#it's a double-edged sword to him

[shadowed-yet-vibrant]

It’s fascinating how little the US at large knew about Walz before this week, but at the same time… it makes sense. He wasn’t their governor. They haven’t seen the incredible work he’s done first-hand, and they haven’t had years to appreciate his authentic charm.

He’s never been a politician who sought out the limelight - everything Minnesota has done in this historic year of progressive legislation and policy has been relatively quiet. He’s not on the road jockeying for the latest sound byte on CNN or some podcast - he’s working to implement the policies people want. He’s tweeting about Mountain Dew. He’s at the state fair eating fried food and talking to his constituents. This is the governor we know. A man who cares deeply about the work he does and the people he represents, not the fame, not the clicks.

He’s genuine. Minnesotans know that. Now it’s time to sell that to the rest of the country.

[cup-o-stars]

Last part for old GF sketches

(Actually, most of these aren't old at all, but their average is brought down by the last picture, which I drew back in August and kept forgetting to post)

[turtleblogatlast]

[ cw: violence mention / death mention / ]

Will never stop thinking about how Leo, all alone in an endless void and being beaten again and again and again by the only other living thing around, still finds comfort in that space. The situation he was in was completely hopeless, and in any other circumstances he would not have escaped, at least not fast enough to save him from permanent (or even fatal) damage, be it physical or mental.

And yet, despite the bleakness of his situation, despite the agony and helplessness, all he needs is one glance at a crumbled photograph, one glance to remember his family, and that’s enough of a reason for him to smile.

Maybe that’s why his powers center around manipulating space - because no matter how much space is between them, no matter how dire his own situation may be, just the thought of his family, alive and okay, is enough to give Leo hope.

[holdmymetaphor]

in like the second to last episode when taub was like why dont u respect wilsons wishes to die

house yells at him about how hard it has been to choose to live

and then we cut to other doctors and nurses and patients who hear him yelling this taboo thing, looking at him like hes weird and wrong and making a ruckus

ugh. houses reaction to it hurts me. its just such a clear reminder of how alone he feels/is.

[dacquoisettes]

midas

[jilted-love]

Kurama being physically vulnerable in his Shuichi form actually has nothing to do with his physique because that body he's using is already demon in nature after he turned 10.

It's all about his youki. His youki, before he lost much of its strength and downgraded from the level of an A class, could be transformed into an armor. It's just like Sensui's which both of them recognized as true even if Sensui's was stronger.

So in the Dark Tournament, Kurama with a much weaker youki was basically fighting naked. His original fighting style with a spiritually conjured ki armor was risky because he relied on its defense to tank out the damage. He was willing to take hits just to plan his strategy but that (very old demon) habit came from when he had better defenses with a stronger demonic energy. His white clothing as youko only failed against Sensui because of their difference in power level with Sensui being S class. Kurama in the the Dark Tournament with his A class ki armor could probably take a hit from Toguro's 100% because Toguro was only Upper B class when Kurama used to be A class.

In post canon, however, it's safe to assume that Kurama surpassed A class already because his awakened youki (after witnessing Yusuke's death and revival) that made him able to shapeshift at will became stronger than before his peak in his previous life. His ki amor could have gotten stronger too. In conclusion, Kurama post canon is gonna be more unhinged and reckless in his suicide strategies. 😅

[untouchedsoap]

there is something sooo fucking good about early seasons ian and mickey, about watching this summer fling turn into something more, the fear that elicited from mickey but him being unable to stop, finding those little moments hidden away and taking all this meaning from small gestures and persevering in dugouts and under bleachers and barely pressed confessions in the back of a church that is soo good for my brain

like i am very glad mickey gets to shout his love for ian from the mountain tops and also beat his love for ian into his dad's face but when he was clenching his teeth shut and his love for ian was coming out regardless ohhhhh baby i was eating

[midnight-mismanagement]

Yes which makes watching him so fascinating, entertaining, frustrating, and deeply upsetting! I love what you said about how he’s the one who is probably implausibly saved the most by chance, despite the fact that he is trying so hard to control his destiny. The more he tries to control, the more things fly out of his control. Despite his best efforts, he usually ends up making things worse for himself until chance saves his butt, and yet, he is deeply resentful of characters who he believes have had anything “handed” to them, who have been awarded by chance or good fortune, like Bates swooping in to be made valet when Thomas was anticipating the promotion, or Molesley being made valet for Matthew (he has a particular resentment against valets lol), Tom moving up into the upper classes through marriage, or O’Brien hoping to push for Alfred to move up the ranks despite him being new. He thinks he has to scheme to get anywhere, when arguably, scheming is what holds him back (but there have been times, as you mentioned, where him taking control over his fate has saved his life, which sort of reinforces his idea of the necessity), but even if he was perfectly nice, he would’ve still been passed up for Bates, and Molesley. Which makes him failing upwards so many times deeply ironic. He does work for things, but in ways that may hurt others or himself, and he does not usually achieve his original goal, but through circumstance, he may be given a reprieve, mercy, or reward in some other way (though it usually walks hand in hand with a healthy dose of karma, or the understanding that although he has had a good turn today, it will likely not last, case in point with attaining the Valet position when Bates was in prison. His future was uncertain if/when Bates got out. This of course, only reinforces his job insecurity.) 

