#they have no moral backbone and they will not do the obvious thing because they can't
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
Note
Since the freedom caucus successfully bullied the RNC into nominating a far-right candidate, why don't the moderate Republicans just vote for Jeffries?
I need everyone to understand there ARE no moderate Republicans. They will go down with the flaming MAGA lunatic ship rather than work with Democrats ever, on anything. That's just how it is. They may play moderate on cable news, but that's the truth.
#hirosensei#ask#politics for ts#again: not gonna answer a ton of politics asks#though i recognize the clown show is once more in honk honk session#but. yeah. moderate republicans are a myth#they will pretend to be moderate in interviews and then vote party-line/trumpian/MAGA#that's who they ARE#they're scared stiff of getting primaried or attacked by trump or whatever else#they have no moral backbone and they will not do the obvious thing because they can't#for any number of reasons#the end
186 notes
·
View notes
Text
unleashing the same hellscape i did on my notes app here it's my nelvas thinking dump i wrote just for fun and to keep track of what i view them as up 2 this point. Might change my mind on it later on it has a lot of things written in brackets for no reason . it's like ~2500 words long which isn't much but i think i said everything i've had in my mind for now read it for fun if you like to have fun leik me :) And talvas :) And nelothxP
retyping what i said in the tags of those last text posts and rearranging those thoughts a bit: in my train of thought that's been going steady since early 2024 i'm almost certain that neloth might see talvas as the epitome of being morally Clean (before that changes because of neloth's influence over him) and generally pure as a person. pure not used in the Pervert way; neloth is just a veeery big fan of talvas having absolutely no backbone and being very docile when it comes to him. which is r expected traits 4 someone if they find themselves under neloth's thumb as an apprentice, but it being written that he isn't at all catty and defiant to his face is cute. all talvas manages to do is shit talk neloth to others and pray neloth doesn't find out he meant the things he said but also can’t help feeling bad about it, even though neloth doesn't and wouldn't care, if he found out. neloth is happy with being an obnoxious & disgusting person. truly.. him growing obsessed with talvas' docile and innocent nature doesn't necessarily have to add up to him wanting to Taint or Ruin him (and if it happens ((it does)) it's not done on purpose, neloth can't hold that much control and power of his actions in that specific department). he encounters difficulties when he realizes he actually wants that Elven Twink.. it's too far gone to fix anything after he's tampered with talvas' patience and stability, and even then he can't be honest with talvas about anything, because he still wants to hold a great deal of power over him (neloth essentials for survival).
Might be the type to just want talvas to magically(haha) think it's okay that his wizard master desires him and expect that energy right back without talvas actually acknowledging it because it'd make neloth feel insanely cringy and embarrassed.. humiliated.. EVEN. but that's just in a deep deep dark corner of his mind, he isn't stupid. when trying to gain 'access' to his apprentice ("*His* apprentice" is also kinda funny way of viewing his mind too. just cause talvas is working as an apprentice under him neloth probably already feels a concerning sense of ownership over him that makes him feel very good) he can't even make the signs of interest be apparent to talvas because he's insanely inept at being Soft and honest for obvious reasons. he can tell what possibly could make talvas warm up to him even after he treats him like shit for eons but there's no way he's bringing himself to do it (change is embarrassing, especially in their formal dynamic, and especially at his age). so it's a half-assed attempt (actually he's trying his hardest🙄) to try and make talvas be (at least) less afraid of him. not that talvas has any other place that we know of that he "Belongs" to, he just sticks with neloth regardless of anything. neloth watching him as he sleeps ensues . Guys what do i do to make my apprentice let me hit because all of the eye contact i do with him while gripping his arm or petting his knee isn't helping.
if we were to go back to how that spark is ignited in neloth swamp of a heart, brain… idk, it has to be when he realizes talvas' capability of forgiveness and 'Sucking it up' instead of lashing out at neloth after .. anything, but perhaps physical abuse in particular. neloth a 100% has absolutely no problem putting his hands on anyone, especially someone he sees so often, such as talvas. not that talvas really annoys him (his clear and voiced obedience pleases neloth as anyone can tell), but he just doesn't see it as too much of a big deal. the physical mistreatment that happens once in a blue moon isn't intense enough to scare off talvas for sure anyways. neloth is a bitch so all he can so is smack him at the back of the head (talvas finds it very normal) and slap him if he's feeling festive (something talvas finds kinda extreme but not that it happens often. he sometimes feels like he deserves it, or that neloth is warranted to do as he pleases. he tosses around it being justified or pitying himself, though). May be possible that neloth would realize he Like Likes talvas once he slaps him, mayhaps, for the first time, but talvas' immediate reaction to being treated like that is just sadness mixed with feeling shame for tearing up/crying in front of someone he respects *bishoujo sparkles sfx*. talvas is a delicate soul so he can't hold warranted emotions like that for long, and even tho it's expected of him to be making eye contact w/ neloth in a setting like that, he wouldn't be able 2 bring himself to do it because looking at neloth would make him wanna burst out in tears like a weeeee baby. Booo hooo.. talvas is the 19th century (4th era) damsel that runs out of the ball in tears after no young cavalier invited her to dance. watch this bleed into the most awkward and silent week of neloth's entire life because talvas doesn't even really feel like speaking to him or looking at him, but neloth doesn't wanna brute force the usual respectful etiquette out of him cus he thinks that's just gonna make talvas hurl himself down on some rough rocks at the seashore. Good thing talvas is very spineless and forgiving (especially in relation to neloth… i mean.. who r YOU to not forgive him) so that might just last a day or two. the hurt always stays tho. neloth this is why talvas doesn't wanna smash you.. you might've made some conclusions about what elven twink you like but talvas is just even more scared of you now. was your Pervert awakening worth it. and even if we do backflips and jump thru the point where everything is too far gone for either of them to go back, dude is still too afraid to make out with his apprentice. Deserve. but why though because talvas wouldn't refuse. for what reason? we may never know
^^^ this makes me feel like i love seeing characters i reaaaalllly love (elenwen and talvas in this case) as enigmas in situations where they're confronted with something so ""Intimate"". elenwen's stance on this is final tho cause she's a grown ass woman and there's no way you could reshape her brain. ulfric left her mind plane in SHAMBLES. talvas has more right (in the literal sense) to be erratic or inconsistent with his actions. maybe he likes to be desired. Also i strongly believe that talvas has probably never been in love (for any reason rly but it's mostly him not having actual time for it + not seeing it as something that is important to him at that point in his life)… i want neloth to be his first experience with Love so that it ruin his view on it forever. can't get myself to say he'd be in love with neloth at any point though. From his standpoint it really should feel empowering and 'nice' that neloth wants him in many ways (ew).. cause that's a man with status.. power.. ability to do anything rly . talvas is in no condition to be playing mind games with him or anything tho so don't get that idea. he's not strong enough of a person to be Tricking anyone or to be Playing with anyone's feelings. neloth would be immune to that, too. neloth can just kinda tell talvas is too good and … UNTAINTED. talvas wants to see the best in everyone. too bad he genuinely detests you, neloth.. so: he doesn't actually love neloth but wouldn't be happy to see his tombstone either. SO (PART TWO): if you time it right he wouldn't be against getting Freakkkkyyyy with you okay?but no promises
even if @ some point talvas develops indistinct feelings towards neloth cause of neloth's own incessant weird-mild advances it wouldn't have to mean he just likes old men permanently now. actually it kinda does. i can sorta feel it rearranging his braincells and making him unable to normally interact with people in his age range. he probably already had a hard time talking to others in hopes of developing a friendship just cause he's timid but after neloth's nonstop abuse and Accidental romance mind games he morphs into a whole new type of guy. it's hard to notice at first but he'd probably just start to leech off of neloth's prissy and unbearable personality in a natural course of things + neloth is the only person he sees and talks to on the regular pretty much. < this can just be reworded as just the cycle of abuse and whatnot. if he notices an opening in the abilities and Smarts of another person, especially someone his age/younger, he will automatically see them as umm…stupid. and also insult your abilities to your face if he snaps. he strikes me as the type to be afraid to say what he really thinks (another consequence of being glued to neloth all the time when all talvas does is act like he totally respects anything he says) and gets scared if anything slips out his mouth but is proud in letting the "Truth" be known because he already figured out you're a lesser being than him. he's just cloning neloth's verbal abuse braincells though he would never put his hands on someone. his desire to be mean and see himself as superior stems from neloth always disparaging him obviously.. talvas 4 that reason is very self conscious of his abilities and doesn't rly think he's all that useful or talented. his self doubt then would play into how he doesn't know when to believe what others are saying to and about him.. i wanna imagine that talvas is very oblivious to neloth's weirdo status just cause he partly doesn't even want that thought to cross his mind. i bet everyone but him sees it and finds it gross😕 but nobody in the vicinity is strong enough to tell neloth that he should be ashamed LMFAO. if you would try and even hint to talvas that it's happening he'd never take you seriously and just get mad. he's protective of neloth's image more than neloth himself is; not that people knowing neloth has abnormal sodomistic inclinations toward his apprentice would make his public image worse than it already is (everyone already thinks he's weird so it's not shocking at all) but talvas still wouldn't wanna hear it cause he thinks it's just false. maybe he's just ashamed that he's being brought into the whole thing. also because he doesn't wanna face the reality EJI23JRIO32KJ Well talvas when neloth makes an actual move on you don't say that we didn't warn you.. we're all waiting till neloth's status as an obvious apprentice-pervert becomes obvious to you
even if he's willingly ignorant of the fact he still thinks of the 'accusations' a lot when he feels like it. and unknowingly begins feeling even more uncomfortable in neloth's presence. heart starts beating faster and everything. neloth could come up to him meters away and talvas would still cover his mouth in realization and be like "i knew it… the DB told me but i didn't wanna believe it …..😦 so you really do like young men … and you're in love with me ..😨" *Neloth wakes up from this fever dream drenched in sweat* < neloth doesn't want (obvi) talvas to react that way at any point because he himself would just get scared so they'd just be staring at each other wide eyed. but talvas jumping into his advances isn't what he wants either (that'll also scare him). neloth is still relying on talvas' politeness to let him do as he pleases. but it is impossible for talvas to let it slide without questioning anything regardless so🤷♀️ take your few Ls and move on. neloth just wants talvas to sit on his lap. wants to spoonfeed him soup. he's so romantic. he also wants to(sniper on rooftop blows my head to bits). neloth is actually a pretty touchy feely person when he's feeling Frisky (=deranged about talvas). I'm certain his favorite part of talvas' body is his legs. talvas has beautiful young man skipping leg day legs. so nothing special at all but neloth wants to touch them lol.. let your master wizard squeeze your calves and he might just be occupied enough like a kid playing with a fidget toy to not abuse you verbally for 3 seconds. as i said befoar neloth is unpleasant with his touch because he doesn't know how to be soft + doesn't even want it to necessarily feel very 'rewarding' as to not pamper talvas. petting talvas kinda turns into a nervous habit for himself and an instrument of some sort of Reassurance 4 talvas when he wants him to know he’s not mad, for example. non-vebal confirmation. talvas still finds it weird but thinks it’s a charm point too. neloth wouldn't even be against touching him familiarly in front of others but only in a "older male figure" ways ex. touching his knee or putting his hand at the back of his neck (talvas sees it as some sort of disciplinary tactic though). physical touch that matches neloth's age and is enough for it to be seen as not necessarily romantic / overtly weird.
