#that could even be PERCIEVED as insulting to him

[phylomedusa]

free speech absolutist everyone

[pali-and-proud]

My finals ended yesterday and I ended up sleeping for 11 hours. I can think again.

I want to take a moment to just talk about perspectives. How Buddy percieves Chase, how Chase percieves Buddy, and how Deacon percieves both.

Buddy's POV of Chase is so beautiful to me because Chase is just such an enigma to him. He's so quick to bicker and insult, and he routinely says the most ridiculous and outlandish things that Buddy can't even respond to, and then he turns around and is so selflessly caring and kind and considerate that it nearly always takes Buddy off-guard. Buddy knows the more about Chase than vice versa, and yet Buddy never seems able to expect what Chase is going to do.

I could be wrong, actually, but I think almost all of their conversations end with or include Buddy being confused by something Chase said, or something Chase did. And Chase is doing it all with a shirt, guys.

Chase's POV of Buddy is nearly the exact opposite. Chase knows NOTHING about Buddy, outside of phobias and fashionware, and Deacon's the one who has to remind him about that. Chase is good at reading people; we already knew that. Chase is GREAT at reading Buddy.

He's aware of Buddy's need for attention. He's aware of Buddy's barbs--knows when Buddy's being mean, and when Buddy's trying to be nice. He's aware that Buddy's situation is concerning enough to warrant outside help, and that Buddy won't ask for it. Buddy isn't really a mystery to him--the only real question is how to get Buddy to trust him. Which is insane, really, since we've seen in the current arc (vampire) that Buddy did genuinely trust Chase.

(I could go so far as to say the only part of Buddy that Chase doesn't easily/accurately understand is how CHASE fits into Buddy's life, but I will digress)

Deacon, though? Ohhhh, Deacon. Deacon's role is SO much more important than I think people give it credit for. Deacon is the only way we get a true outsider's glimpse into Chase (he tells us about Chase's money problems, he explains why Chase loves new stuff, he reminds us that Chase's dream to be a singer/dancer/idol isn't realistic and that Chase logically knows that, and he breaks down some of Chase's quirks.)

Deacon is also, uh, how we see Buddy respond to someone he doesn't have an embarrassingly obvious crush on. It's so easy to forget that Buddy is actively trying to treat Chase better until you see Buddy interact with Deacon for two seconds, in which Buddy's managed to be both smug and/or jealous. Yes I haven't forgotten that Buddy is jealous of Chase's cousin. Yes I do think thats the funniest reoccuring joke.

So Deacon having a really good view of both characters--where he can trust Chase's judgement while also being the logic that Chase sometimes forgoes AND can be cautious of Buddy due to past actions while also understanding that Buddy is more complicated than initial assumptions--it's important because it helps ground the characters.

And in direct contrast: Buddy's dislike of Deacon is completely rooted in his terrible understanding of Deacon's role to Chase. Buddy's first conversation with Deacon is him telling Deacon he should stop doing the stories because he's in over his head, despite Deacon having prepared more than Chase ever did. Buddy continues to yell and berate Deacon for his choice in book, despite Deacon actively choosing books he/Chase would enjoy, which is what you (according to Buddy, at least, and my inferences) should ideally do.

Chase's POV of Deacon is a bit more convoluted, and this post is already pretty long; I don't know if anyone's actually reading all this. He's just such a younger cousin; he doesn't idolize Deacon, but he does expect Deacon to have the answers. They're such older/younger brother coded. From the beginning, Chase has wanted to hang out with Deacon. It's almost tragic, honestly, that Deacon has such a high opinion of Chase that he never really shares, while Chase shows his high opinion of Deacon so often that a completely separate person was able to get jealous.

I took my psych final yesterday. Surely this is what my professors would want me to use my knowledge on.

[total-drama-brainrot]

How would Alejandro react to Assistant Noah complimenting the charmer for manipulating Sierra WITHOUT flirting with her + for tricking Sierra into embarrassing his boss (Chris Mclean)? 😎

Well. If Noah's complimenting Alejandro for his sabotage of Sierra in New York, the first thing he'd try to do is deny it entirely.

Despite being proud of his skills in manipulation, a lot of Alejandro's gameplan rides on him being seen as genuine and trustworthy by those around him - straight up admitting that he tricked Sierra into falling out of Chris' good graces would be a blow to the manifacutred image of a chivalrous and good-spirited Alejandro, which is what he presents himself in the early competition.

He does something along these lines to Heather when she calls him out for exactly this in the episode. Though, it's less outright denial and moreso redirection of her attention... via flirting... Speaking of Heather, the only reason Alejandro is fine with her suspicion/antagonism is because he knows that no one else is going to listen to her. If anything, Heather's "dislike" of him lends credence to his act - since any enemy of Heather's is automatically a friend of pretty much the rest of the cast.

Of course, Noah would see straight through the paper-thin lies, because he's got the same perspective as the audience (that is to say, he's got a third party perspective of the competiton and can easily recognise Alejandro as the season's main "villain", plus he's seen the confessionals) and, in all likelihood, had a hand in casting Alejandro in the first place to be the antagonist; of course he knows Alejandro's true colours.

So Alejandro would be met with a conflict of interests here; on the one hand, he's been given the perfect oppertunity to build a rapport with Chris' personal assistant, potentially ensuring himself some insider help for the competition at hand and - if he plays his cards right - knowledge and blackmail material on his competitors.

On the other hand, he'd have to drop his act to do so, which could be disasterous should any of his other castmates see and/or overhear.

Plus, Noah specifying that he's impressed that Alejandro can manipulate people without flirting would be a point of contention between the two, or at least a percieved jab at Alejandro. He's a very capable and very prideful person by nature, and Noah implying that he had previously assumed Alejandro only knew how to exploit people via seduction/flirting would absolutely be taken as an insult, even if it wasn't meant to be.

Though I doubt Alejandro would put two and two together in this instance and realise that it's just a round-about way of Noah asking him if all of the flirting he'd done towards Noah himself was an attempt at manipulation or not.

Personally I see this whole scenario being a poorly worded olive branch on Noah's part which Alejandro unintentionally snubs, thus cementing Noah's initial "dislike" and distrust of Alejandro.

As a result, Alejandro would fail to react at all, too overcome with indecision to reply in time before Noah's interest/investment in the conversation wavers and he walks away. Leaving Alejandro to stand there dumbly, wondering how Noah could so easily pick up on his schemes when everyone else (sans Heather) is clueless.

[prettyboypistol]

Mercs Reacting To a Kabedon! (TF2 x M!Reader) +18

For reference if you don't know, a kabedon is this pose!

You were being teased by the merc, relentless smiles, winks, and coy mururs that they knew turned you on. Eventually, you snapped. You grabbed the merc by the wrist and slammed them against the wall, unable to care about who overheard or saw you. You could barely contain your emotions as you grit out into thier ear.

"If you don't come back to my room with me, I will drag you by the back of your goddamn neck, boy."

Scout

As soon as you pin him to the wall, he was flushed red. When the words left your mouth, especially calling him "boy", a shiver went up his spine. He wanted tp argue, to talk back, but any words came out as mumbled mess. He dumbly nodded and whimpered in response. Your offer has Jeremy tripping over himself to follow you. He gets shit the next day for sobbing a little too loud into your pillows about how much Jeremy wants his daddy to fuck him silly.

Pyro

They weren't intending to rile you up so much, but that's certainly a plus! Pyro loves how they can make you blush and squirm, especially since you express it as huffiness and annoyance. They like the way they can just gesture and get you hot under the collar. Your proposition is heavily considered, but Pyro makes you wait in your room for a painstaking moment before they come in and finally give you what you want.

Soldier

Is very red under his helmet, but also a little insulted that you humiliated him in such a public manner and undermined his percieved and self-believed authority. Don't get him wrong, Jane is having the biggest confused boner of his life and he will swiftly join you in your room after he fully processes the situation, but he needs a minute to figure out what feelings you just made him feel for the first time.

Demoman

Is more than overjoyed that you finally had enough of your mutal game of cat and mouse. It had been what- weeks since you and Tavish had started dancing around each other? The demeaning pet name made Tavish want to yank your pants down and suck you off that minute, other mercs be damned. Tavish hummed with a smug smirk as he pushed his hips into you, an invitation after you gave your orders. Needless to say, no mercs got sleep that night until you two passed out.

Heavy

You were not the shortest guy around, but pinning Heavy is moreso due to Heavy letting you pin him rather than you actually having the strength to do so. Nevertheless, the look in your eye and the desperate and demanding tone in your tone makes Mikhail know exactly what you want and how you are going to have it. He finds it endearing in a way, but still allowed you to take control that night. After all, he was "your boy" tonight, you made that abundantly clear.

