#Monkey mind rambles

[hyperforcereignition]

OP you're right!

I feel like this both fits Otto

Especially when he's sticking up for someone

The boy was going to throw hands for the sake of that kid and he's done that for Chiro too.

Even under the control of a villain, Otto never ONCE lost his core personality. The first he heard that Chiro was in danger, he was concerned, worried. If he hadn't been under Scrapperton's control at the time, Otto absolutely would've wrecked house.

And absolutely fits Antauri. Antauri will be the first to throw hands if you look at Chiro funny (besides Nova) but his rage is a quiet build up. He's a stealth fighter.

Skeleton King didn't even HEAR him or sense him until he was there, ready for the fight of his life.

Even FAKING shutting down, just to get a chance to stab the guy for messing with his son.

There's a saying that comes to mind.

"There are three things all wise men fear... The sea in a storm, a night with no moon.."

"And the anger of a quiet man."

It's utterly magnetic when a character's rage is quiet and precise. When they don't scream and throw things but they just b r e a t h e and very very calmly aim their fury like an arrow shooting inexorably towards the target of their wrath. It captures my attention, I lean in close, I wait for the hit. It never disappoints.

[hmsdoodlin]

I’m so incredibly obsessed with Soul Beast Mind.

After Souls transformation and Hearts sudden absence, Mind is forced to take on everything by himself. The man once so confident he could run the ship one handed is stretched thin and forced to face that he’s not enough.

There’s no one around to impress, and yet he still takes great care in his appearance, taking time to do his hair and makeup before leaving his room. He dresses far more formally than usual, buttoning up his shirt and tying his shoes with a blank stare and a worn creaky prosthetic.

His boots click down the empty hallway far too early in the morning, preparing three meals three times a day for people who will never eat them. He sets the table and eats alone, staring at the food on plates he knows won’t be touched. He meticulously puts away leftovers, dating and portioning everything in little plastic containers. The fridge is full of food, throwing away perfectly good meals to make room for more.

When Soul comes home he’ll surely be hungry, thankful for his favorites after such a long time away, and there’s always a chance Heart will sneak out of his room in the middle of the night to eat. He knows Soul isn’t coming home and that Hearts been starving himself, but he can’t bring himself to stop. Just in case.

He occasionally knocks on Hearts door, asking simple questions in an attempt to check up on him.

“Dinners ready, it’s your favorite.”

“Can I come in? I need to check on your wing.”

He never gets a response.

He spends all of his time taking care of Whole, constantly keeping him stable and alive. His room has accumulated copious amounts of dust, his prized electric guitar going unpolished for weeks when just two months ago he treated it like his baby. There’s no time for hobbies or leisurely activities, ignoring his books to stare blankly at a screen and survey Wholes every waking moment for every day of his life.

He’s tired. He wants his headmates back.

[hoodiemanic]

Hits you with extreme show of affection

[turtle-ly]

did you know that macaque's staff has a name in jttw too? It's called the "acquiescent staff of iron"/ “Acquiescent Iron Pole Arm” (随心铁杆兵, "Suíxīn tiěgǎn bīng"), or Tùy Tâm Thiết Can Binh in vnese. It clearly mirrors wukong's staff in name, the “As-You-Will Gold-Banded Staff” (Ruyi Jingu Bang), or Như Ý Kim Cô Bổng.

Now here's me being crazy based on the vnese translation alone, do NOT think of this as truth but there's at least a smidge of sense in my rambling because vietnamese is very close to chinese due to our history (the fancy names above and our old literature used a kind of phonetic translation of chinese called Hán Việt) and the meaning of chinese words more or less can be inferred by our Hán Việt version:

So the word "Như Ý" in wukong's staff name in almost only used in the phrase/blessing "Vạn sự như ý" in modern vnese, which means "may all things go your way/according to your wishes". Meanwhile, the phrase "Tùy Tâm" is used when asked about some sort of favor, for example a charity when asking for your donation will ask you to give an amount "according to your heart".

You see it right? "Như Ý" is more passive, you wish for it but not necessary go out of your way to achieve it, and "Tùy Tâm" being used in situations where your own conscience/empathy is judged, it demands you to actively question yourself to make an action. I've decided the names can play into mtwgo shadowpeach's mental states. Wukong wants freedom but afraid to pursue it at the cost of his sworn brotherhood, while macaque has always assessed the effort it takes to join in a fight, but ultimately he decided to go through all that hardship to right this wrong.

