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sondepoch · 5 years ago

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A Sleepover of the Ages (Simeon x Reader x Asmodeus)

When Diavolo's retreat gets extended, you want to relive your favorite human tradition: a sleepover! But you quickly learn that there's a difference between a human sleepover and one with an angel and a demon. Still, that won't stop you from enjoying the night with these two precious boys.

~Oneshot

MASTERLIST

Three days and two nights.

That's how long this retreat was supposed to be.

And you've (miraculously) managed to survive three days and two nights. So why is it that you're still in Diavolo's castle?!

"I can't believe the retreat got extended," Asmodeus murmurs, groaning. "I would have brought even more luggage if I'd known this would happen!"

"Don't worry too much," Simeon responds with a light smile as he opens the door to your room. He pulls it open and sighs at the bareness of it. Each of you have already packed up and prepared to leave, but it seems that you'll all be needing to unload your things once more. "At least, Lucifer will be making sure that there won't be any other pillow fights."

You let out a light laugh at that, remembering the Avatar of Pride's hour-long assault from the night before. It had resulted in everyone collapsing on the floor somewhere or the other, knocked out by one of his many pillow throws of death. Even Solomon's protective spells ended up useless, the white-haired mage just another body on the floor after Lucifer's anger was unleashed. (Though you suspect that the elder demon was also doing it to have fun.)

But this retreat hasn't been all that bad.

You've managed to secure another pact altogether, with Asmodeus—but now that you'll be spending an entire night in the same room as him, you can't help but think that it might end up being a curse in disguise.

"Hey, MC~" He coos, using his demonlike strength to pull you into his bed. "Now that Mammon isn't here to disturb us, how would you like to sleep with me?" You feel your face heat up at the words. The demon made it sound innocent enough, as if all you'd be doing was sharing a bed, but you can already tell that his intentions are far from pure.

"Asmodeus, don't disturb MC." Simeon's disapproving gaze flits over the demon as he pulls you from his grasp, and you're forced to remember that while demons are of unimaginable strength, angels seem to also share in those superhuman qualities. You have to avert your eyes from Simeon's toned muscles when he unclasps the white cloak around his shoulders.

"Oh my~" Asmodeus teases, at Simeon's side in an instant. "Is this what you've been hiding from us these past three days?"

Asmodeus wraps Simeon in a strange embrace from behind, not hugging the angel as much as he's feeling up his muscles. "Don't worry, I could treat you instead."

"Asmo, stop flirting with him," You murmur, flopping onto your bed. You toss a glance toward your luggage which Barbatos had magicked back up here before turning your gaze away. Nope. You're not going through the hassle of unpacking all over again.

"Thank you, MC," Simeon murmurs with a sigh, his usual smile back on his face. He flashes you a look-what-we-have-to-deal-with look, and you can't help but wonder how he manages to stay in such good nature all the time, especially when he's constantly in the presence of his natural enemies. "Anyway, I was planning on sleeping now. This whole retreat has been rather exhausting, wouldn't you agree?"

"Wait!" You murmur, startling the two men. You let an eager smile spread across your face, silently praying that your human charms will be able to convince them of what you're about to suggest. "Why don't we all stay up?"

"Oh~?" Asmodeus coos, clapping his hands together. "A three-way! I didn't know you were confident enough to take us both at once, but if you're up to it then—"

"I don't think that's what MC was trying to imply." Simeon shakes his head and you can't help but think that he's like a chaperone for Asmodeus. He turns to you. "We should stay up doing what?"

"Just stay up! We do it all the time in the human world!" You let your smile widen, memories of your time with friends in the human world flashing through your mind. "It's called a sleepover! If you have a few friends gathered together and you're all supposed to be sleeping in the same room, you just stay up the whole night and watch movies or talk and have fun and stuff. They're awesome!"

Simeon brings a gloved hand up to his face, considering the idea. "I suppose Diavolo's objective with this retreat was to bring the three realms closer together. Trying this human tradition may not be such a bad idea."

Next to him, though, Asmodeus pouts. "Ehh? But if I don't sleep my face will be all puffy in the morning!" He brings two hands to his cheeks, feeling his soft skin. "And my skin is already suffering from Lucifer's pillow attack last night..."

"Nope!" You jump off the bed, suddenly refreshed. When you proposed the idea of a sleepover, you were really only trying to get Simeon to agree. With his consent, you have no hesitations about forcing Asmodeus to play along irrespective of how the demon feels about it. "You're staying up! It's decided! We're having a sleepover!"

You clap your hands eagerly, and the two men in front of you seem to let go of their final doubts after seeing how happy it makes you.

"So how does this 'sleepover' begin? A traditional ritual? A prayer for a fulfilling night? A sacred chant?" Simeon's gaze is serious, and you have to stifle your laughter.

"Um, most of the sleepovers I've been to have started off as a pool party. But that doesn't matter!" You pinch the fabric of the bed you've spent the past two nights sleeping on. It's a bit on the thicker side, but it should work. "Let's start by building a fort!"

You started off eager, beyond optimistic about the idea of having a sleepover when you haven't had one since leaving the human world...but you quickly find that there are some differences between your normal human friends, and the demon and angel sitting in front of you.

"A fort? You want us to cast a fortification?" Simeon asks with concerned eyes, uncertainty creeping in. He glances around the bedroom, wondering how you plan to turn it into a protected stronghold.

It takes all your power not to facepalm then and there.

At Asmodeus's next words, you can only stare in disbelief. "No! MC means a military fort! It'll be tough, but we should be able to transform these walls with some high-level sorcery."

After you manage to explain that what you meant was a blanket fort, though, both Simeon and Asmodeus end up being shockingly helpful. Apparently, living for thousands of years gives you a pretty deep understanding of how to manipulate fabrics, and within minutes the two of them have suspended your bed-sheet in the air, somehow managing to tie the four corners to the three bedposts that are closest to the center of the room.

From there on, you all work together to double up two quilts on the ground as a makeshift carpet, and after the skeleton of the blanket fort is completed, everything becomes about the aesthetic.

You and Simeon creep around on your knees inside the fort, straightening out corners and tightening knots that need to be tightened. Outside, Asmodeus dances around, tossing additional blankets on top of the fort to create velvety walls to the structure. He spends nearly five whole minutes fiddling with the two blankets closest to the door, attempting to get them to match the shape of an opening curtain before you finally pull him inside.

"This is perfect!" You exclaim as you gaze around the fort. The bedposts that support the blanketed ceiling are fairly high up, so you're able to lean your back against the bedframe and sit upright with no problems. Simeon, on the other hand, is struggling.

"It's...low," He murmurs, craning his neck down. He keeps a hand on top of his head, earnestly trying his best not to disturb the ceiling of this fort, but you can tell that it's a struggle.

"No problem!" Asmodeus exclaims, extending a hand outward. He's more energetic than usual, which is surprising, given how mopey he originally was about the idea of staying up the whole night. He closes his hand into a fist and instantly, the entire fort begins to glow a faint purple, a mirror of the magenta hue radiating off Asmodeus's body.

You glance at Simeon, wondering whether the angel is as concerned over Asmodeus's actions as you are, but he seems nonchalant as the demon continues casting his magic.

And after the spell is complete, you understand why.

"Woah!" You exclaim, glancing around wildly. "I had no clue you could do that! Why didn't you tell me? This blanket fort looks amazing now!"

You glance upward, unable to even close your mouth in awe of how brilliant the fort looks. In truth, the fact that the three of you had managed to erect a ceiling for the fort already put it above all the blanket forts you'd built with your human friends, but this? Asmodeus's spell completely reworked all the blankets in the fortress: the fabrics move on their own, straightening and reknotting themselves until the structure has completely shifted. For starters, the ceiling is now a dome, the topmost part of the blanket knotted around the chandelier in your quarters. And the way the rest of the quilts draped down from the top truly makes your fort look like a princess's room, the most brilliant fort you've ever seen.

"A job well done, Asmodeus," Simeon compliments, now able to sit upright.

"Call me Asmo," The demon says with a wink. Asmodeus—or Asmo, rather—then turns his gaze to you, where you still have your mouth dropped open in awe of how beautiful this whole setup is. "Oh my, MC~ You certainly seem impressed. If you want, I have something even more remarkable in my pants that I could show you. I'm sure you'd love it~"

Yep.

Moment ruined.

Congrats, Asmo.

You flash the demon a dirty look, but even you can't hold up the facade for long before your frown turns into a laugh. You flop down on the soft floor, spreading your limbs out like a starfish while Simeon stretches next to you. "This is the best fort I've ever seen."

"I'm glad. This was...surprisingly fun, given that all we did was rearrange blankets." Simeon ruffles your hair, his smile bright as he gazes down at you. "What's next on the sleepover agenda?"

"Ehhhh?" You let your mouth drop in mock disbelief, ignoring how much your whine sounds like Asmo's. "You don't want to savor how awesome this is? Lie down on your back! It feels so good to appreciate all our hard work!" You pat the empty spaces next to you, inviting both Simeon and Asmo to lean back with you.

You know that they're only doing it to humor you, but they finally lean back by your side. "Oh," Simeon murmurs softly when his back presses into the ground. Asmo makes a similar sound, and you can't help but smile.

It's something you've done in every sleepover.

People always live such rushed lives. Even in their relaxation, it's hard to fully lie back and just chill, which is why you always make your friends do this. It doesn't even matter if the blanket fort attempted was successful or not—there's something about just leaning back and looking up, letting every muscle in your body loose and simply bathing in repose, that nothing else can replicate.

And while your human friends didn't always appreciate it, the sounds of contentment coming from Asmo and Simeon are more than enough to tell you that they understand you.

They get it.

"I could stay like this for the rest of the night," Asmo murmurs with a content sigh.

"Do that and you'll fall asleep," You respond. "And that breaks rule number three of all sleepovers!"

"Rule number three?" Simeon asks. "There are rules to sleepovers?"

"Of course," You stretch your hand up above your hand, shifting it with one eye closed until your palm is centered in the blanket fort's dome. You extend one finger up. "Rule number one: What happens in a sleepover stays in a sleepover."

Next to you, you hear Asmo smirk at that rule. You can already hear the flirtatious comment on his tongue before you raise a second finger and continue, not even giving the demon a chance. "Rule number two: No secrets! Whether you're playing truth-or-dare or FMK, you have to be completely honest! And you don't need to worry about any secrets getting out, because rule number one prevents that!"

"What's truth-or-dare?"

"And what's FMK?"

"Um...on second thought, it's best not to play either of those games when Asmo is here." You chuckle lightly, holding back a shudder at all the lewd innuendos that he would throw your way if you were to introduce either game to him. "And the third rule, the last rule, is to stay up as late as possible! That means no sleep!"

"Eh?" Asmo whines. "But it's called a sleep-over!"

You let your hand drop to the blanket you're on top of.

"Hm," Simeon says, thinking out loud. "So how do we bind ourselves to these rules? Do you swear on your lives? Or perform rituals? Or is it just that you're subject to God's wrath if you fail to properly adhere to them?"

You twist your head to the left, staring straight into Simeon's emerald eyes at his question. He's not serious, is he?

And as usual, Asmo somehow manages to top his comment, suggesting something even more outrageous.

"Oh, you angels are so uncreative. Humans obviously make blood pacts."

You sigh helplessly, unable to do anything but shake your head at the ridiculous propositions tossed forth by Simeon and Asmo as they continue to debate how humans ensure that these rules are followed through with, each idea worse and more unrealistic than the last.

"It's an honor system," You finally say, when their debate comes to a standstill. "A sleepover is all about trust. Trusting the people you're spending the night with, and letting them see a new side to you, no matter how vulnerable. You just have to trust that everyone will stay true to the rules."

"I had no clue you trusted us so much~" Asmo teases, rolling over so that he's on his side and staring straight at you. He tilts your chin up toward him and leans in dangerously close. "Is it truly wise to trust a demon?"

You stiffen.

Asmodeus's eyes are bright with the fire of his namesake. Lust, his eyes spell out as he looks at you, gaze unwavering with that devilish smirk on his face.

You're frozen. And as Asmo's lips draw closer, you feel a smidgen of fear seep in.

Simeon is the one to snap you both out of it, placing a tender hand on your shoulder and a more admonishing squeeze on Asmo's. It's subtle, but the protective gesture means more than words can say.

Next to you, Asmo laughs, sitting up to face Simeon. "You two are no fun~" He teases, the normal flirtatious grin back on his face.

Simeon sighs for the umpteenth time. It suddenly dawns on you that it was no coincidence that Diavolo placed you in the same room as a demon and an angel. There's no doubt that Solomon can hold his own against his roommates, but Simeon's purpose here isn't just to rest in the same room. He's here to protect you, the only other human in the entire Devildom. So that his angelic qualities can negate whatever demonic attributes Asmodeus may have brought with him into the room.

But still, your words from barely thirty seconds ago flash through your mind.

A sleepover is all about trust. Trusting the people you're spending the night with.

You drag your hand forward, hesitating for a moment before you place it on top of Asmo's. His hand is larger than yours, but you give it a squeeze. "I do trust you, Asmo." You flash him a smile and turn toward Simeon, lacing your fingers with his when his palm is under yours. "And I trust you, too."

Your smile is dazzling as you grin at them, all fears of angel and demon alike vanishing. That alone is enough to melt all the tension in the room, and within seconds both of the men and your sides are relaxed once more.

"What's next, hm?" Simeon asks. He'd started out hesitant about this whole idea, but he now seems eager to see what plans you have in store for them.

"We should tell scary stories to each other and cuddle up when one of us gets scared~" Asmo exclaims with a chuckle. He says it as a joke, but his guess is spot-on.

"Actually, Asmo's right."

"Whoa! Does that mean you'll reward me, MC~"

"No, Asmo." You smack Asmo's arm before he can protest, giving it a gentle whack to tell him to tone it down. Given that he's one of the strongest demons in the entire Devildom, you probably had no reason to hold back on him, but your more docile instincts from being surrounded by non-indestructible humans always prevail. "But you can start us off!"

You flash the demon an expectant grin, pulling yourself into a seated position. In truth, you have high hopes for this story. Back in your days in the human world, the scary stories used to be your favorite part of every sleepover—but none of the tales ever really measured up. (Except for that one time your best friend read off a horror story about clowns and your other friend then barged into the room in full horror-clown makeup, laughing like a maniac. Yeah, that was terrifying. Short-lived, but utterly terrifying.)

"Get ready to be scared," Asmo warns as he lets his body glow purple again while he casts another spell, and when the purple light has faded it's so dark that you can't even see Simeon's face. You wrap your hand around his, the eagerness you were feeling one second ago now turned into a queer mix of both dread and excitement.

A horror story from a real demon. That's the dream, isn't it?

And so Asmo begins.

And so Asmo also fails.

By the time he's complete, you're left more confused than anything else.

"Asmo...what was the scary part?" Simeon asks, voicing your every thought. You think back to the plot of the story Asmo just shared, from the beginning where there was only the princess in the castle guarded by the dragon to the end, where she and the prince who saved her lived happily ever after, and the middle which was mostly about her falling in love.

"Yeah," You agree with Simeon after another moment's deliberation. "Was the fight scene between the dragon and the prince supposed to be the 'horror' part?"

"Eh?" Asmo exclaims, using his magic to turn all the lights back on. He turns to you with his mouth wide open. "The entire story was terrifying! The dragon was the most handsome in the entire kingdom of dragons—he was protecting the princess! But then the prince came and saved her, and he wasn't even super attractive. And the princess chose the average prince over the beautiful dragon just because she was raised to believe that the dragon was a monster! How terrifying is that?"

You stare at Asmo in disbelief. A part of you should have expected this from the demon; it might have been scarier if he'd actually come out with a true horror story.

"Oh, Asmo. Did you find this story scary because you're afraid that you'll be the dragon and that some prince will steal the princess MC away?" Simeon murmurs with a twinkle in his eye, a slight smirk on his face. "Oh my, does that make me the prince?"

For the first time, you see Simeon teasing and Asmo sulking as the latter pouts and crosses his arms. "Dragons are cooler! Right, MC? Aren't demons better than angels?"

You smile, pressing a quick kiss to the cheeks of both Asmo and Simeon. You had hesitated before doing it, but the look of surprise and wild blush on their faces makes it worth it.

"They're equally cool. Now, Simeon! Your turn!"

You and Asmo give the angel a moment to collect his thoughts before he takes his turn to regale you with a brilliant story. To his credit, he really tries to include horror. You can tell by his use of the "evil clown" and "omniscient witch" that he's trying his best. Unfortunately, his angelic spin on the entire plot makes the story sound like a kid's movie.

