#hmm idk what to tag this

[youcalledmebabe]

some of the most thought provoking bits I read in Looking For The Good War + a few thoughts

“Fish stories, tall tales, exaggerations—war has always had an uneasy relationship with the truth.”

“But once soldiers become symbols, abstractions available for political ends, we deny them the very humanity we claim to celebrate.”

“It is much easier to tell a sentimental war story with a happy ending, in which valor eclipses causes and reconciliation triumphs over everything—a comedy, in other words—than it is to tell another, unsentimental kind of story.” <- this is like the tldr of Points. so much easier to ride off into the sunset playing baseball and leave the Germans as worthy foes than to check out what comes after or reckon with the inhumanity in people that are a lot like us.

“Sometimes the veteran’s problem is that he remembers all too well.”

Quoting from The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit: “It is as necessary to forget it now as it was to learn it in the first place. They ought to begin wars with a course in basic training and end them with a course in basic forgetting.”

“[McNamara’s] story illustrates many things: the slipperiness of beginnings and ends, the refusal of war to stand still long enough to be shaped into a coherent story, the ambient fog that obscures causes and consequences as well as ends and means. It also testifies to the dubious efficacy of the quest for resolution or absolution.” <- thought a lot about parachute infantry and how it resists narrative in so many ways, and how that makes it a more honest portrayal of war than band of brothers.

“Only gradually did the worship of the veterans of World War II begin to reflect the antidemocratic impulse Emerson insisted lay behind hero worship, by allowing us to celebrate an archetype of stoic humility rather than a readily identifiable individual. The practice of making soldiers larger than life dominates our culture today and effectively prevents true empathy. World War II veterans gradually became objects of generation who no longer needed the reality, the complexity, the ambivalence—in short, the humanity—that Pyle and others bestowed on them during the war. This is the real erasure of the fiftieth anniversary mythology…” <- to me this is what happened to dick winters. the show dick and the dick you learn about seeking outside material are a symbol and a human being respectively. but also I do think BoB did a great job in granting humanity to many of the characters (Joe and Web especially). so I’m of two minds about it.

overall this was an incredibly interesting read. honestly a must for the consumer of World War Two mythology. Ambrose gets wacked a bunch (yay) and Sledge’s memoir is brought up as an example of the unsentimental war story. I would LOVE to hear the author’s thoughts on parachute infantry. the book really added a lot of nuance to my understanding of the immediate post war culture in America and how much the mythology has obscured the reality. there’s also a section of recommended reading at the end that I’m very excited to dive into. and this bonus excerpt has planted the seed of my next project, the joedyssey:

“The warrior’s solitude becomes the chief subject of the Odyssey, which traces the circuitous homeward path of Odysseus cast adrift in a postwar world of isolation.”

[bluewolfangel01]

Lucifer: "Mc what are you doing?"

Mc: "nothing."

Lucifer: ...

Lucifer: "Beel, explain."

Beel: "They asked to sit on my shoulders to be tall."

Lucifer: "I see now. And why is it that you wanted to be tall Mc?"

Mc: "A strange innate desire for height and the high ground."

Lucifer: 😑

Lucifer: "And you agreed to this why Beel?"

Beel: "They made me food." 🥺

[kaiserouo]

if ordan karris wanna complete that sentence does that mean he also likes us?

[harryzroze]

concept art macaque >:3

concept art + weird doodles + ref for the second mask :3

I thought it was cool how the concept art looks like 2 faces a little because of the way it’s being ripped off so ayeee sneak a lil angst in there

[mspreciosa]

I made a picrew for a desk/bullet journal setup! If you make one and feel like posting it, I would love to see what combination you come up with :) I also definitely used bujo themes from actual sticker packs in my shop lol

This is my first time making one and I ran into some stuff that wasn’t covered on the tutorials I used, so if anyone is interested in a couple of tips I’d be happy to share

[navnae]

While Eddie is in the studio with his band he gets a phone call from Steve and an idea pops up in his head. He runs to the booth then places his phone up to the microphone and let Steve say the most lovey dovey stuff he could think off. Eddie let’s Steve know that his voice will definitely be put in one of the songs on the album, Steve tries to hold back a gasp of excitement because he’s always dreamed of being on a song and now that it could be one of Eddie’s his little heart was beating out of his chest. The smoothness of his voice set the tone right for the song which made Eddie lose his mind. Hearing Steve’s voice and his music at the same time did so much to his brain that he couldn’t process all of it.

