#i selfishly don't want it to become more popular.

[somanyratsinthewalls]

The Crew's Whore Part 7 (+18)

The Crew's Whore Part 7 (+18)

Summary: You are the former owner of the Grand Line’s most popular brothel. Your powerful fighting abilities got the attention of the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. He had asked you to join their crew but what would you bring to the team? Your battle skills were hardly comparable to many of the other Straw Hats… but you actually had a great skill. Your years working as a high end escort had prepared you to become the private plaything for this pirate crew. You joined the Straw Hats as their personal sex toy.

Pairing: Zoro x Female Reader x Luffy

WC: 2300

TW: threesome, body use, p in v sex, no protection (don't do that), creampie (also don't do that), Luffy isn't asexual (ah), Zoro like has the biggest gay crush on his captain, facefucking, cum eating, no aftercare, being walked in on.

— — 

You roll over in your bed lazily and stretch your arms over your head. It wasn’t often that you got your bed to yourself all night so you truly enjoyed the occasion. You had over 10 hours uninterrupted on your own due to your callers' schedules conflicting and you could have sworn you slept like the dead. 

You slide out of bed and throw on some shorts and a sweatshirt, readying yourself for the quest to find breakfast. After sliding on your slippers, you creep quietly towards the galley and open the door. The galley smelled of coffee, melting butter, and the faint stale smell of cigarettes. You see the fresh carafe of coffee on the kitchen island and pour yourself a cup. You grab your mug of hot coffee and head towards the fridge and open it up to find something to eat. 

 “Y/n? My darling angel what can I get for you? Perhaps a late lunch?” Sanji comes in through the back door of the galley, snuffing out his cigarette. 

“Hi Sanji- wait, late lunch? What time is it?” You cock your head as you let your body lean into Sanji’s extended arms. Sanji wraps his arms around you as you nuzzle into his chest. 

“Almost 4:30, darling. You’ve been asleep, you needed the rest.” Sanji leaned down and kissed the crown of your head. 

“Ah shit, I promised Zoro I’d train today. Could you whip up something now before I head up there? If I show up to a training match with Zoro on an empty stomach I’ll be spending the night in the med bay with Chopper.” You pull away from Sanji to start wrapping up your wrists for your training session. 

Sanji sighed. 

“Of course, my love. I’ll make you something with lots of carbs and protein. Selfishly, I must have you coming home to me, no matter how badly that brute treats you.” Sanji smirks and begins cooking. 

You bring your blades into the galley and begin to sharpen them. At the counter, your eyes oscillate from your swords to Sanji preparing your meal. The way he smiled at you every time he turned around from stove to ask you your preference on something… he was such a dream. He asked you about what was going on in your life while he cooked you a pre training snack. 

“Did Franky tell you about his latest project?” Sanji asks you from across the counter. You didn’t have time to respond before Sanji swiftly slides his slim body to the stove. “Do you want butter on your croissant?” Sanji changes gears as he begins to plate your meal. 

“Yes please.” You respond. 

Before you had time to process Sanji’s previous question, the most beautiful presentation of scrambled eggs on a French pastry was being placed in front of you. 

“Jeez Sanji, if I knew I’d get this type of treatment, I’d snooze the day away more often.” Your eyebrows raise and you grab your fork. 

Sanji smiles as he sprinkles a few chives on your dish before you dig in. 

“Bon appetit, mon ange.” 

— — 

You scarfed your early dinner down and headed up to the crows nest, knowing Zoro would be waiting for you to train. You ascended the ladder and opened up the hatch to let yourself into the circular crows nest. Upon arriving to Zoro’s makeshift dojo, you find him bench pressing an impossibly heavy weight over his chest. 

“You’re late.” Zoro scolds you without looking in your direction. 

“Hello to you too, swordsman.” You shed your sweatshirt, leaving you in a sports bra and bike shorts. 

“I told Luffy I’d practice with him later, so I’m not sparring with you tonight. We’re doing weights. Grab those over there.” Zoro nods towards a pair 40 lb dumbbells and you grabbed them. You weren’t brought onto the crew as a fighter, but as a Straw Hat you were obviously able to physically hold your own. You grab the weights and begin your routine.

“You smell like that shitty waiter.” Zoro eventually remarks after you spent nearly 30 minutes working out in silence. 

“I slept late, I needed food. Leave it alone, Zoro.” You roll your eyes at him while you continued your workout. 

“You were the one who said you wanted to spend time with me, and now you’re here smelling like cigarettes and male loneliness.” 

You chuckle and almost lose pace in your weight lifting. 

“Now that you’ve seen each other naked I figured you might be getting along better.” You smirk, purposely riling your swordsman up. 

“Don’t be gross, y/n. I didn’t need to see that to know I have the bigger dick.” Zoro continues pushing the heavy weight away from his chest. Endorphins were pumping through your veins from your workout so you decide to change up your routine. 

“Are you jealous, Mr Roronoa?” You pick up new weights and begin a rep of squats, making sure Zoro could see your ass flex in the tight spandex. 

Zoro scoffs. 

“I don’t get jealous. I just like having my girl to myself. And I know you enjoy our time together too…”

“Like last week when you had me bent over the aquarium bar?” You recall a particularly filthy instance where Zoro had taken you roughly after a tipsy night filled with sake bottles and inappropriate touches. 

“Yeah…” Zoro huffs out, continuing his reps. “Just like that…” 

You could feel his eyes on your body as you tried to maintain focus on your exercise. After several more minutes, Zoro puts the weighted bar back onto the rack and he breaks the silence. 

“Come sit on my cock.” 

You smile and set your weights down. You begin to saunter over to Zoro laying on his back on the weight bench, his pants tented. 

“No romance today, swordsman?” You lift your sports bra over your head, letting your breasts bounce freely. Zoro groans at the sight of your naked tits. You slip your bike shorts down your legs and step out of them as you reach your green haired lover. “Needy, hmm?” You stroke his growing bulge over his pants and smile down at him. 

“The only thing I need is for you to ride this dick and be good. Now hop up.” Zoro unfastens his pants and pushes them down his legs, freeing his now hard cock that bobbed towards his abdomen. You begin to straddle him before Zoro stops you with his powerful, scarred hands on your hips. 

“Nah uh. Turn around. Wanna see that ass bounce.” Zoro swings your body around so you’re facing away from him and towards the hatch to the crows nest in the center of the room. He lifts your hips again and settles your entrance over his erection. He spits into one of his hands and smears it over the head of his cock. He sinks you onto him without any prep and you whine out. 

One fully seated on Zoro’s lap, you wiggle your hips to get used to the full sensation. Zoro kneads at your ass cheeks to encourage you. 

“I know it’s a lot baby, take your time.” Zoro flexes his thighs and bounces you softly, feeling your walls become slicker and accept his intrusion easier and easier by the moment. 

“Fuck you’re so big, Zoro… shit…” You sigh as you feel the stretch of his cock inside of you turn into white hot pleasure. You firmly plant your feet on the floor and begin grinding on Zoro at your own pace. You find the perfect angle for Zoro to hit your sweet spot and continue your movements on top of him. You moan and throw your head back. 

“How are you this tight? Fuck-“ Zoro grunts and grips your hips tighter. “Am I the only one on this ship that fucks you properly?” 

Your body was alight with endorphins from the intense workout and the feeling of your lover inside of you, you couldn’t help but grin brainlessly as you bounce faster on Zoro’s cock. 

“You always fuck me so good, Zoro. Love your cock so much…” You were dick drunk so fast, you hardly knew what was coming out of your mouth. You hear your lover growl from behind you at your filthy words. He grabs your arms and pulls them behind you. He uses them as leverage to pound up into you from below. 

“Zoro, fuck, Zoro!” His name poured from your lips like a powerful waterfall as he held you completely powerless in his strong hands. Your body leans forward lifelessly as Zoro holds your arms from behind you. Your head bobs pathetically as he drills into your wet pussy from underneath you. 

“Zoro!” 

Zoro’s eyes are drawn away from your jiggling ass cheeks slamming onto his pelvis. Was that last ‘Zoro’ from you? It sounded different. 

The hatch to the crows nest slams open. 

“Zoro! We’re supposed to train tonight! Sanji just barbecued half of a whole sea king for me so I hope you’re ready to get your ass kicked haha!” Luffy hops up excitedly into the crows nest. 

You gasp. 

“Luffy!” You instinctively yell out in surprise. 

“Oh, seems like you guys are still busy, huh!” Luffy chuckles out at your shocked expression. 

“Oh hey Captain.” Zoro peers around your naked body atop his dick as he looks towards Luffy. “Sorry, training with y/n went a little long.” Zoro bucks his hips up again into yours and you moan. “Hope you don’t mind.” 

“Thats okay!” Luffy grins and walks towards you two on the weight bench. “Wow, y/n you’re really sweaty haha!” Your captain gets close enough to your to push your damp bangs off of your forehead. You had never been propositioned by Luffy, you hadn’t questioned it, just assuming he’d rather fight or eat than fuck. 

“You know, Luffy…” Zoro begins. “You could take her mouth, I’m sure she’s more than willing. Right, y/n?" Zoro punctuates his last sentence with a hard thrust into your sweet spot. 

“AH! Fuck, yes!” Your mouth hangs open and your tongue lolls out. “Oh yeah?” Luffy giggles. “She is already drooling everywhere. You’d share her with me, Zoro?” Luffy asks, getting closer to your face. 

“Whatever my captain wants.” Zoro smirks devilishly. Luffy smiles back and begins undoing his demin shorts in front of your face. Zoro moves his hold from your arms to your wrists behind your back so you could lean down further to be at Luffy’s crotch level, all while pounding into your soaking cunt. Luffy releases himself from the confines of his clothes and his cock bobs in your face. 

“Ok baby girl, time to suck off your captain. Open wide…” Zoro goads you from behind. Without having use of your hands, you clumsily take Luffy’s red, uncut tip into your mouth. You hungrily slurp down Luffy’s cock as you moan out from the powerful fucking you were getting from Zoro. 

