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#which most people in the west are not actually aware of!! so then to go on and be like
devouredbyflame · 2 days
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If Deities came to speak with humans face-to-face, most modern polytheists would be wrong.
If called down, Deities would actually be capable of making our lives easier when it comes to working with Them and listening for Their voices. The reason why it’s so hard for people to listen for the Gods is because people don’t necessarily know how important it is to develop their own personal relationship with the Divine.
We are so, so worried about being wrong and we look to other people to tell us which way we go. But there are very few experienced practitioners, even fewer effective teachers (if any at this point) and it is the blind leading the blind.
In all of my years of working with Loki, every single time I had a problem with discernment, it was always due to other people telling me I’m wrong or that their opinion was more important than my intuition. And I believed them because they seemed more knowledgeable. My beliefs I held strongly to in the beginning of my devotion to Him were always bent down by other people thinking they know more than me even though years later, they turned out to be truer than the thoughts I had after I was in a community.
You can call it beginner’s luck, but after years of seeking community, His voice became quieter and quieter. It was when I left pagan groups that I became explicitly aware of what He actually wanted from me. Confirmations started happening, the energy became denser, and things just magically started to work out that never did before and I could hear His voice speak to me in ways I didn’t think were possible prior to this reawakening.
I’m not saying we should be without community, but community resources need to be rewritten to accommodate the fact that us in the West know very little about working with the Gods. We used to. But we have no context for it anymore within society.
We can try to reconstruct a dead culture because you feel like yours is lacking but unless you’re actually receiving direct correspondence with the Divine, you will likely be unlucky in finding Their truest nature.
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rubberbandballqueen · 3 months
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when at the library today i picked up a book abt typography to pick up some more theoretical skills there and to no one's surprise it pretended that european languages were the only languages in the world which like whatever i'll still learn what principles it has to teach and then try to reverse-engineer applications to cn font design based on what i know.
despite not trusting the english-language resources available online to be as in-depth or technical as i desire, i got curious and googled "chinese typographic design" anyway n scrolling through the introduction to the first result, you can kind of tell it's not written with a chinese-speaking audience in mind, or at the very least an audience with some semblance of chinese cultural sensitivities bc its section headed by the words "navigating the simplified and traditional divide" goes on to basically say it's an Aesthetic Decision which. well. is certainly a way to pretend you're avoiding politics.
#mostly you get the impression bc one of the first sections is like 'so how do chinese words work?'#and goes on to explain the idea of radicals and components n stuff and it's like If You Knew Literally Any Chinese#even as a foreigner starting to learn you'd understand the concept of semantic radicals#the worm speaks#phrasing that heading as 'navigating a divide' feels like it's alluding to An Awareness of the political implications n stuff#which most people in the west are not actually aware of!! so then to go on and be like#'oh yeah simplified is like swiftly efficient and ~modern~ while traditional holds fast to its cultural roots from a bygone era'#like. this is some stares straight into the camera type shit to me. like you really didn't have to call us bygone y'know.#like i'd have been fine if they were like 'simplified is what's used in the mainland china n is thus used much more frequently'#'whereas traditional is used in taiwan hk and with older communities' like that's Fine you did it you Navigated The Divide#but if you frame it in terms of an aesthetic choice based in how ~modern~ or ~bygone~ you want to feel#then you're going to end up with people who are merely curious abt cn typography bc it's a very foreign language to them#who take that at face value. good lord#AND ALSO they have separate encodings in unicode. like just saying. they are also encoded differently and that's an important thing#you do not know how many times i've downloaded allegedly traditional cn fonts only to discover they expect simplified input#in order to display the glyphs which Are still designed as traditional to be fair but anyway. it's a nuisance.
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clockwayswrites · 3 months
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Danny/Wally, blue, mint
@Luckeykasper
WC: 547
Depending on who and when you asked someone, the Speed Force and Clockwork could be many things to each other: friends, enemies, lovers, brothers, each other, or the very same person. They were both, after all, masters of Time and that had to bring some sort of a connection. On the other hand, they both handled Time very differently from each other which more often brought conflict. Throughout all of their different labels and ever shifting moods one thing was true: the Speed Force and Clockwork were gossiping old biddies about everything and everyone that ever was or would be.
(And, if occasionally, they came together in way that no mortal mind could ever comprehend, well, then that was their business and no one else’s.)
The gossiping old biddies part is what was important in that moment. Not to most people, of course. Most people didn’t have the constitution to be aware of temporal fluctuations, and, even if they had, the current wibbliness of time really only mattered to two people: one Wally West and one Daniel Fenton. Or by other names which might matter more at the moment: Kid Flash and Phantom, the Speed Force’s chosen and Clockwork’s cog, and, most importantly, beloved pseudo-grandsons.
It’s just, the Speed Force sighed, or came as close as a cosmic entity could manage to a sigh, Wally keeps falling instantly for people that he knows are unattainable.
They sounded young right then, like a dramatic teen, and Clockwork unconsciously shifted his form to match. “If they’re unattainable, why does he fall for them?”
Because they’re unattainable. I think he’s afraid to fall for someone he could have because… because of me.
Clockwork snorted. “Isn’t that a bit egotistical?”
The space around them sparked with static. No!
“Really?”
Really! He’s afraid because of what I’ve given him! He’s not simple a person anymore— he’s a cosmic force! The static faded to a sad sputtering and then stopped. All of existence seemed to drag around them. And how often is he going to run into someone who handle that? He’s afraid of trying, my poor boy…
Clockwork nodded in commiseration. His form aged and shifted until he floated hunched over himself. “I see. Danny has become like that as his power has grown. He has pulled away from the living and dead a like. I have concerns about his bonds if it continues.”
The Speed Force jolted, reality spinning in a sudden whirl. That’s it!
“Stop that,” Clockwork ordered, wrenching things back into control with a firm hand. “What are you on about? What silly idea do you have now?”
Danny is cosmic.
“Yes,” Clockwork agreed dryly.
Wally needs someone who understands cosmic! Danny needs someone who has strong ties to the world! Wally’s whole self is saving the world. It’s perfect.
Clockwork actually took a moment to consider the thought.
You know I’m right.
“You’re never right.”
Bitch.
“But,” Clockwork said slowly. The Speed Force buzzed in anticipation. “This might at least be worth a try.”
I told you!
“They can’t suspect it’s a set up though,” Clockwork admonished quickly.
Of course not, too damn stubborn. But… it wouldn’t be too hard to make their paths cross, now would it?
“No,” Clockwork grinned. “No I don’t think that it would.”
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AN: Okay, so we didn't actually get to Danny/Wally but this idea got in my head and lol. Idk maybe I'll continue this one at some point down the road!
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omgthatdress · 9 months
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Barbie made her debut in 1959. The way she was sold then is a little different than the way she's sold now. These days, individual Barbies come with their own unique looks & usually some kind of unique function or accessories. You can buy clothes separately, but those looks are still secondary to the expectation of buying a lot of Barbies. Back in the day, you bought the one Barbie and then bought her clothes separately. This is why back then Barbie came with a bunch of friends and always came wearing a swimsuit.
The oft-memed origin story for the classic Barbie is that she was modeled on a German sex doll named Lili, which is only partially true. In the 50s, most dolls available for girls were baby dolls that primed girls for being a wife and mother. Fashion dolls were a thing but they were generally more reserved for adults.
Ruth Handler, who co-founded Mattel with her husband and served as its president from 1945-1973 (#girlboss much?), got the idea of making an adult doll for girls when she'd see her daughters playing with paper dolls. Instead of playing with babies, they chose teen-aged and adult paper dolls and played fantasized versions of adulthood. Then, on a trip to Germany, Ruth saw a Lili doll in a store, and asked her daughters what they'd think of playing with a doll like that. Apparently, they liked the idea.
Lili the doll wasn't an inflatable fuck doll. She was based on a popular comic strip character Lili created by Reinhard Beuthien and published in the Hamburg-based Bild Zeitung. Lili was a buxom gold-digger seducing her way through the wealthy men of post-war West Germany.
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The comic was definitely adult-oriented, and the doll it created was a popular bachelor party gag gift.
The introduction of a doll with breasts did cause *some* controversy, but it was more pearl-clutching rather than tremendous cultural outrage. Barbie was actually an immediate hit. She fit in very well to late 50s ideals of femininity. I've heard it said before that parents liked her because she helped little girls get into the beauty, fashion, and level of grooming that she would need to catch a husband. IDK if that was intentional, but it seems to fit very well.
I don't want to get into whether or not Barbie is this huge feminist icon or not because, well, she's a toy. I think Ruth Handler was an incredibly smart businesswoman who saw a market demand and met it. Barbie is about the power of fantasy and imagination, and anything that people see in her are the things they want to see in her.
In her incredible multitude of careers, she also holds up an impossible and toxic standard of beauty. Mattel has always been very aware of Barbie's image. I'm pretty sure that the reason Mattel hated "Barbie Girl" so much wasn't because it was wink-wink sexual, but because it nailed the popular stereotype of the time that Barbie was this fake, plastic bimbo who was an unhealthy role model for girls (go listen to Aquarium, now!).
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The recent years of Barbie taking on a more empowering, feminist, and diverse lean is because Mattel is simply correcting course and keeping up with the times. Honestly, they've done a very good job of it, but I'm not going to kid myself into thinking they're doing anything other than maximizing profits.
