#than a morality based afterlife

[mister13eyond]

the fun thing about making a comic where i've vaguely appropriated the aesthetics of christianity but entirely eschewing the actual religion is that i get to come up with headcanons for my universe like "hell isn't eternal punishment at all, it's literally just a big meat grinder where people's souls are sent to get converted to demon food. which isn't really all that different than the default option, where a soul is simply released back into the universe and becomes part of the big ocean of mana out there"

[writerofjourneys]

The Regent King of Hell

A/N: Just an interesting idea I thought to try. Not sure I want to make this a part of my fandom list as it’s not my cup of tea to write but I wanted to give this a shot regardless.

Fandom(s): Hazbin Hotel

Charlie Magne/Morningstar & (Twin)Fem Reader

Lucifer Magne/Morningstar & (Daughter)Reader

Summary: As the 2nd Princess of Hell, you were given the reigns of ruling over the Ring of Wrath as a King of Sin, then eventually Pride as regent for your parents in their crumbling marriage, soon breakup and your father’s inactive state. You became one of the most, if not above all the most feared ruler out of the Rings of Hell, leaving you to be quite a contrast to your sheltered optimistic older sister, but you loved each other all the same.

Headcanon

Content: Fluff, family, Reader is nicknamed Satan, sister relationship, father-daughter relationship, platonic relationships, demons & angels, morality, afterlife, based on how Satan isn’t introduced yet and the circumstances of Lucifer’s role after physically stepping down from ruling aside from his title as King of Hell.

Warnings: None.

Main List

As children growing up, you and Charlie were always joined at the hip. It was rare for anyone to find one of the Morningstar Twins without the other.

You had very fond memories of your family together, spending moments like any other happy human ones. Having your father display his angelic powers in beautiful imagery to you and your sister’s delight. And your mother singing you songs and lullabies.

Your father would take you on trips to his Lu Lu World theme park. He also wasn’t hesitant to show his bitterness to Loo Loo Land. He forbade you and Charlie to ever go there, and that hasn’t changed even now. But you have been to Hellsney, you heard the human world had something similar to the name.

Ironically, you don’t actually like apples. By themselves they’re okay, but even though it’s your family’s main symbol, you find it tolerable. You hate apple themed food, though.

Though it became apparent that you and Charlie began to take different personalities and views as you got older. Whereas she was optimistic, naive, vibrant, and mild; you were stern, calm, intimidating, and calculating. The denizens of Hell sometimes pondered over the differences between you.

You seemed to take more after your mother and Charlie your father, you still loved them both, but when their relationship began to fall apart you mostly chose to stay by your father’s side. Taking up the duties of learning to govern over Hell more than ever.

But even before that, you took to your responsibilities as an heir more highly compared to your twin, who wasn’t all that interested, instead pursuing a different path.

As you grew up, you even took to taking on a more demonic form, like leaving your curled horns rest on your head, sharp fangs, and having similar wings to Lucifer you inherited that you left out. Though the rest of your features did match with Charlie’s. But you have the ability to shapeshift and change to a number of things, even a more monstrous form.

You displayed more powers in comparison to her, though, having even used them to ‘discipline’ anyone who tried to step out of line, thinking you’d be as dismissive as your sister.

For your capabilities, your parents had given you the opportunity of ruling over the Ring of Wrath, making you a member of one of the Seven Deadly Sins, leading to the demons to then give you the nickname famously known as Satan. Which, funnily enough, had humans and sinners tending to mistake you for your dad, Lucifer.

You found amusement in others speaking your stage name in forms of expression.

You became the embodiment of Wrath for your power and dangerous influence, finally filling the missing spot for the Seven Deadly Sins.

And like your dad, you also detested sinners. You knew many of humanity’s history and their continuous behaviours throughout the centuries. Humans are as cruel as they are loving. They could be even more monstrous than hellborn demons, for all their fragility and short lifespans.

Naturally, you took to them also being something of ants or specks of dust. Though you do get experiences being on earth and getting involved with humans. For being what they are, they did fascinate you for their unpredictability.

You even carried an exception with a level of respect for the intelligent and influential mortals.

When Charlie and Lucifer grew apart at the time of your parents separation, having the misunderstanding of how one didn’t want to see the other, you continued staying close to him. Spending time with him, listening to him talk about his hyper-fixation projects, flying together, and then visiting him among your time ruling over the two rings.

You were pretty much emancipated with your parents’ separation being a Sin.

When Lilith left, stepping down from her royal duties, you and Charlie both didn’t have any contact with her for the past 7 years to now.

You had grown apart from your mom just before that. You weren’t the fondest of her at the moment.

You didn’t know how long Lucifer would remain inactive from ruling the Pride Ring, so you continued acting as regent.

While Charlie had her cat Keekee, and goat-toys-brought-to-life, Razzle and Dazzle, you had your hellhounds, actual terrifying beasts who intelligently understood your orders, but different than the other sentient hellhounds in Hell.

As King of Wrath and now Pride, you were usually busy. Jumping between the two realms and overseeing the majority of Hell in your father’s stead. Sometimes meeting with the other Kings of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Out of all of Hell’s hierarchy, you have the most experience with humans and earth.

Shapeshifting is an ability you inherited from Lucifer. Meaning animals.

You turned into a duckling and a snake for him when you were little. He couldn’t stop fawning how cute you were. He was pretty proud.

Being the embodiment of wrath meant some cause for destruction. You’ve had a hand in a some earthly/hellish disasters.

It also made you the most warlike and combative.

Lucifer had had his worries of how fast you’ve grown. Being mature and doing your own thing ruling a ring of Hell.

Having been sheltered from the lives of humans on earth, Charlie carried the benefit of the doubt for the sinners. Which honestly exasperated you.

You didn’t have any animosity towards your twin, you cared for her, but you wished she carried more of a backbone. Having only the title as the 1st Princess of Hell to go off on and hardly using her powers, the denizens could never take her seriously.

So when she presented her ideas of redemption to you, as family and ruler, you considered it hilariously absurd, though not to her face. You had agreed that while there are sinners who didn’t deserve eternal damnation for their particular situations, not all of them deserved peace.

Humans already had their chances of change and different livelihoods, what was the point of doing it now when they already passed death? They had made their choices and harmed others in the process, to redeem now when their lives were already over felt pointless.

So you were rather indifferent to Extermination Day. You didn’t really know if Lucifer was actually in agreement to it anyways, even for his own distaste in sinners, but your father wouldn’t have had a choice in it regardless. Heaven was the one to force him to be the King of Hell after all, it isn’t a surprise that they could exterminate without his permission. And the Exorcists who were once mortal came down tended to have personal vengeance over the sinners who made their lives hell in the first place.

You weren’t interested in getting involved with Heaven if you could help it.

Seeing how passionate and serious Charlie was, you agreed to support her, regardless of how farfetched her goal looked. But you made to note that while Charlie shouldn’t focus on the inhumane sinners in particular, you advised that her future patrons should at least be remorseful to try and reach Heaven. That was the biggest point of redemption after all.

You did know her girlfriend, Vaggie, the three of you occasionally hanging out for things like lunch. She did tend to be nervous in your presence. All you cared about was her having a good relationship with your sister.

Charlie’s ex, Seviathan and his sister, Helsa, would’ve had their heads torn off of their bodies by you if your twin hadn’t convinced you otherwise. You detested that family.

You rarely did get to see Charlie as she created her ‘Happy Hotel’, but you did drop by to visit when you had time. And upon hearing the Radio Demon’s involvement as her co-owner, changing the name to ‘Hazbin Hotel’, you were obviously suspicious, since you were acquainted and familiar with the Overlords, but since he hadn’t done anything yet and Charlie saying she could take of herself, you left her to it.

While you weren’t sure how these events would fold, you hoped things would work out for your family and getting the time to be together again like you used to be.

