#mr. today

[artimeanatheart]

Aaron Character Analysis-Quests Book Seven Part Two

The majority of this book is average to meh. But that epilogue. It's probably my favorite part of Quests, and one of my favorite chapters in the entire series.  Wow.  Just.  Wow.  This is how to end a series.  With a completed character arc, reunions, and new adventures awaiting.  And, of course, it does this through Aaron, which is everything I ever could have wanted from this series. 

That Epilogue

"If Aaron had one wish, it was that the end of his days in this world would happen just like this. Surrounded by love instead of hatred. Kindness and goodness rather than jealousy and spite. It was just as he had imagined this moment to be. . ."

We begin with Aaron dying. It's not really a sad scene, although it is bittersweet. It also confirms, once again, that the seaweed doesn't truly make someone immortal. And Aaron probably used up any benefits from the seaweed before the last battle of this book, considering his quick-healing ability was absent. This is like, completely irrelevant, but, for a series that's pretty clear on characters' ages throughout, we don't actually know how old Aaron was when he died. He was old enough that characters five to ten years older than him, like Sean and Carina, have died of old age, but young enough that characters his age, like Samheed and Kaylee, are still alive. And considering the fact that Grimere and the Seven Islands have access to high grade magical medicine, I'll assume that average lifespans there, when they're not constantly fighting battles, are similar to or slightly longer than people in our world with access to good medical care. So my guess is that Aaron would be about 85 to 95 in this chapter. But like I said, that doesn't really matter because it's not super important for the chapter.

"'I can't come right now,' Aaron tried to say. 'I'm taking my last breath with my family. This is the most important moment of my life.' But the voice persisted."

Anyways, Aaron's death scene. This was such a beautiful way to end his life and show just how far he's come since the first book. When he was a teenager, he had no one.  He was all alone and he just wanted to find his people.  And now, with him on his deathbed, we see that he has.  People from all over the Seven Islands and Grimere are there to send him off.  He says it himself: it's exactly how he wants to go. He identifies this moment, out of all the moments in his life, surrounded by his loved ones as they support him and each other, is the one he views as most important.

"Finding his footing on the dark stained-wood floor, Aaron moved down the familiar wing where the greatest of Artime's leaders had spent some of their most life-changing moments."

But he has to go. His life is ending and the series is ending with it. He follows the voice to Artime and to the once-a-secret hallway. It's fitting that this is the last look both him and us get at Artime. It's been one of the most important settings for a multitude of characters throughout the series. Including Aaron. He recognizes the importance of this hallway to Artime's leaders, but it doesn't seem like he's including himself in that list. He was a leader in Artime, long after he gave up the robe. This hallway was also his first introduction to Artime. This was the place where he turned away from his brother. Later, it was where he promised to stand by his brother's side and find ways to protect his brother's people. Now, it's where he goes to be reunited with his brother.

"Aaron wanted to gasp, but he found he no longer needed to take in air. The person approached, and Aaron felt like it might be impossible to stay standing. Something deep inside his chest, an aching wound that hadn't gone away in many years, sealed up. 'Alex? My brother? Is it you?' 'Aaron,' said Alex with a crooked smile growing on his lips. 'You're here at last. I've been waiting so long.'"

Alex's voice is the one calling him to Artime and it's afterlife, much like Alex has been calling him to Artime for his whole life (at least, in my interpretation it's Alex's voice-I don't think it's every actually specified). Aaron opens the door and sees his twin for the first time in decades. The circumstances are an echo of their first reunion, way back in book one, but the emotions couldn't be more different. This isn't a stiff, awkward, painful reunion that tore them apart even as they stood next to each other. This is an open, loving, joyful reunion that is so healing. Like, literally. Aaron felt the pain of Alex's absence in his chest ever since Alex died, but now, it finally leaves. The gap Alex left has been filled in. This such a healing chapter for Aaron. It fits with a through-line of the series that death, while sad, is an important part of living. Taking away someone's death without their consent is irresponsible. Death represents a change, a new beginning, a time to heal.

"Movement in the room caught Aaron's eye, and he saw three men coming toward him. 'Ishibashi!' he cried. He embraced the man who had changed his life so drastically, and had died so shockingly, which had changed Aaron's life a second time."

