#but ALSO. NOT BEING ABLE TO RELY ON HIS ‘CHARISMA’

[velvetrooibos]

I am slowly reading all of @keycarabiner ‘s work on ao3 and it’s ruining my LIFE YOUR WRITING MAKES ME FEEL INSANE.

THIS is a scene from their fic ‘Storge’, this fucking. Sick snapshot of a camp halfblood au with Aphrodite kid Steve, and…. Mysterious Eddie…. OOOOO THE DRAMA

[acupofinkedblood]

Boombox x reader

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

• You have found yourself quite the gem of Playground, I will have you know that. In the midst of violence lurking in the darkest alley of Playground, where one shall not rest even when the coast is clear, Boombox is definitely an angel among said chaos. He doesn’t even aware of how precious he is, saying that he simply wants to enjoy life to the fullest. Maybe it’s that attitude of his that you are drawn to at the first place

• On that note, congratulations, you have gotten yourself one of the greenest flag both literally and metaphorically as your boyfriend! And it’s no one else but Boombox

• He obviously gives off golden retriever boyfriend energy. You can’t never get enough of how his face just beamed up when he sees something that he enjoys, or amaze at how well he can connect people from here and there with ease. Sure, sometimes it doesn’t really work as he wishes, but then he just smiles at you saying that it is still worths a shot. He has that natural charisma that just neutralizes any sort of ill intentions, that chill attitude of his adds up to his charm as well

• Confused because you don’t know whether to pick a guy who is a party animal or a guy with relaxed demeanor? Fear no more, because why don’t you just have a guy who has both of that qualities? Boombox is pretty flexible in said dynamic. His love for parties definitely has to be charged with him to sit back and regain his energy from time to time. He enjoys both: Being the spirit of the lively party and lying back with you by his side in peace

• Speaking of charging, his visor needs to be charged as well. It’s not that usual for him to take it off, mostly because he forgets that he is wearing it in the first place. It’s that phenomenon when someone is constantly looking for their glasses while is literally wearing them in that very moment. Without the visor, you can see his eyes clearly now. He has pretty bad eyesight, you don’t know whether if that’s a natural thing or not, but that visor helps him see better

• He explains to you that he can’t really see anything without it being blurry and bright as hell. That visor is important to him, not only because it aids him with his sight, but also for him to deal with those flashy lights of those events he attends to better as well. When he takes it off, he can still see certain things enough to not bump around in his own home, but keep the lights dimmed. You don’t want to accidentally blind him while his soul ascends to SFOTH, now do you?

• Boombox sleeps a lots. It’s understandable considering how much energy he spends outside. Although demons don’t need sleep to function, they are still able to be exhausted to the point that the fatigue starts to take over. He needs his sleep to be prepared for a long day ahead, and it can be pretty long as well. Join him if you want, listen to his heartbeat can help you sleep better. And surprisingly, he doesn’t snore that loud, so your sleep is pretty much undisturbed

• Boombox is like a bear, I mean it. His body is so huggable it drives you crazy. His muscle fat feels so soft and comforting, yet it makes you feel like you can rely on him any time. And don’t get me start on how he is like a walking heater most of the time, especially in cold weather. Imagine how he just pulls you in for a firm hug to warm you up in winter like a very normal thing to do — Gosh — This man is literally a bear and you love him so very much

• Doesn’t matter if you’re an extrovert or an introvert, you can be certain that he respects your feelings no matter what. If you don’t want to go to that rave he is hosting, that’s fine! He will reassure you that people have different preferences and you don’t need to force yourself to do what you don’t like. He will still have to leave since he’s literally the DJ of that party, but his words definitely make an impact in you. It works for cheering you up, if you may

• But if you want to tag along, then he is willing to help you prepare for the night. Boombox wants you to enjoy yourself just like him in these events — and since the mutual trust between the two of you is more than just strong because you two communicate a lots — just go crazy. Just be careful not to hurt yourself in the process. When the two of you get back home, he will even offer to give you a piggyback ride if your feet is hurting afterwards. You’re good with him around, so don’t worry

• You know that your boyfriend is quite the hotshot, being a famous indie artist with wide connections as his friends and all. But guess what? This guy shows you off in the most obvious way possible. His lockscreen? A photo of you and him. Your accessories that you gifted him? He never takes that off. At this point he might as well keep a picture of you in his wallet and show if off to anyone in sight with pride

• That alone has explained how much he is into PDA, right? To be with you is the greatest thing that has happened to him, of course he will show the world that he loves you without any hesitation at all. Even when he doesn’t have his arm around your shoulder or waist or hand, he still sticks around with you whenever he can. As if he has a magnet that drags him over to you, even when he’s talking to his friend

• If you don’t enjoy physical touch that much, just let him know, yeah? He will figure the other way to show you that he loves you a lot instead of holding you almost all of the time

• Boombox spends his time on making a playlist that reminds him of you then presents it to you. It’s heartwarming, really. Each song he adds will be examined carefully whether it fits your vibe or not. To say he has spent a good amount of time thinking about that playlist is quite the correct statement. And that reaction of yours when you pay attention to the lyrics in surprise? Yup, that alone is more than enough for him to smile oh so fondly at you

• His voice is pretty warm. Please don’t forget that he can sing as well, that’s literally one of his biggest strengths as an artist aside from writing songs and producing them in general. Boombox can play any instrument too, what a jack of all trades. It’s not that surprising to listen to him serenade you with his guitar outside of the window — yeah I know it’s corny as heck — but that does more than just melt your heart

• And of course, he has some certain song which he wrote specifically about you without making it too clear. He likes to keep you guessing about the lyrics of his works after all, and once you find out, do expect that silly grin on his face all day

• You know for yourself that Boombox never seems to get mad at all. It’s almost impossible to do that. But there is still that slight possibility that he can be pissed off, especially when that matter involves you directly while he is there. And trust me, whoever manages to make Boombox mad has definitely crossed that invisible line that no one should ever think of get through. An angry Boombox is a scary Boombox, mark my words, you definitely don’t want to see what is he capable of

• Sure, he hasn’t killed anyone before unless most demons at Playground. But does that mean he is incapable of doing so? Hell no. May the SFOTH send their prayers to that poor unfortunate soul because someone’s ears are about to bleed then go deaf soon after their asses get kicked, and that person is definitely not Boombox. He takes that personal, so ain’t no way he is going to back down

• He can be protective of you when the time requires. Boombox is quite the natural at sensing good and bad vibes from other people. If they pass the vibe check, then yeah he can be chill with the like normal. But if he senses bad vibes? You can tell that he starts to move slightly to be in front of you, a subtle move but it holds meaning to it. He can still laugh in that laid-back manner, yet he seems to have his guard up to be ready to defend you if needed

• Other time than those, he is still your sweetheart with that iconic silly smile that you adore so much. Seeing him only can definitely make your mood better, even when he doesn’t say anything just yet. And the same recipe applies to him whenever it comes to you. Under a lover’s eye, everything that their loved one do will always make them feel positive. Maybe it’s the case for both Boombox and you

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

Note: My Spotify playlist is having a blast while writing about B.B（＾Ｏ＾☆♪

[smth-intheway]

Charlie dalton developing obsessive behaviour would look like:

(Its not my gif!!!)

•At first glance, Charlie may seem like a clown without self-control, but this is only at first glance and we all know that you can't judge a book by its cover. In fact, this is what he wants others to see in him, and it seems that he succeeds because everyone believes in it. Charlie is one of the conscious types and he knows exactly what he wants, he is very arrogant and self-confident. He also knows that his plan or idea must and should work regardless the way he is doing it,even if he did not take much part in the planning, Charlie simply relies on improvisation, this has always been and will be the case.

•His behavior could be compared to a storm that begins when clouds gather in the sky and ends with broken houses and fallen trees. It is impossible to predict him and it is almost impossible to understand what he is thinking. Charlie's mood is changeable, and his brain is always filled with ideas that from the outside look like a mess in the room and only he knows where everything is.

•He is not used to show weakness and his vulnerable side, so his flirting/ joking manner of communication often protects him from disappointment in a person and the chance that he will get a slap in the face. As his father taught him, feelings do not exist in the adult world, and if you allow yourself to believe otherwise, you will run face first into the asphalt. He always encountered it when his parents gave him freedom, but not attention. They did not give him what he needed so much, what he was looking for. He wanted to be noticed, to be loved. So if parents can't give him love, then others probably will, don’t they? Charlie developed charisma and self-confidence in himself to attract others. He liked it and he even enjoyed the fact that he got connections among his peers and made many friends, which led to the acquisition of attention he craved so much. But this also led to some kind of addiction and the brain began to create repetitive reactions, repeating his behavior over and over again, which became the routine of our Nuwanda's behavior.

•He is the type of guy who is able to console you, calm you down and give you comfort in a warm embrace. And then, as if with a snap of a finger, his mask falls off and with a sly smile he will whisper words in your ear that will send shivers down your spine. He is amused by your reaction, you are his favorite spectator. Your attention is important to him, like applause for actors after a concert that seemed to be a failure. His self-esteem will rise and it will seem to him that he can do everything and everything is allowed by you. "If she liked this, then it definitely means that she will like that as well” But sometimes you are not just a spectator but a player ... he wants you to feel everything from the dough to the filling. When he gets bored of being an actor, he will change his perspective by calling you on stage. You will feel everything from head to toe, from skin to the very last thread of your clothes. He wants to see every inch of your face, your eyes, lips ... all this should give him a sign, whatever it is. Fear, delight, rage, anything to be seen. To be reacted to.

•Charlie established an order that everyone should follow, he himself handed out imaginary coupons with a long text to everyone and imagined himself as the ruler. It was with the Dead Poets when he claimed the cave and it will be with you. It will always be like this everywhere. He likes to be on top and feel superior to you, because you are so small and defenseless without him. Therefore, jealousy and discontent will burn in his eyes when his little bird dares to fly away from the nest of protection and seek protection in another nest. Yes, Charlie hates rivals, even if he treats them as worthless and constantly jokes about them, at some point he will understand that he is not alone in the world and not only he can make you laugh and make you smile. This will begin to infuriate Charlie, even more than Cameron by his existence. it will become his nightmare and paranoia. Previously, Charlie was sure that no one can compare themselves with him, no one can replace him with someone, because he is above every head that looks at you and he is more important. Each rival will appear in his dreams, penetrating his brain like a tumor, it will be a menace for his solid self-esteem and Charlie will begin to draw their faces on paper and tear them, cut them or write mockery. Then his anger will go into the surrounding objects, as I said before, his “storm” will begin to grow and the collapse will be inevitable. The last point was a love letter from someone else.. someone else dared to stand in his place and try to move him, for Charlie it is like a red scarf for a bull, like a challenge on the battlefield.