Furthermore, "Ý" means thoughts/ideas/will, which is one of the reasons the book has wukong store his staff in his ear/take the staff out of his "head", "Tâm" means heart in its literal sense and feelings in a slightly more abstract sense, so thats why i have macaque pull his shadow staff from the magic core in his chest. Fun detail isnt it? :3c

One more thing is that theres a chinese saying that goes like "mind-monkey, will-horse" (Tâm Viên Ý Mã) so Tâm -> Mind is also a very wukong/mac thing. That says, in mtwgo macaque's staff/ his strength to fight is summoned to serve wukong :)

The altered form of wukong's staff that macaque gonna use in mtwgo will be called Suixin Jingu Bang (As-You-Feel Gold-Banded Staff or Tùy Tâm Kim Cô Bổng), combining macaque's resolve/loyalty and wukong's strength. When he swings that staff with its body painted in his own color, his victims will also know wukong's might when the golden glint of its ends becomes the last thing they see.

[outofpocketonepiecethoughts]

I don’t really think this was intentional but it’s so interesting to me that Zoro almost died on a cross in the first few episodes/chapters of one piece. (Sorry for what is about to be some very Christianity centric overthinking. I grew up around several Christians. I am also not a Christian myself so everything said about Christianity in this post is purely speculative and not anything I actually believe.)

He was tied to a cross to pay for the sins of someone else, but who decides what is and is not a sin? Generally god. Now god in this metaphor would be either Axe Hand Morgan or Helmeppo, depending on how you look at it, but either way, they arbitrarily decided Rika and her mother had committed a sin, and Zoro willingly decided to take the punishment for their sins.

Zoro nearly died on that cross, but he was saved at the last second, and he became Luffy’s most devout follower, despite having the skills to be leader himself. I wonder, if someone had saved Jesus from dying on the cross, would he have become a follower instead of a leader? Would he have turned away from god to devote himself to this new savior? Would he believe himself a sinner, and be happier than he’s ever been?

And on Luffy’s side of things, imagine if some guy heard about Jesus for the first time, and got told he was the worst and was being executed for being dangerous, and that guy not only fully didn’t care about the dangerous part but decided he would not let Jesus die, and just went and rescued him despite never having met him before.

Anyway, I’m saying that Zoro and Luffy’s relationship is like if some guy decided, hey maybe killing Jesus is a bad idea, and decided to do something about.

[pooks]

part 7 of straw hat!ichiji and without further ado, we'll dive into the next one; Drum Island arc

Nami is sick

as Nami falls sick in a seemingly serious illness, Sanji is taking it harder because of trauma; he has seen Ichiji become seriously ill when they starved on the rock island with Zeff and he had thought he was gonna die.

Sanji has unresolved trauma when it comes to serious illnesses and Ichiji doesn't know how to fix the problem since he cares very little about his own wellbeing.

with Nami out of commission, Ichiji takes over the nagivating role temporarily. he proves to be very decent on it and uses Zeff's old logbook as his guide through the Grand Line. he notices that since the weather is becoming steadingly colder, they must be nearing a winter island.

everyone has different responses to Nami's illness; Luffy, Usopp and Sanji nearly panics while Vivi becomes worried and anxious. Zoro and Ichiji mostly takes the role as the rational ones.

Ichiji is starting to feel under the weather as well and he wonders if his physical body had a delayed reaction due to his modified genetics. he doesn't fall instantly ill like Nami did, but he becomes more fatigued, irritated and loses his appetite (although he forces himself to eat something).

to distract himself from Nami's sickness and his brother's bad moods, Sanji dotes on Nyansha, their new ship cat who can shift size at will. he likes how friendly and cuddly Nyansha is and thinks back at the Baratie. he remembers how he and Ichiji used to nag at Zeff to have a pet and were always refused because the Baratie was a sea-faring restaurant and he didn't want any animals fall into the water and drown.

Zoro notices that Ichiji isn't doing well and keep scratching his neck, so he asks if he's really fine. Ichiji waves off his concerns and just says "don't worry about it".

meeting Wapol and entering Drum Island

Vivi decides to set course for any island nearby in hopes to find a doctor for the sick Nami, instead of heading towards Alabasta. Ichiji has a brief conversation with her and informs her that while she's already burdened with the serious state of her land, she chose to save another's life and it's not something to scoff at. Vivi remarks that Ichiji seems to understand her better than anyone and wonders if he knows a lot about monarchy and diplomacy (given his prior knowledge of Alabasta and displaying dormant skills of leadership).

