#doing it like this sends me

[viridiave]

Okay so I've been going through the Record of Ragnarok anime and manga and

I need to rant about Jack the Ripper and Heracles into some void because if I don't I will BURST

I haven't read past Raiden and Shiva yet by the way - just getting to the 6th fight once I get out of class

SPOILERS FOR THE 4TH FIGHT UNDER THE CUT

YES the core theme of this fight is good versus evil - 'The Most Righteous God' versus 'The Vilest Serial Killer in History' - but I think the more interesting theme in there is the running undercurrent of love behind Jack's and Heracles's motivations

I realize all of this has been said explicitly in the manga and anime but god - this was the fight in which the series has fully won me over. I would argue that love is the driving motivator behind every fighter even - Thor and Lu Bu share a love of fighting and strength and find fulfillment in the pursuit of it (a sentiment later shared by Kojiro, Raiden, and Shiva to some extent), Adam is full of love for humanity and all that is under heaven, and Poseidon (arguably) is full of love for himself and what a god represents. Zeus is the one contender that I can't honestly parse, but I believe his love is more subtle since it's shown that he cares greatly about other members of his Pantheon.

The theme of love is most prevalent in Jack the Ripper and Heracles - with both of them representing love to its logical extremes. Jack is the epitome of unrequited, deprived love - he has been abandoned and betrayed by his ideal of it (his mother), and sought to show his love in the form of dyeing others in his favorite color. He feels that dyeing others in the color of fear - in all its primal purity - is the greatest salvation he can give to others. He can never stir into others the beautiful color that he saw in his mother before her mask shattered - while not directed towards him, it was still one of love.

Heracles on the other hand is the embodiment of unbridled, unconditional love - the divine love of gods that overcame his hatred of its vices. He regards everything that Jack represents as vile and repulsive, but persevered in trying to save him because despite everything, Jack is a human - and therefore deserving of Heracles's love. He does not hesitate in betting his life for the sake of others and the greater good - whether it be by drinking the ambrosia or by shortening his own lifespan for the chance of victory. Heracles is simple yet steadfast in his belief that humanity is worthy of love despite their malice - and this is what makes him shine in Jack's eyes.

Heracles feeling responsible for humanity is perhaps the greatest form of love that a god can ever show for them. He is one god among every god we have been introduced for whose motivations lie solely in his belief that humanity can do better, and he does everything in his power to protect them. Now if that's what Heracles is meant to be then why the heck is he fighting for humanity as part of their vanguard - unlike Buddha, who switched sides in the middle of the tourney?

Personally I just also think his form of love is smothering in the sense that he regards humans as weak creatures that need saving - that he doesn't trust them capable of winning against the gods despite Kojiro Sasaki proving that it was possible just one match ago... Is what I would say if Heracles wasn't also capable of deduction and recognizing when to fold a fight. Heracles's godhood and allegiance to specifically the Greek Pantheon may have held him back from making that choice. I don't really think it makes that much sense either considering the narration makes it clear that if he had the option to choose a harder road, then he would take it - unless he grew out of impulse thinking when he was crowned a god or something I'm unsure why he thought it was best to play it safe there.

It doesn't make the conclusion of the fight any less impactful in the way of showcasing acts of love, in my opinion. While Jack has won the round, he ends up losing once more - killing the one person who has genuinely loved him with his blood and bare hands. He has lost the only person who could ever be capable of showing him the brilliant colors of true, unconditional love - and is then steeped in melancholy once the fight ends. Heracles can claim one victory in that fight, and it was in the salvation of Jack the Ripper (or at least, the guy presenting as him).

Hercales bears a heavy burden on his shoulders by loving humanity and all its faults - but he bears it gladly and with a smile on his face as he dares to embrace the manifestation of human malice even as he had the chance to end the fight in his favor. He was set on defending humanity against divine judgement - we've seen him do it as Alcides, and for his righteousness he was called a hero, and to Jack the Ripper, a 'dear god'.

