#Genuine Concern begets genuine concern

[mademoisellewol]

A Heart-to-Hurk! Talk

"Hurk…hmk!-uh. Hnnrk! Mmm, this is quite-hip! a workout, these things." A groaned.

"Make that two of us." B replied, huffing puffs of their warm breath and panted after a mature session in the comfort of their shared quarters. The lights are dimmed and the cold air would graze the skin of the both of them.

A recently had quite an on-and-off case this week. It's nothing to worry about as it lasts for almost an hour then it becomes resolved through letting it course on its own or applicable and suitable remedies. Despite what has been aforementioned, B can't help but think this is something to be serious about, pushing their excitement aside. Ooh, but those waves and symphony are sure captivating.

B would let out a long sigh, it sounded like they are holding back something. Their long face etched, gazing rather from the opposite direction.

"Darling, why the lo-HOCK!-mmm-long face?" A softly questioned, a hand on their beloved's locks, brushing their fingertips in a soothing sense of graze.

They waited. They gave a good kind of silence with a few sudden hiccups echoing the once quiet room. If their beloved refrains to answer, given that this matter is already talked about before, yet not so thoroughly, that's valid, it just means to show that they are not fully ready to tell it yet.

"All of this…" Nevermind, looks like they are.

"…I know we have given a talk about this, you acknowledging and unbelievably understanding this side of me." B paused longingly. Giving a soft pat of A's tummy as it popped waves thrice, tending and giving comfort for a moment.

"Well, ahem, I just…I want to really ensure ourselves about this side of me. As you are aware of. B felt A's comforting hand, offering calmness and genuine ease. "I always wonder if you're truly alright with this. Me with this…very thing that gets me so weak in the knees just seeing you getting all…hiccupy…gosh." B paused once more to gather their thoughts, looking away. "I thought you would think less of me. I must be such a-"

A took their breath away, softly gasping when they lifted their hand ever so gently, bringing it up to their lips for a soft press on top. As expected, A noticed their gaze shifting back to their cup, the hint of guilt still evident in their expression.

They stayed there, their body jostling occasionally, quietly watching B for a moment. A's hand still gently resting on their arm. Then, they spoke, a voice so soft and sincere.

"Hey. Mmk! Look at me, no force though." A said gently, their touch on their arm all light, yet comforting. "Are you-urk!-mmm…sure about talking-HUP!Mmrk!-this matter?"

Reluctant, but they listened. B, now looking up to them which almost felt was impossible at the moment.

B considered their question, a firm nod received from them. "I am up for it, dearest. Its a different zone, a whole new zone for me to step out, but, if it could help me understand myself and how…you would feel…think about it, since I confessed it to you. So far."

A would listen in return. It takes time for B to gather themselves up to talk about such personal, secretive thing about them. It almost aches B that they have to hide this, for the sake of being seen as one who can control their stimulation and that the source was quite silly and different. At least that is what B thinks and perhaps what they think others may think of. Ooh, the unending list of thoughts is like a rolling bill of receipt. Anyway…

"Okay. Just to-hmrk!-to make su-hurk!-sure we're both-hmk!-uh…get on the same page. Excuse me-hnrk!Hig-kuh'lp!Mmlk!"

B, out of sympathy, rubbed A's chest to bring comfort as the pace got too quick for a hot second. A felt cared for in the end, until B can't help but tease a moment.

"Calm down in there, Froggie."

"Oh, harr-harr-UURK!" B promptly patted their chest, "How humorous of you." A smirked back as they gesture A to sit beside them.

"Listen, hmk!-mmm…if these will let me have-huck! your focus." A said in feign annoyance. "You don't need to feel guilty about you-Hmk! yourself being into this. Hmrk!Guhk!-mmm…for I don't hold it against you, not at all."

They paused, trying to find the right words. "The way you are also-Hnk!-con-Nk'lp!-scious about it, whenever they come in bouts-Huck!-when the days are just ordinary yet unexpectedly they show up, it all leads me back to thi-HIRNNK'!-guh…thinking about you…"

"Why?" they both said. Looks like A knows B for such a long time to know what they'll say next, specifically in particular situations they both know. A couldn't help but chuckle at what happened.

"Because-HMK!-you resort to caring for me, feel concern-HUCK'LP!-and sympathy, consider my feelings about them-mmk!, despite your stimulated-self. I hope that's appropriate to say. HIRK!"

"How could I not? You'd course through them, and it would hurt you whenever they escalate." B sighed at those thoughts. Crossing their arms as their spoke firmly. "You're my beloved, mind you, an important person in my life. So, you should expect how much I would put concern to this on you."

Then, they felt their hand lifted, A holding it over their own as they spoke once again.

"You're still you. And-Hnnk! you just proved me that. And you'll still be at the end of it all. HMMP!-I think that is inspiring, a lot of-Hgrk!-lot of gut to control and express, endearing…" A stopped on their words to let the silent hiccup pop up on their middle torso. "…and "quite"-HOCK!-hot-oof."

B flushed at their words. If they flushed even more, there must be steam coming out of their ears. "Ooh, you, shut it."

B huffed, pushing A on the chest gently. Deep inside, B felt validated, realized of the thing they have as a source of arousal. B, longingly looking down as they reflect on what A has said, it took their attention off as A leaned to embrace their beloved. It was so warm, so needed. It is what they needed for the time being.

"I do mean e-VHIK'lp!-every bit of word, by the way."

"I know. I know you do. It says a lot about the one I am happily with." B let out a shivering sigh, a bit overwhelmed by this discussion, not because it made them uncomfortable, but because how much their significant other understood the aspects of them. If that is not genuine compassion, they don't know what is.

With that, B spoke in a soft tone, "Thank you."

"I got you." A manage to say, with a deep hiccup that rocked their body, it spasmed against B's own body. That was electrifying for a moment, but the hug and after-TLC session first. Moving the attention to their darling Shih Tzu currently laying down on its back on the floor. Its tummy exposed, a leg twitching, and its "teefs," as B calls them, are out by its underbite of a maw. It was deaf...or is it because its eyes are just bulging a bit, dilated, as if it saw and possibly heard everything. But its ears are safe from the prior noises, completely oblivious about the whole heart-talk shebang. This is quite random, but the dog deserves some screentime.

[veliseraptor]

genuine qn!! can you tell us more about mxtx and her preoccupations thematically and including character types and and relationship dynamics, so interesting

oh man so we'll see how long it takes me to answer this ask because I could probably write a whole goddamn essay for this. with footnotes and everything. am I tempted, yes, but the last time I did that it took me like a year and a half and I'm pretty sure nobody cared

anyway, yeah! mxtx is definitely a writer where I feel like I can see the throughlines in a lot of her work pretty clearly. some of these are probably generic and I'm only somewhat equipped to recognize those (being yet a novice in the world of danmei specifically and cnovels more generally), so I can't be certain all of this is mxtx and not just the generic milieu she's working within. but I tried to parse it out based on what I've noticed.

I focused on thematics because that's what I personally find most interesting (and easiest to elaborate on, since some of the relationship dynamics are less specific to MXTX than they are romance conventions, a genre I am less familiar with).

this is necessarily an incomplete list because I haven't reread in a hot minute and also I am, again, not writing a complete essay for this (right now)

Justice/injustice. This one recurs across all three novels, both in terms of the desire for justice and the ways in which injustice is woven into the fabric of society and sometimes, it seems, almost inevitable. There's something deeply pessimistic, for instance, about the way that MDZS deals with this question, or at least a certain ambivalence, but in general I would say it's a theme of MXTX's work that people don't get what they "deserve", and what is or would be just is at best a difficult and often an unanswerable question.

Cycles of revenge/violence. Relatedly: MXTX seems to me very concerned with cycles of revenge and violence and what comes of them - namely, nothing. In SVSSS you see it with Shen Jiu and PIDW!Luo Binghe in particular, and how Shen Yuan's cutting of that violent cycle transforms not just Luo Binghe but the fate of the world as a whole. In MDZS you see it most clearly with the Nie Mingjue/Jin Guangyao/Nie Huaisang situation, which ultimately ends with nobody winning, but also in Jin Ling's explicit rejection of revenge at the end of the novel. In TGCF you can see it in Black Water Arc, where - again - nobody wins, but you can also see it with Xie Lian and Jun Wu. This further relates to:

Disinterest in/distrust of punitive impulses. This is the one I wrote a whole essay about! But in general I think that MXTX is...skeptical...of the impulse to punishment/retaliation, because of the stance she seems to take that violence only ever begets violence and never makes anything better. Again this threads back to the aforementioned "nobody gets what they deserve" thing - because if nobody gets what they deserve, who decides what anyone deserves?

Ambivalence about the "fixability" of society at large. This also kind of goes back to the first point on this list, and specifically I think is illustrated through the fact that two of three of her main pairings retreat from the world at large at the end of their stories. They aren't completely removed from society, but they are distanced from it - in both cases, I would argue, out of some disillusionment with its functioning and/or their place within it. There is a certain feeling in MXTX's work that society is, if not irreparably broken, fundamentally unjust in a way that is difficult to change. (I think TGCF is an interesting outlier in this way, actually.)

Class/status dynamics. I'm not saying that MXTX is, like, writing about class or status, but I am saying that she seems to be interested in the role that it plays in shaping/defining a character, given how often it turns up as a factor - in Shen Jiu, in Luo Binghe, in Jin Guangyao, in Wei Wuxian, in Mu Qing, in Hua Cheng, even in Xie Lian's crash from the heights of wealth to the depths of poverty.

