#hmmmm hmmmmmmm hm

[batmanego]

i've been thinking a lot about the racial politics in RDR2 lately, as the racial politics of that time in america have always compelled me (and were directly relevant to my family) and i like RDR2 and i've been toying with the idea of a larger essay on it but i'm worried that i'll never finish it. so if i don't i'm making this post just so i can get my basic thoughts on the wapiti tribe down on paper.

the wapiti tribe is uniquely frustrating to me as it's clear that RDR2 was trying to make up for their godawful treatment of natives in RDR1 and be at least somewhat conscious of the state of things for natives at the time, but it's just.. so... lukewarm.

i'm always going to have issues with the usage of fictionalized tribes. i have issues with the miagani in batman. i have issues with the red star tribe of red dead revolver, the precursor to the red dead redemption games we have now. and i have issues with the wapiti of rdr2. the wapiti are a fictional tribe, yes, but they pull heavily from the real-world lakota people. they speak lakȟótiyapi (despite 'wapiti' being a shawnee word???? i suppose it could be an exonym, but i digress). their existence is based around the lakota people, but the lakota themselves are absent from the game. why? why make a fictionalized tribe and then pull from a real one? so you don't have to worry about getting sued? that's cheap. that's lazy. work with the tribe. it can be done. native people are not ephemeral or uncontactable.

when i think about the wapiti tribe i can't help but contemplate the fictional native (or, more accurately, the fictional native tribe as opposed to the individual), and the comfort it brings to the colonizers. the fictional native and the dead native go hand in hand. the dead, extinct native is suffering in perpetuity, immortalized in time as a martyr to the indigenous cause. being killed by the white man forever.

the fictional native, too, often falls into this trap, particularly in games like RDR2. people love to cry over the dead native (and the fictional native) and mourn "what could have been". this is in part because the dead native (and the fictional native) require no more work on the part of the colonizer. the dead native (and the fictional native) do not call for land back. they do not call for reparations. they do not live among you as people, and so you are not required to see them as such. they allow you to confront your history, but gently. they give you the opportunity to turn away when you are uncomfortable. the dead native (and the fictional native) does not intrude on the workings of everyday life for the colonizer. the alive native (the real-life native), on the other hand, inconveniences the colonizer with demands of monetary assistance, land back, and forces the colonizer to continually acknowledge and live with the fact that they are living the way they are in no small part due to the suffering of the native.

i think often of kim tallbear, a professor of native studies at the university of alberta and author of native american DNA: tribal belonging and the false promise of genetic science's quote: “i think what people are scrambling for is this ancient noble savage or noble indian in their bloodline. they’re not very interested in contemporary indigenous people who are alive, who are living in a still very colonial society at a severe income and class disadvantage, people living with multiple generations of trauma from residential schools, from other forms of discrimination and systematic exclusion” (emphasis mine).

this isn't to say that depictions of the real life suffering that people went through should be ignored or written out of the narrative. i'm grateful that RDR2 acknowledged (in their own lukewarm way) the suffering of the time. but with the rest of the racial politics of RDR2 (see: arthur saying he understands the wapiti because hes an outlaw?????? see: arthur's general unawareness of racism as a structure of society) it feels often to me while playing that the devs, while making a historical game, are uncomfortable with actually engaging with history in any meaningful way.

in any case, i'm one person and i'm by no means an expert on the native experience (being racially white and raised away from the culture and only beginning to try to reconnect some 7 or 8 years ago) and i would genuinely like to hear other people's thoughts on this, particularly lakota people.

[thelingering]

hmm...

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[ossidae-passeridae]

Me: huh, it's interesting that Muir specifically mentions that Harrow is the 311th Reverend Mother of the Locked Tomb, that seems very specific. I should look that up.

Me: *looks it up*

Me: [loudly redacted cursing]

--------

311 is one of those special numerology numbers, because Muir loves to layer meaning into everything like she's making an onion.

