#blessed by the narrative .??hmm

[zhabk4]

a smile wouldn't hurt😊

[vindieselsfacebook-blog]

I want to hear more about your opinion that Rory ending up with Logan would go against everything the show stands for. How so? Tell me more!

Bless your heart (complimentary) for asking for MORE of my rambling! :’)

I think there are a few themes that ultimately guide the entire Gilmore Girls narrative. No matter where the plot and characters end up, if ASP is writing, I think the outcome will always adhere to these themes and a specific pattern.

The most important is family - how complicated and imperfect it is, how patterns repeat and break and struggle to repeat and break. We try our best and love in our own ways, but inevitably fuck things up, too. We just keep working at it, which is beautiful and painful and frustrating and gratifying. I think found family and community is just as important, which leads me to the second theme, which is independence and/or individuality.

The show centers Lorelai's quest to build her own life from the ground up which is a pattern I feel repeats in most of the main characters. She rejects upper class life to work a blue collar job, make her own home, build a new family unit with her daughter and close friends, and aspires to small business owner life. Luke shares those values and has a similar journey - taking his father's store and making his own, new thing from the ashes. Jess, the character with the most positive character growth, repeats that pattern, too. He struggles until he, too, strikes out on his own to build his independent life from scratch.

The third theme is class struggle. Although I do think it's clear the show has more respect for the working class, it loooves playing with the back-and-forth of it all and never takes itself too seriously to poke fun at it. It's fun to sometimes see Emily's point even if it's often buried in shallow superficialities. It's thought-provoking to agree with Richard that Rory should use her grandparents' privileges, although we've been rooting for her to make it on her own. We respect Lorelai's independence, but want to yell "just take the money!" when she needs a loan. Or we judge her for it and think "you're not so independent after all."

I love scenes like this one at the end of S4E15, Scene In A Mall:

Lorelai: This is your window on a whole other world, Luke. The world of worthless rich people stuff. People of means see what they want and simply take it, regardless of others. Luke: ... d'you pour your own coffee? Lorelai: Oh, err, yeah. Luke: You're not supposed to do that. Lorelai: Oh yeah, sorry, I won't do it again. Luke: Mmm hmm.

Like, yeah, rich people suck and we dunk on them all the time, but hey, even queen main character can be selfish and hypocritical. No one's really above it!

Anyway, all that to say... Rory is clearly set up to have a similar trajectory where a wrench is thrown in her plans and she won't ever really get back on track until she, too, burns her life to the ground and independently starts all over. She just struggles with the push-and-pull of it all more than her mother ever did.

I get frustrated with fans who think her ending up pregnant like her mother is some pessimistic "history is doomed to repeat itself and no one can ever really change" message, when I see it as her being set up for her inevitable successful ending. She has to figure it out for herself on her own terms. This is why I feel she and Jess will be linked together forever, romantically or not.

If Rory had ended up with Logan, that crash and burn would've just come later. She would've been unsatisfied in that life. Rory and Logan always went to each other for escapism and fantasy - it just doesn't make thematic sense to me that he would ever be a legitimate happily-ever-after option. It's simply not how things are done on this show. Even Emily ultimately follows the pattern - she starts a new life as a more independent person rejecting the "bullshit!"

And conversely, look who is set up in contrast - Christopher is the coward who could never fully run away from his guided cage. The show repeatedly calls him "weak" and makes it clear he's not as brave and independent as Lorelai. He ends up isolated from his kids, accepting the status quo. And ohhh boy, look what his parallel is doing in AYITL - Logan is accepting the dynastic plan, working for daddy and marrying the heiress. That is not the story of a viable end game to me! It feels pretty clear.

Phew - you asked for it! lmao I hope I articulated this well enough??

[thegayloragenda]

“I’ll tell you something right now / I’d rather burn my whole life down / than listen to one more second of all this bitching and moaning,”

“I’ll tell you something about my good name / It’s mine alone to disgrace / I don’t cater to all these vipers dressed in empath’s clothing.”

Hey Swifties — what do you think she’s referring to when she singing these lines? What is she burning down? What is disgracing her good name? According to the media narrative, she is straight billionaire in a heteronormative relationship with a star football player that the entire world is obsessed with. She is literally the American Dream.

What would be a disgrace to her name?

If you think it’s about her on-and-off again 10 year love affair with Matty then why would she choose Ice Spice over him to cover her ass in the press and then rebound with Travis immediately after? That’s not very full throttle through the fences of her.

Ohhhh I know!!!! Is it because she might have cheated on Joe with Matty? Oh wait. No y’all didn’t see that as bad either. She’s still god status.

Hmm…

Is it because she’s a 34 year old woman dropping the f-bomb in her songs? Is it because she’s wearing a sexy little bodysuit or giving a chair a lap dance? No because her “good girl” persona has pretty much stayed intact. I think we can all confidently say that she’s definitely still America’s sweetheart. After all, she’s never had much “edge”.

Maybe it’s because she pissed off some republicans. OH WAIT! They actually forgave her because she’s dating an NFL hero! There’s really only a few Christian conservatives who have dropped her but that’s barely made a ripple in her pond.

The only thing that *might* ruin her would be her political silence (after promising to speak up) and the possible queerbaiting / the use of historical queer flagging. Oh but guess what? She became a billionaire despite both of those possibilities. And what a fucking slap in the face to the queer community and the injustice that the world is currently facing to essentially say “I’m a bad girl because I lie to the public about the things I care about and the type of person that I am so go fuck yourself!” If that’s who you want to worship, be my guest.

I need y’all to put on your critical thinking caps for this one…

Could it possibly be that she’s preparing you for something?

That she’s much more intelligent and deeper than you are giving her credit for.

That she is Machiavellian.

That she resents putting on an act and (cue the tour visuals) is using her final era to put a nail in her own performance art coffin and burning her media reputation to the ground on her way out?

Perhaps, these songs — much like the songs on Midnights — will make sense to you as the clock ticks and more is revealed. After all, wasn’t it the Gaylors who said Midnights was a breakup album? Oh but we got crucified for it until the tour started and she dropped You’re Losing Me to make it all suddenly make sense. God bless the patience of Taylor Swift because having to spell it out for you dipshits when you don’t even fucking have enough brain cells to comprehend what she’s writing about is INSANE.

If it’s not about Joe and it’s not about Matty and it’s not about Travis then I wonder what it could possibly be about…

Well maybe, just maybe, you’ll discover that all along…you weren’t even listening.

[butterflydm]

cr103

Nice to have a pin put in Delilah for the foreseeable future! Big relief for everyone, especially Launda and Imogen.

Yeah, I can see how Ludinus has the good of Exandria in mind. The war zone in the Hellcatch Valley is definitely saying "all of my plans are to make the world better", yep.

I have to admit I laughed a bit when Essek called Bells Hells "bastions of goodness" but it's all relative, I guess!

It is very interesting (though it makes sense from a narrative PoV) that after Bells Hells' general ambivalence towards the gods, they are now in what is basically godstown.

They've dealt with a lot of anti-god NPCs (and guest players) in this campaign so far, so I am interested to see what they will get out of visiting Vasselheim overall.

It sounds like Orym gave the group the gist of what happened back with Vecna but I wonder if Keyleth et al will mention the whole thing about how they defeated Vecna specifically using the vestiges of the prime deities and their blessings. Vox Machina had how many characters be actual champions of the gods? Was it all of them? I guess not Percy and... I don't know if Keyleth ever was. But pretty much everyone else in VM was directly the champion of one of the prime gods at one point, I think.

If you kick out the primes like Ashton wants, then you have to deal with all the Vecnas by yourself, with no extra divine power. In a world where magic evil exists, I kinda want the magic good around. Ashton seems to believe that if you get rid of the gods, then everyone is on an equal playing field but that's... that's not what would happen.

Orym's silent prayer to the Wildmother!

("I want an apple." Hmm. Stealth downfall reference?)

Everyone is here for the big meeting!

