#they're also deeply compelling and relatable

[good-to-drive]

I hate that so many biographers try to paint Paul as an over the top Disney villain when he's clearly a David Chase style villain

[emmafrostyyy]

y'all sleeping on Astarion/Lae'zel bc this moment is so...the way the flippant demeanor drops and he doesn't hesitate to call her out for sticking with her version of Cazador like their relationship is so underrated fr...

sitting down writing this bullshit like let me peel it like an onion a bit and elaborate why this pairing is fascinating to me

It's really interesting how during the most cathartic, life-altering moment in Astarion's questline, the reactions of the other companions are more about the moral wrongness/guilt of sacrificing innocent lives. Lae'zel doesn't do that and instead relates to his hurt.

She knows what's he's feeling, the lack of control, the unfairness of being powerless for too long. This is a woman who just found out her entire life purpose was built on lies, discarded and hunted by her own people after outliving her usefulness, and groomed to basically die for an insane power-hungry lich queen. She knows all too well that power isn't always real freedom. Her first instinct is to empathize with Astarion to steer him away from his hate and resentment.

Astarion/Lae'zel is so interesting to me because they're such a classic "can we make each other worse or make a better person out of the other?".

They both have genuine appreciation for violence and respect each other's ruthlessness. Astarion was used as a weapon of seduction while Lae'zel was of warfare. Sex with people is meaningless and not real intimacy for them, and while both have little understanding/experience of interpersonal relationships beyond the physical, they still feel and love very deeply. They have no frame of reference for things like friendship and warmth, but they badly want all of that and more, even if they don't know it yet.

In-game they can sleep with each other, which is basically the foundation of the normal Tav/Astarion romance. Lae'zel saw him during combat and got horny, who knows. Astarion who's used to luring people with his charms, takes up Lae'zel's blunt offer because she's a strong hardened warrior that can provide protection and be a worthy ally, and he doesn't know how to say no. Navigating the complications between one who wants to be seen beyond as a sex object, and one who comes from a totally alien culture with no concept of love/family/connections and only sex is honestly really compelling to me. It's a transactional, mutually beneficial thing with no emotional expectations. Once you get past the skeevy rockiness of their early relationship, I really like the idea of them slowly seeing something past the exterior and realizing they may have harshly misjudged the other, an unspoken friendship blooms, and in comes the realization that they are essentially loners longing for kindness and a comforting touch in the most desperate of situations.

Lae'zel is prideful, direct, has no sense of courtship talk, and doesn't hold back her thoughts the slightest--she's not sweet/agreeable and what you see is really what you get, which I imagine would be disarming for Astarion who's used to vacuous flattery and has difficulty trusting others. But she's also insanely protective, passionate, loyal, and an initiator-- every romance scene is triggered by her first and she's always showing effort towards her relationships, which would mesh well with Astarion who does need someone to nudge him.

She doesn't purposely suppress her feelings, she's just simply at loss at how to express them sometimes due to her wildly different upbringing. She stops the sparring match you agree to and an easy vulnerability slips instantly out of her: "I don't want to hurt you. I want to protect you, and for you to protect me." and "Thus far I've taunted you, devoured you, battled you. Now I want more than anything to soothe you." are romantic as fuck and Astarion of all people really needs to hear that tbh.

Astarion is also someone who struggles with reinforcing his boundaries, and a key theme in Lae'zel's romance is that she encourages and wants you to challenge her and learn to stand your ground. It's not gentlest method, but hey, relationships are about having to make an effort to learn each other's language.

I think he also would take pleasure "educating her on the matters of Fay-run" (I believe there's a whole banter with him teasing her and teaching her pet names) and would get a kick out of coaxing Lae'zel out of her shell with her shyness at showing public affection, and making her blush. Also it simply would be fucking funny to see Astarion who's used to easy seduction, trying to pass a persuasion check just to get a smooch and generally having to work to earn regular kisses from Lae'zel lmfaooo

Lae'zel also initially struggles to see her chains as chains. When she learns about Vlaakith's betrayal, she copes instantly through denial and shuts it down. Astarion is NOT having it and calls her out, he knows her well enough to recognize that she would value blunt honesty above all.

I imagine he also despises her lack of self-preservation, the way her entire identity is tied to duty and being in service of others, and doesn't understand her desire to still help/liberate the people that want her dead and are hunting her down. He wants to make this duty-bound soldier realize that looking out for herself, and putting herself first may not be the worst thing in the world.

They're so similar to each other but are also polar opposites in some ways that make a more equal, balanced romance I think. It's not a simple, one-sided, feel-good "she/he can fix her/him" fantasy because both of them have to earn each other's love, actually cut through the other's flaws, and actively motivate each other to be better versions of themselves.

They're not at all the other's ideal guiding hand. It's rough, jagged, and imperfect, but that's how healing goes. It's so far from being the healthiest relationship -- but even if their belief systems differ, their moral compass does often align. I imagine it's a slight relief for them to have a partner where there would be less shame and judgment when they expectedly, occasionally slip up and fall into their bad habits.

Also, man, the "You showed me the betweens and beyonds. Beyond war and peace, beyond passion and obsession, most importantly, you showed me freedom.", "First you were my wound, now you were my cure.", "But you saw something else in me - someone else I could be. Someone who could break the cycle of power and terror that started centuries ago.." lines really hit hard when applied to them.

Of course, they can also make each other worse, feed into the other's negative traits that will bring out the worst part of themselves. It's this duality of their pairing that is very interesting to explore, the way it can steer in either direction because it's an intense, fraught relationship at its core.

[genericpuff]

Are there any other LO-critical projects like LR?? Doesn’t have to be comics, I like fanfic(critic-fic?) too, I’ve been really interested in reading stuff like LR

Sure is! The list I have here are just the ones I know of, there are definitely more out there if you browse the #antiLO #lo critical tags or filter your searches on fanfic sites like AO3, but I hope this gives you a good start into finding more works that scratch that itch!

Lore Asgard (AO3) - Briefly in the original LO, Persephone jokes about running off to the Norse Pantheon; Lore Asgard is what would have happened if she actually went through with it.

Lore Mictlan (AO3) - Also plays with the question of "what if Persephone ran off to the Norse Pantheon", but instead she winds up in the realm of the Aztec gods.

Pomegranmints (AO3) - Re-imagines the plot of LO if Persephone and Minthe kissed instead of fighting over Hades ٩(♡ε♡)۶

Survive the Night (Tumblr) - Not sure how long this project is planned to be but it's basically a re-imagining of LO that further explores all the deeply-rooted issues of Hades and Minthe's relationship. Very tense and emotionally raw dialogue scenes, Minthe gets a lot more agency and character exploration here.

Desire for Peace (Webtoon) - Though it's an entirely unique work separate from LO (it's not a fan comic or retelling), the creator was compelled by a distaste towards modern Greek myth retellings to create their own Greek myth comic, starring Ares as the main protagonist. It has both beautiful and unique art, and it presents a writing style that isn't as watered down and simplified as so many popular commercial Greek myth retellings tend to be. The creator is very cool and has done an amazing job at creating a true Greek myth retelling comic, without all the bells and whistles and crutches of "modernizing" the stories.

