#THANKS FOR READING IF YOU DID

[miss-cholo4]

Ninjago Season 3 Part 2 SPOILERS/THEORY

Read at your own peril. I couldn’t help myself, so taking all precautions to shield people from my thoughts. Lmk if any tags are missing!

So Ras killed that random person by dragging them into the casket of bones. At least that’s what’s inferred by the trail of belongings leading to the casket itself. We know that the person must have been alive to be sacrificed. So it couldn’t be one of the skeletons in the underworld.

From the belongings it looks like an explorer to me? Perhaps some rando traveller? Orrrrr maybe it’s a character we’ve seen before? Considering if this is important to the plot somehow-which it might very well not be… we have to ask… who’s known for disappearing to travel? Clutch powers? Misako?!

Now just imagine if it is Misako… a terrible death really but the impact of this would be HUGE!

She is probably the most of note parent to one of the ninja apart from Garmadon, making many appearances throughout the long lived series. She is known for showing up at random times such as in season 8 (SOG) and her extensive travelling. It very well could be her that happened to be in the underworld exploring.

We know Misako can fight and use spinjitzu. Making sense that she would fight Ras if necessary. However she has been shown to be bested at times, such as in the oni trilogy, especially season 9. And her being taken for Harumi’s ritual in season 8, in which she showed up imprisoned by the Sons of Garmadon. Like in season 8 she was searching for something, that something being Wu, perhaps this is a similar situation in Dragons Rising…

We see from Arin and Sora’s reaction to the prospect of someone dying for the icon to be forged. Fear, but inevitably, understating that it wasn’t worth it. With Arin realising that no life is worth sacrificing for his parent’s revival despite his sadness of ‘never seeing them again.’ A great character moment for him.

If it is Misako, and Ras drops that bombshell at Lloyd, we could not only see him at yet another low point but maybe even in oni form again. It would be an easy way to reinforce the oni whilst making Ras even more villainous to the audience. Leading well into the next season which is speculated to be oni based?

It would also give Lloyd an opportunity to break free from the group, as the only ninja I believe to not have had a solo adventure since the Merge (if you don’t count his time isolated in the monastery). Maybe this would give him space, time to mourn, find himself ect. Would also be a great way to bring Garmadon back.

This act of killing Misako would seal Ras’ downward spiral into villainy. There would be very little possibility of redemption after this. Even if there is. Which I doubt. We call into question Lloyd’s morals. How much is he willing to forgive to be this caring and all loving figure of hope that is the green ninja. That he has always been since the very beginning of Ninjago. The one who followed his father into his madness without loosing hope. Could he forgive that? We know Lloyd doesn’t like Ras but this could seal the deal. Forgiveness is also a huge theme in Dragons Rising, Arin forgiving Sora, Lloyd and Arin forgiving each other, and maybe even the ninja forgiving Wu in the future…

Not to mention the idea that Arin got both his parents back only for Lloyd to loose one would be INSANE. The whole oni form idea comes in secondary to the angst this would cause. However oni form for Lloyd was only achieved through the supposed death of Garmadon, a moment of pure rage and sadness, so why not Misako as well? It would be dark and heartbreaking but also show the power and fear of the oni. Already established in season 3 part 1 with Frak and their group’s time in the Dragonian’s lands. It might even backfire on Lloyd having witnesses to his oni form for once. Maybe his students see his transformation?

Now there’s also things that prove this wrong. The items we see shown leading to the casket we never seen Misako with in canon. We also don’t know if their identity is important at all to the plot. But I just thought this would be a CRAZY and DRASTIC writing decision if it turned out to be correct. Anyway the rambling is insane sorry. Lmk if anyone has any other theories.

Edit: @mxystarry who commented about the hat being present in a crystallised comic ‘Bad Boys Night Out’

[bluefiz]

He just doesn’t understand

[yourpalsalamander]

Another gender dysmorphia vent 🥳

I am a trans man, I've identified as a trans man since I was in junior high and nothing has changed about that. I do "feminine" things, I may act slightly fem or whatever in my body language and way I talk but end of the day I still identify as a man and I would like my behavior to not be perceived as feminine.

Getting into the real of it now!! I have been making online friends on discord now that I'm getting more into auditioning for voice acting and oh my god one guy just keeps misgendering me. We're friends! I'd say that, but he keeps forgetting because of my voice I guess but at this point it just feels like he's forgetting on purpose and it's really starting to hurt me. I want to be friends with him! I want to believe in the best in people, but I'm getting to a point where I might have to draw a line and I really don't want to because he's so cool :( like, I get it, my voice is a bit higher pitched on the feminine side because I don't plan on taking testosterone but every time I corrected somebody else they seem to remember- or at least if they slip up they're able to recognize that they did and correct themself or apologize. But the guy doesn't do that!! When I correct him he just gets quiet and changes the subject and I feel like he doesn't take me as a man seriously or something. It's been a while since I met people on the internet and talked only on discord so I thought maybe it was just because my voice was feminine they kept forgetting (which caused me to spiral into not thinking I was masculine enough for a few weeks), but I joined some OTHER servers and they remembered just fine!! During a call I even got referred to as "he" when I hadn't even talked to any of them prior, they just looked at my pronouns in my bio and went by that and holy shit it was like a splash of cold water. I feel silly for crying but I am and I don't even really know why.

I feel like I need to sit the guy down in a call and talk to him about it but I also am nervous because I don't want to muddy the waters with him as a friend :(( ughhh, I'm not usually one to stand down from defending my identity but this one is bugging me. Its obvious when a man views you as a woman too with the way they interact with you, for example they tease you for being sarcastic or "sassy" as they put it usually, and it hurts so fucking badly to recognize the behavior MINUTES after I correct him. Man idk.

[thegamingcatmom]

In the middle of watching Maleficent 2 after not seeing it for years and I'm already back to being obsessed.

Seeing her so (painfully) awkward around humans has me melting every time. Like-

When King John asks her whether she had any trouble finding the castle? And her answer is a very annoyed, very hissy-

"Are u stupid or smt?"

???

...That's what she meant, at least.

C'mon.

I MEAN-

Her not knowing what small talk is and, as a result because baby doesn't deal well with being confusion, immediately resorting to thinly veiled death threats and almost violence so Diaval has to step in to prevent disaster from striking like-

BABY IS CONFUSION DON'T JUDGE HER. 😭

ALSO-

Y'all know how Maleficent is the last of the fey with the blood of The Phoenix running through her veins? So that means her offspring will continue that bloodline? So that means offspring? So that means- 🫠

ALSO-

Y'know, when I first watched this back in 2019, there was a very brief moment where I thought this movie was gonna go dark. Like, killing off every last human in that castle except Aurora dark. And I was damn ready for it, lemme tell ya. Like-

I was so damn ready for Maleficent tearing down a whole ass castle in motherly rage, not giving a damn about who got caught in the crossfire because all that mattered was getting to Queen Ingrith - the one who stole her child. And what mattered even more was getting to her child and bringing her home - where she belonged.

