#it's also not just the tower

[bestworstcase]

You’ve mentioned a few times that Salem is awkward, could you get into you’re reasoning and evidence for this characterization (as she is currently)? I’m fascinated by this reading and fully persuadable. Her origin story being the tower, it makes sense she’d be a little socially stunted but she was charismatic enough then to convince others to fight for her through words alone (tho that is different from in person social skills (to that point she persuaded kingdoms to revolt against the gods)). Millions of years of isolation wouldn’t put a shine on amicability, but these things /inform/ characterization. I’m interested in what you see in her as awkward in how she’s presented to us in the Current Era (Remnant Era?)

this post regarding her interrogation of oscar in 8.4 is salient because that's the scene that rly convinced me she's being written this way on purpose. there's a lot of contributing factors, though:

both then (fomenting rebellion) and now (recruiting hazel), salem's standard approach to getting people on her side involves basically walking up and "demonstrating her powers," i.e. inviting or just letting the person she's trying to sway kill her over and over again until they're willing to hear her out. she can (and did) make a compelling enough argument for people to follow her, but the way she chooses to make people listen is by subjecting herself to extreme violence.

further, it's shown in V8 that even within her own inner circle, there is a lot of confusion regarding what salem wants—so much so that tyrian and hazel think diametrically opposed things. why does this confusion exist? ozpin (and most of the fandom) believe it is because salem lies; but a) salem hates lies and liars, and b) the idea that salem herself is deceitful is founded on things jinn says of her in the lost fable, which is a verifiably unreliable narrative. if we look at the two onscreen instances of salem speaking of her goals—"the moment you put your desires before my own" and "in pursuit of a new world"—what strikes me about both is her vagueness.

when cinder questions her in V5, salem answers in a very oblique way: "working with bandits? leaving ruby alive? what's the point!?" -> "never underestimate the usefulness of others; take leonardo. he was one of ozpin's most trusted, but now…" both the bandit (raven) and ruby were or are among ozpin's "most trusted," and salem's point is that she wants to turn both of them against ozpin (like leo and summer). but she does not actually Say That. i made this analogy in the oscar interrogation post but i'll make it again: the way salem answers cinder's question is like showing her work on a math problem but not actually giving the answer. a lot of salem's dialogue is like this: she talks in examples, hints, and implications.

in fact the one time we have ever seen salem clearly state what she means is after ozma asks her "what are you saying?" <- i find this to be significant not only because it flags that other characters find salem's speech to be opaque or unclear sometimes, but because salem answers him honestly and without any hesitation, which indicates that she was not trying to be vague or obfuscate her meaning on purpose. asked for clarification, she clarifies.

then there is what she says to ozma once he tells her the whole truth: "why spend our lives trying to redeem these humans when we could replace them with what they could never be?"—now i am not going to get into my whole theory here, suffice it to say that i think that by "them" salem meant the gods in accordance with her longstanding ambitions—but the salient piece for this discussion is that this bolded phrase is a direct paraphrase from the final lines of 'the shallow sea' and i do think that that is, given the preponderance of thematic links between salem and the faunus, probably intentional, i.e. salem is quoting that myth to express her rejection of ozma's mandate (compare ozma's reliance on fairytales to communicate and make sense of his existence.)

lastly, there are several occasions when salem is talking (to her inner circle in 6.4, or to ironwood in 7.11, or oscar in 8.4) only to be interrupted with unexpected new information (ozpin is back; ruby used the lamp; oscar is fronting). in the first two examples, salem responds by either kicking everyone else out or leaving herself. see the linked post for a more thorough breakdown of her conversation with oscar, but suffice it to say that she responds in a very awkward and disjointed way before she's able to get herself back on track.

so we have a pattern of:

speaking vaguely or being cryptic, in a manner that other characters explicitly find to be confusing,

clarifying readily the one time she's asked for clarification,

paraphrasing the concluding lines of a myth about people embracing change and leaving their old selves behind to live their truth in a new world that is harsh but free, in order to articulate her rejection of "redemption" and the divine mandate,

and ending conversations very abruptly when interrupted mid-speech.

