#we don't learn a great deal about our two leads at this point‚ but their relationship certainly seems spiky (Carlisle is given to making

[mariocki]

New Scotland Yard: Point of Impact (1.1, LWT, 1972)

"I thought they'd lumber you with it."

"Did you, why?"

"It's a touchy one, isn't it?"

"There's a policeman involved."

"Yeah, unpleasant."

"Always."

"You were bound to get it."

"Thank you."

"Would've never happened at all if it hadn't been for that blasted Law and Order Brigade turning up on the scene, bloody reactionaries."

"Look, spare me the catchphrases, will you? I don't understand what half of them mean, I don't suppose the people who bandy them about do either."

"Well, I happen to know what a reactionary is."

"Good. You must explain it to me in great detail. Some other time."

[dailyadventureprompts]

Homebrew Mechanic: Meaningful Research

Being careful about when you deliver information to your party is one of the most difficult challenges a dungeonmaster may face, a balancing act that we constantly have to tweak as it affects the pacing of our campaigns.

That said, unlike a novel or movie or videogame where the writers can carefully mete out exposition at just the right time, we dungeonmasters have to deal with the fact that at any time (though usually not without prompting) our players are going to want answers about what's ACTUALLY going on, and they're going to take steps to find out.

To that end I'm going to offer up a few solutions to a problem I've seen pop up time and time again, where the heroes have gone to all the trouble to get themselves into a great repository of knowledge and end up rolling what seems like endless knowledge checks to find out what they probably already know. This has been largely inspired by my own experience but may have been influenced by watching what felt like several episodes worth of the critical role gang hitting the books and getting nothing in return.

I've got a whole write up on loredumps, and the best way to dripfeed information to the party, but this post is specifically for the point where a party has gained access to a supposed repository of lore and are then left twiddling their thumbs while the dm decides how much of the metaplot they're going to parcel out.

When the party gets to the library you need to ask yourself: Is the information there to be found?

No, I don't want them to know yet: Welcome them into the library and then save everyone some time by saying that after a few days of searching it’s become obvious the answers they seek aren’t here. Most vitally, you then either need to give them a new lead on where the information might be found, or present the development of another plot thread (new or old) so they can jump on something else without losing momentum.

No, I want them to have to work for it:  your players have suddenly given you a free “insert plothook here” opportunity. Send them in whichever direction you like, so long as they have to overcome great challenge to get there. This is technically just kicking the can down the road, but you can use that time to have important plot/character beats happen.

Yes, but I don’t want to give away the whole picture just yet:  The great thing about libraries is that they’re full of books, which are written by people,  who are famously bad at keeping their facts straight. Today we live in a world of objective or at least peer reviewed information but the facts in any texts your party are going to stumble across are going to be distorted by bias. This gives you the chance to give them the awnsers they want mixed in with a bunch of red herrings and misdirections. ( See the section below for ideas)

Yes, they just need to dig for it:  This is the option to pick if you're willing to give your party information upfront while at the same time making it SEEM like they're overcoming the odds . Consider having an encounter, or using my minigame system to represent their efforts at looking for needles in the lithographic haystack. Failure at this system results in one of the previous two options ( mixed information, or the need to go elsewhere), where as success gets them the info dump they so clearly crave.

The Art of obscuring knowledge AKA Plato’s allegory of the cave, but in reverse

One of the handiest tools in learning to deliver the right information at the right time is a sort of “slow release exposition” where you wrap a fragment lore the party vitally needs to know in a coating of irrelevant information,  which forces them to conjecture on possibilities and draw their own conclusions.  Once they have two or more pieces on the same subject they can begin to compare and contrast, forming an understanding that is merely the shadow of the truth but strong enough to operate off of. 

As someone who majored in history let me share some of my favourite ways I’ve had to dig for information, in the hopes that you’ll be able to use it to function your players.

A highly personal record in the relevant information is interpreted through a personal lens to the point where they can only see the information in question 

Important information cameos in the background of an unrelated historical account

The information can only be inferred from dry as hell accounts or census information. Cross reference with accounts of major historical events to get a better picture, but everything we need to know has been flattened into datapoints useful to the bureaucracy and needs to be re-extrapolated.

The original work was lost, and we only have this work alluding to it. Bonus points if the existent work is notably parodying the original, or is an attempt to discredit it.

Part of a larger chain of correspondence, referring to something the writers both experienced first hand and so had no reason to describe in detail. 

The storage medium (scroll, tablet, arcane data crystal) is damaged in some way, leading to only bits of information being known. 

Original witnesses Didn’t have the words to describe the thing or events in question and so used references from their own environment and culture. Alternatively, they had specific words but those have been bastardized by rough translations. 

Tremendously based towards a historical figure/ideology/religion to the point that all facts in the piece are questionable.  Bonus points if its part of a treatise on an observably untrue fact IE the flatness of earth

[menaceoffandoms]

LMK analysis rant: Mei

I said I was gonna do this and I'm keeping to my word! The only thing that may stop me is my procrastinating... and the fic I'm slowly writing but uhhhhh-

ANYWAY- We're here to talk about Mei, our favourite white horse dragon pepper girl!

Mei stands out as the most different from her inspiration, something the writers perfectly portray in the yellow-robed demon episode of s4, which is likely to do with how little they had to go off of. Despite being one of the pilgrims in jttw, Ao Lie dose very little in the novel. His most notable chapters being when he's introduced and when the group faces the yellow-robed demon, which is why we met him in that memory in the scroll. Combined with my belief that Mei isn't a reincarnation of Ao Lie -- just his descendent -- means that Mei is one of the most unique characters in the entire show.

There's just less source material for her to draw from, it let's the writers have more fun and do more things. It's not that they don't make the others characters unique -- they like to play very fast and loose with things over all -- but Mei feel like her own complete and original character. She's inspired by Ao Lie in the same way Mk is inspired by Monkie King basically and she all the better for it.

Being the female lead (isn't it interesting how most of the female characters in this show are villans?), Mei is a refreshingly strong, confident girl who begins the show as the most powerful cast member. Being a descendent of the great dragon gives her amazing powers that no other cast members have, a birth right that leads to her being the most protective of her friends and the first to help out in any fight.

What she has in power, however, she lacks in experience. Mei has no mentor -- other than her parents, but I believe its safe to assume they weren't very focused on teaching her combat -- which leads her to trust her gut more, rush into things and learn through observation, like when she mimics what her great x1000 uncle did in s3.

Overall Mei is an excitable, energetic and loving person with a "You only live once" kinda attitude, for lack of a better explanation. Even still, she has her own insecurities and flaws which make her all the more interesting. Due to the shows run time, Mei and many of the other main characters don't really get explored as much as Mk, however what we do see of these struggles and fears is incredibly interesting even on a surface level.

Her tendency to rush head first into danger without first examining the situation or creating a plan, truthfully, tends to work out for her, but it can't always. It's something shown perfectly in s4, when Mei is the only member of the group to not get a star from Master Subohdi, however what a lot of people seem to miss is how Mei actually did earn that star eventually.

When they leave the temple and head to the celestial realm to try and stop Azure, Mei leads them there with no plan at all. As such, they fail and need to be saved by Mk. Faced with proof of Subohdi's criticism, Mei makes the more important amendment to Mk's plan in the s4 special. I don't think we've even seen Mei make a serious plan until this point, which feeds back in to another one of her flaws: being unable to take things seriously.

This isn't something I see said about Mei often, but when watching her character I think it's externally obvious. Don't get me wrong, Mei can be serious, but usually only in moments of vulnerability or high stress. For example: when talking with her pearents, after she gained the Samahdi fire and whilst imprisoned by the Yellow-robed demon.

I think this flaw is Mei's own version of Mk playing dumb. They both behave this way to lessen the emotional impact of serious things, to protect themselves and help those around them deal with trauma or difficult topics. Mei and Mk really are two sides of the same coin and I'd love for them to do more with that in the show.

Going back to Mei's parents, one of her biggest struggles is reconciling who she is with who she's meant to be. She is a noble dragon, a descendent of the great dragon of the West Sea and practically the successor to Ao Lie. It's a lot to live up to and -- evident in episode 3 of season 1; Welcome home -- she doesn't believe she dose.

Mei is confident in her abilities, she's sure of her strength and quick to help those around her, but in the face of her legacy she stands uncertain. It's another thing her and Mk have in common, though in vastly different flavours, and it's interesting how this legacy colours Mei as a character.

She wields the dragon blade, proving herself as a worthy part of her family and gaining the approval of her parents, however the stark difference between her and the rest of her clan is more blatant than ever. We see this perfectly in season 3 when they visit the great Dragon of the East Sea, Mei being put into fancy clothes she instantly ruins in order to have a place to hold her sword. She fights against her uncle, fights against her family, because she knows they'll never understand her. But even still, she knows she's still one of them and she's so proud to be.

Becoming the vessel of the Samahdi fire is only more proof of Mei's legacy and connection to her family. It gives her a moment of pure vulnerability where she vents her frustrations and fears before rushing away, wanting nothing more than to protect the people she cares about.

When Red Son finds her she's still serious, but even with just a basic understanding of the fire within her Mei falls back to her normal nature; a silly excitable girl not taking things seriously. We see this after Red Son attacks her with the spears and when she's eating later on, but even if her attitude doesn't show it, she's still listening and taking the training seriously. She just needs to be silly so she won't freak out again.

Since we're on the topic of the Samahdi fire, I think most people can agree that the way it was handled post s3 was very poor. With only one mention of it in s4, by Master Subohdi no less, I assumed that the fire had been resealed, this time correctly. Something that dangerous should be locked up, even if a capable wielder is around. It would also prevent power creep and stop the show from having another Wukong predicament, by which I mean a character so powerful they need to find a way to prevent them from trivialising whatever threat they have to face in the plot. Wukong will get his own post soon don't you worry...

Instead, we learn in s5 that Mei still has the fire, she just kinda forgot? She learned to fully master it when breaking out of LBDs mech, so since the fire was no longer a raging uncontrollable inferno she just didn't realise it was still there... for an entire season. Yeah it feels lazy and honestly is probably the worse written choice the show has even made. Even still, it dose lead to a very interesting and in character moment for Mei.

When attempting to seal the willow wisp with Red Son, Mei loses her confidence, believing that she lost the Samahdi fire and thinking she's lacking. Mk getting Monkie Kings powers was one thing, but the rest of her friends now having cool weapons and magic? If their all so strong and only getting stronger, then what's the point in Mei? She was the strongest but now she might be the weakest, and that terrifies her cause if she's weak she can't protect people. How can she act when she's powerless to do so?

This dilemma is quickly resolved by Red Son telling her she's had the fire the whole time, amending it's use to Mei's lightning motif she's had since s1 -- I know fire benders in ATLA use lighting but come on -- and basically saying she's been using the fire the whole time. It takes away from Mei's whole struggle to be honest, but I do think there's potential for her to relearn this now tamed Samahdi fire so she can better use it. Just depends if the show wants to do that...

Moving on from my thinly veiled complaints about season 5 (I like it I swear but it is the weakest seasons to me so far), let's talk about Mei's role in the group a bit. Aside from being the token girl, she's also Mk's best friend and the only other character his age and acts around the same age as the shows target audience. Mk's the main character and leader, Tang is the lazy historian smart guy, Sandy the loveable giant, Pigsy the cynical brute and Mei's youthful and silly power house.

I would love to go into some narrative tropes, specifically the 5 man band since jttw is one of the primary bases of the trope, but I've realised I have far too many thoughts about that to fit here. This is the 21sh paragraph and I'm sure at least some of this is a mess, but I hope I'm getting my point across! Overall, Mei is an extremely compelling character how often gets side-lined due to run time and other stuff, but is honestly one of my favourite characters in the show.