“You’re really good at that, y/n!” Luffy praises you and pets your hair gently. “Mmm, move your tongue more… mm yeah just like that!” 

“Hnnmmpphh!” You groan around your captain’s thick length. 

“Oooh, that’s good too! Zoro do whatever that was again, she feels so good when she moans!” 

“Aye aye, Captain.” Zoro obliges and pounds into your g-spot again and again while leaving bruising fingerprints on your hips. 

You try to keep your throat open as your feel your body being hurtled over the edge of orgasm. 

“She’s cumming. I can feel it- oh fuck!” Zoro feels himself being wrapped up in the pleasure of your tight pussy milking him while you rode out your orgasm. Tears begin to fall from your lash line as you start to become overstimulated. So many hands on you, you didn’t know whose belonged to who… in your hair, on your breasts, squeezing your neck… you were in a world of pleasure. You whine. 

“I’ll fill you up baby, don’t worry.. shit-” Zoro finished inside of you with one final thrust of his hips upward into your soft cunt. 

“Me too, y/n.” Luffy remarks at you as he fucks your face. “Now don’t waste, it, okay? It’s good for you!” Before you could respond, Luffy shoots an impossibly large load down your waiting throat. You sputter and the rest of the cum you couldn’t swallow spills out around the sides of your mouth. Luffy pulls away from your face and wipes your lips with his pointer finger. He pushes it back inside of your mouth. 

“All of it.” Your captain has a sinister glint in his eye as he smiles down at you. 

You grin up at him stupidly, still coming down from your orgasm. Luffy quickly tucks himself back into his shorts and chuckles at you. 

“Okay y/n, I’ve gotta train with Zoro. Maybe you should take a shower or something! Hah!” Luffy grabs your clothes by extending his rubbery arms and helps you off of Zoro’s dick and back into your garments. You had felt well rested earlier, but now you’re totally wiped. 

“Maybe I should take it easy tonight, thanks Cap.” You pull your hair up into a messy bun and head over to the hatch of the crows nest to return to your bedroom. 

“Hey, don’t fall asleep. I’m coming by after training.” Zoro calls at you. 

“Oh? Maybe I’ll come too, hehe!” Luffy laughs. 

“I certainly look forward to it, gentlemen.” You smirk as you lower yourself out of the hatch and go to freshen yourself… just in case round 2 was in your future. 

xx

[blindmagdalena]

I'd say HL ending up depowered and trapped in another box would work IF they planned for him to appear in any of their endless spin off series and escape. But then I don't know if we can trust how any of them are gonna pan out. 😭 I know they've said they're worried about becoming the thing they're satirising and. Yeah. They should be.

antony has been pretty vocal about the fact that he's not ready to be done with homelander, but he's also talked about wanting to end on a good note and not milk (haha) the character/franchise into being something he's not proud of anymore.

i don't really know what his definition of that would be, though. he clearly LOVES playing homelander. he did the gen v cameo for free because it just wasn't in the budget.

if antony starr wants to continue playing homelander, i hope he gets to do that. especially if it's a post-kripke era where we completely drop the shoehorned trump allegories. i say this selfishly as someone who continues to enjoy his performances, regardless of how bad the writing is.

the reception to gen v was extremely mixed. i anecdotally noticed it was more popular with folks who actually didn't watch the boys. i'm curious what the mexico spin-off is going to be like. the creatives involved (diego luna and gael garcía bernal) give me hope it'll be good, though.

i don't think anything is really gonna capture the spark of the original, though. especially that first season. the spin-offs kind of just confirm that they are, in fact, the new marvel. regardless of whether they wanna be perceived that way or not lol satirizing and subversion can only go so far before you're just doing the thing you're making fun of, and imo we've already reached that point.

[ravenshavenn]

Just wanted to say congrats on the followers, and I head canon Severus as autistic too. Sometimes I bring it out more in some stories than in others, but I do think it works and he was based off of a man who was on the autism spectrum too. Also, I'm autistic so let him be autistic. So, a question for you. How do you think Severus deals with having an autistic meltdown? Does he find a private place to let it all go? Does he just ward it off and keep it in with Occlumency? Something else?

Oh, and I thought of another canon thing that could support his autism. Autistic people often have trouble sleeping, and we see him prowling the corridors at night sometimes. Maybe his sleeping issues are related to his autism. Man hasn't heard of melatonin, or it just doesn't work for him. (It didn't for me).

Of course, sleeping problems could also be from PTSD/hyper vigilance which I also see him as having. Also, what is a secret stim that he does in private? And last question, sorry, but do you head canon Snape as smoking? It's a popular head canon and I'm asking because, if you do think he smokes, do you think smoking could count as a stim? :D

Snape and autism

Hi! Thank you so much for your comment its nice to meet someone else who's autistic and in the fandom! We're not alone lol :D and I've tried my best to add to the headcanons bellow, I hope you enjoy! :)

meltdowns - I think he'd unfortunately be a bit ashamed of them choosing to use his occlumency to mask until he could reach a quiet, dark corner somewhere that he could sooth himself but if he was unable to leave a situation for example becoming overstimulated during a meeting he would become noticeably agitated, snapping at anyone who dared to try and talk to him and leaving as soon as he possibly could hurrying away to let his guard down somewhere private

sleep - I agree I could definitely see his autism effecting his sleep patterns the dark circles under his eyes are DEEP I can imagine him trying to brew something for himself to help but giving up after it doesn't work and instead he just wanders the castle enjoying the dark and the silence. Although I can also see his brewing and dark magic research keeping him awake with the need to spend time on his special interests distracting him until morning and he realizes he has no time to rest, accidently pulling an all nighter several times a week just to have time to focus on his various hyperfixations or projects that he has on the go

However, I also agree that he definitely has other issues going on he could definitely have PTSD or depression (or both) meaning that he struggles to sleep and stays awake trying to keep himself calm and away from the negative thoughts swirling around in his head

smoking - I have thought about Severus smoking because I've seen lots of amazing fanart of it and it does pop up in fanfiction every now and again but I'm honestly not sure if I think he would or not

Personally, due to my own sensory issues I'm not a fan of smoking so if I was to selfishly headcanon him I'd have to say that he wouldn't and that possibly living in the time that he did it was popular and so Tobias smoked heavily leading to Severus hating it

Although, with his various mental health issues and it still being the social norm at the time I can definitely imagine him smoking and I can certainly see it being a stim, even though I don't smoke personally I know several others with autism who find the experience comforting and it can also help with anxiety as well therefore, easing Severus's nerves during his days as a spy

stims - Severus definitely tries to keep his stimming in public to a minimum by only rubbing his hands together but in private he feels more comfortable to express himself, I can imagine him grumbling to himself for comfort and making little sounds as he brews, bouncing on his toes when he walks about and tapping on nearby surfaces, also potentially biting his nails? Although he definitely doesn't acknowledge any of this as stimming and puts it down to his "nerves" while being a spy and believes he's just "fidgeting" as that's what he was told in his childhood repeatedly whenever someone saw him stimming

[whiskey-bumblebee]

Thank you for the other blurb, bestie 😌 I'm back because I'm insufferable and love your writing lmao 😂 another dream gift would be an array of paint and spray paint to do my paintings along with somewhere to do them. OR a huge truck with all the extra bells and whistles. (I don't care what kind of truck it is, I just really want one 😭) thanks in advance 😄

welcome back bestie! pleasure to have you 😌 please enjoy! I went for the painting option for as little as I know about instruments, I know even less about cars lol

oops! I added a whole subplot. and renovation politics commentary

divider courtesy of @tommyytalks (and isn’t it pretty!)

You're somewhat surprised to see Hotch's laptop open to a real estate website, looking at places in Fredericksburg. His house was so close to the Bureau, and easy driving distance from D.C. if he needed to go to the capital for any reason. Plus, his house was great! It was spacious, private, and as secure as a fortress (although it was lacking a moat...). You couldn't imagine him living anywhere else. More selfishly, you had hoped that he would talk to you about moving, since you had been living with him for a few months, letting the lease on your old apartment lapse.

Not wanting to seem like you'd been snooping, you don't bring it up with him, until you're at a brunch with him and some of your friends and their partners. Someone brings up the topic of investing, and you learn that one of your friends has bought a cabin in upstate New York, with the intention of renovating it and reselling it. From the pictures, you can tell it's a beautiful heritage building, and your friend points out all of the places where the ceiling is sagging, or the carpets show signs of water damage. She promises that she'll stay true to the character of the home, adding modern amenities to make the place more liveable, but otherwise focusing on returning it to its former glory.

You glance over at Hotch, and he nods, setting down his coffee.

"I've been looking at a place in Fredericksburg, it's an old loft that needs some TLC," He adds, and your friends nod. "I'd never want to leave our current place, but it could be nice to have something set up for retirement like Dave has."

Several months later, your friend has become far too attached to the property in New York to give it up. After weeks of picking out doorknobs which would be accurate for the 19th century home, ensuring the windows provided good insulation against the cold, and seeing the house blossom into something which looked much more like a home, they'd been considering the possibility of moving in.

"You could always set it up as a house museum," You comment. "They're popular in Rome, you could contact the state and ask if they'd be able to provide any funding for recovering the family's artefacts and things."

Meanwhile, you and Aaron had been doing up the loft. He asked you about which colours you thought would suit the space, whether you should leave the brick exposed or plaster the walls instead. You uncovered some beautiful wooden beams when working on the insulation in the ceiling, and decided to incorporate them into the loft's design scheme.

You're feeling sad about the prospect of renting the place out instead of living in it yourself, and when you think about how wealthy Aaron is already, the idea of charging another family to live in this home just doesn't sit well with you.

Your work picks up suddenly, with some external audit taking place, forcing you to work longer hours. You have less time for the loft, and Aaron reminds you that he's happy to pick up the slack. After all, he'd renovated his own home and found that whole process rather relaxing.

Then, weeks later, Aaron decides to treat you to a shopping trip in Fredericksburg, where there are many more options than near Quantico. Bags populate the car, mostly lingerie, some new tech you'd been needing, a couple of gourmet snacks.

