#but what about their own specific medias

[alexkablob]

not to wade into discourse about shows online which I swore to stop doing but I think some of you need to recognize that not every piece of media is about you, and that focusing only on the themes that you personally identify with while erasing the ones you don't is Not Great

#some of you only know how to analyze things through a VERY specific queer lens that matches your own personal experiences and it shows #and I just think there is a lot more to enjoying narratives about having a complex relationship to gender in a very specific historical era #than arguing about what specific pronouns and labels they would use in 2023 #and that white queer people reducing stories that are about a character's struggle with being multiracial #to *only* the queer elements that we identify with is. not great??? #you can't separate these things you can't just ignore them #I'm obviously not equipped to do in-depth *commentary* on that aspect of mizu's character because I am in fact a white queer #that is for other people to speak about and I'm enjoying reading their takes on it #but like. you need to engage with media that is not about you. you need to assign artistic merit beyond what you personally identify with. #you can find things that resonate with you in them but you should not make the whole thing about you

[blueskittlesart]

also to everyone contacting me about the tiktok--I have seen it, the reposter did not contact me before posting on tiktok but has since contacted me on instagram and they obeyed my repost credit policy so i'm tentatively ok with it!

#im so conflicted about reposts lmao bc on the one hand i have like concrete proof espc with this tiktok that it draws more people towards me #bc several people have specifically told me they found me via that tiktok. which is cool obv i love getting more engagement #but on the other hand it does remove a certain level of my autonomy over my work yknow #like when i post on my self-run social media i have the ultimate control over my audience--who sees it who comments what is being said etc #and when it's reposted even with credit it removes some of that control. which is like. not HORRIBLY bad in the context of fanart #but i know also that i am a person with polarizing opinions and given how much of ME is tied up in my art i am sort of conflicted about #allowing people to remove me from my own content. yknow #like from personal experience whenever i get a popular credited repost on instagram i do get a ton of new followers #but i also usually get a huge surge of transphobic comments. so. yknow. 2 sides of the coin ig #anyway as for this specific repost they didn't violate my policy and i'm not going to change my policy just yet so were good #thank u all for pointing it out to me tho! #personal

[animentality]

there is a difference between being a hater and having a working human brain that can pinpoint exactly what does or does not work for you specifically in media.

don't be such a mindless consumer, you aren't really appreciating art if you're not thinking about it at all.

and how is that a controversial statement?

"turn off your brain," oh yeah, sure, i know you only use yours for cobweb storage.

but some of us use ours for things other than work.

#maybe if you stopped turning off your brain while youre a fucking wake #you wouldnt be so fucking blindsided when a series “suddenly” becomes bad #i honestly wonder what its like for those fucking people who just clap when they see something they recognize #are you having a good time #will you even remember this movie or this show in ten years #if you dont identify what about this character or story speaks to you specifically #then what is it to you? #nothing #its bright colors and noises played in a sequence #i dont care if you like media that i dont like i dont care if you like media that isnt intellectual or high brow or intelligent or original #can you tell me why you like it #stories are about humans and humanity #if you cant identify your own humanity in it #what is the point

[alvindraperzzz]

Cassie is the reason half of Diana’s PR team has gray hair

#cassie sandsmark #thinking about all the shit she gets up to as Wonder Girl #and Diana being a public figure w a specific mission and image #Diana has caused more than a few gray hairs on her own time but Cassie is their media problem child #post infinite crisis WW comics were a mess but can you imagine if the embassy was still running when Cassie said #what she said at Bart’s funeral? #the media would have had a field day #cassandra sandsmark #wonder woman #wonder girl #talking about cassie

[forcedhesitation]

that one bozo who made the gender swapped dame aylin mod: it's unrealistic for minorities to exist in this game because it's supposed to take place in medieval europe!!!!

aasimar, vampires, devils, and dragons aside....

bg3:

