#john's character arc

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Worksheets: Death & Sacrifice

Worksheets & Templates Death; Sacrifice; How to Kill Your Characters

Use the following questions as a story guide, or to interview your characters...

DEATH

What do you think happens after you die?

How does the thought of death affect you? Why?

Whose death has affected you the most?

What is the biggest lesson that death has taught you?

How do the deaths of people you didn’t know personally affect you?

Recount your favourite death myth.

What would you like to happen to your body after you die?

What would you like to be written on your tombstone, in your obituary, or in a posthumous biography of your life?

If you were a ghost, what would be your favourite haunt?

What do you fear most about death?

How is death not what you feared?

Describe death as a person, creature, or symbol.

What are your thoughts on euthanasia?

Which fictional character’s death affected you the most?

Is your own mortality different to that of others?

How has your perception of death evolved over time?

Research a death ritual.

How does death create life?

Choose 3 very different characters and explore their relationships with death.

How would you solve the trolley problem? [The Trolley Problem: You are riding in a trolley without functioning brakes, headed toward a switch in the tracks. On the current track stand 5 people who stand to be killed if the trolley continues on its path. You have access to a switch that would make the trolley change to the other track, but another individual stands there. That person is certain to be killed if the switch is activated. So do you switch tracks or not?]

Write a fictional will.

SACRIFICE

How do you know it’s the right time for you to make a sacrifice?

What are you afraid of losing?

How will losing this change you?

How will not losing this allow you to stay the same?

What is the cost of not making this sacrifice?

Why is this sacrifice necessary to achieving your dreams?

How can you make it feel more like a relief than a sacrifice?

Why have you been chosen to make this particular sacrifice?

What are the steps you need to take to make this sacrifice?

How will you know that you’ve really made it?

How to Kill your Characters

A worksheet to kill off a character...

Why is the characterʼs death important?

When does it occur?

Why then?

How long does it take?

Who is there with the character?

What is the character’s reaction to imminent death?

What emotion is evoked in the reader?

Locations (associated with the character):

Objects (associated with the character):

Themes (associated with the character):

Ways to die:

Effects of death on other characters:

Effects of death on the story:

Source

[ladylightning]

the way the absence of john winchester haunt sam and dean in ways that are more real than any ghost they have ever faced. the way john echoes so loudly in the narrative even in episodes he’s not mentioned, in seasons where he never appears. the way john possesses dean when he’s angry and sam when he’s grieving. the way john is the one true god of the narrative, the absent father who does not answer prayers or phone calls. the righteous man who does not break in hell but breaks down and hands his child a gun. john and the memory of his holy mary. john the prophet and his sacred text. john and his prodigal son that he knows has to die. 

[doortotomorrow]

characters in the spotlight » john murphy : connections

[vasiliquemort]

Here the grass once flashed with hard steel Blood of scarlet on the sword point gleamed That is all for you and that’s for me – These two blades of those who became now Phantoms of the winds for centuries

All tendrest, all smouldering and gentle aches - adore's and love's galore all for the glorious within of evermore, most beau and fawned, all for the @quietvesper, of eventides' one!<зз

[they-call-me-youngermoney]

how it feels to be in the dbh fandom when your fav isn't a white guy

[lady-bee-holmes]

So, the whole thing in 46. Yeah.

When Arthur was recruited by Scratch, there was a certain air of “yeah, Arthur’s never gonna do that, he’ll find a way to circumvent that.” And I think, partially, it’s because Scratch just wanted somebody to posses, didn’t matter who or what.

The thing with Horik is a whole different beast. Horik doesn’t just want to eat someone, Horik wants to eat someone younger. We already know that Arthur is hellbent on protecting any child that he finds because of his guilt. But this comes immediately after his conversation with Malam, where he faces and accepts his guilt.

This, plus the whole theme of corruption in this season, of the dank and foul, of even the light being marred by something horrid. Now with Horik, a full-on entity of, assumedly, rot and decay choosing Arthur as an acolyte?

This deal feels different. Something tells me this won’t end well, and I dread what that means for Arthur’s psyche.

