#simply* a thing that must be done. i want to create him and make him little outfits

[mxbitters]

considering getting another hair rerooting needle and customizing a monster high adjacent doll so it’s brian molko

[croquis-el]

We all know the fact that Naruhodou (Wright) passed the bar exam to get the opportunity to face Mitsurugi (Edgeworth) in court.

This is all, as it seems at first glance, naive, a little retrospective, selfish, romantic, and so on. However, no matter how clinging to the past Naruhodou may seem, is he really that loyal and forgiving to his old childhood friend?

Nothing like that. Nah. Not a chance.

When Mitsurugi is first mentioned by Detective Itonoko in an office conversation in the Turnabout Sisters (jp. 逆転姉妹), we are given two answer options - first: Of course i don't know him, second: Of course, I know him.

If we choose the first option, the detective will tell us a little backstory about the prodigy prosecutor and express the opinion that it is strange that Naruhodou hasn't heard about him. To which Naruhodou will answer that he simply feigned ignorance and will express his opinion about the prosecutor in an internal monologue.

If we choose the second option, Naruhodou will loudly share his immodest conclusions about Mitsurugi, which will displease the detective.

Even the beginning of the meeting is accompanied by Naruhodou’s thoughts that he must not relax and show weakness, otherwise Mitsurugi will swallow him alive.

From the very beginning, Naruhodou isn't in the mood to play on emotions and press on pity, instead preparing himself for the worst.

He understands that time spent together in childhood is not an argument or a reason to start a conversation.

The entire court hearing is accompanied by Naruhodou's evaluative comments about Mitsurugi - he curses him, out loud questions some of the actions of the prosecutor (updated autopsy report), calls and interrogates inconvenient witnesses for the prosecution (Mitsurugi doesn't want me to question the witness, but I don't care), answers him with the same barbs (Wasn't it you who told me "proof is everything"? Well, I was listening.), denounces the collusion of the prosecution with the witnesses, protests against the postponement of the hearings in order to prevent manipulation of the evidence, in general, by any means, unbalances Mitsurugi.

He is literally: Is there something you don’t like? I don't care.

In the next case - Turnabout Samurai (jp. 逆転のトノサマン), Detective Itonoko is angry at Naruhodou for upsetting the prosecutor, but his response is not remorseful: "Umm... so?"

During the first day of the hearing, Naruhodou literally laughs at the confrontation between the prosecution and his own witness ("Wow, old windbag has left even Mitsurugi speechless. She's good!" or "Mitsurugi found himself a worthy opponent"). He also sincerely doesn't understand why Mitsurugi’s behavior has changed, and he seems out of place, but he doesn't stop creating problems for the prosecution.

He doesn't soften towards him until the Turnabout Goodbyes (jp. 逆転、��してサヨナラ), in which Mitsurugi becomes his client, and even later, when they begin to build a trusting relationship, Naruhodou does not make concessions for Mitsurugi and does not bend under his pressure.

So, Naruhodou did pass a very difficult exam to gain access to the courtroom, but he essentially created a hopeless situation for Mitsurugi. In the conditions of the court hearing, the prosecutor had no other chance than to listen to the arguments of the defense. Naruhodou may not have addressed Mitsurugi directly at first, saying that his ideology was terrible, but he did, proving with his words and actions right in the halls of the law that this is not how things are done and there is a limit to cruelty. He calmly used the letter of the law and jurisprudence - the language that Mitsurugi respects and lives by.

Defeat your opponent with his own weapon when you think he is wrong.

Naruhodou is a stubborn, purposeful, and quite strict person of character who lives without regrets, takes big risks, and doesn't allow himself to relax in any difficult situation.

He is gorgeous.

P.S. I don’t have some screenshots from the court and from the office because I don’t have the English version of the game, and in the video the author did not check all the options (I don’t blame the author, thank her for screenrecord)

[holy-amelie]

'NSFW Alphabet' NSFW (Sunday)

·.༄࿔ characters: Sunday, you

·.༄࿔ pairing: Sunday x g/n!reader

·.༄࿔ cw: MDNI! NSFW content under the cut, non-native english author, written before 2.7. Can be ooc but this is how I see him at the moment.

·.༄࿔ a/n: i would love to write SFW version of the alphabet later as well

❥ A = Aftercare Sunday is always very caring towards you, so even after making love, he tries to make sure everything is okay. Doesn't it hurt anywhere? Do you want some water? How about a hot bath? Just tell him what you want and he will try to do it. But Sunday also appreciates you taking care of him in return. Especially after a hard day and a busy night.

❥ B = Body part He's actually quite self-conscious about his body. Sunday is used to wearing closed clothes, even hiding his palms under gloves. So it's hard to say which part of his own body he likes best. Probably his chest. In the sense that he likes it when you put your head there and listen to his heartbeat. Who says the former head of the Clan can't be a hopeless romantic? But he adores you whole, head to toe. You're beautiful in his eyes, it would be hard for him to choose one. But if he had to choose, it would be your hands. The way you cup his face with your soft palms before kissing him, or the way you run your thumb over his bottom lip. Your hands can bring not only intimate satisfaction, but also the comfort he needs when you stroke his hair, playing with the silky strands.

❥ C = Cum Sunday is always trying not to create a complete mess. Of course if you ask him to finish on your stomach or something like this, he will agree. But then he will gently wipe away all traces of your intimacy. He doesn't want to leave you or himself dirty. Protection is a must have as long as you don't want to have kids. He's a gentleman and won't do anything against your will.

❥ D = Dirty secret This poor soul has had some intimate dreams about you, but will never admit it out loud. He's too shy to talk about it, even if you've been dating for a while.

❥ E = Experience Sunday is completely inexperienced in intimacy, so he often doubts whether he is doing everything right. He had so much responsibility on his shoulders that he simply didn't care about the whole thing. So you have to teach him a few things. If you don't have any experience either.... Well, then you both have a lot to learn.

❥ F = Favorite position Sunday is pretty vanilla. His favorite is certainly missionary. He can see your face this way and make sure you get as much pleasure as he does, leaning to kiss you from time to time. But he also loves it when you take control and move on top of him. It doesn't matter in what exact position, just dominate him until he can't form a proper sentence. Of course it's better to see your expression no matter what, but he'll take whatever works for you.

❥ G = Goofy He is serious during and after the act. Sunday believes that lovemaking is an important part of expressing his feelings for you, there is no room for jokes and fooling around. He worships you, praises your body.

❥ H = Hair Sunday (given his OCD) is very clean-cut, so he's got everything trimmed and tidy there.

❥ I = Intimacy Sunday is very gentle and careful. It is hard to get him to be rough, his brain will not be able to generate something like that towards you, the person he loves with all his heart. Dirty talk isn't really his thing either. Instead, he'll whisper to you how beautiful and ethereal you are, how much he loves you, and how well you're doing.

❥ J = Jack off Sunday has never done it before, and after starting a relationship with you, he basically sees no point in satisfying himself like this. While the act of lovemaking itself is okay with Sunday, masturbation makes him feel a little dirty just thinking about it.

❥ K = Kink Sunday is used to keep everything and everyone under his control, he was a leader. But it turns out that he likes to be dominated by you in bed. You can do whatever you want to him (within reason and not crossing the line of doing something he won't be comfortable with) and he will accept it. Actually loves leaving lovebites and hickeys on your skin, and would like to recieve some as well. Praising is definitely his thing. Both ways.

❥ L = Location Sunday prefers not to leave his or your room to make love. First of all, it's more comfortable. And second, behind a closed door, no one can interrupt you (and he would really hate to have to face other people after being caught in the act). He also prefers to stay in an inn rather than some dark corners and hallways during missions on other planets. In that way, Sunday is pretty simple. A couple of times you made love in the shower, but Sunday still realized that the bed was much better suited for that. He wouldn't mind if you decided to do something like that again, though.

❥ M = Motivation If you want to turn Sunday on, just touch his wings, massage them, maybe even nibble on them (though be gentle, they are sensitive). Your own pleasure and happiness is also a pretty good motivation for him.

❥ N = No He will never hurt you. Even if you're asking for it yourself. Just no, Sunday can't do it. Spare his fragile heart, please. He's already terrified of accidentally doing something wrong and causing you discomfort. And sharing is a big no for him as well. You belong to him and only him.

❥ O = Oral Sunday is more giver than receiver. He puts you first and himself second. In a way, it's embarrassing for him to see you choke on him, and even more embarrassing for him to finish like this. Give him some time to adjust to being intimate.

❥ P = Pace It's usually slow and sensual. Sunday wants to make sure that you are making love and not mating like two wild animals. Towards the end, Sunday's pace can pick up and become more erratic, but he usually tries his best to keep the rhythm until the end. If you're dominating, you usually set the pace. He may only embarrassingly ask you to "slow down" or vice versa when he's nearing his peak.

❥ Q = Quickie At first, Sunday didn't understand why anyone was even interested in quickies. For him, making love is a sensual process that takes some time, without unnecessary hurry and fuss. But if there's an important mission at hand and you're inexorably attracted to each other (especially if you decided to tease him not sso long ago or he's just emotionally stressed), he doesn't mind doing things quickly and going back to the team as if nothing had happened. He doesn't like to do it often, but if the circumstances are right, he won't mind.

❥ R = Risk It's up to you. Sunday himself is not very eager to experiment or take risks and will not push you to do such things. But he will not give in to you completely if the offer turns out to be uncomfortable for him. Something light and harmless would suit him just fine.

❥ S = Stamina Poor thing has spent most of his life in the Dreamscape, so he can't boast of excellent physical form. And his inexperience is also showing. I'd say no more than two rounds in a row. If you are the one who's in charge, it'll make things a little bit easier but also faster, he just can't control himself in this submissive position.

❥ T = Toys Nope, no toys. That doesn't mean you won't talk him into trying them in the future, it's just that Sunday generally prefers everything in its vanilla form without any add-ons. He's unlikely to take the initiative to try them himself, but if you feel like it, fine. He also wants to believe that he is good enough to bring pleasure to both of you without any toys.

❥ U = Unfair No teasing at all. At least not on his part. But that doesn't mean you don't tease him from time to time. It's hard not to, knowing how red his cheeks become and how he will try to hide them behind his wings.