GROG! <3 <3 <3

PIKE! <3 <3 <3

Is Lieve'tel one of the Matron's representatives? You know what, I'm just going to decide that she is.

"This is a gathering of Exandria."

[pico-farad]

Vrains season 2 thoughts - part 2!

Go, Blood Shepherd, Ghost Girl, and the Ignis

All Vrains season analysis posts

⇀ Go

I'm devastated LMAO. In shambles. They massacred my boy (shh don't tell me the Go in my head isn't canon).

It's okay Go, Secret Identities AU will save you...

So, I don't think it was a bad idea for Go to "defect" to SOL. Go was already playing third fiddle very hard in the first season, and there was no way he could compare to Soulburner in terms of popularity as a main character, so turning him into an antagonist could be refreshing.

But it says something about Yusaku and Go's lack of relationship that when Go joins the bounty hunters Yusaku isn't even interested, much less betrayed. He doesn't ask, "Hey Go, why are you doing this?" he just glances at him and goes "Hmm, SOL Technologies sent bounty hunters."

You can tell too, during their duel later, that Yusaku just isn't close enough to Go to even attempt to break him out of the brain hacking. The best he can do is, "Didn't we fight against Hanoi together?" Uh I dunno Yusaku, did you? Isn't the reason why Go is in this downward spiral because you solo'd Hanoi by yourself?

The Soulburner vs. Go duel could have been a good place to explore that reasoning. Go's annoyance here is justified. It's completely understandable to feel like you're being talked down to, when fanboy Soulburner -- god bless him -- tells you that you're a hero who saved Vrains, even though you know that you couldn't do anything, you were useless. There's almost a narrative self-awareness there, that your duel was only used to make Playmaker look better. Playmaker is the real hero of Vrains, and you were just a stepping stone. Of course Soulburner's gushing would rub you the wrong way.

This relationship could have been sooo good if they built on it. Soulburner believes in Go, even when Go himself doesn't believe he's a hero. He understands that it isn't strength that makes you a hero, it isn't winning duels. It's having the courage to stand up to evil. That's why he admires Go and the others. Because that's what gave him the courage to stand up to his own demons. Imagine a rematch where Soulburner returns the favor, where he's the one to save Go from the darkness and convince him to be the hero that he believed in.

But no, instead, they kind of make him as unsympathetic as possible. Maybe that was the point, considering how they end up gutting his character, but this duel really, really makes him look bad. A grown adult playing victim olympics with children and losing. "You were traumatized as a kid? Oh yeah, well I grew up in an orphanage!" nooooo go you can't say that to an anime boy.

Go: For everyone to appreciate me, I must win! Playmaker is in my way. Lost Incident victim, he says? I know he suffered, but I also bet my life on dueling! I'm the one who'll be number one! I'm not Playmaker's stepping stone! Soulburner: ...I don't think you're Playmaker's stepping stone. But right now, you're just SOL Technologies' pet dog. Actually, a pitiful loser dog who complains to strangers. Go: How dare you say that-- Soulburner: The Go Onizuka in my heart is a great duelist! Number one? Everyone appreciate you? The Go Onizuka I know would never say pathetic things like that! Go: Be quiet! What do you know? Soulburner: I do know! Because Go Onizuka is a hero who gave me courage when I couldn't move forward. No matter how cornered he was, Go Onizuka was an independent duelist who believed in his own strength to the end. Where is that person who gave me courage? Go: *turns away* ...I end my turn. Soulburner: Go Onizuka... I want to duel the real you.

Do you see my vision?

But none of these ideas really come back, and it's all downhill from there for Go, with the AI implant and Earth and all. He just becomes another evil, unhinged, "pathetic" villain to be put down by Yusaku, who doesn't give a shit about him. We were so robbed of the Soulburner vs. Go rematch.

⇀ Ghost Girl and Blood Shepherd

I don't have much to say about Blood Shepherd, I'm sure I would have found him cool when I was 13. No, I really only need to talk about Ghost Girl vs. Blood Shepherd.

This duel needed to be a two-episoder. They've built up this mysterious shared past, raised the stakes by putting their accounts on the line, and then the duel is over in three turns. The majority of Vrains is two-episode duels, but Ema gets the short stick by having both of her duels be singles?

(Aoi also has 2 single episode duels, out of 3 total. Let's do some math, this season Aoi and Ema combined have 6 episodes of duels. That's the same amount that Go, Revolver, and Lightning each have alone. Blood Shepherd has 8. Soulburner gets 11 episodes of duels. And Bohman gets 12. All six of Bohman's duels are two-parters, four of them are against Yusaku, and none of them are that memorable. Couldn't he have donated one episode to Ema?)

It's revealed that Ghost Girl and Blood Shepherd are half siblings, but it's not particularly clear whether they've even spoken outside of Vrains. If they had the extra episode, they could have given them a flashback together, arguments about their respective upbringings, anything to flesh out their relationship and make the ending of this duel make sense.

Ghost Girl loses. Fine, we can't have nice things. She isn't going to get anything important for the rest of the season, so let her go out honorably. But no, Blood Shepherd doesn't even give her the dignity of following through on the stakes of the match.

It's not like I want the female character to get deleted, but without showing any kind of shared history or interpersonal relationship, this "brotherly mercy" reads as patronizing bullcrap. They're both adults who have committed to an unforgiving line of work, but Blood Shepherd does a 180 because his absent father -- who we were just told about 8 minutes ago -- actually did sort of care about him.

Never mind that his father and Ema didn't try to help him, this one sentence is apparently enough to make Blood Shepherd not only take back the stakes he proposed, but also risk and lose his life to Lightning, because, "It's a brother's responsibility to protect his sister." No, you're both adults, you don't have a history together, you don't have "a responsibility to protect her" just because you share the same father. And when that's all that they show, it feels uncomfortably essentialist, out of character, and cheaply written.

Part of this is cultural difference, but it's just a trope that I personally hate for various reasons.

⇀ The Other Ignis

I don't really have thoughts on Earth or Aqua, other than that they sure did girlcode the Water Ignis and then damsel her. Windy and Lightning are fine as mid-series antagonists, though I think they lack impact with just two of them. If either Earth or Aqua was also on the side of the bad guy Ignis, having a nice round antagonist trio would be more imposing and balanced (3 Ignis being pro-human and 3 against)

They even acknowledge themselves how underwhelming their group is, by trying to recruit Blood Shepherd, and by the fact that they had to really clumsily split up the hero team in the final fight so that they aren't clearly outmatched. This contrivance is lame. Compare that to, say, Ark Cradle in 5Ds where each character has a specific opponent, a high note to end on, and all the other characters are counting on them to prevail.

This is the same problem Vrains had in season 1, where they insist on Yusaku being the Last Man Standing, and less important characters have to be picked off so that Yusaku's big boss fight has higher stakes. We'll see if that actually pays off in season 3.

-----

Gonna cut it off here, I need to watch the rest to properly cover Bohman, Revolver, Yusaku, and Ai. I know I really went in on the writers in this section, but I am actually looking forward to these next 30 episodes. I don't think I'm gonna come away loving Vrains, but I'm very curious about this ending, and why I see so much fanart of hot anime boy AI. I think it's gonna be a good time!

...Sorry, did I forget someone again?

Sigh...

Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh Vrains Analysis: How the Fuck Did Aoi's Writing Get Worse

[nightshadehoney]

I never watched James Somerton's shitty Killing Stalking video because I was trying to be good to myself and avoid something that I knew would make me very angry. In fact, I never watched any of his stuff because the fact that he made a video like that was enough to discount any thing he ever had to say (also I heard about the Celluloid Closet plagiarism).

