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#then it does require the other character(s) in the scene to have a really quick and accurate ability to recognize and name songs
ereborne · 1 month
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Song of the Day: May 1
"Wicked Old Witch" by John Fogerty
#song of the day#it's May now! why does time!#did not finish the work trainings today. did finish setting up the tank for Duncan's frog#hopefully we'll be getting the frog next Saturday so we wanted time for the tank to cycle a while first#today's song comes up in Inheritance by Nora Roberts which I mentioned in those book asks last week (that was last week right)#it's got a ghost in (got lots of ghosts actually. pretty cool ghost setup) who communicates by playing different songs on the MC's tablet#I really love characters like that. very very fun#Bumblebee from Transformers my precious baby <3#also there was a 'dancehall demon' in this witchy cozy mystery I read the other day#not a great book would not recommend but the demon guy was pretty fun. reminded me of Lorne from Angel kinda#if he spoke in his own voice everybody around would swoon so he had magic background music he used to communicate#it's always a neat mechanic#though if it's not a specific line being played as a specific response Bumblebee-style#but (as in Inheritance and the dancehall demon book both) rather the title of the song that's meant to be the message#then it does require the other character(s) in the scene to have a really quick and accurate ability to recognize and name songs#I kinda like the idea of a song playing and the speaking character going 'oh uh actually I don't know this one. what is it?'#and then either they have to pull out their phone and shazam it or some bullshit#or it plays through and they have to wait however long and then if/when the title line plays the ghost boosts the volume for a split second#like fingerspelling the one sign you don't know but much much slower and with more fast-forwarding through guitar solos
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Aemond Targaryen and the Brothel Madam: A Case of Vulnerability? 
With the final trailer out and conversations running rampant, @liv000000 and I have been bouncing off ideas and theories on that Aemond shot and our thoughts on it. Obviously none of these are set in stone and need to be taken with a very sizeable pinch of salt as we don’t really have anything concrete to base it on, so a lot of this really is us just weaving scenarios together and trying to craft a narrative and character exploration based on a few crumbs.
Before we start off, we’d like to just say that we are not necessarily in favour of these. House of the Dragon has a history of often brushing over sexual trauma without giving those moments the recognition they deserve - we aren’t confident that this show is the right medium to accurately present such sensitive topics and that the writers really wish to do this in depth beyond victimisation and shock value. Neither is the fandom as we’ve now gotten to know it at large mature enough to accept and analyse these, especially if it involves a character they aren’t particularly fond of, as we’ve seen with the Alicent-Viserys rape scene or the ‘Foot Scene’ with Larys which got turned into a joke and yet again was squarely placed at Alicen’t feet as something that is somehow her fault and not the guy’s who was sexually assaulting her.
But, although we dislike the overall sentiment, we still want to try to make sense of it. 
We’re here to talk about this scene:
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Some eagle-eyed fans have connected the hand holding Aemond here to the one of S1EP09’s brothel madam which he encounters with Criston Cole on their search for Aegon (there’s a scar beneath her knuckles that the actress, Michelle Bonnard, also has). For this analysis, we will pretend that this is confirmed.
For reference, we’re talking about this lady here:
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A bit of background of what we learn of her and her ‘connection’ to Aemond:
“Aegon brought me to the Street of Silk on my 13th name day. It was his duty as my brother, he said, to ensure I was as educated as he was. At least that's what I understood him to mean. [...] He said, ‘Time to get it wet.’”
For his thirteenth nameday, Aegon took Aemond to the Street of Silk to lose his virginity, no doubt as a right of passage to essentially have him become a man, as fostered by Westerosi culture (we could write an entire other meta about this and Aegon’s perspective but won’t get into it here). Notice that Aemond expressed that he himself wasn’t sure of the advantage/purpose of this and just parrots what Aegon said to him without actively supporting this as his own opinion. It’s something he clearly didn’t really want to do himself but went along with because his older brother told him to.
Cole asks her about Aegon, while Aemond stands next to him, silent. At the end of the conversation, she says (flirtatiously):
“I wish you luck, good Ser. And my best to your friend. [to Aemond] How you've grown.”
This is personal, she recognises him. Was she the one to take his virginity? It seems likely. He clearly also hasn’t been back there since that day.
How does Aemond react to this?
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He clearly still feels very uncomfortable around her even three years later, can’t maintain eye contact, shrinks away etc. This has no doubt ruined his perception of sex and engrained in his mind, the act of sexual intimacy is something unpleasant, humiliating, and potentially painful.
@darksvster also posted the script of this scene, which has Aemond ‘clearly shaken’ over being confronted with his abuser.
Since we know he hasn’t been back to the brothel since, him going there willingly now invites the presumption that this requires some sort of extreme trigger moment for him.
The two moments we’ll delve into for this are Blood & Cheese and Rook’s Rest, in which members of his family get hurt either directly or indirectly as a consequence of his actions. This also adds up with the leaks that the actress of the brothel madam is going to have a nude scene in either episode 2 (post B&C) or episode 5 (post RR).
Theory 1: Self Punishment
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(we found this gif on Reddit, please let us know if you are or know who the original creator is and we’ll credit them)
In this shot, Aemond looks mentally defeated. His cheeks are wet, but he is not actively sobbing. He’s despondent and catatonic—empty. He also looks the most vulnerable we have ever seen him. His eye patch is off (something that we know from the book he rarely exposed on accounts of insecurity and ‘scaring the ladies’), he is naked and lying in a foetal position while someone (the brothel madam?) is holding onto his arm.
As we’ve explored how traumatic his first experience with her must have been, and how he was unwilling to even look her in the eye, much less seek her out for intimacy. This could be a form of utter self-punishment, a willing reenactment of the second most traumatic experience in his life. After B&C, he’d feel troubling amounts of guilt, so this is his way of putting himself through as much mental and bodily harm as possible. If this was about pleasure or comfort, it is doubtful he would go back to the woman who never gave him that feeling. Neither does his body language here show anything other than anguish. He’s partly disassociating.
There is also a theory floating about that rather than having 6 year old Jaeheara threatened with rape as in the book, this will be given to Helaena in the show (understandably so, as little Olive was only six at the time of filming).We could see the taunts being passed onto Helaena as her mother is tied up and can do nothing to help her, and it works just as well as it serves as humiliation to Aegon, as she’s his wife. In the shot below, Cheese has Helaena by the hair, very close to his body, and he’s delighting in her torment. This would hurt Aemond deeply, as he’s shown to be fond of Helaena and takes it upon himself to defend her whenever necessary. So, he’s essentially putting himself (guilty) to what his sister (innocent) was subjected to in his grief.
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Theory 2: Emotional Incest
Emotional incest is a family dynamic that oversteps healthy boundaries between children and parents. It's a type of abuse in which a parent looks to their child for the emotional support that would be normally provided by another adult. The effects of covert incest on children when they become adults are thought to mimic actual incest, although to a lesser degree. It’s normally found in adults, but if you have people pleasing children (or parentification), they sometimes want to take on the role of the partner, rather than the child.
There are a few instances in this season, hinted at in the trailers and supported by the book, in which Alicent and Aemond won’t see eye to eye - she will not be happy with how he killed Luke and essentially ended all chances of peace. She also seems to advocate for caution and diplomacy alongside Otto whereas Aegon and Aemond will be out for revenge and full war. If we go by the book and Aemond also is the one to injure Aegon at Rook’s Rest, she will probably give Aemond the cold-shoulder after he’s willingly or unwillingly endangered his own brother. She’s shown to want to take the slow and diplomatic approach in this war, to avoid bloodshed as enough has been spilled, whereas her sons are eager for battle and war to get vengeance for the tragedy that has befallen them. She no doubt will give him an “I told you so” lecture, and Aemond will perhaps seek comfort, as he’s grown a twisted sense of his abuser after revisiting her in the brothel.
This adds to the theory that young Aemond chose the brothel madam specifically out of a need for comfort. In a situation like the one he was subjected to he chose a whore who at least looked like the person he feels safest around, his own mother who is a source of comfort for him and who he loves deeply. If that is the case, this paired with with the mental consequences of this encounter, it could develop into him being attracted to and seeking out women who remind him of her. This could also impact his later relationship with Alys Rivers.
We really dislike this, as much as it could make sense. Aemond is one of the few men in Alicent’s life who loves her without desiring or exploiting her, their relationship in season 1 was very soft and if the above is the case it adds a bit of a sinister and sexual note to a parent-child dynamic which so far has been relatively unproblematic.
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ghcstao3 · 9 months
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I saw your tags, you have challenged me!
Scary Show AU (cw for cannibalism and murder)
Ghost is a very well-known yet still semi-anonymous Voice Actor for spooky shit. There's a huge following for him because, regardless of what role he's playing, he does a phenomenal job. He's only listed in the cast list as "S.R.Ghost"
Typically he plays the role of the creatures in this super popular show called "Cryptid Season" which follows a gang of college kids desperate for extra credit in their Biology class so they hunt cryptids as evidence/to study for their papers. He does the voice over and some of the motion capture (he's a big dude) for the monsters and such, his most famous one being "Goatman" (from the demonic Goatman's bridge in I think Texas?)
Meanwhile Soap is this animator who's starting to become really popular, and he announces a new show in the work: "Consume", where he voices one of the two lead roles. It's presented as a show about a normal, if not very lonely man, being tormented by a demonic presence in his home.
