#(its to emphasize Ais story and the like)

[zabchan]

Big Moana 2 Spoilers ahead. Beyond the cut is the Samoan to english translation of maui's 2nd song for moana. (And the context it appears in)

ladies and gents of the moana fandom, thanks to the effort of samoan speaker @yuki685 on youtube, and my buddy @rykierykerman for hooking me up with the text and screenshots

what i'd like to discuss with yall today is not only sharing the translation for this song, but some of the character implication this has for maui, especially when you look at how his OG legends depict him.

LYRICS:

(Maui singing in Samoan):

Aue, aue, le faigata / Aue, aue, how difficult it is

Ua pa'ū fa'anoanoa / Falling into sadness

Aue, aue, fa'ataga ola / Aue, aue, please allow this life to continue

Lenā La'u talosaga / This is my prayer

---

(E manu malo) / May there be blessings

(Opataia Foa'i and Te Vaka singing in Tokelauan)

Tele tele mana e o te vavau (Vavau) / Great, great power of mana

Tau ke tu ke Manumalo / Fight, stand tall and be victorious

Ke Manumalo / Be victorious

---

(Grandma Tala)

Aue, aue, mana e o te vavau / Aue, aue, the power of mana

Tau ke tu ke Manumalo / Fight, stand tall and be victorious

Ke Manumalo / Be victorious

Ke Manumalo / Be victorious

Ke Manumalo / Be victorious

_____

The piece that made me flip my shit when I read it was the confirmation that this song is a PRAYER

when I first heard this song before the movie I assumed it was a funeral rite. a dirge, followed by a choral revival. during the film, when maui and then the ancestors sang it over moana's lifeless body and I had no subtitles to go on, I thought perhaps it was a spell, or maybe a lullaby from Maui's far distant past, then taken up by the ancestors as a comfort to the grieving Maui- then back to the spell theory as Moana awoke to the powerful music and emotion channeled by tala and her crew.

even my first google translate search of the lyrics missed the word prayer, which goes to show that AI translation is no match for native human insight.

Maui's song being a prayer is a friggin big deal.

Maui's stories span the width & breadth of the pacific islands, and each culture arising from those island tells variations on that legend. some emphasize his rebellious side, others his inventiveness, still others his drive, his humor, his ingenuity, his pride. But a common theme in most is that this man, this demigod- he does NOT get along with the majority of his ancestors or the gods. Even when he's not outright malevolent to them, he's tricking them or undermining their effort. He's usually stubbornly self-sufficient, if he gets help from someone divine, its usually because he tricked them into doing it. Maui does not beg, he does not plead. (at least, not with any lasting sincerity). he's a charmer, a schemer.

But here he is, his tattoos stripped away, his hook gone, his beloved Moana growing colder and colder- he's out of tricks. he's out of time, out of power. he's as helpless as the day he was thrown into the ocean to save her. rock bottom, figuratively and literally.

he does the absolute last thing he can, born of pure desperation. pure grief, pure need. He prays.

he prays not expecting an answer. he prays, knowing that the gods and all his family would relish the chance to tell him to fuck all the way off. he prays, even if to no one but moana's lifeless body.

i often joke that maui is bad at feelings. but really what i mean is that maui is bad at regulating his feelings. he represses them as hard as he can, denies them, wraps them in humor and when that fails he straight up tries to out run them. its a maladaptive coping skill he's had to pick up over his immortal 3000 year lifespan because otherwise, he'd be wallowing in endless grief as friend after friend either dies or lives long enough to become his antagonist. boy has some serious trauma built up and no good examples of how to handle it in a healthy way.

until moana.

moana provided an example of how to be vulnerable without being weak. a safe space where he could share his heart and be met with understanding and validation. we see him mature, even fractionally, and in the sequel he's not nearly so closed off. he worries openly about moana, admits his concerns about the mission, even returns moana's favor from the first film and gives her a sincere, supportive pep talk.

but all his progress in processing his emotions seems to backfire in this moment. the first time he'd opened his heart to a fragile mortal friend and here he is, exactly as he feared, devastated at her passing. He had invested real time and care and attachment into this human and he's utterly shattered that its all coming to an end so fast. that he'll never experience her voice or her smile or her wit ever again.

she's precious to him. he cant bear to lose her. his sadness in more crushing than the ocean he's surrounded by, denser than the rock he kneels upon. even if he got his powers back, even if he pulled up a million islands, if Moana isn't there to land on them...there's no point.

less than 10 minutes ago he was ready to die for her.

3 minutes ago in movie time, maui faced his own mortality. powers stripped bare, down to his last ounce of strength, frying in impossible lightning heat, he kept struggling. the first look he gives moana is fear, raw and unfamiliar on that handsome face. but in this penultimate moment, his eyes meet moana's. his grimace gentles, eyebrows lift, gaze softens into a regretful, heart melting smile. he finds small comfort in seeing moana for one last time, seeing her unhurt, hearing her call his name. the rope slips from his grip, and somewhere in the milliseconds between lightning flashes, he relaxes, relief skitters across his features. perhaps he thinks "ahh, at least she's ok." "at least she'll outlive me". perhaps he has a moment of acceptance for his fate, knowing she's proud of him, knowing he did his very best. maybe he thinks ,"this way ill be sure to meet her again, in the afterlife. its for the best."

or maybe, just maybe, he thinks

"see you out there, moana."

but now, 3 minutes later, its once again the worst case scenario. any relief he had in that last smile at her is obliterated in the wake of his grief. its once again the worst case scenario. he's not thinking now of the curse being broken or his hook or his tattoos. a world that she's not in, whether he be human or demigod, is not a world he can stand to exist in. he cant do this without her. he needs her.

so he digs deep inside himself, through the pain or losing her, through his own family trauma and antagonism towards authority, and pride, to beg, on his knees for help from a higher power. its unclear to us if he's intending to pray to the gods or to his own ancestors or both or neither. to anyone who can help. to anyone who will listen.

and its neither of those sources who answer, at least, not as directly as matai vasa or tala do. its moana's kin, her loved ones, (eventually including the ocean), who answer from the great beyond. he looks them in the eyes and they weep with him. they sing power over moana and the impossible happens.

(salacious handholding occurs)

the stars are put back in maui's eyes, the sun back into his sky.

does this mean...

yes.

his tattoos are still cooler than hers.

even when theyre mad at him. (same, little guy, same.)

bruh.

now kiss

[callalillywrites]

Tis the Season for Some Comfort

My first official Christmas story for the year. Yay!

This story is part of a yet unnamed AU featuring Steve Rogers and Wife!Reader. You can read the first story here, but this story can be read as a standalone, too.

Steve Rogers Masterlist | Series Masterlist | Main Masterlist

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Wife!Reader

Word Count: 2970

Summary: Steve comes home on Christmas Eve after a less-than-satisfactory mission. You do all you can to offer him some comfort and remind him how loved he really is.

Warnings: Mostly fluff; smallest smidgen of angst

A/N: This story took on a life of its own, especially with it being mostly in Steve's POV. I do hope you enjoy this piece as much as I did in writing it.

I do not give permission to have my works copied, translated, reposted, or fed into an AI machine.

****

The mission hadn’t been a success, but it hadn’t gone as sideways as they’d all feared it could’ve gone.

That didn’t stop the negative thoughts and heavy responsibility that fell on his shoulders.

Steve kept going over everything in his mind. He sought out every contingency, searching for some way that he could’ve acted differently. Nothing came directly to mind, but that didn’t stop him from berating himself for a less-than-satisfactory job.

His text to you had been simple and succinct with few details: Mission complete. ETA home, late. Please don’t wait up. No major injuries. Love you.

The last thing he wanted was to have you worrying about him.

After all, he was Captain America. One of the main leaders of the Avengers. He’s handled worse and lived to tell about it.

Your text came back moments later, tugging a small, unwitting smile across his lips.

While you celebrated his return, you also mentioned getting the new book you’d been looking forward to reading. He knew what that meant. A late night read, which meant you’d be up waiting for him even if he wished you’d get your sleep. Nothing kept you from reading when the urge struck you, especially when said book came from one of your favorite authors.

Throughout your message, he spotted several emojis to emphasize your words, further widening the grin on his face.

If anyone could help lighten his mood, it was you.

Your message proved just the distraction his mind needed. He’d long since acknowledged how well you’ve learned to read between the lines of his texts. Your new read was a pretext for staying up to wait for him, to ensure he was indeed as okay as he previously stated.

While anyone else reading might not see the care you had for him in your rambling text, he could. You offered him an olive branch of sorts without making it obvious to others who might snoop. You helped ensure his public image remained separate from his private life, giving him the chance to just be Steve Rogers without the weight of Cap following him home.

One of the best decisions he ever made was to fall in love with you. His greatest honor had been the day you accepted his proposal almost a year later. The happiest came when you said ‘I do’ in front of all your friends and family with the Avengers cheering and whooping the loudest.

He really had no idea what he’d do without you, and he never wanted to.

Especially when he walked through the door of your home later that night.

*****

You’d just finished setting up the snacks you knew Steve liked on the small end table closest to the Christmas tree with a small grin. The selection included one of his rarer indulgences from a bakery you’d discovered with your best friends on your last big ladies’ night out.

The break had been needed after finishing up the last chapter of your new book. As much as you loved a cliffhanger, this one had been a real doozy. You needed a moment to collect yourself. What better way to do that than to finish the last part of your surprise for your loving husband, who would be home any moment.

His text had been succinct and to the point. A sure sign that things hadn’t gone the way they should’ve on this latest mission.

