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I do think Sonya would thrive in a community provided she were a valuable member who's tributes were seen and appreciated. Period wise the most plausible option is a monastery but for some reasons it doesn't quite sit right with me so my utterly ahistorical hc is that postcanon! Sonya eventually finds herself in an artistic community/club where she finds her kindred spirits and overcomes her years long artblock <333
Wondering how lost people were this episode if they haven't seen The Great Escape, but now's your chance. You're in for a great, then depressing, then great time, not to mention James Coburn's 'Australian' accent.
Some of my long term fans might recognize Helena here. You know how princesses in video games always need to be rescued? What if she decided not to wait for some hero to show up and saved herself? Thus the idea Escapist Princess was born!
My classmates really enjoyed this one. One person in my group loved how I gave her two toned hair, and everyone loved how the eye monster was making a spotlight. Remaking Helena's design was so refreshing. She looks so pretty with that hair and dress!
In 2020, the Oxford English Dictionary named “doomscrolling” a word of the year. It became widespread during the pandemic, describing the near-endless consumption of bad news stories in the digital age
New York-based artist KangHee Kim (b. 1991) produces images that help us imagine brighter possibilities – away from internet rabbit holes and unrelenting live updates. The exhibition, which follows Kim’s monograph, Dreamer, published by Setanta Books in 2021, is a surreal and escapist dreamworld: a space to breathe. It’s a place where palms emerge above the clouds, stairways spiral into the evening sky and billboards tell us that hope is just half a mile away.
“of course having a law that allows corporations to own the work of artists for a one time payment and then make millions off that work without paying the artist a cent is worse than having no law at all.” In a world without IP, wouldn’t the corporations just do the same thing but without even the one-time payment? Like, they own the means to profit off of creative content anyway, so isn’t making them at least pay for the idea better than nothing? Or is it more that it’s not worth the tradeoff of letting them abuse IP against smaller creators?
well the thing is that not only do these corporations profit off the work (which ofc they would do without IP) but the original creators can't! if kurvitz tried to make disco elysium 2, or write a sequel to his novel, ZA/UM could sue him. the creator of ghost rider was in fact sued by marvel for selling sketches of the characters at cons. copyright is not just the ability to profit off a work but the exclusive ability to profit off of it to the exclusion of anyone else, including the original creator. american mcgee wanted to make a third alice game badly enough he asked EA to let him buy or license the property back and they said no. when yahtzee croshaw quit the escapist he had to rename and rebrand the show he'd been making for 15 years. john fogerty refused to play CCR songs for years rather than let a record label that he hated speech profits.
sure, without IP law corporations could still replicate people's creative works, but at least they couldn't legally prevent the original artists from continuing to create the things they love as they can now. what's happened to these artists is a real theft, unlike so-called "IP theft", because they have been deprived of something they created and loved!
You choose how to act and project yourself to others based on the subconscious cues that you acquire from them. Your identity is often based on how others see you and talk about it. There is a degree of loss when it comes to self-expression- the unheard child learns to perform to express identity.
2nd house:
Poor with managing, organizing, and structuring finances and possessions. Overly generous with resources. Might make money in nefarious ways if Neptune is poorly aspected. More positively, these natives might profit from pharmacology, marine biology, medicine, or NGO work.
3rd house:
The local environment has a Piscean element. Early school years also were characterized by daydreaming and escaping from learning. The loss of a sibling to unknown or sudden causes is likely in some cases (depending on the aspects). It could suggest that your siblings/cousins/classmates that are close to you are artists, singers, or dreamers. In a negative sense, this might attract escapist friends with a heavy victim mentality.
4th house:
Issues with water, pipes, and flooding in the home. Home near bodies of water. Your mother or a potent female figure in your life might be sick and require care from you or your family members. In this case, the gist is that the family might cause you to feel neglected and forgotten, making you want to escape the domestic setting through art or physical separation. These natives are quite nocturnal- they sleep all day and stay up all night to avoid their families in some cases.