Ichiji goes still after that and answers "well, we all have skeletons in the closet, don't we? and no, i don't want to talk about it."

as he tends to do sometimes, Ichiji looks over the ocean and thinks about the brothers he left behind in Germa in favor for Sanji. he always regrets leaving them behind and being unable to bring all his little brothers with himself and he hopes that they're faring well, despite Germa being...Germa.

the peace isn't for long, as an unfamiliar pirate ship approaches the Merry and attacks them. through irritated, Ichiji fights along with Zoro, Luffy and Sanji, using the gun Zeff had given him and Sanji (the very one Sanji aimed at Miss All Sunday). they encounter Wapol, a Devil Fruit user and has eaten the Munch Munch fruit and eats exactly anything.

after attempting to eat the ship, Luffy fights him and sends him flying across the ocean. the pirates retreats, however.

Luffy attempts to cheer up Nami, but fails. it's a very hard day on the crew since no one has apparently been sick before (Sanji denies this, but Ichiji mutters a "lies" but disguises it into a cough). the next day, they're reaching a winter island, Drum Island, and drops their anchor there. but they're suddenly ambushed by its' hostile inhabitants.

Ichiji decides to try to reason with them along with Vivi, telling them that they have a sick person onboard and she needs aid. a villager, however, shoots at Vivi when Sanji was about to defend himself from the same shooting villager.

Luffy resolves the situation, after being briefly angered by the violence against his nakama (and being urged by Vivi to not chose violence as counter measure) and Dalton, the leader, and the villagers decides to help them.

Luffy, Sanji, Vivi, Usopp heads down to the village with Nami and leaves Zoro, Ichiji and Karoo onboard the Merry. before they leave, Sanji notices that his older brother has flushed cheeks, but Ichiji says it's because of the cold.

Sanji trails after Luffy, Usopp, Vivi and Nami, but not before looking behind himself at Ichiji.

Zoro is lost and Ichiji falls

after staying in the village for a while and finding out the nearest doctor, one Dr. Kureha, also known as "the witch", resides on a castle on top of a tall rock-like mountain, Luffy and Sanji heads there with Nami to cure her while Vivi & Usopp remains in the village with Dalton. Ichiji and Zoro standing guard on the ship, in case more enemies turned up.

Ichiji kept himself inside the galley when Zoro decided to train in the cold, since he felt less tolerant to the cold than usual and he wasn't in mood to deal with Zoro "unreasonable training montage". but he got suspicious when he heard a lack of "swordman noises" and when he went to check, he found both Zoro and Karoo missing.

Ichiji braves the cold surroundings of Drum Island, dressed warmly and yet, still freezing as if he had no outerwear. trying to locate the missing Zoro is like searching for a needle in a pile of hay, but Ichiji keeps trying.

his illness starts to process more aggressively, putting Ichiji's wellbeing at risk; his fever sky-rockets, he becomes weak and delirious, and soon, he's gotten himself lost as well. fortunately for him, a sled nears him and nearly runs him over; it's Dr. Kureha along with Chopper (in walk point).

Ichiji doesn't call her anything, but he asks her if she's seen "a green-haired, half-naked fool" somewhere. Kureha doesn't answer the question and instead, inquires about his own health since he looks like he's about to keel over. Ichiji decides to be honest and says that he isn't well, but it's the least of his problems since he needs to find his friend.

Ichiji doesn't get to say more before his strength is drained and he collapses in the snow, completely overtaken by his fever.

(Kureha and Chopper decides to bring him with them, as Ichiji will surely die from his fever or the cold if he stays outside)

reunited at the castle, an unbreakable bond of brothers

by the time Luffy, Sanji and Nami are safely inside the castle, they're in a horrible state; Luffy, exhausted from climbing the drum rock with his bare hands and carrying on his two crew mates, is suffering hypothermia. Nami is seriously ill, hovering between life and death and Sanji is critically injured with a broken spine and internal bleeding from the avalanche.

Chopper and Kureha treats them as the group is in a critical condition. Nami is the first one who comes around and the cause of her illness is revealed; Kestia, a poisonous tick from Little Garden causes a "five day sickness" that ends in death.

she also finds out that she isn't alone in the room she's staying in, she sees Ichiji in another bed and panics. it turns out that Ichiji was also bitten by a Kestia tick (flashback to the post-battle in Little Garden, when he slapped his neck from a "mosquito bite"). Kureha has discovered that Ichiji has a different metabolism than an ordinary human which is why his illness progressed slower than Nami. however, his intolerance to the cold and stress made his body enough weak for the Kestia bacteria to advance faster and more aggressively.

