#pretty much all characters like this are multifaceted and well-developed

[thefirstknife]

Since a lot of people have been talking about possible antisemitism and racism in Bungie's writing I wanted to add something that always bothered me.

I think that Saint-14 as a character is at least influenced by some pretty anti Slavic stereotypes. He's the only major character of Slavic origin (accent) and he just so happen to embody the stereotype of "Slavic brute". He's strong and kills hordes of enemies not showing almost any remorse. And the Season of the Splicer even managed make it worse! Even when he's portrayed as having some deeper thoughts and agency he's still constructed as being unable to be subtle with his words (despise speaking English)

I really like Saint as a character but it's unpleasant to see that he's clearly created as a stereotype

I respectfully disagree. I've seen this line of thinking around A LOT, especially during Splicer, and I don't understand where it comes from outside of people being unable to treat non-native English speakers right. Source: I am Slavic. Not American with Slavic heritage, I am a Slavic person living in a Slavic country and English is not my native language.

Saint is as far away from a brute as possible. Ever since he's settled down in the City, he is dedicated to protecting, not attacking. He feeds birds and sings songs with the children of the City. He dedicated his time to learn to bake cookies for the Eliksni and was considerate to find a recipe that is specifically for Eliksni. He fights when he has to, but has largely settled down and would rather plough fields and plug holes in the wall than fight. He is incredibly emotional and emotionally intelligent and understanding. He is aware of his own and other people's emotions and he's open about it unapologetically.

He is so non-aggressive to the point of many in the community, including big lore youtubers, wishing for Osiris to DIE, just so they can see Saint being angry and aggressive enough to go on another bloody rampage. Because Saint is too tame for them. Too passive, too peaceful. Where is he a brute right now?

Saint has been "brutish" before Season of Dawn, because we never saw him anywhere outside of a couple of lines. He essentially didn't exist as a character until Season of Dawn and the only thing we knew about him was that he was a legendary Titan who went on a crusade against the Eliksni and killed many of them. That's definitely brutish!

When we met him in Dawn, we met him in the middle of his crusade, at the time where he lost countless innocent people to Eliksni in the middle of the horrible conditions of the Dark Age. He is... rough, and angry. Reasonably. He just got to Mercury to save civilians and he lost them and he almost died. He thinks in black and white terms; Eliksni bad, humans good. He is harsh and lost.

But, that's when we find him in a bad position and when he's yelling on comms because he's under fire. He also speaks in broken English and with an accent. People are prejudiced when they hear it and immediately assume less subtlety and less eloquence. That's not on Bungie. That's on the prejudiced audience.

In written text, he speaks perfectly fine. Observe this and this. The issue arises when he speaks out loud (with an accent) or when he's talking to friends casually or when he's making jokes. I don't know why people expect him to speak like he's giving a speech at all times. He can speak perfectly fine, but for non-native speakers, that can be exhausting. He is allowed to drop the eloquence in a more relaxed situation.

Pointing out Splicer is incredibly strange to me because in Splicer he made the biggest possible turning point when he was confronted with how other people see him as a brute. The cutscene where Mithrax tells a story about how the Eliksni view him as a monster shook him to his core. He has been on a path of redemption ever since and dedicated his time to gently protecting Eliksni. He even started learning their language and culture.

I would understand saying that Saint started off as a brute, because he did. But Bungie pulled the biggest flip of a switch on us when they showed us that Saint is actually a huge softie, a gentle man who was pushed to war only to protect, someone who lives for peace and quiet. He is good-natured, trusting, perceptive, kind and empathic.

How is this man a brute (this is just a small selection of his idle lines):

Food reserves are dwindling. New land must be ploughed. I can do this! / Everyone is so accommodating, I- I will think of ways to give back to them. / Shaxx, ugh. Glory is for the selfish. We fight to end the fighting. / To hear the children laughing. This is the peace we fight for. / The city breathes, ships flow through its veins. There is life here, and it is thriving. / I walked the City walls, plugged holes. Every small act brings us closer to peace. / The Traveller teaches us in these quiet moments. We are not defined by our scars. / The Light does not make us heroes, friend. Power is only good when it is used for good. / I am glad to see birds still nest in these old walls. / This life can take its toll. Come to me if you need to talk. / Yesterday, a child came to me. He carried a painted shield of paper. I turned to him and he threw the shield at my head! A young Titan, I love it! [laughing]

Saint-14 is the gentlest man in the whole damn setting. Bungie said "fuck toxic masculinity in particular" when they decided to treat us to a Saint so kind that people in-universe are surprised to learn that's THE Saint-14, the one who fought at Six Fronts and led a crusade against Eliksni. Eva's assessment of this:

"That's right," he said, spreading a little more birdseed. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Eva."

We sat a little longer together, watching the pigeons and the clouds, before I finally had to excuse myself to go back to my work.

As I said, I'd heard the legend of Saint-14 before. Many legends of remarkable Guardians make them seem like mythical figures, so far removed from anything the civilians of the City will ever see or experience. The legendary Saint-14 does not seem that way to me at all.

In fact, I think he is a very nice young man.

Saint is deeply ashamed and regretful of his violent past. Because he DID have a violent past, much like pretty much every Lightbearer. Saint and Shaxx discuss this, as well as Shaxx and Mithrax. But as much as he fought and as powerful he is, Saint does NOT enjoy war or fighting. He endures it because he knows that sometimes you must take up arms to protect those who can't protect themselves, but if he had the option to be sure that the City will stay safe without his aid, he would hang up his armour forever.

I've talked a lot about how much I appreciate that Bungie took a big powerful manly man who went on rampaging crusade before and presented him to us as a gentle and kind person who loves children and birds, who prefers domestic tasks over war and who is deeply emotional and thrives on kindness. It's quite strange to see people saying that he's a "Slavic brute stereotype." He is literally the opposite of it.

If there are specific instances in lore that someone thinks are stereotypical and brutish, I would love to see them so I can address them in context. I'm also not sure what "subtle with his words" means exactly, but if there are examples of this that you'd like addressed, I'm happy to investigate. Bungie is obviously not perfect so there could be instances where they messed up, though I can't currently recall any in regards to Saint and the fact that he's Slavic.

#destiny 2 #saint-14 #long post #ask #bungie is in general really good with their portrayal of men. saint zavala and shaxx are all very good depictions of men who are gentle #even shaxx who can be highly aggressive is overall incredibly good to people and emotional #in which other game would a pvp vendor yell how he's going to marry every guardian unapologetically #or reminisce about his fallen friend and contemplate about his past mistakes #pretty much all characters like this are multifaceted and well-developed

[adelarsims]

Anonymous OC question of the day!

If you could make a character real, which of your OCs would be:

your bestie

your spouse/partner

your secret lover!

your friendly rival

your enemy

BONUS: do this for other people’s OCs too!

Pass the game along (anonymously or not)

bold of you to assume that most of my OCs would give a fraction of a fuck about my existence, let alone being my secret lovers. they're so out of my league, it's kinda sad

but if we imagine that they would

my bestie: Saeran De Winter, my old MC with whom i played multiple choice games and visual novels for years. they're cheeky, sassy, not above being petty if you get on their nerves, but really understanding and supportive when it's important. They're also a good team player.

spouse/partner: it would be Leslie. he's quiet and introverted, just the kind of person i'm the most comfortable around, our hobbies and homebody lifestyles match, we value similar qualities in people and both like some alone time without our partner being glued to us 24/7.

secret lover: i think Katze is the closest to that. he wouldn't be my lover in a traditional sense because neither of us want sex, but we could have a fulfilling d/s relationship, we're pretty much into the same stuff. plus his primary need in genuine intimacy is for his partner to take things slow, and i'm always willing to move at a glacial pace for a person i care about.

friendly rival: Zach! i love the dude to death, but we'd roast each other relentlessly and lowkey try to humble brag and one-up each other on so many occasions.

enemy: hard to imagine myself making enemies, but if someone could become my enemy rather than others, that would be Kain, one of my oldest OCs (with black hair on the picture). i love him to pieces, and over many many years he's developed into a very multifaceted (and very morally gray) person, but our ethics don't match at all most of the times. he solves problems and saves the world (at least a part of it that he cares about) on a planetary scale, and collateral damage is of little concern to him, even if it's people's lives. i would probably try to stop him and demand to change his approach, an interference with his efficiency that he won't take kindly, plus he's not the most flexible person and has a few other qualities that don't sit well with me.

#adelar ask #i don't have anything written about kain in english sorry

[gummybugg]

🔥Character Names + Meanings: Crater City Edition!!!💥

Tagged by @rickie-the-storyteller (here) I think for a second time because that other time, I lost whatever I was working on tbh! But! I am back in the game baby!

Rules: Make a list of your main OCs and find out the meanings of their names. Then write down their definition and whether or not you think the definition fits their character.

Get ready for a doozy

...

Blair

Scottish surname derived from Gaelic blàr meaning “plain, field, battlefield”

Battlefield? Accurate. This could be related to his poor temper or relentless spunk. 

