So in the past few years I’ve seen so many videos / posts that are like:

“Actually wolves don’t have hierarchies!  They live in family groups where the ‘alphas’ are mom and dad and the other wolves are their CHILDREN and offer their respect willingly! :D”

and I just have to say

how dare you try to make normative nuclear families out of wolves

Yes, a lot of the old “nature red in tooth and claw” stuff about wolves is nonsense. (Like anything from Jack London.) And anything ‘alpha’ you see sleazy men trying to relate to dating (yikes!) is especially nonsense.

But wolves are complex social creatures and they create complex social structures. Just as you can’t say “THIS is the way human society is structured. Just THIS single way and no other”, so too there is no single form for a wolf pack.  

Some packs are a mom wolf and a dad wolf and their wolf children.  Others are two small ragged packs that combine to form a large pack.  Others are packs where a lone wolf joins and eventually becomes a leader. Others are packs where a grown child-wolf has pushed their parent out of the leadership role.

Speaking of the latter, let’s look at the tale of Wolf 40 and Wolf 42.

Wolf 40, Wolf 41, and Wolf 42 were wild Yellowstone wolves, daughters of the alphas. Their father was illegally killed by hunters and shortly after ambitious Wolf 40 ousted her mother, driving her out of the pack.  Wolf 21 became the new alpha male, and 40′s mate.

Wolves have personalities, and Wolf 40′s personality was “volatile”.  Imagine Scar from The Lion King combined with the boss from Office Space, and you have Wolf 40.  She habitually bullied the other female wolves, attacking them until they expressed abject submission.  And the wolves that got the worst of it were her sisters, Wolves 41 and 42.

Wolf 41 got tired of the bullying and left.  Wolf 42 remained, perhaps because she was close to Wolf 21, the alpha male.  Despite that, Wolf 21 did not interfere when his mate harassed Wolf 42.

Unlike 40, Wolf 42 got along well with the other female wolves, spending time grooming them and relaxing with them. Wolf 40 could have followed her sister’s example and built up positive social bonds. But she didn’t.

One day, Wolf 40 went out on an important task.  She was going to kill another litter of her sister’s pups–having done the same in two previous years.  This isn’t uncommon wolf behavior (but is not universal, as we will see.)  Typically only the alphas breed.

However, Wolf 40 never returned from her important task because Wolf 42–who previously had submitted to her alpha and sister, who had allowed the killing of two previous litters of pups–had had enough.  She fought back.

And the other female wolves jumped to aid her.

Collectively, they killed Wolf 40. Because “alpha” isn’t a magic cloak of protection, it doesn’t even mean “strongest wolf”, it’s just a job title.

The next day Wolf 42 carried her pups, one by one, to her sister’s den.  She set her children among the pups of her dead sister and raised both litters together. And when another wolf in the pack had pups, Wolf 42 carried them to the den to be communally raised as well.  She was the alpha female now and she made the rules, and the first rule was “we don’t hurt pups here.”

As for Wolf 21, he became the mate of Wolf 42.  Maybe he understood that Wolf 40 had been riding for a fall. 

As alpha female, Wolf 42 continued to be supportive and kind towards the other pack members.  Wolves who had been nervous wrecks under Wolf 40 began to relax and come into their own; one of the former omega wolves gained self-confidence and became one of the best hunters.

“Alpha”, for wolves, just means leader.  They might be good leaders, whom you respect, or they might be bad leaders, who fill you with dread.  They might be your parents, or they might not.  Even if they are your mother or father, wolves don’t contextualize those relationships the same way humans do.

But one thing wolves have in common with humans is that they have individual personalities and experiences, and their actions derive from those.  There is no “typical wolf pack.” And I think that’s beautiful.

If you want to learn more about wild wolf dynamics, I recommend reading the annual Yellowstone Wolf Project Reports.  Which are FASCINATING.  There are also some good wildlife specials out there.

Wolves are my favorite animal. <3  It pains me to see them misunderstood as crazed bloodthirsty brutes, but it also pains me to see them woobified.  They deserve better than that.

Things I liked about The Hunger Games: its simplicity, its practicality, the way it seems to ignore the hype surrounding it, Katniss’ survival instincts, her hunting skills and dry sense of humor, the pacing, the economy with words, the flashes of beauty, the love story, PEETA, the emphasis on sisterly love, Katniss’ continued efforts to hold on to pieces of her humanity in spite of everything

Things I didn’t like about the Hunger Games: the way every chapter ended on a Bombshell.

Once in a while it’s okay but after a couple of times it just feels cheap and, frankly, it’s lazy writing. Have some faith in your writing. Trust that your readers won’t desert you just because you actually conclude a chapter neatly and wrap up all your ends.

Now you’ve made me curious about this book’s structure. How does each chapter end?

