#I tried to keep it a bit unclear but the ending can be read as going towards tyzula
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waterfire1848 · 1 month ago
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Modern AU. Azula is not a popular one but an outcast because of how smart she is, a nerd. Ty Lee is her friend who drift away after being in the cheerleader club and became popular.
Hello, anon!!! (Small note but I love that you have Azula as a nerdy outcast because she would 100% be the socially awkward nerd).
Azula and Ty Lee grew up close because they became friends in elementary school and Azula would constantly visit her house (because her home sucks). Ty Lee likes having Azula around because Azula is one of the few people who wants to be friends with her and her alone and not her and her sisters. They remain friends for years after that---and of course bringing Mai into their friend group---with the two having sleepovers, play dates, texting each other whenever they can, etc. Thanks to Ozai, Azula is pushed to study as much as she can and get the highest grades in the class. (Azula: But...Ty Lee and I were going to- Ozai: I don't remember asking what you and your friend were going to do. Did you think you would get to play with your little friend after disappointing me with your math grade? Azula: I...I thought I did well. Ozai: Well!?! I did not raise you to be a failure, Azula! Or to settle for well! I will not accept this laziness!! Am I understood!? Azula:.... Ozai: Am I understood! Azula: Yes! Yes, father!). Since Azula is so focused on getting the best grades, pleasing her father and being the smartest person in the class (plus she also naturally has a very strong love for learning) she starts to spend less and less time with Ty Lee.
Seeing less and less of Azula, Ty Lee starts to get lonely. Mai is hanging out with Zuko a lot more and Ty Lee feels like she's been abandoned by both her friends. To help herself feel less lonely, she decides to join her town's cheerleading club in 8th grade so that she could have some friends in high school. Quickly, the club takes up a lot of her time especially since she already has gymnastics experience and is very good at performing. Thanks to this and Azula having to study more and more as she gets into high school, the girls are hardly spending any time together by 9th grade. They will occasionally text one another and send funny videos but they don't interact much beyond that. Azula typically hangs out with Zuko and Mai while Ty Lee is with her cheerleading club. When they start high school, Azula starts to become more of a third wheel to Zuko and Mai so she distances herself from them, throwing herself into academics. Meanwhile, Ty Lee is throwing herself into cheerleading and pushing herself to do better and better in the activity, but not only is she busy with the club Ty Lee has also become pretty popular. Thanks to her being incredibly friendly and a people person, a lot of juniors and seniors like her and want to spend time with her. By sophomore year, Ty Lee has become incredibly popular in the student body and Azula has become more of an outcast because of her intelligence. The two no longer text.
One day, before a large school dance, Azula is heading home with Zuko (because he’s her ride) when they are stopped by Chan. (Chan: Hey! Hey, wait! Azula: Yes? Chan: You’re Azula Agni, right? Azula: Yes. Zuko: Come on, Azula! We have to go! Chan: Ummm… Azula: Brother. Chan: Oh. Well, I don’t know if you know but the school’s spring dance is next month and I was wondering if you would go with me. Azula: You-You want me to go with you? Chan: If you want. Azula: I-…Let me think on that. Chan: Alright. Give me your number and I’ll text you later. Azula: Okay. Zuko, once Chan is gone: That was weird. Has Chan ever talked to you before? Azula: No and, I agree, it’s really weird. Zuko: He’s on the baseball team or something, right? Text Ty Lee and ask her if she knows him. Azula: Right….Ty Lee.) Eventually, Azula does get the guts to text Ty Lee and ask her what’s going on. She responds a few minutes later saying that Chan has always had a big crush on Azula and since he’s leaving for college soon he wanted to ask her out. Azula is still highly skeptical but Ty Lee continues to promise that he’s a good guy and only wants a date with her. She talks to Zuko and Mai about what they think and they both say that she should go. Azula finally agrees and texts Chan that she will go to the dance with him. Ty Lee takes the opportunity to text her and tell her that she wants Azula to come dress shopping with two of her friends for the dance. (Azula: Five hours in a mall with cheerleaders trying out dresses? *Lucky me.*)
At the mall, Azula stays pretty close to Ty Lee and her cheerleading friends because she absolutely does not want to be there. She’s rich and wears nice clothes, yes, but Azula does all her shopping online to avoid people in the mall. Ty Lee notices that Azula is not in her element here and not talking because of it so she sticks close to her for some comfort. In different stores, Ty Lee and Azula laugh over some of the stupid dresses, talk about what would look good and catch up in general. While shopping, Azula steps away from the group for a moment to use the bathroom, leaving Ty Lee with her friends. (Cheerleader #1: God, she’s such a nerd. Ty Lee: I mean….a little but she’s sweet and kind and- Cheerleader #2: And a nerd. How were you friends with her, Ty? Ty Lee: We grew up together. We hung out a lot when we were younger but then just drifted apart the older we got. Cheerleader #1: Hmm. Anyways, I can’t wait for Chan’s prank. Ty Lee: Chan’s prank? Cheerleader #1: You didn’t know? Chan asked her out but his plan is to stand her up and then drive by and take pictures. Ty Lee: That’s horrible! What is wrong with you?! Cheerleader #2: Calm down, Ty. It’s not like you’re friends with her anymore.) Ty Lee is shocked into silence for the rest of the trip. Only occasionally responding to Azula’s questions about the dresses and the date.
Finally (yes, she’s going to say something), a day or two later, Ty Lee has processed everything that her friends said. She knows she has to do something and the first thing she has to do is tell Azula about the prank. When she does tell her, she can see that Azula is sad but also seems like she had accepted the truth before Ty Lee even told her, saying that no one in *that* circle would want to go on a date or be seen with her. (Ty Lee: I didn’t abandon you, Azula. Azula: I know. I know. We just drifted apart but…I miss you. Ty Lee: I miss you too. I want us to be friends again. Azula: Me too. Can we be friends again? Ty Lee: I think so.). Once they patch things up, they have another order of business: getting revenge on Chan. The night of the dance, Azula dresses up and texts Chan about how excited she is. As planned, Chan doesn't show up until an hour or so after he said he would pick her up, but Azula isn't outside. Instead, there's a letter for him saying that she went to her backyard to wait. Chan and his friends go there to find Azula and Ty Lee waiting for them with buckets of a special incredibly sticky and foul smelling slime Azula made. (Azula: I enjoy being a nerd sometimes.) When all is said and done, Azula calls her father and tells him there are four weird teenagers in their backyard and yelling to Chan that her father knows they're there and security cameras no doubt caught their faces going around back (Azula: And I enjoy being rich all the time). Chan and his friends flee, leaving Ty Lee and Azula alone. (Azula: I assume you'll be heading to the dance now? Ty Lee: Actually....could I stay? Azula: Really? You'd rather hang out with me than go be with your friends? Ty Lee: You are my friend, Zula. Azula: Oh, ummm...Okay. Do you want to order pizza and watch those stupid rom coms we used to watch? Ty Lee: I'll order the pizza!)
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swordsandarms · 10 months ago
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"Why did Rhaegar leave a whole THREE Kingsguards with Lyanna? Why did he leave Jaime, A CHILD, to PROTECT his family? Why wasn't Arthur, a DORNISH man, with Elia?"
These or other individual questions about the Kingsguards during the Rebellion era keep coming up every now and then. Usually, it concerns questioning Rhaegar's motivations, sometimes even Jaime's morality or culpability, as well as the morality of said Kingsguards.
But I was having a conversation with some fans and it comes down to the same issue: no one considers the Targaryen politics at the time, and fragment these circumstances in shallow bits and pieces, naturally, coming down to "there's no good explanation for this!"
Everyone hates that these two Targaryen men have genuine character complexity, especially in rapport with eachother: Rhaegar and Aerys.
Let's go over the Kingsguard at the end of Aerys' reign, and actually consider allegiance and what the mean, and how those would actually easily explain a lot-
Jon Darry, Darry cousin: unclear loyalty, when it comes down to the Aerys-Rhaegar conflict. Darrys are without a doubt Targaryen men, but we don't know if and who they would choose. Darrys are most of all connected with Viserys and Rhaella, who are very sheltered from the rest of the world all the same. Darrys might have been sideline in the Aerys-Rhaegar conflict by such default then, and eventually Jon would be sent to the Trident anyway. But then again, unquestionable loyalty to House Targaryen sounds like a traditionalist approach.
Arthur Dayne: Rhaegar's man without a doubt. His oldest and closest friend.
Oswell Whent: Rhaegar's man. He's with him at the Tower and rumours are his family conspired alongside him to get the Lords at Harrenhal to stage Aerys' usurpation.
Gerold Hightower, Comander: King's (Aerys') man. The scene at the King's doors is often brought up in discussions about the ethics of the KG. But it actually also unveils a key political information within the Aerys-Rhaegar factions. Whether it's a matter of adhering to the status quo only, or personal allegiance to Aerys as well, the message is clear: even when it's between two royals, it's the King he will stand by, no matter what, even when he's not in the right (and if his son tries to usurp him, then technically he is).
Barristan Selmy: Barristan undergoes a character development during the main series in which he finally questions unquestionable allegiance to a King no matter their morality. A past Barristan, however, would then resemble a Ser Gerold, and be in the King's (Aerys) service before anything by virtue of duty. Notably, he would later reflect that Rhaegar did not find him fit to be in his confidence, and these expectations are probably why.
Lewyn Martell: Easily Elia's and Rhaegar's man, and Dornish. Noted as being in his confidence.
Jaime Lannister: One that causes a lot of controversy. A lot of back and forth discussion as to what expectations Rhaegar had of Jaime (and whether Jaime himself fulfilled them). The answer can actually be seen easily by:
1. Looking at it with the awareness that there was a faction divide existed in the KG in between Aerys and Rhaegar, as it was building up to a conflict and hence-
2. Reading their last conversation with that in mind
The day had been windy when he said farewell to Rhaegar, in the yard of the Red Keep. The prince had donned his night-black armor, with the three-headed dragon picked out in rubies on his breastplate. “Your Grace,” Jaime had pleaded, “let Darry stay to guard the king this once, or Ser Barristan. Their cloaks are as white as mine."
Prince Rhaegar shook his head. “My royal sire fears your father more than he does our cousin Robert. He wants you close, so Lord Tywin cannot harm him. I dare not take that crutch away from him at such an hour.”
Jaime’s anger had risen up in his throat. “I am not a crutch. I am a knight of the Kingsguard.”
“Then guard the king,” Ser Jon Darry snapped at him. “When you donned that cloak, you promised to obey.”
Rhaegar had put his hand on Jaime’s shoulder. “When this battle’s done I mean to call a council. Changes will be made. I meant to do it long ago, but … well, it does no good to speak of roads not taken. We shall talk when I return.”
For one, Jaime is the last KG left in King's Landing, and one to be kept close to Aerys himself. And Rhaegar is taking him into his confidence before he leaves - he is pretty much talking treason, hinting at usurpation upon his return.
Why did he leave Jaime, A CHILD, to PROTECT his family?
First of all, he doesn't leave Jaime himself in that post. As seen above, Aerys calls the shots. We know from the Ice and Fire "history book" that he sent Lewyn away from Elia as well for being Dornish (while before he was stationed with her and the kids on Dragonstone in Rhaegar's absence) and he commands Jaime to stay. As it appears, he also sends Darry and Selmy with him (with Selmy being a traditionalist at the time, it may even be to keep an eye on Rhaegar).
Rhaegar doesn't have a choice of whom to ask to look out for Elia and the children, no matter which KG would've been in town. He makes that clear. And as to expectations he has of the only one left and whom he can have a word with, while Jaime is, yes, by all means considered a grown man in their society AND a capable soldier who's well trained and already been in combat, he's not asking for Jaime to stand between his family and an army or anything.
There's not meant to be an army. That's meant to be Rhaegar's job to prevent. He's going out to battle. He's meant to give Robert a honorable single combat, prove himself as strong and fair - unlike the mockery of a "trial by combat" Aerys gave Rickard. Hence prove himself unlike his father first of all, probably give his explanations about Lyanna, and also make it clear he's against Aerys' actions and wanting to give the justice by deposing him.
No, Rhaegar isn't irresponsible, dumping that burden on younger Jaime. He does the responsible thing of taking all that upon himself. What does he expect of Jaime? As read above, he does not put Jaime in the mindset of a fighting machine that's supposed to save his family from anything unrealistic. He puts him in the mindset of someone who would be his man and oppose Aerys when the time comes - he's meant to be the one threat to his family when the chips fall down and he is taking the throne.
Whatever reading Rhaegar did of Jaime, he thought he could say those words to him (that would've been dangerous if he were wrong), that Jaime would have it in him to turn against Aerys (again not some ridiculous expectation - a frail man). And Rhaegar is clearly not dumb. He was right in his perception, wasn't he? (Is this where Jon Snow gets his amazing perceptive skills - "little his eyes do not see").
Why wasn't Arthur, a DORNISH man, with Elia?
Why would he be allowed to? We've already established Aerys calls the shots. And among them there's one KG specifically being sent away because he's Dornish and hence loyal to Elia (and Rhaegar). If Lewyn couldn't be there, why would Arthur?
Why did Rhaegar leave a whole THREE Kingsguards with Lyanna?
That is something I couldn't understand for a long time, too. Not only the specific number, but the fact that clearly Rhaegar can't just do whatever he wants with the Kingsguard. Why was this allowed?