[ineffablelara]

Series Loki, Avengers Loki and the "real Loki"

Okay so, I've been wanting to write about this for a while now, I always see people talking about how much they love series Loki because that's where he's most comfortable with himself— and I agree, I love him too and I think it's great that he learned to accept more some aspects of himself and got more comfortable with showing vulnerability to others as well as allowing himself to make meaningful connections with the people around him

BUT

Saying that Avengers Loki is not the real Loki just tells me you don't really understand Loki as a character at all

I'm part of the few people who don't entirely buy into the headcanon that Loki was brutally tortured by Thanos in the 1 year gap between Thor and Avengers, I think he did went to very bad places but it doesn't make sense to me that Thanos would break physically and mentally the man he was sending to lead an army on a different planet to get him an infinity stone, I believe he had to fight for his life after his fall and Thanos probably submitted him to a very rigorous training like he did with his daughters (yes, one could argue that that was tortue but let's be fr, it's on a whole different level)

Anyway, my point is: Loki didn't attack Earth against his will, he was angry and hurt, feeling betrayed by his family and dealing with an identity crisis, he was livid, he went through hell after his fall and now he had a chance to cause some trouble for Thor and Odin and he was going to take it

I don't believe Loki really cared about Thanos' philosophy and the whole "freedom is a lie" thing, he was parroting what Thanos told him to cause some dramatic effect but I don't believe, not even for a second that he gave two fucks about it, again, he wanted to make trouble and to cause damage, he wanted to hurt Thor and Odin bc he felt hurt, he didn't care that innocent people were going to die, he didn't even think about them, he just wanted to channel his anger and to piss off his family, and ykw?

That's the real Loki

Because Loki is not some perfect little angel who was forced to do bad things against his will in order to survive, Loki is a vengeful God, a being of chaos, a master of magic and sometimes... an asshole

Sorry, he's not the little baby we all like to pretend he is sometimes, yes there's lots of pain and shame and sadness inside his heart but that doesn't erase the fact that there's some ugly parts in his personality, that's what makes him so complex in my opinion, he's not necessarily evil but he's also not necessarily an innocent baby either, he said it himself:

Believe it or not, that applies to him too!

Avengers' Loki shows us the "ugly" parts of himself—parts many would prefer to ignore. But sorry to break it to you: that was the real Loki too.

Some might argue that the whole "God of Mischief" persona was merely a facade to hide his vulnerable, weak self, but I disagree. I believe Loki did use his title to build walls around himself and keep others at a distance to some extent. However, things aren’t just black and white—Loki is the God of Mischief, whether people like it or not and that means he thrives in chaos sometimes

I mean, he even tells Mobius, "Sometimes our emotions get the better of us," when talking about the New York attack. I know some people don't like that scene because it contradicts their headcanon of Loki being tortured and forced to go to Earth, but personally, I love it. I never liked the idea of Loki having so little agency in Avengers. And yes, I know the Mind Stone was influencing him, but that’s the key—it was influencing, not controlling

I think what I’m trying to say is this: some people don’t truly understand who Loki is. They’ve created a version of him in their minds and reject anything that contradicts it. Refusing to acknowledge the darkness within him only proves that you don’t fully appreciate him. You can love series Loki and say that it's the more mentally healthy version of the character, but please don’t claim that Avengers Loki is his worst version—or that it’s not the real him.

Maybe I'm being annoying but it just hurts every time I see posts trashing him and saying that he's the worst Loki ever, to me that's one of the most fascinating depictions of him precisely because we see how malicious, cunning and calculating he can be, he has so much range and I genuinely feel sorry for all the people who can't appreciate that

[maleyanderecafe]

Channel 453 -Shadows of the Game- (Visual Novel)

Created by: Bulhwa

Genre: Horror/Romance

The unfortunate thing about this one is that while the artwork is gorgeous, the UI looks great and it's a time loop story, it starts to stop making sense after a while. I'm not sure if it's because of the translation or story itself, but either way it unfortunately makes the visual novel pretty confusing and in a way that's not very fun.

The story starts out with the main character moving into a new apartment. She seems so excited, but is tired from the move. After getting into their apartment, they find a note on their TV mentioning channel 453, something that they are curious about. They can have the choice to go to this channel out of curiosity, or watch their normal channels. Upon going to this channel, the MC sees a young man there who introduces himself as Liotte. He starts talking to the MC, which makes them a bit unsettled considering it's not every day that you talk to someone inside of the TV. After some chatting, the MC goes to make herself some instant ramen but ends up cutting herself while opening one of the packages. Liotte notices this and gets really freaked out and possessive, stating that this should have never happened. This leads to them causing a time loop (?) and them going back in time a couple of times. Eventually, the MC shuts off the TV, leading to a strange man named Ivan to appear in her house. Ivan talks about how he gives wishes and that Liotte made a wish that caused him to be like this. He ends up teleporting the MC into the backstage where we learn bits of his backstory, like how he knew the MC from when she was younger. It's implied that he made a deal with the devil (which I think in this case is Ivan) for him to be together, with the curse of them essentially being stuck in a timeloop.

The good ending has it so that the two of them get together, while the other two endings have him sad that he isn't with the MC, or at least she doesn't reciprocate his feelings as much.

The artwork and UI in this one are genuinely very pretty, with a lot of work done in on making it look nice. The video effects for when Liotte freaks out and asks the player if he's the worst are nice, as well as the video that plays when they're placed into a timeloop. UI, again, also extremely pretty and well placed.

That said, after the entire incident with the cutting her hand on a noodle packet, everything becomes very confusing very fast. Loitte becomes suddenly very hostile towards the MC, wanting to cage her and trying to get her to rely on him, while also talking about how they met each other in the past? I don't really understand what is going on after this point, and I'm not sure if it's because of a translation thing since the original game was in Korean or if it more or less plays out like it was in the original and the game is pretty accurate to it's English counterpart, but either way, I genuinely have no idea what happened after that point, and lot of it was guess work. Ivan appears in our house for no reason, and seems to know about Loitte's history. From what I can tell he seems to be the god/devil that made the initial deal with Loitte in the first place, though he seems more like a trickster if anything. I'm not sure what even caused the good ending considering that I think the only major difference is that we talked to Loitte a little bit more about his hobbies. Normally I think timeloop stories are pretty good since I like the way that people use them to sort of show the deterioration of a yandere's psyche, but this one... was just confusing. I can't even tell if the MC remembers what happens during the time loops because in some instances it seems like she does while in others she doesn't, with no reason or rhyme. I also don't know if it affects anything, since it doesn't seem like time is really affected, given that it doesn't seem like the MC goes back to before she bought the apartment or even before she made herself instant noodles.

It's hard to say because I really don't understand what's happening and I don't know what the reason is behind that, whether it's a translation thing or if this is actually what it's giving us. Either way, as of now, I don't really know how to feel about it because again, I don't really understand. It certainly has good presentation as stated from before, and Loitte's design is pretty cute, but story wise, nothing really makes any sense. Hopefully, this can be changed in the future, but for now, I think the presentation is really what is holding this game up for me.

[kdinjenzen]

Kdin's My Little Blog Along (PART 1)

MLPFiM Eps 1 - 5

So going into things this season, I believe, is the one I thought I remembered the most and had the most memories of.

That ended up being true so far but also not true.

Celestia starts off the series gaslighting everyone by cleverly rewriting history through the acts of a children's storybook.

I really don't understand how anyone can trust her at her word since she's basically PONY GOD and can just live long enough for people to just forget about stuff and then change history herself... but maybe I'm being too meta about this.

Celestia reading the story of Nightmare Moon and then transitioning to it being Twilight Sparkle is a great way to introduce her as Celestia's student.

Then immediately Twilight begins treating everyone, especially Spike, like garbage. I legit remember Twilight being a complete jerk in the first bits of things but she's pretty trash as a person/pony. It's established that she's been ignoring everyone around her for a long time and that people keep trying but they don't know why they bother anymore.

Celestia tells Twilight to touch grass and kicks her out to Ponyville where Twilight continues to be absolutely WAY more rude than I remember to everyone she interacts with... especially Spike.

The show moves way faster than I remember and by the time we meet everyone Nightmare Moon has already shown up and the first episode ends. Celestia was supposed to be there and just kinda no-showed, we have no idea why she never showed up to the party but likely because she knew her sister was gonna be there and Celestia is very much "lol not my problem" and is making Twilight do it.

Part 2 is basically "Part 1 again, but more focused and at night" - heavily reinforcing that Twilight has problems with people and that everyone who is following her have ELEMENTS about them that make them SUPER GREAT PEOPLE/PONIES.

Pinkie's "Laughter Song" is our first proper in show song and I remember it word for word which says the song is a great earworm and easy for folks to remember. PERFECT for a kids show and Pinkie is already racing to the front as "best pony" of the bunch with her mannerisms.

We get through the trials of "Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy could have easily got everyone through these with no problems" quickly and it's time for Nightmare Moon showdown 2.

SURPRISE the ponies are the elements of harmony because of the things they literally said on the way here but also TWILIGHT is the element of "MAGIC" ... which I swore was not magic when I first watched it, but I suppose that's a "it's magic...al friendship" that happens later.

One giant mega death rainbow later, Nightmare Moon has her evil blasted away and Celestia shows up fashionably late and is like "oh good it's over, anyway apologize to me Luna" and shock - Nightmare Moon is her sister whom she banished to the fucking moon and Luna apologizes.

A THOUSAND YEARS, CELESTIA! THATS A LONG TIME TO IMPRISON YOUR SISTER ON THE MOON!

Anyway, episode ends with Celestia banishing moving Twilight to Ponyville so she can stay away from her and give Celestia some fucking piece and quiet for three seconds learn more about friendship through her new friends.

Which immediately leads into Episode 3, "The Ticket Master" in which Celestia - WHO KNOWS TWILIGHT HAS 6 FRIENDS (I'm including Spike) - sends Twilight two tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala and says to bring a friends.

I like to believe that Celestia is either doing this just to fuck with Twilight or that she assumes Twilight is so annoying to deal with that she lost most of the other pony's friendship after that whole Nightmare Moon thing.

Everyone has their "VERY GOOD REASONS" for wanting the tickets and... the reasons kinda suck, but Twilight assures the audience that they are VERY GOOD REASONS and spends the rest of the episode yelling at everyone to stop doing her favors to butter her up which becomes the main pain point the episode.

Pinkie just outright says she's doing things to get the ticket, everyone else lies about it (Fluttershy does say the truth but only after Angel, her bunny, kicks her for lying). We also get two quick not-really-full songs from Pinkie again in this one and she's maintaining her lead as "Best Pony" so far.

Everything is solved when Twilight sends the tickets back and tells Celesia "I CAN'T PICK BETWEEN MY FRIENDS" and Celestia sends back a "Lol just say you need more tickets, stop being so extra" and sends everyone a ticket. Episode 3 ends.

Episode 4 sees the intro of Big Macintosh who takes the "Best Side Pony" slot immediately by being both reasonable in explanation, reasoning, and level of directness in dealing with issues. This will change later when he gets his own episodes, but for now he's the level headed thinker and basically says Applyjack can't handle the entire Applebucking season herself after he had an injury.

Applejack burns out faster than a pre-transition "gifted child" in high school and spends the rest of the episode in a daze between asleep/awake and starts doing incredibly dangerous or downright mean things.

Eventually, after days of pressure and constant asking, Twilight convinces her to ask for help and Applejack breaks and agrees.

During the ending "Dear Princess Celestia" letter we see everyone helping and then TWILIGHT BASICALLY DOING ALL THE WORK IN ONE MAGICAL MOVE AND WHAT THE FUCK? She literally just... could do all the work herself. We'll see this "heavily relying on magic" thing bite her on the ass later but there's literally no reason that she shouldn't have just talked to Big Mac and explained things. YES that defeats the purpose of Applejack learning the lesson but also holy fuck she almost died so many times this episode. Episode 4 ends.

Episode 5 is "Griffon the Brush-off" which I thought was WAY WAY WAAAAAAY longer into the season but no, I'm wrong.

The lesson in this episode is "if your friend is hanging with someone who is an asshole there's not a lot you can do about it, but you can control your own actions and how you treat people" which is a fine lesson except Gilda the Griffon starts outright antagonistic and kinda just... awful. So Pinkie is fully right to call out this shit to Rainbow and I think the lesson here is a little off.

