#like i just think we have very different goals and outlooks on work stuff and i wouldnt be surprised if it actually leads to conflict later

[thecontainerstoreofficial]

im being so real with everyone theres a 50/50 chance i break up w my boyfriend as soon as i start working full-time lmao

[blazehedgehog]

Do you agree with Gaming Journalists and what do you think of gaming journalism in general?

What does this even mean, dude.

"Do you agree with gaming journalists"? On what?

Do I agree with Shacknews that Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a 10/10, and with Digital Spy that it's also a 7/10? Do I agree with Let's Clear Up Those Halo Battle Royale Rumors?

Like, I've gotten some bait on this blog before, but this is 2/10 stuff, man. This is some hot 2014 garbage. Like no matter what I say, you're gonna go all

"Very interesting. Then do you care to explain why..." No thanks.

My real answer: Something I learned during my time at TSSZ and being around a few people who were deeper into "the biz" than I is that everybody needs journalism more than they realize. Corporations are pushing for consumers to become their personal cheerleaders more than ever before, which makes criticism and the journalistic exposing of information seem villainous.

After all: Xbox is my friend now, so how dare you attack the Xbox. Behavior that used to be reserved for the most dedicated fanboys is now the expected room temperature. I've talked about "The Cult of Naughty Dog" before, and that's the same thing. If a corporation can get you to be parasocial with them, then they have won, and being parasocial with a corporation means shunning real investigative journalism that would otherwise undo them. Journalists and critics used to be marketing tools, but by undoing the press pipeline and talking directly to fans, journalists and critics are painted as untrustworthy for being wildcards that don't always toe the company line.

And there has been more than a decade of people with a "I choose to be stupid and ignorant on purpose" outlook, which just makes that more frustrating. We've all seen screencaps where some brainless rando tries to explain something to a person who is an expert in that field. The rando thinks they're flexing their brain, but in some cases they are arguing with the person who literally wrote the book on their topic of conversation. Some people don't want to know anything but still pretend like they know everything, when there are real people out there doing real work to uncover real truths.

Misinformation is the real problem. It should not surprise anyone that there are people out there deliberately eroding the foundation of journalistic integrity, because the less people trust journalism, the easier it is to get away with lying. The easier it is to lie, the easier it is to control the mainstream, the easier it is to scam people out of their money, so on and so forth.

And misinformation is more than just "this one news article is fake." There are long running campaigns to install people into news organizations themselves to publish false information for all manner of different goals, but it's all the same: nobody trusts anyone and it's making everyone dumber.

That's when we get crypto currency. And NFTs. And now people claiming that generative AI will save humanity. Grift after grift after grift where the people at the top of the snake oil food chain make off with billions of dollars while the rest of the world is left scratching their heads.

The law isn't going to catch them. If they do, it'll take years. Look at how long it took for Sam Bankman-Fried to get caught -- he operated for almost half an entire decade. The amount of damage somebody can get away with in five years is significant.

We need journalism. Real journalism. Good journalism. Watchdogs that keep an eye on things and blow the whistle when it goes bad. Somebody to enforce accountability that isn't a cop.

Where do you find that? That's the hardest question. I'm lucky enough that I know people I trust because they are long time friends, or friends of friends, and thus they've been properly vetted in my circle as The Real Deal. But there are a lot of outlets out there who claim to champion "truth" and "intelligence" in a way to prey upon insecurity. I mean, c'mon, Trump's social media platform is called "Truth Social" and is basically the furthest thing from the truth you will ever get from anyone, ever.

The more obsessively they try to convince you they're telling the truth, the less likely it is they actually are. Which in itself could be an attack meant to undo the foundations of trust in people who actually know what they're talking about. By casting doubt on the very concept of truth itself, they can lie with increasingly greater efficiency.

Any advice I give feels like it is incredibly circumstantial. Which is the point, and is why we're in the state we're in.

Here's a good pdf by The News Literacy Project that's probably a good place to start. The general gist is "you'll have to do a lot of fact checking for yourself" but that's unfortunately where we're at these days.

But by and large I would say life is a lot harder for real journalists right now than I think some of their critics have ever thought about. There are people out there trying to do actual good work and being a bubble-brained moron about it just makes everything harder for everyone.

[vomitnest]

when i was younger there eventually came a point, probably after having seen some really life-changing documentaries (e.g. the corporation and the canary effect), that my outlook on life disintegrated to the extent of my being completely disaffected with the world that's being marketed to us. i became deeply skeptical and somewhat of a self-imposed outsider. i never hopped a train or got out of dodge. at least not yet. (ha.) but it's a similar thing with the the way certain music effects me. which i think is the higher purpose of any great work of art, or movie, or performance. it completely changes your life or shakes up the way you look at the world and the way you choose to live in it. it disturbs you. but then sometimes it shakes you up in a different way. it propels you into flights of ecstasy. memories and feelings surface and you find yourself traversing poignant emotional vistas of rare and uncharted territory. it connects you to your inner creative genius. and your libido and your life force. your deeper self. the real one. your own personal divine spark. it can be profoundly intense. there is a particular feeling for me... when it comes over me... it's rapturous... it's like torture but it's ecstatic... it happened to me a second ago when i was listening to party police by alvvays.

the eclipse happened today. it's funny because today does feel like a pivotal moment in time. supposedly the eclipse was in aries but i'm not really that into astrology. i'm an aries. anyway. so i've been thinking about how suicide doesn't seem that revolutionary. or self-sabotage. i'd like to figure out a way to escape that involves minimal amounts of suicide and self-sabotage, if any. the less the better, as a matter of fact. i'm okay with burning bridges and social death and becoming a ghost because that kind of happened already. against my will. and painfully slowly. in waves of mishaps. broken bonds. lost loves. anyway i'm cool with being a weirdo and having spent the time i did the way i did. it is what it is. i'm learning to make peace with it. last time a major solar eclipse happened i was in asheville, north carolina.

but yeah fuck this place. there just doesn't seem to be anywhere else to go. i'm not a gutterpunk. i'm not street smart. or very tough. even though i have been homeless a few times and i'm somewhat brave with sketchy people. but i guess it just feels like a crisis of belonging. i don't feel like i belong with anyone it seems like. even my activist friends. it would be cool to be part of a black bloc or something. like what happened in seattle in 1999. or what's happening now with people protesting for palestine. that's really beautiful. i'd like to be part of something like that but without coming home to a bourgeois consumerist yuppie life that revolves around me paying for some nice place and living a life of privilege and personal success. at least not success in the shallow, material sense of looking successful and having social status and wealth and stuff. it sucks that when you're poor, that is generally the dream. the goal. or else what you would prefer to have instead of what you do have if you could. a life of comfort. but there has to be something else to aspire to than that. what i do know is i want to live an emotionally rich life. with a lot of time spent appreciating beauty and interacting with the people around me from an authentic place that appreciates the fact we are all going to die and that this is fleeting. maybe music will save my life. who knows. a man can dream.

[chemicalpink]

☾✧゜BTS Numerology Chart | Heart's Desire: a peek into their relationships and career ☾✧

Disclaimer: Look, we know the disclaimer by now, although numerology is heavily reliant on maths, it's still not a definite way to define someone as they have a lot of other phases to them as human beings. I am diving a little into uncharted territory as I usually don't speak about their sexual relationships but know that the observations here are applicable to every other person with the same number so it's impersonal. With that being said, for entertainment purposes only. Note that this reading is based on their romanized names.

What is the Heart's Desire Number? based on the softer parts of the self, it shows the inner and deepest cravings that the soul needs to grow and evolve.

Kim Seokjin ☾✧゜

Heart's Desire Number: 11

So it's a Master number, we are already starting off strong.

Seokjin is bound to have incredible manifesting power.

He's magnetic and wise while holding a very broad outlook in life.

Very curious and intuitive

Masterful leader in situations

He's got a fear of being limited in any aspect of life

Can sometimes doubt his power and vision.

He's prone to have his own business so that he isn't told what to do.

Takes things at his own pace and likes to have fun.

Natural charmer but are we even surprised?

Innately intelligent

He's VERY selective when it comes to partners.

Only interested in someone who has a common outlook in life as well as being equally committed to personal growth.

Listen- this man knows exactly what he wants and that is copious amounts of truth and integrity in any relationship.

He's living on the fast lane of life

Fitness is important on his day to day.

Has a very VERY busy schedule that doesn't help him stay committed.

Good sense of humour

Has zero trouble attracting people.

While he's apparently not lacking in the whole having a lot of different partners department, he's not easily impressed.

Number also determines an ultimate destination of greatness

Will definitely leave a mark on humanity.

Min Yoongi ☾✧゜

Heart's Desire Number: 3

Has a smile that lights up the world

Highly magnetic, everyone seems drawn to him.

His greatest asset is his imagination

Has a strong calling to express himself through music

Has a contaging wit and charm that others find inspiring

He enjoys the spotlight but not in an attention seeking way

His soul urge is to light up those around him.

He does tend to doubt himself and be very wary of other people.

When it comes to relationships, he's a hopeless romantic

He'll pull all the stops for someone he loves.

Definitely not afraid to put himself out there and express his feelings, which leads him to feel rejected if said feeling aren't recirpocrated immediately.

Has a history of countless heartbreaks yet he rebounds quickly.

Never finds himself single for long.

He's most probably had quite some partners of different types

Not interested in people that fall at his feet

He's bound to have his own business

AND leave his mark on humanity.

Jung Hoseok ☾✧゜

Heart's Desire Number: 2

He's a man with deep empathy, intuition and finesse

He seeks to understand those around him more than be understood.

He's incredibly diplomatic.

He tends to disagree with alphatype personalities.

His soul urge is to cooperate rather than be told what to do.

LOVES turning uncomfortable situations into peaceful ones.

He's rarely in conflict with others.

This man knows right away when something is off

He's too empathic and caring that he often gives too much of himself to others.

He's more into commitment than he is to a single life.

Thrives in partnerships

No sacrifice is too great when it comes to someone he loves.

However his vulnerability is bound to cause him heartache.

He loves more openly and deeply than others.

A natural charmer

Bound to own his own business.

Living in the fast lane at this point in life

Likely to be extremely successful

He's probably learning a second language

Has had his fair share of different type of partners, but not in a playbloy type of way.

Kim Namjoon ☾✧゜

Heart's Desire Number: 22

We've got another master number.

He's got everything to be wildly successful

Intuitive, powerful, and practical

Has a strong calling to be a masterful builder and to create a legacy that will support generations to come.

Bound to work on something that involves a large number of people.

Has very high ideals but is very down to Earth

Tends to overestimate abilities and takes on tasks that he is not yet prepared to tackle just to please others.

In relationships, he is very practical

He values growth and companionship more than he does love itself.

He's perceptive and romantic nonetheless

Bound to be extremely successful

Has had plenty of different types of lovers

Not impressed at all by shallow people.

Park Jimin ☾✧゜

Heart's Desire Number: 1

He has incredible talent and creativity

Isn't afraid of taking risks

He's always honest and true to himself

Completely dislikes being micro-managed at work and in his personal life

Refuses to play second fiddle or give into the demands of others unless it is to avoid serious conflicts.

His soul urge is to be in the lead, not carried along behind it.

In relationships, he's the one in charge.

He tends to be the one that calls the shots

Since he's used to being in charge, he needs to make an effort so as not to come across as too uncompromising.

He has a deep need for independence so he's very careful with who he gives his attention to.

When his heart is open he is very loyal

He's bound to be extremely successful

Is living on the fast lane of life

Will own his own business

He's had a lot of different types of partners so far yet he's selective due to how he carries himself.

Kim Taehyung ☾✧゜

Heart's Desire Number: 9

He's an old soul

Has deep intuitive wisdom

People are naturally drawn to him

He's very appreciative and caring

He goes for altruistic matters rather than logic

He always wants everyone to benefit from situations.

He's willing to give regardless of the cost for him.

Has a strong moral sense and natural compassion.

He tends to be impressionable which might make others take advantage of him.

He's a very romantic person.

Incredibly compassionate and understanding

He can become quite impersonal or neglect his feelings when preoccupied with helping others.

Even though, he's more loving and present than most.

He's great with people.

He's bound to own his own business.

Bound to be extremely successful

Has had a fair share of partners of all types yet he's not attracted at all to shallow people

Jeon Jungkook ☾✧゜

Heart's Desire Number: 8

He's one to move on quickly

Has a long list of achievements

And an ability to achieve great goals

He's a natural leader and a great source of security for others.

Has a strong call to be in a position of power.

Gets easily frustrated with people who slack off or think small.

The embodiment of go big or go home.

In relationships, he has very VERY high standards

Due to him being as ambitious as he is, he tends to lack emotional flexibility and neglects romantic gestures

Fun and adventure are his things

Is able to excel in a lot of stuff

He's likely to own his own business

A natural charmer.

He's innately intelligent.

Bound to be extremely successful.

Fitness is a big thing in his life.

Has had quite some partners of different types yet not in a bad way.

Not interested in shallow people/ people that don't fulfill his standards in some way.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I'd say for the most part it seems consistent with things that come out of readings, some of their pointers are REALLY straightforward on them being meant to be on the path they are (we'll explore the life path number sometime later on) but it does seem to point to them being big and successful both on their own and as a group since their numbers seem to cooperate amazingly. It does look to me like they're meant to either take over HYBE or have their own company. The 'plenty of partners' wasn't much of a surprise, they're men in their mid-late twenties, handsome, on top of the world, it is just funny to see most of them having 'high standards' yet having a lot of partners, seems to me like those standards are more applicable or more strictly applicable to a deeper/ more committed relationship.

Sources: Marsilio Ficino and Hans Decoz texts

[sixteenthshen]

post-finale stuff

Possible spoilers. Beware

Last night, I happened to check the scriptwriter's Weibo and saw that she had liked this fan's post. It's the only non-work related Weibo post that she had liked, so of course, I went to read it. 

