#to the “future” meaning we're implying we're more advanced

[arvandus]

Waaaaiiiit a minute....

I'm going through the hard levels in NB, and in 8 and 9, Sol is sent to this weird place where Diavolo and Simeon are trying to make him choose a side, and in the end NB talks to him...

Does this also coincide with when Barb "teleported him away" and he came back later being like, "yeah, he dumped in a dragon's lair lol"??

[pentacle-artist]

Okay, spoilers for the Mystery Journey anime and Azran Legacy, I think. Technically.

Anyway, I was rewatching Relics episodes 3+4 with my sister today, which has what the Relics are, and it looks like this

And, for me, this is a rewatch, and this time I was actively thinking about how, yeah, the stones that led here came from space, but this thing *has* to be man made. The first thought is the technologically advanced ancient civilization we're already familiar with: The Azran.

BUT that doesn't make sense for a couple of reasons.

Outside of the story, the writers wouldn't include them in this context because a viewer really would need knowledge of the main games for it to work, and the Azran stuff was already resolved in AL.

*In* story, however, it doesn't *look* like an Azran thing or *feel* like something they'd make.

*Major* spoilers for both previously things ahead.

The relics freeze someone in time so they can see the future. Since the Azran thought of themselves as gods, they terraformmed multiple areas across the world, and they built the golems to do menial stuff. I think they're more likely to invent immortality instead of these chryo chambers. I mean, similar stuff is used for Aurora, but that leads me to the look of it.

The relics are very angular, more stereotypically futuristic. This is what Azran stuff looks like:

It's generally more round and ornate. There is a little overlap, but Azran feels more classical. Also, they did have a thing for flying, but, as far as I know, not full-on *space.*

WHICH MEANS that there's probably some other ancient, forgotten civilization in the Laytonverse that loved space and potentially could've had a small bit of overlap with the Azran. It'd probably be very early on because it's implied that after the whole golem thing, advanced technology went down, and the Relics is pretty dang advanced.

It would also explain why Aurora's stasis was similar because the tech already existed, and the Azran could've improved it to not need specific frequencies to safely release whoever's frozen. Or maybe the fact that she's a golem would make her immune. Who knows!

[welcome-to-green-hills]

So what do you think happened in between the time that Shadow was ejected from the ark and to earth after the ark raid fifty years ago? I really hope that is explored a bit more in the third film. On top of that, I think that you should treat yourself and go all sciencey with this post well. Mainly because I want to know your thoughts on the matter and I love reading your science posts and whatnot

Hello, my dear!❤️✨

I completely agree. I do hope that this is explored a bit more in the film. It wasn't entirely clear as to what happened within that time-frame in the games. I'm sure that many of us have an idea as to what happened with Shadow as he crashed to Earth from the ARK in Sonic Adventure 2. From my perspective, it seemed like Shadow had a bit of time on Earth before GUN Soldiers came to retrieve him from the escape pod.

Onto to your last bit, are you asking me what would happen to Shadow as he crashed to Earth? Like... in a real world perspective? Something realistic? Uh, I can try and go all science-y like you've asked. Please keep in mind that my background in science is anthropological rather than astronomy and such.

The first thing that I should address is that most of my comparisons are in a modern-day setting. Yes, we can see that everything in the Sonic universe is technologically advanced, but we can't begin to fathom HOW advance they really are. We're only going on the notion that they're incredibly advanced. My logic and retelling of the situation is hypothetical. It should not be taken as a hard fact.

Let’s establish Shadow’s setting before diving into the intensity of the situation. Applying logic of modern day technology to the situation, we know that a shuttle from the earth to the moon is roughly three days (Dobrijevic, 2023). This is made with the assumption of using 21st century aerospace engineering/dynamics. We, as the audience, see that science and technology in Sonic's universe is highly advanced. The problem with this is that we don't necessarily have a strong understanding of how advanced it truly is. We can assume that it's drastically different from ours, but can't place a marker in time how how many years into the future it truly is. The best that we can say is that it's highly advanced. For the sake of my sanity and yours, we'll say that the escape pod's projection from the ARK to earth is in three days or less. (This is based upon the assumption that the escape pod cannot be piloted on Shadow's end).

What we need to realize is that Shadow is in a state of shock. Everything that happened on the ARK is still fresh in mind. That moment replays over and over again. When someone is in a state of shock, your entire body in sensory overload. Blood flow drops and resorts in a plethora of symptoms. Symptoms like irregular and labored breathing, cold and clammy skin, enlarged pupils, changes in mental behavior, and so forth (Mayo Clinic, 2023). These symptoms can vary depending on the intensity of the situation. And if anything, the ability to think rationally dwindles. The popular thought that the fandom has was why Shadow couldn’t teleport back to the ARK when ejected into space. While this may have seen like a logical idea, even if he bypasses his mental state of shock, there is a problem with canon rule. Before the rule change, Shadow could only use chaos control to teleport unless he possessed an emerald (Takashi lizuka, 2013). Chaos Control is different than a Chaos Snap, meaning that distance is a factor. This was the canon rule for when SA2 was released in 2001. Even if he were to rationally think and formulate a plan, he wouldn't get very far. He’s completely trapped in the escape pod.

Other than going through a state of shock, he learns how to quickly adapt to the void of space. These are physical changes. A few queries that are stressed from astronauts is how they must relearn to adjustment to earth's gravity, natural lighting, and sound after space travel. These assumptions could be implied with Shadow as well.

In space, Shadow learns to adjust to the light intake that's around him. There isn’t a lot of light, but there's enough for him to see stars, planets, and the ARK. Since the ARK functions as a space station, we can conclude that he exposed to select adaptations of light cycles is present (Guo et. al, 2014). This means that he's adapted a circadian (biological) clock and sleep cycles. His natural habitat is space; his circadian clock matches space time. Entering into a new habitat with a different volume of light intake may mess with him completely. Other than affecting his sleep cycle, it will affect how he's able to see in a brighter setting. This could potentially result in temporary blindness. So even landing on earth, he wouldn't be able to get very far due to lack of vision problems.

Another factor to mention is his adaptation to earth's gravity. We must assume that the ARK has his own gravitation field and one similar to earth. I stress the word "similar" because it's not a complete replica. It's artificial. We cannot make the assumption that the escape pod possesses a gravitational field like the ARK—we lack that detail in SA2. Therefore, we must conclude that Shadow is subjected to weightlessness. We've learned from physiological study that extended periods of time in space will result a change in how the body adapts to earth's atmosphere (Cranford & Turner, 2021). Since Shadow is isolated in an enclosed environment for a specific amount of time, his perception of spacial orientation, head-eye/hand-eye coordination, general locomotion, and balance might be minimal. There would still be difficulties of adjusting to earth, but he wouldn't spend countless years of his lift trying to adapt.

Finally, there's the adjustment to sound. The unit of sound is measured in a decibel. The decibel value can increase and decrease depending on the environment. Typically, we hear a sound frequency at a decibel of 70 in every day activity (Editor, 2018). This is the equivalent of hearing car horns or a crowd of people talking in a store. Compared to everyday life on the ARK, Shadow is thrown into the void of space. The lack of sound—other than his own breathing (which can be measured at a decibel of 10 in sound frequency)—will be what he’s used to hearing. Once welcomed to earth, the frequency of sound that he’s used to is quickly forgotten. The natural and human sounds that come from earth may be too loud for him to comprehend at first. This could result in ringing of the ears and muffled noises. Since he was not trapped in space for a prolonged period of time in the escape pod, he will adjust eventually.

If Shadow was able to land on earth safely before GUN Soldiers came to retrieve him, then realistically he'd spend some time recovering from his escape. He wouldn't be moving around a lot. Then again, I'm not entirely sure of his recovery rate in order to say this with confidence. It would only be a matter of time before he was found and imprisoned with his creator by the United Federation. As I've said before, this is all hypothetical.

Jesus Christ this turned really dark... I hope this answers your question.

[aprillikesthings]

I have the house to myself because people are at a sportsball party

So what else would I do but keep watching spop amiright

s1 ep8 lez go

YES IT'S PRINCESS PROM AHAHAHAH

Oh, that explains why (in a muuuuuuch later episode) there's that little ideal future and they're at Scorpia's ball (iirc)

Catra: I NEED TO BE IN CHARGE Scorpia: party!

Poor Scorpia

Catra: giving a passionate-if-faked pep talk to Scorpia (like I get she's manipulating Scorpia here into going to the party, but it's still the kind of thing Scorpia should hear!) Also Catra: still real mad about Adora!!!

I cackled, y'all. CACKLED.

I mean she's...not wrong...

Okay I know it's just how this kind of show works and isn't important but it implies the Ball is known about for years in advance, but the invites only actually go out like a day or two before?? IRL that would be such a disaster because they don't even know the theme until they get the invite. The sheer amount of logistics/planning attending something like this, including the outfits...

This was intended to be Lolita fashion and you can't convince me otherwise

Also CATRA. They intentionally made her look so, so gay and hot.

Same, Catra. Same.

Adora (to the weapons-check person): be careful with it, don't lean it on something with the other swords or it might get confused!!!

Poor Adora. I suppose if I had an object that made me both popular and nearly invincible I'd be upset and worried to be separated from it, too.

It's Molly and Nate!!!

🎶Just like the viiiiine🎵

I love that we know these characters enough that they can just say a couple of lines here and imply a ton more. Anyway Mermista's outfit is great.

This is literally their entire dynamic. They're clearly together, Sea Hawk is loud about it, Mermista is (mostly) pretending to hate it.

Sorry this is shot is just great

Glimmer's jealousy (over Bow coming to the ball with Perfuma) is SO ANNOYING and I know that's on purpose but boy do I hate most "jealousy makes them obnoxious" plots

ANYWAY one small note: you can tell their budget for this episode is just not very high, because the characters in the background are so often not moving or only moving like one thing.

Oh hey, Netossa and Spinerella! (...and Molly again lol)

"Bow isn't the type to just leave his old friends behind, and neither am--" *Scorpia and Catra walk in*

DIDN'T THINK YOU'D SEE HER HERE, HUH, DIDJA

I can't screenshot this bit but it's so good:

Catra, in her most fake-gentleman voice: I love rules and obey them all the time Adora in the most high-pitched voice possible: YOU DO NOOOOT

🎶Every move you make And every vow you break Every smile you fake Every claim you stake I'll be watching you🎵

...I'm showing my age again. But also I'm looking at the lyrics and ngl they nearly all fit. If I knew how to make fanvids, I could make a vid that like ten people would watch.

Instead I'm working on a fic like ten people will read, heyoooo

*cries*

BACK TO THE GAYS PRINCESS PROM

is there crack-y pwp of this please say yes

Once again reminded of that fanvid of every time they say each other's names in the first two seasons

Literally cannot see Adora opening that without the "bah-dm tsh!" sound affect in my head from watching that video so many fucking times

Bow is so delightfully emotionally intelligent

Entrapta: have you met my new assistant? She brought snacks.

