#and that MATTERS

[approximateknowledge]

yuuki konno is genuinely such an important character to me

like i don't talk about her often but frankly that's mostly because im struggling with how to phrase it more than anything

there's just something about her as a character within the greater narrative of sao

like there's this dumb criticism some people have against sao where they'll call it a power fantasy and kirito an op mary sue protagonist but then there's yuuki

zekken. the absolute sword. this girl whose introduction is simply "she's the best at it". no gimmicks. no tricks. no "buts". she just wins

and this is never challenged

and it can't be challenged ever again, because she dies, even though she never loses

yuuki konno, doomed from birth, optimistic despite herself, despite the world she can no longer exist in. and without even knowing she laid the groundwork for an entire new world of people she'll never meet, but helped create regardless

there's no overpowered protagonist at the top. there never was. that spot forever belongs to a terminally ill lesbian girl who tried to live as much as she could before her time ran out all too quickly

[respectthepetty]

Others have mentioned it, but it's the way Yak didn't look up when Yei was yelling at him even though Yei pulled him up by his shirt until Yei said "faen"

Especially because the only other time he looked up before was when Cher was reading the posts about the fight and mentioned "faen" was one of the reasons people were throwing out for Yak losing.

Yei seemed to miss all the signs that Yak was avoiding Dee.

And Yei didn't even realize his brother liked anyone when the series began.

So I like that even in the middle of an ugly argument with both brothers crying, Yei was the first one to acknowledge Dee as Yak's boyfriend and say he was fine with it in the same breath.

Because even though faen is neutral, Yei knows that Yak has been struggling with his feelings for Taem and Dee.

Yei knows his brother has been sneaking out at night to see Dee.

Yei knows his brother calls Dee a "fuck buddy" but he also knows that Yak gave Dee his chain.

Yei discussed with his husband that he doesn't care who Yak likes, and it's true.

But it's important that Yei, who Yak considers his father figure, says "faen" because they both know exactly who he is talking about.

Yak was already worried about the public knowing when he was in a relationship and that was the first thing the public threw out when he lost, so regardless if the brothers have a heart-to-heart later, this small moment buried in this big fight was significant because Yei, even in his anger, tells his brother that he does not care that he loves a man.

Yei is disappointed, but he made it clear with one brief statement that it isn't about who Yak loves. This is about Yak's performance.

They have their issues, but Yei loves his brother. And with one simple statement, he made that clear.

NOT THAT STATEMENT!

[grapejuicegay]

there is a parallel between mhok fixing day's shoes the moment day wants to use them again and august not only not finding a replacement for day's hair band but also not being able to find day a gift that isn't hie own head band which is tne thing they shared and that day has no possible use for anymore and more than just pity it was the very clear implication that august made that day's life has ended with his lack of vision and that everything in his life is the things that used to be there before. where even with the shoes mhok had been asking day to go for a run for a while and he refused to until august asked but mhok never touched the shoes until day asked him to and he also added some changes like the bright neon shoelaces (easier for day to see so he can maybe tie them himself? don't talk to me....) and a little pin of his favorite flower because that is a thing day still likes and the bright colour is a thing he likes NOW and the shoes are something he wants to use NOW do you see what I'm saying here

[heretherebedork]

Hi!

I think I upset you with my reblog and commentary, and I want to apologize. 

My commentary wasn't meant to be "you are WRONG and I am RIGHT". I just wanted to play in the same sandbox with the idea you presented, and I think the way I wrote came across as more absolute declarations instead of wanting to talk more about how Ming still has a long way to go to show that he's changed inside vs his actions and how we the audience interpret it so radically different based on our own ideas/experiences. I don't want to silence opinions or takes. The opinions are the fun part! It really was meant for fun fandom discussion! 

I sincerely apologize. I will not hijack another of your posts. 

"And then Tong gets kicked off a cliff." - Please let me say how much this is the most unifying statement we all agree on. 

I understand that and I do strongly believe that the fandom has conversations to be had and I know it wasn't meant to be how I read it but... yeah.

Thank you.