The fact that this is the only fan post she's given her approval to must mean that it is on point and she agrees with the characterisation. I thought it's pretty good, so I've gone ahead to translate it here. I own 0 rights to this. I just thought it's a good perspective that may help others like me who struggled with the ending. 

I think I've mostly made my peace with it now, and to sum it up:

Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all that they are. 

A-Xu never once blamed Lao Wen for how things turned out because he understood that. And he’s clearly a better person than I am (lol).

Let me be clear about my stand - the real victim of how the drama unfolded in the last six episodes is WKX. When we feel our hearts ache for ZZS, it's because the show let down WKX (the character). If your heart is only hurting for WKX during episodes 33-34, you should try to ship WKX with someone else, ok? If you think the last six episodes were great and that WKX was very romantic (and only romantic), then I honestly don't know what to say. 

I ship wenzhou. That means I like both Wen Kexing and Zhou Zishu. I want them to love each other, be good to each other and live happily ever after. And I want them not to be OOC. 

The rest behind the cut. Spoilers for the whole drama. 

------- 

First, the source. Here is a link to that Weibo post, by 爱吐槽的栗小姐. I will delete this if requested by the OP - because this is really in a grey area imo. But I think the intention of a public post is for it to be shared? (especially something like this, which argues a point) 

Secondly, the poster does try to be fair in her post, but as the problem here is WKX's ruined characterisation, ZZS's character is analysed primarily concerning this issue only. There's quite a bit left to ZZS's character and backstory that isn't relevant. I believe that's why the post doesn't elaborate on it, or so I hope.

-------

Ever since WKX faked his death, I received three to four waves of fellow sister fans' mournful wails: "Lao Wen actually faked his death; does he have a heart?" "They were supposed to be of the same heart and treat each other with honesty. How did they regress?" "What happened to their innate soulmate-ness?" "Why does A-Xu always say to face things together, yet Lao Wen always keeps his plans from him?" "A-Xu loves Lao Wen, yet Lao Wen only loves himself"…….

Wait. What have you guys misunderstood about the meaning of soulmates? 

Soulmates are about values, but a person's behaviour… that's methodology FFS! 

(Do they no longer teach this in political affairs class in high school anymore?) 

Wenzhou, these soulmates, are incomparably compatible and mesh well in terms of values. According to the scriptwriter, the entire jianghu wants and tries to get the pieces of Glazed Armour, save the two of them. Not only do they not care for the peerless martial arts, immense power, nor the massive wealth that the Glazed Armour represents, they don't even care for the power they hold in their hands –Ghost Valley and the Window of Heaven. Both of them willing to give it up without a second thought. 

Before they met each other, they were so tired of (ZZS) and so angry at (WKX) this earthly world that they didn't even want to live on anymore. 

After they met each other, they gradually began to feel the warmth in this world again. How nice it would be if they could live in seclusion, hand in hand and just bask in the sun. 

In this world, where everyone else is fighting for power or wealth, they are true soulmates. To intelligent people like them, whether or not they're honest about their identities or secrets is merely a matter of formality. They had already determined their attraction to the other's soul early on and have never doubted it. 

There may be some here who would criticise loudly at this point, "Then can't you be more considerate for your soulmate (the actual phrased used is "spiritual companion")? A-Xu has said many times, let's face everything together, I'll bet that you will be honest with me. If you really love him, then why can't you care for his feelings?" 

----- You guys, you've never been married. 

If two souls meeting can naturally resolve all behavioural conflicts and disagreements, then the theory of "breaking in" * would not exist. 

Let us take a look at what kind of a person WKX and ZZS each are.

Wen Kexing, he's a lone wolf. 

After his parents' death and his entering the Ghost Valley, his smooth sailing life suddenly fell off a cliff. Ever since then, the only person he could rely on was himself. That deep-seated hatred is carved into his bones, yet he can't speak of it to anyone else. He isn't the same type of person as the rest of the ghosts in the Ghost Valley; he isn't the same type of person as A-Xiang, who he raised. If we talk about the world and everyone who lives in it, he doesn't have any fetters or feels any (positive) emotions. 

His supposed craziness is a form of indifference. He's indifferent to others' lives, nor his own, because he just doesn't care. (T/N: I think he does care for his own life, but only for revenge, after that, he's indifferent. Indifferent isn't suicidal. I don't know why some fans seem to be confusing the two. Although he didn't plan to, if he somehow manages to stay alive after getting his revenge, WKX will continue to live on, even if it's only to keep A-Xiang happy because he is indifferent.)

Growing up like this, being solitary became his style. He's used to doing everything alone, used to making his own decisions, used to digesting all his emotions himself. 

Every time he argues with A-Xu, he digests his emotions himself. The next day, he faces A-Xu with a smile again. 

This is how he loves, to take it upon himself to face danger, difficulty and pain alone. It's how he had supported A-Xiang all these years in the Ghost Valley and what he's used to. 

While Zhou Zishu, he's a lead horse (of a herd). ** 

Since a very young age, he's taught to take responsibility. He's used to bearing everything on his shoulders, be it the responsibility of his family or the responsibility for the Four Seasons Manor, even the responsibility for saving commoners from disasters. 

Unlike the lone wolf, the lead horse is ultimately a social animal. 

Regardless of his identity as the Manor Lord of the Four Seasons Manor or the Leader of the Window of Heaven, he's always the one to lead the herd and rarely fights alone. So, A-Xu not only has leadership ability but more than that, he also knows how to be tolerant and accepting of the differences of his team members. You can see the various ways he managed to influence Lao Wen along the road; he's firm when he needs to be and soft the other times. It's absolutely textbook in managing your lover workplace management. 

Zhou Zishu believes in communication whenever there's a problem, that they should be open and honest. So, teamwork is what he's used to. 

Does it mean that when a horse and lone wolf fall in love, that there won't be a breaking in period? 

Obviously not. 

I guess this is where some may say again, "isn't this part of a character's arc/development? The two of them quarrel time and time again. Did WKX not grow at all from it?" 

Of course, after meeting each other, they both grew and saved each other.

When he first left Window of Heaven, A-Xu was lonely with regret. Unlike the lone wolf who's used to doing everything alone, a lead horse without the last of his herd has no way to bear the bone-deep loneliness and merciless self-recrimination.

ZZS wandered around this world aimlessly until Lao Wen started pestering him, until he picked up Zhang Chengling, right up until he felt he hadn't singlehandedly destroyed the Four Seasons Manor. This lead horse finally regained a goal in life. He gained a partner and a lover. Lao Wen sticks to him, Chengling relies on him, and the abandoned Four Seasons Manor became like-new in his hands. He finally reconciles with himself. 

When he first came out of the valley, Lao Wen carried a rage strong enough to burn the world down. But when he met A-Xu, he also met the beauty of the world. 

When the Four Sages of Anji died, WKX understood how he caused innocent suffering. When Gao Chong walked to his death knowingly, he understood that although some may desire power, they could still be righteous and upstanding people. When he learned of everything Long Que sacrificed to protect his family***, he finally relaxed his guard. 

There were so many types of good people and things that he saw along this journey that he hadn't seen in the Ghost Valley. When A-Xu told him he was a good person as they basked in the sun, he genuinely wanted to return to the human (vs ghost) realm and be a good man. 

Along their journey, A-Xu made up for the morals and values that WKX lost in the Ghost Valley and showed him a new world outlook. He appeased Lao Wen's anger, tempered his extremism. The process wasn't easy, but not that difficult either, because, in the end, Lao Wen is kind at heart. 

But in the end, being a lone wolf is how he survived and succeeded in a place like the Ghost Valley. When A-Xu was so heavily injured and needed a lot of rest (for Wu Xi) to save his life, Lao Wen suddenly recalled his enemies and how such an excellent opportunity to take revenge just fell into his lap. Everything was in place, and all he needed to do was hide it from A-Xu; he could leave for a short while and have it settled quickly. Upon returning, he could then live happily ever after with his wife. To a crazy lone wolf, why would he not take a gamble? 

What he couldn't predict was the news would've been leaked (to A-Xu), and he didn't know that by doing so, he would've forever lost his love. 

Both of them were using their own methods to love the other person. Zhou Zishu is more forgiving and accepting because being forgiving is in his blood. While what WKX learned in his years in the Ghost Valley is -- love needs to be protected, like how he has A-Xiang, who he considers a sister, call himself master (to protect her). 

Only when faced with painful consequences can a person's deep-rooted habits and approach to things change. So I don't think faking his death ruined the characterisation of Wen Kexing, but I regret that the last two episodes did not have a scene to show us Lao Wen's heartbreak when he learns the truth. 

Until I know what it feels like to have lost you, I will only love you in my own way. 

T/N: 

*I can't think of the correct phrase for this as I don't read all that much about relationships >< please let me know if you know of it. Here, I'm referring to the process of wearing something new (like shoes) that will hurt at the start until it becomes soft and comfortable. 

** I did some side-reading, and omg, A-Xu is TOTALLY the lead mare. Although he's not the stallion and weak/dying for most of the show, he's the head of their little family, and he expects "to be obeyed", aka, I'm not going to learn how to cook. Call me for dinner. Kthxbye. 

From Rutgers' website: A herd of wild horses consists of one or two stallions, a group of mares, and their foals. The leader of the herd is usually an older mare (the "alpha mare"), even though one stallion owns the herd. She maintains her dominant role even though she may be physically weaker than the others. The older mare has had more experiences, more close encounters, and survived more threats than any other horse in the herd. The requirement of the lead horse is not strength or size; if this were so, then humans could never dominate a horse. Dominance is established not only through aggression but also through attitudes that let the other horses know she expects to be obeyed.

***I think this is important here because WKX wasn't crying for his loss. I think a big part of him was realising not everyone in the world was callous and turned their backs on his parents, that he could've gone his whole life without ever discovering what sacrifices some people have made. Good people suffer quietly and in silence. It's a big moment to realise he was wrong about many things that he had let hatred blind himself to the world. Because although he was sad about the Four Sages and somewhat shocked by Gao Chong's death, he hadn't truly faced up to his actions until now. 

(screenshot of the scriptwriter liking the above post) 

------

To add: 

I'm not sure how many of you read my "opinion" posts, but I've been struggling to find a way to accept the last six episodes of Word of Honor.  I first tried looking at open forum postings, comments, and Tumblr posts. None of it worked because it was just arguing and emotions and no one made points good enough for me to accept things. 

So I gave up and went back to reading Chinese sites. I found many posts discussing the plot. Some I liked, some I didn't, but none satisfied my need for a reasonable explanation. I felt they had biases (both ways), or else it lacked logic. After a time, I realised that I should be looking for WKX-stans (or pro-WKX fans) because they would be more motivated to explain his side, but also because well-written posts by wenzhou-fans & ZZS-stans made me super sad.

I'm sorry, but those who keep trying to explain why the ending was good completely missed that episodes 32-34 are the real problem to those who don't like it and only focused on 36. I can understand if people don't think those episodes are a problem, but no one could provide an articulate and sensible reason. There are just too few well-reasoned plot-focused posts in English (sorry). I've seen too many examples of WKX-fans arguing with people who are upset about the ending, backed by nothing more than "look how much WKX suffers, woe is him. And how romantic is this????" *dies* 

Lastly, if you spot anything inaccurate, let me know & I will correct it.

[incoherentbabblings]

Hi!

I love your content, your love for TimSteph, and I was actually going to ask what you love so much about them. I, for extra credit for English, decided to write an analysis of Stephanie (and why I love her so much), but I just got into comics, and cannot really put my feelings for her in words ... which is odd, considering how much I love her and writing. Also, I was going to do a section on why TimSteph is narrative genius, and I needed help elaborating on that too.

Could you help me out, please? Thanks!

(I feel the need to mention that I have read quite a lot of comics with Stephanie in them, though not all. I'm not much of a comic book fan, but I'm really interested in the Batfamily!)

I'll be very happy to write out bullet points that you could talk about, and feel free to go through my ask and I'll babble/TimSteph meta tags for anything that you think may be worth discussing in your own words - there's like four or so years of stuff there to spark your brain.

HOWEVER!!!! Keep in mind though that much of what I have written is half based on textual evidence and half me just writing what I like/wish would crop up in canon.

For example, yes I like to draw comparisons between Tim being cold and Steph being warm, moon and sun and so on, but there's genuinely nothing in text to hint as this being an actual character trait or symbolism. If anything Tim's stated to be warm several times, more than Steph.

So, and I am sorry to be so blunt, but if I take your request in bad faith for a moment, don't use either directly or indirectly what I've written for your work. Especially without actually going and reading the arcs I talk about. A lot of the time it doesn't hold up under genuine textual scrutiny, and we want to be good academics here! There's Death of the Author and then there's me making crap up because I want to include it in a fanfic. Not the same thing! My blog is called IncoherentBabblings for a reason after all!

I will therefore say this: If you want to write about Steph as a character, I would use the below video as a point of reference. Using the below, you can then go into why she resonates with you the way she does, or why her relationship with Tim is so interesting to you.

If I were you: focus on her dynamic character development: cynical to idealistic. And use three points in her publication history to do this: her introduction in Detective Comics, War Games, and Batgirl. I am sorry to recommend War Games as something to read but it is important to her character. Use the Stephanie Brown Wiki to help!

That lends itself to a biography of her character, a look at her motivations and values, her role within the batfam, and so on. You can also use this to make comparisons with her peers, specifically Tim moving in the exact opposite direction development wise; Babs and Cass in their approaches to Batgirl; and the other Robins through her similar character progression as Dick, which in turn allows her to be a good mentor to Damian, and finally how her character arc runs perpendicular to Jason's. Does that make sense?