It doesn't make sense until you go back to the Aerys-Rhaegar allegiance divide above. The three are Gerold (most loyal Aerys appears to have) and Arthur and Oswell (most loyal Rhaegar appears to have).
Gerold came from King's Landing to take Rhaegar. Oswell and Arthur would have already been with him. Either-
1. Gerold was sent with the order to stay behind with Lyanna. Aerys already took hold of Elia and the kids to control Dorne (and Rhaegar) and would have her in the hands of his most obedient man, too. Rhaegar cannot let that happen, as he plans to turn against Aerys while he's away. If he can't send Gerold away, he makes the compromise of leaving two of his own. One only would have been uncertain odds, but if Gerold eventually acts up when things unravel, he's outnumbered. Arthur and Oswell can do what they have to do and they are in an isolated location and can lie about it later to protect their honor.
2. Gerold wasn't meant to stay behind. But since Rhaegar is decided to depose Aerys, removing him from Aerys is an opportunity. Aerys/Gerold can be lured with the illusion of having a hold on Lyanna. Rhaegar had to leave someone (trustworthy) with her regardless but compromises his own numbers for the same reasoning above, if it means removing a barrier from between him and Aerys. Aerys would be blindsided in allowing in from that same perspective: Rhaegar is made to leave crucial allies behind.
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rin-and-jade · 1 year ago
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Petrified like Medusa: A Post about Catatonic Dissociation. (more like how catatonia and dissociation work, creating a devastating combo. oof!)
Have you ever got that feeling where you cannot move your limbs, say a word, or even breathe? Do you feel like all your functions had stopped as if it's a statue? Where everything ceases to a halt as your body betrays whilst doing your daily activities? Something else might felt wrong and odd too;
It's not just your imaginary,, it is something real that us, systems sometimes experience. May this post bring you understanding of today's topic!
The difference between catatonia and dissociation
Catatonia is similar to freeze response, the only difference lies on the reason, which is: it is usually a byproduct of something (usually by overwhelm), while freeze activates from stressful situations. Being catatonic means:
Stuck in a position, no matter how uncomfortable or what pose you're at.
Find it hard to execute/keep up with basic actions such as eating, drinking, breathing, or even blinking!
You find yourself actively struggling/fighting against the heavy friction of the unmoving body. Or is absent from any forms of thoughts, seemingly empty inside out.
Stiff, rigid movements, making soft skills harder to perform.
--
Dissociation on the other hand, is an active defense that works by flinging you out from there by any means. Making you feel physically + emotionally detached, and mentally not engaging the situation. It is a veil that blurs the details and such, minimizing as much damage as possible.. it can look like:
The world looking a bit slow, distorted, or unclear.
Tactile sensations and sounds feel toned down and damped.
Your thoughts and movement may or may not get sluggish/lagged.
Memories feels fuzzy, preventing clarity of the situation.
How it affects us, systems..
Catatonic dissociation can happen when we are faced with inevitable, stressful moments. Depending on how bad the situation is,, when you're dissociating, catatonia can slowly creep up on you and petrify everything from top to bottom.. like medusa; This alone can hinder the communication and body coordination in systems.
Luckily, you can be aware of the warning signs soon before it sets in, pay attention to:
Feeling a huge reduction in movement, or have confusion of it.
It's harder to speak clearly, possibly restricting volume or vocals.
You are unbothered when someone is pushing you, for example. And stayed passive/still trying to process what happened.
Finding yourself standing/sitting/etc longer than you'd expect to.
A change in switching patterns, or show clear struggle in attempt.
Things feels like it skipped a beat, and you 'snapped out' every few moments. As if you were put into a trance.
--
Additionally, catatonia-like dissociation can also happen when you are in the middle of the process of a switch, feeling extra blank and unmoving until a new fronter completely took over, too! To minimize discomfort and possible injuries, practice caution by choosing a safe, comfortable spot beforehand.
The takeaway and tips to overcome this:
This episode is temporary, lasting from a few minutes to an hour or two (there might be instances that it will be longer). Frequency is subjective,
There are things that can be done to ease and lesson such discomfort or struggles; starting from planning a tactic for this situation, minimizing current triggers/stressors, finding a spot to lay down/sit although it'll be hard.. so take this step steady, and stay comfortable until it disappears by itself. Grounding techniques could help, though i have not tried them myself, feel free to test the theory.
Lastly, this concludes the end of the post! Thankyou for helping me decide which to do first, so please expect the other one to be out in a few weeks as i go down the rabbit hole, yet again. If you find this interesting, or helpful, or worthy of being shared to other people, i will appreciate every one of you who had read 'til the bottom of the post <3
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- j, a very happy one
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xmoonlitxdreamx · 6 months ago
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OW2 Junkrat & Roadhog Relationship (part 3)
Part 1: [click] Part 2: [click] Part 4: [click] Part 5: [click]
Hello!! Here's part 3 of this series where I look closely at Junkrat & Roadhog's characterization in OW2 content. This post will be looking at the 2024 short story A Friendly Rivalry. This post is really long compared to my other ones, and I apologize for that...!!!! There's just a bit more to say here since this is a short story and not just voice lines.
This short story is available to read for free here. The page numbers I’ll be referencing are from the PDF on that page. I talked a lot about this short story in these posts here and here, so some of this stuff may be the same as what I’ve said there. I may also interpret the narration to partially be from Junkrat’s point of view, so keep that in mind for when I make commentary using quotes from the narration. Anyway, enjoy (?) and thanks for reading!
A several-paragraph summary can be found at the end if you don't feel like reading all my bullet points lol
Page 1
“…Roadhog, [Junkrat’s] much larger, much more heavily shackled partner…”
The narration recognizes Roadhog as Junkrat’s partner
If the narration is biased toward Junkrat’s perspective, this also suggests Junkrat thinks of Roadhog as his partner
“Junkrat wasn’t listening. He had a strong suspicion his best mate was nervous. ‘Relax!’ he said. ‘I’ll do all the talking.’”
Junkrat thinks of Roadhog as his best mate
Junkrat tries to understand Roadhog’s emotions
Junkrat feels inclined to calm Roadhog’s nerves if he thinks Roadhog is nervous
“Roadhog said nothing. / ‘Come on,’ Junkrat said…”
The two of them have “conversations” where Roadhog says nothing and Junkrat responds as if Roadhog is participating in the conversation
This can be interpreted as:
Roadhog doesn’t want to talk to Junkrat and frequently ignores him, but Junkrat isn’t aware of this or doesn’t care and decides to carry on conversation anyway
Junkrat is particularly good at reading Roadhog to the point that he can “understand” Roadhog without him saying anything
Some mix of these two interpretations
(Junkrat speaking) “’[The queen and I] are tight as marbles! Not like you and me,’ he added hastily.”
Junkrat considers himself and Roadhog to be “tight as marbles”
This isn’t a real idiom, but it’s probably a good thing meaning “close friends”
Junkrat suspects that Roadhog would be jealous if he was closer to someone else than he is of Roadhog (hence why he quickly added “Not like you and me” to the end of his statement)
It’s unclear if Roadhog actually thinks this way, and it’s likely that this is just an imagined impression that Junkrat has of Roadhog (based on lines on the next page)
“Roadhog gumbled. Junkrat took this as a positive sign.”
Junkrat tries to interpret Roadhog’s non-verbal cues (unclear how successfully he is at this)
Page 2
(Junkrat) “’Maybe we’ll spend a few days in the clink. […] Is that what you’re worried about?’” / “Junkrat snapped his fingers. ‘You think we should escape now! You’re right.’” / (Junkrat) “’What is it, then? What are you waiting for?” / “For the first time in a long while, Junkrat was speechless. Roadhog sighed. ‘Finally.’”
Here, Junkrat cycles through a few different attempts at reading Roadhog’s silence. All of his attempts at understanding why Roadhog is quiet are incorrect, suggesting that he’s not actually good at reading Roadhog even though he acts like he understands him.
When Junkrat and Roadhog are having these sort of one-sided conversations, it’s likely that Roadhog is usually just quiet because he’s waiting for Junkrat to shut up.
Junkrat does earnestly seem worried about Roadhog here.
it also seems like Junkrat uses these “conversations” with Roadhog as a way to organize/understand his own thoughts and feelings by verbalizing them.
(Junkrat) “’Let’s do this thing!’ / Roadhog did not leap to his feet and rip the chains from the wall. Junkrat was losing patience with him.”
Junkrat commands Roadhog to do things and visualizes Roadhog following his orders when he comes up with these commands; he possibly takes it as a given that he would have some sort of authority to tell Roadhog what to do
Junkrat gets annoyed when Roadhog doesn’t go along with his plans
Roadhog doesn’t always go along with Junkrat’s plans
“Roadhog tapped [Junkrat] on the shoulder.”
This is just me being delusional but I interpret this as Roadhog sometimes using a delicate touch to get Junkrat’s attention lol
(idk I think I was just surprised it wasn’t like “Roadhog grabbed Junkrat’s shoulder and yanked him toward the blahblah” or something LMAO idk it’s kind of uncharacteristic of him so it stood out to me)
Could also be an indication that Roadhog keeps Junkrat focused/etc in situations where Junkrat gets distracted
Page 3
“This is outrageous!” gasped Junkrat. “Roadhog and I are loyal subjects.”
Junkrat sometimes speaks on behalf of Roadhog
Roadhog doesn’t stop him from doing this, so even if what Junkrat says isn’t necessarily reflective of Roadhog’s actual thoughts, it’s possible he’s fine with Junkrat speaking for him
JQ lists off a bunch of “allegations” that Junkrat and Roadhog did together (demolition of Junkertown’s main gate, blasting Outback Bill’s Premium Sausage Stand to chunks, the Biscuit incident)
The two of them cause trouble in Junkertown together, presumably for fun
Judging from the “explosive” theme of the allegations it was probably Junkrat who came up with the idea for these schemes, but the fact that they’re both being tried together by JQ suggests Roadhog also participated (probably willingly)
Kind of an aside but I sometimes see the comment that “Roadhog only hangs out with Junkrat for the money/for his treasure”; considering these schemes that they got up to don’t really seem to have a monetary goal in mind (Junkrat probably just felt like blowing stuff up), it seems more likely to me that Roadhog also just likes causing trouble (even if he doesn’t act like he’s as into it as Junkrat) and hangs out with Junkrat because he wants to be a menace too sometimes (?)
“’We—’ Junkrat paused and glanced at Roadhog, who nodded. “Right, we did do that one. Sorry, mate!”
Junkrat goes to Roadhog when he’s unsure about something (unclear if this is a faulty memory thing or not); Junkrat trusts Roadhog to be his back up on things he’s unsure about.
“…Roadhog wound his chain hook around his meaty forearm.”
If we take the narration to be somewhat from Junkrat’s perspective, Junkrat thinks of Roadhog’s forearm as meaty. (this is such a stretch LMAO whatever this is my post) (I won’t be making more comments like this unless it’s more obvious that it’s from Junkrat’s POV and not specifically the narration’s POV)
“’You die,’ Roadhog said. ‘I’m living.’”
Roadhog is not particularly tied to his partnership with Junkrat; verbally expresses that he’s more concerned with his own safety than Junkrat’s
Roadhog is blunt and snarky (?) when talking to Junkrat
Page 4
“…a huge ball-shaped mech swung into the air. Roadhog grabbed Junkrat by the bandolier and hurled him out of the way.”
Despite expressing like .02 seconds ago that he doesn’t care if Junkrat dies, he pulls Junkrat out of danger
Suggests that the things Roadhog says verbally are not necessarily indicative of his actual feelings (eg: says “whatever man you can die” but doesn’t actually want Junkrat to die); suggest his internal self is maybe not as harsh or indifferent as his external self
Roadhog is physically willing to save Junkrat from dangerous situations (even if he verbally says otherwise)
“’Keep moving, idiot,’ Roadhog said.
Another indication of Roadhog’s words being harsh (calling Junkrat an idiot) but having good underlying intentions (wants Junkrat to keep moving so he doesn’t get hurt)
“Junkrat raised a finger to retort, but Roadhog was already hurtling toward the far wall at unconscionable speed, wrapped around the bulk of the champ”
Suggests the two of them bicker so often that Junkrat instinctively wants to argue even when they’re in the middle of battle
Roadhog got hit by Wrecking Ball while Junkrat was preoccupied with arguing with him; could suggest that Junkrat is not as good at looking out for Roadhog as Roadhog is at looking out for Junkrat
Possible that Roadhog sacrificed his own focus on the battle to tell Junkrat to stay safe, and then got injured as a result; could suggest that Roadhog actually does prioritize Junkrat’s safety over his own (despite saying otherwise previously). (honestly this isn’t strongly indicated in the writing so I don’t exactly think this was necessarily the intended reading.)
“’Roadhog!’ [Junkrat] shrieked as he shot toward the ground. ‘Catch me!’ / Roadhog did not catch him. Roadhog lay at the far end of the arena, unmoving.“
It’s possible that Junkrat relies on Roadhog to get him out of sticky situations so often that he just instinctively calls out to Roadhog to help him when he’s in trouble. (It’s unclear from this line if Roadhog would have actually helped him since he’s currently passed out)
Page 5
“Junkrat and Roadhog dove apart as bullets screamed past.”
