#and Therefore don't truly understand the meaning of their actions

[roboyomo]

speaking of the head and the claw versions of those two (<- tha kenix and azrael)

in my mind they're both completely oblivious to concept of them having free will despite literally being able to kill anyone who disagrees with them and therefore, with them being raised only as living weapons, they are also oblivious to the concept of just doing things For Themselves and not orders.

[reality-shitting]

General realizations ab shifting that helped me

The void is not a realm or a place- it is YOU. You ARE the Void. The Void is solely the awareness of being, fully.

You are not ONE being. Think of the consciousness in you as being interconnected with all other infinite versions of you. These interconnections converge into your full consciousness, the true YOU. It's almost Eldritch to think about.

Something I'm just now thinking of, perhaps this means the subconscious is all other versions of you- you're separated and cut off from experiencing the entirety of being, but that entirety is still there, guiding you from behind the scenes.

No matter what the assumption, "I am" is true. I am kind, as my actions and thoughts show, but I'm also cruel and cold-hearted, as may be the perception of another. I think I'm funny, but someone else may think I'm cheesy- therefore, I am both. And this also goes for the personas of myself in other realities. I am everything. Simultaneously, this also means I am Nothing. I simply am.

To add to the points above, I believe this "Eldritch" conglomerate is what we call the Void state, and would explain why every manifestation happens instantly once we reach this state. Think of it like accessing the files in an infinite data base- all you need to do is find the files you're looking for and download them.

As much as people will try to stress things like "you need to let go" or realizing that shifting is easy, you won't truly be able to understand what they're saying until you experience it.

All things exist at once and every inconceivably small action creates a new reality. As small as "this single cell from 7000 years ago died .000000001 seconds prematurely", and smaller.

Shifting IS easy- in the same way that gleeking or stretching is easy. Some people are able to do it on command or go further than others with no training whatsoever. Others may do it accidentally and sporadically. This does not mean the latter are unable to do these things at will, but they simply need a bit of help learning to do it on command.

Question stressing you out? "But what about this plot hole?", "How does XYZ work??", "What will happen back in my OR???"- STOP. No need to stress yourself over that, this by itself I feel cost me years on my journey. Everything will work out. It doesn't matter how, but it will, and it will either even itself out or be in your favor. Don't even think about those things. Relax.

Another one that held me back MASSIVELY. Struggling to visualize your DR? "I know it has THIS SPECIFIC TABLE in this SPECIFIC place and everything has to be perfect"! No. Your visualization does Not need to be perfect. Nor does it have to be "accurate", really. Once you just let your mind wander and let your subconscious make up it's own layout, it'll help you slip in much more easily. I put so much pressure on myself to make sure I was visualizing my specific reality, and it became so much easier when I just trusted myself to build it up from my subconscious instead of "forcing" a look

They say once it's in the 4D (imagination), it's already real. That's why you're encouraged to embody, think, act, feel as your DR self. Like playing pretend as a kid, you'll be so focused on your imagination, you don't even realize you're in your OR. If you don't shift through that alone, it certainly helps make you feel far more connected. This is also why I came up with the Furina method (although I suppose it's debatable if I really "came up" with it)

Methods/Advice are like pants. Some are too itchy, some are too tight, some you like the feel of but there's just some small flaw. When you find what you were missing, what you needed to hear, it'll be a perfect fit.

[domiiomii]

Sevika is my favorite character but it is hard for me to analyze her because I feel her ending is so unfitting for the rest of her writing and feels so forced it makes me second guess every other thing that was established about her, it is truly sad to me how the conclusion for such an interesting character ends up being imo a lazy way to tie lose ends for the rest of the abandoned Zaun vs. Piltover class war plot line.

I was thinking about this because I found this concept art of how Sevika would use Silco's office as her room after his death and it is so harrowing how for Sevika her entire life was Zaun's liberation.

The thing about her is, unlike Silco who at least had Jinx, she 100% sacrificed her whole personal life for revolution and thus perhaps her compromise to it was even higher than Silco's and then she becomes part of the same system that she spend her whole life fighting against? How do we make any sense of that?

I see Sevika leaving Vander, because of his refusal of fighting against Piltover, as such an important point for her character and I would argue probably the most important we see in establishing who she is, her ideologies and how much she is willing to sacrifice for that dream. Then Act 3 happens and it is such a weird watch for me because clearly the writing was trying to re-establish her as a sort of Vander figure with the whole "we don't hand over our own people" thing (even though I would argue her motivations where ideological while Vander's were personal), her giving a speech on Vander's statue, under his shadow. It feels like an attempt to make her into a "good-zaunite" by making her into a completely de-fanged version of herself and what that ends up meaning is her becoming non-threatening to the status quo and instead becoming part of the system, legitimizing it and therefore protecting it.

In this regard I think that Sevika choosing to follow Silco might be as important as her abandoning Vander. I find their relationship very interesting because they have similar ideologies and Silco is so dependant on Sevika and they both know it, for over 7 years she could have abandoned, betrayed or disposed of him but she didn't because she understood that violence was the only way to liberation and in that path she did all sorts of reprehensible things just like Silco for that ultimate goal again with the understanding that violence was necessary, she chose Silco because she understood that liberation would come through struggle not by manking deals with your oppressors like Vander did... And then just like Vander she ends up doing exactly the same thing, rendering all those years of struggle, all those actions, violence and atrocities meaningless.

And so for me most of what we knew of her character and what was established about her ideology becomes nonsensical when we see how she ended, either you take it as she completely betrayed herself and what she fought for her whole life or she was never the person the writing showed us her to be and just acted without thinking all those years (?). Furthermore we are shown just few episodes before the end how the people of the undercity don't even listen to her, so again it is just confusing how she ends up as a council woman for a city that doesn't even want her.

Ultimately if this was some sort of commentary about how revolutionaries can become sucked into politics and be de-fanged in favor of becoming part of the system rather than fighting it I could accept it even if I didnt like it but with how reactionary and anti-revolutionary s2 is, it just feels more like a "see? violence is never the answer! if you want change just become a diversity hire and change the institutions that oppress you from within!" /sarcasm

[hazashiovo]

Remember in "Sleeping Beauty" the live action how Maleficent had a crow? That's what we're doing now,but with Malleus.

Malleus x crow shifter!Reader

Genre:Fluff, master and loyal servant trope.

Little bird

You always had a thing for shiny,pretty things. No matter whether it was some trash on the ground or a nice ring in a pawn shop.

Shiny objects never failed to grab your attention.

Malleus is shiny and definitely pretty, and you, being you, got attracted to him. Naturally of course.

Malleus is a shiny,pretty fae.

It was near impossible for him not to attract your interes.

Once he realized a certain bird was stalking him, the fae started leaving small amounts of food for you. It always brought a smile on his face when the mysterious bird tilted its head,its dark eyes filled with curiosity. In his eyes,it was such a cute action to do.

He must admit,the bird got his attention,and soon enough it became a habit.

Like crows usually do, you started leaving small trinkets that you personally found pretty, at his window.

It might be a flowery metallic hair clip that attracted you,or maybe some bottle cap with a pretty color.

He appreciated neither less ,it was a curious habit the fae and the animal picked on.

So malleus started reading. About crows,their habits and soon enough he found stories about them.

Those little creatures are quite interesting,it's what he would think while reading a particular sentence that made him think about the bird,once again.

Some say if a crow is fond of somebody they leave gifts as a sign of appreciation and sometimes, loyalty.

When this little black feathered animal chooses a person to grow attached to,it's quite the view to other people. And it means that you, as a person,are enough to gain one animal's trust.

Dark, beautiful creatures of the night, growing attached to complete strangers.

What Malleus didn't know was that inside the dark bird,there was a human soul.

Free to transform whenever they pleased, not really.

You can't shift whenever you want to,unless you want to be seen bare by other students,and you definitely do not want that.

When you're in your animal form you feel free, peaceful to do as you please,fly wherever you want.

Even if you're not truly a crow,the tendencies to behave like one are real besides eating worms and insects. That's not you.