I personally chose this name because it gave passionate, fiery vibes. I also love gender neutral names/names whose “gender” changes over the course of time. 

I'm unsure if Blair chose this name for himself, but all I know is that it fit perfectly, I think!

Elijah

Hebrew name meaning “Jehovah is my God.”

This is ironic considering he is an atheist (the post-apocalypse will do that to a man)

Then why did I choose this name? Because the name sounded nice and gave off the color yellow and feels powerful. Elijah is a strong character who undergoes a lot of confidence-boosting changes in-story!

Darcy

Irish origin, meaning "dark one, or from Arcy, or from the fortress" or “dark-haired” or “descendant of the dark.” (muahahaha)

It’s funny how his name lines up with his personality without my awareness! (I am rubbing my hands together like an evil fly)

I really chose this name because I wanted a unique name (that once again is gender-neutral) for our multifaceted antagonist. Even his name gets on my nerves because I know how much of an asshole he is!

Frasier

Scottish/French roots; “Of the forest men; Strawberry; Strawberry plant.” Also that one guy from the show with the same name. 

I’m gonna be honest, I intentionally picked his name because it means “strawberry.” I just love the idea of fruit/flower names!

Strawberries can symbolize healing, passion, or love, which I think sums up his development in the story pretty well…Frasier is generally cordial and polite to those he doesn’t know too well…He goes through a lot of emotional moments...He also embroiders flowers that he visits on his breaks in a secret garden in city hall!

Melony

From Mélanie, the French form of the Latin name Melania, derived from Greek melaina meaning "black, dark".

Relevant because she has a dark past🎶+ covers up her trauma with sanrio and puffy stickers!

I chose this name because it reminds me of pink and cute things, which is a guise for that spooky mad-scientist thing she has going on (also, can’t a girl have a little fun? It’s the end of the world, after all)

Vestal

Roman, meaning “chaste or pure; of or relating to the Roman goddess Vesta.”

Well, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Like I said, I choose names because of their vibes. I just think “Vestal” sounds like a badass femme droid’s name. Am I wrong??

Virgil

Latin, meaning “flourishing, staff bearer.”

I chose this name because it gives off cool, chill, and teal-colored vibes. It also sounds like a great “partners in crime name” alongside Vestal’s name

Virgil is the calm and collected masc droid to complement Vestal’s rambunctious nature, so I think “staff bearer” fits. Flourishing could refer to the development he undergoes when learning to value [human] life more (though he is not mortal)

...

Lightly tagging @charlesjosephwrites @flock-from-the-void @winglesswriter @jay-avian @anulithots @twilightscribbles @celebratedloser (and whoever wants to give it a shot)

...

🚗crater city taglist (dm to be added/removed): @writeouswriter @lyra-brie @digitalsatyr23 @talesfromtheunknowable

#thanks for the tag! #crater city wip #writeblr #writing game #tag game #my ocs #character names #oc names #i know the last two are not mentioned on my blog #but i just couldn't help it

[luxwing]

For the Astarion query you had and will not say any spoilers/will be normal lol.

My first time playing I missed a few companions so less choice. He's hard to miss so anyone in the same boat as me would have had more time with him. Some you can almost miss till end of act 1 so again you'd end up with him for more.

Everyone that I did get for act 1 till maybe a little into act 2 was on the same level of fuckable for me (in that I wasn't too bothered as actually went into the game not knowing the romance was that well developed)

The most romanced characters are Shadowheart, Lae'zel and Karlach. So a lot of people agree with you. I would argue its more that Astarion ticks the right boxes for the people that create stuff for tumblr and tiktok and also has a lot of content/a lot of content that is easily quotable. Then because of algorithms etc the hype train kicked off.

My hope is that it doesn't end up going the other way and he doesn't end up getting hate because of counter culture or whatever. He is a very good character, as they all are and his story is also very moving. Again without spoilers, at release there were some people grateful that they could connect with his story and felt they hadn't seen it, as it is in the game, in media before.

Astarion slowly made his way up that list for me for the following reasons

Funny

Interesting backstory that gets more we will say interesting as the acts go on

Backstory has moments of oh fuck I get that trauma

He has the ability to change either way possibly the most

He literally has the most hours of dialogue etc and a bunch of romance scenes when some characters sadly don't

Now I have done more times through the game, personally I think they all have pretty good character development and are all very fuckable as yous say.

If you held a gun to my head and made me pick 1 I would pick karlach, gale and astarion in no set order and take the bullet. But honestly the others are really pretty much just as good to me.

Now the hype is dying down I feel like a lot of convos have been moving onto other characters including wanting to fuck NPCs.

I've gotten far enough not that my character did spend a night with Astarion and it's opened up some more information about his backstory, so I'm starting to see what draws a lot of people toward him. Also, someone mentioned this on my other post, but yeah Neil Newbon's performance does so much heavy lifting that you can't help but find him a bit charming.

And God I forgot this game has three acts my ass is just now almost finished with everything in act one I'm only level 5 after nearly thirty hours oh my god

But I guess one reason people might not be fans of Astarion (not just because they're tired of the fanmedia saturation mind you) is because of his approvals. He gains approval from you being mean or snarky and from some displays of cruelty, so that might be a quick turn off for people. Ive bypassed this by leaving him at camp whenever I wanna be nice along with the other "kindness is cringe" people.

But yeah, he's a well written character, I'll agree to that. Honestly, all the party members seem really multifaceted whether for better or worse, and I actually like that a lot. I do wish Shadowheart and Lae'zel would stop trying to kill each other and make out already, tho.

Tbh I haven't seen anyone 'hate' on Astarion. Joke about him, sure, but i think I've seen way more people shit on Shadowheart than on him. Which, that's a whole nuther discussion to be had in itself, but yeah idk.

God I still have so much of the game left to do what the fuck

[quietlybitchy]

I need to type out how I feel about the final season of sex education so that's what this is. If anyone wants to care way too much about this along with me feel free to comment lol.

Spoilers ahead!

I enjoyed watching it, but the pacing felt more rushed than in previous seasons. I understand that they were ambitious and had a lot of stuff to fit in so they could give the characters a nice send-off. There were some really great moments and some things I thought could've been handled better.

Main things I enjoyed:

-Adam and his dad slowly repairing their relationship

-Aimee and Isaac friendship (I liked the romance aspect too, but would've still been happy if it stayed platonic)

-Aimee (her friendship with Maeve, her discovering new ways to express herself, and her great comedic timing lol)

-Maeve working through her trauma and self-esteem issues (I love that school didn't just go perfectly for her and that they gave her something that made her question her talent and how she had to work through that and come back stronger)

-Eric bonding with new queer characters

-Viv and Jackson friendship

-Maeve and Otis's relationship in the last half of the season (I think it showed a lot of growth between the two of them towards the end)

-Jean's sister calling in on the radio show. It was short, but a pretty moving scene.

Things that confused me or maybe could've been handled better:

-I didn't really enjoy the whole Otis vs. O plotline. It felt like Otis's character development in previous seasons just got reversed and he became really immature again, especially in the first half of this season. I understand that growth isn't linear and that he's still a teenager, but it still felt weird to me. He got super defensive about there being another sex therapist and about Maeve hanging out with a guy at her school. He spends so much of this season apologizing for shit he's done like lol this boy's a mess.

-Jackson had so many different conflicts that either got resolved super fast or dropped altogether. I didn't think any of the plots were a bad direction to go with his character, but it felt like whiplash trying to keep track of every new reason he was having an identity crisis or worried about something. But hey it shows how multifaceted he is at least.

-I liked the new characters Abbi, Roman, and Aisha, but it felt like they weren't utilized as much as they could've been. It's hard introducing new characters in a final season, but a lot of the time it felt like they were just there to create conflicts for the other characters rather than having their own stories. I want to see more of Abbi's struggles and not just in regards to her relationship with Roman. I want to know more about all of them, really.

-Viv's abusive relationship plotline went by so quickly. I think the scenes that we did have were handled well and I like how firm she was about ending things with him, but it's another thing I think they could've taken slower to really show the complexities of those relationships and how hard it is to get out.

-It felt like the show backtracked on Ruby's character development from previous seasons and then didn't do a good job of fixing that at the end of the season. They made her character so complex before and now she's kind of just back to being scheming. If she had learned to show more vulnerability to connect with people in the end I would've really loved that.

Everything else I didn't really have a problem with but maybe just didn't feel super connected to it. Like Jean raising a baby while trying to go back to work and dealing with postnatal depression, or Eric struggling to be himself in his church community. I think Cal's plotline was probably handled well but I don't have any experience with most of their struggles so it's probably just something that I wasn't the target audience for, which is fine. It seems like they were all handled well, but just didn't strike my interest that much.

#sex education #sex education season 4 #sex education spoilers

[andro-dino]

13, 24 and 25 for takanosuke, 2 and 5 for sakyo!

