#and then choosing to live

[the-priestess-of-dawn]

Actually though now I AM getting the urge to essaypost about the sacrifice ending because... it occurs to me that perhaps "For once, I'm glad you and I are the same." might be a more significant line than I ever realized... If the Chrom ending represents Robin fundamentally changing as a person, then the sacrifice ending represents them NOT changing... but Chrom is insistent in both endings that Robin will always belong with him and the Shepherds. In the sacrifice ending, Robin comes back from death because of the strength of their bonds... but what does that mean?

You know, if you look at Medeus's death quotes in Shadow Dragon and New Mystery...

“Nngh… Defeated again… by humans! Know this, Altean prince… That light which surrounds you is only a temporary respite. So long as the darkness in your hearts continues to sustain me… I cannot be… destroyed…… Rrraaahhh!!!”

“GWAH…! WHY……? WHY… HAVE I… BEEN DEFEATED… SO EASILY…? IS THIS… THE POWER… …OF NAGA'S… Binding Shield…? KNOW THIS, HUMANS… THIS LIGHT IS ONLY A BRIEF RESPITE… SO LONG AS EVIL LURKS WITHIN THE HEARTS OF MAN… SHOULD THIS ACCURSED SHIELD BE LOST, WE SHALL RISE FROM THE DEPTHS OF HELL… DO NOT… EVER FORGET…”

It seems to me that Medeus is saying that human hearts have the power to bring him back. I mean, yes, it could very easily be a metaphor. In fact, I think it largely IS figurative, but... The point is that this shit keeps happening because humans want it to happen, right? Like, Medeus was resurrected by GHARNEF; he basically just seized the opportunity this human gave him. Why wouldn't he expect it to happen again someday?

And Grima, of course, was revived by the Grimleal. We've got no word on whether Grima wanted their followers to do this after their original defeat (in fact, technically we do not not even know whether Grima consented to giving any humans their blood. It COULD be that they bestowed it on their followers as a show of favor. I also absolutely would not put it past the Grimleal to have collected Grima's spilled blood after the final battle with the First Exalt and used it for their own purposes... Especially because I do think that's most likely what Forneus did with Naga's blood to create Grima in the first place.). Regardless, Grima answered their followers' call and did exactly what they were asked to do.

And then we have Robin coming back. I think most of us presume that there was no specific revival ritual, but... still, fundamentally, isn't the same principle at play? The Shepherds called and they were answered. And Robin came back as Robin, Brandless and free from the power of the fell dragon, because that is who their loved ones asked for, and that is who Robin wanted to be, and I think in a world where magic exists then it makes perfect sense that a strong enough wish could literally manifest as a spell. (Tharja says in her supports with Ricken that "Curses are a kind of magic that gives life to dreams." so I'm inclined to think that this is very much how magic is intended to work.)

So the sacrifice ending becomes a twist on the cycle. Because the thing is, Robin chose destruction. Robin chose to use their power as Grima to bring about a final end—only in this world their conclusion is not that the world is unable to change and therefore must be destroyed, but that THEY are what cannot change and must be destroyed. "For once, I'm glad you and I are the same." They are embracing it. They are the fell dragon and they can't change but they can do the one thing they always do and destroy. This OUGHT to be a tragic ending where we're all left with the bitter feeling that nothing the hero OR the villain did ever truly mattered at all.

But we're challenging fate, right?

And the thing that Robin has that their future self did not is, of course, all the Shepherds reaching out for them. The original timeline Shepherds thought that Robin betrayed Chrom and then... presumably ran off to serve Grima or whatever (since nobody knows that Robin BECAME Grima). And so there was no one to beg Grima to come back and be with them. No shared wish strong enough to create a miracle. The tragedy played out straightforwardly.

But it was never inevitable. The tragedy didn't happen because there is something inherently wrong with Grima's being. Of course it didn't. They were not alone because they were unlovable but because Validar and the Grimleal had everything set up to ensure that Grima could not do anything but turn to them. ("These followers of Naga will spurn you now that they've learned what you are. Kill me, and you incur the wrath of the Grimleal as well… Would you truly choose to be so utterly alone?" Validar knew exactly what he was doing.)

