#i accept questions people

[strengthwuzhere]

Not so Frog House

Amphibia x The Owl House

Plot

When Anne, Sasha and Marcy where six they were running around the park closest to their day care. They were playing tag, Marcy was it and the other children ran in a attempt to win the game. Sasha and Anne running ahead while Marcy ran behind them. Then she saw a puddle. And like any child she jumped in it. She was never seen again.

When Anne and Sasha where ten they were swinging on the swings at the park closest to their school. Oum Boonchuy came over to walk the girls home. Anne and her mom walked hand and hand while Sasha trailed behind them. As Anne and Oum exited the park Oum panicked as she realised Sasha was no longer with them.

When Anne was sixteen she was sent to Saint James Summer Camp. While waiting for the bus two crumpled flyers clinched in her hands. One face on the flyer was heavily distorted, the only thing that could be made out was a green hair clip. The second face on the other flyer was less horrid looking. A blonde girl, the most distinct feature about her was her eyes. The right one, a piercing light blue. The left one, a luxurious brown.

In hopes of her friends finally disappear from her nightmares she sat them down in the trash before returning to the sidewalk. A second passes. Then two. Then Anne abruptly whips around bolting to trash, sifting around the garbage in a desperate attempt to recover her lost friends.

Anne heard a 'Gwak-Gwak', looking up she saw the two flyers in a purple snails mouth. Quickly she spirited at the snail as speed off at a ungodly speed for a snail (or a human for that matter). The snail lead Anne to the very park she lost her friends at. Without thinking Anne continued to follow the snail. Then the snail ran into an open door that was planted into the middle of the park in front of a bench.

The door seemingly lead in nowhere. The moment Anne ran into the door she was suddenly in a market. Surround by non-humans.

Main Characters

Anne Boonchuy (replaces Luz): Runs through a door that teleports her into a different realm filled with witches and demons. Instead of glyphs Anne uses her calamity powers which are far more powerful. Her palismen is Domino Two. She studies the healing magic and plant magic. She's a human. Calamity powers first active in 'The Intruder', while hiding from Hop pops cursed form with Polly and Sprig sat by her side. Instead of using a giant light glyph to blind Hop pop, Sprig Polly and Anne covered a dead end hallway with mirrors. While Anne stood in the middle of the mirror Sprig and Polly lead Hop pop to her. Once he got close enough Anne activated her powers and BLINDED everyone.

Sprig Plantar (replaces King): Finds Anne in the market after some yells from shop owners and stands up for her. Somehow convinces Hop pop to take care of an other child. He's childish, impatient and easily distracted. His weapon of choice is his sling shot and plant seeds instead of stones. His palismen is Charlie Big Bottom (I am so sorry). He studies plant magic and bard magic. He's a witch.

Polly Plantar (replaces King): First met Anne and instantly hit her with her rolling pin. She's violent, unpredictable and hella smart. Her weapon of choice is her rolling pin Dorris. Her palismen is Mico Angelo. She studies plant magic and abomination magic. She's a witch.

Hop Pop Plantar (replaces Eda): First met Anne when he went to check out the ruckus Sprig ran off to. A theatre kid in the body of an old man. He has a heron curse which resulted in the death of his daughter and son-in-law. He's old fashion, hates change and reasonable (most times). His palismen is Bessie. He studies plant magic. He's a cursed witch.

Moss Man (replaces Hooty): Their not attached to the house but instead it's made from land the Plantars farm is built on. Calm and collected this creature is. They like making flowers for their loves one. They've been alive since the first Plantar and have protected the family ever since.

Marcy LongClaw (replaces Amity): First met Anne once Sprig excitedly introduced her to everyone he ever knew in 'I was a teenage abomination'. First person to immediately notice Anne was human. She's childish, witty and unbelievably smart. Her palismen is a sparrow named Joe Sparrow, which her Mama (Yunan) passed down to her. She studies potion magic, abomination magic and beast keeping magic. She's a human who's disguised as witch (unknowingly), her ears were cut when she was six.

Sleight Leviathan (A.K.A Sasha, replaces Hunter): First met Anne while threatening Polly's life in 'Separate tides'. She's a bitch, cold hearted, demanding and very stubborn. Her weapon of choice (in the Kings Coven) is two weapons staffs, one pink and one light blue (like her duel swords). Her palismen is a white heron (the one she fought at toad tower) named Brave (who's possessed by Barrel). She studies bard magic and construction magic. She's a grimwalker.