I don’t have an emoji really, but if I were to give him a combo it’d probably be 🏹🦅 cuz yk. archer griffin. though I will say he is the living embodiment of the >:D emoticon

24. time to pull out the slides weheh

I stand by these still I think. Specifically I like him compared with 2012 Mikey bc although their personalities and overall energies are pretty different, they both have pretty similar sass capacities and I like the fact that both of them, despite their very cheery demeanor, are extremely skilled at what they do and are incredibly capable.

25. I’ve joked about this being my first impression of him multiple times and I was not exaggerating in the slightest I HAVE RECEIPTS. LITERALLY A LIVETWEET OF MY FIRST SHOGUN STEEL VIEWING.

initially he was my #2 shogun steel fav behind Shinobu. we all know how that went. unfortunately I am obsessed with him I love him more than life itself still and I will defend him with my dying breath. He’s so silly and cute and fun and multifaceted and interesting and his dynamic with Sakyo is just so good and I love him so much.

this is a good test for how well I’m able to separate explicit canon and what I’ve interpreted in my head from it. His bond with takanosuke is obviously like my #1 fav and how he develops to eventually not only see takanosuke as an equal, but openly support him and grow alongside him and seeing the fruits of that in their battle with yoshio, where not only does Sakyo immediately come to Takanosuke’s defense when Yoshio insults him, but openly expresses the strength of bonds that goes into synchrome and the importance of growing alongside others, which is really just like the perfect way to wrap up his character arc and it means so much to me.

Besides that, the whole thing that triggered my current insanity about him in the first place was the implications of some of the things he says regarding the antagonistic role he plays, saying it’s the destiny of the person who inherits dragoon, and how that sense of obligation and succession contrasts with when he steps in to fight Genjuro during the nbb qualifier match and his sense of honor and respect towards beyblade as a whole, implying a deeper layer to his personality that goes beyond just causing problems on purpose.

HAUNTED BY LAURA LES. SPECIFICALLY THE SECOND VERSE. IVE TWEETED ABOUT THIS BEFORE AND I JUST RETWEETED IT AGAIN RECENTLY BC I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT AGAIN. the song itself is a takasakyo song to me bc I say it is

#axel’s silly little thoughts #I think I veered off a little too hard from canon on the Sakyo bit whoops <3 #I genuinely cannot suppress how fucking crazy I am about how complex his character is it is a DISEASE

[kanohivolitakk]

So, I saw this post on twitter that was like “sometimes you just take your favorite character and put so much new stuff to them they basically become your own OC” and while that was from a (mostly) artistic standpoint, my brain instantly went into how the way I characterize the Barraki fits this well, especially Pridak and Takadox.

Like, in canon both Pridak and Takadox are pretty simplistic characters, as its suit for Bionicle characters. In canon Pridaks basically the typical Bionicle villain: A powerhungry conqueror who desires to return to his glory and control as many people as possible with the main thing that makes him stand out being his anger issues and how situation caused him to have a desire for a way out of his predicament and for revenge against those who wronged him. Takadox meanwhile is this cunning smooth talking slime-ball who plays on every side while not being on anyones side and uses others like fiddle. He’s also pretty pathetic and unimpressive all things considered, often being more of a pitiable fool than an actual threat, though he also uses that to his advantage. Overall both characters are pretty much “what you see is what you get” type of deal, even if I do feel Takadox has a bit of depth to him in canon (well as much as depth as Bionicle villains that aren’t named Nidhiki, Brutaka or Krika can have, but I digress).

Meanwhile in my fanon I have developed both characters to be more than just simplistic villains. Pridak is basically a typical JRPG villain: someone with high status of power who initially started with noble intentions and a believe of creating his ideal world but who used those noble intentions as an excuse for all the henious acts he does. My interpretation of Pridak believes in that everyone chooses their own purpose in life, their own Destiny, and that he is just creating a world where there isn’t a Great Spirit to gowern over the universe. My Pridak justifies his conquest as a means of liberating the world from a god that either doesn’t exist or is unnecessary, and justifies his tyranny with his mindset of how those who are in control and dominant over others are the ones that are fully alive, while those who simply accept being a servant rather than trying to fight for a bettter purpose in life aren’t even alive to begin with. My Pridak is stubborn, determined and driven by seeing his ideals come to fruition,no matter the cost. He has standards and values, but he is willing to cross most lines if they advance his goals. The only thing Pridak is not willing to cross is the trust of another ally, as he detests treason and betrayal unless its absolutely necessary. He is as grudgeful as he is spiteful and will carry a bitter resentment against any ally who crosses him, especially if its someone he considers an equal. He is also surprisingly merciful, only killing other leaders if they refuse to surrender to his rule.

Meanwhile my Takadox is a variation of the common faninterpretation of him being a sociopathic manchild with no understanding of or compassion to others.  My Takadox sees others less as living beings with their own complex mental states and more as tools to use, as toys to play with or obstacles to overcome. Due to his upbringing and brain just being wired in a specific way, my Takadox is so mentally distant from others he sees himself as above them, and others as little ants that just exist alongside him. At the same time he does want companionship and love, but his brain just rejects to understand most living creatures are as complex as him and instead just sees them as toys The only two individuals he sees as genuine and multifaceted are Miserix and Pridak: the former who he absolutely loves and adores from the bottom of his little heart while the latter he utterly despises and sees as an annoying nuisance. My Takadox also isn’t some super capable of emotional manipulation: While he is a cunning charmer and soft-spoken, he is socially inept and doesn’t understand societal norms or how individuals functions in any deeper way, only understanding them superfically. As such he can manipulate yes, but he isn’t like super exper on emotional manipulation or understanding what makes others tick in a deeply viscreal way, instead relying on understanding the situation and context alongside his hypnosis.

And like...both of these characters are still who they are in canon: My Pridak is still anger-driven warlord with a thirst for revenge, while my Takadox is still a cunning and charismatic(?) slimeball who plays on every team and doublecrosses everyone on a weekly basis while being pathetic. They’re just more: They’re actually complex fully realized three-dimensional characters with ideals, philosophies, motivations and goals as well as characterization beyond their few stock traits. A lot of said new traits and elements either exist to explain why they are the way they are, or act to compliment the already existing traits, but they are still just more fleshed out than in canon. And they’re just more than generic bad guys with decently interesting backstory and killer designs: they’re actual characters that exist more as just one-dimensional baddies.

God I need to do the same work  to characterize and develop the other four like I have done to Pridak and Takadox right? Technically I have done this to Ehlek already but not to the same extent: he’s still mainly a paranoid angry mess of a tyrant like he is in canon, theres just an explanation to how and why he ended up becoming a paranoid angry mess of a tyrant.

#Kirika Talks #Bionicle #Barraki #Pridak #Takadox #And yes my interpretation of Takadox is heavily inspired from Sepublic's take on the character #while also throwing my own ideas to the mix #both because i dont want to rip sepublic completely off but also because adding new ideas is fun

[fivebyfive005]

Alright Horizon fans. Let’s talk. Now, I did not want romance in Horizon at all until HFW gifted us with Kotallo. Now I'm adamant that he should be with Aloy, and I previously posted this essay about why. So I'm back with this intensively thought-out explanation regarding why (in my opinion) Aloy should not be with various other characters with whom she is often shipped. Just an FYI - if you disagree and want to ship her with other characters (or nobody) that is obviously fine, and I’m not here to argue. This is just me spewing out my thoughts, since I feel like I’ll explode if I keep them pent up. 

Petra – I’m starting with Petra because Ashly Burch previously wrote on Reddit that she felt Petra would be the most compatible with Aloy up to that point (this was about four years ago now, so before HFW). Her reasoning was as follows: “Petra is the only one who would respect and understand her need for full autonomy and frequent excursions on super dangerous mission...I also don't think it would be a particularly intimate relationship, and I doubt that Petra could stay monogamous.” She did, however, go on to say that “I actually don't think I would personally ship her with anyone that we've met yet,” though I am aware that there are still a good number of Aloy/Petra shippers. I think this is all quite accurate and well-reasoned by AB, and it is worth noting out of the gate because she is basically the proverbial horse’s mouth. Also regarding Petra, I can’t help but feel that the dynamic she has with Aloy is really one of friendship more than anything that seems romantic, intimate, or sexual. When Aloy runs into Petra in the very beginning of HFW, Aloy is pretty rushed, and is practically dying to get away from Petra ASAP. This actually seems to make Petra a bit salty, by the way, which is, interestingly, opposite the argument that AB made in the first place (though she seems to get over this pretty quickly). Moreover, this does not seem like behavior of someone attracted to the person they just ran into, on Aloy’s part. As they continue their dialogue at Chainscrape, it is really pretty much all business, too, and I feel like you’d have to do quite a bit of interpretational gymnastics to see any kind of romance developing there. I also feel that historically Aloy has frequently appeared uncomfortable when Petra flirts with her, and I don't think this is because she has feelings in return, but rather that she doesn't know how to treat a friend showing her such overt flirtation (we have seen this discomfort for her with other characters making moves on her, as well). Furthermore, Petra is a bit of a one dimensional character, and though I enjoy Petra for the levity her character brings, I think Aloy's personality would work best with someone a bit more multifaceted and deep. 

