#continuation of my gui dao rant

[tuskstudioart]

Monkie Talk- 1

Greetings!!

Kamma here :)

Today I shall rant/info dump on my LMK/JTTW OCS because i have nothing else to do,and also because you guys seem to like em!!

Okay,so. In case you haven't read the article from my previous posts,here a little context.

Pāramitā and Daiyu are basically the living embodiments of yin and yang (para being yang,Daiyu being yin) as well as the lifegivers to the Great Sage equal to heaven himself,sun wukong.

They were created as the progenitors of all monkeying,similar to the Phoenix. They fell in love,created flower fruit mountain so all their monkey kids can run around,and made the temple inside the waterfall that Wukong soon finds. More on that later.

Like I said, Once their family grows to titanic proportions, the gibbons wield their arcane knowledge to create an island home, therefore raising up Flower Fruit Mountain (or Huaguo shan) from the ocean. There, they construct the Water Curtain Cave from which they continue to plumb the depths of the Dao. Their exploration takes them to the heights of the mountain where heaven meets earth, using the corresponding yin (earth/female) and yang (heaven/male) energy to fuel their reenactment of the creation of the cosmos through sexual union. By PURE chance, these powerful, creative sexual energies are absorbed by a boulder atop the mountain. (Ooo foreshadowing).

Okay so,the pair loved to sing songs together,as mated gibbons do. Their songs were very powerful,and only got stronger and stronger overtime. So strong,in fact,that these furry creatures were able to crumble MOUNTAINS, shake SEAS, and even destroying a mountain pillar in the sky. They were one hell of a opera duo,basically. The devi Nuwa basically had to mend the heavens with the five glowing rocks or whatever-

As you would expect,this caused unease in heaven. Celestials were afraid of what were to go on if they allowed this happy married couple to stay,well,happy. So they did the only thing they could,brought the issue to the gibbons themselves.

Now they were NOT happy when they were basically told "yeahhhh,like,your love is a little TOO strong,my guy", but understood the direness of the situation. So,with heavy hearts, Daiyu and Pāramitā decided to part ways, with the promise given by the primordial devas that they'd be brought together again in the near future. They say their goodbyes, and isolate themselves to two separate,far away holy mountains,leaving Huaguo shan in need of a new leader...or a monkey king. Heheheeeh-

The two are much sought after by animal, human, devil, and deva to teach them the essence of the Dao. Both become the religious teachers of countless beings, from the lowliest creature to the purest deva in the highest heaven. Former students include the Tathagata Buddha and the immortal Subodhi.(Ironic,ain't it?)

So! The primordial devas are eventually superseded by deified humans after a great battle between the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. The August Jade Emperor (Yuhuang dadi, 玉皇大帝) and the rest of the heavenly retinue go about setting the cosmos into order. Unfortunately,This means the promise made by the primordial devas is lost to time.

Now,we ALLLL know the story of the monkey king (I'd hope), so I'm just gonna skip past that whole thing. The boulder gives birth to Wukong,Wukong becomes a menace,he gets thrown under a mountain,enters his un-menace arc, blah blah blah.

NOW. After the fixed period of time has elasped, kinda-sorta divorced couple Pāramitā and Daiyu request to leave their exile and finally see their other half again,after so long. The jade emperor,scared of the consequences,DENIES said request. Which, understandably,angers the couple. They've been LIED to! And so,they awaken their inner Wukong or whatever,and rebels against heaven. They WILL see each other again. One way or another.

all of the devas, spirits, and devils struggle to keep them apart. This is an impossible task given that the two are among the highest immortals. And so great battle ensues in which the pair uses their knowledge of the Dao to put the celestial army into disarray. ( More on their abilities and specific skills later).