They were standing next to each other. :)
“’It’s all right, Roadhog!’ Junkrat panted, ripping another grenade off his bandolier. “All we’ve gotta do… keep our distance…”
Junkrat tries to comfort Roadhog if he thinks Roadhog is worried
This is also another instance of Junkrat using Roadhog as a way to verbalize his own personal concerns (He’s personally worried, but he instead expresses that/comforts himself by saying “It’s all right, Roadhog”)
Junkrat attempts to be the tactical authority between them (unclear if successful)
Page 6-7
“’Junkrat,’ [Roadhog] said. / ’Junkrat, you’re a genius?’ Junkrat said hopefully. / ’Knife,’ Roadhog said. / ‘Oh, what a relief. I thought you were gonna say idiot.’ / ‘Knife,’ Roadhog said, because one of the Wreckers had thrown one.”
Junkrat is worried that Roadhog was gonna be mad at him for revealing his treasure/getting the town to turn on him
Junkrat is more concerned about Roadhog’s opinion of him than the increasing danger around him (aka the knife coming toward him)
Roadhog feels inclined to warn Junkrat of danger
Roadhog uses concise language when talking to Junkrat (though tbh he just does this with everyone)
“’Mako,’ [Junker Queen] said, ‘is he lying [about his treasure]?’ / ‘Don’t know,’ Roadhog said.”
Junkrat never told Roadhog what his treasure is (it’s more or less revealed later in the story that Roadhog’s “don’t know” is truthful)
This could contribute to the notion that Roadhog just sticks around with Junkrat because he feels like it and not because he has particular investment in Junkrat’s treasure
Could be interpreted as indication that Roadhog doesn’t know now to read Junkrat (or doesn’t care to learn to read him) in that he can’t tell if Junkrat is lying or not
“’I was really looking forward to watching you die,’ [Junker Queen] said. / ‘Me too,’ Roadhog said.”
Roadhog expresses verbally that he’s tired of sticking around Junkrat and wants him dead
Contrasts with the couple times he tried to stop Junkrat from dying in the previous pages, so likely more intended as a way to express his annoyance than to be taken literally
“Firing a grapple through the crowd, Wrecking Ball surged forward. Roadhog charged after, laying about with his hook to keep the path clear. Junkrat followed…with the Queen’s knife at his back.”
Roadhog immediately starts following Wrecking Ball (aka presumably doing what Junker Queen wants him to do), suggesting he doesn’t have strong affiliations and will just go along with whatever, or that he possibly is more willing to take orders from Junker Queen than Junkrat.
For me this comes out of nowhere; JQ doesn’t even command them to start doing stuff or explain what she wants them to do other than saying “Champ! Lay out the red carpet!” (which I don’t think would be something Roadhog understands)… so for me idk if this is really indicative of anything about Roadhog so much as it is strange writing lmao;; but that’s my personal take, obv the above reading is still possible.
Being totally honest I also have no idea how to visualize the way they’re walking here. I guess they’re following like… single file? Behind Wrecking ball? Anyway.
Page 8
“’Roadhog,’ he whispered. / ‘No,’ Roadhog said. / ‘What do you mean, no?’ / ‘No more plans.’
Roadhog actually is good at reading Junkrat, as he predicts what Junkrat is going to say here. Either that or Junkrat is just predictable (in that he’s always scheming).
Junkrat tries to work together with Roadhog when things go bad for them
Roadhog is uncooperative with Junkrat and doesn’t listen to him
“Junkrat almost exploded. But he decided, rather cunningly he thought, to save his temper for later.”
Junkrat and Roadhog likely argue over things, potentially because Junkrat loses his temper easily
(Junkrat) “’Once Queenie gets the treasure, we’re expendable. Right?’ / Roadhog said nothing.”
Possible that Roadhog doesn’t respond to Junkrat when he’s annoyed with him.
(Junkrat) “’So, once we get through the door, wait for my signal. All right?’”
Junkrat again taking on a leader sort of role between the two of them and asserting a situation where he makes the decisions while Roadhog waits for commands
Unclear of what Roadhog thinks of this (the narration doesn’t comment on Roadhog much here)
Page 9
“On [Junkrat’s] left, someone was making the funny bubbling sound people made when Roadhog got angry in their vicinity.”
“funny bubbling sound” = presumably the sound of someone choking/being strangled or sth
Kind of playful language used for violence, I think this primarily signals that Junkrat thinks of violence as something fun; but since this sort of language was specifically used in reference to Roadhog causing violence, this could suggest that he’s particularly entertained when Roadhog gets into fights.
Page 10
(Junkrat) “Roadhog! Catch m—”
Junkrat tries to command Roadhog again, has a habit of relying on Roadhog
Roadhog doesn’t catch him/doesn’t listen to his orders
“’Get him up,’ said the Queen. / Roadhog lifted Junkrat into the air and dangled him there.”
Roadhog is more inclined to follow orders from Junker Queen than Junkrat
Emphasizes that he doesn’t think of Junkrat as someone with authority over him
(Junkrat) “’Roadhog! Now!’ / Roadhog stared at him blankly. / ‘I’m giving the signal!’ Junkrat added desperately. / Roadhog scratched his elbow”
Driving home that Roadhog has no interest in taking orders from Junkrat, despite Junkrat’s constant attempts at telling him what to do
“’Forget to tell him the plan, didya?’ said the Junker Queen […] / ‘I suppose I did,’ [Junkrat] said sadly.”
This is actually weird to me, there wasn’t really any indication that he had a specific plan in mind or that he forgot to say something to Roadhog; it was more like JQ interrupted them during their discussion before Junkrat told Roadhog anything.
Kind of suggests that rather than Roadhog deliberately not following Junkrat’s orders, it’s just that Junkrat forgot to tell him what to do. (I think this suggestion is strange because throughout the rest of the story we’ve been given suggestions that Roadhog dislikes taking orders from Junkrat, so that would be his main reason for not following Junkrat here)
Anyway imo this dialogue between JQ and Junkrat is more just a weird writing inconsistency than suggestive of anything between how willing Roadhog would be to take orders from Junkrat
Page 11
“Roadhog peered around them, his mask failing to hide his awe.”
Confirmation that Roadhog didn’t know what Junkrat’s treasure was (either never asked him or Junkrat never told him)
Summary (?):
1) Junkrat thinks of Roadhog as his partner in crime and his friend. He tries to read Roadhog's non-verbal cues and worries about Roadhog if he believes Roadhog is worried. However, he's not actually skilled at reading Roadhog's emotions or understanding Roadhog's intentions. He believes that Roadhog considers him a friend and that Roadhog would be jealous if he was closer to someone else. It's unlikely that Roadhog actually thinks this way. That said, Junkrat sometimes speaks on behalf of Roadhog in conversations with other people; Roadhog doesn't stop him from doing this. Roadhog also seems to have some skill in understanding Junkrat's intentions and emotions, suggesting he does pay attention to Junkrat to some degree.
2) The two of them have one-sided conversations frequently, where Junkrat talks to Roadhog and Roadhog says nothing in response. It's likely that Junkrat uses these "conversations" with Roadhog primarily as a means to verbalize his own thoughts and come up with solutions to problems he's personally experiencing. Roadhog is usually silent during these conversations because he thinks Junkrat is being noisy/annoying and he's waiting for Junkrat to shut up.
3) Junkrat tries to act as the leader between the two of them and frequently commands Roadhog to do things. His commands are primarily directed at Roadhog with the intent to save him from sticky situations. This could suggest that he either trusts Roadhog's abilities, that he likes having authority over someone, or that he relies on Roadhog to be responsible while he behaves recklessly. Roadhog is never shown to follow Junkrat's orders in this short story, and is instead shown to follow Junker Queen's orders. This suggests that Roadhog doesn't think of Junkrat as an authority figure over him, but he is willing to take orders from people he actually respects. Junkrat gets annoyed by Roadhog's "insubordination," but he continues to command Roadhog to do things regardless of whether Roadhog ever follows through.
4) Roadhog is shown to be gentle (?) with Junkrat in one instance. This is also an instance where he was redirecting Junkrat's attention away from distractions, so it may be the case that Roadhog sometimes takes on the responsibility of keeping Junkrat focused in situations where he's not paying attention. Junkrat has also been shown to look to Roadhog for confirmation when he's unsure of something (memory, etc).
5) Junkrat and Roadhog have caused a lot of trouble together in Junkertown (New Junk City? idk) in the form of blowing things up. These schemes are likely orchestrated by Junkrat, though Roadhog is indicated to have participated as well. It is possible to interpret from this that Junkrat's treasure is not the only motivator for why Roadhog hangs out with Junkrat (as these schemes did not involve money or treasure), and that Roadhog hangs out with Junkrat because he likes to cause trouble with Junkrat for fun. It is also revealed that Roadhog doesn't know what Junkrat's treasure is, meaning he either never asked Junkrat or Junkrat never told him. This could further support the notion that Roadhog is more motivated to hang out with Junkrat to cause mayhem than to take his treasure.
6) Roadhog is shown on multiple instances to speak harshly toward Junkrat, and also expresses verbally that he doesn't care if Junkrat dies. This is contrasted with his actions, where he saves Junkrat from getting hit by Wrecking Ball and tries to warn Junkrat of oncoming danger. This suggests that Roadhog's external demeanor and words are not always indicative of his internal feelings, and that he doesn't earnestly want Junkrat to get hurt or die. He is also somewhat suggested to put himself in danger for Junkrat's sake and prioritize Junkrat's safety over his own. Junkrat is not shown to be good at looking out for Roadhog, and sometimes prioritizes bickering with Roadhog over both his and Roadhog's safety.
7) Despite his posturing, Junkrat is shown to care about what Roadhog thinks of him, and he doesn't want Roadhog to think of him as an idiot when his plans go awry. He at times may care more about Roadhog’s opinion of him than of any danger that may be happening around him. He is also shown to find it entertaining when Roadhog commits acts of violence as his ally.
---
ANYWAY!!!!!! thanks for reading if you did lol I know it's like way too long... I'll prob do one more post after this, looking at things like their character profiles on the OW2 website, promos from twitter/etc, details in ow2 skins, and event-specific voice lines. If anyone has any leads (?) or points that they want me to include or talk about, feel free to message me or send me an ask! I'm just going off of stuff that I'm aware of, so I'm sure I'll miss some stuff haha;;
Thanks again for reading!
Part 1: [click] Part 2: [click] Part 4: [click] Part 5: [click]
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What happened before the events of ch&t season 1? (my take)
Today I finished re-listening to season 1 of ch&t, and I feel like after the second listen I understand things a bit better now. So I decided to write about my take on what happened. Apologies if anyone's done this before, I'm not trying to copy anyone!
Keep in mind that this is all speculation (and I did fill in the blanks on some parts that weren't mentioned within the podcast), so I probably got a lot of this wrong. By no means should you treat this as canon! I'm just a hyperfixated cat writing theories on the internet, take what I say with a grain of salt please
Spoiler warning for ch&t ofc!!
(Oh, and read with caution, I can't guarantee that this information won't kill you. I haven't tested it yet. /j /j /j /j /j)
Sydney is in a coma. The cause is unclear, but he's very sick and has been this way for quite a while. Elijah, who even now is obsessed with him, uses his chthonic aptitude on the other nurses to get around the hospital schedule and spend every moment with him.
Jedidiah is trying to figure out how to save Sydney. He remembers something from college, a sort of magic that Sydney could perform. He thinks it might help, so he breaks into his college dorm to look for something, anything that could bring him back to health. (Side note-- This "magic" that he could perform will never be mentioned in the present aside from Elijah reading about it in Jedidiah's journal, so perhaps Sydney will lose the ability to perform it... or maybe just forget that he could ever do it at all?) But the kinds of things Sydney wrote about weren't going to help.
No, this wasn't going to work. He wasn't going to be able to reverse Sydney's sickness... He had to try something different.
As he writes in his journal, the first step to fixing something... is to turn it off and turn it back on.
So he takes Sydney to the forest. (Don't ask me how he manages to get past Elijah with him. I don't know.) He kills him.
And then he brings him back to life.
It had never been done before, but he managed it. But something went wrong-- In resurrecting Sydney, Jedidiah has turned the world upside-down. And even more than that, nobody remembers what it was like before. It's as if it was always like this. The sky was never blue. Birds have always been able to speak English. The world has always been like this.
The only one who knows the truth is Jedidiah.
He tries to tell his father. And that's how he learns that information can be dangerous.
(I can't quite figure out the details of this. What Jedidiah will describe is quite hard to wrap my head around... I'm sure the train is important, and at first I thought that Jedidiah telling him the story causes him to get hit by a train; But the evidence is stacked against this, I think. We'll see when Elijah tries to read the journals that the information itself is what causes the harm, rather than indirectly causing something else to kill the person who tries to know it. Anyway, if you have any theories on how the story Jedidiah will tell to Sydney fits into this, please let me know! I'd love to hear it!)
After this, Jedidiah decides that he won't tell anyone else, for fear of hurting them in the same way he hurt his father. It's already become hard to be around Sydney, and this just gives him yet another reason to avoid him.
So he avoids him.
And avoids him more and more, until the avoidance ends up causing more harm than letting Sydney into his life ever could have.