Anyway, let's get going! If I were to write an academic piece on Stephanie, these are the main points I would work through. In other words, this is what I would do. You probably will not need nor want to go into this level of depth, and you will want to make it much more personal about why she resonates with you, which may be different to why I love her. So don't worry about touching base with all of them. This is like... 10,000 word essay level stuff. And don't get overwhelmed. I've taken your request far too seriously is all.

Again, I can't write it for you! You gotta do the reading and writing I'm afraid.

...But I still wrote 1,500 words anyway. Gosh darnnit.

Steph’s Character Development

Always keep three points in her character history in mind – her aged 14/15 in her introductory arc in Detective Comics, her aged 16 in War Games, and her aged 18/19 in her Batgirl run.

How does she change? How does she grow as a character? What events caused these changes? Compare that angry 14-year-old trying to choke her father, to the 19-year-old crying happily on the roof. A lot happened between those two points! Outline the main plot beats.

Steph's Role as a Batfam Character:

Protagonist or Antagonist: Supporting Protagonist

Static or Dynamic: Dynamic (think of her character development - angry to alturistic; she softens in her life outlook and in the way she treats others as the years go by)

Minor or Major: Minor and we all mourn that fact :(

Foil or Symbolic: A foil to Tim Drake (and to a lesser extent the other Robins, specifically Jason Todd)

Importance of the character/Position in Society: Fourth Robin, third Batgirl, own superhero. Tim's girlfriend, Cassandra's best friend, one of many of Bruce's 'children'. Initially introduced just as a one-off character for a small arc in Detective Comics, brought back with the intention of being a supporting character to Tim Drake, and eventual love interest. Eventually gained enough popularity on her own terms to support her own solo comic, but has since returned to a supporting role. The character she supports, at the end of the day, is Bruce Wayne.

Motivation

What influences their decisions?: Stephanie's dynamic characterisation comes in here. Compare her motivations during her introductory arc, versus why she does what she does in War Games, versus why she dresses up at Batgirl - Stopping her father, getting Batman's approval, need for redemption.

What do they value?: Values emotional openness, vulnerability, second/third/fourth chances.

Goals/Hopes/Dreams: No long term goals/hopes/dreams in the domestic sense... Continue to be vigilante. Be respected by her peers. Continue to improve self worth through deeds. Graduate college?

What are their views: Views the justice system and police as corrupt, but still trusts in the inherent goodness of people. Focus is usually on the individual, rather than societal or structural.

Actions

Behaviour, Attitudes, Impact on Story and other Characters, Internal Struggle (Wants versus Needs): This is why I think you are best to look at three points in her story - Intro Arc, War Games, Batgirl. Focus on her Wants versus Needs - Steph's take a very long time to align, but they finally do in Batgirl.

Character development is usually driven by the conflict between what a character wants. The plot forces them normally to confront the fact that what they want is not gonna work out, and what they needed instead takes priority.

Everything usually goes tits up for Steph when she is in the driver's seat of the narrative because what she wants from a situation is rarely what she actually needs to happen. See every time she seeks Bruce's approval. She wants it. She absolutely does not need it. And only as Batgirl do we get that acknowledgement, which coincides with her being at the healthiest point in her life emotionally. Look at what she wants as Spoiler during her introductory arc, as Robin/Spoiler during War Games, and then as Batgirl. Why is she so unhappy in the former two? Why have her wants finally aligned with her needs with her time as Batgirl?

Character Traits

Personality: Cynical but perky. Sardonic but sincere. Think about how she changes over the time. This can be attributed to her different writers, but - for example - is there a universe reason for why Batgirl Stephanie is so much more socially awkward than Spoiler Stephanie?

Strengths & Weaknesses: Link these two together because Steph is a very good example where her strengths as a character can simultaneously be a weakness. Her determination can lead to her making ill conceived decisions. Her empathy can lead to her putting her trust in the wrong people. Her forgiving nature can lead to her being taken advantage of. Her temper, whilst landing her in hot water, can also just as often get her out of it.

Relationships

How do they interact with others: Focus on which characters pop up in all three arcs – Steph and her parents; Steph and Bruce; Steph and Tim. I am chucking Cass out the window here, sorry Cass, but if you’re focusing on these three arcs, Cass doesn’t really fit in.

How others view them: Conditional love/affection from her father and Bruce. Unconditional love/affection from Tim and her mother (though both are not without serious pitfalls).

How they view others: Stephanie has explicitly never loved her father. She has also never explicitly hated him either. What does that say about her? Look at her changing closeness with her mother. What changed between them, and again, what does that say about Stephanie? Crystal got sober, supported Stephanie through her pregnancy, Arthur was removed from their lives, Stephanie makes a conscious effort to be closer to her after returning ‘from the dead’, though continues to lie consistently to her. Stephanie admires Bruce, whilst also right from the get go insisting she does not answer to him. She never quite lets go of wanting that approval.

How does society view them: Her outsider role within the Batfam. She never quite belongs, and at points her closest relationships are actively discouraged from seeing her. Which Tim specifically never entertains. This outsider nature bites literally everyone in the butt during War Games. Her outsider status is still in place by the time Batgirl concludes, due to its largely self-contained nature as a book, but this is less being an outsider more having earned to right to operate independently. Trust has been given and earned.

Dialogue

What does she say and how: A teenage girl in New Jersey from a working class background has a very distinct voice. She does not mince words, nor does she hide what she is feeling. If she is happy, she will say so. If she is annoyed, she will say so. What she won’t do is ask for help when she needs it, due to her background formulating a need for her ‘to do things on her own’.

Think of famous/important Steph quotes from the three arcs I keep talking about – the excuse me if I don’t jump when you bark, the I really was part of the legend, the only variable you can control is yourself. These show how Steph views others and herself.

When I was writing I Would Have Loved You, I literally made a spreadsheet where I have picked out what I think are pertinent quotes from every New 52 issue featuring Tim or Steph along with a synopsis that explained what they were up to/what the main theme of the issue was. Not saying you should do the same because I’m just that goddamn anal when it comes to this sort of stuff, but the point is – look for quotes by/about Steph which highlight the above things we’ve talked about. You have thirty years to go through!

Author Intention

What purpose does this character serve?: A character that young female readers could get attached to – the every girl/girl next door archetype or a character that young boys could have a crush on – the kind of girl who’s into the same sort of stuff as you, I think Chuck Dixon once said of her, from her initial appearance. Fodder for Bruce and Tim’s man pain in War Games. Batgirl it’s a combination of filling the void for a female lead solo character in the batbooks, but also tonally taking on a much lighter and self-contained book that new readers could jump into very easily, directly compared to the more lore heavy Batman, Detective Comics, and Red Robin books.

What is the author trying to communicate: Steph’s character shows that determination can only get a person so far, a support system and doing things for the right reasons (again remember that want versus need argument) is the only way a person will genuinely succeed.

What is her main theme?: Balancing cynicism and idealism – doing acts for the right reasons, and discovering what these reasons actually are.

...

Is this even usable for anyone but myself? Possibly not!

Still... Go write! And good luck!

[ectonurites]

Idk, I think I might like the idea of Batman not having a permanent sidekick/the Batkids all having more autonomy? Like, I’ve always thought the “Batman needs a Robin” argument was kind of concerning, like him needing a kid to keep him on the side of the angels is kind of bad mental health wise, and puts the onus of Bruce’s mental and emotional health on a literal child, which is just sketchy. And while I do like to see them all work together and interact, I think given what they’ve been through in recent years, how Bruce has acted and treated them all, and pretty much everything, some time apart from him could potentially be really good for all of them, especially since while they’re keeping their distance from him, they’re not shutting each other out and actually all going off on their own, they’re still all interacting with each other, and I like that very much. Weird how Jason’s pretty much the one who seems to be interacting with Bruce the most rn, but I actually kind of like that too!

Yeah no honestly i’m down for it. Like, again it’s not like all the bats aren’t talking to each other (we have seen even just in Robin #1 how they’re all coordinating to search for Damian) but I think letting them have that level of independence to figure things out on their own especially since aside from Damian most of them are older teens/adults anyways, I think is good (in theory, we’ll have to wait and see how it is in terms of execution since again we’re so early in Infinite Frontier still)

The idea of ‘Batman needs a Robin!’ coming from an idealistic 13 year old Tim I think served the purpose it needed to, because in that instance specifically Bruce was mourning the loss of a child and not that Jason could just easily be replaced, but having another child full of determination step into his life to be a bit of light in the darkness he was going through like... it worked, it made sense for the story, but I think we’re just in a different kind of era now and I’d agree that trying to put that kind of weight inherently on the role of Robin itself is... a lot for a kid. The thing with Tim too is that’s what he wanted Robin to be, which is very different than like... forcing that same expectation onto Damian’s version of Robin when he’s a very different kid with different goals/methods/outlook/etc

Then I’ve said it on twitter before but I think canon batfamily interactions are far better in smaller groups as opposed to just having the entire fam together to quip at each other. You can get much better moments that have more meaning in the smaller interactions (like... Tim & Cass’s stuff back in the 2000′s, Tim & Dick’s relationship, Dick & Damian’s, etc) as opposed to just fitting as many characters on a page as you can where they each get a line or two of dialogue. Not that there isn’t a place for that stuff occasionally, and obviously for the Big Event Fights its gonna be like that, but I’d much prefer to see more focused stuff on the smaller interactions, and then just those hints of coordination between the group at large (and like, having Oracle back at the center of things being the person to connect these different spheres in the Batfam is good and i’m glad to see it, I just wish she was ya know fully Oracle again without the ableist bs but ya know) 

And I think the choice to have Jason working with Bruce for a story right now is a good one, because they have the relationship that I think needs the most healing. (aside from maybe Bruce and Damian but that’s obviously not gonna be reaching reconciliation for a while since Damian’s off doing his own thing, and even so Bruce is now at least putting in the effort to look for him so that’s planting the seeds for something there later) 

In general like, I’m feeling hopeful about the current direction of batbooks. It’s not gonna be perfect, like of course not, but I think it’s pretty clear the people writing the books right now are putting a big emphasis on the family and trying to deal with some of the problems that have been around within it for a while, and trying to restore some things that people missed from that 90′s/2000′s era (again, Tynion has talked about that with the choice to have Babs acting as Oracle again in a few interviews)

[thatweeboverthereisthirsty]

hello Luna! I wanted to ask you if you think twisted wonderland will end with chapter 7, and if there will be a sequel?

   Hmmm.... I think that there will be seven chapters dedicated to student overblots. Malleus obviously being the last one. I also think that there will be some sort of 8th chapter to cover whatever happens to Grim and how the MC gets home. The build up with Mickey and Grim and all the sketchy stuff surrounding Crowley is definitely going to need to be explained before TWST ends as well. 

   I think the best way to explain how I feel TWST will close up is through examples.

Foreshadowing:

    I am a very proud fantasy reader so I tend to notice quite a few patterns in these types of storylines. The amount of foreshadowing is enormous and usually only makes sense after the climax of the story. 

   The prologue is often overlooked in most books and stories but it is likely one of the most important parts in a fiction story. The prologue for TWST has several lines and imagery that key us into the foreshadowing. 

   For example: Crowley says that we are all running out of time and when you pay attention to the intro when he asks you to take his hand a clock strikes a specific amount of times.

Relationship development and closure:

   Another important example of foreshadowing is when Crowley is crying about how the MC got Ace and Deuce to work together. Throughout the story lines it’s been obvious that the students were unused to teamwork and incapable of holding healthy relationships. The climax will likely include quite a bit of teamwork with all of the dorms working together to reach a common goal. 

   Although many of the students improved after their overblots, very few relationship matters where addressed afterwards unless absolutely necessary (scarabia’s brief explanation). It is highly likely that any strained relationships will be directed in a positive direction through circumstances that are TBA. 

   That said it is also highly unlikely that these relationships will be directly and vocally addressed. Open ended relationships are key in making a good story line because it leaves the reader to their own conclusions. When a reader comes to their own conclusions it is likely that they will create a future image that allows them to be pleased with how the story ended. It is a very effective way to let each individual reader become pleased with the story as a whole despite the fact that everyone has different tastes in stories.

Character development:

   It will be the same way with individual character development as well. A lack of vocal and direct development will be replaced by character choices, hidden changes in word choices, and emotional expression to display how a character is acting differently than in the beginning of the story.

   Even with no specific closure on whether or not a character really has changed. The reader will perceive the outlook of that character in a way that caters to their own tastes. 

   Overblot development is a given but something else we should keep an eye out for is character development in characters that didn’t overblot themselves. Hidden character arcs and development is another commonly used writing tip that adds the necessary layers that makes a story interesting.

   There will be certain characters that will very obviously be different when interacting with themselves and others, but the truth behind that is that depending on how complicated a characters personality is makes the development necessarily more or less obvious in order to incite the proper emotions within the reader.

Happy/Sad ending:

   Speaking of emotions, it is going to be a coin toss about how the ending affects the readers. Since the company we are dealing with is Disney it is entirely possible that everything ends on an almost eerily happy note. However, based on the plot and how popular story lines originated in Japan usually end, it is equally likely that there will be some sort of loss, betrayal, plot twist, etc. that will leave the reader with a few negative emotions as well.

   If this is the case then it will likely involve a character or goal present from the prologue. Crowley, Grim, and the Aduece duo are likely subjects of this negative event. A situational disaster could also turn things. The MC has been trying to get home from the beginning of the story so a plot twist along the lines of MC’s death, the way home is made clear and then some how it is permanently inaccessible, none of the story was real from the start, are all ways that TWST could end using the MC themselves as the negative event.

   It is nearly impossible to predict exactly what the ending will be, but it is likely that what we think is going to happen is the exact opposite of what will happen. 

   What we can predict is that all of the questions based on events (overblots, mickey, grim, etc.) will be answered in some way with an explanation that connects all of the events together.