Bleagh.

Before Meeting the tall guy,you used to collect the shiny things you found,but now that he's here, most of the objects you pick up are for him.

He leaves outside his bedroom window bread crumbs,cookie crumbs and whatever the indulging boy thinks is good for you or that you would enjoy.Even if you don't need it,you take them. Mostly to show him you trust him with.

They taste better when somebody gifts them to you. It's a fact.

Soon,Malleus allows himself to touch your head. A gentle rub on your black feathery small head. His green eyes whiden when you push your head in his hand, practically telling him to keep going.

He smiles,as he rubs below your dark beak. Malleus notices the way your eyes close affectionately. He could even imagine a ghostly smile on your beak.

It's one truly cute interaction.

Malleus's friends soon started to notice a particular bird on his shoulder, always watching.

Silver even had a feeling that you understood what they were saying,simply by your body language.

But most of the time crows and ravens are smart birds,some reaching the level of understanding of a 5 year old child.

It's very interesting,you are interesting, especially in Silver's eyes.

But he doesn't pay much attention to you,more busy to focus on Malleus.

You like Silver,he cares about Malleus a lot.

The first time Lillia has met you,he knew that you're not what you seem.

His age isn't a young one, therefore he's been through stuff,and learned things in his life.

Like now,he knows that you're not just a bird. You couldn't fool the older fae even if you tried.

So he silently watches,and he's not ashamed to make comments when you're alone, which isn't often since you're with Malleus most of the time,but still.

This man has you sweating,even if you don't particularly hide yourself on purpose.

Even if you're most comfortable around Malleus in your shifter form,the truth can't be hidden from him forever.

At the same time,you can't just shift in front of him back in your human form.

Meeting him with no clothes on,for the first time even, doesn't really seem like a good first impression.

Unfortunately,that is exactly how it happens. Not the naked part,but let's just say you're not clothed either.

Almost 6 months of constantly being on Malleus's shoulder taught you his schedule. So seeing him in his dorm room,eyes wide open watching your form,that's covered by his blanket.

Your original plan was to shift in his room, quickly change in some clothes that belong to him,and tell him the truth about who you truly are.

Simple as that.

It wasn't simple as that. Malleus arrived in his room earlier than he usually does, barely giving you time to cover yourself up.

Now this situation is exactly not the kind that you wanted to land in.

It's not like you could've brought your own clothes in Malleus's room. Your animal form can't carry that much weight,after all it's a small bird.

"Who are you?" Malleus's voice breaks your line of taughts,all thinking of your failed plan and the embarrassment of being in such a situation.

"This isn't what it looks like." The fae holds a curious expression,after all not every day he's met with a naked person in his chambers. Now that he thinks of it,you do white look familiar,but he just can't figure it out from where.

"Malleus,I swear I'm not a creep or anything of the sort." His silence allows you to continue explaining yourself,the blanket around you getting squeezed tighter around you, praying to whatever God was mocking you that this blanket remains on your naked body.

"You know my name?" You watch as the said boy moves closer towards you,now more curious than before.

You squint your eyes, focused on the floor,trying to find the right words to explain yourself.

How do you tell the boy you're completely loyal to,that you're actually a person with the ability to shift forms.

Exactly,you try explaining it.

"I know everything about you, not in a weird stalking way,don't get me wrong." Swallowing the lump in your throat,you meet eyes with the dark haired fae.

This situation is less than comfortable for you.

"Then do explain,what are you doing in my bedroom and why are you bare?"He leaves out the part where you mentioned knowing him,and focused on the important matter.

"Well,I wanted to tell you the truth,or rather show you the truth but..." A sigh leaves your lips at the failure of your oh so great plan, "I didn't have enough time."

He watches as you follow his steps with your eyes,the deja Vu clear as day.

Just who is this interesting person who claims to know Malleus Draconia?

"Say, child of man, what might the truth be? The one you desired to tell me so bad that it was necessary for you to be bare in my room. Enlighten me." Malleus speaks,voice steady and calm,unlike yours. Shaky and anxious.

"I will gladly talk to you...mind if I ask but, can I borrow some clothes?" The question leaves Malleus a bit shocked,only nodding in agreement.

What shocked him even more was that you knew from where to take the clothes.

Excusing yourself to change,you don't miss the unusual expression on Malleus's face. Not so often do you get to see him expressing such an emotion, especially one you caused.

Finally dressed,you dare to properly meet eyes with Malleus. Ready to explain yourself properly.

"Now,I owe you an explanation." The boy takes a few seconds to take in your new appearance,his clothes looking quite nice on you.

"That you do,child of man. Starting by why you were in my room?" He doesn't take his eyes off you,instead fixates them in your eyes. There it was again,that sense of familiarity. Like he's known you for a long time.

"I came to your room, because I wished to show you who I truly was." A deep breath in,and an exhale. It's time to break it to him,that's the whole reason why you came here , right?

Your eyes dart around the room,a singular object catching your eye. A shiny silver ring you found on campus a couple months ago.

Making quick effort,you move towards the table to pick up the ring.

Malleus realizes it,and before your hand could make contact with the piece of jewelry his palm wraps around your wrist, stopping you immediately.

"How is you touching my belongings going to answer any of my questions? Are you perhaps here to steal,human?" His green radiant eyes narrow at you,gaze burning into your own. This ring could never be worn by the fae. Unfortunately you learned that one of Malleus's weaknesses is silver.

If you had known before you would've kept the ring to yourself. Even with his condition,Malleus still kept it, because it was a gift from his loyal little bird.

"Allow me," your soft eyes break contact with his narrowed ones,just for a second. He allows you to pick up the ring,his gaze fixated on what you're trying to show him.

"I brought this to you 3 Months ago,you fed me candy bits,even if it's unhealthy for a bird,I accepted them." Malleus's narrowed eyes widen he seems to be doing it a lot nowadays,or is it just the effect you have on him? Maybe.

"Now how could you have known that,and why would you refer to yourself as a bird?" He's not quite getting the hang of the situation,in his defense,this has never happened before.

You sigh,maybe the best thing to do is just show him,but then when you'll turn back you'll be naked again. Ugh...this is a curse.

"What if I just show you instead?" This was more a question towards yourself rather than for him,even so,Malleus nods. Carefully watching you as you back away.

You take a deep breath in,and there it is. The clothes you just borrowed from the tall male in a pile on the ground.

His brows furrow, was this a trick? Did you wish to play a prank on him?

He doesn't get to drown to deep in his thoughts,the sudden movement in the pile of clothes draws his attention.

The boy slightly bends down, trying to get a glimpse of whatever might be there. And out of the clothes,a crow emerges, a black feathered beautiful crow.

Not just any Crow,but you.

Now it's clear,why you were so familiar in the boys eyes.

Even so,the realization hits him hard, especially when you take your designed place on his shoulder.

Malleus's eyes link with the bird's,your eyes."It's...you?" Voice questionable,you knew he wouldn't have an extreme reaction. The time spent with him taught you that.

From your beak, the ring lays securely gripped. The fae's hand extends, allowing you to drop it in,only for a few seconds. The metal burning his porcelain hands. The ring quickly lands on the table, remaining as nothing more than a gift,and a decoration to his dark room.

You cow,like Malleus could understand you. It feels good to show yourself to him,not having to carry what felt like a horrible lie in your chest.

Once the shock wears off, he smiles. That warm beautiful smile that warmed your heart every time you saw it.

Fortunately,most of the time it was directed to you,after you brought him something nice from one of your trips outside the school.

"You're quite the interesting one,little birdie." He takes the liberty to adjust your position, setting you on his wrist.

"You never fail to surprise me." His white,large hand gently pet your little head,right above the beak. He swears he could hear you purr,like a cat.

Maybe it was only his imagination,but the way your head once again leaned into his palm,that wasn't his mind.

You two make quite the pair.

.

.

I had this little idea and I just had to write it. Maybe I'll make a part two to it, depending on what ideas I get next.