That's all!! Let me know what you think of this and if there's anything you think happened differently ^^
Now that I've finished ch&t a second time, it's time to start over again! Yaaaaaayyyyyyyyy
(season 2 summer 2025 season 2 summer 2025 PLEASE) (I'm normal about this podcast)
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serickswrites · 4 months ago
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Now that I've read the part 2 of It's Over... Maybe I wanna read a part 3? I just love it so much, I can't help but want to know what happens next-
With Seokmin seeing Wonwoo's scars and confronting him about it. He's just worried and horrified when he discovers what happened to him. He decides to seek revenge but when he finds Jeonghan, the latter is much stronger than him and he captures him and tortures him. Wonwoo goes looking for his friend, but when he finds him, he's basically half-dead?
Hello, Anon. I'm so glad you are enjoying it. I can definitely write this for you. Please enjoy.
Part 1 Part 2 Part 4
Warnings: referenced captivity, referenced torture, referenced restraints, revenge, recapture, cuts, blood, unconsciousness, unclear character status, fade to black
Seokmin realized his mistake two seconds too late. He had been so hell bent on making Jeonghan pay for what he did to Wonwoo that he didn't notice anything about his surroundings. Had been so horrified by what Wonwoo had told him after Seokmin had seen his shirt collar slip that he didn't realize how strong Jeonghan was. And he had been so absorbed in making sure Jeonghan hurt the way he had hurt Wonwoo that he didn't realize he was in too deep.
But now as he lay strapped to a table once again, he realized his folly. He regretted pressuring Wonwoo into telling him what happened. Not because he was now going to suffer the consequences, but because he had hurt his friend. And that he likely wasn't going to be able to make amends.
"Oh, I am going to enjoy hurting you. Poor little Wonwoo is going to be finding pieces of you until kingdom come." Jeonghan said with a sick smile. "Anything to make my little Wonwoo regret what he did to me."
"Please," Seokmin tried quietly, "you don't have to do this."
Jeonghan laughed. "I don't have to. But I want to. Wonwoo chose you over me. And I will make him pay."
Seokmin had thought he had been in pain before. But this did not compare. Jeonghan was not gentle. He did not take his time. He just cut over and over. Seokmin's head swam as he felt his skin split and blood pour from the wounds.
"Pl-Pl-Please," he whispered. He could barely keep his eyes open. He didn't want Wonwoo to find him like this. To find his corpse like this.
"None of that," Jeonghan sneered, drawing the knife down the center of Seokmin's chest, "or I'll end this way sooner than I planned. It's your choice. I get enjoyment either way."
Seokmin clamped his mouth shut. He was too tired, too weak to fight. He could barely keep himself from closing his eyes. But he was so tired. Perhaps he could rest his eyes for just a moment.
He blinked.
"Seokmin, you have to stay awake," Wonwoo's voice was in his ear. How was that possible?
He blinked again.
"Please, Seokmin, please! Keep your eyes open." Wonwoo urged more loudly.
Seokmin could barely feel his body. Could barely focus. Why was Wonwoo talking to him? He wasn't even here.
He blinked once more.
Somebody slapped his cheek. "Please, Seokmin. I need you to stay with me!" Wonwoo's face loomed over Seokmin.
Wonwoo was here. Seokmin was too exhausted to feel relieved. And he was too exhausted to regret the state that Wonwoo had to find him in. It just took everything out of him to keep his eyes open.
"There you go, Seokmin. I need you to hold on a bit longer," Wonwoo said, his voice strange and distant.
Seokmin felt the urge to blink. "No, no! None of that, Seokmin, please!" Tears glistened in Wonwoo's eyes.
Seokmin felt a shadow of sadness and guilt. It was all too much. He couldn't muster the energy to speak. He could barely muster the energy to breathe. And as he slipped into the awaiting dark, he hoped that Wonwoo would forgive him.
@celestialsoyeon
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twistedtummies2 · 10 months ago
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Gathering of the Greatest Gumshoes - NUMBER ONE
HAPPY EASTER! TIME TO CELEBRATE WITH THE MOST NON-EASTER-Y THING EVER! Welcome, everybody, for the final entry of “A Gathering of the Greatest Gumshoes!” Throughout this month-long event, I’ve been counting down my Top 31 Favorite Fictional Detectives, from movies, television, literature, video games, and more! We’ve finally come to the end of March, and the time has come to unveil my topmost personal pick.
SLEUTH-OF-THE-DAY’S QUOTE: “Once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”
NUMBER ONE IS…Sherlock Holmes.
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Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous creation is one of the most frequently adapted, reimagined, and referenced characters in the history of English literature. I think the only other pieces of literature who can compete are Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” and possibly Lewis Carroll’s “Alice” stories. Therefore, while so many other characters have carried the title in their universes of “the World’s Greatest Detective,” it’s no surprise most people still associate that phrase with Holmes, and it’s no surprise that Holmes takes the top spot. Through sheer universal appeal and constant reinvention, he’s clearly earned the rank. If Edgar Allan Poe invented the modern detective story with C. Auguste Dupin, then Doyle’s Holmes perfected the formula, and created the icon that pretty much every famous detective character since then has tried to emulate or push against since then.
It's not entirely clear WHY Conan Doyle made Holmes. I’ve heard multiple different accounts and explanations for how the concept came into Doyle’s mind, and what prompted him to create the great detective. However, if the reasons for his creation are unclear, what IS clear are Holmes’ origins. Doyle was chiefly inspired by a former teacher of his, Dr. Joseph Bell; a slightly eccentric surgeon who was one of the first forensic experts in history, and would eventually gain some recognition when helping the police on the infamous Jack the Ripper case. (He also may have taken some inspiration, according to at least one source, from the real-life Scotland Yard Inspector Richard Tanner, who worked on the slightly-less-well-known Franz Muller case - the first recorded murder committed aboard a train.) Mingling this inspiration with various unique qualities that seemed to stem from his own imagination, Doyle created the ultimate detective: the first Private Consulting Detective in fiction, and easily the most renowned.
It is humorous, in hindsight, to then realize that Doyle didn’t actually care that much for Holmes, overall. A bit like Agatha Christie with her own much later creation, Hercule Poirot, Doyle came to feel dissatisfied with Holmes. This wasn’t so much because of Sherlock’s personality or motivations, but simply because Doyle saw the Holmes stories more as a sort of lucrative hobby than anything else; he sensed that other works of his, which he felt far more passionately about, were being sidelined by this strange gumshoe. Doyle, like Christie, attempted to kill off Holmes…but unlike with Christie and Poirot, Doyle could not keep the detective dead. After a few false restarts, he finally brought Holmes back for good, and really didn’t stop writing for the detective till 1927, only three years before the end of his own life. The reason for this was simply money: Doyle came to realize that Holmes was what paid the bills, and what everybody wanted most to read. So, for all the other great things he created (Holmes was far from Doyle’s only literary claim to fame), it would be his contribution to crime fiction for which the good man would forever be best recalled. For better or worse, Doyle had created a character who truly seemed immortal.
The Sherlock Holmes stories set the benchmark for just about every famous detective to come. All of the classic tropes are basically here. Eccentric main character with multiple layers? Check. More mundane sidekick who provides an anchor for the audience? Check. A touch-and-go relationship with the official police, riding a fine line between rivalry and amiability? Check. Ability to solve crimes that no one else can seem to figure out? Obviously check. It all begins with Sherlock Holmes, before and beyond anything else. Nearly every character on this countdown up to now would not even EXIST if Sherlock Holmes had not been created, and had not been a success. He is the first great, true hero of literary fiction, I would argue: yes, there’s mythology, folklore, and other such things, but in terms of something with defined roots in what can be classified as resembling contemporary times, Holmes was the one who started everything.
Obviously, there have been way too many interpretations of this character to even ATTEMPT to list. I mean, for God’s sakes, I did a whole countdown – much like this one – where I listed no less than forty-one separate interpretations, including the honorable mentions. And even that one couldn’t cover EVERY version of Holmes I know and have some fondness for. He’s EVERYWHERE. He’s fought Dracula, Jack the Ripper, and Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde almost as often as he’s tackled his arch-nemesis, Professor Moriarty. He’s been depicted in stories that are romantic, comedic, “edgy,” and every other tone you can think of. He’s made it into just about every medium there is, and has been portrayed excellently from seemingly all four corners of the globe. (Which is especially impressive, because a globe shouldn’t HAVE four corners!) From his roots in England, to America, to Russia, and even to Japan: Holmes is inescapable. Whether he’s focused on playing the violin, pumping cocaine into his veins, dealing with a three-pipe problem, or engaging in fisticuffs or even swordplay, he’s always on the move and always up to something odd, and we love him for it. I don’t think anyone would disagree with me when I say that, for sheer recognizability above all else, Sherlock Holmes more than earns my recognition for being My Favorite Fictional Detective. “It’s Elementary, My Dear Watson.”
Thank you all for joining me! Were there any famous detectives you like that didn’t make the cut? Any in particular you’d have placed higher or lower? Feel free to let me know! Take care, everyone, and make sure to get a clue. ;)
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vanes-lawlol · 2 months ago
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hello again vains... tis i, your secret santa again... can you help describe robyn as a character in step 3 if that's okay? like how he carries himself, what his day to day is like, his usual character, etc :DD
Ahoy there anon! Or, my secret santa, again. Thank you for the ask!
I see, I'll try to elaborate as much as I can with my limited English and writing skills... It's a long read and there ain't no tldr, I hope you don't mind! More questions are welcome if there are more things you want to know that's not mentioned here or are unclear (thumbs up)
Robyn Austere (step 3)
____
Appearance wise:
Compared to step 2, he has grown a bit taller, now standing at 192 cm tall. His body also gained weight and muscles, his build bulkier than years ago. It's in his genes and from how he exercises and does basketball often.
He opted for a new olive turtleneck this time, accompanied by an orange-brown jacket and blue sneakers as his usual outfit. Turtlenecks are kind of his thing and also olive colour for his outfit
He wore light cream-framed glasses at this step, too.
He frequently pocketed his hands to his pants pockets, his expression neutral. Takes his hands out when interacting which takes focus. Will quickly smirk or subtly smile when meeting an acquaintance or friends.
____
Personality wise:
He was proud of his achievements as the star basketball player in school, and it drove him to be confident, playful, and can come off as charismatic mostly to others. Personally, he's quite blunt, chill and casual about things, just minding his own business pretty much, a trait he has had since he's a kid.
By himself, he likes to chill in a park (he kept his circle of acquaintances as small as possible). Or he would probably do drills by himself in a court. He rarely wanted to stay at home with Opal. He also hangs around his backyard fort (he adjusted it to his height and all) or just wanders a bit in the forest.
(Education: At school, besides his basketball skills, he has good grades in science and maths, something he only realised after he graduated. He was accepted right away for engineering education for college because of it.)
But after graduating high school, life hit him quite hard. He has been striving so much for the sake of proving his self-worth with basketball (almost his entire school life in the Grove), that he hasn't the time to think about what he wanted for himself outside of it, and he's especially regretful of missing out in life, and to legitimately appreciate those that matters to him (his neighbors).
This made him feel insecure and unworthy of things. He tries to hide it, but sometimes it leaks out in his interactions—manifesting as unconscious self-sabotage or uncertainty. As a result, he's become more independent, sometimes to a fault, avoiding vulnerability, and thinking of it as a form of self-worth.
____
Social aspects:
Relationships:
(I'm not mentioning many characters, but I hope it's fine!)
Opal: Quite distant, one of the reasons why he wanted to move out of the Grove and start living by himself. He didn't like how she had been trying to decide everything for him and mentioning or comparing him to a father he didn't have in the first place. Calls her by name near the end of Step 3.
Mr. Yusuf: Sees him as a father figure, but not someone he wants to be compared to, as he is not his father, after all. He only trusts him to take care of Opal, and someone he can go to, only sometimes.
The Baumanns (parents): I have no idea how they are as their own, but I'd like to assume he was kind of shy to interact with them, despite Tam keep dragging him to hang out together. Robyn is quite sympathetic towards Nichole sometimes (which she doesn't appreciate out of modesty but Tam does). He sometimes interacts with Frederick, just talking about science or the like. As he is a busy person, I assume, there's also little time to see the Dr. himself.
The Baumanns (grandparents): I can imagine him being pretty close to Granny, since he visits Tamarack a lot as neighbours (and she appreciates him for taking care of Tamarack). He somewhat admires her spirit in life. He was surprisingly amicable to Mr. Baumann.
The Lins (parents): He is polite and friendly towards them. He's still kind of indebted to Mr. Hong for enabling him and Opal to live in the Grove. He's a bit surprised by his ever friendly treatment at this step. Mrs. Yi is a cool neighbour to him this time. But I like to imagine that she has this rueful smile sometimes when talking to him, and what comes after will always how she was aware of Qiu's crush towards him in their interaction, which is something Robyn feel awkward about.
Machel (original character I made up as his friend, optional to include in your writing): Very close, brothers in arms ever since in the basketball team together at school. He was a bit sad that they would separate, going to different campus, but they vowed to still be bros even after graduating. Robyn likes to ask him to hang out when he feels like it, and they play basketball sometimes. Machel is a bit busy preparing for college at this step, so Robyn rarely sees him.
Qiu: Close acquaintance. Almost friends, I suppose? He doesn't mind interacting, chatting, following along with their flirts, jokes or physical gestures, and he appreciates their presence. But he doesn't actively seek their presence like a close friend. He's unaware of their feelings towards him, and always steers away from the topic whenever it's brought up.