I'm not... I mean, man, how does a person phrase 'I'm not seriously upset but it bothered me in a way that I know it shouldn't have".

Ming does have a long way to go.

But, and I say this because I don't know how else to say it, your phrasing left no space for that growth. And that was what bothered me. Because you tags definitely implied something very different than the rest of the writing did. The post itself, to me, implied that Ming was entirely wrong and needed to leave Joe alone and that there was no growth or chance of growth. That Ming couldn't bring Joe joy or warmth.

I think the problem is that it's not that I want to shut down the idea of hijacking, that can be fun! But when the hijacking is entirely the opposite point of the post... it's a struggle for me.

And that's why I almost didn't respond. Like... I don't want to say 'don't ever do this!' I just want to say 'don't shut down what you're hijacking'.

Sorry.

But also thank you. Like, I get it. When you put it like you did here, I obviously have no arguments! Like, dear lord, Ming has so much growth to do and he's just started! But he has started. And taking all of his started growth and turning it into a negative is just... making his growth impossible and I've seen enough takes like that.

So anyway.

I'm not saying never hijack or don't talk or don't interact with me. I'm saying... if your entire point disagrees with my point entirely... that's time to make a new post! Because your point is better on it's own without mine.

(Honestly, it feels weird to say this, but your tags talking about your excitement about everyone's response and your post just being a declarative shut down of my happy post really did push me to respond. Because your tags and this both feel so positive and enjoyable and the post itself felt like it was just a refutation to my post.)

[fireolin]

I wonder how long social media will be allowed to continue uncensored in the US? And sites like Ao3?

Censorship has started already in the sense of people being arrested or not allowed into the US based on their views, with their phones being inspected.

But once they've got education, museums, and libraries defunded and under their thumbs, they're not going to leave social media alone. It'll be the same as under any other authoritarian regime.

So, people of tumblr, enjoy this freedom while we have it.

Still, I hope people in the US can successfully resist this madness.

[twinksintrees]

one thing about malcolm bright is that he will care so much

[rubbishraven]

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

post/artist

[abdalsalam2000]

The ceasefire agreement was reached and joy is floating among the Palestinian people

[ef-1]

Anyway if nothing else matters then I hope people remember that Pope Francis used his last public address to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and call Israel a terrorist state:

"I continue to receive very serious and painful news from Gaza. Unarmed civilians are subjected to bombings and shootings. It is terrorism."

[kosmogrl]

the secret to life is always having something to look forward to

[soapbbox]

Tenna watch out for the thirst comments

[111papilio]

brazil miku

[mmelete]

i wish ao3 allowed people to give kudos per each chapter. These 100k word NOVELS need more love than 200 tiny digital hearts ☹️

[thestarlightforge]

*deep breath*

A) that there IS no point— THAT is the point of this WHOLE SHOW. That there was LOVE and SACRIFICE and GOOD INTENTIONS, and NONE of it mattered. The Dance still happened, everybody lost, EVEN DAENERYS, the PRINCESS WHO WAS PROMISED from Aegon’s dream. Is that nihilistic and depressing? A bit. But it also illustrates the whole problem with monarchies (and intensely paternalistic/queerphobic/racist/religiously zealous/imperial/nuclear powered monarchies particularly), which is an important message.

B) that Alicent Hightower is a Huge Huge (repressed) Lesbian, and even queer people can be driven to awful ends (abandoning your son) if for their whole lives, these systems of oppression ritualistically curb-stomp their spirits.

C) that History (Fire & Blood and unfortunately a large portion of the fandom) will see No Point because it refuses to acknowledge queer people’s (especially queer women’s) full identities in its assessment of their characters or motivations.

“History will paint you a villain. A cold queen… grasping for power, and then defeated.”

“Let them think what they must. I am at last myself… with no ambition greater than to walk where I please and to breathe the open air. To die unremarked and unnoticed… and be free.”

“You speak as if from a distant dream.”

“Come with me.”

“My part is here, whether I will or no. It was decided for me long ago.” (softly) “Go.”

My reaction after Alicent sold out Aegon:

[battleguitar]