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ravnicaforgoblins · 4 years ago

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Ravnica for Goblins

Exciting Planeswalker Visitors

(Caution: Before we begin, this post is going to be much more opinion-based than previous ones. These are my own homebrew ideas, use them as/if you wish, discard/dismiss them if you prefer.)

Planeswalkers are an integral part of MTG Lore, as well as several of its most iconic characters. Put simply, a Planeswalker is an individual with an inherent gift for traveling between planes, or worlds. The gift does not appear at birth, but is usually triggered by some manner of incredibly emotional (usually traumatizing) event. In addition, each Planeswalker displays a unique aptitude for a particular style of magic; be it plant growth, transformation, becoming transparent, illusions, invulnerability, summoning beasts, structural analysis, setting things on fire, etc. Whatever their specific brand of magic is, it’s usually on a higher level than an ordinary person can hope to achieve.

Planeswalkers, as a general rule, are wanderers by nature. They may have a home plane, or even an adopted home plane, but being able to traverse the multiverse leads many towards lives of constant adventuring/shenanigans. Add in the fact that Planeswalkers cannot bring anyone else with them on these travels (except in very rare cases), and you end up with a special breed of super-powerful magical loner. They show up, make a name for themselves with their big magic, and depart when they feel like it. Did you say, “Instant Adventure”?

Ravnica has a few native Planeswalkers among its citizens; Ral Zarek, Vraska, and Domri Rade. In addition, it has several Planeswalkers who have at some point or another (depending on your timeline) devoted enough time & energy to be effectively considered citizens; Azor, Tezzeret, Kaya, Dack Fayden, Dovin Baan, Gideon Jura, and Jace Beleren. Some of these are currently dead, missing, or magically barred from ever returning. At one point, Ravnica had more Planeswalkers on it at one time than any plane in the multiverse has ever or will ever see. If you are going the War of the Spark direction, good luck. You'll need it and so will your players. For everyone else, which Planeswalkers you choose to include in your campaign (if any), should be based on who will work the best for the story you’re trying to tell. A recommendation; if you find their lore too distracting and complicated, stick to the main beats. A lot of these figures can be boiled down to simple ideas, and you don’t want to bore your party with the entire novel of these usually dramatic/tragic lives. Trust me, the base concepts are enough.

With that in mind, here are four Planeswalkers that I, a random person on the internet, believe would work great for a Ravnica campaign. My choices are not based on who has canonically already spent time in Ravnica, or who would be the most powerful/dangerous to suddenly appear in the city. Several Planeswalkers have their own prior commitments on other planes that are pretty central to their character, and BAMFing them to Ravnica for a quick Bad Guy to take down wouldn’t do them justice. These four characters would slide into various aspects of Ravnica beautifully. These four would be the most exciting visitors to Ravnica.

Ashiok, Dream Render

I don’t think any MTG character could be as good a fit for a Ravnican Guild as Ashiok is for House Dimir. Ashiok is almost literally a walking shadow of secrets and intrigue. Their origins, their age, their motives, their face; hell, their gender is a secret yet unrevealed. Ashiok’s power is creating living beings born of the greatest fears stolen from people’s nightmares. Literally.

It’s like if the Dimir stopped half-assing the art of stealing thoughts and turned it into a weapon of mass destruction. Because even the mightiest of Ravnicans are afraid of things. Ask Niv-Mizzet about the Nephilim sometime, see how quickly he changes the subject. What’s better, for a Guild that prides itself on always having the up & up on everyone, Ashiok is inscrutable. They have no past that can be divined, no secrets that can be stolen, no previous encounters to prepare any for their arrival. Neither Lazav nor Etrata can claim such anonymity, despite their best efforts. Ashiok is a true enigma and a dangerous new weapon for House Dimir.

Ashiok also comes with the ability to create minions and NPCs from out of any PC’s worst nightmares, making encounters a great combination of roleplaying & combat. Fighting them is specifically facing one’s deepest & darkest fears made real. Can you say, “character development”?

Ashiok’s arrival could spread this new magical art to other Dimir Agents for a longer campaign, but it might be best to confine it to Ashiok in order to allow for a cleaner victory. Ashiok is not a fighter, cornering them into a direct confrontation should be enough to make the Nightmare Sculptor run for the hills. The mind is powerful, but also very squishy.

Tibalt, the Fiend-Blooded

You know how the Cult of Rakdos are technically Chaotic Evil but generally just a bunch of artsy hedonistic nuisances? Tibalt is to them what a gallon of gasoline would be to a lit stove. Good for fire, bad for everything else. Tibalt is an empath specializing in Pain Magic. Quite literally, he loves hurting people for fun. Drawn to pain like a magnet; physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological, etc, he is sadism personified.

His brief time on Ravnica during War of the Spark was enough to make a strong impression on the Rakdos.

“I like this one’s energy.”

This is because they do not realize how bad Tibalt would be for the Cult. There is a fundamental difference between the Chaotic Evil the Cult practices and the Chaotic Evil Tibalt delights in. The Rakdos have survived 10,000 years by taking in the freaks, the rejects, and the crazies, and giving them a place where they can live out their most depraved hedonistic fantasies. They are the voice of the outsiders bringing all figures of power & authority down a peg. They always punch up, never down. Tibalt is a young man with no home, no friends, no job, and no interests or hobbies beyond inflicting pain in as many people as possible. Tibalt punches everyone. The most important distinction between the two is that the Cult of Rakdos is a culture, a way of life for people to embrace; it might be crazy, but it welcomes & accepts people no matter how insane the world says they are. Tibalt does not care about anyone but himself. Following his example would see the city turned into the largest, bloodiest, and most destructive riot in its history; with Tibalt inciting and sicking every monstrosity he can find onto the city at once. He will burn the Rakdos candle at both ends and leave them to suffer the consequences of his fun. The aftermath being the city in ruins, the Cult wiped from the face of existence, and him moving on to his next project. In short, Tibalt will hurt the Cult of Rakdos as much, if not more, than the rest of Ravnica. Because that’s how he gets his kicks.

The one thing standing in his way will be Rakdos himself. As the single largest diva on the entire plane, Rakdos does not tolerate anyone who tries to steal his spotlight. As a 10,000+ year-old Demon Lord, Rakdos is in a league of his own, and Tibalt is just a hotshit little pain mage with a few tricks. It’s not a fight, it’s either an exit or a curtain call for the Planeswalker. If Rakdos is around, Tibalt’s spree will be very short-lived. If, however, Rakdos is doing his usual thing of hibernating for weeks, months, or years at a time, that’s a different story. Tibalt is good for if your campaign wants to bypass politics & intrigue and go straight to killing Cultists & Demons. He’s bad for anyone he comes in contact with.

Garruk Wildspeaker

In case I haven’t made my contempt for Domri Rade clear, I hold Domri Rade in utter contempt. As a character, as a Planeswalker, and most of all as a Gruul, he’s a failure. Scrawny, weak, gullible, and stupid. My chief grievance with Domri is that he fell short in all the areas the Gruul Clans idolize. He couldn’t survive in the wilderness on his own without his Planeswalker abilities, he couldn’t fight for himself except against weaker opponents or with herds of animals as backup, and he acted on orders from someone else who wasn’t Gruul. For a Guild built on independence and survival of the fittest, he failed both completely.

Garruk is the real deal. Gigantic, strong, savage, and cunning. Here is a man who, on a fundamental level, has embraced animal savagery as a way of life. He lives like a predator on the hunt, an alpha of any pack, and a fierce threat to all who intrude upon his territory. On a plane like Ravnica, where civilization has encroached on the untamed wilds almost completely, Garruk would be a gamechanger. Not only could he feasibly fight Borborygmos for leadership of the Gruul, he could win, and he could unite the Gruul under his howl of reclaiming the wilds from so-called “civilization”. Garruk would bring animal strength to the Gruul in ways they’ve only begun to tap into, and he’d do it in their language. Because Garruk understands the Gruul, and they understand him. They have so much in common with each other that it’s hard to think of any Planeswalker who could be welcomed so readily into a Guild. They would become so much more than rock-smashers and anarchists, they would become Ravnica’s reminder that nature will survive when all traces of society have crumbled away.

As if taking on the city itself wasn’t big enough already, Garruk has also taken to hunting other Planeswalkers, and can actually track them across the Multiverse. Meaning a few high-ranking members of Guilds and even the Living Guildpact have to take his threat seriously. He’s got a particular grudge against necromancers, dislikes talking, and has a special gift with animals of all varieties. All of which provides plenty of ideas to build from. He’s an 8ft tall Human Druid/Barbarian who willingly chooses animal savagery over intellectual reasoning, can there be anyone more perfect for the Gruul?

Did I say Ashiok was the most perfect fit for an MTG character in a Ravnican Guild? Yeah, scratch that. Garruk is.

Sarkhan Vol

Most Planeswalkers have a theme to their abilities. For some, that theme extends to their personalities as well. And then there are Planeswalkers who can be adequately summed up in a single word. For Sarkhan, that word would be “dragons”. Sarkhan sees dragons as nature’s purest & most destructive form, and carries a fascination with them that is perfectly healthy for anything with wings and scales that breathes fire, but generally less healthy for everything & everyone else.

One of the things that makes Ravnica unique is the distinct lack of dragons (emphasis on the plural). Ravnica has a dragon, Niv-Mizzet the Firemind, who made the executive decision thousands of years ago that he alone was sufficient to represent his entire species. Ravnican dragons are considered more intelligent than dragons on other planes, Niv himself being a prime example of this. Around the original signing of the Guildpact, Ravnica’s Godlike dragons were hunted to extinction, with Niv leading the hunt against his own kind. They were not entirely successful in this endeavor, but what few dragons do remain in the present day survive by staying as far off Niv’s radar as possible. Some dragons live by carrying out Niv’s will under constant supervision, or by hunting in the untamed wilds outside the city, or as sideshow attractions for the Rakdos (usually with their wings cut off to prevent escape). They are effectively stripped of anything that would identify them as “dragons” for the sake of their own existence. Since dragons are such a notoriously touchy subject for the Firemind, few have the nerve or fire immunity necessary to speak out against it.

Sarkhan would be horrified. If he thought the extinction of dragons on his home plane of Tarkir was bad, seeing them living like this would infuriate him beyond words. What would Sarkhan do once the initial shock of seeing his spirit animal (in more ways than one) reduced to pitiful scraps of life as lab rats, scared prey, and freak shows wears off? Let’s make it a game! Do you think Sarkhan will:

A. Cry.

B. Throw up.

C. Embrace this as a plane’s reality that he has no right to get involved with.

D. Scream.

E. Set something on fire.

F. Set everything on fire.

G. Bring back the dragons.

H. Burn the city to the ground with dragons.

I. Kill Niv-Mizzet.

J. All the above except “C”.

If you selected Answer “J”, then congratulations! You’ve just won a free trip to a BURNING METROPOLIS! Sarkhan will absolutely make it his life’s goal to bring dragons back to Ravnica and destroy the whole wretched city down to the last brick. How he would do it is up to you, but it’s a solid bet that even if every other Guild treats him like an apocalyptic madman, the Gruul might side with him over some shared beliefs in smashing the city apart with ferocious animal savagery. They tend to lean towards such ideas with uncharacteristic willful compliance. Ravnican dragons are primarily red, with the most prominent breed still remaining being the Utvara Hellkites beyond the city limits.

Oh, and Sarkhan can turn into a dragon, too. Have fun with that.

#ravnica for goblins #ravnica #goblins #d&d #dnd #dungeons and dragons #dragons #planeswalkers #mtg #campaign #roleplaying #tibalt #sarkhan #ashiok #garruk #fun ideas #guilds

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snkpolls · 4 years ago

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SnK Episode 67 Poll Results (for Manga Readers)

The poll closed with 254 responses. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Please note that these are the results for the Manga Readers’ poll. If you wish to see the results for the Anime Only Watchers’ poll, click here.

RATE THE EPISODE 246 Responses

The response to this week’s episode remains overwhelmingly positive, with 97.6% of responses giving it a score of 3 or higher.

This is the first episode where I have absolutely no criticisms, so im quite happy with how it turned out.

Voice acting was top tier

perfect

Emotional

Great Job! I'm glad my favorite character's death was so emotionally misered.

Forget Attack on Titans, this episode was Attack on my Feelings ! 😭

I want to rate it a 1 because of Sasha but a 5 because of how well it was done... so 1.5

Absolutely loved it

Perfect

ASIDE FROM SASHA’S DEATH, WHICH MOMENT WAS THE MOST EMOTIONAL FOR YOU? 247 Responses

Connie’s heartfelt admission to Jean seems to have stolen the hearts of the plurality of responders (36%). That is followed by a tie of 18.2% responses noting Eren’s breakdown or EMA’S tense reunion as the most emotional moment for them. In third place is Gabi’s tragic declaration about her struggles with 11.3%. Other responses were, in order, Jean lamenting all of the deaths occurring, Gabi and Falco realizing that Zeke betrayed them, Hange scolding Eren for forcing the SC to intervene in Marley and Levi and Eren’s confrontation.

Connie telling Sasha and Jean that they're special to him made my heart hurt knowing what was going to happen mere minutes after. I honestly saw me and my two best friends through them, and it was gut wrenching seeing Connie and Jean's reactions. Even Mikasa's reaction broke me, to be honest. They all lost a huge light in their lives.

WHICH MOMENT SURPRISED YOU THE MOST? 222 Responses

So this question was meant to only go on the anime watchers poll and ended up here somehow. Thanks to the 222 who were good sports and responded anyway! :P The most shocking moments that took place in this chapter/episode was the revelation that Eren went rogue from the Survey Corps, that Zeke was collaborating with the Survey Corps, how the Survey Corps treated Eren, and that some Paradisians seemed to be turning to nationalism, in that order.

Not sure why we're being asked as manga readers which moment shocked us the most since we already knew everything that was going to happen this week

HOW MUCH DID SASHA’S DEATH HURT YOU? 249 Responses

When it came to Sasha’s death, it would appear that it broke the hearts of the overwhelming majority of responders, with 81.1% giving it a rating of either 4 or 5 on the tragic scale.

Broke my heart and I'm still crying over it three days later. Honestly though, it was greatly done.

3 years later it hit me, Sasha is dead ;_;

Cried my whole soul and body. Rip sweet Sasha

I thought Sasha's death would've been more emotional.

WHOSE REACTION TO SASHA’S DEATH AFFECTED YOU THE MOST? 250 Responses

Sasha’s death elicited various reactions from the main cast. Two different responses tied at 36.4% noting Connie and Mikasa’s reactions to Sasha's death as the one affecting them the most. This was followed by Eren’s at 13.2%. The rest were, in order, Armin, Jean, Levi and Hange.

I don’t cry at fiction much, but Sasha’s death got me more than I thought it would. I feel like seeing Armin and Mikasa’s reactions in particular is what got me.

The way they animated Armin and Mikasa bawling over Sasha's body and the inclusion of Call Your Name made it all the more emotional. I think by "Assassin's Bullet" they also meant a bullet through my heart because man did that hurt to watch. 😭🤧

WOULD YOU PISS YOUR PANTS IF LEVI WAS GLARING AT YOU WITH MURDEROUS INTENT? 248 Responses

A bit of a joke question, but we wanted to know if Levi appeared as threatening as he seemed. 80.2% seems to think so, admitting their incentive to piss their pants. In contrast, 19.8% don’t think the Captain’s such a scary guy!

THE FULL VERSION OF “ASHES ON THE FIRE” BY KOHTA YAMAMOTO (THE PREVIEW SONG) IS NOW OUT. IF YOU’VE LISTENED TO IT, WHAT DO YOU THINK? 236 Responses

“Ashes on the Fire” has been released to rave reviews, with 88.1% of responses giving it a 4 or a 5. Nobody gave it a 1, either. Yamamoto-san, thank you!

OVERALL, HOW WELL DO YOU THINK MAPPA ADAPTED THE MARLEY ARC? 251 Responses

In spite of the relatively vocal complaints about the adaptation of certain elements of the Marley Arc, it would appear that the overwhelming majority of responders seemed pleased with it, with 51.4% giving it 5 and 37.1% giving it a 4. 1s not present.

I've been a bit bothered how Mappa follows the Manga like a slave, using the panels as scenes and not adding anything in between. Sure it works for Manga, but it feels weird to me to watch in Anime how Eren grabs Armins hand and they don't give a transition where Armin pulls him in, but just show him inside the airship next. Just little things, but bothers me a bit. Overall I'm really enjoying their choices.

The show looks BETTER

I was fine with the episode. The quality of animation dropped but I understand that every scene cannot be animated on highest level. MAPPA has done a great job with the Marley arc. They shown the character development and bonds between the warriors perfectly. We had some cuts here and there but overally was okay: 8/10 for me.

I’m so pleased that MAPPA has taken the anime. I’m still more of a fan of this particular series’ manga than anime though.

DID SASHA’S DEATH AFFECT YOU MORE WHEN YOU READ THE MANGA, OR SEEING IT ANIMATED WITH VOICES AND MUSIC? 249 Responses

As noted above, Sasha’s death seemed to be a hard hitter for most. Comparison of the adaptation vs the original allows to discern which hit the readers/watchers the hardest. Just one percent shy of a majority (49%) thought that the anime made it much more tragic. 30.9% noted that the impact was roughly similar across both mediums. On the flip side, 10.4% thought that the initial depiction of it in the manga was the hardest hitter. There were also a couple of write-ins.

I dont remember I sped run reading the manga, kinda regretting it

I knew it for the first time in the manga, so it had a more powerful impact (I cried for a whole week. Not kidding) and the anime managed to make me cry as hard as in the manga. Though, I already was aware and grieved so it wasn't as bad

Got Spoiled :( so kinda meh, saw it coming

When the music kicked in after Connie announced she was gone, my heart broke into a million pieces.

Let's be honest, Sasha's role was over after she killed the titan in the village and saved Kaya. After that she was just there. She got zero development, zero important moments, zero depth. Her death effected many characters and helped them to develop. Sasha's death was sad but at least brought some important changes in others.

Not a Sasha fan so I was not really that affected but having a death in the series always feels sour

I think for me, they're both even.....mostly. There's just something about having been waiting for the chapter leaks on reddit with a bunch of other people and most of us collectively grieving at the same time. Once bigger pages of the chapter started coming out, it made me cry. I didn't even cry during serumbowl when I first read it and that had plenty for me to be even more upset about.