So, how was this..?

[misterxsamsa]

I think the JTHM universe's versions of heaven and hell are very interesting. They're evidently not based on mortality persay, not even just an objective measure of intelligence. It's very nuanced, and specific, and the introduction of it acts a good narrative conclusion to Johnny's character progression.

We're introduced to heaven first, and an evidently very flawed God. He's portrayed as all grotesque, and lazy, and funny-looking — not answering any of Johnny's questions, or doing anything about the the world's suffering. However, in relation to heaven's inhabitants, the concept of "content" is stressed above morality. There's nothing enriching in the enviorment, just chairs to "bliss" in, but they're all completely at peace and given immense power alongside that.

We're not given incredible amounts of insight into the people residing there. However, it seems some of them were likely quite unpleasant in character, like the crabby old woman. Through all this, the notion of morality not being the determining factor of where you reside in the afterlife is established. So, if it's not morality, subjective or otherwise, then what is it? Well, it's not any one thing, and the answer to that question is left somewhat open-ended and subjective.

When catching a glimpse of hell, the characters of its residents are just as mixed as heaven's — some nice, some mean. The shared trait between all of them though is a preoccupation with the inane. They're cartoonishly reactive to the smallest of inconveniences, materialistic, superficial, or lacking in attention span. We're told many of them are driven to neuroticism by an eye in the sky that they all simultaneously believe to be watching them specifically. To me, this is a barely symbolic representation of an obsession with appearences: the judgements, opinions, praises of others.

Personally, I interpret the determining factors for the fate of your eternal soul in JTHM to be that of priorities and perspective. To be specific, what you allow to consume your thoughts — the things you value and pursue during your life. By choosing [or rather prioritizing] contentment, the residents of heaven decided that it was more worthwhile than wasting mental energy on fleeting negative emotions, or other base things. It's not that their souls are being judged from some detached perspective outside of themselves. They're determining the course of their own afterlife, and hell is effectively just a self-imposed state of mind.

That's all intriguing from a lore perspective, but this system is a backdrop meant to emphasize the themes of Johnny's narrative journey. The idea that "heaven" and "hell" are states actively sought rather than assigned is meant to highlight Johnny's agency in his own deterioration. He's chosen to prioritize his misanthropy, and homicidal tendencies, over his art and relationships. By seeing himself in the residents of hell through their shared flaws, he's forced to internally take accountability. That's what ultimately drives him towards a pursuit of contentment in Issue #7.

What's interesting though is that the notion of what exactly "contentment" entails is left purposefully vague. Why wouldn't it be? The concept of "contentment" is subjective and self-determined. That's why Johnny continues to kill, and overall be very morally dubious even after his change in perspective. He's choosing to make it about his own amusement and enrichment rather than centering it in exhaustive hate. Hey, everybody finds happiness a little differently, I suppose, it's still tangible progress nonetheless.

There's an interesting dichotomy to be found between God and Senor Diablo. Upon a first glance, I've seen many take their portrayal [and differences] as a cynical, but straightforward poke at organized religion. That's probably the case, but I see more to it than just that. In JTHM, the systems of heaven and hell are meant to reflect and support Johnny's character progression. As such, I'd make the argument God and Senor Diablo could be symbolic of the judgements Johnny would normally make on others.

Senor Diablo is very distinguished, intelligent, and he loves the word "DOOM". He's seemingly well-off compared to the God of this world, and Johnny respects him significantly more [relatively speaking] as a result. However, he's unhappy with the people he rules over, and exhausted by their repetitively short-sighted tendencies. In some respects, you could view him as Johnny's parallel, both are cynical enjoyers of suffering looking down on idiots who they view as beneath them. Perhaps, by a subjective character evaluation, and on aesthetics, you could say he's above his heavenly counterpart. Still, that judgement would bring him no joy.

It's emblematic of the lessons Johnny has to learn about himself and others. He's not better than humanity for constantly engulfing himself in the sufferings and injustices of the world, ones he only pretends to truly care about. His intellect is only valuable for as much as he can properly utilize it to better his own circumstances. With God, he's greasy and ignorant, but he's completely happy, or content. He's a representation of all the traits that motivates Johnny's hatred of others — he's all fleshy-like, and completely unconcerned with his sorroundings in any deep sense. It makes sense for humans to be apparently made in his image, since he's a fucked up interpretation of the quintessential human.

Still, by the end of the comics, Johnny learns to appreciate his love of content, rather than fixating upon his numerous detestable traits. In life, you'll encounter many people you'll find to be as disgusting as that lumpy God-dude in his chair. Regardless, it's in your best interests to only allow their bad qualities to occupy your thoughts to a limited degree. By learning to internalize to philosophies of people different from him, or particularly flawed, Johnny's learned to become a more well-rounded person. Again, relatively speaking by the standards of a homicidal maniac. Rome wasn't built in a day!

[maxdibert]

The attitude that Snape deserved to be sexually assaulted because he used the term ‘mudblood’ is horrifying, but JKR partially enables this…

Because the books obviously intend for the reader to sympathise with Snape in that scene, but ultimately conclude Snape’s crime is the worst offence committed in it. I don’t like that a teen girl’s romantic choice is used as the arbiter of a boy’s moral worth, and I think from the Cormoran Strike series that if JKR had her time again she’d approach this differently now, but it is what it is. Lily choosing James is the in-text evidence of his redemption, of his growth from teen bully to devoted family man who dies recognised as a hero and is reunited with loved ones in the afterlife. Lily rejecting Severus is the in-text evidence that his young self was on an irrevocable path to darkness. JKR doubled down on this in that interview where she said Lily could’ve fallen for him if he’d not been drawn to loathsome people and acts.

But I simply can’t agree with JKR’s and Lily’s assessment. Snape using a slur under duress is a lesser crime than James sexually assaulting another boy. The mixed messaging could’ve been avoided if the books didn’t deify Lily quite so much, if she’d been more of an actual character who the text was allowed to criticise instead of her being a Marian symbol of benevolence.

J.K. Rowling's internalized misogyny becomes quite evident in her work through the representation of women and the way she develops and portrays female characters. Lily Evans is one of the most striking examples. She is essentially turned into a suffering Virgin Mary figure who, through her sacrifice for her son, is elevated to a status of absolute beatification. This grants her the power to decide, based on her choices, which men are good and which are bad. This, once again, reduces women to the trope of beings capable of "changing" men and absolving them of responsibility for their actions if they gain the approval of women deemed "valid" enough to overlook their flaws and accept them.

This is the classic trope of the male gaze, where women are represented as maternal moral compasses around which men pivot. This notion is deeply reactionary and misogynistic because it denies women the right to be imperfect, morally questionable, and to have complex personalities that can be doubted at any moment. Women cease to be people and become almost divine entities through which men achieve their goals. It's truly terrible and incredibly archaic, more typical of a stale male author than a woman who supposedly proclaims herself a feminist. But, alas.

People often say James Potter has a redemption arc, but that arc doesn't exist—we never see it. The narrative only insists that he became a better person, which is why Lily accepted him. This turns her into the arbiter of what is good and evil, reinforcing the quasi-divine vision of her character. But the truth is, a basic rule of storytelling is that you can't just say it—you have to show it. As a reader, I cannot believe that Lily was so good and morally upright that her approval alone is enough to demonstrate a man's redemption. Nobody is so morally upright that they can dictate who is good or bad, especially when we don't know enough about Lily to accept that excuse. She is a character with zero development, and aside from Severus or Petunia, no one else in the series talks about her.

