#I'm not very good at explaining things

[jaythecryer777]

Dude I WIIISHH I was smart enough and had the ability to write out Danganronpa investigations and class trials. I wanna write out my wordgirl Danganronpa AU so bad but I just can't think of how to write those outttt.

If I had that ability it would've been so over for all fo y'all 😈. The amount of ANGST you guys would've been forced to consume.

I'd also LOVE IT if people drew or edit angst of my AU. Omlllll imagine if my AU got popular enough that people were drawing fanart of it, making edits of it, and even animations of it. Imagine seeing those heart-wrenching mind blowing fanarts, edits, etc of my AU. It would be amazingggg.

(Just me rambling about a dream of mines lol.)

[mumblesplash]

part 2!!!! [read part one here]

transcript below the cut arranged into stanzas to help show where the rhymes are:

“that’s why they brought gem in? as a failsafe?” as a pawn. we were told to point her at whoever we need gone

“gem won’t hurt her allies. …yet.” the curse she carries will it’s had its eye on her since she lost the other eye she was specially selected for her hunting skill it’s quite the high honor. “wow. how generous.” we try

think about it: why does almost no one fight the curse? “given how fast scott killed skizz last season, i can guess.” [“any pain you spare your friends, you’ll have to suffer worse”?] it’s designed to shut down higher reasoning with stress

[fictionadventurer]

Maybe the problem with Christian fiction is that it's non-denominational. People are just "Christian", with no effort put into showing what practicing that religion looks like for them specifically. No indication that there are other Christians who could have different beliefs. No wrestling with differing ideas and the struggle of how one should live out their Christian faith. And that makes it unrealistic and unrelatable.

[faunandfloraas]

fav skz // Sick as!

[wombywoo]

Helllo! I am always truly amazed by your art and it never fails to put me in a trance with all the extra things in the backgrounds of them too! I do wonder how you went about studying anatomy and such, it always is such a tedious task for me to focus on and learn about each muscle if I want to draw some beautifully handsome military men, you know?!

ahh thank so much! I try to add some special stuff to each piece, so I'm glad it's appreciated 🥰

as for anatomy, I haven't done that much *actual* study (don't ask me where the latissimus dorsi is 😔) I'm more of a visual learner. This can be achieved through figure drawing exercises, or just learning how to *perceive* (by this I mean--what is it you're actually seeing as opposed to what you expect to see?) Understanding proportions and weight and pose are all very important, and these come more from analyzing real-life people as opposed to a medical diagrams.

I think getting a good idea of where various muscles are is a good start, but I often find that when drawing a figure 'less is best'

an example here:

Sometimes, *too much* anatomical detail makes a drawing look exaggerated and more like someone's peeled his skin off, lol

I lean towards a more subtle approach to musculature, choosing which areas to highlight and which to let fade into the rest of the form.

Biggest piece of advice--use references! ALWAYS! I don't care if I've been drawing for years, I almost always have a reference on hand that I constantly refer back to. It's necessary if you want to draw something realistic, or else you might just start inventing new body parts 😭

And if all else fails--just throw some hair all over it to hide the mistakes 💅

[bonefall]

the worst parent poll made me realize just how many ppl in the fandom are willing to jump straight into abuse apologia. bc on one hand you have ppl dumbing down crow's abuse to "him just being mean" and on the other end you have ppl saying that curlfeather didnt abuse frostpaw because she sacrificed herself and frost + her siblings love her so she couldnt possibly be an abuser. truly mindboggling stuff take these serious topics away from the fandom asap.

Part of me feels like it's because many in this fandom have a feeling that if a character's actions are abusive, it means you're "not allowed" to like them. Like there's an impulse where if you liked a character, it MUST mean they weren't THAT bad, because you'd personally never like "an abuser."

As if it reflects poorly on your own morality, as a person, that you connected with An Abuser. Understood them, even. Even if it was just a character.

If it's immoral to Like Abusive Characters, of course your reaction is going to end up being abuse apologia. To enjoy something isn't logical, it's emotional, so you will get defensive about it when questioned. When you do, it's not going to be based on logic because you didn't reason yourself into that position in the first place. It's an attack on you as a person.

I feel like that's often the root of abuse apologia in this fandom, and sometimes the world at large; "If I admit that this character/person IS abusive, it means I was doing something bad by liking them, so I have to prove to everyone else that they weren't or it means I'm bad too."

And to that I say... That's a BAD impulse! Grow up and admit you resonated with a character that did a bad thing! If that's an uncomfortable thought, sit with it!

Sometimes abusers are likeable! They usually DO think they're justified in their actions, or doing it for "a good reason," or were just too preoccupied to care. MOST of the time, people who commit abusive actions are also hurt or traumatized in some way. You might even empathize with them. None of this means their actions have to be excused or downplayed.

