#lessons learned the hard way

[rosecoloredtarot]

Protip 53: When working on connecting to the earth, walking around barefoot outside can be tremendously helpful

Protip 53, subsection A: watch your step, nothing disconnects you from the earth more than looking down to see your foot covered in ants

[laughhardrunfastbekindsblog]

It took 2 people to fully convince Crosshair to do a 180 on the Empire - but neither of those people were Bad Batch members.

They couldn't be. What would a squad of defective clones who had been disobeying orders since day 1 know about loyalty to an institution determined to establish order for the good of the galaxy? What would they know about finding purpose in being "good soldiers"?

Now, I DO think the seeds of Crosshair's eventual defection were planted by his brothers. Hunter pointing out that "Blind allegiance makes you a pawn" and then telling Crosshair "All you'll ever be to them is a number" are statements that are proven later to be true. But it takes Cody and Mayday to drive the lessons home.

Cody and Mayday share several characteristics that place them in unique positions to influence Crosshair:

Both are regs who accepted and befriended Crosshair - Cody says he specifically asked for Crosshair for the mission, and Mayday is upfront and friendly to Crosshair right from the start. (Contrast this to the other regs getting up to move tables when Crosshair sits to eat, or the other clone troopers who walk past Crosshair to get onto the shuttle without even sparing him a glance.)

Both are commanders. (I believe Crosshair ultimately respects authority for the most part: even when he was arguing with and challenging Hunter in "Aftermath," he still deferred to Hunter's orders until his inhibitor chip was intensified and he was then promoted to commander.)

Both are loyal soldiers who have served the Empire well - again, these regs are still commanders even under the new government. And we all know how important loyalty to the Empire is to Crosshair at this point.

Both save Crosshair's life during their missions.

In short, both are regs, but they are still soldiers Crosshair can quickly identify with and trust.

I think it's key that Crosshair encountered Cody before Mayday, though. And despite their similarities, both soldiers drive home different points.

CODY

Cody is one of the few regs we know Crosshair already respected - and still respects, given that Crosshair almost smiles when he recognizes him.

(Some proof in case it isn't apparent: Crosshair goes from frowny face...

...to relaxed almost-happy-if-you-squint-just-right face)

Anyway, while Cody does drop some hints early on that he has doubts about the Empire, he is willing to carry out the mission to rescue "Governor" Grotton, showing he will follow orders to a certain extent. However, he shows more restraint than Crosshair might have: he doesn't attack the civilians despite their obvious mistrust of the soldiers, he comes to an understanding with Tawni Ames, he's NOT willing to follow an order to execute her, and he is clearly dismayed and disappointed by her death.

And so, at the end of a "successful" mission, Cody more plainly reveals the depth of his dissatisfaction with following orders against one's own moral scruples:

Hunter had said "Blind allegiance makes you a pawn." And Cody, unwilling to blindly and unquestioningly be a pawn - or act like a battle droid - any longer, goes AWOL.

But that lesson alone isn't enough to make Crosshair turn on the Empire. Instead, he needs Mayday to give him the final push.

MAYDAY

First, Mayday indicates how appalled he is by the idea of anyone leaving their own behind - which we know is a sore spot for Crosshair. But most importantly, Mayday has demonstrated since he was first introduced that he strongly believes in soldiers being loyal to and looking out for each other (which is far different than just being loyal to the Empire).

Second, Mayday unknowingly challenges Crosshair's belief that serving the Empire provides meaningful purpose. (Remember that one of Crosshair's main arguments to his brothers about joining the Empire was so they could "find purpose again.")

Then, he unwittingly goes for the jugular and rips apart the motto Crosshair had adopted.

And then, in case Crosshair has any lingering doubts about the answer to Mayday's rhetorical question, Nolan decidedly answers the question for him.

Hunter had said "All you'll ever be to them is a number," and he is proven right in the most heartbreaking way.

Crosshair had accused his brothers of not being loyal to him; unfortunately, now he sees what true disloyalty looks like. And for Crosshair - severe and unyielding - realizing that he has misplaced his loyalty by giving it to an entity that mocks him and casts him AND those he cares about aside for doing so... this is the final straw.

