#demon of freedom

[to-be-fab]

Tumblr’s generally horrendous reaction to Alastor being a repulsed-Aromantic-Asexual is proof that, more than anything, we need this exact character, right here, right now.

You go, funky little deer man. You can’t be contained in the petty, rigid boxes of allo/amatonormativity no matter how hard they try. You be free and pave the way so that someday, in a safer, more beautiful future, the rest of us AroAces can experience the freedom of life without dangerous, restrictive expectations.

[cthulhuschild]

ZoSan Week: 40 years old

When you are in desperate need of more 40 y/o ZoSan and you realise you have the power of art.

[loriache]

honestly i'm kind of interested in the idea of laios in an arranged marriage. because obviously straight-up inherited monarchies are ...bad, to say the least! but it's what the characters are familiar with (even laios' father's extremely local, extremely minor leadership role is inherited, presumably through the male line). and it isn't just about what they think the best way to run melini is; in terms of ensuring that the other longed-lived nations respect melini's continued sovereignty, having it passed down in a manner that's close enough to their own ways for them to understand it and respect it is important. And it seems like most of the other nations have leadership through inheritance - thought that isn't confirmed for certain except with the elves.

Also, a marriage carries the potential to establish foreign allies - something melini is certainly lacking. A marriage could come with resources they'll badly need, treaties of mutual defence, money, legitimacy and political capital... not that these things can't be worked around, but if laios isn't strongly opposed, there are a lot of advantages! and i don't think he would be, because that's the framework for marriage (conferring practical advantages, building intracommunity relationships and providing a partner to do important work that he can't do) that he had grown up with. he isn't exactly a romantic and I doubt he's holding out for any sort of relationship of that nature.

Like, I don't think it's impossible that they would go with this path, because it's the most obvious and it carries a lot of advantages and it's what almost all the decision-making characters would consider normal and not objectionable. and it could be so interesting.

I think Laios would have major hangups if expected (i.e., by Marcille) to establish a genuine, romantic interest in a woman. Whether because of his sexual or romantic orientation, or just his own deep-seated trauma about rejection and being inherently disgusting and scary. And I think he'd hate the idea of having kids, too, and be very frightened of being like his father. But I don't think he'd refuse on that basis; he could cope with a marriage contract, with clearly laid-out expectations and responsibilities. And when it came to having a kid, I think he'd be reluctant to express that he doesn't want to do it, because he isn't naive and he understood when he agreed to be king it would carry responsibilities like this. It's clear from his nightmare that he already felt pressure from his parents to have children, probably magnified by the fact his father has got a position, responsibilities and wealth to pass on. Obviously he isn't a perfect martyr, so he might struggle when it comes to actually going through with it - but I don't think he'd actually, outright refuse. I think he might do it even though he doesn't want to, and I think that could be really messy in a way that appeals to me.

I don't know, there's something about negotiating these kinds of complicated situations that's interesting to me. and i love a platonic marriage. If they find a woman who has an interest in education, for example, and can work with marcille on setting up schools and universities. she'd ideally be politically savvy enough to be an able partner to laios: even though kabru can and would continue to do a lot of that, there are different spheres that a queen and a prime minister can work within!

how would their relationship work? maybe she finds laios' perspective on the world, and his frankness, unexpectedly liberating after an extremely controlled, cloistered upbringing. maybe she had a rebellious phase, has magic, or something else which makes her a relatively unpopular candidate for marriage - even as melini grows in power, i doubt that they'd be getting offers for the cream of the crop in terms of perceived value on the marriage market, because laios' relationship is a bit too ambivalent/monstrous for that, and melini too new. maybe she's a widow! an older woman, wouldn't that be cool - though they'd want her young enough that she could definitely still have kids.

certainly i think he'd be happy for her to pursue other relationships, though ideally in a manner that couldn't produce illegitimate kids. with other relationships in play, that's even more interesting. like, both kabru and toshiro have complicated emotions relating to infidelity. i think kabru would actually find it quite cathartic to be in the kind of high-status environment that rejected his mother for perceived infidelity, pursuing an affair that all parties consent to, though he'd likely be incredibly aware of the public image - since "image" is what he was rejected for. toshiro... i just really really love the way he'd feel about being the "other woman" in laios' marriage, considering his feelings about his father and maizuru. especially given how much closer he is to maizuru than his mother, being in her position...! his emotions would be so complex, it's incredibly tasty. i bet he'd make a bunch of assumptions about how laios' wife feels about it and be totally wrong, and that's so interesting. also, i think laios' wife should fuck marcille (she and falin have an open relationship).

