#deeper story

[that-one-gothic-murder-of-crows]

Late night thoughts 😴.

((EXTREMELY Long character analysis ahead. Vary Possible tw)) [I'm sorry in advance] {approximated timestamps imcluded}

OK the title is a lie. I actually think about this once every 2 weeks. [If that]

It's about in time. Specifically Raymond Leon. He's the main antagonist of the movie But no one focuses on how tragic he really is.

Let me explain

1. Timekeeper Raymond Leon. Like everyone he stops aging at 25, And his clock starts leaving him a year to live. Cannon to the film he mentions that hes been doing his job for 50 years. He's pushing 80 years old if we track it properly. 80 years!! Of age... (01:27:15)

2. Most if not every time we see Leon, He's always chewing on a piece of gum. And it said that gum is a way to pass time.

3. During an exchange with Mr. Weis Towards the end of the movie. The man worth eons, sitting behind a desk in front of Leon, asks how many years he wants wants for his services. And ray, with a dead straight face, looks at the man and says.

"there aren't enough years, not even in your lifetime. Mr. Weis." (01:09:10)

4a. And that brings me to Layla. His little Dayton Mistress If you will.

All that Being said... Putting the pieces of his deeper puzzle together, Raymond Leon is much more tragic than he seems on the surface. Because from the outside the viewer is made to detest him as an antagonist of the film. And they follow.

But Leon as a deeper character. if you dig into what he says, and his actions, his little ticks and motions. you can see how done he is with his own existence. But he can't time himself out, That's just asinine for a man of his standing.

4b. She offers him 10 minutes for an hour of his time, The time that he has left and let's dwindle to the last second, habitually. He advises her to

"get out of the game" (00:22:26)

Because she's

"pushing 60."

Ray comes from Dayton, He managed to cross time zones and escape the habits of the lower class. That's how he knows all of wills tricks.

Meaning she's wasting her years on a job that will get her nowhere.

"He's conscious of the security he doesn't have a body guard and he runs" (00:29:18)

Leon has been there and done that. He escaped for a better life. But only ended up in a job that gets him nowhere. Working it for 50 years and finding no fulfillment.

He doesn't concern himself with the Justice that his role demands. He only concerns himself with the time that he usually measures.

"Seconds minutes hours." (00:41:35)

He has lost confidence in what he does because of what hes been through and what he's had to do and sacrifice.

In pursuit of what he does for a living, He will let his time dwindle to the last Seconds if it means getting the job completed, keeping up that front and not letting any one see what he actually thinks.

Chewing gum to pass the time, Remarking that a man worth eons (!) doesn't have the years that Leon would need for his services. Draining his clock to his last hours just to see how far he can push it.

The lowest in the movie we see his clock get is 2 hours. And even with the other time keepers concerns, His only remark is-

"I'm still walking around." (00:50:47)

Dismissing that he's putting himself in danger.

And his dismissal of his needs is what brings him to his ultimate demise. 5 seconds left on his clock he watches it fade, Standing in front of the 2 people he had his heart set on stopping, Confessing that he can't turn back the clock, And to a certain point he wishes that he could. And he keeps the time because that's what he knows, He knows his job, he knows the rules. But it's not what he wants, It was never what he wanted.

"I keep time" (1:37:53)

he says.

Time keepers are only given A day. Every day as a top up of their time. Imagine taking A day every day for 50 years in a job that gets you nowhere and gives you nothing. (00:50:47)

He is practically invisible, A man in a coat. Defined by what he works for and not seen for who he is. Not seen for the story that he could tell. The lives he could save and the lives he could change.

Leon is a story in and of himself, He is a story of an old soul in a young body, he is a story of the day to day monotney, And he's a story of what people would do to stay alive in this world.

Being a timekeeper is the equivalent of being a cop, The Dayton people don't respect him, And No one in new Greenwich seems to acknowledge his existence.

