If / whenever Odette proposes to Verosika— it’s not something big or grand. Instead it’s intimate and quiet when Odette shows the ring to verosika, it’s a beautiful ring— it had probably cost Odette a pretty penny. No one had seen it coming, not even Carmilla—who knows her girls like the palm of her hand.

Odette and Verosika have talked about marriage before. It's to be expected after watching, and participating in, Carmilla and Sera's wedding. Theirs had been an extravagant, social affair, thanks to Zestial and Lucifer, with every blue-blood in Hell who was on good terms with them present. But to the girls, neither really finds those kinds of huge public expressions of love appealing.

Verosika has to put on a show every day, so she'd told Odette, if and when it happens for her, she wants it to be more real. Not during one of her shows, and certainly not on stage; just something small between herself and her beloved. Odette can't say she disagrees. In fact, that's exactly what she'd hoped Verosika would say. Because that's exactly what she'd been planning.

Verosika already has everything a demon could want, and then some. So does Odette, honestly, and while both demons can afford to give each other the world, that's not really what Verosika wants, or what Odette wants, either. She desires to make it special, but also not too over-the-top. She decides to get Ozzy's advice on the right way to approach this. He is, of course, very helpful...but mostly about the honeymoon, and all the fun things that can come after.

He does know the name of a jewelsmith in Greed, though, and after some conversations with them back and forth over the phone, Odette orders a personalized pink diamond in a gold band, fit exactly to Odette's specifications. Not a big one...it's honestly rather small, but still worth a small fortune, she comes to find out. She still thinks it's more than enough to make Verosika happy. Odette hopes so, anyway.

Odette chooses to ask her on a night after Verosika gets back from a tour. They'd already had a date at Ozzy's planned. The king of Lust didn't have any other shows planned, and just reserved a small corner of the showroom for the two of them, allowing the musical stylings of Fizzarolli to complement their dinner of something Odette is too nervous to eat at the moment.

Verosika seems to notice Odette's not eating. Her girlfriend does have a hard time remembering to feed herself sometimes, and she brings it up to Odette, who is quickly shocked out of her state of internalized anxiety.

"Babydoll, you going to eat anything? You look pale."

"Oh! Yes! Sorry! Umm...shit. I was just thinking."

Verosika takes a sip of her wine. They'd only ordered one bottle; Odette wanted to be sober for the events yet to come.

"Thinking about what?"

Verosika reaches across the cozy table to touch Odette's hand. Odette's other hand is fumbling with the small box tucked safely into her pants pocket. Fizz has finished his last musical number, and walks off-stage to take a break. If there's any moment to act, Odette thinks, it's now. Taking a breath, she stands, and moves toward Verosika, before kneeling on one knee at her feet.

"Verosika Mayday...!" Odette starts, pausing more out of anxiety than dramatic effect. She hopes it makes her look cool, and not anxious, at any rate. "Ever since I met you, here, after what seems like a lifetime ago...my world has never been the same. I never imagined a literal pop star would ever look my way, let alone talk to me. You've taught me so much about actually living, and loving...and to never take anything for granted."

Odette pauses again, getting the box ready in her pocket.

"You've also taught me patience, and to love myself, and to never judge a book by its cover. You're my best friend. My confidant. My north star. I want to spend the rest of eternity with you, for however long that lasts. So, um, will you do me the honor of, uh...hold on..."

After a few fumbling attempts and only a little blushing, Odette manages to take the box out of her pocket, and opens in it front of Verosika. The succubus is wide-eyed, the pink of the diamond shining back at Odette through her eyes. Odette finishes her question with only a little bit of a flush on her face. She hopes Verosika will forgive her awkwardness.

"Will you marry me, Verosika?"

Odette doesn't even have to wait for an answer. One minute, she's kneeling at Verosika's feet, and the next, Verosika is lifting her off the ground, and placing her on the table on her back. The rest of their food and drink be damned. It gets everywhere. Odette's glad she's not wearing one of her lab coats, because it's soaking into the black pants suit she wore for the occassion. She puts the ring down on the table, before she drops it.

Verosika kisses her, full and flagrant, forcefully on the lips, and pulls away with a smack! She only lifts from Odette long enough to screech into the room, "Yes! Fuck, Odette, yes! I will!" before she's kissing her again, pushing Odette even more into the table. Odette worries they might be causing a scene. Unfortunately, her fears are confirmed, because Fizzarolli's already making obscene hand gestures behind the stage, grinning with his tongue out the side of his mouth.