I mean, the ongoing conflict between the fey and the humans was the driving force behind the attack, yes. Especially after they killed Conall. But, for Maleficent, it was much more personal than that, wasn't it? She went there seeking revenge for the "loss" of her daughter, too. That was the driving force for her.

Also-

The way Maleficent threatens to go in for an instant kill here but ends up swooping over Ingrith to take out everyone else first because she wants to save the Queen for last?? She doesn't want interruptions. She wants to be able to enjoy every.damn.second. She wants to squeeze every last bit of triumph out of that moment.

And I have zero doubt that Maleficent intended Ingrith's death to be as slow and painful as possible, judging by the way she literally swaggers over to her before Aurora (sadly) interrupts proceedings:

I MEAN-

Just look at that smug face. 🫠

BUT ALSO-

Pls look at how PROUD she is here. She's like "ye, that's my daughter and ye, she needs me rn cause, guess what, I'm her MOTHER and she's MY daughter-"

But also-

Aurora, asking to be walked down the aisle: "Would you give me away?"

Maleficent, instant panic mode cause our confused baby isn't familiar with human traditions or speech so she thinks Aurora means literally: "WHA BABY I'D NEVER WHAT ARE U EVEN ON ABOUT MY PRECIOUS BABY-"

Aurora: "Down the aisle, mom."

Maleficent: "..."

Aurora: "..."

Maleficent: 😅

Aurora: 🙈

Okay but also-

If we don't get a baby-lifting scene à la The Lion King in the next movie where Maleficent proudly presents her very first grandchild to the fey folk (who go absolutely wild in response) Imma riot.

SPEAKING OF-

We know next to nothing about Maleficent 3 yet, so we don't know if Maleficent's gonna have a love interest this time around, BUT-

Listen-

While I love the dynamic between Maleficent and Diaval, I just can't see them ever becoming romantically involved with each other. They might bicker like a married couple pretty much 24/7, but they don't give me couple vibes. At all. It's more like...being each other's wingman and wingwoman (apart from being co-parents and the best of buddies ofc). Quite literally, lol.

SPEAKING OF-

I might or might not have opened a Word doc and started typing. So we'll see. ✌️

[lizardlover-skylarglamrock]

Y'know what, I'll just come out and say it, it's honestly really disappointing to see how people are acting in movie theaters right now with this whole "chicken jockey" trend going around. Lots of wasted food, ignoring the fact that other people might actually be there to watch the movie and actually want to hear it, and making the employees work harder than they should, while probably not getting paid enough for it, for having to clean up after the basically explosion afterwards.

I'm sorry, but please tell me what's so funny or cool about causing a scene in what's supposed to be a nice time at the theater?

There are probably young kids there that begged their parents to see the movie and now they can't enjoy it because the older "kids" have to make content off of it. For one, that's a bad influence, and two, they most likely won't get another chance to see the movie in theaters because their parents probably didn't want to take them in the first place because they don't know Minecraft as well as their kids do!

I've seen so many videos of theaters kicking people out because of the trend, and there are plenty of people who didn't get to finish the movie when they were actually looking forward to it and not doing anything wrong.

Why does everything need to be a trend?

Can't we just enjoy something for once without it being sent into a media spiral?

Please do not join this trend. It's destructive, wasteful, disruptive, extremely rude, disrespectful to others who want to be there for the movie and not the trend, and it's extremely disrespectful to the workers, and quite frankly just pointless.

All it is is one character saying one line.

And yes. Yes I think it's horrible that the directors of the movie are encouraging this behavior because they "love to see it". Grow up and show some respect to those who actually want to watch the movie for all the right reasons, not for some dumb trend you think is funny.

I hope you have a wonderful day, and I'm sorry to be negative here, but this isn't getting talked about enough.

God bless <3

[howdoyousleep3]

I would like to rant about motherhood and the awful things about it, read more bar is there if you don’t want to read it or engage with my rant. I don’t blame you if you want nothing to do with it, it’s more for me anyway lol

Never in my life have I ever felt so lonely and so depressed, just genuinely, at the core sad and alone.

I have people in my life, but I don’t have a village. My village is in shambles. It’s full of people who like to ask how I am, but don’t like to hear that I’m not well. The people I’ve reached out to got angry at me for reaching out, so I’ve just stopped reaching out. “I’m fine.” The people who have helped me with the girls fuck it up every fucking time, don’t listen to me or my wishes or my open anxieties. So, not only do I not share how I’m actually doing, now I don’t call on people to help me because it isn’t worth the trouble of them fucking up my children’s day-to-day life and schedule.

It’s impossible to not feel like a burden to others when their lives are unaffected, when they aren’t drowning like I am, when every aspect of their life hasn’t been greatly altered and twisted. I am not the same person I once was and I’ll never go back to her. I don’t know how to dress, I don’t know how to interact with people, I don’t know what my hobbies are. It’s hard to not feel like a bother when I’ve been this sad for this long.

No one understands if they haven’t done this before, if they haven’t become a mother. I understand what mothers before me were talking about when they told me motherhood is lonely. This is an experience that is so specific and can only be understood if you have experienced it. Another reason I don’t confide in others in my life— they don’t understand.

I’m so tired of the empty, “I’m sorry”s. I’m so tired of waking up and living the same day over and over. I’m so tired of my husband’s life being virtually unaffected by the birth of our girls while mine is so genuinely fucked up now.

I’m just so tired and so lonely and so sad.

And now Husband leaves in a week to start a new job three hours away and I’ll be staying here with the girls. Even more alone.

[imtrashraccoon]

This is probably super freaking random but the Dark Fortress boys(works with both normal and dragon au) dealing with a cursed gorgon(I'm also sending this because I'm working on a gorgon oc, her name is Phaledno and I love her so far, she's a big girl too since her bottom half is a Reticulated Python, and she was cursed for a crime she didn't commit and she can only turn super nasty people into stone but innocent people are absolutely fine, and also monsters if we insert her into the UTMV. She's got black mambas for the signature snake hair gorgons are known for too)

So, the idea is that some of the surrounding kingdoms have been having their monster hunters and knights going missing and they found out it's a gorgon that's doing it, so they freak out and go to Donovan and make a dramatic racket about it. Donovan getting fed up with all of noise and whining gets his boys together and goes to see what all the fuss this gorgon is all about. So, they get there and there is just petrified men everywhere and a large snake tail up in this massive sequoia tree, and there is the gorgon with a blindfold on and a chill expression up in the tree, now Donovan just sees a bunch of corrupt men trying to kill a creature that probably just wants to be left alone since said gorgon was curse to be one but nope, these knights and monster hunters are wanting to carve a name into the poor thing's hide.

The gorgon asks the boys if they're going to kill her or not. And Donovan just bluescreens, like soul evacuates body, and he's just blank staring at her. Dirk is wheezing and dying of laughter from the look on Donovan's face. Reven just wants to go back the Fortress and sleep, and he is five minutes away from stabbing Dirk for all of noise he's making. Maul is just staring at all of the petrified men and going "We should not be here, why are we here with a lady that could turn us into rocks!?"

Now at this point the gorgon is just trying to go back to sleep, but all of these freaky skeletons are bugging her, so she just slides into a tree hollow and covers her ears.

