#nice vice

[mugwot]

someone

[qiu-yan]

MDZS and asshole victims: thoughts on the second siege of the burial mounds scene

this post is not about morality judgments. this post is about reader sympathies only.

one rather clever rhetorical trick MDZS employs is putting all the more background "surviving victims of wei wuxian's actions" into one big angry mob at the second siege of the burial mounds, instead of letting them crop up anywhere else in the story. it's easy for a first-time reader to write off the guy who lost a leg at nightless city, or the guy whose parents died at nightless city, because both of those guys are being dicks. they're part of an angry mob baying for wei wuxian's blood--unfairly baying for wei wuxian's blood, because this time he didn't even do the thing they're saying he did. by putting these two victims into a mob of not just fellow victims but also unaffected individuals (ie. sect leader yao, who just showed up for kicks), the story can effectively equate these victims' grievances (ie. "you killed my parents") with unreasonable mob rule--even if these two things might not actually be equivalent.

the effect of this rhetorical trick, then, is that the reader can at once perceive the themes about mob mentality MXTX wishes to convey, and also effectively write off the victims' complaints. "yes, i did that to you, but i literally died already, what more do you want me to do? shall i walk on my knees repenting?" becomes easier for the reader to accept. and more importantly--wei wuxian's likability as a moral and just protagonist is not impacted.

ngl tho. it would be a bit more difficult for the reader to write off these victims' complaints if, instead of meeting said victims in an angry mob, the reader instead met these victims almost anywhere else. imagine if, instead of meeting mr. "you killed my parents" at the second siege of the burial mounds, we instead met him getting smashed at the local bar and crying about how his parents are dead. imagine if, instead of meeting mr. "you chopped off my leg" as a member of an angry mob, we instead met him begging for alms on the side of the road because his disability rendered him unable to work in a wuxia-esque setting. or imagine--if either of these background characters, overcome with survivor's guilt and trauma from nightless city, hung himself in his bedroom, and the next day his body was discovered by his 15-year-old daughter.

all of these scenarios are entirely plausible. you could easily include any of them into the story without changing the main plot at all. but suddenly shit just got a lot more depressing.

however, no such scene would ever be included in MDZS. the reason is that, as a work of fiction, MDZS's single most ardent goal is for us the readers to conclude not just that "we like wei wuxian as a character," but also that "wei wuxian is ultimately a morally righteous person." when the narrative focus shifts onto the people who were actually helped by wei wuxian's actions (mianmian and her family, lan sizhui, the few months of dignity the wen remnants were afforded) this becomes much easier for us to conclude; wei wuxian does indeed look like a hero. but the more narrative focus is given to the negative impacts of wei wuxian's actions--the more the "victims of wei wuxian" (whether actual victims or not) are given a face, instead of abstracted away by broad summaries--the more the reader might side-eye wei wuxian instead. every new victim given a name, given narrative attention that isn't just focused on making them look like an asshole, arouses the reader's sympathies in the opposite direction--and thus increases the risk that the reader might ultimately disagree with the novel's conclusion of "wei wuxian is a righteous person."

tbh, this does not seem like a risk MXTX particularly wants to take. instead, she's mastered the art of writing Asshole Victims.

which is an entirely valid writing decision, because imo basically every work of genre fiction out there does this to some extent.

[raycatzdraws]

ribbonwood

[sameboot]

Aren’t u having fun?

[cheese-water]

I know it’s been said before, but I don’t care. The best thing that has come out of purgatory so far is the mending of the relationship between Tubbo and BadBoyHalo. Cause I’ll tell you, I would have never expected this a month ago, not even two weeks ago.

What’s even funnier is that the past week has made me realize how similar they are. They both play on the server an unhealthy amount. They both adore the eggs and other npcs (in the same day, Tubbo named and was constantly a headcount of his little army, and Bad was treating two of them like they were his own kids). They love to cause problems for fun and have no problem being “immoral” to get what they want. In every conversation, the two of them instinctively avoid and dance around giving anyone answers effortlessly, like the weasels they are. They’re both renowned loophole exploiters. They’re both gigantic nerds and have way too much game knowledge. Literally, both of them own Minecraft servers lmao.

I think that because they have so much in common, particularly their slipperiness, Tubbo and Bad will be either completely in sync or at each other’s throats. Even back during Ron’s kidnapping, during 1 on 1 conversations with the two of them, Bad told Tubbo that he was “too smart for his own good,” which I personally translated as “so this is how Foolish feels when talking to me.”

They’re dynamic is like two sound waves. When two similar waves of sound in the same space move in opposition to each other (as one goes up and the other goes down, etc.), they will cancel each other out, resulting in no noise at all. It’s called destructive interference and is how I would describe Bad and Tubbo’s rivalry pre-purgatory, so at odds with one another that every conversation eventually turns into a debate. However, when two similar sound waves align, they become in phase, and the created sound doubles.

When Tubbo and Bad work as one, the construction interference created between them amplifies their strengths and allows them to do things that are unthinkable on their own. There’s a reason why the only time they were able to kill Étoiles was together.