Ivy Sundew (replaces Gus): First meet Anne in 'I was a teenage abomination' while Sprig was excitedly showing her off. She's wild, energetic and very loud. Her weapon of choice is her staff shes uses like a long stick. Her palisman is a purple fire fly named Bright. She studies illusions magic and potion magic. She's a witch.

Maddie Flour (replaces Willow): First meet Anne in 'I was a teenage abomination' trying to pry an exited Ivy off a human. She's terrifying, cold, little cooky and smart, very smart. Her weapon of choice is the dark arts. Her palisman is a vodo doll named Foreshadow. She studies oracle magic and potion magic. She's a witch.

Leif Plantar (replaces Evelyn): Lead a human into the demon realm as a dare from her friend Barrel. She ended up befriending the human and soon developed a romantic attraction to him. Once Andrias went hungry for power and went looking for the gems that the Cosmic Guardian told him about Leif was the first to find them. She made a portal door to confined the gems powers and buried it. She's was a witch.

Barrel the Brave (replaces Caleb, sorta): Dared his sweet friend to lead a human to the demon realm. Like his friend her befriended the human and fell for him. When Andrias had a thirst for power he ordered Barrel to kill Leif. Barrel refused and suffered with his life. His soul eventually possessed a heron palisman. Now he tries to lead a grimaalker to safety. He's was a witch.

Andrias Leviathan (replaces Phillip, a.k.a Emperor Belos): When he followed to a witch to an otherwise realm he was excited. He soon eventually fell for his two friends. But when his father ordered him to take power he has no choice but not to. In a attempt to gain power he killed his two friends. He's a cursed human.

Aldrich Leviathan (replaces Caleb, sorta): Chasing after his son who ran after some lady, he found himself in a world of wonder. In attempt to rule the Ilse's he uncovered the Cosmic Guardian and ordered Andrias to find the gems. No matter what. He was old and his son failed. But he refused to die. So he attached himself to Andrias. He thought of it as a gift, his son though of it as a curse. He was a human.

Side Characters

Oum Boonchuy (replaces Camilla): Adopts four traumatized kids and becomes a badass mother.

Bee Boonchuy (replaces Manny, but not dead): Involuntary adopts four traumatized kids. Always getting scared by Ivy's illusions.

Yunan LongClaw (replaces Lilith and Alador): She's a mother of three and a handful of a wife. She's head witch of the Kings coven and also gets possessed by Andrias (like Raine). She was the first person to find Marcy, who was laying by a lake and took her home where she was somehow able to convince her love to adopt a human. She cut Marcy's ears so she could blend in more and she still works with the King to keep Marcy safe. Yunan passed down Joe Sparrow to Marcy so she has a way of performing magic.

Olivia LongClaw (replaces Odalia, but nicer): She is the only living person who Yunan and the King is scared of. She's the head of oracle coven and makes the other had cower in fear. Olivia gave up her palisman in order to step alongside the King.

Marky LongClaw (replaces the Blight twins): Calm, cool and just a general vibe. They don't speak but have a magical connection with its twin which is its only way of communication. Their palisman is a Capybara named Luam.

Darcy LongClaw (replaces the Blight twins): A asshole. They speak for Marky and stand up for Marcy when someone but them bully's her. Their palisman is a black spider with eleven orange eyes named Toxins.

Grime (replaces Darius): A stubborn man who's head witch of the construction coven. He was once a scout for the king then was eventually promoted to head witch. Begrudgingly he watches the aggressive blonde and once again develops a emotion attachment with her. His palisman is a horned snake that's curled around the handle and instead of a staff it's a hammer.

Mrs. Croaker (replaces Eberwolf): The most chaotic and the baddest bitch you will ever know. She's got a lot of spunk for an hundred and two year old woman. She's head witch of the beast keeping coven. Her palisman is a Archery the spider.

Sylvia Sundew (replaces Raine): Gentle but scary. She has a strong opinion on the King, even if it isn't a good one. She's head witch of the potion coven. Her palisman is a Bear named Chai.