5th house:
Death of children. Loss of lovers to illness, substance abuse, prison, crime, or mental disorders. Lovers might be absent while present either because of their own commitments to helping someone old/vulnerable or through escapism (drugs, sex, alcohol, etc) or poor health.
6th house:
Watch out for the immune system. Habits and routines might not express a desire for a person to live well. Poor habits. Disorganized. No discipline and routine when it comes to eating, working, exercising and taking care of oneself at the bodily level. Neglected as a child and did not learn to properly care for themselves.
7th house:
Attracted to partners that aren't really "there." This sense of absence in presence can be because of the following things: frequent travels, substance abuse, prison, mental illness, philanthropic work that takes the person's time, religious fidelity, etc. You might "lose" a partner to their vices and blame yourself for it.
8th house:
Potential for misunderstandings in transactions (financial) with others. Deception when it comes to money that you get from others. There is vagueness and gullibility when perceiving people's sexual or financial advances toward us. Be careful of who you let into your life sexually or romantically.
9th house:
Confusion regarding beliefs, higher education, and vision for the future. If in university, the campus might be located near water, or you might study subjects related to the pharmaceutical industry, oil, gas, pharmacology, parasitology, virology, marine studies, psychology, or you might enter esoteric fields (astrology, tarot, etc.) or you might study theology.
10th house:
Confusion about future and career. Fear tied to career prospects and the father. The father might have been absent or neglectful which manifests in an inability to be stable in a job.
11th house:
Friends slip through your fingers. We may need clarification about our hopes and life goals because Neptune here makes our ideals changeable. So, our vision for life is usually mutable and influenced by external forces that people rarely have the self-awareness to explore. This is also a highly intuitive placement.
12th house:
This is a good placement because Neptune is comfortable in the 12th house. Intuition is good. Sleep is very essential for you. Heightened motivation to get to know yourself through self-reflection, meditation, and spirituality, and project these learnings to heighten your empathy.
🦚cancer sun/moons can be very compassionate and empathetic
🦚scorpio 6th house people could be very dedicated too their jobs and have a interest routine they follow (my aunt have a scorpio 6th sooo she is pretty hectic when getting ready)
🦚pisces are very artistic especially in music I feel like people with a heavy neptune/pisces influence can make music that’s very escapist and daydreaming
🦚4H mercury people talk very passionately and comforting no matter what their tone is always somewhat leveled out
🦚them scorpio venus imo are toxic too some degree they’re kind of like hypocrites they’ll tell you they don’t want you talking to other people, but do the exact same yk??
🦚it seems that pisces/cancer placements are the most empathetic they somehow try too see how a person feels by trying to imagine the person’s situation as well
🦚a cancer venus could be the mothering type in a relationship and their love language can be buying home goods , decorations for their home , new furniture etc.
🦚scorpio/pluto aspects to mercury people do or can make jokes about someone’s personal shit or just really harmful jokes
🦚12th house/pisces placements could dread having to be in a group or do group work and even mostly they’ll feel uninspired and not motivated to do anything as 12H mars🧡
🦚pisces moons imo tend to lie and can be very good at it
🦚cancer placements seem too not take what they dish out , they’ll think it’s okay to do it say something to you but if you do it back they’ll get offended
🦚cancer risings give off comforting and supportive energy I think that’s why people might trauma dump on them??
🦚scorpio risings/pluto-ascendant aspects have a very attractive and cool appearance I think especially with their piercings and tattoos but mainly their EYES AND NOSEEE
🦚scorpio mars people can be really secretive about their motives when reaching a goal fr
🦚I would say out all the water signs scorpios are known too get the reputation for being “obsessive “ “possessive” and “controlling”
🦚I think pisces have a hard time showing they care sometimes because they’re probably afraid of seeming “weak”??!
Neptune, the dreamy and mystical planet, brings both enchantment and shadows as it journeys through the astrological houses. Its influence can evoke a sense of magic, spirituality, and creativity, but it also has the potential to cast a fog of confusion, delusion, and escapism.