As if you needed further proof, you’d also gotten texts from Nat and Bucky.

Both had been worried about Steve’s mental state, having gone on the mission with him. Knowing him as you all did, he’d gone into full Captain America mode and refused to break in front of anyone. Steve Rogers could be hard to crack in the best of circumstances, and a failed or poor mission result made that outer shell that much tougher.

It’s why you’d learned early on how best you could help him.

After all, he’d done the same for you.

*****

Steve’s shoulders lost some of their tension when your shared home’s front came into view. The festive wreath hanging did more than several hours in the gym with a punching bag ever could. A soft smile even spilled across his lips as he saw the extra addition you’d made to the porch in his absence.

He’d known you might when the two of you came across it, but he did wonder how you managed to wrangle the giant nutcracker into its current position. Standing two short inches below Steve, the nutcracker had at least several more on you and some considerable weight to keep it upright. Maybe you had help, but then again, Steve knew how stubborn you could get when you set your mind on something.

The globe in the nutcracker’s hand twirled and glowed as he stepped closer. Soft Christmas music poured from the hidden speakers, low enough to not disturb your neighbors but loud enough that those visiting wouldn’t miss it.

His smile widened.

You’d been right about the nutcracker being the perfect addition to the decorations you both had put up around the house to celebrate the season.

Steps lighter than before, he leaned down to turn off the nutcracker before unlocking the front door and stepping inside.

Nothing could’ve prepared him for the scene waiting within.

The main lights had long been turned off in favor of the lights gleaming on the Christmas tree. It stood proudly in one corner of the living room with all the ornaments you and him have collected over the past couple of years. Light reflected from the shiny tinsel you’d been adamant about placing strategically around the tree to great effect. Garlands draped or wrapped around various fixtures around the room and throughout the house. They, too, gleamed softly, giving the place an almost magical feeling.

As he stepped further into the room, he dropped his gear near the sofa while he took in even more details awaiting him.

He noted the end table filled with his favorite snacks, but that wasn’t what caught his eye so much as the makeshift bed. Made up of your extensive collection of blankets and pillows, it took up most of the floor between the Christmas tree and the fireplace, which also had a small fire going behind the glass doors.

Inspecting the bed, he noted the pillow he always managed to sneak from you whenever he had a bad night and the bed felt too soft to sleep comfortably. Those were the nights he usually sought solace on the harder surface of the living room floor. Your pillow tucked close to his chest so he could still smell you without you giving up your own sleep for him.

It hadn’t really taken you long to figure this out, either. Rather than being upset with him when you’d found him one morning after a particularly rough night, you’d made it your mission to ensure that pillow was always ready and available to him. You never questioned or made him feel weird about it, either, which he’d greatly appreciated then and still.

“Welcome home, Mr. Rogers,” you said softly from the open bedroom doorway.

Steve met your adoring smile with one of his own. “It’s good to be home, Mrs. Rogers.”

Turning on his heel, he quickly erased the distance between you two, scooping you into his arms. He couldn’t quite hold back the chuckle that escaped at your low squeak. You’d known he’d do it, too, but it never failed to elicit the same response each time he did. Steve lived for hearing you make that same sound whenever he could pull it from you.

“It’s awfully late, sweetheart. You should be sleeping, not waiting up for me,” he gently chided even as he carried you toward the sofa.

You shrugged your shoulders. “Pepper’s given me the rest of the year off. Plus, it’s Christmas in, like, fifteen minutes. Couldn’t go to sleep without wishing you a ‘Merry Christmas’, now can I? That’d break tradition.”

“And we can’t have that, either,” he finished for you. His cheeks hurt from smiling at your endearing self. In some ways, he still couldn’t believe you’d taken such a chance on loving him, and he could only hope that he never made you regret it.

Steve dropped onto the sofa and tugged you closer within his arms, taking in your sweet scent and warmth. Nothing but you could ever ease the tension within him so quickly.

Your hands smoothed over the material of his tactical suit, something he hadn’t bothered changing out of in his rush to get home. The debriefing had taken longer than he’d cared for, and he’d just been eager to get home and breathe you in for as long as his exhausted state permitted. When one hand came to rest over his steadily beating heart, he allowed his eyes to close briefly, content in that moment.

“How are you?” you murmured low enough that he almost didn’t catch it.

After having been asked this numerous times before and throughout the debriefing, the words just spilled out of him without a second thought. “I’m fine.”

Yet, you weren’t having any of it. Your free hand moved until your fingers could play with the longer strands of his hair near his suit collar. You twisted them until they curled around your fingers and gently tugged until his eyes popped open, catching the soft yet determined look in your eyes.

Only when you knew you had his full attention once more did you speak again.

“While it’s nice to hear the Cap party line still going strong, I was asking after my husband. How is Steve doing with everything that went down?”

While he knew you didn’t have all the details of the mission, he also knew that Nat and Bucky had probably filled you in on what they could. They’d become your eyes and ears on him since the day you two made things official without you ever asking.

He never had any doubts it was to keep him from being reckless, something Bucky accused him of doing quite regularly. You’ve yet to use such knowledge and leverage against him in ways he’d resent or find too obsessive/possessive to be healthy.

If anything, you always used that information to help ease whatever terrors might be trying to take hold of him. He loved you all the more for it as his gaze swept the living room once more, not missing one detail of the comfort you wanted for him.

Knowing you wouldn’t hold out for his answer forever, he turned to you and admitted, “I’ve been better.”

“Anything I can do?”

Steve tugged you closer and pressed a kiss to your temple. “Tell me about that nutcracker outside. How did you get it home?”

The amused glint in your eyes was enough to have Steve relaxing further.

“Honestly, I’m surprised I got it here at all.”

Steve’s brows rose at that.

Your amusement turned a bit sheepish as you added, “I may or may not have created a sort of competition between Tony and Rhodey to help me get it home.”

Over the next few minutes, you regaled him with the epic adventure that was picking up and transporting the nutcracker to your shared front door. Tony and Rhodey’s bickering that came from whatever they’d been arguing about before they came to help. The calling of their respective superhero suits to aid them with this new task. And the destruction of three other nutcrackers before they finally worked together to bring this final to its new home.

By the end of your story, Steve’s tension had almost completely melted away. A sleepy grin adorned his features even as his eyes began to droop, his exhaustion starting to hit him.

He barely roused when your phone’s alarm chimed midnight.

“It’s Christmas, Mr. Rogers,” you said softly, running a hand through his hair. “Time to get some real shuteye.”

You moved out of his loosened hold until you were standing between his spread legs. Leaning down, you pressed a chaste kiss to his lips, murmuring, “Come on, handsome. You only have about a foot to move and then you can sleep as long as you want.”

He let you grip his hands and pull him up though he could’ve easily stayed put. As cute as you were when you ‘tugged’, you both knew he wouldn’t budge unless he wanted to. After a few playful yanks, he acquiesced to your sweet pleading until he moved to the rather comfy bed you’d made him on the floor. The Christmas tree lights would keep the shadows at bay while not interfering with his ability to get some actual sleep.

Steve watched you through half-shut eyes as you turned off the gas to the fireplace, allowing the fire to slowly die down until it extinguished. Your body glowed in the soft lighting from the tree, giving you an almost angelic appearance.

Not wanting you to disappear, he reached out and gripped your wrist when you would’ve turned toward the bedroom. He gently tugged you down next to him, his Brooklyn drawl thick as he spoke. “Where ya going, Mrs. Rogers?”

You shook your head, fondness and affection seeping into your words. “Nowhere, my love.”

As if to further prove your words, you wrapped yourself around him, cradling him against you until your legs twined together and your hands could run up and down his back.

The last thing Steve would recall before sleep claimed him was the sweet kisses you pressed to his hair as you promised to be there when he woke up the next morning. His arms had tightened around you and kept you against him even as his breathing evened out.

The next morning, he woke to find you curled against him. The two of you had shifted until you laid in his arms as the little spoon. You still slept soundly, giving him the chance to study you and fall that much more in love with you. The light of day further highlighted how much care you’d taken the previous night to ensure he had everything he could need to get through a rough night.

As much as he’d expected the night to be a rough one, it hadn’t been. That had everything to do with you, and he knew it.

No matter what life threw at him, he knew he could handle it as long as he had you at his side. He’d do everything in his power to keep you there, too, never wanting you to regret choosing him.

Not wanting to bother you, he settled back against the pillow that smelled so much like you. His eyes wandered over your sleeping form until they lifted to the Christmas tree above the two of you.

Several ornaments glittered and shifted in the growing light of the sun as it filtered through the windows. He picked out the ones the two of you had purchased together. Each one held a special memory that happened the year you’d gotten it. A picnic basket to commemorate your first date. A miniature of his shield which he’d almost accidentally hit you with the day you met. An old-fashioned golden key to remember the day you bought this house together. A cute animal couple dressed up in a wedding gown and tuxedo and holding hands. A puppy that…

A puppy?

His brows drew together as he studied the puppy ornament. It wore a cute little red bow around its neck. Little brown spots covered the pup’s back and down the front of its face. The rest of the pup’s fur was white. Little floppy ears that were made for flapping in the wind.

When he would’ve reached for it, you stirred. Your voice broke through his confusion.

“I saw the longing in you when Bucky got Alpine earlier this year and Nat got Liho not long after. While their cats are quite cute, I thought we could go a little different and expand our small family with a puppy. You’d have a running buddy when Bucky or Sam aren’t available, and I’d have a cuddle partner when you’re on a mission.”

Steve watched as you fidgeted with your fingers.

