#or maybe they're only into feminine gnomes

[bardandbear]

At risk of being cancelled on my fresh new blog, i wanted to get out some complex feelings I have about bi characters in video games, as a bi person.

I'm seeing the playersexual discourse raise its ugly head again and make no mistake, I am very staunchly on the bi/pan character identity defence train here. It makes me really angry when people try to erase those identities for selfish reasons, or because deep down they see bisexuality as this hybrid identity instead of its own thing. I want more bi characters in video games.

But what also annoys me is the fact that a lot of the time, bisexuality is treated like a mechanic, it's there to facilitate player enjoyment. Players will use it to pretend that Character is in fact a big fat lesbian or ignore the queer aspects of their identity so they're like Straight +. The actual bi content is seen as optional, player initiated, and often completely unexplored. Convenient, keeping the queer out of the way, neat and tidy. This is what I mean by characters appearing to be playersexual - there is more development given to the player's experience, rather than to the character's identity and how it impacts their interaction with the world.

Of course it's easier to just make everyone bi. It means everyone has equal access to content. It makes sense in a lot of more colourful settings for the definition of sexuality to be more diverse as well, so I don't even have complaints about there being 'too many' bi people for 'realism' (and hell, we often congregate irl anyway). But you can't just slap on an 'anything goes' label for the romance and call it a day. Likewise, modding characters to be 'bi' I find really squicky because there's more to bi identity than just being conveniently available all the time. Bisexuality in video games is so often more about the players and their desires than the characters themselves. That's upsetting.

This is why I will generally advocate for diverse identities, even if it means I don't get to romance my favourite character. Because then people can see their all their identities reflected, because then it makes all identities more real - part of who they are and not a mechanical convenience.

To be clear, I also don't think this phenomenon is black and white, and there are games that have really great representation and really terrible rep at the same time. I just think we can do better and we can criticise how bi people are written in games without invalidating it as an identity.

[tanoraqui]

Dungeon Meshi Liveblog: Some Much-Needed Downtime TBH

ok I kinda read these species-swap chapters quickly without commenting 2 nights ago bc I REALLY wanted to catch up to the show, and honestly I didn't have much to say? It was a fun showcase of some different species talents, and introduced multiple fun problems for the characters to solve [takes notes in DM]. But it didn't seem to move either plot or characters forward much. Some notes:

Honestly it's surprising that there's only been 1 count of food poisoning so far, when they're trying SO MANY new things. One must credit Senshi's cooking skills!

This might be the single funniest joke so far:

I've seen multiple posts saying Senshi's elfsona reveals him to be feminine by dwarf standards, and I'm genuinely BAFFLED by that take because it is SO obvious that Senshi's elfsona reveals him to be 1. the Hottest Man You Have Ever Met, and 2. HAIRY. We have seen 0 other elves with facial hair. I dug up that showcase of different elves and 0 of them have facial hair. In the Tolkienien lore from which all modern fantasy, or certainly this sort of fantasy, is derived, exactly 2 elves in the history of the world are said to have had facial hair. Elf!Senshi has a tiny little moustache. Elf!Senshi isn't feminine, he is the HOTTEST, HAIRIEST bear in the metaphorical gay club.

...it's possible that he's more of a himbo than we realize, though.

I don't know what's up with Kensuke and I AM worried that it's being directed by the demon. I want it to be Laios's friend so bad...

It occurs to me that "the winged lion is actually the demon at the root of all of this" is probably the biggest spoiler I've gotten, and I didn't even realize how huge a spoiler it was because I DIDN'T get spoilered for the fact that, so far as the characters know, the lion is supposed to be a helpful god. Don't play with spoilers, kids! Even if you want to read the juicy meta!

This initial fight with the gargoyles is probably my new second-favorite "Laios is really quickly analytical and problem-solving in combat" moment (the living armor fight is still #1). He sees how everyone is failing, prevents more problems as he can, realizes they can't win and puts together what pieces they need to get out. In group social dynamics, he's a mediocre leader at best, but he's a superb combat tactician.

Laios is just living in his own little after-school special, and I love him for that.

