#ties him perfectly to another apathetic villain

[basil-thoth]

Page 19: told you you’d be fine

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Transcript under cut:

Panel 1: [Blank panel]

Gaster: Are you awake?

2-P: NNGH… WHAT HAPPENED? WHY CAN’T I SEE…?

Gaster: The magic overflowed into your other socket during the procedure.

Panel 2: [Flash back: 2-P is in the chair, his spine arched in presumably pain, while dazzling  green and yellow lights and energy pour from his eyesockets around and above his skull in an incredible display. Gaster watches from a few feet away, writing down notes on a clipboard.]

Gaster: It was a rather spectacular light show, actually.

2-P: D… DOES THAT MEAN-

Gaster: You are not blind, if that’s what you’re afraid of.

Panel 3: [2-P is sitting up in a bed, the covers around his waist, and bandages are wrapped tightly around his skull, covering his eyesockets.]

Gaster: You can’t see because of the bandages. It will probably take you a day or two for you to recover.

Panel 4: [Gaster sets down a blue mug on the nightstand next to the bed that is on 2-P’s left. He sits in a chair, his right leg crossed over the left, and is resting a clipboard there, possibly to take notes while monitoring 2-P’s recovery. 2-P faces the direction of Gaster’s voice.]

2-P: DOES… THAT MEAN I CAN STILL GLOW…?

Panel 5: [Gaster writes a few notes on the clipboard.]

Gaster: …Yes, it shouldn’t have affected that ability in any way.

Panel 6: [2-P tilts his head slightly.]

2-P: THEN… WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?

Panel 7: [Gaster looks down at his notes.]

Gaster: …When the bandages are off, and your eyes have healed…

Panel 8: [Gaster looks back up at 2-P.]

Gaster: you will see.

Panel 9: [2-P tilts his head again.]

2-P: SEE…? YOU MEAN, BECAUSE MY EYES WILL BE OPEN?

Panel 10: [Gaster stands up from the chair and extends his hand forward, using blue magic to levitate 2-P out of the bed. The clipboard is in his other hand.]

Gaster: In a sense. Come on.

Panel 11: [Gaster brings his hand in front of himself, using the blue magic to help steady 2-P to his feet.]

Gaster: If you’re awake, then you can go back to your cell, Subject 1 can keep an eye on you. I have to get back to work.

Panel 12: [Gaster summons a blue hand to carry the clipboard as he begins to guide 2-P back to the cell. 2-P blindly puts his hands forward, trying to feel his way along.]

2-P: UH… YOU AREN’T GOING TO CARRY ME? BECAUSE, I CAN’T REALLY SEE…

Gaster: … I’ve….

Panel 13: [Flash back: 2-P is unconscious and in the bed, his eyes yet to be bandaged. Gaster is sitting above him, a hand each placed on 2-P’s forehead and chest, both hands enveloped in bright green healing aura.]

Panel 14: [Flash back, continued: Gaster looks at his hands, as if his healing was not as effective as he’d expected it to be.]

Panel 15: [Gaster looks away, as if self-conscious. Not that 2-P could see it anyways.]

Gaster: expended a lot of magical energy lately. I’m tired. You can walk.

Panel 16: [Gaster looks back, only to realise 2-P is lagging behind. 2-P’s arms are still up.]

2-P: UM…

Panel 17: [Gaster instinctively reaches for 2-P’s outreached arm…]

Panel 18: [But instead draws away at the last second.]

Panel 19: [Gaster grabs 2-P’s wrist, and guides it to his sleeve, just above the elbow. 2-P looks mildly surprised but appreciative of the gesture.]

Gaster: Here. Hold onto m- this.

Panel 20: [Gaster guides 2-P through the hallways, though 2-P has moved his grip down to just above Gaster’s cuff. Gaster does not correct this.]

2-P: … CAN I ASK YOU SOMETHING?

Gaster: …

2-P: YOU SAID, BEFORE, THAT YOU WEREN’T GOING TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AGAIN. 

Gaster: Yes, and I did not. You will be able to see just fine.