❥ V = Volume He's not exactly loud, to be honest, but it depends on your position. When Sunday dominates, it's mostly grunts and quiet moans mixed with praises and love confessions again and again. But if it's you who dominate him... Let's just say, this man whimpers. A lot. And he becomes louder than before, barely able to hold himself back from letting the whole Express Crew hear exactly what's going on behind closed doors.

❥ W = Wild card Sunday cried the first time you made love. Not because it made him feel uncomfortable or anything like that. Quite the opposite. An excess of emotion caused him to cry as soon as you both reached your climax. Sunday had never experienced such intimacy and love before, and after all the things he went through back on Penacony, it felt like a blessing. Did that scare you? A little bit. But knowing Sunday's very sensitive nature, it wasn't surprising. He apologized for a long time afterwards because he was worried that he had ruined the experience for both of you. But really, that moment only made it more memorable. In a good way.

❥ X = X-ray A little above average and more on the thick side. Sunday is quite insecure about himself for some reason, but with your reassurance he has gained some confidence.

❥ Y = Yearning Before he got intimate with you, he didn't even think about any of this. But once he tasted the forbidden fruit, his need to be close to you in every possible way increased dramatically. Not to the point where he turns into a lustful animal, of course. His drive is at a normal level, he has pretty good self-control and won't push if you don't want to, or you're busy, or the situation simply doesn't allow it.

❥ Z = Zzz He can't sleep until he's sure you're comfortable. You have a much better chance of falling asleep sooner. He'll keep whispering sweet nothings to you and showering your face and shoulders with kisses. You are loved, and it goes beyond passion in bed, that's what he wants to say with his actions. Sunday will stay awake for a while after you have fallen asleep in his arms.

NSFW alphabet template by @ the-coldest-goodbye. please, do not rewrite/copy/repost/translate my work without me knowing, you can always ask first, thanks

[miraamio]

jjk 271 has convinced me that no famous piece of media can ever have a tolerable fanbase.

To start off, Gojo’s death was actually very beautifully done and not once have i believed that he should’ve come back. One thing that Gojo strived for after Geto’s defection was to create a Jujutsu society that wouldn’t corner their sorcerers as mere weapons and take away their youth. He was a firm believer of the fact that honing strong students would reshape and shake the very foundation of jujutsu society.

We know of Gojo’s inherent weaponisation. But it is not only Gojo who undergoes this objectification and weaponisation, it is actually every sorcerer in the jujutsu society. We don’t see Nanami, Yuki, Gojo or even Yaga get a funeral. It is because of two prominent reasons. One being the fact that the jujutsu society was built upon such shallow beliefs that the death of these sorcerers was simply brushed aside as a common occurrence. They are not offered a “funeral” or a memorial simply because these sorcerers are mere weapons to the jujutsu society and the death of a weapon simply concludes its existence and its period of serving. It is to be discarded, not mourned over, for it is simply a weapon. But another, surprisingly kinder reason, is offered to us by the narrative. As Todo Aoi says, “Grieving over the departed can tarnish their memories. Instead we must carry their will forward.” Through this we are allowed to finally understand the reason for the innumerable Gojo flashbacks during these last few chapters.

Gojo is a character who suffered from loneliness and isolation in his own unique way. It was never something that held him back yet he expresses his want to not be forgotten in the last conversation he had with Yuji. He also expresses his firm belief in his students rather than himself because he is aware that even if HE loses his students won’t. This completely changes the meaning of the infamous “Nah I’d win” panel because he wasn’t talking about his solo victory, but rather his victory as a teacher who raised sorcerers to be stronger than him and of the victory his students would achieve for him.

For a character like Gojo who wants not to be forgotten, Sukuna offers him the much needed solace of remembrance. “I’ll never forget you.” Sukuna ensures that Satoru and the very narrative make note of his choice to remember the sorcerer for the rest of his life. The two strongest sorcerers who exist as complete anti parallels to each other in both ideals and beliefs find a common ground in their shared loneliness that comes with being the strongest.

Satoru’s death was a very deserving and beautiful end for his character. He died while being acknowledged and remembered. He passed on to go south, back to his old self where his happiest memories lay, no other ending would be greater for Satoru Gojo than this.

Secondly, the interpretation of Sukuna and Uraume’s relationship. There was no context given as to who they used to be or where their uncanny companionship stemmed from, throughout the story we only see them as entities of the present, not getting a look into their dynamic during the heian era. The only few panels we get during Yorozu’s part just reestablish Uraume as a dutiful and faithful servant to their lord. So to see Sukuna display such tenderness towards them in the last chapter kind of dismantles our idea of their relationship. Mahito says Sukuna sought revenge for the execution of “that wench.” Then further, Sukuna explains how he had two paths, one with a black haired woman and one with Uraume, he chooses the one with Uraume to begin their lives anew.

In the conclusion of their story, Gege’s choice to keep Sukuna and Uraume’s joint past unexplained was a clever choice to not tarnish the sanctity of their relationship. It allows the reader to interpret their dynamics in whatever way they wish to. Because what is more important than the nature of their relationship, is Sukuna’s openness to understanding and partaking in the act of “love.” You may see it as parental, familial or romantic, it is not the nature that holds significance, it is the act itself.

Personally I like to picture Sukuna as a guardian or authoritative figure who took in Uraume with a guardian like intent to raise them and in this new life, will be able to nurture them with love. But again, the ending is quiet open for everyone’s own interpretation. Its just that i feel for Sukuna, a character who refused to believe in the very concept of love, a guardian-like role would be truly grounding as it wouldn’t impose conditionality on them, like a romantic relationship does. However, as i said, the nature matters less than the act itself.

To argue over the nature of their relationship is simply stupid. People are allowed to have their own interpretations of unspecified relationships, and creating unnecessary arguments over the validity of your own interpretation of their relationship takes away from the very essence of Sukuna and Uraume’s ending.

[xxgoldie]

little champion

in which hazel dresses up as lighter for halloween (continuation of this post) a/n: hazel is currently winning the naming poll, and has been the top choice every time i've checked it (even though second place keeps changing, interestingly), so that's her name now! and yes you will absolutely be seeing more of her notes / cw: lighter x reader, implied afab reader, sweet soft domestic girldad lighter fluff, brief caesar appearance wc: 1.4k

"So, what did you think of Zellie's costume?"

The soft smile that had been on Lighter's face all night broke into one so wide that it must hurt his cheeks. He didn't look up from the dishes he was washing, but his movements halted, eyes suddenly glassy as he stared at the running water. Though, all he was seeing in his mind's eye was his little Hazel, running around the Halloween bonfire in Blazewood, proudly showing off her costume to anyone who would listen - a leather jacket, red scarf, and gold-framed sunglasses.

"I loved it," he replied simply, voice a little shaky. He could feel you looking at him, amused and fond as you sipped on a mug of tea, but he didn't dare to look your way. His heart was already so full of love it was threatening to burst - meeting your eye right now would just be too much, so instead he went back to scrubbing sauce stains from the plate in his hand.

"She was so excited about it. We went to like ten different shops before we found a jacket she decided was similar enough to yours," you laughed, still watching him. The lights in the kitchen were dim, as they tended to be so Lighter could keep his sunglasses off around the house, so you got a clear view of the far-away, wistful look in his eyes as he chuckled in response.

"She's a real stubborn little bug, huh?"

"Mm, no stopping her once she sets her mind to something," you agreed, taking the last swig of your tea and placing the empty cup beside him by the sink. Wordlessly, he took it and began to wash - Lighter had never complained about your little habit of creating more washing up for him just when he was nearly done. "She's going to be trouble as a teenager, I'm predicting it now."

"Yeah, we'll have our work cut out for us." He rinsed the suds from your mug and placed it on the drying rack, turning the tap off. With no more dishes to hide behind, he finally looked back at you, catching a glimpse in you of the future teenager in question - the adult she'd one day grow into. Hazel, undeniably, was the spitting image of you; she had your eyes, your nose, shared the curve of your jawline underneath her chubby six-year-old cheeks. The only noticeable thing on her head that resembled Lighter was her unruly teal hair, always fighting its way out of any ponytails and braids during her daily shenanigans. You'd joked that you'd have to try again if he wanted a mini-me, but today, it seemed that that had been disproved.

He didn't even realise how long he'd been silent until you gently placed a hand on his forearm, thumb soothingly rubbing his scarred skin.

"What are you thinking, hmm?" you questioned, yelping in surprise when Lighter's hand found your waist and pulled you close against his chest.

"You know, when she came out in that costume? That was probably up there for me. You know, with her first word and first steps," he confessed against your hair, arms wrapping around you in a tight squeeze. When he'd seen her, so ecstatic to look just like him, the feeling that had kicked him in the chest... there were few moments in his life that he could compare it to, and Hazel had been part of almost all of them. "She said I'm a superhero."

You turned your head to look up at him, nose to nose in his warm embrace, "You are - you're her hero. And mine too."

"You're really trying to make me cry tonight, huh, love?" Lighter chuckled, shaking his head in raw disbelief - just what had he done to deserve his life to turn out so perfectly? Not giving you a moment to respond, to comment that if that was your goal then you seemed to be most of the way there, he closed the miniscule gap between you, lips on yours. He kissed you slowly, tenderly, smile still everpresent on his face as gentle warmth spread between you-

A knock at the door interrupted you, a huff of annoyance leaving Lighter as he pulled away - that is, until he heard Hazel's familiar giggle from behind the front door, and his frustration melted away in an instant. Even though he definitely missed the freedom of heated kisses around the house whenever the two of you wanted - something that had mostly disappeared the second you daughter had gotten the hang of walking on her own - he truly could never even slightly resent her presence.

As soon as he opened the door, she bolted into his arms, pumpkin-shaped bag full of sweets in hand as she chattered excitedly.

"Look papa! Look at all the sweets I got! And there was this really cool house with this skeleton that jumped up when you got near it and my friends screamed but I wasn't scared and it was so cool-"

Lighter listened intently to her rambling as he hoisted her up, leaving Caesar laughing in the door until you came to greet her.

"Thanks for dropping her off, Caesar. It looks like she had a great time," you said, the two of you sharing a chuckle at Lighter's attentive nodding to Hazel's neverending stories.

"Yeah, all the kids had a blast," Caesar told you, handing you Zellie's water bottle that she'd taken with her. A handful of members of the Sons of Calydon taking all the Blazewood kids out for trick-or-treating together had become something of a tradition in recent years.