Erend - There are a lot of Aloy/Erend shippers but I also know that a lot of them have already expressed willingness to consider Aloy/Kotallo since playing HFW. That probably in itself shows that shipping Erend - at least in some cases - may have been more related to proximity and him just being a beloved character from the first game (rather than a feeling that he would be right for Aloy, and that their relationship would add to the story). Don't get me wrong, I love Erend as well, but he should absolutely NOT be with Aloy. I'd rather be decapitated by a dull guillotine than see that happen. Erend is a loveable goofball for the most part, and while he has more depth than meets the eye initially, I'd say just barely. He really is pretty simple, and I don't think he would really challenge or stimulate Aloy (which I think she needs). Erend is someone who prefers to eat, drink and be merry, whereas Aloy is a very action-oriented person, who I think would still have a heart for action and adventure even after saving the world. As such, I think Erend would bore her. Now, Erend’s affection for Aloy has been made clear, and though I think he has grown a bit in HFW, he still seems to have a tendency to burden her with feeling obligated to give him time and attention (as was the case with him being resentful about her rushing off after the end of HZD). This is definitely not right for Aloy, who really does need to have freedom and independence, and who needs someone who understands that she is putting her mission and duty first. With that said, I do think that over the story of HFW he's somewhat accepted that her mission means that she is not looking for a relationship (to this point). I think he's started to see her more as a sister (like a sort of replacement for Ersa) and Aloy sees him more like a protective big brother. And I think that is the perfect dynamic for them. I love that chemistry between them, but I can't see them being anything more. 

By the way, I know some people point to the look Aloy gives towards Erend when they are standing together at the end of HFW, but I think it's really important to point out here that in this moment she has just looked at her entire gang and has made the choice to move forward on her journey with the help of the people she loves. She then looks at Erend (her oldest friend in the group at that point). With that being said, I think her look in that scene is more reflective of the happy notion that she can have a family - even while she tries to save the world - and not actually an amorous look. 

Nil - I can't believe how many people ship Aloy/Nil because to me it's blatantly clear that he is all wrong for Aloy. Though I think they have similar personalities with being action-oriented, adventurous people (and I agree that – like Petra – Nil would give Aloy the freedom that she needs), they have none of the same values. Nil is not really one for reducing conflict, which is certainly one of Aloy’s goals. Aloy says this herself during a discussion with Kotallo at the base, and he agrees, with her, by the way. Aloy has also been pretty clear during their conversations that she does not agree with Nil’s choices and his lifestyle in most circumstances. This does not lend itself very well to a relationship/romantic partnership.  

Talanah - IFF I were to ship Aloy with someone besides Kotallo, it would be Talanah, but I still don't think this would be a good pairing. Talanah is a bad ass with more nuance than many other characters – and I do think that she and Aloy have similar values and personalities - but she and Aloy are also pretty clearly depicted as simply very good friends and fellow hunters. Their dynamic is really not sexually charged at all, as evidenced by the very platonic hug at the end of HFW, and the frank conversation that they have in that same scene about love (which is in no way directed towards each other). Not to mention that Talanah herself has admitted that she's still a bit hung up on Amadis…

Avad - Blehk. Avad is not a bad guy, but it should go without saying that Avad is a terrible choice for Aloy. She has no interest in being royalty (or Carja, I think, for that matter, with all their excess and opulence), and it is frustrating that he won't listen to her polite refusals, but rather keeps pestering/burdening her with his advances. He doesn't understand her at all, and I think the idea of them being together is laughable. I think the majority of the fanbase agrees, but I’m still including him because he is so forward with his attempts to court her in the game itself.

Friends. Romans. Thank you for staying this long, if you have, and know that I still love you even if you don’t agree with my points. :) 

I will conclude by once more saying that Aloy absolutely should be with Kotallo. They have so much in common in terms of similarities of upbringing, and shared goals, values, and personality traits. Going back to Ashly Burch’s comment from 4 years ago about how she would not personally ship Aloy with anyone at that point, it should be noted that Kotallo was not around at the time. But he is now, and I also feel that Aloy has grown and changed a lot over the course of HFW. She is now more open to exploring relationships of all kind, and I think the game could do some really great things narratively by exploring love/strength through a romantic relationship with her and Kotallo, similar to how they made a wonderful story about the power of friendship in HFW. 

#horizon #horizon series #horizon spoilers #horizon forbidden west #horizon zero dawn #hfw #hzd #guerrilla games #aloy #kotallo #If you can't tell I have given this way too much thought

[bohemian-suho]

Saigenos from a brief feminist POV: homoerotism as a result of perceived inferiority of women in male dominated media.

I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, and this is obviously not objective, as it pertains rather to a whole supposition of mine that has been brewing for quite a while since I started reading japenese sourced material. Much more specifically, shonen manga. I’m not an expert by any means, it’s just something of a thought that spurs time and time again with certain character tropes in shonen and seinen, much more specifcally: the partnership between to males protagonists in a series. 

I first thought about it when I watched Naruto, but it was was much easier to pinpoint the kind of thought process behind the depth of NaruSasu in relation to the title of this little rant exactly because of Kishimoto’s development of his female characters, which is flaky and clunky at best, downright misogynistic at worst-

It’s not so obvious in OPM, after all Tatsumaki is class-S número 2, getting a whole arc to show exactly what she is capable of, with a characterization much different to the WC, which from much more knowledgable people tham me claim is much well rounded and nuanced. There are plenty of female characters that have gotten their fair share of spotlight, good spotlight at that, to show they are a multifaceted, strong characters that stand on their own. They are their own characters with their own pains and troubles, of which most are not even related to romance or to another man. We even have characters that derail from the homogenic hourglass bodies that Murata likes to draw, which I won’t get into as he pretty much does that same with the male characters, so it doesn’t feel as disingenous and malicious. 

I often found that, in shonen/seinen manga, homoerotism doesn’t posit an outright homosexual subtext in the relationship of two males, as we would like to think, it rather stands implicitly but very directly on the idea that depth within a relationship, true depth and love, can only be shared between two equals: men. 

We much like to attribute queer coding in these kind of relationships. And... aside from the fact that that says a lot on how we build fraternal relationships and how we still place them on secondary levels against *romantic love*, the truth is, many times these kind of relationships never surpass and go beyond what the magakas show us not because “they didn’t want to be censored” or “they legit wanted it to be this way but were too afraid to go all out”, but simply because... it’s just not gay my dudes. It’s just japenese men thinking these kind of deep, deep relationships cannot happen with women because.... they are women you know? Inferior. It’s a given, and it’s not an entirely conscious decision. Sysmetic oppression goes beyong even microagressions, it seats very comfortably in the way people, men specifically, build relationships with women and with oher men.

Aside from the fact that ONE has barely even dipped a milimeter of his big toe nail on romance (very very briefly if you squint with your head dipped sideways) and that he does let women stand on their own, deliberate (emphasis on deliberate) actual queer coding in OPM pretty much starts and stops at Puri Puri, and I won’t get too much into that but I think we all know how problematic that is in itself.

Even with that... I would rather go, gadly, on the Gibli path, and two people can have a deep emotional relationship without there being romance, ever. And that’s okay too.

#opm #saigenos #rant #tatsumaki #saitama #genos #is just not gei you know #i would like that but alas #i mean saigenos have it all man #sometimes i do think maybe one has soemthing his sleeve #but then i think im hoping for too much #i just want the gay too but...

[starry-skies-116]

Canon Gregory vs My AU Gregory Comparisons:

Canon Gregory:

Stated in the wiki to have an irritated, outspoken personality- almost “bratty”

Frequently makes sarcastic comments on things that displease or mildly inconvene him

Distrustful

Kind of outwardly aggressive

Independent

Surprisingly brave and headstrong

Somewhat vengeful

Pretty pragmatic

Develops a strong bond with Glamrock Freddy

Somewhat lonely

Bright brown eyes that almost appear amber in color.

Not much insight into this very enigmatic character due to the lack of non-player present screentime he has

My AU Gregory:

Dark, gradient eyes that are reflective and have no pupils (kind of like an insect’s compound eyes)

Has a multifaceted, reflective personality- one moment he is obstinate and headstrong, another moment he is solemn and kind, and another moment he is dutiful and commandeering.

Only mildly peeved when under pressure, but stays relatively calm and collected.

Dutiful and diligent when it comes to his work. Gets shit done when it needs to be done, and does it exceptionally well.

Immensely values hope- states that he threw despair and hopelessness to the wind a long time ago, and that accepting a preordained fate brought on by circumstances will only serve to foster no productivity

Incredibly pattern sensitive- learns new things relatively quickly.

Much more knowledgable, sympathetic and wise than he usually lets people in on- the animatronics are shocked when they find out, in many ways, he is more than he seems on the surface.

Cynical and blunt- distrustful and skeptical of general human nature due to being betrayed by several people throughout his past life.