So much for being discrete.

Fuck it, Odette thinks. Let him watch. She brings Verosika down further on top of her, and really starts sucking face with her girlfriend -- no, her fiancé -- right there on the table. Ozzie and Fizz give them two pairs of thumbs up, but neither of them notice. They're too busy celebrating, in their own little world, ignoring the captive audience behind them.

i’m thinking about sam naming his passion project after his father and jamie’s father naming jamie after himself

“perhaps her heart died long ago, torn to shreds by the revelation that nothing she did ever meant a thing- that she never meant a thing.

that despite how much she tried to fight it, her claws would always be too sharp, teeth too pointed and eyes too red.”

now what the fuck

for dragon deity au, would reader build a sort of resentment towards deities in general? Like I know for a fact I would, if I was treated as less then, and used as a sick sort of food source, especially if just now their trying to take back their actions

Yeah, Reader would be, in the non-cursed words: Royally miffed. They would be scared, they'd feel sick, and they'd feel completely alone and helpless. They aren't even an adult yet, and they just found out the people they've been with, who they've been nothing but respectful and kind and loving to, might have been planning at some point to sacrifice them and gain their power for themselves. They'd leave, as fast and as far as they could, and they would not look back.

The platonic yans are... worried. Guilt-ridden. Paranoid.

They used to devour the essence of other dragon deities and demigods, and while they hadn't done so in about a century or few before meeting Reader... They had thought about if they should do it with them. And then after spending time with them, and getting to know them, and feeling loved by someone who wanted nothing from them and only looked up up them... Well, the guilt ate at them, to the point they couldn't do it. They couldn't, they wouldn't, do that to Reader. They know they've done awful, horrible things... They've had their fair share of wicked deeds and cults and paranoia... But... Reader is a kid. A really small, breakable, mortal kid, who they know has their own blood running through them. And they've been horrible in the past, they've waged wars and won them, they've made and conquered and destroyed empires and civilizations, in their name and for their own gain and greed... But this is Reader. This is someone who is one of them. Their own flesh and blood. (They've taken in mortal-born demigods before, they didn't sacrifice all of them... but... they weren't really worthy of them, were they? They'd started over with them, raised them, gone through the "rebirthing"... But they didn't exactly stop being awful to everyone else, did they?) So they more or less do a blood oath, unbreakable and unbending, and cannot be broken or taken back: They will not sacrifice another one of their own for their own gain. They will become better, or risk sacrificing their own god-hood and lives.. They'll start from the top, they'll actually be the parents they should be, and do everything they can to fix and rebuild their own odd family...

(I don't like the platonic yans bring mean for long, but for the sake of the plot and horror themes of this au, they initially act like some ancient, bloodthirsty deities who had sacrifices and cults done in their names...)

(I do promise they get better! They do! But, uh- yeah, having to come to terms with eating the essence of your own kind is a very bad thing, and that they shouldn't do it, and they shouldn't have done it at all (an obvious no-no, but it's a horror and dragon and deities au, so for the sake of the plot and elements-) They decide they have to start making efforts efforts change, stick by those changes, and start being better people- dragons- deities- whatevers... And... there are more than just sacrifice rituals, though, and they plan to try and fix things, starting with a few of those... One for oaths unending, one for honor-and-truth-binding them and their souls to their new objectives, and one for rebirth... And with those, they can start anew, make a new Era for their kind...)

(Ask any questions you have or share anh theories you have, and I'll answer them the best I can, okay?) (I also apologize if I have given y'all a new trauma au that keeps you brainrotting at night- I might need to do a cuddly creatures au after this-)

Why don't you like modern takes on Selina?

i don't think she really has the capacity anymore to survive as a character without needing to be supplanted by bruce. the long halloween gets a lot of praise as a standalone story but i think bringing it (and dark victory and when in rome by extension) into canon with hush was one of the worst editorial decisions made with regards to her character bc not only did it reframe the nature of her relationship with bruce entirely, it also hugely undermined the independence selina had developed as a character in the first decade of post-crisis canon. there's a recurring theme in that trilogy of books of selina looking to be saved by someone: falcone, bruce, even her brief italian lover who is so inconsequential i can't remember his name. it stands as a stark contrast to the selina of catwoman (1989) and catwoman (1993) who recognized that the only way she could survive in the world was to fend for herself bc no man would respect her first as a priority. the entire thesis of selina's grand entry into post-crisis canon rests on the idea that catwoman is an identity birthed from a defiance of men and their violence and greed. the humiliating cat suit her pimp tells her to wear is repurposed and reclaimed bc no man owns her or can control her at their leisure

