#he’s the physical manifestation of change and I mean that literally

[thatoneplaguedoctor]

Batman villain Headcanons that should—- JUST be canon—

These are little headcanons I’ve picked up for my versions of Batman villains that I feel should… just be picked up for an actual adaptation. Most of these already basically feel canon.

Riddler Can’t Willfully Lie.

This one’s interesting—- its origins can be traced to Jim Carrey in Liar Liar, but there’s more to it than that. Stop and think about it—- a guy who deals in riddles, which is just a more complicated version of the truth, can’t tell an actual lie, so the riddles are a work around. Doesn’t this make a lot of sense?!

He probably got it from his abusive father really getting upset whenever he lied, so he told the truth through riddles and his dad would just be so confused he would drop it. This also means the Lasso of Truth doesn’t work on Riddler which feels�� so canon.

The Penguin Fakes His Limp.

I liked it in the ‘04 show where Penguin was a really competent fighter, and I just really think it adds to the motif of him being underestimated and exploiting that manifests here.

I think he’s secretly one of the most competent sword fighters in the DC universe—- Slade obviously counters him… but barely. He has the Uncle Iroh thing of using his body weight to mask actual muscle.

As for the leg, the limp *was* real, but he got physical therapy to where he can move it decently freely. It is a weakness of his still, where it twinges with pain at inopportune times, or the brace chafes.

Mr. Freeze Can Survive In Outer Space.

This one is admittedly very weird. But I always imagined his suit working like an inverse space suit? So instead of keeping the vacuum outside from collapsing the air within, it protects him from the air outside with a vacuum. Most of his vitals are frozen… so theoretically he can hold his breath and survive up to three minutes in space like he’s underwater.

Also the fact his suit is a vacuum contributes to the fact that the suit doesn’t so much protect him from the outside world… as it protects the outside world from him. Basically, if he pops off his helmet, it creates an icy vacuum.

Two-Face Has Minor Mutations On His “Bad Side.”

Okay, so this heavily depends on adaptation and ESPECIALLY on how he is scarred, this is more of a fun headcanon for the “ambiguous comic ooze” that gets launched in his face or he gets dunked in. I like the idea that if half of his body is basically like raw chicken perpetually, then the acid gave him some minor mutations. Sort of like an actual superpower? But small and very much only on half of his body. His normal half is still normal.

The mutations include: discoloration, constant leaking ambiguous green fluid, irritation, minor aches, basically being rotten flesh, and… regenerative properties.

Yeah. His bad side is basically like Deadpool’s situation. Literally rotten flesh that heals itself anyway. With that said, he still ages normally and can still die because of his normal side.

Joker Has Amnesia.

Please please please PLEASE someone incorporate this into an actual Batman story. It could be super compelling. It completely recontextualizes the whole “I prefer my backstory to be multiple choice” thing, and makes it so that all of his past identities in various adaptations are literally just potential pasts he imagines for himself. Play with the absurd tragedy of this—- being forced to be a monster, but constantly grappling with random memories that may or may not actually be real.

Like he’ll snap from “I had a dog once.” To “WOW DOGS ARE STUPID LOL KICKING THIS PUPPY IS FUN!!” Just because he hates grappling with the fact he has parts of the human he was before Joker… but never the full picture. It changes Joker’s actions and existence from being horrific to his situation be horrific. Memories and ideas of a past he’ll never have, a human he never was… because the Joker is all that’s left. It doesn’t take away from the evil of the character, but makes him SO much more tragic.

Scarecrow is Protestant/Baptist.

This one may be controversial considering most people just want to slap “religious trauma lol because religion sucks” on him and call it a day, but realistically, a man who fixates on fear and is from the south probably has some sort of interesting relationship to the “Fear of God” thing. It’s not quite religious fanaticism like Deacon Blackfire or Azrael, it’s more of just a side thing that’s there and contributes to his other character motivations (Sort of like Daredevil’s Catholicism.)

His worldview is probably that he thinks himself soulless, and hence, unable to be saved, and sees himself more as the storm that separates who built their houses on rock and who built their houses on sand. He sees fear as a tool to know ourselves better, and if we refuse to confront our fears, we are lesser for it. He also believes people don’t fear God enough, because God is *beyond* the unknown in his eyes.

Basically, he has the damned man philosophy of “If I am destined to hell, then let others step to heaven on my burning, depraved corpse.” He also loves to make points about how demons make themselves pretty to deceive humans and how angels are terrifying because they have nothing to hide, and they are truth incarnate. He believes fear leads to the truths we do not want to hear, and God is truth, so fear leads to God… or damnation for the unwise.

Bane is Multilingual.

Not just bilingual. Multilingual. This man grew up in a Latin American prison, with inmates from all over the globe. He doesn’t just speak English y Español. This man should speak Italian, Portuguese, and French at the bare minimum. Those languages specifically would make sense for him to learn/know, considering the region of Central and Southern America. So while English and Spanish are his home languages, he should be able to slip into these languages almost just as easily. He probably knows how to read Russian? Even if he does not know how to speak it. Also considering he grew up in an all-male prison he is either gay or literally cannot comprehend the existence of a woman. Either one is equally compelling. Both is even better.

[inbarfink]

When talking about the distinction between Simon Petrikov and the Ice King,  it’s important to remember that originally, the Crown wasn’t trying to turn Simon into Ice King -

It was trying to turn him into this guy.

At the time, the Ice Crown - or rather the Wishing Crown - was programmed with Gunther’s wish to become Evergreen. So everything related to making the current wearer like Evergreen is a very direct result of the Crown’s Magic. The physical changes -

And the obsession with the name ‘Gunther’ -

And maybe some of the irritability and anger issues -

That is something the Crown is very directly forcing unto its current wielder. 

But everything else?

Ice King, personality-wise, was not much like Evergreen at all, or even like Gunther's view of him. And Ice Finn of the Farmworld Universe was also pretty different from the both of them.

At the time, I remember people assumed Ice Finn’s behavior is more indicative of what the Crown is actually trying to do with its wielders. That Ice King is so different because of Simon’s subconscious resistance against the Crown - while Finn’s much younger and dumber brain is a lot susceptible to the Curse’s influence to become some sort of mad world-conquering emperor of ice and snow. 

But, with the context of the Crown’s actual backstory. That doesn’t seem very likely anymore. I think what’s actually happening there is that the Crown is just trying to make its wielder an Ice Wizard on par with Evergreen (who was the Actual Goddam Ice Elemental) and that means pumping the wielder’s brain so full of Magic, Madness and Sadness to a level that is bound to overwhelm anyone.

And Simon’s and Farmworld Finn’s very different behaviors after putting on the crown is indicative, more than anything, of how their psyche reacts to Madness and Sadness in general. You know, Finn has a very proactive and kinda aggressive personality - and you add Crown-induced-Madness-and-Sadness and a compulsion to use Ice Magic as much as possible and you get all of…. this 

Meanwhile, for Simon, the compulsions of the Crown originally filtered exclusively via the language of protection 

As his madness always manifested as romantic obsession 

And using goofy humor to try and deny the pain he’s going through 

Because that’s how Simon’s mind specifically reacts to being flooded with so much Madness and Sadness.

That’s why there’s so many parallels between Ice King and the sort of mistakes and screwed-up stuff Simon does right now! He’s even kidnapping people again!

Because the Madness and Sadness of Ice King might’ve been induced by the Crown, but now Simon has plenty of personal home-grown Madness and Sadness inside him - and it’s no surprise that Curse-Induced or not, his mind reacts to it in a sorta-similar way. (Although obviously not as intensely, again, there was a LOT of MMS in the Ice Crown).

Now as for Ice Thing, and the fact that he seems to be actually rather well-adjusted under effects of his version of the Wishing Crown. I mean... not by the time of the 1000+ Era, but that’s literally eons in the future and also maybe more Gibbon’s fault. Even if the Crown will eventually take some sort of toll on him, for now he seems to be doing pretty well considering his wish. I mean, there's still some sort of Loss of Identity stuff going on

But everything we've seen of Ice Thing (in the present day, at least) shows him as a friendly and cheerful individual that gets along well with others. A far cry from how maladjusted every single wielder of the Ice Crown acted.

At the very least, if there's any notable amount of Sadness in him, we really haven't seen it yet.

There might be several factors here:

First things first, I should acknowledge the possibility that it’s just that Orgalorg’s eldritch brain is better at intaking all that MMS juice. That could play a part, but I think it’s probably more important, at least thematically, to look at the distinction between ‘I wish to be Evergreen’ and ‘I wish to be Ice King’. 

First in the sense that while Ice King was occasionally mean to Gunter at times - he was generally much kinder than Evergreen ever was for ‘his’ Gunther. So, like, pretty much the one Personality Flaw of Ice King that you can directly link to the Ice Crown’s attempt to mimic Evergreen is the occasional anger issues.

And how they relate to Gunther’s view of Evergreen, so grumpy and controlling and constantly saying ‘NO!’

(Both Finn and Simon’s demonstrable not-crown-induced trauma responses can make them pretty short-tempered as well. So I’m not going to say this is purely the effects of the Crown. It still probably plays some sort of factor at why the wielder of the Ice Crown is Like That).

And that is not a factor in how Gunter views Ice King. For him, Ice King was a doting and loving father figure - so if the Crown was ever trying to implement any sort of specific negative personality traits, this is absolutely no longer a factor. Because the original Ice Crown was a reflection of Evergreen’s abuse, and now Ice Thing is a reflection of Ice King’s fatherly love.

Which is, itself, probably an echo or remnant of Simon’s own strong parental instincts. 

Secondly, while the Crown was trying to make the Ice King just as powerful as Evergreen…. Ice King was obviously not as powerful as Evergreen. Because he was already a second-rate copy of the Ice Elemental’s power, and because Ice King was often just too doofy to use his powers correctly and probably because some remnant of Simon’s original sensible self is subconsciously holding his powers back.

Either way, being ‘like Ice King’ as Gunter sees him requires less Magic than being ‘like Evergreen’ as Gunther saw him - and therefore less Madness and Sadness. Leading to the wearer or, um, the eater being a lot more well-adjusted from the get-go.

And I think that the implication that Ice Thing has fused with the Crown, so there's never going to be another poor sap who puts on the Crown and gets Ice King'd. But if there is one somehow... at least the process is going to be less mentally detrimental that time around?

