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fumifooms · 1 year

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The autism coding of Kimblee - character analysis

Bestie that’s called masking. Also I beg to disagree you fucking suck at it lmao

Notice how he speaks of this difference of being a “heretic” in society’s mind. Not with a focus on what it is or means but with a focus on the perception of it, on the ostracization it creates, on it being created by norms and society. There is little weight given to it but it is treated as a social construct one can easily figure out and avoid because it is superficial, or formulaic. Small talk, what are the right things to say, or to reveal about oneself and when, the “test” is a formula he thinks he has mastered.

So boy! There are some things to unpack here with his character, welcome to this character analysis. This is going to be loooong. I’m autistic, and I think he’s autistic as shit based on a lot of things and moments. I do want to make a disclaimer: you should go into this with a will to humanize, but this is not to mean that I talk of him being redeemable or “a good person deep down”, no. This is an analysis for the goal to understand, and in the end that’s what most of us just wants anyways, being understood I mean. I’ll be analyzing him as a coherent and multidimensional character, not as a plot device for a story. Alas I won’t be analyzing his psychology and ideologies that much, just its ties with autism and stuff, so this isn’t a complete analysis of Kimblee as a character by any means. I’m also speaking exclusively of manga Kimblee. Most manga caps I used are from @everykimblee, thank you for your resources!

Points:

The polite gentleman

Tone deafness

Logic and lack thereof

Malice?

Strange but strong moral code

Explosions, and stimming

Misc

Conclusion

The polite gentleman

It is oh so interesting, then, that he values his manners so much, isn’t it? He has peculiar priorities and fixations, like good manners, even as he does atrocities. We’ll talk about his tone deafness more later, but for now let’s focus on this angle a bit.

Suits, fedoras, a pure, spotless white. Symbols of the epitome of class.

As stated, he keeps his good manners even as the situation would normally have them dropped, or they are useless, and such. They are treated somewhat like how he would convictions, when he speaks of strong wills and being firm in your beliefs. Then his manners are not something he’s willing to compromise.

But still you have to ask yourself, does he maintain this persona for himself or for others? I think it may be interesting to note that this aspect of his character isn’t much seen before he goes to and leaves prison. In camp he sits like other soldiers do, very unlike how he sits in the rest of the manga, etc etc. This suggests that either manners became more important to him after his 8 years long of incarceration, or that sort of like a chameleon he adapts himself to his environment. With his awareness of being a heretic and how to play around it, allegedly in his own word, the latter is a theory with support. Both are plausible, or perhaps he’s always had a strong taste for suits and politeness and the warzone simply wasn’t a place to show that.

Regardless of him genuinely liking all of these high end tastes or not, I’m fascinated with the idea that it may have developed as a defense mechanism. People who wear suits and act respectable like he does sociologically inspire good faith, that they are, well, respectable. My theory that he doubled down on this angle after prison would be because, well, he has passed 8 years of prison doing very little and being treated with very little respect and empathy. It is not unreasonable that straight out of prison, he would want to reclaim a sense of humanity and respectability through acting out the codes of high society. But again, does he do it for his own self-esteem, or to try to convince others that he should be respected? Few people see men in suits and imagine that they’ve been in prison once.

To be aware of being a “heretic”, and saying he knows how to pretend to be normal, Kimblee growing up has doubtlessly learned good manners and their importance in this social act and how others see you. Is his politeness genuine or forced? In the end I think it matters little, in the end it’s still as important to him regardless. I’m not going to talk about the social trauma autistic people usually experience, but I do want to reiterate that a nice suit as an instant token for passing as normal + getting charitability is something I think he’s aware of and values. His demeanor and outfit, you could say, is part of his masking. Listen, in a college essay I studied other essays about how prom dresses are treated as a token for future success in life + social recognition. A suit as a transactional token for entry into respectable society really isn’t a social dynamic that far fetched.

The way he speaks of masking, as this “easy formulaic test”, does make me think that this is the case, that his choices in demeanor and fashion are part of this role and that he knows what he’s doing. Indeed, if a suit is all he has to wear to be accepted, his loner attitude becoming a “serious & mysterious” aura, his strict demands becoming simply a severe no-nonsense man used to quality and who has things to do, well, the test is easy to trick. It’s all about framing. He’s still taken to it on a personal level though imo, he does speak of his suit with fondness etc etc.

His gentleman attitude might have deeper, more important and personal roots for his character than simply being a cool aesthetic or random taste, is what I’m saying.

Tone deafness

It is ironic that his manners are important to him because they are often severely lacking or misplaced. Like most things, I believe that Solf keeps his manners because they are a judge of character that is important to him, beyond it being for others’ perceptions of him. So even if inappropriate, he stays true to himself and these beliefs of his, he does not want to perform as much as he leads us to believe by saying he pretends to be normal. Though this tonedeafness then is sometimes intentional with a will not to betray his true self, I do think that often this is not the case and his tone deafness is out of genuine misunderstanding. Though very often it seems like a state of being, rather than situational awkwardness, like a disregard for reading a room instead of simply making mistakes.

For example, Armstrong letting ishvalans flee willfully through a hole in the wall, then Kimblee coming and killing them, afterward saying to Armstrong: “What a relief, if it had been anyone else you’d have been court martialed for sure”. It seems he did this genuinely to pick up his compatriot’s slack in a will to help. Is he aware that Armstrong did it willingly and it’s a thinly veiled threat not to do it again? Possible, but the other case seems equally possible, but regardless in either case his delivery and actions were still tone deaf. For example, him telling everyone in camp “do you all not like killing? Why are you all even here, you chose this.” In another example, his detached tone in most situations and amused or casual tone in life threatening situations.

He is shown to be rather perceptive on a technical level, though not so much in social situations. Below is him confronting Edward about having a sniper targeting him.

He is extremely nonchalant in serious and grave situations. It is also the inappropriate emotions he shows that are infamous to him, the thrill and glee he gets by fighting. To me these are easily explained by adrenaline and Solf being generally understimulated and leashed by his polite standards in society (though of course these are still issues he has), but to most it seems like senseless hysterical behavior.

Notably it is this tone deafness that makes him an heretic to others, what ostracizes him. He did not do worse than other veterans in Ishval, Roy and Riza were also extremely proficient killers on the field. The reasons Kimblee gives for being on the field and “doing what they gotta do” are reasonable and cool-headed, most of all he has a point in how he gives everyone a wake-up call that they chose this by becoming a soldier and that they’re all complicit. No, Kimblee is an heretic not because of these concrete things, but because he is not miserable on the field. People, both in world and readers/viewers, simply think that his emotions and attitude while killing others are misplaced for the situation. It’s his tone deafness that unsettles others. He doesn’t have the sense to at least act apologetic, unlike Roy who acts like a martyr yet still chooses to do it every day. Sure his ideologies and enjoyment of killing are disturbing and unhinged, but the tone deafness is what sells it, sells him as a villain. It is an emotional, social reaction.

He is also so, so blunt. His whole speech in Ishval to Roy & Riza is enough proof and yet he tops it on the regular. Below is his meeting with Miles:

He’s so hard to destabilize and it’s so funny. I love his three ?s. This lack of emoting is the sort of iconic autistic trait that makes people see us as emotionless inhuman creatures.

Logic and lack thereof

He is incredibly logic oriented and strangely composed most of the time; does not react to things as one would be expected to, as discussed. He loves to talk philosophy, and debates with others often, even stopping a fight to spend some time discussing with Alphonse. He often engages in hypotheticals, like when he logic’ed his way into challenging Riza that she probably held some pride in her work, or when he proposed a deal to Ed having assumed his priorities and motivations; He does not understand others through innate understanding or empathy but through logically working through what he knows of them and of the human psyche to then turn what they do into a predictable formula. (Oof shit, that hits hard and a little too close to home ngl.) Which is perhaps why he is so fond of people who have strong convictions; they are honest and upfront, they do not waver, they are easy to understand and to predict, he can understand someone like that and their internal consistency. If someone thinks Edward Elric is going to kill them, then they do not know Edward Elric.

