#anyway them in viet clothes idk

[garbagechuteeee]

These lny drawings are going to get gaudier every year, promise 😌 

[canonicallyanxious]

random and incoherent thoughts about raya and the last dragon

[spoilers under the cut]

bro these character designs are so fucking good!! i loved that the clothing was so unmistakably inspired by southeast asian culture, not conforming at all to western notions of femininity WE LOVE TO SEE IT

Idk why but it touched a thing in my heart to hear them use the south vietnamese word for dad [”ba”] for Raya to refer to her father as

“dep la” as a term for best friend derived from the viet words “đẹp” [beautiful] and “lạ” [strange] - if i’m going to be totally honest i didn’t realize this at first bc of the lack of accents [viet words said with an american accent just sound unbelievably flat and almost doesn’t resemble the viet word at all like even non-accented words in vietnamese have a bit more energy to them than your typical english words but anyway i digress] [also dep la isn’t really a phrase i’ve ever used in vietnamese, like i wouldn’t really think to put those words together but anyway] but beyond my monkey gay brain like “THEY CALLED EACH OTHER BEAUTIFUL” i’m kind of really into the idea of best friendship being characterized with a strange beauty, esp in the context of the film when they had just met - something they aren’t able to put a name to bc it’s unfamiliar but that they recognize in each other; friendship is strange but beautiful, i love that so fucking much

THE FOOD! THE FUCKIN FOOD! UNMISTAKEABLY SOUTHEAST ASIAN SO MUCH LOVE WAS PUT INTO THIS FOOD!

Sisu and Namaari meeting eyes for the first time -> Sisu being the one to recognize Namaari’s fear and vulnerability bc she recognizes it in herself -> Namaari taking up Sisu’s original role as the one to accept the others’ trust in her to empower her to put together the gem and ultimately save the world, bc their trust makes her a better person and allows her to trust in them and their sacrifice as well -> BIG FUCKING BRAIN OF THE WRITERS

Trust isn’t naivety, it’s strength and it’s power; you can’t control what other people do if they misuse your trust in them but you can control what you do; trusting in others doesn’t just give them strength, it gives you strength too to do things you could never do on your own

Let me take the first step -> Raya’s first step in recovering from her trauma as a young girl was also her first step in learning how to really trust Namaari again!!!!!

The world falling to pieces bc the conflict over the gem caused it to break into pieces -> the world is healed when the nations are able to unite once more and literally, physically put the pieces back together -> is it heavyhanded imagery? maybe so! am i a complete bitch for that kind of shit? shut up you can’t prove anything!

the way Raya gathered allies from all the countries of Kumandra and at first they were all so untrusting of each other but mistrust was ultimately born out of loneliness and in the end they were able to lean on each other and help each other bc ultimately at the end of the day they all just want to live and that built their trust in each other... it’s about the Found Family

Also though the importance of family in general in this movie, pretty much everyone was motivated by their love for their family!!! man hold on a second jusT HOLD ON A SECOND

[enigmari]

i get what your post means and you;re not alone !! that a part of it for me is because people associate "being a woman" and she/her pronouns with western womanhood? because the way people see it is through a western lense and your own definition of being woman aligned/nb means nothing to them is how i feel about it..

i’m having a hard time articulating it but i think it’s the same for me too? i’m not very connected to white womanhood at all but i’ve found that i emulate femininity in asian culture (larme kei/’girly’ fashion, etc) more easily, kinda. and even when i have to wear feminine áo dài, i never get the sense that i’m being restricted or forced into a certain role like i sometimes get when i’m wearing western-style feminine clothing. idk if it’s just because i’m used to it, but then again i’m diaspora viet and i mostly view life through a western lense anyways, so… it’s complicated?

this ended up as kind of a ramble but thank you for your message! you gave me some new things to think about!

[littledozerbaby]

DeputySoldier OTP questions

answered by @profdrlachfinger and @littledozerbaby 💕 questions can be found here

1: Who spends almost all their money on the other? T: Mitch obviously.

V: Yes! Mitch would look at all of his savings and try to figure out how to best afford a therapy or new clothing for John and also for food! Mitch loves to cook for John, but he is only used to spent money for food for one person, now he has to feed two! But Mitch doesn’t care as long as John is happy and they both can be together, money isn’t the primary focus in his life.

2: Who sleeps in the other’s lap? T: BOTH - depending on the stage of their relationship though!! Mitch would let John sleep in his lap after he’s having like, a nervous breakdown, both of them on the sofa and just enjoying the calm after the storm :’))))

V: And I think that John sometimes just likes to cuddle or embrace Mitch from behind and bury his face in the crook of Mitch’s neck. Just so he can feel close and breath in Mitch’s scent. Since John isn’t the type to initiate the first contact, this is always special for Mitch. after they made it through all of the early struggles of being an actual thing though, Mitch would take every chance he gets to cuddle up to John. lay down on his lap and feel the warmth and strength that’s radiating from John’s body.

3: Who walks around the house half-naked and who yells at them to put on some clothes?