Chopper then runs into the room, being chased by Luffy and Sanji who mistook him for food source. however, Sanji stops when he sees his older brother seriously ill and becomes shocked, getting vivid flashback to his past.

we get a narrated flashback from Sanji's POV. he remembers the rock island they were stuck on, starving for 80+ days. during the five last days on the rock, Ichiji fell seriously ill due to eating lesser than Sanji, exhausting himself by collecting morning dew for his brother, enduring night watches and exposure from the sun. after they got saved by a passing ship, Ichiji was put under quarantine due to his illness being so serious along with starvation. he was ill for two months while Sanji and Zeff recovered. Sanji remembers watching his brother suffer from fever, chills, nausea, etc. he had never seen Ichiji weak ever in his life and the thought of Ichiji dying for his sake gave him nightmares and Sanji cried for every day, believing that his brother would surely die.

Sanji tears away from his narrated flashback, seeing Ichiji suffering in the same state and gets a trauma-induced panic attack. he breaks down crying, terrified that his brother is dying once again, blames himself for not seeing the signs and begs the unconscious Ichiji to not leave him alone.

before Kureha is about to hit Sanji's head for whining so much, Ichiji speaks up, revealing he's been awake the whole time

"Geez, you're still such a crybaby, Sanji..."

Sanji screams of grief and anger, hugging Ichiji and saying...something, but no one is able to understand what he's saying since he's crying and sobbing at the same time.

(foreshadowing to Sanji's "△✕~◑※◇♨*~✖✹" in water 7)

Ichiji is still running a fever and seemigly drifts off, but not before he managed to reassure his little brother and his captain (because let's face it, Luffy is freaking out at the thought of his nakama dying) that he'll be fine soon.

everyone thinks he's asleep because of his closed eyes, but he's conscious enough to hear Chopper's story when Kureha tells Sanji and Nami (while Luffy is off chasing the poor reindeer again to make him join his crew).

Wapol returns and the siege of Drum Castle

their luck runs short when Wapol makes a return to the castle, intending to "rule" Drum Island again (which would lead to more of the people's suffering). once again, Luffy fights Wapol but this time, it becomes personal when Wapol shoots at the jolly roger of the long passed Dr. Hiriluk, Chopper's mentor and adoptive father.

Luffy engages in full battle, enraged over how "fake pirates" like Wapol just shoots a jolly roger without a single respect.

inspired by Luffy, Chopper shows that he doesn't have just medical skills, but battle skills as well and joins the battle. Sanji attempted to join as well, but his back injury flares up, rendering him out of commission with Kureha guarding him.

while his two henchmen, fused into one, fights Chopper and Luffy gets distracted, Wapol sneaks into the castle. he stumbles onto Nami, who's already well enough to walk around thanks to Chopper and Kureha's wonder medicine.

the only difference here from canon is that Ichiji arrives in time, still feverish, and jumps at Wapol, pulling at his hair as the ex-king attacks her (which also gives Nami the perfect moment to steal the key from Wapol).

Nami manages to escape, but Wapol is now chasing Ichiji. the antibiotic remedy against his illness is progressing, but Ichiji is already exhausted and Wapol corners him, intending to kill him. Luffy finds them just in time and engages in one final battle before he emerges victorious, having punched Wapol across the next island with a Gum Gum Bazooka.

Dr. Hiriluks cherry blossom snow, Chopper joins the straw hats

with the antibiotic treatment finally taking effect for Ichiji (due to his fast metabolism) and Sanji is getting his back (painfully) fixed again, Luffy tries again and again to recruit Chopper to his crew

Nami attempts to negotiate with Kureha; she hands over the key if Kureha discharges her, Sanji and Ichiji. Ichiji, however, doesn't want Nami to do that since he wants she and Sanji to recover first (once again, he neglects to include himself) before heading to Alabasta. Kureha takes the key, but says they must stay in the castle...but also that there's a coat in the room and the guards aren't present. Nami takes it as a sign that they're free to go.

when Sanji's treatment is complete, Nami and Ichiji brings him as they go outside. Ichiji is nearly fully recovered at this point and is carrying Sanji on his back, who's still out of it from his treatment. Ichiji takes a moment to reflect on old memories and muses that he hasn't done this since they were kids.

barely some moments later, Chopper is joining them but Kureha is chasing after him with weapons, so the Straw Hats panics and decides to pack it to leave. Ichiji wastes no time getting into a sled, still carrying Sanji on his back. however, they get to witness something wonderous.

