#note that this is not necessarily natural empathy

[grison-in-space]

Listening to Artificial Condition again, it strikes me how much Murderbot uses empathy reflexively as a survival skill. Look at this bit.

Upon meeting it, ART allows it on board and then announces that it knows that Murderbot is rogue. Then ART threatens to destroy it if it hacks ART's own systems. Murderbot is immediately terrified and shuts down all inputs, gives serious thought to spending the entire three month journey unconscious, and then considers the potential avenues of damage from ART's drones. ART, not realizing why Murderbot had suddenly gone silent, tells it to quit sulking, which understandably pisses off the still-terrified Murderbot. It dumps a bunch of memories of coercive treatment into ART's feed, and ART goes silent.

Then this happens:

Then it said, I’m sorry I frightened you. Okay, well. If you think I trusted that apology, you don’t know Murderbot. Most likely it was playing a game with me. I said, “I don’t want anything from you. I just want to ride to your next destination.” I’d explained that earlier, before it opened the hatch for me, but it was worth repeating. I felt it withdraw back behind its wall. I waited, and let my circulatory system purge the fear-generated chemicals. More time crawled by, and I started to get bored. Sitting here like this was too much like waiting in a cubicle after I’d been activated, waiting for the new clients to take delivery, for the next boring contract. If it was going to destroy me, at least I could get some media in before that happened. I started the new show again, but I was still too upset to enjoy it, so I stopped it and started rewatching an old episode of Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon. After three episodes, I was calmer and reluctantly beginning to see the transport’s perspective. A SecUnit could cause it a lot of internal damage if it wasn’t careful, and rogue SecUnits were not exactly known for lying low and avoiding trouble. I hadn’t hurt the last transport I had taken a ride on, but it didn’t know that. I didn’t understand why it had let me aboard, if it really didn’t want to hurt me. I wouldn’t have trusted me, if I was a transport. Maybe it was like me, and it had taken an opportunity because it was there, not because it knew what it wanted.

The thing about Murderbot's survival is that it clearly involves quite a bit of negotiating with other constructs and bots. That's how it talks its way onto cargo hauler bots in the first place. It uses empathy--envisioning the emotional and cognitive context of the individuals it encounters--to work out what different kinds of people want, so that it can offer them fair trades. It also uses empathy to consider what humans might be looking for, so it can practice blending in and hide.

Murderbot would never have survived so long if it wasn't capable of assessing the individual desires of the people--human, bot, and construct--around it. It thinks about ART's probable fears and motivations so that it can consider whether ART is inherently an ongoing threat or a potential ally.

When your survival depends on evading detection, you get really good at assessing perceptual biases so that you can shape yourself to fit into them. People talk about murderbot being radically empathetic as a choice it makes, or as a feature of its personality that makes it a good person. But I think murderbot would be the the first person to tell you that this empathy is part of its threat assessment suite, a skill that was developed out of necessity in order to allow you to survive.

It is also a trait that makes murderbot a good person, of course: it chooses very carefully to try to survive by doing as little harm as possible and by offering things, like media, that buy it access to things it needs. But it started as a survival skill. It's part of hypervigilance.

I think one of the strengths of this series is that so many of the things we love about SecUnit are traits developed for survival in an inherently threatening world. The shape of its mind and heart have been changed by the trauma of its origin--but they don't make murderbot less good for being altered, even if that skill was developed in a traumatic context.

I like that.

[kkkaisan]

I finally finished the second chapter of this doodle comic!

Basically from a translation machine:

It's called notes, but it's really bullshit time:

(I didn't put any asterisks in the "text" in order to make the picture cleaner and not make this little comic seem too serious)

①WX says that their body "doesn't have any of those really advanced things" and that "the concept is just bionic", which might make you wonder how WX can agree with their own shortcomings when they are always been so confident in their own machine body. This is kind of a guess: WX's comments in the wiki about Wagstaff being "afraid of progress" and "short-sighted", combined with WX's usual machine-worshiping and violent tendencies, such as their comments about Maxwell "He has that kind of power but he doesn't go out and destroy human". So it's an offense to them, but they actually agree that even though they claim to be superior, I guess WX would like to see their bodies more advanced and even more radical.

② Yes, this WX has acceleration circuits installed.

③ Gnome get✓ Do you guys remember the line where WX checks the Gnome

④ "You're not as kind as you look", how should I put this one, because the Wilson I understand is more or less with a little bit of darkness in his mind, he's someone who is full of emotions but often restrains them with reason, he fears and hates the negative impulses and instincts within himself. And this trait I think probably comes from his good nature, his education and survival experiences and the influence of the Shadow Throne. (But honestly after suffering in CONSTANT for so long, it's normal for whoever it is to be a little psychologically unhinged, not to mention the SANITY setting.) And after WX's soulwalking, they easily have some "psychic empathy" with Wilson... ...... Well, how did that happen Wilson?

⑤ Well I know the reasoning of the empathy module episode is weird ...... In fact, it's mainly because when I drew this plot I didn't have a good understanding of the empathy module, and simply thought of it as something like "emotional deficiency", so this episode was supposed to be Wilson saying "why do I still feel emotional ups and downs blabla" and then WX explaining that it's because of "memories of emotional experiences", which would have made a lot more sense.

⑥I guess it's my own personal setting: although the game doesn't make a distinction, I don't think WX as a robot would have a "headache and blurred vision due to lack of sanity". The system will be affected, sure, but the physiology won't necessarily feel it. It's hard to go from luxury to frugality, and since there is no experience in the eternal realm in the human era, WX can't adapt to the negative impacts of sanity reduction at all.

⑦Wilson's curiosity and desire to explore and then equipped with WX's hardware strength is simply ON FIRE. and "adapting to the human body so quickly" this conclusion mainly comes from the last chapter when the two people just transformed the body, Wilson's side is very difficult, while the WX on the contrary, it seems to be very easy. Even when they suddenly possessed internal organs, blood, light weight and so on, there was no adverse reaction. Wilson, who loves to observe, has always had suspicions (sorry however I didn't draw this clue out)

⑧ on the one hand, just learned a shocking secret, excited and energetic Wilson, on the other hand is the history of the exposure, and is also experiencing unprecedented headache WX. so the two temperament is not quite the same as usual.

⑨ "Wiped of most of their human memories" from the game's credits: "Suddenly recalling the memories of his past life, WX-78 soon decides to change his fate on his own."

⑩ Those of you who have fought Shadow creatures online might know that the only way a teammate's Shadow creature will have hatred for you is if you've forcibly attacked them. What happened here is that WX forced an attack on Wilson's Shadow Creature (except that Wilson was still relying on his headache of empirical judgment and didn't realize that his SANITY was too low), and then WX's own shadow creatures that were looming all showed up as well, which is why it became so much more. I don't have a very comprehensive understanding of this mechanic online though, and it doesn't seem to be very rigorous, so that's probably what it is anyway.

I accidentally added a lot more, mainly because of the limited ability to express the drawing ... Hope you enjoy!

[outofangband]



Working on some longer xenobiology/speculative biology posts so in the meantime here are some more random thoughts

Updated edition a year later! I hope these are ok!!

These are more jotting down ideas, please please feel free to give me any to elaborate on!

Also not all of these I necessarily consider my Headcanons, they’re just fun to play around with

Location edition

1. Tapetum lucidum or, eyes that can glow in the dark. (similar to the eyes of cats and raccoons) This is not limited to the Caliquendi and so is not directly related to Treelight.

Related to this is the potential ability to see infrared or other light spectrums like certain animals. I do like the idea that elven vision in the dark is more complicated than simply being able to see through the dark.

