#black's myth: the key to his heart

[smashpages]

‘Black’s Myth’ returns with a new miniseries this summer

Eric Palicki and Wendell Cavalcanti head back into L.A.’s seedy supernatural underground in ‘Black’s Myth: The Key to his Heart.’

cover by Liana Kangas

[graphicpolicy]

Preview: Black's Myth: The Key to His Heart #5

Black's Myth: The Key to His Heart #5 preview. Will Claire embrace her inner demon, or will Strummer get to her in time? #comics #comicbooks

[kiame-sama]

Can you give us some Human Lore related to the Great Seven? As you mentioned how the Queen of Hearts is very strict about Humans being protected, even making a bunch of rules to protect them (So no doubt if Reader gets bullied while Riddles’ around he’ll instantly collar the perpetrators)

I’m curious as to see if there are any myths about how the other Great Seven treat or view Humans

This AU has me in a chokehold and I can’t wait for more parts! I love every part and your art of the characters is amazing!

I kinda wrote a little idea for the Righteous Judge and how he felt about Humans (You can ignore or change it if you want! Since this IS your AU)

The Righteous Judge was known for being fair towards Humans as he believed they should be treated equally, as he’d saw how Humans could not only adapt, but even help Monsters settle their differences, and they could do it all without magic

As such he made laws to protect Humans as he thought highly of Humanity being the key to improve civilization, as while they didn’t have any magic, their bonds with each other and other Monsters helped accomplish any task or threat thrown at them

He believed Humans were pure because they weren’t born with the savage instinct like many Monsters have, as he saw Humans more likely to show compassion, mercy, kindness and empathy, unlike Monsters who are more prone to use violence, aggression and pure power to get what they want

Legend has it the Righteous Judge wept in sorrow when Humanity went Extinct, as he believed Humanity could’ve helped Monsters learn how to better themselves

It’s also believed that the Righteous Judge’s son was a Human, which could explain why he was so devoted to defend and help Humans

Maybe because of this Fleur City is known for their rituals, celebrations and festivals to honor the legacy Humans left behind, to honor how the Righteous Judge strived so hard to help Humans

Sorry, my brain went ham as I’m prone to overthinking because of my Autism (I love your Autistic Works as they’re incredibly relatable, like with Floyd and his squeezes since I love extra tight hugs)

Absolutely agree for the Righteous Judge and this would no doubt translate to Rollo's own infatuation and obsession with this little Human. I would bet that if Human MC from the AU visited Fleur city during the Topsy Turvey Day, they would be automatically crowned and honored in the festival as even the Righteous Judge loved the Humans he wept so heavily for.

The Queen of Hearts was known for her love of Humans and had several Human pets that she cherished deeply. She was known to only pardon her Humans from being beheaded as they were such an endearing little species and she couldn't stay angry with her Humans for long. There are no less than 50 rules regarding the proper treatment of humans as The Queen wanted to ensure her beloved pets were kept safe no matter what. All Humans were declared as a protected species in the Queendom of Roses, and harming or abusing one was punishable by death. These laws are still in place despite Humans being extinct for centuries just in the event that a Human could possibly still be alive somewhere.

The King of Beasts doesn't have any mention of humans in any of his stories, hence why many beast men were content to treat Humans as cattle and regarded humans as a delicacy to feast upon. Over the years as Humans became more and more endangered, the Black market for Humans became more than a little cut-throat. Humans were food for so long, that when they were declared extinct, literal riots broke out and what small remaining meat sold for millions. Knock off meat was popular for a while, and Sunset Savana (and various other locations with high beastman populations) admitted to being somewhat at fault for the rapid extinction of Humans. Now there is a global ban on the buying, selling, or trading of Human artifacts/remains.

The Sea Witch's story is deeply intertwined with the presence of Humans, as it was a Human the princess wished to see and marry, leading to her making a deal with the Sea Witch. Many merfolk regard Humans as the peak standard of beauty as a result of this story and see Sirens as merfolk who have been blessed with Human blood. Since sirens look very close to Humans- minus their ever present gills and abnormal aquatic forms- sirens are believed to be the step between merfolk and Humans. Many Human-like monsters are treated with the same kind of awe by merfolk for being so close to a Human in form.

The Sorcerer of the Sands had many tricks and was very knowledgeable, so of course he knew about humans in great detail. Some stories even claim that the Sorcerer sought the council of Humans for their unusual ability to resolve conflict in warring species. Despite their lack of Magic, humans were admirable enough to be in the council of the Sorcerer and were considered to be quite wise for their continued persistence among stronger species.

The Fairest Queen- the most beautiful of all and a wickedly powerful Harpy in her own right- liked the featherless bipeds known as Humans. Though they were clumsy and sometimes pig-faced, she viewed their ambition and tenacity in high regard. Such creatures that held on so tightly to their place in the world despite the other species beating them back certainly earned the respect of the Fairest Queen.

The Thorn Fairy was known for her many boons granted to Human kind. As Humans did not posses magic, they needed all the aid they could get and the Thorn Fairy was all too eager to aid. It is said that any Human the Thorn Fairy blessed became a member of her court, if not in title than in spirit, as the Thorn fairy adored the ignoble little species despite their fragility and flaws. Though she is the spirit of nobility and power, the Thorn Fairy herself smiled kindly upon her little Humans and offered aid to them when she could.

[thedansemacabres]

A Modern Understanding of Dionysus Hestios

Photo from a vineyard I worked on.

[ID: A close-up image of a Chardonnay white-wine grapevine with three clusters. The clusters are green with some red. Bright green leaves cover the top of the clusters, while below a black irrigation line is visible. The ground below is covered in woodchips, except for a single plant below the clusters].

HESTIOS IS A FUN YET OBSCURE EPITHET OF DIONYSUS.  We can infer some of its context due to Zeus Hestios, that being a protector of the home and hearth. This epithet of Dionysus is a favourite of mine—for my home and hearth, he is a household deity as I am a viticulturist and winemaker. My life and livelihood is partially bound by grapevines as I currently work at an orchard that is establishing a vineyard and my responsibility is to make it happen. 

The context of this epithet is little known beyond a passage in Pausanias’ iconic Description of Greece: 

Pausanias, Description of Greece 1. 2. 5 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : "From the gate to the Kerameikos [in Athens] there are porticoes . . . containing shrines of gods, and a gymnasium called that of Hermes. In it is the house of Poulytion . . . [which] in my time it was devoted to the worship of Dionysos. This Dionysos they call Melpomenos (Minstrel) [i.e. of Melpomene, the muse of tragedy], on the same principle as they call Apollon Mousegetes (Leader of the Muses) . . . After the precinct of Apollon is a building that contains earthen ware images, Amphiktyon, king of Athens, Dionysos Hestios (Feasting or Of the Hearth) and other gods. Here also is Pegasos of Eleutherai, who introduced the god [Dionysos] to the Athenians. Herein he was helped by the oracle at Delphoi, which called to mind that the god once dwelt in Athens in the days of Ikarios."

Dionysus Hestios is mentioned in Athens, along with his myth of his devotee Pegasos bringing his cult to the city. Other than references to Zeus Hestios, I have not found any more context for this epithet beyond protecting the home/hearth. Therefore, this aspect of him will be a contender for a strong upg basis. 

In my times in wine, I’ve gathered my own gnosis of Dionysus Hestios. He is a protector of the hearth, but in my personal experience, the table wine aspect of Dionysus.

TABLE WINE IN THE MODERN WORLD

Table wine is named exactly for what it is, a wine that sits at your dinner table and a key part of a meal. Italy especially is famous for its cheap table wines, many of which I’ve had at my own tables and dinners. Most commercial wines these days are made to be drinkable on their own—while table wines are uncomfortable and harsh on the tongue. With food, they transform, turning these harsh and bitter wines into something truly enjoyable. It also makes the food taste better. For anyone unknowing, that’s why wine and food pairing is a thing. Unfortunately, the table wine market is slowly beginning to crumble—most modern wine drinkers enjoy more of a good tasting drink instead of a complement of one’s meal. If you have the chance, I recommend buying some and trying it in pairings—it’s a dying market, sadly, and one that has an ancient history behind it. 

While table wines slowly fade, there is always a place for them in our lives. I myself have fond memories of a terribly bitter wine being served at my family’s table, and while I hated the taste, I’ve come to fall in love with them in recent years. Dionysus Hestios as a god of the home is a god of table wine, the happy smiles and festive memories of people having their Chianti with some steak or pasta. It’s the thrill of a good food pairing, a decanter, and the hundred years history of people making wine for the common folk instead of just for the aristocrats and their “noble” grapes. 

Dionysus Hestios, Hearth warmer, master  Of your craft, joy becoming  Protect our heart and wine, Let us dance and joy,  Under your blessings  Of the woody grapevine. 

References

DIONYSUS CULT 1 - Ancient Greek Religion. (n.d.). https://www.theoi.com/Cult/DionysosCult.html

[lyon-77]

Erlang Shen — Unpacking the Complex Layers of a Timeless God Pt. 1

Erlang is unique in Chinese mythology as an ancient god who remains vibrant and active in the 21st century. Unlike other ancient folk gods, whose vitality has long been lost, or newer heroes like Sun Wukong, emerged in the early modern period and resonate strongly with contemporary audiences, Erlang Shen's enduring presence in cultural life is a rare exception to the general trend. Writing about the origin of Erlang Shen is challenging because of his complexities. I hope I do justice to his cultural significance while keeping it engaging and accessible.