The August Jade Emperor begs the Buddha to intervene like he had done for the rebelling Sun Wukong in the past. But considering that heaven went back on its word and the ape immortals are both friends and former teachers of the Enlightened One, the Tathagata sends their spiritual son, SUN WUKONG, to ask them to pacify their rage instead of using trickery to halt the onslaught. So,yeah. Wukong finds out he's got parents,and said parents find out they have a son. A very weird,but otherwise sweet moment.

all three travel by cloud to the Buddha’s abode on Vulture Peak (Lingjiu shan, 靈鷲山) to discuss the matter. The immortal lovers opine the great injustice done to them by the heavenly hierarchy. The Buddha knows their duet is part of their primordial animal nature and is the ultimate expression of their love, which reaches back to the very beginning of time. Unfortunately, he realizes that the power of their song could destroy the universe if allowed to take place. So,he compromises. the couple can remain as his permanent guests of the Buddha realm, where they can frolic with Wukong. This way the gibbons will be free to sing their melodious song without fear of negative effects. And when the end of the sixty-fourth Mahakalpa comes to a close, their song will serve the function of the wind element to bring about the dissolution of the universe to make way for the new one.

WHEW. that was..a lot. butttt, we're still not done!! We've discussed their story,now let's discuss another matter:

Fun facts!: Daiyu(Yin)

Let's start off with the mistress of mystique herself, Daiyu!!

-Daiyu is a master of illusions and trickery. You could think you're talking directly to her,and she could already be in another city,reading a book or something. Riddles are her guilty pleasure,she LOVES speaking in parables.

-she likes gems and rocks. Will go on a rant that lasts like four hours on the differences, where to find them,etc. Pāramitā loves listening to her talk.

-She loves to explore and see new things. Even if it's something small,she loves experiencing everything the world has to offer. Especially with a loved one.

-She CAN shapeshift, although it's not as well performed as her husband. There might be a few details off about her shifting (for example,when copying a person she might have a different eye color).

-her love language is biting. Dunno why,it just is. All her favorite things will at least have one bite mark. (Her husband has several,and shows them off proudly.) she also has VERY strong jaws and fangs.

Fun facts!: Pāramitā(Yang)

And now it's time for her mellowed-out husband, Pāramitā!!

-He hardly ever holds grudges. it's just not in his nature. He forgave the jade emperor pretty quickly after the whole "your-love-could-destroy-the-world" thing was resolved. His wife,on the other hand....

-Shspe. Shifting. MASTER. He could enlarge himself,shrink, turn into almost anything. Draw him a picture of a form you want him to take? It'll only take one glance,and he'll capture that form perfectly.

-he's also very stretchy. Elastic even. Think Luffy,from one piece.

-he's very knowledgeable, just not when it comes to emotions. Which kind of caused problems in the early stages of their relationship. Don't worry,he learned to. He's still learning,honestly.

-Whilst Daiyu likes to bite, Pāramitā likes to watch. He will spend hours staring at a bug just because he likes it's color. It may seem creepy, but he means no harm by it. He's js watching.

-His hair is very fluffy,almost cloud like, and it always flows,even when there's no wind. Daiyu loves grooming his fur because of this fact.

Alrighty! Well,that was a lot! I might do more of these later,but as of now,that's all I got!!

Bye bye,now!

[righteousinadversity]

Let's talk about how hubris is not Wei Wuxian's fatal flaw.

I am very, very tired of this take.

Hubris is the fatal flaw of many a hero throughout history. The hero thinks of himself better than everyone, has a high self-confidence bordering on arrogance, and finally, it leads to his downfall.

Those stories are indeed an amazing exploration of human arrogance. But MDZS is not such a story. WWX is not such a hero.

Perhaps people are misled because WWX is not a character afflicted with self-esteem issues (whatever CQL may choose to portray or popular fanon may claim). He is completely confident in his actions, assured in his competence, secure in his endurance. He does not doubt his morals, he is righteous and brilliant and competent.

This is confused with arrogance, especially because much like Gui Dao, his so-called 'arrogance' is often called the reason for his downfall. And until the very moment of revelation, MXTX gives us scenes that are out of context to give us the impression that WWX's downfall was his own fault.