Maybe one day Simon could look back and appreciate how much he (or Ice King, or both of them, or however you want to look at the situation) is responsible for basically neutralizing the Crown that ruined his life in the first place.

[baphometsss]

I'm also going kind of insane over the romance description for Solas in the customise Inquisitor section of the CC. Like what do you mean 'even the Dread Wolf did not know what it would mean to fall in love'?? I'm frothing at the mouth!!!!

I mean, now it's had a few months to stew, it actually makes perfect sense. Solas doesn't seem to forge relationships in the same way as an elf as he did as a spirit. We know he loved Mythal and Felassan, but his relationships with both had rather different dynamics. Mythal had known him for the longest, and understood his spirit nature better than anyone. They spent a long time reflecting each others' spirits back and forth. Felassan we can assume was another Wisdom spirit (going by his eye colour), which once again tracks because Solas seems to connect with other Wisdom spirits very intensely. Nonetheless, there's a distance between them; they need each other and they share a common cause, and although Solas loved Felassan dearly, he was still able to kill him in The Masked Empire.

However, the thing that these two relationships have in common is that they both relate to Solas's spirit-self. All the dynamics are some kind of echo of how he behaved and related as a spirit. The person he is at the beginning of DAI is who he has been for a very long time. He is, despite everything, a little stagnant.

With the Inquisitor, he literally doesn't have a choice but to change, to connect not just as a spirit but as a man. Prior to that though... remember how spirits are asexual, like Cole is if you don't make him more human? Yeah. I don't doubt that Solas had physical relations with others after manifesting, but I think the feelings would've been absent as he doesn't connect romantically with them; a legacy from his spirit self, which he clings to dearly.

Weirdly enough, I think that this lack of romantic or relationship experience is what the romance in Inquisition actually hinges on. He's only able to take that chance specifically because he doesn't know what romantic love feels like. He may be a manifested Wisdom spirit, but this is something that must be experienced to be understood. He takes the chance in the end because he doesn't know how deeply it will affect him. Also as Wisdom, he can't help but be curious anyway. Clearly he underestimated how much of an impact it would have on him. He didn't expect to be known and loved so fully for who he was, after a life of being forced away from his purpose, who he truly wanted to be. To be given the space to exist as Wisdom is one thing, and certainly it would've been enough for him to maintain his love for his friends in the Inquisition alone, but to be loved for it? To be able to express these new, very earthly and yet somehow still spiritual feelings of love? Everything lining up, singing the same? Things he could never have experienced as a spirit? It's a union of the spirit and body that he likely never felt before. That has to have been overwhelming, a beautiful gift he never expected to receive. 'In all Thedas I never expected to find someone who could draw my attention from the Fade'--quite literally, 'I never thought I would want such an earthly thing'. I'm not surprised he almost threw away his plans for it. It's like a whole new world opening up.

It also makes his 'I would not have you see what I become' line more poignant. He doesn't want this beautiful, unique thing he's found to be marred by the actions he will take. He doesn't want his heart to see the wounds in his soul. So when the Inquisitor says they want to join him, it literally stuns him. When he warns them that he's got a lot of terrible things waiting for him in the Fade, it's his last, weak attempt to make them reconsider before they see the wounds on his soul laid bare. By responding that it won't be so bad if they're with him, the Inquisitor is also saying that being together will heal him, that those wounds will not be so terrible when shared.

That line from the elven poem Trick wrote from Solas to Lavellan: 'do not be sad, my heart, our love's endurance is a blessing, our love will be our joy' everything is so new to him brb crying :'<

[fairyminnie444]

𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ˖⋆࿐໋

Neville Goddard approached the topic of living in the imagination in depth, showing that external reality is actually a reflection of the internal state of consciousness. He taught that by assuming the feeling that a desire has already been fulfilled, you change your vibration and, consequently, the world around you. Here is how he explained it in more detail:

Imagination Is the Only Reality

Neville said:

“Imagination is the redeeming power of God.”

To him, imagination was not just fantasy, but the very essence of reality. Everything you experience in your life originates in your consciousness. Therefore, by changing what you imagine, you literally shape the physical world.

• He explained that imagination is the creative state, and that by inhabiting this state, you allow physical reality to rearrange itself to reflect what you hold within.

Living in the End

This is one of Neville's central ideas:

“Live in the end as if it were already true.”

This means that you should assume in your imagination the feeling that the desire has already been achieved, without worrying about the “how” or “when.”

• Example: If you want a loving relationship, imagine yourself already married or living in harmony with that person. Visualize simple scenes, such as conversations at the table or moments of affection, and feel the joy that this would bring.

The Power of “I Am”

For Neville, the words “I Am” were the key to accessing creative power. He said that whatever you affirm after “I Am” becomes your reality.

• For example, by internally affirming, “I am prosperous,” you are literally putting yourself in the vibrational state of prosperity, and the 3D world will begin to reflect that.

Neville used many stories to illustrate his teachings. He told of people who assumed a desired state in their minds and eventually saw their circumstances change in amazing ways.

• One of his famous stories is about a woman who wanted to travel far away but had no resources. She lived in her imagination as if she were already in the desired place, feeling the thrill of being there. Shortly thereafter, she received an unexpected gift of a ticket and was able to make the trip.

Conclusion: The World Is Your Reflection

Neville summed it all up by saying,

“You do not attract what you desire, you attract what you are.”

When you live in your imagination as if it were real, you are literally becoming the person who has what you desire. The world then adjusts to reflect that inner state.

To embody the reality of your imagination:

1. Assume the Feeling of the Wish Fulfilled: Act as if your desire is already true. Feel the emotions and experiences of having it now, not as a future possibility.

2. Live in the End: Focus on the end result, not on the steps or obstacles. Imagine and act like the person who already has or is what you desire.

3. Persist in the Assumption: Even if the 3D reality contradicts your imagination, persist in the belief that what you imagine is real and inevitable.

4. Detach From the How: Don’t worry about how it will manifest. Trust that the 4D (your imagination) leads the 3D.

5. Revisit Your Imagined State: Regularly revisit the scene in your mind where your desire is already fulfilled. Make it vivid and immersive.

6. Ignore the 3D: The current reality is just a reflection of past thoughts. Give your focus to the reality you’re creating in your imagination.

By fully embracing and living as though your imagined reality is true, the 3D world will eventually conform. This is the key to manifesting your desires.

The secret is: persist in the imagination with faith, without doubt, until the desire becomes a physical reality.

[heartavenue]

★You're In Barbados ★

If you don't read ANY post from me, at least read this I promise it's going to be worth it. This post is going to be about Neville Goddard's story of how he manifested going back to his home country (Barbados). If you aren't familiar, this story is like Law of Assumption CANON. I assure you that this story changed my life, and I hope it does the same for you!

Disclaimer: I am PARAPHASING! However, I highly suggest that you read this story for yourself.

We start off in the middle of the Great Depression....

(for context Abduallah is an Ethiopian rabbi who was Neville's friend/mentor)

I said to Abdullah, in the month of October, late October, “Ab, you know I’ve been gone from Barbados for almost twelve years… I came here in ’22. And it’s almost 12 years, and I’ve never had a desire to go back. But now I have a hungry desire, a haunting desire, to go to Barbados. Not a thing stops me but a lack of money. I have no money.”

He said to me, “You are in Barbados.” I said, “I am in Barbados?” He said, “Yes. You are now in Barbados. And so… you see Barbados, and you see America from Barbados, and you can smell the tropical land of Barbados, see only the little homes of Barbados, and that’s all you do. You just simply sleep this night in Barbados.”

Notice how Abdullah said, "You are in Barbados." Not "You will go someday." Not "You have to get a job and save up some money." No, he said, you are in Barbados. And that is all there is; you are not human. You do not abide by the laws of physics; you are timeless. You are interdimensional, you are conscious, inhabiting a physical form. It is all within you, a matter of fact, it is all YOU. YOU are everything, you are bigger than this world. You are God.

I mean, at the moment, it seemed so… stupid. Because… 72nd Street, we still had 50- and 60-story buildings. And little Barbados with a little three-story building almost the tallest that you’d find. And narrow little streets and no sidewalks. And I’m walking on a sidewalk that is wider than the widest street in Barbados on 72nd Street.

Fast forward -> Neville goes to sleep that night in Barbados. "Well, the next day, I didn’t tell him anything… about a week later when nothing happened, I thought I would approach him. This time we’ve moved into November."

I said, “You know, Ab, there’s no… not a thing has happened.” He wouldn’t discuss it with me. He turned his back on me and went into his little library and slammed the door. About three times I tried to open up the discussion with my friend Ab between that moment when I first talked to him and the end.

Fast forward again -> It is now December when suddenly Neville receives a letter from his little brother Victor. In the letter Victor tells Neville that he has a ticket (third class) waiting for him down at the Furness Line.

Neville rushes to tell his friend Ab that he has a ticket to Barbados, albeit a third-class one. So Neville tells him, "You are already in Barbados and you went first class."

And guess what? There was a cancellation, thus making a first-class spot available to Neville.

Neville proceeded to go to Barbados, first class.

So, how did Neville manage to get a first-class trip to Barbados whilst living in the great depression and having no money? Imagination.

But let me break this down even further: creation is finished. There is no separation, you are EVERYTHING. Forget manifesting a trip to Barbados, Neville was Barbados. All your desires are yours RIGHT NOW! They're not out for delivery, they're not in queue, they are you.

Now, even Neville had doubts, he went to Abdullah and complained about how nothing had changed. But you want to know what Abdullah did? He slammed the door in his face.

Slam the door on your doubts, slam the door on your intrusive thoughts, slam the door on everything that isn't in your favor.

You are everything but it is your refusal to accept it that is preventing you from being.

"You are literally in Barbados. You are literally all that you desire to be. Dare to assume it and create heaven on Earth."

Links to the story:

https://www.giancarloserra.org/you-are-in-barbados-how-abdullah-taught-neville-goddard-the-law/

https://coolwisdombooks.com/neville/neville-goddard-lectures-i-am-all-imagination/

[magnus-marmot]

Unheimlich, Weird, and Mercury

Since it's starting to look very likely that W/U in DPHW/TSHU stands for Weird/Unheimlich, I did some digging and thinking. Full disclosure, I didn't come up with the idea for W/U, and as far as I'm aware it should be credited to @bonzos-number-1-fan.

