#thinking emoji

[smallishbeans-enthusiast]

i always wonder how many new joel enjoyers know his skin used to be shrek. that his skin is still based off shrek. that the green in his hair is a tribute to shrek. is this knowledge that’s been lost? are the ogre ears in fanart all that remains of those who know? or is it common knowledge?

#thinking emoji #smallishbeans

[wolfgirlfloof]

why are you looking at another woman's thighs viviana? why are you looking at her incredibly dexterous hands? and her beautiful smile and shining eyes? while dreamy as hell music plays? do you have something you want to tell us

#arknights #arknights spoilers #WHY ARE YOU BLUSHING SO MUCH VIVIANA #THINKING EMOJI #SERIOUSLY. my god #n e way this slapped

[saphirdevil]

free bottom surgery

[PLEASE THIS IS NOT A WAY TO GET A BOTTOM SURGERY!!!]

inspo: here

#limbus company #lc heathcliff #lc ishmael #fanart #xavi art #1. i cant draw guns #2. trans heathcliff #thinking emoji #ALSO AGAIN

[danneroni]

Fursuit making sticker pack 🤪🪡

For naritacoree on twitter

#fursuit maker #telegram stickers #furry telegram #furry art #anthro #furry #fursuiting #commissions are open #digital art #art commission #sewing #thinking emoji #artist life

[somethingpersonarelated]

Akechi's taste in Literature

I've taken an interest in the books Akechi reads. Obviously from the first time you talk with him, you can already tell what he tends to: psychology, philosophy, and mythos. Also, I read at least a little bit from every text. One of my professors out there is proud of me. I hope. So: let's talk about it!

Ok, but why care? Quick Introduction

No particular reason. I simply want to tinker with his brain. I think it could give us insight on the character! And there's an easy way to dismiss this conversation: Akechi uses books as a way to appear intelligent. I don't think that's wrong per se, but he does express an interest in psychology and philosophy in his third semester Jazz Jin discussions. His thieves den conversations also point to interests in mythos. Use this as a "Annoying Person Bookshelf" if you'd like, I certainly will.

Aristole's De Anima (Mementos Mission - Chapter 3)

De Anima, or "On the Soul" [Leob Classical Library], is an examination of the soul and how it functions within the body. It's pretty dense but easily accessible. On page 15,

"There are times when men show all the symptoms of fear without any cause of fear being present. If this is the case, then clearly the affections of the soul are formulae expressed in matter."

Now, I'm not going to read every book, that would be a huge investment. And unfortunately I am still a university student, so I'll stick to the introduction/first chapters or so. But anyways, to the point of the quote, De Anima tends to get metaphysical. Theory time: Akechi has morbid fascinations with the soul. Not only because he well, kills people, but also messes with the restraints on their heart. I choose this quote because it's a good summary of the kind of body horror someone messing with you in the metaverse is like. It's fear and anger unchained, but it manifests in reality through subway accidents... for example.

Hegel's Dialectics (did Akechi misquote Hegel?) - Rank 1

Look, almost all of these texts are slogs to get through, so I wouldn't blame Akechi for not catching this. Or not reading the 2017 in-universe equivalent of cliffnotes. Note: Dialectics refers to the structure/strategy that Hegel uses, not a text itself. Looking at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy we see that Hegel never makes mention of the thesis, antithesis, and synthesis idea. Rather, thesis-antithesis-synthesis is a pattern in his arguments. These are also projected by people reading his text, so we can't fully be sure he's using this to formulate most of his arguments. So not only has Akechi forgotten synthesis, the "unification", but also the fact that Hegel doesn't talk about this. Did he read Hegel? Probably. Did he retain the information? Questionable. Do I blame the writers for making the mistake? mmmm. Maybe. If you're asking me to guess which book he read, I would estimate it was The Phenomenology of Spirit [Google Books]. And yes, I'm going to say it was just because of this quote on page 9 that just, screams Black Mask:

"The force of the mind is only as great as expression; its depth only as, as deep as its power to expand and lose itself when spending and giving out its substance."

