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smokingtiger · 10 months

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https://www.tumblr.com/smokingtiger/720056349958012928/i-would-like-to-present-another-pov-for-gcf-tokyo?source=share

Hello, i read your posts about GCFT and while i do see your point and those of some of your anons, i think there is one huge thing you might be missing here. Did you ever consider that it could be possible that Jikook were dating but nobody but them knew about it? Think about it. That would not be an easy thing to tell the other members let alone the company. Also, yes GCFT looks extremely queer coded but how many times have you seen the boys do extremely sus and questionable things and the company doesn’t raise an eyebrow? When you think of some of the things kpop idols are made to do for FS, then you realize that, it’s possible that sometimes they just don’t perceive certain things in Korea the same way we do here. What do i mean? Take Vhope for example, they made them kiss each other as a penalty for losing game. Isn’t it ironic that entertainment industries in a homophobic country make idols do queer coded things with each other for FS? Jk knows this and he could use that to his advantage and the company would think it’s just another day or it’s just bromance. Everytime we see them on stage touching each other, singing to each other and having those weird eye contact moments, every one (except shippers) dismisses those as FS. They already know all of this so don’t u think it’s possible that sometimes they actually hide behind the FS narrative to do what they actually want to do? I wouldn’t have read too much into GCFT if it was just that one. Did u pay attention to GCFS? Did u see what Jk did there with the lyrics and where he decided to place footage of Jimin? Not once, but both time the lyrics “I don’t wanna hide no more, I don’t wanna fight no more, what i found in you is so real” came up, he didn’t place any other member there but Jimin. I would have dismissed it if he did it just for the first chorus but the second chorus, he starts with the sky and blue sea and then we see just Jimin again! Anyone can say what they want but those lyrics were queer coded as hell and nothing will make me believe Jk coincidentally placed Jimin footage in those parts twice. And then we have GCFO, him giving Jimin the most screentime and stopping the music to hear Jimin giggle. Then GCF in Helsinki, the music going upbeat from mellow and starting Jimin scene with beautiful leaves in the fall and then changing the hue to warm immediately Jimin appears on the screen. Common!! . It’s not one thing! It is EVERYTHING put together. Go back and watch all of JK’s GCF’s and see how he hightlights Jimin in almost all the videos. It’s either Jimin is getting the most screentime or he is placing Jimin footage under certain queer coded lyrics or he is changing hues from cold to warm when Jimin comes up, this is too much of a coincidence and we all know that Jk is smart as hell. Why on earth would he continue to do this every single time? I love my best friend but damn….He knew exactly what he was doing. We might not completely understand why he was bold enough to do all those but claiming it was FS or shit like that is comical to say the least. Also, let’s not forget that to JK, this wasn’t about views or about highlighting all the members individually. Why? Because we literally hear RM telling Jk to make a GCF of Tae next time if he wants to get millions of views but Jk doesn’t. What does this tell us? Jk did all that because he wanted to and not cuz he or the company had anything to gain from it. From RM’s statement about V and views, it is safe to assume that they already were aware of V’s power when it came to views or fans so why on earth would the company use GCF to push Jikook? If anything they would have pushed Taekook just like they have been doing for the past two years or so. Taekook and Yoonmin are paired up for literally almost everything.

So many pple use the argument, “if Jikook was real bighit wouldn’t have posted GCF” but that doesn’t make alot of sense when u consider the possibility that bighit might have not known that Jikook were a thing (if infact they were). I don’t think that is something Jikook would have been eager to let the company know about, considering all the risks involved. They were young and hormonal and might have just given in to what they felt but they sure hell would have been aware of the implications so they wouldn’t readily tell anyone. The company encourages bromance between the members and the fact that they also posted the rosebowl earsuck moment on official content should already tell u where they stand! Hell these pple legit posted a clip of Jimin trying to kiss Jk in memories 2020. It’s not alien to them anymore. We may see it as absurd and unbelievable but when u consider all the weird and sus things bangtan get into with each other on a daily basis, what is new? My point is, Jikook probably knew all these and they might have used it to their advantage or kinda like an umbrella. “Everybody will think it’s bromance anyway so let’s indulge ourselves a lil”