Pinkie is helpful and kind the entire episode, constantly giving the benefit of the doubt, and ends up treated like garbage and SHE apparently is the one to learn the lesson this episode... not Rainbow Dash.

Episode ends with Twilight learning how to prank people because of the "pranks" happening all episode between Gilda and Rainbow (who's pranks are wrongly attributed to Pinkie) - she sends Celestia invisible ink and Celestia gets pranked ... I feel like Celestia takes this personally and will be making the remaining 200+ episodes a living hell for Twilight.

ALL IN ALL... first five episodes are still great, Twilight is way more of a rude bitch than I remember and I think she gets better later on but I also don't remember her being THAT BAD over all and I was wrong.

Voice performances ACROSS THE BOARD are great, lots of wonderful visual gags, and lots of charm throughout the entire thing. The animation just looks great and aged very well.

Twilight, both in story and voice performances, is the weakest link. The performances and characters of the other Main 6 are carrying this show so far. END OF PART 1

[thecarnivorousmuffinmeta]

Any thoughts on Nanami and Wakaba? (not as a pairing, unless you see it, then I'm very interested)

I've been watching Utena with friends and we had constant fights about those two, because "She literally kills kittens, what's wrong with you" for Nanami (I am witch apologist) and "Why is she even here" for Wakaba (I am girl enjoyer)

Pfft.

I don't see it as a pairing though in the world of Utena anything's possible.

But I certainly have thoughts on the characters as well as the world of Utena itself that's perhaps worth bearing in mind.

Utena as a Show

Utena is one of my favorite shows to have ever been created. However, it's something I also sometimes hesitate to recommend. It not only deals with extremely dark themes (albeit in a non-graphic manner) from murder, sexual assault, grooming, to rampant incest but also doesn't do so in a way that the modern internet can in any way handle.

What do I mean?

Every character has something seriously wrong with them and makes awful and sometimes outright malicious decisions.

Utena, our heroine, the prince, we learn later has forgotten the reason she wished to become a prince as an adolescent and at first pursues the goal simply out of a desire to be noble and embody this idea of chivalry and nobility without actually knowing what these things are. Miki is alright enough save that he has that thing going on with his twin sister and covets Anthy without ever truly wishing to know her.

That's not even getting to Anthy who I can only state is very complicated.

It's not a show that people can watch if they're not comfortable with the idea that there is something horribly wrong with everyone. The good characters aren't always good, the bad characters sometimes have reason to be bad (and sometimes are just pure evil), and you might not even know who the fuck the good and bad characters are because it turns out breaking the world's shell was probably a good thing.

Compared to say Good Omens which has the complexity of a thimble and people are still upset that Aziraphale made the wrong choice at the end of series 2 there.

But back to your question.

Nanami

I love all the characters in Utena, but Nanami might just be one of my favorites in that she's the beautifully executed dark horse of the series.

Because it turns out she's the only one who's fucking sane.

We start out and Nanami is presented as Anime Mean Girl. Oh, she's that type, the pretty rich girl who's going to bully our romantic lead. Okay, Nanami, I will suffer through you. But then almost immediately this goes awry when nothing every goes Nanami's way. She's crushed by elephants, stalked by an eleven year old, and she... really really really likes her big brother.

And as we go on we see her at first as someone who's truly a villain, she murders kittens as you note, and that is fucked up but then by the end we find out that despite all prior indications she is the only person who does not want to sleep with her brother and thinks this is a madhouse.

She's fascinating and I love her.

But more on the kitten--I think Nanami is excellently portrayed as a little girl who is severely fucked up (in part by Ohtori and in part by life itself). She has an unnatural devotion to her brother, which he also enables throughout the series, and... something weird is going on with the parents (in other versions, namely the movie, it's worth noting that Touga turns out to have been abused by his father).

I don't know if I'd condemn or laud her but she's the character who's at first presented as the worst but then it turns out everyone is just as bad/worse than Nanami is and actually she lives in a madhouse.

Wakaba

I mean.

"Why is she even here?" is the point of Wakaba's whole character arc, which I'd argue is very vital to the storyline of the anime. That's why she's great.

Wakaba's that girl who is normal, she's just normal, and she wants to be special without there being anything special about her. She's nice and kind, but only to a certain degree, and she wants to be like Utena and all these shining brilliant people in her life.

She serves as the catalyst of the plot, in Utena first engaging in a duel, and yet is never involved further in the events. She desperately wants Saionji, to be special herself, and we see her rejecting a very kind boy who genuinely cares for her because of this. We learn that she's not as nice as we, e.g. Utena, had previously thought and that Utena has this quality that Utena herself doesn't understand and that others envy without her realizing it.

Wakaba's descent is when Utena first begins to realize she's failed as a friend, despite all her attempts to do right by Wakaba, and that she doesn't understand those around her as she's trapped in her own world/idea of chivalry (a foreshadowing for what happens with Anthy).

Wakaba helps act as a foil for Utena and is vital to help slowly reveal why Utena struggles and has to grow as a person in order to free Anthy (and why Utena is betrayed by Anthy without ever seeing a hint of it coming).

[shannendoherty-fans]

March 1993 - US magazine

Interview by Margy Rochin, photos by Lou Salvatore.

The Us Interview: Shannen Doherty (part 3)

(Part 1 – Part 2)

While we're on the subject of high-profile men, let's run through some names of people you've been linked with romantically. Marky Mark?

I went out with Mark two times, with a group of people, as friends.

Jason Priestley? 'US' printed a photo of you two liplocked after the 1991 Emmys.

Really kissing?No, Jason and I probably kissed each other, but I don0t think it was really kissing. I don't think there was any saliva involved. People might get confused because we're very affectionate with one another and that's only because we absolutely adore each other.

You were engaged to a young man named Chris Foufas. What happened?

Idecided that I was too young to get married. Chris is a great person who I love as a friend very much. I think our friendship overtook the romance, and we both weren't ready for that step.

What's the first sign that you know you're in live?

I'll do absolutely anything for that person. If somebody pointed a gun at them, I'd throw muself in front so they wouldn't die. I can forgive the person that I've been dating recently, I feel the exact same way for.

His name is –

I'd rather prefer that no names be mentioned. He knows who he is.

What's the most painful lesson you're learned about romantic love?

Oh, I don't know, I've been through so much in that department... I think the lesson that I learned is that you can't drop everything for one person. I've done that and that person has broken up with me,and I've had nothing. I'd stopped talking to my friends. You can't do that. You've got to say, "I've got my own life, my own identity." I think guys in relationships can be so much more casual than women.

You've gotten a lot of flak for leading the Pledge of Allegiance at the Republican National Convention. What attracted you to the Republican Party?

Without getting too much into it, because I realize at this point it's probably beat to keep my politics to myself...

Wait a second. Don't you think that you made your politivs public when you decided to attend the convention?

The thing is that this is a free country, and nobody should be criticized for their politivcal beliefs. We're all allowed to have our own opinons... I'm a conservative. I was an avid supporter of Ronald Reagan; I thought he was fabulous. I still think [Bush has] been a good president. I realize that the majority of people in the entertainment business happen to be Democrats. I have no problem with that. And they should have no problem with the fact that I'm a Republican.

Do you think that some people might have taken issue with the fact that you were a young female supporting a party that had not proven itself to be particularly pro-woman?

I don't think that the Republican Party is against women. I don't know how George Bush personally feels on abortion. I have some idea and, from what I understand, he isn't really opposed to abortion. However, the Republican platform was therefore he had to conform to what they wanted.

So you're saying that you're pro-choice?

I would say I'm pro-choice only because I don't feel that it's right that anybody in this world puts restrictions on anyone, whether it be a woman or a man. I think some people are somewhat worried because abortion is legal, it's so easy. It's just like, "Oh, it's no big deal because I can just go get an abortion." That's not really being a very responsible person. But I don't think that that choice should be taken away from anybody. I'm definitely pro-choice.

In a readers poll in a recent issue of 'Sassy' magazine, you beat Roseanne Arnold and Tori Spelling as "TV Actress Whose Inner Child Is Most Wounded." What do you think thia award says about who they think you are?

I have absolutely no idea. My inner child is not wounded.

Wait. I'm not sure you understand the term correctly. The definition of an inner child might be that everyone has a public self and a true authentic self, which is still inside of us, that was developed when we were a child.

Then maybe it's true. If there is such a thing as an inner child, I don't see how anybody could have so much bad press and not have their inner child wounded. But I had a wonderful childhood. My parents were a dream to me.

What approach do you use to slough off bad press?

I think you're constantly telling yourself you'll ignore it, you'll let it roll off your back, you won't let it affect you – but it does. You read stuff about yourself and you just think, "My God, where are these people coming up with these things? And why am I the one that they're picking on, all of a sudden? Out of all people, why me?" I'm the person who stops and gives any homeless person any money that they want. So if does affect you, but you just have to keep believing in yourself, I guess.

Why should we like you?

I'm not saying that anybody should like me. Everybody is more than welcome to have their own opinion. All I'm saying is give me a chance before you form that opinion. [Pause] It sounds really weird to give you a list of why people should like me. Like tooting your own horn. I could tell you what my good qualities are. There's my honesty; I have a very wacky, kind of dry humor that a lot of people don't get to see; I'm the best friend a person could ever have; I'm very compassionate; I try and helppeople out as much as possible; I really care about this world, about the people in it, and I just want what's best for everyone; I take on absolutely everybody's problems and take care of everyone – I have a very maternal side. I'm basically a very norma,, down-to-earth person, and if people meet me, they agree. They're like, "Wow, you're nothing like people say you are..."

What is the most ridiculous thing you've read about yourself?

That I'm an alcoholic is completely ridiculous. There's so many things, I don't know where to start. I've had so much happen that it's hard to trust people.

There's something that's been bothering me throughout our conversation, and that is the assigning of blame to other people. How responsible do you feel for what has happened to you? Be numerically specific.

I probably feel fifteen percent responsible. In my first year on the show – which was two-and-a-half years ago – I was overwhelmed by so much responsibility and pressure that I didn't handle things in a very diplomatic manner. I took everything to heart. That hasn't happened since the first year of the show, and it's just now coming back to me. I've learned to be very diplomatic. Now it's just like a tidal wave. It's people either needing money,so they sell stories to the Enquirer, or they're jealous of me so they sell storues, or people just making up bulls---. So it is just a tidal wave of things happening and happenning and happening that I don't feel very responsible for.

Delta Burke once said, "I wouldn't be producing if it weren't for bad press." Is this the upside to your situation?

I got the opportunity to meet Delta Burke – we did a literacy show at the White House forMr. Bush. She told me, "Just do what you believe in. Look at me: I have my own TV show now and I deal with nice people, that's what it's all about." So that's sort of what I'm doing at this point, I'm learning.

What's the biggest lesson that you've learned?

To... be... very... clear. To be diplomatic, and to be very careful. There is so much focus on you that you can't just do and say whatever you feel. You have to watch everything that you do and everything that you say.

Have you learned to apologize?

I will apologize if I've done something wring. But if I have not done something wrong, I will not apologize.

Would you give up your notoriety for a little bit of slack?

Yeah, I would. If that means quit acting,no. If it means staying home,better believe it! I'll lock myself in my house for a little slack.

Do you feel the tide is turning for or against you at this point?

Probably against.

You think it's going to get worse?

I don't know how much worse it can get.

What were some of your New Year's resolutions?

Quit smoking. [Takes a drag] Going real well. Get healthy. [Pauses] And somehow turn this thing around.

[mpsideadump]

A reader of my fic "Detroit: Lie or Die" pointed out a lot of similarities between the characters of DBH and LoP! While some of these I noticed before, there were a lot I didn't think about until the reader had commented about it. Really goes to show how similar the two games really are and why I thought these stories would make a great crossover!

I TALK SPOILERS FOR BOTH GAMES SO BE WARNED!