For the purposes of analysis, I’m going to differentiate between several different types of chapter resolutions:

Bombshell: A surprising, shocking event occurs that is outside Katniss’ control. It changes the situation or alters Katniss’ understanding of it in a dramatic way, and we want to turn the page to see Katniss’ reaction. Usually more about the emotional impact.

Cliffhanger: It’s clear that a dramatic event is about to happen or the answer to a mystery is about to be revealed, and we turn the page to see the how the situation resolves.

Tension-builder: We’ve just learned some new information that makes the situation more difficult or stressful, but doesn’t change current circumstances the way a bombshell does, and there isn’t the promise of immediate resolution like the cliffhanger has.

Initiative: Katniss has resolved to take a certain course of action and is either about to or has just taken the first step of this new plan.

Resolution: The main conflict of the chapter has ended; Katniss has accomplished something important and can rest.

So how do we classify the chapter endings of The Hunger Games?

Chapter 1: Prim is selected as tribute. Bombshell.

Chapter 2: Katniss has just finished thinking about her history with Peeta, thinks it likely that she won’t be the one to kill him, but realizes the odds haven’t been dependable lately. Tension-builder.

Chapter 3: Effie scolds Katniss and Peeta for laughing at Haymitch’s drunkenness, emphasizing that he’s the one who could be the difference between life and death for them. Tension-builder.

Chapter 4: Katniss witnesses Peeta trying to win over the Capitol crowds, and decides that he’s fighting to stay alive, which means he’s fighting to kill her. A bit of a shock, but not terribly surprising under the circumstances. Tension-builder.

Chapter 5: Katniss and Peeta have just finished the tribute parade feeling very friendly, and Katniss reminds herself that he’s luring her in to make her easy prey. “Because two can play at this game, I stand on tiptoe and kiss his cheek. Right on his bruise.” Initiative.

Chapter 6: Katniss has just learned that the Avox is a fugitive she didn’t help. She lays in bed feeling guilty. “I wonder if she’ll enjoy watching me die.” A very minor Tension-builder.

Chapter 7: Katniss has just shot the apple out of the mouth of the pig at the Gamemakers’ meal. She had a goal (get them to pay attention to me), made a plan and executed it on-page before the chapter ended. Resolution.

Chapter 8: “Peeta has asked to be coached separately.” A huge change from their previous plan that changes Katniss’ perception of Peeta. Bombshell.

Chapter 9: “Because she came here with me.” Bombshell.

End of Part I.

Chapter 10: “Ladies and Gentlemen, let the 74th Hunger Games begin!” Cliffhanger.

Chapter 11: Katniss learns Peeta is with the Careers. Bombshell.

Chapter 12: A wall of fire is descending on Katniss. Cliffhanger.

Chapter 13: Katniss is treed and learns that Rue is in another tree; Rue points to something above Katniss’ head. We don’t know if Rue is there to help or harm Katniss and we don’t know if what she’s pointing to is good or bad. Cliffhanger.

Chapter 14: Katniss realizes Peeta just saved her life during the tracker-jacker attack and she blacks out. Bombshell.

Chapter 15: Katniss has a plan to go on the offensive against the Careers. The plan is Initiative, but the chapter-ending frames it as a Cliffhanger, since we don’t know what the plan is.

Chapter 16: Katniss sets off the mines around the Careers’ food supply as planned, but she’s blown backward by the explosion. Cliffhanger.

Chapter 17: Rue is hit by a spear. A Cliffhanger (how badly is Rue hurt?) with  Bombshell levels of emotional impact. 

Chapter 18: Katniss learns about the rule change that would allow two tributes from the same district to be declared winners, and immediately calls out Peeta’s name. The rule change is a bombshell, but the very last action of the chapter (calling out Peeta’s name) is Initiative.

End of Part II.

Chapter 19: Katniss has figured out that Haymitch will reward her for playing up the romance and brings a pot of broth to Peeta. Initiative.

Chapter 20: Katniss has just slipped Peeta the sleeping syrup so she can go to the feast. Initiative (it’s only the first step in her plan) and Resolution (this part of the plan was successful).

Chapter 21: Katniss administers the dose of medicine to Peeta, then blacks out. Resolution.

Chapter 22: After Katniss and Peeta have a romantic heart-to-heart in the cave, Haymitch sends them a feast. Resolution.

Chapter 23: Peeta wonders how he could have killed Foxface, and Katniss answers by holding out the berries. (The explanation comes at the beginning of the next chapter). A very minor cliffhanger, though only from our perspective. Katniss holds the answer, and thus is still in control of the situation. 

Chapter 24: Katniss runs away from mysterious “creatures” that are chasing them. Cliffhanger.