They navigate in unique ways, using the earth, trees, and even rocks to orient themselves. (I’m basing this in part of Legolas’s words about the elves of Hollin where he appears to draw sense memories from flora and stones) This also fits into my ideas for some ways elves are disoriented and controlled within Angband.

When elves are kept away from the natural world, in monotonous environments, without access to plant life or even a variety of geological information, they can enter a sort of stupor. Even in Angband which of course does contain rocks and life in the form of fungi, algae and even some plants, Cyanobacteria and certain creatures, much of the mines and dungeons are deliberately kept barren, lifeless and separated enough from the caverns and tunnels. What information they receive is never comforting. On that note, Ecological empathy taken to an extreme. Elves becoming depressed from ecological destruction, feeling the changes to landscapes on an innate level. Hence again why Angband is so damaging

Ears that express a wide range of emotions like how eyebrows do with humans. Elven ears will flatten, perk up, twitch, and even fold at times.

. I talked about phosphorescence here which actually has roots in canon!

Being able to navigate on all fours with ease, particularly while climbing and on a similar note, advanced balance.

For some of them, partially webbed feet and possibly even gill like structures on their chests for the sea elves.

On that note I think evolution works obviously differently for elves. Traits adapt and spread at different rates.

Pressure to areas of their body causes them to fall still, like with puppies and kittens. They have very sensitive areas in the backs of their necks and behind their ears. I've talked about this on my states of consciousness and sleep posts!

They do not have fingerprints though the skin on their hands will sometimes absorb and take in the colors of the things they touch, regardless of skin tone though skin tone does effect how clearly these show. For example, if an elven child spends some time playing in grass or clay, they may come back home with the skin up to their forearms that color.

Elves rarely have freckles but those that do will notice that they change colors and shades. Sometimes russet, sometimes even silvery, gold, or blueish. This is also true with birthmarks and even some scars. As they predate the sun their freckles are more similar to spots for camouflage and most words for them translates something to spots or foilage.

Elves can imitate sounds of animals very easily, especially bird and insect songs. While being able to communicate with animals is a rare gift among them, most can speak basic warnings and declarations, such as being able to warn sparrows that there is a hawk around. They can also pick up song very easily, often feeling the rhythm of even very gentle music in their hands.

I have a lot of thoughts on elves and synesthesia. I think most stimuli and input for elves is experienced through multiple senses for example being able to feel sound (obviously humans can to through vibrations but elves are more attuned to this). Synesthesia of the kind humans experience is somewhat more common in elves and other kinds unique to them also exist. (I have a whole post about this here!)

I talked about snow blindness and elves’ unique experiences with winter here!

I headcanon that elves have a specific sense for growth; they can hear and feel for lack of a better phrasing, shoots of grass growing, flowers blooming, roots expanding out. Not all are equally attuned to it or aware of it and some can become extremely overwhelmed by it if their ability to process is affected.

[pagesfromthevoid]

Glitch | k.h. | 2

Kakashi Hatake x fem!reader

Word Count: 1.6k

Warnings: Angst, flashback

Author’s Notes: If you’re not picking up on it, this series is more interconnected moments that reader and Kakashi share. They’re not necessarily in any specific order, nor do they really need to be read together to make sense. The idea is that, as Kakashi and her go through life, they seem to find themselves back together.

Talk to me! | Series Masterlist | AO3

Five Years Following Rin's Death

The rain poured relentlessly, an unending torrent that seemed to wash away the world's sins. Each droplet that landed on Kakashi's skin felt like a cleansing judgment, as if nature itself condemned him for the choices he had made. He knelt by Rin's grave, the cold moisture seeping through his clothes, chilling him to the bone. No amount of rain would wash away his sins; no downpour could cleanse the stain of blood from his past. The moniker of “Friend Killer Kakashi” echoed in his mind, a reminder of the darkest moment in his life. But as the rain fell upon him, he didn't mind the discomfort. It was a fitting reflection of the storm raging within him, the tempest of guilt and sorrow that had been his constant companion since that fateful day five years ago.

With trembling fingers, he traced the etched characters on the cold stone marker. Each stroke was an act of penance, a silent prayer to a friend he had failed to protect. His touch was gentle, as if he could somehow impart warmth and life to the lifeless stone. The rain-slicked surface mirrored his own tear-streaked face, and for a brief, fleeting moment, he hoped to find some solace or answer in the weathered engravings.

As he knelt there, lost in his thoughts and the steady patter of raindrops, Kakashi's solitude was interrupted by the soft sound of footsteps. The earth squelched beneath the weight of approaching shoes, and the footsteps drew nearer with a sense of purpose that Kakashi hadn't expected. He didn't bother to turn around; his heart had grown heavy with the weight of mourners who had come and gone, offering their silent condolences to the departed. Their condolences couldn't change the past, couldn't bring Rin back.

Yet, this time was different. The footsteps were unhurried but determined, and they carried with them an unspoken empathy that Kakashi couldn't ignore. They were not the hesitant shuffles of the curious or the obligatory trudges of those paying their respects. These steps held a purpose, a quiet strength that piqued his curiosity. Kakashi remained still, his wet hair clinging to his forehead, his eye hidden behind his headband. Glancing over his shoulder, he caught a glimpse of a young girl walking the path to the memorial stone.

Her footsteps were steady, each precise step cutting through the torrential downpour as if she were determined to defy the very elements themselves. Her black leather boots sank slightly into the soft mud, leaving behind impressions that spoke of her unwavering commitment to her cause. The rain, falling in thick, heavy sheets, did nothing to deter her.

Her observant eyes caught sight of Kakashi from a distance, hunched over by Rin's grave. His silhouette, obscured by the curtain of rain, was a figure lost in the relentless downpour. As she drew closer, her heart ached at the sight of his isolation. While she and Kakashi had not interacted in the time since she became a shinobi, she knew about him; it was hard for people to not know about him. The Copy Ninja; the friend killer; the son of the White Fang. Kakashi was known for many things at such a young age –of course she knew about him. 

But seeing him there, drenched to the bone, paying respects to those he supposedly killed –broke her heart for him. From observation alone, she knew that Kakashi Hatake was not the cold hearted ninja that the village made him out to be. With the rain that had drenched him, his silver hair plastered to his forehead, his clothes clinging to him, he was nothing more than a teenager with so much loss surrounding him. He seemed oblivious to the world around him, lost in a realm of memories and regrets. 

Without a word, she continued her deliberate approach. She moved with a grace that belied her youth, her movements fluid and purposeful. Her gloved hand held the bright pink umbrella high –her mother’s favorite one, because of how happy it was –its canopy a stark contrast against the bleakness of the storm. Raindrops danced upon the fabric like shimmering diamonds, a stark juxtaposition to the solemnity of the cemetery.

When she finally stood beside Kakashi, she extended the umbrella, its surface glistening with droplets, forming a protective barrier between him and the relentless rain. The canopy's edge barely brushed against her shoulder, as she positioned herself to ensure he received the most shelter. In that moment, without a single word passing between them, she offered solace to a grieving soul, bridging the chasm of loneliness that had haunted Kakashi since Rin's death.

Kakashi finally looked up, his single visible eye meeting her warm, understanding gaze. Raindrops clung to his lashes, each one a testament to the tempest within him. He couldn't help but feel unworthy of her kindness, of the simple act of shelter she offered, as if the very heavens wept for his redemption. His usually pristine silver hair was now a disheveled, tangled mess, plastered to his forehead and cheeks by the rain that refused to let up. The mask that veiled his emotions was soaked and clung to his skin like a second skin; she wondered if he felt like he was drowning with how wet it was against his cheeks and nose.

