#he may be an idealist but he is also sentimental

[anidealistatbestburntoutatworst]

guys i’ve been thinking

{this theory isn’t spoiler free}

[references to; osamu dazai’s entrance exam, chapter 28, chapter 58, episode 20. episode 33]

throughout this theory i reference kunikida’s notebook and “the book” with their respective colors (as shown there)

so i was thinking about kunikida (because he lives rent free in my brain) and his notebook- and i am intrigued at its potential connection to “the book” we’ve heard so much (yet know so little) about…

in chapter 58 when ranpo finds chief taneda we learn that the DoA are using a page ripped from “the book” to ensure the success of their plan- which got me thinking

we know that the page torn from “the book” is being used by the DoA but we also know that it was being used for research purposes- which leads me to theorize that kunikida’s notebook is perhaps a variant of that research?

we know that his notebook is held to the logical constraint of size (the object he conjures can’t exceed the size of the notebook) but that is when it’s more specifically tied to his ability…. so what for his schedule- i find it odd that he would use his notebook for both his ability AND schedule/ideals since we’ve only seen his ability used to conjure objects and he could very well use another notebook for his planning/ ideology….

with that in mind i am curious to know if kunikida is only using the surface level of the notebook and maybe isn’t aware/ doesn’t want to use its true powers because he is still tethered to the freedom of the human condition-

for example, his ideal partner- lets say he could use his notebook to manifest the ideal partner that meets all fifty-eight of his conditions…. but he won’t because he wants to make space for a life that’s not entirely bound by the logical/ methodical principles of his notebook…. there is a sense of freedom in his doing so (if his notebook really is a variant of “the book”) because it allows for kunikida to experience life through his idealistic lens while also giving leeway to the unaccounted for and illogical aspects of life-

all and all kunikida’s ideals may be perfect but they are just ideals… he is the one who gives them power and he is the one who has the freedom to see to it they become reality- kunikida’s notebook (though i theorize to be a variant of “the book”) is to him just his notebook, and therefore has less of an all-consuming/destructive weight to it (as it does when in the hands of the DoA)

in conclusion; i think that kunikida’s notebook is a variant of “the book” because of that one line chief taneda said about a page of “the book” being used for research.

thanks for reading

[periwinkla]

I think what I love the most about AA is that characters have a duality to them that I don't see often in media. They have actual flaws and do actual bad things, and it's not glossed over. Phoenix is a fundamentally good person, he helps people at the drop of a hat, risks his life for them. Has a penchant for taking strays under his wing. He believes in people... but also not really. He carries a literal lie detector with him at all times, and only employs people who can also peer into other people's hearts. So is he really that trusting? Sure he trusts his clients are innocent, but he doesn't trust they will tell him the truth at all (there's always something to lie about). He believes himself naive, and that's why he works extra hard not to be. Some people think he changed with his disbarment but I feel like when he actually changed was after Dahlia. He became less and less trusting as time went on. And Phoenix actually does forge evidence and risks his subordinate's career, and he says pretty nasty things sometimes (that one time to Edgeworth had got to hurt, badly, especially if you consider that the note could have been genuine at first, which we don't know for sure), has a pretty tactless and somewhat hurtful sense of humor, brings his daughter to cheat at poker, and doesn't tell said daughter she actually has some family left alive. He's secretive, elusive and cryptic, and masks it under a false pretence of goofiness. Miles is, by contrast, very easy to read. He may appear emotionally stunted but is one of the more emphathetic characters. He realizes when he's wrong and immediately needs to correct those wrongs. He grows uneasy and uncertain and eventually recognizes when he's mistaken. By the end of it he begins to help people naturally, without even thinking about it as much as he would have in the past. He helps so many people, he has basically got Phoenix's savior complex 2.0 but the healthy kind where he doesn't jump off a bridge. But... he was also actually cruel, and did send innocent people to their graves (was he really so naive to believe whichever defendant came his way was guilty?). He feigned his death disregarding other people's feelings, and while you could say he had no obligation towards Phoenix (apart from basic decency and respect towards someone who had turned his life around to save him), he still abandoned Franziska, who was still just a kid and had just discovered her father was a psychopath. She probably thought, at some point, that the apple didn't fall that far from the tree. That's it's somehow her fault as well. He may be rude and antagonistic, frank to a fault. Isn't afraid of telling stuff to your face. But he also cares about the people he loves so much, to the point he doesn't hesitate to risk his career and break the law multiple times. He may appear a pessimist but he's pretty idealistic at heart, it's quite funny that his favourite show is about an hero of justice, isn't it? Godot is... well, we don't know much about it from before his coma, but he definitely shared Mia's sentiments for helping people in their hour of need. But when he wakes from a 6-year coma he's so broken that he just pins the blame on the most absurd person to blame it on, settles on a complicated plan, and also prosecutes on that particular murder he should just confess upon. Iris was sweet, innocent, self-sacrificing. She knew absolutely nothing about the world apart from what Bikini or her sister told her. She was naive and falsely thought she could fix everything, that her sister was salvageable, that she could save Phoenix. But she still ended up lying to the person she loved and abetting a murder. That's why I love these characters so much. They're interesting and their stories make sense. People don't remain unchanged from what happens to them. People are multi-faceted and complex. You can't sum them up in a bunch of characteristics and aspect them to act on every single one of them, always, consistently. Sometimes people break. They make mistakes they regret, ...and some they don't.

[orenji-iro-no-sora]

Thoughts on TGCF book 1.

Vol 1 | Vol 2| Vol 3| Vol 4| Vol 5| Vol 6| Vol 7| Vol 8

*Spoilers*

Xie Lian's crush

I finished the first book and at this point Xie Lian might as well be sighing, giggling, twirling his ponytail and kicking his legs. He is so charmed (I don't blame him). It's funny that literally in bottom of a deathly pit, he's worried that he's too comfortable in Hua Cheng's princess hold. MXTX protagonists really have the worst timings for gay epiphanies. (Does it count as an epiphany if you're still oblivious?)

Body in abyss, isolation, friendship, and reverence

While they did say that Xie Lian learned that when body is in abyss, the heart can't be in paradise, I think he still managed to find tiny moments of paradise with Hua Cheng. And isn't that life?

Xie Lian has been extremely lonely all this time which contributed to him being attached to San Lang quite quickly. Also, Hua Cheng's sincerity shines through even in a disguise so immaculately created. Xie Lian is smart and figure things out easily, he's able to perceive Hua Cheng for what he is, irrespective of what others say about who he was. Their friendship is something that he holds dear; he values Hua Cheng's company.

Him being able to tell that Hua Cheng is the only one who ever called him 'His Highness' out of genuine respect instead of sarcasm also shows how aware he is of other's harsh sentiments towards him.

However, I do believe that even though it may be idealistic to accept and focus on the positive, Xie Lian as deep as he has been in the abyss, carries a troubled heart. His desire to forget his own suffering, embarrassment at his own actions, even when they stem from right intentions is a proof that he sees himself as someone who failed at all levels.

Instinct to protect

This idea is brought up again and again but Xie Lian is helpless in his desire to save people. First, as the commander who "died" saving Banyue, facing demotions and ridicule yet trying to protect civilians at the border, protecting is his way of showing that he cares. And he cares... alot. He is instinctual in his love. He didn't need to protect San Lang (from the bite, from the pit) especially when he knew that he's Hua Cheng yet he acted before thinking. Someone who's as calm and collected as him falling to his knees, screaming from the edge of pit really demonstrates how much he care about San Lang (to the point of irrationality, atleast by his standards).