Engineer

Flushed red. Goggles fogged. Stutter in full gear. Dell is the smoothest southern gent around, yet in front of the pissed off nd lowkey horny glare of the man in front of him, Dell was barely able to squeak out a response. He felt humiliated that the other mercs could see how easily he was flustered- worried slightly that he would get some shit for being even more soft than just relying on machines in battle. He takes a few minutes before joining you in your room, but wants to have a talk about how you kinda made him nervous. (After sex tho. you turned him the FUCK on.)

Medic

Overjoyed at your cute little response! He's a rather tall fellow, so you trying to pin him to the wall was adorable. It might be the beer in his system, but Ludwig was rather taken by your final push and admittance of feelings... Even if those feelings were "i'm going to fuck you" and "I'm going to bend that german ass over and rearrange your guts". Gingerly followed you to your room, but he gets his fair amount of gropes in. The most receptive to your snap and 100% wants to kiss the scowl away.

Spy

Mixed feelings when you easily box him in against the wall. His dainty frame never stood a chance as your hot breath made him shiver. He was a fair bit older than you, your guess was a minimum of 5 years. When you called him "boy", he felt a breath of his wild and young livlihood in his veins. The impulsive energy of lust and spontaneous desire pangs in him and he can't help but chase the high. Spy murmured something in french and dragged you to his room.

Sniper

Mick isn't too surprised by your reaction, but definitely struggled against the grip as you warned him. As soon as you released him, Sniper hid his face in his hat to try and (fail) to hide the blush that painted his cheeks. He doesn't join you in your room, but cannot think about anything else but that lustful cadence in your voice and how blown your pupils were. After a few days, he knocked on your door and asked if the offer still stood.

[teecupangel]

After reading a couple of fanfics(i have lost track of what ive read XD) where Desmond uses the Eye to connect to Ezio in the library and send him back to his 17 year old self to save his family: I got the idea/prompt that when Ezio awakens back in the past he rushes to his family, ignoring a golden thread of Importance. It cant be more importsnt than his family, surely? Either way, Ezio ends up discovering he has like 1-2 day to save his family(im unsure of the timeline, but i imagine he lands before he gains his scar). So, he rushes to save them. Here i kinda get a bit lost, im not very good at planning, but i imagine he ends up killing Alberto and exposes him as a traitor to his father etc. Eventually, after a few days things finally calm down enough that Ezio can finally check out that object his Sight has tagged as Important without feeling guilty for leaving his family alone. He follows the thread to a orphanage and there he sees a 1-2 year old with a scar on his lips and brown eyes that flash a very familiar gold when the child sees Ezio. "Desmond?"

So basically, the Eye damaged Desmond too much, so when he went back in time with Ezio, he had to be recreated. You could give him the charcoal black arm with golden lines or even his tattoo(could be interesting seeing peoples reaction to a child having what is percieved as a criminal brand?). Heck, maybe even give golden fluffy wings that he can hide? Idk, i mostly just want/need fatherly!Ezio bonding with baby!Desmond and this idea has rapidly gone out of control in my head. XD

but yeah, basically Ezio decides that Desmond has given him such a gift with allowing him to save his family, that now Ezio will take care him(he also feels pretty guilty ignoring the Important glow for so long).  He just needs to figure how to get his family accept what is looking like to be his motherless bastard, hopefully withoit too many questions. I also imagine Ezio gets the iconic scar this time from a fight with Vieri when he throws insults at Desmond for being "lesser": being a bastard and an Auditore in one package.

So, whats your thoughts on this? Anything you think is missing or want to add to?

Transferring him right as he gained his scar (like the rock hitting him was the trigger) would also serve as some kind of symbolism of his connection with Desmond, not just due to the similar scars but also because that is the first memory Desmond relived as Ezio (as long as we don’t count his birth). That would also give him 3 days max since the scar incident was on December 26, the guards tried to arrest the Auditores on December 28 and the execution would be on December 29.

Also, if you want to really hammer in Ezio feeling guilty about leaving Desmond for so long, a plot point could be that Ezio assassinates Uberto Alberti and he was able to prove to Giovanni that Uberto was a Templar BUT not that he was planning anything against the Medici or the Auditore. Perhaps, a simple Templar ring was all Ezio could give to Giovanni and telling him he was planning it with another man that Ezio hints to be Rodrigo Borgia without flatout saying it’s Rodrigo Borgia since he, as his teenage self, shouldn’t even know who the Borgias are at this point in time. This becomes a scandal all by itself and not even Lorenzo could protect the Auditores, telling them to leave Firenze as quickly as they could. Stand down and keep a low profile for now.

This leads to the Auditores leaving Firenze quickly and asking for sanctuary in Monteriggioni. Ezio would stay there to make sure everyone is safe and also to be ‘trained’ as an Assassin because Giovanni believes he could no longer wait until Ezio is as old as Federico to tell him the truth because of what Ezio has done.

Ezio also has to stay to show Giovanni that he wasn’t some rabid dog that would bite anyone.

This can range from months to even 2 years (technically 1-ish year since Ezio returns to the past in December) which is the same time frame Ezio had to train with Mario and his mercenaries in the previous timeline.

Either way, Ezio finally gets a chance to check on the important gold once he’s been deemed ‘good enough’ to go to Firenze while Federico goes to Roma with Giovanni as part of his training and maybe even ‘final test’.

And then he finds Desmond as a 2-year-old child who isn’t liked by the other kids because he was ‘creepy’ and they say he’s the devil’s child. Maybe Ezio didn’t recognize him immediately but their eyes met and Desmond’s eyes flashed gold and Ezio’s first instinct is that he does know him. He doesn’t remember when but he does know this child.

The one in charge of the orphanage finds him looking at Desmond and he tells him about how Desmond was heard crying somewhere Ezio knows all too well.

It was the same place Ezio had died on, the very same bench…

Someone gave him to the orphanage and they have nothing of him, he had been left naked in the cold that they feared he would have died had he stayed there any longer.

Then to hammer in the guilt, the reason why the children believe Desmond is the devil’s child is because of the charcoal black arm he had that no doctors could explain other than ‘he had been burned’ and Desmond had cried each time they tried to ‘examine’ it with their tools.

So Ezio takes him in, not knowing what else to do.

Then, it’s only the next day after he dreams of the only time he saw Desmond in Altaïr’s library that he puts two and two together and realized that the child was most definitely Desmond. He had to be.

And now, Ezio believes that Desmond is the reason why he had a redo and that he had failed Desmond for letting him be alone for so long.

He wouldn’t even think that people would think Desmond is his son until he hears it from one of the courtesans and he’d be like “Oh! That’s a good idea! I’ll just say he’s my son so people would stop asking questioning about who he is!”

And that was a mistake because now everyone believes he has a child out of wedlock. Perhaps Cristina would even think he had cheated on her considering Desmond’s age and now he has to suffer through his family’s questioning and lectures about having a child out of wedlock.

Then Desmond’s back starts getting itchy and later on it starts growing a pair of lumps…

That breaks his skin painfully, revealing puffs of feathers red with his blood but, after cleaning him (and trying to get him to stop crying because “Owie, papa! Owie!”)…

Ezio sees the feathers were white…

With lines of gold that he has become familiar with in his previous life.

[auddityy]

trumpism is actually a great instruction in branding. i think he's genuinely falling out of fashion for the final time in his life but i think studying his career and public persona/mode of communication is an excellent insight into "how to brand".

you have to literally believe and say you are number one and have something to back that up that is either actually of supreme quality or be of an unknown quality to anyone other than your customer, who is 1. such a small minority that they can't sink your public brand to the majority of your audience 2. so rich that they essentially pay a 100% or more markup for the exact same product that poor people use, but with an upper class brand on it - this is exactly what he did with his first big success, trump tower. he bragged that it was made with the absolute premium in materials to the most amazing standards. construction crew said that the materials were the cheapest possible. the trump tower customer was so rich that they would pay more than double in rent simply to be associated with what was said to be the best. the people who couldnt afford it never lived there and could never find out there was no difference. thus there was no proof - he advertised a supreme product and delivered an adequate one.

like its that simple. you have to say, with apparent conviction, that you are the best and then deliver something at least adequate to someone who doesn't know that what they have isn't better than average. you can actually deliver the best, but the most profit is to be found in delivering something adequate, which is what all "number ones" do - none of them ever overdeliver. people who actually deliver the best are number twos, or even lower - they invest so much in the product that their profit and therefore growth falls behind those who cut corners.

the physical difference between "the best" and "adequacy" isn't actually percieved at all by most people. number ones create the feeling of overdelivering through emotion rather than physical substance in the product. saying something is amazing, high quality, and simultaneously having lots of others saying the same thing, generates way more interest and loyalty than physically having a superior product and remaining quiet about it.

i'm thinking about this because the two number ones in regenerative agriculture p*lyface and GJ follow the same method of branding - essentially trumpism. "i'm the best", "i'm amazed at the quality of my product", saying so loudly and often, without ever specifying their own failures or mistakes, unless they fit into a narrative of being long-past (no longer affecting quality of current product) and being a learning experience that actually improved the product.

