#Cultural Differences

[sam-not-samwise]

I feel like Legolas watching Pippin eat like an entire journey’s worth of Lembas Bread must be like how all my European friends felt when i made them pancakes at 7 am

[sepdet]

Bats

Keeping pets from going outside and getting killed by cars, coyotes, feral dogs, lions,* or catching diseases/parasites and bringing them home.

*mountain lions, that is

—Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Do Europeans not have mosquitoes any longer? They sure used to; malaria was a major problem until the past century and a half or so.

I continue to run into people that are confused as to why Americans have screens on our windows and it’s really quite simple.

Bugs

Diseases carried by bugs

Other assorted wildlife such as dogs and teenagers

[maxdibert]

Why do you say muggles are less moral than wizards? Is it just the cultural taboo against killing? I think most people in the real world (irl muggles) would be pretty disturbed by the idea of killing someone unless absolutely necesaary for survival, and even then, I can see how living past that would haunt people. It's why we have stuff like PTSD.

Killing isn't something regular people take lightly, at least, in my experience? Like you can talk about killing through systemic violence, such as class violence or violence through economic, medical, and political means, but one vs. one, killing is still frowned upon and many people would either hesitate to do it at all or be haunted by it for a while if/when they did

Well, I mean more how wizards perceive the idea of murder as the worst thing one can do to another human being, or as the most unforgivable act (not for nothing is Avada Kedavra supposedly the most horrible Unforgivable Curse), whereas objectively, for a Muggle, it’s not necessarily the same. It’s one thing to think killing is wrong, but we’re very used to the idea of killing—we’re very accustomed to violence. We see murders on television all the time, we hear horrific stories every day. What seems scandalous to wizards is, for us, simply the 2 p.m. news. That’s what I really mean: Muggles have pretty much normalized the fact that we live in a violent world and that violence is part of society, whereas wizards seem like literal children—they react to these topics like children.

For example, for wizards, killing someone supposedly corrupts your soul. But what about abusing someone without killing them? What about sexual assault? What about torture? Don’t those things corrupt your soul? From a Muggle’s perspective (especially from a woman’s), what would be more condemnable: someone killing another person with a gunshot or someone raping them? Then there’s the topic of violence in general. I mean, the wizards literally have what amounts to a civil war (because Voldemort’s conflict is basically within Britain), and they treat it like the great dramatic milestone of their society. Do you know how many wars were happening in Europe during the same historical period as the Second Wizarding War? Harry was in the middle of the Triwizard Tournament while Bosnians were being massacred just two hours away by plane in the Muggle world. Harry was happily starting his first year at Hogwarts while in the Muggle world, the U.S. was pounding Iraq in the Gulf War. There were up to 10 brutal armed conflicts active during the 1990s all over the world, and these were things that appeared on the news just like we saw planes crash into skyscrapers full of people, and just like we now see images from Gaza, and just like we see everything else they show us on the evening news. I mean, any Muggle hearing there was a wizarding war would probably go, “Ugh, how awful… but you know, the usual, right?” Because violence is a constant in the Muggle world. It’s normalized—violence is part of life.

The wizarding world is built on very childish ethical and moral concepts—very black-and-white, very much good vs. evil. An adult Muggle knows that the idea of good versus evil is utter bullshit, because the world isn’t divided between good people and bad people, but rather between people who have certain interests, certain contexts, certain goals, and who choose certain paths to achieve them.

[cochineal-leviat]

"Our dear party celebrate after acquiring the third orb to unlock the House of Dormont. Their location? A tavern. It is a night to drink your worries and sorrows away. Hopefully, they will be able to relax before continuing their formidable journey.

Unfortunately, the booze has more unintended consequences than the group had considered. Especially on their new roguish member."

This is my first ISAT fic (that I have finished), and I am so stoked to share it with everyone! I also drew a comic with it because I was so excited about the story. This is definitely one of my best comics yet. I have been experimenting with panelling, and I am getting the formula down now after much trial and error.

I had a lot of fun designing Siffrin's clothes under the cloak (I even drew a reference for it in my sketchbook). I love designing clothes <3. Especially tunics. It seems a little too fancy for Sif's tastes, but I am chalking it up it being a gift from someone from a long time ago rather than something Siffrin would buy or get on his own)

Please enjoy~!

