#look. they will never be meta-relevant. i dont care.

[sojourner-between-worlds]

Konami: here's some new Aroma support

Me, and the three other people who play them:

[animentality]

slogging through everyone unlocking meta vision rn 💀 idk if because im not enjoying it that much so i missed something but i also dont understand how this is different from isagis other vision power ups

it's essentially not different at all.

how many ways can you really say, yes, he has spatial awareness?

we GET it. He can see behind his head.

the main problem for me is that meta vision and analyzing the field end up being VERY long and pointless dialogue explaining Isagi's every muscle twitch.

which we already got too much of. so it's just heaping on extra.

it's really boring, plus, here's the other dirty secret.

Barcha was fine, because it was 9 chapters, and it was mostly just Bachira and Otoya and Lavinho getting to shine. These are fairly likable characters (quirky, you know?), even if they get brushed over.

Manshine was really good, because while it was long-ish, it was exciting because Nagi is always fun to see, since his goals are insane, PLUS he and Reo "fixed" their beef during the match, which was something to get you emotionally invested in Nagi's success.

Plus, Chigiri vs. Kaiser was epic, since we all love Chigiri, and can root for him to beat this smarmy little prick.

Chigiri, Nagi, and Reo have had the most development, since they've been with us from first selection, and are in general, very relatable/interesting people. They have emotional depth. They kept us very invested.

But then you get to Ubers, and it's like...

I like Barou, ok? I think he's great. I didn't like him originally, but being humbled by Isagi made him a pretty good character in my book...

But he can't carry that match alone.

Look at the cast, man.

I'm sorry, but Aryu? A shallow character who can be funny here and there, but has largely lost relevance? Niko, a guy with no backstory, who has always been just a pale imitation of Isagi AND who can't stop yapping too?

Aiku, who was interesting originally, but barely gets to do anything in this match which was SUPPOSED TO BE about how good Ubers is at defense?

I also personally don't like Sendou, although I know some people do (he's too het for me). Not really sure what his character traits are, besides him wanting to date a Hollywood actress.

These are like, the surface level characters.

They don't have the rich history of Nagi and Reo. They don't have the character depth of Bachira or the realism of Chigiri, nor the sympathy that those two characters evoke.

These are like, just opponents Isagi has to surpass.

Like the other characters technically are too, but, at least they felt more personal. These guys, nah.

Now I did like Lorenzo, the ace eater. He's a very interesting idea... but he does lose his relevance, and become nonexistent, the way every character does in these matches.

And Barou, I mean... I like the guy, but something was just missing for me...him changing the plan was...kinda whatever to me. It somehow felt like it went on too long, while also happening way too fast... and that's been all of NEL for me.

And that's the other issue, besides the characters.

The pacing of NEL is pretty bad.

Barcha was super short, and Manshine wasn't so bad until the end... but Ubers is where the drag happens.

Just so much dialogue. No emotional investment, just rambling about where isagi's foot was five minutes ago.

That's the biggest issue, ok?

It always is. You can't expect an audience to care, if you don't give them characters to root for.

Isagi was such a prick during Manshine, that I was starting to dislike him. But Ubers was where he started to feel like he was never going to lose again.

So that's where he became really unlikable to me during this arc...and then we get to Ubers, where he's like a god, and it's like ok... a god who can do no wrong, against characters we don't care about?

great.

why should i care

so you have my condolences, anon.

all i can really say is, get through it.

speed read it if you must. god knows i did.

the only emotional moment in that match is related to Hiori, but it unfortunately is dragged out way too long, and it makes no fucking sense.

plus it's nothing we haven't already seen before?

And it sucks, because I LIKE Hiori. I WISH he had better development...but as he is, he feels kind of flat.

He's just a guy who passes to Isagi, same as Kurona.

so yeah.

i can at least promise that the next match is slightly better. there's more emotional moments, at least.

but it's too fucking long (it's still ongoing) AND worse -

it crams SO MUCH into the match, that you WILL be hoping to die by the halfway mark...so...yeah.

I love Blue Lock, but... this arc, man.

It's been awful.

Anyone who says differently is just an Isagi glazer who wants him to win every game he's in.

[melody-of-lost-souls]

Hi!!

In one of your posts you added some headcanons that SS stans came up with, and the one that really caught my eyes was "Sasuke's obsessed with Sakura's eyes"... This isn't funny at this point, it's complete desperation 🤣🤣🤣!! Since when did he say that??? I don't remember him ever looking at her in the eyes passionately, even in Boruto. How many lies do they have to come up with just for them to feel good about their ship??? If Sasuke doesn't say anything about her eyes, then I completely discard that idea. He doesn't even take the time to compliment her looks, not that he cares about that anyway 🤷🏽‍♀️. And in another post you said that they are asking SP to make Sasuke and Sakura kiss right? I'm sure that kiss would be a filler. Because it wouldn't affect the storyline. I don't read Boruto (I respect myself too much for that), so Idk what's going on in that crazy manga.. But apparently something not good is coming up for SS?? What exactly happened in the latest chapter??

Hello ANon! Oh yes, this "He is obsessed with Sakura eyes" is a thing that me and my friend always laugh at xD But yes, it's true. I read it in one their multiple meta post. Will not attach the link because too much cringe and i read it long ago. This post, conveniently selected some pannels and ...I dont know jaja tried to point out that always there is some connection between Sasuke's gaze to Sakura's eyes. For example they edited and cropped panels from Sasuke first reunion in Shippuden, and they cut Naruto out of the picture and made it seem...as if he were looking at her? Ah also because when he said "she was annoying" he somehow¿¿¿¿ was looking at her in the eyes (despite there is no proof of this lol) Of course they also added their so called s-mex/eyesmex whateverthefcuk pointing again that he has some kink with her eyes. Yeah. I know... Even if he doesnt word it or say something about them, you as mangaka can transmit those feelings especially in gazes and stares. Anime has the amazing characteristic of communicate a lot through the eyes, I myself can assure you as a drawer too (not a proffesional still but been drawing for 15 years.) If Kishimoto wanted to say something between...Sasuke having some obsession about Sakura eyes, he would have done it. Especially when Sasuke's eyes are so intense. In fact, in that chapter they selectively edited, Sasuke was staring at naruto, its the same when he was staring at him in Vote1 and we can go on. Say also Itachi's eyes when he is first introduced, meaning...Kishimoto knows how to do this job.

I can agree they had some chemistry when he saved her in the war (their only good scene) But this is as an isolated moment....to then confirm that he is obssesed with her eyes...Well, reading comprehension = 0

And regarding the kiss, yes this is something they always ask on twitter. They are desperate absolutely desperate for a kiss between them. I dont know if SP will make them kiss. In fact, the only couple they made kiss multiple times was SNS . We have a kiss for Naruto with Fuuka , whom he shared a very disgusted face.

Kakashi with this woman in a filler. And if someone remembers other ones let me know. But for canon... They could add even a kiss for Minakushi but never they did, or the strongest couples. So...i find it hard they made them kiss because its not relevant. If Sasuke kiss someone again, it may be naruto to maybe remember them of their first kiss, as some comic relief. Oh yeah i know Borusara kissed somehow but that was also filler and that kiss reflected SNS in fact So... xD About Boruto i dont know where people took this from, that something not good is coming for SS¿ Because I mean, SS is absolutey NON EXISTENT in Boruto. And I wonder if Ikemoto would plan to pull their romance in the manga, when he is dealing with this horrible topic about aliens and the bad copy of Akatsuki, Kara.

What some are especulating is that Sasuke death could be near, since he gifted his headband to Boruto which...We can take it as a bad and good thing at the same time for SNS. The manga nowadays is centered on Boruto, Kawaki, Sasuke and Naruto, Shikamaru and Amado. And the villains of course. Even this random girl Sumire, has more relevance and presence than Sakura and Hinata, so...i dont know what Bad thing could come for SS because its as if they have never been in there.

Something that maybe catched their eyes, is that Sarada complained that Sasuke is HER father more than Boruto's teacher. I find this marvelous lol because it just confirms what i have always said. But in any case, that the girl expressed (such as in canon as in a filler) this complaining its because we know whom is Sasuke's heart more connected with. (Despite what the gaiden said)

[sortasirius]

i was annoyed by it last night but then i realized today it is primarily 50% people who have never watched and are using it for clout and 40% old fans who stopped watching years ago and are stuck in opinions that are no longer relevant or true. just like all the people sying it was 2012 energy, those comments look like they came straight from the season 9 wankfest that was all i ever saw back then. people just dont care enough to update themselves if they think they can be edgy or "funny."

Oh I totally agree.

I’ve found, with people that I know irl who don’t watch SPN, they like...judge me for loving it. They’re like “oh that show’s still on?  lol why do you watch it?” and obviously I cannot go into a ten page meta rant about the politics of the writers’ room and Dean Winchester’s character traits, so I just laugh it off.  I feel like there was a lot of that energy yesterday when it was trending, people were jumping in with age old takes without knowing any context at all.

It’s trendy and popular and “cool” to hate on SPN, because it’s old and cheesy and has been a meme for years.  People still think it’s “cringey” and that only fangirls love it.  Obviously, that’s not true anymore, as Becky this season is a testament of, but you’re totally right, a lot of the takes were for internet points imo.

[filthyjanuary]

I've never seen an episode of supernatural all I see is what's on your blog and each and every day I become more confused about the writing of the show and why people enjoy it :l

okay well first off i am SO sorry you have to see me like this jknbuvgyuhjn i cannot believe im spnblogging in 2020 like im 15 again but things happen i guess.

second of all, the thing to know about supernatural is.... i think, for general audiences, it is an average-to-good show. it's not Bad. It's not Beloved and/or Acclaimed. objectively, i think is also probably the most balanced view of the show and is also probably what the cw and/or people who worked on the show see it as. it lasted 15 years because it consistently pulled in reliable numbers for the cw and grabbed a lot of demographics. like i know the tumblr bubble skews perceptions but, people of all ages, genders, sexualities watched and enjoyed supernatural, yes even to the very end. most people are also not looking at supernatural with the hyperfocused lens that tumblr is and that’s like... okay. those fans aren’t any less relevant or important. if only tumblr was watching supernatural, i promise it would’ve been cancelled like at least 7 years ago.

the spn *fandom* is interesting because like one, no one is watching the same fucking show. like we all watched the same episodes but like this fandom cant even agree on like...basic facets of canon, let alone digging into complex meta. people’s views of characters actions and motivations skew wildly. things one side of the fandom considers nearly canon are like essentially viewed as ooc on other sides of the fandom. you love and hate all the characters and everyone is always about to start swinging on everyone else. you have to simultaneously juggle the ideas that the writers — and for the record this show has had four showrunners and like a billion individual writers who all see and interpret it slightly differently — are brilliant and the writers legitimately are both stupid and bad at their jobs. you have to turn your brain off in terms of continuity because they retcon their own lore every 15 seconds. this isn’t even getting into the ship wars, the boundary crossing, the weird invasiveness , etc., etc., etc. supernatural’s writing is sometimes incredible, sometimes terrible, but generally pretty average, but it had a charm (ESPECIALLY IN SEASONS 1-3) that reeled you in, even if you hated the genre.

when a show is on this long, i think the fans (rightly so) will look back and dig in and get nitpicky on things they wish were covered with more care. things that the show obviously did not decide to write with the intention of addressing/grappling with later on. case in point: dean’s drinking habits. with the exception of like... season 7 where they DO address it, dean drinks a lot as a feature of his character with little to no consequence. he doesn’t get drunk. he’s always driving. it might as well be water. the writers don’t intend for that to be more than just a facet of what makes him a rough and tough action hero even though logically, he should be drunk all the time. even w/ interviews w/ the cast/crew, it’s clear the writers don’t think the fans will care and/or notice a lot of things. they do, because well, they’re invested. the fandom extrapolates because that’s what fandom does, but i really don’t think the writers connect those dots because dean’s drinking /isn’t/ a problem until they need it to be. because spn has gone on so long, it has more instances of things like this than other shows, and our cultural contexts have also evolved a lot along the way from 2005 to 2020. so again, there’s a lot to work with. i don’t really think that’s so much a reflection of the quality of the show than it is a reflection of how long it’s been on and the way society has changed since then. dean not knowing what myspace is is funny for two completely different reasons in 2005 and in 2020, for example.

