#does this count as meta

[not-equippedforthis]

holmes and watson as the sun and moon respectively because holmes is a burning, eccentric force of nature who collapses like a dying star when his mind seizes him, because watson is a solid rock who provides the stone for holmes to lean against and reflects his light by documenting the cases and righting holmes' thought process and scattered bearings. holmes as the light that comes back into watson's life after he's been stripped of hope and forced to wander around london's dark streets without any friends or familiar faces to support him. watson as the calm, ever-present soldier who is capable of burning with equal intensity but is often underestimated in his power because he isnt as outwardly flashy as the sun. holmes as the sun because he does everything with passion, with an inward intensity, watson as the moon because he has the same power but with softer lights, not blinding but glowing, calming. holmes and watson as the sun and moon because they will always be said in conjugation with each other. they belong as one. holmes as the sun because he is the light and watson as the moon is his conductor of light. holmes as the burning sun and watson as the shining moon- do you. do you understand.

[yea-baiyi]

ok but like imagine being hua cheng. and when you were a teenager you were trapped in a cave with your god when he got hit with sex pollen and you already felt ugly and unlovable but he stabbed himself through the gut rather than touch you and you saw him shirtless and horrifyingly that’s how you found out you were gay

and then you meet him again centuries later when you’ve grown up and become comfortable in your own skin, and you think you might be in love with him except a part of you still feels terrified that he’ll look at you and find you hideous again. but you want to trust him so you show him your real face. and. turns out he finds your adult self so hot that you make him horny for the first time in his life and he keeps doing and saying absolutely deranged things because he does not know how to cope. he panics and tries to give you, a ghost, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and while you’re lying there trying not to freak out he is beside you acting out his one man humiliation-style comedy show because he has never wanted to kiss someone before let alone fuck. he agrees to get locked in a coffin together because he never even considered the possibility that he might pop a boner except he does pop a boner and now you are stuck under him while he squirms and you are trying very hard not to think about your own boner

i don’t know how to end this post i just think that’s so funny. and they live happily ever after and have lots of gay sex. hua cheng keeps winning. slay king

[halcyonhowl]

Just thinking more about how Viktor said he didn't feel cold, so he probably also couldn't feel Jayce's body warmth when he hugged him. He says, "I sense a charge. A potential. A recursive impulse. Unpleasant, but cold isn't its name."

He tentatively rubs Jayce's back as they embrace; his expression shifts as he realizes he isn't feeling him. Not like he could before. It's like a computer with a blinking cursor, waiting for input. Ready to do something, but can't without the command. That's unpleasant.

Jayce gave him a blanket, but it did nothing to alleviate cold. Instead Viktor received this as data. The arcane equivalent of zeroes and ones: Show compassion. So, Viktor kept it. He made vestments out of this simple but meaningful gesture from his dearest friend, and carried forward that impulse. Even as far away from each other as they became, Jayce's warmth was still with him. That feels so human.

As an aside--Skye's journal was filled with her hopes and dreams, and he reminds Jayce that they also once had hopes and dreams. I wonder if part of the commune's community organization and structure came from her writing. They needed to see her and include her, but the machinations of the Piltover Council made that difficult.

Anyway, in the end, it's touch that brings Jayce and Viktor back together. The charge, the potential, is finally complete. With their foreheads together, they embrace the best they can with a powerful runic reaction unfolding in their joined hands. The touch unites them, physical with emotional with mental with spiritual. They become catalyst to change the world.

[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

[guardianlioness]

The Kn8 narrative doesn’t linger on it, so it’s not something I’ve seen discussed much yet, but I really love that we as the audience get to see the domino effect of Kafka’s friendship with Mina.

Episode 5 makes it clear that the officers in Kafka and Ichikawa’s cohort take huge inspiration from Mina. She was a major factor in their decision to join the JAKDF. They view her as a hero, an ideal, and wanting to be like her plays a huge role in their choice to enlist.

What they don’t know, and what we the audience see, is that Mina’s own decision to join the JAKDF is similarly shaped by Kafka. Their pact pushed her into the Defense Force and his failure was key to Mina becoming a real-life superhero.

The story still gives her agency—it was her decision too—but in a roundabout way, the 3rd Division gang is there because of Kafka.

He is totally unaware of it, but he’s technically responsible for his own peer group. An overpowered, dynamite cohort with some of the best rookies the JAKDF has ever seen.