Saving the common people, parallels to morality in real life

While he acts embarrassed of his foolish (yet brave) dream of saving the common people, it's something he's still striving for. Despite feeling self conscious and disappointed that he could not live up to his words, despite his strong belief in his own misfortune, despite his poor self confidence and lack of support, despite still not knowing the answer to how to save people, he's still doing it. He's still brave.

Xie Lian is also a perfect example of how people who choose morality and ethics in life are often treated by the rest. MXTX often makes her characters pay the price of taking a moral stance. There's a strong culture of self serving in the Heavenly Realm, officials want to extend their influence and climb the ladder. They carry disdain for Xie Lian, thinking him naïve for wanting to do something fruitless and selfless like striving to save the world. Hua Cheng carries admiration for the exact same goals.

Heavenly Realm, to me, is a reflection of society, where people are worshipped for their accomplishments, elevated to a godly status for their fame and influence, even when they have acted mostly in self interest. Service to community is not desired, even laughed at. There's an acceptance for certain doom and no initiative to change it.

Banyue: symbolism for young adult cluelessness

When state preceptor Banyue asked Xie Lian how to save the people, he expressed remorse at his inability to answer her. Banyue feeling like she had been a failure because she hadn't figured out life in 200 hundred years is such a parallel to how it feels to be a young adult having no idea what you're supposed to do in life and slowly wasting away with the time passing gradually out of your control.

I always thought being an immortal would take away the pressure of time, but I guess nothing can save us from this commodifying mindset, trying to find value and reason for existence. Even ghosts want purpose. Even deities do.

Ambiguous conflicts and nuanced feelings through Nan Feng and Fu Yao

One of the things that I really liked was that both the major conflicts in the story, that of Xuan Ji and Banyue vs Central Plains, were ambiguous in terms culpability. Who's to blame? Every party involved was responsible and in case of the war helpless in their own need for survival. Another parallel to reality.

Similarly, Nan Feng and Fu Yao's feelings towards Xie Lian were also nuanced. They "volunteered" to help him but carried anger and resentment towards Xie Lian, towards themselves for not supporting him back then, admiring him but also condemning him at the same time. I'd love to see how it'll all play out, I'm sure Xie Lian knows who they are and I want to see how he'll deal with it all. Emotions are often nuanced and complicated, you can love someone but dislike them, you can fear someone and still crave them and this juxtaposition of complicated feelings is something I really enjoy in fiction (and hate in real life).

Stereotypes and expectations

Tremendous Masculinity. XD

It might be a gag, but it also shows that even deities do not wish to live up to any expectations people may have of them. Often what is believed is not rooted in reality at all, and heavenly officials are powerless and unable to control people's beliefs about them.

Worshippers' ideas about gods also contributed to Xianle's downfall. Xie Lian was not invincible, that was his crime. That's why, later Xie Lian constantly denied Puqi people that he cannot offer wealth or a wife or a child to anyone. He won't make promises he can't keep.

Hua Cheng's name

Finally, I'm not sure which idea I like better: Hua Cheng being his real name, destined and fated to seek and hold flowers, or Hua Cheng being his fake name that he chose to live for Xie Lian, that he chose to find meaning in him.

Either way, I'm looking forward to learning more about who he really is.

Final Note- Ruoye is so cute. It's a band but it's cute.

I am sure my ideas are bound to change as I proceed with the novels but for now I'd say the first book was really enjoyable, a good mix of horror and action and fun interactions. Onto the second one!! <3

[k-rising]

Soobin's birth chart analysis

DISCLAIMER: This is just a part of the analysis of the idol's natal chart, which wants to show a deeper perspective on the idols life. This analysis is carried out thanks to the data that appears on the birth chart. The point of this post is to entertain. [This idol hasn’t confirmed his birth time, so I used the standard 12pm time to calculate his natal chart].

sun & mercury = ♐︎ / moon = ♓︎ / venus = ♑︎ / mars = ♎︎

soobin has both his sun and mercury in sagittarius, which makes him a very optimistic and funny person. he loves learning new things and having new experiences. also, his philosophical side might come to light from time to time when you less expect it. he's quite spontaneous and likes living in the moment.

this dude is ambitious, friendly and passionate with his sun conjunct pluto and sun sextile mars and uranus. soobin can be quite lucky at getting what he wants and he's likely to met a lot of people that can make him grow as an artist; this man knows how to make good connections.

soobin has a lot of aspects that indicates that he ain't afraid of expressing how he feels and he's able to show others how much he appreciates them... but he can also be quite good at manipulating people with his mercury sextile neptune.

soobin is an empathetic, sentimental and emotionally intuitive person with his pisces moon. he's shy when you first met him and has a silly sense of humor. it can be difficult for him to differentiate reality from his fantasy world and this can make him quite idealistic.

having capricorn as his venus sign indicates that he looks for serious and long-lasting relationships. soobin is attracted to people that are ambitious, mature and loyal. I get the feeling that he can be quite conservative regarding love, so don't try to ask him to bring more people into the relationship. this man seeks not only respect, but also emotional and financial security.

I have to say, though... he has venus conjunct neptune, which can indicate that he may be quite romantic in private ;) plus, with his venus trine jupiter and saturn I feel that he learns a lot from his partners.

having libra mars means that soobin is charming af, so people tend to like him right away. he can be quite indecisive and when conflicts arise, he acts in a passive-aggressive way. this dude prefers being a mediator rather than being involved in an actual argument. soobin has the tendency of running away from his problems and not resolving them. he's very diplomatic as well!

‧͙⁺˚･༓☾　𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑜 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔! 　☽༓･˚⁺‧͙

[frankingsteinery]

(for the ask game from a few days ago) could you do Victor for 2, 12, 15 and 24

2. Favorite canon thing about this character?

i had to sit and think because this one was so hard to narrow down. on a surface level i find all sorts of things about him endearing from his mannerisms to his speech patterns, but i think the thing that got me hooked on victor as a character was how emotionally demonstrative he is, particularly for a male protagonist. this also extends generally to his love for nature, for his friends, and his siblings (disregarding the incestuous implications of his relationship with elizabeth...)

i think this was only intensified for me when i started delving into frankenstein academic essays and analysis and then, by extension, the frankenstein fandom, and found that en masse it was people criticizing victor for just what interested me to him in the first place: being emotional, and therefore somehow melodramatic, overreacting, self-centered, egotistical, etc. it was this kind of climate of victor-hate that pushed me to make a tumblr account in the first place. someone had to be the sole victor defender in this barren wasteland

12. What's a headcanon you have for this character?

this is silly and probably not the serious answer you were looking for but like 2 years ago a dear friend of mine and i were joking about how you could catch victor frankenstein in a mouse trap and ever since then his assigned fursona in my head has been a mouse:

15. What's your favorite ship for this character?

by far its waltonstein (robert x victor). im aware clervalstein is vastly more popular, and while im charmed by it in-canon i dont find most depictions of it to my taste. i don't see their relationship as wholly reciprocated–one-sided on walton's end–which is part of the reason why i like their dynamic so much: its established that walton romanticizes the unobtainable, chases the unknown, and that's why he hangs all his hopes on things he cannot feasibly reach. first becoming a famous poet and going down with the greats, then sailing to find the northern passage despite being an inexperienced captain, all the while hoping for this impossibly idealistic image of a companion who would be perfectly tailored to his interests and manners, and then, against all reason, he finds this in victor, wherein victor becomes an extension of this habit, who is dying and too hung up in the past and on martyring himself, because everyone who has grown close to him has been hurt for it, so he cannot love again, or at least in the way walton wants. yet victor still has a reciprocated interest and finds a friend in him, even shares the same sentiment of the importance of friendship, but like he says no man can "be to him as clerval was." its very much wrong place/time but the right person.

ive said this before but i think, too, that if victor had recovered and lived than walton may fall a little less in love with victor. their relationship was founded on their dynamic of sick/caretaker, and beyond that, victor would have already exhausted his story, so there's no air of mystery around him anymore–nothing for walton to glorify or romanticize. ultimately i think even if they had the best of intentions and loved each other, they could not have a healthy or fully mutual relationship, and part of the appeal to me is this tragedy!