Has an hard time understanding others’ mentalities, often encountering people who do not follow his logic which confuses him, like his Ishval speech and when Edward didn’t follow his “self-preservation” deal.

His goal for the better part of the story is to be a spectator to the “battle of wills” between homunculi and humans. You could even say that it is to assuage a curiosity. The fact that he gives no emotional stakes to a sense of belonging with humans that should innately make him want to fight for humanity makes sense as well, especially since humanity doesn’t accept him much. Myself, I scoffed when Edward said this. I have hyper-empathy, but to me there should still be a better reason than a blind sense of community to one’s species to pick a side. It might seem like the obvious reason to most, “side with the humans!”, but to me without sound reason it just seems like blind toxic patriotism, or blind faith and adherence to a cult. Kimblee’s reasoning is survival of the fittest applied to evolution, that the superior species will be the one to survive because that’s how nature works. Personally, I say side with the humans because the homunculi have senseless goals that promise destruction upon the world, but y’know, whatever. The important point here is that Kimblee fundamentally works on a logical basis. The “side with humanity!” argument without further reasoning is an emotional one, yet it is one that appeals to most. /neu He does indeed reveal he has some personal stakes in siding with the homunculi, not only because they let him do whatever he wants alchemy wise, not only because he loves fighting for survival, but also because in a double meaning with the opening excerpt of this post, should humans win then he would have to go back to a life of pretense where his “existence” is threatened.

Malice?

Another interesting thing about him is that he doesn’t say the awful things he says out of malice, neither is it the intent behind most of his actions. It’s always a twisted sense of helping, or just doing his job, or doing his victims the ritual show of respect of battling them with the full extent of his will, and remembering them. He has his own way of looking at things, of what constitutes morality that we should concern ourselves with; honesty is more important to him than compassion and hipocrisy peeves him. By killing the ishvalans that Armstrong lets flee, he “rights a fault”. Kimblee not seeing how ill-intentioned many of his actions seem certainly call back to his tone deafness, that or a blatant disregard for conformity.

Strange but strong moral code

As mentioned several times, Kimblee values a strong set of belief in someone, and this even if he personally disagrees with them. I don’t want to repeat myself too much so this section will be short but yes, then it isn’t surprising that his own code is very strong and he is very confident and unashamed of it. I don’t want to spend paragraphs deconstructing his moral code but his actions are consistent to it and he does not betray them, going to the point of bringing Pride down even in death inside of the philosopher stone because he judged Pride’s actions cowardly and hypocritical. Rigid morality is a trait of autism.

By strong, I do want to precise that I do not mean morally irreprehensible or correct, I mean internally coherent and resistant to external challenging. He is set in his beliefs.

Explosions, and stimming

Lastly but perhaps most importantly, the most iconic thing about him: the explosions.

Apparently there’s no post on here calling what Kimblee does stimming and stims headcanons so -cracks knuckles- heavy is the head with the big brain I suppose.

Understimulation is a state in which the body doesn’t get enough stimuli or sensory input to keep one invested in their surroundings and such. It can be the cause of a meltdown. I myself used to struggle a lot with it, it got easier after I got diagnosed and I understood the issue. For example, I am allowed to listen to music, usually glitchcore, while taking academic tests. Back in the time that was not the case, I used to have songs stuck on loop in my head while I did tests, often hummed them, particularly for mathematics.

Why does Kimblee even like explosions? Well, the cues he gives us is that he loves the sounds it makes, of destruction, not only of the screams it causes but the explosion itself. He calls it musical terms like symphony and calls it artful. As he says himself, it shakes his whole body to the core, and he fixates especially on its sound. That is all sensory input, to see it as music and artful is that it is pleasing to his senses as he himself expresses. Look at the way his body quivers in the aftermath and he goes unhinged and emotional. Sensory issues right there, chronically understimulated guy getting a shred of sensory satisfaction 100%. It is release to him. Explosions are a deafening burst of loud and short noise, accompanied with intense light and heat. It is, in short, a bomb of stimuli. Explosions are a very intense sensorial experience. This is what Kimblee likes about them, even delighting in the size and length he can make his explosions achieve, making it always more and more intense. Much like his ideal lifestyle and activities of risking his life and his soul battling, explosions give him thrill and adrenaline unlike anything else. In monkey terms, boom boom scratches the brain itch.

Explosions as a stim/intense and pleasant sensory experience is actually a thing I’ve thought to explore with an oc of mine prior to watching fmaB, but that really is how I immediately interpreted Kimblee’s introductory scene. My (autistic) brother when he was a kid very often had to be driven around in a car before he’d sleep, for example. It’s a fullbody sensation of vibrations and floating, being in a car. The brain even registers the sensation as strange, which is how motion sickness happens. Babies are sensitive to stuff like that, my bro wouldn’t sleep without it because, without it, he was understimulated, not stimulated enough to be able to sleep. Rocking babies is the same kinda thing, plus the comforting aspect. Weighted blankets, too. Everyone self-regulates their sensory input, aka stims, to some degree, bouncing their leg, etc. But sensory dysregulation is a trait of autism, and severe states of understimulation and overstimulation are what makes it a neurodivergent experience.

Screams in the stone being like lullabies to him is another sign of him having understimulation in general. At the very least, he has a strong resistance to overstimulation by, like Pride said, retaining his individuality in the overwhelming storm of souls. ”Ah yes I am amongst an overwhelming sea of screaming souls. I love it here, it energizes me actually”

Honestly I just think it explains parts of his behavior and glee for war if he generally feels understimulated. It explains that lust for battle and destruction. Like yeah bitch you’ll feel great and manic and thrive if you get sensory bliss from the chaos and “symphony” of war, definitely. /gen

Also, he was in prison so like who can possibly blame him for being bored af, but stimming wise I do count playing with the rock in prison. The way he rolls it in his fingers and all. Even regurgitation, that’s bound to be a moderately intense sensory experience. If he repeatedly swallows it and regurgitates the stone then that can def count as stimming. Maybe the reason he didn’t go more insane than he did is because he had the one thing to fidget with lmao. The screaming thrumming perfectly sized & smooth evil explosive rock really is a great stim toy, huh.

I get intense and off my rockers too when I’m understimulated ngl, slap happy even.

He really does seek adrenaline and thrill. I think in the above he was getting somewhat delirious due to blood loss though. He’s definitely prone to manic states. Sure okay grandma whatever you say, let’s get you on the stretcher.

Misc

And as my usual autistic analysis finisher: he sits weird. More seriously, analyzing sitting positions can be interesting because it’s again about understimulation. Legs crossed, arms crossed, it’s weight on your body plus feels snug idk. But personally I need to have my legs crossed at all times when I’m sitting, except in extra comfy chairs. Body language is a whooole thing to analyze with autism, because infamously people misinterpret them; for example crossing your arms is considered to be a defensive or hostile gesture, when a lot of people would just go “wtf it’s just comfy”. Insistant and direct eye contact is seen as a will to dominate, meanwhile for a lot of people they’re literally just staring thinking nothing of it. Etc. However like discussed at the beginning of this, it can be theorized that he tailors his body language to his environment, like compared to when he was on the Ishval warzone.

Conclusion

Cool motive still murder bro. Def a lot of fun neurodivergence going on in his character though. I am obsessed with this type of autistic character, who as a survival mechanism becomes hyperaware and very logically and psychologically attuned to social norms and how people work to try to fit in and survive in the group. I am OBSESSED with autistic characters who know the game so well and try so hard yet still feel uncanny to others. Humanity is, after all, a social species. And one who does not take kindly to heresy. Definition of heresy: opinion profoundly at odds with what is generally accepted. Heretic does not intrinsically means harmful, however. Labeling something as heretic is often an emotional reaction, like say how racism or homophobia is initially from a xenophobic gut instinct, and it is an emotional reaction that makes us dislike Kimblee.