Idk it's just absolutely hilarious to me.

Heh, sorry for the wait, but you inspired me and I had to write something for this. (⁠ㆁ⁠ω⁠ㆁ⁠)

The Dark Fortress: Gorgon

Word Count: 1,440

"I'm tellin' ya that beast killed everyone!"

From his throne, Lord Donovan eyed the pitiful messenger boy that Maul had dragged in by the back of his tunic. Rough treatment aside, the lad was clearly frightened half to death, and while the dark lord had witnessed plenty of groveling peasants in his time, something about this situation seemed different.

The boy's appearance wasn't much different from the average farmhand: mussed hair, tanned skin from working in the sun, and simple clothing that looked handmade. However, what caught Donovan's attention was the state of him. His pants were stained with dirt and hastily wrapped rags served to cover injuries that couldn't have been more than a few hours old. His breathing was laboured, as if he really had just run the whole distance from the nearby town of Agritail, but it could just as easily have been induced by sheer fright when he had been collared by Maul.

Donovan tapped his jaw as he contemplated everything the messenger had just told him. Fear tended to draw out honesty in mortals, and even if he couldn't sense emotions, this lad had plenty of fear to spare. The message itself seemed unusual though.

The Klasical Kingdom had apparently been having hunters going missing, and when the King sent a band of knights to find out why, they also failed to return. However, the most recent investigation had turned up the source of the disappearances: a gorgon. Evidently, this lad had been conscripted to fight this beast, but had fled the battle to seek help when not even trained soldiers had succeeded to slay it.

Normally, Donovan despised cowards, but the message provided an interesting opportunity. If he took care of the problem, Agritail and the Klasical Kingdom would owe him a debt, and he liked the idea of holding a favour over their leaders' heads. It could bring him another step closer to ruling the entire world if he played his hand right.

"Today is your lucky day," he started to say, looking down at the farm boy with contempt. "If your own king can't protect you, then I suppose I will have to take matters into my own hands. Consider the creature taken care of."

～⁠>⁠`⁠)⁠～⁠～⁠～

It was not hard to find the hunters and soldiers, or at least what remained of them. In the midst of a dense grove, a graveyard of stone people stood in various poses, some mid-weapon strike and others frozen as they turned to flee the scene. While no one spoke, Donovan knew that each of his men were slightly unnerved by the sight, but he didn't hold it against them for once. They were all hardened killers, but he doubted any of them had encountered a creature capable of such devastating effects as this.

Gorgons were very much creatures of legend, stemming back from the very beginning of the world when gods still walked freely amongst mortals. They came in various shapes and sizes, but all had two distinct characteristics - the lower half of a snake and numerous small snakes in place of hair. While some were known to be venomous, all gorgons had the power to turn mortals and creatures alike to stone with merely a glance. Such a fate was almost always fatal, but skilled alchemists knew a cure could be distilled from a few of the scales of the creature.

Fortunately for his men, Donovan was capable of creating such an antidote if the mission went horribly, but he doubted such measures would be necessary. So long as none of them made eye contact with the gorgon, no one was at risk of being turned to stone, especially because he planned on blinding the creature as soon as they found it.

Speaking of finding the creature, Dirk had done just that, pointing out a large snake tail coiled in the branches of a nearby sequoia tree. It was easily the largest snake Donovan had seen, although he couldn't estimate its true length because of the way it was perched in the tree. Most of the dorsal scales were a deep ebony with a complex but beautiful reticulated pattern adorning the rest of the length of the body.

"Who goesss there?" a low voice whispered. Slowly, the muscular tail began to move until the rest of the creature emerged from the shade of the canopy.

It appeared that this creature wasn't a mindless creature like the messenger had portrayed, but one that was willing to converse with her prey before attacking. This was not entirely unusual as Donovan himself enjoyed entertaining mortals from time to time, but it was unexpected.

Without looking at her straight on, he cleared his non-existent throat. "I am Lord Donovan and these are my henchmen. What name are you known by?"

The gorgon huffed, and Donovan had a feeling she was rolling her eyes at his question. "I have been called many thingsss. Monster... Abomination... Pest... Yet, I prefer my true name...Phaledno."

Donovan mulled over the name, sounding out the syllables in his mind, but he could not remember ever reading of a gorgon with such a name in any of the books he had collected over the years. Perhaps she had escaped notice until now, and no historian had ever been able to record her?

"Why have you attacked these people?" he asked.

"Why?" Phaledno echoed, twisting her body around the branches as if to get a better look at the four skeletons down below. "Why else would a creature defend itself when attacked for no reason?"

Donovan opened his mouth to answer before closing it with a click. Why indeed? he mused as he scanned the area around them once more. All these mortals had been turned to stone, and yet the gorgon had not so much as threatened to do the same with them.

Dirk had begun toying with his dagger, spinning it between his phalanges mindlessly, and while Reven appeared calm, Donovan noticed he was shifting his weight from one foot to another a lot. Maul held the shaft of his great axe in what could best be described as a death grip as his red eyelight flicked between the statues nervously. They were likely all wondering the same thing Donovan was, having come ready for a fight with a ferocious beast, not to make pleasantries with it instead.

"So...have you also come to kill me?" the gorgon hissed, finally descending from her perch. "I would take no pleasure from cursing you and your men, but I will do what I mussst."

Only then was Donovan able to get a proper look at her, and it made him realize a few things. Firstly, she was a lot bigger than he originally estimated, easily over twelve feet long if he were a betting monster. Second, during their brief encounter so far, she had remained calm, almost deathly so, and continued even now. Finally, and most interestingly, she was wearing a blindfold, covering her eyes and preventing herself from making eye contact with them. Could it be that she was telling the truth? If so, she had just put herself at a disadvantage by choosing to leave the tree.

That also begged the question of how she knew what direction to face. The blindfold was clearly working as none of them had been turned to stone just yet, so Donovan could only conclude that she must have been making use of her other senses. She also held herself with such grace and dignity, so much so, that for once he found himself dumbstruck. He was in the presence of a truly remarkable monster, not one who terrorized villages and killed men, but someone who only wished to live in peace.

Donovan's train of thought was broken by Dirk's barely restrained laughter. "What?" he snapped at the rogue.

This only caused Dirk to fully break down into uncontained chuckles, and the tension in the air seemed to evaporate all at once. Reven let out a quiet groan of annoyance and turned around as if to leave the grove completely. Only Maul still appeared concerned, and he seemed unwilling to look away from any of the statues for long, muttering under his breath about how he didn't like this situation one bit.