✧༺♥༻∞✧༺♥༻∞✧༺♥✧༺♥༻∞✧༺♥༻∞✧༺♥
✧༺♥༻∞✧༺♥༻∞✧༺♥✧༺♥༻∞✧༺♥༻∞✧༺♥
Neptune in the 1st House - House of Self
The enchantment of Neptune in the 1st house can be enticing, but its shadow side can manifest as identity issues and an inclination to escape from the harsh realities of life. Individuals with this placement may struggle to establish clear boundaries, often absorbing the emotions and issues of those around them. This can lead to a sense of confusion about their own identity, as they become chameleonic, adapting to others' expectations. The allure of substances or daydreaming might provide temporary relief, but it can lead to a pervasive sense of self-deception and disconnection from their true selves.
Neptune in the 2nd House - House of Values
While Neptune in the 2nd house adds a touch of glamour to one's values and possessions, it can also lead to financial instability due to idealized financial decisions. The shadow side may involve a tendency to overspend on escapist pleasures, such as lavish vacations or excessive indulgence. Money can become a source of confusion and escapism, rather than a means of practical security. Beware of deceptive financial schemes or unwise investments that can lead to substantial losses.
Neptune in the 3rd House - House of Communication
Neptune's influence in the 3rd house can foster creativity in communication but can also result in a propensity for misunderstanding and deceit. The shadow side can lead to a struggle with truthfulness, as individuals with this placement may resort to white lies or delusions to avoid confrontations or preserve their idealized self-image. They might find it challenging to express themselves clearly, often resorting to vague or cryptic communication, which can create confusion and mistrust in relationships.
Neptune in the 4th House - House of Home and Family
The dreamy allure of Neptune in the 4th house can infuse the home environment with a sense of enchantment and creativity. However, the shadow side may involve unresolved family issues, secrets, or addiction problems that are concealed behind a façade of tranquility. Individuals with this placement might struggle to establish emotional boundaries with family members, leading to emotional overwhelm and escapism through emotional numbing or substance abuse.
Neptune in the 5th House - House of Creativity and Pleasure
In the realm of creative expression and pleasure, Neptune in the 5th house can inspire artistic endeavors and romantic ideals. However, the shadow side may manifest as unrealistic romantic fantasies or creative blocks stemming from self-doubt and a fear of rejection. Individuals with this placement might find themselves caught in a cycle of seeking unattainable romantic partners or escaping reality through indulgent and potentially harmful pleasures.
Neptune in the 6th House - House of Service and Health
Neptune in the 6th house can lead to a strong desire to help others but may also result in blurred boundaries and a tendency to sacrifice one's well-being for others. The shadow side can involve a susceptibility to unhealthy work environments, where individuals become enablers or victims of manipulation. They might struggle with self-neglect, pursuing self-destructive habits or substance abuse as a means of escape from the pressures of daily life.
Neptune in the 7th House - House of Relationships
In the realm of partnerships and relationships, Neptune in the 7th house can create an idealized view of love and a longing for soulful connections. However, the shadow side may involve a tendency to attract or idealize partners who are emotionally unavailable, deceptive, or even addictive. Individuals with this placement might find themselves entangled in codependent relationships, where they sacrifice their own needs and boundaries for the sake of an illusory love.
Neptune in the 8th House - House of Transformation
Neptune in the 8th house can deepen one's connection to the mysteries of life but may also lead to an obsession with hidden truths and secrets. The shadow side can manifest as a preoccupation with dark or taboo subjects and an inclination toward manipulation or deceit in matters of shared resources. There is a potential for individuals with this placement to be deceived or financially exploited by others, leading to financial instability and emotional turmoil.
Neptune in the 9th House - House of Philosophy and Higher Learning
While Neptune in the 9th house can foster a spiritual and philosophical outlook on life, its shadow side may involve a susceptibility to cult-like beliefs or dogma. Individuals with this placement might become lost in a world of delusions and spiritual escapism, where they reject practical realities in favor of idealized spiritual pursuits. This can lead to a sense of disillusionment and isolation from grounded wisdom.
