#Idk if I discussed spoilers

[onewomancitadel]

B/S W/J anon still (this is a terrible way to sign off hrgdjfh. Henceforth towers all the way down?). Not a novel this time I just want to say mhmhmhm! I’m tossing the ‘you getttttt iiiiit’ right back.

I cannot for the life of me remember exactly how I found your blog but I did twig the pairing first, yeah. I do recall rifling around in your reverse Ozlem tag like a magpie in a jewelry box, and having been lurking vigilantly since.

Ooh, also. The point you raised about romance intrinsically being embedded in family is very cool because that’s really actually why I would say my interest in romance is routed through family; not solely what you’re born to but also what you make.

The duality of that and the balance between the need for connection, love, and need for independent identity, really appeals to me across all kinds of love. Family and familial have always felt different in scope to me, in an annoyingly nebulous way, very wide-vs-narrow but why; this compare-contrast of your angle and mine has clarified that semantic mental distinction, which is very cool, so thanks!

Loads and loads of appreciation for your thoughts and time. <3

Well I think slowly over time my inbox notification might no longer send my stomach swooping. I checked this whilst eating dinner and I was like, oh thank fuck. Hahahaha

You can be Tower Anon, which is fun because in tarot the Tower can symbolise radical transformation and paradigm shifts. I actually don't know if RWBY references tarot, but I do enjoy thinking of Jaune as the Fool.

I cannot for the life of me remember exactly how I found your blog but I did twig the pairing first, yeah. I do recall rifling around in your reverse Ozlem tag like a magpie in a jewelry box, and having been lurking vigilantly since.

This is so interesting and emboldens me rather dangerously. I mean, I'm always happy to change minds and I always find the relation of that a rather grand rush, but in this case you've got a fresh perspective and I think that's really interesting. I'm glad you enjoy my Reverse Ozlem tag. I do think of this blog as the magpie hoard in my fairy cave. (:

This is where I girlblog.

Ooh, also. The point you raised about romance intrinsically being embedded in family is very cool because that’s really actually why I would say my interest in romance is routed through family; not solely what you’re born to but also what you make.

The duality of that and the balance between the need for connection, love, and need for independent identity, really appeals to me across all kinds of love. Family and familial have always felt different in scope to me, in an annoyingly nebulous way, very wide-vs-narrow but why; this compare-contrast of your angle and mine has clarified that semantic mental distinction, which is very cool, so thanks!

Well, I find the topic rather interesting because the (platonic) found family trope is really common in fandom spaces, but... romantic attachments are found family? That is already archetypally the case. Then again, I have broader issues because I think that the transactional value of romantic love is, well, valued in society and storytelling (ego validation, ownership) but the actual fundamental quality of romantic love (unconditional regard, transformation, connection) is not. So you have people who reject romantic love entirely, when really I am rejecting 'bad' heteronormativity. I value romantic love in real life and in storytelling, and in storytelling I am interested in interconnected character development, transformation, and of course sexual intercourse.

I think though for me there are qualities specific to romance which are familial but also aren't. If we're speaking in the context of Knightfall specifically, Jaune is the character who can reach Cinder because of the specific power of romantic love in the story which can allow for completely transgressing good-and-evil when it seems most impossible and heretical, and because it injects some genuine bias into the matter - can you trust Cinder or does he just love her? There's the potential for some really juicy drama there if they're clever, but this is why I think the secret love affair (heresy!) has the potential to be interesting, because you wouldn't ask this question about friendship, or, if say, they were related in some way (shock family reveal, lol). The thing is as well is that for both Jaune and Cinder moving beyond being children is possible through making adult connections... and Cinder's not had unconditional connections, not someone willing to transgress everything. So to my eyes romantic love here is working in narrative epic scope as well, and I'm interested in the sublime specifically, especially the intensely emotional which has metaphysical/physical consequences, and maybe even divine madness.