Maybe they would have all made their way there regardless, but there’s something so hopeful, so good to me about his failure ultimately tacking all the way around into a good thing.

[wutheringskies]

Wangxian is that dynamic: Rant Post

I personally think Wangxian is one of the most complete, compelling and near-perfect dynamics to ever be written. Like, think about it. All of our favourite pairings generally include one T (Thinking-type) and one F (Feeling-type), or both Feeling types as they are easier to relate to.

But then you have Wangxian - an ISTJ and an ENTP. Such... annoying personality types.

You have Lan Wangji, who's going to fight your procrastination for you. The guy who's stability personified and Mr. He Is Indeed Better, and then you have Wei Wuxian, who's going to argue his mouth off than take a hint; a little too aware of just how great he is and constantly onto the search for new angles of discovery.

Generally, these sort of personalities are put into the background while an INFP (or whatever) find love. These are the cliche best friends. But never the main leads.

But look at Wangxian!

Look at them being so smart together, sharing the same values. Look at Lan Wangji showing his anger by frosty, cutting words (just a few) or worse... utter disregard for you. The guy's going to glare at you with such frosty chill or go out of his way to ignore you. You're not going to get to him, and it's going to PISS you off.

Then there's Wei Wuxian and it's like...are you getting to him? Or, is he getting to you?? If you argue with him too much about his alleged failure and arrogance and quirks, he's gonna tap into them, and make you feel unstable. He's going to wield his flaws like a blade at you. You're going to just want to avoid him and the snark that filters in through his sunny disposition.

And... look at Wangxian taking the "scientific way" to sex.

"What am I supposed to do?" / I cannot believe I'm asking Lan Zhan for sex advice.

"Relax." / To the point answers only.

Also in the Extra, when discussing their CNC kink they go all the way into the story of how they're going to scene:

"So I'll do this and you resist and then I'll do this."

"Sounds difficult."

"Okay, let's switch positions."

Like... perfection??? Like go, find yourself a partner who's equally as weird as you and have your happy ever after with them: accomplished.

Not just that but the aftermath of the bichen incense burner:

"I have never been treated like this before."

"Mn." (fond smile)

"I'll chop you if you do that again."

"Mn."

Like... how easy is it to communicate ? Without any fears, without any remnant feelings, without guilt - how easily they understand each other.

And not Wei Wuxian showing his love by gifting Lan Wangji a numerous weird things, and constantly talking about exactly what he loves about Lan Wangji. Not Lan Wangji doing every sort of act of service for Wei Wuxian (and Wei Wuxian allowing it), and being calm but not quiet with his words.

"It is as it is" - loving Wei Wuxian is a fact for Lan Wangji, backed up by his actions.

They never go out of their way to think of certain events differently. Perhaps, that's what takes them so much time and 2 life times to get together. Because, hell, it's obvious to us. But you're telling me Lan Wangji wouldn't stand up for anyone who's in the right and framed incorrectly? He totally would. Lan Zhan is just that nice. Similarly, Wei Wuxian is also just that nice.

He took a brand for Mianmian. He couldn't remember her for a minute afterwards. He saved Su She. Twice. He has no idea who Su She is. So, yes. He did a lot of things for Lan Wangji but what is he supposed to be?

I love how their relationship is built upon a pact of no apologies and no thanks. Loving each other isn't a duty, a responsibility or a debt. It is just natural. There's nothing to be repaid. There's only things to discover together.

You don't need to thank me because thanking means you recognize my effort as helping you, but you are not required to - as it is the nature of things. I will help you. You will help me. We will never measure who helps each other more. You don't need to apologize for your actions, because I trust that you will not do wrong unto me. Never by intention.

And, let's talk about how they gravitate towards each other ?? Lan Wangji sitting in Gusu thinking about Wei Wuxian and his lotus seeds and stems theory. Wei Wuxian sitting in Lotus Pier thinking of Lan Wangji. Analyzing every word the other has said, thinking back to all that they have done for each other, lingering not on the pain they have caused each other but the happiness, and you know, that they'll be able to talk about the pain, through the pain, because they are people rooted in the present.

I imagine just how insane it would be for Wei Wuxian, the no golden core until the age of 9 to head disciple to one of the strongest cores to the reason why Yunmeng Jiang win every night hunt event at Discussion Conferences, to lock swords with Lan Wangji and feel, "Ah, this is an equal. This is a new puzzle to be solved. This is a cabbage to be pricked (canon)."

