#i've missed this :')))

[stillnotyourmusebitch]

Take me back to the start...

This game franchise has been one I've felt safe in. Like a warm hug, feels like coming home.

I've missed you Arcadia Bay

[withthewindinherfootsteps]

MDZS Notes + Analysis — Chapter Two: “Reincarnation”

Three main things stood out to me when rereading this chapter: the theme of status, our intro to WWX, and the information we’re given about his state after death.

…Well, four things, but the other one will get its own post.

The theme of status is immediately introduced* with ‘MXY’’s treatment and the backstory of MXY and his mother, yet again showing just how well MDZS’s ideas are integrated into the text and how well it’s paced! You’re introduced to every important theme so, so early on. Two screenshots are analysed below:

(See: entitlement of the upper classes towards the lower classes, and how this can exist even between members of the ‘same family’; and arguably the idea of debts between a richer family and someone who was 'taken in'. There are a surprising amount of parallels between MXY and WWX, but I'll make my own post about that)

(See: once again, differences in status between members of the same family, and also the worse, and disposable, treatment of one daughter because she was "the daughter of a servant". Now, why does that phrase sound familiar...?)

Also, MXY's mother was sixteen when she attracted JGS's attention... if you somehow needed even more material to hate the guy...

We also get introduced to WWX’s personality(!), which immediately disproves the rumours from last chapter on how he'd cast the world into ruin:

(That's one of the first questions he asks after waking up – I love how he's so concerned about this! It shows us two important things, too: 1) Morality is important to WWX, and 2) Doing immoral things seems to be out of the ordinary for him. Both of these stand in direct contrast to the picture of WWX we were painted earlier!)

(Same thing here, along with showing us some of the (healthy!) pride WWX has – he wouldn't be offended at this if wasn't something he held as important within himself)

(I use this quote again, but here it's once again proving that the vengeful, evil WWX who'd sink the cultivation world into "nothing but chaos and despair" at the first chance he got... very much does not exist.)

(And finally, it's explicitly confirmed here that he's not the type to take exessive revenge and take pleasure in it... at least at this point in time, because. MXY definitely had reason to think this considering Sunshot!WWX, if everyone had been working from the truth. But importantly that isn't who he is now, and isn't who the WWX villified by the cultivation world was – imo that's including Nightless City, we'll get to that when I reach it. But note that actions during the Sunshot campaign aren't even mentioned in the prologue, because, shock, they actually helped the cultivation world win the war! Though that doesn't mean they weren't part of rumours + the WWX hatred mill later.)

Then some non-morality related things:

This is just really funny to me, with how the makeup being badly applied (:o) is enough of an issue to merit a thought – WWX I love you.

And then this way of thinking comes back a few times esp during the earlier chapters, enough to be noted I think.

Confirmation on WWX's status after he died – it's not anything new to point out, but this chapter does give us rare insights into what state he was in during the post-death, pre-rebirth period.

So, he was somewhat conscious, enough to be aware of what he was(n't) doing – seeking vengeance, haunting the living – and was seemingly in control of those actions. However, he was specifically a "wandering ghost" – his soul didn't pass onto the afterlife or "return back to Earth"** like the body-offering spell's caster's would. He was conscious that a long time had passed as well, and this long period of downtime where he could accept + deal with what happened in his first life is what likely allowed him to be so well-adjusted the second time round – even taking into account the remarkably good way he tends to deal with things in general (cue the "forgetting the wound when the pain fades" quote, it summarises WWX's mindset really well)***.

Also, as for resisting the summons from the prologue – I'm wondering how much was due to WWX's experience with resentful energy + general capability (if that affects it..?) allowing him to consciously refuse, how much was due to WWX not being the type to hold onto resentment (so possibly spells targeting ghosts, full of this resentful energy, wouldn't be as affected?), and how much was due to the relative lack of knowledge about how ghosts/resentful energy works compared to WWX. Or, if it was something else. Either way, achieving the impossible, that's WWX for you :D

It is interesting that he hasn't heard a voice in ages despite wandering, too – do ghosts just not hear the same way, or did he deliberately avoid areas with people? I could see both, the second being more likely, especially considering how many people wanted to summon him back for... less than stellar purposes.

Misc:

Poor Mo Xuanyu....

--

*Well, reinforced – in the prologue, one of the things said about WWX is that "if not for the YunmengJiang clan’s adopting and teaching him, he would have been a hobo living on the streets", which is among the insults people throw. So of course, class-affecting-perception is tied to WWX from the very beginnning! But this is the first time it's actually explored, not a throwaway line.

**Though that may be what's literally happening to WWX's soul here – it is wandering around Earth – I don't think that's what this line refers to. There's a very good meta on how different translations handled that line, I really recommend it (tysm @/mxtxfanatic for finding it)!

***It would be very interesting to read a fic where it felt like no time had passed for him since his death, actually! Though the extremely stressful circumstances are gone, it would still be interesting to see a WWX for whom the Siege, Nightless City, Qiongqi Path etc are pretty recent – but only in fic territory, since I'm so, so glad we got the WWX we did in canon. Also, I'd love to see a fic maybe exploring some of his time as a ghost...?