#bg3 #thoughts about media #where's the outrage over the existence of a 1950s québécois dish in a medieval european setting? hm?? #canada...canada doesn't exist in the forgotten realms. the land which this country occupies does- but the concept of the nation does not. #also! in the forgotten realms- bisexuality is the canonical norm and gender is much more complicated than just a clear cut binary. #several races have words in their languages specifically for transgender people. #and it's not viewed as strange in any way for someone to be transgender. transition is also super easy- as magic exists. #in fact. it's very probable that dame aylin CHOSE the form of a woman. based on what I've read- the divine can easily change their form. #and devils are all varying flavours of non-binary. primarily genderfluid it seems. it's totally normal for them to change form and pronouns #the majority of elven societies practice total gender equality- they do not see one gender as better/worse than the other in any way. #and bg3 actually does reflect the forgotten realms canon. pretty strongly. in this respect. #the illithid are genderless and referred to as such. your elven companions are all bisexual & polyamorous... #...duke stelmane has this title because it's a canonically genderless title. there is no use of sorceress/wizardess for the same reason. #and of course- your player character can swap gender & pronouns midway through the game and no one will care. at all. #like. for all the terrible problems with the forgotten realms- it's become FAR more aware of the fact that it's ridiculous for... #...a fantasy world to restrict gender and sexuality in the all-encompassing & discriminatory way that bigots demand. #also this isn't ammunition for anyone to pick on people who have lesbian/gay or straight tavs or durges. #my own main tav is a gay man.

[sysig]

You’re gonna die if you keep that up (Patreon)

#Doodles #SCII #Helix #ZEX #Kayako #And Teisel's there technically #*Die again - he's sticking with his track record lol at least he's consistent #Ghost/Curse GF arc!! I enjoy seeing ZEX happy but I am Concerned for him lol #ZEX be attracted to something/one that won't brutally murder him challenge - difficulty impossible #His affection for the grotesque and monstrous - I mean while it's admirable he does regularly put himself in dangerous situations! #Runs solely on the Suspension Bridge Effect lol - attraction and fear so conflated in his mind <3 #I keep thinking of his human instincts as specifically Max's instincts since it's his body - Max's self-preservation and fear and hunger #Which ZEX dutifully ignores lol Max's body tells him to bolt and privately replies like ''Yes yes in a moment'' haha #His fascination wins out! To his own detriment haha #Although I say all that as though I don't relate in my own way - I have maybe just a few too many notes relating to ZEX lol #It's always been hard for me to get into horror in the way it's intended to spook and scare because I tend to get sad :') #So many monsters and ghosts and creatures are victims of circumstance! Like Kayako! As she is here she's not even malicious just dangerous #I've never seen the Grudge so it's only speculation but it seems very sad that she was tethered as a Curse rather than a malignant spirit #Like a battery moreso than an individual - what a terrible after-existence! It makes me sad to consider! #ZEX reaching out to her in his own way is very sweet <3 He's so biased towards his darlings hehe #In a way being human does suit him - we'll packbond with anything that Might have even the slightest inclination to not maim us lol #And the way he personifies her! (VUXonifies her?) Reading intention or emotion into her actions with no proof and no understanding! #The way he ''tries to read her face'' as if he hasn't been struggling with that this entire time - with other humans who can tell him so ♪ #His pride is so delicious <3 He is so easily blinded to his own shortcomings in the face of pleasure and the potential for connection! #It's no wonder DAX worries about him so much hehe ♥ #It also always makes me so happy to have something fit together so perfectly like those last two hehe <3 #That vine didn't exist when this happened! But there it is!! I love newer memes on older media hehehe ♪♫

[n0anix]

just realised that all ttrpg podcasts I'm listening to rn have a paladin that's struggling with figuring out who he really is

either because their path in life has changed, they realised they've been lied to their whole life or they just have amnesia and literally don't know who they really are/were