What is unheimlich?

Gwen translates unheimlich as creepy or weird, but it's not just any type of weird. It's most often translated to uncanny, which people usually associate with the uncanny valley. Something that possesses enough human-like qualities to almost pass as a human but not quite. But the meaning of unheimlich is still a bit more complicated than that. So I turned to Freud, of all people (and promptly ignored every part where he made it unnecessarily sexual). I read his essay on the Uncanny, though the Wikipedia article probably would have sufficed. This is what academia does to a person.

Unheimlich literally translates to "un-homely", or "not at home". It relies quite heavily on it's antonym heimlich, or "homely", to convey its full flavour. If something is unheimlich, it's distinctly lacking the heimlich quality that you would expect. In other words, it's familiar turned unfamiliar. Freud seemed to think that the feeling is caused by a resurgence of the magical thinking of a child, where any inanimate object might come to life (somehow combined with the repression of sexual desires because Freud). He relates it to the belief in the omnipotence of thoughts, or the idea that thoughts alone can be powerful enough to change reality.

Aside from Freud, there's also an entire chapter dedicated to the concept of unheimlich in House of Leaves, where (spoilers that spoil nothing) a family's home starts to shift in dimensions and eventually manifests dark, inhospitable hallways with impossible dimensions. Basically, their heimlich home has taken on the qualities of the unheimlich. This also applies to the wider idea of liminal spaces, especially the uncanny feeling of something feeling familiar and yet unfamiliar and eerie because it's removed from its normal context.

Alright, so we have the Unheimlich broken down. But since the more appropriate translation would be "uncanny", why is it Weird? I like to think it might be an homage to the genre of "weird fiction" (as popularised by H. P. Lovecraft). But there's also the interesting etymology of the word itself. It comes from the Old English word wyrd, meaning "fate". The concept of fate has popped up a few times, particularly in relation to a strange fellow who gifts you a cursed violin or a pair of dice. As in, the guy I strongly suspect might be Heinrich Unheimlich (admittedly without much evidence).

What about the Mercury?

This is the part where I tie it back to alchemy. Based on the quaternity on the OIAR logo and patterns that emerge in the DPHW values, I have already suspected that W might measure Mercury. After everything I just explained, the idea has finally sort of come together.

I won't reiterate everything I've written about Mercury, but in the context of TMAGP I've considered it a force of dissolution, liminality and the intangible collective ideas or concepts, kind of like a collective unconscious. Basically the principle that dissolves limits/boundaries and mediates between thoughts and physical reality.

The concept of unheimlich feels incredibly liminal to me. The uncanny lives at the edge of real/unreal, natural/unnatural, dream/reality, mind/matter, familiar/unfamiliar, life/death. Exactly the way alchemists would describe the duality of Mercury. Liminal spaces are a perfect example of this. They are unquestionably unheimlich, and they are by definition liminal. Some alchemists thought that Mercury is the world soul (anima mundi) or the life force that connects everything together in a unity (this is what Jung associated with the collective unconscious). As such, Mercury holds the infinite potential of everything that has been or could be. And Freud thought that the uncanny is related to the concept of animism (which is literally the same concept) and the belief that a strong enough belief could manifest in reality.

I've also brought up before that Mercury is conceptually related to the Trickster archetype, as the god Mercurius/Hermes was seen as a trickster figure. He was also the god of travelers, merchants, and thieves. And the source of all alchemical knowledge or something (see: Hermeticism). Hits awfully close to this travelling stranger (/strangers if they're different people) who gifts people cursed objects that somehow reflect their desires in a very twisted manner. Admittedly, the cases about these objects have a comparatively low W value, though I suspect that this is because the objects themselves aren't as Mercury-aligned as the guy.

Some case studies

Bonzo (W 8) is the embodiment of unheimlich. He is a familiar and beloved figure twisted into something terrifying. He seems to have coalesced into a well-known concept in the collective unconscious, and we had some minor occurrences of audiences associating him with violent behaviour, which manifested as accidents (back when his W was 5). After the murder (and probably thanks to Menke's delusional reverence) he took an actual, physical manifestation and his W jumped to 8.

The Oxford People's Trust volunteers (W 8) are not people, they are manifestations of an archetypal person coalesced around the phrase "it's all for a good cause". I honestly suspect that the W is so high here because the Hilltop Centre is one big Mercury locus. The reality seems specifically fluid around there, what with the shops appearing and disappearing according to people's needs. Might have something to do with the tear in reality. It's a very liminal location.

The split brain experiment (W 8) is also incredibly Mercury-coded. I've already written a post about the water=Mercury symbolism present in the episode, but I'm too tired to go find it now. This feels less directly applicable to the concept of unheimlich, but the duality aspect is at least very present. Also I guess the emergent consciousness literally not feeling at home in the guy's mind.

That's it

No concluding end bits, because I really do need to sleep now. If you read this far, I thank and commend you. Also, do keep in mind that all of this might end up being completely wrong. But it feels pretty compelling to me right now, and I wanted to get my thoughts out before the next episode.

[creative-clawmarks]

Longass Vampire AU Loredump

I feel I should preface this with the most important fact of this AU: supernatural beings are not actually a part of this world.

What I mean by this is there is no secret society of vampires, there is no chapter in the medical books on lycanthropy, and ghost hunters still have not found conclusive evidence. As far as you or I or anyone else knows the cast of MH are the only things like them in existence.

Because the Operator did this to them.

It's a parasite, and its strategy is to make people into predators then mop up the trail of bodies they leave behind.

As for why their monstrosity takes the specific forms it does? The Watsonian Explanation is that we will never really know, such things are beyond people's understanding. The Doyalist Explanation is that I have taken the character's metaphorical roles and made them literal to give myself an excuse to draw sharp teeth.

With that out of the way, here's what these freaks are actually capable of:

Alex (Vampire):

Standard package of fast healing, unnatural speed, and unbeating heart. Probably immortal but I guess now we'll never know.

Drinks blood, of course. But I like my vamps fucked up so there's a good dose of gory cannibalism for flavor.

He won't combust in the sun or anything, but his skin is especially sensitive to heat and his eyes are especially sensitive to light.

Heightened hearing, he could hunt someone down with his eyes closed just by tracking their heartbeat.

Venomous, specifically paralytic toxins. Once he's bitten you there's no running away, you're basically screwed.

Fangs and claws are retractable. I also gave him a forked tongue because he's like a terrarium snake to me :)

"Once more I have seen the director go out in his lizard fashion."

He can purr. Because I know what the people want.

Tim (Werewolf):

Standard package of fast healing, unnatural strength, and canine features. Would rather not think about whether or not he's immortal.

Does not hunger for human flesh. If given the opportunity he might maul a deer tho.

Burned by the touch of silver. He also personally thinks wolfsbane is gross but that's unrelated.

When in human form he's mostly that, human. Sure his senses are sharper and he can grow out his teeth and claws a little bit but otherwise he's normal.

When in wolf form, on the other hand, he is DANGEROUS. I'm talking bite through steel tear you in half only thing that can stop him is a silver bullet dangerous.

The wolf form is analogous to Masky in this AU, as in he turns against his will whenever he's threatened or misses a dose and he won't remember much whenever he eventually turns back.

The only time he can change under his own power with his mind intact is during the full moon. He looks forward to it every month because without the threat of loosing control being a wolf is rad actually.

If you scratch him under the chin he goes boneless. Doesn't matter what form he's in.

Brian (Ghost):

Standard package of walk through walls, disappear, and fly. I don't think the term immortal applies to this situation tho...

You know the excuse that ghost don't just physically manifest cuz they don't have enough energy for it? Yeah he's so incandescently pissed that he's tangible more often than not.

Its actually kind of the opposite conundrum where he has to focus and calm down to actually use his ghostly abilities.

Salt circles will totally work on him, but good luck catching him first lol.

Even if you can't see him you can still sort of feel his presence, the room will get colder and the shadows will get deeper.

If you catch him on a bad day he can pull some Poltergeist TM level shenanigans.

Can't really communicate like he used to, his mind is too broken and detached from what it once was. That's why all the ToTheArk videos look like that.

If you were to put a spirit box in the room with him all you would hear coming out of it is his death screams on loop.

Jay (Mortal):

He's just a guy lol, poor bastard doesn't stand a chance.

Why yes, he has read Twilight. Why do you ask?

[lexiecon-mp4]

Jayvik and Butterflies || Arcane Meta

The butterfly motif has put everyone into a chokehold (myself included) and has had me brainrotting so hard for the last few days that I felt compelled to make my first Arcane post.

With how repetitive the butterfly motif is within Viktor and Jayce's lives throughout Arcane, I thought it would be fitting to do a meta looking into what that symbol might mean.

So first things first; where do we see this symbol pop up? In presumed chronological order of in-universe events, here are some of the following;

1. Viktor when following his toy boat (S1E6)

2. Jayce after being saved by the mage (S1E2)

3. Mechanical butterflies shown during Progress Day (S1E4)

4. Butterfly at the Fissures when Jayce and Viktor talk about failing to "do good" (S1E9)

5. A flash frame of a butterfly appears when Jayce hits the Arcane with his hammer (S2E3)

6. The hammer itself is shaped like a butterfly after Jayce emerges from the Arcane (S2E5)

7. Viktor and Jayce vaguely form a butterfly-type shape when they sacrifice themselves (S2E9)

(If I'm missing any I apologize, but these are the memorable examples that I think embody the themes I'm going to discuss. Feel free to comment more!)

I'm not including Jinx's mechanical butterflies here since they are more reminiscent of Firelights, but it is fitting that she has taken a symbol associated with progress from Progress Day and retrofitted it to her own design, just like she does with Hextech itself. That already serves as a manifestation of how Jayce and Viktor's shared creation can lead toward a dangerous path.

Ultimately, I think there are three main themes that I believe fit both characters respectively along with their arcs.

1. METAMORPHOSIS

Viktor goes through a literal metamorphosis of his own as a result of the glorious evolution, both physically and emotionally. Like the change of a caterpillar to a butterfly, his evolution is one that he perceives to be an "improvement" on his prior form. Simultaneously, his obsession with perfection (due to his own insecurities, struggles and oppression) shifts his focus. His original ambitions to help the people of Zaun and beyond are lost as he prioritizes using the Arcane to "improve lives", even against their own will. For the final step of his evolution, he sacrifices his humanity and breaks out of his "chrysalis" as a changed man. Viktor become utterly unrecognizable to everyone, even to his own partner; until the last scene between the two.