That first panel is definitely support for the theory that the 50-60yr life expectancy of "short-lived" races like tallmen, orcs, kobolds and halffeet is shorter than it should be, relative to their ages of maturity, because the long-lived races control and hold most of the resources. It's even possible that their ages of maturity SHOULD be even older, but social conditions force them to become "adults" at a younger developmental age than dwarves, gnomes and especially elves!

Panel 3 is Marcille mentally shoving Chilchuck higher on her list of Lives to Extend by Whatever Magic I Can Learn.

I love how the way they figure out that the mushrooms' effects are easily reversible is literally by thinking through the greater social worldbuilding implications of the effects.

^This is the single most Dad we've ever seen Chilchuck...topped only by that 'carry child like a football' a moment later. Actually, he yeets Marcille a LOT while tall - here, over the jump in the travel montage, with Laios to make a loop for the gargoyle...which I'm dead certain is an indication of how he physically treated his daughters. Those kids got casually, affectionately tossed like salad.

.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE CALL FRIENDSHIP.

...okay maybe I did have several thoughts about those 2 chapters.

.

"[Falin] was much tougher than I was. I hear she and our parents still write to each other" is SUCH a line for painting a picture of Laios and Falin's childhoods, and Laios's feelings on it.

.

you can keep your Kabru Wink(TM)s, I am weak only for the Laios Fond Little Smile(TM).

.

I love how Senshi is still musing on this soul = egg metaphor, and I LOVE how both times now that we've seen Laios genuinely lose his temper, it's because someone was saying "why are you just being excited about eating monsters when Falin is in danger?!", and he's snapping because he is fucking NOT dismissing his sister in favor of eating monsters, he is doing EVERYTHING IN HIS POWER to save her and it just so happens that the only plans with a smidgen of success involve leaning into eating monsters. And by trying to stop him from that, you're stopping him from saving Falin.

.

Laios, how tf do you remember the Wink? I'm 99% sure Kabru never once winked in your interactions; I WAS looking for it. Was he just exuding wink energy? (I mean...yes.)

.

The dramatic irony jokes in this chapter are on POINT. Chilchuck: "There's no way this thing still works" [tram door slams shut on his heels, cars immediately starts moving]. "You won't find a military company in the dungeon" [smash cut to Shuro, Namari and Kabru unhappily leading the Canaries into the dungeon]. Impeccable.

Stopping this one here in preparation for going nuts about implied elf-related worldbuilding in the next chapters!

[molochka-koshka]

OC Mannerisms: Tristo Vestalis

Tagged by @dmagedgoods !!! I'm not sure who else hasn't done this yet, so just take this as an invitation to do it if you want. 😎

Picrew here || Blank template here (by @the-raging-tempest)

BASICS

- NO. OF SPOKEN LANGUAGES >>  6 (Common, Celestial, Infernal, Halfling, Aklo, Gnome)

- TONE OF VOICE >> high / average / deep 

- ACCENT >> yes / no 

- DEMEANOR >> confident / shy / approachable / hostile / private

- POSTURE >> slumped / straight / stiff / relaxed

HABITS

head tilting / swaying / fidgeting / stuttering / gesturing / arm crossing / strokes chin / er, um, or other interjections / plays with hair or clothing / hands at hips / inconsistent eye contact / maintains eye contact / frequent pausing / stands close / stands at a distance

COMPLEXITY (Fill in the circle’s as you wish)

- VOCABULARY >> ⚪️⚪️⚫️⚪️⚪️

- EMOTION >> ⚫️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️

- SENTENCE STRUCTURE >> ⚪️⚪️⚪️⚫️⚪

PROFANITY

- FREQUENCY >> ⚪️⚫️⚪️⚪️⚪️

- CREATIVITY (in regards to profanity) >> ⚫️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️

BOLD THAT APPLY

arse / ass / asshole / bastard / bitch / bloody / bugger / bollocks / chicken shit / crap / cunt / dick / frick / fuck / horseshit / motherfucker / piss / prick / pussy / screw / shit / shitass / son of a bitch / twat / wanker