After Alex, Aaron gets to reunite with other people he thought he'd never see again. And first up is Ishibashi. As always, their dynamic is fantastic. Aaron tries to apologize, yet again, and Ishibashi stops him. Ishisbashi's right. Aaron doesn't need to apologize anymore. He has long since done his penance for any mistakes he's made, both in the eyes of the characters and in the eyes of the readers.

"Aaron glanced at Carina Holiday, who ran up to him and embraced him. He hugged her back, and she touched his cheek adoringly. Aaron squelched a grin. 'I can't believe this place,' he said. He and Carina and Sean had had a great life growing old together, and he'd missed them dearly."

We also get a glimpse of the community he has developed since we last saw him in Grimere. He's happy to see these people again and they're happy to see him. He greets Sean and Claire and Carina. Carina, who was one of the first people in Artime to show Aaron that she liked him, way back in Island of Dragons. And now, at the end of his arc, we see Carina come up and give him a hug, still being his friend. Of course, not all the reunions are happy. Eva's still upset at him, which makes sense because he did get her killed and she didn't like him much even before then. But Aaron apologizes (again) and Eva decides to give him one more try. I think it'll be worth it for her, in the end. Aaron gets along well with old people. Probably even better now that he's been an old person himself.

"He hesitated, then glanced at Alex. 'May I. . .approach. . .the others?' 'By all means. They're only holding back to keep from overwhelming you.'"

This whole scene ties up frayed threads in Aaron's arc that wouldn't have been possible to tie up in any other way. This is the end of his character arc. And I love that, even at the end of his arc, Aaron is still adorably socially awkward. So often in media, awkwardness is shown as a character flaw to outgrow. Characters who have trouble reading social situations will develop social skills as part of their arc. But here, Aaron's awkwardness is an inherent part of his character, has been even before his redemption arc, and is part of what makes him so endearing post-redemption arc. He's wandering around the afterlife library with Alex and trying to figure out the rules of this place and how interactions here work. Can he go up to people? Do they remember him? Also, I love the detail that the other people were holding back because they didn't want to overwhelm him. It shows that they know Aaron is an introvert who likes his space and doesn't like being swarmed with people. He has people who know and respect him. Look at how far he's come.

"Aaron wasn't sure how he felt. Overjoyed to see these faces he thought he'd never see again. But sad to miss the ones he'd left behind."

Another detail that is so in character for Aaron in this chapter is that he thinks about the loved ones he left behind and misses them. He loves seeing his dead loved ones again, but he also knows how much death hurts. He wants to go back to them and comfort those still living, let them know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, that those who die are okay and that they will see them again one day. But he also trusts that they will be okay. He knows everything they've gone through and he knows they can handle this. It's also comforting for him to know that he'll see them again. So he chooses to move forward with his life instead of backward. Like he always has since he chose to heal.

"But Aaron's heart began to sink. He glanced at his brother. 'All of these people are good,' he said in a low voice. 'They all fought for good things their whole lives. They aren't. . .like me.'"

And he has healed since we saw him last. He has made progress towards forgiving himself, just like we knew he would. He has learned to view his life and his experiences as a gift. He sees his story not as a cautionary tale but as a hopeful one. People can come back from grave mistakes and he can help show them how, because of what he has experienced. He doesn't think he can ever fully make up for what he did, but he is happy with himself and the life he's lived. However, when it comes to this afterlife, he still doesn't feel like he belongs there. He doesn't belong with these heroes.

Except. There's one more person he needs to see.

"Aaron's eyes brimmed. The shame he felt, the feelings he'd carried through the decades, never able to free himself of it, was too much to bear. Yet he held the man's gaze. He would face whatever he needed to face to make up for his actions. It was the life Aaron had been living since his days with Ishibashi."

Here at the end of the series, Aaron finds himself face-to-face with the man he killed, the man whose death has haunted him ever since.  The man whose death changed the course of Alex and Aaron's lives, thrusting them both into power in opposing nations when they were fourteen.  The death that set up the rest of the series. Marcus Today. And Aaron is terrified.  How can the man he killed judge him any less harshly than he has judged himself? He wants to run away. But he doesn't.  He faces his wrongs, like he always does. He will always own up to his mistakes, even if he's frightened of what will happen.

