#but i wanted to save it for the future. esp cause there was no telling if we'd get a collab between them soon

[nightmanatee]

why is it actually hurting like it hurt everyone else and why there might be timetravel/some other mystery involved. or... kinda part 4 of me trying to theorize on what has been going on in lis:de.

part 1 part 2 part 3

a part where i recap old posts.

so in the first 3 parts i've theorized that safi might be behind either max not coming back to arcadia bay sooner/reconnect with chloe or she will do something about this in the future by forcing max to stay at caledon. then i've made a post about how i feel like safi from "refuse" timeline has reasons to mess up with chloe and arcadia bay and how she has a high chance to do this considering that this is the most important part of max's life no matter how hard safi tried to change it.

and finally i've come to realize that maybe there was another timeline, similar to this one. where the original max mad a really bad choice and regretted it enough to start using her powers again.

now i want to talk about a thing where safi's part in max actually hurt and there's no reason not to believe it. and only bc it starts too early for the game to be split in 2 timelines, max might not realize that this is why things keep happening.

a part where it hurts.

it is rather interesting that we "hear" chloe and max during lis1 events in double exposure. whether or not it's a "mockery" with max "remembering" the moments with chloe telling her that she's gonna be in her life forever she still thinks of it. it starts before safi's dead and that's why it's tricky but nothing is impossible with a time traveling potentially happening in the game. the only question i have is that these lines are... wrong? it feels like they happen in a wrong order/at a wrong time.

during the turtle bar scene in ep1: "my powers might not last"/"that's ok, we will"/"chloe!" - this is from ep2 the first time max actually saving chloe at the train racks (considering that every other time is optional (i mean... except for the very first one but i won't count it for now)). however!! the last "chloe!" and the storm sounds are NOT from this scene. not from this scene overall. which is weird. the first quote is not also direct one.

during the safi's death scene in ep1: "max!"/"i caused this. i caused all of this" - the change does in the "background" with us hearing the radio station informing about the storm. again. chloe does NOT say "max" at the start. but max does say that she's caused the storm. instead it goes "this is my storm. i caused this. this happenes in s1ep5 when max is faced with the final decision.

2 days after safi's death in ep1: "don't say that, i won't trade you!"/"no matter what you choose i know you'll make the right decision"/"max, it's time" or "i'll always be with you. forever." - 1st phrase is max's answer to chloe saying that arcadia bay citizens deserve to live more than her. THEN chloe reminds max of all these 5 days. and only THEN does she say the "no matter what you choose". it's interesting tho that they do pay attention to what goes where with bay or bae.

could it all just be them changing lines/the way they go so as to not fully copy them. OR. could it be so that just like with max they play with our memories as well changing bits here and there?

a part about nightmare again btw!!!

so. the motel nightmare. in bay!motel part the "tv show" talks about mother having to identify a body of her daughter - a very obvious connection with joyce. "can we confirm that this is your daughter, zoe?" even the name!! the next room has therapist talking about trauma and how it will "drown you if you let it".

bae!motel has characters talking about each other and it also might be a little insight in max and chloe's fallout. i honestly don't know which one is who in this part bc it seems like chloe did cut out max out of her life esp with book titles (she just doesn't want to talk to me anymore and "lose my number" trust me chloe i've tried), but also it could be max considering her "nightmare" where she is the one to "move on" with a new "cool" friend.

the second "room" is more hopeful? with the weather broadcast talking about how "

finally the 3rd room seems to be just screams of different people (could be caledon students, could be arcadia bay citizens).

just like i've talked about this in other parts max's nightmare having a motel room, blackwell's bathroom and a darkroom scenes is interesting considering it was all about helping safi and taking "her" parts out of people's minds. i guess these 3 parts were the ones where max does it for herself. with the final 4th part being a scene with safi at the start of ep4. but why these parts?

could be:

either safi is "deeply" connected with max so that max has to go through not one but THREE nightmares and the worst parts. that's why it takes max 1 scene per person but 3-4 for herself.

or hints at what safi was planning to do - replace chloe as herself/make max relieve the trauma of jefferson/mess up with max ending up alone (a few things we already see in the game btw).

or maybe... this are hints at what safi HAS DONE/WILL DO. i don't think they'll go as far as lis1 timeline but could be safi actively planting herself or/and amanda as chloe 2.0, max was a teacher so maybe safi could ruin her career by fabricating something bad against her as a teacher, and she could ruin things between max and either joyce or chloe.

a part where safi tried to use max's old memories to connect with something new.

ok but seriously this happens too many times to be a coincidence. she calls max "a partner in grime". we hear the first ever memory and IMMIDEATELY after that safi talks about chloe (could max just not "feel" safi doing things to her bc she didn't know what to look for before) and right AFTER that she talks about amanda NO MATTER what you tell her.

amanda/vinh romance happens only after max talks about how she's lonely and she needs to do something about this (and it's even more important that you start this scene in "living" timeline).

arcadia bay and lakeport/blackwell academy and caledon university are connected as well, even the creators mention it. it's the "opposite mirror" - just like safi herself is.

so ofc safi's death sends max into the grieving spiral reminding her of chloe. esp considering the 2nd nightmare scene with max "shooting" safi herself while impersonating nathan.

max's "hurt" lays in ending up in the same "space" a decade later, experiencing a traumatic even and what safi's part does to her is max having to at least experience 3 nightmare scenes and at max - something more during the entire game.

moses was acting just like safi and it was a bit on the nose with the writers hinting on other people acting like safi, gwen was reckless and ready to die in a storm, lucas was grieving maya and reading a poem. i guess other characters "got away" with the worst things being loretta being too scared and vinh having to realize that safi doesn't care about him at all.

but what about max?? what is it that safi was "doing" to her if she didn't want to hurt max but max still had to relive these moments? is it just her going through her own little "side quest" or is there something more???

a part where max is being made another offer.

she's made max feel "obligated" to stay at caledon, bc she knows that max kept running away during all these years. in ep1 she talks about max running away from her past, during the game we notice that she learns about chloe/arcadia bay, she sneaks into max's house (also interesting that gwen makes a remark about max breaking in into other houses? was it bc max loves going into abandoned spaces or is it safi?) and goes through her arcadia bay stuff.

the "good person" moses asks max about her reconnecting with chloe/going back to arcadia bay but for some reason (=bc of the new "threat" that safi is) max feels the need to stay here, at caledon. disconnected from everyone else. oh and don't forget this one:

is it really what max wants? is it??

or is it safi trying to manipulate max yet again by making her "want" to stay here either to be able to fight against safi, or to keep arcadia bay/chloe safe, or to wait for safi to come back.

honestly my main reason to keep doing this is dev's "we've planted seeds" during the game and that this is "headed somewhere". i'm just trying to guess where exactly.

[manic-sapphic]

"whatever happens, i am staying with you"

sorry bout it but lying bout that - it's another rant. kind of a longer one tbh, just a heads up.

just one of those days <3

the moment in heart pt 2 when catra finally accepts that she’ll probably never be able to get adora to consider whether it really needs to be or always has to be her who gives up everything and shoulders the weight of the world, without hesitation - her certainty that she’s “the only one who can” save everyone being a reason adora's only said once. but has obvi always felt. tasking herself with guaranteeing safety, comfort, security, & happiness for everyone she knows is sewn into her the way catra's feeling of worthlessness is.

catra to sw: "oh no, i've learned everything from you. how to dodge. how to predict when you'll strike. how. to. resist. you thought you were punishing me all these years? wrong. you were training me for this day" (tbh the gay rebellion here is so badass)

adora: "special? chuckles no - i was only special as long as i obeyed you" tbh i love that their lil speeches to sw parallel each other so well as far as tryna act like they figured her out and can't be played w anymore - lying to themselves bout that right up to the end tbh

cause yeah adora esp, tryna be etheria's protector? not enough weight to shoulder the fate of - gotta save the universe now. she's the only one who can, and her present has always in some way been dedicated to assuring a life, and future, for everyone but her. (fck off shadow weaver)

so this time, catra decides she’ll just have to simply refuse to let adora sacrifice her, realizing whether or not adora felt quite the same way about her, catra knows everything adora's done for her and has to have accepted that regardless of how, she does matter to adora ("..not like i want her") so regardless of what the love is, catra decides to act on hers. again and again with every choice she makes from the moment she and melog take off to try n warn adora. she's only just really seen/heard the way shadow weaver is with adora - when she gets her alone - and her understanding of how much more that's done to adora than she'd ever had any idea of. (catra was straight up brainwashed and robbed of her autonomy, and she's also no stranger to shadow weaver or manipulation - she sees it doesn't always take a chip to achieve the same effects)

so catra makes a snap instant decision about adora, once again acting as fast as she can, determined to do all in her capacity to reach adora with the resolve that if adora is intent on taking this risk, willing to sacrifice herself, she can't change that. cause as frustrating as it is that she can see how much that choice isn't quite entirely adora's, it's not her's either. the only choice offered to her was staying or leaving. and in spite of leaving over feeling adora had basically already chosen to, again making a choice that could very likely leave catra behind, and this time in a way catra won't even get to just love her like she's realized is all she really wants to do. reciprocated or not. and once again feels like adora's sacrificing her and them, but because adora's knowingly willing to take the risk that she may be sacrificing herself.

and catra. them, like i said, i guess.

but much like adora, i think catra actually started to feel a bit like maybe she just can't have what she wants - but in a very different way than she did when she took off in failsafe and beforehand. more in the way of adora. like idk it almost seems like she sees that to stop prime, maybe this is what it might take. but just like adora jumping after her into the shadows in save the cat -

not a chance in hell catra's gonna leave that magigurl alone at the end. not. a. chance. in. hell. instead, she chooses to sacrifice herself for adora. again.

catra no longer tries to talk her out of it, she just outright refuses to listen when adora tells her to leave. cause catra already tried that a couple times and realizes that it's just not gonna work for her. there's nowhere else she'd rather be tbh.

not surprising in the slightest ofc knowing the things catra's already been willing to do for adora since her self-sacrifice and their reunion and what adora was willing to do to give them another chance.

and honestly - this right here - her gentle hand on adora's shoulder, tryna return the support she was given for so long and not be scared to just do it - i can't. especially w the way aj delivers "c'mon.. we have to go" 💔

and adora just looks at her in this way that absolutely dissolves my molecules like wtf - she already knows in that moment imo that catra loves her. she just doesn't feel like she's allowed to reciprocate it yet. but you can tell she sees it and needed it so bad and just doesn't quite feel cleared to entirely let herself feel her own feels.

but the realization here to me is 2 big things: catra's not tryna stop her anymore. she just wants to take her. take care of her. what is this show even hah like the complexity of this cartoon is dumb amounts of 🔥 and i just can't -

oh eh tho - the look on catra's face here, before they've even reached the heart and catra supporting adora - the sometimes 8ft magic alien baddie - yet she helps carry her along all the way there. lil sweet bitty tsundere kitty. wth. how dare

the look on her face is determined as when she made her choice in corridors.

catra knows that when she left in failsafe, it was a one-step-forward, two-steps-back moment. backsliding into her old habits. convinced adora didn't and never would want her like she wants her.

and instantly not giving a flying fck about that when once again- she's aware prime's plans have not only put adora's life in danger, but were almost certain to result in its end.

and same frame of mind catra locked into in corridors comes back. whether adora wants her or not, it doesn't matter. that's not catra's call to make, but either way, it doesn't change that catra does and always has loved adora. and she burned so many calls that were hers to make that only kept them apart, thinking if adora didn't love her back, then her feelings for her weren't just unrequited, they were her weakness. (fck off shadow weaver)

but by now, she doesn't need to say it. it's clear she's realized love only emboldens and enhances her strength, and she loves adora. you can tell she was so full of grief, regret, and self-hatred just thinking of her on prime's flagship w glimmer. entirely certain that she'd never even see her again and that even if she could, there was nothing she could say to change that adora wouldn't want a damn thing to do with her.

but somehow, unbelievable and undeserved as catra feels it is- she gets to be back with adora- only to leave in failsafe. a regression, yeah, but one that served to strengthen her resolve not to leave adora's side again. cause since corridors imo reciprocation of her feelings wasn't really something she felt needed to be established before she could fully give adora hers. never had been tbh. and adora always had the mutual feels imo anyway. catra just kinda had to be reminded of what it means to just love w/o expectation, if you ask me.

and that means things bout unconditional love i'm just not too sure she could really let herself feel just yet. cause trust issues. but once she does, that's that.

so she's determined to be honest with herself and act on her love for adora again and always - with a look in her eyes that says she knows she might be walking with adora towards their end, and being anywhere else isn't even a consideration anymore. there's only one place she wants to be if their whole world really does meet its end, and has devoted herself to doing everything she can to stop that from happening by staying, dedicated to keeping adora alive.

but not cause she wants adora, or her love, although she certainly does, but for the same reason she was willing to sacrifice herself saving glimmer. adora deserved everything she'd spent so much time on and sacrificed so much for trying to ensure it to everyone else. catra wanted to share those things with her, of course, but whether adora would or not, she still wanted adora to have those things. she knows how much adora deserves that she'd never ask for, let alone allow herself to want.

so no more waiting for adora to ask or want. catra just decides to say and do. all guided by the promise, something she held onto hoping it meant they'd always care for each other. catra & adora.

and i mean ADORA. not she-ra.

and ofc catra still hopes for that, but now the only thing she wants is to look out for adora. and she didn't want or need anything in return, she would just be so heartbroken to know adora never got a chance at a life that was hers, able to finally experience her own wanting and having. it was no longer about catra's own feelings regarding any of that, having what she wanted fell to a new desperate desire she was determined to do anything she could to make happen- adora getting to have what she wanted. whatever that might be.

they're almost too much love for me to watch but also way too much to not. damn dummies just makin me dumber every time i watch. so don't mind me ok.

“no. i'm not leaving.

whatever happens,

i am staying with you.”