my own personal opinion is, there’s a lot to enjoy about supernatural. seasons 1-5 are legitimately good tv. for all their flaws, they have a very clear aesthetic and tell a story that is well-structured and relatively coherent in terms of themes and continuity. they set up complex characters and relationships and everyone’s motivations make sense and that arc wraps on a tragic but ultimately narratively consistent and thus fulfilling point. of course, there’s stuff i personally like and dislike but separating my emotions from it, it’s very good. i think if anything, i would recommend anyone watch those five seasons and then decide whether they want to continue or not. if you don’t, you’ll end on a note that feels complete. it’s what i’m doing w/ my friend elaine, currently, actually. if she decides she wants to continue after 5, we’ll do that, but for now we’re just vibing in season 1. after that point, i think if you decide you care enough about the characters to push through wildly inconsistent writing, there’s stuff to enjoy in seasons 6-15, but the quality and particularly the consistency dips and this is also where the retconning really starts to...intensify. it’s also where the mythos of supernatural grows bigger than the show itself, which i think was always supernatural’s downfall. the crew started caring more about the whims of the fandom and frankly the fandom became more of the story than the show, and that’s how you get people piecing together what supernatural is based on out of context gifsets that skew perceptions wildly and get Supernatural Fandom™ which... frankly, in my opinion, changed fandom culture as a whole for the worse, like yes it’s a huge, powerful and often memeable behemoth but also... the way it changed creator-fan interactions is something we’re going to be unpacking for a long time. i think had the writers tuned out fandom wars and internet yelling and strived to tell a story that made sense and was well constructed to /them/, we wouldn’t be here and seasons 6-15 could’ve found a way to be as beloved as the first third of the show. i’m personally of the opinion that being a fan of something, for better or for worse, does not entitle you to part of it’s creative process. it doesn’t become a collaboration, and the door is always there if you get to the point where you want to leave. i think supernatural getting too caught up in its own fandom and balancing all these conflicting interests is ultimately what made the last 10 seasons, and particularly the back third of the show oftentimes flounder. the finale chaos, in my opinion, happened because they tried to please everyone by keeping too many things vague so people would have room to play in their own sandboxes and round out the story the way they wanted to see it and thus ultimately, a lot of things were left in the air and so for many people, the closure they were hoping for just wasn’t there.

i dont know how this became a long and scattered collection of thoughts but tldr, people enjoy supernatural because at the end of the day, it’s an enjoyable show and i think the more you stew in a fandom bubble, there’s more to get worked up about. which is fine. i like that fandom engages in complex conversations that the show won’t grapple with, but that’s not for everyone and i don’t think the fact that we have these conversations is necessarily an indictment of the show’s overall quality.

[ditheringluminary]

I checked your writings for Witch of Rage and did not find an analysis of it. I loved your dialogue about witches being under represented and would like to see a top 5 least explored characters. How would you describe a Witch Of Rage. Derse moon, leiborn , if you wanted to know.

Oh my, two requests in one! Well i’ll do your classpect first!

Witch of Rage Leiborn: Sign of The Paradox!

A Witch of Rage would be someone who manipulates and breaks the rules of Rage, which is confusion, negative emotions, and truth. Essentially a Witch of Rage would be able to alter and break the rules of reality itself, or at least a part of it. The phrase “bending the truth” comes to mind. As we see with the Rage-bound, they are often the ones to know their entire lives are a stage, or some sort of narrative that they fit into. Especially being a Dersite, they would be well aware of their “role” in the “play” of life. A Witch of Rage would use their role to alter the way the script is written. Rage players are known to be associated with plot contrivances, often appearing in places they’re not supposed to or able to use things they shouldn’t be. The Witch would 1. be scarily good at altering how one perceives reality or how reality IS, and 2. most likely WOULD do this to further what they feel is right. This can be emphasized under the Leo sign class, who fit under the Heart aspect. Because of Heart’s gut-instincts and actions based on feelings, they would be very adamant in why they are altering reality the way they are. This sounds very overpowered, but a powerful Witch would have some kind of powerful familiar to keep them at bay and challenge their power.

Now! As for those least explored characters, and surprise surprise they’re like all the trolls that were turned into sprites.

5. Eridan Ampora: Eridan is so low on the list because he at the very least did plot relevant things and we got to see him actually use his aspect. We also got to see him attempt several romantic relationships and just generally got a pretty decent understanding of him. However, he gave Princes an extremely bad name and never got a redemption (though I guess he was never planned to). I can certainly see one happening, similar to how Vriska was able to be “redeemed” to certain people despite her awful actions. Still, after he was killed he was barely mentioned, and then only shown in a joke in Erisol sprite.

4.  Nepeta Leijon: This isn’t just cause I love Nepeta I promise. I just think that she didn’t really get an “arc” and while she definitely looked cool and stuff, she ultimately stayed sidelined for the whole comic. Even Equius was able to come back in the form of Equius sprite and subsequently Arquius sprite. However, she is at the bottom of this list because we at least saw her relationship with Equius, which was like a shining example of moirallegence, and really im not sure how much development she could’ve gotten since we didn’t see much of her personality besides being a cute rp chick.

3. Sollux Captor: Got an arc, but it was really short and even during it he got barely any screentime. Even when hes hanging around Aradia in the dreambubbles, most of the time he just doesn’t say anything or he only gives off one liners. Yes he powers the meteor, and yes he TRIED to kill Eridan but after that hes basically an afterthought. Another character that does 1-2 things that, in retrospect could be done by someone else (Aradia had telekinesis that, while not as powerful as Sollux’s was still very strong, for example).

2. Feferi Peixes: Of course! The whole reason why this list was started was that Witches were pretty shafted. Feferi clearly HAS a personality, we even get to see her greater goals and ambitions. But those never amounted to anything. Worse than Sollux, she got even less screentime and did only ONE thing, which was telling the horrorterrors to glub up dream bubbles. Then she died and nothing happened from it. I GUESS I can’t see much in her future arc-wise, but her character was still tossed away after it did the one thing no one else really could. Not saying she was completely useless but character-wise but she was left on a pretty lame note.

1. Gamzee goddamn Makara. Listen. I hate Gamzee. Ok hate is pretty strong. I dont care much for Gamzee. He’s basically just one big weed 420 joke for like the longest time, he was an amazing antagonist on the meteor and then he was nothing for a long while. A kismesis with Terezi was started and did some damage that all happened offscreen. He appears in places that he has no business being in and generally is just... confusing. That’s how i’d describe his character. Yes there was a reason for his turning but... after he turned pretty evil it was never explored again. After Horrorstuck on the meteor he rarely spoke and just generally acts as Hussie’s hand to make things he wants to happen happen. Not only that but he never dies. He’s just always around. To me that’s WORSE than being unexplored or killed off than the other characters. Because very panel that Gamzee is alive in its another chance to sully his character. Or what little character he had. I get that this is all the point. He’s the Bard of Rage. He’s supposed to be confusing and weird and a little irritating. But that sucks. Like really bad. Especially when, even in a narrative as meta as homestucks, he’s the only character shown to know the world is a stage. That’s a lot of potential wasted on a clown used for whatever plot contrivance Hussie used him for. And no, just because “it’s SUPPOSED to be contrived” or like “he’s just a clown” that doesnt make it ok. You’re never supposed to just lose respect for your story like that and have characters just do whatever. If you don’t care about your story and its rules why should we. All he does is “forward” the plot but like... Doc Scratch did that. His ENTIRE purpose was just to forward the plot so LE could be born and he did it so much cooler.

Sorry for the big rant but that’s all! Hope that classpect helped you out and you enjoyed reading my... .LONG opinion. :B

[theskyexists]

she-ra 4

the reason i stopped watching she-ra is the same reason i stopped watching the dragon prince.

the narrative doesn’t take the situation seriously. instead of leaning into the anguish of war and violence (atla, teen titans) - they make light of it. EVEN when the characters’ guardians are KILLED!!

when Angella died and they spent 2 seconds on Glimmer’s grief at the end of season 3 i was like......actually fuck this. HOW can i take any of these stakes seriously when they insist on brushing them off???

anyway just had to complain about that - especially because the start of the first ep of 4 is them joking AGAIN about something as grim as Glimmer now carrying all the responsibilities of her mother - who may i remind you IS DEAD

but catradora became canon apparently so now i have to struggle through

her aunt, her mother’s sister, is fuckin, joking about cakes, her friends are laughing at the joke. COME ON! how goddamn unrealistic and insensitive. EVEN if they wanna make a point of it - it’s silly! because the narrative PARTICIPATES in making light of the situation. if it was just the characters it would be less jarring

‘we’ll make sure this day is perfect’  WHAT? how could it EVER BE IF HER MOTHER IS FUCKING DEAD????????? AND THAT”S THE ONLY REASON SHE’S QUEEN????? ‘must be hard’ YEAH IT’S HARD - IN FACT IMPOSSIBLE. instead of pretending to be happy maybe you can show some genuine sensitivity. these people are so crazily emotionally underdeveloped my god. what age are they supposed to be? 16? 17? The problem that She-ra has (just like the dragon prince) is that there are no relevant adults. Oh sure there’s a Queen, and some Soldiers, and a Sorceress. But there isn’t a single relevant competent adult around who is concerned with running a bureaucracy or the emotional stability of children

I do like how Catra has overcome her fear of Hordak. but i think i remember being fuckin furious at her for almost destroying the whole world and hurting Scorpia and betraying Entrapta just to spite Adora. vaguely.

the rebellions problem is that they’re all extremely stupid himbos. like literally, in the whole story, only catra and shadowweaver have any smarts, while glimmer gains the ability to think during full moons on wednesdays. meanwhile everybodys is a slave to their emotions - which destroys any brain cells that shadowweaver or catra (or angella or anyone) might have managed. they could literally have killed hordak the entire time but just let him order them around because they’re so hot for acknowledgement

I’m glad Glimmer reflects my frustrations now hahahahaah

‘everyone is already acting like she doesn’t matter’  - yeah dudes, you fucking insensitive bastards

‘im supposed to take care of you glimmer’ - but unfortunately i have the emotional intelligence of a crab! FUCK!

this is another thing about this show that makes me groan. sappy quick resolutions of emotional turmoil through re-affirming the fuckin power of friendship in the first episode of the season.

also couldn’t Adora have done this she-ra stuff from the very beginning

that was badass.....miss glimmer’s other hair though. ok the emotions at that hologram and statue though...

the coolest part of she-ra for me is finding out more how the ancient systems all fit into Etheria and the She-Ras and Hordak Prime etc.

THIS IS A GOOD SPEECH. love this badass.

love Hordak getting put in his place. Love Catra realising she has power - love Hordak reaping what he sows. its unfortunate that she’s a shitty brat who JUST can’t get over her inferiority complex

if i could endlessly teleport i would do what glimmer does

also, glimmer was willing to fuckin murder catra before and she DEFINITELY will be now lol. love that for her.

why did they only introduce adora learning to transform her sword NOW ahahaha, theyve had SO MANY SCENES in which she doesnt have it and then suddenly does - and then its gone again

scorpia is the funniest and most likeable person in the whole show

they really suddenly can’t take five people on with she ra and fuckin huntara on their side??

i remember that little sadistic righteous twist in my stomach when Adora finally was like: FUCK!!!!!! YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! Catra!!!!!!! and the stupid idiot got it

FINALLY A GLANCE AT THE PEOPLE OF ETHERIA AGAIN! i love the party sequences in this!!! the people of etheria are so beautiful! nobody ever comments on the main characters all looking plain human in contrast....

‘and i fell for it!’  yeah cos you DUMB AS BRICKS ADORA

so first they quietly take out the guards....and then literally break open the door hahaahahahahaaha

‘we forgot the bots regenerate’ - yeah cos you DUMB AS BRICKS ADORA

i just dont understand why they insist on making the main characters so DUMB ahahahahaah

Adora and Catra are great at hitting where it hurts. the difference between them is that Catra KNOWS that she’s hurting Adora - she does it deliberately.

wow that could be some pretty angsty stuff constantly leaving her to struggle on the floor while painfully electrocuted. Catra has also moved to kill Adora straight up so many times. im sure she really wants to (but it would destroy her later). But now, Adora swept something at Catra that might have actually killed her. I get Catra though, I would’t want to get beaten by some blonde, blue-eyed, glowing golden kid who always gets to win and do better. this is truly the first time Adora has moved to kill Catra......

does flatterina not have parents who’d be like: uhhhhh maybe leave the soldiering for a couple more years?

catra truly burning all her bridges. hahaha. it’s so satisfying to see her use her anger and power to truly destroy herself - because of guilt!

no other villagers were like - HMMMMMMM this random new kid is here? weird..... i didnt see that coming either.

