#at least i guess it's meta/analysis

[dreamytfw]

Not liking Cas because he let Sam out of the panic room in s4 and no one ever found out sure is... a choice. For a few of reasons.

a) Cas was under direct orders from Heaven at the time. He hadn't fully rebelled yet. And it was either carry out orders or be killed. Cas really didn't have a choice. And after he'd rebelled in s5, he didn't let Sam out of the panic room

b) Dean said he'd let Sam die in that panic room. He let Sam's hallucinations torture him. The detox Dean tried to do was cruel and inhumane, and can very easily be read as retaliation for Sam "choosing" Ruby over Dean (note: this does not mean it is the ONLY reading. And regardless of if you subscribe to the retaliation reading, the conditions Dean put Sam in were still cruel and inhumane). Hating Cas for letting Sam out of abusive, cruel, and inhumane conditions, but not hating Dean for doing that to Sam in the first place. Hm. Interesting.

c) This is a Doylist reason rather than a Watsonian one, but it's still worth bringing up imo. From a writing perspective, I'm not sure who else was going to let Sam out. Demons can't open the door, so Ruby or even Lilith aren't options. iirc Dean and Bobby are the only humans that know Sam is in there, and they're not going to let him out because they've convinced themselves this is the right thing to do. Uriel's dead, and Anna's off doing her own thing. There literally was not another character who could have let Sam out. And the writers had to let Sam out to let the plot move forward. Like, if anyone can think of another character that was available, let me know. But just from a writing stand point, I literally cannot think of who else would have been able to let Sam out.

d) Blood freak Sam is extremely hot, so really, we should be thanking Cas for letting him be a feral little guy.

If people want to be mad at Cas, I can't stop them. But hating him for letting Sam out of the panic room in s4 is, imo, one of the dumbest and most inconsistent reasons. Dean was literally torturing Sam to death, but sure, yeah, let's be mad at the guy who was being forced under penalty of death to let Sam out. Like what kind of logic??

[xelasrecords]

Interpreter Richter's Tragic Endings

I find Vyn's character to be the most tragic in most endings (Artem's is a close runner-up) because no matter the outcome, he cannot win. He loses his freedom for Rosa or loses her for power or simply dies to protect her. What Interpreter Richter truly wants is the freedom that one can only have with power, so he accumulates it at all costs without moral scruples.

These are all from different endings:

This one hurts the most though, because he knew he'd be forever chained to the gang that he wanted to be free from if he helped Rosa, yet he did it anyway. All for her. And she didn't even realise.

[sharoo]

The Flower-Seeker, the Robot, and the City without Faith

It's me again emerging from my mole's burrow to leave a thematic analysis piece and then bury myself again for a few more months.

Spoilers for Canto 7

CW for mentions of suicidal ideation and some death talk

Let's talk about Bari and her role in the world of Projmoon.

I think everyone who experienced LoR before Limbus was in the same camp as me upon the reveal of Bari.

Which is to say:

The chat was not normal.

But now I've had some time to cool off and actually think and Bari's position in her world is honestly kind of fascinating, especially as a take on immortal characters.

Because first and foremost, Bari has to be ancient. In a meta sense, sprites of the Book Hunter, as we knew her back then, date back all the way to Lobcorp. In universe meanwhile, she was already a long time traveller before she met Don Quixote senior and Sancho. She was there when the Associations were being established and competing for popularity. That was, on the low end, several hundred years ago. We don't know how long it took to construct La Manchaland, or how long that operated before everything fell apart and Quixote Senior sealed everyone away for 200 years.

All through this, Bari hasn't aged a day. My guess is that it's possibly thanks to the river of immortality Xichun mentions, or something else found outside the City.

And this is where we hit one of my favourite tropes - immortals passing time.

1. Remember that you will not die

One of the most interesting things to consider in fiction is the question of "What would you do if you were immortal? You'd have infinite time to do anything you desired - to travel, learn, rest. What would you do?"

Very often, humans who undergo this process in stories eventually begin to stagnate. They end up not doing anything, because internal motivation disappears. This is understandable, because, to get a little memento mori for a moment here, death is the biggest motivator we humans have - it's our time limit. You only get X amount of time to enjoy certain things, to achieve certain goals, so that at the tail end of it you'll be able to reminisce and hopefully smile before you expire. Add to it that age itself limits us, be it youth not allowing us independence or old age slowing us down and limiting us with weakness, and you can see how we are driven, at least in theory, to live life fully as long as we can.

To lose that - the constant dread of your body slowly, but surely, progressing towards failure, breaking down little by little, is to rob us of our inherent motivator. It is a very large part of being a human, really. A lot of our lives and cultures circle around this immutable fact that we don't last, and our questions regarding the why and the what comes after. Religion exists to answer most of those questions.

So... what does one do when they lose that, and become immortal without purpose?

They seek another. Or they disappear.

2. Faith (A Ruina tangent)

Before I get to Bari, it's important to examine her debut game, and the one person she interacts with (and believe me I have thoughts about it).

So, Angela. Our most beloved not-human with all the characteristics of humanity except a lifespan, and a perfect example of an immortal trying to pass time.

LoR goes to great lengths to show her desperation going back all the way to Lobcorp. It shows, quite clearly, first her inability to cope with the circumstances Ayin stuck her in, followed by her resignation to fate and a silent wish for the end. I will not mince words, Angela reads to me back then as silently suicidal, in that she's given up on any other solution to her pain but the conclusion of the play. Then, and only then, was she to be allowed to rest. She had no say in when the play would end so she could only hope it eventually would.

She yearned for death. But then, something changed. Netzach points out that indeed, though she wished for the end, she truly wanted to live. To exist, to escape her prison and to finally know this world besides the pain. That desire gave her enough humanity to manifest her own EGO.

All with the purpose of seeking the One Book that'd give her humanity, and, in her eyes, make her finally complete and able to live in happiness.

The most important part of LoR for this analysis is the Floor of Religion, and Hokma's view of faith. Honestly I'd recommend watching through all of these because it's so poignant. Or better yet, watch Hydrojoy's Angela video (the fact they've got so few subscribers with this level of analysis is a crime honestly).

Some lines I want to focus on, though, are these:

Things without purpose shall disappear. People without purpose will similarly expire.

Angela admits to herself that she doesn't know what she's doing. She's simply chasing some sort of meaning - revenge, freedom from her robotic condition, power, knowledge, anything that'll give her fulfilment.

And in the forgiveness route, she finally finds that in companionship of Roland and, I'd like to think, the Librarians.

But if she doesn't forgive, she ends up losing any purpose besides continuous revenge. There is no companionship when the Librarians turn on her for betraying them. There's no use in being human when it doesn't benefit her mission, and frankly just makes it harder because it makes her easier to harm. There's no point leaving the library when outside will not welcome her, it's much safer to stay inside forever.

There is no point to anything. Angela's revenge is hollow, really - Ayin is dead and no amount of sticking it to him will earn a response from a dead guy.

Enter the Book Hunter.

I will be honest in saying I don't fully understand what they both mean, with them speaking in sort of vague terms. It sounds like Bari was employed by Angela to kill other Book Hunters (perhaps in exchange for knowledge?).

What matters to me, though, are the final lines - the recognition of what Angela is and delivering death to the last librarian.

3. The Scholar of Meaning and the Reaper of the Meaningless

As the Limbus wiki points out, Bari is likely named after a Korean funerary goddess who sought both a healing river and a flower of immortality. But this influence strikes me especially in the context of her being an immortal who meets a lot of other (and often younger) immortals.

She's wise to the fact that all things need meaning to exist. They need an ambition, a wish, something to strive for.

So she attempts to give it to them.

This is shown not just explicitly with Quixote senior, but also with Quixote junior after Sancho gives up her memory, itself a form of death Bari guides her to. For 200 years, Bari made sure to visit Don Quixote and leave her letters so that this person who was once a dear friend may dream, may have meaning and a purpose in her immortal life.

Because you need something to drive you in life, be it becoming a legendary fixer, creating a place where Bloodfiends can live in peace with humans, or searching for a flower which grew from the mysterious rivers flowing through your world.

And if you have lost purpose and can no longer find one, if she cannot save you from that void, she will be there to put you out of your misery, for a meaningless eternity is its own sort of hell, and cruelty it perpetuates is nothing but needless.

In her own words - you must pursue your dream, even if it means wagering your life in the chase.

I think Bari's view of the Bloodfiends' illness and what Carmen describes as the disease humanity could be similar if not the same thing. Roland says in Floor of Religion's first episode that the City has no established religion - people focus on their immediate survival, suffering is everpresent, and the more organised religious-seeming groups are cults trying to exploit you.

The City has lost its purpose. People do not dream, or are not allowed to for long because those dreams are swiftly quashed. Carmen offers an out to suffering through becoming so unapologetically yourself you gain the power to enact your will on the world, for better or worse.

Bari seeks, I think, to give the same, but through simple companionship. Not cohersion, not magic, but through the same thing that has given so many people across this franchise meaning - having a friend to be there for you as you look for what drives you. Because to be alone in meaninglessness is the most cruel and difficult thing. I wonder if she knows that from experience...

I really hope we get more of Bari in the future so I can see if my analysis is more fanfiction than truth but with just the bits we have I have to say she's one of my favourite secondary characters in Limbus.

[luli-lads]

World Underneath — Fractal Library Q&A: Breakdown and Theories

This story raised so many questions for me... I felt the need to do an analysis. So, let's go! (Long post ahead)

Preface

It's important to note that when Infold released this update, it came with a corresponding social media post, of which I will just show the part relating to this story:

As you can see, it's stated that this story is related to Zayne. It's important to keep this in mind as he himself isn't mentioned by name in it.

Although, we still could've known it was about him by a few things, it's good to have certain confirmation.

Also, it's helpful to have read The Foreseer's myth, Master of Fate's myth and Dawnbreaker's anecdote before continuing, because although I will give reminders about key elements, the full picture is lost if you don't know what I'm talking about.

What is the Fractal Library?

It's not actually a library in the strict sense, because it doesn't necessarily have books. Let's explore this.

I think the concept of 'fractal' wasn't explained neatly enough in the story, so let me provide more on that. Taking this definition from google:

A fractal is a shape that when you take the shape apart into pieces, the pieces are the same or similar to the whole.

You know a good example of a fractal? A snowflake. (Yeah... Yeah.) Snowflakes have this shape -> ❄️. And guess what it looks like when you put it under a microscope. You get many tiny ❄️ put together. A meta-shape.

Now, back to the library itself. It's not clear what the things in the library are, because they're almost Schrodinger's books in the sense that sometimes they are books, and sometimes they're not. As the administrator tells a kid,

"A lot of the things here aren't what you'd call books, but let's call them 'books' for the sake of convenience. [...] When you want to read them, they'll take on a form that's easy for you to understand. Books are the ideal medium. But if you prefer cartoons, that works too."

Sorry, admin, but I don't think 'books' is the best term for them. They're more like windows. Windows to a different universe, a parallel universe, that can appear as books.

So, what's fractal about these 'books'? As they explain, every book is an entire universe. Except, all the books are the same universe, with slight changes. If you put every book together, you'd get every single possibility that could occur in the universe; what if you took the train? what if you went by foot? what if you didn't go at all? Each its own universe. Stories growing upon themselves with each little decision, like fractals, stories inside stories.