i think a lot of people, esp these days, tend to argue that they're tired of women needing to be fierce and strong and cold and that they deserve to be soft, but i can never really swallow that argument when it comes to selina bc of how clearly it's framed to support a certain interpretation of her relationship with bruce. no person who genuinely cares for selina can say she's only capable of ferocity and coldness. she has her moments of compassion and love but they're merely kept for the people she truly cares about rather than doled out at leisure. people have an issue with selina being fierce and cold bc it acts as a direct obstacle to her relationship and qualms with bruce. i'm always surprised by how people are so eager for her to rightfully call out bruce's hypocrisies only to want for her to be falling at his feet the next moment. there's a running joke that the ideal relationship between them is cohabitation where selina gets to go on heists at leisure. on a surface level i understand it's entertaining, but it offers no real narrative value beyond fan service. even more than that it's not realistic. the selina of the early 90s would never have been comfortable in that world of riches knowing how she had lived and struggled her entire life. she wanted to survive and she obv stole to survive but wealth wasn't her goal for the costume; her goal was notoriety and recognized defiance of the system and more than anything a life lived on her own terms. i'm always confused why there's such an aversion to selina standing her ground and making bruce do the work to come to her side of things when it would make for far more compelling storytelling that would challenge bruce as a character in ways that are desperately needed and it would honor selina's integrity as a character by prioritizing her needs over those of fans who simply want to see their two favorite characters together. there is an enormous potential to write a compelling romance between bruce and selina that balances their contrasting sociopolitical ideologies but bc the popular perception of romance is consummation and marriage readers aren't satisfied by anything less or anything more complex

on a more minor note: i really really hate the plot development towards the end of catwoman (1993) where selina becomes obsessed with wealth and power. i'm not sure if it's a consequence of writers trying to bring in more of the queen of the underworld vibe from golden and silver age depictions of selina but i don't think it really fits with what selina is crafted to be in the early 90s. to me it's more than enough of a clever nod to older iterations of selina that notoriety and defiance are priorities for her in the costume. those are very much character traits the golden age catwoman exemplifies down to her last appearance written by bob kane. i don't think pursuit of wealth for wealth's sake needs to be added to her character at all and while i understand readers love her role as a philanthropist millionaire from catwoman (2002) onward i, again, don't think it does anything for her as an individual. it is very much a development used to parallel her to bruce rather than afford her personal worldview anything of substance (well, beyond her brief phase of remorse). and this may be stretching it a bit but i think it reflects on the shame some readers feel at the idea that selina is from a working class background. it kind of goes back to what i was saying about how people want selina to call out bruce's hypocrisies but they don't want her to actually have to exemplify any of them. they want her to be able to criticize bruce within the comfort of her own mansion rather than be witness to any of the circumstances that make her so angry and fiercely protective of the people like her. and when i pointed that out once for some reason people got angry and thought i was implying selina deserves no stability in her life whatsoever, but that's not what i'm saying at all. she does deserve to be stable. more than anyone in fact. but she doesn't need a mansion to be stable, and she knows that. if she could live in peace with the people she loved without the threat of violence from men she would be content. she's never asked for more than that and i don't see why she needs to

Okay, in that case I shall first put on my nerd glasses and briefly explain patronage for the uninitiated.

Patronage is a political structure that has existed in a few societies throughout history, primarily republics. The Roman Republic is probably the most well known example but it also existed in Tammany Hall era America. The basics are that those with power (generally the upper class and/or established political figures) provide aid to those lower than them. Examples: a wealthy patron hosting banquets for the disenfranchised or a politician with sway helping someone starting in politics to get the county seat. Those who receive patronage become the patron's clients (patron is a funny word because it can refer to the one giving patronage or the one receiving it but I'm using client for the one who receives to make it more understandable). In turn the client's patrons repay their patronage in some way, often in the form of votes. In this way clients directly correlate to political power, so those patrons with the most capability to provide patronage have the most power.