THIS OR THAT

straightforward or cryptic? / finding the right word or using the first word that comes to mind? / masculinity, neutrality, or femininity? / formalities or with abrasiveness? / praise or equivocation? / frankness or flattery / excessive or minimal hand gestures / name-calling or magnanimity? / friendly or blunt

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

- DO PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME HEARING OR UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHARACTER? almost always / frequently / rarely / never

- DOES YOUR CHARACTER’S POINT COME ACROSS EASILY WHEN THEY SPEAK?

 almost always / frequently / sometimes / rarely / never

- WOULD YOUR CHARACTER INITIATE CONVERSATIONS?

almost always / frequently / sometimes / rarely / never

- WOULD YOUR CHARACTER BE THE ONE TO END CONVERSATIONS?

almost always / frequently / sometimes / rarely / never

- WOULD YOUR CHARACTER USE ‘WHOM’ IN A SENTENCE?

yes / no / only ironically

- YOUR CHARACTER WANTS TO MAKE A COUNTERPOINT. WHAT WORD DO THEY USE?

but / though / although / however / perhaps / maybe

- HOW DOES YOUR CHARACTER END CONVERSATIONS? 

walk away / ask if that’s everything / say that’s everything / give a proper goodbye / tell their company they're done here / remain quiet / they don’t

- WHAT SOCIAL CLASS WOULD OTHERS ASSUME YOUR CHARACTER BELONGS TO, HEARING THEM SPEAK?

upper / middle / lower

- IN WHAT WAYS DOES THE WAY YOUR CHARACTER SPEAK STAND OUT TO OTHERS?

accent  / vocabulary / tone / level / politeness / brusqueness / it doesn’t

Anything that wasn’t touched on?

Expounding on accent and tone, his voice is kind of low and rough sounding, and his accent is Chelaxian with a faint infernal accent underneath it since he's spent so much time reading and speaking it.

[bookwyrminspiration]

Okay, actually, all the feminine clothing sucks. They have absolutely no reason to wear so many layers. Why are they wearing leggings all the time? They don’t have air conditioning, presumably the temperature between rooms is consistent. And they spend a bunch of time outdoors. The girls also almost always have a jacket or some sort of over layer on in art? They don’t wear sun glass or veils or anything that darkens their view, which is extremely needed considering their entire society is built around as much light as possible. They wear their hair down. Again, it’s warm everywhere, keratin (because presumably their hair is made of keratin) makes your neck freaking sweaty.

Also, all their clothes are so plain? Why? They presumably have lots of leisure time and enjoy pretty thing, get yet embroidery is minimal? They wear jewels sewn onto their clothes I believe ? Which isn’t practical? They don’t seem to wear anything under layers except a skin layer and maybe a fabric skirt support? Do the jewels not make the fabric warp and sag?

How does anything get washed because they don’t have washing machines, and their formal stuff is ballgowns? Do they wear linen next to their skin to prevent washing? Where is the material for the clothes coming from? How is their clothing woven? How is it dyed? Who sews the clothing? How can you just buy dozens of dresses casually? Why do the dresses fit?

Why are they not wearing as little clothing as possible to get as much sun?

(Sorry for the rambling, nothing about their clothing makes sense)

No no, I like rambles! I think its Like That because the target audience is 8-12, but that doesn't mean it's the best choice. Can you recall any moment when a character wore shorts or had exposed legs at all? All I can think of are Fitz's running shorts that once in Nightfall, and maybe the deleted swimming scene in Neverseen. Like why do they need 100% covered legs 100% of the time, 8-12 years olds also wear shorts and skirts without leggings under them. Sometimes their calves show. Quite frequently actually. It's so odd.

So its not made to match their world, but to fit with our world. Being careful about how they dress 12-16 year olds. To the point that it's unrealistic. Sure, some 12 year old only wear leggings, but a whole society like that?