But man, is the James Somerton discourse bringing a lot of Killing Stalking-related feelings back up for me. Because I'm mad; I'm still so mad. There are a suprising amount of people on social media who are saying they never watched any of his stuff except for the Killing Stalking video. I'm annoyed not just to find out that the vid had that sort of reach and influence, but also because Somerton's unmasking hasn't seemed to make people reasses the validity of the kind of thing he was saying. People are just now being like "hmm I think this guy might have Issues With Women" but that doesn't warrant any reflection on what exactly the motivation is of people who complain about women enjoying a niche webcomic? Because I don't actually believe you're concerned about the influence of some obscure piece of media when you advertise its existence to your large audience many of whom had not heard of it and would never have heard of it but for your transparent outrage porn video. It's rage bait and the target was women that are perceived as straight. A big channel has publicized the fact that they excised a section that endorsed the opinions in this video from their own because they became aware of Somerton's plagiarism and dishonesty (presumably; if it was actually because they recognized his views were coming from a sexist place I would welcome a clarification). And you know, I don't think that's a good look actually. That you needed to be told he was a bad person and couldn't idependently put together that the misogynist man was saying misogynist things.

The comic ended years ago and the fandom has gone mostly quiet, but to this day people are still the peddling the"fujoshi/stupid teenage girls who don't know what's good for them are shipping these characters because they are too braindead to realize it's not a romance; it's a horror, two things I believe are mutually exclusive. I am smarter than all of these cringe degenerates" bullshit. It's in the comments of the hbomberguy video even; one comment was such a gross misrepresentation of the series that my friend needed to talk me down from getting into a pointless youtube comments argument (bless him) because these people are officially making me lose my marbles.

This narrative is full of shit, it's demonstrably not fucking true. You can go on the artist's twitter right now and its full of her retweeting shippy fanart of that pairing readers were apparently never intended to ship.

(I don't think Koogi knows or cares about James Somerton; she just reblogs the works of fans who tag her. This made me laugh though).

Now this is all speculation because he died decades before social media existed, but I think if Nabokov was alive today his twitter would not be full of Humbert Humbert x Dolores Haze fanart. And yet, I have unironically seen people compare shipping Sangwoo and Bum in Killing Stalking with the misreading of Lolita as a precocious sexual temptress more than once.

And this isn't me saying that Killing Stalking is the disgusting"pro-sexualized abuse" comic that tumblr purity police used to characterize it as either. One of these days I'm going to go truly bonkers and end up banging pots and pans on the street corner, yelling at random innocent passerbys about how stories about romantic and sexual relationships are not required to be Hallmark movies. You can make art about the negative, dark, and troubling parts of these feelings and relationships without creating a pat morality tale. You don't need to approach media analysis like your 7th grade teacher has assigned you an essay on explaining what a novel's "message" is.

Nobody, not the author and not the fans, genuinely thinks that Sangwoo and Bum have a healthy or aspirational relationship. This hypothetical person that does not understand the relationship is toxic doesn't exist. Because girls and women, even the ones having cringey fandom fun on tiktok or whatever, are not so stupid and naive that they are unware that breaking someone's legs and locking them in a muder basement is bad. The type of concern troll rhetoric Somerton employed in his video is directed near exclusively at women interested in men and there's a reason for this. Women are not responsible for abuse that men do to them; nobody is responsible for their partner abusing them. If I never saw people spit this bullshit again it would be too soon.

[lakesbian]

Since you are already finishing Megamorphs 1 and I've finished it, read this once you finish so I can comment on it...

Is it just me, or was Marco annoyingly out of character in this one? Like I know some of the later books had ghostwriters, and this just felt it was written by someone who hated him. Yes, he had decided that he would be willing to take more risks for the cause because of his mother, but nothing in his character indicates he would take the pointless risk of acting like an obvious morphed animal in front of a party of like 50 potential yeerks, the Marco from earlier books would be the one snarkily pointing out why that's a horrible idea! Not to mention how everyone is still calling him the "smart one" yet here he is too dumb to remember to bird morph while falling for a very long time in midair and all of the other smarter animorphs have to constantly be bailing him out, while in earlier books, although he was still a silly kid like everyone else his intelligence was actually demonstrated rather than being an informed attribute belying him actually acting dumb 24/7. I really hope he isn't written this way forever and it's just this book...

god bless for putting the read after the book warning at the top of the ask. hmm i don't think i have a strong enough sense of marcos character to have firm opinions on this...i did think it was odd he didn't think of the bird thing while i was reading. as far as im aware this was not ghostwritten (+ i heard ka Applegate had enough say over the ghostwritten ones they're good and consistent). do not agree that it comes off as being written by someone who hates marco at all. i think it's largely just basic plot contrivances that some specific things have to happen to set up the other things. he's kind of taking a backseat to some other characters like cassie getting their turn on the character development which is fine. within acceptable variance for a children's book character for me to not mind. they can have some silly shenanigans without regard to genuinely 100 percent consistent opsec as a treat it's typical for the type of narrative i think. ok im very tired so i don't know what any of this says but basically i thought some parts were a bit odd for him but nothing too bad or unenjoyable and i like how much of it he spends in mortal terror also

[facewithoutheart]

Thanks for the tag @blackberrysummerblog ❤️

Y’all I am genuinely so annoyed with myself bc I started a new fic and it’s my new hyperfixation and not only is it not snowbaz, it’s something I never thought I’d write: a deep dive into a character’s backstory that takes place a decade before canon. I’m not even sure I’ll get to canon in this fic (especially since this is written for a television show that’s still ongoing), let alone reach a point where I can make the characters I ship end up together. And I’m not even fully convinced the characters will end up together? Like, don’t get me wrong they are going to want to fuck but if canon keeps dropping these insane arcs then I don’t know if I’m ever going to make it happen. I really want to stay as true as possible to canon while also throwing my own HCs in there, including angst. Oh god so much angst. This fic should be titled “Doomed by the Narrative” lol.

I’m really turning 2024 into a write-fics-no-one-wants-to-read-and-cry-about-not-getting-validation challenge. (Okay okay it’s actually been kind of therapeutic and I’m glad I’m following my bliss.) Bless @thewholelemon for reading this and commenting anyway; you have no idea how hard I’m holding your comment to my chest and hugging it.

Anyway here are a lot of lines from the fic under the break bc I’m still trying to tempt a few of you over to the dark side:

“Eddie! Don’t—” but then she was too preoccupied to argue.

He couldn’t help laughing as he pushed the door open. ���Ah, pobrecita.”

“It’s not funny.” She sat on her knees before the toilet, hair pulled back with one hand while the other cradled her forehead, elbow propped up on the seat. She was bare from the waist down, her tank top falling off one shoulder. Half of her bangs stuck up straight in the air while the other half was plastered to her skin from sweat.

Eddie clicked his tongue as he wet a washcloth and grabbed a hair tie from where Shannon kept them in a bowl by her sink. “It’s a little funny,” he said, dabbing at her forehead then resting the wet cloth on the back of her neck.

“That feels nice.”

He pulled her hand holding back her hair gently away and then inexpertly tied what strands he could capture with her elastic. “There.”

“Thanks.” She groaned as she pushed off the toilet, resting her back against the tub. Her eyes darted down to his boxers. “Oh. You didn’t—”

“It’s fine,” he said.

“It’s not. Nothing’s ever going to be fine again. I have thirty more weeks of this.”

“Thirty-two,” he corrected her. “And that’s probably a conservative estimate. Most first pregnancies take longer.”

She flicked her eyes up to his. “You’re good at this.”

“Hmm?”

“This,” she pointed a finger back and forth between them, “taking care of people.”

“Ah? I mean, I do have two younger sisters. You know how Adriana was born in an emergency C-section?”

“No.” Shannon had a strange look on her face. “You never told me that.”

“I didn’t?”

“You don’t tell me a lot of things, Eddie.”

Not sure who to inflict this on with tags so I’m picking people who write/art in multiple fandoms and can maybe relate: @larkral, @roomwithanopenfire, @forabeatofadrum, @excalisbury, @stardustasincocaine, @ic3-que3n, @theearlgreymage & of course my boos @thewholelemon, @raenestee, & @bookish-bogwitch who are always so sweet to indulge my whims y’all keep writing fun. Also open tag to anyone who wants to share what they’re working on!