Strategic and meticulous in thinking- able to use paltry information given to him to craft elaborate plans, reconstruct scenarios, and execute them with perfect timing. Ironically idealistic when it comes to his goals- he values his love for his family and his life conquering all an incredible amount, and will exhaust everything he has to bring that dream to fruition.

Prefers the simplest solution that will benefit him the most- even if it involves brute force.

Outspoken and straightforward- cautious and distrustful. Recognizes talent and trustworthiness in capable people who absolutely, positively wish to swear love and fealty to him with NO hidden agendas of their own- this does make him a bit of a hypocrite, something he more or less admits remorsefully.

Incredibly observant, tactful and self-aware. Occasionally puts up an easygoing, innocent and carefree facade when the situation calls for it, although he despises doing such things.

SCARILY good at reading people and discerning their true nature and intentions, as well as somewhat predicting their next course of action, although he doesn’t use them to his own advantage, swearing off of doing such things unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Incredibly devoted to his goals and his family- a happy and healthy future alongside his family where he can be accepted and validated, as well as create and fulfill his larger purposes is of utmost importance to him- probably his only reason to live. Also incredibly dedicated to those he trusts and considers as family, and will do anything to protect them and care for them with the love and respect they deserve.

Has an air of melancholy wistfulness about him- rarely cuts loose and maintains terse formalities around nearly everyone. Has basically lost the ability to trust and care for others other than his family- which is why it’s so difficult for him to socialize and make friends, as well as partake in teamwork- he fears others won’t accept him. Wants to heal his suffering more than anything and return to a happy life that he once knew.

Enjoys opportunities to prove his power and intelligence, and test his mettle, hard work and skill in the face of challenges- which is why he enjoys strategic board games and videogames like Fire Emblem, Battleship, DND, etc. Loves creative activities such as writing and drawing, and creates his own world and character for the DND sessions he, Sundrop and Moondrop have.

Has high expectations and hopes for himself, as well as everyone and everything around him- which is why he gets so bored of certain books, food and other things rather quickly.

Overall, a morally grey character- generally a misguided and traumatized soul with his respectable merits and concerning flaws, but overall a wonderful kid with a kind heart and undying spirit deep down.

#fnaf gregory #fnaf security breach #fnaf project samsara au #reincarnated vessel gregory #crying child #crying child fnaf #evan afton #fnaf #gregevan/gregbot/gregvessel #canon vs my au #built off his canon personality as you can tell <3 #I love this kid sm he's everyone's child #but will also kick your ass and spit on your dead body #I want these two to meet ngl

[infinity-squared-comics]

Dating Sims, ASMR, and parasociality.

An essay by me

Being loved is really nice. It’s a great feeling. It’s also a feeling that may be less accessible to some. So, there exists media meant to bring that feeling to those who can’t find it on there own. There are things such as dating sims, in which you can experience dating from a place of relative safety. There also exists ASMR content in which a voice actor will act out a script from the perspective of a fictional friend, lover or even family member. These types of media exist, typically, to fill a void in an individual’s life (as all fiction tends to do in some way), in this case specifically allowing a vicarious experience of relationships and affection that may be denied to some people.

But. Are they healthy?

I honestly don’t know.

Is it safe to get this type of fulfillment from fictional characters? That’s a question I can’t answer.

A smaller question is whether this type of story can replace real relationships. While I don’t have many real relationships to speak of, and absolutely none of the romantic variety, I can say with confidence that they can not. A real person is simply too complex and multifaceted for any character to perfectly replicate, and most damningly, most of these stories disallow or limit the ability to speak back. You can only talk to your video game lover in a set of predetermined dialogue prompts, and there’s absolutely no way to communicate with the character on the other side of that audio. In short, there is no way to have a true relationship with a fictional character.

But there is also a darker, perhaps more dangerous form of parasociality that ASMR role plays especially can sadly encourage. It has been observed that, in many cases, someone can develop feelings for the voice actor behind the character in their ASMR. This is always a risk for actors, that certain fans will confuse them in some level for the character they play and as such develop a one sided connection to them. This is especially dangerous when you play a character that speaks directly to the audience, and gives love and affirmation they’re desperate for. Listeners are liable to develop feelings for this character and may, unfortunately, project these feelings onto the voice actor. This is bad.

However, many such voice actors, along with content creators as a whole, on some level encourage parasociality, by hearting or replying to comments or by giving there fans cute nicknames. Because, in truth, there is a relationship between creator and audience. It is simply one that is unbalanced. You will pretty much always know your favorite content creator better than they know you, and even if they interact with you they aren’t ever likely to really know you. It’s simply an imbalance, a lot of these people have lots of viewers, lots of commenters, more people interacting with them than they have the time and energy to form any meaningful connection to. Even a creator as small time as myself can have upwards of a few thousand people who know of them, people who I, as a single individual, could never really come to know. (I still count as a small creator because despite the one post that got tens of thousands of notes I still average around 1 or 2 notes per post).

But I’m getting far off topic. Getting ways from my rambles and back to the question at hand, is it healthy to love fictional characters? Even if they return a simulated form of that love, in truth they can never love you as you love them, because they simply don’t exist. No matter how well put together Monika’s After Story is, I do not actually have a girlfriend living in my computer. These characters aren’t alive, they aren’t real. And I think it’s ok to love them anyways. To love and be loved is a truly wonderful experience, in whatever form it comes in, and even if the love you receive isn’t genuine, the love you feel still is. And to love, even a love that is unrequited, is still, when approached and indulged in safely, a wonderful thing.

So. Um. In conclusion: there’s nothing wrong with having real feelings for fictional characters as long as you engage in and express those feelings in a healthy way.

#infinity squared essays #essay #dating sims #asmr #parasociality #philosophy #love #what is love? #baby don’t hurt me #don’t hurt me #no more

[luxsea]

KICKS IN THE DOOR GIF. 3, 4, 9, 19, 21, 29, 31, 32. ok love you mwah

blorbo jail for moji 1000 years! >:) love you too mwahahaha thank you for the ask, i may have went overboard w my responses >.<

3. What is your character’s moral alignment?

for the most part, lux is chaotic good! their actions are not really motivated by any desire to be a good person, they simply stand up for others freedom and their right to make decisions for themselves. you can do whatever you want forever and ever <3 there are traumatic events in their past that very well could've lead them down a remorseful path but they instead eventually accepted each step of their journey and the people they meet as a learning experience. and when they care deeply for someone, all morals go out the window if it means keeping them safe. they may be pure chaos at times but they have respect for the knowledge and passions of other people and they do not steal from an honest working man. but the gods can kiss their ass for all they care.

4. How did you choose your Tav’s name, if you gave them a unique one?

any jokes i could make abt needing to escape character creation after being trapped remaking lux for a week aside, the reasoning behind why i chose their name is very multifaceted. it's mainly inspired by tiefling virtue naming convention, a name they choose for themself after they left their home and is symbolic of who they aspire to be. to focus on that glimmer of hope despite everything and shine for others. they also have a great appreciation for art and a good shiny. and they literally have to be the shiniest thing in the room. "i am a (lux)ury few can afford" etc. lux is also short and sweet like tav! :) i really like latin names and will never escape the kingdom hearts fan allegations (guilty) they don't have a family last name because [redacted] and i don't know if they would keep their trade last name if they had one. they deserve a title though, something badass to match their fury of avernus wifey >:) when i find the perfect one i'll let you know!

9. What is your Tav’s biggest priority or goal?

their biggest priority during the game is to avoid the main quest at all cost. "i quite like the worm and the powers it grants me actually" is to be a light in the darkness for the companions they're closest with on their personal journeys. they want to find a way to fix karlachs engine because she deserves to enjoy her life despite the injustices shes suffered, to make sure shadowheart doesnt feel alone in the world as she discovers who she truly is and to help wyll find an alternate path from the endless cycle of duty and self sacrifice. there is always a way. lux is the designated leader of the group and they won't let anything bad happen to their friends especially now that they have found a sense of belonging again, they wouldn't dare fail them and they'll set the world on fire if they have to.

19. Who is your Tav romancing, if anyone?

oh... you know ;3 the big secret around camp is that lux is romancing karlach, totally not obvious to literally everyone!! these two make me feel very mentally ill you know this. the nature of my own immediate karlach favoritism and her being very much my type lead to a lot of coincidentally great chemistry between the two ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and even though i very much believe they'd only be committed to each other, i love exploring the dynamic of a polyship with shadowheart and if the game allowed it past act 1. they're a sun/moon/star trio and make me feel so soft ;-; lux will be romancing shadowheart in my 2.0 playthru :') if im strong enough to resist romancing karlach again sdfdfgsdfd

21. If you’re romancing anyone, who fell first and who fell harder?

these types of things with karlux can be a bit difficult to pinpoint considering they were instantly fond of each other and developed feelings pretty quickly, accelerated by their circumstances. karlach was never able to think about romance during her time in avernus and once she's free she's just grateful to be alive, she would be content just finding a way to cool down and hug someone. so falling in love was certainly not something she expected- and neither did lux. karlach falls in love after the many cozy campfire talks and the risky kiss they share under the stars. she tells herself what they have between them is casual, that she doesn't mind sharing lux if they pursue someone else but she's really just repressing the extent of her feelings because of the limitations of her engine. but to see lux fight so hard to find a solution, and caring for her so much, that's when she knows. and lux ofc is super in love with her already but it hits them hard during karlachs second engine upgrade at last light. the excitement for both of them to finally being able to touch eachother mixing with the horrors of the ultimatum that is given on her life. karalch could die at any moment and she accepts that, but for lux, who is realizing they love her so much that they cannot imagine their life without her... that love is insurmountable and terrifying.

