#legacy course conversion using storyline

[autumnslance]

Heya

I always like your analysis/view of characters and the Story so I would like to ask you something.

Yesterday I talked with a friend about how I kinda miss Lyse, and than I got the idea that she and Wuk Lamat would probably get along quite well.

Lyse wasn't prepared to step up on the role she has now while. Wuk Lamat is young and "lively" as Lyse, but she had a chance to grow and learn about her upcoming role as a leader of the nation during our journey with her. So I think these two would have some interesting conversations and might learn from another.

I hope, that in future patches, we get a meeting of all the Leaders interacting with another now that we have Thavnaier, Tuliyolal and Garlemald new to the table.

Do you have an opinion on this? Especially since your understanding of SB and it's characters is deeper than mine.

Oh heck you got me rambling about Lyse and Wuk Lamat, so this is going under a cut. Spoilers for Dawntrail 7.0 MSQ and everything leading to it.

I've seen a lot of comparisons between Lyse and Wuk Lamat, being young, energetic women whose stories involved a lot of growth into leaders. How they get there is different, and I do think the writers learned from how they framed Lyse's story, and how Wuk Lamat's needed to be different even if there are ways they are similar.

Lyse spent years hiding from herself and her grief, happy to let Papalymo be "in charge" for the most part (though I noted he deferred to her when it came to actually interacting with and understanding the Sylphs and Moogles, and probably other people in the Twelveswood, as "patient" and "personable" weren't exactly his best traits). Lyse was also the person who noticed things weren't quite right with Thancred in ARR, that he was working himself to the bone, but she didn't seem to know how to approach him about it, regretting it later when they realized he'd been possessed.

And in Stormblood, Lyse spends a lot of time trying to understand her countrymen's reticence, their fears, their lack of hope. She worked with Conrad's Resistance cell all through Heavensward, but it seems like the first time she really interacts closely with civilians is Ala Ghanna. In the Far East, Lyse spends time talking to the Domans, and the Mol--her scene with the children is a major one, determining what is "home" and what that means, why Hien (and Lyse) fight for a place.

She feels she isn't a leader, she's just one of the team, and as she gets pushed toward leadership, she feels it's based more on who her father and sister were, the weight of her family legacy. And part of that is that lingering grief, that literal imposter syndrome, that knowledge she isn't the woman Yda was.

Because of course she isn't. She's Lyse. Not an Archon, but a Scion of the Seventh Dawn. Probably still better educated than many, having grown up in Sharlayan, despite book smarts not being her forte. She's very good at punching things. And she has a heart and more optimism and stubbornness than most.

She grows into it, with the help of her friends (which she does, repeatedly, acknowledge the WoL as the hero who defeated Zenos and made it all possible, don't fall into the trap of memeified rewrites of the actual canon). She is only the leader of Conrad's cell (a failing of Stormblood and it's split storyline was talking about multiple cells, but only having us interact with 1 ever before it all became 1 military). And she happily lets Raubahn take command of the army when it forms, calling herself simply the commander of Rhalgr's Reach--but given her role in the war, as a former Scion, and her connections, still acts pretty much as Raubahn's Marshall in all but name.

Lyse was not raised for leadership, not raised to take command, and had to rise to the occasion. And without losing her determination, her caring, her optimism.

Wuk Lamat was born to rule; the Xbr'aal initially, but when circumstances put her life in danger, Gulool Ja Ja adopted her as his Third Promise. Wuk Lamat is a cheerful, optimistic, loving girl who wants to understand and learn about people. She's a "people's princess" we see almost from the instant we arrive in Tuluyollal, friends with nearly everyone. But it's also not hard to see, even in 6.55 and the adventures in Sharlayan, that she's young and green. She has few supporters, and no great deeds or expectations from most of the people. She struggles in the shadow of her older accomplished brothers, wondering a few times what her strength is, what she has gained from their father.

She has not been raised to rule, necessarily; while the Dawnservant has expectations for all his children, and recognizes all of their strengths, he also sees their weaknesses and where they lack. Some of that, perhaps, is on him as a parent, but he knows their potential and possibilities, if they seek the chance to grow and learn. He can only guide them, not do it all for them, if they are to reach those potentials.

And Wuk Lamat does seek, with a zest not seen since Lyse was central, and beyond her, even. Wuk Lamat is not bound by the grief of familial loss and the disconnect of diaspora; she was too young to remember the tragedy that led her to leave Yak T'el as a toddler, and her life since has been a kind and happy one. She's been educated and trained well.

But there are limits to what a girl can learn in a single city, with only one or two visits to other villages now and then. And Wuk Lamat, like Lyse, takes the time to try to learn and understand. She picks up faster than Koana the point of the contest--while Zoraal Ja ignores it entirely, and Bakool Ja Ja has other pressures he's dealing with.

There's another comparison; Lyse's determination to understand Fordola, to change her mind, making her a symbol of all the collaborators. Lyse's determination that all Ala Mhighans must be free and begin anew, to rebuild their society together. To acknowledge the pain but not let it bind them into cycles of violence (which continues in the Endwalker healer role quests, as Raganfrid and Arenvald take up the specific task of reintegrating the collaborators).

Wuk Lamat, meanwhile, struggles to understand the bandits of Kozama'uka, the Chirwagur Yok Huy of Urqopacha, and the Mamook of Yak T'el. She changes Bakool Ja Ja and earns his respect, by perhaps being the first person to demand to know what he wants--and then following through on the promise to find a way to make that wish happen. To find a way all Turali can be free and happy, including the Mamool Ja (who may have tried to kill her as a toddler).

Lyse spends all of Stormblood fighting to free her people from a decades-old foe, forcing her to become a leader. Wuk Lamat's fight comes after she has grown into the kind of leader that can defend Tuliyollal from the threat of Alexandria and Zoraal Ja's betrayal. And even though Sphene can't change her mind thanks to her programmed nature, Wuk Lamat never stops trying to reach the caring personality encoded within.

Because the other person Wuk Lamat compares to is the Assumed Default Warrior of Light. She's a determinator in a similar way; she doesn't easily give up or give in, despite her doubts and the difficulties along the way. She makes friends wherever she goes, forming bonds and connections that come back to help, time and again. She goes from novice adventurer to epic hero, as WoL had to do in ARR; the entirety of Dawntrail seems a compressed version of that story for her, with adventure and events happening in the first half, and then the other shoe drops. For WoL, it was the Waking Sands massacre. For her, the first assault on Tuliyollal. WoL didn't have the benefit of a mentor--with Louisoix long gone and most of the Scions captured--but WoL could be there for Lamaty'i.

How often has that been a fear and regret of the Scions and other friends? How happy they were with the warding scales letting them help with those burdens! How at the edge of existence, the only thing that kept the WoL walking to the end was the memories of their friends and the hopes they had, and in the final battle, the Scions were still with the WoL regardless of distance.

(And Zenos was there. Still the most hilarious entrance ever.)

We stand with Wuk Lamat to the end--and she breaks through to find WoL and Sphene, because Lamaty'i won't give up on her friends. And Sphene could have been, if she had still been alive.

Anyroad. I DO think Lyse and Wuk Lamat would have a lot to talk about, in how they grew to be leaders, in similarities and differences, in their relationship with the Scions and the WoL, about the adventures they've had. I loved seeing Vrtra and Azdaja in Tuliyollal, and that Koana formed a treaty with them, which may indeed mean more interaction with Thavnair in the future. For that matter, the Leveilleur twins' quest to help Garlemald rebuild and reintegrate with the global community may bring some familiar faces from there around...though from the Island Sanctuary quests, we also know those people have never taken vacations and don't know what do to outside of "survive" and "duty." But there's a lot to learn, and seeing how diverse people can live together in peace, after most of a century under Ascian propaganda, would be good for them. Sharlayan tends to have diplomatic relations with various foreign powers, and Tural's no exception, and the use of Labyrinthos research to aid Mamook could become more of a thing to bring some of those characters in for cameos (for that matter, helping the Alexandrians integrate, and studying that phenomenon, as if those scholars could resist!).

I'm a little wary of having all the leaders in a single space; generally that's a plot point reserved for some terrible world wide event or circumstance arising! But it would be nice to have the opportunity to visit with old friends on some kind of tour, to see Tuliyollal make other allies and diplomatic connections, and give such characters those chances to interact.

But if the game doesn't take those opportunities on screen (people often forget that a lot happens out of WoL's POV, too), we've always got fanfiction to make it happen in!

[elearningsolutionsusa]

Custom eLearning Solutions for Effective Learning and Development

Custom eLearning solutions design interactive, engaging courses tailored to meet your specific training needs at competitive prices.

Our eLearning Solutions:

Rapid eLearning

Blended Learning

Legacy Content Conversion

Translation & Localization

Learning Management System (LMS)

Human Resource Management System (HRMS)

What is Custom eLearning?

Custom eLearning provides personalized online courses that cater to the unique needs of learners and organizations. Our goal is to enhance training effectiveness and maximize return on investment (ROI).

The transition from ILT/VILT to eLearning: Convert classroom-based training into SCORM and HTML5 content for interactive, accessible learning.

Microlearning Solutions: Bite-sized modules designed for on-the-go learning to improve quick knowledge retention.

Game-Based Learning Solutions: Engage learners through interactive, game-based learning strategies for effective knowledge transfer.

eLearning Content Development

We offer tailored learning experiences designed to meet specific objectives and learner needs.

Rapid eLearning: Quick, efficient course development using rapid authoring tools.

Blended Learning: Seamlessly integrates in-person and online learning for a balanced training approach.

Custom eLearning Samples

Explore our diverse range of custom eLearning solutions that enhance employee skills through interactive modules and simulations.

Content Conversion Solutions

Legacy Content Conversion: Modernize outdated materials into digital formats.

Flash to HTML5: Upgrade Flash-based courses for compatibility with modern standards.

PPT to eLearning: Turn PowerPoint presentations into engaging eLearning content.

ILT to eLearning Conversion: Transform traditional training materials into dynamic eLearning courses.

Translation & Localization Solutions

Our translation services convert eLearning content into various languages, while localization adapts it to fit specific cultural contexts.

eLearning Translation Services: Convert text, images, audio, and video for multilingual learners.

Multimedia Localization: Adapt multimedia elements like graphics, animations, and more for different audiences.

Our Approach

Storyboarding: Visualizing the course structure for better clarity.

Multimedia-Rich Content: Enhance engagement with videos, animations, and infographics.

Personalization: Tailored learning experiences to match individual needs.

Scenario-Based & Gamified Learning: Real-life challenges and gamification drive deeper understanding and motivation.

Compliances and Standards

We ensure compatibility with eLearning standards such as SCORM, xAPI, and HTML5, as well as mobile responsiveness across devices. We also utilize cutting-edge technologies like AI, VR, and AR to enhance learner engagement.

Custom vs. Off-the-Shelf eLearning

Custom eLearning: Tailored to your specific organizational needs, goals, and brand identity.

Off-the-Shelf Courses: Standardized solutions for quick deployment and cost-efficiency.

Elevate Your Training

We specialize in training for:

Onboarding

Safety & Compliance

Sales & Product Knowledge

Leadership & Soft Skills

Industries We Serve

Our eLearning solutions cater to diverse industries, including corporate organizations, educational institutions, healthcare, and government.

eLearning Authoring Tools

We use industry-leading tools like Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, and Camtasia to deliver high-quality, custom eLearning content.

What Our Clients Say

“Swift provided excellent support in developing our online course. Delivered on time and within budget, the course is now widely used and highly effective.”— Mark Cozens, Principal Veterinary Officer

Please send us your requirements at:info@swiftelearningservices.comorhttps://www.swiftelearningservices.com/contact-us/

FAQs

Why choose custom eLearning?

Custom eLearning offers flexibility, and enhanced engagement, and aligns closely with your goals.

What does it cost?

Costs typically range from $2000 to $8000, depending on the complexity and customization required.

How long does it take?

Custom eLearning content development generally takes 3 to 5 weeks per hour of content.

Can you customize eLearning content to reflect our brand?

Yes, we tailor all content to align with your company’s branding and values for a consistent learning experience.