Honestly while reading manga I hated that Sasha’s last word was „meat”, it seemed so ridiculous. I’m happy MAPPA made it look more serious with music. Actually everyone’s reaction for Sasha’s death had more impact on me than the death itself

HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU SAW GABI KILL SASHA IN THE MANGA? AND HOW DO YOU FEEL SEEING IT AGAIN NOW, KNOWING HOW GABI’S ARC DEVELOPS? 247 Responses

Gabi is perhaps the most controversial character introduced post-time skip. Whether you’re a proud member of the Gabi Gang, proud hater of the 12 year old or just a neural party, everyone can admit that. With Sasha’s death at her hands, many seemed to offer up their opinion on the kid, back then and now. A slight plurality, 31.2%, stated that they did not hate her back when 105 first released and they don’t hate her now. 23.1% note that although they were rather upset with her back down, they are not (upset/angry) any longer. On the flipside, 25.5% state that they still hate the kid, as they did back then. Finally, some were simply neutral. Classic.

Quite a few write-ins, as well.

I hated her in the manga but after watching the anime, I’m not happy about it but I understand why she did what she did and don’t hate her as much anymore.

I was extremely upset about it before and am still extremely upset about it now, but for different reasons. I hate her less but am not any less annoyed by her brainwashed hatred of the Paradisians, although I understand her much better and realize and empathize that she's just a kid who's been used by her country in the worst way.

Gabi Braun Must Die

Broke my heart and was upset, but understood where she was coming from (thought about her perspective only)

Sasha shoulda killed this cunt while she had the chance

It’s war, she did as she needed to. Her arc is fantastic

love hate relationship

I didn't like her but not because of Sasha death (that's war consequence) and it's the same now

I really hated her with my whole heart and soul, but now that it has been all explained, that she had character development, I even like her now

I used to be angry about it but I understand why now, Gabi is just a victim of Marley’s control just like anyone else is, it’s a shame this is the results of it. She’s still at fault but I can’t hate her so much for it

I feel tired of Gabi hate. I disliked her in the manga back then but now I feel neutral towards her, because she has changed. Yet, I wish she took less screentime.

SORRY for ranting! I don't understand the hate on Gabe. Yes, I know she killed a Paradise character which was present in series since its beginning and I understand Sasha's fans are upset Sasha is not here anymore because of her. but those people do not analyse Gabe as they should be. Every character belongs to a different side and each side is blinded by what heir belives in. It is okay to not like Gabe but I don't tolerate hate on her. I THINK THIS QUESTION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AT ALL.

Initial hate, understanding after some thought

Understanding her situation I know I shouldn’t hate her, but I’m choosing to be petty and hate her anyway

I liked her much more than I like her now. She was a much better character back then, her killing Sasha (a one-note comedic relief) was cool and brought some spice to the story. Now she just exists to spout themes and convenient exposition and to be an aimbot

i dislike her, even if i understand her

I dont like Gabi. Never did. It isnt because she killed Sasha tho. I just dont care for Gabi tbh BUT i can totally understand her actions and do not blame her for it after seeing the destruction and killings

I was and still am upset about Sasha's death, but from the start I blamed it more on the circumstances than Gabi.

I loved her then, I love her now and it probably wouldn’t change even if she killed my favourite characters. She’s my cinnamon roll

Gabi did nothing wrong, killing a soldier in the battlefield is not a crime.

See, I WANT to like Gabi since she's obviously changed, but knowing she killed Sasha nonetheless will ALWAYS prevent me from having any love or respect for her. She will always be my most hated character

MAPPA ADDED AN EXTENDED SCENE OF FLOCH AND OTHER SURVEY CORPS RECRUITS BEATING GABI AND FALCO. HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT IT? 240 Responses

MAPPA added an extra scene of Floch and Friends raining down copious amounts of gratuitous violence upon two 12 year olds (MAPPA is pro-child violence???????? Find out when 111 is adapted). 48.8% seemed to think that it was a decent addition, even if just for the SC’s characterization (or perhaps you enjoyed seeing that?). 22.5% thought it was a bit over the top to feature. Finally, 16.7% did not care.

I didn't like it. But, it was def a believable reaction from them.

I just wish it was enough to kill her

I liked the additional characterization of Floch & co.

Great addition, it was implied in the manga so the scene fitted well. Still, it was horrifying to see how vile the scouts were to two kids

How about an option where we're glad Gabi got beaten to a pulp but not when Falco was?

ORA ORA thing, but we viewers get hurt too.

Didn't feel bad about Gabi getting beat up, but I did feel bad seeing Falco get beat up. Poor boy didn't deserve that

A nice addition

I thought it was a great choice to highlight the continuing violence and feelings of vengeance from both sides even more. and I thought it contrasted really well with Jean's decision not to throw the kids out of the airship.

The people glorifying this scene annoy the shit out of me

It's a good way to hint the "Yaegerist" perspective to anime onlies

MUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDA

The Gold Experience memes are funny

It was an IC scene for people like Floch + I feel bad for the kids

The way they shot that scene made the recruits seem like mindless, gross-faced animals storming towards the kids to beat them up. I liked how they were dehumanised like that, considering that most faces amongst them belonged to the ones who support the rumbling.

It hurt to see that but good scene though

Feel empathy for Gaby. Violence don't solve problems

Now THAT'S what I call fan service! Who needs big-boobed, big-ass females or shirtless guys with and when you can just have the most hated character get the tar beaten out of them xD

I can see why they did it. MAPPA's not dumb and I'm sure they anticipated a massive onslaught on hate towards Gabi specifically, so it was their way of trying to satisfy the haters. Falco didn't deserve it tho.

It was a good addition

GREAT JOB MAPPA

I hate Gabi too but that was too much beating up a child, yet it also showed how shit Floch and the others are.

Apparently some people never noticed that Gabi and Falco got beat up, probably because it happened in the background. So it was good for MAPPA to call attention to it.

I love Gabi but she had that coming. No need to hurt Falco though. :(

OVERALL, HOW WELL DO YOU FEEL MAPPA EXECUTED THE REVEAL THAT ZEKE IS A TRAITOR TO MARLEY? 240 Responses

The reveal that ZOOK has been working against Marley for years on end is one of the most important ones in the series, really. So it was important to have it be executed in a rather decent manner. The vast majority of the fandom thought that MAPPA did a fine job. 52.1% gave it a rating of 4, 27.5% gave it a 5 and 17.1% gave it a 3. The couple of the other respnders gave it a 2, with no 1s.

IN THE END, DO YOU THINK EREN’S ACTIONS IN MARLEY WERE ULTIMATELY JUSTIFIED? 242 Responses

A question to remember… Were Eren’s actions in Marley ultimately “justified”? A plurality, 44.6% seems to think so. In contrast, 24% disagree. And 31.4% still aren’t sure to this day.

SIMILARLY, DO YOU THINK THE SURVEY CORPS WAS ULTIMATELY JUSTIFIED IN TREATING EREN AS THEY DID? 244 Responses

When it comes to the SC treating Eren as they did, the division is much less pronounced however. The majority, 60.7%, think that the SC had quite the justification for treating Eren as they did. On the flip side, 19.7% think that there was such justification for behaving in such a manner towards Eren. Finally, the same amount of responses stated that still can’t be sure to this day.

NOW THAT WE’VE GOTTEN A CLEAR SHOT OF YELENA, DID MAPPA DO HER JUSTICE? 243 Responses

YELENA is here. Queen 👑. Or well, maybe not. Who am I to say? In any case, her appearance was received well. 52.7% thought MAPPA did very well and 33.7% went on to declare their love for her. Just shy of 10% noted that MAPPA could have done a little better though.

Kinda wish her hair was like neon or something idk

Need more eps of her to decide, she didn't get much screentime and lines here.

I don't like Yelena, but yeah I guess they did good.

In the manga she was a creepy-looking person. MAPPA made her unique, interesting and mysterious. I love her voice and her stoic, relaxed self. MAPPA did a good job.

QUEEN!!!!!

Great adaptation but I still don't like her as a character

Don’t care about her

don't really care

I hate her and I don't care about her.

WHICH SCENE FROM THE PREVIEW ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO? 247 Responses

Such a colorful chart for this one. It would appear that slightly over a quarter look most forward to seeing Crykasa at Sasha’s grace. Slightly less (21.9%) want to see Sasha enjoying Niccolo’s cuisine. In third place is the scene with Connie, Jean, Mikasa and Niccolo at Sasha’s grace. The rest are, in order from most to least, Onyankopon and Yelena teaching the Survey Corps about the Port, EMA talking at the shooting range and Hange and Armin learning about Marley’s technology.

HOW HYPED ARE YOU FOR THE UPCOMING TIMESKIP FLASHBACKS? 239 Responses

The time skip flashbacks seem to be a hit. A little over 51% are super stoked about seeing them animated. Slightly under 24% state that they’ll enjoy them, but are looking forward to other things more. In contrast, 22.6% are ready to go crazy (from a positive standpoint)! Wooo!

Enjoying AND dreading it at the same time

I just want the centipede

Boring. The only thing what interests me is Historia teasing Mikasa about her crush on Eren. The rest is too jolly.

I'm looking forward to see Yelena's insane self be animated. That, and more Zeke.

THE MOST RECENT LIST OF FUTURE EPISODE TITLES SHOWS THAT EPISODE 12 WILL LIKELY END AROUND CHAPTERS 109-111, LEAVING CHAPTER 112 (EMA’S ARGUMENT) FOR EPISODE 13. EPISODE 67 WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY ADAPTED FROM CHAPTER 105, PROVING THAT ADAPTING DIALOGUE-HEAVY CHAPTERS FAITHFULLY CAN EASILY REQUIRE THE FULL 20 MINUTES. WITH ONLY 16 EPISODES - AND SO MANY WHICH ARE DIALOGUE-HEAVY - DO YOU THINK THINGS WILL END OFF WITH THE INITIATION OF THE RUMBLING (CH. 122), AS HAS BEEN SPECULATED BY MUCH OF THE FANDOM? 238 Responses

The manner in which the Season will end is a mystery to even the manga readers. Where will it end? Will it have many cuts? These are the questions. 36.6% seem to think that MAPPA will somehow manage to both end it at Chapter 122 and cut as little as possible. 26.5% don't believe ending on 122 is possible. 12.2% do believe MAPPA will end the Season on 122, but only with many notable cuts. Finally, just a little under 20% are simply not sure. There were a few write-ins as well.

I hope not, too many cuts would be required

The is no way they're making it up to 122, at first I thought they were going to finish it off with Eren's head getting blown off in 119, but now that seems like a reach too. Now I think MAPPA is probably going to end this first half of the season with Eren and Pieck's "where is the enemy?" and the warriors arriving to Shiganshina

I’m not sure right now so I’ll have to see for later episodes for the cut-off point, if it isn’t the Rumbling then it’ll be when Gabi shoots Eren

MOVIE

I'm conflicted. I'm sure they'll end at rumbling because it's the only reasonable point to cut it, but I feel like they're running out of episodes. Then again I'm feeling the same about the state of Manga, there's just too little chapters left to end things up well.

I don't really want to think too much about it, I just want to enjoy the anime lol

I fully expect 119 to be the end

What was the point of rushing Reiner's chapters if you are going to slow down later. Goddamn it MAPPA.

It'll really depend on the pacing for the next couple episodes, but I'm with a bulk of the fandom that see Chapter 119 Two Brothers being the end point for The Final Season. IF they were to skip the opening and maybe the ending, I can see them transitioning from Eren's head getting blown off immediately into his transformation and the beginning of the Rumbling. But even that is quite farfetched.

I have no idea, I'm a little worried now. Wouldn't be the first time a lot of content gets cut but if they insist on reaching ch. 122, I just don't see how you do that without butchering a lot. If that happens, it would probably lessen my enjoyment of the season.

Yeah, I think it will have a lot of cuts, but I believe that it will get there because Ymir falling in the tree was in the trailer

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON THE EPISODE?

It's amazing seeing how each week, something with SnK trends! ^^

It still baffles me just how much people insist on hating Gabi, especially when her arc has shown tremendous growth in the manga. Reiner was no better than her when he was a child and continued to insist that Paradisians are devils and chose to further destroy their lives even after sleeping under the same roof as the 104th for 3 whole years and forming personal bonds with them. Yet, his actions are forgivable but Gabi's are not? Both characters have shown remorse for their former beliefs and misdeeds against Paradisians. Both realized that they were in the wrong. The characters have forgiven Gabi. Why can't y'all do the same? People who want Gabi to suffer are no better than they accuse her of being.

Well done episode which managed to capture the emotions of sasha's death perfectly

monke

I really appreciate Gabi as a character. She has spunk and a strong character arc in which she changes and grows more than anyone in the last 30 chapters of the manga, save maybe Mikasa (ignoring how Eren, Reiner, Armin and maybe a few others changed during the timeskip). It makes me sad seeing people wishing for her to die and praising Floch and the others for kicking her.

Gabi absolutely deserves the hate she gets

I absolutely love to see the anime-onlies mass hate of GabBitch, does my heart good xD

Boring ,too much Gabi she is annoying

Time to strap in: wild ride ahead!

Gabi Braun is the WORST character, her arc was poorly written and the moment she kills Sasha solidifies her rightful place as most hated character

No development has made me stop hating Gabi. The wound of Sasha's death will ALWAYS overshadow any crocodile tears Gabi may cry.

Kudos to Jean's and Connie's voice actors. Emotions were so raw and natural.

so good! they're really nailing down the emotional beats so far!

Dialogue-heavy but still amazing! Also the music was great

I didn't felt anything when Sasha died. Even the first time, in the manga. She hasn't enough personnality for me to care. Erwin and Bertolt's death were more saddening for me. Stop hating Gabi. She was in grief and she did what Marley brainwashed her to. And Sasha killed people right in front of her, so…

1 chapter was too little to be adapted for an episode, you could tell some scenes were stretched to fit the runtime

The music they chose for the scene of Sasha passing was also the same music they used when the Survey Corps first donned their capes and Eren found out Marco was dead... man, that song is gonna hit harder than ever now

It didn’t help with the overwhelming amount of hate Gabi is getting. I hope Mappa does her justice because she’s a great character but the Anime only seem to hate her because its a “funny” “popular” thing but it really isn’t... shows who really is paying attention to the story and the people who are watching it because it’s popular and trendy

People who are hating on Gabi do not understand the themes portrayed in AoT

Pretty solid overall. Wonderful bits of animation such as the ODM bits and the solid character acting from Sasha going down, Mikasa and Armin is distress, personal highlight being Gabi's reload animation. Good ost choices, nice addition of Samuel and Daz to foreshadow their conflict later on in the story, and great work from Connie, Gabi and Eren's VAs.

Friendly reminder that just because we hate Gabi does NOT mean we don't "understand" the story or themes. We just don't care because Gabi is a bad character.

U mad at Gabi for what she did ? Did she kill Potato girl for no reason? Imgine a kid, at least 3 years younger than the 104th, made fighting on WARS and praised for it, brainwashed by Marley that Paradisians are devils, and these devils came in her home, killing her friends and this WOMAN killed in front of her eyes two people who tried to protect her. Don't be mad at Gabi. Grieve for Sasha, okay, but stop hating Gabi. You're the worst when you do it

Hey Gabiatans: as long as you're not threatening the VA or other RL p olle, it's PERFECTLY fine to hate Gabi. Period. We don't have to like her, and it's not like we don't "understand" her just because we hate her. I "understand" a lot of Germans were forcibly coerced into joining the Nazi regime, but I don't have to pity then for any consequences that came for them.

Leviiiiiii

I was surprised that Mikasa and Armin crying over Sasha had no voice over. I thought it was still effective but I'm not sure if I prefer it. Other than that, the character animation was amazing this episode. Gabi's hands as she reloaded the rifle and Armin crying were my favorites. Overall, everything was pretty perfect and I love it when a chapter gets adapted in full with basically no cuts. One of the best episodes in the series and a proper send off for Sasha.

Wonderfully done episode! They truly did Gabi and Falco's perspectives justice. Also, seeing Eren's expressions and reactions in animated format was clarifying and super well done, too!

WHERE DO YOU PRIMARILY DISCUSS THE SERIES? 227 Responses

Thanks again to everyone who participated!

#snk poll #snk polls #snk s4 #snk spoilers #shingeki no kyojin #attack on titan #snk #aot

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ruakichan · 3 years ago

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State of Roo Gaming conglomopost:

Alchemy Stars (summer event):

120 pulls no Fleur. I has sad. Got trolled by two 6* in the same element even. Outlook bleak. This is gacha life. Game took a look at my A3 water team and said I didn’t need him. Game doesn’t understand thirst. : ( I need him.

That said, I am here for the energy of Fleur and Brock as Those Two Guys, even more so as Those Two Guys Who Absolutely Should Not Be Left Alone Unsupervised.

Summer story’s pretty interesting, though I did get bored with a lot of the beach-life stuff as I do in every gacha that does summer events sans GBF. I don’t particularly feel anything toward Beryl, unlike Eve; she’s very passive so we haven’t seen any of her personal thoughts or feelings about much. Hell, half the reason I’m so salty about Fleur is cause he actually got more development than Beryl did so far, which made me like him more than just a pretty face!

Humor beats are still pretty spot on though. And at least this game really knows how to make events feel like events.

3 more days and I’ll be done with Stage 4 for Regal, THANK GOD. The dispatches are such an annoying time-gate. I have a ton of energy packs saved up so I should be able to clear out Stage 5 much more quickly. Looking forward to getting my first Eternal Silent Hunter!

I ran out of characters I feel like A3ing so now I’m just grinding to level up equipment.

I don’t know if I should get Barton (who I do not have) or Nemesis (who I need one more copy of to max breakthrough and thus have her skill set to pre-emptive) from the free ticket they give. This is one of the few times where both would technically be dick picks, but one would be useful for meta (Nemesis is one of my core Thunder units) while the other I don’t have but would like to. DECISIONS! At least the ticket doesn’t expire. i’ll end up forgetting about it most likely

GBF (lotto drama):

Man that lotto drama whaoooo. I’m mostly retired/seasonal in GBF these days (and my loss of reliable/fast internet in a week will just compound that due to ping/racing/refresh) so I don’t really care, but just whao.