[clownsuu]

Small detour of what I usually post, but I absolutely wish (other) clown the best of luck during these confusing and almost hopeless times- nobody knows how to deal with such amount of attention in such short amount of time- a blessing and a curse to behold

[imminent-danger-came]

They literally had Macaque get imprisoned in the Pagoda on behalf of Wukong ("You're not in this mess you're still free!") so that both MK and Wukong could run away ("Just run off like you always do-" "No that's you!") like I am ill

[oh-warizoro]

Perfect take on Zoro. Perfectly executed by Mackenyu.

The way EVERYONE is trying to have him work for them. Mr 7, I'm here with an invitation. Captain Morgan, Join the marines or you'll die tied to a cross.

Luffy, sets him free, doesn't force him to join, let's him go, let's Zoro decide where he wants to be;

And Zoro finds out that place is by Luffy's side. Ain't that beautiful?

[im-this-kind-of-girl]

Aziraphale and Crowley's unhinged character analyzis (pt2. Crowley)

Controversial opinion:

Aziraphale and Crowley at the end of Season2 managed to accomplish the main goal they each had since the beginning of time. Only to realize that what they wanted no longer made them happy.

Disclaimer: I have no idea about what is going to happen in Good Omens. This analysis could clearly be considered a theory since I'm not Neil Gaiman, but as someone who knows about narrative and character structure, I'm going to elaborate. Also, English is not my first language, so sorry in advance.

I've already talked about Aziraphale's possible transformation arc in the Good Omens story. In here I've also written important definitions such as what's a transformation arc. I highly recommend it to read it first.

Now it's time to talk about Crowley.

Crowley, the co-protagonist and love interest.

In our role as audience, Crowley is the character with whom one tends to empathize the quickest. By the end of the second season, most would be tempted to think Crowley was right. However, this is a lie. Not only is Crowley not right, but he rejected Aziraphale just the same, choosing his principles over love.

Now, why in the first instance do we not see it that way? Well, because we have Aziraphale's point of view. We always get the angel's reaction first, we always see the way Crowley shows up again and again and again to rescue him unconditionally.

Very rarely do we have a moment where Crowley is alone in crisis because his beliefs are challenged. No, everything he does is in function of Aziraphale and we see the story from his perspective, that is, from the perspective of someone who is in love with Crowley. Because of this, Crowley is equally liked and attractive to everyone equally: we are inside Aziraphale's in love POV.

By the time Crowley proposes Aziraphale to run away together, we as the audience are seeing a proposal that is incredibly tempting to us: we want Aziraphale to accept it because it's what Aziraphale really wants. That's why the fight hurts so much, because we know internally that the two of them had the chance to be together but didn't because they're not ready yet.

Crowley's Objective

Crowley, unlike Aziraphale, was happy in Season 2 with his current situation. Having cut ties with both Heaven and Hell pleased him, because Crowley always sought only one goal throughout his entire life: freedom.

The one thing Crowley has always desired is to be himself with no excuses and no strings attached.

Since before the beginning of time, Crowley came to the conclusion that he didn't fit in Heaven. He thought he would fit in Hell, but soon realized that it was like a deteriorated version of Heaven, so he didn't fit in there either. On Earth he doesn't quite fit in either. Sure, he likes humans, has a certain admiration and curiosity for them, but he still considers them a species far different from his own. He is not human and never will be, so he can't really identify with them at all. He enjoys the advantages of humanity, but he is not one of them.

The Job episode is an indicator of this, he himself says so "I am a demon who goes along with Hell as far as I can".

In this same episode, however, the major problem he has with this is also expressed. Azira tells him "that sounds lonely". The counterpart of freedom is loneliness. To be truly free, you need to have nothing and nothing to bind you. That's why Crowley is someone who is unsympathetic and even disinterested in dealing with third parties. He does not remember faces or names, he does not get significantly close to anyone because that would compromise his desire for genuine independence.

This characteristic is the only one that is present in absolutely all versions of Crowley: the book, radio drama and even in the cursed script of the movie that never was. That's why whenever he sees danger, his first reaction is to run away.

Being free he has nothing to lose… or does he?

Crowley's dilemma

Well, Crowley never fit in by being different and so he always felt somewhat an outcast. However, it wasn't long before he noticed that Aziraphale was also different.

Clearly the angel was not like the other angels in Heaven: he enjoyed Earth, he fell into temptations, he lied to other angels. Also, it is obvious that he would not fit in Hell, and while he is more empathetic to humans, he is still innocently aloof. Aziraphale has a pure goodness that Crowley admires, the goodness that made him be kind to the demon in the first place.