using Hiriluk's "cure for the country's cold heart", the straw hats and everyone else witnesses cherry blossoms falling onto the snowy island. Ichiji, with a now conscious Sanji leaning on his shoulder, remarks that he has never seen something so beautiful in his life and it's enough to almost bring tears.

with the perfect send-off to Chopper and having a ship doctor onboard, the straw hats sets sail for Alabasta

[uhbasicallyjustmilex]

quotes from alex turner's favourite authors that make me want to put my face through a wall:

"although i have never been an actor in the strict sense of the word, i have nevertheless, in real life, always carried about with me a small folding theatre" - vladimir nabokov, despair

"there is a terrible emptiness in me, an indifference that hurts," - albert camus

"there is no trap so deadly as the trap you set for yourself" - raymond chandler

"at eight, he had once told his mother that he wanted to paint air" - vladimir nabokov

"no man ever understands quite his own artful dodges to escape from the grim shadow of self-knowledge" - joseph conrad

"everything i've ever let go of has claw marks on it" - david foster wallace

"we're all lonely for something we don't know we're lonely for. how else to explain the curious feeling that goes around feeling like missing somebody we've never even met?" - david foster wallace

"i turn over a new leaf every day, but the blots show through" - keith waterhouse

"the truth will set you free. but not until it's finished with you" - david foster wallace

"curiosity is insubordination in its purest form" - vladimir nabokov

"i'm me and nobody else; and whatever people think i am or say i am, that's what i'm not, because they don't know a bloody thing about me" - alan sillitoe

"we live as we dream; alone” - joseph conrad

"i liked, as i like still, to make words look self-conscious and foolish, to bind them by mock marriage of a pun, to turn them inside out, to come upon them unwares" - vladimir nabokov, despair

"whatever you get paid attention to for is never what you think is most important about yourself" - david foster wallace

"i continued to stir my tea long after it had done all it could with the milk” - vladimir nabokov, despair

"i remained too much inside my head and ended up losing my mind" - edgar allan poe

"all the information i have about myself is from forged documents" - vladimir nabokov, despair

"how odd i can have all this inside me and to you its just words" - david foster wallace

"you will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. you will never live if you're looking for the meaning of life" - albert camus

[plutoispurplw]

Do I Wanna Know

Summary: Mini ramble about two scenarios about Spencer with the song "Do I Wanna Know" by Arctic Monkeys and the cover of Hozier.

When I started to imagine the Arctics Monkeys one I was thinking of Spencer getting frustrated and angry after you both broke up after a big fight a few weeks ago.

He went to your apartment at 3 AM, The encounter would be more angry but you both would ended sleeping together and probably after everything the next day you both would act like nothing happen and not get back together.

But with the Hozier one I imagine Spencer and you running up on a coffee shop or in a bar that he went with the team.

In both cases it would be after almost two months of having broken up, the reason would be a fight or bc of his job. The encounter would be more sad and not angry, his eyes would probably be filled with longing and love for you.

You both would probably ended up getting back together in this scenario.

Pd: Sprry if this ramble is bad, here is 3AM and I don't get too much sleep so

[goddessofroyalty]

Okay but ZoSan, if Sanji's pregnant.

Zoro's really good at not doing the 'we're pregnant' thing. He's very clear (and makes it very clear to others) that it's the cook who's pregnant. To the point of pissing Sanji off because you had a hand in this as well own up to your fucking part!

Luffy on the other hand? He's the one throwing around the we'res and ours about the pregnancy and soon-to-arrive child despite having nothing to do with how the pregnancy occurred.

[biscuitboba]

Rewatching ep 1000+ and god i love zolu so muchh???

They are just so ANNOYING, i hate them sm (affectionate)

Under just 1 episode (ep 1000) and zoro managed to say "i'll come with you" TWICE, like yes zoro i know that you need to be with YOUR captain, to fight along side with him... but like chill bro, he's not going anywhere??

Im talking about this scene over here:

(right before the grabbing luffy's ankle scene lol)

And this is the other one:

Also luffy's little smile after hearing what zoro just said? okay

They just make me so ill, can they just stop smiling at each other?? they are just... so in sync, they are always the better version of themselves when they are fighting together, they are insufferable, and i actually love them very muchh your honor

PLEASE LOOK AT THEM.

i rest my case.

[gemini-queen42]

Batb: Other Than Human - Themes stuff (& why I Called It That)

That's right folks, the self-indulgent "throwing any concept I like at the wall and haphazardly mixing together what sticks" au rewrite Thing has Actual Themes! That kind of happened accidentally but they are so real for that so let's get into it.