I have said this before, I will say it again, I will say it a thousand times. WWX's demise was the punishment the society forced upon him for having the audacity to stand up against cruelty. For having the audacity to do the right thing when the world was drunk on power and hatred and vengeance and passivity.

Now then. About Hubris.

“Not everything was because of his cultivation path. Wei WuXian’s personality is quite immoral. One’s deeds will be paid, one way or another; what goes around always comes around.”

We have this in the prologue, which, as we all know, are rumours surrounding WWX that are systematically decried throughout the book.

A moment that WWX's apparent arrogance is shown to us is during the empathy with NMJ. His perceived arrogance is clearly shown as a mask when WWX himself says that he was joking with JC as he walks away. However, after this, he has a fight with JZX, a fight that at that particular time, seems uncalled for. JZX inquires about JYL, and WWX does not care for it. Out of context, this seems like WWX is making trouble for no reason.

But later, during Phoenix Mt. Hunt, we find out that JZX's last interaction with JYL ended with her sobbing until she almost couldn't breathe. That JYL was content to stay far, far away from him after the soup incident. WWX's anger makes far more sense, especially because JYL is described as someone who very rarely cries.

Fanon about WWX's 'hubris' is almost inseparable from his use of Gui Dao, or perhaps, more specifically, his control over it.

From the moment he comes back from the Burial Mounds, commanding resentment, LWJ confronts him about his control over it.

Lan WangJi, “Some things you cannot be able to control at all.”

Displeasure flashed across Wei WuXian’s face, “Of course, I can control it."

An important thing to realise about this moment I feel, is that when LWJ says this, WWX is just a few days out of the Burial Mounds. WWX knows he can control Gui Dao - it's not arrogance, its confidence built on the fact that had he not been able to do so, he would not have survived the Burial Mounds. LWJ is questioning his control, and WWX's anger, aside from distrust from the man he held in high regard and was so fond of, is very likely to have stemmed from his time in the Burial Mounds being very, very fresh in his mind.

Later, at two more instances, the two being Yunmeng meet and Yiling meet, LWJ expresses similar concerns, and WWX again affirms that he knows his own powers and can control it.

Now the Hubris caused WWX's downfall fanon obviously holds up two specific moments as the moments where his Hubris comes into play. JZX death and JYL being injured.

But when we think about the two instances, in fact, they are two moments that show us that WWX in fact does know his cultivation best.

First and foremost, the two instances are most notably, moments when WWX is in mortal danger, surrounded by people who want him dead, being attacked by them, and under enormous stress. In QQP, there are 300 archers. In Nightless city, 3000 cultivators wish to kill him and then slaughter the innocents he protected. Both are moments where he is vulnerable and very, very alone.

Don't for a moment forget that WWX fought in a war. Instincts like that do not disappear. Similarly, and more importantly, WWX was in a place akin to hell for 3 months, surrounded, helpless, in mortal danger.

In QQP, WWX tells JZX to stay back. I can't understand how people read that and not understand that WWX is well aware of his own control. He tells JZX to stay away. JZX, the Enormous Idiot that he is, doesn't. What he does do, is lunge at WWX. When WWX is being attacked from all sides, when he is focused on protecting himself and has already told him to stay away.

In a similar vein, WWX absolutely has no intention to hold back at Nightless City. He has been confronted with the stark reality that the Righteous Cultivation Sects would stop at nothing to kill the Wens, to see him dead. He is shot, and he himself is filled with anger and rage. However, the moment JYL appears on the battlefield, he leaves the roof, fearing for her safety. He knows that his cultivation is volatile at the time, surrounded by danger as he is.

It is enormous control he shows to calm down in those situations and calm the corpses, all at JYL's request. It is undoubtedly stemming from his concern for her, his want for her to be safe, but it shows that WWX, can, in fact, control his cultivation because he is shown doing it in a circumstance of immense pressure.

It is interesting to note that post 13 years, WWX still uses Gui Dao, and LWJ, with 13 years to grow and having understood better, never questions him on his control over it. But this is very easily forgotten about - and I absolutely blame CQL for demonizing resentful energy and actually making WWX's confidence in his cultivation seem like arrogance and pride.