Originally a regional chief god and hero-god, Erlang’s influence expanded and peaked during the Song (960 to 1279 CE) and Yuan (1271-1368 CE) dynasties. During the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 CE), as popular folklore and dramas became formalized in influential works like JTTW and Investiture of the Gods, Erlang appeared alongside new heroes, who were often written to match or challenge the abilities of established deities like Erlang, both as a tribute and to lend legitimacy to the fresh characters. This dynamic placed Erlang as a benchmark against which rising figures were measured. During the Qing dynasty (1644-1912 CE), Erlang’s influence had stagnated, prompting unconscious efforts to revive key motifs in his lore. His legendary mountain-splitting feat was reimagined to center around a different character Chenxiang. Over time, Chenxiang's tale was attached to Erlang's mythos, with Chenxiang portrayed as his nephew. This revision introduced inconsistencies that distorted Erlang’s character, transforming him from a heroic young lord into an cold-hearted oppressor. Such a drastic re-telling was only possible during a period of decline in Erlang’s worship, and it further contributed to a more negative interpretation of Erlang. A god truly dies when no one remembers their name. By the 19th and 20th centuries, Erlang’s lore was on the brink of ossification and his original character nearly submerged to history. 

However, Erlang has survived, in part because many of his stories were preserved in written and oral traditions. Those enduring records prompted contemporary audiences to rediscover him and trace back his origin and development, revealing a complex, inspiring character ought not be forgotten.

In New Gods: Yang Jian

Certainly, Erlang carries far more “baggage” than new heroes. His mythos, shaped by layers of history and storytelling, can be confusing and at times contradictory. A prominent example is again the story of Chenxiang, which many argue doesn’t align with Erlang’s established character. As such, many people reject Chenxiang’s story as part of Erlang’s canon, while others try to reconcile the inconsistency by introducing new storylines that re-establish Erlang as a misunderstood hero. Both the TV series Lotus Lantern (2005) and the animated film New Gods: Yang Jiang (2022) took this latter approach, whereas the film Creation of The God: Kingdom of Storms (2023) and Black Myth: Wukong (2024) followed the traditional narrative, with no mention of any siblings (let alone nephew).

In Creation of The God: Kingdom of Storms

The deeper and more insidious “baggage” in Erlang Shen’s lore, however, lies in its historical and cultural nuances. Erlang’s image is shaped by multiethnic folk mythology, Daoist canonization, and political canonization. Venerated by the Han, Baima (historically Di), Amdo Tibetan, Tu (Monguor), and other ethnic groups in and north of the Shu region (modern-day Sichuan), Erlang embodies the rich cross-cultural exchanges that occurred in southwest China. His character also reflects the historical tension and balance between the borderland and the central government, echoing contemporary debates about whether Erlang is the people's god or a dutiful servant of the celestial court. Beneath all these, there’s another layer of tension between humanity’s awe of natural forces and its desire to tame nature. 

For me, Erlang Shen is fascinating precisely because of these “baggages.” His complexities make him susceptible to misunderstanding but also offer rich potential for new interpretations, as seen in modern adaptations including Black Myth: Wukong. For those interested in history and culture, Erlang’s layered mythos provides a lens through which we can connect with the past while gaining fresh insights into the present.

In future posts, I will unpack each of those nuanced tensions with you.

[al0v3w1tch]

⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺ Lord Hades… Today is Lord Hades’ worship day, so I want to share information about him in honor of Him. 𖤐 Who is Hades? Hades is the oldest son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, God of the dead, hidden wealth of the Earth, and King of the Underworld; He is widely known to have been the protector of funerals and defended the rights of the dead due to their burial. His most famous myths are the abduction of his wife, Persephone, and Him being consumed by his father alongside His other four siblings. 𖤐 Mythology. After being consumed by His father and then saved by His brother, Zeus, Hades fought alongside His siblings to take Cronus down as well as the other Titans; when they received victory, Zeus ruled over the other Gods, Poseidon ruled the sea and Hades ruled over the dead; He named His domain after Himself and has Charon transport the dead to the Underworld as long as they leave a coin offering for the ferryman. After a while of ruling the Underworld, Hades became desperate for a wife and went to his brother Zeus to ask for His consent to marry His and Demeter’s daughter, Persephone. When given the right, Hades visited Persephone in the Overworld and abducted her while she was gathering flowers in a field; after Her abduction, Her mother, Demeter, searched far for Her daughter, and with the help of the sun God, Helios, Demeter had found out where Her daughter was kept. When she confronted Zeus about the ordeal, He sent the messenger God, Hermes, down to the Underworld to talk to Hades about letting Persephone go free. The God agreed but before Persephone left, Hades had snuck pomegranate seeds into the Goddesses mouth, due to this; Hades and Demeter made a pact of Persephone would be in the Overworld with her mother for half the year and then be with her husband for the rest. Hades also had involvement with the Greek heroes Theseus and Pirithous who are known for kidnapping Helen of Troy when she was only twelve as the duo wanted to marry the daughters of Zeus. After Helen’s kidnapping, Pirithous decided he wanted to marry Persephone so they traveled to the Underworld to try and pursue the Goddess; when Hades found out about their plan, He welcomed them in with gentle hospitality but when the two tried to leave their seats, they were stuck down to them by coils of serpents. They were trapped in the Underworld until Heracles attempted to save them, he only succeeded with Theseus as when he tried to save Pirithous, the ground shook under them so Theseus and Heracles had to leave the man behind. 𖤐 Symbols, Offerings, and Altar. Symbols: - Dogs (Cerberus), black lambs, serpents, and screech owls. - Precious jewels, money, and minerals. - Cypress, white asphodel, mint, and narcissus. - Drinking horn. - Scepter. - Key. - Helm of Darkness. - Black, grey, silver, and gold colours. - Nighttime. - Autumn and Winter. - Cemeteries, crossroads, forests, and caves. Offerings: - Coins. - Stones (Dark, jagged stones work). - Alcohol (Wine specifically). - Honey. - Milk or Water. - Tobacco. - Herbs: cypress, mint, myrrh, patchouli, bay, pumpkin, yew, wormwood, cinnamon, lavender, willow, oak. - Flowers: marigold, dandelion, rose, lily, daisies, rowan, poppy, daffodils, calendulas. - Oils (Olive oils and kinds of vinegar work). - Salts and spices. - Shells or bones. - Tea (Black). - Breads or cakes. - Fruits (apples and pomegranates). - Meat (especially Lamb). - Incenses: frankincense, myrrh, wormwood, sandalwood, cinnamon, rose, pomegranate. - Black, grey, and silver candles.

𖤐 Prayers. -Great Hades, master of the dark afterworld, Honored host of our beloved dead, Husband of fair-haired Persephone, Holder of riches of the deep earth, Eldest son of full-hearted Rhea and Cronus of the shining sickle,

I praise you. Hades, kind one, unyielding one, gracious granter of respite to the suffering, Of welcome who have passed from our world, I thank you for your gift of shelter and hospitality. -Great-hearted Hades, Lord of the Afterworld, Noble husband of gracious Persephone, daughter of the earth who shares your golden throne; Advocate of the dead whose wrath falls on those who deny them due burial, or whose dishonor endures beyond the grave.

Relentless Hades, agent of vengeance, friend of the Furies, long is your arm, long your memory.

Lord of riches, lord of wealth, Yours is the abundance of the depths, the cold, unyielding treasure of metal and stone; Yours is the black dirt turned by the plow each spring, the sun-warmed soil that hides the seed.

Hades, dark-haired son of Kronos, ruler of the world beyond us, inevitable host of men and women, I thank you for your care of those who have passed; I praise you, I honor you, I revere your name. -(Can be used with prayer beads). 

Hades, great of glory, great of might,

I pray to you.

Ruler of your full share of the world,

I pray to you, O God.

Holder of indescribable wealth,

I pray to you, O God.

Lord of all who have walked this earth,

I pray to you, O God.

Yours are the riches beneath solid stone,

I pray to you, O God.

Yours is the gift of prosperity,

I pray to you, O God.

Yours is the hall that holds all we have loved,

I pray to you, O God.

Granter of fortune to those who live,

I pray to you, O God.

Giver of peace to those who have passed,

I pray to you, O God.

May I find the good your blessings bring,

I pray to you, O God.

May I see your hand within the world,

I pray to you, O God.

May I know your favor, hear your call,

I pray to you, O God.

May I honor your art and praise your works,

I pray to you, O God.

Hades, great of glory, great of might,

I pray to you. 𖤐 Blessed be.  

[loganslowdown4]

Celebrating the 1 Year Anniversary of My Roommate is Hades! PART 3!!

Costumes and Colour Theories: Episodes 1 & 2!

First, let’s talk Homer’s shirts! Colour theory comes into play. At first, Homer is in white. All white, symbolizing innocence and naïveté. He’s basically blundered into a real live myth.