"Marcus Today studied Aaron, his gaze darting from the scars on Aaron's face to the white in his stubbly beard, to the limp in his step, and then back up to the fear in his eyes. The original head mage and creator of Artime slowly lifted his hands to his chest, where the deadly heart attack spells that Aaron had thrown met their mark. He felt the damage they'd left as if the incident had only happened yesterday."

Mr. Today looks at him, at this man who killed him as a boy. He's probably heard from Alex and Carina and Claire about who Aaron has become. He takes what he remembers of the frightened, angry, misguided child he saw himself in; what his friends have told him about the quiet, kind, and earnest young man; and the worn-down, haunted, brave old man he sees in front of him. I wonder if he looked between Alex and Aaron, seeing the ways that his and Justine's story could have played out but didn't. Seeing the ways the Stowe brothers are better versions of him and Justine. What they could have had if the world had been kinder and given them another chance. And if it had, would Justine have taken it? Would he? He doesn't know. But these two did take that chance and they made it work. So Mr. Today comes to his conclusion about Aaron.

"After a long moment, Mr. Today removed his hands from his chest and slowly held them out to the newcomer. 'Welcome, Aaron,' the old mage said with a healing warmth to his voice. The words flowed through Aaron and soothed him. He closed his eyes. Mr. Today continued. 'I've been waiting so long for you. And I'm glad you are finally here. Tell me, friend: How does it feel to be eliminated?'"

He welcomes Aaron into the fold, using the same words he used to welcome Alex and all the other Unwanteds to Artime. They are the first and last words Mr. Today spoke in the entire series, first greeting Alex and now, finally, Aaron. He accepts Aaron as he is, something Aaron has fought for over the course of the series. And he gives Aaron a gift.

"Like you should have been. Aaron wasn't sure what to say. In the past, whenever he'd thought about that very thing, it was accompanied by loads of guilt and regret. But those feelings were finally beginning to slip away. Could Aaron truly belong here, with the asterisk behind his name permanently removed? Was he no longer the exception to the rule?"

Ever since the beginning of the series, Aaron has felt like he didn't belong in Artime and that he's not really an Unwanted.  Partly because he wasn't Purged like the other Unwanteds, partly because he feels like he can't be an Unwanted after how he hurt Artime, and partly because Artime didn't welcome him in.  He's found belonging elsewhere, in his home and family on the Island of Shipwrecks, but he still feels like an outsider in Artime. He doubts whether he deserves to be in this afterlife. These words change that.  This is Mr. Today telling him, without a doubt, that he belongs here.  Aaron is an official Unwanted now. The answer to the question Aaron poses to himself is yes.  Aaron belongs here and he finally lets himself. He can finally claim the Unwanted label with pride. He has gotten what he wanted since the beginning of the series. He belongs.

"'Come on you two,' Meghan said with finality. She linked arms with the twins and pulled them toward the city. 'Let's join the rest. It's time to see what tremendous adventure awaits.'"

The series ends with Meghan, Alex, and Aaron going off arm in arm to their next adventure, exploring the world Aaron brought with him. The world that is similar to Artime, but more wondrous. It's fitting how Aaron brings something amazing of his own to this afterlife. And there is a significance to Meghan, Alex, and Aaron being the last characters we see; they were the first three main characters we were introduced to. They were childhood friends, as much as one could have friends in Quill, who were torn apart first by the Purge and later by Meghan's death. And here they are, all these years later, reunited once more, but closer for the experiences they've had. At the end of it all, these three are together again.

[duckysprouts]

if you were at your worst, if you’re a villain or a screwup or whatever, there is a goth man dressed as a giant bat who keeps coming after you, bothering you. he sabotages your journey of self destruction over and over. ur ready to give up but he won’t let you. you think, today he won’t come. today he will give up on me too. he never does.