[discountskeppy]

magic maaaaan

[confessionsdiaz]

hey dude are you okay you haven't posted about blood or queer cowboys in the last three days?

[love-3-crimes]

Day 11: 8-BIT

MARIO MARIO MARIO MARIO MARIO MARIO

[nibblingclovers]

I saw a few comments on my Catnap things and it keeps on getting likes and reblogs so I might as well draw another “redesign” of a smiling critter.

Here’s craftycorn, she was very hard to draw and I’m still kinda unsatisfied with it �� I tried making her look fragile with that under eye thing, and when I was drawing her she looks so… tired…. Poor girl, lol.

[overlordneptune]

I’ve been feeling real down about my art and artblock is making me want to cry and quit and give up on my dreams and aspirations but I truly peaked with my sebastian pfp so I’m posting it as a reminder that I’m not a failure. I’d appreciate if you don’t use these because I made them for myself, annnnd yeah. Anyways SEBASTIANNNNN‼️‼️

[figcookie01]

some queer and misc. analysis of trish una

im not sure if everyone saw my addition on this post here proposing the theory that bucciarati is a "parental" character in a non-traditional and queer sense, but i wanted to continue that discussion by talking about trish now.. since to me, she has what could be described as araki's first attempt at a true character arc for a female character, who simultaneously has elements that read like queer self-actualization that we watch unfold throughout the story.

for the purposes of this analysis, what is important to recognize about trish's introduction is how she is figuratively (team bucciaratis mission to protect her will get them closer to giorno/bucciaratis goals) and literally (his only known relative and identifiable factor at the start) linked to her father; she loses her mother (loving supportive family), is thrust into a horrifying world out to harm her for factors beyond her control, and is expected to blindly trust her father and by extension his men assigned to protect her. its no wonder she is so guarded, but my point here is how this establishes trish as starting off vulnerable and uncertain of the world she's inadvertently embroiled in beyond her safe upbringing with her mother.

nevertheless, trish is repeatedly described as having the willpower to figure these things out for her own sake, and a tenacity for these frightening events (la squadra's attacks) beyond that on the average person. both giorno and abbacchio mention it at different points (although abbacchios line is changed to narancias in the anime).

perhaps the most notable early example of her gumption is what she first says at the end of the grateful dead/beach boy fight. although bucciarati is not at liberty to answer her questions about both why she is being attacked, and also what the truth about these strange powers are.

however, id argue this is in line with what has been previously established for bucciarati's character to say; that it is up to trish herself to determine what these things mean, especially if they are related to her intrinsic identity.

this continues once they arrive in venice at the church, where we get to see trish's human vulnerability and fear. something i find particularly interesting is that, above all else, she is afraid of the uncertainty about what her father will be like and her personal fate.

this was one of the original things i wanted to talk about under a queer reading; for a queer person to come out to their family, there sometimes may be a concern about alienation of self. that is, coming out may, figuratively and literally, feel like you are revealing an entire side or life you live that they know nothing about. it may be about seeking approval from those who are, in many cases, a major part of life and your upbringing; she wants this week from hell to be over so she can return to some semblance of normalcy as herself, and her father is her only hope for this then.