James, on the other hand, has friends who are present in Harry's life and talk to him about his father. James is shown being a bully, morally questionable, and even as a seemingly less influential figure in Harry's life than Lily, Rowling gives him far more layers than her. There’s a dichotomy between the memory of the hero and the school bully, which adds depth to his character, albeit limited. But with Lily, no. Lily is always saintly, pure, and unbreakable. She simply isn’t real. This is even more evident when, through Severus's memories, we see that her moral compass was quite questionable. Lily justifies the bullying by the Marauders simply because they don’t use dark magic—what the hell does that even mean? Does harassment and mistreatment cause less trauma if it’s not done with dark spells? Is that supposed to make it less impactful on the victims?

Moreover, during all her school years, she watched James Potter abuse his status and power against anyone who crossed him, and she still ended up accepting him and marrying him. This also calls her moral rectitude into question. No one with true principles would date someone they’ve repeatedly seen exercising violence against others. No one—unless many years had passed, they met again in entirely different contexts, and their lives had significantly changed. Is it realistic that this happens? Sure, it can happen, but not under the premise of having moral rectitude. It could happen if you don’t care about dating a total jerk, and that is incompatible with being the saintly mother of morality Rowling tries to portray in the books. It’s extremely contradictory and a massive plot hole.

Then there’s the issue of the "slur" and how it’s magnified throughout the story, painted as worse than physical attacks, mistreatment, or even abuse. Sorry, but you can’t sell me the idea that insulting someone immediately after they’ve been publicly humiliated by being stripped in front of the entire school is unforgivable. Even as a teenager—and not being a Severus fan back then—I thought the reason Lily ended their friendship was utterly absurd. In my circle of friends, we’ve said worse things to each other under far less excusable circumstances and still remained friends. Rowling oversimplifies incredibly complex issues that shouldn’t be treated lightly because they distort how such dynamics operate in real life. This, reflected in a children’s/young adult series, sends a dangerous message—for instance, that insulting someone justifies public humiliation or even attempted murder. Sorry, but insulting someone isn’t a crime or, at worst, is a minor offense. Publicly stripping someone or attempting to kill them is a criminal act. These are not comparable things, and what Severus endured is morally and legally far graver than any lousy insult he might have used.

For me, “mudblood” is equivalent to calling him “Snivellus,” which Sirius, for instance, continues to use even when they’re adults. “Snivellus” is also a type of slur in its own way—a slur that ridicules a man for not conforming to traditional masculinity and exhibiting traits deemed unmanly. The problem is that J.K. Rowling is a TERF who literally understands zero about gender issues. She also fails to see that patriarchy harms men too by establishing highly toxic behaviors and dynamics among them. So, she’s content with her rich bully boys being excused for being handsome and choosing "the good side" because her self-insert character, beatified by the Vatican of Magic, dated one and befriended the others. Sorry, but it doesn’t work that way. I need you to argue this more convincingly for it to make factual sense.

I’ve been involved in leftist political groups since I was 15 years old. I’ve been in over three Marxist unions, organized strikes and protests, clashed with neo-Nazis at demonstrations, debated with youth spokespersons from right-wing and ultra-conservative groups, attended a Catholic school with people who literally belonged to ultra-conservative religious cults, participated actively in university unions, and currently work as a criminal lawyer. I’ve met many leftist individuals who, despite being activists and supposedly holding values, were terrible people who treated others around them like crap, abused their partners, or displayed highly violent behavior towards socially disadvantaged individuals. I’ve seen people who gave passionate speeches at protests and fought neo-Nazis but then treated waiters, service workers, or customer support staff horribly just because they could. I’ve seen leftists publicly preach feminist ideals and call out misogyny but then send multiple female partners to therapy due to psychological abuse.

To me, the idea that someone is good just because they chose the "right" path without further questioning is neoliberal nonsense. A person’s morality isn’t demonstrated by their vote, their associations, or what they say publicly. It’s demonstrated by how they treat people in their daily life—demonstrated through actions. The facts I have about James Potter are that he was a rich kid who used his position to harass whoever he wanted without consequences. I don’t have evidence of his change; all I know is that he got his high school girlfriend pregnant and then defended his son. That doesn’t make him a hero—it makes him a regular person. You can love your family dearly and still be a terrible person to everyone else (just look the Malfoys). It has nothing to do with one another. I don’t know if James changed, and I refuse to instrumentalize women to act as moral arbiters because we’re not living in a 19th-century Christian commune.

[thegamingcatmom]

Okay listen-

A vampire (or three) kidnapping you because they can is actually quite...on point? And also quite "considerate", when one looks at the alternatives. Like-

(Rant incoming cause I got sidetracked a few dozen times along the way, whoopsie.)

Let´s start with Carlisle and his savior complex.

Rosalie was turned because Carlisle thought he was "helping" her, but we all know how much Rose despises this life. She literally said she wished someone would've voted "No" for her (which broke me just a bit btw), because she was very likely unable to voice it herself when she was on the brink of death. Or perhaps she DID try to voice it, but Carlisle just brushed her off like "this will help you" or something. Because, in his head, he was giving her a second chance at life.

Well, that and because Rose seemed like the perfect match for Edward (to him). Which is INSANE(ly disturbing), when you really think about it.

Speaking of Edward-

Him and Esme didn't get a say in their turning either, courtesy of Carlisle's savior complex. Edward was dying of the Spanish flu and probs way too gone already to really grip what was happening, what Carlisle whispered in his ear before he bit him. He probs thought it nothing more than a fever dream, or perhaps an "angel" sent to deliver him to the afterlife, which would explain his serene smile at the end just before suffering hellish torment. Then you got Esme-

...who tried to commit suicide after the death of her child. She actively tried to end her life, not prolong it, because she couldn't live with that pain. And then you got Carlisle basically forcing her to do exactly that, which is really so tragic and also kinda outrageous because-

...Can you imagine being eternally haunted by the memories of your dead child?

And, y'know, this really casts a different light on the Cullens and their whole "we are family" mentality. Especially Carlisle and Esme. Especially Esme.

Speaking of mothers and their borderline unhealthy fixation on family-

(https://twilightsaga.fandom.com/wiki/Sasha)

Sasha chose her "daughters" based on their looks. Well, Tanya was actually distant family of hers, so maybe that played into it as well. But, just like most of the Cullen kids, the sisters didn't get a say in their turning either. Sasha was just utterly fascinated by their stark resemblance to each other because they literally looked like sisters, so her mind promptly went like "I MUST HAVE THEM". She always longed for her own family, for children, and she didn't give a damn about the consequences.

Kate especially is an interesting (and quite tragic) case because, aside from her looks, Sasha was just blown away by her sheer will to survive. By the loyalty she showed when she fought to protect her mistress back then. I guess she concluded that Kate would protect them with the same ferocity as she did her previous "master" - rightfully so. Kate is as loyal as it gets.

...But wait-

You know who else was impressed by someone's will to survive? Tanya. When she got whacked in the face-

ANYWAY-

My point here is: Tanya could've turned MC on the spot. Make it official, so to speak. But she didn't and, in my eyes, that kinda makes her less...uhh...selfish? For only kidnapping her? 😅

It sounded better in my head.

LISTEN-

Y'know what I think is kinda beautiful in a morally very questionable way? Right from the start, Tanya was already "better" than her mother. Because Sasha would've changed MC without hesitation, had she believed her a fitting mate for one of her daughters or all of them.

...Or if said daughters had gone batshit crazy for reasons entirely unknown to Mama. Like-

Tanya: *points to a cowering and quivering MC, clearly overwhelmed by the situation (the situation: getting chased through the woods in the middle of the night by four blonde bimbos with snapping teeth)*

Tanya: "THAT ONE MOTHER. I WANT THAT ONE."

Sasha: *takes one look at MC*

MC: *looks just about ready to pass out*

Sasha, entirely sceptical: "I...my love, are you cert-"

Tanya, still pointing: "That.one."

Sasha: "..."

Tanya: "..."

Sasha: "..."