Maurice Leblanc's Arsène Lupin vs Sherlock Holmes (Herlock Sholmes) (P5A)

This book I read because my curiosity definitely got the better of me. Since I've gotten into Persona 5 again, I've been DYING to read this one, but never got around to it. I think this one is also interesting to look at based on how it was represented in the anime, a crow escaping a bird cage. I can say that this doesn't happen in the book, but this is why I think Akechi is self inserting on Holmes/Sholmes here. Holmes is much freer as a person in this text than Akechi, but also in a deep rivalry with Lupin. Their banter is also pretty reminiscent of what they [Joker and Akechi] have, but... with older language. Longer quote, so here's an image in its place:

Edit/Correction: Edogawa Ranpo's Kogoro Akechi Series!

As pointed out by a couple people, we can't leave out this series. (credits to @heavy-metal-papillon) I don't know why my mind blanked and left this out. Because when I was doing research for this post someone had mentioned it. Just by name, it should be obvious why this is here! Here is a part of the preface that explains Kogoro Akechi, Arsene Lupin, and their presence in Edogawa's novels (written by Ho-Ling Wong):

Literature he makes references but doesn't mention (note: headcanon/my opinion)

John Stuart Mill's On Utilitarianism

Because Akechi knows how to flirt, he recommends philosophy to Joker. [Early Modern Texts] In my eyes he definitely doesn't agree with this philosophy (in fact some quotes are definitely more aligned with Maruki's philosophy). Page 8:

"That’s because the utilitarian standard is not •the agent’s own greatest happiness but •the greatest amount of happiness altogether; and even if it can be doubted whether a noble character is always happier because of its nobleness, such a character certainly makes other people happier, and the world in general gains immensely from its existence."

Yes, Akechi reads Freud. Freud's essays: Beyond the Pleasure Principle & The Ego Principle

In an offhanded comment about Personas in the Thieves Den to Ryuji, Akechi says:

I love you Akechi. I will not read Freud for you. My love has limits.

Carl Jung's Two Essays on Analytical Psychology

Okay I'm NOT reading this (a lie, i did. [Internet Archive]) but this was the foundational text on the Jungian Archetype of the Persona as well as addressing concepts such as "the will to power." Going to leave this quote from page 78 for you to munch on:

"Logically, the opposite of love is hate, and of Eros, Phobos (fear); but psychologically it is the will to power. Where love reigns, there is no will to power; and where the will to power is paramount, love is lacking. The one is but the shadow of the other..."

There's a couple things here that point to Akechi reading this, but ultimately I just headcanon that he wants to reason through why Personas exist.

Generally reads about the casts Personas!

Similarly to how Joker can read about the other PTs Personas, Akechi does as well. Well, if his morbid discussion about Captain Kidd in the Thieves Den is an indicator. Does this mean Akechi is familiar with the Carmen stage opera? I think so. Besides, it's also the smartest move. Akechi (head)canonically reads lovecraft.

Conclusion

Akechi really enjoys psychology and philosophy, and while some of it seems like he's doing it for attention/to appear smarter, he DOES continue to show interest in third-semester/thieves den. I still can't forgive him for reading Freud.

The List (of ones directly mentioned here)

De Anima, Aristotle

The Phenomenology of Spirit, Hegel

Arsène Lupin vs Sherlock Holmes, Leblanc

On Utilitarianism, John Stuart Mill

Beyond the Pleasure Principle & The Ego Principle, Freud

Two Essays, Carl Jung

The Fiend with Twenty Faces, Edogawa Ranpo

Other notes and headcanons I can't justify giving sections to:

he probably read that fuckass billiards book

definitely stuff on justice. i was just lazy. Some of these texts do cover these ideas, but definitely not all of them

he likes detective novels. he's probably read a fair share of sherlock holmes.

he probably reads adjacent literature to some of the philosophers mentioned (for example: Nietzsche to Jung, Plato to Aristotle)