Not to say that’s the ONLY reason, of course. Kimblee is justifieably generally disliked. But as someone who values cause and effect, it is ironic to me that Kimblee is considered a worse veteran than others because he refuses to act guilty over it and does “his job” with a smile on his face, worse than Roy who boiled people alive. I find it ironic that straight out of the gate we have a sinister opinion of Kimblee because of the framing when he was in prison, of what it meant that he was in there and why he wasn’t miserable 24/7 in his cell, instead smiling and humming, and it’s all ironic because the reason he was in prison is… He killed his superior officers, who are active agents in malicious corruption and are 100x more times gleeful about the Ishval war than him. Framing is an emotional thing, and if there’s one thing Henry Creel taught me is that it’s quick to rob a character of humanity. If humanity performatively want people to be miserable, then is it so surprising for Kimblee to want to reject it? Take my hot takes or not, I’m not interested in debating philosophy unlike Kimblee, I just wanted to showcase his autistic traits and it got a little thought provoking by nature lol. Thanks for reading! :) Is this last emoticon tone deaf and/or uncanny? I can’t tell… Ah well!

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kittenintheden · 2 months

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Willstravaganza 2024 - Rejection, Worship

So I'm doing it, I'm turning this prompt list into a multichapter exploration of Wyll from pre-canon through canon. LET'S GO.

Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw, Ch 1 Rating: M Word Count: 950 Content: pre-canon Wyll, young Wyll, questioning faith, vague mention of death during childbirth RE: Wyll's mother

AO3 Link

A series of vignettes following the Blade of Frontiers from his youth through his adventures with the squad, loosely based on prompts for Wyllstravaganza 2024. There will be angst, and found family, and friendship, and fighting, and romance, and very likely smut. We begin in the Gate with a seventeen-year-old Wyll questioning his faith, or lack thereof.

Wyll is not a religious man.

Much of the time, the patriars and politicians in their orbit find it curious that he and his father aren’t overly dedicated to the gods. They pay proper deference, of course, but the Ravengard men do not practice any rites, make time for regular prayer, or kneel before altars. Most people receive a polite smile and a gentle change of subject when they press the matter with the Grand Duke. In time, people stop asking altogether.

Every now and again, it comes up with the younger Ravengard. Wyll is young, only a lad of seventeen, but he holds himself as a man, refined and noble. His father ensured it so. His dedication is to the Gate, to the people. There is no time to be spread thin appeasing the gods. Not when the city needs its leadership to lift them when they are low.

But Wyll knows the true reason his father lowers his eyes when they pass the temples, why he picks up his pace ever so slightly until they clear the holy district. Wyll knows, every time he looks upon the portrait in the hall of his father standing behind a seated paladin, her fingers intertwined with his upon her shoulder, her golden eyes and dark skin radiant even on canvas, the bound hands of Ilmater prominent on her ceremonial chestplate.

Ilmater called suffering holy, and sacrifice in the name of life the most holy cause of all.

Wyll has never quite forgiven the Crying God for calling for his mother’s sacrifice at the moment of his birth. He should, it is expected. But he cannot.

Perhaps that’s why he finds himself in Rivington today, standing just outside The Open Hand temple. Wyll rubs small circles into the hilt of the shortsword at his hip as he stares up at the belltower. While the Grand Duke encourages him to regularly venture out to the Lower City to be among the people, he insists his only son keep a blade close. Just in case.

Wyll is not the only Ravengard who fears further loss.

Pigeons flit back and forth over the tiled roof, some with tightly rolled parchment bound to their legs, some without. The afternoon sun is warm, but not uncomfortably so, and the people mill about. When a few here and there note his modest but unpatched clothing, they ask if he can spare a bit of coin, and he does. Every time.

He should go inside. Pay his respects, check on the clergy. See how he can help those who suffer, those who are in need.

Wyll absently reaches for his vest pocket where a gold chain hangs and rubs the links between his fingers. He’s had it as long as he can remember. A gift. An inheritance.

His feet will not move.

“Are you all right?” says a voice from beside him.

He turns to find a human woman standing there, perhaps ten or so years his senior. Wyll is a tall youth, yet she nearly matches his height. A beauty, certainly, with flawless skin and crystalline blue eyes, her shoulder-length auburn hair swept back underneath a ceremonial headpiece. He’s unfamiliar with the iconography, but it’s clearly important for her to display it so prominently.

“Yes, saer, thank you for your kindness,” Wyll responds, inclining his head to her. “Simply lost in thought.”

The woman hums, giving him a slight smile and turning her gaze onto the monastery. “The Broken God is quite keen on keeping his lambs lost, I suppose.”

Wyll’s brow twitches ever so slightly. It’s fallen out of fashion to refer to Ilmater as The Broken God. “He’s led me here, has he not?” he says. “No better place for one to be of service.”

She gives a light laugh and then goes wide-eyed, seeming to realize her offense. “My apologies, young saer. My mouth got ahead of me. I meant no disrespect to you or your patron.”

It’s Wyll’s turn to laugh. “No, I am not of Ilmater’s clergy. I uphold his teachings as best I can, but the god and I, we… ah.” He bites his cheek, considering his next words. “Have our differences,” he finishes weakly.

The woman tilts her head and looks him over. “What god does a man of the people worship if not the god of those suffering most?”

Wyll arches a brow at her and she shifts her eyes over to the children playing nearby. “I saw you handing out coin just now.”

“Subtle as I try to be, I can never quite manage,” he says, reaching up a hand to rub the back of his neck. “Guilty as charged. To answer your question… none.”

“Interesting,” the woman says. “You do so seem like the type. I mean that as a compliment, by the way.”

“Then I shall take it as such,” Wyll says. “Forgive me, I don’t recognize your symbol.” He indicates her headpiece.

She smiles, then. “A lady looking to strike a deal,” she says. “One who always gets her man.”

His brow furrows again. “I see. Well. My apologies for my sudden leave, but I’ve come here on business and I should get to it.”

“Of course,” the woman says, nodding her head to him. “Do take care.”

Wyll pays her a tight smile and turns toward the postmaster, intending to bring up the mess his delivery system leaves once again.

Behind his back, the woman’s smile goes sly, her eyes briefly flashing red.

“See you soon,” she says.

#wyll ravengard #bg3 wyll #baldurs gate wyll #wyllstravaganza2024 #wyll week #wyllweek2024 #wyllweek #kitten writes #wyllstravaganza

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norcumii · 2 years

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your name came up in one of the discord screenshots about the flamethrower drama, i didn't want to ask until i saw your tag comments but it was about useing your goodname to weigh in on this situation. Honestly i don't know the truth of what happened other than the alleged abuse matches personal experiences from completely different irl people

This is fascinating. Now, maybe I missed a post in all the drama – gods know I’ve tried to keep clear of a lot since I cannot with much of anything lately (see the recent lack of regular posting), but I honestly don’t know how many discord screenshots ARE running around in the first place, let alone which ones you’re referencing. The one post I do know about, I couldn’t find my name ANYWHERE in there until in the actual text down near the bottom of a very large image. Hell, I don’t think I even spoke up in any of those screenshots.

So I have no idea if this is actually in good faith or not, but let’s proceed as if it is just in case, given I have no idea what’s actually being asked in the first place. Here’s my best guess!

Look, I’ll be honest. I don’t know what went down – I wasn’t there when shit happened. In 2016, I was getting out of my own terrible relationship, and spending several years focused ENTIRELY on trying to become functional again while trying not to watch Agent Orange burn down the White House. It was still a really stressful time, even out of that relationship.

Here’s what I do know. I’ve been chatting with Flamethrower pretty consistently over roughly 8 years. The only times I’ve EVER heard anything about phoenixes, aliens, gods, demons, and/or angels has solely been in the realm of discussing fic. I don’t recall reincarnation even coming up once in any context. I’d like to think we’re pretty good friends, so one would think if that was a significant part of her identity there’d be SOME kind of segue when we were talking about related elements over eight years.