When Entrapta said "assistant" Catra's ears literally did a wiggle. Oh my gooooood

"she stole my food and asked me to spy on people with her,

lolol

once again whether the sword is actually sharp-edged or not is entirely dependent on plot

Scorpia is unreasonably hot sometimes

im gonna chew my fingers off ghgha;lksdhka;

I remember the screenshots/gifs of this scene hitting tumblr--that moment when every hopeful sapphic fan watching the show when it released went OKAY WAIT we're not making shit up this time are we??? ARE WE???

Also at least one person working on this show likes period dramas where tons of emotional plot happens during extremely formal dances where everyone is barely touching

there's nearly a billion gifs of that scene from one of the versions of Pride and Prejudice, but also:

once again proving my advanced age, this movie came out when I was 17 and side note I'm the same age as Claire Danes, anyhoodle

Has Adora been dancing Lead this whole time

HNNNNGNGHGHGHHHHHH IT'S SO GOOD

EXTREMELY UNDIGNIFIED NOISES Adora literally has one thigh between Catra's gghngng

i want to EAT IT

I'VE HIT THE IMAGE LIMIT FOR THIS POST LOLOL i don't wanna cut any out imma post this and then reblog it

[haunted-xander]

Chiaki had been living with Izuru and Nagito for a couple months by the time she got a message alerting her that Kyosuke, Juzo and Chisa would be checking up on her. The other check-ups were always carried out by lower ranking members, so she found this suspicious. She had been careful to tell Izuru and Nagito in advance when people would be coming so they could conceal themselves, and Makoto and Kyoko stayed true to their promise to be quiet about it.

If they're not here for Kamukura-kun and Komaeda-kun, then what could it be? I hope it's nothing bad... ...Oh, but, this might be my chance to tell Munakata-kun about Yukizome-san. I... just hope he'll believe me. And... I'm worried about how Yukizome-san will react to me outing her... Nagito hasn't been home recently, claiming he had some work to do elsewhere, and she already told Izuru to hide, so she couldn't discuss what to do with him.

Finally, the dreaded knock on her door came. She tried to act casual as she went to open the door. "...Ah, hello, Munakata-kun, Sakakura-kun and... Yukizome-san. You're here already. ...Come in." She cordially opened the door and beckoned them all inside. "Nanami-san! It's so good to see you again! You've been so busy I've barely been able to talk to you! We really need to catch up a bit!"

"Don't get too excited now, Yukizome. We're not here to chat. We've got something more important to talk about."

"Are you saying that getting to talk with my former student isn't important? I'm hurt, Sakakura-kun! How dare you! Kyosukeeeeee, Sakakura-kun is being mean to me agaaaaaain."

"Sakakura-kun, don't be so insensitive."

"...Hmph. Whatever. Let's just get started already." Juzo glanced back at Chisa, looking at her somewhat suspiciously. ...Maybe Sakakura-kun figured it out. Or, he has an idea at least. He wasn't this hostile with her the last time I saw them. "...I apologise for their bickering. Now, you must be wondering why we came to check on you instead of the ones usual responsible for this task. Well... we have a bit of a secret mission for you."

"...A secret mission? Secret how?"

"...The Future Foundation recently got an anonymous tip about a certain group of captives being held in Towa City. These captives are people that were close to the participants of the Killing School Life, and were originally used by Junko Enoshima as a motive. Now that the Game is over, we can safely retrieve them. ...At least, that's the assumption that our leader seems to have. However, we think it may be a trap set up by one of the Remnants of Despair. It's simply too convenient. Chisa reccommended we send you as back-up to ensure the rescue mission progesses smoothly." Kyosuke spared no unnecessary chatter and got straight to the point.

Juzo looked ready to say something when Chisa swiftly cut him off. "If you go on this mission, you might run into one of the Remnants! I know you must be so worried about everyone, they were all your former classmates after all. I can't help but worry too..." Liar. You don't want to help me. Sending me on this mission is probably a trap. ...But I can't just let it be either. What to do...

"...I see. I'll need to think about. There's a chance that getting someone secretly sent is a trap, too." Kyosuke looked confused by her answer, not picking up on what she's implying. "...What do you mean? I'm sure the Remnants are expecting us to launch a simple rescue mission. No matter how calculating you are, there is a limit to what one can predict." In the back, she noticed that Chisa's smile grew colder, and Juzo tensed up. ...It seems Sakakura-kun and Yukizome-san caught it. Convincing Sakakura-kun doesn't seem like it'll be hard, but Munakata-kun...

"...Munakata-kun. What... would you think if I said there might be a Remnant hiding within the Future Foundations ranks? And... what if I told you they were very close to you?" She couldn't just say it outright. Honestly, even if she was well aware of Chisa's current condition, she didn't want to admit it. Saying it was just... too much. But she had to. "...What are you implying? Are you saying there's been a Remnant among us this entire time? One so cunning as to hid themselves completely from us?"

"...That is what I'm saying. And... I know who it is, too. ...But... you're not gonna like it. I'm sorry for not telling you all before. I haven't had the opportunity to tell anyone yet, so I was getting a little desperate. It's... only a matter of time until they make their move."

"Then who is it? Get out with it already. If there's a Remnant among us, we need to deal with them immediately." Juzo impatiently demanded she answered. ...Sakakura-kun probably already figured out who I'm talking about. "...It's Yukizome-san."

A heavy silence filled the room. Kyosuke looked at her as if she'd grown two heads. Behind him, Chisa's smile fell and she gave Chiaki a cold glare. Murderous intent was shown clearly in her eyes, making a cold shudder run up Chiaki's spine. "...What. You're saying that... Chisa's been a Remnant of Despair... this entire time? There's no way... that I can believe that. Chisa is the kindest and most caring person I know, there's no way in hell she's been working for that... that vile woman! There is no way!"

"I know it's hard to believe but-"

"No! It's not true, it can't be true! You must be mistaken! It's not Chisa, it's-"

"She's right, Munakata."

"...Sakakura-kun...? What are you talking about...? You don't seriously...?" Juzo looked uncomfortable, feeling guilty for not speaking up sooner. "...I noticed a long time ago that Yukizome was behaving... oddly. I couldn't really put a finger on it, so I figured I was imagining it and I said nothing. Recently, thought, she started acting even weirder. Ever since Enoshima died, she began running off and doing stuff behind the Future Foundations back, being awfully secretive about it too. ...I didn't really know how to bring it up so I never mentioned it."

Kyosuke stared at him in silence, not knowing how to respond. After a few tense moments, he hesistantly spoke up, "...Sakakura-kun... You..."

...........

"...Chisa, tell me... it's not true... is it? You're not a Remnant... right? ...Say something. Please." Chisa hadn't spoken a word since Chiaki starting talking about the insider Remnant. When Kyosuke aimed his questioning at her, she gave a too-innocent smile. Chiaki began to worry she was going to try and lie herself out of it.

"Aw, you got me! That's right, I'm a Remnant of Despair. I can't believe I managed to fool you for so long!" Her saccharine smile turned cold. "You really are an idiot, Kyosuke. You were so blinded by love that you didn't notice a thing! Really, I gave you so many hints and you never caught any of them! Or... maybe you willingly ignored them. How stupid, how... despairing."

"C-Chisa...? Do you really mean...? You're..." His face showed nothing but pure shock and despair. He could barely get any words out. "Aha! And there it is! That's what I've been looking for all this time!" Chisa clapsed her hands together and smiled gleefully, despair swirling in her eyes. "That wonderful look of despair... Oh, how I've waiting so long to see you with it!"

"Fuck it, I've had enough of this shit-" Juzo ran and tackled Chisa from behind, pinning her to the ground. "Munakata! Snap out of it! We can't have you falling to despair too!" The words seemed to get through to him, as Kyosuke flinched back and shook his head. "...Your right. I... don't want to believe it, but... she admitted it. There's no way I can deny it now. ...I... need to contact Tengan-kun about this. Please excuse me" With the little dignity he had left, Kyosuke took out his phone and left the room.

Now it was only Chiaki, Juzo, and the restrained Chisa in the room. The air was thick with tension, to the point Chiaki found it hard to breathe. "...I'm... so sorry. I didn't want to do this. I-I'm so s-so sorry, for everything." She couldn't hold her tears in anymore, the gravity of what just happened, and what would later happen to her old teacher, weighing heavy on her mind. "I-it's all *sob* my f-fault that th-things end-*sob*-ended up l-like this. *sob* If O-only I'd just *sob* Took K-Komaeda-kun and r-ran then *sob* s-she wouldn't h-have had to come s-save us *sob* a-and then she-"

"God, stop your annoying crying already. What's done is done, you can't do anything about it now so who the hell cares. ...At least you told us before it was too late." Juzo cut into her guilt-fueled ranting, tired of all the sniffeling. "...Just. Go to your damn room and take a nap or something. I'll handle Yukizome here, and Munakata will handle the... other stuff. ...You did good, kid. Get some rest"

Not expecting him to try to comfort him, she gave a slight nod and got up to take that reccommended nap. Behind her back, she faintly heard him say, "...You're much braver than I am. If only I had that courage back then..."

She closed her bedroom door behind her, falling onto her bed and immediately falling asleep.

[mrsometimes11]

Spoiler Warning! (for a series which ended 10 years ago, and on a Tumblr page almost entirely populated by die hard fans, but still)

Wolverines

One of the first things we learn in this series is that The Forest is overrun with Wendron Witches and Wolverines. I've been re-reading the series, and am about to start Queste for the hundredth time, but I've only just realised how weird the wolverine thing is. For one thing, wolverines don't tend to live in forests, at least not temperate ones like The Castle's Forest, they prefer taiga tundra, and colder climes altogether, somewhere more like place where Snorri's from, or the region around the House of Foryx. For another thing, The Small Wet Country Across The Sea, the country the Castle is in, is heavily based on Britain, specifically Cornwall where Angie Sage lives. Wolverines are not, and have never been, native to the British Isles at all, let alone Cornwall. So, why are there wolverines? I realise that some kind of danger in Forest was necessary, but why make it wolverines specifically? Why not wolves which's pack tactics and predatory behaviour - the wolverine is mainly a scavenger - would be better fit for the animals we see? I mean even Wolf Boy, the feral child raised in part by wolverines, is called 'Wolf' Boy, not 'Wolverine' Boy. It's just weird. (spoiler bit) Except, it it? We discover in Fyre that the whole series takes place in the future. Might the inexplicable appearance of wolverines foreshadow this? And, going further, might the fact that these wolverines are far south of the regions they live in in our Time suggest something about what separates Sep's Time from 'The Time Before' AKA our Time? It is heavily implied that Magyk is actually advance technology, but that the people of this Time aren't particularly advanced, they live in a medieval-esque world, and have done for a while. Clearly something happened to change society dramatically, with Magyk being the legacy of the technological past. This is where the wolverines come in. For wolverines to live in the Castle's Forest, the entire region must be colder than it is in our Time - we know this is case as The Castle sees heavy annual snowfall at the time of the big-freeze, which is not so common in the Cornwall we know. So we're looking at some kind of environmental disaster, which led to the collapse of much of the society and technology of The Time Before. What might this be? An ice-age? A nuclear winter? The entire planet drifting away from the sun? Your thoughts please.

