#i desire rest

[jamespokemon]

I'm about as tired as this Pikachu...

[bonefall]

Hey, what makes a character a 'plot device but not a character'? And how do you not do that? I'm trying to do it on purpose but also I need to still make them interesting because it's on purpose, yknow?

A good skill to pick up is to learn to criticise criticism itself. A "plot device" is simply a thing that moves the plot along, it's a neutral literary analysis term! Usually, when people are angry that "a character has been used as a plot device," it doesn't mean they hate plot devices. It means they're gesturing at something deeper.

Runningwind and Bumble are equally plot devices in their deaths. They are both killed by the antagonist to escalate political tension. Runningwind is rarely "accused" of just being a plot device, and yet, we're talking about Bumble for the same thing.

So, why?

Well, Runningwind is just a background character, but in life, he was a part of the community. He was characterized as impatient but responsible. Yet, he wasn't SO important that he died with a bunch of unresolved plot threads.

He is mostly an extension of the entity of ThunderClan. His killing by Tigerstar, and the fear and paranoia that settles on the group after this, feel like a progression of the story insteas of something forced.

Bumble, on the other hand...

Is hated immediately by Gray Wing, when she's established as Turtle Tail's friend. Bumble's abuse at Tom the Wifebeater's hands invites even MORE investment. The rejection is shocking and upsetting. There's a story there about our main characters being imperfect; jealous, bigoted, and judgemental.

But, she is simply killed off. Everything they set up for this character is gone with little personalized fanfare. It's not a tragedy with a lesson about cruelty, or something anyone regrets.

It's just... plot. Gray Wing whinging that no one will like his shitty brother now that his body count is 2.

More than that, in the discussion of women in particular, "Fridging" was coined to give a name to the way women characters often don't get their stories told at all. There is a CULTURAL trend of female characters facing disproportionate violence, for the sake of advancing male plots.

Bumble has a lot going for her. Petal had a lot going for her. Turtle Tail had a lot going for her. Bright Stream had a lot going for her. When they died, they took their potential with them.

It's not always wrong to kill off a character of high potential, mind you. In Gurren Lagann, Kamina's death is sudden and shocking, leaving a massive hole in the hearts of the cast that never heals. Grappling with that loss, but also letting his memory fuel them, is a major theme of that story.

All that to say... there's no formula for avoiding it. You've gotta identify what the deeper issue is, in your specific narrative.

I can't say for certain what that will look like for your story, but here's some things I keep in mind;

When you make characters who exist to die, make sure they're people before you axe them.

Ask yourself; what about them does the cast miss?

If they just miss them because they were (pre-existing relationship), go back to the drawing board.

Fluttering Bird as an example. Who was she? Dead sister. Why do they miss her? Dead sister. No traits until after her death.

Runningwind was short-tempered and helpful. Kamina was a valuable leader who made people believe in a brighter future. Swiftpaw was fiesty and desperate to prove himself. The better characterized, the more profound the loss usually is.

If this is a female character who is dying just to serve the plot, be aware of cultural bias and tropes. How is the gender ratio looking in your cast? Is this happening disproportionately with your girls?

Note how Quiet Rain's litter had both a boy and a girl, but the girl was chosen to be "weaker" and wither away.

And how most of the time in DOTC, whenever a man had to be upset, a girl would get killed for it.

If you ever feel like the character on the chopping block is NOT a full character, ask yourself why it needs to be a character at all. You don't need to spend narrative time building out someone when a literal object of high value might suffice.

"My sister died when I swore to protect her and I can't face my family" = Old. Tired. Ive seen this.

"I lost my heirloom sword when I swore to protect it and I can't face my family." = Fascinating. Why was the sword so valuable? Will they really not take you back? How did you lose it?

When you do kill off "high value" characters, try to make sure you're not leaving too many plot threads hanging. Or at least make a point of how they will never get closure.

[showtoonzfan]

This new episode was delayed, the fans haven’t seen a full HB episode since last year, Blitz and Stolas’s confrontation was hyped up for so long, only for this episode to be 90% pointless filler of the cherubs getting robots to fight the rest of IMP and Blitz walking around town to get dressed up and bring gifts. Literally the last 5 minutes of this episode is where he finally goes to Stolas, and we get the confrontation, something everyone already predicted where Stolas gives him the crystal, cries, then leaves. WOW. That is just hilarious how much of an underwhelming let down that is. I have the heavy feeling fans are going to be drastically disappointed lol, that’s all I’ll say.

[skylie-spiderlillis]

MY CAMEOS HAS ARRIVED PEOPLE.

I have sent a few, this man is INSANE I have sent the last one only about an hour and a half ago max and I already got that somehow??? After I just got the others???

Anyway this is the first one!

