#does this count as a meta?

[flaming-thing]

I've just seen someone say that Ezran and Zym have the same eyes

And like? Does this represent anything? As far as i can remember, Ezran is the only one in his family (and the whole show I'm pretty sure) who has these blue eyes, and he's also the only one whose able to speak with animals. But is this because of his link to Zym? Does his understanding of animals come from the connection he shares with Zym, or is he able to speak with Zym because he can understand animals?

Him being able to communicate with animals is probably a very rare thing in this world, as Callum most likely would've believed him about it in s1 if it was something that happened regularly. It's also odd that he can see through Zym's eyes, as this isn't something he can do with other animals. Obviously he's able to do this because of their connection, but do the eyes represent that connection? Or is it just a coincidence? Because if they do, I feel like that opens up a whole new perspective on the events of the series.

Ezran was born with blue eyes, which suggests that he was born not only with his link to animals, but with his connection to Zym, which shows how he was always supposed to be one of the ones to return Zym to the storm spire and then play a part in defeating Aaravos.

Does his gift come from the orphan queen? I know she had brown eyes, and as far as we're aware she couldn't talk to animals, but she was the one who helped to defeat Aaravos the first time, so maybe she passed down to Ezran a gift that would allow him to defeat Aaravos when he returned? And that gift was the ability to understand and communicate with Zym?

And it just makes me wonder if there's anything else in the show that I've missed that also points to the theory that the main trio were destined to meet and return Zym together? I know there's that one scene in s4 with rex igneous where we see the orphan queen in Ezran's place, but is there any more than that? Or anything that shows the theory for the other characters? The theme of destiny and a path being set out for you to follow isn't really a theme in this show that I've thought too much about, but maybe it's time to start

Hopefully arc 3 gets greenlit and we get some more information on how/why Ezran is able to do this

[spookydicks]

Just thinking about the "Bells Hells is the X Men" analogy from 4 sided dive

With VM, they're the "Flyover state Avengers". A group of do gooders who are, mostly, well meaning and want to do good with bits of chaos and utter stupidity. They're somewhat of a family but its clear that some information might be hidden from the group.

With MN, they're the guardians. A ragtag group of misfits who, yes do good and save the world, but also crime is an option with fuck it we ball energy. They're a family. If you fuck with any of them, the others will come for you and steal your shit. Of course, after they draw some dicks and shit all over your belongings. Let Chaos Rein.

Finally, our beloved Hells as the X Men. A group of misfit outcasts who are shunned from society for a myriad of reasons that do shit outside the law, help out in their own way. Yes, they seem like a bit of a family, but each member is holding information close. At times, there's an air of mistrust. But, make no mistake. If you fuck with any of them, the others will come to your house at 2 am, eat your kneecaps, and, figuratively and/or literally, fuck you up in more ways than one.

[obsxdiannn]

Not hating on anyone who likes it, more power to you if you do, but personally I dislike the coffee theory because not only does it take accountability away from Aziraphale, I also feel like it invalidates the severity of the trauma Aziraphale contains due to Heaven’s psychological abuse and emotional manipulation.

The Metatron doesn’t need to give Aziraphale some magical mind control serum in order to get his way. His manipulation alone is more than enough, and it displays just how much of a hold Heaven has on Aziraphale, and how not okay that is and how much Aziraphale desperately both needs and deserves to heal.

[picaroroboto]

in the ShB role quests, we watch each of Ardbert's party members make some sort of personal sacrifice, forced to discard their own goals, for the sake of the greater good. The moment they make that choice is when a Crystal of Light appears, officially marking them as Warriors of Light in recognition of their heroism and sacrifice. "By your sacrifice, a warrior made.", as the Shadowkeeper says in battle.

The same lore doesn't hold true for the WoL, back when they were in crystal-collecting mode in ARR and HW, the crystals just appear after major victories without the need for some sort of momentous sacrifice, and seem to serve mostly as a marker of how much story progress you've made/need to make to the end of the expac.

But if you think about it not lore-wise, but symbolically -

With each victory over a Primal, you're ensuring that you'll be the person who'll be called upon for help when next a Primal appears. You're cementing your own role as hero each time.