He takes a turn you don't recognize as part of the route home, but you don't question it. Maybe he'd been listening to the traffic report on the radio and decided to take a different route. Before long, he's parking in front of an unimpressive building, and you give him the side eye.

"C'mon," He says, undoing his seat belt and taking the keys out of the ignition.

When you walk into the space, you realize that he's just taken you to the back side of the loft, which you didn't recognize since you'd always come in through the front.

"Oh, you finished it?" You try to muster your enthusiasm.

He nods, reaching for your hand as he leads you through it. There are some minimal furnishings; canvases, paint, lamps and lighting fixtures. A chair here or there. You look at the skylight and feel a twist in your chest. What a beautiful building.

"What do you think?" Aaron asks, his eyes gleaming.

"It's beautiful, are you renting it out to an artist?" You pick up a brush, turning it over in your fingers, glancing over the shelves stocked with turpentine, mineral oil, paints, argan oil for deep-conditioning the brushes.

He ignores your question, shrugging. Maybe he can feel your resistance, you think. Maybe he doesn't want to say any details in case I get upset.

He leads you back outside, and you notice that there's a small lot out the back you hadn't seen before. A metal shelf holds a number of bottles of spray paint in varying shades. Aaron tosses you a can, and you barely catch it, confused.

"Want to start making it your own?"

You cock your head at him. "My own?"

He presses the keys into your hands. "I'm sorry for lying to you. It's not a retirement property. I'm not going to rent it out."

"It's..."

"Your new studio," He grinned. "With an outdoor space for spray painting so you don't have to wear a respirator if you don't want to."

"Hotch," You whisper. "It's perfect."

"Not to sound cocky," He pauses. "But, I know. You designed it."

It finally clicks in your head, him acquiescing to each of your suggestions for which colours the walls should be, what kinds of lighting each part of the open-plan space needed...

You grin. "You're sneaky."

He wraps his arm around your shoulders. "When I need to be."

[licncourt]

As far as engagement with your fics dwindling, I think it’s mainly a result of the ao3 tag naturally being flooded with show verse content and book writers disappearing. There’s also the increasing rhetoric among popular show writers/bloggers that continued art and fic for book Louis and Armand is inherently racist so my guess is no one wants to out themselves as someone who enjoys book fic for fear of being shunned. Which is disappointing but with a large fandom that is mainly centered around a popular show, not surprising (not that there wasn’t gatekeeping preshow but the fandom was significantly smaller). I think most fans of the show think with these new (and improved) incarnations of the characters, there’s no need for their book counterparts. And the belief that people who do still enjoy book Louis and Armand are ignorant and fundamentally don’t understand the vc characters. It sucks because it would’ve been sweet if it could all be enjoyed for the multiverse it’s become since there are fans (like myself) who enjoy both the books and the show but there does seem to be an unspoken rule that you shouldn’t still be interested in producing content for the books. However, I’ve always been a huge fan of your works (and meta/thoughts!!) and the quality of your writing and grasp on the characters is still just as compelling as ever so I selfishly hope you continue writing 🫶 I promise I’ll make an effort to drop comments! lol

Well first of all thank you!! I just want to reiterate that the point of my original post was never to fish for comments or anything, I was just curious about why the engagement was happening on here suddenly vs ao3, but I always appreciate comments, kudos, reblogs, etc, it makes me so happy to know people like my writing because I really love doing it. I have plenty more stuff planned just because I love writing fic and I love the characters, so no worries there!

That also makes a lot of sense actually as far as people wanting to send me anons instead of comment. That's a crazy take though, like the books are forty years old you can't expect them to suddenly not have fans because of a new adaptation...? And I think it's a wild take to say that the original books/fans of them don't understand the characters?? Tumblr discourse is on another level always.

Liking the show better is absolutely fine, everyone can have their own preferences in media, but I don't believe for one second that the show is "less problematic" than the books. They just found a different way to be insensitive and offensive 😭 I think Anne Rice IP is just destined to be a morally bankrupt trainwreck and we all have to accept that. No one has moral high ground here really. And in a way it really feels like people coming into OUR house and saying we suck and aren't welcome.

This might be a selfish way of looking at it too, but I didn't get called literal slurs for months because I was defending the show and diverse casting for people to act like I have a problem with black Louis or brown Armand. Myself and friends of mine were harassed (including racially and sexually) for speaking positively about the casting decisions from day one, before most of these people knew the show or IWTV existed. My issues with it only started after episode 5 and that will always be my reason for jumping ship on the show.

I really wish things could have been different too, I was hoping the show would bring new people into the fold and just generally expand the VC multiverse like the movie did except with a new take on the story, but of course everything has to degenerate into a slap fight on the internet.

**There are absolutely people who don't like the show because they're racist shitheads and that is absolutely not a valid opinion to have btw. Just a blog reminder that I will absolutely never support or tolerate racism surrounding the show/the casting/the actors. It could have been a really great thing, unfortunately I just deeply disagree with how it was handled.**

[1yyyyyy1]

Why am I only now finding your blog. Your posts reaffirm everything that I knew on a subconscious level. Or, I should say, not only do they reaffirm, they amplify.

Inspired by a few of your posts, I was struck with a bit of a revelation - keeping in mind the male's preference for sensory experiences, does it not directly translate into him being more "successful"? Successful in the capitalist, money-pig sense. If males are incapable of possessing rich inner lives, then all that's left for them is to feed off of external factors to cope with their existence.

I keep coming back to the thought that this superficiality is the primary reason why the male is higher in the current social hierarchy. It's just painfully unfair to me - the more mindful an individual is, the more punished monetarily they end up being. Don't want to exploit anyone? Don't want to selfishly hoard resources? Don't like competing and prefer cooperating? Wow, what a pathetic weakling.

I really hope that these trends will shift in the future, the male-centric way is such a pitiful and wasteful way to go for humans.

Rant over. It was a very elaborate way of saying: thank you for upkeeping your blog <3, scrolling through it made me feel hopeful and enthusiastic, which is more than I could've asked for!

Thank you for taking the time to message me. I believe that things find us at the right time.

Men's affinity for the material is an interesting point to make. Indeed, a change in values is a common coping strategy should the primary value become unattainable. I have my own biased opinions on people's superficiality.

Society holds the fantasy of a skilled creative in high regard, with painters and architects adorning the pages of textbooks, and biopic movies being a fairly popular trope. Still, people with artistic aspirations know how sabotaging the world is to our craft. There is an innate lack of understanding in regards to how we express ourselves, why, when, and what for. Artistry brings a profound sense of accomplishment, which people know of, and it makes this line of work all the more desirable. The resurgence of image generators has further proved that people like to assume the role of an artist. Even then, people struggle to imagine a use for the tool other than profit, finding little reward in anything that is not supplied with a price tag. Contemplation is a foreign concept to them. It would make sense, then, given people's inability to cultivate creativity, to artifice a compensatory system within the material world.

You are right about the world being hostile to considerate people. To those with selfless inner qualities, it is quite the cultural shock to find out that most people's lives are a lifelong act. The world does not value fairness or benevolence. It is, however, very good at convincing itself that it does. Instilling a false sense of camaraderie is this world's specialty.

The exploitative nature of human connections makes sense to me. I suppose, to an extent, men and their female partners understand what kind of populace their mating practices result in. People are keenly aware of their own selfish nature, and treat others with the caution they would treat themselves with because not doing so is a death sentence. The principle people live by is simple: get it first before it gets you. People's lack of humanity is assumed to be present for a reason; it is the quality humans propagate.

The direction humanity is taking is certainly wasteful. Humans are a species with a lot of potential, as is evident by our ability to thrive intellectually despite damning circumstances. There is no use in waiting for a more productive environment. The world does not value intelligence and it has made that abundantly clear.

I'm happy to hear that my writing has made you feel better. The harsh revelations about patriarchal reality can leave you at a wit's end. Renewed enthusiasm is a better improvement I could ask for. I have never felt that my viewpoint at all warranted desperation, and it does not have to be that way. While we may be limited in our ability to change the world, we can certainly make the experience more enjoyable for ourselves.

[o-wyrmlight]

Hello. Me again.

I wanna do a bunch of comics as I replay the games so I won't answer everything XD but to answer a basic question;

You can play as a male or female Shepard, but Bioware intended the main character to be female. But because video games they were afraid dudebros wouldn't want to play a female lead so they just gave you a choice. Both are called "Shepard" because it's the last name. (Femshep's first name is Jane).

There is also character creation. So you can create a Shepard OC. but Shepard is one of the weirdest main characters I've ever seen, because as the years have gone on... instead of people leaning more into the self insert style of mass Effect, default Jane Shepard has become more and more popular. So these days most art and fanfic will write her as a default instead of a player/reader insert. it's fucking wild!

Also I am still in ME1 so she's still in uniform, but uh... that doesn't last.

........also yes I own the hoodie....

As for everything else... I selfishly don't want to spoil?? Even tho you can literally google it?? 😂 Because I wanna draw it because who boy.... do my babies have a storm coming....

I see! That is super cool, though--I like that female Shepard was intended to be the more canonical between the selectable characters. I wasn't 100% sure about it because I do remember seeing a mention or two about an option between male and female, but I've really only ever seen concept of female Shepard.

And I also think that it's super neat that Shepard's default is so popular! It's sort of a double-reverse of what you'd expect, and people are so baller for that, to be honest.

It sort of reminds me of how--when I play a Legend of Zelda game--I'll usually default to the names I can chose as being the canonical names. Link as Link, Epona as Epona, etc... same with the Pokemon games.

I think part of the reason for that might also be due to consistency. It seems like Mass Effect is a chronological series that takes place over the course of a period of time that features the same characters, so it'd make sense for the main character to remain the same over time.

You look at game series like Fallout, customization is much easier to get a hold of because each game (if I'm correct) features a new main character. It allows for more customization of the experience to fit around the character, but since Mass Effect is in that chronological story that follows the same or a similar cast, it's easier to have an agreed-upon default than it is to have a thousand or so different Shepherds, especially since they all end up sharing the same name (which takes away a part of that customization process).