I think it sounds like you are interested in the self-actualisation of characters and I think that crosses over with romance quite naturally, probably in ways a lot of people don't really conceive of, because romance is Guy Get Girl, or Girl Get Guy, standing in the background, romance-as-trophy, or romance as a series of non-connected events whilst the writers invent new drama, etc. To your average casual shipper or your average person's conception of romance, this might be a little alien as it's more rooted in narrative goals and needs, and of course my dollies kissing, often and well.

But as I was saying, I do enjoy those relationships you yourself referenced (Ruby-Summer in particular). Part of the reason I think the romance in this story works so well is because the relationships outside of those romances are actually so well-defined, and overall I really enjoy the ensemble cast because you don't get that effect of Jaune/Cinder without it.

Really, truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your asks and please always feel free to stop by again, especially if you've got any questions or you want to share any more thoughts. I hope you're here for the finale too, because I'd love to hear what you think then. I don't check my inbox until I've watched the episode, so there won't be any chance of you accidentally spoiling me if you want to come say hi and let me know what you think of it all. It would probably do me good too for the emotional devastation that may be wrought. Tee hee.

In the meantime as well of course, if you have any further thoughts on anything I'd love to hear them. Have a lovely evening and take care! Thank you again!

[bizarrelittlemew]

this has to be a shout-out to the fandom for speculating about the sleeping arrangements aboard the Revenge for over a year

[ecoamerica]

Watch the 2024 American Climate Leadership Awards for High School Students now: https://youtu.be/5C-bb9PoRLc

The recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by student climate leaders! Join Aishah-Nyeta Brown & Jerome Foster II and be inspired by student climate leaders as we recognize the High School Student finalists. Watch now to find out which student received the $25,000 grand prize and top recognition!

[keirientez]

Pokemon trainer AU, Reborn is the champion meanwhile Tsuna is his apprentice. Tsuna’s design belongs to my friend @Cloud_Knee (Twt or X)

[yunyin]

Have people talked about this skull motif on Marinette's dress?

This feels like such an odd choice to me. I'm not sure what to make of it yet.

[iheartbookbran]

i cackled before the season came out and everyone was freaking out about the brothel scenes because they wanted demi!Colin and now the possibility was lost forever, when it was precisely the brothel scenes (+ the diary bit) which cemented demi!Colin to canon prosperity!

[clown-eating-pig]

One thing that I really appreciate about martin as a character is how you can observe him becoming more open over the seasons. Specifically with how he expresses himself, I like the way he noticeably becomes more vocal in his anger and pettiness by season 5. There are several things that I think contribute to this, and all of them make me varying levels of sad and happy all at once:

Obviously being part of the magnus archives in any capacity is enough to make someone more openly angry (as evidenced by pretty much everyone), and martin isn't excluded from that general "I'm being held captive by an invisible entity and the world is on the brink of collapse" rage.

Job security. This one is probably silly, but I can imagine that part of the reason that martin's season one, people-pleasing personality eases up slightly as time goes on could genuinely be because he literally can't lose his job. He's canonically stated to be manipulative, and I'm sure that one of his main reasons for him being so is that it was one of the only ways to assure that he and his mother were taken care of. Once he has the assurance that the only way he'll lose his job is via Death or Dismemberment (and also maybe once his mom died oop) I'm sure it was a lot easier to ngaf.

Comfort!!!!! Again! Martin is a manipulative guy! Not maliciously! Maybe not even consciously sometimes, but to me it feels like he's more likely to put on the gentle, friendly face with people he doesn't trust or isn't comfortable with. Come season 4 and 5, though, he's actively more petty towards and around jon (notably in how he reacts to Jon's gouging suggestion and just his general demeanor come apocalypse times). Part of this could certainly be bitterness leaking over because of The Circumstances, but I also feel that it has a lot more to do with the fact that he isn't necessarily trying to impress jon any more. In fact, at this point jon is the one actively seeking him out. He's beyond the point of needing to prove himself or make himself smaller for jon. By season five it's clear that jon loves him and that he'd go to the ends of the earth for him, so martin lets loose. He holds a grudge and he makes jealous requests and he snaps at times. He's a little bit bossy, and he ignores requests, and he sets boundaries. And all of this is so so beautiful because this is a person that, for years, has had to make himself as passive and small and as serving as possible - if not to appease his mother (who hates him) to keep her taken care of. So slowly watching him find people that he doesn't feel the need to act small around or to act as a caretaker to (unless he WANTS to) is a wonderful wonderful thing that I love.