Theia Mania - Also not at all related to LO, it's just a great comic series that covers all sorts of different myths and tales, but it's most famously known for its ongoing retelling of Hades and Persephone in Queen of the Dead. Like the creator of Desire for Peace, the creator of Theia Mania is someone who Gives a Shit™️ about the source material they're writing about and does a great job at both presenting the culture of Ancient Greece at the time (so again, no modern 2000's stuff here) but also putting some of their own unique twists on an old tale. And the best part? No Demeter scapegoating to be found here <3

Lore Valhalla (Youtube/Patreon) - A brief one-shot that remakes the first episode of Lore Olympus, but with Norse gods instead of Greek. This isn't an ongoing series, just a fun project that Youtuber Crown Obsidian challenged himself to make after he read (and did not particularly enjoy) Lore Olympus.

[rutherfest]

Let's be real: many of you know some of us already, but our team is excited to bring this event to you and can't wait to see what you come up with!

First up, the admin: Tay

What Admin Tay is most excited about when it comes to Rutherfest: I'm looking forward to seeing people come together and create something incredible for a character they're passionate about. I'm a newer fan by Dragon Age standards, always dancing around the franchise but never fully diving in until last year. As such, I had an unconventional introduction and journey towards loving Cullen's character, and I wouldn't have it any other way. This is a talented fanbase, and I'm excited to be a part of it.

Our team is committed to making this a fun, festive, and positive experience for all fans of Cullen. I'm really looking forward to seeing where all participants' efforts lead!

Tay's favorite thing about Cullen: I deeply appreciate seeing someone who has a good soul and heart pull themselves out of the abyss. He fully owns up to his mistakes. He owns up to his flaws, and he never uses them as an excuse. Instead, he perseveres, putting in reflective, authentic work to be a become a better version of himself. I love and value his sweetness, that hint of shyness when he's flustered, and his ability to make hard decisions. It's not a responsibility he takes lightly. Self-awareness is talked about often, but rarely put into reflective, deliberate practice. He's a healing character to me, and as an added bonus, he's a dog dad now. What's not to love?

Next up, Mod Julie!

Find her @sweetjulieapples !

What Mod Julie is most excited about when it comes to Rutherfest: I’m excited to see all the talented artwork! I’d would be amazing to see some new artists join the fandom as well as see what our beloved friends come up with.

Julie's favorite thing about Cullen: My favourite thing about Cullen is that he is gentle, caring and devoted to his love **❤️**

Three makes a Rutherfest team with Mod Jayla!

Find her @p0lkadotdotdot !

What Mod Jayla is most excited about when it comes to Rutherfest: I’m so looking forward to celebrating our boy and seeing all the different interpretations of the prompts from such a creative fandom!

Jayla's favorite thing about Cullen: My favourite thing about Cullen is not only his journey of self-growth, it takes so much strength and self-awareness to admit when you were wrong like that, but I love his dry wit and humour, it’s so cutting! His personality is a brilliant mixture of kind, dorky, strong and stubborn. He’s just so well written!

(Admin note: Jayla can also be credited for our beautiful icon).

Last but far from least is Mod D!

What Mod D is most excited about when it comes to Rutherfest: I’m very excited to just see some Cullen positivity and works dedicated to him by those who love his character! Plus maybe having some fics to add to my “to read” list :)

D's favorite thing about Cullen: It is almost impossible to pick a single favorite thing, honestly. But if I had to summarize what I love so much about him, I’d phrase it this way: It’s his humanity. From his running away from his crush and nasal laugh to nearly losing his way and wrestling with his faith as well as everything in between. Of all the characters in Dragon Age, I find him the most relatable because of how human he is. To use his own words: I find him compelling. His amber eyes and crooked smile don’t hurt either.

Let's give our mods a warm welcome!

Can you guess what post comes next? Give @rutherfest a follow to find out! :)

[waokevale]

Looks at you with my eyes sitting in front of you like I'm interrogating you (but it's actually a really nice cozy room). I have heard tale of this WXwood ship. Tell me what you find compelling about the ship I'm considering joining you in WXwood land. Literally just say words at me I'm listening

Alright, very well then, so I shall! 🫡

At first, I only shipped them ironically, because they seemed like the classic "opposites attract" trope, which I favor 👍

But then I got digging, and I realized they're not actually that different after all. In fact, they share plenty of common traits and interests. What many people overlook initially, is that neither of them is actually a black&white character. None of the DST cast is, to be fair. 🩶

So it was inevitable, I became enthralled with this ship and now it's probably my nr 1 of all time.

Here's a list of my reasonings and what I found out about these guys thus far (updated):

1. WX-78 is actually a bit of a softie if you spend some time reading through their quotes. They act tough and logical to presumably hide whatever ounce of empathy they have left, that didn't escape them completely. (But they're not doing too good of a job)

They either use this uncharacteristically soft tone or hide a kind gesture or well-intentioned thought behind robotically constructed sentences and insults.

Even when they are threatening someone/something, they're all bark no bite. They might be very rude, but most of the time they won't actually go through with what they say.

And of course, I don't think I need to show the quotes for machines or metallic structures, since WX-78 openly sees them as their family and acts basically the same as Wormwood does with his plant friends.

2. Speaking of, Wormwood isn't always an empathetic creature. He can sometimes be callous, apathetic and even have favorites amongst plants (and people too), though he doesn't directly state that. He also isn't as dumb as he portrays himself to be, he definitely knows something, but either has too limited English speaking skills or is actively choosing not to say much.

He often sobs or cries when a creature dies, but there are times he reacts with either "whoops", "oh" or "too bad" like it's a small inconvenience at best.

And those are only some of the examples. If you'd like I could always try and find more of these specific quotes at another time.

3. Despite seeming vastly different at first, they would eventually become good friends.

And why do I think that? Because WX-78 actually likes plenty of things that correspond with Wormwood!

Bees (If we were to go back to their previous quote I've shown). Fun fact, WX-78 has a lot of quotes where they express how much they like/respect bees! And since Wormwood blooms, there's countless of them surrounding him at those times. It's a welcome bonus while hanging out around him. (Though maybe not in Spring)

Their quote for green gem is: "PRESSURE AND IMPURITIES HAVE PRODUCED PLEASING PERFECTION" which is. well. Something.

They're very fond of pumpkins, describing them as: "IT HAS A PLEASANT SHAPE" while their seed as "IT IS A SOURCE CODE FOR PLEASING PLANTS" And guess who just happens to have a pumpkin skin ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

The lunar affinity. If I didn't know any better, I'd assume WX-78 was outright worshipping the moon. They have dozens of quotes describing how THE MOON IS SUPERIOR, INORGANIC AND GOOD, I wouldn't be able to fit all of them into this post, (just trust me on that). Regardless, they're still deeply attached to it. it wouldn't be surprising that, if they found out about this aspect about him, they'd become very fascinated with him, because c'mon, it's the moon, and he's from it!