Sequel???:

   Whether or not a sequel is made depends entirely on the conclusion that we receive. Since most storylines have an ending planned before they even start writing, it is unlikely that the producers will change too much about it. If it was originally planned to simply end then it’s likely that the last chapter will be the end of TWST. 

   However, due to the popularity of TWST and how open ended some of the side character arcs will likely be left. It can be assumed that TWST will likely continue to produce content, even if it isn’t direct story stuff. Side stories about characters during the school year and after the end of TWST are not entirely out of the question. More events set in the timeline where MC is at TWST is also highly probable. 

   If an english version is made, these probabilities rise considerably. Not only rerun events, but new ones will be essential to the popularity of the game when(if) it is released in other languages.

Anime:

   Another question that has been brought up frequently is whether or not TWST will be made into an anime. I would say that it isn’t impossible. The fact that TWST isn’t an otome game and that there aren’t different routes available based on the players choices makes it very easy to be turned into a different form of media. Depending on how popular it gets will also affect this. 

   Disney certainly has the money to fund the producers enough to create an anime. So financially it isn’t a problem. The only thing that would stand in the way would be demand. TWST is already hugely popular in Japan. To the point where cafe’s themed after it are being created. This popularity brings in a lot of money and possibility for TWST. If americans and others bring TWST’s popularity up this way as well then it will be extremely likely that the creators take advantage of this possibility and expand TWST’s media.

   Another reason that Disney might push for the producers to create more is that they are currently struggling with new content. Disney’s most recent productions and a large quantity of their future productions are and have been set as remakes and sequels. It is fairly obvious that they have been at a block for a while now considering the lack of new content being put out.

   TWST is still fairly new and can be exploited because of that. The fact that it is catered towards teens and older makes it even more likely since stories that people won’t grow out of tend to stay popular much longer than productions with simpler plot lines directed at children.

In conclusion:

   All of the above is purely theoretical and based off of educated guesses from me with all of my background knowledge. The fact is that where TWST goes is entirely left up to how it does when the official plot line ends. 

   What I can say is that we shouldn’t expect any sort of sequel or anime or further for a while. If any of these things do happen it will likely take place after an english version is released if one is released at all. 

   TWST is an incredible game with a perfectly capturing plot line and realistic and interesting characters. The amount of potential that it contains is far more than some other games of this type that I have seen. We can’t say for sure what it will become but I know personally that I expect the ending to be just as satisfying as the rest of the story. 

(I’m not sure if this is the answer you wanted but this is just my personal view. I hope anyone that reads this is happy with the information and theories that I have provided!)

[alovevigilante]

(This monologue can be performed with a normal breathing pattern, cause the message is important and should be emphasized accordingly.)

When I was younger I didn’t know from a gay person. I went to a small school, where that wasn’t mentioned. It wasn’t a part of the curriculum in schools in the 80s as it is now. So, when I heard the word, “gay” being used in society it had an entirely different definition from the meaning it takes on today. When I used to use the word “gay” when I was a kid in sentences back in the day to communicate, it was usually to say that something was “uncool”. But that’s grade school for ya. That’s why you’re there when you’re younger, to learn better.

But now at 46, out of school for many years, and after having witnessed, and after getting to know people who define themselves, and identify as “gay” I realize that they are some of the coolest people on this planet. And “gay”, in my new definition, is very very very very (meaning emphasis on very) cool. Cause gay is colorful, all colors, and vibrant. Gay is bright, and fierce. Gay is creative, and brave. And gay is a term to explain certain people’s authenticity; showing themselves to the world honestly, and not afraid to profess and show their love openly.

Being gay is not the issue. The issue is recognizing that all people, no matter who they choose to love, are of LOVE, AND Love is where it’s at! It, in this case, its the feeling of belonging, sharing joy, experiencing happiness. It’s world peace first starting from your internal, individual worldview, and then the world around you. But it starts by leaving the judgement at the door. Because the person that feels the judgement first, is you. And others feel it, if they choose to allow it to affect them. If you don’t like something, and it’s not for you, then don’t do it. We will all be happier by allowing everyone the opportunity to be themselves too, without condemnation, and dipping in others business which isn’t our own. Being responsible for how you feel if we want to stay happy, should be our primary goal. And that’s a big enough job without getting into other people’s lives.

I also forgot to mention, that if you’re at the point in this monologue where you’re not only judging the gays, but you’re judging me for loving and supporting the gays because we’re all human and made of love, please feel free to include yourself in that love. It will help to lift your spirits if you do. Cause when we judge others, we all feel the exclusion. And feeling excluded doesn’t feel good. So please don’t choose a life without love. Choose a more inclusive mindset. Ok? I’ll answer that. Yes it IS ok!

I’m not ok with judgements or hate, cause it hurts the whole of us as a human race. Cause we are all fundamentally the same. Take biology 101 for example. Like the late astronomer, planetary scientist, cosmologist, astrophysicist, astrobiologist, author, and science communicator, Carl Sagan used to say, “we are all made of star stuff.” But the point is, the SAME stuff! Water, skin, muscle, bone and organs… But listen, all science aside, we all have a fundamental need to feel loved, and to belong, no matter how much we fight it sometimes.

Internalizing love, and acting on that inspiration toward all people is needed to change the world in a positive way. And I’M DOWN wIth THAT!!!!!

(Please emphasize the word, “THAT”... say it fast in one syllable, and also, that’s why the “with” in the last sentence, is tiny...)

Let me repeat, I AM DOWN, MEANING in FULL SUPPORT of, the LOVE, and of the GAY NATION because gay people are a part of the whole of who we are as a human race! And no matter how hard one may try, no person is excluded from that. So make it a loving experience.

(Ok, back to a more neutral energy, and for me, that’s not saying much)

So, fellow humans, I’m now also coming out of the closet, to say, that I am extremely JEALOUS in a great way of the gays! (Including the lesbians, cause they’re also under that umbrella term) Because I think they’re AWESOME, and I support them 100%, and I strive to be as cool as they are!!!! Ok?!?! Yeah! It is!!!! So there!!!!! And also, because I love them dearly... 🙈🤷‍♀️💕☺️🥰

*For those of you who read all the way through to judge and rip on my writing, you clearly have missed the point entirely. I chose being gay as a group to use as an example in this case, but sub in any race, and creed, and gender or any group that has been discriminated against at one time or another throughout the history of humanity, and you can get the same result. (Although they are a part of the whole of humanity, hate groups are excluded in this case because, because A. They have excluded themselves with their fear-based, loveless choice of behavior by treating all people as the enemy, and also because some people refuse to sway from their hardened beliefs and B. I’m focusing solely on groups that embrace a loving energy, and don’t wish to harm others.) We are all human. We have all experienced things that have alienated us, and make us feel excluded, no matter how accepted we seem to be outwardly. And we miss out on a lot of wonderful people by excluding them due to our own judgements.

My point of all this writing? To unite people, in human emotions, by my deliberate choice of energy. My message is clear, if you choose to be open enough to glean it. But for those who aren’t, here’s the deal: yes, I am fully aware that my writing isn’t normal. The tactics I use, are unorthodox because it’s a way to get everyone reading on the same side. I’m over separation.

I experiment to try to figure out ways to eradicate the loveless energy. I guess I’m starting to realize that I can’t do it alone. So, some say “choose love”. “Love matters” “Inclusion matters” and it does. But unless we make a conscious effort to change the way we approach our societal norms i.e. comedy, music, entertainment in general, commercialism, big business, government, how we treat one another in our daily lives, and the treatment we accept from others and ourselves, nothing will. The sooner we can internalize that, the better. I guess that’s why I feel that starting with changing myself is the best way to it. You see, I mention all of those things, because they have the biggest platform to influence people. They also have the ability to persuade. If that isn’t utilized for a positive result for all people, we get what we essentially have now; an uneven exchange. And life isn’t fair? That shit, is old school mentality. Life can be anything we want it to be. And that’s the truth. We just have to decide to adjust it.

It’s not easy for me to fully accept myself for some reason. I’m having great difficulty sometimes maintaining a loving outlook. When I judge myself like this. I feel like there must be something fundamentally wrong with me. But there isn’t. We all feel this way from time to time. What I think about me, is what I need to focus on. Because what I feel about everything, comes from that very place. I act according to how I feel. Point blank. When I’m not consciously trying to think differently, cause I’ve been conditioned by myself to think in a fearful way, I also get just as wrapped up in the upset of the outside world as everyone else does, and I feel that life is insurmountable, and that nothing can change from how I’m seeing it at that moment in time. It takes a change in my thinking, my perception, the union of me now, not me from the past focusing on what was and how I didn’t enjoy the experience. It will take the union of me changing my mind about what I observe to make the change. I can’t hold onto the past hurts, and expect a positive change in result of my now or my future. All I can do, is redefine my past, and lose the loveless energy. That will be enough to keep me busy for quite some time.

That’s why I write. I write to cheer myself up. I write to amuse myself. I write to clear out the cobwebs of my past I have in my head, and try to accept where I am now. I write to move myself forward in a peaceful and loving existence. I write to feel better, period. Doesn’t always work. Sometimes I find that being a loving person isn’t the easiest choice, especially when you’re living in your head in past hurts. So, all of this experimentation i do with my own energy is a process that I’m willing to share with whom ever, whatever the consensus may be. My love for me and the love I have for all people is growing, and with it so is my recognition of the dissonance that is us as a human race. That is also being highlighted intensely.

I guess my point is, I understand fully that the change can’t come from just one person to affect the whole. Well, essentially it could, but it’s unlikely due to our vast majority of differences. But, if I change and affect the people in my life positively, that chain reaction could be like a pandemic of love, instead of disease. We can all affect one another, and be infected, by the love virus. Let’s choose to laugh together more often, let’s be together in love as we feel comfortable doing so, let’s stop all the things that aren’t loving to ourselves and others. Let’s decide both individually and together. Let’s choose to “be the change we want to see in the world.” (mahatma gandhi.) And let’s “be the ones to make it different.” (Me, Kari Keillor)

(Please sub the energy of pandemic and fear for the energy of love traveling the world and affecting it positively.)

“so it goes.” -Kurt Vonnegut.

[zafedda]

Toshiki Inoue Interview about Shougeki Gouraigan and an overview of his writing process

This interview was published in the booklet with the first BD set of the series Interviewer: Please tell us how you became the main writer of "Shougeki Gouraigan!!"

Inoue: I got a call from Amemiya saying "It's been a long time, let's work" and I said "Ah, got it". Actually when we met, for the first step we started with approaching the setting of "Light vassal" and "Shadow vassal". Broadly I wanted to make something like a comedy but he wouldn’t listen to me.

Interviewer: Then director Amemiya wrote on his personal blog that Gouraigan would have aim to be a "strange thing"

Inoue: Maybe he was already tired with the same old stuff. (LAUGH) Even for action, he's not even using stuff like wires in town, because he portrays actions in an odd dimension. So he had in mind in the first place some kind of battlefield for actions. After that, to evoke that feeling of "strange thing" , the costumes (TN: the proper term used for costumes is kigurumi which means something like "cartoony costumes") interact in a contest of ordinary life, right? That's the main ingredient, it's not the costumes doing laundry. It's the gap related to daily life that's funny. I think that we moved in order to make that the core of the comedy.

Interviewer: There must have been several meetings, right?

Inoue: We sure had a lot of them, before putting hands in the scenario in order to decide the direction of the show.

Interviewer: That includes director Amemiya?

Inoue: Of course, but it’s like even he couldn’t figure out what to make out of this program? (LAUGH) It’s not a matter to just depend on his ideas, but i wonder how much time it would have taken to reach a common ground. It’s like we committed to pull it through, in the beginning. But, in the middle everyone gave up! It’s that sort of a show (LAUGH)

Interviewer: Considering it’s a comedy, everyone will have a different approach to it, and sure it will be hard to make them grasp this to those who want to watch it.

Inoue: Even if there was the concept of the gap made by the suits interacting in an ordinary life it didn’t pass so well I think. I even tried to convey it from the start in the script. Aaaaaah, why did it happen? I couldn’t make it pass. Not even once in that program. It’s not that a good point? When it comes to making the suits ridiculous you make them ridiculous. Usually everyone looks forward to the transformation, it elevates the coolness of the suits, but this product prefers to degrade this. That sure is new (LAUGH). It's Amemiya's idea. Rather than consecrating the suits you make them look uncool as they are. That’s the kind of treat they get.

Interviewer: In tokusatsu there’s a certain depiction of transformations' scenes

Inoue: In that way we turned around that conception

Interviewer: Depicting the suits in an ordinary life it sure makes harder the problem of giving the action scenes a peculiar flavor this time

Inoue: Isn’t this the cause of the battles in those odd dimensions? With stuff like the sophisticated mandala and that game feel in it, i think their purpose is to make the mind go “AAAAH”

Interviewer: Since they’re usually under human form, they really can return into the Light vassal form at any time, right?

Inoue: The human is a disguise, or rather that’s the point of view of the Light vassal, but what about the situation where “These humans are illusions” under their human eyes? It would be easy to accept such a situation. Maybe once they turn into humans even the point of view should be human. That is, their appearance is disguised by some kind of light that affects the human eyes, could it be? Because Light vassal (LAUGHS). Anyway that’s a directional matter, that’s why in the script I omitted the hints that indicate the human parts and Light vassal parts. So when you read the script I think it doesn’t turn out to be interesting. When it comes to watching it on screen though I find it very interesting.

Interviewer: I got the impression that the writing style differed from your previous works, were there any critical parts?

Inoue: It might be close to Changerion a little. I wrote it a long time ago but it’s still my reference point as a comedy. Sometimes I’m prone to write them. That’s why I didn’t find particular challenges concerning this product. Since the opportunity showed up again, I want to write comedies whenever there’s a chance

Interviewer: What comes to your mind when you write your ideal comedy?