"She wasn't too much trouble, I hope?"

"Nah, you know her. Bundle of energy as always, but she's a good kid," Caesar reassured you, "I'll go and let you get your little Champion to bed. Or try to, anyway."

"Oh, she'll crash any minute, don't worry. Thanks again, see you later," you shook your head, glancing at the time, "Zellie, say bye."

Hazel interrupted herself to turn to Caesar, enthusiastically waving her small hand with a wide grin.

"Bye-bye, Auntie Caesar!"

"Bye-bye, Zells. Goodnight, guys."

When the door shut, you stepped over to Lighter and Hazel, making her giggle as you placed a wet kiss on her cheek.

"You had a good time, huh?" you laughed while Lighter wrapped the arm he wasn't using to hold her around your shoulder.

"Mhmm, it was so fun! And look!" she rummaged in her treats bag for a moment before pulling out what she was look for, a red lollipop clutched in her stubby fingers, "I got you your favourite, papa!"

He didn't think it was possible, but Lighter's heart grew yet another size at that; out on Halloween, enjoying her time with all her friends, and his daughter still thought to get him something instead of grabbing a chocolate for herself.

"Thank you, princess," he said, laughing a little as she chose something for herself from her bag and then started to unwrap the lollipop for him.

"Nuh uh, no sweets this late, it's already past your bedtime. Tomorrow." you asserted - you'd learned quickly that Hazel would not take 'different rules for adults' as an answer, and had been forced to match her eating schedule and bedtime in order to enforce them.

"Aww, pleeease? Just one?" she begged, sending you a pout and unbeatable puppy eyes. You sent her a lightly stern look, ready for a looping battle of 'please's and 'no's, but Lighter cut in before you could speak.

"Come on, babe, just one won't hurt, right? It's a special occasion."

You cocked an eyebrow at him as he jokingly copied her expression - between the matching pouts and her costume, it was almost like seeing double. He really was bad at saying no to her, which tracked, you figured, since he was also pretty bad at saying no to you when you asked for something. With Hazel, you'd had to get used to being to one to reject her less responsible whims, but when both of them looked at you like that? Well, you weren't exactly immune to those pleading eyes either.

"Okay, fine. One. But then we're going straight to bed," you acquiesced, strict expression melting as your daughter squealed excitedly and continued unwrapping the lollipop, placing it into Lighter's mouth before starting on her own.

"Yay, no brushing our teeth!"

"Straight to bed after we brush our teeth."

[katyspersonal]

What I do not get about Soulsborne fandom at all is the urge to do the random old men into creepy weirdos for no reason?

Gwyn is an amazing morally grey character who tried to create an arguably better world but did a lot of shit to accomplish it, he is tragic more than despicable, an early draft of Marika but clinging to his failure system until the very end. He has shown being generous as far as he is able even with species he feared and many people loved him, including his children. He doesn't have any dialogue or cutscene but his theme is the sole most heart-rending piece of music in everything From created and says more than words could about devs' intention behind this character. But people will say that he had to fuck Priscilla to give birth to Gwyndolin when Priscilla was banished into the Painted World as a child! So like, did he have sex with a kid, or predatorily waited for a kid to grow up? But no, he must be Gwyn Lord of Grooming when there are at least two way more canon-palatable explanations for who was second parent of Gwyndolin? Why would he need to keep Priscilla as a sex slave anyways? Are you telling me THIS guy lacked sex partners? The GILF Marika guy lacked sex partners to the point he needed a sex slave? Seriously?

Gehrman is the hunter who has done a lot of shit in his life, affiliated with Byrgenwerth and directly involved in Fishing Hamlet, who cherished the student he took down the dark path of the hunt a lot and got completely crashed after her death, immortalising her soft and innocent side that was ruined in a mourning doll of her. He poured so much warmth into simply caring for her former hair ornament that Doll cried tears of joy holding it - emotions he had hoped Doll would have, whom he distanced from seeing she was only Maria lookalike otherwise acting mechanical and lifeless. But people will say he is a creep who drooled all over Maria from the corners and made a sex doll of her that he also offers US to fuck. 🤦‍♂️ Bonus points for claims of objectification, misogyny and loathing her masculine vibe so much he bastardised her into his tradwife ideal, as if this notion on itself doesn't directly contradict the very fact of training her to be the hunter to begin with. And you'd think clarifying that "Even the Doll, should it please you" and "his curious mania" were invented by English localisation would be enough, yet some people still insist that either Japanese original script is somehow "not the gospel" (???), or that it is somehow valid to replace canon character with our negative experience with them dreaded cis white males and be bitchy towards everyone who wants posts about the canon character as he is (??????).

Godrick is straight up the symptom of how wrong things went in this setting, both in the world and in his big family. He is not seen as his own person but only as a disgrace of his cool strong awesome golden ancestors due to being born weak, he got driven out of his rightful place due to internal political contrivances and ran for his life, he adopted the mindset and expectations imposed on him and does everything he can to make himself what he "should" be. There are reasons to pity him, in good or bad sense, but somehow he gets baseless accusations of being a creep/pervert/rapist thrown at him, especially on Reddit? Also random takes about him being a groomer too because of Grafted Scions, when they are literally just his children? Why??? What do people THINK "grafted scion" means? I suppose people have a strange way to look at grafting as a concept, even though Rykard or Warrior Jars like Alexander also make people they've killed parts of their bodies?

Like, nothing wrong with creepy and uncomfortable characters and dark topics in media, but what's with the insistence of forcing these topics onto characters who don't actually have them? I just feel like there is a concept of "old = creepy" in fandom consciousness

[guardiansvalor]

untouched tragedies of elder faerie cookie (aka, some thoughts on the bug.)

elder faerie is such an interesting character to me, i truly wish he was done some more justice....

his purpose is to die. he knows that. it isn't sugarcoated, none of that... he is well aware that if he fails as guardian, death is the only other resort. he is nothing if not guardian. hell, if he relinquished those duties under some circumstance, i'm not sure he'd be able to find much identity outside of it. something very notable about each of these faeries is that they simply take life as it is given to them.

elder faerie knows how morbid his duty is and still fulfils it without question! it's no secret that he's terrified of the witches to some degree. he guards the aftermath of their magic. he was taught first hand by them. he knows exactly what these godlike creatures are capable of. which makes him being unable to stop white lily all the more heartbreaking ☹️

he knew she would die out there yet still didn't hold her back. she was the first cookie whom truly understood his duty, motives .. exactly why his mission was so sacred. his respect for her own mission and seeking of freedom, truth, was her demise.

elder faerie also seems to know the truth — if not greatly implied. he carries eons upon eons of burdens and truths and yet does not fall victim to them, he's designed to be like that.

the fact he is able to feel - unlike the silver knights - is so SO important. to truly feel the passion for the life he protects, he must have those emotions. he still bears the weight of the world and can feel it all. those burdens still weigh upon him. he does not have the privilege of simply being able to wipe away his memories and slivers of an identity in thick silver. as these knights also need a leader with some hold, otherwise it creates a true hivemind.

very notable that elder faerie is the reason why we weren't cooked up until this point by the way. the witches, of course, performed the original sealing, but ever since then the weight of the world has been upon him. these witches are long gone.

many will never know that it is elder faerie whom has kept the world from being plunged into darkness on multiple occasions. as he, just like all else in beast yeast, has been washed away by the tides of time.

his power at full capacity is implied to be great. he has mentioned sealing the beasts away on the occasions they did escape, fighting them back each time. and look at what white lily did with only PART of the guardian's power!!!! the witches would also not assign a warden significantly weaker than whom he barricades.

this all circles back to elder faerie's purpose being tragic. the sealing was futile from the beginning, these beasts were always destined to escape. elder faerie's many eons of agony were only a delay of the inevitable. and to think how many more he could've endured if not finally given that peace..

+ sad he did actually die, but his death was enjoyable in some way. NOT THAT I LIKED THE FACT HE DIED I WANT HIM BACK but it was his final flip off to the beasts. he died to his own overexertion, none of them got the satisfaction of bloodying their hands with his remains. he was able to securely pass on his power too so a guardian would still remain. no wonder shadow milk crashed out, absolute peak.

truly hope we learn more about elder faerie as a person, there has to be SOMETHING outside of his duty. it's what white lily and his subjects grew to know, after all. and also his thoughts behind more questionable things (see: silver knights)..... delve into his grief and tragic fate please and tyy <3

[bibliophilesince2003]

Transformers One In-Depth Review

Transformers One is a must watch.

I’m tired of seeing a bad review go towards a movie that is actually extremely well done, especially if the reviewer hadn’t taken the time to watch it or considered the trailers enough content to draw a review from.

Seriously, it was so refreshing to see a new take on a franchise that has been around for years. In my personal opinion, it’s better than re-makes that offer even less room for creativity.

I am a huge Transformers fan. I grew up with Transformers Prime, and when I was older, I watched the movies. I’ve watched other shows here and there, and while I may not be a complete expert, I know the lore well enough to have been heavily, emotionally impacted by Transformers One.

I’ll start with the "non-spoiler take" followed by the "spoiler take” which will be “hidden” for those who do not want to be spoiled.

"Non-spoiler" take...

Peter Cullen’s voice is legendary. Chris Hemsworth himself acknowledged this in an interview, mentioning that the goal was to “re-create” and “do something new.” He intended to represent a “youthful, brash, and cocky version” of Orion Pax before he was known as Optimus Prime. This is a realistic representation. In Transformers Prime, Ratchet states that Optimus Prime was more like Jack in his youth. For those of you who don’t know, Jack is a strong-willed, selfless, but slightly impulsive teenager, as all teenagers should be. It is clear that Hemsworth has evaluated “hints” that other movies and shows have provided. Hemsworth wanted to “lean into” a more serious voice towards the end of Transformers One. He insisted “he wouldn’t dare mimic Peter Cullen.” I highly respect his choices, and he does not deserve the amount of hate thrown at him. Now, Orion Pax also comes across as a humble, soft-spoken character in other movies and shows. However, I can see why they would lean into his impulsiveness to better highlight and contrast the relationship between Orion Pax and D-16, especially as D-16’s true colors show. More about that in the “spoiler” section, though!