Chapter 25: Katniss and Peeta are declared the winners of the Hunger Games. Resolution.

Chapter 26: Katniss realizes she’s in more danger now than ever, because everyone is watching her an analyzing her actions. Tension-builder.

Chapter 27: Katniss takes Peeta’s hand and prepares to step out of the train and face the cameras. Initiative (she takes Peeta’s hand, deciding to go through with the act) and tension-builder (what will their relationship be when the cameras are gone?).

What can we glean from this structure?

After the Bombshell of Chapter 1′s inciting incident, most of Part I is a slow building of the tension of the story. Chapter 5 shows Katniss taking a little Initiative. Chapter 7 gives us a surprisingly early moment of Resolution–which turns out to be a good breathing-point, because after that, it’s Bombshell after Cliffhanger all the way through the end of Part II, which, surprisingly, doesn’t end on another bombshell. The announcement that she can team up with Peeta is a bombshell, but the chapter ends with her taking the Initiative of deciding to call out for him, which is a sign of a shift in the narrative.

In Part III, Katniss is no longer reacting to bombshells and cliffhangers that are out of her control. She’s taking Initiative and making plans that lead to satisfactory Resolutions. We then get a couple chapters of Cliffhangers to rachet up the tension as we head toward the climax, which provides the ultimate Resolution to the major conflicts of the story. The last two chapters provide the breathing room we need to wind things up–Katniss is no longer in mortal danger from the Hunger Games–but they also build tension as we realize that the way Katniss won the Hunger Games is going to cause external and internal conflicts for her now.

This looks more-or-less like classic action-adventure story structure: inciting incident, rising tension, then a series of revelations and disasters to react to. These revelations and disasters are natural places to end the chapter when you want readers to feel the same tension and panic that the characters do, when you want to keep them reacting to the twists and barreling swiftly through the story. Eventually, though, the characters have to stop reacting and start acting, and that’s when you can end chapters with resolutions; the characters are more in control, so you can provide them–and the reader–with more places to stop and take a breath. Then we crank up the tension again to bring us to the ultimate resolution of the climax, then wind things down while keeping up just enough tension to get us to the end of the book (and the sequel).

This is a masterclass in pacing an action-adventure plot. People can have their story preferences, but this isn’t lazy writing done out of fear that readers won’t keep turning the pages. This is an author who’s deftly pulling the strings to keep readers turning the pages at exactly the pace she wants them turning the pages. We can argue that a couple of the cliffhangers are rather cheap, manipulating the wording to wring too much tension out of minor events (Chapters 13, 15 and 23 are the major offenders here), but they’re all in places where Collins wants to maintain the tension. (The readers can’t get too comfortable in Part II–Katniss can’t be too in control of the situation until she makes the key decision to team up with Peeta. And in Part III, Collins needs to start racheting up the tension a couple of chapters before the climax to prepare the readers for what’s coming.) Every chapter ending here is chosen with a purpose. It’s chosen to maintain a certain effect or mood in the story, to keep the tension at the appropriate level, to keep the readers feeling what the characters are feeling and, yes, to keep them turning the pages. It’s wonderfully manipulative, but what are authors if not puppeteers of human emotions? Judging by this structure, Collins has a rather deft hand on the strings.

Re: Light and Sayu’s Relationship

It’s a popular fandom view that Light is a person who doesn’t care about his family and would have absolutely murdered Sayu in the second arc if it wasn’t self incriminating to do so. Personally, I think there’s a lot of evidence in the manga that goes against that view and this is an analysis I wrote on the relationship between the two Yagami siblings that I am re-posting here. 

In my opinion, the most interesting conflict in Death Note is the silent one that takes place between Light and his own family members. The source of this largely internal conflict is obvious; Light is Kira, but the other Yagamis are sensible and they don’t acknowledge Kira as a legitimate enforcer of justice. As I said at the beginning of this post, the prevailing fanon opinion on Light is that he views his family as tools and merely plays to what’s expected of him as a son and an older brother.

But here’s the thing. what we actually see is Light repeatedly bending over backwards to try and protect his family and it is often to his own disadvantage rather than to his benefit. Why? Because he loves them. Plain and simple. It’s quite literally one of Light’s only redeeming traits and it’s a key part of what makes him a hopelessly tragic kid. In this post I’m specifically focusing on Light’s relationship to Sayu.

Keep reading

Misa Amane & Personality Disorders

Before my old blog got deleted and then terminated multiple times for whatever reason, I got this awesome ask and I’m reposting this here because I kinda liked having it around. 

Okay. I read this ask and went !!!!!!!!!  because wow I truly did not realize how much I needed to talk about this. Thank you so much, anon! This question is so predictably right up my alley it hurts and I regret nothing. Translation: this post is wordy.