[comphetkoncass]

had thoughts about this while driving so adding em here since i dont feel like putting it into the word doc yet

a conversation where kon gives his friends permission to re-suppress memories of him a la zatanna. "hey, i wasnt supposed to be from this timeline anyway. it's okay. besides... it's not fair to come back only to traumatize you again. it's fine. you can wipe me away, i won't be here to mind." "but you deserve to be remembered!" "it's not about deserve. when i came back last time, i saw how painful my death was for you guys. i just want to spare you from that if i can. ultimately it's up to you, but... i recommend just wiping me away. there's no 'legacy' for me here, not like there was before. it's okay."

when he comes back, lex is the one to find him. kon is in a pretty rough state; lex doesn't remember superboy until touching what remains of him... the ttk + weapon remains. repairs kon, but needs physical human + kryptonian matter from the right sources to help him rebuild. donates his own blood and gets clark to bleed enough to use some of his too.

lex predictably tries to brainwash kon as well of course, thats just par for the course. i truly want a brief conner luthor storyline <33 where he doesnt know much else <33 but his friends of course find him

i wanna save the lex stuff for like a sequel or whatever though

for the first main story ...just loads and loads of 'im not supposed to be here anyways, i'm an acceptable sacrifice. maybe this is why i got here anyways, to save everyone' angst

OH YEAH. storyline about kon wanting so badly to go back to his old universe but it doesn't exist anymore. but the day after he dies. theres a breakthrough and theres now a way home. but its too late and everyone thinks he died :) and its closed by the time he properly comes back. or whatever. i want this to be a tragedy-tragedy babes. full of almost-saves and choices to go down the sacrificial path.

1am fic idea because of course it’s 1am when i’m daydreaming

this is just how i think they should kill off kon next (bc lbr they WILL do it again)

1. kon wakes up knowing his powers are going to run out soon (plot thread just DANGLING out there). feels so out of place; he shouldn’t even exist in this dimension anymore yet here he is, soon to be powerless. worse than useless. i have a daydream about him drinking a milkshake with an internal monologue about how superboy is about to die and he’s enjoying his last meal or whatever.

2. zod-2.0 enters the scene or something, threatens the planet. kon’s life cycle comes full circle; he was created to replace superman after zod killed him. this is his way to make sure there’s not another world without superman. he will take the fall instead of clark, he decides.

3. kon knows he’s going to die either way. his powers are starting to fail and he can’t expect another super to fight zod; all he really needs to do is lure zod away from civilians and the super family. so kon gets him in a perfect kill zone for the JL to basically nuke them from afar. they both die, the world is saved. ta-da.

4. bart, tim, cassie, and clark all try to save kon. they realize what he’s doing, that his powers are failing and his TTK won’t protect him no matter what he tells the JL, and they try to talk him out of it. …bart comes the closest. he gets to the zero point, where kon is truly about to die. and uses his speed transfer to have a final conversation. to try and get kon out of this. it doesn’t work. there’s a forehead kiss and a line about, “our lives have always been a parallel line, bart. when i die this time? don’t follow me.” other conversations revolve around how he shouldn’t even exist in this dimension and how he’s grateful to be useful one last time. to thank everyone for giving him one last great adventure. for trying so hard to remember him, to include him.

5. kon is struck by the JL’s weapon: a power with the force of a star, same time as zod. he absorbs a lot of it and the last of his TTK fills up his shape with its power. zod dies. kon is thought to be dead. supernova is born. he’s not technically tangible. no one knows he’s out there until jon from the future mentions kon in passing as if he’s supposed to still be alive.

6. it takes kon like 6 months to become corporeal and wake up or whatever so he can be there for the next crisis blah blah blah. when he wakes up everyone’s sooo pissed at him bc tbh bc bart could have probably sped him away from the blast but kon wasn’t willing to take that risk (barts the leader of YJ for now but has been living with that guilt since kon ‘died’)

7. supernova is pure solar energy and ttk btw. power discovery arc or whatever. he no longer has traditional kryptonian powers and won’t get them again, but basically has the equivalent aside from freeze breath. (and instead of heat vision he has like. zappy hands.)

[colorfulgalaxyfart-blog]

In the recent times, the learning needs are changed and the technology has increased at its pace. This has transformed the traditional classroom training into e-learning. The courses that were developed in Adobe Flash or tools whose output is in SWF are now not compatible with the modern devices. Thus there is a need for the flash to html5 elearning conversion to meet the current trends in the eLearning industry.

Let’s see a case study on migrating the legacy content into HTML5.

[younghideoutglitter]

In the recent times, the learning needs are changed and the technology has increased at its pace. This has transformed the traditional classroom training into e-learning. The courses that were developed in Adobe Flash or tools whose output is in SWF are now not compatible with the modern devices. Thus there is a need for the flash to html5 elearning conversion to meet the current trends in the eLearning industry.

Let’s see a case study on migrating the legacy content into HTML5.

[blog-vishnov-us-blog]

In recent times, the learning needs are changed and the technology has increased at its pace. This has transformed the traditional classroom training into e-learning. The courses that were developed in Adobe Flash or tools whose output is in SWF are now not compatible with the modern devices. Thus there is a need for the flash to html5 eLearning conversion to meet the current trends in the eLearning industry.

Let’s see a case study on migrating the legacy content into HTML5.

Company’s Profile:

A renowned company in the United States having a strength of more than 7000 employees who are experts in providing automobile solutions to its vivid customers has extended their hands to reach out to their global audience by migrating their legacy content into HTML5.

[thepettymachine]

Whimsy Stories Legacy Challenge Converted from TS4 for TS3

I was looking at challenges again and saw this one and thought it was a pretty cool legacy challenge to play except it was for TS4. Well not anymore...

Whimsy Stories Legacy Challenge is a TS4 legacy challenge created by @kateraed​ where simmers who wish to be more involved in their sims lives with compelling storytelling as well as expand their gameplay through this challenge. Original rules can be found here. 

I take no credit for this challenge except the conversion for TS3. Some of the stuff in TS4 is not applicable to TS3 (vice versa) so some changes were made to fit for TS3 gameplay.  

Rules:

You can, of course, add any extra story elements/drama/ideas/etc that you think of to your gameplay! This is meant to expand your gameplay, not place you in a box.

Money cheats are ALLOWED (to a degree) unless otherwise stated. Money cheats may be used for things like free real estate and storyline purposes when necessary.

Gen 1:

Without a Home but not Without Love

Our story begins as most stories do.. with endurance. 

You are homeless. You’ve gone out into the world with nothing but a tent and a dream. As a child you never had your own home. You were bounced from place to place, always dreaming of a suburban home to call your own. With a family of your own. As you have since you were a young child, you long for a life of normalcy. You are tired of everything around you being turbulent and broken. So you search for joy in the mundane.Life is lonely at first, but fortunately you find love with another homeless sim. You have nothing but it feels like absolutely everything with your partner by your side.You are a care-free, nature loving, and naïve dreamer. Some may call you a hippy, but you just call yourself happy.From the ground up you create. Create candles, fabricate your own furniture, and search dumpsters to make it by. Eventually, you have a home of your own, built by your own two hands. A tiny home. Not only is this a tiny home, but it is a suburban tiny home! Your dream is finally realized!

You will stay in this comfy small shoe-box size home for the rest of your life. Growing in your garden, raising your children, and selling the things you make for an income at the local markets.

GOALS:

Find love while homeless

Name all children after nature

Foster a healthy garden

Must live in a suburban styled tiny home for their entire life (Micro home as a YA, then can upgrade later)

Micro Home = 15 x 10 or 10 x 10 lot size 

Tiny Home = 20 x 15 or 20 x 20 lot size

Plant Parent - Have a house full of plants

Master the Handiness skill 

Have Loves the Outdoors and Eco-Friendly traits

Complete the Monster Maker LTW

Rarely wears makeup/Loves to dress casually.

Have at least 3 tattoos

Collect/create furniture through dumpster diving, sculpting, or in the junkyard.

Go to the spa at least once a week

Be a self employed inventor

Gen 2:

Happiness is not only found in a partner.

You grew up extremely loved and cared for by your parents. They were the perfect couple. After watching what seemed to be the perfect love story unfold since you were a child, you feel as though it can’t be possible for you to have the same thing. It even begins to feel daunting. So you choose to stay away from love. You might go on a date here and there but ultimately your fear and anxiety about having a partner keeps you single for nearly your entire life. Though you never wanted a partner, you love children. You have always wanted to be a parent. The idea of giving a small sim a home and love for the rest of their lives makes your heart swell. You want to be that for someone. And whoever said you need a partner to have kids? You say to heck with societal norms and adopt four children throughout your life. You parent them alone. Even though it’s just you, they have all of the love they could ever ask for. They are happy. Your family is picture perfect. You are a SUPER parent and feel that your life is completely full of love even though you never had a romantic interest. Until you hit elderhood. Caught by surprise, you meet someone who you instantly connect with. You both have lived your own lives and find yourself completely and fully in love, completely and fully unexpectedly. 

You live out the rest of your days with your new-found soulmate and knit adorable creations for your grand-kids.

GOALS:

Adopt 5 children

Must not be in a relationship under elderhood

Marry as an elder

Complete Surrounded by Family LTW

Have the Unflirty & Family Oriented traits

Be close friends with all your children. 

Must go to every seasonal festival and celebrate every seasonal holiday. Home should reflect seasonal feels to a very high degree

Reach level 10 of education career

Have at least one animal in the household

Have a gallery wall full of family photos

Gen 3:

Sometimes life brings you a little bundle of joy in the shape of an accident

As soon as you age out of teenhood, (which was a wild time of partying and homework being turned in late) you become a mixologist at the local bar. You are a clumsy sim who fears the sound of commitment but love to have a good time. You enjoy dating new and exciting sims but never commit to anything too serious. You love your job and you love that you don’t have to show up for anyone. If you don’t have to show up for anyone, then you can’t disappoint them. One morning, after a rough night of partying and a whole lot of bubble blowing and juice, you find yourself waking up just not feeling right. You’re tired, you’re feeling ill, and food sounds absolutely revolting. You take the test and sure enough you’re pregnant!  After the initial wave of fear, you touch your belly and feel warmth at the idea of no longer being alone. While children were never the first thing on your mind, you also can’t say you never considered having a few later in life. Turns out later is right now.  (If your sim is unable to become pregnant a baby will be “dropped off” at your door in three sim days. You don’t know who the parent is. *can use adoption for this*) BUT. Who is the parent? You realize then that there are three different possibilities and you won’t know until the baby is here. Will you confront them when you find out, jump in with them and co-parent, or will you go it alone? It’s up to you!

GOALS:

Complete the Master Romancer LTW

Moonlight as a mixologist, but main career is a nectar maker

Have the Clumsy/Commitment Issues/Party Animal Traits

Begin life alone in a city world/Bridgeport

Always have bright/fun hair color

Must complete the “try for baby” interaction with 3 different sims all in the same night 

If you have Nraas Woohooer, change the chance of try for baby to 50% or if sim is unable to become pregnant, adopt a baby 3 days later as they have been dropped off from an unknown partner

Name child after an alcoholic beverage

Complete the Mixology/Nectar Making skills

Dance at a club/bar every night

Can have more than one child/marry after the first unplanned child.

Gen 4:

Bringing beauty out of the broken.

Ever since you can remember, you have loved houses and architecture. Late nights being driven to your babysitter’s while your parent worked late nights at the bar, you stared out the window watching overgrown homes fade away. You heart ached for what once was. Not only did you love houses, but you loved the broken-down wayward houses at the end of the street. The ones that no one cared for anymore. The ones you felt must have been loved once a very long time ago. You could see the potential and the history in every plank of wood and every brick that kept those homes standing. As a teen, and into young adult-hood, you find yourself having a terrible habit of befriending and dating “fixer upper” sims. Growing up with your chaotic parent and household, it was hard not to feel that way. You had to learn the hard way that you can’t fix sims, so you’d have to stick to houses.You set off into the world with a goal to turn what was seen as unfixable into beauty. You flip every house on your street, every old and worn down house is made new. You slowly but surely build up the neighborhood into something brand new. You work as a freelance artist on the side to sustain yourself and your family. Pinterest is quite literally your best friend. You also run a very successful simstagram page where you are sure to post new photos of your projects and of your daily life! 

Through all of this you find the Chip to your Joanna and marry a sim with a passion for woodworking and handiness! Together you flip the disasters that once were into beautiful dreams for other sims.

You soon find out that you were right, these homes could be loved again.

GOALS:

Become an Architect/Interior Designer

Buy 3 properties and revamp them

Marry a sim who works as a sculptor

Have the Ambitious trait

Every child’s name shares the same first letter (ex: ingrid, isabel, ivy)

Complete the Handiness/Painting/Photography skills

Post on social media once every day

Build your dream home

Be dressed to impress all the time. Growing up in hand-me downs, you felt self conscious. Now you are able to dress as fantastically as your heart desires!

Gen 5:

Love always finds a way.