Adora doesn’t think about what Catra might have even been doing there - cos she’s DUMB AS BRICKS

the interesting thing about this show is that they’re setting up a dichotomy. they’re treating war like a high-stakes game because they have the good side adhere to an aesthetic of ....magic. they will not make the two sides equivalent in any way - which makes questions of morality moot. the show is purely an emotional drama. the horde is an army of brainwashed kids in an industrial wasteland - they fight with tech and guns. but the good guys cannot fight with an army or tech, they fight with cleverness and magic. they’re called the ‘rebellion’ - they HAVE to be underdogs because they have to follow the script of good - even though what’s really going on is war, not a rebellion. That’s why they have a single strike team that do ‘missions’. They are presented as FUNDAMENTALLY different - on the level of identity which they cannot change lest they destroy themselves - and in that way the good guys can never become the bad guys. it is ALMOST meta. think they’re gonna do something with that at one point. i hope

also Netossa has such a super cool design.

‘everyone knows you’re needed in bright moon’ - uh. really? i dont know. some random person i’ve never seen before demands you go to meetings. so? is that important? why?

spinerella can literally FLY???????? why has she been in the background this whole time??? hahahaha military inefficiency.

there was an explosion that ripped trees apart - but bo’s alive!! honesty why didn’t they try explosive suicide bots before. they’re very lucky he was still alive to heal

‘could they be tracking she-ra?’ WHAT? isn’t the obvious suggestion - A SPY???? they just assume that the general is right hahahahaa.

i love how double trouble is so meta.

actually, why wasn’t glimmer trained as a sorcerer anyway?

glimmer is upset about her growing magic plants but not her having magic ingredients

why do they present good strategic thinking (for once) as evil influence from shadowweaver

what a fuckin badass. honestly - glad that this show finally utilised glimmer’s extremely op powers like they should be. honestly, she’s much more powerful than She-Ra.

that bit with spinerella was so contrived jfc.

‘by using me as a decoy’ adora says, pissed off. uhhhh YOU went off on your own to get smushed by fuckin bots adora. Glimmer didn’t do that to you. she just used your stupidity.

glimmer really left catra to die. hahahahaa

i like adora best when she’s on her own and being a dork

they definitely managed to foreshadow that Light Hope was evil but im glad they picked up the thread now

am i seeing this wrong or did scorpia have two mums??? but also. where the fuck are they

lolololololol because everybodys dumb as bricks and emotionally volatile they’re incredibly easy to manipulate

‘i cant risk hitting flatterina’ pffft - ALL YOUR ARROWS ARE NON-LETHAL BO. ugh i cant deal with these contrived stakes

I LOVE THIS BADASS EFFICIENT HARDCORE GLIMMER

they’re really gonna spin it like this is a bad development? fuck off. finally some grit.

‘you took things way too far’ - but she got results! dumb as bricks adora

(this may seem harsh but adora is DUMB shes so fucking DUMB!!!! and she has many good qualities (such as an almost innate sense of morality) but goddamn. i guess its good to sometimes have a show about all around dumb characters. i mean, it’s not unrealistic per se, it’s just.....weird.)

the interesting thing about these characters is that you can SEE every single one of them struggling with cognitive dissonance. thats the big story of this show. they see the world a certain way - and then when something challenges that, they fight to the death to destroy or deny or ignore that new information - to everybody’s detriment. and they can’t back down because every step they’ve taken - would turn to sins they can’t live with. it’s interesting and its also a kind of conflict that‘s frustrating if not resolved at SOME point. thats why i love this season for its characters going off the rails. adora aiming to kill catra, catra destroying her last relationships, glimmer growing more and more militant.

they’re all acting like teens - that  is - highly volatile - unable to keep from provoking others or be provoked - but they ARE teens.

‘catra doesn’t care. she’ll hurt people to get her way (implied: EVEN people on her side)’ - we must remember that Scorpia was entirely fine with KILLING the trio (it was Catra that wasn’t at the time).

‘you’re a bad friend’ OH OUCH. Catra - who’s always been treated as a whipping girl by those in power - does the same to those she is in power over. But on some level she doesn’t WANT to be that. she’s just always always been rejected and take advantage of and lashed out at and abandoned by the people she considered important (shadowweaver ---- doing the same to catra that was done to her is so goddamn....it’s the story of this show. the simplicity and banality of damaging and hurting others and that carrying over to harm even more people - is the story of this show and it’s immeasurably frustrating and REALISTIC)

she still flinches at Hordak’s lashing out. but she imprints on him the exact lesson she’s trying to school herself in. If you don’t need anybody - you don’t want anyone - if nobody matters but the mission and winning - then you can’t be hurt. she wants to prove her worth - but she doesn’t realise that inherently means that she’s putting somebody in power over her - again and again and again.

mermista coming  in clutch with the braincells: there’s a spy! I love how this is played as completely implausible and just Mermista nonsense (who i love learning about) - while it’s so obviously true/

i actually love Adora when she’s being serious and heroic, or a huge dork. and she has the wit to RECOGNISE good ideas. but i just don’t understand why Adora is being big b about being used as a distraction. like....why?

i love that the underside of Mermista’s sneaker has a figure. but why the fuck is a common soldier with them (flatterina) and do they really think they can interrogate the whole castle filled with some shitty guards and...what - the guerilla troops they sometimes employ? where do they even live? ah in a tent city. ok

why is the GENERAL in front line combat WITHOUT SOLDIERS???? oh wait. glimmer did that too when she was general. lolololol

i understand why Adora doesn’t trust Shadowweaver and doesn’t want her around most of all - and Glimmer getting buddy buddy with her is hurtful. but...it’s not helpful to needle glimmer about it. but dismissing the guards around shadowweaver however? stupid of Glimmer. unnecessary. ‘what has she done but help us?’ - uhhhh she kidnapped you, corrupted your powers, almost wiped Adora’s mind. I wish Adora had summed up those things instead of leaving them implied.

so perfuma and mermista come across inconsistencies in the stories - but then. forget about it? i just...... UGGHGHGHGHGHGHGH. people really aren’t this dumb are they? they’re just NOT.

‘no more secrets and doing things without us’ - that was a good speech. but like, glimmer is right - she’s surrounded by INCOMPETENT IDIOTS lolololol. but good leadership is corralling idiots, Glimmer. not going off on your own. but she’s already planted the bait about the dining room.

‘we were the only ones who knew about the plan to take back dril’ ---- THEN WHY DID YOU INTERROGATE OTHER PEOPLE AHAHAHAHAAHAHAAHA

‘stop questioning my choices, stop whining about being a decoy’ YEAH FUCKIN HELL ADORA STOP BEING SUCH A FUCKING SHIT. IS THIS REALLY ‘TAKING CARE OF GLIMMER’????

‘all you do is question my authority, it’s exhausting.’ yeah god...it really is. adora needs to fucking BACK! OFF! but im loving these fights because it brings out the grievances. Adora is right to be worried about Glimmer no longer including her in her decisions. and she makes a good point that that’s bad. She makes a good point that Shadowweaver cannot be trusted. And Glimmer makes zero good points - except that it’s been hard for her and has garnered 0.1% understanding from the people around her. Oh they were working together. BUT those were definitely real grievances.

GLIMMER CAN ALREADY DO A CONTAINMENT SPELL LIKE THAT??? godDAMN. castapella completely flunked her responsibilities to Glimmer but shadowweaver did NOT.

hmmm so Solinius was....destroyed. but like, did the people die? like....the people? that’s the important bit isn’t it? i mean, they were under the sea right?

i suppose the problem i also have is that this show will NOT hurry up. normally i love filler stuff but ...the characters are too.....cheery. too flat. their quirks are fun and funny until they’re literally character flaws.

are the horde just literally attacking civilians? jezus. the war crimes. how did shadowweaver ever expect to trick Adora when she was released into the field?

‘you can’t just keep going off on your own!’ - SHE LITERALLY SAVED THE WHOLE FUCKING TOWN. SHE’S THE QUEEN! EVERYBODY SHOULD LISTEN TO HER! lolololol

the problem with Adora’s points is that everything about their dynamics are always so nebulous. why cant glimmer keep showing up to help out? WHY??? she’s the most capable fucking soldier in the field! she’s supposed to have full fucking authority! like, Adora isn’t in the right here. the problem is that her needling is only a symptom of her worries - which is that Glimmer doesn’t trust her any more. but the needling does NOTHING but make her seem like an idiot

i do love this trope reversal here - Seahawk deliberately damselling them to let the princesses save the boys? pffft

love catra getting the consequences for her actions regarding Scorpia. You can’t keep lashing out at people and expect them to stay my dear cat.....

oooohhh Glimmer.... you’re treading close to very hurtful territory. Blaming Adora for the Rebellion failing? for things she couldn’t do anything about? stupid.

really?? you’re really gonna fucking fight-resolution BLOCK ME? are you FUCKING kidding me? edging me for the whole GODDAMN SEASON??? and finally Adora cries at Glimmer going over the line????  fuckin I HATE the narrative decisions in this stupid show I FUCKING HATE THEM FUCK THESE WRITERS GOD FUKCING DAMMIT!!! this has been the whole GODDAMN SHOW!!!!!! ARGHGHGHGHGHGH

i’ve been waiting for a fucking resolution for Adora and Catra the whole! goddamn! SHOW! NOTHING! else matters! you do the exact same for glimmer and adora and now you let it fester again??? because of some no-stakes BULLSHIT? just give me the fucking godddamn PAYOFF for watching these kids be IDIOTS.

this fight on the boat is COOL and really wonderfully animated

really? Glimmer’s response to Adora being hurt and not wanting to be TOUCHED is to be angry herself? what a fucking IDIOT. god i can’t stand this. I CAN’T STAND IT

is this how people act? do they never take a moment to breathe and think and reflect and realise their priorities and take a step back and fucking apologise?

jezus FUCKING! CHRIST!

‘no matter what glimmer thinks of me’ oh that HURTED. oh damn. that’s so relatable. it’s a way to run, it’s a way to internalise the hurt and then prove the things that hurt wrong. the one that hurt you

I know Bo is supposed to be the emotionally intelligent one but he’s also too soft. He should go up to his friends individually and ask them the sharp questions. not - ‘communicate more positively’.

I just like Adora so much better when she’s alone. Her friendships’ positive moments are always so sappy or so....like over-exaggerated, the negative moments always so fucking annoying. Alone, Adora is generally driven, tragic, and cool. the problem is perhaps that i don’t care for the constant fucking drama

god i LOVE Mara so much - she’s so beautiful. and i LOVE learning more about the Old Ones. So they were trying to study Ehteria’s magic.... but then Bright Moon and the princesses were already here. The Magic-Like systems of the Old Ones are pure tech.

wow! even Mara’s transformation is way cooler.

so why was the first one’s tech (she ra) responsive to the magic? why does Raz know about She-Ra? when she ra is first ones tech????

WAIT ONE SECOND. She-Ra is ‘magic’ ??? it’s the SWORD that’s the first one’s tech! She-Ra is Etheria’s magic ! but how if the First Ones chose Mara. Did they steal She-Ra from Etheria?

so what im getting is that. the Old Ones colonised Etheria. Etheria has magic, and when Mara was chosen they made that girl an elite soldier - giving her a first one’s tech sword so she could ‘control’ Etheria’s magic. Then Mara was told to study the magic of Etheria - the ship implying that she’d not been on the planet before. then they created a Heart of Etheria project - which will probably turn the magic into a weapon. this was going to be used against Hordak Prime, im sure. I mean, Mara saved Etheria, but she did doom the rest of the universe to...extinction.... like, judging from Hordak’s strategy, Hordak Prime just literally exterminates planets and repopulates them with his clones....

But why would the planet choose a girl from amongst the colonisers - twice?

OOOHHH that anguished scream. i love anguished screams

why dont they put fucking safety belts in these ships. it’s not like the ship didn’t survive. only Mara got splatted (i guess)

also i love Mara. but damn Adora just got some more shit on her plate. why the fuck was she pushed through a portal again? for a She-Ra chain reaction?

I love madame Raz.