Toadstool (replaces Principal Bump): Not an old man but not a respected man. He's principal of Famers-Side. Even though he's selfish when the Cosmic Guardian's goons try to hurt his students he's fights to protect them.

Molly-Jo Waybright (replaces Masha): Sasha's younger sister. Lived with her Grandfather, who runs a newspaper business, for two years after her sisters disappearance. She now volunteers at the local library and is very infested in the local witch lore in town.

#amphibia #the owl house #toh #crossover #not so frog house au #the owl house x amphibia #amphibia x the owl house #toh x amphibia #anne boonchuy #sasha waybright #marcy wu #ivy sundew #maddie flour #captain grime #calamity gals are sixteen #sprig ivy maddie and molly jo are thirteen #i accept questions people #the twins r also sixteen

[walrus150915]

I feel like people underestimate Ballister's actions in the movie and dumb him down to be just a guy with sad big eyes when he's literally a metaphor for transphobic gay men who participated in the system based on violence and hate. He's so much more than what fandom makes him out to be and he's quite flawed

Like :/// yes he's cute but let's not infantalize him???

#im sorry did we watch the same movie #<- me when i see people talking how non-complex movie Ballister is #like yes hes less morally grey than in the comic but did we. did we forget the scenes where he says some questionable stuff to Nimona #“most people arent as accepting as me” DOES IT LOOK LIKE AN INNOCENT GUY WHO DID NO WRONG #he does wrong things and thats why hes great #Ballister is literally my fav character dont do me like that man :/ #nimona #ballister boldheart #nimona 2023

[fayevalcntine]

The whole framing of Lestat as the sole symbol of patriarchy that fandom is so desperate to put him in doesn't work unless you deliberately ignore how he was also a victim of rape and abuse before he was turned. People want him to be fit into this strict role of "father figure/violent husband/perpetrator" that is only that and not even a whole person, and in doing so they need to push aside the fact that despite being his family's provider, he was also pushed into that role when his father forbid him from joining a monastery or gaining an education that he wanted. Lestat wanted to run away with a theater group as a kid, and actually managed to do so once Gabrielle gave him her blessing and monetary support in order to go to Paris. He didn't always want to be the provider, he was forced into that role and became despondent when he thought he would never get a chance to leave his home.

His new life prior to being turned is pretty much the antithesis to the whole "Lestat is a manly man who would sooner throw up than be compared to a woman" spiel: he lived with another man in Paris while also being an actor, having left his family and "responsibility" to them. The only family member he was ever close to was his mother, all the other male members shunned or ridiculed him. Add onto that the fact that his turning firmly placed him within the role of the damsel/victim: he's kidnapped from his bed by a stranger, taken into a tower and left to rot while being fed on for a week, before then being raped and violently turned all while never even being asked if he would consent to it in any normal circumstance. But you of course have to ignore all of this if you want him to only represent the aggressor/patriarch while Louis is the helpless unhappy matriarch of the family.

My issue isn't that I think Louis isn't a victim, it's that it's not unrealistic for Lestat to be an aggressor/abuser while also displaying traits that aren't regularly assigned to stereotypical depictions of male characters. He's abusive to Claudia while also having been a victim of abuse from his own family. He's not a good maker/teacher, but he also didn't even have one when he was turned. He's the provider/attempted protector of the family and seemed to like being that, while also having run away from his own family prior to this to act in a theater in Paris. He's a rich white man while also being obviously effeminate in public spaces, even to Tom's own bigoted humor.

Like Louis' own complicated story with being his family's benefactor and provider, you can't firmly place Lestat as being one thing or another in terms of gender ideals without deliberately ignoring parts about him that don't fit this. And I don't think it's an absolute necessity, when even in Louis' own story, Lestat isn't stripped of his effeminate mannerisms or behavior while also being the abusive maker/father/lover.