It would be some pretty impressive compartmentalization to keep me entirely ignorant about that. Certainly not impossible, but impressive given how our conversations tend to wander. And even if that IS the case, even if she does believe any of the more out there things, consider this: I’ve been talking with her for eight years, and not once has this come up. If she does buy into anything about phoenixes, aliens, gods, demons, and/or angels, then for the last eight years she’s respected my boundaries and interest and/or lack thereof regarding theology and mysticism to never even get into it. Seriously, any time that part of the accusations shows up, THAT part is the one that leaves me gaping and gesturing in vague and useless circles because it comes entirely out of left field. If she does believe it, she sure as shit isn’t working to spread that doctrine.

I visited Flamethrower and her family somewhere in...*squints* 2015? Early 2016? I don’t know offhand, just somewhere in the last year or so of my hell relationship, but before their housemate moved in. And I spent a delightful long weekend with her and her family. The kids were incredibly sweet and one even lent me their room for that time so I’d have a cat free place to sleep – I’m wildly allergic to cats, to the point where I tend to travel with my own air filter nowadays because unfortunately, so many of my friends also have cats.

The atmosphere was thoroughly comfortable – I do know for a fact that during that time and for several years afterwards, I was hypervigilant to interpersonal stress and friction (the first few times my parents had tiffs and disagreements after I moved back in with them were WILDLY stressful and I was freaked out WELL out of proportion to their grumpiness with each other). I think there wasn’t 100% smooth sailing – there was something about a meal not going as planned, I think? And the kids had a few disagreements – but it was all settled pretty quick and gave off the vibe that these are folks who know how to conflict resolution. Sure I got a little twitchy - I still do when watching interpersonal conflict on tv. It cleared out very quickly, and far moreso than when my folks have had disagreements.

(For the record, the kid who lent me their room never seemed grumpy or resentful about the fact, and both kids seemed to be happy to have a guest over. The biggest issue seemed to be that I tended to slip and addressing them as ‘kiddos’ which they were very kind in continuing to correct me to not do that.)

Even the cats were wildly friendly – even moreso than the usual “ah, new human I see you are allergic PET ME THAT WILL MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER” shenanigans I tend to get from random animals. I recall that at one point I was sitting on a couch, poking my laptop while chatting with folks, and one of the cats decided it was the perfect time to cuddle up in my lap for pettings. I screeched and tried to levitate; the cat kept going right OVER my legs and had to be corralled by one of the humans.

I don’t understand how in a high conflict environment the cats could be THAT comfortable not just around a new stranger, but also to go running TO their humans for protection.

I did not see ANY evidence of violence, unusual levels of strife, or controlling behavior. I have no freaking idea what went down in a household I wasn’t in. I remember during 2016 to 2018 there were chat conversations about strained interactions; very occasionally annoying neighbors; NEVER anything about any sort of demons or demonic possessions. Really, to my knowledge all we have is the claims of one person against the other, and when it comes to the claims I’ve been hearing against Flamethrower?

I just know that the math doesn’t seem to add up.

#deadcatwithaflamethrower #conversation #anonymous #disk horse #since people keep finding this I'm gonna be as clear as possible:#I believe and support Flamethrower #not because she treated me nice once or whatever #but because the weight of the evidence I have is in her favor #make of it what you will

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inapat17 · 1 month

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Text-screen relationships 1/4 - No country for old men: a book to a movie, a movie to a book

I'm interested in the relationship, in a broad sense, between text and image. In this case, I'm looking at the case of a book brought to the screen. One is a book written by Cormac McCarthy, and the other is a movie directed by the Coen brothers. For me, No country for old men is a special case of a book adapted to cinema, because the Cohen brothers’ film respects McCarthy’s original work while transcending it to create a new one.

A book with cinematic qualities

No country for old men tells the story of the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong near the Mexican border in southwest Texas. This tragic circumstance sends the three central characters in pursuit of each other: Llewelyn Moss has found and taken a suitcase full of money; he is being pursued by the killer Anton Chigurh; and their two intertwined leads are being followed by old Sheriff Ed Tom Bell. In No Country, McCarthy writes about the depravity of America by capitalism, and about a world irreparably destroyed, broken and torn apart by the violence of wars (all three characters are war veterans: Vietnam or WWII).

The Coen brothers like the book for its darkness and noisy violence, as well as for being set in American space.

For them, the setting plays a central role. Whether it is Arizona in Raising Arizona, Minnesota in Fargo, Los Angeles in Barton Fink and The Big Lebowski, New York in The Hudsucker Proxy or Texas in Blood Simple. Each film defines a territory, and this is often what justifies the action. So, the story is always intimately linked to the setting and the protagonists are thus regularly captive of their environment.

In No Country, it’s Texas and its scorching plains, which is both a concentration of the country’s historical memory and the birthplace of the Western. The evocations of the frontier and the wilderness run through all the Coen brothers' films. Indeed, they join McCarthy in depicting Texas as a frontier, a primitive and violent space that bears the legacy of the conquest of the West and reminds us that the United States was built on violence. And here it’s both the historical border, that of the settlement of the West, and the contemporary border, that of the 1980s. So, here, man’s main adversary is indeed the country, as evoked in the title: a primitive territory haunted by the ghost of past violence and the spectre of future violence.

The opening of No Country for old men, reminiscent of John Ford’s westerns (The Searchers, 1956).

The Coen brothers’ film is therefore the result of the understanding of a literary universe, its specificities, its atmosphere, its tone, and its style that gives the illusion of fidelity.

The Coen's adaptation was incredibly successful, especially because the film is considered to be very faithful to the novel. Indeed, the brothers are guided by respect for the authors, but they don't stupidly adapt classic literary works, they are rather in the same line as François Truffaut who spoke of "establishing an intimate relationship" between literature and cinema.

Indeed, the particularity of No Country is that it was a script before a novel. The text is therefore placed under the sign of orality. The dialogues are relatively short and not very punctuated. This is a point that strongly contributes to the film's fidelity to the text since the Coens did not need to rewrite scenes or dialogue.

However, the rhythm of the film contrasts with that of the novel. Indeed, the film is slower: the scenes and shots are long, whereas the novel has a more breathless rhythm.

And what the Coen bring to the original text is above all their dark and offbeat humour. This can be felt in the astonishment of some of the characters and in the transformation of certain situations. Also, by the camera angles, the editing, the music (or lack thereof).

But since it is impossible to turn 309 pages into two hours of film, the Coens had to cut out some of the subplots, thus creating many ellipses. But these ellipses are often related to the character of Chigurh, which makes him even more enigmatic than he is in the novel. So I would like to try to study Chigurh as a figure. I think he is the most interesting aspect of the film from a cinematographic point of view, since he is the very best example of the intermediality between literature and cinema.

From the literary figure to the cinematographic figure

Indeed, in McCarthy’s novel, Chigurh is presented as an allegorical personification of evil incarnate. Sheriff Bell refers to him as a “prophet of destruction”. Chigurh is thus presented as an elusive figure, as a “ghost” (to quote Sheriff Bell again). And throughout the film, Chigurh is consistently associated with extreme shots, unnatural angles and perspectives, which give the character a supernatural quality. Most significantly, Chigurh is introduced as a faceless figure filmed from the back, then he is repeatedly filmed as a silhouette or a shadow.

And it’s through the power of cinema that Chigurh can fully embody himself as a spectre, a figure of the in-between, both actual and virtual.

Anton Chigurh is thus already a purely cinematic figure in McCarthy's novel.

Chigurh regularly appears in reflections: on mirrors or car windows for example.

#Anouck Morin

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bharatiya-naari-sab-pe-bhaari · 2 years

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Handsome is....

So I have been thinking about this a lot but I didn't think it was necessary to elaborate too much on this cause frankly people who are intelligent don't need an explanation and those who need an explanation are too dumb to accept it. So its just wasted energy.

But yesterday my very good friend and me were discussing the same thing and surprisingly she (who by the way is not dumb at all and I love her) did not agree with me. Now it maybe her own biases but I felt like I should make a point.

So here comes my too long ted talk one more time..