The Main Narratives Themes Trio of the story now all also embody expanded themes about being an "Other", when being a person is not enough to be properly considered human- more specifically of a neurodivergent/queer girlhood type flavor.

Summary is that it's called "Other Than Human" because the prominent theming is about being considered something other than human due to not fitting the mold of the 'norm'.

[This is a long one so details & specific character stuff are under the cut<3]

Amalure has the greatest departure from her original counterparts thematic placing, so we'll start with her. Amalure retains Gaston's social standing, reputation, etc. But it's of course not quite the same- because she is a woman, and she is not revered for being the picture of ideal womanhood/femininity. Instead, she excels in masculinity, but remains firm that she is and always will be a woman. So, to justify the desire & awe people have for her, they dehumanize her: She doesn't need to follow the Rules because she is outside of them. Amalure is not a person: she is a symbol, a figure, an object. A legend, a folksong, a modern myth. Her skills are not skills they are blessings, inherent, a mundane magic or supernatural. Despite having grown up in Villeneuve for her entire life, she is considered exotic, and is practically, if not actually, fetishized. And through all of this, the status quo and social order gets to be retained without question, and she gets to exist as the exception that proves the rule, rather than the Undesirable that she'd be marked as otherwise.

Amalure is fine with this, because this dehumanization is her status quo: She doesn't really view herself as a person either, she is defined by her relationship to other people, by who she is to them. Amalure has never been a person to anybody: Growing up she was never just a girl, never just Amalure: She was a girl with a mans brain, an embodiment of her fathers greatest achievements, an embodiment of her mothers worst mistakes, she is her fathers daughter or her mothers daughter, but not her own. (and she never both, it is either or, mother or father, never both, never parents.)

Princess Eve/The Beast is the other end of this, of operating through her dehumanization. Upon being cursed, she adheres to what societies have oft wanted to happen to their Undesirables: Hide away and never be seen by the public again. It is entirely self-inflicted, as most of her suffering truly is. She operates not through others dehumanizing view of her, but her dehumanizing view of herself and its warping of how she believes others view her. Because, well, the servants still view her as a person. I mean, they're still human- under the new object forms. And the separation of humanity that is easy to slip into on matters of royalty is awfully minimal as well; they watched her grow up, and she grew up among them.

The girl's bratty, spoiled, temperamental, and is a ball of horrid consequences of the shallow views and ideals learned from surrounding nobility. But she's also the girl that fell asleep listening to Cogsworth explain the many technicalities to managing servants; because she was stubborn in asserting her authority as the mistress of the castle, and thus she Must have say over its goings ons. But the majordomo's voice can be awfully soothing when he's not high-strung on anxiety, and it's hard to pay attention when you don't understand what's being discussed, so its all going in one ear and out the other. And She's Lumiere's 'Evie', who was so amused when Lumiere would draw on a little mustache when dancing the male roles so the princess could learn some duo dances, or because she didn't look very "waiter-like" (because Eve wasn't entirely sure what a maître d' did, but it seemed to have something to do with waiters), and who got annoyed every time the dance teacher/maître d' would warn her not to hurt her body in her pursuits, because it seemed so silly, why would anyone do that? And she's the girl who dragged Mrs. Potts to have tea with her, because she made the best tea and as princess she would have only the best; and if you're going to have tea you may as well have a tea party, and you can't really have a party of one, but two isn't much of a party either so she's going to drag Babette away from her duties too, since the maid was so elegant and thus would be perfect.

Honestly, the girl probably would've turned out fine if she was raised by just the servants. But they weren't the only forces in her life: she's a princess, so she's got to host and interact with important people and learn how to Be noble which isn't something any of the servants can teach her. And it is under the pressures and eyes of nobility, is in mixing and learning their social rules, that learns the lessons that will lead to her curse: That to be considered human and treated as such, one must look human. And to be such as a woman meant to look beautiful, like the ideal. As a woman, to be worthy is to be beautiful and vice versa. And even if she does not, she must have some way to serve men. Otherwise, she is nothing. Eve met these requirements well, and where she did not yet her authority as princess covered. So when a beggar woman is at her doorstep, the princess turns her away: because she is old, ugly, so long past her 'prime'- there is no worth to her anymore. There is no point caring for her future.