[stormoflina]

Hello again! It's the same overly talkative anon from the last ask lol

I wanted to talk more about the social media thing, which it sounds like you have a lot to talk about too! I didn't follow Dom when he was at Leipzig but I'm going to go out on a limb and assume the spotlight and reaction to him on social media was not as big as it now but I know he's like the king of Hungary (in a good way) anyway I say that because when it comes to the prem the fans and media are a lot less forgiving and love to put players in a box.

For instance Dom is very handsome (as are a lot players in Liverpool) but he's gotten labeled as the pretty boy who cares more about his hair than he does about his performances which is silly because every player cares about their outward appearance that's why they get haircuts and tattoos and etc. It's kind of similar with people screaming from the rooftops that Trent can't defend if he makes one missed tackle.

Anyway I think if Dom was less attractive or less confident people would stop raging about him loving the camera, if anything it's just a reaction to how good he looks on camera. Personally I already know he has a nice face and I still get caught off guard when he pops up on the TV, bless the dinosaurs that made the fuel to bring his parents together 🤣

Hii! 🫶🏼

Apologies for the late answer! I started writing a whole ass novell to you, then lost internet connection and I lost everything. But maybe it's for the better, because I was borderline psychoanalysing people lol. 😭

I admit, I couldn't really stomach following RB Leipzig just for him lol, I only started paying more attention to them (well Domi, and they came with him) after Marco Rose became their manager - I really like that man - so, I don't know tbh how he was perceived by their fans or even in the media really. What's evident is that he was a favourite of the social media team, judging by their insta haha. In Hungary, it's very hit or miss. He is either perceived as basically the Chosen One from the Footy Gods, or very harshly, unfairly criticised hated on for everything. There are a surprising amount of miserable people who are hoping that he will flop hard as a rock in Liverpool, but then again, he is still much more beloved, especially ever since he became the captain. Our sports media, hmm, let's just say, very amateur, and because Dominik is our most successful player he gets his ass kissed ever since he signed for Liverpool. The thing is with that however, is that they try to frame it more like a Hungarian success story, rather than the success story of Dominik, if that makes sense. So it's not really about the persona of Dominik, but rather the Hungarian who did something that not many could in the last few decades. Or at least that's how I see it overall.

However, all this vain, egoistical gimmick is not something that has been present in his usual criticism until recently. I mean it makes sense, the media needs characters, easily noticeable one or two traits they can give to players to sell the stories and the narrative better, and let's be honest, Dominik is a very easy target for that. For one, yes, that he is objectively a handsome man, but what I think is even more important is the way he carries himself. I think he is not someone, who will 'bow down' if that makes sense, he has a strong personality, a strong trust and sense of himself and his abilities, and he is very honest about that. The media loves underdog stories, especially for people like Dominik, but it's very evident that he doesn't lean into that. Even in Hungary, he asked the journalists multiple times, to stop listening to all his achievements, calling him the nt's best player, trying to sell the story of the 'poor hungarian lad who somehow did the unthinkable'. He seemed pretty rejective towards these underdog PR questions they tried to do with him in the start, which honestly from a straight PR point turned out to be a mistake for him, for sure hahah. But I can respect the dedication to be true to his morals and character, rather than playing the well-crafted PR character.

This turned out into me, rumbling I'm so sorry. I truly can talk a lot. 😭😭 Please, don't be shy to do the same, I absolutely love reading all your options!! 💗

[eek-a-tron]

Catwoman, the godly-powers-of-Bast, and the arranged marriage plot, continued!

(From PART ONE here)

We finally get an explanation for all the yikes-it's-exoticism guys wandering around Gotham in "Out of this World," a.k.a. Catwoman Vol 3 #31 by Ed Brubaker and Paul Gulacy. It starts off with Catwoman being kidnapped from a near-death fighting experience only to find herself healed up in a FANTASY PALACE, of course!

Rules for fantasy palaces everywhere: (1) gold, (2) columns.

But never mind that! Cue the hot guy!

oh no he's hot and he's stuck in this yikes story forever

More under the cut, obviously!

ARRANGED MARRIAGE TROPE FANS, ENJOY

Q: Why do magic-y guys all hold their hands like this? A: Hand flexibility … for spells, obviously, ahem, oBviousLY

Hot Guy™ turns out to be Omari, the chosen one of Maahes (the Egyptian god of war, although this goes unexplained) — wikipedia sidenote: "Maahes was a deity associated with war, protection, and weather, as well as that of knives," so hey, that tracks — while Selina is the chosen one of Beti (a.k.a. Bast, I guess). This means that, an entire year ago, in that temple, seemingly by accident, Selina was "blessed" with power-enhancing abilities by Bast, which now beef up her stats-roster of expert thief-powers and martial artistry. (That's right: this issue states that Selina was given super-ish powers, sort of. She could probably intern with the Justice League, if she wouldn't roll her eyes at the idea.)

Luckily Omari turns out to be fine on the inside, too, because he's not actually into an arranged marriage without enthusiastic interest! And of course there's a power-hungry brother behind the scenes, so Omari's not really at fault! Hmm!

These are official wedding clothes? Sure Jan etc.

For all you sports-stats comics people who think Catwoman is "weak," I would like to point out that Catwoman, in this extremely silly canon story, is shown beating up a crowd of armed men whilst wearing a beaded swimsuit. Oh, 2004.

Exploitation doesn’t negate fighting skills, I guess.

OMG AND OMARI GIVES UP HIS FANTASY THRONE FOR HER SORT OF (note that his brother seems pretty mean and Omari's more of a figurehead, so it's not thaaaaaaat much of a loss)

But it likely seems shocking to someone whose long-term (Bat)man often refuses to give up or compromise on his job. I love Batcat and all, but I'm just saying. Like, I'm just saying. Just saying.

But you didn’t tell me anything *Tuxedo Mask memes away*

It doesn’t matter anyway because Selina wakes up a month later (fully-clothed thankyouverymuch) on a train heading for Gotham Central, whilst Omari is shown floating away on a cruise ship of some kind. Alas, theirs was not a story to be told beyond one very wtf issue, and he's literally never appeared again! Booooo(?)!

Farewell, Wealthy Hot Guy with a Butler-Like Companion™!

Despite this bizarre story dropping off the face of the comics earth, Bast concepts still loom in Catwoman comics. They've done the "Catwoman has nine actual lives" thing thanks to Bast as recently as the 2020s, but I don't know if they've kept her "stronger and faster" blessing-powers too. Anyone who can fill me in on the "Selina is vaguely Bast-magical" stuff would be much appreciated, but given the length of this post I doubt I'll ever know! MYSTERY!

Its many glaring issues aside, this was def a departure from the usual dark-and-gloomy Gotham stuff. And I think of it, sometimes, re: fluff or OOC content in comics-based narratives. Like, this was a canon print run. Written by a well-known author. So go ahead and trope however you want, people: everyone does! But maybe steer clear of early-2000s exoticism, though. :s

[mischas]

i was always so put off by stephanie savage calling taylor townsend (a character i do actually like) “sex positive” in the oral history and i think i’m finally figuring out why. the first sexual relationship of taylor’s that we’re introduced to is with the dean, a relationship that never gets the criticism it deserves within the narrative. no one properly addresses it as predatory - the dean is of course called “the dirty dean” but no one actually sees taylor as a victim. sandy, for all his morality, doesn’t even think of reporting him but instead only leverages this information to get ryan back in school (which is so awful i don’t even know where to start.) i think it’s the definition of cop out to pat themselves on the back for making a “sex-positive character” (please be serious) with the way they treated mischa, a teenage girl who was also in a predatory relationship that no one on set addressed as such, who was punished for leaving that relationship, who failed to be protected by the adults around her. that’s not very sex positive of you stephanie savage! marissa’s depression in s3 being referred to as a “slut spiral” by her BEST FRIEND is not very sex positive either! the oc was not sex positive, behind or in front of the camera, in any way!