P and Connor are the most central characters of their respective stories. While yes Connor is only 1 of 3 protagonists of DBH, he is the one who we first play as and the one who has the most consequential decisions for the development for his character (machine vs deviant). The same can be said about P, who's choices may not necessarily affect the story itself but rather who he learns to become (puppet vs human).

The commenter compared these two to be the voice of reason for our main protagonists, but I'd take it a little further and point out that Hank and Gemini to be their main companions throughout their stories.

Hank and Gemini have the potential to become Connor and P's best friend. While Gemini, fulfilling the role of the cricket character, acts as P's guide, Hank is Connor's guide to deviancy as all of his most important decisions revolve around Hank and his relationship with him.

While Kara's story is more explicitly written to be centered around motherhood, Sophia's maternal role towards P is a lot more interpretive and symbolic. Look towards the original story of Pinocchio, however, and we see the Blue Fairy does fulfil the role of a mother towards the wooden puppet, acting as his main mentor towards becoming a real boy.

Romeo and Markus act as the leaders of their respective groups, puppets and androids. Of course, we've heard the jokes of calling Markus Robo-Jesus, but his instances of sacrificing himself to free his people do seem to make him worthy of the name.

Likewise, Romeo was once referenced to be a god to his puppet followers, more specifically by Fuocco whose boss ergo states that he bowed down to the King as if he were a god.

Also, it is implied that Romeo made a deal with Geppetto to become a puppet. Him becoming the King, however, wasn't exactly what he wanted. Markus's abilities to instantly awaken androids also imply that he was created specifically to spread the Ra9 virus which leads to deviancy.

Finally, we have Geppetto and Kamski, the creators of puppets and androids. I don't think I really need to say anything else.

Jokes aside, Kamski and Geppetto initially created beings that were meant to serve humans. However, they also both had nefarious plans that involved their creations going rogue. Gepetto needed the puppet frenzy to harvest large amounts of ergo for Carlo, and Kamski (though his motivations are still rather loose in what exactly they are) likely wanted deviancy to take over androids in order to prove their superiority over humans.

I believe his cut dialogue for the Kamski ending actually states that he was basically fed up with humans.

[mediocres-writing-blog]

MK Legends: Blood Bound

Chapter 3: Unlikely Alliance

Robin and Muchacha, on Outworld horses provided by Kitana, head out of Sun Do and to Kuatan, the home of the subterranean species, the Shokan, to ask for directions from their Queen. Muchacha directs hers with no issues, but Robin steers his like his like a child learning to ride a bike for the first time. The general sighs in disappointment as she has never seen such childish behavior.

MUCHACHA: How could the Kahn ever stand someone like you?

ROBIN: What's that supposed to mean?

MUCHACHA: I simply do not see what she saw in you. An arrogant little twink with repressed trauma, what's there to love?

Robin, offended, stops his horse.

ROBIN: Well, at least I don't have an ego the size of a mountain and a stick up my ass like you.

The general stops her horse and turns around.

MUCHACHA: Watch your tongue, boy, or I will cut it out off.

ROBIN: I'd like to see you try, boot-licker.

Muchacha jumps off of her horse and approaches Nico, cracking her knuckles.

MUCHACHA: Very well then.

Robin also dismounts, and the two prepare to fight. But before they can, they are stopped by two Shokan guardsmen. 

SHOKAN 1: You two, state your purpose here.

Muchacha sighs, sheathing her blade. 

MUCHACHA: Sirs, we come with a request from Kitana Kahn. We require information about a Blood mage, if any.

The guards turn to each other, and look at the general with a suspicious look.

SHOKAN 2: Come with us. Our Queen will speak to you.

Robin and the General are lead to the throne room of the Shokan Queen. On her throne, a regal, Shokan woman clad in ornate armor looks down upon the two. Muchacha kneels, while Robin bows before her like a gentleman.

SHEEVA: Muchacha, daughter of Shao Kahn, why have you come to my land? Have you come for war?

MUCHACHA: Queen Sheeva, I come bearing a request from Kitana Kahn you might want to hear. It would seem as if there is a Blood mage somewhere in Outworld and we wonder if you noticed something similar around here.

SHEEVA: A blood mage, you say? I am not sure about such an occurrence, but my advisor might know more.

ROBIN: Great, thanks! Now, could we please have the directions to this person? We're kinda on a tight schedule.

SHEEVA: I cannot.

ROBIN: Bummer. Guess we'll look for someone else's help then.

Muchacha is shocked by his arrogance, and is angered by his words. Sheeva, slightly angered by this stands up.

SHEEVA: You two are free to go, but do watch your tone, Robin, lest you wish to end up like Kabal.

MUCHACHA: Thank you, Queen Sheeva. We shall not disturb your peace anymore.

Robin and Muchacha walk away, the general ready to punch the masked man for his impudence.

MUCHACHA: What is your damn problem, you moron? First, you try to kill me, then, you dare speak to the queen in such a disrespectful manner. If you're not careful, I will have your head mounted on a pike!

ROBIN: Come on, this is just how I do things. You may not like it, but this is the way I show respect to higher authority. If I wanted to disrespect the queen, I'd have done it right in her face.

MUCHACHA: Your ways are unorthodox. I hope for the sake of my sanity, they won't get us killed.

ROBIN: Nah, I don't think so. Now come on, we've got a job to do.

They continue walking, hopping on their horses and heading to the Sea of Souls. As the sun begins to set, Robin and Muchacha have made it halfway to their destination. They decide to make a stop at a nearby village to spend the night. As the general and the masked man walk towards the inn, they are approached by a villager.

MUCHACHA: Hello, sir, but is there a place to rest around here?

VILLAGER: There is, but we do not accept travelers. Please leave, or I will have you escorted out.

ROBIN: Man, what's your deal? We're just here to spend the night and we'll be on our way.

VILLAGER: Leave. You are not welcome here.

Muchacha grows impatient and draws her sword, pointing it to his neck.

MUCHACHA: Listen here, old man, either you tell us where we can rest, or I'll have your head.

as she threatens the man, Robin stands beside her to push her sword down.

ROBIN: Suuurely there's an easier way, right, sir?

He says, giving the man a pouch of money.

VILLAGER: O-of course, forgive me. Here are the rooms, goodnight!

As the man walks away, Robin and Muchacha head inside and rent a room.

ROBIN: You need to control your temper, General. That guy could've called the authorities and had us arrested.

MUCHACHA: It doesn't matter. He got his payment and did as we asked.

ROBIN: See? That's what I'm saying. Anger issues.

The general rolls her eyes, as they enter their room.

MUCHACHA: I will not hear another word out of you, boy. I will have you thrown out of the window if you don't shut your trap.

Robin walks up to a window, climbing on it.

ROBIN: No need, I'll do it myself.

he jumps out, flipping her off. As Amara runs up to the window to see he's gone.

MUCHACHA: What in Shinnok's name--

ROBIN: I'm up here, Fish lips.

She quickly looks up, to see he's somehow on the roof.

ROBIN: Thanks for caring, by the way.

MUCHACHA: Wh- I- HOW DID YOU EVEN GET THERE?!

ROBIN: I have my own ways. Don't worry about it.

He says, laying down on the roof.

MUCHACHA: You know what, you stay up there for all I care. I don't even need you on this mission.

ROBIN: Whatever you say, captain.

He says, closing his eyes. As Amara sits on the bed, looking out the window, she wonders why the Kahn would send her on a mission with someone as childish as him. She lays down and the image fades.

[thenationaltreasuregazette]

Book of Secrets Fails As a Sequel: Part 3/?

Where Ben's Arc Went Wrong

1 | 2

Previously, we started our deep dive into Book of Secrets by taking a look at Ben's character arc. Specifically, comparing his flat arc from the first movie to his lack of arc in the second.

And part of what's so frustrating about his lack of a character arc in the sequel is that the pieces are right there to make it happen.

Book of Secrets Ben has flaws! He has negative characteristics that are holding him back and hurting the people around him. We're shown this multiple times and then...poof. Nothing comes of it.

Heroes and Flaws

The way a character arc generally works is that the protagonist is introduced with a flaw. There are multiple names you might see used here and different theories about how to structure this setup—the hero's ghost, their misbelief, their passion taken too far.

In BoS, I'd call Ben's problem a misbelief. That is, a false belief that at one point in the hero's past was true.

Ben's Misbelief

Ben's once-true belief was that he is fundamentally right. He held this conviction about the Templar Treasure for 3/4 of his life, risked life, limb, and a treason conviction to prove it, and he was right.

He was ridiculed by his peers, and his family, and he was right.

The problem is, now that the treasure is found, Ben seems to have displaced this adamant certainty in his own convictions onto...everything. He was right about the treasure, so he must be right about the Booth diary too. He must be right about Thomas Gates and what Abigail wants and what Riley is capable of.

And this is actually fantastic!

Ben's a jackass, and that's great actually

I know, but hear me out: this is the perfect foundation for a character arc in the second movie. It is completely understandable how Ben became such a self-absorbed person after doing something so massively redefining for himself and the world. It would honestly be weirder if there wasn't some kind of emotional fallout from this (and we'll talk about the lack of fallout in other areas in a later edition.)

So the movie starts off by showing us the ways he needs to grow: His assumption that he's always right has imploded his relationship with Abigail.

London

Then the movie keeps pushing on this flaw, as it should. Ben ropes the squad into another dangerous treasure hunt because he has to be right about his great-great-whatever grandfather.

In London, Abigail spells out pretty explicitly what Ben has to learn.

ABIGAIL When you get to a conclusion without asking, and you happen to be right, you got lucky. BEN I get lucky a lot.

And from Ben's perspective, this is correct. Past experience has taught him that his most deeply help convictions are true, even without evidence. Even with mountains of evidence to the contrary!

But the danger of this mindset is reinforced later in the same sequence when:

BEN Hack into the London Police database and get a picture from that traffic cam. RILEY Okey-dokey. BEN You can't do it? RILEY No, I can. I just don't like that you assume that I can. ABIGAIL [laughs] Why, thank you, Riley.

Ben almost loses a critical clue—the clue—because he is going off assumption instead of talking to the two people he's closest to and listening to what they have to say.

So those are the first two 'phases' if you will of dealing with a character's flaw. 1) establish it 2) push on it until

3) it leads to a moment of crisis where the hero can either grow and take the first step towards overcoming this flaw or double down on the consequences

4) in most stories that aren't tragedies the hero will pick the path of growth and learn from their mistakes, repairing the damage they've caused and often finding a solution that will unlock the final problem their plot poses, which they weren't able to see until they let go of their flaw

You many have noticed that the last two steps do not occur in National Treasure Book of Secrets.

As @tentacledwizard put it on the last post

#because like. there were clear opportunities for Ben to have character growth in nat2#i don’t remember the events of the film all that clearly but there was a point where he makes#this kinda wild leap to a conclusion#and i was thinking “oh it’s gonna turn out that he was wrong. he misinterpreted the clue and he needs to admit that he was wrong”#but nope he’s still correct#hes ALWAYS correct and doesn’t experience any growth. he doesn’t have to admit he’s fallible bc he ISNT

Ben doesn't learn to listen to Abigail.

He doesn't make a mistake or draw a wrong conclusion.

He doesn't need to reach out to her, Riley, Emily or anybody else for a different perspective.

He isn't wrong about Riley or another ally's abilities. (Or his own!!!)

He's just...right. Ben is always right.

How did we get here?

I can see how this happened. At some point in the development process, somebody decided that the Ben Gates we meet in the sequel had to be the exact same Ben we met in the original movie. And that Ben was fundamentally Right About Things™ so this one must be too.

My guess is this did not come from the writers, at least not from the beginning. The skeleton of what should have been his character arc is just too clear to have not been intentional at some point.

But as the story was worked on by teams of writers and looked at by various executives, somebody decided—maybe intentionally, maybe not—this 'Ben learns his lesson' business had to go.

It's a shame because, at least in my humble opinion, a functioning character arc here is the domino that might have underpinned a very different approach to the movie.