GJ lost over 200 sheep, more than 90% of his flock in 2023 - nothing about that to be found anywhere online. the only reason i know is because i talked to his wife intimately in person. for over 20 years he's advertised them as the most hardy sheep in the US, and still does, despite losing ALL of the original flock he's built over 30 years... but he repeats many anecdotes of mistakes from 20 years ago that made him a better producer.

also, never responding to critics unless it's in a disparaging way. trump is famous for insulting critics in crazy dramatic ways, but all number ones do this. polyface does it to the USDA, vegans, people who disagreed with their stance on covid/vaccines. GJ does it to conventional people in his comments or just whoever he sees as he's traveling.

when you inspect closely it is not completely honest, and seems to be lacking integrity. i wonder if honesty and integrity are considered virtues because everyone else being "honest" and "having integrity", in other words damaging their own brand, benefits the number ones who don't do that. everyone making themselves harmless gives the few willing to be sharks free reign.

this sounds like it's coming from a place of jealousy. i don't really feel jealously i am just learning the choices i'll have to make. i will have my own business/brand and i could make the choice to follow the trumpist branding strategy, and have the successes it entails...

[cerealandchoccymilk]

Trigun Bookclub: Trigun Vol.1-2, Chapter #09

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I’m doing a deep-read of the Japanese original print (reread) and Overhaul 1.0 (first read) side-by-side, and writing down everything I notice from small details, version differences, translation differences, etc.

The volume numbers will be mismatched for most of the remainder of Trigun, since the Japanese first edition is 3 volumes while all later versions are 2 volumes.

As always, here are the non-analysis panels:

And the rest is under the cut.

[link for if the images aren’t in horizontal rows]

To start off, we have Meryl talking about buying designer handbags. This part was very confusing in Japanese because even though I could recognize Prada, the two other brands she named were completely bogus to me. What the hell are エピピ(Epipi) and NCM!?

So I asked my mom about it last night (she knows a decent amount about brands popular in the 90's, since she was still living in Japan back then). She was also stumped for a bit, but after a while she asked to see the way "Prada" looked. She noticed that it was written like プラーダ(purāda) rather than the correct プラダ(purada). I didn't notice because I don't know shit about fashion... but she suggested that maybe all of these were slight variations on real-life brands. She said that NCM is probably based on MCM Worldwide.

Epipi probably took a solid 20 minutes to figure out.... We were naming every brand on earth searching for anything that could even vaguely sound like "epipi." Right when we nearly ran out of ideas, she thought of googling just part of the name, like "epi brand," and voila, apparently there's a line of Louis Vuitton leather called Epi.

Epipi (and brain soup) is an inside joke between us now btw.

The chapter cover!! Everyone here is so damn cute... also I'm sitting almost exactly how Vash is right now.

This is the second appearance of Vash's shades. I can't see the details, but the design looks the same as the one before.

I'd completely forgotten how tiny Kaito is??? Literally half of Vash's height.

Vash's response to Kaito's insult(?) is「お前そりゃないだろ…」and is something more like "C'mon, man..." or "Seriously?"

big eyes vash big eyes vash i want to scoop him up and put him in a jar with holes in the lid

It's so cool how Vash immediately understands exactly what's going on through what he's overhearing, thanks to his childhood on the spaceship and his time at Home. How can this man not drive

I think the engineer is talking about the Plant here, so it should be "The shock could kill it." (although the Plant dying would also kill everyone else. ykwim)

Didn't know that guy was called a helmsman.... In Japanese, the word for helmsman, 操舵手 (the scan is super blurry and looked like 士 but the correct word is 手) was written as ライツ(raitsu) with 操舵手 written in the ruby. Maybe raitsu was the name of the helmsman? Or it might be something else boat-related that I don't know about.

Vash's silent reaction to Kaito's words say a lot. This behavior is nearly identical to Vash's (again, more so in Maximum, after Vash remembers the events of July and gets even more depressed). He understands Kaito's pain and guilt, and worries for him, but he also can't help but see himself in the boy... however he feels about that. This gets a bit more into theory territory, but I think Vash doesn't want Kaito to turn out like himself. Of course, he wants everyone to strive for peace; he wants people to be like that part of himself, in that regard. However, he doesn't want people to act self-destructive like he is. One obvious reason is that Vash genuinely doesn't want Kaito to be hurt, especially when he believes that people always deserve to start over and live a happy life.... But another underlying reason could be that he doesn't like percieving parts of himself in others, out of self-hatred.

One of my favorite lines ever!!!!! (has 50 favorites)(its not my fault trigun/trimax is so constantly banger) While humans views the Plant as a tool and an incomprehensible being, Vash simply views them as just a girl that needs calming down—"people" just like him and everyone else. He has a familial relationship with every Plant, which I absolutely adore. And!!! I will expand on this bit in the next(I think) arc and beyond, or maybe even make a separate post!!! I have so many thoughts surrounding this and it's a core theme to Trigun as a whole.

Noting some SFX since some non-Japanese readers may not have noticed - the plant is making a high-pitched scream from here on. Also, Kaito says that it's a "voice," not a "sound."

More Plant object-person dichotomy!! This unfortunately gets lost in translation, but it's a very neat storytelling trick. In Japanese, This is written in an interesting way:「プラント――　それは『造りだす』もの」 with もの(mono) having dots above them (in this context acting like italicization for emphasis in English). Usually, this もの would be more specific. There's 物(mono) which means "object" or "thing," and there's 者(mono) which means "person" or sometimes "being." The narrator intentionally leaves the identity of the Plant vague. Again, in humans' eyes, Plants are machines of production. In Vash's eyes, Plants are full-fledged people.

I would write that line closer to the original format, with quotes around "creates" and leaving it at that.

A longer translation correction—just going to transcribe it here:

水 紫外線 酸素 そして微電力を与える事によって物理法則を超えた『生産』活動を行う生体システムである They are organic systems that, when fed water, ultraviolet light, oxygen, and a bit of electricity, can "produce" things in a process that surpasses all physical law.

The sound effect here is loud footsteps on metal. I think it's neat that Nightow showed Vash running up the stairs with just onomatopoea and a shot of the stairs.

In Japanese, Vash says that he's counting on/leaving the rest up to the engineers/the others on the ship, after telling them to deal with it.

Again, Vash considers the Plant his family, a sister. He is talking directly to them and treating them with respect. The word used here is actually 兄弟(kyoudai), which means "brother(s)"/olderbrother-youngerbrother, where in this situation with a brother and sister of unspecified age/order it would usually just be きょうだい(kyoudai, spelled out)... it may be that back then, people didn't really specify or mix-and-match sibling gender (姉弟 兄妹 etc) in writing as much as we do now.

The first appearance of feathers on Vash!! During my first read, I was absolutely mesmerized by this page. Mannnnnnn the angel imagery....

Also bonus reaction from my dear friend from my Instagram liveposting back in April (yeah. my first read was only a bit over 2 months ago). booty CRACK

This is the "beeeeeeep" sound of a flatlining heart monitor. Until now I thought it was more of an imaginary thing to show that their hearts have stopped, but I just realized that it may also be a real sound of the Plant's vital monitors. Could be either, to be honest.

Apparently "yards" are normal? In Japanese it's written as ヤーズ(yādzu, yards) instead of what would regularly be just ヤード(yādo, yard), so that may be the subtle miles-iles change?

This line would be "The pipes are stuck! They won't even budge!"

And the SFX here is a distant chattering and cheering crowd.

And here is the last scene, with Kaito humming Rem's favorite song. Idk, this just gives me a raw emotional reaction... I can't really analyze it lol. Rejoicing that you've survived through hardship. That while things still aren't perfect, this imminent danger has passed. That you still get to enjoy being alive. The same song of humanity still sang. Something something....

Anyways that’s it for Chapter #09! As always, the Japanese annotations are in the reblogs.