Whenever Ms. Savage opens her mouth I just know some bullshit is about to come out so I plan accordingly. You bringing this up reminds me of the podcast early on saying all the female characters on the show are strong except Marissa. And it's like... we're still saying shit like this in the 2020s?

But to your point, yes exactly that's a nasty way of framing a teenage girl such as Taylor as sex positive. What a disgusting arc and resolution that was. As if s1 Sandy, or even s2 Sandy, would only give a shit about a relationship between an adult and a student in their high school so long as his son is readmitted to said school. Horrendous.

And for a character they label as sex positive to be having race-based threesomes later on in the same season is just... yikes. That 100% does not erase the dean arc (!!) but like... how is this also forgotten. Like I'm gonna forget the shit about a "Korean barbecue"?

What does sex positive even mean to these people? That a character has sex without being slut shamed? They have always acted like these characters are corporeal beings and that these same mfs weren't writing them down. Christ. Marissa has meaningless sex with Luke/DJ/Volchok and that's still not what they want in order to categorize her or... whatever else they still do to denigrate her.

ETA: Also like sorry Marissa was SA'ed so she couldn't be perky and light re: sex?? except for the unicorn of an episode that was 303

The more they open their mouths the more people realize that place was a shitshow and at least I have that. For years and years that set was a mystery and we were all like "guess we'll never really know what went down, oh well" 🤷‍♀️

I love Mischa on CHD alluding to being the island they said she was by s2 and she's basically like "Hmm, I wonder why that was...." queen shit. She alludes to so many book things without mentioning it once, god bless.

[lizhly-writes]

cleaned up something in my wip doc. behold! the otome isekai wip where the mc is.... well, he's certainly shadier than my other isekai/transmigration mcs.

one day i will escape the otome isekai pit but that day is not today.

I’m not good at smiling.  My face doesn’t work like that.  It has a hard time transitioning past “dead neutral”.  The best I can manage always makes me look like I’m trying sell something, so normally, I don’t bother.

The above point is irrelevant because this isn’t my face.  It’s Septimus Mattevi’s, and Septimus is good at smiling.  He does it easily, openly, and naturally.  As I smile his smile at his fiancee, I know that it’s the most charming expression I’ll ever be able to make.

“Vivian!” I say, in a tone that would sound transparently fake in my own body but manages to sound enthusiastically pleased here.  “What brings you here?”

It’s obviously because something’s gone wrong. When we’re alone, Vivian Leto doesn’t look at me like this – eyes narrowed, lips pressed tight, jaw tense, like she’s about to confront an enemy.

“Get out of my fiance’s body.”

…That would do it, wouldn’t it.

I do my best to look surprised.  If there is a chance this can be salvaged…  “What do you mean?”

Vivian barks out a short laugh.  “Did you think I wouldn’t notice?” 

“Vivian?” I say piteously, considering what I could possibly say next.  Vivian, I really don’t understand what you mean.  Vivian, have I really been acting that weird lately?  Vivian, is there really something wrong, have I been doing something wrong?  

“Don’t look at me like that with his face.”

Hmm.  Obviously unsalvageable.  Well, it was a miracle I lasted this long, anyway.

“Did I think you wouldn’t notice,” I repeat. “You say it like it’s obvious, but it actually did take you a while, didn’t it?”

Predictably, this makes her furious.  She bares her teeth, stalking forward – oh, she’s well-equipped, isn’t she?  A blessed sword at her hip, one hand starting to glow with sacred fire, a vial of holy water in the other.

I don’t like my chances with any of the above, thank you. 

“Vivian,” I call out.  “Freeze.”

Fortunately, the body obeys, even if the owner is unwilling.

“What–” 

She figures it out quickly.  It would be odd if she didn’t, with that pendant I coaxed her into wearing glowing so fiercely.

This woman.  So devoted, so loyal to the man she loves.  I say I coaxed her, but truthfully, she had put it on the moment I had given it to her, so pleased that her fiance had given her something pretty.  She hadn’t questioned it; why would she have, when her fiance gives her pretty little gifts so often?

That pendant is a filthy thing.  It’s from a set of jewelry, one that a bastard of a king gave to his concubines, meant to keep them unable to hurt him, meant to keep them obedient.  It had been used on the heroine in the novel, so of course I knew all about it.  How to find it, how to get it, how to use it.  

All this time, I knew I couldn’t stop Vivian from realizing who I wasn’t for very long.  It would have been fine, if Vivian Leto and Septimus Mattevi were really as distant and estranged as they were in the novel, instead of disgustingly in love.  Yes, that was a shock – but that’s the problem with limited points of view.  The narrative only knows as much as the protagonist does, and the protagonist certainly wouldn’t have known all the details of someone else’s private life.

“I’ll kill you,” Vivian spits.  “I’ll kill you I’ll kill you I’ll kill you–”

“See, that attitude is what makes things like this necessary. If you were a little more likely to talk things out…”

Actually, it wouldn’t have changed much. I would have done this anyway; it’s not like I would have trusted her not to kill me.  Trust isn’t something that gets people very far, is it?

“Well, that doesn’t matter,” I say.  “Don’t tell anyone about this, and I’ll get your fiance back for you, hmm?”

[ruiniel]

⚓ and 🔥?

Hi there, much thank for the ask!

⚓ Pick a Silm ship to go down with. What is compelling about their dynamic?

HMM realized I'm not sure if the game includes AU pairings or just ones that appear in the published Silm? *overthinks everything*

But if it's the latter, then I don't really feel THAT strongly for any of them (the one I do feel strongly about in the First Age weren't technically a couple *grumbles*).

I love some of the 'Silm canon' couples' stories and struggles/achievements against all odds etc, but none *in itself* makes me go

Y'know?

That said, I slither and purr (what) for the dynamics of some (I'll probably think of more after I post this bc that's how it goes heh):

Finarfin/Eärwen come to mind because how do you get over all that *points at Alqualondë*? Hi honey, I'm home. Oh and by the way our kids are gone with those same people.

It's a great struggle to explore there methinks!

Nerdanel/Fëanor for all the reasons everyone knows/has been writing meta on since forever.

🔥 Give us your hottest Silm hot take.

Would a shortened lukewarm take work? Because it's likely been covered before in a 47 year-old fandom like ours.

Maeglin had to betray Gondolin.

Say Maeglin had not disobeyed Turgon, had not gone prospecting in the mountains to be captured by the Orc and taken to Angband and all that jazz. Then what?

What if Morgoth never found Gondolin and brought about its ruin without help from the inside (we know he only vaguely knew *something* of its location courtesy of Húrin I swear, that family accidentally flomps so much Morgoth didn't even need a curse).

The city might've remained hidden, its people kept safe while the rest of Beleriand crumbled, supposedly.

Would Eärendil have come to meet Elwing?

Would Ulmo's "the true hope of the Noldor lieth in the West and cometh from the Sea" still stand?

Turgon did send out ships to the 'uttermost' West to search for Valinor and ask for help, to no avail. Even if adult-Eärendil went out on his own as the others seeking the aid of the Valar, would he still succeed? Would we have everyone's favorite twins, a self-sacrificing voyage to Valinor, a War of Wrath, the changing of the world, the Ban lifted, a Númenor and from there basically everything noteworthy that happens in the Third Age?

Idk. Not to take away agency in the context of the narrative OR defend the unsavory side of his character as it's presented to us but to me, Maeglin has Doom (the way Mandos likes to say it🙄) written all over his forehead. And, Ulmo did warn Turgon the curse of the Noldor will 'find him' too via treason in a very typically-ominous Ulmo speech (bless him).

So like Bilbo will stretch this out and ask, could that mean that if it hadn't been Maeglin, it would've been someone else/had to be? To get the same outcome? *sniffs*

Conclusion: Maeglin saved Middle-earth, actually (kidding-KIDDING don't waste your tomatoes on me).