I love me some Barbie but I was always an AG girl, ngl. However, I think Barbie and her cultural context are still incredibly fascinating and worth taking a look at.
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hero-israel · 6 months
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What they said.
And I could have put another 4-6 similar messages in here, I can tell what is weighing on peoples' minds. Though we are outnumbered, it is not hard to see through the lies of our enemies. We just need people who will listen to us.
"Every accusation is a confession" was never more true than in claiming JEWS want to kill off ARABS. The briefest review of regional demographics - WHO has actually wiped out WHOM - makes that instantly clear. Mahmoud Abbas said his family fled their home in Safed in 1948 because they were sure the Jews would try to get revenge for Arab massacres in 1929. In 1967 when Israel took the West Bank, Arabs in Hebron were so afraid of reprisals for 1929 that they flew white bedsheets from their windows and piled their weapons outside their front doors.
There is no such thing as a "genocide" that is true for Palestinians but false for white people. And while most of the time, posting about hypocrisy and double standards isn't going to make a real-life change, this is one time where I'd really like people to point it out, to demand answers from those who correctly identify the Alt-Right as lying. We should also request clarification on whether all warfare involving urban bombing is automatically considered genocide (spoiler: it isn't, but this time Jews are involved, aha!).
Desmond Tutu was notorious for insisting Jews forgive the genocide that had actually been committed against them and also that they be constantly condemned and judged for the potential genocide they were always just about to commit. It is not even meant as a statement of fact - just a way to put us in our place. As David Schraub put it:
For thousands of years, for much of the world, part of the cultural patrimony enjoyed by all non-Jews -- spiritual and secular, Church and Mosque, enlightenment and romantic, European and Middle Eastern -- was the unquestionable right to stand superior over Jews. It was that right which the Holocaust took away, or at least called into question; the unthinking faith of knowing you were the more enlightened one, the spiritually purer one, the more rational one, the dispenser of morality rather than the object of it. To be sure, some people were better positioned to enjoy this right than others. And some people arrived onto the scene late in the game, only to discover that part of the bounty they were promised may no longer be on the table. Of course they're aggrieved! The European immigrant who never owned a slave but was at least promised racial superiority is quite resentful when the wages of Whiteness stop being what they once were. Similarly, persons who lived far from the centers of Christian or Muslim power where Jewish subordination was forged are nonetheless well aware of what was supposed to be included in modernity's gift basket. They recognize what they've "lost" as acutely as anyone else.
Every definition of "genocide" rests on intent; you cannot accidentally do it. That's what both the U.N., Genocide Watch, and basic common sense say. The militia going door-to-door to torture and massacre all the children and elderly is genocidal intent. "The missile launcher built into your house just fired at us, we will now destroy it, you have 5 minutes to evacuate" is not.
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I have no idea what is coming next in Gaza, how long it will last or how bad it will get. Godforbid, if the death toll gets another zero at the end, it may become impossible to get people to see it as non-genocidal, regardless of what is empirically, definitionally true. But if people are going to cite sources and moral authorities, let them stick with the boundaries they have introduced.
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wintersettled · 9 months
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Honestly the way different archons in genshin impact have such different interactions with their nation is very interesting to me, especially with how its further expanded in fontaine recently.
The archons who are closest to the way we traditionally (in the west) think of a god (ie. all-powerful and on a completely other level of existence to humans) would probably be Barbatos first, then Rex Lapis.
Barbatos/Venti having churches dedicated to him and not appearing (as far as most are aware) in society for centuries is very similar to how the christian god is seen, as someone worshipped but never directly interacted with on a level beyond the spiritual. Meanwhile Rex Lapis/Zhongli has tons of myths and stories dedicated to him across lands and made appearances for years until his "death". In this way he's somewhat comparable to Greek gods (or even Jesus, to keep the christianity analogy going). He's far more openly entrenched in humanity but still remains separate and "above".
It's more-so with the three other archons we've encountered that our understanding of what gods must be like in teyvat based on Rex Lapis and Barbatos is totally altered with Ei, Furina, and Buer, all three being the "replacement" archon for their respective nations.
Ei, the third archon we meet, takes a direct role in Inazuman government as the Shogun, a totally different approach than the previous two which i find more similar to various rulers claiming divine right of kings. Also, despite not being the original electro archon most dont actually know this because Ei took on the identity of her sister, who died during the calamity. I think Ei taking on her sisters identity definitely helped her maintain her "divine authority" where other archons (buer) failed to maintain it in their nations.
Speaking of Buer/Nahida, you'd think the whole changing the past to everyone except descenders thing would complicate our interpretation of her but it doesnt at all. I think the reason for this is that destroying the previous archon in irmunsul didnt actually change the past. I also dont think the wanderer/scaramouche actually changed the past. I think they just changed peoples memories of it. but anyway. Nahida also takes on a governmental role at the end of sumerus archon quests while still remaining a somewhat holy figure. She was obviously shut out/disregarded following the passing of the previous dendro archon, unlike Ei she wasn't able to maintain her authority. After the archon quest however, her position in government kind of reminds me of the queen of england early in her rule. There was still a democratic governing body in the prime minister and other representatives but she maintains power.
Furina/Focalors also reminds me of the queen of england but at the end of her career instead. Furina appears to be more of a mascot in fontaine than a proper ruling body. It actually seems that the machine and neuvillette hold more authority that she does. Obviously we havent really explored fontaine much yet (its only been out a few days but im loving it) and we've only gotten so much info from the archon quests but as far as i can tell, furina appears to be kind of scrambling to live up to the previous hydro archon who was seemingly so well liked that fontaines people are repenting to this day. (as am i misremembering or did they say the previous archon didnt side with celestia but her people did?? what!?). Its even actively pointed out how people in fontaine do not view their archon to even a similar level as people in other nations (i mean their archon does meet and greets and is very reckless with her accusations but-).
anyways 👍 yes.
TLDR: zhongli + venti = traditional gods ei + nahida (now) = government furina + nahida = queen of england idk also i dont think they actually changed the past, just people interpretation of it. btw whats up with the fontaine profecy and the whole "they sided with celestia" thing??
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thelawsofdaylight · 6 months
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I'm sorry if this isn't approriate, but I don't really understand why you find Les Mis a good target for a climate protest? I get that the musical has themes that align with the protesters but like... what was the good outcome? Are there really People in that audience that don't know climate change is happening? How Will this change their mind? What action is meant to be brought on by trowing soup at paintings or disrupting a performance? Does that actually help the cause of combatting climate change at all? Does it help make people more aware, does it have an effect on the mechanisms of polluters? Isn't there anything more focused that these resources (both money and the incredible bravery and drive of the People themselves) could be better focused on. These protest feels so different from like, people chaining themselves to a private jet or the schoolchildren going up to parliaments by the thousand to demand policy chances to better their future. All of the JSO actions feels so performative, I just don't see how they are actually doing anything of even the mechanism by which they are meant to accomplish anything? Which doesn't mean that the people involved aren't great people or that the reaction of the Les Mis crowd wasn't fucked up. Just... what was even the goal?
Hey! I know it's been a while since I made that post supporting the JSO protestors but I've gotten a few asks like this in the time since (and am still getting them) so I'm responding to this as the most good-faith one in my inbox and hopefully it answers others that have been asked to me in the past couple weeks as well. Disclaimer: If I'm responding to things outside the remit of this ask, it's likely that it's because someone else sent an ask about it and I've been juggling them all in my head as I've been thinking on a response.
I think in order to answer the first part of the ask we have to tackle the second. 'What has this action achieved' only works as a comprehensive criticism if we look at it in isolation to all of JSO's other actions. What I mean by this is: JSO launched by blocking oil refineries for days on end. In the two years they've been active they've done similar actions, including but not limited to disrupting fuel distribution centres, petrol stations, interrupting fossil fuel conferences, and, most recently, trying to stop the relocation of asylum seekers to prison barges. Their actions go far beyond blocking roads and disruption of public events. I think this is important to establish as I don't know how much of a working knowledge anyone not in the UK Climate movement actually has about JSO and I think it's good we're all on the same page.
But if they do all that (effective, important) direct action, then why target Les Mis? What does a West End show have to do with fossil fuel companies and climate change? And in response to these questions I'll ask one of my own: were you aware of the fact that JSO tried to stop migrants from being deported until I mentioned it just now? A lot of these actions, the ones that actually target infrastructure and confront those directly responsible, get little to no media coverage. When news of the Les Mis action first broke out, I saw so many people on Twitter with the same reactionary takes: why target Les Mis when the Conservative Party Conference literally happened the same weekend? And that's a fair and valid point- if it wasn't for the fact that JSO were at the conference. I know this because I was there too. They had a huge bloc in the march and went on to do other actions in the city after the march had ended. The whole thing, the entire 10,000+ strong protest, got maybe 30 seconds coverage on the local news and not even a mention of JSO's presence (or of climate change in general for that matter.) JSO's previous actions directed at fossil fuel companied themselves get very little, if any, coverage compared to their big flashy sports/awards show/performance interruptions.
So yeah, some of JSOs actions are 'performative'. But I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that even performative actions have their place within the wider struggle. I understand not liking public disruption as a tactic and I understand the issues with it, but I also think it's worth reflecting on why groups like JSO use it.