[absentmoon]

um well. i just wanted to say that i have a hard time sometimes expressing my emotions in a way that i feel truly encapsulates them... but i would like t o sometimes because feelings are cool and fun and awesome.

i love benny very very much and im very thankful to have him... and though im always impatient for numbers to go up the time it takes to be able to say ive been with him for x number of days is an important one.... we’re well over a thousand bennyposts and counting (along with the amount untagged and the ones i think about but never quite post, along with the discord messages and the website just for him and the times i talk about him in real life, in person). and i think its a little bit silly how attatched i am to this guy who’s stuck in outdated slang and terminology no ones used in a thousand years. but hes also stuck with ME.

i like his voice and his style... i like how he moves and i like how he uses words to his advantage - or disadvantage. i think about his wants and his goals; he’s someone i want to protect. i want to keep him safe. i feel upset when others insult him, even in-game, and especially so when they use the courier to do it (sorry. kin emotions. we’re meant to protect eachother, we’re on the same team.). i like his ego and i even like it when he’s kind of an asshole to other people (sorry to the khans as well he definitely could have paid you).

i like his devotion to his own code of morals. i like his relationship with yes man - they were together way before i came along. im protective of him and his character; and of how people percieve him, though i can’t do much about that (even though i know i’m rather good at defending an argument, its rare to be given the time of day to do so). i think he shot me for a reason. i think dispairaging his character for something you do all the time in game is rather silly - and he took the time to talk to me, beforehand. i think theres something inherent about digging myself up out of my grave and tracking him down with a single minded focus. and i think i would like to return his favorite lighter.

[abuddyforeveryseason]

This is the Buddy for October 16th. I quite like it. It does look like a two-page spread in a manga I'd enjoy. I'm a big fan.

I am a nerd. I've always been, really, although I'm not blind to the annoying issues there are whatever it is people call nerd culture.

When I was a kid, there was a writer I read a bit of from time to time. I'm not going to name names because I don't want to insult particular people on this tumblr, especially since he doesn't seem to deserve it as far as personality goes.

He published a book, a sci fi novel with a lot of references to action movies of the time. Then he put out an RPG adaptation of the novel, which was what I got my hands on. It seemed like he was into hard science fiction, I was impressed, thought he was a smart guy. I eventually forgot about him until a few years back, when I found out what he had been doing since then.

After the books, he published some comics serving as a sequel/side story to the novel. They were pretty influenced by Rob Liefeld and Jim Lee, comics that my nerd friends usually mocked for their trashy art and horny storylines. And after that, he moved on to manga-style comics ripping off stuff like Dragon Ball, Yu Yu Hakusho and El Hazard. After that he made a set of superhero graphic novels with manga influences, and later a fantasy RPG-inspired webcomic.

So when you see the guy's body of work, it seems like he's just ripping off what's popular. He started out referencing movies of the time, then during the alternative comics boom of the nineties, he turned those hard sci fi concepts into edgy superhero stuff. When manga started really getting big, he forgot about superheroes and started doing more "mature" manga stuff (or at least what we considered to be mature back then. Manga was a lot more adult than superheroes, because of the violence, sex, book length, production model...). Then when Marvel started putting out movies, superheroes were cool again, and he's acting as if he's always been a fan. And now he's following the leader with something RPG and webtoon inspired.

So, looking at the guy, it feels like rather than being a fan who can tell when a work is quality despite it being disposable pop culture, he just looks like a drone spending money and time on whatever it is that's being published, and then scoffing at his old interests when the new stuff comes along.

Of course, even though I don't see myself that way, I am kind of the same. I got into comics during the Kurt Busiek era trade paperback boom - I wouldn't follow monthly releases, but bought the complete stories in a proper bookstore. And although I'm not from the same generation Jack Kirby's original fans are, I got really into his comics by reading reprints and digital publications - I only became a fan because someone decided to publish them.

Even when it comes to manga, I'm not exactly only appreciating quality work - I read it on e-readers (I've had four), which work great for older manga (and for ones that have an extensive and easy to find digital library), so I read a lot of Osamu Tezuka, Shotaro Ishinomori and Jiro Kuwata. I'm surprised when I go to bookstores and find the manga I assumed was super obscure available to everyone.

I could say the big difference between me and the writer guy is that I can percieve a work's quality regardless of how much hype there is around it. But even that is a line of thought that was drilled into me by the companies that decide what to publish. I can read a pirated italian translation of an obscure Osamu Tezuka manga on my generic e-reader and pat myself on the back for being clever and getting it, but that just means when a giant corporation starts airing the anime adaptation of a manga homaging Tezuka, I'll be more likely to watch it. And, even mentioning the guy's name on Tumblr, I'm advertising it (by influencing search engines into bringing his name up).

But, despite that, I still enjoy that stuff a lot. I think there's real quality into the work people who create comics and manga put in, and that it's an underappreciated artform. I could say, be it referring to comics from ninety years ago, or from a writer my own age, that the quality's there regardless of the hype. I read the RPG world story by the writer I mentioned and I think, sure, he's just following the lead of a bunch of Isekai stories and webtoons with a similar style, but, still, he's putting a lot of himself into the story. Whether he realizes it, or not.

[byoldervine]

Also episode 6 backs this up even further; did anyone else clock how the only time swearing was percieved as inappropriate courtroom behaviour when Charlie said “Fuck yes!” upon convincing the Seraphims to keep watching Angel to see he could improve?

Charlie only used ‘fuck’ as an exclamation, and one of relief and excitement at that. But Adam not only used ‘fuck’ as an insult towards Charlie and Vaggie, but even to the Seraphims themselves. He directed vulgar insults towards the court and they didn’t bat an eye. Hell, even Vaggie got to say ‘fuck’ and nobody scolded her - is it because they knew she was a fallen angel and not just a regular demon? And of course Lute got some zingers in too but nobody said a word about it because they were directed at demons. It’s only Charlie that got in any form of trouble for using inappropriate language despite her being the only one to use it in a positive light

And of course there’s the fact that Adam still hasn’t explained to the court why Vaggie, who he openly outed as not only a previous Exterminator but an angel in general, was considered a Sinner demon in Hell. Can’t wait for him to explain that her great sin was NOT killing a child

Do you know what I love about Hazbin Hotel though?

That the angels are clearly sinners too.

Not only the fact that Adam curses all the time and talks about casual sex (which, he’s possibly even cheating on his wife then??) but also, the angels kill demons and Adam even admits they enjoy doing so. He calls it entertainment.

And Vivienne’s making an excellent point: when you do something bad to a group of people who are considered beneath them, minorities, everything else…

What you do to them suddenly isn’t bad. It’s okay now, it’s righteous, because you’ve dehumanized these people.

And then when they try to fight back? Like the single slain angel exterminator? Well then magically it’s a problem.

When Lute said that “the only reason [Charlie’s] still around” is that Lucifer gave her and all the hell-borns some kind of pardon or protection from being killed in these exterminations, I was like ok, that makes sense. I was starting to wonder/assume that the extermination was something that only applied to sinners because it didn’t seem to affect any of our Helluva Boss cast.

But then I was like, wait, why would they want to kill hell-borns anyway? For sinners you could argue that they “earned” it through their bad deeds, but hell-born have no choice but to be born there? And they seem to have a functioning society, just one that’s “edgier” than human society. Also, plenty of the hell-born are good people?

But THEN, I remembered that is a fundamentalist Christian belief: that you can already be born bad, and that the same deeds can be good or bad depending on who’s doing them. Lute taunts Charlie that her life doesn’t matter…that’s a sin, right? Except no it isn’t, because of who’s doing it and to whom.

I love queer people’s takes on Heaven and Hell, they’re always great.

[total-drama-brainrot]

Total drama except Harold is outwardly a bitch instead of hiding his distain for others until they personally attack him or are just too damn annoying

Or, more interestingly, he pulls a rachel Berry and sucks up to Chris and/or chef for half the season so that he can get anybody he wants eliminated with some fake tears and a sob story painting them as some violent irredeemable monster (does it work? Meeeeeeh)

Did we watch the same Total Drama? Harold is outwardly a hater.

He's not exactly quiet about his dislike for certain people, and he's very open about his opinions on near-enough everything. Harold literally gets the whole cast thrown out of a jet at one point because he won't shut up and stop being a little bitch - it's an integral part of his character, and an even more crucial aspect of his autistic charm and loserboy swag.

Him pulling a Rachel Berry, however, is a very different interpretation of him. Both as a character in his own right, and the archetypes he plays into.

(I did have to google who Rachel Berry is, as I haven't watched Glee - assuming this is the character you were referring to.)

Because he's supposed to be, in-universe, kind of an unlikable wet noodle. Having him endear himself to Chris, Chef and (assumedly) the audience at large so he can sway the competition in his favour would be A Task, and not an easy one at that.