For the first time in years, someone had seen past his stoic façade; someone had reached out to him without expecting anything in return. Kakashi's hands trembled at this unexpected act of kindness, clenched in his lap as he considered how to react to her. It was a fragile moment of vulnerability, a crack in the armor he had meticulously built over the years. He wanted to say something, to tell her to leave –go away, and leave him to mourn. But when he caught her eye as he looked up at her properly, she offered him a soft smile and Kakashi couldn’t bring himself to push her off.

“You’ll catch your death out here,” she murmured, stepping slightly closer so that she was also shielded by her umbrella. 

Kakashi simply shrugged, returning his gaze back to the memorial stone.

She hummed some, trying not to be put off by his lack of response. “I came to visit my mother’s grave,” she explained, even though he hadn’t asked. “She loved the rain; I try to visit her when the clouds roll in.”

“I don’t care.”

“I know you don’t,” she immediately replied, refusing to let him push her around. “But I think Kushina-sensei would be mad if I didn’t try to help her husband’s student.”

Kakashi looked back up at her, his single visible eye narrowing in a moment of realization. Raindrops clung to his eyelashes like crystal tears, mirroring the storm of memories that swept through his mind. It suddenly struck him why he knew the young woman who stood above him; Minato-sensei had introduced his team to Kushina-sensei’s team shortly after Kakashi had become a jonin. It had been one of those rare occasions when they decided to step away from their duties as ninja and celebrate, if only briefly. Kushina had just become the leader of her own team, a group of enthusiastic genin who were brimming with excitement about their future as ninja. Kakashi had, at the time, brushed off the whole ordeal, finding it all tedious and unnecessary.

What he’d give for those times back.

Hesitating for a moment, Kakashi sighed, his breath misting in the chilly rain, and then pushed himself up from the ground. He towered over her now, the height difference accentuated by the uneven terrain beneath them. Instead of flinching back or shrinking away at his sudden closeness, she simply stood her ground, her gaze unwavering as she met his eye. 

Kakashi finally spoke, his voice soft but laced with gratitude when he said her name. “It’s been a while since I last saw you. You’re taller.”

She looked aside, as if she was thinking back to their first meeting. Raindrops clung to her eyelashes, and her hair was now a dark, wet curtain framing her face. “I suppose I can’t stay the size of an eleven-year-old forever.”

“No, I don’t suppose you can,” Kakashi replied with a faint hint of a smile behind his mask before it disappeared. She looked rather proud of herself for eliciting the reaction.

Silence fell between them as the rain continued to fall around them, each raindrop tracing a delicate path down from the heavens. Finally, Kakashi took the umbrella from her, his gloved fingers brushing against hers in a fleeting touch, before he held it between them. She looked up at him curiously, her brow raised in a silent question. With a nod towards the path that led away from the cemetery, Kakashi began to walk back towards the village. The umbrella shielded them both from the relentless rain, its canopy forming a cocoon of temporary respite. The rain drummed softly on the fabric, creating a soothing background melody to their footsteps.

She didn't hesitate to follow, quickening her pace to keep up with him. The rain-soaked earth squelched beneath their feet, and the world around them seemed to blur as they walked. In that shared moment under the umbrella, amidst the storm and the memories, Kakashi and her found a connection that offered a glimmer of hope in their otherwise somber lives.

They didn’t know it, but this sudden breakdown in Kakashi’s system –this glitch in his self-loathing –was only the first in many for the two.

[sassyblazesandwich]

Aggressive ADHD and other disorders.

What is Aggressive ADHD?

Aggressive ADHD, According to understand.org is apart of ADHD in many kids and they are more quick to get angry. Kids with ADHD can feel emotions intensely and can have trouble managing them.

What can cause anger in ADHD?

Impulsivity. Impulsivity is a symptom of ADHD that is often caused by an inability to focus and control behaviors. According to verywellmind.com, "The impulsive nature of ADHD means that if someone feels angry, they communicate it right away. This is often more apparent in children since they haven't yet developed strategies that adults with ADHD develop. More than 50% of preadolescents with ADHD experience impulsive aggression, which is also known as affective aggression, and is characterized by strong, unplanned emotions, usually anger, that often takes place in the heat of the moment."

Could someone with ADHD have other disorders or disabilities to also cause aggression or anger?

Oppositional Defiant Disorder. According to verwellmind.com "Approximately ⅓ of all children with ADHD also have Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Children with ODD display Defiant, hostile behaviors towards authority figures. They often loose their temper, frequently argue with adults, defy rules, blame others, deliberately annoy others, are touchy, easily annoyed and behave in angry resentful ways overall."

What is ODD?

ODD or Oppositional Defiant Disorder is a psychiatric disorder that typically emerges in childhood, between ages 6 and 8 and can last throughout adulthood. Some common signs and symptoms of ODD include: Being easily annoyed, causing conflict, frequent temper tantrums, Low tolerance for frustration, Lying, Moodiness and unprovoked anger, Noncompliance with even simple requests, No sense of conscience, purposeful irritation of others.

What does ADHD and ODD share in common?

Irritability, such as feeling intense negative emotions about things that you know are not that big of a deal or not a problem at all. Feeling impatient. Interrupting conversations or talking a lot, driven by the feeling that you need to say what you want to say right this second. Impulsive actions, done with little to no thought or planning. In ADHD, this might look like reward seeking impulses like skipping work to go to a party or gorging on junk food. In ODD, it might look more like aggressive impulses, like lashing out at someone with cruel words or physical violence.

What is Autism?

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social interaction, communication, and behavior. It is a spectrum disorder, which means that it can vary in severity and presentation.

What is Narcissism?

Narcissism, is a personality disorder characterized by an inflated sense of self importance, a lack of empathy, and a need for admiration.

Is Narcissism associated with Autism?

"A study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found that individuals with autism were more likely to have elevated levels of narcissistic traits than individuals without autism. It's important to note that it does not mean all individuals with autism will show narcissistic traits or that there is a casual relationship between the two conditions. It's also worth noting that while some individuals with autism may display behavior that could be interpreted as self centered, or lacking empathy, this is not necessarily indicative of true narcissistic personality disorder. Rather it may reflect difficulty understanding social cues or interpreting emotions accurately" -Steven Zauderer

My resources used:

[drdt-headcanons]

I feel like posting something that would make those "2020 anime hcs are cringe" people go crazy, so as someone that's literally just David Chiem, yes literally, here's a lot of things my irl disability causes that I believe would apply to him too. Yes I know they're out of character, no I do not care whatsoever

- Has an oddly specific item they take everywhere, in my case it's literally a plushie cat, same thing applies to him

- Probably finds it difficult to actually make friends, even when acting as the positive 'act' he put on in chapter 1

- Doesn't necessarily care for them (as in having empathy/sympathy), however takes comfort in other people being there for him, even if he doesn't show that

- This is a really specific one but I don't tend to drink out of cups if I can help it, only like water bottles or whatever? I don't know, I remembered I do that and it seemed right

- Has like 5 copies of the same outfit and only ever wears them. That, and he doesn't get dressed unless he actually needs to go outside, usually wearing pyjamas or whatever. (Which he wouldn't need to do as you can't go outside in the killing game, which disproves this whole thing, but know what that's why it's a headcanon)

- This is probably the most controversial. Anyway, purely because I do, I'd like to say he secretly acts more 'childish' than he lets on? As in he just isn't how his age would stereotypically act, despite being very very good with words in his speeches and pretty smart

- Terrified of most animals. Especially dogs.

- Eats the same kinds of plain food repetitively (that's actually partly canon, he does prefer meals like that. I once only ate ready make oatmeal every single day for like three months, if that proves anything?)

- Finds it very difficult to sleep for no apparent reason & has a rapidly changing sleep schedule, going from falling asleep at 10pm to 3am in just a couple nights (I'm writing this at 2am if that says anything.)