something of particular note that bucciarati responds with is the probability that she will be given an entire new identity and forced to uproot even further, separated in even her most fundamental identity from the life she once led for the sake of her fathers comfort. even before the horrific reception her father gives her, trishs chances of being accepted as she is and loved are poor, a matter that might be incredibly common for people who try to express who they really are to unwelcoming families.

in trishs case, diavolo has literally never met her at all in any capacity, nor was he present in her upbringing; there is an extra factor of blind faith she must put into him. but he is the only biological "family" shes got; we will talk about nontraditional families and team bucciarati in a moment.

for this reason, bucciarati assures her (whether it is of his own doomed naivety or something else entirely) that a family will love you no matter what, because thats what they do. its a value that, up until that next moment, was something he himself had complete faith in.

as the rest of this arc shows though, that wasnt the case for trish, and never would be.

the events at san giorgio are the turning point for the entirety of vento aureo, with trish at the center of it all. and while this analysis is focused on trish, i wanted to include how it is also an earth-shattering moment for bucciarati, now faced with the culminating reality that the boss never gave a shit about family in the first place, and was only after his selfish desire to be unknowable. his attempted murder of his innocent civilian daughter invokes, to me, the needless cruelty some unaccepting families may have towards their children upon coming out or other realization that their child is both related to them, but not in a way they deem acceptable.

while it is laid out rather straightforwardly, this needless cruelty from biological family is relatable enough to change narancias mind and follow bucciarati after he betrays the gang; cementing once more that the only bonds of trust these characters have are with one another, since not even their biological families will care for them, let alone society.

at the restaurant in venice, narancia is still fearful about how trish will receive this absolute rejection, but her reception is surprisingly determined.

in the past, ive seen this scene used as the real point where trish as a female character finally comes into her own as a person, but as we previously established, she really had it in her all along, and it was only put to the test then (more on her innate courage in a moment).

trish, like the rest of team bucciarati, has no choice but to persist as she is, to exist as her own person even if all the odds are against her. not only this, but she tentatively decides to join in bucciaratis cause, a move that she explains as just to find her own origins or die trying. at this point, her motive might be concerned only with herself, but throughout the notorious BIG fight, that matter changes.

aboard the plane to sardinia, trish grapples with the willingness of team bucciarati to pursue diavolo, even after they no longer are required to protect her. i would say this is when she begins to feel comradery with the team and their cause to exist boldly in the face of someone all-powerful (diavolo) who wishes they were dead, rather than just being someone or something reduced to a secondary role (although how shes treated after this fight is another story...)

the moment trish realizes that she alone can save giorno (and therefore, the entirety of the team), she is struck with the final dilemma of whether or not she wants to get involved with all of these things on the front lines. she decides she does, without being fully conscious of it, because of the courage now awakened and manifested in-full as her stand, spice girl.

spice girl is unique as a stand for being one of the few that seems to have her own consciousness, although it really is a part of trishs consciousness that was always a part of her, now fully realized in literal, physical form.

the courage required for her stand to now fully manifest was in her all along, and under a queer lens this could be likened to a person now being able to live authentically as they are, the incongruity mostly solved now that she has grown as a person and has a (support) group/system of those who have had similar experiences.

notorious BIG concludes with trish delivering her own beatdown and saving all of the team, seeming to fully cement her as a force to be reckoned with within the jojo universe and her nuanced personhood that had been building this entire time.

all this in mind, this isnt to say that trish's character doesnt feel stunted by araki after this point, for no other reason than misogyny. her destruction rank-A level stand and fighting prowess is forgotten after they arrive in sardinia, and during the green day/oasis fight she is conveniently relegated to the caretaker position for narancia, even if giorno is the "healer" and her own stand stronger than his in combat. i would argue the biggest injustice towards trish as a fully fledged character was the enforcement of these stereotypically feminine roles on a character who, as weve just discussed, has learned to be confident, courageous, and unapologetically herself throughout the entirety of vento aureo.

when i first set out to write this post, i was concerned with talking about trish from an almost entirely queer angle. it evolved, then, into something much more full-bodied, with that being simply one lens you can apply to her character arc.