Tamarack: Crush, maybe love, but doesn't want to think that way out of lack of self-worth and doesn't want to come off as overbearing. You can say he's pretty smitten over her, just never could confess properly (but acts it out instead, unaware or not). He still tries to take care of her like how he has done for her since 5th grade, but honestly, at this step, she's more proactive than ever, which he didn't mind at all. He wants to desperately make up the times he missed with her from their school life.
His thoughts about Golden Grove...
He's not too bored about it anymore. If anything, he's actually amazed by how quaint the place is, now that he's 18 years old and able to wander more of the place. He has quite a reputation from his time playing for the school, and some admirers sometimes greet him (rarely). Not to mention the forests surrounding it, and watching how it changes over the years, no matter how small it is, amazes him too. He feels sad that he had to leave because of college, because of the memories he had there, but managed to because of Opal, too.
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kiichu · 1 year ago
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Tagged by @pomegranate-belle!! thank u!!
Rules: List your WIPs below (if you only write one fic at a time, feel free to include future WIPs/ideas!) then answer the following questions. Then, tag as many people as you have WIPs (or more).
WIP List:
-NOPE found family fic, part 4! (of 4?) -Trane (Troy/Jane) soulmate mark AU -something something movie William Afton pov? -Hongou + Kurashikis Zero team (but they're manipulating him) bark bark bark dog metaphors -Kieran lives -Ashley Graydon is the Masked Apprentice
2. Which of your WIPs is currently the longest?
That'd be the NOPE fanfic, which is 3422 words so far. I know, it's not a long thing, but I have bits and pieces for my WIPs before I polish and publish them.
3. Which WIP do you expect will end up the longest?
Maybe the Ashley Graydon Masked Apprentice AU? Depending on if I ever write more of it to create chapters.
4. Which WIP is your favourite to write/the most enjoyable to write? Why?
The Trane one is fun because Jane is just so unapologetically mean as a narrator. And she bashes Troy a lot, which is awesome.
5. Which WIP do you find the most intimidating to write? Why?
Probably the bark bark bark one bc I want to match the beauty and darkness of the two pieces of fanart that inspired it. And I want people to read it, I don't want it written off as "oh emi, making hongou and the kurashikis like each other just like you tried to peddle back in 2012, huh?" Like, no - that's not what's happening there. They're working together but Hongou is very much a bastard and very much getting what's coming to him anyway.
6. Which WIP do you experience the most self-doubt about. Why?
See above tbh. And I get nervous about the NOPE fic bc it's a finale of sorts to my series.
7. Which of your WIPs will you seek out a beta/sensitivity reader for? Why?
I don't use betas/sensitivity readers ever, so. None.
8. Have any of your WIPs been struck by the curse of writer's block?
LMAO like ALL of them? Plus several more I have let fall by the wayside for years??
9. Which WIP has your favourite OC? Tell us about them?
None of them have OCs...
10. Which WIP is the sexiest?
The Trane soulmate AU's got some smut in there, so that one.
11. Which WIP is the angstiest?
Tie between Kieran and Ashley. Kieran just deserves a hug and Ashley... well, he can have one too, but doesn't deserve it as much.
12. Which WIP has the best characterisation (in your humble opinion)?
I... I don't know. Lots of them feature characters with just a glimpse of a canon personality, so it's unclear how "accurate" they are written.
13. Which WIP has the best scene setting (in your humble opinion)?
I like the NOPE fic. It's a sweet piece from Emerald's POV - she gets to talk with Ryder this time. c:
14. Which WIP have you worked the hardest on?
Hard to say tbh. I think they're all about even.
15. Which WIP do you have the highest expectations for? Why?
I... think the Kieran one would probably be the most popular. The rest are pretty obscure haha.
16. Do you dream about any of your WIPs?
Dreams... I dunno, I don't think so.
17. Do any of your WIPs have particular complexities that your other fics don't?
I mean they're all kinda complex in their own way? I have to keep checking wikis and thinking over characterization.
18. Which WIP is the funniest or has the most humour?
I think the NOPE fic! Em has a lighthearted POV for the most part. :]
19. Do any of your WIPs contain outside POVs or a deep dive on a character other than the main ship? How are you finding that process?
Most of my WIPs don't have to do with ships, so
20. Tell us one thing we don't know about one or more of your WIPs.
I really have no idea sorry.... I don't really know what I've said about them and what I haven't, lmao
Tagging: YOU!!!!!!
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frostyreturns · 2 months ago
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Frosty Ruins The Halloween Tree
I’ve only recently become familiar with the writing of Ray Bradbury, I went through high school without being assigned any of his books, which is probably good because high school reading is typically what makes people hate a book. Last year I read Fahrenheit 451 and really enjoyed it but this year I read From The Dust Returned and thought it was just okay and bordering on bad. My experience with that novel doesn’t bode well for my enjoyment of this cartoon because it was one of his spooky themed novels, but it’s a lesser known novel and not as well liked as Something Wicked This Way Comes…so I’m willing to give some more spooky Bradbury a try.
Right off the bat it gets points for having excellent artwork. All of the scenery looks like a good quality painting. Ray Bradbury as the narrator also works well and gives it the feel of a holiday special right out of the gate... but they lose a point for the blasphemy of suggesting halloween is better than Christmas. In fact Bradbury’s narration reminds me of the first person narration of Ralphie in A Christmas Story. I don’t know if it’s a similar sounding voice or the cadence he speaks in but I keep expecting to hear about a bb gun. Now before you accuse me of looking at the movie with Christmas glasses on, the story does seem to be emulating a Christmas special, and they even mention A Christmas Carol when first approaching the haunted house. And as soon as the one character starts going on about how they don’t know why they’re all dressed up I can already tell this is going to be a “true meaning of halloween” story.
I like the tone of the story as well, it’s appropriately creepy without being over the top and too scary for kids. I think having one of their young friends die and come back as a ghost might be a bit much for some kids even if it wasn’t done in a scary way. I also find it a little weird how obsessed they are with their friend.
One of the reasons I’m split on Bradbury is that his prose is poetic and interesting but when he’s trying to be spooky his descriptions become vague and strange and hard to follow and they will be that even more so for the children that this cartoon is intended for. It’s even worse when he’s describing something odd that you don’t have context for....like when he’s describing ripping off pieces of old signs with pictures of animals on them that are also their souls and they get magically fashioned into a giant kite. I’m imagining trying to picture what he was saying without the weird visual and I would have been lost.
At about a half hour in I have questions, the ovararching premise is clear, as I mentioned before it’s a Christmas special style introduction to halloween and is taking the kids through its origins and traditions. However the plot within the premise is unclear. Their dead friend pip…steals a pumpkin from a mysterious old man who we don’t know anything about except that he’s creepy and mystical in some way. Why is the ghost of their friend interested in stealing pumpkins and why is he running away from them all? What exactly is the halloween tree and why does a pumpkin on it allow them to time travel to ancient egypt? Does their friend know what he’s doing…if so how and why doesn’t he explain? The questions take me out of it a bit because I don’t understand the stakes, why does anything I’m watching matter to the characters? Even if/when it's explained later on it leaves way too long of a period where you have no frame of reference or understanding. The plot is convoluted with partly contrived lore that tries to blend with inaccurate real world historical lore so it gets muddled and I lost interest along the way. I also did not care for the ending where the kids all offer up years of their lives to this clearly magical and malevolent occult figure who’s already misled them.
I also have to take issue with some of their explanations of halloween. For example one of the boys is dressed as a mummy and the guy explains why egyptians used to mummify their dead and how they believed they’d return at some point in some fashion. They conclude from this that this means everyday was halloween to the ancient egyptians…which is a massive reach since ancient Egypt predates halloween, which began as a catholic holiday but has its roots in celtic pagan harvest celebrations which also were not from Egypt. The Egyptians were not dressing up like mummies to celebrate a holiday that hadn’t been invented yet, they were practicing their own separate religious beliefs. You can’t look at ancient practices that bear a loose resemblance to a modern one and claim it as an origin. In fact in a story where they try to show the origins of halloween they don’t really talk about samhain or all saints day or explain what they were all about at all…which kind of seems like a critical failure at the task.
They also outright lie about the origins of the word witch. The movie claims witches were just a group of religious people who pretended to have powers to protect themselves from persecution…and then claims the reason they were targetted for persecution was for being too smart and that “wit”…or having their wits about them was the origin of the word witch. It sounds like something some 16 year old on tumblr would say based on nothing but their imagination because they didn't know the real origin but wanted to sound smart and either tricked themselves into believing their own bullshit...or figured saying it with confidence would trick people into believing them blindly. I mean think about it it's an absurd claim. Medieval men and women were like that persons too smart…they’re a wit we should burn them…but let’s add a ch to the word for no reason and then attach wildly different meaning to the word.
It actually comes from the word wicca or wiccan which were derived from germanic and related to the word wichelen…words which all had meanings related to performing magic or divination and basically using those means to try to control someone. So they’re not just getting it wrong they’re lying to sell a much less sensical politicized version of history to kids. And they didn’t even really relate it to the origin of halloween because the only reason they talked about it was because the one girl was dressed like a witch for halloween. Wiccan is also where we get the word wicked from because they were/are evil and did fucked up stuff. They basically took instances of false accusations of witchcraft and then extrapolated that to be the entirety of what it is. Which is kind of like telling kids that pedophilia is when someone is falsely accused of wanting to have sex with children simply because they enjoy being around children. Like yeah I’m sure that’s happened and is fucked up but that doesn’t mean that is what the thing is. Your explanation of the thing negates the thing existing and is worthless.
Ultimately halloween is a holiday best separated from it’s roots and enjoyed for what it is now…a day for dark creepy stuff, autumn aesthetics, an excuse to dress up, eat candy and party. Even when exploring its origins there’s not really a deeper meaning… no salvation message, no moral lessons or practical significance to the old beliefs it is based on, which is why they were completely absent from the movie. Samhain was just a party, and they celebrated it when they did because it was the appropriate time of year to be celebrating harvest. They’re trying to emulate a Christmas style special but the true meaning of Christmas” is a trope and the true meaning of halloween isn’t for a reason.
Halloween doesn’t need to get back to it’s roots because the beliefs the roots are based on are mostly gone and almost nobody celebrating halloween holds anything even resembling those beliefs. People still believe in God and in Christ so returning Christmas to those religious origins is important to Christians…people who celebrate halloween do not still hold to the pagan beliefs of its origins. In fact the occult origins are really not meant for mass consumption and awareness…occult literally means hidden. Kind of hard to celebrate and acknowledge beliefs and practices that are kept hidden from the general public and done mostly in secret.
People have their own ways and reasons for celebrating and some are more significant than just i want to party and eat candy. Some people like to dress up because they’re struggling and it’s a chance to be somebody or something else for a while. Some people see embodying the spooky as a way to get over a fear of it. Some celebrate to honor a cultural tradition and others avoid the spooky altogether and choose to celebrate the season, or it’s catholic component for religious reasons. The movie at times treats these things with consideration and other times suggests there’s only one real meaning and significance. It can be significant but there is no one true meaning...which to me negates the purpose of the movie.
Ultimately I was annoyed by it, not all that interested in it as it went on...but it did some things well and wasn't completely awful. If not for all the lies it would have rated higher in my books.
C- the literary element and artwork save it from being a complete shitshow.
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daydreamerdrew · 2 years ago
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Comics read this past week:
Marvel Comics:
The Incredible Hulk (1968) #254-255 and Annual #9 and Marvel Team-Up (1972) #102
Within the main The Incredible Hulk book I went from September 1980 to October 1980. Both issues were written by Bill Mantlo and penciled and inked by Sal Buscema.
The Incredible Hulk #254 begins with a dramatic scene where the Hulk, alone in the desert, asks the stars in the night sky if they know what’s wrong with him, why he can’t have friends, and why he must always be alone. He determines that the reason the stars don’t answer him is because they are too far away to hear, so he tries to jump up to them. The narration says, “There are those who question the extent of the Hulk’s mental processes. Indeed, it is unclear just how far his understanding goes.” The narration goes on to explain, as the Hulk tries and falls and tries again to reach the stars, how the gamma bomb accident changed the Hulk, which ends with, “In short, he gained the power to do almost everything- except reach the distant stars!” Ultimately, the Hulk is just barely not able to break the Earth’s gravitational pull and floats for a bit, loses consciousness due to the lack of oxygen, and falls back to the Earth, burning like a comet. The narration also noted that while the Hulk’s feat would be impressive to anyone else, for the Hulk, “The stars are what is important- and he has failed to reach them!”
The issue ended up having the Hulk fight the U-Foes, a group who purposely recreated the Fantastic Four’s famous accident but without any shielding on their space ship at all so that they would be exposed to even more cosmic rays and therefore become even more powerful. In the end they all find that their powers have evolved beyond the point that they could control them, and so that their powers are killing them. Their leader, Vector, is suffocating as his deflecting power deflects even the air that he needs to breathe when he suddenly shoots up into the sky, having been deflected from the Earth. I’m assuming that he continued to suffocate up there and ultimately died, but the Hulk ends the issue saying, “Hulk did not even have to smash rocket-people! They smashed themselves! But their leader has done what Hulk could not do- He has reached… The stars!” I liked that the Hulk was so single-mindedly focused on reaching the stars that he missed that that man died up there.