The feminine' clothing's definitely worse (in my opinion), though I dislike all of it. I could understand it more if it was decorated! Though full disclaimer, that may be more the art itself than what was described in the series; but, to me, it doesn't seem like much of it is too fancy even in canon? Unless you count jewels sewn in as fancy--which it can be! But it's all they do, and there doesn't seem to be any pattern or artistry to it? It's just "jewel encrusted" like what does that MEAN give me MORE

I think the answer to "how is it washed?" "who makes it?" "where do the materials come from?" and all that is probably: the gnomes. The elves really are completely reliant on their species. Except for the dresses fitting, which can be answered with plot convenience.

Realistically, elves lives in all sorts of different climates. I'd expect a range of styles to represent that--or, since they have rapid world wide transit, for their clothing to be very layered/easily added to or subtracted from or altered to suit whatever environment they're going to. Though I do very much like the detail about them wearing little to absorb the light--in that case, I'd fit right in. And I'd also expect that the jewels on their clothing would be more elaborate than just "encrusted", it feels cheap

Overall, I think it's because of the intended audience. Though whether or not their attire appeals to 11 yos I don't know. But the modesty I can understand, even if I think it's taken a step too far (they deserve shorts, skirts and dresses without leggings beneath them goddamnit). it's soft world-building, which is fine, I just prefer rigid worldbuilding. and this particular gripe is exacerbated because the clothing is actively hostile to my personal likes and needs

[rollercoasterwords]

have you watched bones and all??? i would love to see ur thoughts

(just in general tho i would love to hear you talk more abt cannibalism)

i have not! it hasn't been released where i live yet i think the only english movie showing at the theater in my city rn is the new marvel movie.

gonna be honest i was not feeling the bones and all hype bc i've mostly just been seeing pics of bloody timothee chalamet which does nothing for me lmao but after receiving this message i just watched the trailer and then went and read the plot summary and UMMMMM yeah i need to watch this now. fascinating fascinating concept omg it reminds me a LOT of the movie "raw" this looks fantastic so so so much to think about like [spoilers + rambling below]

ok the fact that some people are "born" eaters??? potential for queer analysis abound also just enamored by the concept of people or creatures or beings who are fundamentally destructive like the fact they literally NEED to eat other people to exist brings up so many questions....do they deserve to live? can they be good people? is it possible to live without harming others? honestly makes me think about the yeerks from the animorphs series lmao but also reminds me of questions brought up in one of my favorite favorite books "a history of glitter and blood" where part of the world-building is that it takes place in this city where gnomes and fairies live together but the gnomes also eat the fairies sometimes and it's just like...an accepted part of life. and of course there's "raw" where we get the same idea of a girl who was born a cannibal and has to decide whether to suppress this urge or allow it to flourish which is just SUCH an interesting concept ugh

also very interested in the gender dynamics based on the plot summary like. it sounds like we get this main character cannibal girl who essentially spends the movie running into different men and trying to figure out how to live her life through their guidance, but each man seems to represent something different....like these are just messy thoughts right now but i'm intrigued by the fact that we get her father who abandons her bc he can't deal with it right, we get the older guy who tries to present her with a new set of rules for how to live life as an eater, we get timmy who seems to be struggling to assimilate but also at certain points is sort of dragging her down a dark (and homoerotic!! the field scene?? omg) path...like the implications of that whole scene and its queerness where he cruises to find a victim and then it seems like after that they ultimately decide to try and assimilate and like...the queerness is inherently suppressed with the suppression of the cannibalism right?? like they're trying to live as a regular heterosexual couple but they CAN'T....omg also the fact that her first act of cannibalism is biting off her girl friend's finger--sorry but that is homoerotic SORRY but the cannibalism is inherently bound up with both character's queerness. and the cannibal mother trying to eat her cannibal child? mother as the source of monstrosity? it seems like the cannibalism is almost like...inextricably bound up with femininity for our main character and we get all these masculine disciplining forces throughout....also maybe this is a leap but i'm thinking about the way consumption is often gendered as a specifically feminine horror like. the fear of someone taking you into their body and consuming you....thinking about the vagina dentata and the movie "teeth" and the ways in which typically we think of penetrating someone else's body with yours as a masculine act but cannibalism inverts that because suddenly the person taking your body into themself is destroying you in the process...also the blurring of bodily borders and identity and love...that ending!!!! god so much to think about i definitely need to watch this movie now