Impressive, but not quite what you're looking for.

"That...wasn't scary, was it?" Simeon drops his head when he's done. You pat him on the shoulder, comforting him by saying 'at least it wasn't like Asmo's' and then it's your turn.

And if there's one thing you're good at, it's telling horror stories.

It takes you a moment to pick one, but you finally settle on the tale of Bloody Mary.

By the time you finish, ending with an ominous warning about mirrors (more directed to Asmo then anything else) you're satisfied, and you can feel how stiff Simeon is. The uncomfortable look on his face lets you know that you did a good job with your telling, but you can't help but feel a pang in your heart when he quietly asks why you had to make it so scary.

But if your horror story was bad, Asmo makes it even worse.

"Hey, guys..." He trails off, and for the first time, you hear what must be Asmo's completely serious voice. You and Simeon look at each other worriedly, probably wondering the same thing. Did we break Asmo? But the demon's next words are truly chilling. "The human tale of Bloody Mary is true. She's a demon. I met her four thousand years ago. And...I think we should summon her."

Asmo pulls out a mirror—you momentarily wonder how he managed to pull one out so quickly before realizing that this is the narcissistic Asmo himself—and he begins to recite a demonic chant.

In seconds, you and Simeon are wrapped in each other's arms in a meek sort of protection, screaming together and at Asmo to stop and not summon the terrifying woman you just spent the past half hour depicting as the scariest entity in the world, before Asmo finally drops the mirror.

The pin-drop silence that follows is deafening, and you cling to Simeon tighter, quietly thinking that if Bloody Mary really does appear, then you'll sacrifice both men in the room and make a run for Lucifer's quarters before anything can happen to you.

But Asmo is the one to break the silence.

"Just kidding~"

Cue the next round of screaming.

You and Simeon team up to throw every pillow in sight at the demon, snatching them back as soon as they hit him to leave him with nothing to defend himself. "Ah!" Asmo exclaims, covering his face. "Not my face!" You suddenly wish for Lucifer, furious at Asmo for being such a little devil. You were actually scared for a moment there.

"Enough, enough!" Asmo groans out after what feels like an eternity of whacking him with feather-stuffed pillows. He breathlessly crawls next to Simeon and leans his back on one of the only spots in the entire blanket fort with a bed. "If I'd known you two were such scaredy-cats, I would have been a little less convincing," He murmurs with a wink, snuggling up against Simeon. "But this angel here looks so cute when he's scared~"

Simeon makes no motion to shake Asmo off, only leaning back on the bedpost.

"What time is it?" He asks with a yawn, and you can tell that the sudden exercise of assaulting Asmo via pillows tired him out.

You check your D.D.D. and are surprised to find that it's already well past four in the morning, telling him as much.

"But we can sleep now if you like," You murmur when a wave of drowsiness hits you. Like it's contagious, you can tell that even Asmo seems tired.

"B-but rule three!" Simeon exclaims, surprised.

"Rules are meant to be broken," You smirk, stretching yourself out across Asmo and Simeon. All the pillows in the room have been tossed to the corners of the room courtesy of Asmo, so these two boys' laps would have to suffice for your slumber. "That's why we don't have any stupid blood oaths to bind ourselves to them. Humans need sleep, hm?" Your words tumble out in more of a mumble than anything else, and you can feel the smile on Simeon's and Asmo's faces as they watch you drift off in their laps.

Vaguely, you hear them continue to talk. For how long? You can't be sure. But by the end of the hour, the room is dark and silent once more, the three of you separated only by the thin veil of dreams.

***

"I'm sorry, Diavolo," Lucifer mumbles in a huff, crossing his arms. The demon is worked up, Diavolo can tell, but he's unsure of how to comfort his friend so he simply lets Lucifer continue to rant. "All three of them were down on time these past three days, so I just assumed that they'd wake up on their own today as well."

"Do not fret, Lucifer!" Diavolo exclaims with a pleasant grin. His walk is brisk as he makes his way to the room where he knows you, Asmo, and Simeon are to be staying in, and he's almost excited to hear what excuse the three of you will throw his way.

In fact, that's the one thing he loves about the members of the House of Lamentations.

The seven brothers are each exotic in their own way, only Lucifer being responsible enough to give him full honesty and transparency. The other six are reliable, no doubt, but their methods are always entertaining.

Diavolo opens the door with a master key, entering the room with Lucifer hot on his heels. But the sight that greets him is beyond strange.

"What did they do?" Lucifer asks. Diavolo can sense his anger, and a small part of it finds it amusing. Truly. Lucifer's anger exists for my lack thereof.

He glances around the room, wondering how much time it took to do all this tampering. Every single blanket in the room has been stripped off the bed, likely stuffed inside the large dome-like structure (which, in turn, is also made of blankets) in the center of the room.

"Why, they've created their own castle in my castle," Diavolo jokes, pulling back the makeshift curtain that forms the entrance. He's about to enter when his eyes catch sight of the three people he's been looking for.

Next to him, Lucifer's breath catches in his throat.

For the first time in four hundred years, both men are stunned into silence.

All three of you are sleeping on top of one another, the first union Diavolo has ever seen of the human world, Celestial Realm, and Devildom.

"What are they..." Lucifer mumbles, but Diavolo places a quick finger to his lips. He doesn't want to disturb this.

His eyes skit over the three of you, taking in the image so that he can perhaps describe it to a demon painter. It's...truly inspiring.

For the first time, demon and angel are slumbering together in peace, with both Simeon and Asmodeus sleeping in upright seating positions. Their backs are pressed against the bed, and while Simeon rests his head against the pillar in what seems like a somewhat uncomfortable position, Asmo has made himself cozy, resting his head delicately on Simeon's shoulder with a hand wrapped around the angel's muscular arm.

You, on the other hand, must have been reluctant to sleep sitting up. You lie on the floor, lower body stretched out with Simeon's white cloak draped across your legs, upper body thrown across Asmo's lap. Your head rests on Simeon's upper thigh, arms wrapped around his waist while you bury your head in his stomach in what looks like an awfully human, childlike pose.

And the two men both have their arms resting on your body, one of Simeon's gloved hands nestled in your (h/c) locks with Asmo's free arm tossed over your body in a quiet pull to get you closer to him.

It's a sleepover of the ages: the first of its kind in thousands of years.

All of you rest with smiles on your faces, and the way Diavolo's face brightens up at the sight of you is enough for anyone to know that this is what he's been seeking in his journey to unite the three realms.

The future ruler of the Devildom pulls Lucifer out of the room, giving the younger demon no chance to disturb the three of you in what Diavolo hopes is the first of many more nights of happiness and union.

I'll extend the retreat even longer! He thinks joyously, a grin spreading across his features as he recalls the sight of the three of you once more.

It's the first time that a demon, an angel, and a human have all been so content with one another. The first time that a demon, an angel, and a human have been comfortable with each other enough to sleep without any protections. The first time that a demon, an angel, and a human have placed enough trust in each other to slumber so vulnerably.

Diavolo grins.

His plan to unite the three great realms of the world has finally begun to piece together.

The content, trusting smiles on your faces as you, Simeon, and Asmodeus slumber are Diavolo's testimony to that fact.

MASTERLIST

Word count: 5.1k

Notes: If you guys are interested, I might consider adding a second chapter that's a bit more adult, but for now ill leave this as just some wholesome fluff~ aghhh Simeon is too precious x3 ALSO YEY IVE FINALLY ENTERED THE OBEY ME FANDOM

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I do not own the rights to Obey Me! or any of the characters within it.

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ppatpranss · 4 years ago

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GAYA SA PELIKULA EP. 02 Review: Let’s talk about that dinner scene.

“May nahanap ka na bang mauuwian?”

I always have this kind of fear over a series that I already liked in the first episode: a fear that the second one will not live up to it, and so will the rest. But Gaya Sa Pelikula on its second episode did not disappoint, and instead set a whole new pace that further strengthens the story it wants to tell. In this episode, you get easy banters, hilarious make-believe and intriguing fantasies, heartwarming softness, a piercing tension at every turn, that very subtle buildup of romance, and of course, that wonderful conversation on the dining table.

Early warning that I have been gushing about the dinner scene since last night, so it will take up a lot of space in this review/discussion.

[WATCH EPISODE 02 HERE]

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What sets Gaya apart

Every time I watch an episode of this show and would rewatch it, I am always overwhelmed with the amount of observations I am able to write down. There are a lot of elements that make this such a good watching experience, and all of those elements just naturally come together. By this, I mean that it does not rely solely on, say, just directing or writing or acting. All of these come together, and I appreciate that you can clearly see how well-thought out everything is.

Episode 02 is a lot more free-flowing and non-structured in my opinion. Transitions feel a lot smoother this time compared to the more scene-after-scene approach of the (no less incredible) pilot episode. Because of this, I actually feel like this point is the real beginning of the story – that this sets the tone for a lot of the future events that could possibly happen between Karl and Vlad, and the people in their lives.

Personally, this is what sets Gaya apart not just among the BL series, but also in Philippine TV in general. For the longest time, we got used to stagnant or repetitive conflicts. Sometimes all the drama are injected to overwhelm the audience. But this one takes its time well. This is a show that wants to bring its audience along its every journey.

Parallels, heartbreaks, buildups

The opening scene picks up where we left off, with Ate Judit now writing a check for Karl’s rent because Vlad will stay over. She reminds Karl that while she’s a cool sister, she won’t stand for her brother getting hurt again. With this, she specifically mentioned “a boy too sweet to swat a fly” who broke his brother’s heart before.

First of all, I’m getting a sudden whiplash whenever this is brought up because I know exactly who it is. Given the first encounter of Karl with Vlad, where he saw him drunkenly dancing to a song about intense heartbreak (again, stream tyl by kakie!), it must have been something truly painful. It doesn’t help as well that there is an obvious parallel going on here with the fact that the description also fits Karl. At one point, Vlad also tells him that he does not need to worry because he looks like someone who does not have a power to hurt him anyway. They are really setting us up as early as now for the heartache, no?

In the same way, I appreciate how this show inserts the sexual attraction also forming between the two of them. Sexual attraction is a part of romance. Gaya normalizes it and emphasizes that it is just natural. The couch scene was particularly genius because of the double meanings of Karl and Vlad’s exchange. But more than that, I like how it also unapologetically shows the physical component of that attraction by having Karl and Vlad sit close together. Vlad even has his arm around Karl. Even the fact that Karl stared at Vlad when he got out of the bathroom was a nice touch.

While the One More Chance dream fantasy was all sorts of hilarious and sexy, it is a testament to how Karl’s subconscious is already telling him something that he keeps on denying. I also like the nice touch there when Karl woke up, he was just disoriented that he had a dirty dream, but not disgusted by it (there are some series and dramas that do this). He is attracted to Vlad. However, for Karl to accept his feelings, it also means that he needs to accept his sexuality. A point which was discussed primarily in the scene before this – the conversation at the dining table.

The phenomenal dinner scene

I wish I am able to give justice to this scene through words, and I’ll try because we need to talk about it (or I need to talk about it). As a fan of films and TV series, I feel like conversations are the most difficult to bring to the surface. You need to keep the audience’s attention while also making sure that the depth is there. For me, what I always look for in conversation scenes are three things: (1) how normal these conversations would sound like as if you are overhearing them from the table next to you; (2) how a director captures the rawness of the exchange between the two actors; and (3) how natural would the delivery be of each line. I think the third point is very important. Some actors have this tendency to talk in a certain kind of perky tone that makes it sound superficial. Thank goodness, both Ian and Pao were really great in this scene.

Of course, the most well-known example for a good conversation scene is the entire Before trilogy – it remains the gold standard for exhibiting the power and the magic of conversations, of an entire film with just these two people talking and forming connections. While this dinner scene isn’t exactly a Before levels type of perfection, to me it was a perfect scene in the face of BL series and the Philippines TV landscape in general.

𝗚𝗮𝘆. 𝗕𝗮𝗸𝗹𝗮. 𝗕𝗮𝘆𝗼𝘁. 𝗕𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘁. 𝗜𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗲𝘂𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗺. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁.

One of the things best highlighted in this scene is when Karl did the gesture with his hand. That is unfortunately common in the Philippines, with people literally doing it to your face when they ask you. Or some of them done behind your back with matching giggling and knowing looks. I should know because I’ve seen it among my relatives when they try to refer to or describe a cousin or an uncle who is gay or might be gay. Karl was conditioned to think this way, and it’s no surprise that he would struggle to ask the question and get the word out. Meanwhile, Vlad is confident in his own skin. He doesn’t miss a beat and tries to get Karl to say the words in a way that both lectures him and encourages him.

This is what makes the scene purely amazing. It is confrontational, but it is not dramatic. It isn’t even preachy at all. It’s just a seemingly ordinary conversation between two people over a meal, trying to get to know and understand each other. You really got to hand it to Severo for constructing a dialogue this way because it also brings out both of Karl and Vlad’s current disposition. Moreover, this topic is a big deal and there are a lot of conversations that need to be had around it. But this scene easily summed it up around that one simple gesture. In less than a minute, it was able to tell you that being called gay, bakla, bayot, bading is not an insult. No grand monologue was needed.

Aside from that iconic exchange, I also loved the second part of it. It’s not going around much on Twitter so I can see some people reacting to the earlier exchange as if Karl was really just insulting Vlad. But the deal here is, Karl is also in the process of unlearning his bias and conditioning. He grew up in a household where his Dad would take digs against his gay uncle, Tito Santi. There’s even a hint of Tito Santi being physically hurt by his father if he’s “babakla-bakla” (basically another insulting way of saying lalambot-lambot). You can just imagine how difficult it must have been for him to grow up and feel like he needs to follow a certain path that his parents see for him.

Hence, when confronted by Vlad with the question, “Ikaw ba, bakla ka?” he was defensive. His tone shot up much higher than normal and was almost panicked. You can literally feel all of his guard come up. Vlad asked him why he was acting like he just accused him of a crime, and to his credit, Karl immediately apologized. But again, I just really understand Karl and I can’t wait for him to really see himself and get to know himself. There is so much about him that I am interested to learn and for him to learn as well about himself. I always see him as like a kid learning to take his first steps – he stumbles but tries to stand again even for just the sake of himself. His many mess-ups in life make his character compelling… and I guess this is just me on my #ProtectKarlAgenda.

Interestingly, as per Direk JP, above scene references an iconic scene from Jose Javier Reyes’ 1993 rom-com film MAY MINAMAHAL which, coincidentally, I just watched last month when I found its restored version on iWant. Amazing as well that the specific scene of them having a meal together was really my favourite from the film because it was a turning point for Carlitos (Aga Muhlach) and Monica (Aiko Melendez). It was when they finally start to get to know each other because for the longest time, they would just flirt in the cafeteria. It was a fitting reference because for Karl and Vlad, they are already starting to get to know each other by sharing even a small part of themselves. I also find it adorable watching Karl watch Vlad messily eat his food. I live for those small soft moments because it just seems so pure and innocent.

All in all, the dinner scene truly delivered. It was iconic and powerful. Major props to Gege and Direk JP, but also to both Ian and Pao. I loved how Pao was able to capture Karl’s reluctance and embarrassment, and Ian just exudes the confidence you need to see in Vlad. How can I describe this connection? Magnetic, I guess? They can easily throw these lines at each other, sustain the tension, and kind of just get lost in it. At every turn, Vlad has the power in this scene as he tries to pull Karl towards him, but also Karl stands on his own ground despite being unsure. I appreciate that about Karl – his life can be a mess, but he never really loses his sense of self and principles.

Finding a home

Aside from everything that happened in this episode, one of the things that I definitely loved is its subtle hint of these two people finding a home in each other. The most striking line for me, really, was when Karl asked Vlad, may nahanap ka na bang mauuwian? I like that this can translate to have you found a place to stay in? and have you found a place to go home to? The episode had such a great run in double meanings, and this one takes the cake more than anything. Karl was starting to feel guilty about kicking out Vlad, and it also happens that over his phone call with Tito Santi, he told him to always find a way to repay kindness with paying it forward to another person or to the community. Luckily, Vlad went back to his apartment to use the restroom.

When Vlad was about to leave, Karl called him back and asked, “Nag-dinner ka na ba?”

Vlad stayed for dinner.

When Vlad was done with dinner and was about to leave again, Karl stopped him and said, “Dito ka na lang matulog.”

Vlad stayed the night.

When Vlad was about to leave to come live with his ex-boyfriend after cooking breakfast as a thank-you, Karl offered him a place to stay, “Will you be my housemate?”

Vlad said yes and stayed.