The fickleness of the crowd. This also has to do with the importance of rumor and reputation, but what it often seems to come down to in terms of impact is how quickly people at large change their minds and bend to the beliefs of the people around them; how much attitude toward a person is informed by, and defined by, public opinion - regardless of that opinion's basis in truth. Often, explicitly, in spite of the opinion's basis in lies.

[jazzywrldastro]

♡ Venus in the Signs ♡

𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 ☀︎︎ for all my posts

here is my notes from my TikTok-

venus ꨄ - planet of love, beauty and harmony

Venus is all about pleasure, especially pleasure shared with someone else. This planet concerns itself with love, romance and harmony in our emotional attachments, marriages, friendships and other unions (like business partnerships). Venus is content to spread happiness and tenderness, all the while teaching us how to love and appreciate others and the things that we possess.

aries venus

desire fireworks and a whirlwind of passion in a relationship. They can be like trap-hunters, rather than warrior-style direct. They'll set the trap for their target and pounce with feral efficiency. With, this dynamic, the native can possess a voracious sex drive. Super assertive and are confident.

taurus venus

:)

Venus is in her domicile here and the energy is lovely. This placement gives rich girl/ princess vibes. Lush green gardens, pearlescent royal baths, and water adorned with rose petals.

Venusian vibes! This native often has a natural aesthetic, being inherently prideful of their own beauty. I notice that they aim to perfect the "barely there" makeup. Women probably ask you for advice all the time and this placement has the tips!

gemini venus

you guys value communication to the fullest.

It helps you get deeper in your relationships.

You might be a sapiosexual being. You can get people to love and care about you in the art of communication. This can be online, in person, over the phone, by letter... either way you're diverse!

cancer venus

venus in cancer has the ability to create safe spaces for their lovers to feel freely. This is perfect because this lover desires, on a soul level, to be needed. They want someone a bit needy and even dependent upon them for emotional security. Cry babies are welcomed.

They do not mind the mama's boy, even. im a cancer venus- i can relate to this myself. I fall in love with my lovers soul and emotions and don't let go.

Soul bonds are formed with this placement. and people can become attached to your healing or nurturing abilities.

leo venus

DIVA.*.

"who's that diva!" ^ They are your goddess and their body and themselves is what you worship. They demand attention, compliments, and genuine appreciation. They do not want a shy or reserved partner in matters of romantic expression. No insecurity is allowed! You must be ready to shine with the Venus in Leo native, not hold them back.

virgo venus

she represents wifey material / girl boss!!!

She knows how to take care of her wellbeing and very nurturing. She brings beauty to daily routines and acts of service and values these activities. These are the hardworking hotties that manage to make it all look so aesthetically pleasing. Fresh-fruit infused water. High-quality skin care. Matching workout fits. Strict exercise regimen. These natives can quite literally spend their lives working to be the ideal Venus. The ultimate maiden.

libra venus

other ruled sign here, making for a harmonious placement. Venus in Libra attracts people like flies to honey & takes on the role of socialite here.

(Think of the movie " Breakfast at Tiffany's" type of vibes. Blessed with charm, the native impresses others in one on one conversation and contact.

This opens many doors and begets many opportunities! They are the must-have on the guest list.

scorpio venus

Takes love seriously, aiming to make their significant other happy even if it’s not romantic

they can subsconciously and energetically seductively, attract both desired and unwanted energy Displays creativity, viewing destruction as a form of creation, especially in music or activities involving breaking and destroying things.

Attracted to intriguing, mysterious, closed-off, powerful, and emotionally intense people.

[eemcintyre]

I know this is a bit of a controversial theory and I understand why some people don't like it, but I'd honestly be okay with it if the endgame of Terry Silver's character is that he's dying.

As much as anyone who knows me knows I adore him, I love a lot of the other characters too and I don't want to see a series where the bad guys win. Plus, that would never be allowed to happen in a thousand years, what kind of parting message would that be, and if Terry doesn't win but remains alive, what other possible outcome is there for him?

No way he'd just go back to the vapid life by the beach where we were initially reintroduced to him, and I doubt he'd go to prison, or at least stay there for any significant amount of time, bc as many have accurately said, rich people don't go to prison, silly!! But Terry is so determined and proud and plain feral at this point and he has so much at stake even if he's not dying; man's not just going to go peacefully into the sunset or, God forbid, surrender or turn good- I genuinely think that the only thing to stop him at this point that would be remotely realistic and fitting would be death.

And really, it would be so incredibly and beautifully tragic and befitting the messages of the show (whatever is left of those at this point; just think of the first couple seasons ig) if, after a life of doing whatever needs to be done to get to the top and maintain control over everything and everyone, despite having what seems to be all the power and money in the world, if you wield it with evil intentions, you ultimately end up with nothing that really matters. One of the main themes of the show used to be that violence just begets more violence; it's an ouroboros that just ends up eating itself; it is self-destructive.

Terry seems to want legacy more than anything else; deep down, I think he fears being insignificant/forgotten and losing control more than anything. However, he's gone about it all wrong, to put it mildly, and all it seems he will leave behind that will last is pain and fear- which, if that's what he wants, then there you go, but somehow I don't think it is. I believe he really wants people to, sure, have enough concern to make them think twice about crossing him, but to marvel at his great, lasting accomplishments and also admire, and perhaps even love him. But in his quest for absolute control and with his belief that he's above pretty much everyone, plus, oh idk perhaps the malice and violence, that will not be a thing that happens. Anyway, that's a bit of a separate conversation.

Back to what I was saying about what he fears more than anything; perhaps these are the only things he fears- being insignificant/forgotten and losing control. As for the latter, it would be such poetic tragedy if, after a life of trying to be and probably believing that he is so much greater and better than everyone else, and seeking constant control, he is ultimately met with the one thing he can't control and which equalizes him to everyone else. Terry is convinced that nothing but a grand death on the battlefield becomes him, yet he ends up comparatively quietly passing away on a hospital bed like most everyone else.

Listen, I know it would be so profoundly tragic and I get sad just thinking about it, but I sincerely believe it would be the most interesting, realistic and meaningful ending, and I would be satisfied with it.

[carmen-berzattos]

can he sue over the cover? has that happened before?

Hmm, I don't know if that's possible to be honest. It seems quite far-fetched.

Okay, quick context for my professional position: Hi, I'm a junior editor at [READCATED] publishing house that publishes in the [REDACTED] genre. I've been in this industry my whole professional life (6 years and counting babyyyy), so I know quite a bit about its operation. But the legality of a lot of things are either unknown to me, or seem quite murky.

As far as I know, there hasn't been a case like this one that got litigated. There have been claims of plagirism in covers, or unsettled disputes over the copyright of artists or photographers over covers. They tend to all get settled outside of the court system, mainly because such disputes often involve parties who are not able to follow the legal path in any meaningful way. And, frankly, because a lot of them are caused by incompetence rather than ouright malice. But I haven't seen such a case in which the likeness of a person is used on the cover, persumably without their knowledge or permission. We do have cases of unauthorized autobiographies. But they often feature peole who have passed away, and inclue photographs that are technically owned by the photographers that took them rather than the person in question (do not get me started on this whole thing, it gets soooo weird).

But the reason that I was shocked by it isn't so much because the use of just the image being a problem, but what it implies. There is a knee jerk reaction in the mind of the audience to associate the existence of someone's name or image on a cover means their implicit approval or involvement in the project. It's kind of like using the name of someone who said something nice about your book once in passing without getting their okay on whether they would want to sign off on it in such an official way. Except in this case, it's unlikely that Hozier approved of the concept even.

The reason that the publishing house I work for wouldn't do something like that ins't just necessarily for legal grounds, but more so for basic decorum. Covers are tricky business. They're the entry to your book and its brand, what people would associate with you and your work. It'll be the first thing that readers see and for many years will be the image that pops in their head about the book when they talk about it. It seems unwise to be crass and exploit the image of a known person to plaster so balatantly on the cover of your book. And, mind you, he looks very, very, VERY recognizable in that cover. Most publishers have been far more savvy about it. For example, Red, White and Royal Blue is a blatant fanfic of Actual Prince Harry. And the original cover hints it, gives us the orangey-blond hair and blue eyes, but it's rendered minimally and in a way that just makes Henry of the novel look like a generic blond white boy. They could have done something like this easily, something that begets the image of Mr. Hozier without being so blatant about it, but they actively chose a really gross route for the sake of exploiting a known person's image.

I'm genuinely concerned by this, as someone with stake in this industry both as a professional and a reader. Publishers ultimately just want to make money, and I'm worried that we will see an uptick in the tactic used for this book accross the board with other books. And that is not good. At all. This marks an escalation in the path of comodification of celebrity that I truly despise.

I want to remind everyone that just because someone is famous, that does not entitle us to them. Just because they have a public image, does not mean that it belongs to us or that we get to participate in it. Celebrities are people, not commodities. What we can use of them is their work and their work only. Not their image, not their faces, not their private lives. We have no right to violate them so carelessly. RPF will always exist, don't get me wrong. But it's markedly different when it's consigned to niches of the internet vs. when it becomes an actual published book that so callously rips off someone's life and bends it to the writer's will so fans can feel even more creepily invovled in their lives. You can write OCs inspired by real life people all you want, but at least have the decency to hide that, and the integrity to actually write an interesting enough character that it completely departs from the original inspiration and only becomes a jumping off point.

[eldenringslut]

I love the lore revelation of marika and the hornsent (cycle of violence, suffering begets suffering) but uh, the amount of people I've seen saying she was justified in committing genocide is eh....very concerning. there are misogynistic takes on her but, some people genuinely get angry if you don't like marika which is uh.... interesting considering there are various reasons as to not like her (it's the genocide). the fandom for the last few days has been interesting to say the least. Hope this doesn't come off as rude.