You barely took a breath before you plunged on, adding, “There’s a shelter not too far from here that got a litter of puppies not too long ago. They’ll be ready for adoption in a few more days. I might’ve taken the liberty to put our names down to hold one of them for us. That is, if you want to.”

With a gentle shove, he put you on your back and rose to settle over you. A wide smile spread across his lips even as he pressed several kisses to every inch of your face.

“Sweetheart, I’d adopt a whole shelter with you if it’s what you wanted.”

You giggled even as your smile mirrored his.

“Maybe we start with just one and go from there, huh?”

“Sounds like a plan.” His lips collided with yours in a sweet kiss full of promise. When he pulled away to catch his breath, he couldn’t help adding, “You’re still the best gift I’ve ever gotten, Mrs. Rogers. I love you so much, sweetheart.”

With that, he set about proving just how much he loved you, worshipping you under the still glowing tree despite the growing brightness outside. Neither of you cared so lost in each other until your stomachs growled in protest at being ignored.

That was a Christmas you two wouldn’t soon forget.

*****

A few days later, you walked into the shelter with Steve at your side, leaving with the new pup that perfectly matched the ornament you’d placed on the tree.

[glescape]

𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭-𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐜.𝐬)

Coriolanus Snow x district!fem!reader

Word count: 3,7k

Warnings: Power dynamic, stalking, threat, obsessive behaviour

summary: One apple a day keeps the doctor away, but not all troubles can vanish that way.

a/n: This is my first story! I hope I did good. Little warning I use ai to correct any grammar mistakes since english isn’t my first language. Let me know what y’all think! There’s always room for improvement.

𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 l 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞

He walked his patrol like any other day as if nothing unusual had happened the day before. Even after it all unfolded, he remained confident. He knew a letter from the Capitol would come meaning he wouldn’t have to serve much longer. He has done his part, now they have to do theirs. As he patrolled, he paused, watching a young girl around his age talking to a market vendor. Nothing seemed off, except for her hand slipping down to take apples and stash them in her bag. She charmed the salesman with her gaze, pretending to listen to his rambling. Her movements were confident, as if she could do no wrong. How mistaken she was.

She smiled, ending the conversation and heading off in the opposite direction. He took a moment to study her. She wore a brown skirt layered alongside a short, tattered white dress, with a thin white cardigan on top. A green scarf held back her curls. He noted that her beauty could draw in any man, but that wasn’t why he’d paused. He was interested in her confidence as she stole in plain sight. Was she arrogant and reckless, or had she become so skilled she barely thought about it?

He glanced around and saw that no one else had noticed other than him. Spotting the green scarf in the crowd, he followed her. Once he got a hold of her he could bring her back to the market and let her endure the consequences of her actions. But it wouldn’t serve him in any way.

As he followed her through an alley, he noticed her walking faster after sensing his presence. He felt amusement but also annoyance for her. Did she really think she could escape him?

The moment she noticed him, it was almost by accident, a glimpse caught from the corner of her eye. She was weaving through the narrow, dimly lit streets, the weight of the day still clinging to her as she slipped between the sparse crowds.

“Wouldn’t want to be caught, would you?” His voice echoed through the alley once they were alone. It wasn’t a question, more of a statement that made her stop in her tracks. She looked back, pausing slightly at the sight of stark lines of his Peacekeeper's uniform, the blue fabric gleaming under the faint streetlights, contrasting sharply against the grit and grime of District 12. His piercing gaze held hers. What a shame. If she was in the Capitol, she could use her looks for far more than stealing. Such a waste of a pretty face he thought.

The jacket fit him with precise tailoring, each seam accentuating his tall, lean frame, giving him an imposing presence even in stillness. Its dark fabric clung to his shoulders, emphasizing his upright posture and adding to his air of controlled authority. His face was strikingly pale, almost ghostly in the dim light, making his features even more pronounced. His eyes, a piercing shade of blue, scanned his surroundings with a calm but relentless intensity, as if he missed nothing. The slight upward curve at the corners of his mouth hinted at a quiet confidence, even a trace of amusement, as if he enjoyed the silent power he held. His expression was unreadable cool, distant, yet utterly focused, leaving an impression that this was a man who expected to be obeyed without question.

“What are you going to do?” she asked, her voice uneasy as she realized the situation she found herself in. Alone in a dark alley with a peacemaker nonetheless.

“What am I going to do? Just decide how much trouble you’re worth.” His words sent a chill down her spine. Ignoring him, she tried to leave, only to halt again when his voice rang out.

“You don’t want to do that.”

Her heart pounded in her chest as she froze, the words hanging in the air. She didn’t dare turn around at first, but the subtle shift in the tension was impossible to ignore. The way Snow’s voice, calm and assured, sliced through the silence made her feel as if every movement was being watched, calculated.

She finally faced him, her breath shallow, eyes betraying the mixture of fear and defiance that churned within her. “What do you want from me?” Her voice barely rose above a whisper, the question escaping without her permission. She didn’t want to know, but she couldn’t stop herself from asking.

Snow took a slow step forward, his eyes narrowing slightly as he sized her up. There was a cold precision to his movements, as if everything he did had a purpose. He didn’t rush, he didn’t need to. He already had her where he wanted her, at least for now.

“What I want from you,” he began, his voice smooth, like a snake coiling around her. “A homecooked dinner would be nice once in a while”

The way he spoke those words made her stomach tighten. She could feel the weight of them, the danger lacing each syllable, as if they were an offer and a warning wrapped into one. It sounded too innocent for her to believe that it was the only intention he had with her.

Her mouth went dry. “And what do you offer in return?” She barely recognised her own voice, it was so laced with hesitation, but it was too late to take it back now.

Snow’s lips quirked into a smile, but it wasn’t kind, there was nothing warm about it. “What I offer in return,” he said, his gaze piercing, “is security. You won’t have to worry about having to steal again, and you’ll never have to fear being hungry again.”

The offer hung there, almost too good to be true, but her instincts screamed that it was a trap, one she was already caught in, whether she realised it or not.

She swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure. “And if I refuse?” she asked, her voice steadier than she felt, trying to act like she had a say in this.

He stepped closer, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating off him. His gaze never left hers. “What matters now is whether you’ll take this chance, or let it slip through your fingers. Refusing wouldn’t be a smart choice.”

Her heart raced, each beat a thunderous echo in her ears. The alley seemed to close in around her, the walls inching closer with every passing second. Snow's words hung in the air, a poisonous mist that threatened to suffocate her.

She tried to steady her breathing, to summon the confidence that had always been her shield. But it slipped away like sand through her fingers, leaving her exposed and vulnerable. Snow's presence loomed over her, a shadow that seemed to dim the very light around them.

"I don’t-" The words stumbled from her lips, foreign and clumsy. She hated how small her voice sounded, how it betrayed her uncertainty. The usual fire in her eyes flickered, threatened by the icy calm of Snow's gaze.

He took another step closer, and she instinctively stepped back, her heel catching on an uneven cobblestone. She stumbled slightly, her composure cracking further. Snow's smile widened almost imperceptibly, like a predator sensing weakness in its prey.

"Time's ticking," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper but somehow filling the entire alley. "And with every second, your options... slim."

A chill ran down her spine, sharp and sudden like a blade of ice. She felt trapped, cornered not just by the physical walls of the alley but by the weight of Snow's words, the implications of his offer. The confidence that had carried her through countless thefts now seemed a distant memory, replaced by a gnawing fear that threatened to consume her.

Her options weren’t really great. If she said no she thought she would lose her life but saying yes felt like signing away her soul. Looking around she searched for something that might help her get out this goddam alley. The options weren’t great. Either try running away or try to take one of the pipes to protect herself. None of the options would end positive, she just knew.

The probability of her being fast enough to run away or to fight him off were almost nonexistent. His physique was far stronger than hers, his presence alone imposing as it filled the narrow space between them. Each step he took seemed to close the distance effortlessly. She could feel the weight of his gaze, unyielding and heavy, like a force she couldn’t escape. Her own body, feeling tense and fragile in comparison.

Her gut told her to get out somehow but she knew that wasn’t an option. All this just because she chose to steal some apples. Everything in her mind screamed that this wasn’t just about apples and some dinner. This felt more like a cat and mouse game.

The way he stared at her completely still, not moving his eyes away from her. The world went quiet for a moment as his piercing eyes seemed to hold her to the ground. Something was different about him than other men she met. Everything seemed violent about his presence but somehow he was so collected. There was no need to demand obedience, he expected it. And she hated that she’s given it to him already.

“What is the point in giving me a choice if I can’t choose?“ her voice was steady but also soft with a hint of suspicion. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of showing too much fear, but there was no mistaking the uncertainty in her eyes.

Snow paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her, almost amused by her attempt at control. His lips curled into a thin smile, and for a moment, there was a glimmer of something dark in his gaze.

He leaned in ever so slightly, closing the space between them with a subtle shift of his posture, making the moment feel even more intimate, as if he were confiding in her.

“It’s more an opportunity that I’m offering.“

Goosebumps arose on her skin as she felt his breath on the side of her face. It wasn’t just a opportunity. A fear arose in her chest, what would happen when she accepted? The silence stretched after his words but it didn’t seem to affect him at the slightest. Him not saying anything was just encouraging her to get this over with.

She held his gaze, her voice steady but carrying a hint of defiance. “You already know my answer.“

Her voice held a quiet determination that hinted she wasn’t as easily intimidated as he might have thought.

Snow tilted his head slightly, his expression sharpening as he absorbed her response. A shadow of a smirk played across his lips, a mixture of intrigue and amusement, as though her defiance had only deepened his interest. He studied her in silence, the intensity of his gaze making the air between them feel charged.