29. How easily offended are they? How do they act when offended?

i think their lived experiences have left them able to tolerate the petty stuff. in their travels they've heard pretty much every insult under the sun but they draw the line when other people are being degraded or oppressed. they try their best to be firm in their boundaries and what they don't tolerate. this isn't because they're all calm and collected, they're simply too aware of how dangerous they could potentially be if they let their anger take hold of them. this is something that can make them so powerful when they're in situations where they have to fight. but there is always risks and the nature of wild magic requires them to constantly question if it's worth it. and sometimes lux doesn't care.

31. How does your Tav dress for different occasions, like very fancy situations?

every occasion is a fancy situation, what do you mean? :^) lux's fashion sense can be a bit eclectic but when it comes to accessorizing, every piece is carefully picked and considered. they very much dress as a means of self expression and are also aware of how others respond to how you present yourself, using that to their advantage at times. i'm just saying, i think cleavage adds a charisma bonus and you can't tell me i'm wrong.

32. How did your Tav get their scars, if they have any?

their face scars originate from my first play through, i thought it would make sense two thirds through the journey that they would have some battle scars, especially considering how reckless they can be so i added it to the design. when i remade them for my 2.0 playthrough i kept the scar because i like when reiterations of a character retain details in honor of their past self :) this is tentative but i'm also experimenting with magical scaring on their hands, as if their magic sometimes burns right through them when they use their powers or even is rotting them from the inside out when they don't. it's a source of chronic pain they've had to live with which is why lux 2.0 even as a sorcerer makes a warlock pact in a desperate attempt to salve and control it. i would love to explore this idea more but for right now it's just a loose concept that also looks pretty badass c:

Baldur's Gate 3 Tav Ask Game

#mojimallow #ask meme #oc: lux #*foams at the mouth at the enrichment thrown into my enclosure* #will finish other asks in a bit!

[opheliaofthemarsh]

Opinions on A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee

So I just finished reading this book and I have some thoughts that I want to get down. I don't remember why I wanted to read A Lesson in Vengeance but it was on my reading list for some reason so I read it. I have to say, going in to it, I could tell it was going to be an aestheticized ideal of wealthy academics, given that it's on a million "dark academia vibes" booklists. Regardless, I had some hopes that it would be fun to read, if not original.

By the end, I did enjoy it. The last 30% of the book is pretty fun and the characterization starts to get a little more interesting and multifaceted, something that is very lacking in the first half. Most of the characters remain very flat and uninteresting throughout the novel. The protagonist is unlikable in such a way that I can tell they're meant to be, but did she have to be so boring? I don't know. My point is that there was not much effort put into creating interesting, life-like characters, beyond the aesthetic purpose that they serve. The plot moves slowly, and in my perception it seems that for most of the book the character's actions hardly impact their lives and almost never seem to have any consequences or impact the lives of those around them. It just comes across as a little too simplistic. I understand that the internal conflict and tension between the love interests is being built up, but the internal conflict that the protagonist is experiencing never really seems to go anywhere. The central question of "is magic real or not?" is not resolved for her until near the end anyway, so spending so much time agonizing over it with little else going on seems unnecessary. As for the tension between Ellis and Felicity, neither character is really three-dimensional enough for them have to have a lot of tension for most of the book. They seem more like archetypes, and all of the set up for their relationship comes from their archetypal roles rather than their personalities, values, or goals. Ellis was the most compelling character, in my opinion, but only because she is the only character whose goals and values are explored.

One last critical note is that the cast of characters is very white (except for one character). This was very unnecessary, especially as it just comes across as lazy given how little focus is put on developing most of the characters.

I did like the premise and the plot of this book, and I loved the concept of a magic system that may or may not be real but is incredibly important regardless. I think it was a great idea that was not executed as well as I would have preferred. I liked the use of tarot. Overall a disappointing novel that is too in love with its aethetic and not nearly enough in love with its characters, but a fun read if you're looking for 'These Violent Delights but with lesbians'.

#a lesson in vengeance #victoria lee #This is not as coherent as I would have liked but oh well

[florallylly]

I don't agree that Nancy hated Robin at the beginning of s4. She was extremely stressed at the library after finding out her friend died, and then this girl she doesn't know wouldn't shut up. She was more irrated by Robin than hating her. Tho, she should have clarified and communicated with her after Robin told her about her struggles. Or at least Nancy should have apologized after the library. Idk if it's on the show or if it's Nancy characterisation at this point, but she has a pattern for not apologizing properly. If you compare her to Steve, who immediately clocked that he went too far when he insulted Dustin in the car and apologized right after, it's quite the difference. Tho Steve always has to atone for his character from s1, the show never lets us forget he was an ass in hs. Meanwhile, Nancy gets a free pass for everything. People still love her despite her treating them like shit

Anyway, s4 Robin was so ooc. If Steve would have had this attitude towards her in s3 (even in s4), she wouldn't have let it slide, let alone still wanting to talk to him or trying to befriend him. They butchered her character in order to avoid conflict.

What's also annoying to me about every Nancy ship is that she's the important part. It's always the question of who is the best for her, esp in the fandom. R//nance is the best for her because she's finally free from men, and Robin is the only person who gets her. J//ncy is the only real ship because Jonathan gets her as they are trauma bonded, or St//ncy is the best ship because Steve loves so much, more than Jonathan. Her romantic partners are always reduced to options. There are no questions about Nancy being the right one for Robin, Steve, or Jonathan. It's partly the shows fault because nobody has any negative feelings towards her and they all seem to be obsessed with her but ugh I wish at least in fandom they would also look at her potential partners as actual characters for once. Like no she wouldn't be right for Robin because Robin needs someone who can communicate clearly and who would understand her quirks. And no Nancy wouldn't be the right one for Steve because Steve wants to be loved unconditionally, that's something Nancy can't give him because there is still Jonathan and the trauma of losing Barb. And Nancy isn't even that great for Jonathan either because she can't understand his financial struggles and trauma from being parentified at a young age, which was shown in s3 after her nonpology. (Tho I'm also not a J//ncy fan because Jonathan isn't a catch either for Nancy.) It's like the post you reblogged, we need more episodes in the show so that the characters can develop and we see actual personal conflicts. But because there is no time, everyone has to be best buddies to be united against the main villain.

YES you word it so well. nancy is always put first in fics AND in canon, and all her love interests are just options. they've definitely become more like set pieces or props in her story, which is such a shame. what i hate about fandom spaces and interpretations of canon is that it can be so hard to try and introduce nuance to a character that is beloved to fans. which!!! makes no sense to me bc the duffers wrote a multifaceted flawed character, but nancy is often reduced to the perception that she's the Good Girl.

and yes, i admit i was pretty hyperbolic in saying that nancy HATED robin, but i also think that what with the st/ancy flirting, there was also a hint of jealousy. i think nancy thought in the back of her mind that steve would always be her fallback.

AND YES to robin being so ooc in s4 bc she's literally a jackass (affectionately) and so snarky and a BITCH. like she's steve and steve is her and they are both mean girls at their cores. your entire analysis about the different nancy ships is just MWAH <3

[howiwatchmooves]

Wednesday (2022)

7/10

Plot:

   The story itself was a little bit messy at the beginning. There are too many plot lines, and there are definitely way too many characters. Some of them are useless throughout the whole series and play a bigger part in the whole action only in the end. Some of them could never exist, and we wouldn't lose anything.

   On the other hand, I liked the way all the details about the main mystery linked in the last episode, and the ending was... logical, I guess. It just was making sense, and it wasn't stupid. An antagonist had a reasonable motivation. They weren't doing all the evil stuff because they are just evil. Of course, we've got a bunch o plot twists, which I wasn't expecting as always. It was nice to be caught off guard by the show.

   Overall the plot was kinda stuffed with everything and everyone, luckily the ending set things straight and we’ve got a decent story at the end, tho I’d not say it’s extraordinary or breathtaking.

Characters:

   Well... Let's start with Wednesday herself. First of all... I should've said that earlier, but the thing is, as almost 20 y.o. respectable old lady, I feel a bit too old to watch the show. And it's absolutely okay, it’s a teenage show, it wasn't made for me in the first place. I guess at 15-16 I’d would be amused by the main character, who's not like other girls, have soooooo many abilities, who's the outsider amongst the outsiders, and doesn’t give a fOck about people around, but at the same time, they are still super nice to her and would LITERALLY DIE FOR HER. Likeee... I've lived a little. I just know if someone would act that way irl, they'd probably be bullied or ignored by everyone. So why are you like that? Why are you trying so hard for her? It isn't worth it. She doesn’t send you any signals, the signals are literally -_-. Just find yourself a less toxic friend/love interest.