24. What other character from another fandom of yours that reminds you of them?

im drawing a bit of a blank on this one because no other character encompasses just what victor Is to me, but theres a whole host of victor-esque characters i could name because he is the literal foundation for the mad scientist archetype. if i was pressed i think id say geoffrey tempest from sorrows of satan by marie corelli (beyond his blatant misogny), and i remember some parts of emil sinclairs early narration in demian by herman hesse reminded me of victor. lucifer/satan from paradise lost also, particuarly the bit where he says he cannot enjoy the beauty of earth for the suffering of his fall, but that almost feels like a cop-out answer.

lastly–and this one is completely unfounded–itd have to be double dee from EEnE.

[sytokun]

RWBY's characters are friggin hard to write properly

"People who make RWBY rewrites will never know the effort CRWBY goes through to make RWBY, they just say their work is better"

Rewriters, with 0 funding, 0 studio backing and niche fan support:

How do I write Ruby as a nuanced long-term protagonist who struggles with trying to carry on someone else's legacy (Summer) while becoming her own person as one of the youngest people in the cast? Between Ozpin cementing her Hunter career and Summer's death, how does she know how much of her dreams and goals are truly her own, and how much will her morals be tested as she finds out the actual sacrifices and difficult choices she will have to make as a Hunter, which goes far beyond her initial idealistic idea of Hunters as infallible heroes who are always on the right side?

How do I write Weiss' struggle and deal with the fact that Jacques is underwhelming as her personal antagonist, with his motivations as a businessman seemingly entirely divorced from Weiss' own goals of becoming a Hunter, and thus her own goals of becoming a Hunter runs contrary to the kind of journey she needs to become the SDC's heiress? How do I best convey her loneliness and her presentation between the trailer and the show, where her inner life is sullen and contemplative, but her outer personality manifests in being overly abrasive and competitive? How do I portray her struggling with her racist views while not making her an outright unlikeable lead, giving her moral journey the nuance it deserves and not just sweeping it under the rug and have her simply undergo a change of heart on a dime?

How do I write Blake, which means by extension I need to properly write the entirety of the White Fang? How should I contextualise her relationship with Adam, her undercover identity with Beacon and her conflict between wanting peace and coexistence vs. standing up for the right thing, as someone who is part of a disenfranchised people yet is now working for a majority human organisation and Kingdom? How do I write her as a Faunus and show her unique struggle as one in this fantasy world that seems familiar and relatable, but also believable for a people whose animal features grant them wildly more disparate biological differences from humans beyond just skin colour, even many of them being outright advantages over humans, thus not making them a straightforward 1-to-1 allegory for race in our world?

How do I write Yang, someone whose entire character rides a very delicate balance between a family-oriented, sentimental and protective sister and surrogate mother figure; and a thrill-seeking, reckless person willingly throwing herself into danger out of a distinct lack of purpose and concern for her own life, due to never having a proper childhood and growing up too early, so every day is spent like she's a brilliant star that's looking for every opportunity to burn herself out for the sake of others or giving her life some sense of purpose?

How do I write Jaune, who is infamously known for how much screentime he steals from the main cast, so I have to trim everything surrounding him to facilitate the main girls' development, while still giving him the same amount of substance fans come to expect from him due to his disproportionately large amount of prominence and screentime for the past 10 years? How do I rework his role as an audience surrogate and have him be inexperienced but also not inconsistently ignorant (like not knowing what Aura is despite being from a family of Hunters), knowing that after he's done learning, he still needs an actual characterisation to fall back on?

How do I write Ren and Nora, knowing that they've been treated as a 2-in-1 package from the start? How do I make them more distinct characters, knowing I may need to expand on them further down the line, but also making sure they fulfill their roles as supporting characters without taking too much time away from the main cast? What sort of traits do I give them that makes them more distinct from each other, while selling to the audience that they've known each other forever, making them believable as childhood partners while also being their own people with tangible personal lives beyond each other's company?

How do I write Pyrrha, someone who only got proper characterisation in the second half of the same Volume she dies, and properly pace it throughout the story, while also making sure she properly stands as her own person and not just a vehicle devoted for Jaune's development to the detriment of her relationships with everyone else, including her other teammates? How do I portray her complex inner turmoil, where she's torn between her destiny of becoming someone great after showing great promise and talent since a young age, but also seeks a normal, fulfilling life forming connections with people she can view as equals and not from atop a pedestal? How do I deal with her immensely polarising death, knowing that if I do so, I would be trading a great amount of potential for growth and unexplored avenues for her character in exchange for a story-defining loss that singlehandedly changed the story moving forward?

How do I write Penny, someone whose newfound humanity poses far-reaching questions for the nature of Aura and the soul in Remnant, whose friendship with Ruby needs to be given proper devotion and time to really sell their friendship, given she occupies a pretty notable role as Ruby's best friend who isn't from her team or JNPR, or even really associated with Beacon? How do I handle her death and possible return, knowing that her soul's malleable nature could lead to any number of possible ways she can come back to life, but not as herself - showing that while she may be, in a sense, immortal, there is still always a price to pay for reviving her; because simply bringing her back with no repercussions feels dramatically unsatisfying and cheapens the power and impact of her first death?

How do I write Ozpin, one of the most divisive and enigmatic figures in the show, whose fan perception of him ranges from "well-intentioned tragic hero" to "morally grey immortal pragmatist" to "manipulative head of shadow government"? How do I satisfyingly convey the extent of his powers and wisdom, as well as the moral mire of his actions, knowing I have to push and pull the view of the audience towards him - and by extension the views of Ruby and the other heroes - starting as a fairly trustworthy if shady mentor, slowly unraveling his past and calling him into question, and how that would divide the allegiances of the cast?

How do I write Raven, another mysterious figure who left her daughter and family behind for equally mysterious reasons? What could reasonably cause someone like her, a battle-hardened warrior and formerly a hero, to abandon her daughter? Why does her Semblance seem to contradict this, allowing her to instantly reach people she cares for, showing she may actually have cared all along, but was forced to distance herself for some reason?

How do I write Cinder, a widely-disliked villain who many consider to overstay her welcome and has a uninteresting personality, and considered one of the least compelling antagonists in the show, despite being one of the most prominent ones? What could I do to improve her place in the series to make her a more compelling villain, while still maintaining her more substantial traits, like how she seeks power and control, and uses a mix of intimidation and cunning to strip power away from Ozpin, while coordinating large-scale plans involving multiple accomplices and complex Semblances?