No, it would not have made sense for Orion Pax to have a deep, majestic voice. That comes with experience; that comes with hard decisions. Quite honestly, Hemsworth is pretty close to what I had imagined Orion Pax to sound like. It’s still slightly deep, and very soothing.

The character development in this movie? Oh. My. Word. Guys, as a writer, I can say that subtle character development – the best kind – is not easy to do. In Transformers One, it flowed naturally. It made me smile. It broke my heart. If you’ve seen other Transformers movies and shows, brace yourself. If you haven’t, still brace yourself. Again, more about that in the “spoiler” section.

The humor in the trailers has been re-posted so heavily I think it’s beginning to lose its effect and people, not knowing the context, are quick to judge. Yes, Bee is funny. It’s Bee. He’s supposed to be lovable, humorous, loyal, and powerful. I found no issue with most of the humor coming from him. There is more humor that is not mentioned in the trailers that is really worth chuckling over.

Finally, the fight scenes were clean, the animation was captivating, and the incredible Brian Tyler produced musical masterpieces for most every scene, some of it connecting to other movies and shows.

"Spoiler" take, now!

I expected to dislike Elita. Really, I did. I knew she was the “love interest” for Optimus Prime beforehand and expected big things from her, because Optimus Prime never struck me as having a “love interest” in the past. Not only that, but I expected her to be the female character I seem to find everywhere these days who strives to be better than everyone else without a lick of experience, complaining about the male figures in her life.

Elita, however, is ambitious. She leads. She doesn’t have to prove anything; she’s simply willing to work hard and do her job. Understandably, she gets upset with Orion Pax and the others when they interrupt her progress, though I can’t help but be amused by Orion Pax’s shy attempt to get her attention and adored his subtle acts of kindness. Sure, she’s a tad bit aggressive – she did punch Orion Pax, after all – but I really enjoyed seeing her adapt. When Orion Pax was feeling hopeless, she was there to encourage him. If she had stopped talking immediately after saying “I’m better” I would have been frustrated. Orion Pax and D-16 are the main characters in Transformers One, after all. She didn’t stop there, though. She highlighted the most important aspects of Orion Pax; his good heart, selflessness, and bravery. She told Shockwave and the others to shut up and listen to Orion Pax when they doubted his plan. She encouraged him to speak louder when others couldn’t hear him. She leaned towards the pit when Orion Pax fell.

Not only that, but Orion Pax was incredibly patient with her. He woke her up when she was unconscious and immediately took a punch to the face like a champ. He gently, subtlety smiled at her when they traveled to the surface and Elita announced "it's beautiful." He cried out her name and pushed her out of the way to save her during a battle. He listened to her. He told her to beat Arachnid “gently” when Elita managed to detain her, proving he fully understood Elita’s personality.

I’m sorry, but this kind of relationship takes the cake. If they’re meant to be a couple, I can see the signs. I love how well they work together and build each other up.

Bee is an icon. One of my favorite scenes is him eagerly saying to Orion Pax “I’m going to go cut these guys up, watch! C’MERE!” It’s like a proud kid trying to get their parent to watch. I love how loyal he is to Orion Pax right off the bat.

While they changed some lore in Transformers One, they included everything that was important. Orion Pax and D-16 are miners, but it seems Orion Pax may have been a clerk beforehand. When he broke into the archives, he seemed to know where he was going. When he ran, I can’t remember exactly, but I believe he was muttering numbers? I don’t mind the small twists and can see how they were necessary for the story; key details are kept.

Jazz and Ratchet mention! I was so excited to hear their names. Kind of wish they had shown Ratchet, maybe shouting “I needed that!” to a fumbling worker. Sorry, Transformers Prime reference.

Arachnid had an incredible design.

Sentinel is a well-written, hate-worthy villain. I… did not expect D-16 to rip him in half, though.

Also… can I just mention how epic that particular scene was? The switch from D-16 reaching his peak character development – showing no mercy – while Orion Pax reached his – making the ultimate sacrifice to preserve life and do things the right way; receiving the Matrix of Leadership. The music, the animation, the slow-motion… everything was incredibly cinematic.

Obviously, D-16 took things too far. I appreciated the fact that he didn’t just wake up one day and decide to be evil. It took time. It took motivation. Obviously, any sane person would stand with Optimus Prime, though he does make mistakes from time to time, but it was incredibly neat to actually appreciate D-16’s insight in the beginning, then notice the shift and feel every bit of emotion Orion Pax felt.

People say the ending is rushed, or that D-16’s change came too abruptly without any good motivation. Sure, the ending may be a little rushed, but movies are typically structured this way. Falling action does not have a set speed; it just needs to be well done. Bad things happen in a rush, and this leaves ample opportunity for the “good guys” to react a little too slowly. As for D-16’s motivation… even a person can take their worship of an item or figure too far. Megatronus was someone to look up to in D-16’s eyes. He agreed to Orion Pax’s plans, or at least tolerated them, but his admiration for Megatronus was his own interest. Orion Pax threatened that vision. D-16 wanted to kill Sentinel to satisfy his own needs and desires, not to liberate others. Sentinel deserved death after committing murder, yes. He didn’t, however, deserve a public execution, especially as he tried to get away and was relatively defenseless. Remember, Sentinel told D-16 and Bee that he would execute them in front of everyone. We can acknowledge his promise as brutal, so shouldn't D-16's actions be considered brutal, too? No "reason" could ever justify it.

When D-16 let Orion Pax drop, he proved he no longer cared about loyalty. The least he could do was hoist Orion Pax’s body up or break down after losing what he once called his best friend, but he didn’t.

It’s ironic… D-16 said “I’m done saving you” when in reality, Orion Pax was trying to save D-16 from doing something he knew D-16 should have regretted doing. Normally, yes, D-16 is the voice of reason, but not in this case. For once, this is where Orion Pax’s true personality shines through. His spark – the spark of a Prime – is in the right place. Orion Pax puts joking aside when serious matters arise. It seems D-16 didn’t really know his friend after all. The actions D-16 committed, my friends, are not actions you want to celebrate.

I really, really hope Transformers One gains more attention. We need the sequel! Transformers fans, tell your friends. Give an honest review, which are of more value than the reviews given by those who didn’t take the time to watch it. Hype it up and roll out!

[ms-hunter59]

No Sleeping On The Floor - Childe x reader (fluff!)

Summary:

A new Fatui recruit decides to go against direct orders and blows up an enemy hideout, causing an avalanche to come crashing down on her. Childe, the leader of the mission, is the only one who decides to go look for her and save her life.

* * * * *

“Give me your hand.”

I stretched my arm out to grip Childe’s cold wrist. Once he got a firm hold of me, he dug his heels into the deep snow so as not to lose his balance, and pulled. He heaved me out of the giant pile of snow, and I crawled to my knees before finally getting to my feet. I brushed myself off, my cheeks burning in shame.

Childe didn’t say another word. Instead, he turned his back to me, picked up his lantern and headed further up the hill. I didn’t dare speak to him, not even apologise. He surely must be mad, even if he didn’t let it show on his face. I had disobeyed direct orders, and if it had been any other harbinger leading the mission, I probably would have still been stuck under that avalanche. But I’d be naive to think I’d be coming back home without suffering any consequences.

The freezing wind stung my bare face, and I buried my chin into the furry collar of my coat, creating a warm bubble with my breath. I could barely see a few metres in front of me, so I simply followed behind the tall snow covered figure, hoping he wouldn’t disappear right before my eyes.

We tore through the deep snow, ascending the hill at a steady pace. I was getting increasingly breathless, but I knew if I slowed down, it might be the last thing I do. I kept my squinting eyes fixed on Childe’s back, ignoring the growing fatigue in my legs.

Childe came to a sudden stop. In front of us stood a small wooden shack, its boarded up windows not exactly giving off a welcoming atmosphere. Childe pulled on the door handle, then kicked the door open when it didn’t budge.

Oh god, I thought, sweating profusely despite the chatter of my teeth. Is he gonna kill me here? No one would ever come looking for me here. I’m done for.

He turned to me, raising an eyebrow. “You’re gonna stand outside?”

I gulped. If I had to choose between freezing to death and getting murdered by my boss, the latter was beginning to sound more appealing. Maybe he could even make it quick and painless. He didn’t seem like the type to torture people with a slow death. At least I hoped.

I stepped inside, and he shut the door behind me, making the whole shack shake. My eyes had a hard time adjusting to the dark compared to the blinding whiteness of outside. With the collection of various antlers and horns hanging on the walls, it was safe to assume that this place was a hunter’s cabin. Whether abandoned or not, it didn’t seem like anyone had been here in a while.

Childe set his lantern down on the table and slid his hood off, shaking the snow out of his hair. I stood by the door, my muscles tense with anticipation. Would he just get right to it, or did he plan on having a little chat before he slit my throat?

“So,” he said, facing me. Little chat it is, then.

“Before you kill me, I just wanted to say I’m sorry,” I blurted out. Childe blinked.

“Kill you? I’m not gonna kill you.”

My heart dropped. “You’re not?” Was he going to torture me, then?

Childe shook his head. “Of course not. Look, I’m not gonna pat you on the back and tell you that what you did wasn’t incredibly stupid, and reckless, and dangerous. It was. You’re lucky to be alive. But you did something that none of your comrades would ever have the guts to do. And, if I’m being honest, it’s something I would do.”

My brows furrowed. “So… you think what I did was right?”

“Well, I’m sure there were other ways to do it, but it was certainly the fastest route to success. Maybe blowing up the whole hideout was a bit unnecessary, but thanks to you the threat has been eliminated, and none of our people got hurt.”

The relief must’ve shown on my face, because he smiled. “Relax. Normally you’d be punished for insubordination, but I’m considering recommending you for a promotion. We need more people like you higher up.”

“Oh, well, thank you,” I said, folding my hands behind my back. Childe leaned against the table, crossing his arms over his chest.

“We should stay here for the night, it would be too dangerous to go back to camp, especially in this weather.” There was a small fireplace that could provide some comforting warmth throughout the night, and a single bed in the corner.

Wait.

I glanced at Childe, who seemed to have noticed the same thing. “I’ll sleep on the floor,” I said. Childe shook his head.

“I can’t let you sleep on the floor, you were under a ton of snow for hours. You take the bed.”

“Please, I’m the reason you have to be here in the first place. You could catch a cold on the floor.”

Childe scoffed, almost amazed. “Catch a cold?”