Plot twist: dude's actually a cannibalistic serial killer and ends up quickly befriending the demon. The demon helps make the man harder to track by police forces in exchange for the bones and souls of his victims.
Cast:
Soap as the killer
Ghost as the demonic entity
Gaz as a detective who's new to the case but also best friends with Soap's character
Price voices the seasoned detective who's been working this case "too damn long"
Ghost and Soap ABSOLUTELY fall in love while recording scenes together. The banter, the flirting, the sexy scenario of cutting up a corpse together; it's too much not to fall in love irl
(actually such a big brain idea but I don't know how you'd write it tbh lmao. Maybe the show itself, where the boys keep their names? Idk the original idea turned into something much greater)
took a minute to figure something out i'm ngl but i did. something (in any case i would love to see your proper takes(s) if you'd be up to it, seeing as it's your idea!! i feel like i couldn’t do it justice)
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Just like any other actor, Ghost had to audition for the role.
His agent books it for him without consultation, knowing the project would be right up his alley—horror, monsters, no face required—and Ghost makes no argument in sending in his tape. He recognizes this process and takes no issue with it, and once out of his hands, he waits patiently for a congratulatory offer or a gentle rejection.
Just like any other movie, or show, or what have you. Consume is no different.
Supposedly. At first.
John "Soap" MacTavish is... many things. He's charming, according to most. Talented. A joy to be around. A man who wears more than several hats of a project, which certainly tells of someone trying to worm their way into the commercial industry.
He has the spirit and creativity, Ghost will allow him that. But he also doesn't know when to stop talking as soon as the important work is done.
Is Soap professional? Sure. Does Soap make sure all jobs are done with efficiency and done well? Yes, he does. Does it make him any less of a nuisance to Ghost? Absolutely not.
But Ghost would be damned if the project doesn’t find its way into his soft spots, despite its nature. He’d be damned if he doesn’t fall in love with Soap’s animations and the hard work and craft he puts into them.
Then he blinks, and the pilot is premiering. It does well (again, considering its content), and Consume is properly green-lit.
Which is when Soap proposes the idea of recording their lines in the same room. Together. Facing one another. Because banter, and chemistry, and whatever other reasons he insists upon.
Personally, Ghost wants to decline. He’s always felt somewhat awkward when recording as such with anyone, but professionally? He couldn’t really say no, could he?
And it is awkward, at first. There’s more takes than usual, and Ghost can sense Soap’s frustration, though the man never expresses it. He just plasters on a tight smile, calls for a break, and pulls Ghost aside.
Surely, surely this is where Ghost gets fired. This is where Ghost is told he’s going to be replaced, where he’s told to say goodbye to Gaz and Price and wish them luck, and move onto his next gig. This is where—
“Have I done something wrong?”
Soap’s face is so earnest. So painfully sincere.
Ghost clenches his jaw. Shakes his head.
“No, I—“ He sighs. “Just have to get used to the… face-to-face. Let’s—I’ll try again.”
Soap smiles wider, now, as he nods, something kind and warm and brilliant.
The second try goes much smoother. Ghost takes a deep breath and eases himself into scripted dialogue, into witty banter and subtle flirts like it’s any other project.
They continue to record lines as such, just the two of them, each episode at a time. At some point, Ghost worries, the line between script and show and reality gets blurred. At some point, he fears, that flirting becomes genuine.
And what would he know—the reviews only get better as that line becomes less and less clear. Natural, real-feeling dialogue, critics say. The relationship is authentic, claim viewers.
The love is actually heartfelt.
And fuck, if that doesn’t make Ghost realize a few things about himself.
About Soap.
Consume is no different, his ass. He might have to have a stern talk with his agent in the near future.
(Or not.)
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cosmic-metanoia · 5 months
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Femininity Concepts in FFXVI
***Spoilers for Final Fantasy XVI***
Well, here I am again, now focusing on the female characters.
Like I did in the previous post, I will focus on the female Dominants first then highlight some secondary characters that really stood out.
*Jill - Come on, we gotta start with our beloved gal. She demonstrates this silent but strong (and even fearsome) spirit. She's very supportive of Clive but is not afraid to voice her opinions. She possesses a natural elegance and grace but demonstrates her fierce capabilities on the battlefield. She has a knack for negotiation and relating to others. We really see her unveil her dark side when she confronts her past head on in the Iron Kingdom. What's fantastic is that she asked for Clive's support and understanding but made it clear that she would be the one to face off against the Crystalline Orthodoxy's head priest (his name escapes me). Jill may not always make background commentary but her words are carefully selected and measured.
*Benedikta - She is your classic femme fatale that plays with men to further advance her position. Yet the one who she is in a love/hate relationship with is the one she can't have. She is ferocious yet what makes her different is that she contains this hidden sorrow and just wants to be genuinely loved. The way she frantically panicked when she lost her Eikon honestly brought tears to my eyes. She ended up with the wrong crowd and played this game of political chess in a room full of powerful men yet she instantly realized how useless she was to them in that moment of losing her most valuable piece.
*Side note: Let's hope that Leviathan the Lost is another female Eikon when the DLC hits in the next few months!! <3
*Jote - Okay, this awesome woman is HIGHLY underrated! She is incredibly enigmatic and we learn so much about her from the thoughts of other characters but never from her own lips! Initially players may brush her off as some unimportant maid servant but we see that she is so much more - a shield, a formidable fighter (though never witnessed!), a healer, a scout, etc. She's basically doing the jobs of Tarja, Clive, and Gav wrapped up in one! Yet her eyes give away her feelings towards Joshua and especially when she frets over his health. Yes, she longs for him but what makes it unique is that she loves him for who he is, not for what benefits his Eikon brings to the Undying that worships him.
*Mid - A freakin' prodigy. I mean, she is the head of the hideaway engineers! An occupation that is stereotypically masculine. She is 100% focused on her tasks and is not your typical 16 year old gal for sure. Her genius inventions, zest for life, and fast-talking mannerisms has all of the hideaway family wrapped around her finger (true, also because she is Cid's daughter). That whole scene with Joshua kneeling to kiss her hand upon meeting her cracked me up - she's the last woman who requires a chivalrous display but what I love is how she laughed and pulled him up and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
*Charon - What can I say, this woman does not take s--- from ANYONE. She's even intimidating to some of the men at the hideaway which is absolutely hilarious. She is a hardened woman that commands respect but has her softer side which takes time to reveal. Money is on her mind but eventually she learns that there should be more to life - using her abilities as a cunning merchant to help a cause greater than herself.
*Tarja - Like Charon, she also does not accept any B.S. and takes her job as the non-magical physicker very seriously. What's great is that she isn't a nurse but the actual (and only) doctor of the hideaway. Her extensive knowledge is incredibly valuable and the hideaway would definitely not have survived without her.
*Vivian - A woman held in high-esteem who is so focused on the garnering of knowledge that she even gets targeted by assassins. Her intelligence certainly tips the scales in favor of the Cursebreakers to gain the upper hand.
*Anabella - I have a huge post written about her but I figure it's worth mentioning a particular aspect. She possesses quite the evil ambitions and is able to persuade not just the theocratic Sanbrequois emperor but powerful men from other nations - NOT just through her looks but through her conniving strategies. She longs for a powerful legacy forged by the greatest possible noble blood and even views herself as the prized breeding cow.
Some other examples of different aspects of female characters include: Eloise who is an astute businesswoman who conducted deals and contracts while her brother Theodore (sob) became her trusted porter; Martha who is the tough protector of Martha's Rest - the Rosarians put their trust and faith in her; the same with the Northreach residents when it came to Isabelle. What's great about her is that she is a courtesan but we see her blossom into a strong and trustworthy leader that many held in high esteem.
Even the stoic Dorys is the commander of a Cursebreakers squad.
I love how the story had female characters each with their own drives and ambitions whether they were motivated by a just cause or for evil reasons.
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dice-wizard · 1 year
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Hello everyone looking for a new fantasy tabletop game!
As it nears backer release, there's never been a better time to pre-order Exalted: Essence
Pre-ordering gets you access to the beta document and the early release backer pdf.
What's Exalted you ask?
Exalted is an epic fantasy TTRPG where players play the titular Exalted - humans elevated to superhuman/demigod status - in a wild and unique setting that draws inspiration from the ancient world rather than medieval Europe. Creation (the setting) draws key inspirations from the entire world. If you're used to having to make yourself visible on your own in other fantasy, there's probably some representation in Exalted.
It has explicit queer and trans themes about finding your people, creating your own identity, and having the power to punch back at the people who hate you. This isn't incidental. The writing staff is queer as hell. You can hear me break this down more here.
Curious to learn all you can? Well you can get a detailed overview of the entire game on the podcast Systematic Understanding of Everything hosted by myself, @presidentofbirds and @phillycuriosity
If I'm used to D&D 5e why should I pick this up?
Well, I presume if you're reading this post you're already interested in trying something new, so:
The entire game in one book. Exalted: Essence is self contained, character types, equipment, enemies and all!
An exciting style of fantasy that's different than classic D&D but like, textually gay, and very easy to have scenes like ballroom fights, epic galas, and touching homoerotic healing scenes - no house rules required.
But also, tactical depth and combat you can really sink your teeth into if fighting monsters and villains is your bag.
An excuse to use all your d10s at once
Character building and advancement mechanics designed to be familiar to a 5e audience. Characters "level up" based on story beats, and have Advantages, which are functionally similar to class and race features.
A world welcoming to most heroic archetypes, so it's easy to convert your favorite OC.