Making WWX and his Hubris the scapegoat is a very easy excuse to make for the Cultivation World. But it is a severe injustice to the very strenuous circumstances he is under, as well as the trauma he has gone through.

Can WWX bear the weight of the responsibilities he takes on because of how morally upright he is? Yes. But even he buckles under the pressure when the world turns against him. This is why things are so different post his resurrection because he is not alone anymore. He has someone who stands by his side, no matter what the crowd says. He has Lan Wangji, who supports him, who stands by him, and Wei Wuxian knows Lan Wangji is there. He has a guardian, a protection he has never, ever had before.

WWX's fatal flaw is not Hubris. His demise is not the making of his Arrogance. His death was a tragedy precisely because he was punished for doing the right thing.

[pastthevaulteddoors]

My brain fogs usually end with me babbling.

This morning @delicatelygloriousphoenix allowed me to babble to them about a thought I had.

And then... It just kept going.

I’m still tired. Here’s a cut version of that conversation.

I had a thought before bed last night 'cause I'm finishing up the extras to SVSSS.

What if someone was reborn into Mo Dao Zu Shi and had to save everyone?

What if Jiang Cheng was the person they were born into? I can't remember the scene properly from the novel, but right before WWX interrupts the summit meeting on Koi/Carp tower, drinks LWJ's booze and accuses Jin Zixun of his labor camp is when this person becomes the new Jiang Cheng. He himself interrupts WWX's rant that nearly falls into a fight and demands that he/Lotus Pier are allowed to keep the rest of the Wens because they burned the place to the ground and therefore have a right to them to rebuild the place.

The argument is quick, and JC is like "I'm taking them" and drags WWX out in surprise. But he turns to LWJ and is like "You comin'?" so of course LWJ comes when he's actually invited to do so. They run off to the camp. JC tries to hurry to get there before Wen Ning is stabbed. They do get there earlier than in the show/novel, but WN is already stabbed (but not dead).

They drag the Wens and an unconscious WN out of the camp. WWX doesn’t go nuts because WN isn’t dead yet and JC is there to lay down some tsundere harshness in his stead.

They have to stop at a village before they get there where Wen Qing can work on her brother and the Wens can rest. JC buys them all rando threadbare robes so they don't stand out as Wens anymore.

Lan Xichen shows up at some point to see if he can't... not so much help as his position won't allow him to take sides on this, but there to 'check on his brother.’ When he gets there, he’s pushed to the inn room where he sees JC focused at WN’s side. He’s giving him spiritual energy while WQ rests nearby. That's LXC’s first little spark of  "Ah, JC is nicer than he first appears."

The Wens are supposed to be 'laborers' to help rebuild Lotus Pier, but JC's really just wanting to make sure that WWX isn't forced off to Burial Mounds and becomes an icon of hatred like the show/novel. And he doesn't have to remove him from the sect entirely.

However, he tells a distracted WWX that he obviously has ideas with his new powers and gives him leave to seclude himself to practice/create/invent but in a safe environment. Jiang Yanli is happy that her brothers are not alone yet able to pursue their separate interests/areas of need.

LXC suggests Gusu taking the Wens as well as 'laborers' since Cloud Recesses was also burned down by the Wens. In reality, they have more safe space for the Wens, it's harder to ambush the 'labor camp' when it's on a mountain peak.

This is where the ALIVE yet healing Wen Ning and Wen Qing ask the Lans to take care of A-Yuan as they are not in the best situation to take care of a child at their camp. This is where LWJ and the frequently visiting WWX basically adopt him.

I mean, if the Wens aren't in danger, WWX has no reason to go back to the burial mounds so of course he’d come to check up on the Wens a lot. Which just means hanging out with A-Yuan and the bunnies often. If LWJ happens to be there with him all the time... well... who’s to say what that means?!