Epilogue

In today’s epilogue, Karl is still seated on his side of the couch, but Vlad this time was standing at the back of the other side, leaning forward. A stuffed whale occupies the space beside Karl. Every now and then, the two of them would look at each other but it is Karl who would often glance back at Vlad – as to what his eyes are telling him, I don’t know. But if I am allowed to guess, perhaps he was trying to get him to sit beside him? Perhaps, as the closing note goes, there is always a space for Vlad there.

Comments; Ramblings

It’s only the second episode but Gaya is already sparking conversations and it does it in such an engaging way for its many fans. For me, this one really sets the foundation for what is yet to come for the story of Karl and Vlad. If anything, this episode emphasizes that struggle will always be a part of queer love, at least in our current socio-political climate. It isn’t just in regard to identity, but also with everything that comes with the acceptance of who you are by yourself and the Other.

For the pilot episode discussion, I talked about how there seems to be a running theme in this show about seeing – of looking at yourself, the other, or a beloved. This episode shows us Karl seeing Vlad; closely and slowly starting to unravel what it was about him that compels him. For Vlad’s part, I’m pretty sure he’s starting to see who Karl is, too. I feel like him feeling comfortable enough with the idea of staying in Karl’s place and actually living with him over the sem break is an indication of strangely feeling at ease (home?) with someone he just met.

The concept of persons as homes takes me back to a post from a Facebook page called Bibliophile, which was lifted from a poem written by Warsan Shire called ‘For Women Who Are Difficult to Love’: “You can’t make homes out of human beings. Someone should have already told you that.” This episode made me think a lot about that. On one hand, it feels romantic and uplifting to know that you have someone you can call your home, someone you can always return to as Yiu-fai put it in HAPPY TOGETHER [1997]. On the other hand, it feels scary because people change and if today the door and the windows are open, it might not be the same the next day. But I suppose I can feel hopeful for both Karl and Vlad. Perhaps, the door to Karl’s apartment will always be open for Vlad and the space beside the couch will always be reserved for him.

Gaya Sa Pelikula airs new episodes every Friday 8PM (Manila time) on Globe Studios’ Youtube channel.

GAYA SA PELIKULA Ep 01 Review [x]

#gaya sa pelikula #like in the movies #pangpang #ian pangilinan #paolo pangilinan #pinoy bl #filipino web series #filipino bl #boys love #juan miguel severo #jp habac #gsp review #owned

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maxattack-powell · 4 years ago

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Top 5 male LI in Choices and why?? 😊

Yay! I get to gush about my boys 😁 thanks @carinacassiopeiae!

I think we all know what my first one is going to be 🤣 but I’ll put them all out there and play fair. Honestly, a lot of these are probably paired together for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place... no real 4th or 5th haha.

Top Five

1. Chris Powell

Why? TF was the first book I ever played in Choices and he was so sweet to MC when he first met (crashed into) her (“oh no, your outfit!” *runs to get napkins*)... I guess I fell for him haha. He wasn’t perfect at first, but he worked hard to right his wrongs and is very thoughtful/caring when it comes to his friends and family. He’s very understanding, tries ridiculously hard on things he attempts, and believes there is good in everyone. All of this reminds me of another great man, one Steve Rogers, aka Captain America. I love a loyal, honest Cap.

2. Ernest Sinclaire

Why? He’s basically Darcy lol. And I love me some Darcy. This poor guy has been burned, badly... though we don’t find out for quite some time. Which means his initial impression is rough, but when he starts to trust again and opens up, it’s breathtaking. I feel like he’s one of the best 180 character developments in Choices, because once you crack him open, he’s a completely different person. He’s so tender, so caring (the women/children!), so proud of MC and everything she does, so supportive, so devoted... *blissful sigh* He’s a sweet and proper Darcy man.

3. Adrian Raines

Why? Well, he’s an extremely complicated character. He was loving man and proud father, living a simple life and loving it... before he lost it all. Becoming a vampire changed that, but eventually he realized what he had become and hated it. So he worked hard to transform into a great man. He would sacrifice himself for the greater good if needed. He’s attentive, hyper aware, very smart and calculating, but most of all he wants to be good with a passion and that makes him honorable and trustworthy. I mean... Kamilah trusts him with her life - that says a lot.

4. Hayden Young/Damien Nazario

I know I typed two - but hear me out: I can’t choose between them, and here’s why...

Hayden - the way this man loves, and I mean MC, others and most importantly, life itself... is amazing. It’s indescribable. Sure, he’s not technically a biological man, but he has the heart and mind of one. A great one. Watching him experience life, more so after he gets woke, is a wonderful experience. It’s almost like seeing the world through the eyes of a child... so innocent, so pure. He understands just how fleeting life is, because he’s been fighting for his since he was first turned on. The pain in his eyes when he realizes he wasn’t a “real” man, but the way the fog vanishes from them once he learns to live and love again... it’s beautiful.

Damien - he’s just about Hayden’s polar opposite, but that’s only part of why I can’t choose between them. This man is real, like painfully real. He’s stubborn, he’s brutally honest, he’s blunt and to the point, but he also knows what’s right and he will die fighting for it. For them - because he knows how dark the world can be and he won’t let it get them if he can help it. But that’s what makes him so endearing, because he chooses to still let MC, Nadia and Hayden into his world despite all of that. Despite his frustrating past and failures. He knows what’s worth the risk, and he never gives up. Ever.

5. Liam Rys/Drake Walker

I know, another shared LI lol. I can’t choose because they are each ideal in different situations. Both are kinda perfect (to me) and here’s why...

Liam - he’s a prince for crying out loud. Disney has worked hard to make many little girls grow up wanting to be a princess. But besides all of that, the man is amazing. Being a political figure is difficult - but being a royal, yikes. Still, this man has such a level head, and talk about loyalty. He knew Leo wasn’t cut out for the job, but someone had to do it. He stepped up and sacrificed so his brother could be free, knowing what it would mean for his own life in return. Liam is loyal to a fault - to his country and it’s people, his family, his friends and of course (eventually) his love. Some of which never deserve it, but he gives it anyway. Look at how he cares for publicly sour people like Drake and Olivia - he can see the good in eveyone and he tries to be who others expect him to be while never losing who he really is inside. He’s fair, he’s just and he’s made of steel. He’s basically Superman.

Drake - in the beginning, this guy is salty, but he honestly has a few reasons to be. People can be rude, snobbish and down right shitty when they think someone isn’t worthy. But Liam could always see his true value, his true character just like Drake could see his. This man loves his best friend, and he knows the pressures Liam endures, so he sacrifices his own comforts, his own desires to stay close and be there for him. Whenever. Wherever. Dispite what others think of him. That is loyalty you can’t buy, and Liam knows it. Once you crack through Drake’s crusty shell, you are gifted with such a sweet and kind soul. He loves animals (horses yay!) and is ridiculously kind. He looks after MC even though he knows she’s supposed to be doing it for Liam - and even when he tells her he has feelings for her (or she tells him), he denies himself... because he loves Liam that much.

Honorable Mentions

Zig Ortega

I love this guy, and if it wasn’t for Chris, who kept me diamond broke and distracted with his blue eyes and cute smirk... Zig would have been a big contender. I feel like I still have so much to learn about him. I never gave him enough time because I was always guilty when I didn’t choose Chris lmao.

Ethan Ramsey

This man is an onion. Layers, upon layers, upon layers... I haven’t read through Open Heart many times, but I’m pretty sure I would fall for him pretty hard if so. He’s an interesting character, very intense while somehow incredibly soft. He just needs to be peeled...!

Logan NoName

One can assume he has no last name because he’s basically a runaway who got caught up in the auto theft world. It hasn’t been an easy life - he has scars, both physical and emotional, and they run deep. He’s good at this life, but it’s because he had to be. And he loves his crew, but that’s because it’s the only family hes truly ever known. He deserves so much more.

Flynn O’Malley

This guy is a pitbull. He fights for what’s right, and never lets go. He’s also very sweet, and insanely loyal. He’s also pretty sassy and I love his “John Bender” attitude haha. I’ve always been sad we only got to see him and the Veil of Secrets crew for one book...

Jax Matsuo

This guy is old school, in every way. If tradition had a picture next to it in the dictionary, you’d find one of Jax. He doesn’t forgive and forget easily, but I honestly don’t blame him. It’s hard to be cheerful when people are constantly trying to kill you off. Even so, he stands up for what’s right, he stands up for “the little guy” even if he doesn’t know them. He is justice.

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mrneighbourlove · 5 years ago

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The Mask over the Man. The Demon over the Beast. Majora over Ganon.

I love both these villains. The N64 was my first console I delved deep into, and Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask introduced me to two of my favourite villains in gaming. Today though, I want to delve into why I see one of these characters as the superior ‘villain’. Just my opinion, but I hope to share my case strongly and passionately. I’ll go over each character, than why I believe that one reigns over the other, even if ever so slightly.

Ganon

The King of Evil. The King of Darkness. And the Great Calamity of Hyrule. I love the pig demon. His constant presence in the Legend of Zelda series cannot be ignored. Gameplay wise, he can be so much fun to fight against in the final battle for the sake of the world. Doesn’t matter if you fight him as a wolf, if he’s a wizard, or just a mighty beast. Story wise is where a have a slip with him. Ganon set the standard for me in the ‘Dark Lord’ archetype, however, he can sometimes feel simplistic in that regard, simply wishing to conquer the world. And as the beast, barring perhaps Link to the Past, he lacks any real character. It’s also unfortunate that most of the time you meet him, you defeat him immediately afterwards. The best he’s ever been as a threat to me, was in Breath of the Wild.

Calamity Ganon

This is Ganon as almost a force of nature. No real conscious we can see, having thrown away any shell of a man for hatred and malice. What really makes this Ganon work, is the relationship you *rediscover* with the old champions, and feeling the heartache at knowing they’re dead. The fact that it festered in Hyrule for over a century, is highly impressive. But the biggest complaint people had (and why everyone is going crazy over the mummified corpse of MummyDorf) is that because Calamity Ganon was just pure hatred, we lacked the relationship of the three Triforce users seen in past games. Which leads me talking about the man, the legend, the best part of Ganon.

Ganondorf

Making Ganon into Ganondorf did wonders for the character. His goals became more relatable, because we as humans can relate with another human being, or at the very least, understand the goal. Hailing from the Gerudo desert, there are two Ganondorf’s that I want to pick out. The Wind Waker split, and the Twilight Princess split. In Ocarina of Time, Ganondorf is the best evil conquer he’s ever been, even without the long locks of Hyrule Warriors. He set out with a long purpose goal to take the Triforce and conquer the world. And he was the main focus as a villain. Ganondorf was also young, and brash. He had a flair, which made him a fantastic villain. He truly appeared to be the King of Evil. Upon his defeat, he gave a loud speech of getting revenge, very classic villain monologue. The next game we saw him was Wind Waker. I feel confident in saying that despite not seeing too much of him, this is the best Ganondorf becomes as a character. He’s far more relaxed in his evil plot. The man goes out of his way to make sure his kidnaped girls aren’t hurt, and when dealing with both Link and Zelda, he gets straight to the point with them, yet, he doesn’t kill them. And up until the end, he still has an air of menace when he wishes to be theatric, despite having more experience and wisdom. After the frightful Puppet Ganon fight, you learn why Ganondorf set out for power in the first place. His people suffered under the desert heat of day, and the icy cold nights. In his own words, the winds carried death. His desire for the Triforce was to bring back the old land of Hyrule. Despite what might have happened after he brought back the land, Ganondorf wanted to *restore* the old land of Hyrule from under the sea. That’s almost heroic. You emphasize with him. Which I argue diminished his villainous qualities in exchange for a more flushed out character. He only tries to kill Link and Zelda after his wish is denied and he snaps into insanity.

Then there’s Twilight Princess Ganondorf. A really cool Ganondorf. His design is awesome, I love his boss fights gameplay wise and musically, but this is one of the Ganon’s I’d place into the ‘cockblock’ section of Ganons. Real talk, I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned this, but I really like Zant as a villain. He was incredibly intimidating until you face him in the realm of Twilight. His relationship with Midna was interesting, and he carried a cool air not seen before. He was chill... until the very end into his sudden crazy decent. I feel that both Ganondorf and Zant suffer because of the formers sudden conclusion. Each character lost time in the game that could have been used to develop them more. Zant could have had more time to develop into madness as the final boss, or Ganondorf could have been established from the beginning, instead of being diet OOT Ganondorf. His evil goal of placing the world into Twilight didn’t have any drastic changes to the world either. Civilians didn’t even notice the danger they were in. At least OOT Ganon ruled Hyrule for 7 years, and Calamity Ganon was around for 100 years. When Ganondorf takes away time from other villains, it makes him a weaker villain as well. Which is why the Mask stood tall in such a unique story.

Majora

The entity of Majora’s Mask stands out to me as something insidious and inhuman. Unlike Ganondorf, you can’t identify with an unblinking Mask like you can a human being. It stands out as a villain that doesn’t need Ganon in its story or to take his form. The duel relationship with Skull Kid is interesting, as Skull Kid isn’t entirely innocent in his actions, but the transition Majora takes over Skull Kid makes you wonder who’s control until the very end. In my recent play through, I just discovered this, but in Day 1 or 2, the Skull Kid will do a little dance when you spot him in the telescope, and once you look back, he spanks his ass at you and jumps away. However, at Day 3, his head is sideways, looking at you, and constantly twitching, rooted to his spot. It’s like Majora is a drug to Skull Kid that has finally caught up. And that’s a terrible fate to think about.

What stands out to me the most about Majora over Ganon, is the stakes as a hero. First, looking at the world. Ganondorf ruled Hyrule for 7 years, yet villages like Kakariko are still around. The world hasn’t been ruined. Even with Calamity Ganon having been around for 100 years, he’s in a prison with Zelda, and civilization keeps ticking by. The moment you enter the world of Termina and you look to the sky, you can see Majora’s immediate tool of armageddon.

The Moon

This rock in the sky slowly falls to the Earth over a period of three days. The stakes are felt immediately. You either stop Majora from crashing the moon into Termina, or you burn with the rest of the world. Swept away by a wall of fire compered to an atomic bomb. If the ticking timer doesn’t remind you of your duty, the earthquakes on the third day, then looking to the sky will. Another peek of interest for me in the camp of villainy, is the people you meet along the way. The world of Termina is full of colourful characters that Link meets throughout his adventure. From Tatl to Pamela and her Father, you get heavily invested with them. And they all are aware of the danger of the moon. Almost all are directly or indirectly affected by the Skull Kid and the power of Majora that he immaturely wields. Mikau is killed by Gerudo pirates because they were influenced by Skull Kid to steal the Zora eggs. Areas such as the Woodfall Swamp, Snowhead mountains and Ikana Valley are cursed due to the Monsters Majora unleashes after sealing the giants away. Kafei is cursed into a child directly by Skull Kid and has his wedding mask stolen by a thief as a result. Cremina, god willing that you save her sister Romani from the “Ghosts”, drugs her sister with alcoholic milk so she sleeps through the destruction of the world. The acts of villainy Majora does ripple big and small. With Ganondorf and Ganon, you are given free room to take your time, you lose very little allies, and you have Zelda backing you up most of the time in a battle of destiny. With Majora, however, Zelda is no way involved, many people you meet die and suffer, some you can’t save even with rewinding time, and if you don’t stop the villain, he isn’t going to reshape the world, or control it in his own image, it’s going to destroy it. That is terrifying. Ganon has never truly terrified me. He’s just too human enough, and his villainous acts have never put me on edge. Unlike the champions of Breath of the Wild who you are avenging, the people of Termina are here and now, and that puts so much more tension on me.

Ganondorf is a great villain, but the inhuman characteristics of an entity that wanted to destroy all left a bigger impression on me. When you finally defeat Majora and save everyone you can correctly and within the time you’re given, including Skull Kid I might add, the credits feel so amazing because you truly saved the world, but more importantly, you saved the people that inhabit it. Defeating Ganon as a villain is a battle of destiny. Defeating Majora is a battle for everyone’s tomorrow.

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jjungkookiex · 5 years ago

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My review/thoughts on MOTS7!

This album blew me away in terms of the lyrics, sound composition, EVERYTHING in fact so I figured that I would write a little review of it! Listening to every past BTS album brings me acutely to a period of my life when it was first released so I’m curious to see what memories I’ll forever associate with MOTS7

Interlude: Shadow- From the moment the MV was dropped I was speechless by this masterpiece. It sets the tone for this album so incredibly well by setting up the parallels between fighting your shadows and being engulfed by them. This constant battle I feel is central to the album as a whole. The alternation between Yoongi’s whispered beginning of “I wanna be a rapstar” “I wanna be king” to the Agust D esque switch of flow at the end almost seems as though his shadow is talking back to him. It is as though he realises that he cannot escape it but must embrace it to emerge from it. And also his INSANE flow and fluidity of rap is just something else, this song was made for Suga.