T: not entirely sure about that one but I guess John? once he feels more comfortable around Mitch and accepting that he can feel at home at Mitch’s house he’d sometimes walk around in maybe only his boxers? and it would startle Mitch. make him feel awkward and guilty to see all the scars on John’s body. and in a way he’d also notice his growing attraction towards Rambo.

V: John is really very unconscious about his appearance or state of dress. For him it is just something purely practical and he doesn’t feel ashamed of being naked. The scars are a little different, tho. He is loath to show them but he trusts Mitch very much and knows that Mitch accepts for who he is not how he looks. That’s why he is often sporting a slight stubble and long shaggy hair, wich Mitch likes!

T: Mitch wouldn’t really yell at John to put on some clothes, just blush and stammer and rub his nose, idk.

V: Nose-rubbing definitely!

4: Which one tells the other not to stay up all night and which one stays up all night anyway?

T: works for both actually. Mitch worries a lot and could stay up all night lost in his thoughts with John telling him not to worry about things he cannot change.

V: Mitch would definitely stay up all night, go over their accounts, planning how to spent money, how to maintain the house und such stuff, just so John doesn’t have to do it and he can recover in peace.

T: John would be kept awake by his trauma. memories from the war. nightmares. so it’s more like they involuntarily stay awake all night even when they would like to sleep :’(((

V: And John wouldn’t necessarily talk about his nightmares or memories, so Mitch just joins him, while sitting on the edge of the bed or in the living room. Just radiating comfort and love.

5: Which one tries to make food for the other but burns it all by accident and which one tells them that it’s okay and makes them both cookies?

T: Mitch would burn the food and have John help him prepare something they could eat … not exactly cookies but some simple dish John remembers from his training.

V: Mitch would burn the food because he does too many things at once so he forgets half of it! XD Sometimes I think John never learned to cook properly. His life at home with his father and mother was very troubled and abusive, so he was never shown how to cook basic meals, so he figured out some stuff for himself. While he was enrolled with the special forces he mainly learned to hunt, kill, gut and roast game over an open fire or even eat it raw in order to survive.

7: Which one constantly wears the other’s clothes? T: JOHN J RAMBO >:))))) V: YES! Mitch has tons of oversized t-shirts, at least for him, and John would just naturally pick them up and wear them!

8: Which one spends all day running errands and which one says “You remembered [thing], right?”

T: Mitch would try and run errands and probably forget half the stuff he’s planned to get. John would kindly remind him of the things he actually wanted to buy.

V: and it’s not even like John wouldn’t run any errands, Mitch just tends to take up all the errands in order not to burden John. And Mitch just takes on to much it a little bit XD

9: Which one drives the car and which one gives them directions?

T: Mitch drives the car. it’s Mitch’s car.

10: Which one does the posing while the other one draws?

V: If John would ever fall asleep or is just caught up in his thoughts Mitch would seize the opportunity to draw John. But John wouldn’t pose, he is always himself and isn’t putting on an act.

T: I agree to that. to all of that :’)))))

V: If John would ever try drawing or painting I would think he would like it very much! He would have fun drawing landscapes and surroundings which he likes or which he finds calming. Since it is just hobby for him, something that he just does for the fun of it, he just uses plain, thin paper and an old shabby pencil he found in one of Mitch’s drawers.

11: If they were about to rob a museum, which one does backflips through lasers and which one is strolling behind with a bag of chips?

T: Rambo doing all the stunts and backflips while Mitch can hardly tag along.

V: John has to tie Mitch to his back so he can keep up! xD

12: Which one of your OTP overdoes it on the alcohol and which one makes the other stop drinking?

T: not sure if John’s a huge fan of alcohol anyway. a beer or two are fine with him but he’d know his limits. Mitch … not so much? he’s been using drugs in his past and probably would drink a lot if he’s given a reason. it wouldn’t happen often. once maybe … but John would be there to take care of Mitch ;__;

V: Mitch gets drunk very easily, so two to three beers and he’s done! But he wouldn’t want to overdose or get drunk on purpose. But when he is drunk he is very tipsy and needs to be taken care of ;3

V: John definitely knows his limits! But he doesn’t really like drinking because he tends to be a sad drunk and old and traumatic memories tend to arise even easier when under the influence of alcohol. Also alcohol reminds him of his father, who was a drunk, and John loathe the thought that he might become like his father …

13: Which one likes to surprise the other with a lot of small random gifts?

V: As Mitch likes to spend all of his money on John, he would also buy him a lot of useful presents. after being realized from prison John has no home to speak of so he doesn’t even have his own clothes to wear. Mitch would buy John scarfs, boots or even pullovers, just so John get’s his own clothing.

V: John’s way of giving Mitch presents is of a more practical kind of way; He would run an errand for Mitch, fix something that’s broken around the house or sometimes bring home some flowers.

T: YES TO ALL OF THIS!

14: Which one keeps accidentally using the other’s last name instead of their own?

V: I think Mitch would sometimes think or even start to say Rambo, because for the first four years it was the only name Mitch used in reference of John … But not entirely sure about that!

15: Which one screams about the spider and which one brings the spider outside?