Tanya: "...Pretty please?"

Sasha: "..."

Tanya: 🥺

Sasha, sighing: "...Oh alright. How could I ever deny my precious girl?"

Tanya: 🤩

Sasha: 🥰

MC: 💀

Kate & Irina, entirely used to their older sister having her every whim catered to: 🙄

...

Kate @ MC, as soon as Momma's back is turned: 😘

Irina @ MC, as soon as Momma's back is turned: 🥰

MC @ them both: ...💀

Tanya, who hadn't accounted for this development: ❓🤬❓

Sigh.

Some things never change. No matter the...circumstances. 🫠

But ye I mean, MC wasn't in the middle of dying like some of the others. If she had been, perhaps Tanya would've turned her to "save" her as well, like Carlisle did with his charges.

Or not, seeing how MC was supposed to be a goner right from the start.

...Until she opened that impulsive mouth of hers. 💀

Then again, seeing how MC wants no part of that life (just like someone btw.😏), Tanya killing her would've probs been more in her interest than forcing her to become something she clearly doesn't wanna be. Which leads us back to Tanya being the most...considerate out of them (see the beginning of this post). I think. Uhhh-

...Then again, MC only hates what they are (which she doesn't even know yet) BECAUSE they kidnapped her. So, y'know, maybe if Tanya had just chilled tf out a bit more-

ANYWAY-

My point is:

Despite the "best" of intentions, they're all selfish. 🙃

(This wasn't me hating on any of them btw. I just really enjoy diving deep into anything unhinged, as anyone who follows me probs knows by now. ;3)

[thenightling]

A bigot demanded I tell him what's so good about Agatha All Along without mentioning representation and diversity so... Here we go...

1. It has an intriguing plot with a morally grey protagonist who may or may not be on a subtle redemption arc. I'm a sucker for a good redemption story.

2. It features very talented actors including the Tony award winning Broadway icon, Patti LuPone as one of the leads.

3. It features fairly accurate and respectful depictions of many Occult beliefs.

4. "Teen" is a very likable sidekick character and serves as a good moral compass for many of the other characters.

5. It has good music and a catchy recurring song from the composers of Avenue Q and Frozen, including a cover by the main cast in the style of Glam Rock.

6. It's better than WandaVision.

7. It's entertaining.

8. It's one of the only MCU depictions of supernatural magick while allowing it to actually be magick instead of pseudo-science and while also acknowledging an afterlife instead of pandering to the Chinese censors to get a Chinese theatrical release. The Chinese market doesn't allow for "Western depictions of the afterlife." (This includes ghosts. It's why the Disney Haunted Mansion in Hong Kong Disney isn't haunted but instead has enchanted furniture).

9. This was the first time we had ghosts in a Marvel property. Same reason as number 8.

10. It's refreshingly different from other other Marvel releases that have been following and obvious and tired formula for some time now.

11. Kathryn Hahn is a good actress.

12. It has a great, Gothic / spooky ambiance while also being fun. 13. It's the side of Marvel I get starved for because Marvel is too cowardly to have things like this outside of the Halloween season.

14. It has "Found Family" which is one of my favorite TV and movie tropes.

15. It's not all boring action sequences or sex scenes like most TV today. And yes, I find those things boring.

16. I had once said I wanted to see a TV show based on the concept of "Gothic Golden Girls" with witch Golden Girls and this is close enough. 17. I think Agatha, as a character, is well-written.

18. With other shows like Wednesday this has helped restore Goth Culture to the mainstream, enough so that there's a Goth clothing section on Target's website now (and has been for a full year). So I'm loving the influence on Pop culture.

19. This may open the door for more supernatural content from Marvel, I just hope they start allowing it outside of the Halloween season.

20. I'm not really enjoying many other new scripted TV shows right now. Both The Sandman and Wednesday are currently between seasons.

[hymnism]

release the list

i feel like i should mention these are all games ive personally played so if any of these make you go "why isn't [GAME] on here it's probably cuz i personally haven't played it. anyway

(obligatory mention to hades/disco elysium/omori since they're some of my favorite indie games but im sure everyone already knows about them. they are lovely games and you should play them 👍)

also ill use 🔸️ to indicate games that are still in early access so be warned that these games will probably be incomplete/buggy (but still worth playing imo)

darkest dungeon ($25) - turn based roguelike where you recruit mercenaries and send them on dungeon explorations and make sure they don't die of stress or starvation alongside the regular monster attacks. notoriously difficult. imagine bloodborne but turn based

ftl: faster than light ($10)- real time roguelike where you control a small crew and pilot a spaceship on the run from a rebel fleet. manage power and weapons on your own ship while targeting critical systems on the enemy

loop hero ($15)- a roguelike where your character will automatically walk in a loop while you use cards to add terrain with different effects such as spawning monsters to give you loot or increasing your healing. very unique with a beautiful pixel artstyle and banger soundtrack

moonlighter ($20)- a roguelike rpg where you go dungeon diving and try to bring back as much loot as you can so that you can sell it in your shop

🔸️shadows of doubt ($20)- a first person sandbox detective simulator where each case is procedurally generated. randomly generates a town with npcs that all have names and addresses and relationships. put together clues from a crime scene and try to catch a killer before they strike again. work odd jobs between cases to keep yourself fed and housed

ultrakill ($25) fast paced first person shooter with a style system ala devil may cry. you play as a robot fighting through the layers of hell. mankind is dead. blood is fuel. hell is full

crypt of the necrodancer ($15)- a rhythm based roguelike dungeon crawler where you and your enemies are only allowed to move on beat. banger soundtrack goes without saying

everhood ($10)- a rhythm based rpg where you play as a red doll who had their arm stolen and is trying to get it back. battles involve moving between 5 lanes to avoid enemy attacks. if you like undertale you'll like this

spiritfarer ($30)- management and adventure game where you play as a spiritfarer who needs to care for spirits on her boat before leading them into the afterlife. incredibly charming and touching game. you will cry

let's school ($20)- management sim where you build and manage a school and help students graduate by setting up different courses. addicting and has a very cute artstyle

let's build a zoo ($20)- management sim where you. well where you build a zoo. a very silly game that includes a morality system where you can choose to be eco friendly and help repopulate endangered species or you can exploit your animals for their meat and produce. also has an animal splicing mechanic. haven't you ever wanted to make a giraffe with a duck head

🔸️the wandering village ($25)- a city builder with the twist that you live on the back of a giant wandering beast named onbu. you help care for onbu as he wanders though different biomes that force you to adjust your resource production as some things become unavailable (such as water in a desert)

frostpunk ($30) a survival city builder where you build around a central core and try to prevent everyone from freezing to death in progressively colder temperatures

monster sanctuary ($20)- a metroidvania style creature collector with a unique combo meter that will continue to build and increase your damage based on the number of "hits" you can perform (healing buffs and shields also count as hits) and each monster has different skill trees that you can upgrade and customize

coral island ($30)- farming life sim with a unique underwater area where you can live and farm and raise aquatic plants and animals. you work to help restore the island after and oil spill ruined the surrounding ocean. i should mention that although this game is technically not in early access it is still unfinished and missing large chunks of gameplay/interactions/story. however there is still a healthy amount of content and is still a fun game as it is

apico ($20)- a beekeeping sim where you keep bees to make and sell honey while also breeding and releasing them to help restore their numbers in the wild

spirittea ($20)- a management and life sim where you manage a bathhouse for ghosts and help the townsfolk who think they're haunted (they're right). basically a cross between stardew valley and spirited away

🔸️cloud meadow ($20)- this is a porn game ⚠️ a farming sim where instead of regular animals you have anthro characters and you can breed them yourself or with each other and have them help in combat or on your farm. very cute artstyle and amazing animation work

[troutfur]

Have an idea about time travel / reincarnation leafpool fanfic... Very undecided on like everything but I want to focus on Leafpool rejecting her religion after the trial. I have. A lot of feelings about this. Definitely an exploration of grief. I think someone who dedicated SO much of themselves to religion and then to have God abandon you is devastating. It is literally a type of relationship. It will be interesting because I think usually this kind of thing mainly happens because of the community. Maybe it's because I was raised Christian and not Catholic but it's not like... Actually god that I feel we usually worry about failing, God loves all. It's the church and how they perceive us and accept us. Leafpool experienced that alienation but then also literal god rejected her. (Very simplified)

These are all very interesting themes to play around with.