That said, I think with this being people’s last straw shows that some people really don’t know how to give things up on their own and don’t realize it’s okay to fall out of love with something you once enjoyed or spent a lot of time/effort/money in. I saw a lot of complaints about X or Y no longer having magic/fun etc for them any more, and they still stick around cause they keep hoping that it’ll come back, and I can tell you—it rarely ever does if you stick around. It’s okay to move on. That sunk-cost fallacy just does harm until only bitter feelings are left.

As for me, I did come out with a T3. Picked Nehan cause I always go dick picks in gacha and I was clamoring for a Nehan unit back during SoR’s original run. Used the second one to go meta with G.Narm though since there was nothing left for me to really get, but I dislike Narmaya so she can just sit there in my inventory with all her other versions CAUSE SHE WON’T LEAVE ME ALONE I guess.

Did literally nothing else though; just no real time to play grindblue lately.

Exos Heroes (director’s notes):

Hahaha, the devs noted they were nervous about how people would react to the first Memorial Saga and I BET IT WAS DUE TO THE TWIST LOL but anyone who has used Rachel or came from Exos Saga weren’t gonna be shocked. Regardless, the translation referred to the story as from “Ramge and Rachel’s youth” and I laughed cause IT TOOK PLACE A WEEK BEFORE THE MAIN GAME’S STORY????

Hope the 2nd MS ends up actually giving rewards for side quests.

Thank god though that they are going to implement a give up section for tag battles. I no longer have to set up [my absolute most hated character in this game] as a sacrificial character any more and can set up some more proper teams.

Infinity Core is still shit but at least now they will be showing what you’ll be facing the entire week instead of day-by-day reveals. Half of the issue is playing a guessing game on what FCs you need to hoard in case their theme comes up and thus purposely limit yourself from actually achieving higher stages. Still wish they’d just allow you to keep the stage you’re on if you already cleared it in a previous week. Why the hell do I have to redo the stage(s) every week if I already passed it? At least quick battle will be implemented to a limited degree.

Glad they acknowledged the biggest problem in the game: inability for new players to catch up. The gap between vets and newer players never ever narrows due to all the time-gating elements this game has. I’ve been around the block in a lot of games and the ones who have this gap never has good player retention and ends up shrinking just to a core base of cliques until the game dies. Too bad no solutions offered.

I was disappointed Blue Kaya doesn’t buff HP for support units, then remembered HP is the biggest problem in PVP so yeah, no, nevermind, good on them for realizing that. Didn’t roll for her since I went ham on the summer banners and defense scales poorly in this game due to the HP inflation.

... oh man, I got momentarily excited when I saw Saint West was getting SF3. Then remembered Rachel, while from Saint West, is the heir to Saint West’s throne, and is basically labeled as Saint West in everything else in the game, is actually the general for Lenombe. Fuck me. When will they buff him. I’m tired of facing SF3 nations and seeing my nation’s gimmick being told to pound sand cause they refuse to buff his nation even though he’s fallen way off the meta a long time ago. i think i will literally blow a fuse if greenland gets sf3 before lenombe

In non director’s notes news, I linked up Shadowbane to Lenombe. Luna and Garlond are pretty fun to use and I hope to eventually slap them onto my WR team for tag week to see how that works out, but they worked really well in Infinity Core. Glad I finally have a viable Frost unit I can use since who is Bathory? She doesn’t know me.

Dunno who I’d put in Rudley’s spot since I use him so that my Lenombe team has at least more than one chance to kill these tanky SF3 nations. Zeon is just useless now due to the prevalence of Misty and I tried out Misty and she’s okay, but she’s not the best synergy with Lenombe. I wish A.Zeon would get his FC already so I can pair him with Schmid to get the Vagabond SF bonuses... (but I’m thinking the outcry against the genderbends pushed that back RIP...)

AND FINALLY. FINALLY!!! YOU CAN GET R1 GEAR AT YORM SHOP. OH MY GOD. I CAN FINALLY GEAR MY CHARACTERS. NO MORE HATING MY LUCK. /bloodtears

#roo gaming #also i picked up this idle game that is basically Ads: The Game #but it's cute and i just run it when i'm watching YT vids #still also doing alice closet

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but-first--tea · 4 years ago

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LFRP: Omori Kaya

THE BASICS

Full name: Omori Kaya

Pronunciation: Oh-Moh-Ree Kay-Uh (Omori is her surname, Kaya is her given name)

Nicknames: n/a

Height: 5'6" (quite tall for a midlander hyur)

Age: “A lady never reveals her age.” (adult)

Nameday: 32nd Sun of the 3rd Astral Moon

Languages: Doman, Common

Occupation: Not getting caught.

Current Residence: "Traveling abroad.“ (Basically living a tourist’s life in Eorzea, hoping to never be called out as the fraud she is. She’ll spend time as someone’s guest here, staying in a hotel elsewhere the next month, etc…)

Relationship Status: While she has never actually been married, the identity of the woman she pretends to be is a young widow and heiress. (Single)

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Hair color: Black

Eye color: Pale, silvery grey

Skin tone: Fair

Body type: Slender, athletic but not in an obvious way.

Scars: none

Accent: Doman

Posture

Poised, athletic– though she’s no master shinobi, she is her mother’s daughter. Her training began at the age of four, and it’s still evident in the way she moves, observes, and behaves. Others who have trained would likely notice it easily. She carries herself with quiet dignity, and moves (or refuses to) deliberately, as if she expects each action to be read for significance, and takes great care not to reveal too much unintentionally. Though, in the very rare instances when she lets down her guard, this facade can fade away, revealing that she’s still a girl who can be amused, and charmed, and is easily mesmerized by beautiful places and things.

Accessories

She’s almost never seen without jewelry, though all of it is merely decorative– the trappings of the life she’s stepped into. None of it is personal, or carries meaning beyond appearing as she’s expected to.

Apparel

Her taste ranges from the classically dramatic to the outright exotic- not out of a sense of vanity, but in an appreciation of what is more or less wearable art. She most frequently wears black and white, though she also favors blue and occasionally red. In keeping with her heritage, she tends toward modesty in her dress. Of course, most of these clothes once belonged to a woman whose identity she has stolen, and she’s begun to add Eorzean fashions to her wardrobe to stand out less. The more she blends in, the fewer questions about her past she needs to dodge...

CHILDHOOD

Place of Birth: Doma

Siblings: none she knows of

Parents: The samurai Masanari and an Imperial Shadow named Harue, though Kaya has never known her biological father, as she was still less than a year old when he disappeared.

Upbringing: Raised initially by her mother, and later trained by grandmother once her affinity for magic became apparent. (More details can be found in her character history.)

PERSONAL

Personality

Outwardly, she is polite and mysterious, with a demeanor ranging from businesslike toward strangers, to an unexpected sort of mischievous and rebellious streak around the rare soul she’s begun to feel comfortable around. She’s evasive and distant. She rarely connects with others easily, which leads to most people assuming she’s either very shy, or rather snobbish, at first impression. She doesn’t trust easily, isn’t prone to showing any emotion in public if she can avoid it, and is often the one who, from an outward appearance, seems to be just another quiet wallflower enjoying the view.

Beneath the surface, however, she feels everything perhaps far too much, watches everyone with the wariness of someone who knows all too well what people are capable of, and deeply craves the connections to others she doesn’t seem to be able to form easily. She’s always searching for the few who can see the world the way she does- as something equally beautiful as it is deadly, meant to be lived in, not just endured. She’s a powder keg of passions always kept under a tight lid, hidden away for safe keeping.

Still, she is difficult to anger, and it’s a cold anger when it happens. She knows that engaging in violence and revealing her training would likely break character entirely, and being discovered as a fraud wouldn’t end well for her. As a result, she’ll try to think her way out of any situation, instead.

Motivations/Goals

If asked what she wants more than anything else in the world, she’d probably say to be able to do what she wanted, not what she was told, or allowed, or expected to. She craves freedom in all its definitions, but nearly always denies it to herself out of fear or pragmatism. While playing the role of a young, noble heiress she feels the restraints of her gilded cage all too keenly. She must behave in the way one raised to the role would be expected to. As a result, she finds small ways to rebel that aren’t likely to be noticed. Her fierce and defiant nature, thus repressed, will see her doing seemingly pointless things like rearranging the furniture in hotel rooms, stealing small items she could easily afford, or finding ways to secretly get even with those who have behaved poorly.

Financial Status

Ostensibly wealthy, though not one gil of it was ever truly hers. Still, she feels no guilt in obtaining the Omori family’s accounts considering they would have otherwise been seized by the Garlean government following Lord Omori’s assassination.

She has been quietly seeking a way to invest ‘her’ money in a way that would divorce it from her stolen inheritance, make it more truly hers, and greatly reduce the risk of losing everything should her false identity be uncovered.

Weapons

While she was raised to the blade and bow for most of her childhood, she hides her training and doesn’t carry a weapon openly, if at all. If cornered and forced to defend herself, she’d mostly likely attempt to disarm an opponent and steal theirs, or improvise.

Vices

Seemingly none, as she has striven to present herself as a woman of proper graces. However, she is prone to self-indulgence and spending far too much gil merely because she can, which she considers a vice in herself and tries to resist.

Likes

People who are intelligent, interesting, vibrantly passionate and alive. Watching people do things that require specialized skill, especially combat training or constructing something.

Constructive debate and interesting challenge. Trying/learning new things.

Music, dancing. She’s often wished she could play an instrument, but has never learned to.

Nature, gardens, fireflies, birds, waterfalls, the ocean/seaside. Traveling to anywhere with a spectacular view or vibrant culture. Learning about said cultures.

Exotic spiced foods or just about anything she hasn’t tasted before that doesn’t look absolutely disgusting. Tea. Fruits, chocolate, and spiced cider or tea. Have I mentioned tea?

Unusual crystals and/or gemstones. While she’s generally unfazed by wealth or status, she appears to be positively mesmerized by sparklies.

Dislikes

Politics, rumor mongering, cattiness, insults, and general poor behavior.

People who think getting drunk is the best kind of fun to be had.

Addictive drugs, and those who sell them.

Being forced to do anything, feeling not in control over her own life.

Overly objectifying unwanted attention, awkward social situations/obligations/expectations.

Being cold, biting insects.

Hobbies

Reading, especially the arcane.

Learning the history of different places and cultures.

Collecting small, easily transportable items (generally clothing or jewelry) in local styles from each new place she visits.

Pets: None, currently. She once had a magpie as a pet when she was younger, and maintains a fondness for birds of all kinds.

RP HOOKS

She’s looking (quietly) for a way to launder, er... invest her money to gradually eliminate the need to rely on her stolen identity and foreign contacts for access to funds. Have an opportunity?

A trusted lady’s maid, retainer, or guard type to help her maintain appearances.

It’s possible that someone from her past in Doma might recognize her, or perhaps have known the real Omori Kaya.

The woman she is impersonating is an ill-fit for her. She is fierce, independent, and rebellious... the exact opposite of the demure and soft character her stolen identity demands. But, her mother risked everything to secure her new identity, and she won’t cast it off unless forced to. Still, she isn’t perfect. Someone could catch her in a mistake, and become curious...

The Lady Omori Kaya appears elegant, mysterious, ...and wealthy. Potential suitors aren’t unlikely. (Romance is an option, though she’ll be hard to pin down at first, for obvious reasons.)

She has a (stolen) soulstone in her possession, and has been working to unlock its secrets.

Open to brainstorming other connections, past associations, or jumping into -your- existing plot!

OOC

I make my own schedule. I can be available pretty much any time from 8 am to 9pm CST. Sadly, I can rarely do late nights because I need to do that sleeping thing.

OOC communication is a priority for me.

I have been RPing for 20+ years. I am comfortable with both in game or Discord RP, and anything from short, quick posts to multi para. I do this because I enjoy writing!

I am not interested in random ERP outside of a long-term character interaction. I do love writing ships as long as there's strong chemistry between the characters, and both the character and the writer of said character are mature adults. However,I will not consider ships with alt or AU characters, as this is my one and only RP character. (No multi-shipping.)

I prefer a RP style that works with what is plausible within the scope of the lore. I'm open to creativity, as long as it makes sense. I prefer to stay away from void-heavy, AU, inserts from other universes, and anything involving cross-breeding with non-playable races/beings. (These are only my personal preferences, and everyone else is free to do whatever they like!)

Absolutely no: rape, harm to children, or graphic torture.

I do enjoy game content as well, and prefer company over doing so alone! I am currently sitting in my own personal FC house, but would consider joining a real FC if it makes sense for my character.

Confession: I probably spend way too much time decorating virtual houses.

#ffxiv rp #updated character sheet #Omori Kaya #hyur midlander #Doman

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marshmallowprotection · 4 years ago

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Inspired by the character Margarita Blankenheim from Evillious Chronicles (Link to Margarita’s Evillious Chronicles wiki page: https://theevilliouschronicles.fandom.com/wiki/Margarita_Blankenheim ) and the song “Gift From the Princess Who Brought Sleep” (Link to the fanmade PV & cover by Mariogagabriel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo8IHawkHpI ), all by Mothy.

Trigger warnings for self-harm mentions, suicide mentions, and a bat shit crazy psychopathic girl who is the topic of this character description.

Well, I’ve made way more disgusting & hateable characters for my world...I mean, I made a character whose disgusting fetish list is long and as said, disgusting and disturbing. Ah, the smell of my world and its blurry border between NSFW and SFW…

(I think the only reason it's not NSFW is cus there are no explicit scenes of you know what ._.)

“If you truly love me, you wouldn’t have hurt me back then. I’m just returning the favor, you know! Every Black Rose has thorns...but mine are simply sharper, Mama, Papa. Now,

TO HELL WITH YOU SCUM!”

-Laila, 1691 T.C. At Age 15

Name: Laila Kerrin Rouziame (Pronounced Lie-la Care-in Ro-zee-ah-meh in case anyone has trouble pronouncing it)

Name Meaning: Laila is an Arabic name meaning “Night Beauty”. Kerrin is an Irish name meaning “Black”. I derived her last name from “Rouzia”, an English name which is a variation of the name “Rose”. All together her name literally means “Night Beauty Black Rose”.

Aliases (If Any): Black Rose (Code Name/Serial Killer Name)

Age: 19 (On Death)

Date of Birth/Birthday: Day 14 of Xomura’s Star, 1676 T.C. (Equivalent of February 14th)

Zodiac: Aquarius

Status: Deceased (Died 1695 T.C.)

Species: Elf

Magic: Unknown (Used A Variety of Different Spells, The Magic She Inherited/Specialized In Is Unknown)

Height: 5’4 Feet (162 Centimeters)

Ethnicity: Vesperian

Relatives: Duke Rouziame (Father)✝

Duchess Rouziame (Mother)✝

Rowen von Hallow (Husband)✝

Veila Miranda Rouziame (Daughter)✝

Various Descendants

Birth Place: Merdanburg, Rouziame Territory, Vesper Empire

Nationality/Current Residence: Merdanburg, Rouziame Territory, Vesper Empire

Religion (Which Goddess Do They Worship?): Kaya (Claims)

None

Occupation: Duchess of House Rouziame

The Infamous Serial Killer “Black Rose”

Founder of The Criminal Organization “Midnight Rosaria”

Affiliations: Midnight Rosaria

House Rouziame

Vesper Empire

Personality: Self-Destructive, Just Plain Old Crazy, Psychopathic, Masochistic, Sadistic, Comes Off As “Sweet” And “Kind”, But Eerily “Sweet” and “Kind”, Like You Can Just Feel Something Is Off, But She’s A Master Manipulator, So You Wouldn’t Realize Till She Stabs You Senseless

Marital Status: Married (Formerly)

Widow [By Choice]

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Likes: Roses, Pain (No Seriously, I Put Her As Masochist In Her Personality Thing For A Reason), Flowers

Dislikes: People Pitying Her, People Treating Her As if She Were A Sweet Innocent Thing To Be Protected From The Cruel World, The Abuse Her Parents Did To Her, The Scent of Smoke, Smoke In General

Role: Background Character

Potential Post-Ever Changing Fate 1 Side Story Main Character (Undecided Though)

Debut: Undecided

Random Facts:

Laila is a genuine actual psychopath. She’s not meant to be a character you can justify at all or chalk up her trauma to be the source of her evil or that she could have been good in an alternate timeline if she did not go through her trauma. She was, really, seriously, born with a lack of empathy for people and violent tendencies. However, her parents’ abuse towards her is what pushed her over the edge. But she would likely have still gone down the route she goes down in her canon, becoming a murderer, as she is likely a character who displays the worst symptoms and tendencies of someone who is a psychopath.

Also before anyone claims she’s a sociopath- she is not, because she was like this from birth. Sociopaths are made- psychopaths are born. Big difference.

She was not born a masochist, however, she slowly morphed into one as the years went on and she searched for relief from the pain her parents caused her, and in a sick way the pain she caused to herself seemed to feel euphoric, and she’s not sure why. It may be due to her suicidal tendencies and contemplation of suicide, or maybe something else.

Laila is not meant to be an accurate representation of most mentally ill people- she’s one of the most extreme cases. And she’s also an actual psychopath, who are unable to be helped at all because their lack of empathy is not like depression or something where they can recover- it’s something physically wrong with her brain; for lack of a better word, she’s broken. And there’s nothing anyone could do to help her. Unfortunately, before anyone realized she was a severe, genuine danger to everyone around her and herself, she had already killed many people and eventually herself.

Laila also has severe depression (which is the main cause of her suicidal tendencies later on and masochistic tendencies) and severe PTSD towards the scent of smoke due to her father’s smoking habits. That’s also why she didn’t just burn all of Merdanburg like many people in Midnight Rosaria wanted her to- her fear of the smoke scent and just smoke, in general, made her unable.

Her exact kill count is 400. 399 if you disinclude herself.

Her masochistic tendencies are not sexual in nature before anyone asks.