Do you recall any other books in the game that let you experience a parallel universe in a non-book-restricted way? That's right, the books in the Tower of Thorns. They teleported MC inside them and let her experience the contents for herself.

And this is just the beginning of the connections with The Foreseer.

I can't imagine how big the Library must be, to contain all of that (except I can, and we have pictures).

Read the image's alt text <3

Who is the Library's administrator?

That is, the person telling us all of the information about it in the story. I have a wild theory about this one.

First, we can deduce that this person might be on the older side (older, not meaning 'old') since they've gone through more than 6 jobs "over the years" before settling as the administrator. They also used to travel a lot.

Much like Zayne, they also like sweets. This could be a mere coincidence, but it's strange that they pointed that out. I think it was done as a way to further emphasize their connection to Zayne. However, their personality is much more cheerful and open.

I would have to get feedback from people who can read this in other languages, but there is no mention to their gender.

Right. So, putting all of this together, who do I think it is?

Jas. Or, at least, the version of Jas in the current timeline.

If you remember, in the Foreseer's myth there's a sentient ice cluster named Jas, who mainly stays in the library to help her and Zayne reach the higher rows of books by lifting them in ice platforms.

When MC asks about its origin, Zayne confirms that he didn't create it. Jas simply exists.

So Jas is its own entity that simply looks after the library inside the Tower of Thorns (among other things). And the administrator is their own person that simply looks after the Fractal Library.

This one is more speculation than anything, but it would be nice to see Jas again, wouldn't it?

Who is the person on the other side of the telephone?

Some of you are going to get stupidly giddy about my theory here.

We have to note a few things:

— They have impeccable timing, calling every day at 10 AM, and as described by the admin,

"No one manages time as precisely as that caller."

— They're not the owner of the place, but they gave the administrator their position and they seem to look after it.

— They write books. Let's assume the ones in the library.

— They're the one who gave the administrator the order to wait for a specific man to walk in, who would be the owner.

— They have strange powers(?) (I don't know what else to call them), because first of all, how did they know to ring the Library at the right time when the administrator walked in if it was abandoned? And the admin said,

"I approached the counter and answered the phone as if beckoned by an unseen force."

Not only that, but the fact that they can write these 'books' at all??

— They're trying to create a specific 'book'. At the end of the story we hear the admin say into the phone,

"...By the way, how did that new book of yours turn out? When can I read it? Oh... It failed again?"

What does 'it failed' mean? Can't you just write whatever you want if it's your 'book'? Admin also stated earlier,

"If these stories are someone's reality, if their worlds truly exist or once did... Could they have been just experimental playgrounds for some god's whim? Bits and pieces thrown together without a second thought, proportions guided by mood, one failure after another."

We can also guess with this that the admin doesn't know the true nature of the person on the other side of the phone, even if they know they write books.

— They're impatient for the owner to arrive, we can tell by the constant checking in on the matter despite the fact that it will apparently happen on a specific date.

So, putting all these pieces together.

A creator of worlds. A god. Not an all-powerful god, since their worlds keep failing. They're waiting for the owner of the Library, that is, the owner of these books. The owner of these universes. The protagonist in these universes. Zayne (why it's him, further down).

Oh golly gee, what kind of god could have an interest in Zayne, we all put our hands to our heads in unison as realization dawns, that's right baby, Astra.

Listen, take this with a BIG grain of salt, okay? Plus, in this story, if that were Astra, he seems... Nice? It could be a different god altogether! Maybe Astra's opposite, even.

I'll leave this idea here, and we can move on to the next question.

Who's the true owner of the library?

As I said before, it's clearly Zayne, but I'll explain why.

Before anything, let me say that I don't think Zayne knows he is the owner. It's a Matrix situation, Neo isn't the chosen one until Trinity falls in love with him, Zayne isn't the owner of the Library until he steps through its doors. He isn't aware of its existence BUT he might know the admin because they said:

"When the moment arrives, I'm sure he'll come looking for me. [...] And if he doesn't show up, well, we know exactly where to find him, right?"

It's unclear.

Also that last line might be a reference to the fact that they're acutely aware that the stories are about him, so they know where the most probable place to find him is, based on all the existing universes.

So, onto why it's him.

The admin says,

I know an atheist will step through these doors one day. That person is the library's true owner.

God is a reoccurring theme in Zayne's lore. Starting with The Foreseer, who is directly affected by Astra (we could also mention Dawnbreaker here, since he's connected directly by the jasmine flower), Master of Fate, who is a God himself though doesn't really act like one, and finally main!timeline Zayne, where the theming is a bit more subtle.

— The Foreseer: He's not an atheist because he doesn't have a choice (💀) however, let me go a little deeper into his relationship with Astra. He's very vague about his feelings towards the God, but every word is measured as to not offend Him. Although, it also seems like, since he already has the God's favor, he doesn't need to praise him or regard him in a positive light necessarily. A kind of learned helplessness. There is one instance of explicit emotion towards Him...

"Astra's will has presented itself, and the Foreseer's indifferent facade reveals a hint of indignation as he too is imprisoned by the prophecy."

— Master of Fate: As a God himself, he also doesn't have much of a choice in his beliefs XD. However, he doesn't really care about his godhood (in the sense that, he just acts like a normal person and treats humans as equals).

— Dawnbreaker: I couldn't find any mentions of any god in his anecdote. (If I missed any, feel free to correct me). Still, since he's one of the characters in the stories mentioned by the admin, we can count him out.

— Dr. Zayne: If my memory doesn't fail me, quite a few people around Zayne have brought up the existence of a God. Yet he himself hasn't really shown an opinion. Carter asks him directly if he believes in God, and he ignores the question and instead calls Carter crazy.

Now, with Zayne's logical and methodical approach to anything, I don't think he even questions the existence of a god altogether because for him, it's always just been people. People helping and people harming. Things around him, tangible things. He might let himself play around with concepts like fate just because he's in love with MC, but at the end of the day, he's a man who blames things on people (positively and negatively speaking). And that stems from the fact that he carries every mistake he's ever made with him, as things that are his fault. No one else's. So from his point of view, it must be true for everyone else as well. No higher power. People die, people live, that's on him, that's his job.

Dr. Zayne is the only one who they could be referring to as 'an atheist'. But not only that! Since I already established the connection between the Library and The Foreseer's library, I believe there's a narrative order: Zayne enters the library and is designated its owner -> The person behind the phone makes themselves known -> ??? -> Zayne gains Astra's favor and becomes his emissary (gaining immortality) -> Time passes, Earth becomes Philos, the Library turns into the Tower of Thorns -> The Foreseer's myth.

Thus Dr. Zayne ends up as The Foreseer, memories of his past long forgotten by centuries of ice, loneliness, torture, and Astra's meddling.

It would also explain why Astra can't be a character in one of the 'books', and is interfering directly with Zayne in The Foreseer's myth — He got tired of trying to write a successful universe and instead attempted to force a narrative himself, punishing Zayne if he walked out of the path He wanted. Fate.

What are the books about?

Like I said earlier, they're universes. But let's look into them.

The administrator says one thing about them: They're all science fiction. So, the events in them aren't what's happening in the current world. But we know it's the present time since the admin says they're in Linkon City.

The admin also recounts a story they read in those books. It's strange, because they seem like two separate stories, but they say it's only one. I don't know how to interpret this incongruence entirely. A summary:

A world where they look into your genetics at birth and determine your whole life based on them, on what's most efficient. But a man bioengineered a baby with 'perfect' genes, who did whatever he wanted because he could, even if it was wrong. This caused an imbalance in society and a rebellion against the system, the rebels on the losing side. The story ends there, weirdly abruptly?

A dying world. It's better if I paraphrase the beginning:

Everyone but "him" had fallen victim to a virus that stripped away the human form and humanity. It turned people into an energy that would perish along with the planet.

"He" spent his life killing these infected individuals, until there were none left. He was the only living person remaining. Only when the world died, so did he.

I wonder why the admin put these two stories together as one. Obviously the second one is reminiscent of Dawnbreaker's anecdote. Perhaps his end. But the first one...? I hesitate to say it could be one of Zayne's future myths, but is it that far-fetched? After all, these stories seem to be all about Zayne (the "owner"), so why not? It's a failed attempt, there's no real reason why Zayne couldn't have ended up being the bad guy of the story.

Then again... What would be the successful attempt? Maybe it's not even a 'happy ending'. We don't know what the 'writer' is trying to achieve.

I'm gonna be honest here, I was really surprised when the admin let a child come in to read them, considering they're all 'failed attempts', I can't imagine a happy kids book in there 😭

Don't get me wrong, there's the possibility that not all the books are about Zayne. I'm only saying that since Infold made it clear that this World Underneath chapter was about him, and since he's the owner of these worlds, it would make sense if all the stories had to do with him. It seems like we'll get more lore about this place in the future, seeing as the last part is titled 'To Be Continued' so we'll have to wait and see.

Remaining questions...

This weird line:

"I'm in Linkon City now, so I have to stick to the schedule here."

Made me think,

— Is the admin normally somewhere else?

— Is the Library... a moving thing? A travelling library, going from place to place?

— Is the admin used to a different passage of time?

If Astra isn't the 'writer' of those books, and is, in fact, a character in them, who is the writer? A higher level god? They wrote Zayne as a God in Master of Fate, which means they have the power to create gods.

And why the fixation on Zayne? Can Zayne do something for this writer that they can't do themselves? Because, as we've stated, they aren't all-powerful.

It also raises the question, why are they so certain that there's a 'successful version'? How do they know the others are 'failed'? Simply because they're unhappy endings? Maybe I'm thinking too much about this. But if they know they can 'write' a successful world, are they simply a Laplace's Demon entertaining themselves?

There's also the fact that it was highlighted that they're very timely. In the admin's words,

"No one manages time as precisely as that caller."

Could it be a time god instead of a fate god? Just, who are they?

Another thing that's nagging me is that every chapter except the last is supposed to be a Q&A in the Library's guestbook. So, as a text that's supposed to be read by anyone, it would be normal for the admin to lie or hide some things. We can only truly judge their character in the last part. There's a part that further reinforces my belief of unreliable narrating:

P.S. Dear readers, I hope you'll spare some time in this ever-changing world to read, explore times and places beyond your experience, and discover all that lies hidden within the pages.

It might be a reach on my part, but it almost seems like a nudge? A wink?

The whole conversation at the start of the final chapter was odd.

"We'll know the truth soon enough." -> About what? About whether Zayne will arrive on that specific date?

[Talking about books.] "The one I'm working on now is long, so there's still hope." -> Is the admin a writer as well? Or do they simply review the writer's work in search of that 'successful attempt'?

At the end of the story, the admin talks to us directly. This specific line stood out to me:

"I might not meet all your expectations, [...]"

Does that mean we should have expectations? Should we know something about the admin already? If they're not Jas, are they not a new character?

To conclude

They didn't say this in the guestbook Q&A. This was a direct fourth wall break. Why say this to us?

Edit: Added some theories about the kid that walks into the library here.

Okay. Whew. I think that's all I wanted to say.

Excuse my ramblings, I've read this story a lot of times for this analysis and I keep coming up with borderline nonsensical theories. Feel absolutely free to ignore these or make your own.