Neptune in the 10th House - House of Career and Public Image
In the realm of career and public image, Neptune in the 10th house can create an aura of mystique but may also lead to confusion regarding one's professional path. The shadow side may involve a tendency to deceive or be deceived in the workplace, leading to career setbacks and a loss of reputation. Individuals with this placement might struggle to distinguish between their authentic professional aspirations and illusory ambitions.
Neptune in the 11th House - House of Friends and Social Groups
While Neptune in the 11th house can foster empathy and idealism within social circles, its shadow side may involve a susceptibility to deception or disillusionment in friendships and group affiliations. Individuals with this placement might idealize friends or become entangled in deceptive group dynamics, ultimately leading to feelings of betrayal or isolation. The allure of escapism through social activities can be particularly pronounced.
Neptune in the 12th House - House of the Subconscious
Neptune's natural domain in the 12th house deepens one's connection to the subconscious but may also lead to profound emotional struggles. The shadow side can involve a tendency to escape from reality through addiction or spiritual delusions, creating a sense of inner chaos and isolation. Individuals with this placement might grapple with unresolved trauma or psychic wounds that require careful attention and healing.
✧༺♥༻∞✧༺♥༻∞✧༺♥✧༺♥༻∞✧༺♥༻∞✧༺♥
✧༺♥༻∞✧༺♥༻∞✧༺♥✧༺♥༻∞✧༺♥༻∞✧༺♥
Navigating Neptune's darker aspects through the houses is a profound journey, one that demands self-awareness and a commitment to confronting illusions and delusions. By acknowledging and addressing these challenges, individuals can harness the transformative and spiritual power of Neptune while navigating the shadows of self-deception
(this is intended to appear somewhat disorienting)
Escapist Yuri Manga 'Kimi to Shiranai Natsu ni Naru' Licensed in English
On Wednesday, Seven Seas Entertainment announced that it has licensed Keyyang's Yuri romance manga Kimi to Shiranai Natsu ni Naru (Throw Away The Suit Together). The first volume will be released in English in July 2024 under Seven Seas GL label.
The publisher describes the manga:
Haru and Hii-chan are two young women in college buckling under the weight of adult responsibilities. Getting into university, then job hunting, then preparing for careers after graduation–it’s what they’re expected to do, because that’s what “everyone” does, but what do they really want for themselves? Finally, Haru and Hii-chan decide to take life into their own hands, toss their resumes into the sea, and move to an island together! They soon find that island living isn’t all blue skies and breezing through sunny days…but whatever the future holds, they can face it together.
Kimi to Shiranai Natsu ni Naru began serialization in Comic Yuri Hime in August 2021. Ichijinsha publishes two collected volumes of the series in Japanese.
The series has received mostly positive reviews. In their review of the first Japanese volume on Okazu, Erica Friedman praised the characters' "deep love for on another" and called the manga "charming" but criticized some aspects of its artwork.
Keyyang is a manga artist known for their series Otonari no Tengai and Salad Bowl, the latter of which was serialized in Comic Yuri Hime from 2018 to 2019. They have also contributed to the Isekai Tensei and Macaron Idol Yuri anthologies.
The first English volume of Kimi to Shiranai Natsu ni Naru debuts digitally and in paperback in July 2024.
pisces sun, cancer moon, pisces rising, aquarius venus, aries mars
pisces sun: dreamy, distracted, can be very stand-offish, escapist, TW: could be dealing with addictions, surfer vibes, has particular topics they know a lot about, more introverted, knows and has many secrets, artistic, silent but deadly
cancer moon: cancer moon beauty involves with them having small faces, their faces being heart-shaped, and their upper head being rounder than their lower face which takes on a sharper shape. their chins are usually very meaty and prominent, and they usually do have a cleft chin. the width of their face is usually wide/long, and their features are normally just in the middle, very pinched-like face structure. these female cancer moons tend to have pouty lips, their lips are usually triangle shaped and they have round eyes. the soft curve of their eyebrow tail gives them a very soft look, and these cancer moon women usually have glossy skin and a youthful appearance.
