto Annabeth as well to some extent, she presented a much more nuanced representation of intellectual strength, and while Percy wasn’t stereotypically “book smart,” I also found myself appreciating his strengths as well. This series does such an excellent job of showing such a wide variety of skill sets and different approaches to life, which are all allowed to be valuable and compelling in their own right, that it made me kinder and more appreciative of my real-life peers as well.

As for how it affected my view on activism and change, Percy Jackson is rare among children’s literature in that it accepts the incomplete and continuous nature of improvement (the victory at the end of the Last Olympian is the beginning of things getting better, not the end), and shows the necessity of acknowledging the valid criticisms of those who have been hurt by the system you’re operating within, without resorting to a “burn it all down” mentality. As someone who has grown up to study History and Political Science with the intention of doing advocacy and policy work, these lessons have been vital in my ability to have empathy for those who oppose me, and they have also taught me to celebrate even those victories which might not save everyone (because nothing done by a single person ever will), but will protect innocent lives and provide an opportunity for further positive change going forward.

On the third point, Percy Jackson is well known for reintroducing a generation to the classics and Greek mythology, and I am definitely part of that generation. I’ve gone on to take many courses in Classics, and I see the fingerprints of the ancient world everywhere in modern life, from literary references to the Greek columns all over Washington DC. It’s a constant reminder that we are not just one moment in time, but a generation in a long history of humans just like us: innovators, storytellers, artists, parents and children, friends and family, heroes and villains and the vast majority of us who are neither, merely people being people as best they can. Part of what made the world of Percy Jackson revolutionary is that it is not a retelling of myth in a modern setting, but a continuation of myth. Therefore, in much the same way that we must all familiarize ourselves with our histories, examine what it is that has been left to us by all that came before, and decide for ourselves what we will continue to retell and carry forward into our futures, so must the heroes of Percy Jackson. It’s a lesson in balancing legacy with possibility, respect for what is and what it took to get there with the duty of each new generation to imagine something just a little bit better. In these uncertain times, I turn to Percy Jackson - and storytelling in general - to remind me of the resilience of humanity, the beauty of connection, the importance of imagination, and the incredible power of hope.

Thank you so much for reading, and I can’t wait to hear everyone else’s stories (and maybe add to my ever-growing reading list along the way)!

[keepmeinmind-01]

Hi, I love your thoughts of Leta, all her darkness and guilt. Do you think it's a waste of her character to kill her off across the span of only one movie and have her sacrifice herself?

hi!! i am so glad you like my characterisation/thoughts on her - she's one of my favourite characters. i do like, to a small extent, the tragedy of her death and the idea of that as a character arc - i think it had some poignancy and thinking about her bravery and grief in doing that is interesting. BUT

but but but

i definitely think it was a waste!! 100%. i swear down that either leta or tina could have definitely played a double agent role or done something with grindelwald beyond dying or being off at work.

i think it was a shortcut for them not really fleshing out newt and theseus's relationship, and also having newt and tina be able to get together with seemingly no issues. i am lowkey so upset that a complicated, interesting, sort-of-main-role cool WOC character was sacrificed sort of for the sake of it. to the extent where in the longest fic i am writing, which still goes with leta's death, i consider bringing her back in some form literally constantly (well, i already know i will, but not in a full resurrection sense, and also sorry for rambling about this but i think about it a lot as a writer hahahah).

both tina and leta got done so dirty in the franchise, and as i understand it, the director/writer's decision to kill leta was sort of last minute??

but i love leta & newt and leta/theseus and whatever was going on between all three and of course leta herself.

i would have LOVED to see more of her (and not just because she is incredibly beautiful). we had a nuanced, sensitive, rebellious, guilty...etc female character and she has to die (??). i was not impressed (well, at first i was very sad, and then i was unimpressed LOL).

a woman who has all that dark, brooding angst of 'i'm a monster' and then as far as we know was actually a good friend, a good fiancee, a powerful witch in her own right, always atoning, mischievous and adventurous, a pureblood who's down to earth with her unique airs and graces... i also like to headcanon she was training to become a cursebreaker and so was heavily into dark magic, not because she wanted to do dark things with it, but because i think she is super intelligent and adventurous too, and likely only got stuck with the assistant position because of the stigma of her family name.

like, how many brooding and troubled lead women characters do we get in mainstream film? how many who are also sensitive and introspective?? not nearly enough. she really deserved to live longer. i know that grindeldore and newt are the key guys of the trilogy, and suspect theseus was also going to die if there was a FB4, but erghhh i was very upset.

hence why after 'keep me in mind', i try and write her living in as many of my fics as possible. leta definitely deserved better.

i hope i articulated this well hahha (I have some chapters of the leta-centric part of my longer thesleta fic on the brain lately) - please do message me if you are comfortable with it or want to talk more, i love to yap about fantastic beasts <3