Helene stands as both the middle ground and inverse to the other two. She is an Other by virtue of her mind, she is Objectifiable by virtue of her beauty. She sits on the precipice between Undesirable and Desired, seeming nearly apathetic to where she lands despite popular encouragement to embrace or smother aspects of herself. Helene is quite sure she's a person like anyone else, thank you, and is frankly frustrated and a bit weirded out that others seem to have a hard time getting the memo- she doesn't like or want to assume the worst, though, so maybe she just missed another confusing untold social rule or something. I mean, the local triplets really do seem to be advising in good faith- they really do think of her as one of them to an extent (for reasons Helene is yet to know); they just don't understand her.

When Amalure pursues her, there's an unspoken aspect to the deal of marriage she proposes: Helene will get a secured place on the in of the community, a secure standing the promises people no longer questioning or trying to encourage her to no longer be herself. But Helene just isn't interested in Amalure like that, and she also sees what the real trade-off of that security is; that uncomfortable dehumanization that is exactly what Helene doesn't want to deal with anymore. If Amalure is fine living with it than she is free to do as she pleases, but the huntress doesn't seem to understand what Helene could possibly have a problem with- and it's not like they can discuss it, because it's unspoken, and you're not supposed to speak the unspoken things, because they're unspoken for a reason- even if you don't know what that reason is. Helene knows that rule, at least.

When Helene meets the Beast, she regards her as she does any other. It's plain as day that the Beast has a humanity to her, whether she's really "human" or not- she thinks and she feels, and that's enough for Helene.

Because Helene grew up raised by a single dad who she got most of her brain workings from, and he is a man of compassion and science. Off he'd send his beloved daughter to go and question and figure out the world for herself, to experiment and learn and become whatever she desires. Off to bed he'd send her to tell her fairy tales and have their lessons of love and compassion and humanity understood as she drifted off to sleep. Helene was never Odd with her father, never Other, in fact they were so easily two of a kind. It was so jarring, hearing people imply Tyndare less than sane; his logic paths were so easy to follow- but apparently his voice gruffs enough that others have a hard time understanding what he's saying sometimes, so that's where things seem to get lost in translation she guesses. People became jarring in other ways as she grew up too, because suddenly there seemed to be lots of social things she was supposed to know or be but didn't and wasn't, and it became very apparent very quickly that she was an Other among her village.

Overall: Eve & Helene get to go through these themes through the main plot, and post curse-breaking is when Eve gets to properly deal with the internalized issues and whatnot. Like she's learned beauty doesn't matter when it comes to love, and shouldn't decide whether or not someone should be cared about, and Helene loves her despite her having been beastly and despite her being a failure of a woman- (because she no longer fits the feminine ideal after the curse is broken, and frankly she never will again.) But she's still a Failure Of A Woman and Helene deserves Better Than That! So there's still work to do.

Amalure remains static on this aspect of the narrative until after the battle at the castle, where she does survive! .. barely. and it's later, in an argument with her mother that same night, bleeding out on the kitchen floor, when she asserts that she's her daughter too, not just her fathers. she has always been her daughter, always will be, she is the daughter of both of them, because that's not something that just switches or turns on and off- and it's an entire rant that I will not recite here, but the important part is the assertion that she is, always has been, always will be, the daughter of both her parents at once- that's the first little step for her arc of recognizing her own individual personhood and whatnot.

[sonia-the-hedgehog-2369]

Do you guys think MK was "glitching out" in seasons 4 and 5 because he was awoken early and thus incomplete?

What if his monkie form is his true form, and one day he will stay that way once he achieves completion?

That would certainly make it unavoidable, don't you think?

[hoodiemanic]

Have these been done yet

[britishsass]

The Three Adventurers come across a small cabin in the forest after a long day of walking. Graham and Link are happy to see someone willing to help, but Guybrush is suspicious.

Things are definitely not what they seem in this forest, and when his friends mysteriously disappear in the night, that’s what Guybrush is out to prove.

(A dramatic little fic to celebrate the 10th anniversary of @threeadventurers ! Congrats for such an incredible feat, and I sincerely hope that this one chapter is still a nice gift for the occasion :3)

[skylendra]

I want Imu to not be immortal.

Not in a I don't want them to not die by the end. Rather like I hope it's not them during the void century.

In the same way I firmly believe that Luffy and Joy Boy are separated people (and if you push me that Nika isn't a person, just an idea). Because that will be sad otherwise. The fact that only a specific person can liberate the world. Not just someone who can embody the ideas of freedom, and so Nika.

And the same way, I want Imu to not be the one being the centuries of WG. Don't believe it, but, you know, hope.