Because he's (in-universe) not charismatic in the slightest, despite living under the impression that he is. Remember; Harold sees himself as a cool guy with a lot of cool talents - to the point that he quite often comes across as egotistical - whilst everyone around him sees him as a deluded dweeb. He's not quite self-aware enough to play into his dorky charm or tone down the more annoying aspects of his personality to be more generally likable, since he's entirely unaware (or just uncaring) about how he's percieved by others.

Harold is unapologetically himself. Oftentimes to his own detriment.

You'd have to completely scrap that part of his character, or at the very least change it considerably, to have him commit himself to sucking up to Chris and Chef. Because there's no way canon Harold would ever do that; not only would it be "an insult to someone of his multi-talented caliber" (or some other explaination along those lines that's equally as nerdy), but it'd also mean he'd be acknowledging that he needs to use underhanded tactics like flattery to give himself a fighting chance upper hand in the competition. Canon Harold is very self-assured, and likely wouldn't believe he'd need the advantage of favouritism to win.

Plus, even if he did decide to try this line of action, I can't really imagine it playing out much differently than Sierra's brief stint as Chris' favourite competitor; that is to say, it's end with him being seen as more of a nuisance than he is in canon. Harold has a chronic case of foot-in-mouth disease, and his frequent faux pas would do more to enrage Chris than any level of sucking up could possibly hope to fix. Just look at his first interaction with Leshawna. She was forgiving enough to see past his awkwardness. Chris wouldn't be.

Harold's annoyingness and awkwardness and weirdness is so constitutional to his character that I can't personally see him ever having enough social literacy to pull of a scheme like that.

Now, Beth on the other hand-

[horizon-verizon]

You are convinced that Aemond raped Alys and your reasoning is "Alys Rivers was a war prize “proving” Aemond’s power and military prowess. If you are taken as a war prize, you are an object, a literal reward or prize. You have no ability to even give consent because your other option is violence/death. Aemond raped her and this son is a rape baby." Your words not mine. Then I click on your blog and you ship Rhaegar and Lyanna lol lets apply that logic to them now! The Greens suck but come on.

Disclaimer: I might edit this post a lot because I might realize some things to add.

1)

Did you know, anon, that the word “rape” in medieval society could either mean the sexual attack or just straight up taking a woman/girl away from her father/brother/husband’s control and authority? Or whenever a female laborer of a household has been taken out of her previous household, unlicensed by her lord?

Its roots come from the Latin word, “rapere” and its past participle “raptus”:

“the usual Latin word being stuprare "to defile, ravish, violate," which is related to stuprum (n.) "illicit sexual intercourse," literally "disgrace," stupere "to be stunned, stupefied" (see stupid). Latin raptus, past participle of rapere, used as a noun meant "a seizure, plundering, abduction”

Rape had the legal and cultural meaning of “property-taking”, sometimes more than when a someone forced a woman into sex. And it comes from ancient Roman culture, literature, and ideas medieval societies would be adopting into their own systems (Ovid's Fasti and Livy's History of Rome): The Rape of Lucrece. 

Of which medieval or Reniassance writers have made use to create doubt and suspicion for the state of their various female character’s chastity. Why does such matter in those stories? A woman’s chastity is linked to nation building and male-alliances. Marriages were for alliance, resources and power -- not love. Lyanna was arranged to marry Robert because of power and resources and to strengthen/solidify the alliance already set up by Ned and Robert’s friendship before.

So when we go back to A World of Ice and Fire, which says:

“Brandon Stark, the heir to Winterfell, had to be restrained from confronting Rhaegar at what he took as a slight upon his sister's honor, for Lyanna Stark had long been betrothed to Robert Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End. Eddard Stark, Brandon's younger brother and a close friend to Lord Robert, was calmer but no more pleased. As for Robert Baratheon himself, some say he laughed at the prince's gesture, claiming that Rhaegar had done no more than pay Lyanna her due...but those who knew him better say the young lord brooded on the insult, and that his heart hardened toward the Prince of Dragonstone from that day forth.” (pg. 127)

We get the sense that the Starks percieved Rhaegar taking Lyanna and even just gifting her the crown of blue roses as defiling her female chastity. It wasn’t about her and what she wanted it was about Robert’s claim over her. And it was more about Ned’s ties to Robert and why he was sent to the Eyrie to be fostered in the first place, where he befriended Robert -- to create alliances amongst various families.

By contrast, Lyanna clearly did not want, respect, nor love Robert. When we read AGoT and keep track of Lyanna and Rhaegar (not their families, but themselves), we see that Lyanna wanted Rhaegar over Robert and they formed a genuine relationship.

She expressed to Ned:

"Robert will never keep to one bed,” Lyanna had told him at Winterfell, on the night long ago when their father had promised her hand to the young Lord of Storm's End. "I hear he has gotten a child on some girl in the Vale." Ned had held the babe in his arms; he could scarcely deny her, nor would he lie to his sister, but he had assured her that what Robert did before their betrothal was of no matter, that he was a good man and true who would love her with all his heart. Lyanna had only smiled. "Love is sweet, dearest Ned, but it cannot change a man's nature.”

(A Game of Thrones; Eddard IX )

AND

"You never knew Lyanna as I did, Robert," Ned told him. "You saw her beauty, but not the iron underneath. She would have told you that you have no business in the melee."

(A Game of Thrones; Eddard VII)

AND

Robert reached for the flagon and refilled his cup. "You see what she does to me, Ned." The king seated himself, cradling his wine cup. "My loving wife. The mother of my children." The rage was gone from him now; in his eyes Ned saw something sad and scared. "I should not have hit her. That was not … that was not kingly." He stared down at his hands, as if he did not quite know what they were. “I was always strong … no one could stand before me, no one. How do you fight someone if you can’t hit them?” Confused, the king shook his head. “Rhaegar … Rhaegar won, damn him. I killed him, Ned, I drove the spike right through that black armor into his black heart, and he died at my feet. They made up songs about it. Yet somehow he still won. He has Lyanna now, and I have her.” The king drained his cup.”

(A Game of Thrones; Eddard X)

So, if Robert, a canon and confirmed serial rapist (Cersei) and sexual abuser of children (that 14 year old sex worker that even Ned was like “...bro”) by the time he was 40ish, could not see that Lyanna did not want him and only thought of how pretty she was....while Rhaegar gifted her the crown of roses for her participation and victories at the Harrenhal tourney (however politically stupid it was)...who’s the true rapist here? Would Robert have respected Lyanna’s indifference to him if they did get married? Fuck no.

So if there were any persons defining and saying Lyanna was raped, it was never her or about sexual rape but those who would have benefited more from Lyanna marrying Robert & about “stealing” virginity.

And if you wonder why I bother to introduce medieval society when this is a fictional story with European medieval-inspired and not-so-differently modeled infrastructures and ideologies.....I can’t help you.

2)

Lyanna was 16 when they left for the Tower of Joy and had Rhaegar’s child, and they met when she was 15 at the Harrenhal tourney. 

We remember that she was betrothed to Robert before she turned 16, and Robert was 19/20 at the Harrenhal tourney. 

Rhaegar was 22/23 at the tourney and 23/24 when he went with Lyanna to the Tower of Joy.

Lyanna, by real, American, modern standards, is a minor/child by the time she’s pregnant with Rhaegar’s kid, but she’s an adult by the Westerosi age of majority. And she’s past marriageable age. 

To totally ignore that noble women of both real life and Westeros actively were treated as adults and like Rhaenyra Targaryen, and participated in politics as if they were adults is to:

deny any reality of their political and psychological autonomy and ability to reason

suppose that the man she chose broke a law or principle that is then recognized as a crime

....but if you go back to how I bring up the definition of “rape” and what that means for male-alliances, then you should realize that the crime that anyone would have thought what happened was that Lyanna was not passed into Robert’s authority (and out of her father and brothers’) and Rhaegar intercepted that licensed transfer.

3)

Robert is Rhaegar’s foil. Rhaegar displays an sense of responsibility and emotional intelligence (if not always a political one) that Robert simply lacks and never bothers to develop.

A foil is:

a literary device designed to illustrate or reveal information, traits, values, or motivations of one character through the comparison and contrast of another character. A literary foil character serves the purpose of drawing attention to the qualities of another character, frequently the protagonist. This is effective as a means of developing a deeper understanding of a character by emphasizing their strengths and weaknesses. In addition, a literary foil allows writers to create a counterpart for the protagonist that puts their actions and choices in context.