#something something religious imagery #something about fate and carving your own life and destiny despite your past #rambles #jrwi riptide #gillion tidestrider #fishman makes me insane #dungeons and daddies #Lincoln li Wilson #or boss kicks if you will #i do wish he talked to his dad more about everything but we'll get there eventually #burnt cook book party #literally just finished the first season so to say and janni makes me insane #i need all of his backstory right now like hello sir what is your deal what did you go through #janni brightchild #welcome to insane hours where I ignore homework and instead think about characters and media #these characters are made for me to brainrot over specifically

[neolxzr]

Literally a genuine question no ill intent

What do you like about Aira? As much as people are absolutely adamant Akira is projecting (I really don't think he is (I'm not saying Akira is innocent) I just think he's trying to address the prejudiced thoughts the average Japanese person will have on the Ainu) Aira's weird comments and behaviour to Hiiro have been there since day one. And I also think Aira being the one who says all this is because he's supposed to reflect the fans and the average Japanese fan probably isn't that educated on the Ainu + there can be a good few racist enstars fans...

I'm not trying to sound heated about this I'm just coming from a genuine place, what appeal is there in Aira?

Also, as much as the Aira fans are talking about blaming Akira, I feel like there should absolutely be a focus on Hiiro right now considering that comment was... yknow said to him. I just think we should actually be talking about the Amagis considering that comment was intended to discuss the Amagis and their culture and the discrimination they go through.

i had someone ask me a similar question once but not in the context of all thats happening currently so you can read that here if youre inclined

buuuut what made me like aira so much in the first place was honestly that his concept as a character is really funny. i made a post a long while back that went into the funny meta jokes that you could make using aira as a character before i really knew much about enstars at all. having a character in your idol series that loves idols and canonically reads fanfic about them is just a funny concept in general. and as i continued to read more he continued to be funny and annoying and endearing (his little mini interaction with midori comes to mind immediately. there is something wrong with him)

also i tend to gravitate towards characters that give me like. little sibling energy. i love having a favorite little guy to dote on

but afterwards what really drew me to him was the main story!! thermometry specifically comes to mind (ouuugh,,,,). his feature scout stories are also great and so is feather touch! i wont like. go into detail really cause my blog is covered in me talking about aira already

his dynamic with hiiro is one of my favorites too, especially in mainstory. their dynamic isnt JUST aira says shitty things to hiiro and thats it. their relationship develops really far to the point where aira admits that he needs hiiro as much as hiiro needs him. they're young and inexperienced and kind of codependent as they're trying to keep themselves from going under in a sort of cutthroat industry. i think thats really neat. their relationship is really sweet to me and aira is a great tsundere type of character. he regularly is shown to actually like hiiro a lot as mean as he can be to him sometimes i.e. here. and you know the whole holding hands thing (which they also fucked up in the climax story but Whatever)

theres also this. which i think about regularly. the hiiai shipping fuel is vast

and additionally i think aira has some really great relationships with other characters too, alkaloid especially. feather touch develops his relationship with tatsumi a lot and its one of my favorite aira moments. i couldnt find my screenshots for this one but basically aira gives tatsumi his unlocked phone (something VERY important to aira since hes a little screenager) and it shows tatsumi just how much aira trusts him and he realizes how important aira is as a friend to him. being someone with a history like him aira's friendship is sort of new to him and it helps them both grow

he loves his friends so so much and he’s had a positive impact on all of alkaloid. he is its heart after all

but in any case i'm not going to like, defend myself for liking aira. i am aware that the shitty stuff has been there from the start but i've said something similar in the past that was like. aira isn't real and he cannot take accountability for what he says. he's a character written by real people who doesn't have any control over how he acts. so i guess that's why when i think the writers write something i dont think he would do or say in my own personal aira opinion i can sort of brush it off as just bad writing.

and not in the sense that i dont recognize that enstars sucks, because it does. enstars can be terribly racist sometimes and not just when concerning aira, and thats important to talk about (i.e. the orient cards, the king of thieves cards, etc). but at the end of the day the most important thing to recognize is the people and company behind the game as well as the real people who play the game and are affected by it. and not like, the specific characters in the game. cause they didn't actually do anything or feel anything you know