Inoue: It’s true that Comedies are hard. You can’t make them pass as a low product, but it's no good to treat them as something intellectual. That’s why it’s important to have a lot of ideas. Then the dialogues. Situational dialogues are the bread and butter of comedy.

Interviewer: Any favourite part?

Inoue: In the first episode when Homeless Yamashita said something like “When life gets you a hangover, drinking will sober you up”, when I watched it on TV I thought it was a good line (LAUGH). Many good lines kept coming to my mind, That’s why I didn’t worry too much about it.

Interviewer: So there’s the impression that this work went according to your expectations, right?

Inoue: You can say it. Well, there’s a direction that makes everyone proceed according to expectations, it went mostly like this. But when it comes to shooting it the reactions were really perplexed. It mostly went according to the script but people were “What did you make us shoot!”. It’s just that in this kind of program people who disagree are really picky. I think there were a lot of unagreeable people.

Interviewer: As if they didn’t know what they wanted.

Inoue: Yeah. So it’s not a matter whether this program is good or bad. It’s more like a matter of if you can accept it for what it is. As a matter of course this program would get complaints.

Interviewer: There are people who also demanded to make it more serious right?

Inoue: A lot. It’s really a program that neglects that kind of person. There are also a lot of people who can’t understand where the fun is.

Interviewer: With its late night slot broadcasting, did you have in mind an adult audience?

Inoue: It came up something like that during the planning meetings, the scene of Hitomi making a bath would have certainly been accepted. But with tacit consent, I went to write scenes with sexual appeal as I wished, even Amemiya was left alone when filming in this regard.

Interviewer: The Navi outlook was really something

Inoue: I was surprised too (LAUGH)

Interviewer: When it came to broadcasting, any impression that striked you?

Inoue: The first episode is still sane (LAUGH). It may be a bit hard to understand it though. With stuff like human form and light vessel form, the point of view gradually changes. But watching it with the young staff they said “That’s not true, viewers can keep up this far”. But I got nothing that made me think of that, what about it?

Interviewer: The goal of the story, or how should i put it, it started with no explanation at all of the circumstances, I was surprised.

Inoue: That’s why the point of the drama has become whether they can keep up or not.

Interviewer: At the start of the first episode, the meta narration of Hitomi got me surprised

Inoue: That was an important device, it’s thanks to this that the events were easy to follow yet. We sorted out her feelings by placing her point of view on matters. If it wasn’t for that the scenario would have been all over the place I think. This program is all about Hitomi, or rather she’s really the main pivot. The first episode flows through the scenes involving Hitomi, in these scenes it also became a proclamation of intents that this program is meant to be funny. The gist of it, this product could be seen easily as the story of Hitomi’s personal growth.

Interviewer: On the screen even the supporters made an appearance (N.T: I made supporters = 黒子-> Kuroko are usually black guys on the background in theatre that put on scene any kind of theatrical postures, for example in the Ran episode whenever she transforms artificial butterflies pop up with the black dressed supporters or when Sailor gamer transforms the same dressed supporter lady pops up to undress her to change her clothes)

Inoue: That’s a directional matter, same with the Hitomi narration, i think it was established to give a certain touch to the product

Interviewer: Were there any solid directions from Amemiya about the development of the story of the characters and their backgrounds and the like, right?

Inoue: There were some regarding the characters like “The path is clear!” It's not a line that I put, Amemiya wanted it! It’s like a line that fits a character that confronts the sea shouting at it. Eventually, other characters' backgrounds were picked for me

Interviewer: Besides Gou were there any rough spots with other characters?

Inoue: More or less I developed the characters as they were talking to each other. But in the end many things came up when I was in the process of writing which I gave life to it. That’s why there weren’t any characters that were particularly hard to write (LAUGH). It went all smoothly. The most troublesome aspect was the Light Vessels’ lifestyles. That’s where the comedy parts are, it was hard to make them whatever in a riciclation shop or rather it was troublesome to think about it. Sexual scenes with suits floated in my head but when it came to writing them I didn't find them funny. Making some kind of osè skits when they were humans felt wrong yet. It’s precisely because they were designed for the suits that it can be said that the scenes were funny. Comedy and skits are separate matters.

Interviewer: Is there a favourite character?

Inoue: Hitomi was the most fun to write. With her rakugo mania, her aloofness, like a guy who’s fine with shutting himself off. In this environment Gou and the others brought her chaos. Hitomi’s absenceness of mind or rather her dull emotions was a really important factor. Then there’s Jin. it makes sense that he gives off a feeling of  being out of place. And it makes sense too that Gou is a straightforward character. it’s stupid eh, just stupid (LAUGH).

Interviewer: Kinda all the Light Vessels are… (LAUGH)

Inoue: That’s true, everyone’s stupid. Sure no one is smart (LAUGH). But because they went to Earth there’s a sort of a gap. You can also say that when they arrived on Earth they got exposed to a lot of new stuff so they get more and more dense.

Interviewer: Originally the characters should have been passionate and wise right?

Inoue: It wasn’t thought of what kind of characters would have inhabited the Spirit World. Just, more or less they commited sins, so I had to put something to fit the occasion in everyone and putting something that would have made them not detached from the world would have been a little wrong.

Interviewer: Isn’t the character of the old lady really appealing?

Inoue: when the Light Vessels got all assembled, I thought that she would get too bothersome. Since depicting her like a young wife or in search of specific attention would have come out wrong in the moment. (LAUGH) There are Shou and also Hitomi, so the atmosphere would have changed up too much in the end. That’s why placing her as a perfect nanny was no good.

Interviewer: Inoue, did you have to go personally to the filming location to make instructions directly?

Inoue: I went just once but it wasn’t for this case at all. I couldn’t be there that much when they planned for the shooting periods, but the shop set was amazing, I was surprised.

Interviewer: You had to go to have a talk with the actors, right?

Inoue: Whenever I went it was mostly for that. Even if this is the case,  I had the occasion to meet them in this regard once.

Interviewer: How did everyone get along?.

Inoue: It was full of youthness. It was full of spirit and they were good young lads.

Interviewer: If there were some stories behind this program please tell us!

Inoue: When the program was about to start the broadcast I went to drink with the staff, I was scolded to have drunk a very expensive wine (LAUGH). At the time everyone was fixed with the program and the feeling was great. It was fun to have a drink together. The directors were all zealous guys, so I think they had inside their head the purpose of this comedy. So we talked about various things. There was an episode like that.

Interviewer: From episode 1 to 4 please tell us what to look forward to.

Inoue: Gou starts the searching of the Dark Vessels alone but eventually he will make friends. Each character's introductions are surely interesting. There’s this sort of feeling that I like that gets you excited as the episodes go that it’s like “What kind of character will show up next?”. The exchanges with the leading actors and new characters are funny too. Please look forward to that.

[itsclydebitches]

Has Team RWBY positively impacted the plot in any way? If they had died at Beacon Qrow would still have gone to Haven, following the suspicions he and Oz apparently had of Leo. Ghira would still have been attacked, and might have decided on his own to march to Haven to stop the WF. Qrow and Oscar and Ozpin would have been severely outnumbered in Haven, but Adam wouldn't have blown the charges until the relic was gotten, buying them time. Cinder's route would have gone the same way. 1/2

That’s... a legit point, anon. Especially if we take into account some of the long term results/consequences of their actions. To expand on what you’ve said, let’s just run through some of the major goals and outcomes since Volume 4: 

Ruby, Jaune, Nora, and Ren set out to confront and presumably take out Cinder. They never got that far, instead wandering into a kidnapping that ended with Qrow nearly dying. They did, however, save a village from a geist (and potentially others if we take Ruby’s character short into account). 

Weiss successfully escapes her family (for a time) but otherwise has no impact on the world around her. She does not undermine Jacques while at home, doesn’t bond with Whitley, doesn’t convince the party-goers of their wrongdoing, etc. We learn that her escape actually had unintended harm in the form of firing Klein. 

Yang’s search for her mother has no impact on Raven herself, far as we’ve seen. Unless we count her willingness to hand over the relic to her. However... 

I think it’s safe to say that Qrow and Ozpin would have been vastly outnumbered without the RWBYJNR group to assist them - if they would have decided to walk into a trap at all with just two fighters - so yes, the group’s existence won the Haven fight imo. However, the entire point of that fight was to keep the relic out of Salem’s hands... and she now has it. Because the group didn’t bother to put the relic away in the vault. (I hold them far more accountable than Ironwood because they understand the relic’s power, how much effort Salem is putting into getting it, and that it still has a question left. Ironwood decided to keep it out of the vault as a show of trust, they decided because... they liked being in charge of a powerful, magical object? Because they’re overconfident?) So either Ozpin and Qrow wouldn’t have saved the relic at Haven and Salem would have gotten it -  exactly where we are now in Volume 8  - or Raven would have gotten it (likely ending up in Salem’s hands in the long run), or they would have succeeded and put it safely away/out of her reach in the vault.

Sun wouldn’t have abandoned his team, but Ilia wouldn’t have been redeemed.

Ghira arguably might have died without Blake’s assistance. It’s really impossible to say. Same with the WF stuff and frankly that plotline is so messy I don’t think we can accurately theorize one way or another what might have happened. Could have turned out better, could have turned out much worse. 

Adam wouldn’t have gone after Blake but, again, who’s to say what he might have done instead or what he might have continued to do had he lived. Blake and Yang likely saved a lot of lives by taking him out. 

There would still be two relic questions left. 

Oscar (and Qrow) wouldn’t have learned about Salem’s immortality which I know a lot of people would consider to be a pretty big downside. Ozpin “manipulating” him and all, but for me it also means he wouldn’t have gotten punched in the face. Slammed into a wall. Shot. Abandoned. Left to think that he will cease to exist and that no one cares about that. Ozpin was easing him into this life for a reason. The other side of this is that Oscar wouldn’t have had any friends his age during this hard journey... but I don’t think the group has been particularly friendly towards him for 90% of this adventure, so. 

Ozpin wouldn’t have had to re-live all his trauma while a bunch of teens screamed at him and his one remaining friend decided he was the worst thing ever  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Maria would have never re-joined the fight but like... what has she done so far? She randomly decided to follow/help this group of huntsmen when her train was attacked so there’s no reason not to think she wouldn’t have done the same if she came across a different group. If she really wants to help out the world again, she will. Maria didn’t know she was joining the only people still embedded in a secret war, she just followed the adventure when it showed up. Either a different adventure would have showed up in its place, or she would have continued living a peaceful life.

Argus never would have been attacked by the leviathan grimm. 

Ironwood never would have received unexpected support... but that support only lasted about thirty seconds. The group didn’t help him in any meaningful way - no ideas about how to complete the tower without hurting Mantle, no insight into the Penny framing that Ironwood missed, no plans to defeat Salem, no assistance in taking out Watts - and they did, as established elsewhere, make most things far worse for him. 

They did, however, help out around Atlas and save lives when grimm attacked. Whatever else they’ve done, they are eight other fighters that can help keep people safe. 

Jacques wouldn’t have been arrested... but that’s just stupid imo. Willow was sitting on that info and she COULD have used it at any time, the plot just waited around to give it to Weiss instead.

Clover wouldn’t have died. 

It’s really not a list that paints them in a particularly good light. I mean yes, when we start making huge changes like this - “What if RWBYJNR had all died at Beacon?” - we can’t realistically follow the story we were given. Because that change is massive enough to have unforeseen ripple effects. Like, would Qrow had been able to go off and assist Ozpin if both his nieces had died? Arguably not. He may well have buried himself in alcohol, or stayed to help Tai, and if you remove him from the plot then suddenly we have Oscar and Ozpin entering an empty Haven house with no information about the relic, no idea what to do now, potentially visiting Lionheart with no backup, potentially kidnapped... everything goes in a different direction once you make a change of that magnitude. (Which, incidentally, is my problem with AU fics that prioritize the original story rather than allowing these changes to  impact the story in a significant manner lol). But if we’re looking at this more as a “Has the group done more good than harm?” question... no. Not really. They did great stuff at school, yeah, but then they went out into the world where they a) did good things that could have easily been done by others, b) theoretically did good that we’ll never actually see (like killing Adam), and c) made things that much more worse for those around them. The most objectively good things they’ve done lately are small - saving a village, protecting a civilian, killing a bunch of Apathy so some poor lost soul doesn’t wander onto the farm like they did - which is, ironically, the sort of everyday huntsmen work that they no longer seem interested in. That, and the basic fact that they bring good into the world merely by existing. Like the Qrow example, killing off seven teens would have rocked everyone whose lives they were a part of. Could Qrow have kept going? Would this impact Ozpin’s outlook? Who is Jacques with a dead daughter? Could Winter have worked towards the Maiden powers after losing her sister? What would Ruby’s death do to Penny? Their absence in the story would unarguably be a huge negative, yet at the same time their existence in the story hasn’t been much of a positive outside of that, “Well, them being dead would be worse...” So obviously it’s really, really good that they all survived, but we don’t see that good reflected in the show very often anymore. 

[moons-and-stars-and-shit]

I would like to request you an astrology headcanon. can you please write relationship hc (like sfw and nsfw) of Kuroo, Oikawa, Kageyama, Kenma, Akashi, Bokuto, Sugawara and Miya Atsumu with a 22nd September Virgo-sun, Scorpio-moon and virgo-rising female. Pleaseee if you can:-) thank you very much!

Mkay a couple little things before we get started. Number one, I don’t know the boy’s complete natal chart, so I just went with there sun sign for all the categories. (if anyone knows where I can find their complete natal chart lmk 👀) Secondly, I don’t write nsfw stuff so there’s not any specific Hc about that kind of stuff. Finally I personally don’t think that ones riding sign affects a relationship so that’s why it doesn’t have a category, but even if I did, your rising sign is the same as your sun sign so the Hc would’ve been very similar anyways.