Editing my draft here to report that earlier today they smashed the frame of a painting that was previously vandalised by the Suffragette movement in 1914. That's a performative action, sure, but you have to admit it makes a point. Just like the tageting of Les Mis, a play about an unjust society and the people striving to change it, makes a point about hypocrisy. It gets the media coverage. We can debate all day about the usefulness of that coverage and if chasing media headlines should be our goal in the first place... but at the end of the day, it's been proven that JSOs membership grows every time they do something like this. It gets more people to join, which means next time it comes round to blocking key infrastructure, they'll be in a stronger position to succeed.
This isn't to say don't criticise them at all! I actually think criticisms like this one are a key part of organising and, done with care, can only make our movements stronger. I have my own issues with JSO- namely, the carelessness with which arrest is actively encouraged/promoted as the only valid form of resistance- but that's a whole other conversation and one that doesn't undermine my support and solidarity for the activists who are doing those actions (and sacrificing a whole lot in the process.) I think mass direct action movements are rarely ever perfect but I also think we need to show solidarity first and foremost when people are trying to do the right thing, especially if how they're doing it is in conjunction with or as a response to other tactics.
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Beginner Class - Moon Phases
Introduction to Moon Phases & Lunar Magic
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By KB
Introduction
Welcome back to class everyone! Today we're going to have a small introduction to lunar magic & discuss the Moon phases! The Moon has been significant in myths and customs all around the world from the beginnings of human civilization. It has been used as a light source and a chronometer for ages. Similar to the Sun, it has been associated with a variety of deities all throughout the world. This heavenly body has always been connected to many fundamental aspects of human existence, including love, passion, fertility, mystery, death and rebirth, and the afterlife, in both myth and magic. The Moon continues to play a significant role in Wicca and other contemporary Witchcraft and Paganism practices.
Briefing of the Moon
The Earth has its own energy, which is separate from the energy it receives from the Sun, according to scientists. The Moon also gives off a faint yet distinct energy. The energy of the moon is feminine and receptive as opposed to the masculine, projective energy of the Sun. Anyone who has experienced the Moon's physical pull can understand why its power is frequently described as magnetic. At the Full or New Moon, some people who are especially sensitive really experience a physical tug in their bodies, while others merely have a heightened awareness of everything around them.
The feminine, receptive, and magnetic energy of our own intuition is perfectly suited to engage with lunar energy. This is the most important mode of perception when it comes to magic, often known as our sixth sense. Therefore, when we intentionally connect with Moon energy, we are creating a channel for that energy to help bring about the necessary changes in our life. And we can actually increase the power of our magical activity when we do this in conscious sync with the energetic rhythms of the Moon's cycle. This is so because each moon phase offers unique energies that can be tapped into for special magical purposes.
Working With The Moon
Moon magic is the practice of enhancing spellcraft by utilizing the power of the moon and its cycles. You undoubtedly already know that spellwork and rituals are frequently performed during the full moon by magical practitioners. It's simple to use the moon for your intended purpose because it is at the peak of its metaphysical potency. However, depending on the kind of spell work you wish to conduct, all phases of the moon offer strategic advantages.
Lunar magic is a type of sympathetic magic in which practitioners align their spells and witchcraft with the moon's cyclical phases. Lunar magic users interpret the moon's changing phases as having characteristics that are helpful for various purposes, sorts of spells, or rituals. Each phase, from waxing to waning, has a magical correlation that guides a witch's work. The connections come from humanity's long history of using the moon as a calendar, navigational aid, and fertility symbol. The moon has traditionally been associated with masculinity by many civilizations, but in the modern West, the moon is frequently associated with femininity and is connected to women, fertility, and feminine cycles.
Now, all of this may seem historically complex and even scientifically oriented (and it certainly can be! ), but working with the moon is a flexible sort of witchcraft that allows for "choose your own adventure" thinking. It can be as intricate and challenging as you wish, or it might just be about interacting with the natural rhythms' exquisite beauty. You can focus all of your magick on lunar living or you can just perform a ritual for the new or full moon whenever it is convenient for you. Don't be afraid; the moon is not erratic and is always present. Simply get in and give it a go however seems appropriate to you.
Moon Phases
Witchcraft practitioners frequently use the moon's phases and their corresponding rituals to give their spells and rituals a little extra strength or to just serve as a reminder to focus on different things throughout the month. Although I'm here to offer inspiration and suggestions for how to use the moon in your magical life, how you work with it is distinctly particular to you, so this post isn't the be-all and end-all of lunar magic.
Here are the fundamentals. In witchcraft, we frequently add a ninth phase before the new moon, which scientists would regard as the same. However, there are eight moon phases every month according to science. The lunar cycle begins with the dark/new moon, increases or waxes until it reaches the full moon, then shrinks or wane until it reaches the dark moon, when the cycle resumes.
9 Moon Phases
Dark Moon
New Moon
Waxing Crescent
First Quarter
Waxing Gibbous
Full Moon
Waning Gibbous
Last Quarter
Waning Crescent
The intents, spells, and rituals associated with each of these stages include banishing, abundance, shadow work, manifesting, times of release, and times that attract things toward you. It is claimed that aligning your magical activities with the moon's phases can help you tap into their energy and encourage the results you want.
Dark Moon
The moment has come for destructive magic. Not necessarily "harmful," but now would be the ideal moment to cast a curse or hex. The optimum time to perform magical work to eliminate or banish strong spirits, addictions, or illnesses is during the Dark Moon. Do not waste this opportunity. It is advisable to use this time for something that presents a real threat. Also a fantastic time for divination and soul-searching. The black moon phase is all about the unconscious mind and is most frequently employed as a period for dream work, ancestral remembrance, and divination. Take advantage of this stage to really explore your inner thoughts. Turn inward, meditate, and consider your course of action. Simmer your soul in a hot ritual bath, or have a deep-tissue massage to release accumulated trauma.
New Moon
Moon mapping practitioners assert that the new Moon is a good time to reflect on significant issues or make broad plans for the next lunar cycle and beyond. The new Moon is focused on concepts of attraction and invitation. As a result, the majority of new Moon rites focus on sowing seeds for the future, which makes sense given what's going on in the heavens.
Waxing Crescent
The waxing moon looks to be expanding. This period's magnetic energy aids in bringing things out. The optimum time to work with beneficial magic is during this full waxing phase. This is the ideal moment if you want to develop a more optimistic outlook or greater patience. This is the moment to cast spells for self-improvement, such as enhancing psychic talents or learning information about a new class.
First Quarter
The First Quarter Moon is all about appeal from the outside world, whereas the New Moon is all about going within and bringing out. It is the best moment to do any type of magic that involves luring something in—whether it's a person, success, money, or anything else. Additionally, now is a great opportunity to return lost items.
Waxing Gibbous
The Waxing Gibbous Moon's energies, which are still in the 'constructive' magic phase, are excellent for giving anything you've been working on that may have stalled that extra push. Use these energies to give you a boost and help you resist temptations if you are having trouble staying motivated to complete a task or maintain a routine.
Full Moon
The Full Moon phase is the most potent of the cycle, making it the best time to deal with any pressing problems or difficulties you may be experiencing. Concentrate your rituals and spells on issues that are most crucial to your life. Additionally, this is a perfect time for magic and meditations centered on psychic growth, spirituality, and divination. The Full Moon is the time you would use for increased power when you are confronting really challenging problems, even more so than the Dark Moon. Full Moon magic is designated for those significant aspects of your life that require significant changes or boosts; it is not only for small jobs. It is best to focus on priorities during this period.
Waning Gibbous
Working on spells to banish is an excellent idea at this time because waning energies repel rather than attract. During the fading phases, minor banishings can be carried out. The ideal time to clean everything in general, including your house, yard, office, personal items, magical instruments, etc. It is best to end everything during the Waning Gibbous period, whether it be a commercial endeavor or a romance. Self-reflection is also an excellent thing to do at this time. Think on your past and inwardly rather of focusing on the future. Perform spells and rituals during this phase that are intended to perform minor banishings and cleansings. Now is a great moment to reflect and identify anything that is no longer in line with your goals.
Last Quarter
This is the ideal time to go through any challenges you've had to face while working toward your objectives. Use charms to help you overcome obstacles that might encourage you to give up. The same is true for whatever transitions you may be going through; take advantage of these energy to iron out any kinks and make the procedure move more smoothly.
Waning Crescent
The energies are more suited for larger banishings, including getting rid of anything that has been depleting your energy and stealing your joy. Work with the energy of this time to eliminate anything from your life that you wish to just get rid of. Focus your spells and rituals on the intentional dumping of anything that you no longer desire, whether it be quitting a fruitless project or ending a damaging acquaintance or relationship.
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thebirdandthebee · 1 year
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In a Twist
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I just can’t stay away from Bob smut. Here’s another request from the inbox, which is still open for TGM and The Bear requests!
The below is mostly smut and fluff - 18+ only!
Call me simple, but I just love the Bob-has-a-hot-girlfriend trope.
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You’d spent most of the morning primping. Bobby was being awarded a commendation on base today and it was your first time visiting him at North Island.