As a child you always had a crush on the neighbor kid next door. You were each other’s first friend & first crush. As you grew into teenhood, you eventually tested the waters and started to date! It just made sense. You together just made sense. From first friends to first loves, this was a forever thing from the start. It was rare, but it was happening for the two of you. That is, until your partner’s family decided to pack up and move to the city. You tearfully part ways and decided that moving on from each other would be best.  You were always extremely academic and were preparing for Uni from the moment you entered High School. You work hard on your studies. Homework comes before everything else, and if not that, you can be found in a book. You sometimes feel the ache of missing your first love, but you focus on school to dull the pain. There are dates here and there with new sims, but nothing ever compared to your past love. You apply for Uni with straight A’s and a dream to become a supreme court Judge. You know you can make a positive change in the world.  You’re accepted! And on your first day on campus, to your great surprise, you see the person you’ve thought of every day for the past three years. Your childhood love. 

You instantly reconnect and quickly your love story unfolds all over again. This time though, there is nothing to separate you. After graduation, you have a beautiful wedding and stay together until you’re old and wrinkly. 

GOALS:

Complete Logic Skill

Obtain the “Eternally Faithful” moodlet

Have the Bookworm & Hopeless Romantic traits

Have A’s in school

Have Twins…twice

Attend University and gain a Technology Degree

Complete the Law Enforcement career (either branch)

Have the most wholesome wedding that any sim has ever seen

Must be best friends with another sim throughout childhood, date that sim as a teen, and then be separated.

Must reunite with said childhood love in University and remain together for the rest of your days!

Gen 6:

I make up my own story as I go. Most often it changes and rides with the flow. 

Ever since you can remember, you haven’t been sure of anything. You aren’t sure if you have a favorite color, a favorite type of music, or even a favorite food! You seem to change your mind about the same subject ten times a day. It’s exhausting for everyone around you, but this is just your normal. Your clothing is mismatched. A different style every day and for every outfit. Your home is a tornado of contemporary, traditional, eclectic, and modern. You live in clutter. It’s.. a lot. But you wouldn’t have it any other way. Somehow, the mess is comforting to you. You constantly have a new skill you’re interested in, always picking up a new “thing” . And your mismatched mind even goes as far as your relationships (which you bounce in and out of like it’s nobody’s business) 

By the time you’re an elder you’ve been married three times and finally settled with someone who is the exact opposite of you. A perfectionist who deals with all of your mess because they truly do love you. They don’t want to change you, and that makes your heart sing. Because for all of your life before them, that has been everyone else’s goal.

You go with the flow, you change your hair, you start woodworking at 12am. Your soul is a chaotic but beautiful mess and that’s just the way you like it. 

GOALS:

Complete the Renaissance Sim LTW

Have a different style and/or mismatched colors for every outfit

Randomize one outfit completely

Change hair color every time you age up

Be married 3 times/divorced twice

Have and then lose 5 friends

Complete level 5 of 3 different jobs

Change your name at least once

Find a perfectionist sim to marry in adulthood

Have Childish/Slob traits.

Gen 7:

Nature holds us close when others do not

Ah, to live a life of peace and quiet. The only sounds being the water rushing behind your cottage (one with a perfect aesthetic). No need to dream of it, because this IS your life! You grow up feeling very passionate about the environment and the world around you. Your parent was a MESS. You had a fun childhood, but their constant hobby jumping was terrible for the environment. As soon as you become a young adult, you swear off all electricity and plumbing. You want to undo the damage that Sim-kind does to the world in any way possible.You spend your days repairing windmills and solar panels, showering in rain water, painting to make a living, and attending protests in the city when possible. Even though you hate leaving your isolated home.You live for being alone, but mostly because you find it hard to talk to people. Creating real connections can be difficult but one day you hope to have another someone in your life who is also content to live in the quiet.You can often be found hiking, biking, swimming, scuba diving, and even at the base of Mt. Komorebi in your spare time! Nature is your closest friend. 

When you aren’t hiking, you’re playing with your pet raccoon. You found him digging in the trash one night and just couldn’t leave him. I mean, look at his beady little eyes! Until one day on a hike when you find another loner. Another lover of the quiet and peaceful life.

And you feel a warmth in your chest that you haven’t for years. 

Love. 

Together, you raise one single child (you still aren’t TOO fond of people, let’s be real) and live the rest of your days in your warm little corner of the world. 

GOALS:

Have Grumpy/Loner traits

Have multiple collections of bugs,butterflies, gems, etc

Live in a small beach home/woodland cottage

Host a protest whenever possible

Have small animals (snake, hamster, bird) for a pet

Complete Painting and Athletic Skills

Become a self-employed artist (Painting) and reach the top of the career

Have only 3 close friends

Have only one child

Join the Scouts as a child

Gen 8:

Being known by one person who truly sees you is worth more than 1000 eyes watching

It’s always been about you and only you from the moment you opened your star studded eyes. You were an only child who grew up in a small off the grid cottage, but you longed for something more. As a teen your walls were covered in boy band posters. You were constantly singing and as soon as you were a teen, your heart was set on acting. You longed to be known, to be wanted, to be seen. By every sim alive. You’re also a liiiittle full of yourself. But aren’t we all sometimes? And regardless, beneath all of the self-absorbed layers you have a huge heart. You volunteer once a week, donate to charities whenever possible, and you have a deep love for animals. You age up and instantly move to Del Sol Valley where you join the acting career. You soon meet a sim who is mega famous but their personality does not match up to what the public sees. You fall in love quickly and get married as a young adult. Soon you have one child with them, but you find out that they are not all that they seem. You catch them cheating on you with your rival in the industry. You know your worth and instantly end it, taking your child with you. 

You start over from the beginning, building your career off of your own back as a single parent. But you are strong and you persevere. Throughout all of this, you do find fame. But you also find real and true love with a sim not at all interested in the lime light who also has a child. 

You live your days in a beautiful penthouse apartment and adore your perfect blended family. 

GOALS:

Have Snob/Good traits

Donate to charity once a week

Always have 3 pets in household

Get married as a Y/A to a Flirty/Mean-Spirited sim

Have one child with that spouse

Catch your celebrity spouse cheating on a sim that is your enemy

Find love in with a non-famous sim who has a child

End up in a penthouse apartment (can cheat for money)

Master Charisma Skills

Complete Acting Career

Complete Superstar Actor LTW

Gen 9:

Sometimes the truth remains only in your heart. 

You are the definition of a rainbow. You are a bright shiny smile on a cloudy day and you LOVE color! As a creative, you spend your spare time writing and daydreaming about new stories. But you have a secret interest hidden inside of you. You are absolutely obsessed with the paranormal. Your main goal in life is to prove the existence of every occult that has been whispered about for years, the stories only found in long forgotten pages of dusty books. As a child growing up in opera houses, theatres, and movie sets with your parent, your interest was sparked by stories of long forgotten ghosts hiding in the shadows of the old buildings. You want to prove to the world that these things are real because in your sunshiny heart, you feel that magic must exist. And so you pack up and move to the town that nearly every sim strays from on long trips. You move to Forgotten Hollow. But you will not succumb to the neighbors tastes in style. You build the most flamboyant home that there ever was. You are an extremely paranoid sim, but does that mean that you’re wrong? You don’t think so. You spend your entire life searching for any occult. The most amazing part? You find every. Single. One. You write a book of your encounter for each occult and befriend all of them. You even end up marrying a rather handsome spellcaster! 

Even though you have a peace inside of you now that you were always right, that your life was not for waste, the Sim world is not quite ready to believe your stories. They love your books! But assume they were fiction. 

You’re okay with that. Because in your heart, you know the truth. And you now have a little piece of magic, too.

GOALS:

Complete Professional Author LTW

Master the Writing and Alchemy skills

Must write 10 horror stories

Befriend a Vampire, Witch, Mermaid, Ghost, Alien, Werewolf, and Fairy

Always dress in vibrant colors

Have a brilliantly bright home

Marry a witch

Complete Writing career

Have the Neurotic/Artistic traits

Gen 10:

I know that I’m strange. But magical was nothing I’d ever dreamt of.

From the moment you were born there was  a certain magic about you. Everyone could feel it. You felt different too. But what did different mean? You know that your parents spent their entire life searching for answers to the paranormal. You know that they believe in it with their whole heart. But you’re still skeptical. Until one day when you follow the pages of their book, desperate for answers about yourself. To your great surprise you happen upon a strange archway. A magical portal to another world. Carefully you step in, disbelief buried deep inside of you but hope overpowering it. Hope for answers. You discover that your true self is a spellcaster. Not only that, but one of your parents is a spellcaster too. Your world is flipped upside down in an instant. You begin to try and learn what this means. You study wizardry, you find a wand, a familiar, and a broom. You try your hardest to go back to your average life in the business tract but you can’t focus.Magic is your entire life now.  But the world isn’t ready for magic. Sims are afraid of the unknown, and so you hide your secret life within the walls of your home. You fall in love with a mortal and eventually find the courage to confide in them that you are a wizard. They didn’t even blink at this information. They too knew that there was something different about you. But oh so wonderful, too. Eventually, they make the decision to become a wizard as well.

Together you live a beautiful life full of magic. Not just the kind with spells and potions, but that most special kind of magic. Love. Memories made between the two of you. 

And as sappy as it is, you truly live happily ever after. 

GOALS:

Have the Supernatural Skeptic/Excitable traits

Always have 5 close friends (people love your energy)

Master the Alchemy skill

Decide to become either a good witch/bad witch and cast spells on at least 10 sims

Join the business career and quit after reaching lvl 5

Have a familiar pet

Must be a whimsical dresser

Fall in love with a moral who eventually becomes a witch

Live in a Whimsical/Magical/Cooky Spellcaster Home (think hobbit holes, the burrow, what have you)

Thank you for trying this challenge and feedback is always welcomed.

[theopolis]

After some surprisingly enthusiastic feedback on the post in which I talked about it, here it is: My fix-it for Harry Osborn's storyline in The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Things start out as they did in the movie. Harry arrives back in NYC. His uncomfortable conversation with Norman and Norman's death ensue. Harry is bitter and conflicted and begrudgingly takes over Oscorp while worrying about his slowly deteriorating health on the side. The parksborn reunion happens.

Here's where I want things to take a turn.

For one, show us that Harry has a soft core. Having Peter back in his life should make his heart melt a little. Establish that he is very much a loving person underneath all the stress and moodiness and that Peter encourages this side of Harry. That way their eventual falling out will also hit harder.

As for the main gist of his arc, TASM Harry's corruption, much like 616 Harry's, is a matter of succumbing to the idea that he owes Norman something.

Remember that data chip Norman gave him at the beginning of the movie? I want it to contain a sort of diary that catalogues Norman's progress with finding a cure for their illness. That way, there's a more personal confrontation with the memory of his father.

The diary entries reveal that the cure was supposed to be based on Oscorp's cross species genetics studies, composing DNA of different animals in a way that would cancel out the various ailments coming with the Osborn's illness. The spider venom was a crucial ingredient in the antidote Norman and his team were working on. Of course, the spiders have been destroyed, which leads Harry to the entire Spider-Man's Blood plan. (Also I always felt there should be something more obvious pointing towards the connection between the Oscorp spiders and Spider-Man. Like build in a scene of Harry finding out that Spidey conveniently showed up a week or so after the lab containing the spiders was broken into and found with a bunch of them running free)

As in the original movie, Peter refuses to give his blood because he's scared it may have dire consequences.

Throughout the story, Harry grows more guilty over his resentment towards Norman, more obsessed with embodying the legacy of his father because that's what he "owes" him. The digital diary entries play a key role in this. In them, Norman will frequently talk about how much work has gone into building Oscorp and how much hope he puts into the creation of the antidote so that his legacy may continue - if not through him, at least through Harry.

Incorporate a recording that would really tip Harry over. A rare moment of vulnerability from Norman, something that Harry's always wanted to hear, just self centered enough that the audience may catch on that there's still something off, but Harry won't. (Would work well in juxtaposition to the Richard Parker video Peter finds too)

Better yet have Harry watch that clip when he explicitly feels abandoned by Peter. Let's say after Harry's conversation with Spidey went the way it did, Harry vented angrily to an anxious out of his mind Pete and pressured him to talk Spider-Man into helping him. Following that, Peter has been avoiding Harry for weeks because he doesn't know what to tell him or how to resolve the situation

But while Harry fears Peter's fading out of his life again, someone else has been fading in. In this version I want Harry and Gwen to meet way earlier in the movie and start developing a friendship that continues to grow throughout the film. They spend a lot of time together at Oscorp. They bond over shittalking Peter. They paint each others nails. This will have a huge impact on Gwen's eventual death.