#cryn answers #anon #enstars #media analysis #im a miraculous ladybug fan im used to pretending that the thing i like is better than it actually is lmfao #was including sources for what im saying too much?? #anyway i didnt even touch on airas own experiences with racial discrimination #i dont think its written perfectly so thats why i didnt talk about it but its an important aspect of his character too #and an important part in his place in alkaloid #also i hope i dont come off as rude or upset in this anon #i appreciate you being respectful #but also im a little tired of talking about this ill admit it #i enjoyed rambling about aira again im just like :( that its cause of all the discourse and whatever happening right now #blegh #i think its kind of like. i mean if you only hear little tidbits of what a character is like through twitter screenshots #youre not gonna have a full picture #and i think thats how it is for a lot of enstarries with aira #and thats not a jab at anyone i dont know jackshit about like. mama or undead or fine or akatsuki. and thats fine #theres too many characters for me to know everything about everyone #but with aira specifically his only character trait to the people who dont produce alkaloid is 'the racist one' #and that sucks #but anyways. thats all i have in me for now

[beesinspades]

took the boys to a con today :3 I didn't see any other trigun cosplayer but I was stopped a lot for pictures or questions and heard a bunch of "everyone's got their own cross to bear huh" 😂 anyways my arm hurts but I had a good time~

#beelio talks #shoutout to that one elderly lady who asked me what kind of media my cosplay was from #and then went 'you're really carrying your own cross!' and then asked what the manga was called exactly #spreading the trigun words to 65+yo hell yeah #also to those kids who ran up to me specifically to go 'siiiir do you know if there's going to be a show here?' hey kids what if I cry #and the couple of people who looked so happy to see a trigun cosplay sdfjkln #one of them might as well have been vibrating it was very sweet #and several people were concerned about whether my punisher was heavy or not bahaha #that cosplay gets sooo much attention even from people who dont know trigun #theyre just so curious and/or impressed by the big ass cross

[wonder-worker]

J.L. Laynesmith taking the 'Buckingham Did It™' route for the murder of the Princes in the Tower AND the rumors of Edward IV's bastardy ... I have to laugh

#my post #history media #this was in her book 'Cecily Duchess of York' which I have ... Thoughts on #I really liked it overall - it was meticulously researched and gave me information that I hadn't previously known about Cecily #However this often contrasts with Laynesmith's own very evident biases assumptions and conjecture #and the effect is very jarring #This becomes slightly more pronounced after 1464 and actually ridiculous after 1483. #She also suggests that Henry VI may have genuinely died of a melancholy-induced stroke like Edward IV claimed which is just...lmfao #I don't know what to say at this point lol #To be fair she does specifically note that he died shortly after Edward arrived in London and that most contemporaries believed #it was far too convenient #which is far more acknowledgement and culpability than she gives Richard III whose culpability for the 'disappearance' of his nephews is #literally never touched upon - the blame is conveniently dumped on Buckingham #honestly the whole Deal with Buckingham is so odd. dude was a political neophyte; was given a primarily ceremonial role by Edward IV #throughout his reign and was younger than Richard (who was a seasoned politician). What makes you think Buckingham of all people #was some kind of political genius and making decisions over RICHARD of all people lol? #anyway #This book was pretty decent with Margaret of Anjou which was great #it was less decent with Elizabeth Woodville which was not so great :/ #some of the assumptions it made (for Cecily's benefit naturally) were so weird #and the way she 'reassessed' Elizabeth's role in 1483 was very distasteful #I might make a separate post on that because it was very annoying #(also claiming Henry Tudor landed with 'a small band of Lancastrian exiles' - yeah no. the majority of the 'exiles' who supported him were #Yorkist aka Edward IV's supporters who opposed Richard. because this was very much an internal civil war between the dynasty #and Henry became a claimant only after being chosen by Yorkists after the October risings made clear the Princes were dead #the claim that challenged Richard's was Elizabeth of York not Henry's. let's not twist words here) #(ALSO I'm sorry but William Stanley certainly did not choose to commit his troops to Henry Tudor because Henry was 'his brother's stepson' #he did that out of loyalty to Edward IV and his children as Henry was the chosen claimant of the Yorkist faction #hence why he may have betrayed Henry VII in the 1490s for Perkin Warbeck who pretended to be Edward's second son. so jot that down) #you really see these small minor details which are very much chosen purposefully and paint a very different picture lol