and this pattern exists in correlation with a pair of soliloquies whose language is markedly more eloquent, even poetic, and delivered with a clarity and emotional smoothness that is often lacking from her spoken dialogue.

what this suggests, to me, is that salem struggles to articulate her thoughts (the soliloquies) into words (her dialogue), and that she deals with it with preparation—by planning out what she intends to say and how she'll say it in advance. that she relies heavily on scripts and rehearses speeches and conversations in her head specifically to avoid having to speak off the cuff, in essence.

(and i think this is generally the basis for ozma's distrust and doubts: she told him the truth but in a really confusing and cryptic way that didn't always make sense. if she wasn't coherent—and how could she be after millions of years alone?—of course he wasn't sure whether he could believe what she said!)

basically, i think she's capable of being compellingly persuasive only under particular circumstances (planned speeches given to an audience primed to listen to what she says by violent, spectacular demonstrations of her immortality), and she flounders in ordinary conversation because a) she struggles to find the right words to express her meaning clearly, b) her natural affect is blunted and sometimes erratic (<- "well… :) perhaps you and i can have a better working relationship……… >:( oscar, was it? /:"), and c) she knows both of these things make her come across as an insincere liar.

<- there is a performative aspect to… nearly every scene in front of her inner circle or her enemies; that informs this reading too. as does the fact that there are many, many characters who are tangibly more charismatic than she is—ozpin, blake, oscar, cinder, robyn, ruby, yang—whereas the character whose manner of speech most resembles salem's is pyrrha, who speaks in an overly formal way and explicitly feels socially isolated and unable to form real connections with people.

#it's also not just the tower #it's the millions of years being the only living person on the planet #i think part of it is she's so accustomed to having nothing and no one to talk to except herself #like a lot of her Being Cryptic comes across as salem #really needing the other person to ask clarifying questions bc she doesn't know how to organize information cogently #but she's surrounded by people who Don't Ask Questions

[rubydubydoo122]

I saw someone say a while ago that Jason attacking Tim at Titans Tower was just Tim hallucinating bc he was feeling guilty about being Robin even though Jason's not dead. Which is great, amazing, I think the whole Titans Tower thing is Bonkers, but I think it would be so much funnier if Jason tried to Gaslight Tim into believing the Titans Tower incident never happened, not because he's like evil, he's just super embarassed about it. like Or Tim did actually hallucinate Jason at TT but thinks it was real, so when he tells Jason about it, Jason's so fucking confused, and Tim thinks Jason's Gaslighting him

Tim: Remember that time when you broke into Titans Tower and beat me half to death while wearing a Robin costume from party city

Jason: What? Tim, I know i'm crazy, but I'm not...Insane.

Tim, pulling down his collar: I literally have the scar to prove it

Jason: Bruce told me that was from Clayface pretending to be me, which, might I just say rude. Tim... are you ok? Did you hallucinate me attacking you? like, I know I've done that before, but...

Tim, frowning: I don't think I hallucinating. I was benched for a while after because I had to recover-

Jason: well, you were benched around the time I was dropping hints that I knew who Bruce was outside of Batman, he probably just benched you to keep you safe. You probably were working too many cases with too little sleep and your imagination started to run wild.

Tim: Are you gaslighting me?

Jason: Are you gaslighting me?