[ourstaturestouchtheskies]

how do you find or decide what piece of art to use for an edit? what are your sources for finding artworks to use for your edits?

hello my dear!

what a lovely question! my answer is incredibly long, so I apologize in advance for that, but I tried to make it as organized as possible. I'm also going to put it under a cut, since I rambled on for quite a while 😅 but this was such a rich question - so thank you again!! ☺️☺️

if you have other questions lingering after this, please feel free to reach out again! 🥰🥰

how do I decide which artwork to use for an edit?

for the most part, when deciding what artwork to use, I look for some kind of visual or thematic resonance with the lyrics I plan to use

for example, in this edit, I used the lyrics "I don't like that falling feels like flying til the bone crush" with lament for icarus by herbert james draper. there were a number of parallels I wanted to draw here:

visual parallels: those lyrics come from "gold rush" by taylor swift, and the painting itself is suffused in gold tones. I also used a golden glow on some of the words to emphasize this connection

thematic parallels: icarus is famously known for his fall from the sky, and the lyrics I chose literally discuss falling, so that was another resonance I wanted to pull out

random parallels that perhaps exist only in my mind: I wanted to emphasize the ending of a story with both the lyrics and the painting. in the painting, we see icarus after he has fallen, but for those familiar with the myth, his prior flight and fall are implied. the lyrics discuss the metaphorical joy of flight until it turns into a freefall, but what we are actually seeing here is the "bone crush." in this way, I liked that we're looking at the end of a story that in some ways tells the whole story. the lyrics and art both imply the existence of a previous moment of rapturous flight which turned into a tragic fall, even though they only actually show the aftermath of both. idk if that makes any sense so just ignore this one if this is absolutely incompressible 😅

basically, these are the kinds of resonances I like to seek out. sometimes the lyrics come first and I look for a painting that fits well with them, and sometimes it's the other way around. other times I see an artwork and immediately lyrics will pop into my head, or vice versa, where I'll hear lyrics and instantly think of a painting that would fit them so well

not all of my edits have every level of parallels, but I do like to make sure that they at least have some sort of thematic resonance that ties them together!

I hope that explains my process at least a little! ☺️☺️

where do I find artworks for my edits?

there are four big resources/approaches that I use, so I'll go through each one here ☺️

general art history knowledge: since I'm doing an art history phd, I just happen to have a lot of exposure to a lot of different kinds of art. between the hours I spent in class, doing readings, and doing my own research, I just end up absorbing a lot of potential artists and artworks to use. I actually have a page in my notes app devoted to things I see that I may want to use for edits in the future 😅. however, I completely understand that this is not an experience that a lot of people have. but I am more than happy to offer myself as a resource!! if you ever have a question or a vision in mind but don't know where to start looking for art, feel free to reach out and ask! I am by no means in expert in every facet of art history, but I would be absolutely delighted to use what knowledge I do have to help you in any way I can! 🥰🥰

image collections: there are a number of fantastic digital resources available for browsing historical art! museum websites and their digital collections are always a great place to start. many libraries also have extensive digitized collections which often include prints, drawings, photos, and illustrations, even if they don't have paintings or other larger artworks. a couple that I've used in the past are the library of congress and the bibliotheque nationale de france, but there are so many more out there. if you're affiliated with a university, you may have access to resources like artstor, which has a huge repository of images. depending on the databases to which your local library subscribes (which are often a lot!! libraries are so cool and I highly recommend checking out the resources they have!!), you may have access to a number of other databases like artstor. wikimedia commons is also a fantastic resource, since they have categories you can browse like "women with skulls in art" or "red textiles in portrait paintings." obviously not every artwork that fits those parameters are included, but the amount of images they have is incredible. my one caution here is that the search function doesn't allow for a lot of specificity unless you already know the name of a category you're looking for. finally, google arts & culture/google art project tends to have really high quality images of artworks, but is also not the easiest to search unless you already know the name of an artist or artwork that you're looking for. whew okay that's a lot, but please let me know if I can answer any more specific questions about any of these amazing resources!

art accounts: I truly discover so much fantastic art by following other accounts that post art historical content! I follow a number both on here and on instagram, and it's always amazing to see what other people discover 🥰. some are more specific, like posting art just from a specific era/period, or curating different color themes, while others just post anything that they find compelling. I end up finding so many artworks this way, and it's also a fantastic way to connect with other people who like art historical stuff!

following rabbit holes: this is more of an approach than a specific resource, but I highly encourage everyone to explore things they like!! if you see an artwork that really resonates with you, look up the artist and see what other kind of work they've done. find out if they are identified with a particular period or movement and then look up other artists from that movement. see if you like any of the art produced by those artists and then keep going! I have found so much incredible art just by being curious about a single artwork, and it's also a great way to expand your art historical knowledge in general ☺️

yikes okay now that I've written you a whole novel, I hope that at least some of this info was helpful!!

thank you again for the wonderful question! (and thank you so much for reading this all if you got this far! 🥰)

as I said above, I would be genuinely delighted to help with anything that I can! the reason that I want to be a professor is to let people get excited about art, so anything I can do to facilitate that is pretty much my dream 🥰

thank you again dearest anon and I hope you have a lovely, art-filled day!! 💖💕💖💕

[syrupspinner]

I completed 2064 Read Only Memories

yes that's still impressive if it's a visual novel

so, this genre is inherently more plot than gameplay. that's not to say the gameplay isnt enjoyable, it's solid point-and-click. but when I discuss it, it's gonna be like, mostly about the story, so watch for spoilers. if you haven't played the game yet, I totally recommend it if you dig detective stories and/or point-and-click visual novels. the characters are great and the gameplay is solid (nothing too gimmicky, does everything right) and you can beat it in a weekend if you lock in. alright, spoilers ahoy

first, I gotta talk about the protagonist. something I always, always dislike are boring indistinct faceless self-inserts. I understand that you kinda have to avoid having too much disconnect in a narrative written in the 2nd person (lest you get the same reaction that would be had to a bad roleplayer godmoding)... but I think most stories have to live an die by their protagonist, just because like... that's who we're following the whole time. like, say what you want about Alex Eggleston, but he's memorable and directed. it's actually possible to write him out of character, unlike whoever was the protagonist in 2064. even Lady Love Dies, a VN protagonist who shares the same limitation of having dialogue trees with varying tones, still has character traits that she does and doesn't have, she still has distinct mannerisms and presentation. this didn't ruin the game or anything, I just thought it was kinda annoying

I really liked how the game presented hybrids and how everything tied into the world being presented. it always kinda makes me sigh when sci-fi shows try to depict analogies to specific types of oppression. don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good metaphor, I just think it's really easy to backfire. for example, I think Zootopia would've been fine if they presented the predator/prey social dichotomy in a way that wasn't a direct analogue to antiblack racism (instead of oppression in general) because you can summarize it as "the predators are black people" y'know what I mean? like, in real life, foxes eat rabbits, and that's literally the natural order of the world with the food chain and stuff, so trying to say "this is just like how black people work" isn't. great. 

anyway, I think hybridism as it's presented in 2064 is a great example of applicability. basically, instead of being a direct analogue, it can be applied to multiple dimensions of oppression without being limited to a single one. obviously the closest comparison is ableism, especially with the whole medical involvement and legally enforced sterilization, but in-universe a lot of people just treat it as an advanced body mod like ear stretching or something.   also, it's just something that's probably gonna be a thing in the future. it's a great way to explore the avenues and outcomes of social stigma without accidentally implying that black people have the innate urge to eat white people or whatever. 

also, detail I appreciate, I like how Jess is unfriendly and abrasive while James Stephanie Sterling's character (the anti-hybrid activist) is calm and soft-spoken. despite this, the games narrative is totally supportive and sympathetic to hybrids. it's an easy trap to fall in to just make the bigots incorrectness directly correlate with having an unpleasant personality, but this implies that people who are quiet are right, which is an implication on the same level as always drawing the correct characters to be conventionally attractive

speaking of the characters, that's a huge strength of this game. everyone you interact with is likeable and memorable. when I say likeable, I don't mean "I would be friends with them" (even if that does apply to a lot of them, shout out to my bros tomcat and starfucker)  I mean "I like seeing this character depicted onscreen". even bit characters like that bunny girl receptionist and that retired football guy stick out in my mind, and it's been a while since I played the game 

I think it was a bit of a misstep to let the player chose what order to play chapter 3/4 in. I got lucky on my first playthrough, but I can't imagine the deflation of tension from watching a vehicular manslaughter and then going on a fetch quest for a magical girl. I'm really not sure why they let you do that when it seems to me that it flows way better if that's right before the climax

the climax was so great though. I love it when characters all come together and chip in their talents, and I love how deus-ex-y the multiple endings are (in how heavy the rammys are). my favorite part though has gotta be the gameplay, hoo boy. narratively, dealing with the threat of this villain is unlike anything else [char_name] and Turing have deal with, so I adore the ludonarrative cohesion of making the ending such a change in gameplay. you can't just look around and click on things, you've gotta cut of doorways and sneak around. the sincere "oh crap" when I realized he could just kool-aid through the wall was priceless. 

and getting all of the achievements was a breeze. full disclosure, I died in the final boss and had to reload, but the game gave me the iron rom achievement anyway. as we say in the business, we take those. the real hardest achievement was the one with that stupid plant I had to play the game like 3 times to finally get it. turns out you have to mosey your ass to your apartment at every opertunity just to yap at that spoiled deadbeat. also I didn't like making Turing mad at me, because =[

anyway, you know that ya girls pumped for neurodiver. the somniums were my favorite parts of AI (as in, the uchikoshi joint) and in general I always dig abstract representations of someone's psyche. 

[ivy72376]

EIGHT WORDS PER LINE, APRIL 1-30, 2024

"We often hear that one can give without loving,

But one can't love without giving, people say.

We go on to say one can live without loving

Themselves or others--but then life is meaningless that way.

For to truly love is to be fearless,

To go beyond, above, and through the extra mile,

Embracing life as it comes, alone, in company, regardless,

Facing life's challenges with faith and a smile.

It is being humbled at the daily mercy we are given,

Confident in the heavenly strength and wisdom we receive.

May we truly attune ourselves to the mandate of heaven,

And live out our God's love, in His good promises, trust and believe."

#HappyApril302024

"Praying with eyes open, growing up is taboo;

For they say it's easy to get distracted.

But we learn it's not totally bad too,

For we are also easily warned and alerted.

Yes, our Savior reminded us to watch and pray,

Implying that we should also always be aware.

That we need to see the truth every day,

To understand and know, to give and share.

May we not abuse other's generosity and care;

Be responsible for our lives, accountable, patient, humble,

May we always be discerning; our lives bare

From vanity, His grace and strength making us able."