Yeah I feel like people are missing the fact that there was no ‘good side.’ Both sides oppressed and committed atrocities against the other.

Personally, how much I like a character has almost nothing to do with how good of a person they are. People forget that you can like a character without agreeing with them.

[weidaoduzun3]

Demiurgy and How a Confucian Passion for Learning Can be Considered As Such.

What is Demiurgy? As the author of Egyptian Mystic Polytheism so succinctly puts it:

Demiurgy is a type of “devotional act.” A devotional act is any activity outside of direct prayer with a religious purpose and significance. What makes “demiurgy” unique as a type of devotionalism is that it is principally concerned with the act of creation. Like theurgy, to mimic the gods and pursue likeness, one must participate in creativity as a lesser version of God’s creation. Producing, crafting, constructing, and creating are all acts that mimic the “Demiurge” or “Creator Deity.”

So, essentially, these are mundane activities that are performed with the intention to ritualize and devote said craft to the Demiurge, the Creator god of the Cosmos. As the quote above mentions, this is similar to theurgy in that these mundane activities help us mimic the Creator.

With that out of the way, lets take a look at Corpus Hermeticum XI.22, which I think supports such ritualized "demiurgy:

Mind is seen in the act of understanding, God in that act of making.

This sentence refers to God’s literal creation of All Things and how He is seen through His creation, as this whole preceding paragraph refutes the idea that God is entirely invisible and “unseen.” For context, here is the passage:

In Corpus Hermeticum V, we are told God is invisible and entirely visible. For us to understand God, we must become like Him (Corpus Hermeticum XI.20), as so much as that is possible, in each of our Fated predispositions. A way to do so is to create things ourselves through begetting, making music, writing, or exercising, i.e., our own Demiurgy. You can find a list here if the reader wants a more comprehensive list of things that can be considered a devotional act to the Demiurge -- Demiurgy. So essentially, if God is seen in His Creation, we too can see the Demiurge manifests itself via our lesser creations.

Also, possibly a Confucian passion for learning could be considered Demiurgy. Let me explain: To take this principle out of context and apply it to Hermetic thought, I'd like to talk about the Confucian disciple Yan Hui 顏回, who was unmatched in his genuine and effortless love of the Way and learning. In the Analects 6.3 we see a ruler inquiring to Confucius about a "disciple who loves learning":

There was one named Yan Hui who loved learning. He never misdirected his anger and never repeated a mistake twice. Unfortunately, he was fated to live a short life. Since he passed away, I have heard of no one who really loves learning.

Yan Hui is also praised for his love of learning in Analects 2.9 and 5.9. Generally speaking, in Confucian thought, learning, rites, and conforming to cultural adornments 文 do indeed change our native “stuff” 質, which Confucius thought contained inherent flaws that were corrected via rigorously conforming, yet also effortlessly loving social and cultural arts, rites and learning. So, if learning in and of itself can change us for the better; correct our inherent flaws, and make us more like God, then we should all try to emulate Yan Hui and his effortless love for learning because when we learn, we grow. According to Chapter 2 of Effortless Action: Wu-Wei as a Metaphorical Concept and Spiritual Ideal in Early China by Edward Slingerland, learning and instructions (and other things) are essential to constantly strive for and put effort into to abide by the Confucian Way. Learning and instruction change our inherent "stuffs" in a way that makes us effortlessly abide in the Way 道.

So, back to the Hermetica. In Corpus Hermeticum XI.20, we are told to:

“Make yourself grow to immeasurable immensity…”

Arguably, this can be done by a passion for learning (and, of course, many other things)— which cannot be taught but must be realized. And what do we see all throughout the Hermetica? A yearn for Gnosis. Gnosis differs from conventional knowledge, as gnosis is experienced rather than learned. Something that Edward Slingerland argues is the source of Confucius's frustration with the current age of the Zhou Dynasty in Analects 15.13:

I should just give up. I have yet to meet a person who loves ren 仁 as much as he loves the pleasures of the flesh.

Confucius is frustrated by the fact that you genuinely cannot teach a person ren 仁 or "humaneness." Whether we are talking about ren or gnosis (mind you, two completely different things), these things must be experienced and "recollected," as Edward Slingerland argues in Chapter 2. The idea that the gnosis of the gods, God, and the Demiurge is "recalled" is found in passages from Plato's Phaedo 73c-75e and other dialogues I have yet to read, such as the Phaedrus and Meno. Likewise, in Analects 7.30, Confucius exclaims:

Is ren really so far away? No sooner do I desire ren than it is here.

Recollection is also found in the Corpus Hermeticum IV.2:

The man became a spectator of God's work. He looked at it in astonishment and recognized its Maker.

Now that we have established that the Analects, Platonism, and Hermeticism are structured somewhat similarly, let's look at Corpus Hermeticum I.31, we read:

“Holy is God, who wishes to be known and is known by his own people…” Corpus Hermeticum I.32: “Grant my request not to fail in the knowledge (gnosis) that befits our essence.

This suggests that God wishes us to know Him as much as possible according to our inherent predispositions to gnosis. So what I’m getting at is that if we can realize and acquire a Confucian-style passion, such as Yan Hui, for learning, this can change us and make us become more like God. The love for learning. The yearning to know God and His creation and the sciences that we have developed to understand his creation is most certainly Demiurgy. We never stop learning, whether we continue education after high school or not.

So, now that we have established that learning can indeed change us and help us mimic and help us recognize God and the Demiurge's creation, here are some examples of how I use my love for learning (but this love cannot be compared to Yan Hui's) as Demiurgy:

Reading academic literature on my beliefs

Learning the mythologies of the Ancient Egyptian gods

Going to college to broaden my knowledge and to establish a career.

Learning about myself: both my corporeality (psychology/body/health) and my incorporeality (soul).

This list goes on and is certainly not limited to those few bullet points. But if it is not clear by now, learning helps us grow as individuals; learning allows us to better understand the world around us, from our own communities to other cultures around the world. Such a whole-hearted pursuit of learning can be considered Demiurgy because we are actively creating a better version of ourselves. Just as in my musings, I consider Demiurgy because I am creating writings that will go on to inform and help other people understand the topics I write about with an intention of devotion to the Demiurge. My active pursuit of learning also is Demiurgy because everything I learn is done in devotion to the Creator of a world I love so much, and He is ultimately responsible for the very things I choose to learn.

So, do you all think the yearn and love for learning in and of itself can be considered Demiurgy?

[greekedtext]

In no particular order:

Fuck you thrice to anyone who voted for him in 2016.

I refuse to believe he won the popular vote. The electoral college? Could be, we all know that's fucked.

But the popular vote? Come on, Repubs have been blatantly cheating while accusing Dems of wanting/trying to cheat for at least as long as I've been paying close attention to politics (IOW since 1999).

Also, direct foreign interference. Since we do know Russians have called in bomb threats this time.

This doesn't even touch on disinformation campaigns originating inside and outside the country, because what I'm saying is that we may not know the true results for days, weeks, or ever.

Fuck you nine times to anyone who voted for him in 2020.

Doomerism begets doom. Though it goes against the grain of my brainweasels, I pledge to be aggressively, zestfully optimistic about everything from now on.

I'm not afraid. I'm not sad. I'm on my brainweasel-suppressant medication and my coworkers appreciate me and the fascists cannot win.

Never pin your hopes on the idea that anything specific will happen at a specific time. That way often lies disappointment. Keeping your hopes on a hand-wavy timeline is how you mentally gear yourself for the long haul.

If you're struggling:

Rest when you need to. Ask for help when you need to. (People love to be asked for favors.)

Stay alive.

Don't believe the supposed election results. Yes, there are a lot of fascists and dupes who genuinely did vote for him (all fascists are dupes but not all dupes are fascists) but see above.

Build your networks. Talk about your lives and concerns.

Look for opportunities to help others.

I'm not mad at leftists who sat this out. They got duped, but we're on the same side now.

We're on the same side now.

If you're in the US or are a citizen abroad:

Join or start a mutual aid network. Build power locally by working with people who see themselves as your equal -- not just your electeds. Speaking truth to power is merely one tool in the toolbox.

Write to your electeds at the local, state, and federal level about the issues that concern you.

Join or start a labor union. Make sure they are a movement union such as the IWW, not just a "we only care about our members" union -- and if your only option is to join the latter type, then organize a movement-oriented takeover.

This is not your burden alone; don't stretch beyond your sustainable capacity.

Do stretch a bit sometimes to develop greater capacity, but also rest. If you're trying to do it all alone you're replicating the mistakes that the authoritarian elements of society have trained us to make.

Rest when you need to. Make lists of things that give you joy, gratitude, hope, a sense of meaning.

Read David Graeber and David Wengrow's The Dawn of Everything to reset your imagination about the possibilities of societal structures. Then read Graeber's The Democracy Project to cement the way Dawn changed you. There's a thing toward the beginning of The Democracy Project that may ping you as racist or gross, but don't let any flaws you perceive in Graeber or his ideas stop you from mining his writings. Same goes for any other dead author.

Rest when you need to.

Increasingly throughout my adulthood, I have felt that my schooling and all of the "realistic" fiction that I was exposed to in childhood (regardless of medium) did not prepare me for the truth of the world, which is much more chaotic than I expected, much more capable of grim twists and turns.

Fuck you forever to anyone who voted for him this time.

Here is the eternal truth:

The fascists cannot win.

[ambiguouspuzuma]

"Morven Patterdale," he processed, scanning her ticket. "You aren't related to the Patterdales, are you?"