So they didn’t explicitly use it against Hordak Prime. and it wouldn’t have destroyed Etheria back then but it will now...

guh this showmakes it so hard to enjoy catra’s pain.

well they did finally have a good talk about it. I have to say, Glimmer is making good strategic sense - it’s just that this show only rewards harebrained schemes

Catra having a crazy panic attack cos she can’t find Scorpia and she’s completely lost and she knows its her fault. kinda love that for her. my heart

my dear Glimmer, theres a difference between absence of trust and absence of agreement.

they’re bringing king micah back just when angella is dead? oh fuckin lol

the horde....exiled micah? they exiled Micah instead of killing him???

why do they ALWAYS interrupt important conversations? i hate that shit. it’s cheap. it’s unsatisfying.

now THIS is what im here for - that unstoppable WILL!! john gonzalez is right - we watch stories for characters overcomign obstacles. writing, is creating the obstacle course. .....what does that say about me and my life....hmmm.

‘light hope told me everything i need to know’ - uhhh no she didn’t. she didn’t tell you how to harness the energy at all. ugh

how the fuck did double trouble escape. seems to me that they didn’t actually. they were let go....

it’s always so stupid when people try to tell other people: oh no you’ve got no plan - this is too risky! when that’s NEVER a problem

Glimmer is going to activate the weapon just in time for Hordak Prime to use it. And naturally she misses the return of her dad. fuck this

they’re gonna have Hordak and Catra fight? hmm

Double Trouble is right - this IS good for her - and it IS Catra - except for Shadowweaver’s case - she was an abusive bitch

I love Scorpia’s new cool fight music and also glowy eyes

is glimmer going to throw herself into lava??

the unfortunate thing is that Hordak Prime is right on the doorstep and he took over the whole universe or whatever. so they could probably have used that weapon. i mean the Old Ones must have seen something coming. there must be a reason they’re all GONE maybe????

why did Adora assume that all those stars would be destroyed?

THE ANIMATION ON THAT FINAL STUFF WAS INCREDIBLE AND EPIC

how the fukc are they going to beat Horde Prime lolololol.

i guess Glimmer really shouldn’t have done that. but at least she was in time to bond with Catra.

[icharchivist]

And this is going to be a very self indulgent hpm rambling to work through my own issues bc i’m on a roll tonight on self introspection so ya can skip that unless you want to see me project on characters for god knows how long

but ANYWAY I was so caught up with the fact that Dice was so inspiring to me and was specifically the one to give me strength to think “fuck it” and actually thinking more seriously about my independance that i completely overlooked that like… there was reasons why Gentaro became my fav the MOMENT i’ve read his song, and that Gentaro is just as much my fav as Dice.

And I feel like this is always the sort of duo i have both with my fav characters and my fav ships by extension it is like, 1) the character I can enter in depth about while distached from their plot while generally also having some admiration for them, 2) the character I either relate too much to OR I ended up projecting to HELL on that i don’t even know anymore if any of what i’m saying is relevent in analysis bc is it meta or is it therapy you might never know-

But there’s so much to Gentaro where I can just *shoves my symptoms* that it is hhhhhhhhHH.

I mean it always striked to me as odd that while he says his family was poor the reason he was bullied was because “he was adopted” and bc I’m Like That i ended up projecting that perhaps he had some abandon issues that could manifest just like mine, and like I could…. write a lot about that. 

But i tend to overlook that one of the thing that makes it easy for me to project it is that, I was bullied at school and i honest to god closed off for years because of that. I still have a lot of difficulties with where that left me per se, but the kicker? I was told that the reason i started to get bullied in elementary school was because of the rumors surrounding the reasons of my eldest sister’s running away from home, which is the thing i have Abandon Issues About since my parents thought it was clever to Not Let Me Know for about a year that my sister had ran away (and yeah i talked about it to my mom a few days ago, she confirmed it to me that they did try to hide it from me, leading me to believe my sister ran away at my 7yo rather than at my 6th bc they were covering up the truth in that time, that’s f u n)

And the thing is how he specifically talks about how he viewed himself as twisted because he MUST be a bad person if people hates him this much, tat’s something i Feel Deep In My Bones and have felt all my teenagehood, that there was something wrong with me. Bc Like in elementary school i was thinking “it’s the rumors about why my sister left”, but when it kept going in the three middle schools i went to i just thought i was the problem.

When I entered high school i was tired and angry and i remember going to class the first day thinking i dont even want to TRY to make friends. Like not even TRY. Plus one of my elementary school bully was in my class and that didn’t help at all feeling like this year would be any different than the others. 

And I remember that bc on the first day actually i got lost, but there was a girl who had been following me around all day who therefore was lost with me, and when we were asked where we were going, we jusT. looked at each other and we started laughing from confusion, and from that point on we became very close and it is one of my closest friend still to that day. and she often mentions that she wanted to talk to me right away bc we looked like we would be on the same vibe, but i was terrifying her with my death glares dkfhdfk bc i was just in the mindset of nope, no need for friendship this time around.

And from being friend with her i also opened up a lot to others people and that’s how i’ve made the group of friends i now have, but yeah before her basically attempting all day to be my friend despite me sending signal that i didn’t want to, I was just basically also in this mindset of “i must be a terrible person and i don’t need friends” so that kinda rang a chord with me.

While the timeline isn’t the same for me though, the thing is that being bullied all time is what pushed me to start writting when I was about 11? I was writting in class and in between because then i could just afford to not have to think about the fact people hated me for some reasons and i could create realities in which i could just run away.  (and it is still making me so, so salty i ended up completely frozen from writting bc of my ex guh but then i just found back the last drafts i’ve writen and i just… should get back to it tbh)

So like… all those issues i have from those things i ended up projecting on Gentaro a lot and it’s terrible.

One thing i don’t have at all in common with Gentaro is the fact i cannot lie to save a life, like, i freeze when i even think about lying per se. But the funny thing is that i’ve spent… my whole life actually thinking about whenever or not i should lie or not? Okay this is very weird to explain but - my parents lie all the time. And it had me doubt my reality a lot growing up*. And i’ve always… kinda lived this line of “not wanting to share anything about me and make up things about me so people cannot get to me” (which was basically the reaction from being bullied thinking there must be something fundamentally wrong with my real self y’know) VS “I dont’ want to be like my parents and i’m desperate for people to actually know the Real Me for once because it’s not like it’s my parents who’d know that”

and idk it’s something i’ve always found very fascinating with that theme in particular bc it’s not just something i don’t have in common with him, but it’s something i’ve reflect a lot about whenever i wanted to be like that or not, and just took the decision not to - but basically things alligned in my life that this was something i’ve regularly been thinking about ever since i’m a kid.  (and THAT my friend is legit why my favorite characters are all either liars or people who had made up their personalities to distance from their real selves. Bc this has litterally been My Fantasy since i’m a kid. So Cloud, Allen, Lavi, y’all can see where my patern happens there.)

*about thatone of my major projecting or not is that well my parents spent my life gaslighting me on how some events of the past happened and it makes me doubt a lot of my memory, some of whichi just cling to bc i know i wrote them down when they happened. so when Gentaro's editor, a spy from the gov, tells him that the fiction Gentaro just wrote that is based on actual horrors we know the gov is doing, is truly just fiction and try to reinforce that while Gentaro still wonders if it is, i've read it as an attempt of gaslighting. and it was relatable to me and its why i really read the editor stuff as the gov trying tobmake him doubt his past, thus why reaching out to a private detective is to try to fight that back. and anyone who suffered from gaslighting can understand wanting to have someone neutral who can help you point out that no the person was gaslighting you. istg the private detective reveal was a relief to me bc it is just like when i ask my friends if they remember some events ive said in the past that would disprove my parents lies. and it is even worse bc me lile gentaro im sure, have a part of our past no one can attests for so thats when the gaslighting is the worst. i've related h ard to that but again how much is me projecting?? (and tbh this is why i read gentaro's lies as a "you are trying to make me doubt my reality, fine then i'll make my own that i know is false and you cant do anything about it". it's like reclaiming control on his narrative that people are twisting)

(in the end the real thing i don’t have at all in common with Gentaro is his loving parents lmao what are those? don’t know that. But his reaction to them being all “i felt a gratitude infinite for those people who didn’t have to care for me that i’ve refused to even let them know i wanted things so they wouldn’t have to sacrifice things for me” is….. my attitude toward my friends. As in my best friends always have to insist for me to actually let them spoil me from time to time. And by spoil i mean “giving me money to see the doctor bc my parents failed to do that”. So this is HUH.)

Anyway the point of what i’m trying to say is that therefore i can interpret every single of Gentaro’s reactions or stuff in the lenses of how i personally lived those things i ended up finding… relatability in Gentaro’s story y’know?

Like i’m thinking about the fact a while ago i did a long post about how Dice was Gentaro’s comfort zone. “ At any given opportunity, Gentaro would rather get close to Dice than to try to even connect with anyone else, avoiding every conversations possible if he cannot deviate it on focusing on Dice, almost as if the world scares him enough for him to prefer to be near someone he trusts. “

I’m.. just realizing (i mean this is what prompted this post) that the freak out i just had in my previous post about the fact People kinda scare me because it is outside of my comfort zone that this is about the reading i projected on Gentaro’s behavior there: That Gentaro seems to not want to spend a lot of time connecting with new people and eventually just always get back to a comfort zone and this zone is Dice for him, but like.. point still stand that it depicts him as quite uncomfortable with People in general as a result that he cannot stay around them unless he is staying close to Dice.

*puts head gently on table* and that’s likely major projecting but i didn’t realize it until just now where i realized i would… essentially do the same or that at least, this was natural for me to interpret his behavior as him being uncomfortable around people. because that’s how i’d live it. I just… didn’t think about how that connected until now.

And there were… more elements i’ve picked up along the time i’ve overanalysed Gentaro (remember i have a 178 page long file of rambling about how i read Gentaro and Dice?) i’m not thinking about right now per se. 

but like his fear of the Posse splitting up really does call back to me to the fact he *was* abandonned *and bullied for that*, so while he initially was ready for the Posse to be just temporary, now he couldn’t let go of it y’know? 

and hell lol there is the whole HC i have about him projecting on NLH that is litterally me just projecting bc that’s what i’d do, but then again NLH and Gentaro… has bounds that could explain that. And well i gues sjust the fact Gentaro is that attached to fiction is probably the one thing that is very easy to relate to. “reality is often more disappointing than fiction” is… litterally what i’ve always been thinking all of my life so lemme tell you that when i’ve read this translation after he did a full fanfiction of his life (which i do in my head a few times to try to process my anxieties so I ALSO relate to that), i had a big whiplash of huH.

Also man i get the thing about having ridiculous triggers, even if mine didn’t… translate themselves the way his did. But i have very ridiculous things that can send me down depression spiral down or panic at once and honestly this was.. woah to see. 

“it’s by learning from the past that we can make a future” he says in battle x 3 and that one still cracks me up bc i’ve been litterally raised with the sentence “we need to learn where we come from to go where we’re going”, it was my mom’s motto to get me interested into history (although very bold from the woman who didn’t pass down any of her cultural heritage but that’s an irony for another day). Like everytime he says this sentence i have a throw back bc I’ve. litterally used this sentence in my /essays for classes/ that’s how much it is in my head.

I’m losing track of what i mean, my meds finally kicked in so now i’m not too much into digging into my trauma as i was 20 mins ago but at any rate, 

Gentaro is very very very important to me and idk how much is projecting and all but his behavior just makes SENSE to me, it is just… so logical. 

And to me he’s such a vulnerable character who is just trying to at least give off a feeling you cannot hurt him because he’s been hurt before and doesn’t want to… let it happen again. He can give an approachable facade but he doesn’t really let himself be opened with people around him and when he does he always does it in a way he can be distached from it -say sending the message via writing a fanfic rather than saying “hey i’m anxious about that”. 

i don’t know. meds have kicked in too badly i’ve lost my train of thoughts.

But yeah. 

Gentaro good and i just love him so much and it still kinda kills me how the moment i’ve heard his song i knew he was going to be my fav yet it took me months to actually get back to “why is he my fav” without realizing that i’ve therefore done meta entierely based on how “i can relate to his trauma and his reactions remind me of how my symptoms manifest” so that’s a thing.

jkhl it’s funny bc meanwhile i remain more comfortable with a dice icon and all but…….. man, gentaro man.

so yeah just ✌ what a saga man

[aurimeanswind]

Sleepcasting—Sunday Chats (7-30-17)

I’ve had quite the week. From my rant on Superman, to a late podcast, to people throwing things at my car and damaging it while I was driving, to my car then breaking down in the middle of an intersection (unrelated at a separate time) to running late on Friday to not sleeping on Saturday, it’s been a week y’all.

So let’s start the new week with some positivity. 

Planned Idea

I couldn’t think of anything to do my write up about this week, but I had an idea that I’ll write here for my frequent chatters. It’s one I’ve been bouncing around for a couple of weeks now, but I think next week will be a good time to execute on it. 

