#Courage and Sacrifice

[cinephilesadeqi]

Movie Analysis and Review: "Seven Samurai" (1954)

Introduction:“Embarking on a three-hour journey through the heart of sixteenth-century Japan, Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Seven Samurai’ stands as a monumental achievement in cinematic history. Set against the backdrop of a farming village besieged by bandits, the film weaves a tale of courage, sacrifice, and the timeless struggle for survival.” Synopsis:“In response to the village’s plea for protection,…

[radiosmile]

Stolas + Gold

[legendoftherisingtide]

[intro]

Bakugou is a prideful, arrogant person. He holds himself to the highest standard; he is the best and everyone else is simply below him. Everything he has ever done was in pursuit of being number one, shining above the rest. He has to have a perfect victory, he has to be a perfect student, he has to win to save.

He pushes and pushes and won’t let anyone see his weaknesses or his insecurities. He can never lose, he can never fail, he can never show that he regrets or hesitates or that he hasn’t thought everything through. He must never be vulnerable in every sense of the word.

Then why is he standing in the rain.

To apologize shouldn’t be a sacrifice, but it is for Bakugou. To pour his feelings, to admit his wrong, to let down all of the walls he has built and be vulnerable. And in front of his whole class.

He is willing to sacrifice his pride, to fully sacrifice any superiority he could have, to bare his soul and even risk rejection. Because he knows Midoriya is more important. Because he wants him to come home, he wants him to know his true feelings, because he wants things to change. 

Because Midoriya has changed him. Midoriya has opened his eyes; by showing him he’s allowed to be open, that his feelings should be expressed, that he has so much to learn, and so much of that was learned through Midoriya just existing.

He isn’t sacrificing his safety frivolously because he’s expected to as a hero; he is doing it because he has grown. He is doing it because he has finally admitted to himself that he wants Midoriya to be with him and safe.

So I will sacrifice this for you. Not because it will change anything, as much as I want that I know that I can’t just fix all the wrong with just this. And I am willing to do as much as it takes to earn your forgiveness. But I don’t need that from you, not now and not ever if you don’t want that, I just need you to rest. I did so much wrong. And I am sorry for everything. You don’t have to do this alone. Lean on us. You are so strong and being supported doesn’t discount that. You’ve taught me that. 

I hate the rain. But I will brave it for you. 

He would do everything in his power, admit so many things, just to get Midoriya to take care of himself. We see him being the most vulnerable he has ever been in front of people that aren’t Midoriya. He does so much completely out of character, all in pursuit of being there for Midoriya. 

For Izuku.

He finally gets over himself and finally tells Midoriya the feelings he has felt for so long.

He lets go of this idea he is inherently better and finally acknowledges that his hatred for Midoriya has always been about his own shortcomings and insecurities. But he still wants to be better, they are still rivals. He isn’t going to sacrifice that part of him because that is just who he is; he is still going to push to number one.

But now it’s different.

There is verbal and vocal acceptance and respect. Before it was unspoken; their relationship had changed ever since Ground Beta. They were proper rivals, with mutual respect and care, they were actively making each other better.

But Bakugo finally verbalizes it and tells Midoriya, not only is he sorry, but he wants to actually have a proper friendship; he wants to continue to become better and earn his forgiveness. He wants them to push each other to be better, he wants to continue to fight for the top spot, he still wants to be the best.

But when did it become something else? 

When was the turning point when it started to shift from wanting to surpass Midoriya and be the best, to wanting to keep up with Midoriya and stay by his side?

Bakugou has already sacrificed himself for Midoriya before. His body moved on its own; with no hesitation, he would save Midoriya. He has already risked his life for him. But there is a layer to it that I don’t think people talk about. 

He tells Midoriya he shouldn’t try to win this on his own. 

He disguises his concern with an insistence that he’s in it to fight for himself when he initially joins the battle. But it is to fight by Midoriya’s side and support him.

But taking the hit for Midoriya, jumping in the way isn’t just support. This is sacrifice. This is giving yourself to ensure the safety of someone. And it was second nature. 