"No." As far as Morven was concerned, she was the Patterdale, but other people never saw it that way. It was always all about her brothers: one a bestselling author and columnist for the Times, the other a newsreader and radio host with an award winning podcast. They were hardly royalty - but plenty famous enough to leave her in their shadow for the rest of her life.

It was strange, being the disappointing child. The normal one, at least, or at most - average, in a household of anomalies. The ordinary fruit of extraordinary seeds. Sometimes Morven felt like the poor, neglected Fanny Imlay in a household of Godwins and Wollstonecrafts, a family of Shelleys and Byrons and Lovelaces. On a family tree alight with blossom, she was the branch that hadn't bloomed, the only undeveloped bud.

It was odd how often that came to be the case. Political dynasties, acting dynasties, even descendants of some actual dynasties: success bred success, as if was some genetic trait, or at least spread through the alternative means of nepotism. Or perhaps it was just the same fertile starting point, the same nature and nurture, being born with the same silver spoon to feast on the same dishes. Her dentist's brother was a banker. Her solicitor's sister ran an accounting firm. People from the same start often found their way to similar ends.

Her life was easier, in a way, being a Patterdale. Morven had never wanted for money, or attention - always having that claim to fame, that famous name, the connections and the anecdotes that those without them viewed with awe. It was not so bad, being the runt of a dominant litter. Such people always landed on their well-heeled feet. Either that, or they died terribly young. Like Imlay, or poor Rosemary Kennedy. Genius might know how to beget genius, but it was clueless when it came to caring for the mortals in its midst.

"Oh, good," he said. "I can't stand them, myself. They're both so utterly boring. It's like the blood in that family runs dry."

That was new. Normally, if Morven confessed to her heritage, she was bombarded with tributes, oh, I loved such-and-such, can you tell him I'm his biggest fan, the sins of the brother visited on the sister. Sometimes she wondered if they were even genuine, or if people felt that it was expected of them, as if she would somehow be disappointed if they weren't suitably star-struck. It was unbearable. Like Clinton, it was better to deny she had any relations at all.

But she hadn't encountered the opposite. On refusing a connection, people felt free to share their contrary opinions, to vent their own boredom with her family's ubiquity. That was... refreshing. She turned back. "Go on?"

[literaturereviewhelp]

The Critical Book Report on the Art of Fielding The Chad Harback’s novel, The Art of Fielding, though ostensibly about baseball, is much more than that. It clearly captures the complexities of human relationships, hopes of redemption, fears and doubts of human life in vivid details. Revolving around few characters, the story is well formed, despite its complex multi-dimensional approach. The life experiences faced by the characters bring out changes into their lives, either unfortunate or beneficial, contributing to the transformation that is required for their redemption from the past. For me, the novel gave me the feeling of heart-wrench at few places, as well as bittersweet elsewhere. However, what made me get attached with genuine concern for the characters was the way, in which each character finds restoration from their past, and find revelations about the reality of life. Even though the novel holds many other themes, I feel that the idea of redemption is the one that I can relate to the Christian theology or insight. Harbach mentions in the novel that troubles ignite the way for salvation in one’s life. As he tries to insist on this fact, I can find that this entire notion of salvation highlighted by the author seems to be connected with suffering, maturity and God. That is, if one can get through suffering, he would ultimately find his redemption with god; however, if he fails to face the failure, he would lose himself to the worldly pleasures, sensual desires and addiction. “Every guy who is wounded up becomes either an alcoholic or a born-again Christian. Booze or God. That’s what this game does to you. The name of the game is failure, and if you can’t handle failure you won’t last long. Nobody’s perfect.” (Harbach 172). It could be evident that suffering begets growth and when you are stuck up in life, that’s when, your way of thinking changes to far better, aspiring to find redemption for the past mistakes. From the story, it is evident that most of the characters are struggling to find a way out from their mistakes or past life, ultimately finding redemption through various means. For instance, Henry, the main character of the novel is unable to get past from his baseball errors, particularly the injury that he inflicted on his friend, Owen. Although it was an unintentional act, he still feels guilty for it and finally injures himself in the same way. However, it is significant that what he has done to himself was a way to find redemption for his past mistake. There are also few more similar illustrations of redemption that are visible through life experiences of the characters in the Harbach’s novel. Pella trying to exhume her father’s body and burying it into the lake is a kind of redemption, which she feels has to be done, to satisfy her father’s soul. Similarly, Affenlight and Owen, they are bound by attraction in their gay relationship, which leads to transformation and ultimately their destiny. At one stage of life, when every human becomes desperately honest with himself, he is ultimately led to the realization of profound truths that are hidden behind the life’s experiences. I have learnt that even though there is not much mystery about the origin of life and things, there is still a part of human heart longing to discover and open up to the reality of it. This discovery leads to desire of perfection, an impossible quest that many humans aspire to reach. On the way to this unreachable quest, we find people losing their faith in themselves Read the full article

[ezplumbingusa8]

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[underestimated-heroine]

other thing with that "last clear chance" voting post is that it's yet another example of this thing where a bunch of people act like arguments to vote are simultaneously limiting their toolbox, guilting them, lecturing them, and completely on board with every action of the state no matter how clearly the person says they're not.

a person can protest, fight, donate, and vote. plenty of anarchists and leftist Russia fans vote. insisting on making two things which can and do coexist either-or is limiting the toolbox. we can have a conversation about concerns that peoples' political activity too often begins and ends with voting, or that we're redirecting attention away from other forms of activism by making every conversation about voting. i think that does happen sometimes, and it's frustrating. by and large, though, i'd wager the actual numbers won't support that little theory. political involvement begets political involvement.

this is the "curate your own experience" website. filter and blacklist "voting", "vote", and the politics tags if the whole thing's making you like shit. I'm not even saying this in a smug, "you're free to leave!" way, i genuinely wish more people would filter this stuff more often because it really seems to be affecting a lot of people's mental health in ways that are, not for nothing, almost certainly counterproductive to our goals as activists.

also, why is it true that those posts are guilting or lecturing you? as the person on that post said, why are you viewing it as a lecture instead of an argument? just because you aren't informed enough to come up with cohesive counter-points or alternative solutions doesn't mean you're picked on.

as for "they're rabidly pro-state"...come on, now, seriously? horrible things happen and the sun still comes up and we still live in our houses in our countries and we have to try to figure out how to live with that and move forward in the best way possible with the options available to us. if you don't like those options, bring some other ones to the table so we can talk about them, but playing "so you support genocide?!" whenever we try to figure out which option is the least terrible for the world is something else.

[cleaningproductnz]

Decoding Sustainable Labels: Navigating the Abyss of Eco-Cleaning Product Authenticity

In an epoch marked by a surging environmental ethos, the battleground for the coveted "green" throne has shifted to the cleaning aisle. Amidst the labyrinth of eco-labels and jargon, understanding the realm of eco-friendly cleaning products can resemble unraveling a cryptic lexicon. Fret not, eco-enthusiasts! This discourse acts as your cipher, illuminating the often-obscure universe of eco-labels and equipping you to be a vigilant opponent of greenwashing.

The Greenwashing Chessboard: Illusions and Diversions in the Cleaning Aisle

Before plunging into the substantial details, let's address the proverbial elephant amidst the soapy suds: greenwashing. This artifice involves portraying a product as environmentally amiable, employing misleading assertions and ambiguous language to allure eco-conscious consumers. Picture lush packaging, buzzwords like "natural" and "plant-based," and strategically positioned eco-labels—all devoid of any genuine commitment to sustainability.

Unveiling the Counterfeits: A Handbook to Questionable Eco-Labels

How can we discern these greenwashing charlatans? Here's a dissection of some prevalent eco-labels and their authentic connotations:

"Green Dot": Originating from Europe, this label solely signifies a product's recyclable packaging, offering no insights into the product's components or environmental ramifications. "Recycled Content": A simple proclamation that the product incorporates some recycled material, yet neglecting to specify the percentage or origin. "Natural": A term notorious for its ambiguity, frequently applied to products blending synthetic and natural ingredients. "Plant-Based": Resembling "natural," this can be misleading as plant-derived components may still be detrimental or unsustainable.

The Virtuous, the Dubious, and the Green: Reliable Eco-Labels

Fear not, authentic eco-labels exist! Here are a few you can rely on to steer your green cleaning decisions:

USDA Certified Biobased Product: This label ensures a minimum of 88% of the product's constituents are derived from renewable resources such as plants and animals. EWG Verified: This label attests that the product adheres to stringent criteria concerning ingredient safety and environmental impact. Green Seal: This non-profit entity certifies products based on rigorous environmental and health benchmarks. Cradle to Cradle (C2C): This ambitious certification guarantees products are fashioned for complete recyclability and environmental positivity throughout their life cycle.

Beyond the Label: A Comprehensive Approach to Green Cleaning

While eco-labels serve as valuable tools, bear in mind they constitute only one facet of the green cleaning enigma. Contemplate these additional considerations when making your selections:

Ingredients: Favor products containing readily biodegradable, non-toxic components, avoiding notorious harmful chemicals like phthalates and formaldehyde.Packaging: Opt for products with minimal packaging, ideally crafted from recycled materials or designed for effortless refilling.Concentrated Formulas: Opt for concentrated formulas demanding less water and packaging, thus diminishing your environmental impact.DIY Alternatives: Ponder creating your own cleaning concoctions utilizing natural elements like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. Often more cost-effective, efficacious, and entirely eco-friendly!