Ask for the application in regards to Megumu? I'll start by stating that I think Megs rejects meritocracy outright. Her goals are to leave as much power within Gensokyo in the hands of the tengu but also, in particular, her own hands. Those who become powerful enough on their own through their merit is just another threat to her power, hence why she betrayed Chimata as soon as Chimi didn't need her. Ability doesn't get you any advancement. If anything, the opposite. She doesn't want useless underlings, your merit is what allows you to work for her in the first place and you should be honored it got you that far.

Instead Megumu values loyalty first and foremost. Her way of seeking loyalty is through a system of patronage. If you're a tengu and you need information on the next news scoop, training, wealth, connections, or a higher rank then Megumu is happy to give it to you, but you must repay her kindness in some way and service to her is the most common. The majority of Megumu's underlings are her patrons and in the back of their mind each is aware that she can strip everything she gave away at any time.

Loyalty is a must but it is not enough to satisfy her. To be her client you have to provide her with something. You may not always have what she wants but she'll shape you to give it to her. Does a wolf tengu want a promotion but thinks they have nothing to give her? Don't worry, she's always wanted the commander of the south outpost under her thumb. You want another Daitengu to notice you? She'd love someone to report on their business.

Megumu does genuinely want the best for all tengu but she is a creature driven by greed and ambition. Regardless of how many clients she gains she would never challenge Lord Tenma but the other daitengu? ... Well she just happens to think they'd function best with herself as the tengu's shogun and Tenma as their emperor.

As for those associated with her? In Tsukasa's case she is a client but a bit more than that. Megumu sees a lot of herself in Tsukasa's ability to manipulate and use others. For that reason I think she favors Tsukasa almost like an apprentice or a pseudo-niece. Given pipefox are also typically wizard familiars and Megumu partially takes her name from a god of them I also personally see Tsukasa as her familiar but I think you could argue Touhou 19 disagrees with that.

In Momoyo case, she's definitely not Megmeg's client in fact Momoyo exists entirely outside of the Tengu's structure ... and that's kind of nice. Megumu legitimately sees her as a friend and an equal in strength. That's a relationship that she can't have with most tengu as she needs to be above it all to act as their patron. Plus she's aware that if she became their friends ... it might hurt to have to use them as tools. So having Momoyo? It's just really nice to have a friend.

we are all going to get old and die.

some die without getting old.

if this very second was the last of all i knew- I would die upset.

I'm not telling you to burn yourself out from reaching so many goals- or carelessly accept energies back into yours from mass forgiveness. or put as many poisons in your body as you can in one night- in the name of- we will be out of here at some point.

I'm asking you, what do you need? what could be done in this moment now- where you would not die disappointed? that creates no harm and only peace, harmony, and complete happiness to your existence? are you in control of it? what part of it may you be in control of? does there need to be control of anything? is grabbing from within and letting what's meant come possible?

you- and everyone you love are going to die. some you will watch- and some will watch you. it's time we started truly acting like that- and honor love, gratitude, and grace way more. 50 years from now or ten minutes. how much longer do you plan on living a life full of resentment, bitterness, gluttony, cold heartedness, greed of materials and humans, selfishness, unkindness, addiction to lack of a moral compass - because the internet or your friend says it's cool- anything that's a diluted version of your true self.

you find out- whoever your god is- is coming to get you in 5 minutes; how are you feeling in this very moment, about this moment, and what your existence looked like? how are you feeling about how you've treated the ones you claim to love? how do you feel about the love you've claimed to have for yourself? how do you feel about that nasty thought you had about a stranger earlier because they made you mad in traffic? how do you feel about the argument you had with your friend?

we look and feel things in such a replaceable quick view, but what's going to happen when you realize- you're going to die, too?

Five, the Goddess of Greed: A Drakengard 3 Analysis

TW: Mentions of r*pe and suicidal ideation

**Also contains spoilers for Drakengard 3!**

Edited 7/21/2022

Hey, welcome back. Or welcome, if you're new here. The Intoners from Drakengard 3 have been on my mind a lot lately and I wanted a space to talk about these ladies and share my thoughts in great detail.

Before I start, I should say that I've noticed that some of the Intoner sisters align with the seven deadly sins, and others align with heavenly virtues, so that's what this series is based on. My opinions are based mostly on the character novella and the DLC. I should also note these are strictly just my opinions based on the information I have on these characters, so I'm sure you won't agree with everything I say.

Now let's get on to Five, the Goddess of Greed.

"Once upon a time, many moons ago there was a beautiful intoner and a young man. The intoner was driven by a vast array of lusts. A lust for honor. For wealth. For sex. For food. And the young man who accompanied her...was really, really sick of it."