Because of who he is and what he "stands for" no one would give him a chance. 50 years of only being seen as a one sided story. He's grown tired of it all. Stuck in a dead and job with no way to pass his own time. Except simple pleasures, intense euphoria, and a soul breaking livelihood.

He doesn't want to stand for what that coat stands for anymore. He wants his own life but he can't have it, It is stuck in the confines unable to reach higher.

He left the low and climbed the ladder. But got stuck in the pursuit of his own future, Tying himself up in a spot that he thought would make him happy.

He lived by-

"Follow the time" (0:22:26)

But he followed the time so far the bread crumbs turned to pebbles, and he lost his way.

Time is money, Time is life, But time can also be the enemy.

[elexuscal]

Danny Phantom, The Show:

geeky kid gets super powers from his parents' weird inventions! now he has to fight a rogue gallery of ghosts... but uh-oh! he still has to keep his grades up, deal with his embarrassing parents, and navigate girl troubles! rap theme song!

Danny Phantom, the Fandom, After 19 Years of Fermentation:

a child dies. but not quite. the inherent tension between life and death. the obsession of the dead for faded remnants of the living. warped green shadows on the walls of a dark laboratory. having to hide your true nature from those who should be your greatest allies. the fear of the monster you could become if you let yourself. being a ghost as a metaphor for the trans experience. a cold breath on the back of your neck in the dead of the night. rap theme song!

[grimreapersamael]

Review of “Skinamarink”

+ + + Warning: “Skinamarink” includes themes such as child abuse, family problems and self-harm, that I will talk about in the review. There are spoilers contained in 'my reflections' part, where I'll briefly talk about my view on the second meaning of this film. You can skip this part for a neutral conclusion. + + + “I can do anything. Kaylee didn't do as she was told. She said she wanted her mom and dad, so I took her mouth away.” ~The Entity to Kevin + + +

Introduction

The most cursed film. A nightmare fuel. Disgusted people exiting the cinemas in the middle of production. At the same time, praises over the form. One experimental horror that moved the Internet, because of subtle hints at a deeper meaning. Let's talk about the unnerving story, that took its name from an innocent, children song – “Skinamarink”. “Skinamarink” is a Canadian experimental horror film, that was directed by Edward Kyle Ball. This production, released in few cinemas around the globe at the beginning of 2022, got a lot of mixed reactions. A fair amount of people criticized the action for being slow-paced. Others couldn't watch the horrific fate of young protagonists. At the same time, some enjoyed the story, liking it for its distinctive style, as well as trying to find a metaphoric meaning for the cruelty. “Skinamarink” is about two children – 4 years old Kevin and 6 years old Kaylee – who are trapped inside their own house. As doors, windows, and their parents disappear, the siblings are left on their own against something. Personally, I liked this film, however I completely understand negative reactions.

The story and the presentation

Bringing up feelings familiar to everyone, in a way that only a portion of people will find enjoyable to watch. That's how I'd put “Skinamarink” into a one sentence. The main scare, that doesn't require any deeper delve into the story, is a constant atmosphere of the film. The action is slow-paced, because of almost static frames and overall silence. What's more, characters are often whispering, or their words are hardly understandable (To the point that you have to read subtitles). Frames are primarily constructed around the viewpoint of a child. Thereby, they're enhancing the appearance of a house by presenting either an unending darkness, or conversely, displaying only a limited portion of a room, making us unable to see what is happening. The darkness itself is an important part of presentation, as it triggers a natural fear of the unknown. There, we have our main basis for visuals of “Skinamarink” which is c h i l d h o o d f e a r. The reason for sleeping with a little light on. Hugging into your teddy bear tightly, as a way to feel more safe. The crying caused by a feeling of loneliness, once we don't see our parents nearby. This is what film visually represents. Something that all of us experienced at one point of their life, which is now brought up once we're older, almost forgetting this basic fear. What's more, the quality of whole production isn't a one expected in 2022. It was based on the popular genre of analogue horror. The choice is another way to enhance the unnerving feeling of “Skinamarink”, with a taste of nostalgia. This matches our memories much more, as production isn't as clear, as it could be. A similar effect was made by the choice of not showing us so much action, that I find to be a great way of playing with human tendency to fill up holes. It's hard to terrify with what's said, as much as you can with just leaving a few questions unanswered. “Skinamarink” makes sure that we feel bad for the main characters. They're children, unable to do a lot of things, as we found out as the story progresses. Siblings also can't understand a lot. We see their innocence, in little parts of their words or acts. The only people – beside themselves – that they could trust, disappeared into thin air.