Also, not autism or me related, however as someone who's looked through the symptoms of every personality disorder, he fits npd pretty well

An extra note on this; sorry if my posts are hard to read, I use the anon feature as an excuse to talk in the way which feels natural to me as my disability affects the way in which I type, which includes me saying a lot more than most people, so it's not worth judging me for as I can't really control it

And if you think it's "cringe" posting completely out of character hcs I literally do not care :3 (not directed at this user, just anyone that reads it /srs)

:)

[inappropriatewenning]

so you said once you felt like MXTX had maybe made JGY a more compelling character than she meant to… I don’t remember if you said that before or after you read Scum Villain, but I wonder if thinking about him in light of things like the Shen Jiu extras and the empathy she has even for her OG scum villain changes that?

good god woman, do you expect me to remember a thought process that i had? i don't even have thought processes i just have thought miasmas

But. Yeah, that was indeed after reading Scum Villain, and thinking particularly about the line about how sometimes it's too much of a hassle when you make villains sympathetic, then everyone gets into arguments about it, etc. etc.

I can never make up my mind about how deliberate a writer I think MXTX is. After reading Scum Villain I gained a lot more respect for her as a writerly writer and not just a fun storyteller: but at the same time it makes me wonder which character beats are things she really cared about and which are conveniences for effect. Is she just throwing in some sympathetic stuff about JGY at the end to make us go "oooh there's a twist" and "right right we should be questioning the values and evaluations of the cultivation world?" Does she care about him like I care about him????

I don't like to give too much weight to the author commentary and snippets of interviews I've seen because I'm missing too much in translation and not really knowing the context--and also because hell I've had a situations where I was writing a serial thing on AO3 and having lively commentators on each chapter and replying to them and sometimes I just said shit off the top of my head, being all giddy from writing and having people read what I wrote, and I wouldn't want to commit to it as Word of God. But, with that disclaimer, the vibe I get when I read things she's said about "Yao-mei" give me the sense that she...is closer to feeling "cool motive, still murder" than I am.

But like.

Writers have weird feelings about their characters, due to the nature of being the person creating them and seeing all the drafts and all the bits you took out or threw in real quick because you wanted to make a deadline and all the bits where you were like "ehhhhh that's not really what I want but I can't think how to put it better." So...all I really meant by that was that my sense is she is less into him than I am, as a reader, but I don't necessarily care.

eta @layzeal brings this to my attention in the comments "the one jgy thing i think might be worth noting is that the original draft had nothing about the brothel flashback, it was added in the revision !she was told that jgy was sympathetic, and instead of making more evil in the revision she made him… more sympathetic?"

okay, mxtx knows what she's doing

[viviski]

Rise of the tmnt has some of the best characterization that I've ever seen. I have some plot related criticism (which becomes unimportant given the target audience of the show, you know children don't notice plot holes lmao) but I can analyze the characters much more than any big shot Marvel or Disney movie I've seen.

So here we go (remember this is my own free interpretation and analysis, I am well aware that I might get things wrong):

Each of them are smart in some ways but dumb in others:

Donnie: academically smart, technology genius, very hard working, determined, passionate but has a hard time understanding emotions (which doesn't necessarily prevent him from being considerate though)

Raph: common sense smart, responsible, experienced ("Do not eat THE POISON!"), but he's bad at strategizing (his plans are kinda bad lmao) and he can't keep his cool under pressure sometimes

Mikey: emotions and feelings smart (heck, even Dr. Delicate Touch gets the job done when he wants to take care of a situation) but completely lacks common sense (this may be due to him being younger than the others though)

Leo: he's plain smart. He's really good at strategizing, tricking people, he knows the right thing to say to people at the right time, he can keep his cool under pressure, BUT he's lazy and inconsiderate at times. Also very academically dumb (like come on who doesn't know what "nigh" means lol)

I could make an allignmennt chart out of this. And a circle:

Leo can do what Raph can't (strategy), Raph can do what Mikey can't (common sense), Mikey can do what Donnie can't (empathy) and Donnie can do what Leo can't (working hard).

[One note about Leo and Donnie: it's so on point that Leo is lazy because achieving things come very easy and natural for him, thanks to his social skills and quick thinking, while Donnie has to work hard by making machines (I mean for him it's actually easy and fun but it's still a lot of work) and using creativity to invent new things that can help him through everyday life. Both of these ways of living are effective though very different. In their case, one can't do the other. Now it's not like Leo and the others never work hard, but Donnie is on an exceptional level so that's more of his thing, just like everyone else is on an exceptional level on their own thing.]

And that's why they're 1) the perfect team because they complete each other 2) the perfect cast of characters because every viewer (mostly teens of course) can relate to at least one of them (if not all of them)

There's also some parallels and things in common with all the characters too (they are brothers after all) even if it's for completely different reasons:

Donnie and Leo both have high self esteem (most of the time), which sometimes develops into arrogance and self centered behavior, but mostly because they're actually hiding insecurity

Mikey and Raph are both very considerate of others and are always concerned about everyone (even though Raph is like that because of his morals, he feels like it's his "duty", while Mikey is just a spread love kinda guy lmao) and naive

Both Raph and Donnie are well aware of their responsibilities (Raph saved Leo and Donnie shielded Mikey in the film)

Mikey and Leo are both good at socializing

Leo and Raph are both leaders (Raph more as a caretaker while Leo more as a guide) who occasionally don't trust their fellow team members and take burdens all on their own (just look at the entire plot of the movie lol)

Mikey and Donnie are very different, I can't remember anything they have in common at the moment but maybe that's just me

Lastly, it's so great and well written how everyone changes across the show:

Raph learns to trust his brothers more and to not take burdens all on his own (the season two finale was all about that)

Leo learns to be more trustworthy, less arrogant, and more responsible as he does things prepared to face the consequences in the end (mainly in the movie, in the show he doesn't have a lot of character development)

Donnie learns to accept and be open minded about others even if he can't fully understand them (he realizes that he can't "fix" his siblings, but he actually needs them for who they are) and he also learns that others do the same for him (that time April told him something like "we don't like you because of your tech, we like you because of you" had me sobbing)

Mikey becomes generally more competent, mainly in fighting? Cause he can throw entire cruise ships and buildings? I can't really think of more deeper character development, he's the nicest loving ray of sunshine ever even though he can be harsh if necessary, he's a pretty balanced guy that's all. But maybe I missed something I dunno

I can really do some high school literature homework level analysis lmao this show is amazing

[twocorvids]

This might be a strange question, but kind of goes along with your post about Rick killing people. do you think Rick shows mercy?

oh god, im so sorry anon, this ask COMPLETELY slipped through the cracks for me.

BUT!!!! GOD, is that a fascinating question!

Because yes, to a certain extent, he does. Rick is capable of mercy, and even empathy to a lesser extent. he is capable of care, of going out of his way to care for people he doesn’t necessarily feel he should. (I AM talking about ppl outside of the Smith family, lol, even though they definitely fit that criteria too.) we see that in the episode “The Old Man and the Seat” with Tony and the lengths Ricks goes to bark at him, but never quite bite. the whole episode is Rick trying to look big, to seem intimidating and like a threat that he really should be, considering everything we’ve seen him do— but for whatever reason, it’s apparent that Tony is not the sort Rick can bring himself to treat cruelly.

and then it becomes clear that this isn’t a phenomenon in the weird Shakespearean play that is Ricks life! it’s something that has happened many times. in fact, it’s revealed that Rick has a whole chamber, or some otherwise “secret” room, full of people he traps in “Globaflyn” to keep them simultaneously in their ideal world and out of Rick’s life. which also demonstrates some severe control issues, but that’s for another time. I’ll stop legit explaining the whole episode, but I will also mention that that plot line ends with Rick trying to comfort Tony’s father a the funeral, and then ends with what is probably the most emotional scene of a character sitting on a toilet.