Empowering Yourself: Morphing into a Greenwashing Conqueror

Knowledge begets power! By enlightening yourself about eco-labels and greenwashing stratagems, you can make judicious decisions and hold brands accountable. Here are some pointers:

Pose Queries: Don't hesitate to reach out to the manufacturer if any doubts linger regarding a product's claims or certifications. Research Thoroughly: Consult independent resources such as the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Green America for meticulous information on ingredients and brands. Disseminate Information: Share your knowledge with acquaintances and kin, encouraging them to be conscientious eco-consumers.

Together, we can forge a purer, more verdant future, one gleaming surface at a time. Recall, the authority to decode eco-labels and debunk greenwashing lies within your grasp. So, equip yourself with knowledge, choose sagaciously, and let's transform the cleaning aisle into a beacon of genuine sustainability!

This discourse merely inaugurates your eco-cleaning odyssey. Keep delving, keep learning, and keep making decisions that echo your dedication to a flourishing planet. Remember, even the minutest strides towards a greener abode can yield a substantial impact.

[amber-dragonfly]

Rage Against the Calamity - Chapter 63: Steeling the Tempest

Bokoblins, Moblins, Lizalfos, and Wizzrobe. One of each has managed to break free from the Malice that binds them. With their tie to Ganon gone, these monsters must fight to survive in a world where everything wants them dead. Yet, things are not always what they seem. For as unforgiving a land as Hyrule, it will continue to surprise even the most hopeless hearts. This is the story of those four monsters, and all their unlikely allies…

Also on AO3

Kobb arrived at the Southern Dueling Grounds on the back of Teba, giving the Bokoblin a lift to the small arena. It was the last to arrive with Thrush, Kaneli, Link, the appointed judge, and several spectators awaiting its arrival. The crowd turnout was small, which surprised Kobb until it turned its head towards Rito Village. There it saw the entire rest of the capital perched from various vantage points - eagerly watching the spectacle from afar. It made sense; Rito eyes were biological binoculars so they could still catch all the action from a nice seat. The Dueling Ground itself was scuffed and worn - clearly overrun by Malice-filled monsters until very recently. Still, Kobb identified two definite halves: the ruins of some small garrison amongst dozens of close-knit pine trees, and the more open plains that looked as if a Hinox had stomped through it. The upward blow of the wind keyed several updrafts dotting the landscape. The hot springs of Hebra Mountain must run across this entire region. Through its surveying Kobb neglected to notice Thrush impatiently tapping its talon.

“Tardiness is hardly a quality that begets a so-called warrior,” he said with a barely held-back rage, “I cannot wait to trounce you faster than the time it took to hold me up!”

Kobb almost opened its mouth for a smarmy rebuttal, but a look from Link made the Bokoblin hold its tongue. Give him nothing. Make him give you everything.

“I am sorry for holding you up,” it said as genuinely as it could, “but I hope we can have a good match.”

The twitching from Thrush’s face at its complete tepid reaction already made this gambit worth the cost to Kobb. Still, the haughty Rito had to call its bluff. There was no way this Bokoblin had made peace with him that quickly. In a feigned confusion he tilted his head towards Kobb several times.

“We’ll see about that. Because, correct me if I’m wrong, but you didn’t seem to bring any wings with you!” he said, circling Kobb around and around like a vulture, “Surely, you’re not going into this duel grounded?! Against such a Rito like myself, you may as well forfeit here!”

Hands politely behind its back, Kobb returned the same feigned confusion Thrush had tried.

“I have brought my own wings, Thrush, do not worry about me. If you are so concerned, I can show you.”

Once again Thrush was taken aback by its tone. Freezing in his tracks, the Rito loomed closer and closer to Kobb’s eyes - taking in the bright blue shine in the morning sun. His deathly precise vision keened in on the corners of the Bokoblin’s mouth. They weren’t twitching - what would be a sure sign of anger. How? How had Kobb cooled down this quickly? There was no way. He saw how furious it was 2 days prior, he saw the righteous anger as it accepted the duel. And what was it even saying about bringing its own wings? Rather than introspect, Thrush doubled down. Throwing his head back in laughter, he waved Kobb off.

“Ha! As I thought! You’re bluffing! A good bluff, but almost had me there! Perhaps you thought I’d expect to see you sprout wings! Unfortunately for you, I, Thrush, do not bend so easily!”

The old Rito beside Thrush impatiently tapped his wings on his shoulders. He had been the officiator and judge in Rito Duels for the past 45 years. Many didn’t even bother learning his actual name - himself simply preferring the name Judge. Although his experience and skills certainly earned him that moniker.

“I would like to start today if you are done with the feather-puffing, Thrush. We have wasted enough time in these and other…last-minute proceedings,” Judge said, which snapped the younger Rito to attention right quick. He looked at Kobb with a slightly confused glance, expecting the Bokoblin to tell Thrush something important. Kobb simply shrugged its shoulders indifferently, eyes darting to its opponent for a flash second then back. That was enough for Judge to waive it off, blowing a loud grasswhistle to get the attention of the rest.

“Alright!” he cawed in his deep gruff voice, “We may be here under more…unorthodox circumstances, but it is a Rito Duel all the same! I won’t waste time on the frivolous details: one bow on each end, ten arrows each, solid hits only - no grazes, first to 3 points win, remember your eye protection, and lastly don’t forget you are both still winner’s at life!”

The small crowd congregated near the lip of the lake all rolled their eyes. That had been Judge’s signature line since he first took up the job, and it never got less corny no matter how many times they heard it. Kobb slung its bow off its shoulder and handed it to a nearby Rito helper, who also grabbed Thrush’s and placed them at the stone pedestals on opposite sides of the arena. Thankfully Kobb wasn’t completely in the dark on the whole process of the rules - in part to Teba and Link. Once Judge made the signal, both Thrush and Kobb would race to their respective bows. Beside the pedestals were a quiver filled with ten cloth-tipped arrows. Nonlethal and blunt, but sure to leave a nasty welt if a good shot landed. From there it was all a matter of archery and movement who would come out victorious. Kobh stood ready for a full-on sprint, for the fastest would determine who got an easy first shot, and looked to Thrush straight in the eye.

"Good luck to you," it said with a fighting determination that could only be described as blinding.

For a third time the Rito was bewildered. He couldn't find that desperate desire to win that he had in the Bokoblin's eyes - though he was certain that morning he would find it. Why? Wasn't it angry? Furious? Especially after what Thrush did? His whole plan was to drag Kobb into the self-wallowing abyss he had found himself in, but doubt seeped its way into his mind just from sharing a glance. He didn't have time to examine the Bokoblin further, as it promptly stretched the aviation goggles over its eyes and stared straight ahead. The shock caused Thrush to linger…

FWEEEEET!!

"Duel Start!"

Kobb tore off in the direction of the woody western half of the arena that housed its bow, leaving Thrush in the dust. Only the surrounding laughter of the Rito children was enough to snap him out of his stupor. His eyes glowed like Malice seeing the Bokoblin's back, and promptly threw his own goggles on and leapt in the opposite direction - sending him careening over the lip of the massive central lake. Higher he rose, higher, till the entire arena was within his watchful gaze. Using Lake Totori’s updrafts wasn't against the rules, but it was only allowed to be utilized at the start of the match - which Thrush capitalized to the highest degree.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Thrush could plainly see that even with Kobb's head-start he could make it to his own bow first. Taking the easy aerial route, the Rito nosedived fast as a falcon towards his pedestal - landing with a flourish that made the onlookers groan. Still, he wasted no time notching an arrow and letting loose. Kobb had not even made it to the treeline yet.

WHAP!

FWEEEEET!

"1-0 Thrush!"

A sudden sharp pain hit Kobb right between the shoulder blades and it squealed in surprise. It expected Thrush to get to his bow quickly, but not this fast. Yet it kept a level and cool head. The throbbing of the mark only motivated Kobb to leap behind the cover of a pine before the Rito could line up another shot and end the match before it even had a fighting chance. A meaty TWACK followed, the 2nd arrow grazing Kobb's shoulder and harmlessly bouncing off the tree a few steps ahead.

FWE-FWEET!

"Graze! No points!"

Thrush grimaced, hoping to get a 2-0 lead at the jump. But that didn't deter him one bit. With a nearby ground updraft, he soared into the air once more - albeit a little lower.

"Try to last more than a minute, Little Bokoblin!" he taunted, circling the treeline like he was hunting a rabbit. Streaks of red passed between the thick pine branches, obscuring a good shot, but Thrush wasn't worried. Kobb would come to him.

The Bokoblin, panting and grunting, finally reached the pedestal that laid its bow. But it had to be careful not to brazenly run into the clearing. Darting its eyes to maybe get a glimpse of Thrush, Kobb untied the wolf pelt around its neck, then tossed it into the open with poise that would impress regality. As expected, the Rito was tunneled into spying for any movement at all, and an arrow uselessly battered into the pelt. That gave Kobb enough time to sprint for its bow and the quiver, then skedaddle back into cover. A quiet but distinct "Argh!" beyond the forest was a satisfying bonus to its little trick. It helped that Thrush was using Talon-style archery instead of Wing-style. The former allowed for uninterrupted shots while flying at the cost of accuracy, while Wing-style forced the Rito to cease gliding for a more precise shot. Debates over the optimal style have spanned centuries with a rich history of factions, scisms, and in-fighting that could fill a library. Even a few of the older Rito back at the village scoffed at Thrush's "ruffian style" of archery.