"Abusers" aren't a type of goddamn yokai, they're people just like you and me. You don't help victims of abuse by putting the people who hurt us in an "untouchable" category.

In fact, all it does is make you less likely to recognize your own controlling behavior. You're capable of abuse. People you love are capable of it, too. People who love YOU can still hurt you.

In spite of how often people regurgitate "It's Ok To Like A Character As Long As You're Critical Of Their Actions," every day it is proven to me further and further that no one who says it actually understands what that means.

All that said; I think it's no contest which one's a worse parent, imo.

They both mistreated their children, but Curlfeather did it through manipulation without verbal or physical abuse. She politically groomed her into a position of power so that she could use her as a pawn. It can be argued if this counts as child abuse-- but it's firmly still under the broad category childhood maltreatment, which is damaging.

(though anon I'm with you 100% at seeing RED when "but she sacrificed herself" is used as an excuse. Curlfeather's death does NOT CHANGE what she did to Frostpaw in life. I think it's a valid point to bring up when comparing her to another terrible parent for judgement purposes, such as in the context of this poll, but I really hate the implication that redemption deaths "make up" for maltreatment.)

Crowfeather, meanwhile, is textually responsible for putting Breezepaw through verbal AND physical abuse, as well as child neglect. His motivations include embarrassment from a hurt ego, revenge on his ex, and being sad because of a dead girlfriend. This abuse drives Breezepelt towards radicalization in the Dark Forest.

You could argue Curlfeather is a worse person for Reedwhisker's murder, but as a parent? It's not even a question to me. Crowfeather's one of the worst dads in WC.

[manasurge]

Guild Wars 2 OC stuff: So I finally figured out the full body design for Vallotash (Mordremoth's Scion a.k.a. who Mourynn actually is) They're more or less the same person, but it's complicated, but leans more to Vall believing she's Mourynn and kind of is since she inhabits her body and memories, but is technically an imposter and is very depressed and in denial about it. Inspiration from Jahai Bluffs: "Are you a dragon dreaming that it's a hero? If you were, how would you know?" (also it's my tumblr banner lol) I'm still sketching out the origin story to explain how this happens, but for now here is this sketch bc I am happy with how this turned out and wanted to post it early. It's basically self preservation turned to parasitism to accidental death of host to unintentional identity theft out of guilt/tribute + memory absorption to make her think she's the sapling + amnesia about the whole event taking place over the span of a year stuck in the dream (to super condense her origin lore). I'll finish these sketches once I'm done her origin story pages, or if I get possessed to do it earlier bc I'm still happy with how this turned out and might want to keep working on it sooner, hehe.

Here is more sketches of Mourynn/Vallotash under the cut:

She has some simpler looks for when she's flattened down. She looks SO SILLY but I love it. Beware the Scion of Mordremoth: This freaking wiggly silly noodle thing. A terrifying menace!! Beloathed parasite daughter vine of the mighty Jungle Elder Dragon!! /does a snake blep (Also the first two head sketches I did of her from last year when she still didn't have a body designed yet lmao. I still have to figure out how large she actually is, as well as her colouration. She'll have to match Mourynn's, so she's gonna be a funny mix of the colours in the cool spectrum, which doesn't look very plant-like, but sylvari can be all different colours, and she has the whole poisonous/hallucinogenic thing going on, as well as some Soo-won influence bc she's based off a leafy sea dragon and is very attuned to water, so it kinda works yeah????) I also have no idea what her large chin whisker things are supposed to be. I just kind of made them up on the spot and fell in love with them, so they're STAYING, even if they make no sense. I mostly just love that they'd look so cool underwater and while glowing in the dark, and they are vaguely alien and jellyfish-like.

[fuckinart]

(they'll never understand) How could I ever understand? No, I don't have to understand. I don't wanna understand. So I will never understand. (we could have everything)

[itwoodbeprefect]

the great thing about falling really deep into a new media niche is developing opinions on many new things. the terrible thing about falling really deep into a new media niche is developing opinions on many new things

[gingermintpepper]

hi, i haven't read the iliad and the odyssey but want to - do u have a specific translation you recommend? the emily wilson one has been going around bc, y'know, first female translator of the iliad and odyssey into english, but i was wondering on if you had Thoughts

Hi anon! Sorry for the somewhat late response and I'm glad you trust me with recommendations! Full, disclosure, I am somewhat of a traditionalist when it comes to translations of the source text of the Iliad + Odyssey combo wombo, which means I tend to prefer closeness in literal verbiage over interpretation of the poetic form of these epics - for that reason, my personal preferred versions of the Odyssey and Iliad both are Robert Fitzgerald's. Because both of these translations (and his Aeneid!) were done some 50+ years ago (63 for his original Odyssey tl, 50 flat for his Iliad and 40 for his Aeneid) the English itself can be a bit difficult to read and the syntax can get confusing in a lot of places, so despite my personal preferences, I wouldn't recommend it for someone who is looking to experience the Iliad + Odyssey for the very first time.