And you can look up Rhaegar’s characterization by clicking HERE (of what I collected). But the universal consensus (except for Robert, but fuck him) is that Rhaegae was generally both a good and impressive person. He was loved by most and even Robert didn't dislike him until he gave Lyanna the crown and stepped on his "turf".

It is actually more in Robert’s than Rhaegar’s character to rape. Robert thinks Rhaegar raped Lyanna (the other meaning) because he would have raped her. Because to him, "rape" is unallowed transfer of a woman's body, not about her consent. He feels every man naturally thinks and would treat Cersei/Lyanna as he does/would have. (Meanwhile, can we say that his own friend, Ned, that he would do that to a woman?)

Rhaegar was a gloomy person and mimics the Byronic Hero trope; Lyanna was a lot more positive and vibrant, mimicking the Rebellious Princess or Spirited Young Lady tropes:

The Rebellious Princess is usually a teenager, typically brash (since it goes hand in hand with being rebellious). If she's not the hero, quite often she's the hero's love interest. This will sometimes invoke Marry for Love not only as another way for her to rebel, but to also get out of an Arranged Marriage. She usually qualifies as a Royal Who Actually Does Something.

Thus these two embody Forbidden Love, Opposites Attract, and dabble into Good, Bad Adultery.

Edit: I just realized that Rhaegar also fits into the Royal Who Actually Does Something Trope. Also, he and Lyanna are the inversed versions of their traditional gendered roles: Rhaegar becomes the musical, singing quieter lady imbued with remembrances for a time past while Lyanna actively participates in tourneys and masculinized quests/journeys like the Prince Charming/Knight in Shining Armor. Subversion of narrative and gender tropes!

Rhaegar loved Lyanna for:

her bravery and passion

protecting those needing to protecting

her determination to stand up for what she thinks is right despite constrictions placed on her bc of youth and gender

positivity

Lyanna loved Rhaegar because:

he had much more of a sense of responsibility and the sense of grief that comes with his need to "fix" certain wrongs in their current society (thus was more...he cared more than any other person, regardless of gender, about what it means to rule apart from having power) 

that that responsibility went even beyond her

that that sense of responsibility went further than most noblemen’s while not trying to change or repress her, nor disregard her entire personality for his own sense of power or (for him, nonexistent) fantasies of her person

his passion

And tropes =/= “trite” or cliche. You can think of them as building blocks for themes, storylines, and characterizations.

Martin has painstakingly made sure to convey that their story and deaths are tragic not just for them and their families, but for Rhaegar’s ambition to remodel and begin to reverse the damages done in Westerosi history after having learned of the prophecy. *EDIT 1/12/25* But as hamliet says in this post, Rhaear's issue was that he didn't tink through te details of is plans & how it'd affect tose closest to him as he believed that if he just followed those "instructions" he believed existed for the prophecy to--and that said propecy required HIM--that everytin would fall into place. Too idealistic, not practical and observant enough.

he forgets that he is himself human and all humans have weaknesses and die. Rhaegar had the best of intentions but the worst of the worst of implementation, in other words.

I also think that he was kinda secretly exhausted by the pressure he puts on himself. That developed from te urency of getting rid of te "corrupt king" that became is father, clean out the corruption of the royal family/court. And I think, now, that it is possible that Rhaegar believed Lyanna was te "love of is life" and she was the "perfect" person to be at his side and fufill te prophecy. He might ave thought that because they understood each other in a way no one else ever had, that it "proved" she/their kid was the missin piece AND they could arrange all the "other" stuff later. *END OF EDIT*

4)

What defines a war prize, anon? Assuming you’ve read the post you seem to be referring to (this ONE), you should know that they are people or things that a warrior claims or is given as a reward for victory or conquest during/after a war/a battle.

Lyanna and Rhaegar form a romantic bond and they go off together before Rhaegar ever actually battles anyone or there was a war happening. Before Robert rebels and lords begin to gather weapons and troops.

It begins with him giving her the crown for Queen of Love and Beauty at the Harrenhal tourney, passing his own wife. You can look at all the posts I have tagged “lyanna and rhaegar”, or click HERE for more.

So just by definition of a war prize, Lyanna was never a war prize. 

[brekkie-e]

I can not stand how the Inquisitor can genuinely follow a different religion from the Chant of Light, but is not allowed in the narrative to speculate that perhaps they do have a holy calling.... it was just bestowed upon them from a different force than Andraste.

Im going to focus mostly on the Dalish playthrough since that's the one Im most familiar with. You are able to establish if your Inquisitor is religious, and if they follow the Elvhen pantheon or not. Given that is a fact, the narrative should further reflect such a character would be living their life with a different worldview than an Andrastian. Not just an "oh yeah, im an elf btw gang" comment here and there. They are percieving this world through a religious and political lens that is vastly different than Andrastians.

:readmore:

Why wouldn't a practitioner of the Elvhen gods not have hidden doubts about the mark being a gift from one of them? Or a holy calling to rally their people? Or simply a sign that yes. Your prayers were heard, despite all odds, the gods of your people never stopped listening. Or perhaps a punishment? For forgetting part of the old ways and insulting them somehow?

Consider the struggle of them trying to parce out which god it is from? The obvious hope that it is their "patron" god. Which Dalish wouldn't dream of the one who's vallaslin they bear choosing them as their champion? If not their patron, perhaps June? Blessing them with the ability to craft the heavens as he once blessed their people with the ability to craft weapons? The secret fear that no matter how much they hope that is true, the most logical choice is Fen'harel as he is the only one still believed to walk the land.

The thought they'd never voice that creeps in during the dark of night, that perhaps it is a gift from the Dreadwolf. But if it means he has decided to turn his gaze on the human world for a change and give their people a slight reprieve, they are willing to be a pawn.

Now this is all well and good for a characters internal battles over beliefs. But the opportunity for narrative conflict feels like a gaping hole in a wall. Imagine if the Inquisitor had the ability to outright contest Leliana and Cassandra's belief it's a gift from Andraste. Not in a "I dont think it's holy" way, but looks them dead in the eye and claims it's from an Elvhen god.

Could Cassandra deal with that level of heresy? Later in Inquisition, after befriending the Inquisitor, possibly. But I doubt she would have been able to at the start of the game.

Many of the companions would be pretty horrified or upset at the suggestion. Solas would most likely be extremely frustrated and get close to blowing his cover at such an outright display of Dalish religious beliefs. And he's known for being so sweet and charming when someone ticks him off about Dalish things.

Ultimately, this could allow for a much more interesting political narrative. The Inquisition is Andrastian. It is founded in the Divine's honor by her left and right Hands. That can not be denied. And if the advisors and the companions have to found the Inquisition with a "Herald of Andraste" whom has explicitly stated they think the Mark is holy in an altogether heretical way, the political maneuvering is suddenly much more evident. There is no ambiguous "who is to say" while they build the organization. They are having to build their holy order with one hand behind their back clutching to a secret that could unravel all they are working for.

I know that they toyed with the idea that Inquisition never outright stated the Inquisitor is holy. But I think raising the stakes in such a way would have made for even more interesting party dynamics, better roleplay-ability, and more outright politics. Which the latter two are things I think the game desperately needed to improve on. Yes, it's full of politics. But in a gawdy completely in your face manner that loses much of what makes politics interesting. Not to mention it ultimately did not seem to have large narrative influence.

Anyways, I am sure these are opinions that have been tossed on the internet quite a lot already, but I wanted to get my thoughts on the matter out there cause it's been rattling in my head for a few days.

[sporksaber]

I was just reminded this au existed,

Zuko is naturally ooc because he never lost his honour, so i think id replace it with guilt. Id have zukos arc be based in his percieved cowardice and getting over his fear of doing what's right in the moment even if its not what he is supposed to do. Id also put him in the war room in the beginning, he processed the advisor's words slower than azula and was in the moment between it registering and his outburst when azula started talking.

Im an Iroh slander lover. He interfered with zuko trying to stop azula from fighting and later from being banished. Zuko doesnt realize this until later (maybe tying him in with azula's arc), instead blaming himself and seeing himself as a coward who could never be forgiven. Iroh takes a "this was bound to happen" attitude to azula's fate, and while i wouldnt go out of my way to make him terrible, he will still lowkey suck and thered be a stong contrast to him as zuko's uncle and him as a man (him as a man is an asshole with control issues who doesnt care about the general populace in a normal way. Hes kind of similar to azula in that way but ill put a pin in that for later).

For the path of his arc, i think id try to make it coincide with the show. He slowly grows throughout the au before reaching a sharp setback upon reuniting with azula. After she leaves again hell struggle for a bit before being forced to make progress quickly.