“Lead the way,” he murmured, each word deliberate, laced with a quiet authority that made it clear he wasn’t asking. “I’ll accompany you home.”

He gestured with a subtle wave of his hand, a show of politeness that was somehow more unsettling than reassuring. His eyes never left her as though he were both her escort and warden. His tone was low, controlled, making it clear that he would be by her side whether she wanted him there or not.

She looked at him, attempting a casual tone, though she knew it might fall flat under his piercing gaze.

„I have nothing at home to cook for you“ she said, hoping the simple statement would somehow deter him.

Snow raised an eyebrow, an amused smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as though her words had only entertained him. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that,” he replied smoothly, his tone calm yet edged with something almost playful. “I’m sure I’ll find the visit worthwhile.” Her mind raced as she second guessed his words. What would happen when she was alone with him in an closed room. The alley was already too much for her but being with him alone under a roof? That would get even more intense.

She started walking, leading the way as he told her to. As she started leading the way he walked next to her adjusting to her pace. Matching her steps perfectly. This felt too normal. Walking around at night while the crickets chirped in the background. And it would’ve been if it wasn’t for him.

she took the three steps up to her front door as she struggled with the key‘s for a second, the darkness in the night wasn’t making it easier for her.His presence weighing on her as he stood behind her.

The key finally slid into the lock with a soft click. She hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open.Snow stood still behind her, his posture relaxed but undeniably attentive, as if waiting for her to make the next move. She pushed to door open and got in. While she turned around to him, he already had let himself in and brushed past her. She watched him and felt weird at the sight of him here. He seemed too big for her space. The uniform didn’t help with that.

“I didn’t invite you in,” she said, her voice quieter than she meant it to be.

A flicker of amusement crossed his features as he stepped closer, his shadow falling over her. Snow’s eyes moved slowly over her home, taking in every small detail, and finally settled back on her. “You live simply,” he observed, his voice carrying that familiar note of amusement. “It suits you.” He paused, his gaze sharpening. “Though I wonder how long you can keep it this way.” For a moment, she considered brushing it off, offering a sharp retort or forcing a casual laugh, but the weight of his gaze, his calm scrutiny, made her hesitate. His words were not just about her living conditions, they felt like a subtle threat, a reminder that whatever fragile peace she had built could crumble under the weight of his influence.

She felt a sudden tightness in her chest, his words striking like an uninvited invasion into the small space she had carved for herself. Her gaze briefly flickered around the room at the worn furniture, the cluttered counter, the untouched corners. His observation felt too intimate, as though he saw right through her carefully constructed life, exposing its fragility. There was no malice in his tone, but it didn’t matter. The implication was clear, and it sent a cold ripple of discomfort down her spine.

Snow’s gaze lingered for a moment longer on the surroundings before his eyes shifted back to her, his expression unreadable but piercing. “Do you live alone?” he asked, the question almost casual, yet there was something underlying in his tone that made it feel like a probe, as if he were gathering pieces to a puzzle only he could see.

The question hung in the air, and she felt a wave of discomfort wash over her. There was no reason for him to ask. It wasn’t the kind of detail that should matter. Yet, his presence here, his ever watchful eyes, made it feel like everything about her life was suddenly under his scrutiny.

She hesitated for a moment, her pulse quickening. “Why do you want to know?” she asked, her voice betraying the caution she tried to mask. Her fingers tightened around the doorframe as she shifted her weight slightly, instinctively wanting to create some space between them, but she knew it wouldn’t matter.

Snow’s lips curled into a small, almost imperceptible smile, his eyes never leaving hers. “Just curious,” he said softly, his voice smooth, but there was a chill to it that made her wonder whether he already knew more than he was letting on. “It’s always… telling, isn’t it?” His eyes drifted around the room again, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was reading her in ways she didn’t want him to.

Snow’s gaze remained steady as he spoke, his voice smooth and casual, but there was an underlying edge that made her stomach tighten. “I’ll pick you up at work tomorrow,” he said, as if it were a simple, everyday arrangement.

Her breath caught, and she instinctively took a half step back, her eyes narrowing as she processed his words. “How do you know where I work?” she asked, the question slipping out before she could stop it. Her tone was sharp, suspicion threading through her words, as she tried to keep the unease from showing in her voice.

Snow didn’t flinch as if her surprise was exactly what he’d been expecting. “I know more about you than you think,” he replied, his tone still that of casual amusement, but with something colder lurking beneath. “Information has a way of finding its way to me.” She felt a chill race up her spine, but she didn’t give in to the fear bubbling inside. Instead, she met his eyes, trying to hold her ground. “And if I don’t want you to pick me up?” she asked, her voice steadier than she felt.

He shrugged nonchalantly, the smile never fading. “It’s not a request,” he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “I’ll be there, whether you want me to be or not.”

Snow’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, as though weighing her, as if deciding whether to say something more, but ultimately, he turned his attention to the door. He stepped back, the movement smooth and deliberate, like a predator leaving its prey but always keeping an eye on it.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, his voice low but certain, the words hanging between them like a promise or a threat. There was a finality to them, as though he were marking his place in her life whether she liked it or not.

He didn’t wait for a response, his figure retreating into the shadows of the street as he stepped out into the cool night air. His movements were measured, effortless, as though everything he did was part of a plan only he could see.

She watched him go, the silence settling in after the door closed behind him, and for a long moment, the weight of his presence lingered in the room, even though he was no longer there. The feeling of being watched, of being known, clung to her like a second skin.

The echo of his footsteps faded, but his words, his promises, stayed with her, haunting her long after he disappeared into the dark.

Even after Snow had left, she couldn’t shake the unsettling sensation that clung to the air, as if his presence had seeped into the very walls of her home. The quiet that followed felt thick and heavy, almost oppressive, as if the space itself had been altered by his visit.

She glanced around the room, her gaze drifting over the small, familiar things her worn couch, the half finished cup of tea on the counter. But nothing seemed the same now. His absence didn’t bring relief. It brought an eerie stillness, a reminder that he had been here, that he knew this space, even if only for a moment.

Before she went to bed, she checked the door three times, her fingers grazing over the lock, turning it back and forth to be sure. She pulled the curtains closed, then checked again, making certain there wasn't a sliver of space left for anyone to see in. The room fell into complete darkness, but she could still feel his presence lingering as though he hadn't really left. It was an eerie sensation, one that made her heart beat faster even as she lay beneath her covers, staring at the ceiling.

Every time she closed her eyes, his face flashed before her. That calm, calculating gaze that seemed to pierce straight through her, as though he knew things about her that even she didn't know. She tried to shake it off, to ignore the shiver of curiosity and dread twisting through her mind, but the questions began pressing down, unyielding and relentless.

How did he know her? She had seen him only once before today, barely long enough to catch a name, and yet he seemed to know things such as where she worked. The realisation made her stomach churn. Had he been watching her before tonight? Had she simply never noticed the shadow that lingered in the background, that invisible thread weaving itself into the corners of her life?

And what did he truly want from her?

His words played over and over in her mind, each one carrying a weight she couldn't quite decipher. His tone had been laced with something she couldn't name, something cold and almost intimate. He'd made her feel as though she were walking a fine line, one wrong move away from consequences she didn't want to imagine.

She shifted restlessly, pulling the blankets tighter, though they did nothing to keep out the feeling of exposure.

Alone in the darkness, she was acutely aware of how vulnerable she was, how easily he'd managed to unnerve her, twisting her own mind against her. And yet, despite her fear, she felt a strange pull toward him, a desire to understand, even as it terrified her. As the minutes passed, she lay in silence, her thoughts circling back to that piercing gaze, that unreadable face, and the unsettling truth that, somehow, her life no longer felt like her own.

[prof-snakewood]

I do have some insight about the sky and the wishes made from it.

All living things are well made of stardust as you know, wishes disappear when taken to a universe without the cursed sky. And from what I've seen nothing created is exactly right. It's like an approximation, usually missing some things and not right.

It's more clear with wished people from what I've noticed.

I think it's like an ai, mimicking things and taking what it's given to help with that but not exactly right.

- @skyfire-the-pokemon-biologist

I have my own thoughts.

I have been doing some . Reading.

Whatever wish is made, logically, will be attached somehow to the Jirachi in Zee’s possession. From what is known of Jirachi in my home universe, the wish made by a Jirachi may only persist so long as the Jirachi that granted it is alive and well. The wish is based strictly on what the caster knows, and what the Jirachi knows. Hence why they seem occasionally Wrong. Especially something as complex as a human being.

I must emphasize the alive and ‘well’ part of this equation.

Under normal circumstances, a Jirachi may grant a handful of wishes at best and then return to its slumber to rest. Again this is information from my localized universe. Take it with a grain of salt, but take it.

Jirachi commonly deny wishes to the wicked and unworthy. So the story goes, they’re even known to Mankey’s Paw such people. But that is not happening, is it? Hm. That is because this Jirachi is not conscious of its surroundings. It’s asleep, it is— sleep walking perhaps.

If this Jirachi is still currently asleep, as it seemed to be in the video Zee posted for us to see, then it has no idea what wishes it’s granting, who they are being granted to, or why. It cannot make the decision to deny an evil or frivolous wish, and it may not stop itself from granting too many wishes.

My theory is, currently, and again, I have no idea what the rules are in connection to everyone’s joint universes— please excuse that —

My theory is that this Jirachi will eventually be granting so many wishes, it won’t be able to sustain it any longer. It will begin to feel pain. And when you feel pain, you would normally wake up.