I have seen too many HP artists' magnificent works since I joined the fandom and even before it. Now no doubt these people are way too talented for me to even think about crossing them and I say this with zero sarcasm and a hundred percent respect towards their imagination and artwork but I really do want to put forth a point.

You know what is the best part about everyone's description that Rowling has written in throughout the series?

Its that there is no adjective in anyone's looks coming close to 'handsome', 'pretty' and 'beautiful'. Of course with exceptions which I may have missed (I did read the works too long ago) and someone whose main characteristic goes with their physical looks. But it always has a very strong reasoning with regards to their personal traits.

Fleur Delacour :

Veela so physically attractive to the opposite sex

Sirius Black:

this guy's only saving grace is his good looks, 'haughty' beauty to portray a rich pureblood arrogant Casanova kind

Draco Malfoy:

again, 'haughty' good looks to give meaning to his arrogance and money (see a pattern?)

Lucius Malfoy:

nothing saying he looked handsome other than we can assume his son may have got those haughty good looks from him.

Narcissa Malfoy:

'nice' looking from direct paraphrasing (So Draco could have got that from his mother)

I am assuming all the Blacks bearing resemblance to each other may possess that same characteristic arrogant beauty which is kinda reasonable

Bill Weasley:

you know what I think? He was termed handsome for the sole purpose of showing the difference or more correctly the lack thereof after getting mauled by Greyback.

Cedric Diggory:

Excessively handsome.. thats just for Harry, Cho and Cedric triangle

Tom Riddle:

Come on, this a full on parallelism drawn from Lucifer, the Devil with stunning looks who fell from grace and turned to a monster from Hell..

Lily Evans:

Come on, there has to be another reason except achieving the unachievable to pursue her by Potter Sr. And of course to show the seemingly endless contrast between her and Severus. Though honestly I don't know how beautiful she was cause Petunia is said to be a horse faced woman (like they are siblings... one cant look like Aphrodite and the other like a gorgon unless their parents have been less than faithful.)

I think other than these characters no one has ever been termed directly as conventionally handsome, pretty or beautiful. But then I don't think anyone has also been coined as ugly or physically repulsive.

But then as a reader or artist one is completely free to imagine the character in any way they seem fit. That is all a game of perspective because then again beauty is subjective and highly individualistic. Never has societies rules of how beautiful or handsome one should look dictated what we think a person looks like.

But what I completely detest and find repulsive on a purely chemical level is when people come and casually comment on the artists pages or drawings is how could you make this and this character look so goddamn beautiful? (I am paraphrasing here from a quote I had come across many many times on three guesses? surprise surprise.. Snape arts).

And also because Snape happens to be my favourite HP character I have sadly faced this one times too many.

And honestly this has to stop.

It's embarrassing guys really!

Just stop.

Digressing from the subject of what handsome or beautiful is to the beholder, even in the original books majority of the characters have never been termed as beautiful as artists draw them.

You wanna see the evidence.

Harry Potter

Throughout the series, Harry is described as having his father's perpetually untidy black hair, his mother's bright green eyes, and a lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead. He is further described as "small and skinny for his age" with "a thin face" and "knobbly knees", and he wears Windsor glasses

Handsome?

Nope.

But do people draw him like he is some Greek God?

Yep.

And that's completely fine.

2. Ronald Weasley

Rowling introduces Ron as "tall, thin and gangling, with freckles, big hands and feet, and a long nose." Ron has the trademark red hair of the Weasleys and is indeed one of Harry's tallest schoolmates, even outgrowing some of his older brothers.

Handsome?

Nope.

But do people draw him like an American football star?

Yep.

Also completely fine.

wait.. long nose?

Have I ever seen any pic of Ron with a long nose? People love saying Snape's nose is like a vulture's beak but then my dear fellow readers why haven't I ever seen Ronald Weasley sporting an elephant's trunk?

Caricature and reality should be kept different.

3. Hermione Granger

"In the Harry Potter books, the brilliant Hermione Granger is described as having frizzy, untamable dark hair, brown eyes, and protruding teeth, but more often is defined by her intellect and devotion to her friends."

Don't even get me started.

Emma you are wonderful but sadly you aren't Hermione.

But wait, some people have drawn her like her book's description (very rarely though)

Not that I have any problem with the supermodel Hermione granger.

4. Remus Lupin

"Remus was described as having a pale face with premature lines, and light brown hair that, as he progressed through his thirties, became more and more grey. The lines on his face and his greying hair were the results of the great deal of stress his body underwent with each full moon."

Handsome much?

Nope nada noppity

But then all of Remus Lupin's pics show him like a tired chocolate boy pretty from the eighties even in his thirties.

Again, not that I have any problem.

5. James Potter

"James was a tall, thin man with hazel eyes and untidy black hair that stuck up at the back. During his Hogwarts years, he had an indefinable air of having been well cared for and even adored. As late as his fifth year, he started wearing glasses, though he had not in his first year."

Oh God.. guess I am doing this.

However much all of you want him to be, he isn't Alan Taylor Johnson folks.

Yet however much it pains me to admit, the truth is it really doesn't bother me. No, not even if I hate him as a character, artists and readers are welcome to imagine him like Narcissus (from the beauty aspect also not that he wasn't narcisstic..sorry I am getting carried away)

6. Bartemius Crouch Jr.

"In his youth, Barty was described as being a pale young man with straw-coloured hair and freckles."

If you find him beautiful then cheers to you genuinely, but neither he is described directly as handsome.

7.Luna Lovegood

"She had straggly, waist-length, dirty blonde hair, very pale eyebrows, and protuberant eyes that gave her a permanently surprised look."

Not at all the platinum blonde moonlike beauty people draw her like. She almost sounds a bit creepy to look at physically.

But like I said before she could look stunning in someone's mind's eye. Doesn't matter really. But the point is that her book's look isn't maintained everywhere (almost nowhere) so...

Etc etc etc....

So actually my point is that physical appearances in Harry Potter have almost always been factual, objective and with good reason. It all links to the plot. Everyone's appearance does. Thus spreading this absolutely meaningless and worthless hogwash about Snape being ugly cause he has sallow skin, hooked nose and oily hair is fundamentally stupid. (And I have never read him have a receding hairline.. is it mentioned anywhere in the books?)

So either all of the people in the books were rather plain and general looking or all of them had their own specific physical attractiveness which is distinct as seen by their fans, followers and admirers.

Justifying making a caricature out of one person in a drawing where everyone else looks like Roman Gods and Venetian Goddesses, based on their distinguishable features is not only bullshit on principle but also tiresome.

Haters honestly hate away.. can't take away your one source of entertainment but please do it on your own forums, posts and artwork. Make Snape look like some monster for all I care but targeting certain artists because they find him handsome is just disgusting.

So to finish my title for this post

..... is as one perceives them to be.

Phew! That was long.. but it was stewing in my brain for far too long.

PS :- This is with all respect to all the Harry Potter artists there. You people are phenomenal and I won't measure up to any of your talents, not by even one sixteenth.

PPS_1:- You know who else was tall, thin, sallow, dark haired and curved nosed? Viktor Krum (whom artists draw like the statues of Pagan Gods) and he actually has a curved nose. That is to emphasise that hooked and curved are different physically.

PPS_2: Fred and George are said to resemble Charlie more ie; on the shorter and stockier side. But then artists draw them as tall and thin like the actors so...

