#especially with the consequences of being electrocuted

[patheticpeoplesupreme]

Alternate ending where SQH presses the return home button after yelling at MBJ + I somehow turned it into a slightly happier ending(this was supposed to end with SQH being alone till he dies)(bro never moves on)

but in this oneshot, he becomes a part of the Shen family.

Mobei-Jun mourning SQH’s body… imagine…

The moment he presses on the button, he felt his heart sink with the glow surrounding him.

He was going back to his body, which was equivalent to dying. Turning to his icy surroundings, light snow falling onto the tip of his fingers, his knees unbuckle as he fell to the floor.

“I—“

—

He regrets it, he really does. He shoud have just stayed in the other world. There, at least he knows how to escape the life he had, he knows people who would care about him even if he had run away (at least, he hoped so?)

here, there was no one. His parents didn’t care about him, they’d already moved on with new families in their lives. They hadn’t even bat an eye when they found out his body was a coma.

Shang Qinghua shivered in his hospital bed, tears slipping down his cheeks, he couldn’t even let out a sound.

It was cold. It was empty. His arms were bandaged heavily, they’d told him that he had severe burns because of the fact that there was hot water when it happened.

He couldn’t write; Proud Immortal Demon Way had already ended. He… just really…lacked the motivation to ever write again. Without his most passionate fan, without his king or his martial siblings… it’s unbearable. Losing the trust of everyone he knew was heart breaking enough, but they— they had forgiven him for his final moments.

They’d let him back into the sect—! Liu Qingge had grinned at him, after all that. Mu Qingfang allowed him to nap in the medical room whenever things got too hectic—heck! Yue Qingyuan visited his peak for friendly conversation and tea!

Shang Qinghua had given all of that up, and for what???

He didn’t know any more….

Haaa…. His anxiety and fear had gotten the best of him.

There was no Cucumber bro to critique his 3000+ chapter novel, there were no ice kings to force him to stop working in the middle of the night because of his health.

It was just him. Just Luo Meihua. The useless idiot.

A mistake he made, and he will never ever be able to see his family again.

Shen Qingqiu was right, Shang Qinghua was an idiot.

—

“Hey..” A quiet feminine voice pulls him out from the grasp of sleep, his heavy eyes open wearily as he tries to focus on the new figure. It wasn’t one of those nurses. The girl was wearing a very blue casual outfit, blue sweater, blue jeans, and even a blue purse.

….?

He squinted. Did he know her..??

He knew this wasn’t one of his half siblings, they were much younger than he was. “Hh….” He tried hard to say something, but a year of unuse made it hard to say the right words.

“It’s okay! Uhm, you don’t need to speak! I’m sure you’re wondering who I am?”

Shang Qinghua nodded minutely.

“My name is Shen Yang. Do you remember the story you wrote?”

He grimaced, giving her a pained look, he knew by now how shitty it was, please don’t make him talk about it??? I mean, there was some good parts but if he could, he wouldn’t have made A Ding as the sole logistics peak!!!

Wait.. “Shen..?”

She laughs slightly, mistaking his question for something else, “Mm, my brother was Peerless Cucumber, he went into a coma like you did, one year ago. If you knew him, anyway. He hated your novel.”

No wonder she looked familiar—!

But.. huh…? How did she know he was in a coma? How did she know he was here.

He tried to convey that to her with his raised eyebrow.

“We… uhm. Originally, we wanted to personally talk to you, since… we found A—Yuan’s notes in his computer. It was more critiques about the novel,” Shang Qinghua stifled a fond laugh, Ahh, Cucumber bro… “…and so… we found out you were in a coma, just like my brother.”

—

Shen Family: finds out Airplane is in a coma and they visit him once

Shen Yang is also a volunteer at the hospital, just so she can visit Shen Yuan more often. So occasionally, she watches Airplane’s coma body, wondering what kind of person he was to write PIDW

sometimes she writes and reads it out to Shen Yuan because she knows he loved stories, even if they sucked

When Airplane wakes up and they both realise he has no home anymore,

(“Your parents..?”

Shang Qinghua shook his head and laughed bitterly, “it’s not like they visited me at all.”)

So she persuades her parents to let him stay at the house (they refuse at first, like, airplane’s a stranger, and they’re still mourning Shen Yuan)

But eventually, they pittied him and allowed him to stay.

(“I promise I’ll pay you back, thank you so much for your kindness!!!”)

After all his trauma, he becomes the quiet kid, no silly rambles, and without any system forcing him on any missions, he becomes so so antsy, so he just takes on a lot of responsibilities and becomes sick and is super miserable until Shen Family takes an intervention

Eventually they get attached to SQH and help him get therapy. And it doesn’t actually help much, he couldn’t talk about his transmigration trauma at all

BUT he admits the little things, like his parents’ emotional neglect and accidentally mentions something like “I’m used to getting beat up. I’m used to everyone pushing their work onto me.”

Which is concerning in modern society,, like,,, why is he used to getting beat up 3 times a day

Bro just really hates himself

But one day, maybe after a few long months, the light in his eyes return and he gets into a rant again and Shen Yang just remembers his brother, Shen Yuan, and sees him in SQH and

man

Shen Yang shares stories about his brother to SQH

(“He sucked at sewing.” )

( “Shut up, Airplane… Sewing is harder than it looks.” Shen Qingqiu glared at him.)

[yarameijer]

Hi! I just read through your Frigidity one shot, and I enjoyed it very much! Your writing is great! I have some asks regarding what happens after the one shot ends, though--I can't imagine the transition from Sector 5 to Raimon was easy on Tenma or Raimon.

How does Raimon view Frigidity!Tenma? I'd imagine he's more ruthless/colder now thanks to....you know.

How does Endou see him? Like, that's one of his kids that he failed. You can't tell me there isn't a little bit of protectiveness there after everything. Especially after the electrocution.

Does Dragon Link stay in touch? And do Tenma's Dragon Link teammates end up forgiving Shinsuke? Tenma did, but Dragon Link seems to be a bit more willing to be angry on his behalf.

Ooh, Frigidity, writing that one was an interesting experience, lmao. Stayed up two, three nights until like three in the morning to write it because inspiration hit me. I’m glad you liked it!! You’re absolutely right, though, Raimon and Tenma did have some challenging times in the immediate aftermath.

It takes some time for the team to get used to Tenma again, to be honest. Tenma has become a lot quieter, since his time with Fifth Sector taught him to try and not be noticed, and to observe rather than immediately speak up or face the consequences. Raimon is not used to this, since the Tenma from a few months before was always hyped up and talkative. They can tell he’s not fully comfortable around them anymore, and that hurts. Furthermore, the team has been (more or less) together all this time, so they are sort of… used to being a team without him? Tenma and Tsurugi do actually get closer, because Tsurugi is the only one on the team who understands what he’s gone through. Maybe not the exact same thing, but it’s close. He was a SEED. He’s been in Fifth Sector’s clutches too, and he knows what it’s like to still be treated with hesitance and distrust even after joining Raimon - and that is sort of the case for Tenma, too. Raimon treats him differently now, not per se with distrust, but they’re walking on eggshells for sure. They don’t know what he's been through and they’re afraid to upset him.

Endou feels very guilty, not just towards Tenma but also towards the rest of Raimon since he couldn’t protect any of them and they got taken by Fifth Sector while he was at God Eden. As we know from the story, Tenma definitely didn’t have a good time, but neither did Raimon - it’s mentioned that they got send to a ‘’re-education centre’’ in the story, which is basically just a type of indoctrination camp for Fifth Sector opposers. In the following months, Endou (and what was left of the Resistance) did everything they could to extract them, so Endou is aware of what his kids were going through - all except Tenma. To then see him with Dragon Link, as their captain, while knowing what Raimon went through (remember, indoctrination!!) he realizes they must have tried the same thing with Tenma, and they have seemingly succeeded, since he’s fighting for them and not holding back. The electrocution only makes it worse. Yeah, Endou does not let anyone touch his kids after he gets them all back.

Hell yeah Dragon Link stays in touch. They’ve got some group chats and although it’s pretty hard for all of them to meet up, Tenma sometimes visits either Seidouzan or the original Dragon Link during training, and they also have some friendly matches once in a while. They plan a training camp during the summer holidays too. Raimon actually has some issues with accepting this at first - not only because Tenma now has another team, one he in fact seems closer with than he is with them, but also because it makes them realize how hard it is for them to connect to him. He talks more when he’s with Dragon Link than with Raimon, but at the same time it’s much sharper and harsher than he ever acts with Raimon. Does Dragon Link forgive Shinsuke… depends on the person specifically, some do some don’t, but they do make it clear to Raimon that if they mess with Tenma, they’ll regret it.

[victimeyez]

This has been buzzing in my head since the aquarium story... What if Someone who previously had a session with Tommy but Caius had to stop them cuz they went too far like Kit or smtg. And they see Tommy at the aquarium or random place where Caius took Tommy for a break or smtg...idk. But that dude decides to kidnap Tommy and have a torture session in some abandoned place nearby . Idk but I'm assuming that the collar has a gps or smtg and Caius thinks that Tommy ran away so he starts zapping the collar... Tommy here is literally getting tortured and electrocuted at the same time. Caius finally finds him....

Tbh I'm just rambling...if you think this weird you can ignore it...I just wanted to get it out.

Take care!

OOH I LOVE THIS!!!

Tommy is out so rarely that this would be A Big Deal to happen, both traumatizing for him and Caius. Caius would see it as a confirmation that he shouldn't take Tommy out anywhere.

I'm so glad someone likes/remembers Kit, they just wanted to go at someone with a baseball bat. A pity they didn't take Caius's warnings about "going too far" seriously.

I really hadn't thought much of it before, but now I think it would be fun for a conflict like that to come up. It doesn't happen super often, but there are definitely people who go too far - especially since the kinds of people who have that kind of money aren't used to facing consequences.

You also tapped on another concept I've been thinking about for Tommy's shock collar. You know those "invisible fences" people can set for their dogs? Basically, they can determine boundary lines, and if the dog reaches or tries to cross the line, they get a shock.

Normally, it would be a brief shock, but I think Michelle could easily modify it to give a really hard shock continuously. Or at least, long enough to really put him down, so basically if Tommy went anywhere outside of where Caius designated, it would instantly incapacitate him, and he would drop.

This could be used in public settings to keep Tommy on an invisible leash, or keep him confined to a hotel room. Who needs locks when you can shock them unconscious? This could work exactly like you said, even if Caius didn't manually start the shock.

Maybe Tommy is getting dragged off, and starts to fight back, finally breaking loose - juuuuust in time for him to fall outside of the boundary and get shocked unconscious. No hope of getting back to Caius now - the safety mechanism that's supposed to keep him from getting away makes him a ragdoll, easily picked up and carried off without being able to resist.

I love this prompt, it is now bubbling away in my brainsoup. Thank you for writing in!!!