Phaledno let out a sigh and ran one of her clawed hands through the snakes that adorned her head. "Come on now, I didn't even try to paralyze you. If we're not going to fight, then I would much prefer to finish my nap..."

~~~

Liked reading this? Maybe consider commissioning me? Just check out my pinned post for my rates. (⁠人⁠ ⁠•͈⁠ᴗ⁠•͈⁠)

[lxmelle]

Just some thoughts on the observable pairs we see - satosugu and itafushi. Not really an analysis or anything - just sharing my observations. Blabbing as usual. I’m sure I’ll miss something, so feel free to comment or reblog!

Word vomit under cut (please be warned: I did say I wanted to blab ;_;)

I shared a more concise version on X but I guess I wanted to elaborate in a stream of consciousness style.

So here I am. Here you are. Feel free to click away if you’re get bored 🤓

There are parallels between Gojo & Geto and Yuji & Megumi; however, they’re inherently different people. I came across some tweets rethinking the last words in jjk 0, saying things like: this is how stsg should’ve done it, etc.

Yeah, I do get it... just... I just think they’re different people within a different set of circumstances. Could it have been different? Sure. But if they could have a chance to re-do something - at what point would one pick? How would that even guarantee the best outcome? No Toji? Haibara doesn’t die? Gojo admits he is lonely? Or Geto admitting he is lonely?

Mind you, they learnt about love through their separation... How would those lessons have been learnt? There would be no guarantees of Teacher AU being a reality. It would be nice, but that would be straying from the story that has been masterfully - albeit painfully littered with ANGST - written by Gege Akutami.

It is enough for me that Gojo and Geto reconciled at the end of their lives. Salvation. Being together for what could be eternity (for as long as they chose to stay) in 236 is, for me, already a beautiful bittersweet love story. Especially after all they’d been through. Anyway. My point is... context matters. I don’t really enjoy discourse over who did it better. They had what they had. They made the most of what they had. And the tragedy is what is relatable and is beautiful too. So once again, they’re unique characters within a setting that is different.

Their bonds are therefore, by extension, also very different, although there are similarities. I don’t want to engage in debates over which is superior - that’s not my point, intention or interest. They’re different and appreciable within their own uniqueness.

Friendship is friendship, and love is love, after all. But even within the expression of affection and love, our individual needs and/or methods of expressing such emotions will differ.

I think to consider themes and what insights we can gain from these two… We have to look at their situations in its entirety. Gojo, Nanami, and others from that generation learned about the necessity to protect the youth.

So I think: compared to what Yuji and Megumi had, it seems as if what Gojo and Geto had (in terms of emotional safety and intimacy) were with each other - and it was somewhat lacking due to their own individual limitations. They had no other significant persons to speak of - at least, for certain, for Gojo. Since we don’t know Geto’s history aside from how he had human parents and he was scouted <- But more on this later.

What Yuji and Megumi had was by no means adequate, I don’t think, but at least from what we can infer from Gojo and Geto, it was more than what they had. Not only because the adults within the sorcery world like Yaga, Nanami, Gojo, Shoko (perhaps?), and Ino were more involved than whoever else were teachers during Gojo & Geto’s time - but Yuji had gramps and Megumi had Tsumiki who offered the a glimpse of what familial love is.

They had some form of a secure bond in another person to offer a sense of security and inherent worth. Megumi lesser than Yuji, but this is also why we see him as an avoidant-ambivalent kind of person who is also much like his father who grew up emotionally deprived and rejected. His sense of worth came from being independent and aloof despite being emotionally and psychologically deep (and parched for compassionate & authentic human connection).

The school itself seemed to have more teachers and fellow students. Possibly fewer curses due to Geto’s active efforts for 10 years to amass 6k for the Night Parade. Furthermore, more sorcerers may mean fewer student casualties (fewer deaths like Haibara’s) and improved manpower to counter curses. And when it came to Yuji’s time, not only was he personally rather resilient, he had companionship with Nobara, Megumi, Todo, Choso... that bordered on familial love and likely assisted with maintaining his sanity when faced with the gruesome cruelties he witnessed & endured.

And circling back to Geto: We don’t know what Geto had growing up, but for him to be that emotionally attached to Gojo, and that way inclined to immediately rise to fury (at the abuse of the girls + having been asked to kill them) and seek to avenge, protect and become a parent in his teens - can can assume he was somewhat parentified himself. Meaning, he likely learned the need to play this role during his formative years - likely him childhood.

He felt highly responsible for everyone and his personality was as such where he took things very seriously & earnestly. The parallel was drawn between him and Yuta - the original “parallel pairing” from jjk 0. The world he was shown was far too cruel; especially for someone who felt the weight of the world on his shoulders and didn’t know how to share it with someone who he probably saw Gojo as shouldering it in his own way. The perfectionist that was Geto who tried to live sincerely and be a role model ended up falling through a gap, leaving him with no choice but to force himself to keep living towards some kind of a redemptive goal, within a punishing life consuming vile curse after curse (his only source of stress), to either succeed a crazy dream, or die trying to Gojo’s hand. But he remained true to himself - Geto lived for others. He was only ever shown to be selfish with one thing: Gojo. (Don’t follow me: It won’t be bad to die by your hand. I’m envious.)

They had no capacity - knowledge, experience, or language to reconcile their differences. It wasn’t as if anyone showed them how to share the burden. Right? Throughout HI - did anyone offer comfort to Geto? That man was so very much like a “mum” who mops up shit and vomit without complaining. The emotional and mental burden. I wrote about this before - Gojo is masculine-coded (Yang energy). Geto is Yin. This is another parallel with Megumi and Yuji. Shadows - Yin. Yuji is kind of dazzling isn’t he? Light, heat, strength. Yang.

And Gojo? The “sheltered but forced to grow up too quickly” boy probably never knew what being nurturing love or unconditional love meant until Geto came along. Probably never thought he needed it. When touched by someone’s love and compassion like this - isn’t it natural to just react to it? To lean into it like a monkey separated from its mother, with only a warm furry surrogate to cling onto? Never thought he needed it until it was no longer there. Why? It would be enough to inflict some kind of an identity crisis for someone like Gojo Satoru. How could someone NOT want him for his strength?! For the first time Gojo Satoru probably felt a vulnerability he could not bring himself to eliminate.

With a background like theirs: It’s no wonder what they developed was a form of codependency. They complemented one another in so many ways - it was effortless and natural. Both strong, both intrigued by each other, could keep up with conversations, engage in mischievous cheekiness, etc.

They almost/probably(?) completed one another - but of course, what fulfils a person cannot just be one other person alone. Especially as a monster like Gojo Satoru with a thirst for fulfilment of his powers and someone like Geto Suguru who needed to have a deep meaning and purpose in life.

Think about a sportsperson and a philanthropist, respectively. Neither should be expected to concede to the other and be forced to be satisfied with the other alone. It doesn’t and shouldn’t work that way.