Ok onto the fun stuff :D

Scorpio x Virgo sun

Your essential natures are compatible, as both of you share a certain level of practicality, the need to analyze and dissect people and life, and a rather introspective approach to life’s challenges. There are times, however, when Scorpio strides fearlessly into a challenging situation, and Virgo feels much more cautious and careful. Scorpio may consider Virgo to be too timid, and Virgo may feel that Scorpio lacks prudence.

There are also many situations where Scorpio is more stubborn and persevering than Virgo. Scorpio may view Virgo’s lack of commitment and dedication to a single purpose to be a sign of weakness. There is the possibility that Virgo will view Scorpio as being a bit crude, too passionate or emotionally attached to certain situations or ideas. Virgo has refined sensitivities and sometimes literally doesn’t like to get “dirty hands”, while Scorpio is more primitive, raw, and not squeamish.

You both need to strive to harmonize your different natures and not antagonize each other, but the chances of doing so are very high, as you both sense in one another a generally compatible attitude towards life.

Scorpio x Scorpio Moon

This couple will be welded together by their shared obsessions. Sun in Scorpio’s fixations will blend perfectly with Moon in Scorpio's need for total intimacy. Outsiders will not understand this relationship’s darker corners, and that will be just fine for these intensely private Scorpios.

Sun in Scorpio is fearless, but he doesn’t display his courage with showy bluster. He craves absolute sexual and emotional intimacy, and his no-holds barred explorations take place behind closed doors. Even Sun Scorpio's lover will never see absolutely everything that he has going on; keeping a piece of himself in the shadows is how he maintains control. His partner must be willing to share — or at least tolerate — his tendency to obsess; his investigations of any subject are full-on, and this requires a degree of commitment that most people find unnatural.

Moon in Scorpio needs to bond with her lover at a primal level. Incredibly private, she will keep her intense needs buried until she meets a partner she can (gradually) trust. But even once Moon in Scorpio’s lover has earned her trust, there will always be times when she withdraws, as she goes through a regular process of deep transformation and renewal. She’ll give her partner unending passion and support, as long as he is willing to dip below the surface with her.

Sun in Scorpio’s deep explorations will be fully supported and shared by Moon in Scorpio. Whether it’s sex, movies, mountain climbing, or any other interest, these two will live and breath it to the limit. Sun in Scorpio will take the lead, while Moon in Scorpio instinctively backs him up. If she needs to go off on her own internal journey, Sun in Scorpio will understand. These two will nurture many obsessions together, but the main one will be their commitment to each other.

Cancer x Virgo sun

Both of you are inclined to mood changes that, at times, can irritate each other. For example, Cancer experiences periods of melancholy, tenderness, concern, worry, nostalgia and sentimentality, which Virgo may not understand or sympathize with. Virgo can suddenly become irritated and irascible over minor annoyances, and at such times, is capable of intense sarcasm and criticism, which can be extremely disconcerting to Cancer’s tender, sensitive feelings. Virgo must be prudent, and Cancer must strive to be forgiving when things go a little awry.

However, you are both capable of enormous devotion to one another (and to your children if you have them), and taking care of one another comes naturally to you.

Your Sun signs are semi-sextile. You don’t really understand each other’s styles of expressing emotions. Your relationship requires some adjustments.

Cancer x Scorpio Moon

This pairing blends Cancer nurturing with Scorpio intensity, to create a deeply protective relationship. Together, these two will create their own, private world based on their mutual need to submerge themselves in a relationship.

Sun in Cancer can be needy, and this is based on his extreme sensitivity and desire to nurture a secure home life. He guards his vulnerability with a shell that few are allowed past. In order to be let in, his partner must prove that she’s loyal and just as interested in building a nest as he is. Sun in Cancer’s focus on caring for his lover will be mixed with varying degrees of dependency, because he’ll require assurance that she’s not going anywhere. Although he can be quite protective, the secret to being with the Crab is realizing that he needs just as much protection as he dishes out.

Moon in Scorpio can be possessive, and this is based on her need for control. She feels safe when she knows exactly who she’s dealing with. It will take a long time for Moon in Scorpio to open up and trust her lover, but once she does, she’ll demand complete access to his body, heart and mind. She’ll feel threatened when her partner keeps secrets (although she’ll always have a few of her own) and will use every tactic in her emotional arsenal to figure out what he’s holding back. Her Shadow side can emerge when she trades passionate bonding for a never ending series of emotional manipulations that give her the upper hand.

Sun in Cancer will probably be the first to open up in this pair, as he nervously responds to Scorpio’s intensity. Despite the fact that Moon in Scorpio will keep her power under wraps, she’ll be in control (unless his Moon is also in Scorpio, in which case this could be a battle or meeting of soulmates). Sun in Cancer will be reassured by Scorpio’s powerful, background support. Moon in Scorpio will be reassured by Cancer’s commitment to focus on no one but her. They’ll create an emotional fortress whose inner rooms are closed to outsiders. And that will suit them just fine.

Sagittarius x Virgo sun

While Virgo tends to focus on the trees, Sagittarius is interested in the forest. Very often Virgo points out problems with specific details of any situation, while Sagittarius would rather discuss the overall, general outlook rather than the practical details.

These different approaches can balance each other. They are also likely to conflict with each other at times, especially when Sagittarius feels that the details will take care of themselves and Virgo should simply have more faith in the process. Virgo can be guilty of spending so much time criticizing the details that the overall goal of an otherwise excellent plan is missed. Sagittarius, on the other hand, may need Virgo’s detailed analysis but not be willing to admit it.

Positively, you can work together with Sagittarius providing a great deal of vision and enterprise, and Virgo providing a great deal of practical advice, expertise, and skill. However, it is inevitable that Sagittarius will feel annoyed with Virgo’s pettiness and criticism at times, and Virgo will feel frustrated by Sagittarius’s sloppiness of thought or behavior. Much humor, tolerance, and awareness of your legitimate differences will be needed to work these problems through.

Your Sun signs are square. It’s very challenging to understand each other’s styles of expressing feelings, and clashes are frequent.

Sagittarius x Scorpio Moon

Sun in Sagittarius wants to spread his wings, while Moon in Scorpio wants to dive deep. Their conflicting urges will make it difficult for these two to create a mutually satisfying relationship. However, both have a penchant for exploration, albeit on different levels. If they can agree to disagree on their approaches, this couple can create a bold union that will take them further than they could go individually.

Sun in Sagittarius explores new horizons, literally and figuratively. Whether he’s wandering, pondering new ideas, or trying out a new recipe, his partner can be sure that he’ll always bring something fresh to the relationship. However, his interests can shift rapidly as he loses patience with details and depth. This also means that Sun in Sag requires a certain latitude; he does not handle rigid domestic rules very well. He does best with a partner who is able to handle the practical details, while encouraging his generous (sometimes excessive) contributions.

Moon in Scorpio explores the depths: both hers’ and her partner’s. This intense Moon needs absolute intimacy with her lover, which means she’ll push him to his limits; superficiality is a major turn-off. But she won’t expect him to go anywhere that she hasn’t. Moon in Scorpio’s emotional cave-diving can be draining for some partners, although her fixed intensity means that she is a faithful (if possessive) lover.

Sun in Sag will be weighed down by Scorpio’s emotional demands, and Moon in Scorpio will feel threatened by Sagittarius’ craving for variety. Fortunately, it takes a lot to overwhelm Sag, so he may be able to withstand Scorpio’s intensity. If Moon in Scorpio can come up for air occasionally, and Sun in Sagittarius is willing to dip beneath the surface, these two can urge each other on to greater heights and depths.

Virgo x Virgo sun

Both of you are prone to have fits of perfectionism, and at such times you are extremely critical and difficult to please. You may vacillate between extreme neatness and sloppiness, or be very particular about some things but very casual or even sloppy in handling other areas of life. Because each of you has an eye for detail and can be very skilled and exacting when you put your mind to it, you have the potential to work together very well in any area that requires extreme care and attention.

There is the problem, however, that your combined perfectionism may make both of you dissatisfied with anything that you attempt. Both of you like to express your love for someone by doing practical things for that person, and both of you enjoy helping out with daily chores and various tasks. The similarity in your traits makes you a well-matched couple.

You share the same Sun signs. Your emotional natures are so similar, it’s uncanny. Your relationship is very intense.

Virgo x Scorpio Moon

This intense couple’s primary concern will be working on their relationship. Sun in Virgo will handle the tangible details, and Moon in Scorpio will take care of the passion and emotional exploration. Both partners relish relationship challenges, although their mutual zeal for locating problems can turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Sun in Virgo believes that anything worthwhile comes with its share of difficulties. His skill at locating flaws in everything gives him a zest for improvement. This makes Sun in Virgo a conscientious partner, but he can go overboard when he obsesses about little things that his lover may not even notice. Shadow Virgo can appear when he starts to view all positive relationship developments with suspicion. Too much of his work ethic can suck all the joy and spontaneity out of a partnership.

Moon in Scorpio needs to get to the bottom of things. She will never be satisfied with a partner who is afraid to be honest and emotionally naked. Moon in Scorpio can be fearlessly passionate, loyal and protective, but her trust is gained very slowly. She feels safest when she has completely experienced someone, hence her need to feel her lover, body and soul. Shadow Scorpio can creep out when these emotional explorations devolve into manipulation and paranoia.

Sun in Virgo may be initially unnerved by Scorpio’s volatile passion (once she decides to trust him). But after much analysis, he’ll understand what makes her tick and will work to meet her intensity with his focus. Moon in Scorpio will help Virgo see beyond the details, as she pushes past some of his perfectionist-driven inhibitions. Both will be committed to addressing potential problems together, but their combined search for the truth can trap them in a maze of suspicion and doubt. Some fun, meaningless activities (and the occasional break from each other) can help lighten things up.

Gemini x Virgo sun

The two of you are both intellectual creatures, more rational than emotional, and you have a good mental rapport. You both love to talk and you appreciate one another’s wit. Virgo, however, has a more practical, down-to-earth turn of mind, while Gemini just enjoys playing with ideas, without needing a purpose or practical application for them.

Gemini is also more of a risk-taker and will gladly do something once “just for the experience” while Virgo is more careful, cautious, and discriminating. For the most part, however, you understand each other well, and can be quite compatible.

Your Sun signs are square. It’s very challenging to understand each other’s styles of expressing feelings, and clashes are frequent.

Gemini x Scorpio Moon

Oil and water might be the best description for this couple. Gemini’s lightness does not blend with Scorpio’s depth. But do these two have something to offer each other?

Sun in Gemini has a short attention span. His goal is to gather a variety of experiences; he doesn’t have the energy for exhaustive exploration of one subject or person. His quick wit and curiosity are the fuels that propel him forward. If his partner can keep up (while keeping his curiosity stoked) Sun in Gemini can be a loyal companion. But no matter how loyal he is, he’ll always have a variety of friends and confidants—of both sexes. Possessive lovers should look elsewhere.

Moon in Scorpio needs a profound connection with her partner. Naked, emotional honesty is a must for her to feel secure. But she doesn’t trust easily; getting Moon in Scorpio to let down her guard is a long process that requires a patient partner. This Moon needs control in order to feel safe; she’ll let a prospective partner in on her terms. Meanwhile, her lover must be prepared to reveal everything about himself. Her possessive, Shadow side can creep out when she feels her partner is hiding something. Her lover must be prepared for simmering anger and/or manipulative jabs, all released with the intention of making him “pay” while forcing him to open up.

Sun in Gemini will feel overwhelmed and undercut by what Scorpio doesn’t say. She’s a master at holding back and nursing grudges, which she’ll feel compelled to do each time Gemini chats up a different woman. Moon in Scorpio will feel insecure and unsatisfied with Gemini’s glib explanations.

However, if there are more harmonious connections between their charts, these two might learn something from each other. Sun in Gemini can show Scorpio how to lighten up, as she learns that his conversations with others are just words (and nothing more). And Moon in Scorpio can push Gemini to look beneath his ideas, to the rich current of intensity she’ll bring to their relationship.

Libra x Virgo sun

Libra loves company and can talk endlessly with friends, and loves to hear others’ experiences and thoughts on any subject. Libra is very accepting of different points of view and is disinclined to judge or even clearly evaluate what others say. Virgo, on the other hand, loves to analyze and criticize, and is intolerant of illogical or erroneous thinking. Virgo is more demanding of others and confronts others when necessary. Libra finds these confrontations extremely uncomfortable and often embarrassing. Virgo is much more exacting and demanding in all areas of life.

At worst, Virgo can view Libra as wishy-washy, and Libra can view Virgo as prim and intolerant, but hopefully your appreciation of each other is much better than this! At best, your different natures can complement each other without annoying each other.

Your Sun signs are semi-sextile. You don’t really understand each other’s styles of expressing emotions. Your relationship requires some adjustments.

Libra x Scorpio Moon

Both these signs want to relate to a partner, they just go about it in different ways. Light and airy Sun in Libra will have difficulty handling Moon in Scorpio’s intense moods. Scorpio will push for brutal honesty, while Libra will try to keep things sweet.

Sun in Libra is focused on maintaining harmony. Whether he’s chatting (and flirting) with someone he’s just met, or having an intimate evening with his partner, he’s all about making sure the other person is happy. People accuse Sun in Libra of being shallow, but his uber-graciousness comes naturally; he automatically relates to others and sees their point of view. Although he can overdo this and end up becoming a reflection of his lover’s desires, he’s one of the most courteous, sensitive partners around.

Moon in Scorpio needs raw intimacy. Part of this is due to her passionately intense nature, but she’s also deeply suspicious and doesn’t feel comfortable (with her partner) until she has experienced every inch of him (inside and out).

Her lover should have a high tolerance for no-holds barred confessions, while respecting her privacy and personal space when she withdraws. Periodically, Moon in Scorpio will need a time out, and attempts to jolly her out of this mood will not work. Although she can be a deeply loyal and healing partner, her Shadow can emerge as manipulative, possessive and controlling.