Moreover, no matter the time, no matter how little they knew each other, Aziraphale could always see through Crowley's evil masquerade. The demon could burn goats and murder people, and yet Aziraphale has always held a blind faith towards him. Crowley, the Serpent of Eden, who had been his entire existence told that he's doomed to be a crawling tempter, finds in the angel an unexpected possible friend who's never been afraid or bothered by him.

Crowley eventually feels they are both the same: two supernatural entities left on Earth who learned to enjoy life on their own terms. Crowley sees in Aziraphale the companionship he never thought he'd find, the friend he thought at the moment he fell he'd never have. And that feeling of companionship and admiration slowly morphed into something more until it became love.

The season finale isn't the first time Crowley has considered leaving Earth. Probably not even his fight in Season 1 was the first time he considered it. Yet he never did. He never could because, without Aziraphale, running away would doom him to a life of solitude. Free, sure, but completely alone since no one except his angelic friend could understand him.

However, I think Crowley is not aware of what he feels. Or at least, he hasn't been for a long time. I'm sure his moment of introspection about his feelings was when Nina confronted him about it. Up to this point, Crowley considered Aziraphale his best and only friend, obviously. Crowley is loyal to a fault and always thought his relationship with Aziraphale was perfect just the way it was, but suddenly someone put it into words and he realized that yes, that's what he really wants with Aziraphale.

Crowley's decision

Crowley wants his freedom. That's why he never asked Aziraphale for explanations (because at the end of the day they were just friends), that's why he never told him that he was living in his car (because he would end up depending on him), that's why he never talked about his fall (because that would be opening up too much).

The most ironic thing about the whole ending, is that just like Crowley did with Aziraphale… Aziraphale proposed to Crowley the one thing he wants more than anything: to be together, for good, but sacrificing his freedom.

Crowley is capable of doing anything for his angel, even without acknowledging that what they had was love. He's capable of driving on fire, capable of killing Gabriel, capable of walking inside a church. Of everything except one thing.

It's the one step Crowley didn't dare take. He is not a martyr like the angel, no, he is not willing to sacrifice himself to be together. So, the obvious happened: Crowley chose his freedom over Aziraphale just as Aziraphale chose Heaven over Crowley.

The end of his arc and Aziraphale.

As I said before, I don't think Crowley will have a significant change comparable to Aziraphale's. His personality and beliefs will not be changed in a momentous way, as Crowley no longer has ties to Heaven or Hell by pulling the tab on both sides.

His side is already picked: Humanity.

His biggest change is likely to be one of purpose. Crowley is no longer going to be satisfied with his freedom. And the latter is a fact: Crowley is officially free. Without Aziraphale in the equation, he no longer has anything or anyone tying him to do anything or be any other than who he truly is. Crowley can go to Alpha Centauri and never come back; he can sleep for 3,000 years; he can go around the world in the Bentley. He can do whatever he wants. This might seem ideal to the Crowley of 300 years ago, but today's Crowley is completely consumed by loneliness.

Crowley never cared about building a home or having material things because he never wanted to be tied to anything earthly for the sake of doubt. He was always aware of the destruction of the Earth.

Love is not something that can be prevented though, and in the absence of having a home, he found it in Aziraphale.

Aziraphale: trustworthy, sweet, warm, funny, a bit of bastard but always irrevocably good. Everything Crowley lost when he fell he almost automatically found back.

To this day I wonder what Crowley is going to do now that his angel is gone and the possibility of him fleeing to the stars is becoming more and more possible. It's going to depend a lot on how much time passes between seasons, but I don't think it will be much. For not only he was his anchor, no, without Aziraphale, he doesn't have someone to cause him to want to do better, he doesn't have someone to be vulnerable with, he doesn't have a goal anymore, nobody else to impress.

He isn't evil. He isn't good. And now, he is alone.

First Crowley lost the love of God and now the love of Aziraphale. And it is then that Crowley will realize that what he really wants is not to be free, but to be loved. And this desire can only be fulfilled by the love of his life, Aziraphale.

The thing is... Crowley has always wondered why.

Why falling? Why becoming the cursed Serpent? Why could he never be truly free?

At the end of his arc, he must come to the conclusion that the answer was always in front of him:

Love is the only answer he needs.

[wageronancap]

"Neutralize the immediate threat so we can spend the next two years dragging our political culture further to the left instead of fighting for our lives"

Wasn't that the point of the last election?

Wasn't the whole plan "elect Joe, we know he's establishment but we'll hold him accountable and drag him and all the government to the left"

How's that working out for you?