The TL;DR of it is that while I think Misa arguably does meet criteria for having a personalty disorder, she does not meet criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) as laid out by DSM-5 and she is therefore not really a sociopath.

That said, I do not subscribe to the categorical approach to personality disorders (ie. that they are distinct clinical diagnoses). I am much more in favor of the dimensional approach to PDs which suggests that the disorders are all part of a spectrum of disorders and if I absolutely had to “diagnose” her with something, I’m inclined to see her as having Borderline PD with ASPD features. 

Before I get elbow deep into this, I’m just going to lay out some disclaimers/preamble so that we’re all on the same page.

So all that said … /happily puts the rest of this under a cut

Keep reading

There’s a perception that LGBT people aren’t religious.

They’re definitely less religious than the general population, but in no state is the percentage of religious LGBT people close 0%. (This chart shows LGBT people who are moderately or highly religious)

The Williams Institute at UCLA conducted a study on the religiosity of American LGBT adults. 

People were aked, “Is religion an important part of your daily life?” and “How often do you attend church, synagogue, or mosque?” 

Do you think Jesus ever got many carpenter requests after he started preaching? Like did anyone ever go up to him and be like; "My Lord! My Lord!" And the disciples are all: "The Master won't do anymore miracles today." But obviously Jesus is like; "Yes, my child?" And they just ask what his basic rate is to fix their door.

No one talks enough about the fact that Jesus had a day job.

He repaired the relationship between humanity and god, he also repaired the table in his friend Mary's house cuz it wobbled too much.

“Jesus!”

“How can I help you my child?”

“So the Chair I got from you and your dad is great, but I tripped over it and it broke, I was hoping you could fix it?”

“Go home and be at peace, your chair is fixed.”

“Lord, did you really just use a miracle to fix his chair?”

“Luke my son, it was still under warranty.”

“honey that guy who made our table got crucified” 

While this is super interesting and ive reblogged it before because the concept is funny, theologians/historians question whether Jesus was actually a carpenter. You see the Kione Greek word used in that instance later came to mean specifically "carpenter" however at the original time of documentation, it had a slightly higher connotation, merely meaning "day-laboror". A carpenter would have been in the absolute barest of poverty, and would never have been able to leave His mother at home to go preaching across the country side. Even if He left her with His cousins/family, His family would have been extremely poor as well, and they wouldn't have been able to financially support her.

Its theorized that Jesus actually worked in - essentially - construction. Laying bricks and building buildings. This would have made Him very muscular and healthy, and would have provided enough income for Him to realistically leave His trade to become a Rabbi.

This also means he would understand the complexities of building the Temple and why it took so long. So add that to the shock value of Him saying He will rebuild it in 3 days.

TL;DR Jesus probably didn't work with wood, but did skilled labor building cities and was probably ripped because of it.

A Possible Reconciliation for the Lack of Timelines in MSQ

I was in Discord this morning between doing Actual Work, and the usual grumbles came up about how the lack of a specific timeline despite a linear MSQ that even sometimes vaguely mentions time passing. Yoshi-P has said repeatedly that while he assumes time–even years–have passed, he does not want to nail down an exact timeline, instead allowing players to decide for their personal stories and roleplay how much time passes for their own WoLs.

This is a reasonable take, all considered, as there’s always back and forth even in games with set timelines (such as WoW, where it’s usually one, occasionally two, year[s] between expansion releases). I tend to go by the “roughly a year, give or take” idea for FFXIV expacs myself, but there’s also an idea I’ve been playing with to reconcile characters remaining static, particularly younger characters who should more drastically show aging up.

At this point, the Source has been Rejoined seven times. That’s half the sundered shards of reality brought back together. Now, we’ve been told that originally, the unsundered were effectively immortal, reaching a point where they became unaging.

An idea I’d like to put forth: what if the Rejoinings have had a subtle, hard-to-notice effect on the mortal population of the Source? What if they are living just a bit longer? Staying healthier, “in their prime” a little longer? What if Rielle’s comment in 80 DRK about being “overdue for a growth spurt” is because the common idea of “ages X, Y, and Z are when elezen youths typically undergo phases of maturity” is knowledge from before the last Calamity, and that’s shifted a year or two up now with the most recent soul combining?

Also consider how fighting fit even older characters are, like Gaius; man’s in his late 50s and still a combat monster, and this is not considered unusual, despite injuries and strain and even his lack of magic. It took a helluva lot to finally bring Gosetsu down, and while his fighting days are over he still lived through all that, despite his own advanced age.

It wouldn’t be something easily or immediately noticed–indeed, there’s argument to be made that the violent rejoining of souls would subtly alter some collective memories in general–and only the Scions really have any knowledge of the concepts of what that pre-sundered world the Ascians are trying to reclaim would look like or mean. They might look at this phenomenon, but they might miss it as well. Otherwise it’s just “you look young for your age” and “I didn’t expect her to be that old already” and other innocuous comments and observations that by themselves, are easily dismissed.