As the story goes, Menken eventually frames Harry for covering up Max's accident, leading to him being expelled from Oscorp. However, in this version there's an addition to the scene just before the security storms the room, wherein Menken reveals to Harry that he and the other Oscorp chairmen have been gradually poisoning him, causing Harry's condition to worsen rapidly. (This would require some foreshadowing ofc)

In his expendable secondary villain glory, Menken gleefully estimates Harry may be mere hours from death. The stakes are heightened, but at the same time there's the looming awareness that at this point, Harry doesn't want to survive for himself - he wants to survive for Norman.

Harry breaks out Max and they infiltrate Oscorp together. Harry eventually makes it into the secret lab but instead of containing the spider venom, it contains the unfinished formula. And yes, it is green. Seeing it as his absolute last chance, Harry takes the risk and injects himself with the incomplete formula, causing him to undergo a painful transformation and become the mutated Green Goblin. (Who btw should look more monstrous. I'm thinking ITSV but like, brought down to Venom height)

Goblin Harry is terrified and of course blames his state on the missing ingredient. He flies off - with scales and claws and bat-like wings - to hunt down Spider-Man, finds out it's Peter, big dramatic fight with some really chilling dialog ensues. They start duking it out and Gwen, terrified to see two people she deeply cares for fight to a potentially lethal end, tries to interfere but ends up falling to her death due to all the back and forth.

Neither of them technically killed her, yet both of them did in a way.

Harry blames Peter because that's what he's determined to do, and Peter blames himself because, well, he's Peter. Gwen's death actively impacts the dynamic between Peter and Harry (which is still intact as Harry is far more redeemable and Peter mainly wants to help him) and therefore the story from here on out.

[gakkubi]

Ame Trio Analysis: Konan

I want to share some thoughts on the Ame Trio/Ame Orphans because I do think they have one of the most complex, interesting and beautiful arcs in the Narutoverse. I will discuss their personalities and thoughts. This post is about Konan, there are also Yahiko and Nagato. (3/3): I'll end with Konan because she's the one who lives the longer and is impacted by both Yahiko and Nagato's death.

KONAN:

Also available in Russian: ссылка на русский перевод

Konan is possibly the hardest character to analyse because her stand-alone arc is the last one to appear, and the story doesn't dwell on her ideals and motivations until the very end - despite that, it's my personal belief she's one of the best female characters developed in the series. With a few exceptions, female characters in the Narutoverse will usually take the position of supporting the male characters - but unlike most of the other women, Konan's position of support actually makes sense with her character.

A person not being the "original creator" of the philosophy they follow or joining other characters to achieve a common goal does not mean they don't have a mind or will of their own; Konan is just as free to make her own decisions as the other characters.

While Yahiko takes the role of "fallen hero" and Nagato is the "unwilling protagonist", Konan is the ever-present observer; she's the last one to take the spotlight in the Ame Trio storyline, and with her, the last open ends are closed. Konan is the element which endured throughout all of the Ame Trio's different phases, from their start to their brightest and darkest points until the very end. She's the Angel, the one who will carry and reinforce the will she has received.

Konan has a moral trait which makes her strikingly different from Yahiko and Nagato; she is not loyal to abstract ideals, but rather concrete ones. Even though Yahiko and Nagato eventually digress on their philosophies, both dedicate their lives to the pursuit of peace and give up their lives to guarantee the survival of their goal, as abstract as it may be.

Konan, on the other hand, is loyal to people; of course she had beliefs of her own, but they mostly come from a local perspective, not a universal one. She's loyal to Amegakure; to her country, to her people, her citizens, her friends.

It's heavily implied in the story (more in the anime than the manga) that the people of Amegakure held her in high esteem (perhaps even more than they held Pain himself). This shines a new light on Konan, who early on the story was just an unknown villain of the Akatsuki - in fact, we come to learn most of the important aspects of her personality lie outside of the classic, evil Akatsuki.

To understand Konan it's important to understand the Ame Trio's dynamic as a whole; it's fundamental to consider that, just like Nagato, Konan owes her life to Yahiko's fierce will of surviving- her backstory alone with Yahiko is never shown but it's heavily implied that she was just as dependent on him as Nagato was. Like Nagato, her personality is much more passive and quiet until provoked.

Both Konan and Nagato were Yahiko's followers, and they were happy that way - they believed in his dream and his philosophy and found in the Akatsuki the meaning of their lives. It's important to understand that Yahiko's goals are also her goals, regardless if she was the one who created them or not; it's better to say he first inspired her into creating such dreams for herself.

Many other (very popular and loved) characters in the Naruto universe follow dreams and philosophies not originally created by themselves and are not perceived as mere "followers without opinion" like Konan sometimes is.

A common reason for the misunderstanding of Konan's character to claim she has no will of her own is that she continued to support Nagato even though he suffers an immense personality and philosophical shift after Yahiko's death. It's often wondered why Konan decided to stay by Nagato's side after Yahiko's death despite his radical change, and it's often associated with her having no ideas of her own. This is not true; the story builds a very logical and realistic reason for her to continue supporting him regardless of her truly agreeing with his new peace philosophy.

Very much like Nagato, Konan saw the people she loved and her reasons to live be taken away from her twice. The first time, it was Yahiko who gave both of them meaning and direction; the second time Nagato and Konan found themselves having nothing again - all they had was the legacy Jiraiya and Yahiko left behind.

Konan's life was saved by Yahiko twice; first when he helped her survive and second when he sacrificed himself so she could escape Hanzo's trap. It's important to realize the reason why Hanzo could trap Yahiko and Nagato is that they captured her first; although we have no evidence for this, it's possible Konan also felt guilt for "giving" the enemy a token to which they could manipulate Yahiko into obedience.

Yahiko being a key factor on her survival (both physical and mental) and her feeling responsible for his death are both factors that could result in her feeling immense guilt and a sense of debt with him. Like Nagato, Konan couldn't just let Yahiko's death be pointless after giving up his life for them.

Any reasonable person would have their hope shaken after seeing Yahiko get killed after his "non-violence, mutual understanding" philosophy failed. It would take an enormous endurance and faith to lose a person who she loved and keep on trying the same thing with the hope that "next time things will work as intended." Perhaps, things would never work as Yahiko imagined - perhaps his original plan needed adaptations.

However, unlike Nagato, Konan hadn't been conditioned by either Jiraiya or Yahiko to think that she was the one who would find the key to peace; she didn't spend her life pressured by the responsibility of coming up with a plan. Nagato was the one who the former leaders trusted would find the answer to end all the wars - and he stepped up to continue the "plan to peace" with his new ideas of how to get there.

And there's yet another important factor in all this; Yahiko had left her with a mission - the mission of supporting Nagato. The conversation where Yahiko entitles her with the responsibility of being by Nagato's side is highlighted in her fight against Obito to tell us, the audience, why Konan is so determined to help Naruto now - her mission of protecting the "savior of the world", originally given by Yahiko, had been transferred from supporting Nagato to Naruto.

Once we see the perspective of her feeling like she was in debt with Yahiko for saving her life twice - and adding love and guilt to the mixture, which makes it much harder for reason to overpower emotion -, it's easy to see why it could be hard to nearly impossible for her to dismiss the last mission she could actually complete; following Yahiko's will was a way of still being connected to him after he was gone.

Both Nagato and Konan nearly lost the meaning of their lives when Yahiko was killed and the original Akatsuki destroyed - both clinged to what they had left. Neither ever had a proper environment to deal with the grief they felt, a grief that echoed a childhood trauma that shaped all of their lives.

All of these factors are reasons why it would be hard for Konan to look objectively at what she was doing by supporting Nagato's new philosophy; however, Konan wasn't just guilt trapped into being by his side.

Konan, as I stated before, is much more pragmatic than her counterparts; she's loyal to what is hers - her friends, her nation. Even if we ignore the guilt or the "mission", it's safe to assume she would have stayed by his side anyway; Nagato was all the family she had left, and she was loyal to what was hers above all else.

Perhaps, if the mental conditions weren't so harsh, Konan could have resisted or opposed some of Nagato's new radical ideas more than she already did - debated with him, perhaps they could have convinced each other to stay in Yahiko's path. In the anime, Obito even says he relied on Konan for "calming" Nagato, which tells us that she reasoned with him to some extent - however, neither of them were able to keep their pain from overriding the morals they previously had.

Konan has a mind of her own, and it's shown to us in the moments where she disagrees either visually or verbally with Nagato's actions; Jiraiya's death, Konoha's destruction and the conversation with Naruto are moments where she confronts him. She is shown disagreeing with Nagato on multiple instances, which is proof that she felt she could voice her discontent with him - that she didn't feel completely trapped by guilt or that all she had to do was simply obey him; she was not just a voiceless "Angel" obeying her "God." We're also shown that Nagato disregards many of her opinions - by the time he becomes a villain, he is extremely narcissistic and confident in his hability to make the right choice - but that doesn't keep her from voicing her disagreement anyway.

It's not clear to us, the audience, how much Konan was hurt by Nagato's disregard (we're shown she is uncomfortable to some extent); it's the combination of her guilt, Yahiko's "mission" and her own faith in Nagato's plan that keeps her following their goal.

All the members of the Ame Trio value the search for peace above everything else, each in their own particular way.

Unlike Nagato, Konan has a much clear and objective way of thinking, interested only in what will serve them to achieve their goal and dismissing everything else that will not be useful.

Konan is never shown having any interest whatsoever in the other members of the Akatsuki (she never engages in the conversations they have), in the people of Konoha (which is why she condones wasting energy on being violent with them) or even in what Naruto has to say. All that she cares about is what is hers - her nation, her family; she's completely indifferent to everything else.

(That being said, I must note we don't know how her relationships with the other Akatsuki work as it would be impossible for her to spend almost 20 years without interacting with the other members. One of Konan's most important traits is her kindness, so it's "in character" to assume she would treat them respectfully and kindly, being fond of them to some extent; it's also safe to assume she didn't care about them at all, given her behavior in the manga. I think both interpretations are equally canonical because they lean on different aspects of her personality to fill a backstory we're never shown).

Although Konan is never shown being especially inclined to violence, her indifference and disergard for everything that is not hers - together with her own belief on Nagato's plan and the suffering which she endured - allows her to be the cold-blooded leader and killer she eventually becomes.

Konan believed in Nagato - like both Jiraiya and Yahiko did - while recognizing his flaws. When Naruto received recognition and acceptance from Nagato, he was incorporated to Konan's definition of what is "hers"; she aligns him in a sequence of "saviors" who she believed, a sequence that began with Yahiko and continued with Nagato. She makes the conscious decision of giving up her life for her dream of peace as Yahiko and Nagato have done before her.

Obito is the example of a person who Konan never incorporated on what is "hers" - this is clear on their fight where she says she studied his moves and his powers all the years they have worked together, and also clear on the passive-aggressive conversation they have after Jiraiya's death (Chapter 407). The way their relationship works - especially considering that she spent approximately half of her life working with him - also shows that Konan doesn't blindly support other characters for the sake of supporting them; for all we know, she trusted him much less than Nagato did.

It's also in Konan's fight with him that we see her analytical intelligence at full bloom - I dare say she is the most intelligent of the trio when it comes to strategy; first, for not ever truly trusting Obito to begin with (possibly because Yahiko also didn't), and second for being able to set a strategy that effectively killed him (hence why he used Izanagi - he was killed by her) with information based on her own observations.

Konan is extremely careful and precise; she pays incredible attention to detail, being able to draw accurate conclusions after analyzing just a little information.

Konan isn't ever shown to be hateful or angry, with the exception of her encounter with Jiraiya, where she treats him with spite, taunting him with the idea that following Orochimaru's suggestion could have avoided all the trouble he was going through with the Akatsuki. It's one of the few times we see Konan treating anyone in a way that is not kind or neutral, as if she held some type of resentment against Jiraiya - I like to think she blamed him, in a way or another, for not preparing them well enough for the cruelty of the world; for letting them be so naïve that Yahiko could be killed in a trap easily avoidable. It's obvious that Konan still held Jiraiya in some regard as it's easier for people to lash out on those who they like the most - after many years interacting with people to whom she was completely indifferent (outside of Nagato), Konan was finally talking to a person she had feelings for.

She is also - as described by Jiraiya and also viewed on the characters memories - a very kind, gentle, caring person; the very fact that she chose to save Nagato by sharing food with him shows her predisposition to helping others. Her kindness wasn't lost after Yahiko's death, but mostly replaced by the indifference she felt at everything that did not contemplate her goals, her family or her nation. After she accepts Naruto as being "one of her own" and sharing goals with him, she's quick to display kindness towards him and indirectly make amends with Jiraiya in the process.