Black Swan- This has got to be one of my favourite songs from the album, I was hooked by the dark, almost classical intrumentals paired with the urgency of the vocals and rap. I feel as though this is one of the most introspective songs the boys have ever written, with the analogy of the dancer’s first death working to illustrate how art is all consuming for the creator. The pulsing beat underneath the vocals and rap served as a reminder of how important it is for artists to have something that literally makes their heart beat. It’s rare when songs make you truly analyse not only the lyrics but your relation to them and Black Swan 100% did that for me.

Filter- This had me HOOKED from the first few strings and the smooth Latin beat made me imagine listening to this whist walking through a bustling city at sunset. Jimin’s vocal range and siren like vocals make this song alluring and addictive in a way that no other singer could have done. The lyrics are playful and confident yet simultaneously deep. Jimin realises how attractive his various sides are to millions around the world and he owns that, yet he’s also aware that what people see is mostly akin to a filter, not reality in itself.

My Time- I’m so proud of Jungkook for experimenting and creating different sounds for each of his solo tracks and My Time is no exception. His beautiful airy vocals echo and blend perfectly with the lowkey beat. The lyrics hit hard when you realise that Jungkook’ s time scale of life has been directly opposite to that of his peers. He’s grown up on airplanes while they took the subway and you get a sense of yearning from his voice, a yearning for maybe the childhood and things he missed out on. Yet there’s a sense of assertion, that he owns his time has been different and accepts his fate.

Louder than bombs- I 100% understand why Namjoon cried writing this song. It so perfectly encapsulates the sense of fear and desperation that arises from uncertainty in one’s position in life. Troye did such a great job helping the boys with this song because it sounds sonically like the pair of them together. Even though this song is one of the darker numbers on the album it is offset by the small hints of hope. Namjoon’s mantra that he’s going to “pray for better days” is so striking because often in life that’s all you can do when you’re breaking- hope that things will change and the majority of the time they do, so you need to keep that fire of hope alive in you.

ON- On is a certified bop and its so INTENSE with the drum beats in the beginning. This song is going to be amazing in concerts with its anthemic rhythm and the lyrics “bring the pain on” and “can’t hold me down cos I’m a fighter” are so empowering. I feel this song embraces the pain and hardship with the confidence of the rap and vocals coming together to say- bad things will happen but we’ll emerge stronger and surge ON.

UGH!- Even from the title I could tell that this queen was going to sit with her sisters Ddaeng and Cypher. I’m so incredibly proud of our rapline they SNAPPED, like the flow, the wordplay the artistry?? The gunshots immediately grabbed my attention and the build up the chorus which hits like a gut punch is EVERYTHING. The way they discuss anger is so pertinent, with the rise of social media people unleash their anger on whoever they choose whilst hiding behind a screen on anonymity. Anger, like they say, is necessary but only when it can be used as a motivator for justice. Petty cowardly anger, like that which is directed towards BTS, can only lead to pain and that is what our rapline so masterfully condemns.

Zero O Clock- This is my new healing song, the acoustic guitar and soothing vocals are like a warm hug. The chorus is so uplifting and assuring, just hearing the gentle refrain of “and you’re gonna be happy” is so comforting. This reminds me of curling up on a winter’s day and finding comfort in small things and happy memories regardless of the storm that rages outside. The way that BTS never tell you meaningless words like “don’t be sad”, instead they assure you that sadness will not last forever and that the metaphorical spring will brighten your life once more.

Inner Child- Tae’s solo track radiates innocence and I am so in love with it. The way that he accepts his past and the hard times he went through and instead of allowing himself to dwell on it, he looks to the future. The refrain “we gon change” is going to be so uplifting at concerts. Even though our boys bring us so much joy we have to remember they’ve been through so many trials in the past. It’s comforting to know that I’ve gone through struggles alongside him and we can both move on whilst still recognising that our scars are the reason we are here now and that they prove we are alive and capable of healing.

Friends- One of my favourites from this album hands down. This makes me so inexplicably happy. It reminds of walking home hands intertwined with your best friend after school, late night conversations and inside jokes that make you double over whilst still containing that deep and powerful love you share with your soulmate alone. And isn’t that just vmin encapsulated? I can’t wait to see they perform this live, the Stay! Hey! part makes me so nostalgic and makes me want to reassure them that they’ll always have each other and the cheers of us, their ARMY. The part where they acknowledge their relationship as soulmates made me BAWL, their bond is one of such purity and rarity and I’m honoured to even witness it.

Moon- Another one of my all time favourites from this album. This could be the soundtrack for a slice of life anime and it is so bright and cheery, like Jin himself. His sweet vocals and the beat fits the spring season so well and the lyrics made me so soft. The way he uses the metaphor of him being the moon and circling us, his precious earth made me realise even more how much his man ADORES us. How could anyone sleep on Jin?? He’s songwriting is so pure and his presence gives me such comfort and hope, you’re so much more than just a moon Jin. You’re our one and only moon.

Respect- Namgi you geniuses! The wordplay, playful banter and topic matter are so unique in this song that I knew that it could only be made for the two of them. Respect I feel at the foundation of all relationships, can you ever have a healthy and mutual relationship with anyone or thing if you don’t respect them? With their distinctive rap that blends and flows so well with each other Namgi discuss the concept of respect and what it really means in the modern world when people place a veneer over their actions and words so as to disguise whether or not they truly respect you. As artists all I feel Bangtan want is people to respect them, not idolise them, but respect their artistry and work and sadly in an world where people hold numerous prejudices this is hard. Kudos to them for exploring this topic in a way that is simultaneously light with the satori at the end but still very thought provoking.

We are Bulletproof: The Eternal- I was 100% expecting this song to be a hardcore hip hop track so imagine my surprise to find a song that made its way into my BTS songs I can’t listen to casually because they mean too much to me and will make me bawl in public tracklist. The gorgeously haunting melody, the angelic vocals and intensely emotional rap has me in tears. When they sing “We were only seven” and “But we have you all now” I lost it. The memories I have of BTS who were my second family for the majority of my youth, the times we spent together, the music that was the soundtrack to my life. The way they adore us and find comfort and hope from us... this song really made me believe that I’m going to love them forever and vice versa. It makes me less scared to go on the rollercoaster that is life knowing that I will always have Bangtan beside me.

Outro:Ego- I saw a post that said Namjoon looks up to his Persona, Yoongi’s Shadow looks down on him but Hobi is the only one who is at the same level as, and looks his Ego right in the eye. I feel this song is such a wonderful upbeat positive track that is so Hoseok?? The way that he accepts his fate and looks forward and is confident and happy in the person he is now? This is going to be amazing at all the summer concerts and it just radiates such joy and never fails to make me dance. The perfect ending to an album that chronicles the ups and downs of BTS’s relationship with their career and selves and ultimately ends on such a bright note of hope and happiness.

#MOTS7 review #bts

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katzuyas · 6 years ago

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dazzle me with gold

from the start | ao3 | previous part

"Can I be a little selfish today and ask you for something, my lord?" Yuuri questions once they're done with breakfast.

He's hesitant, but only at first, because as soon as the words fall off his tongue, Victor presents him with a smile that is both brilliant and adoring, as if he'd love nothing more than indulge Yuuri in his every wish. Yuuri cannot help it when mirroring excitement awakens inside him. It's Victor's charm that does it, makes him irresistible.

And as he shifts closer to Victor, presses their sides together, Yuuri feels incredibly lucky to be able to say what he does next.

"I don't want to share you with anyone," he confides in a soft whisper. "Just for the day. Please?"

Victor's smile mellows around the edges.

"Anything you ask for, my dear," he answers with no delay. "Simply say the word and it's yours."

"You spoil me, my Vitya." Yuuri's cheeks darken at the strange pleasure that settles in his chest when Victor turns his head slightly to rest a kiss high on his cheekbone. "Yet, somehow, I find it difficult to be upset with you over it."

"How fortunate I am to have a sweetheart as benevolent as you," Victor replies, eyes shining brightly. "What should we do today then? Go for a ride?"

"The weather seems nice, but I was thinking..."

"Yes? Go on," Victor encourages him when Yuuri pauses, caught by another uncertainty.

"You were brought up here in the manor, no?" Yuuri continues. And at Victor's nod, asks: "It's a huge place for a child, surely you had some hideouts. Do you remember any of them? Maybe some place where we could both fit and spend the day doing nothing?"

A pensive look overtakes Victor's features as he tries to remember and, once he does, his face lights up much akin to a child's. With such pure, innocent excitement as well, he takes Yuuri's hand and tugs him up to stand.

"Let's go," he says, and go they do.

Victor leads Yuuri around the house, pointing at all the nooks which Yuuri would've missed if he was all by himself.

There's the small space behind the windowsill in the hallway outside of the office, partially hidden by the heavy burgundy curtains. Victor tells Yuuri the story of how he used to hide there in wait for his tutor to pass at which he'd then jump out to scare the man. There's the pedestal atop the marble stairs on which a great golden armour stands. It is hollow inside and Victor explains how he crawled inside with Makkachin every time the both of them invoked his father's ire. There's also the pantry, which can be accessed through the tiny corridor that leads to both: that and the kitchens.

"I sneaked down there whenever mother punished me by refusing to feed Makkachin," Victor says, a smile to his lips that is neither sad nor heartbroken. Only nostalgic as if the memory itself is not entirely a bad one. "I always gave Makkachin my supper and then came here in the middle of the night to steal some food."

"Did your mother punish you often?" Yuuri asks, tentative to begin such a heavy conversation, but an answer to that question would explain Victor's dislike for the woman. "She seemed to tolerate Makkachin well when he's been with us in the room."

"She's never truly liked him," Victor answers. His hand curls around Yuuri's a little too tightly, but Yuuri says nothing to that – he only steps closer to Victor's side, silent in his comfort, so that Victor can speak freely. "She punished him for my mistakes in some scheme to gain more control over me. It was her way of making sure I behaved, since she could tell how much it hurt me to see him miserable."

"She's a heartless woman," Yuuri whispers. "Who does something so cruel to an innocent darling like Makkachin?"

"That she is," Victor nods gravely. "But thankfully, she no longer has any say over me or Makkachin. Or you, for that matter, my Yuuri."

The smile Yuuri offers him is sent back twofold when Victor's lips quirk in an adoring, dazzling grin. Happy to be pulled along, Yuuri allows Victor to lead him the familiar way to the library. The golden doors are opened for him and he steps inside, holding onto Victor's hand even as Victor pauses to close the doors behind them.

"What are we doing here?" Yuuri asks.

"Over here, love."

Victor directs them opposite of where they spent their time yesterday. They walk to the far end of the room where the walls come together. On the far side, hidden by a case of shelves, Yuuri can spot a great wooden chest. It is easily as big as the golden tub they have bathed in the day before and suddenly Yuuri knows what it must have been used for when Victor was but a wee boy.

"Go on." Victor grins, noting Yuuri's excitement. "Open it."

Carefully, Yuuri lifts the lid and, indeed, the chest is lined with fabric and pillows. Unable to hold back a grin, Yuuri turns to Victor and asks: "Shall we?"

It's him who crawls into the tight space first and, unlike the night before, it is Victor who settles between his legs. His back presses to Yuuri's chest while they both slide down lower, so that Yuuri can put the lid back on. In comfortable darkness, drawn away only by a smidge of light that comes from the keyhole in the chest's side, they both sigh in great relief.

"I read here for hours on end," Victor mumbles to the arm he's nuzzled into when Yuuri wraps them around him. "Only when the daylight began to disappear, did I venture out at all. It was my favourite place, you see? So quiet, peaceful. No one could find me, the world couldn't touch me, and I was safe to explore all these amazing places through the books. This was my haven."

Yuuri's eyes adjust to the darkness bit by bit and, once they do, he wastes no time in leaning down to kiss the crown of Victor's head.

"What did you read?"

"Everything," Victor answers. "Whatever picked my fancy, really. If I remember correctly..."

Victor shifts, then shifts again and grunts. His elbow knocks into the wall of the chest, fingers scrape on Yuuri's calves. Before Yuuri can ask what exactly it is that Victor is doing, the man makes a triumphant noise and pulls something from between the haphazardly thrown fabric.

"Here it is," Victor says as he brings the object to light and when he does, Yuuri can see it's a book. "Oh, it's a perfect one, as well. A collection of poems."

"Read to me, then," Yuuri asks, wrapping his arms tighter around Victor.

"With pleasure, my love," Victor replies. He rests a kiss on Yuuri's wrist and holds the open book up to the little light that the keyhole gives. "It might be a bit difficult, but I will do my best."

Encouraging, Yuuri bestows another kiss to the soft silver head of hair that he props his cheek on next. He closes his eyes to the rustle of pages, until Victor's voice sounds through their cramped space: soothing, calm, lovely.

Your two great eyes will slay me suddenly;

Their beauty shakes me who was once serene;

Straight through my heart the wound is quick and keen. Only your word will heal the injury

To my hurt heart, while yet the wound is clean—

Your two great eyes will slay me suddenly;

Their beauty shakes me who was once serene. Upon my word, I tell you faithfully

Through life and after death you are my queen;

For with my death the whole truth shall be seen.

Your two great eyes will slay me suddenly;

Their beauty shakes me who was once serene;

Straight through my heart the wound is quick and keen.

A rustle of pages, a deep breath, and:

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

I love thee to the level of every day’s

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

"That sounds complicated," Yuuri whispers while Victor changes pages once more.

Victor huffs a tender laugh before he answers.

"That's love, sweetheart."

"Are all of your poems about love?" Yuuri asks, teasing. "Did young Vitya lust for the romance of the heart like a lady who swoons at a man's first touch?"

"You tease now, my love, but weren't you the one who flushed so sweetly when I began to court you?" Victor teases right back and Yuuri struggles to hide his mirth.

"Court me?" he repeats, laughter on his breath. "If by courting you mean arriving at my parents' cottage and appearing to me fully unclothed, then yes, I believe you are right. Alas, I hardly think that was what you had in mind."

Victor's laugher shakes them both, warm and happy as it is. Yuuri cannot help his own grin from spreading over his face.

"Touché, my dear. I concede," Victor gives. "You've won this bout, but I shall not be defeated."

And he reads more:

Love is a fire that burns unseen,

a wound that aches yet isn’t felt,

an always discontent contentment,

a pain that rages without hurting,

a longing for nothing but to long,

a loneliness in the midst of people,

a never feeling pleased when pleased,

a passion that gains when lost in thought.

It’s being enslaved of your own free will;

it’s counting your defeat a victory;

it’s staying loyal to your killer.

But if it’s so self-contradictory,

how can Love, when Love chooses,

bring human hearts into sympathy?

"Oh, how little I understood of love and longing when I first read those," Victor says once he's done reading. "There is only so little the mind can imagine. So little the heart can pretend to understand when the real emotion is not yet known to it."

"Do you know it now?" Yuuri asks, his own heart aflutter in his chest.

He is certain that Victor can feel it, for he takes Yuuri's hand and presses his lips to it. A reverent, tender kiss is all the answer Yuuri needs.

"Let me answer you with this," Victor says, and then reads:

I loved you first: but afterwards your love

Outsoaring mine, sang such a loftier song

As drowned the friendly cooings of my dove.

Which owes the other most? my love was long,

And yours one moment seemed to wax more strong;

I loved and guessed at you, you construed me

And loved me for what might or might not be –

Nay, weights and measures do us both a wrong.

For verily love knows not ‘mine’ or ‘thine;’

With separate ‘I’ and ‘thou’ free love has done,

For one is both and both are one in love:

Rich love knows nought of ‘thine that is not mine;’

Both have the strength and both the length thereof,

Both of us, of the love which makes us one.

"Sounds familiar, darling?" Victor asks. "You said something much alike to me recently, do you remember?"

Yuuri does. Oh, he does remember that conversation they had as they lied sprawled on a bedding of grass when Yuuri told him–

He smiles, burying his love in Victor's soft locks.

"What did I say, exactly?" he asks, even though he knows the words by heart.

"If I remember correctly it was 'I will take you then, heart and soul and body, all that is yours to give, but only if you do the same in return,'" Victor recalls. "And then you asked me if I will. Lord be my witness, I would take you even if you did not measure us with equal make."