One of the reasons why TK shippers kept growing every single day despite the fact that there were little to no TK moments but Jikook flooded everywhere was because they didn’t believe that Jikook would do the things they did if they were actually a couple, considering the circumstances. But they failed to consider the personalities of the parties involved. Jimin as per JK’s own words is “shameless/bold” he is also affectionate, clingy and loving. Jk on the other hand is shy and introverted and only pays attention to what he likes, so he had absolutely no reason making all those videos for Jimin if there was absolutely nothing there in my opinion. It wasn’t one or two but almost all GCF’s highlight Jimin in some way. Jk loves the heck out of all his hyungs but who have u ever seen him putting that much effort into? He does nice and special things for them all every now and then but there is consistency, exclusivity and extra effort in the things he does for Jimin. Think about how till date, only Jimin had an entire GCF dedicated to him, Jimin was the first and only member he gave a bday present to until he was called out, he seems to spend alot of special holidays, couple holidays, birthdays with Jimin and this too has been consistent. He finds ways of doing different and unique things for Jimin like only having a selfie with Jimin on his weverse (yet) and no other single member. Jimin being the first and only member he has posted a birthday video for (yet) even when u look at his tweets for Jimin’s birthday, they were always so different from the way he tweeted for the other members. Even now, see how much effort and attention he paid in watching and reacting to Jimin content and supporting his album. Other members have released albums and been on shows and all but the most we got from Jk was singing their songs on Live. But look at the glaring differences with what he did for Jimin. Man literally sat down for almost two hours watching and reacting to Jimin content, singing his songs on Live and talking about him or making references to him every chance he got. Some idiots claim he is being forced to do FS which is laughable because if u know anything about Jk, he does what he f*uckx wants! The same dude that goes Live unauthorized, who gets tattoos even tho the company doesn’t want it and falls asleep and drinks on Live is the same guy who is forced to do FS? Yea right! From all these actions, i think anyone with a brain and logical thinking can agree that Jimin is special to Jk. I really don’t know the true nature of their relationship, if they are friends, bros or dating each other but Jk sure does pay alot of attention to Jimin. That’s all imma say.

First of all... wow.

Thank you for this... novel of an ask. I always appreciate a passionate display of an answer. I like to see things from all points of view, no matter how short or long the explanation may be. So thanks for shooting me an ask! But anyways, let me break down the points of your ask to the best of my ability and some of my opinions on the topics at hand. Please bear with me here... if I miss anything, please don't hesitate to shoot me another one!

In this ask I will speak generally, not only about Jikook because I feel as if I've talked about GCF in Tokyo and my personal views on them to death.

BTS and Fanservice

I'm not sure how many of my asks that you browsed through, but I did actually touch on the topic of fanservice (specifically around jikook), as well as the consequences and/or intentions posed by the GCF in Tokyo video, whether it be contextualized in a platonic or romantic sense. I also talk about the holes in arguments that state that BigHit uses certain ships to gain more exposure. I highly recommend reading these so you can sort of see how I feel about some of this stuff. I actually touched on a lot of what you expressed here in this ask, so I'm not going to repeat it all again here!

I don't really believe that BTS does performative fanservice, well at least, not anymore. Perhaps in their earlier days, maybe between their debut in 2013 to late 2016, they totally did. Like you mentioned with Hoseok and Tae, that was nothing short of fanservice; I mean, the outfits, the makeup, the buildup ... we all know it was staged.

Some other examples of early career fanservice would be the Pepero challenge that Namgi did in a 2015 episode three of BTS GAYO, or the boys did the sticky-note-pass game in a Music Bank special for their Fire promotions -- though, to be fair, Yoongi was above the game, ending it prematurely on purpose so they didn't have to go through with it. BTS in the present day has absolutely nothing to gain from corporate fanservice other than a funny laugh or cheer from the audience. For example, Taejin still engaged in some form of fanservice for their section in So What, but seasoned fans understood this to be more of a running gag between the two of them, Jin's ears red with embarrassment for half of the displays. But in their monetized content, variety shows, behind-the-scenes, etc... fanservice really has no reason for existing. These are candid shots, I really don't think BTS are putting their heads together trying to think of all the ways that they can stir up sexual tension in the studio or in their green rooms.

People have even begun to accuse Jimin of inciting fanservice towards Jungkook at Yoongi's Seoul concert. Aren't these antis tired yet?

I understand their relationship to be incredibly precious and close, the boys seeing each other as close siblings, a group of people they can wholeheartedly rely on in times of trouble or anguish. They've gotten permanent, matching tattoos as a testament of love. Long gone are the days of sheepish squeals behind cheek kisses and hugs. These boys show affection towards one another like it's their 9 to 5, completely unfiltered and unadulterated passion.

But of course, love isn't a stagnant label or definition; we also know that each member shares a unique dynamic with another, their love language presenting itself in many different ways.

Content Quantity = Couple Validity?