[melonteee]

My point about losses wasn’t that it's only about the physical injuries, it's that injuries get played up yet never stick to the point that it becomes difficult to tell if an injury a character obtains is actually deadly or worth worrying about. Characters get peirced, blown up, electrocuted, poisoned, but all save for Luffy (and of course Ace) basically sleep it off and are a-ok. We'll never see the consequences of Luffy's shortened life span because unless he was only ever going to reach 30, well, he'll find One Piece before that.

Of course I care about the other things that stand to be lost, but if the character's are never actually putting their lives at risk, why should I be worried when they enter so-called death matches? Why should I be concerned, they always survive with little lost time or lasting consequences. Yes, Oda has been more willing to kill off some side characters, but I can't bring myself to really believe or feel their losses. Pedro's was a good example of their bittersweet successes coming with genuine loss that can be felt.

Sorry, I guess I'm not sure how to get it across right, because of course the mental fight is important, but if Luffy and crew can just constantly tank every injury and eventually keep going without consequences that we'll actually see, why should I worry about them when things look tense? They'll be fine. They'll throw a party before the day is over. Like, this isn't MMA or chess. It's not all fighting nor all mental gymnastics, it's got both. But if the physical has no weight to it, then why should I be conserned about Alabasta or Dressrossa? Luffy will just stand back up and win because attacks types and power levels mean nothing. Zoro takes two Emperor's attacks but gets a little miracle drug (that, once again, the only consequences is a shortened life span) and he's back up and fighting.

Ah, OK, I think I got it. To use MHA as an example, Deku vs Todoroki held a great deal of weight not only because of what they were fighting over but because Deku was willing to continue over-straining his hands/arm to make his point. And we see this over-straining have lasting consequences in the damage done to his hands and his later need to make better use in fighting with his legs. But he doesn't regret doing this damage to himself because Todoroki needed help in that moment. So, compared to Luffy and Zoro having this far off consequence we'll likely never see, Deku carries with and has to adapt to his rash choices in series.

(Heck, Treffy actually losing his arm because of Dressrossa would of been a good example of a consequence like that. But no it got reattached like nothing...)

Lol we'll just have to agree to disagree cause the only reason Luffy even upped his gears is BECAUSE Rayleigh told him he can't get through everything with what he had, the whole point of the timeskip was them improving themselves due to being too weak for the new world. And EVERY Shonen protag gets back up I'm unsure what that point is meant to be, but the thing with Luffy is it's in his character to keep getting back up. That's the thing we rely on him for, that's literally what Wano emphasised.

They're risking their lives all the time, and again, physical injury isn't the biggest aspect of any fight. Luffy very nearly died and awakened a new gear to beat Kaido, he couldn't even beat big mum and got totalled by Katakuri to the point they had to RUN AWAY from Big Mum. I think you're focusing far too much on physical injury of character rather than the stakes of the actual series. Like I get where you're coming from but to say it's a huge flaw that one piece battles have no risks is totally untrue, especially compared to an mha arc where they're in a SCHOOL COMPETITION where no one was going to die 😭😭 the only risks mha CAN have at that moment IS physical injury since they're not trying to save a whole nation LMAO.

But if you're talking about improvement of strength from said injury, One Piece doesn't rely on body pain to improve oneself and look for other options, it relies on the risk of losing overall - death or not - to make each character improve. We literally just saw Sanji, Zoro AND Luffy improve on themselves mid battle due to the risk of losing unless they thought on their feet. Yes Zoro got given that 'miracle drug', but due to that, he realised he couldn't face the emperors and unlocked a new power against King. He faced consequences against the emperors and sought after King instead, accepting that wasn't his battle.

I honestly can't see what you're seeing cause the battles are really engaging for me, and again, I'm not into battle shonens at all. Maybe the reason I like it is the reason you dislike it lol

[puexii]

LORE DUMP!!!

i gave in hrhrrr

anyways heres full clyde lore

Clyde (model name CY-D1) was originally a project made by Elevate to try giving a robot the abilty and intelligence to be a detective and solve cases. He was doing well in the cases he was given, they weren’t too hard since he was kind of experimental and if a case turns out to be more complicated than initially thought it would be given to a different detective.

Clyde was around the time that another project led by Exodus was taking place, the overseer project, which was a project that gave a robot control of the police force in order to synchronize all sectors, and since Exodus is in charge of the police force Clyde was also affected by the overseer. Clyde and The Overseer could communicate with each other directly, and The Overseer would often tell Clyde how he did on the cases he was given, but Clyde was still evaluated internally by the researchers in charge of him. Although it was going well for a while, the overseer seemed to be developing a bias against humans, which was not noticeable at first, but as the biases grew, the actions of the overseer grew increasingly dangerous.

Clyde didn’t understand that hatred the overseer had and was actually getting curious about humans and how they operate outside the circumstances of the cases he was receiving, since that was the only way he was able to view the world, while he’s working, otherwise he’d be in the local police building being monitored since after all, he was just an experimental project.

As the overseer’s hatred towards humans grew, so did Clyde’s curiosity, which caused conflict between him and the overseer. Since Clyde was still under control of the overseer he couldn’t do much about it, but he still wanted to do something, after all there was so much he still wanted to understand about the world, especially humans, and the overseer would be in the way of this. Clyde started to try going against the overseer’s orders, which often led him to being overridden and getting directly controlled by the overseer, but that wasn’t always the case since the overseer still needed Clyde’s abilities, which it was unable to emulate. Consequently though, Clyde’s confidence in his own abilities grew less, since he only knew of the overseer’s grading.

At some point the conflict between Clyde and the overseer was at its peak, with the overseer’s hatred of humans and Clyde’s increasing rebellious actions. At this point Clyde refused to follow any order given by the overseer and actively went against it. The overseer on the other hand was getting quite fed up with Clyde’s actions. At some point Clyde tried looking for ways to disconnect himself from the system that was controlled by the overseer.

After he was able to disconnect himself briefly, he was able to run away from his position to try and look for solutions away from the other robot cops, which followed direct orders and didn’t really have the ability to think for themselves, he was also followed by cops that were supposed to capture him and bring him back to his position or the station. Unfortunately Clyde was automatically reconnected back to the system before he could do much, and at this point the overseer really disliked Clyde, The overseer didn’t immediately override Clyde this time and instead tried to make Clyde go back by having a conversation with him. After that didn’t work he tried ordering him to go back, and then he threatened to electrocute him by overriding his power output to unsafe levels, Clyde didn’t think that was possible and still went against the overseer, the overseer did in fact electrocute Clyde, damaging his circuits. He was then brought back to the station to get repaired.

This event sparked conflict between Elevate and Exodus, since the project made by Exodus severely damaged the one by Elevate. Elevate then accused Exodus of letting the overseer go unchecked with its biases against humans which did a lot of harm and damaged the public image of the police and the organizations, which resulted in a lack of trust. Exodus ended up shutting down the overseer for good and went back to the original system. Elevate realized that Clyde won’t be able to do his job after this whole situation, and resetting him wouldn’t have been an option because his experiences were valuable to the whole experiment, something about Clyde also seemed to interest someone important at Elevate, which allowed him to be given the opportunity to apply for robot citizenship.

Robot citizenship wasn’t an option for so long, until some events lead to the possibility of it. A police unit on the other hand could not apply for it, they were prohibited from doing so. Clyde though was different, he wasn’t really a police robot, he was just assigned to work there, also police robots are usually made by Exodus and Clyde was made by Elevate so that’s another reason why he was given the option.

The offer had some requirements that were especially made for Clyde, for example he had to be monitored for a longer period that other robots, Clyde did in the end accept the offer, but he still didn’t know what had happened to the overseer, so he was still afraid of it.

After a while of getting used to his new life, Clyde was doing well, he enjoyed quietly observing humans and trying to do the things they did, like wearing multiple outfits instead of a single uniform, and he even tried cooking at some point, but he didn’t do it again since he knew it was a waste since he couldn’t eat like humans do.

One time on a cold rainy day, he was observing humans as usual, but he saw something that confused him, it was a kid that was sitting alone not wearing something that would protect them from the rain, he knew that humans were more sensitive to temperature. He decided to go check them out, maybe he’ll understand their reasons.

[quotesfrommyreading]

Leader Maynard points to three theories commonly used to explain mass killings and war atrocities. But all three can be debunked.

The first explanation is what I call the Broken Brains hypothesis. This is the notion that the sadism of torturing innocents or committing genocide makes sense only if the perpetrators have abnormal brains, or even are psychopaths. Experts turned to the Broken Brains theory when trying to understand the Nazis. An array of psychiatrists closely examined and interviewed the Nuremberg war criminals. After one of the top Nazi perpetrators, Robert Ley, hanged himself while awaiting trial, his brain was preserved, shipped by air mail to the United States, and studied by neuropathologists, who found that he had brain damage, “a longstanding degenerative process of the frontal lobes.”

But as research continued, it became clear that Ley was an outlier, that the architects of the Holocaust likely did not have brain pathologies, and that the Nazis’ genocidal machine had so many people pulling various levers that most of them had to be neurologically normal. This was not a case of a few psychopaths, but rather of millions engaged in what Hannah Arendt famously called “the banality of evil.”

It’s possible that Russia’s Vladimir Putin is an undiagnosed psychopath, but that can’t explain the widespread barbarism throughout the war in Ukraine, especially as the Russian military fills with conscripts, ordinary Russians who have been forced into combat. There might be psychopaths within the world’s military ranks, and psychopaths might be overrepresented in positions of power. But Leader Maynard says researchers agree that those carrying out horrific violence do not, by and large, have different brains from the rest of us.

The second common explanation is what I call the Lord of the Flies hypothesis—the idea that we are all killers by nature, with an innate capacity for cruelty, and that we commit atrocities when we are on war-zone “islands” that are free from constraints and consequences. Once placed into a conflict, any of us could engage in torture.

Yet research from experts such as Rebecca Littman and Elizabeth Levy Paluck shows that most people have a hard time killing other people. Other scholars have argued that in many of the great battles of history, such as Gettysburg, an astonishing number of guns were left loaded and unused—because it’s so psychologically difficult for untrained killers to shoot human beings, even when their own life is at risk. If most people find it difficult to fire a gun at someone else, how could they electrocute them in a hole in the ground, as apparently occurred in the city of Kherson last month?

A third common explanation for mass killings and wartime atrocities is what I call the theory of Coerced Killers—the idea that evil emerges at gunpoint, that we are capable of atrocities when we feel we have no other choice. Some people do engage in horrific violence only in such circumstances, or because they fear retribution against themselves or their families. But the most rigorous analysis of historical mass violence suggests that these cases make up a tiny minority of the overall picture.

If these three explanations don’t explain mass killings generally—or help make sense of what’s happening in Ukraine—then what does? The answer, according to Leader Maynard’s extensive analysis of atrocities, is ideology. By this he does not necessarily mean the grand isms of 20th-century history, but instead simply a set of political beliefs about how the world works, or should work. Mass killings become more likely when a society engaged in warfare produces a coherent narrative about why extreme violence is desirable or at least justified for a grander strategic purpose. Ideology acts as a social glue, ensuring that the architects of the violence, the rank-and-file soldiers who carry it out, and the broader public all tolerate, or even applaud, atrocities.