Despite acting like it, WX-78 doesn't actually hate all organic life. Plants in particular, are actually some of the organisms they seem to hate the least. They're partial to potatoes and lureplants; the former because they say they can relate to them, and the latter because "AWW, IT'S JUST AS EVIL AS I AM". They even recognize the beauty of certain flowers, even if they say it in a mocking tone. So then, would it be too farfetched of a concept for them to grow to appreciate organic life with Wormwood's influence ?

And yeah, they might not like him at first due to the whole "Filthy Organic" attribute, but that's just how they are with everyone! And that's what we're here for! That slowburn! With the two of them getting to know each other and realizing they have shared interests and know similiar struggles!

Going back to Wormwood. His quote for the W.A.R.B.I.S armor and head gear suggests that he highly admires WX and would like to be strong like they are.

–Wormwood, examining the W.A.R.B.I.S. Head Gear: "Just like robot friend!"

–Wormwood, examining the W.A.R.B.I.S. Armor: "Be strong, like robot friend!"

There's also his quote for the Nautopilot where he's the only one who shows genuine concern for WX-78's perturbation:

–WX-78, when examining the Nautopilot: THIS IS A TERRIBLE IDEA

–WX-78, when examining an active Nautopilot: I THINK THAT RIDICULOUS SCIENTIST IS TRYING TO KILL ME

–Wormwood: Robot friend doesn't like Pull Rock

5. The survivors' farming animation is quite charming, I certainly loved their small interaction there. They're also shown in the official Return Of Them vignette, farming on the side.

6.. I like the fact that one of them is afraid of water and the other of fire. Adds an interesting dynamic.

7. As @benzybenny mentioned, it's a cute idea that they could make each other's favorite foods. Wormwood has the resources for making a butter muffin practically instantly available, due to his Bee King and Berry Bush crafting skills. And WX-78 is perfectly fitted for the ruins, yes! Them fetching bananas (definitely only to spite the monkeys, not for Wormwood and Wendy specifically) sounds very plausible to me. 😁

8. They just work. Despite claiming they want to "DOMINATE ALL ORGANIC LIFE" WX-78 appreciates people who can stand up for themselves. I'd guess Wormwood would be a huge pushover at first, no doubt, but with their influence, he would certainly have to grow a spine (metaphorically speaking)

Likewise, WX-78 struggles to show kindness to non-robotic creatures, because they fear they might come off as WEAK and SENTIMENTAL. Things they loathe to expose about themself. Wormwood could help them show that it's okay to love organic friends and be nice to others! (sometimes at least.)

I'd say they balance out each other perfectly and that is quite rare to see in modern ships.

While they'd definitely struggle to get along at first, they'd surely grow fond of the other one day :)

I hope this convinced you. if not, I'll try and dig up some more stuff. Then again, keep in mind that there aren't many canon character interactions besides whatever crumbs we've got from their quotes and official animations.

[fafodill]

honestly I think a huge part of why Harry Potter has held up so well in terms of audience interest is because it’s like JKR threw the idea that children’s literature should be a moral fable out of the window and instead created a pinpoint accurate microcosm of British politics and society. Just with magic. We invest in it because we recognise our reflection in it. I don’t know how deep a thinker JKR is, but she’s an exceptional observer of human behaviour.

It’s not like there aren’t really important moral messages in there - it’s just that the good guys are good by the rather low standards of not being genocidal fascists. They’re milquetoast liberals, self righteous hypocrites, they’re blinded to the impact of their indifference, they’re deeply cruel, they’re selfish, they’ve got heaps of internalised bigotry that they’re convinced they couldn’t possibly have because they’re so secure in their self-perception as good people. They’re all realistically awful, (well, except teenage Sirius, who is very possibly a psychopath, and Neville, who is a proper legend), but in a way that demands empathy for absolutely everyone because they’re all awful in a way that ourselves, our neighbours, parents, friends, teachers, politicians etc are and could be, given the right circumstances.

I agree with you.

Jkr is (was?) amazing at observing human behavior and the way she fleshed out her characters is a big part of why we love them so much and relate to them in my opinion. They're very believable.

She clearly struggled at understanding her own characters tho (hence why she doesn't understand why people love Draco for example) but it's not even important. I think part of why the fandom got so big and still has newcomer all these years later is because the characters are super interesting and flawed, and there's such a big variety as well!

So many different neurotic flavors to analyze and see ourselves in.

But also mundane stuff too.

Also the (very flawed) context in which the story takes place (a school with House rivalries, a war in the past, a war in the present) is super dense and rich to explore. And in a way, all the flaws of her writing and all the moral problems in the story are also compelling us to discuss and develop said world. Also since the story doesn't take place in the muggle world, it's aging pretty well since it's not referencing 90s culture that much.

Except for the mindset - which is more a reflection of jkr - and it bothers me that new readers might not take it into account when criticizing the books (like the way the teachers are being towards students for example).

Honestly, HP is a mind treat.

[grayskiesandink]

Hi so um you dont have to answer this but honestly i Think i need to ask… as aroace what does relationships mean to you?

Again it’s fine if you don’t want to answer I get that it might be a bit personal? but well when you write in as aroace I kinda relate to it a lot??? And it has me super confused because I guess that I somewhat understand why I never related to relationships in a traditional sense

But then again I have never really been able to understand what aroace is like? All the portrayals I have seen have been this really extreme aversion to romantic relationships and so different from how you write ink?

Honestly I’m just confused now ._.

Hi!! In all honesty I'm still figuring myself out- what I write is not an exact one to one of how I personally feel/want (it is close. but there's still that wiggle room). But, as I've said before, I've taken a lot of inspiration from myself. So, I'll talk both about Ink & Dream and myself. Personally, I've always struggled to differentiate what is romantic feelings from platonic. The crushes (what I've called crushes) have also had the sort of foundation of I want to Know this person. I want to know how they feel, how they think, what they want, etc. It's like if I had a chance to study them in their natural habitat like an animal, I'd do that. I enjoy the idea of physical intimacy because it feels like another way to get to know someone- to be close. Whenever I've had someone admit to having romantic feelings for me- even people who I had also had a 'crush' on, it's made me feel kinda... disgusted?? It feels like they're seeing me through rose tinted glasses and not as someone who they want to know deeply- which is what I personally desire. The idea of someone having romantic feelings for me feels like the idea of them just. taking a love potion. It doesn't feel "real". For me, the idea of a possible partnership would be all about choice. I find the idea of someone choosing me, day after day, to be compelling. The choice to want to know someone- to remain by their side. Feelings may fade or change, but you can always make a choice. I've been labeling my attraction as being alterous. I feel it fits but y'know. there's always room for discovery and change.

I'm still figuring out if I want to partner. The idea sounds nice but also there's a lot to consider.

For Dream & Ink, I think my inspiration is pretty clear. Their relationship is built on choice and the desire to know the other- for Ink it's discovering their story. For Dream, it's letting Ink be who he is- happy to witness everything he has to offer: like how you appreciate nature, in a way.

They could go months without seeing each other and be fine. But, it's the choice to come back to be with the other that's important.

anyway that's all I have to say for now :). I'm always open to more questions, though

[fableforger]

How tall can the MC be?