You’d started seeing one another about eight months ago while he’d been stationed in Key West. Starting as friends, you’d met through your girlfriend, who was dating a sailor, Bobby had made the first move, something that both surprised and delighted you.
You’d been fortunate that for a majority of your relationship so far, you’d been in the same state. However, he’d been put on assignment in Miramar five weeks ago, and you’d missed him terribly. Your communication had been minimal and though you’d been aware when he had a work incident that landed him in the hospital, he reminded that even if you came to Miramar, you wouldn’t be able to actually see him.
Thankfully, you’d been able to text and FaceTime a few times since then, but you were thrilled when he’d sent you the invitation to the ceremony.
You’d flown in last night, renting a car and spending the first night eating room service and doing as many spa treatments as you could. You were smooth as a dolphin – hair recently highlighted, brows plucked and all nails buffed and polished.
Bob had been staying in base quarters, so you’d splurged for the suite for a handful of reasons: you knew he wouldn’t want to be sleeping in a twin bed again, and you’d now been celibate for six weeks. A twin bed with a roommate was not going to cut it.
You were grateful that Bob had emailed you all the instructions to get on base and where to go – it was slightly different than visiting him on base in Key West. You’d nervously tapped your fingers against the steering wheel after parking your car, your permit tag hanging on the rearview mirror and printed out invitation in hand. You couldn’t remember the last time you’d used a printer, much less asked for help printing something at a hotel.
Sliding the invitation into your clutch, you’d spotted a well-dressed family getting out of their car, and you decided to tag along so you wouldn’t have to walk into the reception hall alone. Adjusting your appearance in the reflection of the car door, you stutter-stepped in your heels to catch up to the family.
You were excited and nervous to see Bob – reuniting after being apart for the first time put butterflies in your stomach. There was a small reception first, then the ceremony, then another more informal reception – though Bobby said they’d likely head down to a local haunt instead.
There was a large gathering of people in the reception – probably 150-200 people, with a few aviators sprinkled in wearing their white dress uniforms. You felt like you were in for a treat, you’d seen Bobby in his service khakis and some of his more casual pants and Navy tees, but never these get-ups.
You lifted onto your toes, trying to see as much as possible past the crowd in your heels, but you weren’t gifted with height. There was a loud buzz of conversation and for a moment, you felt bad that Bob’s family wasn’t able to join today, but you’d not met them before and it would likely be sensory overload to have a reunion on top of meeting his parents.
“Hi,” your attention was pulled over your shoulder, met with the gaze of another aviator in his formal attire.
“Hi,” you smiled, dragging your attention back to the crowd, searching desperately for your boyfriend.
“I’m Bradley,” he continued. You smiled distractedly, offering your name before turning back to the crowd. “I’m being honored here today,” he continued. “For deeds of valor and bravery,” he added.
“Congratulations, thank you for your service,” you smiled. “Sorry, I’ve got to find someone.”
“Maybe I can help,” Bradley said, taking his hat in his hands, holding in front of him. “Who are you looking for?”
“Robert Floyd,” you said hopefully.
“Bob?” Rooster asked, “I don’t see the resemblance,” he added. “But yeah, I can show you were Bob is.” He shrugged.
You followed at an even clip, keeping up with Bradley’s long strides, hands clasped excitedly in front of you. Over by the organized aisles of chairs, and off to the side by the podium stood your boyfriend, speaking with another aviator, his own hands wringing over themselves.
“Bobby!” You called, immediately gaining his attention. You’d hurried over to Bob, whose smile was taking over his face, heels clicking loudly across the polished concrete floor.
Throwing your arms around his neck, you’d nearly knocked his hat off as he wrapped himself around you as well, hugging you tightly.
“Bob’s sister is smokin’ hot,” Jake Seresin commented to Bradley.
“You’re telling me,” Bradley scoffed. They both watched as you rocked forward on your heels, kissing him soundly.
“Are you fucking kidding me, Baby on Board?” Jake mumbled, looking at Bradley with wide eyes.
“I missed you so much,” you smiled, gently brushing some of your pink gloss off of Bob’s lips with your thumb.
“Missed you more,” Bob insisted. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” you said, leaning up to kiss him once more. “Sorry, I’m getting makeup all over you,” you giggled, to which Bob blushed.
“I don’t mind,” Bob said earnestly. “C’mere, let me introduce you to my friends,” he said, lacing his fingers with yours and leading you back over to Bradley and a few other of the aviators. He introduced you to the group and you squeezed his hand between your bodies, legs crossed over in front of the other as the skirt of your dressed flowed about your knees. “Babe, this is Jake, Bradley, Natasha and Javy.”
“It’s so nice to meet you all,” you smiled, leaning further into Bob’s side, tilting your head toward his shoulder. “Congratulations on your commendation,” you added.
“And so how exactly did you two meet?” Jake asked, finger wagging between you and Bob.
“It’s an embarrassing story,” you blushed, as Bob slid his arm around your waist to the small of your back, squeezing your outside hip. Bradley’s eyebrows shot straight up into his hairline. However, you were saved by the bell as they began wrangling everyone to their seats.
“I’ll see you after,” Bob said, kissing you once more before he was ushered to the front of the hall.
Your eyes were brimming with tears of pride as you watched Bobby receive his award – looking so handsome in his uniform. This separation and trip had been a big milestone for you two, and you didn’t realize how much you’d been holding your breath until you’d seen him again in the flesh.
He already knew he’d be heading back to Key West after he was wrapped up here and you couldn’t wait to have him back in your apartment. You’d taken some days off of work so you could lay about the beach and do absolutely nothing together.
After the fanfare, you were reunited with Bob, who was happy to introduce you around to some of his superiors and other friends from this stint here in San Diego.
“Bob, you need a ride to the Deck?” Bradley asked, glancing between the two of you once again as people started filtering toward the refreshments table. It was clear the pilots didn’t plan to stay at the reception too long.
“He’s got one,” you winked, watching the blush crawl up your boyfriend’s neck. Bradley’s eyes blinked slowly, wondering if for a moment, he had forgotten how the English language worked.
“We’ll see you there,” Bobby nodded, fixing his glasses. Bradley wasn’t quite out of earshot when you turned to Bobby and asked discreetly if he knew a back way out of the hall. Bradley looked around to see if anyone else was seeing what he was.
Bobby led you out of the hall through the side building entrance and the moment the metal door swung shut again, he was on you like he’d been traveling the desert and you were a mirage of water.
“Fuck I missed you so much,” you laughed into his mouth, hands cradling his face against yours.
“I swear I missed you more,” Bob reassured you. “You look so beautiful, even more beautiful than I remembered,” he said sweetly, making you grin like crazy before he could pin you up against the building. “I can’t wait to get you back to the hotel.”
You blinked up at him owlishly, Bob still an inch or two taller with your heels on.
“I can’t wait till we get back tonight,” you said genuinely. Bob’s eyes cut all around and there were too many people milling about. “Let’s go to the car,” you tugged on his hand. He was happy to follow you back to the parking area. You tossed him the keys from your purse in time for Bob to wave at Bradley and Jake who already heading to the bar.
“Feels good to drive,” Bob said with a grin as he pulled out of the parking lot. You’d held his hand in yours. When you’d gotten off of base and headed down the highway along the water, you’d pointed out a scenic diversion that went down toward the ocean off of the road.
“Pull over,” you said, squeezing his hand in yours.
“Here?” Bob asked, Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat.
“Here,” you agreed. He followed instruction and the second he put the car in park, you’d tossed yourself at him in the front seat. “You look so good in your uniform,” you said, kissing him firmly. Your ass sat on the center console, fingers laced behind his head. Bob’s hands slid up your sides, making you squirm. “Bobby, please,” you begged, gasping for air.
“Sweetheart, get in the back seat,” He said, squeezing you gently. You didn’t need to be told twice, crawling into the back as Bob got out of the car before cranking open the rear door. Your feet dangled out of the opening, just above the ground as you reached up to yank Bob down to kiss you again.
“Please Bobby, I’m soaking wet,” you begged, watching the air leave his lungs at your comment. You reached for his belt, shakily unbuckling it and yanking his pants down his thighs.
“Panties,” he mumbled, reaching up your skirt, calloused hands skimming your soft thighs to grip the gossamer pink fabric between your legs, looping them tightly around his wrist like a ponytail holder. “Gimme your ankles,” he commanded, happy to have your shoes over his shoulders as he lined up his cock with your sex, pushing in slowly.
“Jesus fuck,” you cursed, bracing your hands against the driver’s seat and headrest next to your.
Bob let out a strangled gasp, hip shuddering into you.
“You’re so tight,” he huffed, eyes going unfocused for a moment. “Missed this pussy so much,” he added.
“Bobby,” you giggled, turning into a soft groan as he withdrew before pushing in once more. “God I feel like a fucking virgin,” you blushed.
“Baby,” he gasped, clutching your legs to his chest, “Christ it’s good to be home,” he groaned. You reached down, swiping a finger through your wetness before finding your clit, which was begging for attention.
“Bobby, give it to me,” you demanded, circling your clit hastily. “You can fuck me slow tonight, but right now, I need you to make me cum immediately.” Bobby was a man who took direction well, and today was no different. He anchored himself against your legs, pumping into you at even keel with his blunt tip hitting you exactly where it needed to.