*all pic credits to their respective artists*

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randomfoggytiger · 2 months

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Thank you for the great responses, I do have to disagree with some of your points:

1. I'll be honest I don't remember that exact conversation in Revelations, but I do remember that maybe esp in this one that Mulder's questions didn't really seem to be in good faith so Scully got defensive and shut down, I don't find that a characterisation flaw really, more a human response than anything (and there was plenty of weird stuff going on with that kid pointing in at least a supernatural direction without her saying anything, he was just blindly dismissive..can you tell I don't love Mulders characterisation in Revelations lol)

2. In Gesthamane I remember her answering his 'wouldn't you do anything to prove the existence of God' or sth along those lines with a No, which felt like an honest answer and not a brush off to me and comes down to the fact that what Scully has in God is faith while Mulder has belief which are two different things in my view, faith doesn't need proof, in fact the lack of proof is kind of the point

3. And this obviously ties into the first two points, the reason Scully can't provide a rational argument for her stances in those episodes is because her faith in God (an unprovable deity) comes from the deeply irrational part of her and the rational part of her (the part she presents to Mulder and he depends on which compounds this issue) is in a lot of ways ashamed of that other part, so yes she is incapable of presenting her usual 'rational' arguments, she's unused to confronting him with irrational leaps of logic (in Revelations I don't think she even tried to convince him of her last 'gut feeling' or ask him to follow her despite his skepticism, she's that unsure of this role)

I'm sure there's plenty I'm not remembering about specific conversations/lines (hell i have no recollection of Signs and Wonders) with Scully saying sth deeply out of character but that happens to both of them once in a while and may be the result of the writers sometimes being too rigid (they do it to Scully plenty when she's playing the skeptic) but overall at least in the good 'religious' episodes, I don't find the characterisation weaker

Sorry for the very long response, I never thought I would spend this long defending the religious episodes,they're not even my favourites 😅

I like long responses, no worries~! And sorry for taking so long to respond. :DDD

**This is probably filled with typos but I'm gunning and running**

Again, flying blind with my recollections:

In Revelations, I find Mulder and Scully's stances to be in character as Mulder had only ever treated religion jokingly or mockingly up to this point, even his own "religious" episode back in S1's Miracle Man. The difference is Mulder will respect where a person comes from even if he doesn't agree with them (Miracle Man, eventually)... but in Revelations the entire episode was framed around scammers and con artists. There was little sympathy for religion here because it tapped into his distrust of the institution and the (he perceived) blind faith of its followers. Yes, something supernatural was happening to Kevin-- and Kevin had all of Mulder's sympathies-- but he saw it as a paranormal phenomenon rather than a supernatural one; and Mulder's already made known his pet peeves of history disguising paranormal phenomenon under religious dismissal. Scully, meanwhile, entered the case with an unskeptical dose of treading lightly, willing to give credence to these religious experiences more than he was (and more than she was willing to admit); and that wore away at and rankled Mulder throughout the case-- he was sharp, yes, but only in the way he was in Beyond the Sea, believing Scully's vulnerability-- her guilt about her faith or lack thereof-- was being exploited for someone else's benefit. Back to Scully: she started out questioning her own senses and tried to maintain her personal detachment; but the case ruthlessly roped her in, ala Beyond the Sea, until her guards were down and she stopped questioning (the morgue scene.) Which is fine and good... the problem is, even in Beyond the Sea there was an element of denial or skepticism she clung to. To be fair, Revelations follows One Breath; and Scully clung to what she saw in One Breath (as shown by her comments in Dod Kalm) though she still didn't understand the experience fully. And also, to be fair, Revelations holds up the most? out of her religious episodes-- she was blindly working her way back to her faith with some element of questioning still involved. She loses that along the way until? Amor Fati? Which, okay, fine-- that's human. Buuuuuuuuuuuut Scully is TOO eager to swallow what the MOTWs say if they say it in the name of religion, gotta be honest.

Gethsemane's shut down was setting up Scully's admittance and breakdown in Redux II where she cried to Maggie about wearing a cross on her neck but not having enough faith, or her confusion how far that faith went. Mulder was trying to pick apart those boundaries-- the starts and stops-- of her faith (but really to him) when he asked her about proving the existence of God; and because Scully wasn't willing to find out her own boundaries as death approached (saying no to his mission but still getting roped into his quest on a more manageable level), she wasn't ready to tackle God or the existence thereof. Which is logical... however, each religious discussion or episode outside of this one starts with the supposition of Scully's religious instincts being right no matter the evidence and then BAM, she's right because of ingrained belief rather than investigation or any weighing of evidence.

In short: the language or presentation of these ep.s bug me a little, because it says that Scully discovered "this" with firsthand evidence or science (or the lack thereof because miracles-- though even in most religious miracles are based on science in one mystical or realistic form or another) but shows neither of those things.

Mulder has always been able to call her back from personal denial-- her father's death and her cancer-- but these episodes push it beyond denial and into superstition. I understand Scully wouldn't want to poke God's wasp nest for one reason or another (fearing she'll be judged for not measuring up is probably one of them); but Scully will investigate a mystery if Mulder puts her up to it, even against her own wants or interests. In the religious episodes, she does not (which is why Mulder gets spooked then passive aggressive)... well, let me rephrase: the episode says she investigates and found enough to believe in whatever is happening; but whatever is happening on-screen could be a thousand other things than the religious conclusion she sticks with, and there is no further questioning into that aspect, as well. It's the same way I have frustrations with The Field Where I Died when Paper Hearts disproves the entire thesis: there needs to be more work put into proof that THIS happening, right now, isn't a phenomenon observed by the Catholic faith and written down in their understandable terms but could be, really, something else similar but different.

And because Catholicism is so central to Scully's experience, it then becomes central to the viewer-- meaning, it stands above the other cultures' religions presented as MOTWs-- and, therefore, needs EVEN MORE proof to "show its work." I don't think Scully got shafted by the writers so much as Chris Carter had a certain vision for the presentation of his boyhood (and adult?) faith; and that lacked nuance but disguised itself as such. And I'm not saying his faith or beliefs lack nuance-- that'd be arrogance-- but his presentation of them in canon (heh) did. And in a show that is all about the nuances or the "maybe that's the case BUT here's an alternate view of the matter", it stands out like a sore thumb.

Those are my off-the-cuff answers, so I might tweak a few things on rewatches. If anything, your asks have solidified my desire to peel back Scully's religious episodes to diagnose my thoughts more clearly. :DDDD

#asks #anon #txf #Scully #religion #faith #thoughts #Revelations #Gethsemane #Redux II #S3 #S4 #S5 #Mulder

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myinfiniteseriesofjoys · 1 year

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About this blog

[Saturday, November 26, 2022]

-No toxic positivity, just me keeping track of choices, as many as I can as often as I can, to live joyful and grateful, and to replace the negative thoughts and habits in my life with positive ones.

-I’m gonna post both things I notice/am grateful for in the moment and things I do that are positive for myself or others

-I identify as a Protestant Christian (of the variety generally known as charismatic/spirit-filled for those trying to get a denominational read) so you’ll see Bible verses and language referring to all of the above but you’re more than welcome here regardless of your spiritual beliefs or lack thereof :)

The inspiration behind this blog, for those interested:

“For although we live in the natural realm, we don’t wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims. Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide. We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One. Since we are armed with such dynamic weaponry, we stand ready to punish any trace of rebellion, as soon as you choose complete obedience.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 The Passion Translation

“Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let your joy overflow! And let gentleness be seen in every relationship, for our Lord is ever near. Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.” Phillipians 4:4-8 The Passion Translation

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 New International Version

“You can pass through his open gates with the password of praise. Come right into his presence with thanksgiving. Come bring your thank offering to him and affectionately bless his beautiful name!” Psalm 100:4 The Passion Translation

“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 New King James Version

#hopepunk #positivemindset #gratitude #christian inspiration #thankful #choose happiness

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ostensiblyarticulate · 2 years

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Hi! I was wondering, do you think you’ll ever write for she ra again? Your best friends squad series is probably my favorite thing ever.

This is a good question! And I'm deeply flattered you're asking - I'm delighted you like the series so much!

The short version is: yes. I have too damn many drafts and already-written-words that I love to never come back to spop and the BFS...

...but (and here's the longer version) I have no idea when I'll be able to do that. The thing about She-Ra is that I love it, and more than that I respect the hell out of it. It has gorgeously drawn, fascinating, consistent characters with fantastically distinct voices embedded in a brilliant narrative and an intensely creative world, and I've spent a lot of time and energy trying to do it justice. For me, that means spending a lot of consecutive hours getting into that place mentally and just kind of...living there. It's something I love doing. It's something I absolutely have not had the time to do this year.