But really I find it an interesting topic to ponder

Hope y'all still awake

[abluescarfonwaston]

HMM. Good news is, I DO think it might be (partly) Guardian! The narrative has jumps between present/past, one of the main leads is a university professor (who is also a secretly badass) and the other lead is scruffy investigator! It's based on BL novel by Priest! I've only seen gifs in passing, but it seems interesting! TGCF (the novel Heaven's Official Blessings) is also very cool: the pining, the tragedy, the mortifying ordeal of being known and loved for who you are...

*squints at Google pictures* well I've seen these men before. I could have sworn one of them had glasses. But if there is also time travel at least the thread of why i tangled them is obvious.

[plumblossomcafe]

Ch.64: The Trail of the God of Wisdom (1/2)

Paimon: Sumeru City! Ah, we finally made it! Oh, did you see that? When those people entered the city, something on their heads lit up!

Panah: One moment, please, you three. It appears this is your first time visiting Sumeru City.

Paimon: Oh! Yeah, that's right, but how did you know that?

Panah: Because there's currently no information on either of you in the Akasha. But no need to worry, that won't prevent you from entering the city. In fact, the Akademiya conveniently provides each traveler to Sumeru City with a device. Perhaps you three have heard of the Akasha before. It's our beloved Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's lasting legacy, a treasure trove of collected knowledge. After centuries of tireless research on the Akasha, the Akademiya created one of its most ingenious inventions, the Akasha Terminal. As long as you are within Sumeru's borders, you may use an Akasha Terminal to connect directly to the Akasha and access any knowledge you need. I should mention that due to technical limitations, the operation of Akasha Terminals will be much smoother and more effective in large cities such as Sumeru City and Port Ormos.

Paimon: Oh, so this is the thing that Tighnari was telling us about. It sounds pretty amazing!

Y/n: "Why do I get the feelings that something's gonna happen that's related to the Akasha"

Panah: You two are quite fortunate. Until recently, it was standard practice to only issue Akasha Terminals to outlanders who spent an extended amount of time in Sumeru. However, this policy was recently changed, and now all travelers are issued one upon arrival. Here are your Akasha Terminals. Please handle them with care.

Paimon: Hehe, it kinda looks like a leaf.

Panah: To activate it, simply hold it in your hand and say the following phrase to yourself: "May the Mighty God bless us with their voice of wisdom."

Paimon: Oh, since this little doodad lets you access knowledge, maybe we can use it to find a way to meet Lesser Lord Kusanali. Let's give it a try! Ahem! May the Mighty God bless us with their voice of wisdom...

Aether/Y/n: May the Mighty God bless us with their voice of wisdom.

The Akasha's leaf symbol appears over Aether, and Y/n's left ears as a holographic green pattern briefly appear over Aether's, Y/n's, and Paimon's faces like an eyemask. The Akasha interface is shown overlaying the normal view, the Corps of Thirty member with Panah is highlighted, and a card briefly appears with his information in the Sumeru Language. Panah is highlighted, and a card briefly appears with his information in the Sumeru Language.

Paimon: Whoa! Just now, something clicked, and Paimon suddenly knew how to use this thing! It seems all we need to do is concentrate on what we wanna know... and BAM! You get it! Ohh, that'll come in real handy!

The camera resumes normal narrative panning, and the Akasha interface disappears

Panah: Exactly. That is the power of the Akasha. And with that, let me officially welcome you three to Sumeru City. May the wisdom of the Dendro Archon always be your guide.

Panah and the Corps of Thirty member with him leave

Paimon: Okay, now that we're in, we can check the Akasha about Lesser Lord Kusanali. Let Paimon try...

The same pattern from before briefly appears over Paimon's eyes

Paimon: Five hundred years ago, the sages found a newly born deity from within some scorched ruins... The deity now resides in the Sanctuary of Surasthana... Hmm, seems pretty similar to what Collei was telling us. Okay, next, let's concentrate on asking how to meet her... Huh? Paimon doesn't sense anything... Hmm, the Akasha didn't respond to Paimon's question.

Aether: Huh, the same happened to me.

Y/n: Same.

Paimon: Ohh, c'mon! Ugh, focusing on this question feels like when you have something you're trying to remember and it's on the tip of your tongue, but you just can't think of it! Ah, Paimon's brain is exhausted...

Y/n: I'll try asking the Akasha something else. Maybe I'll indirectly find more information about Kusanali.

Paimon: Oh, smart idea! But what are you going to ask it?

Y/n: "Why won't the Akasha answer my question?" The Akasha doesn't unconditionally respond to every query. Also, even if the same query is requested by multiple people, the Akasha still imparts knowledge based on each person's identity, age, experiences, and other demographics.

Paimon: Huh, could it be because we're outlanders and we've only just arrived in Sumeru? You know, maybe we're not qualified to receive an answer to this sort of question or something?

Y/n: What if I try... "Greater Lord Rukkhadevata." Many bright dots of light appeared in my mind. I probably need to calm my mind and focus more to understand what they mean. Feelings of affection, intimacy, nostalgia, sadness, and anxiety also come to my mind... These seem to be what the people of Sumeru feel about their departed archon.

Paimon: Uh oh, Paimon's getting all teary-eyed all of a sudden... It feels like the people of Sumeru really miss their archon.

Y/n: Nothing works...

Paimon: *sigh* Well, it seems no matter which way we try, we can't find anything that'll lead us to Lesser Lord Kusanali. Hmm, guess our only choice now is to try meeting with the researcher that Tighnari recommended. He's from Sumeru and even has a position in the Akademiya. Maybe he'll be able to access more info from the Akasha. Let's see, Tighnari wrote an address on the letter's envelope... Oh, it's not far from the city's gate. Let's head over and have a look. Hopefully, he's at home.

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Paimon: Hello, are you Rohawi?

Rohawi: Yes, that's me. Can I help you?

Paimon: Great! You see, Tighnari sent us here and...

Rohawi: What? Tighnari!? Ah! Please, th—there's no need to say anything, really! Sure, I admit that the article I published last month wasn't my best work, and maybe the data didn't produce the most convincing results, but...

Aether: Uh, I think you've misunderstood us. We're not here to discuss academics.

Paimon: Here, this is a letter from Tighnari.

Rohawi: Oh, let me see... Ah, whew, what a relief! You two nearly scared the life out of me. So you two just have some questions for me? Seems even Tighnari acknowledges my innate ability for procuring information. So, what is it you two would like to know?

Paimon: We want to meet with Lesser Lord Kusanali. Do you know a way we can do that?

Rohawi: You mean you want to meet the Dendro Archon herself? Uh, this isn't exactly my area of expertise, but let me see what I can find in the Akasha...

The same pattern from before briefly appears over Rohawi's glasses

Rohawi: Hmm, sorry, the Akasha didn't respond to my query.

Paimon: What, you too!? But what about your abilities for getting information and all that? *sigh* Paimon was sure you'd be able to access more info than we did.

Rohawi: Well, as I said, this isn't my area of expertise. I am but a lowly researcher, so the Akasha doesn't see a need for me to know more about the Dendro Archon. All I know is that ever since Lesser Lord Kusanali returned to Sumeru, she's never left the Sanctuary of Surasthana or made a public appearance.

Paimon: Huh, didn't expect her to be such a mysterious figure.

Rohawi: The Dendro Archon is somewhat of a recluse. Perhaps she just doesn't want to entertain visitors, which would explain the lack of information in the Akasha.

Paimon: Aw, but then what can we do?

Rohawi: Heh, no need to worry just yet, I'm only hypothesizing here. You could certainly try asking around and see if anyone else has ideas. And besides, you three should consider the bright side of things. Not being able to see Lesser Lord Kusanali may not be a bad thing. In this world, there will always be information you can not obtain from the Akasha, and things you can never accomplish. Knowing when to yield is a form of wisdom. Take me, for example. It's a miracle if my brain cells can spit out one paper every three years... But Tighnari, that guy can publish three papers in just a single year.