But then! He finds out about death! And the afterlife! And actual heaven and hell where your soul will go for eternity and also ghosts do exist, holy shiiiitttt! So that takes away his ‘innocence’. His next shirt is both black and white. A transitional period while he makes sense of the thing that broke his brain.

And a little side note, the black and white shirt also had flowers on it. My interpretation (if there is any beyond Thomas’ wardrobe) is that it was chosen because Persephone is the goddess of spring and Hades’ spouse. If this series has any inkling of a slow burn enemies to lovers type romance, this is the first hint haha

Finally, he’s wearing the brown shirt, symbolizing his new knowledge and willingness to play hard. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty now, but at what cost?

Next, Hades’ outfit all dark symbolizing where he’s from (the underworld with no light) and also his demenor/possible villainy. This might be just a front, or a way to keep people at a distance/exude being cool.

You can also see in both episodes that he takes his dark aura wherever he goes. He is constantly surrounded by a halo of darkness (and if that just doesn’t make my emo heart happy hdgssvs)

But my biggest take away is all his jewelry. One of Hades’ godly traits is being the god of wealth and riches. Any precious metals and gems that can be dug from the earth (where he lives) are of value to him. This is also why he says he ‘likes his money’ because he doesn’t want to spend it.

Hermes’ outfit is my favourite! The idea I believe is that it looks like exercise clothes because he’s the messenger god, always on the move.

Hermes’ shorts also have the meander lines or ‘Greek Key’ design. He’s also wearing pearl necklaces which I think is an inside joke about how there’s a jewelry/accessory company called Hermès (they’re French).

Lastly, I’m not sure if there is a connection of significance, but each one of the gods has been wearing a shade of red so far— perhaps later down the road if we see a god not wearing red it might hint at something else, like them lying/hiding something—

Let me know your thoughts on costumes or colour theory!!

Continued in Part 4!

GO BACK TO PART 2 | GO AHEAD TO PART 4

[buoyantsaturn]

C.J. buoyantsaturn's 2023 year in review

JANUARY

But I can't help getting caught up in it all [12,446 words] summary: Nico, Leo, and Will are living their happily ever after - until an old friend moves back into town.

FEBUARY

Then you hold life like a face between your palms ... and you say, yes, I will take you / I will love you, again. [4,718 words] summary: “You’re still going to marry me someday, right?” Nico’s head snapped up, drizzling paint across the floor as he lifted the roller from the pan too early - which was exactly why they’d chosen to finish up painting first. Nico snorted, a gorgeous sound that sent Will’s heart fluttering. “Of course I am. What kind of question is that?”

MARCH

crocheted mushroom [1,618 words] summary: It had started off with something Will had mentioned in passing - a specific plant that only grew in the Underworld with its own magical healing myth. The next time Nico had gone to run an errand for his father, he returned with the flower, pressed and fragile, blandly announcing to Will that - according to Persephone - the myth was bullshit, even if the flower was pretty.

APRIL

How many kinds of love might there be in the world, and how many formations might they make [5,908 words] summary: Nico turned toward his husband with a smile, crossing his arms over his chest. He took a second to admire the work that Will and Annabeth had done - she’d designed a coop that was a perfect scale replica of the Apollo cabin back at camp, complete with nesting boxes where the bunk beds were placed. Nico called back, “Where do you think we’re going to find magic chickens in the middle of Texas?” Or, five friends who come to visit Nico and Will, and one who doesn't.

MAY

Work and play, they're never okay to mix the way we do [77,579 words] summary: “We don’t have an appointment,” Reyna stated without greeting, lifting her eyes from her computer screen to look at them both, though her hands stayed where they were on her home row keys. “We shouldn’t be long,” Jason replied as he took a seat in one of the chairs opposite her desk. When Nico didn’t move to follow, Jason glanced back at him and nodded to the other open seat. He didn’t speak again until after Nico had sat down. “We want Will Solace to open for Lost Heroes when we go out on our next tour.”

JUNE

Put the Car in Drive (don't stop running 'til you're long gone) [17,487 words] summary: Because, no matter what, Will would always come home to Nico. 

JULY

lemon drops [3,753 words] summary: "Um. Did you ever do the whole…law school…thing, like you said you wanted to? Because I think I might need a lawyer.” 

AUGUST

Doctor Doctor, Give Me the News (I've Got a Bad Case of Loving You) [29,023 words] summary: As he started out from behind the reception area for the first time in four hours, Leo called out to him, “Hey, by the way, Apollo’s doing that thing again where he talks about adding more staff members. Just be prepared, ‘cause you know he’s going to ask your opinion. Since you’re his favorite, and all.”

SEPTEMBER

(all i really want is to be your) Boyfriend [2,941 words] summary: “Nico, you’re never going to believe this!” Hazel exclaimed. “CPR got back together!” Nico turned his face toward the ceiling, wondering what he could have possibly done to deserve this.

OCTOBER

yet i need to talk to you [4,116 words] summary: “Being away from you just makes me think about how I never want to be without you, and--” Nico snorted. “Are you asking me to marry you? Haven’t we done this already?” 

NOVEMBER

Remember nights we spent on hard wood floors [67,859 words] summary: A sudden, tense silence passed between them. “Is it really this easy to start a band?” Lou asked. “Probably not,” Nico replied, “but we should meet up sometime to see what we can do.”

DECEMBER

bear skin rug [1,077 words] summary: Nico spun back around, a bright smile on his face as he said to Will, “See? How cool is--” Black spots danced in his eyes, and before he could say another word, Nico passed out.

[dailyanarchistposts]

E.3 Can private property rights protect the environment?

Environmental issues have become increasingly important over the decades. When Murray Bookchin wrote his first works on our ecological problems in the 1950s, he was only one of a small band. Today, even right-wing politicians have to give at least some lip-service to environmental concerns while corporations are keen to present their green credentials to the general public (even if they do not, in fact, have any).

As such, there has been a significant change. This is better late than never, considering that the warnings made by the likes of Bookchin in the 1950s and 1960s have come true to a threateningly worrying degree. Sadly, eco-anarchist solutions are still ignored but that is unsurprising as they go to the heart of the ecological problem, namely domination within humanity as the precondition for the domination of nature and the workings of the capitalist economy. It is hardly likely that those who practice and benefit from that oppression and exploitation will admit that they are causing the problems! Hence the need to appear green in order to keep a fundamentally anti-green system going.

Of course, some right-wingers are totally opposed to ecological issues. They seriously seem to forget without a viable ecology, there would be no capitalism. Ayn Rand, for example, dismissed environmental concerns as being anti-human and had little problem with factory chimneys belching smoke into the atmosphere (her fondness for chimneys and skyscrapers would have have made Freud reach for his notepad). As Bob Black once noted, “Rand remarked that she worshipped smokestacks. For her … they not only stood for, they were the epitome of human accomplishment. She must have meant it since she was something of a human smokestack herself; she was a chain smoker, as were the other rationals in her entourage. In the end she abolished her own breathing: she died of lung cancer.” [“Smokestack Lightning,” Friendly Fire, p. 62] The fate of this guru of capitalism is a forewarning for our collective one if we ignore the environment and our impact on it.

The key to understanding why so many on the right are dismissive of ecological concerns is simply that ecology cannot be squeezed into their narrow individualistic property based politics. Ecology is about interconnectiveness, about change and interaction, about the sources of life and how we interact with them and they with us. Moreover, ecology is rooted in the quality of life and goes not automatically view quantity as the key factor. As such, the notion that more is better does not strike the ecologist as, in itself, a good thing. The idea that growth is good as such is the principle associated with cancer. Ecology also destroys the individualistic premise of capitalist economics. It exposes the myth that the market ensures everyone gets exactly what they want — for if you consume eco-friendly products but others do not then you are affected by their decisions as the environmental impact affects all. Equally, the notion that the solution to GM crops should letting “the market” decide fails to take into account that such crops spread into local eco-systems and contaminate whole areas (not to mention the issue of corporate power enclosing another part of the commons). The market “solution” in this case would result in everyone, to some degree, consuming GM crops eventually. None of this can be fitted into the capitalist ideology.

However, while vocal irrational anti-green perspectives lingers on in some sections of the right (particularly those funded by the heaviest polluters), other supporters of capitalism have considered the problems of ecological destruction in some degree. Some of this is, of course, simply greenwashing (i.e., using PR and advertising to present a green image while conducting business as usual). Some of it is funding think tanks which use green-sounding names, imagery and rhetoric to help pursue a decidedly anti-ecological practice and agenda. Some of is, to some degree, genuine. Al Gore’s campaign to make the world aware of the dangers of climate change is obviously sincere and important work (although it is fair to point out the lack of green policies being raised during his 2000 Presidential election campaign and the poverty of his proposed solutions and means of change). Nicholas Stern’s 2006 report on climate change produced for the UK government is another example and it gives an insight into the mentality of such environmentalists. The report did produce quite an impact (plus its dismissal by the usual suspects). The key reason for that was, undoubtedly, due to it placing a money sum on the dangers of environmental disruption. Such is capitalism — people and planet can go to the dogs, but any threat to profits must be acted upon. As the British PM at the time put it, any Climate Change Bill must be “fully compatible with the interests of businesses and consumers as well.” Which is ironic, as it is the power of money which is causing the bulk of the problems we face.