Specifically, 311 in numerology is what's called an "angel number". (HM)

One in these numbers carries the meaning of new beginnings. (HMM)

Three in these numbers is associated with harmony, balance, and joy. (HMMMM)

Putting this together and 311 in numerology means that change is coming, get ready for enlightenment whether you want it or not. (HMMMMMMM)

(Bonus: 11 is considered to be a powerful number relating to "twin flames" aka two halves of the same soul who've been split apart and straining to come together-- oh look it's necromancers and their cavaliers it's the gnosticism again layered inside all the other gnosticism once more we are an onion) (HMMMMMMMMMMM)

[dlnorampage]

.

Hm. It's 10pm but it is still quite nice out .... and will be for the next few days...

[ails-of-ardor-au]

This rewrite au is awesome! I'm so excited to see more of it! Do you have any ideas of what to do with Turtle Tail? She seemed to be a driving force between Gray wing, and Bumble

With Gray Wing seeming to be (maybe) possessive over her? Mainly when she gets close to Bumble, and even stays with the kittypet for a while

Ohh thank you!! I certainly can’t take all the credit though; while I’m trying to piece things together, most of the ideas bounced around here are of our little growing community! ^^ Lots of brilliant minds up in here and in my inbox. While some ideas won’t be utilized, as they don’t fit into the story that’s shaping up in my mind, all so far have been so interesting…

I admittedly haven’t thought much of Turtle Tail yet… and honestly? What I have thought of her has made me tempted just to nix her entirely, or combine her with Bumble. That, or, she is the first link between the mountain cats and the city cats, as she seems to be a curious explorer at heart and would ultimately be seduced by Tom, and then sheltered fiercely by Bumble, who managed to escape Tom’s clutches once, herself…

Hm… I think I like that a bit better, actually…

I really like how Bumble is shaping up. Bumble isn’t the queen bee of the city cats by any means, but she’s sweet, friendly, and very compassionate, which has earned her the favor of many battered street cats whose lives she has inadvertently saved. You fuck with Bumble, you fuck with everyone who adores her. And Turtle Tail becomes one of many, and brings the mountain cats’ attention to the fact that, while the humans sheltering them can still be treated with wariness, the cats who have “tamed” them are damn near magic and invaluable allies.

Hmmmm… Lots of things could happen through Bumble… Bumble might be the reason that the Clans were able to exist for as long as they were… Hmmmmmmm….

But uh, anyway: Gray Wing isn’t a weirdo incel creep here. Nuh-uh. He’s a guy who blindly follows his abuser, who he truly believes is good at heart, but ultimately comes to understand this isn’t the case… So he’s not possessive over Turtle Tail; they’re probably just good platonic friends.

[liviavanrouge]

Aquatic Adventure: Enchanted Dance pt 2

[School Hall]

Aryan: *Sighs* I'm not gonna be late this time!

???: Ry-Ry!

Aryan: *Stops curiously* Hm?

Cater: Ry-Ry, hey!

Aryan: Hey Cay-Cay...

Cater: Why so glum, I heard you're heading home for a festival, thought you'd be happy about it

Aryan: Not really, means I gotta deal with my old man, you know...

Cater: Well...maybe I could tag along, help you out!

Aryan: *Stares at him*

Cater: Aryan?

Aryan: *Smirks* You just want some pictures of the festival, don't you Cay-Cay~

Cater: *Laughs* Oppsie! Got caught! Hedgehogs out of the bag!

Aryan: *Laughs, smiling at him*

Cater: But seriously, pleeeeasseee! I really do wanna see the festival it's a once in a hundred year chance to and you know we poor mortals don't live too long!

Aryan: *Grins in amusement* Hm~~

Cater: *Presses his palms together* Please

Aryan: *Grins at him* Hmmmm~~~~

Cater: Pretty please

Aryan: *Crosses his arms still grinning* Hmmmmmmm~~~

Cater: *Steps closer* Pretty pretty please!

Aryan: *Laughs* Alright! You can tag along, the more the merrier anyway you know!

???: I heard festival!

Ruggie: *Smiles* Mind if I tag along! Festivals means a lot of food!

Aryan: *Smirks teasingly* Glutton~

Ruggie: What can I say? I'm a foodie! So, can I go!

Aryan: Hm~~

Ruggie: *Frowns, giving him a look* I am not gonna say please to you like Cater

Aryan: *Laughs* You can come! I was just joking around!