How do I write Adam, a character who elicits some of the most impassioned reactions from any side of the fandom, knowing that he is an oppressed Faunus in a group fighting to keep their own place in a world that violently wants to keep them down? How do I fairly represent him and the White Fang as a faction that causes large-scale conflict in Remnant and the plot, knowing I have to grapple with the uncomfortable situation that our heroes are fighting possibly the only group on Remnant willing to fight for the rights of the Faunus? Is it worth maintaining their canon portrayal as a once noble group with corrupted ideals (knowing the canon show's horrible history of villainising disenfranchised people in favour of an unjust but comfortable status quo) or should the portrayal of this group evolve to meet a better standard that better represents people opposing such blatant inequality and discrimination?

How do I weigh the options between keeping or removing Oscar, a character who is popular but also criticised for being an extraneous protagonist-type character, and do this knowing he is polarising enough that I would make one half of the fandom unhappy no matter what I choose - those who love Oscar and his inclusion in the show and the moral conflict he presents, as well as being a sort of moral contrast to Ozpin, vs. those who feel he is narratively unnecessary and under normal circumstances, he has very little reason to exist in the story?

What do I do with Salem, a character whose presence determines the entire direction and stakes of the show, whose early introduction led to large periods of inaction and passivity that diminishes her impact and legitimacy as a villain?

How do I write Ironwood, a greatly divisive character who some view as a misunderstood hero and potential ally who was turned into an unapologetic villain only through a mishandled narrative, while others view as an inevitable antagonist who was always destined to come to blows with the heroes? How do I balance his role as a strong but unstable ally of Ozpin, who is an open book who is quick to action while Ozpin is secretive and slow to act, and portray this uneasy tension well up until the Fall of Beacon, past Ozpin's death and all the way till Ironwood's tipping point in the fight against Salem and the Grimm?

And so on and so forth for every other character - not even including the setting and overarching plot.

We may have 20/20 hindsight by working with an existing work, but we also have to use every ounce of that hindsight to work with whatever shit that RWBY makes up - which is a far more herculean task than many give it credit for.

Our benefit of hindsight is countered by canon RWBY's benefit of foresight and the responsibility to create a cohesive narrative with the characters and setting they have. Our job is hardly easier; creation of any sort is a hard endeavour - it's just hard in a different way than making something from scratch. One is the freedom of a writer to create something new and then seeing it through; the other is the editor who must correct for mistakes and properly respect and best enhance the work that is on their table.

People who dismiss RWBY rewrites and fanfiction like to think RWBY is this perfectly tended garden, and we're just harmful pests coming to strip and infest it for no discernible reason, when the reality is closer to RWBY being a buggy, rushed game with exploitative monetization and near game-breaking glitches, and we are players and modders simultaneously trying clean up the mess it left behind and hash it together into something less prone to failure.

No one is denying that a lot of effort and work went into the game. Doesn't mean that the game isn't a buggy product on release and its creators could have done so, so much better. The recent Pokemon S&V game is a perfect example of how a piece of media can have a lot of fun things to enjoy and is widely-liked with a lot of great content - and also be intensely broken and criminally underdelivered, given the resources and underlying value of the property the company has access to.

[phlve]

Sociotype Profiles — LII

Ego

Leading Ti

The LII naturally assesses statements, opinions, and actions in terms of conformance to certain principles. These principles may in practice be rules of thumb based on experience, but LIIs will usually appeal to more general, self-evident reasons, if the need arises. The LII is most engaged in communication when they are critically analyzing people's decisions and actions as well as how they generally are or are not consistent with certain pre-established goals. their dual, the ESE, likes hearing the LII's judgment, and simultaneously softens its edge by shifting their focus to how they are communicating their ideas, letting them see the intellectual thought process from the outside. The ESE appreciates and praises their ability to take the information seriously, but the ESE will find funny ways of reminding the LII of how they are coming across when they seem more serious than they realize.

"Just because" is not in an LII's vocabulary. If there is a reason for something, the LII will probably want to find it. The LII strives to reduce things to their most essential aspects, and mentally recreate the whole from the bottom up. The LII's theoretical tendencies can often leave him out of touch with reality, and if unchecked may lead to abstract theories that make logical sense but have little bearing on the real world.

The LII may explore many avenues of thought, but in the end only tell others his refined conclusions, because he sees the intermediate steps as irrelevant. He is often too concise for his own good, making it difficult for others to understand his ideas.

Creative Ne

The LII often applies Ti in an academic field such as mathematics, one which allows for abstract speculation to be realized in concrete conclusions. The LII does not much care for implementation or hands-on work, requiring some degree of independence from material demands in order to develop his own ideas. If the LII feels made to do a task he perceives as boring, he will try to find an original way to do it, if simply for the sake of developing an interesting idea. The LII can think on his feet, and is able to consider multiple viewpoints, although if he feels that he has fully analyzed an idea in the past, he may dismiss it out of hand with Ti.

The LII is always in tune with the "big picture", looking at things from the most general perspective possible. Given this frame of reference, he sees many ways ordinary life could be changed to meet his vision of how things should be. Thus the LII is often seen by other more practically-minded types as naively idealistic.

The LII does not come up with ideas simply for their own sake, but tries to relate everything back to "the main point". He quickly becomes impatient or disinterested with discussion that is simply meant to generate ideas, instead of realizing them.

Super-Ego

Role Fi

The LII is acutely aware of social conventions, such as saying "please" and "thank you", and expends much effort to conform to these rules to maintain the status of a "polite" person. But he tends to overdo the conventions themselves, as opposed to the relationships they are supposed to establish, and so ends up stepping on other people's toes (violating some less easily definable convention which he would never really want to conform to anyways). He prefers an easy-going environment where such conventions don't exist in the first place. When in a heated argument, an LII can alienate others by his natural tendency to hold and defend strong opinions (Ti).

If asked to express a unique, personal sentiment, such as a favorite color or football team, the LII may find difficulty choosing if there is no "obvious" answer. He often feels like he has no real personal, subjective feelings at all, and usually has to make a conscious decision where other types could easily supply an instinctive reaction.

The LII also is very sensitive about how other people see him, feeling depressed if he has affections that are not returned. For this reason, he tends to avoid expressing signals that show interest in certain people (as opposed to signals about his general mood and demeanor, which he feels to be much more natural), but of course it just aggravates his loneliness, instead of relieving it.

Vulnerable Se

The LII hates being ordered what to do, and chafes especially under orders that don't make sense to him. In such cases the LII is likely to criticize the authority — but if he does he is not subtle about it, and usually ends up being marked as a "rebel" and feeling even more frustrated than he did to begin with. An LII works best alone, so that he doesn't have to subordinate (to) others — or constantly negotiate his priorities, which strains his patience and diverts his time and attention away from reworking his understanding; if he is forced to waste time defending what he already knows, he gives up the freedom to deepen his understanding further. He does not tolerate pushiness combined with close-mindedness.

The LII does not like being simply told "get real" or "get off your duff", which he views as crude, intrusive, and insulting. He prefers to be left alone - or better, included in an atmosphere of open discussion that is receptive to his thoughts and thereby inspire him to develop them more.

If the LII has a problem that cannot be solved intellectually, but requires direct personal confrontation, he may resort to total avoidance rather than approaching the person directly, which he tends to think will produce only frustration and contempt. The LII thinks that, in an ideal world, everyone would just listen to reason instead of insisting on having their own way.

Super-Id

Suggestive Fe

Being a naturally private person, the LII finds it difficult to believe that others would be interested in what he is thinking or feeling at any given moment. He feels like something is not quite right if his interaction with the people around him is too aloof. However he only rarely makes an effort to venture into more open spheres, because he usually avoids making small talk, preferring to talk about his real interests and say only what he truly believes.