And for Lan Wangji, who's equated insolence and disobedience with poor performance to suddenly come upon someone who appears larger than life, raking up answers and top spots in tests, and duelling as an equal yet never adhering to the rules, finding loopholes and shaking up Lan Wangji's whole dimension.

Another thing I really love is how Lan Wangji isn't, like, his uncle. Or his brother. He isn't his uncle in the ways that he allows himself to break rules when they don't align with the rules he considers superior - his moral calling. His hanguang-jun-ness. He absolutely loves rules; he does; and he loves his stability but he's not afraid to embrace change if it is required.

And, Lan Zhan just isn't his brother. He doesn't like you? Trust, you're gonna know. He thinks you're stupid? It's going to be translated across. He's not going to appease you, or make his presence or his wishes lesser to comfort you. He is his own person (which is so similar to how Wei Wuxian is; like poor boy was punished all the time for being himself, at Lotus Pier by Madam Yu, and yet he never downplayed his talents. He never bowed down.)

And I think it's obvious just how well Lan Wangji knows how worthless words can be if they're not followed with actions. Similarly for Wei Wuxian, he speaks a lot. But he does do what he speak. Protect Jiang Cheng? He will. Fight for Lotus Pier? He will. Protect the Wens? He will absolutely.

Thus, you see, as a couple they will never have to face those sorts of arguments where someone seriously states how they feel about A event but behaves differently when they can do something about it. As a couple they will never have to worry about the other not being themselves. Compromising is one thing - pretense is another. Wei Wuxian compromises and doesn't try to break rules. Understands that he's going to insult Lan Wangji's position by acting out. Lan Wangji compromises and breaks some rules for him. They both compromise and take care of each other's needs and habits to cohabitate together successfully, and at the same time, there's no pretense. No lying. No manipulation. No "I'm fine when I'm not."

Think of them going to night hunts together, with Wei Wuxian's easy brilliance and Lan Wangji's easy dependency. Like that guy, is strong and capable enough to protect Wei Ying. He knows that. Wei Ying knows that. The cultivation world knows that.

Think of how both of them are such healthy adults and loving to children. Lan Wangji isn't a cold dad and Wei Wuxian isn't an irresponsible one. They're both so very capable.

So, my point is - Wangxian is perfect. I will die on this ship.

[carma-tjol]

misc thoughts on the retcons

I can’t tell if the pacing is bad or if that’s just me getting disoriented by the past several months telling and retelling the same story.

While the fight between Flash and Sonic ended up more like the webcomic story wise, I didn’t enjoy it the same. The webcomic had a tension to it. It felt distinctly lonely and melancholy. But reading the manga redraws now, I feel kind of similar to how I did with the psychic sisters arc where it seemed like a “fixed” version of the webcomic?

Like, the story is still the same but the character dynamics are altered in a way that doesn’t make sense. They all get along a bit too well. Which would be fine if the story or enough dialogue was adjusted that it made sense, but that’s a step they skipped over.

For the retconned chapters, the emotion ONE and Murata were trying to communicate was different from the webcomic, but ultimately more successful for its place in the context of the manga. Between Flash and Sonic there was still pain and words left unspoken, just in a way that felt fitting. VS now it’s like they’re trying to communicate the webcomic tension but without any of the hard hitting moments where it felt like time slowed down that made the webcomic successful.

Anyways i know the arc isn’t done yet. There’s still time for it to pick up. I’m just feeing irritated and really don’t want to end up feeling more disappointed than I would otherwise because I have to compare whats now canon now vs what was retconned. (considering I liked the retconned version and felt it was successful to begin with 😭)

[mikhardwheat]

So, the drowning scene of tggth pt2...

I'm about to be so annoying about this whole sequence.

Here, when everyone starts kicking each other, Mac doesn't let go of Dennis and wraps his leg around him before their hands separate.

When Mac starts falling backwards, he tries to grab Dennis' arm so stabilize himself. We can see that Dennis doesn't push him off, despite the fact that he makes it harder to catch Dee, who already has the upper hand.

While Charlie is using Mac's head to resurface, Dennis watches Dee and Frank swim away and then quickly turns to the side and tries to grab Mac by his hand, which he doesn't (?) let him do.