Crucially, Leader Maynard finds evidence that perpetrators need not be “true believers” or hard-liners who buy into a regime’s ideological mythmaking. Instead, the existence of the ideology and its widespread acceptance in society can provide a sufficient justification for their violence.

  —  Do ‘Ordinary’ People Commit War Crimes?

[gravevisited]

CFP Nonsense Below

cw for character death, murder, suicide

Lisa

Lisa Swallows, age 18, died of electrocution in the park in 1989.

Despite her death date, Lisa looks remarkably well: unlike many of the Fun Kids, Lisa is indeed well remembered, albeit for infamous reasons.

In some versions, Lisa will have the Creature, who will visit at night if he isn’t a resident himself. In other versions, Lisa will have run off in the direction of the park to evade the police, and will end up climbing over the fence only to end up electrocuted by a ride panel. In all versions, Lisa was a known/suspected murderess.

More to help her fit in slash out of embarrassment than anything else, Lisa lies about her last name and often says it’s either Frank or Frankenstein, depending on the verse. Yes, she will sometimes take credit for the Lisa Frank line, claiming it was something her mother did after being inspired by her death. This is patently and tragically untrue.

Lisa Swallows, 1989

Lydia

Comes in two flavors: living and dead.

Living Lydia came to the park to explore, decided it was amazing, stayed until after dark—and had her moment fully ruined by the appearance of one or more Fun Kids when her plan became evident to them. They convinced her to walk out alive at sunrise and a week hasn’t gone by that she hasn’t made it out to see them since!

Ghost Lydia has a similar experience…but chose sunset as her moment instead, missing the intervention of the Fun Kids by a hair.

Living Lydia frequents the Park but doesn’t get involved with the FKs outside of that, feeling that their lives and deaths are their personal business unless they feel like sharing that with her. She enjoys bringing new media into the park, especially body horror like Junji Ito, and she’s absolutely obsessed with the way the kids look in death.

Ghost Lydia is a little more withdrawn and frustrated, having to ultimately live with the consequences of the one act she had not intended to live with. While more waspish and mean, she too can be melted with the power of friendship and find meaning in her afterlife with that.

Regardless, Lydia is very new to both the park and friendship.

Lydia Deetz, 20XX

[whatudottu]

Me thinking about electrical compression and aliens again has led me to think about another repeat biology subject of the amperi, and how I can explain wire travel in a (still fictional) logical way- find out next now how that turns out!

You know, after I have posted multiple other stuff between this being completed and this actually being posted-

One thing that I tend to do when considering amperi biology is that they need to be a little moist (apologies for the word) in order to breathe, but to take more inspiration from jellyfish - surprisingly the actual inspiration for amperi (probably because you couldn’t exactly design constantly transparent characters in animated tv) - and say that physically a lot of their main body is made from this moisture. Unlike jellyfish it’s not quite water, rather it’s a conductive fluid that actually contains a lot of electrochemical signals akin to a nervous system. This in particular is a biological reason why emotion reading is part of amperi languages - communication is done through the excretion and dispersal of this nervous system in water - and why the now ‘surrounded by emotion chemicals’ Ra’ad due to his undiscovered psychometry mutation was constantly overwhelmed, overstimulated, and overcome with anxiety.

And it’s this excretion that actually plays a language role too, essentially being practically REQUIRED in communication especially with how in water it spreads out. A reason why in the air amperi are a little damp is because excretion is a constant (but consistent) autonomic function, like conductive sweat that contains so many messages, though in surface environments it does make communication difficult. Partly the reason why Ra’ad finds himself preferring land, even if either way he’d still need to wear some damp robes when a dry season hits; it beats having to wear one everytime in the ocean with the cultural equivalent connotation of constantly wearing a balaclava though-

And all this ‘filled with goo’ stuff doesn’t mean that amperi have a true main body under their skin (that’s for @ohyeahben10 ‘s Ultimate Ampfibian) but it DOES mean that if an amperi were to perhaps compress themselves to a smaller ‘fit through the neck of a bottle’ size, they build up a charge and in fact begin to conduct electricity. It’s an adaptation for both offence and defence, either being used in constricting tentacles to electrocute prey and victims through excretion and consequent conduction of their electrochemical gel or - a way we will explore in depth next - electrifying predators and assailants using complete compression and slipping between teeth, gills, blowholes, and/or grasp, leaving a trail of ‘lightning’ in escape.

That’s right baby I’ve finally figured out how to logic my way around wire walking!

I’ve mentioned a few times that I think amperi have a bone in them, often referring to he more literal bone like structure in cuttlefish rather than the flexible structure inside of a squid called a gladius or pen, the squid of course being the basis of my ‘this exists in real biology’ inspiration. In fact, perhaps this gladius will serve to fit much better with the amperi, as it’s role in Earth squids is to serve as protection of visceral organs and an attachment for very important muscle groups; I say, grinning into the camera as if I were a villain thinking of something dastardly.

With this gladius, not only does it serve as a base for the important muscle groups of compression - a complicated dynamic of contracting muscles to reduce size and expanding pores to excrete the mucus they adapted for - but in amongst the visceral organs (from a list of few includes the very important heart) there is a very valued organ that in fact produces its conductive gel, sitting nice and comfortable against the brain where these electrochemical signals translate into commands ether somatic or autonomic. As the muscles contract using the gladius as it’s base it in fact squeezes the perfectly placed organ that disperses this electrochemical as if along a highly distributed nervous system and in fact carries with it charge, charge that conducts to whatever purpose the amperi compresses with.

It is that same conductivity that amperi naturally are that allows them wire and cable transportation, since it is a high energy mode of travel for a significantly reduced body size. In a great grand ocean of vast expanses it’s less effective than the semi-compression of weaponry and desperate compression of ‘please don’t eat me’, or the less desperate semi-compression of electric inking; too much energy for too little time, it’s like trying to sprint across the country.

But in areas with a denser population with specific infrastructure built as the amperi equivalent for public transportation or perhaps at a more basic level a bike lane, literal cable travel is developed around the idea of being high energy fast travelling short distance trips. In ocean cities or towns in close proximity to them, think like if internet cables along the ocean floor were filled with people going to work or school or just going out for lunch. On the land where a lot of the metalworking is literally landlocked to be in as dry of air as it can in order to smith, there are powerlines that provide local traffic for any surface towns or workplaces, but you also get a few more uh trespassers along the lines because a not insignificant number of people live on the surface as hermits away from the ocean and many lines are mainly for transit companies.

From personal experience of accidentally walking through my local transit worksite (fuck you google maps) finding that I’m on the wrong side of a tollgate, sometimes where you need or want to go, the fastest route just so happens to be through the company lines.

On Earth, because the only reason we have internet cables and powerlines is because we use them as - well - powerlines and internet cables, it’s not as if an amperi runaway who’s lost and afraid far from whatever he might’ve called familiar if not quite the home he wanted it to be has any real societal understanding that Earth is the American transportation system of Tesslos, Ra’ad just takes the lines and is internally horrified that they lead directly into houses on occasion.

And I think that’s it for wire walking lmao- this was meant to be posted after I rambles about petrosapien nervous systems but yeet yeet!

[touchtranscendslanguage]

is there anyway for us to know what each of their magic is? like we know that virge has fear and lightning magic, but what about everyone elses?

you dont have to answer, i just really enjoy the story line and the writting, and i wanted to know a bit more about the characters :)

First off: Sorry it took me so long to answer this, tumblr did not notify me that I had an ask.

Second: Please excuse any typos I'm still on vacation and using my phone to type. I finished writing this right after getting back from vacation and am running on little sleep.

Third: thank you so much! I always love hearing that people like my writing especially the story line and I'm so glad you want to know more about the characters!

Fourth: I don't have all of the character's powers fully fleshed out, but let's see what I can tell you.

More below the cut because this got looong

Okay, so you've got Virgil's lightning and fear magic down.

The fear magic doesn't work on other witches who have protections up or someone whose mind has been warded somehow (not easy to do). He can sense people's fears and insert new fears into someone. The most concentrated fear he can give people is fear of himself. General and simple fears can be given from a distance. The more complex the fear, the closer he has to be until it reaches the point that he has to be touching the person. A permanent phobia also requires touch.

Using mental magic on someone also depends on whether or not they're another magic user, how strong their protections are (if they have any), how receptive they are to the magic, how often the witch has used mental magic on them in the past, and how familiar the witch is with them. For example, it gets easier for Virgil to share complex fears with Janus as the story progresses.

Virgil can also take fears away which he doesn't do often. He believes that fear is vital to a person's survival and that taking it away can have disastrous consequences. He will, however, lessen detrimental fears and phobias sometimes.

In addition, Virgil can cause anxiety and panic attacks, but he can't get rid of them. At least, not entirely. He can push them off for later. This doesn't always work for him.

Virgil's lightning magic is pretty straightforward. He can turn any cloud into a storm cloud and maybe even move clouds around to summon lightning from (I can't decide if that last part is overkill). His body is also a source of lightning with more electricity than average being generated from his body. He can shoot blots of lightning from himself and can electrocute people with touch.

Janus's magic is deception, healing, and secret-keeping.

Deception magic includes illusions, lie detection, and manipulation.

Janus's illusions can affect all five senses and can be nearly impossible to "see" through when he's at full power. At full power, they can withstand skepticism making it so that even when you know they aren't real they won't go away. Smell and taste are the easiest illusions with sound coming in third and sight and touch being the hardest.

Lie detection is complicated. It tells Janus how much of a lie something is as well as which parts are a lie. Not just lies he hears, but ones he sees, too. To an extent. Janus knows you're in disguise. He can also sense illusions.

Janus's manipulation is convincing people of things that aren't real. He specializes in comforting lies, though he can be vicious when he wants to be. It's great for getting his brothers out of trouble when they fuck up.

Janus's healing magic's speed depends on the severity of the wound. He can patch up just about anything. All it takes is touch and a bit of concentration. He insists on kissing Virgil to heal him because he's a dramatic gay.

Secret keeping magic consists of silencing and suppression magic.

Yes, silencing magic includes covering one's mouth with their own hand. What can I say, that's a classic. Janus can put a lock on certain facts, words, and concepts so that the person in question can't say them or communicate them in any other way. If they try the hand thing happens. The hand over their mouth isn't what's stopping them, it's symbolic.

I haven't worked out distances for silencing magic.

Suppression magic is exactly what it sounds like. It suppresses memories. Depending on various variables such as distance, Janus's health, protections, etc. the suppressed memories can sometimes be triggered into being remembered. He can also know what a person's suppressed memories are (if he looks for them) and can unsuppress them.

A side note on mental magic: it's amazing how easily a fae can use their witch magic on someone if they have their name. Rules get bent and sometimes broken when combining witch magic and name magic.