[undercover-stories]

Blaming Wei Wuxian for Jin Zixuan's death does not make sense, and I don't understand why some people think so. Imagine for example in a modern day scenario, a homeless man is being attacked by several cops, while on his way to his sisters house, who have very clear intentions to kill him (I equate the Jins to cops because no matter what they do it will seen by many as "necessary" and they will not be charged for their crimes no matter how bad it is because they have the power and influence to prevent that from happening)

So in defense the homeless person sets his dog, that he had trained to protect him, on them whilst they are actively shooting at him (if you have a better representation of Wen Ning for this scenario I'd genuinely love to hear it. I chose a dog because whilst they were trained, they still have their own instincts that will influence the way they protect. Something like a gun, which someone had suggested, does not encompass the complexity of his actions even as a fierce corpse)

In the midst of this chaos, whilst the homeless person is still being shot at, another cop suddenly shows up and tells him to get his dog under control, again, whilst the homeless man is STILL being shot at and the new cop is not stopping them. The homeless man has nowhere to hide or run. Calling his dog off will be a death sentence with nothing to distract the other cops trying to kill him. As this new cop approaches closer to the homeless man, wearing the same outfit as the other cops, the dog detects him as a threat (understandably) and attacks him and unfortunately kills him.

The death is again unfortunate but in this mess of a situation, can you honestly place the blame on the homeless man and his dog who were simply trying to protect themselves from a very real and lethal threat? OR do you instead place the blame on the cops who'd started their planned and lethal assault and a bit on the dead cop who somehow thought it was a good idea to step into an active shootout zone (by the cops). Be honest and drop your biases. Who is truly at fault here?

Not to mention, afterwards, the homeless person finds out the same cops (and more) are planning to attack the homeless community he'd been protecting as revenge. So in desperation, the homeless person intercepts them and tries to talk, but before he can even finish, he is shot and wounded. Realizing that the cops won't listen to reason, he defends himself and attacks back in the hopes that he can stop them from killing his homeless community. Again, in all honesty, who is truly to blame here?

Even from a legal aspect, the homeless man would be seen as defending himself and, therefore, had the right to fight back. So how is Wei Ying in anyway at fault here? Him placing the blame on himself doesn't mean it's actually his fault. It's just makes his judgment on himself harsh. Especially since the point of the novel is to contrast a characters words and ideas to the actual story that we read.

[olderthannetfic]

In 21 years of writing fanfic, I had never had a comment genuinely make me feel frustrated and exasperated enough to rant. That ended yesterday, with someone getting annoyed by my use of the word 'minor' in a story. Bruh. A character who is a lawyer is going to differentiate between minors and adults because the law treats them very differently. I don't know how it works abroad, but in the United States, the law does factor age into things. A 4 or 14 or 24 year old have different levels of responsibility for their actions/capacity to understand their actions and therefore culpability in a court of law.

"Minors is insulting! Say kids!" This dude is a lawyer. He canonically says "minors" and "adults" in the source material. The character is referring to is a teen, not a child, also. Teens are, depending on the situation, usually not legally treated as adults in a court of law. They are, in criminal cases, treated differently from a child who is a preteen. Again, 4 and 14 are massively different ages cognitively and developmentally.

"I hate when people call kids teens or minors. It's degrading language." Teen means 13 to 19. Minor means under the age of majority, which in the country canon is set in is 18 years of age. 5/7ths of teens are under the age of majority. All of them are teens.

"Making him say minors feels predatory like he's not even acknowledging that's an actual whole-ass child!" He is not calling the 14 year old an adult. He is not preying on them. Legal documents from papers to the law to statements make this difference noted not because all these people wanna bang the 14 year old but because 14 is not an adult.

"Why can't he just say kid like a normal person?" Because kid is not a legal term. Child, defined as under 13 or under 18 depending on the law, does sometimes pop up, but you'll see the word minors a lot all over US law. Everywhere. All the time.

And before someone says, "ugh, the commenter must be an annoying teen/kid/minor", while you'd like to hope so, I saw their fandom tumblr (same name) pop up in a reblog of a post and clicked on the bio.

They're 35, soon to be 36. This isn't a 19 year old arguing teens are kids because seeing how teens act at his college has convinced him these aren't adults (which would be a fair argument; I have seen some silly, silly freshman, living three blocks from the university). This is someone old enough to have a teenager arguing that "minor" and "teen" are somehow morally wrong words to use.

I genuinely do try not to use offensive language unless it's in-character. I don't write everyone as a snarky MCU style everything-is-a-joke you-suck-lmao jackass. But this is in-character. And more than that, this is how people talk every single day in the real world and have for centuries.

This is the only truly can't-get-it-out-of-my-head baffling comment I've ever gotten. My comment luck has always been great, but I guess it had to run out sometime. (Not that I haven't had rude comments. It's just that the rudeness made sense in what the person hated.)

--

[acourtofthought]

"Elain handled the darkness of the Cauldron therefore she can handle Azriel's darkness."

Elain handled the Cauldron because she's brave and has strength of character. Using that to try to prove that she'd be fine with Azriel's cruelty darkness is so far off the mark it's wild.

Feyre, married to the High Lord of the NC - a HL who who misted people at Amarantha’s behest, who stole from someone he would have liked to have as a friend, who shamed Feyre and called her human trash (all in order to protect her and Velaris), when she herself brought down an entire court filled with innocent people to take out her revenge on Tamlin, even struggled around Az at first.

Currently struggles with Az's actions:

The author herself said she'd be scared of Az:

She wrote Rhys saying Az's stare sometimes scares the shit out of him.

Azriel created a symphony of pain for his victims, he's not being forced into taking things to that sort of extreme. That's not someone just doing what they have to do, that's someone taking things well beyond necessity.

Yet somehow Elain, who in the authors own words has a different sort of strength than the sisters who belong in the NC, who is gentle and kind and is bothered by cruelty would be the one who would fully embrace Azriel's darkness?

Elain who begged Feyre not to hurt Graysen, tried to get her to swear to leave Graysen unharmed? That Elain would be fine seeing what Az does to unarmed prisoners?

This Elain?

This Elain?

There is a HUGE difference between bravery and saving someone from death versus someone who methodically carries out torture and defaults to it as their go to method of handling enemies.

Elain used TT to stop the King from harming her loved one. Az uses TT to carve people up and draw out their suffering. They are NOT the same.

In SF, the author drew attention to the fact that Nesta, not Feyre or Elain, was the Archeron to see Az:

I also saw this person claiming that if Elain can handle Lucien's "darkness", she can handle Az's, that Lucien is a loose canon compared to Az.

Lucien:

Az:

It's true, Az barely says much at all but it's not because he's more controlled than Lucien, it's because he's always on a razors edge of losing his temper and rarely opens up about himself to anyone which is proven in the text.

I've hit my limit in added images but there are multiple examples of Lucien reigning in his words and temper.

Does Lucien at times snark at others? Definitely and that's why he's the best. But to say he's the loose canon is a joke.

There's zero shame in loving Az, to get a thrill from his darkness and rage, but if someone truly thinks Lucien and Az are written similarly than I have to say they don't truly understand how Sarah has written these characters at all.

And to those who say if Elain can't handle Az's darkness than neither can Gwyn..... These are the same people who claim she's so forgettable they barely remembered her in SF yet now they're claiming they know what she can and can't handle. When you get down to it Gwyn is a new character and that means Sarah can further develop her personality any way she wants in the next books compared to the many books and interviews telling us who Elain is.

Considering Gwyn already said this, however:

“Did you know shields weighed so much? I certainly didn’t. No wonder the Valkyries learned to use them as weapons as deadly as their swords.” She sighed. “They’d have been quite a sight in battle: cracking open enemy skulls with blows from their shields, throwing them to knock an opponent onto their backs before skewering them …” She rubbed her shoulder again. “Their arm muscles must have been as hard as steel.”

I don't think she'll have any trouble with Az's brutality at all.

[leefail]

Don't you think it's tragic that even with all those people around Bruce, he still is going through his own battle alone?