I've probably read TOO much into it. I just got excited!!! I'm not sure what exactly about this story pulled me so strongly, but damn, I can't wait to know more!

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think, if you want! <3

But that's just a theory, a hampter theory ;)

[rbtlvr]

anyways i was thinking about that one thing id5 said about sif not apologizing (except in act 6 ofc) (from this post)

and thinking about the times loop says sorry (genuinely, bc theres at least one time they say it . lightheartedly? i guess? when they talk to you in the clocktower in act 2 to tell you some more stuff about zoning out:)

BUT there are also a very very few times they say it genuinely such aaaaaaas...

in the loop hangout:

(ironically enough, they say they WONT say sorry later:)

(like, i guess thats technically true if youre only looking at the semantics, since they dont say sorry after that. but like. they already said it before so ummm)

at the end of their conversation in act 5:

aaaaand of course in twohats when they win:

(it could maybe be argued that that last one isnt Really genuine because theyre kind of manic rambling but like. to me that whole monologue really really reads as them trying to talk themself into killing siffrin

and idk Quite how to put it in words but that kinda makes me feel like it is genuine? like they dont want to. theyre trying to get themself to do it but they dont want to so theyre saying sorry because they dont want to but they feel like they have to. or something. shrugs)

anyways. i dont have a big long meta analysis on what those instances mean or something i just thought it was interesting. maybe something about how the only time sif really apologizes is in act 6 after hes really really hurt everyone and how all the situations where loop apologizes are ones where they are/have/are going to/are trying to/think they have really really hurt siffrin. idk

[befuddledcinnamonroll]

Top 10 Things I Love About the QL Tumblr Community 2023

I'm loving everyone's end of year lists, and decided to make up one of my own.

I haven't been on Tumblr for very long and was originally just lurking. 2023 marks the year where I finally started posting, after I read a take that made me feel compelled to come to a fictional character's defense. (Saengtai, my poor little blorbo).

So in commemoration of my first proper year of active tumblring, I present what I love about this community (in no particular order).

(Side note - Technically I know this is still primarily a BL community, but I like to say QL because I am trying to manifest more lesbians for us.)

1) The Gifmakers

Y'all are a good 70% of the reason I joined Tumblr in the first place. There are so many show moments that I want to relive, but without having to search through videos. Sometimes I want to appreciate the aesthetics. Sometimes I want to remember adorable or goofy moments. Sometimes I just want to see cute boys eating each other's faces. Our gifmakers give all of that to us, with the addition of so much creativity and style.

There's too many amazing ones to mention everyone, but I have to shout out @sparklyeyedhimbo, because the way your brain works makes me so happy.

2) The expertise

The other part of why I joined Tumblr was to learn more about what BLs were out there and what I might be missing. And holy hell. Y'all are putting in the work. Not only lists and resources for finding all kinds of QLs, like these fabulous monthly breakdowns by @gunsatthaphan, but also amazing posts that add additional context, like @absolutebl's incredibly helpful breakdown of Asian honorifics. There is so much research people do, for fun! And then they share it!

3) The meta analysis

I frickin love reading people's takes and analyses on series. I love learning, I love seeing perspectives from people with different cultural backgrounds to my own, it's all so fascinating! There's so much context we can miss due to our own privileges, or lack of knowing about various cultures, or due to whatever bubbles we've been living in. People here are just so smart, and nuanced, and willing to reflect and think about things, and also push back at each other, but generally with respect (except when you call out the dumb shit you see, usually on Twitter or TikTok, where people are being reductive and dumb about gender and sexuality).

And I've seen a few takes where people complain about analyses, and say that the director/production doesn't do everything deliberately, and we're all reading too much into it. To which I say, eh, lighten up. How people connect to and relate to media has relevance beyond what was intended. The point is we get to think and discuss and learn and grow. That doesn't happen if we don't analyze.

Special shout out here to @respectthepetty because colors mean things!

4) The wild theories

The other side of the analysis coin, the clown cars y'all drive around in with the wildest of theories. I have happily climbed into an occasional clown car, and usually I am utterly wrong (*cough* Saifah *cough*). But it's a super fun ride. I love seeing how people's brains work. I love it when y'all are wrong. I love it when y'all are right. It's beautiful.

5) Immediate acceptance

I am one of those people who knows that I have a lot of good qualities, and also, always kind of expect rejection. Blame the childhood bullies, I guess. Anyway, whenever I delve into a new space, I still feel like a total dork that no one will want to talk to. It's kind of a fraught way to move through the world, but I manage.

Anyway, I started posting my thoughts as they came up, and people are just totally cool with it. People even follow me sometimes. Even my silliest thoughts and dumbest jokes get at least a couple likes. It's so validating.

And my very silly joke about gay mafia in Kiseki has over 800 likes. I feel very seen.

6) Mutuals

I still kind of can't believe I have any. This ties in to the dork feeling above, but seriously - they are soooo cooooool. They're smart and awesome and funny, and they somehow find me worth following back, which is baffling yet wonderful. I want to squish their faces and give them many kisses (if they're into that kind of thing).

7) The self-exploration

I really appreciate how it's become more talked about how a lot of people are discovering queerness through BL, because that is so the case for me. I think it's both that I was in a bit of a hetero bubble before, and also that I'm evolving a bit as I age. I had figured out I was demi, and maybe a little bit gay, before getting in to BL, but being in this community, and seeing so many of you share so openly and freely, has made me realize it might be more than a little bit.

Either it was a new realization, or being around y'all has made me more gay. Win win, either way.

8) The weirdness

I'm weird. Y'all are weird. I love it.

9) The thirst

So many in this community are thirsty as fuck, and as someone who is in that same condition, I love that it's not just me. There are not many places where I can freely admit how horny I am as a part of my general existence.

Here? I could post about wanting to lick some random BL actor's face, and it would get a bunch of likes and some tags like #lickable, and it's just not remotely a big deal.

Also the gifmakers understand this, and give us beautiful cuts of our spicy scenes. They are genuinely too good for us.

10) The communal watching experience

There is absolutely nothing like watching along with people in the community. It is so worth the torture of having to wait week to week for new episodes. Seeing the show trend, watching the theories fly fast and furious, or the way everyone collectively loses their minds over particular moments. In a world that can feel very isolating, it's a very warm experience.

So there you go. Thank you all for being you. Here's to another year of QL shenanigans and losing our collective minds!

[ficoandleo]

What, being willing to ask up front makes me bad at finding things out? 💔 Are u saying it's basic enough that I could figure it out myself? U want me to guess?

Ur relationship with ur fam is pretty bad. Like as bad as Kamurai's with his daddy(might be a Frostheim thing? Maybe ur ambition when u touched that mannequin was abt ur fam?) But ur kinda stuck with them even tho they don't like u right? Expectations or whatever. Could be abt getting away from them--it got u here right? And now ur stuck with the Institute unless u get the crown or whatever--or it's back to ur lil shrine with u💔

But I don't think it's that. Ppl who flirt like u do r all always abt escapism and stuff u don't have to think hard abt. And when you're a shame to your family you just want someone to say once that you did a good job and they appreciate you. Ur a lazyass who does all the work in his House. U left Frostheim around when someone else who could do more than u to help showed up

Ur totes a tryhard lol

But it isn't about that right? It's not about doing a good job. It's about not being Haku Kusanagi. It's about being literally anyone else, or no one at all, for a second. It's about proving people wrong without anyone saying 'wow, that's more than I expected from you.' Or maybe it's about not having that expectation at all. You don't wanna be thanked for what you do. You don't wanna be thanked or relied on so people don't start thinking different about you and don't resent you when you're a disappointment again. But you can always put on another mask and be someone else or no one else, right? No expectations, you could be the best or the worst and nothing will have to change.

Maybe you just don't wanna be you. That way you can come and go as you please, no matter how anyone feels about you or what they want from you. I bet it was something like that. "I wish I didn't have to be me all the time. I wish I could be someone else." Is that anything?

Fuck Marry Kill the (canon) vagastrom ghouls?

Kurosagi, Mido, Haizono. In the order presented.

[croquettish]

So I discovered your blog in the afternoon, it's currently 4 in the morning and I devoured most of your posts regarding Hansry

I'm going insane, bless you

I guess what surprised me the most is how Warhorse handled the romance? Cause it fits them SO well? Like I'm sorry but there's no way in hell they didn't mean at least half the subtext (and text) that there's between these two idiots, considering how stunning and well-though the dialogues and general world building in this game are

Do you have a masterpost or something with all your metas? I need to see if I missed something

I'm sorry I am not even asking anything in particular but mostly sleepily ranting 😭

Oh my god no this is SO KIND thank you so much 😭 honestly every time I think I've depleted the stores of analysis I come across something else that sends my head reeling, like it legit amazes me how much love and care went into this storytelling. It is and most likely will remain the best gay romance I've ever seen depicted in any game, it's just incredible how well they pulled that off!!

As for a masterpost, believe it or not, I'm actually working on putting together a pinned post as we speak!! Unless something unexpected comes up, I should be able to get that up today or tomorrow at the latest :D

[smoulderingocean]

Hi! I just found your tumblr and I LOVE all of your Nick analysis! I’ve been reading through your posts and I love the context it gives around the little screen time we have with him. I just got back into the show for final season and did a massive rewatch (binging this show is not for the weak ha).

One thing I’d love to hear your take on — how do you think Nick has been able to move up Gileads chain of command when he can barely hide that he’s quite obviously in love with June i.e. public enemy no. 1?

I guess we the viewers have such a direct view into their relationship, but feels like so many people know. Swiss, Americans, Mayday, Canadians (probably?), not to mention all the guardians who’ve seen them canoodling, and commanders who saw him punch Lawrence for the car hit (including McKenzie who likely ordered it!)

Maybe I’m just thinking about it too much and giving tv writers too much credit 😂 but i thought if anyone could make it make sense, it’d be you!

Hey!

Aww, thanks so much for your kindness. I love doing meta posts for Nick and Osblaine, it's a true obsession. I love getting into his head and their love. I've never related so hard to a character as I have for Nick and never obsessed over a romance like I have for Osblaine. I'm so sad we're coming to the end. Hopefully Nick and Nick & June's epic love gets a few mentions in The Testaments and maybe one or two little guest appearances so I have something good to hold on to!

Hah, no kidding! I can binge all the Nick and Osblaine scenes, but the rest of the show, especially the first two seasons, can be pretty intense.