(Dear God killed more than just Heracles alright it killed me too on the other side of the screen)

[butchfalin]

the funniest meltdown ive ever had was in college when i got so overstimulated that i could Not speak, including over text. one of my friends was trying to talk me through it but i was solely using emojis because they were easier than trying to come up with words so he started using primarily emojis as well just to make things feel balanced. this was not the Most effective strategy... until. he tried to ask me "you okay?" but the way he chose to do that was by sending "👉🏼👌🏼❓" and i was so shocked by suddenly being asked if i was dtf that i was like WHAT???? WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME?????????? and thus was verbal again

[bighornerherder]

This payment is WILD, the package is just a dinky old poker chip. Anyway, wish me luck everyone!

[museaway]

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[brainrotcharacters]

the easy grip on the knife. the leg over the seat. the hand over the other seat. the sassy "come get it" move. you know the bitch is smiling behind that mask even as he said the line.

[gothamite-rambler]

That was actually a good deed, Jason.

Jason Todd walked over to Bruce Wayne scrolling through photos on his phone. He tapped the man on the shoulder.

Jason: You want baby pictures of Damian?

Bruce spat out his coffee in shock. Jason chuckled.

Jason: You have to pay me.

Bruce (frantic): You better not be lying to me because if you have baby pictures of him I will pay you whatever price you ask.

Jason: Um okay I have about 10 I can give you now so $10,000 for each one.

Bruce: Stay there, gotta get my phone and I'll transfer the funds to your bank account.

Bruce ran out of the room leaving Jason Todd with Alfred watching the entire interaction, impressed.

Alfred: Jason, how did you get baby pictures?

Jason: Remember, I knew about his existence before Bruce ever did. I visited the kid for the first 9 years before Bruce found out about him. Talia paid me to take photos of him for memories.

Alfred: That's very wholesome of you.

Jason (confused): I said Talia paid me.

Alfred: Money or not, you did a good deed. Now Master Bruce can have a few photos and trust me, he's been begging Talia for baby pictures for years. Be proud of yourself.

Jason smiled.

Jason: I appreciate you saying that.

Alfred: I mean every word of it. You're welcome.

[fanaticalthings]

POV: You're the oldest sibling

it's tough being the oldest.

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Bonus:

[16th-of-a-twigg]

“And I am more than these bones I feel love, I feel alone I just wish you would come home” - Flesh & Bones; Keaton Henson

Original 2014 version Companion 2015 piece Ko-Fi

[separatist-apologist]

Genuinely, and I mean this kindly, but learning to recognize bait and not engaging with it will change your fandom experience.

[identitty-dickruption]

one of the worst things in the world is that feeling unloveable can (and will) make you act in ways that reinforces itself. I feel unloveable so I don’t respond to messages so people reach out less so I feel unloveable. one of the hardest things in the world is fighting back the brain demons long enough to break the cycle

[stuckinapril]

I love Tumblr because nothing matters here truly. There are no influencers. Having followers doesn’t mean anything. It’s just a site where people post their sporadic thoughts and rb pretty pictures. Anyone who thinks any of this matters is woefully missing the point

[heartorbit]

searching for a star that's still unknown to anyone!

[aitadjcrazytimes]

[swampybogg]

[psychicbby]

imagine being one of dan’s flatmates in his first yr of uni lmfaoo??? like ok here comes this guy and like the first day he shuts himself in his room to play video games. ok cool whatever maybe he’s nervous. most of the time you never see him bc apparently he has an older friend nearby that he’s always with. when he is in the hall he’s burning pasta bc he’s cooking inept and staring down the washer bc he doesn’t understand how to do his own laundry. oh and he makes videos for youtube where he talks to himself (again this is like 2010). so after barely seeing this man the entire term you find out he’s dropped out of uni. ok whatever you never really think about him again until you’re on youtube and you see his face on the homepage. his video has like millions of views and thousands of likes. oh, there’s the friend he was spending all that time with. somehow he’s become some sort of an internet celebrity??? lmfaooooo. what a serve on dan’s part.

[eva-birdman]

I don't know why I bite