Sun in Libra may always feel a bit unbalanced around Scorpio. Whether she’s pushing him to “be honest,” or stewing with jealousy over his flirtations, her intensity may feel like an assault to him. Moon in Scorpio will feel frustrated, and sometimes disgusted, with what she views as Libra’s shallow approach to everything.

This will be a difficult relationship, but the saving grace will be each partner’s desire to be in a relationship. Libra will want the trappings of partnership, and Scorpio will crave the emotional intimacy.

Although they’ll never be totally comfortable with each other’s approach, they might be able to make this work if there are enough binding contacts in their synastry.

[goatpaste]

opinions on. fack it. all da fo4 companions.

Ough

Its been dhsjjf a few years since I touched f4 and still haven't finished it so I straight up had to look up the list

I have over 120+ hours in that game and I still haven't met nick valentine properly

Preston Garvey: 10/10

The most perfect man!!! My 120 hours of game play have been lovingly traveling and building settlements with my husband preston Garvey.

I love him very very much and the way the Fandom and game treated him was a fucking crime. The fact that everyone reduced him to that one meme sucks because then NO ONE talked about his very nice in depth character thats really compelling and sweet. Then the game itself should known better than to make your fucking companion the minuteman quest giver! Or at least change how it worked! Or just give to a minuteman at the castle so you would have a reason to go there after the quest

Not to mention how fucking scummy the nuka cola dlc is to him with making him one of the biggest victims to what you have to do to play that dlc

Hancock: 9/10

Big fan I think he's very very funny and also my husband. Its very fun to have mods that let me travel with both him and preston. They don't psychically talk to each other but their general comments are very funny to hear next to each other.

But hancock a good man I care him and his whole like outlook and deal.

Sometimes I feel his story is a lil idk I think there's more personal shit we could do with him. But again its been a few years so I maybe im misremembering

Cait: 6/10

Iv never traveled with cait myself and she's probably one of the companions i know the least about

But from what I do know

Shes my daughter and love to fight and I love that

BuT iv heard some like mixed opinions on how caits drug addiction is written and yeah iv heard mostly its kinda not great!

But I care her shes my daughter a solid 7/10!

Codsworth: 4.5/10

truely no offence to codsworth, but i really just dont care djgh about him. like no reaL strong opinions. and this comes from me! someone who had a bIG robot interest! 

i think codsworth is my friend but more or less just kinda blends into the background for me so much i forget he’s a companion

Curie: 4/10

i also havent traveled or even met curie this is based again on what i know from reading about her

but man fallout 4 sure said were gonna have some real fun robots in the mechanist DLC but all the main story robots are gonna be just not that good

and curie, man i really really dont like her becoming a totally human looking synth. idk her whole deal with doing that but djksg i hate it become i like robot not human skin waman. 

curie seems like she could be a friend but just weird tiddy boob robot horny

Paladin Danse: 3/10

i rEALLY dont get the hype on Danse. i SEE where danse can be a lot more interesting but its not actually there as far as i know. again iv met danse but didnt travel with him because i didnt care about BOS stuff but i know with f4 you kinda have to do that

the other half of danse stans i see just think he’s hot buT LIKE he loOKS like the generic fallout 4 man model! there cuter men in fo4 Danse just looks like the base player character when you start the game. he looks like sturges and every other man 

i do not care about him

i care more about the rest of the BOS if they were written how I wanted them to be written

Deacon: 6/10

iv never met or traveled with deacon, he is probably one of the companions i know the least about in Fo4

he seems fine, i realLY dont have a feel for his character to give a solid opinion beyond im glad he seems like a goober and like a good person. aND his disguise shit is a very fun game mechanic i do love that and wish id known about it sooner i went so many places he apparently is without knowing he does that

Dogmeat: 10/10

thats a good boy! 

Maccready: 8/10

i havent traveled with maccready but im an avid Fo3 lover so i know his deal p well. i love him that is mY SON

i kill for Fo4 to have more intertwining Fo3 characters for a lot of reasons but im happy Maccready is there he is my terrible son who is grounded grounded grounded

as far as i can tell tho like his character seems so contained to Fo4 and almost feels like they dont want any Fo3 characters who were put in Fo4 to ?? like acKNowledge the Fo3 events?? its so weird to me

Piper Wright: 4/10

this is probably a huge unpopular opinion but i sdjkgh dont care for piper. she seems like a good person and everything but i think she is kinda a lot to deal with sjkgh. she just kinda isnt in my wheel house of like characters i enjoy!

also i literally have no idea what her companion quest is beyond how weirdly interested she is in the player character. i couldnt guess what her companion quest is to save my life, i havent traveled with her but i also like feel iv heard NO one talk about her goals and only that shit she mentions having done sounds p neat, wish i could be there

Strong: 6/10

not bad, i like strong he is my friend. but also i very much see the big issues that come with the bad super mutant writing

and i was spoiled with Fawkes and Lily i just love them so much and it just feels like Strong took the most obvious and boring route with a super mutant companion 

X6: 6/10

have not met or traveled with X6 and i have heard a loT of like differing opinions on him

i like him! i think he seems sweet and i like the potential he could be

but he isnt! his character story and writing is just bad because the institute writing is so bad

Ada: 10/10

I LOVE YOU MISS ADA! underrated companion. i know she is a dlc companion but i actually like the mechanist DLC and ada is a sweetheart she is my friend

Porter Gage: 1/10

listen, i havent played nuka world and really dont have full interest in it so im limited to fan interpretations of gage and what i know from the wiki and ect

but he seems like?? a shit head?? like just another raider bastard? like not even a complex multi dimensional raider with opinions, he just seems to be a raider? idk what im missing but i dont get the hype and why i see more art of him drawn than of preston garvey :///

and im not gonna do longfellow because im gonna be real cheif, no idea. i couldnt even start to know shit about him

[cienie-isengardu]

K, O, P?

Thank you for the lovely ask, it was fun to write! :D

K - What character has your favorite development arc/the best development arc?

Hard to pick the one character, even more since the best of character development I love so much are not tied to one arc but happens through the whole story. But since I’m on OP kick lately, Roronoa Zoro gets all the honor. 

I love how at first he promised to follow Luffy as long as the rubber-man didn't get in the way of his goal (and threatened him with death otherwise) but took his commitment very seriously from day one. And somehow through the relatively short journey, Zoro literally threw away his ambitions, pride, life, everything for Luffy’s sake. And not only for Luffy, but for the crew as a whole, because  Roronoa is always ready to stay behind, to be left behind, to protect nakama at all cost. And the best part of this development is that, Zoro’s priorities changed from carrying the burden of promise and shared ambition with a dead friend being the best to giving everything to Luffy, while it does not change what Zoro is at the core. It doesn’t make him a better man in the sense of an improved attitude or outlook on life. Hell, I would say it makes him more workaholic with the need to get stronger, pushing himself harder than before once he gets to know the wider world better, but Zoro is ruthless and rude as he was. He is born killer and monster in human form that don’t give a fuck about the world, politics, what society thinks while his own moral sense does not budge at all. He was and is willing to kill, he enjoys fighting and drinking, has this ambitious as hell goal of being the best. The development does not change who Zoro is, but what matters to him the most and this growing loyalty and trust can be seen through the whole story and I don’t know what would need to happen for such dedication falter even for a bit.

And like I said, this is not something that happened in one arc, but was happening through the whole story, from earlier little occasional clashes with Luffy to being of one mind with his captain while always ready to carry the burden when Luffy can’t do it, ready to stay behind and protect nakama. What makes the final of Thriller Bark one of the coolest pledge of loyalty but not the best development arc itself, really, because Zoro’s character develops in that direction from day one and the decision made in Thriller Bark is just a result of all the previous adventures.

O - Choose a song at random. Which ship or character does it remind you of?

I’m going to cheat with that and instead of a random song, I will give you two I have on loop already for several days: Broken Crown and I gave you all by Mumford & Sons, because both suit Donquixote Brothers so well and could tell the same events from two different perspectives. In advance sorry for ranting but these two songs kill me emotionally so much, I must talk in length about them!

Broken Crown is all about Rosi rejecting the “crown” given to him by brother (“I'll never be your chosen one”) and yet… still caring and sadly, knowing it too well he wouldn’t pull the trigger (“but oh my heart, was flawed I knew my weakness. So hold my hand consign me not to darkness“) and the final lines, gosh:

So crawl on my belly 'til the sun goes down

I'll never wear your broken crown 

I took the road and I fucked it all away 

Now in this twilight, how dare you speak of grace 

So crawl on my belly 'til the sun goes down 

I'll never wear your broken crown 

I can take the road and I can fuck it all away 

But in this twilight, our choices seal our fate

And then, I gave you all is just so Doffy about Rosinante, it hurts. Seriously. Like, I really believe he never meant to hurt his brother (and maybe never understood he did), and the whole last lines are just so on spot:

But I gave you all 

But you rip it from my hands 

And you swear it's all gone 

And you rip out all I have

Just to say that you've won 

Well now you've won

It’s just so, so about Rosi stealing Law and Opi Opi no Mi even though Doffy already “gave [him] all” what he could. And the most ironic thing? When people usually think about their last meeting, we remember that Doffy killed his younger brother, but in fact, Rosi DID WIN in the long run. He cured Law and saved him from Doffy, he stole Opi Opi no Mi and took away from brother a chance for immortality, even if just for a while. Which is like three main victories in one strike and he did sort of say it to Doffy’s face (“[Law] is already free!!”). 

Just… so many feelings from two songs that fit well two brothers so different from each other. And the regrets and hate, and lack of understanding and spite. Seriously, it makes me think about their last meeting so much :(

P - Invent a random AU for any fandom (we always need more ideas).

I have three major growing ideas, but since I’m in a good mood, I will share the happiest AU in which Donquixote Rosinante never played the role of spy and confronted Doflamingo in the open sea as a Marine Officer. 

Or more like: Doffy found out his bro is alive but part of Marine, so of course he couldn’t leave him in peace and like the maniac he is, chased after Rosinante across all the sea to recruit him into the Family - to no avail. So Doffy’s main reason to become Shichibukai was just so he could jump on Rosi’s warship and annoy the fuck of him, like an older brother should. And Rosi can’t kick him overboat, since as a Warlord Doflamingo is untouchable by Marines. Or at least in theory, because Rosi serves under Garp’s command*, and the old Vice-Admiral does not mind to punch some sense into Doffy (and Rosi) with fist of love, cause no punk like Doffy will tell Monkey D. Garp  what he should or shouldn’t do on his own ship and if bros are lucky, Tsuru may save them from this madman… or not). Despite that causing ruckus between sailors is much better than boredom, and Doffy seeks out his younger brother under all excuses and more often than not, visits just to rant about all annoying people and bitching on Kaido or Sengoku or Nobles or really, everything and maybe for a drink or two and napping between one and another business meeting, because there is no better nap than under Rosi’s silencing powers. It is worth, no matter that more often than not Garp is kicking his ass, even when in fact he acts as a good boy should. And maybe, just maybe Doffy is so bored with all his underground business going well that he is actually doing “government dog” work of hunting down random pirates. Or more likely, slaughtering every asshole who dare insult his clumsy brother.

Because no matter what, Rosi is his baby bro and he belongs to Doffy even if the dumbass stubbornly refuses to join the Family. Which is fine, one day Doflamingo will find a way to change his brother's mind and until that day comes, he will mess with Marines as much as he can. Which is all fair, because Rosi too does mess with Doffy’s underground business whenever he has a chance and the klutz set on fire accidentally himself AND so many Doffy’s stuff one may wonder if he really is that clumsy or does he do that on purpose. Trebol thinks the latter, cause somehow Rosi always drops things on him by stumbling or spilt hot tea in his face. Doffy finds that amusing as hell, even more when his little bro uses his devil fruit powers to mute half of the Family just to piss them off. At least, as long as Rosi remembers to unmute them before leaving (sometimes the lil shit does not unmute them on purpose and Doffy is forced to chase him around the sea to undo the damage. Younger brothers can be a really pain in the ass).

So Doffy & Rosi kinda have this I-hate-you-but-I-love-you-dumbass relationship over the years until Law comes into picture and of course, Law stab the younger Donquixote and of course, Rosinante kidnap the kid to find a cure and maybe, just maybe, kidnap his brother along the way, and drag Law and Doffy on forced family vacation that involves burning a few dozens of hospitals, a lot screaming at each other and some terapeutic honest talks that no one really wants but everyone needs. Law gets the Ope Ope Mi, Doffy and Rosi kinda explain to each other all the traumatic shit from childhood and made sort of peace.

So, in the end, Doffy does not take over Dressrosa but is still doing his shady business and just being himself, just with better mental stability (cause Rosi keeps muting Trebol and all his shitty talk about what king can or cannot do on every occasion). Rosi has a brother that is not complete monster but not the good man either, but he isn’t ordered to kill him or lie to, and even though they are on opposite side, Rosinante can always call Doffy on den den mushi and shout at him for hours for all the stupid shit he pulled without any regrets or fear (and sometimes, Doffy does listen). Law is saved but still decides to sail and causing havoc as pirate captain while both Donquixote brothers are doting on him and of course, allying himself with Monkey D. Luffy, while the poor Sengoku just gets constant migraine for dealing with all the nonsense of Monkey D. and Donquixote family drama (but secretly feeling relieved that his son is finally doing fine). Garp on other hand, find it hilarious as hell. The World Government does not find it hilarious at all.