“I didn’t mean-“

“I’m flattered that you care about my wellbeing, but I could say the exact same thing.”

I huffed, mirroring his stance. “Imagine if someone found out I let my superior sleep on the floor.”

“Well, no one’s here to see, and I won’t tell on you,” he said, a grin spreading across his face.

“Please, just let me sleep on the floor. I already feel like shit for all the trouble I put you through,” I said, growing desperate. I tensed. Either he didn’t notice that I’d sworn, or he just didn’t care. He sighed, eyeing me from head to toe.

“Fine, if that’s what you truly want. Do you still have some food and water?”

I swung my bag off my back and checked my remaining supplies. “Yeah. Enough to get us through tomorrow.”

“Good. I’ll make a fire.”

I pulled out my food and water and set it all down on the table. Meanwhile, Childe prepared a fire with some wood the cabin owner had stored beside the fireplace, and soon enough the soft glow of the flames lit up the room.

It was clear that we both knew the fire wouldn’t be enough to keep me warm — the wood would definitely run out in a few hours — but I was too proud to admit it and Childe knew there was no point arguing with me. We ate a portion of the food and drank some water, sitting as close to the fire as we could.

Noticing how I hadn’t stopped shivering, Childe took off his heavy coat and put it on me, slipping the hood over my head. Taken aback, I wanted to protest, but he cut in. “Don’t argue with me on this. I can see you’re freezing.”

I pulled my knees up to my chest. “Thanks.”

The silence that ensued was strangely pleasant. I had never been alone with him in the same room, let alone for such a long time. Maybe it was due to our small age gap, or maybe because of his naturally friendly personality, but I didn’t even feel like I was in the presence of someone as important as a harbinger.

“Well,” he said, getting to his feet, “we should probably get some rest. Enjoy the floor.”

“And you enjoy the bed,” I said. He sat down on the firm mattress and kicked his boots off. It didn’t look particularly comfortable, but anything would beat laying on the cold hard floor.

“Last chance to switch,” he said and swung his feet up onto the bed, resting his hands behind his head. I shook my head, and he simply shrugged. “Your loss.”

I laid out my coat down in front of the fire and used his coat as a sort of blanket. Even though it was too big for me as a coat, it wasn’t enough to cover me. I wrapped myself up in it as tightly as I could and curled up onto my side, staring at the dying embers in the fireplace.

Time passed. I didn’t know how much – minutes felt like hours as I lay there under Childe’s coat, too frozen to get myself to sleep. I wanted to, I really did, but my painful awareness of the cold seeping into my bones made me incapable of focusing on anything else. The fire was long gone, and there was no wood left I could use to replenish it. Strong winds whistled through the cracks of the shack, and I swore it might actually be snowing inside.

As much as I hated it, I was glad Childe wasn’t the one on the floor right now. For strictly professional reasons, though. I didn’t know what I’d do if I would’ve caused a harbinger to freeze to death by making him sleep on the floor. If this was the sacrifice I had to make, then so be it.

One thing I couldn’t help coming back to was the fact that he had actually come back to look for me in that avalanche. He could’ve assumed that I had died in the explosion and given up like everyone else, but he had kept looking, and he had found me. I wasn’t sure, but “saving the meaningless life of a new recruit” didn’t seem to fit his job description. A part of me wanted to ask him, but I knew I’d only sound stupid, maybe even delusional. Not that I thought he had gone to save me because he cared about me or anything. Definitely not. He barely knew me. I was surprised he had even noticed my disappearance in the first place.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t even heard the creaking bed as Childe got up and crouched down beside me. “Get up,” he said, his voice soft. I sat up, confused.

“What?”

“I know you’re stubborn, but you can’t be stubborn enough to let yourself freeze to death. Get up.” He grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me up to my feet.

“So what, you’re gonna freeze to death instead?” I said. I couldn’t believe he was bringing this up again.

“No. No one’s gonna be sleeping on the floor.”

I stared at him. “What?” Surely he didn’t mean-

“I know the bed’s small, but we’ll fit,” he said.

My eyes darted between the bed and him. “Are you sure?”

He smiled. “Yes,” he said, sounding a bit impatient.

I took a few tentative steps towards the bed. Pleased that he’d finally won the endless argument, he got onto the bed and held the blanket for me to slip under it beside him. The close proximity made my whole body heat up, and at this point I wasn’t even complaining.

I lay on my side, our faces so close I could feel his breath warming my cheeks. “Are your hands cold?” he asked with a gentle look in his eyes. I nodded and watched, slightly bewildered, as he took my hands in his. He began rubbing them gently, bringing the heat back into my skin. I averted my gaze, the warmth from my hands spreading to my face. I began to wonder whether I had a better chance of surviving on that damn floor, because if he kept this up, I was going to melt into a puddle.

“Try to sleep,” he said, his hands still holding onto mine.

“That’s easier said than done,” I replied.

“Why? Are you uncomfortable?” he asked, genuinely concerned.

“No, I’m very comfortable! It’s just-”

“Yes?”

I sighed. “Nothing.” My answer made him chuckle.

“You know, you don’t have to be hanging on the edge of the bed like that. You can move closer.”

“That sounds very unprofessional,” I said.

“I think we’ve already crossed that line.”

I glanced at him, biting the inside of my cheek hesitantly. Finally, I moved in closer to him, slightly leaning my head against him. To my surprise, he let go of my hands and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me even closer. I ended up with my head on his chest, my ear pressed right above his heart. The gentle steady thump of his heartbeat helped my muscles relax. I unclenched my jaw and shifted in his arms to find the most comfortable position.

“If we froze to death like this, it would be almost poetic,” he said. His hand began to play with my hair. I hoped he couldn’t hear my heart hammering in my chest.

“Yeah,” I said with a small smile. “It would.”

“Is there something I could do to help you sleep?” he asked.

“You could tell me something.”

“What, like a story?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmm.” He paused for a second. “There’s this one that I used to tell my younger siblings. They got tired of hearing it, so I might not remember all the details, but I think it starts like this...”

I closed my eyes and let myself get lost in the sound of his voice. He continued stroking my hair, and before I knew it I had stopped shivering. I melted in his arms, the closeness of his body warming me up more than any fire in the world could.

When I awoke, I felt his absence almost immediately. I rolled over to my side, and I was comforted by the sight of him sitting by the table, tying his boots. He lifted his gaze to me, and when he realised I was awake, he smiled.

“Sleep well?” he asked. I sat up with a groan, flexing my feet.

“Yeah. You?”

“Me too.” He stood up and slipped on his coat. “We should get going. We wouldn’t want them to think we’re dead, right?”

“Right.”

I got ready as fast as I could and waited by the door with my bag strapped tightly to my back. Childe gave the cabin a quick once-over before he stepped outside into the sun. I followed suit, and just as I began to wonder whether or not I had imagined last night’s events, he took my hand in his, our fingers intertwining.

[tezzbot]

I've seen quite a few people say that Branch was left alone to raise himself after his grandma died but, like, I really doubt that, because with their living situation there must have been hundreds of parents and primary guardians taken when their children were still young.

So I headcanon that there must have been a sort of, everyone was in charge of raising the kids as a collective type thing. It was just that Branch really had connection with pretty much no one outside of his family and had lost just so much already, and with him turning grey he wasn't able to bounce back like other kids his age might have been.

I imagine there was meal times he sat quietly away from everyone else, kind of picking at his food. He probably wouldn't have participated in any activities with the other kids. He just slowly isolated himself until eventually he was just left alone by other kids. Leaving any adults taking care of the groups he was in to simply worry about him, but still keep him fed and making sure he got outside at least once a day.

Maybe, like a lot of quiet kids, he took to reading. Sort of teaching himself how to survive (on paper lol). It was probably a "Well at least he's doing Something." for the caretakers lol

Then, on the night of the escape, someone would have had to have gone and got him, helped him through the tunnels, made sure that he got to the place that would become pop village, house him while he grew and began creating his bunker.

Then eventually he would become a snappy teenager, learning the the moodier he was, the more that other trolls, no matter his age or not, would begin just leave him alone.

Well GOOD, alone was what he really wanted.

...Wasn't it?

He would grump around outdoors sneering and barking things angrily at others and have his panic attacks and plans in the solitary saftey of his bunker... which Could be even safer, maybe if he just dug it down a little deeper... ten stories might just be enough... For storage that is.

He isolated himself. He made the village roll their eyes and turn their backs on him. Confirmation bias is a hell of a thing. Yes, as long as he was the one making people leave him on purpose then it was his decision not his fault

But there are likely some older trolls in the village that probably still wonder if they could have done more to prevent Branch from becoming so suddenly hateful and rude and miserable

[mswyrr]

They spent the entire season showing the collapse of everything Alicent had invested meaning in and earning her final choice.

Things that came apart over the season:

-her father's role in all this; his approval (and fear of his disapproval) has driven her for her entire life! (bad move on multiple fronts, Aegon)

-her belief that she could do what this patriarchy promises and "influence" her sons toward a good direction (Aegon dismisses her but Aemond really drove the nail in with flagrantly slaughtering smallfolk and making his intent to force his sister to do it too clear)

-her belief that she had any allies and her skills in leadership and her track record of hard work actually meant anything to *anyone* (this was a cooperative effort by Aemond, Larys, and Criston - good work, fellas!)

-her belief that she could, if nothing else, at least protect her daughter (huge emotional pillar for her)

And if we look at her prior actions putting Aegon on the throne and protecting him with her life - both fit within those structures she had mentally and emotionally which this season ripped down.

I think the final one was the thing that took it over the edge, though -- the prospect of Helaena being used and hurt and destroyed as a person -- kind of like how degrading Aemond and his connection to his long-term sex worker was his final straw that made him want to kill and supplant his brother Aegon.

People keep pushing each other too far this season. Taking out the last thing that stands between them and a radical change. Pushing people until they're willing to lose things just to break the current dynamic.

Dae/mon pushes Rhaenyra too far, then the entire war does and she "breaks bad" in 2x07 (see my meta linked below for more on my pov on that); Aegon pushes Aemond too far; and the entire group of "green men" systematically pushes Alicent too far.