Five is the youngest of six "sisters" despite looking the most mature, and the ruler of the Land of Seas. She's...well, a lot of things. She's shallow, incredibly self-absorbed, uncaring, but also very dense and eccentric just to name a few. Just like the quote says, she desires many things but namely food, sex, and material objects (mostly dresses, shoes and accessories).

After reading her novella, you get an idea for just how simple-minded and almost childlike she is. All she really thinks about are the things I just mentioned above and doesn't think critically, let alone logically, about anything else.

As she describes in her novella (as does Dito in his), she has the daily struggle of not only deciding what to wear, but also wears multiple outfits a day. According to Dito, she also eats way more than the average person. Last but not least, she has sex with Dito multiple times a day, all of which is nonconsensual on his end. I can't even begin to tell you how bad I feel for him.

Needless to say, her appetite is bottomless. And no matter how much sex she has, how much food she eats, or how many dresses she has, she will never be satisfied and will always want more. I would argue she has an addiction to all these things, and these are real addictions that some people struggle with in their day to day lives. And this is in no way a justification her actions towards Dito in any way. Her continuous abuse is unforgivable and disgusting. Her antics and sexual abuse towards him cause him to be suicidal in both the novella and the DLC, wishing that he had a way out of this nightmare.

And obviously I can't diagnose her because I'm not a therapist or any other mental health professional. But based on my personal experience and research, I feel like she fits the bill of being a narcissist. Think about it. She:

Is self-absorbed and only acts in her best interest

Does not care about the needs or feelings of others

Lacks self-awareness

Shows conditional love (claims to love Dito, probably because he obeys her every wish)

Does not see people as human beings, but as tools or objects (Dito is an object for her own sexual satisfaction and she brainwashes all her servants to do her bidding)

Shows no remorse for her actions (ex: in Five's DLC, she casually admitted to torturing someone for information. That information ended up being a lie, by the way, so it was pointless in the end)

Believes herself to be a kind person (believes that her having sex with Dito is a reward for him, but fails to understand that he doesn't want it)

Despite all this, there's a part in the novella where she begins to wonder if there was something missing in her life, but couldn't come up with an answer. Dito answers this question in his own novella: love. The thing that Five is missing (and never received) is love. Here's a quote from Dito that explains it:

"No matter how many positions you try or how many hours you spend doing it, it will never feel good for you. Do you think sleeping with lots of people will fix that? You’re not satisfied with your dresses because none of them suit you. Do you think new ones will change that? You know that no one would serve you if you didn’t brainwash them. Do you think you’ll ever find someone who honestly loves you? Unfortunately there is no cure for your lack of sensation. No dress will ever look good on you and nobody on earth is crazy enough to love you. "

He thinks this to himself, of course. But he's spitting in this quote lol I think he's 100% spot on about this. He's unfortunately spent a lot of time around her and so he has her figured out. He knows her better than she knows herself.

THE FINAL SONG

Next, I wanna analyze her dance in the Final Song.  Here’s the link if you wanna watch it without the crazy camera obscuring your view : https://youtu.be/lISUblhqX5o

Just like the other odd-numbered Intoners, her dance is asymmetrical. Personally, I think the choreography of her dance is beautiful, yet there’s a tragedy to it. Her movements are heavily centered around her face; she is self-absorbed, after all. She reaches out constantly, but always pulls back before she gets too close. Like she’s trying to obtain something that’s too far out of her reach. Like she’s frantically trying to grasp as many of her wants and desires as possible. To be constantly seeking out these things and never being satisfied. Her appetite is truly bottomless.

CONCLUSION

The conclusion that I've reached based on all the information that I know, is that Five is trying to fill the loveless void in her heart by consuming all these things. It is revealed later on in the story that all of the intoners were born from Zero, the main protagonist. The intoners (save for Zero) didn't grow up with parents, and so they have never experienced unconditional love from parental figures nor from anyone else. I named her the Goddess of Greed specifically, even though Gluttony and Lust fit her just as well. I decided upon Greed because those things are forms of greed; Greed is a desire for power, wealth, or material objects. Gluttony is a desire for food. Lust is a desire for sex. I suppose she is tragic in her own way, but as I said, this is not meant to justify her behaviour. She was a danger to society (literally) so it's probably for the best that she was put down by Zero.