#interview with the vampire #lestat de lioncourt #like even Louis doesn't try to act like Lestat was only ever the powerful 'daddy' of the house #if he was I doubt he'd even feature Lestat wanting to be king of mardi gras and doing that extremely flamboyant display #to the public's chagrin/disgust #the only people in awe of Lestat's peacocking are the women in ep7 like that man was NOT accepted by other rich men like Tom #and I don't point this out in order to dismiss the notion that he could be abusive/horrible #rather that it's completely possible for both things to be true? #also to the people that will likely go: but how does him being a victim of abuse negate him being a patriarch #idk maybe redirect your question to the Edwardian wife fanatics that think that no male character can be a victim unless he is assigned #the female while he is in a relationship with another man 🤷‍♀️ #I'll never forget how someone was also like 'Lestat fakes his femininity for the public' why? no one likes his effeminate ass anywhere #he holds more power by being white + rich than by being effeminate in order to ''''hide'''' his power which he never has or cared to #when Fenwick suggested to Louis to get a business under Lestat's name it's because Lestat being white could pass segregation laws... #not because his effeminate mannerisms grant him more favor.....

[watcherintheweyr]

desperately need people to understand that alicent is a victim but she’s also an abuser and a perpetrator

that she actively makes choices to harm other women because of jealousy and envy and the greed deep in her bones because submitting to suffering didn’t get her what those women fight to grasp for themselves.

she is absolutely a victim, in show.

that doesn’t change that she abused rhaenyra and her children, her own son, most likely helaena given how she flinches every time her mother touches her, and is actively weaponizing the patriarchy of westeros against other women- rhaenyra primarily, but also mysaria and dyana.

she isn’t the moral, righteous force of good that even she thinks she is, she’s a wounded woman directing all of the rot, pain, and fury inside her at the wrong people and forces.

#anti team green stans #anti team green #anti alicent hightower stans #i don’t wanna say it’s anti alicent bc honestly it’s more ‘accept her for who she is bc she’s so much more complex and interesting when you #but i made this bc someone genuinely tried to say that the reason people hate her is that they don’t see her as a victim #most rational people know show!alicent is a victim #it’s the point that’s she’s an abuser as well #that makes them dislike her #that she’s a hypocrite and a traitor #i don’t even like young alicent bc i don’t at all think she was a good friend to rhaenyra #‘it’s not your place to question the plots of lords and men’ to the named heir #dismisses rhaenyra’s hopes and idealism entirely out of hand #is baffled that rhaenyra is more worried for her fathers happiness and mother’s wellbeing than her position #she knew as early as ep 3 that otto was conspiring against rhaenyra and never told anyone #condemns ‘targaryen customs’ only to wed her daughter to her son even younger than she was when otto dangled her before viserys #acts entitled to rhaenyras secrets whilst condemning and judgemental even though she did not give rhaenyra that same courtesy #made no attempt at apology for the insensitive comment of aegon’s birth #though rhaenyra DID try to apologize for the ‘imprisoned in a castle’ line and tried to comfort her #uses her power as queen to push past the space rhaenyra is trying to create because she feels heartbroken and betrayed #rhaenyra took part in alicent’s culture with prayer at alicent’s urging because she cared about alicent and alicent was trying to help her #alicent is never once shown to return that favor instead condemning it for ‘queerness’ and growing to later #erase and remove all targaryen and valyrian heraldry from the red keep to replace with her own #like alicent is a victim and i DO have empathy for her. but i don’t like her and never will #especially not after the way her stans behave #she deserved better than otto’s machinations and viserys’…. viserysness #but that can also be true whilst i condemn her actions and behaviors

[crimsonservbot]

gonna be honest, its incredibly demoralizing for going through transitioning if you can't even be Transgender on the Transgender Website

#like oh okay I guess i'm not safe anywhere ever #the body dysphoria is already nightmarish but these past 2 weeks have just been #"well hey you'll still be constantly questioned even by other trans people and there is no space on this planet that will accept you #“but at least you won't want to punch EVERY mirror you see!” #wow cool thanks #really experiencing the positivity of both the LGBT+ “Community” and “Allies”

[lunar-wandering]

newsflash assholes: ive been capable of making my videos in black and white this whole time.