Next time → The sequel reset

[spacecadet-ticklesinspace]

Ticklish Understanding

Summary: After a visit at work from his girls, Barnum learns something interesting about young Philip Carlyle ❤️

(Thank you @lottie-lokisdottir for your help and suggestions ❤️ I loved getting to write this :) Enjoy! 😁)

"Goodbye girls! I'll see you at home!"

"Bye daddy!"

Barnum closed the office door. "I swear, those girls get smarter and smarter everyday."

"You have a couple geniuses on your hands Barnum." Philip shuffled some papers. "One day, they'll even outsmart you."

"And then they'll outsmart you Mr. Carlyle." Barnum winked at his young friend before stepping back to his desk. "The man who knows everything outsmarted by the two greatest girls ever."

"I don't know everything," Philip responded with a blush.

"Oho really?"

"I'm serious Barnum."

The older man leaned against his desk. "Name one thing the great Philip Carlyle doesn't know."

"Well for starters, how to deal with with your insufferable extravagance," Philip teased. "And that thing you do with your daughters."

P.T's eyebrows furrowed his eyebrows together. "What thing?"

"That thing you were doing earlier."

"Ah yes, because that it narrows it down."

Philip rolled his eyes. "That thing you were doing earlier where you would squeeze them and they would laugh and squeal."

Barnum thought back over the events of the day and tried to deduce what he was talking about. An image flickered into his mind of Caroline and Helen giggling under him as he squeezed their sides. "Tickling?"

"Is that what you call it?" Philip asked.

The older man scoffed. "You're joking."

Philip shook his head. "Nope.

A strange look came over PT's face. "You genuinely don't know what tickling is?"

The look his friend was giving him made Philip suspicious. "Am I supposed too?"

In a moment of passion, Barnum slapped the desk before standing and making his way over to the younger man's desk. "You don't know what tickling is?"

Philip jumped. "Sheesh Barnum, I already told you, didn't I?"

"I just can't believe it."

Philip set aside his papers and turned to his friend as he leaned against the side of his desk. There was no use trying to work when he wouldn't let this go.

"I thought it was the duty of every parent to pass that knowledge on to their child. My mother, bless her, gave that knowledge to me before she died and I in turn gave it to my kids. Even Charity's parents gave it to her and you know what they're like."

"Sorry tickling wasn't included in my parents training."

"Did your parents even hold you wrong?"

"No, they left that up to the Nanny." Philip used the pen in his hands to motion to the mountain of paperwork on the desk. "Are we done?"

"No."

The younger man groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Barnum tapped his shoulder and stood. "Humor me for a minute."

"But what about our work?"

"The work can wait."

Philip sighed and stood. When Barnum got an idea in his head, there was no stopping him. He had learned it was better to go along with it than try to argue.

Barnum positioned them in front of the couch. "Now, you are aware that in the body, there are nerves that allow you to feel things, correct?"

"Yes, like I can feel the clothes on my back. Are we done?"

Barnum held up a hand. "Patience. Now many of those nerves signal there is something wrong. For example, if you were to stick your hand on that stove back there, your nerves would tell you what?"

"To get my hand away."

"Correct---."

"What does this have to do with tickling?"

"You'll see." Barnum grabbed one of Philip's arms. "Now, it's not just pain that the nerves feel, it's also weight and pressure, correct?"

The younger man shrugged. "I guess."

"To give an example." Barnum wrapped his hand around Philip's wrist and gently pressed his thumb into his wrist. "You can feel the weight of my hand and the pressure of my thumb."

"Again, what does this have to do with tickling?"

"This is all leading up to the same point if you'll just let me get there."

After another sigh, Philip motioned with his free hand for him to continue.

"Thank you. The biggest point I'm trying to make is that the nerves register or feel different things and they don't always have the same response to what they're feeling. So if I were to squeeze, your nerves would detect pressure, pain, or a tickle." Barnum emphasized his last point with a squeeze to Philip's side.

The younger man squealed and pulled his side in the opposite direction. A strange shock had gone up his side. It hadn't hurt, it had just felt so odd and made him nervous. Yet it also made him desperately want to laugh and squirm. "What the. . ."

"Of course, since you can find these nerves all over your body, you can be ticklish just about anywhere."

"What? Wow!"

In one motion, Barnum was sitting down on the couch with Philip in his lap.

The younger man blushed at the position he was in. "Barnum!"

"I understand it can be a bit overwhelming your first time," PT soothed as he wrapped his arms around his young friend. "However, you can grow to love it."

"Love what?"

"Tickling."

"That feeling when you squeezed my side?"

"Yes."

"That's tickling?"

"Yes."

"And people love it?"

"Yes?"

"Why?"

Barnum shrugged as he repositioned them both into a more reclined position. "Stress relief, bonding."

"Embarrassing more like it."

"You had one squeeze Philip. How can you say it's embarrassing?"

"Why am I sitting in your lap?"

"You're never to old for a cuddle. Besides, this is how I usually do it with my daughters."

"Who I am five times the size of!"

Barnum scoffed. "Please, you're not that big. Besides, it's part of the bonding."

"I can bond with you just fine from the couch."

"I have to be able to reach you."

"You can reach me from the couch."

Barnum grinned. "I also think it's funny to watch you get so flustered."

Philip sighed. "You're insufferable."

"May I continue, please?"

"Fine."

"Thank you." Barnum ruffled Philip's hair. "Now, like I mentioned earlier, the nerves spread to different parts of the body meaning you can be ticklish anywhere."

"Really?"

"Yep." Barnum squeezed the different spots as he listed them. "Areas like your stomach. Your hips. Your ribs. Even your armpits."

The reactions Philip's gave were priceless. He quickly turned into a squealing, squirming mess in Barnum's lap. Very undignified from his usual appearance.

Barnum loved seeing the bright smile on his face and hearing the child-like laughter filling the office. The older man paused his tickles long enough to give his friend's cheek a friendly pinch. "You're actually adorable when you're not being a pompous little businessman."

Philip growled and turned his face away. "You're such a jerk!"

"A loving jerk though." PT rested his chin on Philip's shoulder. "But you know what the best thing about tickles is?"

"That Ihi'll behe getting revenge later."

"No, the best thing about tickles is that you don't have to use your hands."

"Wh-what?"

"You can use your nose." Barnum rubbed his nose against Philip's neck.

Philip squeaked and turtled.

"You can use your chin." Barnum switched to rubbing his chin against his neck.

"Ah!"

"You can use your lips." The older man peppered a few kisses into Philip's neck.

The blush on the younger man's face darkened significantly. "Barnum!"

"Or, you can use your breath." Barnum blew a raspberry into Philip's neck.

"SQUEE!" Then the younger man snorted.

"That was very undignified of you Mr. Carlyle." P.T pinched his side. "But I'll let it slide."

Philip squeaked then leaned against the older man. "That's the last tihime Ihi let you explain anything toho mehe!"

"Now I know what to do when you get to uptight." PT ruffled his hair again. "A few side squeezes and you're your smiley self again."

Philip growled again. "I'm so getting yohou bahack."

"I'll look out for it." Barnum released Philip from the tickle hug, but the younger man didn't get up right away. "I thought you were desperate to finish your paperwork Mr. Carlyle?"

"In a minute."

"Oh really?"

Philip quickly squeezed Barnum's sides. "Revenge is more important."

The older man let out a few chuckles, but his sides weren't much of a hot spot. He quickly grabbed his younger friend's hands and wrapped him in another hug. "One thing you need to learn about tickling Phil. If you want to get back at someone who attacked you first, aim for their weaker spots."

Philip rolled his eyes. "How am I supposed to know them if you won't let me find them!"

PT Barnum pinched along Philip's sides. "Where's the fun in that?"

With another squeal, the younger man squirmed to the side and and accidentally tipped himself over.

"You alright?"

"Yehes. No thanks to yohou."

"Aww, don't be such a party pooper Phil." Barnum stood. "You lost your first tickle fight, but there will be others."

The younger man bolted upright. "Others?"

"Of course. Especially since your tickle tolerance is so low." The older man tapped his chin. "Hmm, maybe it would be a good idea to have a daily tickle time until you get your stamina up to where it needs to be. Say, maybe I can get the rest of the circus to join in."

Philip flopped back on to the couch. "You don't even subject your own children to that kind of torture!"

"Not all of my kids."

Philip turned to Barnum and gave him a strange look.

The older man winked. "You're the special exception child."

Those words washed over Philip as he stared at the man in front of him. He wasn't sure when he became the Barnum's adoptive son, but he found himself okay with it. He didn't have the greatest childhood, despite what it looked on the outside, and here, he had a home of people who cared.

"Come on Sonny." PT turned back to his desk. "Back to work."

With his back turned, Philip took a small pillow from the couch and chucked it at Barnum. It landed square in the center of his back, causing the older man to stop.

PT slowly turned to look at his young friend grinning on the couch then down to the pillow laying on the floor. "So that is how you want to play. Very undignified indeed."

"You sound like my father."

"How dare you insult me with such comparisons!"

That brought a smile to Philip's face."

"Just for that horrendous comparison, you shall be sentenced to a pillow attack."

In the blink of an eye, both men had a pillow in their hands and were facing off from opposite sides of the room.

A moment later, the two charged forward leaving a trail of feathers in their wake.

[eradicatetehnormal]

Terminally Online, Pseudo-politcal Rant.

I was watching a video essay the other day about how right-wing talking points are bad. Its conclusion was that they don't have to be good or compelling arguments because they're appealing to people who already agree with them. To a certain extent, they're correct. It does seem that as of late, the right-wing has resorted less to debating people on the street or on college campuses and more to circling their hatred for trans people and other "degenerate" groups.

In a way, that might signal a good thing. A party that's increasingly incapable of defending itself? Doesn't seem very strong to me. They're still pretty being, of course, if MAGA and Project 2025 are to indicate anything (for fucks sake, give me money for a passport). I do wonder where they'll be in the next 10 years or when Donald Trump dies. A lot of Republican politicians have been having "negative rizz" as of late. I'm side-tracking, though.

The problem I have with that essayist leaving the conversation there is that it might perpetuate this very Twitter, lazy leftist idea that there's no point in refuting bad talking points or educating people about a subject. That's likely not what that person meant, but it's where that idea could lead.

I'm not saying that people should just go around, looking for right-wingers to debunk and dunk on. That carries its own set of problems by making the left wing look catty and disingenuous. People can use their own platforms to talk about various issues and the right lens to see something. The thing is, not engaging and just yelling in an echo chamber, over time can make the left wing look incoherent and nonsensical.

Imagine you're just a normal, center-leaning person logging into Twitter to keep up with your favorite celebrity, and you see a right winger being like, "Western society won't be fixed until the perversion or trans ideology and crt is pushed out of our schools." To which that centrist might think "What the fuck is crt and trans ideology? This person sounds outlandish." Then they see a left-winger all like, "The rates of women who have reported being SA'd are abysmal, but let's not forget about our black and indigenous sisters who were trafficked and never had a search done for them." To which the centrist might say, "Why is this person centering black and native women on an issue that affects all women? This person also sounds outlandish." From their perspective, there's not just one dumbass in an echo chamber, but two dumbasses in an echo chamber, since they didn't grow up around an outwardly conservative community and don't listen to enough of those people to flat out being transphobic or racist, nor do they have an understanding of intersectional politics.

Some might say, "Well this post is just making people engage with optics and identity politics. We have nothing to prove!" I get where this is coming from. A lot of great people and activists were pushed out of communities or silenced because people felt that they optically made them look bad. To the person who says this, though, have you ever supported the de-platforming of a leftist or liberal because of their bad takes or terrible behavior? Guess what? You care about optics. Part of the reason you wanted them gone was because, they were toxic and annoying to deal with, but another part of that reason was likely because they were garnering an audience who may go around acting like them or using their arguments, which could lead to a large group of people misrepresenting and hurting a movement.