[dearlymrme]

Five Times You Showed Satoru You Could Be Trusted and The Moment He Realized It

Synopsis: Not to say that he doesn't receive kindness from Suguru or Shoko, but as a new student or a background that's just offering kindness with no strings attached? I don't think he'd trust it when he's young.

Author's Note: This is my first submission to the JJK fandom. My offering, if you would, tenderly left at the foot of the door to fandom in hopes it will suffice as good tribute. So, please enjoy.

i.

It's his first opinion: You must be an idiot.

Despite the fact that he told you not to bother covering for him--that with Infinity nothing could touch him, on your first mission together you still put yourself between him and the attack he could see coming from miles away. An attack that would never even make contact with him.

You smiled at him and told him, "Just because they're not gonna be able to hit you, doesn't mean it's acceptable for anyone to try to." Duh, he knows that.

It’s stupid…-It’s just pointless.

ii.

"Why'd you eat it in the first place if you knew it was going to give you stomach pain?"

"Because it’s so goood." He whined, clenching his gut with his chin on his desk and a sour expression. Satoru loves tiramisu. His stomach does not.

"I can’t argue with that. Here, eat this." You say, handing him what looks like a Hi-Chew. "It's a ginger chew, they're really good for settling stomach pain."

He passes it off with a huff.

"It'll go away on its own in a minute." You raise a brow and force the chew into his hand

"So? Why suffer yourself that extra minute when you could just end it now?"

"Pain builds tolerance. Weren’t you taught that? Soon, my stomach will get with the program and I can have tiramisu whenever I want!" He pulls a shining but forced grin.

"…--Just take the chew." You strong-armed him into eating the surprisingly sweet ‘medicine’.

It’s stupid…–It’s just a stomach ache.

iii.

"Hey Satoru, can we take a picture together?" He raises a brow, pausing from his fidgeting with his pencil.

"Huh? Why?"

"Well, I mean. I got some of selfies with Suguru and Shoko but I barely have any with just you and me." He shakes his head.

"No, I mean, why are you asking? People do it all the time." You blink, confused.

"Wha?"

"Suguru and Shoko don't see it but they don't have Six-Eyes--"

"People are taking your picture without your consent?"

"Yeah, it's nothing new."

Later he stares in mild consideration when you corner a woman in the streets and berate her for pointing her cellphone at him without asking first. How she should be ashamed as someone older, who should know common courtesy and--

"Delete it. Now!"

It's stupid…--It's just a picture.

iv.

"I heard they're sending you on a mission out of the country." You mention idly, sitting on his couch and playing Pokemon on your Gameboy as he sits over on his bed, likewise on his Gameboy but playing Mario Kart.

"Yup," He pops.

"Anything I can do to help while you're gone?" You ask and he snickers.

"How are you supposed to help me? It's not like you're coming with me."

You snicker in turn, shaking your head.

"Well, obviously. I mean, do you have anything you want me to do for you while you’re gone? I could take your notes for the classes you miss?"

"Those classes are excused."

"They'll still be on the midterms?" He snorts at your institution that he needs to study for the midterms.

"You could take care of my Digimon for me." He jokes, earning a shrug.

"I mean, I don't know much about Digimon but sure."

He thought it was obvious that it was a joke. When he gets home you hand him back over his Tamagotchi and not only is his Augmon still alive but you’ve managed to get it to evolve to Metalgreymon.

It’s stupid…-It’s just a toy.

v.

"What do you want?"

You've seen him irritated before, at other people but never at you. It's pretty intimidating for him to walk up to you in the middle of the hall and glare you down like you've done the most offensive thing possible to him but you can't recall doing anything wrong. He'd tell you if you did, right?

"What do you mean?"

"What do you want? Money? Brownie points? Just tell me what you want out of this already!"

"I don't want anything. I thought that was pretty obvious, dude. I just like hanging out with you." You frown, brows pinching. "I mean, I kinda got this impression that people only got close to you to use you but I'm not doing that."

"Why not?" Is he…really asking that?

"Because it's fucked." You shake your head.

You know he's known Shoko and Suguru a lot longer. You knew that there was a chance this kind of confrontation and assumption would happen. You had hoped that by now you made it clear he could trust you but having him outright tell you to your face that he doesn't and seemed to never did…really hurts.

"There's no ulterior motive, Satoru. Can't I just be nice to you for the sake of being nice?"

"That's…really stupid."

"It's not." You disagree. "I'm playing Mario Kart later. You're welcome to come over and join me if you want."

He watches your retreating back with a miffed expression. The way your voice waivers with some dying hope. He clicks his tongue, stuffs his hands in his pockets, and goes to hang out with his real friends.

It’s stupid…-It’s just a game. It has to be...

.

"She's gotta be dumb as bricks if she thinks any of this stuff is actually helping me?!"

Satoru complains, pacing a racetrack around the room. Suguru sips his freshly made tea and flips through his magazine as Shoko idly smokes her cigarette near the open window. They both listen to their friends complain with equally half-amused attention.

"Like, what the hell does she even want!? She never asks for anything in return! It's so fucking weird, I don't know what her deal is!!?"