pisces rising: looks like a mermaid, beautiful people and angelic looking but they can’t see that so when people compliment them or stare they don’t really get it, looks different in every photo they’re in, another placement that attracts creeps and stalkers, picks up everyone’s energies around them which is why it’s important for them to be around good people
aquarius venus: aquarius venus style is generally characterized by a unique and independent approach to life, relationships and style. with this venus sign, you may be attracted to partners who share your love of freedom, intellectual stimulation and originality. you may appreciate having a partner who can keep up with your progressive ideas and who can keep things interesting and exciting. in terms of your style, you may prefer pieces that are futuristic, avant-garde and innovative, and that reflect your creative and non-conformist nature. you may also experiment with different styles and looks, and like to incorporate elements of surprise and fun into your fashion choices.
aries mars: aries mars can have a tendency to be impulsive and volatile. when triggered, they can become easily frustrated and angry, with a quick temper and a tendency to overreact. they may lack patience and have difficulty controlling their impulses, which can manifest in aggressive or destructive behaviors. they can be prone to rash decisions and can also come across as overly aggressive or pushy. they may also lack the ability to deal with complex problems or situations calmly, which can lead to problems in maintaining relationships and in achieving long-term goals.
The Purest Manifestation of the Traditional Planets in Human Beings
Each of us is made up of multiple divine influences. A blend of our Venus, Mercury, Mars and so on. Therefore a planet’s pure manifestation might not be something you embody. Except when it rules very dominantly in your chart and your reality.
MARS
Overflowing with courage, filled with energy, highly sexual, honest to a fault, will always persevere no matter what. But also too aggressive and intense — often forcing people to comply with their plans and beliefs.
VENUS
Warm and welcoming, the epitome of sympathy and compassion, truly optimistic, incredibly graceful. But also often a hedonist, puts too much importance on physical and material beauty, and can be lazy.
APOLLO (SUN)
Charisma personified, creative and artistic, adapts to life effortlessly, has a strong intuition and a knack for entertaining. But also hotheaded, very egotistic, gambles too much, and often emotionally fickle.
DIANA (MOON)
A psychic and a mystic, commands language beautifully — therefore amazing at speaking and/or writing, solitary but never lonely. But also an escapist with impractical dreams, with a penchant for lying, apathy and selfishness.
MERCURY
Clever in every way, great at problem solving, skilled at communicating, good with money and understands human nature. But precisely because of these… often manipulative and dishonest, to the point of enjoying scheming.
SATURN
The most hardworking of all, intelligently cautious, has great potential for wisdom, a philosophical and scientific thinker. But also the most fearful of life, introverted to the point of melancholy, endlessly pessimistic.
JUPITER
Born to lead, ambitious and profoundly confident, believes truly in self, the good things in life and in being kind towards others. But also can be the most prideful, potentially gluttonous, and often domineering towards those they lead.
note; nothing too serious, i’m not saying wonbin is actually like this, it’s all just for shits and giggles !! also, i’m not an astrologer or anything, i used to read about astrology a few years ago so i’m not that much in touch with it anymore. take this with a grain of salt !!
sun in pisces ♓︎
… the sun sign basically stands for your identity. it shows what sign has the most influence on you when it comes to experiencing your life and who you are as a person. people who have a sun in pisces are usually very intuitive, imaginative, compassionate and emotional. they are also known to be very talented artistically, which we know wonbin is. he may not show his emotional side a lot, but he seems to be very transparent about his feelings. whenever he feels bad he lets us know, whenever he feels like crying he says it out loud — he doesn’t actually cry but he shares how he wanted to — and whenever he’s happy you can see it. pisces are also big on comfort, so wonbin doesn’t necessary like change and would like to keep things the way he’s used to them. also, wonbin‘s sun in pisces is in the 10th house and this indicates that he is literally meant to be famous. he is meant to be an inspiration for a lot of people.
moon in libra ♎︎︎
… the moon is basically your subconsciousness, it’s who you are when no one is around. it is about how you feel and just the driving force behind your emotional reactions. people who have a libra moon tend to be very flirty, open-minded, diplomatic and well balanced. they look at situations from an objective pov, they want to get to know all the sides before choosing one (if they ever choose at all because libra placements are also very indecisive). they don’t like conflict or disharmony in their life so they try to avoid it as much as possible. wonbin has his moon in the 5th house which means that he’s trusting but still conscious, and safety is very important for him.