As you mentioned, it is believed that many people became Taekookers because of the lack of content, not the other way around. It was just far too suspicious to have this much content of one pairing for them to be legit, right?

Well, this is how I feel about content, whether it comes in the form of a video, a tweet, a photo, a live, a voice message, an interview snippet... etc. I don't necessarily think the quantity of content validates any pairing and/or relationship.

As we all know, vmin are incredibly close, they constantly remind us just how close they are in songs and interviews. But vminnies used to talk about the lack of content containing the two of them, whether it be selfies or lives. I think the gap between the last vmin live to the most recent one was from 2016 (their Osaka live) to 2021 (their post-PTD concert live). They had survived a long drought before seeing the two of them buddied up together on VLive + Jungkook joined them too! This lack of content didn't invalidate their relationship as best friends, nor did it prove that they were any closer unless they explicitly said so.

Fans who use the quantity of content to justify the strength of a relationship truly boggle my mind -- they're usually in the same pool of people who believe that the members don't actually care about one another because they won't send out birthday tweets or messages. Like, up until 2022, they were together for about 95% of the year. Do you really think that they wouldn't wish one another happy birthday? Do you really need to see it in order to believe it? I swear these people won't stop until they live within the pipes of BTS' homes, they just have to have an in on every conversation ever. As someone who has been a fan for a very long time (since 2015), I have come to notice that birthday tweets, selfies, and/or the amount of times a member uses a platform really isn't that important when interpreting their relationship.

It's true that Jungkook has had many Jimin-centered lives this year, some of which delve into much of Jimin's FACE promotional content. I don't necessarily think that just because Jungkook didn't dedicate a live to each individual member and their work, that he cares about their albums less. Obviously, no one is saying that... hopefully. But what I do find sad is that people accused Jungkook of pushing Jimin's content under the guise of fanservice. Stupid as hell. What I find interesting about the whole Jimin Youtube debacle is that Jungkook is watching some more obscure ARMY compilations and collections, which means that they could have been recommended to him based on his watch history.

Okay, so the only selfie Jungkook posted on Weverse was with Jimin. Jimin also has more pictures of Hoseok on his Weverse than any other member. The members used to post pictures of Jungkook and Yoongi for us on Twitter to prove to us that they weren't dead. Jungkook used to post a total of three selfies a year, and each time it sent the platform into complete chaos. Jimin also used to be one of the most active members on social media, only going a few days at a time without posting, and now he's one of the more quiet ones. Who would've thought that Yoongi would become one of the more active members? If you had told me that about four years ago, I would've called you a liar.

The numbers don't really prove much; they don't disprove one relationship or prove another. All of this speculation around the quantity of content is complete and utter bullshit. Of course, we all know it's about the quality of the actual information being expressed within the content that allows us to draw further speculation. This is where we get into the lyrics, usage of color, staging, clip splicing, etc... in Jungkook's personal projects. Since you've already read my post, you know that I won't get too into detail on many of these things because we'd be here forever. It's a piece of art, and you could honestly write an essay over each video as to why you think he utilized certain elements in certain places.

Also, for people who believe that BigHit is cutting out kisses in between cuts... please be serious for one second. Do you think BTS just freely make out on cam with a poor intern having to sit there and watch? Some people truly think that there's an employee out there working overtime in the HYBE building, desperately gripping their mouse as they edit out hours of unsolicited gay porn from their weekly Bangtan Bomb.

If it's not in the video, why even try to speculate what truly happened? People who argue ship suppression through camera cuts have got to be my favorite flavor of delusional shipper. Actually, Becky, I think Jungkook did six burpees in between these two clips!

Korean Culture, Language, and Interpretation

Now, I am absolutely no stranger to the aspect of another country/culture holding a completely different view or practice. I've lived in two different countries, both of which had some similarities, but mostly had their own distinct way of approaching relationships and everyday life. I would also like to inform you that my major in school focuses on the Korean language -- I'm trying to become a translator. So, I am often taught to study the language through a Korean cultural lens and to understand the small nuances within their language. Does that mean that I'm the most well-informed person to talk about Korean culture and language? No. I might be a little more educated on a linguistic matter, but I still would prefer for others to rely on pure Korean sources -- they'd understand it much better than me.

The concept of misusing Korean culture and the language is something I am incredibly familiar with and aggravated by, and I truly think misinformation spreads like a plague in Western K-pop communities -- especially in shipping ones. The number of headaches I get just scrolling through stan Twitter and seeing non-Koreans and non-Korean speakers spread false information about translations and cultural subcontexts... it's immense.