The Incredible Hulk #255 was an issue premised around the Hulk fighting Thor. The beginning of the issue created an association between the Hulk and homeless people with a scene where the Hulk sneaked away from a group of police officers that were fighting to keep him out of New York, where he'd been trying to go because he was looking for a place to rest, and found a rare refuge with a homeless man. The Hulk is startled at first that the man wasn't afraid of him, but the man's demeanor is so calm and nonchalant about the Hulk that the Hulk quickly accumulates to him. He breaks down the door to a locked light house because "man wants to sleep inside and Hulk wants to sleep inside," and during the night the peacefully sleeping Hulk turns back into Bruce right next to the man.
Donald Blake was introduced into the issue through him working as a doctor at a freightyard treating the homeless men who turn up there while they're riding trains, who often "suffer dreadfully from malnutrition, exposure." He explains his decision as that, "When I took my Hippocratic Oath of Medicine I swore to help mankind in general and in specific. I consider it my duty to treat these men whether they can pay me or not." I liked how the story pushed so heavily the idea that homeless men deserve proper medical treatment and a comfortable place to stay after associating the Hulk with them. While it's sometimes framed that that Bruce is the human half of the Hulk, he's the one that's really sympathetic, I felt that that parallel brought in the suggestion that the Hulk also deserves care, particularly with how the perception of the Hulk as a monster was challenged by Thor realizing at the end that he had had too narrow of a view of the Hulk. Though it is a bit awkward has this is belief that homeless people deserve care is somewhat taken for granted, presented on its own without much acknowledgement that it is unique, misrepresenting the real situation.
There were a few things during Thor and Hulk's fight that stood out to me. When Thor first approaches the Hulk, he asks him what the reason for his rage is, and the Hulk responds, "Longhair is like all the rest! He wants to know why Hulk does what he does! But Hulk does not need to have reasons… Because Hulk has power!" The Hulk is typically misunderstood, but that people are always trying to figure him out isn't true. Most have their assumptions and stick with them. So it's interesting to me that the Hulk would have such an aversion to someone asking him to explain himself. The previous arc of his book had had the Hulk's therapist, Samson, who has tried to understand the Hulk, repeatedly mishandle situations with the Hulk because of his own unquestioned assumptions about him. It may be that that experience has made the Hulk give up on being understood, and question the intentions of people who try. Thor tells the Hulk that he had only previously tried to capture him, "For thine own good, Hulk- and for mankind's!" The Hulk's response is, "Bah! Hulk is the only one who knows what is good for Hulk!" Similarly, I think it makes sense that the Hulk wouldn't trust anyone else either to know what's best for him or to actually act on that, as that preceding arc of this book emphasized the Hulk feeling unappreciated by his friends, the people he cares about and wants to care about him, who would be the only people he might trust for that.
And Thor tells the Hulk that, regarding the inconclusive endings of their previous fights meaning that it hasn't been proven which is stronger, "I deemed the question of strength unimportant." The Hulk immediatly says," It is important to Hulk! Longhair has always hated Hulk! But Hulk has always hated Longhair, too! And what Hulk hates- Hulk smashes!" It is important to the Hulk both that he is the strongest and that he is known as the strongest. Oftentimes, when he is yelling at people about how strong he is, it is in the context of him telling that they should have known better than to attack him and should have just left him alone. Both how strong he is and his reputation serve to discourage people from hurting him, which is what he wants, but it can also make people feel that they have no choice but to fight him, which is a frequent problem in his life. But the Hulk can only recognize the former and doesn't consider trying to make himself seem weak as a defensive measure.
The Annual was published in June 1980 and was written by Doug Moench. Most of the issue was penciled by Steve Ditko with Al Milgrom penciling two pages, and most of the issue was inked by Al Milgrom with Walter Simonson assisting with a few panels.
The story was based around the Hulk running amok in New York City where he’s largely only causing serious damage when this group of rich guys messes with him for fun. At the beginning a reporter explains that the “attention and the stressful aspects of the city itself- the noise, glaring lights, and congestion- could combine to keep the Hulk in a perpetual state of hyper-tension.” The Hulk is stressed out, but that point the police are just monitoring the situation and keeping people away from him, so the Hulk only smashes the barricades meant to keep people away from to yell at them to get away from him and then jumps away. He’s still in the city, but he calms down a bit with this brief respite from the attention, and that’s when the rich guys first attack him. It’s later made explicit that he would have eventually calmed down enough to turn back into Bruce if it wasn’t for those guys continuously attacking him.
There is one detective who recognizes that the incidents where the Hulk causes serious damage are unique, and pushes for a full investigation despite the work it would cause, and advocates for not calling in the National Guard for assistance, thinking that that would only make the situation worse, and instead for just leaving the Hulk alone. He goes on TV saying that, “The Hulk does not seem to be violent unless and until provoked.” This story’s approach to that idea worked a lot better for me than the recent arc across issues #245-253 did because those issues used it as an argument about the character’s entire history, whereas this detective’s perspective was really confined to the events of this story. It’s believable to me that that would be the detective’s understanding of the Hulk based on what he’d seen in this story, but it wasn’t believable for me that all of the characters in that arc who expressed that would believe that, which created annoyance and dissonance for me. And, importantly, it’s not true. The Hulk has hurt people unjustly and unprovoked before, but he’s certainly been attacked unprovoked many times. The thing about comic book characters is that you’ll see them approached in a variety of ways across different writers and time periods, and it’s the complexity of that full picture that I find compelling. The arc’s message overstretched its reach while lacking nuance, which created annoyance and dissonance for me as a reader. And I also liked that in this issue the Hulk wasn’t written as not creating problems before those guys started messing with him, but that he was just more manageable before their interference.
The Marvel Team-Up issue was published in November 1980 and was written by Mike Barr. Frank Springer did the breakdowns for the art and then Mike Esposito finished and inked it.
This story was actually a team-up between Doc Samson and Spider-Man. At the beginning of the issue, Samson is speaking at a panel on “Gamma Treatment for the Mentally Ill,” which Peter Parker is attending as a college student. The opposing speaker is revealed to be Dr. Delia Childress, who Samson had previously dated. Her argument is based on the existence of the Hulk, saying, “His mindless rages- His brute strength- are the product of gamma radiation! I say that we must not experiment further with gamma rays… But we must halt all gamma research… And whatever other monsters it may have created!” That last part is said with a pointed look towards Samson, who obviously is also affected by gamma rays. But Samson’s argument is based his own existence, he agrees that “gamma rays are a menace because they turned Bruce Banner into the Hulk” but he clarifies that that was “uncontrolled gamma radiation” and that how he was been transformed, as a super-strong man but still a man, proves that “controlled gamma rays” are safe. Samson hasn't previously advocated for using gamma radiation intentionally for medical treatment, though it makes sense because his experience has largely gone well. I am a bit confused, though, by why it's specifically mental illness he thinks gamma rays could help treat. I had thought that part of the reason Samson had such a positive experience was meant to be that as a psychologist he didn't have substantial mental issues, whereas it was said in the story where Samson had a therapy session with the Hulk that the Hulk had existed as a part of Bruce's mind before the accident, meaning that Bruce had had issues before that point and that allowed for what happened to him.
Peter in the audience is dismissive of Samson, thinking, “Big deal! So he’s strong- He’s nothing but a cocktail-party psychiatrist, using his powers to become famous!” While Peter's flippancy about this may be influenced by him also having powers, I liked this reaction to Samson because we haven't seen much of him outside of Hulk stories before, so we haven't seen much of the different ways he could be perceived by the general public.
After the panel more information on Samson and Delia’s previous relationship is revealed. Delia says, “If only you and my father had let me be myself… If only you’d stopped trying to force me into the mold of what you wanted me to be!” This is accompanied by a flashback panel of the three about to go snorkeling. The father is telling Dalia, “Now don’t forget to check your air tanks, and…” Delia cuts him off by saying, “Dad, can’t we do what I want to do- just once?” But Samson dismisses her, saying, “Wait till you try it, Delia! You’ll love it!” Eventually, one of Delia’s legs was permanently injured while she was doing an activity that her father pushed her to do. She tells Samson in the present that, “You’re still trying to control my life, Leonard- still telling me I’m wrong, and you’re right! But it won’t work- not this time!” The flaws suggested by this, that Samson would so pervasively steamroll his partner and integrate himself into and support a pre-existing negative dynamic between her and her father, that he was so unaware at the time to how Delia really felt about it, seems like they would be particularly bad for a therapist. And outside of that context, I’m curious as to how they might become relevant whenever it is that he and Betty Ross form a serious relationship with his dynamic with her father.
The villains of this issue are using a device to mess with Samson’s gamma strength. They can weaken him for their convenience or make him too strong to have self-control in order to publicly delegitimize him. At one point Samson declares, “They… They think they can use me… Make me a menace, like the Hulk! But it won’t work! I’m not a monster, I’m Doctor Leonard Samson… And Doc Samson is no one’s pawn!” The importance to Samson that he’s better than the Hulk and dismissing him as just a monster has already been an hinderance to him properly treating the Hulk. But previously this had only been presented in the context of Samson’s personal insecurities. This made me think about Samson’s public reputation, and the necessity for both his career and well-being that he’s thought of as being different than the Hulk because of the Hulk's poor standing with the law and how that might play into his treatment of the Hulk as well.
In the end it’s revealed that the person leading the group of villains who are after Samson is Delia. She’s working for A.I.M., both to publicly discourage gamma radiation research so that A.I.M. will be the only organization using it, and to learn how Samson got his stable powers from gamma radiation. But she’s motivated by personal reasons as well, telling Samson, “I’ll help you feel as weak and helpless as I’ve felt, all these years.” When the plan fails, Delia attempts to kill herself, but Samson saves her. He tells her, “I’m a doctor, Delia- I won’t let anyone die… Certainly not you… Not the woman I love!” And he tells Spider-Man, “Delia has been alone with her hatred- her deserved hatred- of me for too long. I crippled her… physically and mentally… But I’ll see her cured- if it takes the rest of my life!” It’s good that Samson is finally showing some acquiescence to Delia’s criticisms of his treatment of her, but I don’t actually think his assessment that he crippled her is right. I am curious to see if she’s a character that will actually have relevance later, if there will be actual stories where Samson tries to help her.
Fawcett Comics:
the Captain Marvel stories in Whiz Comics (1940) #70 and Captain Marvel Adventures (1941) #51-52
In this batch of seven Captain Marvel stories I read through his appearances in January 1946. These stories ranged from seven to nine pages long.
The story “The Son of Sivana” (written by Otto Binder; drawn by Pete Constanza) in Captain Marvel Adventures #52 was the first appearance of Thaddeus Sivana Jr. In the story Captain Marvel goes to see Freddy Freeman and gets Captain Marvel Jr. to help him, and at the end Captain Marvel has captured Sivana Sr. while Captain Marvel Jr. is still chasing Sivana Jr., that storyline to be continued in the next issue of Captain Marvel Jr. This is really reminiscent of how in Freddy’s origin story in Whiz Comics #25, the villain Captain Nazi killed Freddy’s grandpa and permanently disabled Freddy but didn’t receive his due punishment in that issue. Instead, that story ended with Captain Marvel sending Captain Marvel Jr. over to Master Comics to continue that fight, and along with that encouraged the readers to go buy that comic too.
When Captain Marvel first sees Sivana Jr. he says, “But I didn’t know you had a son, besides your daughter Beautia!” Sivana Sr.’s response doesn’t correct Captain Marvel on this. It makes sense that Georgia Sivana wouldn’t be brought up as she first appeared around this time in Mary Marvel #1, cover dated December 1945. But it’s an unfortunate situation for Magnificus Sivana- who first appeared in Whiz Comics #15, cover dated March 1941- as it seems that everyone, including his family, has forgotten about him. But he did appear again with the Sivana family when DC Comics revived Captain Marvel and associated characters in the early 70s.
Fiction House:
the Kinks Mason story in Fight Comics (1940) #1
This Kinks Mason story was published in November 1939. The story is credited to Steve Broder, who presumably only drew the story and didn’t write it but the writer isn’t known.
The Grand Comics Database gives the information that, “Steve Broder worked for the Iger Shop doing the Kinks Mason feature for Fiction House appearing from 1940 to 1941. Broder was primarily a commercial artist during his career and, with the exception of about 1938 to about 1941 time period where he worked in New York City, Steve worked in San Francisco from the 1920s until he retired in the 1970s. Steve Broder's work included doing World War II propaganda posters for the war effort through the Office of War Information (OWI).” He was born in 1904, so he would have been 35 when this first Kinks Mason story was published.
I really do like the art style of this story. It's the kind of Golden Age work I find really charming and comforting. And I had wanted to read this because I like underwater-based characters, but the writing of this story, which was 8 pages long, was some of the most simplistic I've seen yet. Things just sort of happen. Kinks Mason is testing a new diving helmet that'll transform the water around him into breathable oxygen for him, but is attacked by a shark during the dive which cuts his line to the ship, and a strong current pulls him down. Eventually, Kinks, while unconscious, is pulled into a large cavern and arrives into a world that's new to him. He wakes up in a graveyard of damaged ships, and while investigating is attacked by a sea monster. After he defeats the sea monster, he spots fighting on one of the other ships and intervenes, helping save the life of a woman, who in turn saves him. Then the men they're fighting are attacked by a new group that arose from the water. Kinks asks the woman, "Who are those beasts?" And the woman tells him, "They are the Goors Slavers." Kinks travels with the group to their underwater kingdom and, where he tells them, "Atlam isle is the key to Goor power. Destroy it!" Kinks participates in the attacks on the isle, and sneaks inside the base in order to free those already captured. The narration explains that, "One of the freed slaves leads Kinks to the munitions room… He sets a time fuse…" The next panel is Kinks yelling, "Run! Warn our people!" After the explosion, Kinks is asked to name a reward for his assistance. He says he wants to return to the upperworld, and he is shown on a map the channel he can use and a mass of gold, being told, "This heavy metal might be useful as weights." Kinks is able to leave, but says, "Goodbye- someday I'll return!" And then he makes it back home.