Which is what we will discuss here, namely whether private property can be used to solve our environmental problems. Liberal environmentalists base their case on capitalist markets aided with some form of state intervention. Neo-liberal and right-“libertarian” environmentalists base their case purely on capitalist markets and reject any role for the state bar that of defining and enforcing private property rights. Both, however, assume that capitalism will remain and tailor their policies around it. Anarchists question that particularly assumption particularly given, as we discussed in section E.1, the fundamental reason why capitalism cannot be green is its irrational “grow-or-die” dynamic. However, there are other aspects of the system which contribute to capitalism bringing ecological crisis sooner rather than later. These flow from the nature of private property and the market competition it produces (this discussion, we should stress, ignores such factors as economic power which will be addressed in section E.3.2).

The market itself causes ecological problems for two related reasons: externalities and the price mechanism. It is difficult making informed consumption decisions under capitalism because rather than provide enough information to make informed decisions, the market hinders the flow of relevant information and suppresses essential knowledge. This is particularly the case with environmental information and knowledge. Simply put, we have no way of knowing from a given price the ecological impact of the products we buy. One such area of suppressed information is that involving externalities. This is a commonly understood problem. The market actively rewards those companies which inflict externalities on society. This is the “routine and regular harms caused to others — workers, consumers, communities, the environment.” These are termed “externalities” in “the coolly technical jargon of economics” and the capitalist company is an “externalising machine” and it is “no exaggeration to say that the corporation’s built in compulsion to externalise its costs is at the root of many of the world’s social and environmental ills.” [Joel Bakan, The Corporation, p. 60 and p. 61]

The logic is simple, by externalising (imposing) costs on others (be it workers, customers or the planet) a firm can reduce its costs and make higher profits. Thus firms have a vested interest in producing externalities. To put it crudely, pollution pays while ecology costs. Every pound a business spends on environmental protections is one less in profits. As such, it makes economic sense to treat the environment like a dump and externalise costs by pumping raw industrial effluent into the atmosphere, rivers, and oceans. The social cost of so doing weighs little against the personal profits that result from inflicting diffuse losses onto the general public. Nor should we discount the pressure of market forces in this process. In order to survive on the market, firms may have to act in ways which, while profitable in the short-run, are harmful in the long term. For example, a family-owned farm may be forced to increase production using environmentally unsound means simply in order to avoid bankruptcy.

As well as economic incentives, the creation of externalities flows from the price mechanism itself. The first key issue, as green economist E. F. Schumacher stressed, is that the market is based on “total quantification at the expense of qualitative differences; for private enterprise is not concerned with what it produces but only what it gains from production.” This means that the “judgement of economics … is an extremely fragmentary judgement; out of the large number of aspects which in real life have to be seen and judged together before a decision can be taken, economics supplies only one — whether a thing yields a profit to those who undertake it or not.” [Small is Beautiful, p. 215 and p. 28] This leads to a simplistic decision making perspective:

“Everything becomes crystal clear after you have reduced reality to one — one only — of its thousand aspects. You know what to do — whatever produces profits; you know what to avoid — whatever reduces them or makes a loss. And there is at the same time a perfect measuring rod for the degree of success or failure. Let no-one befog the issue by asking whether a particular action is conducive to the wealth and well-being of society, whether it leads to moral, aesthetic, or cultural enrichment. Simply find out whether it pays.” [Op. Cit., p. 215]

This means that key factors in decision making are, at best, undermined by the pressing need to make profits or, at worse, simply ignored as a handicap. So “in the market place, for practical reasons, innumerable qualitative distinctions which are of vital importance for man and society are suppressed; they are not allowed to surface. Thus the reign of quantity celebrates its greatest triumphs in ‘The Market.’” This feeds the drive to externalise costs, as it is “based on a definition of cost which excludes all ‘free goods,’ that is to say, the entire God-given environment, except for those parts of it that have been privately appropriated. This means that an activity can be economic although it plays hell with the environment, and that a competing activity, if at some cost it protects and conserves the environment, will be uneconomic.” To summarise: “it is inherent in the methodology of economics to ignore man’s dependence on the natural world.” [Op. Cit., p. 30 and p. 29]

Ultimately, should our decision-making be limited to a single criteria, namely whether it makes someone a profit? Should our environment be handed over to a system which bases itself on confusing efficient resource allocation with maximising profits in an economy marked by inequalities of wealth and, consequently, on unequal willingness and ability to pay? In other words, biodiversity, eco-system stability, clean water and air, and so forth only become legitimate social goals when the market places a price on them sufficient for a capitalist to make money from them. Such a system can only fail to achieve a green society simply because ecological concerns cannot be reduced to one criteria (“The discipline of economics achieves its formidable resolving power by transforming what might otherwise be considered qualitative matters into quantitative issues with a single metric and, as it were, a bottom line: profit or loss.” [James C. Scott, Seeing like a State, p. 346]). This is particularly the case when even economists admit that the market under-supplies public goods, of which a clean and aesthetically pleasing environment is the classic example. Markets may reflect, to some degree, individual consumer preferences distorted by income distribution but they are simply incapable of reflecting collective values (a clean environment and spectacular views are inherently collective goods and cannot be enclosed). As a result, capitalists will be unlikely to invest in such projects as they cannot make everyone who uses them pay for the privilege.

Then there is the tendency for the market to undermine and destroy practical and local knowledge on which truly ecological decisions need to be based. Indigenous groups, for example, have accumulated an enormous body of knowledge about local ecological conditions and species which are ignored in economic terms or eliminated by competition with those with economic power. Under markets, in other words, unarticulated knowledge of soil conditions and bio-diversity which have considerable value for long-term sustainability is usually lost when it meets agribusiness.

Practical knowledge, i.e. local and tacit knowledge which James C. Scott terms metis, is being destroyed and replaced “by standardised formulas legible from the centre” and this “is virtually inscribed in the activities of both the state and large-scale bureaucratic capitalism.” The “logic animating the project … is one of control and appropriation. Local knowledge, because it is dispersed and relatively autonomous, is all but unappropriable. The reduction or, more utopian still, the elimination of metis and the local control its entails are preconditions, in the case of the state, of administrative order and fiscal appropriation and, in the case of the large capitalism firm, of worker discipline and profit.” [Op. Cit., pp. 335–6] Green socialist John O’Neill provides a similar analysis:

“far from fostering the existence of practical and local knowledge, the spread of markets often appears to do the opposite: the growth of global markets is associated with the disappearance of knowledge that is local and practical, and the growth of abstract codifiable information … the market as a mode of co-ordination appears to foster forms of abstract codifiable knowledge … The knowledge of weak and marginal actors in markets, such as peasant and marginalised indigenous communities, tends to be lost to those who hold market power. The epistemic value of knowledge claims bear no direct relation to their market value. Local and often unarticulated knowledge of soil conditions and crop varieties that have considerable value for long-term sustainability of agriculture has no value in markets and hence is always liable to loss when it comes into contact with oil-based agricultural technologies of those who do have market power. The undermining of local practical knowledge in market economies has also been exacerbated by the global nature of both markets and large corporate actors who require knowledge that is transferable across different cultures and contexts and hence abstract and codifiable … Finally, the demand for commensurability and calculability runs against the defence of local and practical knowledge. This is not just a theoretical problem but one with real institutional embodiments. The market encourages a spirit of calculability … That spirit is the starting point for the algorithmic account of practical reason which requires explicit common measures for rational choice and fails to acknowledge the existence of choice founded upon practical judgement. More generally it is not amicable to forms of knowledge that are practical, local and uncodifiable.” [Markets, Deliberation and Environment, pp. 192–3]

Thus the market tends to replace traditional forms of agriculture and working practices (and the complex knowledge and expertises associated with both) with standardised techniques which aim to extract as much profit in the short-term as possible by concentrating power into the hands of management and their appointed experts. That they cannot even begin to comprehend the local conditions and practical knowledge and skills required to effectively use the resources available in a sustainable manner should go without saying. Unfortunately, the economic clout of big business is such that it can defeat traditional forms of knowledge in the short-term (the long-term effect of such exploitation is usually considered someone else’s problem).

So, given this analysis, it comes as no surprise to anarchists that private property has not protected the environment. In fact, it is one of the root causes of our ecological problems. Markets hide the ecological and health information necessary for environmentally sound decisions. Ultimately, environmental issues almost always involve value judgements and the market stops the possibility of producing a public dialogue in which these values can be discussed and enriched. Instead, it replaces this process by an aggregation of existing preferences (shaped by economic pressures and necessity) skewed in favour of this generation’s property owners. An individual’s interest, like that of the public as a whole, is not something which exists independently of the decision-making processes used but rather is something which is shaped by them. Atomistic processes focused on a simplistic criteria will produce simplistic decisions which have collectively irrational results. Collective decision making based on equal participation of all will produce decisions which reflect all the concerns of all affected in a process which will help produce empowered and educated individuals along with informed decisions.