#goro akechi #p5 meta #p5r #p5 #akechi goro #akechi #thinking emoji #making goro akechi's philosophies everyone's problem

[slamongflobo]

sustober day 18: dia kurosawa

#love live #love live fanart #dia kurosawa #kurosawa dia #sustober #i don’t watch love live #but i was asked to draw a love live character #and she was the first that came to mind #thinking emoji

[couldtransitionsaveher]

THE 🤔 EMOJI

JUSTIFICATION:

"Hear me out, maybe she's questioning whether or not she's trans. But she's nervous- what if she isn't? What if she's wrong? What if her family will hate her? So she stays closeted. But we can help her. We can save her.

(I know that is quite serious for an emoji leave me alone it's 12:02 AM)" - Anonymous

Reminder: Submissions are always open! Submit here!

Did you make your daily click today?

#could transition have saved her #🤔 #thinking emoji #transgender #trans hc #anonymous submission

[asterparfait]

toukentober day 14: red (ft kashuu)

#toukentober2023 #touken ranbu #touken ranbu fanart #kashuu kiyomitsu #my art #asterparfait #刀剣乱舞 #加州清光 #i needed a break from the super intensive illustrations and also wanted to practice color blocking and shapes hierarchy #thinking emoji

[intoapuddle]

why did they remove their previous gamingmas playlists?

#puddle talks #have people noticed this or is it just me #or are those playlists something i made up in my mind? #also it says that all playlists except for the undertale one were updated yesterday #thinking emoji

[goldenrevelries]

what's that trope called wherein Vampire Simultaneously Gets To Feed and Wrecked Within An Inch Of Their Life because i am going feral over it right now and i don't think it's going away for a long while.

#reeve's feral thoughts #yes this is about #asterion #baldur's gate 3 #olrox #castlevania #red wine #food fantasy #noé archiviste #vanitas no carte #thymes and spices #might write about it... #thinking emoji

[2goo-p]

#thinking emoji #bushmedicine #og post is gone that's the only reason why i made this. #2goo.txt

[sleepingcatemojis]

i know i’m meant to be doing requests but i am having a nice time and i made these

gay thoughts, thinking about bf/gf/partner, thinking about kissing (with hearts & without), thinking about hugging, and thinking about cuddling under a blanket 👍

feel free to use in your servers but credit me!

#ell’s emojis #custom emojis #custom emotes #discord emojis #emotes #emoji #hugging emojis #hug emojis #kiss emoji #cuddling emoji #gay thoughts #thinking #thinking emoji #thought emoji

[acesentialsketches]

Nicole_Think.exe

#art #sonic the hedgehog fanart #sonic the hedgehog #nicole the holo lynx #thinking emoji #mobian

[hungriesttable]

if I had a nickel for every time I read a random shonen jump series with an autistic MC who I was NOT expecting at all I would have two nickels. which is not a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice (should happen more)

#one-> #kagurabachi #do you see the vision on this one? like he and his dad definitely send me some brain signals in that respect #MC’s dad is presented as having an unconventional worldview #and the MC himself strikes me as the prototypical ‘not very expressive and has a straightforward personality’ guy #I like him and his goldfish. of course there’s not really a lot of material to comment on as of yet #two-> #MARRIAGETOXIN #saw this dude compulsively cleaning the bathroom when stressed and was like he is so me for real #him and his water absorbing polymer truly sweep #and his DIY candy kits of course #good stuff all around. if anyone has any recommendations please enlighten me #well that’s assuming that people will see this post lolz #thinking emoji

[familiariscanis]

i was thinking recently about dazai with chronic pain. dazai who spent his entire youth behaving recklessly, who was injured frequently and never let himself heal properly because didn't really care about the consequences and why would he? long-term consequences don't matter when you're convinced that you're going to die before you become an adult.

but he didn't die. he's not dying yet. he's still around. dazai, who never thought he'd reach the age twenty finds himself turning twenty-five. finds himself getting even older still. twenty-six, twenty-seven, twenty-eight. the age thirty is a shockingly real possibility now for this man who was certain he’d die in childhood.