My reflections (Story Spoilers ahead)

An experimental way to scare people and hard to swallow themes, would probably be enough to make me watch “Skinamarink”. However, this wouldn't be enough to catch my attention – especially for a time longer than around a week. As I mentioned before, I'm not fond of this production because of the literal story that “Skinamarink” gives us. I believe that the intriguing and thrilling part about this story lays in details. My mind wasn't filled with reflections about a physical torture or a childhood fear, but with theories. After a re-watch and the way that people on the Internet tried to break down the story, I got a forming picture of what the “Skinamarink” could tell us. For me, it is not a story about a paranormal entity, that got power over two kids. It's about an abusive household, broken family and a crippled young mind.

Pointing at only few clues, we know that children are having problems in their family. They don't want to talk about their mom. We aren't given any direct reason, but we know that she's somehow connected to the monster that torments them. However, later, there's a moment almost opposite to their earlier words. I don't find it to be brought up by people in their theories, but Kaylee wanted her parents. She wanted to see them. Both dad and mom. These same people, that we know children, are reluctant to speak about. I find it to be such a great way on how desperate they're in their situation. Maybe, they don't want to speak about mom, but when monster is trapping them, both of them just don't know any better. If we go by the metaphorical meaning for paranormal activities, it's safe to assume that it could be a sign, that mother wasn't always abusive. Perhaps Kaylee wishes for her mom to be like she was before? The interpretation itself – of course – is optional and subjective. Personally, I like to believe in this, as it nicely connects to the theme, that was also present in other movie from Bale titled “Heck”. The difference mostly comes from the directness in “Heck”, where in “Skinamarink” it's a speculation.

Conclusion

“Skinamarink” was an interesting movie to watch. I admire the visuals and specific aura, that builds up into a worthy experience. Fear, wonder and compassion come together, for us to decipher its story. It isn't for everyone, but I highly recommend giving this piece of artwork a try. If You're about to watch this movie, I wish You an enjoyable evening with this production. For those who already watched it, I'll gladly read Your thoughts on this movie and Your theories. No matter, if you read it in the darkness of the night, or in the light of the day, I wish You a lovely time. To the next evening, whether it may be another review, photograph, or a drawing. ~ A.K. Samael

+ + +

[pixlokita]

I saw the Epic Mickey beta trailer and felt so robbed so I decided to make my own concepts of the game 😤 and then @pekoeboo was also losing it so we came up with a bunch of concepts, the heart being a stabilizer was her idea ;-; and she helped with that fourth pose :’>

Disney how could u take the edge away from us … Disney when I catch you Disney, Disney when I catch you…

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

I came here for the silly haha doodles, but I've stayed for the absolutely blazing commentary in the tags. Your analysis of this story is so so so good! Thanks for all the work and thought you put into this!

I am just a silly little comics blog. I am not hiding anything in the tags, no way. Never.

[fishareglorious]

kakania numero uno reverse 1999 character on the fact she makes a dig on the sex life of the guy she was dueling with at the moment. while also somewhat kinda maybe implying she fucked his wife

[cinamun]

What are you arguing? | Next

[tunemyart]

Our story begins with two Jane Does and a mystery.

One of them is dead. The other spends the majority of the episode trying to find out who the dead woman is. "Tell me who she is!" 'Agnes' finally yells at a suspect while brandishing crime scene photos at him. "Tell me what happened to her!"

"What are you talking about?" he yells back, frightened. "These are just flowers!"