I still remember the infamous RUN BTS moment where Jungkook calls his mother and Jimin makes himself known to her, earning a sweet and earnest 'I love you' before erupting into giggles and laughter. The moment is incredibly wholesome, but what caught the attention of many non-Korean speakers was the fact that Jimin called Jungkook's mom, Mother. This just had to be proof! Look how close they are! Jimin called Jungkook's mom, Mother! Well.. that's what everyone calls the parents of their friends... School teachers even call the mother of their students Mother. It's true that Jimin didn't use the most polite version of the word, but don't get me wrong, he was still polite. But when Koreans asked the person of this tweet to kindly delete it, they refused, the OP far too happy with the number of likes they had garnered on misinformation. This type of sentiment is prolific in the K-pop community, so I highly recommend verifying translations that come from non-Korean speakers or non-Korean fans!

One of the bigger forms of misuse has to come from the usage of the pet name Baby, or in Korean, 새끼 Saekki. I have seen so many people pass around clips that have the English translation of this word, pointing out how, look! this person called this person baby! they're totally dating! ... 새끼 does translate into Baby, but it doesn't hold the exact same connotation as its English counterpart. 새끼 is often used by older folk towards animals (baby cat, baby dog) or their children/grandchildren. Romantic couples aren't really out here using 새끼 in the most romantic way, but more in a way to express how endeared or how cute they find something. Also, 새끼 can be used as an insult... it's all about context folks! I'm sure you guys have heard the word circulating on TikTok or from the mouths of animated Kdrama protagonists.

Big shipping youtube channels often weaponize the Korean culture and language to push an agenda, often on false pretenses and offensive absolutes. They disguise most of these strange and outright derogatory statements under the guise of analysis. Analysis? Doesn't that require some actual reasoning based on facts? Not just whatever you pulled out of your ass? For example, one of the most famous Taekook channels, taekook--lives, is incredibly guilty of this. Watching their content is like a punch to the stomach, it's incredibly disheartening to see how they utilize South Korean culture as if it's nothing but a game. They also accuse the members of lying, which is also fucking stupid. Are you a BTS fan or not? How far are you willing to drag the boys through the mud in order to keep your fictional storyline of taekook afloat?

(Also this isn't a drag towards taekookers or taekook in general... I know there are a lot of taekookers who don't support taekook--lives and try to avoid their content!)

I will say from what I have observed, Jimin and Jungkook speak very comfortably with one another in many behind-the-scenes and other relaxed content. In interviews or in public places, Jungkook tends to speak up toward Jimin, but when they're alone or with the other members, that's when he tends to loosen it. We all know that they're incredibly close just from this factor alone, but dropping honorifics, as I've stated before, doesn't necessarily prove that they're dating. BTS practice a very soft form of masculinity, even falling outside the bounds of what's expected of a typical Korean man in South Korean society. However, I really don't wish to speak broadly about Korea or Koreans, especially since I've never lived there -- haven't been, not even for vacation. I can only parrot what I've heard from other Koreans, but even then, everyone lives differently and can have differing views when it comes to certain topics.

Some More Things to Address

I will point out a false fact that you presented with your ask: Jimin is the only member to have received a birthday video from Jungkook. That's not true, Jungkook actually made a specially edited video for Yoongi for his 24th birthday! It's still one of my favorite wholesome Bangtan moments, and it's one of the first elaborate video edits that Jungkook ever posted, predating GCF in Tokyo by a near six months. Does that make GCF in Tokyo any less special? No. Of course not. But it is important to note that Jungkook does do something special for other members from time to time.

Also, towards the end, you said: "If anything they would have pushed Taekook just like they have been doing for the past two years or so. Taekook and Yoonmin are paired up for literally almost everything."

I might need more clarification on this point because it makes it seem like you believe that BigHit is manufacturing or prioritizing certain pairings over other ones. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and say that's not happening here, but if it is... I talked about this point very sternly in my FESTA post, where people were accusing BTS' company of promoting certain ships just by having them sit next to each other in photoshoots or videos. If someone looks at a picture of BTS and immediately thinks of a ship, that's a personal problem. Not everything is about shipping. We can agree that we think fan service is stupid and doesn't occur between the members, right? It's not any different for these harmless photoshoots and videos. Jikook, Taekook, and Yoonmin are all incredibly popular already and don't really need the extra promo.

So whether or not these two boys are dating, we can only speculate. I think it's incredibly difficult to draw conclusions without knowing them personally, of course. At the end of the day, they are incredibly close and their bond should not be questioned. I do appreciate reading into your insight, I hope you didn't mind this sort of ship-neutralish approach where I attempted to express my feelings about everything and nothing at the same time.