I'm actually writing a fic about Edwin and Charles fencing for fun at the office I loved to hear about the helmets so much!!!

I'm going to use some of the words he said in my fic, other are welcome too! Edwin is such a posh/ affectionate fencing fits him so well.

I want Desire and Edwin to meet so badly (Desire would so LOVE to torture them (I love my little blorbo so much he's adorable that's why I want him to suffer💗)). I like the fics where Desire helps the boys to figure things out but also speaking about canon Desire, they are a menace, a meeting with them would be so angsty. They are gods they don't really care for mortals, they would love to cause drama and angst. They would love to torture this repressed (although he is a bit more comfortable now he's still more of a stiff person in general) sad boy that has so much yearning and so much drama potential between him and his best friend.

Yucky already said he wants to bring them in season 2 I'm sooo waiting for this drama I just know it's going to be good.

Anyway, posting my other cameo requests soon!

[aueua]

!

[squarecloud73]

Who's your favourite dungeon meshi character? (not to reduce you to your obsession atm) but i'm intrigued about why you like this character. is it their interactions with others? gay? how they view the world and how it's similar to you? ^#^ thanks

I like every character for different reasons but like, emotionally, Mithrun stood out to me in a way.

At first glance, he appeared to be the angsty pretty character sunken deep into tragedy and vengeance, but that changed when we saw more of him.

After his identity and basic abilities were stripped away, his body and mind betrayed him, but he survived. Just… look at him when he just left his dungeon, he was skin and bones, covered by wounds from self-destruction, barely functioning, but he managed to train himself up, physically and magically more powerful than ever, went back to Canaries and became a captain who is respected even by Cithis.

Kabru’s talk was his last one step to a new stage of life, still, without all the hard work and companionships he previously built with his teammates and families, he would vanish in a pit of despair long ago. When Milsiril found him in front of the broken mirror, when Kabru asked him to search deeper with him, when Senshi gave him that piece of advice, he allowed the sparkle of life to flow back within, eventually, his beauty came out of ashes like freaking Deadpool.

Mithrun proved that leftovers can still be brew into a nice warm soup.

[autisticandroids]

CASTIEL: Stop. What's the point if you don't mean it? You fear me - not love, not respect, just fear.

[youtube with closed captions]

a godstiel pity party. i'd like to thank an anon i got way back in february of 2021.

[wurmwizzard]

quick peek at somefink im working on. im too excited to wait SOOO have this

[itsrlymine]

(i’m the girl who asked about changing my menstrual cycle earlier)

GIRL IM NOT EVEN FUCKING LYING, MY HOCKEY TOURNAMENT WAS POSTPONED I JUST GOT THE EMAIL OMG

you literally convinced me that i could manifest it. i love you sm girl i dont even know what to say.

i am never going to doubt myself again😭😭

GIRL I LITERALLY JUST SHOUTEDDDDDD. OMG SEE. It's your world and you get whatever THE FUCK you want. AHHHHHHHH. No bc it didn't even take that "long" bc time doesn't exist. The game was always gonna be cancelled once you became aware of not wanting your cycle to interfere. The way I answered that not even thirty minutes ago. I love you sm as well babe and you better not doubt yourself ever again!!!!

[eastbluecrewed]

tendonitis flared up bad during this one but i had fun so its ok. nerve pain is temporary east blue crew is forever

[aka-indulgence]

@llamagoddessofficial HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH (ANOTHER) PURPLE DIFFICULT TO DRAW INHUMAN MAN WITH A SNATCHED WAIST

HE IS SO GORGEOUS, HANDSOME MAN OWAUAUAHEUAAHH I WANT HIM TO STEAL ME

(retaining psychic damage) AUAOEUAEAAUUUGHHHHHH

[turtleblogatlast]

I still think about how Leo’s ideal day out for the fam’s venture into the Hidden City was basically just an effort to get some rest and relaxation because boy does he never get that ever.

[musical-chick-13]

This is the only thing I'm going to say about the election until it's over:

Anyone who did not vote for Harris or who attempted to dissuade people from voting for Harris, you are indirectly responsible for whatever shit Donald Trump does if he gets elected. That blood is primarily on his hands, yes. But it is also on yours. I hope you can live with that because I sure as hell wouldn't be able to.

[amanfromnewjersey]

"I'm tired, mama."

@quiddie

[frogaroundandfindout]

As a child, Dick liked to tease Bruce by dropping his voice as low as it would go and mimicking the Batman voice.

As an adult, Dick stares at the tattered cowl clutched tight in hands crusted with his fathers blood and thinks of how much it used to hurt his throat.

Why does it always have to hurt with Bruce?

[out--of--ordinary]

This may be the cutest picture of bee we've ever gotten on the flyers main (x)