Extremely kissable dragons, demons, gods, elementals, ghosts, faeries, and unnamed ancient horrors
I'm a fan of a previous edition, what's Essence got for me?
Design focused on alleviating some of the previous versions' missteps
Virtues are back, baby
2e fans will find it an improvement from second edition's mechanical strengths - it's pretty easy to convert all your favorite 2e Charms to XS.
Streamlined versions of familiar rules to make it painless to introduce new friends to the game we love.
The Cliff's notes on Ex3's new Exalt types.
Did I mention it's all of Exalted in one book?
How does it play?
d10 dice pool looking for 7,8,9 as successes. 10s count as two successes, which can lead to explosive, heroic outcomes
Combat system designed to keep all players engaged the entire time - even characters who aren't focused on fighting at all.
Combat also narrows the gap between experienced and new players and players who want to win at RPGs and players who just wanna vibe so GMs aren't tearing their hair out trying to balance encounters.
Social system designed to resolve in a single roll so you can be immersed in role play and not interrupt it with constant rolling - without sacrificing a variety of social approaches
"Ventures" system for characters working on long term projects from traveling across the world to crafting magical wonders to building communities without forcing this to be "downtime" activity
Characters have access to Charms - exception-based special powers that make them extremely good at whatever they focus on.
It's easily my favorite game (and the project I developed that I'm the proudest of), so I'm excited for everyone to try it out.
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Oh No! Here Comes Trouble Character Meta: Guangyan
Your Honor, I have no excuse for any of this. I live by the meta and die by the meta, and the storytelling in this show is so phenomenal…the thing is, there is sooo much to look at in this drama. I’d like to thank @avenuex123 for her video talking about it, because it sold me on trying the show for the first time (she does amazing drama reviews if you haven’t watched her on YouTube yet). I wanted to start out with these characters by exploring Guangyan—to be completely frank, my favorite character—because I think that in a way he experiences the most development in the series; his whole life and worldview change, and he goes from prioritizing his identity as a standoffish and praise-seeking overachiever to being a loyal and empathetic friend to Chuying and soulmate to Yiyong.
(tbh the resemblance between Yiyong and Guangyan and Elphaba and Galinda in Wicked CANNOT be overstated, look at the lyrics from “What is this Feeling?” and “For Good” and tell me that’s not their arc right there)
Ahem.
Let’s explore Guangyan through his various identities in this show.
I want to be clear at the start that although the show is not explicitly written as a BL, I do see queer undertones in his relationship with Yiyong, and that does inform my meta. Regardless of any kinds of undertones, this relationship right here is the best development of the entire series.
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The Medical Student
I start here because this is one of the first things that Guangyan introduced himself with, something that he initially thinks makes him better than Yiyong, and in the last scene where he and Guangyan actually talk, it’s the thing that he wants Yiyong’s advice on pursuing. You know how you consult your calligraphy friends for pre-med advice?
Confession: I get Guangyan’s whole attitude at the start of the show. I hate it but I get it. Because I’ve been that overachiever kid (right down to the clothes, swear to god) and it’s really tempting, especially if you are younger, insecure, and/or starting out somewhere, to define yourself by and remind everyone about your most successful identity, regardless of whether it’s something you care about. Anyone who’s worn a mask of their own accomplishments knows that it’s a double edged sword—it traps you in an image, a state of being, in the minds of others.
And that is why I LOVE Guangyan’s developing interest in Forensic Medicine near the end of the show— because this is something he didn’t just choose to look good or respectable or worthy of praise, this is a really long road (just looking at the years of school required in my country), this is something he’s choosing because it can help make a difference, it can help with investigations Yiyong and Chuying work on.
The Boy Next Door
Yes, this is where my queer meta begins and doesn’t end. Apologies to Chuying, she doesn’t get much mention in this post but she will get her own whole post soon.
So.
Guangyan’s relationship with Yiyong literally changes the course of his life. He is such a different person by the end of the series—granted, he’s still fussy and the pastel tsundere of the pre-meds, but he has actual friends, he is honest about what he’s feeling, he has dreams for the future, and he’s kinder, rather than just nice. I need season 2 for many reasons, one of which is that I need Guangyan trying to become a supernatural CSI.
But this “bully” turned neighbor turned friend had that effect on him. Yiyong never told him to change, but Guangyan changed himself through his interactions with Yiyong. He’s becoming someone who wants to help people in a career that won’t be as automatically praised as a doctor. Find yourself someone who challenges your ideas and makes you reevaluate your ego while still believing you’re smart and good at things.
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Ah yes, the Simping for A Hooligan Smile.
But importantly, this very quick bit right near the end of the show, when Guangyan pays his respects to Yiyong’s father and grandfather and shows them one of Yiyong’s comics he has saved on his phone, which even Yiyong’s mother giggles over as looking stupid…and there’s the drawing he snuck away that Yiyong did earlier in the series, as his phone cover…and with that bit there’s this:
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Give me one heterosexual explanation for that. ONE.
But like I said, in the bigger picture it’s about the growth that is really key to seeing what Yiyong and Guangyan have changed about each other.
The reluctant frenemy ally…
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becomes this:
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I love the idea that Guangyan is around Yiyong’s house so much now that he is this comfortable just chilling, and I love that he’s mirroring Yiyong completely here—he could be in a chair, he could be sitting propped against the wall, but he’s chosen to lie down next to Yiyong like they’re still sharing a bed.
The Denial Expert
The show handles it sooo well—it never outright says, “Guangyan has so bought into this serious student-image that he refuses to let himself have things he really wants,” but we see evidence of it in every single episode. Actions: he won’t get a taxi when he needs one, he won’t admit to Yiyong that he’s a fan, he refuses the big bedroom bc he claims his father needs it for remote work. Possessions: he loves the amusement park toy that Yiyong won for him and attaches it to his bag, he thinks the doll is cute, he even hides his sneakily acquired Yiyong comics. Taste: he is the only one to love the cupcake made by the evil baker, and it’s only when he’s supposedly “following the kidnapping suspect” during the amusement park date with Yiyong that he eagerly order a parfait for himself and debates getting himself ice cream. You know, to blend in.
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Local Housecat Wastes Time and Money in Company of Exasperated Puppy
It’s the little things—getting a bandana hand-made for him, tagging along with Yiyong to the cemetery (he so didn’t need the walking stick, you just know it was for the adventurous aesthetic), even him slowly taking more of the blanket to share as he grows more comfortable with Yiyong sharing his bed—all these things that show his growth in these episodes.
Pu Yiyong’s Comics Fan
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GOSH ITS ALMOST LIKE COMICS ARE A METAPHOR OR SOMETHING
(Sorry)
Anyway. It’s just so important that Guangyan is the only person to really see Yiyong as an artist. Like most things Yiyong cares about, he doesn’t talk much about this passion of his; in the scene where they are writing their career plans in school, we see Yiyong is hesitant to write “cartoonist.” But he loves it, it’s something he’s put time and effort into building. And Guangyan is quite literally the only person who likes—loves—his art. Even his friends only support his website to be supportive. Anyway, I’m hoping in season 2 (which has to happen please please please) Yiyong finally finds out about his fan.
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Hi, I just want to ask about the tags I've seen on one of the Loki posts (screen below, because I dont know what I'm doing, I rarely sand messages on tumblr). Could you explain the S-H part and how it relates to his attire when you have some time (and want to explain of course)? Thank you!
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Hello! Thank you for sending me an ask!
So, to explain why I honestly think Loki does self-harm...
Look at Loki's attire in Thor 1...
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And then look at The Warriors Three attire...(Images)
And Thor's...
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In the scene where we see Loki confess about telling Odin, all of The Warriors Three are either wearing thin clothing or showing skin of some sort. It's also worth noting that they're sitting around a fire in the scene. So, the room that they're in is by no means cold, yet Loki is still completely covered from the neck down. All that viewers, and other supporting characters, are able to see is his head and his hands.
Now, if we compare Loki's attire to Thor's when he visits him at the S.H.I.E.L.D base, we can see that Loki is wearing several layers just like he was on Asgard when, base off of how other characters are dress, it's not necessary. While Thor is on Earth, we see him only really wear a jacket and/or flannel and short sleeve t-shirt for most if not the entire the time he's there. This causes me to speculate that Asgardians have higher body temperatures than humans since he clearly doesn't require several layers to stay warm. (Darcy is literally in the background wearing a skull cap and coat and possibly even a scarf, and Thor is out here in a t-shirt and flannel 🙄).
Keep in mind that Loki is also a Jotun, and the planet that they originate from is colder than the Antarctic. When we see him, Thor and The Warriors Three go to Jotunheim, Heimdall makes a comment that Loki isn't dress warmly enough. Clearly it isn't required for Loki wear much to stave off the cold. This detail most likely means that because of Loki's Jotun biology (and arguably his Asgardian biology), the cold doesn't bother him. Therefore, the amount of layers we see him wear in the movie, again, isn't necessary.
That begs the question...If Loki doesn't get cold, why does he dress the way that he does?