We need to get better at distinguishing people who are trying to insult or belittle us from people who are asking questions in good faith. We also need to learn when to end a conversation. Having the last word does not always make you look good. If you get frustrated easily or you get nervous, you don't have to engage. It's just worth explaining what you mean, on occasion. Throwing in a statistic every now and then (rarely ever personal life experience, because not only is it not the best evidence, but people will try to belittle it).

[apocalypticavolition]

Let's (re)Read The Great Hunt! Chapter 5: The Shadow in Shienar

It's that time again folks! Yadda yadda yadda, heavy spoilers for all of the books, the TV show, the RPG, the video game, and the limited run commemorative cups that have all either gone missing or been confirmed destroyed. Oh wait that is the spoiler for the cups. Sorry. Don't keep reading if you don't want more spoilers!

This chapter has the sun of the Whitecloaks, which symbolizes how we're getting our first Whitecloak POV this chapter. There's a lot of POV hopping really, kind of too much. Sometimes I wish Jordan had stayed more focused in each chapter instead of hopping around the way he does, but oh well.

So seldom had it been done that every novice was required to learn the name of each Aes Sedai since the Breaking of the World who had been stilled, and her crime, but none could think of it without a shudder.

Terrifying to think that over three thousand years, the list is still small enough to be easily learned. At this point, two of them are Amyrlins (though the upcoming third example is in the room right now!), but there were obviously more. Did the Compendium list them all? I really need to read that someday.

“Both of the Red, and both replaced by Amyrlin from the Blue. The reason there has not been an Amyrlin chosen from the Red since Bonwhin, and the reason the Red Ajah will take any pretext to pull down an Amyrlin from the Blue, all wrapped neatly together. I have no wish to be the third to lose the stole and the staff, Moiraine. For you, of course, it would mean being stilled and put outside the Shining Walls.”

I think the reason that the Red Ajah has such a shit track record is in part because of the poorly formed nature of their cause (yes, gentling dudes is important, but dedicating themselves entirely to it clearly led to a poor moral character) and in part because the apparently best time to turn to a Red to lead is exactly when having no tradition of leadership leads to disaster.

Having a Red during the Trolloc Wars makes a lot of sense considering all the Dreadlords and whatnot. Bonwhin against Amalasan was probably a great idea at the time (though I expect even the Hall got played here because this False Dragon is the most plausible candidate as a Tar Valon puppet). But Tetsuan was consumed by her petty squabbles instead of being able to play the political game correctly and arguably the fall of Manetheren was the reason the Ten Nations as a whole were unable to withstand the war. And Artur Hawkwing beating Amalasan meant that Bonwhin's best strength was gone and her attempts to replace one puppet with another backfired so hideously that the White Tower was nearly destroyed.

Other Amyrlins were screw-ups; there were at least two who were exiled by politics, but only the three Red Amyrlins really had a chance to be as disastrous as they were. And to be honest, it doesn't say great things about the Tower as a whole that they were allowed to be the failures that they were.

“For me, it would be different. Even stilled, an Amyrlin who has been pulled down cannot be allowed to wander about loose; she might be seen as a martyr, become a rallying point for opposition. Tetsuan and Bonwhin were kept in the White Tower as servants. Scullery maids, who could be pointed to as cautions as to what can happen to the mightiest. No one can rally around a woman who must scrub floors and pots all day. Pity her, yes, but not rally to her.”

So like obviously this whole section is foreshadowing Siuan's eventual fate, but this bit in particular is the nice dramatic irony. Siuan manages to wander around loose and while she doesn't quite get people to rally around her, she does pick candidates for them to rally around to her advantage (Logain and Egwene).

“The Pattern pays no heed to human plans, Siuan. With all our scheming, we forgot what we were dealing with. Ta’veren. Elaida is wrong. Artur Paendrag Tanreall was never this strongly ta’veren. The Wheel will weave the Pattern around this young man as it wills, whatever our plans.”

On the one hand, it's smart of Moiraine to acknowledge this. On the other hand, it's very dumb of her to refuse to internalize this in any way.

“ ‘The grave is no bar to my call,’ ” she translated, so softly she seemed to be speaking to herself. “The Horn of Valere, made to call dead heroes back from the grave. And prophecy said it would only be found just in time for the Last Battle.”

I feel like maybe in the planning phase the Siuan/Moiraine chat was meant to be one chapter with the Horn being discussed there (hence the icon) and the other disparate POVs meant to be their own thing, but ultimately the one chapter got too long and the other too short and Harriet said "Why not a good chapter break on a dramatic moment?" cause that's good editing advice but they never changed the icons to match.

“Agelmar pushed it into my hands as soon as the Welcome was done. He said he was afraid to go into his own strongroom any longer, with it there. The temptation was too great, he said. To sound the Horn himself and lead the host that answered its call north through the Blight to level Shayol Ghul itself and put an end to the Dark One. He burned with the ecstasy of glory, and it was that, he said, that told him it was not to be him, must not be him. He could not wait to be rid of it, yet he wanted it still.”

Mad respect to Agelmar here, but also: would blowing the Horn at Fal Dara even do anything? The prophecy about salvation instead of glory might well mean that blowing the Horn in any situation except the desperation that Mat and Olver feel at their respective moments would be as effective as if a Darkfriend tried to summon the Heroes to fight for the Shadow.

“And it was not to be found until just before the Last Battle. Can it be that close? I thought, hoped, we would have more time.”

Hey, y'all have a bit over two years to go. That's not nothing.

 “Never more than one false Dragon in a generation since the Breaking, and now three loose in the world at one time, and three more in the past two years. The Pattern demands a Dragon because the Pattern weaves toward Tarmon Gai’don. Sometimes doubt fills me, Moiraine.”

Moiraine of course points out that the Pattern doesn't accept Dragon substitutes, but there is reason to think there's more purpose to so many I-Can't-Believe-He's-Not-Therin products on the market at this point, especially since the two still standing will get struck down when Rand makes his declaration. Basically, since this particular iteration of the Third Age is pretty clearly way off course (hence three ta'veren at once to correct the Pattern), the false Dragons are doing a bunch of the work that Rand no longer has the time to do himself: rallying armies together and giving them and the Aes Sedai combat training so that as many people as possible will be ready for the actual Last Battle. Hence their locations: Ghealdan and Murandy where Rand never has a chance to personally intervene, Illian where Rand doesn't really have time to organize the armies, Tear where he needs them ready as soon as he arrives, and Saldaea that receives the first blow from the Shadow at Maradon. None of the Seanchan-occupied territories get False Dragons because they get their own combat boosts, the two middle Borderlands get nothing because they're just kind of there (and Shienar got its training from hell last book), and Andor and Cairhien are places where Rand has time to source things anyway (plus Andor has the civil war and Cairhien gets the Shaido).

The secret hidden from the world, if the world ever thought of it, was that no Amyrlin Seat had known where any of the seals were since the Trolloc Wars.

Frankly, it's probably mythology that the Tower ever knew the locations of all seven seals. One was in the Eye, made at least 100 years before the White Tower existed. One found its way to Rhuidean, which means it was probably in Aiel hands the whole time and again this predated the Tower. A third seems to have ended up in Seanchan, which the White Tower probably didn't know about even back then.

Losing track of the others though, that's extra sad. The one in the Stone of Tear was almost certainly given to the people of Essenia for safekeeping. The one the Panarch had may well have been distributed similarly - and that suggests that the other two were meant to be safeguarded as well. Both allegedly came from Saldaea, and I'm going to suggest that Bayle's legitimately did so and had been put in the northwest corner of the known world to match the southwest and southeast - and that as a result we can theorize that the fourth may well have been safely in Malkier (and its predecessors) for generations until, y'know. Then Taim the Darkfriend was given it to give to Rand.

“I saw the boy, you know, in the courtyard during the Welcome. It is one of my Talents, seeing ta’veren. A rare Talent these days, even more rare than ta’veren, and certainly not of much use. A tall boy, a fairly handsome young man. Not much different from any young man you might see in any town.”

I'm a wee bit surprised Siuan didn't mention how he really looks less like a town boy and more like an Aiel, but I guess since Rand isn't nearby fretting about his parentage there's no reason to twist that dagger.

“If he is the one, then we truly may have time enough. But is he safe here? I have two Red sisters with me, and I can no longer answer for Green or Yellow, either. The Light consume me, I can’t answer for any of them, not with this. Even Verin and Serafelle would leap on him the way they would a scarlet adder in a nursery.”

Nice of Siuan to suggest that the Browns might be remotely useful (frankly I think the reason these digs aren't tossed at the Whites is that they don't even have hobbies enough for the other Aes Sedai to remember they exist half the time), but frankly I suspect that Serafelle, like Verin, would just start studying Rand for whatever her current book project is.

“I have purposely let him think I no longer have any interest in him, that he may go where he pleases for all of me.” She raised her hands as the Amyrlin opened her mouth. “It was necessary, Siuan. Rand al’Thor was raised in the Two Rivers, where Manetheren’s stubborn blood flows in every vein, and his own blood is like rock beside clay compared to Manetheren’s. He must be handled gently, or he will bolt in any direction but the one we want.”

No Moiraine, you really fucked this strategy up. Ghosting the boy so quickly and thoroughly only made him hurt and resentful about everything, especially since he's already going through so much. It would have been a far wiser move to keep up some degree of communication with him, even if it was just inviting him to tea and a game of stones once a week.

“His two friends, Matrim Cauthon and Perrin Aybara, are ripe to see the world before they sink back into the obscurity of the Two Rivers. If they can sink back; they are ta’veren, too, if lesser than he. I will induce them to carry the Horn of Valere to Illian.”

She's literally already back to scheming and forgetting what she's dealing with. Moiraine. Girl. Get a clue.

“He must be let off the leash for a time. There is no help for it. I have had all of their old clothes burned. There has been too much opportunity for some shred of what they were wearing to have fallen into the wrong hands. I will cleanse them before they leave; they will not even realize it has been done. There will be no chance they can be tracked that way, and the only other threat of that kind is locked away here in the dungeon.”

Like... she literally veers from "Two Rivers stubborn" to "I can make them do whatever" to "I burned their clothing" and it never occurs to her that these claims are all very contradictory. "The Pattern gives no fucks about our plans" gives way to "I will see to everything in Illian" as if she hasn't spent an entire book watching as the Pattern carefully picks up each of her plans and then flings them against a cuendillar wall.

“I have the means to see him named Dragon whether he wills it or not. And even if I somehow fail, the Pattern itself will see him named Dragon whether he wills it or not. Remember, he is ta’veren, Siuan. He has no more control over his fate than a candle wick has over the flame.”

More dramatic irony. Rand has a good deal of control over his fate: he demonstrates in The Gathering Storm that not only can he commit suicide if he feels like it, but omnicide to boot. He had every ability to slay the Dark One at the climax of the series, for all the good that would have done anyone, and walks away. When Rand interprets the Karatheon Cycle, he's correct about what it means, a privilege given to exactly zero other characters. He gets to fall in love without the prophecy of its inevitability hanging over him: it's his own choice, not his capitulation to the Wheel like Min.

Meanwhile, Moiraine has no control over Rand's fate whatsoever. He doesn't go to Tar Valon or Illian until she's long gone and never for the reasons she intends. She doesn't want him to have Thom as a mentor figure, but when she gets rid of him Rhuarc and a fucking Forsaken step up to fill the gap. When she goes through the rings, she sees that the vast majority of timelines - every one where she abandons all concern for Rand the person and embraces any desperate and cold method to save the world - her manipulations only make the situation worse.

The column would have made an impressive sight under the waxing moon, moving through the Tarabon night to the jangle of harness, had there been anyone to see it.

Oh thank god. Hopefully since we're changing POV I'll stop ranting so much.

“My Lord Captain Commander, may I ask why I was called back from Caemlyn, and with such urgency? A push, and Morgase could be toppled. There are Houses in Andor that see dealing with Tar Valon as we do, and they were ready to lay claim to the throne. I left Eamon Valda in charge, but he seemed intent on following the Daughter-Heir to Tar Valon. I would not be surprised to learn the man has kidnapped the girl, or even attacked Tar Valon.”