It could also be that, as Shepard is the name given to the character, it feels ingenuine to a lot of people to have them deviate from their default--as if it's changing their identity. Already having the name implies that the character doesn't exist in a vacuum--they already existed before in the context of the game.

I! Am! Rambling! But I do find it super interesting to think about this!

[vtori73]

I think the argument and viewpoint of people being annoyed at artists rightly being upset people don't actually give them any kind of support even though they regularly offer their work for free to them even though they dont need or are required to is again another form of entitlement people feel over artists work and I dont give a single shit if other artists agree or believe its "bad marketing," its nothing but shitty selfish self-entitlement and should be called out as such. A lot of people want to think artists are the ones actually being entitled for wanting the most minimum of support but I argue the true entitled people are the ones getting mad at creatives who remind them that they are living breathing beings who are supplying them with this free entertainment who do actually have needs like everyone else.

Like, its kind of similar to when people were being whiney babies about "feeling guilty" seeing gofundmes, mutual aids, etc that use less than positive text to promote them although obviously these people are much more often more in need & I don't argue that. I'm just saying the overall sentiment comes from a similar place of people feeling UNCOMFORTABLE being reminded other people have needs and instead of doing something positive with that discomfort turn it into anger and such that they would rather spew and apply onto the people making them feel that way.

Because, honestly? To anyone who genuinely hates artists who do these "guilt trips," what EXACTLY do you do to support these kinds of artists? Do you do anything? Anything at all? Because I don't get why you WOULD feel guilty, if you actually show support for these people why exactly do you have a guilty conscience? Artists only ask this of people who enjoy their work freely, if you're doing something else to support them WHY feel guilty??? And yes, I'm aware people tend to like a multitude of artists and can't support all of them but it becomes much easier if do the bare minimum of occasionally sharing the artists work whether through social media or with other people offline.

I honestly do feel it's partially why people are still so quick to use AI because there are no strings attached, there is no human being behind the work, there is no person who could make it more complicated who may have silly little desires like engagement to their craft or money for food and rent. Some really do just truly believe artists are nothing but selfish beings and because of that believe stuff like AI is okay and right to use. Sure, most of why generative AI became a thing was about making money by being a cheap product but another big aspect that people need to acknowledge is also the fact that poor artists weren't/aren't respected and it's exactly WHY people don't want to pay them what they are worth and why they would rather them being exploited and used up rather then actually supported and funded. People will very openly show support for those who are rich and super famous and popular who don't need it and will regularly spend money on them by buying their various merch and stuff they sponsor or attending their super spreader events but once a more lower class artist tries to ask for just a crumb of support that's FREE... people immediately become turned off and move on to other artists they can support who don't ask for anything or remind them of their humanity.

...I think... I think I also may have just realized another reason why I never got the "separate the artist from the art," mentality and what ACTUALLY is at the heart of this sentiment which is the popular mentality that I shared above of separating a living being from a product they created so you can enjoy it much more selfishly without conscious or consequence.

[ale10ander]

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur episode tier list

Episodes within a rank ordered by release date

S

Episode 7: Goodnight, Moon Girl

This is everything I wanted from Moon Girl. There's no villain, just ordinary problems caused by being a teenage superhero. Lunella gets invited to a sleepover by the popular girls and is worried about not fitting in. We get some hilarious scenes as she switches bodies with her dino (something she can do much easier in the comics), and her legitimate fears of never fitting in, or of Devil being more popular than her are crushing.

I'm a sucker for any time when a group of people come together to help the hero, and the volleyball team bump, set, and spiking the remote to Moon Girl had me sobbing. We also get jocks who aren't just caricatures. 10/10 episode!

A

Episode 1: Moon Girl Landing

This double-length pilot does a lot of worldbuilding AND introduces a strong villain while showcasing the struggles between being a hero AND being a kid. I wouldn't have been upset if Aftershock was the villain for the whole season!

When Devil Dinosaur comes back at the end, I couldn't help but tear up a bit.

Episode 3: Run the Rink

Lunella gets herself into trouble and has to run the ice rink while her parents are away. Naturally, villains show up and ruin the day. We also get the best fight scene of the series, to Childish Gambino's Sweatpants (I'm winning, yeah yeah, I'm winning)

Episode 8: Teacher's Pet

In a classic premise, Lunella is tasked with taking care of the class hamster. She doesn't tell Devil that it's only for the weekend, and he gets extremely jealous. But, he's a Very Good Boy and tries to take care of Angel anyway. The hamster escapes and Devil tries to cover up the accident, resulting in hijinx. We also get introduced to the Rat King, who was my favorite villain of this show. More of him!

Episode 13: Devil on Her Shoulder

It's the Clifford episode! Devil can't go to the movies because he's simply too big! So Lunella makes a device to shrink him down, but things get out of hand when he shrinks too far! There's a Godzilla fight at the end, and Devil accepts that being big is okay. The ending is a little cheesy, but Devil's so cute at his various sizes that it makes up for the rest.

Episodes 15 and 16: OMG Issues #1 and #2

Woah! So much revealed in these last two episodes! The only part of this I don't love is "Moon Girl" being a name that Lunella assigns to the scientist in episode 1, only to learn now that she called herself that all along.

I really loved the history here, as well as the family dynamics. My favorite part of any superhero story is how it interacts with "real life" and this show has to deal with that from now on. The base raid is extremely cool, and we end the season with a neat cliffhanger.

B

Episode 4: Check Yourself

Lunella gets extremely competitive and challenges a computer to a game of chess. She acts selfishly, ignoring its boundaries until the computer turns hostile. Eventually she saves the day and the computer becomes the guidance counselor. I'd love to see the computer return for more episodes. This is a pretty run of the mill episode that's either a low B or a high C.

Episode 10: Moon Girl's Day Off

Lunella fakes a broken ankle because it's easier than communicating her needs to her friend. This episode has great lessons about lying, communication familial expectations, and setting boundaries. Plus we get to see Casey trying out the superhero gig for a day.

Episode 9: Skip This Ad...olescence

A solid episode that's really just Moon Girl's take on Click. The lesson here is to enjoy the now, even the mundane stuff. We get some goofy AI / Time travel sci fi stuff, but the show starts with a portal to dinosaurland, what do you want?

C

Episode 2: The Borough Bully

This is the first of the PSA episodes, this one about bullying. It's got a good message, and I do like the interplay between real life and superheroing, but something about the giant literal troll, and ignoring it didn't land for me.

Episode 6: The Beyonder

Probably my most contentious entry. This episode wasn't bad, though it did show Lunella being a huge jerk to Eduardo. I could tell that Laurence Fishburne was having a blast as the Beyonder (one of my favorite Marvel villains), but the stakes felt too high for the show. The science fair would have been enough, but the fate of the world? In episode 6? Nah.

Episode 11: Like Mother, Like Moon Girl

A creepy couple comes in and tries to make the lower east side into an Apple commercial. Moon Girl becomes an honorary mayoral figure and gives them all the power they need... until she realizes that gentrification is bad. As Lunella, she starts a protest, and as Moon Girl she beats up the couple and their fancy devices.

Episode 14: Coney Island, Baby

My favorite part of this episode (which had me tearing up again) was Devil Dinosuar being afraid to swim to Coney Island because of the jellyfish... and then doing it anyway and having his whole butt covered in them. What a good dino!

Lunella has to overcome fear at Coney Island, but this is done by facing memories of her past and, for some reason, the Beyonder is here again. It feels like a little too much going on, but it's fun nonetheless.

D

Episode 5: Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

This episode has some important messages about loving your body (and specifically your hair). I'm sure it's good for Black kids to hear, and I don't think many other shows talk about this at all. That said, I didn't enjoy Mane as a villain, nor the school picture sub plot and deus ex machina resolution. This episode was rather underwhelming, the worst of the series for me.

Episode 12: Today I am a Woman

Most of the time, Lunella is the one who turns selfish for an episode, but here it's Casey's desire for fame that stirs the conflict. It's her bat mitzvah, and she wants Moon Girl to be there in order to attract a Twitter influencer. Unfortunately, this means Lunella can't also be there, which causes a lot of confusion from Casey's family. I don't think I've ever seen a bat mitzvah on TV, so that was neat, but the episode overall was forgettable.

[fluxofthemouth]

Piter almost gets to his feet in his excitement at being accepted. It's bad business, though, making sudden movements so early into a shaky alliance! His rethinking stops him partway through the motion, and has to plant a steadying hand in the stain of his dark work. He wrinkles his nose at the sudden unplanned contact, but otherwise, he doesn't react. He adjusts his position to sit cross-legged, resting his arms on his knees. He's still smiling with a sort of eager, innocent joy, even as he becomes more and more marked by the violence of his own hands.

"Are you worried about me?" he laughs. "Are you sure? I will not volunteer the information that would make you hate me, but do not be shocked if you ever discover it! But no...rest assured, I am acutely aware of the risks, and I did not come here to die. I absolve you of responsibility for my safety, how's that? If a burial is in order, I don't follow any religion, I'm so easy! I think I'd like to be eaten by crows, I think they'd put me to good use."

He glances over at Atkin and frowns. "I suppose that one will want to be getting to his church, though, hm. I don't need to do anything about it, but if you'd feel bad to leave him I can help... I think he followed the... oh, what was it! The faith is popular a little further south of here, lot of symbolism about rivers and water, I forget what it's called..."

He rescues himself from his rabbit hole to suddenly look back at Isandro. "What should I call you?" he asks brightly. "Are we de Vries and M'Lord? Piter and Isandro? Something else...?"

He wonders if showing willingness to play a servant's role and not an equal's role will unsettle the young runaway, who was kind enough to warn him of the dangers of the road ahead. Quick as he was to brush off the idea that he should be cared about, something in him that has not been seen as adequately human felt deeply seen by it, and now that side craves the validation of being called an equal in no uncertain terms. So he asks the question selfishly, on purpose, and with seeming innocence.