Meanwhile, JC is trying to handle his sect with only a bit of help from WWX here and there, although Wen Qing shows up a lot, as does LXC as a gesture of goodwill and to help the young new sect leader.

JC enjoys being a leader and the System provided him with knowledge and ability to train his new sect. He used to be a salaryman when he was alive, this is far more exciting and much more stimulating.

JC is pretty oblivious that both WQ and LXC are absently crushing on this confident and warmly grumpy JC. He just thinks they like visiting him to talk sect leader stuff or night hunt or... maybe he even thinks they’re his friends.

BUT JC knows his mission is not done, as the System keeps reminding him.

He needs to make sure Jin Guangyao doesn't marry his sister but he can't break OOC or share his knowledge of knowing that JGY and Qin Su are siblings... so he subtly courts Qin Su instead to basically cock block JGY.

Which surprises all but whatever. JC has changed since becoming sect leader, or so they say (really, JC is a different person entirely but ya know).

JC is okay with it, saying Qin Su is a decent woman and pretty enough. He'd be okay if they'd end up marrying, although he's very aware that JGY might try to murder him for taking the girl he likes but he's got his defenses up.

The courting goes on for awhile and JC keeps blocking JGY’s advances where he can but doesn’t go further with his own.

A few years later, JC hosts a birthday party of four year old Jin Ling, with little Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi, Ouyang Zizhen among others... so it's a mini sect leader party, too. All of this without going OOC, he's still a grumpy sect leader but he's less feared (like, in the novel, JC was a friggen murderer! He tortured and killed anyone he thought was using WWX's methods or was his incarnation!). People actually seem to like him!

Late night at the party WWX, JC, LWJ, and LXC were hanging out. They suggest going on a boat together because a lot of lanterns were going to be let off in the lakes for JL’s birthday.

JC 'accidentally' spills tea on LXC's robes so he has to excuse himself to change. The others wait by the boat and JC is like "Oop, I changed my mind. I'm going to do something else" and kicks the boat off with LWJ and WWX in it and walks away. He chills in a pavilion a little bit later, watching the lanterns on the water and a few boats out there when LXC comes back. He doesn't even ask when happened and joins him, watching the boat that their brothers are in. LXC and JC haven't talked about it, but they both low key ship LWJ and WWX so they're of agreement.

This event triggers the Wangxian relationship quest. JC is pretty happy that they don’t have to wait 13-16 years before they get to enjoy each other’s company.

And that's when JC himself starts to admire LXC. Not that he hadn't before, they had become friends of sorts from both rebuilding their sects, passing advice to each other, and generally get to complain to each other as young sect leaders. JC kept distance though, knowing LXC’s sworn brothers are his confidants but now and again LXC even lets on a bit of that drama (realizing how much NMJ and JGY are at odds) when JC mentions "they just gotta fuck and get it out of their system"

But yeah, it's during that conversation that JC is like "LXC is actually really attractive and fun to talk to..." crush style.

Then a new mission starts! JC has to team up with LXC to get JGY and NMJ together. All the while JC is loosely courting Qin Su still. Wen Qing has since moved on with her affections (WQ is fast realizing that everyone is gay and instead goes to make out with Mianmian because yes lesbians!).

So LXC realizes that he likes JC but doesn't think he'd be interested because of Qin Su and Wen Qing.

Meanwhile, JC is like "The author said the only gay couple in this novel was WWX and LWJ but!!!?!?!?!??!?!? everyone is gay!?”

At WWX and LWJ's wedding, LXC and JC spy on JGY and NMJ who end up kissing behind a tree. They're tipsy but success! JC gives LXC a high five which amuses LXC because 'wtf is a high five? that's so cute, what a grumpy dork'

JC outright stops courting Qin Su then, which pisses off her sect, that is in close ties with the Jins, which turn their anger towards the Jiang sect. So JC has to fight with the Jins in a political battle, and his sister is preggers with her third kid so she can't help much.

But it's finally JGY that stands up to his father to stop bulling smaller sects. No hard feelings for stealing Qin Su then dumping her, apparently.