The lack of definite timeline lets players much around with how much time passes for their own WoLs–and saves the devs from having to make too many new models for characters who would drastically change, like children–but given the unique aspects of the FFXIV setting, I think this could be a viable option to play with in RP and fanfiction, as time passes for all the characters, but they remain mostly static as we progress into more and more expansions.

I think my favorite inference from Amaurot is that both Amaurotine!WoL and Emet-Selch participated in helping to contain and clean up the breach at Akadaemia Anyder. If Emet-Selch remembers it in so much detail that he dedicated a part of Nostalgia Amaurot to it and made it so that you, specifically, are meant to experience it, it follows that he may have been trying to jog your memory regarding that specific event.

It’s a small thing, but paints an interesting picture of the convocation–or at least the both of you–during the End Times. If you were both willing to rush into danger to help the students (and the city) to the best of your ability, it tells the tale of two bright-eyed idealists… who took two different paths and ended up very different because of it. One is overcome with twisted sentimentality and single-minded focus on helping those long dead, the other implicitly gave themselves up to stop the sacrifice and continues to jump to help anyone and everyone even now. It’s fascinating.

Micaiah/Edelgard C-A Support

C SUPPORT

[Edelgard pushes chess pieces across a map in the library.]

Edelgard: If they could have held this bank of the river here…

[Micaiah emerges from behind one of the shelves.]

Micaiah: Excuse me. So sorry to trouble you, but I was searching for someone.

Edelgard: Pay it no mind, it’s no trouble. I don’t believe we’ve met before. I am Edelgard von Hresvelg, imperial princess and heir apparent to the Ardrestian Empire.

Micaiah: My name is Micaiah.

Edelgard: Micaiah…that’s an interesting name.

Micaiah: And this is Yune.

[Micaiah extends her finger on which Yune, seeming agitated, is perched.]

Edelgard: Um, hello, Yune.

Yune: [Tweets irritably, pecks Edelgard on the forehead a couple of times, and flies away.]

Edelgard: [massages her forehead] Ow! What was that for?

Micaiah: I am so sorry. She’s never like this. She usually likes everyone.

Edelgard: Well, she’s just a bird. It’s not as though she knows any better.

Micaiah: Again, I’m so sorry- er- What are you doing with that map? This game looks rather complex.

[Edelgard’s expression lights up with understanding.]

Edelgard: Oh, this? I was just wargaming a conflict from our world’s history. A very pivotal one, at that.

Micaiah: Oh? To what end?

Edelgard: The commanders of the vanquished side made many critical errors that lead to our- the empire being dismembered- reduced considerably. I believe that I could have avoided said errors had I been in command.

[Micaiah nods as she follows along.]

Micaiah: It must have been a dreadful time. But your world’s history- and your country’s- sounds absolutely fascinating. If it’s not to much trouble…would you mind telling me more about it?

[Edelgard smiles]

Edelgard: Only if you agree to tell me more about yours.

[Micaiah and Edelgard have reached support rank C.]

B SUPPORT

[Micaiah and Edelgard are conversing in the library.]

Micaiah: …and you must understand that the “plague” had decimated the population of Daein, and the previous king and his family were powerless to stop it. In fact, it took almost all of their lives.

Edelgard: I see…so that’s was part of the motive for the integration of the sub-humans-

[Micaiah uncharacteristically shoots her a dirty look.]

Micaiah: Laguz. The laguz.

Edelgard: Of course. Of the laguz into the king’s worldview.

Micaiah: Yes, but there was another part to it, as well. I’ve already mentioned the…fraught history between the peoples of Tellius. And why Daein first seceded from Bengion. Ashnard…disapproved of such rigid distinctions, in one sense.

Edelgard: This king, Ashnard. He sounds like a very interesting figure. It is not difficult to see how he gained so many devoted followers.

Micaiah: [slightly exasperated] Yes, but you have to understand that-

[Sothe emerges from behind a shelf.]

Sothe: There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you! Hm? Who’s this? I don’t think we’ve met before.

Micaiah: Sothe, this is my new friend-

Edelgard: Edelgard von Hresvelg, imperial princess and heir apparent to the Ardrestian Empire. I have heard much about you, Sothe. This one speaks quite highly of you. You are…lovers, if I’m not mistaken?

[Sothe stays quiet, giving Edelgard a steely, defensive look.]

Edelgard: Hm. It seems I’ve overstepped my bounds. So Sothe, is it true you are from Daein as well?

Sothe: [still warily] Yes…Daein is my country… But what’s it to you?

Edelgard: I’ve just been interested in hearing accounts from other citizens of Daein.