So! Nick's rising up in the ranks. Most of his rising has come at the hands of others, a way of staying alive, or as a way to help June. Let's lay that out as best to my memory as I can (confirmed means we know it directly pushed Nick up the ranks, unconfirmed is speculative):

S1:

Nick becomes an Eye to avenge the first handmaid and to strike back at Gilead by using its own laws against itself (confirmed)

S2:

After trying to get June mental health help, Serena and Fred ultimately get Nick promoted and married off by Pryce (confirmed)

Nick saves the life of a "Commander's" baby (unconfirmed)

The bombing kills many commanders, causing power shifts, which includes Nick being promoted while other guardians move into the position of commander (mostly confirmed)

Cushing is executed through Nick, June, and Serena teaming up (unconfirmed)

S3:

After holding Fred at gunpoint, Nick is turned into a soldier commander by Fred in order for him to be sent to the front and be killed (confirmed)

Off-screen, it seems the battle in Chicago is at least somewhat successful for Gilead (unconfirmed)

S4:

After Fred is arrested, there is a void on the council (unconfirmed)

June poisons a bunch of commanders, creating a power void (unconfirmed)

Nick captures Gilead's most wanted in June (unconfirmed)

Nick is married to a high-ranking Commander's daughter (confirmed)

S5:

Serena uses Nick's propaganda idea for Fred's funeral and it is successful at restoring some international relations (confirmed)

After Fred dies, there is a more permanent void on the council (confirmed)

Nick gets Rose pregnant (confirmed)

After Nick executes Warren, there is even more of a void on the council (mostly confirmed)

Becomes Lawrence's main ally on New Bethlehem (confirmed)

S6:

Nick successfully runs New Bethlehem, essentially becoming Mayor and head of security (confirmed)

So out of all of that, the only "bad" thing he's done is lead the battle in Chicago against the rebels. And if we look at episode 4x05, we can see that Nick is not comfortable with what he has to do. He does it because he needs to survive. He can't help June or the cause if he's on the wall. There would be plenty of men out there more than willing to take his place, more than willing to be extremely brutal and violent to put down the fighters. That the one scene we see of Nick leading the fight against the rebels features an unusually silent Chicago before the air strikes and a rebels who have a decent amount of information on supply trains does indicate that Nick may have at least some connections there to do tip offs and the like to at least fight back against Gilead a little.

Most of Nick's promotions happen either because he's helping June or is being punished. Part of that def comes from his obvious feelings for June, especially the promotions "gifted" to him by Fred. His feelings for her make him vulnerable and keeping Nick close (or in the exception of Fred, sending him away) through the resultant promotions is a method of controlling him.

Haha, right? Isn't there just something endearing about how EVERYBODY just knows they're in love? They truly can't hide it at all. You'd have to be blind to not notice how these two feel about each other. And in a way that makes them particularly vulnerable as it's a point of manipulation that others use against them. We've seen that recently with Tuello, Lawrence, Luke, and to a lesser extent Rita. Even Rose and her father fall into this to some degree, though how much in these later episodes remains to be seen. At this point the only person that hasn't used their feelings for each other as some degree of manipulation is Moira! Truly incredible to behold.

Speaking of Mackenzie, it's fascinating that that was just completely written off after last season! What an odd writing choice to make.

*Ahem* Went on a bit of a tangent, but I hope this is a decent answer haha.

[retributory]

Thank you for the post saying Binghe wouldn't care if he found out Shen Yuan replaced Shen Jiu, I saw a post on that danmei confessions blog that was something like "Shen Yuan being compared to Helen of Troy is accurate bc they both bring ruin to those around them, since if people found out about Shen Yuan then Cang Diong would want Shen Jiu's body back for a burial (so they would basically exorcise Shen Yuan out of it I guess and he'd die again) and Luo Binghe would break up with him for not being able to trust him anymore" and that pissed me off so much bc like. Worstie how can you read the novel and be this wrong about everything in it. Personally I don't think people know Shen Yuan replaced Shen Jiu (except maybe Binghe) but if they found out about how he was forced to due to the System, like he was a hostage and cursed by some entity, they certainly wouldn't blame him or force him to leave. I mean literally the only person who would mourn Shen Jiu is Yue Qingyuan, and he likes the current Shen Yuan too! He wouldn't want him dead either. Idk how some people can misinterpret a novel's point this bad but I wish they'd stop talking about it as if they're facts

yeah idk the average user on that blog appears to be reading entirely different novels and you go in the notes and people are nodding sagely as if the posts make sense. like if the actual text of the novel disagrees with you i think you're just wrong lol.

and yeah they . . . pretty much have already guessed it isn't shen jiu anyways. like they don't know who it IS, or what exactly the truth of the situation is, because the system and such are out of their scope of knowledge, but they're quite confident in running theories like "qi deviation-induced amnesia and personality change," so they don't consider him the same guy anyways. they were actively shocked it WASN'T possession (though the possession theory is kind of correct. lol). it's also so weird to think that cqms would (for lack of nicer terms) give a fuck at all if sy DID maliciously possess sj. in the original timeline it's made pretty clear no one comes to sj's defense except yqy, because sj specifically desires that outcome. sj isn't some helpless baby at the whims of everyone around him - he specifically and intentionally seeks to ruin his own life and the lives of everyone around him, or at the very least make them as miserable around him as possible. thus, no one else likes or misses him at all, and in fact every peak lord at that meeting was jumping for joy that they got Other Guy instead of sj, which is a contributing factor to why they just decide to simply not call him out on it.

i also think (says guy who posts about svsss 3 times a day) people are like. taking it too serious. you're not supposed to be seriously considering lines of thought like that because svsss is a transmigration parody novel of xianxia power fantasies - whatever exists in the background exists purely to support the world of this satire. and while that certainly is a fun topic for meta - i enjoy reading posts like that! - it becomes irritating when the meta is framed as if somehow you are in the wrong for enjoying a novel the way it was intended to be enjoyed by the author, and that the only True way to enjoy it is through enlightened meta-contextual analysis that assumes all the characters are actually different people.

someone on that blog was like "why doesn't svsss expand on the lore and fights and characters!!!" because they don't matter to the story my friend. not every novel is lord of the rings. this is xianxia transmigration parody novel my friend. just read . . . an actual stallion novel. actually really do that because then you'll form a connection with sy because these things are written SO bad and then you'll understand him LMFAO

[makoredeyes]

So I heard you saying you can go into a full analysis of the Memory of Felwinter artifact... *settles with a cup of tea* I'd love to hear your thoughts on it! 👀💙

Aaah I wanted so badly to reply while I was sitting and waiting at the Pet ER with my damn cat (she's fine just... old with old lady problems) but my phone was nearly dead when I got this TT^TT I had time to (sort of) gather my thoughts at least. Sort of! My brain is glue. But here's a shot at it.

@zalia wanted some relic analysis too <3 Ya'll're teaming up on me I love it XD

I'm actually going to try really hard to keep my headcanons and exaggerations out of this, as tempting as it is to really lean into some of this stuff, and you'll maybe recognize how a fair bit of it has seeped into my writing...but today, I'm going to try and keep it mostly to what I can read about.

First some facts:

The Memory of Felwinter could be used to trade the player's super in exchange for an extra melee, extra grenade, and boosts to armor, recovery, and agility*.

In a way the imagery on the artifact actually somewhat describes what the artifact does! It is extremely militant, and at first seems a little contradictory, but I think is actually really insightful.

The crossed swords, when facing downward like this, symbolize peace, the end of a conflict, or even surrender.

The Laurel wreath behind them on the other hand, broadly refers to victory. (Laurel is also associated with the god Apollo, and while there seems a clear martial reference here, it is also used to reference competitive and collegiate accolades which I think I would be remiss in mentioning) That particular knot around the border is tougher for me to make out but it might be from my guess a Celtic Dara knot which is a symbol of strength, wisdom, and endurance as referenced by the mighty roots of the Oak tree it's meant to resemble. I admit I am far less placed to make a solid call here and will gladly be corrected but it seems fitting. So who do we have here? Someone who willingly gives up what one would suspect is his greatest power (super) to boost his more militant aspects: in this case specifically hand to hand combat and ordinance, as well as his defenses. He is stronger, faster, and better armored, and better equipped to pack a real hard hit up close and personal. What looks at first like surrender is actually a wicked tactical move straight for victory.

Now pair that knowledge with the stun aspect of Felwinter's Helm (**Reminder for other readers: this was not Felwinter's exotic. This was Felwinter's signature move, bestowed upon the rest of us through that exotic. "Felwinter's Helm" was just Felwinter's hat. But I have to describe it somehow so I'm doing it per in-game meta for the sake of my own analytical sanity...) and the stacking boost of eliminations with melee strengthens melee with Winter's Guile (...which we don't know for sure but can pretty safely assume were Felwinter's exotic of choice if you will) and all of this paints the picture of one pretty scrappy rough and tumble hands-on guy if you ask me. *As a complete aside: I love that there's a boost to agility too. All the brawling tendencies of a Titan and the speed of a Hunter. Dude spent his formative years playing Frogger dodging Warsats I bet he could outrun anything if and when he needed to.

[sunderingstars]

☆━━━━━ ⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☾ ◯ ☽₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆ ━━━━━━☆

✩ ‧₊˚ ⌞ CHARACTER LINES ⌝

sampo analysis m.list

— what the stars reveal: interpretative analysis, somewhat a character study, elation!sampo

— word count: 4.6k (oh my god i am insane. he makes me insane)

— overview: (as of 2.4) an analysis of sampo’s character dialogue outside of quests!

☆━━━━━ ⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☾ ◯ ☽₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆ ━━━━━━☆

✩ ‧₊˚ ⌞ INTRO ⌝

I’m putting this here because I wasn’t sure where else to put it, I just wanted to point out that his character intro describes him as someone who “travels freely” between two places (in this case, the Overworld and Underworld, but could also apply to multiple states of being) as well as saying he “acts” like he is everyone’s friend (performance) and is “enthusiastically humorous” (very similar to “infectious enthusiasm”). Being good at bantering also seems very Elation-aligned. That’s all!

✩ ‧₊˚ ⌞ FIRST MEETING ⌝

Each character’s “first meeting” line is arguably one of their most important lines. Not only does it give you a baseline introduction to them and their personality, but it shows you how they present themselves to others (i.e. the aspects of themselves they choose to consciously, or unconsciously, emphasize when meeting someone). For Sampo, this includes all of the “perks” that come with knowing him. Business, chaperoning, conversation — these are all part of a “deal” to him, a transaction of knowing and being known.

I haven’t talked about this much in my previous analyses, but Sampo has a very specific mindset of viewing friendship as a commodity. This could easily be chalked up to his idea of business and transaction rubbing off on other parts of his life, but given the strange emphasis he places on “being friends” throughout his dialogue, I’m suspicious it might be more than that. It seems he either isn’t willing to or isn’t capable of seeing genuine human connection as any more than another deal, another façade to do business with. It may be his way of keeping people at arm’s length, or perhaps the Elation won’t let him view people as anything more than another joke, another transaction of language and Laughter to make at another’s expense. Whatever the case, he seems dead-set on including “friendship” in his package deal when doing business.

I also find it interesting how he isn’t wrong. For someone who has a penchant for distorting the truth on a whim, Sampo is, in fact, a “chaperone” and “problem-solving conversationalist.” (“Businessman” is a given, we all know how well that’s going for him given that he literally has an idle where he counts his big stacks of money.) Despite not really having to, Sampo goes out of his way on Penacony to take the Trailblazer around and show us the dream bubble — even if it’s not a “traditional” chaperone role, it’s clear he was trying to look out for us in his own way (same thing on Belobog with the smoke bombs). Additionally, he’s very adept at solving problems by sheer virtue of talking, as shown by being the archetype that’s able to talk himself out of a myriad of situations. So at the end of the day, I guess I’d have to agree with him: it is a pretty sweet deal.

However, arguably the most intriguing thing about this line is the meta aspect of it — the big picture of his selling point being multiple things “rolled into one.” I don’t want to read too much into it, but I can’t help but wonder if this “three-in-one” phrase refers to more than just his skills. After all, if a running theme of his character is being a businessman and a chaperone and a problem-solving conversationalist, who’s to say it doesn’t apply to him being a Masked Fool and an Emanator and an Aeon (or a part of one, or a creation of one, or an avatar of one — honestly, at this point I feel like we can mix and match). At the very least, it would match up with the rule of three. Food for thought!