——— So they knew. They knew that she was... not necessarily alive, but, still around. She survived, and they wanted her gone. She had to weigh her options carefully- if what Piter said was true, then she was in terrible danger of her mission being thwarted. She needed protection: She was no fighter, though she had a mace she was but learning how to use it without any real training.

"Alright. I'll tell you what. If you protect me, and you don't get in my way, you can come along. But you need to acknowledge the danger you're putting yourself in. He can, and likely will, kill you. And I can't guarantee you have the strength to come back from that."

[spratwurst]

Băile Herculane, Romania

Băile Herculane (Latin: Aqua Herculis) is a town in Romanian Banat, in Caraș-Severin County, situated in the valley of the Cerna River, between the Mehedinţi Mountains to the east and the Cerna Mountains to the west, elevation 168 meters. 

The spa town of Băile Herculane has a long history of human habitation. Numerous archaeological discoveries show that the area has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era. The Peștera Hoților (Cave of the Thieves), contains multiple levels, including one from the Mousterian period, one from the Mesolithic period (late Epigravettian) and several from the later Neolithic periods.

Legend has it that the weary Hercules stopped in the valley to bathe and rest. Unearthed stone carvings show that visiting Roman aristocrats turned the town into a Roman leisure center. Six statues of Hercules from the time have been discovered. A bronze replica of one of them, molded in 1874, stands as a landmark in the town center. Austrian and Ottoman troops clashed here after the Ottoman victory in the battle of Mehadia on 30 August 1788. The Ottomans won the skirmish, took the town on 7 September 1788 and advanced to Caransebeș. It was retaken by the Austrians at the end of September 1789.

In modern times, the spa town has been visited for its supposedly natural healing properties: hot springs with sulfur, chlorine, sodium, calcium, magnesium and other minerals, as well as negatively ionized air.

[ultravioart]

Early Days Hater and Peepers

We don't have s3 to explain the backstory of the two, but based on canon and crew Q&A: 1) For Hater, being evil is a pathetic attempt to seem cool 2) Peepers wants Lord Hater to rule the galaxy 3) Peepers wants to be the REASON Hater rules the galaxy 4) When they feel bad they bully others to make themselves feel better 5) Peepers is more evil than Lord Hater 6) Lord Hater just wants to be popular (and wants girls to like him) but Peepers actually wants to rule the galaxy 7) Peepers would follow Hater wherever Hater goes, and is jealous/possessive over Hater's attention 8) They met when they were teens, Peepers seemingly self-isolated himself from others due to Napoleon complex and a superiority complex, but they both agree Hater is AWESOME. 9) Wander is to Lord Hater as Love is to Loathing (which includes self loathing and self love). With all that in mind, my guess is that Peepers saw Lord Hater's might and suggested galactic conquest as a means to be number one/popular, and Lord Hater agreed? Pondering below:

I have to wonder though... did Hater ever feel pushed to do so? Bullying is one thing, but violent galactic conquest? Did Hater ever feel peer pressured by Peepers into doing things that were 'more evil' than Hater liked, or did Hater not care? Did Hater only agree to the galactic domination plans because Peepers was the first person to see him as the Greatest thing ever? Does Hater feel like he's worthless beyond his powers because of the arrangement, seen as worthy for his powers but not so much his vulnerable inner self? I know Peepers dumps out compliments, but Peepers also indirectly/directly criticizes Lord Hater's for wanting to have fun 'in the wrong way' (rock, silliness) or feeling emotions 'that hold them back' (guilt, slumps). Did early days Lord Hater's self-loathing grow because he assumes Peepers (the first person to see him as the greatest) only valued the superficial parts of him and not the real parts? Or was it less of expectant peer pressure into evil plans, and more of a "we both hate the universe, lets show em" and Lord Hater was 100% on board with it until it became a 'job' and not fun anymore? I'm not entirely sure if Hater had a lot of empathy for others or not before teaming up, and that's what would be the difference between peer pressured or steam rolling. I think the peer pressure idea would be a really good set up for Peepers and Hater to grow as characters. From selfishly possessive to selflessly sacrificing (he just wants hater to be happy, even if Peepers himself isn't a part of that happiness) and more sympathetic to other's feelings, and from self-loathing slowly learning how to self-love, taught by people who value what's on the inside more than the outside (Wander, Sylvia, etc). Not to make it angsty or anything lol, I just think the concept of "you can love someone and still hurt them" is important to address. This concept could EASILY be toxic, but since Peepers would absolutely become a better man for Hater, I think it could be a positive lesson on learning to love in a vulnerable way (which is scary but necessary for many healthy relationships) and be less possessively codependent. If you love something, let it go. If they return, that's wonderful, but what truly matters is that the loved one is safe and happy. On Hater's side of the story, it's for learning that self-love is more important than loving someone else/having people love you. Sure, it can help with self-confidence, but when you know how to love yourself with kindness and patience, it's a great guide for loving others in a healthy, uplifting way, too. Not to say that self-love is 123 easy, or that you can't wonderfully love someone else while you are learning self-love, rather, it only helps out to have the foundations first.

[worldformula]

You don't think Kazuma and Susato thought of each other as siblings? That's interesting, I definitely do myself but I'm curious why you don't?

This isn't meant as argumentative and I hope it doesn't come off as such! Just given what I know of the culture at the time and their individual chars I know why they weren't allowed to act close in public but maybe still did in private, but I wanna hear your take if you wish to share

Either way your art is lovely and heart-wrenching per usual!

Don’t worry, I don’t see it as argumentative! I know the popular headcanon is that they are siblings and I’m not entirely against it but I think their relationship is just more interesting and more accurate to the vision I have of their characters if they don’t actively consider themselves brother and sister.

I love to talk so my rambling under a read more. Spoilers for DGS2. And thank you so much for enjoying my work!

On Kazuma’s side of things, I think the Mikotobas were very open and accommodating to him and the idea of him being part of their family but I think Kazuma himself refused them on the basis that his identity is largely centered around being an Asogi. I’m not Japanese and certainly wasn’t Japanese during the Meiji era but the general cultural concepts surrounding family and filial duty are pretty similar to my own culture (Korean), so I get the sense that Kazuma would refuse being part of the Mikotobas because to him, it would mean giving up being an Asogi. Family trees and lines of succession etc etc are a huge deal in East Asia (particularly back then) so I think Kazuma would understand that he can’t have it both ways. He can’t be both a Mikotoba and an Asogi. (Slightly unrelated, Kazuma as a character really has the unfortunate tragedy of being someone who is socially progressive but also culturally and metaphorically stuck in the past. So I think that while he’ll follow social rules for the sake of others, he’s definitely mad about it the entire time if they’re unfair. But for reasons I’ll explain, he’s not particularly mad about following this specific social rule.) So the idea of becoming Susato’s brother in a more literal sense than just a general unassuming “nii-san” honorific behind closed doors might not appeal to him. I don’t think he’d ever outwardly say so, because East Asians looooveee to operate on the unspoken, but I think the Mikotobas would get the hint. Also I think he’s just the kind of person to keep a lot to himself even if he doesn’t seem the type at first glance, so it’s just another way of keeping the Mikotobas at an arms distance.

This isn’t to say he isn’t grateful for their care though. It’s also an act of consideration; they took care of him, so he couldn’t impose on them further by trying to integrate as an actual family member. Even if the Mikotobas are okay with the idea that others may look poorly on their family for taking in someone not of their blood (which sounds crazy but again, adoption was a big yikes back then and still has a stigma surrounding it today), Kazuma would hate to ruin the reputation of the people who took care of him. Also, he looks bad to outsiders as “an orphan who lived on the generosity of another family and is now selfishly demanding even more of that generous family by forcing himself in”. So it’s an act of love to not be “Mikotoba’s son” or “Susato’s brother”. It just works out for him better to be respectful and keep his distance while also maintaining his identity.

On the other hand, Susato. She was much younger than him when Kazuma first came to stay with them and I think she probably wanted him to be her big brother SO much. She’s not old enough to really understand how dire the circumstances are for Kazuma and she luckily learns by example (Yujin) that he’s not someone to be pitied for his lack of parents, but Kazuma is unfortunately old enough to understand all the nuance that she can’t. And he’s also too old to really want to play with her; he’s lost in the aftermath of losing both parents and he’s at the age where he needs to study hard. I do think she does call him “nii-san” when she’s little, not as an active attempt at convincing him to be her brother, but just because he’s an older boy who lives with her and she likes him. It’s not to say he never played with her or never hung out with her but they interacted more like distant cousins maybe? (There is a distinct sense of “we’re family but not really and we’re both really aware of that” that applies I think.) But between him actually just being busy and his personality being what it is (as in, I think he’s way more honest more often to Ryunosuke than he is to the Mikotobas because he doesn’t owe Ryunosuke the way he does to them), they just never got a chance to connect that deeply.

And Susato’s a smart girl who can read the room; by the time the events of DGS roll around, I think she and Kazuma are on the same page of where their relationship is, hence the way they’re formal and polite around each other, particularly in public. Though between the two of them, I think she’s the one who wishes they were closer. But she’s also just as considerate; she wouldn’t dare impose that sort of role on him and risk being a burden, particularly not when she’s always trying to help him (going so far as to become his legal assistant). She doesn’t pity Kazuma but she does recognize that weird fury/sadness about him that registers to her as his passion for justice (which isn’t incorrect, but not exactly what it seems either) and also knows that as a younger girl, she can do very little to persuade him into relying on her or their family more often. So being his legal assistant is kind of the closest thing she can do to be closer to him. Hence why her decision to leave with Ryunosuke at the end of DGS2 read to me as a way to mark the end of her always trying for him — the ball is now in his court and Kazuma has to be the one to make the effort to maintain their relationship. It’s not terribly sad, just deeply unfortunate in a way that can’t be helped. I think Kazuma never asked for her help in the first place and so she can’t TECHNICALLY, LOGISTICALLY, in ALL BUT NAME blame him for disappointing her the way Ryunosuke could. But the end result is still the same. She’s kind of done enough for him. It’s his turn. And Kazuma understands that this is just another one of the many things he’s fucked up in the past two years and accepts her decision gracefully, which is a step in the right direction.

