#tragedies fortold

[rasberryt0rte]

Dungeon meshi gnome oc girl I swear I got lore for her but im posting this b4 continuing my focaccia rn

Was gonna make her like have some monster esqu features but this wasn't sit down and ponder time unfortunately I'll be back with more eventually 🫶

[rivilu]

There's something deeply enraging about dragon age giving the name Cassandra to a seeker of truth actually

[jay-avian]

"So Aphrodite is all like 'Girl, he was not a mama's boy', and Athena, my girl, she was like…" Hermes droned on and on as he and Tiresias walked along the river Styx. The prophet held his knotted staff in one hand with the other behind his back. A short smile came across his face as he listened to the god beside him. Hermes hovered as he went, talking wildly with his hands.

"And then Ares comes in all like 'Rawr, I'm angry, how dare you!' And I, for one, was not scared in the slightest, especially not for Athena-"

"Yes you were," Tiresias interrupts.

"Wha?! How would you know that?"

"I see both future and past, you know."

"I, well-" Hermes flew flummoxed, hands at his hips. "Then why are you letting me tell this story, then?"

Tiresias's smile grew. "Because you're amusing."

Hermes scoffed and smiled back. "Well, at least I can be entertaining. Gods know how drab this place is."

"For a messenger god," Tiresias spoke, "you tell your stories in strange ways."

"So says the one who speaks in riddles."

"People are never ready for the full truth," he said, turning his head as if looking at the god. "Their hearts cloud their judgement."

"Well you're damn right there…" Hermes paused for but a moment. "But anyways! The point of my story being that I freed my glorious great-grandson from Calypso's grasp! He sails away, fights the big bad, and bada-bing bada-boom, he's back home!"

Tiresias stopped. He gripped his staff tighter. He stood still as ice, only his hands shivering. Even his breathing seemed to freeze.

After Hermes noticed the prophet wasn't following him anymore, he turned around. "Hey, are you okay? What's got you in a tizzy, my friend?"

Tiresias spoke in a whisper, "…the red palace."

"Hey." Hermes flew over to him. "Let's get your mind somewhere else, okay? Somewhere more fun."

"All those men… All that, fear… trapped like sheep."

"It'll be fine, darling. They deserve it, don't they?"

Tiresias paused for a moment. "Nobody deserves this… All this, needless violence," he almost snarled if his voice hadn't quivered.

Hermes's hands were coiled back, unsure what to do. There was no solace he could give, not in this world, not with gods like them. He took a breath. "Listen to me." Hermes went forward and reached to hold his friend's face. Tiresias winced, but didn't back away from the touch. He only stood in his daze. "It's going to be okay. Get your mind on something else. Listen to my voice." Hermes looked at his friend with worry. Though his eyes were covered by his band, Tiresias still looked down and past the god.

"Why don't you tell me something good?" Hermes asked. "Something you've seen that makes you happy."

"There's nothing good in this world," the prophet spat. "Nothing but tragedy, doom to be fortold-"

"Don't say that. There's plenty of good things. Like m-" Hermes stopped. "Er… Well, think about how Ody's going home to a wonderful wife. To be reunited with someone he loves and cares about, to someone who cares about him, too…" As he looked down, the shadows lifted and his eyes started to unveil themselves. "Or Persephone, how she comes down to see the love of her life, despite it being so dark and depressing. How she comes to give what little sunshine she can, because she cares about him…"

Tiresias loosened his grip on his staff. His shoulders started to fall, and slowly, he began to breathe again. Taking a deep breath, his head rose to meet Hermes. A breif moment passed where the two men faced each other in silence. Tiresias sighed, and gave a short smile. "Thank you, my friend."

Hermes grinned wide. "Anytime, darling."

Tiresias backed away, straightened up once more, and gestured to the river Styx. "Shall we continue?"

Hermes furrowed his brow. "Er- Just like that? Are you sure you're okay?"

"This is my burden to bear. I have beared it long enough to compose my countenance."

"W-well sure," Hermes stammered, "but that doesn't mean you should hold it in all the time. You need to let loose, let some things go, take the weight off-"

"He who veils his eyes should not ask another to reveal his," Tiresias said, turning to face the god. The prophet said nothing more. He only looked on.

Hermes moves back, his hands coiled back again. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out at first. He looked to the ground. "You're right…" His eyes became shaded once more. A half-smile formed on his face. "You're absolutely right. You know, come to think of it, I think I'm going to see how things are doing up there. So if you'll excuse me, I think I'll be going now. Chao!" And with a clap of his hands, Hermes flew off down the river, which left Tiresias with a sudden, deafening silence.

[To be continued...?]

Fanfic writers I will get on my knees for one of y’all to write some Tiresias/Hermes action 🧎🧎🧎

[revchainsaw]

Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Prayers and Salutations Cult Members! I am your mysterious minister Reverend Chainsaw and this is another nights revival service at the Cult Film Tent Revival. I bring you a special word tonight. Tonight's word is about a person who roamed the earth, in a time where people were backward and warlike. A leader emerged into a kingdom full of eschatological expectation. This leader came preaching peace, and was killed for the sins of the world, but was resurrected. In that resurrection a new hope was brought to the planet, and true healing through the power of love in the face of violence is made possible. I am talking of course about Princess Nausicaa from the Valley of the Wind.