#HappyApril292024

"Yes, angels are real, I've experienced it too.

Even just yesterday, before the car we're riding,

Was a mere few feet from colliding into,

A 10-wheeler container truck, but braked, screeching.

It seems it wasn't yet our time, thankfully,

And we have our God's ministering angels, protecting.

We are grateful that He sees to us, faithfully,

Giving wisdom, good health, strength, always leading and guiding.

May we always pray, be humble and kind.

Even though not sweetly nice, nor condescendingly saccharine,

Leaving our doubts, insecurities, biases, prejudices, worries behind;

With His grace, our every day to begin."

#HappyApril282024

"Worry and anxiety makes us human, it's true,

Having people we care about, dreams and responsibilities;

While not knowing the future, what to do,

Or control it, given our current limited capacities.

But worrying should wake us up to the truth,

That we are limited, therefore not to boast;

Because we have a God in the present and future both,

One who can help when life is challenged most.

May we then always humble ourselves before Him,

Pray and trust, as we do our best.

For His promises are sure, not a whim,

We can be sure He takes care of all the rest."

#HappyApril272024

"We're always better and stronger together, it's proven,

And that's a great relief, a source of strength.

For unity brings success, peace, joy, all given,

When in community, we go through whatever length.

But to reap togetherness' rewards, we need to remember,

To be mindful, respectful, generous, patient and humble.

For life can only move forward and prosper,

If we are also responsible, mature and accountable.

May we grow in knowledge, understanding, effort and love,

Learn to let go of our bias and prejudice.

That there be good fruit in what we have

Sown; better rewards for our life's honest service."

#HappyApril262024

"Age is just a number they say,

And it is true to some, fortunately.

But it means more aches, pains, to many,

More frustrations, as we have diminished capability.

But there seems to be a way around,

Getting the best of life, even through its advance.

And that is to stay more "on the ground",

In humility, living deliberately, confidence; taking our chance.

For our time is getting shorter and shorter,

While there is more to do to pay forward.

And we must use every moment to get better,

Keeping our hope and faith aligned heaven-ward."

#HappyApril252024

"Unity in diversity is a powerful, praiseworthy situation,

For God's people of every tongue and nation.

Yet sadly, many of us are too insecure,

Proud and ignorant, our understanding lacking and unsure.

Yet, we cannot ignore nor dismiss other's right

To serve, show their gifts, shine their light.

Life is uncertain, vulnerable, beyond our control,

All we can do is keep our soul.

May we find true security in our Father,

Understand, respect boundaries, give way to each other.

That life on earth may be more meaningful,

And our journey to eternity made more beautiful."

#HappyApril242024

"In a world of chaos, uncertainty and fear,

We still hope in a God who's near.

We still believe in our Saviour's eternal promises,

That He can restore our life's broken pieces.

So as His people, may we always endeavor,

To live His peace, wisdom, grace and favor;

Neither contributing to the enemy's lies and terror,

Nor spreading disinformation, condemnation, prejudice, biases with fervor.

But striving each day to be mature, accountable,

Working out our salvation, and being more responsible.

As we learn to share the love He's given,

While we eagerly await our eternal places in heaven."

#HappyApril232024

"Family is more than blood, more than proximity,

But with those with whom we feel commonality.

Because as God's children, we're called to be

Like Him, who feels beyond what we see.

And so in life, as we go through,

We need to accept, understand me and you;

Be ready to share, be willing to love,

Acoording to the grace we receive from above."

#HappyApril222024

"'The end does not justify the means',

Wise words we often hear and they're true.

For things gotten and achieved by hands unclean,

Won't satisfy, nor bring contentment and peace too.

We may have shown a nice, amazing aesthetic

To the world, and gotten it to acknowledge;

But fakes soon receive their justice, so poetic,

And the falsity becomes a lifetime heavy baggage.

May we therefore endeavour to be honest and sincere

In all our dealings, even when no one sees.

For our God surely knows, He meets us here,

And showers upon us His grace and peace."

#HappyApril212024

"'Blessed are the peacemakers', our Savior said,

'for they shall be called children of God'.

Makes us realize the obligation that must be paid,

For this call is for all, with all we have.

Because in God's family, there is no room for prejudice,

Nor condemnation; for He alone has the right,

The magnanimity to reward as He pleases,

And the perfect discipline given with love and light.

With the little time we have in this physical life,

May we endeavor to keep peace, courtesy, fairness,

Wisdom, responsibility, accountability, settle all debts and strife,

That we may always experience God's mercy and goodness."

#HappyApril202024

"It's sobering to note that people are the same,

Some you trust, but they disappoint in a breath,

Some condescend, but treat you like an ATM,

And some manifest their selfishness and greed with stealth.

There are also those we look up to

But prove fallible and more wicked than most,

For they profess wisdom and faith so,

You're surprised, they're judgmental, unwelcoming, living a great boast.

Good thing though, we have a book and a life to learn,

That we soon see things in their proper perspective.

May we always remember that what we sow, we earn,

As we strive each day to make life better to live."

#HappyApril192024

"If only all our actions are so motivated

By love, that we abandon hate and selfishness.

If only we stop being greedy, inward-oriented,

But put ourselves in other's shoes, never tactless.

Then we would understand our Father's unconditional love,

Accept, absorb, manifest it wherever we go;

Always mindful of the unmerited grace from above,

And the need to impart them on others too.

Then, life would be a blessing, not a burden,

Our responsibilities become motivators to work humbly, diligently.

May we always remember it's a mandate given,

Love, humility and honest labor, the keys to eternity."

#HappyApril182024

"As we go about life, pondering, making choices,

We often come to choose between pride and wisdom.

Either we believe we're in the right places

To judge others, or to manifest God's kingdom.

Either we insist that we are the best,

That we're entitled to time, attention, privileges;

Or we feel equal with all the rest,

Needing guidance, sustenance, strength, correction, deliverance and forgiveness.

Always, the five finger test holds true:

When pointing one finger at others, the other four

Are pointed at us, who are without clue,

That first we must change, for maturity to occur.

May we always be enlightened to properly mind

The business of understanding, tolerance, responsibility and accountability;

That in our journey, nothing gets left behind,

Because our goal is not now, but eternity."

#HappyApril172024

"To each one is a different grace given,

Unique talents, gifts, abilities, different perspectives and thinking.

So that we might bring a piece of heaven

To whatever we do, say, whether working or playing.

Let's not forget to ascribe glory to the One who made

Us and all creation, as we deal with life's challenges.

For if we remember, our debts to life's circle was paid

By Him, who loves, forgives, provides, never changes.

And as we go about our everyday realities,

We are called to pay forward and give back.

With all we can do, with the best of our faculties,

Because we know and believe, He provides whatever we lack."

#HappyApril162024

"Home is where the heart is, it's true,

And home is not necessarily a physical place.

For home must be in our hearts too,

One that we carry through all our days.

And with whatever connection, wherever and whenever be,

We're at home if we feel we belong,

More than a matter of what we receive and see.

But one where right is upheld over what's wrong.

Where there is respect and love, understanding, peace,

Where there is growth, wisdom, honesty and accountability,

Where we are given freedom, are at ease,

Speaking our mind, supported as we fulfill our responsibility.

May we learn to make each space on earth,

A home for God's people, and all creation,

That we care and recognize each other's worth,

As we live daily being His holy nation."

#HappyApril152024

"Some choose these passages to encourage weekly church attendance,

Failing to look at their true meaning and relevance.

Our Savior preached and established a kingdom lasting forever,

So now, His kingdom is with us wherever.

When we eat or sleep, at home, in community,

We manifest His glory, giving our best ability.

And every chance we get to hope and encourage,

To bring peace and light, never just empty adage

Are points for soul-winning, victory over darkness,

Deliverance for those trapped in an elusive pursuit of happiness.

May we learn to ease the burden of others,

By teaching them a better life, what really matters,

That they may appreciate how good is our God of love,

How beautiful, meaningful, purposeful He has made the lives we have."

#HappyApril142024

"Some people question the existence of God,

As they face life's darkness, chaos and suffering,

Though some would like to vilify them as mad,

Still we can't discount how bad some things are going.

But in the midst of it all, we realize,

That our ability to think and make sense,

Shows a higher intelligence--to understand and apprise

Life's challenges, the universe's complexity--has precedence.

And so in faith, we learn to ascribe

The beauty of everything we see, the purpose

Of what we can't control, to One everlasting, alive,

Always at work, giving us freedom to choose.

And in humility we recognize and praise

Our God who sets all things in order;

That even though difficulties hound our days,

He always guides, enlightens, supports, strengthens us forever."

#HappyApril132024

"From high school up to now we are reminded,

Of our Saviour's everlasting words through the apostle Luke (12:48),

'From those who are given much, much is demanded,'

A tall order, as people of the book.

But we learn that's what makes life meaningful,

To heed and pay forward, to share, to give.

Because our existence came with gifts: souls beautiful,

Ready and built up, our Maker's will to achieve.

To make life better for others, bring peace,

Hope, love and light, that they may see,

Our God's love and care; that hopelessness may cease,

And His justice and joy may reign for you and me."

#HappyApril122024

"It's foolishness to believe, that only us matter

To God, for He cares for all Creation too.

Likewise vain to imagine, that we're always better

Because in our eyes we believe to be so.

For nature shows a massive diversity, of type,

Kind, abilities, forms, expression, and means of communication;

And it is wisdom not to believe in the hype,

Of our superiority, uniqueness, high calling or station.

For each of us is accountable for our action,

Thoughts, words, our daily living, sustenance and motivation.

And it speaks of principle, character and integrity,

To respect and value others, striving in humility."

#HappyApril112024

"We know that physical blindness is a disability.

Yet for some, it leads to a different ability.

For they say, all other senses get enhanced,

And hearing, smelling, touch, get refined and advanced.

And there are many cures to physical blindness,

Which we can avail of through science and kindness.

But spiritual, emotional blindness is difficult to cure,

In people whose ignorance, biases and prejudices are sure.

May we strive to keep our sights clear,

Banish doubts, insecurities, ignorance, superiority, pride and fear.

For we have a God who heals even today,

Enabling us to see His goodness and love every way."

#HappyApril102024

"Changing us for the better should be our aim,

Whatever we believe in, think, do and pursue.

For nature shows nothing ever stays the same,

How much more for both me and you?

Our parents and elders can only do so much,

Putting us through school, making us learn.

But with adulting, life becomes our watch,

And for us to strive to know and discern.

Likewise, in faith we believe in levelling up,

From only receiving the Word preached, cut and dried,

To exploring more, corroborating, researching, filling our cup,

With wisdom, our lamps we brighten, not hide.

May we ever grow to be more like Him,

Who Designed, Created, Saved and Provided for us,

That His Holy Spirit in us not go dim,

But shine brighter as the days pass."

#HappyApril092024

"Joy is difficult to find, fake and keep,

Even as we live and flaunt our lives online.

But it is a natural emotion running deep

In the heart of one content, with peace divine.