Other additions and corrections (its been 3 years since i made this post apparently):

Id add an extra layer of personal insult to azula calling the plan stupid and havr it said that it was a plan ozai came up with originally.

There are definitly people who think ozai attacking azula when her back was turned was incredibly dishonerable.

I dont really like the spirit sickness thing for her, id change it to a slow growing mental break. It makes more sense and fits with everything better.

The parenthesis between the boiling rock and katara's field trip i think is supposed to be convince them that azula is actually a good person but that she shows it differently. And maybe its a character focus shift to show how well she really does understand her.

Ok, I love the role swap concept with zuko and azula, but I feel like they switch their abilities and personalities a bit too and I think itd be more fun without that. Where Azula is an antisocial and unstable genius who wants to gain power and zuko still struggles with being the less powerful and extremely empathetic sibling. So here's how I'd do it.

(Note, this is just for fun. I'm not saying anyone else's version is bad. But I've though about this so much and need it out of my head before I go off cuz make a whole comic and I do not have the time, i need to work.)

First off, Azula wouldn't call out in concern for the men like how zuko did. In my version she's allowed into the meeting because of the aptitude for strategy shes shown. She speaks up because it's an inefficient plan that uses up too many resources when there are other options. This enrages her father and leads to the agni kai. Azula is terrified and feels betrayed but has no idea how to handle any of it. She fights back during the agni kai, but in her panic she sets off a bolt of lightning. Ozai finishes the match and severely burns on her lower back. Azula is banished for her use of lightning on the fire lord (bc ozai fears she will no longer be easy to manipulate and might plot his death) and is forced to leave the next morning.

Some things to note: azula is eleven at this point. I changed the placement of the scar bc I think zuko's is very symbolic in a way that doesnt suit azula. Zuko's scar being over his eye and close to the light chakra shows the way his view of the fire nation and honour obscures his vision and how he is unaware of the truth of the world under fire nation rule. I set azula's over her spine because that chakra is based on survival and blocked by fear. It also represents trust which will fit into her arc with the gaang. Finally, she doesnt have Iroh to guide her. One of the things that bothered me was Iroh writing her off as evil despite her being a mentally unstable child. She did have to be defeated, but the way he talked about it was too dismissive. (Personally I think he was projecting his views of his brother and his perceived failures with him onto her.) Azula isnt sent to capture the avatar so she isnt given soldiers. She's completely alone without an advisor to look to or keep her calm.

Azula is given a manned ship with a disgraced soldier and an attendant when she leaves. The way I see it the soldiers zuko had were probably more irohs than his. The soldier is relieved to not be executed but hates being demoted to playing babysitter to a child at sea. The attendant views it as a punishment and hates Azula for it. Eventually the attendant will betray her and be killed for it. Azula never trusted the soldier and he eventually leaves to start a family in an earth kingdom colony. Azula doesnt miss him, he was no longer useful. The loneliness does get to her though.

Azula is obsessed with getting the underhand, so she had been successfully building connections and planting spies where needed.

(Zuko has been acting as a respectable crowned prince. He holds a zealous loyalty to his nation and father. He still faulters as Iroh tries to steer him from tyranny, but his sights are set on his father's approval and that alone. Afterall, if his prodigy could be discarded who's to say what would happen to him if he failed?)

This brings us to the start of the series. Like Zuko Azula witnesses the trap on the old fire nation battle ship go off. She investigates and finds that an air bending avatar is living at the south pole village. She decides she wants to speak with him.

Azula didn't believe the avatar existed before this point. Hiding didnt add up to her knowledge of the morality of airbenders, so she assumed the air nation avatar from the start of the war would be dead. She would know if one had appeared in the water tribe, as the south had all its benders killed and the north was compacted so close together it would be impossible to hide. Earth would be harder, but they were most likely to fight back and out act. And if in ba sing se they'd be used as a weapon or gotten rid of to preserve the peace of the city. Once the culcle progressed to the fire nation it would either be used to take over the other nations or enf the cycle for good. After all, there hasn't been an air bender for a hundred years even if the rumors of some acolytes surviving were truthful.

Azula kidnaps aang with far more ease than she should of been able to. Once he stops struggling she calmly offers him tea and promises to release him once their discussion is finished. He takes the tea and drinks it without question and besides a wary glare shows no more hostility. She thought him a fool, the tea could have easily been poisoned and promised are nothing but words. His naivete makes her job easier though.

She finds out that he was suspended frozen in the avatar state the last 100 years. And so, Azula informs him of the war and the fire nations crimes, advising him to master the elements if he wants to prevent all his new friends and the avatar cycle from certain destruction. Aang is conflicted, he never asked for any of this. Azula just gives a bitter smile. "The hands of fate were never designed to take requests, they move without regard to any life dependent on it. Dont waste your breath when there is nothing you can do."

Azula wants to see Ozai fail. If helping the avatar is what it takes then so be it. When his friends appear to save him she let's them leave without a fight. Theyll be useful in the future.

As the gaang's travels kick off she sets out to find out if the rumours about the acolytes are true. In this she finds a traveling circus. The youngest daughter and an old friend of hers was eager to escape and found Azula's life exciting. She didn't hesitate after being invited along, insisting that traveling would be easy for her and that she'd pull her own weight.

She encounters the gaang a few times as time goes by. The relationship is reluctant on the water tribe siblings part, they dont trust her and hold a decent amount of fear towards her. Her cold and calculating demeanor was unsettling, but the unhinged way she fought was terrifying. Her form was perfect and her attacks were precise, but the bigger the fight the more lost she became as she laughed and shrieked and occasionally snapped at someone who didnt seem to be there. The only worse reaction was when she zeroed in on one opponent, picking them apart both mentally and physically as she drove them to the ground. )

Things that'll happen as I move through an episode list:

Azula doesn't have her ship attacked do she diesnt run into zhao while doing repairs, instead going straight to ty lee.

Azula learns that the gaang is on kyoshi island and heads ther after them. She has been keeping track of the avatar as they move. Ty lee gets along well with the kyoshi warriors while azula buts heads with them. They dont want her there and azula hates it when people get in the way. Zhao appears to try to capture aang and Azula dips at the same time as the gaang. She tells ty lee she can stay but she insists on sticking with azula. This puts her on edge.

Ty lee gets captured by earth benders, when she escapes on her own she cements her usefulness to Azula.

They run into zhao trying to capture the avatar and azula tells him she'll capture him first. They both attack aang during the solstice, though azula's attacks are all purposefully set to miss and trip up zhao as much as possible. Aang is the best way to prove her father wrong and she's not going to lose that.

They rob the pirates that try to capture the avatar. Azula needs the resources and it gives her leverage over the gaang.

After almost killing ty lee for scaring her by popping up behind her Azula tells her why she was banished. (In more of a "my own mother thought I was a monster" way than an opening up about trauma way.)

Azula learns that zhao has captured aang and frees him. She then sets to reworking her information network as not all of them are scared enough of her to not fail her. She remedies it quickly.

Azula learns that zhao is plotting her assassination and decides it's the perfect moment to fake her death.

Azula enters the north pole to defeat zhao and gain any information she can. Ty lee rades a library during the confrontation. Zhao is surprised and infuriated to see her alive, Azula smiles as she sends him to his death knowing that she is not only helping the avatar but also that he gave her a perfect way to hide from the fire nation. (When news of his sisters death reaches hum, Zuko doesnt know what to think. She was always cruel to him, but she was still his little sister.)

The crown prince of the fire nation is sent to capture the avatar. Azula follows him as he begins his search. (Zuko begins to think he's going insane as he keeps catching glimpses of his recently deceased sister out of the corner of his eye.)

Ty lee keeps running into a girl she slowly befriends. She's gloomy and sarcastic and ty lee thinks Azula would like her. (Zuko's fiance Mai tells him that she thinks his sister is still alive.)

As Azula notices ty lee become more and more distracted as she absorbed herself into the cultures that surround them she decides it's best for them to split up. Ty lee diesnt agree, but Azula leaves anyway. She has work to do.

While traveling alone Azula cant escape the thoughts of her mother. Of her fathers betrayal. Of the life she lost because the idiot elders had no grip on proper strategy that even a child could create. She meets a boy that reminds her far too much of zuko with a mother far to similar to theirs. When she sends the bandits controlling the town running she knows it's more than just controlling a territory that compelled her. But at the same time she doubts not following through on the whim would have bothered her.

Ty lee meets toph and chat for a bit. Ty lee tells her about azula and how she left. When toph tells her she should forget her she insists that azula didnt really ditch her and that they're still friends. They talk about their friends and childhood.