The respect and love they had for each other was profound. It was beyond themselves. So they did their best to support each other without an open conversation in the 10 years - just like a quiet love. Apart from each other. Despite the time and distance, their selfishness and possessiveness for each other was also telling of their twisted love - it’s crazy exclusivity. Geto calling Yuta a womaniser simply for healing/having a friend in Maki and then processing his love for Rika? That still makes me chuckle. As much as Gojo liking dogs (source GIGA character book) because Geto was once mistaken for Takeru the dog. 😂 unbelievable. Other examples: I’ll die to your hand. If you were there I’d be satisfied. Hm. Yeah. Crazy exclusivity. Almost at the expense of themselves...

Anyway. In terms of bonds: The codependency between Gojo & Geto is both a positive & negative. Maybe a byproduct of their generation & lack of emotional support within that time. The title as the strongest was a burden to Gojo & Geto (together and individually) that was different to that of what Yuji and Megumi carry respectively. So the context, era, setting, etc. would’ve shaped them differently too.

It’s also worth remembering that Megumi’s level of self importance, like Yuji, is not like that of Gojo or Geto who carried the weight of huge responsibility from a young age. Their bond was also therefore a little bit more twisted comparative to what Yuji and Megumi have.

And despite the short time together, we do see a the beginnings of preciousness between them with Yuji being determined to at least reach Megumi with a conversation in his fight with Sukuna - despite the insane power difference.

It’s absolutely mind-blowing when I think about this teenager going head to head with this old fart who is on the level of a calamity and has taken countless lives. And earlier on, soulful yet apprehensive Megumi not wanting someone compassionate like Yuji to die. Even making a request with Gojo to do something about it. Like a sense of inner knowing that the other was someone special and worth protecting. Yin is also associated with intuition.

They also underwent transformation where “if you die I’ll kill you” is now replaced by a different dialogue spurred on by Megumi’s honest narrative of the simple pleasures of living… and the devastation of his very down to earth/humble dreams being dashed and Yuji’s heartfelt response that showed acceptance and love beyond himself for Megumi’s plight. It was really moving. The power of such a love and the capacity of Yuji to grow as he did. Perhaps it was also because he was given the ingredients (love, faith, friendship, belief, resolve, etc.) to nourish him whenever he faced adversity. I mean, resilience is about growing from “trauma” and overcoming the tendency to hide which can result in becoming brittle (therefore weak).

Anyway. They’re like Gojo & Geto on a speedrun. But that is not the only difference… The forcible nature of having their bodies & wills violated - taken over as vessels for Sukuna- used to commit crimes against their desires - is something they share. A point of reference that can lend itself to relating to one another. It stimulates protectiveness. Compassion & connection.

Surely a common enemy changes things? Gojo & Geto could not see eye to eye when it came to it. Timing wasn’t on their side. Almost as it lateness was a theme. It was difficult to be vulnerable to one another. It almost mimics real life generational differences. They existed in a different world. When a common enemy is present, it is normal to rally together. Once again, their roles were different. Stronger than their sensei. Their expectations will be different as a result. Tengen requested their assistance.

Were the younger generation shielded from such burdens? I’d say so. Those on the frontlines within the school probably also changed (a little) after Geto defected, especially with Gojo using his influence to save and protect his students. We saw how Yaga reflected on his regrets as a teacher, relating to Gojo who opted to be a teacher too.

I think it was horrendous how nobody really noticed or anticipated that Geto would struggle the way he did. It was left to a peer (Gojo) we had no personal resources to support Geto in his own youth. It didn’t make sense. There was a lot lacking, as we know. It was a different time with someone to shield the young sorcerers to some degree. There was already a “strongest” (Gojo) when they were born.

Further, Gojo did his best to offer the kids something different - with Megumi having a different option to the Zenin & Nanami’s involvement with Yuji.

Their loneliness have subtle differences, so Gojo wasn’t lonely (in 236) with the companionship of others after being taught how to connect with people by Geto, but he still needed Geto to feel fully satisfied.

I think that’s why Geto said he was envious, because he assumed after hearing those words that Gojo was fully satisfied - eventhough his last words to Geto must have implied that Geto was important to him. Geto had a void that only Gojo could fill but he was, as ever, conceding enough in his love for Gojo to say “as long as you’re satisfied I’m relieved for you.”

Gojo corrected him by telling him he still needed him to feel fully satisfied. Implying it was something only Geto could fulfil. Gojo’s heart grew to accommodate his students and everyone but the shape in his heart of Geto was for Geto to fill.

Similarly for Geto, when he defected, he also wore the Gojo kesa like a lingering connection (longing/codependency). He did not feel he could smile as sincerely as he once could after he committed the crime and had to leave his best friend’s side to pursue the only option left.

Their love was somewhat twisted in nature, as it blessed/saved & cursed them equally. They needed other things to fulfil them but their bond was irreplaceable.

I’ll say it again: a partner’s place isn’t replaceable by students, children, friends, etc. Especially if it was someone you truly love. You can grow around the grief but the shape left behind by that person is still the same shape of that person.

Another way I conceptualise it is how they feel that the other completes them. On their own they feel incomplete. Lacking. Therefore to Gojo, Geto was a part of him. So he would feel incomplete (as a person) without Geto - within this kind of codependent bond.

It was noticed by others like Shoko who pictured them as a pair who seemed like nothing could come between them. A pair who she could never fall in love with individually, or offer to one what the other offered... (love, of course) but she was there. Shoko was never one to shoulder the burden of strength and the involvement it entails, but shouldered the entirety of having to witness passively (helplessly) from the sidelines. This was symbolic of their roles. Fighter versus medic. Gojo & Geto in a world of their own. They were the strongest. Somehow this role mattered to them. What a burden of responsibility that could erode their human nature. Don’t you think?

Back to parallels: With Yuji & Megumi, their relationship is younger. Despite the year between them the apprehensive Megumi already trusted Yuji so much that he considered him a brother on the same level as his sister. He’s a good judge of character. I always enjoyed how perceptive Megumi was.

With the loss of Tsumiki, I’m sure the bond will change / deepen as he realises his value as a person (not just observer standing behind Yuji & Tsumiki) with a new reason to live/fight. Adopting the same purpose as Yuji, perhaps, for each other. We do not know how much they rely on the other for fulfilment, but I’m encouraged that their bond will be unique and rich after these life experiences. How could it not be? How could Megumi not respond to such a kind & heartfelt expression of sincerity? Because Yuji isnt asking anything of Megumi : he was very simply saying: I’ll accept you, Megumi. What a demonstration of unconditional love and compassion. Incredible. It reminded me of how Gojo found the words to say to Geto to save his soul at the end of jjk 0. But once again, lateness seems to be a theme for the older generation.

As it stands, Megumi wished to see Tsumiki with Yuji and he observed from behind. Once again his level of self importance wasn’t high. Neither was Yuji who felt he was a cog in the wheel, a sacrificial vessel, etc. until recently. Gojo and Geto grew with the notion that had set roles to fulfil as the strongest. This was true of the time. And when we think of who they had around them… each other. Gojo and Geto were very codependent so they’d imagine themselves walking together. But in the end I can see how Geto felt like he was watching Gojo from behind. And Gojo felt he watched Geto leave - twice over; the final time to his own hand. Thank goodness for 236.