Sothe: Why is that?

Micaiah: [knowing what a disaster this is going to be] Oh, dear.

Edelgard: A cultured visionary of unparalleled military prowess, your King Ashnard was. He was a strong, determined ruler surrounded by decadent weaklings and fanatics. So why is Micaiah so hesitant to speak about these virtues? If we had an emperor like him-

Sothe: [visibly angry] No, no, no, no, NO! Lady, I don’t care who you are. I wouldn’t care if you were the Goddess herself, if you start wishing your country had a ruler like him, you must be just as twisted as he was. They call him the “Mad King” for several VERY good reasons.

Micaiah: Sothe, please!

Edelgard: He saw a wicked, stagnant system that was holding back everyone- his own people included- and took steps to correct it. From what I’m told, he was ready to either succeed in his aim or die for it. That’s more than I can say for most nobles I’ve known.

Sothe: [hurls Peshkatz into the floor paneling to avoid doing so at Edelgard.] At what cost, you crazy witch?! Taking a course of action he knew damned well would destroy most of our continent- if not the world?! Sending a generation of men to die or be maimed for it?! Performing sick experiments to turn laguz into living weapons?! Tell me, what’s your limit?!

Edelgard: [puts chin in her hand.]: You two have my condolences. To be from a world in such an appalling state that such measures seem worthwhile to enact meaningful change. It must have been agony to even rise from bed every morning.

Sothe: [turns around, picks his knife out of the floor panel and sheaths it.] I’m through with this conversation. I can’t tell you what to do Micaiah, but I’m through with this maniac. Before I do something I’ll regret.

Micaiah: Sothe…

Sothe: And by the way, lady. I’d REALLY love to see you talk this insanity in front of Queen Elincia. Or even better, Commander Ike, King Tibarn, or any of the laguz here. It’d probably be your last mistake.

[Sothe storms from the library.]

Edelgard: I fail to understand exactly what it is you see in him. He’s not unpleasant to look at, but what a rude little urchin.

Micaiah: [sighs]

[Micaiah and Edelgard have reached support rank B.]

A SUPPORT

[Micaiah, reading a book at the bottom of a stairwell, ignoring the commotion in the dining hall where the both Summoner and Anna can be made out to be yelling at several irate, ornery heroes.]

Edelgard: Good evening, Micaiah.

Micaiah: [Looks up, horrified at the scratches and bruises Edelgard has.] My goodness! What happened?! Are you alright?!

Edelgard: Really, they look worse than they actually are.

[Light pools in Micaiah’s fingertips before she touches Edelgard’s face, healing the scrapes and bruises.]

Micaiah: I can’t do anything about your clothing for now, but your wounds are gone.

Edelgard: You have my thanks.

Micaiah: What on earth happened to you?! Did it have something to do with that commotion in the dining hall?

Edelgard: [consciously avoiding making eye contact]: It might.

Micaiah: Oh, dear.

Edelgard: The history of Tellius is just so fascinating to me. I couldn’t NOT take the opportunity to discuss it with the heroes from there, you understand.

Micaiah: What happened exactly?

Edelgard: Well, I sought out this Queen Elincia your friend Sothe spoke so highly of. I thought she would have some interesting thoughts on what makes an effective ruler.

[Micaiah stares blankly at Edelgard, wondering briefly what she could have said to make probably the gentlest hero from Tellius tackle her to the floor and try to claw her eyes out.]

Edelgard: Well, I may have unfavorably compared her father, Ramon, to King Ashnard. The phrase “doddering, impotent old weakling” might have left my lips at some point.

Micaiah: [sighs in exasperation]

Edelgard: But I was truly trying to compare their effectiveness as kings- once I got to that part, she gave me some…less-than-queenly language before jumping on me like a madwoman. This odd, cat-eared woman got involved shortly afterward, and things just degenerated from there.

Micaiah: [wearing an “are-you-completely-daft” look] Perhaps you would do well to keep those opinions to yourself while you’re here. It’s something of a sensitive issue still.

Edelgard: [huffs] If these Tellians are completely incapable of discussing these matters without it devolving into a melee, that is on them, not me. But honestly, King Ashnard is not the most fascinating individual I’ve read about from your world.

Micaiah: [genuinely surprised] Really? Would it be anyone here?

Edelgard: Actually, it is you, the Silver-Haired Maiden, that fascinated me most.

Micaiah: Wait, what? Why?

Edelgard: Because we have many, if not all of the same motives, but when reading about your actions in the order’s library, I was mystified by most of them.

Micaiah: Such as?

Edelgard: Well, first of all, the behavior of those they call Branded, yourself included. Despised and shunned by both of your parent races, yet almost all found themselves in possession of some extraordinary ability or another. So why was there never a mass movement of these Branded to rise up and destroy these oppressors? Or at least take the respect you’re due by virtue of your power?