It's simple really, he's hiding something. It's not uncommon for people who self-harm to try and hide their scars from others. People also may self-harm for an assortment of reasons. Whether it be because they are depressed, anxious, seeking attention and/or possibly suicidal (and according to Thor 1, it can also be debated that Loki was/is suicidal as well). My entire blog really is just a series of repetitive in-depth analyses of the psychological problems Loki suffers from because of, really ALL of Asgard but specifically, Heimdall, The Warriors Three, Thor, Frigga and especially Odin. (My Loki Series Analysis summarizes a lot if not all of the main points I make on my blog). The Thor 1 movie just gives you a sneak peak/summary of what Loki has no doubt had to deal with for centuries. Between being talked over, ignored, underappreciated, neglected, misunderstood, isolated, outcast, gaslit and possibly physically abused (Odin's fist raise), coupled with being abducted and being raised to believe that the species he originated from are a race of horrible monsters, how much he struggles in the movie and in his overall life is understandable. Loki is painfully aware that he is different from other Asgardians and this bothers him. In reality, Loki understands that self-harming in not a normal thing for people to do and, based on the fact that he's hiding, he feels embarrassed that he does it. There could even be a fear factor included since he might not know how people would react if he were to tell them, or he may already know that the people around him won't take it very well if they care at all! As a result, Loki hides.
I hope this answered your question and makes sense! Thank you again for sending me this ask! 💌😁
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katapotato55 · 1 year
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Deltarune theory: Kris, Noelle, and Ralsei (Kris may not hate Ralsei THAT much) and other misc theories.
obviously spoilers for Deltarune up to chapter 2 and some of the Spamton sweepstakes. play the game it's free on steam. also this is a little bit long and contains a lot of screenshots. Not a huge amount of text walls I am just crazy. more info after the cut.
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(credit to the deltarune wiki for these screenshots) So a common theory is that the health gained from the tea represents how close emotionally characters are to each other. If a character does not know someone else, the tea appears as nothing, such as Noelle having no reaction to the Ralsei tea, since at that point in the game they never met. People often use this as an implication that Kris does not like ralsei very much. but here is the thing that gets me:
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Kris seems to get damn near the same amount of HP from Noelle as they do Ralsei. and that is confusing... because aren't they supposed to be childhood friends? meanwhile Susie used to bully Kris as implied by the Spamton sweepstakes... and yet Susie's tea gives Kris the MOST health out of all of them. not to mention Noelle seems to share the same amount of health return, but doesn't hate the tea either. What on earth is going on here?
The Theory (s?)
The unfun theory: The health means absolutely nothing. Personally I don't like this theory if you couldn't tell already. The spicy friendship theory: Kris doesn't hate Ralsei THAT MUCH, they are just uneasy about them. Alternatively: Kris probably just gets along better with someone like Susie than someone like Ralsei. The climax in every children's movie ever theory: before the events of Deltarune, something happened that made Kris upset at Noelle and it harmed their relationship. (possibly something to do with Des) The BFFSBSROFL (no that acronym does not stand for anything) theory : kris actually gels SO well with susie that they are basically best friends, making Noelle and Ralsei look pathetic in comparison. Alternatively, Kris and Susie have a much deeper history that the Spamton Sweepstakes left out. Alternatively: it could also be that Susie is the first strong friendship Kris has had in a very long time and they are in the honeymoon phase of their friendship. The shippers wet dream theory: Kris has a thing for Susie after the events of ch 1 and is jealous of Noelle. (I claim no financial responsibility for whatever the fuck the shipping part of the fandom may do with this potential bit of information.) The "my parent's friend's kids" theory: Kris never really was that close to Noelle to begin with, Its just that the Dreemur family and the Holiday family go way back and Kris being a kid was just in the middle of it. These are the theories I have so far, let me know if you guys have anything more interesting.
Other things to mention
The Laser prank. During that scene with Noelle with chapter 2, the player finds a switch that requires the player and Noelle to press a button and let each other through the laser barrier. as a player you can suddenly jump off the button before noelle passes as a joke. however, if you go too far and do it right when Noelle is too close to the laser:
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you almost hurt Noelle (but she is ok) and then she pulls the same prank on Kris. then:
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If you don't go too far with the prank, Noelle simply says "nice teamwork" and you continue on. This is interesting to me for many reasons. here is a few theories I have listed: 1-Kris actually was hurt (unlikely because their HP was not lowered and the player did not touch the laser) 2- Kris actually DOES care about Noelle and is horrified the player almost hurt her 2.5- Or perhaps Kris does care about Noelle and is horrified she did the prank back at them as serious as the laser was. Perhaps Kris has weird feelings about abandonment and self love considering their parents divorce and all that has been going on in this game 3- Kris is just being petty and immature that they got pranked right back. 4- Kris is potentially mis-reading the situation thinking that the player and Noelle are somehow against Kris, when in reality both the player and Noelle are just playing around. Remember that Kris is a young teenager going through a rough patch at home, so it makes sense they are on edge about this kind of thing. 5- I am reading way too deep into this bit.
The Boat Picture with Ralsei listen man. Its no secret Ralsei resembles Asriel. hell there is a STRONG implication that Ralsei is actually Kris's childhood red horns headband considering Ralsei also has red horns.
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here is the bit that gets to me sometimes: Later on in Ch 2, you are on a boat ride with ralsei and a photo booth. you have the option to Hug Ralsei, show a peace sign in the wrong direction, or commit cultural appropriation against Berdly in particular (my favorite option yes i am very mature)
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why does this sit with me? well-
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First: daawwww asgoooooreeee second: what does this mean- there are so many implications, Again i am just going to list theories and speculation: 1- Kris does not appreciate the gremlin that looks suspiciously like their older brother and how said gremlin may be crushing on them, along with the player pushing that along. enough said. 2- Kris is OK with hugs, they just don't like it when their dad gives them a massive cuddly bear hug. 3- kris is being an angsty teen acting like they are too good for hugs. 4- Again I am probably overthinking it and Kris actually does not hate hugs (or hugging ralsei) that much. Overall, I think Kris Kross Applesauce's real problem is less about the hugging and the pranking of Noelle, but rather something deeper. behold!
THE OMEGA THEORY
Kris just wants agency over their own life. It isn't that deep really. It is implied that Kris... honestly doesn't like themselves very much and doesn't like being human. The fact they never grew horns growing up and wore plastic horns all the time was probably the first time Kris felt like an outsider, and all they wanted to do was to be like their family. and now their parents are divorced Their older brother has been off for university and can only come back on certain occasions Sans Undertale is probably fucking their mom (or sans is just messing with you because sans is a hilarious asshole) Kris probably has trauma from whatever happened to December Holiday (which has not been revealed yet other than Spamton sweepstakes hinting) And now, Kris appears to be possessed by SOMETHING. and who the hell knows what and who is posessing kris. it could be you the player doing that or perhaps the player IS kris and that the thing possessing kris is what threw the player in the cage or more. we don't know yet But the thing i know most is that all Kris just wants is to have more control over their own life. Hell considering the implication that Ralsei is the manifestation of Kris's childhood headband, perhaps Ralsei represents a part of who Kris wishes they were. either way It doesn't matter if the player messes with Noelle or hugs Kris's friend that uncomfortably resembles their brother Kris just wants it to be THEIR decision rather than the decision of an omnipotent god that has a strange affliction for hyper-analyzing their life to make an overly-produced Tumblr post. thank you for reading my crap.
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shutupineedtothink · 8 months
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I finally landed on a Siuan theory/analysis re: 2x07! And it works prettyyyy good if I do say so myself. At the least it’s plausible. Probably. No book spoilers because I haven’t read the books, this is a show only theory. Read on at your own risk!
Background: So, at first I was on board the “Moiraine and Siuan planned this whole thing daes dae’mar blah blah blah” train. Mostly in my emotional turmoil after watching the episode initially. But, I was forced to dismiss that pretty quickly in light of some of Siuan’s lines, namely “That boy must not leave this city.” And “You lied to me.” She has to believe both of those things are truths to say them, so her somehow being secretly on Moiraine’s side still and them having conjured up some plan together doesn’t match up with either of those lines. Sadly. So that’s pretty much out. If this ends up actually being the case, I look forward to how they explain themselves out of it.
Second theory is of course that it’s playing exactly as we’re seeing it, which ultimately does work and when I can take the emotional dagger to my heart out of it, is objectively really excellent storytelling and character work. These are two women, trying to do the right thing, trying to save the world, and their love is sacrificed at the altar of duty. Duty over love is a theme that’s absolutely pounded into us with many characters, so it makes sense. (As Lan points out to Rand also in this episode, “you were born to protect this whole world, not just the people you love.” That’s kinda where Siuan and Moiraine are at too.) Plus I love the idea that Siuan comes face to face with the very real if unfathomable possibility that Moiraine has been turned to the dark based on her actions and general cageyness for the last six months, and that’s really what motivates every choice Siuan makes, up to and including invoking the oath rod. Really great stuff, brilliant subtext, two thumbs up.
However. There is a third option. *rubs hands together gleefully*
I heard some people saying Siuan could be under Compulsion, which definitely piqued my interest, because we’ve had those breadcrumbs dropped earlier in the season already and it would be nice foreshadowing for this. But most of the conversation I’ve seen seems to be around Liandrin being the one to do it. Probably because we’ve alluded to that already this season, so we know she is capable and has done it before. A tool in her dark friend toolkit, if you will.
But Liandrin being behind it never sat quite right with me either. Compelling Sheriam to change some logbook is one thing, but controlling the Amyrlin seat, for hours if not days to make this happen, is quite another. Idk what kind of strength Compulsion requires, but I bet it’s not nothing. And as powerful as Liandrin is, I don’t think she’s stronger than Siuan Sanche, or would be able to pull one over on her fast enough to make this happen. Plus, Liandrin is off doing other shit in this episode. If she was really implicated I feel like she’d be at least lurking around the other Aes Sedai. Maybe I’m wrong… but I don’t think I am lol.