Jayce has seen that he has become something completely different than the Viktor he knew before. But regardless, he sees him as beautiful in the context of his current "perfect" AND prior "imperfect" state. The caterpillar and butterfly are one and the same, just like the man he knew and the "Machine Herald" that stands before him. He sees under the facade (a literal mask) that Viktor wears, knowing that his partner is still there.

What distinguishes Viktor from the butterfly is that his metamorphosis doesn't end with the "glorious evolution." While the evolution was intended to be a point of no return, it was eventually shown to be another step in his ever-changing arc. Viktor doesn't revert back to his original state, but makes his sacrifice alongside Jayce because of the growth of his character. The final, glorious evolution he always wanted was in liberating everyone from the Arcane, not enslaving them.

The metamorphosis theme also applies to Jayce, as he has obviously "evolved" after touching the Arcane. Yet despite his own evolution, he never loses that humanity that allows him to keep hope for Viktor still being in there. Both of them become something more in the end. I especially love that this happens by each accepting their flaws and acknowledging one another as beautiful. Jayce would still love Vik if he was a worm the caterpillar, since that was the first and original iteration of the man he admires.

2. THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

The butterfly effect is one of my favorite thought experiments related to chaos theory; the underlying patterns/laws of the universe's systems that seem random but are actually dependent on initial conditions. The effect argues that a simple flutter of a butterflies wings could lead to a chain of events that cause something completely different and significant. Arcane has several of these "butterflies" (e.g. the note Vander wrote for Silco) but the most prominent one yet again connects Viktor and Jayce.

Old Viktor explains that in every universe, he gave young Jayce a different rune in order to invent Hextech, presumably with the hopes of preventing the apocalypse as well. He knew that Jayce was the only one who could show him the truth about perfection, but without the right rune, he couldn't get there. It was the specific choice of an acceleration rune that allowed for the events of season two to occur. This small change gives Ekko a chance to fight back and Jayce the chance to talk it out with his partner.

(My personal theory is that the acceleration rune allowed for Ekko and Jayce to travel to a different dimension through the Arcane. This led Ekko to create the Z-Drive and gave Jayce the knowledge of his and Viktor's fates. The rune in his wrist was likely what brought him to Old Viktor in the first place. Otherwise, it's likely that Ekko, Heimer and Jayce would have been absorbed/disintegrated in the process.)

At the beginning of S2E6 Viktor describes Jayce as having "a singularity simultaneously self-replicating and self-annihilating." While the singularity seems to be driving Jayce insane and irate, it contains the chaos needed to stop the influence of the Hexcore over Viktor, Piltover, and Zaun.

In the end, both are able to intersect the "chaos and order" of the Arcane, connecting the rune embedded in Jayce's wrist with Viktor's Hexcore-ified body. The disorder of the Arcane in Jayce seemed random at first, just as the rune given to him did. Yet it was these initial conditions that determined the fates of everyone involved, including the closure that he and Viktor were able to have in the end.

The way that these two are able to break the terrible fate determined for them if they ever met, while still being able to resolve their conflicts at the end, is some extremely beautiful storytelling.

3. MIGRATION/THE JOURNEY

Finally, the act of migrating is one that I feel applies most to Jayce in season two, but also is present in Viktor's backstory and struggle against his disabilities.

There's a specific species of butterfly that migrates every fall, which are the Monarch butterflies that are native to North America. These creatures must brave difficult conditions as they travel down south to more temperate climates. It is a physically demanding trip that tests the resolve of the butterflies, which in Jayce's case, also shakes him to his core.

He has to endure many perils and pains when the Arcane transports him to the "bad ending" universe. He travels through Zaun, gets stuck in the Fissures for a while, then finally climbs the Hexgates to learn the truth about his dream. While the sufferings of the journey itself feel unnecessary, it's a path Jayce must take in the end no matter how painful. Like the monarchs, he perseveres and makes it out of there alive.

But unlike them, this difficult pilgrimage is necessary to shape Jayce's character. He essentially speed-runs Viktor's personal journey as a Zaunite; born in Zaun, being poisoned by the Fissures, and "pulling himself up by his bootstraps" all the way up to the gilded heights of Piltover. It's a perilous and painful trip, made more difficult by his injured leg. Yet when Jayce reaches the top, none of the achievements matter to Viktor in this universe. After everything he had done, there was only the empty husk of his loved one and the truth it carried that remained. His illness and "imperfections" were cured, but at what cost?

This puts everything into perspective for Jayce. At the end of his travels, he realizes what he really wants to save isn't Hextech, or his dream, but his partner. In turn, it saves the lives of everyone including that of Viktor's, who comes out of the other side of this journey loved rather than alone. Perhaps their presumed deaths aren't the most happy ending for both of them, but they certainly made it to clearer skies together.

(One last additional note: I love that the alternate universe only has dragonflies instead of butterflies; the connecting symbol between the two is missing in this universe because they couldn't save it in the end.)

So ultimately, the motif of butterflies for Jayce and Viktor represent the change, resilience and interconnectedness of the pair. Throughout the entire two seasons, this symbol follows them on their respective arcs like a red string of fate. As Viktor calls it, they are "two sides of the same coin, inextricably bound." The final two variables needed to solve the Arcane, and they could only do so together.

(i hate these guys they have irrevocably rewritten my brain chem)

Thank you for reading if you made it this far!

[faewrenbird]

Homicipher Theory

Resident Ghosts, Visitors, and Evil Entities

There are many different types of entities living in the Ghost Apartments. There are humanoid ghosts, transparent ghosts, headless ghosts, possessed dolls, gigantic heads and more. There seems to be no rhyme nor reason to the creatures existing in this spirit realm, but I theorize that all of the entities here (except Mr. Scarletella) fall into one of three distinct categories.

For the most part, I don’t think these ghosts relate to Yokai or Kami. Some bear resemblances, but each ghost is so unique that I do believe they were once living humans.

1) Resident Ghosts

These are ghosts who died on the haunted grounds and whose spirits became entrapped by it. They’re distinct in that they didn’t wander into the Ghost Apartments and slowly die, they became residents of it by typical means, ie natural or unnatural death, already fully dead when their spirits manifest within it.

These ghosts can be identified by their hair. Visitor ghosts, such as the MC, have gray/silver hair. Resident ghosts carry on the color of hair they had when they were alive.

Mr. Crawling

Mr. Gap

Mr. Chopped

Ms. Blue-Clad

Mr. Stitched

I actually think that any headless ghosts also fall into this category, since they’re not likely to have lost their heads while visiting the ghost realm. It’s more likely that decapitation was directly involved in their deaths. (Although, Mr. Silvair does remove the heads of ghosts, so this isn’t absolute evidence by any means). 

Resident ghosts additionally are not capable of natural change. Their bodies don’t shift, bloat, grow or shrink. They are forever stuck in one form, the form they died in.

I am developing theories for each of these characters regarding who they were in their past lives and how they died. (See Mr. Gap and Mr. Hood, the two I have completed already!)

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2) Visitor Ghosts

These ghosts did not enter the spirit realm by typical means. Instead, they are humans who got lost on a rainy day and found themselves wandering into the Ghost Apartments. These ghosts are identifiable by their gray/silver hair. As time passes in the spirit realm and they do not find the exit, these humans slowly begin to die. Their hair turns gray and their bodies change until they become permanent residents of the Ghost Apartments.

Change is the other primary identifier. These ghosts are capable of shifting, morphing, and changing. 

Adami Adashino

Mr. Silvair

Mr. Wheelchair

Mr. Hugeface

Hairdresser

Our MC Adami is the strongest evidence for this. She notes throughout her journey that her hair is turning gray. When she goes to the stylist with Mr. Chopped, they both get their hair cut. Oddly, Mr. Chopped’s hair seems to stay exactly the same while Adami’s hair gets shorter. This could be due to Mr. Chopped being a Resident ghost, incapable of change, including losing any of his hair, while the MC as a visitor can change.

Then, we have the obvious, which is that Adami’s body is quite literally changing the longer she stays in the ghost realm.

The changes are not all physical either. Her mind changes, at times becoming murderous and unrecognizable. Mr. Silvair chooses to research her for this reason, identifying her as one of the changing ghosts and striving to understand why. Why can ghosts like them change while Resident ghosts cannot?

Mr. Wheelchair is our next example. We find him sitting alone and despondent in his wheelchair. When we speak to him, he tells us that he is breaking. This is specifically the word used to indicate the present state of currently breaking, not the word used for things that have already been destroyed. This means that Mr. Wheelchair is in the process of changing. So we have another gray haired character experiencing change. Not just decay either. He shows us his new teeth, sharp and jagged, implying that they weren’t always like this. He’s a human who somehow wandered into the Ghost Apartments, likely during the hospital years, and has sat withering away ever since then.

Next, Mr. Silvair. I’ll do a separate theory on him later. For now, we’ll look at the basics.

SPOILERS: MR SILVAIR ROUTE

There are two major plot twists of Mr. Silvair’s route. One, I won’t talk about here. The other is when we attempt to kill him and run from him, only to find that he survived and follows us to apologize, except… He is unrecognizable. His true form appears to be a blob of flesh. He tells us that he is like us, that he wants to understand why we change. Another interesting feature are his pointed ears. I found it strange for him to have them when no one else does. It seems obvious now that, as a Visitor, his body changed, adopting this characteristic. So, we have another gray haired and changing character. A doctor who also wandered into the spirit realm and maybe didn’t want to leave.

The Hairdresser. She’s simpler. A gray-haired wanderer, lost and sad as she searches for her scissors. There’s nothing about her that indicates change, but she seems as out of place as the other Visitors we meet along the way. She is also very hostile towards strangers and will attack anything that enters her room without knocking, possibly remnants of a human frightened by the spirits she kept seeing as she slowly transitioned into the ghost world.