“Missed you so much,” he panted. “Feels so good to be inside of you - was thinking about this for almost two months,” he groaned.
“Harder, Bobby, please,” you begged. Bobby complied, giving it as good as he could. He spit down onto his fingers, batting your hand out of the way as he swirled his fingers around your clit, giving it a firm press at the same time he pushed in, bottoming out inside of you. “Right there, don’t stop!” you sighed, hands gripping at the foam seats.
“You gonna cum?” Bob asked, sweat lining his skin beneath his hat.
“Cum inside me,” you all but begged, “please Bobby.”
“I’m gonna cum, baby,” he warned, and he held your clit hostage as his thrusts became erratic, his orgasm shooting off deep inside of you. He thrust gently through his orgasm, a strangled groan climbing from his throat as your sex clamped down on him, your knees shaking against his chest as you let out a loud sob.
As soon as you could remember which way was up again, you grinned blissfully.
“Welcome home.”
Bob leaned against your legs, his arms looped tightly around them as he hugged them to his body.
“Love you,” Bobby smiled back from between your ankles, making you giggle.
“You’re always so cute after you orgasm,” you commented, making him laugh as well, jostling you in all the right ways and making you gasp softly.
“Baby, you’re gonna get cum on your dress,” he commented quietly.
“There’s wet wipes in my purse,” you laughed, covering your face as you could feel his orgasm leaking out. A few minutes later, you were pinned up against the car once again as Bob kissed the breath from your lungs.
“We can skip the bar,” he insisted.
“No, you deserve to celebrate,” you insisted, straightening his collar. “But I am going to wear this hat – and only this hat – later.” You promised.
It was another three miles to the bar and you made Bob do several once-overs of your outfit to make sure you were all put together again before walking in.
“You look like a dream,” he reassured.
“Bob!” Phoenix summoned them to the back of the bar where the drinks were already flowing. His front-seater handed you a drink and you gratefully accepted it, clinking your glass against hers. Jake appeared at Bob’s side, extending another full beer to your boyfriend.
As Bob reached for the glass, his arm stretched, sleeve sliding up and revealing your panties twisted around his wrist to damn near all of his buddies.
“Mighty fine bracelet there, Bobby.”
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boy---interruptedd · 6 months
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Alfred's Playhouse Commentary.
Alfred's playhouse is a vent show I recently discovered made by Emily Youcis. I will be addressing the actual content of the show before I move on to my opinion on Emily herself so please hold fire until the end because I KNOW what you're thinking.
TRIGGER WARNING - CSA, SH, CHILD ABUSE, NAZISM, GRAPHIC IMAGERY.
(Not all these themes are discussed in my post but you should be aware of these before watching the show)
Alfred's Playhouse features main character Alfred, who is a dog described in the introduction song as desperately attempting to escape his painful reality. I agree that it is genuinely disturbing, but I'd like to address its vague poignancy and how it deals with its themes.
In the first episode, we see what I think (as a survivor myself) to be the most accurate representation of how it feels to be sexually assaulted I've ever seen. The moment where everything is odd and numb and quiet followed by pure panic and rage.
The first episode also displays mental instability incredibly well. I've struggled with my mental health for the past six years and honestly the scenes where Alfred just rambles about essentially nothing at all, addressing an imagined audience, accurately represents what feels like the descent into madness many mentally ill people are convinced they go through. The thought that you've lost your mind is an extremely painful one and Alfred's Playhouse depicts that with surprising levels of accuracy.
Episode two, however, is essentially just this massive showcase of Alfred brutally harming himself. Though it portrays the very common desperate desire for attention many people experience when they struggle with self harm, myself included, I feel the level of gore is a little gratuitous, displaying Alfred almost bleeding to death from the wounds he's inflicted upon himself. That being said, it is a vent show so I see why Youcis made the decision. She never really made it for other people it was a way to make herself feel better. Then again, it was her decision to post it publicly.
Episode three essentially explains the whole show from a weirder perspective and honestly I don't want to go into it since I have so much to say and it's quarter past 11 at night and I have college tomorrow, but it is a good episode with the context of the show.
Overall, though it is important for assault victims and mentally ill people to have content in which they feel seen, I feel Youcis should have toned her work down a little before posting it. However, the Internet was a wild west in 2007.
Now onto Youcis herself, I feel it is incredibly unjustified to attribute her current political views to the show. She fell down the alt-right pipeline after publishing Alfred's Playhouse. This is almost definitely because of her downward spiral. It's not uncommon for groups like the alt-right to target vulnerable people like Emily. She has so clearly been crying for help for years and, though there's no excuse for her words or actions, I feel you should take her art for what it is rather than apply a made up meaning to it. The depictions of Nazis in the show - I think - are more a commentary on her childhood trauma and the themes of the show, Alfred feeling his life is dictated by someone/something else. While there's definitely better content in the genre and in general, the massive controversy surrounding Alfred's Playhouse is - in my opinion - unwarranted and really just watch it with an open mind and separate it from current Emily because she wasn't like she is now when she made it. Instead of hating on the present, understand the past and don't be overly shocked when mentally ill people do fucked up shit, especially when they've received the kind of backlash Emily Youcis faced.
Final disclaimer- I don't support her actions I hope she burns I just want people to understand things how they actually happened yk?
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angelicsjn · 1 year
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Who’s more likely to kidnap their darling?
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YOUR FIVE YANDERES.
— MOST
Jae Lee.
He is the most possessive and obsessive one. He can't stand the thought of you even looking at another, never mind speaking and liking another. It drives him wild.
He'd most likely be planning a way to kidnap you the day he sees you anyway. It doesn't take him long at all.
He tames himself at first until he cracks. He will try and slowly make you dependant on him, just as completely obsessed with him as he is with you. If that doesn't work .... his original wish would have to come true.... He just wants you to himself forever. You can't hate him for that.
He is the one yandere out the five that actually wants to kidnap you.
Kaidan Wolfe.
Kaidan is completely and utterly delusional.
He justifies his behaviour by saying it's for your safety. He's worried the world will take you from him. He just wants you safe with him. He's the only one who can provide safety for you, clearly. He knows you best. He knows what you need, nobody else. Anyone else who says otherwise is a threat!
Unlike Jae, he doesn't believe he's doing it for selfish purposes. He truly believes kidnapping you is the only way of keeping you safe. So he wouldn't think or plan of kidnapping you at first. Not until something ticks his brain off about you and your safety, and this could have been something completely unrelated to you or him.
Even though he's not the most eager to kidnap, he's still second place because it wouldn't take him long to 'worry' about you and make the decision.
Hayden West.
Hayden is less wanting of it. From here on in the list, it's an 'If I must'. Hayden just wants you to be happy, that's all. He wants to have the normal romance people see in movies and books. Cute dates, holding hands in public, the lot.
But if he feels like your relationship and bond is being threatened, he'll do what he must to keep you. Even if that involves kidnapping you. If you tried to end it, he'd be wrecked. He'd beg you non-stop for you to stay.
If you're adamant he has no choice! He needs you and he won't give up. Poor boy believes that one day you'd love him again or the threat is over, so he'd let you back to your normal life.
He doesn't realise that being kidnapped isn't exactly... a good thing. He thinks your love is unconditional and that it'll be okay, that was just a phase you both needed to make the relationship stronger!
Roman Beauregard.
He doesn't want to do it. He's a busy man. He can't even have a pet because of his schedule, never mind a whole human to keep away from the world. To look after. So if he has to, he will. But he'd rather not. Roman is more of a strict person, with everyone in his life, especially you and himself.
At first, he'd isolate you for days, you've pissed him off? You'll have to be attached to him, at all times until he feels like you're better. Then it turns to weeks, you'll complain about missing your family and friends, which will add another three days. He'd treat you like a child that's been grounded.
The more disobey, the more you go against him, the worse it'll become. It all starts off small so you barely even realise what he's doing, but he's aware it. In fact he enjoys doing it, at first it's tedious, but then he gets a rush from it. Keeping you away from the world because you've been bad. He loves the power. He doesn't ever plan on fully kidnapping you, trapping you away.
He'd prefer to just keep you at his side always. If he moved, you moved with him. He'd only properly lock you away from the entire world if he had to. If you pushed him that far. If you began to make it known he was isolating you, if you embarrassed him and his image. So all in all, does he want to kidnap you? Not at all. Its a last resort. He'd rather isolate you until your focus is solely on him. But if he had to, he would.
Laten Reed.
The reason why Laten is least likely is because of his happy-go-lucky view on life. He doesn't believe he would ever need to kidnap you, you'd be a happy couple, madly in love with each other. Why would he need to kidnap you? Couldn't that possibly ruin your relationship?
He knows he can protect you, people are usually scared of him due to his size and strength. They all respect him too. If he were ever to kidnap you, wouldn't you then also be scared of him? He doesn't want you to be scared of him. And why would he need to kidnap you if you love him? You'd willingly stay with him anyway, so why would he need to go the extremes?
It would take a lot to make him go that far, and I mean A LOT. Much like Roman, he'd need a valid reason, and a lot of reasoning too, but unlike Roman he doesn't enjoy the power of controlling you, he doesn't want to isolate you from those you love, because if you love them, so does he.