To this end, the LII, above all things, appreciates others' attempts to get him to "open up" emotionally and express his true thoughts and views of the world - not just as an abstract ideal living in his head, but as something that other people actually care about enough to participate in and bring to fulfillment. His focus on important abstract matters also leads him to detach from the world, if it is not complemented with a healthy dose of silliness. The LII is usually oblivious to his emotional-psychological state and feels little responsibility for improving it, not to mention the state of others. This means that "bad emotions" can build up in him until some environmental factor comes along to alleviate them. Visible demonstrations of emotional warmth play a major part in this: something as simple as a big smile and a hug is enough to brighten an LII's day. The LII can be attracted to insincere displays of affection, even if he consciously realizes that they are only in jest.

The LII is often at a loss for what to do in social situations, and appreciates others who make him feel included in a new group and in the emotional side of a situation. The LII tends to take life very seriously, and appreciates others who can show him the lighter side of things.

Mobilizing Si

The LII has poor control over his physical well-being, neglecting matters of simple hygiene relatively easily. He dislikes having to take care of mundane details of work, but simultaneously derives pleasure from aesthetic neatness and organization.

The LII is easily annoyed by sensory over-stimulation, including loud noises, bright light, and temperature. On the other hand, he easily becomes "addicted" to more pleasurable things, such as music, which have a corresponding effect on his mood (Fe). When left to his own devices, the LII tends to oscillate unhealthily between total indulgence of the senses and total neglect (the latter especially when working on something he feels to be extremely important). He tends to feel guilty for indulging in hedonism for the sake of hedonism.

On the surface the LII can seem easygoing, but in work projects or at home his critical nature will become more obvious.

Id

Ignoring Te

The LII is an efficient worker, and seeks out new tools, resources, or methods as long as they are directly relevant to his work or interests. He is not likely to keep especially careful track of his finances, avoiding this by keeping his needs simple and constant.

The LII can easily understand whether something is impractical or not, but prefers to explain why using structural principles. He dislikes rote memorization of dates and the like, but paradoxically will often have a mental store of many arcane pieces of information (such as the first 100 digits of pi) he finds interesting or equally absurd technical skills (like mastering a video game). Such skills and information will either be a part of his leisure activities, or relate directly to his main interests, which he chooses not based on their immediate practical consequence, but on how interesting they are.

The LII only exchanges such information in conversation for entertainment, and criticizes overly bland or rambling analyses, especially if he feels they have no point.

Demonstrative Ni

The LII is a naturally cautious person, and never acts without considering the consequences in detail. This tendency sometimes prevents him from acting decisively—or at all. However, he tries not to be overly pessimistic about the consequences of others' actions, and only offers direct advice in this area if it is specifically requested. If something bad happens he is usually willing to forgive and move on without placing blame, re-establishing the course as subtly and smoothly as possible. While he tends to have very specific ideas about his general life principles and goals, he is basically indifferent as to their specific timeframe and implementation.

The LII has an active imagination, but it tends to fade in and out and its products are rarely verbalized. He hardly ever says purposely cryptic or idiosyncratic things, and criticizes others for employing overly obscure concepts.

Source: Wikisocion

[oceansborn]

𝖙𝖍𝖗𝖔𝖓𝖊𝖘𝖍𝖖𝖘 ::: jack lowden ;  29 ;  cis man ;  he/him .  ANNOUNCING  the arrival of LOREON of house LANNISTER, PRINCE of CASTERLY ROCK. rumors around the courts talk of their COURAGEOUS yet HEDONISTIC nature, and bards have often likened them to GALES OF RAUCOUS LAUGHTER AND LEWD BANTER ECHOING IN THEIR WAKE / A DIMPLED, ARROGANT GRIN / KNEES THAT BUCKLE INCHES BEFORE THE FINISH LINE. it is said their loyalties lie with THE WESTERLANDS, but will they succeed in bringing their side to victory? may the old gods and the new show them their favor in these turbulent times, for they will surely need it.

stats.

full name: loreon lannister // title: prince of casterly rock // occupation: sellsword for the golden company (formerly) // age: twenty nine // gender & pronouns: cis man, he/him // orientation: bisexual // relationship status: single // children: none // allegiance: the westerlands & house lannister // spoken languages: common tongue (fluent), some high valyrian, bastard valyrian (fluent) // religion: faith of the seven

physical.

height: 6'1 // build: athletic, lean // eye colour: blue // hair colour & type: blond, slightly wavy // dominant hand: left

temperament.

best: courageous, perceptive, loyal, idealistic, moral // worst: arrogant, reckless, blunt, self-indulgent, short-tempered // moral alignment: neutral good

bio.

loreon is a prince of casterly rock and luckily not the firstborn lannister as he doesn't have a politician's bone in his body. as a boy, he oscillated between his love for music and fighting. the latter was more encouraged by society, particularly as he grew into a tall, strong man, known for his bold and fearless spirit that inspires awe and even loyalty in those he trains with. he easily impresses with his dashing courage, but it's also just as easily mistaken for arrogance, which he usually doesn't bother to correct. he has a softer, sentimental side he rarely shows, though — the side of him that enjoys music and poetry, and has an eye for beauty.

with little interest in politics and court intrigue, loreon aspired mainly to make his parents proud (no easy feat as far as he's concerned, being their third born) and dreamed of becoming a knight. his gentler side did, however, also feel he wouldn't be complete without a family of his own. loreon's self-indulgent streak clashed with those notions, eventually culminating in a broken betrothal. in his heartbroken state, he decided he was neither good enough to be a knight nor anyone's husband. it led to his departure from westeros, joining the golden company to work as a sellsword in the free cities for a few years. 

he's recently returned to westeros, cocky and hedonistic as ever, but there's a certain callousness to him now that bodes no good.

wcs.

childhood friends (and friends he trained with), penpals he maintained contact with while he was in essos, any and all essosi connections (such as friends, lovers, fellow sellswords), lovers past & present (he's probably broken a few hearts in his time, but former lovers that ended on a good note would be fun too!), recent friends (drinking companions, maybe?).

[dahliayoung]

TASK 001 — personality.

❝ 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻 𝒾𝓃 𝒶 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓃𝓉𝓁𝓎 𝓉𝓇𝓎𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑒𝓁𝓈𝑒 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑔𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓉𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒶𝒸𝒸𝑜𝓂𝓅𝓁𝒾𝓈𝒽𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉 ❞

MBTI: INFP-T

Although they may seem quiet or unassuming, people with the INFP personality type (Mediators) have vibrant, passionate inner lives. Creative and imaginative, they happily lose themselves in daydreams, inventing all sorts of stories and conversations in their mind. INFPs are known for their sensitivity – these personalities can have profound emotional responses to music, art, nature, and the people around them. They are known to be extremely sentimental and nostalgic, often holding onto special keepsakes and memorabilia that brighten their days and fill their heart with joy. Idealistic and empathetic, people with the INFP personality type long for deep, soulful relationships, and they feel called to help others. Due to the fast-paced and competitive nature of our society, they may sometimes feel lonely or invisible, adrift in a world that doesn’t seem to appreciate the traits that make them unique. Yet it is precisely because INFPs brim with such rich sensitivity and profound creativity that they possess the unique potential to connect deeply and initiate positive change.

ALIGNMENT: NEUTRAL GOOD

A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works with kings and magistrates but does not feel beholden to them. Neutral good is the best alignment you can be because it means doing what is good without bias for or against order. However, neutral good can be a dangerous alignment when it advances mediocrity by limiting the actions of the truly capable.