Ty lee finds Azula and immidiently jumps at her, which she does not enjoy. Ty lee insists that she still wants to travel with her and Axula sighs as she let's her tag along to the next location, ba sing se.

Azula slips through guards and protocols as she tries to gain any information she can to help her once they reach the city. Ty lee befriends a guy named jet and his group, the freedom fighters. When he tries to get more than friendship she turns him down and it becomes much more awkward.

Ty lee becomes a street performer and chames everyone she meets as Azula researches the dai lee and how they keep control. After lashing out in frustration ty lee drags her out to enjoy the city's night life.

Azula learns of the presence of the avatar and location of appa. She frees him and sets to work taking control of the dai lee. She let's herself be briefly captured but her plan shifts when katara is thrown in with her. Katara is pissed just being around her and azula plays up a cool kind of annoyance. Katara briefly catches sight of the burns on Azula's back and offers to heal her, only for Azula to freak out and yell at her to stay away, backing against a far wall in a fighting stance. They are saved by the rest if the gaang and ty lee shortly after.

Azula goes back to try and salvage her plan only to be caught off guard by the appearance of her brother and his offer to return to the fire nation. Not willing to lose all possible advantages, she agrees. They battle the gaang, and when they are almost captured azula sends a bolt of lightning at aang, causing them to retreat. Katara can heal him more easily than she can maneuver them out of an execution.

Azula returns to the fire nation with her brother, mai and ty lee, starting the beginning of a large power play between her and her father. They are sent to lo and li beach house. The relationship between the siblings is tense, zuko has always been the child born with nothing who gained everything when his blessed at birth sister lost it all. Azula has always been cruel, but he cant help but let his heart catch on the moments when she's not. ("My own mother thought I was a monster, My father thought i was too difficult to keep around" "Don't let their words blind you, you need to be more careful, zuzu." "I learned the hard way to never turn your back to anyone, and the scars will always be there as a reminder if I need it." )

Azula runs into iroh, who is very disapproving of her presence. He warns her to stay away from zuko and to watch herself while at the palace. Later, zuko comes to her asking about their great grandfather. Upon being pressed he admits that he was sent a mysterious letter. He thought she was going to burn it when he handed it to her but instead the heat from the fire revealed a hidden ink. "Honestly brother, did you ever pay attention at all during lessons?" They find a autobiographical scroll of their great grandfathers life and the secret that their other great grandfather was roku. Azula scoffed at the idea of bloodlines deciding fate and quickly left. But Zuko remained conflicted.

During the day of the black sun Azula confronts Ozai. As iroh and Zuko fight the avatar. She learns that her mother left for zuko's sake and that she was never going to be fire lord. Azula tells him she'll be somthing even better and leaves the palace.

Azula and ty lee follow the gaang to the western air temple. Katara immidprntly attacks but is quickly rendered unable to bend by ty lee. Azula tells them that the only way for them to of gotten out was for Aang to be incapacitated, and she knew katara could heal him. Aang decides they can stay but have to stay distanced from everyone else.

Azula tries to teach aang fire bending but is slowly growing sick while aang is barely able to produce a puff of smoke. Unable to sleep and constantly on edge, it soon affects her bending, sending her spiraling as she loses control on the only consistent power she's ever had. Her and aang journey to find the true source of fire bending to try to help their conditions.

Still sick, Azula is itching to do anything away from the temple. Finding sokka trying to reach the boiling rock to find his father, she decides to go with him as she knows the prison well. Sokka declines but she goes anyway. They dont find his father, but they do find suki. Azula formulates a plan but they postpone when sokka's father arrives.

Azula comes up with a new plan, now reluctant to include sokka. He tells her to trust him but she insists she has no reason to. Her sickness has been getting worse and he tells her she needs to trust him, making her angry. Only when he catches her while they're escaping dies she finally begin to accept trusting him, if only slightly.

(While they're away ty lee tries to convince

Azula goes with Katara to find the man who killed her mother. Azula has no concept of why katara is so upset, which causes her to get angry. But azula tracks the man anyway.

Ember island players- azulas character has the scar across her chest. She's absolutely insane and "not entirely inaccurate, but I'd never come up with such a dumb plan." Shes also heavily implied to be more than close to ty lee, which azula has no reaction to even as the others freak out.

I havent decided the ending, zuko will probably turn to the gaang's side. I'll add more later and maybe write or illustrate a bit.

[temikoangie]

I always thought of tenko as being very accepting to transwomen but hate transmen

anon im gonna be super honest w u i dont think tenko cares what you identify as. i know ur basis is bc tenko Really Does hate men but. may i remind you that they tend to go back on their word sometimes, in favor of morals or what they percieve as right. they’ve comforted shuichi before because they culd empathize and Also recognize that kaito socking him in the face Nor kokichi teasing him was what shuichi needed at that time .

“how does this relate to trans people” u may ask. For Starters . there is absolutely no canon implication that tenko wuld Be transphobic to trans men / use transphobic language . if that’s what ur insinuating there. tenko just . hates men. would they group trans men with the same general idea that theyre degenerates to them? Who Freaking Knows theres absolutely no canon basis behind it. the only two times tenko has any kind of view on trans people are in their last FTE with shuichi, and the hidden scene if you give (I Think ) tenko a parasol item (this is th scene where they Pretty much invite k1b0 to the pool party because they both werent sure if he could be a guy Or a girl . and tenko’s like Eh Okay. U can join us)

if anything the worst tenko would do to trans men is just be Unintentionally Transphobic bc of course its not in their place to insult them when they come out to them ( funfact! they really do admire the strength and courage of that person when they come out like them and chihirows in drs) and them Immediately changing their language to at least show support Might make Them seem Transphobic . Which Is Both A Lose Lose Situation…. Insult the Trans Man for Being a Man, You get labelled as Transphobic.. Show Support for the Trans Man, you get labelled as Transphobic and Assume You Dont See This Person as a Man bc of the dropped Hostility.

I Dont even like the headcanons where tenko is transphobic in any compacity bc it just always falls back on the transphobic lesbian stereotype cushion and its Weeeirdddd. we’re in my city now. tenko would give you all of the estrogens and testosterones and binders stolen from shitty medical corporates’s noses like robin hood for trans people.

[thechangeling]

I have to say as someone with quite a bit of trauma and let's face it probably cptsd, I really don't love the way CC portrays trauma or has other characters react to it. Like she has a habit of letting a characters issues be overshadowed by their love story or even completely wiped out in the case of Emma and Jace for example. They're traumatized by their past until they sort things our with their love interests and then everything's fine.

But what really bugs me is how she's treating Kit's issues, and as result how that frivolousness is bleeding into the fandom. Kit was raised by Johnny Rook with such fucking apathy and neglect that Kit developed a belief that he is only valued when he is useful to others. He's never been loved for the sake of just existing in any way he can remember, at least until Tessa and Jem. But they can't automatically undue years of damage.

And then there's the obvious stuff, him seeing his father ripped apart by demons which must incite some pretty complicated feelings in him regarding the distance of their relationship but he still obviously loves his father, then losing Livvy after developing a genuine friendship with her and then watching Ty completely lose himself trying to being her back. Ty's percieved rejection which I am more then willing to acknowledge was spurred on my Kit's trauma of believing himself inherently unlovable. And yet somehow after all of this, the only thing he's having nightmares about are Ty? Just that day in the beach and nothing else? And then to add insult to injury we have the other characters who KNOW what he's been through for the most part reducing that complicated trauma to "brooding."

Like??? It's not brooding it's fucking cptsd. And yeah sure you could argue it's quite realistic for people to just dismiss or ignore that stuff like with the way the tlh characters enable Matthew or ignore/demonize Alastair. But at a certain point if you never address these things it just looks like you're minimizing or downplaying these very real issues. Which then leads to the fandom also downplaying these issues by making jokes about Kit being an "angsty drama queen Herondale uwu!" And yeah I get the meneifcation of trauma and PTSD is very gen z, but I think it's kind of a harmful trend that ultimately doesn't lead to healing.

You gotta show actual sympathy for Kits trauma if you want to actually understand the character.

Even know as I write this I have a voice inside my head telling me I'm overreacting or making a big deal out of nothing. But that's the result of my trauma. I spent too much time with people who thought I was too much, too sensative and too opinionated. It's hard as fuck recovering from a life time of gaslighting and that's probably one of the reasons I relate to and sympathize with Kit so much.

So anyways I hope CC will surprise me and actually meaningfully address and discuss Kit's trauma in twp (as well as Ty's and Dru's and everyone else's) and not have the problems all end with kitty reconciling because love cures all or whatever.