there'ssssss no saving talvas after such a powerful person gets his hands on him. any will to leave would leave HIM either out of fear or out of attachment and neloth wouldn't just let him go (Alive at least) since he knows the things he knows. if talvas were to escape i'm a Truther of him not feeling in place and wanting to go back cause it's the stability that he's used to. but tbh if he encounters neloth on accident anywhere he's gonna start running. I was drinking tea while writing this and started choking on it i just nearly died writing this are youhappy. anyways, nelvas is a never-ending abusive relationship that doesn’t even have High highs, all it has is low lows. neloth always mistreats talvas for any reason but is never genuinely kind from the heart or out of remorse. .. hmm……yeah. I forgot to type this back out from my posts tags > talvas might just start viewing neloth as fuck crazy and demented after he Finally notices at least one molecular sign of gay attention from him . like ‘Oh wow Master Neloth obviously doesn’t get any female attention or anything cus he’s a sick fuck why does he have to search for it from me Can varona take the hit for me 🥺 *sees her dead body being dragged by the DB* hmm i guess not well i’ll figure something out i guess’ (he doesn’t) also the dialogue talvas has with varona after he steals neloth’s book trying to conjure some bs up will always be so cute to me he’s so defensive and afraid of neloth finding out. Him trying to decipher neloth’s handwriting is cute TOO ik their 19th century love letters to each other would go crazy and make sense to anyone but each other but i’m not gonna talk about 19th century girl talvas x neloth rn it’s too much . what ever. i think i’m done thank you i should just go back to drawing them as grecian pottery red figures or smthj Fun stats for you 4 getting to the end: times the word ‘abuse’ is used: 6
#text#i've been putting more meaning(?) into the nelvas-es i've been drawing lately so i wanted to see how it would reflect in words#the fact that dis will show up in tags will haunt me a little bit but if i add asteriks it will be incomprehensible LOL#i hope this isn't too hard to understand when reading bc i know i have an easier time reading stuff like this instead of 'snobby' writing -#- bc i like knowing how the thoughts were brewing as they were written down.#but it may not be the case for all people.#what do U think of it.#i think what i;ve always liked the most in being able to talk w/ people Online is getting to know their thoughts on the same thing#more than anything else#i literally sucked and spit out all of the skajrim lore factors out of their relationship pretty much (not that it had much in the first -#- place) so it's just a reading on a possible scenario with the characters i was given#i mean characters i put in the soup pot decorating the middle of my brain#this is december-may 2024 facts for now#just so i remember#abuse //#< OKAY#log#< is gonna be my tag for this type of thing if i end up saying more because i already started torturing my notes app with what i think of -#- civil war characters#tumblr is pussy so it made me reformat the paragraph breaks i made. they don't rly matter anyway but still
36 notes
·
View notes
Note
when do u think bnha became unsalvageable?
i think bnha might've always been slated to become that way from the get-go, with the protagonist being an aspiring hero and heroes being superpowered cops.......
that said while copaganda shows will always be suspect to me, i'm willing to watch them for entertainment value if not moral backbone lol. so i think bnha could've still been a somewhat fun show about these kids going to superpowers school and learning how to use superpowers better. the major failure points that stand out to me are:
mva
endemption
i'll talk about #1 first since i'm sure that's gonna be the most controversial coming from me lol. dgmw i actually love mva and i think it's one of the better-written (if not best) arc of the series, BUT it was so good and set up so many expectations that the series ultimately just could not live up to. mva was very strong imo because, in giving its villains depth, it dug into the fabric of bnha's society and tried to illustrate, like, how did this happen, why are these people villains? and by and large, the answer to that was poverty and the societal alienation of vulnerable populations (children, abuse victims, mentally ill ppl, queer ppl, "mutants," etc.)
and this was good and interesting but this was Also Bad because mva added complexity to the world of bnha but that was ultimately a complexity that horikoshi couldn't execute. i'm not interested in a story that makes systemic change secondary to scolding marginalized people for reacting to how they've been treated. i would even prefer some kind of liberal "change from the inside" story that at least focuses more on the theme of systemic flaws than one that focuses on how the people systemically wronged are actually the bad ones and we have to fight them for 400 chapters.
look, i'll even drop the whole "the lov did nothing wrong" bit for a moment. sure, bnha doesn't have to throw away all believability and have everyone forgive the lov just like that, but it's always going to be fucked to me that bnha's story and fans are obsessed with the lov ~owning their crimes~ when (takes a deep breath) the government ordered the clandestine executions of people who would make the hero system look bad. and the story barely wastes any breath talking about the corruption of the hero system and higherups lol. which brings me to the second point.
endeavor started out as a character that embodied everything that was wrong with quirk/hero society. he was one of those very early downsides we saw of bnha's world: the publicity/public image of heroes superseding the contents of their actual character, and the value of quirks superseding the value attributed to their human bearers, to the point that domestic abuse and rape is seen as an option to make one's genes/one's power stronger. this was a good set-up! i was intrigued! but again, horikoshi couldn't follow through.
endeavor's character eventually shifted away from making a point about hero society to becoming one of the emotional focal points of the story, especially in the todofam subplot. "waaah tumblr user dabistits you just hate when people change for the better!" and yeah i do kind of hate how an abuser having sad feelings immediately gets him prioritized over the people who suffered because of him tbh! but personal feelings aside, i would say that endemption really marked the point where bnha swung hard into depicting characters as good or bad not through the actions they take but through their alignment with either heroes or villains.
endeavor and hawks are the most obvious in this. in contrast to the obsession of making sure villains repent and "do the right thing," endeavor/hawks' actions are either forgivable, pitiable, or simply necessary. several years of spousal abuse and at least 10 years of child abuse don't earn endeavor so much as a lecture (no, being told to stop being pathetic doesn't count), and hawks' execution of twice—not much different than lady n's executions—is dismissed through a press conference and never addressed again. there's a distinct line drawn between "heroes (who sometimes do bad things!)" and "villains," such that anyone aligned with the heroes is deemed to be "good, deep down," and generally more morally superior or redeemable than villains. consider the fact that someone like gentle (youtube crimes) or aoyama (blackmailed 16 y.o) were held to higher standards of proving themselves than someone like endeavor or hawks. i'm not gonna lie, these story beats are all uncomfortably real, except that when real live people do endeavor or hawks things i see them unquestionably as counterrevolutionary enemies, not protectors of the peace lol.