It's also a natural reaction to goodness,

When justice prevails, truth and right are celebrated.

Where people uphold humility, trust, integrity and fairness,

And where respect, good manners are always granted.

May we therefore endeavor to abound in joy,

In every situation, for each and every person.

As we spend our days to simply enjoy

The triumph of good, the victory of reason."

#HappyApril082024

On Long Weekends:

This realization came with age, and will not be appreciated by most...

Whenever long weekends are coming, travel and tour businesses, malls and amusement parks make us feel guilty of FOMO and entice us to go on trips, vacations, sprees kay long weekend lagi...

But what is the purpose of weekends?

Biblically and historically, it is to rest, a Sabbath and connection time with our Maker, in rest, meditation and holy, solemn worship...

And strangely, our souls really feel refreshed when we do that; rather than kill the time traveling somewhere far, hopping from place to place para daghan ta ug pictures from many different views and places, experiencing adrenaline rushes with noisy queues and crowds, but failing to savor our connection with God and nature in each nook and cranny of this green earth...

Mao diay no, the best weekend, is a weekend of rest, dili mulaag and mopahulay lang sa balay, freeing ourselves once a week from commercialism, the bondage of spending-toiling and earning-spending again, the burden of going far and traveling hard and long, just to "relax" somewhere, then repeating the whole tiresome journey on our way back home...

Indeed we really feel and receive the benefits of a long weekend when like our Creator did, we rest from all labors (even the labor of seeing other people and keeping up with their lives), and just being, zoning out, logging off, detoxifying our lives from toxic connections and stressful endeavors that take their toll on our time, finances, physical and mental well-being...

#LongAndRestfulWeekends

"It's a daily habit, yet marking our faith,

Showing up in our behavior, part of one's character,

To be thankful, content, despite having little wealth

To be mindful of our Heavenly Father's care.

And naturally, it bears fruit in wisdom too,

Understanding that we have no control over everything

But our thoughts, behaviors, words, actions and motivations,

Humility and patience, the virtues that come from knowing.

May we always be thankful each moment, everyday

That in life we gain the proper perspective,

Remembering that we are supported all the way

By our God from whose bounty we receive."

#HappyApril072024

"Maybe we should stop cherry-picking and learn more

Than what was lectured, preached, and proselytised,

Open our Bibles always first to the gospels,

To the actual teachings of our Savior, true guide.

For His words are priceless, timeless beyond comparison,

Teaching us good manners, respect, understanding and peace,

Empathy to others, doing our best on our own;

Being content, not seeking people to flatter or please.

Not always demanding help but be the one,

Helping ourselves that we might help others,

And opening our lives to different connections,

Knowing that paying forward is what matters.

May we be responsible and accountable for ourselves,

Being honest, truthful, patient, just, fair and wise;

Teaching others independence, maturity to fend for themselves,

And learn to face whatever challenges may arise."

#HappyApril062024

"A time for God, is what we need,

For a world awash in fear and hatred.

Recognizing that we are all jointly accountable,

Realizing that each of us must be responsible.

Yes, life's daily challenges may overwhelm or weaken

Our resolve, our conviction, so that we impose

Ourselves on others, but that shouldn't be,

For each one of us have struggles too.

May we therefore remember that nobody is obligated

To make life easy for us, but us alone

Who must bear the consequences of our decisions,

And receive due reward for our actions.

But not to fear, fret, be anxious or worry,

For He never leaves anyone helpless.

And that in all of our concerns and issues,

He's always there, His love and care priceless."

#HappyApril052024

"Boris Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago has this Psalm

As backdrop to its chapter on 'Forest Brotherhood

To show the commonality of faith in man

And the same hope of deliverance and good.

We realize that whoever and wherever we are,

No matter our age, gender, nationality and belief,

We need a Savior, a Father not far

But near to call, in joy and grief.

Like our human interactions, may we always nurture

That bond, special, eternal relationship, holy and divine.

As we fulfill our stewardship of life and nature,

Living His will, in body, soul and mind."

#HappyApril042024

"Beyond the Word and other people, but creation

Itself speaks to us about our God's wisdom,

Love, care, guidance, bounty, design, plan and provision,

Inclusive of everyone, bidding them to come.

Therefore we must be mindful what we hear,

And not falsely believe and follow the crowd,

For His will brings forth humility, holy fear,

Contentment and peace, direct opposite of the proud.

And it is to our salvation and security

If we meditate and be mindful as always.

For not just our earthly concern but eternity,

Is at stake, when we choose our ways."

#HappyApril032024

"First and last is leadership, what determines success,

For ourselves, others, with groups and communities.

And the spirit thereof is stewardship no less,

Knowing that we are simply entrusted with responsibilities.

And when we realize that we have a Great King,

Who is our ultimate Leader and Guide too,

Then with humility and accountability, we can manage everything,

Through whatever challenges, we're confident we can do.

So may we always remember our calling and role,

To guide, inspire, motivate, bring hope for the soul,

That in all ways our Creator might be glorified,

And that forever with Him we will abide."

#HappyApril022024

"It's time we understand the epistle for what it says,

And turn this passage around to remove our prejudices.

For in our time today that's globalized and online,

We know assembly means a bigger crowd beyond our families.

And this is not condemnation of one who doesn't have a clique,

Nor derision of those who fail to belong.

For it is encouragement to also encourage one another,

And motivation of our brethren as we journey along.

It also opens us up to be more understanding,

Tolerant of diversity, gifts, freeing us from envy,

And making us aware that we're all people in the making,

That if we love others, we also must let them be.

For each of us are given grace and strength,

But that we must support and care for one another,

Not give up on giving up to whatever length,

But also letting each other grow, as we journey towards forever."

#HappyApril012024

[pearllemonpr3]

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[writingforatwistedworld]

This is just a general request but I was wondering how would Leona,Ace and Sebak (separately) react to a reader that gives them flowers as a way of romantic affection or courtship(?).

I hope you have a good day and happy 500 followers.(^^)

Self-aware au

I do not take any responsibility for you reading this no matter which age group you are from!

WARNINGS: Yandere themes, religion, implied murder, imprisonment, obsession, possessiveness, murder, blood, stalking

Ace Trappola/Leona Kingscholar/Sebek Zigvolt-Giving them flowers

Ace is one of those that brag about things like this

But let's start from the beginning

So one day you came up to him and practically shoved them into his hands

Did he realize what was happening? No

He was way too shocked that something like this was happening

The moment he finds out that this is no dream he is for once pretty silent

Did the most powerful being in this world just give him flowers?

Does that mean that you accept his services??!

He really doesn't know how to react

Until now he always thought that he was the one who needed to approach you first

And even then his advances could never be romantic

Oh dear monarch, you won't get out of this so easy

He is suddenly everywhere

Not that he wasn't “watching you” before but now he doesn't even hide it anymore

You like him back, right? So no need to hold back!

Did I mention that he is also approaching you now way more than before

Now he is eating with you alone at a desk during lunch break, sitting besides you alone during history lessons, your usual desk neighbor suddenly ill and much more

Let's just say that you will see him a lot in the future...

Waitwaitwait, huh??!

Leona isn't used to getting gifts

Never mind romantic ones

So one day he blinks the sleep out of his eyes and then suddenly something is shoved into his face

You know that his sense of smell is more sensitive, right?

This leads to him sneezing a lot

And then he realizes that those are flowers

From you

Leona doesn't know what to do

Should he give you also flowers?

Nah, that's not his style

His style is rather always prowling around you, being offensive to others and making sure that you are isolated

You started this courtship so see through with it!

But nah, this isn't Ace and as per usual there is also more in the stuff that I write and if you are new, hi, welcome to the madness. It's tinted red (most of the time).

Leona brings you... “presents”

A hand here, a leg there...

All from potential dangers towards your relationship

If you had friends in their world I would recommend to keep your distance from that moment on

Safety measures

Maybe you should have just continued walking on that day...

You sure you want to do this? Yes?! Ok, it's your choice...

Fae are already going bacon they see a single hair of yours

So you giving him flowers?

Yes, you heard that right! Malleus isn't followed by a certain green-haired student anymore

Instead you are

The day you gifted him flowers he didn't speak a word for the rest of the day

We're his dorm members scared? Yes, yes they were

Sebek doesn't tell anyone why he was so silent on that day

Usually he would never keep something to himself but this...

This was from you to him!

And now you are having a weird relationship which includes him being something between a servant and someone you have a romantic relationship with

Or at least, he thinks you have a romantic relationship

In truth he is just so pushy that you are too afraid to tell him no

But dear Overseer, there are so many heretics, you must be protected!

And you aren't in the outside world!

So don't leave your room!

What can I say? You will miss your freedom but never the taste of really good tea

Just stay there like the good little God that you are and don't do anything stupid. Sebek would hate to take those legs away

Everything for your protection!

[thejustmaiden]

So out of nowhere I was tagged and quoted by a SR shipper for a blog of mine posted in August of last year. Talk about throwback but, hey, gotta appreciate that level of snooping. 😉

Back in the day I actually used to encourage discourse amongst Inuyasha fans- both shippers and antis alike- but I've since realized that it's a lost cause. But for you, @feministmetalgreymon , I'll grant this exception. Just 'cause it's been a while so why the hell not. haha

I want to assure you, however, that nothing you say will ever convince me that Sesshomaru and Rin are meant to be together romantically or that the story intended it so. Nor will you find any validation here. You can ship them for all I care, but please for all that is good and holy while I have your attention try- I mean really try- to understand why it is so many of us Inuyasha fans are so against this pairing in the first place (newsflash: it's not about ship wars), and why we believe a romance between the two of them is completely and utterly out of character.

For those of you interested in reading this, the blog of mine in question that the above shipper mentions in their counter-argument is here for reference. It's titled "Jaken = Rin's Dad?" I'm going to try and keep this short, but I'm also making no such promises. After all, I'm not exactly known for my brevity. haha Now let's get crackin'!

Like you, feministmetalgreymon, did for your recent blog here where you took screenshots of mine to address certain parts, I will be doing the same and dissecting yours accordingly.

[Snippet 1]

I worked with kids for many years as a teacher, and many people in my family have too or still do. Two of them happen to be just over 5 feet which is quite short for the average adult woman living here. I've also worked alongside many a women of short stature, and never did I hear any of them complaining of issues with their students having difficulty differentiating them from their own peers just because they were short as well. I'm sorry but that's just ridiculous. Kids are quite smart and pick up on a lot more than you seem to give them credit for. Height is not the only characteristic they look at to determine who's an adult and who's not, and it's foolish to suggest otherwise. So unless you're a babysitter who's still in their teens and/or who has very childlike features or behavior then I'm afraid what you're getting at is total hogwash. This is just another example of how you shippers offer nothing of real substance to your reasoning, it's only ever cherry-picking or strawmanning from you guys. Stop deflecting from the real issues please, because this certainly isn't one and only winds up being a complete waste of time for all parties involved.