Offering some thoughts on my own process of apostasy from the Catholic church and my approach to religion in Warriors to jog your brain and offer encouragement for you to write:

My own thing leaving Catholicism was not so much a crisis of faith, I pretty unceremoniously stopped believing at age 15 when I had one (1) critical thought. But I still remained Catholic for about two to three years afterwards because on some level I felt the Church must be a positive force in the world. I mean, they have been around for so long and their morals were foundational to my society.

I became a very odd kind of zealot. I didn't believe a single supernatural aspect of the religion and yet I clung tightly to the rest of it in sort of as my way of compensating. It wasn't until all the faith talk wore me down that I really came to the conclusion that I wasn't wanted as an atheist, no matter how firmly I upheld Catholic morality. I don't think it was a coincidence at all I admitted to myself I was gay shortly after.

In my own works I tend to portray StarClan not as an independently powerful entity but rather one that arises from and reflects the social structures of the Clans. So if I was telling this story I'd emphasize the societal systemic failures Leafpool faced first and emphasize how StarClan reflects those failures rather than being a separate entity as she believed. God does not, in fact, transcend man-made institutions but rather emerges from and dwells in them.

This is why I don't really like the trial system and prefer the idea that placement in the afterlife is based on the opinion of the living. After all, it is not God who makes the saints but the Pope. Any trial I would personally prefer if it took place on Earth with the leader preceding. You are free, of course, to play with these plot elements as you wish and it seems your concept already relies on the aspect of the trial.

Good luck with your writing! Feel free to reach out if you wanna bounce ideas or ask for advice!

[babyloklokspage]

Who enters Valhalla today, if no one fights and dies in battles anymore?

In the modern age, the question of who enters Valhalla maybe should evolved. The ancient understanding of Valhalla was that it was reserved for those who died heroically in battle, chosen by the Valkyries to join Odin’s hall and prepare for Ragnarök. But as the nature of humanity's struggles has changed, so too has the interpretation of what it means to be a "warrior."

Here is a perspective on how this might work today:

1. Redefining the Battle

While swords and shields are no longer the primary tools of combat, people still fight battles every day—against oppression, despair, illness, or personal struggles. Those who show courage, resilience, and sacrifice in the face of these challenges could be seen as modern warriors.

Mental and Emotional Strength: Those who battle depression, trauma, or societal prejudice and still rise with courage and determination may also embody the spirit of a warrior.

Frontline Workers and Activists: Healthcare workers, firefighters, soldiers, or anyone who sacrifices their safety or well-being to protect others might be considered warriors by the gods.

2. Spiritual and Moral Courage

For some, the idea of Valhalla might extend to those who embody the Norse virtues: honor, courage, loyalty, and perseverance. The gods may now choose individuals based on their character and the battles they fought to stay true to their values, rather than physical combat.

3. Who Decides?

Ultimately, the gods—especially Odin—would decide who is worthy of Valhalla. Valkyries might not only visit battlefields but also places of deep emotional or moral conflict, seeking out those who have fought and sacrificed for something greater than themselves.

Perhaps a soldier who dies defending others is still chosen.

Or an activist who fought for justice and died for the cause.

A parent who gave everything for their family might also catch the attention of the gods.

4. Other Realms of Afterlife

It’s also worth remembering that not all souls go to Valhalla. Those who lived quiet, honorable lives might go to Fólkvangr, Freyja’s hall, or to Hel, which was not a place of punishment but simply the realm of the dead. Valhalla remains for the most extraordinary of souls—those who embody the spirit of a warrior, even in this modern age.

5. A New Era of Warriors

Why do we think that Gods haven't changed along with us? Or don't they understand that times gave changed? I think they do. The lack of Viking raids and traditional warfare doesn’t mean humanity no longer has its heroes. Instead, it reflects a shift in what it means to fight and what it means to be brave. Valhalla is not closed; it has simply adapted, just as the gods and their worshippers have.

[imalazypandaaa]

Hi! I'm bored and have decided to do the 35 questions thing while I finish up my next chapter of If You Need Me I'll Be There. (WHICH IS COMING BY THE WAY!!) So ask me questions! (All of these questions were made by my friend lol)

1. What is your favorite Smp?

2. What is your favorite season of Hermitcraft?

3. What is your go to pov for the Life Series?

4. What do you think of the season 8 ending?

5. What is your favorite storyline?

6. Who is your favorite duo/trio/group?

7. What is your favorite season of the Life Series?

8. Is there anyone you want to watch more?

9. Do you have a favorite ship?

10. Are some duos/ships harder to write than others?

11. Is the moon big? (That's a stupid question Alistair but I love you so I'm keeping it)

12. Did you like Empires season 1 or 2 better?

13. Do you have any merch?

14. What is your least favorite and most favorite character in the Life Series?

15. What got you into watching Hermitcraft, Empires, Etc?

16. Is there a duo/trio/group that you hate?

17. How long have you been watching Hermitcraft?

18. Do you watch MCC?

19. Is there a creator you love but you can't watch their content for some reason? If so what's the reason?

20. Do you have any "controversial" lore opinions?

21. What is your opinion on the Ranchers? (He just wants to enable me)

22. If you had to pick your favorite Life Series winner who would it be?

23. What's your favorite quote?

24. Do you usually stick to one pov or multiple?

25. What is one ship you can not get over how much you despise it?

26. Which do you like better, pirates smp or rats smp?

27. Xisuma or Evil X?

28. What is your favorite base out of Hermitcraft Season 9?

29. What is your favorite Empire?

30. Do you think the Watchers are good, morally grey, or evil?

31. Do you like Afterlife or New Life better?

32. What is your favorite origin from New Life and After Life?

33. Who is your favorite witch from Witchcraft Smp?

34. Do you like Wizard Gem or Witch Shelby better?

35. Is there one person you just can't be normal about?

[13eyond13]

How useful do you think the Death Note would be in Berserk? Would Light get his own kingdom faster than Griffith? Would the God Hand have beef with Ryuk? What chances do we give for L to get up to anything relevant? (wanted to ask this question about Game of Thrones but then remembered your Berserk readthrough and figured this would be more interesting)

Hi hi! this is a very interesting question, and thank you for thinking of sending me something pertaining to multiple of my interests, that's very sweet of you! I'm having a bit of trouble coming up with good answers for it though, because my personal understanding of Berserk's worldbuilding is still vague and sketchy at best (I read the whole thing pretty quickly in a few days without taking the time to thoroughly absorb all the background details and side characters and locations and whatnot, and I'm still only halfway through the Golden Age in my second re-read of it now).