#jason todd #tim drake #titans tower #gaslight gatekeep girlboss #schrodinger #they argue about it for eternity #but neither of them check the footage #because they think the argument's so silly #they also never ask Bruce #it would be so easily solved #but if they ask somone they're someone's gonna get in big trouble #Bruce: Jason why are you gaslighting Tim? #Bruce: Tim you need to get more sleep or I'm benching you #Jason honestly doesn't remember a lot from his fresh back to gotham era because he just represses it #so he really doesn't know either #and he's scared to know if it's actually true or not

[stevebabey]

personally love the interaction in the start of s4 where steve goes “ugh, you know i don’t do double vhs.” when robin suggests doctor zhivago. like ugh robin!!!! we’ve talked about this before!!! steve has a limited attention span and if robin puts on something too long, he will start shooting her with rubber bands

#or seeing how many paper clips he can stack into one tower #the answer is about 7 #also love the idea that if u put on a movey he loves #like a sports film or something #he’ll be in the aisle — supposed to be shelving — but just staring at the viewing screen like :O #he’s a guy who stands with his mouth open if he’s distracted trust me #and that’s when ROBIN tries to hit him with a rubber band - aiming for his mouth #the great incident of ‘86 is when she manages to get it in and steve chokes on a rubber band for 15 seconds #anyways how often do u think they fight over movie picks ? #stobin #platonic stobin #steve & robin #stobin headcanons #they’re my fave besties :D #ok nanite

[twisting-in-wonderland]

Tsum boss battle-

bonus(?) and wip stuff under readmore (lol)

I would play a twst rpg - Deuce would be a good heavy physical defense and physical attacker methinks

wips - 'lineart' and the original deuce and tsum sketch that i deemed too boring, so the boss battle was drawn instead lol

#twst #twisted wonderland #art #ram's art #deuce spade #tsum deuce #twisted tsumderland #ALRIGHT I MANAGED TO FINISH THIS BEFORE THE EVENT ENDED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #i havent. finished it yet -BUT this was entirely a joke based on the fact that the tsums can grow in size lol #you can easily envision one of those boss battle images with the tsum towering over you right? #anyways i wanted to draw deuce as well - so win-win! #i just think it's funny to make a TSUM a boss battle like why is it so funny to me---- #ALSO why is it so hard to find a reference for the back of deuce's hair..... even my twst artbook didnt help---- #i sorta winged it with the closest reference i could find lmao #the colours look nice and vibrant on my laptop and washed out on my phone PLS tell my my phone is the one lying...............

[lazylittledragon]

did somebody say dadkarios

#bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #gale dekarios #galemance #dadkarios #pregnancy cw #just a man and his slightly terrifying wife and goblin offspring #the sign won’t stop her because she can read but she’s ignoring it #this was inevitable we all knew it was coming #i almost regret spending so much time on these but they’re so pretty #i love decorating the wizard tower #side note have you ever had a baby pull your hair it fucking HURTS #they’re out for blood from day one #spoilers for future stuff but poor cyra goes through fucking HELL with that baby and it looks nothing like her #also i'm fully a gale abs denialist. where's his tummy you cowards make him Soft

[beatcroc]

listen i love these two being besties as much as anyone, but i'd like to also propose the possibly funnier alternative in which the noise Did Not Know about fake peppino before, and is very perturbed at this guy who suddenly isn't nearly as easy or fun to torment. 🔥🔥🔥2024 DISCLAIMER: this was made a whole ass year before we had playable noise do NOT come at me for blatant mischaracterization it didn't exist yet🔥🔥🔥

bonus:

hey! it's a series! fake peppino world tour: [noise]<-u are here [noisette] [peppino] [gustavo] [gerome] [noisette again]

#i'm sure they'll start getting along eventually. #pizza tower #fake peppino #peppino spaghetti #the noise #goooood hellotime tagreaders this is going to be a series #not chronological or connected or anything just a bunch of silly fake pep+rest of the cast interactions bc i love the him #next up is noisette bc i also love the her #arting #Popular post #one Thousand pizza notes....wrow #being in large/active fandom is wild theres just people out here #pizzaposting

[inkclover]

we love a short king who lifts

stronk bug! :P

#i mean i imagine Scarab is defo pretty tall on his own #bro towers over fionna and the gang #but then there’s prismo…who just SHOOTS upwards #also HUZZAH human prismo design am currently comfortable at doodling #prohibitedwish #scarab #prismo #prismo the wishmaster #fionna and cake #adventure time #inky doods #inky art #was thinking the first time prismo spends a day as human…he ain’t good on his feet #and scarab just went fuck it and YOINK him up #he’d say it’s to not waste time dawdling #but rlly walking outside in slippers? #not on Scarab’s watch >:O

[shorthaltsjester]

the mighty nein - critical role

this is a place where i don't feel alone. this is a place where i feel at home.