So I think the relationships have parallels but they are different… I don’t think this can translate into the last words in 0. Gojo admitting he will miss Geto or that he would be lonely - would sound too much like a curse. Thematically the only thing that fits is “I love you”. But the unsaid implications for the feelings (will we meet again, loneliness, my best friend, I love you, etc.) were all hinted at.

The similarities between them as individuals are many, for example : Geto and Yuji consume curses, and I think the intimate knowledge of this helped them have empathy. Geto and Megumi manipulate shadows/curses/creatures. Gojo and Yuji are strong in constitution and cope with adversity with resilience. Further, Gojo and Yuji suffered loss of someone important and witnessed their suffering, allowing them to let go out of compassionate mercy, despite the loneliness it created for themselves. Gojo and Megumi were blessed with historically revered Cursed Techniques. Being vessels also became a parallel: Yuji and Megumi to Sukuna & Geto to Kenjaku and Gojo to Kenjaku’s technique via Yuta. In this sense, Yuji and Gojo both became vessels upon their own volition.

For someone like Gojo he may not have struggled with the loss of comrades in the past and in the future. Geto did and this was also what broke him without the support to maintain his emotional wellbeing. Yuji saw far too much tragedy within a short space of time and the difference is not only in his personality but the availability of people around him who regarded him as family - Todo, Choso, etc. Megumi is like Geto in that sense where they were selective in who they wished to save, knowing their limitations maybe, or the wickedness within their flawed humanity. But the loss of the important ones also broke them. So I think in that way they respected and admired those who could remain objective like Yuji and Gojo.

Loneliness was a given. Gojo could not ask Geto to live, & at the end of 0 Geto must have thought that someone (strong & objective) like Gojo who raised such students & could cope with the deaths of others better than he, should be allowed to keep living on a righteous path after all - so he could die with a peaceful heart knowing he was loved by Gojo even after “leaving him behind” and urged to live righteously on a different path. He also didn’t kill any sorcerers which was the group he chose to protect.

They were both lonely in life, needed each other to feel complete (codependency), so in 236 they reunited as a form of salvation. As many others have said... 236 was also like a comfort for satosugu fans because without it, 261 would’ve been even more painful.

With just 5 chapters until the end... I’m not really ready for the series to end, but I’m so grateful Gege sees that he can can finish it as he envisions. Hopefully we get a satisfying conclusion to Yuji & Megumi (and end up getting some bonus side stories or backstories).

Ah I’ve rambled far too much. All this is just my opinion / observations of course. Parallels are parallels but they don’t necessarily overlap. I’m looking forward to seeing how the relationships of the new generation will unfold.

…and not forgetting about the fate of Yuta & Rika 😣 since they go back into 0 & have similar parallels with the pairs.

Hopefully curses can save people’s souls too...

[pepstarvanmoon]

From the Vantage Point

It takes two minutes for Max Mayfield to know one thing:

Michael Wheeler is a mess.

He’s too different from other boys, Max thinks. Not bad or good, just weird. He glares and ignores and shuts her out instead of pestering her. He doesn’t make comments about the shade of her hair, and overall is uninterested in whatever, if not anything she has going on.

It’s not much of a courtesy, because he doesn’t even need to open his mouth for Max to know what he thinks of her. He lives in a world that he appears to like, and Max seems to disrupt that balance.

The thought is more upsetting than she’d like to admit. Wheeler must be fragile as a daisy if any random newcomer can spin him off course. Fragile and particular. Max bets he’s the kind of person to have a pretty shell wash up by his feet and proceed to skip it into the ocean.

That’s what Max first thinks of him, anyway, until she meets William Byers.

===

Max doesn’t have a lot of experience with friendship—the deep, transcendent, left-an-everlasting-mark-on-your-soul kind—but she knows you’re not supposed to have favorites.

Lucas, Dustin, Mike and Will—thick as thieves, but to an extent. A disagreement has them sectioned for a couple hours to a day, and if they can’t reach some kind of harmony, the opposing side bears it.

That must be what this is, bearing it. It must happen often with Mike because Lucas and Dustin don’t pay his frowns a second glance and continue to drag her into their little adventures.

She learns that it’s lenience, a kind of love she’s accustomed to. Mike’s inherent dislike of her… everything, isn’t surprising once she knows that, and she would have known more had she been paying attention. One quick look, and Max would see that Will is the only one who looks Mike’s way during those times.

Lucas has her swept up, near airborne when he flashes her a goofy smile that crinkles the corners of his dark eyes, so she doesn’t fault herself for not noticing.

===

Hawkins is cursed, and Max is in over her head.

Billy tripled in insufferableness the instant he heard they were headed to Indiana, and four muddied tires past the ‘Welcome to Hawkins’ sign glued a scowl to his face. She wonders if she should be fearing for her life every drive to and from school, and occasional drop-off at the arcade.

With all of that, she might be even less safe at school. Getting involved with the weird kids—since she’s so emotionally distant that the only way people get her to acknowledge them is by chasing her down—was something plausible, but she didn’t actually see it coming.

Especially not with weird kids that act like the world is ending whenever a light flickers, who lock themselves in their club room, shrouded with darkness, harsh whispers so low you’d think there’s actually something to be afraid of.

She keeps hearing odd sounds, getting tugged around on missions with an end goal that she can’t know, and having invisible forces knock her off her skateboard. She keeps trying to meet and understand their knowing stares, but she can never see past Mike’s distrustful glare.

It’s no better for her heart, either. She’s tired of this shitty push and pull. Sometimes she feels like she has no idea what Lucas wants with her. What any of them want with her.

Dustin, besides Lucas, seems all about her, but she doesn’t know what his motive is—if anything. Will is kind, but he somehow manages to bother with her less than Mike does. Mike gets in her face to make his displeasure known, but even as he sneers and fights down smiles as he slowly warms up to her—at least he’s talking.

Will is a satellite of sorts, always circling around them, but he’s blended into the scenery so well that Max hardly remembers he’s there.

When Lucas and Dustin make more group decisions without consulting Mike, it’s a short argument before Mike is forced to suck it up. Halloween in particular, where Max had been directly invited to trick-or-treat with them, two welcoming smiles and Will’s silent compliance outshined and overpowered Mike’s emotions, and Max didn’t have to spend her first Halloween in “Haunted Hawkins” alone.

If she’d watched a little closer, she’d know that the pattern, observed as early as their first meeting, didn’t just end with Mike’s fire being snuffed out. She’d see their defeated leader sulk back to Wallflower Will, who’d take on his anger like it was a delicate dragonfly on his finger, who’d calmly iron the storm clouds until Mike was somewhat reasonable again. It wasn’t even difficult. With Will’s moonlight eyes, Mike surrendered without much of a fight.

Remember what Max said about favorites? That’s definitely not the case with these four.

Dustin proudly stated that Mike, Lucas and Will are all his best friends and he’s one of theirs, and Max had to bite her lip to hold in something ranging from a laugh to a protest. If they’re all best friends then there must be some secret tier above it that nobody mentions.

She glanced back at the pair. Will didn’t bother to hide that 80-percent of his footage was of the grimace on Mike’s face, and Mike didn’t mind the large camera pointing at him. He seemed like the type to swat at anything that hovers even remotely close to him, but it was almost like Will wasn’t there. Mike knew, of course, given that they were talking, but Will had found a way to assimilate into his world. Max was convinced nothing he could have done would have bothered Mike.