He is also afraid of being ostracized, sacked, and isolated for something out of his control, so he pushes people away, both through his spite and resentment, and through his own fears that he would like to pretend he doesn’t have. He would like to pretend he is above wanting anyone’s approval, or friendship, and resents the parts of himself that still want to fit in, so instead he attempts to lash out in ways to assert he is above it all, and to protect himself from what he believes may be potential threats (and sometimes just cause he’s bored, I’ll call that season 1 Thomas). And sometimes because he is resentful of other people’s good relationships that he does not see as possible for himself, like Bates and Anna. This is a cyclical effect, in which people do not like him because of his behaviour, which causes him to push people away even more, until people usually don’t believe him when he does have good intentions, which only reinforces his confirmation bias. Andy is an example. People warn Andy of Thomas’ sexuality (something he has no control over) which is likely reinforced by his behaviour (people don’t really trust him to have honest friendship as a goal due to his standoffishness) which leads to Thomas’ isolation and thus, his continued resignation and resentment. When Jimmy left and he was once again alone and wanted to “fit in,” he tries to change his nature, not his behaviour (he tries to “choose his own path” and is told he can’t. Ouch.) 

He does not believe he can have an honest friendship with no strings attached and without losing the attachment in some way, without him exerting some form of control, and then finds himself in situations where he has none. With O’Brien, they both had teeth, and it was a matter of time until one won out over the other, which makes it so striking when he actually admits defeat, because, this is Thomas, he is always trying to control his fate, and yet she manages to break him. (I actually find it endlessly fascinating that Thomas, although he gave Bates the code phrase “her ladyship’s soap,” he doesn’t actually reveal to Bates what it means, even though it would make sense for him to do so at this point in time. It comes across to O’Brien as both an offensive and defensive move, but it remains defensive without her knowledge.) Jimmy meanwhile, was a huge disaster of miscommunication made worse by O’Brien’s manipulations, and Thomas had to get beat up for him for a friendship to form (for anyone to believe in his good intentions). 

Baxter is different. Thomas tries to use her as a tool to ensure his job security (whether it be imagined or from experience from always being on tenterhooks as a result of both outside factors and his own fuck ups), and he resents her friendship with Molesley, and views her standing up to him and taking his power away from her (which, coincidentally, almost got him sacked) as a betrayal to him. Then, after his awful treatment of her, she keeps...being nice to him??? What. Fake news. Must hide and ramp up the pushing away, clearly there is a defect or she’s just waiting to do something. And then she still helps him, even after he confesses to the letter thing (I saw that confession as like, one last check, she would have every right to abandon him, and yet he gives her the full knowledge of that for her to rightly make that choice and leave him at his most vulnerable, and she still doesn’t.) Then, full Barrow Loyalty UnlockedTM.  

I didn’t mean to dive into a whole character analysis or whatever this is, but just, yeah. Also, that picnic scene where he tries to turn over a new leaf right before he attempts to give up for good just hurts me. It’s like, he is finally trying to be nice and useful! To everyone! He brings the bottle Ms. Patmore forgot, he attempts to save Andy from embarrassment, he is constantly offering help, only to have the last of any of his purposes stripped away. Andy doesn’t need lessons from him anymore? Clearly that means they probably won’t be friends anymore since Thomas won’t be useful to him. No one needs his help? He should’ve seen that coming. He is gently rebuffed by everyone because they all are being polite, and it’s just a casual, well-meaning, “hey, you don’t have to inconvenience yourself, Thomas,” (and they’re probably a little confused at him even offering to help.) So what he hears is, you have no place, you have no use, you have no purpose (even though that wasn’t the intention of anyone at that picnic). 

HE IS NICE TO MR MOLESLEY. He hopes he will make more of his life than Thomas ever made of his own. He hopes he will have a purpose and a place, that Thomas no longer feels any hope for having himself, as a result of both outside factors, and his own behaviour and choices, and the constant interplay of all three. 

And Molesley remarks on how weird he is acting. 

And Baxter catches on. I think what makes me saddest about this, is, Baxter has seen the worst and the best of him, and she has not left. She is likely the one to have defied his fears and expectations the most, and he was going to leave without saying goodbye or anything at all because he knew she knew him the best and she would’ve noticed something and stopped him. AGH.

It’s just. He is such a lucky, unlucky, tragic, conflicting, frustrating, entertaining character who often just perpetuates his own misery. Maybe he would be better off if he tried to relax and stop trying to control everything, but he can’t fully let himself (”it’s being nice what got me into trouble,” etc,) and when he tries to let everything go and accept his situation, let Downton go, and try to turn over a new leaf in a new job, he is LONELY and miserable. And then it is, once again, through chance, that he replaces Carson. 

Just. What a guy. The universe is both conspiring for and against him.

(Also, if you couldn’t tell, Baxter is the real MVP.) 