dazai finds himself with more life than he knows what to do with and a body that's been broken too many times to ignore. he hates pain and he's never wanted to live and yet here he is, with a constant daily pain and a life too full of people he doesn't want to leave. he wants to walk away and to find oblivion but he can’t make himself go. there’s always someone who needs him, always something he still wants to do.

his hands aren’t so deft anymore, can’t be trusted the way they could before. he takes longer to lockpick his way out of handcuffs. there’s a stiffness in his fingers he cannot shake off. he throws himself around like he always used to, or gets himself thrown around, and finds it’s a challenge to pick himself back up.

he’d always thought that a life that just keeps going endlessly, full of pain and obligations and everyday difficulties would be the worst sort of fate, and here he is. and somehow, it’s not as bad as he expected it to be.

#obligatory text post tag #thinking emoji #that art of dazai w/ a cane did something to my brain #also just the thought of dazai living and constantly choosing to live #even though he doesnt always want to #there’s enough keeping him anchored…

[somethingpersonarelated]

Another No More What Ifs Analysis

Okay, so... between wanting to analyze this and Our Light, and the kpop posts that I'll be doing that overlap with this. This blog will turn into Persona Music Analysis hour. Long post. Heavy spoilers for P5R, Proof of Justice, and Mementos Mission. BEGIN!

Let's begin with some context for the song. I think this is crucial to understanding why it is associated with Akechi's character. If you're familiar with this, you can skip to the lyrical analysis! The best analogy is that Beneath the Mask is to Akira as NMWI is to Akechi, in my opinion. Proof of Justice was an OVA released with the P5 anime (in May 2019) a couple months before the release of Persona 5 Royal in Japan (October of the same year). This OVA is centered around the relationship between Akira and Akechi. Specifically, Akira's grieving process as he goes through the places where they used to meet to find clues about the phrase "Proof of Justice" which was written in the Leblanc crossword. The Jazz Jin, as noted by Muhen here, is a place where Akechi would typically go alone. He also notes in confidant rank 4 that it wasn't necessarily a place that he was keeping secret, but that he never brought people around there since it was his personal space to reflect. As we'll examine, the content of the lyrics is too specific to not be related to the story, and there aren't any other characters or themes I could think are as associated with the song as Goro Akechi. Just wanted to clear this up first, as for some it's not entirely clear why the song is specifically Akechi's (since it's not explicitly stated, and the lyrics are hard to catch while you're playing through normally).

Lyrical Analysis

people come and they go some people may stay with you though I am all alone tonight and I kept on asking myself questions

The very first line is one of the easiest to dissect. Goro, since the death of his mother, has had few stable figures in his life, whether it is his parents, family, or friends. This also extends to his line of work as a celebrity detective, as he is kept so busy that there are very few people he sees on a regular basis, at all. He notes in the second confidant rank (if you choose to ask if he has no friends) that he doesn't have people that he chooses to spend time with. [I chose this option on my last play through and remember it but I can't find the dialogue anywhere].

The doubt that grows in this verse comes from the second line. He is taken by surprise that there is someone he is giving thought to for more than a couple seconds at time. Someone he is... to some degree choosing to spend time with even though he is doing it for the mission. At first, to investigate the Phantom Thieves identity to prevent them from interfering in his revenge plot, and then to lure Akira into a death trap. Tying it back to the first line analysis with the third and fourth line, this dissonance has put the first example of his doubt in this song.

Conceited I was at time I never really doubted myself But tonight got me thinking about it all if I am the fool or what not

There is a self-awareness that Goro always has about his personas (in the metaphorical sense). Goro kind of knows that he's arrogant and it was not ever something that bothered him. Even his character flaws will not get in the way of his plan, even if those flaws are just his humanity peeking through. There's a longing in Lyn's delivery of the last two lines here. He's stumped as to why he feels this way and the inner conflict makes him pause more than he is comfortable with.