•He burned that shameful letter when he copied it word for word on his notebook along with the name, as if mocking that he could do better. He couldn't stand it anymore, he knew he had to get rid of that little parasite before he got bigger. He was lucky to be born into a rich family, a few words and the job would be done.. but he didn't want it to be that easy. He wanted him to see how much better Charlie was than him. To feel his actual superiority.

•That's what happened. Charlie gone crazy over it and got rid of the one the fence between you and him. He showed the other guy who was stronger. Charlie used 3 strategies to demonstrate dominance as they do in the animal world. Social strategies, which include bonding and coalitions. Display of signs, he always knew how to do it so that he could attract a "female" and finally physical competition, which includes direct fights to gain access to females.

•Combining all this, he became the embodiment of his "ideal" self and as he considered the only one worthy of your heart. But intrusive thoughts often penetrated his head that this is not the end and competitors can always return, because if not that one, then another will definitely take his place. Someone will definitely want to become one. He did not want to stain his hands in blood anymore and become a killer, so he decided to do what every obsessed person eventually does. Kidnap you.

•At first, he will be patient, keeping himself in check and trying not to provoke a conflict with you, because his early experience has taught him a lot. He will forgive you for any slap in the face and will hope that this is a temporary reaction to the confiscation of freedom. Charlie has perfect locks and doors made of durable material. He will hire guards to regularly check your room, he will remove all dangerous objects so that you won’t repeat the fate of his friend, Charlie will do everything and will think about the smallest things that have never occurred to anyone, only to sleep peacefully knowing that you are next to him in “safety”. He will be kind to you, but this will not always be the case. As I already said, he loves to play with you, in any sense of the word. He will scare you and put pressure on you from all sides. Yes, maybe he will give you privileges like communication with your family... he will go out with you. But it's not that simple, he is the kind of person who will give you a distortion of reality, the one who will give you the golden apple on a rusty plate. He will show you all the horrors of the real world so that you understand that he is the only one you are safe with. So that you will be afraid if he is not around, just like he is afraid himself. Charlie will not feel guilty for his actions, he knows that everything he does is for your good. His only wish is to be near the only one person he loved the most, even if it means destroying everything.

Notes: this is my first time writing any kind of fanfic and posting it on Tumblr, so I’m kind of stressed that it may look weird or horrible? But at the end I hope you will like it and enjoy reading this and my future works!!Love you all<33

[elysiansparadise]

Hi Elysian! I hope you're having a great day ^^

May I ask for your opinion on Mercury in the 10th house?

Thankyou!

Hello love! I am, I hope you are having a great day too. 

Mercury in the 10th house

These people are usually seen as very capable and intelligent by other people, it is likely that they have a skill or talent that makes them stand out greatly in one of their circles. Many of these natives tend to be a recurring topic of conversation for people, whether in their family or work area. Since I mentioned work, these people can find it very easy to climb the ladder, achieve promotions or get close to bosses. They may have in mind that they must progress, that they must be constantly doing something and that they have to be productive. The idea of ​​not continuing to improve or stagnating can make them very nervous. They tend to have an inner perfectionism that makes them not believe or accept their own abilities or demand a lot from themselves. Burnouts and stress are very common with this placement. They have an insatiable curiosity and enjoy continuing to learn, so it is very important that they look for jobs that allow them to expand their mind, acquire new knowledge, or that it’s not so rutinary. 

They tend to be people who are anxious about the future, they are also somewhat restless both physically and intellectually. I have noticed that many people with this placement do not seem as sociable as they really are, even if they fall into the introvert category, people may feel that it is easy to talk to them about any topic. They have very diverse interests and in different categories, and they can stand out in more than a single interest. It is precisely for this reason that in terms of the labor field, they can have quite a few options, some of the most common are: writers, communicators of any type, public relations, sales sector, teachers and even public figures. Many of them tend to look younger than they are and can be very good at communicating with all types of people regardless of their age. However, they may enjoy talking more with people older than them or with more experience on topics that awaken their interest. Despite their open nature, they are people who, when they have a problem or moment of tension, may prefer to isolate themselves to resolve it. They have difficulties with the idea of ​​being able to rely on or ask for advice [and even help at times] from others. They have learned to figure things out. out by themselves.

Their way of speaking arouses the interest and curiosity of others easily. They are very dual people in their communication, oscillating between charisma and professionalism. It is very likely that their words frequently inspire others or that their advice remains impregnated in the minds of those who listen. These people prefer to stay realistic and can be very objective in their way of seeing things. They like to have things told to them clearly, as they take their time to make people understand their point. Despite being very realistic people, they have a high degree of creativity and can be quite inventive. They understand and learn things through practice and things that are only theoretical can seem overwhelming to them. They think very carefully before making a decision and do not usually allow themselves to be influenced by others. Ironically, many may turn to them when they do not know where to go, what to do, or generally feel clueless/lost. They are people capable of understanding the points of view of others without changing their way of thinking, they can see the same situation in different ways.

-> Go back to the masterlist

[umishiqu]

☀️ kalim al-asim development analysis (post book 7 chapter 9)

This is an entire Kalim analysis based off of his development in Book 7 and interpreting scenes before Book 7 accordingly. This means there will be spoilers from the JPN twst servers, so be warned! There’s a lot of stuff to get through, but there’s also a lot of opinions about Kalim that didn’t actually reflect his character that we need to get through as well, but thankfully I’ve explained a bit of that in another analysis. I’ll have it linked in the necessary section but I also copy-pasted that post into this one as well. Without further ado, let’s begin!

A common conversation between many Kalim fans is whether Kalim would develop into a person who resolves to help others no matter what and learns how to help others without inconveniencing someone else, or if he would develop into a person who talks freely about his actual thoughts and feelings regarding precarious situations and dislikes about others. There was evidence for both of these in canon as Kalim develops towards being a person who can successfully throw a parade by himself, tie his headband himself, and gain independence. Overall, would this development go towards him being an asset others can use and rely on to do things for him, or would this development go towards him being his own asset and asserting his own perspective on the world around him through actions? For example, he gave money to Ramshackle to improve their utilities and upkeep the maintenance, but is the outcome that results of it to improve status using “charisma” or is it to improve the well-being of others using “charisma”? This conversation is pretty much summed up by Leona in Book 6:

So you can see why it was such a big deal for this to have been answered in Book 7. Before we get into extrapolating all of the scenes that build up towards Kalim’s development in Book 7, let’s talk about his development in Book 7 and the main things he settled on when it comes down to his characterization. He has a couple realizations:

“Jamil was doing all that stuff for me not because we were friends, but because I am his master and he’s my servant.” -> This realization isn’t Kalim finally understanding that they have a master-servant relationship to begin with. Remember, his dream didn’t change that fact about Kalim and Jamil - only that despite their master-servant relationship, Jamil would still be able to talk to Kalim about his “real thoughts and feelings”, and Jamil would be happy because of it. But things aren’t as simple as that. The realization here is that all of the extra stuff Jamil was doing wasn’t because they were friends and just didn’t want Kalim to reciprocate and do those things for him in return just because he’s a good guy. (Kalim’s idea of friendship is doing things for each other, explained in Kalim’s school uniform personal story.) He did all of that and didn’t want Kalim to reciprocate and do those things for him in return because Jamil is his servant and, whether or not some things were logically a part of Jamil’s job or not (like the listening to Kalim thing, but Jamil also uses the “it’s my job” when he doesn’t listen to Kalim, like in Jamil’s school unidorm personal story to reject the idea fo going to the cafeteria; or in book 4 when Kalim tells Jamil that he doesn’t need to serve ice cream by himself and Kalim can help) (Leona also talks about Jamil making self-pitying excuses like this, as well as Jamil in book 7 getting tired of it himself), that’s what was perceived by Jamil (initially).

“That isn’t the real Jamil…!” / “The way you are now isn’t really what you want…!” / “The real Jamil would never want this!” -> The first is in reaction to dream!Jamil, which is pretty self-explanatory. The second is in reaction to the Jamil in Jamil’s dream; saying that this isn’t the “best you” that Jamil himself imagined or wanted. The third is in reaction to Jamil dropping further into the darkness after Kalim tries to wake him up, only to see him reenact a Book 4 where everyone is hypnotized and Jamil is the dorm leader; specifically, in reaction to Jamil now underestimating and insulting the other dorm leaders, planning to take over the school, and planning to kick the dorm leaders out. Before you say “oh, Kalim just thinks Jamil is a good person still!” no he does not, and fights with Jamil over this. He’s talking about how, if Jamil just goes on to do the same thing with the others as he did with Kalim - manipulate the dorm leaders from the shadows, from an unsuspecting position that’s less than theirs, then Jamil will never get to show his abilities fairly and on the same playing field as others. He’ll be subjecting himself to the same thing he subjected himself to with Kalim when he purposefully received less marks than him. Kalim didn’t give this much of a care when Jamil and Kalim’s positions were swapped in Jamil’s dream, even with whatever happened to Kalim’s family. It’s when Jamil denies himself of the freedom to be himself and resorts to using dirty tricks that Kalim is like “why are you so stupid, this is the opposite of what you want!” His words, not mine (at least, with calling Jamil stupid). That’s why he also says “you’ll never get what you want this way!” if Jamil keeps on doing plans that require him to be put as less capable than the dorm leaders or require him to hypnotize the dorm leader to overuse him to be unsuspecting. This is also why the first memory to resurface after Kalim says this is Jamil saying “I won’t take orders from anyone anymore!”, implying that Jamil won’t put himself in a position where he has to accept orders from anyone like he did in Book 4.

About the “real Jamil” thing, I genuinely think that Kalim’s development aligns with the Genie. The Genie gets upset with Aladdin for not being real with him, and almost gets upset at Aladdin for not being real with Jasmine, but the Genie chose not to say anything. Kalim knows that Jamil is a liar, but when it causes Jamil to lose out on his wishes or not get what he actually wants, Kalim gets upset with him. Kalim being betrayed by Jamil is a “Sultan betrayed by Jafar” thing, but it’s also a “Genie betrayed by Aladdin” thing when Aladdin breaks his promise with the Genie to free him (like Jamil broke his promise with Kalim). Kalim is the Sultan to Jamil’s Jafar in his story, but Jamil is the Aladdin to Kalim’s Genie in his story, which is why the climax of Kalim’s development has him throwing parades for Jamil without struggle in Jamil’s birthday story.