I think Geofram is missing the bigger picture here. With winter magically over and spring making up the difference, the political situation is now much less tenuous than it was.

“There are forces at work beyond what you know, Geofram. Beyond what even you can know. Choose your men quickly. Now go. Ask me no more. And the Light ride with you.”

Say what you like about Niall being a vile jackass who leads the continent's worst organization (and when I say continent I am including Shara and all their mess), but damn if he's not perceptive. Dude has absolutely no clues about what's going on in the world except an unnatural winter, an uncertain western invasion, and whispers of Trolloc sightings in Andor and he's already deduced that the Last Battle is around the corner and it's time to get ready for it. Such a shame he's so morally repugnant or he could have been a great asset for the good guys.

I have been sent here to meet Questioners?

Shame you're not being put to the Question yourself, buddy. You can be all "Oh yeah they're totally corrupt," but you're fucking allied with them. That's your choice.

Pacified. He wondered if the bodies had been piled outside the village, or if they had been thrown into the river. It would be like the Questioners, cold enough to kill an entire village for secrecy and stupid enough to throw the bodies into the river to float downstream and trumpet their deed from Alcruna to Tanchico.

WHY ARE YOU PART OF THIS GEOFRAM? YOU CLEARLY KNOW BETTER!

(Also weirdly Einor Saren will show up again. I have nothing in particular to say about him though. He exists and if I wasn't obsessively checking which minor characters do in fact recur I wouldn't even realize we're going to see him again in Lord of Chaos.)

For a moment, Bornhald stopped breathing. “Then the rumors are true. Artur Hawkwing’s armies have returned.” “Strangers,” Saren said flatly. He sounded as if he regretted having mentioned them.

You can't just use insistent terminology to bend the world to your will, Saren. They're a very big threat and calling them "Strangers" is just happily living in denial. Bad enough I have to put up with this crap from Rand. Oh well. Onto the next POV!

Twilight was a troubled time for Liandrin of late, that and dawn. At dawn the day was born, just as twilight gave birth to night, but at dawn, night died, and at twilight, day. The Dark One’s power was rooted in death; he gained power from death, and at those times she thought she could feel his power stirring.

Liandrin is quite a glass half empty kind of lady, isn't she? Maybe if you didn't focus on how birth and death are so intrinsically linked there'd be less power for the Dark One to claim, did you ever think of that Liandrin? (Except of course she didn't go Dark out of nihilism, so her focus on death isn't remotely like Ish's despair.)

It was The Dance of the Hawk and the Hummingbird, by Teven Aerwin, which purported to set forth the proper conduct of men toward women and women toward men. Liandrin’s mouth tightened; she certainly had not read it, but she had heard as much as she needed about it.

Liandrin thinks that the proper conduct of men toward women is groveling and pleading for their life and that as long as the woman doesn't like the man or do anything kind to him she can do whatever she likes. Anything that says otherwise is scandalous, anything that suggests men and women might enjoy each other's company offensive.

“Do you walk in the Light, my daughter?” There would be none of that foolishness of calling her sister here. The other woman was older by some years, but the ancient forms would be observed. However long they had been forgotten, it was time they were remembered.

See what I mean from last chapter? Liandrin absolutely hates the idea of respecting someone who might be behaving as if she's even remotely an equal.

Casually she threw the book into the fire. Flames leaped as if it were a log of fatwood, thundering as they licked up the chimney. In the same instant every lamp in the room flared, hissing, so fiercely did they burn, flooding the chamber with light.

We're not even being remotely subtle about Liandrin's general disposition here, are we?

In that moment of doubt and confusion, Liandrin struck. She did not move, but lashed out with the One Power. Amalisa gasped and gave a jerk, as if she had been pricked with a needle, and Liandrin’s petulant mouth perked in a smile. This was her own special trick from childhood, the first learned of her abilities. It had been forbidden to her as soon as the Mistress of Novices discovered it, but to Liandrin that only meant one more thing she needed to conceal from those who were jealous of her.

Just another reason why the general secrecy of the Tower about weaves is stupid. If people knew about Liandrin's trick more generally, they'd have more understanding of her character and she might not have been allowed to progress to the shawl at all.

It was not a perfect ability; Liandrin could not force anyone to do what she wanted—though she had tried; oh, how she had tried. But she could open them wide to her arguments, make them want to believe her, want more than anything to be convinced of her rightness.

Interesting that this kind of Compulsion is so limited compared to what Graendal can accomplish. Is it just a less effective weave, or does Graendal's knowledge of physiology and psychology let her accomplish more outright than Liandrin can?

“Moiraine came to Fal Dara with a Darkfriend.” Amalisa was too frightened to show surprise. “Oh, no, Liandrin Sedai. No. That man came later. He is in the dungeons now.”

And this is an interesting twist on it as well. Amalisa is still quite capable of arguing logically because there's a reasonable way by which she can interpret Liandrin as mistaken but not lying. Is this confusion part of why Liandrin won't name the ta'veren as Darkfriends?

“The Black Ajah is real, child. Real, and here within Fal Dara’s walls.” Amalisa knelt there, her mouth hanging open. The Black Ajah. Aes Sedai who were also Darkfriends. Almost as horrible to learn the Dark One himself walked Fal Dara keep. But Liandrin would not let up now. “Any Aes Sedai in the halls you pass, a Black sister could be. This I swear. I cannot tell you which they are, but my protection you can have. If in the Light you walk and me obey.”

It's also worth noting that except the quote just before this one (which may well be in-character confusion), Liandrin doesn't really say anything explicitly false from her perspective. Even her threats are based in the truth. Either Jordan hadn't quite decided that the Blacks had abandoned the Oaths yet or Liandrin is masterfully keeping her alibi by acting as if she is still bound by them in these public interactions.

Pulling the door shut behind her, Liandrin suddenly felt a prickling across her skin. Breath catching, she whirled about, looking up and down the dimly lit hall. Empty. It was full night beyond the arrowslits. The hall was empty, yet she was sure there had been eyes on her. The vacant corridor, shadowy between the lamps on the walls, mocked her. She shrugged uneasily, then started down the hall determinedly. Fancies take me. Nothing more.

I listed a bunch of possible causes for Rand's paranoia last we saw him, and it was pointed out I neglected the possibility it might be the Gray Man who is going to be a problem soon. I would thus like to note that I am very confident that's what Liandrin feels at this point.

You! No...

Wait no I'm getting way ahead of myself. A fuller quote would be:

Fain stood. “You! Not who I expected.”

Who did Fain expect to break him out of jail? Ishamael himself? Graendal for reasons related to my above quote? Liandrin? A Fade? Not Ingtar, obviously. Guess we can conclude he definitely wasn't at the Darkfriend Social.

Ah well. Next time: Moiraine's plans are smashed with the Pattern's finest cuendillar hammer.

[alwaysaskerurihan]

If you don't mind my asking, Erwin, how much has losing your arm impacted your relationships with Levi and Hange?

"I don't mind you asking that since you've been polite about it," Erwin assures the anon with a warm smile. "And it's a bit different from being asked how do I manage. My answer to that would be that I learn to, just as anyone who's lost a limb or the use of body parts would have to adjust."

Walking through the courtyard of base, Erwin scans the near empty space, his eyes watching several recruits do some warm up exercises. "It has had an impact on my personal relationships as well as my ability to physically fight. In the case of the latter, I am no longer able to take part in the field as much as I would like. This..." he hesitates, as though the words are holding him back, "is quite frustrating.. I don't much like the idea of being a commander who cannot lead by example anymore. Hange and Levi are well aware of my feelings on this. They are quick to pull me back when I try and ignore my own limitations. Levi is particularly irritable when I do this," he adds with a quiet huff of exasperation.

"Hange is not quite as prone to arguing with me as much as Levi is but there have been times when I've been testing their patience. I can see it building behind their eyes." Regret fills Erwin's expression as he thinks about the last time he argued with Hange. "They're caught between the role of being my subordinate and being someone who cares a great deal for me. This has been challenging for them and sometimes I think they should allow themselves to snap, to take out their irritation at me. I'm old enough and I've seen enough of the world to be able to handle some kickback."

"Levi has no trouble calling me out," Erwin continues and his face slowly breaks into a wide smile, blue eyes shining with affection and amusement. "He will argue his point across and he makes some excellent ones too. He doesn't have Hange's caution about speaking out of turn."

"But, there are times when Hange will go for a more ego-flattering tactic. They are quite excellent at coming up with ways for me to stay involved with things without overdoing things. So... between their two different approaches, at least one of them will usually get through to me in some way."

Erwin leads the way back into the base and through some quiet corridors until he reaches the lounge. Shutting the door behind the anon, he moves to sit in an armchair. "Physically, the ability to hold both my partners at the same time is now gone but the both of them bring us all together so we haven't lost that physical closeness. I won't go into any more details regarding our physical relationship but I'm sure you can imagine that there are challenges there too. It's all a learning experience right now and, to be honest, after losing so many soldiers. it's a blessing to have survived in any form at all."

[jojo0039]

*Treasure and Secrets* Homecoming Part 1

The friends make it to Charleston by mid-morning.

"Okay so I was doing some research, they're super fancy people. They've had three governors in the family. They've run Charleston for like 300 years. I'm kinda mad that I didn't know about them before this." Jo says as she looks up from her phone.

"These kooks make our kooks look like Pogues. You wouldn't have liked those people anyway."

JJ comments as Pope pulls the car up to a large Victorian building that had a large iron gate wrapped around the property.

"Maybe so, but it's still good to learn about family." Jo says as they all glance at the house.

"Is this the right place?" Kie asks.

"Yea I think so." Pope replies.

"Well alright let's go."

They get out of the truck and walk up to the gate.

"Holy shit. Even the kookiest house in OBX is this fancy." Jo comments.

"Why are there so many spikes? Is it to keep people out?" Kie asks.

"No it's to keep people in." JJ answers.

"Well, it's now or never guys. We came all this way. We can't back out now."

Jo opens the gate and Pope follows behind her.

Kie and JJ share a look before they follow behind.

Pope uses the ancient door knocker to knock on the door.

"Well, that was intense." Jo states.

"Yea that definitely echoed the entire house." JJ jokes.

"Was it too much?" Pope asks.

"Try it again." Kie says.

Just as Pope is about to knock again, the door opens to reveal a man that appears to be in his late twenties or early thirties.

He looks at the friends with a scoff.

"Let me guess, you must be Pope."

He then points to Jo.

"You must be Joanna." he guesses.

"And you are?" Jo questions.

"Ms. Limbrey was expecting you yesterday. " the man rudely speaks.

"The letter only gave us eight hours. It's not like we could just jump on a plane or boat and get here within a few hours." Jo smartly retorts back.

"Sorry about that. My truck broke down in the middle of nowhere." Pope starts.

"The carburetor blew up man." JJ speaks as he inches closer to Jo and places a hand on her waist.

"Yeah, she was really upset when you didn't show up." The man scoffs.

"We tried to call, but there was no number on the invitation." Kie buts in.

"She also expected you two to come alone." The man glares.

"These are our friends. They helped find the Royal Merchant too." Pope argues.

"Yea plus I don't go anywhere without my boyfriend. He wouldn't even let me if I tried."

Jo shrugs her shoulders indifferently.

"The instructions for explicit. Your friends and your boyfriend can wait outside." The man states.

"We're kinda a package deal man." JJ argues.

"It's okay babe. We'll be fine." Jo tells JJ as she grabs his hand lightly.

Jo glances down and sees Kie grab Pope's hand for encouragement.

"Okay. We will be right here." JJ assures them.

The man moves away from the door so Pope and Jo can walk through.

                                                  *******************************

Jo looks around in the foyer.

She notices that everything in the house is antique.

The man leads them into a sitting room.

"Wait here. Ms. Limbrey will be with you."

He walks off without another word to them.

Jo grabs Pope's hand as they look around.

"I'm not too sure about this anymore. This place seems very creepy." Jo whispers.