There are two reasons and both are a sacrifice of something in the moment.

It is knowing someone is so valuable, so great, in all senses of the word, that they must be protected. Bakugou is sacrificing his body and admitting that Midoriya needs to stay alive, for personal reasons and/or for the world. He needs Midoriya to be okay, Midoriya can’t fight alone and Bakugou will do anything to make sure he will be okay. 

But the sacrifice of ideology. 

With every development, he has relinquished parts of himself. When he sacrifices himself he is not only sacrificing his body but is admitting that he can’t do this on his own; he needs Midoriya too. This isn’t him wanting to be better than Midoriya, it’s him wanting to do it together.

Midoriya changed him.

He doesn’t die for Midoriya. He wakes up and just as his last thought was Midoriya, so was his first as he woke up. He runs to his side. People are dragging him back, trying to have him rest, knowing before he even said anything that he would lose his mind over Midoriya’s situation. 

Everyone sees how Bakugou feels about Midoriya.

He sacrifices himself because Midoriya can not die on him. Midoriya has to stay alive. Midoriya has to keep fighting. 

There can not be a world that doesn’t have him in it.

This is the culmination of what has been developing ever since the final exam where Bakugou finally works with Midoriya; the day that win to save, save to win was noticed. Then furthered after Ground Beta where they finally talked to each other and something changed within them both.

But the final sacrifice is the culmination of Bakugou’s character.

He knows what this decision will mean. Everyone screams for him not to. He knows that he is going to die. He knows he will not win this fight.

This isn’t dying for the cause. This isn’t just a hero complex. This is because he can help Midoriya and he will. This is for Izuku.

I will sacrifice myself for you. To give you more time, to give you even the slightest chance of winning. I will sacrifice myself for you because you are who can win. I am going to die. I am going to die and in my final thoughts, I will ask if I will still be able to be by your side.

It is no longer can I beat you. It is no longer can I surpass you. It is can I still catch up to you. It is can I still even be equal to you. He has already sacrificed the idea that he could beat Midoriya, that isn’t what he wants anymore. What he wants is to stay here with him.

I will sacrifice everything I am. I have wanted to be the best. All my life I have wanted to surpass you and everyone around me. But you. I will let that go for you. I let it go in my mind for so long now and I have never wanted to admit it. Is it even possible? Is it even possible for me to catch up to you? Is it even possible for me to stay by your side. I can’t be that anymore. I am sacrificing even that now. I will never be number one now. I will never become the person I always dreamed to be. I will never surpass you. I am forever sacrificing that now. I will die here.  

But can I still be with you?

The sacrifice of his life is him fully relinquishing everything he is, admitting that he can’t keep up, losing all of the progress he has made, letting go of everything that made up his character.

And the last thing on his mind is if he can still be able to be by Midoriya’s side.

He won’t let him go again. 

[theemotionmachine]

Many young men are attracted to people like Andrew Tate because he projects strength and confidence in our materialistic and status-seeking world. The truth is young men are lacking role models in life – real examples of heroism – so they are left scraping the bottom of the barrel for inspiration: celebrities, influencers, etc. One problem is seeing money and wealth as the only sign of success vs. other more important values (honor, loyalty, sincerity, courage, sacrifice, etc.) Masculinity is less about taking pictures in front of your Corvette with super models and more a fireman running into a burning building to save a child’s life.

Steven Handel, The Emotion Machine: Self-Improvement in the 21st Century

[vigilskeep]

Whenever I think about your Keir I think about Bethany telling Anders he reminds her of Malcom. I’m sure that won’t ever affect Keir ever.

bethany is my favourite mage bc she never misses with that psychic damage

but really he and anders aren’t even a thing in act 1 so it’s less like “PLEASE stop comparing my crush to our father” and more like “oh fuck off i spend my entire life trying to act like our dad and one (1) mage rolls up and suddenly he’s dad??”

[tutumydear]

She will save me.