All the while, she had that offer from earlier in the season, when Rhaenyra risked everything to come speak to Alicent in her mind. She was mulling over it and thinking of what she could have said, should have said. At the same time, however, Rhaenyra was moving away from being that person [my meta argument on that here]. So the person she finally comes to make peace with isn't the same as she was in the Sept. And once again they tragically can't get on the same page. It does all fit together, even with issues in the writing.

And writing on Alicent's arc simply isn't as uneven as people are saying - the theme of people pushing each other too far and how they showed the pillars of Alicent's support crumbling were both clearly done.

And, yes - Alicent still has feelings for Rhaenyra and as all of this has been happening she's been having a midlife crisis and wishing she had just run away with her first love when they were girls. But that isn't her sole motivation!! It's just what comes spilling out of her because of the state she's in. It creates an appealing alternative to the hell she's living in at the Red Keep. But it wasn't THE single motivating factor.

On a show where fathers have behaved truly monstrously--up to and including their selfishness setting this civil war in motion to begin with--it's fascinating that people refuse to believe a mother can be pushed too far. That kinslaying and slaughtering whole cities and rejecting and humiliating her and threatening to mentally torture her daughter until she breaks wouldn't change her mind about her priorities.

The "green" side becomes owned by Aemond, a wilful (as far as she knows; I'm speaking of her pov here) kinslayer moral reprobate who is violent to his sister and wants to force her to do things that will break her mind. Alicent cannot expect that Aegon will be able to stop him. That's what the side is now, as far as she knows. And she thinks he's a monster who must be stopped, at any cost. That's why she told Rhaenyra "we both know what he is" about Aemond in the Sept. WHAT not who. Things like kinslaying and slaughtering smallfolk mean something to her. And her daughter is everything to her.

Team Green overall took her for granted and thought she'd always be their doormat, and Helaena too. And Alicent finally had enough. Again, given how monstrously the fathers on this show behave, I think they "showed their work" on her radical change of heart well. It's just some people believe nothing can ever justify a mother betraying her sons and I think that makes total sense, given everything.

Honestly, once Helaena was on the chopping block, it would have been out of character for Alicent *not* to do everything--destroy anything--to protect her daughter. She feels like protecting Helaena is the only good thing she's ever done in her life.

People can dislike the ending. It's always valid to dislike something in a story, it's fine. But disliking it doesn't mean it wasn't built up solidly, narratively speaking. The writers put a lot of work and narrative space into it, actually--this was one of the most developed parts of s2!--and weaving it into the season's larger theme of characters pushing each other to the breaking point.

[auroracalisto]

day #22: "i'll be home for christmas"

tangerine x gn!reader, 1k words a/n: i mention that you like cheese ball and when i say that, i mean this thing (this thing also says msg but i think the recipe we use has something else... idk). i hope it's not just a southern west virginia thing. it's my favorite thing at holidays. i know it looks freaky and child me used to REFUSE but these and tollhouse butter crackers... cheese ball hates to see me comin', y'all. also, did you know that "i'll be home for christmas" was initially written in regards to soldiers overseas who wouldn't be home to celebrate christmas with their loved ones? crazyy.

I'll be home for Christmas You can plan on me Please have snow and mistletoe And presents on the tree Christmas Eve'll find me Where the love light gleams I'll be home for Christmas If only in my dreams

Before you, he never truly cared for Christmas, or any holiday for that matter. It just didn't strike him as anything special. But then he met you, and it was like something within him changed. You seemed so... excited for simple things like gifts and merry-making, and by God, he'd make sure he'd make you the happiest person in the world if he could help it.

But work was work. He couldn't just avoid it, and he especially couldn't turn down suck an incredible paycheck. Hell, this job may have been difficult, but who the hell would've thought it would have lasted this long?

Typically, his jobs lasted a few days. Maybe a week or two, tops. This one was going on three weeks, and nearing Christmas. It was as if whoever this damned man had wanted him to miss Christmas—wanted him to miss the morning lying in bed with you, kissing you, making you feel like you were the only person in the world.

He didn't often hate his job, but right now? He wished he would have some cozy office job where he'd be home no matter what. Every holiday, he'd be by your side, decorating and drinking and participating in whatever merry making you wanted. Damn, he'd even try baking cookies and creating that weird cheese ball thing you'd mentioned from your childhood. It looked more like a thing that could grow legs and walk away, but he'd give anything just to be home with you. To be with you instead of sitting here growing restless with his brother grumbling on about how he wished he was home as well—not that he could blame him.

Tangerine patted his thigh with his hand and reached for his phone. He dialed your number, a frown on his lips. He sat on the edge of his hotel bed, knowing that he wouldn't be home. There'd be no way, regardless of how much he wanted to be. But he'd lie. A little white lie never hurt anyone, right?

"Hey, love," he said as soon as the receiver picked up.

"Hi, Tan," he heard your voice come through.

He smiled a bit to himself. "You, uh, doin' alright?" he asked. "Takin' care of yourself, yeah?"

Lemon glanced over at him, raising a curious eyebrow. Tangerine just waved him off with a pursed lip."

"Yeah," you said. "Tan, how's the job coming? Are you almost done?"

Your voice is soft on the receiver—must be poor service from his end.

"I miss you."

The words strike him silent for a moment. He sighed softly and closed his eyes. "Yeah, I know you do, love," he said. "I'm sorry. I'll be home soon, I promise."

"How soon?" you asked.

"I'm aimin' for Christmas Eve," he said, a small smile playing on his lips. He could hear Lemon protesting the little lie, but Tangerine simply waved him off and then proceeded to flip him off.

"Christmas Eve. You don't sound too sure," you replied.

He breathed through his nose and closed his eyes. Why were you always so good at seeing through his words? It was almost like you were a psychic. Either that or Lemon was fucking texting you that he was lying.

Tangerine cursed at his brother, throwing one of the hard hotel pillows at his face. It hit him and Lemon let out a shout in protest.

"Tangerine," you said, his code name drawing his attention back to the phone.

"Right. Sorry, love. I, uh, it's not lookin' too good, sweetheart. I'm going to try and make it back as soon as I can, but I can't make any promises right now."

"Really?" you sadly said.

"Yeah, really," he said. "You know, maybe I can dream about being home for the holidays."

You scoffed softly. "What, like the Bing Crosby song?"

"What song?" he asked.

"Um," you paused. "'I'll Be Home for Christmas.'"

"Bing Crosby?"

"The singer, you dipshit," Lemon quipped from his side of the hotel room.

Tangerine rolled his eyes. "How's it go, love? Remind me."

"I'm not singing it to you," you said, "but I'll send it to you."

He snorted softly. "Yeah, you do that," he said.

Tangerine glanced toward the clock on the wall—it was nearly two in the morning. He sighed softly. He knew you were a couple hours behind him, so he wasn't keeping you awake, but he knew you still needed to go. You had a life beyond him (or at least, he hoped you did—jokes, jokes).

"Look, love, if things change, I'll be the first to message you," he said.

You sighed softly on the phone. "Do that," you said. "I miss you, Tan."

"I miss you more, love. Honest."

"I know," you said. "Just... be safe. Come home soon. We can always celebrate when you get back."

His brows furrowed. "How would we celebrate Christmas after the holiday?"

You snorted softly. "I don't think Christmas is just a day," you said. "I feel like as long as you have the people you want to celebrate with, it can be a holiday. The number doesn't truly matter."

He hummed softly at your words. "Want to invite Lemon?"

"If you want Lemon, sure."

He grinned. "Sounds like a plan, love. I'll save a day of Christmas just for you, though."

You scoffed over the phone, but he just knew you were smiling.

"I love you," Tangerine softly said. He knew Lemon heard it, and he'd say something later, but all he wanted was for you to say it back.

Perhaps it was his only wish of the night as he heard the words "I love you" over the phone, and a wish for him to have a good night.

When you hung up, he dropped his phone and looked toward Lemon.

"If we don't finish this fuckin' job in the next two days, someone is gonna bloody die, and it isn't me."

Lemon rolled his eyes. "Stop bein' so fuckin' dramatic. We'll finish the job and you can be back home playing house with your little beau."

Tangerine grumbled under his breath and laid back in his hotel bed, looking up at the popcorn ceiling.

"Damn. Remind me in the future to take all of December off."

Lemon raised an eyebrow. "You plan on taking all of December off just for a holiday?"

"Nah, mate, not just a holiday. For them."

[feminismisstillahatemovement]

You truly don’t believe that most women can genuinely love their husbands? Do you think the same is true in the inverse?

No, I believe that most women can fall in love, I just don't observe them worshiping the man they are with like a god for decades until death, the way a lot of men will worship a woman. There are some fairly simple evolutionary reasons for this, if you need me to go into them.

This particular difference between the sexes is, interestingly enough, one of the main reasons the attempts to make women heroes in modern films have failed so badly: the male hero has, for many thousands of years, always been a sacrificial role, in which he offers up his life on behalf of the tribe, which they traditionally reward after his death with honors and public gratitude. But in the western tradition we don't feel good thinking of women as sacrifices on behalf of men, and we can't sell that convincingly to the people.

In other words, if a male cowboy or astronaut or cop or fireman or whoever dies at the end of the film to save a woman and her children, we feel he has done good, and can leave the cinema oddly elated. Whereas, if a woman is beaten to death or torn apart or burned alive in order that a man she doesn't know gets to live, we don't feel that trade has been worth it, and we feel that film's a downer.

The feminist ideologues pushing for all these kick-ass action heroines misunderstand the 'hero' label as simply a nice shiny thing they want, because they see some men have it, but the thought of the women they are writing sacrificing anything never even occurs to them. So, instead of creating female counterparts to male heroes, they create extraordinarily selfish, belligerent and unlikeable Mary Sues, who simply beat up and kill men to get their way, and that is what is now being presented as a positive role model to young girls, just making the world worse one awful film at a time.

The root biological truth, that we all innately know but never openly acknowledge, is that males are disposable, and women are not, because women bear the children, and so must be protected more than men. Both men and women view women as more valuable than men, unless that man is supplying something extra and extraordinary to the tribe (or individual woman), and even then, that just brings his worth up to something approaching the level of care we have for women.

Another way of putting it: If King Charles III dies jumping on a bomb to save a mother walking by, we will think of him as a good dude. Whereas if Queen Elizabeth II had died leaping out of her carriage and jumping on a bomb to save the life of one of her footmen, we'd likely think of her as mentally ill, as it would be so outside of our hierarchy of values and expected behaviours.