I also wrote all of this on like three hours of sleep so if none of this make any sense I'm sorry LMAOOO

#ask #jimin #jungkook #jikook #kookmin #taekook #vkook #can't people just ship in peace #im tired of the word fan service #bts are incredibly close #anyone who tries to tell you differently... they're liars #bts

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cryptocism · 1 year

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hi im absolutely obsessed with your too many thads au, saturdays are now the hightlight of my week :D im convinced nines gonna be fine though, nobody actually watched him die (thad dragged bart out and the other clones all walked away, i think???) and they still have one thing of velocity 9 and it gives accelerated healing just like speedster powers so all they gotta do is pop back in time and give it to him and let it patch him up and tada he lives and also doesn't quite have powers but still sorta does which answers why you can't admit to that without spoilers but yeah im dying to know if he survives or not and also to finally learn his cradyl-given name

thanks so much!!

i havent been posting a whole lot of the theories ppl send me because i like to hoard them like a dragon but! i cannot answer whether or not Nine is subject to any Time Travel Shenanigans. i will however say that there is a couple things still to learn about him. (the CRAYDL-given name being one of them)

#asks #anonymous #death does not mean a lack of influence on the story #quite the opposite tbh #nine still has some influence to give even if hes not around anymore

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ironicscavenger · 4 months

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YEAR IN REVIEW | 2023

To be honest, I think 2023 belongs in the same garbage bin 2020 is rotting in. It started out fine. But as we reached the end, it got worse and worse. Still, I cannot resist looking back as I do every year.

While I did not achieve all my goals this year, I did do one: graduation. This is my greatest achievement, and one I’m super proud of. There’s also the one I almost achieved: finishing E04 of SNTM. I almost did it! Only a few videos left, which I hope to finish by February. But you know how it is: make plans, life runs over them. Anyway, here's what happened in the world of ironicscavenger in 2023.

THE HIGHTLIGHT

I’m not sure there was one on the blog itself, but I did graduate as a psychologist. However, I talked enough about that. Just know it was the highlight of my year. My mom said she hadn't seen me that genuinely happy in a while.

MY FAVORITE POST PER MONTH

Well, then, these are my favorite post for each month. Just to clarify, however many notes they got does not influence the decision to include them. As you can see, there are many gaps. Life got overwhelming this past couple of months. So, there’s very little done. Anyway, here goes.

January | I took an unexpectedly long hiatus and just played videogames for a while. So the end of the holiday special is the only post I got.

February | I made a sim for @madebycoffee’s BC.

March | Not a thing. Just two reblogs the entire month.

April | I was having problems with my computer and could not get back to sim stuff. But I did say hi, at least.

May | I worked on the Emerson story a bit. Also, I got a diagnosis for a problem I’ve been having all my life. The answers to a lot of questions, finally.

June | Once again, not a thing. I was finishing up school, and it was impossible to do anything but focus on that.

July | Same thing. Two reblogs, and that’s it.

August | It gets interesting again. I finished school, got a bit of a makeover for the blog, and got more active on social media.

September | SNTM got back, and I took some screens of Saffron and Piper in Chestnut Ridge. Honestly, it was just an excuse to put Piper on cowboy boots and cowboy hat. No regrets. Also, I decided to set up a discord server.

October | I had an incredible time at simblreen. But I honestly, I think everything stopped after the bombardments happened. I have mostly been blogging about Palestine since. So, you know, Free Palestine.

November | I published my simblreen treats (1 & 2 | 3), and kept reblogging about Palestine.

December | I did not feel the holiday spirit. I just had a quiet weekend with my parents and cousins that my mom was taking care of. SNTM came back again. Still talking about Palestine.

SNTM

Not a lot happened, but we are so close to finishing the episode. After I did a poll to decide the show's fate, I got a green light from all of you to make some changes. But I admit I’m not sure what I want to do yet. For now, the show goes on as it is. There’s a special episode that I’ve been planning since the beginning, and I really want to do it in video format. But it takes a lot on me. We shall see what happens.

Thank You!

This was not an easy year, but you guys are still here, following me. That’s gotta be some kind of miracle. I love you all so much. Even when it gets tough, I could never abandon this community. I’ll still be here, even when I no longer have anything to offer.

GOODBYE 2023! HELLO 2024!

May it bring us peace. That’s my only wish.