Also, I love Book 7’s implication that Kalim knows Jamil well enough to know that he’ll be able to wake Jamil up from a dream by talking about their memories together based on Kalim’s perspective of them (“we both ran out to the camel bazaar together and got coconut juice!”), knowing Jamil will naturally respond with something that asserts his perspective (“is that what happened?! you ran off and i chased after you!”). Like… Kalim was so calm seeing Jamil just vehemently deny it and he didn’t try to change his perspective, it was kind of funny. Idia even says something along the lines of “Jamil’s irresistible straight-man spirit is being stimulated…!”, being the straight-man to Kalim’s “whimsy”. Kalim understands now that Jamil didn’t do all of those things because he was a good person, it was because of his job, but he purposely says things that suggest the former perspective so Jamil can debate them. Kalim saying “best friend” in quotation marks also suggests this… It’s so good…

I’d also love to take a few key things from Kalim’s perspective in his fight with Jamil before I go on to explain the rest of this:

Kalim mocks Jamil for calling him oblivious and tells him something along the lines of “Shouldn’t you know the most that I’m ‘bad at reading the room’ or ‘bad at inferring things’?!”

After, Jamil tells Kalim “don’t just shift to a defiant attitude!” when Kalim starts saying that, to which Kalim responds with “You said it! I don’t like your two-faced attitude either!” This is along the lines of what Jamil realizes later about Kalim (that he seems like he’s polite and submissive, but in reality he’s not, when he rejects the fake Kalim. this is also as seen when Kalim goes in to hug Jamil, but Jamil knows its intent is just Kalim tackling him; and Kalim himself says that he wished Jamil got more hurt in their fight as evidence for this…)

Kalim childishly goes from calling Jamil a sarcastic bastard to telling Jamil that “I can’t understand you!” whenever Jamil calls Kalim an idiot, which is actually hilarious to me

Oh yeah, Kalim knows what sarcasm is, and actually doesn’t like it

Now that we’ve broken down specific points and scenes from Book 7 Chapter 9, let’s go into some of Kalim’s “oblivious” scenes and what he was probably thinking. Remember: in book 5, it’s revealed that what Kalim actually expresses when it comes to his thoughts vs what he actually thinks might not line up properly because he’s still learning how to best communicate his thoughts. So there can be some leeway with the things Kalim says vs what he could possibly be thinking, as long as you assume some form of logic that doesn’t just boil down to “misunderstanding over nothing”. We have wiggle room in interpretation, but again, this isn’t the only way to interpret Kalim’s character - just a way that makes sense according to what’s been revealed in Book 7.

I’ll be using this analysis here as a base for the overall analysis; the part that talks about Kalim’s weaknesses that he starts off with in general. Lots of people have also mentioned that he’s good at knowing whether something is wrong or not (Silver’s dorm uniform personal story), but not good at figuring out what exactly it is (when he assumed Silver’s down mood was because he was hungry). But this can be inconsistent, which makes sense, because his logic follows along his own common sense (and when applied correctly, it does actually reflect reality). He learns as time goes on, especially when it comes to Jamil, but the most significant change happens when he is told something directly (Jamil telling Kalim to cancel the party in Kalim’s lab personal story, Floyd telling Kalim to stop letting people bud him in Kalim’s playfulland personal story). I’ll briefly put the analysis here for your viewing pleasure so you don’t have to click the link and then come here to find your spot again:

Kalim is an interesting character. A lot of people expected, and wanted, his development to be related to the immediate freeing of Jamil from his services and fate. As much as this was important to Kalim, a lot of people don’t realize that this didn’t align with his or Jamil’s development. It doesn’t even acknowledge the position Kalim first starts with. Kalim starts from a place where he unknowingly trips up Jamil with things that don’t concern Jamil, but Kalim believes it to be important to him. In Kalim’s lab coat card, he explodes the kitchen by accident, and when Jamil comes to check on Kalim and make sure he is okay, Kalim brushes off Jamil’s concerns of Kalim possibly being killed by his family members and instead says that they should focus on fixing up the kitchen before focusing on Kalim’s homework. So that Jamil could make meals for a party that Kalim planned for - for Jamil to get to meet other people in Jamil’s grade and get along with them. Jamil is obviously upset with this and tells Kalim to cancel the party, which Kalim agrees to, because he doesn’t want to get Jamil angry.

People say Kalim has good intentions but bad decision-making skills, but I honestly thought that Kalim was more than emotionally intelligent to come to the conclusion of a party for Jamil. Part of the problem with Scarabia’s relationship is that they are codependent on each other. Kalim saw this and instinctively went ahead to create opportunities where Jamil can meet other people so he can bond with people other than Kalim. This happens a few times, where Kalim recognizes the problems with their relationship, and tries to go and fix it but because of misunderstandings his execution isn’t successful. In his ceremony robes, he knows Jamil isn’t feeling good about the upcoming year and tells Jamil that he should have been housewarden instead. Jamil denies this, and then tells Kalim if there’s anything wrong with the ceremony robes. Kalim, thinking that what Jamil is actually mad about is the robes and not the housewarden thing that he previously rejected Kalim’s proposal on, goes off to change the style of the robes. Jamil’s school uniform story is literally Kalim badly executing his plan of getting Jamil to stop overworking himself by cooking Kalim’s meals by purposefully chowing down on leftovers for the next day, foiled because he misunderstands the actual food Jamil wants and couldn’t properly bring the food to him. It’s an actual metaphor for the actual problems Kalim has with Jamil - misunderstandings and poor execution. Kalim tells Jamil “Hey, we should go to the cafeteria every day!” Jamil rejects this idea and Kalim is genuinely surprised at this. Kalim doesn’t act on whims just to act on whims, but because he has an idea that his crazy plan might actually help.

It happens again in Book 4, when he recognizes Jamil is concerned about their parents seeing Kalim serve food, but Kalim says that their parents aren’t there, so they shouldn’t be worried. Kalim’s emotional intelligence comes back again in the magic carpet ride, where he says it wouldn’t hurt if Jamil loosened up a little bit - understanding the stress and strife Jamil goes through, and still racking his head on possible reasons as to why. (There’s a reason as to why he doesn’t attribute Jamil’s personality to his and Kalim’s servant and master positions and I’ll explain it later.) Kalim’s been trying from Day 1 to work with Jamil and understand him but because of his poor execution of his plans, he keeps falling short. At the end of the day, Kalim not only has good intentions but thoroughly deduces what the roots of the problem of their relationship was. He’s actually pretty good at this in general, and deduces what Trey projecting onto the relationship between Kalim and his carpet means about Trey’s relationship with Riddle, and encourages Trey to vent to him. But there are moments like with Riddle’s gym story; Kalim not immediately seeing why he can’t just call Riddle horrible at fitness because it means Riddle will retaliate with anger and possibly get his magic shut down for the day, and Jamil covering up to stop the mess before it happens. (I’m going to be very honest though, Kalim will be mean in a reciprocal way for the sake of reciprocity if someone is mean to him. But it’ll be very subtle that it can easily be explained with obliviousness - Riddle first saying “Write your time down if you’re going to forget it next time”, and after Jamil tells Riddle thanks for babysitting Kalim, Riddle saying “You’re welcome, you deserve a break sometimes” when Kalim was literally right there… that was Kalim’s invitation to serve the shade right back 😂 Like… it’s his immediate response to Riddle saying that. He does this with Leona in New Years as well, when Leona says “unlike other people (Kalim), I actually have things to do with my time”, to which Kalim responds with “You should join in next time too!” implying that he knows Leona doesn’t actually have other things to do but sleep, and also acknowledging the shade on himself, which is kind of hilarious to me. And he doesn’t even do it on purpose - he’s not an evil mastermind, this is him giving back the attitude others give him because reciprocity is a part of his idea of friendship.) Or moments like in the Scarabia dorm uniform cards, where Kalim ends up making more work for Jamil even when they split their duties because Kalim did his parts sloppily or without care. That is an actual flaw of Kalim but it’s not obliviousness to a situation, it’s his carefree attitude that's the issue.

That reciprocity is actually part of the reason why Kalim didn’t catch what was going on with Jamil. We see in Kalim’s personal story that his fate of getting poisoned is the fate of the eldest son of the Asim family, and this was an idea told to Kalim by both his dad and Jamil. We see Jamil in Alab Nariya tell Kalim to go do his job instead of helping guide the guests, his friends, around. Kalim assumed this division of duties and roles was just how things are supposed to be, and that these are just aspects of themselves that they need to deal with. That Kalim needs to deal with even if he wants to do something else. What he didn’t realize was that Jamil was doing everything beyond his duty, not because it was him trying to be friends with Kalim and that Kalim should reciprocate to be friends with Jamil back, but because “beyond his duty” was actually a perceived part of his duty. No matter what solutions Kalim offers to Jamil, to Jamil it will always be within the context of “Jamil agrees to these solutions because Kalim is the master and Jamil is the servant or disagreed to these solutions because Kalim is the master and Jamil is the servant”, not because it’s actually something Jamil wants.

FYI, this is also why at the end, Jamil says he wants to get to choose whether he is the master or the servant. And this development is so important. He rejects the fake Kalim, all of Jamil’s hopes and distorted images of a fake Kalim, in the same manner that he rejected the real Kalim in Book 4. (And this is positioned as being Jamil’s equivalent to Vil killing everyone in his dream. Vil’s personality was not beautiful, and Jamil was not being mindful initially, but there are steps he’s taking to assert his perspective here.) He knows Kalim now and what he’ll do for Jamil. He knows Kalim will respond to his desires. But Jamil will decide if he wants to torture Kalim by asserting the role of a servant (nothing you do will matter because I’m stuck here and I know how badly being useless pisses you off), or if he wants to torture Kalim by asserting the role of a master (I will dictate how the pace of our conversations will go, I will tell you what I want, and I know you will do it for me). Kalim getting upset with Jamil in general over his attitude - finally realizing the core of what Jamil really wants - is why Jamil is so happy with this development even though he says in Book 4 “you never change” to Kalim with a relieved look on his face. Kalim is finally getting it and understanding it. Jamil was scared of what straying from the status quo meant for him, and is now starting to get comfortable with the paths they both chose.