2-P: BUT, THAT MEANS YOU HURT MY BROTHER BY MISTAKE, DOESN’T IT? THAT YOU DIDN’T MEAN TO?

Gaster: …Breaking his eye was not in my plans, no.

Panel 21: [Gaster continues leading 2-P]

2-P: SO… YOU DIDN’T WANT TO HURT HIM.

Gaster: …Subject 1 is too delicate to hurt carelessly.

Panel 22: [Still holding on to Gaster’s sleeve, 2-P presses a hand to his chest in relief.]

2-P: SO, DOES THAT MEAN YOU WON’T HURT US ANYMORE? OH, THAT’S SUCH A RELIEF! I KNEW-

Gaster: I will do

Panel 23: [Gaster turns abruptly, and 2-P shrinks back slightly.]

Gaster: what I have to.

Panel 24: [Gaster turns back ahead. 2-P is quiet.]

Gaster: …And what people need me to. If that requires hurting either of you, then so be it. I will see this through to the end.

Panel 25: [Gaster puts his head down just a bit.]

Gaster: It’s already too late to turn back.

Panel 26: [2-P looks up at Gaster, who has already continued walking.]

2-P: BUT… ISN’T THERE SOME OTHER WAY? MAYBE WE CAN HELP YOU… IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE LIKE THIS. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE LIKE THIS.

Panel 27: [Gaster suddenly pulls his arm away from 2-P, again thrusting him into guidelines blindness. Gaster seems almost defensive.]

Gaster: If you want to help me, you will be silent and obedient.

Panel 28: [2-P helplessly faces Gaster, his arms up once again up to make sure he won’t run into walls. Gaster just stares at him.}

Panel 29: [Gaster summons a blue hand and uses it to grab 2-P by the wrist before continuing to lead him on.]

Gaster: … I don’t have time for this.

Panel 30: [2-P looks up at Gaster, his hand still resting on his chest.]

2-P: DO YOU… HATE US?

Panel 31: [Gaster contemplates silently. In the back of his head, he holds a visual of a completely different outcome: One that involves giving the brothers actual clothes and names. One where he holds 1-S in his lap, and 2-P sits in front of them as they review notes. Notes that don’t involve hurting either of them.]

 Panel 32: [Gaster shakes the thought and looks forward.]

Gaster: …I don’t feel anything for you.

Panel 33: [Gaster continues leading 2-P along the corridors.]

2-P: …I’M GOING TO TELL MY BROTHER YOU DID IT BY ACCIDENT. I’M GOING TO TELL HIM YOU DIDN’T MEAN TO HURT HIM.

Panel 34: [Gaster pulls 2-P along less than gently, causing him to stumble for a moment.]

Gaster: …Tell him whatever you like. Come on. Panel 35: [Gaster refuses to speak anymore. 2-P moves looks back for a moment despite the bandages.]

[Previous] [Next]

Hey, Gaster was right, Papyrus is fine! For now, anyway.

One of the first times that Papyrus tries to reason with him but definitely not the last. He never stops trying to get through to him, no matter how hopeless it seems. This is also when Gaster begins to realize what’s happening to his ability to heal. So many chances to turn back, and yet…

[Index]

[human-enthusiast]

One Piece “isms” - #1

--Episode 2/ Chapters 3 + 4

Theme: Abusive Authority

Details: When Luffy and Coby dock in a town named Shells Town, they quickly learn about their troubles with authority. The mention of Roronoa Zoro and Marine Captain Morgan’s name expels fear in the citizens for some similar reasons. Later, after meeting the Pirate Hunter tied to a post, they learn about Morgan’s tyrant ruling over people. Specifically, those that openly defy his rules and authority, treating them like inhumane scum.

Characteristics:

1. Authoritarian Leadership - (Dictatorship quality)

2. Inferiority (Superiority) Complex

3. Obsession with “treacheries”, insubordination, or lack of power over even small matters.

4. Alignment: Lawful Evil

5. Unfair imprisonment - Zoro and the existence of a Crucifixion Yard.

Very early on in the series, we have, what I would describe as a mild introduction to certain conflicts the protagonists face. Now whether or not you ever watch movies or read books centered around pirates, it’s common sense to know they are enemies to the world’s government(s).