Laten would only kidnap you if he grew comfortable. If someone or something really hurt you, he'd look after you. Keep you with him, he wouldn't want you out of his sight and even though this is much like Roman, its for a different cause. He's just being a good boyfriend, until it gets out of hand. He wants you. With him. All. The. Time. He grows comfortable with your presence, he loves it and he wants more. He needs it.
If you were to continuously push him away, he'd see no other choice but to force you to stay with him, forever.
— LEAST
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demigod-of-the-agni · 1 month
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Spider-Man India, but... where from India?
A SUPER long post featuring talks of: cultural identity, characterisation, the caste system, and what makes Spider-Man Spider-Man.
I’m prefacing this by saying that I am a second-generation immigrant. I was born in Australia, but my cultural background is from South India. My experiences with what it means to be “Indian” is going to be very different from the experiences of those who are born and brought up in India.
If you, reader, want to add anything, please reblog and add your thoughts. This is meant to be a post open for discussion — the more interaction we get, the better we become aware of these nuances.
So I made this poll asking folks to pick a region of India where I would draw Pavitr Prabhakar in their cultural wear. This idea had been on my mind for a long while now, as I had been inspired by Annie Hazarika’s Northeastern Spidey artwork in the wake of ATSV’s release, but never got the time to actually do it until now. I wanted to get a little interactive and made the poll so I could have people choose which of the different regions — North, Northeast, Central, East, West, South — to do first.
The outcome was not what I expected. As you can see, out of 83 votes:
THE RESULTS
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South India takes up almost half of all votes (44.6%), followed by Northeast and Central (both 14.5%) and then East (13.3%). In all my life growing up, support towards or even just the awareness of South India was pretty low. Despite this being a very contained poll, why would nearly half of all voters pick South India in favour of other popular choices like Central or North India?
Then I thought about the layout of the poll: Title, Options, Context.
Title: "Tell us who you want to see…"
Options: North, Northeast, Central, East, West, South
Context: I want to make art of the boy again
At first I thought: ah geez. this is my fault. I didn't make the poll clear enough. do they think I want them to figure out where Pavitr came from? That's not what I wanted, maybe I should have added the context before the options.
Then I thought: ah geez. is it my fault for people not reading the entire damn thing before clicking a button? That's pretty stupid.
But regardless, the thought did prompt a line of thinking I know many of us desi folk have been considering since Spider-Man India was first conceived — or, at least, since the announcement that he was going to appear in ATSV. Hell, even I thought of it:
Where did Spider-Man India come from?
FROM A CULTURALLY DIVERSE INDIA
As we know, India is so culturally diverse, and no doubt ATSV creators had to take that into account. Because the ORIGINAL Spider-Man India came from Mumbai — most likely because Mumbai and Manhattan both started with the same letter.
But going beyond that, it’s also because Mumbai is one of the most recognisable cities in India - it’s also known as Bombay. It’s where Bollywood films are shot. It’s where superstar Hindi actors and actresses show up. Mumbai is synonymous with India in that regard, because the easiest way Western countries can interact with Indian culture is through BOLLYWOOD, through HINDI FILMS, through MUMBAI. Suddenly, India is Mumbai, India is a Hindi-only country, India is just this isolated thing we see through an infinitely narrow lens.
We’ve gotten a little better in recent years, but boy I will tell you how uncomfortable I’ve gotten when people (yes, even desi people) come up to me and tell me, Oh, you’re Indian right? Can you speak Hindi? Why don’t you speak Hindi? You’re not Indian if you don’t speak Hindi, that’s India’s national language!
I have been — still am — so afraid of telling people that I don’t speak Hindi, that I’m Tamil, that I don’t care that Hindi is India’s “national” language (it’s an administrative language, Kavin, get your fucking facts right). It’s weird, it’s isolating, and it has made me feel like I wasn’t “Indian” enough to be accepted into the group of “Indian” people.
So I am thankful that ATSV went out of their way to integrate as much variety of Indian culture into the Mumbattan sequence. Maybe that way, the younger generation of desi folk won’t feel so isolated, and that younger Western people will be more open to learning about all these cultural differences within such a vast country.
BUT WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH SPIDER-MAN INDIA?
Everything, actually. There’s a thing called supremacy. You might have heard of it. We all engaged with it at some point, and if you are Indian, no matter where you live, it is inescapable.
It happens the moment you are born — who your family is, where you are born, the language you speak, the colour of your skin; these will be bound to you for life, and it is nigh impossible to break down the stereotypes associated with them.
Certain ethnic groups will be more favourable than others (Centrals, and thus their cultures, will always be favoured over than Souths, as an example) and the same can be said for social groups (Brahmins are more likely to secure influential roles in politics or other areas like priesthood, while the lowers castes, especially Dalits, aren’t even given the decency of respect). Don’t even get me started on colourism, where obviously those of fairer skin will win the lottery while those of darker skin aren’t given the time of day. It’s even worse when morality ties into it — “lighter skinned Indians, like Brahmins, embody good qualities like justice and wisdom”, “dark skinned Indians are cunning and poor, they are untrustworthy”. It’s fucking nuts.
This means, of course, you have a billion people trying to make themselves heard in a system that tries to crush everyone who is not privileged. It only makes sense that people want to elevate themselves and break free from a society that refuses to acknowledge them. These frustrations manifest outwardly, like in protests, but other times — most times — it goes unheard, quietly shaping your way of life, your way of thinking. It becomes a fundamental part of you, and it can go unacknowledged for generations.
So when you have a character like Pavitr Prabhakar enter the scene, people immediately latch onto him and start asking questions many Western audiences don’t even consider. Who is he? What food does he eat? What does he do on Fridays? What’s his family like, his community? All these questions pop up, because, amidst all this turmoil going on in the background, you want a mainstream popular character to be like you, who knows your way of life so intimately, that he may as well be a part of your community.
BUT THAT'S THE THING — HE'S FICTIONAL
I am guilty of this. In fact, I’ve flaunted in numerous posts how I think he’s the perfect Tamil boy, how he dances bharatanatyam, how he does all these Tamil things that no one will understand except myself. All these niche things that only I, and maybe a few others, will understand.
I’ve seen other people do it, too. I’ve seen people geek out over his dark brown skin, his kalari dhoti, how he fights so effortlessly in the kalaripayattu martial arts style. I’ve seen people write him as Malayali, as Hindi, as every kind of Indian person imaginable.
I’ve also seen him be written where he’s subjected to typical Indian and broader Asian stereotypes. You know the ones I’m so fond of calling out. The thing is, I’ve seen so much of Pavitr being presented in so many different ways, and I worry how the rest of the desi folk will take it. 
You finally have a character who could be you, but now he’s someone else’s plaything. Your entire life is shaped by what you can and can’t do simply because you were born to an Indian family, and here’s the one person who could represent you now at the mercy of someone else’s whims. He’s off living a life that is so distant from yours, you can hardly recognise him.
It shouldn’t hurt as much as it does, yeah? But, again, you’re looking at it from that infinitely narrow lens Westerners use to look at India from Bollywood.
AND PAVITR PRABHAKAR DOESN'T LIVE IN INDIA
He lives in Mumbattan. He lives in a made-up, fictional world that doesn’t follow the way of life of our world. He lives in a city where Mumbai and Manhattan got fucking squashed together. There are so many memes about colonialism right there. Mumbattan isn’t real! Spider-Man India isn’t real!! He’s just a dude!! The logic of our world doesn’t apply to him!!!
“But his surname originates from ______” okay but does that matter?
“But he’s wearing a kalari dhoti so surely he’s ______” okay but does that matter?
“But his skin colour is darker so he must be ______” okay but does that matter?
“But he lives in Mumbai so he must be ______” okay but does that matter?
I sound insensitive and brash and annoying and it looks like I’m yapping just for the sake of riling you up, so direct that little burst of anger you got there at me, and keep reading.
Listen. I’m going to ask you a question that I’ve asked myself a million times over. I want you to answer honestly. I want you to ask this question to yourself and answer honestly:
Are you trying to convince me on who Pavitr Prabhakar should be?
... but why shouldn't i?
I’ll tell you this again — I did the same thing. You’re not at fault for this, but I want you to just...have a little think over. Just a little moment of self-reflection, to think about why you are so intent on boxing this guy.
It took me a while to reorganise my thinking and how to best approach a character like Pavitr, so I will give you all the time you need as well as a little springboard to focus your thoughts on.
SPIDER-MAN (INDIA) IS JUST A MASK
“What I like about the costume is that anybody reading Spider-Man in any part of the world can imagine that they themselves are under the costume. And that’s a good thing.”
Stan Lee said that. Remember how he was so intent on making sure that everybody got the idea that Spider-Man as an entity is fundamentally broken without Peter Parker there to put on the suit and save the day? That ultimately it was the person beneath the mask, no matter who they were, that mattered most?
Spider-Man India is no less different. You can argue with me that Peter Parker!Spidey is supposed to represent working class struggles in the face of leering corporate entities who endanger the regular folk like us, and so Pavitr Prabhakar should also function the same way. Pavitr should also be a working class guy of this specific social standing fighting people of this other social standing.
But that takes away the authenticity of Spider-Man India. Looking at him through the Peter Parker lens forces you to look at him through the Western lens, and it significantly lessens what you can do with the character — suddenly, it’s a fight to be heard, to be seen, to be recognised. It’s yelling over each other that Pavitr Prabhakar is this ethnicity, is that caste, this or that, this or that, this or that.