mercury in aquarius ♒︎
… the mercury placement is all about communication (expressing yourself etc.), how you learn and process information. wonbin’s mercury is in aquarius which indicates that he’s a very smart person, his way of thinking is kinda out of the box? and sometimes it’s hard for him to feel understood because of that. mercury aquarius people are also very observant and don’t hold back with their thoughts – they’re blunt. wonbin‘s mercury is in the 9th house which means that he might be interested in philosophy or other areas that include stimulating his knowledge. because aquarius placements are rather ‘uncomfortable’ talking about their feelings, they tend to avoid it, which makes it hard for them to express themselves when they actually have to (a lot of times they don’t even know how to express what they’re feeling).
venus in pisces ♓︎
… the venus sign is all about your aesthetic, how you love and want to be loved. wonbin having his venus in pisces indicates that he’s a very romantic and dreamy person when it comes to love. he yearns for a deep, sensual and a ‘soulmate-ish’ relationship. pisces placements are all known to be flirty and they sometimes just do it unconsciously, making a lot of people fall for them without even wanting to. venus pisces people have unconditional and non-judgmental love for their significant other. sometimes though, they are too blinded by the love, which makes them overlook the flaws or negative aspects of the relationship and it can end up being toxic for them. also, people often say that pisces placements have a ‘savior complex’ — they want someone who’s broken because they believe they can fix them (of course this isn’t always the case). venus pisces people are also escapists, they would rather live in their own world than face reality. they’re also very creative people, especially when their venus is in the 10th house (which is the case for wonbin).
mars in taurus ♉︎
… the mars sign is all about our desires, will, sensuality and how we react when we are facing an obstacle. wonbin has his mars sign in taurus which indicates that he is determined, steady and goal-oriented. he knows what he wants and he will work hard to accomplish it. these people also need stability and security in life, they aren’t very good with changes. generally though, they’re calm and easy-going (which we know wonbin is). it takes a lot for them to get angry. taurus mars people also tend to be jealous, not too extremely, but still, they can be kind of possessive. they’re sensual lovers, it’s all about passion and a meaningful build-up for them.. also when it comes to making love. taurus placements are usually known for being lazy, but that doesn’t mean they don’t work for what they want. they may do it slowly, yet steadily. as mentioned, wonbin is someone who knows what he wants and he will accomplish it, doesn’t matter if it’s going to take a long time, at the end of the day he will arrive at his goal (him being a trainee for like 4 years is an example for that).
summary
overall i can say; wonbin is someone who emphasizes security, comfort and stability in life a lot. he wants to feel safe and assured that everything is going according to plan. if something unexpected happens, it can throw him offguard. if he has to face big changes, he will do it but it’s going to take him a lot of courage. according to his placements, wonbin is also a very deep person; whether it comes to loving someone or his own emotions. he seeks to build meaningful relationships in his life, not just romantically but also platonically. even though his pisces venus indicates that he’s a dreamy person who may overlook his partners flaws, his other placements contradict it (especially his mercury aquarius and mars taurus) – he’s actually very selfaware and realistic. he doesn’t get angry easily, but jealousy might be a thing. wonbin is also very straightforward and says what’s on his mind but when it comes to expressing his own feelings, he kind of struggles with it. it’s like he can’t find the right words to do so, which frustrates him, but he will keep on trying. he’s incredibly talented when it comes to arts and he’s meant to pursue it, to build a career in this area so he can connect to a lot of people and inspire them.. which is exactly what he is doing.
!These are based purely on my interractions with the signs.Some people might not relate due to different chart placements,but i tried to incorporate the things i noticed overall in people with certain sun signs!