*Edit*

I decided to continue the comic because of the overwhelming support I received (o゜▽゜)o☆. The link is under this paragraph.

Part 2

(Also, there are no spoilers for the game itself! Except for the ending notes of the fic, but I will place a warning there)

Different coloured pages without text under keep reading

Initially, I worked with different shades of grey for anyone: Siffrin has violet grayscale, Isabeua red, Mirabelle yellow, and Odile Green. But I ended up putting a black-and-white filter on it for unification. Please let me know if you guys prefer the 'coloured' versions more or not, and I will change the comic pages into the OG colouring. The purple for Siff is giving, but I am unsure if it is too noisy.

[bogkeep]

frogcat

[jamespsulliv4n]

Thorin: So, you are a decent Hobbit.

Bilbo:

Thorin: and... You have ...hair, many of them, if I must say.

Bilbo:

Thorin: would you mind ... getting them braided... Maybe by one of us... pure suggestion, me, if I must say?

Fili, peeking from the corner: He's so bad at this.

Dwalin, next to him: Those are not the instructions I gave him, I promise you.

[votapublica]

When your English is almost perfect. Almost.

[witchofthesouls]

What we're also missing from 'Humans into Cybertronians' trope: the discussion of aging.

Imagine being an adult for decades... just to become a bit-sized runt (again) of another alien species that humans share origins with.

Ex-human: "At least I'll be reliving my youth again. I mean, people had talked about a redo button, but I'm living it, so- Fuck you, Kevin! I hear you laughing! I'll get my adult frame in a decade or two, right?"

Random Cybertronian medic: (blank face while furiously trying to compute a time-metric conversion)

Ex-human: "I'll get my adult frame in a decade or two, right?"

Random Cybertronian medic: (getting smacked with the dawning realization and horror just how short human lifespan truly is)

Imagine regaining your youth just to find out you're literally stuck as a child or teen for possibly hundreds of thousands of years. Maybe close to a million until you're considered a full-framed adult.

[cheschesterpossum]

Small ramble before I sleep.

Human's features slipping into Cybertron's beauty standard at some point, viewed as exotic and unique:

I think after getting over the whole organic phobia, human's eyes would be viewed as mesmerizing. Because it is. Have you seen them up close? Blue, green, hazel, brown, or deep black pupils. At some point optic modification for a human's eyes-look would start as a trend.

Our voice, sound... smoother? Im going to call it that, sound smoother than a cybertronian. I like to headcanon that cybs voice can't reach as high as ours without mod. We would sound rather pleasing to their audial when singing, them getting chills when we reach a high note, soothing when we soften our tone. Human starting to cover Cybs songs became rather popular. This doesn't have anything to do with beauty standard but I'm putting this in anyway.

Moles, freckles, crooked noses, tooth gap also getting viewed as a unique beauty. Cybs often being forged with little place for small imperfection. Looking at human with imperfection, to cybs they create individuality and add to the charm. Some are a little envious even.

Zzz

[hidden-but]

It's interesting to stop from time to time and realise how much of the discourse (or debate points) on this webbed site are US-centric

Like:

No one can take your organs even if you're dead and don't need them anymore - my country is an organ transplant opt-out, so unless you write a formal letter to the government (or your relatives strongly protest), any of your organs can be automatically passed on to someone else after you die

Criminals should be able to vote - in my country voting is considered a democratic right of every citizen, and there are committees that go to places with people with difficulty reaching the voting room (such as hospitals, prisons or nursing homes)

People under 18 are (not) basically children - we split the upper teen milestones to sexual consent (15yo), driving car with a certified chaperone (17yo) and voting/driving/drinking (18yo), which makes the 18th birthday less of a clear-cut line.

It's always morally correct to ... - until coming to tumblr, I had never been led to consider the morality of anything apart from thought experiments, I'm still baffled at what made you be aware of this at all times

[zonky-zara]

Because I imagine a cute little butt smack means vastly different things in Vere vs Akilos. 