As quiet, introspective person, Konan is very self-sufficient; although she is a member of the Akatsuki, she only interacts with them when necessary, probably spending most of her time alone or caring for Amegakure's business (as she shared both Akatsuki and Amegakure's leadership with Nagato and he was more active with the Akatsuki, it's safe to assume she cared for the other half). Her quiet, calmer nature matches that of Nagato; they could find understanding by having similar thought processes and also having a harder time processing their feelings, finding sympathy and comfort in each other.

Although I have mentioned that Konan might have felt a sense of debt towards Yahiko for saving her life, I want to highlight I see this feelings as possible only after his death because of its traumatizing circumstances; I don't think she felt she owed him anything while they were all alive, especially because it's never shown that he ever demanded such recognition. Yahiko and Konan have very distinct energies and personalities that complete each other, their relationship has a strong foundation because they share the same core beliefs and traits; loyalty and faith. I can see her falling in love with him for many reasons and one of them being by her admiring how hard he works to achieve the goal of peace.

Konan is a person that feels gentle and kind towards life as a whole; she doesn't seem to need much to be happy - as a child she made origami to pass time and have fun (and eventually used her intelligence to turn her passion into power); as an adult, the anime dedicates a scene to show her smiling to the rain while thinking of happy memories - happy for the sake of being in peace with the new direction she was taking her life after she and Nagato found someone to believe in again.

(Edit: Unfortunately I could not add another image to the post to illustrate this comment, but I wanted to talk about one aspect of Konan's personality that I like a lot and also forgot to mention. Despite her collected and serious demeanor, she also has a tendency to taunt people, a bit similar to Nagato's taste for ironic jokes. This is shown just a few times. In chapter 373, when Yahiko says he will save Nagato the next time something happens, Konan makes fun of him by remarking that Nagato is actually stronger than him, and she laughs when he gets annoyed. As I showed before, she also provokes Jiraiya with the hypothesis of things being better if Orochimaru had killed them. In her fight with Obito, despite his clear disinterest in what she was saying, Konan goes on to explain why Nagato and her betrayed him, and why he will never win. During the Water on a Frog's Face Training with Jiraiya she's also shown laughing at Yahiko's clumsiness. In my opinion, the way she evidently enjoys herself when she mocks people is strikingly contrasting to her generally unaffected personality, and personally I like that most of those times Yahiko was involved. Both in the anime, because of the animation, and in the manga because of Yahiko's surprise, I'm also under the impression that she was the one to initiate their kiss).

All of the Rain Trio's characters have very distinct and interesting psychologies; personally, I find Konan to be the most complex one because of the extreme discrepancies she displays, sometimes warm and kind, sometimes extremely cold and indifferent. I think the way she seems to only care about a very limited aspect of things is very attractive, as it shows how focused she is on her goals - as a nonviolent person, the most cruel act of Konan as a villain comes from her apathy to everyone else that is not part of what is "hers." Unlike Nagato and most of the other members of the Akatsuki who actively indulge in vile acts, she simply pursues her goals, removing anything and anyone on her way.

When he watch Konan's childhood, we see a child that is kind and light-hearted despite of all the pain she has endured, and only after being inflicted by yet another wave of suffering Konan's empathy and hope are shaken to the core; however, we learn her feelings were not dead but rather dormant, and it's by reconnecting to her core traits and beliefs that she finally finds peace in the very end.

[rivalsforlife]

Do you have anything you wished was different from Ace Attorney canon?

Hello I'm finally slowly starting to get around to answering some of these! Sorry for the wait.

Uh this ask got super long so a basic summary of it: narumitsu being canon in a well-written way would be nice even though I don't think it would ever happen, I stand by not bringing back Phoenix as a main protagonist in DD, and I'd also want to rewrite all of SOJ so that Apollo goes to Khura'in in place of Phoenix, to have more interesting character stuff going on.

So the longer answer is this:

Aside from some of the actually problematic stuff that I don't feel qualified to talk about, story-wise, I answered a sort of similar question about a year ago here. I have changed my opinions a little bit since then, particularly with regards to the canonicity of narumitsu... because while I do love narumitsu I feel like I don't trust Ace Attorney to actually do it properly. After all if this past November has taught us anything "making a ship canon" could actually be quite undesirable and I have no desire to see Phoenix and/or Edgeworth sent to superhell. (I literally know nothing else about supernatural sorry about that.)

If capcom were somehow able to make narumitsu canon but in an unobtrusive way and as a natural progression of the storyline, like oh hey, the court record profile for Miles Edgeworth's Obligatory Last-Case Appearance has Phoenix mention they're dating, and maybe there's a few lines suggesting they live with each other, but it's not like... taking the entire story to force them together and otherwise does not change the way they interact with each other and butcher one or both of their characterizations in the process? I'd definitely be happy about that. Not gonna lie even if they made narumitsu canon in the most terrible way possible I'd have a "holy shit I can't believe they did that it's the best day of my life" kind of moment before I could think about it critically. But I honestly see no chance of them ever actually making narumitsu canon, so that's quite unrealistic to hope for anyways.

Aside from that in that other ask I talked about basically the premise of an Apollo trilogy and not bringing back Phoenix as the main protagonist in DD, and I still stand by that, buuut in my other ask I did touch on making SOJ a different game where Apollo goes to Khura'in instead of Phoenix - and you know what I'm going to take some time to actually talk about my dream version of SOJ because there were a lot of little things about the one we got that I didn't like. And it's going to be very long. So it's under a cut.

SO yeah I talked about it a bit in the other ask. I think that Phoenix going to Khura'in is a rather weak idea both externally and in-universe. In one of the interviews, too lazy to find which one, Phoenix basically goes to Khura'in because the writers couldn't figure out how to challenge him anymore. ... And then they don't actually challenge him at all. Because oh well now we're going to this new country where they KILL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS WHO LOSE and then it's supposed to be *shocking* that Phoenix would risk his life for a kid or his best friend. you know the guy who ran across a burning bridge to save his best friend. you know the guy who got punched in the face, nearly killed by the mafia, and tazed trying to save his clients. This doesn't tell me anything new about Phoenix's character. His whole travel in Khura'in doesn't tell me anything new about Phoenix's character. Basically the only reason he's there is to see Maya - Maya who theoretically would be returning home in about two weeks. Maya who was still in her training for two more weeks when Phoenix visited so he wouldn't be able to see her anyways. ... And in the meantime Trucy had the biggest show of her life that was going to be on TV and Phoenix wasn't there for it. And of course Phoenix didn't return home after Trucy was accused of murder (yes he couldn't be there for the trial, but he definitely could have for the emotional support afterwards) and instead just sits for two weeks in Khura'in doing literally nothing after Ahlbi's trial.

(And yes I know about the anime prologue that has Phoenix think Maya's in danger... but that's not strictly canon since it's never mentioned in game, isn't technically a part of the game, and even still, why wouldn't he go home after knowing that Maya's safe and that Trucy had been ACCUSED OF MURDER. Honestly that's what makes me angriest about this whole thing is that it makes Phoenix out to be a terrible dad. We really don't need any more takes like that, especially not from canon.)

And what about Apollo, you may ask? Well, given case 5 of SOJ, Apollo actually has a personal link to Khura'in and ends up staying there afterwards... after being there for like a day or two. I should note here that it has been a while since I went through SOJ in its entirety so I am fuzzy on many of the details. But both through what I remember and some conversations with people who actually played the game recently, the motivation for Apollo to actually stay in Khura'in isn't that great. It mainly seemed like guilt about his dead dad who he hadn't been in contact with for years and had completely written off until a few days ago but oh he died and then went to go visit him so... better take up the law office!

If Apollo had gone to Khura'in in place of Phoenix and spent more time there, reconnecting with his childhood home and actually getting passionate seeing how corrupt the legal system is there (even though we have a corrupt legal system at home) and being driven to fix it, that would make for a stronger story, I think. The Khura'in plot is more personally focused around Apollo than it is Phoenix. Phoenix's connection to Khura'in is through Maya, but Maya doesn't really have much of a connection to it aside from "it's where spirit channeling is from and she trains there". But Apollo, I guess, grew up there. So it's so strange to me that they force all of Apollo's connection to Khura'in in the last case while Phoenix is running around doing who-knows-what for the rest of the game. Phoenix spends more time getting to know the state of Khura'in and the Defiant Dragons and case 3's whole thing but he isn't the one who in the end decides to sit down and fix it; that's all on Apollo. It almost feels like they forced one of the two plots in to everything. And it was probably conceived as a Phoenix story that they needed to fit Apollo into last minute because oops he's supposed to be a protagonist too.

Some other strengths to Apollo going to Khura'in include that it would shake up the character dynamics a bit. Instead of Phoenix defending Maya, it's Apollo defending Maya, and that's a particularly interesting thing to look at in the context of Khura'in's "we kill defense attorneys" system. Of course, Phoenix would risk his life to save Maya, 100%, every time. But what about Apollo, who hasn't met Maya, who only knows her as "Mr. Wright's former assistant" - would he risk his life for her? And I feel like Maya would argue more against him defending her because of that. "We're strangers, you don't know me, you don't have to risk your life defending me." (Sidenote that I was always upset that Maya didn't protest much when Phoenix offered to defend her, knowing his life was at risk - sure she knows him better and knows he's always been able to get her out of these situations, but at the same time, the fact that there was no "what about your daughter?" conversation sucks. I really wish SOJ wouldn't have like. completely forgotten about the phoenix-trucy father-daughterisms.)

Let's say Apollo goes to Khura'in. Phoenix stays at home. Phoenix gets a call from Apollo that's basically "uhh hi Mr. Wright you know your friend Maya, she's been arrested for murder, if I defend her and I lose we're both dead," then you can tie in to that moment in 6-2 where Phoenix (who can't make it in time for the trial!) believes in Apollo and his skills as an attorney, not just to save Maya's life, but also his own. It ties in a bit more to the overall challenge of defending someone at the risk of your own life. Again, Phoenix would have very few hesitations, if any, risking his life to defend Maya. Apollo may have more defending a stranger at the risk of his own life.

Then if you can actually have Apollo and Maya talk together that would be neat - Maya can tell him embarrassing stories about Phoenix's rookie days, for instance. Their dynamic would be quite a bit different from Phoenix and Maya's, and that would be an interesting thing to see, unlike what we have in SOJ where all of Maya's substantial interactions are with characters she already knows or brand new characters.

(It would also be pretty neat to know more spirit channeling politics and dive in more to Maya's perspective on Khura'in and also her role as upcoming Master of the Kurain Channeling Technique and where she plans to lead the village in the future and also reconcile with her family's bloody legacy, but I'm not quite sure how to fit that in right now.)

And how about Phoenix, back home in Japanifornia? Evidently he'd end up being in charge of defending Trucy. Now, I did love the siblingsisms in canon 6-2, but I feel like there is still potential for Phoenix defending Trucy. All of Apollo Justice has a bunch of good moments between Apollo and Trucy, and she's co-counsel on all his trials, but we've never had any substantial Phoenix and Trucy investigation or co-counsel moments. I feel like AU 6-2 would be a great opportunity to dive more into Phoenix and Trucy's relationship and how it may have changed after Phoenix got his badge back. Plus, Phoenix being "the only one who knows how she really feels on the inside", he'd have unique insider knowledge into some of the Gramarye stuff that comes up in the case and Trucy's personal connection to the Gramaryes, which Apollo knows a bit of, but Phoenix knows more of. ... Or at least, should know more of, given that he raised Trucy for nine years at this point and they're very close, and Phoenix knows her better than anyone else does, even if capcom has forgotten this.

... Of course having Athena defend the case would also be great because more Athena spotlight is never a bad thing, but it's hard to come up with a reason why Phoenix wouldn't be there to defend her. And doing more switcheroos in terms of role in the plot is a bit beyond the scope of what I have in mind right now. Sorry Athena.

Aside from that, Athena still gets Storyteller, Apollo still heads Turnabout Revolution, and Phoenix still gets the DLC case. Apollo stays in Khura'in in the end with a bit more to his motivations. Rather than it just being about carrying on Dhurke's legacy, it's also something Apollo is passionate about after all he witnessed here. While we're at it I'd still rework a lot of Turnabout Revolution to make it so that Phoenix genuinely believes in Atishon because that makes for sooo much more interesting of a plot and actual character development on Phoenix's part than "Maya was kidnapped again and Phoenix is only wrong when he has no other choice", but that'd require some more detail and this post is long enough already.