"But how could I not?" Yuuri tightens his arms. "Didn't your poem say so: there is no you, no me, no yours or mine – we are us, equal across all and in every way that counts."

"And that is why I love you, my Yuuri," Victor says, voice brimming with adoration. "You do not see me as the noble lord everyone does. You see me, Victor, your Vitya, your equal. Someone you've come to cherish as much as I have come to cherish you, I hope."

"There is no need to hope when it's the truth," Yuuri answers him. "I do, my Vitya. I do cherish you. More than I can put into words."

"Let us find someone who can put it into words for us then."

Victor turns a few pages, a few more still, and then settles on one.

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in

my heart) i am never without it (anywhere

i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear

no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want

no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

Victor's voice sounds through and the chest falls quiet once more. But to Yuuri, the words still ring long after Victor is finished speaking, for fear grips him and the loveliness of Victor in his arms is replaced by weight – deadweight; heavy, suffocating, sharp.

The message of the poem is sweet, or it is meant to be such, yet to Yuuri it feels like the manifestation of his nightmares. The heart, the moon, the deepest secret... Such plain words they are, but Yuuri cannot help the tremble that overtakes him. He's reminded of his dream with vivid clarity: he's reminded of Lady Moon, who will come to collect half his heart to, like the poem has said, 'carry it with her'.

And Yuuri will not be able to stop her once she does. Not this time.

"Darling, what's wrong?" Victor asks.

He sounds worried, concerned, and belatedly Yuuri realizes that he must feel the way Yuuri is shaking on his own body. It is hard to disguise this as anything other than what it is, so Yuuri doesn't try. He doesn't think he can, anyway. Instead, he bows his head to hide it in Victor's neck and whispers:

"I had a dream last night. A nightmare. That, that poem... It reminded me of it." He takes a shaky breath and quickly adds: "I apologize for ruining the moment. You were being so sweet and I–"

"Shh, shh, say no more, my love," Victor coos softly. "There is no need to feel sorry. You cannot help what you fear, and you cannot dismiss it either. I'm happy you told me, but why didn't you wake me when it happened? I could've helped."

"I didn't..." Yuuri swallows harshly. "I didn't want to be a bother."

"Oh, sweetheart," Victor's voice is soft, still, but now slightly exasperated. "Have I not told you before that you could never be a bother to me? Have I not shown you how much I care for your wellbeing?"

Yuuri can only clutch the fabric of Victor's robes in trembling fingers, because yes. Yes, he has. Guilt, as it sits in the pit of Yuuri's stomach, is a heavy, uncomfortable rock that weighs Yuuri down.

"My Yuuri, my love," Victor speaks again. "I know this place, this house breeds dishonesty. It teaches lies and half-truths. I know how difficult it must be for you to make heads or tails of whom to trust. But, please, believe me when I say it – you can always trust me. I will do everything that is in my power to prove it, if you so require, but it will never change, my dear. Never."

"Do you truly mean it?" Yuuri whispers.

"I do," Victor vows. "On my life, I do."

"Then allow me to confess something to you," Yuuri says, mind made up.

The time to measure Victor's honesty has come.

#yuri on ice #victuri #victuuri #viktuuri #vikturi #my fic #dazzle me #poems are not mine and the links to all of them are in the ao3 end notes!#also there's a little announcement there as well if you want to check it out #dazzle me is going on a 1 week long hiatus so I can get my shit together and write #but HEY THIS IS CHAPTER 100 AND THAT'S FUCKING AMAZING????#AHHHH!!!!#I'm so freaking proud of this story omg #🙏🙏🙏

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love-takes-work · 7 years ago

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The Answer Outline & Review

Here are some rambly thoughts on the lovely children's book The Answer, which I reviewed on Goodreads and Amazon the day it came out.

I preordered the book on Amazon as soon as it was announced, but it did not spontaneously appear in my home at midnight so I also bought the eBook because I am weak. (Whatever, they deserve my money.)

I’m one of those embarrassingly huge fans of this show so it was kind of a given that I was going to love this book. But let me tell y'all why it’s good and why it’s important.

This is Ruby and Sapphire’s story of love and freedom. I think we all know that a children’s storybook that’s about a “she” falling in love with a “she” is bound to get some raised eyebrows in a world that thinks relationships like theirs can never be innocent, but I would prefer not to focus on that much at all.

I just want to say that it’s so vital that children see these relationships in the same context that they see cross-sex relationships--and it’s not JUST so kids who have same-sex crushes and attractions can see themselves and know they can get fairy tale endings too. It’s also for the rest of you--and if those of you who aren’t queer can imagine growing up with no books about people like you, you might start to get the idea.

But you might not be able to really understand, because you probably CAN’T imagine how devastating it is--when there don’t seem to be nice words that describe you, or when futures for people like you don’t seem to exist, or when you want to know where you are in the literature people get upset, or when people talk to you like it either doesn’t matter that you’re invisible or that you’re disgusting for wanting that.

We want to be in stories because stories are how humanity talks to itself.

If we aren’t in them, we also learn very young that we don’t truly get to participate in human life.

So I want to say thank you to everyone who made it possible for something like this to exist. I’m so happy, but also relieved--and a little exasperated that something this sweet and pure took this long to get here because some people look at it and don’t see it for what it it is.

So what is it?

Yes, this story features the beginning of the love between Ruby and Sapphire, though it still doesn’t really delve into that. We see very little of their time together.

We see them both being sort of in awe of each other--Ruby being amazed that Sapphire would want to be around someone like her when she’s an aristocrat and has amazing powers to see beyond time, and Sapphire being amazed that Ruby’s courage upended what she thought was inevitable--and we get a peek at the way they look at each other.

What we do see more of is their decision to become a Fusion together--the ability the Gem characters have to meld into each other and become another person who represents their relationship. (But also the new Gem will have her own thoughts and feelings, her own new appearance, and her own attitude built from what her component Gems inspire in each other.)

In Sapphire and Ruby’s story, I think the Fusion relationship is a unique one--not just because she was the first of her kind in her society, but because the relationship between Ruby and Sapphire is now forever changed by how they feel about becoming another entity together. They will eventually fully love each other, but that love will always be influenced by what they’ve experienced as a Fusion.

And everything about their relationship is about possibility, opportunity, novelty, freshness, and power. Rubies in Gem society are supposed to be simple soldiers who do what they’re told and fight with their comrades. Sapphires in Gem society are supposed to be wise seers who don’t let their emotions affect what happens next.

When Ruby made a choice that Rubies aren’t supposed to make, Sapphire helplessly watched a future develop that wasn’t in the plan. And both of them found what they’d rather be instead.

I really appreciate that there was such a strong “supposed to” that the characters challenged without quite meaning to, and that leaving what they were accustomed to did cause them some distress. They had to find something new to be now that Ruby couldn’t do what Rubies do and Sapphire couldn’t do what Sapphires do.

They realized there are multiple “supposed to’s” for Gems like them, and fusing together into someone who had no “supposed to’s” (because she wasn’t supposed to exist) must have made it so much more joyous to explore what lay ahead.

The art is pretty special--lots of unsettling images (though nothing too scary), lots of beautiful images, and a different style from the cartoon–it’s simplified and stylized, but it still gets plenty of emotion onto those little faces. The backgrounds are lovely as they generally are in the show, and the characters commenting on the text in a meta fashion and talking to each other from little alcoves (Sapphire above, Ruby below) was really powerful.

There’s narration, but there’s also Sapphire and Ruby saying how they felt about what was happening, and expressing opinions about each other’s statements and caring about each other’s distress. Eventually, they go into each other’s chambers, comment on how they feel, and share their perspectives. It seems simple but it’s quite a nuanced metaphor and I think a lot of children will understand it despite the complexity.

Speaking of complexity, there are some concepts here that I think render this book most appropriate for people who have context from watching the TV show. The fusion concept isn’t presented all that accessibly to new fans, and if you haven’t seen the show before you don’t know that when Gems’ physical form is destroyed, they reform later (if their Gem isn’t smashed).

You don’t get introduced to Pearl even though she’s there, and you have no context for the illustration of Blue Diamond (and her Pearl), and even though Garnet is mentioned in the online description of the book, she’s not called by name in the story itself (just like in the episode).

It’s also a little unclear in the book (but not the cartoon) why the other Gems were furious at them for fusing, but I guess the story had to be kept simple. There’s also some complex language in the book--vocabulary words children in the target group probably won’t see in school for a few more years--but the presentation makes me think they will have context to pick it up. I remember doing that a lot as a kid with children’s books that slipped in an advanced word here and there.

I was hoping for a couple things I didn’t get, but I don’t blame books for not fulfilling expectations they didn’t promise to fulfill. I was really hoping to hear a little more about the moment of Sapphire and Ruby’s first fusion, because in the show fusion is supposed to be about being on the same wavelength, and it seemed almost incongruous that they could have fused at that moment amidst all that confusion. If they did, they must have temporarily wanted the same thing.

I know what Ruby wanted--to save Sapphire--but I would have loved to see a glimpse of Sapphire wanting to be saved rather than just being sort of blindsided by the rescue. I would have been really interested to see more of that moment of escape into their unheard-of spontaneous relationship--the action that changed who they were figuratively and literally (not to mention saving the planet).

The overall package is really precious and looks the way it should--like an age-appropriate, fairy-tale-esque storybook that doesn’t have anything strange or inappropriate at all. I can’t even imagine reading this to a child and having them stop me to ask “wait, ARE THEY TWO GIRLS??” because it’s just so smooth and well told, and the characters’ casually presented embraces and nonchalant closeness uses the same cues we’d expect to see on a Disney princess dancing with her prince. It’s just Not. An. Issue. Not in the book. Outside of the book, I imagine it will be. I hope the hubbub it creates is primarily positive.

And now, of course, it’s made even more clear in this book that Garnet doesn’t ask questions in the show because Rose told her not to and she took it quite literally. (She seems to get around asking questions with tricky wording, though, like instead of “What did you see?” she’ll say “Tell me what you saw.”) If you already ARE the answer, what questions could you need to ask?

And I’ve got to say Rebecca Sugar dedicating the book to Ian Jones-Quartey is really sweet.

[SU Book and Comic Reviews]

#steven universe #steven universe books #the answer #rebecca sugar #ruby and sapphire #garnet #myblog

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sithlordintraining · 7 years ago

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She’s No Angel (Part 10)

A/N: dun dun dun dun . . .THANK YOU GUS FOR JUST BEING YOU GUYS! My 500th post for my most loved work and part 10. I do this for the kids. Part 10 is here, bye!

She’s No Angel Masterlist

Kylo paced back and forth in the command shuttle. He knew kidnapping you was wrong, but he needed to explain. There was something about you that made him so torn. Maybe he acted this way because he genuinely craved and liked the attention you gave him, while also hating how easily he was slipping into this comfortable position. You were a distraction, yet he felt the need to impress you constantly. He ripped the helmet off his head, maniacally breathing. He didn’t want you to find out like this. He was thankful, for the first time, that Hux gave him the chance to tell you. But of course, he ruined it. Kylo just felt like he was always messing up with you. It always felt like three steps forward and several steps back. He knew his emotions were a loose cannon and it didn’t help that he couldn’t understand nor control it. Not to mention the power you held over him. He didn’t understand what it was about you that made him succumb so easily. And that’s what frustrated him so much to the point where he went mad. And to top it off: jealousy.

Everyone adored you. Everyone wanted to be you. Or be with you. And he hated being like everyone with his position as Commander. Not only did he have to compete with Hux for your attention, but also, a stormtrooper! THE Kylo Ren vs. A Stormtrooper, who could’ve been reassigned, reconditioned, or killed. No, but then that would hurt you. And he’s hurt you enough. This was a daily fight that roamed through his mind every day; how he wanted to react was always questioned by his subconscious: ‘What would Y/N think of you?’. He took one deep breath, cracking his neck. Kylo was still angry and wouldn’t be able to talk to you, so he decided to meditate.

Maybe it was the pills, maybe it was the trauma, all you knew was this was the worst nightmare you’ve ever had. Matt being Kylo, Kylo kidnapping you? Definitely a dream. Until you woke up to a sea of stars surrounding you. “You’re up.” The rich voice that you loved so much rung. You quickly spun around “Matt!” The smile on your face quickly faded at the sight of Kylo. ‘So it is true?’ You thought. Before you could even blink, you felt your body tense like he's done before. “Shh, don't cry.” Kylo’s glove hand went to cup your face as the tears threatened to spill from your eyes. “Shit.” He whispered. It wasn't supposed to end up like this. “Y/N please.” He begged and you squeezed your eyes trying to make it a dream. “Y/N.” he said more sternly. Your eyes went wide, he was still your superior and would definitely listen to an authoritative voice. You watched as Kylo sat in the pilot seat, across from you. He positioned your chair and body, that you could only view him. He turned his face revealing his sharp profile littered with beauty marks. You loved Matt's beauty marks on his soft skin and how you tried to count them when he wasn't paying attention. Kylo turned to face you at this thought. If your body wasn't locked you would've flinched at the sight of the sharp scar that crossed his face.

“It's beautiful, the stars?” He spoke, “I never enjoyed them as much as I do now.” You could see the soft brown eyes that Matt used to look at you with. “Y/N,” he said louder. “It wasn't supposed to happen like this.” Kylo looked down, hunched over on with his elbows on his knees. “I guess what I'm trying to say,” he ran his fingers nervously through his hair. “I just want to explain everything. I wanted to tell you before things get out of hand like they did. But what we had was so good and I didn't want to mess it up. Like I did. And I know after everything, you wouldn't even be in the same room as me, let alone listen. I'm sor-let me just explain from the beginning.” He let out a shaky breath.

“When I first saw you, it was in passing. But, it was your mind. So strong and clear. It was so beautiful. Everything that Snoke told me my mind should be, you have it. It was truly amazing to be in. It’s astounding how such a young and non-force user has created such a mind.” He waved his hand. “But, I didn’t really get inside until the first day. And you were so nice, no matter how much I annoyed you. You just still shown me nothing but.” He stopped and looked at you, heavy. You wanted to look away, but you couldn’t. You could still see Matt. “I’ve heard so much about you, before hand. Very impressive. And when it came down to it, I would never think it would be you. I couldn’t help but be drawn into your loving personality and beautiful.” He bit his lip and nervously laughed. “I’m sorry, even now, I just get so distracted by you and can’t think straight.” The sight was simply odd; Kylo nervously grinning at your tear stricken face.

“I’m supposed to be explaining.” He combed his fingers through his hair once again. “As I said, I was impressed, intrigued by you and just simply wanted to get to know you. Matt, started as infiltrating the lower ranks for traitors. It just so helped that it was another way to find out about you, once I truly saw you. And as me, Kylo, I didn’t do such a good job. You don’t remember and I-I I’d rather not tell you, but I need to be truthful. I didn’t mean to lock you in the office, I didn’t mean to choke you. I just, you just, my feelings, I didn’t-don’t understand them and you weren’t helping. I’m so sorry to have traumatized.” Your eyes twitched at the thought of him choking you like before.

“But, the next day you were fine. Happy, like nothing ever happened. When you caught me in the hallway, I was just going to spy really, but you caught me. You were visibly calm and genuinely happy to see and spend time with me. Then at the party, when we drank, you were innocent yet mischievous, it was confusing how it could be so. And then when we kissed, it was intoxicating. I hated how in control you were, but stars did I love it. I didn’t want it to end, but you fell asleep and my mother taught me better.” He quipped the last part quickly. He brushed the (y/h/c) strand back out of your face and wiped the tears that were dripping off your chin. “You were my first, you know. Kiss.” He said shyly, pulling away.

“Later that night, that friend of yours, Lucky.” He snarled. “He punched me. I hate him, you know? It was very upsetting when he took responsibility for making sure you got back safe, while he made out with some girl. You should be thanking me that I haven’t killed him already. Well after this incident? I don’t know about that.” A breath caught in your throat. “No, no, no, don’t be frightened. I didn’t-it was a joke.” Kylo tried reassuring, but you both knew it wasn’t. Kylo opened his mouth to tell her about the other troopers, but thought it best if he didn’t, so maybe she wouldn’t side with Lucky. After all, he did all of this so she could choose him. “But, I saw a chance to redeem myself, Kylo. When you forgot everything I’ve done and I agreed to the ball to possibly help me. Of course, I didn’t take in account of you not going. But, I guess we can thank Hux for that one.” He huffed. “He bragged to Phasma about how happy he was that you decided to go and how he would spend no expense. I saw him finalizing your looks, horrendous. I don’t care what traditions that planet had. You’re beautiful and I wouldn’t want you to be seen in them. It could be selfish, yes that I chose that dress for you. Red is my favorite color and I knew you would glow in it. The way it hugged and showed your body. It was your moment. I didn’t mean for you to be uncomfortable and you were right, no one should look at you as if you’re just pleasure, you deserved to be acknowledged and rewarded. That’s why I made Hux give that speech.” Kylo looked out at the stars again. “Y/N, I wanted to tell you that night. I wanted to apologize, for everything and tell you. But, Hux made me stay.” He rolled his eyes.