✩ ‧₊˚ ⌞ GREETING & PARTING ⌝

The greeting here seems pretty standard — going into it assuming he’ll get paid, then waffling and thinking about backing out when he realizes he won’t. What’s notable here, however, is that he covers it up by stumbling out a “Not a problem!” and continuing on with us. I feel like this partially shows how much he values friendship (despite clearly still wanting a payout) while also not quite having enough spine to straight up say “no” to us. The only thing I’m not sure about is if the Trailblazer is special in this regard, or if Sampo would keep going with anyone else.

The parting is a bit more notable, especially the idea of “I’m not going anywhere.” It seems half-comforting, half-threat, like he’ll always be a constant in our lives, for better or for worse. In a way, he may be like a never-ending joke we just can’t get rid of no matter how hard we try. (Don’t worry Sampo, I would never think of getting rid of you 😌.)

✩ ‧₊˚ ⌞ ABOUT SELF ⌝

This line, despite at first seeming like a joke, feels more personal the longer it goes on. The first “I’m an easygoing fella” seems like exactly the kind of thing a shady businessman would say when trying to drum up clients: “I’m personable,” “I look out for people,” “I’m a community man,” etc. However, by the time the line ends, it very much sounds like he’s referring to something specific. The idea of getting “pulled into everyone else’s business with nothing to show for it” sounds like a passive aggressive dig at something or someone we don’t have the specifics for. Especially with the “tsk” at the end and the repetition of “easygoing,” it almost seems like he’s trying to vent his frustration about being constantly pulled into things he doesn’t want to be a part of.

Now that we know he’s an “old timer” within the Masked Fools, this line of thinking makes sense — he’s left behind his mask, meaning he may have gotten tired and fed up with getting roped into the Fools’ shenanigans. With how exasperated he sounds in much of his Penacony dialogue, I’m not surprised he said something like this.

Going a step further, this could even apply to an Emanator being burnt out at having to deal with the Elation, or even Aha Themself feeling the constraints of a compulsory existence. I feel like Emanator or Silhouette theories would work better for this particular line, although it’s possible that Aha could achieve this level of genuine exasperation through split/dual/separate consciousness.

✩ ‧₊˚ ⌞ CHAT: INTEL ⌝

Once again, Sampo shows how smart he is. He may be shady, yes, but he does know how to “maximize profit.” After hearing of Boothill’s run in with an Elation Emanator in 2.2, I can’t help but wonder if it was Sampo playing into this idea of selling information to multiple people — I definitely don’t think Boothill learning of the Emanator’s status was a coincidence, even if he says it was because he got it drunk. To me, this definitely reads as Sampo parceling out information in the right doses to the right people, “packaging” it in such a way that that person is none the wiser.

✩ ‧₊˚ ⌞ HOBBIES, ANNOYANCES, & SOMETHING TO SHARE ⌝

Despite only being one line, “hobbies” sticks out to me as a potential revelation. First, there’s no mention of the passion or creativity often associated with hobbies, it’s just him stating what he believes — there’s no indication he actually enjoys it deep down (compulsory existence mayhaps). Secondly, “small talk brings big clients” shows how he focuses on the details and minutiae of the larger picture; he may not be one for flashy entrances like Sparkle (hell, his big entrance in Belobog was when he was literally surrounded by smoke) but he does know how to manipulate the odds to be in his favor. I also find “big clients” interesting. While it could just be a reference to his dealings on Belobog, I can’t help but wonder just how far this might extend. What kind of “big clients” has he brought in? Is he neglecting to mention that he’s a “big client” himself? Is he used to shmoozing in the big leagues? Only time will tell.

In comparison, the annoyance line is fairly standard. It’s a link to his shady side, the idea that he’s just a poor businessman, *sniffle,* and how could someone be so mean to such a nice fella? He’s operating in technicalities here, full well knowing why he’s considered a con-man but intentionally being obtuse about it. It is very endearing to me.

“Something to share” almost seems Robin-Hood-esque. At first, I thought he was talking about more “business” stuff, the idea of “sharing is caring, so you should share your money with me,” but the more I re-read the more I realized he’s probably getting at the wealth inequality in Belobog. He’s technically affiliated with the Underworld, after all, and his closest friends seem to be there too. Behind the fixation on profit and only doing things if it benefits him materially, there seems to also be a genuine want to share himself, to “make up the shortfall.” Even if the “sharing” isn’t coming from his own possessions, he still wants to get the Underworld the supplies and means to live comfortably, which is a surprisingly sweet sentiment. He has a heart in there, I swear.

✩ ‧₊˚ ⌞ KNOWLEDGE ⌝

I feel like this line speaks for itself — the man is omniscient and he is toying with us. He knows way more than he’s letting on, even referencing the Astral Express as a “train” for shits and giggles. Your Elation is showing, king.

✩ ‧₊˚ ⌞ ABOUT SVAROG & CLARA ⌝

I don’t know what’s funnier: the implication that Sampo has tried to strike a deal with Svarog before, or the implication that he, Sampo “I can talk my way into and out of anything” Koski, failed. He was probably aware his conversationalism wouldn’t work on a machine like Svarog, but damn if he didn’t want to try anyways. I would pay good money to see that go down. Too bad Sampo exists in another universe and can’t haggle it out of me.

Alternatively, his line about Clara is pretty sweet. Referring to her as “our little girl” shows how he views himself as part of the Underworld — even if he came from beyond the sky, even if he integrated himself into Belobog for a larger purpose, he still cares. He sees himself as one of them. Behind the gaud and the glamor, we can begin to see that silhouette, that want for connection in the periphery, staying in the shadows because it’s afraid to step into the light. Yet, despite him even realizing it, he’s begun to integrate himself. Begun to see himself as more than just a means to an end, an instigator or a jokester or a clown. He has, in a sense, become part of the collective — a healthy collective, one big found family, and Clara is just one part of it. Beyond his knowing, he’s gone from “I” and “them” to “us.” To “we.” To “our.” (And he is also still eternally confused over how the hell to communicate with Svarog.)

✩ ‧₊˚ ⌞ ABOUT NATASHA ⌝

I like how naturally he describes the progression of their relationship here. While it may not be entirely truthful or accurate (who knows with Sampo), it at least seems like he views his and Natasha’s friendship as an easy progression from one stage to the next. Despite it being transactional, it doesn’t really feel like a transaction, just an evolution of something whose seeds were already planted. It’s also notable that he started with medicine — not intel, not materialistic wealth like relics or Shield, but medicine. His first establishing relationship with Natasha was literally bringing her life-saving medicine. It really reminds me of how he saved the Trailblazer’s life in The Moles’ hide-and-seek daily mission; it’s the things he does in the shadows that really count, really show that he does, in fact, care. Despite what he tells you, he still wants to help. “You know how these things work” is also so funny because it’s like… no, no the Trailbalzer does not know how these things work. (Also, “arrived” in the Underworld? Interesting word choice, bestie.)

✩ ‧₊˚ ⌞ ABOUT SEELE ⌝

I just think it’s really funny to imagine Sampo, either an Emanator or an Aeon or both, being constantly told off by some resistance fighter on a random snow planet. Like, Seele is really out here doing what 99% of beings can’t. (With Doll Theory, however, this is a bit… heartbreaking, especially “Can someone explain what I did to deserve her?” potentially hiding the deeper, more agonizing question of “Can someone explain what I did to deserve this?”. But I am choosing not to think about that right now for my own sanity.)

✩ ‧₊˚ ⌞ ABOUT BRONYA ⌝

He really has no self-preservation when it comes to scoring big, does he? Despite how carefully methodical his endgame plans seem to be, his omniscience doesn’t stop him from throwing himself out there when he feels there’s something to be gained. It’s okay, Sampo, she’s nice. You don’t need to risk getting beat up just to talk to her, I’m sure you can arrange a meeting. (Also, I feel like this mirrors his “painful introduction” to the Trailbalzer at the beginning of the Belobog storyline — sure, Sampo had to put up with Dan Heng’s prodding and Gepard’s arrival, but he made the biggest score of all: getting to meet us. So, maybe it’s not just “throwing himself out there.” Maybe it’s all one big calculation on his part.)

✩ ‧₊˚ ⌞ ABOUT THE LANDAUS ⌝

Gepard potentially triggering Sampo’s Elation instincts is hilarious to me. I’ll expand on it in a dedicated Sampard post, but it’s so in line with the Elation for Sampo, most likely a god in his own right, to find such catharsis in, what? Being chased around in the snow by a hot blonde guard? In terms of the wider universe, Gepard is literally just some guy. And yet here Sampo is, doing a little heehee haha and having the time of his life. It’s the little things, you know?

(On a more serious note, if we’re dealing with a Sampo who’s constantly felt like he has no control over his “enjoyment” of Elation — even a Silhouette or Doll Theory Sampo who is actively being harmed by “the joke” — then him gradually warming up to Gepard is surprisingly wholesome. Here he is, someone who has always found himself subject to Elation rather than naturally falling into it, finding a way to reclaim that enjoyment and find a genuine place for it within himself. Some sort of reconciliation, perhaps, a bit of happiness that’s his own and no one else’s, some part of a situation that he can control. The elation he feels here is not Elation, but rather a genuine feeling of connection, one not brought on suddenly by the punchline of a joke, but one that has gradually grown over time, matured, blossomed into something warm and real and comforting. Gepard has no idea, but he’s slowly mellowing out the “compulsory” of compulsory existence until it becomes nothing but a fading whisper. Anyways can you tell I love Sampard?)

I’m also interested in how Serval and Sampo used to be “good pals.” While Sampo’s idea of a “good pal” could be wildly off-base from what Serval experienced — with the likelihood that Sampo’s “we were besties” was Serval’s “he was an annoying guy who kept asking me for deals” — it makes sense to me that they might’ve gotten along at some point. Serval is a fairly casual and accepting person, so I could see her and Sampo being friends (although I don’t think she would have fallen for many of his scams). However, I definitely don’t think she’d agree with Sampo’s shady business dealings, so finding out from Gepard just how much of a criminal he is would definitely sour things. She would believe in giving the Underworlders the resources they need, for sure, but definitely not Sampo pocketing money for himself or scamming random people who’ve done nothing wrong. “Gepard’s bad word” probably wasn’t even that malicious, just a statement of fact.

(I, however, like to think that Gepard opened up about his crush on Sampo to Serval and her protective older sister genes kicked in. What Sampo is really registering is the change from “oh, you’re a chill guy” to “if you hurt my baby brother so help me god I will end your entire existence.” It is canon in my heart.)

✩ ‧₊˚ ⌞ ABOUT LUKA ⌝

This one is another tie-in to Sampo’s fixation on business and profit. I do wonder why and how Sampo missed out on making money here, though. Perhaps the timing was off, or he had bigger things to deal with, or Luka just didn’t want to work with him for whatever reason. Either way, it’s kinda funny that he knows Luka as “that kid I could’ve made money off of but didn’t”. I can just see him hanging his head dejectedly in my mind. It’s okay, Sampo, you’ll get ‘em next time.