[ceaselessims]

okay this may be an unpopular opinion but i really don't care bc im just very annoyed lmao

the one huge criticism of malevolent that i have is tied to the reason the show is so impressive and that's the fact that harlan does all the voices.. because he does all the voices, the female characters that aren't elderly or monstrous can only be alluded to

but there are still female characters that hold significant importance that can only be mentioned of in passing , and one of them is, of course, nurse Lilly who was the first person to show john human compassion while arthur was in a coma

john consistently references how Lilly's kindness was so transformative for him that it was the start of how he genuinely changes his perspective and identity once arthur awakens,, BUT WE DONT GET TO SEE HER OR HEAR HER and it's a little annoying for john to constantly mention this time period and this nurse as something So Important, but everything happened off screen in season one

and like ?! idk !! from an audience (read: my) perspective he has been through more important and difficult things with Arthur and other characters... to keep coming back to Lilly, whom we never saw as like THEEEEE moment he learned humanity is starting to really drive me a little crazy

i GET that narratively john needs something other than arthur as exposure to the kindness of humans. as a character he needs more motivation than just one very flawed person that he cannot be separated from. but to hear john say he loves lilly in today's episode was so jarring to me !!

and maybe i'm at a disadvantage here. maybe because i started like a few weeks ago and i haven't been here from the jump, im missing some greater context for her character and what she represents in the overall story that can only come from knowing a story front-to-back for a couple years but fuck

[mary-linton]

john ‘manipulate mansplain malewife’ marston

[skyeoak]

I’ve come up with a silly little meme headcanon I like to call:

Same John Theory

Does a piece of media have a John/Jon/Johnny/etc. in it?

Congratulations! That’s The Same John*!

Have fun!

*usually the beginning and end of this for me is a character doing something unhinged and I stop reading/listening and say aloud “it’s the same john though” and giggle about the implications for a few seconds before jumping back into the story.

[frau-kali]

Black Sails Anniversary Week

Day 4: Favourite Story Arc - Silver accidentally starts caring

"It's a funny thing, the more those men need you, the more you need them. And it drives us to do the most unexpected things."

[storytellerslense]

JJ Maybank character analysis

The meaning of the gun

"I got this thing, you know, to protect us" (JJ Maybank, Season 1, Episode 3)

At the start of the Pilot we see JJ Maybank as a funny, imaginative, rebellious guy who, although doesn't really think through the consequences of his actions, seems quite harmless.

However, his personality becomes a bit darker and erratic after he steals a loaded gun. He gets literally obsessed with always carrying it around and, to the dismay of the Pogues, does not hesitate to show it off for intimidation.

The possession of the gun holds a deep symbolic meaning for JJ Maybank, which goes far beyond the simple necessity of self-defense. Psychologically it can be described as "compensation" and a "defense mechanism." These terms describe how individuals use symbolic objects or behaviors to cope with inner conflicts or to make up for a lack of control in their lives.

The gun as a symbol for power and control

For JJ, who grows up in an environment where he has little control over his own life and safety, the gun symbolizes the opportunity to regain control. The gun gives him the feeling that he can protect himself and his friends.

Also, JJ is the one who faces the most oppression from many sides—whether it's from his abusive father, societal stigmas, or conflicts with the Kooks. Owning a gun represents a form of power that he otherwise lacks. It serves as a means for him to defend himself against those who oppress him.

In a powerful scene in Season 1, JJ points the gun at his abusive father and later breaks down crying to his friends: "I can't take it anymore... I was gonna kill him!"

The gun as an expression of JJ's inner conflicts

JJ's decision to possess a gun is an expression of his inner anger and desperation. The weapon represents his deep-seated frustration and his drive to combat the feelings of helplessness that overwhelm him due to his familial and social circumstances. It also expresses JJ's self-destructive tendencies. His willingness to take extreme measures highlights the depth of his emotional pain and despair.

The gun as a proof of coming of age

For JJ, forced to grow up early due to parentification, the gun also symbolizes his claim to independence and maturity. It is a means through which he can prove himself as capable and adult, someone who can protect himself and others.

Because he is often not taking seriously, JJ believes that possessing a gun will earn him more respect. It is an attempt to strengthen his position in the social hierarchy and assert his autonomy.

"(...) Remind you that I am the only one who can properly defend us." (JJ Maybank, Season 1)

The key moment of JJ losing his weapon

In "Outer Banks" Season 2, Episode 4 JJ Maybank finally gives up his weapon. It happens when the Pogues are about to get cornered by the police. JJ brandishes his gun in order to assert control over the situation. Recognizing this, John B steps in by assertively taking the gun out of JJ's hand, letting it fall to the ground, gently reassuring him, that he is going to be ok.

This message was extremely important for JJ, lifting the heavy weight of responsibility finally off his shoulders. JJ, being usually prepared to constantly put his own life on the line for the well-being of his father or his friends in order to "earn" their love and respect, was now protected and guided himself by his best friend.