“And that’s when I talked to him about promoting you. You have outgrown your position, I saw how you craved something more. I’m very glad you accepted the position. But it hurt, when you didn’t hug me at the meeting. It made me realize how our relationship was much different between Kylo and Matt. I knew if I was Matt you wouldn’t have shaken my hand.” Kylo looked up at you with those brown eyes. More tears started to fall from your eyes as he continued on. “I let you leave that party in hopes of maybe, you seeing me, as Commander, in a different light. Maybe how you see the General or the Captain. Also, I just wanted to be with you, just you to share and congratulate you in your moment. That’s why I was dressed as Matt when you returned from Lucky’s.” He grabbed your stiff hand. “That night, I never experienced something so pure. You had this wave vibrating off you of genuinely wanting nothing but to be with and around me. I’ve never had anyone want nothing else but just me and it made feel so light. When you feel asleep I just stared at you. Me feeling the need to tell you the truth became questioned. Once I told you, I knew everything would be over. I had to leave you alone because I needed to meditate on this. I decided I wouldn’t tell you, I didn’t want to lose you.”

Kylo’s eyes shifted and he looked down, regret quickly filling him. “I didn’t mean to lash out on you. I-I when I saw Lucky and you, I couldn’t control it. We had such a great night, I didn’t expect you to ignore that. But you didn’t” He looked up with a small smile and glossy eyes. “You called me because you wanted to see me, you wanted to confide in me, you wanted me to take it all away. You broke me so easily. And it hurt so much, so I took it upon myself to protect you, from me and Lucky and anyone else you decided to hurt you. Lucky just deserved it and just served as an example.” Kylo looked back down, eyes glazing over his massive ungloved hands. He was very unsure what other things should be said or explained. One part of him wanted to tell her everything, but he just wanted her to understand and not sway judgment.

He let out a shaky breath. “I never meant to hurt you.” His lips trembling when he looked at you. “Y/N, I’m sorry.” Both your faces covered in tears. He launched himself forward falling on his knees and placed his head clumsily in her lap. Your eyes drifted down at the sight. Your body was still frozen and this man constantly pleaded an apology. The only thing you could do was watch him. He grasped your hand squeezing it as he begged for your forgiveness. Never have you ever seen or thought Kylo would be so capable of owning up to his wrongs and none the less, begging. Kylo opened his eyes seeing the goosebumps that stood on your legs. He had forgotten how he snatched you from your sleepy state. He removed his cape and draped it over you, simultaneously releasing you. Your body lurched forward coughing out sobs as you clutched the fabric around you. Kylo walked back bracing himself against the ship’s walls. He intently watched you as he was ready to face whatever consequence you were going to give him.

“Can-can you take me back, please?” Your voice was shaky and low. He stepped forward. “What about our talk?” Kylo whispered.Our? He spoke the whole time! You didn’t want to talk about this, but you didn’t want to make him angry. “I’ll. . . think about it.” He moved forward to help you up. “Yes, yes.” He shook his hand helping you stand. “I-I want to go to the cell. I want to think alone.” You said looking into his brown orbs. He looked down at you, holding his breath. He didn’t want you to be alone, with him there. But, if it meant you forgiving him. He would accept it.

It felt like forever, but you guys were finally here. Kylo escorted you to the closed-ramp. Before he opened it, you turned to look at him. Your index finger traced his scar. Your eyes roamed his face. Same eyes, same nose, same everything, with different hair and a scar. “You’re different. So strange, yet so understanding.” A small smile fell on your lips. “I enjoyed every moment I spent with you.” Your eyes began to sting from all the crying. Your palm lay gently on his cheek. “You didn’t treat me like a child and I liked that. I liked you.” He nuzzled in your hand. “But, you’re not Matt.” His eyes opened. He watched her as she pressed the button to lower the ramp. You unwrapped the cape from yourself and held it out. He looked down as your fingers gripped the black fabric. You dropped it in his hand and made your way down the ramp.

Waiting for the return, was all the troopers, a few officers and Phasma and Hux right in the middle. He watched as you shakily made your way to the ramp. It was silent, not even the machines humming could be heard. Hux held a blanket in his arms, waiting to bring you back to safety. You tried to hold in the tears and embarrassment as you made your way down. But, one sob shook your whole body and you clumsily fell into Hux’s arm. He secured in his arms tightly. Phasma braced an arm on your back before hoisting you up. Kylo stood on the ramp as he watched everyone’s glare subside everyone turned their back on him. Leaving the space empty and alone.

You were brought to the medbay and they ran a series of test. You could see the General and Captain outside discussing. Well, it was mainly the General pacing and hands flailing. Phasma turned and made her way to the door. You averted your eyes when she entered. “Y/N.” She took off her helmet. “I’m here to ask some questions. The General is a little on edge. If you don’t feel comfortable, just let me know.” You shook your head. You didn’t mind the questions, until it got personal. “Y/N, did he ever force you to do anything?” You shook your head. “Did you guys ever?” You squirmed in your bed. “Well, we were going to but, that’s when I found out.” Phasma tilted her head as if she knew there was more. “I-I did, give him a blowjob. He passed out.” Her mouth twisted up. She snorted “Oh stars, Kylo. Are you a virgin Y/N?” “Yes.” “Did you practice or?” “I just researched and asked a few of the nurses.” Phasma rolled her eyes, everyone knew how easy the nurses were.

“Is-is Lucky ok?” You asked trying to take the embarrassment off of you. Phasma straightened up. “He is hurt. Three of his ribs are broken and a few bruised disk, he’s stable after surgery.” You started to cry this was all your fault. “Would you like to see him?” She asked. You shook your head and followed her down the hall. The window came into view and you saw Lucky sleeping. She let you enter the room alone. The machines beeped and you slowly approached him. You examined his body. “I’m dead right?” a strained voice spoke. “Lucky!” you grabbed his hand. “I really am right?” He smiled, eyes still closed. “I’m sorry.” Tears ran down your face. He tried to wipe the tears but winced at the pain. “Stop, no, you’re hurt. It’s still amazing that you’re even alive.” “That’s because I have you.” You rolled your eyes. “Lay with me.” He said and you did. Making small movements to not cause any pain, you gently laid your head on his shoulder. “You have three broken ribs and bruised disk. You could’ve killed on impact, the ribs could have punctured your lungs, or you could’ve been paralyzed.” He shook his head “Nah, you’ll always protect me. Look around my neck.” You pulled at the dog tag that was tucked discretely. “You still have this?” You asked. “Never take it off.” It was your dog tag from the academy. Flipping it over you saw the horribly engraved ‘Lucky’ on it, that you did personally. “Always there to protect me, Angel.” His words hummed as he drifted back off into sleep. You tucked the tag back and observed him in peaceful slumber. Your eyelids started to droop. Today’s traumatic events had tired you out. You curled into the side of your body and drifted off to sleep.

P.S: WE DID IT!! I have more to say but will make a separate post. HMU!

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bangtanprose · 8 years ago

Text

A theory post, or a reflection, whatever you want to call it--

I’m prefacing everything with how hard BTS have worked, and how much they deserve to get the recognition and attention they are receiving for their blood sweat and tears; their art; their music. BTS have truly inspired many of us, and I think, even though many people think their story is based on who’s-dead-and-when, I do not think that. I think they are showing us their stages of maturing; the most beautiful moments in life.

I’m also going to note that when I am talking about the members, I am not talking about them as actual living breathing human beings, but the characters they are portraying. BTS are showing us a story and, while metaphorically it may be relevant to how they are feeling, there are many physical aspects which are purely fiction and products of their and Bighit’s imaginations, all coming together to make one clusterfuck of an amazing story, so to remain respectful to them as artists, I speak of them (Jin, Yoongi, Namjoon, Hoseok, Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook) as their characters in music videos, not them with personal lives which I wish to respect. This is also why I am not going to touch on lyrics, as music is a personal art which, they have said many times, is written for themselves and their listeners, and that is why I am isolating the usage of their lyrics from this theory/reflection/whatever. Music is them, BTS, the boys we love in their live shows and interviews, cinematography and directed videos are their characters, the story of their imagination they wish to share with us.

I’ll also be referencing to many other MVs/short films that BTS have, not just Spring Day. I’ll be adding more when Not Today comes out, because I believe there will be more in there.

The ones who walk away from Omelas (have a pdf, if you have not read it yet) and Demian are stories which BTS have highlighted this era, and by no coincidence, they both lie on the shoulders of maturity, and growing up without the world being as crystal pristine as our innocent and naive youth believes. Omelas does not specifically link the realisation to one’s eyes cleared of youth, but this is why Demian is included. Demian isn’t the main character of Demian, but he is the best friend of him, Sinclair: the boy who suddenly sees the world is not a realm of peace and there are many, many, evils, but Demian is the older boy he meets, mature and understanding, and holding Sinclair through his time of uncertainty. Omelas sees the suffering of one child and although the city is great and bearing fruits of celebrations, one child suffers, and through adolescence, children learn about this kid wasting away in its own excrement for their happiness. Sometimes they cry and wail and shout “how is this fair!” but some go quiet. Some cease to speak, and one day, they walk out of Omelas, the city of perfectness and comfort balanced on the shoulders of a child that is death ridden, sores covering its thighs.

Do we see the moments of realisation Jin was having in Run? He did not run with the rest of them; he drove their cars and held their petals. But he never walked away; he wants to treasure the moments (taking polaroids, filming them) he is living with his friends. He sees the child of Omelas suffering, but he stays, because, after all, Omelas is the perfect city, and no one knows anywhere else.

But we do not know who the child is, nor Demian nor Sinclair, nor dearest Eva, a character so minor in the book that we could also bring other characters like Kromer and Beck and Pistorius into the equation.

Fast-forwards to Wings, and Demian is brought in. The short films demonstrate each different parts of the different characters. Jungkook’s short film is a dream sequence, much like many of those about Demain that Sinclair has. If one was to jump to conclusions, it could be easy to assume Jungkook is Sinclair, as we also saw maturity blossoming in him in the Run era – he stares blankly at the camera while his friends party, until they disappear. But I am not here to give a direct answer. I am here to open an idea so people can contribute and add to this, with whatever they think. He is also crying, crying as a portrait bleeds and he is pleading for his hyung; the video is heavily linked with that of Yoongi’s, with the burning piano and the car crashing. It was heavily debated around the time of its release who the main portrait was of (which, if anyone has any ideas, I would love to hear, as I'm also intrigued by the idea that it could be them all), but we also need to think about all our senses. We hear water and fire – associations? Jimin, to water with his suicide attempt back in I Need U. Yoongi, setting a room on fire, or Namjoon, dropping a cigarette on the gas station. And the wings which distract him? Taehyung, the fallen angel of the Blood Sweat and Tears era. There is something to be recognised between the sound of wings and Taehyung being illustrated as someone who has, or, more likely, had wings. So is Jungkook looking back upon these moments, or is he dreaming before they happen? Remember, in Demian, Sinclair dreams a lot of Demian before he even meets him and draws his face when he is conscious. Nothing happens for no reason if we’re thinking analytically. Perhaps, if we want to assume Jungkook is meant to represent Sinclair, then Taehyung is the idea or friend that is stopping this process of fulling maturing like Demian. Taking it back to Omelas, Jungkook is seeing too much happiness in his friends (Run), so there is something he must not be seeing (the child, suffering at the weight of a city’s happiness), which he soon sees in his argument with Yoongi. Jungkook is maturing and gaps are forming in his mind, before he has seen the whole picture. Then, he sees the true suffering of his friends, and takes the first baby steps out of Omelas.

But if we believe Jungkook is Sinclair, then who is Demian? Many believe Jin – for most of the HYYH, he is the one who is separated from the rest of them heavily. He films what they do. But are we sure Jin is meant to be Demian? Is he not clinging onto the youth and treasuring its moments while it lasts? In Awake, Jin’s short film, he is not paired like any of the others. Jin is well and truly alone. He is also unwell, shaking and hallucinating as he sees the members in polaroids. He is locked in a room that he wants to escape and claws at the walls and he is burning the petals, assumably symbolising the same petals we saw in I Need U. Now, there’s a thing about the lilies which could shift theories either way – lilies symbolise that the soul of the departed has received restored innocence after death (source). HYYH shows us the youth of BTS. If I Need U is a song about happiness within sadness, then Run is about sadness within happiness, as Jungkook has said (source). There has always been their innocence, yes, but each member is well aware of unhappiness. I’m not saying that the happiness we see in these videos means they’re dead, but it is something that should be kept in mind. As I’ve said before, I, personally, do not think this story is about death, but growing up and maturing. If we’re going to amp up the meaning of Omelas, it could read a little more like: the lilies symbolise that the soul of those mature, can still be happy once they have walked away from Omelas (the utopian city BTS have built themselves in their friendship, and innocence). Jin in Spring Day is seen picturing with his fingers at the bottom of an encasing staircase as the other members run up the stairs, occasionally checking on their hyung at the bottom. He is frowning, however, like he does in Awake. He’s taking a picture of what is leaving him, like the candles extinguishing as soon as the flash hits them.

Maybe Jin is the one stuck in innocence. Drowning, falling, all while he is awake. But he leaves the room when the sound of a train passes, and he walks down the corridor, around the corner. I think this is the acceptance. Acceptance that he cannot grow old and mature while his lifeline lays in what once was. Jin boards the train. Away from Omelas. Where he can grow old, with those he loves most and has separated himself from long enough to get sick because they have matured without him, but left the door open for him. Jin boards the train away from Omelas where he can grow old with his best friends; he burns the lilies and destroys the idea that they will still be innocent on the other side of their youth.

Another thing which I have seen people speculating is that Taehyung is the child suffering for the weight of Omelas’ happiness. It’s easy to assume this, from the scenes of him being caged in Stigma, but I don’t think so. They are all suffering in some way. Taehyung placing his head on the lines of a railway track does not have to mean it is his suicide, like him jumping off things in the prologue and BST does not mean so either. He is self-destructive. We see him walking along the lines later on in the video, and in the train with the rest of them at the end. Perhaps, like Jin, Taehyung is slow to mature. He is still living recklessly, like we see him in Stigma. But there is a point where he becomes locked in this type of living, unable to escape but his friends (the dog, the snow, white, dog) are able to. I’ve seen screenshots from the Spring Day on other theories, and Taehyung, at first in the scene where Jungkook goes through the last door, is not there at the beginning of the shot, but appears in the shot of them running from behind. Is this to do with the angle of the shot, or is Taehyung the last one to mature? Was it to do with the phone call he made in the prologue?

This leads me to the pairings, and how I think they are interpreted into this idea.

To start with, I’ll talk about Taehyung and Namjoon. We assume (according to the prologue), after Taehyung kills his abusive alcoholic father (OR just has bloodied hands), he calls someone unnamed, but referred to as ‘hyung’. He asks to see him again. If we aren’t going to straight away assume that the bloodied hands come from his father, then we can rule out it being the murders of most members since none of them particularly have a bloody ‘death’/attempt in I Need U as we do not know if the car actually hit Jungkook and killed him, despite references to it in First Love and Begin, and it could have very easily been non-fatal. The blood on his hands might not have been his father's. Jungkook is definitely a possibility, and this is just something I have realised as I am writing this, because in Reflection we hear and see a lot of shattering glass, and in Stigma we see one shot of the same glass shattering. But that’s for Jungkook – back to Taehyung and Namjoon. In Run, they are partners in crime, running from the police and causing havoc and getting arrested together. But in their short films, the next step on, they are very much separate. Taehyung is getting arrested on his own for petty crimes, the graffiti of Abraxas is something which should not be ignored, either, as Abraxas is the god who is both good and bad. The Devil and God in one being. Perhaps this shows Taehyung as understanding the concept that all is not good for him, as we see him caged and his last hope runs away. Did something happen to Namjoon that meant Taehyung can no longer see him, or be with him? My vague, very vague, idea of this timeline would be that Namjoon matured and left behind the petty crimes of adolescence and his point of realisation could have been the murder of Taehyung’s dad. In Reflection he hears the phone ringing but the phone box is locked and written over it is ‘LIAR’, in red paint. However, this could also be a second phone call, or not even from Taehyung. In the Japanese Run MV, Namjoon is holding the phone in a phonebox, but then he drops the phone from some kind of emotion. Was that the phone call in the prologue? Perhaps the chains around the phone box in Reflection are the barrier between maturity and immaturity that Namjoon cannot break, even though he wants to help Taehyung out of this complex. He wants to answer the phone call which is Taehyung's plead for help; he wants another chance to help Taehyung. If we want to go the other way, the reflective metaphorical and emotional way, is Namjoon calling himself a liar because he holds a hatred only for himself, because he lied to himself for many years of his youth that this is all okay, because we are still in Omelas, and he left before he could help anyone else. Nonetheless, Namjoon left Taehyung behind even if he never intended to, and Taehyung continues his petty crimes alone. Until he boards the train, with his best friends.