Past Reviews: 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2017

#year in review #ts4 #sims #ts4 edit #simblr #long post #i hope things get better #we cannot keep having this world changing events #i am so tired

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quetzalpapalotl · 9 months

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I wish to love and appreciate idw optimus more too. But I also don’t want to read through the entirety of IDW 1.0. Can you please recommend me any specific issues/parts?

Hi!! I see that you have already reblogged my IDW1 Optimus-focused reading guide, so I assume that you read that and still felt like it was too much. I'd do anything to spread the OP love, so I will try! But before that, please forgive me for rambling a bit.

That guide is not the entirety of IDW1, I tried to cut as much as possible, and I want to reiterate that I consider Barber's Optimus the definitive take on IDW1 Optimus. To the point that I like all other stuff with him only in because I read them through Barber's characterization which serves to give them depth in retrospective. And it does this because Barber's writes Optimus with the intention of consolidating all the other writer's takes on him (which were uh... a mess). It's a very contextual reading, a conversation, there's more to get from it if you know the background. So I would ask you to reconsider giving it a try, skip the crossovers if you want. I'll redo the reading guide with links to download/read online if you want.

That being said, I understand that sounds like "read these bad comics in the hopes you will like this one other comic" and the point is to have fun, not to do homework. So in that case I'll say to just read exrid/Optimus Prime and the JRo stuff (but we'll come back to teh later)

See, the exrid/OP is a whole story, so recommeding individual issues doesn't make much sense to me, it would be like recommending one episode of an anime or one chapter of a book, it would entirely lack context and lost much of it's meaning, especially because Optimus is a main character whose actions cannot be taken out from the rest of the plot. My favorite moments require build up, like when Optimus annexes the Earth to the council of worlds, that doesn't hit the same if you didn't read all the previous issues where Optimus was trying to remove all Cybertronian influence from Earth and the series of events that led to him changing his mind and think such a fucking move was a good idea.

And I've talked about this before, but while Mtmt/LL has its biggest strenght in character dynamics and out-of-screen build up, exRID/OP has it in thematic consistensy and narrative cohesion. All parts of it and there to make a point that feeds the whole, character's perspectives feed each other and the biggest pay-off comes at the very end. Also, Optimus Prime is a story about him as a character as much as it is about him as a symbol, so seeing the effects he has on other people is important.

I suppose you could read exRID starting from post Dark Cybertron as it basically becomes a different story and the first part doesn't feature Optimus (except in issues 6, 10, 19) I would not recommend this as there are still a lot of links between the two and you would miss a chunk of Arcee's story (who is the one other character on which the whole thing falls upon). But you could. Don't skip Combiner Wars tho.

Other than that here are some hightlights:

The Death of Optimus Prime: This is the one that works best as a single issue, as it is a one-shot. It sets up phase 2 so definitively read it.

JRo's stuff: That is Chaos Theory, Mtmte #9-11, Mtmte #36 and Spotlight: Orion Pax. Now, JRo's OP is certainly the one that is more likeable, but I don't necessarily think that it's good. JRo kinda wants to have Optimus be more morally grey but always reels back and portrays him as the ultimate good seemingly without considering the implications of a lot of the stuff he does. But still, Chaos Theory is the backbone of phase 2, they are fun reads and it introduces a lot of backstory and aspects of his personality that will be important.

Punishment: As this is a mini series, it's good to read on its own. It's still set in the broader context of exRID, but at least it's a complete story and a compelling one! Lots of Optimus brooding, but not in an annoying way.

Optimus Prime #1-6: Okay, so if you don't want to read all of exrid/OP or are testing the waters before commiting to it. This arc deals with Optimus trying to get people to accept Earth as part of the Council of Worlds and risking war for it, contrasted with events of his past. This may be the easiest arc to read on its own, but I also think it does a great job of building Optimus character. It's also a great example of the narrative not shying away from Optimus doing bad things, stupid things and having anger issues (and also the cop thing), while also retaining the core of his character as someone who genuinely wants to do good and getting into his head to make sense of his actions (not justify them). This is something that I feel only Barber gets right. Also Zeta Prime is there and he's the most important character that barely shows up.

Autocracy: Ok, ok, listen... this may or may not be the most disliked series in IDW1 and while I think it has a worse reputation than it deserves, I still wouldn't call it good. While its more honest abotu what being a cop entails than Chaos Theory and is willing to have OP be unsavory, that aspect doesn't really go anywhere and it fails to make OP an enganging character whose actions make sense. But it still has the backstory of how Orion became Optimus and a friend likes it, so hey, maybe you will too. Also the aforementioned flashbacks of OP 1-6 feel to me that they are written in direct response to Autocracy and try to explain how that is the same character than the one in Chaos Theory. I'm actually working on meta about that (anon, if you're reading this, I haven't forgotten). So for all that Barber is trying to recontextualize and reconciliate all the other takes on Optimus, this is the most obvious one and Autocracy is not that long. So it may be worth checking out.