After Book 7 and seeing people like Vil call Kalim a little scary for his traits, seeing Kalim blow up with Jamil the way he did, and seeing Kalim after that tell Jamil that’s he’s a little pissed Jamil didn’t get more hurt really makes you go back and look at the context of scenes in a different light. Everything led to this direction of character development. Kalim getting frustrated over the main vocals in Book 5… Jamil insinuating Vil’s overblot was Kalim’s fault and Kalim nearly screaming in frustration over it (he lets out a little squeal instead)… Kalim getting mad at Jade insinuating that the others might already be dead… Kalim hug-tackling Jamil out of relief but also at tiny frustrations because he was so worried, and Jamil in their dreams later on recognizing that Kalim doesn’t just hug but hug-tackles and Jamil not wanting to get tackled… This happens in events too. Kalim hugs Fellow after everything is said and done but also slaps him on the back more than a few times.

There are so many layers to him. Eventually, Kalim learnt to develop his very minuscule mean streak into actual retaliation out of rage. A part of why Book 4 worked so well is because their relationship is so interesting. Jamil and Kalim are both interesting. Azul even says that the only person Kalim cares enough about to even promise something like keeping a dangerous unique magic a secret is Jamil. Which gets you wondering how people actually perceive how Kalim interacts with other people in the cast, because he could easily have cared about anyone else in the same way. Jamil is the exception and it’s emphasized over and over again - he is the one person Kalim will not be mean to (used to), Kalim genuinely wants to help him especially because Jamil helps him (still does! back to Kalim’s nature of reciprocity, based on his interpretation of how friendships work), and he is the one person Kalim trusts. The only person. Measured now, like a lot of other developments with Kalim related to things he used to not be able to do (tie his headband, organize a parade by himself) but now can (Cloudcalling voice lines, Jamil’s comfy birthday story), but the idea is still there. Which was always to get to truly understand the real Jamil and fulfill his real desires!

Now that we understand where Kalim starts with and where he ends off, as well as the development he went through all these books and events, what does this mean for his character? Does he end off wanting to help or wanting to assert his perspective? He found a way to align both of these with his development. He still wants to help Jamil; but now, he’ll say what he actually thinks and take a proactive stance in making sure Jamil doesn’t “shoot himself in the foot” over his self-pitying and counterintuitive attitude that restricts himself. He’s found a way to incorporate both his natural disposition that wants to help others and his acknowledgement of his own negative feelings. It’s really beautiful, and I can only wish the best for him and Jamil from here on out. I wish this was a feeling shared by the rest of the fandom, but sometimes, you can’t help stupidity… oh whoops I didn’t say that! You didn’t hear that! Hahaha…

Such a long time in the fandom and so many things answered! But so many other things left unanswered… I can’t wait to see where they go next 🙌

[beifong-brainrot]

The more I think about it, the more I think Bolin could easily embody that "human treated as a weapon/tool, who also believes that of themselves" tropes.

Like, it is not a stretch to say that Bolin has been "used" at least three times by antagonists of the show. By Kuvira, for his unique bending abilities and his good reputation, by Varrick for his looks, charisma and popularitu and by Eska for physical labour and her... um... you know I think I'll need to make another long post about Eska's weirdly intense attachment to Bolin.

In these relationships there is an onbious pattern, Bolin letting a more assertive/experienced person take the lead and order him around. Even when he's hurt or humiliated or frightened, he keeps his head down and does what is required of him until some big event (usually only vagely related to his current predicament ) allows him to "break free".

But without a decisive push, Bolin often appears unable or extremely unwilling to disobey the people he views as currently 'in control of him'. Often he's manipulated or pushed into something he's uncomfortable with, or explicity doesn't want to do, even hurting those he cares about.

Sometimes I wonder if even Bolin subconsciously sees himself as just a tool for others to wield and command. That it's easier to let others take charge than to think for himself, than to deal with the responsibility of governing himself. A responsibility he was never taught to handle.

This, as most analysis of Bolin ties back to his traumatic childhood and his codependent relationship with Mako.

Bolin grew up following Mako's lead. He never got to peel off from Mako, never got to slowly build up his independence, as children in more stable environments do. Because seperation from his brother would usually mean danger.

Hell, Mako often acts like a strict parent, since he had to step up to the role. However, often Mako tends to disregard Bolin's own agency and preferences in favour of Bolin's physical safety. Which isn't a bad thing, and Mako was doing as best he could, however this does obviously lead to Bolin being a little stunted in the decisionmaking department.

Bolin lacks agency, as a person. He relies on others leading him. One of the reasons him and Korra get along so well. She's headstrong and decisive and can easily direct him. This is probably why he also gravitated to Kuvira after Korra became incapacitated. He even explained to Mako that "Kuvira is basically just like Korra".

Bolin likes to be given a purpose and that purpose is given to hin by other people. You can see how lost he is when left to his own devices. I mean, Mako left him alone for like 2 days in B2 and Bolin immediately glued himself to Varrick like an abandoned baby koala. And the only times he was able to stand up to Mako, someone who often guides him, is when Bolin is, let's say, "wielded" by someone else (Varrick or Kuvira respectively). It's also fucking painful that whenever Bolin does branch off from Mako, he's always slapped back down, because the person who lead him "astray" turned out to be a villain.

Especially between seasons, and post B4 when team Avatar isn't together, isn't actively driven to do something, Bolin gets lost.

He's aimless in times of peace. He bounces from career to career, unable to focus on anything, because he's so used to tob being directed to fight, to literally survive. It's also important to note that he started training under Toza when he was like 13, no wonder all he can do is combat.

This, coupled with his lavabending being one of Bolin's most prominent skills (also note that lavabending is the only discipline of earthbending we've seen that can't easily be translated into building or art. Lavabending is pure destruction, at least in the form we're shown.).

Korra has her Avatar status, wisdom gained through adversity and her determination. Asami has her company, her ingenuity and drive. Mako has his detective work, and deductive skills. Bolin's just a good fighter and occasionally lifting the mood.

How is he meant to exist in times of peace?

Even though he is clearly uncomfortable with conflict.

Does Bolin have any interests? Things he likes to do other than eat? Other than perform and contort himself for other people to like him?

I thought the mind control plot from Rote could've started an arc of Bolin realising he can be more than a pawn or a tool, but alas, the comic was dissapointing on many fronts, including this one.

I know Bolin is supposed to be the imamture comic relief character, but he's very compelling and multifaceted to me. He has a lot of potential to be a groundbreaking character, however it doesn't seem like the creators are going that way. So um. That sucks.

Also this whole thought process came to me from listening to She was a bird, I was an arrow and thinking of weilin so that's the context of this analysis lol.

I'm gonna need to clear these thoughts up after a while, but hey, enjoy the silly Bolin rambles

[purplecatghostposts]

*Leans into mic* If Wyll never made a deal with Mizora and/or after he breaks his pact with her, I think he would make an excellent Bard and here’s why.

Wyll’s highest stat is Charisma, which Bards use to cast

Bards are full casters which means Wyll still gets to keep his spells AND get plenty of them!

Among the list of weapons a Bard is proficient with, a Rapier is among them

Bards are best known for their Bardic Inspiration and Wyll is the perfect companion to give this to because he’s already very encouraging and giving him a magical means of aiding people with said encouragement would be perfect

Wyll would get healing spells which means Shadowheart wouldn’t be the only Origin Companion with them on the team

Bards are a very supportive class and I just think Wyll would enjoy that, especially if this is after being a Fiend Warlock, a very self serving class. The change of pace would be something to get used to but probably welcomed

The Bard Subclasses Colleges of Valor and Swords would be extremely fitting for Wyll considering both deal with Bards being able to be more physical fighters so he could help out on the frontlines OR stay back and provide help from afar, making them very well rounded. (Personally I think he would make a great Valor Bard but Swords Bard is also great for him)

Wyll would get Vicious Mockery. He would be hilarious with it.

Bards don’t need to play instruments to be a Bard, they can both use their way with words to cast spells OR use other forms of art if they so wish. Not only is Wyll charismatic but he loves to dance. He could cast spells while he dances. It would look amazing

I just think Wyll would make for a good Bard. Look at him. He would enjoy the class immensely

Thank you for your time. All of this came to me after I was trying to figure out an AU in which Wyll never met/made a deal with Mizora and was trying to figure out his class. I know you could argue Paladin but they rely a lot on strength, which Wyll is not known for, and Bards are way better for Charisma and Dex! Plus Paladins are half casters and I think Wyll deserves MORE spells actually.

[typenonsense]

very interesting to me that the seasons in which skizz was the most violent and the most successful as a killer were the two seasons in which he was a follower, not a leader

SHIT i was writing a lot about this in the tags but I had too many so ill write it here. disclaimer it’s not v succinct it’s just a lot of thoughts haha

FASCINATING to me. Like, I don’t think he’s a bad leader. I think he’s charismatic and confident and he always has the group’s best interests in heart and mind so he can (usually. see last life) support his friends and work with them as a unit. But as a leader he has to watch himself and not make any reckless decisions. Everyone is depending on him.

But in 3rd life where he follows Ren as a leader and in wild life where they didn’t really have a leader (if you say they did it would be Grian) he didn’t have that pressure on him. His job was to stay alive and follow orders, serving his team however he can. He still supports them, but in these situations where they don’t rely on him he has more freedom to show his devotion, and in a death game? The best way to help your team is through killing for them. He also worries about his life less because it’s less integral to the team’s survival.

There’s also specifics on the reasons why he couldn’t kill in the seasons where he was a leader:

The thing with last life is that when he turned red he (as all reds did) had to leave. He was forcibly separated from his team. He couldn’t lead them anymore and there wasn’t really any way he could support them, especially with the mental disconnect of very suddenly being alone or with someone who was an enemy just yesterday. It doesn’t compute for someone as loyal as him. I don’t think there was a way in which he could just get over that and kill, especially since his priority still lay with protecting them and he continued wanting to lead them (see the BEST hair AUGHHHH).

Skipping to secret life - his team was vulnerable when they turned red. They were well aware they were one of the weakest teams combat-wise and Tango could’ve died from a gust of wind. BigB was better off but he wasn’t much of a fighter either. I think Skizz, as the leader, saw he needed to protect his boys and keep them together. He couldn’t be reckless otherwise they’d die too. He just needed to help them survive.