Now, Hoseok and Jimin. I haven’t really mentioned them much, have I? In Run they are together, but in what looks like hospital beds. In Lie and Mama, this is taken a step further with Hoseok emitted to a psychiatric ward, with an illness noted as Munchausen syndrome, and I must note I do not take psychology, but from quick research (source, the NHS is the british health service, so the most reliable source I could find) it is a disorder where the person suffering from it is not ‘ill’ so to speak, as in nothing is physically or, only sometimes, mentally wrong with them, but they feign being ill and purposefully try to catch illnesses. This could be because they have problems establishing their own identities, or forming meaningful relationships, and, as a result of feigning illnesses, they can adopt an identity that means they will have unconditional support and acceptance and have their own place in a hospital if they are emitted, allowing them into a social network. So this alone tells us a lot about Hoseok, as well as raising a lot more questions. Hoseok is given pills and they are for a placebo (they do nothing) effect, but he hallucinates and illustrates his erratic behaviour as the effect “kicks in”. Now I’m sure there’s a relevance to this, perhaps showing us that Hoseok has acquired a dependance on substances to stay sane, but we can obviously see that he is not. After his trip – his bright, blinding, infuriating for him, trip – he wakes up and can walk out the room. He sees the image of the trees Jimin pointed the camera towards (some kind of subliminal messaging between the two? Like Sinclair and Demain?), and takes a bite of his snickers, and walks away as the image transitions to a mother cradling her son. To go back to our set of stories, in Demian, Eva (the mother of Demian) gave Sinclair chocolate bars when he was upset. What I’m thinking is that something was taken away from Hoseok, some love, to the point where a simple reminder of it can make him feel better than any pill. Pills are a bad time for him, love is a good one, like the parallels of sadness and happiness we see in I Need U and Run. Of course you can see where I’m getting at – Jimin. Jimin was taken anyway from Hoseok, or the other way round, but nonetheless they are separated. Jimin’s short film denotes a similar atmosphere to Hoseok’s, in that they are both in isolation, somewhere away from other people and they are being watched. Jimin is shown a number of cards, shrugs at the first one (which is the same as Begin, and in the context of Not Today, Jimin has no hard feelings towards Jungkook, even perhaps he understands Jungkook has moved on and feels similar) before looking down at his lap, then falls backwards into a different sequence when shown the second. The second is also the one which we see concluding his short film, so my assumption is that this is meant to represent himself. So he falls back into his usual fate--his true self beyond the impersonal questions anyone can ask him; then he is shown a card inscribed with Eva all over – Hoseok? He reaches to the bed next to him, an empty, empty bed, and we see pills retracting from the glass like in Mama. He is then taken into a new sequence with his song, and we hear a gunshot at some point; in Demian, Sinclair was shot when he fought in the war, and found Demian in the bed next to him. Is, then, Hoseok feigning his illness so he can see Jimin again? I understand that is quite a…farfetched idea, like a lot of mine are, but I don’t think it should be ignored. Coming back to edit this after the Not Today MV, this signifies quite a bit. I’m still confused after Not Today came out as I am overthinking quite a lot of it, but I will explain my thoughts on that later on. Back to Hoseok and Jimin, they have both been taken away from each other in medical facilities, losing their sense of love as they are left cold, and, in the case of Jimin, out in the open.

So, last pairing, Yoongi and Jungkook. I’ve already spoken quite a bit about Jungkook’s short film, so I’ll now go into depth on Yoongi’s. The narrative is a little more obvious here, but there’s still a lot left unsaid. Yoongi is so in love with the piano that he will break in to play one, yet when he plays he loses interest, but then is drawn out of the shop by a whistle – the same one we heard in Begin – into the road. Now, the next bit is obviously the climax of the piece because a car speeds towards Yoongi, and he dodges at the last minute. We hear no sound immediately which indicates impact with another being, but after the vehicle collides with the shop, there are streaks of blood coating the floor. Another thing to note: there is a hand sticking out the window and holding the top of the frame as it goes past Yoongi. My thoughts are immediately back to the blood on Taehyung’s hands. Could this be it? He then runs back to the shop, back to his piano, back to his first love, but the piano is burning. I think, this could be interpreted as the idea that Yoongi is so desperately searching for comfort, but when he finds it, it does not stay for long. I believe Jungkook was the first one to find maturity, despite his age, so this shows that Yoongi is looking for Jungkook, so desperately, but he’s gone. Matured. There is also their sequence in Run too, where Yoongi is intoxicated and Jungkook is hugging him, wanting him to just stop. But he doesn’t and Jungkook punches him. Now, coming back to write this just after the Not Today MV has been released, I can already see that many people are going to believe that the drawing with blood on it in begin is Yoongi ‘shot’, but I don’t think that’s the assumption to come to. Jungkook punches Yoongi and there is blood on the stairs – I think that is what the blood splatter is supposed to show. Not a gun shot. I also believe that, yes, perhaps Jungkook was hit by the car, although it was not fatal. Like the piano burning, as Yoongi walks away from his first love, his first best friend, he loses Jungkook. Jungkook is hit by a car and he matures from then on. Yoongi is left behind. But there is also a sense of regret, especially in Begin. He wakes up from a nightmare about the incident, only to fall back into another one, plagued by imagery of Yoongi. I think he is saddened and feels like he has betrayed Yoongi by moving onto maturity, he sees that Yoongi has fallen into self destructive habits by setting a room on fire with gasoline, all while he is inside. Jungkook doesn’t want to accept this. He shakes his head while calling for his hyung, calling for him to stop, and then the wings distract him. As I’ve already mentioned these present the image of Taehyung, Jungkook sees more of his friends suffering. The drawing, before of Yoongi, turns into a bird, much like the kind of bird used to present the imagery of Sinclair maturing in Demian.

And for Spring Day, Jungkook thinks he is riding this train away from Omelas on his own. He sits in the carriage on his own, until the end, where he stirs from his rest and his hyungs are all with him at their destination. It’s not their final destination, as the shoes Jimin’s been holding all through the MVs are tied to the tree. I feel like this video explains the idea of the shoes better than I could ever of had, and I’ve seen a lot about the Sewol ferry disaster and spring day being a tribute that while the high school students may have never peaked to maturity and adulthood, they will not be forgotten. I know BTS like to delve into social issues, but I don’t think that they have intentionally isolated this incident. They might have intended to show this through their message of this youth will end and all will be okay concept, but there is still more to talk about, in terms of BTS’ concept and not including the Sewol ferry disaster, as, alike the creator of the video I linked, I am also hesitant to jump to the conclusion that this is exactly what they are trying to show. We know in the BST teaser pictures, Jin wasn’t wearing any shoes, and at the end of the Spring Day MV, there are only six people standing there instead of seven. Was Jin, somehow, left behind? Never there to begin with? The one who died (I know I have said I don’t think this is a matter of death in theories, but I’m not going to completely ignore it), and his spirit is living with them and, like the lilies the white shoes are symbolising that the soul of the departed has received restored innocence after death? Where he was sick in Awake, has he finally reached peace through death? Or has he moved on from them. Mature still, but left them behind as friends to find a new beginning. Like spring, Jin moving on does not have to be the definite end and then a beginning, but rather an awakening. He has lived through youth in every other season, but in spring, he is surrounded by something different: something, or somewhere, he was meant to be.

I also feel like I need to address Blood Sweat and Tears a little more for complete clarity – the line which sees the music video to a halt “he too, was a tempter. He too, was a link to the second: the evil world with which I no longer wanted anything to do,” along with everyone but Taehyung and Jin staying behind as the rest run out of the museum, the museum with which the painting “the fall of the rebel angels” is held in. My idea of this is that leaving the museum (Omelas) is them maturing, them avoiding the fate of falling as the angels of youth and rebellion – Icarus is also heavily hinted (if you do not know the story of Icarus, it is one of a boy who flew too close to the sun, on wings of wax, when he was too exhilarated by the thought of flying to remember his father’s warning, and plummeted into the sea), perhaps showing that if they continue to challenge maturity until they cannot go any further, they will fall. The wings they are given with the chance to fly out of from immaturity will melt. Taehyung, in this instance, is the tempter. He does not follow the rest, but stays with Jin and pulls him further into the idea that only youth is where he can be happy, hence, in Jin’s short film, there is “a bird fighting its way out the egg” and “who would be born must first destroy a world”, the egg, or world, is the one that Jin has been drawn into by Taehyung. If we want to take the religious incantations of Abraxas, too, we could say Taehyung doesn’t have to be a fallen angel. If Abraxas is the god of the Devil and God we know, then Abraxas recognizes both good and bad. There are no angels like other gods have, angels without free will. Taehyung could very easily be an angel of Abraxas. So, why did he lose his wings then? Because he started to only see bad when his friends left him. If the other members were his ‘wings’, the good side of life, when they have matured he is left in the immaturity where, for the lack of a better phrase, everything is shit. In his eyes, it is not fair, but isn’t Abraxas meant to be the god who is fairer? So he rebels. Rebels against the god of fairness because his situation is, by far, unfair. And he flew too close to the sun. He knows what he is bringing Jin into is bad, but when even his own God cannot be fair to him, there is a blur in his perception of moralities. He is the one who gives Jin the statue to kiss. By Jin kissing the statue, he is sympathising with Taehyung and staying with him, because Taehyung has tempted him into the idea that only all can be good when the rest of them were there at the time of youth. That is the world Jin must destroy before he can be with the rest of them. And I’ve already mentioned the wings representing Taehyung in begin, but yet again, Taehyung is the tempter.

This also relates to the many apples placed in the Wings era – like Adam and Eve, the apple, or, the forbidden fruit, is something the snake tempts them to take a bite of. In awake, the apple is on Jin’s plate but he does not eat it. He does not want to accept that there is a difference between good and bad: he heavily considers it, but in the end, he drops it on the floor. Jimin, in Lie, takes a bite out of his apple, freeing himself from the ‘lie’ he has caught himself in. The ideal life of youth untainted. In BST, we also see Yoongi and Jimin sat opposite to each other in a room, Jimin is holding an apple and Yoongi is holding a blindfold. Does Jimin realise the dangers of youth first, and help Yoongi? They are paired together in the short films, after all.

Talking of the pairings in the Wings transitions – Hoseok and Taehyung. Now, unlike Jimin and Yoongi, and Namjoon and Jungkook, Hoseok is not in a room with anyone else. In fact, the only interaction he has is the beginning with Taehyung, and later on alluded that the arrow he shoots splatters paint against Taehyung’s profile. In Mama, Hoseok pulls feathers out of the walls and becomes almost terrified at the sight of them – I know this could be overanalyzing again, but it could also be meant as a double meaning as well as Jimin. I think Hoseok knows what Taehyung is doing. He doesn’t want his friend to fall too far into this hole the murder of his father has launched him into. But Hoseok cannot help him because he is elsewhere (matured? In his own hell? In Mama? I’m not too sure) and he is living with the guilt that he can tear the feathers from Taehyung’s wings, but cannot bring him up. Icarus flew too close to the sun and his father could not save him, after all.

Another thing I question is if the order of which they exit the museum, is the order of which they mature. Jungkook and Namjoon, Hoseok, Jimin and Yoongi, and then Taehyung and Jin. According to everything else I’ve taken into account, it seems reasonable, yet as to why Hoseok seems secluded from the others in context of Spring Day too, I am unsure.

I guess I have to bring Not Today into this now, too. I don’t think anyone was shot. I think it was what it could have been, since Jungkook’s eye in the shot of him seeing him standing while the others have fallen is not his eye in that moment. What happened is “not today”. It’s what would have happened if BTS didn’t leave Omelas and stayed there until youth came as the death of them. Reality would have caught up with them. As for the formation of their running, I think it makes a lot of sense for it to be like it is. Jungkook leads, and Jin and Taehyung are just behind him because, in a way, those two are the ones closest to peaking maturity before they fall into the ideologies that youth is home and happiness. One thing I have noticed, however, is that it doesn’t appear Namjoon was “shot”. Whether this is a case of he should have been when filming the MV, I don’t think Bighit would have made that mistake, so I believe that the time from which that could have been is on the timeline where Namjoon and Jungkook were the only ones who had made it out of Omelas and on the train we see them on at the beginning of Spring Day.

One thing I am very sure of, however, is that BTS will take this concept further. I hope they do. I hope I can continue to question every detail because honestly, I find it fun. It’s something different. I’m a literature enthusiast who nerds out over essays, so obviously this is something I would enjoy. BTS have shown us the ways they can take this concept further and the potential it has, and I really hope they do. If anyone wants to talk about this theory/stream of consciousness, then please do. And If anyone wants me to go into depth about certain characters/pairings/concepts, then I would more than happily do so. This is such a wonderful idea, and I am unbelievably proud.

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talikhar · 5 years ago

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I AM WIDE AWAKE

WOKE AF- The mind opening inner ponderings, visions and realizations of a brain both blessed and cursed with second sight.

WRITTEN THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017!

FRIENDS I RESPECT THE FACT YOU ARE ENTITLED TO YOUR VIEWS, YOUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND HOW YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE YOUR LIFE. BUT I’VE SEEN LURKING OF EVIL SO SUBTLE, MOVING SO SWIFTLY, ENGULFING THE WORLD COMPLETELY AND CORRODING THE SOULS OF SO MANY. IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED SINFUL TO TELL A PERSON DIRECTLY WHAT THEIR FUTURE IS, HOWEVER WE HAVE THE POWER AND CAPACITY TO CHANGE THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND MOLD OUR LIVES DIFFERENTLY. SO HOPING TO SPREAD SOME WISDOM, SPEAKING ALLEGORICALLY AND SHARING MY PERCEPTIONS AND CONCERNS IN A BOTH DEEPLY PHILOSOPHICAL AND LIGHT HEARTENING HUMOROUS FASHION, HERE IT GOES... OH, AND DISCLAIMER... I AM NOT A WITCH!! THE FLAG/ ANTHEM ISSUE IS DRIVING ME NUTS! WHY?

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE IS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE SUFFERING AND DYING HORRIBLE DEATHS DUE TO NATURAL DISASTERS IN APOCALYPTIC SCALES, WE HAVE PLAGUES LIKE THE ZIKA VIRUS, VOLCANO ERUPTIONS, FIRES, DROUGHTS, HURRICANES, EARTHQUAKES AND TSUNAMIS, ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT MUTATING VIRUSES PLUS THAT LOOMING GIANT ASTEROID AND PEOPLE ARE GOING INSANE OVER A FLAG AND A SONG. ONE IS AN INANIMATE OBJECT AND THE OTHER AND ABSTRACT IDEOLOGY THE OTHER HUMAN LIVES!!!!!! LATER ON ANOTHER OCCASION WE'LL TALK ON THE THEORY OF HOW THE MAYAN CALENDAR WAS NOT ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD BUT THE TIPPING POINT WHERE IT WAS UP TO THIS GENERATION TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A FUTURE... THE BEGINNING OF A POTENTIAL END.

SO, MY TWO CENTS IS...(AND SINCE I'M SO BROKE I’M ALMOST DESTITUTE , I MOST DEFINITIVELY GONNA NEED THOSE PENNIES BACK,TOO!) PEOPLE NEED TO GET WOKE AF BEFORE WE WIPE YOURSELF FROM THIS PLANET. I KNOW YOU FEEL IT, TOO; THAT VORTEX OF DESPAIR IS SUCKING ALL OF US IN, SPINNING FASTER AND FASTER.