If this Jirachi wakes up, I surmise it would undo every wish granted. Or worse, it would punish us all for taking advantage of its sleeping form.

[separocean-anxiety]

Okay look I haven't seen WALL-E in years but if they wanted to convey the whole "humans are MORE like machines than the ACTUAL robots now" thing without being horrendously fatphobic and ableist couldn't they have JUST animated them.

Think about it; WALL-E does that weird uncanny thing at the beginning where they use real live actual footage of people, which lends to the perception of this world as a future mirror of our own. Wouldn't it be neat if they emphasized humanity's newfound metaphorical resemblance to unquestioning machines by just animating them in CGI. You know. As in 3D models? Digital puppets???

Like you did not have to go and give them all the same body type and equate fatness and the inability to walk with laziness like oh my god you could've populated the Axiom with people with diverse bodies and mobility aids if needed without vilifying any single one and the mere FACT that they're animated would be the sign that something here is horribly awry: That humanity's evolved into an abstraction of itself at the will of a higher power (corporations, AI—in a meta sense, the animators themselves).

I say this as a long time fan of animation btw; this would use the medium to further enhance the story. In my head, this would just be more subversive and cool, a la the World of Tomorrow films, which did this entire concept way better thanks in no small part to Hertzfeldt's iconic "simple" animation style. The visual minimalism of the trilogy contrasts jarringly with the heavy lore and themes and philosophical ideas explored by its characters and it rocks.

Idk I'm just tired of being frustrated by this film; it's got stuff I really oughta love; its director made my favorite film of all time, a film that CENTERS AROUND DISABILITY AND IS RARELY ANALYZED FROM THAT ANGLE!!!!

I guess I should also note that I write all of this as a skinny able-bodied person but that doesn't make me any less pissed off about the choices that were made.

[rangerzath]

I've finally played the Lake House and now I'm going to talk about it for awhile. Spoilers below the break.

I will start off by saying this is one of the BEST DLCs I have ever played in any game.

I have always loved Kiran as a character since we first saw her, but The Lake House really highlighted just how fantastically rounded and detailed this character is given the short amount of time we spend with her. Her humor, the fear she experiences, but above all the determination she has to do her job makes a great character.

I appreciated how much we see of the everyman FBC agent. Not everyone at the FBC is a parautilitarian, a lovable scientist dork, or the Director. There are normal people working there believing in what they do. This is a very important part of the overall story of this organization to me. Often I see the Bureau demonized as a whole by the fandom and that really upsets me. Bad apples are everywhere, as we see in this DLC. But we also see how a good person like Kiran stands up against it. Even through the emails and documents we find in game you see good people trying their best against that evil. I am again thankful for Remedy's writing team that they really highlighted that. Even going as far as showing Darling denying a request to capture live test subjects, which means he learned after Dylan. You even see that Trench denied outlandish requests despite being being in the late stages of a galactic war raging in his mind.

You know I had to talk about Trench and Darling, but it was nice to see them again in this way. They still felt a part of this world in a way that made sense. Document storytelling has been one of my favorite things about Control. They present us with just enough framework to use on our own canvas to try and piece together details of those blank pages.

Did I get emotional over signatures? Yes, yes I did.

The atmosphere of this DLC hit all the right horror points. From the moment you walk into The Lake House it captures all the scariest horror vibes from the main game. The paint spattered on the walls like blood, but somehow even creepier because of how it wouldn't make sense to see paint like that (until you figure out just what is happening). Being helpless to the painted because again you are just an FBC Agent not a parautilitarian emphasized this feeling.

Using a picture frame set up with Kiran telling Saga what happened at The Lake House made sense and gives us the point in time Kiran would be providing this information. She left us clues in the main game with her dialogue of something horrible that went down at the Lake House, so it feels very appropriate that we get to see that in detail.

The question that resounded throughout this DLC of what is art was very appropriate given the struggles we face today with AI and plagiarism. How is art perceived and how does its emotional impact play on its viewer? Again the writing team really shines here with all the little details. The room with the ATDs was truly horrifying. I don't think they have ever made a room with no one feel so ominous.

Obviously there was a lot in the DLC for Control fans. We will be speculating on every detail for the next couple of years. I always hoped this last DLC of Alan Wake would lead into Control 2, so I couldn't be happier to see just that happen.

Unlike some DLCs that feel as though they were an afterthought, the story feels like the natural ending of Alan Wake 2's story. It felt like the only goodbye we would have with this game and its characters.

The ending song was a beautiful final note to capstone a game that Remedy struggled for so long to make, and I imagine at times doubted that it would ever be made.

I often struggle to put my feelings into written words, but I wanted to try and get them out. Remedy's future looks bright with multiple games on the horizon, but we see how quickly companies can run into issues and nothing is set in stone. Anything could happen in these uncertain times. We may never see these characters again, and most certainly not in the form they are now. It makes me really sad to think we may never see Saga and FBI Casey or Kiran ever again. Maybe there won't ever be an Alan Wake 3. Maybe we won't see Alan battle the Dark Presence again. Maybe we won't ever see Dark Place Casey's echos pave a path for Alan. Maybe we won't see Alice show us just how much a character can grown into her own. Maybe we don't even get to see more of Jesse, or Emily, or Arish. I already know with the passing of James McCaffrey some of these things are impossible. But its not only death that separates seeing a character again. The song End of an Era highlights this goodbye. This end scene. The curtains close. It is an end.

What I appreciated in this song was that it highlighted the struggle of getting to that ending. No matter what goal you are trying to reach, whether it's Alan trying to escape the Dark Place, Jesse finding out what happened to her brother, any one of us creating things that make us happy, that path always has its ups and downs. And that end will always be bittersweet. It will change us. It is a goodbye.

Whatever Remedy creates in the future it could be something we may like or something we may end up disliking. They could ruin characters or make brand new ones for us to fall in love with all over again. We can take that or leave it. Whatever they decide to do. Maybe we like Firebreak and their new type of Remedy game, maybe we don't. But none of that will change how we felt about these prior games and how these characters made us feel at this moment in time. We can look back and remember how it made us feel. When we laughed, when we cried. The journey they took us on.

I will always be grateful that I was able to experience these games. They moved me in ways I cannot find the words to fully describe. I will carry these feelings forward and cherish this memory.

“There are no happy endings. Endings are the saddest part, So just give me a happy middle And a very happy start.” - Shel Silverstein

[geekysciencemom]

I have always connected with Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time". I saw myself in Meg. She was different. She didn't fit in. I admired her perseverance and determination. I was fascinated with the concept of a tesseract and the science and art behind it.

Since it is late and I am tired, here is some quotes describing the book:

"The central problem is the universal struggle between good and evil, represented by the "Dark Thing" and its influence on the planet Camazotz, where everyone is forced into conformity and controlled by the entity "IT"."

"The moral of "A Wrinkle in Time" is that love and individuality are powerful forces that can overcome darkness and evil. The story emphasizes the importance of embracing one's unique strengths and fighting for what is right, even in the face of adversity."

We find ourselves fighting the "Dark Thing" now, the tRump Administration, and the "IT" (Elon and his influence).

Apparently, L'Engle wrote the book as part of her rebellion against Christian piety and her quest for a personal theology. At the time, she was also reading with great interest the new physics of Albert Einstein and Max Planck.

We are in a battle with Christian Nationalism. "Christian nationalism is based on the premise that America was founded as a Christian nation and should be governed by godly men with Christian principles. It makes an exception for [tRump] who is regarded by many as a modern-day Cyrus, who like the ancient pagan king who provided for the return of Jews to Israel, is fighting on the side of contemporary evangelical Christians."

One of the most dangerous tendencies of Christian Nationalists is their attacks on modern science. Christian Nationalists reject clear and compelling scientific evidence which has lead to dire consequences.

People, including children, have died due to their anti-vax stance. What happened during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was a prime example of so many people not trusting science and the experts trying to save lives. Measles was deemed eradicated in the US in 2000. Now there are over 400 cases of Measles currently in Texas and a six-year-old unvaccinated child has died from this preventable disease.

Many adherents of Christian nationalism are racists, homophobic, anti-Muslim, and opposed to women’s rights. Others favor Dominionism, which involves taking Christian control of the seven mountains of government, education, media, arts and entertainment, religion, family, and business. Still others openly state that they don’t want everyone to vote.

This is not a war that we can just sit back and wait it out. What is happening now in this country is worse than what happened during tRump's first term. His administration along with Elon must be stopped!

"How does Meg defeat it in A Wrinkle in Time?

Meg uses her stubborn love for her father and her brother, Charles Wallace, to defeat the evil IT, with the help of her friend Calvin and three celestial beings with strange powers."

Those celestial beings in the book are more like guardians and advisors. They help, provide tools and guidance, but they can only do so much. Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin need to work together to stop "IT" and bring her father home.

We, as a country, need to work together. The tRump Administration wants us divided and uninformed. Elon wants to control the narrative through his AI, his social media platform, and through DOGE. He thinks he can buy whatever and whomever he wants. The tRump Administration continues to spin lies and pushes propaganda. tRump himself is a pathological liar and only cares about being a dictator and getting revenge.

Cruelty, compliance, submission, conformity - all things Meg fought against - that's what we need to fight against now.

"In an attempt to fight "IT", Meg and Calvin invoke the same creative geniuses who Mrs. Whatsit initially told them had dedicated their lives to waging war with the "Dark Thing". Thus, Calvin quotes Shakespeare and Meg recites Jefferson's Declaration of Independence in resistance to the rhythmic of "IT's" pulsing power."