Some disagree. For these the reason why there is environmental damage is not due to too much private property but because there is too little. This perspective derives from neo-classical and related economic theory and it argues that ecological harm occurs because environmental goods and bads are unpriced. They come free, in other words. This suggests that the best way to protect the environment is to privatise everything and to create markets in all areas of life. This perspective, needless to say, is entirely the opposite of the standard eco-anarchist one which argues that our environmental problems have their root in market mechanisms, private property and the behaviour they generate. As such, applying market norms even more rigorously and into areas of life that were previously protected from markets will tend to make ecological problems worse, not better.

As would be expected, the pro-property perspective is part of the wider turn to free(r) market capitalism since the 1970s. With the apparent success of Thatcherism and Reaganism (at least for the people who count under capitalism, i.e. the wealthy) and the fall of Stalinism in the Eastern Block, the 1980s and 1990s saw a period of capitalist triumphantism. This lead to an increase in market based solutions to every conceivable social problem, regardless of how inappropriate and/or insane the suggestions were. This applies to ecological issues as well. The publication of Free Market Environmentalism by Terry L. Anderson and Donald R. Leal in 1991 saw ideas previously associated with the right-“libertarian” fringe become more mainstream and, significantly, supported by corporate interests and the think-tanks and politicians they fund.

Some see it as a deliberate plan to counteract a growing ecological movement which aims to change social, political and economic structures in order to get at the root cases of our environmental problems. Activist Sara Diamond suggested that ”[s]ome farsighted corporations are finding that the best ‘bulwark’ against ‘anti-corporation’ environmentalism is the creation and promotion of an alternative model called ‘free market environmentalism.’” [“Free Market Environmentalism,” Z Magazine, December 1991] Whatever the case, the net effect of this reliance on markets is to depoliticise environmental debates, to transform issues which involve values and affect many people into ones in which the property owner is given priority and where the criteria for decision making becomes one of profit and loss. It means, effectively, ending debates over why ecological destruction happens and what we should do about it and accepting the assumptions, institutions and social relationships of capitalism as a given as well as privatising yet more of the world and handing it over to capitalists. Little wonder it is being proposed as an alternative by corporations concerned about their green image. At the very least, it is fair to say that the corporations who punt free market environmentalism as an alternative paradigm for environmental policy making are not expecting to pay more by internalising their costs by so doing.

As with market fundamentalism in general, private property based environmentalism appears to offer solutions simply because it fails to take into account the reality of any actual capitalist system. The notion that all we have to do is let markets work ignores the fact that any theoretical claim for the welfare superiority of free-market outcomes falls when we look at any real capitalist market. Once we introduce, say, economic power, imperfect competition, public goods, externalities or asymmetric information then the market quickly becomes a god with feet of clay. This is what we will explore in the rest of this section while the next section will discuss a specific example of how laissez-faire capitalism cannot be ecological as proved by one of its most fervent ideologues. Overall, anarchists feel we have a good case on why is unlikely that private property can protect the environment.

[skoolnites]

𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙚: Live Laugh Ethos

previous chapter | Masterlist | next chapter

-> 𝙒𝘾: 1k

->𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙮: turns out making sure your thesis is ethical is actually pretty difficult

->𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨: Swearing and talking about food

->𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚: i think its been a year since i've published a piece of fanfiction so thats cool i guess. Go easy on me please! (there are probably grammatical errors as it's been a long day) Also every thing that is italicized and pink means that it is part of Y/ns final paper

 “It is basic human nature to want to find love. Psychologists throughout the centuries have studied this fact. Maslow even tells us that it is part of our basic needs. If we are so dependent on love then why is it so damn difficult to find that someone. While Plato’s original theory on the so-called soulmate myth has been disproved time and time again it’s in our nature to want our ‘perfect’ match, but what if you could make someone your perfect match. I believe that with our knowledge of how attraction works it is possible to use these ideas to your own benefit. For my experiment I will be testing 1 (one) of these theories of attraction on Subject A every three days for 60 (sixty) days. I will keep track of my findings through notes I take as well as a collection of text messages and other forms of media from consenting parties.”

“Alright class,” Professor Yamasaki announced clapping her hands together, “For your final you will be creating a thesis then constructing and conducting an experiment on whatever module you get assigned,” She explained picking up a black cloth bag, “In this bag I have papers numbered nine through eighty which corresponds to one of the modules we studied throughout this year. When I get to your seat please pick out a slip and tell me your number,” 

Y/n started jittering in anticipation as Professor Yamasaki was calling out topics that were no longer up for grabs. As each number was being called out, Y/n had her fingers crossed hoping to get lucky. Her head perked up as Module twenty four was called out. Mildly upset she wouldn’t get to run an experiment on dreams. Then 26 (classical conditioning) was gone, 56 was gone so no study on neo-freudians, when 21 was given to Osamu Miya Y/n was a little butt hurt because pain was always a fun topic. Before she could realize it, Professor Yamasaki was in front of her desk. Y/n sucked in a breath and reached her hand into the bag. She could feel all the slips of paper, each folded in half. When Y/n finally pulled her hand out she found a yellowish slip of paper. Unfolding it quickly Y/n was overjoyed to see the number 79 on the paper.

Attraction.

The cold metal bleachers of the university volleyball gym was the last place y/n wanted to be as she was antsy to get started on her project. Y/n’s mind was going a mile a minute at all of the possibilities for her experiment, she could pick a random person to befriend or…

��Did you see that!” Shoyo Hinata yelled as he had just slammed down an amazing spike, although the spiker was not who Y/n’s attention was towards.

“What can I say, I’m good at what I do,” Atsumu Miya shrugged.

“Me next! Me next!” Kotaro Bokuto shouts

“Will you guys quiet down,” Kei Tsukishima groans from a corner where he stretches out his arms

“Buzzkill,” Tetsuro Kuroo laughs while throwing another ball to Atsumu

In the corner Rintaro Suna could be found hiding his chuckles

“Alright boys go get water while Yachi and I pick up the volleyballs,” Their team captain Shugo Meian shouts.

Attraction.

The place where Y/n spends most of her life, the volleyball gym. Any of these boys would be perfect subjects for her study, she was well acquainted with all of them, nothing would seem suspicious if she hung out with them more, and she had access to friends to get extra information. The next issue at hand was a cognitive bias, who to pick and would her own heart interfere. Y/n knew she would have to pull one at random, reaching into her pocket and taking her cellphone.

“Hey Siri, pick a number one through thirty?”  Y/n asked the device

“It’s thirteen,” Just like that fate was decided, Atsumu Miya would be Subject A, perfect for 

Attraction. 

The word of the hour, attraction. Where Y/n had found great intrigue with the topic she fell into an iffy spot with ethics. Hypothetically she could use these tactics and studies to get Atsumu to fall in love with someone, of course she would have to deal with consent while keeping him unaware. There was also the issue of who would he fall in love with, she would be the easiest choice but would her own heart be an interference. 

“The ethics of this experiment becomes a bit difficult because how could you possibly manipulate someone’s heart ethically but if you look at the ethical guidelines my experiment fits perfectly. Beneficence and Nonmaleficence, Love is not a bad thing and my subject would not be hurt by experiencing feelings for someone because it could be equally reciprocated. Of course love is a long lasting product of this experiment but it is not a negative one. Fidelity and Responsibility, is ingrained in the classes curriculum and while conducting many experiments throughout my studies I have been held to these ethical guidelines. Integrity, I will be using a bit of deception under the front that I am tutoring someone. I have received Subject A’s verbal and written consent that our sessions will be recorded as well as consent to the fact that I will be using some psychological tricks during our sessions. Justice, subject A was a random choice from a random number generator meaning I have no biases towards the subject. Subject A has access to health services and I will ask them throughout multiple sessions if they would like for me to stop my psychological research. Finally Respect for Rights and Dignity, In order to respect Subject A’s privacy they shall only be referred to as Subject A and no physical descriptions will be provided in my research. Nothing not related to my hypothesis will be disclosed in my paper including but not limited to age, gender, psychical traits, personal details that might be disclosed and other details that might give away who Subject A is.

tags: @milkteeboba

[smashpages]

This is Tim Seeley’s variant cover for Black’s Myth: The Key to his Heart #1 (Ahoy, June 2023)

[graphicpolicy]

Preview: Black's Myth: The Key to His Heart #4

Black's Myth: The Key to His Heart #4 preview. Everybody’s making bad decisions! #comics #comicbooks

[randomwritingguy]

The Myth of Y/N (Korra x Reader) Part 28

CALM BEFORE THE STORM

Y/N'S POV

Frustration is fuelled within me every second we stay in our apartment. Pacing back and forth, hands clasped, behind my back, I stare daggers into the ground.

"Y/N, relax." Korra suggests, concern in her face.

Relax? How can I relax now?!

After Aiwei escaped, Korra proposed we use Naga to track down the truth seer but Chief Beifong forbid us to do so! She wants to send us back to Republic City so she can protect Korra! Even Suyin agreed with her much to everyone's surprise and now we're leaving tomorrow!

"Every minute we waste, the further that traitor gets away." I grit out, my steps increasing in their speed and intensity. "This is our best chance to catch Zaheer and we are now losing it!"