Backstory: Laila Kerrin Rouziame was born the only child of Duke and Duchess Rouziame in the capital of Rouziame Territory (A Territory In My World Is A Province, Sort Of), Merdanburg on Day 14 of Xomura’s Star, 1676 T.C. Since birth, Laila had been harshly disciplined by her parents and taught what she should and should not do, in order to morph her into the perfect heiress, it didn’t help that the Vesper Empire was collapsing at the seams and that House Vesper, the ruling house of the empire, had disintegrated due to its main branch ending up at a dead-end when the last empress, Elisabet, died without an heir back in 1566 (110 years ago), and the nobility were all scrambling to become the new ruling house, and as one of the most powerful noble houses, Laila’s parents wanted to be the ones to become the new emperor and empress. And so, Laila was trained in how to be the best leader she could be, and harsh punishment in the form of physical and verbal abuse was executed to her if she did not comply, which she did a lot. Laila had...many violent tendencies, she often for example stabbed her stuffed animals with pencils or pens, or tearing them apart by hand, and sometimes even harming herself. All of this caused her only to be punished more, and many people started to refer to her as a demon child due to her tendencies of violence, and she even once attempted to stab the third son of the current Marquis Mariah at the time. Her lack of conscience and sense of right and wrong made everyone fear that maybe Laila was “possessed” or “cursed”. As Laila grew her tendencies only heightened, but, she learned an important skill from her older cousin, Lettisa (she was also a fellow psychopath), when she was 10- deception.

Laila learned how to pretend to be normal.

And so the random bursts of violence stopped. She put on a mask of perfectness- making herself out to be kind and benevolent when in reality she felt nothing but sick happiness at the thought of the pain she could cause. In private she harmed herself yet again but did so in places where she could easily hide the scars and wounds.

When Laila was 13 the abuse from her parents continued to worsen, and her cousin Lettisa started talking to her about the idea of killing them, confessing that she herself killed her parents because they abused her too. Laila for the next 2 years would seriously consider it because she was tired of the abuse, in her words "They don't accept me for who I am, wanting me to pretend to be someone I am not. If they were gone...maybe...I could be free."

Laila would go through with her meticulously planned for two whole years murder plot against her parents when she was 15, murdering them in an excruciating, painful way which shall not be said because it's way too gory and disturbing.

After that Laila inherited everything from her parents, the estate, the title, the money, everything. Her cousin, Lettisa, chose to move out of her aunt's house to come live with Laila. And there began their creation of an organization, a criminal one, which they planned to name: "Midnight Rosaria".

Laila would be the face of the organization, and Lettisa handled many nitty-gritty details.

Laila's mental health continued to decline in terms of her sanity, and she began desiring to feel the euphoria which bringing pain to others had always brought her. And so, she became a serial killer, not targeting anyone in particular besides people who were friends of her parents, who were rewarded for their bystanding status of just watching Laila get abused by her parents with a painful death.

With the creation of Midnight Rosaria, killings across all of Merdanburg heightened along with the crime rate, Lettisa going around and recruiting people to the organization. Everyone was there for different reasons and different goals, but they all benefited from one thing: the fact that they would help each other. Everyone in the organization usually behind only one member's murder plot or crime. It was very meticulously planned, everything was perfected to the highest degree of perfection. And let me tell you, Laila was not dumb- in fact, she was a genius of her time, likely one of the most brilliant criminals ever. She was just... absolutely insane.

Before Laila even turned 18, she was approached by a suitor named Rowen von Hallow, who claimed to have fallen in love with her and wanted to marry her. She originally rejected him, but Lettisa said that marrying him would greatly increase her power due to him being descended from Alia Hallow, who was a famous hero. So, Laila agreed to marry him. She gave birth to a daughter a year later.

For the next 4 years of her life (counting from when she was 15), Laila murdered over 300 people, using various magic spells and masking her true nature to enact her plots. With all of Midnight Rosaria helping her, at that point, there was nothing anyone could do to stop her, not when she had so much power and influence as Duchess Rouziame and the leader of Midnight Rosaria.

Merdanburg became a ghost town.

Laila's mental health had become extremely unstable. She even murdered her husband during a violent fit and didn't even care afterward.

And so Laila believed the last thing to do was to kill herself.

Everyone urged her not to, including Lettisa, but Laila stated that it was for the best, considering that was what she had wanted her entire life- the ultimate pain- the sweet release of death.

And so she did.

Laila has gone down in history as one of the most brilliant minds to have ever lived, as she did excel in school, but used her brilliance for the wrong reasons. She became known as the "Black Rose" due to her leaving a black rose wherever she made the worst wound on her victims. She's become infamous in history and due to being the creator of Midnight Rosaria along with Lettisa, she influenced the future of crime for centuries.

Lettisa ended up being the new guardian of Laila's daughter Veila, and unfortunately, Veila inherited her mother's psychopathy, becoming an infamous murderer as well.

This is my first time writing a character who was born just purely crazy, did I mess up anything? Idk myself if I did a good job or what. ;-;

She's likely going to be improved in the future as I find out more about psychopathy, but this is her for now. :/

— Submision

Well, I do think it’s important not to call people “crazy”. Doing things of that nature can harm anyone with mental illness. Mental illness are not excuses for your actions. There’s definitely people in this world that are cruel but they are simply cruel for their own reasons, they weren’t being forced into doing anything, they choose to do what they do. Framing certain illness in a bad light makes for a bad stigma for people who experience pyschosis, hallucinations, and more. It isn’t “scary” to be “different.”

But, it is a shame that people hurt others for things out of their control, like what they struggle with mentally or physically. Genetics can put you at risk for certain things, like anxiety, but that doesn’t mean that would make you your parent, or what they struggled with. Now, you could be disillusioned with reality and she could possibly have been taught things as a child that helped shape her view of others, and that’s how the daughter lashes out at others, but I wouldn’t say that she “got it from her mother” as in, mental illness.

It’s just important to be careful about how you write characters like that because there is so much bad media out there that does more harm then good. Even if she’s one of the extreme cases that is an outlier, it’s important to be wary of what it can do to other people.

I do find the concept rather interesting, though. It has potential if you continue to work on it and remedy things that may hurt others.

#tw self harm #tw suicide ment #ask #oc #mod kait #littleghostlyrose #submission

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springwritess · 6 years ago

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Relationship Headcannons With Usopp, Luffy, Zoro and Sanji

This was originally supposed to be a best friend headcannon, but im thirsty whelp.

This headcannon will include Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp. I’ll do Sabo, Ace and Law another day.

***

Monkey D Luffy:

Luffy is adventurous and a bit crazy. He’s also extremely loyal. It might take awhile to get used to his energy, but I’m sure after a few months of being together you’d be just as wild.

Luffy isn’t exactly someone who’s into kisses or anything inherently sexual. Kisses would most likely be on the cheeks. He’s a cutie though every time he kisses you. He’ll kiss you often. Just woke up? Kiss. Sitting next to him? Kiss. Walking by? Kiss.

Luffy is very tactile and affectionate however. He doesn’t really understand the concept of personal space, so he’ll get too clingy sometimes. He’ll cuddle with you in all sorts of positions. He’ll just want you to be around. He’ll want to feel you all the time - nothing sexual of course. He would bring you close and hold you tight. He wouldn’t be able to sleep without you unless he’s wrapped around his partner. He’d want to nap all the time with you.

Luffy is romantic without even trying. He’ll say sweet things that’ll end up leaving you flustered. “My heart beats fast whenever I’m with you! “I love your laugh! It makes me feel happy.” “Don’t worry, ill protect you.”

If you’re upset, he’d give you lots of hugs to try to comfort you when you’re upset. Sometimes it would be by joking with you. He would want you to get your mind of things. Luffy can have his serious moments though however. If he realizes you’re extremely upset, he’ll sit there with you as you explain what’s wrong. He’ll put his strawhat on you. His strawhat has a weird power. When he puts it on you, you’ll feel like everything is going to be okay.

Speaking of his hat, Luffy would trust it with you. He rarely trusts his hat with anyone. Aside from a few of the strawhats, he hasn’t let anyone else touch it. He wouldn’t mind if you wore it. He’d put it on your head. It’s his way of showing that he treasures you.

Whenever you guys go to a new island, you guys would explore and mess around. You guys went to Skypeia? You guys are going to jump on the clouds and laugh. He’d even convince you to explore Upper Yard, despite it being forbidden and where ‘god’ resides. Sabaody? You guys would be on top of the bubbles and float to the very top. Thriller Bark? You guys would explore the island to look for zombies. It’d be crazy, fun and exciting. Be ready to almost die while having Luffy as your partner.

You’d get used to his jokes and pranks, because he’s hilarious. Sometimes you would join in on it too. You two would sometimes prank Zoro or Usopp. Afterwards, you’d both get a scolding from Nami for being idiots.

Luffy can be an idiot sometimes. He’d be doing something stupid and fall into water. Be ready to jump in the water and have to save him! It most likely will get annoying after awhile. If you can’t swim, then get ready to drown with him.

Luffy would give you some of his meat. This will take awhile though however. Luffy rarely gives people his food. In fact, he takes it from others. When he does give you his food, this signifies how much he cares for you.

Luffy doesn’t care about how strong you are. He just would want you to be yourself. Strong? Weak? He doesn’t care! Be yourself. That’s all he would want. He wouldn’t ask you about your life story. It’s just not his style. If you opened up about your life, he’d be happy to listen. If you didn’t, that’s fine. He accepted you for the person you are today, not the person you were in the past.

Sanji Vinsmoke:

Sanji loves all women, but he’ll treat you differently. He’ll be deeply in love with you, from your looks to your smile to your little quirky habits. He’ll love it all. He’ll definitely accept you too. You’re his best friend and his lover. Sanji treasures your relationship together, and will take it very seriously

Expect to be showered with little presents and food all the time. You’re going to be his queen. He’ll make sure you have the most delicious and nutritious meals. He’ll find out what your favourite meals are, and cook it for you. Expect every meal to be amazing. He’ll give you’ll small presents - mostly trinkets and things he finds cute from different islands. He might pick some flowers or some pretty seashells for you too.

You won’t be able to spend every moment together however. Sanji has his responsibilities on the ship, and you have yours. He’ll mostly be in the kitchen preparing the next meal for the crew, or cleaning up. It’ll make his heart flutter when you watch him, or offer to clean up too. He’ll obviously decline, because just having you there is enough. When he does have time however, you guys would sit in the gallery of The Sunny and just talk about life.

It doesn’t matter to Sanji where your from, but he’ll definitely be curious. He’ll want to know every small detail about you. He’ll want to know which sea you came from, your likes and dislikes, your hobbies and your passions. He’ll want to know everything. He’ll be patient if your not comfortable. Sanji will not open up about his past however. It’s too painful for him to think about. You might hear stories about his times with Zeff though.

Sanji will want to protect you. He’ll make sure no harm comes your way during battles and such. If anyone were to hurt you - even if it was a small scratch there will be hell to pay.

He’ll be delicate with you too. He won’t touch you if you’re not comfortable with it though. He might stare at you sometimes, to just admire your beauty. His eyes may wander down to your cleavage, but he’ll try his best not to.

Sanji gets jealous pretty easily. He trusts you a lot, but he can’t stand the thought of men staring at you. He’ll often pick fights with Zoro, if you get too close with him. It’s something you’ll just have to put up with. Sometimes you’ll have to reassure him and tell him you only love him.

Sanji tries to stay calm if you two were to get in an argument. He has self-control, and will swallow his frustration and anger. He’ll work with you to solve the problem in a much more peaceful manner and try to see things half-way if possible.

Sanji is your rock. If something is wrong, he’s someone you can come to. He’s someone you can lean and cry on. If it takes you a while to open up about any problems, he’ll be patient and wait for you. He’ll give you the time you need. He might prepare you a cup of tea to de-stress and a nice warm meal too.

Sanji loves PDA, but it usually is only hand-holding. There might be hugs sometimes too. He loves feeling the warmth of your hand in his. He loves having you close to him too. Kisses would be short too, anything more and he’ll die of blood loss in public.

The more your relationship progresses, the amount of affection will increase. Hugs will become much longer and more meaningful. Kisses will be longer and more passionate too. Things might get steamy sometimes, but you can’t go too far without Sanji getting a nosebleed.

Usopp:

Usopp is a dorky, childish individual. He’s a coward sometimes, and hasn’t thought too much about women aside from Kaya. You however, mean the world to him. He loves you and will treasure your relationship.

You would listen to his stories (and lies) with eagerness. He would love seeing you engaged and playing along with him. You two would spend hours talking with each other on The Sunny

When you’re not talking, he’s mostly working on a new invention. You’d make stops to his workshop often to see how things are going. He likes having you there, and watching quietly behind him. Sometimes he’ll explain to you the invention you’re working on, and you’ll quietly listen.

Usopp would love to have a s/o who’s stronger than him, because he’s a coward. He likes having someone protect him. At the same time, he doesn’t want to feel useless or weak in front of them. You two would most likely fight side by side in battle, and back each other up. If you’re not able to fight, he’ll swallow down his cowardliness and try his best to protect you.

Similar to Luffy, Usopp can act like a child. He’ll pull pranks or tease you sometimes. You’d get used to his jokes and pranks, because he’s hilarious. Sometimes you would join in on it too. You two would sometimes prank Zoro or Luffy. Afterwards, you’d both get a scolding from Nami for being idiots.

Arguments can get heated. Usopp can’t always hold his temper, so when he’s upset he might take it out on you (similar to his fight with Luffy on Water7). He’ll always apologize, and try his best to make it up to you. You’ll have to be more patient with him.

Usopp is an artistic person too. He loves painting and drawing. When he’s not busy, he’ll often draw pictures of you. His sketchbooks are full of drawings of you on The Sunny or on various islands. He’s too embarrassed to show any of them to you, but he thinks your beautiful.

Usopp doesn’t mind PDA. It’s usually a short kiss and hugs. He’s not a fan of handholding because his hands get sweaty easily, so you two just stand close to each other. He can get embarrassed rather easily however, especially when the crew teases him. Most affection is behind closed doors. As your relationship progresses, kisses become longer and more passionate. He also hugs you more.

Roronora Zoro:

Zoro isn’t necessarily the most romantic type of guy. The only things that seem to interest him are his swords and sake. He isn’t interested in dating or marrying anyone. Don’t expect him to announce his undying love for you or any grand gestures, just appreciate the little things

He’s not interested in PDA, so don’t expect for your relationship to be public. It’ll most likely be private, with the exception of the crew knowing. He’ll most likely blush whenever you give him a kiss or hug in front of someone. Sanji will definitely tease him the hell outta it, which will result in a fight.

Zoro secretly loves them though. He likes when you hug him. He’ll never admit it of course. The more your relationship progresses, the more you guys will hug and show affection. It’s always private however. He refuses to kiss you in public settings. Kisses are usually short, very rarely do they become deep and passionate.

He loves to take naps with you, or just have you in his arms. He’ll make you stop whatever you’re doing to come and make nap with him. He loves your warmth, your smell, your soft skin and just your presence warms his heart

When it comes to strength, he would prefer it if you were strong. That way, he wouldn’t have to worry about them as much. However, he doesn’t mind if you’re not strong either. He’ll go out of his way to protect you no matter what.

Zoro is level-headed and can be a bit blunt sometimes. He’ll tell you like it is, which can lead to arguments sometimes. He’s someone you can go to if you need advice about certain matters. He also helps you get your shit together too.

When you guys reach a new island, you usually cling to him. The last thing you need is for him to get lost. This usually embarrasses him, but he secretly loves it when you’re close to him.

Zoro loves to drink, so expect gifts of booze. If you’re not much of a drinker, that might disappoint him a little but won’t bother him too much. If you love drinking, it might worry him if you get drunk. He doesn’t want to see you wander off or get hurt.

At the end of the day, all 4 of these men love you. You’re their best friend and their lover. You make them laugh and feel important. They love everything about you; your laugh, your quirks and your smile. They love spending every day with you.

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hazzabeeforlou · 6 years ago

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11 questions

Yes I did this a bit ago but @helloamhere (thank you, ily, have fun bussing around Europe, did that once, had to follow apple maps to know where to get off ‘cause I speak ZERO German...) tagged me and I’m an anxious mess waiting for medical news today so WHY NOT!

Rules: answer 11 questions then pose 11 of your own.

1. What do you think fanfic does better than published fiction (if anything?)

Okay obvious answer and not very high brow, but SMUT. You will not see me perusing the gay aisles of Barnes and Noble romance novels :) For various reasons :)

2. What do you think it does worse

I think (maybe it’s just this fandom) overall it’s quite a bit more sanitary than novels, both in morality and subject matter. I hate to think what the purity police would say about some of the books I’ve read... especially the old ones? But then I usually come here looking for fluff and happiness too so perhaps that’s just the major draw of fanfic, idk.

3. What’s something another fandom has or does that you wish your fandom had or did?

To be honest I’m not well versed in other fandoms, but I’m going to go with I wish this fandom didn’t have constant infighting. Seriously in all my born days I have never seen a group of people claim such a similar goal and yet devour each other so viciously. Hence I usually avoid anything incredibly explosive or triggering here; I deal with and confront radical people (religious extremists, right wing extremists) in my everyday life and I cannot bring myself to turn my escapism into that same vortex of endless arguing, though I appreciate and support those who fight the fight. I often have very sharp opinions and fall to one side or the other of the fault line, but I draw a personal boundary at a point.

4. Do you consider yourself a “fandom” type of person in general, or committed to only one, and if so, tell me more about what this means to you.

I have been a HUGE fandom person my entire life, though this is the first time I’ve ever been in a community for it. Star Wars and Narnia consumed most of my adolescence, along with Lord of the Rings. I briefly dabbled in Dr. Who and Merlin (as one does) but because I didn't read HP until nearly the end of college, I kindof missed out on that one. Basically anything geeky or fantasy driven I have always loved, and I can’t really explain how I ended up here? But this is the only fandom I’m active in socially. The power of HL I guess...

5. I’m trying to get through writing a first draft right now and it’s a slog. How do you stay motivated for long projects, writing or otherwise?

Ah. A call out question! Like any good Aries, I love starting new things! And then letting them to languish unfinished. I have, however, trained in classical music, and thus I’ve programmed myself to just keep doing the thing because pieces take months and months and months to perfect and if you can’t stick with a project, you go nowhere. I also operate on a reward system, as in writing is the reward for practicing, then when I’m sick of words I go back to music, and so the turn tables. I have learned to ignore (I’m great at ostrich-ing) the crushing self doubt of creativity and just bulldoze ahead and do the thing, which results in very messy first drafts and often bad habits in my musical technique and a tendency to overplay, which wastes energy, but rehearsals wait for no one. I also thrive on last minute deadlines!