For an absolute beginner, someone who has tried to read one or both of these epics but couldn't get into it or someone who has a lot of difficulty with concentrating on poetry or long, winding bits of prose, I fully and wholeheartedly recommend Wilson's translation! See, the genius of Emily Wilson's Iliad + Odyssey isn't that she's a woman who's translated these classics, it's that she's a poet who's adapted the greek traditional poetic form of dactylic hexameter into the english traditional poetic form of iambic pentameter. That alone goes a very very long way to making these poems feel more digestible and approachable - iambic pentameter is simply extremely comfortable and natural for native english speakers' brains and the general briskness of her verbiage helps a lot in getting through a lot of the problem books that people usually drop the Iliad or Odyssey in like Book 2 of the Iliad or Book 4 of the Odyssey. I think it's a wonderful starting point that allows people to familiarise themselves with the source text before deciding if they want to dig deeper - personally, researching Wilson's translation choices alone is a massive rabbit hole that is worth getting into LOL.

The happy medium between Fitzgerald's somewhat archaic but precise syntax and Wilson's comfortable meter but occasionally less detailled account is Robert Fagles' Iliad + Odyssey. Now, full disclosure, I detest how Fagles handles epithets in both of his versions, I think they're far too subtle which is something he himself has talked at length about in his translation notes, but for everything else - I'd consider his translations the most well rounded of english adaptations of this text in recent memory. They're accurate but written in plain English, they're descriptive and detailled without sacrificing a comfortable meter and, perhaps most importantly, they're very accessible for native english speaking audiences to approach and interact with. I've annotated my Fagles' volumes of these books to heaven and back because I'm deeply interested in a lot of the translation decisions made, but I also have to specifically compliment his ability to capture nuance in the characters' of these poems in a way I don't often see. He managed to adapt the ambivalence of ancient greek morality in a way I scarcely see and that probably has a hand in why I keep coming back to his translations.

Now, I know this wasn't much of a direct recommendation but as I do not know you personally, dear anon, I can't much make a direct recommendation to a version that would best appeal to your style of reading. Ideally, I'd recommend that you read and enjoy all three! But, presuming that you are a normal person, I suggest picking which one is most applicable for you. I hope this helps! 🥰

[kastillia]

Gott ist tot.

[quietlyblooms]

alrighty, friends, i feel the need to be a little transparent because it's affecting things here. the short version of everything is: i'm not doing so hot in the mental health department. no one needs to be concerned -- i'm okay even if i'm having a hard time. but i just ask that everyone continues to be patient and understanding bc i promise that i'm excited to write and chat!! both new and old mutuals, i have so much admiration for you all!! the problem is that the discomfort and sensitivity i feel are making it increasingly difficult to be punctual and social.

so what does this mean? it means my activity may continue to be extra slow. i might procrastinate with messages or go completely silent. i might not log on some days just so i don't have to use my brain. but however my presence here fluctuates, i promise that in no way this is a reflection of my feelings towards you or our muses. i'm just going through it.

all that said, thank you for being here <3 thank you for filling my dash with things that make me smile, and thank you for being a space where i can relax. i care about all of you so much, and i encourage you to be kind to yourselves!! take breaks!! take your time!! your happiness and health matter first always.

[buckera]

oh yeah btw the spy tommy mastermind who is a tv writer (allegedly) couldn't even crack the case of the dinner scene which lasted for a minute and couldn't have been more clean-cut... i'm sensing that those tuition fees won't be paying off

[lumism]

happy pride month everyone i really did not plan to but i just came out to my mum which has been a seven year long process so umm! lets go 🫶

[self-indulgent-paw-patrol]

Someone pointed out that the scene from the first movie where Ryder brings Chase back to where he found him to boost his confidence doesn't make any sense. At least on the scene where Ryder rescued Chase from the truck then say that He sees something heroic and braveness in Chase when he didn't really do much at all other than being scared. Like that scene should've been Chase confronting his fears by rescuing someone in danger.

Ah, THAT scene. I actually believe it MADE SENSE, so let me try to explain why they made it like that. Under the cut because it got kinda long too XD

First, let's take a look at the dialogue in that scene:

Ryder: I remember the first time I saw you. You were a tiny little pup, all alone in a big city. Chase: I know. You saw me and took pity on me. Ryder: Not at all. What I saw was a brave, heroic pup. Even though you were too small to look after yourself and you were up against all the scary things, you got back up and kept going. I didn't adopt you because I felt sorry for you. I chose you because you were the bravest pup I've ever seen.