Ruggie: Shishishi! Sweet, thanks Aryan! Looks like I'm in debt to you right now!

Aryan: *Smiles and nods* Meet in the mirror room tomorrow, make sure you're all packed!

Ruggie and Ruggie: Got it!

Aryan: *Looks down, his smile fading* Man...I really don't wanna go home...no doubt Uncle Birsha is gonna start something this time..

Aryan: Last time it was grandmother about my parents wedding, the time before that it was grandpa over the decorations, and before that it was my first cousin because I didn't know howto wield a sword

Aryan: I bet it's over something petty this time too...

-----

[Mirror Chamber]

Aryan: Alright, two bags of luggage, that's it....

???: Heyo!

Cater: *Walks in beaming*

Riddle: *Crosses his arms over his chest*

Ruggie: *Smiles, his hands behind his head*

Aryan: You're all here, now we just gotta wait for the person Livia wants to come with us

Cater: Huh! Livia is sending someone with us!?

Riddle: Yes, she thought it'd be good for this person

Ruggie: Maybe it's Silver, you know how close those two siblings are

???: I feel blessed that her Ladyship thought of me and sent me to tag along!

Aryan: .....god damn it, Livia....

Sebek: Be grateful! Lady Livia has sent her bodyguard along with you, endangering herself for me to have fun! No complaining!!

Cater: *Chuckles nervously* I'm kinda wishing it was Malleus now

Riddle: Or Silver

Ruggie: Or Lilia...

Aryan: Or Kuro...

Aryan and Ruggie: *Sighs* Anyone but Sebek! Come on!

???: I am tagging along as well

Aryan: AHHHHHH! SHIT!!!

Riddle: LANGUAGE!!!

Rook: *Smiles, his arms crossed* This will be a spectacular festival, I just had to come and attend!

Aryan: *Lowers his voice, cursing the gods* Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck you....

Rook: Did you say something, Monsieur Beautywing?

Aryan: *Beams* Welcome aboard, Rook!

Rook: Thank you! Shall we be on our way?

Aryan: *Turns to the mirror* Mirror Mirro, take us to the Ice Hidden Kingdom!

Riddle: Huh?

Aryan: *Closes his eyes and sighs preparing himself for the drama*

~~~~

[Verglas Kingdom Entrance]

Ruggie and Cater: WOAH!!

Riddle: Look at that castle in the distance....

Aryan: This way guys...

???: IS THAT MY BABY BOY!!?

Aryan: *Flinches, looking embarrassed knowing this voice* O-Oh no!

[katiefratie]

Hmmmmmmm okay so the princesses can all die a bunch and the neverafter brings them back....hm Okay hmmmm

[sheppyscribbles]

Hmm.

Hmmmm.

Hmmmmmmm ....

...hm.

[simplyycherry]

Hm. Hmmm. Hmmmm. HMMMMmmm.

@nymphae-alba hmm

[whirlybirbs]

just finished moony knighty.. :0

[reexrco]

życie bez prawa jazdy to niezły ból!!! szczegulinie kiedy my shop wałbrzych wywrócić ci życie do góry nogami  uprzykszać życie 

🌩🌧⛈🌩🌩🌧⛈🌩🌩🌧⛈🌩🌩🌧⛈🌩🌩🌧⛈🌩🌩🌧⛈🌩

[yvningshowers]

.........that jacket. I need it. Now.

[heatherchasesyou]

HMMM I AM LOOKIN

I AM LOOKING SO MUCH

When this text shows up and you think it’s gonna be a Silent Hill announcement

And turns out to be a new game project

But it looks scary and Akira Yamaoka is here as well

[crusaderce-archived]

    also i’ve realized that crowley gets his arm cut off quite a bit too ... and his head. hm ...

[thedevilliers]

Timmy and Gigi's eyes, nose and lips are similar to Bart's. Gwen looks different from them.

hmmmmmmm..............hm...................................... HMMMM !!!!!! 🤠

i can say that gwen is very different. like ...... she does stand out bc she doesnt look SOOO much like either of her parents. thats why shes my bb 💖

[jzq]

hm. hmmm. hmmmmmmm hmmmm hmm