Thankfully, Crosshair has now rediscovered the people who are worthy of his loyalty.

[memoriesofachicken]

"If you're covered in oil, don't stand next to a fire."

On a side note, Wolverine and RZ Loomis approve of this scene!

[strangenewclassrooms]

Two years ago my house burnt down. Thankfully, we weren't there, but pro tip: dispose of your wood stain rags appropriately and don't just throw them in the trash.

We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.

[lucybellwood]

Desperately trying to finish listening to this audiobook before Libby repos my shit

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

The Yiling Band Tour!

[rebouks]

Previous // Next

Missed call: Mom x4 Missed call: Dad x1 TEXT: Dad I swear to god Robin, I’ll stick a tracker up your ass if you don’t call back asap TEXT: Alexandruuuh the Derp Text me when u get home, tried to wake u up but u were having none of it xx … Courtney: Where’ve you been?! Robin: I stayed at a friend’s house. Courtney: And you couldn’t answer your phone to tell us that?! Robin: Sorry… [Robin shrugged lamely, he felt guilty for worrying his parents but he was far too hungover to deal with any lectures right now. He desperately needed his bed…] [Oscar narrowed his eyes as Robin avoided eye contact and sloped upstairs like a frail zombie] Oscar: He’s hungover. Courtney: Mmh. Oscar: [groans] Oughhh. Courtney: They’re gonna do this kinda thing, honey. We can’t stop them. Oscar: I know, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. Ava: What kinda thing? Courtney: I’ll talk to him. Oscar: Later. Courtney: Obviously. Ava: Helloooo-.. what thiiiings?! Oscar: Things that’re gonna give me a damn aneurysm.

[post-it-notes7]

No Good Deed is now up here on ao3! There's no prior mirrorworld knowledge required, so come along for the ride, if you dare.

Summary below:

The lightworld has plenty of sympathetic sayings, for times like this. Mushy words that aren’t worth much outside the silly little realm of friendship and kindness, of a better reality, that they inhabit, and not their reflections. No, no, none of that can be applied here, in the reverse. Absolute zilch.

And yet, no good deed goes unpunished, they might have told him now.

Dark Meta Knight’s not in the market to admit if anything about what he did was good to begin with.

-

Or, Mir Falspar hasn't been sleeping lately, and Dark Meta Knight couldn't possibly care less.

It's fine, as long as everyone believes that.

[rosieandthemoon]

Teens: if someone dms you and you get the ick, immediately disengage and block. There is absolutely zero benefit from talking to a stranger online, as a minor, that will outweigh the potential risk.

Even if they seem cool or trustworthy. Don’t send them pictures. Don’t give them specific details about your day. You owe them nothing. They only have the power you give them.

I was a lonely and misunderstood teenager on this site not that long ago. I know the attention is tempting and the mental hoops you jump through to justify it. But that 21+ year old guy? He is not your friend. If he wanted friendship, he’d be talking to adults. You have not found the exception.

[lucy-moderatz]

In the case of Miranda Hobbes vs. silly women everywhere, the verdict was in. Guilty as charged.

[ghurab-alzilal]

*In the training hall *

3 y/o Damian: Fight me!

LoA's Jason: Ha! Look at you! What are you going to do? Bite me in the ankle?

*Some minutes later *

Ra's Al Ghul: Uh... Why is the Red Hood bleeding and crying on the ground?

Talia: Damian bit him very hard in the ankle.

[snakes-of-the-undercity]

Vi is gifted kid burnout but in the english major way

[guaxinimraccoon]

Hi Guax, i would like to ask for some G/t advice. I'm trying to figure out how to make some more G/t art, and I would like to ask how you make your G/t art. How do you make G/t characters who big inside of rooms or how they are big around other characters? Do you use any references or have templates to help make your G/t art? If so then thank you Guax

- ⚡️Anon

Hey bud! That's such a cool ask aaaaaaa lemme see

The tool I most use to figure sizes and proportions is Comparing Heights, which I believe is already well known in the community. You can have multiple figures and multiple sizes at the same time and see how big or small they look compared to each other, its very useful!