Limited life is a very interesting season in this because I’d argue Skizz puts himself into a leader role more here than anywhere else and it’s also the season in which he has the most struggle with killing and he knows it.

His team are competent and they’re trying to eliminate their opposition and he wasn’t able to help much at all. It could be that BECAUSE his team is doing so well he’s focusing just on leading them but it really can’t be because he’s very obviously upset he’s not helping. If it is that it’d be more subconscious and would play into his vulnerability and inferiority complex I’d argue he has in liml, but that’s a different post lmao. So a very simplified version of it - he’s has an overall very bad time in liml and the only thing he gets right are his leadership and charisma (+ his duel with Bdubs iirc haha) so that psychological effect that that’s the only thing going well for him kinda continues and becomes realer.

In liml it’s less like his role as leader invites his poor combat performance and decreased penchant for violence like SL (and to an extent LL - I don’t think he’d be much better off if he were a follower - the ‘reds must leave’ situation was just overall bad for him haha), but the other way round - his misfortune and everything going wrong for him encourages him to take up the leader role.

[writing-in-glitter-pen]

꒰ა If only I were yours ໒꒱

Kaeya, your best friend and only your best friend, admires you while you get ready to go out and wonders what could be of the both of you if only you returned his feelings.

bestfriend!Kaeya x fem!reader II unrequited love, nonmutual pining

“You know, you’re already the most beautiful girl in the world, you don’t have to do all…this.”, Kaeya cooed into your ear with his warm, saccharine voice, watching dutifully as you agonized over your makeup for your night out. “You might do the other women who have to share the room with you a favor and take it easy.”

You only rolled your eyes, continuing to apply your lip liner like you hadn’t heard him, as you always did when Kaeya chided you for your vanity—like he was one to talk.

You never took him seriously; his little remarks of "Darling" this and "Beautiful" that, it was just his way of entertaining himself.

You understood that fact, and you could see past his flirtatious demeanor for the man he really was; roguish, risky, but overall deeply caring and kind, funny and, surprisingly, introverted despite his natural charisma.

That’s what made you such good friends.

You could take his poking, prodding, and any other sort of teasing remarks he dared to dish out, and he could rely on you to understand him deeper than anyone else did, care for him when he fell apart, but also be the firm hand that could keep him in line when he went too far.

When what he mistakes as fun, casual flirting ends up breaking another girl’s heart, you’re always the one to smack him upside the head for it. When he orders another bottle of dandelion wine for himself while barely able to keep from falling off his barstool, you’re the one to drag him out of Angel's Share by his ponytail. Archons knew no one else would. And though he bellyached through your scoldings about the sensitivities of a pure heart or importance of a healthy liver, he'd learn and change.

"Whatever would I do without you by my side?", he'd hum with that dashing grin across his face, like you hadn't just ripped him a new one.

But being Kaeya's best friend wasn't all mother-birding, he had your back when you needed it too.

And you needed it tonight.

Tonight was one of those nights where you were expected to show up at an event per a friend's request. You weren't all that interested in going out tonight anyway, but what made the situation a touch more daunting was the fact that an ex of yours would be present, to which you called for Kaeya's aid in attending alongside you as your plus one and awkward reunion deterrent---an offer he was thrilled to accept.

"Why do you even go to such lengths to look good for some pinhead that broke your poor heart?", Kaeya murmured, taking it upon himself to pin up your hair with a pretty silver clip that rested in your jewelry dish.

"I'm not doing this for him, I'm doing it to spite him.", you corrected.

"Darling, that is the exact same thing."

You gave him a warning look to which he conceded with a shrug and snuck his way into your chair---forcing you to split the space with him until you were finished getting ready. He rested his cheek on his hand as he admired your process, wondering why you cared so much about what some goon thought. You were too beautiful for him anyway.

Truthfully, in Kaeya's eyes, you were too beautiful for any man to have.

Well...he could think of one man deserving of you, but he would never tell you.

The connection you two had was too sacred, too old of a growth to be slashed and burned by his own romantic interests.

You'd been inseparable since the day you met; of course, he found you absolutely stunning upon first sight, a catalyst for his initial draw and desire to be close to you. You took his flirting with a grain of salt, laughing off his musings like they were jokes. What he never would have expected was, after that first conversation, he was determined to stick with you until the end. An initial introduction turned into you two spending the rest of the day chatting about whatever came to mind, talking like you'd known each other forever despite being perfect strangers. You drew deep confessions and secrets from him without even asking, all you had to do was sit there next to him and vulnerable words he'd otherwise keep close to his chest fell from his lips like rainfall. And you accepted them in stride, giving him your own intimate details in exchange. Since then, you two were attached at the hip, unlikely and unexpected confidants.

He'd planned on asking you out, he really did, but he didn't want to do so after just meeting you, it was too fast. However, the more time you spent together, the more precious and irreplaceable you became. He had never met anyone else like you, and he'd never felt more at home.

So, the brief windows he'd get to finally ask you out came and went, and he remained silent.

When he said he wouldn't know what to do without you, he meant it, so he wasn't about to risk losing you over a rejected confession.

That didn't stop him from often looking at you with a twinkle in his eye saved just for you, or twirling a strand of you hair around his finger when he gets bored, or paying for your food and holding in confidence what you'd only share with him.

He was just happy being as close to you as possible while you remained blissfully unaware...though, sometimes, the dull ache of desire he harbored in his chest twisted in ways that felt almost unbearable.

Though he tried his best to keep you from dating, always finding something wrong with the guys you were interested in, crashing your excursions or meeting your suitors at your door when they came to pick you up to interrogate them about their intentions with you, you'd still slip out of his grasp and into the arms of some new interest.

But even as you'd take your brief leaves from him to be with someone else, you'd always return to his side by the end of the day.

No matter how someone else would touch and kiss you the way he burned to, you were still his, closer to him than anyone else, and he could find some small relief in that fact.

And when your heart would inevitably be broken, he'd take to patiently repairing it time and time again. He bought you flowers or new perfume, cut or dyed your hair the way you wanted if you claimed you needed a change; although he had little experience with cutting hair that wasn't his own, he didn't trust anyone else with yours, so he insisted on doing it himself. He'd shop with you and help you choose a new wardrobe, go out with you to drink or party your cares away, hug you for hours and listened when you cried.

He'd do so happily, because when his own inner turmoil caused his eyes to leak and the scars from his past to open and bleed, you were the person who'd hold him and close his wounds.

For that, he'd always be grateful, even if one day, your arms wouldn't be open for him anymore. Maybe you'd eventually abandon him, or maybe they'd end up belonging to someone else, he hoped with every wish he'd get that the day would never come, but no matter what, he'd always remember those moments as the most precious memories he had to his name.

He did everything he could for you, gave you anything you asked for.

If only you'd ask for him.

As you fixed the clip he put in you hair, he looked on through the mirror at those eyes he found so inviting and thought about how, if he was yours, he'd make you feel better than anyone else would. He'd love you more than anyone else could.

Well, he already did, but then you'd know it.

But that risk that you'd say no, that you'd finally hold his deepest desires in the palm of your hand and send them right back to him, kept him quiet.

He'd rather have you like this than not have you at all.

With one last spritz of your perfume---a spray that not only covered you in your signature scent, but him as well due to his proximity, you were out of your chair and walking through your bedroom door in the direction of the party, tugging him along by the hand.

"Thank you for coming, Kaeya.", you said, smiling softly up at him with reassurance in your eyes. An expression that filled him with warmth and satisfaction.

"Anything.", he confirmed, and followed you out.

[cdroloisms]

Hot take I have is that c!Dream wasn’t as good at manipulation as people thought he was. He relied heavily on his reputation and physical intimidation to get people to do what he wants.

c!Dream's charisma stat was bullshit and the main thing that got him the "manipulator" label by the fandom involved him taking advantage of c!Wilbur's work for months earlier when c!Tommy was exiled for the second time in half a year and was already fucked up over his death and suicidal by day two. Also frankly people really didn't do what c!Dream wanted like basically ever. From day one. c!Dream's main skillset was in manipulating the playing field to funnel the situation into a place that benefited him and taking advantage of situations that cropped up to best serve his purposes--this isn't to say that he's never been manipulative, ofc, he's absolutely able to and all of the villain speeches are absolutely yknow, manipulation, as long as people remember that manipulation isn't isolated to "making people like you by lying" which most people think is what c!Dream's manipulation looked like (and also literally the manipulation he was WORST at, by far, to the point where he completely fucked up his own plan in exile by acting THAT strangely to c!Tommy when they literally had a decent-ish relationship mere weeks before and it just shouldn't have been that hard to even fake being friendly with him for a week or two ??? like bro just give him sidequests even SAM figured this one out) but c!Dream as been able to communicate in a way that makes people believe in him just about like. Never. He's so bad at it

[nerdythebard]

#62: Sun Wukong, the Monkey King

[Art Credit: GameScience Studio]

All he ever wanted was to chill with his monkey friends and eat delicious fruit. But the Bureaucracy of Heaven said nooo...

Time for the one and only Sun Wukong. The Handsome Monkey King. The Great Sage Equal to Heavens (self-appointed). The Immortal Troublemaker. As requested by @otakuboysworld. Without any futher ado, let's get into some monkey business! This is going to be quite a bananas build!

Next Time: With a raven's mantle and a doctor's mask... the Hunt shall begin!

Wukong is the earliest example of an overpowered anime protagonist I can think of. With his extensive repertoire of powers and skills, I had to restrict myself to only the most famous few, so let's see what we shall focus on:

Stacks of Immortality: Sun Wukong has gained immortality on at least four separate occasions and originally emerged from a mysterious stone (which adds to his durability). We need to be as tanky as possible on our journey to protect the goodest of monks.

Friends in High Places: The Monkey King, although often clashing with the Bureaucracy of Heaven, does have a few immortals looking out for him including the Bodhisattva Guanyin or Taibai Jinxing, the Great White Golden Star.

Monkey Games: Although a competent and powerful fighter, Sun Wukong is also an accomplished trickster, relying on illusions, transformations, and manipulation to accomplish his goals. Only don't make any bets with the Buddha.