There’s a reason why he’s called Spider-Man India, infuriatingly vague as it is. And that’s the point — the vagueness of his identity fulfils Lee’s purpose for a character that could theoretically be embodied by anyone. If he had been called “Spider-Man Mumbai”, you cut out a majority of the population (and in capitalist terms, you cut out a good chunk of the market).
And in the case of Spider-Man India? Whew — you’ve got about a billion people imagining a billion different versions of him.
Whoever you are, whatever you see in Pavitr, that is what is personal to you, and there is nothing wrong with that, and I will not fault you for it. I will not fault you for saying Pavitr is from Central due to the origins of his last name. I also will not fault you for saying Pavitr is from South due to him practising kalaripayattu. I also will not fault you for saying he is not Hindu. I also will not fault you for saying he is a particular ethnicity without any proof.
What I will fault you for is trying to convince me and the others around you that Pavitr Prabhakar should be this particular ethnicity/have this cultural background because of some specific reason. I literally don’t care and it is fundamentally going against his character, going against the “anyone can wear the mask” sentiment of Spider-Man. By doing this, you are strengthening the walls that first divided us. You’re feeding the stratification and segmentation of our cultures — something that is actually not present in the fictional world of Mumbattan.
Like I said before: Mumbattan isn’t real, so the divides between ethnicities and cultural backgrounds are practically nonexistent. The best thing is that it is visually there for all to see. My favourite piece of evidence is this:
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It’s a marquee for a cinema in the Mumbattan sequence, in the “Quick tour: this is where the traffic is” section. It has four titles; the first three are written in Hindi. The fourth title is written in Tamil. You go to Mumbai and you won’t see a single shred of Tamil there, much less any other South Indian language. Seeing this for the first time, you know what went through my head?
Wow, the numerous cultures of India are so intermingled here in Mumbattan! Everyone and everything is welcome!
I was happy, not just because of Tamil representation, but because of the fact that the plethora of Indian cultures are showcased coexisting in such a short sequence. This is India embracing all the little parts that make up its grander identity. This scene literally opened my eyes seeing such beauty in all the diverse cultures thriving together. In a place where language and cultural backgrounds blend so easily, each one complementing one another.
It is so easy to believe that, from this colourful palette of a setting, Pavitr Prabhakar truly is Spider-Man India, no matter where he comes from.
It’s easy to believe that Pavitr can come from any part of India, and I won’t call you out if the origin you have for him is different from the origin I have. You don’t need to stake out territory and stand your ground — you’re entitled to that opinion, and I respect it. In fact, I encourage it!!!
Because there’s only so much you can show in a ten minute segment of a film about a country that has such a vast history and even greater number of cultures. I want to see all of it — I want him to be a Malayali boy, a Hindi boy, a Bengali boy, a Telugu boy, an Urdu boy, whatever!! I want you to write him or draw him immersed in your culture, so that I can see the beauty of your background, the wonderful little things that make your culture unique and different from mine!
And, as many friends have said, it’s so common for Indian folks to be migrating around within our own country. A person with a Maharashtrian surname might end up living in Punjab, and no one really minds that. I’m actually from Karnataka, my family speaks Kannada, but somewhere down the line my ancestors moved to Tamil Nadu and settled down and lived very fulfilling lives. So I don’t actually have the “pure Tamil” upbringing, contrary to popular belief; I’ve gotten a mix of both Kannada and Tamil lifestyles, and it’s made my life that much richer. 
So it’s common for people to “not” look like their surname, if that’s what you’re really afraid about. In fact, it just adds to that layer of nuance, that even despite these rigid identities between ethnicities we as Indian people still intermingle with one another, bringing slivers of our cultures to share with others. Pavitr could just as well have been born in one state and moved around the country, and he happens to live in Mumbattan now. It’s entirely possible and there’s nothing to disprove that.
We don’t need to clamber over one another declaring that only one ethnicity is the “right” ethnicity, because, again, you will be looking at Pavitr and the rest of India in that narrow Western lens — a country with such rich cultural variety reduced to a homogenous restrictive way of life.
THE POLL: REINTERPRETED
This whole thing started because I was wondering why my little poll was so skewed — I thought people assumed I was asking them where he came from, then paired his physical appearance with the most logical options available. I thought it was my fault, that I had somehow influenced this outcome without knowing.
Truth is, I will never really know. But I will be thankful for it, because it gave me the opportunity to finally broach this topic, something that many of us desi folk are hesitant to talk about. I hope you have learned something from this, whether you are desi or a casual Spider-Man fan or someone who just so happened to stumble upon this. 
So just…be a little more open. Recognise that India, like many many countries and nations, is made up of a plethora of smaller cultures. And remember, if you’re trying to convince Pavitr that he’s a particular ethnicity, he’s going to wave his hand at you and say, “Ha, me? No, I’m one of the people that live here in the best Indian city! I’m Spider-Man India, dost!”
(Regardless, he still considers you a friend, because to him, the people matter more to him than you trying to box him into something he’s not.)
#long post + more tags that kinda spiral away BUT expand on the points above AND kinda puts everything together concisely#BROS THIS IS AN HONEST TO GOD ESSAY#THAT HAS BEEN COOKING IN MY HEART FOR A WHILE NOW. SIMMERING FOR MONTHS BEFORE FINALLY BOILING OVER IN THE LAST WEEK#genuinely hope you read MOST of it because yes it has Quite A Lot Of Exposition but it all matters nonetheless#put in a lot of thought into this so i expect you to do your part and challenge your thoughts as well#you see how i'm not asking for you to listen to me. but to actually Think. i want you to cook your thoughts and add some spice and flavour#and give it a good mix so you can come out of this a little more wiser than before#because!!! yeah!!!! spider man india is just that!! he's indian!!!!! we don't need to collectively agree on where he comes from#bc it gets rid of that relatability factor of spider man. at the most basic level#think of it as a schrodinger's. he is every single culture and none of them at the same time. therefore none of us are wrong!! sick!!!!#pavitr's first priority is making sure HIS PEOPLE are safe. that's probably as far as we can go that relates him back to peter parker spide#he loves his people and working in the name of justice to FIGHT for HIS PEOPLE is just the duty/responsibility he takes up#it makes sense that he loves everyone and every culture he engages with bc that's the nature of spider man i suppose#if peter parker spidey acts as the guardian for the regular folk.. then in my mind pavitr spidey stands as the bridge uniting the people#because society as its core is very fragmented. and having pavitr act as a connection to other folks.... mmmmm beautiful#that's what i'm talking abouttttt !!!#anyways guys this is literally 3001 words on my document EXCLUDING THE TITLE. THAT'S 7 PAGES AT 11pt FONT. i'm literally cryingggg wtf#pavitr prabhakar#spider man#spider man india#desi#desiblr#atsv#across the spiderverse#atsv pavitr#indian culture#india#desi tumblr#what the fuck do i tag this as#agnirambles
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yakourinka · 2 years
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(late post-guide ahead musings, kind of a long rambly post, part 1?)
I feel like Laterano being peaceful and its residents' wacky wild wild west uwu antics has caused some people to miss just how fucked up Laterano actually is - it's the most fucked up place on Terra in my opinion.
There are the more obvious reasons: racial supremacy that is implicit in their religion, "lesser" races practically serving as adoring errand people and soldiers for the Sankta:
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What I can only call as racial segregation: Shit Sucks Everywhere At All Times for the Sarkaz but this is (to the best of my knowledge) the first time we've seen a government officer/cop go I SPOTTED A SARKAZ, GIT'ER at a person who, as far as they know, is a street peddler.
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Also they hunt Sarkaz in the wild for sport apparently. (I'm aware that the Sarkaz also fight them, but you'll notice that Sarkaz are in a lot more disadvantageous situation than the Laterans.)
KFC Pope also brushes upon this with the fire analogy in the last chapter (if you give out too much of Laterano's light the place will burn out etc.), but Laterano refuses to share its resources with other nations (despite, hilariously, trying to pull a United Nations shit on their land) because:
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(This is also Andoain's Joker moment.) Now consider that they have the resources to waste to the point that you can blow shit up everywhere provided you fill the paperwork and it will get fixed, and the entire city constantly smells of sugar and vanilla.
Putting all of this against the background of Shit Fucked Everywhere that is Terra and you get what is essentially a resource-hoarding ethnostate full of nice, wacky people.
It's also no coincidence that there's a noticeable emphasis on sweets - you might remember a similar thing from Dossoles (and other real world examples cough South America) with coffee and sugar: 1) it's a luxury 2) it keeps people happy and content and wanting more. Which brings me to the next point: The emotion sharing thing.
Everything about Laterano is socially engineered in a way to keep its people content in this proverbial cage. The people here can't even tell when they're in danger, which is simultaneously funny and fucked up:
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See, you live in the Saved Land. Your feelings are not private because you're all hooked up on the Holy Hivemind. You feel rather encouraged to keep feeling content and happy and not think too much because your distress will be detected and shared by other people. You are now an anomaly. Ezell returning home after letting Cecelia go is some twilight zone shit because he's seen some fucked up stuff, is confused and in distress and everyone he meets on his way home is like hey man why don't you have a little snack and relax? why don't you have some cake and coffee my guy ha ha? And he has no way of processing his own mental state or articulating himself to anyone, despite the hivemind.