TL;DR I think they both might’ve seen each other as siblings in another life but Kazuma was comfortable with the distance while Susato wanted a closer relationship but would never walk past the line Kazuma himself drew, out of respect for him. And at this point, it’s a bit too late for the two of them to see each other as such. I don’t think that their relationship has weakened in any sense by accepting this reality, but is now a matter of Kazuma having the power to either let it sit and weaken or strengthen it. And as much as it kind of sucks for Susato (and I certainly don’t think she’s ecstatic about the unfortunate circumstances) she can mostly get over it whichever way it goes because she now has a future to look forward to outside of him.

[historia-jaeger]

Eren really loves Mikasa? I questioned myselves.

It was always clear to me: Mikasa loves Eren, but Eren has no feelings for Mikasa. So I was surprised when the end came. As some have told me that Eren loves Mikasa, that wouldn't be anything new. You would have seen that if I went looking for fans of the ship who might have talked about their relationship and this blog caught my eye. It's in German, but I'll quote it in English. So enjoy reading.

Romance in Attack on Titan usually takes a backseat. Despite this, there were romantic undertones to various relationships within the manga.

Most of them enjoy the luxury of subtext and are far more complex to pigeonhole. So popular debates among fans are: Does Eren like Mikasa? Will Eren marry Historia?

SPOILER ALERT: Manga spoilers ahead. Go ahead, they're worth it! (Don't listen to me!)

Yes, Eren loves Mikasa as she is definitely the most important woman in his life after his mother. Despite this, Eren and Historia are able to marry - more out of duty and obligation than love.

2. Mikasa and Eren

For years, no-sayers have reduced Eren and Mikasa's relationship to one of unrequited love.

On the surface, it is very easy to fall prey to such a thought. Mikasa obviously seems to be in love with Eren since he protects her from the robbers. and Eren hasn't shown similar affection as in the countermovement.

The countermovement? I assume that what is meant is Historia. I find it very funny that on the one hand the writer writes, that Anti's think very superficially about Eren's relationship to Mikasa. But then admits that Eren shows more feelings towards Historia then her. But good. Let's read on.

For the first few years, Eren seems to resent Mikasa's maternal nature and hopes to move away from her overbearing shadow. While Mikasa just wants to be close to an unsuspecting Eren.

No. That is not completely right. Mikasa doesn't want Eren to put himself in danger and then maybe die. That's why she tries to either slow him down or protect him. And yes. Eren is annoyed about this.

This is also one of the reasons why this pairing or Mikasa is so unpalatable to some. Mikasa has total tunnel vision when it comes to Eren. She acts selfishly, puts others in danger and seems to only care about Eren's well-being. She completely ignores others. It becomes clear again in the dream, where she runs away with Eren and they spend his last few years together. Later more.

I. Mikasa's meaning

However, the manga also cements Mikasa and Armin as the most important people in Eren's life, especially when it is revealed that the Attack Titan's heirs are given access to the heirs' past and future memories.

This fact makes perfect sense when we consider Eren Kruger's quote to Grisha. "To save Mikasa and Armin".

It is later revealed that Eren was largely the reason for Grisha's actions to align them with a preordained event or what Eren's plan is. Therefore, it is very likely that Eren's drive is to protect Mikasa.

The emphasis here is on Mikasa AND ARMIN. But not only the two are important for Eren, but also the rest of his friends. If Krüger had only mentioned Mikasa, that would have been different. But even here it is not apparent that Mikasa had a special status by Eren. As a friend and adoptive sister, yes. As a lover, no.

II. Does Eren hate Mikasa?

It's Chapter 112, which oddly makes you reconsider its dynamic when Eren claims that he always hated Mikasa.

Eren claims that Mikasa's affections stem from her Ackerman clan awakening power that makes him her primary focus of affection.

I never believed that he really hated her either. To me, it looked like Eren was trying to get Mikasa to stop clinging to him and move forward.

Again, on the surface level, it seems like he hates her. But in chapters 120 and 121, Eren's motivations are finally revealed, and we see a tender or forlorn expression on Eren's face as he sees the memory of him wrapping the scarf around Mikasa.

His facial expression varies between neutral and sad, I would say. But by now he must have understood that she loves him. Of course you can be sad at this point, if you know that you have to leave this person.

This proves that Eren wants to free Mikasa and obviously doesn't really hate her, no, his motives are driven by a deep sense of love. One who is always looking out for her and doing what is best for her.

III. Eren's true feelings

Hajime Isayama claims that Mikasa's character development is her breakup with Eren. The scarf is a symbol of their protective relationship - Eren previously claimed he would wrap the scarf around her as many times as she wants, revealing that he always wants to protect her.

In chapter 123 we get a glimpse of Mikasa's perspective and she recounts an incident that defines their relationship. Before going rogue, Eren asks Mikasa, "What am I to you?". Eren's facial expression at the moment reflects how vulnerable he is feeling at the moment.

Yes. He's vulnerable. If Mikasa loves him, it will be twice as painful if he has to leave her. After all, he knows he's going to die. That's why he later wants to get her to break up with him. But that doesn't mean he loves her. But that means that she is very important to him.

In response, Mikasa nervously says he's family. She will check later if it was the right answer.

Isayama then shows a plaque specifically for Mikasa and Eren, who are sleeping with their heads touching after a night of drinking with the Survey Corps.

The Survey Corps' broader panel sleeps is tailored just for Mikasa, Eren, and Armin. This emphasis is not useless. Isayama - who doesn't usually show such moments - tries to convey the meaning of their relationship in this chapter.

We know that Isayama probably intended it that way too. But I still only see three friends sleeping head to head and the last moment together with Eren.

This clearly shows that Eren loves Mikasa - just not in a way that teenage romance defines. But as a love that drives you, a love that requires mental support, a love that transcends the trivia of puppy love.

IV. My Judgment

Eren and Mikasa have always tried to understand each other, but in this moment they reach an agreement. Mikasa's confession would have made it even harder for Eren to fulfill his duty. Therefore, her answer was the correct answer.

Eren and Mikasa's relationship was defined by their need to protect each other from the cruelties of the world. they really love each other

Isayama was always against the idea of ​​destiny; Therefore, it is unlikely to be an endgame. But whether they end up together is trivial to the story - it's what they share that stays holistic.

Their relationship has a deep complexity that combines family, love, mutual support, duty, sacrifice and development.

3. Eren and Historia

Eren's relationship with Historia was a major focus in the argument against Eren's love for Mikasa. There's a possibility of a love blossom between Eren and Historia, and it's not a far-fetched idea either.

Eren and Historia are two people who resent their role as "hero" or "good girl". They seem to have good chemistry and honesty that comes from their circumstances.

If it's anyone who really knows Eren's plan, other than Floch, it might be Historia. Both share the pain of their predetermined fate. Eren and Historia begin to bond after their kidnapping and then fans noticed the huge potential between the two.

Eren and Historia share a similar fate and, according to Isayama, also have the same character. Also, it was Historia that saved Eren when he was about to give himself up completely. That's why the ship has so much potential.

Their gradual friendship even manages to arouse jealousy in Mikasa. However, the relationship between Eren and Historias reflects a friendship between two intimates. That's not to say there can't be romance between them in the future - both serve as perfect candidates for potential love.

To define it more precisely. Mikasa got jealous, because Eren complimented Historia and she blushed. It seemed like the two were flirting with each other.

At present, however, it is unlikely that they would treat each other in this way. It's not Historia that drives Eren, nor is his love for her that eclipses anything else for him. She remains merely his possible partner in crime.

I'm sorry but I have to laugh. First of all I want to know where Mikasa drives Eren? As I explained earlier, she actually slows him down. And if his love for Mikasa eclipses everything else, why didn't he run away with her like she wished he would? This is complete nonsense. sorry

No. Eren could very well have carried out Zeke's plan, which was about keeping the enemies at bay with the Bricktitans until Paradise had upgraded its weapons enough. But that would have meant sacrificing Historia and he didn't want that. Because of her pregnancy, which was part of HIS plan, Zeke's plan was delayed and ultimately prevented. He basically became a mass murderer, because he didn't want to sacrifice Historia. And despite everything, Historia supported him in his plan. This sentence can be related so well to Historia and not at all to Mikasa... So she's trustworthy and understands why Eren is acting like that. Even if she definitely doesn't like it. In contrast to Mikasa, who thinks very much about herself and her happiness, Historia understands Eren's feelings and supports him in his project. Even if that means letting someone make her pregnant, even though she doesn't want it. You can see it on her face, before and during the pregnancy, that she doesn't want Farmer-Kun's child at all. And as we know, Historia is also in love with Eren, but doesn't show it like Mikasa does. What I think is that Eren doesn't really care who loves him. He would return love anytime. If Historia had clearly told him that she loves him, the scenery could have been the same, only with Historia instead of Mikasa. That's what I think.

I. Historia's pregnancy

The revelation of Historia's pregnancy and the final panel of a man holding a baby seem to have given more power to her shippers.

The military's plan to have Historia eat Zeke is the main motivation behind Historia's pregnancy. In all honesty, it's very likely that the father is Eren and not the farmer, but that doesn't mean that Eren and Historia are romantically involved.

The events that have transpired so far have shown that Eren is ready to do his duty against all odds. Historia's pregnancy is a semblance of this duty, preventing Zeke from feeding her.

There is no concrete evidence that Eren actually shows romantic feelings towards Historia and vice versa. It seems to be an exaggeration of their great respect and admiration for each other.

Again, Eren may eventually marry Historia if the baby is actually his, but it's unlikely to be for love.

Yes. The pregnancy took place to thwart Zeke's plan. And later we found out that the kid was Farmer-kun's. I think it's a shame, because I wished that part of Eren would live on. But good. It probably shouldn't be.

I wonder what kind of duty you're talking about. It certainly wasn't Eren's DUTY to become a CRIMINAL. He chose this path to protect his friends. And the point Eren might love Historia isn't the kid. He complimented her, she saved him, he doesn't want to sacrifice her. They share similar fates, they are of the same breed. Eren confides in her his plan. These are the points on which the EreHisu ship is based.