2. THAT IF YOU WANT TO POST THAT THE NFL PROTEST IS DISRESPECTFUL AND YOU FEEL SO OFFENDED BY THESE BLACK MEN, TO THE POINT YOU WILL STOP GOING TO FOOTBALL GAMES... GO ON AND YOU DO YOU BU! JUST PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS DID NOT SAY ANYWHERE THAT YOU CAN'T KNEEL AND FOOTBALL GAMES DID NOT EVEN EXIST BACK THEN!! BUT THEY DID SAY THE FLAG HAS TO BE PRESENTED AND DISPOSED IN VERY SPECIFIC WAY I BET NONE OF YOU FOLLOW. THEY WERE TOTALLY ANAL ABOUT IT, BY THE WAY. SO, NEXT FOURTH OF JULY MAKE SURE YOU RANT AND RAVE, POST ABOUT AND FEEL UTTERLY OFFENDED TO YOUR CORE ABOUT THE SALE AND MISUSE OF THE FLAG FOR PROFIT AND BOYCOTT EVERY STORE THAT HAS PAPER PLATES AND NAPKINS WITH NOT ONLY THE FLAG BUT A REPRESENTATION OF THE FLAG SUCH AS COLORS, STARS AND STRIPES, EVEN IF IT IS A PARTIAL ONE!!! HOW DARE YOU THROW THEM RED, WHITE AND BLUE SOLO CUPS REEKING OF STALE BEER IN THE GARBAGE RECEPTACLE AFTERWARDS TOO... SHAME ON YOU! TSK, TSK,TSK (LOL) AND THOSE FIRE CRACKERS YOU SEEM TO LOVE SETTING ON FIRE AND EXPLODING ALL WEEK LONG UNTIL UNGODLY HOURS EVEN WHEN MANY FREAKED OUT DOGS, VETERANS WITH PTSD AND PEOPLE TRYING TO SLEEP ARE SUFFERING? NEWSFLASH PATRIOT: YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN BURNING HUNDREDS OF LITTLE USA FLAGS YOURSELF FOR YEARS!! THAT GOES ALSO FOR YOUR BEER CANS, BANDANNAS, THONG BIKINIS AND BOXERS (THE HUMANITY!), PAJAMAS, COUNTRY MUSIC T-SHIRTS, CAR STICKERS, BABY DIAPERS, EVEN YOUR DEBIT AND CREDIT CARDS. DEAR JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH, THE OUTRAGE... WHAT BLASPHEMY IS THIS?!! (JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, THE LATTER INTERJECTION IS PURE, UNFILTERED SARCASM). NOWADAYS I AM DOING THE FACE-PALM AND SHAKING MY HEAD IN DISBELIEF SO HARD AND SO OFTEN MY COGNIZANT, VERBAL AND MOTOR SKILLS ARE STARTING TO GET AFFECTED. OKAY?

3. I NEED YOU TO BE AWARE OF THE REASON THE ANTHEM WAS CREATED, THE INSPIRATION FOR IT AND STAY OPEN MINDED TO BECOME WISER AND RELEARN OUR HISTORY AS IT HAPPENED, NOT LIKE WHAT WAS CONVENIENTLY LEFT OUT IN OUR SCHOOL BOOKS. TRY AND DO THIS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF YOU AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, IF WE SURVIVE THE PATH THESE BIG HEADED LOONIES RUNNING NORTH KOREA, AMERICA, RUSSIA AND SAUDI ARABIA, VENEZUELA, AND THE REST ARE LEADING US UP TO. THE VERSE WE SING IS BEAUTIFUL, PROUD AND STRONG BUT THE INSPIRATION FOR IT AND THE STORY BEHIND IT IS HORRIFIC AND SHAMEFUL... THE COMPOSER WAS TAKING GREAT SATISFACTION IN THE DEATHS OF SLAVES THAT HAD FREED THEMSELVES. IT WAS ABOUT A LAND OF THE FREE, BUT THE FREEDOM WAS FOR THE IMMIGRANT WHITE MEN AND THEIR OFFSPRING ONLY, NOT FOR THE NATIVE AMERICAN WHO IS THE AUTHENTIC ORIGINAL AMERICAN. THE ONES THAT WANTED TO HELP THE WHITE MEN SURVIVE IN THEIR NEW WORLD AND SHARE ALL THEY HAD AND IN RETURN WENT THROUGH GENOCIDE AND BECAME VICTIMS OF COUNTLESS HORRORS. THIS FREEDOM WAS ALSO NOT FOR THE AFRICAN SLAVES THAT WERE BROUGHT HERE AGAINST THEIR WILL OR THEIR DESCENDANTS WHO WERE ALSO TERRORIZED, TORTURED, RAPED AND MURDERED. AND GENERATION AFTER GENERATION BLACK MEN AND WOMEN HAVE CONTINUED TO SUFFER COUNTLESS ABUSES AND DISCRIMINATION AND DESPICABLE ACTS OF VIOLENCE SO ATROCIOUS, IT EASILY COULD HAVE LEFT MARKS EMBEDDED DEEPLY IN THE SUBCONSCIOUS LEVEL AND GENETICAL STRANDS . MANY OTHERS HAVE COME FROM COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD AND EACH GROUP HAVE BROUGHT THEIR OWN COLOR AND TEXTURE TO THE FABRIC THAT HAS MADE THIS COUNTRY UNIQUE AND SPECIAL. PUERTO RICANS THAT CAME TO USA AND WORKED IN EVERYTHING AND IN BETWEEN: FIRST AGRICULTURE, THEN AS SOME BARRIERS WERE BROKEN AND WERE ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING AS POLICEMEN, TEACHERS, TAXI DRIVERS, NASA ENGINEERS. THE ASIAN ALSO BROUGHT COUNTLESS CONTRIBUTIONS, WORKED IN THE FIELD BUILDING TRAIN TRACKS AND THEN EVERYTHING FROM FOOD SERVICE, LAUNDROMATS THEN TECHNOLOGY, MATH AND SCIENCE AS DID THE IRISH, WHO ALSO HAD SUFFERED A PERIOD OF SLAVERY AND DISCRIMINATION, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY THAT CONTINUES TO BE ATTACKED AS THE REASON FOR EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG IN THE COUNTRY (WTF?!!). AND I MEAN THE JEWISH RELIGION, NOT THE FAR-RIGHT ISRAELI LEADERSHIP COMMITTING THE GENOCIDE OF PALESTINIANS. THE ITALIANS THAT ALSO HAVE SUCH BEAUTIFUL CULTURE AND WAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AND GENERALIZED AS MAFIOSO'S OR DUMB, LAZY, I COULD GO ON AND ON, THE GREEK, THE HINDU, THE GERMANS. WE ALL EXPERIENCED A LOT OF THE SAME TRIBULATIONS, BUT NONE AS SEVERE, CONSTANT AND PALPABLE AS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN. PUERTO RICO WAS SOLD TO USA AND THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE ISLAND THAT RIGHTFULLY PROTESTED BEING FORCED TO CHANGE THEIR WAY OF LIFE...THEY WERE LYNCHED. THEN VIEQUES WAS USED AS A MILITARY TEST SITE LEAVING BEHIND POLLUTION AND SICKNESS, AND PUERTO RICAN WOMEN WERE USED AS GUINEA PIGS TO TEST BIRTH CONTROL PILLS. MEXICO? THE SAME, TOOK THEIR LAND GUNS BLAZING AND NOW PEOPLE DARE TELL THEM TO GO HOME WHEN THEY WERE HERE FIRST. HAWAII, ALSO THE SAME.. GOBBLED UP AND MADE INTO A CARICATURE AND THEIR LANDS PASSED ON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION STOLEN AND SOLD. WE ALL LEARNED TO ADAPT AND EMBRACE MOST OF THE CHANGES AND WE CAN FORGIVE BUT CAN'T FORGET. WE LOVE THIS COUNTRY DESPITE OF IT ALL, BUT WE ARE STILL WAYS TO GO TO BE RECIPROCATED IN THE SAME MANNER WHICH IS I THINK SO SIMPLE AND GOLLY, GEE... IT’S FREE: RESPECT US, OUR CULTURE, RELIGIONS AND LANGUAGE, AND LET US REALLY BE A PART OF THIS COUNTRY BY LETTING OUR VOICES BE HEARD... AND REALLY LISTEN. JUST DON'T MAKE UNGODLY THINGS LIKE A SONG AND A FLAG INTO FALSE IDOLS AND LOOK INTO UNITING AND ACCEPTING EACH OTHER AS EQUALS. CARE ABOUT THE REAL INJUSTICES PEOPLE ARE LIVING STILL ON THIS DAY AN AGE, TRY TO WALK A MILE IN THEIR SHOES. UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEGATIVE AND EVIL DONE IN THIS WORLD WAS MOSTLY DUE TO A MINORITY OF CHARACTERS THAT WERE ABLE TO SNEAK THEMSELVES IN TO THE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. THE MONEY TRULY HAS BEEN THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. IT IS MONEY THAT HAS ALLOWED THESE PEOPLE TO BUY MINIONS TO DO THEIR BIDING, MONEY TO BUILD AND BUY THEIR MUSKETS, RIFLES, CANNONS AND ROCKETS AND THE MILITIA AND MERCENARIES TO DO THEIR BIDING AND DESTROY AND ANNIHILATE EVERYTHING AND ANYONE THAT GETS IN THEIR IN PATH FOR MORE MONEY AND POWER. INSTILLING FEAR AND USING CUNNING CHARMS, TWISTED LOGIC AND MISINTERPRETATION OF HOLY SCRIPTURES FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS HAVE CONVINCED SO MANY THAT EVERYTHING THEY DO WILL BENEFIT THEM AT SOME POINT AND THAT IT’S ALL FOR LOVE AND COUNTRY. THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT PEOPLE RESIST, PROTEST, RAISE THEIR FIST, MAKE A STINK, STOMP YOUR FEET...HELL NO, WE NEED TO BECOME WISER AND OPEN OUR EYES WIDER. BECAUSE I AM TIRED OF HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF. BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL OF US LOOKING AROUND, SIDE TO SIDE, PLACING BLAME ON EACH OTHER INSTEAD OF LOOKING UP AT THEM, UNITING AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. I AM WOKE AS FUCK... I PRAY MORE PEOPLE REALIZE THIS AND BECOME PART OF A SOLUTION BEFORE WE ALL PERISH. LET US NOT FALL PREY TO WHAT REALLY IS GOING ON... AGAIN, OPEN YOUR EYES WIDE, LISTEN, REALLY LISTEN. DON'T BE LAZY AND RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH. MAYBE THEN YOU'LL WILL JOIN US, THE ONES THAT ARE

#WOKEASFUCK

MY APOLOGIES FOR THE CRASSNESS OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COLLOQUIALISM OR, URBAN LINGUISTICS, BUT IT MEANS REACHING A SUPERLATIVE SCALE OF AWARENESS IN THIS GENERATION, AND I PERSONALLY KIND OF DIG IT. BUT I DIGRESS... THE BAD ONES ARE A MINORITY STILL, BUT THE EVIL IS SPREADING FASTER, AND AS WE ARE BECOMING A RETROGRADE SOCIETY IN MANY WAYS, EVEN WITH ALL THESE AMAZING TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGHS OF THIS CENTURY, THEY ARE PUTTING BLINDERS ON THE INNOCENT, ON THE IGNORANT AND CLOSE MINDED AND THEY ARE RECRUITING MINIONS THAT MORE THAN EVER FOLLOW THEM NOT OUT OF FEAR OR BECAUSE OF POVERTY BUT BECAUSE OF GREED AND THE EVIL SATISFACTION THEY GET FROM CONTROLLING AND HURTING OTHERS AND HAVE CONVENIENTLY FOUND A SOULLESS LEADER AFTER THEIR OWN DARK HEARTS.

SCHOOLS SHOULD HAVE HISTORY CLASSES THAT TEACH MORE IN A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE, EMPHASIZING ON EVERYBODY'S STRUGGLES, CONTRIBUTIONS AND TRIUMPHS AND HOW MUCH WE ARE ALL THE SAME AND OWE SO MUCH TO EACH OTHER. SADLY WE ARE BASICALLY IN A PLATEAU. STUCK, AS IN MANY WAYS BEING UNDER THE SAME SOCIETAL STANDARDS THAT WE WERE IN THOUSANDS YEARS AGO. THE KING, THE CLERGY AND THE NOBLES... AND WE THE THE PEOPLE? WERE ARE THE PEONS, PLEBEIANS, THEIR SLAVE LABOR, COURTESANS, PERFORMERS AND BUFFOONS. ONLY DIFFERENCE IS IN MODERN TIMES? THE NOBLES, WHICH ARE THE 1% ELITE AND THE CORPORATIONS ARE MORE POWERFUL AND IN CHARGE OF THE FATE OF THE COUNTRY THAN THE KING HIMSELF. A KING THAT IS BROUGHT TO POWER NOT BY RIGHT OF BIRTH BUT BY THE NOBLES' MONETARY DONATIONS TO THEIR POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND PROMISE OF FUTURE COUNTLESS RICHES IF THEY STAY IN LINE AND THEIR BIDDING. REPUBLICAN LEADERS HIGHLY COMPLIANT WITH THEIR PATHOLOGICAL ALIENATION FROM REALITY OUTSIDE OF THEIR GREED FOR MONEY, POWER AND CONTROL IS A VERY COMPLIANT PUPPET.

THE REPUBLICAN ALWAYS THE MASTER THAT ONLY THROWS THE DOG THE BONE ONLY AFTER THEY SUCKED OUT EVERY BIT AND MORSEL DOWN TO THE MARROW. THE DEMOCRAT POLITICIANS WERE MORE OF A OPEN INCLUSIVE IDEOLOGIST BUT LATELY FALLEN VICTIM TO THAT CORPORATE DONOR SEDUCTION OF GREED. SADLY MANY PEONS RECENTLY FAILED TO REALIZE THAT STILL THIS WAS THE LESSER EVIL AS THIS MASTER MAY STILL LEAVE ONLY THE BONE BUT IT AT LEAST WILL HAVE THE CARTILAGE AND SOME MEAT ON IT AND UNLIKE THE REPUBLICAN MASTER, IF YOU STAR CHOKING THE BONE THEY WILL TAKE YOU TO THE VET. REPUBLICAN MASTER THROWS YOU IN THE BAG BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR LAST BREATH AND DRIVES BY A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT WERE HE DISPOSES OF THE BAG SO HE DOESN'T HAVE TO BOTHER WITH DIGGING A HOLE IN THE YARD AND RUIN THEIR MANICURED LAWN OR DEAL WITH THE STENCH OF YOUR ROTTING BODY. THAT'S WHY MY INCLINATION IS LIBERAL PROGRESSIVE. I REALIZE MANY THINK LIBERAL MASTER WILL JUST GO CRAZY THROWING THE WHOLE CHICKENS TO THE DOGS, TO THE POINT THEY RUN OUT OF CHICKENS, BUT I'M CONFIDENT THEY CAN FIND A WAY TO FIGURE IT OUT PLUS THEY WILL SET UP FOR YEARLY WELLNESS CHECK UP AT THE VETS, AND GET US TREATS LIKE A BETTER EDUCATION SYSTEM, FREE COLLEGE AND MORE. LIBERAL /PROGRESSIVE /INDEPENDENT MASTER AFTER ALL BELIEVES IN SOMETHING CALLED SCIENCE AND COMPLETE AND FAIR EQUALITY AND THOSE TWO THING ARE ESSENTIAL TO BREAK THIS CORRUPTED MOLD. THE CLERY? THAT IS ANOTHER ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED SEPARATELY BECAUSE EVEN JESUS ADVOCATED FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, THEY WANTED IN DIBS ON THE LOOT AND MAINTAINING THE POWER OVER THE PEOPLE., BECOMING AND UNHOLY TRIFECTA OF EVIL TYRANNY AND GREED.

IN CLOSING, SPECIALLY AFTER THAT EXTREMELY WEIRD AND RANDOM "THROW THE DOG A BONE' ANALOGY...DON'T LET THEM CONTINUE TO KEEP US BLINDED BY THE PROPAGANDIST MEDIA LIKE FOX NEWS, ALL THE BRAINWASHING POLITICIANS, THE ZOMBIE TRANCE INDUCING WORLDWIDE WEB AND ALL THE FALSEHOODS SURROUNDING US AS WE ARE PINNED AGAINST EACH OTHER OVER OUR DIFFERENCES OF CULTURE, RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND RACE. THEY HAVE US RUNNING AROUND LIKE CHICKENS (GEE! AGAIN WITH THE FUCKING CHICKENS) WITH OUR HEADS CUT-OFF SO WE DON'T FIGURE IT OUT AND COME TO STORM THEIR CASTLES!

#FUCKTRUMP #gopisevil #wokeaf #separationofchurchandstate #googlerepublicansexoffenderlist #bernie2020

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