Lastly, Mr. Hugeface. He almost threw a wrench in the theory, because his behavior is not at all like the other visitors, and also he’s…well, huge. How could he have been a human who wandered inside? I wasn’t sure until I was trying out the various endings after Mr. Machete’s attack. After passing out, we can choose whether to become small, remain normal, or become big. When we become big, we suddenly have very little control of our strength, even accidentally crushing Mr. Hood as we hover over everything and explore. Sound familiar? 

This all suggests to me that wandering humans eventually turn gray and morph into some version of their own monster the longer they stay in the Ghost Apartments.

-----

3) Evil Entities

These are the inherently hostile forces inside of the Ghost Apartments. These entities are likely to be vengeful spirits, or cursed objects, or an abandoned toy. They have limited sentience and want only to kill. Some might have been alive once, others might be manifestations of collective rage or suffering. They hunt the living relentlessly. These might be more traditional Yokai, or else, simply enraged spirits without a sense of self or intelligence. 

-----

Apart from these three main categories, I believe we do have at least one breed of yokai running about, and those would be the little fuzzballs. What are they exactly? Ghost pets, I guess!

-----

Now, Mr. Scarletella is a different breed, but he's getting an extra long theory of his own, so stay tuned!

[emee-ems]

Okay so the inclusion of Tarot cards/reading really intrigued me this chapter. I'm familiar with tarot reading so I tried to figure it out although they only said three cards. I didn't see anyone else try to pick this apart (there could be! my tumblr has been having trouble loading). So I wanted to try and pick it apart in the simplest terms.

I'm not the best with interpretations and I'm still learning myself.

--------------

-The 4 of Cups (upright) means disconnection, boredom and waiting. This card was supposed to represent Anya's present so I guess it makes sense: Anya is trying to overcome the disconnection with Damien to help in the mission. It could also point to her studies, which she finds boring. As for the waiting aspect, the entire mission is a waiting game. I've also read that the card can be about the person in question not seeing or focusing on opportunities in front of them. The Cups in the Minor Arcana usually deals with emotions, relationships, love and intuition.

-The Death card [people always take this one literally]. The Death card can mean the end of something but that also means the beginning of something else. It can also mean transformations. This change can lead to growth. I think Melinda said this represented factors around Anya. Perhaps it pertains to her growth in general (rather than the joke of Yor as the grim reaper).

-The Star (reversed). This is the only one of the three shown to be reversed. If it was upright, it'd mean hope and inspiration but reversed means the opposite: hopeless, losing trust [in the universe] and not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I think this was supposed to represent Anya's future (pretty vague and I'm not sure if Melinda was guessing about that)

Now the rest of the cards in the reading were shown too in the first shot. Again, since I don't know what spread this is so I can't tell what each card/spot represents in the reading. I can only tell what each card can mean on its own. The other ones I can see are: the Ace of Cups [reversed], 10 of Pentacles, and 3 of Swords (the last one is a Wands reversed but her hand blocks most of it out. I WANT to say 3 of Wands but I'm not sure).

Ace of Cups (reversed): feeling emotionally drained or blocked. Missing out on new emotional beginnings or connections. Aces can mean potential.

10 of Pentacles: long-term success and legacy, wealth and stability. Pentacles in the Minor Arcana can represent finances, home, physical body and practicality. Tens in the suits can mean manifestation.

3 of Swords: heartbreak and sorrow, a painful but necessary revelation or separation. Swords in the Minor Arcana represent intellect, thoughts, ideas and communication (I've also seen mind, ambitions, conflict and change). The number three can mean beliefs. The 3 of Swords tends to always be seen as...not great.

---------------

I can't really imagine that Endou Tatsuya put out a bunch of random cards as a joke. At least I don't think so. I just find it interesting that he included it, even as a joke on how little Melinda understands it. It can't just be for that joke, right? Regardless it was interesting to inspect. I'd like to think that this hints that Anya's growth will either lead her towards something or what that other factors will contribute to said growth (or both). These other factors don't sound so good though (heartbreak, and sorrow as well as hopelessness). But, it could also pertain to Damien since that was part of the reading (becoming his friend).

[b0tsbby]

Signifying Meaning in Tristamp’s Vash and Knives S1 Designs and Visual Cues: Part 1

TLDR: How Everything but Stamp’s dialogue supports it’s characters

With the release of Trigun Stargaze looming over our heads, I wanted to look back at the Season of Trigun Stampede and really commerarate the efforts of Orange on what I think, was clever character design.

As I am not an Orange employee, I have no idea if any of this is true or even intended, but creativity lies in speculation, and analysis is really fun for me so here we go.

(If you didn’t know, I started this back in early 2024, but got hit with life and my short attention span. Better late than never.)

Tristamp spoilers and potential 98/Max spoilers.

Millions Knives

Part 1 goes to my almost favourite twin to think about, naturally. That means the elusive and infamous Stampede Millions Knives. I’ll be looking through both the character designs as they change throughout the season, with the omission of Nai and Vash on the ship as kids, as the twins hadn’t really diverged on their separate paths here.

Ep.3: A coat of one million knives

This is where it all begins. Episode 3, the alien man in a chromium coat of a million knives.

Now, Knives’ coat holds a plethora of meanings. It’s his shield, it’s his weapon, it’s what separates from him and humanity. It’s his comfort, his safety, his very own butterfly cocoon.

I feel the shield/weapon meanings are quite straightforward: This coat is impenetrable. It’s also deadly. It’s what Millions Knives shows up with to cover his ass at Jeneora rock, despite his very clear god complex.

And in that way, we’re already given simultaneously very little, and a lot to work off of, mimicking a lot of his Stampede arc in general. We can’t see past the coat, Knives has already been introduced as a mystery, but that in itself, tells us he doesn’t want to be seen. Doesn't want to be touched by both the hands and minds of the humans he deems less than him.

Furthermore, this coat is how he separates himself, physically and visually, from humanity. Beyond simply shrouding himself in mystery, Knives’s coat is aesthetically foreign and alien. It is how he ‘others’ himself on his first appearance. He’s not a part of humanity and dismisses embracing it even slightly. He is a singular, isolated entity. A herder among a flock of wild sheep. An angel among men.

But not a God.

The shape of the coat resembling a blanket is not lost on me. Please take note of the bubble formations that are littered everywhere on it, mimicking bubble wrap.

So we have a coat that looks like a blanket (warmth, safety) and is textured closely to what we could perceive as bubble wrap (again, protection but also comfort), and considering the coat is an extension of himself, (I can even go as far to say that, it is quite literally made of himself), his mental state is manifested into the physical. He is a man (or, more accurately a plant) bubbled up, kept safe and warm in his own embrace, much like his mind is coddled, isolated and protected by only his own ideas. Someone stubbornly stuck in their own world, in their own head.

While his 98/Max iterations are not any less intimidating, Stampede Knives (in S1 anyway) takes a completely different visual direction because truthfully he is a different character.

Alas, there's one more thing we can relate his coat to.

Most importantly, Knives' coat is a cocoon. I believe this was confirmed by Orange themself, but nonetheless it’s the most logical connection we can make, because I can distinctly remember the theme of butterflies in another Trigun iteration.

It’s a great callback to the symbolism in 98, and extends the butterfly metaphor across the whole season. We’re seeing what comes before the butterfly, the cocoon, where the cocoon symbolises, not vulnerability but metamorphosis.

And I think in a Stampede season 1 context, this is a huge revelation.

Hold that metamorphosis thought though. Let’s keep going.

Ep. 9: Where Knives doesn’t know who he is either.

I struggled analysing Knives design as a teenager for a while. It contradicted a lot of the ideas and cues I picked up in his older design.

Until I realised that’s the point.

While Tristamp takes a different direction in constructing Knives as a character, I’d like to assume some significant Maximum events still will occur in some way for the purpose of this. In that way, this is the first time we see Knives as a child, sometime after the fall but significantly before the July incident, the midpoint between his initial strike against humanity and the event that would lead to his resurrection as the brand new Millions Knives.

That said, Knives design choice here actually communicates his mental state and the strength of his morals and values at this point so incredibly. He is, conflicted, at best. Scared, confused and too unsure of himself to confidently embrace his planthood, instead still wearing clothes like humans and a cape to cover himself, over his plant undersuit.

Teenage Knives’ design comes across a lot like an underdog, a heroic saviour from the shadows. This is where he establishes himself as Millions Knives, but doesn’t exactly dismiss the existence of Nai, the boy raised by a human, and ‘betrayed’ by a human, completely. Millions Knives exists as a name, but still holds no real meaning yet. He’s fear driven with no real goal at this stage, despite what he says…as usual. He is also still the Knives that hasn’t constructed an identity to distract him from his underlying trauma.

Spoiler for Max and Trigger Warning for Self Harm up ahead: In Max we are shown that Knives bites his nails to the point of bleeding after discovering his sister. While it’s purely speculation, the inclusion of a bandage around Knives right arm could allude to some self harm occurring behind the scenes. Knowing he works with Conrad at this stage though, it could also suggest an undergoing of various experiments or tests.

Ep. 11 - 12 : Something to desire, someone to lose, somewhere to belong

And here comes the truly terrible pinnacle of Knives arc in S1, one I’d almost rather forget entirely. But like unraveling an onion while crying through it, at this point we get to the core of his design.

Right off the bat with the metamorphosis theme! Knives in the finale, represents a freshly emerged butterfly. His design signifies the birth of a whole new form. (He did jump out of his cocoon shaped coat so).

Many of the basic design ideas from episode three can be repeated here. Knives rejects humanity completely, going so much as to not wear anything not fashioned from his own skin. Knives takes some superior pride in his planthood. Though fitting for his character, there’s a bit of circular logic in how this is presented to us.

Orange takes a really interesting approach by making his ideal physical image the height of human desirablity, something so conventionally perfect to human standards.

Now If you’ve dabbled in art history you know, the obsession with the ideal human form in highly religious, mythical contexts and political settings is not really hard to find in classical art. However one distinct group really stands out when analysing Knives whole, thing, and that’s the Ancient Greeks (and Romans, if I may add dear Lady Justice.)

“Classical Greek sculpture aimed to depict the human form in its most beautiful and balanced state.” - Anna Gustafsson via The Collector, (2024)

Like most archaic societies, art was made as a tribute to gods, goddesses and heroes, this was naturally no different for Ancient Greece, particularly in sculpted works. My main idea turns to the aesthetic conventions of these sculptures, with idealistic realism of the athletic human form being the ultimate goal.