"It's gonna be alright." (John B., Season 2, Episode 4)

After a short moment of indecisiveness and shock, JJ gives in and completes the act by quickly kicking dirt over the gun, so it stays hidden before the police can find it.

This is one of the most powerful, though underrated scenes in Outer Banks, because it really marks a key moment of JJ's personal development. It signifies his willingness to confront his inner demons: giving up control- for once not relying on himself but really trusting someone else's judgement. He is also accepted and cared for without having to proof himself or fulfill someone else's needs beforehand.

[unordinary-diary]

Seraphina and Arlo: The Brainwashing of High Tiers

Exposition:

— Remi, Episode 50.

There is a heavy implication that Seraphina and Arlo were raised in much the same way. The pressure on Seraphina comes from her parents, so I’ll extrapolate that the same goes for Arlo. This raises the question: how do the authorities create such a strong societal pressure on such a small percentage of the population? Most high tiers will probably not know any other high tiers besides their parents. Take Wellston Private High School for example: it’s the most prestigious private school around, and canonically has the “highest concentration of high tiers in the region”. There are six high tiers in Wellston. Apply this to god tiers specifically, and there are only three. Not to mention that this current group of students is uniquely strong, even for Wellston. In Rei’s senior year, he was the strongest at 5.8 max.

So much of this brainwashing relies on the parents to do all of the work, and it only takes one or two people to break the cycle. So how are the authorities creating this immense pressure? One tactic could be by isolating high tiers. There is a very widespread concept that one shouldn’t associate with those outside their level range. A caste system like this that affects everyone is much easier to create and maintain than an expectation for a small group, and it also means that high tiers are only being influenced by those who are also high level. This creates an echo chamber. I’ve researched cults and how they brainwash victims, and the first step in the process is isolating them in exactly this way.

But, if there are so few high tiers, how the hell are they supposed be isolated from other groups? The answer is that high tiers are just isolated in general. Take a look at Arlo: his only friend is Remi, and even her, he keeps at an arm’s length. Arlo is only close with Remi in the first place because he was close with Rei, who, at the time of meeting Arlo, was presumably close in level with him. [EDIT: I forgot about Holden, which I think says a lot about his relevance. He is kept at more than an arm’s length and doesn’t seem to have any actual influence on Arlo, let alone a deep relationship. He is also not presented as an equal.] Take a look at Seraphina: before meeting John, she didn’t seem to have any friends other than possibly Arlo. Seraphina and Arlo pre-John seemed to have had more of a professional relationship, and while they were not close in level, Arlo did fit the bill of being a fellow god tier, and strong enough to also be brainwashed.

Now let’s look at Remi. In episode 60, Cecile says to Remi: “And yet here you are... Always hanging around those two monkeys, Blyke and Isen. Letting them treat you as an equal even though you’re in a completely different league.” This struck me as odd because, aside from Cecile herself, the Wellston students closest in level to Remi were Arlo, Blyke, and Isen. And who is she friends with? She actually was doing a pretty good job at following that social convention, unless Cecile wanted to be friends with Remi, which she clearly didn’t. But... her friends were still not close enough to her level. Was she supposed to just not have friends at all? The answer seems to be a resounding yes. Can you think of any genuine friends that Cecile has either?

Friendship simply isn’t considered a necessity for high tiers.

But... why is it that Arlo and Seraphina were brainwashed differently? Creating a societal norm for an isolated group of people is one thing, because those people’s mindsets feed into each other. Putting pressure on individual families to keep them in line, but doing it all in different ways? That would be near impossible. My theory is that Seraphina recieved the typical high tier brainwashing, and that Arlo was raised differently because he was being groomed to work for the authorities. Seraphina didn’t have a set career path planned out for her, but if she’s trying to be “perfect” by the standards of those controlling her, she’s bound to end up going in a direction that pleases them. Arlo on the other hand was specifically planned to become an authority figure. That’s why his brainwashing is so centered on leadership. Also, growing up with direct contact to the authorities makes it more possible for them to customize his brainwashing in this way.

But does all of this apply to high tiers in general, or is it specific to god tiers? Let’s take a look at the high tiers in Wellston. We have Seraphina, John, Arlo, Terrence, Remi, Cecile, and Blyke. John is a unique circumstance because he wasn’t raised by high tiers, so we’ll cross him off the list. Terrence was also unique, so we can cross him off as well. Remi was different from the norm as well. Why is that? Well, Remi actually wasn’t raised by high tiers either. Rei said on screen that both of his parents were elites. We can cross Remi off. Blyke doesn’t fit the bill either, but that’s easy to explain. He was an elite for a large part of the story, and he shot up rather quickly. We don’t know much of his family, but he probably wasn’t expected to be a high tier at all, and was raised as an elite. (All of this also serves to emphasize how much of this brainwashing comes from a person’s parents.) That leaves only Seraphina, Arlo, and Cecile to look at.