[Snippet 2]

Okay, calm down now. I wasn't insinuating that relationships between parents and children can't change over time in terms of how they get along. Of course that's possible, as all families experience their fair share of estrangement and abuse. What I was speaking about was in reference to the overall dynamic between the two. Because a bad mother or father can still be viewed as a parental figure to their child even if say they're not in said child's life anymore. Since Sesshomaru and Rin share a healthy bond- and just a friendly reminder that in my blog I even said that he doesn't have to necessarily be labeled her father but that a romantic relationship later would still be inappropriate- I didn't deem it necessary to address what you brought up. Plus, it kinda, umm, misses the point?? Please, let's stay on topic. And it's not captured in the screenshot, but stop acting like there isn't a small part of them that idolizes their parents at some point during childhood. Just like you mention later on how it's normal for kids to have innocent crushes on adults that they eventually grow out of? Well, guess what, the same concept applies here. Kids eventually learn that their parents are far from perfect and make mistakes too. Rin is so damn young in the OG series though that we never even get to see her reach that maturity level.

[Snippet 3]

LOL! Alright, okay, so the "unbreakable bond" bit you're mentioning was actually me quoting you sessrinners. Did you not catch that? I literally spelled it out. *sigh* The whole point I was making is that shippers like yourself make hypocritical and contradictory statements all.the.goddamn.time. One moment you guys claim that Sesshomaru and Rin were essentially strangers and meant very little to each other, only to say in the same breath a few seconds later that they were destined to be together and their bond is like no other. I agree, their bond is special, but why must that mean they're going to fall in love?

That is the root of the matter here. Too many animes/mangas have romanticized this older adult man & young girl growing up falling in love trope that it's become way too normalized and widely accepted across the world- and yes, in some cultures more than others. Sadly, you lack the awareness to recognize how this all works. You know how we know that? When we see that you shippers are so desensitized to sexualized images of girls in the media that you share posts like this one below which *subtly* imply a future romance although one half of that pairing is still just a child in the pic and then try and pass it off as cute. That's like super fucking problematic and it scares me that you can't see that (or deny you do). 🤢

After all that's said and done, Sesshomaru leaving Rin in the village with Kaede is to me the strongest indicator more than pretty much anything else he's done for Rin that proves he is her adoptive father. It's so funny to me how you somehow see the exact opposite though. 🤔 What I think is happening is that you got yourself on some squeaky clean ass shipper goggles fresh out of your little echo chamber. Because I hate to tell you, but what you're fantasizing is what you want to see and not what's actually there on screen or was written into the story. I'm strictly talking about Inuyasha and the manga of course. [For the TL; DR version skip to the last paragraph.]

Parents looking after their kids is what parents are supposed to do. A good parent will do anything to keep their child safe and ensure they are cared for, so what he did for her by leaving her there was in her best interests clearly. Besides, as a babysitter, you more than most people should understand that parents aren't always able to be there for their kids so sometimes others gotta step in to help. Haven't you heard of the saying, "it takes a village to raise a child?" Which in Rin's case is literally true! 😂 Sometimes kids are even sent off to stay with grandparents and that's who raises them instead. Or maybe they have to temporarily live with an aunt or uncle because their single parent's job requires they work out of town 4-5 days of the week so they're hardly home. But that doesn't mean that the parents care or love their kids any less, and it's foolish to assume that Sesshomaru must have thought very little of Rin simply due to the fact that he made the decision to leave her in the village. Come on, y'all are acting like he abandoned her there!!

It's just given the circumstances Sesshomaru finally came to learn that Rin traveling with him was no longer safe. I also like to think it's because he wished for her to live a more normal life and to learn how to fully trust humans again. Plus, continuing to travel with him as young as she was would have proven dangerous and unwise. Now for you to know all this and still manage to turn his past actions towards her while she was just a child into a romantic gesture is what boggles my mind. Regardless of how you look at it, from my perspective or your own, Sesshomaru is in the wrong. Either he's a father figure who impregnates his daughter at the young age of approximately 14. OR he's this man she used to travel with who maybe isn't a father to her but who nonetheless basically rapes her since kids her age can't consent to sex with an adult. Idk about you but it sounds to me like nobody here wins with either scenario we're given. In other words, you should be just as mad as we are. If only one side didn't choose to forsake their morals they know we both have in common for the sake of a ship. Welp. 🤷‍♀️

I agree, incest is disgusting but that's not the only problem we have with this pairing. A romantic bond forming between Sesshomaru and Rin would also constitute as grooming.

You realize that over the years he visited her in the village that he brought her gifts too and essentially watched her grow up right before his very eyes, right? I mean, I know you do, but I really shouldn't have to explain further why pursuing a romantic/sexual relationship with each other is plain and simple wrong. And before you say it's not because he didn't have any malintent, please understand that considering their history and power dynamic up to then that yes this is still considered grooming even if Rin supposedly "wanted it" or "made the first move." Whether you consider him her father or not, as the adult who took on a role resembling that of a caretaker in her early life- a critical developmental time for a child- Sesshomaru is obligated to turn down any advances by Rin and most definitely should not initiate any himself. As the first close adult figure she's had in her life since her parents died, it's unfathomable to imagine how Sesshomaru could go through with taking advantage of this young girl who was under his care and supervision since they met. To think he could be capable of betraying that trust sickens me to the core.

This. Now THIS is how a parent/guardian or a similar adult caretaker (babysitter, teacher, etc.) talks to a child. And, in turn, this is how some young children talk to adults. You'd be insane and delusional to deny it! We see it in our everyday lives, do we not? From where else do you think our stories draw most of their inspiration? Yes, obviously these fictional universes have aspects of fantasy that don't exist in the real world, but so how then do you suppose we're able to relate to them? The reason for that being is because these stories are written by people for people, so naturally there are going to be real life aspects embedded throughout. Sure, a little escapism doesn't hurt as we don't need to take everything so seriously, but ultimately we all need to recognize that the messages in the stories we tell matter. Most stories possess a combination of both light and dark themes, but when it specifically comes to the latter we gotta be careful with how we tackle this in children's media since kids are far more impressionable.

So if at the center of a story we have two of the main protagonists whose mom is basically their same age and to top it off she knew their dad when she was just a girl and who just so happened to help raise her, wouldn't you say that's beyond fucked up or at the very least so fucking weird? Like why would we think it's even remotely okay for our children to watch this garbage?? Really think about it. Try and be objective for once and think about how it would sound explaining this storyline to an outsider who's never watched IY or HNY. Well, antis have tried this before many times and we always get the same reaction: Ewww!

Like I said earlier, if you wanna ship it then fine, but 1) please stop seeking our approval or trying to change our minds - your ship wish came true didn't it, so why do you need us to validate it? 2) even though it's not canon, respect that we don't support this sequel portraying pedophilia in a positive light. It's harmful af to not only allow but glorify the continuation of sexualized images of young girls everywhere. And I shouldn't have to say this, but just because this trope is popular as you say does not make it right. Lolicon themes in the media have been an issue forever and it needs to stop. Yes, even some people in Japan or "the East" would agree. Shocker!

We're pissed off and rightfully so because Yashahime's TV rating is 14, not to mention it airs at the prime time kids in Japan watch TV after getting home from school. That's Towa and Setsuna's age, true, but if Rin being the mom when she's like only a year older than them (please don't argue w/ me about the math- antis have so far been right every time with it) is straight-up disgusting and not something we should be supporting or endorsing. Rin's a whole ass child!! Please don't start with the "but times were different then so her having kids at 15 is acceptable" argument either, because we've already debunked that and every other single excuse you guys throw at us. Besides, how or why would you expect young viewers to know these historical "facts" anyway, especially if as you suggest fiction doesn't affect reality so what does it matter? Yet here we are, arguing over a fictional show in real life almost a year and a half into the "Sesshomaru fucks?" sequel being announced. My ass, your ass, hell all our asses fiction doesn't affect reality!

Look, I do apologize if the tone of this blog came off as snippy or condescending at times. I do not wish you any ill will, it's just I'm not really sure what you expected to get out of all this besides maybe getting on my nerves perhaps. haha A lot of you shippers have been desperately scrambling to interact with us, lurking in our tags, jumping onto our posts screaming canon and getting so defensive even though you sought us out first. We've been sticking to our tags, so how about you stay in your lane too. By the way since we're on the topic, have you seen Twitter or Reddit?! SR shippers there are the actual worst and many Inuyasha fans (not just antis) have complained of not feeling welcomed to engage in fandom spaces anymore. Shippers swarm them and scare them off simply because fans don't like your ship and refuse to accept it. It's pathetic, really. No one should ever be bullied or harassed just because they don't like something you might. We're all fans of Inuyasha, aren't we? So let's act like it. Yashahime on the other hand, you guys are welcome to that pungent heap of trash. Fans have a right to criticize it too, but if you like it then good for you, so keep on liking it and don't mind us.

I'm almost done, but real quick back to Jaken! Let's not forget about how the official Yashahime website- which came out after my blog, mind you- described Jaken. This translation isn't the best one available but it's the only version a fellow anti friend could track down. They do recall a better one done by a native Japanese speaker who was also an anti, and that member confirmed that Jaken is indeed called Rin's babysitter. So you see, I was right in my interpretation. In the original post I did compare Jaken to a brother, but after talking to others (some comments can be found under said post) I did acknowledge that he's more of a reluctant babysitter who's not related. And if he's not at least a brother to Rin, then he's definitely not her father.

At the end of the day, the creator Rumiko Takahashi has the final word. Which is guess what? Hogosha. 💖 Probably should've just started out with that and saved us all the trouble, huh? Good day/night to you.

Papamaru bids you adieu now. 🤞

[missnight0wl]

Since the topic of Ismelda came up and no one ever talks about her 🙈😅 I feel like JC doesn't know what to do with her (?). Like they didn't know what to do with Tulip so she appeared less and less, only like a cameo, there was the Cook Off but that tlsq came and went, and she was the least memorable character in there.

But Ismelda is weird cause they seem like they want to include her but don't know how? They can't decide whether she's getting nicer or is still the same old Ismelda. If she's over Barnaby or not. If she's Merula's friend or not.

One of the SQ that most gives me this feeling is The Quibbler - that no one talks about it ever, but I loved that tlsq - in which we see her doing something half understandable (a werewolf in school is dangerous and Dumbledore is an idiot), half unacceptable (especially because it's Chiara we're talking about).

But the thing is, we see her hanging out with a different pair of kids every scene like little henchmen, which is already unlike her, but also several of them were Gryffindors, and it's so OoC.

And I also didn't entirely understand her purpose here. Was it for the money? The pleasure of screwing over Dumbledore? Screwing over the werewolf? It was a really bad thing she almost did and I don't get how JC wants us to view her, because then we get her really friendly in other tlsqs of the same year, which returns with my theory of they're confused about what to do with her.

(Sorry this is stupidly long).

No worries about it being long! In return, you’re getting a pretty long answer. Apologies in advance because I’m gonna be very critical about “The Quibbler” TLSQ as it’s one of my least favourite quests, and I believe that Ismelda is not even its biggest problem.