I'm also kinda wondering if the world-building for these two series might be almost fundamentally incompatible if I DID try to mash the worlds together on a conceptual/philisophical/spiritual realm level in any serious way? Right now it feels difficult for me to say if characters like The God Hand would have beef with Ryuk, since I feel like The God Hand is mostly concerned with things like claiming individual humans' souls, and coaxing desperate people into giving into their darker nature, and determining where they end up in the afterlife, and fulfilling the will of the "Idea of Evil," and helping plan out the path of Griffith as a sort of "chosen one" (at least in that retconned/deleted chapter that gives Griffith way more of a clear backstory, anyway)? Whereas in Death Note the gods are aimless and unconcerned with human affairs, Ryuk is just out to entertain himself, very clear about the fact that there is no such thing as an afterlife based on moral judgments for the humans' behaviour on earth, and that Light is embarrassingly mistaken to think he's any sort of a "chosen one" for being the one who picked up the notebook, and that any ideas to the contrary from humans about having some greater cosmic purpose or destiny to fulfill are based more on wishful self-important thinking than on anything else, etc. etc. And though both worlds contain these sort of cursed objects that can link the human characters to the god-realm and provide them with higher powers at the cost of their own humanity, the Behelits are genuinely meant to help determine the fates of the humans who obtain them, and the notebooks are seemingly objects not originally ever intended for humans to use, but rather just to help the gods turn the humans into food, etc. etc.

I also feel like maybe the whole strategic chess match / coldly logical and cruelly ironic manipulative mind games aspect of Death Note doesn't always lend itself that well to meshing with a world like Berserk's, where things are so often kind of ethereal and sincere and surreal and heavily based in delving deeply into the characters' emotions and dreams and relationships and personal trauma and spiritual journeys and so on. Definitely see more similarities between Game of Thrones and Death Note than I do with Berserk in terms of what kind of stuff is focused on and prioritized by the writing and the plot (but unfortunately I'm not well-versed enough in Game of Thrones to give a very good answer for THAT, either!)

However, all that being said, I LOVE both of these stories' worldbuilding and core philosophies in different ways, and maybe if I currently had a firmer grasp on Berserk as a whole I could give a much better response to this ask than "they're fundamentally incompatible." Because I think there ARE quite a few interesting parallels you could draw between Light's and Griffith's characters and their complex motives and personalities, and also between Guts' and Griffith's characters and L's character at times as well. And I'm sure you could do something like plop Light's character into Midland instead and give him something interesting to believe in and to do that still feels in-character for him based on that entirely different world's rules and ideas and such. I also actually see the potential for drawing parallels between some of the overarching ideas introduced in the very different spiritual realms of both worlds, too (like the notion that humanity's desire to create a higher purpose and morality and meaning for itself is perhaps sort of how that stuff ends up existing in the first place?). But sadly I also don't feel like I'm confident enough with my grasp on the entirety of Berserk to be able to articulate it too well yet, other than saying "I probably COULD find a way to draw a lot more interesting connections between them at some point"...

[mammomlette]

OK CHAT LOCKING IN AND WRITING AS I COME UP WITH STUFF FOR AN OBEY ME THE GOOD PLACE AU BECAUSE OF BRAINROT💔 (the good place spoilers below, obey me spoilers below too but lesser)

So starting with the obvious ones:

Eleanor is MC (both main characters, both the humans who brought peace to the universe or whatever. Also both whores who said that?)

Janet is Barbatos (both op and very smart who live to help and grow closer with the mc slowly)

Ok I actually can’t think of anymore obvious ones. (I’m gonna preface that I’m going based mostly off of personalities and their roles to the story, not their relationships with one another so if I put two brothers as people who end up together this is NOT demoncest I’m not talking about the romance aspect😭)

Going through the main the good place cast, it makes sense that Jason is Mammon (loveable dorks with good hearts but do crime lowkey. They’re literally the same person)

AND THAT WOULD MEAN IN THIS UNIVERSE BARBMON/MACARON IS CANON IG? (Again I’m not focusing on the romance aspect, this is just something just worth saying)

Who would be Tahani? Asmo, maybe? They both like to brag about themselves, they’re both canonically the hottest, both popular and lowkey pretentious… yeah I’d go with that

And chidi is difficult. He’s indecisive, a great lover, a nerd, loves reading, into moral philosophy, so I’m gonna say Simeon is the closest, but I’m not sure if that would fit well just better than others

Michael is hard. Maybe Michael is Michael; both called Michael and mysterious ig, but I think he’d be a better fit for either Solomon or Diavolo. Let me explain:

Solomon and Michael both appear friendly at first while actually having bad intentions. They possess a power unknown to any of their peers and as the series goes on, grow very attached to the main characters. They’re also both different to what they first said they were (Michael claimed to be an angel but was a demon, Solomon didn’t explicitly claim to be normal but he’s certainly more powerful than he appears)

Diavolo and Michael also both appear friendly at first, except diavolo actually is friendly which lowkey ruins it… though I’d say diavolo seems like he has some ulterior motive in the start of the game lowkey, he really doesn’t. Dude just wants peace. Which is similar to Michaels character growth but that feels like a stretch. they’re both in control of the whole thing, and are trying to introduce a new idea to the afterlife despite backlash.

I’d say Solomon fits better though (in either case, this would result in Solomon/diavolo being kind of a father figure to Barb at some point, which is funny to think about)

Ok now non-main characters

Vicky is Satan, which would mean it would be funny to have lucifer be Michael, but lucifer just isn’t as good of a fit for Michael as Solomon is, sadly. Satan and Vicky both feel like they have a point to prove to people underestimating them and they’re both quite smart and value their knowledge and likeability.

Mindy st Claire pisses me off (not the character, thinking about who would be her) BECAUSE Solomon is definitely best fit for her (humans who are their own league of morality, kind of anti-social/lonely though that’s because of isolation, relaxed) BUT he’s better fit for Michael. Soooo we will return to her LMAO (rn considering Levi???)

Simeon would also be good for her (Humans who I imagine wouldn’t be allowed into the good/bad place since he’s kinda yk just fell from there…) but he’s much better as chidi

Glenn would fit as mammon but mammon is so Jason-coded it’s unreal

What other characters even exist uhhhh ummm uhhh

I want to figure out who the twins would be

WAIT NONONO GO BACK GO BACK

TAHANI AS SATAN AND CAMILLA AS LUCIFER OFMS THATS THEIR DYNAMIC DOWN TO A TEA

Lucifer/camilla is much more accomplished and respected, which makes satan/tahani resent her/him. Tahani and satan are both well read and self respecting as well.

Then who would Asmo be fml

I mean mindy is always joking about masturbating. Not even joking she’s just jorking it 24/7 and she did record Eleanor and chidi for a sex tape so I’d say Asmo is pretty well fit yeah

Who would be asmos derek then. Hm. We can ignore he was made by Janet/barb since that doesn’t really apply to anyone (perchance Solomon or dia since they lowkey have a family bond??? Stretch) and focus on the fact he was incredibly stupid but Asmo/mindy reset him so much he got very smart (I think by the end of the series he was like… a god? Help)

I think Solomon would fit actually but he’s better as Michael and I don’t like the idea of Solomon being Barbatos’ rebound for mammon because mammon started sleeping with satan. I hate that sentence, actually. Especially that last part. What am I doing with my life

Anyway I think we should come back to Derek (considering Mephisto I will explain later if I stick with that)

OH MY GOODNESS THE JUDGE WHATS HER NAME FICK WHATS HER NAME

THE ONE WHO SIMPS FOR ALL THE MEN WHAT IS HER NAME

Anyway she’s exactly how I imagine Michael acts. Very old very powerful but just cunty and obsessed with sit coms and hot men. Because. Also they’re both judges of the afterlife or whatever

Who tf is bad Janet. I could envision Asmo but I like Asmo as Mindy and don’t want to rethink that decision. Actually let’s stay loyal to the lore bad Janet is just Barbatos as an au. Bad Janet is Barbatos’ aquarium fit cause that’s bad /neg 😡

The main characters go into Janet’s void/barbatos’ room of doors or whatever and they all just look like different barbatos fits.