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mihai-florescu · 2 years ago
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Hey bestie can you please explain the war to me I am trying to understand but it’s like my brain is actively denying my ability to read - @frame-anon
Deep sigh i tried to keep it short but i think i failed. Putting it under the cut
Ok i'll give you the shortest answer i can. So first of all it was a metaphorical war, the executions are regarding social status. This being said, some students did commit suicide during the war, there's a memorial monument in the Yumenosaki schoolyard in their remembrance.
Ok, so what was the reason for the war? Reformation. Yumenosaki students, and the idol industry as a whole, had started going downhill, using the fame of the past but not putting in any effort in the present into their work. There are 2 characters who wished to change this, Eichi and Keito. You hear everyone talk about Eichi as the devil but if they dont mention Keito's role at all, instantly shows me they havent actually read the stories... anyway. So they both had the same goal (but different reasons, Eichi loved idols, and Keito, to my knowledge, wanted things to work according to meritocracy, for the people who are rewarded to put in effort. Im not a keitoP so if im wrong here please correct me)
Eichi is on and off in the hospital so the student council is actually started with Rei as the president. Keito first plans to get rid of delinquents in the vicinity of Yumenosaki but Rei doesnt see eye to eye with this and overall with the whole war plans, and eventually leaves.
Once Eichi becomes president, Keito takes the position of right hand man, and Tsumugi becomes Eichi's left hand man.
How are the 5 eccentrics involved? The plan was to single out (at first 3, then with Tsumugi's advice) 5 talented students, make them the poster children of Yumenosaki, then villainize them as natural born geniuses, monsters, who do whatever they want and are untouchable. The plan being to defeat them one by one, thus motivating the other students, giving them an underdog to root for and hope that they too can be heroes.
And as (ex) Fine(formed by tsumugi, eichi, hiyori, nagisa) gained popularity, they gained a huge following in the school, further antagonizing the 5 eccentrics. There are many things they implemented at the time like units and the dreamfes ranking system that were meant to give them an advantage and to kick the eccentrics down, but also to sort through the general student body and eliminate those who didnt put in effort and just expected to pass without trying.
Now a rundown of how the 5 eccentrics got executed. Kanata was, as you probably know, still worshipped as a living god at the time, but Keito helped dismantle the religion and after Kanata lost support on that front, Akatsuki had a live against Kanta and Chiaki, and won.
Rei was kept busy outside of the country by various factors, including Eichi's meddling with Yumenosaki's sister schools, and it's implied he never got an actual live showdown, he just wasnt there when it mattered.
Shu was humiliated in a live against Fine where the lights and music "malfunctioned" halfway through the performance. It's implied a Fine fan did it to ensure the unit's success, but it's debatable whether Eichi, Tsumugi or Keito had something to do with it directly, or they just knew something like this would happen and allowed it. Regardless, it led to Shu's breakdown and Nito leaving Valkyrie.
It's a bit unclear to me what Wataru was doing for most of the war, but he was kept as the last one to execute, partially because he would know to commit to the role and his fate as antagonist, and partially because Eichi was conflicted, not wanting to kill his idol yet. The last performance was a unit formed by Wataru and Hokuto vs (ex) Fine, who disbanded after that live. I think it's still unknown the exact details of how Wataru ended up joining current Fine (past the fact that he wanted to take Tsumugi's role of Eichi's clown and bluebird of happiness) and I really hope they'll expand on Wataru lore at some point.
Natsume was shielded by the other eccentrics and didn't actually get executed, he wanted them to get a happy ending but it was simply not how the story was supposed to go at the time. So after the war, he ended up joining Tsumugi in a unit based around giving people hope, wishing the war will never repeat itself, and wanting to restore the eccentrics' reputations.
There's also Leo's story in the war, who was used for his songs, but not loved for who he really is as a person. Eventually this loneliness, plus the guilt of knowing that by giving idols songs he's stomping down on their individual creativity, led to his breakdown and isolation.
I hope I managed to explain it well enough? I apologize if I got anything wrong, it's almost 1am and I'm quite tired, do let me know yall if i missed any key elements please.
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helium-stims · 3 years ago
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This isn't a request for stims but I was wondering if you could share how you make gifs? I have trouble finding how to make stim gifs that reference working programs or aren't on mobile (I use desktop primarily). I can use mobile if I have to but even then those guides aren't super clear to me. Thanks <3
Sure! It's under a cut because I tried to go in as much detail as possible, but if anything is unclear or you want more detail on a certain aspect, let me know!
How to get the video
I usually get my videos from instagram and youtube. For youtube, I download the video. Currently I'm using ClipGrab which is a free program you can download at https://clipgrab.org
After I download the video, I use the default video player on my computer (for me it's QuickTime Player) to shorten the video to under 3 minutes (for making a gif, the video has to be under 100 MB)
For instagram I use inflact.com, and instead of downloading the video I right click on the download button and click "Copy Link"
Making the gif
Then I go to https://ezgif.com/video-to-gif
For an instagram video, you can just paste the link you copied into the spot it says "paste video URL" or if it's a downloaded video, you can choose file and upload it.
From there you can play the video and when you get to the start of the part you want to gif, pause the video. Then click "Use current position" at the end of "Start time (seconds)". Play the video until the end of the gif-to-be, then click "Use current position" at the end of "End time (seconds)"
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Next you have to choose the size and frames per second (fps)
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Size
This is up to you. I arbitrarily make my gifs 300 pixels (px). If I remember correctly, tumblr dash is 540 px wide, so if there are two gifs next to each other it's around 270 px, and three gifs would be around 180 px
If you just want a small section of the video, make the gif bigger than you want. For example, in the picture above I chose to use AUTOx320 px (which means the height is going to be 320 px, and the width will be proportionate to the original video)
Here's a still picture of how the gif turned out
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If I wanted to zoom in on the fox's face or another part of the gif, I would have used AUTOx480px and then I have more space to crop out the stuff I don't want
Frames per second
The more frames per second the smoother the gif. I usually do 20 fps which averages about to each from being 0.05 seconds long. Below is the same gif, the top is at 20 fps, and the bottom is at 10 fps. (they were supposed to be side by side, so tumblr didn’t stretch them, but looks like that formatting didn’t work out)
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Both can be fun, depending on what look you're going for! (Feel free to jump to the next bolded section, or if you want more ideas on how to work with fps, keep reading)
If a gif looks slightly too fast, I usually use 25 fps, then click on "speed" which should be where the underneath where your gif turns out
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At 25 fps, you can change the speed to 80% and it will slow the gif down to the 0.05 seconds per frame that I usually use. If there is just a certain part of the gif that's too fast, you can click on the "frames" button and it will let you change the length of each individual frame. In the frames section, it's dealing in 1/100 per second, so if you want a frame to be 0.05, you just use the number 5
25 fps has it at 4 for each frame, so find the section that's a bit too fast, and change those to 5
Cropping
After your gif is made, you can go the bar below the gif (see above picture) and choose some other options.
When cropping your gif, you can choose the aspect ratio, which will keep your lines in a perfect square (or rectangle if you choose that) as you select what part of your gif to crop.
Resizing
This is where I change my gif to 300 px if it didn't end up that size when cropping. (300 is just a random number I chose and am too stubborn to change. Don't feel like it's a special gif size or anything!)
If you resize your gif to a bigger size than it is, it might turn out pixelated, so I recommend only using it to make it smaller
Rotate, Reverse, and Cut
Rotate turns the gif! You also use it to create a mirror image of the gif.
Reverse makes the gif go backwards
Cut is if you made the gif too long, you can take off some of the beginning or end frames
Optimize
Tumblr only allows a gifs under 10 MB to upload it, and usually if it's over 5 MB then it won't move unless it's clicked on, which isn't ideal for boards.
I try to make my gifs under 4 MB, because sometimes tumblr adds some extra bytes to my gifs, and if they are under 4 that ensures they'll still move.
The default when using the optimize feature on ezgif is to use Lossy Gif, which can make your gifs look grainy. If I use the lossy gif, I try to keep it below 15 for the compression. Below example, top is at 5 compression, and the bottom is at 35
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This gif has a lot of movement and color so it's not as noticable. A lot of gifmakers say lossy gif is bad for quality but I think it's a personal choice (I also have a disorder that makes me see static everywhere so it might just be that I don't notice)
If you don't want to risk the grain or you can compress it enough, you can use the "remove frames" option in the optimize menu. Usually removing every 4th frame won't effect speed too much. Every 3rd frame will noticably speed it up, and every 2nd frame will make the gif half as long!
You can also use the "frames" section to "skip" frames and make your gif shorter
Frames
Frames is where you can manage each individual frame of your gif. If there's a weird flash you need to get rid of, just find the frame (or frames) with the flash and press the "skip" button and that will remove those frames from your gif.
You can also try to remove frames to make a section of your gif faster, or you can just change the delay number. The delay number is how many 100ths of a second the frame will be seen for. I never go lower than 3 for the delay and never go higher than 7.
After you've made all the frame adjustments you want, click on "Make a GIF!" A lot of times when you do this, it will end up a larger file size than it needs to be. To fix this, go to "Cut" and don't change any of the numbers. Just click "Cut duration!" This will leave your gif the same length as it was and will usually bring your file size down!
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In the picture you can see that both gifs are the same pixel size and have the same number of frames, but the first is 5.68 MiB and the second is 3.05 MiB
The End
That's all the basic gif making I do with ezgif! Sometimes I use Photoshop to adjust the color or fix if the object moves out of frame. https://www.photopea.com is a website that mimics photoshop for free! If you want to learn more about my photoshop editing, let me know, but you can make a lot of good gifs with just ezgif :)
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maximumcatfeels · 3 years ago
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I dunno about you but the last Hisuian Snow episode was a GIFT.
Spoiler warning!!!!! Also rambling warning! And also a lot of this is my thoughts/interpretations!
1.) it looks like Cyllene was the Captain of the Security Corps before she got moved to Survey Corps. (If not Captain, she was pretty high up the food chain, but since she’s the one with all the lines and making decisions, I’m going to just assume that she was Captain.)
2.) I also choose to read her as being a scheming little shit (or an opportunistic one) because she could have just said that the security corp was going out to look at the scary thing from the sky and refused to take Alec. Instead, she decides to go out with him (bringing a group so there’s at least some safety in numbers) so he can go out and do his thing and deflects the elders naysaying by just saying it’s for security reasons. (And not to help pokemon. And then comes back with Pokémon that need medical help. Lololol Cyllene you little shit)
3.) also I would bet hard money that she was the one who let Alec back in after he ran out to try to help the Rufflet. (She probably didn’t let him bring it in at the time, but at the end, it’s clear that it was brought in eventually. And I’ll bet you more hard money that she had to throw her rank around to get people to allow them in the gates with a bunch of Pokémon in tow)
4.) she tries to keep everyone safe, and also refuses to leave Alec behind (even if she thought he was crazy/being reckless only a few moments earlier).
5.) when Alec says that they need to bring the snover back to town, Cyllene’s only argument is that they don’t have the equipment. (Whether it’s the equipment to help the Pokémon get to town or equipment to help the Pokémon once in town is a bit unclear, but since Alec’s dad rocks up with a sled a few moments later, I’m going to assume the former.) She could have said “hell no, are you crazy?” Or “we’re only here to check out this crazy sky portal bullshit.” Or anything along those lines, but instead her only problem about bringing them back is more about being physically unable to bring them back than anything else.
6.) they end up saving more Pokémon than just the two snover (and rufflet) that they originally found. Cyllene is even carrying one in her arms (an Abra!!) as they return! So much for telling the elders that it was only a security issue, lololol.
7.) when Alec runs off to chase after the shiny Zororak, when Cyllene catches up to him she doesn’t berate him, she just asks what happened.
8.) this probably because they don’t want to show /imply violence in the anime with realistic weapons but it’s interesting to me that Cyllene goes out into the VERY dangerous woods without a sword. I choose to read this as her trying very hard to be nonviolent.
9.) her Abra!!! She carry it like BABY!!! Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!! A super skittish Pokémon allowing itself to be picked up and held by a person so it can take them to an unknown place to get help?! The trust!!! It probably read her mind and went “oh a good human! I trust you human!”I’m melting!!!!!!
10.) the scene where she is contemplating a pokeball while under a tree and the Abra is hanging out near her?? I bet she always liked Pokémon but doubted that they could leave in peace because she’s always heard that they can’t and has seen some shit and then Alec shows her that she’s not alone in thinking that maybe you CAN live in peace with them and I bet she starts scheming on how to start making that a reality and I’m reading too much into it and AHhHHhHhHh!!!!
11.) I wish the pic with Cyllene comparing Laventon’s photo to how he actually showed up fresh off the boat was In The English version but I have seen it floating around tumblr and I LOVE IT. (Also proves that those were his Pokémon and not ones caught in the space time distortions -which wasn’t a debate really, as far as I know, but it was something I had wondered about myself.)