Like, every other protagonist with similar circumstances (fighting lonely battles) overcomes this when eventually... people with the same cause joins their life.

As far as I know, nobody agrees on what Bruce does or is with him.

The absolute strength and self-discipline you need to have to decide you're going to stick by something and actually do it for years, unchanged and unswayed. Even when every single dear beloved you meet and every single event you live are pushing you to just stop, are telling you that you're wrong, even yourself.

The separation between Batman, the dark knight, and Bruce Wayne, father and son, probably extends to this man's core. I don't believe Bruce himself is with anything he does. It's the very definition of what Batman is. Because while everybody do what they want, a law enforcer would not, even when that want is right, because right does not mean justice or law.

A law enforcer should be a completely separated entity for justice to be truly served. If a law enforcer became a person with a thought and a want, that's bias, and if biased opinions were universally applied, that's not justice, but retribution, which could be right for some people, but not fair if we counted every party.

I think Bruce believes in this wholeheartedly and is dedicatedly basing his actions on it. He doesn't expect people to accept. He thinks they know, and he think they understand. For civilians and villains? Easy to get because they only know The Batman side. It's why most think he's just a legend, because no human could be this heartless, right? For his people, though? Children? Lovers? They see the Bruce before the Bat. They can't separate them even when they're expected to. They don't believe in the same thing because their justice is the personal right, and their personal includes Bruce.

It's why his answer to "why can't you do this, Bruce?!" is always "it's not my decision to make".

Trapped in the Batman because his actions are his before Bruce's. With nobody there to share the burden because it's his own decision. Even if he wanted to stop, following his want ruins the whole purpose of this and is therefore impossible, even when it's ruining his life and the relationships he holds dear. Because Batman is not Bruce. It's really tragic.

[pippin-pippout]

I just watched MelonTeee's video on Ace and Worth and man the internal debate I have with myself on whether I agree with the choice or not...

Her video explains the fandom's love for the character so well, as well as why the tragedy hit so hard. For me personally I have not been that affected by a character death in a LONG time.

And I understand it from a certain narrative perspective – mainly how Ace's past continues to feature in the story a decade later, and Whitebeard's line that someone would carry Ace's flame, because that clearly describing Luffy. He goes after the mera mera no mi and finishes what Ace started in Wano.

But there are two major narrative reasons given for Ace's death that I disagree with. And are largely why I think it shouldn't have happened, and also why the death has hit me so hard.

This is going to get long, but I would really love to hear everyone's thoughts on it if you choose to read!

To give Luffy the push he needed to be stronger: I am pretty confident this is Oda's stated reason (in addition to Oda wanting to prove he could kill characters which I guess he said at one point and which is bleh given the level of injury a character sustains seems to have nothing to do with whether they die or not lol it's just what the author wants to happen). Anyway. That push already happened on Sabaody when Luffy lost everyone to Duma. He was HELPLESS. More helpless than he was through most of marineford. And when Rayleigh convinces Luffy to do the 2 years training, Rayleigh only brings up their epic defeat on Sabaody. He does not bring up marineford or Ace's death as a reason Luffy needs to get stronger. Because Luffy did not need that reason. The only argument I can think of is that maybe once he landed on Amazon Lily, and he realized the strawhats were likely alive, the terror he felt on Sabaody abated slightly. And therefore maybe he needed a reminder of what "loss" truly is to re-motivate him. However, I don't think that is really fitting with his character or the story.

Ace's dream was fulfilled: Oda has talked about the reason he doesn't kill villains is because not having your dream fulfilled is a worse fate than death. I think part of the tragedy of Ace's death was that his dream wasn't fulfilled. Even for those who accept his last words - that he had only one regret which was not seeing Luffy accomplish his dream - the amount of time he got to live with that dream was literally the last moments of his life. But I don't think just because you die with no regrets, does not mean your dream is fulfilled. Especially when Ace never truly internalized what his dream was. His final choice to turn around showed HOW MUCH he still was that lonely, scared little kid he was at 10 despite his warm smile and his growing family. The most heartbreaking part of the flashback was not Sabo's death. It was watching Ace asking the question "do I deserve to exist?" and giving all his devotion to those who said yes. It was him making the exact same decision he would make 10 years later, to refuse to run, because he felt like if he ran he would lose everything and Luffy was standing behind him. Ace's final words do more than state he has no regrets. He also gives the answer to the question he'd asked Garp, and that Garp had said only his actions could decide. Ace died thanking Luffy and his family for loving him despite the "worthless" or "good for nothing" person he was. Ace was moved to tears to hear his family emphatically saying "YES. You do deserve to live! We want you to live!" But Ace never actually believed it. His last words were a reflection of gratitude for the love he was given that he didn't feel he deserved. And thus his final answer to the question "Do I deserve to exist?" was no.

That he was too "good" This is kind of the most upsetting one I've heard (thankfully not a lot) and also the one easiest to dismiss. Ace, being the actual son of the pirate king, being super powerful, growing in strength and reputation faster than Luffy (debatable), put him narratively in competition with Luffy. What I mean by that is it positions him as too much the golden character, the mary sue, the typical protagonist, when One Piece is about Luffy's story, not Ace's. I disagree with the premise of seeing Ace's character that way. But also even he was "that" character, it's pretty clear Ace's dream would have taken him to becoming Whitebeard's heir - whose dream it was to build a family - while Luffy is Gol D Roger's heir. So Ace's journey would have supported the main story of One Piece and also be narratively satisfying.

---

What Was Ace's Dream?

The dreams Ace stated out loud were more reflections of his actual, deeper dream. "I want to be the king of the pirates" - because he wanted to prove his existence and his worth to the world. Which switched to "I want to make whitebeard the king of the pirates" - because Whitebeard loved him despite his blood, and so even if that wasn't what Whitebeard wanted, it was how Ace understood he could repay Whitebeard.

Both of those stated dreams get back to this question he'd been asking his whole life - that of worth. Worth and Love, which, for Ace's character, are inseparable.

For Ace's dream to truly be fulfilled, it's not enough for him to accept he was loved – which he did on the scaffolds, crying from happiness – he had to believe he was worth that love. He had to love himself.

Ace died with that dream tragically unfulfilled.

---

The Purpose of One Piece

Of course the decision to kill Ace makes the story more realistic and of course it is heartbreaking, tragic, moving, and obviously inspires deeper discussion.

However, what rankled me from when I first learned about his death, which was way before I was even introduced to the character in Alabasta, was that he is the only character of the younger generation (outside of flashbacks) to die.

Honestly when I first heard Ace was one of the only characters to die, I was just worried it would make him seem weaker or stupider than every other character, which is a personal pet peeve of mine. Luckily for most fans, it didn't do that.

Instead, what wound up upsetting me was how it seemed to contradict the purpose of the story that is One Piece (at least what I think the purpose is). In doing so, it opposes the meaning that many fans find in this absurd, ridiculous, inspiring, heartfelt, heroic tale about a boy made of rubber.

One Piece is an escapist story about a boy named Luffy who inspires every good guy he meets to pursue and achieve their dream. It's also about Luffy beating up every bad guy who punishments are that they cannot fulfill their morally reprehensible dreams.

Because of Ace's premature death, he is the only good guy character in the main timeline who does not get to pursue his dream. And what's extra tragic is that he is also one of the most deserving of seeing his dream fulfilled.

[nadas-dirthalen]

I Saw Solas's Origin in an Achievement Icon and It Opened My Eyes on 15 Years of Lore

— PART FIVE: if you haven't read previous parts, do it now! —

[ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ]

Welcome, friends and travelers! I wanted to get some thoughts recorded before Veilguard's release so I could see if I am right about an absolute BOATLOAD of theories I have.

In short: I saw the achievement list when it was released. I have seen the backstory hints for Solas included in said list. AND MY MIND WAS BLOWN.

You have been warned: THIS COLLECTION OF THEORIES INCLUDES SPOILERS FOR EVERY DRAGON AGE GAME AND ALL PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL UP TO AND INCLUDING OCTOBER 18, 2024.