So with the sacrifice ending... perhaps we're really saying that Robin never needed to change. That even if they never give up this perspective of theirs—that they're a no-good and repulsive being, that they're powerless to change anything, that all they can do is destroy—they're loved anyway, and there is room for them in the world no matter what.

[paintedcrows]

Did anyone tell Ford (bonus doodles: Family Movie Night, 70s Classics)

[icewindandboringhorror]

(also feel free in the tags to clarify Why you made the choice you made!! :0c)

[maxdibert]

Can we talk about how Dylan George is presented as a piece of shit but ends up being the only one of the outies who truly treats his innie as an adult, taking into account their desires and feelings, and even sees them as a part of himself to admire and look up to? Can we talk about how Dylan George never paternalizes Dylan G like Mark Scout does with Mark S, nor does he treat him as a tool like Helena Eagan treats Helly R? Can we understand how Dylan George, despite everything that might bother him about his wife’s relationship with his innie, understands that his innie is attracted to her because, despite everything, his wife is his world and it makes sense to him that his innie would see her that way too, and admires his innie’s ability to be the person that, due to circumstances, he has stopped being? I mean, what a marvel Dylan George is. He basically gets it all. That “I would like you to stay alive because I think knowing you’re there makes me a better person, but you can choose whatever you want because I understand you are independent of me, and I have no right to decide for you, because even knowing you are part of me, I still see you as an individual and not as an extension” that represents his letter is pure brilliance. Mark Scout treats Mark S like a rebellious and ungrateful child, and Helena Eagan treats Helly R like a means, not even considering her a being with her own consciousness, but Dylan George treats Dylan G like a fucking person. Totally unexpected but wonderful.

[glassrunner]

"Where'd you learn those moves?" "Oh, I was just following your lead." [chuckles] "Mmm, he's got lines."

JINX/POWDER APPROACHING EKKO | ARCANE S01E04 X S02E07

[miothle]

Farewell, Kakavasha.

[camilleflyingrotten]

[sakuravalenp]

That’s not your medicine? - DC X DP prompt

Another idea I can't work on because time isn't on my favor, so I'm just begging someone else to write it TwT.

Slightly inspired by this post.

Years have passed by, and the ecto-acts were never repelled. Time has gone by, and Danny’s Jason's husband. Jason, friends and the family have noticed that Danny isn’t human but don’t bring it up because Danny seems terrified every time the subject seems to be about to be brought up (Yes, even Bruce wasn't able to question Danny. How would he? He tried to bring it up once and he was sure Danny was going to faint right then and there). 

Danny has some health issues. Fatigueness, muscle pain, random dizziness, fevers that seem to come out of nowhere. Apparently it is a chronic issue, since Jason caught Danny taking some red pills early in their marriage. Jason didn’t recognize the medicine's name, something Blossom, so he imagined it was something specific to his species. 

The married couple had been living happily for years and the family adores Danny.

One day a ghost faces into his house asking Danny for help, and of course Danny basically has a full on panic attack at being outed. Jason holds him close, grounds him and lets him calm down.

The ghost tells Danny that they need to do some errands in the human world, but the GIW has become way more active around the area he needs to visit, and needs to know how Danny has managed to hide so far. The conversation goes somewhat like this:

“I’m sorry, I don’t think you would want to do what I do. Even if you do, I’m not sure you can.”

“Please just tell me, I’ll decide if I want it by myself.”

Danny sights. He disappears for a moment in their bedroom and comes back with his medicine. He opens the bottle and inclines it to let the ghost see.

“I take this.”

The ghost looks into the bottle and is absolutely horrorized.

“Danny, you- you’re poisoning your core!”

“I know…”

“What do you mean poison?” Jason asks, alarmed “Isn’t this your medicine?”

Danny won’t meet his face. 

“How can you be consuming this!? How long-”

“I don’t have any other options, okay!? I can’t run into the infinite realms and hide like the rest of you! I have to reside on this side of the veil!” Danny snaps at the ghost.

“But this… you must be in excruciating pain.”