Aries Sun
-Chill but hyper at the same time -usually has light colored eyes
-a bit childish
-independent
-hard-worker(usually good grades)
-pretty popular
-friendly
-funny AF
-loud
-a bit intimidating
-gets into a lot of accidents
-messy and impulsive
Taurus Sun
-very calm
-low-key crazy
-hopeless-romantic
-cute
-artistic
-unbothered
-very stubborn
-accepting
-gives good advice
-usually from a wealthy background
-mommy issues
Gemini Sun
-the most popular in their group of friends
-usually has light-colored hair(have dyed their hair a lighter color at least once)
-charming
-smart
-usually part of a fandom
-cool(does a lot of random stuff)
-moody
-very skilled at what they do
Cancer Sun
-introverted
-intimidating
-anger-issues
-coddling
-not afraid to cut a bitch
-private
-protective
-kinda bitchy
-likes to gossip
-mommy
-likes mind-games
-cute but deadly
Leo Sun
-Usually pretty confident
-friendly
-high-key crazy
-very open
-charismatic
-wants to be rich
-a lot of flings
-dramatic
-has a lot of crazy stories
-very dead inside
-likes to flirt
-very attached to their families in some way
Virgo Sun
-is sick almost all the time
-chaotic
-obsessed with order(hyper-fixated on the way they organize their stuff)
-quiet at first
-tired 24/7 but on those rare occasions they're not,they are very fun
-gets along with everyone(does not like everyone)
-dorky
-pets and plushies💚
-very pretty(a lot of them have red/ginger hair lol)
Libra Sun
-appears to be very fake at first.👀 -pretty
-looks younger than they are
-likes aesthetics and is very trendy
-artistic
-devil's advocate
-just
-bad liar
-caring
-has a lot of love problems(failed relationships)
-very accepting(nothing can phase them at this point)
-secretly hates everybody
Scorpio Sun
-dark aesthetic
-edgy
-superiority complex
-smart
-extroverted introvert
-tendency towards rock/metal -opinionated
-intimidating
-good listener
-great intuition
-likes to tease their friends and crush
-owns a cat
Sagittarius Sun
-looks like a golden retriever(idk why y'all keep saying horse)
-z o o m i e s
-class clown
-fuckboy vibes
-unstable
-has dark secrets
-funny
-attractive
-proud(more than leos)
-impulsive
-anger-issues
-runs away from their problems -introverted extrovert
yall seemed to like my post on "how to write good horror" so i figured i should make another one of these.
1- do. not. explain. the. metaphor.
don't.
"oh but how will the audience know my deep and meaningful message- "
SOME PEOPLE WONT GET IT. if you explain what you mean then suddenly the metaphor won't be deep anymore. it becomes a generic forced message.
i know you are tempted to make a character infodump about everything, fucking don't.
followup on this:
2- a good metaphor should potentially have multiple interpretations.
"but i don't want people to get the wrong impression of the story!"
then you either need to make damn sure its an elegantly written metaphor, or none at all.
the death of the author is the idea that everyone has their own vision of a story they read, rearguards of authors intent. you need to come to terms with this or else you won't improve your writing skills.
you need to trust that your audience is intelligent enough to understand the metaphor on their own without bashing them over the head with it. sometimes people misunderstand meaning, it is a fact of life.
The game little inferno was thought of as a metaphor about pollution, in which later the creators went out to say it was actually about capitalism and wasting your life with things like exploitative mobile games.
you just need make it SUBTLE and hope for the best.
3- The story/gameplay/etc should inform the metaphor(and sometimes reference real life examples)
To mention little inferno again, the "you must wait x amount of time for in-game item to be given to you" is a mirror of mobile games in the real world that use timers to leach money from you.
another example: analogue horror.
broken old technology is scary on its own, but many good analogue horror artists tend to use this to the advantage.
analogue horror can be used as a metaphor for dying trends and technology, like how in the 30's through 70's we used asbestos in the walls. Analogue horror makes a great parralel to this idea (see Blue_channel by gooseworx for a good example.) . the audience questions WHY this is on an old CRT tv and not just a smartphone, perhaps to imply this was an event that happened years ago.
undertale is another example, where most RPG's encourage you to fight and to level up, undertale uses this as a simple metaphor about obsessive control and being cruel to get an arbitrary achievement (i recommend the escapist's video on "why i didn't review undertale" on youtube for way better examples)
tldr: a metaphor is stronger if you lightly reference real life occurances and implement your metaphor in the medium presented.