I also take pictures of my hands or myself to draw some poses when I can't find specifically what I'm looking for. That's how I made Brad's pose in my tumblr header art for example!

And sketch thumbnails! Sometimes I'll make over 10 versions of a complicated drawing, just exploring the possibilities of a composition until I come to a satisfying solution

But honestly? When making g/t art the thing I less worry about is if the characters sizes are proportionally accurate with how they'd look like next to each other if they were real.

Like, I dont worry about that AT ALL. Yes I have set specific heights for them to have a general rule to keep faith to, but I think what really matters is to draw something cool, satisfying and aesthetically pleasant for yourself.

What I mean is: if the tiny looks way too small and too hard to read or if the giant is too big to create a nice composition, adapt it. Change it. Make them slightly bigger or smaller. "Oh but if I change their size it'll be proportiornally inacurate with the height I set for them", it doesn't matter! This is not as important as you think it is. It's better to make a good shot and composition that values your character and the situation you're portraying than to be """"scientifically accurate"""", it's all fantasy dude!

So my golden rule is: the specific heights aren't sacred laws that can't be broken, they're just guides for the general proportions. Artistic freedom is more important than numbers.

When I realised this my G/t art became more flexible, authentic and expressive!

As a final note, I recommend checking @territorial-utopia's quick tutorial that you can check here on how to approach g/t art. It's short and fast and practical!

[mochiri]

Makoto and Sousuke's Identity outside of Haru and Rin at the end of Free!

I've seen some people say they're a bit reluctant to finish the Final Stroke because Makoto becomes sidelined. Though, I did want to point out that Makoto's developed career ambitions at the end of the Final Stroke ends up being a beautiful closure to his insecurities and worries that actually start in High Speed! Starting Days.

Makoto, why do you swim?

Makoto in Starting Days, has his entire world turned upside down because he realizes his entire reason for swimming is because of Haru. But in the Final Stroke, he evolves his meaning of swimming into something that's very Makoto. He develops his own individual identity with swimming by being a coach for both children and for swimmers on the global level. Instead of swimming just for Haru and his friends, Makoto evolves his relationship to swimming to something he identifies better with. Which is connections with people and the ability to support them emotionally, physically, and mentally.

In relation (because Makoto and Sousuke are direct parallel characters as the best friends of RinHaru), Sousuke's own motivations for swimming is related to Rin (I don't want to say he directly swims because of Rin like Makoto does for Haru). But Rin is Sousuke's motivation enough to overwork his entire body, transfer schools, sacrifice himself to just swim one last race with Rin... Because Rin's motivation is friends and Sousuke doesn't really understand that at first as someone who always thought you're alone in the water.

But at Sousuke's "end" he actually learns to form connections OUTSIDE of Rin. Because sousuke throughout his entire arc tries to learn about what friendship means to him and how that can develop you as a person.

when he does rehab with Nao and Makoto they help him specialize in other strokes, remind him not to overwork his body, refine his swimming skills and overall he became a better swimmer through the connections he made and not alone like he always thought. Sousuke learning the power of friendship through Momo, Nitori, Makoto, Nao + the others in Tokyo.

So... Summarizing it all up:

Makoto whose original motivations to swim is Haru, develops an identity to swimming outside of Haru. And then makes it his own by adding his caring and nurturing personality through coaching.

Sousuke, whose original ambitions to swimming is individuality, competitiveness, and Rin, develops a relationship to swimming through connections and friends outside of Rin.

Makoto uses swimming to solidify and create bonds while Sousuke’s is the opposite where he realizes bonds are what can solidify his swimming.

Here's other related analysis about these swimming boys i care too much about:

Makoto and Sousuke as parallel characters

How Makoto uses backstroke to solidify bonds

Free! color theory (contains another soumako parallel lolol)

[aokuni]

brochacho cannot be speaking rn🥀🥀🥀

[post-it-notes7]

go wild folks