LOVE LANGUAGE: QUALITY TIME

Your Love Tank overflows with Quality Time. You prize undivided attention from others. Spending meaningful and uninterrupted time together profoundly impacts your emotional world. Whether it’s in deep conversations or sharing experiences together with a loved one who is fully present and engaged, Quality Time conveys that you are a top priority and deeply loved.

ENNEAGRAM: FOUR

Fours are self-aware, sensitive, and reserved. They are emotionally honest, creative, and personal, but can also be moody and self-conscious. Withholding themselves from others due to feeling vulnerable and defective, they can also feel disdainful and exempt from ordinary ways of living. They typically have problems with melancholy, self-indulgence, and self-pity. At their Best: inspired and highly creative, they are able to renew themselves and transform their experiences.

FOUR TEMPERAMENTS: MELANCHOLIC

The melancholic temperament, is often characterized by deep thoughts, introspection, and a propensity for reflection. A person with a melancholic temperament is typically introverted, detail-oriented, and analytical, often displaying an inclination toward philosophical or intellectual pursuits. Melancholics value order, consistency, and perfection. They are driven by a strong sense of right and wrong and have high personal standards. While this can make them incredibly dedicated, it can also lead to self-criticism or perceived inadequacy when they fall short of their own expectations. Melancholics tend to form deep, meaningful relationships, cherishing a few close bonds rather than seeking broad social networks. They are typically sensitive and empathetic, often going to great lengths to understand and support those close to them. Their introspective nature can lead to a predilection for solitude, and they often need time alone to recharge. They are known for their introspective and often creative minds, as their propensity for deep thought can inspire beautiful pieces of art, literature, and other forms of expression. On the downside, melancholics can struggle with a tendency towards pessimism, and they may be prone to feelings of sadness, worry, or even depression. They can get caught up in overanalyzing situations, which can lead to indecision or inaction. They might also struggle to adapt to new environments, preferring to stick to what they know and are comfortable with. Despite these challenges, when in balance, melancholics can contribute enormously to society, especially in roles that require thoughtful analysis, attention to detail, or deep empathy. They are the planners, the thinkers, and the caretakers, often bringing a level of depth and introspection that can deeply enrich the lives of those around them.

ZODIAC SIGN: CANCER

Deeply intuitive and sentimental, Cancer can be one of the most challenging zodiac signs to get to know. They are very emotional and sensitive, and care deeply about matters of the family and their home. Cancer is sympathetic and attached to people they keep close. Those born with their Sun in Cancer are very loyal and able to empathize with other people's pain and suffering.

[garak]

as a magprof enjoyer i am glad the movies gave us what they did. however here are my problems with the movies renditions of them.

1. why is prof x not bald. he looks fucked up with hair. also magneto had white hair when they met. they should not look like strapping young men

2. changing it so magneto caused xavier’s paralysis instead of the devil(?) sorry i don’t remember if it was the literal devil or just a guy named lucifer. either way that was stupid

3. prof x is a bitch and annoying as fuck and his ideas suck quite often. he is not a bumbling academic uwu nerd. he is a member of the dnc. also, mutant separatism is the actual outcome of 60+ years mutant politics so at least for now magneto was proven right and prof x’s idealistic sentiments have not come to pass even a little

4. magneto may be a trusted adult to the new mutants but most of the other x men HATE him. not even his kids like him. also, prof x is a father figure to scott and ororo but certainly not all the x men. they are both TERRIBLE dads however mags gets points for being a better father to bobby than prof x OR bobby’s actual dad

5. erik lehnsherr is a fake name, the name he originally went by & the one he gave xavier when they met was magnus, but he also goes by michael xavier while on the x men and after prof x “dies” (goes on a honeymoon with his alien wife). his real name is max eisenhardt. on the other hand charles xavier is in fact that bald freaks real name and he’ll give it out to anybody

6. magneto should have been able to always block xavier’s telepathy. he developed his mental barriers and limited psychic abilities before he met prof x for reasons unknown except out of sheer willpower. the helmet is fun but removes one of my favourite pieces of random magneto overpoweredness and thus i must rail against it

7. they knew each other for months before mags revealed his powers by killing a bunch of hydra goons with their own guns. almost immediately after this magneto stole a massive cube of nazi gold and flew off into the sunset and they didn’t see each other until they met like 20 years later when prof x was like “do NOTstart a war right now bitch” and magneto was like “don’t care i could kill you right now you suck” and prof x was like “ok well i could kill you too. so now what” and then they both left and prof x pussied out and made the x men fight him instead. also at this point he lives on an asteroid in space. worth mentioning

[anidealistatbestburntoutatworst]

now my question to the jury is- why is kunikida so often made to be this overly obsessive idealist who’s go-to emotion is angst related?!? like we are talking about the man who has one of the galaxies largest guilt complex and ideals or otherwise is really just out here doing his best as he goes along?!?!

like yes he has his moments of annoyance but i think that so much of that is rooted in the internal battle raging on like 24/7 because of his ideals-

like this man has been passed off as being naive when he actually maintains a deeper understanding/appreciation of the world bc despite how awful it has been to him time and time again he remains loyal to his ideals and is willing to do whatever it takes to see they are fulfilled to the best of their abilities- like hello?!?!

sorry sorry i’ll get off my soap box now

[jesuis-melodrama]

The Sixteen Personalities of the Neurotics: A Myers-Briggs Analysis of My Favourite Miraculous Characters

I tend towards characters that are independent, self-capable, and highly skilled.

ADRIEN AGRESTE - THE PROTAGONIST | ENFJ-A

Adrien feels that he is called to serve a greater purpose in life. An inspiring optimist, he aims to readily take action and do what he feels is right. Imaginative, open-minded, and curious, Adrien values originality and delights in finding secret meanings and hidden possibilities. Rarely shying away from an opportunity to do the right thing, Adrien is a feeling individual, expressing significance on empathy, social harmony, and cooperation. Despite his sentimentalities, however, Adrien is a highly-organised and thorough person, prone to bouts of spontaneity, but a strong adherer to structure. Resistant to stress, Adrien tries not to worry too much about the little things and focus on achieving his goals. Adrien usually have a positive impact on the world and the people surrounding him. A notable weakness, however, is Adrien’s tendency to be overtly idealistic. Possessing a strong sense of justice and truth, it comes as a fundamental shock to Adrien should anyone 'violates’ these values. Adrien also has an unfortunate habit of being intense, whether in relationships or in improvement, Adrien may push others to take steps they’re not ready for, or weren’t even interesting in making in the first place.

Famous Protagonists include: Sean Connery, Maya Angelou. Daenerys Targaryen, Elizabeth Bennet, and Malala Yousafzai. 

LILA ROSSI - THE COMMANDER | ENTJ-A

Lila is a commander. A natural-born leader; in situations where order is required, Lila will always present herself as one, unless it benefits her to remain silent. Bold, imaginative, and strong-willed; Lila finds a solution, or she makes one. Characterised by her ruthless efficiency and logic, Lila prioritises her mind over her heart. While she can interpret emotion – hard to be a successful manipulator if she couldn’t – Lila does not necessarily understand it, and find overt displays of distress or zeal disconcerting and uncomfortable.

Lila experiences little doubt and chooses not to reminisce over past mistakes and regrets, which often causes her to be self-confident when striving to achieve goals. 

Famous Commanders include: Gordon Ramsay, Margaret Thatcher, Steve Jobs, Miranda Priestly, and Milady de Winter.