---

1. BACKGROUND

This one is pretty obvious - we're going with the Hadozee from Astral Adventurer's Guide. We shall put +2 into our Dexterity and +1 into Constitution, gain 30 feet of running and climbing speed, and the Dexterous Feet ability, which lets us manipulate objects with our feet as well as we would with our hands. We then have the Glide ability - whenever we fall at least 10 feet above the ground, we can use our reaction to open our skin flaps and glide using our running speed without taking any fall damage, flying squirrel-style. In this case, I would ask the DM to reflavour the Hadozee skin membrane into Sun Wukong's Jin Dou Yun, or "Cloud Surfing" ability. Or, as you may know it better

We also get Hadozee Dodge - whenever we take damage, we can use our reaction to roll a d6, add our proficiency bonus, and reduce the damage by the result. We can to that a number of times equal to our proficiency bonus per long rest.

For the Backround, we have a few options (Acolyte, Sage, Folk Hero among them), but as a pilgrim making their Journey, we shall grab Far Traveler. We get proficiency in Insight and Perception (to better spot the demons), proficiency with one musical instrument or gaming set, one language of our choice, and the All Eyes on You feature; our accent, mannerisms, and... well, being a monkey, certainly draw attention, but we may use this to our advantage by obtaining information or favours.

2. ABILITY SCORES

We will start with Constitution - we are a monkey made of stone draped in layers of immortality; we can take several heavy punches. Strength will be next, being able to lift an entire pillar supporting the underwater dragon kingdom is no small feat. We will put Dexterity as the next one - we are, in the end, a nimble monkey.

Charisma will be next; we are, after all, the (self-proclaimed) Handsome Monkey King and our reputation among the yaoguai preceeds us. Wisdom is on the lower end, but it shouldn't worry us as the (self-proclaimed) Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Finally, we're dumping Intelligence - we are, in the end, an impulsive monkey.

3. CLASS

Now, there are a few interesting ways we could've build the Monkey King, ranging from the classic Kensei Monk through Matt Mercer's Echo Knight Fighter to simulate his hair clone technique; but I do like what I came up with.

Level 1 - Druid: Starting off with Sun Wukong's connection to his homeland, Mount Huaguo. Druids get d8 as their Hit Dice, [8 + Constitution modifier] initial Hit Points, proficiencies with clubs, daggers, darts, javelins, maces, quarterstaffs, scimitars, sickles, slings, and spears as well as light armour, medium armour, shields, and herbalism kit. Really good options, so let's grab a quarterstaff and a scale mail armour. Our saving throws are Intelligence and Wisdom (we sure need those), and we get to pick two class skills from the list (Medicine and Religion).

Druids start by learning Druidic, a secret language and writing system used to communicate secrets across. Additionally, we start with Spellcasting. Wisdom is our casting ability, we learn cantrips, regular spells, and rituals, and we get to prepare [Wisdom modifier + our Druid level] spells every day from the full spell list. We start with two cantrips (Primal Savagery and Thunderclap) and one 1st-level spell (Jump).

Level 2 - Druid: We unlock Druid's signature ability - Wild Shape. Simulating one part of Wukong's 72 Earthly Transformations, we are now able to take the form of a beast we've previously encountered, with a max CR of 1/4 (no swimming or flying speed), for [our Druid level / 2] hours using our Bonus Action. We can transform twice per short or long rest.

We also get to pick our first subclass, our Druid Circle. For Sun Wukong, whose entire campaign against the Heavens started because his peaceful life on Mt. Huaguo was disturbed, we will go with Circle of the Land. We get to choose a bonus cantrip (Shilelagh), Natural Recovery lets us regain some spell slots during short rest, and we also get some additional spell depending on the Land we decide to associate with; here, we'll go with Mountain.

We can also grab another 1st-level spell (Protection from Evil and Good).

Level 3 - Druid: We don't unlock new class features here, but we are being supplies with some spells. From our subclass we get Spider Climb and Spike Growth (feel free to flavour the latter as Wukong's hair tossed on the ground and transformed), and we unlock 2nd-level spells, which lets us grab Hold Person.

Level 4 - Druid: We get our first Ability Score Improvement. We'll put one point into Constitution and round up Dexterity with the other. Our Wild Shape also improves, now including creatures with the maximum CR of 1/2 and swimming speed, and we gain one new cantrip (Produce Flame) and one 2nd-level spell (Enlarge/Reduce to use on ourselves or our staff).

Level 5 - Paladin: We're changing a tune for a little bit, but hear me out: Wukong is a holy warrior whether he likes it or not (and we do need better combat). Multiclassing into Paladin gives us proficiencies with the full spectrum of simple and martial weapons, as well as armours and shields we already are proficient with.

Starting with Divine Sense, we can now focus our magical monkey senses to detect all celestials, fiends or undead within 60 feet of us, basically allowing us to walk up to the suspicious old lady and go

We also get Lay on Hands, which grants us small pool of [our Paladin level x5] healing energy, which we can use on ourselves or another creature as an action. Alternatively, we can spend 5 of those Healing Points to remove an illness or a disease from our target.

Level 6 - Paladin: At this level, we are now able to pack a proper divine punch with the introduction of Divine Smite. Whenever we hit a target, we can now burn one spell slot to do additional radiant damage. The damage is 2d8 for 1st-level spell slot and increases by 1d8 for each higher slot (to a maximum of 5d8 or 6d8 if the target is a fiend or undead).

We also unlock our Fighting Style here; we'll pick Dueling for a +2 to our damage rolls since we're only using our staff and no other weapon.

Finally, at this level we unlock Spellcasting. Charisma is our casting ability, and we only know regular spells - no cantrips or rituals. Since we're mixing up two casting classes, feel free to use this [calculator] to know how many spell slots you'll be getting. We have a full access to our spell list, but each day we can only prepare [our Charisma modifier + half of our Paladin level]. With how we are right now that means we start with two 1st-level spells: let's grab Searing Smite and Compelled Duel to yell "COME AT ME, BRO!" to any demon encountered.

Level 7 - Paladin: With Divine Health we are now immune to any disease. We also get to pick our second subclass and pledge our Divine Oath. For Sun Wukong, whose goal is to become the Number One In All Heavens, it's obvious to pick the Oath of Glory.

We get a few extra spells (Guiding Bolt [funny idea: flavour this spell as your staff extending and hitting the target] and Heroism) and a Channel Divinity options (which we can use once per short or long rest):

Peerless Athlese: As a bonus action, we can enhance our physicality. For the next 10 minutes we have advantage on our Athletics and Acrobatics checks; we can push, lift, drag, and carry twice our normal capacity; and our jumping distance and height increases by 10 feet.

Inspiring Smite: When we deal radiant damage using our Divine Smite ability, we can use this Channel Divinity and, as a bonus action, distribute a total of [2d8 + our Paladin level] healing Hit Points to creatures of our choosing within 30 feet of us (ourselves included).

Level 8 - Druid: Going back to the man monkey of nature, we unlock 3rd-level spells. Take Erupting Earth and flavour it as extending your staff and striking the ground, causing tremors and difficult terrain. From our subclass we also unlock Lightning Bolt and Meld into Stone.

Level 9 - Druid: We unlock a new subclass feature. With Land's Stride, there isn't much that can stop us now. Non-magical difficult terrain no longer impedes our speed, and we can move through non-magical plants with hazardous elements such as thorns and grasping vines without any problems. For this level's spell let's take Water Walk to chase our enemies across all surfaces.

Level 10 - Druid: Halfway through the build and we unlock 4th-level spells. Time to get even better transformation abilities with... Hallucinatory Terrain. The reason I'm not taking Polymorph here is because that spell, much like our Druidic Wild Shape, is also restricted to the 'Beast' category. With Hallucinatory Terrain, we can mess up with the enemy's perception of their surroundings and add a sneak attack or two while they're confused. Classic trickster behaviour.

We also get two more spells from our subclass (Stone Shape and Stoneskin).

Level 11 - Druid: Oh, a lot happens here. First and foremost, another ASI. Let's take one point of Constitution and one point of Wisdom to finally become a little smarter. Next up, our Wild Shape impoves once again and now we can assume the form of any Beast with the max CR of 1 (which usually means a giant version of regular animals) and we can finally include creatures with flying speed!

Finally, we can get another 4th-level spell (Locate Creature).

Level 12 - Druid: At this level, we only unlock 5th-level spells. From our subclass we get Passwall and Wall of Stone, and we additionally collect Control Winds.

Level 13 - Druid: We get our last cantrips of the build (Resistance) and another 5th-level spell (Scrying). We also get another subclass feature. With Nature's Ward, we can no longer be charmed or frightened by fey or elementals, and we're also immune to poison and disease.

Level 14 - Druid: We unlock 6th-level spells here. With Wind Walk we can transform ourselves and our group into Flying Nimbuses... Nimbusi?... which can be re-made as summoning the clouds for everyone.

Level 15 - Druid: For this level's spell, Bones of the Earth will let us manipulate the battlefield and deal some damage. For our ASI we will get the Tough feat to further boost our Hit Points.

Level 16 - Druid: Unlocking 7th-level spells grants us another great crowd control ability - Whirlwind. It not only deals 10d6 bludgeoning damage to any target caught within, but we can also move it 30 feet per turn, effectively sweeping the area like a hoover.

Level 17 - Druid: Time for our final subclass feature. Nature'e Sanctuary forces a Wisdom saving throw onto any beast or plant that attempts to attack us and make them choose a different target (and miss) if they fail.

For this level's spell, let's further roleplay Sun Wukong's immortality by picking Regenerate. Just remember to be selfish with the heals ;)

Level 18 - Druid: Unlocking 8th-level spells here gives us access to Control Weather (yes, that's actually a power Wukong has) to wreck even more chaos.

Level 19 - Druid: For our final ASI we will grab the Observant feat; as Wukong was elevated to the Buddahood and gained his all-seeing eyes, we get a +1 to our Wisdom, read lips if we observe a creature for a minute, and get a +5 to our passive Perception and Investigation scores. For this level's spell, we're getting Sunburst to fully unleash our newly acquired divine might.

Level 20 - Druid: Our cap is Druid 17; it doesn't give us any new class or subclass features, but we do unlock the pinnacle of spellcasting, the 9th level spells. At this point, we can finally perfect the 72 Earthly Transformations with Shapechange.

4. RECOMMENDED ITEMS

Now, this here is a new section I'm trying out, please let me know your thoughts. Basically, to complete the build, I would like to list two or three items found in the D&D source books that you might want to consider pursuing. See, I am under the impression that the players shape the story as much as the DM; it is completely fine to ask your DM if you perhaps could have a storyline about getting these items, which would make for interesting plot hooks or storylines. Anyway, for Sun Wukong, you should consider the following (both given to the Monkey King by Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the East):

1) (Blue) Dragon Scale Mail - This Very Rare item gives us a +1 to AC, advantage on saving throws against Frightful Presence and breath weapon of dragons, and resistance to lightning damage.