I want to make Sunday Chats more interactive for the reader, so my plan is to essentially turn my question-soliciting tweet into a question itself, and have folks answer it in place of their questions for next week’s Sunday Chats. This way, maybe we’ll be able to have a bit of back and forth about some topic or another. It’ll probably be a question that’s both difficult to boil down to 140 characters but also difficult to answer in 140 characters, but I like the idea of keeping the generally pretty short.

I think for my frequent chatters or chat-readers, it’s good to give the warning and give you an idea of what I’m looking for. I’d love for everyone to come out and participate for the first showing, so if you’re interested, let me know! I’ll try and think of a good question to ask, and that way we can get some other folks’ opinions heard on Sunday Chats too!

My Twitter is @ALFighter27, so give me a follow there if you don’t already, and look for my tweet with the question and the hashtag $SundayChats in it next Sunday afternoon!

What I’ve Been Working On

I dont’ have much of an update here, and the only reason I stopped doing the day-by-day updates on my writings is because a lot of them have bled into scripts that I don’t quite want to talk about yet.

I wrote up a Destiny 2 piece this week that generally sums up why I’m excited about the sequel, but I need to polish it a lot so I’m not sure if it’ll be at all relevant in time for me to post it. I also have been working on some teen-related ideas, about teen video games and movies, but I don’t know if that’s a cohesive thought quite yet.

Oh and I’m writing about Overwatch again.

What’s on Tap

Sundered

The new game from Thunder Lotus that just came out this week!

I’ve played it a good deal at events so I knew I’d probably dig it, but it’s rad to see it in motion in person.

It is a procedurally generated Metroidvania, and the way they pull that off is by having some areas be static, and the pathways there be generated.

It’s hidden well, and since it’s using tile sets, it’s pretty easy to navigate still, but fun to mix things up with every life.

I have a lot to say about the game only being 2 hours in, so I’m excited to hopefully eventually review it.

Nier

I don’t have much to add here only that I am still enjoying Nier!

Owl Boy

So I finally got the chance to boot into Owl Boy, one of the many indie darlings from last year.

It’s very interesting. The idea of it being kind of twin-stick shootery when your character, Otus, is carrying a companion, is a really novel idea. I like how it’s executed.

Essentially Otus is a fuck up, and everyone makes him feel bad about it, and it’s not super great at anything really. And it’s sad, and I’m curious to see what they do with it and where they go with it.

It’s gorgeous too! Great sprites and artwork!

Furi

I picked this one back up on a whim, and Furi is still a great, unique, and fascinating video game.

I beat the boss I was stuck on, proceeded to beat the two bosses following it, and then got stuck on truly the final, final boss.

It’s still not perfect, or as tight as it could be, but every time I come back to Furi I remember how great and special it is.

Overwatch

DOOMFIST.

I played a ton of Overwatch this week, and I’m not sure if I’m just getting worse at it or if everyone else in the world is getting better.

Personally I’d put money on the latter, but WHO KNOWS FOR SURE.

Doomfist is very cool. It really is an “aggression rewards with opportunity” kind of character, which I also find to be super true to his personality, something this is far from true with many of the Overwatch characters I think.

He almost feels like a Bloodborne style character, in his execution, because attacks with his fist basically generate him more health.

All of his abilities can combo into one another, and he can just get in and out of any fight so quickly. I’m fascinated to see how he mixes up the meta of competitive play when he launches in competitive next week.

I can see a lot of general strategies failing in the face of his quaking fist, and that’s very exciting.

I PLAYED A LOT OF VIDEO GAMES THIS WEEK!

I also 103%’d Crash Warped but no one cares about that.

Questions!

As always you can find my tweet on Sunday afternoons with #SundayChats in it and reply with your question. I’ll answer. I promise!

Hell yes I am! I wish I was watching this week’s episode right now instead of writing this stupid fu—

I mean...

Well yeah, it’s pretty great. I’ve only watched the show, and it’s just super exciting to see long-running characters on screen together meeting and planning and interacting. I have a feeling some meetings may be happening in this week’s episode too...

But yeah, it’s weird too, because it’s almost swung around to being a bit too upbeat? But what characters do you have left to kill really? Unless you really want to tear things down, which I think they’ll do, but you have to save that for the dramatic pivots toward the end I think.

**update: I went and watched the episode mid write up, and it was very good.

Uhg. So I have given this a great deal of thought, or at least I did when me and my friends all got together and watched The Human Centipede on the night of our high school graduation (yeah, real celebratory, I know). 

Here’s the deal. The A is the best spot, obviously. The B is actually the worst, because you have the least control, and then C is second worst, since you do still have some control.

Everyone wants to be an A. We all do, right? We all wanna be As. It’s what we fucking live for.

But I know my place. I know I’d be a B. And no, I’m not fucking happy about it, but I’m a B.

Look at me.

I’m a B.

I know what I am.

I accept who I am for whom I may B.

Aww, thank you Xyger. <3 Love and miss you too man.

Good god Roger.

I mean like, could typing normal get worked into your schtick at some point at least? Like maybe this Sunday Chats character you’re playing get’s hit on the head and learns to type correctly?

I also live in Maryland, and while MA and MD are next to each other on the state listing, I’m just disappointed in you for making this awful joke.

I’d love to come snuggle though, fr fr, come hmu.

Context:

on the BrOC Season 2 Episode 2, I told a story about how we had to get bathroom attendants at my high school because people were having masturbation contests in the bathroom.

How a masturbation contest works... well, I don’t know. But hear the full story on the upcoming episode of the podcast!

Pokémon is a great thing to think about, for sure. 

I mean Charizard. Duh. But I have a few favorites. Charizard is just my favorite form the OG, so he has held up as my favorite to today. He’s a dragon. That’s pretty sweet.

I also love Lucario. He has a great Pokémon movie, and I think he is a real rad Pokémon to have in your team, especially given his unique abilities.

For a bonus freebie, my favorite Pokémon GAME is Pokémon Black. It’s the only game outside the original that recaptures the magic of the original without feeling old and outdated. Essentially in your initial run of the game, you only see and fight the new 150 Pokémon from the Black and White generation, meaning it’s all new Pokémon, and only new Pokémon, just like Red and Blue. It’s such a cool idea, and I wish every new Pokémon game was like that. 

My first desire was to be a photographer. I still love taking pictures. 

Then I was pretty set on being a doctor. I really wanted to help people. I’ll say now that I’ve discovered that school isn’t for me, that probably will never be my other choice in my head, which is a bummer. School is just terrible IMO. At least, it can be.

The one I keep coming back to or would be into is voice acting. I know that’s still video games adjacent, so if it’s okay if we include non-games-coverage, that’s what I mean. In games, anime, audiobooks, etc.

I’d like to hope I have an okay voice, though I’m not so sure after my recent Hamilton singing situation, but I think that’d be really fun. I love doing fun and varied voices!

Ahh good because this is a good question!

So my go to Patronus answer is a wolf, since i think it encompasses both the loner mentality in me but also the leader mentality in me *cough cough EGO cough*. But in the context of what would my Animagus be? Like, they can’t BOTH be wolf, that’s dumb, so let me think....

Hrm...

For non-Happy Potter nuts, one, get your shit together, and two, a Patronus is your literal spirit animal or guardian, and an Animagus is the animal you can shift your body into at will.

Weirdly I think my Animagus would be an owl. They’re wise, nocturnal, and have a piercing stare. I think it fits up. I could totally see the physical character similarities in the eyes too.

What do you think Brandon? Ooh, and tell me yours on Twitter too!

Two characters:

Ellie, because of her mix of optimism, pessimism, altruism, and just genuine honesty.

And Rise Kujikawa, because of her struggle to find and understand herself, what she wants out of life, and what brings her happiness. That confusion of all the different parts of yourself is something I struggled, and still struggle a lot with.

Plus I’m totally just an anime pop star cutie girl on the inside and we all know it.

For reference, here is the video, which I just watched, and you should too:

This is a tricky thing. The idea, to summarize, is creating video content and not getting any views, or any listens, or clicks, etc. It’s tricky because it’s a thing that happens to me and I still struggle with, and I have a lot of feelings on too.

I’ll say this, I used to get way more frustrated about making video content that got no views, or podcasts that would get no downloads, or reviews that no one would read. It sucks. You pour your heart into something for creation, for content, for it to be out there, and then nothing comes of it, at least for you. I’ve changed my perspective a lot over the last few years, and it’s odd, because only more recently, specifically the last two years or so, has any of the stuff I’ve made really garnered any significant attention. 

By significant attention, we’re still talking like tens of people also, so I don’t mean break out roles.

I make stuff for me. I make stuff for me to have made, to have had fun making, to have most importantly learned while making, and to apply into the next thing I make which will, ideally, be better. And I’m hoping that the best thing I make will do better, and then the best thing I make after that will do even better, but that’s no longer the goal. The goal, is for me to be better, not for the thing to be popular.

It’s not always that easy, and I try not to think about it. It makes it daunting to start new projects, because it’s like a thing I have to make from scratch, and it’s a whole new thing, and I’ll put in all this work, and what if it doesn’t pick up enough attachment to be worth it? It’s a thing you struggle with, but I do something everyday in the hopes of getting better. That’s just always been my thing.

I know people will read my reviews, or listen to my podcasts, because they’re a part of my portfolio, and I’m going to use them to try and get a job some day, and those people I send them to will read/listen/watch them, and at the end of the day, if I spent that time doing it, and doing it right, and making it good, then when I do get that one view, it’ll matter a whole lot more.

So there is my glass half full perspective on the whole thing.

I did actually know about the whole eight pound head thing. I learned it in an anatomy class.

I can’t show you the money one, because I don’t care physical cash because why would you? And two, I didn’t “k ow” I had you at hello, but it’s a good thing to know.

I don’t dream often, and when I do it’s typically nightmarish, or nightmare adjacent.

I had this one really awful dream when I was super young where I was in this cabin in the woods, and these borg-like aliens came and attacked me and my family and were like, “turned”. Now that I think about it, it was really just like, straight up the borg I think.

Anyway, everyone but my mom had been corrupted, and I ran through the woods, and I was so terrified, and then I saw my mother in like a glowing searchlight, and when I got close, I saw that she had finally been corrupted too. And when I saw that, I just remember the feeling of hope draining from me, and I gave up. I let them take me and turn me too, essentially killing me, and I woke up in a cold sweat.

I had this dream when I was maybe five or six years old, and I still remember it vividly. It was the first nightmare I remember having, and it was awful.

Haha, so that’s maybe a bummer-ish answer, but that’s the one that sticks out to me.

I’m doing alright. I am surprisingly tired, which I’m usually not on Sundays, but I’ve had a pretty exhausting week. I’m fine though. 

Assuming you know about this secret project launching soon, you may know more than even I do. I’m very excited about it. See below for more info!

There are definitely a few. It’s worth noting that I have never once considered myself a video games journalist. I am not a journalist. I am not a reporter nor an investigator. That doesn’t mean I don’t have the potential to be one some day, and I’d love to do some investigative reporting at some point, but I have yet to.

For me, Patrick Klepek. Times 1000000. Back in the day when he broke the Infinity Ward story, that was the first time I realized what a video games journalist really was and looked like. And consistently Patrick has reported on some of the most interesting and thought provoking stories to date. That Xbox One policy reversal was such a massive scoop, and it’s one of this console generations highlights by far, on the journalistic end of things, done by Patrick Klepek at GiantBomb.com.

In extension of that, Austin Walker is a huge influence for me. The dude not only is my spirit animal when it comes to sending very nice emails about how I can improve my freelance writing, but is also a great journalist as well. I believe he was the first to break the PS4 Pro story for GiantBomb, but I know him and Klepek broke the story around the same time.

Jason Schreier is obviously another huge one, but I’ve read the least of his work. I just don’t have the most exposure there, but he is breaking delays left and right.

There is definitely more room for actual, genuine journalism in video games, and I hope it evolves to that.

If we wanna talk about just games writers, I’d be remiss not to mention Cara Ellison, who is my favorite writer in the gaming space, who now writes games instead of writes about them, but she is supremely talented, and is probably just my favorite writer in general. Full stop. She is incredible, and you should go dig up some of her old pieces. Might I suggest this one:

http://www.pcgamer.com/old-friends-an-ode-to-defence-of-the-ancients/

**UPDATE:

I missed this! I’m sorry Trevor, I pulled the tweets differently this time because I was really tired, but no question left behind! I’m sorry!!