FÉLIX GRAHAM DE VANILY - THE LOGISTICIAN | ISTJ-A

Félix is practical and fact-minded to a t. Reliable and conscientious, it’ll be difficult for Félix to fail a task or be taken off-guard. As a self-confident individual, Félix prides himself on his integrity and commitment. Whilst not necessarily misanthropic, Félix strongly prefers spending time on his own, or with a few intimate friends and family, rather than with a crowd of strangers. Naturally drawn to calmer environments, Félix prefers quality over quantity in social interactions. With strong observation skills, Félix is hyper-aware of events around him at all time, even the smallest mishap is unlikely to escape his judgement and notice. Félix finds no comfort in chaos, no enjoyment in lawlessness. To him, effectiveness is more darling than social harmony, he values structure and clarity over any spontaneity. 

Famous Logisticians include: Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, George Washington, Hermione Granger, and Mr Darcy. 

[rhetoricandlogic]

Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead Is a Satisfying Start to K.J. Parker’s New Trilogy

Matthew Keeley Tue Oct 31, 2023 2:30pm

K. J. Parker, the prolific pseudonym of British comic novelist Tom Holt, is one of the most enjoyable fantasists working today, provided you have a taste for the sardonic, a dislike for the sentimental, and an unhealthy skepticism about human nature. His latest novel, Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead, may not be his most ambitious, but it offers substantial entertainment.

In The Devil’s Dictionary, Ambrose Bierce defined a cynic as “A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.” In his play Lady Windermere’s Fan, Oscar Wilde has Lord Darlington opine that a cynic is a “man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” In K.J. Parker’s novels, the cynics have inherited the earth. There are occasional non-cynical characters in Parker’s novels, but they tend to have bit roles. And while they may walk on confidently, they rarely exit the scene on their own power. More often than not, the hapless innocents and luckless idealists are quickly stabbed, bludgeoned, or otherwise dispatched, then discreetly dragged offstage.

Saevus Corax (not his given name) might not know the price of everything, but he’s an adept judge of military hardware. Corax, which I remind all the non-Classicists is Latin for “raven,” leads a company of battlefield salvagers. Like his namesake bird, Corax swoops down to the battlefield after hostilities have ceased. He and his men strip corpses of clothes and armor, retrieve and refletch used arrows, collect swords and spears, and finally tidy up the place by burning the bodies. They also tend to the wounded. It’s not humanitarian so much as pragmatic: Life may be cheap in Corax’s world, but the various armies will still pay good money to have a soldier back on their feet and back in the fray.

Corax is a tad sensitive about his real identity: In the first chapter of the novel, he fatally poisons an injured soldier who was unfortunate enough to know who the salvager used to be and stupid enough to trumpet the fact. Without delving too deep into the plot, Corax’s real identity is eventually discovered, and he is forced to travel to Sirupat, the geopolitical flashpoint of his world. Although the island has few inhabitants, little arable land, and less culture, it’s also the source of much of the world’s gold. Multiple nations, backed by two rival banks, are converging on the island, and Corax manufactures ploy after desperate ploy in an attempt to stave off a world-wide war.

Although Corax personally believes that “a convincing lie improves on bleak, bare fact,” in his capacity as narrator, he is scrupulously honest about his general lack of scruples. Running from his past invariably lands Corax in physical peril and moral jeopardy. He reflects that “a good man would have reached the point where he stopped running, held his hands up and offered his throat to the knife,” but Corax is a man of few illusions and could never label himself good.

All this might sound grim, and it occasionally is, but Parker’s wry tone and mordant humor ensure that Saveus’s adventures are never dreary. I laughed, I winced, and I read on. Parker’s world resembles ours in several ways; it’s clear that the vanished Robur Empire, for example, dominated Corax’s continent the way the Roman Empire ruled Europe, and their language was, more or less, Latin. So it’s perhaps less jarring than you might expect to encounter one of Parker’s “Earthisms.” Here is the narrator’s sometime friend Ekkehard on the importance of appealing to emotion:

“Oh, yes. Cheering and stamping and death before slavery, the whole nine yards. Where you always go wrong is trying to persuade people with facts and arguments. It’s why you can only write comedy. What gets people going is stuff that doesn’t mean shit but sounds great. Blood, toil, tears and sweat. I have a dream. Drain the swamp. Yes, we can. It’s the sound of the words and the cadences. You never managed to get that right.”

The next paragraph has what I take to be a Billy Wilder joke, and similar references are studded throughout. These asides may break some readers’ immersion; others, like me, will have a chuckle and continue blithely on. Parker can be serious indeed when he wants to be, but he’s never self-serious.

By the bloated standards of fantasy in 2023, this book, just 350 pages, almost qualifies as a novella. I’m all for concision, but I did wish that Parker had devoted a little more time to his secondary characters. Only two really stand out: Ekkehard, a blowhard actor and serial betrayer, and Stauracia, a fellow rogue who seems destined to be Saevus’s great love, his greatest enemy, or both. Other characters, from the functionaries of Sipurat to Corax’s grotesque fellow salvagers, one of whom collects pickled relics of dead warriors, are more props than they are people. Similarly, although Parker is famous for his detailed account of how things work, from markets to metallurgy to fencing, a few dramatic naval engagements in which outnumbered forces achieve stunning victories are sped through and unconvincingly glossed over. But these are small quibbles and, as Corax points out, “nobody’s perfect.”

Although Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead has a perfectly satisfying ending, it’s the first book in a trilogy. Our itinerant arms dealer’s adventures continue next month with Saevus Corax Conquers the Castle and conclude in December with Saevus Corax Gets Away with Murder. I look forward to reading the rest of his tale. Sometimes cynics are the best company.

[mypralaya]

doing a massive amount of muse quizzes for Haven bc Shaw got all the attention for too long, how dare he, how dare ME gank any you want YOUR ANIMAL FAMILIAR ~ Sea Turtle ~ This familiar represents an individual who stands firm with their decisions, making the best out of life as it comes, and tries to find a peaceful route through any situation. You are a peacekeeper, no doubt; You can't stand violence between people, especially those you love, and will do anything to find a positive outcome for everyone. Due to this mindset, you are a problem-solver, wise and great for giving advice to others. A Sea Turtle familiar helps their master stay at peace during chaotic times, and teaches them to take life as it comes and make the best of it. ~~***~~ This familiar represents -Patience -Acceptance -Understanding -Wisdom -Peacekeepers -Emotional stability

which aesthetic™ colour are you?