Both of the twins have creation magic. They can create things out of thin air, though most of the time it takes a good amount of concentration. Some things that they've created many times and are more familiar with are easier to create. Hence, Roman only creating a duplicate of his sword during his fight with Virgil.

The things the twins create have to be imagined very specifically or else they won't turn out right if they get made at all. They can't just make a house, they have to know where each brick is and what it's made of. They need to know what kind of wood the doors are made of, exactly how big the fireplace is, what glue is holding the wallpaper up, etc.

Roman specializes in creating fanciful things while Remus specializes in creating more taboo things. Hence, their monikers. It's really just personal preference, they can each make anything they can imagine.

Remus also has mind reading/telepathic magic. Mind reading can be a bit more complicated than most people think. Some people think in images. Some people can't mentally visualize things. Some people don't think much at all. However a person thinks Remus can tap into their thoughts.

Remus can also push his own thoughts into other people's minds giving them literal intrusive thoughts. He does not always use this power for good.

Like most mental magic Remus can't use this magic on people who have protections in place or are warded.

In addition to creation magic Roman has magic related to hopes, dreams, and romance.

Not only does he know people's hopes, dreams, and romantic feelings he can manipulate them, too. Roman can build hopes and dreams and destroy them just as easily. He can be cupid or make you fall out of love with just skin-to-skin contact and a bit of focus. (Honestly I think Roman's powers are the most terrifying).

Patton has empathic and unreality magic.

Patton can sense other people's emotions even through protections. Protections can, however, stop him from manipulating emotion. Long distance it's temporary, but with physical contact he can do permanent damage.

Patton's empathic magic only works for certain emotions. Basically happiness and sadness as well as most emotions related to those two. I think.

Like Virgil, Patton understands the importance of feeling emotions - even the "bad" ones (he's a fucking hypocrite but what can you do) so he doesn't tend to go around eliminating people's sadness. Just tries to reign it in a little. But like with Virgil he can only put off his own sadness for later. I haven't decided if the same thing happens when he does it to other people.

Unreality magic is quite terrifying. It's making things cease to exist. Just gone. Forever. I hate to compare it to Thanos's snap but that's basically what it is. And yes, he can do it to people, but it takes a lot out of him.

Logan's magic I've thought about the least. It definitely includes some kind of magic that allows him to learn things faster and/or easier. And he has negation magic. He can negate anyone else's magic.

Remy actually wasn't born a witch. His magic was a faerie godfather gift from Thomas. As such, he only has one type of magic. Sleep magic.

Remy controls people's ability to sleep. I haven't thought very far into the details of that.

Thomas has many kinds of magic. Dude's a magic hoarder. No, really. The magic he was born with? Magic theft. He has the ability to steal other witchs' magic. Once he takes it they don't have it anymore. If he takes all of their magic they are no longer witches and they lose everything that came with the classification including immortality.

Okay, I'm really tired right now and this has gotten ridiculously long so I'm ending it here. I have one more post to make tonight and then I'm headed to bed. Forgive me for not proofreading most of this

[charliesplumbing]

The Dangers of DIY Plumbing

DIY (Do-It-Yourself) projects have surged in popularity as homeowners seek to save money and take control of their home maintenance. While there are many tasks that are suitable for the DIY approach, being a plumber Brisbane North professional is one area that often proves more complicated than it appears. Despite the allure of tackling plumbing projects independently, the risks associated with DIY plumbing can lead to significant consequences. Here’s a deeper dive into the dangers of undertaking plumbing repairs without professional assistance. 

1. Lack of Expertise

Plumbing systems are intricate, comprising various components like pipes, fixtures, valves, and drainage systems that work together to deliver water and remove waste. This complexity requires a certain level of expertise to diagnose and repair effectively. Many homeowners lack the training and experience needed to identify the root cause of plumbing issues. For instance, a leaking pipe may seem like a straightforward problem, but it could be a symptom of a larger issue, such as a failing water heater or a compromised foundation.

Without proper knowledge, homeowners risk making the situation worse, leading to additional damage and more costly repairs. In contrast, licensed plumbers undergo rigorous training and certification processes, equipping them with the necessary skills to handle a variety of plumbing challenges effectively.

2. Injury Risks

Plumbing tasks can involve physical labour and the use of various tools, which can pose significant injury risks. Common injuries associated with DIY plumbing include:

Back injuries from lifting heavy fixtures or bending awkwardly for extended periods.

Cuts and bruises from handling sharp tools, pipes, or even broken glass from fixtures.

Burns or scalds from working with hot water or heated equipment.

Electrocution if electrical components are involved, especially in older homes where wiring may be outdated or improperly installed.

Professional plumbers are trained in safety protocols and have the experience to navigate potentially hazardous situations safely, significantly reducing the risk of personal injury.

3. Water Damage

One of the most severe consequences of improper DIY plumbing repairs is water damage. Even a small leak can quickly escalate into a major issue if not addressed properly. For example, a seemingly minor leak under a sink can lead to mould growth, rotting wood, and structural damage if left unchecked.

The cost of repairing water damage can far exceed the initial savings from attempting a DIY fix. Water damage not only requires immediate repairs but also potential remediation for mould, which can pose serious health risks to residents. A professional plumber can identify and address leaks before they become catastrophic, ensuring the integrity of the home’s structure.

4. Code Violations

Plumbing work is regulated by local building codes and standards designed to ensure safety and functionality. DIY plumbing repairs may inadvertently violate these codes, leading to fines and complications when it comes time to sell the home. For instance, improper installations can lead to code violations that necessitate costly rework to bring the plumbing up to standard.

Licensed plumbers are knowledgeable about local codes and regulations, ensuring that all work is compliant. This not only provides peace of mind but also protects homeowners from future legal and financial issues.

5. Increased Costs

While the primary motivation for DIY plumbing is often cost-saving, the reality is that mistakes made during DIY repairs can lead to increased expenses in the long run. Homeowners who attempt to fix plumbing issues may find themselves facing additional repair costs when their initial efforts fail.

For instance, if a DIY repair causes further damage or if a plumbing emergency arises due to improper work, the cost of hiring a professional plumber to correct the mistakes can be significantly higher than it would have been to hire them from the outset. Additionally, warranties on fixtures or systems may be voided if not installed by a licensed professional, leading to further financial loss.

6. Time Consumption

Many homeowners underestimate the time required for DIY plumbing projects. What may seem like a simple repair can turn into an all-day affair, especially for those unfamiliar with plumbing systems. Time spent researching how to fix the problem, purchasing supplies, and executing the repair can add up quickly.

In contrast, professional plumbers can often complete repairs efficiently due to their experience and expertise. This minimises disruptions to daily life, allowing homeowners to focus on other priorities rather than spending hours on a plumbing project that could have been handled by a professional in a fraction of the time.

7. Hidden Issues

Plumbing problems often have underlying issues that are not immediately apparent. For example, a persistent clog may indicate a more serious problem, such as tree roots invading sewer lines or a broken pipe deep within the system. Homeowners tackling DIY repairs may fail to address these hidden issues, resulting in recurring problems that lead to additional repair costs.

Professional plumbers conduct thorough inspections, using specialised tools like video cameras to assess the condition of pipes and identify underlying issues. This proactive approach helps ensure that all aspects of a plumbing problem are addressed, preventing future headaches and expenses.

8. Contamination Risks

Working with plumbing systems can expose homeowners to various harmful substances, particularly when dealing with sewage or old plumbing systems. Contaminated water can harbour bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that pose serious health risks. Homeowners may unknowingly expose themselves and their families to these dangers when attempting DIY plumbing repairs without proper safety precautions.

Professional plumbers are trained to handle hazardous materials safely, using appropriate protective gear and sanitation methods. This not only protects the plumber but also ensures the safety of the household.

9. Quality of Work

DIY plumbing repairs can lead to subpar workmanship, which may not hold up over time. Homeowners might cut corners, use inferior materials, or skip crucial steps in the repair process, resulting in a system that is more prone to future failures. This compromises the quality of the plumbing work and can lead to frustration down the line.

Professional plumbers take pride in their workmanship, often backed by warranties for their services. This guarantees that the repairs will be done correctly and last longer, providing homeowners with peace of mind.

While the DIY approach can be appealing, plumbing is one area where the risks often outweigh the rewards. The potential for injury, water damage, code violations, and hidden issues makes it imperative to consider hiring a professional plumber for any significant plumbing repairs or installations. By investing in professional expertise, homeowners can ensure the safety and integrity of their plumbing systems, ultimately saving time, money, and headaches in the long run.

[westlandelectric]

Preventing Children from Accessing Electrical Hazards in Your House

Keeping children away from Calgary electrical services risks in your home is a very essential topic that we will cover in this blog post. Welcome to our site. As we all know, children are naturally curious and have a way of getting into things they shouldn't. Moreover, when it comes to electricity, their curiosity can soon turn dangerous. It is crucial that parents and other caregivers for children take precautionary steps to ensure their safety because of this.

In this article, we'll examine a number of methods for protecting your home from electrical hazards, teaching your children important safety lessons, and assisting them in understanding the dangers associated with electricity. Let's get going now! By using these tips and strategies, you can make your house a safer place for all family members.

How to Make Your Home Secure

Childproofing Outlets: One of the first and most important things you can do to keep your home secure is to childproof all of the electrical outlets. By using safety plugs or outlet covers, you can prevent curious young fingers from unintentionally sticking anything into the sockets.

Tightening Cords and Wires: Youngsters who are just starting to explore their surroundings are especially prone to tripping over unsecured cords and wires. Make sure to use cord organizers or cable clamps to bind loose cables so they are kept out of reach.

Keep Appliances Out of Reach of Water Sources: Appliances should always be kept out of the reach of water sources, such as sinks, bathtubs, and swimming pools, as water and electricity don't mix well. Ensure that your children know that they should never place their damp hands near electrical equipment.

Properly Store Electrical Tools: Make sure all power tools and other electrical equipment you own are stored in a toolbox or cabinet, out of the reach of kids and animals. By doing this, you can ensure that your kids won't accidently come into contact with potentially dangerous objects.

Instructions for Children

Teaching children about electrical safety is crucial if you want to keep them safe both inside and outside your home. It is possible to lower the likelihood of accidents and injuries by forming good habits from a young age. Here are some essential lessons you should impart to your children:

Respect electricity: Teach your children that electricity is a powerful force that ought to never be treated roughly. Inform them that it can result in serious injury if not treated properly.

Steer clear of outlets: Make sure your child understands that outlets are neither toys or places to put things in. Get children to refrain from putting their fingers, toys, or other objects near electrical outlets.

The third rule is to never touch exposed wires or cords since they may be live and could shock or electrocute you. Emphasize how dangerous it is to contact them.

Unplug before touching: Teach your children to always unplug equipment or gadgets before performing any Calgary electrical repair or alterations to avoid inadvertent shocks.