the decision to have endeavor transition from minor antagonist to a major supporting character was, imo, a big turning point in the ethos of bnha. i think in many ways it was a symbolic shift, but also a mechanical one in terms of how the story was going to be told going forward. the problems about hero society that were continually introduced at the beginning (ostracizing quirkless people and ppl with "dangerous" quirks, the valuation of powerful quirks over people, "fake heroes," all of the lov stuff) took a backseat to Stopping The Big Bads, with marginalization as flavor text instead of a genuine area of contention between heroes. think about the difference in deku confronting endeavor during the sports festival compared to how all other injustices were dealt with afterward... because the readers have to be convinced that endeavor is Ultimately Good, the heroes stopped challenging him, and in stopping challenging him, they lost one of the major ways through which the heroes of the series wrestled with societal issues.
but whereas the way the heroes handled corruption and violence within their own ranks became simplistic and non-confrontational, with mva, so many aspects of dealing with and interrogating the status quo and societally-accepted injustices were pushed onto the villains instead. but since the villains must be defeated as villains, despite being the main carriers of social critique now, their messages were also torn down/deprioritized in favor of enacting bnha's vision of a cohesive conclusion wherein the villains answer for their crimes. so instead of making the heroes challenge anything, hori shifted this burden onto the villains, in the process making most of them some kind of vulnerable/marginalized and with opinions on the matter, only to ultimately assert that the issues they raise are less narratively important than a restoration of peace.
34 notes
·
View notes
Text
i also think armand fundamentally does not know how to make people happy because he himself is unhappy. i was talking with my friend about louis and how louis still uses human markers of wealth and success that lestat and claudia and armand don't understand. louis wants to own things, he wants to invest in profitable endeavors. i don't think he wants to laze about in his wealth, but he wants to work hard and have it pay off and he wants to see the tangible products of his efforts.
and i'm bringing this up in relation to armand because i think this mindset explains some of the disconnect in dubai, beyond just the circumstances with lestat that got them there. because louis feels lobotomized to me in his cold modern penthouse where he's disconnected from his food, he's disconnected from other vampires, he doesn't work. he buys and sells artwork he appears to have only a passing interest in, he's tempered his accent. he sleeps in a bed and not a coffin, he eats at the table.
and i've been trying to wrap my head around that and how he ended up there, but i'm starting to think a lot of that is armand trying to give louis what he thinks louis wants to feel satiated. louis wants independence and nice things and obvious markers of wealth. so. have this penthouse with the most coldly, impersonally stylish decor. acquire this expensive artwork and then sell it so you can buy something more expensive. if you won't hunt, then here--dine on fine china.
i'm not saying armand holds all the money or anything, we don't know their finances. but i could see him continuously providing louis with expensive things in the hopes that will satisfy louis' desire to feel successful (and also because he has a metric fuckton to make up for and this is one way he tries), but it doesn't because what is louis doing to earn it? money makes money and it seems like louis doesn't have to do anything any more but coast, which is, as armand fears, boring. but idk if he knows how to address that because armand doesn't understand louis' perspective in the first place.
i think i love and empathize with armand so much because he's the one character on the show who feels, at his core, like he isn't good enough. i don't think this is as much a struggle for louis or lestat or claudia, but i think it is for armand. armand is pathetic. he's morally void, and he's too damn weak to grow a fucking backbone and stand by his choices without couching them in lies, because he can't accept being perceived as someone who would make those decisions. he wants affection. he craves approval.
(lmao old school a/n here--i wrote most of this before the finale and damn......i was spot on re: armand couching choices in lies lolololol)
people keep making posts about how armand seems a bit too invested in daniel's opinion of him. and obviously there's an armandiel bent to those, but i also think it's because daniel is the most objective person in the room. he isn't objective because he's tangled up in their story, too, but he's outside of the partnership. he's a journalist. he's an archivist of some version of the truth. and i think he wants daniel to see him how he wants to be seen. he didn't want daniel to think he was boring in san francisco, and he doesn't want daniel to think he's boring now decades later. he wants the external validation from someone outside of his unit to tell him he did the best he could. which obviously daniel won't do, which makes armand want it more.
there's a very good chance i'm completely wrong and talking out my ass and just a pathetic armand apologist myself, but idk. every episode makes me more curious about him. i started season 2 really disinterested in armand and lowkey put off by his presence. but the season has shifted things for me slowly but surely, and now i think armand is one of the most interesting characters on the show. and that makes me love him even more.
41 notes
·
View notes
Text
The Problem with Trespasser
So there has been said a lot about the flaws of tresspasser as a finale to Inquisition, as it can basically be divided into two sections.
There is the lore, the character stuff with your companions, and the actual titular trespasser section of the story, which is generally liked.
Then there is the Exalted Council part of the Story which is generally greatly disliked for the way it portrays Arl Teagen as an ungrateful arse, who even though he's in the right that the Inquisition really does need to disband, is such a bitch about it that a player might feel the desire to keeping it intact just to spite him, despite all the reasons that is a terrible idea(Such an organization being doomed to become the templars 2.0 being the single biggest). Not to mention the way it makes Thedas's nations look like they have the memory capacity of a goldfish, given how instrumental the inquisition was in stopping the last massive threat and might be so again against the plenty of obvious threats on the horizon(and sure enough, the stop the Dragon breath terrorist attacks that would have happened with or without them being there).
However, looking at the big picture, i don't think the actual writing of Arl teagen was the problem here.
No the problem is that Arl Teagen and the rest of the world's reaction to the Inquistion is very, very clearly taken from an older draft of this story, where the Inquisitor was far less... An unambiguous force for good, lets say.
The concept art for inquistion tells a story that is very, very different than what we get in game, with a lot more emphasis is put on the inquisitor very obviously being a dick, that is not well liked by anyone around them.
There is also the way said inquisitor could be far, far more pragmatic and morally grey or dark, like here, where the Inquisitor could force the Venatori to serve after defeating them.
Way more emphasis is built on the idea that the Inquisitor is creating a cult of personality around you, personally.
Essentially a dark mirror to the Hero of Ferelden and Galahad's journeys to defeat their own crisis'.
The option of letting celine die was always gonna be a part of the game, but rather than a pragmatic, move of standing aside and let it happen, your companions would have very negative reactions to this choice, with you having to force Blackwall in particular to stand back as he curses you.
And of course, it would all cuminate in the logical endpoint for the herald of andraste, the living embodiment of the Andrastian reformation as you took your place on the sunburst throne, and usher in whatever changes you want.
This outcome... makes perfect sense. Frankly speaking, this is a much more narratively fitting ending for the inquistior, that has a clear climax from where they start.
Of course we all know this didn't actually end up happening. The Inquisitor ended up being the most passive of all the PC's by a wide margin(you could shape them into having a personality, but not one with a true backbone like Hawke and the Warden), and all these very morally dubious options was taken out of the game in favor of a much more morally simple story.
The most evil thing you can do in DAI is to choose the templars over the mages... and rather than being portrayed as the clear evil choice as it should have been(and still been a legitimate and pragmatic option for you to take) there is instead attempts at making it more nuanced.
Other than that, you don't have the kind of options that the Warden had, and even hawke did(like selling Fenris into slavery), to be a dick.
With all this in mind, it's blatently obvious why Teagen and the world is so damn afraid of the Inquisition.
Because this part of the story was written from before this change in the direction of the game, and was never updated to fit the final product.
If the original vision of the game had to to pass, Teagen's extreme reactions to the Inquistion would have been far, far more understandable, and in it's own way a way of calling the player out on their bullshit.
However, the final product just makes it appear he's way overreacting, rather than maybe questioning that maybe Teagen is right, maybe it is time to end this inquisition for the good of all.
Its one of the biggest problem with what is otherwise a very good epilogue to Dragon Age Inquisition.
#dragon age inquisition#meta#concept art#original story direction#inquisitor#what could have been#arl teagen#teagen#ban teagen#trespasser
125 notes
·
View notes
Text
MIRACULOUS LADYBUG LONDON SPECIAL SPOILERS!
Basically, my main thoughts on it. I have a LOT of thoughts about it, but I’m gonna just try to air out the most important and relevant ones for right now.
ok I actually rambled for a while, so beware, this post is really long.
1. It is VERY obvious how hard they are trying to justify why these things happened and why they’re actually good. Like why Gabriel was actually a good person and “finally a good father” when he made the wish (going so far to even say that Marinette should’ve made the wish, and that would’ve been heroic. Despite them saying MULTIPLE times in MULTIPLE episodes, making it CRYSTAL CLEAR to everyone watching, that even if you make a wish for a good cause, you’re not doing the right thing because you should continue to live life and make changes with your own strength, not with a magical wish). First of all, stop acting like Gabriel had anything to lose, he didn’t. He was seconds away from dying anyways, AND If he died, he’d be with his Emilie which is what he wanted anyways. Gabriel got the best case scenario. Now, he’s got everything he wants, he doesn’t have to take care of his son Adrien, he doesn’t have to live in a crazy world anymore, and he doesn’t have to own up for his actions! Him making a last minute decision to save Nathalie doesn’t make up for that. I am glad he made that decision though since it IS in line with his character. He DID… sorta… still care about Nathalie. At least a little bit.