[antiyourwokehomophobia2]

Interacting with popular media is fun because I can confidently give reasons why it fucking sucks. Hating something just because it's popular will always make you seem like a bit of a weirdo, but watching/reading it and being able to give genuine reasons why it's not good will literally always be more respectable. You sound so much more sophisticated when you say "this happened on page 45 and it ruined the book" than when you say "I looked at the cover art and it sucked and now I have a deep hatred of the whole series."

I am absolutely not above telling people "I won't watch this. It looks cringe." But I'm always always always aware of the fact I sound immature and probably a little snobbish when I say that.

Forming strong visceral hatred over a piece of media that you have literally never read a single page of/seen a single second of will always come across as a bit maladjusted.

And not watching/reading something because of how much hate it's getting online is just as much of a bandwagon as watching/reading something because of how much love it's getting online 💀

#I probably will give something a watch if it gets popular enough #But trust me #That doesn't save it from me thinking it still sucks after the fact #I bought six of crows and hated it #Gideon the ninth was only good for the lesbians #Didn't read past the first book and I generally think it's too confusing to be any good #Hazbin hotel has good songs and good moments but a lot of what happens is not earned at all #And the list goes on #Point is I could write at least a full page of why I don't like these things #Because I actually read them and watched them and formed my own opinion about them #I can point to specific moments and things that just did not work well at all #And there's popular media I actually really love and don't have much bad things to say about #But at least all my opinions are my own

[the--highlanders]

every day I wish they were still making the short trips books

#personal #i mean. #every day i wish there was more good two-era eu content. #but you know. #the short trips books have such a specific VIBE #they get to be weird and out there but also they get to be low-stakes and character-driven and slice-of-life-y #absolute pinnacle of dr who eu media imo #they just feel kind of. fic-y in a warm way. like they get to explore concepts /for the sake of the concepts/ #and because they're short they don't have to get caught up in larger overarching plots #what if jamie met william wallace. what if two took zoe to volunteer at a soup kitchen. #what if two had to brave his own grief and give a multidimensional creature a funeral. #what if jamie was a bear. #(<- i'm legally required to get that one in there every time i talk about short trips)

[overly-hubristic-mad-scientist]

ok so given everything went well the the Bride’s Reanimation what exactly did Dan decide to do? Because while he did agree to her creation with the agreement that she would be his replacement Meg, she’s not she has a different brain and based on what we saw a different personality what will Dan’s reaction be if she’s not what he originally wanted? Will he get discontent and look for happiness elsewhere like he did with Herbert? Will he resent her for not being Meg? Even if she was similar enough for him there’s no guarantee that she would love him back, which is extremely understandable since he is essentially her parent. What if the Bride just isn’t into Dan at all and just wants a dad? Will he leave? Will he blame her? Will he blame Herbert? Will he just lose it and try to inflict harm (he’s not emotionally stable especially not when it comes to romance) I’m kinda curious to know what will happen