[in-tenebris-et-in-solitudine]

[picaroroboto]

quick we need to do some emergency Yuri Stuff (read: mana transfer)

[blackswaneuroparedux]

War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor  the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only  that which they defend.

- J.R.R. Tolkien

[oftheriverseine]

Something something Grian sounding like “Green” and his first skin having mostly green but now his main color is red, the opposite color.

[skyward-floored]

Febuwhump day 15 - self-sacrifice

I don’t think I executed this as well as I wanted to but whatever I’m tired of messing with it. Blood curse angst wheee

Brownie is loz/aol Link, Cloud is sksw, Slate is botw, Era hw and Light fsa

Courage of ages explanation

————————————————————

Brownie’s heart thudded rapidly in his chest, his head aching from lack of magic. Every inch of him was screaming at him to run, to hide, to get out of here and make himself scarce, but he couldn’t.

Not with the blade that rested against Slate’s throat.

Cloud shifted next to him, clutching his weapon as he stared at the Yiga blademaster in front of them. His bright blue eyes were narrowed, as were Light‘s and Era’s, both close by as well. They all stood in a loose circle, hemmed in by several of the assassins.

But Slate was further away from them, a furious look in his eyes as a blademaster held his windcleaver tight against his throat.

“Drop your weapons heroes, or he loses his head,” the blademaster said smoothly, and Brownie felt his heart thud even faster. The assassins seemed closer than before, and his hands were growing sweaty.

Hemmed in on every side, claws getting closer with his sword out of reach—

He heard Era hiss in anger, but when the blademaster inched his weapon closer to Slate’s neck, he dropped his sword, as did the rest of them. Despite his common sense screaming at him, Brownie did as well, and he could hear the smirk in the blademaster’s voice when he spoke again.

“That’s better.”

A weapon slashing at him, pounding of feet and baying for blood that made his chest ache—

“What do you want?” Era asked, snapping Brownie out of his memories. “We did as you said, release him.”

“Not yet,” the blademaster said coolly, sounding smug. “There’s something more we need to discuss. See, a funny rumor reached our master’s ear... supposedly one of the heroes of courage has a... special kind of blood. Not just the blood of heroes, but something in addition, an old evil that somehow got introduced. Something powerful. Cursed.”

Brownie felt every bit of blood in his face drain away.

“We’re interested in it,” the blademaster continued, and Slate glared at him. “And a few of its uses. We also know it’s in one of you four, so don’t try to claim it’s not here.”

“Like we’ll just give any of our own up,” Light growled.

The blademaster ignored him aside from a scoff. “I’m proposing a deal: the cursed hero reveals himself and comes quietly... or the Hero of the Wilds dies.”

“Don’t you guys dare,” Slate said quickly. “I mean it, don’t—”

The blademaster swiftly twisted his blade around and slammed the hilt into the back of Slate’s head.

Light shouted angrily, and Brownie felt his stomach lurch as Slate’s eyes rolled back in his head, the hero falling limp against his captor. The blademaster raised a hand, and the circle of assassins around them closed somewhat, not leaving much breathing room.

“Well? Which one of you is it?”

Brownie took a small step back, mind screaming with panic.

They knew. Somehow they knew, and if they found out it was him they’d try to rip him open and use his blood, entirely destroy Slate’s world and maybe all their worlds, tear apart everything the champion and all of them had fought so hard to protect—

His breath caught in his throat and someone suddenly steadied him, a hand gently grabbing his shoulder. Brownie couldn’t help his flinch, but it at least snapped him out of some of his panic. He glanced over and saw that Cloud had set his hand on his arm, and was giving him a worried look.

Brownie quickly averted his gaze

He needed to get out of here. He needed to get everyone out of here, but he didn’t have enough magic for anything useful, and didn’t want to risk Slate’s neck, and he couldn’t guarantee that nobody would be hurt if he did manage something—

“We know it’s one of you,” the blademaster snapped, starting to lose his patience. “And if the cursed hero does not reveal himself in the next ten seconds, the Hero of the Wilds loses his head.”