Come sit down with me. Make a nice cup of tea (and hide it from Solas). We've got a lot of unpacking to do.

(no, this photo isn't the spoiler, I just like it.)

Today's Discussion: the Tragedy of the Evanuris (1/3)

— Beings Made, Souls Sundered, Hearts Blackened —

Welcome back! As always, please please please go read the earlier instalments of this series before reading this one. I don't have the space in every post to reiterate all relevant context, and I fear I'll leave people feeling lost if they jump in on this one.

Okay? Okay.

So: we've unearthed that Solas came from lyrium (probably). That Titans are the Forgotten ones; that the Maker is likely a Titan. That Titans were sundered, and the Fade is their (currently sundered) consciousness that once drifted freely over the world like wind. That all magic is one thing, and only looks like two schools because one pulls from the Titans' consciousness, and the other pulls from their physical bodies. That in the Chant of Light, at least some of the Evanuris are the Maker's first children, and they sought to conquer the earth.

Today, we'll go over what I think that means for all of them. Where I believe each Evanuris truly came from, what each of them did to wreak havoc upon the world and the Titans, and what I think could happen in Veilguard.

I do not have a chronology of the Evanuris's existence, though. Their history still reads something like, "the Evanuris were born/made -> ??? the everything??? every crime they did??? -> the Evanuris were trapped by Solas" in my brain. Therefore, I'll be splitting the topics up into each of the Evanuris, not an attempt at cataloguing their history linearly.

Mythal and Lyrium Coffins

Elgar'nan and Sundered Beings

Falon'Din and Blackened Hearts

Mythal and Lyrium Coffins

I'm going to make no attempt to guess how Mythal came into being herself, only that she is one of the Maker's first children and that Dalish legend says she rose from the sea (the emerald waters, perhaps). It's what she has done in the time since that interests me.

Starting off strong: this is the reason we're all here. This is the reason I've been inspired to write this post in the first place. The revelation that shook my brain: that it was Mythal who did not just ask Solas to manifest into a body, but who mined him from a Titan.

One reason I put Mythal first is that, with what little I understand of the chronology, I believe that her actions of mining people from the Titans came before the others', simply because the act of making people must come before the horrible acts that were later done to those people by the other Evanuris.

It seems like Mythal's crime (because yeah, I'm going to call "mining spirits from lyrium and putting them into corporeal bodies without their enthusiastic consent and then putting her vallaslin on their faces" a crime) is the foundation upon which all the others' happens. This is how the Evanuris built their empires, it seems: by warring with the Titans and creating the elvhen out of the spoils of that war.

It has massive implications for the elvhen people and their elven descendants. It has implications for the world of spirits, both lyrium- and Fade-based. Regardless of if Mythal eventually became the "sole voice of Reason" that Solas claims she was before she was murdered, the point is that the Evanuris's crimes all stem from Mythal's own.

Remember that she, too, was holding up a golden orb with Elgar'nan. She, too, was naming herself a false god.

The other reason I've included Mythal first is that this is our first concrete confirmation that there is a direct relation between the actions of the Evanuris and the vallaslin we can choose as players. They could not have been more obvious with this one: Mythal's vallaslin are the shape of Solas's original body, and likely the same shape as the other countless people she mined from lyrium. This means we can examine the other Evanuris's vallaslin for clues about their deeds during their reign as the elven gods.

Let's begin taking a look at the rest of the pantheon. First: if Mythal made the first elvhen, what did her counterpart, Elgar'nan, do?

Elgar'nan and Sundered Beings

Elgar'nan's origin seems to be different from Mythal's. The sun, in Dalish legend, is often associated with dragons. Elgar'nan was supposedly born from a union between the sun and the earth, in the place where they touched. My hypothesis is that Elgar'nan is the product of dragonfire wounding a Titan, and Elgar'nan breaking off from said Titan as a result. This is only a guess, and is not what I want to focus on. Instead, I want to turn our collective attention to his deeds, as they are more important for the story of the Evanuris.

We now understand that the Evanuris mined Titans to create their followers, the elvhen. This is the first crime of the Evanuris, done by Mythal. It gave way to all the others. To understand this, let us look at Mythal and Elgar'nan's first "children."

Dirthamen and Falon’Din are linked in Dalish legend as inseparable twin brothers. Scraps of elven stories from after the fall of Arlathan—transcribed into Tevinter and recently lent to our fair University—refer to them as “twin souls” but draw no family connection. The oldest stories never even name them directly, referring to Falon’Din as “Dirthamen’s shadow,” and Dirthamen as “Falon’Din’s reflection.” The little we understand implies their bond was not romantic, beyond even the strongest friendship. The legends of Dirthamen and Falon’Din may have been an allegory for complex elven relationships we lack context to comprehend.

For a long time, I wondered what this relationship could be. But once I'd seen for certain that Mythal mined bodies from Titans—and once I pieced together that these bodies and spirits are intricately related, as lyrium stores thought and memory in a physical container—I knew the implications behind "twin souls."

I then referred to Dalish legend. Now, one must remember not to read Dalish legend literally, just like with the Chant of Light. The Sun may be referred to as Elgar'nan's father, but I posit that the Sun is just another of Thedas's magical forces: dragons, or anything relating to fire and the draconic.

From the wiki:

According to elven legend, the sun grew jealous of the favor shown by Elgar'nan for the things of the earth, and so burned them to ashes. In retaliation, Elgar'nan threw the sun down from the sky, and only later relented because of Mythal's intervention. He was convinced, with her help, to restore his father to the sky on the promise that the sun would set each night.

Dalish legend is full of symbols, but if we read this through that lens, then Elgar'nan threw down a powerful being—whether a dragon or a powerful spirit associated with fire (rage demon, anyone?)—into the abyss.

To get an idea of what happened down there, I turned to a codex found in the Deep Roads in Trespasser.

What were the ancient elves doing down here? Mining? Where were the dwarves? Easier to have them mine it. Not a trading post. You don't go into a friend's home, knock over their gods, and put up your own. War? I don't remember any legends about our people fighting the dwarves. Though I remember my Keeper telling a story about how the dwarves fear the sun because of Elgar'nan's fire. A metaphor for the elves of Arlathan driving the dwarves underground?

Remember that ancient elvhen mining looked a lot like creating people. And whatever Elgar'nan did down here, it put lasting fear into the dwarves.

The legend says that Elgar'nan then released the sun into the sky, after Mythal's intervention. Note that this area of the Deep Roads is where Mythal's lyrium coffins are found. And after Mythal intervened and Elgar'nan released that "Sun" he'd thrown down?

And that night, when the sun had gone to sleep, Mythal gathered the glowing earth around his bed, and formed it into a sphere to be placed in the sky, a pale reflection of the sun's true glory.

Mythal released another being, out of the wreckage of what Elgar'nan had done. A reflection of that "Sun." Noting that Dirthamen is referred to as "Falon'Din's Reflection," I think that gives us insight into Elgar'nan's actions during the reign of the Evanuris: the ones that would make someone like Solas feel seething hatred for him, enough to call the Evanuris his "mortal enemies."

And his vallaslin perfectly illustrate that: the complex version of the Elgar'nan vallaslin, pictured above, shows a face split in half. One half is painted in the inverse colours of the other, showing a perfect divide between two things. One side, a reflection; the other, more coloured in, is effectively a shadow of the other.

And the achievement icon I've placed next to it confirms my theory: Elgar'nan is holding up a moon in the memory titled, "Our Mistake." (Why this is not the sun, I can only guess. Ease of illustration, maybe?)

But the question remains: what did Dirthamen and Falon'Din then do that would earn them places in the same evil pantheon?

Falon'Din and Blackened Hearts

We know that vallaslin tell stories, so right away, I'll direct you to look at Falon'Din's. We can see what looks like roots and branches, with an orb of some kind in the center. When I first started playing Dragon Age (March of this year, can you believe), I associated that with some Tree of Life imagery, with a focus on the roots and (ostensibly) Death. Makes sense, right?