The Perils of Electrical Hazards

Although we rely on electricity, a powerful force, on a daily basis, mishandling it can have serious consequences. It's important to be aware of the threats that electrical hazards in your home present, especially for little children.

One of the biggest concerns is the possibility of electric shock. When children are near live wires or broken appliances, they run the risk of being exposed to electrical current. Even a small shock could be harmful to their general health and wellbeing.

Another potential concern is fire, which can potentially be caused by overloaded circuits or faulty wiring. Wires that are frayed or broken have the potential to catch fire and burn objects close by, creating a potentially deadly situation. This is particularly risky in homes with little children since they might not understand the repercussions of tampering with electrical cables.

Parents also need to be mindful of the risk of electrical burns. Burns such as these occur when a child comes into touch with an exposed wire or an overheated device. The severity of these burns depends on the length of time and level of exposure.

In addition to the acute threats already described, electrical hazards may also have long-term effects on children's development and overall health. Developmental problems, neurological diseases, and cancer have all been linked to electromagnetic field exposure from sources like as power lines or electronic devices.

How to Prevent Electrical Hazards in Your Home

Electrical dangers pose serious risks to the safety of your family and your house. To reduce these hazards, proactive measures are essential. Here are a few practical steps you could take:

1. Cover outlets: Children are naturally curious and may stick their fingers inside electrical sockets. Covers for outlets can be used to prevent accidental shocks or burns.

2. Keep cords out of reach: Playing with unsecured cords can entice children and result in mishaps. To keep wires organized and safe from crowded places, use cord organizers.

3. Use childproof power strips: While power strips make several outlets easily accessible, children who mishandle them run the risk of getting shocked by electricity. Invest in power strips with integrated safety measures and childproof design.

4. Perform routine appliance inspections: Damaged or defective equipment is a major contributing factor to electrical fires. Make sure you routinely check all electrical appliances for damage, frayed wires, and loose connections.

How to Treat a Youngster Who Has Come Into Contact with an Electrical Field

Notwithstanding our best efforts, mishaps can happen and kids could still come into contact with electrical hazards. It is crucial that you know what to do in order to safeguard your child's safety and wellbeing in such a circumstance.

Firstly, maintain your composure. Being nervous will only make it harder for you to think clearly and act fast. Consider the situation carefully and succinctly. If your child is in urgent danger or shows any signs, such burns or unconsciousness, call emergency authorities right away.

If this can be done without putting yourself in danger, disconnect the power source that is causing the problem. This may mean unplugging appliances and turning off circuit breakers. However, do not attempt this near water or if you are uneasy with electricity.

Next, check your child's body for any evident burns or blisters caused by electrical shock. Give immediate first aid and treat any wounds with clean dressings.

It is crucial to seek medical attention even in situations where there are no obvious injuries, as internal injuries may take time to manifest symptoms. Make an appointment with your doctor or schedule a visit at the nearest hospital to have your child's condition evaluated in-depth.

To sum up

In this piece, we've discussed the importance of reducing electrical risks in your home, especially in light of the necessity to protect children. Be proactive in creating a safe atmosphere for your kids because electrical mishaps can be dangerous or even fatal.

We started by highlighting the potential risks associated with electrical hazards. Electric shocks, burns, flames, and other catastrophic injuries are very likely. You must educate yourself on these risks as well as make sure your children are aware of them from a young age.

Next, we looked at ways to protect your house from electrical hazards. By ensuring that outlets and covers are installed correctly, placing safety gates and childproof plugs around appliances and cords, routinely inspecting electrical cords for fraying or damage, and telling your kids not to play with or touch electrical devices or outlets, you can significantly reduce the chance of accidents.

Teaching children the foundations of electronics will also help them understand electricity better and raise their awareness of it. To assist protect their safety, make sure they comprehend the fundamentals of circuits or why water should never come into contact with electricity.

[bwbatta]

six - confessions

Abstract: Draco and you are just friends so doing him a favour and pretending to be his girlfriend wouldn’t effect your friendship right?

Pairing: Draco Malfoy x reader

Warnings: Swearing, slight angst

Word count: 2960

A/N: I’ve been waiting for this one, turn it upp! ...I won’t lie, i’ve been putting off writing this purely because I don’t want to stop writing this. Anyway, the final part is finally here and I’m so happy to be sharing it with you all! 

Series Masterlist | Main Masterlist | Part 5

Draco signed his name quickly and looked back at the letter he’d written. It was simple enough to get his point across, yet the repercussions from sending this could be huge. 

The blonde heir was adamant though. If this is what it took, then he would gladly accept whatever consequences came his way. He could figure it out, he always did. 

Taking a breath in to help stabilise his thoughts and nerves, he quickly put his quill down before he wrote anything else that wasn’t needed. Reading it through once more, he made sure his words were enough for now. 

Father,

I apologise for not responding sooner to your previous letter, I was at a loss for a while as to what to write.

I understand our family values and as much as I uphold them for our family’s benefit, my relationship or any of my relationships are my choice. Whilst she is not pureblood, she is not muggleborn either and both of her parents have magic, which is why I ask you to at the very least consider giving Y/N a chance.

With respect, I will not determine my relationship on your opinions, especially since you haven’t met her.

You understand there aren’t many things I would go against you on, but this is something I feel particularly strongly about. 

Regards, 

Draco

Nodding his head, he quickly folded the letter and attached it to his family’s owl. With a screech, the bird took off. 

All Draco could do now was wait.

“Please?! You’re the best person at charms that I know, you would be my favourite person on earth?!”

“Blaise-”

“Y/N please, Flitwick might push for me to be kicked out of Hogwarts if I don’t pass this test”

You snorted unattractively as you walked down the corridor, arms riddled with books. On your way to the Herbology greenhouses for your afternoon lesson, you were blitzed by Blaise who had been trying to convince you for the last five minutes to help him write his essay which was due in a couple days time. 

Blaise and you had nearly made it into the greenhouses when Professor Sprout stopped him at the door.

“You’re not in my class today Mr Zabini, I suggest you get heading towards your own class before you’re late.”

The elder witch gave him a stern look to which he smiled at, trying to lower her strict exterior. 

“I just need to talk to Y/N about something really important really quickly, Professor. It’ll only take a minute?”

“No” she rolled her eyes at the boy, “you can do that in your own time.”

“But, Professor-”

“No buts Zabini-”

“Alright Blaise, I’ll do it” you finally caved, seeing as the boy would most likely be reduced to ash from Sprout’s harsh stare otherwise. 

“Astronomy tower, 8pm?”

“Wait-”

“Okay bye!”

Without another word he turned and rushed off back inside the castle, heading to whatever his next lesson was, leaving you partially annoyed, partially awkward at the look Sprout was now sending you.

“Inside” she cocked her head towards the doorway and with a defeated look you headed into the greenhouse. 

You hadn’t been back to the Astronomy tower, despite classes, since that fight between Draco and you and you weren’t too keen on returning. Blaise however, had given you no choice in the matter as you probably wouldn’t see him until that time you’d agreed to meet. This meant you’d have to suck up your anxieties about the tower and get over yourself. 

If only it were that easy.

Your free period was rather quiet today you reckoned but you couldn’t put your finger on why it was so quiet? 

The twins weren’t around and neither were Harry and Ron, yet that was normal since you were studying in the library with Hermione. Though Hermione didn’t really talk much when you two studied, something still felt off.

Not to mention the other thing which was bothering you was how Blaise acted earlier? He was normally the most relaxed person you knew, but his earlier rushed and fretted actions also seemed wrong.

You snorted at the thought in your head; imagine if he was trying to set you back up with Draco at the astronomy tower later?!

Another sigh left your lips as you continued to try and figure out what else felt off. Hermione’s eyes darted from the essay she was writing to you sat opposite her. 

“Is there something bothering you?”

You met her stare awkwardly and shrugged slightly. 

“I don’t know, does something feel off to you?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s too quiet, you know? I can’t put my finger on what it is though.”

“Maybe it’s because that blonde tumour isn't attached to your side anymore?!” Hermione snorted as she turned back to her work, leaving you staring at her with an unreadable expression. 

Ignoring the remark of how the witch had described Draco, she was right in the way that he did used to surprise you while you were studying. 

Was that it? You were missing him being near you?

You hadn’t really spoken to the Malfoy, only small comments in class when you were next to each other but apart from that, he wasn’t constantly next to you anymore and that bothered you. 

You had to admit you did like fake dating Draco, but that was over, it was a joke, a favour, nothing more. So why the hell would you accept anything to go back to him annoying you, him being at your side constantly, or his arm around you 90% of the time?

Then you froze.

You knew exactly why.

Holy shit, you loved him. Like actually loved him. 

Slowly starting to freak yourself out, you sat back in your chair as your mind whirred around that fact. 

He’s Draco. 

He’s one of your best friends and now everything was so messed up because he’s Draco.

Stubborn, bratty, arrogant Draco.

Who likes Draco?!

And then it hits you again. You do, you really really do. 

Because he’s Draco.

Because he cares about you and would do anything for you. Just like you’d do anything for him. He might be stubborn, but so are you. He might be bratty and spoilt because of his parents, but he actively spoils you just because he can. And he might be arrogant to everyone else, but you know how humble he could be and acts around you. His reaction after you opened your Christmas present proved that enough. 

Holy shit. 

These feelings are going to ruin whatever’s between you, friendship or not, because how the hell could you keep this to yourself? How the hell could you not tell him you loved him?

The only thing was... you were the second person to ask yourself that today. 

Draco paced in the tower, a letter held tightly in his hand as he waited for you to show up. Guaranteed it wasn't 8pm yet, but he was still so anxious for when you did actually turn up. Were you going to turn up?

A lot of things had flown through his mind today, some putting him on edge as to whether his plan to get you back would work, yet nothing had made him as anxious as when the letter arrived from his father earlier that day.

It was slightly wrinkled now from how much he had fiddled with it in his hands and with a frown, Draco tucked it back into his pocket, forcing himself to take a long breath as he did so and run his hands nervously through his hair.

Not even a moment passed before he heard the door below slam shut and your footsteps approach. A brief flash of panic flew through his body like he’d been electrocuted, what if this was a bad idea? What if you didn’t want him like he wanted you and he would just look like a complete idiot?

All the thoughts in his head however vanished as soon as you reached the top step and your eyes locked on his. 

Neither of you said anything at first and the silence was almost deafening.

“Fucking Blaise,” you rolled your eyes at yourself. “Earlier I bet myself he’d do something like this.”

“It was actually my idea”

“...I see” 

“Surprised?” 

You snorted

“No.” You hid your grin at the look of offence present on his face, “I knew one of you would come up with something like this. I had my money on Blaise as he was the one I spoke to earlier. Despite how much you love being mysterious and complicated Draco, you’re like an open book to me.”

The wizard let out a snort, he had a feeling she would figure something was up. They really did know each other well.

The silence stilted in the air again and felt heavy despite the fresh air surrounding them. 

You looked down, avoiding the blue eyes that watched you. Despite being in love with him, you had no idea what to actually say to him. Luckily he took the lead.