Paimon: Uhh, okay, thanks for your advice.

Rohawi: Don't mention it. If you three ever want information about things like who's been promoted within the Akademiya or relations between The Six Great Sages, come find me.

Y/n: So by "area of expertise"... You meant this kind of stuff!?

Rohawi: Hey c'mon, this is a survival skill at the Akademiya.

Paimon: *sigh* Paimon's expectations were pretty low, but this is so low it's like digging holes in the dirt. So what do we do now? Even if we want to talk to someone, we don't know anybody here.

Y/n: No, there's still one other person we know...

Paimon: Huh? Like who?

Y/n: Ad astra abyssosque.

Paimon: Oh, you're right! Katheryne! The Adventurers' Guild has its own intel network. Let's hurry and find her.

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Katheryne: Ad astra abyssosque! Hello, Aether, Y/n, and Paimon.

Paimon: Katheryne! We need your help with something.

Katheryne: Understood. The Adventurers' Guild is always ready to serve you. With what do you require assistance?

Paimon: We want to meet with Lesser Lord Kusanali. Do you know a way we can do that?

Katheryne: You two wish to meet with Sumeru's archon. Understood. Please wait... I apologize, but I am unable to call up any relevant information in the Akasha. I'm also unable to locate any pertinent information in my personal memory.

Paimon: Aw, another dead end. Well, if Katheryne can't help us, then we really don't know anyone else to ask now...

Katheryne: Please do not worry. I may know of someone who can help you two. In Sumeru, the Adventurers' Guild does not serve as the vanguard of information. Rather, there are numerous active mercenary groups, collectively known as the Eremites. They take on various contracts and work all across Sumeru, so they naturally accrue intelligence. An Eremite brigade called the Corps of Thirty is in charge of Sumeru City's defenses. Not only are they the oldest brigade, but they are responsible for managing and coordinating the affairs of all other mercenary brigades.

Y/n: Corps of Thirty? What a weird name...

Katheryne: Supposedly, they are named as such because their ranks numbered thirty at their inception. Asfand, an adviser with the Corps of Thirty, maintains good relations with the Adventurers' Guild. Though he's already retired, he and his words carry great weight within mercenary circles. If you'd like to get in contact with him, you can find him at the Corps of Thirty's headquarters, the Citadel of Regzar.

Y/n: Thanks a bunch, Katheryne!

Katheryne: You're welcome. I wish you three the best of luck. We look forward to your exploits in Sumeru.

Paimon: Alright, off to the Citadel of Regzar we go!

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Asfand: Welcome! The Adventurers' Guild told me to expect you three.

Paimon: It's nice to meet you, Asfand! We'd like to ask you about something.

They explain your reason for coming here...

Asfand: I see. So Katheryne's the one who sent you this way. Heh, it's true that the Eremites' network is vast, but even I can't help you meet the Dendro Archon.

Paimon: Wait, seriously? That's it?

Asfand: Haha, 'fraid so. The Eremites aren't terribly religious, so we don't know much about divinities. As far as the Akasha goes, we can access even less than you. We originally came from the desert — the gods there died off long ago. Since those days, we've used our own two hands to carve out a living. We don't beg gods for their aid. It isn't just us, though. If you ask me, I think most in Sumeru aren't interested in Lesser Lord Kusanali.

Y/n: Oh? Why's that?

Asfand: Just take the Akademiya for example. They're the ones who truly rule Sumeru. Although they believe in gods, most of 'em only care for the late Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. In their eyes, she was the one who founded Sumeru and gifted us with the Akasha. Lesser Lord Kusanali just happened to inherit her legacy. Because of the Akademiya's influence, most citizens are more familiar with Greater Lord Rukkhadevata and hold her in greater esteem. Not to mention that Lesser Lord Kusanali never makes an appearance, and the Akademiya never announces anything about her. As far as the people of Sumeru are concerned, she's just a god that exists... and that's all.

Y/n: "That's just plain rude, inherited or not an Archon should be respected"

Paimon: Really? Aw, after hearing all of that, Paimon sorta feels bad for Lesser Lord Kusanali...

Asfand: Hah, but who knows? We're all just guessing when it comes down to it. Besides, I'm sure the God of Wisdom doesn't worry about her reputation among people like us.

Y/n: Alright, well, thanks for the info, Asfand.

Asfand: Haha, no problem. Always happy to help out the Adventurers' Guild.

After leaving the Citadel of Regzar, they questioned several people in Sumeru City...

Paimon: *sigh* Seems Asfand was right about most people's attitudes here... Not only are they not interested in the Dendro Archon, they even say stuff like, "If the Akasha doesn't think I should know, then I don't need to know about it." We've been asking for information non-stop ever since we got to Sumeru, but the harder we try, the more hopeless everything seems.

Y/n: Isn't there at least one person in this entire city who cares about Lesser Lord Kusanali?

???: Oh? You three are interested in Lesser Lord Kusanali?

Paimon: Huh? Who are you?

???: From the sound of it, you three are outlanders who recently arrived here. You've been asking around for information on Lesser Lord Kusanali, right? Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Dunyarzad, one of Lesser Lord Kusanali's faithful followers!

Paimon: Whoa, really? Then do you know how we can meet with her?

Dunyarzad: I'm afraid I can't help you with that, but your conversation earlier did happen to remind me of a legend about the Dendro Archon.

Y/n: Can you tell us the legend?

Dunyarzad: Sure. It goes like this: Long, long ago, there was a man who heard a prophecy. It predicted that a great calamity was about to befall him. Panicked by what he heard, the man sought out the Dendro Archon in the hopes that she would bless him with the wisdom to help him escape his predicament. The man journeyed across deserts and through rainforests and experienced tribulations of every kind. However, he still couldn't find any trace of the Dendro Archon. In despair, he thought, "Alas, the Archon has abandoned me!" He then had no choice but to sorrowfully resign to his fate.

Paimon: Okay... and then what happened?

Dunyarzad: And then... the calamity came! But to his own surprise, the man felt somehow emboldened by the trials of his journey. By relying on his own strength, he managed to overcome the adversity. At that moment, a bird perched upon his shoulder. This bird was, in fact, an avatar of the Dendro Archon. She said: "O archon-seeker, do you now understand? She and her wisdom have long been found by you." "Along your journey, we were in every flower and blade of grass, every ray of sparkling sun, and every breath of dancing wind. So long as you continue to think and ponder, we'll be wherever you go."

Y/n: What an amazing story.

Paimon: Yeah, thanks for the story. Paimon feels all warm and fuzzy inside after that!

Dunyarzad: Hehe, in a way, it seems like this story is also one of the Dendro Archon's avatars.

Two Eremites are seen walking nearby

Paimon: Dunyarzad, since you worship Lesser Lord Kusanali, can you tell us anything else about her?

Dunyarzad: Of course! So, did you three know that...

Dunyarzad notices the Eremites

Dunyarzad: Uh... Umm, I'm terribly sorry, but it seems something's come up now. Let's chat another day!

Dunyarzad runs away

Paimon: Hey, wait! What the heck just happened?

Aether: I think it has something to do with those people over there.

Paimon: It looks like they're searching for someone... Hmm, Dunyarzad was acting super nervous just now. You think they're looking for her? This stinks! We finally managed to find a lead about Lesser Lord Kusanali. We can't let them get in the way now! Let's see if we can get rid of them. Then we can catch up with Dunyarzad!

Muruwa: Hey, have you three seen a brown-haired girl wearing a purple top and a long blue dress? We're lookin' for her.

Paimon: Did she have bandages wrapped around her wrists?

Muruwa: Yes, that's her! Did you see which direction she went?

Paimon: Oh, yeah, she went that way! *points at some different direction*

Muruwa: Quick! After her!

The two Eremites leave

Paimon: Hehe, that should keep 'em busy for a while. Let's hurry and find Dunyarzad.