#also with softer vibes. i offer They #every silly little brainheart found family deserves a to build a home edit #the mighty nein maybe most of all. thats my family #also the lyrics deliciously well suited to m9. #when jester pulls that. stupid tarot card for fjord. home or traveler. and there's a carnival wagon. and veth says Thats Us! . them #i just think about . the tower is their home the xhorhouse is their home the lavish chateau is their home the balleater. the mistake. #the nein heroez. veth and yezas apartment. the dome. fjord and jesters living room floor. #a bar with a silly name on rumblecusp #also like. the song has stone and dust imagery. gardens and trees. #the inherent temporality of life and love and how that holds no bearing on how greatly people can love. im losin it okay. #ive been making this edit for days straight with my computer screaming at me for trying to shove 143 episodes of cr into a 2min20sec video. #crying becuase. theyre a family do you get it. they were nine lonely people and most of them had given up on seeing their own lives #as something that might be good. something that might make the world a better place. and in the end they're heroes. #and it doesn't matter if no one else knows because They know they're heroes. and they wouldn't've believed that was true when they met. #rattling the bars of my enclosure. to be loved is to be changed #posted on twitter and want to get in the habit of posting here too bc. #general reasons but also bc . i have noticed some of the ppl liking/sharing it are also ppl who shit on my ops by vaguing about my posts #which is in general whatever but does leave a funny taste in my mouth. #critical role #the mighty nein #cr2 #caleb widogast #caduceus clay #jester lavorre #fjord #veth brenatto #yasha nydoorin #beauregard lionett #mollymauk tealeaf #my posts

[unexpectedbrickattack]

your headcanon abt peppino performing while he cooks reminded me of that scene in kiki’s delivery service where the chef guy does a cool spin with baking pans solely to impress kiki’s cat

peppino’s in the kitchen with brick and he’s like check THIS out. does a sick pizza flip or smth. brick’s like :O!!!

hes so talented !

#pizza tower #peppino spaghetti #peppino #brick the rat #brick #arts #mine #answered #i had this on my mind ever since u first sent this #its sooo cute #hes got really REALLY good hand eye coordination and control #and he doesnt really ever get a reason to flex that heehee #hes a good juggler too; lots of nifty hand tricks #and hes good w sleight of hand stuff #hes a talented lil performer #brick is VERY entertained <3 #also i feel like its not immediately apparent #but hes working the oven for most of the day #so its just very hot in there which is why hes a little Pink

[baalzebufo]

posted earlier about how fake peppino doesnt like its reflection because it reminds him that its not the ‘real’ peppino and kind of shatters the illusion. but also i wanted something a lil sappy because, despite being freaked out by his clone, peppino is a good egg. so, This

#SORRY i got my tragic monster trope in the funny pizza meme game #alloyart #fake peppino #peppino spaghetti #also gustavo is here #UM sorry for all the doodles in the tag lately fjkskj im just. im feeling very Inspired lately #i will try to make more 'finished' art someday soon i prommy... #inspired by a drawing i saw of fake peppy looking in the mirror and being freaked out... made me sad #pizza tower

[thewinchestah]

and that’s a wrap guys!! I’m not okay!! But at the same time I’ve never been better!!