They also try to justify why Chat Noir wasn’t in the finale. Which, I know it makes sense for the plot, but I don’t care about the plot THAT MUCH to absolutely SIDELINE a main character, removing them from the finale that has been holding suspense for like, 9 years. And I KNOW Miraculous doesn’t care about the plot that much either, cause they’ve messed up the plot multiple times for much less things.
And, of course, they go OVERTIME trying to justify Ladybug’s lying to the world. I mean, OVERTIME OVERTIME. It’s terrible. It’s so hard to watch. WE all know it’s wrong, anyone who’s old enough knows how terrible of an idea this is, not only because lying is wrong, you can just tell lying about this will have dire consequences. And since everyone just HATES seeing their hero protagonist lie so horribly, instead of just making their hero protagonist… yknow, NOT LIE, they have to bend over backwards to justify it. And the justifications are terrible too, like THEY even know it’s a terrible idea but they just go with it cause it’s Marinette and what are they gonna do, stop Marinette? There’s a reason Marinette doesn’t tell Alya and it’s because Alya would make sure EVERYONE knows. Not because she can’t keep a secret, but because she absolutely wouldn’t stand for that.
2.
That leads me in to talking about how this is for sure not for kids, not in a way that like there’s bad stuff in it and it’s not rated for kids. No, it’s like still good and everything, but I just feel like kids were not the target audience here for once. I mean, disclaimer, as someone who is not 8 years old anymore, I don’t know! Kids might like it! But from what I know about videos that are trying to cater towards kids, this doesn’t feel like that. 1. The lying message they’re telling to kids is HORRIBLE. I mean, the lying message wasn’t great before, but I gave it a pass cause yknow superheroes with secret identities. But this is SO much worse. Like it’s one thing to have a lie be told but not really bring it up again. This is not that. They bring up the lie Ladybug told through the WHOLE thing, it was like the backbone, moral of the story type stuff. And when they bring it up, you can TELL that it’s wrong like everything SCREAMS that this is not what Marinette should’ve done, AND THE NEXT SENTENCE IS THEM JUSTIFYING IT. I kid you not. It’s utterly horrendous. The whole segment where she’s talking about it with Nathalie: I for sure thought Ladybug was going into her villain arc. Yknow when villains do something wrong and they gaslight themselves into believing it was the right thing to do so it leads them to becoming worse? That’s exactly what Ladybug did to herself in that scene and it wasn’t even sugarcoated!! But they still tried to justify it! 2. I don’t think this special was targeted at kids because it was boring. Like, it wasn’t boring for me, but you can tell this special was made more so to explain rather than entertain. And if you’re a kid who doesn’t care about this stuff, there’s like two scenes I can think about that would be either funny scene or cool-action scene, and the rest of the special is depressive exposition. Yeah, now that I’m thinking back on it, like most of the special is just sad-times and explaining things. I’d say this whole special’s target audience was longtime watchers for sure. I’m pretty sure this special was made to explain things to longtime watchers for season 6. And that leads me to my next thing.
3.
Despite how TERRIBLE I think things are going right now, I do believe this is a very nice segway into season 6. Even though I don’t agree with how season 5 ended (from Gabriel making the wish, to Chat Noir not being in the finale, to Ladybug lying to the world), this special does a very nice job making all of those mistakes make sense in the world and to the plot, so I give the writers kudos for that very hard job.
I do feel it’s odd that so much lore was packed into a movie special when before, the movie specials were kinda just spin-off extra things. Like the TV series could still be understood without watching the specials, but now I don’t think that’s the case. I mean, we’ll have to see once s6 comes out, but I find it very hard to believe that S6 will be easy to understand without watching this special. Like I do think it’s odd that a movie special has this much lore in it, but I completely and totally understand why. I, for one, needed that 40 minutes to explain to me what the heck happened after the s5 finale cause I was so confused. I’m much less confused now, and I did like all the exposition it gave.
I also think it was very cool how the very last part of the special was in the new animation style. I think this special did a good job being a segway between s5 and s6 if nothing else.
4.
Ok and this isn’t really as big as the other things I’ve talked about, but LILA (or whatever her name is) WEARS THE BUTTERFLY MIRACULOUS UPSIDE DOWN?? Maybe I’m thinking something like that is so cool cause I have such low expectations for Miraculous, BUT I THINK IT’S COOL AND I WANNA MENTION IT.
that’s all goodbye
#miraculous ladybug#mlb#miraculous london#miraculous london spoilers#mlb london#mlb london special#I can’t remember which tags to use for spoilers I hope this is good enough#ack#text post
9 notes
·
View notes
Text
Exploring The Elements (Via Comparison)
This post is about how I came up with my version of the Four Elements. My variations are not exactly unique, but there are some key departures from traditional depictions that I think make my system stand out. If it’s not obvious, this is entirely my UPG.
Context: While the elements are the backbone of my witchcraft practice and are absolutely part of my spells, I view each element as more than just a tool or an energy, but as a category. For me, each element has its own lessons, its own mysteries, its own aspects and its own path for a practitioner to walk down. That being said, I think they're absolutely categories you can play with. I took the elements and made them more sacred than sorcerous; you may want to make them more secular than spiritual. That's totally your call!
For starters, I mentioned in this post that I prefer to work with the elements as they appear in my life. When I began my practice, I meditated on each element and followed the threads that it reminded me of.
To take Wind as an example, I thought of letters, weather vanes and feathers. From that I could extrapolate correspondences of communication, ideas, omens, change, exchange, favors, levity and freedom.
That's a LOT from three objects.
From there, I applied the correspondences to my life- where did I see omens, experience exchange and communication, feel free? Pretty quickly, Wind's domain became the internet, as well as academic study, games, and travel.
Once I had done this- and mind you, I didn't sit down and write out every element one by one, it was a more organic process- I wanted to find the intricacies of the system. Some of the elements seemed to overlap- Earth and Water, for instance. I wanted to know what separated them, made each its own path.
That's where comparative groupings showed up. Dividing my four elements into two sets of two as many ways as I could was a pretty useful way to figure out what they were and what they weren't. These categories are fairly arbitrary, but they help me understand the connections between the elements and solidify their meanings. You can see how this is done with the traditional four Elements, with "passive" and "active," "feminine" and "masculine," and all of that. There are three axis that I measure them through; Hearth vs. Flux, Aspirational vs. Foundational, and Energetic vs. Organic.
The Hearth elements (Fire and Earth) are physical. Their domain is the solid and mundane. They’re called “Hearth” because their properties are more familiar to us, being steady and predictable. The Flux elements, by comparison (Water and Wind) are shifting and metaphysical. They have influence over things that only exist in our minds- our thoughts, ideas, magic. They also fluctuate, hence the name.
The Aspirational elements (Wind and Earth) have goals that are either endless- they can never be truly achieved- or which I gravitate towards in good times. When I’m doing well, I focus on these things, which encourage growth, progress and self-expression. They concern the external world, beyond an individual person. The Foundational elements (Water and Fire) meanwhile, are more about maintenance and healing. In bad times, I come to these elements for renewal and comfort. They focus on the internal, the self, the- well, foundational. These are paths that set habits and routines.
The Energetic elements (Wind and Fire) are more energy than spirit. They tend to be simpler, more linear, more man-made and more morally neutral. They’re more sorcery than spirituality, if that makes sense. Organic elements (Earth and Water), by contrast, are more spirit than energy. They’re complex. They like cycles and feelings and spiritual development. They like dealing with people rather than products. (I have a whole UPG around energy and spirit- long story short, I see spirit as condensed energy and energy as unfocused spirit- but that's another story.)
So, reading through that, you can probably already glean a lot of my elemental associations. That's how it's supposed to work- through these three comparative lenses, you can triangulate my correspondences in a really satisfying way.
For instance, you now know that Water is a Flux element- changing, metaphysical, mind-focused- a Foundational element- self-focused, healing and internal- and Organic- specializing in spirituality, cycles and feelings. The sentence writes itself- Water is about a person’s relationship to themselves and their internal feelings, the cycles of healing and development, and spiritual wisdom.
Additionally, that tells you how I might use Water in a spell! Personally, I almost never use only one element- it's much more potent to blend them. In my practice, Water will be present in both a cleansing and an emotional healing spell- but in the former, I'd combine it with Wind (the Flux Elements like movement and shifting things around), while in the latter I would add more Fire (because the Foundational Elements are eternal sources of renewal and self-love).
This has been a long post, so if you made it all the way through, thanks! I may make more posts outlining my specific, in-depth profiles for each of the elements, for my own record as much as anything else. Keep in mind these will be entirely based on my UPG and highly personal to my craft.