#Overall the sci-fi move genre(?) of male doctors/scientists creating women in order to cure the guilt they feel for playing a role #In a lover’s death is its whole own thing and can say a lot about bodily autonomy and gender roles being projected onto the creation #Because at the end of the day these creatures are being created with the very specific goal of fulfilling a specific role #That the doctor thinks he needs in his life/overall being there to be a particular thing to the doctor #And never once does he actually stop the think about the ramifications of his actions and the effects it can have on him and his creation #Like what if it doesn’t make the creature happy? What if they can’t do it right and make him resentful? The never think #Actually this isn’t even just about creating women(or what is supposed to be a woman) #All doctors in media we see creating artificial life do it with the very express purpose that the creature will fulfill a perfect role #The perfect wife or or son or lover #Whatever this role is they all have specific thoughts on how the creature should act and want to enforce that onto them #Also let’s not even get into the problem of creating a creature specifically to be your lover because the consent there is dubious at best #Because do they have the minds of children at first? Even if not they owe you a great deal for creating them is that leveraged #Overall the whole “making a person without conception” is such an intriguing story device I could probably write an essay on this shit #Anyway rant over if you made it this far thanks for caring #reanimator #herbert west #bride of reanimator #dan cain

[brother-emperors]

have you perhaps read the spartacus novel by h. fast?? it inspired the 1960 movie and crassus is...definitely interesting in it

I have! I've been interested in Spartacus for MUCH longer than I've cared about Crassus. I was actually a Crassus Hater™ for a decade, not because of anything he did in regards to Rome (like yeah, go ahead babygirl, extort those properties from your fellow romans, I love to see it) but because I wanted Spartacus to run Crassus through on his spear and read the fate of Rome in his entrails or whatever.

and I still do! but he lives, and reception on Crassus is fun to explore.

anyway, I have read it, yes!

#he's so weird. in general. like he's a roman but he's not quiteeee right as a roman so he lends himself to be coded in certain ways #in media if youre doing media that's got themes #like. idk. i was thinking about this a few weeks ago but pompey and crassus have a kind of antony-fulvia thing going on #in terms of house a political household is managed in rome except its less a specific house #but rome itself (a roman household: a tomb. rome: a mass grave) and crassus stays IN rome while pompey goes and conquers #so the. the division of responsibilities is like. (bites my own tongue) ANYWAY #what i was getting at is that crassus as a character is inclined to Interesting and Weird decision making #because the historical man was. Hm™ #god there's a good starz spartacus essay on his character in that show that dives into past portrayals of him #i should post some of that here or smth #ask tag

[tj-crochets]

Hey y'all! I am once again in health insurance hell, and could really use some help. I have a specific US health insurance question, but it might get long so it's below a read more

My employer offers two health plan options, and they are both absolutely terrible. I want to get my own health insurance, but the insurance broker lady I used when I worked part time says I can't, because I can get health insurance through my employer, even if I opt out. I spoke to another health insurance person today, and she said if I get a letter on company letterhead saying I'll lose health insurance on [date], as long as it's 60 days or less from now, it counts as a qualifying event and I can buy my own health insurance. She said opting out counted as losing health insurance. Do you know anything about this? How do I get health insurance as an individual NOT through my employer even though my employer offers it? The plans my employer is offering are Aetna, and Aetna is the absolute worst and I despise them as a company so much one of my long term goals is to warn people against them. They suck! They refused to pay for my inhaler until I got my doctor to fill out a form like three times, and also I had to email them A LOT and fill out a LOT of surveys with an emphasis on how horrifying I found it that they as a company clearly valued profit over their customer's lives, and would in fact prefer their customers die before they could reach the ER in case of an emergency, as evidenced by their refusing to pay for my rescue inhaler, a necessary life-saving medication. They also require I fill that form out every year, just in case I magically stop being in the small minority of people who get severe adverse reactions to albuterol and levalbuterol

#the person behind the yarn #tj is in insurance hell #I also promised Aetna I'd make it a goal to share my story on social media about how terrible they are as an insurance company #it's been months since they started actually paying for my inhalers but I'm still salty about it! #and I am not done telling people they are terrible #I promised them on all those surveys that I would post on social media and tell people in person whenever I had the slightest excuse #I said I'd tell every medical professional pharmacist and person in a waiting room I ever interacted with #and then they were magically willing to pay for my inhaler! #I'm still telling people though. It wasn't a 'pay for my inhaler or else' kind of thing #I was just telling them what was going to happen because of how they chose to run their business #so yeah. Aetna's the worst avoid them if you can #the didn't pay for my heart monitor when I've had idiopathic tachycardia for OVER A DECADE #they don't want to pay for one of my meds because they want me to use a specific pharmacy #but I'm allergic to the inactive ingredients used by the only manufacturer they have for that medication #I literally can't take it without having a severe allergic reaction #but they still want me to use it because it comes from the pharmacy they own #(or are owned by the same parent company? Not sure what it says specifically on paper)