[anicream]

there's this light you keep on chasing

[bluegiragi]

I don't want to sound rude, you may have already answered this question (if so, I'm sorry, I didn't find that answer), but I'm wondering why you're so against AI bots specificly. Obviously, this is a personal matter for everyone, but I'm a little confused by such harshness. Of course, I'm not going to prove anything to anyone, but I just wanted to understand the roots of your position. I really like your work, but to be honest, your last answers have thrown me into a kind of stupor :(

i have an ideological opposition against AI as a whole to be fair. a lot of it comes down to it's environmental impact

Globally, AI-related infrastructure may soon consume six times more water than Denmark, a country of 6 million, according to one estimate. That is a problem when a quarter of humanity already lacks access to clean water and sanitation.  

but i also believe it's inherently anti-human.

In a time when global literacy rates are diving (did you know that half of american adults read at a 6th grade level or below?) , I think it's incredibly short-sighted to be essentially surrendering your ability to write your own emails/essays/messages to an AI, when doing it yourself, despite what online contrarians will say, does have value (emails teach you how to communicate professionally, messages improve your social skills, essays improve your critical thinking skills). In this political landscape, it also feels dangerous to have your ability to read critically by yourself get dampened by AIs which are, at the end of the day, owned by silicon valley billionaires many of whom attended trump's inauguration, which is a good indication of where they lie politically.

Generative AI when it comes to art is also killing culture, removing opportunities for existing artists who are the ones who can extend the ceiling for human creation and helping society devalue art even more even though it's the only thing keeping us all sane. How would you feel if all you had in your life was just school or work, leaving out music, movies, tv shows, books, art? Doesn't art bring enough value to your life that it's worth properly compensating the people responsible for it? Why should we ever encourage or normalise throwing art into a meat grinder and feeding on the approximated soulless sludge it generates?

For AI chat bots, my beef with it is that it's an inherently anti-social product. All it does is remove the need to ever communicate with another person, which is horrible for people's brains. Some people are "falling in love" with their ai chatbot, some people are using their ai chatbots as therapists. The desire for real human connection is getting lost. An AI chatbot also makes RP obsolete, which is a foundational part of fandom which, i always feel like i need to remind people, is based on community. The point is to connect with people! I just fear that the popularisation and normalisation of this technology is going to end up with people shut in their homes their entire life, lost to whatever toxic pipeline their anti-social behaviour inevitably leads them down.

i know people love to play with AI like it's a fad, and it's "not that deep bro" but i think it's shameful and embarrassing to act as if you don't have agency in your life. You can choose to abstain from technology, you can choose to find entertainment elsewhere, you can choose to be a person independent of technology. If all AI went away tomorrow, would you be able to still do your job? Write a story? Read a book and understand its meaning? AI is a product built on instant gratification and entitlement - not to get too deep on an ask about AI chatbots, but i think art, relationships, culture, all of it is worth the journey to get there.

[pixelpolls]

Vamps vs Werewolfs like its 2010!

[newttxt]

this is opla!zoro, to me 🙂

[supernovasimplicity]

fearne choosing to go back to ligament manor, when before she was unknowingly kept there

dorian asking his parent's approval instead of taking it out of fear

chetney gaining control over himself and passing along his knowledge to others

ashton seeking answers instead of hiding from them

orym choosing to live his life to the fullest, balancing old and new responsibilities

laudna choosing a quiet life, when before she had isolation forced on her

imogen using her powers to help others and build new communities, instead of being shunned because of them

bells hells giving the gods a choice in their future

everyone getting to choose

[dykesbat]

help a palestinian doctor evacuate his three family members in gaza

vetted by operation olive branch (line 85)

$25,830 raised of $50,000 as of november 5

since this fundraiser has started back in early 2024, we've only managed to help fund the escape of dr moath and his mother, basma. three family members remain in gaza including moath's father and his two younger brothers.

please help his family. this fundraiser has been stagnating badly and i'm incredibly worried for yusuf, ahmed, and their father. we need less than $5000 in order to evacuate one of them. if you have any money to spare please please please contribute to this campaign.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Not beating the allegations.

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