[worm-calling]

mr. today board

very Very apologies i cannot describe the moodboard . cannot cannot

this is How i see many things about him . early 20s in the 80s with dreams of becoming a meteorologist . fan of the Rain, etc. for the worms come out.

may make Intro posts for my guys if i find a template To go off of. until then enjoy my mysterious worms.

[chloesimaginationthings]

This is how Michael Afton was born in FNAF

(Based off this comic by @/the_angler_mann)

[forecast0ctopus]

the biology of vulcans….

[the-last-butter]

In my head they're accidental coworkers who bet on peculiar things

[benoits-neckerchieves]

Happy birthday, Freddie !!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

The only pics i could find of him in my camera roll are ones with cats, but i think he’d be quite happy about that actually

[hajimedics]

I'M NOT YOUR DOLL AND I'LL THINK FOR MYSELF AND I'LL LIVE FOR MYSELF

[calmparticles]

HELO ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

[kidovna]

the picture of dorian gray

[artimeanatheart]

Aaron Character Analysis-Quests Book Three Part Three

I talk a lot about characters/character development (which is kind of the point of this series of posts) but I'm also a big fan of world-building. Despite it being kind of in the background to the characters and the plot, I think that Unwanteds generally does world-building really well. There were a couple parts in this book were I thought McMann or her editor could have benefitted from going back and re-reading Island of Fire and Island of Silence, but overall the world-building and magic system hold up pretty well into Quests. So I'm going to combine two of my favorite things and talk about the ways Aaron's character intersects with the world-building of the Seven Islands. Fair warning: this part is a bit more speculation- and headcanon- filled than I usually try to make these.

Magic and Worldbuilding (literally)

"When Aaron ended the spell a third time, he dropped his head and rested in place a moment. And then he lifted his chin and opened his eyes. Colors began swirling around him, around the entire island."

When I think of magic in The Unwanteds, I generally think of two main types of magic: Artimean magic and what I like to call 'innate' magic. Artimean magic is the first one we're introduced to in the series and the one that gets explored in most depth. It's magic that stems from the creativity of its users but only functions with a living head mage. I like to think of Artime and its magic as a sort of parasite, feeding off the magical abilities of the head mage. It doesn't seem to have any negative physical impacts on the head mage or their magical abilities, aside from all the mental stress that comes from leading a country.

"She [Lani] slipped the robe over her shoulders and fastened it. It smelled burned, but it also smelled like Alex. She breathed deeply, trying to absorb any possible lingering greatness from the mage, knowing there would be no more opportunities to get it firsthand."

Then there's innate magic. The magic that someone is born with and can be done without a more powerful mage essentially 'fueling' it. It existed before Artimean magic and still exists when Artimean magic is gone, as seen when Thisbe uses her sparks while the rest of the Artimean's magic is gone. Some of the other characters we see with innate magic are Eva, Gondoleery, Justine (a little), and, of course, Mr. Today. Oh and also Eagala. It does seem like innate magic still stems from creativity, with characters saying that Mr. Today was far too creative to just limit himself to elemental magic. He literally created Artime and its brand of magic. I also think that he imbued his robes with a bit of his innate magic, meaning that a bit of his magic-and thus Artimean magic-survives his death. I think that's what would allow someone without innate magic to recreate Artime. Maybe that's also why someone with weak magic, like Frieda, is still able to be head mage and have the magic of Artime feeding off her life force: the robe was working overtime sustaining it.

"Fifer petted the falcon. 'You found us,' she murmured. The bird shimmered brightly, magically, in the dark forest. 'Birds?' said Dev. 'Are they your pets?' 'Sort of,' said Fifer. 'Does that shimmer mean the magic is back?' asked Seth. They looked back toward the camp at Simber, who was still frozen. 'I guess not,' said Fifer, confused. 'But the birds have brought the hammock with them. And since she's still shimmering, I don't think they've lost their magic.' 'Wait a second-maybe you haven't lost yours, either,' said Seth, growing excited. 'Your automatic magic, I mean. That stuff you were born with.'"