Now let me just celebrate a moment here because HELL YES I'M DOING A LOT BETTER AT UNDERSTANDING DIALOGUES IN ENGLISH OMG I'M SO PROUD OF MYSELF RIGHT NOW THAT PART ABOUT BEING TOO SMALL TO LOOK AFTER HIMSELF HE SAID IT SO FAST AND STILL I UNDERSTOOD IT PERFECTLY IN THE FIRST ATTEMPT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I'M SO HAPPY ok let's go

Now, it's time to break it down!

"I know. You saw me and took pity on me."

Here we see what has been Chase's point of view about that moment, which he believed in it all his life so far. He wholeheartedly believed that he was just an insignificant scared little puppy, worth nothing but pity. He was a nobody. He was nothing, and since then, up to now, he believes that it was Ryder who turned him into something, into the brave rescue pup he now is- or believed to be, until he's now back in the big city, feeling all his fears and trauma of being a nobody coming back up to swallow him whole, reminding him that he is nothing.

But then, Ryder tells Chase what was his OWN point of view of the whole thing, and what was his motivation to rescue and adopt Chase. First, let's see his point of view.

"What I saw was a brave, heroic pup. Even though you were too small to look after yourself and you were up against all the scary things, you got back up and kept going."

This is literally what Ryder saw. Chase was small, yeah. And instead of staying in a corner, of keeping quiet, or hiding somewhere, where he would be certainly safer, because he literally could NOT fend for himself... Chase was out there. In middle of the people, SO MUCH BIGGER than him. Risking being stepped on. Risking a car running over him. Risking an aggressive stray possibly finding and attacking him. He was out there, trying to move, trying to go - no matter where, he was on the move. He'd take a couple steps back to avoid being stepped on, and still press on to advance again, trying to cross the street.

He was afraid? Of course. Did it stop him? No.

THIS is the key for understanding Ryder's quote here. No matter how threatening things were for Chase, Ryder saw him out there, insisting, persisting, pressing on, even with all odds against him. Even if what moved him was the fear and uncertainty and confusion as to why his owners abandoned him there, Chase was NOT hiding away. He was trying for whatever, braving into the unknown, into the scary terrifying world of the big city. And it was traumatic, he was probably having a bad anxiety attack right there at that moment (note it's different than a panic attack, I explained a bit about it when I answered another ask earlier). But he was out there and not hiding.

While Chase saw himself as just a scared good-for-nothing baby, Ryder saw him as someone who didn't hide when faced with probably the scariest things ever in his life and facing it all alone. Which brings to the last part:

"I chose you because you were the bravest pup I've ever seen."

Not many puppies would do the same as Chase did, not in such conditions. "Oh but I've seen stray puppies following people and trying to play with them", yeah, same. I've had dozens of dogs in my life so far and all but one were strays I rescued from the street (or were born from said rescued strays). I've also seen tiny puppies trying to interact with people passing by. But in a crowded sidewalk? People walking nonstop, a wall of stomping feet not caring if you're in their way? With so many loud noises of people talking, cars driving by? Cell phones, cars honking, so many echoing steps. This is a complete nightmare to any puppy, they tend to cower in fear and wait for when the chaos is over or at least less chaotic until they venture out again.

This is the reason why Ryder saw Chase as the bravest pup ever. He was terrified, he was risking his life, but he was still out there.

Which contrasts with what has happened in the movie so far up to that point, if you think about it! Since Chase was taken back to the very city that left him traumatized as a puppy, his fears have been taking over stronger than ever and rendering him unable to keep going, much unlike what happened when he was a baby. And why's that so?

The answer is also simple, it's because since then, Chase's point of view was that it was Ryder who made him brave - he didn't believe he was already brave from the very beginning. He never thought of those moments as moments of bravery, like Ryder did. He thought of those moments as cowardice. These thoughts were what caused him to begin freezing and inducing him into this constant feeling of anxiety crisis and eventually leading to panic attacks, making him believe even more that he has always been nothing, and it's Ryder who made something else of him.

Chase never gave himself any credit for what he has become. For him, it has always been Ryder - and for Ryder, it has always been there with him from even before they first met. Chase just never associated it, until Ryder took him to that very place where they met and told him his own point of view, for the very first time, as apparently those two never addressed why Ryder adopted Chase ever before, which explains why Chase always held this belief that Ryder adopted him out of pity.

You see a scared puppy in the middle of a crosswalk, nearly being ran over by a car.

I see a brave little soul, pushing through against all odds and trying to get somewhere, anywhere, just for the sake of not standing still and waiting for who knows what, which might never even come.

And he fucking GOT somewhere and is indeed the bravest pup I've ever seen.

And he's not even my favorite pup XD

[slime-crafters]

Out of all the people to hate in Pelican Town (cough pierre cough), hating Demetrius seems like a wild choice