#and HONESTLY

[acommonanomaly]

I’ve seen a lot of criticisms of how the Crows are portrayed in The Veilguard, the biggest one being that they are “sanitized,” and while I can sort of see why people think this, I personally don’t see it. 

I was thrilled with the Crows in the Veilguard. My Crow Rook playthrough was so satisfying, and I came to love the Crows even more than I did before. 

Maybe that’s because I don’t feel the need to be constantly reminded that they are assassins who kill people for money. Or maybe it’s that I love them because they are assassins who kill people for money. I thoroughly enjoy morally gray characters, those who struggle against or give in entirely to the darker sides of their natures. I enjoy them because they are a warning of what any of us could become under the right (or wrong) circumstances.

And that’s why it’s so vital to me that they are not dehumanized. 

Of course some of these people who have gathered together as a group are going to form found families. I LIVE for that shit. Them being assassins doesn’t mean they're incapable of seeking friendship, family, and love. They’re people. Of course they’re going to fight for the freedom of their city and their people when Treviso is occupied. That doesn’t mean they aren’t assassins anymore and it doesn’t mean they’re knights in shining armor. It means they’re people fighting for what they love.

Zevran told us about the horrible recruiting methods of house Arainai and their torture of children. But it’s also heavily implied that he really cleaned house and stirred up change. I like to think that his campaign against his house made waves, that it changed some things. Not to mention, I find it very likely that each house has its own methods, its own way of doing things. 

And really, there’s no reason to believe that there isn’t dark shit still going on behind some closed doors just because the Crows don’t open those doors to Rook, especially a non-Crow Rook. The Crows not showing dark shit to this ally who is helping them doesn’t mean they don’t have dark shit going on. The Crows absolutely have their infighting and betrayals, look what happened with Illario!

(As a side note: I would have loved for Caterina to have been called out for her abuse of Illario and Lucanis, but Lucanis has been through a crap-ton of trauma and probably feels like Caterina is all he has left, especially after Illario’s betrayal. It makes sense that he’s not ready to face that just yet.)

What I find really fascinating is how a lot of the Crows seem to see themselves. The Crows grow up in a place where being an assassin has become completely normalized. Antiva has no standing army and relies on the reputation of the Crows to deter other nations from engaging in open conflict with them. Many of the Crows seem proud to be Crows.

And they have their own code they live by, even if we in the real world wouldn’t find it a particularly moral one. 

It’s illustrated most clearly in regards to Jacobus:

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Imagine the chaos that would ensue if Crows were allowed to just kill willy nilly? How would they look then? They do not want to be seen as mindless killers. They don’t want their new recruits to fall into the habit of killing without a contract, as this would make them something other than what they would like to see themselves as. 

This makes sense and I like seeing it examined.

I love the Crows being explored more deeply and given more depth. I love seeing them as people as well as assassins. I would love to see even more of it, to see how these people who go out and kill for money behave once they’re not on the job. 

This is good stuff and I’m all for it. 

[newgrean]

They only know one senator

[artrealla]

read this fic for steve losing his fucking mind

[insomniphic]

TW: Attempt for Suicide and spoilers to the Wisdom Saga

I like to think that during Odysseus' attempt, he wasn't driven purely by emotion and still continued to think of a way out. It's simply because of his emotion that his actions are so drastic.

[ivvyela]

listen idk what to think of rdj as doctor doom but i DO know the irondad & spider-son ao3 tag is about to get crazy

[orion-archives]

MegOp fans 0.5 seconds after arriving at the movie theater for TF ONE:

[maximura]

[scramratz]

Being bisexual is only cool if you're transgender or Frank Ocean

[makorragal-312]

Have you spent the last 24 hours liking every single picture and gif of the kiss since the episode or are you just in a good mood?

[tremendously-crazy]

the world's most famous fictional character is a neurodivergent, gay/aroace man, do what you will with that information

[chunk0k0]

Trying to keep the communication with his audience

[dysthoepiadaily]

damn, you guys are mad about interviewers asking about whether they're dating or not? I thought it was funny

[bloodpen-to-paper]

The Lawyers of Charlie Slimecicle

Jaiden: Set the stage with her opening statement, laying out the format of the trial and the demands of her client (along with her team's claims against the defendant)

BadBoyHalo: Swooped in with counter-evidence when Mariana's team had a lead

Quackity: Assisted as a translator between teams and clarified misconceptions in favor of his client

Fit: Bribed the judge. Also offered to run over the judge with his motor boat if the trial didn't go their way

Foolish: Got exposed for sleeping with the defense prior to the trial, did a 180 and decided to prosecute against his team

Tilin: Egg (got called in for Jury Duty)

Bonus

Roier: Mariana's sole lawyer, who had to go against 5 attorneys as part of a seemingly loosing battle considering his client was the one who committed egg murder. Held his own quite well with counter arguments that gave his client a fighting chance. Truly, the underrated MVP of the trial

[tracklessreason]

Honestly comfortable with Lupin III being the last of his bloodline. Canonically he's got plenty of successors (there's a whole show about Lupin VIII that I think got scrapped), but it's poetic in a way that a family built on carrying on the legacy of their name would end because Lupin chose a real family. Not a kid to train up into the next master thief, not a nameless mistress who only serves as an incubator, no. He chooses Jigen, Fujiko, Goemon, and the funny little life they lead together. He's not interested in family as a continuation of a bloodline, but family as the people you choose to ride with, to die with, and maybe, just maybe, to live with. Going out in style is their thing. Maybe it won't be forever. That's their choice, now and always.

[lilacthebooklover]

jon matteson characters family reunion. richie is ignoring everyone and blasting japanese nightcore on his airpods. roman is here and acting disgusted at the food while linda boasts about her kids (said kids are currently causing mayhem that will probably end in tears). paul has brought emma with him and is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. boy jerry is trying to give him a pep talk on how to propose so he can "do the do" with emma (bj recommends a walk in the woods). the hatchetman bursts in at one point. daniel lost track of time and decided it wasn't worth showing up. gary is happy to be a part of something like he was with the wiggly cult but nobody likes him. wiggly watches for a while then shows up in human form to cause more mayhem, nobody knows who he is, why he looks like them or why he speaks like a toddler but he's freaky and may or may not be on the verge of murder. fun times.