✩ ‧₊˚ ⌞ ABOUT SPARKLE ⌝

Sparkle is a unique case, being the only other playable Masked Fool and having a direct connection with Sampo through the organization. He seems to have a pretty good read on her, which would make sense if his status as an “old timer” includes having a lot of experience dealing with specific members of the Fools. He’s basically reading her like a book, saying: She’s all over the place, and you never have anything truly figured out. There’s also the meta commentary of “outwit herself,” referencing the events of Black Swan’s companion quest and an Inception-like folding in of all her personas. It also seems like it might be a bit of a projection: “Think you’ve got her all figured out, don’t you?” I didn’t say anything Sampo, but if this “you” is in the room with us right now, it’s okay, you can just say it. Perhaps he tried to understand her at some point in the past and it fucked him over. (Just speculation!)

✩ ‧₊˚ ⌞ ASCENSION & ACTIVATION ⌝

Whoo boy, this eidolon activation. It’s definitely suspicious, to say the least. There’s a reason I chose it as my quote for my Elation!Sampo masterlist, and that’s because it encapsulates so much about his potential identity. There’s the fact he’s not being direct about it, phrasing it as a question where he speaks in second person, trailing off at the end; even now, he seems unwilling or unable to face the truth with his full chest. There’s also the phrase “colorful past,” which just makes me ask: How much of a colorful past are we talking? This could range anywhere from Masked Fools shenanigans to “oh yeah, I used to be an Aeon.” The fact he’s so indirect about it makes me more suspicious — it’s an extremely leading question, very smug and taunting, which makes my mind just go up and up and up the power scale list, much like “old timer” caused me to do the same. There’s just a quality to this line that basically screams, “There is something large and powerful and dormant inside of him! Be careful!”.

The ascension once again links back to money, and his trace activation is about the transactional “business” of friendship. The last notable thing here is his “max level reached,” where he expresses disappointment over… hitting max level? “That’s it? *sigh* I was just getting started,” is not the kind of thing even a regular Masked Fool would say. Again, we’re given a hint of almost incomprehensible power, the idea that the limit of the game, of the universe, isn’t enough for him. In a strikingly eldritch way, our “max” is simply a small drop in his bucket, an ant he barely even notices. He really isn’t beating the Elation allegations, is he?

✩ ‧₊˚ ⌞ TEAMS ⌝

Since there’s five different ones here, I’ll go through them fairly quickly:

Natasha — Reminds me of Natasha’s own voiceline where she says Sampo doesn’t like owing people things. It shows that he really does try to pay favors back as soon as possible, keeping them present in his mind so they don’t go unresolved for too long.

Hook — It’s interesting how he reacts to her in a similar way he does the Masked Fools: exasperation, but still a little fond. There’s some care, some nostalgia mixed in there, but at the end of the day he still knows that something is getting blown to smithereens.

Seele — On his best behavior. He really doesn’t want her to get angry at him, does he? 

Trailblazer — Interesting how he laughs at the beginning here. Interesting how he says, “Ha!” Interesting how this is only with the Trailblazer. Hm. That is all.

Sparkle — “Same rule as always” establishes a long-form relationship; it’s likely they’ve known each other for a long time, or at least long enough to have established “rules” for each time they fight or work together. The fact that the rule is “no backstabbing” is also fitting, seeing as Sparkle (and by proxy, the Masked Fools) are definitely the type to backstab at any given moment. The real question is: Is this rule simply a surface-level attempt by Sampo to stop from getting messed with, or does Sparkle actually listen to him?

It also sets up Sampo as at least pretending to be on the same power level as Sparkle — he’s in a position where he feels the need to be wary and on-guard around her despite occupying a potentially higher status.

✩ ‧₊˚ ⌞ COMBAT & MISC. ⌝

Reading through these, I just felt like I was getting smacked over the head with theories. It’s like he was repeatedly hitting me on the back of the head with a baseball bat or something. Having each line side by side really makes certain patterns become apparent. Since there’s so many, I’ll go through them fairly quickly (feel free to ask me to expand on any of these if you want!):

Battle Begins: Weakness Break: “Fun” links to Elation. “Just” is downplaying the severity of a Weakness Break, reducing pain/danger to yet another joke. A somewhat callous view of life, similar to the Worm Fiasco.

Battle Begins: Danger Alert: Endless pursuit of entertainment and Elation — “the stronger the better.” Like Aha, it’s less about winning or losing, but rather the challenge and thrill of the fight itself.

Turn Begins: Line 1 — The idea of “friends” again, showing physical protection and aid to be part of the “transaction”; however “takes care of” seems less transactional and more genuine. Line 2 — More transactional with the idea of “business”; perhaps refers to violence as “doing business” with enemies, or helping the trailblazer as “doing business.”

Turn Idling: “Bring out” and “big guns” links to hidden or increased power, something that needs to be revealed. Since this is his turn idle, it gives the implication that he is “waiting” to bring out this power until the right time (though he is impatient about it).

Skill: Argument One — Silly goofy behavior. Argument Two (Delusional) — “Size” alludes to the physical changing of size between mortal and Emanator/Aeonic form.

Hit by Light Attack: Seems somewhat performative.

Hit by Heavy Attack: Seems to be overly protective of his “face” — or rather, the potential physical facade he puts up to hide his true identity from others. Doll Sampo may be overly concerned with “breaking,” while other theories may be worried about something being “revealed” if too much of his physical form is chipped away. (In a way, the avatar of “Sampo Koski” may be a mask in and of itself, able to be broken.)

Ultimate: Activate: Again with the idea of “waiting,” man is impatient.

Ultimate: Unleash: If we’re going with an Elation!Sampo theory, it seems like he may almost be alluding to Aha as “king” here, which would center themes of betrayal and switching sides. It doesn’t seem personal in this case, but rather a power/money/profit-oriented standpoint.

Downed: *Puts on tinfoil hat* Sampo could actually be referencing a “loophole payment” here; as shown in the Curio Hacker Occurrence, one of the curios given to us by the blue-haired man is “Organic Heart,” a curio that removes the golden (powerful) dice face for four turns, destroys itself, then grants two cheat attempts — if we take this as an allegory for Sampo’s existence, then he may be paying a “price” as an Emanator or Aeon to escape an unfortunate fate later on (or accomplish something impossible). In this way, “This price was too steep…” may refer to Sampo being trapped in mortal form (a more vulnerable state) and realizing the “price” he paid upfront for those cheat attempts isn’t worth it if he never gets to see the fruits of his labor.

Return to Battle: This may also link to the Curio Hacker dice faces, as a combat “turn” could also stand-in for a dice “roll” — he has been brought back to fight, and so he will continue to participate in the cycle until his cheat attempts are granted. (Also, it links to the cyclical nature of the snakes, going from one turn to the next, never able to truly die.)

Health Recovery: Another mention of transactions, debt, and “owing” — according to Natasha’s voice line about him, this is not a phrase he says lightly.

Technique: Laughter, plan and simple. The Laugher, even, if we’re feeling frisky.

Battle Won: Probably one of the biggest clues in his voicelines. “How’re you gonna win if you don’t take any risks?” directly implies a “risk” at the core of his being, some dangerous change he is making to make sure he gets what he wants. May somewhat detract from Aha theories in that Aha doesn’t seem to care about “winning,” however who knows if that mindset has changed or if Sampo simply thinks that because he is currently in mortal form. Either way, it once again links to him paying a “cost” for those later cheat attempts.

Treasure Opening 1: Good old cash reference.

Treasure Opening 2: Kinda sweet that he lets us keep it, even though it’s only because he doesn’t have any use for it.

Precious Treasure Opening: … And of course he immediately shoves us aside when it’s something he’s actually interested in.

Successful Puzzle-Solving: 1: Pretty generic.

Successful Puzzle-Solving 2: Reference to his businessman persona and how he’s made a career out of “solving others’ problems.” It may be that he’s trying to solve a problem for either himself or Aha as an outside entity (or perhaps even a different Aeon of Emanator, who knows).

Enemy Target Found: Sounds almost taunting; there’s no vocal recording in this post, but if you listen to his English voice acting it sounds goading, almost like he’s daring you to start the fight. “I dunno” is a bit more reserved, like he’s hesitating a bit, but I’m definitely on the side of “he can handle this, he’s just fucking with us.”

Returning to Town: Another third person reference! Obligatory business reference.

And whew, that’s all of it! Every single Sampo character screen voice line as of 2.4! My main takeaways are definitely the third-person references, as well as the fixation on business and profit. The lines linking to Curio Hacker especially stand out to me — “risks” and “prices” remind me a lot of Organic Heart. But I’ll save that for its own analysis! As for now, I hope this was a comprehensive-enough coverage of Sampo’s voicelines. In my opinion, this man definitely has some Elation-related shenanigans going on.

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.𖥔 ݁ ˖ જ⁀➴ thank you for reading to the end!

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© analysis by sunderingstars. do not copy, repost, translate, modify, or claim my work as your own.

[normal-thoughts-official]

So I've been meaning to write a meta post about siblinghood in Higurashi, and then I realized that to do that I first have to talk about caretaking in Higurashi in general, so I guess I'm making a post about that

Warning: I've only finished the anime and am currently on the fourth arc of the manga, so my analysis is mainly going to be anime-focused. I'm also mostly interested in kai, but gou and sotsu will probably make appearances. I might add more once I finish the manga and VN, who knows

It's not uncommon that horror stories with teenage protagonists sort of just... Wave away parents and other caretakers for the sake of the story. Usually they are portrayed as neglectful or absent in one way or another, so as to make clear the kids are on their own. And Higurashi does that, obviously - every adult responsible for the kids is sort of absent at best (Keiichi's mom) or a horrifying abuser at worst (Satoko's uncle). The most present caretaking figure is Chie-sensei, but even she is not much help because she is too passive. When she visits Satoko's house, she doesn't even go inside because Teppei doesn't allow her and she doesn't insist. She leaves it up to Keiichi to deal with organizing all the protests and trying to get support for Satoko - despite the fact that, as a teacher, her word holds much more power than his. I don't know how it works in Japan, but I'm a teacher where i live and schools have the power (and responsibility) to call CPS in that sort of situation here. But even if that's not how it works in Japan, it's undeniable that the word of a teacher would be a lot more likely to be heard on that issue than that of a random classmate. Despite that, she leaves it to a 14yo to try and convince CPS that they need to do something about Satoko

If that's the best example of a present adult that we have, it's clear the kids are on their own to deal with everything, like in most teenage-focused horror movies. But there are two things that set Higurashi apart from other horror media when it comes to that trope:

Unlike in most media of the same kind, the presence of adults is actually the gamechanger needed to save their lives

The absent caretaking figures are represented metaphorically in a single character included in the story: Hanyuu

Now, you might be telling me that Hanyuu is a kid. But, actually... She isn't. No matter how small her human form appears, she is a minor Goddess of immense power, and has the ability to completely change the game. This is explicitly said a lot of times in the text, so I don't have to get into it; if Hanyuu hadn't entered the game, at least one of them would have died. They make the Old Geezer and Old Maid comparison. I mean, really, I don't have to explain this one

And sure, she isn't all-powerful. But neither is any adult, which is why I think that's all the more reason why she works well as a metaphor for the absence of adult figures to help these kids. Adults aren't all-powerful beings, but they certainly have a lot more power and resources than children. And their passivity means the children they're responsible for are left alone and stranded to deal with their problems

Now, don't get me wrong: the Higurashi kids aren't helpless. They're the ones who defeat Yamainu, after all; but if Hanyuu hadn't been there, then at least Mion would have died by Takano's hand, and, as seen in the second-to-last loop, as close as they came to saving themselves, they just couldn't quite get there on their own. It's Hanyuu changing her role from passive watcher to active participant that allows them to have a complete victory, in the last loop

At the same time, they only even get to fight Yamainu because they get the help of many adults that, up to then, were secondary or absent in most arcs: Akasaka, Ooishi, Irie, Kasai, and Tomitake. Tomitake gets a pass for being dead in every other arc, but Akasaka and Ooishi are police officers (and Akasaka knew for a fact that Rika was going to die and when), Kasai is a security guard specifically charged with helping Shion, and Irie was directly involved with the Yamainu

What the fuck were they doing this whole time???