Because, it came from the idea that behind the bad thing there is a big bad guy that control everything. Like for capitalism. And racism, sexism, validism and so on. There is not only one person. It is a system. Yeah, some people perpetuate it more than others, but we all participate. There isn't some big brain that control everything. There is just some guy that oppress people more than others, and those will die, then there will be new one, if we don't do anything. If we continue to live in fiction and not to take real actions.

I have dig into the idea, but apparently Capitalist Realism by Mark Fisher touched on that. The fact that anti-capitalist fiction could possibly make us clung even more about capitalism, because we satisfy ourselves with only identify with the protagonist, and never take action in the real world, just living in our fantasy. But you know, first just a theory, second, I didn't even search more into that so, who knows? And that open another can of worms. Like, how to end a distopic or revolutionary work? With frustration, to push us to action? Even though it could just depress us, that even ourhero couldn't save the world, how could we? Or the same way we do, with a satisfactory end, and a cautious tale that people will never act upon since they lived it thought the work? I have no idea, just putting shit out of my head.Anyway, I'm going off the rail here. Not the point.

And so, I am afraid that people take the wrong idea about it, even unconsciously, because fiction shapes our reality. And yes. Oda doesn't have to make it political. But first it is, no matter what that side of booktok think. Second Oda himself makes it very political. And yes, our comprehension of his work is not his responsibility. Or something. I don't know. I'm yet to have a satisfactory (for me) answer about the duty of a artist to the society. But it just. It happened before with people using Tenryuubito as a slur to call the Jewish people. You know with this antisemitic stereotype that Jewish people secretly control the world. And just. I will be fucking sad if that happens again. But also, Oda is free to do whatever he wants. Duh.

In the same vein, I hope that Imu is fucking weak. Because we have this idea of people that control the world as being strong and determined and so one. And as Rebecca Show brilliantly say it for the Guardian, I knew one day I'd have to watch powerful men burn the world down - I just didn't expect them to be such losers (give that woman a Pulitzer and whatever she wants, she probably deserves it). And yeah. I just want Imu to be a pathetic and weak character, that hides behind strong ones. Someone with unequivocal views and a shaky ego. Someone that fools a lot of people and isn't even competent. They were just here at the right time, and they are opportunist and devoid of code of ethics, someone cruel that surround themselves with powerful people and give them the idea that they are a great person (a great man, I just realize that as much I would like them to be a woman, because there is not enough female antagonist in one piece, I just want them to be a pathetic white guy, I would settle for a pathetic white woman, except not really the right angle for the critic of white feminism, I would say).

And like, I think Oda could do that. Because at this point, a popular theory is that Imu is granting the five elders their power, and even given them the mark to teleport, along with the god's knight. Btw I don't know if I want Shanks to have the mark in the past, on his missing arms. Because that would be interesting that it is given automatically, not based on worth. Just because as a descendant of the Figarland he is worth it. But also, not every celestial dragon should have it. So. Idk man.

So yeah. I hope that Imu is just a succession of unworthy shitty people suffocating in their delusion of grandeur and shutting themselves in an echo chamber. That they are weak. And that the real final fight is with BlackBeard, who will just try to take the throne of Imu, and obviously that the Straw Hat win. That the revolutionary Army, and Vivi, will dismantle the world government. That Shanks fight and loose against Buggy. That Buggy, this gigantic fraud, become the new pirate king. Because there will always be people "unworthy" in position of power. But also because being weak doesn't mean he doesn't deserve this tittle. And Luffy could revealed his true dream, something about freedom. Also, he isn't the type to want to have a strict position, he didn't want to have a fleet under him, he doesn't want to be see as a hero. Like I don't know. That would work for me.

So yeah. I don't think that will happen. And if it is, maybe it could be good because it could frustrate some of us and push us to action (damn I really have to read that book). Because all of that build up for a pathetic antagonist. And frankly that will be brillant, like for real life powerful men (Musk I'm looking at you right now). A bit like with Hody. but yeah, people weren't ready for that masterclass of antagonist.

[apollosgiftofprophecy]

I'm looking through my asks rn and wow i need to take a day to just sit and analyze lmao

i have asks about;

Ares and Apollo, and how they changed in Rome

do i have Dadpollo headcanons

Thalia's relationship with the twins

Commodus and his view on Apollo's immortal romantic endeavors (lol)

a couple asks about songs that relate to Apollo & co

& more

man. my plate's loaded lmao

*peeks at tomorrow* if i remember to grab my computer before going upstairs in the morning...i will sit down on my couch ignore the tv and see how many i can get through in the morning hours before lunch >:3

i'll try to hit the older asks first and work my way forward from there lol though i'll probs do the song ones first since they should be relatively quick!