I ask because I love the idea of big, tough and intimidating looking MC actually being soft... And shy when it comes to romance. Maybe in line with their appearance when it comes to combat and duty. It's when intimate that MC's soft, kind nature is revealed.

I also find the idea of a god who is very tall, and so grand, being humbled in the way MC is humbled by mortals. Even if I do find the situation overall quite sad, it's still a bit funny.

Also, how would the RO's react to the type of MC I described (tall, intimidating, yet very soft and shy when it comes to romance).

Ahh thank you for this ask - and just to answer the first part real quick:

Yes, the MC can be tall. Very tall, if you want them to be!

I actually just posted some thoughts on how the ROs react to a tall MC in general - check it out here!

I really love the dynamic you described. There’s something really compelling about that contrast.

Here’s how the ROs might respond to that particular flavor of MC:

Beware: Since this is a RO-related ask, there may be minor spoilers ahead. Please keep scrolling if you’d prefer to stay unspoiled.

..............................................................................................................................

Drakon

It confuses him - and he hates being confused.

You look like you could break people in half... and yet flinch at a kiss?

He finds that hard to fathom. And that makes you interesting.

Alexos / Alexa

It disarms them.

They are so used to strength meaning control - but you remind them that gentleness and power can share the same breath.

Rhaelos / Rhaela

They like the contradiction.

Thinks it’s no shame - great power doesn’t always mean great confidence.

Smiles, just a little. Quiet approval.

Zephiron / Zephyra

Finds it funny - but would never laugh at you about it.

Instead, they love that you contain contradictions that still manage to surprise them.

Dorian / Dione

It makes them uncomfortable.

They're used to power being used - against enemies, against lovers, as leverage.

With you, there’s no trap. No game. No edge.

And they don’t know what to do with that.

So they make jokes. They always make jokes.

Theron / Thera

It moves them deeply.

The forest taught them that quiet strength is still strength - and that love doesn’t need to be loud.

You prove both.

???

It delights her.

She sees no contradiction - only layers.

You’re power and gentleness, height and hesitation, and to her, that’s divine design.

[spectraling]

"My Lady, you are fair and brave and have much to live for... and many who love you."

So this line, huh.

Prime shipping material beloved by many a Merrywyn shipper. But there's a reason for that!

This line and scene in general reads as romantic tension to some and it's not (necessarily) because of the wish to push some kind of shipping agenda, but because this line is actually not Merry's to say originally, but Faramir's - Éowyn's canon love interest. It's been rewritten to make sense for Merry to say, but it's basically a summation of the conversations she has with Faramir in the Houses of Healing in the books.

The movies kind of just gloss over a lot of Éowyn's arc of healing from despair so her being so defeated comes a little out of left field in this scene. It's left in here because of what the writers are trying to get at. They're trying to emulate her scenes with Faramir in the Houses of Healing where she's overcome with despair and Faramir tries to coax her out of it by telling her how great she is and how much he loves her. Éowyn, bereft of her glorious death in battle and forced to linger on, slowly realizes that life may be bearable after all and that things like love, acknowledgement and agency might be possible for her and preferable to death.

Since they almost completely cut that part from the movies (rip), the only window to put this character development and resolution of Éowyn's arc, albeit brief and kind of backwards, is to have Merry evoke this feeling of "You are an incredible and beloved person, maybe life isn't so bad after all, maybe it's possible to love and be loved".

But he's also tying it to his own feeling of hopelessness, of being caged in his own body and his desire to be one of those mighty warriors, to do great deeds so that he can make a difference in a world that has long forgotten him, something that Éowyn herself has expressed and relates strongly to. This is the second point of this scene: to let the audience in on Merry's POV. It's almost completely missing in these particular parts of the movies that originally were all about Merry's own arc of overcoming despair and loneliness. They're both getting a tiny little sliver of what their book selves are going through at various points.

Anyway, so now you've kind of... Taken the romantic aspect of her relationship with Faramir and merged it with the woes Merry (and herself) goes through and you have. Well. Created some very compelling comradery, but also misplaced romantic tension between these two.

Because it's not one-sided. Éowyn responds to this. She is deeply moved. Her face grows soft, teary, almost reverent at Merry's words.

A horn blows suddenly to rouse the riders and she's not even phased, she's too caught up in this feeling that Merry stirred in her. "Then the heart of Éowyn changed", etc. etc., because this is mirroring that change which opens up her heart to be able to fall in love with Faramir, but now she's looking at Merry instead. A lot of people like to focus on Merry's all but love confession (including myself I guess by bringing it up), but have you seen the way this woman looks at this hobbit. Whatever is going on here, it is reciprocated. Most ardently.

I cannot explain the direction choice to have Merry blush and look away after uttering the words "...and there are many who love you", however. He's projecting so hard he might as well have flung himself into the sun that weirdly happens to be out and shining brightly. That hobbit was on the cusp of saying "and I love you", but chickened out at the last second. It makes sense though, it's the original conclusion of the statement, but for obvious reasons Merry can't say that and now he's just looking like he's afraid he's said too much.

This is why that scene is responsible for a Merrywyn shipper or two. And it's just. So funny. Incredible. The writers (and a lot of the audience) didn't even realize that they chose violence or that anyone would think twice about the implications. Merry, being a hobbit, is not a threat to the natural order of things I suppose, and so it's fine to transfer this expression of romantic love onto him, which is quite telling in and of itself.

[brofightiscancelled]

what do you think iromatsu's deal is? (additionally: do you think there's a tendency for people to make ichimatsu too violent towards him?)

honestly i've always felt like iromatsu is a pretty straightforward little-brother big-brother dynamic. i know sasunaru/bakudeku yaoi brain makes people twist it into this convoluted complex hate-love thing.... but i'd go so far as to argue that elements of a familial relationship when they're not related (long shared history, having a place in each other's lives no matter how much you hurt each other) is why those relationships are so compelling- without the yaoi that is just normal brothers

little brother that secretly thinks his big brother is cool but also is too embarrassed to admit that and simultaneously finds him really cringe and annoying. issues with insecurity so he doesn't know how to deal with being shown unconditional love or kindness so he lashes out. big brother with an "it is what it is/cant do nothin' bout it" towards a younger brother that is always mean to him and just puts up with it because it is what it is/cant do nothin' bout it and he's got his pride and duties as the older brother. it is what it is/can't do nothin' bout it

on a more personal theory note, i dont think kara is aware that ichi secretly admires him. i think kara lives too far into his own delululand to actually be in tune with how people really feel about him (he probably just assumes they're negative so he's like hmmmm <3 ignorance is bliss <3 and leaves no room for the possibility of them being positive). ichi thinking he's cringe and stupid and likely to punch him is just a truth of his life he's adapted around. i think ichi assumes karamatsu knows he does love him deep down, but i think karamatsu himself might be unsure on the matter LOL

also hmmm. sometimes i do see kara content where ichi is just like REALLY unfoundedly and deeply personally mean to him, like ripping up his poems or things like that. can i be honest? i think ichi wouldnt do this, not out of his feelings for kara, but because his mom would yell at him for it. i think any violence ichi shows towards kara stays strictly within what can be passed off as roughhousing/boys being boys/cartoon violence so that mommy stays out of it. everyone forgets that ichi has a mommy who would yell at him