But look at the image from Memory #3: Blackened Hearts right next to it. That is the heart of a Titan, swathed in shadowy tendrils, with a lot of undead-looking hands reaching toward it.

Suddenly, I am seeing a Titan's heart in the middle of my Rook's forehead. The Rook I made in August.

I think there's still more to unearth. Let's look at what Solas says about Falon'Din in the Temple of Mythal:

"I do not believe they sing songs about Falon'Din's vanity. It is said Falon'Din's appetite for adulation was so great, he began wars to amass more worshippers. The blood of those who wouldn't bow low filled lakes as wide as oceans. Mythal rallied the gods, once the shadow of Falon'Din's hunger stretched across her own people. It was almost too late. Falon'Din only surrendered when his brethren bloodied him in his own temple."

"He began wars to amass more worshippers" has caught my attention, now, in a new way. We know now that the Evanuris didn't amass all their following through matters of persuasion. In fact, they made their own followings, harvesting them from Titans.

"The blood of those who wouldn't bow low filled lakes as wide as oceans." Before, I might have read that as killing so many people that their blood would fill an ocean. But even for Solas, even for the Evanuris, that seems like an exaggeration. Now I ask: were the lakes as wide as oceans already there, deep underground? Did the Titans' blood flow into them as Falon'Din waged his wars?

And, finally, "the shadow of Falon'Din's hunger stretched across [Mythal's] own people." Now, we know that that does not just mean Mythal's faithful, or her friends. It means the people that Mythal was making—a group which Solas belongs to. I'm beginning to see why he'd hate Falon'Din so viscerally.

But what was Falon'Din's goal, really?

The People swore their lives to Falon'Din Who mastered the dark that lies. Whose shadows hunger Whose faithful sing Whose wings of death surround him Thick as night. Lethanavir, master-scryer, be our guide, Through shapeless worlds and airless skies.

The Chant oft refers to a number of opposites. Earth and Sky, yes, but also Darkness and Light—also referring to the Abyss and the Fade. If we imagine that Falon'Din has mastered this darkness, and that the singer of this song suggests that the darkness lies, it may be that Falon'Din was anti-Titan in general. "Wings of death" surrounding him may refer to dragons, as "Winged Death" does in the case of Elgar'nan's codices. After, we come to the final stanza: "Lethanavir, master-scryer, be our guide / Through shapeless worlds and airless skies."

Keeping with the Earth/Sky metaphor, I am wondering if Falon'Din wanted an end to everything Titan-related to get rid of magic entirely: both Earth and Sky.

I wonder if what he accomplished was not killing the Titans, though, but "blackening their hearts." We already know that the Forgotten Ones are beings of "malice, terror, spite, and pestilence." They have names remarkably similar to demons. Perhaps, in trying to kill them, Falon'Din turned them from benevolent beings to these twisted opposite qualities.

If that is the case, it has major implications for the Evanuris later in this series. Not only that, but major implications for the world of Thedas at large. Once these Titans' hearts were blackened, what horrors began to befall Ancient Elvhenan?

What went so wrong that Solas sundered all the Titans' minds from their bodies in order to stop catastrophe?

---

As ever, if you got this far, thank you!! I look forward to reading any additions or questions people might have, as ever!!

Also: I am trying my hardest not to consume full-game-review spoilers! As these reviews have just gone live a few hours ago (10/28), I am not reading my notifications/replies, and am appearing here only to continue posting my theories.

But if you feel like sticking around anyway, stay tuned for: The Tragedy of the Evanuris pt. 2: Horrors Enacted Upon the Faithful.

[morganski-19]

For any of my buddie shippers or gay eddie truthers who feels like episode 5 is a massive blow, it's not over yet. I think that we've really been harping on episode 6 being the big coming out getting together scene, and that has let us fall into false hope. And I honestly have had the stance that buddie, if it does happen this season, will be in the latter half of the season.

This is not a story that should be rushed. Oliver talks about how he wants Buck to have a slow burn. Eddie needs time to figure out himself, and deal with his trauma. That can't happen in the first six episode where three of them are just the opening emergency. It just wouldn't make narrative sense.

Let's remember the three act structure that is so prevalent in a lot of media. Because I am terrible at explaining things, I’ve put in a picture.

This season has 18 episodes, so we are very much still in the set up stage of this season. I think that since most of the plot points from season 7 are wrapped up except for Eddie and Christopher's, it is a good bet that their story line will be driven in this narrative.

I think the inciting incident was that scene with Weston's dad in episode 4. It shows how Eddie feels about this situation more, and can bring out a lot of growth and movement as he tries to get Chris back.

Episode 6 would be 1/3 of the way through the season, and considering it is a direct parallel to eddie begins, I am considering that plot point 1.

Now here is where the speculation really starts. The mid point would be the episode before the winter break, and I think that will involve Eddie going to El Paso and getting Chris back.

Therefore, the rising action for this would be Eddie working through his own issues. Learning how to love himself, and starting his path to discovery. However, I honestly don't see him figuring it all out before Chris comes home.

No matter how this storyline will play out, Chris will be mad at Eddie the whole season. Their resolution will not happen until the end, after the climax.

I think the climax will be Eddie figuring out he is gay, and coming out to his son. Then, the two of them figuring out what that means for the both of them. Eddie grappling with how he can be gay and still have loved Shannon in the past. And Chris dealing with how his dad dated all of these woman for his betterment. Also dealing with the fact that his parents were not in love the way he thought they were.

Buddie, if it happens this season, will be part of the denouement. Because, while all of this is happening with Eddie and Chris, Buck will have his own storyline. One that will be very in line with Eddie's, because of how involved he is in the Diaz's life.

I think that, even if Buck and Tommy don't break up in episode 6 like I hope, their relationship won't last. Putting my hopes for Buddie aside, they are simply just not compatible as a couple. Buck will realize this on his own, whether that be his plot point one, or the climax of his story. It would then, allow for Buck to truly understand his feelings for Eddie, and give the audience that longing that a slow burn needs.

Because although us Buddie fans consider their relationship as a slow burn, the general public might not. They need to create that longing for all audiences, and not just us.

It is also good to mention that there is no Buddie without Chris. It almost wouldn't make sense to have Buddie happen without Chris in the picture.

[romiswired]

Kenny Omega vs. Gabe Kidd (NJPW/CMLL/AEW Wrestle Dynasty 2025)

Humanity.

What it means to bleed in pro wrestling? Is it just a nice detail to make the audience understand the intensity of a fight? Is it an essential part of wrestling to work and tell deeper stories? Is it unnecessary, or overly used to the point of exhaustion? Fuck no.

Bleeding in pro wrestling means accepting your humanity. You may be a wrestler, but you have emotions running through your body, manifesting by the way of indiscriminate violence and anger. Your strikes, your punches, even your holds have this strength behind built from whatever you feel in your heart. Whatever makes you human is what makes you go out and give your absolute all.

For Kenny Omega, his humanity shines through every step he takes, but he has fallen into what I like to call the "Kenny Omega Effect", where everything he does fails to reach his supposed loyal fans. People abandon him the second they don't get what they want from him. He's just a tool to most of his fans that needs to give them the "real graps" they're yearning for.

He has tried time and time to explain to his audience what truly hides behind this "aura" he carries: a shell of a man that is doomed to give his absolute best every single night because that's what's expected from him. His Cleaner persona made it clear with different interviews where Omega talked time and time about "losing his passion for wrestling" and how that made him better in his craft, as he saw the sport as work.

This same situation is happening with Konosuke Takeshita in AEW, where he has said "he stopped having fun a long time ago" thanks to the rhythm of the wrestling machine. Some of my favorite wrestlers have taken the time to expand on this idea. The amount of expectation fans build tends to be a cross they have to carry, and once they don't reach that level they're accustomed to, they're abandoned and forgotten.

The same thing that happened with Kenny and Takeshita is happening with New Japan Pro Wrestling. This company is expected to give excellence every single show, because they're the biggest promotion in Japan and have been for 40 years. People yearn for their golden era to come back. They don't care about the health of some wrestlers, or whatever goes on in their personal lives. To wrestling fans in general, wrestlers are tools that will be thrown once the wheels fall off.

