i really like how trimax constantly emphasizes that vash's kindness is a choice, a deliberate and powerful one. it contrasts him so well to knives, who's so disdainful towards humanity as a whole. but vash actually interacts with people and is involved in society. and, by extension, he's been hurt by it so many times. but despite this he chooses love everytime and defends humanity.
meanwhile, knives has never participated, always seems to watch people from a distance. still, he makes claims about the cruelty of humanity, and he uses the idea of human cruelty to justify his actions, despite the fact that he's likely never directly been victim to it the same way vash and the other plants have. not to understate the whole tesla situation, but he assumes that he has the authority to decide the fate of humanity, even though out of every plant he's probably not the one who's in the position to make that sort of decision. (and frankly, it's not a decision any single individual should be making)
so this moment is so poignant, though vash might not be directly talking about himself we know it applies to him, we know how much violence he's suffered. it's written on his skin (his shirtlessness in that scene is very pointed). and we know that knives hasn't really experienced that. and knives is ultimately very self absorbed, he assumes he knows what's best for the plants and what they want, so he uses them to achieve his goals without consulting them. unlike vash, who as we see in the finale, has made efforts to communicate with the plants (communication and connection is such a big thing with vash!) he's familiar with them, and they him, and that's one of the reasons they seem more willing to follow vash's path than knives.
the difference between vash and knives is that vash sees everyone as an individual with inherent value. knives is unwilling to do this and he turns groups into monoliths, refuses to see individuals or nuance.
one of the big ideas of trigun is that conflict occurs because people don't see those around them as individuals. so what really saves the day isn't guns or firepower, but understanding between people. vash helps facilitate this understanding between humans and plants because they're all familiar with him, he's put a lot of effort into getting to know everyone! and with everyone he meets he embodies the idea of love and peace, helps them believe that cooperation is possible.
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John Paul Jones changed my life.
He really did.
As it is his birthday (the third since I became his biggest fan and I don't think I'm exaggerating), I don't think there's a better time to say it.
I became obsessed with Zeppelin in April of 2020. What better time than to have all the time in the world. And slowly descended into madness. But it wasn't until about August of that year that I really developed my attachment to John. I hadn't even worked through all of their discography by that point, but as soon as I latched onto him, I went back and devoured the catalog again, making sure I heard his every note.
His work taught me how to listen to music. How to really listen. From Zeppelin, to TCV, to Diamanda, to Heart, to Seasick Steve, and on and on and on. I don't think I'd really been able to hear music until that point. Suddenly, a world opened up to me like I had never known. Everything has more color now, more depth. Thanks to him.
At the end of November 2020, I joined Tumblr to lurk. However, who was I kidding? I don't tend to lurk anywhere in my life. It's my Leo moon 😉
When I realized there was fanfiction (gasp! fanfiction!) written about this man, I lost my gd mind. I ate up the works of @lady-jane3, @nature-and-music, and anyone else that had something to say on the subject (of course, I read most Zeppelin fics indiscriminately).
Then came the fateful day. I had to try it for myself.
I'm glad I did. I'm glad I did it even when I only had a few readers (@jimmys-zeppelin, you were the first person who asked me to tag you and I never felt confident enough to until more people started asking).
Over and over, I returned to the well of inspiration. John Paul Jones well and truly became my muse. And so came my library.
The feedback I have received from writing these fanfictions was unprecedented. I couldn't believe it. I was pinching myself. The times people have said, "I can't believe I get to read this for free," I feel like I'm in a daze.
And then, finally, stars aligned. I fell into writing romance professionally from writing John Paul Jones fanfiction. That's the long and short of it.
Why am I so intrigued by him? I wish I could tell you what compels me to devour every piece of media I can find of his. What compels me to return to his persona and character with an seemingly unlimited well of creativity. What compelled me to fly across the country to watch him perform three songs in a six hour concert.
Simply put, he is the only man ever. The only artist ever. The only ever. I hope upon hope I can meet him however briefly someday, but if time gets the better of us, I won't feel any less blessed and grateful to know his music, his spirit, his curiosity, and every dry remark he made to anyone who would listen.
He's changed my life. And I'll go as far to say that he saved it too.
That's just the power of John Paul Jones.
Happy birthday to the babygirlest of them all, the one and only, John Paul Jones. 🥳💖
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Tagged by @foxlin-fantasia to do this, thanks for that! Sorry it took forever. (And I think I did it wrong but whatever it's too late to go back now!)
Have more rabbit in his old stage before I, more or less, settled on his look.
���� Animal: The obvious and only choice is a rabbit...
🌱 Colour: Earthy greens and browns are his favorite colours to wear but, honestly, who can go wrong with black too? As for a favorite colour in general? Probably a bright yellow like the sun. It makes him feel happy to look at!
🌱 Song: Something happy and folk-y because I said so.
🌱 Number: Honestly, he isn't much of a numbers man. And it's not like he deals with his own finances well or... at all, let's be real. The number 8 is pretty fun to look at, though. It's two little circles! Yeah... he really doesn't care at all, sorry.
🌱 Day or Night: Both are beautiful in their own ways but if he had to pick? The day time. Only because being born on the First with perpetual, blinding light had his eyes adjust to it. Now if he ever finds himself in the dark, he can barely see at all. There are times Dusk has to guide him up and down the stairs if it's too dark at home, even. But nighttime has the moon and stars and he's still very infatuated with those...
🌱 Plant: I don't know if this is supposed to be his favorite or a type I think represents him so why not both! A flower to represent Farron would 100% be a sunflower. They live for a long time and they're vibrant and full of life! Just like this dumb viis man. As for his favorite flower... a gloxinia. It's the first flower he gave to Dusk! He thought he wouldn't know what it meant but jokes on him.
🌱 Smell: Hm, I've not really thought about this before but, as a big cook, I have to assume Farron probably always smells a little like whatever he's made throughout the day. Also probably a touch flowery since that's his main hobby and he's always handling some kind of plant. If he hasn't done either of those things in a day he would smell like the bath scents he has a home, either minty, like pine or a citrus scent. He has a bath everyday. Always. They're his favorite thing!
🌱 Gemstone: Citrine because it is the happy stone, so of course.
🌱 Season: The summer is always going to be his favorite. Or whenever is warmest, really. Although he does think snow is beautiful and... he lives in Ishgard now... blame Dusk for that. In that case his favorite season is "wherever the nearest fireplace is, please."
🌱 Place: There are so many places that Farron loves but if he had to pick one he would have to pick Il Mheg as a whole. He loved playing games with the pixies, absolutely adored the amaro (especially the babies) and the nu mou! Not to mention all of the breathtaking scenery. It's so vibrant and lively, he really had the best time whenever he got to go there.
🌱 Food: Giant popoto pancakes! They're fluffy and sweet and you can pile fruit on top of them and how can someone not love them? Farron and Dusk even started having a weekly pancake day once they started living together.
🌱 Eorzean Deity: Having come from the First, Farron didn't really pay attention to Eorzea's gods. But if he had to pick one to identify with the best it would be Nophica. The botany lady? It's an obvious pick.
🌱 Eorzean Element: Wind, I suppose? It gives off a sense of freedom as it can't ever really be restricted and Farron feels the same now that he's away from the shackles of his life on the First.
🌱 Drink: Always coffee. It doesn't matter what kind, he's guaranteed to love it. But he's also big on alcohol, just not in a "one type is my favorite" kind of way. Whatever makes his brain stop thinking, no matter the taste, is always a favorite. Although that was the old him and he's better now... probably.
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