[lakesbian]

i was pondering some Thoughts about how people sometimes refer to worm as a "found family" story (& how this is sometimes mocked), how in-text alec explicitly says that the undersiders are the closest thing rachel has to family, how taylor tells them "you're my family, in a way," how the found family trope works in general, etc.

access to financial support, housing, medical care, And So On, is primarily attached to the institution of the family. the material necessities provided by membership to a nuclear family are why it's so common for people to reconcile with or keep in touch with family members they wouldn't if there was no material value attached to that relationship. the cultural prioritization of the nuclear family is how we get people offering "well, they're family" as an explanation for remaining associated with someone they wouldn't otherwise care about (or would even actively be trying to escape from, but this post is more about just Social Incompatibility in families than the outright abuse that the structure enables), with the expectation that the explanation is considered to make inherent sense.

aside from the found family trope demonstrating a lack of imagination about non-familial ways important relationships can take shape/demonstrating an inability to see relationships as truly important or deep unless they mimic the nuclear family, i think a lot of what appeals about the found family trope is a character dynamic that provides the same support, security, and undying love/depth of connection that the idealized nuclear family is purported to--and that does so as an escape from and superior replacement to the original blood family.

and what's interesting about the undersiders is that they're extremely not that. they're terrible at communicating. many of them don't get on with each other very well. they're oftentimes even actively shitty to each other: everyone but taylor towards rachel, brian towards alec (and aisha, but she's actually related to him), taylor towards alec and aisha. but there's still repeated in-text acknowledgement of a supposed familial dynamic between them! i think they're a "found family" in the sense that their group imitates the general role of the nuclear family--a small unit of people who (are supposed to) function as each other's fundamental supports in a world that, at large, does not care about any individual member, and who (are supposed to) do so regardless of any internal conflicts or lack of compatibility.

like, this is not a particularly articulate analysis of the nuclear family Whatsoever, but i don't think it's inaccurate to say that the compelling thing about the undersiders is that they are a "found family," but specifically in the sense that a lot of their dysfunctions are reminiscent of those found in typical, real-life familial bonds--people who wouldn't necessarily be getting along otherwise, or are even actively sorta bad for each other, forming very deep & intimate connections simply because they're materially forced to spend a lot of time together and have each others backs when there's no guarantee anyone else will.

for example: alec and aisha call taylor + brian 'team mom and dad' in a mocking manner not to indicate that they're kind/caring, but to indicate that they're being condescending micro-managing assholes...who aisha and alec are going to unquestionably listen to anyway, because they're a team, right? and you have to listen to your team leaders. i am onto an Observation here i think. deeply compelled by the idea of a ""found family"" where all of the similarities to an actual nuclear family are, despite being what drives the intimacy, also blatantly fucking dysfunctional

[fox-guardian]

okay one person said yes so here's the vampires and werewolves ramblings from my little original story with lila and redd that i still don't have a name for

THE BIG VAMPIRES AND WEREWOLVES RAMBLE LET'S GO

the vampires and werewolves are mostly typical in their appearance, methods, and weaknesses, just to slightly different degrees. the sun won't immediately incinerate a vampire, but it will give severe burns much faster than usual that could definitely kill one, just much slower than being incinerated. werewolves develop an allergy to silver but are about as easily murdered with a silver bullet as with a regular one so in that regard, not much of a difference.

the whole faith-based weaknesses thing is much. blurrier. i hesitate to explain it away but let's call it varying on a case-by-case basis.

also humans at large do not know that werewolves and vampires are real, they're more-or-less secret/hiding in plain sight

VAMPIRES:

i feel compelled to start with the social/cultural aspects that are focused on in the story.

vampirism is treated less as a disease or curse and more as a lifestyle choice by most vampires. due to the turning process involving drinking each other's blood and not solely being bitten, there's usually more consent involved in the process, so most vamps are turned by choice. we see this in the "support group" that turns out to be more of a fun club of vampires that redd attends, in which he is surprised to find that he's the only one that was turned unwillingly.

vampires who chose the lifestyle tend to come in a few different varieties: the people who are 100% down with all the vampire shit one way or another and are handling things well, the people who are mostly down but have hang-ups about certain things, and the people who Thought they were down and ended up unprepared for basically everything.

the amount of Discourse in the vamp lifestyle community is insane.

there's different ways that vamps go about obtaining blood. usually it's either via an underground blood bag market (ideally obtained from willing donors, but ofc sometimes not) or by finding live donors or "thralls" as some say. many vamps have strong opinions on other vamps' drinking preferences.

the most hardcore of vampires are either living with houses full of willing thralls, or scouring the streets for unsuspecting victims (which is deeply frowned upon in the vampire community because Come On Now Let's Not Put Up Neon Signs Saying VAMPIRES ARE HERE we're trying to be Subtle)

in any case, in order to not Die Of Thirst as a vampire, you need to be able to maintain regular connections of some kind. either with someone selling blood in bagged form (and then you need to verify the source of the blood if ethics is an issue for you) or you need to keep good relationships with any live donors (and ideally you'd have multiple to rotate through so that blood loss isn't an issue for their health) (this is difficult for redd because he can barely stand going grocery shopping much less going into a dark alley to ask someone for a blood bag or *shudders* maintaining long-terms pleasant relations with live donors he has to see regularly)

onto biology

[ID: A sketchy digital drawing of a upper set of human teeth with larger, sharper front incisors and longer, sharper canines. end ID]

the teeth resemble that of an actual vampire bat, and the proportions of the incisors and canines vary from individual to individual, though some vamps get dental surgery to shave the incisors down and/or wear additional fang caps to achieve the classic fanged look if they aren't lucky when they turn. this tooth formation is very convenient for multiple biting styles, depending on tooth size. either the "carving" method using the front incisors to make a single angled cut, or the classic fangs puncturing two holes. either way, the blood is then licked/sucked up via usual mouth methods (no tooth straws here sorry) the wounds caused by bites must be cared for via usual means (no magic healing saliva sorry). also the teeth usually grow into their final shape within 30 days of being turned

vampires can only subsist on Human blood. animal blood will tide their hunger and fill their stomachs, but will not nourish them as they need. if a vampire goes too long without feeding on human blood, they will enter into a Feeding Frenzy

the time it takes to enter a feeding frenzy varies, but the longest most go from their last human sip to the frenzy is around 1.5 months. and that is the absolute longest with animal blood as a substitute. without anything it takes Far less time.

symptoms of a feeding frenzy start soon. extra strong cravings for blood ofc, decreased body temperature, lack of energy, shaky hands, etc. the closer you get to the frenzy the more intense the symptoms become, and more start to appear, such as decreased blood flow to the extremities (mostly fingers and toes), various aches and pains increasing in intensity, seemingly random bursts of energy, and also the irises will turn red when the subject is exposed to blood or when the frenzy is around the corner as a sort of final warning. increased sensory sensitivity and abnormal behavior such as suddenly chomping on people and/or animals is also a thing.

the frenzy isn't officially entered until the vampire transforms into a giant bat monster. it is more giant bat than it is human, in appearance. it loses almost all conscious thought, relying only on instinct to survive, and will drink the blood of any person it can get its weird little wing-hands on until satiated (which will take. a very long time. historically they never found out the limit because they were usually mobbed and killed by then) there is no known cure for a feeding frenzy, only prevention. the prevention is just drinking blood regularly like you're supposed to.

vampires are also extra sensitive to light and have an increased sense of smell, but their hearing doesn't change much unless they have entered a feeding frenzy. also garlic won't kill them but they are allergic (to the flower also) and also regular food can be consumed but gives them the shits like you would not Believe.