It’s not to say pirates don’t have their own form of government or authority -- any society or civilization has one that was structured around those who first joined-- but they separated themselves from the one governed by kings/queens/emperors/ or anyone who governs with written or traditional laws.

So, if being introduced to a character, who begins his journey as a pirate, we would expect his enemy to be the Marines right off the bat.

Not so unusual. Luffy has shown to have a gray morality or chaotic neutral personality, but this isn’t well defined until way later on. He does what he wants, with a mindset that says ‘consequences be damned’. That is pretty much his motto at this point. That being said, the opposite to what Luffy’s side of the story represents would be lawful and justice.

Captain Morgan is actually the first official Marine we see in the series. By that, I mean he’s the first one actually named and given a personality to judge on. Though technically, Helmeppo would be the first to be seen, but it’s his father whose been alluded to since they arrived. Right off the bat, they both show case the worst possible outcome of authorities: power trips, abusing the system, respect is demanded, and rules are absolute.

Both the anime and manga illustrate Morgan’s delusions of control and megalomaniac personality quite well, and how Helmeppo thrives in it by hand-me-down powers.

Something to note, I just started reading the manga, but I have watched the anime for a few years now (English dub), and I’m now just starting the Dressrosa arc. While the anime is good (not perfect) at adapting from the manga, there are more intriguing details to me that do better in narrating the story (at least with the first few chapters).

Here the manga shows tax exploitations:

Some are fairly easy to miss, but the walls and metal gate show signs of poor treatment, or degradation. The anime does something similar with the gate, having more advantage with coloring:

The door used to have what I believe was a darker green color. But now it’s rusted fairly much, even a little on the hinges, and the paint for the symbols looks a little faded. Now, this may just be a way to give texture to surfaces, which is initially true and what I thought when I first watched/read the series. However, the kicker we learn is a little ways after.

It’s explained that the people are under heavy taxation to the point that it depletes a living wage for everyone. Morgan refers to the people as peasants, so he’s clearly aware of their indigent state. It would explain a little about the state of everything and how he could’ve paid for the erected statue of himself.

The red-circled speech bubbles are especially important, and I think highlight Morgan’s character. It’s my favorite detail with him. I’m not saying I like the character all around; if I ever meet someone like this, I’d probably pull a Luffy and straight take a swing at their throat/junk (although I tend to think of the consequences, so I’d more likely take a legal/other direct action if need be).

No, it’s just...characters with this kind of mindset are fun to observe and explain.

There’s another character that is like a mirror image from this Marine: Azula from Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Both are high ranking members of their society, wealthy, completely power hungry, apathetic, and fear inducing to their subjects. There are plenty of complications with Azula, but it definitely shows in her first introduction and later on in Season 3 when she has a psychological break down.

Direct conversation from Season 2 Episode 1:

[Ship Captain]: “Princess, I’m afraid the tides will not allow us to bring the ship into port before nightfall.”

[Azula]: “I’m sorry, captain, but I do not know much about the tides. Can you explain something to me?”

[Captain]: “Of course, your highness.”

[Azula]: “Do the tides command this ship?”

[Captain]: “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

[Azula]: “You said the tides would not allow us to bring the ship in. Do the tides command this ship?”

[Captain]: “No, princess.”

[Azula]: “And if I were to have you thrown overboard, would the tides think twice about smashing you against the rocky shore?”

[Captain]: “No, princess.”

[Azula]: “Well, then maybe you should worry less about the tides, who have already made up their mind about killing you, and worry more about me, who’s still mulling it over.”

I included the exchange between her, the bat-shit crazy royal, and the captain, who has better acknowledgement of the forces of nature, because it’s fairly similar to the exchange between Morgan and the marine he’s talking to about the people’s wealth. The marine and captain regard their authority’s title, and probably have similar worries over their inability to reason maturely.