The Ancient Greek obsession with the human body and athletic skill was so prevalent during the Classical era, that athletes competed in the nude to essentially show off. Damn.

The artistic resemblance is something I find noteworthy, and if I’m being honest deeply appreciated as an art kid who loved theory more than the actual art-making, a lot.

And oh how well it works with this particularly narcissistic iteration of this character. While I’m not stupid, and aware that Orange could simply have made the decision to get some money out of reliable ‘ol fan service, it’s also not, completely out of character. It’s incredible funny how Knives finds a sense of safety in being different, and yet, he couldn’t fall any harder into the trap of conformity any harder if he tried. Finding his insecurities around his planthood in his childhood pretty easily, it makes sense why subconsciously he’d find pride, in not being human, but being human better than everyone else actually. I wouldn’t expect less from someone who renounces humanity while using quotes from checks notes the fucking BIBLE.

There’s a sadness to this idea as well. While I do think Knives finds some form of solace in being ‘perfect’, his objectification because of this decision almost feels like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Knives does becomes an idea, a dream, an exotic fantasy, for better or worse. In my opinion, this type of attention, is not something he’d want, but it makes me wonder, with his cult and all, how different from Vash he really is, simply masking the want to be admired, accepted, desired by humans with indifference and superiority.

P.S I also just like how this reference insinuates he’s so fucking dramatic and living life with a bizarre form of theatre kid main character syndrome ANYWHO-

It’s here we see even in his design, Knives starts to adopt the same human mentalities that triggered this existential flight or fight response of his to begin with.

What really supports this point for me, is the fact his design changes (or is ‘revealed’) after he makes the conscious choice to cut the rope of Vahs’s grappling hook, dropping him into the tank below. (Someone else please pick up on this umbilical cord symbolism, because i do not have the space to do it in this essay! Sublime level of detail.)

I’d like to first thank my bestie and much more knowledgeable beta reader @rainbowfoam for bringing this next point to my attention. There’s really a constant push and pull between this idea of rejection and subconscious embracing of humanity. The whole concept of his ‘nudity’ also could be tied back to the book of Genesis. Knives reverts to a state back before the forbidden fruit of knowledge was bitten. After all, Adam and Eve had not known shame before committing this sinful act.

So, Knives presents himself as this pure, unadulterated form, even if he has already had a bite of the apple, even if the knowledge of Tesla and humanity has injected him with shame and fear. He knows, but he wants to desperately go back to when he didn’t. When he was but a child under God’s gaze. This driving force to go back, and rewrite his story is an integral part of his character in S1.

Meaning and what can be associated with humanity in each brother’s eyes is actually incredibly important. Ya know, one of the obvious conflicts that drive Trigun!

Humanity to Vash means, change, a chance to grow. Humanity to Knives, means violence and betrayal and exploitation etc.

So when we see Knives reject human norms like human clothing to the best of his ability in Trigun Stampede Season 1, we are seeing a Knives that is still emotionally affected and steered by his childhood fears enough to consciously reject his perceived idea of humanity. We are seeing a Knives that is still consciously driven by his hatred for/fear of humanity more than his concern for his sisters.

And that fear for what he believes humanity stands for, unfortunately, is a part of him. It is a part of who he is after Tesla. Take that away…and you don’t have any semblance of Nai anymore.

So why I say having Knives in that silly ass plant marked under suit exclusively, was such an incredible design choice is because it shows that Knives is at a middle point in his arc where yes he’s crossed the line to controlling, abusive but he still closely holds the genuine childhood fears of Nai to motivate him. He still holds the hopes of Nai with him. To reiterate, he’s prepared to do anything to rewrite his childhood, to give the child within himself another chance.

But that never happens and the reality that he can’t go back and recreate the love he felt on Ship 5, is staring him in the face as he hurtles to his death. It’s why some of his last words to Vash in the finale were so significant. Not all of Nai died when he saw Tesla. Nai truly died at July.

To conclude, a lot of the themes in Tristamp revolve around the formation of identity in this post-fall landscape, and how each character changes so rapidly. Knives is no exception to the very messy and adolescent struggle of being shoved into adulthood while still desperately, irrationally clinging to the frayed ends of an unattainable childhood. I think if there’s one character really let down by his dialogue, it’s this guy. I’ve come to hope that that too, was furthering this idea of him holding an invisible wall between the audience and his true character. (Quite a lot implies that the Knives of this season is a big fucking fraud but idk.) In that regard I love dissecting Knives specifically, because I find this iteration particularly enigmatic.

Part 2- Vash the Stampede

[silverskye13]

Are saints allowed to serve their paladins, or is it mostly a one-way street? Are saints allowed to exist and act when unasked for?

Hmm. This turned a little rambling I apologise. Also I end up saying the word "domain" a lot, so in lieu of finding a good place to explain what I mean by domain, I'll just say it before the cut.

A Saint's "domain" is the thing about the universe they've learned to manipulate, using the faith of the people that believe in them. For large gods who maybe always started as concepts [Order of Remembrance for example], the domain is a broad concept like memory. If memory is involved, it will pull apart the universe to affect it. However, if it wanted to do some kind of miracle [calling a paladin to capture someone maybe, or healing a terrible wound], if doing so would have no effect on its domain, it could not affect change. Smaller saints might have more niche concepts attached to them. [Ie, I have a headcanon VintageBeef's hels is a Saint of Slaughter/Butchery, and is best followed by people who do hoglin hunts in hels. His following is small, and he channels his power for only This Specific Thing, and can affect nothing else.]

I think it depends a bit on the deity in question, and how much deification they get, whether their power is a physical two-way link. Something they use with the same proficiency they put into others.

Small Saints who have basically no followers, and have little to no idea what they stand for, or why, are basically Just Guys. They are Guys powered by someone else's faith, who have interesting powers that manifest on occasion, and they have a habit of collecting very dedicated friend groups. But they are still, at the end of the day, Just Guys. They can act when unasked for, they can help their priests and paladins literally, physically, or do the miracle they want to do themselves, because at that point, everything about them is small and personal, and human. If your neighborhood pastor could work a miracle under a set of memorized rules, and sometimes shook your hand and let you do it too, they would be a Small Saint.

[That's not to say a Small Saint isn't still powerful. They are people who can mess with the weave of the world. Anyone not prepared for that is going to get the shock of their life. Anyone who isn't a Saint who is channeling that, is going to suffer consequences. It's just that, a Small Saint could maybe channel through one person at a time, and they might not even know how they did it. *Coughing noises, glances at plot*]

Medium? Saints? Saints that have a following, that have too many people to have an individual relationship with, get a little more unfathomable and constrained. At some point, messing with the universe has repercussions for everyone. If the Hermits had a whole city of followers, they would default to this. The world looks different to them. They can see the edges, where infinity and coding lies. In hels, a Saint who reaches that point stops seeing people as people, and they themselves stop looking and feeling like people. They can affect several people at once. They can justify things like punishment, and creating a moral code for people to follow. Being able to balance between the universe and hels is more important. They could still intervene on someone's behalf, but it's no longer a personal decision, and now something measured in loyalty, faith, prayer. You are one person, and your Saint is changing the world for a dozen of you, but power has limits.

[I imagine Evil X is somewhere around here. He has creative mode. He knows he can break the world to his will. But he also still has a physical body, and can just walk across the room and move something. He's still a person, he's just a person who's taken on the Uncanny, and knows there are no true repercussions to his actions. He's not a kind Saint, if he can rightly be called one. I imagine he was very destructive when he discovered his power, and had to mellow out over time. His domain has to do with chaos, and breaking things for the sake of breaking them. He had to learn it's a power he can use, not a power he has to use.]

Big Saints [and gods], get eldritch. They don't really exist as people anymore. Maybe they went on pilgrimage one day and never returned, but an echo of them has manifested as something people can tap into now. Maybe they stayed a person as long as possible, but at some point so much faith elevated them into something Different, a change a simpler more human them would have feared, but they no longer remember that simpler person anymore. Instead they are the impulses and principles they ruled themselves and others by, and their only memories have narrowed into parables and legends that only show hints of the person they used to be. They can give their power to a select few people willingly, but they no longer go out of their way to intercede in their daily life. They have gifted a piece of themselves to someone, because that person can be trusted to use it well, but they won't mourn that person if they leave. One person is small in the eye of the universal.

To me, Helsknight's Saint of Blood and Steel is a large, old Saint, with a congregation that deals best with the impersonal. They are people looking to be swords in the hands of the divine, so their Saint treats them as such. If the Saint had no congregation, as a deity always looking for a sword, they would act on their own until they found someone willing, but they would always be looking for a sword.

I also feel like some of how personal and two-way the connection is, is dependent on the nature of the domain.

Tanguish, if he ever becomes a true Saint with a following, doesn't know what his domain is. All he knows is, Helsknight promised to protect him, and so when he needed help, he Called, and Helsknight Answered. It was terrifying. He pulled a thread of the universe and used it to change what should have happened. If Helsknight were suffering, as someone who is human, who can't even see the threads they're pulling, Tanguish would do everything he could to help, and if he stumbled into his domain along the way, he would use it for that purpose. The power he has, whatever it is, can be genuinely harmful when used, because helsmets were not made to feel the full force of the universe -- something that already seeks to devour them on principle. He is someone who just found out that sometimes, seemingly randomly, he touches a person and they're struck by lightning. Whether they willingly touched him, and whether he would willingly take the lightning strike in their place, isn't exactly the current issue.

The God of Memory, whatever gives the Blue Lady her paladin powers, probably feels small and personal despite coming from a large idea and probably never being human. Its domain is Remembrance, and that implies something that tries to be personal despite how Eldritch it is. When its power is channeled, it always harms the channeler grandly and dramatically [the Blue Lady saying a small prophesy and being blinded by ink is a very light repercussion. It doesn't know what humanity is. It doesn't know what a body is. Or eating or drinking, or that someone who needs crutches to walk can't just drop them and not hurt muscle and bone. It just knows its will is needed so it acts. It is learning. It doesn't want to lose its followers, because it wants to form long, lasting memories of them. But it will break a lot of people before it learns limits.]