#Monkie Kid #AMV #lego monkie kid #goodnight everybody its after midnight and i will be accepting no questions at this time #there's a coloured version of this if people want that one

[srkgirlblogger]

by @/vimoh on ig

#i do cringe so much when UC Indians living abroad make being 'brown (insert identity)' their whole personality #like. alok v menon #who presents ideas that have been present in feminist and queer indian literature for decades as some new breakthroughs #and people eat it up #always question every indian who tells you that indian culture or hindu culture have been inherently liberal and queer accepting #there's always more nuance to it that this #casteism

[cheerfullycatholic]

I hope someday kids don't have to fear coming out to their Catholic families. I hope someday they're raised being taught the whole truth, that while actions are sinful and the Church cannot condone them, feelings and temptations are not, and that God doesn't love them any less for something they can't control. I hope when they start to feel these things their immediate reaction isn't "oh no, my parents will kill me if they find out" but, "I need to talk about this with my parents". I hope someday it's no longer treated as the worst thing a person could be, or something that needs to be hidden. I hope someday they don't feel unwelcome by their parish, that they know they belong there just as much as anyone else. I hope someday they're taught that a celibate life is not a punishment, but a beautiful way to live a holy life- not just for lgbt people, but for anyone who chooses it, and that it's no longer looked at as a lesser option. I hope someday they can confidently turn to their loved ones for support and guidance, and not have to carry this alone. I hope someday lgbt Catholics are loved in the Church like God loves them.

#heard a story yesterday that brought back a lot of memories about when i first started questioning my sexuality #dont tell me im wrong #that people in the church are already welcoming and loving and whatever else #at least a good chunk of them arent #i didnt just make up everything i said #i mentioned it because ive seen it #and yes i do know #like i said above #lgbt actions are a sin and we cannot condone them #if you think that anything i said condones it then idk what to tell you #changing how you treat people so they dont feel hated or ostracized by their own community doesnt equal acceptance of sin

[justarandomhelluvablog]

as someone with a guilty pleasure for isekai and time regression stories I am just thinking of a story where Husk dies and wakes up during the height of his Overlord days with the memories of everything that would happen and has just. From the outside perspective become a completely different person overnight and changed his ways (read: the morals he gained during his afterlife he applies to how he, uh... Overlords?). A Husk whose last soul deal is to get Angel Dust away from Valentino (and offers Angel his freedom, which Angel possibly decides not to take for the time being bc it'd be safer for him to be under contract than not, with Valentino as mad as he is), and who avoids making bets/deals with Alastor like the plague. Starts building alliances with other Overlords (maybe even including Alastor, albeit reluctantly) to steadily create a support network/team (which is also useful when going up against the Vees once they're established), and just bides his time until Charlie and Vaggie open their hotel- which, at the time of his death, he had come to love and support the cause of.

And Husk is ready to be the hotel's sponsor, immediately. Alastor gets there and finds Husk beat him to it (seeing as Husk knows about it before the interview even airs), but unlike Alastor with his ulterior motives, Husk actually wants to help.

After all, he died for the hotel, and its people, once upon a time

#hazbin hotel #Au #now if it's true time regression or a case of dreaming of the future #that is the question #anyway I don't think Husk was a good person while he was an Overlord #but I love good 'healthy work environment' Overlord Husk and this is how I can still have it thank you #while also indulging in one of my favorite genres/guilty pleasures lol #also to clarify when I say Husk wouldn't 'deal in souls' I mean he wouldn't gamble away souls #but he probably continues to accept people offering their souls #bc let's face it more souls means more power #and when you know there will be a war with heaven AND a civil war within the Overlords AND whatever is up with Alastor... #more power is what you need. no matter how much you'd like to just let them all go

[astyrra]

i think if laios had dinner with hannibal he would make it so awkward

laios would IMMEDIATELY realise that this is some kind of meat he's never eaten before and ask a whole bunch of questions about what kind of animal it came from and so on

meanwhile hannibal is trying to do his poetic metaphor shit and it's going right over laios's head

#dungeon meshi #hannibal #ive only seen like 1 episode of hannibal everything i know is from tumblr #guy who secretly feeds people human meat vs guy who will keep asking questions abt it well past the point of it being socially acceptable #(im also anime only for dungeon meshi so if laios does do cannibalism at some point please dont spoil me)

[stiffyck]

"This comment section is too nice" no you're just a fucking asshole who can't understand that different people enjoy different things. Go fuck yourself.

#it was a video of someone in a fursuit doing a silly dance #IT WAS A CUTE SILLY VIDEO #GET FUCKED HONESTLY #or would that video be acceptable for you if the person in question was skinny? #i hate people #cw fatphobia #for the tags i added #im so tired #stiff talk

[friendrat]

The problem with the church today is that so many "Christians" do not actually believe in redemption.

