boomboxwizard14

[boomboxwizard14]

Okay but the weirdest thing about the whole "Brotherhood is better you should skip 03" discourse that's become commonplace now, it sort of forgets the world Brotherhood came out in and why you should watch the original Fullmetal Alchemist. When Brotherhood came out, the original Fullmetal Alchemist was one of the most beloved and most watched animes of all time. Brotherhood assumes you the audience have already seen it because of course you have, everyone has seen it, so it skips important information and speeds the story up because it doesn't want to bore you with things you already know. Have you ever wondered "hey why does the first episode of Brotherhood kind of suck, and why am I being introduced to like 50 new characters, and why are they acting like I know what the hell an alchemist is?" It's because Brotherhood thinks you've seen 03.

The first 7 or so episodes of Brotherhood constitute dozens of chapters in the manga, and the first 25 or so episodes of the original Fullmetal Alchemist. The Nina Tucker episode in Brotherhood, in FMA 03 takes up nearly three episodes. Yoki gets a backstory in 03 and it's genuinely one of the best episodes and taken directly from the manga and Brotherhood glosses over it because: duh, you've already seen it. And so if you skip the original you miss out on dozens of really great character building episodes like Ed and Al meeting Hughes for the first time and getting to spend a whole episode helping him free a train from terrorists, or Ed and Roy having a duel that expands on the relationship they have, or episodes where the brothers just help out random people in towns before the major story gets going.

The original also paces itself quite a bit better than Brotherhood and is more in line with the mangas storytelling. In the manga we don't find out about The Gate until nearly two dozen chapters in, and the same goes for the original anime. Like, that's a twist reveal in those stories, and it's weird that the most watched series is the one where they tell you all about The Gate in the first two episodes because they assume you've already seen the original show.

What's more, people don't know that Hiromu Arakawa helped write for the anime while she was still in the middle of writing the manga, and as a result was inspired to write scenes in Brotherhood that the anime did first. That scene of Edward getting impaled by a falling beam? Directly inspired by a similar scene in the original anime. There's a lot of little instances of that and they're great when you can recognize parallels and things in Brotherhood that are direct references to the original anime, but people don't notice any of that anymore. Because the original anime is just an automatic skip these days, and it's a bummer because people don't realize what a giant it was back before Brotherhood was released. They treat it as *bad,* not realizing it was one of the most beloved anime of its time and the problems people take issue with have a lot more to do with personal taste than any kind of actual flaw in the writing. Brotherhood was never meant to dethrone it, and the original anime was always supposed to be part of the viewing experience which is why those first few episodes of Brotherhood are so fast paced. So like, please stop telling people Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 is a skip, or it's bad, or you don't need it because Brotherhood is better. Regardless if you think Brotherhood is better or not, the original wrote Brotherhood's check. It was huge, it was beloved, and Brotherhood is *banking* on the knowledge you've seen all of it and loved it. And trust me when I say there is so much to love about the original series. It's still my favorite branch of the FMA franchise, and it's worth your time, I promise you.

[boomboxwizard14]

Every time I read or watch Lord of the Rings I can’t help but think about how Tolkien had survived one of the bloodiest, most cruel, most dirtiest and darkest wars in human history, came back and wrote this:

“The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.”

And this:

"'I wish it need not have happened in my time,' said Frodo.

'So do I,' said Gandalf, 'and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.'"

And this:

"I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend."

And this:

“Many that live deserve death and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be so eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the wise cannot see all ends."

And this:

“True courage is about knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one.”

And clearly they were all written partly because he survived the war, because of what he’d seen and done and learned. But at the same time the unwillingness to lose faith, the courage and strength that this man had to believe in these things after going through hell! It makes the nihilists look so cheap, so uninteresting! People who’ve went through concentration camps and wars believe in humanity anyway, isn’t that proof that hope and love exist? And many, many, many of them did not return or returned broken and cruel and traumatised to the point when no faith in others was possible for them, and nobody can blame them. But there were many who refused to lose faith and hope. They have seen some of the worst that life has to offer and came back believing that we shouldn’t be eager to deal out death in judgement and should love only that which the sword defends.

No matter how many people say that humanity is horrible and undeserving of love, and life is dark and worthless, and love doesn’t exist I remember this and have hope anyway. Because there were people who have actually had all reason to believe in the worst and still believed in the good, so the good must be real. The good is real, even despite the evil, and we must trust in it.

[boomboxwizard14]

BILL WATTERSON ‘A cartoonist’s advice’

[boomboxwizard14]

I’m sorry but “if god made us all in his image then god’s a fucking nerd!” Is such a raw line that I didn’t know I needed in my life, just heard this song for the first time this morning and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that line all day

[boomboxwizard14]

Who let the undead cook?