#alastor swearing is my religion #im Brazilian I use cuss words as ponctuation #also I love that he clearly cares for Charlie and the hotel but they didn’t make him a Good Guy TM #that motherfucker still has his schemes and im here for it #ALASTOR DANCING #ALASTOR SAYING I KNOW SOMETNING YOU DONT #“you look and absolute mess Charlie #HE JUST GOING LITERALLY INSANE VANESSA LOPES LEVEL OF INSANE IN THW RADIO TOWER #I WANT HIM TO BROACAST VOX’s DEATH WHILE I SING ALONF #HIS FIGHT SCENES WERE SOOO GOOD #EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT #alastor #hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel spoilers #the radio de on #O ALASTOR TA VINDO AÍ E O BICHO VAI PEGAR VOX É O CARALHOOOOOO NUNCA BOTOU O ADAM PRA AMAR

[springthecowboy]

He's so good at conversing with others

#pizza tower #pizza tower fanart #noisette #the noise #peppino also has a wedding ring its just hidden

[eggwishing]

short & stout rose And awkward and gangly dave >>>> i think rose would move with a ferocity like she could accidwntally bump her elbow onto the corner of a table and the table would crumble . dave posture’d be so rigid that he’d fall like a tree and shatter like glass from a light breeze

#dave strider #rose lalonde #homestuck #im gonna yap more abt my drawings ive been restrained for too long thinking people wouldnt care😤😤 #my friends at school building up my confidence for better or for worse lol #i have thoughts!! things 2 say!!! not a lot but hopefully getting out the things i do have will make room for more…^_^ #anyways #daveis just egon schiele art to me now #discomfort of tha body ……. Davesprite would be even worse imo #this also means dirk is a short king. and roxy would tower over him LMAO #dirk the shortest in the entire group #i need to draw egbert n jade more😢😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨im sorryyyyyyyyyyy #hits post shyly

[manichewitz]

sam and frodo’s relationship is so crazy theyre like what if we had a homoerotic adventurer’s bond that was so strong it overcame the power of supreme evil, saving not just the world but one another, and the only reason we were able to survive the violence around us was through sheer love for each other, and although we’re not canonically lovers our relationship is so much more intimate and tender than acceptable norms for male/male relationships that we transcend easily definable labels and thus become queer irregardless of whether our attraction is platonic, romantic, or sexual…and we were both hobbits

#literally going insane over them #sam/frodo is just so POWERFUL #sorry i just finished return of the king after watching the trilogy for the first time #needless to say its done a number on me emotionally #i blame elijah wood and the heartbreaking love in his eyes when he says im glad to be with samwise gamgee at the end of all things #and i also blame sean astin and the way he says dont go where i cant follow #absolutely stunning brilliant magnificent #the lord of the rings #the fellowship of the ring #the two towers #the return of the king #lotr #sam/frodo #frodo baggins #samwise gamgee #frodo x sam #jrr tolkien #alex talks #samfro #fav #greatest hits #1k

[oifaaa]

"I just think his [Jasons] motivations are a bit stupid, why get mad at Bruce about getting a new Robin when hes the second Robin, it doesn't make a lot of sense"

Yeah weird that it's almost like Jason was already mad at Bruce long before he found out about Tim and his overall motivations were 99% to do with Bruce and very little about Tim

#dc #jason todd #tim drake #batman #bruce wayne #im begging people to stop centering tim in jasons anger at bruce #like if you dont like Jason or think he's plans are stupid thats grand #but saying theyre stupid bc they focus on tim replacing him as robin just #like i get mad when people center joker too much in jasons anger #but at least i can see how people can get that impresion #(tho i guess i can also see how people can think hes pissed at tim) #(*shakes fist at clouds* damn you stupid titans tower fight nonsense)

[thelonelywhale]

Smooch!

Pose inspo from theposearchives

#sometimes you just... stare at a wip #give up #and cheat with a bunch of gradient maps/effects #this had an elaborate background that I completely nixed #now it's just 'general anime but maybe in the tower?' #also essek is definitely floating to be taller #my art #critical role spoilers #critical role #cr2 #shadowgast #caleb widogast #essek thelyss #dnd