Meg and Calvin overcame their insecurities and embraced their creativity in order to resist "IT's" power. That is what we all need to do. We must be creative and embrace our strengths to resist the manipulation, abuse, and corruption by tRump and Elon. We can triumph if we work together, just like how Meg did.

"What was the author's purpose for writing A Wrinkle in Time?

Madeleine L'Engle wrote this young adult novel to showcase the struggle between good and evil. Her heroine Meg is a flawed teenager who must work with her companions and face her own flaws in order to save her father and then her brother. The novel also strongly claims that unconditional love is able to triumph over the worst evil."

[horrorvisuals]

Obscure (2004)

Obscure is a survival horror game emphasizing co-op gameplay with its wide range of characters. Taking place inside a massive school building, it lets you control five main characters and is still playable on modern PCs!

Obscure gives you the ability to control any of these five characters and what's better is, that they all have different features, personalities, and abilities.

There is technically a 6th playable character but I won't say more on that to not spoil things.

As I was saying, abilities. They are pretty interesting. For example, Josh lets you know if there is anything left to do in an area. Items to pick up or things to interact with, that kind of stuff. Pretty crucial for thorough exploration. It's important in a survival horror game.

Stan cracks locks easier due to his background, Kenny runs fast and packs a strong punch, Shannon gives tips when you're stuck on puzzles and heals other characters, and Ashley is better at using weapons.

They all have their own benefits!

Obscure plays pretty much like any other survival horror game from back in the day. It features semi-dynamic camera angles, with semi-tank controls. Exploration, item management, combat, navigation, everything is here.

As a somewhat unique feature though, Obscure also lets you combine some items with others and actively use them. For example, you can tape a flashlight to any firearm in the game if you can find adhesive tape.

Aside from firearms, the game also features melee weapons and they're pretty simple to use. There is a good "feeling" to them. They pack quite the punch.

In Obscure, darkness is your enemy. If you played Alan Wake, then you might recognize its flashlight mechanic. When focus your flashlight on dark areas, you banish the darkness around those areas. You also use it in the same way to weaken the monsters before attacking them.

The character change mechanic is pretty slick too. You just press a single button and change the characters. Obviously, you don't just run around with a party of 5 people all the time. You always play in pairs.

There are, however, meeting spots in the game and you are able to change to other characters in these spots. These also act as fast-travel points and help you navigate the environment more efficiently.

Story-wise, Obscure has some intriguing moments and an overall compelling narrative. The game starts with Kenny playing basketball by himself after school. His stuff gets stolen and he follows the thief to a suspicious-looking cellar inside the school grounds.

Later on, things happen, people disappear and you find yourself in a (mostly) abandoned school. It consists of massive corridors, classrooms, underground sections, and yards, it's a survival horror fanatic's dream.

Obscure has a perma-death mechanic. If any of the characters die at any point in the game, they are out for good. Obviously, you can go back to a previous save and get them back but if you are looking for a more hardcore challenge, it's there.

I keep emphasizing its co-op play feature but while Obscure is definitely more entertaining with a friend, it's completely playable solo as well. Whichever pair you choose, the other student is always controlled by AI and they're usually pretty decent.

The best thing about all this is that Obscure is still playable on Steam. It plays well, it's compatible with higher resolutions and you can actually play co-op using Steam's Remote Play feature. It's just like couch co-op.

Its sequel, Obscure 2 is also on Steam and it's also perfectly playable. I'll make another thread for it if you enjoy reading this one.

Seriously, if you haven't played these games before, I can't recommend them enough. They are great games AND they're playable in co-op. How many classic co-op survival horror games do we have these days? Not many, let me tell you that.

Let me know if you give it a shot. I'm curious if you're gonna like it. And if you have already played it, then tell other people why they shouldn't skip this one. Here is the Steam link for the game.

It's actually on sale right now along with its sequel.

[shadowslocked]

The thing that fascinates me about Caines adventure in Candy Kingdom is that there is a layer of complexity to it

Like, it could have been “retrieve the syrup truck from the bandits” and left at that, but instead the situation is made more complex by motives and an additional character

The gators aren’t just stealing the syrup because they want to, Gumigoo is specifically doing it to save his sickly mother. He also refers to his home as a ‘village’, meaning it likely is not nearly as large or prosperous as the Kingdom. This introduces a class conflict between the two sides, with the lower class resulting to stealing from the higher class in order to try to help those in their village

Added on, the Queen doesn’t fret about the syrup being taken for any noble reason. She wants it back simply because it belongs to her, making you more inclined to side with the Bandits/Gumigoo

Then you have the Fudge, a chaotic element in the story that the cast likely can only meet by being knocked off the road. Its goal is simple in wanting to eat candy people, having no moral dilemmas about committing murder to satisfy its hunger.

While most of the cast would be inclined not to entertain helping the Fudge, Jax is all for the possible chaos and destruction it could unleash.

I’m not sure if it’s due to Caine or him giving the NPC-AI a boost, but the story essentially introduces three to four routes you can take

1) Help the Queen, 2) Help the Gators, 3) Figure out a way to help both, 4) Join the Fudge

And even just making this list, I’m realizing there’s actually a lot of other ways this adventure could theoretically go. Such as letting the gators take the truck but then helping the Fudge destroy the Kingdom. The adventure doesn’t strictly have one outcome, it’s influenced by the players actions to surprising degree

A lot of the elements of the adventure seem to fit with another Cast members desire. The Fudge and chasing down the bandits is for Jax who craves action and violence, the Kingdom appeals to Ragatha and Gangle. While it’s not something that they encountered, it’s very likely they would have been affected by Gumigoos story abou lt wanting to save his mother. Kinger is more neutral and seems to be along for the ride. Caine tried to appeal to Zooble by emphasizing the improved AI, likely meaning they feel more realistic than previous versions.

It makes me curious if some future adventures will have the same level of complexity to them. Naturally, probably, because it also makes the show more interesting. But given its nature, it could also get away with a more simple idea like the first episode if it played its cards right

[frank-olivier]

Semiconductors: The Driving Force Behind Technological Advancements

The semiconductor industry is a crucial part of our modern society, powering everything from smartphones to supercomputers. The industry is a complex web of global interests, with multiple players vying for dominance.

Taiwan has long been the dominant player in the semiconductor industry, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) accounting for 54% of the market in 2020. TSMC's dominance is due in part to the company's expertise in semiconductor manufacturing, as well as its strategic location in Taiwan. Taiwan's proximity to China and its well-developed infrastructure make it an ideal location for semiconductor manufacturing.

However, Taiwan's dominance also brings challenges. The company faces strong competition from other semiconductor manufacturers, including those from China and South Korea. In addition, Taiwan's semiconductor industry is heavily dependent on imports, which can make it vulnerable to supply chain disruptions.

China is rapidly expanding its presence in the semiconductor industry, with the government investing heavily in research and development (R&D) and manufacturing. China's semiconductor industry is led by companies such as SMIC and Tsinghua Unigroup, which are rapidly expanding their capacity. However, China's industry still lags behind Taiwan's in terms of expertise and capacity.

South Korea is another major player in the semiconductor industry, with companies like Samsung and SK Hynix owning a significant market share. South Korea's semiconductor industry is known for its expertise in memory chips such as DRAM and NAND flash. However, the industry is heavily dependent on imports, which can make it vulnerable to supply chain disruptions.

The semiconductor industry is experiencing significant trends, including the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), and the increasing demand for 5G technology. These trends are driving semiconductor demand, which is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.

However, the industry also faces major challenges, including a shortage of skilled workers, the increasing complexity of semiconductor manufacturing and the need for more sustainable and environmentally friendly manufacturing processes.

To overcome the challenges facing the industry, it is essential to invest in research and development, increase the availability of skilled workers and develop more sustainable and environmentally friendly manufacturing processes. By working together, governments, companies and individuals can ensure that the semiconductor industry remains competitive and sustainable, and continues to drive innovation and economic growth in the years to come.

Chip War, the Race for Semiconductor Supremacy (2023) (TaiwanPlus Docs, October 2024)

Dr. Keyu Jin, a tenured professor of economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science, argues that many in the West misunderstand China’s economic and political models. She maintains that China became the most successful economic story of our time by shifting from primarily state-owned enterprises to an economy more focused on entrepreneurship and participation in the global economy.

Dr. Keyu Jin: Understanding a Global Superpower - Another Look at the Chinese Economy (Wheeler Institute for Economy, October 2024)

Dr. Keyu Jin: China's Economic Prospects and Global Impact (Global Institute For Tomorrow, July 2024)

The following conversation highlights the complexity and nuance of Xi Jinping's ideology and its relationship to traditional Chinese thought, and emphasizes the importance of understanding the internal dynamics of the Chinese Communist Party and the ongoing debates within the Chinese system.