6. Tell me about what you read as a kid. Favorite book? Or if you weren’t into reading then, favorite TV show, etc?

I HAVE SO MANY. Narnia was my first love. I also adored George MacDonald (At The Back of the North Wind is a fucking masterpiece). My mom hardly let me read Redwall (see: hints of magic) but when she caved I devoured all of those. Anne of Green Gables. American Girl stuff (lots of it, yes Josefina and Kaya were my faves). I read far too many Star Wars expanded universe novels (New Jedi Order shaped me as a person, esp Traitor). I remember reading all the Eragon series, though these were dubiously approved... and I read various classics, as one is supposed to. In high school I printed out the entire Beowulf in Old English, got a CD of a dude reading it, and proceeded to memorize the first several lines. I can still recite Anglo Saxon but I have no clue what it means (see: I’m a good mimic). Everything non-Christian-magic-related I read during or after college, sigh.

7. Have your tastes changed?

This sounds bad but not really. I rarely read non fiction, oops. Biographies are a slog for me. I dislike historical fiction and I don’t have a good reason for that. I do love a good mystery, but usually not in book form (audio or visual Agatha Christie is my mana). I do adore socio-policial books, though (The Better Angels of our Nature a good example) or books doing a deep dive into a historical topic. These days I enjoy a good satire more than much else, and since I started on Terry Pratchett in 2016 I haven’t looked back.

8. I’ll steal your question above--tell me about a fic that changed you, or became a “touchstone” fic that you go back to!!

I didn’t read fics period when I entered the fandom, and stubbornly maintained that for a while, but the fic that changed my mind was (Take Me Home) Country Roads by @a-writerwrites (Awriterwrites). I read it during a drive through the very parts of the USA it’s set in, and I couldn’t put it down, spotty internet be damned. From there @horsegirlharry birthed me into the gay 1D world, though I can’t for the life of me remember which of hers I first read! (Does it matter? They’re all so beautiful...)

9. Tell me about a WIP, if applicable. How’s it going?? It sounds great.

I’m plodding along on The Garden, it’s going well, but urgency isn’t a priority. It’s going to be one of those things that I finish and then go in and make matter because right now my ideas are half formed and I know I’ll eventually know where I’m going but it’s a case of blind trust in instinct at this point!

10. What’s your favorite place to read and sitting position?

Like a true gay I cannot sit normally in a chair, coupled with my pain issues means I’m usually draped over the back of something with a cushy lumbar support, massive pillow, or propped sideways lying down. I love reading outside, but have a tendency to attract bugs, also I’m very light sensitive so my eyes hate the sun, especially if I’m reading from a screen.

11. Do you feel like fic reading and writing is social for you? E.g. do you share with friends (in or outside of fandom), or are you a lone wolf seeking out your fics in the dead of night??

I LOVE the social aspect of fic reading and writing within fandom! I have shared PITS with only two real life friends though; I am very tight lipped about the fact that I write fic. People are cruel and musicians are judgmental arseholes and if I prefer to spend my days dreaming up love stories for my OTP instead of pouring over scores, that’s my fucking business.

Alright, 11 from me (I wanted to include artists too so!!):

1. Are you a start small-work larger type creator, or map everything out then attend to detail?

2. What style of art/writing has most influenced your creative choices? (Genre, time period, muse)

3. How long have you been writing/arting? Is this something you knew you’d do your whole life?

4. What is your favorite thing about creating for your fandom? (reception, excitement, newness, etc.)

5. Have you met any recent creative goals that you’re really proud of?

6. What is your creative baby; what work do you want stamped on your proverbial gravestone as I MADE THIS (or have you made it yet?)

7. Do outside forces (politics, culture, hegemonies) play into your creations? Do you intentionally or subconsciously subvert norms or explore ideas?

8. Your creative mind is a garden. Describe what kind it would be and what it would contain (i.e. rock garden, palace garden, wildflowers, rose... etc.)

9. Do you believe that creative art has power and if so, how do you hope yours impacts others?

10. I’m double stealing this question: what’s a fic or fan art that changed your life or was a touchstone for you?

11. If you could pick any hero of yours to read/look at your creations, who would it be and why?

TOTALLY only if you want to, but @13ways-of-looking @twopoppies @alienfuckeronmain @prettytruthsandlies @pattern-pals @newleafover @disgruntledkittenface @lesbianiconharrystyles @lululawrence

#writing stuff #about me

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manontrashbeak · 6 years ago

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Complicated

So this is my fic for @angelesblackqueen for the KoA fic swap. She said she liked Malide and AUs. If I can write gay imma write gay y’know? Also tagging the amazing accounts who put this all together @bookofmirth and @rayonfrozenwings

-----

Manon was downright pissed. The Yellowlegs bitch somehow took her ward and is now asking for twice as much as her supplier was asking for. Her gang, her grandmother, was counting on her to collect the newest batch of laced heroine and get it dispatched to their sellers quickly. Their clients were getting pissy and when clients get pissy they stop paying.

Walking towards the Grunge and Glory, she knew two things. The first being that her grandmother was going to be at her door in no less than a week. The second being she should kill the entire Yellowlegs gang so Iskra can stop making her life a shit hole. She walks into her tattoo shop that she and her close knit group run to pay for their house. The rest of their money, which is quite a lot, comes from the smuggling they do for her grandmother’s business. Manon was raised by her grandmother and didn’t feel like only having her to fall back on so she got trained in tattooing.

“I don’t know, maybe you shouldn’t have had sex with a guy in the back alley of a bar in Moncrief.”

“He was attractive and, besides, you could tell from across the bar he was packing.”

“Packing what? A gun?” Some of the Thirteen laugh at Kaya’s innocence. She has only ever been with one person, something only she can say inside the confines of their friend group, and that would be Thea, her lover and reason for joining a drug dealing gang.

“No, you dumbass, a big dick actually,” Vesta says once Manon pulls back the curtain. “I see you guys are doing work,” She says, rolling her eyes at the women slumming around their shop. “We work very hard, thank you very much,” Her cousin and closest friend, Asterin says without any hint of sarcasm.

“Mmhmm, I’m sure,” Manon sets down her bag. She knew from the moment she saw a tattoo gun she wanted to learn how to use one. Her grandmother didn’t approve of course, but she could do both.

“What do you think our FBI agents look like?” Asterin asks from her own work chair. “I think they are all gross, old, white men who jack off while we’re changing.”

“Asterin, ew, can you not? I’m eating?” Sorrel says while indeed eating a salad. Manon shakes her head and slightly smiles at their conversation. The joke that the FBI watches people is absurd. If they did she would be in prison along with everyone else in a this dark world.

Elide disliked a lot of things. Her uncle, her boss, her lamed leg, but more than anything, she disliked this godsdamned diner more than anything. Her parents died when she was eight and left her with a trust fund, but it had all been spent by her dick of an uncle way before her eighteenth birthday had arrived. The consequences of her uncle being a drunk are that while she was working her internship she needed to pay rent, buy food, and basic necessities by working at this shit diner in the middle of D. C. The people who frequently visited the diner were either stressed, but kind, college kids and drug addicts who made her want to spit in the already watered-down coffee.

She had just gotten to work and changed into her short, skimpy uniform when the cook decides to start throwing a fit. She walks into the dirty kitchen and sees the one of the waitresses dropped a plate. She watches the cook yell in a language she never quite identified and walked out to start on her tables.

The food was cheap, and they did have running WiFi which were the only reasons she could ever reason for someone wanting to voluntarily eat or even breathe here. Elide limps over to table five already writing down Johnny’s order, but when she looks up it is not Johnny sitting there. White hair, leather jacket, long black nails, sitting in her shitty diner. Elide drops the order pad and the beautiful woman looks at her with a completely blank face. She blushes up to her roots and bends down to grab the pad from it hit the cracked floor.

“Um, uh, sorry... what can I get you?” Elide has never been more flustered, or terrified, in her life.

“Anything not made by the back alley rats,” The woman’s voice was low and soft, almost as if she were in a bedroom with her. “That might not be possible,” Elide says and regrets it immediately. The woman, the only exchange in her facial expression a raised eyebrow, look out the window as if wondering if she would drag Elide herself to the back alley she just mentioned.

“I was joking the turkey club is actually some strange fish from South America that I’m fairly certain is poisonous,” She’s joking now, wanting to not be murdered by someone so beautiful, but when the woman looks at her again she has a softer expression. Not a smile exactly, but Elide doesn’t think she’s going to be sliced into anymore.

“I’m sure just the air in her makes me feel as if I’m going to have to go to the hospital for lung cancer,” She looks back out the window when she says,”Give me what you’d risk your life eating here.”

Elide is sure she’d eat anything but the French fries, and the blonde female sitting in booth five didn’t seem like she ain’t those often. She goes to the order shelf and puts in a order for French fries, hoping the woman doesn’t want actual food. Of course, she came here there’s no way she wanted food. So what is the reason that someone with perfectly toned blonde air and what looked like a very expensive watch doing sitting in this place?

~~~~~~

The plate of very greasy fries comes out in a just a few minutes, and Elide didn’t realize that she should have prepared herself for having to interact with the blonde again. Elide has known for a while that women have been as much as an interest as men for her, but after dating one of her cousin’s boyfriend’s friends she hasn’t been interested in anyone. Until now apparently. She didn’t know what is was, well she knew she was undoubtedly hot, but the combination of grace and violence made her antsy, in a good way.

“Here you go,” Elide sets the plate down, hoping she doesn’t drop it as she dropped her note pad. She didn’t want to get yelled at by Cook either. The woman looked at the plate and smiled. Elide almost collapsed. “Thank you,” She says turning the smile toward her, “Join me? I can’t eat all of this by myself.”

Was she flirting?

“Oh, I shouldn’t, I have other tables,” Even she didn’t believe that, with just a glance around the blonde could see that she was only one of three people in the restaurant. “You know what, sure.”

“My name is Manon,” Manon says and smirks while biting into a fry.

Shit.

~~~~~~

Elide had never wanted to stay, or go, to her shitty place of work until Manon started to stay at the place until closing every time she came in, and now she wanted to go every time her shift came around again. Walking down the street, she was just leaving her internship at the capitol when she ran into someone with very hot coffee.

“Oh, shit, watch it,” Elide whispers and looks down at one of her very precious, very expensive blouses she wears only to her internship. Much like her cousin, Aelin, she had been interested in how their country works since she was little. Before everything had happened, when she, Aelin, and Aedion were still little, they would play kingdom. Aelin the Queen, Aedion the Warrior, and Little Elide the Lady. Throughout the years her and Aelin decided politics was the best career choice for them, so they both went and got degrees in Political Science.

“Well, you- Elide?” She looks up to see the one person she was thinking about. “Manon, hi.”

Hi?

Manon’s lips turn up at the corners, and Elide blushes like the love-sick puppy she is.

“Hi, I didn’t mean to bathe you in my coffee, but you weren’t looking either,” Manon says still looking at Elide in a way that makes her think she won’t be able to talk right. “Oh, yeah, I was just thinking about y- my internship.”

Dumbass.

“Where do you intern?” Manon asks, tilting her head. The last thing Elide needed right now was for Manon to look... like she does. Elide has been thinking about this woman non stop since she met her. Which she should stop. It’s making her life an inconvenience.

“The capitol. Me and my cousin are interning with senators,” she has never in her life felt stupid, and usually, people don’t think she is, but Manon was so much. Her shoes cost more than Elide’s entire closet. And she’s never seen her wear the same ones.

“You want to be a politician?”

“Maybe, but I would rather work press or something. My cousin is the more controlling one.”

“Well, next time I see you I’ll pay you for the dry cleaning,” Then she’s off, walking away before Elide can refuse the money.

~~~~~ It’s a few weeks later, and her and Manon had argued a few times over the money she kept trying to give her.

“I owe you,” She says, thrusting money towards her.

“No, you don’t. It was a mistake,” Elide says waving the money away.

She had even tried to put it as her tip. Manon was persistent. Elide couldn’t figure her out. She would come in a 2 A. M. completely dressed in brands Elide probably couldn’t even pronounce. The real question was why come to a shitty dinner when you could just Postmates lobster bisque to your house?

“I never asked. What do you do?” Elsie’s was sitting in a booth with Manon eating French fries when she asked. Manon stills for a second before taking a bite of the fry she was holding.

“I smuggle drugs for my grandmother. I also own a tattoo shop with my friends,” Manon says as if she didn’t just admit to a felony. Elide doesn’t know what to make of what she just learned. She could be joking, but Manon’s face always changes when she kidding, and her face didn’t move. That doesn’t mean anything she could be trying to trick her. So elide decides to go with it.

“You don’t strike me as a professional criminal,” Elide says keeping her face neutral.

“That’s what makes me so good at it,” Manon finally breaks as her face morphs into the smirk that makes Elide shiver. Elide wouldn’t have known what she would do if Manon really was a drug runner. She very well could be with her clothes, and demeanor, and money she clearly has.

Elide laughs, and they move on and talk about Elide’s internship. At one Elide get Manon to admit what her tattoo shop is called, and she makes a vow to stop by. Aelin has been wanting a tattoo and that could be a great excuse.

~~~~~

It wasn’t until a few weeks later that Elide finally grew the balls to go by Manon’s store. Aelin refused to go because apparently she didn’t want to get a tattoo by someone who showed up at Elide’s diner at 2 in the morning. Makes sense.

Elide walks in and sees no one in the waiting room or by the reception desk. She walks towards the curtain about to call out Manon’s name when she hears a a voice. Elide knows she should just turn around and leave, but she’s always been nosy.

“The clients want their supply. We can’t just ignore the problem we have.”

“If we just killed the Yellowlegs we wouldn’t have a problem.”

Elide can’t tell if they actually mean murder or is that’s just a hyperbole for dealing with them. But the thought is still there: what if Manon really did deal drugs?

The voice attached to the very person she’s thinking of pop in, “We can’t kill them. Not now, anyway. There’s to many eyes on all of us right now for an entire sixty people to go missing. Killing them is the last resort,” The voice doesn’t sound like the one she’s been talking to four nights a week. This one is cold, dangerous, and deadly. This one would deal drugs and kill people.

Oh, shit. Shit, shit, shit. Holy shit.

Manon wasn’t kidding when she said she smuggled drugs. She actually smuggles drugs.

Why has she been talking to me? Does she think I’m connected to these Yellowlegs people? Is she going to kill me soon for knowing?

Elide gasps and suddenly realized she needs to get the fuck out of there when the talking stops. She turns around and doesn’t bother being quiet when she slams the door open and sprints. She can’t run as fast as she wished she could with her ankle, but she damn well can get far enough away to get to civilization and disappear in a crowd. She hears the door to the shop hit the wall again and someone running after her. The footsteps close in fast, and she realizes just how much she underestimated the drug runners ability to run.

The person behind her grabs her arm and slams her hard in the building next her. She closes her eyes against the impact.

“Whoever you are, you better have an explanation for why you were in my shop,” Manon says right into her ear. Elide decides she’s probably going to die anyway and thinks to hell with being demure and says, “I came for a tattoo, but now that I’ve seen how you treat your costumers I’m going to give you zero stars on Yelp.”

Manon turns her around most likely recognizing your voice and just stares at her for awhile. Elide crosses her arms and waits not wanting to completely aggravate the murderous drug dealer.

“Well, it would be only fair for me to then report that diner for being shitty,” Manon says relaxing her body and smiles as if pretending she wasn’t just talking about mass murder. Elide uncrosses her arms and looks sideways thinking about if it was worth it to try to run. Manon motives and says, “Don’t, Elide.”

Elide doesn’t know what to do except stay still. Manon doesn’t y’all for a while and just stares at her more. Elide starts to fidget. She doesn’t know what she even came. Manon has never really shown interest in her, maybe she just wanted to get away from the luxury.

“If you’re going to kill me can you do it fast?” Elide says and Manon looks genuinely shocked.

“I’m not going to kill you,” Manon says.

“Why not?” Elide should really stop.

“Because you... you already know what I do,” Manon looks down at her hands as if embarrassed.

“I thought you were joking! I didn��t actually think you dealt drugs, for God’s sake, Manon!” Elide lost it at that point. Throwing her hands, yelling, pointing.

“Well, I wasn’t,” Manon says looking at her with the same expression she had when she looked down at her hands. She looks kinda... scared. As if Elide was going to kill her.

“Oh, really? No shit!” She should stop yelling.

Manon flinches at her tone and that gets Elide calm down. Elide starts fidgeting again until she quietly asks, “Why?”

Manon answers knowing what she meant. “The first night I came in I just wanted quiet. This other... gang took our supply that day. Everyone had been arguing and I was down listening so I started walking till I found your diner. You came out with that plate of just French fries and figured you would be good company. Then I found out you were connected to the government so I backed off. I didn’t want you to worry about having to protect me while also keeping the career you’re working toward.”

Elide doesn’t really know what to do with that. Of course her career would make this complicated, but there should be nothing to complicate. But Manon said she backed off. Did that mean she really was flirting for a while?

“Okay,” Elide says.

“Okay?” The other woman said back, “I’m sorry I’ve made this so complicated.”

Elide snorts. Complicated is one way to put this. “So you like me? You’re interested?” Elide asks finally just wanting a full, blunt answer.

Manon smiles and says, “Yes, I was going to ask you out the night I ran into you, but with you working with in the government... well, again it complicates things.”

Elide nods. She never really believed this woman would ever be interested in her sexually, let alone romantically, but she is. And Elide is still interested even though she isn’t sure what that says about her character. Manon was talking about killing people, she deals drugs, but she is still disappointed that she was never asked on that date.

“So... if I said it wasn’t a complication for me would you still ask?” Elide looks up at her as Manon’s small smile turns into a grin.

“Well, that depends...” Manon steps closer.

Elide smiles now too, “On what?”

Manon gets into her personal space, and Elide now has to look up to see her eyes. “Would you say yes?” Manon is basically kissing her now.

“Yes,” Elide breathes and fills the small distance between their lips.

Elide knows that this is going to be hard, but she can’t bring herself to care. She never knew how much she likes complicated until this moment.