Micaiah: Hmm…I dealt with a lot of people, “like me,” as it were and even still, I cannot speak for them all. But I always received the impression that they almost always thought such thinking was wrong. At the very least, not constructive to creating a better world for everyone. Stefan, Sir Knight…even Soren…no matter how badly they had been treated, all of them could see how dangerous using that power to take revenge against them would be. I only know of one Branded who even came close to thinking like that and she was mur- fell in battle against the Crimeans.

Edelgard: I cannot say that I am satisfied by that answer, but I respect you enough to cease in second-guessing your decisions. Will you allow me another question, Micaiah?

Micaiah: Perhaps.

Edelgard: Knowing what you know about your country, Daein, and its mother country, Bengion, and being a Branded, why on earth would you continue to be so patient with these people? Were I in your position, I would have likely burned them both to ash and slept like a babe for so doing.

Micaiah: [winces in discomfort at the implications] I can definitely understand why our neighbors- especially the Crimeans- would say otherwise, but Daein is just like Bengion and everywhere else in one sense; you have good, well-meaning people and very bad people. All of us who fought to liberate Daein knew that there were plenty of good, honorable people there- The Apostle, Commander Sigrun, Duke Persis- among them. We would have never succeeded had there not been.

Edelgard: [scoffs] Hmph, her prime minister? He struck me as a weak-willed coward who would rather throw everything into the hands of his goddess and let his world be destroyed. Where’s the honor in that?

Micaiah: [slightly sadly] Not weak by any means, nor a coward. Just very weary and very, very sad.

Edelgard: I thank you for being most accommodating to me. But would you allow me one final question about your history? Especially concerning those “very bad people.”

Micaiah: Yes, I suppose.

Edelgard: So you say that there are good, honorable people everywhere, and that may be true. However, what of when one of those “very bad” people embodying everything wrong with that system comes to power? I am of course, speaking of your Duke Gaddos- Lekain. At what point, do you just decide that your world would be better off burning him- and everything related to him- to the ground? Even with all the trouble he caused, it makes no sense to simply leave the institutions that empowered him standing. They must be obliterated root and branch if true change is to come. And those who stand against these changes should know they do so at their own peril.

Micaiah: I will grant you that every now and again, there are individuals so vile and dangerous that they can no longer be allowed to draw breath. Lekain was one of those men. But to destroy the empire completely? With all of its institutions? I cannot abide that. Not for a single moment. If for no other reason than vast amount of death and suffering that would be the result.

Edelgard: Has there ever been a birth without labor pains? I think not. Nations- and worlds- are no different in that sense. Those who lose their lives in the process of this creation should take solace in the fact that their deaths contributed to something far greater than they could have ever ever been alone.

Micaiah: I’m sorry, but you’re wrong, my friend. My aim is now and has always been the preservation and improvement of the lives of my people. And of all people. It is for that same reason I cannot share in your positive appraisal of Ashnard’s rule.

Edelgard: [crocks her head sideways, cups chin with her thumb and index finger] You truly are the most fascinating woman in Tellius, Silver-Haired Maiden.

[Edelgard proceeds up the stairwell, out of sight. As soon as she is gone, Yune swoops back down to perch on Micaiah’s finger.]

Yune: [tweets happily]

Micaiah: Oh, Yune! Where have you been all this time?

[Micaiah and Edelgard have reached support rank A.]

Fire Emblem: Three Houses - Japanese Pronouns and Modes of Address (Blue Lions)

Out of sheer curiosity, I decided to take down some notes on how the Blue Lions class address each other in the Japanese version of the game, as well as noted down the Japanese pronouns they use to refer to themselves. Spoilers follow for Azure Moon.

Notes and an analysis of the infographic follows under the cut! Please don’t hesitate to let me know if there’s anything I missed and the like!

Keep reading

Male vs Female Dialogue Change!

So theres a newish article that basically just reinstates old knowledge but there is an interesting bit of info on the timeskip lords but it’s easily missed.

Simple enough basically just reinstating info we already know, except, Dimitri’s little info blurb is interesting.

“Prince of the holy kingdom, leader of the blue lions”

The reason I put this in the spotlight is because the other two blurbs specifically make note of the fact they’re former leaders of black eagles/golden deer and that they’re now the leaders of their respective kingdoms. The blurb for dimitri lacks them, they could of added former leader and king of the holy kingdom but they didnt.

Does that mean dimitri isnt a king yet? That hes still a prince? Is something interfering with him becoming one? Or does he not want to be one just yet? He clearly still has some authority judging by the mass of blue armoured soldier behind him in the story trailer but he isnt the king apparently.