Ok but also Belphie could be bad Janet, lowkey… no barb au 100% I’m sticking with there just being a million barbs (this implies disco barb exists. Fun)

I do remember Sean’s existence I just don’t know who he’d be. I like the idea of him being Raphael but Raphael isn’t mean they just have the same vibes yk. They need beef with michael/solomon. Lucifer would’ve been perfect for this but alas he is decided as Camilla😪 thirteen???? WAIT YES THIRTEEN IS OERFECT THAT IS LITERALLY HE DYNAMIC WITH SOLOMON YES I want thirteen in a suit

Gwendolyn Luke? Gwendolyn Luke. (I didn’t know who she was in at the point I have to Google the good place characters: she’s the girl they see in the good place who doesn’t let them ring the phone if you remember

We’re running out of om characters but I want Doug forcett to be the unnamed butcher from s3 because that’s so funny to me

But we still don’t have a Beel :( he’s not Simone, I don’t think he’s anyone of the s4 test humans (but Asmo would def be the one friends with Tahani)

Levi who r u. I was gonna just leave some characters out but I’ve only got like 3 left so I’m determined to find them all characters.

Mepbisto as Simone????????? Would Raphael fit better??????? One of those two as Simone, we will return when we have a character for Levi

Levi bambadjan? Yeah okay no real reason I just like bambadjan I want him included

Simone is into neuroscience, she’s smart, self assured, sassy and exes with chidi (who is now Simeon) but tbh I could see both Raphael and Mephisto as her… I’m gonna say Mephisto because I feel like he just has that wit that Simone has and Raphael isn’t rlly as witty

Who is Raphael then guys. Anybody like spears? Wet cat energy? Bad food taste? Sorry I don’t like Raphael enough (NOT HATE🙅‍♀️) to be able to characterize him properly. I would say one of the good place council members but nah he’s not overly positive enough for that. Could he be Hypatia, maybe? They have similar vibes when she’s not drinking milkshake and being all woo-ey because of the immortality thing but that still doesn’t feel right.

Wait did I do diavolo

FUCK DID I FORGET BELPHIE TOO

Ok Belphie is Trevor but who is diavolo oh my DAYS

I fear I may have to replace Michael with Diavolo for the judge💔which still works imo since they’re insanely powerful (in strength and influence), old, and pretty chill if entertained but very set on their goals and motivated. It just means no Michael unless you want Michael to be the whole good place council

Oh also lil d’s as the demons pretending to be humans in the good place and lil d 2 as Todd (the one always show in demon form) just because that makes me giggle

Wait I’m now realising that I forgot to recast Vicky when I made Satan tahani

Vicky is Raphael that fits a bit (totally not just trying to fit them both in) so no more Hypatia oh well she was in like 2 episodes and was just a plot device anyway maybe she can be maddi idk who else exists

Edit: I forgot to recast Derek. Oops. Derek is lowkey Solomon coded but AGAIN I like him too much as michael, so I’m gonna say Dia??? And that way Michael can be judge Gen? Idk how to feel about implying Dia and Barbatos dated and Barb created him as a rebound though… Oh well I’m already technically implying Satan and Mammon did the deed and that’s gross so just ignore the relationship implications based on casting🙏

SO TO SUMMARISE:

Eleanor- MC

Chidi- Simeon

Tahani- Satan

Jason- Mammon

Michael- Solomon

Janet- Barbatos

Shawn- Thirteen

Vicky- Raphael(?)

Glenn- Beel

Judge Gen (because I googled her name)- Michael

Mindy- Asmo

Kamilah- Lucifer

Bad Janet- also Barbatos

Bambadjan- Levi (LMAO I’m sorry)

Trevor- Belphie

Gwendolyn- Luke

Neutral Janet- Barbatos again

Simone- Mephisto(?)

Derek: Diavolo (I hate that cast though)

Doug forcett- The butcher from season 3?😭

Demon workers- lil d’s

Disco Janet- still Barbatos who would have guessed

And some honourable mentions (double casts) cause lucifer is Brett, Asmo is tahanis friend from s4 I forgot yk the gossip guy with a blog, Mammon is the guy who takes his top off instead of fighting that was Eleanor’s fake soulmate number 2, I’m not doing all their family’s guys but donkey Doug could be like lil d 2 or smthn. I’m gonna post this and forget someone which I’m trying to avoid but ohh welllll

Thank you for coming to my ted talk

I want to draw this now🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️

[elvenbeard]

|| You never saw me on the right side || || You never saw me on the wrong || || You never saw me on the right side || || You never saw me coming ||

Lately I've been kinda obsessed with "Gloves" by Saint Punk, and whenever I'm kinda obsessed with a song for a specific character, I'd ideally love to make a music video... but since I currently don't have the time for that, I opted for an edit based on the lyrics. I don't think I've ever done anything comparable, or at least it's been a long while, but I really had so much fun with this xD I might do more for the rest of the song, because there's some more lines in there that just hit hard and that I'd like to visualize wit VP 👀

Also, in general, I see such cool more graphic-y edits by others in the fandom all the time (especially @pinkyjulien and @chevvy-yates come to mind, like... your stuff is *so good*), I wanted to try something along those lines myself with this xD

I just really really love the intro lines so much, because it reflects so many aspects of Vince as a character, I'm going feral just thinking about it... How neither his corpo-past nor his merc career are better or worse than the other (same shit, just a slightly different packaging, to him at least), how he himself is always kind of morally grey and a little unpredictable in whose side he's gonna end up on, how he never really fits in where he goes, but uses being underestimated because of that to his advantage, how he rose from a nobody to an Afterlife legend through sheer spite and determination, and so on!! asjdökfjdfaöjsf I love him so much and I love that song XD

[vanilla-cigarillos]

Voodoo and Hoodoo: What’s the Difference?

If you live in America, you have undoubtedly come across the terms of voodoo and hoodoo. What is the difference between the two, and how does African (umbrella term) culture play a role in each?

Voodoo

(A.K.A. Vodou, Voudou, Vodun) Voodoo is a religion that originated within Africa amidst the Atlantic slave trade. Its structure comes from a mix of traditional religions of West and Central enslaved Africans (Yoruba, Kongo, and Fon). Once brought to the Hispaniola island, Voodoo saw influences of the culture of the French colonialists who controlled the colony of Saint-Domingue (Freemasonry). 

Many Haitians who practice Voodoo also practice Roman Catholicism, not seeing a contradiction between the two systems existing simultaneously. Characterized as Haiti’s “national religion”, Voodoo is one of the most misunderstood religions in the world. Voodoo is monotheistic, giving the teachings of a single supreme God. Believed to have created the universe, this entity is called Bondye or Bonié. For Vodouists, Bondye is seen as the ultimate source of power. This perception of God is also seen as remote, not involving itself in human affairs. While Vodouists often equate Bondye with the Christian God, Vodou does not incorporate belief in a powerful antagonist that opposes the supreme being akin to the Christian notion of Satan. 

Vodou also holds the belief of many beings known as Iwa, a term that varies in its translation from “spirits” to “gods”. These beings can in many ways be equated to Christian angels in many of its cosmology. The lwa can offer help, protection, and counsel to humans, in return for ritual service. Each lwa has its own personality and individual correspondences. They can be either loyal or capricious in their dealings with their devotees, with many believing that the lwa are easily offended. When angered, the lwa are believed to remove their protection from their devotees, or to inflict harm. 

Vodou also teaches a perspective of the human soul, which is believed to be divided into two parts (both of which exist within the head of a person). One of these is the ti bonnanj ("little good angel"), and it is understood as the conscience that allows an individual to engage in self-reflection and self-criticism. The other part is the gwo bonnanj ("big good angel") and this constitutes the psyche, source of memory, intelligence, and personhood. Vodouists believe that every individual is intrinsically connected to a specific lwa. This lwa is their mèt tèt (master of the head). They believe that this lwa influences the individual's personality. At bodily death, the gwo bonnanj join the Ginen, or ancestral spirits, while the ti bonnanj proceeds to the afterlife to face judgement before Bondye.