It's about this time when Mo Xuanyu shows up and is like "you're my daddy" Lady Jin already hates her husband's illegitimate children but now she's furious, especially after her friend tells her that Jin Guangshan raped her and Qin Su is ALSO an illegitimate child (another reason JGY decides he doesn’t hate JC for cock blocking him).

All this combined, Jin Guangshan is shamed off his throne. Jin ZiXuan takes up a lead and JGY (now renamed Jin Ziyao as is the proper generational name) decides he's happy with not being an asshole (since he's getting good dickings with his boyfriend NMJ and Lady Jin has finally stopped bullying him) and decides that he'd be content, even happy, being his brother's advisor rather than dethroning him for sect leadership.

But of course there's gotta be drama. Shi Su and Jin Zixun are not the smartest of people but they've teamed up with Xue Yang who has a bit of the Iron. Together, they start to plot against the sects to overrule them, because they're dumb idiots with a semblance of power.

That's about as far as my brain went when I fell asleep and then this morning when the brain fog focused on that instead of on work while I was waking up.

Just something about 13 years later, JC and LXC are pretty close but not lovers yet, when something-something adventure and JC and LXC become a thing in a similar manner that WWX and LWJ did in the novel. RANDOM CONFESSION TIME that other people have to point out to them!

The following is related conversation but I don’t want to put my friend’s part so... it’s disjointed. Sorry not sorry I’m tired.

Continued conversation about wangxian being together:

because JC already knew they'd be together from the show/novel, and LXC shipped them, so they teamed up to get them to confess

That's what I meant when JC forced them onto a romantic boat ride together.

They weren't parted from the Wen fight stuff so instead of fighting at Nightless City, they had time to realize their feelings and not die instead of confess. ;p

Conversation... conversation...

So for so long JC doesn't know he's into guys (LXC in particular, kinda like SQQ in SVSSS) but just like JC in the novel, he gets himself blacklisted from the matchmakers. Meanwhile, this whole time his very close friend, LXC (they're really close now since JGY and NMJ are a couple so he doesn't like to third wheel it and instead spend his time with JC) things that JC is straight and lowkey crushes on him for 13-16 years before WWX and LWJ have to spell it out to them.

but Lan have a-yuan as adopted heir

He'd (JC) probably ask Jinli if one of her kids could be heir

What if Jin Zixun tries to take the sect leader throne or something. He'd be next in line if jin Zixuan didn't die and JGY didn't step up.

[magewardensurana]

Hi, if you want to rant about Samson, this anon wants to hear it all, however much you want to share! (Tbh, I'm STILL bitter we couldn't help him in DA2 and the nicest option was: "If I, with my title, former family mansion, once-in-a-lifetime timing and a rich patron who inexplicably liked me at the first sight made it out of a bad place, so can a homeless adddict with no friends or support system like you :)))" WTF Hawke, hire him or persuade Aveline to do it, and pay him in food+clothes.)

Always happy to (also tagging @solas-you-nerd in this because I know she likes to talk about Samson, too).

(Also, I’m not going to touch on the way the writing treats Samson’s addiction because this isn’t something I’m qualified to talk about, but - just to be clear - it makes me Very Angry).

Alot of how I feel about Samson is tied up with how I feel about Cullen.  This is because I feel that their arcs would make far more sense if you switched their roles.

When we first meet Cullen, he’s a paragon - he’s a young Templar, full of idealism.  Over the course of DAO (and this is most evident if you play as Surana or Amell) you watch him fall.  In DA2 he’s older and more extreme in his views.  It would make sense for him to continue to fall, for his hatred of mages and his beliefs that Templars deserved better to twist him until he’s no longer recognisable as the young man who awkwardly tried to talk to Surana.  And throughout all this he would keep his strong morals.  He truly belives he’s doing the right thing - the Red Lyrium, working for Corypheus - the end will justify the means.  He’s tragic and sympathetic as a villian, and his narrative also works well with the main theme of Dragon Age Inquisiton - how far will you fall to do what you think is right?