Just some thoughts.

[lexicorp]

Y'know, one thing that bothers me about the backstory information we get for the end of the war and Megatron in Earthspark; is /how/ he actually def acts from the cons.

Like, all we really see is how he was fighting them for the allspark in the battle scene, sneaking into Shockwaves lab to steal it, and how the cons behave towards him. Some cons outright call him a traitor, while others still were like "I'd never fight /you/ Megatron!" And it just makes comprehending what exactly went down between them so tricky.

It stands to reason that Megatron had gone behind their backs with his decision to side with Optimus. But why? Why didnt he just stand in front of his army, and /tell them/, "we're doing this now"? He was the leader, why couldn't he do that? Why /wouldn't/ he?

So then the thought trails to perhaps he'd decided that he wanted to quietly remove the allspark, lie and say the bots stole it when it vanished, and let it fade into the shadows in a safe place only Optimus was to know about. That seems like a decently plausible plan. So then in the scene with Shockwave on that theory, Megatron wasn't actually outwardly against them yet, but Shockwave knew. Shockwave already has a bit of his own history in lore of wanting to expand his power over the Cons in his own right, so I don't think it unreasonable for him to have kept a keen eye on Megatron's behavior. Hell, Shockwave had been planning a protoform army that Megs didn't seem to approve of. So maybe that timeline could have been how things went, with Megatron running off with the Allspark after locking the scientist away.

But then it still doesn't make sense. Cuz if we're going off the idea of the first plan, why wouldn't he have simply covered up Shockwaves absence and done it the quiet way instead of it leading to some huge battle? Clearly no one knew where shockwave was since he hadn't been freed beforehand by another con-- or maybe they did since in a deleted scene ravage was supposed to have gathered a remote to release him. Maybe that's why they deleted that scene tho. Who fucking knows. It's jank as hell.

So then Megatron must have already been openly with the bots in that scene, and snuck in due to insider knowledge to the location of Shockwaves secret lab. Okay sure. So then, who took charge after Megs disconnected? Starscream? But Shockwave had literal underground plans of his own. And Star's line of "witness the fall of Megatron!" Is just so funny to me thinking about the timeline shit. Cuz I process that line as "witness the mighty warlord falling from his throne to become a pitiful traitor to everything he created!", but it could just feel like some typical slag of the "Megatron has fallen, now I'm the new leader!" But then if Starscream had already appointed himself as leader by that point, then that'd seem odd in context, especially as it's worded differently. Were the cons all just flailing around disorganized? Some listening to Starscream, some to Shockwave, some to Soundwave?

There are not enough details touched on for my liking. Vague context that leads to more questions than what answers it gives.

I think at least for my fic imma have it as a sorta mix where Megatron decided he was gonna dewit on his own and went behind their backs, he was caught fraternizing with the enemy, and when he tried to explain then his three main lads thought it was bullshit and were actually on the same page at least on the idea that they didn't wanna throw away their advantage and thought what Megatron was saying was dumb. And I bet Optimus and other bots were there during that confrontation so it just escalated into a full on battle where Megatron just left to stay with the bots. It could have also just been Star who initially found out that way and just relayed what happened to the others.

It still just seems so weird tho...so tbh i'd love to hear anyone else's thoughts on the matter.

Bro's fumbling-

[gravityrises]

The Virtues of Stanford Pines

Summary: I've seen people accuse Ford of doing horrible things on one side, and people defending his actions on the other side. But how about we turn the tables and talk about all of the good Ford has done. (At least, that was the plan.)

Word Count: 2813.

Spoilers: Gravity Falls series, Journal 3, The Book of Bill, Lost Legends, thisisnotawebsitedotcom.com

1. He's incredibly hard-working:

Just because someone is smart doesn't mean they don't put a lot of effort into studying and Ford definitely did. It's mentioned twice just in "A Tale of Two Stans," when he tries to convince the college board to give him another chance and when he describes his years at Backupsmore.

And it doesn't stop at intellectual pursuits. In Journal 3 Ford says he exercises daily, despite having always hated physical activity.

Anyway, I don't think anyone is going to argue this point, so let's leave it at that.

2. He's supportive of his friend:

There are going to be a few controversial takes, but I truly believe that Ford was trying to be a good friend to Fiddleford. Now, there were fights between them, and Ford did say quite a few insensitive things both to his face and in the Journal. But overall, I don't think he ever intended to hurt Fiddleford, and he definitely appreciated his friend's company.

When Ford invited Fiddleford to work on the portal, he wrote in the journal: "He (Fiddleford) has sacrificed so much to come to my aid. He has temporarily left his bride and their young son... he has abandoned his own professional aspirations... I must do my best to make him feel at home.... I am off to the store for some banjo strings and microchips!" (quote shortened, because I'm lazy) Clearly, Ford cared about his friend and wanted to make him feel welcome.

He also compliments Fiddleford's "brilliant mind," "amusing quirks" and scrupulous work ethic, by saying "I double-check my equations. He quintuple-checks!"

And I hear you, didn't he claim the complete opposite in the series? According to him, Fiddleford "was wasting his talent trying to make personal computers", right? Well, if we ignore the fact that the creators weren't 100% consistent in their writing, here's how I would reconcile those two statements. Ford thought (erroneously) that his friend's research wasn't important in the grand scheme of things, but it was important to Fiddleford personally. And can you really blame Ford? He was about to demostrate the existence of other dimensions and create a gateway that would allow us to visit them. If something like that happened irl, it would've been a groundbreaking discovery, altering our very understanding of the natural world and how it works. Meanwhile, laptops, at least in Ford's opinion, were just "heavy, slow journals." Still, he knew this work was important to Fiddleford, and he wanted to accommodate that. Hence, his trip to buy microchips (and banjo strings.)

Ford tried (and unfortunately, failed) to help Fiddleford deal with his anxiety. In Journal 3, he mentions teaching Fiddleford some meditation techniques and going to the Carnival, so that Fiddleford would enjoy "a day of relaxation." In the Book of Bill, Ford feels guilty about not getting his friend a gift and decides to throw a surprise Christmas party instead. This was also an attempt to cheer Fiddleford up after his fight with his wife.

"But Ford didn't take Fiddleford's anxiety seriously, and it ruined his life." Okay, let's say you're right. Remember, Ford was raised in the 60s. A time when mental illness or just mental distress were looked down on. What was he supposed to do? Suggest Fiddleford goes to the therapist? I mean, they were studying paranormal creatures, if Fiddleford told those stories to a therapist who didn't believe in these things, there would've been a really high chance of misdiagnosis. Should Ford have simply fired Fiddleford? Well, that wouldn't have been very nice. Also, there is no need to infantilize Fiddleford in the first place, he's a grown-up person capable of makind his own decisions. If the job is too stressful, if the relationship doesn't work out, he has every right to leave, because his life and mental well-being are his responsibility. Instead, he ignored Ford's warnings and decided to use the Memory Gun and start a cult. It was, by the end of the day, Fiddleford's decision. And it's tragic. It really is. No one deserves to lose their family, their mind and their sense of self. It's something Ford feels guilty about, because whether it was intentional or not, he did indirectly contribute to Fiddleford's downfall. That's why, when they finally reunited after 30 years, Ford apologized to Fiddleford. And according to Journal 3, Fiddleford dissmised his apology, leading Ford to say that "Not only is this man's mind superior to mine, but he has one of the biggest hearts I've ever seen."

3. He has no reservations about helping others out:

There's a reason why Ford's the first person people turn to, when there's a problem. He has both the desire and the skills to help people out. Using Dipper's idea, he stops agents from investigating his family. He goes above and beyond just to change a lightbulb in the kitchen. Though morally questionable, he did give the kids a mind control tie with the intent of helping Stan win the elections. In the comics, Stan turns to Ford when Mabel's face is stolen and when Stan himself is cursed by an old chest.

And that's how things were in the past too. In "The Pines Boys in: The Jersey Devil's in the Details", Ford defends his brother, twice. First, when Filbrick accuses Stan of stealing the gold chain from his pawn shop. And then, when the Sibling Brothers offered Ford to let him keep the monster and become famous in exchange for photos that would prove Stan's guilt. And just to add an incentive, they threatened to frame both twins, if Ford didn't comply. Obviously, it didn't work.

According to thisisnotawebsitedotcom.com, that's also how he became friends with Fiddleford: on the very first day, he spent nine hours helping his new friend prove his theory. And in the Book of Bill, when Ford learns that Bill's home dimension was destroyed by a monster, his immediate reaction is to offer help with hunting it down.

Whenever someone's in distress, Ford really wants to help them out, and I don't know about you, but to me that doesn't sound like someone lacking empathy.

4. He's got no qualms questioning the status quo:

In Journal 3, Ford mentions traveling to Northwest Manor to confront Old Man Northwest with evidence of his family's deceit. Instead, he was met by young Preston, who wasn't impressed with his speech and forcibly escorted Ford from the premises.

Also in Journal 3, Ford wanted to debate politics with Reagan. Make of that what you will.

Now this one is more of a conjecture, but in the Book of Bill, this is how Bill compliments him: "Guys as smart as you come along once every century, and they scare the pants off of authority figures!" This lie wouldn't have worked, if it wasn't what Ford actually wanted.

And of course, learning that his former "muse" is one of the most feared beings in the entire multiverse, didn't stop Ford from going on a quest to defeat Bill. Even after witnessing other creatures shriek and cover their ears at the mere mention of Bill's name. Which leads me to my next point.

5. Calling him determined would be a massive understatement:

Forget his sleepless nights at college, forget his extensive research in Gravity Falls, Ford has spent 30 years, let me repeat that again, 30 years traveling across dimensions and looking for a way to destroy Bill Cipher. I haven't even been alive for that long! From the little we know about those years, they were anything but easy. In fact, Ford describes them as "frightening, exciting, cruel, and strange." (And of course, the guy actually does use the Oxford comma in his writing. Who would've thought?) Let me stress that Ford was under no obligation to continue his quest, maybe he could've found a quiet dimension to settle down and live peacefully, in fact, that's something he contemplates while visiting A Better World in Journal 3. But he decides against it. Not because he didn't want to, he literally says that he wanted to revel in his parallel self's success. Not because defeating Bill would get him recognition. It wouldn't, at least not in his home dimension, where no one is even aware of the danger. No, he didn't stay, because his own conscience wouldn't allow it. Ford just couldn't break his vow from 30 years ago, it's as simple as that.