2) Pole of Collapsing - To simulate the Ruyi Jingu Bang's dimension changing properties, I would ask the DM to fuse this one with the quarterstaff we use as our main weapon.

---

And that's my take on Sun Wukong, the great Monkey King. Let's see what we ended up with:

First and foremost, we have a solid pool of Hit Points. With the average of 216 we place on 3rd place of all build so far, right after Kratos and Atlas. With a plethora of healing options, we can simulate the layers of Wukong's immortality easily. We are a scout and a vanguard first and foremost - with Wild Shape, Divine Sense, and Wind Walk we can search out dangers along the way and let our party members plan out efficiently. We are also able to hold our own, adding the Paladin SMITE to our strikes or use our support spells to confuse the enemy.

Our AC is 16 (18 if we get the Dragon Armour), we have a +3 to our initiative, and the average of 216 Hit Points.

Unfortunately, there are several weaknesses here: first and foremost, none of our ability scores reach 20. Next up, a lot of our spells require concentration, so we need to be careful there. Finally, our mental stats are pretty low, which might prove challenging when facing enemies with mind control or illusion powers.

---

And that's it, my dears. I wanted to release this during the height of Black Myth: Wukong's popularity, but since my creative brain hates me... I have scrapped the entire build as I was at the very end. Yup, originally I intented to make him Kensei Monk and Trickster Cleric, but decided to focus on his transformations more. Hope you enjoy this, remember to be good to yourself, and I'll see you in the next one!

-Nerdy out!

[snowblack-charcoalwhite]

Do you think that Aegon was whitewashed this season? As in, they realised they went too far with him in s1 and wanted to rectify it in s2 at the expense of other characters, mostly aemond and alicent. The problem is, you can't retcon everything. He is still a bully and rapist in show canon, but for some reason they now want to downplay it and focus on his incompetence, but also on him wanting to make something right while constantly being undermined by his family. I can't even enjoy such a confusing arc because it's inconsistent and manipulative. Also, it seems they wanted to nip Aemond's popularity and propping up Aegon at his expense apparently worked. It's true that TGC is extremely likeable, he was even in s1 when they wanted to show his character as a drunken rapist who doesn't understand consent, and he is now when they want to show Aegon as a tragic victim of his traitorous and unsupportive family. However, it's not enough to rely on actor's talent and charm when the writing is all over the place. Finally, I must say that I'm really disappointed with the green fandom, I even had to left their sub on Reddit because of the hate they constantly throw at Alicent and even more, Aemond. Like someone on other blog said, they never turned on Aegon after s1, they were relentlessly stanning him and blamed everything on the writers, but now won't do the same for aemond. Seriously, Aegon stans behave identically as Daemyra stans and that is something. It's sad because I've liked both since s1 but it's a fact that the green side of the fandom is much harsher and unjust to aemond, it's enough to check out the mentioned subreddit and some blogs here to get the picture.

Hello!

I think that Aegon's character was not so much whitewashed as used for a very unsavory purpose which was to make other Green characters, especially Aemond and Alicent look bad (here is the link to a post where I expressed my opinion on that matter). In order for that to work there was not a lot of actual embellishment needed - Aegon's story is a compelling and a tragic one as it is. The problem, however, lies in that the writers did their damnedest to use the most touching and relatable aspects of his arc to the detriment of other characters - who were supposed to love, cherish and support him.

As for the fandom reactions, I have always had an impression that among the hardcore TG supporters sympathies for Aegon run wider and deeper than for Aemond anyway. IMO there is a combination of various reasons at work here: him being the leader and the beating heart of his faction (in the book, that is), his incredible character journey, the way Tom's charm and charisma fill even the underdeveloped and kind of warped show version of Aegon with color and life (if we're talking about the adaptation) - and/or the simple fact that someone likes one character more than the other, sometimes even without being able to name a reason for it.

The thing is - while it doesn't sit right with me when people are not willing to cut one character some slack and at the same time cut the other (their favourite one) all of it - I can't really judge the favoritism per se: we are all human after all. What I do have hard time stomaching is the fans (in that case Aegon's - or more precisely exclusively or heavily prevalently Aegon's fans) being unnecessarily vicious about it.

As someone who loves both Aegon and Aemond, I for that exact reason have always felt disheartened by seeing fans of one Targtower brother shitting on the other one (or even worse, the fans getting personal with each other). Over the two years of being in the Tumblr fandom I have seen a number of posts made by Aemond's fans where they bashed Aegon by downplaying his good qualities and heavily focusing on the negativity ("useless drunk", "atrocious bully" etc) - and obviously have never agreed with them (to put it mildly) and am not about to start agreeing now. But - even in comparison with that - not even the amount of the posts but the intensity of the hate Aemond has been getting from Aegon's supporters is something else. And the worst part is that some of the posts I saw positively reek (sorry, I can't use any other word here) of schadenfreude. Guys, I understand the anger and frustration about having your character being heavily mistreated by the writers (which is exactly what happened to Aegon in season 1) - in fact I was right there with you when it happened. But now, when the exact same thing is happening to other character, maybe you can recall just how much it sucked and hold yourself back a little? Yes, Aemond is being brought down in great part by the script having him treat Aegon horribly, so your current lack of love for the former is understandable. But in season 1 the same was happening in reverse (although to a considerably milder degree - brotherly bullying, as shitty as it might be, doesn't equal an attempt on one's brother's life) - and in spite of some Aemond fans tearing Aegon to shreds in their blogs I personally saw far more people who like Aemond still expressing their irritation and outrage about the way Aegon was written in season 1. I am not trying to shut anyone up - but is making an effort to show some understanding and compassion for your fellow Greenies so much to ask? HotD has all but destroyed the Greens as a team and a family - but the fans don't have to (if you ask me - should not) mirror that atrocity.

[ajaxpetropolisismyhusband]

How the NYSM2 men would react to your kidnapping...

Daniel Atlas

Daniel would be the first to take action to rescue Y/n.

He would use his charm and connections to gather information on her whereabouts and devise a plan to get her back.

He would be determined and focused, putting all his energy into finding and rescuing Y/n.

Daniel would be extremely protective of Y/n, especially after her kidnapping.

He would take it upon himself to make sure that she is safe and would go to great lengths to keep her out of harm's way.

Daniel is a strategic thinker and would use his skills in planning and execution to come up with a plan to rescue Y/n.

He would carefully consider all options and weigh the risks and benefits of each one before taking action.

Daniel has a natural charisma that would make him an effective leader in a crisis situation.

He would be able to inspire and motivate his team to take action and would be able to think on his feet to adapt to changing circumstances.

As a master illusionist, Daniel has a talent for thinking outside the box and coming up with creative solutions to problems.

He would use his skills in misdirection and sleight of hand to distract the

Despite his confident exterior, Daniel can be emotionally vulnerable at times.

Y/n's kidnapping would bring out a more vulnerable side to him, and he would rely on the support of his team to get through the ordeal.

He would also be more open with Y/n about his feelings towards her, which may surprise her given his usual suave and confident demeanor.

Jack Wilder

Jack would be the most visibly upset and angry by Y/n's kidnapping.

He would be laser-focused on finding her and would stop at nothing to bring her back safely.

He would be willing to take extreme risks and use his skills in sleight of hand and pickpocketing to get any information that might help in the rescue.

Jack is a master thief and pickpocket, so he would blame himself for not being able to prevent Y/n's kidnapping.

He would be wracked with guilt and would feel responsible for her safety.

Jack is known for his daring and risky moves, and he would not hesitate to take dangerous actions to rescue Y/n.

He would be willing to break into high-security locations, confront dangerous criminals, and even put himself in harm's way to save her

Jack is a highly skilled and resourceful thief, and he would use all his talents to track down Y/n's kidnappers.

He would follow every lead, use his contacts in the criminal underworld, and even use his skills in illusion and misdirection to uncover information and rescue Y/n.

Underneath his tough exterior, Jack is a sensitive and emotional person.

He would be devastated by Y/n's kidnapping and would struggle to keep his emotions in check.

He would seek comfort and support from the other members of the Four Horsemen, and would be willing to let his guard down and show his vulnerability around them.

Jack has a strong sense of loyalty and would feel a deep connection to Y/n, especially since they have worked together as part of the Four Horsemen.

He would be fiercely protective of her and would stop at nothing to ensure her safety, even if it meant putting his own life on the line.

Merritt Mckinney

Merritt would be devastated by Y/n's kidnapping, but he would remain calm and level-headed in order to help with the rescue mission.

He would use his skills in hypnosis to gather information from people involved in the kidnapping and to aid in the rescue efforts.

Merritt would blame himself for Y/n's kidnapping, even if he had no direct involvement in it.

He would feel guilty that he couldn't use his hypnosis skills to prevent it from happening.

Merritt would use his powers of hypnosis to try to gain information about Y/n's kidnappers.

He would use his knowledge of psychology to get into the minds of the kidnappers and figure out their motives and weaknesses.

Merritt would be the most compassionate and empathetic of the group towards Y/n.

He would be able to connect with her on a deeper emotional level and understand what she might be going through.

Merritt would be the voice of reason in the group, encouraging the others to stay focused and calm during the rescue mission.

He would remind them that their actions could have consequences and to think before they act.

Merritt would also be the most creative in terms of coming up with ideas to rescue Y/n.

He would use his knowledge of hypnosis and psychology to devise unique plans that the others might not have thought of.

Overall, Merritt's skills in hypnosis and psychology would make him a valuable asset in the group's efforts to rescue Y/n.

He would be both compassionate and creative in his approach, and would be a calming influence on the others during a high-stress situation.

Dylan Rhodes/Shrike

Dylan would be extremely determined to rescue Y/n, but he would also be pragmatic and calculated in his approach.

He would use his position as an FBI agent to gather information and coordinate with law enforcement to ensure a safe and successful rescue operation.

Dylan would feel personally responsible for Y/n's safety, as he had recruited her to be a member of the Four Horsemen.

He would be deeply troubled by her kidnapping and would take it as a failure on his part to protect her.

Dylan would be methodical in his approach to the rescue mission, carefully analysing every detail and potential lead.

He would work closely with law enforcement to gather information and coordinate the rescue operation.