------------

@cosmicrhetoric I feel like you would want to see this too.

P.S. don’t do drugs

#malide #tog #the thirteen tog #manon blackbeak #sjmaas #elide lochan #mentions elorcan #manon x asterin #gang au

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migila · 6 years ago

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How I see Gabi Braun:

As far as I know, Gabi has had haters since her first appearance. Nothing weird or horrible about that, some characters just have that kind of effect on some people and that’s totally cool. I myself wasn’t a big Gabi fan when she first appeared ‘cause she seemed way too arrogant for my tastes, but I didn’t exactly hate her.

As the story goes on (before the attack) we learn more about her and, in my opinion, it is anything but hard to see that she’s completely brainwashed. I mean come on, the kid is totally fine with the idea that she and her friends will die young if they become warriors, in fact she wishes they will. While it’s understandable that she has some interest in becoming one since warriors are not only respected among the Eldians but also get a better treatment from Marleyans, normally people wouldn’t be so eager when they know it’d put them in an early grave. Furthermore, she truly seems to believe that she and everyone she loves really are devils so they deserve the shit they go through. The reason she works so hard is because she wants people to see that she and the others can become good Eldians, that if they work hard then some of the sins of being an Eldian could be overlooked, that they will eventually deserve to be treated as humans. Until Eren’s attack, this is her ultimate goal, not taking down the even more evil devils of Paradis. That is just a path to reaching the goal.

However, after Eren attacks Liberio, her goal changes to revenge against the demons of Paradis. Before she hated them because she’d been taught to do so, now she hates them also because she got a reason, because it got personal. (It’s a lot like Eren and the titans: he already wanted to become a scout and so kill titans before Wall Maria fell, but after it did and his mom died the hatred for titans became personal.) During the attack that personal hatred only grows as the place she grew up in gets destroyed and her friends die and/or get hurt. It’d be more messed up if she didn’t get messed up from all of it, really. This said, it’s not suprsing that when she gets a chance to kill an enemy, Lobov, she takes the chance without hesitation. Then, she sees a chance to follow after the enemies on to the airship and does so despite knowing that she won’t make it back. Again, a normal person would hesitate to go way more than Gabi did, but she’s so driven by not only anger and grief but by the teachings beaten in to her head that she doesn’t really hesitate. And when she gets on, she immediately fires a shot. Did it only happen to be Sasha or was she Gabi’s target all along? Who knows; on one hand it’d make sense to target her first since Sasha did kill the gate guards but could Gabi really identify her target so fast? Maybe not, maybe she just shot whoever was in the best place to shoot at and, sadly, that was our Potato Girl. Fortunately, before anyone else dies, Gabi gets captured and apparently doesn’t cause anymore trouble on the airship after seeing Zeke.

What goes through her mind during the airship ride? When they land on Paradis? When they travel to the jail they were held at? Who knows, all we get to see are a few panels with Gabi’s rather terrified face, so I guess she was scared. Natural, for despite being a trained soldier, she is just a human being, a child no less. And of course, she must have realized that she is in the hands of the people who are, according to what she’s always been taught, the most evil, horrifying beings on earth.

And some time during that, Gabi makes up her mind: she wants to see Zeke and get answers (and abandons the hope of getting back home ‘cause it’s impossible.) To do that she does her best to gather hersef up. She makes a plan to take down the guard and escapes with Falco. And then they run in to Kaya, which is when the more level headed Falco, who is able to see the big picture (at least better than Gabi is), takes control.

Kaya takes the two home, and that’s when Gabi first starts to doubt about what she’s been taught, doubt that these people might not be as evil as she’s been taught. They let them stay, they give them food, tell them to rest and it all shocks her. When Kaya tells she knows they’re from Marley, Gabi says that she knew that “a devil couldn’t be so kind”, meaning that she acknowledges how well they’ve been treated. She knows that something is off, that things aren’t going the way they should according to what she’s been taught. When Kaya tells about her mother and her fate, asking why it happened, Gabi desperately tries to hold on to what she knows, what she’s been taught, but you can see from her face that she has her own doubts. When Kaya tells her about Sasha, the older girl’s bravery (and recklesness) seems to impress her.

And that’s it, that’s what we’ve seen about Gabi so far. Now for my personal opinion: I like the character. Yes, I like(d) Sasha too and am absolutely devastated that she’s gone and yes, I remember it was Gabi who pulled the trigger, but I still like her. She starts as an arrogant child, probably having become so thanks to her superior abilities and the praise she gets for those, but we see another side of her quickly. We see the side that worries about her people and her cousin, showing that she isn’t just some arrogant brat who thinks she’s above everyone else just because she’s good at stuff. And this is why I went from mildly disliking to liking her, and liked her even more when Eren attacked. It was a good point of view, seeing everything from the eyes of a horrified child. A child that was strong enough to keep going after all she saw, a child that kept fighting. A warrior. But after killing Sasha and ending up on Paradis, she becomes that scared child again who just tries her best to survive and do what (she thinks) is right. She’s slowly starting to realize that everything isn’t so black and white and that upsets her a great deal. And that’s what makes her human, that’s what makes her a good character in my eyes. She’s made some mistakes, horrible mistakes, things that I can’t agree with, but not everything a character does can always be good. Yes, I hate what she did, but I don’t hate her.

To sum it up, Gabi is just a little girl who was raised in this cruel world and tries her best to survive and do what’s right, but she does some mistakes on the way, just like everyone else. She is not horrible, she is not evil, she is human.

I don’t know if anyone got anything out of this. To be honest my original intention was to point out how tragic it is that Gabi haters complain about her not understanding why Paradis attacks, why it’s justified in their eyes, when they don’t understand that they don’t really see things through Gabi’s eyes either, don’t understand her pain just like she doesn’t understand the pain of the people of Paradis. Congratulations haters, you’re a lot like Gabi.

That’s it, I’m out.

#snk #gabi braun #rant

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lordvatera · 4 years ago

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Hero

By: Vatera Sen

I remember the event quite vividly. Meaning, I don’t remember much of the details, like where or when it happened. I just know that it did happen.

It happened in my 2nd year in Saudi Arabia, probably. Maybe it was late from my 1st year? Anyways, I was young. Like 12 or 11 years old.

This was the time I was starting to enjoy adventure. The thrill of being able to see some spectacular scenery. The thrill of our curiosity driving to our heads what might we see on the other side of the road, the mountain, sea, lake and possibly, the sky someday. The thrill of what we may see along the way of the road. The thrill of being able to experience the events with people you’re with and sometimes meeting really cool people that you don’t expect to see in such a place. It was that time that I started to enjoy travelling.

So, the incident happened like any other day ever.

We packed our things.

We prepared our food.

We prepare our ride.

We plan how to get there.

We meet up with our friends who’ll join us.

Then we ride.

What I didn’t like about adventures, is the long 2 hour drive. Especially if there are no stops. When I’m in the car, my priority is my legs and neck. Plus snacks. Very important.

The car wasn’t that big. It was a decent size, like one of those Toyota 2000’s, but a bit bigger and higher than the Toyota. The problem is my 2 other brothers. I’m the middle child. But I get to have the right window of the car. Which is awesome. I’ve never had to fight for that position, they’re always fighting for the left window which usually ends up my older brother, kuya Lowell, to take it and Laurent to sit in the middle.

What I do in the back of the car is just either eat, look or sleep. I mostly sleep and so do my brothers. But at the very beginning of the trip, we would always have a competition of who ever lasts the longest until they fall asleep, wins. It was fun cause during the 1st hour we would be wide awake and will keep an eye on each other. Then once someone falls asleep we play pranks on them, like put a booger or sometimes put boogers in their snoring mouths. Sometimes we would cover their nose or put drawings on their faces. But most of the time, we were just tricking each other pretending we were asleep.

Then there are the snacks. It’s always brought out after the first hour, if we are not sleeping, but if we were it was usually eaten on the destination or going home. The snacks provided are usually Mommy’s choices. She usually packs chips, candies, bars, drinks and my favorite chocolates. But chocolates aren’t brought that much cause it melts. But there are times she would bring them and I was the one who usually eats them.

Sometimes, we would stop and do our one's. But there are also times when we can't stop, this was daddy's idea by the way, we would just do it in our empty bottles. This is the time I learned to think outside the box. Because you cannot always do your one's in the toilet or the nature, you also CAN STORE IT! Daddy is an innovator.

Then sometimes, when we stop to pee, we would see some sights you wouldn't normally see. Like big rock formations 4 up to 6 stories high. And sometimes, if the other people with us had a bigger vehicle, we would go off-road. There are also camels and we would get permission if we could ride them. Everytime we ask, the owners are really kind and would let us. The camels, when we are riding them, are tall. The texture of their fur is rough, it was almost similar to sandpaper. When they walk, it feels weird. You can feel their bones moving and that would make you sway from left to right, but for me, it felt weirdly nice.

But to all that, when we arrive at our destination, I always disliked taking our things out, like our tents, food, drinks, equipment and some other stuff. It’s so heavy and my legs are also weak from all the sitting I’ve done. Sometimes I would not just grab my family’s stuff, I would also have the urge to help the people who were with us unpack their stuff. I hated the labour, but I liked the helping part of it.

On trips like this, our usual destinations are usually the Red Sea, tombs, desserts and mountains. But this incident was somewhere on the Red Sea.

Before I helped them, I always looked at the scenery of where we’re at.

It was relaxing.

I stood next to the water. Almost touching it.

This may look beautiful but beyond that is frightening.

Beyond the sea, wasn’t empty. A range of mountains could be seen afar. I knew that land is Egypt. Almost reachable. But before I enjoyed the place longer, I went back to the car and helped.

We first took out our stuff from the car and set up our camp. Then set our tables, chairs and tarp. Our spot was beside the beach.

After a few minutes, we were settled in and ready to have fun. I, my brothers and three other friends prepared to swim. I removed my shirt and pants. I already have my swimming shorts underneath.

Usually I’ve already headed to the beach and swam and splashed the water a lot, but today was different. My parents bought a small lifeboat.

It could only hold two people. It had two two meter paddles. It was small, but back then I thought it was really big.

When we were unpacking everything from the car, I was the one who took the lifeboat. I headed straight for the lifeboat and asked for the air pump. I didn’t even wait for anyone, I thought ‘I’m gonna be the first one to ride this! I ain’t sharing it.’

I almost got it on the water before anyone else came, but unfortunately, mommy called me over and asked to share the boat with someone else. I didn’t like it, but what else could I’ve done. This is mommy we’re talking about. She has this intense aura that you can’t fight. She also has this ultimate technique called, ‘Eye Piercing Soul’. She doesn’t call it that though, if she did her menacing technique would lose its effect.

Then after she called me over, she called one of my friends over. It was Vinz.

I met Vinz later on after I came to Saudi Arabia. My mommy is great friends with his mom and one day they decided to visit each other and introduce their children to each. Then after we met, we all just became really really good friends. I mean, how come you won’t be friends with the people you’ve gone to all kinds of adventures and houses?

Then I and Vinz got into the lifeboat.

We row and row and row. It felt like we were sliding on top of the sea; almost similar to flying. We were on water, but we didn’t feel the water. We splashed the water against my brothers and friends. Then they splashed and almost rocked the boat. We row in circles, sometimes our coordination gets ruined but we manage to get back our control over the boat. But, we never went to the deeper parts. We didn’t even wanna try. We were already having so much fun in the shallow areas.

Then after all the rowings that we’ve done, our arms were so heavy. We rested our heads on the edge. I tried looking at the sky but there were no clouds, so all I could see was the bluish colour of the noon sky and the sun.

The sun was too bright, so I closed my eyes and covered it with my arm.

I could still feel the heat. I know it’s still there. I know the world around me hasn’t stopped just because I closed my line of sight. I was more familiarized with the world through the image I see, but in these kinds of moments is where I realized that the world is just as beautiful as I hear, feel, smell or maybe taste them.

In these moments, my thoughts just flow with ideas and thoughts. It even intensified because I was literally flowing where the waves were taking me. I felt calm and inspired.

I remember the trips that we’ve previously done. The time we went fishing, hunted lobsters but I didn’t get to eat them cause I fell asleep waiting for the lobster, the time where I lost two of my teeths on the mountains and where we got to first experience snow.

I remember the games that I played and what I planned to play. I remember the things I wanted to eat; the spicy rice in KFC was really good, Kabsa was so filling and delicious plus the lambs.

Then I thought about─

─ “Lance!” I was brought back to reality.

“Bakit?” Why?

“Nasa malalim na tayo!” We’re in the deep!

I looked down below me.

My whole body went from warm to cold. My head was melting, I couldn’t think straight. My body felt heavier than it was before. My chest started beating rapidly, I could feel the rush of adrenaline already.

I deny this is actually happening.

“Hindi! Mababaw lang to. Colour light blue lang sya.” This is no big deal! It’s just an illusion of the colour light blue that’s making it seem deep.

I couldn’t remember what Vinz replied, but I think he disagreed with me. But then he offered a suggestion, “Sukatin mo nang paddle mo, try mong ireach yung bottom.” Take the paddle. Try reaching the bottom.

So I did. I dipped my paddle into the water, thinking about whether a shark is going to bite my arm while doing it. I couldn’t reach the bottom.

I couldn’t reach the bottom.

I can’t reach it.

Another rush of adrenaline came but with all my nerves reacting. I could feel the nerves in my fingers as they reacted. It reacted so much that my own nerves hurt me, especially my hands.

I Was Scared.

“Talon kaya ako, baka niloloko lang tayo eh. Try kong ireach yung bottom.” I should probably jump, maybe it’s just a trick. I’ll try reaching the bottom.

I leaned on the edge, hoping it’s a trick of the eye.

Then I felt Vinz’s hand stopping me from jumping and told me to stay and wait. Help will come.

It calmed me down.

I looked behind me to where our camp site is. They had already noticed that we were really far away. I could see my daddy swimming towards us. He was still far behind, but it did give me hope.

Then came next was Vinz’s father after daddy.

I looked at what’s in front of me. We were almost at deep blue waters. I had noticed that the waves that were pushing us, were not going towards the beach. It was going towards the other side of the sea to Egypt.

In my head, I remember that if I were ever lost, I should stay where I am until I’m found. So that’s what I did. I waited for daddy to come.

“Kalmado ka na ba?” Are you now calm?

I was.

“Kala ko tatalon na ikaw talaga.” I thought you were actually gonna jump.

I was.

So we both waited.

A few minutes of swimming, I saw Vinz’s dad get exhausted from it. He went back. But daddy kept on going, he doesn’t even know what’s happening behind him. He was focused on us.

A few seconds later, a miracle happened. Two strangers out in the deep blue sea with just their donut came to us and realized we were in trouble. They came to help and push us back to where we are.

At this moment, I didn’t think daddy’s energy was draining him from all the swimming. I only thought that ‘I’m saved’. But now that I’ve thought about it, he could’ve drowned or collapsed or gotten his leg cramped. That’s why I think the two strangers who helped us were not to save us, it was to save dad.

“Shukran la!” Thank you! We both thanked the strangers.

Then daddy reached us. He went behind and pushed us with the help of the strangers.

At this moment, it was calming. The wind blew again against our faces but this time we were facester and didn’t get tired at all. It was almost a luxury.

This lasted a few minutes until we reached the shallow area and got off on the boat into the water where we could reach the bottom with our feet.

I was so happy I was alive. I literally thought I was gonna die, but I didn’t.

Then I noticed what had happened to daddy.

He was limping.

He sat on a chair and put up his feet. His whole toe was covered in blood. He was in pain. Mommy applied some first-aid techniques that she could do with daddy doing it also. They use salt water and wrap it with whatever cloth they could find.

Daddy wasn’t struggling too much. At the time I thought that he really was a strong person, which I think he still is, but during this time he was suffering from the pain from a wound that would likely leave a big scar.

I was guilty of that scar.

This event wasn’t really deadly to me. What daddy had done was far more dangerous than what we’ve done and could’ve ended in a bad way. But that courage that he showed also left a big impression on me. It made me respect and love my father more than ever. And he did not only do that once, but multiple times in my life.

His heroism didn’t stop here.

It kept coming back from time to time.

#GiveThanks HappyBirthday!

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captainjacksparrowpotc · 8 years ago

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Dead Men Tell No Tales - Review (sort of)

Okay first of all, I wrote an entire review and because tumblr is a fucking piece of shit it glitched or whatever and I lost it all. Fuck you tumblr. Anyway, here is another version. I’ve probably forgotten to cover some stuff. My original covered like everything. Ugh. I’m so pissed right now.

So, I watched Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, and as I promised, I’m going to tell you guys what I think of it.

Before I get into it, I’d like to start off with some important notes. First of all, this is going to be long as it’s an in detail review of the whole film (keeping in mind I’ve only seen it once), mixed with some of my thoughts on the franchise as a whole, and some headcanons. It’s kind of a combination of review, general thoughts, and slight rant over things I disliked about the film. Secondly, I’ve only seen it once, so this is all going off memory. I might have gotten some details wrong here or there. I’m doing this off a one time watch and memory of that. My opinions might change when I rewatch the film a second, third, or fourth time. I’ll let you know if they do. Thirdly, I’m warning everyone about language and negativity. Fourthly, this might contain some unpopular opinions and I’m not apologizing for that. That brings me to my fifth, and most important, note that this is my personal opinion. I am, as you are as well, entitled to my own opinion. I also would like to say as this is my blog, I’ll post whatever I damn well please. If you wish to discuss something with me, you may. Key word here being discuss. If you are planning on starting a fight, or coming to me to spew hateful words because you disagree with me, kindly fuck off. With that being said, on with the review! Oh, and spoiler alerts (duh).

To put it simply, it wasn’t good but it wasn’t terrible.

Quick overview? About 2 and a half hours of cheap jokes for a quick laugh. They weren’t bad (and often dirty) jokes. Got a bit repetitive in parts, and they weren’t all that great, but they did make me giggle more than a few times. Plot was, uh, lacking. It was there, but it wasn’t that good. Characterization was rather shit (for those we already knew, especially and in particularly for Jack). I do not like Kaya Scodelario. More on all of this below the cut:

(I wonder how many followers I’m going to lose because of this?)

