#or lack thereof really

[enigmatic-mystery-777]

🙃🙃

It's fine, though.

[just-a-joey]

what do you think a swap/killer version of chance would be like?

Shark like.

All the scars on him are blue and his new adrenaline rush is killing people (the spectre and death fucked him up.)

Oh yeah ITrapped successful,y killed him in this Au. Sword through the stomach.

Killer Chance still has the gun. It could fire or not fire in the game.

He can also travel in the ground and pop up somewhere randomly, either right near a survivor, on top of them or on the other side of the map. Also slashes with tail ig idk man I just like the design.

[frogsinajar]

Wpuld you consider drawing..... junejasprose? 🥺🥺🥺🥺

Just for you Junejasprose addict.

[maranull]

anyway, Elden Ring is about love and hope

Marika burns everything she has build out of sorrow

Ranni banishes the Outer Gods and also fucks off the Lands, giving agency back to the normal beings of the Lands

Fortissax endlessly fights Death for his friend/lover

Melina burns herself and Erdtree in hopes of a better world in the hands of the Tarnished

Blaidd fights against the very reason he was created out of love for his sister

Ranni and Rykard always keep an eye on their mother, protecting her

Radahn evokes so much love from his troops that they organise a whole festival to give him a honorable death even in his madness

Radahn learns an entire new school of magic in order to still ride his favourite horse

Boc's love for his mother, his mother's love for him

How all but two endings are build on the hope that this new era (whatever it might be) will be good

Miquella attempting to create an whole new world-tree to host the forsaken and the damned

Miquella turning on the faith he was raised and even believed in to an extent, when it was unable to cure his sister's curse

The Cleanrot's loyalty to Malenia and their endurance of the Rot, only to stay in her service

Malenia marching through the entire continent in search of her brother

Finlay traveling all the way back on her own, carrying the incapacitated demigod on her back

Tanith's love for Rya

Dialos' entire questline

Edgar being driven mad after his daughter dies

Vyke embracing, to a point, the Frenzied Flame in order to save his finger maiden

or you know, that's just how I see it

[tsilvy]

"Crowley doesn't have Gabriel. Where would he put him?" says Aziraphale talking to Shax.

Where would he put him?

He knows. HE KNOWS. He knows that Crowley doesn't have a house anymore. That he's living in his car. But he hasn't said anything because he hasn't yet fathomed why Crowley wouldn't say anything. And he's trying to change that, too.

"You like waiting inside." Subtle, subtlest way to tell him that he knows, he understands, has noticed the telling signs. And he's saying it's very much okay for Crowley to keep staying in, whenever he wants, to consider the bookshop his place even when Aziraphale is not around.

The whole "our car", "our bookshop", "we both got plenty of use out of it". Look, I know what the common speculation about the plenty of use is, but realistically? He's heavily implying that Crowley, too, needs the bookshop. Not likes, needs. Let's spell out the analogy: I need your (our) car because I don't have my own car, the same as you need my (our) bookshop, which is my house, because you don't have your own house.

He's been dropping hints right and left that he already knows anyway, and that it's okay to ask, he'd totally say yes. And even if Crowley doesn't ask, it's still okay. He's saying yes already.

And I marvel continuously at the complexity of the character that is Aziraphale, because he can be the most infuriatingly callous bitch in the world, and then in the same breath he can be this sensitive, gentle, emotionally intelligent person who really, really loves Crowley more than he could ever put into words.

[let-them-sing-of-others]

one of my favorite things about kevjean (particularly kevjean while they were at the nest) is how it doesn’t really matter whether or not it was requited — nothing would change either way. a kevin that does return jean’s feelings is hardly different from a kevin that does not. there may be a world where it’s completely reciprocated, but there is no world in which that makes any significant change in their dynamic. they are ravens, and the ravens have rules, and the rules must be followed because if they are not ravens then they are nothing. maybe they were both in love. maybe they weren’t. does it matter? there is only one way this story can go. you can change the variables as much as you’d like but the ending will always stay the same

[alienboy51]

vvvvvoltron redesigns that don't stray very far from the actual show designs

alsooooo these are unfinished i still have shiro and allura to do

[aliusfrater]

similar cinematographic choices to portray the same imagery with insanely different circumstantial contexts

[azriona]

Well, I took 10yo to see Lilo & Stitch.

I have... mixed feelings.

I still think the original animated version is superior, I'm glad I went... but mostly in the same vein as being glad I lived in Saudi Arabia so I can talk about what it's like to experience living in that country. Because there's a whole lot of nuance involved in what makes the new version of the movie so disturbing, as well as some issues I haven't even seen raised that bother me, too.

(Spoilers under the cut. Slightly modified from a post on Dreamwidth.)