And what does he do, when his plans fall apart? Does he even consider giving up? Of course not! In fact, he ends his tale of interdimensional travel with the following sentence: "My resolve to defeat Bill has never been stronger." It's almost comical, watching him throw anything he can think of at Bill and see what might stick. His battle in the Nightmare Realm was interrupted? He jumps through the portal to stop Bill's forces from entering his dimension. The portal created an interdimensional rift? He tries to contain it. Bill threatens to get his hands on the rift? This time Ford has two ideas: he tries to encrypt Dipper's thoughts and creates a mystical barrier around the house. The worst happens and the world is about to end? Well, get in loser, we're going to shoot Bill with Quantum Destabilizer. Ford misses and is captured? Not to worry, there's a Zodiac prophecy, we can give that a try. It doesn't work, because two grown men can't put aside their grievances for just a few seconds, gosh that scene is so frustrating to watch. Well, here is another idea: one can erase Bill with a memory gun as long as he's in someone's mind. I don't know what else to say, Ford really did his homework, when he set out to destroy Bill.

6. He has the patience of a saint:

Wow, now here's a controversial take. Remember Stan's "Beep boop. I am a nerd robot. That's you. That's what you sound like," which Ford just laughs off. Yes, that's what siblings do all the time. And yes, this teasing does come from a place of hurt. Stan was feeling like "the stupid twin," "a dumb idiot who screws everything up," so Ford felt like he just had to put up with this. But it's still hurtful to be mocked for your interests. It really feels like their relationship was already a little strained even before the Science Fair Project Incident.

What about the fact that he was the first to stop the fight in "Dungeons, Dungeons, and more Dungeons" and suggesting Stan might actually have fun, if he joined their game?

Or all the snide comments Stan made, when they reunited during Weirdmageddon, including "Well, he's lost his mind" and "You really think some caveman graffiti is gonna stop that monster?" All of which Ford simply ignored. Yes, he did correct Stan's grammar under the worst of circumstances, I agree, but you know, everyone has their pet peeves.

What people often forget is just how difficult it is to be a kind person, when you're stressed. It is much easier to treat people with respect and understanding, when you yourself are doing fine. So is it that big of a surprise, that someone who's under pressure, sleep-deprived and/or in pain might be more prone to outbursts? And we know how traumatic Ford's experience of being bullied as a kid was, how much suffering Bill put him through, how difficult his years on the other side of the portal were and how much pressure he was under, trying to prevent a literal end of the world. It's ironic that the people who blame Ford for his lack of empathy, really don't show him any empathy themselves.

7. Even under torture, he didn't reveal the equation that would've allowed Bill to take over the world:

Do I really have to spell it out? Look, as someone who was on the verge of mental breakdown from a simple toothache, I have nothing else to say other than: This is admirable. And he did it to protect the world that, need I remind you, wasn't particularly kind to him. On the same note, he just never joined Bill in the first place: not in the 80s, and not during Weirdmageddon.

"Oh, but he's the one who started the Apocalypse, so he kind of deserved it." Seriously? No, I mean it, are you being serious? Is that something you would say to a person suffering from diabetes type 2, that it's their fault for eating too many sweets; or to someone with liver cirrhosis that they deserve to suffer because of their alcohol addiction? Because this is neither appropriate, nor helpful. Talk about kicking someone when they're down...

8. He's fiercely loyal to his family:

I think the way Ford compliments his grandniece in "The Last Mabelcorn" is very revealing: "You've protected your family. You're a good person, Mabel." His very definition of a "good person" is "someone who supports and protects their family." Which is... interesting to say the least, considering that Ford has spent a very long time away from his family and completely alone. But it does sound like something he aspires to. That's why he goes out of his way to help his family out, whenever they're in trouble. (See point 3 for more on this.)

When Bill threatens the kids, Ford is willing to risk the entire universe for a slim chance that they might be spared. It's a cruel Trolley Problem, which once again proves just how much he values his family. Still, this is some Fate/Zero level angst and I don't want to talk about it more than I absolutely have to. Let's finish this up with something more lighthearted.

9. He's never lost curiosity and childlike wonder:

This! This is what made me fall in love with the man and why I'm wasting my time writing this nonsense in the first place. This allconsuming excitement, when he finds a new anomaly to study; this seemingly endless energy, when he explores new places; this pure joy, when he gets to play DD&MD with Dipper! I don't know how to talk about it without gushing.

Ford obviously loves games, and not just DD&MD. He plays chess with Bill. He mentions being great at charades in the comics. And what cracks me up the most: during Weirdmageddon, when Pacifica compared the Zodiac to a game of hopscotch, not only did not Ford get offended, but he replied: "It would be a pretty fun game of hopscotch." Ford, darling, the world is about to end, is this really the best time to contemplate a hypothetical game of hopscotch? Also, you've just been through something traumatic... Forget it, you've been through 3 decades of traumatic experiences, can you at least have the decency to become a tad more cynical as you age, like the rest of us. I guess, mirth really is the mail of anguish. (It's from Emily Dickinson's poem and the quote means that some people act cheerful to hide their suffering.)

Also, something Ford doesn't get enough credit for, mostly because people usually focus on his academic achievements, but he is quite creative. He draws incredibly detailed sketches not only depicting various anomalies he encounters, but also whatever happens in his life. (Probably off-topic, but I find the implications of that karaoke page so funny. Think about it: the guy sobered up, looked at the incomprehensible nonsense he had written the previous night and thought: "You know what? This could really use an illustration.") Also don't forget that he canonically plays piano. Yeah, if I were Stan, I'd be jealous too.

And of course, that's why he's so passionate about science. Sure, part of him wants the fame and recognition that would come, if he makes a big discovery, but you can't deny that he genuinely enjoys learning new things. And that he enjoys sharing them with whoever is willing to listen.

In conclusion, I'm not trying to say that Ford is perfect in every way and has never done a single wrong thing in his life. To be honest, that would've made him a really boring character. So, yes, he is flawed, and misguided, and sometimes insensitive. He's made a lot of missteps because of his upbringing, personality and, as many have speculated, neurodivergence. But I really take issue with people saying Ford's a bad person, when he clearly isn't. Ford is and always was a good person, and by the end of all the trials he became a better person. One who understands that the only way to success is cooperation, not being a lone vigilante. That it's not a weakness to ask for help or to need help in the first place. And that a sea otter shared is a sea otter halved.

That's strange... why did I write that?

[thr0wnawayy]

Chapter 429 has been my Dabi's Dance

I can't stop smiling.

I wanted to start off by saying thank you. Not to Hori, but to you all. Every last one of you in these tags for your contributions. Be it analysis, re-reads, fan works or simply your perspectives. I look forward to seeing what you will make in the future.

So, Thank you.

I suppose I should start at the beginning. MHA was always in the background of my life and I hated it. I don't watch anime and yet still MHA related media would make it's way onto my socials in all it's obnoxious forms. This went on for years.

And then suddenly, it stopped. It seemed like MHA's craze had died down, I'd still see it from time to time through merchandise but never to the consistency it had prior.

That was until Dabi's Dance was published and the net went wild.

I knew a few things about Endeavor from my past exposure, he was universally hated and abused his kids and wife (to the point she scalded her son in a fit of psychosis).

Deciding I had nothing better to do, I found myself searching to see what kind of consequences would befall such a monstrous character.

Would he fall like Icarus, be torn apart by the public, how would the family he ruined react to the news?.

And then, nothing. No punishment, no reaction. Just dead air.

I recall that my face dropped internally. My blank expression mirrored my phone screen's sterile nature, as it displayed the information in front of me.

He got away with it. So I did some digging and it got so much worse.

Bakugo's evasion of any consequences or damages, coddled and shielded by Hori's inability to go through on anything.

Hawks who murdered a near crippled man on a hypothesis, for the mere crime of having the "wrong" quirk, for not giving up, for being "unlucky"

Aizawa, Hori's little mouthpiece. who decides to play judge, jury and executioner with the futures of students he's supposed to be teaching. Only for the Nedzu and the narrative to allow him, his friends turned into lapdogs that agree to the letter.

The Commission who strive to keep theirrotting husk of a system alive through assasins, child soldiers and indoctrination.

Even if it's gears must be lubricated with blood, even if it means lying to the world and having them clean up the mess. They MUST stay on top, the illusion must be upheld.

I just couldn't fathom how this was seen as a good thing.

And somewhere along the way I began to feel something akin to hate. Not your typical ire, one powered by anger, no.

I wanted to see how low Hori would go, just how horrifically he would mangle a series that everyone had once praised.

I wanted to witness what wonders a jaded community would create, to show what they were capable of (to create and understand MHA in a manner Hori wishes he could even emulate a fraction of)

I wished to see your own expressions of love and hatred.

The thought of witnessing the breaking point, the dust settling to expose all the glaring flaws and infested wounds of MHA. It buzzed in my brain like electricity.

The idea that when all was said and done, you, the people would do what Hori couldn't/wouldn't and forge the bones and salvagble bits of MHA into a story worth remembering.

One where abusers are punished for their crimes instead of rewarded

Where victims can have a voice, feel and grow, carve their own paths and move forward from their trauma.

Where the implications of MHA's rotting and disingenuous society get explored instead of swept under the rug

Where people get a chance.

I waited eagerly for the day it would all fall apart.

So, do you know what I did when I logged onto the tag and saw your posts!?.

I laughed, the shrill giggle in the back of my throat quickly surging into an almost manic cackle. It was like lightning, vindicating and sobering all at once. My face was stretched to it's absolute limits with how wide my grin was. I could almost hear the shattering of MHA's last bit of integrity and I loved it.

The realization MHA's greatest threat was the author himself, It's one that I grasped long ago (as far back as the Dark Dekiru Arc) and I'm sure most of you understood this as well.

But to see that more of you are starting to get it, to realize there's no going back. That as the curtains draw near and the lights begin to dim, there is no other side here. Violence begets violence and Hori's gone past the event horizon.

It feels, hopeful. Perhaps we can build something worth saving.

It's been a wild ride so far and it's still ongoing. Hori's time is long over, it has been for a while now, so I suppose what I'm asking Is:

Now It's Your Turn, what's your play?

_______________________________________

Update:

IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING!