#if this is unfocused its because it is

[illuminatedferret]

With the new edits to Xie Lian's request to be banished again rather than fight Lang Qianqiu, I'm really struck by the gravity of Hua Cheng rejecting his ascension again. We conflate being a Heavenly Official with being a god, being a god with being beneath Jun Wu's dominion, but that's really not the case. Ascension and godhood are natural consequences of diligence and cultivation, not something handed out because you impressed the right person. And yet as more people ascend, they fight, they bump elbows, they learn to live among one another, regulating each other and developing a 'status quo' for godhood.

This is the Heavenly Court- not a natural location, but a system constructed to exercise control over gods and godhood. A place just as coveted as it is full of rules and expectations, just as unforgiving as it is illustrious. Yet the violence inherent in the heavens, in Jun Wu's rule, is never truly addressed. And that violence can be boiled down into one simple question:

Do people have the right to say no to godhood?

For all intents and purposes, it seems that few people view ascensions as a bad thing. The only case we have of someone outright rejecting the heavens and doing so on their own terms is Hua Cheng. And as far as we can tell, no one ever follows up with him over this, but we can't forget his unique circumstances: his ghosthood, his place in Mount Tonglu, his soon-to-come power as one of the strongest men in the world, all allow him to pull off this escape and land himself a position where the heavens cannot afford to punish him, even if they want to. But for a more average person, what would happen if they said no?

And if Jun Wu accepts that "no" (if he accepts any no), does it come with no strings attached? What are the odds he allows this mold-breaker to walk out the doors without some sort of condition in place? Let me remind you, godhood is not contingent on his approval- rejecting the heavens doesn't make you stop being a god. Really, isn't rejecting the heavens rejecting him and his rule, more than anything else? He cannot make someone a god, and he cannot truly make them stop being a god, either. It is a privilege of his position (and power) that he can pretend otherwise, and he has to go to extreme lengths (the cursed shackles) to do so.

What ruler wouldn't see it as an act of disrespect that someone wants to leave their court? What ruler would willfully allow someone to leave the heavens and become what is fundamentally a rogue agent? It flies in the face of the purpose of the Heavenly Court. Surely this hypothetical person allowed to leave ends up like Xie Lian: shackled, deprived of at least the ability to hear prayers. At worst, Jun Wu may decide someone who rejects the heavens rejects the cultivation that brought them there as well, and seal their spiritual power too. But with those sorts of caveats, who would choose to leave? And to deprive people of choice is inherently violence.

In one act, Hua Cheng not only rejects the heavens but bucks their yoke, escaping the system of power and control that demands obedience from everyone unto the man on top. This is a far, far more significant and noteworthy act than is addressed. While he clearly cares little for it, Hua Cheng is a god, making him the only god in the world truly removed from Jun Wu's control and influence. He exists outside of the heavens' system, and thus paves the way for a space similarly divorced from the control of the heavens, where people can live without fear of censure or persecution from the people the world insists are their betters.

[vilyar]

have a painting of Fitz & Beloved that just doesnt want to work :(

[volivolition]

✨ thinking of him thursdayyyy ✨ (<- said in a monotone deadpan with jazz hands)

[kyurochurro]

if i had to list out my style inspos!! just for funs sake :P

mostly 90's disney renaissance films! hercules and mulan are HUGE influences in my shape language, those are my main two influences. lilo and stitch inspired me to try to use weight a bit more in shapes!

leyendecker is an inspo in terms of learning how to draw folds in fun vivid ways, and also experimenting with rendering! (though you'd probably see that more on my instagram illustrations)

the iron giant inspired a lot of how i approach different faces! and expressions as well :D

bruce timm's art style influenced how much i simplify certain designs! (as well as the tiny eyes, which i think i may have picked up from mystery inc as a kid)

[thedisablednaturalist]

This is why only like 1% of physically disabled people actually have a job. People just assume we don't want one/can't do any job.

[llitchilitchi]

:/

[moncharrow]

nothing is worse than reading and nothing is worse than not reading

[choilproductions]

3am doodle page

(Plus sopping wet vent in tags read at your own risk)

[e8luhs]

im so confused over how i spend the first half of my day without fail severely dissociating and then by the latter half im like totally fine. like no matter what i do no matter if i take care of myself i still feel like so disconnected until the afternoon when i finally like plug back into my body and im like oh okay im back now.

[charlestrask]

haven't finished it yet but really enjoying boogie nights. its hard to reconcile licorice pizza with this though because my biggest issue with licorice pizza was how weak and unfulfilled the characterization was but boogie nights is really strong at that.

[bun-parade]

My career history in a nutshell:

Manager during the interview: We need someone to do X. Do you have any experience with that?

Me: No, but with enough training, I can do it.

Manager: Cool. We'll train you. You're hired.

Manager after 1 month of employment: Why can't you do X perfectly?

Me: You haven't trained me.

Manager: You're fired.

[fishyartist]

bunny momeent

[callofdooty]

VERY rough draft snippet, but I got an idea for some Keegan angst :)

[featherymainffins]

I am so resistant to learning from any of my actions and their consequences.

How do I observe that I couldn't even carry a kid's bag without injuring myself on the first day of the summer camp, carry a wholeass big stereo set no problem and same goes for the same bags by the third day of the camp, determine that the first day incident was due to not having eaten for several days beforehand and that being forced to eat at least twice a day made me stronger, and then come home and immediately go:

"And anyway i am going to stop eating for 3 days"

[icedille]

WAIT WAIT I GOT IT I GOT WHAT IT IS THE!! the problem with saltburn is that it uses its imagery exactly like a music video would!!!! it rarely feels like deliberate symbolism that directly translates to the text but more like an amalgam of only superficially related iconography (the images somewhat go together but not the meanings they vaguely gesture towards to) whose main purpose is looking good visually and not supporting the story!! so you kind of get the sense that there isn't really one it just feels like a clip for some obscure artsy rock band's top single with around 1 mil. views on youtube! except it's two hours long!!!!!

[ghostlywhiskey]

current brain rot is single mom & simon who aren't dating, but he becomes a father figure for your daughter. and it's the way when its time for him to be deployed again, it's the way your daughter reacts that starts to change your feelings entirely towards him.

the morning he's set to leave, footsteps trot their way down the hallway of your house. no knock is given as a warning, the door opening as your daughter makes her way into your room to nudge you awake. except, you've been awake most of the night. your body turning onto it's side to face her figure standing at the side of your bed, faces illuminated by the faint light of the alarm clock. it's 5am and you feel like you could run a marathon, but that's due to the fact your brain hasn't shut off the past 6 hours since you got into bed.

"we promised simon we'd say goodbye," the little girls voice gently reminds you, fingers grabbing at the sweater you deemed your pajama crewneck. a delicate tug is enough for you to sit up. your own hand reaches to brush her hair back before pulling her head closer to you, a soft kiss placed at the top of her head.

"get warm clothes on, it's chilly this time of morning," you murmur, and as you stand up she's already listening to your request. your daughter slips quickly out of your room and back to hers to get warmer clothes on.

and soon enough, the two of you are holding hands as you head outside of the house and a few doors down to simon's house. the exhaust from the car visible in the cool morning air because of the car lights. simon is sat in the driver seat, door propped open as he glances to see the two of you approaching. but, your daughter quickly releases your hand at the sight of him as she runs directly towards him. no words are spoken as he pulls her in close and her face becomes buried into his abdomen.

you stand a few feet away, quietly with your arms crossed in an attempt to preserve any ounce of warmth your body has. the sight in front of you tugging at your heart - she's far too young to understand the severity of his job that would add to the sadness she has over him leaving. but you aren't. and part of you wishes you were as naïve as a child, thinking he was simply going to be away for a few months, nothing more and nothing less. but there was far more that went into all of it, and it was part of what kept you up the whole night.

"no hug from you?"

the words spoken pull you from the trance you were in. eyes that had become unfocused on the scene in front of you now refocused on simon, his body now standing out of the car as your daughter had taken the spot in the drivers seat for warmth while she waited for you two to say goodbye to each other.

"of course you get one," you quickly respond, as if thoughts weren't plaguing your mind moments ago. feet close the space between the two of you and both of your arms wrap around each other. there were plenty of quick hugs and side hugs between the two of you, but your brain counted this one as you both held each other. was it over a minute? did the lack of sleep warp your concept of time and make 3 seconds feel like a minute, or did the hug last that long?

"i'll be back for both of you," and at that point, you were sure the hug lasted longer than a minute as your body became frozen at the simple words spoken. eyes closed as your forehead rested against his chest and your hands gripped the fabric of his sweater.

"we'll be here," voice quiet and muffled into the sweater he was wearing, but he heard as his hold on you grew a little tighter seconds after the words left your mouth.