Kobb was finally armed, but still at a major disadvantage. Slinging the quiver over its shoulder, the Bokoblin ran back towards the safe center of the pine forest. Thrush couldn't hit Kobb, but it went both ways. And with Thrush in the lead, Judge would call time if the quivers were emptied or a stalemate raged for too long and hand the victory to Thrush. Kobb couldn't turtle up and had to take the offensive, but how could it hit what it couldn't even see? Gingerly it advanced between the trunks, purposely slowing itself for Thrush to see it. Advancing to the outer rim, Kobb leapt between two pines and an arrow stuck into the ground right between its feet. A near miss, but that was what Kobb needed. Triangulating from where the fletchling pointed, Kobb leapt out from cover and made a blind shot where the attack came from. For its troubles the Bokoblin was given a miss and a sharp pain right below its ribcage.

FWEEEEEET!

"2-0 Thrush!"

Kobb grunted and jolted back behind the trunk. It looked down to see its skin already bruising a deep purple from the tingling ache. No doubt its back looked the same. And that infuriating laughter echoed all around the Bokoblin.

"Hahahaha! Too slow, Bokoblin! Maybe you could hit a wind vane with that, but not me! I may even break my personal best today, thanks to you!"

Link bit the tips of his nails nervously, watching from the sidelines. Please, Kobb, he thought, whatever you do don’t get angry. The other onlookers, adults and children alike, wanted to cheer their support for Kobb, but causing too much noise during a Rito Duel was seen as poor manners and distracting to the competitors.

The Bokoblin, down but not out, gritted its teeth with frustration. Already it was thinking about what Thrush would do once it lost, and if it’d even be able to keep that same blank face. Subconsciously it turned its head right into Link’s direction and the two met eyes. That was when something shifted. Even at their distance Kobb could see his head slowly shaking back and forth. It knew exactly what Link was thinking, and that was enough to snap Kobb out of it. A sharp exhale from its snout blew out a column of fog from the crisp Tabanthan air, pumping its fists with grit. Thrush may have been on cloud nine, but at a deficit like this Kobb had nowhere to go but up. 

Throwing its back to the tree again, the Bokoblin this time closed its eyes and let the other senses take over. The valley echoed too well to locate where Thrush’s continued taunts and laughter came from, but what Kobb could feel were the winds. Every time the Rito passed or changed direction, there was the ever so slightest breeze that would pass it by. Kobb’s large ears instinctively twitched - minute movements keying in how close or far Thrush was and from what direction. He had a fight pattern that not even the Rito himself was aware of: half a rotation clockwise, then a full rotation counter-clockwise. Kobb’s fingers gripped around the bowstring. It would have to lead its shot, and be quick lest risk an immediate counterattack. Eyes closed shut, it let Thrush circle around one more time, letting the wind wash over its ears, before shooting its lids open and bursting out of cover. As expected, he was flying right past and Kobb released a few meters ahead. 

A distinct PIFF followed by a loud squawk came after.

FWEEEEEET!

“2-1! Thrush’s lead!”

Several of the Rito children on the sidelines cheered and hollered before immediately getting shushed - rooting for the clear underdog. Teba, who was carrying Tulin on his shoulders, was even impressed with that shot. Meanwhile Thrush had completely deflated, the dud arrow nearly knocking the wind out of his lungs as it hit right below the solar plexus. Gasping, trying to get a grip on his flight, he zeroed in on the Bokoblin seeing red in his eyes. Kobb had already retreated further into the pine cover, and Thrush took the bait like a baby hatchling. He had the lead, and could have simply waited for Kobb to run back to the edge of the forest. All the momentum was his, but Rito like him rarely think straight the second things don’t go as planned. That Bokoblin had the gall to get the better of him, and Thrush would be damned if he let that happen again. He needed to end things now before they got out of hand. 

What Thrush had failed to consider through his blind rage was that going into the forest put him completely out of his element. The closely knit congregation of pine trees made it nearly impossible to sustain a glide without risking a head-on collision. He gradually rose higher by leaping between trees, but then their conical shape blocked any clear shot as long as Kobb hugged the trunks. Now he had no idea where the Bokoblin was and the thought terrified him. Any sound of foliage, any twig snapping, leaf crunching, he jolted his head towards with a rampant paranoia that Kobb could come out from any blind spot on the ground. He was in the inner circle of pines, but if he made it to the outer ring, Thrush could rise back into his domain. The bow was thrown over his shoulder. Getting the last point here was fruitless for Thrush and Kobb knew that from the start.

The Rito pushed off the trunk and soared towards salvation, and was met with Kobb's face staring directly from below - an arrow pre-drawn. It read him like a book.

Thrush had won many a duel in his life. One could argue it was the only reason he was able to work his position all the way up to Captain before it all came crashing down. Goading others into angrily challenging him, then taking precise advantage of that anger, was a skill he had mastered and perfected. Weaponized insufferability meant it was lonely at the top, but that didn't matter to Thrush as long as he had those he knew were factually and unquestionably below him. He loved the attention, and he loved that perfect blend of rage, dread, and regret in their eyes. That look where he could practically watch his opponents reconsidering all their life choices that led to this moment, it was like a drug to him.

And yet none of that was in Kobb's eyes anymore.

In the split second they passed, one above one below, Thrush got all the time in the world to take them in. They were serene, like the glass-smooth surface of the water - unblemished and undisturbed. They filled so much of the Rito's vision it was as if it was laying on its back staring up at a cloudless blue morning sky. There was no anger, no hate, not even any satisfaction. Kobb's eyes were a completely blank slate, and the sight was terrifying. It was here to win; not for any pride nor glory nor to put Thrush in his place, only because that was simply the goal of the duel.

Robotically Kobb's fingers released the bowstring, sending the blunt arrow thwacking into Thrush's thigh. It might as well have had the sting of a real one with how it sent Thrush tumbling.

FWEEEEEEET!

"2-2! Tied up!"

The children raucously burst into cheers once again despite the correction from the rest, the comeback dream very much alive. The onlookers from afar were now leaning over the edge of the railing. Truth be told, many of them were just waiting for Thrush to be knocked down a peg or two. Losing like this to someone without wings couldn't have happened to a worse person. Link's eyes were wide open, keeping up with every detail. Optimistically he looked to Teba and Tulin who both matched the same smile. Kobb could really do this.

Now Thrush was in a full panic, suddenly feeling much smaller in the face of the looming Rito Village. All the momentum he had was squandered by his own shattered pride. The score may be tied, but Kobb had the clear advantage. It was now on a hot streak, only needing one more hit to seal the match as a victory, while Thrush's downward spiral only spelled disaster. He was slipping and the final blow would almost certainly be in the Bokoblin's favor, Thrush was sure of it. He had to do what he should've done the second Kobb started to even it up: stall.

Scrambling out of the treetop, pine needles buried in its feathers, the Rito dived towards his oasis. A lone updraft spot just outside the miniature forest was his last saving grace. Maybe he couldn't humiliate Kobb, maybe he couldn't even win, but he would settle for a stalemate. Anything but a loss. Thrush soared back up into the air right as a stray arrow flew past where he once was, Kobb shaking its head but otherwise unperturbed. With jerky movements, flapping like a startled goose, Thrush reached the perfect spot for his plan. The second half of the arena was dusty and bare - fine dirt aimlessly scooting along the surface in the breeze. He dove, then dove again, and again, whipping his wings to create his own whirlwind. Kobb quickly picked up on his stunt and tried to fire another shot, but missed. It was down to just 3 arrows left and it couldn't waste them. Fruitlessly it watched as Thrush created a wall of dust obscuring an entire portion of the battlefield. Granted, it was a 2-way street, for Thrush could barely see out of the dust devil - let alone hit the Bokoblin consistently. That hardly mattered to him, though. All he needed was to force a draw, or pressure Kobb to waste the last of its arrows so he could pursue on foot for the easiest shot in his life. Thrush had counted, too, and knew there were only 3 arrows left in his opponent's quiver.

Curiously, Kobb peeked out from its cover and pulled back its bow. Thrush chuckled, but kicked up more dust flapping in place as a precaution - whipping up a constant sandstorm. Still, there was no way Kobb could see it through the cover. And the air was too chaotic to even pinpoint Thrush's location by the winds he was blowing.

The Bokoblin fired and wildly missed. Still, Thrush's heart rate spiked uncontrollably even though it flew nowhere near him. 

"That's one…" he whispered under his breath. No more boasting, that can come later.

Kobb ducked back under cover again, expecting a counterattack, but nothing came. Thrush knew better than to blindly fire. Let it dig its own grave, if that's what it's so set on doing. Typical for a Bokoblin, he thought. Again, Kobb moved from its hiding place and let loose another arrow. This one was a little closer, but off by at least a few wingspans.

"That's two…"

He found the monster's desperation quite amusing. Apparently it did care too much about winning after all, if it was willing to throw the obvious stalemate for a chance at victory. Thrush chuckled a little louder, but not loud enough to give his position away. Was the Bokoblin going for a third? The bright red ears cresting into view told him all he needed. There was no way Kobb would hit him.

Kobb pulled back the bow. It was out of the question he would be struck down.

It pointed towards the sky, once again away from Thrush, it would be comical if it wasn't so pathetic. This was the Bokoblin's last gambit? The match was over the second it let go.

"That's thre-"

THWACK!

Thrush never saw it coming, only the movement of Kobb suddenly jerking right to its exact spot. The soft but firm clothed tip made its mark perfectly in the middle of the Rito's goggles - bouncing off and knocking the lights out of it. As he spiraled to the hard ground, stars in his eyes, one thought persisted.

How?

How?!

HOW?!

Had Kobb known his position the whole time, and was nearly bluffing its lack of info, or were those shots just calibration? Thrush didn't have much more time to think, as the impact of the ground left him breathless and coughing. 

FWEEEEEEEET!

"And that's game! The winner of this duel goes to Kobb!"