The story begins with a dead witch. The only clue as to her identity is a library card found at the scene of the crime. Eventually, 'Agnes' visits the morgue to see the body, and she discovers that the library card has been repurposed as a toe tag. Slowly, a name scrawls across it: W. Maximoff.

Across the room, Death appears. "Case closed, then?" she asks.

The answer is obviously no. 'Agnes' knows it, too.

"There are two Jane Does in this case," Death tells 'Agnes' slowly, deliberately. "You know her name. So what's yours?"

Immediately above the red letters spelling 'W. Maximoff', another name appears on the dead woman's toe tag: 'A. Harkness'.

Tell me who she is! 'Agnes' had shouted. Tell me what happened to her!

And so we spend eight episodes finding out.

[bacchuschucklefuck]

pygmalion and galatea for aroace people

you should tell your friends what I look like, riz gukgak.

[marclef]

how the heck have i not drawn this little bastard yet. oh well. i fixed that.

cotton candy lookin' MF

kinda surprises me i haven't drawn him legit yet, especially since.... i might have changed how he dies in my own AU.

would you like to know how?

it isn't pretty.

[shanksxbuggy]

The fact that Shanks is drinking heavily in reaction to Vegapunk’s message, just like Rayleigh, it’s likely he’s drinking because he already knew the truth of the world sinking and some other dark truths. While it’s unlikely Shanks knows the whole true history like the other Roger Pirates, he has to know enough about something to make him drown himself in alcohol. He’s not acting surprised or worried about people.

Buggy having this kind of reaction, I think Oda is continuing to highlight Buggy’s cluelessness. This further confirms that Buggy really didn’t know anything. Ever since his flashback of him eating the devil fruit he’s been painted as kind of an outsider in the Roger Pirates compared to Shanks.

Buggy’s cluelessness might be the very thing that saved him from becoming a despondent drinker like Shanks and Rayleigh. Oden once said he didn’t know if Buggy was lucky to get sick or not which prevented him from going to Laughtale…maybe because he didn’t discover the truth, Buggy was still able to keep his fiery passion and dreams. This might be the very thing that will help save Shanks from his depression…

[a-driftamongopenstars]

Thane Krios' romance holds me in such a chokehold.

his romance is just so... raw. and surprisingly realistic. it's down to earth because people go through tragedy and carry so much baggage that sometimes it weighs them down until they can't see light. his story is filled with tragedy and loss and fuck ups. he's a widower with a son he failed and a career that took out every bit of self from him. he made so many wrong choices and in a manner, he had no other way.

and still, when he meets Shepard, he allows himself that bit of belief that someone cares about him. he accepts a helping hand, he starts making himself better - and tries to fix things. he knows he doesn't have long to live, but that's the point for me.

people die. people get sick and wither away and sometimes there is nothing you can do. sometimes all you *can* do is be there for that person.

the way Shepard loves him, sees past any defenses Thane put up, and allows him to drop them because she's a safe person...

this is a love story of two incredibly complex adults who know exactly what loss is. it's people who live such a dangerous life, that they simply have to take their chance then and there because tomorrow might never happen.

[horsemoment]

I just realized i never properly introduced my OC Star Burst!

Star Burst is a pegasus who lives in Cloudsdale and works graveyard shifts at the Cloudsdale Weather Factory. During the day she’s an unusually reserved and sleepy pony, but during the night she becomes energized and witty. Her talent is surprisingly impressive feats of strength and flying speed, but only for short periods of time during day and slightly longer periods of time during night.

My design of her was inspired by comets and shooting stars 🌠

[dirtytransmasc]

.... if Sevika dies, I want it to be her choice. if she dies, I want it to be for Jinx, Isha, and Zaun. I want it to be her protecting Jinx, because she can't lose both girls so close together. I want it to be for Jinx so she can lead Zaun. to be for Isha, so her sacrifice wasn't made in vain. I want it to be for herself, getting to finally be at peace, knowing that someone will be around to fight for and lead Zaun in a way she believes in so deeply, she was willing to die for it.