If for a second you believe any of these three made any good dietary choices when they were alone on the road, you're lying to yourself and deserve to know the truth.

Look, Marius probably did girl "I don't deserve to be happy" dinner for centuries, Brigsy probably ate his gun for fun, and Jericho had Virgil, and if you think that Virgil didn't make him eat a whole bucket for the funnies, you're wrong.

Anyway, I can't believe we're getting the teeth roommates of hell back-- I MISS THEM, SO MUCH.

[boomboxwizard14]

cruelty is so easy. youre not special for choosing it

[boomboxwizard14]

Thinking about Boromir.

Thinking about Boromir surviving Amon Hen.

Thinking about Boromir continuing on with the Three Hunters and desperately pursuing the Uruks in order to save Merry and Pippin. About Aragorn forcing Boromir to hang back and continue at a safe pace, with Gimli to keep his company. About no one speaking a word about what transpired with Frodo. About the guilt eating him alive. About his fear the rest will shun him at a moment’s notice.

About him feeling joy at Gandalf's reembodiment, then fear of his fierce judgment. About him regretfully leaving Merry and Pippin to Fangorn. About him fighting through injuries at Helm’s Deep. About his sweet reunion with Merry and Pippin until his guilt sours the tender moment. About him riding off to Gondor with Gandalf and Pippin.

About him reuniting with his father and brother. About the shame of his failure in the eyes of Denethor, of leaving his brother and home, and of falling to the Ring for a time. About him fighting tooth and nail to defend the city. About his tearful reunion with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli on the battlefield. About the continuing fear of his actions being revealed, but still nothing being spoken. About the pain of him losing his father, and almost his brother. About him being forced to watch his friends and his countrymen march off to the Black Gates while he is left behind as Steward. About Faramir and Boromir finding each other after the veil of darkness lifts and clinging to one another. About Boromir proudly crowning Aragorn.

About Boromir breaking down one day and revealing his fears to Aragorn. About Aragorn comforting him, and reassuring him that no one faults him. About Boromir seeing Frodo and Sam again. About things not being the same as they were before. About all three being on edge around one another. About a silent acknowledgement that Frodo does not blame Boromir, but that some wounds will never heal properly.

About Boromir happily watching on as Faramir and Eowyn court, wed, and bring a beautiful boy into the world. About Boromir watching as Lothriel marries Eomer. About Boromir not wanting to let Merry and Pippin go when the Fellowship parts ways. About Boromir knowing he will never see Frodo or Gandalf again.

About Boromir being visited by the hobbits, and visiting the hobbits with Aragorn. About Boromir spending time in Aglarond with Gimli or in the forests of Ithilien with Legolas. About Boromir feeling ever-restless from a lifetime of being worn down by war. About Boromir watching as the hobbits grow old and pass. About Boromir watching Eowyn, Eomer, and then Faramir and Lothriel pass.

Thinking about Boromir living a long life, surrounded by the people who loved him, and getting to see all the good that came after that one near-fatal moment of weakness. About him being happy, in the end, with the man he was.

[boomboxwizard14]

Winning one fight and getting a massive boost in confidence doesn’t suddenly change Usopp’s character. He’s still an overly dramatic coward.

The trope of a character suddenly resolving all of their personality “flaws” just because they managed to overcome it one time is so unrealistic and tedious. I much prefer the gradual way Usopp grows over the course of the series.

[boomboxwizard14]

my partner and i got screwed by a potential roommate and now we have like 2 weeks to find someone to replace them or else we’re gonna be spending thousands of dollars we cant afford to find a new place and move all our stuff into it as well as pay this place’s rent for the last month without financial assistance. xoxo

we are very down to live with another couple and would ask 630/month from everyone if so. if you’re solo and interested too, it would be 850/month. both are doable for us!

this is chicago, pilsen area with free parking surrounding the unit as well as a ~10 min walk to the 21, 18, 60, and 8 buses. 2 bedroom 2.5 bath with a basement guest room. free laundry shared with the other 3 units. neighbors are really friendly. the unit has ac and heat. my partner and i have two cats that are friendly and would get along well with other cats. super spacious coach apartment with a porch.

my partner is @vampboyf47 on here. cat photo for attention but also bc we’re not really selfie people, please please dm me if you want to see pictures of the apartment or get to know us better before committing to anything!

[boomboxwizard14]

One of my all time favourite character tropes is Just A Guy. Like, everyone else in the cast is some sort of superhuman monster or incredible prodigy, they’re destroying cities with their bare hands, redefining their chosen fields, they’ve got magic powers or unique styles that make them special and put them above everyone else, but then there he is, in the corner, trying his best not to cry, some moron with a slingshot doing his absolute best

[boomboxwizard14]

I love the barter system. My brother’s girlfriend sews patches onto my sweatshirt, and I draw her DnD character and learn what a clipping mask is in the process!