Cecile does seem to have high tier brainwashing, but it’s not nearly as intense as with Seraphina and Arlo. She doesn’t seem “obsessive”, and she wasn’t one of the examples Remi mentioned in chapter 50. It’s clear that high tiers are brainwashed in general, but god tiers are kept on a much shorter leash. This makes sense, obviously, because keeping a population in control like that is less necessary the lower the level. However, it’s also a chicken an egg situation: god tiers are both more important to keep in control, and also easier to keep in control. It’s important to note just how many exceptions we had to cross off. People like Remi and Blyke aren’t actually that unusual— a lower leveled high tier is much more likely to have non-high tier parents, or to have not always been a high tier themselves, or just in general, to have way more day-to-day interaction with non-high tiers. The brainwashing gets more and more diffused the lower down the ladder you go.

[kvetchinglyneurotic]

so something i noticed on my latest black sails rewatch is that despite most of the show taking place on various ships we never really find out what skills silver has as a sailor? like he's pretending to be a cook when flint's crew picks him up and we never see him doing regular sailor duties on the walrus, and when he's briefly left in charge while flint is ashore he says that he's basically agreeing with whatever mr. de groot says to hide that he doesn't know what he's doing. but also he wasn't the cook on the ship he was on before the walrus and he knew where to damage the ship to keep vane's crew from leaving charleston, so he is an experienced sailor? maybe? i don't have a point i just love how the more you watch the more you start having flint on the cliffs moments where you realize that despite watching him for four seasons, you don't really know anything about john silver

[mini-golden]

⚠️ Spoilers for Chapter 357 ⚠️

Kinda... Not talking about the actual chapter cause I can't even AHHHH but an event that happened is mentioned so I'm going to put that little spoiler warning

This may just be wishful thinking but I hope now that Felix is out we get to see other characters exploring queerness a little bit. BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY FELIX WILL BE WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS AND A VERY HEARTFELT WE STILL LOVE YOU FELIX. Obviously this is fiction but like realistically queer people tend to gravitate towards each other. Like the domino effect is so real, I came out as bi (don't identify as bi anymore) in like year 7 and now my entire childhood friend group of 4 are all queer. I wasn't the one to create the domino effect in my high school friend group cause our group kept on getting mashed together with others throughout the years untill we have everyone we have now. Which is 3 queer people, 2 token straights and 1 unlabelled. It is the 1920-30s so I don't expect it to be explicit but like a couple lines here and there would be cool.

Genuinely a bit scared to see how the characters will react. I think most of them will be chill with it but I will honestly be upset if they are not. Granny is literally in her like 80s I'm sure she's had a conversation with a queer person in her life before. Red is a nurse, you kinda have to or should be a caring and understanding person to be a nurse. I don't think Dr. Oddswell would care like at all, Felix is helping and he trusts this person who he's knew since Felix was in college (I think).

I did a pole recently on Jerry and homophobic gay man won so there's that, no one cares what Jerry thinks though. He is a little snitch though so he better not tell anyone because omfg. The Warners will obviously be chill, if we're lucky we could get reference to non-binary Wakko. Same with Mr. Toad and Dr. Scratchy. Albert seems like a kind old man I think he'll be chill. John honestly gives me gay vibes so. Cuphead is so bisexual coded, I'm so convinced this man had a gay lover in his past. I think Bendy would ask questions and then be chill with it. I think his reaction would be 'oh so like the lesbians in hell, I didn't know you could like the same gender, that's good to know'. I hope Holly is told, I want to see her reaction cause I genuinely don't really know how she would react specifically to Fanny being the one who outed Felix. I feel like she would give the house a very passionate speech on how great Felix is and how the fact that he likes men doesn't diminish all that he's done for the house. Also Holly is just a great ally, that one Holly's Journal chapter when she was figuring out queer people exist was like 'how to be a good ally 101'. I did not mean to make this as long as it is, I just talk a lot.

[freckleslikestars]

And, all of a sudden, three is not such a scary number.

Or, that time that Moya and her crew became Aeryn Sun's family.

Claudia Black as Aeryn Sun in FARSCAPE

[doortotomorrow]

SHIPS IN THE SPOTLIGHT : memori edition favourite storyline - becoming the leaders of sanctum