**

This is a great question! It’s hard to pin down, but easily one of them was picking Roger Pokorny up from the airport with Barrett and Alyssa, and then the car ride back was super fun, cracking wise, bonding, getting to see Roger and Barrett hang out for the first time. That whole week in the apartment with them boys was a blast, and I miss them all very much.

One of my favorite moments was this time I got to see Trevor Starkey and hug him and do fun cool press stuff at PAX East with him. I miss that boy.

<3

I’d make Spelunky 2.

No but seriously, Derek Yu. Please fucking make Spelunky 2. I need it.

I’d probably make a game like Breath of the Wild, open “air” adventure game, where exploration is key and critical to gameplay. There’d be a social link system in the game with really great characters that can interact with each other. And I’d want there to be some kind of Metroidvania progression system if I could work it in. The problem is what works for Breath of the Wild is the fact that anything can be done at any time, and a Metroidvania progression system would directly contradict that. Hrm.

Also, how crazy is it that I’m saying with an infinite budget I’d make an open world game? Because before Breath of the Wild I’d have never said that in a million years. But that game changed a whole lot for me.

You’ve made a great choice.

Jurge Cruz and I actually had a great conversation about Tales of Berseria on ep. 337 of Irrational Passions Podcast. You should listen to that segment if you get the chance! I think you’ll like this one, though you’ll definitely hit some cringe-y anime parts. 

Enjoy and let me know what you think!

This is just ridiculous. Though I do appreciate the positivity. My hair has been a mess all week though. Especially today. And I haven’t been shaving as much and it’s becoming a real problem.

See, me right now, while writing this:

The Checklist

I didn’t really consume a lot of cool stuff this week, but here are some things to keep an eye out for.

I’m going to be on Quinten Hoffman’s podcast, Break in Reality, this coming Tuesday night with my good bud Andrew Taylor. We’ll be talking about what we think will be Game of the Year, so I’m excited to tell those two fuckers they’re wrong about whatever they think it’ll be.

There is also a super exciting new show coming to IrrationalPassions.com THIS WEEK! Ahh, I just got word that it’ll be up tomorrow at 9am eastern daylight time! I’M SO EXCITED.

I’d tell you what it is, but it isn’t my announcement to make, so be excited!

The next two episode of my OC Rewatch Podcast, The BrOC, are fucking bangers. I don’t want to spoil them, but goddamn. They’re very good.

Movies with Mikey - Guardians of the Galaxy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjwzCrtK5G0&t=632s

Movies with Mikey is probably the best film-related show I’ve ever seen, and I’m super thankful to Barrett Courtney for turning me onto it. This episode is quite good, and made for a good view on my lunch today. 

Kingdom Heartache Episode 1: https://www.giantbomb.com/videos/kingdom-heartache-episode-01/2300-12407/

Though I have yet to watch this, I’m endlessly excited about this Giantbomb play through of Kingdom Hearts. I love the series, and I’m sure they’ll shit on it a ton while they play it, but I also know it’ll be very funny, partly earned, and there is just the slightest chance that they come out the other end with an appreciation for what’s there.

Fingers crossed.

That’s it. I need to relax, go watch Game of Thrones, and probably go to sleep at a reasonable time maybe.

Thanks for keeping it positive this week y’all, and do another thing for me will ya?

[skrub-ttrpg]

The Aspects as in Skrub

here is the complete explanation of what Homestuck’s Aspects  mean in the tabletop Game Skrub, ripped straight from the rulebook. if these seem interesting to you, and youve ever felt the desrie to play through Sburb with your friends, come check this game out!

7.2.2 The Aspects

Painting metaphors have been used before, so I will continue with that. Aspects are the media of the painting, and each aspect is like a different color (as compared to the Classes which are like different painting techniques).

But truthfully, that's an oversimplification. The Aspects are a metaphysical system, in of themselves they are Abstract concepts. This means they are the fundamental structure of the universe, and that they are not directly physical. You can not simply walk about and find ‘Breath’, you can only find things that represent Breath. More specifically, aspects are the Metaphysics of a Story. They are the sum of the fundamental concepts that make up a story. Each of the aspects opposes another, which means their purposes compare and contrast each other.

But how do abstract concepts make a story?

Through the use of Symbols. [Rose’s apple speech that symbols hold all the power]. A symbol is something that represents something else, it’s meaning manifest. Symbols can be as simple as a physical object like a pumpkin, and action like a kiss, an emotion like anger, a game mechanic like ~ath, or more complex things I call themes, like Love. A Symbol is the means to the Aspect’s end. But, interestingly enough, since they are only a means to an end that is perceived and thus subjective, a Symbol in its performance may produce multiple ends, it might unintentionally represent many aspects. This is why most people have such a hard time differentiating the aspects in the story, because they are looking at things that are being used multiple ways. It is better to look at aspects in what they are trying to accomplish rather than what they are.

This guide is organized like this;

The binary between the next two aspects

The Number; I have associated on a d12, the Aspect itself and its Trait

The Meta; what the aspect at its metaphysical core

Themes: complex concepts that don’t have specific mechanics to express them, and exist in general in  the story, but still are used to support the aspects

Interaction: direct actions of the aspects, often what has to be done in order for the powers to take place

Objects: what physical objects are direct symbols

Strife Component: the in-combat representation

Status: what Emotions support them

Ultimate: the ultimate status of each aspect, and the greatest physical symbol in the Medium

Talents: talents that can be used to support the aspects

Space & Time, the basic building blocks of a story. [Screenshots of Calliope explaining space like the pages of a book, time is the turning of them]

12, Space, Imagination

Meta: the Setting.

Space is where everything takes place. The here, the there, and what's there. Its the set of the play, the buildings and props and the colors painted on everything. Anywhere that is Anywhere is Space (if you're nowhere, its void)

Themes: Creation, art, possibility, beginnings, Location. Space without time is the beginning of everything,  its looking at the stage and all the props before the start of the show, nothing has had time to do anything yet, it is the setup, infinite potential of all the thing that could happen to it before whatever does happen happens. Pure space without time is simple being without action, change, cause or effect.

Interaction: moving from place to place, touch, setpeice movements.

Objects: art supplies, any physical location, plants

Strife Component: the Chess board that represents where everything is

Status: Weird, Lonely, creative

Ultimate: Noblebright, (space is omnipresent, but either Skaia or Bilious Slick could work)

Talents: Art, Dream, Science, Cartography, Fashion

1 Time, Pulchritude

Meta: the Plot

Or more specifically just the chronology of the plot, the fact that event occur one after another, and that they continue to keep occuring. Not why they occur, or the specifics of what occurs, or how they relate, just that they do.

Themes: storytelling, Destruction, music, eventuality, endings, progression. There is a later section called Timelines (itll be at the end of the pdf, cause its a mess) that explains the horribly convoluted hell that is Timetravel in this game.

Interaction: letting time go by, playing music

Objects:instruments, clocks, metronomes

Strife Component: timing in combat, turn order, Actions

Status: aloof, entropic,

Ultimate: Grimdark

Talents: rhythm, fashion, nonchalance, dance, roast

Breath & Blood, [ i dont know how to describe the relationship between Direction and Investment]

9 Breath Adroitness

Meta: Story Direction

Breath is the why to Times when. Breath is moving to what's next, where you are going, what you are doing. New, unexpected events that are introduced that push the story towards a conclusion.

Themes: the mail, flying, goals, motivation, freedom, being let loose, not tied down, New Things

Interaction: anything touching the air or wind, moving around, breathing

Strife Component: Movement, Initiative, Absconding Strife

Status: flighty, confident

Ultimate: [free? Off the Railroad], The White Queen

Talents: ride, prank, rant, nonchalance, cartography, lift

4 Blood Vim

Meta: Investment

Do you give a shit about what's happening? Blood is if and how much you care about the story and characters. Your connection to it, your bond.

Themes: Relationships, Drama, Intensity, Family, Duty, Class Structure

Interaction: contact/ submersion in a liquid, especially with blood, bleeding, grappling and holding on

Objects: blood and other liquids, Rings,

Strife Component: Teams and Leaders, Being stuck in Strife

Status: <>,<3,<3<, c3<, angry, burdened

Ultimate: Stuck. The Black Queen.

Talents: Grip, Ship, Rant,

Light & Void; Relevance

8 Light, Sagacity

Meta: Importance

Even though there a literally trillions of bits of information streaming at you at every second, you only focus on a few sparse details. This concept is utilized very visually in stage shows, you can hardly look at everything on the stage, instead, our eyes tend to be led by a tool, the spotlight. This is the role of Light, it's the way the story signifies what is important, be it objects, locations, actions, or even the players themselves.  

Themes: Luck. Fortune. Agency, Sobriety. Knowledge. Attention.

Interaction: anything illuminated, in the light of some object, but especially in the light of Skaia

Strife Component: Focus, Crit Success, revealed areas

Status: Lucky(unlucky), conscious, illuminated, Smug

Ultimate: Enlightenment. Skaia.

Talents: Snark, Judgement, Wiles, Gumshoery

5 Void, Adroitness

Meta: Unimportance

If light is what is under the spotlight on a stage, then Void is what is everywhere else.  Void is where you aren't supposed to look, it allows the stage crew to move around the set, because if you can't see (or hear or perceive the event in some way) it's like it doesn't even happen. But thus goes deeper than just light and shadows, it's about attention. The street magician doesn't use magic, he keeps your attention one place, and in the void that creates he performs his magic and switches the cards around.

Themes:

Objects:

Interaction: any space where light is dim or nonexistent, especially in direct shadows

Strife Component: negative Focus, Critical Failure, Non Action, hidden areas

Status: Shy, unconscious, (lack of a status afflictment)

Ultimate: Nirvana. The Noble Circle of Horrorterrors.

Talents: Creep, Ride, Prank, Nonchalance, Lie

Hope & Rage; the suspension of disbelief

11 Hope, Pluck

Meta: Suspension of Disbelief

Hope is accepting something as believable. It is saying yes, this fits, this is explainable and justifiable in the setting and tone it is present in. Hope never needs to provide an explanation why, the answer is that when you believe in magic, anything is possible!

Themes: Belief in Magic, Romantic Crushes, Imagination, Shonen Heroism, Idealised Sexuality/bodies

Interaction: in dreams

Objects: globes, white stuff, phallic symbols

Strife Component: Dealing Damage, amount and note

Status: Hopeful, ( <3 and <3< but only when they are unrequited)

Ultimate: Magical. The White King.

Talents: Pester, Dream, Ship

2 Rage Vim

Meta: Contrivance

Breaking the suspension of disbelief. Rage is the realization that no, it doesn't fit, there is no believable explanation. It is complete and utter bullshit. Things that simply do not work, that are utterly impossible and unforgivable. And Rage is the reaction against this, screaming out that something is unacceptable, or reveling in the fact that it doesn't have to work, that its simply absurd and there is no changing that.

Themes: Disillusionment, Absurdity, Reality, Real human sex/bodies

Interaction: in nightmares, when things are in pain

Objects: clowns, game Glitches,

Strife Component: Deafness Resonance, Taking Damage, Response Actions

Status: Angry(calm), Afraid, Entropic

Ultimate: Berserk. The Black King

Talents: Rant, Lift, Lie, Science, Hack

Life & Doom; Tone

10 Life Pulchritude

Meta: Light Tone

Life is about having fun! Doing silly things, remembering to laugh, doing things that excite you, not always following the silly rules we make for ourselves. Rewarding yourself to a slice of pie, the sweetest pie called life.

Themes: Fun, Enjoyment. Endulgence. Growth. Power and the will to obtain it. The power to not have worry about the rules, to laugh without fear of retaliation, the power to afford sugar. The kind of power a monarch feels as they stare down upon the ants that are their subjects. The power to enforce their will upon the world.

Imagine an eagle as it swoops down to pull trout from its watery home. Imagine the strength it must feel, the rush of excitement as it swoops down from the sky, the power it feels knowing no other birds can compete, and the satisfaction it feels with the fish meat in its stomach. That is raw, unadulterated Life.

Objects: Organic structures, food, eating utensils

Interaction: consuming something, making a Joke

Strife Component: Vigor, Refill, Vitality Gel

Status: Sweet, Sour, Excited

Ultimate: Trickster. Prospit

Talents: Roast, Wiles, Fashion, Prank,

3 Doom, Sagacity

Meta: Heavy tone

Doom is Serious business, quite literally. It is the gravity of the situation, the weight that says right now is really not the time to be making a joke.