4- the curtains are blue because they are blue.
not everyone is going to understand your metaphor
and not everyone is going to notice every single little metaphor you add to your story.
remember those teachers that would constantly stretch to imply something in a story is a metaphor and that the curtains are blue because of some deep metaphor for death and sadness and shit?
those teachers are full of it. ignore them.
metaphors are allowed to be simple. not every metaphor needs to be a hyper deep depth defying world changing thing. I could even argue a bunch of small metaphors connected to each other can be better than one big metaphor depending on your story.
relax. don't think too much about it because your average audience member won't.
5- study movies, tv, books, games, etc and understand why their metaphors work.
don't fall into that "the curtains are blue because of a deep message" English teacher mindset mind you.
"but how do i tell what is and isn't a metaphor?" you may ask
simple. trust your gut. you won't understand everything you come across but the human brain has a way of telling what is and isn't a metaphor in stories.
(spoiler about bugsnax)
I could argue Bugsnax is a metaphor about drug abuse and addiction. The characters have personality traits commonly associated with people vulnerable to drug addiction. An athlete, a hippy, a married couple going through a rough spot in their marriage with the threat of divorce, a mentally ill person with trauma and paranoia, etc.
It isn't obvious, many people may disagree with me, but you can't deny that there are signs i may be right.
(end of spoiler)
the point i am trying to make: don't stretch to find a metaphor when you don't see one. if you are curious google other people's theories and make your own opinion. metaphors are hard and you will learn over time.
and finally
6- do not ever do "it was all just a dream" or "the character is secretly in a coma" etc
this applies to writing in general but it is still related to metaphors.
the only time i have seen this done well is driver san francisco, but what it did right was A- make it so the players can guess ahead of time the mystery, such as the radio saying voices of your character in the hospital, or if you zoomed out you could hear a heart monitor. and B- it didn't completely un-do the entire story.
that is my core issue with this trope. it either wastes your time un-doing the entire story readers worked hard to finish, or it is just nonsensical and terrible.
"dora the explorer is actually in purgatory!"
"spongebob is a metaphor for the 7 deadly sins!"
"ash is in a coma and that is why he never ages! "
ooooor it is a cartoon and you are forcing meaning that doesn't exist in something that doesn't even imply it.
the world being a bit weird is not enough to be a metaphor for anything. If you want to make a good metaphor: do more effort than just slapping a lazy "it was all a coma" thing at the end. Like horror, stuff like this needs to be built up properly.
also consider authors intent. I understand death of the author and all of that, but do you really think a retired marine biologist made spongebob to be a complex metaphor about sinners in hell ? (rip Stephen Hillenburg btw. we didn't deserve him.)
thank you for reading, hope this helps.
and please, learn to understand the tropes of metaphors before you attempt to make the story of a generation.
edit- adding a couple more things i forgot
7- "the darkness is going to destroy the land or whatever!"
i see this used all the time.
spooky wookey dark shadowy bits going to destroy a land and is the hero's generic bad thing to fight.
stop it. it is not a deep and complex metaphor about depression or whatever the hell you are on about. its lazy and stupid.
8- a story should stand up on its own regardless if audience members understand the metaphor or not
I don't like Gris.
it is a very pretty game with lovely visuals
But also the entire story is just the main character moping about artistically and shit and go on about how artistically sad and dramatic this all is.
if i don't understand the story without understanding the metaphor, then your story and your metaphor sucks.
an example of a metaphor done well: spiritfairer
without the metaphor, it is a simple game about running a traveling boat. even if you didn't care too much about the deeper meaning it is a cute story and the gameplay is fun
(spoiler)
if you look deeper, it can also be taken as a metaphor about greif and learning to accept your loved ones will one day die. things like the boat being filled with empty houses you can't remove is a good example of this.
(end of spoiler)
your story needs to stand up on its own to be good. don't use a metaphor as a crutch.