So the biggest difference between the animated and live-action versions of the movie is obviously the ending: in the animated version, Nani stays with Lilo, with the added bonus of a supportive extended family structure from David, Stitch, Pleakley, and Jumba. Not so in the live-action: Nani goes to college in California, Lilo is being cared for by their neighbor, though there is still the extended family structure from Stitch, Pleakley, and Cobra Bubbles.

The reports I'd seen about this ending--"NANI GIVES LILO UP TO THE STATE"--are very reactionary. Not to say they're wrong--they're not--but there's nuance there too. The neighbor is set up early on as being a sort of "auntie" to the girls, already watching over them and offering assistance (which Nani refuses to take). The reason the neighbor has Lilo is partially because she suggests it, and partially because CPS agrees to the plan to see her as a foster parent for Lilo.

Is Lilo still ward of the State, ultimately? Yes. (And this is something the movie 100% glosses over, because I doubt it's that easy or fast. And I don't mean to downplay that part of it: Nani 100% relinquishes parental rights, and while the movie insinuates that she can get Lilo back again... come on. We all know. We've all seen those Lifetime specials) Is Lilo in a family unit that is familiar, comfortable, and accepting (and also native Hawaiian, which was my big question)? Also yes. The sisters also still have close contact with each other: the last scene is Lilo and Nani Facetiming each other... and then actually together, in the same place, via a device we see Jumba using earlier that allows them to move from one location to the other easily.

(An argument I saw online which does make sense: If Nani can use the portal-ray-gun to visit her sister in Hawaii while she lives in California, why can't she live in Hawaii and use the portals to attend classes in California? Which is an excellent point too.)

But there's also a lot of weirdness about the movie, things that rubbed me the wrong way, and choices that I just didn't like.

Jumba's characterization is erased. He doesn't have the Russian accent. (Every time he spoke, it was jarring.) He doesn't have a redemption arc; at the end of the movie, he's taken away by the Intergalactic Counsel. Which means, he's not part of Lilo's ohana at the end. In the original version, he has a sort of... fatherly relationship with Stitch; that's gone. I wouldn't say it's far that in this version, Jumba doesn't see Stitch as a he, but an it. 

Which also means, the dynamic between Jumba and Pleakley is shifted. They're not the comic relief ambiguously gay uncles anymore; they're almost working against each other from the start. (Pleakley's character is left almost intact.) And credit where credit is due: Zach Galifianakis plays Jumba really well... just that the changes made to the character made him unlikable in the end. 

Cobra Bubbles also had some shifts to his backstory; he's not CPS in the movie, he's actually CIA. (Even though for what he does in the movie, it'd make more sense for him to be FBI.) He goes undercover as CPS to get close to Stitch, but he's not actually CPS at all. I can't decide if I like this switch to his backstory, or not. I did really like Courtney B. Vance as Cobra: he looked and sounded just about how you'd expect a live-action version of Cobra Bubbles to look like. This made his changes infinitely better than Jumba's. (Probably helped that they weren't so drastic. And Cobra really is 100% part of the family unit in the end this time, which I don't think was so explicitly stated before. That's maybe a positive: if Cobra's not actually CPS, it means his inclusion in the family unit is by choice and not necessity, which makes it that much stronger a statement for the flexibility and inclusiveness of found family.) 

Another thing that bothered me, and which I haven't seen mentioned anywhere, was the focus on health insurance (and lack thereof) as a major plot point. Because trust me, it is. The social worker at the beginning of the movie (who is not Cobra Bubbles but a new character entirely) tells Nani that she must sign them up for health insurance. And for whatever reason, Nani doesn't get this done. No mention of how she would even do that, how difficult it would be, if the insurance would start immediately (do they, even? I've never not had it through one workplace or another).

But when Lilo is hurt in a surfing accident and ends up in the ER, and Nani doesn't have insurance... well. That's the thing. Nani is literally told that the only way out is to let the State have Lilo, because only then will the State cover Lilo's doctor's bills.

And that, to me, is pure evil. That right there, should be the main takeaway from this movie. Not that Nani gives up her parental right... but why she gives up her parental rights. It's not to go to college. It's not because she can't handle the pressure of being a mom to her sister.

IT'S BECAUSE SHE LITERALLY CANNOT AFFORD TO DO OTHERWISE. Because one single visit to the emergency room--with no indication that Lilo is even going to have any major complications afterwards--is enough to utterly and completely destroy their delicate balance between being okay, and being ground into utter poverty.

It's borderline blackmail. It's kind of disgusting. And in almost any other country in the world, it wouldn't have been an issue. I have to think there's probably some interesting commentary on that plot point in other places, more or less along those lines. "Look how fucked up the American health care system is; in ours, that whole debacle would have maybe cost Nani $200, not the guardianship of her sister."