PLEASE, please please please add your own UPG around the elements to this post- or tag me in your own- I would really love to see what other people make of these four!
#cheshi muses#witchcraft#witchblr#the elements#elemental witch#elemental witchcraft#the four elements#four elements#UPG#unverified personal gnosis
16 notes
·
View notes
Text
the concept of theft was invented by people who wanted to accuse others of doing it while getting away with the very thing they themselves created the concept of, at a much larger scale. basically i think the concept of ownership is inherently unjust and should be abolished. when people say "under communism we all have to share one toothbrush" as a joke i mean it for real. property is a scam. most egregious, with the obvious exceptions of slavery and other claimed ownership of literal people, is the concept of intellectual property. how can you own an idea, a style, a way of thinking, a piece of information. because you created it? discovered it? what an awful way to think. mathematicians and speedrunners have the right idea. and people who make anime girl pixel bases and say "no credit needed just have fun!", they are the moral backbone of our society and we will not survive without them. when something is released upon this world, tangible or cerebral, permanent or ephemeral, it becomes part of the world. the world that doesn't "belong" to anyone. and then people have the audacity to turn around and say that it can be stolen? the only real theft is the kind that bars other people from that resource. obviously i was being cheeky about the toothbrush-sharing, it's really a matter of convenience that we each have our own individual copies of some items. but the powers that be have convinced us that theft is when you take someone's designated toothbrush. when the real theft is whoever put the "thief" in a position that they could not access a toothbrush without revoking access to someone else. this myth of scarcity that keeps us at each others' throats while the rich make off with their hoards and order their orderlies to throw everything they can't keep all to themselves in a landfill. they want to kill us all. they want everyone who isn't one of their own to die and they're not even pretending to hide it anymore. sickening. it's sickening is what it is.
9 notes
·
View notes
Note
I don't think it was just a concept for skz I think they really believed everything they've said when they were fighting against the industry, however things have changed. They are one of biggest kpop groups now and I think they have this certain greed. I felt that with bts too when they really blew up, or taylor swift, she is already a really big worldwide known artist yet she wants to break all the records even if it means losing quality of her music and not letting other smaller artists shine. I feel like something similar is happing with skz, they are at this point in their career where they can achieve huge things, so they don't really care about anything else. After met gala they said several times that they are proud to be the first group to attend, even though it was with tommy hilfiger, they were happy to collaborate with a western artist, even though it was charlie puth, they are happy about marvel, etc. I think they are happy to do all the "cool stuff" and just don't care if it means associating with problematic people. It is dissopointing that they've become the thing they fought against and instead of using their influence for good they are using it to promote zionists brands
truly i just brought up the concept thing because all of it, all of they essentially wrote about and talked about in their music becomes meaningless when you know they are not taking a stance right now and literally not having a backbone it sucks truly. obviously idk what is like to be the biggest artist but i imagine some artists just want more and more and don't want it to stop and don't really think through about what they are doing and it doesn't help that they are in an industry that enables everything and everyone so they must think it's okay and just throw whatever morals they have to the side and idk if it's the case here but i mean... i think it's fair to question that. and btw, i know zionism is heavily entrenched in this industry it has truly been in every corner for years and nobody has put a stop to it because so many of these people in power are zionists so it's truly hard to fight against it but it doesn't mean you shouldn't fight you SHOULD. and i know they might not know it about it in depth hell even i wasn't well versed on it that much months ago and now i'm making my life's mission to stop it but i would genuinely hope they listened to their fans and would try to slowly distance themselves from zionists and try to understand but it has been so insanely disappointing that after lmb it has become worse and it's so blatantly obvious that some of these zionists in the music industry aren't being that accepted in the west anymore so they are migrating to the kpop industry and these companies just let them because they only gaf about western validation nowadays so they just let anyone in without a care in the world and it's just crazy to me. i don't know what will happen next my expectations are very low but obviously, as someone who has stanned them for years, i have a little hope reserved because i am not the type of person to assume the worst obviously it has been really hard but you know unless they give a clear i don't gaf about anything you people say then i'm out but are so much shit left unsaid and shit we don't know that might be happening behind the scenes that just make you question everything. to me it's all very mind boggling at the moment. but yeah, when these artists start to get big and the money starts to come in it's like everything they were previously is gone and they seem out touch and all of that and seeing that in real time is crazy i don't even if that's the case here but ahm yeah i really hope it isn't
#truly i just feel torn and confused most of the time#i've stanned these groups for years but it does seem like#maybe idk shit and maybe i was deceived and that is the worst part of all#to experience as a fan#obviously i don't think too much abt these things bc there's other important shit to care about#but yeah it's..... something#i hope this made sense it's getting late and i feel like my brain is turning into mush kdfjgfk#asks#anon
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
The long-ass Thomas Barrow post that needs to stop living in my brain
Part 4: The Aftermath
*continued*
Instead -
No off-screen development is implied at all: it’s like in the three actual years between the series final and the film (and however long it was supposed to be plot-wise), Thomas ceased to exist.
And he doesn't get to come back, not entirely.
A lot – of both posts and fics – have been written about how illogical and rude Lady Mary's decision to bring Carson back was. It has also been pointed out she might genuinely feel more comfortable with a more experienced butler, – which might actually make sense: *if* the Royal visit happened, like, a week after Lady Edith’s wedding; if the Crawleys hadn't had a chance to experience at least one grand event where Thomas had been at the helm, yet all the silver had been properly polished, and – I don't believe there actually were any other allegations against him?
Of course, narratively speaking, it's obvious Thomas gets caught in (or, rather, out of) the vicious circle of “we need Thomas out of the house so that he can go on a romantic adventure of his own, so Thomas gets to have a romantic adventure of his own so that he is out of the house and Carson can come back”.
But the way things unfold from that point makes very little sense.
*******************************************************
I won't argue that proudly stepping down and letting Carson handle the mess was the right thing to do: up to the point where Carson admitted he wasn't faring much better – and where Thomas should have seized the opportunity to come back and rub it in everybody's faces that *he* had things under control, thank you very much.
It's also painfully obvious that vengeful scheming is 100% Thomas’ thing – and most certainly not Anna’s: who, if anything, should be talking him down from a borderline criminal offense to something gentler and funnier, thus showing that in the last [however long it’s been] Thomas’ colleagues have learned to both accept and manage his mean streak.
Instead, we see the entire moral backbone of Downton staff cheerfully poisoning people who are just trying to do their job – with Thomas’ participation limited to bringing in Richard.
Whose presence in the plot makes even less sense.
**************************************************************
To begin with, if the king’s valet was supposed to be on leave and not meant to attend on the king, there was no need for him to come to Downtown in the first place.
Then, just like with Jimmy, we don't get to find out what Thomas sees in Richard, beyond his willingness to get his colleagues into trouble for a slim chance to get laid. Which is, apparently, not impressive enough, since Thomas ends up leaving with the first man to give him the same offer. After which it's doubly unclear why Richard would want to risk his own career for a guy who doesn’t seem all that interested; and who, to the extent of Richard's knowledge, is just a petty little troublemaker with no respect for his own job and the royal family.
As it is, Richard should be asking himself if Thomas’ willingness to kiss him back was born from anything but gratitude; and Thomas should *not* be kissing back, properly terrified out of doing anything even slightly illegal for the next 2 months.
*****************************************************************
So, wouldn't it be better if Richard were the one Thomas met at the club? They would barely manage to get away from the police, and, too scared to do anything “unlawful” that night, would end up walking around the city for hours, talking and getting to know each other
Fine, that looks more like a fanfic than a flashback. Let’s say,
Thomas and Richard meet in a club, spend a passionate night together, and Thomas feels there might be something, but of course they'll probably never see each other again, because since when does he get to have nice things?
Then there is the royal visit, and Richard suddenly shows up as part of the royal entourage.
Carson is in charge – after a polite reminder that he was supposed to be overseeing the major events, – and is dealing with all the rules, regulations and pointless demands. Therefore, it falls to Thomas to keep the Downton staff happy, and he gets to be all angsty because, on the one hand, he knows he has to prove himself by inventing some kind of a scheme to get rid of the royal stuff, but on the other hand, he doesn't want to let Richard down. Eventually the others find out and somehow help Thomas to “have the cake and eat it too”.
Although, what does it matter, if Richard too doesn't last?
#ranting#the long ass thomas post that needs to stop living in my brain#fanfiction#not really a fic#downton abbey#downton abbey 2019#thomas barrow#richard ellis
1 note
·
View note
Note
Ask gaaaaame Desire failure fear for aeryn
wowie this is so many okay
What’s one thing your oc wants more than anything in the world?