For wrestling fans, the mere idea of a wrestler exists as a synonym to a toy. Toys are used. Toys are thrown around. Toys are interchangeable. Toys are not humans, therefore you're not losing anything of value when you change it. There's nothing material in losing a broken toy, but something emotional. You're losing your memories. You're losing part of who you are.

If you abandon a wrestler you once loved, did you love him or did you love your idea of him? That's a question I want to ask all Kenny Omega fans every time they say "I don't want Kota Ibushi or Elite lore in 2025 for Omega".

I can't believe we're entering the sixth year when Kenny tells the same story and nobody bats an eye: he's not a machine, neither a god. He's a human like you and me, he has flaws, sins and emotions running through his body. He's not your savior, or anyone's because the one thing we have learned throughout his career is that Kenny Omega is a flawed character.

Furthermore, he's bad with his relationships. He's bad with his friends. He has dropped his comrades over and over in their necks. Likewise, he has yearned for artificial gold and compensations in spite of a broken heart. He has seen himself reflected in the actions of other people and has decided to turn them into his rivals.

He's not a god of pro wrestling, as he proclaims himself to be. He just accepted his role as the guy that has to do IT, because nobody can. Nobody is Kenny Omega but himself. That's a burden he has to carry. That's what makes him continue wrestling at this level, and that's what makes him strive for more.

He left DDT in 2014 to become a bigger star, and he did with a broken heart yearning to be fixed. He left NJPW in 2019 to write a new chapter in his golden legacy as part of AEW, and even decided to leave his best friend and partner in Ibushi. He then returned to his old ways in 2021 by becoming a maniac obsessed with power and belts, and in 2023, after EVERYTHING he subjected himself to, his own body made him fear the other most human trait a wrestler has.

Death. Kenny feared death.

And even when facing death, he still wanted to give us his best. And people, instead of embracing him, ran to call him "washed" and done for. The same people that now are applauding him because of this masterpiece he gave with Kidd in the semi-main event of Wrestle Dynasty. A hypocritical behavior if I have ever seen one.

If blood is accepting your humanity in pro wrestling, and Kenny experienced a life-threatening disease, what's the one thing that he had to do the second he stepped foot in a ring for over a year and a half? Of course, bleed. And not in a pretty way. Kenny blades like he never did before to showcase part of his humanity to his fans around the globe. Even the ones that supposedly have his back, being the Japanese fans. Everyone can see the humanity in Omega, as he goes out to have his most emotional match in a long time, because of course, he's filled with anger and rage.

As he said in the post-match comments, he has to go through this hellhole completely alone because his partner (Ibushi) can't be present in the Dome. Therefore, Kenny taps into his killer instinct as a result of nobody controlling him and giving him the hand he needs. He doesn't do it because he likes it, or because he feeds from it. He does it because he has to. Because he's Kenny Omega, and is coming back to astronomical expectations.

Yet, while his Western fans praise Kenny over and over and surprisingly forget they were calling him "washed" years ago, the Japanese fans don't cheer for Omega, but for somebody who is also bleeding and has also experienced a near-death situation. For reasons that also have to do with emotions and anger.

The Japanese fans, or better said, the NJPW fans decide to take Kidd's side on this one because he represents their anguish and disdain with Kenny's attitude over the years, leaving the company that saw him rise to the top of the wrestling world with his friends by his side. When I said Kenny is a flawed individual and I said he had sins to atone for, this is exactly what I meant.

He abandoned this company in 2019 to build another, and New Japan never recovered from that blow, because we're talking about THE guy, and as everything goes on we realize Kenny was bigger than we thought at the time. For Japanese fans, Kenny was one of them, and they saw every step he took to become who he was. Then, he abandoned everything and everyone for a selfish goal. He thought the likes of Jay White and Will Ospreay could fill his shoes, but nobody could be Kenny Omega.

Nobody could reach his level of artistic prowess, and that made NJPW cold, as they experienced a change in guard. The old wrestlers were leaving, the Naitos and Tanahashis were aging, and the Young Lions didn't live to the expectations fans had. As 2024 arrived, NJPW felt more stale than ever with Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada leaving the company for AEW, and while they could still do joint shows, it seemed like something was off. The fans didn't like it, and started hating everything related to AEW because it reminded them of the thing they COULD have.

It was resentment. And that's the key word to understand why this match hits so hard.

Kenny and Kidd represent the same feeling of resentment. Omega resents his fans, and Kidd resents his rival because of what he did. This match is built around that idea, and for that and more, it feels like the exact type of match that'll make you fall in love with wrestling again. The emotions, the humanity, the blood, and the vulnerability shown by these men is something you'll not get somewhere else. This is what pro wrestling should be built around. Wrestlers showing their human side, and making us live their pain.

For that, and many other things, I consider this match to be one of the best Kenny Omega performances I've seen in my life, and the definitive Match of the Year.

(At least, at the date I'm writing this)

[majixox]

I hate that due to the CC!Wilbur 's actions and him being a terrible person in general, so many people decide to try to completely erase the being that is the C!Wilbur. They are separate entities, one is a truly bad person in real life, and the other is just a character that was played by him. I don't understand why the terrible actions of the Content Creator have to influence and erase the character that was Wilbur in the story.

I will admit, my favorite character in all of DSMP fannon and cannon was and always will be Wilbur. His character is complex and in my opinion beautifully portrayed, you cannot just decide to erase all he was due to his "actor" turning out to be an abusive and evil person. While C!Wilbur definitely had some characteristics of the CC, they are mostly different entities entirely.

There are many ways to portray and understand C!Wilbur, and how i see him he is a tragic character, a good man turned to insanity after events that thinking back at it could have been prevented, deciding to destroy his legacy after giving everything he had to this nation and choosing to ho down with it by the hand of his own father. To then spend years in isolation in Limbo, and then be revived with no less trauma, and still half mad. I can go for hours about the depth of his character and interactions with everyone, but i shall not. Anyway, and so due to me first of all loving the character so much, and many others feeling the same, it hurts to see everyone trying to erase all traces that there was of him.

Fans of the C!Wilbur gets harassed, and while there are certainly people who still support the CC!Wilbur (in which case like wtf) but i think people must understand that they are different people, and the terrible things the content creator has done doesnt mean it has to reflect and therefore make the character something that must be erased.

I rejoined the fandom recently by complete accident, but i was a part of it since the first war for the independence of L'Manburg. And now i just wish to enjoy my favorite character without his existence being destroyed by the actions of the content creator.

Hope someone who will read this understands where i'm coming from. And i hope fellow C!Wilbur fans will rise again. Because truly, all the characters in the fannon and cannon of dsmp were amazing, and the story was good, and we all had an amazing time in the fandom. No character deserves to be destroyed and erased for the terrible actions of the content creators playing them, and they should be enjoyed as characters and for their story and personality as characters and now as the content creator. And no fans of the characters deserve to be hated on for liking a character that was played by a turns out terrible person.

Bye bye, love you all, and ALWAYS SUPPORT VICTIMS.