#unironically christian #i say this because of all the people who make comments about people's testimony #like saying they don't believe that only fans girl who was saved and baptized was really saved #like... reading through the comments it becomes clear that the “Christians” don't actually accept her #like... my brother in Christ... your good deeds are as worthy as my used pad #that is straight up in the bible #you are not better than her and you do not deserve redemption more than her #her salvation is between her and God #and yes... you say that time will reveal her fruit and you are correct #but guess what #ananias was called to extend a hand to paul *before* his fruit showed #and he was a frigging serial killer who was out for ananias's blood the week before #you do not get to pick and choose which converts you get to except #you are not God and thank heavens for it because if you were we would all be doomed #*deep breath* #i am just so sick of this... farse... that Christianity has become #Christians need a wake up call #oh! and and when you act like its impossible to accept that she could be saved you belittle God's power #you call into question Jesus's blood and it's ability to cleanse and if that is false your salvation is worthless! #also also you go against the things clearly written in the Bible while wearing the title of Christian #which means you are misrepresenting God's nature and intentions which means you are breaking the command to not take the lord's name in vain #wow... i thought i was done at the deep breath... guess not😅 #rat rants

[rexalogy]

my answer to questions about my identity is this: my gender and sexuality labels are not about self-identifying. my self-perception is my own but I also understand it is impossible to navigate a culture independently, outside of other people’s perceptions. Don’t feel like explaining my deeply private experiences to everyone I meet . thus: i use labels only to describe what societal positions I may occupy. societal positions may seem contrasting but we occupy a variety of such in accordance to who is perceiving us. the personal incongruences i experience with my body would have people describe me as a trans man. i am also a lesbian. these are not contradictory experiences, just parts of me that are more prevalent in certain situations.

#i see questioning people share sentiments like.. well I don’t /feel/ this way about my gender and of course you don’t.. you’ve already #accepted that man and woman are social constructs based around sex traits of course you don’t feel like you occupy a platonic ideal of man #or woman #you may feel good about certain traits that are associated with gender/sex #you aren’t born this way it’s your preferences that are embodied by the culture #and we can’t escape culture. not unless we withdraw #in a world where sex and gender don’t exist people would still be dysphoric about their body traits they just would not have those #those gender and sex associations #why did I say all of this. I could’ve said the signified exists before the signifier

[variousqueerthings]

the fucking whiplash btw when twelve announces they're 2000 years old. ten lived for about six years. eleven lived for more than 1000 years?

#unless they've just lost count or they're just making shit up #but I just??? eleven lived for longer than all the other doctors COMBINED???? #doctor who #dw #the doctor #the twelfth doctor #the eleventh doctor #the tenth doctor #i have questions #the first one of which is: does this even make sense? #listen i knOW there's that truly terrible final episode in eleven's run where they stick around some random town for hundreds and hundreds #of years... and before THAT they had a few hundred down already #i have questions about the doctor and ageing specifically as it pertains to eleven and just being THAT old though #i guess there's a sliiightly bit more acceptance of the idea that so many people around the universe know that exact face #in a sort of *yoooo that's so old they're basically a god (even though they Are Not) kind of way* #but my first question is STILL: DOES THIS EVEN MAKE SENSE? #i KNOW canon is messy but does it???

[dannyphannypack]

i’m very sorry, but you guys have got to properly label your ao3 fics because “bad parents jack and maddie fenton” is starting to really get on my nerves.

and if, in the middle of the fic, you decide to add a tag like that: PLEASE communicate that you’ve done so in the chapter notes. because i don’t recheck the tags after i’ve bookmarked something.

please. i don’t think it’s that big of an ask.

#did we watch the same show ??? #this is the woman that carried danny on her back across the forest #the ones that went around town blaring announcements of ‘cutest sweetest boy in the world’ when he went missing #the people that accepted him without question not once #not TWICE #but THREE TIMES. #and if it was the odd fic here and there i wouldnt be frustrated #but suddenly its ALL OF THEM. #PLEASE TAG YOUR FICS PROPERLY. #danny phantom #power to you and your artistic vision i guess but im begging over here. #im getting old im 22 i cant take these surprises anymore #its not even bad anymore its just abusive #and more than half the time it has nothing to do with the plot. it’s just a device to get danny somewhere or make him sad #im sorry im getting mad again i’ll stop #tag your fics end of story

[the-red-thread-that-strangles]

Alright. Let's talk about Akai's and Furuya's fighting styles, control, and the ferris wheel fight, featuring some tangents on professionalism.