The Message

Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind is the film that put studio Ghibli and Hayoa Miyazaki on the map. No animated feature this grandiose and epic had been achieved by 1984, as much as Disney may beg to differ. The tale may be simple, and it may feel super 80s to us today, but Nausicaa is a masterpiece, and the fact that Howl's Moving Castle is brought up alongside Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away more often than Nausicaa is a farce and a tragedy.

The film takes place on a fantastic planet that seems to have suffered the ravages of an apocalyptic war. A war that involved gigantic warriors with powers so devastating they about made the entire planet inhospitable if not uninhabitable; save for a few areas. The fall out of this ancient war has left the earth in a state of repair, where the natural processes of a planet healing has creating giant toxic jungles.

Beyond these jungles lie two imperialistic factions, they seem almost to be city-states but it's not terribly clear. The Kingdom of Tolmekia, a militaristic proto-fascist society of almost Spartan sensibilities. Tolmekia is governed by the ambitious and cynical Princess Kushana, But I like to call her Furiosa. Just like Furiosa, Kushana is physically missing parts of herself, a visual metaphor for her metaphysical lacking and the parts of her humanity she has cut away. Kushana's world view is one of fear, a fear that can only be quelled by waging a genocidal campaign against her enemies.

Speaking of enemies, the Athens to Tolmekias Sparta would be the Pejite Kingdom. The Pejites might like to view themselves as simply responding to Tolmekian aggression, but the narrative of the film, and the story told quite visibly on the body of Kushana, is quite different. The Pejites are just as bloodthirsty if not more palettable in their approach, but like the Tolmekians, they believe only their own lives have any value. And thus, in this theatre of war, a Giant Warrior from the ages before is unearthed by the Pejite Kingdom, Stolen by the Tolmekians, before the forces of nature themselves, seem to conspire to drop the Giant Warriors "egg" right into the Valley of the Wind.

The Valley of the Wind is populated like the world of Avatar the Last Airbender, that is mostly of children and the elderly. The people of the Valley have been able to remain untouched by the ravages of war and the toxic jungles of the damaged world primarily due to geographic luck that's explained in minor exposition in the film. They are ruled by a King, and they are all deeply enamored by their beloved Princess Nausicaa.

Nausicaa is a gentle soul. She is kind to animals, she is empathetic, unreasonably patient, and bears pain and grief inflicted on her out of cruelty with a saintly understanding. She really is a thinly veiled Christ figure, scratch that. There is no veil. But she's also my favorite Christ figure. She does not preach a message, as much as she tries to save everyone from their own short sighted goals. She is not perfect, she does lash out and do some fantasy sword fight murder, but she regrets her actions so deeply that it seems to have played a part in motivating her to become even more compassionate and patient with the evils of the world.

Nausicaa discovers yet another plot by the Pejites, who are afraid of the possibility of the Tolmekians awakening the Giant Warrior, to use animal cruelty to enrage a group of almost invincible giant insects known as the Ohm. By luring the Ohm into the Valley of the Wind where the Tolmekians have become an occupying force, they hope to completely wipe out everything that threatens them. The Tolmekians DO awaken the Giant Warrior and pure pandemonium ensues. Nausicaa manages to save the Baby Ohm and calm the rage of the bloodthirsty Ohm swarm, and to defeat the warlike tendencies of both the Pejites and the Tolmekians. All the while fulfilling a prophecy fortold about a messianic savior figure called the Man in Blue.

Now that you have heard the Gospel of Nausicaa, please stand to receive The Benediction.

Best Character: Half a Person

Now that I've spent the better part of this review gushing about our Lord and savior Nausicaa. I have to admit, she's at times a bit too perfect, a bit too saccharin. Even her flaw, or her one weakness and her failing to be perfect, just adds to the perfection. I can't even say she never makes mistakes cuz she made one, and that's infuriating. It's even more infuriating that I still think she's a great character. Normally this kind of thing really kills a hero. Most Chosen Ones are the most boring and least likeable characters in their narratives. I don't know how Nausicaa avoids this trap, but she does. I'll have to do some meditating on that.

However, just like in your typical Chosen One fantasy narrative, the hero is a lot less fun than the villain. I'm going to say the best character in Nausicaa is Kushana. I want to be like Nausicaa, but I don't understand her. She's almost alien, even though we learn all about her. Kushana is mysterious, secretive, and enigmatic, yet I understand her. She barely has an arc, she doesn't really change. She's cold and cynical to the bone, but I don't need to see much of her situation to completely understand why she is the way she is. I usually hate totalitarian bad guys, but Kushana I like. Sue Me.

Also fun fact, did you that Nausicaa means 'Sinker of Ships'. That's kinda fun.

Best Scene: Spoiled for Choice

I'm going to be lazy and say take your pick. There is really not a bad seen in this movie. If the action isn't going, then there's intriguing dialogue. If there's no dialogue then you may be about to get hit with a forceful burst of whimsy. There's horror, there's swordfights and aerial dogfights. The only thing in Nausicaa I don't like to see, is the bloody tortured Ohm Baby. It's like a god damned Sarah Mclachlan commercial.