NOVELLA ARTWORK

One more thing while I'm here. I wanna talk about the novella image really quick. It shows Five and Dito sitting on the floor. Five has a wicked look in her eyes while Dito looks miserable and scared, which is their relationship in a nutshell. Well, he's not so much scared of her as he is resentful. The body language here is also very telling. She has her legs outstretched while he's sitting with his knees close to his body. That makes her look much bigger than him, and him smaller by comparison. Some of the other Intoners include multiple people in their novella artworks, but here, it's just the two of them. This is what matters the most to Five. You can really feel the power dynamic in this artwork.

AFTERTHOUGHT

Aaaand that's all she wrote folks. If you've made it this far, thank you for taking the time out of your day to listen to me ramble about video game women. I actually never played Drakengard 3 nor the other 2, but I saw the cutscenes online and the story and the characters really intrigued me. I'm probably gonna analyze the other 4 intoners as well at some point. Thanks again, and will see you in the next post. o/

Source: Synapse, the UCSF student newspaper, 1 December 1989 The author of this article also went on to become a doctor. 

Hugo's epic is brilliantly staged Just when you thought you had real troubles, along comes a musical that puts things into perspective. "Les Miserables," based on the novel by Victor Hugo, portrays the hardships of poverty and injustice in 19th century France, and the struggle of the oppressed for freedom.

The plot, which spans 17 years and involves numerous characters, is basically built from three intertwining subplots. The central one is the story of Jean Valjean, who was imprisoned for stealing bread to save his sister's son. Now he steals again, changes his name, and runs away. Officer Javert vows that he will hunt him down forever and bring him to justice for stealing and for violating his parole. However, Valjean reforms himself in his new life. He becomes generous and merciful to the unfortunate, including Fantine, who has been forced into prostitution to support her young daughter Cosette.

The second subplot involves the love triangle of Cosette (who is adopted by Valjean), Marius, and Eponine. The final story is that of the idealistic students, led by Enjolras, who want revolution.

The power of this production of "Les Miserables" lies in the consistently excellent performances of the entire cast. Rich Herbert (Valjean), for example, makes an impressive transformation from embittered prisoner to benevolent mayor, to loving father and faithful friend. His remarkable vocal range enables him to sing songs of anger and of tenderness equally well.

Richard Kinsey is magnificent as Javert. With his powerful, deep voice, he portrays Javert as a man driven not by spite or by evil, but by what he feels is an honorable duty. We cannot hate him for pursuing Valjean even though we see the misery caused by his system of "justice."

Gary Beach is marvelous as the despicable Thenardier, the main source of comic relief amidst the sadness pervading most of the plot. With every movement, every facial expression, and every note he sings, Beach exudes crudeness and greed and he appears to be enjoying himself thoroughly as he cheats his customers and steals from dead bodies.

Among the women, Michele Maika shines in her sympathetic portrayal of Eponine. Her solo, "On My Own," about her unrequited love for Marius and "A Little Fall of Rain," her final duet with him, are among the most touching scenes in the entire show.

Ironically, the least interesting and least developed character is Cosette. This is surprising, since her well-being is central to the plot (and since her face is on all those tshirts), and it is disappointing, as she (and Marius) come to represent hope for a better society in the future.

In addition to the fine performances, the staging was imaginative and impressive. The stage itself rotates, allowing for a great deal of traveling and motion during each scene. Moreover, the choreography and sound were excellent (as I can confidently attest, having sat in the student discount seats in the balcony).

The one major flaw in this musical is its length: a full three and a half hours. This is problematic on two accounts. First of all, there are so many exquisite melodies that it seems a shame to "dilute" them with less beautiful songs that are not necessary to the plot or whose themes are treated more effectively in other songs.

For example, at the end of Act One, Marius, Enjolras, and their friends are in a cafe singing a wonderful, inspiring song about their hopes of freedom and dreams of love. When at the end of Act Two, Marius returns to the cafe, the sole survivor of the revolution, and laments the loss of his friends and their dreams ("Empty Chairs at Empty Tables"), it is truly depressing. Therefore, we do not need other, less memorable songs about the death of loved ones and the frustrations of ideals; yet they are included.

Secondly, this musical deals with a considerable amount of tragedy (including cruel and oppressive laws, poverty and illness, unrequited love and the death of most of the characters), and despite the occasional humorous song, it is too much to take for so many hours. 

Nevertheless, "Les Miserables" is a thoroughly impressive, moving, and entertaining production.