So, who does have the power to do this? Who else has the means, motive, and opportunity to make this happen? There’s really only one other person.
The other scene stealer of 2x07, ya girl Lanfear.
There’s several bits of dialogue in this episode that back this theory up, both Compulsion in general and Lanfear being behind it, so let’s run from the top.
First, some general evidence that Compulsion might be happening.
Rand and Siuan meet, Rand gives his cute little introduction, Lan has prepared you I see, what else has he told you about me? Then Rand gives this line:
“That you’re not exactly what you seem.”
Interesting choice of words, writers— I mean Rand. He could have said a lot of things there, even directly repeating some of what Lan told him about Siuan, but no. And if you’re already thinking Compulsion, that’s a pretty strong nudge from the writers to PAY ATTENTION to Siuan Sanche, because maybe what she’s doing is not what it seems, even the person she IS in that moment is not what it seems. (Even if the surface level read totally makes sense and still works thematically!) This also wouldn’t be the first time that the writers seem to use the characters to say something/poke fun that’s more directed at us than the actual plot. So I definitely wouldn’t put it past ‘em.
Second, and this is kind of a throw away, but when Moiraine and Lan come in later, Lan says “this isn’t what we agreed to.” This is pretty easy to explain away, but I think it’s still notable that Lan and Siuan had some kind of conversation earlier, perhaps on their way to Cairhien, about what they were going to do in regards to Moiraine and/or Rand. And at that point Siuan at least implied that she was going to help Moiraine and Rand, not cage him. Again, pretty easy to sidestep with aes sedai truth-lies/evasions, but it’s also possible at that point she actually had no intention to cage Rand. Because she wasn’t under Compulsion yet.
Alright, still going in chronological order here, so now we’re getting into some Lanfear-did-it specifics. And I do love-hate this one.
Moiraine and Siuan are arguing over what to do about Rand, then this:
Siuan: “Can you imagine, Moiraine, if one of the forsaken got their hands on him?”
Can YOU imagine, how absolutely giddy it would make Lanfear to make her say this, to Moiraine’s FACE, knowing full well she’s got her hands all over Rand and then some? Come on, son.
Ok jokes aside, here’s the kicker.
Rand and Moiraine in the cell in the sun palace, Rand meets Lanfear in the dream world, Rand goes up to her and says “I’m in a cell, the Amyrlin’s holding me.”
And Lanfear says, so smug, “I know.”
Um, girl? You know?? HOW do you know exactly? I definitely dismissed this on the first couple watches as oh, Lanfear just knows things, but like, no. The Forsaken aren’t omniscient. Now, could she be teleporting herself here and there and spying on everything that’s going on and that’s why she knows? Sure. But that’s boring and I’m on a roll here so let’s keep going.
She knows, not just that Rand is in a cell but specifically that it’s the Amyrlin that’s holding him there, because she herself Compelled (Compulsed?) Siuan to do so.
Ok so motive. Why would Lanfear do this, why spend the effort?
1. It's definitely fun for her. 2. She sets up this scenario where she gets to “save” Rand from the big bad aes sedai, he has no choice but to ask her for help, she LITERALLY shows up in her white knight in shining armor outfit, and she ultimately hopes this helps convince him she actually cares about him and wins him over to her side. (As she tries to tell him in the finale, I’m the only one who cares about YOU, not just what you can do. Mhm sure girl.) And 3. She gets to actively pit the rest of the aes sedai against Moiraine, who she absolutely hates.
And in doing all of this SHE MIGHT NOT EVEN HAVE KNOWN about Moiraine and Siuan! That's just icing on the fucking cake! It works either way, because if she did know by forcing Siuan to tell her about their mission and she somehow gets Siuan to admit she loves Moiraine (however that interrogation goes, idk the specifics of compulsion but the show writers are playing fast and loose with the rules anyway), well now it’s game on baby because Lanfear will absolutely be using that info to wreck both of them. If she didn’t know, and her whole motivation is the first three reasons above, then she definitely finds out at the end of 2x07, because she was definitely lurking around the corner listening to that whole exchange between them and it made her fucking night.
And finally, there’s Lanfear’s last line of the episode (I think): “Lucky for you, a broken Amyrlin is more useful to me than a dead one.” Double meaning alert! Siuan is literally lying broken on the ground in that moment, but maybe she was already “broken” well before that, being under Lanfear’s control. (And there’s your Egwene/damane parallel too, damn.) And therefore Lanfear knows exactly how she’ll be “useful” to her.
This whole strategy by Lanfear could also be forecasted from a couple episodes back, when she asks Ishamael why he didn’t just kill Moiraine at the Eye. He basically tells her the same thing, that Moiraine (I believe he uses the words “aes sedai” specifically) is more useful to him alive than dead. So mayyyybe that gave her this idea to manipulate an aes sedai for her purposes, except while Ishamael is playing the long game, she goes full tilt and mind controls the fucking amyrlin seat.
On Siuan’s side of things, every bit of dialogue she has/action she takes makes sense under the assumption that Lanfear is influencing her, because she would “believe” everything she’s doing. Now I don’t know exactly how Compulsion works (in case you couldn’t tell), if it’s like someone else actually making you believe/do things you wouldn’t normally do, or if it’s more of a you’re trapped in your own head and not in control of your body sort of situation, but it works either way. And boy let me tell you, if this theory is correct, that makes Sophie Okenedo’s performance even more impressive than it already is, because it really works either way: Siuan is genuinely doing what she believes is right for the fate of the world and has her stone cold face on to do it (until the very end) OR her “real” expressions/feelings are mostly being masked/faked by the Compulsion and what she’s being forced to do by Lanfear. It tracks! Either way! Insane!!
The other big reason I think this theory works is because of what we find out in the finale — we learn from her conversations with Bayle Domon and Ishamael that Lanfear has been pulling the strings to make this whole season happen all along. (Cue It Was Lanfear All Along music lol). She sold the bits of cuendillar (although I don’t really get why… just for the money?), she seduced Rand, she played Ishamael, all of it. So why not this too? Why not control the Amyrlin seat, if she has the capability and means to do so, especially if she means to take Ishamael off the board and sort of become the de facto leader/strongest of the forsaken. Not really their leader, I know, but it’s a good power play for her is what I’m saying.
Finally, I think this could put us in a REALLY fun place for season 3, with stuff happening at the tower. We could have scenes with Lanfear, Siuan, and Liandrin. We could have Siuan acting increasingly more malevolent or just off somehow, and while most sisters are going with it, Alanna or Leane maybe starts to get suspicious (more Leane please!). We could have Moiraine send the wonder girls back to the tower, ostensibly to continue their training but also because she needs informants to know what Siuan is planning now (which kills her obvs), and because I would love to see them Scooby doo their way through some shit, the three of them figure out what’s going on and somehow (with Alanna’s help?) free Siuan from the Compulsion. Idk but it could be so much fun you guys.
Or, I could be totally wrong. Maybe this is totally not how Compulsion works. I don’t mind either way. This was a super fun thought experiment. But man, if this theory is in any way correct, this will be some of the most twisty TV/dialogue writing I’ve seen in a minute. And, you know, I’m trying to make fishwives happen here! Cmon!
Shout out to the Post Show Recaps podcast deep dive of 2x07 for questioning how Lanfear knew that Siuan had Rand captured and finally clicking this all into place for me. If you’ve got any other pulls from the episode or the season in general that back this theory up, please share in the comments!
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amageish · 7 months
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Spider-Man 2 Post-Credit Spoilers
Time for some more signature Amageish overthinking!
Sooooooooooooo.
How about that Cindy Moon appearance, huh?
From this Gizmodo article, we do have a bit of insight into the decision to have her appear where they mention the challenge of making a Cindy unique to the GamerVerse specifically - though it's obvious they are keeping their cards close to their chest here as well.
io9: Along with giving Miles a promotion, you’ve introduced Cindy Moon, aka Silk, into your universe. Of all the Spider-heroes, I don’t think anyone was expecting her. What made her so appealing over someone like Eddie or Gwen Stacy? Arfmann: Cindy’s always been a really compelling character in the comics who, similar to [SM1's] Martin Li, hasn’t really gotten a ton of exposure outside of the immediate fanbase. There’s something really exciting about taking a character who we love, who not everybody’s had a chance to meet, and exposing her to a wider audience. Morris: I’m so excited to see what we do with Cindy. Arfmann: Exactly. That was the real drive with her, and figuring out who Insomniac’s Cindy Moon is a really exciting challenge. And we also have this interesting complication that [Cindy’s dad] Albert is dating [Miles’ mom] Rio, and we’re thrilled to explore how that creates a new iteration of this character that folks already love.
So this confirms that they will be changing stuff too! This is going to be a unique take on her, but they are also self-aware that this will be plenty of people's introduction to the character.
The main question on my mind is a pretty basic one: Does Cindy Moon need to be shoved into a bunker for 7-10 years in order to be recognizably Cindy Moon? Her father is already in the game, so we know the "parents are missing" story is probably off the table, but does she need to still spend all that time in isolation to be Cindy?
In the comics, her time in the bunker is credited in-text with being a source of so many of her defining character traits.
It is something that separates her experiences from Peter and the other Spider-heroes.
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It's something that fills her with a drive to prove herself and is the experience that made her such a talented martial artist.