lavender You have a soft heart. Your home is full of little sentimental nick-nacks you've made, been given, or picked up on your travels, and anyone who enters is immediately put at ease by your comforting energy. Your friends know they can turn to you for a cup of tea and a tight hug, or, if necessary, a kick in the ass. At times, you find yourself tending to others more than you do yourself, and you often take on more than you can bear of others' sadness. Just remember-- you are worth the same kindness you show the people around you. They would want nothing less for you. Dark Earth Zodiac The Underearth The Underearth is a place of slow-shifting roots, the quietest and most constant life of the forest. Those who find themselves aligned with the Underearth are those who find their truest selves not in the eyes of another or the light of the sun, but in private acts of creation. The tend to be dutiful, capable, and thoughtful, whilst also often being slow to change, awkward, and anxious. While many pass the Underearth by without notice, those few who make it past topsoil and into the heart below are held dear. It is rare that someone can delve to the true center of those under this sign. The earth keeps its secrets close to its chest-- sometimes, so deep that it cannot find them when it does choose to look. The Underearth are devoted to their work, able to criticize and peek and prod just where it needs, but they have no such luck with probing the self. People under this sign can be enormously generous. Though less showy than some of the other signs, when the Underearth does choose to shine, they are like a clean cut gem, brilliant, sharp, and precious. They tend to favor gifts of their own making, paying close attention to what it is that delights those around them. They prefer to avoid being the center of attention themselves, however, and often do not know how to react to being shown the same care that they show to those they love. Moral Alingment Test You are 93.3% good, 80.8% lawful, making you lawful good. People who are Lawful Good believe that an orderly, strong society with a moral government can work to make life better for the great majority of the people. When the laws are fair and the people respect them and try to help one another, humanity as a whole prospers. Therefore, people who are Lawful Good strive for a social order that will bring the greatest benefit to everyone and cause the least harm. Lawful Good personalities may sometimes find themselves faced with the dilemma of whether to obey the law or do good when the two conflict. For example, when upholding the law of the land would lead to unfairness or harm or when there is a conflict between two orders of what is right, such as between the ways of their community and the law of the government. WHICH DND CLASS SUITS YOUR PERSONALITY? You’re dedicated, caring, and probably a sucker for happy endings. You spend so much time helping other people that you might forget to take care of yourself. You’re very idealistic and have a strong sense of faith in your beliefs, which may be actual religious beliefs or just your personal moral code. You like to be prepared for a variety of situations and you may have a bit of a protective side. If you'd like to find out what type of cleric you would be, take the subclass quiz here

[theninthdoor]

seoho || ideal type; tarot reading

disclaimer: in my Ideal Type readings, I look into what the person in question is currently (consciously and unconsciously) attracted to! it's not necessarily their perfect match or the one they will end up with.

✦ Impression (What is seen externally // Might not accuratelly represent the person):

cards: four of wands, death (ten of cups, two of wands), world

So, first of all: this is someone with a big, big presence! I'd even go as far as saying that they're visibly extroverted - everybody would simply know it by looking at them. Seoho's ideal type is the sort of person who fills a room with their energy and is capable of influencing everybody in there. They would love to bring people together and introduce them to each other, always hoping great friendships would be built out of that. Besides, they're also that one individual who's always in a good mood, making people laugh and asking them more about their lives and stories. So, overall, I think it's safe to say that we're looking at a very friendly and bright impression of a person. Also, they may seem very cultured and multifaceted at a first glance. In that sense, because they appear to be extroverted, they might be the type of person who, as soon as they meet someone new, they never stop talking about their trips, movies/documentaries they have watched, stuff they have read, other people they have met (specially those from different cultures, who might have taught them one thing or another), etc.

✦ Personality:

cards: knight of cups, six of cups (queen of cups), judgement (fool)

With this spread, I think it's fair to say that his ideal type is a heart over mind sort of individual. As we see with the Knight of Cups, this is someone who's in love with the idea of love. They would do anything to pursue their heart's desire, and might even fail to see the negative aspects of the situation/person they're running after. They are romantic, sensitive and charming, and perhaps somewhat idealistic. Mind you, this also means that they might not be the most mature and commited individual, even though they very much enjoy being in relationships. It's the excitement of the pursuit and of the honeymoon phase that gets them going; what's after isn't so much of their enjoyment. On a positive note, and to end this section, we see that Seoho's ideal type is also a very compassionate and sentimental person. They might be very fond of children, and find great delight in babysitting or teaching kids new and fun things; or they might even be greatly attached to the places and objects of their own childhood. However, they are also someone who knows when time has come to move on, and they're not afraid of taking that leap into a new beginning (as well as influencing others to do the same).

✦ What his ideal type should provide in a relationship:

cards: nine of cups (seven of pentacles), eight of pentacles, ten of pentacles

In contrary to what we saw previously, what Seoho looks for his ideal type to provide in a relationship is all about commitment, stability and a realistic approach. The only Cups card we got here was the Nine of Cups clarified by the Seven of Pentacles, so that means that there should still be that creative, romantic energy, and the pursuit of their dreams and goals as a couple, but it has to be done patiently and with a lot of planning and hardwork involved. He certainly wishes to enjoy a relationship full of abudance, happiness and the best things that life has to offer, however, both of them have to work for it and be willing to wait for things to manifest. On top of that, faithfulness and responsibility is very important to him as well. He looks for a partner that is aiming for the same type of longterm commited relationship as him, so people who can't seem to settle down and who clearly don't care about a traditional style of union might not be the best match for him.

(Disclaimer: all readings are alleged and for entertainment purposes only.)

[cosmicjoke]

I like how Thorkell is like this big idiot, but who has so much experience living life at this point, he’s also not actually stupid, and picks up on things with more keenness than most.  Him realizing that Gudrid is in love with Thorfinn was pretty funny, haha.  But I actually found it incredibly moving when Gudrid offers to fight Thorkell in Thorfinn’s place, and screams at Thorkell about why none of them can just leave Thorfinn alone.  This quote here:

“I’m just sick of all of this!! Of all these people like you!!  Thorfinn’s just trying to live an honest, true life!  He’s trying his hardest to be a gentle person!!  Why do you all have to keep preventing him from doing that?!  Why can’t you just leave him alone?!”

Oof, that got me right in the heart.  Thorfinn IS trying his hardest to be a gentle person, but he keeps getting dragged again and again into violence.  Thorfinn’s own confession at his father’s grave, about wanting to do right by Thors’ lesson to him about nobody being his enemy, but it being so exhausting, got right to the heart of this story and it’s moral lessons, of course.  As did Thorfinn’s fight with Garm, in its way.  When Thorfinn taunted Garm about wanting a “challenge” and throwing away his only weapon against a deadly opponent, it was the same sentiment being expressed, that it’s always the harder path to walk, finding a way to not kill someone who’s trying to kill you, and still keep your own life, to not hate your enemy, or even see them as an enemy, when they treat you as one.  That’s the challenge, that’s the exhausting part.  That’s what Thors meant by being a “true warrior”.  Taking that harder path.  And it’s a path Thorfinn has walked admirably up to now, despite the best efforts of so many to stop him. 

Of course it’s an idealistic message, and one could accuse this story of not existing within the realm of realism in how Thorfinn has, up to this point, managed to stick to his promise not to kill anymore.  The real world isn’t often so accommodating.  But I think one thing this story does so well, even as it wrestles with this somewhat idealized notion of pacifism, is that Thorfinn DOES still use violence when he has to.  He still beats the snot out of people, breaking bones, breaking faces, knocking people out, etc...  He still uses and relies on violence to get out of certain situations.  I was worried, early on after the conclusion of the arc with King Canute, that the story was going to take Thorfinn’s ideals to an extreme, and have him able to navigate and solve every, single situation he found himself in through diplomacy and talking, without ever having to get physically violent, and then, I think, it might have been in danger of tipping over into the realm of too idealistic to believe.  But instead, Thorfinn realized rather quickly that he could still fight without killing.  He could still fight and win without killing and without sacrificing himself.  Violence isn’t something that can ever be fully escaped.  The human condition won’t allow it.  Nature won’t allow it.  Thorkell’s warning to Thorfinn about how his dream of creating a nation where there will be no war is impossible to achieve is, in fact, true.  But Thorfinn is still determined to strive for it, no matter how difficult, or even impossible, the task may be, and it’s in that striving that Thorfinn becomes a hero.  Even as it causes him personally untold strife and hardship, he’s proven himself committed to the ideal. 

Once again, I’m excited to continue on reading.