Any good villain can be vindictive, selfish, and have no regard for others (a lack of empathy), but the one underlining similarity is their negligence with reality. And in order to get like that, there is a deep obsession with control.

Azula wants to disregard nature, specifically ocean tides, rather than change her course and plan. This is a frightening aspect because of her complete ignorance on the mod of reality. She wants to maintain control of her ship, and she is very much willing to sacrifice the safety of others just to feel superior.

While Morgan also wants to keep an iron fist over the citizens. He has this more monetary greed, spending it more in lavish purposes for him and his son. He’s a little more aware of the fact that the people don’t have much money, but to him, it’s no excuse to pay the taxes in full. There’s absolutely no regard for other matters in reality, that including personal finance.

The obstacles or personal matters of those “below” him fly over his head. Because what he believes to be a level of respect is absolute obedience. I almost have no doubt that if Luffy and Coby never made it to Shells Town, it may undergone an actual dictatorship like life. When the people have seemingly ran out of money, an alternative subjection-- or showcase of loyalty--probably would have been enslavement and unpaid labor. Assuming that the money Morgan and Helmeppo spend remains on the island at a high fixation.

Maybe that’s too extreme and would also have economic downfall on the Marines as well, but I wouldn’t put it pass Morgan to come up with anymore extreme ideas.

One other similarity with Azula and Morgan is the insane notion of loyalty. This mental state is compromised more with Azula during the final episodes. At that point, she is given the responsibility of being Fire Lord, and with it, comes absolute hysterics and paranoia about maintaining control over everyone. The slightest missteps from her servants enacts a banishment for them, leaving less people to remain under her control. This may have also been a product of Mei and Ty Lee’s betrayal in the Boiling Rock Part 2 episode, completely warping her sense of trust.

There isn’t much known about Morgan before he was head of the Marine Base that is explanatory of his own behavior, but he has the same obsession over the concept of loyalty and traitors. Whether the actions are from citizens or his own subordinates, there is no excuse for anyone to disobey him. Hell, he found it perfectly acceptable to kill a marine who accidently bumped a part of his statue, that probably didn’t do anything minor to it.

That being said, he has no room to let anyone ignore his orders. When the Lieutenant was ordered to kill Rika because she helped Zoro while tied up, he refused. In response, Morgan went for the kill (he’s very much alive in the anime).

He and Helmeppo also show case this behavior in ways that are actually more foreshadowing for later arcs.

In the manga:

The citizens are bowing as the brat saunters by all high and mighty. This is the earliest render of how Celestial Dragons are introduced. While maybe this isn’t necessarily required for the Marine official, it’s more of a by-product on fear-induced situations. A psychological reaction if anything.

The other foreshadowing is the distinction of what the Marines and the World Government consider justice. What is right to them means following the laws-- obedience and purity are absolute. That’s a whole other topic in of itself. But it sets up the fight that Luffy finds himself in with the Marine. Morgan thinks he’s wrong and worthless, fighting on the grounds while yelling “I am Marine Captain “Ax-Hand” Morgan!”

Names carry power. Titles govern rank and superiority. Morgan believes this should be enough to make Luffy crumble over. It’s not. This is a revelation that goes beyond what someone holds in status. And thus, making Morgan a rather incompetent leader.

It’s also rather ironic how, with their battle, it’s very black and white in terms of morality, and the side that views what’s right is on the ‘wrong’ side (pirates). Pirates aren’t lawfully good, or very empathetic. That’s usually not their objective during the Pirate Era. However, if a group of pirates fight against a base leader, and as a result, creates a more balanced, sustainable life for the citizens in the end, there is something drastically wrong with the authority system.

Morgan really sets up as one of the first Marine antagonists, and it’s done using underlining characteristics of higher powers in more tame situations. What one fight could fix within an hour or two, would take more or less years to handle further along in the Grand Line. What One Piece offers is a focus with a type of matter that resurfaces again with different opponents.

~*~*~*~*~*

[leviticus101st]

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

The Last Jedi. The most controversial Star Wars film of them all. 

Considered by many to be the worst Star Wars film.

By others to be the best Star Wars film. 