WEREWOLVES:

once again starting with the social aspects, lycanthropy is treated more like a sickness or curse by most werewolves within the story. lycanthropy only requires either a bite or drinking the water from a pawprint to turn, so unwilling werewolves are more common (usually via the bite method obvs) (lila is an exception to this rule)

the group lila attends is a legitimate support group for people suffering with lycanthropy, and they treat it as a safe space to discuss all aspects of the disease. including the part where upon first turning, people usually turn violent in some capacity, usually due to fear and confusion, but occasionally due to rage experienced prior to turning having a fresh outlet alongside the fear and confusion (generally the story doesn't treat the killing of various victims as very serious, i'm taking more of a comedy route with that, so the support group is like "oh you killed and ate three people? i completely understand you are so valid for that")

there are also a few werewolf-made support apps to assist people throughout the lunar cycle. there's a big focus on self care and promoting Peace and Serenity around the full moon to ensure a safe transformation and minimal collateral damage. (yes it is basically a period tracking app. yes it is very gender euphoric for lila to have)

there isn't a lot that can be done to mitigate symptoms of lycanthropy, but there Are both scientist werewolves and werewolf allies working towards a cure

now for the biology

this is the part that i have less of. mostly because werewolf diets aren't that crazy i feel like. there is definitely an increased demand of meat, especially red meat, and raw meat is also now more easily/safely digestible due to a change in the makeup of the stomach acid!

werewolves transform based on the lunar cycle, but "mini" transformations can be triggered in high-stress situations as well. these include things like sudden fur growth, changes from hands/feet to more paw-like structure, and even facial changes and tail growth. however, these changes (even a full-body change) will not be as severe as when they occur under the full moon.

first transformations occur on the nearest or second-nearest full moon. like. if you get bitten the night before the full moon, you get turned the next cycle, there hasn't been enough time for it to set in yet. you have to wait at least a week. initial symptoms include increased body hair growth, extra cravings for red meat, increased aggression and territoriality, and an increased sense of smell. the first transformation is always the most painful, and usually pain decreases to what will become typical levels between the third and twelfth cycle. (there are werewolf meds/methods/life hacks/etc to help with the pain)

after the first transformation, certain permanent physical changes occur. the canines all become larger and sharper (you get four fangs) and the ears become longer and pointier, and the eyes typically experience a permanent color change as well, depending on the original shade. usually lighter eye colors like blue or gray will turn icy blue or white, while lighter browns might become more golden. darker browns and black usually remain the same. tapetum lucidum also. the whites of the eyes also turn black during transformation, but this is usually not permanent.

the big transformation itself involves a full-body change into a giant wolf-human hybrid, which can go from quadrupedal to bipedal fairly easily. speech in this form is difficult, but not impossible, mostly the voice just gets deeper and rougher. due to the energy expense of transforming, a great feast is recommended before, during, and after a full moon transformation (the biggest one during). obtaining large amounts of red meat every month gets costly and welp there's only so much the werewolves can do about that since they tend to keep things secret between them and humans. you're on your own there with obtaining it. hope you're friends with a butcher (or an experienced hunter who no longer has a need for the Large Amounts Of Meat he keeps from the deer he hunts for leather these days) (cough cough that's redd cough cough)

also, werewolf blood counts as human enough to sustain a vampire.

i thiiiink that's everything i have so far?? if anyone has questions/suggestions lemme know i'd love to brainstorm <3

[a-canker-in-a-hedge]

🎶This is my Colin manifesto🎶

(Please read the above in your best Chris Fleming impression)

Basically I think the problem I have, or rather the struggle I am having, with Colin's arc in s3 of Bridgerton is that I don't think the show realizes the thing it's saying. Bc I think the thing that Colin's arc is about isn't finding a purpose or a meaning or a passion, it's specifically about figuring out what it means to be a man.

(And keep in mind that this is based entirely on the show, I have read the books and i do not consider book!Colin worth contemplating. Luke Newton is bringing the juice tho. I have become a convert. Anyway)

For like the entirety of the first two seasons, Colin is constantly bumping up against the ways that his brothers define masculinity. And that tracks, he doesn't have a father figure, he's the third of three brothers and both of them have fit into really different modes of masculinity. And furthermore, those modes of masculinity really revolve around how they treat women.

Anthony, I love him but like. His main struggle is his paternalism. Anthony is deeply, deeply controlling, and his arc and romance with Kate are both about him learning to relinquish control and more specifically, to trust the women in his life to govern themselves. And we can see that behavior reflected in Colin, but mostly in how he fails to enact it. Looking at Colin's confrontation with Cressida, that's textbook Anthony. And it wouldn't have worked for Anthony because it was, to be clear, a stupid and paternalistic plan, and also because similar plans have not worked for Anthony in the past. But it especially doesn't work for Colin because in Colin, it's an imitation. It's what Anthony would have done, but critically is doesn't work. So that's not how to be a man.

Benedict is subtler, but it's really clear how strongly he defines himself against Anthony. Where Anthony is obsessed with responsibility, Benedict rejects it. Anthony cares about what Society thinks, Benedict explicitly and repeatedly throws in with la vie boheme, starving artists, performance spaces (rip Benedict Bridgerton I think you would have felt really seen by RENT and I don't know if that's a good thing). And we can talk about the Libertine as both a figure of masculinity and also an expression of upper-class privilege and how that relates both to Benedict's art and also his queerness, but the key thing here is that for Benedict, or rather in Benedict, we see masculinity in the rejection of convention and the sense of being above it all, and frankly in his disdain for the women of the ton. He thinks that most of them are stupid. Not all of them, but it's really clear that, like Eloise, Benedict suffers from not-like-other-girls brain. Unless a woman can be one of the guys, he writes her off. I'm really interested to see this explored (again, I cannot stress this enough, wayyyyyy more compelling than the book characterization), bc since he hasn't had his season, this flaw isn't resolved the way that Anthony's is.

So we have 2 ways of being a man presented to Colin, and they both manifest in how his brothers treat the women around them. A woman is either something to be protected, who cannot make decisions for herself, or she is something to be impressed as part of a social game but who fundamentally lacks interiority (with very few exceptions who count as one of the boys). And then we have the third facet of Colin's two frat boy buddies this season (I cannot for the life of me remember their names, I keep calling them the blowjob brothers in my head I'm so sorry), and they're just straight up misogynistic. Like they are just cruel to women. So that's option 3. Condescension, disdain, or outright cruelty.

