#narrative foils!

[melonsharks]

the difference between setting something free and setting something loose is a matter of definition

[milkcos]

defiance/relief in the face of a dying sun

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

not "i ship these characters" or "i want them to bond platonically" but a secret 3rd thing (I want them to be forced to interact by the Narrative bc they would HATE that)

[kermit-coded]

there's something so incredibly gut wrenching about luke's "i know you didn't want to be a halfblood" mirroring percy's "i didn't want to be a halfblood" monologue because luke has always been a dark mirror of percy, what percy could become but never would because at the end of the day percy's fatal flaw means that no matter how disillusioned he became with the gods, he would never betray his friends like luke did. that is their fundamental and crucial difference.

[linktoo-doodles]

i'll strangle you or i'll kiss you on the mouth

[fagueroth-faeth]

and what if i cry?? what then?

RICK PERRY THE GENIUS YOU ARE

[hgedits]

"Lucy is in many ways an echo of who The Ghoul once was; a polite, moral person, who believed people were going to do the right thing. He certainly doesn't like to be reminded of his naivety when he looks at her. After all, it isn't just that he used to be good; it's that he used to be nice."

[ruoyeming]

Star of Solitude // God of Misfortune

[menelaus-blue]

thinking a lot right now how kabru’s fascination/obsession with humans makes him such a ruthless fighter against them in the same way that laios is so effective against monsters because he studies up on them endlessly

[grantaireble]

Neil "You can never play Exy again" Josten and Jean "Exy is the sole purpose of your existence" Moreau

Neil "I have no choice but to run" Josten and Jean "I have no choice but to stay" Moreau

Neil "I have to be alone" Josten and Jean "Do not leave me alone" Moreau

Neil "~10% of my internal monologue centers around hiding my scars" Josten and Jean "what?" Moreau

Neil "I don't swing" Josten and Jean "the cruelty behind these nonstop temptations" Moreau

Neil "no one can know how fucked up I am" Josten and Jean "everyone keeps saying I'm fucked up?" Moreau

Neil was being chased all his life but Jean had already been caught :/ :/

Foils of all time

[wasabi-gumdrop]

(slips this under ur door) pls read dunmesh

[ministarfruit]

day 12: karma ♡

(femslashfeb prompt list)

[moonfireshadow]

Rewatched Saltburn and I'm obsessed with Farleigh and Oliver's tutoring scene. The essay specifically. For those who don't remember: Oliver did his homework and all his assignments and genuinely gave a well thought out essay for their summer assignments. Farleigh shows up hungover and late and didn't even read the books. But the teacher immediately loves Farleigh and is chatting him up with an interest he barely tried to show Oliver. Even after Oliver gives his presentation and shows that he's clearly a much better student than Farleigh. Obviously this is the real start of their rivalry. But it's also such a beautiful look into their characters and how they mirror eachother. Farleigh understands Oliver's essay, I believe. But like the teacher he's bored by it. The knowledge and work is there, but the presentation of it is boring and strange. Academic and correct, but lacking the appeal to the audience. (Which, can we talk about the fact Farleigh was genuinely listening at all? The teacher zoned out and switched channels, but Farleigh was interested and paying enough attention to know the exact number of times Oliver used the word "thus" in his essay. They respect each other truly even if they despise eachother at this point, and refuse to acknowledge the grudging respect.) So Farleigh does what he does best, he gloats over Oliver. He picks apart the style of the essay and it's presentation rather than addressing the central argument or topic. This delights the teacher and frustrates Oliver who is like, "so you're going to critique the style of my essay rather than it's substance? Seems a bit lazy" and that's the core component of these two characters.

Farleigh is ALL about presentation. He knows how fragile his pedistal is placed up and in view for everyone to see. He's a charity project, just like every other rando of the month. Sure he has some familiar connection, and that's given him a leg up in this world. But it's still shakey at best. He always has to give the correct performance, say the right words, keep his audience on HIS side. Unless he wants to get knocked down with the rest of the common rabal that he knows he's belongs with, but can't stand the idea of. So yes, of course he picks apart the one thing he knows Oliver is failing at. He takes his one advantage over Oliver and uses it mercilessly to both entertain and secure his audience on his side. (I wonder if the positions had been different some how, if Farleigh would have had anything to say about the substance of the essay itself. He was paying attention to it, did he want to have a real academic conversation? Did he possibly want to try and connect to Oliver in that way? A real and non performative way with someone who's so similar to him?)

As for Oliver, obviously his character is intelligent. He does the readings. He does the research. He puts the time and effort in to *learn* in the way Farleigh never does. And it must infuriate him that his essay is so easily pushed to the side for a cheep critique that doesn't even address the central argument of his essay. Of course he would hate Farleigh from the start for that. It's such a quick negation of all that Oliver has to offer and give just because it's not wrapped up in a pretty bow. And that's just his character. The substance is there, the intelligence is there. But it's not enough. It will never be enough. Because Oliver doesn't know how to translate it to his audience in a way they'll care about. He learns and tries to mimic, but it always falls short because he just can't seem to figure out the way to blend in and present himself so seamlessly as Farleigh.

And that's why they're such perfect mirrors of each other. They're both intelligent and clever. But they've found different ways of getting what they want and proving themselves. Farleigh is the face and the presentation, Oliver is the substance and body. In another world imagine what these two could have done and been if they hadn't been pitted against each other for the same prize. And the fact Oliver definitely deliberately shoved Farleigh out at the perfect time so he wouldn't get hurt and killed? Oliver and Farleigh respect and admire the other. But their tragedy is they can never be on the same page or team because the world they're in says there is only room for one. And they'd both do anything to get that title.

[whatisamildopinion]

these two had me rolling. no sneak attack, they are dealing 7 to 8 damage with their normal attacks and screaming at each other. Rogue on Rogue violence I love you

(click for better resolution, image without text boxes under the cut)

[befooremoonrisee]

the way in which jon and robb's futures are foreshadowed by the mother of the other: robb dying too young and becoming a ghost that haunts their siblings, a reminder of innocence and happier days, and jon dying and being brought back to life, a shadow of what he once was, a dark mirror to himself

[longelk]

kaycee "off the wall"