(completely my personal opinion here but I ended up liking Fia and Mos substantially less after the event because Laterano and its weird as fuck extreme collectivism are uncomfortably fucked up to me. like I respect a single-minded to the point of idiocy, rage-filled woman usually, like them even, but Laterano's just way too fucking weird and Fiametta being like yeah so what bitch? to everything Patia and Andoain was saying was, while funny, also unlikable. also Mostima is drinking buddies with the Pope! what the fuck)
I've seen some more positive/funny interpretations of It, the god in the Papal Basement, but what with the hivemind thing I can't help but think of the only other case of hivemind+singular god in Arknights, the Seaborn. Why did It let the incident between Mostima, Lemuen and Andoain happen, but swiftly cancelled the "shoot someone else and you're out" rule the moment Andoain and KFC Pope were shooting at each other? Is it because Andoain is/was essentially a cultish missionary spreading Its word, and the Pope is kinda essential to keeping Laterano stable? Assimilation by consumption versus assimilation by faith?
There's probably a lot more shit you can say about Laterano, like Adnachiel being ostracized because his halo is kinda not straight, what about the infected Sankta, etc., but I'll stop. Laterano's fucked up, man.
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Do you want to elaborate about the alice postpartum post 👉👈
Yeah actually. I kinda do!
[cw: mental health issues, emotional abuse, some gaslighting, implied reproductive coercion. Probably some other stuff.]
So. Alice spends most of Shaun's baby-hood feeling like he's Not Real, though she's not really able to articulate what exactly she means by that, as well being kind of generally aware that it's not true, despite the fact that it feels really really true. That's not a real baby, and if it is a real baby it's definitely not her baby. Which she knows isn't rational but can't quite shake.
She also off-and-on feels like she's Not Real, other people Aren't Real, the world isn't Real, etc. which she was already having a problem with during the pregnancy but it got worse after the birth. Lots of depersonalization/derealization issues. Some of it is definitely the hormones but the emotional manipulator husband who Gently Encouraged her to keep a baby she wasn't 100% sure about (among other things) definitely also contributed.
The pregnancy went very well physically though, despite her emotional/mental issues. And the fact that Nate keeps using the term "easy pregnancy" (we're so lucky!) is slowly turning her evil.
She also gets increasingly paranoid about Codsworth the longer he's in the house. Really convinced that he's Up To Something and either talking to the police about her or spying on her for Nate, who she thinks might have bought him for specifically that reason (it's unclear how plausible this actually is).
Paranoid in general also, after the birth. Like, is worried that the neighbors Know Things about her, that the police are coming any minute, that sort of thing. And unfortunately a lot of her paranoia isn't fully without basis. She & Nate are very much living under stolen identities because they have warrants out. And Nate is kind of getting too into/overselling his whole "I'm a veteran" thing (he's not, to be clear) and there's genuine reason to worry that he might get cocky and blow their cover. So this is the stuff that's hardest for her to manage while she's trying to get her stuff together enough to get out.
(If I never mentioned this, part of her whole deal is that the day the bombs dropped was also the day she was planning on leaving him and starting over on the west coast. Like she had this whole thing worked out where she was going to slip out while he was giving his little speech at the Veterans Hall (which again, insane & ill-advised thing to do given that he's not actually a veteran and living under a stolen identity, but we don't need to go into all that rn) and get in her car and just start driving. Shaun was not actually part of this plan until like two days before, when she decided that it felt morally weird to her to abandon a baby even if it still didn't really feel like Her Baby.)
(The paranoia actually ends up fucking this plan up for her. She freaks herself out and tries to leave early because she thinks Nate's onto her (he isn't) and then he catches her packing a bag and finally figures out what's going on. They're actively fighting in the nursery and he's trying to prevent her from leaving when the news alert comes on about the bombs. In a weird irony, the war starting when it did was kind of lucky for her, because we were hitting "this is about to escalate, worried neighbors are calling 911" around that point and I'm not really sure what would've happened otherwise.)
Also, on the subject of Nate, she does start to think about killing him a lot. Which, to be fair, she also thinks about when she's more lucid (normal side effect of Nate exposure imo) but for a while there it definitely falls more on the "violent intrusive thoughts/violent impulses" end of the scale than the "morally bad but rational murder fantasy" one. This is actually what spurs her into working on an exit plan, it was either leaving or murder, and one of those is slightly easier to get away with.
She's doing a lot better during the main part of fo4, which is nice. But the fact that she was unwell & not really able to bond with Shaun when he was a baby really contributes to a lot of how she handles the main plotline. She doesn't feel as strongly about what happened as she thinks* she should, and she's not really sure what to do about that. Lying about how much she misses her baby feels wrong, but being honest feels a lot worse.
*thinks that other people think?
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versegm · 9 months
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Against my will I keep getting new followers so I suppose I should make a comprehensive post on what's this fgo thing I keep posting about.
What is FGO?
FGO (short for Fate/Grand Order) is a mobile gacha game set in the Fate serie.
What is the Fate serie?
A serie of mostly unrelated games, novels, animes ect where the very simplified premise is thus: what if you could summon various historical/mythological figures to beat the fuck out of each other?
You might also know it as the "people die when they are killed" serie, or the serie with this blonde anime chick that is fucking everywhere since 2008.
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Oh ok cool. Should I get into it?
Depends on your tastes. Are you looking for a shounen serie with big flashy battles? Then probably not. Are you looking for a serie with a huge emphasis on themes & symbolisms and the nature of humanity and all that? Then hell yeah brother get the fuck in.
Ok I looked it up and it sounds complicated af, where's the entry point?
Personally I will rec you the first entry of the serie, the visual novel Fate/Stay Night, as it is the one that presents the worldbuilding and core concepts in the most comprehensive ways. It's unlicensed in the west so you will have to pirate it, but worry not here's a comprehensive post as to how to do that. There's also an online version of the ps2 remake if you prefer that one.
I'm told the Unlimited Blade Works anime is a good introduction too if you're looking for something less lengthy to see if you're into the whole thing or not, but I didn't watch it myself so I can't say much about it. Just know that if you're an anime watcher this is the one you should look for.
I wanna check out the FGO thing you keep blogging about tho!
FGO was my entry point into the fate serie, so while it's not exactly ideal I can vouch that it still does a very good job at presenting the important worldbuilding concepts and such. Just be aware that 1) it's a game that references other entries a LOT, so sometimes they'll just kinda go "here's blorbo, we're not gonna elaborate on that, just accept them and move on" and 2) it's a gacha. If you're willing to give it a try though, I really do recommend it, it's a game that made me cry actual tears.
Alternatively, if you're interested but don't want to deal with all the gameplay, you can look up the cutscenes on youtube, or check out this website which has all the transcripts of the game.
Anyways. Have fun!
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bearofohu · 5 months
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since level-5’s localization branch closed down a couple of years ago, im honestly wondering how this will affect the english release of nwos
dont get me wrong im not at all concerned for its existence—its going to exist most definitely. not only is nwos included in christopher robin miller’s business website (he lists 8 games hes worked on, when his voice only appears in seven), but nobody is more aware of layton’s incredible popularity in the west than level-5 themselves. professor layton was inspired by the west, after all. it would be franchise suicide to not localize it and that’s the last thing l5 is trying to do after making a reboot so crappy that it nearly bankrupted the franchise
but since there’s no localization branch anymore, it’s likely level-5 is for the first time ever outsourcing their projects’ localization, and that’s what kinda concerns me. the reason a lot of anime and games have shitty dubs is bc they get outscored to companies that can’t be fuckin asked (funimation is a good example)
localization divisions of game companies specifically can be shit too (treehouse is a good example) but level-5’s branch always made a genuine effort to produce good dubs. thats why all of their voice actors fit the setting; they're all bri'ish, and most of if not all of them did genuinely good jobs (im not tolerating slander against lani she did her best. i blame whoever casted her she was not designed to be voicing a 11 yr old cockney child)
and that's why it worries me to see nwos be outsourced - we have no way of knowing how the dub quality will change. obviously christopher robin miller is not going to stop voicing layton, we're not going to get any kind of chris pratt mario shit bc hino is not a backstabber
but what DOES worry me is the possibility of nwos getting outsourced to one one of those companies that dont give a shit. i should note that the the likelihood of this isnt very big just given how aware level-5 is of layton's prevalence in the west. layton is not like most anime/anime games, its not going to have its dub be unceremoniously flung to some low-effort team to hire the same non-union white man you recognize in every fire emblem game
but still, just because its unlikely doesnt mean its completely impossible. in the second l5 vision hino mentioned that inazuma eleven's next game is getting internationally released, which means the same is almost certainly happening to nwos (the fact this is happening is actually kind of huge - every other layton game before this has had to wait up to a year after the game releases in JP for the localization)
as much as it pains me to give any non-hershel level 5 game anything but my cold and dismissive scorn, i will be checking out inazuma eleven victory road's english version when the game releases in 2024 (its not guarenteed that victory road and nwos will be outsourced to the same people btw, but that kind of thing is common)
and unless victory road's localization ends up sucking some seriously crinkly ass, i dont think we have anything to worry about
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