So alright! That's fertile fucking ground, hell yeah! The point of this is not that these themes aren't in the show, it's that I think the show fails to follow through on them. Bc like. The thing that Colin needs to do isn't find a sense of self. The thing he needs to do is find a way to be a man in society that doesn't rely on treating women shitty. And that's what makes his relationship with Pen both so interesting and what makes its resolution (imo) disappointing. Bc Colin sees Penelope as a person, but by extrapolate logic, he doesn't see her as a woman (hi s1 Colinnnnnn! Baby boy!) The romance in them and the juice of their particular brand of friends to lovers emerges when he sees her as both. Like you can't tell me that's not sexy as hell, *especially* for the fat girl romance. To write a story about a man who falls in love with his fat girl friend because he opens himself up to perceiving her as both a person worthy of respecting and a woman he desires??? That's sexy as hell!!! That's fucking Romance babey, that's the fantasy. She can be both!! And in doing that, it also breaks the binary that Colin's model of masculinity has built him. It gives him a chance to find a way of being a man that doesn't rely on the subjugation of women to be its defining structure. Like that's the juice in there, and they come so close with that argument later in the season with Colin and Pen's fight in the street, and they just miss the mark.

Bc imo, it's way more interesting if we understand the thing that Colin's mad about as not the betrayal of finding out that Pen is Whistledown, or the jealousy that he feels about her writing, but as a reaction to the breaking of his fantasy of her. Pen, in becoming a woman to be desired, loses her interiority in his perception of her. She becomes an object to be protected and coveted and impressed, and when she breaks that illusion by being more complex, by having done bad things and hurt people and been selfish and ambitious and independent, she hurts his concept of his own manhood, because he has begun to define his manhood against his understanding of her as an object rather than a subject. That's devastating, far more so than the gossip that Eloise and Marina have both textually moved on from (I'm so sorry Marina, the show basically forgot you existed and I hope you know that I love you and Pen did you so dirty even tho I love her and also I hate your shit husband, this is a sir Phillip hater zone okay bye), because he might claim that he's angry on their behalf but what is so clear to me is that he's actually angry that he wasn't their protector. He wasn't man enough to save them. Hey, what's that? Oh, it's paternalism again.

Where was I? Oh yeah. Basically, the struggle that Colin is having isn't about finding his passion, it's about feeling emasculated, because the models of behavior he's been taught don't work for his relationship with Pen. She's too complicated, she's too human (all women are too human for those models, but Pen is Colin's case study in this). She doesn't need him, but she wants him anyway. That's discomforting for him, because it makes him the object of desire, and in patriarchy-brain, that's a thing that a woman is. Men do, women are. Men desire, women are desired. That model sucks, and it's limiting. It limits Colin's ability to understand women as full people. It limits his ability to love Pen, and it limits his ability to love himself. The thing he needs isn't a purpose, it's a new model of masculinity that understands his wife as a complete autonomous being with her own agency, who is choosing to love him anyway, and whom he can choose to love in turn.

And I think this is all in the show. I just think the show doesn't quite know it, or doesn't know what to do with it, or maybe doesn't have the balls to engage in actual feminist critique and not just girl power violations of consent (hi season 1...). And that's why I'm so compelled by show!Colin, and that's why, as I return to season 3 for a mentol-illness inspired rewatch, I find it's conclusion disappointing.

[licncourt]

Thoughts on Marius? I know you're not a fan and neither am I. I also hate David. Who is worse?

I would have to say David is worse (perhaps the worst VC character period) in terms of just being written badly and also how much I hate him on a personal level. Marius really doesn't do that much in the present timeline, just annoying loitering. At the very least, most of his crimes occurred prior to the story kicking off in the 70s. I guess my thoughts on him would be that he's too boring to be as evil as he is..? With the exception of maybe Daniel Molloy, all of the main VC vampires are pretty irredeemably horrible people in ways that have nothing to do with subsisting on human blood, but Anne gave them enough depth that it becomes part of what makes them interesting.

The problem with the presentation of Marius as a character, in my opinion at least, is that Anne made him evil in a VERY real way that gets an understandably visceral reaction from readers, but the depth just isn't there to make him compelling in spite of that or in a way that makes those parts of him interesting. We don't get a unique point of view by having him around or much to think about and mull over as we're reading or anything to connect with as we get to know him. He's kind of a bland character who just happens to also be a child molester racist misogynist. We all know some guy who's just kind of a bad person for no reason, it's not that interesting. If Anne wanted us to connect with Marius in spite of his evil actions and beliefs, she needed to put some more effort in to making him something besides that too.

Since he's my favorite, I'll use Louis as an example of what I want out of a character like this who has such deep flaws. Louis is an undeniably evil person, from owning human beings to the cruel hypocrisy he displays and selfishness so immense that it has a body count along with plenty of other stuff. Unlike Marius though, these awful parts of him serve as additions to his story, they're interwoven with excellent character building and other fleshed out aspects of who he is. They make him more complex and challenging to the reader, they contextualize the things he does, they combine in ways that are unusual and create interesting outcomes for him and the people around him.

Being a slaveowner (something that already lends itself well to the use of vampirism as an allegory) and then displaying the almost overwrought, performative empathy that he does is a fascinating juxtaposition on its own. On top of that though, we get to watch Louis struggle in very real and relatable ways that endear him to the reader and round him out as more than just the bad things he does. It doesn't justify the way he hurts people, but it does serve as a bit of an explanation for some of it. It certainly inspires curiosity and it makes it possible to care about him and sympathize with him while also disliking the way he behaves. Even with all of that though, he's still somewhat controversial and not to everyone's taste (understandably so). A character like that is HARD to craft well!

Lestat also avoids the Marius effect in spite of his behaviors, from committing sexual assault to making a child vampire to being an enthusiastic participant in the slave-owning. We get so much depth from Lestat early on, we understand why he does the things he does and how his traumas and insecurities turn him monstrous. The same goes for Armand and Claudia. Again, not an excuse by any means, but certainly more interesting and fleshed out than how Marius is presented. In a lot of ways, he suffers from the same issues that PL-era Lestat does, being a "perfect" one dimensional power fantasy that makes him deeply unsympathetic when he does bad things. At least Lestat benefits from a strong foundation established early on that allows us to recontextualize the way he acts in the post-trilogy books for a more satisfying read.

Marius just doesn't have enough meat to him as a character to carry the kind of evil that Anne assigns to him. This also applies to David too tbh, he has largely the same problem except he's still doing it actively throughout the books.

[namisweatheria]

Conversation from these posts-

I'd like to address both of these at once, because I think they're very much related.

One Piece is not actually very interested in explicitly condemning almost anyone. Constantly, characters who have done things many may view as beyond unforgivable, are still portrayed in ways that make them likable, and are accepted by main characters. Not because the main characters approve of their past actions, but because as they're not actively harming anyone at the moment, they see no reason to disapprove of them. Or, because they have no inclination to judge them and simply take them as they are.