Fifer and Thisbe also have innate magic. And since both of them have it, and Mr. Today, Justine, and Eagala all had it, that makes it seem like there's a genetic component to the magic. Which begs the question: did Alex and Aaron have innate magic? Could they have recreated Artime without the robe? We never see them use any magic other than Artimean magic (although Aaron does stretch that definition a bit). On second thought, maybe their twin connection thing, which they have but is weaker than Fifer and Thisbe's eventually is, counts as a sort of innate magic. Or maybe it's its own thing, like the magic seaweed, the volcano network, and Karkinos. Huh. I'll have to think on that more. Anyways, they are both notably powerful mages, more so than most of their peers (Samheed might equal them, considering he could see the 'secret' hallway as soon as he arrived in Artime but Alex couldn't). I like to think that they do both have some level of weak innate magic. Definitely not as strong as Fifer and Thisbe's; it never bursts out of them uncontrollably. Or maybe that's a side effect of having been raised in Quill with their creativity suppressed, considering creativity is linked to how powerful innate magic is. They probably would have inherited it from their mother, like Fifer and Thisbe did. Or maybe they have some sort of latent innate magic, but it's not expressed because they don't have black eyes.

"Around dusk Simber returned with news that Arabis was in sight and should be arriving shortly with her wings ready to be reattached. 'I can do it,' Seth offered, noting that Fifer was taking a nap. He was glad-she needed it. He began to prepare his mind for the magical task. He knew how hard this would be, but he was ready for it."

On the topic of the Stowe siblings' magic, I want to talk a bit more about Aaron's magical abilities. I think I've touched on just how crazy powerful he is in the past, but I want to go a little deeper now. Aaron is one of the most powerful users of Artimean magic that we see in the series, probably second only to Mr. Today, who literally invented the magic type. He also uses non-component-based magic most similarly to Mr. Today, mostly focusing on creating creatures/statues and making them come alive. Alex and the other Artimeans, despite their magic stemming from creativity, tend to think within the rules of Artimean magic that they've learned. Things like using components or carefully following spells laid out in books. Aaron doesn't think about these rules when he's doing magic, especially earlier in the series. He's never been taught them. He just does it. He casually invents spells that become known as some of the most difficult and magically intensive spells that only the most powerful mages can do, like the live spell and the process of fixing broken statues. I don't actually think we ever see the full extent of what Aaron is capable of magically. I also think it makes sense with his character. He's just not that interested in expanding his magical abilities. He's perfectly content with where he's at, magically-speaking. He would much rather be trying to fix some scientific instrument than inventing a new form of magic.

"When the world of Artime turned gray, Henry Haluki knew that Alex was dead."

The major piece of magic we see Aaron do in this book is, of course, recreating Artime. And here's where some more of my headcanons/theories come in. I have this theory that each head mage who recreates Artime (so that would be Mr. Today, Alex, Aaron, and Fifer) creates a slightly different Artime that reflects their personality and how they see Artime. Mr. Today's Artime was a secret haven created specifically for Claire. It was a hidden, safe place for him and other creative people, but one that he couldn't share with the world. And he died less than a year after it was exposed. When Alex took on the role of head mage, he created a tight-knit adventuring Artime for the people of Artime themselves. They banded together because it was them against the world and fought for peace with a teenage boy as their leader. But once Artime achieved that peace it, like Alex, kind of floundered. Alex didn't know what to do with peace or with a world with wars fought over continents rather than islands. I don't quite have Quests as memorized as I do the original series (I've only read books three through seven twice before this) so I don't know Fifer's Artime as well off the top of my head. Mostly going off vibes, Fifer created an interconnected, young, playful Artime that was built for herself before anyone else, which allowed it to be more stable and adapt to a changing world as she, too, grew up.

"Then Aaron moved to the five crucial words. 'Imagine,' he said softly, picturing Artime in all its glory. 'Believe.' He felt his heart swell in grief and certainty, knowing with all confidence that this would work. 'Whisper.' He whispered the word, hearing it echo through the land, giving strength to it and defining the boundaries of the magical world. 'Breathe.' He let his chest swell, his lungs taking in the hot, salty air, giving life to the magic. Then he let it out. 'Commence,' he said finally."