And in terms of other details that need to be sorted out, there's the question of why Apollo would need to go to Khura'in in the first place. I'd probably say something to do with Dhurke. Maybe he comes back a bit earlier - actually alive, maybe, though crossing borders would be a bit of a challenge, or he reaches out to Apollo remotely somehow and Apollo goes to yell in his face about abandoning him (or at least that's what he thinks he wants.) Then we could have some more Dhurke and Apollo bonding time, potentially? Idk, if you switch up Phoenix and Apollo you're pretty much writing a whole new game and obviously I have not worked out all the details, but I think if Capcom had tried to go with this route from the outset they'd have a stronger game. At least stronger character motivations.

So... yeah. Those are my opinions. If you read through this whole thing I'm very impressed because it got very long!

[thevalleyisjolly]

Star Trek Beyond ramblings under the cut, because I love this movie so much:

I was just watching Star Trek Beyond again, and it’s really just such a good ensemble movie.  It wasn’t a Kirk-is-the-hero movie or a Kirk-and-Spock movie, it was an Enterprise movie.  Everyone in the crew had roles, not just isolated moments of badassery or humour, but actual places in the narrative that showed off their character and development.  I mean, we see:

Bones being a doctor, what that actually looks like apart from waving a scanner around and jabbing people with needles.  How he interacts with his patient, the brusque bedside manner that nevertheless goes hand-in-hand with his genuine concern, improvising treatments when he doesn’t have the advanced tools he normally does.  Damn it, the man is a doctor, and he’s a good one, and we get to see that!

Sulu and Uhura taking initiative, being leaders!  Uhura putting herself at risk again and again to do what’s best for the crew, Sulu taking a leadership role with the surviving crew members and trying to keep them safe.  TOS Sulu eventually becomes a captain, and you can really see the echoes of those leadership skills emerging here.  And Uhura, separating the saucer to give the escape pods a chance, breaking out of the cell to send a distress signal, asserting what’s right and standing up to Krall.  In many ways, she gets the hero(ine) role that in the past, has been given to Kirk or Spock.

Spock’s more introspective side.  He spends a lot of the movie considering his place in the universe, his responsibilities, the legacy of Ambassador Spock, mortality.  He doesn’t Vulcan-logic up a genius plan in the nick of time to save the day, it’s a softer, more measured Spock we see here, and it’s fantastic.

Scotty being a mentor and a father-figure, reaching out to Jaylah and being a figure of kindness and encouragement and concern.  He saves the day in a different kind of way than whipping up an engineering miracle or three - he saves the day by reaching out to someone who was lonely and being a person who cares.

Chekov alone had less to do in the movie, but we still see him taking on leadership during the attack, making sure everyone on the bridge got in an escape pod safely, being the second last to abandon ship, only after everyone else had already gone.  It’s a far cry from the childish, almost comedic role he’s had so far.

Jim being a captain, not a hero.  When Commodore Paris congratulated him on saving Yorktown and he said that it wasn’t him, that really rang true.  Kirk spends pretty much the entire movie affirming and reaffirming that his crew is capable, that they achieve things together, and it’s something the movie’s structure reinforces as well.  More on that later.

And yes, the ensemble structure means that individual characters don’t get a ton of time focused on their own arcs, but you don’t necessarily need a lot of time in an ensemble movie, you just need to make effective use of what time you do have.  Which I won’t claim every character had amazing character moments, but there was pretty solid and consistent characterization throughout, and the characters who did have time to shine shone brilliantly.

The whole theme of this movie is, as Uhura asserted to Krall/Eddison, “strength in unity.”  It’s very much not an action/super hero type movie, where a single extraordinary individual saves the day.  It’s the crew of the Enterprise, working together to their respective strengths, that succeeds. 

Conversely, Krall/Eddison is strong so long as he still has his crew with them, but once he loses them, he loses his power.  While he still has Kalara and Manas, his plans proceed well - Kalara ensnares the Enterprise, Manas helps him get away to Yorktown.  Without them, he has no support.  The contrast of that final confrontation with Kirk, Kirk with the entire crew of the Enterprise talking to him, giving him instructions, providing back up, and Eddison, standing alone, dying alone and in silence amidst the emptiness of space.

I mean, that scene when the U.S.S. Franklin is facing the swarm, if you watch, it’s literally the entire crew coming up with the solution together.  One person has a realization, another follows that up with a suggestion, another builds on that, so on and so forth.  It’s all of them, talking together, that solve the problem.  No one person has all the pieces to the puzzle or some sudden mastermind plan, it’s everyone contributing what they have.

And I think that leads me into another thing that’s so great about this movie, is that it recognizes the competence and the ability of these characters.  When faced with danger, everyone knows their duties, everyone performs their duties with competence and skill, they’re not just cogs in a machine, but well-oiled cogs.  The movie respects these characters, respects their capabilities and their foibles and their development.

Which goes into this movie and legacy, and honouring what came before while growing into something new.  We see the impacts of previous events on these characters, we see that they mattered.  Someone else has already pointed out how the escape pods are called Kelvin pods - the destruction of the Kelvin in the first movie mattered, not just to Kirk, it mattered to Starfleet and they made damn sure that their crews should always have a chance to live.  The destruction of Vulcan and Spock wondering about his potential duties to his people - of course that’s going to be something that lingers!  The horrors of genocide aren’t just the immediate loss of loved ones, of a planet, it’s something that continues to have an effect on survivors’ lives and futures.

(There are the good legacies too, the bittersweet legacies.  Ambassador Spock’s belongings, that picture of TOS cast, ugh)

((Also, the core of Eddison being that he can’t move forwards from the past, from the legacy he was a part of, that he helped build.  Wanting things to stay the same - and the irony is that in trying to keep the universe at war, he changes himself so drastically from what he was.  And to have his legacy, his crew’s legacy, be changed by his actions.  As Commodore Paris said, “For generations, we taught that they were heroes.”  Now they’re a tragedy))

It’s interesting because both Spock and Kirk have storylines around questioning their place in the universe, of living with legacies and living their lives now.  And we have Kirk and Bones having that conversation at the start, Bones very keenly pointing out that Kirk has been living for his father for so long but not for himself, and then the movie switches gears and works out these feelings with Spock.

(Love how both of them end up having these conversations with Bones, give the man a gold star friend award)

And we don’t really see Kirk working through this, except we do.  Kirk doesn’t talk about it outside of his captain’s log or with Bones, but we have Spock’s conversation.  We see the static-y legacy of the Franklin, we see Eddison’s despair and rage in his captain’s log, we see the crew of the Enterprise rising up to the task, confronting the past and saving the present.  We see Jaylah face the trauma of her memories and find trust and belonging in others, we see old meeting new, loneliness and despair but also love and hope.

We see everything except Kirk’s own internal struggle (save for Chris Pine’s frankly stellar facial acting), but maybe we don’t need to.  Because everything Kirk wrestles with is everything we come to realize through the movie, and as much as we are watching what’s going on, so is he.

(See?  It is a Kirk movie in a way, in that his internal conflict inspires the overall themes in the movie.  But Kirk is also the audience, watching the tragedy of Eddison and the Franklin, seeing the crew, his crew, work together.)

Also, loved the unconventional character groupings.  We have Sulu and Uhura as a team, Kirk and Chekov, Scotty and Jaylah, and the absolute genius of Bones and Spock.  I wish all Star Trek Beyond scriptwriters a very pleasant evening for giving us the absolute gift of Bones and Spock together.  We have been so blessed.

[targentis]

TO ELABORATE ON THE TAGS IN MY PREVIOUS REBLOG. i would just like to point out how many times in Azran Legacy we are shown exchanges between Rook and Bishop that are otherwise not really necessary to the plot. yes it's helpful to us, the audience, to see what Targent is up to while the egg hunt is ongoing, but there's a lot of...extra conversation that's sprinkled in there just for the sake of character development. all these things that Layton points out about Rook? absolutely unnecessary, unless of course the writers are purposefully leading us to sympathize with and understand him better.

let me just say this: there is more intentional foreshadowing in the Rook and Bishop subplot than there is in the Bronev family plot twist, the Emmy undercover Targent plot twist, and the whole culmination of the Azran Legacy itself combined. Bronev's early sprites/art reveal a color scheme that implies he was originally not intended to be Layton and Descole's father; Targent wasn't even a thing when Emmy was introduced; and the way the Azran are presented is sloppy and filled with plot holes i can't even get into right now. yes, in the grand scheme of things, since it only spans the duration of one game as opposed to the entire trilogy, Rook and Bishop's storyline has a clear advantage. but even throughout the inconsistencies that are rampant within the singular entity of Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, that one subplot remains solid and satisfying.

tl;dr the gay birds >>>>>>>>>>>>

[supercorp-hosie]

My thoughts for legacies 3x13: I’ll try to put the point chronologically

1. When Kaleb blew the candle, I’m so confused because the first thing that comes to my head is: he’s blowing that because is daytime, but why put it so far from Cleo? Why use a candle when you have electricity? And apparently I’m a fool, because that’s how the confinement spell works duh! I only recalled that when Alaric blew it in the end. I’m so dumb lol.

2. I love that Kaleb is the first to seek Cleo out, wanted answers and ready to accept them. When he tries to comfort Cleo in her memories, that’s me too! But apparently being the badass she is, she immediately come up with the idea of replacing her grandma to go with Malivore.

3. Poor Cleo! My heart sores when it started with a little girl, just like with Finch. She’s a hero! She’s so brave! She’s a queen! And weirdly she likes frogs(or toads?) very much. I wonder why. And although she tried to kill Hope last episode, I never see her as a villain. Never for a second. Instead I’m impressed. Tbh I didn’t understand why she is always playing with clay/mud since the beginning of this episode. But after her backstory, I just feel sad and proud at the same time. Sad because it’s shaped from her painful time of enslavement. Proud because she’s using the thing she learned from it against Malivore as her weapon despite the painfulness. I remember she talked about her sister dying, but nothing about that occurs in the memories. Did she lie before or it’s just another thing that the writers forgot?

4. ‘Jonch’ is horrible! I prefer Finsie as the ship name. Why is their moment always so cringy? I get this second embarrassment from them a lot, mostly from Josie tho. I always felt there’s something lacking in Finsie, just like what I felt when Handon started it’s kind of sudden. Maybe because of my perception, I really didn’t know why Josie think Finch is hot. I have to learn how to appreciate her beauty. But goof news, I actually appreciated Finsie first kiss, because I see why they haven’t kiss before, and why they finally kiss. It’s cute and the sparkling, haha. Tbh I start to appreciate Finch’s beauty from the kissing scene angle. But this episode, again, I still feel cringy in most of the Finsie scenes. I have to put my palm on my head. Anyway, I enjoy the “girlfriend” scene tho, like Finsie starting to grow on me(again, the first time is their first kiss, hopefully no more cringy afterwards). It’s really good to see Josie happy. Btw, since Finch decided to enrol, will she be the new alpha now that she defeated Jed? That’s good for her, she finally has a pack and no longer lonely.

5. Along with Finsie scenes, does anyone realise there’s actually other students there? And there are actually other witches at the school?? I remembered that there’s like only four witches? Because Josie was the only witch at the school when Berbelang!Hope happened? Annnndddd! To that! Does anyone remember there’s this girl Gaby/Gabby? She’s also a witch, and she loves dnd like Wade? They can’t tease us with Penelope using her then just let her disappear?

6. Oh great there’s actually other wolves at the school. I’m starting to think Jed is the only wolf left (of course there’s Hope, but she’s tribrid). As much as I enjoy Finch being badass that she can stand beside Josie, I felt so sorry for Jed and his actor. He’s been there for 3 seasons and yet Finch get a backstory before him. He has none! The actor is great, look at the siren episode! He hardly gets any decent lines and scenes now. Instead, they make him looked useless, hard to be respectable. Like anyone can just harm his alpha reputation. Justice for Jed please. Oh and the fact that Finch got a backstory before Kaleb too? It’s unacceptable. They deserve more. Jed doesn’t even have a last name, my god! Anyway that doesn’t change the fact that I want to hug baby Finch so much bc she’s adorable!

7. With MG gone, Kaleb looks like the only vampire left in the school. I miss MG. What about Ethan?

8. Josie and Cleo finally met! I’m glad that she’s learned something from her too. I think it’s true that other kids never felt as easy as Josie at the school. They finally addressed it.

9. I’m frustrated that Hope never wanted answers from Cleo. The only friend that helped her grieve. But hey maybe she’s too hurt to be able to bear Cleo in her sight. But then again there’s the Landon problem, so she’s off with Landon again. Only taking to Landon the whole episode, being the only one that only talk to one person in the whole episode. Feel bad for her about this. Poor Hope.

10. I really feel bad for Landon, because there’s a lot of hardships to make him like that. Someone please give him hugs and a therapist. The show is doing a full cycle by stating what he’d done is just like what Hope did when she returned from Malivore. I understand why he kept himself away, but weirdly, the way the let those words out, it feels like he wants to get back at Hope when I think he wanted Hope’s understanding. Maybe he wanted both?