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It informs her understanding of modern technology and the level of pop culture awareness she has - the former of which helped her develop her uniquely positive relationship with J Jonah Jameson.
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And, lastly, the time she had in isolation is credited with causing her to develop her anxiety disorder and communication challenges.
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So, with all that in mind, it feels like Cindy does have to be put into a bunker, right? As it's such a core part of her backstory?
Well, no. Maybe this will be a hot take, but I honestly don't think she does.
While I do think everything I've listed here is a key aspect of Cindy Moon as a character, I don't think they need to lock her in a vault for 7-10 years in order to explain why a Korean-American woman in New York city has anxiety or practices martial arts or feels a need to work twice as hard to have her accomplishments recognized. These are all very relatable experiences that do not require a fantastical superhero origin story to justify them.
Honestly, with how emotion-forward the Insomniac Spider-Man games are already, I think her being a woman who has had a depressive episode recently which she describes as having felt like being trapped would work just as well as literally having had her be trapped by a supervillain. I would not be surprised if the ability to tell a story about anxiety and depression was a factor in them selecting Cindy as the next playable character as well - the potential for a Silk game that incorporates actual mindfulness and grounding techniques into the gameplay is really high IMHO.
I also think that the final scene kind of supports the idea too? Cindy has no lines, but she does have a silent awkward wave. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but her introduction makes me think she already has social anxiety - so unless she's already been in the bunker and we'll get a story about how she escaped, then I think she will probably jut be getting powers and moving forward from there.
Anyway, that's a lot of thoughts brought about by like 5 seconds of Cindy waving. I'm just really eager to see where things go from here and am hoping we'll get a DLC trailer or a Silk expandalone announced sometimes soon...
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(PS: Having Peter already be in a committed relationship with MJ and Miles, who is also already in a relationship with Hailey, being in a psuedo-sibling relationship with Cindy is an excellent way of desexualizing the Cindy + Spider-Men relationship. I have no fears about Insomniac stumbling on that particular hurdle.)
(I do, however, have fears that I will be seeing unironic speculation about pheromones in reddit threads for the next 2 years until whenever Spider-Man: Miles Morales 2 or Silk: Cindy Moon is announced... but that probably cannot be changed, unfortunately.)
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preztee · 10 months
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Shenko (And Its Many Variations)
So, I've been replaying the Mass Effect trilogy. In regards to my "canon run", I've been torn between my Male Shepard and my Female Shepard. Their romances with Kaidan both have their pros and cons, and I can't quite decide which one clicks for me. Literally, I made a personal pros and cons list and I still can't decide.
But, this also means I've been a little unwell in the head test trying different scenarios with both Shepards. This post is meant to document my findings and hopefully help out anyone who might want to romance Kaidan, but doesn't know how they want to go about it.
Disclaimer: This post will talk about the vanilla, un-modded Mass Effect trilogy. I play on console, so I tragically do not have the luxury of the Nexus! This is for anyone who plays vanilla or plays on console like me! If you're on PC, and if none of the options below suit you, there is probably a mod that can help you out!
To begin, Shenko is very flexible. There are several variations, and it can easily be sculpted to the preferences of the player. First of all, Kaidan is bisexual, and can be romanced by both Male Shepard and Female Shepard. So, you got those options. You want a slowburn? Yeah, you can avoid romancing anyone until you run into Kaidan again in Mass Effect 3. You want the angsty forbidden love, "we never officially broke up, but we're not really together right now, it's COMPLICATED" dynamic, then yeah! You can get that too! With this in mind, I will be splitting up this post in terms of their different, possible dynamics, and the restrictions that come with each Shepard.
The Slow Burn Dynamic
Kaidan is one of three original companions whose romance can be initiated in Mass Effect 3. If Kaidan has not been romanced in Mass Effect 1, then Shenko becomes more of an angsty slow burn. There are unspoken feelings, lost time... waiting to romance Kaidan in the last game of the series is just as tragic as the other Shenko variations. The only difference is that their feelings were never expressed until the world was ending.
The Slow Burn Dynamic - Male Shepard
In the vanilla game, this is the default dynamic for Male Shepard and Kaidan. He can only be romanced in Mass Effect 3. However, it does not hurt the ship any. With a slow burn in mind, Male Shepard is allowed to talk freely with Kaidan in Mass Effect 1 without accidentally triggering his romance, and without being forced to be rude or turn him down. While it's messed up Kaidan wasn't a romance option for Male Shepard in the first game, we can still take the good from the bad - especially in the context of a slow burn.
Male Shepard's dialogue with Kaidan is a bit more dry in Mass Effect 1. However, a Female Shepard going for a slow burn will also wind up on the same dialogue path as a Male Shepard.
A Shepard on the slow burn path will notice that a lot of Kaidan's dialogue and scenes still seem somewhat... charged. If you haven't romanced anyone, Kaidan will be the companion who interacts with Shepard in Mass Effect 2's prologue, he will still be used to get to Shepard by the Collectors, he will still say losing Shepard felt like losing a limb... there's a lot of goodies to be discovered.
To initiate a slow burn romance with Kaidan as a Male Shepard, you must:
Save Kaidan on Virmire (duh).
Ensure you haven't triggered the romance for any other character by the point of Mass Effect 3. This will lock you out of Kaidan's romance otherwise. I'd recommend not romancing anyone else in the previous two games for the feel of it all, but that is ultimately up to you and your Shepard.
Buy Kaidan the bottle of whiskey while he's in the hospital, exhaust all dialogue with him, and visit whenever you get an email from him.
Avoid killing him during the confrontation and invite him back on the Normandy. Talk to him after every mission.
Meet up with him on the Citadel and return his feelings.
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PROS
There is zero effort required to initiate the slow burn. This is the default state. You will not have to be rude or turn him down in Mass Effect 1.
Kaidan's confession at Apollo's is much more sweet with Male Shepard than it is with Female Shepard due to him being more shy and roundabout in addressing the slow burn. After all this time, indeed...
CONS
Ashley is the character who approaches the beacon on Eden Prime, meaning Male Shepard will not have the opportunity to push Kaidan out of the way and talk to him after the mission.
Kaidan does not hold or kiss Male Shepard's hand while at Apollo's.
Said scene with Kaidan is also cut short in comparison to the one with Female Shepard. A lot of dialogue is cut and it immediately jumps to their sex scene, rather than allowing for Male Shepard to request that they merely cuddle (which Female Shepard CAN do).
The Slow Burn Dynamic - Female Shepard
This is where things get a little tricky. While mostly similar to Male Shepard's, if you're playing as a Female Shepard and want her romance with Kaidan to be a slow burn, you'll have to follow a few specific steps when it comes to Mass Effect 1.
It is notoriously easy to prematurely romance Kaidan as a Female Shepard. Thankfully, there is one specific line of dialogue where you can abort the romance early on.
To initiate a slow burn romance with Kaidan as a Female Shepard, you must:
[True Slow Burn] When talking to Kaidan after the first hearing, you unfortunately must shut him down. This is the only way to avoid Kaidan letting on about his feelings for Female Shepard (aside from outright ignoring him!). When he apologizes for getting informal, choose the bottom-right option: Just be ready.
OR
[OPTIONAL: Turned Down, Followed By a Slow Burn] You can be nice to Kaidan after the first meeting, but this will also mean Kaidan will outwardly ask Female Shepard if he's getting mixed signals or not. You can abort a romance with him by gently turning him down.
Save Kaidan on Virmire (duh).
Ensure you haven't triggered the romance for any other character by the point of Mass Effect 3. This will lock you out of Kaidan's romance otherwise. I'd recommend not romancing anyone else in the previous two games for the feel of it all, but that is ultimately up to you and your Shepard.
Buy Kaidan the bottle of whiskey while he's in the hospital, exhaust all dialogue with him, and visit whenever you get an email from him.
Avoid killing him during the confrontation and invite him back on the Normandy. Talk to him after every mission.
Meet up with him on the Citadel and return his feelings.
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PROS
Kaidan is the character who approaches the beacon on Eden Prime, meaning Female Shepard WILL have the opportunity to push Kaidan out of the way and talk to him after the mission. You can talk to him freely in this conversation, just not the one after the first hearing.
Kaidan will hold and kiss Female Shepard's hand while at Apollo's.
The scene before they attack Cerberus' base with Kaidan is not altered in anyway. There is additional dialogue, and Female Shepard can ask that they merely cuddle instead of have sex. Kaidan is the only love interest in the whole game who will not leave when Shepard asks for this.
[ASEXUAL SHEPARD] Kaidan's slow burn route for a Female Shepard is the only one where you can avoid sex without any consequences (like a character breaking up, leaving the room, or incorrectly claiming they did sleep together). In both the Citadel DLC and in the scene mentioned above, Female Shepard can choose to cuddle with Kaidan and he will be totally fine and happy with this.
CONS
You have to be careful talking to him in Mass Effect 1 if you want a slow burn. Either you'll be forced to be somewhat rude to him (and miss out on a good chunk of his first conversation mentioning Rahna), or you'll have to outright reject him. This does, however, work out well with a Shepard who starts off very formal and cold but defrosts over the course of the plot.
Kaidan's confession at Apollo's is a little bit more generic and blunt than his confession to a Male Shepard.