To be good and feel good at the same time. Hedonist with a praise kink fr. Unfortunately it’s… pretty impossible for him to get both as a Bhaalspawn. It’s partially why he’s so easy to manipulate by uh. cough. awful people. you can convince him to do any amount of heinous shit if you can convince him it’s moral. and tell him he’s a good boy after :)
Are they open with that desire? Why or why not?
uhhh definitely Not, i don’t think he even consciously acknowledges it. I think he thinks his greatest desire is to be loved. or normal. or dead. probably dead.
What would they do to fulfil it?
As I said, pretty much anything, except things he deems immoral (that Gortash didn’t deem necessary to convince him wasn’t. For example, he never bothered trying to convince Aeryn that slavery was okay, because he knew it would be both really difficult, and ultimately unnecessary; Aeryn’s repugnance for it never stopped him from always coming back.)
What’s your oc’s greatest failure? Have they been able to move past it?
Answering these two in the same paragraph because “move past it” implies that it was One Event, which isn’t true in his case. Aeryn’s biggest failure is his consistent inability to grow a backbone.
And it eventually kills him, so… yeah he never moves past it :/
Does anyone else know about it?
I’d say it’s fairly obvious to anyone who spends significant time with him. Gortash, Bhaal, Orin, and Sceleritas, for sure. Minthara, maybe Shadowheart. I think the other companions are either not perceptive enough, or too wrapped up in their own shit (said with love)
What is your oc’s greatest fear?
I can’t believe i haven’t thought about this, I have no idea. I guess if we were thinking existential, the idea that his life has all been for nothing. I guess just being a failure in general. He’s really not very ambitious, especially not in comparison to uhhhhh Certain People, but he at least wants to have made a positive impact on the people around him.
What do they do when confronted with it?
He’s been battling it constantly, he never makes good decisions. Not a single W for this freak. So i guess he’s developed something of a thick skin to it. I think his fear response is to puff himself up and act all arrogant and laugh in the face of horror, and then break down when the pressure becomes unbearable or after when he’s had time to process.
Are they open with that fear, or do they hide it away?
I don’t think he makes a conscious effort to hide it, but, again, you really couldn’t tell at first glance considering how often he fails/loses.
i gotta be honest i don’t think i’ve answered these fear questions right at all but. we move. i can’t think of anything better :/
6 notes
·
View notes
Note
I want to preface this with I love Gunn's work with the guardians a lot. I know he's been the best for them in the mcu. I do believe he put a lot of love in vol 3. That said I have seen a lot of people blaming the Russo Brothers choices in IW for any messy parts of vol 3 and the thing is James Gunn wasn't helpless. He was a producer on IW/EG. He's talked about how he had to sign off on what happened and he's said that he did so because it served the story they were telling. This isn't me saying he's a bad guy or that he's never made good choices for Gamora. This is me saying that there were too many people who looked at Gamora's story as an abuse survivor and decided to prioritize her abuser and making him sympathetic. Gamora died all alone at the hands of her abuser while the spirit of a Nazi watched everything. None of that was necessary. There were other ways to make Thanos sympathetic. Or better idea is to not try to make an abusive genocidal maniac sympathetic
I do believe Gunn didn't love the choice and there probably was a lot of professional courtesy involved where he didn't want to knock what they wanted to do. But that still doesn't change that there are way too often biases in whose stories get priority and whose don't. I think women continue to be the ones most likely to lose out. There was no way that Steve Rogers or Thor for example were having their story end like Gamora's. especially not without any sort of intense emotional follow up. I don't think Gunn would have been keen on Rocket dying the way Gamora did either. Can't imagine Peter ending his time with guardians barely knowing who they were in a story he helped build. None of this means Gunn hasn't predominantly done amazingly well with gotg. It's just an example of how it often takes more effort and mindfulness to see the bigger picture of choices that get made for some characters.
The other issue is that there is an entire documentary on Disney about women in the mcu and Gamora is featured. The whole episode about her credits her for being essential to the guardians team and how she's the moral backbone. It also talks about how special her relationship with Nebula is. I loved the documentary but it made it even more obvious how awful killing her off was. She is the guardians. What she stood for, what she wanted out of life, what she wanted for herself, all of it embodies being a guardian and as much as I like vol 3 and love Rocket getting his time to shine, Gamora was the absolute last character who should have ended the trilogy only just beginning to have a new attachment to all of that. The very fact that there are people now arguing about if she has the right to be a guardian anymore goes to show what's depicted on screen matters.
gunn definitely isn't blameless, for sure; he signed off on it, and if his recent interviews are to be believed, actually had a plan to kill gamora off in vol 2 originally. (though part of me is like... that death for her would've been better than the one we ended up getting, because at least she would've gone out fighting of her own volition, and not murdered by her abuser with all her agency taken away, but that's a conversation for another day. still stupid af and why did she have to die at all, but... god lol, the bar is on the ground for anything being better than "murdered by her own abuser and thrown off the fucking fridge cliff.")
i think the issue here is we have a bunch of cishet white male creators, gunn included, who get this idea of, like, "oh this would be cool in the story," and don't have a good handle on their own internalized misogyny; this story would've never happened to peter, and it would've never happened to rocket, but.... sighs.
i love gunn's work, and he's gotten better over time (i really recommend peacemaker, especially, that show is really indicative of how much he's grown as a creator), but, yeah. it's not 100% the fault of markus and mcfeely/the russos, with gunn totally blameless.
3 notes
·
View notes
Note
1, 2 and 17 for DC? ^^
Thank you so much for the ask! I love doing these :3
What originally drew me to it?
Well as a kid I watched the Batman animated series from 2004 religiously, and my mom was also a huge Batman fan in her day so it felt only natural that i'd be exposed to and love a bunch of Batman media! That was my backbone for it, but then after my intense weeb phase I was redrawn into the Batman fandom by I think a Jason Todd fan edit? I'm not quite sure but Jason's story was what drew me back in.
2. What I like most and least about it?
oh, haha.... so much
I like DC over Marvel in particular because I feel that Marvel doesn't have that human connection that DC can foster so easily. DC characters feel warmer, and more human (even though Marvel has more actual humans in it). I like how certain authors can tell such compelling stories in these universes, the endless possibilities, the loving interactions between iconic characters, the lorebuilding, all of it is amazing!
But as for dislikes... too many cooks in the kitchen. WAY too many. Anyone who wants to start reading the comics is going to have to fight demons for any sort of coherent storyline. Manga is currently wildly overtaking comic books in the graphic novel market and for good reason! You want to read Naruto? Start at chapter 1! You want to read Superman? Well there's the 1976 line and the Superman Returns line after world 3 which is- you get what I mean? It's very hard to get into. Also, at this point, DC authors need to just write fanfiction. It's so annoying to rehash the basic same storyline over and over again in different fonts and colors. Earth 3, 4, 5, 6 and fucking 1,000,000 with their slightly different worlds with slightly different Batmans. Everything is too cluttered and there is too much of everything. Not to mention they're still letting the same ol bigoted authors (including a literal former FBI agent??) write comics. Enough is enough bro!!
And then my pet peeve for Batman in particular is the recent 'dark' path he's taken. No Batman author knows why or what Batman is or does. They make him brutally, horrifically violent. They make him cold and uncaring. They make him hate his kids. They make him a real womanizer instead of a pretend one. Batman isn't a hero who took to the streets of Gotham to protect little kids from the trauma he went through as a kid, now he's just an over glorified abusive cop. Batman is supposed to be a father. A good friend. A comforting hand in the darkness of life. Balancing his persona, his stony face, and his loving nature is the entire appeal of Batman.
17. The line of dialogue I quote most often
haha, i'm sure this is obvious considering I rant and rave about it every other day but
"You somehow found a way to win... where everyone still loses!" - The Joker, Batman: Under the Red Hood (right after Batman kills Jason)
It's just such a good quote that encapsulates the entirety of the past 30 years of Batman and the whole Jason Todd morality thing, fuck! Judd Winick knows how to kill 'em. Literally.
2 notes
·
View notes
Note
Amphibia and The Owl House for the ask! also hope your stomach gets better :(
Yippee my shows!! Also yeah I feel better now I just had to lie down for a while and drink a lot of water 👍
For TOH:
The first character I first fell in love with: ooh that's a toughie! I binged the first season right before s2 started airing so my memories are fuzzy. Maybe...Lilith or Willow? Luz hadn't quite cemented herself as my fav until season 2 and subsequent rewatches
The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: probably Amity? I went into season 1 knowing she had a redemption but when I saw her in her first appearance it was on SIGHT. I really warmed up to her though over the course of the show, and now I enjoy her a lot! I'm proud of how far she's come. Also probably Caleb bc we knew so little about him at first that I didn't see how he could become a fan favorite for anyone. Then Hollow Mind happened and. You get it. OH WAIT LAST ANSWER FOR THIS- Camila! Not because I ever thought she was a bad mom but because I didn't think they'd give a parent character so much depth. I love what they did with her in seasons 2 and 3 so much
The character everyone else loves that I don’t: uhh maybe Belos?? In certain circles at least. Interesting guy but I don't have much fondness/affection for him, y'know? Or Alador. He's aight but clouds on the horizon made him a bit...flat, for me. Also this is less of a thing now but not too long ago BOSCHA oh my god. Ppl acting like the show not spending time on her was a failure like. Okay! Sure! Let's just say things now, ig! I much prefer what they did with her in ftf. It's not redemption exactly but it's acknowledgment that she's just a kid. A shitty kid but still
The character I love that everyone else hates: KIKIMORA MAN. I know I know I'm also mad they spent all of follies at the coven day parade building her up as potentially sympathetic only to steer away from that route again and again as if they changed their mind BUT. I fucking love this horrible fail creature. No backbone, no morals, no prospects, no bitches. Beefing with teenagers and exiled from her family home and place of business. Pathetic. Get her ass!!!