Chassis Fiction for Greed of the Fallen Star

What follows are short fiction pieces that give meaning to some of the names behind NPC Chassis in my created Lancer campaign, Greed of the Fallen Star. There might be more of these in the future.

Knight of Iska (ee-ska)

"Siblings, on the precipice of battle we stand. Do not dismay. It is inevitable; the cowardice of the nonbeliever carries them to conflict with the faithful through fear and jealousy. What comes next is not due to our error or flaw, but a test of our passion and love.

Do not hesitate, act with resilience. If you find yourself anxious look to us and follow the Knights of Iska of the First Vision.

We are bulwark, the unerring wave of commitment.

Iska, sleep well and dream far and deep."

-Sir Marcel Wert, First Knight of Iska, on the eve of battle.

Thunder of Meitte (may-et-tay)

Meitte, the colonial settlement on Leta Miya, and the mud flats around the Rocky shelf it sits have long been subjected to assaults and skirmishes.

It wasn't until the Kirkander Coalition developed a specific artillery chassis to deal with the environmental conditions was either side able to seize Meitte completely.

Although slow, these mobile batteries allowed for flexible battle lines with substantial firepower, manned by limited, but skilled pilots. It was the salvo sound of these batteries that earned the MB-OF1 chassis the name 'Thunder of Meitte.

Pillar of Yisa (Yee-saw)

Yisa Sonnhein, or Saint Yisa, was known to the Order of the Azure Star as a champion and defender of her.

Her deeds as a fierce warrior are only second to her deeds as a protector. Whether holding choke points towards the end of the SecComm sieges or drawing fire while charging the trenches during the Silu Crusades, Saint Yisa was unerring in her devotion.

An order of proclaimed paladins use chassis modeled after Yisa's, The Pillars of Yisa.

The Litany of Saint Yisa:

"Saint Yisa, give us strength.

Mother of Courage, hold us steady.

Pillar of Honor, shelter our siblings.

Shieldbearer Yisa, teach us victory.

Sister Yisa, please make us Pillars of the Star Azure.

Lend us your blessing, Saint Yisa."

Technomancer

"Dandrec!"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Write this down: Wearable Office. Just *sigh* take this file... flick."

Ping, Dandrec looked down at the tablet he held in his hand. An absolute cascade of technical schematics and scribbled notes. He went through it briefly, and watched the concise genius become unraveled and bizarre.

"Iain,...where are you?" Dandrec found himself standing in Iain Kirkander's office, which she had apparently torn apart in favor of a workshop space. A pile of electronics, circuit boards, and struts sat in the middle of the floor.

"Did you send it to Engineering?" said the pile, "Your silence feels like a no."

"Iain, I'm sure this... Techno... mancer? It looks... great, but like... have you slept? You're late for a meeting you set."

"Dandrec, I'm going to need your help standing."

Title: I don’t understand why Trevor is so easily forgiven by the fandom (especially since nothing in the show or novels even hints at him being a victim of greedy managers)

I honestly don’t understand why this fandom is so sure that Bobby was forced to not credit his friends (when there is literally no evidence of that in the show or in the books).

When Trevor was interviewed after his debut album, he pointedly implies that he always made music alone and tells the interviewer that the “profound” lyrics come to him like “water flowing over a smooth stone”.

I’m sure that was far from the only opportunity Trevor had to honor his friends (or at least give them some credit), but instead he stole their songs, acted as if the lyrics were entirely of his own device and effectively erased his so-called friends from history.

Trevor had every opportunity to honor his friends, especially once he was an established singer and song writer, but he never gave them the credit they deserved because than he’d have to admit the legendary musician the world loved was nothing but a fake.

In fact, the books heavily imply that Bobby has always felt overshadowed by Luke (despite admiring him) and even outright had Bobby admit that he’s willing to “ride the boys coattails to the top” as long as they kept him in the band.

Bobby also felt overshadowed by his sports playing brothers, so when the opportunity presented itself to become a different person (with no ties to his past) and take credit for all the songs that he didn’t write.

He did exactly that.

He even chose to take the name of the musician the band met on the street corner the night that his friends died.

None of that was because some evil manager forced him to take credit and adapt a new name.

Bobby was simply tired of being “Bobby Shaw” (sick of being the least important member of the band by his own admission) and so he took advantage of the situation to make himself famous.

I can’t feel sympathy for a person like that.