Vodou does not promote a dualistic belief in a division between good and evil. It offers no prescriptive code of ethics. Rather than being rule-based, Vodou morality is deemed contextual to the situation.

It is very important to respect Vodou as the closed practice that it is. While misunderstood through various contextualizations, it is a religion felt deeply by a group of people who use it to guide their lives. Those outside do not have the right to infringe upon said spaces. 

Hoodoo

It is important to understand that Hoodoo does not describe a religion. Rather, Hoodoo is a set of mystical beliefs hailing from along the Mississippi River with influences from Indigenous herbalism, African spiritualities, and Christian influences. Practitioners of Hoodoo are called rootworkers, conjure doctors, conjure man or conjure woman, root doctors, Hoodoo doctors, and swampers.

Many Hoodoo traditions specifically draw from the beliefs of the Bakongo people of Central Africa during the Atlantic slave trade. After their contact with European slave traders and missionaries, some Africans converted to Christianity willingly, while other enslaved Africans were forced to become Christian which resulted in a syncretization of African spiritual practices and beliefs with the Christian faith. Enslaved and free Africans learned regional indigenous botanical knowledge after they arrived to the United States, including another influence to what would become known as Hoodoo. 

During the transatlantic slave trade a variety of African plants were brought from Africa to the United States for cultivation (okra, sorghum, yam, benneseed, watermelon, black-eyed peas, etc.). African Americans had their own herbal knowledge that was brought from West and Central Africa to the United States. When it came to the medicinal use of herbs, African Americans learned some medicinal knowledge of herbs from Indigenous peoples. However, the spiritual use of herbs and the practice of Hoodoo remained African in origin as enslaved African-Americans incorporated African religious rituals in the preparation of North American herbs and roots.

Hoodoo was also a key part in black revolution in the United States. Enslaved women would use their knowledge of herbs to induce miscarriages so white owners wouldn’t be able to take their children. There were also examples of hoodoo being used to poison and kill white slave owners. The Bible itself, in conjunction with Hoodoo, was used in slave liberation. Free and enslaved people could read the stories of the Hebrews in the Bible, and found them similar to their situation in the United States as slaves. The Hebrews in the Old Testament were freed from slavery in Egypt under the leadership of Moses (held to be a conjurer in the beliefs of many who practice Hoodoo).

Hoodoo is also a closed practice, requiring initiation for practitioners. 

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of Ma’at

The philosophy of Ma’at originates from ancient Egyptian thought and represents the foundational principle of cosmic order, truth, justice, harmony, balance, and morality. Ma’at is both a goddess and a concept, symbolizing the natural law that governs the universe, society, and individual behavior. It played a central role in the ethics, politics, and religious life of ancient Egypt.

Key Principles of Ma’at

Cosmic Order and Harmony:

Ma’at embodies the natural order of the universe, ensuring that all elements of the world—both physical and metaphysical—exist in balanced harmony. This includes the movement of the stars, the cycles of nature, and human relationships.

Ma’at is the force that counters Isfet, or chaos. Maintaining Ma’at was essential to preserving the stability of the world and preventing the descent into disorder.

Truth and Justice:

Ma’at represents truth in both a literal and moral sense. To live in accordance with Ma’at is to live truthfully, embracing honesty, fairness, and justice.

In Egyptian society, kings (Pharaohs) were expected to rule according to Ma’at, ensuring justice in legal, social, and political matters. Judges and officials invoked Ma’at when making decisions, as justice was seen as a reflection of cosmic balance.

Moral and Ethical Conduct:

Living according to Ma’at involved a commitment to ethical behavior. This included virtues such as truthfulness, integrity, generosity, respect, humility, and compassion.

Individuals were expected to contribute to societal harmony by acting justly and in alignment with the community’s well-being. This included respect for family, honoring ancestors, and maintaining relationships based on mutual fairness and kindness.

Ritual and Religious Practice:

Ma’at was not just an abstract concept but also a goddess worshipped in temples and daily rituals. Pharaohs, as the earthly representatives of Ma’at, were tasked with performing rituals to ensure the continued balance between the gods, nature, and humanity.

Offerings and prayers to Ma’at were meant to maintain cosmic balance, ensuring favorable outcomes such as good harvests, protection from natural disasters, and societal peace.

Ma’at and the Afterlife:

In the afterlife, Ma’at played a key role in the judgment of souls. The Weighing of the Heart ceremony, described in the Book of the Dead, involved weighing a deceased person's heart against the feather of Ma’at. If the heart was lighter than the feather, the soul was deemed virtuous and granted access to the afterlife.

The symbolism of the feather represents purity, truth, and justice. If the heart was heavier, symbolizing a life of sin or imbalance, the soul would be devoured by Ammit, a creature representing annihilation.

Ma’at and Leadership:

Pharaohs were seen as upholders of Ma’at, both politically and religiously. Their rule was considered legitimate only as long as they maintained Ma’at, and their primary duty was to ensure justice, harmony, and the protection of their people from chaos (Isfet).

The king's role in upholding Ma’at was intertwined with religious duties, as they performed daily rituals to reaffirm the relationship between the gods and society.

Social and Environmental Responsibility:

Ma’at also extended to one’s responsibilities toward society and the environment. People were expected to contribute to the common good, maintain peaceful relationships, and live sustainably within the natural world.

Protecting the environment, fostering communal welfare, and adhering to one’s duties were seen as necessary to uphold Ma’at. Individuals who deviated from this path contributed to the breakdown of order.

Opposition to Isfet (Chaos):

Isfet, the opposite of Ma’at, represents disorder, injustice, falsehood, and destruction. Ancient Egyptians believed that the constant struggle between Ma’at and Isfet was inherent in the functioning of the cosmos.

Upholding Ma’at was a daily battle against Isfet. Actions like dishonesty, oppression, and violence were manifestations of Isfet and had to be resisted to preserve balance in society and the natural world.

The philosophy of Ma’at emphasizes the importance of balance, justice, truth, and harmony in all aspects of life—individual, social, and cosmic. It serves as a framework for ethical living, responsible leadership, and societal well-being, promoting a worldview in which all elements of existence are interconnected and must be in balance to sustain order and prevent chaos.

[emperor-p10]

“and those who find it are few.”

This is a big issue I have with Christianity and its virtue-based moral system. Earth is supposedly designed by God to be a test of everyone’s place in the afterlife. Some people prove themselves more worthy of eternal life, but most people stay unworthy and get eternal suffering. It is anti-equality and anti-humanitarian…

Thanks for clicking read more. Ignoring the blatant abuse being carried out by God in this setup of His world, this moral system promotes a dangerous idea in the minds of many religious followers: that authoritarian hierarchies are necessary and natural rather than imposed by humans. The pious will rise to heaven in his rightful place and the damned will not. Through faith, works, or both, in the end, most people suffer, and that’s okay. the system isn’t broken, it just works like this.

Ideally, the systems we build our society off of (and any possible deity constructs their afterlife policy, mind you) should create and foster a good world. A common misconception is that the law is there to punish evil and reward good. It is there to do neither necessarily; it is there to guide the public away from bad behavior and toward good ones. Punishment used to be how kings and autocrats thought the masses had to be corralled, but we know today that punitive prisons carry far less utility than rehabilitative ones. The only benefits to the former is control, profit, and sadists’ pleasure. A society that believes that the divine order says humans tend to be evil and deserve hell is bound to accept similar, authoritarian hierarchies on earth as divine.

In the western-influenced world where the Christian empires of old still have cultural impact, the masses are still generally not disillusioned by the boots of capitalism. This is speculation, but at least in the U.S. (the cultures with which I am most familiar), I believe this to be a result of people seeing the anti-equality, anti-freedom hierarchy of capitalism as divine.