<3

[wirescorner]

I can just imagine them on tumblr like, they actually fucking suck

2 notes

📛 mygoodnessmeoffjollofrice Follow

A kid robbed me today, because “you’re too old for hello kitty” and took the beads i wanted from my hands. Here’s how I responded

I burnt down the store

8 notes

🕳 jgirlstfu Follow

“You’re the eldest in this house-” Extremely loud incorrect buzzer

#im actually a pretty princess who deserves to not do anything except eat sleep and be an inconvenience but ok

69 notes

🧥 jd-core Follow

Sending brain waves so they are convinced to start a homoerotic friendship with me

# apparently this is a bad idea because of consequences # that’s a problem for future me ig #💯💯💯

12 notes

🔁honeriah reblogged remindertonotdie

💟remindertonotdie Follow

Balls

🧵honeriah Follow

Banger post actually

16 notes

🔁remindertonotdie reblogged morgue

💟remindertonotdie Follow

Tutorial on how to remind someone they’re not ascending to godhood and they’re just dehydrated

🧱morgue Follow

Fuck you for this actually

#i didn’t even say your name??? #me when I get called out #GUILTYYYYY #DRINK WATER BITCH DONT COME TO ME WHEN YOUR HEAD IS ABOUT TI EXPLODE #🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 #<- you rn

59 notes

🔁jd-core reblogged honeriah

🧥jd-core Follow

Actually crazy how they aren’t madly in love with me rn

🧵honeriah Follow

Mp que les autres guys 😔

🧥jd-core Follow

Nvm cause they’re dumb asf

#mf use your brain it’s embarrassing to have a crush on you 🤦‍♀️ #crazy how I’m saying this when they’re literally my wallpaper

15 notes

📛mygoodnessmeofjollofrice Follow

The way I feel so sad whenever I see those “were you ACTUALLY a weird kid or are you just a poser?” posts and I just hear junko posing audios

I was a gacha kid bae not a danganronpa kid 💔💔💔

#like idk who’s supposed to be mercy #but just give me a single song from my glmv era and I will fuck it up HARD #even if I WAS a danganronpa weird kid I’d prolly still not be able to junko pose #thanks amazing coordination 🙏🙏🙏

49 notes

🧱morgue Follow

Ice cold water save me…

Save me ice cold water…

Ice cold water…

3 notes

🧷lmaove Follow

It’s actually crazy how people who don’t do sports will tell you, you suck at your sport

My brother in Christ why don’t you kill yourself

#Like commit suicide actually #esp the boys in my class #like if we’re friends that’s one thing #other wise shoot yourself in the head #rant #sports

29 notes

🧷lmaove Follow

Nvm I was just sleepy

#sleep solves all problems actually 🎀🎀🎀

[justletmeplayminecraft]

I just realised people might not know about the stream Pearl and Grian did together as part of their RTX 'Building a Mega Base' series. It's not available on Twitch anymore but I do have some highlights from when I watched it (bugging friends with quotes comes in handy sometimes!)

This took place around early March 2021 (March 1st, I believe!)

Grian was a lot more chilled out! You could actually hear his keyboard and mouse as he moved around.

They both dislike doing interiors (or did at the time)

Pearl: 'Griba is my nickname for Grian and that's what I will call him'

Grian: 'I'm not a huge fan of streaming in general. It's different. Different kind of energy's required.'

And later on 'All these twitch things are crazy to me, I don't understand them. Wha- hype trains and stuff, there's just a party going on and I don't understand. I'm too old to understand!'

And again 'This is why I don't stream. I can't focus on what I'm doing and then, like, keep up with everything'

Where's Maui? Grian: 'He's sulking in the other room because my office door is closed.' ... 'He moved the mouse in one of the timelapses because he walked around on the desk.'

Grian makes lots of thinking noises. Little hums and whistles.

Pearl: I've been working with Grian for... Four years now. So imagine building with a friend.

Grian: I've learnt a lot from you about the detailing that I forgot. You just remember things that I've not done in a while so I just forgot.

This was about chimneys, for the record.

Grian: I- I saw people asking why- why not use mushroom blocks in survival, I was losing my mind!

Grian: Don't you think that endstone is a waste of an opportunity? ... It could be a bop of a block.

This clip of Grian losing it over a wall being one block off

Grian's solution was to erase the final line.

Grian: 'It's still off.' Pearl: 'That's because we haven't finished it yet.' Grian: 'No... It's still off.' Pearl, continuing to place blocks: 'That's because we haven't finished it yet-'

Pearl: 'I saw a few comments on the video actually, saying the castle isn't that effective because you can just walk up the terrain and get over the wall' Grian: '... Sorry who can walk up a cliff?'

Grian got into explaining the rivalries between the English and the French.

Grian: 'It's a little bit difficult for me to figure out because I'm a dumb dumb.'

Grian: 'For me it's about tickling the creative bone, so doing something I've never done before ... So once I've done something, it's unlikely I'll do it again' ... 'And despite the meme about me building rustic houses, there's only one tutorial on my channel for rustic houses.'

Pearl: 'NPC Grian, we haven't heard about NPC Grian in a long time, actually?' Grian: 'He's gone.' Pearl: 'He's poofed' Grian: 'Haven't seen him in a long time' Pearl: 'He's like the Herobrine of your channel' Grian: 'Yeah. I made up a character called robot Grian, and he existed solely because I was ill and needed to use a synthesised voice to record a video.'

Pearl calling Grian 'Gri'

Pearl (Grian's cat) is named after her colour, whilst Maui is named partially because of Moana, because he's loud, and the breed. Yes, Grian asked Pearl for permission to use her name.

Grian's brain briefly forgetting how words work (also the 'Things I can pin on the fridge like Grian made this, age 27.')

Pearl: Do you ever get recognised in public, Grian? Grian: Well, I haven't been outside in like a year, so-

They got distracted by how glass blocks refract light with the RTX shaders

Grian wasn't around for a lot of the stream (he was doing stuff) but it was very fun seeing them interact in a casual setting. And I'm very excited to see them interact more throughout S8!

[an-entity-i-think]

Young, neglected characters aren't always incompetent at taking care of themselves

I know it's not what some of you want to hear, but- despite the perfect savior concept of getting them into a batter family- that doesn't mean that

A. They even WANT to be 'saved' and

B. That they aren't doing a decent job at taking care of themselves

The thing about having independence at a young age, is that you learn pretty quickly at least the basics or you fail

If you make it too obvious while going to school (esp elementary but also middle), you will be caught

If you don't have a supply of food or the ability to make food, you will be caught (either by police or any adult) or very sick and THEN die or caught

If you change attitudes and routines completely and suddenly, you will be noticed and possibly caught

NEGLECTED KIDS WHO LAST MORE THAN A FEW DAYS KNOW THIS (even if subconsciously)

"Saving the poor baby" is good for children who are just recently out on their own (think a couple weeks, maybe a couple months if you stretch it)

But a couple years??? I'm sure a few children would like someone to take care of them but most of them (while also maybe yearning for the same) would rather not and I'll tell you three big reasons why:

Nobody noticed that they needed help when they truly needed it, regardless of the fact that they hid it with all their power, ergo others are not to be trusted because they do not care.

And/or

It has been like for as long as they remember and change that drastic is hard for any adult let alone a child to imagine.

And/or

They are perfectly capable of keeping themselves alive and do not need outside help (this can be a statement of truth, misleasing pride, or fear of change/other people)

"Wanting to save them" may result in anger at the idea that they are incompetent, especially if the child has been taking care of themselves for so long. Cause regardless of age, children have always been resilient and adaptable and capable.

Not every child will be saved from a bad situation and they know that. Children aren't stupid, and they aren't stupid to assume they can take care of themselves when so many have had to in the past and will have to in the future.

An Alternative:

Stop the narrative of "saving them" from such a terrible way of life (the only life they've known or have known for a long while).

START doing more of those skittish, feral, alley cat things where you either gain the characters trust and learn to be a family with TIME or you just like straight up steal the baby and live with the fact that your going to have a lot of screaming and scratching and broken belongings for a few weeks until the baby learns to feel sort of safe or makes an escape lol

[icharchivist]

What a3 character would you want in the batman universe and why-

ohmygod

i admit that my knowledge of batman is pretty limited to mostly the posts on this website and like the 3 movies i saw so i can't give the most amazing of replies to this,

but my first thought was definitely, the Autumn Troupe. Because i think they would cause so much chaos that it would put them on super villains/super hero radars

Like i can imagine. Omi belonging to a group of thug unaware the mafia of the corner was using them, and later he quited and tried to have a normal life but he's just hunted down in every corner. Probably has to turn into vigilante work for it, but also very likely to try to "reform" as a photograph journalist to try to take down the gangs and mafia he holds responsible for Nachi's death. He already has a codename after all.

Sakyo belonging to a mafia that's not so shady in general but therefore it makes people uneasy about how much they can approach him. I could see him become easily an informant from the underground in some way. Azami can remain pretty much the same but i can imagine that he'd run off from his father once in a while to try to catch a glimpse at super heroes in the city, or help them by starting fights. Sakyo and Batman being on speaking term because for years now Batman found Azami doing dangerous things and brought him back home to Sakyo, and Sakyo has to try to hide it from the big boss, so now they have a "🤝 my adopted child doesn't listen to me" solidarity.

Taichi's storyline can almost be 101, him being used by bad people first by promises of a happier future and then by threats and he's slowly losing it until either the rest of Autumn finds him, or Batman does. Except that it means Taichi is even more in danger than in canon so, huh, save him?

Juza is trying to live his life normally but thugs are always attacking him so he probably ended up recluently doing his own bit of trying to keep super villains at bay completely by accident. Probably got noticed by Batman in the sense "wow a teen who can fight and who's trying to not fall to what society is pushing on him is he an orphan or?"

Banri's story could be a mess because i think he'd go to vigilante work right away out of pure "need to feel some thrill" while he still has a moral compass, but it means he's not immune to villains who are like, not completely harmful? Like i think Catwoman could coax him into stealing a museum with her. I think esp that since he's not acting with any of the big guy at first, super villains could target him just to get rid of him, but eventually some would catch on his "super ultra easy mode" (tell me it's not almost a superpower) and would specifically try to recruit him to do bad things for them. Which would also put him on the good guys radar who would probably try also to get him on their side.

But as i love my troupes all together eventually i sure hope they get to all meet regardless and end up forming the second most dysfunctional superhero squad in all of Gotham. But there i'm missing the steps to get there.

Though i think, with the idea of Batman having crossed path with all of them, he'd probably be completely baffled by this team up. The fact that now all of them are protecting Taichi for example, or the fact Azami is much less willing to listen to any of the adults around them.

So, Batman turns to Sakyo and is like, so, huh, you adopted more kids? and Sakyo tries to deny, "like hell i would adopt those pain in the ass." and Banri would reply something like "yeah who would like a father like you" with Azami following "Ditto." Which is the one killer move to have Sakyo starts to throw dagger for eyes, only stopped because Taichi gets teary and "but we ARE a family right guys? guys??? guys???" and Sakyo gets Taichi-mailed into having to admit he cares about those guys. Batman just nodding because ah yeah that's how it is at home too it's fine.

Then in general nothing really stops the rest of Mankai to have normal lives in the background as well (from like half of Winter having a night life in crime infested Gotham and stuff like that) but Autumn is the one Troupe that seems to me like they'd end up involved in the middle of superhero/supervillain battles.

and i'd love to point out say, more dynamic with the rest of the Batfamily, but i genuinely only know them from shitposts so i will not do myself the embarrassment to try that.

Hope this lives up to your expectations ^^

have fun!

[laughing-with-god]

Ooh, sorry to be a bother, but I'm really interested in Namjoon's character, so what are some of his headcanons? 💜💜

He isn’t necessarily as outwardly charismatic as the career victors but he has amazing manners and a very sophisticated vocabulary.  

His deep voice is also a signature feature of his.  Sometimes when he isn’t mentoring and thus is a bit more unbiased, he will be invited to the Capitol to feature on shows that make commentary during the games and make comments on the moves the tributes make.  

His opinions carry a lot of weight around the Capitol.  If Namjoon says he thinks 9 might just make it to the end, expect bets on District 9 to triple by the next morning.  

Weird but he smells really good.  I mean they all do but Namjoon especially.  His scent is masculine, warm, faintly spicy, and woodsy?  Idk I’m not familiar with colognes but that’s how I would describe his.  

He wears a lot of dark clothes.  Esp at the Capitol he only wears black.  People think he just likes the color the most but really, it’s out of respect for the tributes who are playing that year.  He remembers how annoyed he was when he saw everyone in outlandish getups and colors at the Capitol when he was about to be sent to his death, so now he wears it in remembrance of all the tributes who are about to die/have died. 

He is very cordial to everyone he comes in contact with, from the outside looking in it doesn’t appear that Namjoon hates anyone because his manners are just that good.  But truthfully, there are plenty of victors Namjoon doesn’t like.  Cough careers cough.

Every time he enters a room, he has a tendency to briefly analyze it and find the exits in case he needs to run off.  A habit he picked up after the games, he almost always has his back faced to a wall and nothing else, not willing to get ambushed again.  

Cracks his knuckles a lot.  

Surprisingly frugal.  Even though he is now one of the richest people in his District thanks to the games, he rarely ever dips into his winnings.  District Three lives in abject poverty and he knows that when he dies, his home on Victor’s row will be cleaned out and any of his family living there will be kicked out and vulnerable again.  So he saves all his money so in case something happens to him, he can be sure his family will be able to live comfortably.  

Also the reason he doesn’t say no to making appearances in those commentary shows.  They pay pretty well.  

It was about two years after his game when the Head Gamemaker approached him.  They were curious about the traps he made in his games because they wanted to emulate something similar to that in a new arena.  Namjoon reluctantly showed him how he made his traps because as everyone knows when the Capitol asks you for something, they’re more so demanding it.  

But then the Head Gamemaker began asking for his advice more often and often, even dragging him to the gaming center to get his take on things.  It didn’t take too long until the rest of the Capitol found out and made it news that Victor Namjoon might have a future in gamemaking.  

This has caused a rift between him and some of the victors, they think he willingly switched sides because he is from 3, really smart probably took pleasure in creating schemes and traps if his games were anything to go by.  

Namjoon never bothered to correct this misunderstanding because if he was caught telling others he didn’t want to help the gamemakers, he’d easily be killed off.  

He was pretty close to Yoongi and wishes other victors tried to understand him better. 

Namjoon is a very observant man and it didn’t take him long to figure out Yoongi

The reason why Yoongi had one of the worst reactions to the game is because he’s one of the most sensitive and good-hearted people to ever play.  He feels a lot of guilt for what happened and takes morphling to numb the pain.  He’s actually a very kind and quiet person when he’s sober but thats very rare.  Most victors can’t see past his outbursts to give him a chance.  

He tries his best for his tributes whenever it’s his turn to mentor.  Every year he takes in-depth notes of every District’s reaping and gives his tributes a run-down of who will all be playing.  This included threats, weaknesses, underdogs, possible alliances etc.  

But he also doesn’t sugar coat shit to them.  He thinks every tribute deserves to hear the truth about their situation.  Sometimes if his tribute accidentally said something offending during an interview or has no apparent skill, Namjoon will tell them honestly, “You’re in trouble, kid.”  

Stays up multiple days during his mentoring to watch the games, knowing that just bc his tributes are asleep doesn’t mean something can’t happen to them.  

Pretty good at getting sponsors, although it's almost always just supplies for the 3 tributes to make some sort of trap.  Some of them are too dumb to pick up on what to do with it though.  

But after a tribute from his District dies and he was their mentor, he personally visits their family, tells them of his last moments with their kids, and gives them a generous amount of money that usually equates to about months’ earnings in District 3.

[zigtheeortega]

For the past six months, @pixeljazzy​ and I have been working on a playlist we felt could top last year’s, which was so well received! 

We’ve broken it up into sections by individual love interests, multiple love interests, main character, and miscellaneous, which includes side characters, general vibes, etc. Underneath each song are lyrics we believed stood out to us along with explanations as to why we chose it. Like last year, the [p] is for PJ and [j] is for Jade.

Here’s the link to the playlist on Spotify, but we’ve individually linked the songs with each explanation as well!

We sincerely hope you enjoy our 2021 RODAW Playlist! 

The Bay, Soft Glas. ft. Mulherin [j]

Leaving you alone is too hard (hard, hard) / I just never know where to start (with you)

I'm not used to leaving someone broken hearted / That might be what really makes this hard (It's hard) / I've never been with anyone this long / If I did it, I really miss you

The softness and apologetic tone of the song reminds me of Logan through and through. He’s so regretful for what he put MC through, both at the beginning when he was lying to her, and by the end when he thinks he’s ruined her life by simply being a criminal and dating her. And by leaving her he’s leaving the one person who’s loved him unconditionally and stuck with him through it all.

Call Me, Nav [j]

They taught me, "Don't forget where you came from" / I regret what I came from

Do you know how it feel to feel alone? / Bought myself a house, to feel like I ain't home / Driving by myself, ain't got nowhere to go / Are you really here for me, I don't know

I hope you mean everything that you told me / I'll try to come back to you, girl, I'm sorry / If you miss me, just call me

This song honestly reminded me of Logan’s backstory that we don’t know much of, besides the fact that he was thrust into a life of crime as a teen and as an adult he hates it. The other lyrics I added are kind of a glimpse into the future I think – wherever Logan is, whatever he’s doing, if he’s not with MC, the woman he loves, everything he accomplishes is gonna feel hollow. And despite him saying that he was leaving to protect her, I know in his heart he’d want her to find her way back to him.

Cold Case Love, Rihanna [p]

I’m torn apart and you know / What you did to me was a crime

We opened up a cold case love / And it got the best of us / And now prints, pictures, and white outlines / Are all that’s left at the scene of a crime / Of a cold case love

The first line reminded me of how MC probably felt after being betrayed by Logan, the one that was arguably supposed to be the closest to them, and then the second lyric is because at the time, MC left and that was the last Logan knew of them with nothing to stand for what they used to have until they eventually came back to help save the crew.

Compass, The Neighbourhood [j]

If I don't have you with me, I'm alone / You know I never know which way to go / I think I need you with me for all-time / When I need new direction for my mind

I've got something to confess / I keep you in my pocket to use / You're my only compass / I might get lost without you / (Could you tell me where to go?)

You're always there to help me when I'm down / I'm lucky you've been keeping me around / You're the star I look for every night / When it's dark, you'll stick right by my side

Like a magnet / Hard to imagine ever changing / Can't help that I'm attracted to you, I am / Could you keep on guiding me? Please

This is a quintessential Logan song – reading these lyrics, it’s like Logan spoke them himself to MC, and that’s why I included so much of the song. All of these remind me of him and his hopeless romanticism, but specifically the line about her being the star he looks for every night? Absolutely perfect. This entire song is like a love letter from Logan to MC.

Don’t Leave Me, Blackstreet [p]

I’m searching for the words to make you realize / That I really, really want you to stay

Don’t leave, don’t leave me girl

This song was giving me Logan vibes from the diamond scene where he’s like “I can’t believe I love someone” and MC is like “you don’t get to say that to me” or some shit like that because he’s trying soo so hard to explain himself to her and to make her not hate him.

Imma Dog, Ugly God ft. PnB Rock [j]

You say you love me, shawty, tell me why / 'Cause I'm a dog and I'ma probably be this way until I die / You say you always gon' be by my side / You say you trust me with your heart and I swear, I just wonder why

Okay, hear me out, I forreal have reasons for this to be tied to Logan. The only verse in this song that’s a non chorus one is related to cheating, but I’m choosing to ignore that for the sake of the chorus. I heard the chorus for the first time and it made me think of one specific moment and point in time in Ride or Die. These lyrics remind me of Logan’s attitude when he was being mean and pretending to be annoyed by MC to get her off of him – despite the facade he’s still in awe of the way she trusts him and cares about him even when he’s treating her like garbage.

Life’s a Mess, Juice WRLD ft. Halsey [p]

Uh, sometimes life’s a mess

Lookin’ for somethin’ real, then I found it

I’m too flawed to hold you down, but / Don’t wanna be here alone

Logan knows all too well how much of a mess life really is (first lyric), and the second lyric is basically what I think he feels about MC. He told MC in the beginning that he doesn’t really stay with crews or trust anyone but himself, but MC was that exception before the rest of the crew became that exception too. And then the third lyric is because Logan looks at himself as someone who probably doesn’t deserve MC, Vaughn even said he was morally obligated to tell MC that she’s too good for his cousin (yes it was a joke (was it) but it fits), but he still wants her anyway (“Look at you...then look at me. You’re going to be valedictorian. I never even went to high school...I don’t have anything, and I wasn’t anybody, and I knew that. I always knew that….Some part of me really wants you to mess things up for me.” - Logan, Ch. 3).

Unfair, 6lack [p]

Hope my mistakes don’t make me less of a man / ‘cause lately it feel like them shits really can / I’m prayin’ I don’t wake up all alone

But know I’m stuck between / What I love and who I love and / I know it’s unfair

The first lyric I feel like is pretty self-explanatory as Logan expresses remorse for his actions (him acting weird and tryna tell MC about his dishonesty in the club, him making the effort to apologize or explain in the diamond scene after the reveal) and it especially hits if your MC is romancing Logan because he doesn’t want to lose them. As for the second lyric, I was thinking about how he was probably stuck between doing what’s best for the crew and doing right by MC

While We’re Young, Jhene Aiko [j]

Baby while we're young / I think we should do something crazy / Like say, "Fuck everyone" / And just run away from the daily routine

I'm tellin' everybody you're mine and I like it / And I really hope you don't mind, I can't fight it

'Cause it's been another perfect day with ya / Wanna lay with ya / Spend the night with ya / Then spend my life with ya, alright

I'll go everywhere you go / You know I'll go, I'll go / Everywhere you go

I'm giving you my heart, please don't break it / Take it and lock it up and put me in your pocket, love

This reminds me of Logan and MC’s brand of romance that’s sweet and clumsy and a little bit reckless when it really gets going. They’re both cautious but they fantasize about throwing caution to the wind even more than they already have.

Angel With A Shotgun, The Cab [p]

I don’t care if heaven won’t take me back / I’ll throw away my faith, babe, just to keep you safe

Sometimes to win, you have to sin

And I want to live, not just survive

Lemme explain because I feel like people may think this song is really really out there for Colt but I was listening to this song one day and thought of him, esp the last two lines I chose: I think of how Colt came up with the kidnapping plan and how it was so crazy because it was like wow he really was ready for murder if it came down to it, but Colt was basically like we need to do something big to outsmart them or else we’ll just be doing shit for them forever (‘sometimes to win, you have to sin’).

Born 2 Be Great, Lil Tjay [p]

I was born to be great / And I won’t let nobody tell me I ain’t / And I can’t stop, won’t stop

Growin’ up, I’m gettin’ old, start settin’ goals / Tryna make more money off my business and shows / And everybody gon’ hate, I’m great, I know / Everybody can hate, I’m great, I know

These lyrics just scream COLT to me all the way. He knows and believes he’s destined for greatness no matter what path he chooses because no matter what he does, he’s gonna succeed in the end. “I can’t stop, won’t stop” reminds me of how Kaneko wanted Colt to choose for himself what he wanted to do, and even though Kaneko tried to shield Colt away from the family business, that’s where Colt wanted to be. The second lyric is essentially Colt just knowing he’s gonna make money and that he won’t be liked (hated by other crews, police, etc.), but that won’t matter because he’s great nevertheless.

Chandelier, B.o.B ft. Lauriana Mae [p]

They say life’s about choices / In the face of defeat I declined / Put your soul into everything, never back down / That’s how you leave a legacy behind

Let my blood keep pumping, my heart keep beating / Shining like a chandelier

Making something out of absolutely nothing / That’s the definition of a survivor

Colt definitely felt ‘put your soul into everything, never back down / that’s how you leave a legacy behind’ because of how much he focuses on carrying on what his family has built, and taking all the risks necessary to keep that legacy alive and make a name for himself. I put ‘shining like a chandelier’ because that’s how bright Colt shines, as I believe he’s destined for greatness and wouldn’t allow himself to achieve anything but.

Down Bad, Real Recognize Rio [j]

I've been out of my head for a couple minutes, for a couple miles / Made the hair stand up on my neck / On a knife edge, comin' at me for my crimes / Got a mind that can leave you locked inside

'Cause you got me down bad, down bad, your deep desire / Carve my name on your soul, then I walk through the fire / Your voice so clear, like you say my name / You got mе runnin' for my life like this shit was a game / Got mе down bad, down bad to feel your touch

This song reminds me of Colt specifically during the gambling scene when he got shot and the last car chase scene, because MC is put in serious danger but it does nothing to shake her love for Colt. She’s scared for her life and her future but she’s still willing to put everything on the line for him and MPC.

Forever Ever, Trippie Redd ft. Young Thug [p]

You gon’ really have to hold me fuckin’ down, babe / ‘Cause I ain’t with the fuckery, that playing ‘round, babe

We Bonnie and Clyde but except the shots

He don’t love you like he should, I can love you better

First and second lyric are because they’re a team, and Colt sees MC as his right hand. In the life he lives, the people on his team gotta be down fr because there’s always a lot at stake. The last lyric is more conditional, as I feel like this could be him if MC was also romancing Logan because in the reveal, Colt’s like you deserved to know and in the car in the chapter afterwards that’s when he’s like bro we could run this whole shit etc. etc.

Impala, O2worldwide [j]

I been watching you from a distance / Sitting back and acknowledging your existence / I made a couple songs but you'll probably never listen / Shooting my shot but i'm always fucking missing / Setting my ego aside / Me and you can go together just like Bonnie and Clyde / I've been tripping over you just like my shoes is untied / And I tried to hit you up its like my confidence died but

I see you everyday but don't past corners of eyes / I'm just gonna act like I didn't see you close to that guy / Not gonna lie you got me head over ears / I'm tryna find love because I don't know just how it feels

Anyone listening to this and reading the lyrics is going to hate me because… is this the perfect “Colt pining for MC because she’s getting close to Logan” Love Triangle song, or what? I listen to this song so casually most of the time that I forget how sad the lyrics actually are. The first couple verses (not the third verse) fit the narrative so well. A lot of my favorite “Colt” songs aren’t ones where they’re outwardly admitting any kind of affection for MC – they’re the ones where it reads as Colt struggling with their feelings for MC and how to express them.

PTSD, G Herbo ft. Juice WRLD, Lil Uzi Vert, and Chance the Rapper [p]

I don’t belong, I see my past everywhere

I got a war zone on inside of my head

A million dollars ahead, I’m still angry and seeing red

I’m too paranoid, I make sure all my opps, they bled

This song always guts me because G Herbo is talking about all the people he’s lost, and for Colt, I imagined this was probably him after losing his father. Reminded of his past when he saw the remains of the shop, reminded of his past every time after that probably when he was rebuilding the shop. As for the million dollars, it’s like he could pull off as many heists as he could but he would never be satisfied until Brotherhood paid, hence the last lyric because honestly I don’t think it’s over until Shaw is dead (ik there’s a line in ROD where he’s like if we were even, he’d be dead, I just know it).

Sun God, Trippie Redd [j]

Went out my way just to love you / Right at the top, no above you / Right off the top, know I trust you / Ready or not, here I come, boo / And baby, you're hot, like the sun, too / Not too hot for me, no I'm sun-proof / Follow your lead, I'ma come through / Just you and me, baby, one-two

I think this is Colt way farther down the line if MC had the chance to really fall in love with him. He’s the type to value trust and loyalty in a bond more than anything else because he doesn’t do either of those easily at all. And I think that the line about being sun-proof is a cute callback to a lot of the fandom comparisons of Colt and Icarus – the title too and the lyrics just scream Colt to me.

Where Does The Love Go?, Maria Isabel [j]

Nightly negotiations with the moon, whoever's listening / All the miles between us got me messed up, got me trippin'

They say lovin' is easy / But not when one of us is leaving

Back on a plane / Two different coasts / When we're alone / Where does the love go? / What if you go / Forget the way home? / Running in circles but never together / So where does the love go?

The more I listen to this song the more I think this song is about Colt and MC. Colt’s not a clingy type in the slightest, but there’s no doubt in my mind that deeper into the relationship, both Colt and MC would have some doubts – the reason I say this is because I’m viewing the lyrics through the lens of Colt and MC doing long distance while MC is in college on the East Coast. This whole song is long distance relationship anxiety summed up perfectly and it’s so Colt.

Yellow Lights, 24kGoldn [p]

Don’t want no yellow light / don’t want no mixed message

For the crown, ‘cause we could achieve it

Love you now, but don’t you deceive me

Second lyric resonated with me esp because of that line in the book where he’s like “But the two of us? We put our brains together, you and me could run this whole town” so he knows he could achieve an empire with MC by his side. Last lyric is because Colt definitely doesn’t trust those around him and for those that he does trust, that trust doesn’t come easy. So MC, who managed to get past that, is loved, but would automatically lose a lot if she deceived him (now imagine….snitch MC? This line would hit a lot more because she ends up deceiving him so like he had a right to be wary of her holding his heart (like if we’re looking at the pov of him saying this lyric)).

Can’t Love, Trippie Redd [p]

She say she love me, I think she love me not / She say she love me, I know she love me not

How could you do this to me? / Yeah, yeah, I thought you, I thought you loved

Another Mona and her ex song teehee but I’m imagining this from Mona’s pov while she’s in jail like wow that girl never loved me like she said she loved me (first lyric) and how could she betray me like this (second lyric).

Favorite Mistake, Giveon [p]

Is my secret safe? / Safe with just you and me / We can’t leave a trace / This is my favorite mistake

Look in my eyes / Do you mind the lies? Do you feel alive?

Even when you’re gone / The feeling just grow stronger / Should leave it alone / But you’re getting closer

So I finally did a Mona route and GOD yes this song is about cheating (Mona and Hieron can’t relate) but we gon ignore that and just focus on these lyrics specifically because wow they really hit me like Mona for one was in denial of her feelings for MC from the jump and at some point she’s like god this is so ridiculous I can’t believe I’m feeling this way again so ofc she doesn’t want people to know she’s in love (like that time Toby is like man she is NOT happy about liking you! in the club scene) hence the beginning of the first lyric but at the same time….. she’s in love… so “this is my favorite mistake.” As for the second and third, the lies are that “I don’t like you” ra ra ra she’s only fooling herself and then it’s like yeah she knows her feelings are dumb but she can’t help but fall for MC anyway <3

Gonna Love Me, Teyana Taylor [p]

Sometimes we say things that we really don’t mean / We do things in between the lines

Please wait up for me ‘til whenever I get home / I know that you’re all alone / Thinking ‘bout what you’re gon’ do / I hope that you see it through, ooh, ooh

Why is it so hard to keep in touch

For the first lyric, I was thinking of the time MC says “Being with you makes a difference to me. It feels safer” and Mona replies that “It’s just an illusion. A blanket. And I’ve told you before not to count on me.” Yeah she said that wit her chest but ik she knows it’s more than that for the both of them. The second and third lyric both have to do with her being in jail by the end of the book (making it literally hard to keep in touch), and even though she tells MC not to wait up, a part of me thinks the vulnerable part of Mona would’ve hoped at least a smidge that MC would, and the last bit ‘thinking ‘bout what you’re gon’ do / I hope that you see it through’ reminds me of the advice in the diamond scene of driving Mona to the hospital that she gave MC which was that to move on, you just gotta keep your foot on the gas and look forward and that eventually, she’ll be somewhere better than she’s ever been.

Love or Lust, 24kGoldn [p]

It’s love or it’s lust, we just need to be clear / ‘Cause if you’re in love, then I shouldn’t be here

Would you walk eight thousand miles just to make me smile on a rainy Wednesday? / If so, then you gots to go, it ain’t mutual and I’m not pretending

Basically in the beginning stages of MC falling for Mona, Mona’s like oh hell nah (“I shouldn’t be here”) and she recognizes that MC likes her a lotttt (MC would definitely walk eight thousand miles to make her smile on a rainy Wednesday) and so she’s like fuck

PLW, Leon Thomas [j]

Left my fear right at the door (ooh) / She's an animal hunting in the wild, yeah (in the wild) / Doesn't move around or groove / But she come from the depth / That's why she's down to earth / An instrument of war

Baby ain't no beginner / I got love for my little winner / Flashing or finessing / That's why I mess with her, yeah

And you don't have to worry, yeah / 'Cause I know what's she worth / No, you don't have to save me / From my pretty little weapon

Ooh my baby smart, and she sharp, and she sharp, yeah / Pretty little weapon

I’ll never ever get over how this song fell into my lap and is absolutely perfect for Mona. This is for an MC who acknowledges that Mona’s a badass and that she loves her because of her strong personality and unwavering confidence because she knows she’s good at her job. The first verse is the best approach an MC could take – leaving her fear at the door because she knows someone like Mona could sniff it out. The line “No, you don’t have to save me / From my pretty little weapon” kills me, because it’s accurate – on Mona’s route, despite any betrayal, the MC is still in love with her and knows that Mona would never actually hurt her.

Sleeping With the Enemy, BbyMutha & Kindora [j]

Creeping around corners / I don't feel like myself / Studying your movements / It's a carousel / And I can't confirm that you / Mean what you say / And I'm pretty sure / That it's / Better that way

Why can't I trust in you / Am I slipping up / Over you / If it really turned to be the way / That I think / How bad could it be?

And I know that we could go for / Round and round like 123 / And I gotta question myself / Is it coming? / Possibly / And I gotta wonder / Am I sleeping with the enemy?

I'm watching my back / Like I got nothing left / I give you all I got / Wish I knew what was next

The first time I heard this song it was a toss up between whether or not it was a Colt and Mona song (or both) but I settled on Mona pretty quickly after a re-listen. Not only is the internal conflict in the lyrics a perfect description of Mona’s own battle, but it could be easily viewed from MC’s perspective as well. The idea of knowing it’s “wrong”, and mistrusting them but pursuing it anyways is quintessential early Mona route.

The World is a Marble Heart, AJR [p]

We could have been, we should have been / What your heart couldn’t handle

Run away, girl, ‘cause I let you / Now you found some other man, you see / I’m better off without you, ‘cause the man ain’t me!

I’m going right now / To the beginning / What you denied from the start / And now you can’t go breaking my heart

The world is a marble heart / It’s bullshit and we know it

I think the first lyric is definitely MC to Mona because Mona was afraid to allow herself to be in love, and then evidently their relationship couldn’t blossom because Mona ends up arrested (“we could have been, we should have been”). This song called out to me because Mona always comments on how MC’s heart got them into the Brotherhood mess, how MC always think the crew is something they’re not, so MC’s heart is the marble heart and the last lyric (“it’s bullshit and we know it”) is essentially Mona being like girl you know we are not what you think we are. The second lyric is because in a scene after the reveal, Mona drives MC to Riya’s house and MC goes I wish we could run off together and Mona is like just say the word and MC is like I can’t :/// and then Mona is like the only one stopping you is you, and then “I’m better off without you” is Mona being don’t call don’t write don’t text

Would You, Pink Sweat$ [p]

Would you die for me? I would die for you / Would you shoot for me? I would kill for you / Would you run up the bag if I needed you to? / Girl, all the things that I’d do for you / Would you do for me too?

I wanna know when it pops off that you gon’ be right next to me

This was giving Mona and her ex from that scene where MC got a glimpse into Mona’s past. Essentially, Mona’s ex and her were thick as thieves, and when they got arrested, Mona didn’t say anything and her ex did, so Mona was always ten toes down but her ex never had her (Mona) like she (Mona) thought she (her ex) had her (Mona)

Both of Us, YFN Lucci [j]

Stay with me when there's no one else to call / If you got me then I'm in it for the both of us

Look, ayy, do you love me like you say you love me? / Ay, do you vow to keep it cute when everythin' get ugly? / Ay, if I ever leave, girl would you come lookin' for me?

I think that this song and these lyrics fit into the title of the book and how “ride or die” each of the love interests are for MC and vice versa. I think the softer parts of this song are MC for sure, and Logan at times, and the second bullet point is Colt and Mona. For them, it’s more of a promise of loyalty rather than love like the earlier lyric is (which is why I think that’s a bit more hopeless romantic like Logan).

C U Girl, Steve Lacy [j]

I haven't seen you in a while, you know I miss you babe / When you hear this song, feel flattered, it's about your face / And how I miss it and I wish that I could see it more / But you're in college now and I'm about to go on tour

I love this song because it makes me think of the possibility of MC and the LI having a “song” – one where any time they hear it they think of each other. And that when they hear it it makes them happy but at the same time they’re forced do think about the distance between them and how much they miss each other.

Collide, Tiana Major9 and Earthgang [j]

Everybody's got opinions on our thing / Say we're flying down a path with no ending / And if I die before I wake / Ooh, don't let me wake up from this dream / When we collide / When we collide, it's a beautiful disaster / When I crash into you, you, you

And I don't care about the future or the past / Riding slow, 'cause you know the world's moving too fast

Without you, I'm just a fraction / Closing in on my demise / And I love you religiously / With everything inside of me / As long as I'm alive

So I think it fits for all three because the relationship is taboo since they’re criminals and she’s a valedictorian getting ready for college. Their relationship is sloppy and dangerous and comes to an inevitable end, and they both know that, so this song for sure encapsulates how little both the LI and MC care about that. They don’t that it’s a trainwreck, because colliding is all that matters :)

Heaven, Clairo [j]

Alone, for the last time / You're just a loner / Give it a try / And you're hard on yourself / And your laugh, it just melts in my hands / Lonesome in the streets

I'll get by with you on my mind / I'll get by with you on my side

I love the idea of this song being viewed as MC’s perspective of her LI, because I’m sure the other LI’s haven’t been appreciated in the way that she appreciates them. For example, the line about the laugh melting in her hands makes me think about how they’d react to her saying that to them. None of the LI’s probably have never been told their laugh is cute, and I’m sure they’d be confused about it at first, so this whole song gives me a cute late night summer drive vibe. Like the MC is in the passenger seat of Mona or Logan’s car or draped around Colt and she’s just appreciating the things she loves about them.

Heaven Ain’t Hard 2 Find, Tupac [j]

Simply because you nervous, let me start off with my conversation / Hoping my information, elevates the hesitation / I can see it clearly now / Catch you smiling through your frown / I'm askin' Baby Boo are you down?

Heaven ain't hard to find / In fact you can have it just have faith / Just like a little kid, still believing in magic / It takes a lot of sacrifice / With all the lonely nights on tour / I need somebody I can trust in my life

Oh god help me identify me truest thoughts / Your hidden motives full of passion who would of thought / Come holla at me baby, love me for my thug nature / Far from a player hater, label me a money maker / Straight heart breaker

I originally added this song because it’s canon that Colt loves old West Coast Rap, so that makes me think he’s a huge Tupac fan. I can see him listening to this in his car driving down a California highway at like 2 a.m. On the other hand, though, the beginning of the song reminds me of the first meeting with Logan at the party, or the second meeting when they go to the car show – young love jitters and all that.

Keep Me Up, Charlotte Lawrence [j]

My heart starts beating and my hands start sweating / My chest starts sinking and sometimes will even start shaking / It's physical and emotional

And I don't want you all inside my head / And I can feel you running through my veins

When I say, and I say, and I say / That I want you in my life / But you stay, and you stay, and you stay / And you never leave my side / And you take, and you take, and you take / And you say you feel so nice, boy / And you keep me up all night

I think this fits with all the LI’s and MC and how they cope after the LI’s had to leave. Read it from both perspectives and it honestly fits so well for both of them – like the first couple months of restlessness staring at their ceiling while reflecting on how much they miss each other.

Kitchen, Kid Cudi [j]

Hmm, you wanna find somebody you trust and lay low / But it seems they all on the same mission / You wanna find somebody you trust and lay low / But can't stand the heat of my love, then stay out the kitchen

Oh baby here we are, I made a wish on shootin' stars / I ain't even mad at it, we made it this far

The attitude of this song reminds me of both Mona and Colt’s feelings about relationships – they both know they’re intense people and that they don’t trust or love easily, and that whoever’s interested in them needs to know that. They’re not going to apologize for it, but they appreciate anyone who sticks around and loves them despite that.

Meet Me Halfway, The Black Eyed Peas [j]

Can you meet me halfway, right at the borderline / Is where I'm gonna wait, for you / I'll be looking out, night n' day / Took my heart to the limit, and this is where I stay / I can't go any further than this / I want you so bad it's my only wish

I think of all three LI’s when I listen to this, because it fits into the idea of them struggling to maintain both of their lifestyles and have them mesh together. And it plays into the distance when MPC has to scatter.

Moonlight, Trippie Redd [j]

I can still be your man / I was tryna see your plans / 'Cause I was tryna have this dance tonight / Your body, girl, I'm a real big fan / And I cannot lose this chance / So, baby girl, grab my hand / This moment I'm waiting for, I fantasize / I just wanna be with you, I just wanna be with you tonight / Under the moonlight

This reminded me of the prom scene and how despite the chaos, all three love interests took the time to appreciate MC and soak up their last “date”.

out for the night, 21 Savage [j]

Five foot five (Five), she my ride or die (Die) / Never tell a lie (Lie), we like Bonnie and Clyde (Clyde) / Lookin' at her thigh (Thigh), like, "Do it come with rice?" (Rice) / She don't like FaceTime, she would rather Skype / But I'm out for the night (Straight up) / Out for the night (Straight up)

When I heard this song I could definitely see Colt listening to it, but I think the flirtiness of the song fits for all three love interests! Also, I mean… “she my ride or die” and “we like Bonnie and Clyde”? Self explanatory.

Part of Me, Teo [j]

I believe there's no one in your place / So much lovely / You can cure my mistakes / You reside in me no room for escape

You're my darling / You're my love / You're rocking all of your diamonds / All dressed up / And girl I lost my mind, no, I messed up / So now I'm knocking at your doors with my chest up

You're part of me / Come again and see / Diamonds make you sparkle

This reminds me of the prom scene from the LI’s perspective. And even more so than that, it reminds me of post prom/car chase where they have to say goodbye to each other the last time. It’s like a bittersweet tribute to MC about how much they mean to them and how much they’ll think about them when they’re apart.

Special, 21 Savage [j]

We got something special / I was finna text you / But I don't wanna pest you / Even if we ain't together (no matter we're forever) / I'm still coming to your rescue

Ride with me (ride with me) / Tell the truth and don't you lie to me (lie to me) / You know I need you on my side with me (side with me) / Tell the truth and don't you lie to me (lie to me) / Baby, roll with me (roll with me)

I'mma hold you down forever / You my round forever / They just want to use you, but I'm tryna help you

I think of Colt mostly with this song, but it definitely fits with all of the li’s in my opinion! Logan, Colt, and Mona would all approach their relationship with MC this way – constantly affirming that they’re there for MC no matter what, even if things go South with them, they’re always one call away. And especially the last line “they just wanna use you, but I’m tryna help you” that’s for sure an overprotective LI about the Jason Shaw situation and generally people taking advantage of MC’s kindness.

Drunk on Love, Rihanna [p]

Take me away / I wear my heart on my sleeve / Always let love take the lead / I may be a little naive, yeah

I feel like I’ve heard MC being described as naive, and even in the book Mona is like man it’s your damn heart that got us into this mess because you thought we were more than who we are, so yeah this song reminded me of MC.

Final Goodbye, Rihanna [p]

Thought that you would stay forever with me / But the time has come to leave

Promise you our love will carry on

Final goodbye, MC saying goodbye to their LI, you catch my drift.

The Good, the Bad, and the Dirty, Panic! at the Disco [p]

If you wanna start a fight / You better throw the first punch / Make it a good one

I feel like this lyric specifically is saying that if you’re gonna stand for something, you better give it your all, and it reminded me of how MC came up with the plan to defeat the Brotherhood in the last few chapters of ROD, and to get out of it, they really had to go all out (AKA MC telling the police everything, meaning the gang had to go on the run). Also, MC just nose-dived into this life and I feel like this lyric is like ‘well sis if you gon be a criminal you might as well do your best’ (and she did when she bodied her first heist I know that’s right, my driver forever <3).

Harder We Fall, Jessie J [p]

So, whatever path we choose to take / There will be highs and there will be lows, the same / Oh, we’ll never run from our mistakes / The harder we fall the harder we try again

I just feel like this is a good song for MC to listen to in the car on her way to Langston yk crying but the windows are down and the wind is wiping your tears so you just keep it pushing because you’ll live and you’re stronger than your lows.

House of Memories, Panic! at the Disco [p]

If you’re a lover, you should know / The lonely moments just get lonelier / The longer you’re in love than if you are alone / Memories turn into daydreams, become a taboo

I think of you from time to time more than I thought I would

I just feel like this is a perfect song for MC going through the motions of leaving their lover behind and thinking about the times they shared because her life with the crew will always be so drastically different than the life she was went to have (going to Langston, being the ‘goody two shoes’, etc.).

Let It Out, Trippie Redd ft. Myiah Lynnae [p]

I need to know, before I tell you, can I trust you?

Idk man this song really just spoke to me.

Saw You in a Dream, The Japanese House [j]

I saw you in a dream / You had stayed the same / You were beckoning me / Said that I had changed / Tried to keep my eyes closed / I want you so bad / Then I awoke and it was so sad

Haven't talked to you in months / And I thought that I might cry / But I'm not that kind of girl

All good things come to an end / But I thought that this might last / But you came and left so fast

I wonder if you'll come visit me again / You're taking your time to reappear / I'm starting to believe that when I call your name / You just don't hear me anymore / And I know that I shouldn't even try / It's a waste of time

I don’t think I need to go super in depth as to why this reminded me of MC, but I do see this as MC’s defeated approach to it in the months/years after meeting the MPC.

Silent Nite, Tink [p]

I put your joy and your feelings ‘fore mine / These days I’m angry, angry inside / No words to say (oh) / One thing to do / Move on and fall back from you / It’s gonna be a silent night / No one here to hold me tight / It’s gonna be a silent night / No one here to hold me, oh, oh I’m lonely / Lost for words (lost for words)

It’s a short song so I just put the whole lyrics in here LMFAO but I feel like this could be MC during her first few nights at Langston. For Hieron at least, I know she went through a range of emotions processing this new chapter without the people she holds dear, angry at the way this is how things had to play out, but all that’s left for her to do is get over it, move on, and get used to not having that support anymore (i.e. like if MC is used to cuddling with [insert LI], they deadass gotta sleep alone now f in the chat).

Smile, Juice WRLD ft. The Weeknd [p]

I’d do anything in my power to see you just smile / I want you to prosper and come proper / Even if that means I ain’t by your side

I spent every day right beside you (‘side you), ‘side you (‘side you) / A hundred pics of me on your phone / Now you’re someone that I used to know

OKAY so I’m absolutely obsessed with this song and the first lyric was definitely giving me Logan x MC because I feel like this is something he could’ve said during his goodbye, like saying something that vulnerable and heartwrenchingly sweet is def on-brand for him, but the second lyric I feel like fits all the LIs. Like because they were part of the crew, they spent so much time with MC, and now that they’re gone, MC has all those pictures and memories that they  want to hold on to them so badly even though they can never be together again (‘now you’re someone that I used to know’)

Stuck With Me, The Neighbourhood [j]

Now I'm feeling guilty for it / Didn't wanna leave / Realized I'm less important / Than I thought I'd be, yeah / I'm not tellin' you for any certain reasons but / I just want your empathy

Our lives keep on gettin' shorter / Losin' opportunity / There might be some other ways of looking at it but / That's just what I see / I been gettin' over myself / Thinkin' about what you need / Then I realised that neither of us matter

You always end up stickin' to me / Somehow, somehow / You are stuck with me / So I guess I'll be sticking with / You are stuck with me / So I guess I'll be sticking with

So I think this song covers a lot of topics for MC. I think the vibe of the lyrics suit MC when she’s dealing with her relationship with her father, being pressured by Jason Shaw, and grappling with whether or not she’s making the right decision despite it all – homegirl was falling in love throughout all of it, too. Reading the lyrics with that lens made me think of each of the lines as a different conversation. The first part sounds like a tidbit of a conversation she could’ve had with her dad or about her dad. The next one is like a realization that despite how careful she is with her choices, nothing matters anyways, if the MC takes a nihilistic approach to it. And the last lyric is her conclusion with the LI that despite everything, she’s happy that she’s with her LI and she’s grateful for their loyalty.

worst behavior, Ariana Grande [j]

I been on my worst behavior / But, baby, I don't need no savior / I'm way outta line / But I kind of like the way I / Feel when I just don't give a fuck

This ain't no game, won't play with you / This time I know I'll stay with you / Just promise you won't say nothin' / Don't you be actin' like that, don't you be actin' like that, babe

Said baby it's just in my nature / To be a little troublemaker

Know you really like the way I / Taste when we kiss, you reminisce / But this ain't the last time / Just stay by my side

This song reminds me of rebellious MC before the gravity of the situation really hits her – the short span of time where she’s not worrying about being Valedictorian or college or her dad’s approval. She’s just living and falling in love for the first time. This could probably work for all LI’s but the specific “troublemaker” line makes me think of an MC who is trying to reassure Logan that she can make her own decisions.

1Day, PnB Rock ft. Ugly God [j]

Momma told me that I wouldn't be shit / Told her one day / I'ma be rich (huh)

One day, I'ma buy a big ass crib  / One day, I'ma buy a big ass mansion / One day, all my fucking diamonds gon' be dancing / One day, I'ma fuck a bitch in the Hamptons / One day, I'ma eat the sushi with the salmon

Dropped out of college, everybody said I'm tripping / Told them be patient, but they ass wouldn't listen / Made it big time, now they fucking with the vision / Now I'm really rich, and my diamonds really glistening

The lyrics kind of remind me of the lifestyle that they live – whether or not they fell for the MC in the process, they all kind of have the motive of money and being successful in their own way. Even though the li’s and MC have their own shortcomings and wants and needs outside of MPC, I like to think of this song as an ego booster and probably representative of their attitudes when they joined MPC at the beginning. Reminds me of Logan especially since he joined the life so early and probably romanticized it for the longest time before it really went to shit. And to add to that, the last lyric is Colt all the way.

92 Explorer, Post Malone [p]

Ooh, baby, I see these muhfuckas’ glancin’ / When my whip stop, then my wheels keep spinnin’

Made a lot of M’s, made a lot of moves

This song is literally all about Post Malone’s precious car so I was like LMFAO why not because everyone in ROD loves their cars and then the last lyric is because they be making a lot of money with their transactions/steals.

Best Friend, Saweetie ft. Doja Cat [p]

Beep beep, is that my bessie in a Tessie?

Listen... I feel like we were robbed of the peak best friend dynamic that could’ve existed between Riya and MC so this whole song is for them (also c’mon MC could’ve snatched a Tesla if she reeaaally wanted too so yup that’s Riya’s bessie in a Tessie).

Lost It, Rich The Kid ft. Quavo and Offset [p]

The Bentley don’t cost shit / I walk out the bank rich

Okay, drank sippin’, lane switchin’ / I done brought my gang with me

Ooh, I might snatch the coupe

First one because they really could get any car they wanted, second lyric because gang always together yk, and last one because they really be stealing cars out here LMFAO.

Royal Rumble, Lil Tecca [p]

My life is a movie, you not ready for that clip

It’s a Royal Rumble

ROD really is a wild ride (‘my life is a movie’) and the ‘it’s a Royal Rumble’ just reminded me of the fact that it’s basically a showdown between two crews where one wins in the end but at what cost.

Runnin’, 21 Savage and Metro Boomin [p]

Runnin’, runnin’, runnin’, runnin’

We run the motherfuckin’ city

Fuck your crew, [redacted], we’ll kill your crew

First lyric is because literally everyone has to scatter by the end of the book, and the second lyric just gave me their vibes, whether or not they truly ran the city. The last lyric makes me laugh because Colt really was about to kill the other crew, the ‘we’ is a lilll bit loose in that sense though LMFAO because I know damn well Toby was not ready to go down like that.

Stuntin’ Like My Daddy, Birdman ft. Lil Wayne [j]

What we doing? Getting money / What they doing? Hating on us, but they never cross / Cash money still a company, and, bitch, I'm the boss / And I be stuntin' like my daddy, stuntin' like my daddy

Colt and Teppei don’t get along, but I like to think that Colt not only bumps this song in his car, but secretly imagines that him and Teppei run L.A. – either together or with Colt taking the reins.

Takin’ Shots, Post Malone [p]

Drinkin’ all night, but we ain’t done yet / Waitin’ on the plug, but he ain’t come yet

Already losin’ control, this is the life that we chose

The first lyric and this song overall just give me club vibes, like the underground one they went to where MC wears that neon fit. The part in the second line that always gets me is ‘this is the life that we chose’ because being a part of this crew was a choice for most, and they knew what comes with this lifestyle.

Trouble on Central, Buddy [j]

So the entire song is pretty much the idea  “I wish life were better and I’m daydreaming about how good things could be for me”. And to be honest, I think that the vibes of that fit Logan when he was young and broke, but at the same time, I could see Colt bumping this song in a convertible.

VEGAS, ABRA [j]

The whole song reminds me of the gambling scene and the high stakes of it. It kind of reads like the MC trying to fit in with dangerous criminals while she’s there despite the MPC thinking she’s not ready for it

[aislingyngaio-games]

The Tifareth Balance

I think this goes all the way back to the gnostic tree, and how everything has to be brought into balance to achieve Final Heaven.

Introduction: Where the Characters Begin in FF7

At the beginning of the story, Aerith was treated all her life as special by certain individuals - Turks, Shinra/Hojo, Elmyra, Zack. This gave her a very young Queen Victoria levels of self-importance and obstinence, very self-centered world view if you will, and that's why in OG she's always asking Cloud what he thinks about her etc (which actually implies she's rather confused that she isn't already the center of his world somehow) during dialogue options. This is also I believe partially why she seems to sense Ifalna, Elmyra’s husband, and Zack enter the Lifestream, yet seems inured when two reactors, a plate, and the related mass loss of life occurred. Surely she should have been overwhelmed by the sheer number of souls passing back into the Lifestream, yet she seems perfectly deaf to this mass upheaveal and more concerned about her own earthly affairs as she meets Cloud? Sounds oddly cold for a steward of the planet who could hear its cries, however faintly. There’s no Obiwan-Alderaan moment for her at all. Her starting point is that she misses the forest for the trees.

Meanwhile, we have Tifa, who though in her youth was the center of a circle of friends, we learn during the Lifestream that none of them actually understood her, esp obvious during her grief over her mother's death. For an introvert, this is actually a deeply socially draining experience, and since then, given how one by one her social circle deserted her and the village for job opportunities, she is left to believe she's simply a cog in the Grand Scheme. She's always had to suppress her own self and think of others before her. It doesn't matter that she probably wants to leave the village that's been emptied of her peers - she's the chief's daughter so she must stay. It doesn't matter that she disagreed over the reactor bombings, for the Greater Good Avalanche must do something to save the Planet, so she had to acquiesant against her own wishes. It was she who worried and grieved most for the two reactor bombings and the plate fall and its associated loss of life, even though she still had Cloud with her, and realistically couldn’t actually hear the cries of the Planet. Her starting point is that she misses the trees for the forest.

In other words, at the beginning of the story, Aerith is too selfish and Tifa is too selfless. And as author Rick Riordan once wrote, "The most dangerous flaws are those which are good in moderation. Evil is easy to fight. Lack of wisdom… that is very hard indeed." (Athena, The Titan's Curse)

Aerith’s Character Arc in FF7

Over the course of the story, we see Aerith, even while leveraging her position and her blood against Shinra's encroachment, was equally afraid of her own powers. She ignored and hid herself away from the problems of Gaia, hiding under the protection of Elmyra for as long as she could. She disregards opinions and feelings of others like when she totally misjudged how to handle Barret's raw emotions over Corel at the Gold Saucer. She was not at all oblivious to Tifa's feelings yet still attempted to monopolize Cloud's attentions in front of her. This behaviour can be traced back to her need to stand firm against the Turks’/Shinra’s persuasions, though when used on regular people like the team, it is very offputting, abrasive, thoughtless and likely was what actually alienated her peers from her growing up. Ultimately, she made the fatal mistake of believing she knows what's best for the group in merrily skipping off alone into the Forbidden City (I mean, sure, we all know Cloud was unstable from the Jenova manipulation but there were 7 other sane party members who could have been consulted and split up before she skipped off unprotected?), and ultimately her fatal flaw of arrogance and selfishness caused her death. Not because she meant to die, knowing it will protect the planet, because she'd always intended to return to the team ("She talked about the future more than the rest of us"), but she died anyway because her arrogance and selfishness were her fatal flaw.

I think it is only in death, though unaddressed explicitly by the game story itself (which of course remains on the living party members, and therefore is the story of life, and how life still moves on after death), that she truly grasped the littleness of who she is. That ultimately, back in the Lifestream with all the other Cetras, she was finally able to understand that in the end, she was just another Cetra in the great battle against Jenova. Sure, she was the Cetra who summoned Holy, but it was actually doing more harm than good by itself. It was only with the collective power and force of the Lifestream, of all who were born of the Planet and all who returned to the Planet, that Meteor was able to aid Aerith (Holy) in pushing back Meteor. In accepting her ordinariness among the Cetra is when Aerith truly becomes the mother of Gaia, even if nobody other than the FF7 team will ever remember her name. Her legacy lives on in Gaia, along with the legacy every other Cetra died to preserve.

Aerith's character arc is to temper her selfishnes with selflessness, to care for the welfare of all instead of the welfare of a few individuals, and to recognise that she is but a small part in the greater plan, that it is ok to not be special. Her special blood didn't stop her from dying, nor was she alone the only saviour of the Planet. In the end, I believe that Aerith's journey in FF7 is her journey to understand that no matter how special she seems to be, in the end, the Planet will still live on without her too, with Nanaki as the probable successor to her decimated race's role as the new steward of the Planet.

Tifa’s Character Arc in FF7

As for Tifa, her character arc is the complete opposite: to temper her selflessness with selfishness. How odd a concept for a protagonist! Except it goes right back to the balance necessary to achieve Final Heaven ("The most dangerous flaws are those which are good in moderation"). Tifa is shy, she is reserved, she always puts the needs and wants of others above her own, even if she disagrees. She didn't challenge Barret when she disagrees with his methods. She didn't challenge Aerith even when her own feelings were hurt, yet still she was kind in the face of such unkindness (intentional or not). She suppressed her own feelings for Cloud and tries only to behave like a friend to him even though she feels more. And most damning in her character arc, she didn't challenge Cloud over the knowledge that "I waited... but Cloud never came." It was the only piece of the Nibelheim incident she could recall clearly, but because she was too insecure in her own memories (though the rest of the Incident could be chalked up to the trauma caused by her almost dying by Masamune, Cloud's alleged absence at Nibelheim wasn't, because she had pinned her hopes on his arrival and her disappointment was palpable) she allowed what she knew to be false to stand in between them for the sake of Cloud's mental stability.

I have posited in another post that Tifa is not only the heroine of FF7 but the co-protagonist as well, or at the very least the deuteragonist. It is very telling that 10 minutes after Aerith's death, the team went snowboarding, whereas when Cloud and Tifa were both broken emotionally by Sephiroth and had their joint Heroic BSoD moment, the game experienced a timeskip. How odd that the permanent physical death of a valued party member didn't stop the game dead but the death of Cloud and Tifa's trusts in their own memories did? Yet it is important to mention as too many times already Tifa has simply been dismissed as unimportant, as simply the crutch, the guide to Cloud's story and nothing more. This could not be further from the truth. Tifa's story does not simply inform Cloud's. Tifa's story is ENTWINED with Cloud's. Even as their stories run parallel to each other's, crossing the same events, their arcs are both independent AND interdependent on each other's. Tifa is not simply a plot device or the narrator or whatever one calls Tifa in an attempt to dismiss her role in the bigger FF7 story. (And I mention this because even some Tifa fans forget this in their desire to whitewash Tifa's culpability in the Northern Crater affair, which is actually a key turning point in Tifa's hero's journey)

Someday perhaps I will write a full breakdown of Tifa’s hero’s journey (because it’s honestly frustrating to see claims – even from Tifa fans – of Tifa needing a character arc of her own when it’s always been in FF7 all along if only players will take off their protagonist/Cloud-tinted glasses) in greater detail, but for the sake of the discussion of her arc in the context of the gnostic tree and the role of balance within oneself, I will simply say this: that it is only in the death of her trust in herself, and in seeing the emotional death of the one she holds most dear (Cloud’s mental stability shattering at the Northern Crater), that she learns she cannot simply stand passively by even in the face of what she knows to be wrong, just to protect someone else’s feelings and wants. She learns that even inaction has consequences. That she has to be brave enough, assertive enough, just selfish enough to place her own needs and desires, her own thoughts and beliefs, on an equal importance to the rest of the party, even the Planet’s. That just because the world is ending, it doesn’t make her personal struggles any less important than the world’s problems, it doesn’t mean the problem can be ignored or that it will simply go away, or even that it’s unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

She erred, she fell, she “died”. And she learned, she grasped the second chance with both hands, and at Mideel, she stood firm and said, “This is where I want to be. Being with Cloud. Caring for him.” It wasn’t revenge she pursued any longer, or high-minded abstract ideals like saving the Planet. She still would help save the Planet if she could, but for once in her life, she put her foot down and make clear her own priorities – to be by the side of the one she love above all else. And she could make this decision without jeopardizing the Planet because of her ordinariness. She wasn’t imbued with special powers or special bloodlines or special keepsakes and her absence will most likely not affect the Planet’s safety or lack thereof. Even in her absence, we are sent on story missions that still ended in failure – heck, even after Cloud and Tifa rejoined, the Huge Materia space mission still failed anyway, because the point is... just because one wants to save the Planet doesn’t mean one can (after all, summoning Holy didn’t work either, at least not at first).

This is also paralleled with Tifa’s caring of Cloud: there was literally no guarantee that Cloud will ever recover from his Mako poisoning – he could be a vegetable forever, and yet this is still Tifa’s choice. This isn’t just about Cloud, but about Tifa asserting her desire to be with Cloud even in the face of both world destruction and his permanent vegetative state. This is who Tifa wants to be, who Tifa chooses to be. This isn’t something being pushed onto her as part of some “greater good” that she should ignore her own wants and needs for. (And to all those who deride Tifa as being weak for making her choices all for one man, remember that feminism isn’t about a “strong independent woman who need no man”, it’s about having the right to choose who we wish to be without being forced by any societal expectations of us. “Life doesn't make any sense without interdependence. We need each other, and the sooner we learn that, the better for us all." — Erik Erikson. If anything, Tifa choosing to stay by Cloud’s side is the very definition of feminism – it’s not about what we do, rather, that we have a right to choose without being shamed for what we choose to do)

Yet in the Lifestream is when she truly finds herself together with Cloud. She learns that, though she believed she is too ordinary to be special to anyone (remember, though she was the center of her group of friends in her youth, none of them really looked back when the time came for them, or at least she thought none did more than mere talk anyway), she was actually the reason for Cloud’s entire journey, that he reciprocated special feelings for her, that he always intended to return for her. She learned that, just as Cloud’s impetus was her reason for taking up martial arts (one of the few acts of “rebellion”/assertiveness in her youth where she was probably pressured to stay in the village either due to her father’s position or her gender), she was the reason for Cloud’s desire to be a hero too. Tifa was special in her ordinariness. She meant enough to someone who meant enough to her.

Tifa’s arc is to recognise that though she won’t ever be important to the Planet as an individual, she was important enough to the one that mattered most. It is not wrong or “selfish” to find individual love and prioritise it equal to the needs of the Planet. And in the end, it was this revelation and resolution of both her and Cloud’s mutual feelings for each other that gave Cloud the strength he’d previously only accessed from despair five years ago, the strength to defeat Sephiroth. And it was only with Sephiroth’s defeat that Holy was unleashed, and only when the Lifestream joined its chorus that the Planet was ultimately saved. In the end, it was the importance Tifa “selfishly” placed on her own wants and needs that saved Cloud, and by saving him, the Planet as well. If she’d been told that Cloud’s predicament, a single individual, was nothing in the face of the end of the world, if she hadn’t been just that little bit selfish in the face of her extreme selflessness, it might have simply brought them nothing but destruction.

Conclusion

In this sense, I believe that Aerith and Tifa were indeed developed to be two halves of the same whole. They started off as two extremes in terms of personality – Aerith was self-centered, assertive and intransigent, while Tifa was selfless, passive and insecure. Yet these are only negative traits when taken to extreme, and by meeting each other, by learning from each other, tempering and moderating each other’s behaviour, by Aerith learning to be more considerate, more humble and more persuadable (because my god, was Aerith utterly brattish and unbearable in Remake before she met Tifa), by Tifa learning to be more assertive, more confident, to take pride in herself, the two halves of a whole bring each other to balance and become better versions of themselves for it.

"The most dangerous flaws are those which are good in moderation. Evil is easy to fight. Lack of wisdom… that is very hard indeed."

P.S. tagging @enigmaphenomenon as it was your twitter thread that inspired this post. A lot of the thoughts in this impulsive post probably definitely needs a hell lot more refining by more critical minds but I hope this is a good starting point for discussion.

[ezasteral]

it’s literally the asscrack of midnight right now but i felt inspired to make a playlist with a storyline based on invisible string by the amazing @peterbenjiparker !! here is the song analysis/playlist breakdown as well 😩

TRACKS 1-7: the beginning of peter and y/n’s friendship

Flight of the Stars by Zayn - “i go where you go, go through armageddon / i got you” do i need to say more they are always there for each other

goodnight n go by Ariana Grande - reminds me a looot of how peter always swings by her house every night and often sleeps there 🥺

Last First Kiss by One Direction - WHEN Y/N AND PETER MADE OUT WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER AND WERE EACH OTHER’S FIRST KISSES BYE

Me & You Together Song by The 1975 - the second verse reminds me very much of how they’ll marry each other as last resorts and they started talking about their futures, children, and cooking for her shit like that is cute

TRACKS 8-13: after y/n gets her invisible string and finds out it’s connected to peter 😱

iT’s YoU by zayn - yes she finds out it’s peter 🤗

I Don’t Mind by zayn - “i don’t mind falling if it means i get to fly again” y/n doesn’t give up on peter despite her besties telling her to forget about him/cut it off bc she’s willing to wait for him awwhhhh

Best Friend by Jason Chen - “how could i tell you i loved you, when you were so happy with some other [girl]?” HMGWHRBRBRRR

TRACKS 14-26: peter and gwen’s relationship develops and y/n is neglected aw

Till Forever Falls Apart by Ashe and FINNEAS - “if the tide takes california, im so glad i got to hold ya” shes glad that she got to spend all those nights with him before he got with gwen and now she doesn’t wanna do that bc she feels its wrong :,)

ivy by Taylor Swift - “my pain fits in the palm of your freezing hand taking mine, but it’s been promised to another” he could take away her suffering with a not so simple confession except she thinks that his string is really connected to gwen 🧘🏻‍♀️

Save Myself by Ashe - “right now, i’m just mad over being so mature. if only i was never yours, oh, i could’ve saved myself [from you]” yes y/n (thinks she) is being mature by distancing herself and yah if she was never connected to him in the first place then she could’ve saved herself 😁🙏🏻

Play Pretend by Alex Sampson - “i want you to be happy, but it’s hard to watch you fall again ‘cause now i have to play pretend” -y/n

Friend by Gracie Abrams - “I hate the way you love me and I hate that I still cars, funny how you feel like we could ever talk again- how could you think I’d be your friend?” -y/n

Chosen Last by Sara Kays - GRRR LISTEN TO THE SONG PLZ IT GIVES ME “i’ve always been chosen last and now my best friend chose her over me” VIBES

Dancing With Your Ghost by Sasha Sloan - y/n lonely girl vibes when peter starts to spend more time with gwen (esp after she started locking her window :,))

Younger by Ruel - “you and me were so, so close, and maybe that’s what hurts the most. it’s out of my hands, i’ve done what i’ve can so i just save my breath” -y/n

TRACKS 27-31: when peter gets sus of y/n, confrontations, and they make up blah blah

quit by LANY - pp telling y/n to just quit running away and Just Talk to him for goodness sake

you! by LANY - “you’re the sun to the moon, you’re my ocean painted blue - i’m nothing without you” -peter

Line Without a Hook by Rick Montgomery - “oh baby i am a wreck when i’m without you, i need you here to stay” / “was it something i said to make you feel like you’re a burden? if i could take it all back i swear that i would pull you from the tide” - peter vibes

I Miss You, I’m Sorry by Gracie Abrams - “and i know you said that we’re not talking, but i miss you, i’m sorry” LITERALLY THEM MISSING EACH OYHER AND THEN MAKING UP PLEASE

and the rest just fit the vibe but yes i hope u enjoy i will be updating as more chapters are released and goodnight bc it is 2am 😇💟 (ps: dear author, i love this fanfic u are very awesome)

[scarfs-and-paws]

"Only the Brave" by Louis Tomlinson screams Theo Raeken and you cannot convince me otherwise

Pour mercy, mercy on me Set fire to history

Begging for forgiveness and wishing to be able to turn back time? Reminds me of Theo's loop in the skinwalker prison, esp. "You don't have to stop".

I'm breaking my own rules I'm crying like a fool

Him going against every survival rule the Dread Doctors teached him in season 6 to save Liam over and over again, but still not having anyone to get help from? (Yes, I am thinking about the damn spider scene.)

Tall stories on the page Short glories on the fade

Just his whole downfall in 5x20. Like he spent years and years with the Doctors, managed to tear apart Scott's pack, get his own chimera pack, killed so many people - and all of that success is gone within seconds, when Kira pushed her sword into the ground.

I've been close enough to touch But I never cared for love Basically Tracy's death scene. Do I need to say more? Plus this moment in idk which s5 episode with Hayden and Liam being lovey-dovey in his backseat while he only cares about how he can use this to turn Liam against Scott? Damn.

It's a church of burnt romances And I'm too far gone to pray

"I am an atheist. Fire at will." Also again "you don't have to stop" bc i'm pretty sure Theo thinks he will get back to hell and Tara when he dies.

It's a solo song And it's only for the brave

"I am not that much of a pack animal." Like ?? He said it himself in the beginning of s5: "lone wolfes, they don't make it on their own". And still, even though he is clearly struggling with nightmares, not being able to call anyone, sleeping in his goddamn car - he tries to survive, tries to be brave because he freaking has to? If the truth tell Darling, you fell Like there ain't enough dying stars in your sky

Maybe that's a stretch but this line reminds me of him trying to protect Liam more and more. "Why are you trying to save me?" Because Liam is a good person who went through too much already, lost too many people, experienced too much pain (part of which Theo caused himself). Especially the whole "your dead friends are gonna stay dead, no matter what you do" thing is a very bad communicated way to say "this is not going to end well and I don't want you to loose even more" (like people, but also the yellow eyes).

It's a tall tale And it's only hello, hello, no goodbye

Makes me think about he probably never had the chance to properly say goodbye to anyone he met through his teenage years? The Dread Doctors would leave as soon as they were finished with their experiments in whatever city they've been in, and getting to a new place probably meant coming up with a new persona and integrating to a group of people to manipulate them and lure future experiment objects in a false sense of security rather than letting people see how he really is and getting friends. Which. My heart breaks a bit. Pour mercy, mercy on me I'll fall upon my knees

Again. I am thinking about the hospital loop. Him always hitting the floor as soon as Tara grabbed his/her heart. Also: him being choked by the Ghost Rider and Liam saves him even though he vowed the opposite only minutes ago

And they'll say, "I told you so" Come on, when you know, you know

Liam and Theo being in the morgue and Liam going "I think you were rotting down there" and "Whatever happened to you - you deserved it". I remember watching that scene for the first time and nearly yelling at the scream because NOBODY DESERVES THIS? Liam, you have no clue what Theo went through in the skinwalker's prison, shup up, please.

All the lonely shadow dances From the cradle to the grave It's a solo song And it's only for the brave

EDIT: I forgot to mention that "Only the Brave" is widely seen as a song about queerness, perhaps in combination with religious trauma. Which opens even more possibilities to link this song to Theo bc a) Theo is queer (at least for me) and b) seems to have a conflicted relationship with religion as far as it was shown.

[ichika27]

My thoughts on Yashahime

I’ll make an actual post about Yashahime after the series is over and maybe a bit more (like my thoughts on SessRin as a whole) but for now I’ll be rambling about something I couldn’t stop thinking about since last night.

So... Sesshoumaru’s a dad now, huh? I mean, I knew since they announced the sequel series but it didn’t hit me that yeah, this really is happening until I saw the latest episode (ep. 15) and seeing him with his kids. Like, I watched Inuyasha as a kid and never really imagined that there’d be a time where the word “dad” or “father” would be used to describe him. The guy is stoic and almost emotionless so to think he’d become a dad or would get married at all was a surprising and strange thought. But he’s gone a long way from being the antagonist character he was introduced as at the beginning of the main series and now he has a family and I just... can you imagine all the slice-of-life shenanigans?

I’ll put the rest of my ramblings under the cut to save space...

Sesshoumaru is a serious person who has trouble showing emotions or even admitting he cares about people. Episode 15 shows him seeing Rin after she gives birth and then seeing his kids for the first time and there’s no change in his facial expression although we know as the audience there’s something underneath that. Rin knows and trust him and Jaken does, too of course. Sadly he was not able to watch his kids grow closely especially Towa who was forcibly time-travelled to the future and grew up on a different family. The twins don’t remember him and Rin at all either.

Like, imagine how awkward it would be after all the life-threatening stuff and them trying to be a family again. The kids are teenagers now, too and have their own personalities so it might be extra awkward. Towa probably would have to deal with meeting her biological parents and having them not be the Higurashis and the personalities are different, too (esp. her dad). Setsuna has to deal with having a family period and her memories of Towa would probably return at the end, too but still she had her demon slaying upbringing and always being in battle mode and such.

Anyways, imagine Setsuna being with her mom. She already feels kind of weird whenever her sister that she doesn’t remember shows affection now she has a mom who would probably do the same lol.

And Sesshoumaru is serious and such but his daughter Towa is kind and affectionate. I couldn’t stop thinking about this scenario: Sesshoumaru noticing Towa is using a broken sword all this time and one day comes back to give her a new one and Jaken would explain that his Lord Sesshoumaru had it made specifically for Towa. I can just imagine Towa being happy cause “Wow new sword for me?” and then saying thank you to her dad and hugging him and Sesshoumaru not knowing what the heck he should do and just... staring. Rin and Jaken would watch happily of course as they know he’s not unfeeling and-

And and and Setsuna being like Sesshoumaru (well, almost) would act tsun but she probably would wanna do family stuff, too.

And I want to see the twins interact with Jaken! He would be so overprotective of them while Sesshoumaru isn’t around. He’d be pissed if anyone even looks down on them and Towa would ask him to stop cause that’s totally not it and Setsuna would just sigh. Towa would be so nice and polite and would actually talk to Jaken nicely (the guy needs more appreciation!). He would totally tell the twins about their parents and how amazing their dad is hahaha.

I ship Setsuna with Hisui, by the way. The two have been working together for years and clearly Hisui cares a lot for Setsuna (every time there’s a fight he seem to be watching out for Setsuna a lot). I wish they’d show flashbacks of how the two became close as coworkers/friends at least. Anyways, imagine Jaken seeing the two close and has suspicions but doesn’t trust Hisui enough (even if he is Kohaku’s nephew as he doesn’t know the boy well yet).

Also, I was kinda disappointed at episode 14, I think, with the whole Towa’s smartphone thing as Setsuna didn’t know what it was and stuff. I mean, they showed Towa’s phone works it’s basic properties only without internet (someone pointed out that they could’ve been charging it with the bike like they showed in one of the uh, I have no idea what it’s called. Scene shows up every end of OP). The camera works, too and I was hoping Towa would take a picture of the three of them. I know it’s no big deal but she probably also has photos of her adoptive family on that. Just imagine her taking that photo and every time she opens it she could see photos of her family and once Rin and Sesshoumaru are with them she’ll have a family photo taken and another one with her aunt and uncle and cousin Moroha. I mean, it’s cute... I think it’s cute!

The later the twins could accompany their dad on whatever adventure he gets to and when they get home Rin is there to welcome them all back. Or just Sesshoumaru coming back home and he now has a wife and two kids waiting for him and that wasn’t a thing before and maybe even Towa would try having bonding moments with her entire family.

Also, Inuyasha and Kagome are trapped at the grave of Inu-no-Taishou so the new trio would probably go there, too. Imagine them seeing their grandpa’s grave. Someone on twitter made a joke about how Moroha might want to sell her grandpa’s corpse and I know she probably has a line she wouldn’t cross but it would be funny if the twins look at Moroha suspiciously with Moroha being outraged that they even thought she would do something like that.

Oh and the twins meeting their grandmother! I’m sure as heck Sesshoumaru’s mother wouldn’t be surprised he had hanyou kids. She totally saw it coming after Sesshoumaru saved Rin from death a second time. I wonder if they’ll get along? With the way Sesshoumaru’s mother talks and the twins personalities it makes me wonder how conversations would go.

Of course I still want Kagome to be able to visit her family and properly introducing Moroha this time around. I just want family bonding about them! And Moroha showing her great-grandpa that she kept the kappa’s foot all this time and really does appreciate it and how it helped her in battle.

Of course, Seshoumaru and Rin meeting the Higurashis - Sota, Moe, and Mei. Towa introducing her two families to each other! Mei would be happy to see her two big sisters again and Rin would be talking to Moe and thanking her for raising Towa and there’s Sota who probably would be talking to Sesshoumaru about Towa and how she grew up and Sesshoumaru would act aloof and all but he’s totally listening and is proud of his kid. That said Kohaku would also tell Lord Sesshoumaru about how amazing Setsuna is as a demon slayer.

I know the above is unlikely but still... just imagine! That’d be sooo nice! After all the crap they went through they’d just be happy together.

Also I just imagine the reunion after the trouble in the series with Rin getting her kids back and Sesshoumaru watching over them not saying anything and Jaken is crying tears of joy saying how his Lord Sesshoumaru is happy that his family is together again and Moroha looking at her uncle and is like “He is?” cause the guy isn’t smiling at all on the outside lol.

I couldn’t sleep last night just thinking about these. I know it’s probably OOC for many of them but just let me have my fun hahaha.

I’ll make another Yashahime post sooner or later cause I’m enjoying the series so far. I’m excited for the next episodes! And holy crap I didn’t realize how long this would be!

If you read my ramblings this far, thank you! I do hope it wasn’t that bad of a way to kill time haha.

[fiveisnumber1]

It's a miracle the house is still standing by the time they all get back considering they left the idiot four in charge. But luckily grace (would she be rebuilt in the future? I think Five has the intellect to be able to) is there to prevent any lasting damage to the premises.

Also Five acts annoyed but it does feel good to be doted on a little. I can also imagine Reader trying on some stuff cuz Addison and Allison would want to get Five and Y/N some matching date outfits too? Viktoria and Vanya are just happy to step in when Five is getting too ruffled by the pushiness cuz Vanya knows when Five needs some sisterly intervention and Viktoria understands readers fashion sense and can calm Addison down esp cuz the purpose of the trip isn't reader but Five. Kenny and Klaus are just there to cause chaos and poor Bren pretends he doesn't know anybody who he came with (he doesn't know it but Ben is right next to him in both action and physically)

(And maybe they pass a costume shop on the way back, Allison starts some of her old acting stories and wants to take a look. They see some 1700s costumes and that's where the idea for Hamilton Hidden Eight Edition is born? 👀)

Oh yeah, the idiot four would probably come up with some convoluted idea like...let’s start a kitchen fire to see if we could contain a kitchen fire. And then proceed to go through with it and end up ruining half of the kitchen. Everyone else would come back and they’d see the blackened disarray and be so annoyed when they found out what happened. 

“What happened here?” Allison asks

“We started a kitchen fire to see if we could put out a kitchen fire,” Diego explains

“Why would you do that?!” (Y/N) exclaims

“We needed to know.” Luther comments

“It was a smart idea!” Lucas adds

“YOU BURNED HALF THE KITCHEN!” Five yells

“I SEE IT AS WE SAVED HALF THE KITCHEN!” Dean replies

Also as they’re shopping, Five definitely likes that he's getting positive attention from people and being cared for. He won’t say it though. Addison and Allison are definitely like stans for Five and the reader so of course, they’re going to try and get matching outfits for the two of them but they constantly need to be reminded by the music V’s that they went for Five, not the reader and that they can’t be forcing their style choices onto either of them.

Kenny and Klaus would definitely pull some shit like grabbing a mannequin from the women’s section and telling Five they found his ex. Or they’d mess around in the perfume department just spraying every scent onto each other. Bren and Ben are just crossed armed trying to hide away.

Addison wouldn’t just see 1700′s style costumes she’d demand them. She spots a dress that looks like Angelica’s and immediately there’s a fire in her eyes.

“That’s it. I’ve spotted this dress and now we are putting on Hamilton. I will be Angelica and you will be my supporting cast.” Addison states

“But...it’s called Hamilton...it’s about Alexander Hamilton.” Bren remarks

“I said what I said. We’ll figure out the details later.” Addison replies

[iaintyourbro]

Even as a CT fan i still stand by what i say that Tifa deserves someone better than Cloud she’s too good for him in AC i hated how he treated her the girl was so vulnerable she needed someone to be there for her ,she’s a selfless person who thinks about other before herself ,yes as a CT i still think he was insensitive toward her esp after everything she’s gone through just to save him i still cringe the moment he become sonic just to save A but he was meh toward saving T if it wasn’t for A (1)

Sorry if i seemed like an anti C but for a girl he liked and known since childhood he sure put A before her many time a girl he knew for short period of time in the OG and a bit of the remake, sorry about that i just try to accept him but I can’t he still didn’t prove he deserves Tifa i want to see more care from him ,enough with LTD SE give is a good story this time i want to see more of Tifa, a heroine like A is so outdated she so 90s people want to see more badass heroines like T(2)

Hey anon.

I had to take a bit to think about this one last night. For one, there’s been a lot of discourse over on Twitter, and I’ve seen this rhetoric thrown around that Cloud was casting Tifa aside in favor of Aerith. It seems to upset Cloti fans and they start to question everything. 

There’s going to be links to other posts in here as well, I’ll put them as subjects come up.

I think a lot of people think Tifa deserves better. She is selfless and definitely puts others before herself constantly. The thing is, we may feel that way, but Tifa doesn’t. Tifa loves Cloud. 

What sucks about this is how much trauma both of them have been through. Cloud is just a mess. He’s seen his village burned down, his mother killed, he thought Tifa was killed, then he’s stuck in a tank and experimented on for four years, they get out, he sees his best friend die in front of him, and he mentally completely collapses and creates his false persona. Then while that’s going on, when he meets up with Tifa and fully assembles this new Cloud personality, we go on the adventure.

Then Aerith pops in. You’re with her for a very short time and she’s killed in front of him. Cloud also attempted to kill her twice before this. Add this to the already compounding shit that’s happened to him. 

Cloud ultimately was Aerith’s bodyguard. Cloud historically takes these types of responsibilities very seriously. He did in BC with somebody he barely knew. He knew Aerith, so that makes it even worse. He couldn’t protect her.

I also think that CoT does Cloud some justice. AC is where things get hairy and he got that Emo Cloud reputation that seemed to never leave him. Remake is clearing that up. The devs keep saying Cloud is an awkward dude. He’s not emo. 

Case of Tifa and The Kids are Alright

Tifa and Cloud deal with their guilt differently. Tifa pretends everything is fine. Even then, Cloud picks up on the issues in CoT and tells her that he’ll remind her to be strong. This scene takes place before the downward spiral starts with him. 

I feel like with AC they’ve released a lot of information to clarify that Cloud’s issue with Aerith was guilt related not pining. In these discussions, Zack is also forgotten, and I’d say Zack had an even bigger impact on Cloud due to their relationship and the amount of time he knew the guy. 

Why Zack is Important to Cloud

I have my thoughts on why they did what they did with AC. They also changed AC and rereleased it which in itself says they realized they may have made a few mistakes and/or just wanted to clarify the story. 

In terms of Cloud putting Aerith as a higher priority,  I need examples. Many of the ones I’ve been presented with over the last week are pieces of scenes to justify a point. The whole scene isn’t taken into account.

For example, the Train Graveyard (full of fun scenes, honestly), before Eligon when Cloud saves Aerith, this moment is regarded as so romantic. Fact is, he gets her out of the way, gets up, doesn’t even check on her and walks away. Tifa takes the baton and deals with Aerith’s well being. 

One of the funnier ones to me that they will blatantly ignore is when the train falls. He clearly diverts to his left to cover Tifa. The screenshots and analysis for that scene are below. There are also things to look at on the cargo container fall and the triple arm grab. (Part 4 of this series was more of a parody)

Train Graveyard Part 1 Falling in the cargo container Triple Arm Grab

Train Graveyard Part 2   Triple Arm Grab

Train Graveyard Part 3  Part 1 of the RUN scene

Train Graveyard Part 3.5 Part 2 of the RUN scene

Train Graveyard Part 5 Cloud and Tifa nope the fuck out

We’ve got Chapter 17 with the Whisper Tornado that Aerith gets stuck in. Tifa is the one who saves her from it. Cloud is standing right next to her and does nothing. 

The Shinra building rescue is often brought up as well. They claim Tifa didn’t care about saving Aerith, but it’s so far from the truth it hurts. Tifa and Barret both know the situation with Elmyra the first time they talk to her about this is escalating. Remember, Cloud is mentally 16. He thinks he can keep pushing and get his way. Ultimately the team calms him down and they go back to Sector 7. 

Cloud was very concerned about Tifa during Chapter 13. He didn’t seem to be in a rush at all to get back to Elmyra’s house. He was happy they found Wedge. 

So we go through the night, you get one of three resolutions. The next morning, Tifa and Barret back Cloud up in going to the Shinra building. They make it up there and Tifa gets discouraged because there is a very large security presence. Some say SEE SHE DIDN’T WANT TO GO, CLOUD HAD TO TELL HER.

Except it’s BARRET that says that. Tifa thinks it may be a lost cause. Barret says some lost causes are worth fighting for. Cloud then says “Let’s just think this through.” He wasn’t disagreeing with Tifa. Then Tifa is the one who points out the truck to get them in. Seems like she’s helping.

Once there, you have a few times when Cloud has to remind Barret to stay the course. There’s one time he reminds Tifa and that’s if you take the elevator. She’s also going down a bad path. Their goal is to rescue Aerith. He’s trying to keep her on track. 

Don Corneo’s basement is another one brought up. Cloud helps Aerith up. Why wouldn’t he? Girl just got knocked out with gas. He doesn’t blow Tifa off.

We can talk about how he blows Tifa off in Chapter 9 as soon as he sees the Chocobo Wagon too. Except once Aerith is up and goes over to see Aerith. 

Chocobo Cart: Cloud in Screenshots

Cloud and Chocobo Sam

I’m not really sure why they’re so hellbent on making people think that he only cares about one person. Cloud cares about EVERYBODY he meets. They show it with Avalanche, they show it even with Barret and Red. He’s not a douchebag.

In terms of Cloud deserving Tifa, I am really torn on it. Yes, she deserves the best. I then look at Cloud and think of how much has happened to him (and to Tifa) and if he really does make Tifa happy, then my opinion doesn’t matter much.

I think once we get through Remake, we’ll have a better idea of how Cloud will be. He’s already pretty affectionate towards Tifa, so I’m not sure. 

I am curious about specific examples though to the second part of your question about him caring more about Aerith. 

This post has other links to other users’ blogs in it to go over the LTD discourse. 