“It was really stupid.”

You frowned, before you forced yourself to glance towards him, eyes catching on how he was looking at you.

“What was?”

“The fact we thought we could pretend and fake an entire relationship with no consequences.”

You didn’t say anything. 

“I mean let’s be honest,” Draco scoffed a laugh, “we really thought that everything would go back to how it was before? That was stupid. Also the fact that the whole ‘having a fake girlfriend’ thing wasn’t really working for me.”

He paused to assess your reaction for a moment before continuing on. 

“We were great as a fake couple, sure. We were also great at being friends, I mean... that was before I kissed you and fell in love with you.”

Your breath caught in your throat at the confession. A smile grew faintly on his face as he took in your reaction. After realising you weren’t going to bolt, he took a couple steps closer until he stood right before you, his toes almost touching your own. 

“This whole fake dating thing was so stupid in so many ways except for one; how it made me realise how much I genuinely want to be your boyfriend.”

Draco shrugged sightly like it was no big deal, but inside he had to remind his lungs to work.

Why hadn’t you said anything yet? Maybe because he can’t stop his mouth from talking? Should he stop talking? His mouth opened again before he could stop himself.

“I want you. I want us. But I want it for real, not some half-assed, pathetic excuse of relationship which is all just an act and makes us question where we stand with each other.” 

His voice lowered to a whisper but you heard him perfectly. 

“Draco... I want nothing more than to be with you.”

“You do?”

“Yes, but I can’t help the fact that I’m not a pureblood and your parents won’t accept me-”

“Wait, okay, hold on.”

Digging his hand into his pocket, he fished out the crumpled letter and attempted to flatten it out slightly. 

“I sent my father a letter in response the one you read the other day and I got this back earlier today. Just... just read it.”

He held the letter out at you with such a serious expression causing you to frown, you took it from him wondering what was in it. Opening the parchment, your eyes immediately flicked back to the blonde once more, only to find him watching your every movement.

“Draco,

I don’t believe you understand the seriousness of what you’re asking from your mother and I. You have a duty to this family to uphold and despite the notion that you wouldn’t disobey me with much, this is still a vital factor of those duties.

Nevertheless, you expressed your seriousness for this girl, coupled with your mother’s bickering about at least meeting her, I will give you one chance. We will meet her if she values the seriousness and significance of our values. If she does not however, then you will end whatever you have with her. 

You understand in the near future, things will change. You need to be as prepared as possible.

Regards,

Lucius Malfoy”

You read the letter once through, then twice, then once more. Your mind was in a flurry at the words, taking them in and the weight they held. Draco’s parents had agreed to give you a chance, however it came with a price and one you were in two minds about taking. 

On one hand, you could be with Draco and support him through whatever hell was coming your way, as long as you abided by their blood purity mania, which, if Harry was right, meant Voldemort. On the other hand, it meant not having the Malfoy boy in your life.

Your eyes finally left the words and flicked back up to meet Draco’s own. His expression was unreadable as he waited for your reaction.

“Well, that’s intense”

“You can’t really expect anything less from my father.”

“I gathered that.”

Your eyes landed on the elder Malfoy’s name once more and you bit your lip slightly. 

“I said once I would be willing to get mixed up in this for you, and I stand by it, Draco. I don’t know whatever's going to happen in the future but I know I want you by my side through it.”

“I can’t ask you to do that-“

“You’re not asking me, I’m telling you I want you and I’ll do whatever it takes to be at your side.”

“Y/N-”

“Draco, I love you, let me do this for you. I can play whoever your parents want me to be.”

Draco didn’t say anything more but stared at you with a half smile on his face. Your eyebrows knitted together as you caught sight of it, not really sure where the expression came from. Talking about faking your views on blood purity and Voldemort wasn’t really a cause for smiling.

“What?”

“Say it again?”

“Say what again?”

“You love me.”

You realised then. You’d told him you loved him in amidst all that but you hadn't even realised it. Well, that’s one way to admit it. 

“I love you,” you said with no hesitation as a smile grew on your own face. “I want you, for real. No fake relationship, just us.”

As quick as you’d finished speaking, Draco’s lips were on yours. It was chaotic, unscripted and messy, but it was real. 

Your hands slid to the back of his head, fingers burying themselves in his hair as his hands gripped your waist tightly, pressing you to him. He kissed you with such passion you swore your heart stopped for a split second.

How the hell had you both faked this for so long?!

Taking a break, he pulled away but rested his forehead on yours, not wanting too much distance. 

“If you’re all in Y/N, so am I. I’ll protect you with my life, you may’ve been my friend first, but you’re everything to me now.”

His lips pressed against yours again, much softer this time like he was trying to memorise and convince himself you were really there. That this was really happening.

“Draco Malfoy, I’m all in.”

You were surprised the next day for two reasons.

One; for how many people had actually bet on Draco’s and your relationship. George got his five galleons back from Fred again after the news reached them. He happily took the money from his brother before lifting his glass to you from across the hall in thanks. 

Both Crabbe and Goyle owed Blaise 10 galleons, though you supposed he had an unfair advantage, (not that you’d tell the duo). 

But the second thing which surprised you was the letter you received at lunch from the headmaster himself. 

Dumbledore had barely even looked in your direction, let alone spoken to you personally, so the note you got from him asking to meet him in his office later spiked your anxiety. 

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Hermione shrugged before lowering her voice to a whisper. “It’s probably something to do with the DA or Umbridge.”

“Hermione, I didn’t even think he knew I existed, now he’s asking me to come have a chat?”

“Just go, you’ll never know otherwise and you’ll keep fretting.”

The rest of your day passed quickly and you found yourself before the headmaster’s office later that evening. Taking another quick look at the note in your hand, scribbled at the bottom was a comment about him liking sherbet lemons which stuck out to you.

“Sherbet lemons?”

The gargoyle surprised you by jumping out the way, opening up the staircase to you. Without another thought, you climbed the stairs and knocked on the wooden door. 

“Come in.”

Pushing the door open, Dumbledore turned to face you as you entered the room. With a smile, he greeted you and offered you the seat opposite him as he took his own.

Sitting, your knee started to bounce while your anxiety kicked in wondering what the hell was going on. 

“Y/N- can I call you Y/N? Relax, you’re not in any trouble at all, don’t worry.”

“Can I ask then, why am I here sir?”

“Well, I actually have a job for you if you’re interested? I understand you’re in a unique position where you’re willing to do anything possible to be with the young Mr Malfoy.”

You immediately frowned, how the hell did he know that?!

“What kind of job?”

“A job to join the Order of the Phoenix. I want you to act as a spy for me within Voldemort’s ranks.”

[nachoaveragejoe234]

Frankie Stein: A dumb girl, my take

So Frankie is controversial, especially in G1. Many people see her as a moron, a Mary Sue, or annoying, or someone who always causes the problems. My take on her is mixed: She started out as not so bright, falling for every dude she saw, and electrocuting people constantly (in other words she was horny horny horny and dangerous dangerous dangerous). But then she started to get things, and mellow out. She eventually became a good character who genuinely cared about others and stopped trying to benefit off of others and look good to them. But... there's one more time where they seemed to revert back to the "not very bright" thing, which bothers me so much: Freaky Fusion. The thing is she's okay for most of the movie. The problem comes when she decides to lure the robot to the lab. She's running as fast as she can, but then she trips. The girl who was once brave... what does she do when she trips? She just gives up, stops. Doesn't even try to get back up, just waits for Neightan, Avea, Bonita, and Sirena to save her. She plays the damsel in distress, even calls Neighthan her hero. Why? She was brave just a minute ago? Why is a trip all that's needed to turn a confident, steadfast girl into a frail pussy? I was just staring like "GET UP YOU COWARD WHAT ARE YOU DOING?". I mean, she wasn't even in danger, the robot looked pretty slow. She was doing okay just a second ago. She's playing the damsel in distress and wasting time. Because it's her job to save the actual damsels in distress: Cleo, Clawdeen, Toralei, Robecca, Draculaura, Venus, Jinafire, and Lagoona. She sacrifices herself for them later, but she still wasted time being a pussy, and I honestly think she should have had consequences for that, she should have at least gotten, say, Avea, calling her out for just losing her courage. She was not in danger, it was her idea, and she just sits and cowers from tripping? TRIPPING, DAMMIT.\

So yeah, there's my rant on the problem with Frankie Stein. I don't hate her, but I hate her in this moment because she's playing small, letting more time fly for her friends to LITERALLY DIE, and I just don't get it either.

[cayenne-twilight]

Professor Layton Iceberg Explanation

As I said in the tags of the original, the iceberg I made was a meme consisting of both real theories and satire/parodies/fandom memes. If anyone is interested, I can work on an unironic version that only has real theories.

Buckle in because this post is LONG and heavily saturated with lore and information.

Actual theories

Parallel universe 1960s where the world wars didn’t happen. There’s an unused file in Curious Village that shows the year as 1960 and the time machine from UF is set to 1973, ten years into the future. The series canonically takes place in an undefined time period (hence the technological inaccuracies and fantasy elements), but it’s based off the 60s. There’s more evidence but we don’t have time to go over every little thing. I linked my “no wars” theory below but TL;DR the outdated airplanes and underdeveloped medicine in the Layton series imply that the world wars may never have happened. https://cayenne-twilight.tumblr.com/post/632205992162099200/outofcontextdiscord-timegearremix-zonosils-war

The real meaning behind the statue in Future London. In UF, the purpose of the statue is to spark Layton and Luke’s conversation about their friendship. Luke is stressing out about moving overseas and sees himself and the professor in the story behind the statue, but in the bigger picture, Clive must have been the one to commission it. Some theorize that the little boy is Clive and the man is either his father or the professor. One idea I’ve seen is that Clive wishes he could be Luke for real, while another is that he wishes he died ten years ago, and another is that he’s literally terminally ill explaining why he doesn’t care about consequence. Personally, I think “the boy succumbed to his illness” refers to his mental illness seeing as he wanted the professor to save him from his madness as he saved him all those years ago.

True location of Monte D’Or. there are no deserts on the British isles to my knowledge, so it makes the most sense for Monte D’Or to be in Southwest USA where English is the default language, they have a desert, and there exists a city famous for flashy hotels, casinos, and entertainment. What makes it odd is that nobody ever mentions overseas travel, and all the major characters are from England.

Loosha’s origins are not explicitly explained if I remember correctly, but the implication was that her prehistoric (supposedly) species was sealed away along with the garden, allowing them to survive all the way to the time of LS until Loosha was the only one left. The garden provided a good habitat and protection from predators, and it’s logical that they’d slowly die out anyways, but there’s no explanation of any specific factors that led to Loosha being the last.