And each time, you are making personal sacrifices.

You might not even realize it until much later, what you have offered up, bit by bit - your freedom, your peace of mind, your own goals and desires, for the sake of the greater good of the star.

"By your sacrifice, a warrior made."

[drbatsponge]

It just hit me that Cassandra Cain, a character who was ultimately created because of the fallout of the Killing Joke, is the ultimate antithesis to the "One Bad Day" ideology Joker states in that story and I find that beautiful.

Since she was born she's had countless bad days and yet she still chooses to be a hero at the end of each of those days.

She's quite literally the ultimate fuck you to the Killing Joke in multiple ways by not only proving Joker's ideology wrong but also continuing the legacy and character of Batgirl.

[specterthief]

the thing about charma in 0079 is that they were definitely friends with benefits in the military academy, and garma definitely immediately wants to pick back up where they left off, and he does 100% believe that this is not gay or cheating on icelina if they're just Helping Each Other Out As Bros like before, but concedes that it would be a little bit cheating if he were the one to actually ask char if he wanted to hook up again. and he believes that char is going to be so instantly overwhelmed with lust being in a room with him that he can get out of this conundrum if he just coyly twirls his hair and makes bedroom eyes across the bridge until char inevitably cracks and tries to get in his pants again because then he's not doing anything unbecoming of a zabi man, char's the one throwing himself at him and he's just going along with it, which is totally different

but char knows garma is doing this and refuses to give him the satisfaction of getting him to make the first move, so he's going out of his way to draw attention to their relationship being so different now and how they should be being professional while also being on his constant insane tease behavior with things like showering with the door open. he would instantly fold if garma did make the first move but it's a matter of pride that he does not in any way indicate that he considers his life lacking without hooking up with garma, especially if garma is going to be showing off his fiancee around him like that. he is equally convinced that this is 100% not gay behavior on his part. both of them think that they're totally straight and don't have any romantic feelings at all and are just mindgaming the other guy into being gay for them. which is not a gay thing to do at all

and then garma dies and char just kind of feels empty about this forever

[shippyo]

Let's enjoy picnic together!💕

speedpaint 🤌

and tiny extra filter with ibis paint that gave this result,i think it looked pretty cool so have it too :D

[lichanicksstuff]

It's funny how the comic version of Dream and Hob's 1889 meeting and the show equivalent are completely different. Because in the show it's like a tragic break-up in the rain:

Show!Hob: I think you're lonely... *says with love in his eyes (get a room, man, fr)*

Show!Dream: How dare you?! *walks out in the rain, making the guy run after him and the rest is history*

But in the comic it's more like:

Comic!Hob: You're like a lonely wet cat.

Comic!Dream: Excuse me?

Comic!Hob: You heard right. Tbh, I think you just come back here because you're desperate. Really man, I'm just a guy and you're a scary being with creepy eyes. At least admit you like my company.

Comic!Dream: NEVER! FUCK YOU! *walks out like an offended diva, he is*

[thequeenofsastiel]

So because I apparently have nothing better to do, I decided to list the names that Spike used when he was talking to Buffy ever since he realized he's in love with her, and the number of times he used those names. So here they are, by season, for posterity's sake:

Season Five:

Buffy-9

Slayer-4

Love-4

Baby-2

Summers-2

Pet-1

Honey-1

Sunshine-1

Blondie-1

Season 6:

Buffy-26

Love-15

Slayer-12

Pet-4

Sweetheart-1

Goldilocks-1

Buff-1

Season 7:

Buffy-18

Love-4

Pet-3

Lamb-1

Slayer-1(it should be noted that he only called her this before he revealed that he'd earned his human soul back)

I know no one asked for this but y'all have it anyway. Infer what you will from this knowledge.

[kingthunder]

I saw a few of those "bg3 characters driving a car" headcanons and decided to do one myself for fun.

Lae'zel: She learned how to drive on the opposite side of the road from everyone else and her instincts are all wrong for her current location, but back home she's an excellent driver with a spotless driving record. She actually follows the service schedule in the car manual. She gets incensed at people who don't maintain their vehicle properly or who disobey road rules. Her car is immaculately clean. She would love to speed a motorcycle down one of those desert highways with no speed limit, but she's never gotten the opportunity and knows it's too reckless besides. But she wants to.

