The mother's promise wasn't that she'll return. It was that she loves them for who they are and always will.

If I had a nickel for every time a finale aired in April 2023 where a girl was guided back from death by a godlike entity stronger and better to save her family from a climatic final battle, I’d have 2 nickels. Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice.

rwby v9 finale spoilers below the cut approach at your own risk (also a Hot Take perhaps, we'll see)

I'm not mad that Jaune was de-aged. My first thought upon finding out how he ended up as "old man" Jaune (although realistically he's probably only like 35-40, appearance exaggerated for obvious reasons) was that it would be so cruel for him to leave the Ever After and still be that age. For a long list of reasons. This volume has placed a lot of emphasis on compassion, on kindness, on the fact that failure is okay. That bad things happening is okay, that not everything is lost, that things can still be fixed. Therefore I find it entirely appropriate that Jaune went back to the age he was when he entered the EA. Alyx wanted to fix what she broke but I actually find it telling that this thing that she's not even really responsible for is something she fixes. She wants to help Jaune to compensate for the way she treated him. But she can't go back to when she poisoned him and undo that, she can't be there to apologize to him. The world was unnecessarily cruel to Jaune and the only way for that to be fixed is for someone to have the compassion to do him a kindness that's equally unlikely. Also, in a way, she did kind of "fix" her mistake. She tried to kill him, so of course the best she can do for him now is give him back his life. I think it's very fitting. Jaune has suffered enough. I don't find him having to go back to Remnant and suddenly lose all of his friends, be the oldest of his siblings (and maybe even older than his parents) and all that to be interesting. Jaune lost his self. Of course he was going to get it back. He was in the tree. As Ursula K. Le Guin put it, "This is the treason of the artist: a refusal to admit the banality of evil and the terrible boredom of pain." I know this may not be the most popular opinion right now but it's the opinion I have, and the hill I'm plantin' my lawn chair on. Power to ye, "Old Man Jaune Should've Gone Back To Remnant" believers, but that ain't my faith and you'll have to excuse me for saying so.

There and Back Again?

RWBY Volume 9 brought up a very interesting subject. Namely, the concept of Ascension. This is a form of resurrection where the subject dies, but comes back in a form different from the one they had before, with their conscious memories gone. However, this does not mean they are wiped clean of all traces from their previous life. They still possess unconscious memories, emotional responses to reminders of what they knew before, even if they no longer recognize the subject.

The reason I’m bringing this up is because of a mystery that to this day has not been solved. In short, I believe the concept of Ascension is a clue that will tell us the identity of the mysterious figure who appeared in Volume 6;

Her.

When she first appeared, a plethora of fans concluded that she was someone related to Pyrrha Nikos, given her appearance, knowledge of Pyrrha’s background, and being voiced by Jen Brown, Pyrrha’s voice actress. However, I’m starting to wonder if this woman is none other than Pyrrha’s Ascended form,  the lost P of Team JNPR reborn in a different life. Look, here’s my thoughts:

Ascension is when you die, and come back in a form of your choosing, minus the memories of your previous life. In her life, Pyrrha was unhappy with how her celebrity status isolated her from people. Rather than coming back with Moar Power, what if Pyrrha chose a form that would let her blend in with the normies and stand out less? That would explain why she was so happy when Jaune said Pyrrha was a True Huntress.

Now, I know a lot of, well, all of you will ask, “Pyrrha died on Remnant, how could her spirit get to the Tree in the Ever After?” Good question. For that matter, how did Summer Rose’s weapon Sundered Rose end up in the Tree? Is Remnant and the Ever After as separate as we think?

I don’t know. But it’s worth thinking about. And while we’re at it, we still don’t know how mankind came back after the Two Brothers wiped them out in the first era.

Starting “Of Solitude and Self” now, will probably be crying soon

i think the barbie movie would have a profound psychological impact on hua cheng

prev comic / next comic / follow for still more hualian barbie movie content because i am not done

bonus angsty version 🎉 i hate love expressions just a couple tiny lines on the mouth and eyebrows and it goes from silly to sad

:(

To be in favor of solitude is not to be against community or friendship or love. It’s not that being alone is better, just that without the experience of it we block ourselves from discovering something enormously beneficial, perhaps even vital, to selfhood. Who are you when you are not a friend, a partner, a lover, a sibling, a parent, a child? When no one is with you, what do you do, and do you do it differently than if someone was there? It’s hard to see someone fully when another person is always attached to them. More importantly, it’s hard for us to see our own selves if we’re not ever alone.

Amina Cain, A Horse at Night

soft (and some bittersweet)

akatsuki tarot official merch has been dwelling in (the hermit tower of) my mind.

* * * News Interruption * * * (Unmute)

Fandom: I had enough of the brother gods. Friggen drama queen jerks.

The Tree:

BEING COMFORTABLE ALONE

Learning to be okay with being alone is a process that requires both self reflection and action. It's important to understand that being alone doesn't necessarily equate to loneliness, but rather, it can be an opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery.

EMBRACE SOLITUDE

This time alone can be used to explore your thoughts and feelings, understand your motivations, and consider your goals and aspirations. This introspection can lead to a deeper understanding of yourself, which is a key to personal growth.

FIND A HOBBY

Engage in activities that you enjoy and that foster creativity. This could be anything from reading, writing, painting, gardening, cooking, or even learning a new skill. These activities not only fill up your alone time but also help in boosting your mood and providing a sense of accomplishment.

FINDING INDEPENDENCE

Cultivating independence and self-reliance is another significant step in being comfortable with being alone. This involves learning to do things by yourself, from daily chores to making important decisions. This independence can boost your confidence, reduce feelings of loneliness, and make you more comfortable with spending time alone.

SOLITUDE= A BREAK

View solitude as a mental health break from social pressures. In our increasingly connected world, being constantly surrounded by others, both physically and virtually, can sometimes be overwhelming. Time spent alone can offer a much-needed respite from these social pressures, allowing you to recharge and refresh your mind.

Remember, being alone is not about isolation or loneliness, but rather about self-discovery, creativity, independence, and mental health. Embracing solitude can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience.

Just trying to make RWBY9 a bit less painful...

may sarton diary of a solitude

support me

Four of Swords

The tarot card No. 54 is done. :)

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