Bonus clipping mask-enabled bastard cat under the cut:

#DnD #digital art #dungeons and dragons #artificer #character art #his name is Theodorus and he’s a bastard #also has a magic fish for his arcane focus which is amazing #DnD character #seriously though I will trade art for crafts #barter system #please

[boomboxwizard14]

Usopp is my favorite character and Sanuso my favorite ship/straw hat dynamic, so it’s time to figure out how to draw these two!

And a few extra doodles as I try to figure out how to draw again ఇ ◝‿◜ ఇ

#top right is my favorite for sure #Sanji and Usopp are such incredible characters and I can’t wait to do more with them #one piece sanji #vinsmoke sanji #sanji #usopp #one piece usopp #sanji x usopp #sanuso #if you squint but I hope to make more #one piece

[boomboxwizard14]

Your luggage got mixed up in the fantasy travel system and customer service has failed you so it’s time to take matters into your own hands

You’ve decided to live a mobile lifestyle but realize the you know nothing of survival/self defense/maintenance/navigation/etc and need a traveling crew to live out your tiny home dreams

Field research for a book/story you’re trying to write

Trying to find a missing pet (whether a dog or a purple worm it is unclear to your party)

Gotta complete the fantasy equivalent of a pokedex!

You thought you were going on an exchange program but went to the wrong tavern to meet up and found your party instead

You’re the mailman who delivers mail to the dangerous places and people that no sane service will ever attempt to go

Kidnapped

some dnd backstory ideas that give your character a reason to leave home that isn’t “everyone in my family died.” (just to say: i have nothing against those backstories (i use them a lot), but its fun to mix it up!)

family/friends/personal

someone close to you is sick. you need to adventure to find a cure

someone stole something important from you and you need to find it

you’ve received a message from a long lost relative and are trying to find them

someone that you love has been kidnapped (maybe you have to earn money to pay a ransom or complete some deed…)

adventuring runs in the family! everyone is expected to complete one quest in their lives

your family/culture sends people out to complete certain tasks when they reach a certain age as a rite of passage

another player’s character saved you in the past so you feel indebted to them and travel with them, protecting/aiding them

there’s a magical drought in your hometown and you have to fix it

your hometown doesn’t have a lot of jobs so you have to travel and send money back home

some childhood friends and you made a “scavenger hunt” where you try and complete a checklist of certain tasks (ie. defeat a barbarian in hand to hand combat, steal x amount of gold, slay a dragon, etc) in an allotted amount of time

quests/jobs

a god/patron has sent you on a quest to do something for them

you’ve been hired by someone to complete a task (and you get sucked into the big adventure along the way)

you’re on a quest for knowledge. maybe it’s to learn the best ways of fighting, maybe it’s something more academic related

your priest received a vision from your god and they sent you on a quest

you’re writing a book about the world and different cultures and you need first hand experience

you’ve found every map you’ve come across is shitty, so you decide to become a cartographer and make your own

you’re a detective who helps solve crimes and need to travel to solve a particular case

you’re a collector of a certain object and travel across the land to find it

you’re apart of an adventuring academy and have to complete a quest to graduate

you’re an artisan and you travel with your wares, trying to sell them. alternatively, you’re trying to spread word of your business and gain new business partners

you worked at a tavern your whole life where an old bard would sing songs of their adventuring party and that inspired you to go and do some adventuring of your own

feel free to add some of your own!

[boomboxwizard14]

“Be My Escape” by Relient K is a Sanuso song that Usopp is singing to Sanji around the time of Water 7 and that’s a fact.

#cause I’ve been housing all this doubt and insecurity #and I’ve been locked inside that house all the while you hold the key #there’s more because the entire song fits and I refuse to spam the tags #but it’s so good #sanji x usopp #one piece #be my escape #relient k #sanuso

[boomboxwizard14]

Somehow I went from picking an outfit so I could go grocery shopping to drawing another doodle of Cole.

#I’m not joking half an outfit is sitting on my bed right now #literally got up to get the iron to unwrinkle my shirt #and the next moment I come to there is no iron but there’s a rock boy instead #Cole ninjago #cole brookstone #ninjago #ninjago fanart #old ninjago #cole fanart

[boomboxwizard14]

#old ninjago #human redesigns #ninjago #jay walker #cole brookstone #zane julien #nya smith #kai smith #lloyd garmadon #cole ninjago #jay ninjago #nya ninjago #kai ninjago #zane ninjago #lloyd ninjago #traditional art #character design #fanart #ninjago fanart

[boomboxwizard14]

Me when I remember something I said ages ago that was wrong or my values no longer align with