"Satoru…" Geto sighs, flipping another page but saying nothing else.

Shoko flicks ash out of the window edge and says what they’re both thinking.

"You're a genius but you are so fucking stupid."

He stops at their statement and gives them a betrayed look, glancing between the two as they level him with exasperated expressions. Suguru then gestures to himself, to Shoko, and then to Satoru before rolling his hand.

Satoru does the math and…

Oh…Maybe it's not so stupid.

vi.

You very quickly learned that the world decided to do Satoru Gojo dirty. Making him the strongest sorcerer in the world: put on the pedestal of a 'god' and treated so objectively. Like a commodity rather than the privilege and person that he is.

You hope that the people who use him get what's coming to them. You hope that when the day comes they expect him to 'save' everyone that he'd be vindictive about. You know for a fact that you would.

You don't care that he's the strongest. You only care about the subtle moments you get to share with him. You only care about the blue shell he's thrown from 6th place and him taking your lead.

"Fuck you!"

"Fuck me yourself, coward!" You break out into laughter that he echoes, knowing his sass wasn't meant to be taken seriously but hardly believe you're hearing it to begin with. Just like you hardly really believe he’d show up at your door at all with a pained expression and an apology.

"What?"

"What?" Satoru parrots.

"That's stupid." You snicker and shake your head.

"You’re stupid!"

Your room is filled with laughter as you soak in the warmth of the moment and his side pressed against yours without the cold of Infinity to be felt.

[dustykneed]

good boy, darlin' (spones spice ahead!)

full view here on my ao3!

[vancruejovi]

My Miami Vice Book Collection 🌴

[vellichorsdesire]

life before moving in with your f/o(s) if you’ve thought about the possibility, where you two visit each other’s homes instead… them leaving things at your place, from clothes to personal belongings that they’ve forgotten but it’s fine because they’ll be visiting tomorrow anyway, and they don’t mind you borrowing their stuff because in a way it’s become yours now too. them borrowing your stuff as well when they stay over unexpectedly, like your favorite tshirt or sleepwear. them going through your cupboards for food or getting cutlery for when you two eat because they already know where everything is. their toothbrush beside yours in the bathroom. an extra pair of home slippers by the door. all of this but vice versa, even. and whenever you two are even just sitting on the same couch or laying on the same bed or simply having a meal together, your f/o can’t help but think that this feels just right

[ikeprinces-stuff]

My reaction to this was :

[narugen]

i seriously need more narumi and mina moments because just imagine the relief mina felt when narumi joined, similar age to her and was also considered a prodigy in the force.

to have someone to share the burden of the defence force’s future with must’ve felt so freeing. because before he joined it was just her, age 18, being told that she was going to change kaiju extermination with her exceptional synergy with firearms. and she was so, so scared.

narumi doesn’t have the kind of skills or talent for long range combat like she does, but he’s also a top candidate (despite his behavioural issues- which aren’t much of a hinderance anyway) and mina doesn’t have to carry the burden of the future alone anymore

(although she’d never admit, given she probably views narumi as someone completely shocking i just think it’s so funny how she stood there like O_O when she first saw him)

like i LOVE seeing the contrast. mina who was sent onto the battlefield for the first time and was deathly afraid vs narumi who was sent out and immediately took action because that’s how he always lived (fighting)

and now they’re the top two strongest captains in the force and they will be the ones to lead the new generation..

[a2zillustration]

Forgive me if I missed a post or something but is Croissant Ace?

(That comic with Mizora and the Emperor is a damn MOOD)

Asking for a friend.

(It's me, I am ace, and a Gale lover ^_^)

They are! This game has been a wild ride for them lmao

[wakeupthemembersofbylernation]

Based on the way the story has been written, especially following season 4, I do believe mike is likely gay atp. But “It’s not my fault you don’t like girls” still makes sense as projection if Mike is bi because lots of closeted bi teens are confused about their feelings, especially in the 80s where terms like “bisexual” wouldn’t have been as readily accessible to kids from Hawkins, Indiana.

Simply the fact that Mike likes boys/Will could make him worried that he’s gay and cause him to hyperfixate on the concept of not liking girls more often, especially if his feelings for El were waning, or if his feelings for Will were overwhelming, even if he did in fact have a crush on El at the start of the show. Nothing says being a closeted bi teen like bouncing back and forth between “I can’t be gay, I like girls” and “Oh no, I like boys, am I gay?”

I think there’s a common misconception that the bi Mike view necessitates oversimplifying the story as “Mike used to be into El, and now he’s into Will.” That isn’t necessarily the case. A bi Mike reading can still involve internalized homophobia, projection, the heteronormative pressure to conform and date girls, repression, and most of the things we talk about here.

(I didn’t really wanna get involved in this, but I feel like this is important to add).

[gunsatthaphan]

“I guess we can’t go home yet.”

[micamicster]

Amnesia plotlines are born sexy yesterday but worse because she had a personality first and then it got taken away my girl was neutered for romantic development oooooohh men should explode men should get on their knees and repent!!!!!!!!

[basiacoquum]

Am I the only one who thinks that the hate the characters are getting this season is just so weird?