[ecoamerica]

Watch the American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 now: https://youtu.be/bWiW4Rp8vF0?feature=shared

The American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 broadcast recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by active climate leaders. Watch to find out which finalist received the $50,000 grand prize! Hosted by Vanessa Hauc and featuring Bill McKibben and Katharine Hayhoe!

[booksandwillowtrees]

I don't see why people are upset at the IH/TBK for how the ratgrinders ended up. They TRIED to redeem and connect with the RG it never panned out. They are playing a game and telling a story. If a path doesn't pan out they have to move on.

If TBK try and fail to connect with the RG and then the world is going to end in 1 hour, they might kill them (not always permanent btw!) in pursuit of stopping the end of the world. And you know what. They might be assholes about it, because the RG are also assholes about it. Like IDK. I like the RG. But also like if you're upset when the performers are excited about having defeated their enemies in a battle-game-based show, like I feel like you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

[utilitycaster]

perhaps unpopular but while I do agree the EXU interlude likely killed some of the momentum, I also...don't mind that the party didn't talk much this episode? I feel like the start of the episode created an opening that not everyone took, though we did have some good moments, but also, for all I adore episode 2x30 and 1x69 re: wake of a character's death, and i do think 3x92's first half was very strong, it feels very right and in-character that Ashton isn't ready to talk about it (and that Dorian isn't really talking yet either).

[jacobstone]

Not to pop up randomly in the year of our lord 2024, but I’ve watched Percy Jackson recently and now I’m curious. If the librarians characters were in this universe, what would they be? Demigods? Satyrs? Centaurs? Monsters? Humans? Let’s get this conversation going for anyone still left in this fandom or any followers that are still around;)

[kyshiwarrior]

WORD VOMIT RE: Jet's attitude towards his decisions.

another reason i wanna kiss whoever wrote and directed jet's episode is the fact in the cartoon, jet was absolutely hyped about blowing up the dam and knew deep down it was bad because he shielded the gaang from it even if he was upfront with the freedom fighters and confirming with the duke that innocents would die but thats the price --- but still later smiling and saying theyre going to have a great victory over the fire nation after sokka is taken away.

in the liveaction, the cockiness jet has is when he's amused the gaang thinks they're slick for trying to sneak in, when he's helping them sneak in because he thinks its amusing and a helping hand, and the face of a threat: when the fire benders are found waiting for him in the forest to kill him for spying on them and hes ready to fight them back. Then, he's smiling at the camp when he's announcing who they are and what their goal is: freedom and protecting their home because no one else has their back.

Outside of this, Jet is very somber and expresses a lot of stress. For example, when he stops Katara from making herself known too early when Sai is talking to the spy then when Katara confronts him. What really stood out to me was when Katara walked up and Smellerbee was exchanging a look with him. They both looked really stressed and uncomfortable before she even came around the corner, but then especially. The look Smellerbee gave to Jet really said a thousand words, like they've been having a lot of discussions about involving her in their mission and an almost 'I told you so.' (sidenote: they did a wonderful job with nonverbals). Jet immediately puts his foot down about it not being the time then also not denying what he was doing when confronted. When he explains why he’s doing it, even as he smiles a little when saying they know how to take out the trash, its spoken with so much ire because he’s doing what he feels he needs to — and it hurts its your own people that let you down. He smiles because he’s in pain and overall feeling of ‘This is what happens when these people think they could get away with it. They have us to reckon with.’