I got to the cinema early. Almost ten minutes early, in fact. I still somehow managed to miss the very beginning of the film. I don’t know how much, but I think it was just starting? Henry was rowing. I got to my seat just as he arrived on the Dutchman. So, I’m not sure how much of the beginning I missed. I was kind of irritated because I was early, which meant they started the film WAY earlier than they were supposed to (I checked the ticket, to make sure I had the time right and I had).

So let’s go in order of what I put in the quick overview above. Then anything extra will be added after that.

First up: cheap jokes.

These aren’t new in the potc films. In fact, these witty little play on words moments, dirty jokes, and banter-like moments are often favorite scenes within the films. The problem is, it felt like they knew this, and as such over used them. It was as if they were like “okay so they like these moments so let’s shove as many as we can into the film and then double it.” Someone should have pointed out what a horrible idea that was. Too late now.

I mean I’m not saying those moments were bad. Most of them were funny. One of the things this franchise does really well is those types of jokes. But the problem was there were these great little funny moments within the film, as with the other films, that seemed to happen way too often. Noticeably too often. It felt like they paused the film to get them in.

I liked the jokes (most of them, the that’s-my-stern-not-my-port joke was drawn out for too long and died). They just relied on them too much, I think is the problem.

Second up, and boy is it a doozy, the plot.

(This might sound like characterization at first, but bare with me.)

Little Henry was cute. I can’t remember if it says his exact age, but I want to say around 10 or 12? They actually gave us a time frame with the “10 years later” or “5 years earlier” or whatever they were, but since I don’t remember the exact time line I can’t say for sure. Anyway, little Henry was cute. He loves his dad, and he reminded me of Will in the way he vowed to free him.

Will. Now THAT is something I’m a little miffed about. There’s been a debate within the fandom over whether or not Will was cursed to remain the Captain of the Flying Dutchman for all of eternity or just for the 10 years and if Elizabeth was there waiting for him he’d be set free. Personally, I thought it was the latter, and it made more sense that way. Turns out that’s not the case. I thinks it’s a bit BS, and kind of ruins the ending and story line of the second and third films. I mean, when I saw that he was still the captain and he was cursed to be like that forever, I felt really sad. And not the oh-now-I-hope-Henry-will-free-him sad, but the wow-the-ending-of-his-and-Elizabeths-story-is-now-kind-of-ruined-and-my-perception-of-it-has-just-changed-dramatically-for-the-worst sad.

It was also completely unnecessary??? I mean I was even talking with my brother about it after the film. I said that if you took Will out of the film, and just got rid of that entire plot line, it would still be the same film. He was completely pointless. For the record I love Will. He’s ridiculous and adorable. But if you’d have cut Henry and him out of the story and just had Carina in realize she needs Jack? Yeah, same story. It felt like they included Will because everyone loves Will and Orlando Bloom, so they were like “GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT! BRING BACK WILL TURNER!” But if I had been there during that decision I’d have piped in with a “yes, we all love will, but we don’t want him brought back like this.”

Seriously, Henry could have been anyone else and the story would have been the same. The plot just needed someone to find Jack and pass on the message from Salazar. At this point you might be going “but what about the trident then? if Henry didn’t need the trident to free his father then he wouldn’t need to tell Jack to get it. So Jack would have just ran and there’d be no more plot!” Yeah but here is the thing, Jack wanted the trident to stop Salazar from coming after him. All Henry did was convince him to go after it. Could have easily done that another way. I’ve got nothing against Henry, I just think it’s a badly thought out and very thin/lame plot to hold it together.

I don’t have an issue with Salazar leaving one person alive to tell the tale and having him get Jack. It makes sense, but Henry and the Will plot point is, as I’ve said, unnecessary.

Now I was about to go onto more plot issues, when I realized that the rest of the issues I have are characterization gone wrong more than bad plot.

So, third up is characterization.

Let’s start with Henry. Already established that I think he was a cute kid. Very devoted. Very brave. I think it was a little funny how when Will told him to stay away from the sea (to which side note, wtf Will he’s your son do you really think that’ll work. look at your own story), and then Will spent his entire life on the sea. Sailor Henry was cute. Overall, I have no problem with him, mostly because I’ve got nothing to compare him to. I do have an issue with his interactions with Jack. First he wants to find him, almost seems to look up to him as this super amazing adventurer after the stories he’s heard. Then when he meets him, he borderline hates him? I mean he doesn’t, but strong dislike. I get he’s disappointed, but he does a complete 180 on his opinion on him. Then just as fast as that happens, he suddenly likes him. By the end of the film he AND Carina care about him.

See the thing here is I think they were trying to re-do Will and Elizabeth. Henry was Will and Carina was Elizabeth. Only, that didn’t work. I mean, first of all it was way too obvious and as an audience member it was kind of offence that they were basically like ‘oooh, look! it’s just like the other films. you liked those. now like this one, too. see? just the same!’ Except it was not, and you audience is not a baby that you’re trying to trick into thinking the other toy is the same one as their favorite but you couldn’t find that one so you’re trying to convince it that the toy you are presenting is just as good if not the same. It didn’t work. Henry and Carina are NOT Will and Elizabeth. No matter how many bloody parallels they draw. I wouldn’t have a problem with it if they weren’t so blatantly trying to force us to take them as the same. So since they so obviously want us to take Henry and Carina as the new Will and Elizabeth, then I’ll be comparing them. They did this to themselves.

Anyway, onto the point I was making. There was not enough development between Carina and Henry and Jack. In any combination. Henry and Carina’s romance was bullshit, I’m sorry I have to call it. Will and Elizabeth’s love story stretched back to when they were children. They’d known each other and been in love for years. They then spent THREE FILMS getting to where they were. You may argue about the end of the first film as they get together, and the second opens with what should be their engagement. But here is the thing, THEY WERE IN LOVE FOR YEARS. Henry and Carina were not. Their relationship was absolutely terribly built. I did not believe it at all.

I’d like to take a moment to give a side note that, I actually did WANT to like all parts of this. I even tried to FORCE myself to like all these things I’m pointing out and tried to convince myself otherwise. So when I say this, please understand this is me admitting it, and not me just bitching about it because I didn’t want to like it from the start. I did. I really did want to like it. I went in with it wanting to like it. Convincing myself to like it.

So Carina and Henry’s relationship progressing that fast was dumb. If they wanted to move it that fast they needed SO MUCH MORE build up. I think the problem was that this film should have spanned two films. But they didn’t have the possibility because Johnny Depp could easily have refused (maybe they wanted to do that and he did refuse, I don’t know). But they pushed a two film plot into one film. At least it feels like that. So they cut things, rushed things, and cocked a lot of it up. A real shame.

Henry and Jack I’ve already touched upon. Carina and Jack was practically nonexistent. So why she cared about him at all makes no sense. Both Henry and Carina should not have cared as much about Jack as they did at the end. I mean, sure you can argue the whole ‘they are decent people and they know him and decent people care about other’s lives and especially if they know them.’ True. But given what we know about them all, and the lack of interactions, and the fact this is the 1700s and Jack was a pirate, I’m not buying it. They’d be concerned and care on a basic human level, sure. But risk their lives to save him? No.

Before we go to Carina’s characterization, let’s get to Will’s characterization. May I please be the one to say WHAT THE FUCKITY-FUCK WAS THAT. Okay sure, I could see Will turning a bit bitter towards Jack as time went on. He starts blaming Jack for making him the Captain of the Dutchman. He’s angry. Whatever. BUT THIS IS WILLIAM TURNER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE. Will is like a fucking puppy. A cute little golden Labrador. He would have gotten over it. He’d have realized he can’t blame Jack. He’d know that Jack had to do it. That Jack did it for him. He did it for Elizabeth. He did it for himself, because Jack and Will are friends. He could not blame Jack for that. He wouldn’t blame Jack for that. At least not for long. So to have Will tell his son to stay away from Jack, to act as if he hates Jack, pissed me off. And it was not Will pretending so his son would not get involved in a crazy adventure with Jack. Will isn’t that good an actor. That was genuine hate. And it was totally out of character. WILL AND JACK ARE FRIENDS. I will scream this from the rooftops if I have to. Will risked EVERYTHING for Jack. In the first fucking film no less!!! He literally gave up (because if things hadn’t gone the way they had, that’s what he was doing) Elizabeth ELIZABETH for Jack. TO SAVE JACK. After everything, Will (and Elizabeth) cared about Jack. They’d been through enough by the end of At World’s End, that’s for bloody sure. Will, Elizabeth, and Jack are friends. I have no doubts that if one of them was in trouble, and someone came to get the other one to help, they would. If Elizabeth was in trouble and Will went to Jack for help, he’d help. If Will was in trouble and Elizabeth went to Jack for help, he’d help. If Jack was in trouble and - well you get the idea. They were friends. They cared about each other. Will’s reaction to Jack is bullshit. The way Will should have reacted was, sure, to tell Henry to not try anything because it would be too dangerous for a child. Yeah. He shouldn’t have told him to forget about him, because that’s ridiculous and Will of all people should know that you don’t forget about your father trapped by a curse to forever be on the Dutchman. But when Jack came up, Will should have told Henry not to go to him because he could see Jack becoming Uncle Jack, and dangerous adventures and bad influences on his innocent little son. He should not have been filled with hate.

Elizabeth’s characterization is kind of hard to comment on because she wasn’t there much. Like only a the end. From what I saw, I’m, uh, confused to say the least. This is 1700s. She’s a woman. You’re telling me her husband was cursed to forever be on a ship and only to come to land once every ten years, and no one batted an eye at her being by herself all that time? Why the fuck was Henry even OUT THERE to find Will? Where was Elizabeth? That in itself is a plot. That’s like Moana-esque. Henry wants to go to see (unlike Moana he knows why and it’s to get his dad). Elizabeth won’t let him go to see. Henry goes anyway. It ends badly the first time. But like, getting back to the point, Elizabeth wouldn’t have let her son do that. It means she didn’t know where he was because he’d sneaked off. So where was Elizabeth? She’s a woman in 1700s. She might be rich after inheriting her father’s money and estate after the events of the previous films, but she’d have to do something all day. Working? What? Where? How did she get away with being, what in essence, was a single mother all those years in that society, at that level class? Why did she let Henry go into the navy? Elizabeth’s characterization in this film, due to it being lacking, just raised a whole lot of questions about the implications of her whole situation.

Let’s go to Barbossa before we get to Carina. He wasn’t actually that badly characterized. I mean, they sort of went back and forth a bit. They portrayed him a bit like he was in the first film, then mixed in some of the fourth film. He was sometimes a blend of both. Which, while it’s problematic a bit because even in the fourth film when he was basking in the luxury of the upper class, when it came down to it he was still the pirate Captain Barbossa. The one in the first film. But sure. Let’s go with this mixing making sense. The thing was, he’d, at times, be absolutely one or the other. It was like you never knew which Barbossa you were going to get. Tame upper class Barbossa? Or pirate Barbossa? Or both? Who knew. It was like a really irritating game of Guess Who. Also his interactions with Jack are annoying. They’re like friends but then not. I mean, part of it makes sense for them. But after all the events of the previous films, it just doesn’t make sense for them to be... how they were. Not nearly as bad a characterization as it could have been, but parts just felt a bit odd. It kind of felt like that for the whole film though. Like they were simultaneously ignoring and not ignoring the previous four films. It was weird.

Now, I will say that I’d like to strangle the person who came up with the idea for THAT ending. I’ll say this once: Hector Barbossa does not die. We’ve already done this. Film One. Dead, then back to life at the end of film 2. I’d also like to add that we don’t see him die. Just the implication of it. So... make of that what you will. If they keep him dead then that’s stupid. If they bring him back that’s stupid too, because they’re now repeating himself, but at least it makes more sense. If he really is dead, then it is just extra stupid. His death was completely unnecessary. Salazar would have been washed off the anchor with the force of the sea and the others being forced down the chain above him. Barbossa’s death was a cheap way for them to show that he loved his daughter.

Speaking of his daughter, Carina was irritating. Since I’ve already said that I don’t like Kaya Scodelario already, let me make it clear I am doing this part without the bias of my dislike of her. In fact, I tried to make myself like Carina way more than anything because I knew I didn’t like the actress, so I wanted to make sure I wasn’t writing off a character due to my own opinion of the woman portraying her. So I’m rather annoyed to say I dislike Carina. I wanted to like her very badly. But Carina was irritating. She wasn’t charming. She was smart, which was nice, and she was supposed to be one of those ‘ahead of her time’ women. Actually, that bit was almost like the writers banging us on the head and yelling ‘HEY SHE’S AHEAD OF HER TIME.’ Like I get it. Chill. She’s one of the often seen, now almost cliche female characters in period pieces. It seems like female protagonists (or even just women that are supposed to be more important than super background characters) in period pieces have to be ‘ahead of their time’ to exist. It’s annoying, but let’s not go onto a feminism rant. The reason I don’t like Carina isn’t because she’s a cliche (which she is), but because she’s irritating. Most of the time. Not all the time, but enough of the time that it’s a problem. She’s just so narrow minded. And she is narrow minded, you can’t argue that. You can be smart and narrow minded. She has set beliefs and won’t listen, and openly mocks, others if they disagree. She thinks she’s better than everyone else. It’s irritating. Also the whole daughter things was painfully obvious. I mean right from the start it became a ‘ugh, great who are they going to make be her dad’ thing. I almost wondered if Poseidon or Salazar would be. I could go on and describe all the way Carina irritated me and why she wasn’t a good character, but I’d rather say the one thing that made me like her a little. Her one moment that makes me not say I hate her. Her one moment that is the reason I’m giving her a pass and not completely writing her off. When Barbossa realizes she’s his daughter. She was... real in that moment. Her character managed to become more human and less an arrogant, narrow minded, irritation. She had a history. Doesn’t excuse her for the previous mentioned traits, but that bit of characterization saved her for me. Oh, and I love Barbossa’s reaction to that. I think that entire scene may have been one of, if not the, best one in the film. Including the Jack bit at the end.

Now I do not like Kaya Scodelario. It’s nothing personal. I’m sure she’s a nice person. I don’t like her as an actress. Not sure why. I just don’t like her. I get that this might upset some people. I’d appreciate it if we could show some maturity and not come to my inbox to yell at me about it. You’re not going to change my mind. I don’t like her. Maybe it’s that I don’t think she’s a competent actress, or maybe it’s just her face. I truthfully don’t know what it is. There are very few celebrities that I actually truly dislike. She’s one of the few. I seriously have no idea why. I just kind of ignore her though, because whatever. I don’t like her, move on. I’m saying this because if in the future they make a potc 6 with her as a main character again, don’t expect me to be thrilled. As I said, I judged Carina completely separate from my dislike of her. Ms. Scodelario got a not that great character, and she did as much as she could with what she got. I dislike the actress separately from my dislike for the character. I’ve tagged this as “Kaya Scodelario hate” because I’ve been asked to do so before when posting something about me not being her biggest fan before. Again, please don’t come at me for this. I’m just putting it out there so it is clear that if it comes up again, my opinion is known. Don’t expect to see much of her on my blog.

Pintel and Ragetti. Yeah they weren’t in it. Kind of pissed about that. I actually liked them. They were funny. I mean the two that replaced them were Murtogg and Mullroy. Yeah, they were in the other films, but this felt like they are being stretched and converted into acting as Pintel and Ragetti. I mean I like Murtogg and Mullroy, but I liked them as them. You know? I also missed Pintel and Ragetti in this one. They could have been interesting in it. I understand that might have been a personal thing with the actors, but like that doesn’t mean Murtogg and Mullroy had to be... whatever they were. Plus, they weren’t that important in this film. Almost like it was decided that they were important enough to include because people like them but not enough to actually... do much more than exist and have some lines.

Gibbs. I don’t have a problem with his characterization. Might be a bit irritated that he was so willing to let Jack be executed considering their history and, oh, I don’t know, THE FACT IN THE PREVIOUS FILM JACK WENT TO LONDON AND OUT OF HIS WAY TO SAVE HIM FROM EXECUTION. Look, I get it. Gibbs could have been all too happy to agree to save Jack anyway, and just claimed it was only the money that did it. But? Just kind of seems lame to me. After all they’ve been through and such. I like him. I like his friendship with Jack. I think they could have done him a better justice in parts, but I don’t have too much of a problem with it. I’m choosing to believe he readily agreed to saving Jack and the money was a thin reasoning to do so. They’re pirates but they’re not heartless.

Everyone else: don’t really have a problem with it, or nothing to base one off of. I also can’t remember everyone. So, if you want a specific opinion on someone let me know. Send me an ask and I’ll be happy to answer.

Jack. OH. MY. GOD. I saved him for last because OHMYGOD. Buckle up fellas, we’ve got a lot to get through and I’ve got a lot of anger to explain.

I literally do not even know where to begin with this. I have an issue with every aspect of Jack’s characterization in this film. EVERY ASPECT. From his costume to his personality. By the way, let me first start off by saying that was not Captain Jack Sparrow that we saw. That was some impostor that sucks at being Captain Jack Sparrow. The only time we saw Jack was in the flashback (which can we please take a moment because HAHAHAHAHA what was that?! It felt like 20 minutes of back story. It was like a bad fanfic explaining an OC’s reasoning to be in the fic. (Salazar being the OC.) And as someone who has written a block of backstory in a fic like that [it was my first fic don’t judge, i’m better now] I just want to say what was that???). Flashback Jack was the highlight of the fucking film. I am telling you, if you’ve chosen to read this without seeing the film, then go see it just for young Jack. I mean, I’m pretty sure Jack was in his late teens or early twenties in that flashback. I totally understand how he got his reputation now. Like completely get it. That scene was the single greatest thing in the entire film. I loved it. It’s also so.. Jack. From how he talks, to how he acts, to explaining so many things about him. That moment, that scene is why I love these films. These films can be so good. Scenes like that are what remind me of that. In a few minutes (if that) we learn so much about Jack. I mean SO MUCH. If you want, I’ll make a separate post about that scene to explain it’s importance. But WOW. That scene is phenomenal. Well okay, I’m not a fan of the whole Salazar giving his is name ‘Sparrow’ because that’s... not accurate? I can’t remember exactly at the moment, but I read somewhere that if someone has sailed all the seas or something like that that they are a ‘sparrow’ or something. I can’t remember exactly, but like his last name had an explanation before. It might have been in the books. Not sure. Anyway, it’s just so tragic that flashback Jack is the only time Jack is Jack.