We know the answer: being passive. But when they actually enter the game, their help is invaluable in changing what happens. Some are more important, others less, but at least once, every one of them saved these kids from death and was integral in getting them to survive the loop

These two facts, coupled together, makes Higurashi more than a story where neglect is used as a plot device, but actively a story about neglect. A lot of the horror in the story comes straight from adults' behavior towards the kids, including but not limited to:

Satoko's uncle's abuse;

The Sonozakis making Shion torture herself over????????? Literally what was that about;

The entire village's passivity when knowing how horribly Satoko was being treated;

Satoko and Rika having to literally fend completely for themselves once their parents passed;

Keiichi's parents leaving for work when he was convinced he was being targeted for muder. They didn't know, but it's still a horrifying moment

And there's more but that's what I've got off the top of my head right now

Perhaps most importantly, there is an intrinsic link between horror and the premature loss of childhood. It's not a coincidence that every arc opens with them being cringe teenagers. It's always silly shenanigans, horrible jokes, stupid challenges, etc. The sense of safety and respite we get is always directly linked to childish (in a neutral sense of the word) behavior and play. And then, once the horror starts, those fun times end. In every arc, the shift into the horror genre happens more or less simultaneously with one (or more) of them deciding to quit the club. That's when the shift happens and things get serious, because, in Higurashi, horror and the loss of childhood are one and the same. It's not a coincidence that Keiichi is always talking about how all they want is to get the fun times back; these times are, simply put, having a normal childhood, while horror means being unable to continue acting as a kid and having to take on the protective and responsible role of an adult trying to navigate an extremely stressful situation

So when, in Kai, they talk about how fate was changed by another player entering the story, they are talking about Hanyuu, but also about every other adult, which she represents; they are talking about how, no matter how capable these kids are, they are all being thrust into situations where they have to take roles they should not be taking and are not prepared for (from Keiichi leading the protests to Rika having to deal with the whole murder situation entirely on her own), and that is ruining their lives. They aren't ready to take on that much responsibility, and that is also present in how Hinamizawa syndrome manifests: the sense of isolation, the paranoia, the idea that no one can help you, the fact that it's triggered by intense stress coupled with leaving their safety net. Because they are very clear in that Hinamizawa is a place where everyone is supposed to support each other; so, the disease being triggered by leaving Hinamizawa mirrors that sense of abandonment. They frame that as them abandoning Oyashiro-sama, but we know that's not actually true, and so we can take it as the opposite: leaving Hinamizawa triggers the disease because it loses them the only place where they have others to take care of them, even if said others are, almost always, also kids (the few times pre-last arc when the adults actually group together to help them - the protests for Satoko and when the village gathers to protect Keiichi from the bike gang - are both triggered by kids involving these adults, so that still counts)

This does gives Hinamizawa a paradoxical role in this analysis; it is both a place where the kids are on their own and their one safety net. But I think that still works, because, in big cities, they would still be neglected by the adults, but wouldn't have each other the way they do in Hinamizawa

Another way in which the plot works as a metaphor for child neglect is how the looping situation turnins Rika into a child who is, in fact, hundreds of years old. That is such a clear and common effect of neglect; kids that are forced to take on too much responsibility for their age feel a lot older than they are in reality, and in a way, are a lot more mature, but they can't actually mature at the same speed that they are required to. So there is a sort of split, where they are, simultaneously, too childish (because they didn't get the time and process to get rid of the more childish mannerisms naturally, which can be seen in Rika's mannerisms, the "nippaaaa" and "mii" in particular) and too adult (shown in how Rika's voice and demeanor completely change when she is talking about things related to the curse). The others refer to mature-Rika as "not the real Rika", and she implies that it's childish-Rika that is "not the real Rika", but really, neither are. Childish-Rika is who everyone expects her to be because of her age, and who she wants to be because she holds on to that innocence and carefreeness she never actually got to have, and mature-Rika is a role she takes on to try and cope with everything she needs to deal with while being wholly lacking in tools (physical or mental) to actually handle. They're both performances, and the duality we see in her is exactly what happens to kids who have to grow up sooner than they're able to. Rika is simultaneously 11 and 111 years old, and, as a result, she is cut in two

Hanyuu, on the other hand, is the opposite side of this coin - she is a hundreds of years old Goddess who acts like an 11yo. She reminds me a lot of Keiichi's dad, in the few scenes he appears - Keiichi seems a lot more mature in comparison, as his dad acts more like a silly, hormonal teenager than a caretaking figure. The same happens with Irie. They are all, in fact, fully grown adults with resources and tools to take on much more mature roles than they have, but, for whatever reason, none of them do. In Hanyuu's case, there's definitely a lot of insecurity there (especially as we find out in sotsu that she holds very little power when compared to other Goddesses), but there is also a choice from every one of them to infantilize themselves. Keiichi's dad has no business fawning over teens in hooters-style uniforms, and Hanyuu has no business showing up as if she is 11 when she is not only a Goddess who is supposed to be helping Rika, but also canonically her fucking mother. She's dealing with the reincarnation of her child (whom she, in another life, forced to kill her because she couldn't deal with her own helplessness, we must remind ourselves) and she chooses to show in the form of a tiny kid who barks all the time. Like, don't get me wrong, I don't hate Hanyuu or anything, but it doesn't get more self-infantilizing than that

For every adult that decides to infantilize themselves and refuse to take a responsible role, there is a kid who steps up and takes too much responsibility for themselves. This is true for every kid in Higurashi (Rena with her absent mother and alcoholic father, Rika with Hanyuu, Satoshi for their aunt and uncle and then Satoko in the same role, Mion who is inheriting the whole family straight from Oryou without it ever being passed down to one of her parents first - and who also needs to step in for the thousands of times Oryou simply decides that she doesn't want to deal with a kid's problems, and Keiichi with like, The Entire Village of Hinamizawa), and that's why all of them are stressed enough to be prone to get Hinamizawa syndrome. It's also why just them knowing the situation and trying to help Rika isn't enough, even though it makes a lot of difference: because for the cycle to be broken, the kids need to have caretakers in the true sense of the word, capable of stepping up and protecting them

This is also why I think the scene where Hanyuu protects Mion is so important, because I think, out of all of them, Mion is the one who most takes on the adultified role. In sotsu, Eua even says that Mion isn't prone to getting Hinamizawa Syndrome because she is too responsible and rational (besides never having left Hinamizawa; while Mion's family is certainly far from ideal, it's also undeniable that she's not been left to fend for herself in the way most of the others, even Shion, have; so, if leaving Hinamizawa symbolically means losing the last of the safety net, the fact that Mion has the least absent family and is the only one who's never left Hinamizawa certainly makes sense), and she is the eldest, the club president, and whatnot. But she's still being thrust further than she should be; while she isn't quite head of the family yet, the fact that she's the heiress while her mother and father aren't even on the line of succession is absurd, and Oryou acts like a spoiled brat a lot of the time, not to mention simply thinks that dealing with certain problems is above her. Mion takes it upon herself to punish her own twin in a desperate attempt to save her, and then goes ahead and tortures herself as well because of the responsibility she feels both for having to do that to her twin and for not being able to prevent Shion from acting out. And in multiple occasions, she takes the role of a human shield - and I mean that literally, although it certainly also happens metaphorically

Mion is taking a more grown-up role because she is the one most qualified to do that who isn't an actual adult. And while she's certainly capable, it's also not fair, and she is perhaps the biggest example of the adultified child, fully acting as if she's much older than she is. She certainly can take it; but it's not fair that she has to, that she has to tear herself apart like this and take the bullets for her friends because she is not old enough to stop them, but is old enough to take them. So when Hanyuu steps up and protects her, that is the first time (and maybe only time) in the entire show when Mion is the one being taken care of

(This also ties in with the whole doll business; while it's certainly true that the doll is a representation of her girlhood, it's also a representation of her childhood. Because let's be honest: Mion isn't very much into dolls. She likes other kinds of games, but playing house is not exactly up her alley. Yet she is extremely upset when Keiichi doesn't give it to her; but even in the realities where he does, she never plays with it, she only stares at it. It's obvious that the doll is a symbol: of Keiichi's affection, yes, and of her desirability as a girl, definitely, but also of her childishness - taken here to mean having being a child as a characteristic, in a neutral way. Mion craves playing enough to have founded a club dedicated entirely to games. She is forced to act the adult everywhere, including school, because she is the eldest and has to help teach the younger kids; club is the only place where she gets to be silly, and there is definitely a lot of silliness in her.

(So, when Keiichi says the doll doesn't suit her, I also think he's, subconsciously, seeing her as too adult for it. But she isn't, not really. And I think that within that analysis it makes a lot more sense for her to pretend to be Shion. Because Shion isn't really a lot girlier than Mion is, but she is treated a lot more like a teenager. It calls to my attention, for example, that Shion has someone responsible for taking care of her safety, while Mion doesn't, despite the fact that she is the heir and should reasonably get a bodyguard. The fact that she doesn't and instead gets just a handgun to carry around, while Shion gets a bodyguard, goes to show that, while being the heiress certainly gives Mion a lot of privilege, it also means Shion gets a lot more care and gets to act their age way more than Mion does. The fact that Shion always refer to her as the eldest despite the fact that they are fucking twins and Mion is a few minutes older at most also goes to show that particular aspect of their dynamic)

So for Hanyuu to step in and protect Mion, when no one else has done so in the entire series, is very symbolic of adults finally stepping in to take the roles that are rightfully theirs. They are all kids, and they all deserve to be protected, but so far, none of them have been, and Mion is probably the greatest example of someone who has stepped up to that challenge. To finally protect Mion when she's spent so long trying to be the one to protect is to put things back in their place, to give their stolen childhood back to them - and thus, to end the horror

[cassiasims]

what's your personal ranking of all the characters in house md that were there for like more than one season (just anyone relevant i guess)? i probably should've looked if you've done this before but if you have feel free to ignore this ask. anyway i'm curious because i agree with you A Lot (see i used capital letters and all)

TYY as much as i #dgaf about people disagreeing with me it’s always nice when people do agree…sniling so sneetly etc. anyway:

i find it really difficult to rank characters in a neat list of fave to least fave or whatever, both because a) this is a long show with a lot of characters, and i’m continually noticing new details and sharpening my analysis with every rewatch so it’s hard to be decisive (god that sounds so fucking pretentious but yknow what i mean), but also b) there is genuinely not a major character that i dislike. they’re all so messy and interesting and flawed. honestly the only recurring character i dislike full stop is lucas because the hidden spinoff pilot shit in s5 is so annoying and even still. girl that’s lucas. such small potatoes in the grand scheme of things lol. it’s easier (and quicker hahaha) for me to rank them in their respective clusters…so here goes i guess LMAO:

1) OG TEAM of cameron, chase, foreman: oh i bet you’re all so shocked aren’t you. it’s kind of a chicken/egg thing where i’m not sure if i like the first 3 seasons so much because of the original trio, or if i love the original trio because i love s1-3, but whichever way round it is…all three of them are so fucking fascinating. specifically their dynamic as a trio is fascinating—i love the fact that they don’t really get along, that there’s always some bubbling dysfunction with two of them pitted against the third. and not to be boring and meta but i think it’s relevant that this is the team we open the show with; they aren’t actually house’s original team of fellows, but they’re OUR original fellows for a reason. i think there’s a bit of house in all of his fellows (which is why he hires them, and why they’re susceptible to what cameron so nicely terms as him ‘poisoning’ them all) but especially the og three. i don’t even want to blorbo them i just want to sit down and have an academic discussion about how fucked up they are. which is why i’m on tumblr I GUESS!