id love to discuss these things (and the stuff in my bucciarati analysis) at greater lengths, and also want to say that despite writing this over a period of time, i may have messed up my wording or made points that seem like reaches... none of this is meant to speak for the experiences of any real person, and are rather generalizations. i hope that regardless of these things, more people can see vento aureo for the narrative value i really think it has, especially to the queer fanbase who, including myself, may relate heavily to the subtextual experiences depicted.

special thanks to @fur-bee for going through this with me and giving me key insights and for my other friends to proofread and such :D

[cabin-spider-protector]

Elliott headcanons <3

Even after moving into the farmhouse, he still has his little pocket crab with him

Practically pleads with you to let him get a little tank enclosure for his crab

Every Monday when he goes to the beach, he let's the crab walk around a bit in the sand

Of course he takes great care to ensure the seagulls don't get too close

Also, sometimes he'll sit in his old cabin and look out the window, just reminiscing about the days when you used to trudge through rain and snow to visit him

A lot of his old diary and journal entries are still on his desk

The notes accurately archive the time in which elliott began to fall in love with you

There's even a journal entry for the first time he introduced himself to you

He had noted how interested he was in getting to know you more

Sometimes he winced at himself-- fearing that he may have seemed a bit too forward

But his anxieties are quickly subdued when he remembers how mutual the feeling was

When he notices the sun begin to dip in the sky, he knows it's time to head home

Sometimes on the way back he'll catch a glance of you while you're out doing various errands

He can't help but be overcome with adoration and love

He hurries home so that he can be back before you return

He'd hate for you to come home to an empty house

He takes care of tidying and dusting so you don't have to worry about it when you get home after a long day

He'd made you promise you wouldn't squash any spiders

"They're more scared of you than you are of them!" He'd always assure you

So if he was cleaning out some old forgotten corner or the cracks between the furniture, and one of the little spiders ran out, he'd make sure to safely cup it in his hands and carry it out into the woods

He probably does this dozens of times a week

You know how much it matters to him and wouldn't dream of going against your word

When you're finally home he'll shower you with love and tell you all about his time at the shore

Sometimes if he's found a particularly pretty shell, he'll give it to you as a gift

Sometimes he prefers to keep a little collection of them for various projects

Like making wind chimes or adornments for you

It's just a little hobby he has between spouts of writing inspiration

He'll try and keep it secret from you, but it's difficult for him because he just gets too excited and wants to tell you about everything he's proud of

Speaking of telling you about things he's proud of

He loves having you read his drafts

He takes so much inspiration from you and your life together

He likes seeing the way the corners of your lips quirk up approvingly when you recognize what had inspired him

Sometimes he'll add little blurbs of dialogue that are direct quotes of silly conversations you've had

He loves adding a little bit of your love into his work

It fuels him to continue

That's the reason he's always so inspired to write after helping you on the farm!

Seeing how happy he makes you inspires him in a way he never was while living in that lonely cabin

It's never a boring day with you around

Even if all you were doing was smelting ores, he'd gladly keep you company just to be in your presence

[blue-b-bro]

I may be delusional of course, but. Nandor and Guillermo have their tragic complicated romance, but Laszlo and Guillermo are married in a no romo way.

[sheetzking]

Been gettin back into gintama lately and tried some new brushes out !!

[navnae]

Everyone talks about Eddie being a biter and how cute and sweet it is when does it to Steve, like every now in then Eddie would give Steve a little nibble on his cheek which makes him laugh.

Fair.

But what about Eddie biting Steve and having no filter whatsoever. Meaning that whenever he bites Steve he genuinely leaves a mark and it fucking hurts. The man has some chompers on him so it’s very likely that in the midst of him biting Steve that he’s just went ham at least once. Of course Eddie doesn’t mean to hurt Steve but now they have limits when it comes to the biting chaos.