What was significant to me was the lack of ego. This was someone who had full understanding that what he was doing wasn't something to boast about, but a building frustration tying with "IF NOT US, WHO?" What Katara didn't understand was the difference between herself and Jet, what defines being 'the good guy.' Jet was someone so acutely aware of his lack of privileges and the fear that drives the 'hard decisions' for the sake of collective. Hard decisions that put the very people you're trying to protect at risk because they were in the wrong place and the wrong time, but more would be at risk if they didn't act immediately. It's ugly, messy, imperfect -- and Jet is aware. He is not excited about any of this. Instead, he's pissed he feels he has no other choice because no adult after his parents did anything to help him. So it's all up to him, to him. ((cartoon implied these attitudes but I still spent years trying to get it through jet anti’s heads ))

And assassinating a KING and almost effortlessly succeeding is ... quite something. Impulsive, but pretty impressive. Sad, too, that it would be so easy. Everything Jet had to say about Bumi in this universe was true. Bumi lost his nerve, he was surrounded in privilege, he wasn't doing anything to really stop the corruption, and he fell into despair. Sure, Aang got through to him. Sure, Sai changed his ways and drew away from his treason with risk following. Sure. But we know what's going to inevitably happen, unless they decide to change it: Bumi happily lets Omashu get overtaken by the Fire Nation and orders all his guards to "do nothing" without any explanation. We better see Jet in Season 2 talk about his perspective here because the changes they did have me buzzing with theories. He would be livid and seemingly 100% right about King Bumi. ((Unfortunately, he is also destined to die before finding out about Bumi's plans to take Omashu back the day of the solar eclipse, but it doesn't matter because Jet would not have forgiven him for that terror.))

Anyway, they did a great job humanizing him while making him a foil to her. In the original, Jet was Sokka's foil, but I think it works so well to make him Katara's -- as they both become the most vocal and impulsive social justice activists. So seeing them fight and discuss what it meant to be a 'traitor' and 'unforgivable' was fascinating. They were actually able to have two separate discussions on the matter -- one where Katara confronted Jet to call him a traitor and when Jet confronted Katara to call her one in return.

I love how in the original, Sokka was able to prove he is a good leader in his own way by showing empathy for all and not willing to risk innocent lives ever, which gets Aang and Katara's respect after so much ridicule and comparisons. In contrast, I also love how they decided to go an alternate route because with Jet's impact on Katara that had such a lasting impression, this change did their dynamic justice. It sets up season 2 very well in how they'll engage with each other again.

I also love how Katara is able to reflect on Jet with criticism, but also understanding and a moment of gratitude. It feels a lot better than his simple flattery followed with manipulating her for her powers, and audiences feeling unsure how much of his flirting was genuine. Mind you, helps her story and establishes trust issues around being used (factors into her other plotlines), but it's such a disservice to Jet in return. I'm a big advocate of 'you don't have to completely demonize and ruin a character for the sake of uplifting another, the other should be able to stand on their own.'

[lemongogo]

already the beginning of the end (ch.44 redraw)

[musical-chick-13]

So I guess ultimately my question is why are we assuming that Nayuta specifically meant “Denji belongs to me definitively, and you are trying to take his attention away from me?”

Aside from the fact that narrative misdirection is a thing and that I think it would completely contradict all the themes of the story thus far to just have her be Makima 2.0 and inherently evil...

We don’t actually know if she and Yoru recognize each other or not? Even on a subconscious level. If she does recognize Yoru (and, reasonably, knows how her powers work) calling Yoru a thief could have meant that “You are trying to steal Denji’s spinal cord to make a weapon” or even “You have stolen this random girl’s body to use for yourself.” (Even if she doesn’t know specifically that Yoru is sharing Asa’s body, she might still be able to tell that something weird is going on?)

She’s still a child, she might have just impulsively said the smallest amount of words that would sort-of convey what she was feeling.

I’m not worried yet.

Yet.

[keep-on-trying]

Y'all wanna bet Childe is there to bail us out, AGAIN?

Because it does look like jail is calling us lol.

[multitrack-drifting]

VOX USED TO BE A CULT LEADER??????