Karlach: She's had a motorcycle for ages and is a skilled if aggressive driver. However, she only recently learned how to drive a car. She is very enthusiastic about it and always volunteers to drive even though she's not very good yet. She's one of those people that do driving "pranks" like swerving back and forth to make people shriek/laugh, or doing "3, 2, 1 BLASTOFF" and gunning it. Could easily be provoked into an impromptu street race. Drives way too far on empty or with the check engine light on.

Shadowheart: Drives stick so that no one else can drive her car. It's a beat up old station wagon with a busted tail light and looks like shit on the outside, but inside she turned it into a goth mobile with like black velvet seat covers and stuff. She named the car but she won't tell you what. She has an air freshener hanging from the rear view mirror that smells like night orchids. She's a perfectly good boring driver with nothing to note about it UNTIL one day a cop tries to pull her over for her busted tail light and she hits the gas and pulls out all these street racing moves that you had no idea she was capable of and shakes the cop. She'll let you pick the music but if she doesn't like it her silent disapproval is so withering that you voluntarily change it to something she does like.

Astarion: Never got a driver's license and isn't about to get one now. Passenger princess who likes to control the radio but his taste in music sucks. He makes funny mean comments about other drivers and pedestrians. He'll complain if you ask him to fill the gas tank but he'll do it; you're paying for it, though. Actually pretty fun to go on a road trip with because he doesn't care about stuff like "making good time" and he's up for stopping anywhere that looks like it might be entertaining.

Gale: Never got a driver's license because he was always too busy with his studies to care and his mom drove him around and/or did all his errands for him anyway. He's real good at maps though and likes to be helpful by being the navigator. He's the smartest man in the world but he's completely stymied by a gas pump; you're better off pumping the gas yourself and sending him into the gas station for snacks. He always manages to conjure a full meal out of convenience food, somehow, and he's really good at feeding you while you drive.

Wyll: He saved up and bought his own fixer-upper car after getting kicked out of the house as a teenager. Good driver in general. People always think he would make a good designated driver, but actually he likes drinking socially and will politely decline requests to be the DD unless there's no one else available. Sometimes when he's having a bad day he blasts music really loud and finds a deserted area to just fuckin tear ass down as fast as he can go (he'll only do this alone and doesn't tell anyone about it). Never lets you pay for gas even if you offer. Will pick up hitchhikers.

Halsin: Has been driving the same car since 1973. Drives that specific car really well. If you gave him a modern car he would have no idea what anything on the dashboard does. Honestly, he prefers to walk or bike anyway.

Jaheira: Has a fuck-off huge SUV full of empty cans and wrappers from her kids. Absolute maniac of a driver who tailgates and speeds with no regard for road signs or lane markings. She is going to GET where she is GOING and gods help you if you get in the way.

Minsc: Failed the driving test three times and just gets rides from Jaheira. This does not bother him in the slightest. He tells you that Boo can drive vehicles you've never even heard of.

Minthara: Has run someone over on purpose.

[meanderfall]

The thing that gets me the most about Nie Huaisang's quest for vengeance is that when it's finally accomplished, he just looks tired.

Like, Jin Guangyao is a practiced hand at appearing inoffensive and biding his time until the right moment to strike, but when he does, he's always got that satisfied smirk on his face. Just so smug and vicious and pleased that he brought them low and he is the victor.

Nie Huaisang just looks tired. Sad. Even in the moments leading up, he looks intent, maybe even angry, but not happy or pleased or excited.

It just kind of hammers home to me that this revenge plot is against his nature, and just how much grief he felt at not only Nie Mingjue's death, but the betrayal and hurt that Jin Guangyao did it, because they were friends.

[the-crooked-library]

I would like to point out how clearly remake shows us that Ellen is not satisfied with Thomas sexually because their sex scene which is shot to be not sexy on purpose clearly, also shows us that when Thomas takes her Ellen thinks and talks about Orlok and wants Thomas to be like Orlok aka kiss her heart. But he can’t. He can’t give her what she wants.