Beasley is not a bee I wrote a post about this one as well, but TL;DR Beasly lacks several defining bee traits whilst having several human ones. He is not human, yet, by definition, not a bee. It’s possible that he is the result of Dimitri’s testing, but whatever his untold story is, he remains an enigma of nature. https://cayenne-twilight.tumblr.com/post/632381715250282496/theory-beasly-isnt-a-bee

Subject 2’s identity is currently unknown. There is a subject one (parrot) and subject 3 (rabbit) so there has to be a second. For a long time, people suspected Beasly to be him seeing as he’s a bit of an amalgamation and definitely not a regular bee (see above). After the release of LMJ, though, people began to suspect Sherl, the intelligent hound who could speak to certain people but not others. That being said, it’s possible for one to be subject 4. Sherl’s memory of a bright flash matches up with subject 3’s memory of being electrocuted. They never explain why the animals were being experimented on, but it was probably Dimitri making sure the conditions of his machine were safe for humans before reliving the incident from ten years ago.

Lady Violet died from the plague from DB. There’s no evidence for this or anything, it’s just an idea. People say she died from the flu but I don’t remember them saying that in the game, at least the US version. Extending off my “no war” theory: it’s theorized that the Spanish Flu was spread by the travlelling soldiers, so if that’s true, it’s possible for the epidemic to have been averted for some decades. Maybe the Spanish Flu reached England later than in real life. The hole in this is that DB’s plague must’ve been close in time to 1918 while Violet’s death was much later, so it would’ve had to stick around.

Bill Hawks is working with Targent and Arthur Cantabella. There was a force in the shadows buying the time machine technology from Bill. Someone with a ton of money who helped him cover up a freak accident and get away with it completely, a feat that involved shady means like violence by hired thugs. Some theorize that it was Targent, seeking power over time in exchange for a little mafia magic. The Labarynthia project was sponsored by the UK government, so as the PM, Bill must’ve known about it. He probably supported dubiously ethical, high stakes (witch pun) psychological experiments like Cantabella’s and helped him stay in the shadows.

All the NPCs in St. Mystere and Folsense are dead. I make fun of this type of theory later, but they’re admittedly captivating. I’m pretty sure the canon in CV is that the villagers are Bruno and Augustus’s OCs that they made robots of and built a town around, but it’s more interesting to think that the village was there before, and the townspeople died of a plague and were replaced like Lady Violet. In Folsense, there really was a plague and they never explain the NPCs there. They’re either real people who appear way younger than they are due to hallucinations (even the ones who already look old ?), or they don’t exist at all, which is pretty spooky. This part of the story is a gaping plot hole. In a similar vein to CV, the edgy yet plausible theory is that they used to live in Folsense but died of the plague and now live on as hallucinations.

Hershel seeing everything as a puzzle is a coping mechanism for all his trauma. This was a joke but I thought about it for more than five seconds and it makes way too much sense.

Plot holes and unexplained questions that we like to overthink because it’s fun

The downfall of the Azran was vaguely explained in canon by people being so greedy that it lead to the civilization collapsing. It’s not a stretch to imagine that happening, but it would’ve been more interesting with a little more detail.

Layton and Luke are programmed to routinely forget how to walk. I didn’t know whether to list this in the joke section or not, but it’s odd that the characters actively participate in the walking tutorial (as opposed to showing a little memo to the player) as if they didn’t know how to before, especially when they go through this several times a year.

The truth behind Pavel. He’s simply a joke character who teleports, is a polyglot (sort of, at least he wants us to think he is) and is mega confused all the time. He’s a fun character to make crack theories about because of his cryptic nature that even he doesn’t seem to understand.

Miracle Mask deleted scenes. The first trailer for MM featured animations that were not in the final game. One was the Randall falling scene, except in a slightly different style than the one we know. Others were completely foreign, like Layton and Luke pacing across a theatre stage as if Layton’s about to expose someone with a dramatic point. Cut content and “could’ve beens” are always curious to think about.

Evan Barde: secret mastermind. Arianna and Tony’s dad is a mysterious character who died under mysterious circumstances. I think the canon is that his death was a genuine accident, but concept art of him making a creepy evil face suggests that maybe he originally had a larger role in the first drafts of LS than the finished game.

The secret to how Paul and Des pull off their disguises is unclear and will remain unclear. There is no plausible explanation for their shape shifting. Unless Paul is just a little dude wearing a human suit like that one Wizard of Oz species and Des is the best quick-changer ever and hides his naturally feminine legs under his cloak.

Alfendi’s mom. When LBMR came out people scrambled to piece together who Hershel had a kid with, but there’s no way alfendi is his biological son. This happened with Kat as well and her biological parents turned out to be brand new characters, so I’m sure Al will get an adoption backstory if his arc continues, be his parents old major characters or nameless, faceless NPCs.

Granny Riddleton and Stachenscarfen are omnipotent deities. Idk which section this fits best under, but these two characters have some serious power. At first introduction, they’re implied to be robots, but they appear everywhere in later games. They follow the Professor wherever he goes and assist him on his adventures, GR collecting puzzles and housing them by some odd magic, and Stachen teaches you how to walk. They both introduce and supervise the gameplay. By extension, I guess this idea could apply to Albus as well in the prequels. GR and Stachen even had the power to appear in LMJ, something no major character could do. I consider them akin to the velvet room attendants from the Persona games.

Clive’s kill count is a vague subject in the game for the sake of keeping it PG. I don’t know if anyone’s ever mathematically estimated the damage he caused, and I sure don’t want to try, but the game appears to push the idea that he didn’t kill anyone at all, saying they stopped him in the nick of time and things like that, even though we watch him raze the city. If they ever want to bring him back post-time skip, I can see them twisting it so that the mobile fortress cutscene wasn’t a linear sequence of events, but instead a compilation of scenes over the course of hours so that London neighborhoods around him could be evacuated and have it make sense. Knowing Level-5, it’s more likely that they wouldn’t think this deep and do something more lazy, though.

Memes and references

Post-time skip Flora is real references the famous L is real theory from Super Mario 64. Like Luigi in SM64, Flora was also a highly anticipated character who didn’t appear in a new game, in this case LMJ or LMDA. In the end, Luigi did become real in the DS port so hopefully Flora is real will be realized as well.

Hershel can’t read is a veteran fandom meme referring to how in the first few games, especially Curious Village, Layton asks Luke to read every document out loud for him. Perhaps this was an exercise to improve Luke’s reading skills and independent thinking, or perhaps he was just too lazy or preoccupied to do it himself, but this grew into the joke that our genius Professor was actually illiterate this whole time.

Layton’s smash invitation is hidden in PLvsAA. It’s no secret that the fandom would kill a man to get the Professor into the smash brothers franchise. In PLvsAA one of the puzzle artworks features a goat eating a familiar white envelope with a red stamp, sparking the joke that either Layton or Wright got the invitation their respective fans desired, but it got lost along the way.

The science board is the mysteriously vague organization Don Paolo got kicked out of for the crime of being evil. It’s the epitome of liberal arts majors and art school graduates trying to bs their way around not knowing any science and failing miserably. “He was very good at all the sciences, but then the CEO of science told him to stop because he was using the power of science for evil science”. They do this again when “Dr. Stahngun” describes his time machine what with the soolha coils and whatnot.

Hoogland is death cult initiation is a parody of “Mario 64 is Freemason initiation” which is ridiculous, just like the creepy human sacrifice subplot of AL.

You can see the reflection of someone watching you in Aurora’s eye references the famous, creepy Talking Angela theory. In retrospect it would’ve been funnier if I said Angela instead of Aurora.

Every copy of Professor Layton is personalized references the famous “every copy of Super Mario 64 is personalized”

Clive’s fat ass in HD is a meme that originated from the announcement of UFHD, saying that half of the excited fans wanted to cry again while the other half were simply attracted to Clive. If we want to enter real bottom-section-of-the-iceberg-chart territory then let’s say Clive’s character has some sort of psychological siren properties that draw people to him like a magnet and/or Harry Styles.

Things I pulled out of my ass for shits and giggles

Infinite hint coin hack: I’m sure a tech savvy cheater could hack the game for infinite hint coins, but there’s no easy or interesting way. I don’t know why someone would do that though, considering a lot of the hints suck and there are puzzle guides on the internet.

Cringy, unused Randall villain monologue. This joke is derived from the actual scrapped MM content as well as deleted content being a popular element of iceberg charts, but it’s sadly not real. Would’ve been hilarious, though.

Last Specter Puzzle 031: Light Height tracks and records children���s intelligence level. It doesn’t, but it’s always fun to make fun of arguably THE most ridiculously difficult puzzle in the franchise. (Seriously, do they expect 7+ year olds to know trigonometry???)

Hershel struggles with tea addiction. Hershel from the games drinks tea in moderation, but the manga begs to differ. He has a tea set in the Laytonmobile, and an attempt at teatime while driving causes him to crash.

Folsense is a metaphor for Alzheimer’s. This is inspired by those edgy kids’ show theories where everyone’s in hell or something, but nobody has ever said this.

London Life is reality and the plot of the games is all in Luke’s head. That’s one way to fill every plot hole. How funny would it be if Luke made up crazy characters and stories based off his fellow townspeople Sharkboy and Lavagirl style. “This dude who lives in a castle and asks people to give him all their money for nothing in return is a vampire from 50 years ago involved in a tragic love story”.

Secret ending encoded into Tago’s Head Gymnastics. It’d be crazy if there was, and Dimitri would hound Tago for the secret to time travel. If you didn’t know, the Layton games started as an adaption of Akira Tago’s puzzle series, except they decided to add a story to make it more interesting and marketable.

Daily puzzles datamine your DS. I’m bad with technology but is it even possible to datamine a DS??? Idk, but I think my DS lite from 2008 is safe.

[newdougsblog]

The Tragic Hero Full of Fear

Hello everyone! Before I get into this, I’d like to thank @jasontoddiefor​ for both the name and being the main enabler of this fun piece of writing. I also want to thank all my wonderful friends over on Discord for letting me bounce ideas off of them and helping me. You are all amazing!!

Ok, so let’s get into it!

The first six Star Wars movies (the Original and Prequel trilogies) are commonly referred to as “the Tragedy of Darth Vader.”  But what makes these movies a tragedy? How is Anakin Skywalker himself, the main character of said tragedy, a tragic hero? In this meta/essay, I will discuss how Anakin himself is definitionally a tragic hero and outline his story as it relates to the structure of a classic Greek tragedy.  

This essay will focus solely on Anakin’s character as he is canonically portrayed.

The Hero

Let’s go through the main traits of a tragic hero (as per early literature) and discuss them in the context of Anakin Skywalker.

Possesses immense courage and strength and is usually favored by the gods

Anakin’s courage is evident throughout his entire life, such as when he participates in the pod race in TPM or on the front lines during the Clone Wars. 

While we cannot definitively ascribe Anakin’s abilities to any deity, we can associate them with the Force. The Force is able to somewhat influence the happenings of the universe in certain ways and takes the place of any sort of deity.

Whether Anakin is the “Chosen One” or not, his connection to the Force is stronger than that of any other Force-sensitive being, so he is consequently closer to it than most, if not all, other Force-sensitive beings. 