Almost everything I've written and posted in the year 2022 has been compulsively drafted in about 48hrs, poked with a stick for about a week, and then dropped on the internet. It's all about pieces of fiction that I don't really respect enough to care if I get entirely right. (Not to mention, writing haphazard and inconsistent is basically the only way to show respect for Riverdale, glorious nonsense clusterfuck it is.)

There's other stuff there - some life events, a bit of psychology around validation and lack thereof - but that's all more personal and complex. The tldr here is that I love She-Ra too much to never write for it again, but respect it too much to post anything I've written for it anytime soon. I cannot in good faith tell you to stay tuned, but I can say that as long as I have a comedically massive WIPs folder for it, it's on my radar.

#forsythiarising #ask

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moss-flesh · 2 years

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dearest elyan @moxxihodunk asked for these in tags so i post em here <3

Aila Amell and her companions

Zevran

1. How did your Warden react to Zevran’s failed attempt on their life? Were they amused? Angry?

She found it kind of hilarious, she still bonked him with her staff and threatened him. But once she realized he would prefer to go with them then the crows she was fine with it. When he called her beautiful she laughed in his face and told him to get his ass up and follow.

Alistair

2. Did Alistair’s parentage surprise your Warden? How did your Warden’s feelings on the nobility affect their relationship with Alistair?

She was sort of surprised but she knew he was hiding something with the way he often evaded questions about his parents and childhood. Her father was obsessed with their own nobility and was ashamed of her. She thinks its bullshit really, she tells him that its kind of hot to tease him. Part of her gets nervous as time goes on and it seems like his responsibilities start to weigh down on them. She does not want to lose him to the crown and especially hates that he feels so pressured by it. She tries not to show it.

3. Was Alistair reunited with his sister, Goldanna? What did your Warden think of her? Did they relate to Alistair with their own familial struggles?

Yes she did take him to goldanna and goldanna did NOT LIKE HER LMAO! Aila honestly did not blame her for the way she was acting, Aila knew she sure as hell wouldnt trust some random guy coming up to her offering to be family. Alistair was pretty offended at the way Goldanna treated Aila but Aila just told him to shut it and offered some of their coin combined to help out. Aila was an only child and never put much stake in blood family anyway so she tried to ease him and stated even if he doesn’t have Goldanna to be close to others love him, including her.

Leliana

1. What was your Warden’s position on the Chantry? Were they wary of Leliana due to their religious beliefs or lack thereof?

Aila fucking hates the chantry! but shes very focused on individuals and less so large ideas. She was a bit… put off by her being so religious but found her to be very kind and interesting, and she can fight so she didnt mind bringing her along. She wasnt wary but just more interested in her outlook, on how she got to the point where she was so faithful.

2. Was your Warden curious about bards? If they had the opportunity, would they choose to become one?

Ailas mother use to tell her stories of the bards that frequented her family dinners as a child. she always loved songs and stories and enjoys singing to herself. So she asked leliana to help her get better at it. Sometimes they sing duets by the fire.

Sten

4. How did your Warden speak to Sten? Did they fight with him often or were they more humorous in their responses?

Oh Aila loves to argue with sten its one of her favorite pass times. Annoying him as much as possible is her ultimate goal usually. She never took serious stances she knew barely anything about the Qunari but still took joy in being contrary to him. Not in an aggressive way at all she knew he enjoyed bugging her as much as she did him.

Morrigan

3. How close was your Warden to Morrigan? Did your Warden respect her abilities as a witch of the wilds?

Besides Alistair Aila is closest to Morrigan. They genuinely become like sisters to one another. She admires her abilities so much and asks her to teach her shapeshifting. She also relates to her relationship with her mother. Aila had a horrible relationship with her father though it wasnt anything like Flemeth, as Flemeth holds magic in high regard (duh), her father was the complete opposite and loathed it.

4. Did your Warden attempt to find Morrigan after the Blight? Did they ever succeed in meeting her again?

She looked for her adamantly, and was honestly pretty pissed. She knew Morrigan was gonna leave as soon as the archdemon business was over but it still gutted her. When she found her they had a good ol sisterly argument, but once she got her grievances out they talked it through. She wanted to help her desperately but knew Morrigan had to be alone and respected it. They made an agreement to make some sort of contact at least once a year. Just send a letter and inform the other that they still live and miss one another.

5. Was Morrigan’s ritual completed? What persuaded your Warden to go through with it or what caused them to refuse it?

Yes it was. Honestly she felt a little ill at the idea because she knew alistair would hate it, but felt worse thinking of dying or worse alistair dying. She relayed her thoughts that if he truly objected to it she would respect that entirely but, they both knew theyd rather sacrifice random physical intimacy than eachother so it happened.

#aila amell #THANKS FOR THE QUESTIONS BB !!

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nsfwhiphop · 12 days

Text

Incoming Text for Keira Knightley:

Hey, Keira! It's me, Angelo.

Can I ask you a question? I wanna know why are you an atheist?

I swear, I was shocked and heartbroken when I discovered this on your wikipedia page, I was reading it, being a fan of your work and all, and then BAM!! What do I see? The word ATHEIST, I wanted to vomit.

Whenever I encounter Atheists, I start to feel nausea and I wanna vomit. You have been one of my favorite British actress but the day I found out that you were an atheist, I felt so bad for you because that's how people end in eternal HELL in the afterlife.

Here are a few questions that will wake you up from your silly choices on this earth:

1- You do know that there is Hell, right?

2- You do know that the party will end once you enter the grave in a cemetery, right?

3- You do know that Angels are real, right?

4- You do know that Heaven is real, right?

5- You do know that you will be questioned on Judgement day, right?

6- You do know that you can deny the existence of God all you want but He owns you, you can't deny Him, He owns your soul, your body, your heart, your limbs, your eyes, all of these belong to your MAKER, you know that, right?

7- Nothing really belongs to you, you are the property of God, you know that, right?

8- Once you die, there is no turning back on earth to do good this time and believe in God this time, like you will be saying 'PLEASE GOD, LET ME GO BACK TO EARTH TO DO GOOD THIS TIME', once you die, the game is over, you can't take that back, it's like asking for a rematch to return to earth, but what you don't know is that once you die, there is no rematch, you will be going to Hell for all eternity, you know that, right?

9- Do you have pride? Do you get upset when you offer a gift to someone and that person refuses to be grateful to you? How does that make you feel? It makes you super angry, doesn't it? When you see ungrateful people, you become angry and say things like: "How ungrateful these people are, I gave them this gift and they didn't even say THANK YOU! - Well, my dear Keira, right back at ya! Guess what? You are that ungrateful person and you refuse to acknowledge the God that has created you and given you the gift of life, and what you don't know is that God has PRIDE and you have hurt His PRIDE when you refuse to acknowledge His existence and also refuse to acknowledge that He gave you the gift of life, do you see where I'm going with this? You are in big, big, big, trouble and don't ever think that you will get away with your atheism, there will be a recknoning.

The phrase "don't ever think that you will get away with your atheism, there will be a reckoning" suggests a belief that those who do not adhere to a religious faith, specifically atheism in this context, will face consequences or judgment at some point in the future. It implies a belief in divine punishment or accountability for one's beliefs or lack thereof. The term "reckoning" typically refers to a settling of accounts or a time of judgment and evaluation of one's actions or beliefs.

10- I have a question for you, are you alive right now? The answer is YES, you're alive right now. So why don't you use this time to fix your relationship with God? Go to a church and join the Christians, it's a good start, do something, don't just stay there like a dumb woman, you're a very smart woman, I know that because I see the way you carry yourself. You are a virtuous woman by nature, I know that because you are never seen in the media, the only time we see you is when you have a movie in theaters and after that you go back to your reclusive life, so yeah, I know you, Keira, you are like the singer Sade Adu, you are another reclusive British celebrity and I respect that about you but you have chosen to be an atheist and that is something you have to seriously change about yourself because you will end in Hell in the afterlife if you don't change your belief system while you're still alive, because once you die, there is no rematch, there is no turning back to earth. I hope my message will make you realize your huge mistake and you will do something to fix your faith because there are so many things that happen to you in your way of thinking, the way you think is largely influenced by your atheism. If you continue down this path of atheism, you will suffer in the afterlife. You have the liberty of choice, I hope you will make the right choice.