Another complaint I've seen is the downplaying of the tourist trade. Definitely saw very, very little of that: mostly in the form of when Lilo is sneaking onto a resort area and using their services when she shouldn't be. (She gets caught or called out a couple times; there are zero consequences shown. Mostly people just say, "You aren't supposed to be here" and that's the end of that. There are no interactions with tourists at all. Anyone Lilo interacts with is either Native Hawaiian or if not native, a Hawaiian resident. I think of all the speaking roles in the movie, maybe... four were not POCs. (Two of those being Jumba and Pleakley. One being Mertle, who barely appears. One being the woman working at the animal shelter. If I'm forgetting others, they appear even less than Mertle.

Having lots of POCs in the movie in main character speaking roles? Awesome. Having zero comment on the tourist trade in a movie that low-key gives you a very idyllic helicopter view of Disney's Hawaiian resort.... eh, we're getting a little sketchy here. You just know that resort is going all-in on Lilo & Stitch tie-ins. 

I can't help but think: every time there's a movie that features POCs as the main characters, there's also so many problematic issues with the movie themselves (which generally have NOTHING to do with the main characters or main actors) that there's usually a campaign: boycott this movie! Don't go see it! We saw that with Captain American Brave New World (oh no there's an Israeli actress featured and that's pro-Israel very bad). We're seeing it with Lilo & Stitch. What are we going to see it with next? All that ends up happening is it gets harder and harder for studios to justify making movies with POCs. "Oh sorry your movie tanked, we can't do a sequel." That's not their fault you approved a problematic movie.

Sigh.

Anyway. 10yo liked the movie. He doesn't see the problems, he just saw how Stitch (and Lilo!) were loved despite being wild children who have trouble controlling themselves. For him, that was the biggest message. And how family can include everyone. I don't mind him taking away those messages: they're the same ones that appealed to him in the first movie. They're the same ones that ultimately appeal to most kids. And those were still in there, just framed differently. 

[tavtime]

There is something skittering around in my brain tonight about the way that BG3 intends the audience to view mind flayers as individuals vs as a species, and the way that plays out in the player's relationships with Omeluum and the Emperor.

I mean, one of the primary gears upon which the story turns is that when a person becomes illithid, the soul they previously had is destroyed (but not their memories of the person they were). This is presented as an insurmountable wrong - literally socially aberrant - and it certainly is so from both the point of view of the gods concerned with mortal souls, and illithids' mortal prey concerned with keeping their brains in their heads.

The Emperor's storyline takes this to the conclusion that the condition of being soulless is, in and of itself, a complete destruction of the individual; that whatever it was before, the illithid will be invariably manipulative, inherently untrustworthy, and unable to reconcile its needs and desires into peaceful coexistence with non-illithids. It's certainly the conclusion you're intended to draw from Duke Stelmane's story, as well as numerous supporting texts, most notably from the creche.

But then... Omeluum offers the refutation to that. Here he is, leading a peaceful life because he just... wants to. Absent a soul or comprehensible mortal desires to operate as a moral compass, Omeluum still chooses to contribute to the Society of Brilliance. He voluntarily and at personal cost researches alternative food for himself so that he doesn't need to feed on sentient beings. He helps the player character multiple times, despite the fact that doing so carries variable risk with little promise of reward.

So clearly, being illithid in and of itself is not what makes someone manipulative or untrustworthy: it's not a baked-in species trait. The Emporer isn't Like That solely because he's a mind flayer; he's like that because... he's like that. That's who he is as a person. That's what he has become, in his current incarnation, and yes, some of it is certainly due to his transformation (having your soul shredded and your will broken would screw most people up pretty badly, I imagine), but not all of it! If something about his circumstances had been different, maybe he could've been different as well. Maybe his moral compass would have pointed in a similar direction as Omeluum's.

[thatonegaybrit]

; the sentences " micro labels are valid and can be helpful and validating to people " and " people don't have to specify every part of their identity to you to be valid, and can use broad terms even if their actual experience is more specific " can and should coexist.