The second reason is the implied: Akai is (in general, probably not in this situation, because he is going along with the fight Rei wants) a professional, and professionals do not fight. A professional will either ambush or assassinate (you know, like the sniping Akai is so well-known for), and generally do everything in his power to avoid a fight. It's about gaining the advantage, pressing and keeping it, to maintain control over the situation. For comparison, fights are between people of roughly equal footing, and fighting follows rules. As a person who lives in the world of actual violence, Akai does not need the fancy dances of a fighting sport, he needs his rifles, guns, and a self-defense technique for when things go really bad and personal. (Incidentally, a professional will also plan, won't let his emotions get in the way, stay calm, and keep working in bad conditions - we also see these traits in Akai.) I can remember two instances of Akai fighting (there might be more)- the ferris wheel fight, and the one time he knocked out the people after Yumi (and arguably, they didn't really have a chance and it wasn't really a fight). Other than that, he's just coordinating and providing tactical support.

Akai using Jeet Kune Do for fighting is an interesting choice. It's not as well-known as many other fighting styles (hell, it's not even a fighting style, it's a self defense technique and really more of a philosophy or a principle), but it has a couple of key values that characterize him well. First off, it's hugely individualistic. Practitioner's are encouraged to find their own way, to find what works for them, which really is Akai in a nutshell, doing what he wants. Secondly, it is described as a highly efficient way to fight. There are few, if any, rules to Jeet Kune Do, you're expected to use whatever technique will help you the most in the moment. For this reason, it is also highly adaptable, and requires an appropriate mindset to use. This latter point, I think, really mirrors the approach the FBI has in the series - do what you need to in order to get the results we want, at whatever the cost.

The fact that it's a self defense technique is important for two reasons: one is the immediate one for our context - Akai's defending himself from an angry Rei on the ferris wheel.

With all that out of the way, let's get into the ferris wheel fight, and what we learn about them there.

For contrast, let's look at Rei. It's almost funny how little professionalism Rei has compared to Akai, when it comes to the world they're living in. Rei's choice of fighting style is boxing, and he's practicing a rather straightforward, aggresive version, with barely any defense, at great personal risk. That point about professionals not letting their emotions get in their way? Well, either Rei has never heard it, or he's deliberately ignoring it. Either way, it really holds him back from gaining and maintaing control.

(I would be remiss not to point out that boxing is also done for show, fitting for this show-off.)

Boxing might honestly be good for Rei in order get out his anger and to up his pain tolerance, but for the purpose of keeping him alive, it sucks. It's up close, it's personal, and it's dirty (that tagline might as well describe Furuya himself). A threat who's gotten into that range is already a problem. Sure, usually - though not in this instance - he's also got his handgun, with its limited reach, limited firepower. For his purposes, it might suffice - he's not supposed to be a fighter, and the advantage of his gun is in its concealability. I suppose he gets a couple points in professionalism for that choice, and for often bringing back-up, whether he's working for the PSB or the BO. For what it's worth, he's also likely trained in Kendo or something similar, as we see in Wild Police Story, but he doesn't really use it. We see Rei fighting rarely, but it happens; with Matsuda at the beginning of WPS, casually inflicting violence on a kidnapper, and now here on the ferris wheel.

It's so interesting to me how they interact here.

Despite both of them bleeding, it starts to feel like Akai is in control, or at least not dated by the fighting - he gets Rei good with Jeet Kune Do's signature One Inch Punch, but has enough presence of mind to casually grabs him so he doesn't fall to his death (which gets him shoved off with a foot. Give Furuya an inch, and he'll try to take your head). Furuya's meanwhile clearly enjoying himself, might have even entered the zone, a sort of battlejoy/trance, asking for a second round (here we go again, this is a fight, with certain rules, like rounds), and Akai, well, he's beaten up, but it doesn't look like he'd surrender to get Furuya off his back - despite it being an option that would end the fight early. We see both of them smiling at points in this exchange, and I think it speaks to both of them, inherently, being thrillseekers. Putting all they are into the outcome of this fight against a dangerous enemy is a thrilling brush with mortality.