The character I used to love but don’t any longer: oh that's a complicated one. I know I also said she grew on me unexpectedly but the answer to this one might also be Amity. Not in the sense that I stopped liking her, but in the sense that other characters caught my attention more as time went on. Rip to Amity, still love u. I am just a Willow and Luz girlie
The character I would totally smooch: most of the women I am being real with you this show is overflowing with cute character designs
The character I’d want to be like: honestly? Eda. Yeah she's got problems and she's not the ideal mentor you'd expect but she's just such a cool confident older woman who doesn't let ppl control her life
The character I’d slap: I'd say Belos but that'd be too obvious (and rewarding). Instead imma say Boscha. This is not the right way to deal with highschool bullies but I do not care. This isn't about her. This is about me. And I wanna slap her just a wee bit. It's fine I'm not that much older than her I'm allowed to
A pairing that I love: sigh. Hubtlow
A pairing that I despise: b*schlow. Bully/victim ships I hate thee. Loathe thee, even. Also I definitely don't despise it but can I please stop getting l*nter jump scared. I don't go there let me out. Stop putting it on my feed
NOW FOR THE FROG SHOW AHAHA!!!
The first character I first fell in love with: unsure tbh! Maybe Polly but I know she definitely wasn't as violent/funny at the beginning of the series. Probably Anne or (depending on how fast I binged, I cannot remember) maybe Sasha
The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Anne or Sasha I think! Both start off as like. Semi-unlikeable characters (Sasha more so than Anne), which I appreciate now in retrospect, but at the time I couldn't picture myself getting as invested in them as I got. Also. How would you guys feel if I said andrias (I DIDN'T WANNA LIKE HIM. EVEN WHEN HE WAS BEING A JOLLY GOOFBALL I KNEW THE OTHER SHOE HAD TO DROP AND I WAS PREPARED TO HATE HIM. AND THEN THEY INTRODUCED DARCY AND GAVE US THIS NEW DYNAMIC AND CONTEXT AND JUST. MAN!!!)
The character everyone else loves that I don’t: okay, it's not that I don't love her, but Marcy is definitely my least fav in the calamity trio. Again, not because I dislike her, I just like Anne and Sasha a lot more, y'know?
The character I love that everyone else hates: tbh I'm not in the fandom enough to know who is and isn't hated. Was Sasha ever hated? Maybe by some but idk
The character I used to love but don’t any longer: don't think this one really applies to anyone in amphibia? A weird one that kinda matches is I used to think valeriana was like. Mysterious and cool and then they didn't do much with her after the second temple and I was like. She's just kinda there now, huh?
The character I would totally smooch: IDK MAN THE SHOW IS 90% FROGS AND PRETEENS!!!! I AM NOT KISSING THEIR ASSES THEY ARE SLIMY (THE PRETEENS INCLUDED!)
The character I’d want to be like: again, 90% of them are frogs or preteens. Maybe Anne? I like how far she's come and how far she's still willing to go at the end, turning down ultimate power in the name of keeping the world safe and staying with the people she loves. Also I want cool anime powers /j
The character I’d slap: Sasha but only if it was s1-s2 Sasha bc I love her and I feel like she needs it. Girl. Get a grip
A pairing that I love: hehehe sashanne <3
A pairing that I despise: DON'T SHIP THE HUMAN GIRLS WITH FROGS. THAT FEELS LIKE THE EASIEST THING MAN!!!
#ramblings of a lunatic#asks#I'm sorry this took so long <3 like i said stomach ache#these answer's are long but also coming up with them was so hard in some places??? idk
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Hello! So I have been thinking about your post a lot (please excuse the word vomit below and feel free to only reply if you want & only to the parts that interest you, sorry I realise this is excessively long).
In answer to your questions it would be possible for James to do something that would cause Sirius to cut him out of his life or at least create significant distance between them, but, if we are keeping them as the best friend through Hogwarts as they were in canon, i believe it would have to be something very very drastic. And even then (maybe its my Prongsfoot shipper heart) but I can’t necessarily see an in-character Sirius hating James entirely with no love for him left at all (and this works the other way too, in character James completely hating and giving up on Sirius doesn’t really work for me either) (and honestly as a Prongsfoot shipper I probably wouldn’t enjoy a scenario like that anyway – I don’t want them to actually hate each other ☹.)
I think it is so difficult to put that much of a wedge between them and keep them in character, firstly because they are so important to each other and were formative to each other’s growth and development and they seemingly never tired of that or grew apart in any way even through the war (when Remus seemingly did), so that is a SOLID friendship they have right there. And secondly, and maybe even more importantly, they (at least in my view) see the best in each other. Sirius sees James truly, he sees his flaws and if James was to do something horrible/unforgivable, I think Sirius would still try his damn-est to work out and understand the reason why James did it. And same with James.
An idea I think could work is James doing something that goes so against Sirius’s morals to save or protect Sirius that Sirius cannot bring himself to forgive him (or at least for a long time). (I know I am in the minority here, but I’ve always felt that Sirius although he can be flippant and carelessly cruel, he has a very very strong moral backbone that is not at all dependent on his relationship with James). And when I say James doing something morally reprehensible, I’m talking really really bad, like killing someone in cold blood because they are a potential threat to Sirius even when Sirius felt he the situation under control (perhaps even killing Regulus not realising he has come to Sirius for help or something). Or relinquishing power, information, something else etc to Voldemort in order to save or protect Sirius and that being the turning point of the war or the reason Voldemort gains a lot more power/topples the ministry, that sort of thing.
As to your other point on whump/pining Sirius and its prevalence in Prongsfoot, I did have a few thoughts on that too. I have seen a recent few criticisms like yours on the Friends to Lovers Obvious x Pining trope both for Prongsfoot and for my newest fandom (Bridgerton and Polin which is another friends to lovers ship) and as its probably my favourite trope of all time so I thought I might jump in here and add my perspective on it. Of course, I totally get it if you just do not vibe with it as a trope (everyone has trope/s they dislike and that’s completely valid), but I figured my thoughts might go some way to helping you (or someone else reading this) enjoy it a bit more so they can continue to enjoy the Prongsfoot works that use it; or it might not and that is totally fine as well 😊
To some degree I feel this trope gets a lot of hate due to a bit of a misunderstanding of the trope itself (not saying this is necessarily the case for you, but just as a point of argument to the posts I have seen).
This idea that trope has an obvious party who gets to have the time of their lives having kids and other marriages/relationships and is free and happy, while the pining party sits at home miserable, putting their life on hold and being pathetic / a punching bag is not how I typically see it playing out in media/ fic etc.
Usually the pining party, in this case Sirius comes to terms with how he feels, is still out there living his life, it's not ideal obviously and he still loves James and he might not have a successful dating life because he is hung up on James, but typically he is wildly successful in other parts of his life. He is not moping around (Sirius is far too pragmatic for that) and for the most part I wouldn’t really say he is waiting for James either (he has come to terms with feelings and his belief they won’t be returned but is just unable to get over James/unwilling to put the space between them that might help him get over him, which I think is an important distinction).
While the obvious party, in this case James, might seem like they have the better deal on the surface, James usually knows on some level (or at least feels) he is missing something fundamental. In Prongsfoot endgame universe, James might have the wife and the 1.5 kids and all the things he ever dreamt of, but he is frustrated with it, because it doesn’t feel as good as he thinks it should – It doesn’t’ feel right to him. James might not be pining outright, but at least in many of the pf stories of this trope I have read/written he is not having the time of his life because he is missing (or obvious to or downright suppressing) a very fundamental part of himself. Usually he is struggling with this missing piece and it's showing up in other ways (e.g. the breakdown of his marriage, being stuck in an unfulfilling job, being disenchanted by life, being stuck in the past or drowning it in poor coping habits (drinking etc) etc).
So I don’t necessarily think the trope is about one character suffering while the other character has the time of their life before and still gets the happily ever after romance at the end (I agree that that would be hugely unsatisfying). But the trope at its best is showing that they are BOTH suffering - but only one character knows why they are suffering, while the character just feels lost and unhappy but hasn’t realised the route cause of their unhappiness yet.