^^^^ YES this aspect is incredibly prominent, and a significant component of the disconnect in Ellen's marriage to Thomas! There's a few intersecting issues there, but they all do come down to the same thing. Ellen isn't satisfied, because Thomas is never willing to actually take her desires and preferences into account when they are together.

It's shown numerous times that, in a sexual context, Ellen wants to be worshipped. She has a dominant and possessive streak, she is extremely sensual, and these elements are essential to her pleasure. They also intersect with her desire to be seen and recognized for who she is, as well to be given the respect she is so consistently denied. These desires are all strongly discouraged - both in her time, and sometimes in ours. As a woman, she is expected to be deferring; and chaste, except for when her husband chooses. Her opinions and complexity are also never really considered; which is not unexpected, of course. Ellen is a Tragic Madwoman - it's Ophelia, all over again. If you recall, when Hamlet appears mad, the people around him assume there is more to it than his father's death; but when Ophelia does, everybody chalks it up to her father's murder, and nothing else. With all that said, what I personally love about Ellen is that, despite whatever shame she might feel around the subject, or her efforts to be proper, she always knows exactly what she wants. In part, that's what makes her married life so tragic - she keeps reaching out to Thomas, offering him these vulnerable aspects of herself, as well as an opportunity to understand her and connect with her; and she is met with one rejection after another. Still, she cannot ignore what she is - and her choosing Orlok in the end is symbolic of her deciding to "deceive" herself no longer.

Thomas, by contrast, is playing mind games with himself. In theory, he could be submissive. If he indulged that potential within himself, it could be a way for them to connect - considering Ellen's inclinations; however, he sees this aspect of himself as weak, emasculating, shameful, and thus never explores it - except by force, as per the usual gothic exploration of shame/desire, which muddles the waters in that regard. Much of the way he treats Ellen is rooted in the patriarchal rules he cannot bring himself to abandon, since doing so threatens his own sense of masculinity - and, by extension, dignity and self-worth. As such, whenever faced with a situation that might prompt him to be soft, emotional, or worshipful of her, he overcorrects instead. He is afraid of Ellen's perceived "abnormality" because of what it might mean for him. Additionally, he is fairly obviously queercoded, in a classic vampire-genre way; which, in my opinion, is yet another reason they just don't quite seem to click. Whatever he might want out of a sexual relationship, he doesn't really want it with Ellen - and, of course, given his homophobic society, that just piles on more shame, emasculation, and repression. This is why, after their one depicted sexual scene, when she laments her "uncleanliness," he cannot reassure her, no matter how he tries. He cannot accept the "abnormal" aspects of her, because the way he sees her is always affected by the way he sees himself - through a lens of misogyny, queerphobia, and horror. His care for her is therefore largely superficial; he does not know her.

All in all, I am obsessed with this aspect of their failmarriage. They're both so lonely and so desperate for companionship; but neither of them is getting what they want. Not with each other.

[mxtxfanatic]

The return of Wei Wuxian after his 3-month disappearance is meant to evoke this terror and sense that something is wrong, and it definitely does, but like…

Do you not see the playfulness in which Wei Wuxian handles the ghoul child mirrored in how he later handles A-Yuan in the Burial Mounds?

A white child squatted by his feet. Like a young, carnivorous beast, it was gnawing on something that Wei WuXian fed it. Wei WuXian took his hand away after patting on the white ghoul child’s sparse-haired head.

—Chapt. 62: Evil, exr

Lan Sizhui replied, "I'm not sure either, just that when I saw Chenqing, I thought that it was extremely familiar......" It was unsurprising that it was Chenqing that made him remember. Wei Wuxian said, "Oh, of course you'd find it familiar, back then eating Chenqing was your favourite habit and you would drool all over it and make me unable to play it."

—Chapt. 111: Wangxian - Everyday Means Everyday, chiaki_himura

Do you not see the gentleness in which Wei Wuxian handles the blue-faced woman mirrored in how he handles Wen Qing when he takes her to the Qiongqi Path labor camp?

When she had been fighting, her face was almost hideous, but now, with her dark face against Wei WuXian’s lap, she somehow seemed to be a charming concubine, obediently pleasing her master. Giggling laughter came from her mouth as well. Wei WuXian sat leaning to one side, his right hand stroking her soft, long hair over and over again.