Best Creature: Foxy Shazam!

The Ohm are so simplistic yet so detailed. The number of eyes is alien, but the way they are used is expertly expressive. Who'd think you could get me to love what basically amounts to a silverfish with the intensity that I love a kitten. How did Miyazaki pull an Okja with a creature that should be haunting our dreams? I don't know.

And what about the Giant Warrior! If you are an Evangelion fan then you probably already know that Hideaki Anno designed and animated the melting goopy biomechanical beast. Surely a sight that would make both H.R. Giger and Clive Barker giddy with excitement. Just the image of the silhouettes marching amidst the desolation of the old world is burned into my brain.

So which of these is the best creature from Ghibli's first outing? It's fucking Teto. It was always gonna be Teto you idiot. Just look at Teto, he's adorable. He's too cute to exist. I'm so alone. I need a pet.

Best Character Design: Tolmekian Regalia

I originally included this category to talk some about Kushana, however, at that time I also thought I was going to say Nausicaa was the best character. I thought hard about deleting it, but I think it's a different category and you can't accuse me of playing favorites because my favorite character is clearly Teto. Just to keep it simple. It's the two costume shift from full military regalia in white and gold, to the one metal arm, warrior princess get up. It's a great costume and a great look. Get on this shit cosplay nerds. It's great for Cons in Canada, you have to think about layers, and you can't keep going as Mr. Plow. It's lazy.

Best Excuse to Talk About Patrick Stewart's Character: Lord Yupa

I just realized that I was about to write this whole review without talking about Lord Yupa. Lord Yupa is a sword saint and all around badass I think a lot of entertainment, especially in the west is lacking bad ass old men. Lord Yupa particularly shines in the early half of the film as a warrior and as a wise council to Nausicaa. If she's Jesus then Yupa is John the Baptist. He is also voiced by the elegant and eloquent Patrick Stewart. He also comes with 2 chocobos!

Worst Character: For Whom Asbel Tolls

This might also be the worst actor category as well. Actual Cannibal (haha meme) and actual monster (haha real life) Shia Labeouf doesn't so much act in the role as he read the lines and it was recorded. The good news it doesn't effect the film too much because Asbel is completely forgettable. He is a catalyst to some of the action, but besides that I don't really care for him.

Worst Aspect: To Be Fair ...

It would be unfair to completely ignore anything negative about Nausicaa. I have already mentioned in many places that there are some pretty corny, or pretty predictable tropes to this movie. But what I can't capture in words is exactly why it feels fresh when it's done in this movie. I suppose that's what makes it good. It's just so good that it's weak points are lifted up by it's strengths. Some people may bored of Nausicaa's unyielding goodness, or that she very rarely chooses to take action as much as she chases and pleads with her surroundings, but I mean, she does pay for that eventually. It's a fantasy story and it hits a lot of timeless themes that have been hit in stories for as long as human beings have been telling stories. Some people may feel that it doesn't do enough to stand out.

Summary

I have defined the S tier for myself as "near perfect and personal favorite" films. I like to think that Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind is near perfect. Some may say that it looks like it might just be a personal favorite. In the case of Nausicaa, I'm having a very hard time telling the difference. I think it would be overly simple to claim that Nausicaa is just an ancient archetypal heroes journey with an 80s anime coat of paint. I think it's doing quite a few new and interesting things with that formula, those things are just playing out all around that narrative as opposed to being at it's center. For a first full length outing by the studio, you can really see Miyazaki's heart and the values he holds close to. I'll repeat myself so that we are completely clear on the matter. I think Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind is a near perfect movie.

Overall Grade: S

[blacklezbium-blog]

Run, Gemini child And run fast For tragedy is hounding You in the guise Of glory And billing you For excesses uncontrolled The end is drawing near…. Though you have no fear, Must you also have no shame? Hide, Gemini child And hide yourself well Hold still, unmoving Drop out of sight And out of mind For the consequences Have exacted from you A high price to pay A form of revenge Festering in your unkempt spirit How could you live As you have allowed yourself To lead? Destroy not your soul For materials that put their Patents on you… Must you go so low? Can you never go slow? Downwards is a long And empty route It was not the road That the heavens had Destined you to take Though it be the one You will never, ever forsake… Be kind dear Gemini child And go down alone If you think that you must Your looks might be lasting But your heart remains wanting Let other people move on And share not This unnecessary pain Let time be the judge Nor excuses be made For your living the fullest Through irreverent ways…. Curse of the seasons Child of the star Rest but your head On a pillow of stone Walls that constrict From maggots insist Anaesthetize all emotions That plagued you in life… Meet me at Forest Lawn Where to you I will sing To wipe all your tears And sunflowers bring Moodust on my pocket And one for the road Dear Gemini child Running from cold Kiss to the fate All the prophets fortold Dear Gemini child So beautiful and so bold Mine is a love That time can not fold Depicted in stories That shall never be told…