The Angsty Forbidden Love, "We Never Officially Broke Up, But We're Not Really Together Right Now, It's COMPLICATED" Dynamic
In contrast to a slow burn, one can choose to romance Kaidan in Mass Effect 1. This section will be shorter, since it is unfortunately impossible to romance Kaidan as a Male Shepard in the first game. Without mods, anyways, but that's not what this post is about. There will also be a lack of a pros and cons section, since there is no Male Shepard version of the romance to compare it to. And I won't be comparing this dynamic to the slow burn dynamic because there are no objective pros or cons. Just preferences!
Actually, the only objective pro is that Kaidan's dialogue with a Female Shepard who has not turned his advances down is a lot better and more full of character.
This version of Shenko has very high ups and very low downs! And, of course, many different outcomes. It's the forbidden love in Mass Effect 1. The drama of the Horizon encounter in Mass Effect 2. Kaidan's letter to Shepard. Their reunion in Mass Effect 3. "Don't 'Kaidan' me!"
To initiate an Angsty Forbidden Love, "We Never Officially Broke Up, But We're Not Really Together Right Now, It's COMPLICATED," romance with Kaidan as a Female Shepard, you must:
Talk to Kaidan after every mission in Mass Effect and take all of the kind and flirty dialogue options. Whenever Kaidan asks if he's overstepping, tell him he isn't.
Avoid romancing Liara; you must turn down her advances.
Save Kaidan on Virmire (duh).
Accept Kaidan's company before arriving to Ilos.
You can romance someone else in Mass Effect 2, but I would recommend against it as Kaidan's dialogue is sweeter in Mass Effect 3 if you don't. Again, preferences though! You might like that drama!
Ensure you haven't locked in the romance for any other character by the point of Mass Effect 3.
Buy Kaidan the bottle of whiskey while he's in the hospital, exhaust all dialogue with him, and visit whenever you get an email from him.
Avoid killing him during the confrontation and invite him back on the Normandy. Talk to him after every mission.
Meet up with him on the Citadel and renew your feelings.
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There are also other options, of course. Like not getting back together with him. Not getting with him at all. Letting him die on Virmire. Shooting him during the confrontation. But, these are more self explanatory!
I hope this wall of text was helpful, or at least enjoyable to read! I might have missed something, so if there's any other fun facts you want to share, please feel free to add them! Or ask me any questions! Have fun hunting for that Canadian booty!
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candycandy00 · 6 months
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Do you think Sukuna is or was a rapist?
Yes. I know there’s been some discussion about it and different people feel strongly about different answers, but for me, there’s definitely strong enough evidence for me to think he is/was. 
Let’s look at the evidence:
1.) In his very first scene, he specifically mentions women twice. The first time literally asking, “Where are the people? The women?” While grinning maniacally. Could he have simply meant that he wanted to kill a bunch of women? Sure, but I think the much more obvious interpretation is that he wanted them for carnal purposes. And the author knows this is the obvious interpretation of this dialogue. That’s likely why they used it. It was a convenient way of revealing that Sukuna is a sadistic monster. 
2.) His threat towards Nobara. He specifically mentions her to Yuji and strongly implies that he’ll do something very unsavory to her in particular (when both her and Megumi are in the area). Why single her out? Why mention her, the only girl, in particular? Why mention that she “seems lively” and that he’ll have fun with her? Now, could he have only meant that he’d have fun fighting/killing her? Sure, but why her and not Megumi, who is clearly stronger than her and would definitely put up a more “lively” fight? Again, I think the obvious implication here is the one the author intended. 
3.) We are told outright that Sukuna “lives according to his pleasure”. Meaning he seeks out things that bring him pleasure. What’s one of the most common and well known physical pleasures? Sex. And with this phrasing, it’s pretty strongly implied that he takes what he wants. Again, it’s possible that this line only meant that he ate good food whenever he wanted (something he does say later on, along with another line I’ll discuss next). But like with the other points, I think the obvious interpretation includes sexual pleasure. 
4.) Sukuna himself says, “If people are amusing, I’ll play with them.” He says this right after saying he eats when he wants. I think this works on proving the previous point, that he pursues different types of pleasure. Now, could he mean that he’ll fight people who seem strong? Of course, but I feel like he would have just said that if that’s all he meant. By saying it the way he did, it implies something broader. There are different ways to “play with” a person after all. So again, it seems obvious to me that we’re supposed to read this as him saying he’ll fuck someone he finds attractive and fight someone who seems strong. 
There’s also some less concrete evidence that doesn’t really prove that Sukuna raped anyone but instead makes it seem more plausible: 1.) Sukuna is a violent, sadistic villain who thinks nothing of murdering lots of innocent people and also eats people, is rape really off the table for him? 2.) We’re told in the manga that some villages threw festivals in his honor and gave him offerings. People were terrified of him and wanted to appease him. Back in the Heian era, it seems extremely plausible that women were offered to him. And 3.) One of the songs Gege listed as a “theme song” for Sukuna is (s)aint by Marilyn Manson, which has some rather sexually charged lyrics. I think this could definitely imply that Sukuna at the very least has an interest in sex. 
So yeah, I think all of this together strongly implies that Sukuna had his way with plenty of women in the Heian era. Now, you could argue all of those points individually. And individually, those might be good arguments. But taken all together, it gets harder to argue them. To deny that Sukuna is probably a rapist requires you to purposely interpret several scenes in the most unlikely ways possible. 
It’s not that I want him to be a rapist. I just don’t think it’s a good idea to completely deny the darker or more problematic aspects of a character. 
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shadowshrike · 5 months
Text
Dark Side of the Spawn
So I decided to scrap a much larger analysis post because I think there are only a couple other people interested in how Astarion can be interpreted as an evil character with some redeeming qualities, regardless of his major choice regarding ascension. There's a lot of interesting stuff buried in various corners of mutually exclusive dialogs or missable scenes that can make for a unique experience which I don't think many have explored.
However, I can't resist sharing one line you might get in his epilogue during the Spawn ending for those who like the ending but also prefer a darker Astarion.
Astarion: Oh no, people can be quite meek after seeing you murder their former master. Astarion: And if they do step out of line, it just takes one or two brutal examples to remind everyone else of their place. Astarion: I'm not a tyrant, I do care for their well-being, I just can't afford to show weakness.
There are three things I find really fascinating about this:
It's a line that would sound completely at home with a villain like Gortash. Pretty much any powerful, evil noble who is tyrannical but willing to justify their behavior as 'for the good of their people'. Astarion also says that their ruins are 'no palace, but maybe someday it will be' which, combined with this, can sound ominously like he's fashioning himself as a new sort of dictator of orphaned vampire spawn.
It shows him as a man who, when given any power, will abuse it, regardless of ascension. He might genuinely not recognize that's what he's doing when he's making 'one or two brutal examples to remind everyone else of their place' because his life for the past 200 years has been following a master who only modeled similarly cruel discipline. He's had no time to personally grow or discover himself before being thrust into leadership (ironically, kind of like Halsin, and we know how that went). Keeping monsters in line requires being a monster, and Astarion isn't afraid to do that. Leading through fear, pain, and feigned strength is all he knows.
Spawn Astarion does much more rationalization and talking around his questionable behaviors than his ascended version. Lord Astarion is unmistakably evil, yet nothing he says about his plans sounds half so foreboding to me, perhaps because he's so unapologetic about his 'hedonism, clandestine deals, and the occasional disappearance' to 'build up my influence over those who matter'. The spawn version needs to hedge that he's not actually a tyrant because he 'care[s] for their well-being' (something heard from many a horrific authority figure), that anyone being eaten by a vampire is 'on them' because the spawn only eat people who attack them (directly contradicted by his idle dialogue 'If I get back and they've killed another gnome, I swear - someone's getting impaled.') or that he only murders the 'right people' which means no one cares in the Underdark (which given the warring drow clans and overwhelmingly evil races down there, doesn't exactly inspire confidence).
Note that this dialogue does not appear in every version of the epilogue and includes a lot of inferences, so this isn't me saying, "Spawn Astarion is definitely this way" or anything like that. Enjoy your soft, sweet, happy endings with this character. It's undoubtedly the intended reading of most of his possible epilogue lines.
I just think it's neat that they left in some tidbits for those of us who prefer him as a fundamentally evil-aligned character. Terrible people can be victims, too, after all. I like having the option of telling a story that says someone doesn't have to become 'good' to be worthy of helping within the bounds of 'goodness'. Also that taking someone who's been enslaved and tortured for 200 years and then making them responsible for 7000 people the second they get free, while also losing a handful of other freedoms, might have some unfortunate consequences.
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Hi! I have several questions, if that's okay.
I very recently found out about daydreaming community, and, honestly, was in awe, because all my life I thought I was that one weird autistic child with really big imagination and finding this community was like a blessing, because I don't feel that alone now. But, surfing a in this part of the internet left me a little bit confused and the fact that english is my second language does not help.
So, first question. I somewhat lost the line between immersive daydreamings and MaDD. I am sure that all of my daydreamings are immersive, because all of my life I was daydreaming to the point of every single moment of free time. But I don't understand when immersive daydreamings end and MaDD begins. As far as I understood, people with MaDD have difficult time leaving their daydreams, because of one reason or another and use them as coping mechanisms. At which point immersive daydreamings become MaDD? What is the line? What are, let's say, particular qualities of it? If that's okay for you and isn't hard, can you explain it in detail with examples? I try to understand myself, and while I find in myself a lot of stuff, I don't want to invade the MaDD community as (somewhat) healthy person.
Second, is having DID is a requirement for any of this? Is this still okay to be in the community and not have DID?