12. Someone told me that every 13th episode is the episode where Landon’s power are explored. I kind of agree with it now. Because he’s finally having the fighting skills that he’s longing now. Finally he can achieve his desires to physically fight alongside Hope. For what though, I don’t know, because in the case of supercorp, Lena never needed it physically to be Supergirl’s partner in saving the world, or of course to protect Kara. Glad for him, anyway, bc that’s what’s he wants. And the blow to the head? It’s awesome.

11. I can’t believe Landon is blaming Hope for not coming to save him sooner?! What the hell? What happened to “I’m going to be the one that always fight to find Hope”, idk whether I quoted it precisely, but the meaning is there. I am furious. Is this some sick drama that the show wants Landon to think that Hope was not coming to him because she had a perfect version of him?? That aside, when I see that Handon is going to fight together physically, I actually think the scene is good and they will overcome the blaming thing, and going to be a power couple. Just when I have that thought, Landon have to fucking throw the artifact towards Malivore(whether it is Malivore I’ll discuss afterwards, it’s contradictory)!! That’s such a stupid move! Where’s your brain? And it’s broken, oh god. And the show have to show Hope being so weak during the fight. I mean why? She’s a badass, why do they have to make her weak to glorify Landon?? They made her look useless. These things just really kill the budding Handon spirit in me. The show really knows how to make people resent Handon and Landon. Just please change the show name.

12. Anyway to be fair, Landon do care for Hope and do love her. Before, though I don’t think they are endgame quality, I think that if they do improve, Handon endgame is tolerable, acceptable. But now, I’m not so sure of that anymore. Other than the above mentioned points, Landon did leave Hope for a solid third time. Why the show have to establish that for Handon when their fans desperately defended Landon that he wasn’t always leaving. I mean I’ve seen Handon shippers fought really hard against the “Landon is always leaving Hope” argument. What a way to make a couple being endgame. In Chinese proverbs, there’s a thing for a third time. Like the three strikes law, I think? It says not to do anything or tolerate anything undesirable that has happened more than three times. So please do not make Handon together ever again. It’s an insult to Hope too.

13. To see it differently, poor Hope will finally have time out of Landon to think of herself and her future. We need to see her having her own storyline. So maybe we can see Hosie eventually? Sorry Finsie for anticipating your break up in the future. But please enjoy yourselves when Hope grows on her own, because Josie deserves a decent relationship on screen too. Hosie didn’t interact this episode, I’m sad.

14. I just can’t help but wonder why Alaric oversee the artifact being destroyed so easily. And when Josie introduces Finch, she deserves a decent conversation with the headmaster, really. Oh he’s an adult, be a responsible and respectable one, especially you’re Josie dad. Help her with her impression with her crush. Alaric really need help, we need another adult figure. It’s okay that’s not Caroline.

15. I kind of thinking that Landon and Cleo are shippable too when I know that they are leaving at the same time. Cleo being the sole reason to Landon existence is one of the reasons to ship them. She’s the one that tell Malivore he can make vessels and create legacy, that leads to Landon existing. Not to mention she did literally made Golem Landon by hand (we all know the thing that Hope made doesn’t have a body, so Cleo must have made his torso and limps right). Or maybe we prefer wandon endgame? Wade is precious too, he’s the one that point out Landon is not himself.

16. I’m so confused by this episode Malivore. I thought Cleo trapped him inside that monster Handon defeated this episode. But if it was trapped this long? How did the pit, Clarke and Landon even exist? Did Malivore escape from it?? It must have escaped.

17. In the promo for the next episode, we’re seeing Lizzie and Hosie interaction! I’m excited! I think maybe Josie will be the one that bring Hope out of the cult’s enchantment. What will happen? Maybe they will realise something or develop something towards each other? Anything hosie that MAKE SENSE please. Oh and Hizzie friendship/banters, and Lizzie suddenly being and “angel” will be so fun to watch. Finally, the trio!

18. I know it’s irrelevant but since I mentioned Clarke, I miss Holarke. I have some shippable thoughts about Finch and Penelope too. P is the she-devil in good girl attire; F looks like a bad girl but she’s good hearted. They are both fiery, imagine what they’ll be like when they’re together, erupting volcanoes?

19. Applause to Aria’s acting skill, this is like the eleventh role he’s played in legacies? Original Landon, Hope’s (subconscious) Landon, Landon’s (subconscious) Landon, Josie’s SimuLandon, Hope’s therapy Landon, Malivore Landon, golem Landon, ptsd Landon, oni-possessed Landon, golem Landon micmicking Necromancer, Clarke-Landon. Keep up the good work!

[onewomancitadel]

Oscar, Ozma, and Jaune

So that anon who asked me the other day about how if Jaune is the most straight-up Ozma coded of the characters (and Cinder, Salem), why doesn't he have Ozma in his head instead? Obviously I gave my answer but I actually realised there's even something that better explains that I only offhandedly mentioned in one post I don't think is under my Reverse Salem/Ozma tag, but deserves elaboration. I was mildly embarrassed at the time to do so. I'll go ahead now anyway.

It's Jungian, of course, so take it with a grain of salt and decide for yourself if you think it's worth consideration. It is basic storytelling language and probably the most consistent of any (beyond simplistic application of the monomyth), and I think it's being consciously used.

Anyway, the Jungian archetypical Shadow represents a moral challenge to the ego. It's usually something explicitly offputting to your sense of self.

In Yang's case, hers is her mother's. In Yang's arc, she can't understand why her mother would have left, because she would never have left Ruby. She has to come to understand her mother in order to understand herself and her role in the war against Salem, and in the process helps begin Raven's redemption (and the redemption of team STRQ).

In Blake's, hers is Ilia, who stayed with the White Fang and continued down a path of violence which ran contrary to Blake's values. (Whether you think this is tone-deaf or not is beyond the point, but I am aware of issues with this storyline). In coming to understand Ilia she better understands her own motivations, which helps reform the White Fang and Ilia herself.

In Weiss', hers is her sister, Winter. Winter is the girl who stayed behind in Atlas, and ended up serving a general who would become corrupted in the fight against Salem. In coming to understand Winter, she better understands how to reunite her family and reform her family legacy, and questions her values. (When she first comes to Atlas, she can't believe her sister would allow what has happened, to happened). Weiss is Winter's opportunity for redemption.

Ruby's Shadow is Cinder. Cinder has the protagonist origin (hardship, orphaned) but was victimised by her circumstances, and is out for her own self-interest, converse to Ruby's self-sacrifice to the point of closing herself off. Whilst Cinder isn't redeemed yet, it's not unlikely that Cinder's healing for her Grimm arm, and by extension her Dark Curse/enslavement, is possible through Ruby, and Ruby's silver eyes.

You can see the trend here that the Shadows are fundamental challenges to the hero's motives and sense of self.

Oscar's Shadow is Jaune, who, being the most Ozma-coded, is, in a way, representative of the Salem and Ozma conflict conflicting with Oscar's life and his values. Ozma is the literal presence of the reincarnating spirit, and Jaune is the romantic drive of Salem/Ozma and the inheritance of that conflict. Likewise, so is Cinder for Salem.

That's why he's the angriest

when they find out they can't kill Salem.

That's why it's meaningful that Jaune is particularly set on saving Oscar in V8. That's basically part of the healing.

But that's also why Jaune and Cinder are set up as personal enemies, because they're Salem and Ozma playing out their hatred. Potentially in a reverse fashion, which fixes it.

And that's why Ozma doesn't make sense as a reincarnation in Jaune, because Ozma does not and really doesn't feel like confronting Salem or anything remotely connected to her until he's forced to by Oscar, and this only happens in the canon after Jaune and Cinder have already had their V5 confrontation. In a sense, Jaune is 'too close to home', but then in another, if he has a romance with Cinder it's healing.

Anyway, Jaune is externalised in this sense. As I mentioned in that post, it would be virtually impossible for Jaune to conduct a romance with Cinder with Ozma in his head (like, Ozma would not be approving of cavorting with a Salem analogue whom I'm not sure he remembers how to love anymore). In another sense this is also Salem and Ozma working out their stuff without the reincarnation, just the Grimm curse to deal with.

It finally scratches that spot for me, for Jaune being Like That, and a little bit naughty. He and Cinder are both Shadows. On the flipside, they're each other's anima and animus, so they've got all that intense spiritual stuff going on.

There you go, I hope that makes sense. That's what I think is being done anyway.

[the-littlefangirl]

TFATWS episode 1 rewatch commentary

The first scene was so beautiful. I loved that we didn't start directly with the fight sequence. It feels way closer to the quiet beginning of CATWS and I love it so much.

The title is also SO NEAT, music's on point too but hey it’s Henry Jackman the one thing I’m sure it’s going to be great overall is the score.

The choreography is AMAZING, really well shot. Sam shielding himself with only one wing was MA-JES-TIC.

“WHAT'S UP” EXACTLY SAM EXACTLY

I did feel so uncomfortable in regards to the military aspect of it. Not that I was expecting anything else, but both here and in Captain Marvel the military we're good guys < 3 propaganda is so blatant and ugh:/ At least there wasn’t a literal recruitment spot like with CM. 

The yellow filter in the Tunisia scene BYE please stop with the yellow filters 2k21

"I've been working with the Air Force for six months now" So, did Sam even catch a break at all after Endgame? Or did he just throw himself to work like SOMEONE did after being iced for 70 years. Hmmm? Sam????

"Essentially, these people, they want a world that's unified without borders" OH NO! HOW AWFUL, how evil of these bad guys smh

Joaquin: SO about Steve

Sam: :)))))) nope

"Moon stuff" SAAAM

#1 cry with Sam's speech, full on chills.. Fuck. Me. His voice about to break before saying thank you bYE.

Shady politician: "It was the right decision" (FUCKKKKK YOUUU)

Rhodey: *press any key to doubt *

I need someone to analyze the different curation of the two exhibits pretty please

NOT THE PHOTO POST-AZZANO JFC. That photo is my weakness, Bucky sweetie (also I find hilarious that usually when there are articles about Stucky and/or #givecaptainamericaaboyfriend they aaaalways use that photo LMAO)

In case someone wants to read the transcription of the texts about Bucky: "In 1944, while on a mission to thwart a Hydra weapon transport in the Alps, Barnes was thrown from a train and believed to have been killed in action. It wasn't until 2014, over seventy years later, that it was revealed that Barnes was alive, having been found by Hydra operatives. Captain America himself (i can't read) the effort to bring Barnes in only to later aid in a escape from custody having been convinced of his innocence. Steve's loyalty to his old friend, coupled with his refusal to sign the Sokovia Accords, led to the dissolution of the Avengers and drove the Captain into hiding with other like-minded Avengers including Natasha Romanoff, Wanda Maximoff, and Sam Wilson. The current whereabouts of Barnes remains unknown, habing been labeled a fugitive following his escape from custody."

"current wherabout unknown" but not the government, interesting. Also, pretty good summary of CACW from the public's perspective, although one of the things I always wanted to see explored was the public's reaction of the fallout of them going into hiding after Civil War (which I'm hoping we'll get to see a little bit of in Black Widow).

Interesting point about the 70 years without having Captain America. Clearly the sacrifice play wasn't enough this time to fuel the nationalism so they went with a squeaky clean John Walker instead.

Sam saying the shield belongs to Steve I'm going to cry now excuse me. Sam. Sam sweetie.

The No. 1 Captain America comic in the display ugH fuck yes

See this is how you do a cameo that has actual meaning. Thank god for Malcolm Spellman being a competent writer. That scene was so well written.

HAVE YOU PRAISED ANTHONY MACKIE'S PERFORMANCE TODAY?? Holy shit that last shot fucked me up.

I'm loving the use of the wide shots, especially in the flashback. The camera movements are in synch with The Soldier's state of mind and mission focus, so good.

EVERYONE STAND UP FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM aka The Winter Soldier theme composed by Henry Jackman.

Without a doubt the most brutal TWS fight scene there has been, People involved in Punisher and John Wick are involved in this and it SHOWS. 

For the record, still stands that the only time we've seen him chocking someone with his right hand instead of the metal arm remains the Maria Stark assasination. I know it's probably because of blocking and the way the shot was composed but the implications are still bone chilling. God.