They run up to another house that greeted them with, to Lucas’ dismay, another bowl of Three Muskateers. Mike hovered behind them, watching as they scoop handfuls out before plucking a single one for himself. He shifted to the side, making room, but the frustration that had gradually melted into tolerance swiftly morphed into concern.

“Where’s Will?”

The space remained unoccupied. Mike rushed down the driveway and back in the direction they came from without so much as a glance toward the rest of them. Even when they caught up it didn't matter. Mike was restless and inconsolable because Will was gone. He was right beside him and now he was gone because Mike wasn’t paying attention and now he wouldn't calm down until he found him.

No one bothered to correct him that it was a team effort to find their friend, but it definitely wouldn’t have helped. Hell, it still wasn’t okay when they did find him, shaking in a little alcove behind a row of houses. Max was treated like a criminal for asking what was wrong, and Dustin wasn’t even allowed to touch him.

Her thought process shifted as Mike tucked Will under his arm, voice airy and gentle in a whisper that Max, despite watching his mouth move, had to convince herself actually came from Mike.

She tried not to dwell on it as they walked toward the next house, but Lucas and Dustin, two of a four person team with one peg knocked loose, were steered off course, and she was given a few minutes of awkward silence to let her thoughts solidify themselves.

Lucas shyly handed her one-half of a freshly opened king-sized Twix bar, and to ignore her beating heart, Max thought about having favorite friends, about friendship patterns and their many nuances, about reserved looks and smiles.

About a satellite that only revolves around one person.

(Max doesn’t bother to make sense of it, but she does reach some sort of conclusion.

They’re weirdly magnetic, Mike and Will. Drawn to each other but on completely opposite ends of the pole. Where Mike’s aggressive and vocal, Will is a lot more reserved. Mike makes sure he’s heard, though. Max doesn’t think he realizes that Will wants him to be the only one who hears.

Will is at his loudest when he’s scribbling, jetting black streaks that he won’t let anyone see, but a close second are his hurried whispers. Rushed, but always delicate—like it was against his nature to be callous—and always directed toward Mike. It’s as though he uses Mike to prepare for what he intends to say to the group, or maybe he always makes sure Mike hears about it first.

It puzzles Max. What’s so great about Mike anyway? He’s their leader for a reason, but certainly there’s more to it if his mere presence has Will’s eyes glowing like porch lights.

On her usual trek down the parking lot, ignoring the loud, obnoxious rev of Billy’s car engine, she watches Mike lock up his bike and wait for the others to show up. Max watches him high-five Dustin, shove at Lucas, then place a gentle hand on Will’s shoulder. Mike leans down, his lips moving almost cautiously. Will nods, smiling softly, and Mike’s responding grin nearly blinds her even all these feet away. Had Lucas not spotted her, calling Max’s name and waving wildly, she might’ve stayed transfixed.)

===

Dustin holds his proton pack close to his chest. He seems pretty stoked about it, grinning to himself and moving a thumb back and forth over the latch to make sure it won’t open on accidentally.

Max thinks it’s more likely to happen the more he messes with it, and that’s not something she’s too stoked about. She can’t imagine it—Dart, some slimy, tadpole thing he found in the garbage—crawling around freely like it doesn’t belong in the darkest part of their sewage system.

“My name will be under one of those museum captions,” Dustin brags, “Dustonius Pollywogus, discovered by Dustin Henderson.”

“And that’s more impressive than having a whole exhibit to yourself because…?” Max asks. This seems to stump Dustin a little, but he recovers quickly, flashing her a toothless smile.

“I like the way you think, Mad Max! I am worth a whole exhibit,” he says. “The Dustin Display.”

At his theatric gesture, Lucas groans. “No way is that what you’re going with.”

Dustin shrugs. “It can be doctored! I bet I’ll have someone to do that for me.” His eyes gleam. “Will! You’ll revamp my display, right?”

Will looks like he might be tempted to agree. Out of genuine interest or pity, Max can’t tell, but Mike seems to know.

Mike rolls his eyes. “Don’t waste Will’s talent on something that’s not happening.”

“I can see the headline now.” With dramatic flourish, Lucas sweeps a hand through the air, voice dripping with mock seriousness. “William Byers, the real creative genius behind pioneer Henderson,” he announces, casting Dustin a teasing smile.

Dustin is unimpressed, of course, and Max would feel more embarrassed about the involuntary chuckle she lets out, but Lucas practically shines with how pleased he is with his own joke that Max, almost involuntarily, stops caring.

She’s forcibly snapped out of it when they start bickering, fighting the urge to mimic Mike and roll her eyes. Speaking of, Max glances over in time to catch Mike huffing irritatedly at the two. He looks over at Will, who’s actually tuned in to whatever those two are squabbling about, and nudges him lightly.

“Designing museum displays might be fun for you, though,” Mike says, dragging Will into their own conversation. “I think you’d be great at it.”

Will flushes under the praise, ducking his head. “I don’t know, what I draw isn’t exactly realistic.”

“Someone has to make it actually interesting for kids. There’s a reason most children’s museums dedicate half their buildings to dinosaurs and space.”

Will chuckles. “Yeah,” he breathes, and Max is caught all over again. Lucas and Dustin’s argument is reduced to static in the back of her mind. She can actually see it now, the space Mike holds for Will, and how delighted he is to fit into it.

Max feels oddly triumphant. She was right, they are each other’s favorite and those party rules are bullshit. Lucas, Dustin, and Will couldn’t care less that she’s tagging along (always following, never attached), Mike is just—

“Are you guys done yet? We’re gonna be late,” Mike calls, not abruptly, but it still shocks her. She really needs to get out of her own head. Not before the rush of her triumph wilts into a kind of sadness. Max doesn’t think Will knows just how much room he has.

She doesn’t think Mike knows either.

[plumfrogs]

I know this won’t reach most of my youtube subscribers, but i do want to apologize and also explain a bit as to why I haven’t made any sims videos the past 2+ weeks. I really do love the sims and making content. But i’ve been really stuck lately on a more grand, existential level.

I am in the last year of being in my 20s (about 8 months left to be exact) and it’s really hit me how stuck i feel in life. I really want to get back into things i wish i had continued to persue more or took a better shot at in my mid 20s, but gave up on due to several reasons. I wish to give music another try as it’s something i always go back to and will always have a love for. I’ve wanted to give writing music another go as i never fully dived as deep into trying it as much as i’ve wanted to over the years.

The pandemic really took a toll on my mental health and i did not really come out the same person, both good and bad. Like many others did, i lost a couple of years of my life to the pandemic, specifically what i feel are really important years to explore who you are and what you want in life (your mid 20s) and it’s really hit me how much this has affected my mental well being and confidence.

I’m sorry this is so long, but i guess this is kind of a note not just for others, but for myself. If you did read this, thank you. And if you are in a similar position to me, then i want to say i hope things get better, and i hope you get to really find where you wish to be in life and that you find your happiness. 💚💜

[chickenchungus]

Nightmares

The place was in shambles, with smoke and debris everywhere. People scrambled to not fall, praying to make it out alive. It was freezing, the ice on the sea made everything so cold, and the smell of gunpowder and blood was very prominent. The stench was unbearable; this horrible metallic odour was so strong, and that terrible wet feeling was everywhere. Why was it all so wet? Ace, where are we? Ace?

Where is everyone? It's dark; I can't see. Ace, what's happening? Why is everyone running?