Dr. Kevin Rudd: On Xi Jinping - How Xi's Marxist Nationalism Is Shaping China and the World (Asia Society, October 2024)

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

[noitsbecky127]

rebecca watches ds9: hard time

paramount gave me a snw s3 trailer before this ep. cannot wait for that

what is happening here

miles???

oh shit is this the episode where prison time gets beamed directly into your brain?

yes it is! i’ve heard this ep mentioned before, generally in the context of people irl trying to create this particular torment nexus

didn’t realize the episode would open with its conclusion and be all about the aftermath, but i’m down for that

love a good character-driven episode

so if you ask too many questions they beam prison directly into your mind? man fuck this system

why hasn’t the dominion taken over these guys. if you’re gonna be dicks you should at least take out the other dicks in the meanwhile

i think kira’s trying to be comforting but i feel like emphasizing that it wasn’t real isn’t gonna help

ok so we’re gonna flash to the implanted memories at least

i wonder, are the other prisoners other people undergoing prison beams, or just AI

whatever the case, i wonder why he isn’t mentioning this other guy

is there a therapist aboard ds9? that seems like something you should send miles to

molly continues to be adorable

yes! there is a counselor! unfortunately the fact that miles is already seeing him 13 minutes in means it probably won’t be very effective

dear god he looks so wrong with a beard

time for prison art class

his cellmate seems like a positive presence so he is definitely ai and a tragic fate will definitely befall him

oh the bed probably feels too soft now

I love that Keiko doesn’t try to move him, she just gives him the blanket

it’s like the fucking lamp story on reddit

miles seems to be feeling a little more like himself but that may just be a facade

miles you CANNOT be skipping therapy like that

ds9 has multiple counselors! thank god

repression is not the answer!

miles is a liar. he definitely missed julian

god this is so fucked up

honestly that probably sums up this entire episode. i could end this liveblog right here and that’d cover everything

but i won’t. there will be more to say

the hallucinating is getting out of hand

you know it’s bad when even your hallucination is worried about you

sisko is the only mf here who knows how to handle trauma

confining miles anywhere sounds like a bad idea. the trauma here is being imprisoned

oh miles is crashing the fuck out

he definitely should not be left alone

i am Worried

that’s gonna be a core memory for molly

oh jesus christ

oh no

shit shit shit

MILES DO NOT DO THAT

oh

oh my god

“fucked up” doesn’t feel like a strong enough phrase to describe this. any of this. i’m not sure if there exists a phrase strong enough for it

mankind “outgrew hate and rage” because earth became a utopia. none of that applies when you’re starving and isolated for twenty years

julian out here with the emotional intelligence!

well that was a very good and deeply disturbing episode

[freddi00]

Kamen Rider Zero-One Liveblog Analysis! Episodes 30-45 + RealXTime, 01hers and... Look this season is good, ok?

Man... What do i even say? I love Zero-One. I started this series trying to see if its as bad of a season as i remember, but now that's so beyond being question i don't even know what to write here. Zero-One is amazing and i want to slap myself for giving it a 5/10 before

This isn't gonna be as structured as the previous posts but ill do my best

Topic 1: The Place Of AI In The World

Not much to say this time around, as after episode 29 this topic is dropped entirely. The story stops being about an ai allegory and fully starts treating humagears as another species we need to learn to live with. Honestly I'm glad this is the case because this topic was like the only cause of my issues with the show.

Topic 2: Humanity's Potential

The show continues to emphasize that it's the humans to that are the source of all the issues with humagears, but makes sure to highlight that now that Humagears are their own species with thoughts and feelings they are just as capable of malice as them. This is what leads to the Aruto and Horobi conflict. Two malicious people going against each other not realizing what their actions mean for the world

Topic 3. Coexistence

The show concludes by saying that the true enemy all along wasn't a human or humagear. It was the Ark that's inside of each of us. Like Azu says, there's a bit of God in all of us, and there's a bit of Ark. The Ark isn't a single entity. Anyone can be Ark. It will never be defeated because the Ark IS malice, something that as much as we try, we can't rid ourselves of as a society. So it's up to us to be kind and care for one another and never spread it's disease, so the moment Ark returns is delayed ever passing day.

...look. i know this one turns out pretty short and anticlimactic. I just have nothing to say to really put into words how much i love Zero-One. If feels like saying anything good about it is stating the obvious. It clicked that much with me this time around. Even 01hers.

I guess the moral of the story is to give seasons you disliked another shot. Try to look at them from a different angle, not just the one that made you hate it. Who knows, if Zero-One became my second favorite seasons then maybe that season you didn't like will become a favorite for you too

[siringadev]

Here what the Twitter AI said when I asked about the relationship between Weiss and Nero

In Final Fantasy VII, specifically within the expanded universe of the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, Weiss the Immaculate and Nero the Sable are brothers with a deep and complex relationship. They are both key characters in Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII- and appear in related titles like Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. Here's an overview of their bond:

Weiss the Immaculate is the older brother and the leader of Deepground, a secretive Shinra military organization. Known as the strongest member of the Tsviets—an elite group within Deepground—he carries the title "The Immaculate" or "Pure White Emperor," reflecting his commanding presence and power. Nero the Sable, his younger brother, is the second-in-command of the Tsviets and possesses unique abilities tied to darkness, a result of horrific experiments involving stagnant Mako that inadvertently killed their mother during Nero's birth.

Their relationship is defined by an intense, almost obsessive mutual devotion. Weiss is portrayed as calm, charismatic, and authoritative, while Nero is quieter, brooding, and emotionally volatile—yet fiercely loyal to his brother. Nero harbors a deep love and reverence for Weiss, viewing him as his only true family and the one person who has ever shown him kindness in a life marked by isolation and dehumanization due to his dangerous powers. This devotion is so strong that Nero’s actions are almost entirely driven by Weiss’s interests and Deepground’s cause, with rare exceptions where he indulges in tormenting others like Vincent Valentine or Shelke.

Weiss, in turn, seems to genuinely care for Nero, though his leadership role and possession by Hojo’s digital consciousness later in Dirge of Cerberus complicate his true feelings. Their bond is symbolized by their contrasting names—Weiss meaning "white" in German and Nero meaning "black" in Italian—highlighting their complementary yet opposing natures. This dynamic is further emphasized by their shared history as products of Deepground’s experiments, with Weiss being a "pure" SOLDIER untainted by Jenova cells and Nero a volatile creation of Chaos-tainted Mako.

In Dirge of Cerberus, Nero’s dedication reaches its peak when he works to revive Weiss after his apparent death, learning secrets of Omega and Chaos to fulfill his brother’s (and Hojo’s) plans. In the game’s climax, Nero merges with Weiss to aid his fusion with Omega, paralleling Vincent’s bond with Chaos, showing their willingness to sacrifice everything for each other. Their relationship carries undertones of dependency and tragedy, as Nero’s emotional instability and Weiss’s commanding detachment create a dynamic where they balance each other’s strengths and weaknesses, yet remain trapped by their origins and circumstances.

In Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, their sibling bond is reaffirmed, with Nero’s worshipful attitude toward Weiss evident in his actions, such as gleefully carrying out missions in his brother’s name. While the full depth of their story from Dirge of Cerberus isn’t replicated, their appearances reinforce their inseparable connection within the Deepground hierarchy.

In essence, Weiss and Nero’s relationship is one of profound loyalty, love, and mutual reliance, shaped by their shared trauma and the contrasting roles they play—Weiss as the guiding light and Nero as the shadowed protector.

True. And if you give more information to it, Weinero quotes from DoC, Intergrade and Opera Omnia, the more profound the analysis will be. especially about Arachnero and Phalanspheres connection with the myth of Arachne and Phalang. Ah, and Nero's VA word about Nero being very yandere and brocon 🤭

[darkmaga-returns]

U.S. Inks $142 Billion Arms Deal with Saudi Arabia. Trump lifts sanctions on Syria. Israel targets Mohammed Sinwar. Orbán Exposes EU's Destructive Agenda. Researchers Claim to Have Found Noah’s Ark

Lioness of Judah Ministry

May 14, 2025

U.S. Inks Massive $142 Billion Arms Deal with Saudi Arabia

The United States and Saudi Arabia reached a $142 billion arms deal, President Donald Trump shared on Tuesday.

Trump’s announcement came during his speech at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, amid his state visit to the Middle East. “In addition to purchases of $142 billion of American-made military equipment by our great Saudi partners, the largest ever, this week, there are multibillion dollar commercial deals with Amazon, Oracle, AMD…Uber, Qualcomm, Johnson & Johnson, and many, many more,” the president said. The commander-in-chief touted the quality of American military products moments earlier. “Nobody makes military equipment like us; the best military equipment, the best missiles, the best rockets, the best everything. Best submarines — by the way, most lethal weapon in the world.”

Trump, Saudi Crown Prince MBS, and the Sounds of “Y.M.C.A.”

Trump announces big 'deal' with Saudi Crown Prince: What does it mean for us little people?

While the media focuses on the billions being invested and jobs 'created' in a deal tailor made for America-first soundbites, what's the hidden agenda, the story behind the story? Lets break it down.

Leo’s Newsletter

Trump announces big 'deal' with Saudi Crown Prince: What does it mean for us little people?

President Donald Trump has agreed to a $600 billion investment deal with Saudi Arabia that also includes $20 billion in Saudi investment in AI data centers in the United States and billions more in arms shipments to Saudi Arabia…

Read more

17 hours ago · 73 likes · 54 comments · Leo Hohmann

Trump calls on Saudi Arabia to join Abraham Accords recognizing Israel

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — President Trump called on Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel during a speech to the oil-rich kingdom’s leaders on Tuesday — saying “you’ll be greatly honoring me” by doing so.

Trump frequently referred to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by name during his speech at the Saudi-US investment forum as the country’s de facto ruler watched from the front row, flanked by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. “With the historic Abraham Accords that we’re so proud of, all the momentum was aimed at peace, aimed very successfully,” Trump said.

Trump lifts sanctions on Syria, urges new leaders to 'show us something special'

US President Trump announces the lifting of US sanctions on Syria following the Assad regime’s fall, calling it “a chance at greatness” for the war-torn country.