"None of us are liking it." Mako comments, his voice so bitter that I can practically taste it. "But we have to listen to the Chief's orders."

Unfortunately, he's right.

"I guess so." I concede and I eventually drop to one of the chairs. "She better know what she's doing."

A loud knock brings the scene to a halt.

Who's knocking at this time of night?

Korra opens the door and there, standing by the entrance, is Suyin.

Wait, Suyin?!

"Su."

"You really think Naga could track Aiwei?"

Huh?!

"Definitely."

"Then, here."

In a flash, I see the matriarch handing Korra some keys. Wait, keys?

"There's a jeep packed with supplies on the east gate." Suyin explains. "It's all gassed and ready to go."

Korra, obviously, is confused by all of this. "What? Why?"

Suyin responds immediately. There isn't a hint of hesitation or regret. "Because I want you to hunt down Aiwei and bring him back to me."

WHAT?

Despite my shock, I manage to speak up. "I thought you said-"

"-I said what Lin wanted to hear and I bought you guys some time." She clarifies. "Go. I'll deal with Lin in the morning."

YES! We can finally catch that bastard!

After a quick hug to Suyin from Korra, we all begin to depart. Before I walk past Beifong, I give her a small smile. Despite our differences, despite the arguments, despite everything, at this moment, we are allies. She helped us and I will be grateful for that.

"Thank you."

Suyin, probably having the same thoughts as I did about our relationship, smiles back. "Don't mention it. Now, go!"

I nod and with a quick dash we head off, Korra on Naga and the rest of Team Avatar in the jeep.

The hunt begins.

TIME SKIP

We have been travelling for hours. Once the sky was as black as Vaatu's heart is now as bright and blue as the hope we now have.

Throughout the trip we all managed to have a little bit of rest. We needed it after all the excitement we had back in Zaofu.

The thought of the metal city reminds me of Lin. She's going to be PISSED when she realises we're gone. Spirits, she probably already knows.

Right now, we're at some local Earth Kingdom desert village. Naga managed to track Aiwei to the small area. He must have took a quick stop.

It isn't much. Just a bunch of run-down and withered buildings bunched up close together. Its clear the village hasn't been well-kept by the populace.

"Aiwei has definitely been here." Korra tells us. She then looks at Naga with a grateful smile. "Nice tracking, girl."

"Let's ask around." Mako suggests, already beginning to walk to some sort of tavern. "Maybe someone's seen him."

We all follow, and we enter inside. Just like the outside village, the tavern isn't well kept. The citizens are just as dirty and sketchy as the area.

I look around the area, trying to spot someone who appears to be at least a little trustworthy and-

Uh oh.

"Shit."

My curse catches my friends attention and they all turn to see what I was talking about.

Right by the entrance, there are five posters. Posters that have pictures of each and every member of Team Avatar. Korra, Mako, Bolin, Asami...and me.

"Wanted posters!" Korra exclaims in shock.

Mako leans forward and narrows his eyes. ""Wanted by Her Majesty, the Earth Queen, for crimes against the Kingdom."

Crimes? Oh, you have got to be kidding me!

"The Queen is still pissed about what happened in Ba Sing Se." I growl like an animal. "The fucking nerve to place a bounty on us..."

"Those airbenders won't hers to keep!" Korra angrily barks out. "I swear, if I see her pinchy little queen face again, I am going to..."

"Uhh, guys..."

Asami?

We all turn to see why she's all of a sudden nervous.

Oh...

There, in the tavern, all of the customers are glaring daggers right at us. The dirt, scars, and ripped clothing amplifies the intimidation they already radiate. I even see one pulling out a long, slick sword and another a sharp spear.

Uh oh...

"Lets get out of here." I quickly mutter and in a blink of an eye we all rush out.

Welp, I guess we should continue the trail. No point sticking around this...fun...place.

We eventually reached another town, much larger, tidier, and generally nicer looking than the one we visit before. Apparently it's a place called Misty Palms Oasis. I guess its an oasis in more ways than one after our las location.

But that pales in comparison to what we found.

Naga found something.

Aiwei's jeep crudely hidden beneath the large rocks that spread across the plains.

Bingo.

"This must be Aiwei's jeep." Asami tells us, pointing out the obvious. "He can't be far."

She's right. Aiwei must be in Misty Palms!"

"Let's get this guy." I tell them, cracking my knuckles. "He must be in that settlement over there."

"No." Mako disagrees, hands raised in a soothing gesture. Then, he points to his younger brother. "Bolin and I will investigate the Misty Palms Oasis. You, Korra, and Asami wait here in case he comes back. Besides, we don't want to call too much attention to ourselves."

Dammit. He's right.

Sighing heavily, I relent. "Very well." I reluctantly agree. "I take it you two would be wearing some disguises?"

"Did someone say disguises?!" a very loud and cheery voice calls out, causing Mako to pinch the bridge of his nose and mutter "Oh no..."

Bolin, clearly more excited than his brother, dashes to the bags of supplies Suyin had provided us and then, in a moment of light speed, whips out a yellow raincoat, so bright that it nearly hurts my eyes, and pulls it all over him and proceeds to bring out some green goggles and slaps it on him. A few moments later and Mako does the same.

Um...

Well, uh, it's certainly a disguise...

I mean, it might attract a lot of attention with its colour but at least its something...

Oh dear.

I trade looks with Korra and Asami and its clear we all share the same thoughts about their...disguise.

"Now we need some backstories!" Bolin continues, clasping his hands together and rubbing them back and forth in a preparation gesture. Then, he dramatically places one on his chest in a dramatic sense of sadness. "I'm an ex-United Forces operative named Ting-Ting. War was the only woman I ever loved, until Ivy came along and showed me what real love is. Tragically, she was taken from me by my archenemy Dr. Razor and-"

"-Enough!" Mako interrupts, clearly fed up with his brother's antics, and begins dragging him towards the Misty Palms. "Let's just find Aiwei."

"Good luck, guys." I tell them and just like that they are off to the local area.

Well then.

"Is there anything in his jeep that can help us?" I ask the two women as I begin walking towards the vehicle.

"Only one way to find out." Asami says. "You check the boot and I'll check the glove department. Korra, you watch out for us."

"On it." We both respond at the same time and we get to our tasks. Korra sets herself upon a large boulder while I go to the back of the jeep. In a quick motion, I pull the lid of the boot open and I am greeted with...nothing. Great.

"Nothing in here." I tell them with irritation, slamming the lid shut. "Any luck with you?"

"Not yet. There isn't seem to be anything of-WAIT! I think I found something!"

Oh shit!

"You found something?" Korra speaks up, sliding down the boulder and joining Asami and I.

The CEO of Future Industries pulls out some sort of note and hands it to Korra. What is it with these guys and notes?

"Xai Bau's Grove, sundown." Korra reads aloud carefully. When she finishes, her features light up in excitement. "This must be where and when Aiwei's going to meet Zaheer!"

"Sure sounds like it." I agree, crossing my arms. "Never heard of Xai Bau's Grove before, though."

"Good thing we have a map." Asami points out and then spreads it across the jeep and begins analysing it with precision and care. "All right. Xai Bau's Grove, where are you?"

Our eyes scour the map, draining and drinking the information before us like we dying of thirst. I can't see the name we are looking for. Dammit!

Almost immediately after we begin our search, a couple of blue butterfly-like spirits land on the map, covering portions of the map.

Asami brushes them away with annoyance. "Go away! I'm trying to find something."

Damn straight. Now, where in the spirits is this pla-

WAIT!

SPRITS!

"Hold on a second." I urgently tell her. "Maybe they are trying to tell us something."

"What do you mean?" Korra asks."

Before I answer her, I do a thorough scan of the Earth Kingdom map one more time to make sure I am not mistaken.

I am not.

"Xai Bau's Grove isn't in the Earth Kingdom or anywhere." I finally answer. "It's in the spirit world! That's why it isn't on the map."

Upon my revelation, their features flash with a new understanding. Asami scrolls up the map and places it away. "You're right! That's got to be it."

"We'll wait for Mako and Bolin to return and tell us if Aiwei is here." Korra declares, her voice full of leadership and authority. "If he is here and he's staying in Misty Palms, then we'll wait until he mediates into the Spirit World."

I nod in agreement. Sounds like a plan.

Eventually, Mako does return but by myself. Before I can panic, he tells us they found out Aiwei is hiding in an inn and Bolin is keeping an eye on him. We tell him of our own discoveries and we agree to stake his room out until sundown and quietly enter his place.

We manage to book a room ourselves opposite to Aiwei's. A perfect place for a stakeout.

Well, almost perfect.

Because this room is fucking awful.

Literally, it's so small its ridiculous with only one bed. Like, its okay for one person I suppose. But still! Naga is literally filling up nearly half of the damn room.

"I'd just like to say, for the record, this room is definitely not perfect." Bolin speaks out our thoughts but is immediately hit in the face by the polar bear dog's tail.

"Understatement of the century." I dryly comment and glance at Korra and Mako peeking out of the window.

Bolin continues his (understandable) complaints. "I thought stakeouts were supposed to be exciting. This isn't. At all!" To avoid total boredom, he begins searching through the room but then gets all excited out of nowhere. "Hey, look! A Pai Sho board! Mako, you want to play?"