11- I never chase you because you're an atheist, you know that, right? If you were a Christian woman, I would've been in your DMs, trying to make you mine, trying to be your boyfriend but the day I discovered that you were an atheist, I never looked at your photos again, I was spooked. Dating Keira, It's like dating a member of the Addams Family, the Atheist people, that's how they make me feel, they make me feel like I'm sitting with the Addams Family because there is no faith in them, they're faithless. So yeah, if you were wondering why I never tried to date you? It's because you are a member of the Addams Family, well, sort of, that's how the atheists behave, like the Addams Family.

12- You will join the team of Christian women like Taylor Swift and Katy Perry and Beyoncé, they will hold your hand. They will teach you a lot about their faith and hopefully you will see the light.

Okay, this is the end of my conversation.

Love you, Keira! Have fun, big hug for you!

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pazodetrasalba · 1 year

Text

Philosophy

Dear Caroline:

I see that you got much more philosophy at uni than I did, which makes sense -degrees in my country are much more compartmentalized, and from year one you get only subjects that are strictly related to the degree. I did take two electives -one while studying history, the other while studying philology- on Medieval and 'English' philosophy, respectively. I remember really enjoying Hobbes and contractualism in the latter.

I had also studied the history of the subject in the last year of high school, with a focus on 7 thinkers that were explored in depth: Plato, Aquinas, Descartes, Kant, Marx, Nietzsche and Marcuse. The gaps in between I've had to try to fill myself with reading.

Of late I have been learning a lot about moral philosophy, and here, as I have previously mentioned, I tend to find myself at loggerheads with you, as my inclinations steer towards Kantian deontology. If I had to list the main issues I have with utilitarianism, they would probably be:

Relativity/Instrumentality. I find it difficult to conceive how within this tradition one can really take moral values to be true, as they are just expedient means for an end that isn't morality itself. And allied with point 3 below, it will make it easy for bright people to get into the habit of rule-breaking.

Narrow-mindedness. Even if I place a lot of value on pleasure/lack of pain, I cannot bring myself to accept it as the main and/or only criterion of moral measurement, while ignoring human flourishing, justice, etc.., or even voluntarily sacrificing them 'for the greater utility'.

God complex and ends-justify means. In many aspects, a lot of utilitarianism feels like this self-complacent, hubristic variation on the perennial aristocratic take of 'the (deontological) rules are good for the sheep, but we know better and are excused from following them because we are smart and have knowledge of the consequences of our actions'

I know this is a bit of a simplistic view (and should be steelmanning it!). My deepest intuition is that deontology and utilitarianism are just two extremes of a spectrum and that we all navigate a space in between, as there are bullets to be bitten that each option requires and that we find unacceptable (right now, I suspect my recipe would be something like 70% deontology, 30% utilitarianism, which is not quite as bad as what you were getting in the course you mention). Then again, if I wasn't the kind of person that values intentions very highly, I probably wouldn't be writing this blog to begin with, as a Benthamite view would probably weigh heavily against the consequences of your past actions and little else.

I do believe that we can be receptive and rational to arguments different from our beliefs, though. When you make an effort to understand other people's world view, if you aren't of a very dogmatic disposition, I think it is inevitable that part of what you read will end up rubbing on you. The two ways of reading you mention above are necessary: both the clarification, affirmation and/or refutation of one's own faiths ('putting them through the rational fire') and the exploration of what a different set of axioms might create, and the internal consistency or lack thereof in the arguments of its proponents.

Quote:

The unexamined life is not worth living

Socrates

#caroline ellison #philosophy

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kimbapisnotsushi · 2 years

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*rattles the bars on the cage* RELEASE THE ITACHIYAMA ESSAY SOU!!!!!!!

*cracks knuckles* ALL RIGHT LET'S DO THIS (warning!! timeskip spoilers!!)

so. as you all may know, we only (tragically) get three characters from itachiyama: komori motoya, sakusa kiyoomi, and my absolute beloved iizuna tsukasa. now!!! you may ask!!! why are they so iconic if there are only three players!!! how much meaning can they possibly have when they have such short screentime!!! why is it so important that we believe in their banner being "effort" more than "invincible"!!! ALL EXCELLENT QUESTIONS!!! ONES THAT I WILL GLADLY ANSWER!!! (this turned into a very long post and it's mostly me rambling, but i hope you enjoy nontheless!)

let's start with these panels:

so, first important thing to know: it doesn't seem like sakusa kiyoomi has a lot of faith in "luck". he's pragmatic and practical and every other word for it you can think of. he hates people who are "careless and unprepared", but he also knows that "no matter how well you prepare, you can't be ready for everything". in which case, who is to judge whether a person has prepared efficiently or not? does sakusa expect himself to uphold these standards? the answer is: yes!!

here, we get our first glimpse into the type of person sakusa is. he doesn't half-ass things. he has a serious sense of responsibility, probably because he's had to take care of himself from such a young age. but what really gets me is how he started volleyball. he started volleyball feeling like it was just something to do, but sakusa puts 100% and beyond effort into everything he does. so of course he was going to take volleyball seriously no matter how he felt about it

and then he and komori discover the spin

other than this shot being absolutely goddamn hilarious, i love this panel because komori sees this as a step forward. he said before he and sakusa weren't that close, but now komori can look at him and understand: damn, he's all in. there's no stopping him now. AND LOOK AT WHERE THEY ENDED UP!! NATIONAL TEAM BABY!!!

so, effort and preparation. sakusa puts maximum effort in everything in order to be prepared for anything - which is a pretty solid way of looking at life, as far as i'm concerned.

but it wasn't enough.

iizuna gets hurt. itachiyama loses. and what follows is probably one of my absolute favorite convos/senior-junior moments in the entire series:

LET'S BREAK THIS DOWN, SHALL WE?

first off . . . i would like to acknowledge just how well sakusa and iizuna must get along for iizuna to be able to read sakusa like that. and the respect sakusa has for iizuna to let them grow close enough in the first place???? it's adorable. i love it.

but also. sakusa's response is everything. he KNOWS how hard iizuna worked. he KNOWS that their team put in 100%. so he doesn't get why iizuna is sobbing like a little bitch! because since they practiced so hard, it's not like they could blame it on the lack thereof, right? what do they have to regret when they did everything they were supposed to?

and that's why iizuna is so heartbroken. they did everything they were supposed to, but this one thing out of their control - the one thing they absolutely couldn't prepare for - still happened. and if it hadn't . . . i bet that haunted iizuna for a long, long time.

so iizuna knocks some sense into sakusa's head. and sakusa, bless his soul, says he doesn't want to pity iizuna. that doesn't mean he feels nothing - he just thinks there's nothing to feel sorry for when they've all done their very best.

and now . . .

god. okay. this entire page makes me VERY emotional.

so. sakusa doesn't have a lot of faith in "luck". but there are things he considers "lucky". and these are all things that are outside of his control. these are all things that he had no way to prepare for. meeting iizuna and ushijima, having komori stay by his side, being recruited for the pro leagues - they all happened as effects of sakusa just doing his best with his everyday life.

AND THEN. THIS FUCKING SCENE. WHEN I TELL YOU I NEARLY CRIED.

sakusa is STILL aiming to do his best with his everyday life!! the best for himself, and for his teammates and friends, and for the sport that he loves so much. and if he's lucky . . . then he won't end feeling the way iizuna did at their nationals game. he won't end feeling like he has any regrets. if he's lucky, he'll get the ending he wants.

sakusa kiyoomi puts 100% effort in everything he does. and the rest? well, he's going to leave that up to chance

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