I bring all this up mostly to ask this: okay, Rick is capable of showing mercy, but what exactly triggers it? what specific aspect of a person needs to be present in order for Rick to show this quality?

and I think the answer is pretty simple: relatability. someone who he feels a personal kinship to. who mirrors him in some way.

and despite how distant of a person Rick is and tries to be, it makes a lot of sense. in an infinity of infinity, it makes sense that Rick would run into the occasional person who is a bit too much like him. someone who, if given the opportunity, could understand Rick a bit too well. considering that Rick has been just about everywhere, it’d be stranger for him not to. and Rick, predictably, is very uncomfortable with that notion. both in terms of bearing the concession of actually seeing another person and having that person see you. it disturbs Rick. it makes him want be kinder, to be merciful instead of defaulting to violence to get rid of most inconveniences, to lessen his grip on this multiverse-level rope in his fight for control— but he’s not ready for that type of change. or at the very very least, he wasn’t ready yet.

it’s so interesting because he is clearly self-aware of how deep his desire for connection is, so deep that it threatens to overtake his need for control— so he merely eliminates those numbers from the equation for himself, albeit in a way that is far more compassionate than Rick tends to go for. his controlling nature just barely takes priority over all else, so he ensures that it stays that way.

side note: where does Birdperson fit into this? well, i think this reveals a very interesting part of their relationship too. because I think Rick let BP(and even squanchy ig) get so close because, ironically, he thought BP couldn’t get close. because he and Birdperson are pretty damn different people, especially in Ricks mind. so Rick thinks they can’t understand each other because they can’t really relate to each other. Rick is loud, destructive, and allergic to all things emotional and vulnerable. Birdperson is quiet, just, and has a certain emotional intelligence to him that implies a deeper knowledge of how people work. and then their backgrounds are pretty different, too.

though it makes me wonder: is Rick aware of how much BP truly understands him? would knowing that change anything for Rick if he hadn’t known? or, is Rick fine with him having such a solid read on him simply because in this situation he isn’t forced to do any emotional labor of his own for BP? sure, he can care about/ love BP, but he doesn’t have to understand him because BP also doesn’t understand Rick! he can experience the more pleasant sides that come with emotions and love without compromising his sense of comfort and what he calculates as his safety. well, that was until he was (arguably) willing to at blood-ridge. but the thing Rick missed there at the battlefield is that BP already understood Rick as a person at that point. and he also understood the damage Rick would inadvertently do if Birdperson took him up on his offer. i do think that Rick has at least somewhat reverted back to that mindset of “we can’t understand each other because we can’t relate, so I’m safe!” current-day, however. personally, I honestly don’t think Rick really realizes how well Birdperson truly knows him, but ultimately; who really knows, huh?

I’m so sorry this is so long and possibly nonsense analdnekendodjj but thank you so much for the ask!!!!

[mer-birdman]

Unusual Muse Associations

Tagged by the lovely @quilleth !!!!

Tagging @kinetic-empathy @sunneinsplendor @bibliomatsuri and anyone else who wants to!!

Since Quill answered for Vanora, I’ll go ahead and answer them all for Raven, my sweet bby mapmaker in the same campaign! (If anyone wants to ask about other characters just lmk of course!)

SEASONING: Smoky/umami! Not necessarily a flavor Raven herself gravitates towards, but she’s always been associated with fire and that feels appropriate for her. (She does, however, enjoy a spicy hot chocolate).

WEATHER: Sunny, light breeze! Raven naturally has a very low body heat and gets cold pretty easily, so being out in the sun is always preferred.

COLOR: Blues, especially a very clear sapphire-blue. In recent incarnations, she’s also added gold to her palette — but blue has been her color since version 1.

SKY: A clear night sky, the kind where you can see a million stars.

MAGICAL POWER: Putting aside her sorcerer powers, I’d (jokingly) say her forgetfulness? Her memory is a swiss cheese to an impressive degree. But also yeah she’s got spooky shadow magic and sometimes sets things on fire.

HOUSE PLANT: Having never lived in a set place before, Raven knows nothing about house plants and gardening. While I’d love to say jasmine for the vibes, she should probably start off with something like a snake plant that’s hard to kill.

WEAPON: Daggers. There are Things happening with them, thanks @timelord-in-hogwarts !

SUBJECT: History/anthropology! Raven loves learning about old civilizations. Comes from having a mentor in his fourth century who knows a lot of stories.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Oh jeez, we discussed this as a party once. I think she’d have a travel blog as her main thing, with maybe youtube and/or instagram attached?

MAKEUP PRODUCT: Fun fact, several past iterations of Raven had very distinctive black eyeliner and eyeshadow! Now, though, I’d say maybe a subtle gold shimmer dust.

CANDY: Hm… something really sour, perhaps?

FEAR: Being trapped. Doors and windows must be left open just a crack, no matter where she is.

ICE CUBE SHAPE: Why would Raven ever want to use ice cubes? (Probably the standard very small square ones, simple and no fuss).

METHOD OF LONG-DISTANCE TRAVEL: Walking :) (Maybe hitchhiking in a modern AU)

ART STYLE: John Tenniel, Kamome Shirahama, etc… she’s a mapmaker, so her style would be very centered on the use of black ink and lines. Not much by way of color. (Should note that she’s not great at drawing outside of her maps, at least not yet anyways)

MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURE: Hmm… it’s not mythological, but perhaps the Hell Butterflies from Bleach?

PIECE OF STATIONARY: A wax seal-stamp or artist signature stamp. Something that sees repeated professional use. (I wonder if the guild badge serves as this…)

THREE EMOJIS: 🦋🔥💀

CELESTIAL BODY: The stars!! And/or Pluto.

Blanks under the cut!

SEASONING

WEATHER

COLOR

SKY

MAGICAL POWER

HOUSE PLANT

WEAPON

SUBJECT

SOCIAL MEDIA

MAKEUP PRODUCT

CANDY

FEAR

ICE CUBE SHAPE

METHOD OF LONG-DISTANCE TRAVEL

ART STYLE

MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURE

PIECE OF STATIONARY

THREE EMOJIS

CELESTIAL BODY

[bredforloyalty]

Ohhh ok, ok, I gotcha

☕ The idea that creativity is adjacent to mental illness and that it either inevitably causes or depends on misery and misfortune, that to be an artist is to struggle, and that uncreative people are happier

aww thank you this is very interesting!! sorry it turned out this long... not gonna lie i didn't like it when they put this in an episode i already didn't like hysgvy because although i wouldn't call myself a creative or an artist or anything along those lines (so really what do i know).. i just can't agree.? fully? because i don't believe creating things is necessarily tied to suffering, but in a way, it is. i love how colin farrell said it and i'm happy i can finally pull this one out lol i saved it for a reason

i think pain and sadness and loneliness and emptiness and unbelonging can inspire maybe the strongest drive to create and communicate in this way, and that's always beautiful and i personally prefer and even need darkness in art. and my favorite songs and movies and stuff aren't inspiring or happy or comforting, it always burrows itself the deepest if it can hit me where it hurts and cause catharsis through that. but i don't think this has to damn artists to general unhappiness or struggling? we all struggle sometimes and we all have rock bottoms and second lowest points in our lives and third lowest points and so on, and if you can tap into these moments of misery and ease someone else's misery with art, that's extremely valuable. and as farrell said, empathy is hugely significant too

but also i do believe there are creatives who constantly make themselves new or like invent themselves again and again because they have a need to make things and that's just how they are and it doesn't come from a place of pain. i see the connection between mental illness and creating, there definitely is one but i think the other side or other possibilities are important to.. note too. and i get why someone would say uncreative people are happier because more creative people seem to be unhappy or damaged or struggling in some way than not, but the connection is more... complicated imo, than just that catchy little sentence. there are plenty of "uncreative" people who are miserable lmao and i wouldn't say it's the struggling/illness itself that causes creativity, i think it's more along the lines of pain/illness causes people to develop in a way that makes many people (who suffer and who feel wrong and weird and alone i mean) susceptible to expressing themselves in unconventional ways or to coping through art

but also i don't want to say art is abnormal in any way and not something humans have always done and always will do? it's integral to humanity i think, creating things for something other than practical um, usefulness, that's one of the things that makes us human. and i can't ever call something this natural inherently painful and troublesome because life doesn't have to be a pain. this belief that we all can and we HAVE to convince ourselves that life is worth living, and that it's possible to change the things that make it seem like it's mostly suffering, is part of why i chose to study psychology tbh 🥴 i think.