T: if Mitch was afraid of spiders John would have to take them out but I’m not sure if Mitch would have a problem with spiders in the first place :/

V: If Mitch isn’t afraid of spiders then he might be afraid of something else and John would take care of it!

16: Which one gives the other their jacket?

T: JOHN WOULD GIVE MITCH HIS HUGE GREEN ARMY JACKET

V: ALL OF THE YESSES

17: Who keeps getting threatened by the other’s overprotective older sibling?

T: omg- okay if Mitch had a sibling they would dislike John for all the reasons the whole society dislikes him. no older sibling would like to see their young brother hang out with a dangerous and damaged war veteran :’(

V: Yes, Mitch’s whole family (now only his aunt, uncle and cousin) would view Mitch’s friendship with John very critically. And since Mitch hasn’t outed himself in front of his family, out of consideration and the general mind-set of society, it is evermore difficult to introduce John to the family. But Mitch does his best!

18: Who’s the first one to admit they have feelings for the other?

T: Mitch would admit it to himself. and he would probably also tell John about it a long time after he decided for himself that he is very much in love with him and shouldn’t have to hide or deny it.

V: Yes! Mitch – for himself – is very confident about his sexuality and love for John. But he discloses his feelings out of fear to drive John away with them. But after a time he realizes that he doesn’t have to hide from John and he wants John to see him as he is <3

19: How good would your OTP be at parenting?

V: I think Mitch is in general very fond of kids and enjoys playing with them. And John would be cautious at first upon meeting children or kids in general. But after the first few minutes he acts very natural about them, because they treat him without any prejudices. But besides that John has strong feelings about bringing a child into this world in which cruelty and war is still reality for the majority of the world and even for him (can be read in the second novel). For him it is irresponsible to father a child when the world is gruesome like that .-.

20: Which one types with perfect grammar and which one types using numbers as letters?

T: Mitch uses good good grammar and John does not care.

V: I think John isn’t used to write longer stuff, since in the military and in Viet Nam he only took notes of coordinates and stuff likes that, there he would be very meticulous but otherwise he doesn’t really care.

21: Who gets attacked by a bully and who protects them?

T: Mitch is an easy mark but holy shit you don’t want John to be around and see you bully his boyfriend.

V: And Mitch is always afraid of attracting bullies toward him, because he knows how John will react. And when John is caught being violent while on probation he would be sent back to prison! And Mitch doesn’t want to be the reason why John loses his chance to re-enter society.

22: Who makes the bad puns and who makes a pained smile every time the other makes a pun?

T: John would throw around a few dry jokes to cheer Mitch up. and it works EVERY SINGLE TIME

V: When Mitch would make a bad, bad pun John would try to smile or even laugh, but Mitch’s puns are terrible! XD And John has a very dry, spot-on humor one wouldn’t suspect!

23: Who comes home from work to see that the other one bought a puppy?

V: If John ever found a stray and wounded dog in the streets, he would take it home no doubt! He knows how it is to be without a home ore a loved one, so he feels connected to the animal and care for it. Like Mitch did for John.

T: TRUE. YES. I DO AGREE TO THIS.

24: Which one gives the other a piggyback ride when they’re tired?

T: John would carry Mitch. he’d carry him anywhere ;__;

V: No matter what Mitch has, if he is ill, asleep or anything, John picks him up easily and takes him ANYWHERE!

25: Which one competes in some sort of activity and which one does the overzealous cheering?

T: Mitch would be so proud of John doing basically ANYTHING he’d cheer for him, maybe more internally than actually scream and shout

V: And John would compliment Mitch for his cooking! It’s the best John had in years and he just loves Mitch’s food!

26: Who takes a selfie when the other one falls asleep on their shoulder? T: … Mitch probably :’)

28: Which one owns a pet that the other is absolutely terrified of?

T: alriiight so! if John had the chance to own/share a horse with someone. maybe only take care of it, feed it, keep the stable clean and stuff; he’d want Mitch to meet that horse and Mitch has a lot of respect for such a giant animal. he’d be okay with standing beside the horse, pet it, feed it some carrots or apples but as soon as John suggests he could ride it and has him sit on the horse’s back Mitch would be very much afraid of the horse. he knows John’s there to catch him if he would fall and that would make him feel a little more comfortable.

V: Mitch is scared of horses because they are so huge and also because he fell of a horse when he was younger and never went back up again. And John can relate how that must feel for Mitch, because it is like a trauma too. So he would take special care to introduce Mitch to the horse and never pushing or forcing him. But Mitch also know that horses mean a lot to John, he wants to overcome his fears so they can share this.

29: Which one holds the umbrella over both of them when it rains?

T: John does not really care about the rain draining his clothes and hair, so Mitch would probably hold an umbrella over both of their heads <3

30: If your OTP went on vacation, where would they go and what would they do? Who would take the pictures?

T: they’d maybe just travel to another state in the US? places they could reach by car. maybe go to some remote place in the mountains to just be by themselves. I think both would take some pictures on the old camera Mitch brought … but maybe John would take the more interesting ones? of animals, plants, landscape, Mitch when he’s asleep :’))))))))))