   I'm not saying Wednesday should be a nice, polite extrovert. Like, no, she's Wednesday Addams after all (although I’ve never watched other Adams family film adaptations, here am I, reviewing that bloody show, only because Ima a cool TikTok girl). The ugly truth is, It doesn’t make her a complex, multifaceted character, she’s just cold and rude all the time. She BARELY changes in the end, but I was hoping for more improvement. And to be completely honest pretty much everyone in this show is like that. I can’t even pick a favorite character, they’re all so... empty ig. Of course, such characters have the right to exist, I have nothing against them. I’m just more into character development, complexity, and controversy of actions (like the actions that are controversial toward the character’s belief system, not society's morals controversial, because you’ll find plenty of the last one in that show). 

Moving on to the Visuals:

   Omg, Hyde is just a big fucking joke, like how much money they had for that show? Not so much ig.

   Alright, I’m just mocking the poor kids’ show.

   I usually don’t talk about CGI in that category. The visual part of the show was fine. Colors, character design and scenography were consistent and created the right atmosphere (they should have released the show around Halloween tbh). I liked some of the Wednesday outfits, it’s classy but modern at the same time. Enid’s looks were fun too, I think I just want to dress like both of them, depending on my mood. 

Atmosphere: 

   Welp, it was ok ig. Like again, I wish they should have released the show around Halloween, that would be so on point. I liked the whole mystery detective vibes, I just wish the plot would be more concentrated on that.

   There was also one really annoying thing I should mention. Like all these funny quirky things for GenZ, like mentioning Instagram and TikTok or talking about mansplaining and misogyny that doesn’t make any sense. As an official GenZ delegate, I assure you: it’s cringy, we don’t want that, don’t do that ever again pleaseee. 

The soundtrack was fine, but nothing special. 

Soooo that’s pretty much it. The show’s okay overall, I don’t regret spending some time on it, but If you won’t watch it you won’t lose much.

#wednesday #wednesday 2022 #wednesday addams #tv shows #films #movies #cinema #film review #movie review #tv show review

[travelling-on-the-octopath]

Ive been thinking about an alternate manuela-sylvain support chain for days now so, for your consideration, a chain where instead of. whatever that was. a chain where they talk about theatre.

(I use the word "you" a lot in this response, but just know i'm not directly addressing you, especially when I sound particularly salty ^^")

No because let's talk about this. FE3H falls into this terrible habit, most of the time, where it lays a pretty decent foundation for fun, multifaceted characters--and then they drop the ball more often than a first grader trying to get their tiny little hands around a basketball in phys-ed. I really do think a fair bit of this has to do with the fact that, as admitted by the developers, they bit off way more than they could chew with this game. And, frankly, it really does show in every single route.

But back to the subject at hand: two heavily trope-y characters (drunk has-been and womanizer) who could have been shown as a lot more when shoved into a room together.

I watched all of Manuela's and Sylvain's supports just for this, so allow me to lay out an unnecessarily complex foundation for my take on a better support chain for them.

Your first interaction with Manuela, wherein she tells you she's both a songstress and a physician, can go one of two ways: you can either show intrigue to her position at the monastery, which has her ask a rhetorical question about being too pretty for such a job; or you can ask her about her singing, which gets you support points with her. We've known her for exactly 60 seconds and we already know she enjoys talking about her artistic past. Ferdinand's supports with her cement this: There is truly no quicker way to Manuela's heart than discussing either the creative arts or her impact on people via her performances. He's heavy-handed with the flattery, but it's genuine flattery, and she appreciates it to no end.

But she likes nearly every artform!

Sheet music is pretty predictable. But then we get things that show her appreciation--and aptitude!--for food and drink, and embroidery. From what I can tell it's never confirmed outside of this, but Manuela likes to receive things she can spin into something else. She loves being creative!

We also know she has an absurd amount of fight in her, as is showcased in her A-support with Flayn at the very least (and, in their b support, cautions her to not be lost in the dazzling nature of showbiz). We know she has a complex relationship with fulfilling love, even if she does want it. She's hot-headed, able to acknowledge some faults (and then fall right back into them ;-;), and ignores other faults. All in all, I'd say she's pretty well-rounded.

Then we get Sylvain. He's easily one of my favourite characters, but that certainly wasn't the case on my first playthrough, or my second, because it takes such a certain amount of digging to get a crumb of personality out of him outside of "he loves his friends, hates Crests, pretty much hates women." I'd argue that's a little more damning than needing to mine for Manuela's full-fledged personality, because I'm of the belief that more attention is supposed to be paid to the students. But maybe that's just my bubble. Regardless, do you want to know what his interests are? Tactics, art, and--believe it or not--nice, pretty things.

I'm not even joking.

Sylvain is a fashionista!

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say he cares about his appearance, and on a level deeper than just caring about how we looks to women! Why do I say that? Because when it boils down to it, everything that's associated with the way some women misuse him is something he has a strong contempt for, if not outright hatred. This is definitely more of an opinion, but I think it's a gift he likes to receive because he likes looking nice.

Side note, and I'm really sorry to take a detour from the Manuela-Sylvain ask, but could you imagine the heartfelt shenanigans we could have gotten if we'd gotten a fleshed-out support between Dedue and Sylvain? Where on some silly task given by Byleth, we learn not only of Sylvain's distaste for gardening (manual labour in general? man he's really a rich family's son), what he thinks of Duscur, what Dedue thinks of the Faerghan nobility on a larger scale, how the tragedy affected Sylvain (who watched ALL his friends get SPECTACULARLY traumatized in one fucking sitting), how Sylvain dreams of changing his home county and shifting its ideals to stop antagonizing foreigners, to lessen the importance of Crests, etc? All framed as a series of gardening bullshit that still shows Sylvain's rich-boy ineptitudes and maybe, just maybe, Dedue actually talking about his memories of his family.

Immediately that would have given us an insight to Sylvain being ambitious, the same way we see Dimitri emphasizing the importance of people of different social standings working in tandem. It would give him more than an inch of depth. (Don't even get me started on how Claude and Annette would have been perfect to showcase his tactics-oriented skillset when Annette has a whole support, Ashe's, dedicated to showing her OWN grasp on formulaic tactics. They could have been creativity meets hard facts. But I digress.)

Back to our regularly scheduled Manuela-Sylvain programming.

Their C-support touches on Manuela's alcoholism--and I really do mean "touch," because a pattern with her supports is "Manuela, you've drunk yourself into a stupor again!" and that's the extent of addressing it. Seteth's gets the closest, I think, but it's just an effort to make sure she doesn't do damages to herself or the psyche of the students, rather than addressing, you know, the root cause. Sylvain says he wasn't messing around with girls--up to the player if he means it or not, I guess--and Manuela, for some . . . reason, entertains Sylvain as a romantic partner.

Their B support, which starts off with a comment about their age gap regardless of the timeskip's happening, is yet another way to shit on Sylvain, and it pisses me off because its sole purpose is to shit on Sylvain as opposed to confronting him. In his other supports (what comes to mind is Dimitri's and Ingrid's, but I'm just a Blue Lions simp through and through), Sylvain is directly called out for his philandering. And though his "I promise to change!" response makes me want to bash my head through a wall, at least he's given the chance to fight back. Here, it's just . . . a flawed character calling out another character's flaws . . . behind their back? Which feels ironic to me? And they end it on a comedic note, with Manuela worrying that the goddess only has so much goodness to give and will run out in her pursuit of true love.

I'm going to state what may be a controversial opinion here, but the romantic overtones here actually did their job: highlighting the sheer absurdity of these two having anything romantic going on.

But then they end it . . . and I'm like . . . you had the perfect opportunity to give Sylvain a female friend who has zero romantic interest in him, and you PASSED IT UP? Sylvain has a record-low of A supports! He's so out of touch with his emotions! Give him this!

This is how I would have structured their support chain:

So, as I was writing out this support chain, I realized I . . . strayed a little from "theatre," but know that I fully believe they meet for tea on occasion after the war to catch up and talk about strange new art styles/movements/how they could never get over their favourite [insert art medium here].

C-Support - the events of their C and B supports are crammed into this one.

B-Support (would be locked if not triggered during White Clouds):

Sylvain, angry portrait: Professor Manuela! Can I bother you for a second?

Manuela, drunk portrait: Ugh . . . is someone dying?

Sylvain, shocked portrait: Uh, no?

Manuela: Then hold your damn horses.

[brief time jump]

Manuela, neutral portrait: Sorry about that, Sylvain. You'd think I'd be better at handling angry men outside my door, but . . .

Sylvain: Hey, don't worry about what I think.

Manuela, angry portrait: Well I wasn't until you said that.

Sylvain, shocked portrait: Right . . . anyway.

Sylvain, angry portrait: Lorenz and I were talking about operas, and he's under some delusion that Lion's Footfall is better than Lier Caerna.