VOX USED TO BE A CULT LEADER

WHY AM I ONLY LEARNING THIS NOW

eh makes sense i guess

[mythical-lotus]

This is a thought I had about God of War Ragnarok that I feel like I've not seen anyone else discuss but has plagued my mind since it ended. Everyone - characters and players alike - seem to forget that Brok accepted his death at Odin's hand.

Let me elaborate.

Brok (and Sindri) built Mjolnir for Thor. He had worked with the Aesir in the past. And, upon seeing the horrible destruction wrought from the hammer, created the Leviathan Axe for Faye. He was also a dwarf, and while we may not know the exact timeline of Asgard's occupation, he is obviously well aware of what Odin did in his home realm - specifically to what happened to dwarves who attempted revolution or other uprising.

The point is, Brok was very aware of what Odin and Asgard were like when he decided to help Kratos and Atreus.

Now, on to Post-Brok's death.

Obviously Sindri is heartbroken, and I cannot blame him for his anger against Atreus and Kratos in any way at this point in time. They were the people who effectively recruited Brok and Sindri into the protagonists' group, and even if the two dwarves were happy to do it, Kratos and Atreus were still the ones who asked them to. Brok's death resulted from that request.

But it was still Brok's informed and willing choice.

To quote Freya from God of War 2018, "I put my needs, my fears before [Baldur's] own." And that feels very much like what Sindri has done with Brok in my opinion.

When Brok originally died in the forge, Sindri saved him but refused to tell Brok what happened and in turn caused their split. When he died a second time by Odin's hand, Sindri came to blame Atreus (and to some extent the others), regardless of Brok's agency and knowledge of what he was getting into. Brok knew that they were heading towards Ragnarok and feasibly their deaths. He obviously didn't want to die, but he openly accepted the risks that came with aiding Atreus.

Sindri placed his own fear of being alone above the desires of Brok to know how he died and to help with Ragnarok.

I should add here that it's one thing for Sindri to blame Atreus initially, because he was grieving the death of his beloved brother and literally about to go to war. I won't blame him for that.

But, given what's been set up in the games, Sindri will probably continue to be antagonistic. And, if he continues to blame Atreus for what happened to Brok - it will draw an interesting parallel to Kratos and Freya in my opinion.

One party blaming the other for the death of a loved one that was partially the blamed person's fault, while the true culprit (Odin in both cases) is left unacknowledged. In the first case, Odin is ignored because Freya could not get to him, but she could get to Kratos and blame him for Baldur's death. In the second case, Odin is already dead by Sindri's own hand, Brok's soul cannot be revived, and Sindri mostly lacks the power to do more that tell Atreus he hates him. There is no satisfying vengeance to Sindri's grief that hasn't already been achieved, which is why I think he'll be an antagonist in the future, since he's obviously still angry.

There's also a side-tangent I could write on - the fact that Sindri was sent to rally the dwarves against Asgard, but chose not to involve them during Ragnarok. Obviously it did successfully keep the dwarves safe, which was Sindri's intention - but it robbed them of their ability to fight for their freedom during Ragnarok (something they probably wanted to do very badly considering the rebellions talked about in the game), which is once again a parallel to Kratos, Freya, and Baldur's death.

We see it in almost every other aspect of the games' story. Atreus and Kratos lying or withholding details from each other - not maliciously, but with the intent to protect in a way that backfires (in both 2018 and Ragnarok). The same with Freya and Baldur (her protection spell driving him insane), and even with Thrud, Thor, and Sif (her mother claiming that Thrud can't be a Valkyrie because Sif is afraid of what Odin will make her do in that role, while Thor encourages it so that she might be strong enough to keep herself safe).

And finally, Sindri claiming that Brok's death was the fault of Atreus despite Brok's informed and willing choice to fight Odin, denying Brok agency over his choice to help, even in death.

A quote Kratos from God of War Ragnarok to sum this whole thing up, "I do not regret saving your life and never will. But the choice between life and death should have been yours to make. I should not have robbed you of that choice."

[pickled-flowers]

Watched Saltburn yesterday and all I can say is if your takeaway from this is Oliver is bisexual you are wrong