[lucalicatteart]

Poll adventure (paventure? lol) Day 11: read the small story tidbit below the poll for more details, OR just vote based on initial impression

(✦ see past poll results + further information HERE (link) ✦)

Yesterday's poll decided that The Adventurer should curiously socialize with a few of the boat travelers ...

~

"The Adventurer grabs one of the ornate glass bowls near the buffet table, meekly gathering some cheese and vegetables as he scans the crowd. For the first 15 minutes of the lunch, he mostly crouches in a corner seat, nibbling on his food and nervously fielding the occasional drunken question from a passing party guest..

Knowing he should.. probably... actually socialize at some point, he begrudgingly chooses conversational partners, squeezing his eyes shut and pointing around randomly until he lands on someone.....

The first is a scrawny man in a flashy suit, wobbly from wine but still keeping a vaguely charming demeanor about him. He proudly introduces himself as a "legal expert", then goes on to ramble for a while about the laws in the area, how drastically they vary from city to city (plus a few veiled hints on how to safely break them), and that if you travel a lot it can be hard to keep up with it all.

He mentions, quite conveniently, that he's recently published a book on the topic, a legal guide for local explorers, and offers to give The Adventurer a copy for a special discounted price... but... then soon recalls that the crate of books he'd planned to sell on the boat sadly ended up falling into the river earlier during a "silly little mishap"..

In place of a book, he simply slides The Adventurer a glossy mint colored paper swirled with golden floral motifs, supposedly serving as some sort of business card, though the actual contact information seems obscured beneath the cluttered design. The Lawyer also pulls off his scarf as he rises to leave, wrapping it around The Adventurer's shoulders with a little waving flourish (not the first time someone has confused his anxious shaking for cold shivers). The Adventurer stutters out a confused thank you, then watches as the Lawyer stumbles off, mumbling to himself that he's been drinking too much and "truly must find somewhere to piss"......

The second person he approaches is an older woman, hunched over a table fidgeting with a handful of colorful glass dice, spinning and stacking and arranging them into patterns whilst her thoughts drift elsewhere. Initially, she gives evasive answers when asked personal questions, but soon grows more talkative once the topic of local flora and fauna arises. She apparently used to adventure as well, roaming the lands to document various elements of nature relevant to her mysterious "private research" - though, at her age, she's now resigned to casual boat rides rather than riskily hiking alone through uncharted wilderness. Gently laying a worn leather journal of watercolor paintings out onto the tabletop, she points at various berries, leaves, and animals, eagerly describing their significance...

After chatting for a while, she abruptly changes topics, mentioning that sometimes she can "sense things which she should not" (whatever the hell that means), then asks him to pick one of her dice. He hesitates, but she just stares, refusing to elaborate further.. Finding even 30 seconds of awkward silent eye contact physically impossible to bear, he hurriedly plops a finger down in front of an iridescent yellow die. She chuckles..

Scooping up all of the dice from the table, she rattles them in her clasped hands, then brings them up to her ear as if to listen... to something?? A few moments later, she turns back to him, speaking in a raspy whisper: "There are others, melding your footprints with their own, seeking a gift you do not yet know - this is what I see."

Before he can ask her for any elaboration, the Captain returns, grumbling that The Adventurer has already stayed 5 minutes past the time limit and swatting at him with a broom to shoo him off of the boat. Apparently an hour can go by fast....