Uhhmmmm I'm very ambivalent about the "Hail Hydra". On one hand, it was 100% fanservice and the internet is probably going to go insane over it, and the dead way Sebastian Stan delivered the line. Good shit. Buuut what I love about CATWS is the way Bucky never, ever ever, mouths Hydra rethoric, and even when Pierce tries to gaslight him with it, it's just an empty effort. The Winter Soldier isn't doing anything because of ideological loyalty to Hydra, even if it's product of brainwashing, it's just sheer dehumanization. They don’t need him to say the words because he’s just An Asset. There are people who have put it more eloquently but yeah, I rather go with the fanon interpretation of that aspect.

The music growing louder with the shot of the keys. GOD.

I'm fine this is fine.

#2 cry with the therapy scene of fucking course.

The government monitoring Bucky is noooot going to end well lmao.

"We need to know that you're not gonna * slowmo stabbing motions *

Bucky: * nodding along slowly * 

I laughed out loud.

"It's passive agressive" I love him.

The way this scene just sucker punched me in the face, made me weep and then had me cracking up. Amazing.

Therapist: You can't do anything illegal

Bucky: yup yup check checkity check. What IS considered illegal tho?

*aggresive tablet finger pressing *

"Then why isn't it rule number one?" Bucky your Steve is showing.

I love the close up shot. I'll keep saying it. It's so good.

"I'm James Bucky Barnes" yeah you are🥺

That smile is nightmare fuel LMFAO I love it.

Uhm the way I'm kinning Bucky it's not funny anymore damn

That whole “are you lashing out at me” rambling is really reminiscent of the bar scene in CATFA and how he lashed out at Steve after Peggy left. Uhm yeah fuck.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" "Peace"

"That is UTTER BULLSHIT" "You're a terrible shrink"

yeah ugly crying to ugly laughing speedrun for me

"You're free" "To do what?" jesus. That entire scene. #3 and #4 and #5 cries for moi.

Ugh that Brooklyn shot. Someone needs to do a gifset compairing it to the one in CATFA asap.

"It's like Monique but it's got a "U" in there for uniqueness" "That's absurd" LMAO

"You can't keep fighting with your neighbors" uHM * redacted redacted i'm shifting into 1940s mode abort abort *

"Nobody passed 90" "So young. Such a shame" FGADHGA

🥺🥺 yes flex those flirting skills good for you

"It's a dance to this things. You can't… you gotta warm up and I haven't danced since 1943. Feels like." #6 cry I completely broke down into tears with that.

This Yori storyline is going to punch me in the face with a metal fist. Great!

The TWS theme when he looks at Yori fuuuuuck.

GREAT LET'S GO TO LOUISIANA THAT WAS GETTING HEAVY.

Those shots of Sam in the car. Immaculate. Showstoping. Yes.

Marvel, what if instead of promoting the military industrial complex you put a lot of publicity about cars?

"Uncle Sam!" LMAO subtle.

Everyone trying to have the wings lmao same.

I've only had Sarah for a day but etc. Brooklyn 99 meme

Good mirroring about Steve and Sam family's legacy. Good shit. Goooood shit.

Sam is trying so hard ouch my heart. I can't imagine how painful the scene with them reuniting must have been. He 100% still feels a lot of guilt about being gone for those 5 years (and even longer before that).

"Maybe it is time for us to move on" uuuuuuuuuuh

"To the rescue" "Always" 🥺🥺 i love them so much already

That shot outside the restaurant is so beautiful. Can't wait to see the night scenes in Madripoor tbh.

"I tried the whole online dating thing. It's pretty crazy". Uhm well that is something that Bucky Barnes has now said. In canon. Damn.

"It's a lot" "You sound like my dad" LMAO

Every Bucky fanfic trope speedrun with this scene

"Wow you really can drink" OH you have no idea

Just realized we don't even know her name, well.

"You have any siblings?" "I have a sister" THE WAY I SCREECHED. We're definitely getting Becca

Well that escalated quickly. The important thing is to try?

I can't deal with this BUCKY SWEETIE #8 cry right there fuck

The wardrobe department is KILLING IT, there's such a difference between the outfits of the shows vs how ugly and generic it usually is.

"ThEre is NO such thiNg as on time. You're either EARLY or LATE . picK One" lmao the way he delivered that line

At first I thought the flag smashers had thrown two cars out of a window LMAO

"I don't know how jurisdiction works here, but I'mma have to place you under arrest" uhm yikes. The way they changed Joaquín Torres backstory to just random army nice guy #1 is not sitting well with me, what can I say.

Sam's wings motions I LOVE HIM YOUR HONOR

Fuuuuck this guy.

"Funny how thing's always thighten around us" "Look, I'm on your side. After all, he's a hero". This script is C R I S P as hell, great fucking job.

"I don't care, I'm not gonna quit" "What are you trying to prove? And who you trying to prove it to" SHIT HSIT SHIT!!! UGH amazing. Look it's not necessary to say the show's questions out loud but how they flow between the conversations is still very satisfactory without feeling in your face about it. Inner conflicts have been set up fucking perfectly everyone * claps *

Ugh here we fucking go.  I knew this was how the episode was going to end but my stomach still dropped like a rollercoster. God.

The score is on point. Damn. Damn.

God, Sam.🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

The captain america franchise's visuals in the credits are always so amazing.

Also, does anybody know why Mackie isn't first in the billing?  Uhm what's that about?

ANYWAY CONCLUSION THAT EPISODE WAS SO FUCKING GOOD LIKE HOLY SHIT. I love them so much. The balance between the personal conflicts and the political aspect (although the military aspect is still very much yikes) was on point and it was overall a joy to watch.

[greycappedjester]

Since I log the fanfictions I read, I’m realizing that June 19th marks the first day I read one of your fics! I read All in the Cards and was blown away by the storyline. Then, I continued to read your HQ series, the other cards fics, and your Dr.STONE fic too. I want to read your DC fics as well. I don’t know much background on it though, so I’m working on it. I just wanted to say how much I appreciate your writing and how it has honestly made this past year a lot better. With all that being said though, what’s your favorite thing/theme to write in each of your individual series? Like world building, relationships, etc.? Also, what inspired you to write in the first place?

Ahhh, thank you so much! This is honestly such a sweet ask and I am so, so glad that I could make your year better.

For what's my favorite thing/theme to write in each series, that's a tough one as a lot of times in changes; but, after thinking about it, I think these are my favorite things overall for each....

(I also thought I'd do something fun and put what my favorite line to write was in the last few chapters for the ongoing works. I always wonder what lines are people's favorite so figured it would be fun to add mine)

Hq at Hogwarts: I really love writing Oikawa and Hinata's relationship. Which is kinda an odd thing to say since they purposefully only have a few conversations spread out through each story. But, they're my two favorite Hq characters to write hands down and so I absolutely love showing them as foils to each other in the series. That said, I also love writing them (and especially Oikawa and Suga) as foils/parallels to the Giant and Hisashi (Suga's grandfather). I love both foil relationships and writing parallels between generations--especially if the next generation is completely unaware/uninformed of the previous generation's mistakes

Favorite Recent Line to Write: Kenma met his eyes and his voice broke: “Why am I the only one you have to hide?”

*Note: Okay, technically not the most recent chapter but fun fact: I wrote the Kuroo/Kenma conversation waaaay in advance and used it a lot as a reference to where I wanted this relationship to be headed and I viewed this line as one of the biggest break points (along with "I am waiting" from the dance)

-------

Cards: This one is the most tricky for me to think of one since it changes a lot. I love doing the world building for this one (like the huge long time line I have for the history of the country). I love writing fantasy politics. As I consider a Hearts Civil War story more, I'm getting back into the groove of just really love writing Oikawa's complicated relationship with being King. And, of course, I love writing Tsuksihima and Hinata's relationship

Favorite Recent Line to Write: Oikawa swept across the office, never seeming to pause for even a second as he pointed a quill at Iwaizumi. “So, tell me, are invasions just like a semi-annual thing?”

-------

The Hq/Scooby-Doo AU (Investigations Inc.): the humor and banter

-------

Walking With My Eyes Open: I think this might be my favorite romance thing I've ever written. I really, really wanted to show a view of romance that emphasized the choice to be in love (and the work that goes into a functioning relationship). I especially wanted to do this with Hanahaki since this trope is so tied to the forfeit of choice on the patient's end and the inherent unfairness/weight on the person they're in love with. Couldn't imagine it with any other characters but Senkuu and Gen tbh.

Favorite Recent Line to Write: But, human shoulders weren’t meant to bear the expectations of divinity.

*Note: Lol, this scene got cut and reworded so many dang times in editing, the one thing that stayed consistently I feel like is me really wanting to keep this specific line

-------

After the Fall of Olympus: Three things and I find it really hard to pick which one is my favorite.

(1) I love that this story format lets me show the slow growth/aging of Dick as a character and (I hope) that each chapter shows how he's grown to the point that Dick at age 14 in Ch. 1 is noticeably younger in internal monologue than Dick in his 20s in the latest chapter.

(2) I love writing tricky political/social issues where all characters have their points and there truly is no write answer...with that, I love writing Dick and Jay Garrick's relationship.

(3) If I had to pick, I don't know if it's my favorite but I think it's the most important element of the story. I very much wanted to show a more realistic view of grief where it feels like the world ended; but, it's not actually an apocalypse. They recover. At the start of the story, it is without a doubt the lowest/most devastating point, but they rebuild. It's slow and there's set backs but they are rebuilding a world that isn't (and shouldn't be) the same but is there and is new and is important. I know a lot of stories that focus on grief view it as a tragedy and an end which it is in a huge way. There's the phrase "it gets better" but a lot of times I think it's viewed as "things will go back to what they used to be" which is understandably hard for people to believe because a lot of times, it fundamentally is impossible for what's lost to be regained. That doesn't mean it's the end of everything. I think sometimes we forget that the previous world (be it actual in this story or what feels like the entire world) may not exist anymore but something different can still be built. The new world and old should never be compared because they can't be. It won't be the same. But, it can be good and they can be happy.

Which is honestly the recovery of what Dick Grayson, to me, should represent rather than the constant grief/vengeance of Batman.

Favorite Recent Line to Write (technically the last line here, just doesn't make sense out of context)

“You need someone with you. I’m not just leaving you alone!” Selina shouts.

“No? Why not?” Dick spits back. “You’re so good at it !”

Selina flinches back and Dick is viciously, painfully glad.

“You don’t get to care just when it’s convenient, Selina,” he says and it hurts, a wound that’s never going to heal. “I needed someone eight years ago. I needed someone when Bruce died, when Batman was gone, and the city was falling apart, and you weren’t there. You didn’t call. You didn’t check on me. You didn’t even say bye. And that’s fine. I lived, I rebuilt it.”

He steps away. “But, you don’t get to come back now and pretend it never happened. I don’t have to let you just because it hurts either way.”

-------

Flash Facts of Bart Allen: Lol, what might be my least popular but in my opinion best written story. Favorite thing is Bart and Len's relationship hands down, followed by showing Bart's relationship with how he navigates the weight of the Flash legacy while feeling like he's fundamentally different than the Flashes that came before.

Partly since this is getting so long and partly because personal story, I'm putting why I started writing under the break.

I started writing for a lot of reasons.

My first fic--and the first book I ever finished--was the first Hq at Hogwarts story (Mirror of Erised). For background, I started the story when I was in my first year of getting my master's degree (which was surprisingly a lot less busy than my undergrad for a number of reasons but me getting sidetracked into that is a whole other ask about grad school).

My first reason I started writing was that I had more time. I'd had the idea for the story for years; but, I finally had enough details that I was like "okay, now, I gotta write it" so I did. I'll say exactly what the final straw was when I actually get the series finished since it's a major spoiler.

My second reason probably didn't consciously occur to me at the time but is what I consider the most important reason I write and continue to write. I fundamentally want to write stories that make people's days better. It doesn't have to be anything big; I just really wanted to write the kind of story that people could get lost in for a few hours when they're scrolling through AO3 and looking for a distraction. I wanted to write something with happy endings.

Here's the more personal part. I really don't mean this in a sad way so please don't take it as such. However, when I started writing and posting, my dad had just died completely unexpectedly a few months earlier and right before I had to move cross country for masters. It was definitely a hard time (though I had friends and a good support network, again please don't worry--it was years ago now). But, writing then definitely helped me be in a positive happy attitude while thinking of plots and friendships in my favorite anime that always puts be in a better mood.

My point here is that while that was never the reason that I wrote, it's something I reflect on a lot for why fanfic can be such a positive force. Someone can have either the worst day ever, a mildly inconvenient day, or a perfectly fine day and still want distraction. To have a community with both writers and readers interested in the things you're interested in. To have a site where fic can be easily shared and for free. There's something just wonderful about that.

So, most of all, why I write: I want to show people that care about each other. I want to make someone's day better and often that day is mine.

That's really all there is to it.