Despite his professionalism, Dylan would be emotionally invested in the mission to rescue Y/n.

He would be willing to take risks and make difficult decisions in order to bring her back safely.

Dylan's loyalty to Y/n would be unwavering, even in the face of danger.

He would be willing to put himself in harm's way to ensure her safety and would not hesitate to confront the kidnappers directly if necessary.

As the leader of the Four Horsemen, Dylan would take responsibility for the actions of his team and would work tirelessly to ensure that Y/n is rescued without any harm coming to her.

He would be determined to right the wrongs committed against her and ensure that justice is served.

Walter Mabry

Walter would initially be indifferent to Y/n's kidnapping, but he would eventually become involved when he realizes that his own interests are at stake.

He would use his wealth and connections to gather information on Y/n's whereabouts, but his actions would be motivated more by self-interest than concern for her safety.

As a wealthy businessman with a history of shady dealings, he is not unused to dangerous situations and would likely prioritize his own interests over Y/n's safety.

However, as he becomes more involved in the search for Y/n, Walter would start to become more invested in her fate.

His self-interest may evolve into a desire to protect Y/n, as he sees her as a valuable asset that he wants to keep under his control.

Walter would use his connections in the criminal underworld to gather information about Y/n's kidnappers and would likely try to negotiate with them for her release.

However, his involvement in the situation may also put Y/n in greater danger, as his actions could draw attention from other powerful and dangerous people.

Ultimately, Walter's motivations for rescuing Y/n would remain murky. It is unclear whether he genuinely cares about her or if he is simply trying to protect his own interests.

His actions would likely be complex and multi-layered, with his true intentions remaining unclear until the very end.

If Y/n were to be rescued, Walter's reaction would depend on whether he succeeded in protecting his interests.

He may be genuinely relieved and grateful, or he may view her rescue as simply a business transaction that he was able to successfully negotiate.

Regardless, he would likely remain a complicated and ambiguous figure in Y/n's life.

[lyledebeast]

I think what really makes The Patriot such a great movie for Jason Isaacs in spite of being such a shitty movie for just about everyone else involved just comes down to laziness in the writing. Robert Rodat wrote a protagonist who is allegedly, somehow, a badass Rambo-style war hero and haunted by his past AND a good father, and the filmmakers planned from the beginning to rely on Mel Gibson's charisma to sell him. Roland Emmerich admits they never really considered anyone else for the role. Meanwhile, Tavington on paper is a cardboard cutout Evil English Snob. The original plan was to cast Jude Law, a solid Evil English Snob choice, but when he took too long to officially accept, they offered the part to an actor with little experience in American film who had not played a major antagonist before. And they let him implement some of his own ideas because his character wasn't the one they really cared about.

And he stole their movie!

I would argue that the main reason for this, the reason all the others stem from, is Issacs' idea for Tavington's backstory. Not only does it explain why he is in the Army and so desperate for a British victory, but also, in part, why he has such particular beef with a father.

The backstory itself is certainly more tragic than Martin's. For all the movie's criticism of "gentlemen," growing up in the expectation of a certain kind of life and having that torn away through someone else's irresponsibility would traumatize anyone. While the movie tells us nothing about Tavington's age when his father died or what happened to him in the immediate aftermath, it is abundantly clear that he has not gotten over it. Martin has not gotten over Fort Wilderness, but by every other account we hear it was 1, Martin's accomplishment and 2, an absolute Roman triumph from the British Colonial perspective. It did nothing to hurt Martin's fortune or prospects, quite the opposite. The only drawback for Martin is that when you commit war crimes, it has an unfortunate way of making you feel like you might be a war criminal. Annoying that.

That Tavington has a saber to grind with fathers is also far more consistent than Martin's approach to fathering, as we see in Tavington's first scene. He points his pistol at Martin's children to get the rise out of him that pointing it at him failed to stir. He never speaks to Gabriel or even looks at him upon discovering the dispatches he carried, but when Gabriel calls Martin "father," suddenly Tavington is invested: "Oh, I see. He's your son. Well, perhaps you should have taught him something of loyalty." Every problem Tavington sees in this scene of performed neutrality he lays at Martin's door, even Gabriel's service in the Continental Army. Could it be projection? If there is one outcome that is not Martin's fault, it is Gabriel joining up against his explicit wishes. Meanwhile, Martin's concern for Gabriel shifts from his endangering five of his remaining children's lives to save him to paying so little attention to him immediately after his new wife's murder that he is able to ride for revenge with no inconsequential number of Martin's men behind him. And he is at least as shocked by Gabriel's death as he was by Thomas's.

The first exchange between Tavington and Martin is mostly unchanged from the script to the theatrical release, but the two following it are dramatically different thanks to Isaacs. He argued successfully that not only would Tavington not be afraid of Martin after the prisoner exchange but that he would do well in the final fight between them (a fight that does not exist in the original screenplay). That fight in particular creates problems for the filmmakers' vision of Martin. In the unaltered first scene, Tavington has all of the power, sitting on his horse while Martin is on foot. In the second, Tavington draws his sword to kill Martin while he is unarmed. Both of these are classic dastardly villain moves. In the last exchange, though, it is Martin who has the advantage of having wounded Tavington twice before they get in sword's reach of each other, and Tavington still kicks his ass. On Tavington's side, this is not representative of a one-dimensional villain but of a man who has clawed his way to being a colonel in the British Army after losing everything with his father's death. The only reason Tavington does not kill Martin, either after the punch Martin does not take like a champ or after he has literally beaten Martin to his knees, is that he is still seeking a connection with a father.

The problem with the changes Jason Isaacs brought about is that they make Tavington a badass fighter with a sad backstory, which also happen to be the only aspects of Martin that get any real development. His onscreen violence evokes Fort Wilderness from first to last, but the third aspect of Martin's character, that he is a good father, is told rather than shown. Had changes been made to Martin that corresponded to Isaacs' for Tavington, then he could have had a stronger ending, perhaps saving Gabriel as he failed to save Thomas. But, no. Instead he just gets out-badassed in his own movie and then handed a giftwrapped victory anyway.

[thefeastandthefast]

Flourished Peony thoughts (spoilers up to episode 11):

I find it incredibly satisfying that Jiang Changyang refrains from intervening in Mudan’s life unless she explicitly seeks out his help.

I was actually expecting the contrary and bracing myself for a bit of white-knighting, since I'd read criticism from someone who'd watched up to episode 11 specifically complaining about the FL being written as supposedly empowered and strong but instead relies too much on the ML, who always happens to be present whenever she needs help. But now having watched up to episode 11 myself, I wholeheartedly disagree with describing a FL who astutely leverages her limited resources as weak and disempowered.

She first goes to him for aid with her divorce in absolute desperation, because her other proactive and well-executed gambits needed time to come to fruition and she didn't have time. It's a hail mary move and he proves himself unexpectedly sympathetic. Ultimately, though, the legal victory he helped her achieve means very little on a practical level. She still ends up on the run, starting over from scratch, without her divorce papers and without her dowry.

This drama skillfully establishes how the realpolitikal power of strategic relationships and networks (that perennial term 关系) softens and often even circumvents the barriers of social convention and hierarchies in a way a single individual has little hope to do. The patronage of the powerful and influential is worthwhile to cultivate, especially valuable when the price for patronage doesn't require moral compromise from the protege (i.e. in the case of Liu Chang).

Jiang Changyang is powerful and influential and, most importantly to Mudan, does not demand what she isn't willing to give, consistently demonstrating that he adheres to the adage he keeps quoting- "a gentleman doesn't demand/take that which others hold dearest." Mudan has real skills and expertise to offer in exchange for fair patronage. Her reliance on his financial and social capital and continued cultivation of this relationship simply demonstrates that she's smart?

If we want to have more period-plausible shows like this one, which tries to be consistent in applying the rules and structural inequalities of its world to all of its characters, then it only makes narrative sense that the FL may need to occasionally rely on the aid of more powerful others and won't be able to only scheme and Charisma check herself out of every sticky situation. It doesn't make her poorly written or disempowered. Besides, Jiang Changyang is not the only connection she cultivates to great effect- she is able to help Shengyi obtain her divorce with Yun Niang's help and seems to have just found new allies in A'Fu and her mother.

Plus, as of episode 11, we see the intentional care he takes to NOT overstep the agreed-upon boundaries of this patronage relationship. The gorgeous, gorgeous scene when Jiang Changyang is behind the screen, watching Mudan's heartbreak and dogged determination as she gathers up the last handfuls of coin she has left to refund the angry mob- even obscured by the fabric haze, we see how deeply he empathizes with her in that moment, his always bemused eyes holding not a trace of laughter for the first time since he's appeared in this show.

He's a guarded man who's constantly shifting from mask to mask. His favorite persona is that of a gleefully avaricious fop who takes no one and nothing too seriously. But in that scene, we see that detachment fail and the pain in his face shows just how seriously he takes her pain. Even so, he also takes seriously the easily upset balance of power inherent in their relationship and his trust in her ability to resolve her own problems. Without her specific request for aid, any presumption on his part to step in would create the kind of debt she cannot afford and may not want to repay.

[goongiveusnothing]

that's why i think he delayed his album released last year. i think beyonce/swift came up, then the young women came in super hot and he knew he would struggle getting the number one album and that's all he cares about. that his album comes out and gets number one and stays there for a bit. he's so clearly threatened that other artists can easily compete and dethrone him now.//

lol and now Justin Bieber is teasing a comeback and The Weeknd album is coming at the end of this month. I know he’s frustrated as hell. I love to see it 🤣 I also think in some ways Timothée is competition for him and he won’t be able to replicate the era Timothée is having right now because he doesn’t have the charisma to pull it off, plus he relies too much on being “mysterious” which is just not going to work anymore. I’m sat for the upcoming trainwreck!!!

yes. i think the whole mystery thing is a mess for him in this era. it just doesn't work. he can't put out an album and give two or three completely tedious up his own ass interviews to his friends ("happiest i've ever been") and then go away. he's got to actually work and be honest and earnest and funny. he has to have something to fucking say.

good to know there's more competition coming out. maybe that's why he's in berlin. he's going to have to wait around till a moment of quiet to make a move. he's so fucking afraid of his competitors because he knows he doesn't match up. he cannot compete. they will expose him. his album may only do well for a few weeks and then fade because everyone around him is releasing and doing better because they care more and do more and are more.

his looks have gone. times are rough for him.