After climbing back into his dinky raft, he sails mostly successfully down the river, finally making it to a point that, at least based on his map, SHOULD be where the main road picks back up past the detour. He crashes into a small grouping of rocks whilst trying to navigate back to the shore, but he was planning on disassembling the raft to get his rope and supplies back anyway, so.. aside from a scraped knee and possibly broken pinky toe, he decides it's actually fine. The cat is okay, which is all that really matters, anyhow.

By the time he's taken apart his boat, eaten a quick meal, and bandaged his leg, the sun seems to have nearly set. It's later in the night than he'd usually like to travel, but, where he's going is a pretty commonly used road, so maybe it's safe? He's exhausted from socializing, but could probably muster enough energy to walk for at least a while. Or perhaps he should just call it a night and find a place to sleep.. But.. where??? What should he do?

-

Additional information

acquired a long, warm, expensive scarf

acquired slightly increased knowledge of local plants

acquired vague information from the 'dice based fortune teller', or whatever that was meant to be

acquired a business card (+ ability to get away with one minor crime free of legal consequence)

acquired mild nausea for the next 5hrs from weird buffet cheese

acquired badly scraped knee and sprained toe (will walk slightly slower for the next 2 days)

the adventurer's current main goal: follow his map to reach the abandoned castle ruins and see the rare animal specialist about the mysterious egg he has

#paventure posting #polls #choose your own adventure #okay yeahgh this one took like a week instead of a few days lol #I've went back to physical therapy for my chronic chest muscle issue and I think one of the new excercises they gave me in the #appointment ended up really irritating something instead of helping it because I was having way worse and sharper #chest pain for a few days. I went to the doctor and got an ekg just to rule out anything bad like that because I seriously #thought something was wrong but.. apparently it's just the same thing as always. It feels a bit better now #and hopefully wont get bad again if I ease into the excercises more. but for a few days I really didn't want to use my arms at all #so that means like.. not drawing or typing. also when I feel bad I kind of stray away from social media? I know for some peopls #social media is a good distraction when they're sick or whatever but I just find it stressful. I usually just lay on the floor #for a few days with silly cooking shows or Carefully Curated Youtube Videos That Specifically Contain Absolutley Zero Possibility #Of Stressful content Whatsoever on in the background lol.. ANYWAY. #I am at the moment able to use the computer again so I could draw things. hopefully will get on better schedules again one day #anyway!!... HE!!! adventure man... Again I hate trying to shorten things by just describing the conversations without dialogue #like saying “they talked about trees” rather than literally writing out a transcript of the entire conversation they had about trees #etc. I think because most of the time when I write it's in a very dialogue heavy context (like script type things. or visual novels/games #where lots of characters are talking and it's mostly that. etc.) So it feels awkward and bad to just skip over things #But also these would take days and days and days to do if I wrote out pages of conversation so I'm just doing vaguely rushed shortcut writi #writing trying to include only details that are necessary or etc. but ggbhjbhj... it's just so opposite to what I usually like #I always walk away like 'FINE.. i GUESS.. that will have to do >:T' lol #Kind of like how I hate literally every bit of digital art I have ever done because I'm so used to traditional art - specifically pencil #and pen stuff that's very sketchy and messy - and then digital art is all about clean even neat lines with a line tool and very polished #clean coloring - so it's super super opposite to my usual sketchy things and just Feels Wrong. I kind of like ms paint because it feels #like a middle ground like. it's somehow also sketchy even though it's digital. multiple pixelly lines over each other give it a 'sketch' #type feel. BUt anyway. It's supposed to be casual and quick and fun! I will choose to ignore all art and writing errors because #it is all about having a little advenchure! :3 As long as the main idea is clear enough for the voting to make sense . who cares #Remember to keep him safe! the dice lady is trying to help him. Regardless of where he sleeps though he can probably use the scarf #as a new warm blanket addition to his existing meager bedding situation lol. soft. fluffy. the cat will love it probably #Also again. whenever he talks to people the text will be longer. Sorry. Still trying for most of them to be short blurbs lol