Damen: *Smacks ass*

Laurent: *This man has 2 fucking seconds to apologize before I maim him*

Damen: 🥰

[randomtheidiot]

[blackfoy]

The King's Soulmate

Jayce is royalty, or close enough to it. Viktor is a prisoner from the neighboring kingdom of Zaun. Several Zaunites are brought before them, intended to be slaves to the highest in Piltover. The slavemaster doesn’t think Viktor is all that important, and with his disability, is prepared to kill him once he is not chosen. Much to everyone's surprise, Jayce chooses Viktor and will hear no other argument. He has visions of other worlds due to him messing with the Arcane, so he knows that this man will be the most important man in his life. Viktor has no clue why the King of Piltover calls him Perfect, and he is both flattered and terrified.

Nobody from Piltover knows that Viktor and Violet are the eldest Prince and Princess of Zaun. Zaun royalty does not dress like royalty, so they were assumed to be just another couple of citizens. Tensions rise even further between the two countries, war on the horizon, and Piltover doesn't even know what they've done. Zaun has no proof that they are the ones who took their Prince and Princess, so things build slowly over time. Viktor and Violet assume that Jayce and Caitlyn know what they have done, the statement they are making by keeping them.

Viktor finds out how oblivious Jayce is when Jinx/Powder breaks in to rescue them and kill their captors. Viktor is in the middle of trying to convince the youngest Princess not to assassinate the King of Piltover when Jayce wakes up, sees the armed intruded fighting with Viktor, and immediately puts himself between them, shielding Viktor with his body. This makes the younger girl very confused since she had been expecting a gaudy and snooty man who didn't care for their lives. Viktor manages to talk them both down, and their conversation leads him to figure out how little Jayce knows. Jayce finds out that the assassin was there to rescue the slaves, and while he's actually a little relieved and will make no move to stop her, he really doesn't want Viktor to leave, and makes this clear in his body language and hesitant words. In the end, Viktor stays while Jinx/Powder goes to find the other slaves and bring news back to the Kings of Zaun.

In the end, after some sneaking around of Vi and Viktor's parts, Zaun proposes a peace treaty to Piltover. It is a bunch of normal politics stuff, along with a double-arranged marriage. The King and the Head Guard of Piltover would marry the eldest Prince and Princess of Zaun. Both Jayce and Caitlyn protest, both wishing to be with their partners, but in the end they agree to the terms.

Part of the treaty was also to free all Zaunite slaves, and while Vi and Viktor had been practically free already, this just made it official. They hadn't been expecting the two to actually leave, and both become even more stressed without them. But then the wedding day comes, and the Zaunite royalty arrives, and everyone puts everything together. The main characters are overjoyed and in shock, and they all get married and one day unite the kingdoms through their adopted children.

(Currently working on a fic for this au. I have no clue when or if it will get posted, or how long it will be. Once it is posted I will link it here. Wish me luck!)

[kainekillinggod]

Dís and Thorin actually should look really similar and so when Dís comes to Erebor, Bilbo sees her in the halls and says "hello darling🥰" bc he doesn't realize at first glance that it's her ☠️☠️☠️

And she's super fucking confused but just assumes it's a hobbit thing, and then like. 5 minutes later when Bilbo is doing whtvr he's doing, he just. Thinks. And then. Realizes.

And freaks the fuck out and tries to find her cuz "oh my god yeah, Thorin said his sister was coming soon how could I be so stupid oh my god I must look insane I hope I didn't offend her-"

And Dís and Thorin are just talking and catching up and Bilbo walks in super embarrassed and Dís greets him with a "Hello darling🥰" bc she assumes it's hobbit customs to say that.

Now Thorin is confused and Bilbo freaking tf out bc he thinks he's being made fun of and Dís is just sorta. Chilling and having a great time

[votapublica]

山有木兮木有枝，心悦君兮君不知

I am really into Chang having a small pony tail! So that he looks more artistic.

Getting a haircut = uncle dying is a Chinese superstition originated from resistance to the Tifuyifu issued by the early Qing Manchu rulers. The conquered Hans considered hair as part of the body given by your parents and thus shall not be easily cut. It was actually considered a corporal punishment to cut one’s hair. But in Manchu costumes men shave their heads. In order to assimilate the Hans, they forced them to shave their heads. Not shaving your head became a way to express sijiu *remembering the past when we were ruled by Han rulers instead of Manchu. * Yet funny enough, sijiu also sounds like *uncle dying* and this gradually became a superstition that is now not to the slightest associated with anti-Manchu sentiment.