Manuela, shocked portrait: Oh my.

Sylvain: And I know what you're thinking. A Gautier? turning his back on Faerghan stories? But let me tell you, Professor Manuela, nothing creatively fantastic was ever made in Faerghus after His Highness' grandfather took the throne. Lion's Footfall included.

Sylvain, neutral portrait: So, I wanted to ask you, as someone who's said to have performed them both: which is better?

Manuela, neutral portrait: Lion's Footfall certainly had the more complicated songs. If you're a real music fanatic, I could see that being your go-to. But performing Lier Caerna . . . It's rare to bring me to tears consistently during rehearsals, but it certainly did the job better than any other opera I'd taken part in.

Sylvain, happy portrait: Ha! I knew I could count on you to be as intelligent as you are beautiful, Professor Manuela.

[Sylvain leaves the scene.]

Manuela, shocked portrait: Wha-- Hey!

Manuela, angry portrait: He's got to stop walking away after spewing nonsense . . .

B+-Support, locked until either Pegasus Moon or Lone Moon in Part 1, AKA "Throne of Knowledge" or "To War" (portraits remain the same unless specified):

INT., Infirmary - Mid-afternoon

Sylvain: Professor Manuela? Is now a good time?

Manuela: Sylvain! How are you holding up?

Sylvain, winking portrait: Me? Don't worry about me, really. I walked away from that battle completely fine.

Manuela, upset portrait: I can hardly agree when I was the one who had to patch you up, but all right.

Manuela, neutral portrait: What did you need, again?

Sylvain: Right, right. Sorry about that. I got distracted by that radiant smile of yours. I was down by the--

Manuela, angry portrait: Sylvain, spare me the antics.

Sylvain, shocked portrait: Huh?

Manuela: Your habits are no secret, you know. I mean, just the other day I saw you coming onto a girl and lying your way through the whole conversation!

Sylvain, upset portrait: Please, Professor Manuela, not a lecture from you too.

Manuela: Maybe you deserve a good talking-to. Honestly, the nerve on you . . . .

Sylvain, angry portrait: We're not going to talk about who deserves to be lectured, are we?

Manuela, shocked portrait: Well, I-- That is-- Oh, never mind. Just . . . what is it you needed, Sylvain?

Sylvain, neutral portrait: I was covering for Annette on stable duty, and I saw Marianne trying to figure out what was wrong with a horse. Dorte, I think his name is? It was a, uh, a struggle to get it out of her, but apparently he's hurting somewhere and she can't quite figure out what's wrong with him. I was hoping you'd be able to help?

Manuela, neutral portrait: Hm. If he were in dire straights, you would seem a lot more panicked. I have to wrap up some financial reports Seteth has been hounding me for, so give him . . . this in the meantime, and I'll be down there as soon as I can.

[parcel of herbs, wrapped in an embroidered handkerchief monogrammed with the initials "MC".]

Sylvain: "MC" . . . Was this custom-made for you, Professor Manuela?

Manuela, happy portrait: You could say that. Though, if you're looking for one of your own, you may have to start kissing up to me again.

Sylvain, shocked portrait: You made this?

Manuela, neutral portrait: I did. There wasn't a whole lot of comradery among wannabe divas of the Mittelfrank Opera Company, and sometimes my costumes would suffer for it.

Sylvain: Huh. Never would have thought those shows I saw had such a dark underbelly.

Manuela, happy portrait: Ah, you've attended my performances?

Sylvain, neutral portrait: Once or twice. The trip from Gautier was too long to do it more than once every one or two years, and with everything going on in the Kingdom . . . I wish I could have gone more.

Manuela, neutral portrait: Well, it wasn't all bad; don't let my bitter memories ruin yours. There was still a lot to enjoy. But, well, the poor makers were already overrun creating such elaborate garments that I took to fixing them myself. Turns out I enjoy sewing much more than I would have thought.

Sylvain: It's really well made, too. The colours you chose, the stitching pattern--even the way you chose to shape the letters is stunning.

Manuela, shocked portrait: My, you really seem to know what you're talking about.

Sylvain: Comes with the territory.

Manuela, neutral portrait: Now, I just don't think that's true.

Sylvain, shocked portrait: Pardon?

Manuela: I'd never seen you so incensed as when you almost broke down my door trying to prove Lorenz your taste in operas was better than his.

Sylvain: That's . . . I'm not proud of it.

Manuela, happy portrait: Ah, but you should be! I know so few people your age who are so passionate about the arts. It's actually . . . very refreshing. Puts my heart at ease, you know?

Sylvain, happy portrait: Hm. I never really thought about it that way. Glad I could be of service.

Sylvain, neutral portrait: I should get this to Dorte. I'll make sure your handkerchief gets back to you without a speck of dirt, Professor Manuela.

[Sylvain leaves the infirmary]

Manuela: To think, there was a gentleman sitting dormant the entire time . . . .

A-Support

INT., Cathedral - nighttime.

[Manuela is sat at a pew, humming to herself.]

Manuela, happy portrait: ♪ Hmm ♪ Distant heavens, sullied earth ♪ hmm hmm, da-da ♪ Dis'pointed gods, disheartened man ♪

[Sylvain enters the scene]

Sylvain, neutral portrait: I know this is going to sound like a line, but I'm happy to see the war hasn't also stolen that smile of yours, Professor Manuela.

Manuela, neutral portrait: Times like these, I'd even take those sordid advances of yours, cheap as they are.

Sylvain: I'm . . . gonna blow past that.

Sylvain, upset portrait: Actually, I'm glad you're here, Professor.

[Sylvain joins her on the pew]

Manuela: I'm not a professor anymore, you know.

Sylvain, neutral portrait: Yeah, but even you haven't kicked the habit of calling Professor Eisner the same.

Manuela: That's fair enough. So, what did you want to talk to me about?

Sylvain, upset portrait: Oh. Right. I . . .

[Sylvain pulls a bloodied handkerchief from his breeches.]

Sylvain: I know I said I would give this back to you--and I wanted to. But then, you know, the attack on the monastery--

Manuela, shocked portrait: Please tell me you haven't been keeping a blood-soaked handkerchief in your pockets for me.

Sylvain, happy portrait: Heh, no. Sorry to disappoint. What happened's kinda worse, though.

Sylvain, upset portrait: I grabbed it from my old room, hoping to give it to you, but I was attacked on the way here.

Manuela: Are you all right?

Sylvain, neutral portrait: Oh. Yeah. Barely felt it, actually. Looked worse than it was. Mercedes was around the corner, so all told it went better than it should have.

Sylvain, upset portrait: But I wrecked your handiwork. I'm really sorry, Pro . . . Man--Manuela.

Manuela, winking portrait: You'd think you were saying the goddess' name for all your stuttering.

Sylvain, shocked portrait: I . . . Uh.

Manuela, upset portrait: Sorry. That was out of line.

Sylvain, neutral portrait: Nah, don't worry about it. The way you've kept your head up during the war has kept me sane. I mean, you've been fighting your own sort of war for years now, haven't you? And you've become good at hiding the casualties.

Manuela: The trail of terrified men I've left in my wake would disagree.

Sylvain: Maybe. But you still kept it together when we students needed you. You still shone brightly on the stage for all your patrons and audience members.

Manuela, shocked portrait: I didn't think you remembered my performances.

Sylvain: I don't. Not really. I remember going, and I remember having a good time, but I don't think I have the same, ah, star-struck quality around you that most do.

Manuela, neutral portrait: Hm. Who would have thought being bland to someone like you would bring me so much comfort?

Sylvain, angry portrait: Someone like me?

Manuela: Don't get that armour of yours in a twist. I just mean-- Well, you have a good heart, and the taste one usually acquires when they live their lives in the upper echelons of society. You're a fine young man, Sylvain.

Sylvain, upset portrait: Sure.

Manuela: I mean it. You came in here looking like a kicked dog because you dirtied my handkerchief. The man you pretend to be would just offer to buy me another one. You know its value, and you're guilty because I entrusted you with it.

Sylvain: I mean, yeah. Manuela you made this.

Manuela: Exactly.

Sylvain: I think we're talking cross-purposes.

Manuela: We're not. How about this: When this war is over, and I finally set up the academy of my dreams, you come find me and replace my handkerchief.

Sylvain, shocked portrait: I can't replace it any sooner?

Manuela: No. Because . . . I want to know you found happiness after all this tragedy. It would do me some good to see a boy like you be treated fairly by the world, if only a little.

Sylvain: Manuela . . .

Sylvain, happy portrait: Yeah. Okay. And it's gonna be the the crème de la crème of handkerchiefs. Just you wait.

Manuela, happy portrait: I look forward to it, Sylvain.

#s responds #W O W this got away from me #hopefully my take on a revamped support isn't too shabby! ^^" #I speed-ran through so many supports my brain is fried #fire emblem #fire emblem three houses #fire emblem: three houses #fe3h #fe16 #sylvain jose gautier #manuela casagranda #coach-shidas-wife-is-a-ghost