maybe the misery is more powerful and it leaves more marks and painful art touches more people and reaches deeper than most pieces of art created from/for joy. happiness and contentment and stillness is less interesting than, y'know, a storm, of course it is. as florence said happiness is an extremely uneventful subject, there will be no grand choirs to sing, etc but the pain doesn't have to be constant or debilitating mentally or emotionally or socially or in any other way and this should be said more often

and finally, in the context of rick and morty there's even more things to say!!!! especially with, uhm, i don't want to assume things or approach something (someone) kindly that shouldn't be approached that way (because there are times when the practical and the right thing is to kill any sympathy or benevolence and favor other perspectives). but, especially with what came out about roiland, i'm developing new ideas about... where it all came from, if that makes sense. because i have a thing that many people created together that became important to me and so i wonder what kind of lives are behind it and what these people intended and what they wanted to say or make people experience, because that's part of the thing. and because my previous ideas were wrong haha in some aspects for sure.... you shouldn't psychoanalyze tv show writers (or shitty men who are real) Ever because it's pointless and stupid hxsgxy but i can't help it sometimes. sometimes you just wonder what the fuck is wrong with whoever made that thing and if it's the same thing that's wrong with you. and then it turns out that it's not the same thing but still there is a connection that can't just be denied and that you have to reckon with, so it could be that you're wrong about how these things work. and you never really understood yourself or the piece of art you thought was speaking to you in a certain way

but what do i know fr. i have this opinion that i should create more and that would be better for me and maybe if i did that i would see that it all sucks and hurts so bad and i was lucky to get by without creating before. what do you think??

[huntunderironskies]

Black Pelicans

Hey everyone! I know this is usually when I post a myth but I haven't been feeling particularly well this week and so I decided to do something shorter and a little less involved. Let's talk hedgebeasts and folklore, and a fun little intersection between the two!

Some notes before we start: yes, folklore around black pelicans in the Outer Banks is real, though I may have the origin date of the stories wrong (I've had trouble nailing down a specific time period for when they first started.) I decided to use hobgoblin stats for them even though I wouldn't necessarily say all hedgebeasts are hobgoblins if only because there are definitely cases where I wouldn't feel the need to give a whole statblock to one. These guys are fairly important to the region, however, so here we are.

Also also: if you don't think I have plans for Geist in the Outer Banks given the whole "Graveyard of the Atlantic" nickname, oh boy, you've got another thing coming. ;>

The Black Pelicans

The coastline of North Carolina is infamously dangerous to sail. Nicknamed the Graveyard of the Atlantic, in an era before GPS the ever-shifting sands of the Outer Banks, violent shifts in weather, and deadly ripcurrents provided perfect conditions to send ships to the bottom of the ocean. The most famous victim claimed by the coastline was Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of Blackbeard.

In the early 1900's, rumors proliferated among sailors of a strange sort of seaguide: a black pelican that would guide ships and stranded sailors alike to the safety of mainland shores. Likely untrue, but the tales stuck around in the minds of both mariners and those who had never left the mainland.

And that which captures the imaginations of mortals will surely find its way into the Hedge.

The Black Pelicans are a hedgebeast primarily native to the trods of the Carolina shores, though some have been sighted even as far inland as the Sandhills. As their name would suggest, they look at a distance like an unremarkable black-colored pelican, but closer inspection shows they're less an ordinary bird and more of a dark, featureless bird-shaped void in the world. Attempts to study them have proven difficult since they have a remarkable skill for escaping from any kind of perceived threat. More importantly, any Changeling who plans on navigating the Hedge wouldn't dare risk losing their trust, and countless Changelings who have escaped from the Gentry into the coast of North Carolina claim they were guided out to Ironside by a Black Pelican.

What is known for certain is this: all stories told by those who have encountered them seem to indicate they are mostly benevolent, they understand human speech, are capable of heading as deep into the Hedge as the Thorns, and can always, always find the perfect path out for those in need.

Nothing in the world of Faerie is ever free, however, and this raises the question of exactly what they're taking in return.

Physical Attributes: Strength 1, Dexterity 5, Stamina 4 Mental Attributes: Intelligence 2, Wits 4, Resolve 4 Social Attributes: Presence 1, Manipulation 1, Composure 2

Physical Skills: Athletics 4, Brawl 1 (Beak and Talon), Stealth 3, Survival 5 (Hedge) Mental Skills: Investigation 1 Social Skills: Empathy 4 (Sense Intention), Streetwise 5 (Hedge)

Merits: Hedge Sense

Virtue: Resolute Vice: Distant Aspiration: Guide the lost

Wyrd: 2 Glamour/per Turn: 7/2 Willpower: 6 Contracts: Nevertread, Pathfinder Dread Power: Know Soul, Natural Weapons 1, Unbreakable Frailties: none

Initiative: +9 Defense: 8 Size: 2 Speed: 4 (on the ground), 22 (in flight) Health: 6

Note: Much like a Changeling, a Black Pelican may spend a point of Glamour to open any doorway or break any bindings except those made of cold iron. For the purposes of Contract benefits, they are treated as though they have the Beast Seeming.

[a-weird-writer]

oh hi i want to give Uranus a very gentle kiss on his metallic face and hold his hands endearingly as i talk to him about plants because i think he’d have a fascination with plants

It's a bit "dead" to him, for lack of a better word. His passion for anything is...

pretty distant.

It is already hard for Uranus to attach, to love. Let alone one of Earth's human natives, its plants are no different. They don't necessarily disgust him, but clearly held them to no critical value, thus he maintains no major opinion on them for that matter.

Plants are insufficient organisms to Uranus, as are all weak lifeforms. Small things, lowers he never gave a second thought about. But he does care for his love, deep enough to do warrant second thoughts. Not stomping on them or referring too bluntly and inconsiderate to plants in your presence, since you hold them dear to your soul.

Uranus doubts he can effectively measure such endearment even if he really tried, that pure unadulterated gaze, filled with the same tenderness and compassion a mother shows their labor's fruit, how dedicated you are to various flowers and greenery. It can be uncomfortable for him, witnessing priceless emotions he can't wrap his head around; actions you don't understand, alien hearts and feelings.

Uranus's hatred for existence and youth isn't as incredibly extreme as his more notable (Terra and Sunstar specifically) brothers, but it is intense regardless. Despite this, he does contain reasonable layers of 'respect' to life, which is a lot in a Stardroid's case and already plenty. Note 'respect' in air quotes, just because Uranus loves you doesn't mean he won't mercilessly crush anything suddenly in his way. Plants aren't priority in that matter, the complete destruction of humankind however was.