And then there's Aaron's Artime. Where Alex created his Artime for the people, Aaron creates it for Alex. He imagines the glorious Artime that Alex forged and he believes that it can live again. But Aaron's Artime is also influenced by his own experiences with the island, most of which were in Quill rather than Artime. I don't think it's on purpose, but some of that does seep into his spell. He whispers to the land, giving it strength and boundaries, which are much more Quillen ideas than Artimean. He also gives it some aspects of his home on the Island of Shipwrecks, breathing in the salty sea air he's constantly surrounded with there. Then, this new version of Artime commences. And because it was created for a ghost rather than a living person or entity, because Aaron has this deep internal conflict between who he used to be and who he is now, he creates an Artime that is divided. It's not sustainable. It will never be able to thrive.

Much like Aaron never will be able to, unless he lets go of his negative feelings towards himself and forgives himself.

[janus-cadet]

So, hm, I may have my attention span stolen by yet another god of Discord. Lux was absolutely amazing in his lil disguise, and, well- that leads to yet another tarot card.

But oops, I tripped! There might have been a slight addition to the card, in the form of three other gods of the Pantheon, and one very distressed Doctor.

(Don't be fool, I'm sure he's having a great time. We know how much he likes dangerous murderous people, especially the blondes one)

Why the Five of Wands, tho? Well, that's actually very easy to answer- because that's The card for Discord. What else than the Pantheon to represent it? It's a card that express conflict, as in, you're un the midst of a battle (poor you, Doctor) that you simply can't escape. Don't expect to solve it with nicey dialogues and come to any common ground: everyone is stuck on what they want and cannot be bothered to hear what the others have to say. Maybe they simply couldn't be bother to care, vast beings that they are; all the more frustrating, because you know that if you could have them hear you out, much good could come from an association. It's complete chaos and disorder, from the whole human race driven mad by a giggle, or an entire theater of missing people. All you can do is rise above the mess; if they won't listen to reason (or a proposal to go play among the stars, which may or may not be due to your inability to be normal about blond murderers), then, you'll have to take action. You have to try to LISTEN. If you really do, well- you might actually find a surpringly nice end to the conflict you brought. Looking at you, Toymaker. Gonna make you eat your "and yet", idiot.

The card also stands for change and instability, which is the very thing those gods stand for- as shown by the effect they have on your reality, and the consequences they can bring upon your world. Tho the change, sometimes, can be positive; every transformation is not from flesh to dust. Maybe, sometimes, you'll get to turn into infinite light or something (if you're lucky and don't end up eaten by your own piano, or origamied into your own realm made small). All in all, this chaos is ultimately the source of dreadful inner conflict for you. Your perspective is constantly challenged by someone else, by new informations, and your approach to the growing problem cause you a tone of moral dilemmas.

Unfortunately, it does not look like it's going to get better for you, Doctor. Oopsie!

And there we are, for the eleventh Doctor Who tarot card of the lots! To think that this all started with wanting to draw the Masters, and now, I'm sixty cards in. We're nearing the end....

[justarandomart]

its him! the bastard shape!

[neigepomme]

some quick caleb headcanons before i conk out!! 🙏

caleb really likes mixed nuts. it's a pilot thing, he says — however, do note that he unfortunately developed a mild allergy to peanuts when he turned 21. he mourns the taste of peanut butter every morning...

caleb's favorite thing when the two of you are far away from one another has always been the video calls — but especially when you'd fall asleep on call with him. you'd stop responding, and he would hear your breathing even out, and that made him smile. only then could he fall asleep too, after taking a few screenshots of your sleeping face.

caleb always looks good, but he especially shines during the summer. you never tell him that because his head would inflate upon learning that you think he glows in the warmer months, but he really does. his freckles are way more prominent (especially on his back!), and he sports the most handsome tan ever. what you don't know, though, is that he glows during the summer because he gets to take you to the beach and admire you in your pretty swimsuit, all while splashing along in the cool water.

— note: caleb also somehow gets sunburnt more often after you two start dating. you don't know it's because he really likes the feeling of your fingers applying cool aloe vera gel to his face, but taking care of him makes you happy, so whatever.

[aimomin]

he's my babey🤲

[forecast0ctopus]

concussion does not negate bitchiness…..this must be known