[abhorcnt]

i do think it’s hard to understand avery’s character and have a proper critique on their purpose in the story if you’re not actively including them and pushing your mc to meet them but also having the option to completely ostracize them and only know them as a stranger most of, if not, the whole time does tell you a lot about who they are in comparison to everyone else’s connection to scarlet hollow

[commandertartarsmoocher]

If anybody is curious who I ship the funny telephone with... Here is my super awesome and long awaited answer:

🎉 Nobody 🎉

[thevoicefromthestars]

twisters (2024) is a rom com in disaster movie drag the way that the mummy (1999) is a rom com in horror movie drag and you can't change my mind

[wreckedhoney]

i don't know what flavor of obidala lucas had in mind when he was considering it and i know there are different vibes to go for. but i adore an obidala that's treated as a narrative foil to what we have in canon - not just in regards to anidala but towards what makes us call these films the "skywalker saga" as a whole.

obidala would be coming from a story that has anakin as a central point for other characters' motivations and conflicts - and even interrelations with each other outside of him. ahsoka is viewed as anakin's padawan, ahsoka knows padmé as anakin's love interest, and both of them view obi-wan as anakin's mentor and friend. obi-wan and padmé begin aotc as friends or having the potential to be friends even when in conflict, but in short time that deflates. they regard each other through anakin; obi-wan knows anakin adores her, padmé knows anakin admires & resents him, and their perception of the other is clouded through that filter, even if they both know it's not the whole picture, and it isn't even accurate.

but aotc padmé is still young and brasher, and obi-wan hasn't settled into a more stable relationship with anakin yet - and thus, people he knows primarily through anakin. time passes and they develop. obi-wan struggles in the clone wars but is more comfortable and mellow in his own skin. padmé's competency grows but she alienates herself from most of her friends and community outside work to keep her marriage a secret, to keep the tusken massacre a secret, because love is worth it. she is still in the trenches of clinging to her ties with anakin for years.

what lucas and tcw wanted to convey without having to hammer it in is that they're in love, they're friends, the love is there but that doesn't make the situation right, and not just because it was a lapse in judgement to dive into this attachment in the first place, but more so because after some years' long opportunity to rectify it, they still don't. they choose to stay despite the strain of living against codes and principles, despite never learning to communicate through conflict past someone-is-right-and-the-other-was-wrong, or unwittingly enabling distance between themselves and the rest of their loved ones. meanwhile, what does obi-wan look like to padmé while she goes through all this?

a foil. obi-wan adores anakin to moments of blindness, but she's yet to see him do any of the things padmé's felt the need to in order for anakin to safely stay. obi-wan reprimands anakin openly, he does not choose him or any individual over "order" as an entity - be it the council, the jedi order, the republic, democracy. through his overall canon narrative, he does not choose to lose himself or his principles for anyone, including anakin, even if it hurts him or others, even if it hurts himself. he is still with anakin without the same trappings of attachments that the marriage has - he is with anakin, and the jedi order, and the council; he still has his community and whole social sphere. and if ever padmé gradually came to perceive obi-wan as this alternative to how she and anakin have loved, wouldn't she start to question why she chose to compromise herself all this time when she now recognizes someone who doesn't, and he is still loved?

and i feel like it would start with some mild resentment, at least - less at any one person and more at the situation, but she can't help but aim some of it at obi-wan just for being the one to lead her to see, for being a contrast. but it wouldn't take long for admiration to overshadow it, and for the friendship that they have, however tepid it's been, to serve as an open door for padmé to eventually approach him - for guidance, or comfort, even if engaging more closely with him starts with just curiosity at first. she's begun to see him as obi-wan kenobi, and he sees her as padmé amidala naberrie, without the "anakin's" attached. and it's at this point, perhaps regardless if an outright romance blooms, that obidala becomes some narrative foil; a strong relationship between them without or outside of anakin is an inherent defiance to an anakin-centric narrative and storyline. with romance in mind in the backdrop of a hidden marriage, it can become some tainted glimpse of adoration without the star wars concept of attachment. does an obidala romance have to happen for both characters to gain this sort of independence and clarity? no, but it's part of what the pair on their own could be indicative of, almost symbolic of, if taken in this direction.

it rocks the boat of the narrative, it creates contrast and encourages themes of growth even and especially when that growth is painful, it's based on support and admiration and trust even through the bitterness and betrayal. there's potential for it to be both tainted and genuinely healing. and i am here for it, i'm here for this flavor of obidala, star wars' little ship-that-never-was impacting the tone of the saga. obidala is good and This Flavor of obidala can be so, so good.

[redo-rewind-if]

Hi everyone! Got an exciting report for y'all this week!! 😉

Next Update (Chapter 4):

Opening: 100%

Avoid August/Confront Him: 100%

A Normal Day at Work: 100%

You Can Fix This, Right? 🤡: 100%

Keep Your Friends Close...: 100%

Avoidant Route: 100%

Finally, I've finished writing Chapter 4!! All that's left to do is edit, code, and bug test. Allowing myself some wiggle room in case I make any big edits or run into a particularly stubborn bug, I estimate it will take me 2-3 weeks to complete.

I'm hoping for only 2 more weeks (maybe even less), but we'll have to see how things go. I should have a better idea by the end of next week and will update y'all then. 😊