The Future of the LTD

[dr-gloom]

Some thoughts/analysis on the new episode, because the video itself and people's reactions were bugging me

Disclaimers: I don't hate Patton or Roman, I'm not calling Patton abusive or manipulative, as those terms insinuate knowing what you're doing and I don't think Patton does know how he's coming across

- First I wanna just point out, as a few others have, that Thomas is once again wearing black and white while discussing a grey-area issue. I love the attention to detail

- The recap only really highlights that Thomas admitted to wanting something that contradicted Patton's statement of why he's a good person (or more specifically "perfect", which, as nice and friendly and lovely as that sounds, is a toxic mindset and I like that Thomas touched on that at the end), which is an interesting point to cover honestly, especially since later Thomas challenges Patton to call him a good person

- "Now kiddo, if you're gonna dish out Fs, why don't we make them friendly hugs?" I understand Patton was trying to lighten the mood and joke a little and all that, but he's not letting Thomas just... Be angry/upset. He's trying to control how he feels and steer away from negative emotions, which I thought he learned not to do??

- I love that Patton heard what he was saying and stopped. Good on him. But what he replaced it with is called guilt tripping and that's not much better. "I'm surprised you would say something like that about your friends. I always thought that when it came to your pals, that sort of language would be... Ineffable?" It may sound gentle and sweet, but he's still saying "you can't talk about your friends like that" (and I get it, we all know that's not how Thomas really feels, but again he needs to be allowed to express himself). You can tell from Thomas's face while Patton's talking that the guilt tripping worked, at least for a moment.

- Anyone else notice a little Logan shining through in Thomas's words/actions the first portion of the video?

- "If our goals aligned with his what would that say?" Uhmmm gee lemme think Roman... Maybe that you care about Thomas's mental health and desires???

- I think it's very telling that during the rap Thomas cuts Patton off right before he's about to say something that, judging from the graphics, was going to make him sound heroic and said "I made this choice", while looking very... Upset.

- Okay so when Thomas was all "why didn't I just talk to them???" I felt hella vindicated but the second time I watched I finally heard Roman say "I mean I kinda brought that up before but it got shut down faster than an Antarctic icepop shop". Like... Fuck, they seriously do not appreciate or listen to Roman at all

- Patton brushing them off with "Eh well hindsight is 20/20" pissed me off so much. No empathy whatsoever. Jesus Christ.

- Roman's reaction when Thomas said no to the whole future vision thing made me laugh and no one is talking about it

- But yeah Thomas talking about using foresight has a total Logan Vibe

- Patton's reaction when Thomas says "I made a decision with a blindfold on" is... Interesting...

- Seriously that cat analogy was so specific.....

- One should never base their decisions on "well they've helped me before so I owe them" like. No. Patton, Roman, stop. He should have decided to go because he wanted to, not because he owed it to them or you made him feel like shit

- "Those baby-making Catholics" lmfaooooo

- "You, thinking about giving their wedding a pass all because of a callback that, really, might not work out". That bugged me too, because it can just as easily be argued he gave up his big break for a wedding he barely participated during. If we're being completely logical here (and borrowing from a later concept of how our time is better used), his time would have been better-spent at the callback since he wasn't even mentally present at the wedding

- "Maybe they understand, and maybe they still want you to go to the wedding but feel too guilty to say so. Or, maybe you end up going to the wedding, and they feel guilty seeing you there because they feel like they took a big opportunity away from you". First off, they did (or would have, had the conversation taken place and they insisted he come). Secondly I personally feel like he owed it to them (and yes, I'm aware how that sounds but I can't think of better phrasing) to talk about it with 100% honesty on both sides, because now he's angry that he went to their wedding and they have no idea. Sure, the vid ends with them coming over to catch up, but if it hadn't? That's the kind of shit that festers very easily. I feel like he'd have been more satisfied if he had still decided to go after talking with them. I think Thomas realizes this too when he responds to Roman's question with a very sure, very adamant "No."

- "This was our chance to be there for them when it counted". I know this is me reading into things but it felt like he was saying anything else he may have done for them doesn't matter or isn't good enough

- "Why does their complexion matter" LMFAOOOOOO omg roman

- "... We can all agree that you're a good fellow-" "Can we? All agree on that?" Like fuck, Thomas still isn't sure what Patton thinks of him? That cuts deep. And... Patton still hasn't apologized. He conceeded that he's "been a bit much", which is far from the same thing

- pfffft what the fuck was Roman trying to do???

- "Well that's a relief... I think". Meaning Thomas still isn't fucking sure where Patton stands. I have to admit his dialogue did sound a bit circuitous

- he almost said GameStop lmfao

- why is he fixating so much on frogger

- "At least 16 graphics!" I died laughing

- "By the liquid lipstick of William Shakespeare" wut the fue? Lmao

- "just like you don't have to get him a hotdog" "I feel like you kinda do... Maybe". I know Janus says it later on but he was right when he said peppering in a few "I don't know"s and "maybe"s does not a conversationally-conscious person make. Like, he didn't even add the maybe until Roman reacted negatively to what he was saying

- I'm surprised Logan said it'd be wrong for Thomas to keep his money to himself tbh

- Roman mouthing "behoove". Like, c'mon dude, stop being such a dick to Logan when he's just trying to help

- Logan's so done he's not even trying to hide it. Like you can see the annoyance clear on his little pixelated face

- Also did anyone notice that Logan kept getting cut off so the next time he "spoke" he made them read it aloud so they'd actually fucking listen

- "Yeah! As long as that's not the main reason you're doing it!" Honestly though, most people do good things for their own benefit; tax benefits, That Good Feeling, compliments from others etc. It doesn't diminish the effect of the good act, so who cares?????

- "You shouldn't do a good thing just because it makes you feel good... I-I think." He's trying so hard but he's just not understanding how this works is he. Also it's interesting that he preaches holding to your values and not nitpicking situations yet he's literally doing it right now because last time he just... Needed to counter Janus and couldn't admit he'd had a fair point

- "Deceit said you'd be doing the right thing for a selfish reason if you did it for your own emotional gain". You can tell by his tone he's trying to make Thomas see Deceit as wrong and bad but like literally two seconds later he audibly confirms he feels the same way

"Definitely! Maybe... I think so... What do you think?" Tbh I'm proud of him for asking someone else's opinion, esp cause he's screwing this up so horrendously

- man if Roman being scared to share his opinion after Patton visibly disagrees isn't a huge red flag idk what is

- the world of the video game is called AU I'm screaming

- I'll always be salty that Roman once again shoved a "dark side" into the villain roll without asking

- I don't agree with Patton automatically assuming that just because the hero wants a reward, it means he doesn't care about the people he saves getting it. People can have multiple motives and wanting recognition isn't bad or evil or selfish

- I'm so fucking glad Thomas snapped and asked "am I not allowed to feel good if I do something good" because that's basically what Patton's saying and no one was addressing it. And Patton saying that can't be a valid motive is honestly fucked up

- during the trolley problem the options toggle the most between morality, anxiety, and denial. Idk, it's just interesting

- it's also interesting that Patton views moving the trolley as worse than letting it stay, meaning he thinks small active murder is worse than larger, passive murder. Not bad or good or anything, just interesting

- I hate hate hate that Patton silences Logan when he's the one who asked him to say something, especially since he follows that with "oh you can't really learn good morality from a book hahahaha". Like dude just acknowledge that you don't agree but there are other valid points of view, my god

- also you can tell from the color that Janus totally put that skip button in, meaning Logan really, really wanted to continue but Janus could see it wasn't going to get them where they needed to go

- "stu-ooper dooper unique mustache" lmfaooooo

- Thomas keeps coming back with something along the lines of "I need the answer to X so I can meet your expectations". He even says "I don't understand what I need to change so I can meet your standard". Last time I did a post like this, back when SvS came out, I said Patton has too much sway/control over Thomas, and he still does. Thomas doesn't try nearly as hard to "meet the standards" of his other sides, but in this instance he's desperate to know how he can appease Patton. I don't think that's necessarily a good thing, given that it's likely because he wants Patton to say without hesitation that he's a good person

- Roman thinks he's the problem I wanna cry

- "And I'm an awful driver" I laughed so hard

- "I only mean well when I say that that is the stupidest thing you have ever said" I can't stop laughing XD

- "You're just blowing smoke" seriously someone help me

- Roman's reaction when Thomas says he feels guilty just killed me. They all just acknowledged that Roman is his motivator and Thomas comes out and says his motives make him feel guilty? Ouch

- "Doing nothing is even worse!" Patton honey I'm begging you to please stop talking omg this is going so poorly

- "doing nothing is worse than doing a good thing for the wrong reasons" first off, who's to say what a wrong reason is, and secondly, that's an interesting take from the man who refused to move the trolley 👀

- oooof Thomas's relief when Logan cuts in though

- "Huuuuuhhhh I do need help" fuck, I wanna cry, poor Thomas

- "Logan, like you said this isn't your area of expertise" ITS NOT YOURS EITHER ROMAN OMG

- "Every point you've made in today's discussion has contradicted that sentiment" YES LOGAN JANUS SLAY. Also anyone else notice Patton looking to the others for validation because I Sure Did

- oh man though I thought Logan was finally getting the chance to lay into Patton and take him down a peg and it turned out to be Janus

- "Oh, is it not? Please, correct me if I'm wrong." yeah paTTON CORRECT HIM IF HES WRONG (notice how he doesn't even have an argument to that, all he can say is "you're wrong!")

- honestly the way he goes from 0 to 60 should've tipped us off that that was Janus

- I wanna know if Patton turned into a muscular frog irl

- idk Patton feels like a villain when he's all "Thomas you choose!"

- "What have you done with Logan?!" "Nothing at all and I resent the question" weeeeeelp there goes loceit

- even Janus admits Patton is misleading unintentionally can we all calm down now

- I find it interesting that Thomas willingly stays behind Janus

- "Sure if he's in that kind of situation then of course he should focus on himself. But does he deserve it? I don't know." *Record scratch* excuse me wHAT?????? And like, you can't ignore the obvious symbolism behind that attack missing Janus and hitting Thomas. Thomas is knocked out and Patton just ... Keeps talking? Jesus fucking christ

- and Roman so adamantly attacking Janus has a very pre-AA vibe to it

- "Not that any of you care, but I am unharmed, and I don't want to talk about it." Thomas looks like the only one genuinely concerned when he says this and that hurts

- Janus looks so happy that Logan's backing him I wanna cry my baby aaaaaaa

- SOMEONE FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE CHOICE ROMAN MADE AAAAAAA THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU can we stop acting like Janus is evil now please

- "Well when is it enough?!" ".... Trees?" I'm STILL LAUGHING SOMEONE HELP ME

- I'm so fucking happy Thomas doesn't agree with Roman about trusting Janus

- Roman laughing and saying Janus's name is stupid and Janus's jab about him and Remus just... Gutted me y'all. Thems some hurt boys. And he looks to Thomas and Patton and they just... Can't side with him, cause they know that was hella fucking rude of Roman.

- I genuinely believe that Janus's nod meant Thomas was telling the truth. Based on his facial expression (which was slight but idk I notice more stuff than most people apparently???) He was trying to reassure Roman. And Roman just... Took it the completely wrong way, because he still thinks all Janus does is lie. When Roman says "wow, I can't believe this" you can actually see Janus's smile disappearing, because he realizes Roman took the nod the wrong way

- aaaaand then he immediately goes into attacking Janus. *Sigh*

- "Everything's gonna be okay, kiddo. We love you." "*Scoff* Right." I truly believe the next video is gonna be about Roman, because there's no way in hell they could ignore the obvious hurt and self-deprecation coming off of Roman

- "Janus? Is there a limit to how many times a person can say sorry before you have to admit that they're just bad for you?" Patton was talking about himself. Whether Janus was trying too hard to be witty and missed that or what, his reply hurt Patton, and you can see that Janus realizes his mistake with Patton's reaction. We have to remember that this isn't a side who's used to how the others communicate, though. He doesn't spend time with them outside of the few videos he's shown up in because of how they treat him. It's gonna take him time to get the little things like this and until then there's gonna be a lot of hurt feelings and (hopefully) apologies

- Janus immediately backtracks once he realizes what the real question was and says "... it depends... How many things have they had to apologize for? How frequently do they have to apologize for things? How terrible were the things that they did? One of the biggest factors in my very humble opinion is whether or not they seem to be making an honest effort to do better" this is Janus trying to tell Patton "you aren't bad for Thomas. I see how hard you're trying. It's okay"

- you can totally see Janus realizing why Patton fights him so hard while Patton is explaining how hard shit's gotten as Thomas grows up

- "Janus?" "I'll take care of him" y'all I need the tissues

- Janus trying to lighten the mood with the whole push-someone-down-the-stairs thing just... Made me die laughing. Y'all know he's hella good at April fool's pranks okay? Okay

- "You're not stuck with an evil snake boy, you're just stuck with a snake boy" HES SUCH A DORK I LOVE HIM

- I reacted the exact same way to Thomas saying Janus was right omg

Again, I'm not saying I hate any of the characters, this is just a stream-of-consciousness analysis-and-commentary-type post on the new episode

[firebirdsdaughter]

Sigh…

… I wish they’d let Horobi ask Izu about herself rather than Aruto. Esp given what he went through, it makes me really uncomfortable to feel like he’s being used to perpetuate the narrative that her only purpose is to benefit Aruto. Noa and Sunagawa have some very good chemistry, the intensity of their scenes where she was Azu were amazing (and had me riveted way more than anything she said to Aruto), and even though I know the actual lines will make me very uncomfortable/salty, the air of this scene is very parental/big brother. I wish I knew they were talking about her feelings rather than how she can help Aruto feel better.

I mean, what I’d love to see would have required the finale to be much less… Poorly handled and had everyone involved own their part of that incident, and then this conversation could be about how she’s feeling confused about what she’s been told to believe w/ what she’s seen and what she now understands she did wrong in the warehouse and how she hurt him, but thought she was doing the Right Thing and how Aruto is being Weird and Obsessive and she’s not sure what to do. And Horobi suggesting that she try discussing the situation w/ Aruto rather than passively accepting his will, voice her concerns and maybe opening up about how he’s still not sure who he is and how he feels. And then it eventually cumulates in them apologising to each other w/ her telling him she didn’t mean to cause him distress, she was just trying to do what she had been told was right, and he assures her that none of it was personal, he was just in a really terrible place at the time.

Izu goes to find Aruto not to ‘save him from the demons so he’ll smile’ or something to but bc she thinks this is the right thing to do and she wants to talk to him about the future and how things may need to change. She can absolutely be nailing him w/ this not being how you make things better, but I feel like it should be more ‘snap out of it’ in general rather than any ‘snap out of it you’re so wonderful.’ I’m not explaining this last part well. But her being like ‘I’ve learned neither of us really know what’s absolutely right, but I’m pretty sure it’s not this.’ Not ‘Izu goes to Aruto bc she’s his darling angel’ but ‘Izu goes to help Aruto stop going berserk bc that’s something we can certify and a Not Good situation, and then wanting to work from there.’