—Chapt. 62: Evil, exr

The shock that Wen Qing received was too strong. Finally, she couldn’t hang on any longer and passed out. Standing behind her, Wei WuXian caught her without saying anything, letting her lean onto his chest.

—Chapt. 72: Recklessness, exr

And then they both go on to reciprocate that care via over-protectiveness, even when Wei Wuxian isn't actively controlling them:

The curvature of Wei WuXian’s lips dropped slightly as he glanced at him. Jiang Cheng had also heard the dissonant tone, “Second Young Master Lan, what do you mean by this?” Lan WangJi’s eyes were glued to Wei WuXian, “Answer me.” The ghoul child and the blue-faced woman began to stir. Wei WuXian turned around and looked at them. They backed off slowly, reluctant, and sunk into the darkness.

—Chapt. 62: Evil, exr

After reading the entire novel and seeing how he maintains this same level of care towards everyone he has no antagonistic relationship with, alive and dead, how could I not be moved when circling back to reread this moment?

[gjdraws]

identity crisis

(aka haunting the narrative)

[withthewindinherfootsteps]

something about how both wei wuxian and jin guangyao repeatedly say they ‘didn’t have a choice’ in their actions. in both cases, it’s not literal impossibility, instead determined by their mindsets and personal conduct…. but while for wei wuxian that means he can’t do something immoral, even if it means losing all his social power, for jin guangyao it means he can’t do anything to lose his social power, even if it means doing something immoral. the other option is still there, but it’s never one they’d pick.

something about how they’re trying to walk the same path but in opposite directions: wei wuxian willingly left the nice, broad road in favour of upholding morals and debts, while jin guangyao is trying to claw onto it and stay there by any means necessary. in both cases, being parted from it so easily is only possible because this nice, broad road — full of people whose social power is unconditional, given at birth, independent of their actions — was never truly theirs to begin with. but despite how it is possible to be forced off due to nothing, as we see with wang lingjiao, the positions of both these characters were ultimately due to actions they took.

(about how no matter the similarity of the paths, no matter the narrowness of the choices, the direction you take is still up to you.)

[orcelito]

everyone always talks about That One panel of Trigun: Multiple Bullets, but i havent seen anyone talk about how fucking BATSHIT INSANE the surrounding fight is

like

Vash & Wolfwood fighting back-to-back, both using the punisher as a shield

(the rest under a readmore bc this accidentally got LONG...)

Vash seeing the shots coming from behind & purposefully not moving bc he knows if he does, Wolfwood would get hit

Wolfwood getting injured too, but not moving from Vash's back. the way he's stanced, it looks Protective. he's doing what he can to keep Vash out of the direct line of fire.

even when he's getting shot up for it, he Doesn't Move. (this also seems to be the moment he got hurt, which leads into the panel later)

& throughout this whole scene, we are only seeing Wolfwood's reactions.

until the girls give them an opening, and they burst out with THIS:

Wolfwood injured, so he can't properly aim the punisher... and he gets around this by sticking one of the leather straps in his Mouth

and then we FINALLY get to see Vash's face again as he grabs the punisher (with a "GAN" sound effect, so he fuckin SLAPPED that metal hand on the punisher).

Wolfwood trusts him enough to just do what he says in the thick of battle, so we FINALLY get to the iconic panel:

which brings us to the aboslute insanity of what Vash is actually Doing.

"DON DON" -> two shots fired for two missiles launched. he literally manages to TURN THEM AROUND MID-FLIGHT (interesting to note that they seem to have internal propulsion, rather than simply being fired by Wolfwood. how many of these does Wolfwood have? they seem heavy.)

he manages to avert the third missile from hitting the dude directly, and instead makes it land Behind him. then the other two missiles, he rests his arm on Wolfwood's shoulders to hit them and direct them behind the other two enemies

Boom.

killing no-one, but showing an INSANE level of fine control AND teamwork.

and in the end, Wolfwood's arm is in a cast, Vash seems either unhurt or hurt but unbothered by it (typical Vash). And Life Goes On.

(forgot to mention before, but all panels are from @trigun-manga-overhaul! thank u for the beautiful pages)