Meanwhile, the Saint of Blood and Steel definitely started as a person. They have an origin point [the plot will get there someday], they even have a Known Ascension. But they are a Saint to things like Vengeance and Justice, distant concepts that are best when they're not personal, a swinging sword that Exacts A Price. Channeling them will damage because the nature of the power is damaging, but they temper that by only calling people for a cause worthy of dying for. If there is a chance jumping off a cliff will break your legs, they will first guarantee there's a reason to get to the bottom. The Saint of Blood and Steel knows who they are, and knows that every knight or paladin or priest to pass through their halls is, almost certainly, doomed. They might have tried to save a few, long ago when they were something closer to human, but now they know a universal truth: whether they succeed or fail in saving anyone, whoever served them will have done it willingly, and there will always be someone along to replace them. When a sword is broken, you do not mourn the sword. You pick up another. Though you may grow melancholy for something cared for, now lost.

No matter how large, or loved, or powerful a Saint is, the Universe will always be more so. It has to be. If every helsmet had to become a Saint to hold a fraction of the potential a Hermit has, and every Hermit has faith in the universe, in the fact that it exists, that it speaks to them when they fight the monsters in the world, that it loves them, the Universe will always be bigger than even the largest hels-born Saint could fathom.

[belle-g34]

i’m very interested in matt’s relationship with being daredevil and what the daredevil suit represents in the context of trauma and trauma response

⚠️this post will contain spoilers for ep 7 of DDBA.⚠️

TL;DR at the end.

now, clearly this needs way more in depth scholarship, but forgive me for riffing off the of the top of my head in this moment. in episode 7, we continued to build this idea of matt living the life he is “supposed” to want: the nice apartment, the good job, the beautiful girlfriend. but hidden on the roof is not just one, but many daredevil masks. he keeps the key with him, knowing that all it will take is the smallest push and he will return to it.

his relationship with the suit reminds me almost of that of an addict and their object of addiction. matt is being pushed to think about the concept of the suit in interesting ways by heather, and in this latest episode, when she says he’s been tamping down trauma, he says that he’s been trying to fight it. this is the same narrative he has regarding daredevil and the daredevil suit. on some degree, i’d argue that daredevil is a manifestation of matt’s trauma, on top of being his deepest darkest self. i’m reminded of maggie’s line in s3 where she tells karen that once, at night, matt called out and no one came. matt also tells father lantom that he thought God let him hear the prayers and the calls for help so he could do something about it. matt in this scenario is both the victim and the savior. he called out for help and didn’t receive it, so he never called out again, but he also nearly kills himself to respond to the calls to everyone else. matt himself, even if subconsciously, views the suit and the identity of daredevil as this trauma that is in the way of his relationship with heather. I wonder though if the suit is less his trauma given form, but rather the consequences of that trauma.

now back to DDBA, I think it’s interesting how we’ve seen this entire season matt’s relationship with daredevil change. in episode 2 he begs the police officer not to do this, not to bring this side of him out. he’s trying so hard to do right by foggy and foggy’s memory, in contrast of the matt of s3 that wanted to “die as the devil”. but, like any addict, matt cannot stay away from the suit. I think his choice to put on the suit at the end of the episode 6 was a noble one, but I think it was also him taking the excuse. rescuing a young girl is an excuse foggy would understand, that would make it okay.

from here, now that muse is dead, I would almost expect that he begins to justify each time he wears the suit with what foggy would want him to do. he cannot reckon with the fact that being daredevil is what he wants. it is who he is, and he cannot get rid of it (or we’d never have a show lol) and so much of this is about finding the balance. I somewhat see the matt of ddba as the inverse of s3 in that way. in s3 he turns completely into the mask, whereas in ddba, he turns completely away from it. but, as we’ve seen, neither approach is sustainable, so i’m curious to see how he handles it moving forward and how, with the external pressure of heather, he begins to understand just what the mask means to him.

apologies if that makes no sense I literally just wrote basically my train of thought upon finishing ddba episode 7. I have so much more to say but I can’t collect my thoughts. it’s past my bed time, i’m delirious.

TL;DR - The daredevil suit as a physical manifestation of matt’s trauma response and his addictive relationship with it.

[awkward-walking-potato]

Hello! I'd like to request sfw/nsfw alphabet for Wade Wilson please! Your fics are really good

SFW Alphabet:

A - Affection:

Wade is incredibly affectionate, but in his own strange way. Expect playful teasing, exaggerated gestures, and over-the-top compliments. He’ll never shy away from showing you love, even in public.

B - Best Friend:

You’re his partner-in-crime—literally. Wade loves having a sidekick or someone to bounce his crazy ideas off of. He’s loyal to the core and would do anything to keep you safe, even if it means annoying you half to death.

C - Cuddles:

Wade loves cuddles, but they might turn into playful wrestling matches or tickle fights. He’s all about physical closeness, especially when it makes him feel grounded and loved.

D - Domestic:

Wade in a domestic setting is chaotic but sweet. He’ll cook (though it might not be edible), attempt to clean (probably leaving more of a mess), and randomly serenade you with ridiculous songs while doing chores.

E - Excitement:

Everything with Wade is an adventure. He thrives on excitement and unpredictability, so being with him means you’ll never be bored. Expect surprise dates, random road trips, and unexpected (and often dangerous) escapades.

F - Flirting:

Wade’s flirting is constant, outrageous, and hilarious. He’ll make inappropriate jokes, use cheesy pickup lines, and always try to get you to laugh, all while genuinely admiring you.

G - Gifts:

He’s the kind of guy who gives you odd but meaningful gifts—think a grenade shaped like a heart or a plushie of his favorite X-Men. Wade’s gifts are usually a combination of thoughtful and utterly bizarre.

H - Hugs:

Hugging Wade is like getting tackled by a hyperactive puppy. He’s warm, a little overwhelming, and never lets go until you’re both out of breath from laughing.

I - Intimacy (Emotional):

While Wade puts up a tough, joking front, he’s deeply emotional underneath. He craves genuine connection and trusts you with his vulnerabilities, even if he hides them behind humor most of the time.

J - Jealousy:

Wade is surprisingly possessive when it comes to people he loves. His jealousy manifests in dramatic, humorous ways—he’ll start over-the-top rivalries with anyone he perceives as competition, but it’s all in good fun.

K - Kisses:

Kissing Wade is always an experience. He’s spontaneous, and his kisses can range from soft and sweet to passionate and wild. Sometimes he’ll sneak kisses mid-battle just because he can.

L - Lazy Days:

On lazy days, Wade loves binge-watching trashy TV shows, stuffing his face with snacks, and lying on the couch in a cuddle pile with you. It’s the rare quiet time that he cherishes more than he’d admit.

M - Mornings:

Wade is not a morning person. He’ll grumble, pull you back into bed, and try to convince you to stay in bed with him for "just five more minutes"—which, in Wade time, could mean hours.

N - Nicknames:

He’ll come up with the most ridiculous and creative nicknames for you, often changing them daily. They’re always endearing, if not a little embarrassing in public.

O - Open:

Wade is an open book, often oversharing or giving you way more information than necessary. He has no filter, but it’s part of his charm. He doesn’t hide anything from you—emotionally or otherwise.

P - Protective:

Wade is fiercely protective of you, often to the point of going overboard. He’d take a bullet, sword, or bomb for you without a second thought, and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, even if he’s a little reckless about it.

Q - Quirks:

Everything about Wade is quirky. He talks to himself (and sometimes the audience), breaks the fourth wall constantly, and finds humor in the darkest situations. Being with him means embracing the chaos.

R - Romantic:

Wade is a hopeless romantic, though his idea of romance might include explosions or elaborate stunts. He genuinely tries to sweep you off your feet, even if his methods are unconventional.

S - Supportive:

He’s your biggest cheerleader, always encouraging you to follow your dreams and be the best version of yourself. Wade might joke around, but when it comes to your happiness, he’s completely sincere.

T - Trust:

Once you’ve earned Wade’s trust, he’s loyal to a fault. He doesn’t trust easily due to his past, but once he lets you in, he’s all in, trusting you with his life (and heart).

U - Understanding:

Despite his chaotic nature, Wade is surprisingly understanding and empathetic. He’s been through a lot, so he’s patient and supportive when it comes to your own struggles.

V - Vulnerable:

Wade hides his vulnerabilities with humor, but when he’s feeling particularly down, he’ll turn to you for comfort. In those rare moments, he’ll let his guard down completely and let you see the softer side of him.

W - Wild:

Wade is wild in every sense of the word. He’s unpredictable, daring, and always full of energy. Being with him means embracing the wild ride that comes with his lifestyle.

X - X-Factor:

Wade’s X-factor is his resilience. No matter how many times life knocks him down, he gets back up, and he always does it with a smile. His ability to keep going, no matter what, is one of the things that makes him truly remarkable.

Y - Yearning:

Wade is the kind of guy who craves love and connection, even if he acts like he’s fine on his own. Deep down, he’s always yearning for that special someone who truly understands him.

Z - Zany:

Everything Wade does is zany, off-the-wall, and unpredictable. You never know what he’ll say or do next, but that’s part of the fun of being with him.

NSFW Alphabet:

A - Aftercare:

Despite his usual chaotic demeanor, Wade is surprisingly sweet after sex. He’ll make sure you’re comfortable, might crack a joke to lighten the mood, and will offer cuddles or snacks if you’re up for it.

B - Body Part:

Wade loves everything about your body, but he’s particularly drawn to your butt. Expect cheeky (literally) comments and playful grabs whenever he’s nearby.

C - Cum:

Wade is pretty open about everything, including this. He finds it hilarious to make jokes about it during the moment, but he’s also surprisingly considerate about cleanup.

D - Dirty Talk:

Wade is all about dirty talk—expect a constant stream of filthy, outrageous, and sometimes downright hilarious comments during sex. He’s got no filter, and he’ll say whatever comes to his mind.

E - Experience:

Wade has been around and has definitely picked up some tricks along the way. He’s confident and adventurous in bed, always willing to try something new to keep things interesting.

F - Favorite Position:

He doesn’t have a favorite because he loves switching it up constantly. Whether it’s something classic or a more creative position, Wade’s all about variety and fun.

G - Goofy:

Sex with Wade is never boring—it’s always filled with laughter, jokes, and playful teasing. He doesn’t take anything too seriously, which makes everything feel relaxed and fun.