[reality-detective]

Okay... Pay Attention! This is where we're at. If you don't know the constitution I suggest you get a copy and educate yourself. We have to follow the rule of law, constitutional law.

Trump's executive orders and the military are handling the BIG reptiles in the swamp, we the people have to clean up our local communities. I have gone to school board meetings and I have no children in school, but I helped fight to have masks be a choice. If idiots want to wear them fine, but if people want clean oxygen they shouldn't have to be forced to wear them. To me, if people are wearing them it's a red flag 🚩 for me to stay away from them because they are asleep. I had to educate myself also. I had to arm myself with knowledge and have something concrete to back-up what I was saying.

Everyone Should be Doing The Same Thing.

If You Want Change, Be The Change. 🤔

Lose Your Fear and Kick Some Ass⚔️🛡️

[vividblaze]

Did the thing that's been going around. With bonus doodles of what she'd cook for the team back at the Lighthouse. [template link]

[rissi-chan]

I'm not crying, you're crying 🥹😭

[shawnmostik]

🇺🇦

[whereismymonsterlover]

I think about that demon TOO MUCH AAAAAH too many headcanons I'm going to go INSANE I will be drawing evil fairy Sebastian god bless his feminine waist and heel boots.

My headcanon for what BB!demons are at their physical foundations is a very dense emulsion of matter which surrounds their soul. That's what the black goop and mist is - their flesh made of infinitely transformable "matter", hence why they can take so many forms and materialise things. The amount of matter could be relative to a demon's power which grows with every soul they consume? I think of it like stem cells or atoms that can transmute or build into any earthly substance.

I especially like this because, with this magic logic, that first feast Sebastian prepares for Ciel would have been Sebastian's own flesh. By temporarily expending a small amount of his demonic "matter" to materialise all the food, Sebastian was polluting Ciel with that physical sin, made into nutrients in the form of badly seasoned chicken breast. I love this idea because it's like a totally other level of demonic possession.

Another thing to note is that this matter is not lost. Sebastian would be able to repossess that lost sin once he consumed the boy's soul. A similar idea to 'energy cannot be created nor destroyed' It's a little crazy but that's the physics of my headcanon lmao. Same for the manor - Sebatian has cosumed Ciel entirely without even touching his soul, as every brick sebastian laid is his transmutated flesh which he could snatch back for himself anytime he liked. It is him much more than it is 'his'.

Sebastian aims to possess as much of his contractor's life as he can. Be that with the very roof over their head or the food he fattens his cattle with; he doesn't want to risk poisoning his contractor so why not assure the quality himself? It's that traditional idea of demons "corrupting humans with sin" in a very literal way. Of course, this is made harder to achieve when Ciel orders Seb to execute things step-by-step, essentially barring him from materialising things from himself like this.

Chapter 138 (ironically this feels like im citing a bible verse) Sebastian is drawling on about how to interrpret Ciel's wishes. His little comment on 'keeping ciel inside his body' totally plays into what I'm imagining. This could even imply with my headcanon's logic that the flesh he repaired the manor with is exactly the concept he's describing in this panel - quarantining Ciel from harm within his own body.

I don't know! I hope this was interesting even if it's just food for thought. I love thinking about magic lore, especially when it's so mysterious in black butler. I also adore Sebastian for being such a different idea of what a "demon" can be. He's not a little red imp. He's not just a plotting piper mildly inconveniencing passers-by. And he isn't just a Mephistopheles archetype, though very similar. I feel like his "aesthetics", physicality and godly power really sets him apart. Idk I love that freak I wish we could kiss.

And this doesn't even scratch my ideas of his 'true form' or physical/earthly manifestation. so thats for a different post

[funkaloid]

[toxx-apex-727]

..i rhimk i grt ehar Mephistopheles nesnt niw

'thr deomn hslf drsires tej frwedom fpr chsos snd destrivtion, ehile thr himsn hakf keeos itdealed tigjtky awsy ot nrver br aeem. ehy nt ler lpose.. thr ogher ypu hss bren crsving ir.'

..ivr neen truimg tpo hsrd ot bols om tp sntthing thst msde mr guman rhst ibe rirned sway smd reprwssed snything rhst msdr mr dfferemt thsn hiw i isef tp bw

sdn bx od thqt. i feek rven leds lokr i ghink i sgoild. amd o meed ti dmbrave thst imdtead od pidh iy aeay.

[t00muchheart]

how do i explain to people that yes, i studied literature, and yes, one of my favorite books is supernatural 90s horse-girl au fic “spirit of the west” by teen_dean