“No!” Light cried, and Brownie swallowed, feeling bile rise in the back of his throat.

The blademaster began to count slowly backwards, and Brownie frantically looked around for a solution, an escape, anything they could use, but there was nothing. Just soldiers closing in and a weapon held tight against his friend’s throat.

Who would die if he didn’t reveal himself.

Brownie clenched his hands into fists, closing his eyes as he opened his mouth to speak. I’m so sorry Zelda.

“It’s me!”

Brownie’s eyes flew open and he turned towards the speaker, stomach dropping with horror. Cloud had shouted the words, desperation on his face as the Yiga pressed the blade to Slate’s neck, but his eyes held a cold determination.

“Cloud no—” he choked out, but a Yiga cut him off.

“So, the cowardly hero finally reveals himself!” the blademaster crooned, looking at Cloud with a no-doubt delighted grin. “Our master’s been dying to meet you.”

Brownie felt like he was going to throw up.

Cloud’s eyes flicked to his for a mere second before he stepped forward out of their tight formation, holding his hands up in surrender. Brownie swallowed, but he couldn’t get his throat to work to try and stop him, tell them to take him instead.

“It’s me,” Cloud repeated, and even though he couldn’t see his face, Brownie had no doubt that the blademaster was grinning behind his mask.

“Excellent,” he said, eagerness coloring his voice.

He snapped his fingers and before anyone could react, Cloud had been forced to his knees beside Slate, whom the yiga had dropped to the ground. Cloud glared back at him, but the blademaster was unmoved.

“You’d better not be lying boy, or this one dies,” he rumbled, waving his weapon at Slate’s neck.

Cloud watched him in silence, but there was something almost electric in his eyes, a dangerous light that for some reason almost sent Brownie’s fight or flight response completely over the edge.

“I’m not lying. I am cursed,” Cloud said, meeting the mask of the blademaster with a steady glare. He’d said it calmly, but his voice held a faint crackle to it, like the air right before a lightning strike.

Brownie felt the hairs on his neck raise.

The Yiga seemed to feel it too, and the blademaster paused for only a second, but that was enough to be his downfall.

Cloud whipped out a leg behind him and hooked it around the blademaster’s, yanking him straight off his feet. He lunged backward and grabbed the blade that had been against Slate’s neck, and stood protectively over the champion with a glare.

“But not in the way you think,” Cloud snapped, eyes blazing an almost electrifying blue.

The blademaster jumped back to his feet with a yell, and pandemonium broke out, the Links all diving for their weapons as the yiga pounced. Brownie lunged for his sword and grabbed it just in time to stop a foot soldier from plunging his scythe into his shoulder, and shook off the dizzy feeling of being so low on magic.

Fortunately for him the fight didn’t last long even outnumbered as they were, the yiga rather thrown off by the disruption to their plan. The blademaster that had captured Slate put up a good fight, but Cloud was furious, and the assassin soon teleported away, clutching an arm to his bloodied side.

The other yiga left once the blademaster departed, and Brownie sighed in relief, shakily wiping some sweat off his forehead.

The others quickly went to Slate’s side the moment they could, the champion already stirring with a groan. Brownie held back though, his legs feeling shaky as he watched Cloud hold his arm, a bit of blood staining his sleeve.

The other hero caught him looking, and Brownie looked away, his mind stuck on the yiga gleefully discussing the curse in his blood, and Cloud not even hesitating to protect him from them.

Why did he do that?

Once Era decided everyone was okay to move, Slate dizzily supported by Light, they went a safe distance away from where they’d been ambushed, making camp for the night. Brownie went through the motions of helping set things up, but his mind was still whirling with the events from earlier, stomach continuing to roll.

Until suddenly someone tapped his shoulder.

Brownie jumped, and looked up to see Cloud standing next to him, giving him a apologetic smile. He suddenly realized the others were much further away from them on the other side of the clearing they were in, arguing about something, and he and Cloud were essentially alone.

Brownie swallowed, feeling even more nauseous.