"Kind of busy, bro." Mako quickly refuses, focusing on spying on Zaofu's traitor.

"I'll play."

I glance at Asami, and I see her lit up with excitement and anticipation. I didn't know she played Pai Sho.

A few minutes pass and, as I silent observe the multiple games between Bolin and Asami, I come to learn that the CEO of Future Industries is actually a Pai Sho master or, at least, a master of the version she plays. Turns out Pai Sho has multiple versions, which now I realise isn't really surprising since the game is apparently over a thousand years old, and Bolin played a way, WAY different version. Sato's version is slow, methodical, focused on strategizing. Bolin's is fast, reckless, and little thinking. The earthbender doesn't like this, obviously, and seriously asked Korra to standardise Pai Sho rules. The sarcasm she shot back at him went completely over his head.

"So, we know at sundown Aiwei is going to go to the Spirit World." I state, glancing in the directions of Korra and Mako who are staring at the truth seer's own accommodation. "We go to his place and you just meditate into the Spirit World?"

"That's the best plan I can think of." Korra responds, still gazing through the glassless window. She doesn't sound worried at all despite what happened back at Zaofu.

"Korra, you were nearly kidnapped last night." I tell her with complete seriousness. "I don't like the idea of you confronting Zaheer in the Spirit World all alone."

This time, my best friend turns to me with complete determination in her gaze to me. "Y/N, I have to. This is the only way we can find out more about these guys and stop them."

"I know that." I shake my head. "I just..."

I trail off, not really knowing what to say. I'm overthinking this. It's not like Korra can be taken in the Spirit World. Neither she nor Zaheer would have their bending.

But Korra looked so vulnerable back in Zaofu...

I don't want her to be in that state again.

"Maybe I can come with you?" I weakly ask, already knowing the answer.

Korra shakes her head gently. "It's best if I go alone. By myself it will be easier to hide and might give Zaheer a false sense of security."

I nod solemnly. Dammit.

Then, a light touch of her fingers press upon my chin and I see her tilt my chin upwards. I see a small smile on her lips and comfort in her ocean eyes.

"I'll be fine."

Yeah. Yeah, she will. Of course.

"I know." I tell her, a smile slowly spreading on my lips too.

"Ugh!"

And, like that, the tender moment is ruined by Bolin's scream of frustration. Sounds like Asami has defeated him yet again.

A quick glance and, unsurprising, I was correct as I see Bolin laid down on his back, face buried in his palms, and groaning quietly while Asami has a triumphant smile on her face, arms crossed.

Hm. Okay then.

Displaying a big and cocky smirk, I walk over to Bolin and sit down, cross-legged, next to him. "My turn."

"What?" Bolin squeals out, shooting straight back with wide eyes. "Don't do it, Y/N! Asami is too skilled! She's undefeatable!"

"I'm afraid he's right, Y/N." Asami agrees with complete arrogance, her triumphant smile now a smirk. "I'll destroy you just like I did to Bolin."

Oh, really now?

I cross my arms in defiance. "Then you won't mind if I have a go, oh so Pai Sho Master?"

She chuckles at my mockery title I give her. "If you don't mind losing then sure."

Oh, I'm not going to be the one losing.

"I didn't know you played Pai Sho." Asami points out as we reset the board.

"I played a few games of it back on Air Temple Island." I tell her, placing my own pieces back to their starting positions. "Jinora taught me how to play."

"Did you and Korra play together?"

I give her a sly smile. "You really think Korra will play Pai Sho? A game of patience?"

"Hey!" Korra barks out with an offended look, mouth agape. "I can be patient!"

"You can." I concede. "But you can't be patient enough to play Pai Sho."

Asami chuckles. "Sorry, Korra, but I have to agree with Y/N on this one."

"Asami!"

The jet-black woman and I gaze at each other as we hide our snickers behind our mouth as we try to contain our laughter at the sight of Korra's offended and infuriated look.

When the moment subsides, we go back to our board and not too long afterwards we are finished with resetting our arena.

Bolin slumps away melancholily and moves to the side of the two of us and then gives me a dedicated stare. "Avenge me, Y/N!"

I give him a serious gaze that shouldn't really be serious in the first place given the situation. "I will."

I turn to Asami, the woman giving me a hardened glare, and I smirk.

"Your move."

Unlike the previous matches, this one lasts for what feels like a lifetime. Each move her and I make is coordinated, organised, and with purpose. The arrogance that once filled our forms has now drained away as we realise that our opponents are actually good. Really good.

"This is the longest Pai Sho game I have ever seen." Bolin comments.

"This is the longest game I've played." Asami agrees.

"Ditto." I add. I then manage to retrieve a drip of arrogance I had and smirk. "I thought you said you were going to destroy me?"

"Don't get cocky." Asami warns, smiling dangerously. "I don't see you doing any better."

Hm. Touché.

We continue but no more teasing comments are made. This game is dead silent now as we make our moves one by one, piece by piece, strategy by strategy.

I don't know how much time has passed but eventually we reach a deadlock. Our number of pieces are low and equal.

"This can go either way!" Bolin announces, voice full of shock and anticipation.

Asami and I glare at each other, intensity in our eye-lock so powerful and thick you can slice it with a katana.

The sound of an excited fire ferret is the only warning we hear and in a blink of an eye, tiles from the game fly into the air while the board acts as a resting pad for the cute pet.

NO!

"PABU!" Asami, Bolin, and I yell, startling Korra and Mako. In a fit of anger, I swing my arms upward into the air but this accidentally sends Pabu and the Pai Sho board and tiles right into Asami's face!

"Asami, you okay?!" I tell her, moving Pabu away from her and giving it to Bolin.

"I'm fine." The CEO of Future Industries groans out, moving strands of hair away from her face.

"Shhh, guys!" Mako sternly orders us. "We don't want Aiwei hearing us!"

"But Mako you should have seen it!" Bolin exclaims, despair in his voice. "It was the most intense game of Pai Sho ever and Pabu ruined it! Now we'll never know who would have won!"

"I'm sorry the game was ruined but just keep it quiet." Mako tells his brother, not having any of it.

Welp. Thanks Pabu. The game between Asami and I will forever be inconclusive. Just peachy.

"I'm sorry for blasting all of that stuff at you." I apologise. "It was an accident."

Asami, now finally tidied herself, gives me a tired smile. "It's okay. I'm just surprised at the strength of that blast. You've really progressed fast with your airbending, huh?"

Warmth rushes to my cheeks in embarrassment and I scratch the back of my neck. "Eh, I'm not that good. I suck compared to Tenzin, Korra, and even the air kids."

"Don't be too hard on yourself." Asami refutes. "For a novice, you're great! I mean, remember back at Zaofu? You deflected an explosion!"

True...I did do that. To be honest I'm surprised I was able to do it. I wasn't even thinking when I did it. I just...did it.

"She's right." Korra agrees, giving me a proud smile. "Not any newbie can do that. You'll be a great airbender."

The heat in my face intensifies and engulfs into flames. I really hope I don't look as red as I am feeling.

"T-Thanks." I tell her, shyly looing downwards. Then, in a surprising boost of confidence, I chuckle. "Sprits, I'm going to have a big arrow on my forehead someday. Imagine that."

"I can imagine it." She tells me with a slight teasing smile. Then, the smile shifts into something tender. "And we'll all be there when you get them."

"You said it." Bolin agrees, wrapping an arm over my shoulders. "An airbending master in Team Avatar?! How cool is that?!"

Huh. Me, an airbending master?

I close my eyes and imagine myself as that. Me, wearing big, bold, red and yellow robes with a cloak similar to Tenzin's that signify my allegiance to the Air Nation with bright blue arrow tattoos all over my body and being clear as day on my hands and forehead.

"Yeah." I tell everyone, giving them a smile. "It would be cool."

"Uh, guys." Mako announces. "I hate to break the moment but it's pretty much sundown. We got to make our move now!"

The friendly atmosphere shatters as we are brought back to the reality of the situation.

It's sundown?! Already?! How long were Asami and I playing Pai Sho for?!

Standing up straight, I gaze at the outside world and I see the all-too familiar orange glow of a sunset.

"Lets do this." Korra declares and she starts marching out of the room. One by one, my friends leave until I am alone.

Taking a deep, hard, breath and release it, I follow.

Korra will confront Zaheer.

We will find out who he and his friends are.

We will find them.

And we will stop them.

One way or another.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And that's it!

Feedback is appreciated! :D

See you all in the next chapter!