Third, maybe not a question, but clarification, as far as I understood, "para" in daydream community means someone (character, your version of self, yourself and so on) you have connection with. Again, character, yourself or version of yourself, in which I am sure. Am I correct in it? Can people you know in real life, if you are religious, God(s), spirits and others, different kins of alterhumanity and fictional characters from other media also consider as "para"? Are there any other labels like this?
Thank you, if you will have time to answer this. It way be a lot, I am just excited to find some niche that I was having all my life actually is (somewhat) common experience and I am not alone in it. I hope you will have a great rest of the week.
Hi welcome! I remember the relief I felt when I first found this community too. MaDD can feel like such an isolating thing if you don't know others experience the same
This got a little long so answers to your questions are under the cut
1. Immersive daydreaming is defined as intense and developed daydreams that feel more vivid than regular passive daydreaming. It's often used as a coping mechanism and often started in childhood, but those are not defining features
Inherently, all maladaptive daydreaming is immersive. It becomes defined as maladaptive when it negatively impacts your daily life. This is widely up to your own interpretation, if you feel like it makes life (whether that's external activities or internal feelings) more difficult for you, as MaDD is not yet a diagnosable disorder
Personally, some ways it negatively impacts, or has impacted me in the past: emotions feeling more real for people in my head than anything in my real life, embarrassment/anxiety of letting my daydreams show on my face in front of people, paranoia regarding mind readers despite knowing they don't exist, injuring myself from acting out daydream scenes, forgetting to eat/drink/take care of basic hygiene in favour of daydreaming or just losing track of time, dissociation, derealisation/depersonalisation, second hand distress from my paras
Anything like that and more can be counted as your daydreams being maladaptive. The coiner of the term, Dr Eli Somer, has actually made a list of proposed diagnostic criteria, should MaDD ever get to be in the DSM. You can find that here
2. DID/OSDD and MaDD have significant overlap/comorbidity and MaDD has been proposed as a dissociative disorder itself (for a research paper about this see here) but one is in no way required for the other
I'm not a system, but I am very vocally supportive of them because my best friend(s) is, that and the comobidity is why you might see a little system content on my blog
3. Para is a term used by the immersive and maladaptive daydreaming communities to describe any character within a daydream. Anyone/thing that exists in real life or as a spiritual concept can't be considered a para unless they are directly part of your daydreams
There are other terms such as parame (a para you daydream from the POV of), paraself (a version of yourself in a daydream), veritbond (a para that feels more independent and has a deeper connection and meaning to you), and paracosm (a world in which a daydream takes place). A comprehensive list of all ID/MaDD terms can be found here
I hope this answers your questions in a clear/helpful way. You're always welcome to ask more!
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shotorozu · 2 years
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Not inherently a request, just some brain rot.
Thinking about writing letters back and forth to Izuku. Being his pen pal as he tells you all of his hero stories, and you telling him stories of your life and hobbies.
And one day during a villain attack, he saves a person’s life: (Y/N). That name sounds familiar…
And then he realizes it’s his pen pal.
pen pals
(tw: mention of a hostage situation and a gun, pro hero! au, they/them pronouns, reader is a civilian— whether or not they have a quirk is up to you because i mentioned nothing about it lmao)
note(s): ngl this would make a great plot for a fanfic, if i borrowed this idea would you be mad? it’s just that magnificent i wish i had your thinking /gen
»»————- ♡ ————-««
rising in popularity in the hero industry is something unbelievable to izuku.
he’s grateful, yes— to be such a symbol and figure to many people is a honor not many people can have.
yet at the same time, izuku has a hard time believing that he’s truly worth all that, since he really wasn’t mr. popularity back in middle school.
he knows that he’s come a long way, heck— he was forced to knowledge it at some point.
but it does stun him when he takes a moment to realize that he’s no longer just.. the awkward, clumsy and rambling teenager that had no idea how to handle his quirk, and fainted at the idea of his favorite heroes speaking to him. (when, he became more polished in socializing by a significant amount and has the numbers of his favorite heroes)
which is why it does shock him when he realizes how popular he actually is— popular enough for people wanting to be friends with him for.. being deku, the number 1 hero in japan.
the more he’s been in the hero industry, the more he came across people that just wanted to be friends for popularity, status, opportunities.
of course he couldn’t generalize everyone, but it still hurt when it happened.
and he wished it wasn’t true— but it was, and it stung. he’s satisfied with having the same friend group since his UA days, but it wasn’t like he could tell his friends (who are heroes as well) about his work stories, and his mom was out of the picture since she’s undeniably his biggest fan and knows everything at this point.
which is how he turned to pen palling.
he was first encouraged to try pen palling out by yaoyorozu, he liked how it sounded after all. the pen pals were decided at random, neither of you weren’t required to know their appearance, age, or job— which was perfect for him since he could decide when to tell his pen pal about his occupation when he wants to, or if he wanted to tell them at all.
the two of you clicked when you two first wrote to each other. he didn’t tell you he was the deku, but he told you he was izuku instead.
although he was mostly okay with the “picked at random” aspect of pen palling— he was mostly worried about his pen pal not liking him enough to write back to him.
but you did.
after the first week of writing to you, he knew you were immediately going to be a part of his life.
he likes how nonchalant you are about writing to a hero, how genuinely interested you are in his stories— drawing a cute little character at the side, one that reflects exactly how you felt about his entire letter and your emotions.
(as time passed, a part of him wished that you’re at least a fan of him.)
you told him on the third letter that your name is Y/N L/N, and that you’re around his age— older? younger? you didn’t really specify, you just gave an age range but did it really matter? he likes hearing about the life of Y/N L/N, he likes hearing about your hobbies and interests.
there was that inkling of him that knew that he probably shouldn’t meet you— it sort of cracks the entire concept of pen pals, but y’know what? life is funny.
he meets you alright, but not in the most picture perfect way.
he’s the first to arrive on scene in a hostage situation— it’s a guy with a gun, and a civilian at a mall.
and as per usual, he diffuses and disarms the perpetrator quickly, yet carefully— with no casualties.
“hi! uhm, are you okay? are you hurt?”
“no, no! i’m fine. seriously. i’m just startled.”
his brows furrow with concern, and he scans your body for injuries with a focused, hero gaze. “are you sure?”
“yes!”
“it looks like you have a scratch on your knee. it looks pretty deep. i’ll bring you to the medics.”
and it’s when he hands you over the medics— when he hears a familiar name.
“can you tell me where you are? what’s your name?”
“my name is Y/N L/N, and i’m outside the mall in musutafu.”
he pauses— his heart skips a beat at the familiar mention.
god, he hopes it’s you— because if it’s not then..
“uhm!” izuku cuts in, “may i speak to them?”
the medic nods, allowing some alone time and space between you two.
“Y/N?” he calls familiarly, loving the feeling of your name on his tongue.
“oh, yes?”
“it’s me— izuku.”
and then you realize, and it all comes together.
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legendaryvermin · 2 months
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I don't want to rehash a bunch of discussions I had on Twitter the other day, but I've been thinking about something recently that I wanted to jot down. Basically, oftentimes in trpg
Rules are Scaffolding
I saw a prominent ttrpg designer post a partial blog post (that requires some kinda membership so I probably won't read it) where they asked the following question:
"[What do rules do for me that can't be achieved thru freeform rp]?"
Maybe this question is a good one on their part, answered thoughtfully. To me, it smacks of expert's bias.
For some background, I play predominantly in 2 kinds of games: a home game of half a dozen local folks where I am, and a bunch of Actual Play live shows where I'm usually a player. My home group is made up almost entirely of people who have been playing ttrpgs only in the last decade, and who are there not because they love storytelling and strive to get better at it, but because we are pals and it's a good way to have fun on a Saturday afternoon when yr in yr 30's. The AP scene- which regularly co-mingles with the design scene- is full of people who have played a lot of characters, have tons of experience telling stories, making and characterizing their PC's, and generally making me cheer and breaking my heart as they do so. My home group has a player who, bless her, doesn't really have a personality for her characters that isn't just her in a hat.
I bring this up because I have played APs of games with lots of different degrees of structure for players, and truly, I can see how someone gets to the question "what does a game do that playing pretend doesn't" when they are only in environments where people are already very accomplished pretend-players. It seems like a legitimate question when the outcome of any ruleset with the folks you play with is more or less the same, just with a different aesthetic setting.
*But the validity of the question goes out the window when I'm playing with people who don't do this shit all the time.*
Here's a short list of things that I have seen my close friends struggle with in low-structure games:
Sharing the spotlight
Creating a central conflict
Having character relationships that change
Knowing when to end a scene
Knowing when to let time pass
Doing the thing instead of meticulously planning it
Focusing on one idea rather than chasing every butterfly
Creating interesting consequences
I could go on.
I have learned that my friends enjoy themselves way more when a game meets them halfway, because they aren't all professional pretend-makers. When a game uses rules to help tell a player what their character can or can't do, when it illustrates the consequences, when it gives them numbers that change how they interact with the world, they are much more dynamic players, and they enjoy the stories they tell that much more. Not every group needs that scaffolding, and some groups need it more in one place than another. Some scaffolding (combat, most often ime) takes the place of the kinds of roleplay and pretend making that people would otherwise enjoy, and sometimes the scaffolding brings the players, rather than the characters, into conflict.
Put another way, rules shape play the same way a playground does.
Some kids are happy to have nothing but an empty lot and their imaginations.
Some kids don't know what to do with their bodies until they see the monkey bars.
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