Sorry for rambling again, I hope you find this useful!! Feel free to ask for links or any other questions!

#quetzal rambles tf

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mysterist · 7 months

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"do my mannerisms make you question your sexuality?"

Madness is Like Gravity - AnonyMissJ

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aspoonofsugar · 2 years

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The Game of Atlas

Chess is a recurring motif in RWBY. Think about the kids picking chess pieces in their initiation, Qrow referring to Cinder as more than a pawn, the Black Queen symbolism in the Fall of Beacon, etc.

In this post, I wanna focus on how this motif plays out in the Atlas arc and specifically how it comments 4 key characters arcs- Ironwood, Weiss, Cinder and Winter. To be clear, I think the chess motif is both incredibly wide-spread and vague, so different interpretations are definately possible. However, this lens applied to these 4 characters in particular hightlights their foiling and offers an interesting interpretative key.

In general, the Atlas arc is full of chess references because this game fits the Kingdom in 2 different ways.

It describes how the Kingdom sees its people as just “pawns to control”

It shows how people are asked to cross a metaphorical chessboard, so that they can climb up and become King and Queens (in chess if a pawn can cross the whole chessboard it can become another piece - usually a Queen)

In short, chess is perfect to describe Atlas’s classism and control in a metaphorical way. So, it is no surprising that the fight over the Kingdom plays out exactly like one long game:

Salem: This game is not yours to win, Cinder, it’s mine. Just because you’re more valuable to me than a pawn, does not make you a player. Everything is already in motion. All you need concern yourself with is your ability to act when I tell you to.

IRONWOOD: KING > KNIGHT > PAWN

Ironwood starts up as Atlas’s General. His role is honestly a mix between that of the Knight:

Take my hand I’m here to protect you Nothing will stop me Understand There’s no sacrifice That I won’t make I’ll risk it all To keep you safe Trust me to be strong I’ll be your hero Just hold on

And that of the King leading his people in a war:

Deliver you from harm Shelter in my arms The fear will surely fade Know right now the plan I made Will guide us home We’ll survive this storm

As a Knight, he should serve his people:

Cordovin: After all, I was sworn to protect the people!

As a King, he should accept he is not the most powerful piece in the game (that is the Queen - aka Maiden) and that he needs the help and protection of all the other pieces. This also means he should consider everyone’s inputs and trust others:

However, he fails in both roles. He breaks his oath towards the people of Mantle:

Blake: You're betraying the people you've sworn to protect!

And refuses the support and thoughts of the people closest to him:

Oscar: Trust is what I'm hoping to fix. I know we can still figure this out, all of it, together. Please.

Ironwood: Do you intend to fight me?

Oscar: No. That's exactly what she wants.

Winter: Sir, this course of action--

Ironwood: I hope you're not going to try to talk me out of it.

Winter: No, sir. I don't think that's possible.

This turns him into a cold dictator:

Weiss: What's the council going to say?

Ironwood: Nothing. Once I declare Martial Law.

Still, he does not become more powerful, but actually deteriotes and turns into a mindless and heartless Pawn:

In volume 7 he opens up, trusts and is able to easily play both Tyrian and Watts. In volume 8, he is so focused on himself he can easily be played by everyone. Cinder, Watss, RWBYOJNREW... they all easily trick and manipulate him. This is because he chooses to be a “robot” and robots can be easily overwritten to follow orders.

In short, Ironwood’s failure comes down to this:

What if it’s true as they say That I don’t have a heart That I'm more a machine than a man? What would that change? Would it matter at all? I've made my plan Hearts and minds may not agree Emotions topple strategy You can't believe In honesty That your children can win a war

The flaw of his character is never that he has no heart. If anything, his heart is said many times to be in the right place:

Glynda:You're a good person, James. You've always done what you think is best for the people, even against strong protest. It's admirable.

Blake: The General's heart seems to be in the right place, but that doesn't mean we should trust him yet.

The problem is that Ironwood chooses to ignore it and this leads him to lose it and himself in the process.

WEISS: PAWN > KNIGHT > QUEEN

Weiss is Ironwood’s opposite:

Everything my mind wants In conflict with my heart Fighting back surrender But every day I'm falling more apart Mirror what's this thing I see? Who is staring back at me? A stranger to my heart has filled my mind Mirror Help me Who amI?