Them fighting at all, on top of the ferris wheel, is stupid, plain and simple. They expect the BO to show up any minute, and they'd better be in peak condition - instead they indulge in this fight. Really, it's Rei launching himself at Akai, who's mostly dodging and defending where necessary (I say indulge, because he is armed, and could probably escalate/end the fight early). Fights happen for a variety of reasons, usually social (because otherwise we'd be talking about violence, not a fight), and this implies Rei sees Akai as roughly equal/wants him to have a fair fighting chance, following the social contract of announcing his presence. He launches the attack, takes the initiative but the distance is so large, and he telegraphs his intentions clearly enough that his advantage is minimal.

Akai has the distinct disadvantage of carrying his rifle case, protecting its contents, because he'll need them later. He is, as the series lets us know, a capable fighter (described stronger as Masumi, who can deal with Ran, an established capable martial artist), and we can see it in this fight. He's reading Rei's movements and blocking most of the hits - for what it's worth, Rei's style seems more focused on quantity of attacks over quality. He does get Akai with some unconventional angles of attack (like swinging up into a kick from falling), and mostly this initial struggle is about them fighting for control.

When we cut back to the fight, they're still at it. I find it interesting that Akai tries to talk Rei down throughout the fight. Because the presence of mind necessary to form coherent sentences in a fight is not nothing, and the fact that he at least tries to go for a different solution is noteworthy, even if it is ultimately useless.

Then Conan calls Akai. This is in a small pause to the fight, because, surprise surprise, fighting takes effort (another reason professionals avoid it). It is really funny to me how Rei respects the rules of a fight, but he also sees an opportunity in his opponent's distraction, and seizes it (at the cost of also throwing himself down into a chasm, the self-sacrificial bastard).

Only at this point does it feel like Akai is taking the fight more seriously. I'd wager this is a) because Rei has displayed the willingness to destroy himself to take Akai with him, b) due to the enclosed space - less space to dodge and c) because at least he is aware time is ticking. They're both injured, and the enemy is coming soon. This fight better be over quick.

They only don't fight each other to the death because of Conan's timely intervention. He calls to Akai for help, and just like that, the conflict is resolved, for now. Akai wordlessly rejects Rei's request for a second round, which Rei just...accepts. Allows Akai that level of control, and the control of the flow of information (namely, they don't tell Conan they've been at it). It baffles me, but then again, I suppose it is a fight, the fight has rules, and, clearly, something more important takes precedence. Then again, this whole damn exchange makes no logical sense. Rei has sworn bloody revenge on Akai, who just saved his life today, and instead of doing something about the BO they're fighting a little. Logic is nowhere to be seen, all of this is emotional. On both sides.

I guess bonus points in professionalism for working together for the rest of the rest of the movie, even if they're sharing intel with/depending on a literal child for the solutions to their problem. It's a very unusual set of circumstances indubitably not covered by their training, granted, so what can you do (I'd still love for the adults in this universe to do their job, sue me).

Last point of note for the movie, in my opinion, is Akai waiting after all the chaos is over for Rei to spot him. Is this a case of checking in and simultaneously showing that he, too, made it out alive? He is clearly noticed by Rei, and only then walks away. And Rei just lets him. Akai is in control, in the end.

#Akai is genuinely the more capable agent and I'm not surprised they've made a movie about him #I could carry on about how Akai-as-Okiya knows how to play his cover and avoid attention. even going as far as to retrieve KID's photos. #whereas Amuro lives a little too much in the limelight and certainly too close to the police who might have some people who knew him #he of course gets waaay more capable when his emotions don't blind him #but that would only be half the fun wouldn't it? #anyways. this post is brought to you by me rewatching the insanity that is m20 #there are so many questions for this. chiefly: why was Akai even parked in front of the police HQ during Curacao's break-in #I have accepted the NOC list (insanely dangerous as it is) as a means to avoid the tragedy of Scotch and thus no longer question it #but yeah. how did people know curacao would strike that night? #also that fight is so cool but makes so little sense. very good characterization #we should really have been allowed to keep curacao #I guess she was too powerful #anyways #iris' late night rambles #akai shuichi #furuya rei #iris watches dcmk #long post