Now, present Jack is the issue here, so I’ll stop gushing over young Jack and focus on Why Present Jack Sucks So Very Much. Please note all this is disregarding Johnny Depp’s life events during the filming. Johnny Depp is a wonderful actor. He was still a wonderful actor in this film. He was Jack. He was just the Jack they told him to be. He got a wrong Jack. He made him come to life and it was, undoubtedly, a good performance. I never once did not believe he wasn’t his character. He was believable. This was not an acting thing. This was a character thing. A writing thing. A director thing. A producer thing. Whatever.

Let’s talk appearance first. He looked aged, but like it’s been some years and I’m pretty sure Jack is like in his 40s at the very least in canon at this point. So, sure aging is appropriate. I mean, if they wanted to they could have made him look younger, but then that would have been weird because he should have aged. If he hadn’t then we’d be like “did he get some kind of youth thing we don’t know about???” But the problem I had was, for the most part, Jack still looked like Jack, except for his hair. Which, if you didn’t notice, WAS BLONDE IN SOME AREAS. I have dark hair. No matter how much I’m in the sun, it does not go blonde. No matter how much I’m in the sea and sun, it does not go blonde. Jack’s hair might have turned grey, sure. But blonde? No. Unless Jack secretly makes sure to stop by a salon and have his hair done. I don’t think so, though. So there was that. I’ve made a post (read: rant) about his hair before, so I won’t go into it. The point is, Jack’s hair kind of ruined his physical Jack-ness.

Personality? Oh my god not even the same man. It’s cute how they were trying to go with ‘Jack loses his luck’ to show how desperate and lost Jack was that he traded his compass for rum. I mean they needed a reason for him to do that. Problem is, Jack doesn’t loose his luck. It just isn’t done. Also, for the record, Jack is equally luck and brains. It’s visible in the other films. He pays attention to things. He is aware of the layout of the room, of possibilities. Jack is a quick thinker. That’s like one of his main and strongest assets. His luck isn’t actually that much. It’s quick thinking. If his luck truly left him, he’d still be Jack. He’d still be fine. So this whole thing where he becomes this shell of himself, a desperate pathetic shadow of who he is, is utter bullshit.

Also, I’m mad how they portrayed him and rum. Jack is not an alcoholic. Does he drink? Yes. Does he drink a lot? Yes. Does he have self control and priorities? Yes. The last one is key. Also, Jack is used to rum. He can function perfectly well with some rum in him. He doesn’t need rum to survive, though. The thing with this film is they took the joking of Jack and his rum to unhealthy level. To Jack ruining his own plan to rob a bank. (also robbing banks? lame.) To Jack actually giving away THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO HIM (beside the Pearl) for RUM. Rum is so common. For Jack being so needing of rum that after that crazy and obviously magic curse induced ominous earthquake due to his compass that Jack would just... watch? No. Jack would have thrown the bottle of rum back at the bloke and grabbed his compass and ran out of there. He’s not an idiot. Jack likes rum. He loves rum. But his relationship with it in this film was out of character.

His compass just makes me so mad and I’m not even going to get into it. He wouldn’t have traded it. He wouldn’t have. I don’t care how low he was. He would not have traded it. That flashback showed us that for fucks sake.

Jack’s so out of character in this film it’s ridiculous. His reactions and interactions with everyone is absolutely not how they would have went. The only time he was correctly responding in character to something, that wasn’t in the flashback, was with Barbossa when his former first mate realized Carina was his daughter. Even that was sloppily done if I’m honest. I mean, it’ll pass. But that was about as in character as Jack was in present day.

Jack’s reactions to Elizabeth were SO INFURIATING I COULD HAVE SCREAMED. Actually I made this weird strangled noise in the back of my throat at one point. Jack and Elizabeth had this back and forth flirting thing that wasn’t serious. Elizabeth wasn’t ever going to go with Jack. Sure, in the beginning Jack would have slept with her if he’d had the chance, but even that could be argued as questionable by the end. After the events of the first three films, their relationship was more like harmless flirting. I don’t think, after At World’s End, Jack would have slept with Elizabeth. I mean, maybe after a few months or a year or so he would, but if at the end of the film Elizabeth had 100% seriously offered, I think Jack would have said no because it would have been weird. At that point Elizabeth was more like a friend, and dare I say little sister, to him. Jack and her had this silly flirty thing between them that meant nothing and both of them knew it. It’s why they kept doing it. Why Will and everyone else never batted an eye at it. It never would have gone anywhere. So to have Jack seriously act that way towards Elizabeth and Will and Elizabeth’s relationship is not realistic. I mean I get a joke or two. “Does Mommy ever ask about me” or whatever he said to Henry is cute and funny. One time. A single joke, because come on he had to. Sure. But he goes too far. He keeps on. He starts making it way too sexual. Jack wouldn’t do that. Let me clarify. Jack wouldn’t start saying those things to her fucking son. He just wouldn’t. AND HENRY DOESN’T REACT?! That’s his mother Jack is talking about. This just shows how this was a cheap joke. It was just a joke moment for Jack but it wasn’t funny. They took it too far. The thing is, that moment acted as characterization for Jack. And it was out of character. Jack would of course make a joke, but just one or two. A quick little quip. He wouldn’t make it so... sexual. That’s the problem. Jack turned it dirty. Far passed a silly joke. He wouldn’t do that. Jack doesn’t do that. This might sound weird to the casual view who doesn’t think much about the films or Jack. But think about it. Jack’s behavior isn’t saintly. It’s nowhere near it. But Jack isn’t a fucking monster either. Even how Jack reacts to Elizabeth in other times in the film is out of character. His reaction to seeing her at the end with Will? When he sees her it’s so sexual again. Sure, Jack would give her an appreciative once over, and he might roll his eyes and her and Will together, but he wouldn’t react to them, or her, like that. Throughout the whole film his behavior to Elizabeth is appalling because when it comes to Elizabeth especially, Jack is almost gentleman-like. No seriously. Rewatch the films. Not once did he treat Elizabeth like how this film had him do or imply the actions he’d take if he bumped into her again. Even when Jack was very drunk, alone on an island with her, and had reason to believe Elizabeth would be up for a tumble in a bit because she hadn’t had enough to drink yet but possibly would be up for it, Jack still treated her with, well, respect. He flirted. He pushed it a bit with what was really proper in the 1700s. But Jack NEVER touched her or acted like he does to her. Jack doesn’t even treat WHORES badly. I mean he’s not particularly gentleman-like with them, but he’s never actually abused a woman. He’s never done something (to our knowledge) without their permission. So to have him talk like that? It’s not Jack. They made Jack seriously act like that, and it was not Jack. I’d personally like to believe the reason Jack is so, for lack of a better word, gentleman-like with Elizabeth and generally decent to all woman, is that his upbringing. I feel like his dad had a lot to do with it. I can kind of imagine Jack having a very clear lesson and reiteration in how you do not treat a woman, why, and the consequences if his dad finds out he has (of course now that Jack’s an adult he doesn’t need the consequences as a threat, though it’s totally still valid). But whatever the reason of Jack’s treatment of women, it’s lacking in this film.

Overall Jack is not Jack and it’s so obvious. It’s terrible that they did that to him. I know this is called Pirates of the Caribbean, and not Captain Jack Sparrow, but let’s be honest here. This is about Jack. So to change Jack so much? It’s ridiculous. I don’t know who that was, but it wasn’t our Jack.

Now, one character I didn’t mention before but would like to touch upon and provide some comments/thoughts because he’s kind of great? Uncle Jack. The entire thing with him was hilarious. I mean at the end it wasn’t. The ending of that bit sort of killed it. You know when there’s a running joke going on and one person says something to add to it or whatever and it ends up killing the joke? Yeah, Jack’s little note that got them back to the plot of him going to his execution did that. But before that the bit was hilarious. I also loved that we got confirmation that Jack’s dad can sing. I mean we all figured but we weren’t 100% sure, so it was great that we got that confirmation. Also, that Uncle Jack can sing. It’s like a low key family trait. Which is great. Can Jack sing? I mean we’ve only heard him sing when drunk or lightly murmuring. We’ve never heard him try. I bet he can. That just makes my day. Imagine it. Their entire family low key being known around the world as great singers. It’s just great. Also Uncle Jack’s existence is just great. Can you image the reunions? Imagine little Jack and him? Uncle Jack, probably his name sake, visiting him. I’m talking four year old Jack. Jack who looked at his dad in awe. Jack who wanted to be just like his dad. He loves when Uncle Jack visits. He gets to hear about the adventures he and his dad went on. Of the adventures (read: trouble) Uncle Jack got into. Eyes wide in awe. Little Jack vowing to be just as cool as his dad and Uncle Jack. It’s so cute. Jack’s family seems so close. Like sure they aren’t physically close, like they don’t see each other much. They sort of just run into each other. If one of them dies they’ll probably find out through the grapevine, but like they stick out for each other.

So yeah. Overall it wasn’t a bad film. I mean I know this might not seem like it, but honestly it wasn’t terrible. If you’ve chosen to read this before watching the film, I’m telling you that you shouldn’t take this as a reason not to go see it. It wasn’t bad. It just wasn’t particularly good. Mostly I just pointed out the issues as to why it wasn’t good but not terrible. To a casual viewer I’d imagine it was decent to borderline good. It was kind of what I expected but also not. Like I didn’t think it would be very good, but hoped it would be good. I didn’t think the problems there would be were what they were, and the disappointment was in those problems. I think I could have dealt with the plot weakness if even Jack’s characterization was the only thing that was the right one. But overall, it wasn’t awful.

So... I think that’s it? I had way more on the other version. Thanks, Tumblr. If I’ve not covered something on here that you want to know about, just send me an ask. I’m happy to give my opinion on anything if anyone so wishes for it (for some unfathomable reason). No hate please. I’m open to discussing (again, discussing. no hate) or explaining something I’ve said further if you want. I’m pretty sure there is a load more I should have covered and did in my original post but I’ve been writing this for like over five hours now. My brain’s a little fried at this point.

To the person who asked me specifically to share my opinion of Dead Men Tell No Tales, I hope this is sort of what you were looking for? Again, don’t hesitate to send me an ask if you’ve got a specific question. I’m sure I meant to or did have it on here originally, and am sorry I didn’t include it in this. As I said, I’m more than happy to discuss this more and/or answer more questions!

What did you think of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales?

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redennandaiko-blog · 8 years ago

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To my life, my love...

Good day Redenn my love! 💋❤

788 days ago, I got to hear about you. 767 days ago was the first time I saw you... through a good friend of mine, Kim Clyde. Then 496 days later, 271 days ago, I got to finally hear your voice and see you wearing that red tribal polo shirt, red shoes, and that skinny pants.143 days ago, I was able to be with you and spent time with no one but us, you in your black round-neck shirt, yellow and violet jersey shorts, and clean-cut hair and me in my white faded with black rose shirt, blue faded jeans, and thick-strap sandals. Then 82 days ago, I was holding my phone having you on the end of the line, having my heart at its happiest state because apparently, 83 days ago... I can finally call you MINE. 😻🙊

We have had a good start. Though we didn't actually have had it all as easy as they thought we did. We started on a negative state. But that story belongs to us, and it’s not of our readers to know but... we both know it wasn’t easy. We have our battles. 😔

People around us - both your friends and mine and the people we both know, had been our critic. We had been the apple-of-the-eye when we started getting close. 🙈 Everyone noticed how close we were and some took it negatively. 😂 I clearly remember the time wherein we have to keep things lowkey and make your friends believe we broke up just so the bad things would stop. 😕 Those times wherein we control our actions just for the two of us or actually, for me to avoid judgements. But look at where and what we are now. It really is true. We love who we love. 😍☺

It wasn’t easy for us. Especially when things got a little bit crazy because I have to stay in Davao for school and you have to stay here in Gensan for school as well. I was actually thinking of breaking up with you just so things could get a little bit easier. 😢😣 I'm glad none of those plans had took place when I was on the verge of doing it. If so, I wouldn't be able to get pissed when you get so annoying at times. 😂

When I went home last October, little did I know I'll be spending time with someone like you. All along I was going home to the love of my life. Well, I honestly do not regret ditching school stuff just to go home then. There's a lot of people I'm glad I've met all because we’re together. ☺

I've known someone who craves for love she falls in love with the first person she can lean on after a heartbreak. So heartbreak after heartbreak after heartbreak, she falls and falls and falls. 😟

I've known someone whom I believe isn't actually happy but is acting as if he is thinking there is no one he can talk, like really talk to. So he pretends to be someone he's not and just go around fake smiles believing no one will see just what is right through him. 😯

I've known someone who can both be a friend and an enemy. Someone who's loyalty would depend on his comfort. Someone who's just happy-go-lucky. I guess he's a perfect epitome of a real fuckboy. 😞

On top of all those people I've met is you. When I took a risk, I met you and that I guess is the reason why I was there when I could be anywhere else in this planet. I believe the universe conspired for the two of us to finally meet; after a lot of failed attempts to make us get along, they finally did succeed. ☺❤🙊

When I first met you, despite the fact that I noticed you, I never thought you would actually mean this much to me. I never thought you'd become this important. Never had I imagined, I would be with someone I barely know. 🙈 But then Cupid wanted us to be together and seeked help from all the gods he knew. So we touched and realized we wanted more than to be just friends. 😝😂 So we became close. Up until this moment, I couldn't thank destiny and magics enough. But more than those beliefs, I couldn't thank Papa God enough for giving me you. ☺🙈 What good have I done to be able to deserve you? 😇

So despite the pain I've felt because of the bashing that some people were doing, I was fine. I felt fine. They can call me whatever they want. 😓 I was hurt. My so well-kept being-loved-by-everyone image was tapped. I was hated, cursed, and dislike for the first time with my knowledge. Ofcourse I had been hated before but it wasn't an issue because there were a lot of people who got my back. I don't have to defend myself because a lot of people's already doing it for me. ☺💚

Wanna know why I felt fine back then despite all those? Because you were with me. I had your hand to hold and your chest to lean on. Who else matters if that's the case? Right? What else would matter when I have you? Right? ☺ I have fought a lot of emotions I've never fought before all because of you. I stopped myself from being who I really was because the kindness that's living deep in me overuled. It is all because of you. ☺ Can you understand what you have done to me? You've caused me both trouble and peace. You brought the part of me that was probably stucked on the past, months ago. 😂🙊

61 days after, we've paved the way to become an official couple. Finally. Though I'm aware, I didn't have had you fully... I took the risk. I loved you that much ever since. The resilience of my love never did falter just because of your simple shortcomings. ☺😿

I showed you parts of me I've never shown anyone. You must be aware of that. The reason and probably the only reason why my family and friends sees me they way they see me now, is because they have been with me since time immemorial and they're keen observers. 😑😂

Never do I remember talking and putting the spotlight on me unless it's with someone I like. 😉 Well, I should brag about who I am with people I like... you know, like you. 😂

As of this moment, we've been an official couple for 7,084,000 seconds. Given that it's 12:30 Imagine? We spent millions of seconds choosing each other second by second. 😁 How promising does that sound? 😏

Anyway, there's five things I'd like to tell you after probably talking so much:

1. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING Thank you for loving me when I least deserve it and even though you weren't so sure about me. Thank you for all the little things like opening the doors, ordering the food for me and sometimes even paying for it, holding my hand when we walk, staying up just to be able to talk to me though it means going to school sleepless, bringing my bag despite knowing the fact that it is heavy, for allowing me to be a total taker at times. Thank you for staying even when you almost want to leave due to my mistakes and wrongdoings. Thank you for keeping up with my moodswings, negligence, and over-acting attitude as well as my extreme reactions. Thank you for trusting confidential things to me. And though I can't thank you for being responsible because you never were, thank you for trying to catch up and make up. You will not always succeed in winning but thank you for trying.

2. SORRY FOR ALL MY FLAWS, MISTAKES, SECRETS, AND IMPERFECTIONS I really do apologize for keeping things from you - my problems. I know I should trust you with everything even my problems. But I’m scared you’d leave me if you’d know it all. Sorry for giving you a hard time since the beginning. Sorry for all the mistakes I've done both small and big, both done intentionally or unintentional, for simply everything.

3. I LOVE YOU I love you and I will fail to show you everyday, but I do. I love you so much and I love you more than I've ever loved anyone before. If my ex would still be around and ask me back and I have you? I wouldn't for a second have doubts on choosing you. I will choose you everyday. Everyday that you disappoint and lie to me. Everyday that you give me happiness. I will choose you everyday. And you will choose me (I hope). I love you so much that no enough words from the english vocabulary could ever comprehend just how much. It's just way beyond words. Way beyond measure. I love you and I forever will.

4. DO NOT CHANGE BUT COMPROMISE I wouldn't ask you to change. No, I wouldn't. But please, learn how to compromise. Not just with me but with everyone. A lot of people loves you. I cannot say I'm on top of the list but a lot do, including me. I know deep within you, you have a heart that longs to love and to be heard. But love be gets love. And for you to be heard, you have to listen as well. Karma is just around the corner. You reap what you sow. Give out love even when there's nothing left of you. Give out love despite being hurt a lot of times. Give out love so the world would have more of it and you'd be surprised about how much would come back to you. I know you can. I believe you can.

5. STOP WITH THE LIES, SECRETS, AND NEGATIVE SURPRISES Be as transparent as transparent could ever be. Be like a bulletproof glass. Everyone can see right through you but no one can shoot you. Be transparent but not vulnerable. Be as strong as steel. But be as soft as cotton. A truthful life is the best life.

We'll have a lot of time to do the adjustment. If it is hard now, I swear it will be harder in months and years to come. I'm sorry for the shortcomings. I'm sorry. I promise to love you better or at the very least try to love you better. ☺😙

Cheers to more days, weeks, months, and years to come for the two of us. I love you and I'm loving you more every single day. I miss you. 😔

With so much love, Erika Marie H. Fuentespina a.k.a Aiko 🐶

PS Everything will change gradually but we can adjust to it altogether. Let's start a casual type of relationship. Lesser korny-moments and more of inspiring and supporting each other. We're on our learning stage and in no time and we should learn how to handle things na hindi lang puro pabebe ang alam. Kaya lang naman natin yun, right? I love you! 💋❤

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