H - Hair:

Wade isn’t particular about body hair—he’s seen it all and doesn’t care much about appearances. He might joke about it, but he’s really into whatever makes you feel comfortable.

I - Intimacy (Physical):

Even though Wade’s usually joking around, he’s surprisingly attentive in bed. He’ll make sure you’re enjoying yourself and will do whatever it takes to please you, though he’ll do it with a playful twist.

J - Jack Off:

Wade is open about his masturbation habits and will probably make jokes about it at the most inappropriate times. He’s also not shy about letting you watch if you’re into that.

K - Kink:

Wade is open to just about anything and loves trying new things. Whether it’s role-playing, light bondage, or something a bit more extreme, he’s always down to experiment and see what works for both of you.

L - Location:

Anywhere and everywhere is fair game with Wade. He loves the thrill of spontaneous encounters, whether it’s in a bedroom, an alley, or somewhere completely unexpected.

M - Motivation:

Wade’s always ready to go, but what really gets him in the mood is seeing you happy and confident. He’s turned on by your excitement and loves knowing that he can make you feel good.

N - No:

While Wade’s open to almost anything, he’s respectful of boundaries. He’ll never push you to do something you’re uncomfortable with and is surprisingly understanding about your limits.

O - Oral:

Wade is a fan of giving and receiving oral, and he’s very enthusiastic about it. He loves the reactions he gets from you and will often tease or prolong the moment just to drive you wild.

P - Pace:

Wade’s pace is usually fast and playful, but he can slow down if the moment calls for it. He’s adaptable

Q - Quickies:

Wade loves quickies. The thrill of sneaking in a spontaneous moment of passion, especially in unexpected places, excites him. Whether it's before a mission or during a mundane task, he’s always up for some fast-paced fun.

R - Risk:

Wade is all about taking risks and loves the idea of getting caught (or not caring if you do). He’s adventurous and doesn’t shy away from more dangerous or thrilling locations for your escapades. That said, he’s still mindful of your boundaries and ensures you’re on board with any risky play.

S - Stamina:

Thanks to his healing factor, Wade has insane stamina. He can go for hours, multiple rounds, and still be ready for more. He’ll make it a point to match your energy, keeping things exciting and varied so neither of you ever gets bored.

T - Toys:

Wade is a big fan of incorporating toys into the mix. He loves experimenting with all sorts of gadgets and devices, and he’s not afraid to raid an adult store with you. Whether it’s vibrating toys, restraints, or something more exotic, he’s always eager to add a little extra spice to the fun.

U - Unusual:

Sex with Wade is rarely traditional. He’s into trying new, unusual things and finds excitement in the unexpected. Whether it’s an unconventional position, a strange location, or some absurd roleplay scenario, Wade thrives on making things weird (in the best way possible).

V - Volume:

Wade is loud during sex. He’s constantly cracking jokes, making exaggerated noises, or offering running commentary about what’s happening. He’s vocal in every sense—whether he’s giving praise, making dirty jokes, or just making you laugh, expect a lot of noise.

W - Wild:

Wade’s sexual appetite and style are wild, untamed, and always unpredictable. He’s game for almost anything and loves pushing the boundaries of what you’d expect in bed. His wild side keeps things exciting, making every experience feel new and exhilarating.

X - X-Ray:

Wade is completely open about his body, even with his scars and imperfections. He makes light of his appearance but always reassures you with humor and confidence that what matters is how he feels about you. He’s also obsessed with how much you enjoy his body and won’t hesitate to ask (or joke about) what parts of him you like best.

Y - Yearning:

Wade is deeply passionate and craves closeness. Beneath all his jokes, there’s an intense need for affection and physical connection. He’s always eager to be near you, whether it’s through playful teasing, affectionate touches, or full-on passion, and his yearning comes through in every intimate moment.

Z - Zzz:

After all the excitement, Wade is more likely to pass out from exhaustion than drift off peacefully. He’s always full of energy, so when he finally crashes, it’s sudden. You might find him snoring almost immediately after, tangled up with you in the aftermath of all the fun

[alicedrawslesmis]

it seems to me pretty obvious that Tempest Within A Brain and Javert Derailed are mirrors of each other. One thing we notice about Valjean that may consist a flaw is that he's too introspective

These two thoughts [to escape men and to return to God] were so closely intertwined in his mind that they formed but a single one there; both were equally absorbing and imperative and ruled his slightest actions. In general, they conspired to regulate the conduct of his life; they turned him towards the gloom; they rendered him kindly and simple; they counselled him to the same things. Sometimes, however, they conflicted.

while Javert (we'll find this out later so no quotes yet) is a man who has trouble seeing below the surface. He abhors thinking and reflection and more practically in the end, he has trouble literally feeling Marius's pulse and understanding the things that can happen inside of a house? This is a genuinely incredible detail about him and about the concept of buildings in Hugolandia that building interiors sometimes physically manifest people's interiors. Javert does not know what happens inside of a home. Rather tragically I may add, because he never really had a "proper" one.

In Déraillé he is forced to look inwards and see he has a soul and a heart and is capable of kindness and of love and isn't just a pure representative of real world mundane law. He isn't made of stone no matter how much he may want to.

Here's from Fantine's arrest:

Javert up to that moment had remained erect, motionless, with his eyes fixed on the ground, cast athwart this scene like some displaced statue, which is waiting to be put away somewhere.[...] From time to time she paused, and tenderly kissed the police agent’s coat. She would have softened a heart of granite; but a heart of wood cannot be softened.

And here is from Derailed:

Terrible situation! to be moved. To be made of granite, and doubt! To be the statue of punishment cast all of one piece in the mould of the law, and suddenly to perceive that you have under your bronze bosom something absurd and disobedient, which almost resembles a heart!

Now for Valjean: He is faced here with a question impossible to be resolved kindly. Valjean represents divine goodness in the same way Javert represents the law. On the one hand, ignoring Champmathieu means saving the people of the town, maybe even Cosette, on the other, Champathieu will endure the 'artificial hell' in Valjean's place. There is no possible answer that leads to universal good. So Valjean makes the choice to sacrifice himself, suffer a symbolic (and later a false) death by turning himself in and then jumping onto the sea.

Like I said, it's important to understand that Les Mis is interested in symmetries. Beginnings that mirror endings, people who go toward evil and people who go toward good. Miners that work to change society and miners that work to undermine it. Paris above, the sewers below. "justice" and Justice. Hougoumont at Waterloo and the Barricade during the june rebellion.

This also got me thinking that the reason there's a certain kinship between Javert and Éponine is because they form an opposing pair with Valjean-Cosette. Valjean interacting with Montparnasse like Javert interacts with Marius, you know what I mean? It is absolutely no wonder a book full of cycles and mirrors has exactly 365 chapters, starts on a short little paragraph foreword and ends on a poem with the verse "Comme la nuit se fait lorsque le jour s'en va."

[jaywantstosleep]

tgcf, a reflection.

it's about opposite halves; "body in the abyss, heart in paradise" (Xie Lian, vol. I, ch. 1) had to be an oxymoron. i noticed how it manifests itself throughout the novel, both its sintactic structure and its semanthic implications; in my opinion, it's the essence of the story.

so, Xie Lian enshrines the grave of a ghost he himself struck down on a bridge with his reflection: body in the abyss, heart in paradise, or 身在无间，心在桃源. 无间 is the avīci or worst level of Buddhist hell: 无间 translates to no space/rest. hours before his death, the ghost had declared that such an abyss is none other than the human world. paradise or 桃源 literally means "peach blossom spring," which refers to a utopian, hidden land from a poem by Tao Yuanming. in the poem, a man comes to this land of peach blossoms by chance, marvels at the eternal peace that reigns there, and returns to share the location to the world, yet the place is gone.

my interpretation is as follows: while the physical body and everything tangible suffers incessantly, one's heart, 心 which is also the spirit/nature of something, has to reach, also incessantly, for such a paradise which is nowhere since it's not a real place but a state of mind we all develop individually and we call it freedom.

Xie Lian is condemned to live up to his own precept. the worst tragedy at one point is that he cannot die, so he's unable to escape the abyss of perpetual torture, a gradual one that is triggered by his first hubris. Xie Lian oscillates between being the sacrificial lamb of the Heavens (he does, indeed, share several characteristics with the messianic archetype) to the one who carries the axe as a result of the corruption of his body, soul and morals. and it's not only in him that the phrase manifests itself. other characters, such as Shi Qingxuan, Yin Yu, Xuan Ji, Jian Lan, the Four Calamities or Jun Wu become both victims and victimizers of their own 无间, carefully interweaving stories into a single work quite similar to greek tragedies of fatal destiny, such as Oedipus or Prometheus in chains. the author further plays with this dual and contradictory nature of the oxymoron in individual scenes, aided by visceral, folkloric and epic symbolism (i'll reflect on my favorite scenes in a near future). furthermore, a brilliant narrative parallelism is created between Xie Lian and Bai Wuxiang, whose mask is fittingly with one half smiling and the other half crying to project this madly antithesis onto Xie Lian, hiding any human traits he may still have.

to all this, the phrase raises the question of the paradox of Theseus; with so many irremediable changes, what makes you you? in the novel, more than 800 years pass since the death of the ghost on the bridge. Xie Lian and Hua Cheng are in front of a campfire on the seashore. Xie Lian tells him: "to me, the one basking in infinite glory is you; the one fallen from grace is also you" (vol. IV, chap. 63). Xie Lian doesn't mean that such opposites to which the self is deconstructed and subjected conform one whole exclusively, for that's but the result of the tangible 无间, but what we do with it. he, at the climax of his corruption, managed to remain true to himself and stop a catastrophe thanks to a small gesture of kindness that nevertheless describes something much bigger. "i want to understand your everything," Xie Lian continues; though transient, both opposing halves deserve to be loved equally. that man who handed him a bamboo hat loved him, for a few seconds, with wholeness. the 桃源 perchance can be found cathartically; the 桃源 is the eternal faith towards oneself. absolutely no one fought Xie Lian's battles but him, literal and figurative, nor did anyone had to. it was enough to believe in him, and to make him believe that he can believe in his own freedom again. suddenly, what's tragic transforms (again, a contrary) into a miracle: Xie Lian, thank heavens, cannot die. as for him and his shared fortune with Bai Wuxiang, they bifurcate in the end, both "endings" complementing each other, in spite of everything.