2) DA ADULTS ie house wilson cuddy (and fuck it, stacy too i guess): i never really talk about them on here but man. i really love their dynamic. i know wilson and cuddy get memed on for i too am in this episode/also i have not spoken in a while etc but i think the show really strikes a perfect balance of letting us get to know and love them but equally making them a little bit unknowable. like with cuddy especially it’d be really easy to make her the sassy girlboss/annoying nag, and yet she isn’t at all. i think it kind of sucks that a lot of discussion about these 3 (AND STACY) gets boiled down to shipping stuff because i think the canon dynamic is way more interesting—all so up in each other’s business and yet simultaneously tiptoeing about their raw feelings. oh yeah and house himself: literal blueprint for snarky grizzled antihero tv protagonists. if this show is a tragedy (it is) then it can only be because it’s about him. i specifically find it so difficult to talk about house because he’s a really all encompassing figure yknow like inherently he gets dragged into any analysis i do of anyone else. mwah!!

3) NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK s4 gang thirteen, amber, taub, kutner: with the first two groups i’m specifically insane about how they all interact with each other and how rhat brings out parts of the individual; with this lot they feel more…idk…individualised. partly because they genuinely get along better than the og team and that’s unfortunately a bit boring and partly because they are all very very different. og trio are all united by the fact that they’re similar ages, at similar points in their careers—new gang are all crazy different. gonna specifically pick out amber and taub as my favourites in this group—amber because i love dead girl media and the distortion between her in s4 vs the s5 hallucination version is so, so fascinating, and taub because. how do i put this. taub is kind of normal and boring compared to everyone else in this freakshow and that, ironically, makes him extraordinary. even when his faillife is being played for laughs i think he has…idk kind of a grounding presence. i do really really love thirteen and kutner too, but they get a lot of focus both in fandom but also like. in canon. and therefore it feels a bit intimidating even now to really dig into the meat of them both yknow. BUT THATS A ME PROBLEM…

4) NEW FELLOWS 2 ELECTRIC BOOGALOO aka park adams and masters: even though masters was never on the team with park and adams i lump them together for similar reasons of ‘i’m not a super big fan of their seasons’ (for reasons unrelated to any of them) and also ‘you can’t really group them with their actual contemporaries because they’ve all been on the show for 4+ years’. the reason why they’re last in the ranking is just because…a lot of the stuff i would have to say about them would be wholly speculative and i like to base shit in canon yknow. ie a lot of what makes park and adams fun to daydream about is chase md stuff — buuuut that’s not technically in the purview of the show lol. what makes masters fun for me (aside from the insane fucking detail that she is based off a real person right down to the name) is imagining how she’d react to cameron, for instance. i still like all three of them but it’s less because of what we actually see and more about the what-ifs, and so they’re automatically behind everyone else as a result.

100) lucas. i don’t know whose idea it was to introduce him or make the second episode of s5 a closet pitch for a fucking spinoff pilot about him or make him date cuddy or design literally anything about him but let’s just say they should sleep with one eye open. once again he is the only character in this show i genuinely cannot stand. no hate to anyone who likes him he just makes my eye twitch in a way i cannot articulate i’m sorry

[zekidork]

I'm a Zeki, and I haven't given up on this story either. Glad to hear from another Zeki who feels the same way. There aren't many Zekis left who are actively participating, only really toxic and persistent Yumes hoping for a different outcome. I doubt Yuuki will return, that would completely undermine Hino's story, which, yes, is inconsistent at times, but not to that extent. Zeki had such significant development throughout the story that there's very little left to explore.

Hey! Glad to hear that we're not all gone, lol. Yeah, it's sad that our zeki fandom has gone quiet. Sometimes I feel like I should be more active on the platform, but I just decided to look instead of participating much. I'm sure other zekis do the same.

I remember a time when zeki fans were still very active, roughly during the vol.2 to vol.4 chapter days, and there was a lot of excitement and disappointment about zeki's development as a couple (like not getting a sex scene, or not getting any clear cut communication from Yuuki, etc). And things shifted at one point. There was a huge discourse over ch.13 (I think), when Zero bit Yuuki all over, and a lot of drama and meta-analysis ensued. But Hino didn't really address any of the fans concerns (not even Yuuki's seed of desire mentioned in vol.1), and I think by the time Ren was born, and when the incestuous relationship between the girls started showing up--I think zekis sort of got discouraged and "gave up". Obviously I can't speak for anyone, but that's kinda what I observed throughout the years--hopefully I'm wrong, and it's just that people forgot or something, haha.

Hino's style of writing is often questionable--definitely not the best out there, but I've come to accept it and try to enjoy it for how it is. She just writes in a way that's very vague, and I completely understand how that gets frustrating for both zeki and yume fans. Heck, I got frustrated for years and also became less active because of it (and because of life in general). But like I said, once I started to read the series with acceptance towards Hino's style, things became much simpler (though I still hold some gripes with the writing, as most of us do).

Honestly though, in the spirit of appreciating what we did get, volume 10 gave zeki a whole lot, and I'm so grateful for that. Even if it's not exactly what we hoped for, I think Hino really took the time to show how far zeki has come as a couple in her own way; with Zero's final chapter really tying everything in their relationship together relatively well. She essentially dedicated a whole volume to him, and zeki's relationship in general, giving us a proper farewell and perfect tie-in to his death scene from vol.1.

As for yume fans; while, some can definitely be toxic (just like some of us have been too), I'm honestly not gonna be mad at them for being excited about Kaname's return to main character status. Like, that's literally what they've been waiting for since the start of the series--for years! I'm hoping Hino uses each chapter to its fullest to give Kaname a proper ending, just like she did for Zero. Whether or not Yuuki's coming back in his life is, well, hard to say at the moment (which is something unique to Hino's writing honestly). But as you said, the chances are low, and I agree. And if she does come back, then the only thing I can do from there is hope that it at least makes sense and ties everything together (actually I hope whatever ending will do this). For now, I guess the best that we can do is enjoy as much as we can while the story still lasts and hope for the best.

Thank you for messaging me! Sorry for the long response, but I guess you gave me the opportunity to reflect on the story and our fandom's evolution (or devolution).

To anyone reading this, have a lovely day!

[padawan-snack-packer]

🌌✧ PΛDΛWΛПS' SNΛCK PΛCKΞR ✧🌌

— ❝ᴍɪssɪᴏɴ ʟᴏɢ n°1: ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ʙᴀsᴇ ❞ —

📆 Date: 0502.25 (GSY) 📍 Location: Somewhere between Clone barracks and the Ghost crew’s emotional baggage

Hey Peeps! 🎉

So, uh, first edition of this official log (read: update), I guess? (if there’s any official-ness left in this galaxy, I don’t know anymore) But heeeyyy, I’m here, a real live person behind this account, typing words and getting too into the Star Wars universe!!!

First, major shoutout to everyone who’s been following along because I just hit +80 followers! 🎉💖 I see you, and I’m genuinely flattered you want to hear my chaos!!!💌

Little personal update: I’m deep into a rewatch of Ahsoka (yes, again, I have no self-control) because I’m putting together a full-blown essay on Sabine’s grief representation in the series and, of course, a Sabine/Ezra analysis from both their POVs (Aka "Lover boy is just as down bad as she is" and "Sabine Wren aka' 'how to giftwrap the fate of the galaxy to your enemy to get your boyfriend back (as you should btw)'".

It’s a lot, but it's gonna be good. If I start rambling about their trauma and emotional baggage, just know it’s part of the process!!

So here are the updates from the field, a.k.a. my brain which is currently 83% clone chaos, 10% Sabezra angst, and 7% caf and stubbornness.

Secondly: the clone requests. There are four of them in progress right now and let me tell you—they're like babysitting four feral emotional support war veterans who each think they know best. As I finish them, I’ll be posting them to AO3 as a single work, with each request slotted in as a chapter. Same for the already posted ficlets besties!!! (Unless, of course, one of them decides to expand into a multi-chapter dramatic arc, in which case I will pretend I have control over my life and continue writing anyway.)

Meanwhile, the Sabezra post-Ahsoka one-shot that was supposed to be a sweet little emotional knife to the ribs has casually evolved into a ficlet. It's not massive—don’t panic—but it’s definitely longer than planned because apparently Sabine and Ezra had Things To Say™ and refused to shut up about it. Also they're being soft and he's being unhinged and making her laugh and MY GIRL DESERVES THAT SO YOU KNOW WHAT- Expect angst, accidental tenderness, and at least one line that made me go “oh noooo”, puns and maybe one (1) song about a womp rat lady. It’s that kind of vibe.

Also—and I say this with full awareness that this is my Roman Empire—I’m once again thinking about Mandalorian clans because I, a humble goblin with both daddy issues AND mommy issues, find deep comfort in a culture where love is expressed through teaching you how to stab someone correctly and handing you armor plates like they’re affection. I’m obsessed. I would absolutely love to dust off my old Mando OCs (yes, they all have tragic backstories, yes, I’m fine, stop looking at me like that) or even create new ones for fics or inspo for peeps.

The urge to build a whole found family of emotionally repressed warriors who show care via knife training and shared trauma is simply too strong.

If I start posting about “Clan Unnecessary Emotional Baggage” featuring a foundling who’s never been hugged and a riduur who communicates exclusively in sighs and forehead touches—just know it’s a cry for help, but make it worldbuilding.

✨ Anyway, back to schedule! 🫡📋 Thank you so so much for all the love on the posts, headcanons, metas, and general chaos!!!💖 Y’all are the best, and I’m sending snacks (emotional and actual) to everyone 🧃🍪💫

(Oh and also!! 👀 Just so you know—I do have things planned for May the Fourth 👽✨ (yes, it is currently May 2nd, yes, I am making intense eye contact with the calendar, yes, I am operating entirely on ✨vibes and panic✨). Expect something fun, mildly unhinged, and definitely made with love (and probably at 2am). The Force is strong with my procrastination but SO IS THE CONTENT, OKAY.)