[angelsdean]

i'm just going to say. just like i cannot stand deancrit that removes all nuance, motivating factors, context, and offers little to no grace toward dean, i also do not vibe with legit cascrit that acts like everything cas did was in bad faith or that he never truly cared for dean bc he made hard choices in extenuating circumstances (constant unending apocalypses and also simply living in a horror show).

as a dean fan yes i will talk about how cas' actions at time can be perceived as uncaring or hurtful by dean, but i also know more as an audience member! i know cas's motivating factors. i know cas has is own issues, insecurities, and hubris from billions of years as heaven's most brainwashed soldier. the rebel with a crack in his chassis, who never stayed in line. i also know dean does not hold these things against cas. he loves fiercely, unconditionally. neither one of them love selfishly or are keeping score. they both make mistakes and they both keep choosing each other.

acting like cas is "soulless" or that cas only acts out of self interest or that cas is less "deserving" of dean's love is...insulting to dean. to me it translates to: dean is stupid for loving cas and EYE the viewer think dean should feel the anger and bitterness i feel toward cas. but.....dean doesn't. projecting feelings the characters don't have onto them because you think they should have them doesn't actually make it so.

dean continues to show up and love cas. dean continues to be shattered by the loss of cas because cas means that much to him. because cas matters. because love, real love, isn't flawless and perfect with no conflicts. and because relationships are work and require people to continue to try and show up and forgive and give grace and the benefit of the doubt. because when you love someone you view them and their actions in good faith. you are not bitterly keeping score and stewing over what you're "owed." dean is also living in that ending horror show. he understands what the stakes are. he understands self-sacrifice and making bad deals, even if he doesn't like it. he knows making a deal or prioritizing the mission isn't something selfishly done to hurt him specifically.

anyways what i'm saying is...yes cas is not perfect, he is flawed and messy. he is not a wooby angel or victim of big meanie dean. it's okay and good even to talk abt his flaws and the impact and consequences of his actions. but you lose me when cas is framed in bad faith as therefore not actually caring for dean or that dean should hate him. dean is a heart character. caring is the whole point. forgiveness and love is the whole point. wanting dean to be bitter and cruel and unyielding is.....antithetical to his character.

[sketches4mysw33theart]

Was Mr Keating A Bad Character?

Mr Keating is a complex character. But is he a bad one? And I don't mean this in the sense of was he badly written or badly acted - BECAUSE OF COURSE HE WAS NOT - but was his character a bad person, most notably surrounding his influence on the boys at Welton Academy?

Throughout the film, Mr. Keating faces criticism for his unconventional teaching methods, particularly following the tragic events of the final act. At first glance, it may seem wrong to blame him for how the film unfolds. However, as a significant influence in these boy's drab lives, his teachings undeniably shape their actions. Does this responsibility make him a bad character?

Let's examine what we know of his past. Mr Keating says that he was a weakling in school, that people would kick copies of Byron in his face. He was not the kind of person he is teaching these kids to be - he grew into this person. So, this raises the question: Was Mr Nolan right in criticising Mr Keating's teaching methods when the boys were just 17? Were they too young to be taught such 'radical' ideas?

Of course, it takes a long time to unlearn a lifetime of lessons. But even a few months under Mr Keating's teachings drove Charlie to extreme acts, like slipping the article into the paper and punching Cameron (an uncharacteristic outburst for him, and from any of the boys. However, we have seen violence inflicted upon him) - what would he have been like under a lifetime of them? This change in Charlie hints that the boys need a healthy balance between the two extremes - Mr Nolan's strict curriculum and Mr Keating's free thinking.

(I would just like to circle back to my point of having seen violence inflicted on Charlie. It's only after this that we see him punch Cameron. Naturally, I'm sure he's no stranger to Mr Nolan's cane, but he's never reacted so violently to other people before. Now that Mr Keating is gone, Charlie is already straddling the line between the two 'lives' he has known.)

I'm in my early 20's - I remember how impressionable I was when I was a teenager, even though I believed I was so independent. A charismatic figure like Mr Keating offering an alternative to my drab destiny would have been irresistible.

But Mr Keating was smart. He must have known his teaching would have some kind of ripple effect, across to the other kids, back to their families - and that this would have consequences. In my DPS analysis post, I mentioned Mr Keating's face as Neil and his Dad drive off after the play. He's so absorbed that he doesn't even hear Charlie speak to him. I said that I thought he knew Neil's fate, and I do. Which only adds to this theory - he knew there would be consequences from his teaching methods, and perhaps he even knew how severe they would be.

So, if this is all true (and remember this is speculation of a movie from decades ago!), is Mr Keating a bad character? Not intentionally. He wanted to give those kids a better, brighter future, one that didn't rely or conform to society, wealth, or status. Presumably, Mr Keating has lived a life adhering to the lessons he teaches the kids, so he understands that living a free live despite the consequences is the only way to be truly alive. He knew there would be consequences, but I don't think he believed for one minute that they would be so severe.

Therefore, no, I do not believe the complex character of Mr Keating was a bad one. Nor do I believe that he was a good one. He was, refreshingly and completely, a realistic, rounded person with strengths and flaws - and that's all we can ask from our media, isn't it?

[thealchemistsfantasy]

It may be a controversial opinion but I am not opposed in the slightest to William Afton having more nuance in his characterization and not being one dimensionally evil. God forbid anything ever forces you to think critically about a villain beyond "he is evil." I am also sick and tired of having to defend this stance when confronted about his actions. Yes, they are bad and undeniably evil and unforgivable. I should not have to put "murder is bad" as a disclaimer every time I attempt to give depth to a serial killer. I don't understand why so many are opposed to the idea of him harboring a spectrum of emotions and having more emotional complexity than simply "I love being evil and I hate everything good and all I love to do is make everyone miserable for no reason." I'm not saying he has to adore his family or anything, he is very much abusive toward them but there exists potential for more intricate characterization in that. Him not being one dimensionally evil and being abusive are two aspects of his character that can coexist. Him being an awful irredeemable person and three dimensional aren't mutually exclusive, yet many prefer the latter because it's more comfortable and because their critical thinking skills are stunted. To me, him always being evil and hating everyone makes him boring.

It's exhausting having to give everyone a disclaimer that I don't sympathize with Afton. Having to hold the hands of everyone to make sure that I don't make them uncomfortable or force them to think about anything that challenges their perspective and hurts their feewings.

I am sorry for the antagonistic rant; it's truly not my intention to genuinely upset anyone by this post. He's just a fictional character after all, but this series and this character mean a lot to me on a deeply personal level and I care about how everyone in this series is depicted and characterized. I love this series as much as anyone, I just want people to acknowledge that it's okay for a villain to have depth without being sympathetic or at least acknowledge that there is nothing wrong for someone characterizing him this way and it doesn't mean he is good or deserves our forgiveness.

Some of the greatest villains of all time are ones that underwent transformation, going from one way to another over the course of their respective origin stories. There was something that happened to them that changed them. This is where the problem lies for a lot of people where they find difficulty reconciling this perspective with the actions the antagonist takes. Walter White for example. or even Homelander (somehow.) You understand how these characters became the people that they did, this is even foreshadowed in the beginning when Walter begins talking about how he views chemistry as the study of change. The whole show is about chemistry and therefore, as Walter puts it, the study of change.

What brought all of this on was a comment I saw on a YouTube video in regard to Afton. The comment said, unironically; "He's a serial killer, he doesn't need depth." It wasn't ironic, it wasn't them making fun of anyone, they were genuinely serious. Understanding why people are the way they are is part of what makes us human, empathy is so fundamental to our humanity and being able to consider the perspectives of others and understand why they are the way they are. It's so utterly human, and yet many people deny it because it makes them uncomfortable, and they find it difficult to reconcile.

The ability to understand and share the feelings, thoughts, or perspectives of others—is deeply embedded in human psychology, social behavior, and even our biological evolution. This isn't even mentioning all of the many serial killers who experienced nightmarish abuse at the hands of their caregivers. The notion that murderous characters don't have to have depth is objectively false because the reason why they are murderous is because there is depth to who they are as people.

It speaks to a deeper issue with society as a whole, not just in regards to how people view William Afton. It speaks to a deeper issue with our souls, and how we are uncomfortable with confronting the uncomfortable and finding reconciliation in the irreconcilable. Everyone good or bad or anything in between, they all come from the same place. They are all born as people, as human beings. They all come from the same place, and they all deserve to be treated with love and compassion, but few do with the results you see.

To conclude, no you do not have to think William Afton was ever a good person. I wouldn't even disagree with you for thinking he never genuinely felt real love for his family. He might have felt some version of love, in his own way. I'm not even asking for you to think of him as anything more than an evil dude. You can do as you please. All I ask is for you to understand, try to understand. Don't just read the first paragraph and come to write an angry essay. I ask you to try to understand, not just fictional characters but those around you as well. Please, understand.