 *Sengoku doesn’t like putting his precious Rosinante under Garp’s command because the Hero of Marines of course drags the poor kid into all possible troubles and chaos, but since Rosi is brother of Doflamingo and Doffy is hated by Nobles, Garp is the best protector for younger Donquixote. He will punch everyone who would dare to hurt the kid of his closest friend, including World Nobles and their armies. The side effect is that Rosi is looking after Ace and Luffy, once they set sails, because they are uncle Garp’s grandkids and he will happily save Ace’s ass before Blackbeard get his hand on him and be even kind enough to give the kid a choice: either he comes back to Whitebeard or Rosi takes him straight to grandpa Garp and so Ace ends safe under pop’s watchful eyes once and for good.

Here, a happy Donquixote Bros AU. You’re welcome!

ask meme

[preppymayhem]

Unpopular opinion: I could not see any of the relationships on DC last.

Andie was very ambitious and I saw her outgrowing a Pacey. She can be a bit controlling and Pacey is a very laid-back guy. I enjoyed Pandies dynamic though.

Pacey and Joey - I enjoyed their dynamic. They are more compatible than Dawson and Joey. They were able to have a mature friendship after their breakup and they grew with each other I didn’t put the other on a pedestal (well, maybe Pacey put Joey on a pedestal in S4).  Pacey was always the one who perused Joey which made their relationship unbalanced Joey. He pursued her in season three, and she literally chose Dawson before going to him. And season four she was hung up on Dawson. In season five she didn’t even care that he was sleeping with her roommate. And in season six she broke up with him for Eddie. Even in the finale he was the first one who told her how he felt and when she told him that she loves him, The next words out of her mouth were that she loves Dawson too. I know they made Joey’s feelings ambiguous to keep the viewers guessing but it made her seem wishy washy. We never saw Pacey dealing with his insecurities, he was sleeping with a married woman in the finale because he was unhappy because he didn’t have Joey. He out all his self worth on her. And Joey had commitment issues that don’t go away. Pacey have her that speech about letting her off the hook and Joey said she needs to stop running but I wish that we got to see that character development instead of being told it.

Dawson‘s was very career oriented which can make it hard to maintain a long term relationship. Additionally, he is very self involved; the women he dates do a lot of emotional labor for him and they support his dreams and goals, not the other way around.

Dawson and Joey - are incomaptible compatible. They have completely different outlooks on life. Joey cynicism was supposed to balance out Dawsons idealism, but it didn’t work in practice. Dawson saw Joey as a child and as an extension of himself, rather than a separate person. Joey and Dawson constantly held eachother back and could not grow with eachother. 

Dawson and Jen - they didn’t really seem compatible in season 1. I think the writing help Jen captive. Dawson never even asked her anything about herself. I can’t imagine that Jen liked listening to his ramblings as Dawson could get boring pretty quickly. I never even believed that she was sexually attracted to him and that is something to show try to address in S5 but I didn’t buy it. with that said, I did enjoy them in S5.

Gretchen and Dawson - was Dawson’s most mature relationship. Gretchen call Dawson out and helped him become a better person.  however, she was way too mature for him and deserved better than a guy who was pining for someone else. 

I don’t know how you want me to respond to this anon. I think this is a good time to point out that these are all just fictional characters and they can never be fully fledged human beings. Their actions, personalities and whatnot are choices made by a bunch of writers in a writers room who were probably less concerned with the long term health of the relationships they were writing and more of how they can provide interesting, compelling television doled out in 45 minute increments. I can’t really view stuff completely in a complete diegetic sense anymore especially when it comes to USTV which is subject to so much logistical and practical nonsense that it is a miracle that any show can remain completely consistent at all never mind keeping coherent arcs and forward progression at all.

Also like none of what you pointed out necessarily precludes any of these relationships from being something that could last for a decent period of time depending on your preference. I mean all the above tells me is that they are all seriously flawed individuals and that is what makes them compelling and their relationships interesting. It is just a matter of what each individual viewer is drawn to. And maybe because I am a fanfic writer at heart I am okay with the imperfections in the narrative. Do I wish there had been better lead up to the finale? Sure, but I like using my imagination on how to make stuff work. But that is just me.

[muthaz-rapapa]

Hope is the Pioneer

Truly, I feel that I can’t say this enough but despite its flaws, StarPre has been such a wonderful season for me in so many ways.

And perhaps the most important one is what this final episode wanted to tell us.

Hope is what paves the way to the future.

Immediately starting with Yuni getting her planet and people back.

She’s been through so much to reclaim her home and her efforts are finally rewarded.

However, it is so important to remember that this miracle didn’t come about because she tricked the universe behind the mask of an idol or that she used her skills to steal from others whatever she needed to achieve her goal, without a care for who she harmed when she did.

The revival of the Planet Rainbow can’t be credited to the mysterious powers of “Twinkle Imagination” either, which Yuni willingly gave up in the end even though keeping it for herself would’ve fixed her planet in a blink.

Rather, the miracle was brought on by Yuni letting go of her prejudices and opening her heart to those who truly respect and accept her for who she is.

This led to Yuni finding the strength within her to be able to forgive Aiwarn, the person who caused her the most pain, which then helped Aiwarn realize the error of her own ways and show sincere remorse by aiding Yuni in finding a cure for the petrification of the Rainbownians.

Had Yuni continued only on the path of a phantom thief, distrusting everyone around her and only relying on herself, who knows how much longer it would’ve taken her to get here? Or if it would’ve been possible for her to reach it at all?

But the point is, Yuni outgrew what would’ve held her back. She threw away what limited her (resentment, suspicions, hostility) and instead chose to cooperate with others to save what was most important to her.

And she succeeded.

Then we have Lala, who’s gone back home after the battle.

No longer is she the neglected scorn of her community or the unfavorite within her household.

The fact that she wants to get back to work right away in order to help better Saaman, the reaction her parents give on not wanting her to leave so soon and that they were even making onigiri to eat together (!!) speak volumes of how gigantic a change her planet is undergoing.

An extremely good change, at that.

Saamanians are no longer overly relying on technology, even though it provided them with so much convenience before.

It’s not just about “Lala style” being the new trend.

Everybody wants to be able to walk on their own two feet now. Regardless of how harder it’ll be for them, at least they can live more freely this way.

They want to live freely like what Lala has learned to do, like what Lala is teaching them how to do.

People don’t have to be assigned and divided by aptitude evaluations anymore. They can chose what they want to do and what they want to be of their own will.

Had Lala not left Saaman in hopes of finding something better for herself, been influenced by her time on Earth and brought back that experience to share with her people, can we say Saaman could’ve removed their attachment to the system they made as the crux of their society?

I don’t think so.

Lala and Yuni’s world are changing, evolving, because they let themselves wish for something even better than what they could’ve imagine.

Yes, them. The girls whose imaginations were stated by the 12 Star Princesses to be even stronger than theirs, the creators of the universe itself!

And that’s just the beginning.

Fast forward several years later, MICHELLE OBAMA has become president of the USA!! HELL YEA, BABY!!! (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و

Sorry, I just needed to say that, hee~ :D

Now back to the real important stuff...

The first girl we hear, not see, is post-timeskip is Elena.

And just by that, we already know she not only accomplished her dream of becoming a translator like her mom but she’s gone above and beyond by becoming the person tasked with the job of interpreting foreign news for the entire country of Japan!

What. An. Honor.

Seriously, an international broadcast of a monumental event happening for the nation and she’s at the forefront of that crew covering it. Such an incredibly happy and proud moment, one that other countries want to share their congratulations and well wishes for and Elena is the one chosen to help do just that.

Elena is helping bring smiles on so many fronts like the brilliant sun she is.

Her, a biracial woman of color.

Simply. Amazing. *claps* x3

Then of course, we have our beautiful moon.

Madoka, too, has reached taller heights.

Like her father, she’s become the leader of a very important force, fulfilling and continuing the esteemed Kaguya legacy as she’s always been expected to.

Unlike her father, however, whose (previous) job as a government official was to search for, expose and expel aliens, Madoka is now the head of a project that’s the first, but crucial, step to establishing connections with worlds beyond Earth.

In other words, proactively engaging and forming friendship with the aliens.

And in the face of her father, now Prime Minister, she is nothing but composed and confident.

In her team, in their efforts, in herself.

Again, so different from the Madoka at the beginning of the season who couldn’t even smile from the bottom of her heart until her friends taught her how.

Now she’s out there breaking down barriers in hopes that they can reach even further, to create more relationships like her own. Relationships that can bring so many benefits to Earth and still withstand even the distance of space.

Short-term goals, long-term goals. There’s still so much for Madoka to do.

But when you look at her expression, you can tell that she is nothing but sure in her ability to make them a reality.

That positive outlook not only shaped her but also, I believe, changed her father as well.

For once, it’s Madoka who’s teaching him instead of the other way around.

To not think so restrictedly and to let things come into their own potential rather than controlling them.

If it weren’t Madoka rebelling against him those years ago so that she could find her own way to become the person she is, I doubt things could’ve turned out as well as they did, including him becoming Prime Minister and smiling proudly at her, no less.

Madoka has achieved so many things and will go on to do even more and he’s incredibly proud of her.

Next, the star that never stopped shining, Hikaru.

Let me just say that becoming an astronaut at a major space program must not be an easy feat.

Getting selected to be part of the crew who gets to go space, even more so.

But if we know anyone who can do it, it’d be Hikaru.

Hikaru who’s so passionate about the things she loves, who fervently admires space more than anyone, who wants to know all about the unknown there is to discover out there.

Hikaru, who has a promise to keep with her best friend who’s waiting for her.

Did we expect any less of her?

Certainly not.

She’s made it and she’s coming back to space!

Light years away, said best friend is still waiting but also searching for ways to get back to Earth.

During that time, Lala also climbed ranks of her own, becoming an inspector-of-sorts for the Starscape Alliance and traveling among planets, checking their conditions and reporting them back to her superiors. Making sure the cosmos are in order and so on.

Fortunately, she is not alone as she has Yuni to share her feelings with since they fought alongside together before. 

The two Cures from other worlds.

It’s nice to have someone who understands you in that way, which is why I have at least one reason to be glad that Yuni was integrated into the team as the mid-season Cure.

As for Yuni, I suspect she seldom leaves her planet and has her own busy schedule on trying to make it more habitable to live in.

Thanks to Aiwarn, who may or may not have taken up permanent residence there (and really rocking that haircut), it’s no longer just a possibility anymore and the prospects are growing day by day.

Although I still can’t say I care much for her, I think it’s super nice the Rainbownians have welcomed her among them as Aiwarn had always wandered as a lost child in need of a home and the lack of one is probably why she became so vile and unstable in the first place. With that no longer a concern, she can put her brains to better uses.

On another note, there is no indication whether or not Planet Rainbow has joined the Alliance themselves but I’m pretty certain Lala’s been specially assigned to communicating with them anyway (thanks to her friendship with Yuni) so at least the relation is much more amiable than it was before, even if Rainbow chose to remain independent.

In short, everything’s well on this side of the universe.

A fact further supported by the Notraiders having a planet of their own to call home.

And what a beautiful star it is.

Everything’s flourishing and in bloom. A far cry from their previous headquarters which was perpetually dark and barren.

The facts that the Notraiders themselves made this planet beautiful through their own teamwork and that it was the Starscape Alliance who gave them this planet make it exceptionally more heartwarming in hindsight.

Because remember, these poor souls didn’t have a place to belong. Their previous homes either were destroyed or rejected them.

And then they had their sense of loss twisted and manipulated by Ophiuchus, resulting in them doing bad deeds.

For that, one would expect them to be thrown in jail, maybe even for life. But instead, they’re forgiven and sympathized with.

One would probably expect that they’d want revenge on Ophiuchus as well but instead of chasing after her, they focused all their energy and efforts into making a home for themselves.

Rather than punishment, a second chance. 

Rather than destruction, creation.

So exactly what point am I trying to make here?

Well, I believe that word “hope” means so much more than what we think it really is.

Hope is not just simply having aspirations and dreams. It’s not the good to counter the “evil” of despair.

Hope is something even broader, more difficult, more terrifying and of course, more magnificent than its basic definition.

It’s a sentiment we all share for wanting see a better tomorrow. 

A tomorrow where we can have more than what we have today.

Like the world becoming more innovative, more progressive.

More peaceful and forgiving.

Supportive, understanding and accepting.

Kinder and closer together than we are now.

But tomorrow is also full of unknowns, doubts and questions.

What if it’s not worth it?

What if the world won’t let me be what I want to be?

What if I’m rejected or shunned? What if no one accepts me?

What if I get hurt?

That fear will always be there and it’s indisputable there’ll come a time when you will get hurt because no one lives without being hurt, after all.

From that, you’ll learn what anger, sadness and misery feels like. It’ll either make you want to hide or lash out to protect yourself. It’ll feel like everything’s stopped at that point and you’re stuck there, not knowing what to do next.

But still, there’s always a choice for you to make.

You can decide whether to stay as you are or try to move again.

That is not to say those feelings of helplessness will be invalidated if you choose the latter. Nor does it mean you shouldn’t have felt them in the first place or give up on your cautions entirely.

Rather, it’s because you have those feelings that you can move on from them. To shed them for something better and greater.

“I may be afraid but I don’t want to be afraid forever. I want to face the world with my head held up high.”

“I’ve been hurt and I don’t think I can forgive. But there is something that means even more to me than that.”

“If nobody wants me, if there’s no place for me, then I just have to make a place for myself to be who I am!”

Hope is not guaranteed success.

It won’t always give you the results you want, no matter how strongly you wish for it, and may even bring you down worse than you thought it would.

But without hope, without imagination, then there is no future or possibilities. There is only nothing.

It’s because there’s imagination that worlds and universes can exist. It’s because there is the unknown that we have the desire to know more and become more than what we are now. It’s because there’s hope for us to cling onto that we can always strive to move forward.

All it boils down to is whether or not you’ll let your hopes be hindered by whatever blocks your path.

Be it hesitations, criticism or negativity in any form.

But once you overcome that, the outcome may be even more kirayaba than you could’ve ever imagined.

That’s all, folks! Thanks for reading! :)