I don't want her to die in tragedy. I don't want her to die because she has to. I don't want her to die because it's expected of her. I want her death to be her own, much like Isha's was. because she's earned that but of autonomy. for her family. not for a boss. not as cannon fodder in a war. but because she believes in it. let her have that.

[1doesnotsimplyhavejust1fandam]

Half questioning my memory of the post s4 era, half side eying a certain character, so correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think there was ever a time when the Buddie fandom fully took the single “Evan” from the season 4 finale as Eddie receiving “Evan” privileges from then on. From my recollection, fics stayed mostly consistent with their uses of “Evan” by Eddie, perhaps just with an emphasis on important moments (love confessions, Christopher’s adoption papers, wedding vows, NDEs, etc.) after the finale. And I had to stop myself from wondering why that is because I know why. We all know. Because nobody wanted to use “Evan” in fics when Buck had just told his parents that people who know him call him Buck. So Buddie fandom heard that, accepted it, and uses it only sparingly. In canon and fanon, even Maddie only rarely uses “Evan” anymore, and it feels even less common for her to use post-Buck Begins (if at all, actually). So the fact that Tommy and BT fans tend to use “Evan” (at least, this has been my experience) is so utterly jarring. Buck told everyone his preference, and I believe LFJ has spoken about being told to use only “Evan” when referring to Buck, so I simply do not understand anyone who believes that BT is in love already or endgame. Yes, it could go the “Buck gave Tommy ‘Evan’ privileges off-screen” route, but then why push it off-screen? It would be a major allowance made for a new love interest, and a significant step in Buck’s character arc. Yet we see nothing of the sort. So why would anyone believe that’s what happened? The last we heard, Buck had told his parents and everyone else to call him Buck exclusively, with the minimal exception of Maddie (who was, for most of his childhood, his one and only lifeline and confidant). That sort of history and characterization is not ignored if there is not something very wrong with the writers’ room. It was not even ignored by a significant portion of the fandom post-season 4, although Eddie gaining permanent “Evan” privileges would’ve been a strong indicator of a Buddie endgame (had an on-screen explanation of Eddie gaining this privilege been released). It was not ignored, and it did not change the nature of Buck in fic nor fanon. So why in hell is the same not holding true for a brand new relationship like BT?

[lizzybeeee]

The Lucanis vs Illario story would have had greater emotional depth/intrigue if the writers didn't water down how fucked up the Crows are as an organization.

Just some thoughts about how, out of all the side villains, Illario had some great potential to be a really interesting/tragic character in my opinion.

TL;DR: Zevran Aranai has a knife with Caterina's name on it for good reason and Lucanis/Illario need therapy...or whatever the Thedas equivalent is called...talking to Rook, I dunno

Going into DATV as a new player, or even as a returning one, the whitewashing of the Crows has a lot of the potential complexities of that life simply ignored or barely touched upon. The entire 'Illario vs Lucanis' boils down to: Illario seething in the shadows about Lucanis being the 'best boy'™ of the family while Illario is an after thought - which he is.

Let's be real, Illario is not subtle and immediately comes across as the Scar to Lucanis' 'Mufasa'. It's a questline with a very straightforward villain who has pretty lackluster motivations from what info we're provided - being 'I want power and to be the First Talon'. The game does very little explore what motivations he may have beyond being jealous of Lucanis/wanting more power.

However, if you play the quest line knowing what previous games have set up about the Crows - about how cutthroat and brutal the life is behind the glamour - then you can see that the entire Lucanis vs Illario conflict has amazing potential to be a dramatic tragedy.

We've seen how the life of Crow can affect Zevran - someone who was sold into the life through child-slavery. How interesting would it be to see how the life of a Crow can affect someone who was born into it? It's pretty clear in-game that Caterina intends for her grandchildren to carry on the family tradition - despite the fact that this 'family tradition' has likely led to the deaths of most of her grandchildren and however many children she had.