Everything about Cullen was set up to go this route and, cowards that they are, Bioware didn’t do it.

So we got Samson instead.  Samson is - I would argue - just as tragic a figure as Cullen.  He was caught smuggling love letters from a mage to his lover and his punishment was to be fired and cut off from the drug he needed to function.  He continued trying to help mages, but by the time we meet him, he’s so desperate for money that he’s willing to double cross the mages he’s supposed to be helping.

And right from when we meet him, we’re expected to hate him.  We’re given no option to feel sympathy for him, no characters talk about what a good guy he was (shame about what happened).  The game wants us to hate him, and this continues into DAI.

But yet, Smason’s justified anger at the Chantry for how to abuses and controls the Templars through addiction, and his desire to help mages make him an incredibly sympathetic figure.  Plus, when we meet him, he’s already sunk as low as he can.  It’s a satisfying narrative to have him rise again.

But, Bioware are cowards and they didn’t.

Samson isn’t ‘pretty’.  He isn’t a ‘fan favourite’ like Cullen is.  So you can forget about decent character development and satisfying narrative arcs.  You’re getting Red Templar Samson, and Inquisition Commander Cullen and you’re gonna have to deal with it.

[yvoi]

a bit of ranting about the general hate culture here on tumblr under the cut (but primarily about the hate around cullen) (surprise surprise)

you don’t have to read, I just need to vent against a wall somewhere

this is primarily about specific cullen hate blogs I’ve stumbled upon so don’t feel called out if you just post some critical stuff sometimes. how you deal with this information is up to you, ignore it or think about it. idk. anyway

I’m aware I say this a lot but it just keeps baffling me how absolutely rotten people on this website can be. hate against trivial matters is normalised and even encouraged, and that just really doesn’t fly with me. at all.

the thing I’m particularly stressed about right now is, yet again, the massive hate there is for cullen. don’t get me wrong, I’m aware of the shit he has done and the change of direction bioware took with him from dao to da:i, but that doesn’t justify this straight up vile behavior yall are sporting in the SLIGHTEST.

people taking his phrase “mages aren’t people like you and me” and completely disregarding the fact that, from the fresh age of 13, chantry and templar rhetoric has been beaten into him with a pinch of fearmongering and straight up torture. and suddenly his redemption in da:i doesn’t mean a fucking thing. yes, he does regret his actions. and yes, he absolutely hates himself for it. doesn’t that mean a damn thing anymore? of fucking course not, because bioware is evil and we’d rather make our own assumptions about characters and pass them off as some deep level of canon anyway! disregard the actual canon writing, who gives an absolute fuck am I right

I’m not speaking out of blind adoration for the dude. I’m still pro-mage and anti-chantry. the templar order is a flawed system and that’s a fact, no getting around it. I did my research on the issues and read plenty of arguments from both sides, I see how bioware changed his character to please fans, I see how his best ending is tons better than the best endings you can achieve with actually oppressed characters, I see how you can punch dorian and solas (a gay poc mage and an elven apostate) and yet can’t lay a finger on him. does that actually make me hate him? of fucking course not, holy shit. bioware’s writing flaws and obvious bias make me disgruntled at most. 

it’s just so wildly surreal to me how many people channel their hate on things other people love as some kind of sick hobby. imagine explaining this to someone outside of tumblr. everyone is so caught up in this little circle of hate, encouraging, amplifying and normalising it to the point disgusting behavior like this is “justified”.

whether you agree with bioware’s writing or not, things are the way they are. cullen is a good guy because, yes, they say so. but no, he hasn’t always been a great guy. people change. imagine creating a character, changing your mind about them and improving them instead only to have people continuously go against your own writing to keep calling them evil. right.

no matter if you’re just rotten or projecting your own experiences on him, keep tagging it and I’ll happily keep avoiding your hateful asses. thanks

there are real world issues that could use yalls attention instead of a video game character nahmean fuck cullen right. lol.