And the rest think it's in the middle.

I am in the category of thinking it's the best.

Last Jedi is my favorite movie, but I do acknowledge that it has problems.

The biggest of which is the timeline of the movie is confusing. Even if you do provide some good explanations for it.

Rey spends at least three days with Luke. Even though the movie gives us a ticking clock of, at most, two days.

It's just confusing.

The second issue I have with this movie is that stupid Poe sub-plot. 

Not Holdo, not the plan thing, but the entire sub-plot.

It is boring. It is idiotic that they devoted any time at all to Poe.

Ya know? That character who got like ten to twenty minutes of screen time in the last movie. We're giving him an arc now, regardless of how much that drags the other characters arcs.

This movie would be so much better if you cut it out completely.

Look I like Poe as a character, but he's just not fit to be a lead. A side character, but not a lead.

Wasting time from the interesting characters for what? A lesson about not being a reckless idiot? Why would a military leader need to learn that?

Was Poe just super lucky when it came to the ranks? 

It's not long, but it's there just enough to drag the plots.

It develops Poe in a way that shouldn't be necessary for a fighter pilot, much less one in command of his own squad.

The Canto Bight plot is pointless beyond Finn's character arc.

Aside from that, it accomplishes nothing. Could it have mattered to the plot of the movie?

I can't think of a simple answer for that. Maybe have it result in the rebels having to land on the salt planet.

Rose is a fun character though and, as I said, it does good with Finn's character. Really pushes him to become better.

But other than that, it's pointless and doesn't really add anything.

I will admit it was fun to watch BB-8 firing coins. That was great.

Honestly, the first quarter of this movie is just not great.

Let's talk about Luke. I like most of what they did with him in this movie, but I do think there are problems.

The first for me is that he's perfectly content to let Kylo do whatever he wanted. Not caring to take care of it.

He was just willing to sit on an island drinking space milk and letting people die.

I can get behind him being jaded by Kylo if he just didn't know about Snoke and what he was doing, but he stated that he knew about Snoke before Kylo turned on him and didn't do anything.

I liked what happened. Luke got scared and ignited his lightsaber out of instinct, then turned it off out of disgust and did so too late.

That's really good. I love that part for showing Luke being vulnerable.

It's a nice move, showing that the people behind this movie knew Luke's weaknesses.

It's just how apathetic he was to the harm Kylo was doing that bothered me.

I'd be okay if he was just a bitter person. I loved his moments in this. 

I don't agree with the criticism that this movie tries too much in one movie. 

I do think this movie would have benefited greatly from having about another half hour or so to it to have its plot breath a little more.

I do think that the movie has too much climax. It feels like they wanted two epic battles back to back, but it feels like two end of movie's fights back to back.

Another problem is that it tries to portray the conflict as a grey area.

Oh yeah. The rebellion is just as bad as the empire because they bought weapons from some random guy.

Oh yeah. The empire/First Order destroyed planets and killed millions of innocent people, but the rebels bought some weapons from a rich dirtbag who sold to the First Order as well.

Who is the REAL villain here?

I did say that this was my favorite Star Wars movie, right?

Well it is.

It has a great theme of failure. To learn from our failures and be better.

Even the Poe sub-plot, much as I disliked it, had a good connection to the theme of failure.

The opening space battle is spectacular.

The cruiser being chased was a great conflict and full of tension.

The scene with Rey and Kylo in Snoke's throne room is the best in the movie. Not just the fight with the guards, but everything around it.

Snoke interrogating Rey and the force struggle is great.

It was a great twist and very well written. It doesn't hurt that the guard fight is amazing. 

The final battle on Salty Hoth is great. It's a genuinely good fight. Even if it's a little on the nose with what it's referencing. The red salt was really cool.

Finn's character arc is great in this. Learning to be willing to die for a cause and then learning that sacrificing yourself isn't always the way to go.

Even though I have problems with Luke in this, I do like the things they did.

Having him get up from his failure. They show his despair greatly.