And that is also why the idea that James should suffer or grovel or be put in his place after realising his feelings always hits me the wrong way. For one, James has been suffering in a way all along, he just doesn’t know why. And secondly, if it’s friends to lovers story (and not like a dark fic or something), then generally James biggest crime is that he has been obvious and a bit stupid for not noticing his own feelings and how Sirius feels. Punishing James for mistaking one kind of love for another (platonic love for romantic/sexual love) and being obvious to the way Sirius feels (usually while Sirius is going to great lengths to hide his feelings) – makes me just feel sad. Why are those things James should be punished for? Why does James need to grovel for Sirius's forgiveness for not seeing something Sirius was actively hiding from him? And isn’t it punishment enough for James to realise he lost all this time he could have been in this amazing relationship with Sirius because he was ignorant of his own true feelings and obvious to Sirius’s? (and I feel the same way when Sirius is the obvious character and James is pining)
As for James just passing over Sirius to be with Lily, I really don't see it that way. Mostly (unless it’s a dark fic and usually marked as such) when James gets with Lily first, he doesn't know how Sirius feels about him because Sirius hides it well. And in that case, I don't think it really makes sense to say James is choosing Lily over Sirius because he (obvious as he is) probably doesn't even realise Sirius is an option. And also think it is made very clear even in canon that James having other relationships does not change the fact that Sirius is a top priority for him (we don't get a lot of details on life post-jily get together but what is in the books shows that Sirius is still very much of the upmost importance to James even after he gets together with Lily, James makes him best man, godfather, secret keeper, James is apparently pining for Sirius’s company while locked away in Godrics Hollow with his family (according to Lily’s letter to Sirius in DH)).
From a character standpoint, unless an author is taking a really dark stance of James's character for the purpose of producing a dark fic, I can't ever see James knowing Sirius is in love with him and rubbing that in his face as in character (not from the same guy who couldn't even stand to see Sirius bored for 0.5 seconds before launching into an unprovoked attack on snape to entertain him in the SWM flashback). While I can certainly see it getting messy, James leading Sirius on, like a friends with benefits situation where James thinks they are on the same page but they are not, or blurring of the lines where James isn't quite clued in enough on his own feelings, that type of thing. But I can’t see James knowing Sirius has feelings for him and then making Sirius stand beside him at the altar as he marries someone else – that is utterly cruel - and while James can be cruel and selfish at times, everything I understand about James’s character leads me to believe he would not do that to Sirius, his best friend in the entire world whether or not he shared Sirius’s romantic feelings.
As to why it is Sirius who is pining and not James, I think this mainly comes down to the following:
1. If James is obvious, Jily can still happen and Harry can exist, giving the fic the well-loved from the books godfather & godson Sirius & Harry relationship and Harry getting his parents back.
2. What we know of Sirius’s personality. In GOF and OOTP, Sirius shows himself to be intuitive and quite masterful at picking apart motivations of various characters, its not hard to imagine him turning that skill inwards and being able to understand his feelings for James for what they are in a fairly quick timeframe. (whereas we don’t have this information about James, but I usually like to HC him as someone a bit more obvious to his feelings and less introspective).
3. What we know of Sirius and James’s respective backgrounds / childhoods. Sirius’s childhood lends itself to Sirius having a rather unique blend of confidence/arrogance combined with a low self-worth and questions about whether he is worthy of love. Because of his family upbringing and the emotional scars it left, it makes sense (at least for me) for Sirius to determine quickly that James would never return his feelings or that he is not worthy of James’s love and taking (what he perceives to be) the self-preservation/ friendship-preservation route by choosing to never tell James how he feels. This can definitely work for James too, but it feels less easy given that James grew up in a unconditionally-loving home and therefore does not have the same emotional baggage.
Having said all that, I do very much love obvious Sirius x pining James stories and plan to write one of those in the near further, just to shake things up a bit.
Personally, I find this trope so satisfying because in my view it is ultimate wish fulfilment on both sides.
- on pining character’s side it's loving their favourite person in the world in all the ways possible, but giving up on (and making peace with) the fact the obvious character is never going to love them back in exactly the way they wish (and that being okay with that because their friendship together is fulfilling on its own), only for the obvious character to suddenly see them in all the ways the pining character has wished for after all that time and has the opportunity to morph their incredible friendship into everything the pining character has ever wanted.
- and on the obvious character’s side it's about feeling lost and unsatisfied and despairing even when they feel they have everything they should ever want, only to realise that this person who they have always adored but never realised in exactly what way, is that missing piece that makes them whole.
And idk I just find that so beautiful and heartwarming. And maybe it’s a personal preference thing, but I don't really think James or Sirius having previous loves or relationships negates the fact they find the perfect fit in each other after those other relationships run their course (as someone in their 30s now, finding love later in life and after other relationship becomes a more and more special and touching to me). And I don't think it cheapens the fact that after the story’s final page they get to spend the rest of their lives revelling in being with their perfect other half.
Kinda weird question to ask when most of the people I interact on Tumblr are prongsfoot shippers,,,
But what do you guys think James Potter can do Or what event can happen making Sirius really pissed off to the point of not wanting James in his life...
Like I love Prongsfoot too but seeing this guy practically worship James Potter both in canon and decent fanon stories too. It is like having eaten too much sweet. Now i want a bit of spiciness and saltiness....
You know those friends to enemies to lovers tropes. Where they were super close friends but then one of them did something and then everything was changed...( I am not talking about miscommunication tropes.... )))
We are all people who write or imagine stories and in fictional world anything is possible. So how can this happen due to situations. Without altering their key personalities and who they are as a person....
I mean there have to be some cases where dogs too loose their loyalties?
I am not talking about just distancing and loving them from afar. I am talking about hating their guts at most Or atleast like not wanting to do anything with them. Plain indifference is even worst....
To be honest always seeing too loyal Sirius ready to wait out for James has irked me somewhat in Prongsfoot fandom. Like we see Sirius talking too much about James in canon but the one scene we have of James and Sirius, Harry concludes within a second that James will do anything for Sirius, but in fictions it is always like Sirius was in love with James and James just gave up on that because he liked Lily more Or he had interanalized homophobia etc, at the end making it all about Sirius suffering ind finally getting James meanwhile James has fun with wife and kids who then becomes good friends with Lily after their divorce because nothing bad comes to golden boy Potter.
So l like the idea of Sirius taking the reigns of his life back in his hand. And doing some self loving after realising that he is no longer a priority in James's life after Lily and then James being like realising what he has lost after taking Sirius for grated for too long and groveling and all.
So ... I guess this is an open prompt/ request, if you guys could do any snippet or would like to talk more on this....🥺🥺🥺.... I mean there has to be someone in entire Hp fandom who has had enough of wump Sirius... Or is it just me..?
28 notes
·
View notes
Text
It’s not a Protestant work ethic
That other post is hella long, so I’ll make this a new one.
The reason some barriers to entry—but not insurmountable ones—are desirable is because they make people behave better.
Basically, when a space is completely open, whether in a literal technical sense or in a cultural sense, it means that it’s likely to be overwhelmed with new people who don’t understand the local ways at any moment. Youtube comments are not only full of assholes having wrong political opinions but also people who just fundamentally don’t understand the video they’re looking at. I’ll get people going “I don’t remember this clip from the show” about a fanvid.
Human communities do not thrive in a fishbowl.
Tumblr fandom is all out in public, pretty much, since the site doesn’t really have privacy controls. Yet using Tumblr is such a labyrinthine process of figuring out the social landscape that it chases off the less dedicated. As a consequence, Tumblr feels very different from other sites, and people who like this particular culture tend to stay here.
Even though we’re in public, we feel a certain sense of intimacy, like we have some idea what sorts of people are listening. It’s closer to hanging out with your classmates or people from a club than to standing on a stage.
When you make a space too easy to get into, it turns into an “educate the newbies” space 24/7 with no room left for people who want to do something else. Poorly-thought-out “maximum inclusiveness” ends up excluding a lot of people, and they’re often the people who form the backbone of a community. Such an easily-accessed space also often turns into a place for drive-by rudeness from people who don’t actually care about the topic at hand.
Complete openness is very bad, actually.
--
This is not saying “You should have to work harder because work is moral”. This is saying “You don’t have default access to me.”
If you want to join my community or be my friend, it takes at least a little work because that is how social things and reality function.
AO3 is somewhat opaque if you don’t know the kind of fandom it was built by. That wasn’t intentional. To us/them it looked like the default and obvious way to do things. But to make it far more “accessible” would be to tell its core audience it’s for clueless outsiders and not for them.
The problem with algorithms, aside from the fact that they’re currently used for corporate evil, is that they replace the social connections that normally allow one access to a subculture. Trying to automate social ties and offload them to technology does not work.
An algorithmically-driven experience of fandom is one where there are Content Creators and Audience.
AO3, oldschool fic fandom, and any subculture I would want to spend time in are places where many peers share with many peers.
925 notes
·
View notes