Then we get this cursed shot of Dennis being basically glued to Mac's side, where Mac is swimming with his single free arm and isn't even trying to shake him off. Later we see what exactly clicked in Dennis' mind in the previous scene, where he came up with the idea of using Mac for the impact.

Bonus scene with him getting punched seconds after betrayal.

[obscurecurse]

concept. kim has some guy from a rival gang at gunpoint and he pushes him against a tree. he's making his threats, but he doesn't like this guy so he just shoots him and kills him instead. but now his blood/the bullet are lodged in the tree. kim leaves. he sends someone to come by at night to extract the bullet.

cutting the bullet out kills the tree. so the rival gang serves the theerapanyakuls papers because... they have footage of this guy killing the tree. and a week later it starts self-pruning and the biggest branch drops onto the roof of a ferrari. like it's not because they murdered someone from their ranks on the premises - they don't care about that - but the boss liked that tree.

and anyway there's a city ordinance about trees over a certain age.

[nerdyneko6373]

Okay so I was listening to Hurts Like Heaven by Coldplay, and I just realized how well the lyrics fit Miles.

In ITSV, Miles struggles with feeling like he can't fill Peter Parker's shoes as Spiderman. And of course, he expresses himself through his art and graffiti.

Again, thinking about his love of art and drawing. And in ATSV, he's dealing with a society that's telling him how to live his life and saying that he can't change what happens. With canon events, it's like his life has already been determined for him and he can't do anything about it.

The rules of the spider society have been keeping him apart from his friends, and now they want to tear him apart from his family too. But he's not going to let go of his morals, he's not going to let them determine his life.

Also thought I should include these lines but I feel like they're more from Gwen's POV:

At the end of ATSV, she gathers together all their friends so they can go against the lies/half-truths of the spider society.

[chuckduckling]

I have a followup to this QiJiu post about Yue Qingyuan's feelings for Shen Jiu, digging into SJ's side of the relationship, but tbh, I feel like SJ's taste in men can be best summed up with:

SJ would hoard every issue where YQY features on the cover. The one with YQY holding a kitten while wearing a chunky knit sweater is laminated.

[queerdagny]

I can’t believe I’m out here analyzing a picture of quigleys midsection debating myself on the effectiveness of her harness and carabiners. Like if those are two carabiners that she has attached to her harness, cool! Why are they attached to another carabiner? You should not do that. Why, when she goes up, does it not pull the larger carabiner? The carabiner would be pulled and then you’d have the knot on one end and the two on her harness on the other end (which, again, don’t hook carabiners on carabiners and then put body weight on that it’s just bad practice)

Also is her harness backwards?? Those small straps, at least for regular climbing harnesses, are usually on the back. Also the waist strap and the leg straps are way too thin to be comfortable, especially for a gal who sits in a tree all day. This is what my climbing harness looks like, for reference. Note the thicker bands for waist and legs and the small straps that go on the back. Also note the tie in point in front, which is just… nonexistent on Quigley’s. Does her harness have built in carabiners? Would she have to replace the harness around the carabiners (since carabiners will last longer than a harness)?

The knot looks like it could be a fisherman’s loop which I am personally unfamiliar with in climbing but yknow girls gotta do what a girls gotta do I guess

Conclusion: quigley what the fuck

[lililasagna]

I think one of the saddest aspects of mdzs is watching every character from the main generation become isolated, and each of them making the worst and most destructive choices in that isolation.

Cloud recesses arc makes me feel sick to my stomach just with how Together everyone is. They all go from acting like classmates, and making friends like regular teenagers, to being alone, never reaching out. All of them lash out in their loneliness, some at themselves and some at others. Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian are the only ones who break out of that by the end, Jiang Cheng, Nie Huaisang, Wen Ning, and Jin Zixuan are seperate forever and irreperrably.

(its not that i think they were all besties, obviously they were not. Just kind of guts me when i remember the highs and lows of high school cultivation.)

[sapphorror]

Anyway not to be insufferable but TECHNICALLY a goldfish couldn't have even been used as diy spaceship no matter what because the kids are never IN space, but the outer ring which is a separate plain of reality entirely—or the void between sburb planets, which I guess you could call space, but it is still in a dimension entirely separate from our own + it's physics clearly have no relation to actual space since the kids can just like. fly through it. anyway there's your free homestuck fact for the next time you need to logically deduce what may or may not have happened in this comic

reblog to let it break containment btw

[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.