“Cloud—”

“Don’t worry about it,” the older hero said gently, cutting him off before he could even start. Brownie hesitantly met his eyes, and startled at the kindness shining in them. “I’m not going to pry. I figured it out a little, but it’s your secret to tell, and I won’t ask if you don’t want me to.”

“But— why... why did you do that?” Brownie stammered. “Earlier, why...”

“I wasn’t going to let them hurt you, or Slate,” Cloud said firmly. “And I wasn’t about to let you give yourself up either. They wouldn’t have kept their word, and things wouldn’t have ended well. Besides, now the Yiga don’t have any clue who’s really cursed,” he chuckled.

He patted his arm, and Brownie suddenly felt tears of all things prick at the corners of his eyes. He stubbornly blinked them back, and Cloud smiled at him.

“I will say though, if the Yiga are after you, even if they don’t know its you they’re after... it might be good if the others knew,” he continued, his hand still resting on his arm. “I won’t say anything without your permission, but you should at least consider telling them.”

Brownie only nodded, feeling too overwhelmed to speak.

Cloud watched him a second, then pulled him into a short hug, giving him a quick squeeze before pulling back again.

“Get some rest now okay? I can see you shaking and you know Hibiscus’ll get on your case if you don’t rest and get your magic back,” he teased, and Brownie nodded again, something warm abruptly settling in his chest.

Cloud hadn’t told anyone. He wasn’t going to tell anyone, unless Brownie asked him, and he’d... protected him, from whatever the yiga wanted his blood for, a terrible fate for certain.

He wasn’t usually on this end of the protecting.

It was kind of nice.

Brownie suddenly realized how utterly exhausted he was then, and let Cloud lead him over to his bedroll without much resistance. He flopped down into it and began to fall doze almost immediately, and heard Cloud sit down next to him.

A conversation floated over his head, but he didn’t bother listening to it, beginning to nod off, one last thought pricking at him as he fell asleep.

What did Cloud mean he was cursed too?

[greenishness]

my brother booked a flight to the us not two weeks after he begged 200 € off me to pay his debts to the bank and it's pissing me off bad ngl. i'm usually happy to give money to my siblings and friends but at this point he is using me it's not like i have that kind of money just lying around like i was struggling this month bc i gave it to him and he decides to invest into an impulsive trip to fucking arizona?? also don't get me started on the way he pulls the same shit on our sister. he heard that she was working full time and decided this was a good opportunity to ask her to cover his semester fees. asking his LITTLE SISTER for the money SHE earned working a job she hates because she was saving up for her own apartment... he really has no shame omfg

[secondbornavaricious]

im gonna yell that GREED was definitely a hero of the Promised Day because he HELPED weaken father enough to let Ed do the final blow. So if anything Greed was definitely one of the biggest helps to weaken his own father.

[anthromimicry]

alright, but... it seems like i am in a mood for angst this morning because just imagine this: misao meeting someone that reminds her so much of ryu and having all of her childhood memories just rush back to her in one foul swoop despite the fact that she's tried really hard to bury them. because if misao allowed herself to think about them for a second, i have a feeling she would just completely breakdown because misao doesn't even have a picture of him or anything, so she forgot what he looks like and what his voice sounds like. so even if she saw him on the streets of gotham... misao wouldn't even recognize him because it's been so long.

and the fact that she has become like a ' human ' in that aspect somewhat enrages her because misao secretly HATES having to pretend like she is anything but who she is + like i believe i have talked about once but didn't get super deep into talking about, is that she may or may not distrust humans automatically upon meeting them. though this sense has lessened over the years, it is still slightly there due to her mother's death haunting her. and being forced to face her past like this where misao is not prepared for it mentally would be kind of devastating for her, NGL. (but y'all should totally give misao someone who reminds her of ryu anyhow, and i'm not saying that to be evil or anything. i'm just saying it because there has to be some way that she works through her issues eventually and with the way she is now... i don't think that misao would be willing to open up to someone else about them. so something has to act on her externally. )