But first things first. It’s probably just my nit-picking, but I still want to talk about it. I wouldn’t really compare the situations between Tulip and Ismelda. I believe that the main reason why Tulip was moved to the side is her strong connection to the main story. It was revealed by Matt London that her wand is a hand-me-down from her grandmother who attended Mahoutokoro, her parents work at the Ministry (where R might have bigger or smaller influence), there was the whole thing with her friendship with Merula, and Matt London just seemed to be fond of her in general. The problem is that Jam City got lost with their main story at some point. I believe that some of the elements I mentioned about Tulip might still be important, but I think that the problem is not necessarily that Jam City doesn’t know what to do with Tulip – they don’t know what to do with the main story. And Tulip suffers because of that.

I mean, look at Tulip in Y4. She had her whole investigation on Rakepick and the Cursed Vault which led her from House-Elves to Hogsmeade. Then, it was just dropped like a hot potato. Sure, there might be an in-game explanation for that: she was silenced by Rakepick. I mean, there’s no way Patricia didn’t learn about her investigation, and if she was discovering things faster than MC was supposed to, then Rakepick might’ve done something with it. It’s more likely, though, that JC started getting confused with the main story. Too bad that all notes they have on Tulip when it comes to future plans are about that. Anyway, the end result is kind of the same: that they don’t know what to do with Tulip. But as I said, I’m nit-picking.

Now, the situation with Ismelda is very different, in my opinion, because I don’t think she has much direct connection to the main story at all. What I mean by that is that she’s not really interested in the Cursed Vaults, for example. I believe that she joined Merula mainly because she wanted to belong. I don’t know, she just never really showed that she might care about the treasure or even the search itself. Because of that, the writers could work on her just as a character: someone who’s not exactly MC’s friend, but also is not as antagonistic as Merula. And that’s good! But ultimately, I suppose that Ismelda became a victim of the major change in the writing team by the end of Y5.

I talked about it a bit in my analysis on how MC was supposed to use Crucio on Rakepick, perhaps you recall. Either way, I strongly believe that there was some big change around that time. It even can be seen in our recent discussion about Rowan and Barnaby: how the writers seemingly don’t remember that Rowan tutored Barnaby for years etc. And I suppose it’s just the same with Ismelda. Notice how at the beginning of Y6, MC doesn’t remember at all that Ismelda is not that bad. We also totally abandoned the conflict between Ismelda and Merula. It’s not exactly that they grew apart because in Y6Ch13, there’s a scene where we learn that Ismelda still spies for Merula, for example. On the other hand, Merula hangs out with Ben suspiciously often – and Ismelda seemingly doesn’t have any reaction to that. Their relationship is still weird like that in Y7, actually. But what happened with Ismelda’s jealousy from Y5?

Now, the thing with her crush on Barnaby actually seems pretty realistic to me personally. I mean, as someone who used to have a big crush on their friend, I have to say – it’s not that easy to simply say: “Oh, I’m over with that!”, but also you want to be over with that, so it just ends up being very confusing. Of course, it could be as well the case of inconsistent writing, too, but that one thing doesn’t bother me much.

Moving to “The Quibbler” TLSQ, though… I don’t want to sound dismissive or anything, but I honestly don’t think there’s any point in trying to understand Ismelda’s motivation there or what the writers wanted us to think – and that’s simply because I doubt that its creator put much thought into it at all, to begin with. And the most problematic part of it is actually Chiara.

First of all, Chiara was super OoC in this quest. We know from the main story that she likes Divination very much, she’s very serious about it, she even believes Trelawney is a real Seer. There are even parts in Divination classes where she enjoys reading The Quibbler. But here, she suddenly laughs at the magazine? Why? Her strong scepticism makes absolutely no sense! Sure, you could argue that this story change her perspective on Divination and all of that, but the problem is that there’s no such conclusion in this quest. At any point, Chiara didn’t say: “Perhaps I shouldn’t make fun of The Quibbler after all” or anything like that. So, I’m sorry, but I just can’t accept this explanation.

Secondly, Chiara wanted to win money for the ingredients for Wolfsbane Potion, right? And we even had this scene:

But then, as soon as Chiara gets money, she’s all happy that she’ll be able to get ingredients in time. So… Chiara needed only money to get ingredients? So, the quest basically implies that DUMBLEDORE DIDN’T WANT TO GIVE CHIARA MONEY FOR INGREDIENTS? I mean, if Chiara needed only money to be sure that she’ll make it in time, what exactly was stopping Dumbledore from getting the ingredients from the same source?

I’m sorry, but it’s so bullshit. You can say a lot about Dumbledore, but he wouldn’t refuse to give Chiara money in a situation like that. You also can’t tell me that he didn’t have money. And even if you want to believe that Albus would be a scumbag like that, we saw in the “Lone Wolf” TLSQ that Snape cares about Chiara a lot, so he would give her money. Hell, Snape would buy the ingredients himself, brew the Potion and deliver it to Chiara.

The way I see it, someone really wanted to put Chiara in this quest for some reason, but they knew it doesn’t exactly make sense – so they needed a scapegoat. Sadly, Ismelda was the easiest to turn into a bad guy of the story. Honestly, I don’t think that the writer of this quest was thinking anything about how we’re gonna view Ismelda. They just needed to distract the players. I hate to say it, but it’s kind of an equivalent of Merula’s sad backstory. Just in this case, it was rather: “Let’s not care about writing a logical side quest. Let’s make everyone worried about precious cinnamon roll Chiara instead”.

I’m sorry if these statements sound a bit too strong, but I’m really annoyed thinking about how many people were hating on Ismelda after this quest while I didn’t see much on how little sense this story made in general. And truth be told, this whole situation kind of made me dislike Chiara…

Overall, I hope that “The Quibbler” TLSQ was an exception when it comes to Ismelda’s character. I assume that her role will still be somewhere between [MC’s friend] and [Merula]. I mean, I believe that that’s how she is usually (“The Quibbler” TLSQ aside). That being said, I also expect that Jam City is not gonna remember all of the past stories, so I suppose that Ismelda will never be truly consistent.

I have no idea if I addressed your concerns properly. I hope I did. If not, as always, feel free to ask for clarification.

[dwarvendiaries]

Future of the Fortress Highlights

On Adventure Mode's Art and Sound

[...] In the "definitely need it" category, we have the mid-level travel maps vs. towns/etc., and stuff like combat/movement indicators that we didn't need in fort mode.[...]We're currently giving some attention to aboveground plants which are much more visible in adventure mode (but this will also impact aboveground fort farms of course.)

Adventure mode is going to need a whole rpg-style soundscape.[...]

On Updating Animal Life Cycles

I was surprised at a few of the ones that didn't have a CHILD tag when I was going through. I'm sure some of it just depends on who their "copy paste" parent was way back when they were created, and since children were basically irrelevant back then, it just didn't come up. I don't know which if any will be changed in the upcoming update, though, since I'm just going to go with the art I've received, and those assignments were entirely based on existing tags, though I possibly missed or added some by accident ha ha.

On Classic UI

'D' [instead of the magnifying glass] doesn't mean anything obvious either, really, at the first encounter. It also maybe implies a hotkey. It's all down to tooltips in the end, if we have little square buttons in ASCII, which we are stuck with for now and which are always pretty bad. Ultimately we may be able to decouple the one-to-one match up a bit, but that won't be possible if I can't maintain it.

On Creature Generation in MythGen

To add to the replies, there's also that concept of the constrained dragon generator I've mentioned from time to time, and that applies to things like elves too, where there are lots of concepts that get mixed up, producing something 'elf'-like for a given setting. And there's the 'editor' style constraints, and the myth-imposed constraints. Once we have frameworks like that in place, we should be in a good position. We want to be able to build up raw definitions in various ways, with various stakeholders in the outcome - this seems possible anyway ha ha.

On Becoming the Villain (in adventure mode)

For the first question, yeah, this'll almost certainly be the case, in the general sense of your old character being an ongoing villain that needs hunting. All of the data structures and information will be the same, and it'll be set up for the AI to just take over - all of your subordinates will already be using this code while you are still playing, presumably even producing clues that you can stupidly/ironically follow to hunt yourself. That's the hope/intention/design, anyway, and I don't see a reason why it wouldn't work[,] though I'm sure some hiccups will arise. One I can think of is knowing the overall intent of your character - the game will act out their existing plots and relationships once you retire, but knowing broadly where they want thing to go needs some more info. This is a general issue with retirement overall I think we've mentioned before, but we haven't done anything with it aside from adding personalities and values to chargen.

For the second question[as being able to track your character down], I can't say yet, since I'm not sure how that system is going to work at a granular level. Certainly any new plots your adventurer hatches will fall under the investigation system that exists, but it may be trickier to find clues for existing plots, although each of the subactors that continues operating will likely generate them as they advance the existing plots step by step. But getting that first lead may feel different for retired player villains, and it may take some time to find it. That's my intuition now anyway.

On Procedurally Generated Superpowers

Yeah, as PatrikLundell suggests, I think the "bloodline of one" extreme would get you here, or maybe the corruption mechanics as well (which would be related to a blessing-style system as well, which is virtually the same as the current necromancer system.) It just needs a reason to generate a unique thing and it'd do it. And it needs to understand if children are affected and you might want a 100% wobble on that to make those unique too (or less to make them related powers, which just takes us back to a typical bloodline scenario), seems feasible. There are some practical limits on the number of simultaneous systems, but power definitions are pretty light weight.

So overall, I feel like we'd start within range, and then subsequent changes/mods/editor profiles would land you around where you want to be.

Toady's Devlog for 03/01/2023

Toady One, from the Dwarf Fortress Development Log:

A monthly report and a reply to the Q and A to start the month, a month where circumstances have calmed down a bit so I should actually have some things to post here as we enter the land of patches once more.

[aros001]

Going in blind: Watching season 1 for the first time. Random thoughts.

This show is kind of nice because I have no memories of the original She-Ra show, or even any of He-Man, honestly. I'm not sure if I ever watched the original, so I have no frame of reference for how the series is "supposed" to be. I can just take it and judge it as is.

Of the bat, all I know is that supposedly She-Ra and Catra get together as a romantic couple later, but I'm also a huge My Hero Academia fan and the fandom around me ships every character with every other character, so for all I know that might just be shipper wishful thinking I've been seeing and hearing. Given fandoms for Gravity Falls, Thor, and Supernatural ship even siblings together, I've learned not to trust anything except for what I see in the series for myself.

By the way, this isn't a review, just random thoughts and comments I'm having as I'm going through season 1 for the first time.

Episodes 1 and 2: Right off, I really like Catra's "No duh" response to Adora about the truth of the horde. She knows they've been lying to them and have been doing terrible things, she just doesn't care. If she and Adora play their cards right they could end up being the ones in charge and then they'd have all that power. Not necessarily to make things better but enough to where they could do whatever and live however they want. That's a good build for an antagonist. Not ignorant to the fact what they're doing is wrong, just simply so selfish that they don't care.