She too, like the General, struggles to reconcile her mind and heart. However, differently from him, she chooses her heart and this leads her to win her mind back as well:

Now this conversation's finally over, Mirror Mirror, now we're done I've pulled myself together now My mind and heart are one Finally one.

Ironwood makes a false dychotomy. He thinks that he must choose between mind and heart, but Weiss’s story shows the opposite. In order to truly be one and to think and feel with your own mind and heart, you should follow your feelings.

It is in this way that Weiss overcomes her abuse going from a Pawn:

There's a part of me that's desperate for changes, Tired of being treated like a pawn

To a Knight:

It is not by chance she is able to unlock her summoning while fighting an Atlesian Paladin. A “Paladin” is just another word for Knight. However, Atlesian Knights are just pawns to be moved around by either Ironwood or Salem. They lack the ability to choose on their own, hence why they can only “follow orders”. Weiss is instead a Knight who fights for what she believes in.

As she grows, she is also able to integrate with the other side of herself. It is the side she initially dislikes because she identifies it with her Father. It is the Heiress that sings obediently for the people of Atlas:

However, once again she does not need to eliminate this part of herself, but rather she purifies it and makes it her own:

The Queen Lancer represents the perfect integration between her Knight side (Lancer) and her Queen one. She is both, just like Ironwood initially. She is the Knight (the Prince) who protects the people and the Queen (Snowhite), the most powerful piece on the chessboard. This is also why she is the one taking central stage in the fight vs Cinder at the climax of the Atlas Arc.

CINDER: WHITE PAWN > BLACK QUEEN > (BLACK PAWN?)

Cinder is like Weiss. She is an abused Pawn, who fights to become Queen. Differently from Weiss, though, she never overcomes her abuse and truly blossoms into herself.

What’s interesting about Cinder’s chess motif is that she switches sides. She arrives in Atlas and becomes a White Pawn:

This is why the color of her hair ties goes from red to white. The moment she arrives in Atlas, she enters the chessboard as the most humble of pieces. However, she is told that if she plays by the rules, she might be able to become a Queen:

Rhodes: And you want to be like us? You want to be a Huntress? Then we’ve got about seven years.

Cinder: For what?

Rhodes: To train you for the Huntsman exam.

However, her attempt fails and she is forced to leave the White side, she is caught and turned into a Black Queen:

Cinder’s tragedy is that she hates Atlas, but keeps applying its flawed classist mentality on herself and others. Her goal should be to leave the chessboard, but instead she keeps thinking she’ll be fine if she just levels up. This is what makes her so easy to manipulate by Salem:

Cinder might be thinking she is a Queen now because she is more powerful, but she misses that is not really her power, but Salem’s. At the end of the day, she is still just a piece on the chessboard that can be moved around and sacrificed in any moment. Not only that, but Salem has the power to easily turn Cinder back into a Pawn and it is implied it is what’s gonna happen in the end:

WINTER: WHITE PAWN > BLUE FAIRY (2ND WHITE QUEEN)

So, to become a Queen means to grow into yourself. That is why Weiss arrives in Atlas as one, while Cinder only looks like one, but keeps being just a Pawn deep down.

Well, there is clearly another character clothed in white, who goes from Pawn:

Winter: No, Penny. You were always the real Maiden at heart. I was just a machine… just… following orders.

To true girl:

Penny: You were my friend.

Winter’s story in Atlas is how she is able to overcome her abusers and become the kind hearted and warm person she has always been. Penny’s final act of love is what grants her the Maiden’s powers, but also what reassures her of her humanity. Penny turns Winter into the Blue Fairy and White Queen. To be more specific, she is the Pawn that crosses the chessboard and is crowned Queen.

CHECKMATE

The War over Atlas and the Relic of Creation is just a long game of chess opened up by Cinder:

In the final battle Cinder herself acts as the Black Queen fighting the White Queens (The Schnees sisters):

She manages to best the both of them, Weiss is defeated physically, while Winter psychologically.

Once she wins over the 2 White Queens, our Black Queen is finally free to declare checkmate to the disowned White King:

Cinder to Ironwood: And that’s… checkmate.

This incompetent King, who was abandoned even by his Queen (Winter) is then left to fall with the Kingdom he chose to protect:

Robyn: What do you think a Kingdom is? The people, or just the chunk of land they live on?

Ironwood chooses the chunk of land and dies with it, while Winter chooses the people and survives with them.

#rwby #rwby meta #weiss schnee #james ironwood #cinder fall #winter schnee #atlas #my meta

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