Uranus is a bulldozer, a heavy weapon in a group of cosmic calamities, undergoing an eternity-long mission of pure devastation; huge, strong and mows through the surrounding areas-unlucky enough to be his path. Crashing. Crushing in clear purpose to destroy and conquer, and the Stardroids care not for guilt or empathy to follow after.

That said, it is not totally impossible for Uranus to change views, but it is difficult, and it wavers little. If not, then only slightly. Humans will always be bugs to Uranus; insects waiting their pitiful demise by a much larger hand, he stands by it just as his lordship Sunstar does. Humans; nevermore than dirty, monstrous beings, infecting the universe with lowly existence and their stupid, useless oxygen.

But you can have an immoveable view about something and an entire differing opinion on it, as weird as it sounds. One person can hate murder-the full concept of killing but can still commit such a crime in earnest purpose. Or absence of full retrospect.

Mayhaps it grows with you, a strange turn in his mission-his fixture.

A special someone in his life who he actually doesn't wish to see perish. Obliterating you into itty bitty pieces, into mere atoms and harmless molecules hasn't crossed his mind even once. You're his own little treasure, pretty and clean. A gold coin shining in a pile of worthless copper, the grass you take care to help flourish. Whom spends time-their own energy promising, ensuring someone like him is happy as a clam in high tide. And he is to the moon and back in love with you, falling long and hard.

Uranus is a statue; heavily blunt and evermore calm. But he is hardly empty, hardly ever mad when you are so eager to kiss him, to embrace and love him no matter how much he outweighs you. Fulfilling-proving your devotion, your possession. To counter his still, quiet nature with a powerful nature of your own, your floral love for him.

You bloom, petals out. You catch the stress and release all the joy in the air, thick with your laughter and friendly chatter. Fukurokuju would frown in jealousy at your happiness. Equipped with a sunlit smile, bright enough to water the blight running within his corrupted circuits. It ripens so beautifully for him. Nobody else in this small, pitiful world.

Growth ends in change, whether unintended or the opposite. This life you love to praise, these-erm-plants perhaps isn't as ugly as he was originally programmed to view it.

Uranus can grow to eventually love the Edens you so passionately describe, come to reflect-inflict your wise, compassionate tones and kind words upon his black heart, like how he grew to adore you. And if your cute lectures end in more kisses and delicious affection, that attention he so craves like a starved man, then it will be worth sitting through. Still a win for him, you make every end meaningful,

oh, how he wishes it didn't end.

A brick wall, designed to withstand anything at any time in any period. As immoveable as Uranus is, he isn't stupid. Shockingly, he is labeled as 'the wise one' of his numerous siblings. None in this world, in this universe over to the next, is indestructible. A beginning eventually reaches a climax, you can only delay the inevitable. In the end, death comes for everyone, it will take, and it will claim. And the Stardroids were created to be the very embodiment of it.

Quite unpleasant, to the receiver that is.

Anytime he parts from you is a bloody stab, a displeased throb within his nonexistent heart. He treats every moment with you like it is his first and last standing. Uranus is an alien robot, but he was made with the illusion and act of a "man", though beastly in truth. He longs and craves. One can't do without the motivation and curiosity to do so, and Uranus is bluntest of his brothers in receiving wants. He always finds a way back to you, ruthlessly and enthusiastically. It often surprises him, how much you long for him. How you truly miss him; how tightly you cling to him for dear life, like letting go will only meet your demise, how blissful your relieved sigh-a hot exhale-warms his broad chest.

He missed you too.

It's often too tight, too boring for Uranus in Sunstar's ship anyway, you're the perfect excuse to get freedom in a time where he was never meant to deserve it.

As long as it ends with you, nesting with his arms like seeds within the oceans of soil, cuddling comfortably,

he can at least pretend he does.

[sorrowtainted]

okay so like. headcanon time. note that these may not be accurate to canon AT ALL, and are extremely tentative, just ideas I'm exploring because they'd be interesting to write!

starting with dazai's perception of chuuya - morality-wise specifically, he sees chuuya as kind of "stupidly loyal." capable for sure, and a "better" person than dazai because chuuya genuinely thinks he's doing good and cares about others, but stupid in that he's loyal to the wrong people (read: mori, mostly.) dazai thinks of him as like, someone who thinks he owes the port mafia and mori to stay, and as someone who genuinely thinks the city is better off with him working for the PM, because he trusts mori's leadership.

in reality, it's... both an accurate and inaccurate view. for one thing, while chuuya respects mori for the way he runs the PM for the most part, he doesn't like the man, and has no illusions about his vile nature and the flaws of the port mafia in general. he genuinely isn't sure if the city would be better off with mori in power or not... but he's more selfish than dazai thinks he is in that he doesn't really care?? specifically, while he knows he could leave the PM, and maybe that would be better for everyone (or maybe it wouldn't? he doesn't know), he doesn't want to leave the people he cares about behind. it's not out of a sense of "owing it" to them, but a more selfish desire for them to be happy even if everyone else has to suffer.

he does care about the innocent civilians of yokohama and other people, though. he actually hates the suffering of others in general and naturally has a lot of empathy for people. he just cares about his family more. and because of that, any option that involves turning on the PM isn't something he's willing to do, even if it would end up being better for the city. on the other hand, if that's what he's choosing, he does want to make the PM as good for the people as yokohama as he can - as long as it's within that "choice" of not abandoning his family. he doesn't think he could do a better job of running the PM than mori, so he doesn't have any plans to take over or anything - specifically, he thinks that if mori was taken down it would inevitably result in the PM becoming chaotic again, and that those he cares about would be in danger, and he's not willing to risk that. but if he thought there was a way to get a better leader in place without those consequences, he'd probably take it.

hmm. i feel like i haven't explained what i'm trying to say very well (as always whoops), but. basically chuuya is more selfish than he appears and than dazai thinks, because he's willing to put his desires (for his family to be happy) over what he believes actually might be better for everyone. he doesn't necessarily think that he's doing right by the city, or at least he doesn't think he's necessarily doing the best thing for it, but he still cares about the people in it, and wants to do as much for them as possible as long as it doesn't put his family at risk.

.......well. those are the headcanons i'm CONSIDERING using, anyway. i still haven't decided yet.

[swamp-spirit]

Petty hot takes on My Hero Academia X One Piece crossover. If you write the Strawhats as MHA heroes, and you don’t make the ways in which that goes against their character a core narrative tension, I don’t feel like you’ve paid attention to either series. (note, this is a bit hard on MHA)

The two series’ have wildly different relationships with authority.

I see a lot of modern AUs in general be like “well, it’s still the Strawhats, but it’s the modern world, so they don’t do pirate shit”, but like... they are selfish characters. And not in a bad way! They have moral values, but Luffy’s core goal is to be able to do what he wants, free of constraints. Each Strawhat has a personal sense of morality, and even though they differ, each crew member is allowed to follow it. Nami believes you should fight to stay alive, even when it’s messy, while Zoro would rather die than compromise his beliefs. Both of those have consequences, but neither of them are shown to be wrong.

The Hero system isn’t as corrupt as the Marines. For example, they don’t actively protect slavers, but my biggest issue with MHA is that the flaws in the system are never fully explored. There’s almost no vigilantes (and even in the ‘vigilante’s’ spin-off, the reasons for becoming vigilantes are pretty light. The main character wasn’t forced out of the hero system by the canonically prevelent bigotry, he just missed the exam because he was Too Heroic), and though Horikoshi acknowledges that many of the villains were driven into it by circumstance, most of them are also unnecessarily violent people whose path to redemption is shown as being within the system. The enemy is never the base social corruption where you can only express your natural abilities by becoming government approved law enforcement. Honestly, the main reason I don’t keep up with MHA a lot is that I got increasingly disappointed with the series failing to follow through on the social issues it tried to address. Once Izuku stops being quirkless, the systematic cruelty he endured becomes a backstory element, not a core part of his world. Good people are those that believe the system can work, bad people are those that have given up on it, and need to be given the faith and support to once again Rejoin The Good Side.