Themes: Rules. Law and Order. Structure. Should and shouldn't or Morality. Karma. Limitations. Sacrifice. Punishments. If Life is splurging and eating the entire ice-cream cake, then Doom is eating nothing but unsweetened, bland food for a diet.

When Life is the predator, Doom is the prey.

Interaction: Dying. Following the rules. Suffering from an Ailment

Objects: Dead things,

Strife Component:Despair, Decay, Ailments, ~ath,

Status: Bitter, Salty, Afraid, Paranoid, Ailments

Ultimate: Doomed. Derse.

Talents: Snark, Gumshoery, Hack, Judgement, Grip

Mind & Heart; the Self

7 Mind, Imagination

Meta: Choices.

What the player gets to decide for themselves.

Themes: Free Will, Pure rational Insight, Politics

Interaction: words, ideas, and concepts  read or heard, anything that causes a thought

Objects: clothing, Coins, Synapses, Hats

Strife Component: Strife Techniques

Status: Confused, Pretending(Mind cheats by making any feeling a Mind status,  but only if the player is pretending to feel it)

Ultimate: Fake. Denizens.

Talents: Lie, Cartography, Dance, nonchalance, Judgement

6 Heart Pluck

Meta: The person playing the game

Heart is the Ultimate Self, which is literally the person playing the game. Heart represents thing’s character, what they are regardless of choice. The character traits that make up “you”. The things that you were born with.

Themes: Capabilities/Talent, Preferences/Taste, true Love, True Friendship, Desire, Intuition

Interaction: touching, especially a kiss, direct eye contact

Objects: Shoes, player symbols and color, Hats

Strife Component: the players inherent stats, Talents, Weapon Quirks

Status: (heart cheats as well by making any feeling a heart status,  but only if the player is honestly feeling it),  <>,<3,<3<, c3<

Ultimate: Real. Denizens.

Talents: Pester, Ship, Lie, Dance, Dream

[moonshugar]

Search Voat Limit to v/pizzagate Submission Info Posted by: Johnny3names Posting time: 2 months ago on 12/13/2016 4:35:31 AM Last edit time: never edited. Traffic stats Views: 2645 Score SCP: 75 80 upvotes, 5 downvotes (94% upvoted it) Share a link Discuss pizzagate unsubscribe block 12204 subscribers ~1837 users here now Darknet Hack DATA COLLATION MEGATHREAD Pizzagate Subverse Network /v/AskPizzagate – Pizzagate-related questions /v/pizzagatewhatever – anything Pizzagate-related /v/PizzagateMemes – Pizzagate memes /v/pizzagatemods – meta concerns and Pizzagate moderation discussion Submission Requirements Please review BEFORE you submit content. Submissions not meeting these requirements will be removed. 1 ALL submissions should be directly related to Pizzagate, and this is how we define Pizzagate. It is the responsibility of the poster to demonstrate relevance. In most cases this will require a Discussion post where you provide a brief explanation of how your content relates to the investigation. Sometimes there will be content (like an article on Pizzagate) where a link post with an accurate, descriptive title will be enough to satisfy this requirement. 2 EVERY claim that is made as part of your post needs to be sourced. If you are asking a question, give a brief summary of what led to your question, and provide sources for those elements. If you are giving an explanation of how your content relates to Pizzagate (satisfying Rule 1), and you need to connect a few dots to do so, please provide sources for your "dots". If you wish to ask general questions about Pizzagate, please do so HERE. 3 LINK posts (VIDEO, IMAGE, ARTICLE, etc.) all need to include an accurate description of the actual content. If you can't provide an accurate summary in the title of a Link post then you must submit it as a Discussion post where you provide the link with a brief description of the content. 4 META submissions and general discussion submissions without sources will be removed. To avoid diluting the front page, please make those sorts of submissions HERE. Please bring any meta concerns you have HERE (this is also where the mods will discuss moderating the sub, so you are welcome to participate in those conversations as well). 5 Standalone MEMES will be removed. Please post standalone memes HERE. If you feel that a given meme can be used to raise awareness, please link it as part of a Discussion post where you source the elements that it is related to and discuss the best ways to use it. If you want to discuss the accuracy of a meme, again, link it in a Discussion post that sources the relevant elements from the investigation. 6 NSFW submissions (gore, nudity, etc.) must be labeled as such. This is not an adult subverse. Adspam, illegal content, and personal info about Voat subscribers will be removed, and the offender will be banned. Moderator Rules and On-Demand Removal Explanations Submission Removal Log WARNING! Due to the nature of this investigation, some links could result in the opening of incriminating material. Always practice common sense before clicking links, and make sure you're browsing safely. Use archive.is to archive and distribute sources. Links Resources for Investigators Memes and Infographics List of Independent Pizzagate Subverses List of External Pizzagate Sites – Stay secure! Chatroom #voatpizzagatemain:matrix.org (Riot) created by kingkongwaswrong a community for 3 months Advertisement Eat my ass Want to advertize on Voat? message the moderators MODERATORS kingkongwaswrong [O] Crensch [O] heygeorge [D] VictorSteinerDavion [O] Millennial_Falcon [M] rktyp [J] belphegorsprime [M] wecanhelp [M] l4l1lul3l0 [J] Kwijibo [J] Vindicator [M] abortionburger [J] SpikyAube [J] sensitive [J] MODERATION LOGS Removed submissions Removed comments Banned users 80 Nancy Pelosi and husband accused of shipping little boys in for Harry Reid back in 2014... (pizzagate) submitted 2 months ago by Johnny3names I posted this over on the shipping thread already but... Idk how dependable this publication is but I just ran across a post from 2014 accusing Pelosi and her husband of using his business to ship in little boys for Harry Reid. Anybody know what business her husband's in or a company name? His wikipedia page just makes some vague reference to American businesses with no real specifics. Well, today we found out, from the same unimpeachable whistleblower who gave us the information about Reid, that Nancy Pelosi has been Reid’s primary supplier of little boys. Apparently her husband has a multinational business and he’s been shipping in children for Harry.> http://conservativebyte.com/2014/03/harry-reids-pedophile-nancy-pelosi-supplying-children/ Harry Reid has been one of the asshole faces everywhere you look lately pushing one line of bullshit or another, Idk if this is it but he's got some kind of baggage somewhere. 31 comments unsave source report sort by: New Bottom Intensity Old Sort: Top [–] coincidencesmyass 8 points (+8|-0) 2 months ago  (edited 2 months ago) Not that it's proof or anything, but I've always thought that Nancy Pelosi's wide eyes looked psychopathic. Her eyes remind me of the eyes of the guy with the dyed orange/red hair that shot up that movie theater. His are worse, but still, her eyes are not the eyes of an average person. permalink save source reply report [–] Bulgakov 4 points (+4|-0) 2 months ago  I always assumed her plastic surgeon didn't do an even job...really opened that one eye permalink parent save source reply report [–] Johnny3names [S] 3 points (+3|-0) 2 months ago  (edited 2 months ago) More of these assholes than not look weird af with either bugged out or bird of prey eyes. They all remind me of the Skeksis from the 80's Jim Henson movie The Dark Chrystal or Montgomery Burns from the Simpsons and Mitch McConnell has a face like a shaved droopy nutsack wearing glasses. No one can ever say "never woulda guessed". permalink parent save source reply report [–] rail606 1 points (+1|-0) 2 months ago  What you dont like?JPG permalink parent save source reply report 1 reply [–] it_was_foretold 3 points (+3|-0) 2 months ago  wide-eyes think mk-ultra permalink parent save source reply report [–] [deleted] 3 points (+3|-0) 2 months ago  [Deleted] parent [–] coincidencesmyass 1 points (+1|-0) 2 months ago  ethic-eze, I love it. The men have the cremation of care at Bohemian Grove, maybe the Stepford wives are given medication. permalink parent save source reply report [–] blind_sypher 2 points (+2|-0) 2 months ago  You can always tell by their eyes. permalink parent save source reply report [–] Forgetmenot 6 points (+6|-0) 2 months ago  Harry Reid was absolutely not happy about bannons appointment to trumps cabinet. http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/15/politics/harry-reid-donald-trump-steven-bannon-floor-speech/index.html Could it be because bannon might be aware of the same information that Andrew breitbart was tweeting about? There was also a video where breitbart yells what is in your closet podesta but I cannot find it. Maybe someone can post it. http://www.infowars.com/andrew-breitbarts-chilling-podesta-tweet-from-the-grave/ permalink save source reply report [–] FyndersKeepers 1 points (+1|-0) 2 months ago  It can be safely assumed Breitbart filled Bannon in on everything that Bannon wasn't already privvy to. permalink parent save source reply report [–] hashtaggery 4 points (+4|-0) 2 months ago  Have you looked into Paul Pelosi Jr (her son)? He seems to hang around with a rough crowd - James E. Cohen / Joseph Corazzi. I'll dig around to see what I can find. permalink save source reply report [–] LearningTheLessons 4 points (+4|-0) 2 months ago  (edited 2 months ago) In the comments of this article about Bengazi someone posts "Nancy Pelosi's husband was the money manager for the Muslim Brotherhood in Turkey, when they were married in 1963. It's in their wedding announcement in the NY Times. Pelosi's husband has been orchestrating from behind the scenes." http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2014/04/real-benghazi-story.html permalink parent save source reply report [–] LearningTheLessons 2 points (+2|-0) 2 months ago  http://gawker.com/5113868/paul-pelosi-jr-the-fresh-green-prince-of-san-francisco permalink parent save source reply report [–] jbooba 2 points (+2|-0) 2 months ago  This is another hint ..: Pelosi’s daughter leads effort to block Trump through Electoral College permalink save source reply report [–] FyndersKeepers 1 points (+1|-0) 2 months ago  A hint treading on giveaway grounds. permalink parent save source reply report [–] Mrs_Ogynist01 2 points (+2|-0) 2 months ago  Utah is perusing a $2 million bribe case against Reid. http://www.sltrib.com/home/4533272-155/a-2m-check-harry-reid-and permalink save source reply report [–] 28leinad82 2 points (+2|-0) 2 months ago  a lot of emails from nancy and about her in the podesta wikileaks if you want to dig further. permalink save source reply report [–] BRING_DOWN_THE_RING 1 points (+1|-0) 2 months ago  Well, there's always the Pelosi Goat Hill Pizza thing... http://magafeed.com/guccifer-2-0-nancy-pelosis-goat-hill-pizza-may-be-a-front-company/ permalink save source reply report [–] ALDO_NOVA 1 points (+1|-0) 2 months ago  (edited 2 months ago) http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Pelosi-s-husband-prefers-a-low-profile-2660253.php " the couple's net worth, most of it linked to Paul Pelosi's investments, has made the Nancy the ninth-richest person in the House(of Representatives)." permalink save source reply report [–] surgit2 1 points (+1|-0) 2 months ago  She and her husband Paul own a Napa Valley vineyard: http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-richest-nancy-pelosi-vineyard-story.html permalink save source reply report [–] The_Kuru 1 points (+1|-0) 2 months ago  The reason they promote people to the top positions who are horribly compromised like Hastert and Reid is that they can be trusted. Same reason that you have to be destroyable before you can be "made" in the mafia. permalink save source reply report [–] [deleted] 1 points (+1|-0) 2 months ago  [Deleted] [–] Votescam 3 points (+3|-0) 2 months ago  Goat Hill Pizaa http://magafeed.com/guccifer-2-0-nancy-pelosis-goat-hill-pizza-may-be-a-front-company/ The owner of Goat Hill Pizza is Philip DeAndrade. as per this article from October 2016 He was a former staff member of Nanci Pelosi as recently as 2013 which can be found in the document ‘NP STAFF LIST UPDATED.xlsx’. Suggest a few others involved in purchase: Monley, Dickinson, Lipski Goat Hill Pizza is owned by Goat Hill Inc. Another website reports: BREAKING: Guccifer 2.0 - Nancy Pelosi’s Goat Hill Pizza Restaurant Is A Front Company Used To Funnel Money To The Democrats. Goat Hill Pizza is REGISTERED IN PANAMA. Who registers a pizza place that is in San Francisco in Panama? https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Donald/comments/55w48s/breaking_guccifer_20_nancy_pelosis_goat_hill/ permalink parent save source reply report [–] LargePepperoni 1 points (+1|-0) 2 months ago  You know about her and Goat Hill Pizza? permalink save source reply report [–] Johnny3names [S] 1 points (+1|-0) 2 months ago  Not at all, but I grew up in the bay and I shit you not my HS Social Studies teacher was married to one of the owners. The mf didn't believe in deoderant and taught in an inner classroon with no fucking windows, it was insane. permalink parent save source reply report [–] VictorDaniels777 1 points (+1|-0) 2 months ago  Harry Reid hasn't gotten enough attention. Nice lead. permalink save source reply report [–] sunshine702 4 points (+4|-0) 2 months ago  (edited 2 months ago) Harry Reid resigned his office in such an abrupt fashion. Not long after this happened: http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/01/02/reid-is-hospitalized-after-exercise-accident/ There are some whispers about a "Mr. Exercise Equipment" paying him a visit at home over Christmas week but who knows?! permalink parent save source reply report [–] CadiBug 1 points (+1|-0) 2 months ago  (edited 2 months ago) "Mr. Exercise Equipment" = Ried's younger brother I believe permalink parent save source reply report [–] quantokitty 0 points (+0|-0) 2 months ago  Paul Pelosi is a land developer. https://www.google.com/#q=nancy+pelosi%27s+husband "Paul Francis Pelosi, Sr. is an American businessman who owns and operates Financial Leasing Services, Inc., a San Francisco, California-based real estate and venture capital investment and consulting firm. Wikipedia" Then there's the gifting of Treasure Island to this b*tch. This article leaves out that Clinton forced the military to sell the land. https://sadbastards.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/the-real-nancy-pelosi-multi-millionaire-non-union-resort-baroness/ permalink save source reply report [–] madmanpg 0 points (+0|-0) 2 months ago  As much as I wish this were true, "I heard Harry Reid touches little boys" has been a meme for a long time, mainly in response to his unsubstantiated claims that Mitt Romney cheated on his taxes during the 2012 election. He claimed to have an anonymous source but never produced them or any evidence, and his announcement of the baseless charge on the Senate floor was seen as proof that he was a slimy, ruthless piece of amphibian shit. I am looking forward to when he drops dead, and I really don't doubt that he's a kid-toucher if pizzagate turns out to be real...but going to any conservative blog for that source is going to be a dead end. permalink save source reply report