"If I am the fool or what not." This line, is literally perfect, the double meaning is just ugh! We'll see this idea again near the end of the song, but I want to take an opportunity to talk about it now. For two years, Goro was the only Persona-user he knew, so he had no reason to believe anyone would ever stand a chance against him. Not only is he angered at himself for allowing Akira to get close to him and cause these doubts but he's also questioning what his role was.

I do not regret with my choices I'm rather proud ooh I know I won't change anything because I can only be me so

I had already written parts of this analysis like two months ago but I saw a post written by @vashtijoy here on how Mementos mission has a sneaky reference to this song. So check that out! It's something I never noticed.

Before Shido's palace, there's an acceptance of the circumstances in this line, that he has to do it regardless of what he may think because he has a goal. Throughout the third semester, we see an Akechi that is alive and tried to deal with the consequences of his actions before Maruki took that opportunity away from him. But he does not show remorse for what he did, that it was the only path he could have chosen with the information he knew.

How can I be so sure? at a crossroads I'm afraid too But I can't let fear get the best of me Someone once said burn my dread babe

This verse... this verse makes me wanna cry. I cannot even lie to you. The direct statement that there is fear behind the fact that he doesn't want to kill Akira and the acknowledgement in the last two lines that one of them has to end up dead. That he is also acknowledging that Akira must also be fearful, by playing with fire through continuing to lead the Phantom Thieves. The doubt is consuming him in this verse. The crossroad offers two choices, one where he sacrifices himself for Akira and one where Akira no longer is with him. The reference to Persona 3 really carries the weight here with this theory. I would explain more but I only spoiler tagged for P5R so we move.

Who knows what tomorrow holds? just wanna live my life the way I want what fills up my soul is passionate music that makes me want to sing

The first line, to me, reads that he's given up on allowing himself to think if there's another way to resolve his doubts. That there's another path where neither of them die and that it can't exist. He wants to live freely, which is what he thinks is assured once his revenge plan is complete. In another world, maybe it was one where both of them could be together without this chasing them. The last two lines I don't have a particular opinion about, but I think they add to the fact that Goro has given up entertaining other possibilities.

my story will be starring me just like yours ooh ooh who knows when will it end what matters most is how you bring joy to life so

I think about confidant rank 8. It feels written all over this line, and we come back to an idea that was present with "If I am the fool or what not." I think there's a bit of that 'hatred' that he talks about, that he's resentful that Akira story will end differently than his own. He's waiting for the day to come and resolves by centering himself, that once his goal is achieved, that he will achieve joy for the first time in his life. Refusing to acknowledge that Akira was showing him companionship that brought him happiness for one last time.

The Theme of Doubt

One of the things I have had trouble defining is what the doubt Goro is referring to is, or why the doubt is there. It's one of the things that is left in the air. Speculating here a little more than I usually will try to: the doubt stems from the fact that Goro is enjoying his time with the protagonist and is unsure what that means. In terms of what he is doubting, I'm not sure, I don't think he is referring to his plan, but rather the fact that Akira is caught up in it at all. His resolve to complete his plan never changes, but he wishes he could choose to leave him out of this. This tracks with a line stated by the SIU director which implies that some of the cruel actions carried out by the conspiracy/antisocial force by Akechi are not entirely his idea. He still carries them out without hesitation, but he never thinks of them himself. One of the reasons I wrote out this analysis was to see if there were any opinions on what this part of the song meant since I have trouble wrapping my head around it myself.

Goro, in base game and third semester, never shows any form of doubt or regret to the protagonist directly, only brief flickers and implications from dialogue. But this song is layered with it and bashes you in by telling you that it is what he is struggling with most when it comes to executing his plan. It's what nags at me even though I've tried to analyze this song a couple of times on my own.

IN CONCLUSION: I obviously hate goro akechi. (lying is fun)

#shuake #akeshu #akechi goro #akira kurusu #persona 5 spoilers #persona 5 royal #no more what ifs #persona music #persona analysis #i spent way too long writing this #can you tell this is my favorite persona song #p5 meta #thinking emoji