One Piece isn’t flawless, or even necessarily less flawed than MHA, but it has a much more nuanced (in my opinion) view on corrupt institutions. There are many good marines, probably more good marines than good pirates, but even the best has to choose between betraying their institution or betraying their morals. Pirates don’t. Koby goes in an idealist who sees the marines as heroes, and is nearly killed by a superior officer for his empathy. Garp, Fujitora, and Smoker’s best traits often revolve around their ability to do the right thing, even if it goes against their orders.

Characters often slip between antagonist and ally not because they’ve changed, but based on convenience. People who genuinely tried to kill the crew will come to dinner the next week. Genuinely good people can be out to kill the protagonists because it matches their own sense of what is right.

The fact that Horikoshi wrote a One Piece crossover, and the 1A students just... turned themselves in to Impel Down immediately was the most hilariously Horikoshi has ever shown his whole ass. I know it was a joke, but he literally had his protagonist turn himself in to the torture prison run by a pro-slavery government because Being A Pirate Is Illegal. 

I’ve seen a few AUs where all the ‘good pirates’ (Shanks, Luffy, Whitebeard etc) work as heroes, and all the ‘bad pirates’  (Kaido, Doflamingo, Black-Beard) work as villains, but baby, they’re all villains. In My Hero

Hero - Use your powers for law-enforcement and disaster relief with a license

Vigilante - Use your powers for public good without a license

Villain - Use your powers for personal gain without a license

I’m not saying the Strawhats don’t do incredibly heroic things, but if Luffy was willing to tie himself to a questionable system to fight for good, he’d be a marine. Hell, if he wanted to just fight for good, he’d be a revolutionary. The Strawhats steal, run cons, kill, and are happy to ignore problems until somebody they like is involved. 

A MHA!Brand Hero Monkey D. Luffy isn’t free. He needs to keep up a press appearance, be told which fights are his, and not punch Endeavor. He needs to go to school for years to get official permission to use his powers at all, both to help people, and to live his life.

I can see Usopp and maybe Franky and Chopper as starting out as heroes, and Zoro starting as a vigilante, but Luffy was raised by bandits and has been doing crime since his law-enforcement grandfather threw him into the woods for being too pumped about becoming a criminal.

But it also bugs me because even in MHA, heroes aren’t all good people. A lot of the One Piece villains would happily become heroes. Is Big Mom gonna become a government crime fighter? Unlikely. She has a great time being evil. But would Doflamingo choose the power and prestige and keep his worse side working through an offshore bank account? Absolutely. 

The Strawhats aren’t the Justice League, and they certainly aren’t the Government Sponsored Justice League, but they are the Leverage crew.

Anyway, that’s my long winded opinion about a specific shounen crossover. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

[selflessanatta]

Tibetan Buddhist Lamrim: Taking (aka Tonglen), https://selflessanatta.com/tibetan-buddhist-lamrim-taking-aka-tonglen/

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Tibetan Buddhist Lamrim: Taking (aka Tonglen)

Tonglen meditation involves visualizing the suffering of others as dark smoke absorbed into the heart, where it is purified and transformed into light, then radiated outward.

In Buddhist psychology, there are three fundamental reactions to the experience of any phenomenon.

Whenever we encounter something pleasant, we tend to want more of it, which leads to the suffering of attachment.

Whenever we encounter something neutral, we often fail to notice it or consider it unimportant, which leads to the suffering of ignorance or indifference.

And Whenever we encounter something unpleasant, we tend to want less of it, push it away, and develop an aversion, which leads to the suffering of anger.

If one were to examine their day to day experiences of objects, they would find a small percentage is pleasant, far more are neutral, and the largest share is actually unpleasant. It isn’t necessarily that every encounter is unpleasant, but even those experiences that are pleasant or neutral can become unpleasant due to attachment and ignorance which often accompanies them.

The Buddha noted in the First Noble Truth that suffering is the natural state of the human condition.

Human Suffering: Understanding Dukkha in the First Noble Truth

Since suffering is an inherently unpleasant experience, many people develop a strong aversion to it. In fact, one of the primary motivations of Buddhist practice is to escape the ordinary suffering of human life.

Tibetan Buddhist Lamrim: Developing Renunciation for Samsara

Once a practitioner develops the desire to leave the sufferings of Samsara behind, they enter the Buddhist path. For Mahayana Buddhists, the Lamrim path leads them to find enlightenment through cultivating compassion for others.

The first eight steps in Lamrim encourage the practitioner to value others equally and with more regard than themselves. The ninth step is designed to deepen the connection and compassion for others by feeling their pain without pushing it away or developing aversion to it.

Taking Meditation (AKA Tonglen)

In Tibetan Buddhist Lamrim teachings, the meditation of “Taking” (also known as Tonglen) is a profound and compassionate practice aimed at transforming suffering and developing loving-kindness and compassion.

The practice begins with the recognition of suffering, both one’s own and that of others. Practitioners acknowledge the universal nature of suffering in samsara (the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth).

Practitioners then focus on the suffering of others, imagining it vividly and empathizing deeply with their pain and difficulties. This contemplation helps cultivate genuine empathy and compassion.

During the meditation, individuals visualize taking in the suffering of others as they inhale. This act symbolizes the willingness to bear the suffering of others and transform it into a source of purification and healing.

As practitioners breathe in the suffering of others, they imagine that this suffering is transformed into a bright, healing light at the heart center. This process signifies the alchemical transformation of suffering into positive energy.

On the exhalation, practitioners send out love, compassion, and well-wishing to those they have taken suffering from. They envision this positive energy as a healing light that alleviates the suffering and brings happiness to others.

Taking meditation extends to all sentient beings, without discrimination. Practitioners do not limit their practice to a specific group but aspire to alleviate the suffering of all beings, including those they find challenging or difficult.

The act of taking suffering and transforming it fosters spiritual growth by nurturing qualities such as compassion, empathy, and loving-kindness.

Taking meditation is closely linked to the development of Bodhicitta, the altruistic mind that aspires for Buddhahood in order to benefit all sentient beings. It aligns with the Bodhisattva’s commitment to work tirelessly for the welfare of others.

The Bodhisattva Vow: A Path to Compassion and Enlightenment in Tibetan Buddhism

Contemplation

Consider what you read in this post and focus on the following first-person narrative:

I wish to liberate all living beings from their suffering. May all the suffering, fears, and challenges faced by every living being ripen upon me, freeing them from enduring these hardships. May all the suffering and struggle of every living being gather as black smoke and disolve into my heart, destroying my self-cherishing. I will transform this black smoke into pure white light through the power of my intention and radiate this strong purifying light into the hearts of all living beings.

Object of Meditation

Having contemplated the above, on each in-breath visualize the black smoke of suffering penetrate your hear, and on the outbreath, visualize the white light shining forth touching every living being. This act of purifying negativity and radiating goodness is the object of meditation.

We should continue this practice with each breath for as long as possible.

Taking meditation is not confined to the meditation cushion but extends to daily life. It inspires practitioners to feel the suffering and wish goodness upon others in all their interactions.

Tibetan Buddhist Lamrim teachings on the meditation of Taking involve the compassionate act of willingly bearing the suffering of others and transforming it into positive energy, love, and well-wishing.

This practice is a powerful means of developing empathy, compassion, and Bodhicitta, ultimately leading to the alleviation of suffering and the attainment of enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.

~~wink~~

Anatta