Rey having her parents be nobodies was great. I loved that she wasn't tied to some lineage. I'll talk about Rise of Skywalker's retcon. Trust me.

They really sell her desperate searching for a parental figure  and despair well.

Luke's final scene is great. A great send off to his character and a fantastic scene that shows his charm and experience.

Also that exchange between him and Kylo was great.

As I said before, Last Jedi is my favorite Star Wars movie. It's flawed, but I love it.

Now to hide from the rest of the internet for the rest of my life. That'll be fun.

[ninja-muse]

Death in the Air - Kate Winkler Dawson

In brief: There were two killers in London in 1952—the worst smog the city had ever seen, and a man who lured women to his flat. This is their story.

Thoughts: This is as much an environmental and political history as it is a true crime story, as you can probably guess from the summary, and it’s a solid work of journalism, though perhaps a little padded and trying to fit the facts to a narrative. (As in, there are heroes, there are villains, there are victims, there are rarely people.)

So, let’s start with the pollution story because I actually found that more interesting than the serial killer. (You’ve seen one pathetic middle-aged man who gets off on murder, you’ve sort of seen them all, and I’d only heard about the Great Smog, but didn’t know details.) Dawson does a good job explaining context of how it came to be, how much smog and London were tied, what made this smog worse than the others, and what the medical affects were, and she’s clearly done a lot of research to build a big, clear picture of what it was like. I appreciated seeing through the eyes of average people at the time, though her descriptions of the smog itself were often a little removed and unemotional. There were photos though, which helped!

I also liked that Dawson carried the smog story through to its end in legislation, and didn’t just leave it “and thousands of people died”. That increased the impact of that thread for me, a lot, though that’s where most of my fitting-a-narrative complaint comes in. There’s one MP who’s clearly been slotted into the hero role, and another who’s the chief villain of the debate, and yeah. It works, but I couldn’t help wondering if rough edges had been shaved off.

Now on to John Christie, our murderer… He’s a nasty piece of work, as they often are, and fits a very familiar profile. (White, middle-aged, didn’t fit in but could be charming, angry at women, preys on sex workers and transients, escalates over time….) Dawson goes into his life, follows him from before his first murder right up to being caught and then on to the hanging, and gives each of his victims personalities and lives, though rarely much more than a sketch. She walks you through his M.O. and brings scenes to life at enough distance that you get his thoughts but don’t get put off by graphic depictions or anything.

My biggest critique of the murder sections is that the story isn’t totally linear. She’ll give a scene in 1952, then backtrack to the 1940s, then allude to his capture, then run through a victim’s life before dropping us into Christie’s daily life in 1952 again. It’s sometimes a little hard to follow, though I’m not sure that a strictly linear story wouldn’t have had its flaws also. I also felt like some of those choices, and the choice to work in cliffhangery sentences when possible, were also for the sake of narrative drama and not much else.

I did like that Dawson spent a fair bit of time on another murder in the same building that Christie may or may not have been involved with, because that was an interesting twist and it brought in another parallel—smog that smothers people with carbon monoxide, and a killer who did; and now, two stranglers who were chronic liars and submitted multiple confessions along the lines of, “well, no, actually.” It helps that that case comes back at the end, in Christie’s trial, too, and is interesting all over again then.

Overall, though, I found the smog story more frightening and intriguing, because government apathy and greed in the face of rampant pollution is still very much a thing, and it was horrifying to me that a government would look at those death and illness statistics and then utterly discount them. (Yes, I know it still happens. No, I’m not less horrified and angry.) And with how awful dying by smog sounds, too! By about halfway, I was reading mostly for the pollution and not the murders, but your mileage may vary. There is a lot of post-Smog politicking that could get dull.

So: perfectly good and satisfying true crime/history book, but a little too “for the drama” for my taste, and not as interesting of a killer as I’d been hoping for. Glad I read it, especially now that I know about the Smog, but it’s also not a book that’s really going to stick with me over time, I don’t think.

7/10

To bear in mind: Contains a serial killer of women with racist beliefs (but not a killer of women of colour), mild descriptions of asphyxiation, and an apathetic, greedy government.