We were in our tree house, just us three. What happened? How did this all change so fast? This isn't fun anymore. I need you by my side. I can't have you leave me. I need you. I need you. I need you. How could you leave? Please don't go. I don't want to be alone. Weren't we supposed to accomplish everything together? Are you leaving me because I'm not strong enough? Am I not good enough? I'm sorry, I couldn't save you.

I don't think I can cry any harder, Ace. My face feels rough, kind of like a rock. I didn't know tears could make your face so stiff. I didn't know I could cry this loudly; it's hard to breathe. I think I might be drowning. I'm sorry; I couldn't help being a crybaby. I can't live without you, please. My skin hurts. I want the pain to stop. It's burning me. I didn't get burned. I don't know why it hurts so much.

Ace, why does it hurt? Why are you sleeping at a time like this? Ace, please wake up. I still need you.

There was some muffled yelling—something about screaming and shaking. I think they were calling out to me. I'm not sure. I just want Ace to be okay. I hope he's okay.

[hemlockgraves]

Dreams are a luxury that undeath cannot afford.

[rainwater71]

May I ask for a prinxiety rant? They are my favorite boys and I'd love to hear your thoughts on them 💜❤️

YES 100% YES.

This is gonna be like a whole essay so buckle up, and also please excuse how all over the place this is

A creativity and an anxiety being together I feel like just makes sense. Like, they’re working together and having a healthy relationship instead of trying to work against each other(?) and I feel like the flirting with social anxiety asides episode is a great example of that, Virgil saw Roman sad and pushed Thomas to talk to Nico. And Thomas in exploring nostalgia says “so I might not have had Roman create half as many of the stories and worlds he did without Virgil giving you reason to.” And of course Roman saying that Virgil is what pushes Thomas to rehearse and rehearse in accepting anxiety. To put it simply, Virgil loves Roman and lets him actually do stuff instead of holding him back. (I hope this makes sense lmao)

There’s also so many moments between them to, like all the small comments that they make towards each other that MELTS MY HEART.

List of my favorite moments:

-in 12 days of Christmas Roman looks at Virgil after saying “my true love gave to me” and when Logan asks who the true love is he quickly says that it’s not important

-Roman saying that making fun of things is how she shows his love (he makes fun of Virgil obv)

-once again the entirety of flirting with social anxiety

-‘anxiety’s the fairest of them all’

-all the nicknames

-just the word ‘Princey’ honestly

-Virgil saying ‘no one hates you’ in learning new things about ourselves, idk it just means so much more coming from him rather than Patton or something

-in alone on Valentine’s Day Virgil says that talking to someone you like could make you get ‘tongue tied, jumbled, confused’ and then in fitting in when Virgil changes his look Roman does exactly that

-‘don’t worry, everyone loves the villain’

-Roman not taking back calling Virgil hot topic 🤷‍♀️

-And of course In new sketch (the sides need a nice day) Virgil tries to bond with Roman by kinda mixing their interests together, of course lowkey fails but it’s the effort that counts.

Anyways thanks for reading if you did! Ik this most likely didnt make that much sense and that some of those moments are random but I hope it was somewhat understandable, and honestly I could go on for hours but I’m not trying to write a 100k word essay lmao.

[starfish-comics]

SO I'm gonna ramble about a thing, I guess.

I love this game so much! But I feel like if there's one big complaint I have about it, it's that I have never felt like it gave me a genuine reason to feel motivated towards the goal of becoming Divine. I mean as a disclaimer, I tend to lean really heavily into the roleplay aspect of any game I play, and I get really invested in playing my characters authentically and having them do what they would really do, and obviously that approach is ultimately better suited to TTRPGs than video games where you often just have to accept that the game's goals are your goals whether you relate to them or not. Which is fine and that's why I also play dnd.

And also, I've been told that if you play an origin character this is a little bit less of an issue, because their backstories give them personal reasons for wanting to be Divine. And I can't speak to that because I've only played as my gal Artemisia.

But it feels to me like Divinity is essentially a position that gives you a godlike amount of power, and if absolute power is something that feels appealing to you or your character, then it works, but if it doesn't, then it kind of falls flat and feels like you are just doing all these things because the game told you to.

Like when I started, I had the idea of Artemisia as being this sort of dopey hedge-witch who got dropped into all this larger political stuff and was in a bit over her head with it. In Fort Joy she was mostly motivated to escape. By the time she got to Reaper's Coast her experiences had radicalized her, so she was more actively motivated to work against the Magisters, but if anything seeing all these power players in the world being so evil in pursuit of absolute power made her all the more convinced that no one should really have the level of power that Divinity entailed.

Like I don't know, maybe I should have just made a character who would want that kind of power more? But when so much of the game is focused on the enormous amounts of harm done by people with too much power who are convinced that they deserve even more, it feels weird to then have the highest goal of the game be to acquire absolute power more or less for its own sake. Idk, I just feel like they could have done a better job setting up the story so any type of character would have some plausible reason to think Divinity was a thing they should want.

And boy oh boy am I gradually getting more and more consumed by anxiety that the game is going to railroad me into fighting Sebille and Lohse. All the other stuff I just said is really just me kvetching because I want every game I play to be all roleplay all the time, and ultimately I know this is a video game and not dnd and having your choices limited is part of that and it's fine. But if I get forced to fight these gals after spending untold hours of gameplay befriending them and flirting with them and getting super attached to them and emotionally invested in their relationships, I am Actually Going to Be Very Upset.

Like oh my gosh it's dropping so many hints that that's what's going to end up happening and I just really really really really hope there's a way around it because no one wants to see me cry while playing this game.

[satari-raine]

Forever a turtle, but life update:

Got a job! It's a retail position at a local thrift store chain, which is a tiny bit disheartening for some dumb personal reasons, but it's certainly something - overall, though, it's a good thing. Hopefully it'll help get my finances back in order and a sense of routine again. It'll be a bit rocky at the start, catching up on bills and getting used to retail again, but it's something.

Just wanted to say a genuine thank you to those that helped out and gave well wishes during me rambling on here for a few months. It meant and still means a lot to me, it really does. Hope you all are doing well, too, as always. Rooting for you.

[matookahitaki]

don't know if i'll do more art, i really want to but i am in constant pain and it's so incredibly horrible to want to contribute more to this fandom now that it's over but not being able to. i made some amazing friends and mutuals and i dont want to stop making content, i'll post when i can but i doubt i'll be as active as i usually was. i'll still be on tumblr and on my main account but i wont be as active in the star wars fandom as a whole

Little Q&A:

Why are you in pain?

I have developed arthritis at the tender age of 23 and it's very prominent in my hands(which i use to do art)

When are you active?

I am active in the early morning and in the evening mostly, i still check daily to see if there are comments/tags/messages for me.

What is your main blog and what do you post?

@makahitaki and its exclusivly memes and things i fancy(star wars, art, music, shows i watch, ramblings about anything and everything)

Are you leaving the star wars fandom?

NO!!! i love it here and im still here but as an artist in the fandom i feel like i have a responsibility to create, both for myself and for others who enjoy what i post, so i still very much am here and i still love most of star wars. im not going anywhere!