II. The last panel

The final panel of the man holding a baby shocked many fans.

Two theories surround it - One underscores Eren's possibility of marrying Historia. The first theory is that Grisha is holding Eren and telling him he is free, which agrees with Carla's quote that he is special because he was born into the world.

The non-linear sequence of events and the importance of memories may very well allow Attack on Titan to end with a memory of the past - Eren as a baby.

The second theory is that Eren is holding his and Historia's baby after achieving his goal. It's entirely possible.

However, the absence of Eren and Historias' moments, particularly the ones leading up to her pregnancy and her absence from this panel, clearly shows that she doesn't matter as much in Eren's life as fans might hope.

From the final chapters it's obvious that the woman in Eren's mind is, and probably always will be, Mikasa.

I've never seen Eren with a child there. It just looked way too much like Grisha with baby Eren.

I don't really know what could be meant by moments here? The fragments of memories? Otherwise, you could assume that these moments were omitted specifically to mislead the reader or because it would not have been relevant to the story. But that doesn't mean she wasn't important to Eren. And when it comes to the fragments...let's count:

Unidentifiable dudes (probably Armin and Mikasa as children) 1 birds 1 Historia 2 Annie 1 airship 1 Connie and Sasha 1 Falco 1 Levi's Special Squadt 1 Frieda Reiss 1 Strange Soldier Pack 1 Grisha 1 basement key 1 burning houses 1 Mikasa 1 Reiner 1 knife 1 Armin 1 Woman with laundry (Carla?) 1 food 1 the Jew Boy 1 Jean 1 Grisha's sister 1 jumping people 1 Horses 1 Levi 1 Hange 1 Undefinable other fragments 3

If the two people on the far right panel in the top corner are Mikasa and Armin, then Historia, Mikasa, and Armin are tied at Eren. If they aren't, Historia would have more relevance to him than Mikasa. And if we go by the size of the fragments, Mikasa might do better, but then I wonder why the panel of a Jewish boy is larger than that of his mother or Armin.

Reading the importance of a person from the memory fragments...I think it's stupid.

Unfortunately, it's still not clear to me why Eren was in love with Mikasa and from when. In particular, the scenes where Mikasa tried to kiss him and he practically turned away to attack the Grinning Titan stuck with me. Most notably, he only arrives 10 years later and asks her if she loves him. That doesn't seem to have mattered to him until now. otherwise he would have asked sooner. When he wants to make sure that Zeke isn't into him, he reacts quite emotionlessly to his answer.

Oh well. What the hell.

If someone has stronger arguments to put forward than this person, please get in touch and explain it to me. Thanks.

[dekusleftsock]

Hey, I have ah... thoughts(?), and to preface I'm sorry if this comes across as rude! That's will not be my intention.

It's just been stuck on my mind that in your BKDK meta's (and just generally), you've brought up nihilism quite a bit. I myself am I nihilist - well, more specifically I'm absurdist (relating to or supporting the belief that human beings exist in a purposeless, chaotic universe) - but for all intents and purposes, I live in a predominantly nihilistic way of thinking.

And back to it being in your meta's, you often paint nihilism as being an inherently pessimistic; such as:

"Nihilism and cringe culture is stupid and causes actual issues for ya brain. ESPECIALLY a young brain, and I’ll argue till the day I die that it’s part of the reason gen y and gen z’s mental health is so terrible."

"It definitely is! Nihilism doesn’t take all the emotional heavy lifting optimism does; But I also think that nihilism being so common nowadays is because of propaganda and, I can’t talk about this enough apparently on my account, the alt right; Nihilism is great in authoritative societies because it creates stagnation. (or just societies who don’t want change lol) When you feel that there is no way to change, nothing happens."

"THIS SAME MESSAGE, these same BIASES, these same DOG WHISTLES only hold us back from change. They continue the constant nihilistic outlook on the world. It’s a domino affect; so long as people think that there is no hope, that they should always be shameful of who they are and they can’t change that, so long as we continue to be nihilistic, nothing ever happens."

In retrospect, it seems that you believe nihilism IS pessimism.

I don't entirely understand where you got this impression, is all I'm trying to say, haha. I would consider myself quite the optimistic person, even to a fault at times (when I'm uhm... not in a depressive spiral/panic attack - general anxiety disorder is NOT FUN I'll say that much lol).

What I'm trying to say is, contrary to popular belief, Nihilism is not synonymous with cynicism or despair.

Of course, you could argue saying in nihilism, Ethics and Morals become non existent and are merely thought to be invented by humans, therefore it is inherently cynical.

But I don't believe that's quite true. The base structure of nihilism is of course, denying all meaning, but that doesn't mean people will become selfish by default. That's sort of silly in a way, I think. If cynicism is "believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity:" then saying a nihilist will be pessimistic by default seems cynical to me! That by having no meaning or higher place of being that your good morals will lead you to, you will be bad because there's nothing to motivate you, seems... immature? Not immature, more ahm, worrying? If abandoning all meaning makes you do bad things, I'm quite concerned actually- like, that's a socially moral backbone of overcooked spaghetti.

Even if you deny all meaning in the world, that doesn't mean you inherently begin to act selfishly! Nihilists I know still do protests, donate to charities, and actively work to make the world a better place (and absolutely are not right wing.) because even being nihilist, I and many still care about other people. Altruistic deeds often lead to greater well-being for others and yourself, and it’s silly to be selfish if that's true. If there is no meaning, that means the only thing you live for is other people and experiencing life. It’s about how often nihilists learn value the journey, at least as I see it. So, what to do to live life at it’s fullest and help others do the same? Thing that are, quite frankly, resolutely un-right wing and fascist.

"When you feel that there is no way to change, nothing happens.""

Re-quoting that because it stuck out to me most, as that's... by definition, pessimism, not nihilism. Having no hope, is pessimism, seeing no way for change, is pessimism, etc etc.

(Not to mention, being nihilistic doesn't mean you're depressed by default, either. That's also a common misconception.)

If hope means thinking there's some sort of inherent meaning in life or inevitable afterlife, I... guess I don't have hope? But I still have hope for change socially and politically, I still have hope for my future generations, I still have hope for happiness.

(For the record: I agree WHOLEHEARTEDLY at how awful cringe culture is, I despise cringe culture. It makes me sad seeing people make fun of people for enjoying life, shipping things, etc. The hate on furries makes no sense to me, especially, like... why? I digress.)

ANYWAY I think you've conflated perspective with philosophy. If you still hate nihilism, that's fine! Go on about it! I'm not saying philosophy should be free of any criticism (as long as you aren't harassing people, of course).

Just... I don't think you understand what nihilism actually is, currently.

TL;DR:

pes·si·mism:

[ˈpesəˌmizəm]

NOUN

a tendency to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen; a lack of hope or confidence in the future:

ni·hil·ism:

[ˈnīəˌlizəm, ˈnēəˌlizəm]

NOUN

the rejection of all religious and moral principles, in the belief that life is meaningless.

Thank you if you've read all that! I love your meta's, you seem like a super cool person :)

Hey no worries dude! I can take criticism, especially when it’s justified! (Edit: if I forgot to reply to anything or missed something lmk, I just didn’t have the time to really read through all of it atm lol)

You’re definitely right with pessimism being what I truly mean. Tbh with you, I’ve used nihilism to a default for years, but I did know the difference and just.. keep forgetting sobdodjdudj

To clarify: there is nothing wrong with having the philosophy of nihilism!

What I do have a problem with is pessimism. Seeing the worst in the world and people, having no hope, etc.

I also followed the nihilistic philosophy for a long time. But, before I say this, again, there is nothing wrong with having this philosophy… however, it still does have a lot of ties to nazism and the alt right. I kinda lumped pessimism and nihilism together in a lot of contexts, but that doesn’t change that it is an aspect of nazism to some degree. And I also feel it’s important to say that because it really is an important aspect WITHIN nazism, and also has some cultural significance due to its connection. (Which, as of now I have not properly talked about other than passively mentioning it and I will most definitely get to that at some point)

Not all nihilists are nazis but all nazis are nihilists, you get what I mean?

And, another thing I tend not to say, I hate the IDEA of pessimism, not the people who believe it. Why? Because I see it in people who are at their worsts points. People who have been knocked down over and over again. It drowns you in a constant cycle.

So, even when I WAS talking about “nihilists”, I did not think any were inherently selfish or bad. (Again, a communication end on my part) Rather the idea itself of pessimism. I hate no one! Other than like, REALLY terrible people who did SA or like femicide or something. I see pessimistic people as a victim of the system, not those who continue it. The IDEA spread on a massive scale is not an individualistic issue, rather an idea we have as a society and a mindset we have on the internet. (Also if I say I hate people and it isn’t in an ultra serious context of genuine issues that hurt people by their very existence, then I don’t actually mean I hate them, I hate the ideas they have but, again, ultimately see them as a victim to a system)

Hell, I know I talk a lot about how annoying dudebros are and how I hate people in the alt right, but god. I’ve seen all of my siblings go down the same pipeline. All of which were mentally ill and traumatized.

There IS a correlation between kids who were bullied/needed help and school shootings in the US. Part of it is this pipeline, part of it is the general mindset the US has on mental health issues.

Also, as just a last tidbit of my thoughts, it definitely IS immature to limit any of our ideas on ethics, morals, and philosophies. Or maybe, the term you were looking for was ignorant. Idk, I’m not you, just trying to help dibdisndidb

ALSO ALSO, WHOEVER YOU ARE, YOU DONT HAVE TO BUT LIKE, COMMENTING AND CORRECTING A NEW POST WHERE I USE THE WRONG TERM WONT MAKE ME MAD! I welcome it even; I promise you I don’t bite, a lot of people don’t take criticism well but I personally do so don’t be afraid! (Nothing wrong with not taking criticism well, again, victim to a system) If anyone has any genuine thoughts/criticisms to my posts be my guest! I may challenge it a bit in some cases, (hell I sound a bit aggressive sometimes but I don’t mean to be, and when I sound aggressive tell me about it and I’ll tone it down lol) so please don’t be afraid to hit me with what you’ve got! In fact I WANT you to! I don’t like spreading misinformation, the entire point of my account is to spread KNOWLEDGE so I don’t want that knowledge to be wrong.