Also hes still the leader of blue lions? What exactly does that mean? Both Edelgard and Claude are stated to be former leaders of their houses but dimitri still is…

Herein lies the problem with the MCU making Mjolnir’s “worthy” clause a generic “they’re a really good person” thing. By that criteria any number of superheroes easily qualify. In the comics being worthy didn’t mean just “being good” it specifically meant “be a good Thor” because Odin wanted to be sure that when Ragnarok came around, whoever held the hammer would play Thor’s part in it even if they weren’t Thor himself.

Peter shouldn’t be able to lift Mjolnir because he’s TOO good and pure. To lift Mjolnir you have to be good and noble but also willing to use it to crush the skulls of Asgard’s enemies (Mjolnir means CRUSHER after all), something Pete would not be up for, but an old soldier like Cap would if necessary. Being truly noble but perfectly willing to kill is much more rare in superhero comics. That’s why you get things like in the DC/Marvel crossovers Wonder Woman can lift it while Superman cannot. Being good isn’t enough.

That’s fair.

Kylo’s Helmet meta

Here are some thoughts on Kylo’s “new” helmet, shown in the Episode IX teaser trailer.

If you do not wish the read the whole meta, skip the first three paragraphs, and go right to the point.

In The Force Awakens, Kylo is first shown wearing his helmet. He hides behind the expressionless, creepy mask, desperately trying to convey a lack of emotions (something we now know is far from how things really are). He tries to put the mask between the world, which I can only suppose he finds cruel (based on what we can read about his childhood and youth in the novels (the being sent off to the Academy abandonment problem, the traumatic reveal of his heritage), as well as on the Luke with a lightsaber flashbacks, and the way he is (mal)treated by Snoke in The Last Jedi), and his very vulnerable self.

After being criticized that he is a “child in a mask” in TLJ, I believe that Kylo tries to sort of put himself out there in the world, out of shame and spite, as the man that he “trully” is. We get to see more of “Ben”, especially in those sweet moments where he feels for and is protective of Rey, or when he chooses not to fire at Leia. On the other hand, we get to see that “Ben” has a lot of growing up to do, as his emotional outbursts and bad rejection issues suggest. I believe that this is understandable if we bear in mind that he went through Jedi training where he was supposed to suppress his emotions, and then lived what seems to be a very isolated life, in which he was being manipulated and tortured.

One of the problems is, as we hear in TFA, that Kylo/Ben finds “Ben” weak and foolish, as he told Han, and believes that the “strength” lies in “Kylo”. Ben tried his best to identify with the “Kylo” persona, which, ironically, kept making him weaker.

Now, back to what I like about the new mask, and what I believe it is trying to convey.

I am pretty sure that there will be a reason why that fluffy creature is fixing Kylo/Ben’s mask (as in, it was urgent, and that was the only person who could do it at the time). That sort of wielding where the cracks are filled with that red material is probably be the only technology available at that time and place.

I am aware that marketing/merchandise, and well, simply - costume design, are a part of that decision.

However, I also do believe that there is a symbolic layer to it.

The way I see it, in Episode IX, Rise of the Skywalker, we will have Ben “bleeding” - hence the red - into the Kylo persona, and the two will merge. We will be able to see Ben even when the mask is on.

By uniting the two, properly integrating his Jungian shadow, Kylo/Ben will become a complete person. I believe that this will lead to Kylo/Ben not having emotional meltdowns anymore (not having his “violence” as a separate entity overriding every now and then), and that he will finally be able to gain control over himself, and not have his “shadow” whims rule over him.

I do believe that it is virtuous is to be capable of violence, but to choose not to exert it just to prove something to yourself or others (TFA Kylo, killing Lor San Tekka being a possible example of misusing that capability), but rather to protect what is good, if necessary. What I am hoping to see in Episode IX is not simply “harmless” Ben, but Ben’s compassion and love seeping/”bleeding” into the Kylo “mask”. The design also makes the mask seem more organic, as opposed to a cold block of metal.

Finally, it seems to me that in Episode IX, the helmet/mask is actually being used for physical protection, as helmets are supposed to be used (and that that’s why it is being urgently wielded), and not as a mental/emotional barrier between Ben and his surroundings. 

As always, thoughts, comments and discussions are welcome! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own the image used, nor any part of Star Wars, entertainment purposes only.

OK this is great coz : 

1) Daisy is the only one who knows truly how it ends. 

2) John said that he had so many questions with that title coz he wasn’t on set for Rey and Kylo shootings. 

3) Daisy said she knew the ending, and then, there was a tidbit added there…and she seemed really happy with it. 

4) My logical conclusion is that Daisy is the only one to know coz she’s the only one there who filmed it!!!

this is an “only two people knew the twist in ESB” level of hiding the truth from your cast