In a landmark shift in American foreign policy, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States will lift sanctions on Syria, following the fall of the Assad regime last December. Trump made the declaration during an address at the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh, where he praised the new Syrian leadership and emphasized the importance of offering the war-torn nation a fresh start. “Syria, they’ve had their share of travesty, war, killing in many years,” Trump stated, as quoted by CNN. “That’s why my administration has already taken the first steps toward restoring normal relations between the United States and Syria for the first time in more than a decade.”

Trump castigates Iran in lengthy speech before Saudi leadership

Speaking before Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other top Saudi and US officials, President Donald Trump spent much of a lengthy speech on Tuesday criticizing Iran while urging a deal over its disputed nuclear program.

Tehran as obstacle to regional peace. "The only thing still standing between this region and its unbelievable potential was a small group of rogue actors and violent thugs seeking constantly to drag the Middle East backward and into havoc, mayhem and indeed, into war. Unfortunately, instead of confronting these destructive forces, the last US administration chose to enrich them and empower them and give them billions and billions of dollars.

Iran Offers Same Terms It Accepted from Obama: ‘Temporary’ Limits on Nuclear Enrichment

Iran indicated Tuesday that it would be willing to accept temporary limits on uranium enrichment as part of a nuclear deal with the U.S. — accepting the same terms that were in President Barack Obama’s deal in 2015.

The Trump administration is insisting, at least publicly, on the dismantling of Iran’s enrichment program. The Times of Israel reported: Iran is open to accepting temporary limits on its uranium enrichment, its deputy foreign minister said Tuesday, while adding that talks with the United States have yet to address such specifics. Tehran and Washington held their fourth round of nuclear talks on Sunday — their highest-level contact since the United States pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018 during Donald Trump’s first term as US president. “For a limited period of time, we can accept a series of restrictions on the level and volume of enrichment,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi.

[unrepentantgeek]

So we all agree Wish is awful and the original concept would've been leagues better. There are probably dozens of posts and video essays talking about it from every aspect about the things wrong with the writing, AI graphics, & music. All probably from a proper, professional &/or academic viewpoint. But here's my two cents on what's wrong from a viewer's perspective of the story.

A large part of it is pacing. Right from he beginning whoever decided to nix the original concept got that wrong.

First, it went straight from the opening song to the talk with the Asha's friends before her interview. No proper introduction to the city/island, no showcasing of Asha's ambitions or their origins. No hinting or foreshadowing that something was wrong. During said talk, the lack of focus or comparison- not even with a flashback- made the bit about how the friend who's turned 18 changed fall flat. Heck, as far as I can see they tried to play it off for laughs as if they wanted him as comic relief.

Jumping a little here. First, they could've been more clear about why Asha was so shocked her family wasn't on her side and why they have more faith in their king than her. Then there's the musical number "you're a star" and its scene don't fit in at all. They match the tone the goat sets once it starts talking but it's so out of phase with the rest of the movie it's like a fever dream that just doesn't fit and tries and fails to be a proper Disney style musical number.

Then after that once Magnifico has realized something is up. He was pretty close to going from 0-180, or flat out did. They fail to really portray why he's the way he is, why he's so angry, why the star is such a threat to him. They didn't even really show or say why the citizens would continue to believe in him or why they might believe Asha or at least take Magnifico's side of the story with a grain of salt. Also there's no evidence showing that Asha is right, and the first real sign Magnifico really is a villain is his use of the dark magic book and stealing people's wishes for power.

For the final pacing issue, making Asha heck fairy godmother was kinda out of the blue even looking at the scene in the forest for her ruse. And I'm not sure it made sense.

But the most problematic, damning pacing issue of all is actually the second one- the interview and wish granting ceremony. You can't make Magnifico the male lead for a platonic "At All Cost" scene/musical number, two seconds later make him seem unclear and petty in his reasoning for not granting Asha's grandfather's wish and failing to emphasize where the problem or lack of problem lies in granting wishes. Then make him petty and passive aggressively full on secret villain in the wish granting ceremony scene and have Asha desperately basically straight after. (My solution? Either be slower and more clear in showing Asha Magnifico is a villain, or make him the opposite of her expectations right from the start.) Honestly making Magnifico the male lead for the At All Cost number at all is a mistake unless he's not a villain at all; a 'slow reveal beyond the audience being in on it' villain, or a twist villain you spend at least half the movie trusting.

On a similar note, there are inconsistencies which could have been solved by choosing solidly between making Magnifico a twist villain or making him an obvious flat out villain. The latter can be done while still having shock at the display of the villain's true colors, but instead it kinda seems like they tried to make Magnifico both kind of villains at once.

None of this is helped by how ever since the bigwigs killed the 2D animation department after Treasure Planet and Atlantis Disney has had a habit of mocking or flat out insulting nearly everything that used to give Disney movies their magic.

All in all, I'd say there's three versions of this story. There's what we *did* get, a soulless cash grab. There's the story I bet Disney *meant* to tell, which could have been compelling with better pacing and writing. (I give some insight and hintson how this could've been done in my views on the pacing) Then there's the original concept, which I bet could've truly been a tribute to what made Disney movies great.

[christiangittingsblog]

The Lord of the Rings

[image of the front cover of the lord of the rings book, the image is from the lord of the rings book Wikipedia article, a link to this article can be found in the reference section of this blog post]

What is The lord of the Rings about?

At its heart, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is about the epic battle between good and evil. It's set in the mythical world of Middle-earth, filled with diverse races such as hobbits, elves, dwarves, and men. The story revolves around a magical artifact called the One Ring, which was created by the Dark Lord Sauron to dominate the world.

The main plot follows Frodo Baggins, a humble hobbit, who is entrusted with the dangerous quest to destroy the ring by casting it into the fires of Mount Doom, where it was forged. Along the way, he is joined by a group of allies, forming the Fellowship of the Ring. The journey is fraught with peril, as they face Sauron's forces and grapple with the corruptive influence of the ring itself.

Beyond the adventure, The Lord of the Rings explores themes like friendship, sacrifice, hope, and the resilience of the human spirit against overwhelming darkness. It's a tale of epic battles, intimate struggles, and enduring courage. What part of the story are you most drawn to? Or perhaps the movies are more your thing?

What are the main themes in The Lord of the Rings?

The Lord of the Rings is rich with themes that resonate across cultures and generations. Some of its main themes include:

Friendship and Fellowship: The bond between Frodo and Sam, as well as the diverse members of the Fellowship, highlights the importance of unity, trust, and loyalty in overcoming challenges.

Power and Corruption: The One Ring represents the seductive and destructive nature of absolute power. Characters like Gollum, Boromir, and even Frodo struggle with its influence.

Sacrifice and Heroism: Many characters, from Aragorn to Gandalf, make sacrifices for the greater good, showcasing bravery and selflessness.

Hope and Resilience: In the face of overwhelming evil and despair, the story emphasizes the importance of holding on to hope and persevering against the odds.

Nature vs. Industrialization: Middle-earth's pastoral beauty contrasts with the destructive machinery and factories of Saruman and Sauron's armies, reflecting Tolkien's concerns about environmental degradation.

Each theme weaves together to create a timeless tale with profound moral and philosophical depth. Which theme resonates most with you?

How do these themes apply to modern society?

The themes in The Lord of the Rings echo powerfully in modern society, offering insights and lessons that remain relevant:

Friendship and Fellowship: In an increasingly interconnected world, collaboration and mutual support across cultural, societal, and economic divides are vital to tackling global challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and inequality. The story reminds us that unity is strength.

Power and Corruption: The One Ring serves as a cautionary tale about unchecked power. This applies to modern contexts such as corporate greed, political corruption, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding emerging technologies like AI and surveillance. It highlights the need for responsible leadership and integrity.

Sacrifice and Heroism: Acts of sacrifice can be seen in the efforts of healthcare workers, activists, and volunteers who dedicate their lives to the betterment of society. Heroism today often comes in quiet, uncelebrated forms, much like Frodo's humble journey.

Hope and Resilience: Whether facing personal struggles, social injustices, or natural disasters, humanity's ability to persevere and remain hopeful mirrors the resilience seen in Middle-earth. This theme inspires us to keep striving for a better future despite adversity.

Nature vs. Industrialization: Tolkien’s critique of environmental degradation feels particularly urgent today. The destruction of Middle-earth’s natural beauty parallels modern issues like deforestation, pollution, and urban sprawl, reminding us to prioritize sustainability.

Can we explore the theme of power and corruption more?

The theme of power and corruption in The Lord of the Rings is a central thread that resonates deeply. The One Ring itself is a symbol of absolute power, and its allure reveals the vulnerabilities in even the noblest of characters. Let’s delve into how Tolkien unpacks this theme:

The Nature of Power: The ring's power lies not just in its ability to dominate others, but in its capacity to corrupt its bearer. Even well-intentioned characters like Frodo, Gandalf, and Galadriel are tempted by it, showing that no one is immune to the seduction of power. This highlights how absolute power can distort even the purest motives.

Corruption and Moral Decline: Characters like Gollum and Saruman demonstrate how the pursuit of power leads to moral decay. Gollum's obsession with the ring transforms him into a creature enslaved by his desires, while Saruman's betrayal of his principles for domination mirrors real-world instances where individuals or institutions forsake ethics for control.

Resistance to Power: On the flip side, characters like Aragorn and Sam exemplify the strength it takes to resist power’s pull. Their humility and dedication to a higher cause underscore Tolkien’s message that true strength lies in selflessness and integrity.

In today’s world, these reflections on power and corruption remain strikingly relevant. Whether in politics, business, or personal dynamics, the unchecked pursuit of power often leads to exploitation and inequality. It’s a reminder to hold leaders accountable and strive for systems that balance power equitably.

References