"Are you getting Crain vibes like I am?" Pope whispers back.

"Oh for sure. This place is creepy as hell. I'm glad I didn't know these people before now." Jo comments as she stops in front of a picture.

It is a picture of a middle-aged man dressed in a fancy suit and tie.

"That is my father Charles Limbrey, your mother's great-uncle."

They both turn to see a woman walking with body crutches.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Joanna. And you must be Pope. My name is Carla Limbrey."

She walks slowly further into the room.

"Please you two, have a seat." she gestures to the couch.

Jo and Pope slowly sit down.

"I just wanna say thank you so much for everything. This really means a lot to us." Pope speaks first.

"Can I offer you two a drink?" Carla asks.

"No that won't be necessary. No offense, but I haven't heard of you or the Limbrey name until you sent the letters. Why is that?" Jo asks.

"I'm sorry, our family is very close-knit-"

Jo shakes her head.

"Yea I'm getting that. But why reach out now? What do you want?" Joanna asks.

Carla smiles at her.

"Straight forward I like that. You have great leadership qualities to a true Limbrey after all. And we will discuss your future with the family. But this is about something more. You and your friends managed to beat everyone to the Royal Merchant, including me. Lord knows I have tried. I am also aware that you have lost the gold to Ward Cameron." she informs them.

Pope and Jo share a confused and surprised look.

"How do you know that?" Pope asks.

"Ward Cameron and I have a long and tormented history. Something that you have in common with Joanna. Your long and tormented history with Ward's son Rafe would rival to mine with Ward. But Ward and I were partners in finding the Royal Merchant and I'm afraid that Big John Routledge was not the only one that Ward double-crossed." Carla informs them.

Jo narrows her eyes in suspicion.

"What else do you know?" she asks.

"I know that Rafe Cameron killed Sheriff Peterkin. I have proof of it." she states.

"So you can clear John B's name?" Pope interrupts.

"I can at any time."

She plays a tape recording of Gavin speaking about Rafe killing Peterkin.

"So why won't you do the right thing and just clear his name?" Pope asks.

"My friend, the Limbreys did not maintain their position in the Lowcountry for these past three hundred years by giving away something of value for free. I will keep my word and clear John B's name, but in return, I want something first. And I think you know what it is. I want the key." she tells them.

"The key to what? We didn't find any key." Jo tells her.

Carla shakes her head.

"Your future here in this family and our relationship will not go very far if we aren't honest with each other. I want Denmark's key." she tells them. "As in Denmark Tanny? Ms. Limbrey I am sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about." Pope tells her.

Carla stands up and walks over to a desk.

She picks up a piece of paper with a drawing of a key.

"Does this look familiar to you at all?" she asks them.

"As we said already, we didn't find a key. But we will be willing to search for it for you." Jo suggests.

"I want to show you guys something. I think it's time for a history lesson."

The man who answered the door before pushes Pope and Jo.

"Outside." he states.

                                                  *****************************

The man pushes Pope and Jo outside.

She catches JJ's eye as he and Kie are sitting in the truck.

By the look on his face, she knew that JJ didn't like how she was being handled.

They walk down an alley covered with trees and bushes.

"All of this, all the way to the Ashley River was owned by my family. The Limbreys have lived in this house since it was built 280 years ago."

They finally stop at a gravestone.

"Here lies Denmark Tanny, the famous ex-slave. Have you guys heard the story?" Carla asks.

"What story?" Pope asks back.

"Denmark was a freedman, a wealthy planter. He was able to buy the freedom of his three sons, but when he tried to buy his wife and daughter's freedom, my paternal ancestors- yours as well Joanna, refused." Jo's eyes widen slightly as she listens.

"When his wife Cecilia, tries to run with the baby, they set the hounds on her."

Jo reaches down and grabs Pope's hand.

This lady was freaking her out and the story she was telling was bone-chilling.

Pope squeezes her hand back.

"Cecilia drowned trying to escape, the baby survived and Denmark was hanged allegedly for abetting a slave revolt, but really it was for gathering the remains of his wife."

Jo notices that Carla was targeting Pope and quickly steps between the two.

"Ok, it's enough story time. Clearly, we made a mistake coming here. You need to work on your delivery lady because you are creepy as hell."

Jo pulls Pope and starts walking away.

"Hey! Do you two think I'm stupid?" Carla angrily asks.

"Stupid? No." Pope answers.

"Why else would the Routledge boy involve the two of you? Pope's family has the key and your ancestors are the ones to whom the gold rightly belongs to." Carla states.

"That's nuts." Jo whispers.

"The key that is in your family leads to the cross, the Cross of Santo Domingo. 'The real treasure lies at the foot of the angel' That was Denmark's last words. Are you telling me you know nothing about that Pope?" Carla creeps them out.

Jo is wide-eyed as she pulls Pope away.

"No, it doesn't ring any bells. And thank you for the invite, but I'm going back to the 21st century now."

Pope and Jo run back down the alley toward the front of the house.

Pope keeps hold of Jo's hand as they make it to the gate.

"Bunch of crazy people." Pope mutters.

Jo gives him a sheepish look.

"Yeah, I'm sorry that I'm related to them buddy." she tells him.

Pope tries to break the chain keeping the gate closed.

"Shit! I can't get it open." Pope tells her.

She looks behind her to see that man heading their way.

"You might wanna hurry, her lap dog is heading right for us."

Pope stands beside Jo as the man stops in front of them.

"What do ya got?" Pope asks aggressively.

The man smirks and pulls out a taser.

She glares at Pope.

"You just had to ask!" Jo shouts.

The man lunges for Pope.

He elbows him and pushes him away.

Jo manages to punch him in the face.

"Run!"

They run for the wall.

The man grabs Jo and yanks her to the ground.

"Jo!"

Pope turns to swing and the man ducks and shoves Pope to the ground.

He chuckles at them.

"It's time for you kids to listen now."

Jo kicks her leg out and kicks him in the crotch.

He falls to the ground in pain.

Jo gets up and pulls Pope up.

The man is crawling for the taser.

Pope struggles with the man for it.

JJ comes out of nowhere and kicks the man in the face.

Jo kicks the taser away toward Kie.

"Come on let's go!"

They all jump over the wall and run to the truck.

"Let's go!"

"Get in!"

Jo jumps in the back seat with Kie as Pope and JJ jump in the front.

"Who the hell were those crazy people?" Kie asks.

"We're getting out of here!"

JJ does a U-turn and drives down the alley until he makes the main road.

"I think he's following us J!" Jo shouts.

"This is a one-way! Turn left!"

"Go that way!"

"He's still following us!"

JJ is driving down the wrong way and they are coming toward oncoming traffic.

"J! There's a fucking car!" Jo shouts as JJ swerves and misses the car.

"Turn right now!"

JJ sharply turns the truck to the right.

He turns onto another road and instantly almost hits two people running across the street carrying gas cans.

"Get off the road!" JJ shouts.

"You almost just ran over two people JJ! You're having way too much fun with this!" Jo shouts at him.

"That was evasive driving technique right there baby!"

They all look at him like he's nuts.

"Where are we going?"

"JJ!"

"He's still following us!"

JJ turns down an alley just as smoke starts rising from the hood and the truck stalls.

"You said he fixed the carburetor!" JJ shouts.

"He did!" Pope yells back.

"Shit guys we gotta go!"

They quickly get out of the truck and grab their backpacks.

"Number one rule is never to trust mechanics." JJ tells them.

The car pulls up behind them.

"We gotta go around!"

"Go!"

They start running down the alley.

A car door slams and another set of footsteps follow them.

"Guys I think he has a gun!" Kie shouts.

They run into another alley.

"Come on this way!"

"Go, go, go, go!"

"We might have to split up!" JJ shouts as they continue to run.

"We're not splitting up! Just run!"

JJ slams into a man carrying a bunch of boxes knocking them all down.

"Sorry!"

"Come on this way!" JJ turns into another alley.

"Guys he's gaining!"

"You guys gotta keep up!"

"We are just go!"

They run to the end of the alley and Jo collides with a stopped Pope.

Her eyes lock on John B and Sarah standing right in front of them.

She felt herself smile and tears well in her eyes at two of her best friends in front of her again.

"Get in! Get in!" John B and Sarah shout.

Kie and Jo climb into the seat with Sarah as Pope and JJ push the buggy so they go quicker.

"John B go faster!"

They can get away from everyone chasing after them.

"Whoo!"

"Yea! That's what I'm talking about!"

They laugh and quickly make it to where John B and Sarah have a boat docked.

"Let's go!"

The boys push the boat into the water and they take off.

They drive the boat out in the open water as the reunited friends catch up.

John B and Sarah tell them about what happened to them in the Bahamas.

Sarah confirms to Jo that she did see her dad there with Ward moving the gold.

It pains her to hear, but she accepts it.

Kie and JJ tell them about Jo trying to fight someone at school.

They laugh and hug each other since the Pogues are all finally reunited.

                                                    ***********************

They finally make it back to familiar territory as they drive through the marsh back in the OBX.

Jo feels a heavy weight in her chest at being back.

She knows she's gonna have to confront her dad.

She feels arms wrap around her and she leans back against JJ's chest.

"Anybody else starving? We need to grab some sort of breakfast." JJ complains.

Jo laughs.

"You're always hungry." she says.

"But I think I know where to go. Pull up to that dock right ahead." Jo tells John B.

"Let's go find food girls." Kie says as they jump onto the dock.

They walk through a small field and find a small garden of watermelons.

"Jackpot!" Kie holds up a big watermelon.

The girls sit down on the ground and share one.

"So did you guys really get married?" Jo asks Sarah.

"It wasn't exactly legal, but yea."

Sarah sounds so happy as she looks at them with a big smile.

The girls giggle at the romance of it.

"Am I crazy or is there something going on with you and Pope? And Jo and JJ?" Sarah gives them knowing looks.

Jo's smile drops as a guilty look appears on her face.

Sarah catches it but doesn't call her out on it.

"There might be something going on with me and Pope." Kie admits with a smile.

"Girl." Sarah laughs.

"What about you and JJ?" Sarah nudges Jo's shoulder with hers.

"We're together." she admits causing Sarah to squeal.

"I want details soon!"

Jo laughs before she nods her head.

They head back to the boat where the boys are talking.

"Hey! Whatcha all talking about?" Jo questions as they come carrying a watermelon each.

"Uh just fishing." John B states lamely.

"Dropping lores." JJ covers.

"Smooth you guys." Sarah comments as she hands over the watermelon.

"We brought breakfast." Kie announces.

They drive back down the marsh heading in a familiar direction.

They turn the corner and they see the Chateau in the distance.

"Home sweet home!" Jo exclaims as she wraps her arms around John B's neck from behind.

"Does it feel good to see her old bones again?" JJ asks.

John B docks the boat and they jump off the boat.

"You know, I'm being honest, not exactly looking forward to checking in at home." Kie complains.

"I know what you mean. How do I even face my dad right now? I don't know what to say to him." Jo states.

"I predict unpleasantries at the Heyward household after I left the truck in Charleston." Pope also inputs.

"No one knows we're here right?" JJ asks as he wraps an arm around Jo's waist.

"And you three aren't gonna get into any more trouble for showing up 12 hours later. Am I right or am I right?" JJ states.

"You're not wrong." Pope agrees.

"So that means we have 12 hours to do whatever the hell we want." JJ squeezes Jo to him.

"Come on, a little Pogue fellowship. How does that sound?" JJ suggests.

"Fuck it, just let the shit hit the fan tomorrow." John B says.

Jo and Kie share a look and a smile as they laugh with amusement.

"The cops could be looking for us. It could be really stupid." Sarah objects.

JJ pulls away from Jo and walks over to Sarah.

"Sarah Cameron, you've heard my philosophy right?" JJ starts.

"No." Sarah tells him.

"Stupid things have good outcomes all the time." he tells her as the rest of the Pogues roll their eyes and mouth the words in amusement.

"Whose with me? Let's get some beer!" JJ shouts.