[trueblueboygenius]

me and all the jutuals posting the same photos over and over again we are so back

[creative-heart]

Ok, I don't wanna make promises, but today may be the day I start writing again!!! SO EXCITED

[maxx-doodles]

So happy to see you back on tumblr!! I missed your art so much!

Ah, thank you! :'D I've missed posting here- I'm just absolutely terrible at maintaining an online presence on more than one account.

Thank you all for the warm welcome back <3 It really means a lot

[alexbkrieger13]

P coming for Melly in that little training video 😂

[wrestlezaynia]

It's the synchronized head tilt for me.

[junsfangs]

💭 2023.08.10

[dingleminyard]

my dash rn feels like a warm blanket, i missed you guys sm 🤧🤧

[sorivii]

IDK what happened to me but suddenly I've made five wip's- made four rottmnt drawings. I couldn't SLEEP becuase of how insane my focus is.... I'M SO HYPED AAHHHHHH LET ME DRAW MOREeee

[misscrazyfangirl321]

Genuinely so excited to be reading again

[the-a-archives]

This may seem weird but I found you a little while ago and your age, pronouns, and alternate username reminded me of an author I used to know

I compared your work to work I had saved on my ao3 account and after getting enough courage to send this, I’d like to believe you’re the same person. would you happen to be rotz13? I noticed the account was deleted on here.

if it is you. Your writing is so different, it almost feels like you’ve hidden yourself to make your writing appealing to others. Where are the essay dumps? The religious notes? The random studies? but most importantly how r you?

If you're who I perceive you to be, then my warm heart and homesick tears are justified.

I am sorry you feel that way, and in a way you are correct. I'm shocked you went through all that work just to see if it was me. I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me feel special. I've been well as of late, but knowing you, I can provide more detail.

Long-winded post ahead.

My Fellow Lamb,

That account you've mentioned was one that I deleted back in late-2019. And years do not leave me where I don't regret ridding myself of that work I've spent so many hours on. Truthfully, the day I deleted that account, I was manic. Engulfed by the waters that I had poured into my own brain to drown myself. I'm not sure what caused it, perhaps the study you and I both know about where I performed psychological exercises on my own lack of empathy and record my answers to see if I was truly unfortunate.

When I reviewed my answers, I found myself confused on the basics of other's common sense. For example:

If two groups are on a set of train tracks, the train cannot be stopped, and you are the only person who can pull the lever to determine who the train hits. Who do you choose? The family of 5? The woman who's pregnant? Which one are more morally correct?

I find both of these scenarios distasteful for a multitude of reasons. Firstly, why and how did the train get into this situation? Where is the conductor? Is 911 not an option? Why are the individuals on the tracks in the first place? Why can't the option be that they move off the track? But disregarding all of that, I found that most people, would choose the pregnant woman. Upwards of 75% of people.

I don't know where my answer lies to this day.

It has driven me mad ever since, and I have looked for answers in most places. Including religions such as Christianity, Buddhism, Mormonism, even Scientology (whom I do not support). Mid-2021 I wrote this dilemma off as something I cannot answer because of my lack of religion.

Though, you know me, correct?

2024 would make my 7th year straight of studying Christianity and Catholicism as a conjoined theological research, which would also make this my 7th bible to annotate and compare with my other research. For those of you who do not know me, I was raised in these religions simultaneously, and since burdening the trauma that comes with it, my hyperfinite studies in these religions does not oppose my lack of religion.

You would be proud to hear my evolution, however. As I do not consider myself an atheist anymore, more of an agnostic. I attend church services as to get a clearer understanding of the faithful appeal Yahweh has on our populous as human beings, yet my hesitation to get too close as left me temporarily unfulfilled in these psychological findings.

I find myself wondering why I cannot be blissfully ignorant like these folk often times.

To answer your questions, I still write my essays on the side. Though, with school piling up, I find myself lost in thoughts rather than writing them down. I am apprehensive to write them down an post them, for the pandemic has brought on different minds with essays and more often than not-- people are disinterested.

To follow up with this, however, I have changed the way I write, and what I write about. I've found that people adore upfront plots and writing to accompany it. So I have... shortened what I have to say in order to appease these demands. But you are correct, they are quaint and unlike me. And I yearn for my rambles about topics I adore.

For you, I might consider this route and delete everything.

I hope you are well, my lamb.

Cordially,

A.

[patchyourbrokenwings]

I had goosebumps and tears in my eyes from the very first note til Taylor leaving the stage. I'm so grateful I got to see and experience the eras tour afterall.

[dragonsaltartales]

I think this is the first time in a very long time that I just look through my own art repeatedly and smile.

Is it weird to say that Bugsnax has quite literally changed my life?? In a very good way that I've been craving for years!

I'm just very happy and wanted to air out the feelings. ♥

[spill-your-guts]

I love being in the rehersal room!!! I love seeing theatre happen!!! I am crawling up the walls

[ruvviks]

doom eternal intro goes so hard