Extreme loyalty to family and country 

Anakin is consistent in his demonstrations of loyalty to those he has strong feelings for (whether those feelings be romantic or platonic).

His devotion to Padmé surpasses his loyalty to the Jedi, and he is always willing to go to great lengths to ensure their safety and well-being.

Anakin also exhibits a strong sense of devotion to his mother, Shmi. His devotion to her, and by extension her wellbeing, surpasses his duties as Jedi. 

In ROTS, Anakin says, “I will not betray the Republic… my loyalties lie with the Chancellor and with the Senate… and with you” (you, in this case, referring to Padmé). In this quotation, Anakin’s loyalties are made quite clear. At this point, he is not faithful to the Jedi, but to his government, its leaders, and, of course, his wife.

Representative of society’s current values

During the Clone Wars, Anakin is known by the moniker, “the Hero with No Fear,” and is one of the Republic’s “poster boys.” He is charismatic, kind, seemingly fearless (obviously) and a strong fighter, thus representing the values that were important to the Republic at the time. The last characteristic is especially important because of the assurance it instills in times of war. As a representation of the Republic, Anakin’s prowess on the battlefield creates hope for its citizens that victory is possible. 

Anakin also empathizes with the opinion that the seemingly outdated Jedi Code holds them back. In the Citadel Arc, Tarkin remarks that “the Jedi Code prevents [the Jedi] from going far enough to achieve victory.” Anakin actually agrees with this statement, replying that “[he’s] also found that [the Jedi] sometimes fall short of victory because of [their] methods” (Season 3, Episode 19). He shows a sense of allegiance not to the ancient ways of the Jedi, but to the newer, more modern ideals regarding military action. 

Anakin claims to have brought “peace, justice, freedom, and security” to his “new Empire.” While the Empire's interpretations of the aforementioned values are skewed, Anakin continues to represent them as Darth Vader. 

Anakin’s statement to Obi-Wan also mirrors Palpatine’s declaration to the Senate: “In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire, for a safe and secure society which I assure you will last for ten thousand years.” The people applaud this statement, demonstrating a general sense of exhaustion in regards to the war and a yearning for what this new Empire is promising them.

Lead astray/challenged by strong feelings

Though there are many, many examples of Anakin’s emotions getting the better of him, we’re simply going to list two:

Anakin’s fury and anguish after the death of his mom leads to his slaughter of the Tuskens

Anakin’s overwhelming fear of losing Padmé is ultimately what leads to his Fall.

Every tragic hero possesses what is called a hamartia, or a fatal flaw. This trait largely contributes to the hero’s catastrophic downfall. Anakin’s hamartia is his need for control, which partially manifests through his fear of loss. 

Let’s explore this idea in more detail. 

Though Anakin grows up as a slave, the movies neglect to explicitly cover the trauma left from his time in slavery. However, it is worth noting that slaves did not have the ability to make many choices for themselves; they didn’t even own their bodies. After being freed, Anakin is whisked away to become a Jedi. He does not possess much control over his life as Jedi, for he is simply told what path he is going to take. While Anakin does make this decision on his own, becoming a Jedi is a disciplined and somewhat-strict way of life and not one that allows for an abundance of reckless autonomy as he is wont to engage in. 

(Side note: I’m not here to argue about Qui-Gon’s decision-making abilities, nor do I wish to engage in discourse regarding the Jedi’s way of life. I am simply presenting and objectively stating these facts in relation to Anakin because they are pertinent to my point.) 

During AOTC, Anakin is unable to save his mother from death. As Shmi dies in his arms, Anakin is absolutely helpless. The situation is completely out of his control, and he is forced to contend with the reality that despite all of his power, he cannot control everything that happens. 

He also feels that he has a larger potential for power and is being held back by Obi-Wan: “although I'm a Padawan learner, in some ways... a lot of ways... I'm ahead of him. I'm ready for the trials. I know I am! He knows it too. He believes I'm too unpredictable… I know I started my training late... but he won't let me move on.” Anakin believes Obi-Wan, his teacher and mentor, is holding him back. He expresses a self-held conviction of his status and skills and does not trust the word of his superior. 

In ROTS, Anakin starts dreaming of Padmé’s death. Considering what occurred the last time he dreamt of a loved one’s demise, Anakin is justifiably (or at least justifiably from his point of view) worried. He consequently wants to stop these dreams from coming true in any way possible. His fear of death, especially that of his loved ones, represents his need for control over everything, even things that are uncontrollable. This overwhelming desire leads to Anakin’s drastic actions.

As Darth Vader, he no longer possesses such fears, for everyone that he loved is either dead or has betrayed him. He is the epitome of order and control, eliminating any who disturb this perceived equilibrium. 

However, this changes because of one person: Luke Skywalker. 

Luke reintroduces something that was (arguably) long-absent in Vader’s life, which is interpersonal attachment. Vader yearns for his son to join him by his side. When Luke refuses, Vader continues to attempt to seek him out. In ROTJ, Vader is forced to choose between the Emperor, a man he has long trusted and followed, and Luke, the son he never knew he had. Out of a desire to protect and keep what little family he has left (and likely a sense of “I couldn’t save Padmé but at least I can save her legacy by keeping her child(ren) alive and safe”), Vader defeats the Emperor and saves his son. Though his actions are definitionally heroic, Anakin never truly overcomes his hamartia. 

The Structure of a Tragedy

Classic Greek tragedies follow a specific story structure, which, according to the German playwright Gustav Freytag, is as follows:

We’re going to focus on the three aspects that best represent Anakin’s story as a tragedy: The peripeteia, the anagnorisis, and the catastrophe/denouement. These occur during and/or after the climax. 

The peripeteia is the climax/the turning point in the plot. Said change usually involves the protagonist's good luck and prosperity taking a turn for the worse. 

Within the tragedy we are discussing, the peripeteia occurs when Anakin chooses Sidious over Mace Windu and solidifies his allegiance to the Dark side, becoming the very thing he swore to destroy. It is at this point that things really start to go downhill. He kills children, chokes his wife, fights his best friend, gets his remaining limbs cut off, etc. 

The anagnorisis is the point in the tragedy when the protagonist recognizes their error, seeing the true nature of that which they were previously ignorant of, usually regarding their circumstances or a specific relationship (such as Oedipus’ realization that his wife was actually his mother). In most tragedies, the anagnorisis is in close proximity to the peripeteia. In Anakin’s story, the anagnorisis occurs during ROTJ. After being wounded in his fight against Luke, Vader watches as his son is brutally electrocuted by Sidious. It is at this moment that Darth Vader realizes that Luke was right—there is good in him, and he still has the chance to redeem himself. 

The catastrophe/denouement (since this is a tragedy, we’re going to go with “catastrophe”) is the end of the tragedy. Events and conflicts are resolved and brought to a close, and a new sort of “normality” is established. The catastrophe often provides a sense of catharsis (release of tension) for the viewer. The protagonist is worse off than they were at the beginning of the tragedy. 

The catastrophe within “The Tragedy of Darth Vader” transpires soon after the anagnorisis at the end of ROTJ. Though the realization of his capacity for good is the anagnorisis, the follow-through (via his actions), as well as what consequently occurs, is the catastrophe. As previously discussed, Vader saves Luke by killing the Emperor but does so at the cost of his own life. This serves as the resolution of the tragedy, for the hero’s fate has been confirmed—Darth Vader fulfills his destined role as the Chosen One and, in doing so, brings about his own redemption and dies as Anakin Skywalker.

In conclusion, the categorization of Star Wars as a tragedy is a choice that heavily influences Anakin, the protagonist and hero, of the story. He is without a doubt a tragic hero whose fatal flaw leads to his downfall. In accordance with Aristotle’s theory of tragedy, Anakin’s tragedy is constructed not by personal agency, but by the narrative itself.

Works Cited

“Darth Vader.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Mar. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darth_Vader.

“Dramatic Structure.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Feb. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dramatic_structure.

“Hero.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 19 Oct. 2016, www.britannica.com/art/hero-literary-and-cultural-figure.

Lucas, George, director. Star Wars: Episode III— Revenge of the Sith. Lucasfilm Ltd., 2005.

Lucas, George, director. Star Wars: Episode II— Attack of the Clones. Lucasfilm Ltd. , 2002.

Michnovetz, Matt. “Star Wars: The Clone Wars, ‘Counterattack.’” Season 3, episode 19, 4 Mar. 2011.

“Sophocles: the Purest Artist.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/art/tragedy-literature/Sophocles-the-purest-artist.

“Theory of Tragedy.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/art/tragedy-literature/Theory-of-tragedy.

“Tragic Hero.” Dictionary.com, Dictionary.com, www.dictionary.com/browse/tragic-hero. 

[strangeocblog]

Genshin Impact OC

Mogami Kazue - Tomboy lord - Inazuma’s Rosaria (kinda..)

A close up look of her and a full body pic:

At first, i did try to put light spots in her eyes but Kazue with dull/dark eyes looks way more better, and it fits her true personality too.

More lore/info of her will be updated painfully slow under the cut!

Title: (something something hidden from plain sight)

Title: (something something hidden from plain sight)

Rarity: ✩✩✩✩✩

Weapon: sword (main), catalyst

Delusion: electro (she only used it once)

Vision: hydro (later on)

Nation: Inazuma

Sex: female

Character stories/lore

Mogami clan/family

2

3

Voicelines

Hello: (this is going to be short since she’s kinda cold to people that she haven’t met before)

When it rains: “Man, if i had an electro vision, this would be a perfect time to electrocute wild beasts to death and make the job easier *sigh*”

When thunder strikes: “Ugh, dear Raiden shogun, can’t you please just chill???”

When it snows: “*sneezes loudly* why do you have to take me out in when it’s freezing cold huh??”

When the sun is out: “The weather is getting better! Perfect to work on daily commissions, let’s go”

When the wind is blowing: “Arg- SANDSS!! There’s sands in my eyes!!!!!”

Good morning: “*yawn* just give me.. five...more..mm *snores*”

Good afternoon:

Good evening:

Good night: “It’s pretty late now, kids like you should go to bed early, i still need to take a short patrol around the area so see ya! Huh? Wdym you’re not a kid? You’re shorter than me, that’s why! Just go to sleep already!!!”

About Kazue

About us

About other characters: ( Ayaka, Thoma, Sayu, Ayato, Sara, Raiden, Itto, Gorou, ..)

More about Kazue

About the vision/delusion

Something to share

Kazue’s hobbies: reading novels, writes and sometimes doodles

Kazue’s troubles: the Kujou clan being involved with Fatui’s plan and it’s consequences

Favorite food: “Both sweets and spicy food are my favs, but the last one took over the top tiers of my all time favorites, especially spicy ramen mmm, just talking about it makes my stomach rumble.. Hey, you wanna eat some ramen? I’ll do the paying!”

Least favorite food: “I’m not a picky eater so i could eat almost everything, exept for nasty ones that’s not fully cooked, just the stench smell of it makes me sick..”