[bi4pan-polls]

Poll: Round 2A #3

[ Image ID. An image of Max and Sanra from The goes wrong show, Max is on the left of the image and Sanra is on the right, Sandra is be hide Max and holding on to his left shoulder. They are dressed as Peter pan and Wendy, Max as Peter pan and Sanra as Wendy. Max has white skin and light brown hair and Sandra has white skin and long brown hair, and an image of C.A Cupid from ever after high and an Oc, Venetia Soulsong. Venetia in the picture has dark sin, brown hair in a bun, brown eyes, red lipstick, and she is wearing a dress. It is long and white at the top then transitions into bein red at the bottom half of the dress. She is wearing a yellow corset with pink butterflies on it as well. Cupid has wearing a dress as well. It is long and light pink which turns white near the end. There are black accessories around the dress. She is wings.End ID]

Info on Cupid and Venetia from @rai-knightshade under cut

link to Venetia Soulsong's wiki:

-sapphic soulmates (Venetia can see Red Strings of Fate, except for the one that is connecting her to Cupid)

-Ultimate Lovecore Vibes (Cupid is classic pink Lovecore, Venetia is romantic red/cream/gold Lovecore)

-tall/smol couple (Venetia is tall and built like a runner, i headcanon Cupid as being shorter and chubbier, built a bit more like a cherub)

-STEM girl x arts girl (Venetia is a budding lepidopterist!)

-friends to lovers (we love to see it!)

-thwarting destiny by choosing love rather than just letting it happen (something something queer theories on love. You get it.)

-something something Cupid (the original) was described as being a "terrible monster, more powerful than the Gods, able to conquer even mighty Zeus" and putting Cupid (the girl), who was originally a Monster (at Monster High) into his role in Cupid and Psyche. Yeah.

-they are the cutest couple known to man. Like. Lumity levels of cute. HUNTLOW levels of cute, even. THE CUTEST.

Some propaganda from last round last round:

-Venetia is a low-key play on the original Greek meaning of the phrase "Love Conquers All", which meant less "love can persevere through anything" and more "love conquers all rational thought whether you like it or not and is the antithesis of Science™". And yet. She is a scientist! Who enjoys love and feels love and actively seeks to understand love in its most basic form! She heard "love and rationale cannot exist" and said "bet" 😂

-Cupid loves just sitting in her girlfriend's flower garden and letting the butterflies land on her and flit about while listening to Venetia talk out loud as she's taking notes on growth and behavior and the like 🥺

-their official ship name is Heart & Soul, and if that isn't reason enough to vote for them idk what is

-if you vote for them I'll draw more art for them. Maybe even a new ship image for every round they win 👀👀

Posts they wanted as propaganda:

https://www.tumblr.com/rai-knightshade-art/643114823040811009/but-im-crying-now-that-youre-not-here-with-me?source=share

[hollowwhisperings]

Thank you for such an in depth response, I feel honored by it and that I was able to inspire you about the concepts and I agree. I had similar thoughts about the theming of Sora’s name and him being the void of space. Even had musings of how in primordial myths the heavens (sky) and the earth are considered the couple that brings about the first forms existence. Gaia and Ouranos and on the Egyptian mythos there was a love story of Geb (earth) and Nut (sky) although interesting enough geb and nut are kept separated by Ra (the sun).

But regardless, I’d say nomura is quite interesting and impressive to consistently yet subtly equate riku to that of deity so easily. Yes, I believe in riku being a dia in some sort. Probably kingdom hearts sending out an avatar to grow, or the king to kh reincarnated, or some other thing I can’t quite grasp right now but overall with the ending of the series hopefully not too much farther in our lifespan. This is why I enjoy reading and interacting with metas and theories especially about sora and riku and soriku because I said in a comment in a YouTube video that discussed the sleeping real theory and I said it feels like we have the right answers but just not forced into the right shape (a key perhaps 🫣) to unlock the final gate.

Riku has always had all those "subtle" visual shorthands used to denote super special celestia mystery powers (etc) but, like the Subtly OP antics of the Disneytowners (e.g. Donald casually casting the Boss-level spell 'Flare', Goofy tanking hits from Literal Deities with 1 shield & no apparent magic of his own), Riku looking "anime" gets brushed off as "standard JRPG aesthetic".

Naturally silver-haired youths in anime tend to be Plot-Relevant, typically having ☆Super Special Bloodlines☆, typically being Secret Royalty &/or related to Angels or Spirits.

(and it WAS suspiciously easy for Riku to just... BECOME Sora's Dream Eater, especially given what we know of the Chirithy spirits, their abilities to act as psychopomps, & whatever the Dream Eater crafting system in DDD may imply about Dream Eaters as a whole)

From what I can recall, the only naturally silver-haired characters original to KH are:

Riku

Ephemer

Xehanort (confirmed descendant of Ephemer)

Xemnas (Terranort)

Ienzo (taken in by the Always Sus Ansem the Wise, origins unknown)

From the Final Fantasy side of the crossovers, we have Setzer (who only appears in the DATA Daybreak Town, not the "real" one) and... Sephiroth.

For being such an "anime" JRPG, Kingdom Hearts is pretty sparing in its use of Anime Hair Colours. Aqua & Isa's blue hair aside, the colour palette is fairly "natural": pale blonds & yellows, oranges & pinks amongst the reds, browns & blacks. There aren't many characters old enough to have "grey" hair but the ones that do are ALSO fairly mysterious: Merlin, Fairy Godmother, Master Yen Sid, Zeus... Kairi's Mysteriously Knowledgable Grandmother (who i am, like, 75% convinced was a retired Princess of Heart). Even the "silver/white" House of Duck are all Very Suspicious: Donald is, canonically, the most powerful Black Mage of the FF franchise; Scrooge & Donald's Nephews casually worldhop for fun & profit as if they were Moogles or something.

So, yeah, even Riku's "anime boy" aesthetic is itself pretty Telling of Riku being Plot-Relevant. He's canonically part-spirit, after DDD, but his ability to do that at all IS unprecedented (just like his ability to Balance Light & Darkness within himself, like his Light being equated with the Sun, like his easy grasp on using Darkness...). Whatever the KH-universe equivalent of an "angel" may be, Ephemer & Riku seem closest to it. That Riku met JOSHUA (himself a kind of Gay Angel) in DDD does not seem at all a coincidence.

oh! there's also that whole [terra] sigil thing! Riku's costume/keyblade designs imcorporate it (i forget how) & THAT sigil is probably the in-universe namesake for Terra, the character. Rather than [earth] or [land], the [terra] sigil seems older & is likely referencing an "[original/first] earth" or mean "[land of origin]".

It makes me wonder whether Riku's parent/s were themselves Aware of Other Worlds? If he's a relative of Xehanort, it's plausible that Xehanort's Skuld-resembling mother learned about Xehanort's ending up at the Destiny Islands & their family possibly moving to the World in hopes of a reunion. Which... would mean they weren't just AWARE of Other Worlds but ALSO capable of traveling between them. This is probably going to Come Up in Missing Link.

[lyon-77]

I’ve been curious as to why Erlang Shen, who was once depicted as a heroic lord with strong ties to the mortal realm, was turned into this cold-hearted "hound of heaven" figure. I get that his influence had waned, and you've said that it was an unconscious effort to revive key themes from his lore. That might make sense during a decline in his worship. But why did they have to lean into a more negative interpretation of his character? Sorry for the example, but it reminds me of how characters who were originally portrayed as good and fair sometimes get flipped into their opposite, and that darker version sticks. It’s kind of the reverse of the trope where villains become heroes. Take Sun Wukong, for example: he originally wasn’t some oppressed freedom fighter for the yaoguais (like he only cares about his children, which isn't bad but yeah). He was a warlord whose pride got wounded, and he threw a massive tantrum because he wasn’t getting the position he thought he deserved. Black Myth: Wukong shows him as a misunderstood revolutionary. But with Erlang Shen, it's the opposite—he started as a popular hero and deity, and yet he’s been reduced to a villainous enforcer. From what I’ve heard about his original stories and your and many others posts, he was a good person and a hero, not the oppressive figure he's been turned into over the years. It’s strange to see him constantly depicted in such a terrible light when his lore is so much more complex and positive.

Yeah, it can get frustrating, but I’d say the tide has turned since the early 2000s. Erlang is almost always portrayed as charismatic and dependable in Investiture of the Gods adaptations. In JTTW-inspired works, he's meant to be a positive figure as well, though some adaptations that focus solely on the main hero can end up oversimplifying or even discrediting complex supporting characters. To me, it always feels like such a waste of the rich source material.

In the past two decades though, the trends has leaned towards depicting Erlang Shen as a misunderstood hero. When the Black Myth: Wukong intro first came out, many people were disappointed, though not entirely surprised, to see Erlang cast as the antagonist again. So when it was later revealed he was more complex than he first appeared and had been our ally all along, the Chinese audience were both relieved and greatly satisfied.

I do think part of the reason Erlang wasn’t more fully developed in modern media previously might be precisely because he’s a righteous god—a character archetype that doesn’t always translate well in eras that celebrate antiheroes, individualism, and self-made rebels. Figures like Wukong and Nezha, who actively defy traditional values, fit the idea of a hero as someone who challenges the status quo. Meanwhile, the classic hero archetype can get pedantic and lose its emotional impact. Erlang Shen is a classic hero but is also more than that: his nuances bridge the old and the new and can resonate well with the audience today. Yet, his complexity isn't always easy to convey in the short-form messaging more typical of today's media.

In the end, all canonized characters need to adapt to remain relevant, and new audiences need a bit of patience and curiosity to get to know them. I think it just took Erlang some time to find his place in our era, but for a folk god with millennia of history, that's not too bad at all 😉