[flawdecay]

Whether it was the quarantine workout fever that got into you recently or you’ve been at it for a long time, you might’ve asked yourself in the process if there were any skin benefits to exercising regularly and if you had to take special care of your skin before and after working out. I know I did, I was pretty clueless for a while. I used to take a shower right after, but I found out there was more to it and that there were things I was doing wrong! If you want to know what the benefits are for our face and body as well as some tips, keep reading!

I have also created a blog post about the skincare routines you should follow before and after working out. It’s also linked by the end of this post!

The Good and the Ugly

You’ve probably heard the countless benefits of working out before. Reducing your weights seems -to me, at least- one of the less relevant parts of it, given how it can also reduce your heart disease risk, helps your body manage blood sugar and insulin levels, improves your mental and sexual health and keeps your mind as fit as your bum (and it’s supposed to help you sleep better, which has no price). Source: MedlinePlus

For me, exercise is something that has helped me in maintaining a more active life and feeling less guilty about eating a huge Oreo cheesecake by myself in two days (… not that it’s my case or anything). And while that is true, it has also boosted my self-esteem beyond what the scale tells me and it has made me feel healthier and happier. I hate doing extra squats, but boy, do I love the feeling after I’ve showered and I’m exhausted and proud at the same time. You shouldn’t feel overwhelmed by it; listen to your body and what it wants. That’s how it becomes a habit you start enjoying.

I found that even though we all know the benefits for our body as a whole, we don’t usually talk about how good it is for your facial skin as well. This is what this post is all about, as well as some very necessary tips to gain that glowy, clean face.

Skin benefits

Working out can impact your skin in a positive way! It can improve your overall appearance, according to Doctor Marisa Garshick, and I quote from her Insider interview:

“Exercise, by getting the heart rate up and improving blood circulation, can help to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the skin which keeps the skin healthy, promotes collagen production, and promotes new skin cells which keeps the skin looking glowing and is also helpful for anti-ageing“

The benefits are definitely there. Plus, sweating can clear up your pores and detoxify your skin, which is something I’ve definitely noticed in the last few months!

Decathlon Domyos Sports Yoga Bra

You Better Work! Sweat proof Essence Primer

Skin cons

But for the last part, which is great, but here’s the deal: you have to make sure to clean your face before. If you don’t, it can actually have the opposite effect and clog the pores. So, for the love of all that is good, don’t wear makeup while you’re working out, and clean your face to remove skincare products. It will make an amazing difference! And trust me, gym dating never works out. Not that I’ve tried it ever, but love at first sweat… it can’t work.

Moreover, our skins are specially sensitive to sun damage hen we work out outside, so you have to make sure to wear SPF.

Also, you have to be pretty careful too because excessive sweating and friction can also lead to skin conditions like skin rashes.

There surely are a lot of benefits to working out, but taking care of your skin before and after can make the difference on whether it will have a good impact on your skin or not. These are some of the things you have to keep in mind, in the form of tips:

While working out

You shouldn’t touch your face, as your hands can carry bacteria, especially if you’re working out in a public space like a gym.

In the shower

This one’s pretty obvious, but just like we have to take care of our face after a workout, we have to do the same with the rest of our body. The sooner you shower, the better!

If you don’t wash your hair every day but you feel like it’s dirty after a workout, you can use dry shampoo to make it last longer (or as long as you need to, but I normally use dry shampoo the day in-between).

Cosmetic tips

Skincare Products for Pre and Post Workout Skincare Routine

Don’t forget to use SPF 50 if you’re going to be outdoors.

Don’t be aggressive with your skin. Just because you sweated a lot during the workout doesn’t mean you need to exfoliate more than normally or use harder scrubs. Wash the sweat with a gentle cleanser instead!

Don’t use treatments (like acne or antiaging products) right after. Your skin will be sensitive, so it’s better to save them for the night.

Don’t let them fool you, you truly don’t need makeup for when you walk out of the gym and you sure as hell don’t need to look like you’re heading to a party after exercising. It’s not dewy skin and rosy cheeks for everyone; actually, it’s not that for most of us. You just did ALL THAT… you deserve a break. This is not mandatory, but let your skin breathe and remind yourself that you look beautiful no matter what – sweat, red face and all!

And finally (and this one’s pretty importantly), create a post-workout routine for yourself. Your skin needs that moisture and care, especially if you exercise in the morning and have to go about your day after!

Hopefully, all of this has made sense! Or if you already knew all of this, it’s always nice to have a reminder, isn’t it? Over the past 4 months, I’ve started taking exercise way more seriously than I’ve had ever since I stopped doing Martial Arts in 2015 because I couldn’t combine it with university. And even then, I had a very terrible relationship with food and working out, so this was a bit new for me.

Mini-storytimes aside… I hope you enjoyed this post! I know I’ve been crossing the limit with my routines and lifestyle lately, but I’ll be glad even if they have just helped you in the slightest. Anyways! Thank you so much for reading me, and hopefully, I will see you in the next one!

Before you leave, don’t forget to follow me on social media. I try to be more active there, and it’s an easier way of seeing my follow-ups and updates! ♡

Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Youtube

The Benefits of Exercise for your Skin (+ the Do’s and Don’ts) Whether it was the quarantine workout fever that got into you recently or you've been at it…

[paradoxspaces]

actually here are more 3 am meat feelings

my prevailing thought about meat, which will probably sustain throughout candy and probably the rest of this week if not my life, is that john egbert died and none of his friends (beyond terezi) know about it. none of them know. he fucking died and his last words were a love confession to a girl who he doesnt even really know. john egbert died. he is probably not coming back and, even if there was a ‘’chance’’, he has been summarily dismissed from the narrative. 

john egbert died trying to be a hero even after we were told he wasnt special and he is dead!! he died and he didnt get to reconnect with the betas or the alphas even, didnt really work through any of his depression. he fucked terezi (suRe?) and tried to tell her loved her and fucking died. i am, literally, never going to be over it. 

hgshss aside from that i actually liked the ending more than I thought? The middle was extremely touch and go for me--there were moments I liked and then something would happen that I’d get upset about and the cycle continued-- but I thought the last few chapters were interesting and genuinely enjoyable. basically i love kanaya maryam so fucking much and i was so glad to see her be herself again ashjsj i lovE her.

Seeing the characters get motivated to work together and stop Dirk was a surprisingly optimistic conclusion for an ending that was clearly obsessed with misery. I didn’t expect that kind of ‘call to action’ that occurred, but I was glad to see it. Despite that and despite the post-scripts, I don’t think theres going to be anything after this. Alt-Calliopes last words in meat made it seem, to me, that any kind of additional work was to fall into the reader’s hands, in fanwork or w/e. or, at least, I supremely doubt hussie will be involved in anything going forward. there are still things left open, and new questions wrt dirk and the bots and the new session, but I feel like this was all meant to stir up investment in hs as a property, as a place to think about and create work for and pay attention to (and buy friendsims), but not as a piece of ongoing media. we have been compelled to think about homestuck for a while longer, but I’m not sure we will be reading new content again--or at least not for a while. (maybe candy will change my mind, though? so many ppl seem SO sure that there will be more and I dont know why besides wishful thinking)

not even sure if id really want more, unless it was like a 10 chap sequence about a secret middle route where john doesnt die, vrisrezi 4 real, and a normal dirk receives therapy and like chains ultidirk to the ocean floor or something. all the betas hang out regularly, but specifically rose and jade have one fucking conversation at least. 

(actually the concept of a like theatre of coolty-esque all-dirk showdown is. good. ultidirk/teen dirk/hal/brain ghost try to out-monologue each other and then fight) 

(actually actually jake kills ultidirk with his bare fucking hands to get some retribution for the bullshit that happened to him)

obviously obviously obviously I still have big issues with stuff. i hate that jakes main character trait is being sexualised and manipulated and the narrative still just makes him out to be the fucking dumbest shallowest idiot. why cant jake get like.....any depth at all....why cant there be an acknowledgment of how fully traumatized he must be at this point?? also i cant get behind johnrezi, tbh, tho i think theyre written well. beyond my full devotion to scourge sisters, they didn’t even talk that much, and most of their convo was tz dictating her plan to john to get the love of her live back. it isnt like they hung out all that often???? before that, their most notable interaction was when terezi tricked john into dying for a joke. why is john obsessed with these two girls he barely spoke to, who are both in love with other people?? (might be worth thinking about further) i dont like that 99% of the time roxys transness was brought up only to have someone near by be a fucking dick about it. Jane: become fascist is still really bizarre to me. i still think some of the HEAVY focus on meta commentary is a bit of a drag. 

overall i think this whole ‘exploration of the ugly bad awful shit’ was certainly that. we got meat, we got high plot/action/drama. bad things happened and everyone was miserable and disconnected and awful to each other. narrative relevance through trauma/pain/violence. I really thought it was going to end with some kind of tpk, so this kind of vaguely optimistic pseudo-cliffhanger was better than I really expected it to be. I’m holding off on like sweeping estimations until after candy, but I still am not sure what the point of having everything be THIS open ended is if not for a sequel and im not sure what the focus on ‘releasing narrative responsibility from the singular author/interpretation’ is doing if not directly precluding a sequel. so idk. onto candy, i guess. we’ll see how this all goes. 

(I hate ultidirk as much as the next girl ESPECIALLY for what he did to kan and for being just like....the worst during johns death but like. im dumb im dumb and bad and part of me wants dirk redemption in some form, ideally in another splinter obvi. i was extremely horrified and resistant to big villain dirk but after reading his later thoughts i get it more than I thought I would and its all very interesting. I also, like a lot of others, am entertained by the image of him cavorting around like a sailor moon villain or something) 

(i don’t love the weird convo that was kind of trying to excuse/react to the Incest Commentary Drama and I would have paid to have it removed but w/e)

(ALSO THE FUCKING ‘COSMIC LOVE’ VRISREZI BIT I. I !!?! TEREZI LOVES VRISKA SO MUCH. SHE LOVES HER S MUCH GUYS. SHE LOOKED FOR HER FOR FUCKING YEARS IN HER POV AND ALMOST DIED BC SHE DIDN’T WANT TO GIVE UP HDSHA LET THESE GIRLS KISS IM SO FUCKING SAD. 

HOMESTUCK IS ABOUT VRISREZI RIGHTS ONLY. I ONLY CARE ABOUT TWO GIRLS AND HOW MUCH THEY LOVE EACH OTHER. GOD IM IN HELL GOD GOD GOD THEYRE IN LOVE!!!!! )