Episode 3: It really feels like there was no good reason why Glimmer didn't just outright introduce Adora to her mother and every reason she should have known it was a bad idea to try and hide her for a surprise. Being a former horde soldier she'd probably get treated with hostility if Glimmer brought her to the front gate but you'd almost guarantee Adora would get arrested or outright killed if she got caught while no one else knew she was there.

On the other side, we have Hordak being pretty intelligent in promoting Catra. He probably knows Shadow Weaver already doesn't like him, so it's not like he's losing anything making her upset with him, and it's clear she favors Adora way more than Catra, so that little bit of advancement towards Catra probably goes a long way in earning her loyalty to him and a person on the inside with Shadow Weaver.

Also, I'm not the only one who saw Madam Razz and immediately thought Adora had found her Yoda, right?

Episode 4: I don't know how it was in the original She-Ra and He-Man series but I kind of like She-Ra being this title from legend. Adora is not the first She-Ra, given what Razz was talking about with a Mara, so instead of being something new, impressing everyone with abilities they've never seen before, and creating the legend, Adora is placed in a position WAY over her head where she's having to live up to what came before her.

Episode 5: Calling it now, as long as her personality is genuine I think Scorpia is going to be one of my favorite characters in this show. She's...endearing, I think is the best word. She's like a mix of Kronk and a nicer Shego.

For a little bit I thought Mermista was voiced by the same actress who played Poison Ivy in the Harley Quinn animated series. She's not but they do have the same kind of Daria-ish inflections, thus by confusion. Given the prom episode, Sea Hawk feels kind of like her Kite Man.

Episode 6: Okay, now it's between Scorpia and Entrapta who are likely to be my favorites by the end of this. She's fun and quirky.

Episode 7: Quite the lore drop. Shadow Weaver was once a Mystacor sorceress known as Light Spinner. I like to imagine we'll get more on that later. Her haunting Adora reminded me of the Teen Titans' episode where Robin was similarly haunted by Slade. This didn't go as far as that but that's probably for the best, since TT had two and a half seasons to build that dynamic up with Robin and Slade while we're only now halfway through the first season.

Episode 8: Well dang. Again, I don't know for sure if Adora and Catra do end up together but boy do I buy why they're shipped together after that dance. Also, good on Bow for standing up for himself. It's clear that he'll always be Glimmer's friend and this won't change that but that doesn't mean he has to just accommodate her. I understand where her issues stem from but I am still glad he gave her a reality check. It helps him feel a little more like his own character.

Also, another nice little bit of lore and worldbuilding. Scorpia's a princess, the horde landed where her people lived, and they seemed to join them willingly.

Episode 9: Surprisingly don't have a lot to say about this other than I don't buy for a second that Entrapta is dead (EDIT: She's not). This was mostly action.

Episode 10: Not going to lie, this one kind of annoyed me a little, at least the first half. The conversation between Glimmer and her mother saved it a bit. It was a bit of a trifecta. You have the alliance breaking apart, saying that the loss of Entrapta only happened because they were all together...even though Entrapta only "died" because of her own machine obsession that caused her to deliberately walk back into the purging chamber. You have Entrapta who might be turning to the horde's side because she feels abandoned by the other princesses...even though they thought she was dead, and again it was her fault they got separated. And you have Glimmer refusing to tell her mother that Shadow Weaver's dark magic has caused her powers to go on the fritz and is causing her great pain. It just feels like none of this would be an issue if most of these people would stop being self-absorbed for three seconds and talk like any normal person would. It feels very CW drama, like something I'd see in a bad season of Arrow or The Flash. The only person whose issues I buy is Adora, who is basically a soldier who was never properly raised to deal with emotion or loss and is already struggling with the burden of being She-Ra, the legendary savior. I get why she's beating down on herself for not being able to do more even if nothing that happened was her fault.

Episode 11: JEEEEEEEEEZZZZ, that was such a good episode! Focused entirely on Adora and Catra and their past together. Like, just showing someone this episode alone could probably get them to want to watch the series. That was everything you needed to know about their dynamic and history together.

Also, that moment when Catra and her past self are looking at each other, while obviously Catra takes the opposite lesson, it reminded me of this fanart I'd once seen of Jason Todd, the Red Hood, looking at his past self as Robin. The past says to the future "You ruined everything". Catra could be happy but, ironically for someone who hates Shadow Weaver, she's probably going to be a lot like her, sacrificing everything for power and ambition.

Given the way she looked, I'm guessing Shadow Weaver is either addicted to the power of the Black Garnet or she suffered some kind of past injury and its power is the only thing keeping her going. Or both.

Episode 12: I'll be honest, Swiftwind being able to talk kind of gobsmacked and I needed a moment to recover. What a great voice they chose for that character.

So She-Ra is kind of like the legendary heroes from Rising of the Shield Hero, coming from a long line of people chosen to wield the sword. I tend to dislike chosen one types of stories because I think prophecy takes a lot of weight out of the character's actions, so this and Avatar are more what I like. The MC is special but not the only one who's ever been special and they can still easily fail. Their destiny was only to be able to use the weapon, not that they would succeed in any specific purpose.

And dang, Catra's turn against Shadow Weaver happened faster than I thought it would but I'm not complaining. That great "This is what you've really been preparing me for" speech and Hordak, again, being an intelligent villain. "Oh, this experiment could net me a MASSIVE gain and all it could potentially cost me is this rock I already gave away to someone who lately hasn't been producing any results and has been consistently disobeying me. Yeah, I'm going to let this play out."

Episode 13: That was kind of a brutal fight between Adora and Catra. Not the worst I've ever seen even in other shows for this age range (Samurai Jack, for example) but those punches are connecting and those claws are leaving marks.

Also, maybe I'm just misunderstanding the exact situation but shouldn't the good guys' side be called the Resistance instead of the Rebellion? Being a rebellion would imply they are rebelling against an established power or rule over them, but the actual conflict we are shown is the established power and rule that is the kingdoms of Eternia resisting an outside force that wishes to establish a new order over them.

Season 1 verdict: I'm into it. I'm definitely more invested in the villains' side of things but that's not a fault of the series, that stuff is just way more geared towards me than the current princess stuff. I actively am at attention whenever the horde main characters are on screen. For the good guys it's mostly Adora and the She-Ra stuff I'm invested it. That isn't to say I have any real dislikes for that side. Bow especially I'm liking much more than I thought I might. He has kind of this gravitational pull around him. You will be his friend regardless of how much you might want to resist. He's definitely the rock for everyone else to hold onto.

Minor side note, kind of like Korra in Legend of Korra, I love how even when her powers aren't active Adora is shown to still be pretty strong physically with how easily she was lifting people up at the prom.

And I was right, Scorpia is my favorite side character.

On to season 2!

Original Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/PrincessesOfPower/comments/nyll2e/going_in_blind_watching_season_1_for_the_first/

[bopinion]

2021 / 25

Aperçu of the Week:

"There are no great discoveries and advances as long as there is still one unhappy child on earth."

(Albert Einstein)

Bad News of the Week:

A new study gives distance learning a poor report card during the Corona crisis. Researchers at Frankfurt's Goethe University had looked at data from all over the world for this purpose - with sobering results: they found hardly any evidence of learning effects through distance learning in the studies, most of which refer to distance learning in 2020. "The average development of competencies during the school closures in spring 2020 can be described as stagnation with a tendency toward a decline in competencies," explained Andreas Frey, a professor of educational psychology at Goethe University and one of the study's authors. The success of distance learning "is thus in the range of the effects of summer vacations" (Der Spiegel).

This conclusion can certainly be described as frightening. And it should hardly turn out better for the spring 2021. Schools in Bavaria were closed for more than six months. And while my big daughter was able to achieve her university qualification nevertheless - and without any form of bonus! - solidly, it looks a little different for my little son. Mentally, I had already checked off this school year for him anyway. Fortunately, he's in the second of nine grades at secondary school, so there's still plenty of time to catch up on what he missed.

The problem might be to find an educational and functional way back to school normality. So for the time after the summer vacations in a good four weeks, I was expecting a kind of "school enrollment 2.0". And now this: Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn expects that after the summer vacations, due to the then dominant delta mutation of the coronavirus and the rather low vaccination rate among 12- to 15-year-olds, there will again be distance or shift teaching. How long should / must this continue?

The victims of the young generation play for my taste (not only now) a clearly too small role in the sociopolitical considerations in this republic. Apparently, the children and young people hardly have a lobby that fights for their interests. And their parents probably don't either. If the short-term prospects for young people (education and social skills) are not working out, what about the medium-term (digitization and career opportunities) and long-term (sustainable living environment and stable society) prospects? That worries me. Just me? Let's start a movement that finally lives up to the responsibility we have for future generations! Anyone on board?

Good News of the Week:

UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) scored a spectacular own goal this week. The Munich City Council wanted to light up the stadium in rainbow colors during the Germany vs. Hungary match in the European Football Championships currently underway. In protest against Viktor Orban's latest homophobic legislation. UEFA refused - because they, and therefore their championship, were apolitical. You can see it either way. As a result, the public outrage over this decision was much louder and the media coverage much more present than it would have been if the initial idea would have been carried out. After all, Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder demonstratively wore a rainbow mask in the audience. And the German team captain, world goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, wore a corresponding captain's armband on the field.

And with Carl Nassib, defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders, the first active professional in the NFL (National Football League) has come out as homosexual. Something that had to be waited for a long time in what is probably the most macho league in the world. Here, too, the echo was great. Players, clubs and the league congratulated him on this courageous step. In his short video, Nassib says he is interested in "representation and visibility." His explicit wish: that statements like his would one day no longer be necessary. In other words, that they no longer mean "breaking news", but normality.

The fact that these viewpoints come from team sports makes them particularly valuable. After all, as a spectator at the corresponding events, one likes to feel like a collective when "we" play against the others. So it has a signal effect.

P.S.: Orban then faced a powerful headwind at the EU summit. Led by Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, who outed (actually I hate this word, because it implies that there are sexual orientations that should remain a secret) himself as homosexual even before (!) his election in 2013, it was made clear to this right-wing populist that the EU is not just an economic club from which he benefits disproportionately. But above all a community of values. In which there is only room for nations that recognize this. Which, in case of doubt, they intend to enforce. I'm curious to see how this will develop...

Personal happy moment of the week:

My wife got her second Corona vaccination this week. For health reasons, she took an impending Covid 19 infection particularly seriously. And is now suitably relieved. And her ice hockey team, the Canadiens from its founding city Montréal, have made it to the final play-offs for the Stanley Cup after 28 years and in a complete surprise - something she didn't believe in herself. And is now suitably relieved.

I couldn't care less...

...what reasons Britney Spears' father gives for continuing to be her guardian. It's about money. And no matter what psychological problems the lady may have: it's her self-earned money and not old family jewels that need to be protected.

As I write this...

...I'm looking forward to eating cheese again today after a week of abstinence from dairy due to antibiotics. Especially because we're having tacos tonight - yummy!