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Paimon: There you are, Dunyarzad! We thought you might've been long gone by now.

Dunyarzad: Ah! It's you three. You startled me there.

Paimon: You can relax now, we threw those people looking for you off the trail.

Dunyarzad: Really? Oh, thank you so much! Unfortunately, I believe there are still more of them out there looking for me. Uh oh, looks like there are some coming this way...

Paimon: Huh!? More of them!? Then what are we standing here for? Run!

Dunyarzad: No, wait... I, uh... My body isn't in the best shape. It's difficult for me to run.

Aether: How about we find someplace to hide?

Dunyarzad: Okay, sounds good. There's a tavern on the other side of the port that we can go to. They probably wouldn't expect me to hide in a place like that.

Paimon: Alright, let's move out. Stay behind us. We'll keep an eye out for anyone looking for you.

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Dunyarzad: Whew, we made it. They shouldn't be able to find us now... Wait. Stand down, Dehya!

Dehya is suddenly behind Aether and Y/n with an arm outstretched to Paimon's shock

Dehya: My lady, who are these three?

Dunyarzad: They're travelers that I met on the street just a moment ago. They happened to notice that you all were searching for me, so they helped me hide.

Dehya: I see. In that case, you three should scram. There's nothing here for you.

Paimon: Wait a sec, who the heck are you? And why are you shooing us away?

Dehya: I'm Miss Dunyarzad's bodyguard, here to see that she returns home safe and sound. My lady, let's get going. You've been gone for so long that your parents are worrying themselves sick.

Dunyarzad: And if I refuse to go with you?

Dehya: It'd be easier for the both of us if you cooperated, but if you insist on not going, then I'll have to carry you like a sack of potatoes.

Paimon: Hey! Dunyarzad already said she doesn't want to go back. Why are you still pushing her?

Dehya: Stay out of this. You don't understand the situation. Sorry, my lady. Even though I'm your bodyguard, your parents are my employers. I have to answer to them.

Dunyarzad: ...How much?

Dehya: Wait, what?

Dunyarzad: How much Mora do I have to pay you to become your employer, so you never listen to my parents ever again? Double... Triple? Give me some time, and I'll get that much!

Dehya: My lady, this isn't about Mora. *sigh* I don't know what you think of us Eremites, but let me say this: I like Mora, but I'll never go against my principles. That's why I'm here looking for you. Sure, it's an order from my employer, but my conscience was also telling me it's the right thing to do. And knowing your health, carelessly running around like this is gonna hurt ya. For the sake of those who love you, don't be stubborn.

Dunyarzad: No, you're wrong! I'm aware of my limits, and I know what I'm doing. Honestly, the only people being stubborn right now are my parents. They know perfectly well that it makes no difference if I'm at home or not! They still won't accept reality! And every time I bring this up, they just change the subject. Dehya, you've been living with us a long time already. This should be old news to you.

Dehya: ...

Dunyarzad: Dehya, I know it hasn't been easy for Mother and Father, and I'm grateful for everything they've done for me, but there is someone else in this world I'm also grateful to. Because she saved me. The love I have for her is the same I have for my parents. This is my life and my last chance, so I want to do something meaningful!

Dehya: My lady, are you sure what you're doing now is meaningful?

Dunyarzad: Yes, I'm sure. At least... it is to me.

Dehya: *sigh* Fine, I won't ask you to return home anymore. But let me make something very clear: I'm only doing this because I respect your determination, not because I agree with you.

Dunyarzad: Thank you, Dehya! Sorry for being so rude just now. My nerves were acting up... And I even brought up your payment in such an offensive way...

Dehya: Don't worry about it, my lady. I did say that I like Mora. Besides, that's our next topic of conversation. Today's little excursion caused such a ruckus that every single bodyguard at the estate was deployed. It won't be easy to hide things from your old man. Since this definitely won't be your last escapade, here's a little tip... You should at least make it look like your room and things are still in order when you leave. Also, you'll need someone to cover for you when you're out and about. So I'll let you hire me, my lady. This way, everyone wins. As for the pay... let's say half of what your father pays me. We can settle the bill when we return to the estate.

Dunyarzad: Okay, deal.

Paimon: Yay, looks like they've reached an understanding.

Dunyarzad: Hmm...

Y/n: Dunyarzad, are you alright?

Dunyarzad: Haha, I'm fine, really. I just feel a little tired now that things have calmed down...

Dehya: My lady, stop trying to look tough. We're already in a tavern, so let's rest up and grab some grub.

Dunyarzad: I'm sorry for worrying you two. If you don't mind, I'd like for you to join us.

Paimon: Sure! After you rest up, we wanna hear more about Lesser Lord Kusanali!

[pesterloglog]

Jade Harley, Aradia Megido, Davebot

Page 286-287

JADE: As a point of curiosity-

ARADIA: oh shit!!!!

ARADIA: :(

JADE: as a point of order, you never answered dave’s question.

ARADIA: which one he is very chatty

JADE: you experience time in a way that is woefully unfamiliar to me and it has... piqued my curiosity enough to learn more.

ARADIA: ?_?

DAVEBOT: shes asking how old you are

ARADIA: in this form our bodies stop aging once we reach maturity i think

ARADIA: the god tier keeps our physical form locked in a state of undying

ARADIA: even in death the bodies do not decay

ARADIA: only lay dormant

DAVEBOT: no thats boring

DAVEBOT: like how long have you been alive

JADE: yes, that one.

ARADIA: oh maybe a few hundred years or so

DAVEBOT: what

JADE: what?

ARADIA: well if i had known you were going to be so judgy about it

DAVEBOT: when did this happen

ARADIA: oh i spent some time in other doomed realities and timelines and came back before anybody could tell i was gone

DAVEBOT: oh just out for a bit of fun then

DAVEBOT: just hopped on over to a different reality

DAVEBOT: real casual like

DAVEBOT: oh hello dont mind me just popping in to see if it really is as doomed as they say it is

DAVEBOT: did not disappoint

ARADIA: yes almost exactly like that :)

DAVEBOT: who did you hang out with are they cooler than me

ARADIA: it is complicated to explain

DAVEBOT: oh ok nevermind then

DAVEBOT: all clear

DAVEBOT: a whole alternate universe ripe with the coolest motherfuckers imaginable

ARADIA: you were there too i threw your air conditioner into the sun

DAVEBOT: wow thats fucked up

DAVEBOT: thats not where that goes at all

JADE: these events are not-canonical.

ARADIA: rude

DAVEBOT: i think what the ghost possessing a corpse of my ex is trying to say

DAVEBOT: and correct me if im fucking wrong

DAVEBOT: which for the record im not

DAVEBOT: is that the trope of being hundreds of years old but looking young forever patently sucks ass

DAVEBOT: a plot device an asshole would write

ARADIA: :(

JADE: that is not what i am trying to say at all.

DAVEBOT: hmm wow yeah thatd really be a sort of pot/kettle situation i guess

DAVEBOT: i cant believe im the only woke one here

DAVEBOT: its hard being such a visionary AND such a fine metallic specimen

DAVEBOT: but im an altruist first and fucking foremost

ARADIA: so selfless

JADE: yes, the greater narrative is truly blessed by your beneficent presence.

DAVEBOT: oh so you got jokes now huh

JADE: i have always had the ‘jokes’ of which you speak, but i have heretofore exercised restraint in laying you low.

JADE: i possess knowledge of many of your iterations, as the scope of my powers allows me to exist in several narrative structures at once.

DAVEBOT: but can she see why kids love the sweet cinnamon taste of cinnamon toast crunch

JADE: i do not know, or care, what that means.

ARADIA: neither do i :)

JADE: its cultural significance to you as an earthling is wasted on the two of us entirely, as we have not conflated the misguided notion of clinging to nostalgic cereal advertisement trivia with socially relevant conversation.

JADE: one could say that your reference is lost to

ARADIA: .....

JADE: ......

ARADIA: .......

JADE: time

ARADIA: ouo