If there's banter about how Illario's/Lucanis' parents/cousins died specifically I haven't heard it, but the impression I got in-game was that it was likely linked to the Crows/politics in some way? Feel free to correct me! Still majorly fucked up that she pushes her grandsons into this life regardless!

Lucanis/Illario's situation was not like Zevran's - who was sold into the Crow's through slavery, with no one to speak up for him. Caterina was a woman who had power, who knew what the life of a Crow meant, and who still pushed those she 'loved' into it because is consolidated her place in the system. For all the Crows talk of 'family' Caterina doesn't seem to give a shit about them unless if they're contributing to the family business in some way - not to mention the whole 'you fail and we kill you' clause of being a Crow in the first place.

In the 'Wigmaker Job' from Tevinter Nights Lucanis talks about how Caterina hit him [also Illario] with her cane for mistakes and had him spend days without food/water. How he used to hate her but now 'realizes' that it was her way of ensuring he survived the life of being an Antivan Crow. Did it end up protecting them? It likely pushed them both to refine their skills out of fear. It's likely that simply by association with her they would be targets and thus needed to know how to take care of themselves and fight.

But why have him as a Crow in the first place? Why not simply train them well to defend themselves? You can't deny that she doesn't benefit from having her grandchildren in the family business - intentionally wanting Lucanis to take over her position as First Talon. The Antivan Crows are a force to be reckoned with and being one brings a whole lot of power in Antiva - being part of the elite of that group even more so.

If the game showed us the ugly reality of the Crows - the brutality of the lifestyle and how cutthroat the organization is, it could have really added some depth to Illario's betrayal - having it be more than "I want more power/respect" to "this is the result of what you taught me was valuable in life."

Warden: "Do you actually enjoy being an assassin?" Zevran: "And why not? There are many things to enjoy about being a Crow in Antiva. You are respected. You are feared. The authorities go out of their way to overlook your trespasses. Even the rewards are nothing to turn your nose up at."

Illario, bitter about Caterina favoring Lucanis - resentful of the fact that she has already decided that Lucanis will be her successor, being offered power by the Venatori (at the expense of the Crows) and accepting because why not? How different is it from what the Crows do? Isn't power and status the whole point of working yourself up in the Crows? Getting into a relationship with Zara because why not? Isn't sex part of the allure of being a Crow? Why can't he have this? Why shouldn't he have this?

Rook: "When we met, it didn't seem like Illario and Caterina were close." Lucanis: "It was hard to be close to her. Even for me. And...I was her favorite."

Why would he have connections to his family? Why should he? Caterina certainly never seemed to value 'family' beyond what they could do for her and their family legacy. Most of his family is already dead, and of those that remain the only parental figure he has obviously favors Lucanis. We don't have a lot of evidence in-game to show that Illario ever really cared for Lucanis, but the prequel story 'The Wake' and Lucanis' own banter imply that they were practically brothers, best friends. Perhaps he did care and then ceased to at some point, perhaps he didn't at all, or perhaps he accepted that an early death for them both was inevitable like everyone else in their family. Dead now or later - what was the difference? At least if Illario sells him out now to the Venatori then he'll get something from it instead of another dead family member to bury.

It's the tragic result of raising a child in an environment where he was taught and experienced the need for self-preservation at all costs. Constantly threatened, punished, and made well aware of that fact that his life was an expendable commodity. Then, when things in the world went to shit he picked the only option that made sense to him. To save himself.

The irony of the potential fall of the Crows, the fall of House Dellamorte, coming at the hands of one of their own - not because he had a change of heart but because he was taught too well by them. The Crows view those that fail them as disposable, someone to be discarded - if the Crows fail Illario, what is to stop him from applying that mindset to them?

But this would require the writers to acknowledge how messed up the Crows are and we can't do that to our 'Noble Freedom Fighters'™. They'll also need to address Zevran's existence and what lore was established in past games...and we can't have that either lmao.