Only downside to the episode, I am now throughly confused about the timeline of when Jubilife was founded. Were there settlers there but they just were unorganized for a while and THEN the Galaxy team showed up or what?? So confused.
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honestmagpie · 2 years ago
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Regarding some of the things:
* When I talk about "Why is no-one helping him" I should have been more clear; I meant that he's probably overwhelmed (Maybe not in the moment, but it's going to catch up) by the sheer amount of stuff (Especially high-energy parkour and mental exhaustion) he is doing, and that he is doing a lot of physical and mental labor. I don't mean that nobody wants or tries to assist him, but given Sasha and Milla don't know there's a massive problem until it's too late, they can't really help him beyond their badges. I don't mean to say Oleander didn't help in RoR in his own way, or that anyone COULD have told Raz that he was safe (Because you're correct, they had things to deal with!) but that Raz was the one doing most of the actual legwork (er, mindwork?) in that game (Again, not that anyone could really do much, and try not to think about how Milla escaped from a schoolbus under the sea that was SOMEHOW water-tight without getting crushed or running out of air). I know that this is because, you know, it's a game. And he's our protagonist. But I'm thinking about how it would feel in-universe for Raz, to be a ten-year-old and taking on the bulk of the legwork for all three of these games.
* When I talk about "Nobody talking about X" I'm actually talking about in-game, not in fandom. I can't speak to what the fandom is talking about, because I don't read enough fanfic. orz
* I didn't mean to say that Otto was genuinely bad for taking a picture, more that I think they REALLY should not have cut that dialogue of his, because otherwise it just kinda... happens? And then it's just never acknowledged. I just thought that was really weird that there wasn't a dialogue and I really wish they'd added something and not just made us guess what that was about. (I'm not counting cut dialogues because cut dialogues are 'optionally canon' ). Tbf this isn't really about Raz I just keep thinking about how weird it is without the context of the cut line.
* You have a point about the bird and the squirrel, LOL. Fair enough. Ya boi's got protein for days.
* I'll also concede that I wasn't clearly remembering the beginning of RoR and I was muddling it with the beginning of PN2 since they're both in a jet, and getting the Oculus out for a replay is a chore. I wasn't going to count his sleeping at the beginning of PN1, but you're right that it's unclear how long it is before the end cutscene of PN1, I hadn't considered that.
* Look I get that there's an emergency and that Hollis doesn't know that Raz saved everyone's brains, but also they had the whole jet ride to the Lady Lucktopus. I grant you she would not have paid attention at the time, but you can't tell me Sasha doesn't write up reports. Just, of all the shit that's happening, I don't think Sasha Nein would drag a kid to the Motherlobe without having a good reason, you know? I know the in-game reason is because it gives us an excuse to start out low and level-up but it feels too much like a mechanics reset and not enough like storytelling. (Hello yes I am also a game designer).
* Yeah ok the responsible adults were busy, but it's not like Oleander was doing anything important during this time, since you can see him at the bar sulking about his death machine. (Hey maybe he could've told Hollis about Raz, but then he'd have to tell her about stealing camper's brains. I wonder how that meeting shook out for him. I know hazing practices were normal at this time, but if the government agency can be forward-thinking enough to have old gays be out and proud, they can be forward-thinking enough to chastise the interns for irresponsible hazing practices, you feel me? It's not like they own the place. Embarrassment I get, but idk, the whole bit about hazing and how easily it's swept under the rug just feels too game-y and doesn't feel like it fits.
* When I talk about Raz "learning" that you can't fix people in a day, I mean that right now, he knows it intellectually. But I feel like it's one of those things he's going to have to really process through practice, rather than know. Much like the fact that he knows, intellectually, that his nona killed people. But he's never seen a body. So of course he doesn't hold it against her too much, he never knew the people she killed. He knows intellectually that it takes time, but I'm postulating that he will have to really internalize that lesson through practice.
* I'm not in the camp of "Raz's family is abusive", just so we're clear. Anyone who's grown up with multiple siblings can attest that this is just how a big family feels in general, so I'm not saying Donatella is a bad mom. (She says some things that definitely make me cringe, but that will come with growth). When I talk about that, I mean that I think Donatella probably, like Dion, still has a LOT to unlearn about psychics. Frazie is probably just growing to accept herself as well. Of course Donatella accepts Raz and her husband and all her kids, Raz is her baby and that will never change. But I think she's probably going to take some time to grow, still.
Anyway tl;dr I think we're all right in facets --and in some cases, like me, wrong about some things because we forget stuff. :)
Hey do y'all ever think about how Raz's love language seems to be 'Acts of Service', and how he goes around helping literally everyone he can get ahold of, even people who have objectively been assholes to him?
D'you ever think about how no-one except his own family ever seem to go out of their way to help him? It's always just an exchange, he does a quest and gets a reward, but the only people who go out of their way to do something for him are when his own family lends him energy to let HIM combat whatever major threat is happening. This ten-year-old who somehow has Gifted Kid Syndrome without even going to a public school.
Do you ever think about how this kid's been working his ass off for 3-5 days, and the only sleep he's really gotten was that time he fell unconscious after a plane crash? How he immediately went right back into saving the day, a ten year old among adults and people with way more experience than him? About how nothing is ever going to be more exciting than his first 3-5 days knowing the Psychonauts? About how he's earned the respect of Sasha Nein, his favorite agent ever, and probably can't fully process how impossibly cool that is? How Sasha Nein is probably losing his damn mind at how a ten-year-old child has managed to save the day (AND his ass) at least three times, virtually unassisted? About how Raz didn't know how to levitate exactly, but managed to get through training courses meant for levitators purely because he's an acrobat and he never thought "I'm not able to do this because I don't have the right skills", he just assumed this was what people did?
About how Raz has been parkouring nonstop for 3-5 days and probably the most rested he was during all of it was in the Rhombus of Ruin wen he was kidnapped and strapped to a dentist's chair? About how that ended with him thinking he was being left behind in a building about to blow up because no-one thought to mention to him that he was safe until he was on the jet?
Ever think about how Raz, brand-new psychonaut at 10, probably the youngest psychonaut ever, is probably too excited to sleep? Probably immediately wants a new case? Is confused by the lack of spy action available? Doesn't have the training or adult experience to handle so many possible traumas? About how Raz knows, intellectually, that his nona killed people but has never seen a dead body? About how this job will make him confront the harsh realities of his work? About how he will see true evils and traumas he could not possibly know existed at ten, and will see more? About Raz having to process other peoples' traumas in his sleep, because god only knows he won't realize them when he's awake.
Ever think about how there's a divide in his family? About how his mother still doesn't like to think about psychics, and his brother seems to get angry every time psychic powers are brought up? He's still a big brother to his little siblings, but he works away from the circus now, and they'll all drift apart. About how he has to process that people will still hate him for having psychic powers no matter what he does or how many people he helps?
Do you think he'll help Gristol, and realize that sometimes you can't fix a person's mind in a day, that they require a long process of healing, and even after that, they still might just not be good people?
Idk, I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about Raz.
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jasontoddiefor · 3 years ago
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Tyki Mikk is a Clone and I can (almost) prove it
Tyki Mikk is undoubtedly a fan favorite and yet we don’t really know a lot about him. For a character that was created with the purpose of being handsome (cf. D.Gray-Man Manga Volume 5, page 150), he carries a lot of baggage and has a rather unclear past. A theory that has haunted me since I read chapter 198 and has only grown in strength with the most recent arc is that Tyki is in fact a clone of Nea. As far fetched as this seems at start, there is quite a bit of evidence supporting this theory.
1) Tyki’s visible similarity to Nea (and Mana)
One of the first things Wisely remarks on when he meets Tyki is his similarity to “a certain man” (Chapter 187).
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This similarity is picked up twice more in the manga. When Allen meets Nea for the first time (cf. chapter 198), he mistakes him for Tyki at first.
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And it is brought up a third time by Nea himself in chapter 225 when he says:
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To which Tyki, or rather Joyd, has this wonderful reaction:
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But more on that guy specifically later. Point being right here is that three different characters, or four if you want to count Road and Wisely separately, acknowledge that Tyki resembles Nea a lot, down to the man himself. How does that saying go again? Once An Accident, Twice A Coincidence, Three Times A Pattern? This is something that repeatedly gets brought up again. And this is without going into detail on how much Tyki resembles not only Nea, but said man’s identical twin as well. Just look at that dashing long hair!
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And take this from chapter 158 as well
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Pretty long haired boy Mana is nothing new as of chapter 218 and 219:
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Another interesting point here is that Tyki is the exact same height as the Earl in human form! They’re both 188cm tall. Nea, on the other hand, is listed at being 177cm. This could just be that Nea unfortunately ended up as the shorter twin, or, we take into consideration what Mana tells Allen/Red in chapter 238:
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He remembers being seventeen, which means that he and Nea probably weren’t done growing yet when the “Earl” corrupted Mana. (It also kind of makes everything about Nea more hilarious if you realize he’s just seventeen.) Tyki, however, is 26 when we first meet him and should be around 27 now. He is an actual adult and not bound to hit another growth spurt.
But to summarize the first argument: Tyki looks uncannily similar to Nea and Mana and the manga keeps pointing it out so we can assume this resemblance is important.
2) Cloning is possible in canon
Now the second point is just here to point out that we know cloning to be possible. Funnily, Tyki’s resemblance to Nea gets pointed out just before the Alma Arc, which very much deals with the concept of reincarnation – only there we have the brains of deceased Exorcists transplanted into youthful bodies.
However, it’s not as if something like DNA hasn’t been mentioned before. Specifically, it has been called “Helix of life” by no other than maybe-former-Bookman but definitely First-Nea-host Past!Allen in chapter 221:
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So let’s assume that, in the aftermath of Nea’s “death”, PastA didn’t just wait around for Nea to wake again, but tried to find a vessel for him. Messing around with this helix, and whatever other dubious science and magic this world had to offer, and created a new body to host Nea. Except he failed, and the result is Tyki.
But if that is so, shouldn’t Tyki remember anything about that? Good question. Time for some more shady weird stuff about Tyki.
3) The Missing Years
In chapter 202, while the Earl is resting, Tyki talks to Road. I don’t speak Japanese, so I can’t verify which translation is more accurate, but I’ve found these two:
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Now the official German one also goes with a similar translation as the second one here, implying that Tyki has been with the Earl for ten years. In any case, the fact that this decade at all gets mentioned is quite odd because it doesn’t match up with what we know of Mana travelling with Allen. Cross calls Allen a “ten-year-old brat” (chapter 208) when he looks after him. So between Mana travelling with Allen and current canon, only 6 years have passed – what are up with the other 4 that are supposedly within this decade? We don’t have a definite age for how old Allen was when he met Mana, but I’d say around 7 or older. That’s still not enough to fill out the decade they speak about here.
Now, presuming that it does in fact refer to Tyki staying with the Earl for that time, we’re either left with assuming that the Earl acted as a separate entity as we see in 218, or that Tyki’s memories are just flat out wrong.
4) Tyki Mikk’s Canon-Typical Ignorance AKA The Baby of The Family
The more often Tyki appears, the more we see how much he actually doesn’t know about the going-ons of the war, or even himself. This goes back as far as the Ark Arc in chapter 130 with the Earl pointing out that:
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So this form is apparently something that all Noah of Pleasure can take on, a sort of second stage of awakening. Still, it feels significant that Tyki separates his life so much into “black” and “white”, “Noah” and “human”, going as far as suppressing a part of his Noah. It puts him in direct opposition to Skinn, who was more or less entirely consumed by his Noah memories. Though, perhaps this is also just a narrative ploy because a character with the ability to chose is, frankly speaking, fuck off overpowered and the only reason why Tyki isn’t constantly leveling battlefields is probably that he just doesn’t know how to apply himself.
Regardless, Tyki’s ignorance also becomes visible in chapter 187 again when he wonders about his Noah name:
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Nobody else reacts like he does, even though the other Noah haven’t been awake as long as he has and also should have retained the same memory damage as Joyd after Nea’s murder spree. Yet Tyki feels a little like the baby of the family, still learning and growing while everyone else is already in the know, which can’t be too far from the truth if we look at chapter 225:
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Wisely and Road definitely know that something went down and kept it from Tyki for so long for reasons. So besides Allen learning the truth sometime in the future, Tyki is also heading towards some kind of realization – and honestly, what better than the fact that the man who enjoys his freedom and roam so much, was artificially created?
Road could have manipulated his subconsciousness, his memories. It’s a miracle really that the Earl hadn’t had a breakdown around Tyki already given how much he looks like Nea. And if Tyki really awoke as a Noa a decade ago, then eh would have been right the age Nea was when he died. The Earl should have reacted in one way or another.
Other small details that don’t add up is a) the claim that Tyki and Sheril are actual brothers. They have different last names, which would imply that they are perhaps rather half siblings, sharing one parent, or maybe they just aren’t related at all in the first place. The other thing is that Nea recognizing Tyki’s face immediately after confronting Mana about his changed appearance just adds even more suspicion.
5) TLDR
Tyki is either a clone or something else messy went down because there’s no way that there’s a natural Nea and Mana copy running around who also just so happens to be a Noah. No way.
Thanks for coming to my  TED talk I’m never writing meta again this was a nightmare to post.
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