Thomas Barrow is such a funny character, it’s like, man wants job security, proceeds to go about attempting to secure his job and land promotions in ways that will ensure his prompt termination. Somehow against all odds he continues to be rehired/accidentally promoted to everyone’s disbelief, including his own. Some suspect divine intervention is involved.

[ellavei]

France: Why did you do that to me? I have treated you badly so many times, and somehow, you still sent letters to me, cooked for me, slept with me? Do you really think if you act like that, I will always be haunted by your warm affection and craving it more? You understand that is actually psychological torture, right? Are you insane, Spain?

Spain:

France:

Spain: Poor my dear France, let me get you something to help with your hangover tomorrow.

[gootube]

i am nothing but a mosaic of every time i've lost you / my life exists only within an outline of you

[zeb-z]

most islanders think Foolish is entirely pro Federation, either because he wants the power they give him or because he doesn’t truly understand what he’s doing or what’s at stake, and is just having fun. even to Cucurucho, he’s a bit of a fool - an overambitious one sure, but a fool nonetheless - who’s irritating and asks too many questions, not quite in a concerning way, but in the way a kid might bother you asking for more ice cream. a newbie on the job who wants the world and is trying to find his place in all of this - any digging for information surely isn’t malicious, because he’s obvious and ignorant about it!

it’s always so exciting when they talk about him, when they say such things to his face - it means it’s working. he tells Cellbit that he’s genuinely infiltrating and he’s not believed. Bad straight up says Foolish’s plans to a Federation worker, and if anything it does more to legitimize him further in the eyes of the Federation.

because he’s silly, and overeager, he can play dumb and his true intentions fly right over everyone’s heads. they only see him for whatever singular facet of his personality that he chooses to present, and it works so well because he can be all those things, he just overplays it to his benefit. Bad is one of the very few who can see his tricks for what they are, who doesn’t underestimate him - because hes right, Foolish does have this way of slipping past peoples defenses to get the info he wants without them even knowing they needed defenses in the first place.

idk this latest stream was just full of these little moments. acting silly when Etoiles asked him why he’s working for the Feds, and grinning when Etoiles says he’s basically a clapping monkey who doesn’t know what he’s doing, calling him naïve. asking Cucurucho a million questions and overwhelming him, acting suspicious and curious around the black concrete nonsense - allowing him to easily get away with presenting exaggerated, biased, and some even fabricated, evidence for his investigation, controlling the narrative entirely, because that part of the convo was made insignificant. (and through those questions, possibly even getting more bonuses for his office and fellow workers - he’s gotten the break room so far, and coffee machines, and another level for investigations, which has swayed workplace opinion towards him heavily.)

then with the AI, Cucuruchito, engaging in banter, then sharing a secret, which seems like a big deal - but everything he told the AI is just what he himself was told by Cucurucho, it was no secret to the Feds at all. then flirting with it for a long time before leaving - which is a tactic he outright explained to chat. to get what you want, information, loyalty, etc, you have to build a good repoire. if it takes flirting, and charm, if it takes a date or two, he’s more than willing to play the part to get what he wants. he’ll pretend to eat up their bullshit about him being special, and let them think he’s charmed instead of the opposite.

Foolish is good at what he does because he catches more flies with honey than with vinegar, and the flies never realize their caught - he’s patient enough to play the long con. and really, could someone as naïve, as foolish as him, be able to do such a thing?

he isn’t taken seriously. and it won’t be their final mistake, but it will certainly be the one that damns them.

[cave-monkey]

Six Ears, and being left.

[good-to-drive]

I know Yoko tends to siphon off most of the active hate but tbh it kind of pisses me off how people talk about Cyn too, like there's this weird phenomena where in order to be sufficiently horrible to Yoko people have to be pretty misogynistic to Cynthia as well. By which I mean that if Yoko is a conniving whore spinning webs around John it pushes Cynthia into the virgin/mother role where she is so sexually vacant and incapable of guile that she's essentially a child or a paper doll. Really it's like she's a background character to the drama/tragedy we like to project onto John and Yoko and like most female characters in the Beatles story that portrayal has been straight up dehumanizing.

[thornswoggled]

elias has basically already acquiesced to chise doing whatever she wants forever (i forget who it was that called him henpecked, whether it was an anime-only line or not but i think about it a lot), but it would be funny if in this arc he continues "letting" her do increasingly off the chain shit because hes afraid shell get mad at him and turn into a dragon if he doesnt. which i think would be funny because she isnt actually transforming at all. probably

[mad-hunts]

have i ever talked about how barton is genuinely jealous of people who seem happy because he feels so hollow a majority of the time that even when he's 'happy,' he's not really happy? because i just 😭 yeah...

[monarchamos]

dazai with ocean imagery my beloved,,,, his ability hitting like a cold ocean wave, his voice as lulling as the sea at night, his eyes as inviting as the sparkling ocean waters at sunrise, he's as unforgiving as the stormy seas, his soul as broken and struggling as the earth's polluted waters yet still managing to hold life,,,,