Immediately the nearby medics scrambled to the loser and performed the routine checks. No broken bones, no splintered nerves, just a hard landing on soft ground. As they say in Rito Village: "We might not always survive the hit, but we always live the fall". Slowly they lifted a dazed and flabbergasted Thrush into a sitting position, then checked for any possible concussion. The goggles were gingerly pried off, the arrow creating a ring-sized indent in his feathers and skin, marking the start of a rather nasty black eye. At least his physical body came out mostly unscathed.

The Rito children applauded and skipped over to Kobb as the impressed onlookers both near and far gave it a hearty applause. Never before had they seen a non-Rito best one of their own like this before. Especially in a duel like this that heavily favored Rito-based combat. No matter the occasion they celebrated fine archery when they saw it. There had even been a long-spun tale of a Hylian accomplishing such a feat, but it was far before any of their time. The sight of the Bokoblin calmly walking out of the woods to the accolades of his own peers was enough to drag Thrush out of his dizzy spell and remember what made him so mad.

"Y-you! You!" he stammered, pointing a wing at Kobb, unable to stand up without falling right back down, "That was impossible! I'm calling foul play! Someone else was helping you, there is no other explanation!"

Kobb tilted its head, ears slightly flopping.

"You are right, I was helped," it said with no pushback at all. Thrush lunged forward to press further, but was caught off guard by a complete admission of his accusations - freezing with his beak hung open. Rather than explain, Kobb decided to show, whistling so loud it vibrated its ears. Out of the cloud cover dove a yellow winged monster that would've caused an immediate panic had Teba jumped in to halt the lower guards from drawing their bows. Several Rito hit the deck anyways as the Aerocuda known as Hebra skidded across the ground to land right in front of the Bokoblin. Nearly tackling Kobb, it nuzzled its face eagerly and begged for celebratory scritches - which Kobb happily gave. The onlookers had become just as slack-jawed as Thrush, seeing the Bokoblin rub the Aerocuda's face like it was a giant puppy. After tossing it a piece of something from a pouch around its waist, which was gobbled up with gusto, Kobb turned to Thrush with an almost proud look on its face.

"Hebra, here, was my wings."

That answer was not what the Rito wanted to hear at all. Yet it explained everything. The Aerocuda must have been flying right at his back during the last stretch - cueing to Kobb where to aim its bow through the sandstorm. Upon this revelation, his feathers stood up and his normally deep-green face tinged a reddish hue.

"So you admit to cheating! How dare you desecrate the sanctity of Rito Dueling! Your victory was a farce! A fluke! There is no way a mere Bokoblin could beat me otherwise!" he said, saliva violently spewing from its beak after every word.

Kobb calmly shook its head.

"I made sure Link was able to get clearance from both Kaneli and Judge before the match…"

Thrush's laser sight snapped towards the two in question with a fiery indignance. Kaneli stroked his beard slowly, sitting on his favorite portable stool, while Judge simply shrugged.

"Rules state all you're allowed to bring with you to a Rito Duel is your bow and a pair of wings. They claimed that because it never specified whose wings Kobb could bring, that it should be allowed to bring its flying mount. It wasn't the most solid reasoning, but it was the clever outside-the-box thinking I like to see in these duels! Still, I was a little disappointed Kobb never even rode on it, heh.”

Arms spread aghast, Thrush tried to contest but deep down knew it was moot. Once Judge made up his mind on something, that was that. He couldn’t help but stammer the start of his sentence over and over - wondering why suddenly his entire village had turned on him. Kaneli steadily leaned forward in his chair and stared the Rito down.

"Thrush," he said with a sternness that no one wanted directed at them, "twice now, you have failed to pay attention and it has cost you dearly. It is always prudent to assume your opponent will be hiding information from you. Always. Kobb said it brought its own wings, but you thought it was a bluff. Had you pried further, any one of us would've told you. Judge even gave you numerous chances to ask."

Kobb nodded silently. It would’ve been entirely transparent if asked, but it had no reason to show its hand to Thrush if he wasn’t willing to see it.

"Besides…from the looks of things until the very end, Kobb was going talon-to-talon against you without the wings it brought, hoohoo. The only reason you failed was because you were afraid of failing - and decided that it was better to have no victor than one. Stagnation…cowardice…caring more for winning than improvement…hardly qualities begetting us Rito."

Thrush’s feathers began to shake, shivering like he was at the top of Mount Hebra. It was one thing to lose, but to be told exactly why and how he lost was a replay of the horrifying defeat looping through his mind again and again.

"Your choice to force a stalemate, which led to your downfall, is emblematic of this whole mess. You only wished to rest on your laurels, and panicked when the threat of failure and consequences reached you. You challenged Kobb, our flightless guest, who had already gone through enough turmoil by your own wings, to a duel in aerial combat it had no right to accept, all to salvage your pride. Worse, you tricked it knowing it had no idea on the implications of such a duel. That was low, Thrush, and the only reason I allowed it was because I had faith that Kobb could teach you an important lesson."

That, the Bokoblin was not too fond of, but it wasn't about to voice its reservations just yet. Seeing Thrush in a new light, however, changed it somehow. Since then it had merely been masking its contempt and white-hot anger for the ex-Captain with a poker face that'd make Link proud. The second it had hit the final blow Kobb was already planning on boasting to the others once it got back. But this, seeing Thrush in such a miserable state, was not satisfying in the least. He deserved every bit of this, but Kobb still felt a twinge of sympathy in its heart. It didn't know Thrush's story, but the way it handled this loss wasn't just because of recent events, Kobb could tell. This was simply the last straw in a cavalcade of impossible expectations and self-loathing. Still, Kaneli continued his onslaught of words.

"I would be furious, if I were not so embarrassed and ashamed of myself - for letting this go on as long as it has. Once again, I have found myself regretting my decisions to promote you. If I had noticed sooner, perhaps this whole ordeal could've been prevented. Really, I have failed you just as much, Thrush, and I am sorry for that. What I saw as ambition and determination was a facade for bluster and ego. Perhaps if someone like Kobb pushed back before today you would've become quite the outstanding warrior. But alas, you still have so much to learn. We all do."

The talons of Thrush dug fiercely into the dirt. Every word of Kaneli's had the thunk of an arrow hitting him in the chest. He dared not look the Rito Elder in the eye - unsure if he'd be able to handle that somber visage he was infamous for. He wanted to punch the ground so bad. He wanted to kick and punch and scream and scratch until his claws bent back and his voice gave out. But he couldn't. Like his forced stalemate he had to be perfectly still. The frayed thread of what was left of his ego was tested beyond its limits. For the first time since his childhood, Thrush felt haplessly weak - disarmed and powerless. In the midst of his ringing ears and clenched beak, a single red foot stomped into view. He dared not look up, reluctant to face that Bokoblin inevitably looking down on him. Yet, he just couldn't resist. Like a creaking door his head turned with agonizing slowness looking past the legs, the chest, the shoulders, the buck-toothed mouth, the cold-flushed snout, and finally to the bright blue eyes. His head visibly shook not with a rage, but with a dread of what could possibly come out of its mouth. Like Kaneli said, he was not prepared to face the consequences. But Kobb's lips stayed still, its slight frown utterly stationary. That was arguably worse for the Rito, for who knew how long it'd be forced to wait till it was given the final blow to snap the thread. The moment never came, but the glow in Kobb's eyes spelled out the words that it was like Thrush heard its voice directly in his head.

Swallow your pride and stand up.

Kobb outstretched a hand.

Thrush squawked, scrambling on all fours to turn away from the monster. Maybe he could have handled being looked down on with scorn just like the ones from his peers, but empathy? Out of the question. He made a beeline for the lake, pushing through any other Ritos in his way, and took off. He had to get out of there, go anywhere but there. It was all too much for him. Kobb watched silently as he rose high up into the sky and disappeared over a nearby ridge. Letting out a deep exhausted sigh, the Bokoblin felt ready to collapse on the ground then and there. It felt a hand on its shoulder and turned to see Link. His warm proud smile was enough to lift Kobb's spirits back up as they both stared to where Thrush disappeared. Hebra, realizing it was no longer the center of attention, wriggled its head between them and sent a wave of laughter between them and the other Ritos. The hot tension broken up, they slowly dispersed and went about their day - with Teba hanging back to watch the three.

"Still mad at him?" Link said with a slight chuckle, getting that hauntingly familiar feeling from all of this.

"Strangely…not anymore," Kobb said, furrowing its brow, trying to bring back the lost animosity it once had, "Now all I feel is pity and I am not sure this is any better."

"Heh. That's usually how things go…expect at least one more visit from him before we leave."

Another sigh left the Bokoblin, clearly not looking forward to that.

"I do not think someone like him would ever apologize. I would sooner expect The Calamity itself to come down and say sorry."

Link snorted in laughter, patting Kobb endearingly once again.

"Maybe not directly, but sometimes all it takes is to kick their ass once or twice."