There are countless characters whose terrible deeds are not censored or sugarcoated, who are still made to be enjoyable, likable characters. Their motivations are not just explained, but portrayed with the full depth of their emotions. This could be interpreted as sympathetic, but I think it's rather matter-of-fact. There's a wide spectrum of this, and it may come across that those on the lighter end of it are being justified or forgiven by this portrayal, but taken in the full context of what One Piece has to say about these characters, I think it's clear that the judgement is left up to us.

In a lot of simpler stories aimed at younger audiences, the main characters are moral guides for the reader. One Piece is not one of them. Not that I don't think it's not trying to teach us anything, but rather than right and wrong, it's how to enjoy life to the fullest. Right and wrong is left for us to discern ourselves without the overt cues of a morally didactic story. I think the depth of the portrayal of bad and questionable actors is primarily to be compelling and enjoyable, but it's also a candid expression of humanity.

I don't think Shanks is a perfect moral character, nor is he supposed to be. He's Luffy's hero, not ours. Same with Roger.

It's true that being called to the sea is given a particular romance, but their misdeeds made in the name of following it aren't just glossed over. Rather, I think the focus on it is very much on purpose, because the same will lives in Luffy and The Strawhats.

Who aren't just avoiding the same mistakes because they're inherently better, but because they're informed by the mistakes of the previous generations.

Usopp, like Yassop, longed for the sea. But he anxiously made sure Kaya was on the way to health, taken care of, and okay with him leaving before he left. He's looking forward to coming back to see her. As much as Usopp has always had a kind heart, you can't say this wasn't influenced by his experiences with his parents.

Luffy, like Roger, longed for the sea. Like Roger and Garp, he has deeply selfish inclinations. However, Luffy is sensitive to the suffering of others, and would never leave anyone behind. This has a lot to do with loving Ace and Sabo, respectively victims of Roger's selfish pursuit of his dream and the institution of injustice Garp carelessly lives by.

I don't think it's a stretch to say Nami was influenced by Arlong's inability to forgive humanity, strengthening her resolve to break the cycle and forgive Jinbei for letting Arlong loose.

Anyways, I think the lack of judgement on the part of Luffy and Shanks is a big part of their power to get people to follow them, and a big part of their successes. But the narrative isn't telling us to also accept murderers and deadbeats, or that they're actually great people. It simply shows them how they are, which is human.

[charrfie]

Who is Franky?

Do you have a tag on your blog that I can scroll through to get up to speed on the character you want asks about?

I would like to know what questions you have already answered so I don't ask a repeat question.

Giggling over what was (probably) your autocorrect referring to flaky as franky. Thank you so much for asking though.... I'm more than happy to explain!! And very appreciative that you're so eager to learn. Check under the read more, because as I've said before, you can't vaguely ask me "who/what is [character/interest] of yours" without expecting infodumping in return....

Flaky is a character from the show happy tree friends! If you're unfamiliar, this was an online series/serialized cartoon that debuted in late 1999 and is still ongoing in the present (though episodes are released at MUCH slower rate). There's not much to necessarily know about the show to understand it since it's fairly cut and dry; it's a shock horror series centered around cutesy cartoon animals being killed in extremely grotesque ways and then coming back totally fine the very next episode. And........ that's about it. There's no ongoing plot stringing it together, there's no interesting character commentary, no efforts to expand the worldbuilding at all, and there's only vague efforts to be coherent/avoid inconsistencies... but hey, fall out boy collaborated with the HTF team to make a music video, so that's something..

If I make the series seem incredibly uninteresting and bordering on obnoxious, it's mainly because it's not something I'd willingly recommend to anyone. Like. You genuinely should probably not watch this show if you didn't hop on the bandwagon of its popularity in the 2000s (<- something that only happened because of the online landscape's demand for excessively edgy media at the time). It's not worth your time and it's unlikely you'll take away anything meaningful from it, if not actively harmful. That being said, it unfortunately means something to me!!!!!!!! 5th grader laika was exposed to it far too early in their childhood and formed an extremely strange, convoluted relationship with the franchise!!!! I really do care about the characters in it.. deeply! Despite how I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else, of course ^^;; Granted, my personal interpretation of it is..... almost completely devoid of any of the original source's canon. Which has a lot to do with it..

Paragraphs in and I haven't even addressed who flaky is (ノ_<。) but I felt that the context was necessary. Flaky is a red porcupine that is mostly characterized by their debilitating anxiety. The writers of the show have a tendency of stereotyping and stigmatizing different mental/physical conditions for each character they create, but unfortunately I find a LOT of familiarity in flaky's affliction, which makes what was intended to be harmful into something I can find genuine solace in. This, of course, is not to say any of the other depictions in HTF are alright. There's some pretty heinous shit in there. But in flaky's case at least, I feel a lot of kinship with them. This goes for their gender weirdness too, as the ambiguity of it is an ongoing bit throughout the show. I get it!!!! Flaky is a character I relate and LOT to!!!!

As a result of how fear drives them most times, they're often characterized as a helpless and frightened vicitm in fan spaces..... though I would argue is not entirely correct...? Flaky is a very self destructive individual, but their terror also guides them in ways that inadvertently hurt others through means of prioritizing their own safety. I really do not see this talked about often enough, despite it being one of- if not my most- favorite traits of theirs. It's extremely compelling to analyze and factor into their every interaction. Their senseless paranoia even goes so far in one episode that they directly and INTENTIONALLY injure a loved one out of self preservation. And its completely brushed past by people?!?! I will never understand it!!!! Please understand I am not trying to convey that they are EVIL since they do mean well most times, but more nuanced than lots of folks would let on. Even if it wasn't intentional on the show creators' parts.

I have a couple other htf characters that I particularly enjoy exploring flaky's relationships with, namely flippy, flick (because the name fliqpy is stupid, I've decided to call him this), cuddles, giggles, sniffles, and nutty. Though of course, other relationships they've formed with unmentioned characters are compelling as well in their own right, such as their relationship with lifty and shifty.. it's just not something I tend to focus on as much.

After all of this, if you are, by any chance, interested in seeing flaky's character firsthand, you don't have to watch very many episodes to get a grasp of what's going on with them. I would recommend viewing the episodes without a hitch (<- BY FAR MY FAVORITE HTF EPISODE EVER MADE EVER.... SOOOOOO MUCH WONDERFUL CHARACTERIZATION HERE THAT WAS A TOTAL ACCIDENT ON THE CREATORS PART), party animal, water you wading for, and ski ya wouldn't wanna be ya. In that order! Happy trails part 2 is also pretty good for the few seconds they appear in it; it works pretty well for character symbolism, albeit unintentional. There ARE other episodes that accidentally impart some grander takeaway for their character which I would be happy to detail, but these cover the main bases.

Returning to the questions you asked at the very start though (and my apologies for not being more concise)...... you are free to ask any questions you would like about them n_n! It's not often that I get asks about flaky; I believe I've only gotten one or two in this blog's lifetime. Ask away! If you'd like to see what art I've posted of them, you can check #flaky htf. If you'd like to see other people's art of them that I've reblogged, check my #kin tag, and they should be sprinkled throughout it :^D