If I find the time I’ll go through all my recent posts and fix/edit some things but I also have life, hw, school, and relaxing time I usually do in the day so it might take a while lol.

Final also: I really did know the difference between these two things which is why this makes the problem even WORSE bc I’m supposed to KNOW THIS and I literally SHOULDVE DONE THIS, but I am also an adhd bastard who has memory issues eobdodndudjudbd

Thanks for the correction! Keep them coming if you have them y’all!

[legionofpotatoes]

the matrix resurrections

(spoilers and big thonks in my usual fart-sniffing yet oddly charming way)

sweet lordy this film is completely uninterested in coherent pacing or dramatic intent but I selfishly still love it so so much because of what it is about and because of everything it just.. *is* with its entire chest.

cant properly search a fucking thing on this website but I distinctly remember watching the first trailer and immediately posting my hopes that this would be the movie to unabashedly stick it to the redpill shitheads infesting all message boards with their left-brain wank and I genuinely cannot believe that that's exactly what I got, no holds barred.

the matrix trilogy left the class, got silly drunk, and crashed back in to REALLY tell us, like as a final note my dudes, and with some more feeling this time, just what the fuck it was on about. It also wants to give us an awkward hug and hiccup sweet nothings into our ear about how much it really loves us. that's resurrections.

But for real though. it really just goes and says that the trilogy's ways of recognizing and fighting the flaws of the system are so archaic and outdated in today's hellscape that the system itself has assimilated and weaponized them against us, completely drowning out the intent behind shallow masturbation to nostalgia. and in distilling this idea into a plot point they fucking. nailed it so hilariously by turning it into a video game. they literally turned the og matrix into a videogame loaded with all modern trappings of decentralized narrative ownership and crushing corporate oversight. it is literally nothing more than an indulgent product the big man demands a Fresh New sequel for, and is therefore framed as a stark, stupidly ideal meta-phor (boo) that the film's engine roars out of, engaging and ripping the notion to shreds in the name of the one thing that can righteously pierce through the endlessly enfolding ebb and flow of this maliciously adaptive culture, a culture that will hijack and weaponize any argument against its systems of control. The one single thing that can truly cut through the noise of the matrix: love.

This movie is a *ridiculous* ode to romance, blasted loud from the rooftops of big media's most popular movie franchise, cementing its final point with such cartoonishly overt vigor that it becomes impossible to deflect - short of dismissing it outright. It is about neo and trinity re-finding and fighting for one another inside a matrix that has transcended all limitations and devoted itself to feverishly gaslighting and manipulating them for some convoluted plot reasons that don't really matter. What matters is that it essentially boils their lives down to a hapless toil in a hypercapitalist system interested in keeping them on their respective treadmills, surgically dosed on both validation and misery to maximize productivity. Myths, memories and all aspirational stories are corporate-fed propaganda designed to dilute their own spiritual value, and the people that are plugged in willingly accept this veneer of utopia as they essentially become their own rabid wardens. It is a jarring mixture of deft satire and cartoonish depiction of today's uberconnected, truthless, cynical world where finding sincerity is often an almost sisyphean labor of emotional wall-tearing.

yet the film ultimately breathes out and firmly reassures us that this difficulty is not absolute, and that it is worth trudging through. it is, in fact, the only fucking thing worth doing at all. the matrix resurrections is a single-minded, optimistic oorah at a world sneering and laughing in response, an almost childish invocation of something as simple as love in the face of a hyper-complex digital globe drained of empathy. it has shed all notions of nuanced discussion winning the day in the age of misinformation, it has abandoned all rules of cool as shorthand for marginalized empowerment, it's spat on the very idea of a mechanized interiority to its crystalline message. it is absurdly naive. and it is impossible to hate.

the matrix did not need a sequel. nor did this movie, whether framed as a franchise boat or even as something wholly unmoored, needed to really exist. it truly reiterates the most base, compact, irrefutable truth of humanity. cue "the power of love" guitar riff. and yet, as evidenced when the plot winks it at us in the beginning, the existence of a matrix 4 was perhaps an inevitability of the ever profit-seeking market. So let it be this, then; for if it has to exist, then only like this. A cobbled-together, earnest post scriptum to a seminal trilogy, reminding us that yes.

Love IS the genesis of everything. and the noise is just noise.

Assorted thoughts and musings that don't fit in the Big Part:

just the Plot of it is a Lot. again, not a movie as concerned with harmonizing form and function as the OG films were, sure, but it's still a shame that it shows. it's convoluted just a bit too much, paced just a bit too poorly, spotty in effective exposition and definitely lacking in dramatic intent. has its big oomph in the setup and payoff of neo and trinity, which is delicious and which totally works but eeerghh I wish we got to find catharsis in all the other characters too. but maybe not really the point here? I'm not smart enough to crack this one boys

yahya is such a charming presence on-screen, man. love his funky lando morpheus to bits. I have no idea why the story needed him but I never once wanted him gone

something about the matrix gaslighting neo's past by remixing iconic elements into silly gags feels so... right, lmao. like it's designed to be a playful wink but will absolutely infuriate the right kinds of people. hell yeah deja vu is the cat's name like for real now checkmate nerds

I bet geoff keighley wanks it silly thinking about how cool it is that his game award is in this movie. in quite a specific framing. and by 'I bet' I mean yeah I've seen his tweet and it is, like, the single most hilarious fucking thing I've read in months

so the agents are ineffective and replaced by zombie NPCs but they are still in the system? or were they only part of that uh modal loop-de-loop thingy? that neo wrote? is the analyst's bullet time god mode defunct by the end? because of neo/trin no longer powering the place or? clarityyyy. sheesh. again just the Plot of it all. Keep it simple!! like how you accepted a cookie from the oracle to agree to an exchange of data. simple in-jokes and worldbuilding. why do all the AI civil war stuff and Zion But Cooler With Clouds and all that noise if it's just a ramp for romance? really no simpler choices to get us there? idk

did the merovingian really mention mark zuckerberg or did I hallucinate that part

man jonathan groff is so chewy with his lines. what a great addition to the film. his arc is sort-of nonsense but boy did he fluff it all up with his unique combo of understated and unhinged. you go dude. so happy for him, truly!!! he should do theater or something

that was a joke about jonathan groff doing theater. I know

and whaddup sensate family we got a whole-ass reunion here!! no notes or comments. *chef's kiss* all around. alix had the 8 on their hair and everything. truly a niche gift for us VIPs. my partner had a bit of a hard time reconciling just how odd they all looked together as a team in a completely different setting and story, but I mean I just kinda though it was neat to see them again! but it's very much a director's faves kinda thing so your mileage will uh, vary

niobe's makeup looked so strange?? not bad, or ineffective, but it did not manage to slink into the background for me. it was distractingly uncanny. her good eye was 40 years old, and the rest of her was 90

all the dramatic emphasis on handholding is so. good. it is so so good. i love hold hamds as plot device

genuine action storytelling has turned into storytelling during action in the beats in-between the punching and kicking. I know it sounds pretentiously nitpicky but the difference matters in cinematic language terms I promise. the punching and kicking itself is just wide-angle noise now, no more intimate push-and-pull of micro close calls and setups/payoffs. this is a general trend towards cinema that is especially evident in the quippy MCU bouts, but it's worth noting its absence here specifically because the matrix was such a masterclass of action storytelling. the first movie especially. so much character growth and catharsis would just happen during and in the middle of that wonderful, kinetic choreo. we don't have that here and honestly it's okay and also keanu and carrie anne are in their 50s so I'm just kinda lamenting it selfishly. the only time I really felt it bum me out was during that oddly padded sewage fight with the exiles.

another extremely personal opinion but the constant wide outer establishing shot > immediate interior cuts pull me out a bit? I like a nice punch-in, maybe intermediary transitions, but it all felt like. small sets with CG extensions all the time. except for the outside stuff! really loved the golden hour set pieces visually

ah, sad gamedev keanu in pajamas drinking vodka on a rooftop, what an aesthetic

I did lie about the coolness factor a little bit because seeing trinity doing the superhero shit in the end was hooo boy. thrilling stuff! and she got to beat that guy up real good. neil patrick harris, staunch as ever. what an endlessly dependable dude. feel like he could perform as literally anyone and just consistently kill it

and look I'm not here to gloss over lana's weird racism but idk how to address it in the context of this film outside of just kinda. addressing by mentioning it. it's a shit outlook that's bled into some of her work and I obviously lack the personal experience to discern its degrees here - and far be it for me to play whataboutism on this whole ordeal writ large - but if it matters at all to your read of my read then yes, I definitely factor in the shaky optics at the helm. whether despite of them or in spite of them, the core ethos of this story appears to work fine, perhaps in lieu of it being an ethos fundamentally built to sidestep nuance and paint in broad strokes and universal concepts. I mean lana did make my favorite movie of all time that stars an abuser and is rife with orientalist messiness so this could all be a damning admission on my part, but I privately stay as aware and critical of it all as I possibly can while dunno, trying to receive the value her unique cinematic language and voice can sometimes offer? I suppose I could boil it down to a guilty pleasure thing as well. we are, after all, talking about movies

no no no but. the Gamers being the real agents of apathy here. galaxy brain take. gotta praise it again. can almost see the waves of angry youtube dudes clutching pearls over this. mmm. i can have a little schadenfreude. as a treat

and finally, my hottest take of all: the matrix... was just a PG-13 free guy all along

but seriously though. I couldn't help but love it in the end, with almost the same fiery love that I have for speed racer. I mean okay not really those levels but. it has such an earnest and sloppy center, this movie. it feels like a cinematic version of the human heart. ultimately I'm just glad it exists and that it.. exists in this form, I guess!

haha he's called the analyst