[mangora]

Definitely said this before but Owen is such an essential part of the TD experience. A lot of people tend to shit on him for just being comic relief and not having a serious and explicit arc like Alejandro or Heather, but Owen’s a necessary beacon of light, especially in Action. He’s kind of like the glue holding everyone together, or the platform holding people up. When he was eliminated by Courtney, Justin, Beth, and Lindsay were genuinely devastated, and they were genuinely concerned when he was hurt as well. Most of the time when people are hurt on TD or eliminated, the other characters find it funny or not a big deal. Owen got everyone concerned about him because he was always kind and upbeat, even when people weren’t nice to him (see: Heather through most of season one, Courtney in season two, Alejandro in season three, Chris and Chef in every season). He makes people like Justin who are usually completely egotistical actually show humanity and worry about him. Without Owen the show would be a lot more mean-spirited. Kindness begets kindness, Y’know, and it’s refreshing to see a character like Owen who succeeds and betters people (such as Noah) just by being positive and good. Especially with adolescents who are targeted by shows like TD, it’s a common belief that goodness is ultimately worthless because people treat it as such, but even the hardest people can be melted a bit by a good environment or supporter or example and it’s special to me that they didn’t really shy away from having a character who just gets good things and feels good and makes people feel good. And of course Owen’s even deeper than this, I could talk about him for hours, he’s surprisingly dynamic. But yeah, Owen. Cool

[cto10121]

R&J Clown Takes Special Edition—TV Tropes Still Exists

Popped into that old swamp for an idle Inuyasha check-up and suddenly got the bright idea to check its R&J page and see whether it still kept up its clownery. A lot of the worst offenses has been mercifully cleaned-up, but there is still some really tasty clownery, meet for this blog. So hie ho, let’s go

~Obvious Aesop!!!!

Already this one paragraph contains so much clownery. Such fresh and succulent meat cannot be good for you, alas. But I shall bear it for ye, my readers.

1. High school teachers teach love story so wrong!!! So I can’t speak for every high school English teacher out there, but as I was in training for the shit, let me tell you: The schools do 90% gun hard for the “cautionary tale/R&J’s tragic flaw was their impulsivity” element, with an added “Who is really responsible/the true villain for R&J’s deaths!!!” Very juvenile, but schools have to school, which means coming up with an Aesop, no matter how ill-fitting.

2. Elizabethan audiences would have seen—!!! Now this is just plain bullshitting. What evidence we have the Elizabethan reception of R&J has been consistently that of a very popular tragedy—the Second Quarto was titled “The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy.” In an elegy to the late Richard Burbage, who played Romeo and countless other Shakespearean lead roles, the author wrote this:

Poor Romeo never more shall tears beget

For Juliet’s love and cruel Capulet.

This is a very positive portrayal of Romeo, Juliet, and the play itself, with an added slight at the feuding families. It also suggests that Capulet’s forcing Juliet to marry Paris left a very big impression on the Elizabethans. Romeo was definitely not seen as a Lothario but as a tragic hero.

3. Most 17th/18th century playgoers universally disliked it!!! Samuel Pepys is the only one that comes to mind, but even then he said only that the play was “the worst that ever I heard in my life, and the worst acted that ever I saw these people do.” Not that the play itself was coarse and brutal.

I’m not sure of the others, but considering they were writing in the neo-classism-loving milieu of the 17th century, Shakespeare’s dramatic realism would have been abhorrent to their sensibilities. That does not mean that the play itself is coarse. Just the 17th century being 17th century.

For the last time, there was no such thing as romance as a genre in Shakespeare’s day. The main genres were comedies, tragedies, pastoral, histories. Shakespeare’s later plays were experiments in tragicomedy. The romance plays are more kin to fantasy/sci-fi. Rom-com style plots (commedia dell’arte) were very much a thing, but they didn’t constitute their own genre—they were all under the comedy umbrella.

R&J establishes itself as a tragedy from the word go and literally every scene would have been full of red flags to the Elizabethans—Juliet at 13 urged to consider marriage, the Prince’s doom, Tybalt’s rage, and even the Nurse’s comedy about toddler!Juliet inadvertently making a double entendre. They would not have been at all surprised, because the tragic outcome was both explicitly stated in the Chorus and was well-foreshadowed by Shakespeare.

“Characters mock the main characters—” As said before, there are none. Mercutio mocks Romeo’s infatuation with Rosaline; he does not know about Juliet. The Friar is frustrated, bewildered, and even angry, but he does not mock Romeo; he takes him seriously. Benvolio is genuinely concerned.

Chopped Logic

TV Tropes literally had the perfect answer in Rule of Symbolism, but alas, it just had to keep going.

No, Romeo’s choice of poison over a dagger doesn’t imply unmanliness in this context. Considering that he almost killed himself with his own dagger when he thought Juliet had rejected him and he killed Tybalt and Paris with swords, it can be argued that Romeo, ironically, is the most tied to the weapon save Tybalt. He is the one male character who wields it the most effectively, anyway, and the one character with the most kills in the play.

Occam’s Razor here, but for my part? It’s the erotic symbolism. Again, Shakespeare’s framing of the lovers’ suicide as romantic-erotic is part-and-parcel with the thematic concerns of the play overall.

I have a whole-ass tag dedicated to analyzing the play and why the play as a whole is not critical of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. On the contrary, it develops and exploits their love connection shamelessly, even giving them the best and most powerful lines and a full arc from obedient teens to courageous if vulnerable tragic heroes.

Their tragic end doesn’t even come at any of their actions, but the most dangerous and significant force of them all: The literal plague. It wasn’t a case of a faulty mailing system. Shakespeare literally used THE PLAGUE, which had ravished London for the better part of two years, as a plot point to doom the lovers. Shakespeare was not fucking around. He went so damn hard we’re still talking about it 400 years later.

As for the relationship moving absurdly fast, we literally have 2/3rds of all Shakespearean couples marrying at the end of their plays. Plays are not novels; all events must be condensed into the two and a half hours of their story. Hence the popularity of instalove as a trope and quick courtships.

Ooh, about time these antis weaponized the Pyramus and Thisbe show in AMND against R&J. Unfortunately for them, I’ve been expecting this.

So the Pyramus and Thisbe show in Midsummer is brilliant in that the bulk of the comedy lies not in making fun of the story, but in making fun of amateur writing and acting—as in, the execution. It is riddled with all the hallmarks of bad writing and acting at all levels:

The players getting worried that the ladies would take the Lion as a real one and be frightened, so they write a fourth wall breaking speech for the actor

Creating whole-ass characters for The Wall and Moonshine to denote the literal wall and moon…when they could literally just say, “There’s a wall” or “It is night.”

The actors constantly forgetting their lines and not obeying punctuation and proper line reading

Just bad writing overall (“I see a voice!”)

Of course, Shakespeare was also flexing his skills at turning a tragedy into a comedy and (eventually) vice versa. But given that he would go on to write similar couples who fall in love immediately or very quickly (the love quartet in Love’s Labor’s Lost, Rosalind and Orlando, Fernando and Miranda, etc.) without satire, he most likely didn’t think the trope was inherently comic…or that his own carefully considered and very popular play of the same theme was crappy.

Also, consider Midsummer was written around the same time as R&J, to the point where academics like to call them sister plays.

R&J just never got a chance to fall in love properly, guys. 😔 Their love was doomed only to remain stagnant at the shallow teen lust level 🥺 So tragic, so sad.

So falling in love /= courtship/dating. R&J never had a fulsome courtship for obvious reasons and are denied a chance to, but it’s undeniable that in the narrative they did fall in love. After the initial attraction of the Courtship Sonnet, they even managed to woo at the balcony scene. Their love is well established, so much so that more courtship would honestly been superfluous.

Shakespeare could have followed his source, Brooke’s poem, and the longer courtship there (three months, I think). But there Romeus and Juliet’s relationship is even less convincing than R&J’s. Dudes just fucked around for three months doing da sexy times!!! It reads, pretty much, that Romeus and Juliet only got married for the sex, which is not too far off given Brooke’s explicit agenda.

Meanwhile Shakespeare!R&J talk, woo, and decide to get married and…actually do it. And then consummate their marriage properly. Huh. Almost as if…they really are serious about each other and don’t just want fun sexy times.

Here Come Our Philosophers

*studio audience groan* Not this shit again. This is one of those quotes that sounds profound but are really just absurd.

Suffice to say that R&J has a…very ambivalent reception among modern teens. In fact, I’d wager that most teenagers dislike/don’t care for R&J more than they do. I can assure you that it’s a particularly hard sell in YA unless changed to fit the tropes. Modern teens and even older ones, it turns out, don’t like unhappy endings to their ships.

Because while the play is sympathetic to the youths and their perspective…it’s a very adult kind of sympathy. And, in the end, understanding. Had it really taken a youthful perspective, R&J would just be another boring, trite power fantasy of super special teens who beat the odds—only instead of Chosen One shenanigans it’s you and your lover triumphing over your lameass parents and living happily ever after.

No teen (and adults too—it’s a human quality) truly believes their relationship will not last. Logically, they may acknowledge the possibility, but in the heat of it all, no. Shakespeare, though, does not indulge either teen or adult fantasies. He, frankly, didn’t give a fuck. He is a poet of nature—he writes how humans actually act, not how we think we should act.

I have already addressed why I don’t think this particular legend is true, but I’ll deal with it here too.

Suffice to say, Mercutio was a character in Brooke’s poem, though a courtier and suitor to Juliet. Shakespeare changed him into Romeo’s friend and foil, which means that he almost certainly planned to kill him off.

Shakespeare’s Tybalt is a belligerent character, but one who takes honor and dueling seriously, so he would have never attacked Romeo when the latter refused him as Brooke’s Tybalt did in the poem. Thus, a sacrifice needed to be made, some very good reason as to why Romeo would consent to fight Tybalt. And since Benvolio is as close to a pacifist as this play gets, that role falls to Mercutio. This legend is definitely 17th century fanon.

Only Sane Man I get, but…Deadpan Snarker? What? The only thing close to snark that Benvolio gets (in my memory, anyway) is “She will indite him to some supper,” mocking the Nurse’s malapropisms. Definitely not deadpan. Romeo trolls more (“One that God hath made, himself to mar”; A gentleman who speaks more in a minute than he would stand to in a month”) than Benvolio, especially with regards to Mercutio. Weird.