Not when his actions meant stealing his friends legacy and erasing them from history out of nothing but greed.

And honestly the only reason Trevor’s second album wasn’t as good was likely because he ran out of songs to steal from his dead friends and had to start writing his own stuff.

The cow he’d been milking for fame and fortune was dead.

maybe you already know but there are various fanedits of the hobbit films that cut out the unnecessary parts and create a tighter storyline. i always watch those when i'm in the mood for a rewatch.

I actually have seen one of those fan edits. It removed some parts that I actually did enjoy, but made sense to edit out for making a more cohesive story line. And it removed the unnecessary romantic side plot that was shoehorned in for amatonormative reasons. Which was very much a relief and definitely the version to watch when I don't have the patience for Tauriel and Legorlando. (I've been calling him that since the first LotR movie came out and no longer remember how to spell the character's actual name unless I've read the books recently... which I haven't. I'm due a re-read.)

But ultimately it didn't really fix the biggest problem I have with the trilogy and the reason that I have to be in just the right mood for them or else I wind up feeling like it's a chore and have to stop. And it's, unfortunately, not something I think any fan editor really can fix. (Though, obviously, I'd love to be proven wrong.)

So LotR and the Hobbit are, fundamentally, very different types of stories. LotR is a story about the horrors of war and the resulting trauma and it's meant for adults. The Hobbit is a much happier and hopeful story that is, in part, about self discovery; it was not intended to be a children's book, but it is definitely far more suitable for younger audiences than LotR is. And while the first Hobbit movie does a good job of hitting the tone of the book, the second and, moreso, the third feel more like a LotR movie and for all that most of the basic plot of the Hobbit is still in there... they are not really Hobbit movies.

The battle for which the third movie is named has no place in a Hobbit movie that honors the tone, and actual plot, of the book. Taken for what it is, the Hobbit trilogy is well acted by the main cast and an interesting look at what happens when an otherwise good person in a position of power becomes too enamored of that power. And it's a tragic story about a found family torn apart by greed and war. I'd probably like it a lot better if I'd never read the book because I do enjoy a good, tragic fantasy - they're cathartic. But in this case I have read the book and I can't help but feel like a significant part of the third movie is entirely disrespectful to the source material. It feels like the creative vision behind the movie was that of someone who didn't actually want to make a Hobbit movie, they wanted to make more LotR movies. And, honestly? That's basically what happened. And because of how integral the battle is to the film, I'm not sure there's any fan edit out there that is capable of excising it entirely without the end largely falling apart.

Which is a shame because the Hobbit would make a good movie or movie duology (or tv mini-series). And we almost had it. (Though any fan edit of the movies that tries to cut out the final battle is one I'd happily give a watch. Even if the ending is choppy, I'd give them credit for trying.)

uncharted waters; for harusoie 300 days

[ 05.11.22 ♡ late post ] 

Two hearts, from two different worlds, meet and collide.

ACT I

Genta knows he shouldn't be greedy. After all, he already has everything he needs. A big family who loves him for who he really is; a childhood best friend he could, and he would, trust his entire life with; and an honored kingdom he has pledged eternal loyalty to till his final breath. The path to his future lies right before his eyes. It's the path everyone around him expects him to pursue. It's the path he himself originally chose to take, but no longer wanted to tread. "I want to be beautiful." Genta flinches and reflexively retracts his hand to seal his own lips in apparent haste. Being unable to filter his own thoughts mixed with a flurry of emotions like he usually does, indeed pisses the hell out of him. He desperately wanted to take that sentence back. But upon looking up, the faint glow of the moon's rays traveling in mini ripples across the depths of the ocean, he knew there ain't no way such an insincere wish will ever come true. The mermaid returns his disgruntled gaze to the sodden piece of thick paper in between his fingers. A human.

He mentally repeats the word over, and over, and over, and over. His thumb gently tracing the image of a distinctive figure that only humans possess. Genta shakes his head, somewhat hopeful that he could perhaps awaken from this unpleasant reverie. He doesn't.

The human imprinted onto the paperーa photoーGenta's captivated. They had a genuine smile on their face, as they held their posture in a way the mermaid never dared imagine possible. "Wow...” If he's being honest, he wants to do that too. If he's being completely honest, he wants to be like them, too. "A-Anyway, I wonder what their name is..." Genta mentally wonders. "Are they fond of the ocean? Would...would we ever get along if we meet each other someday...?" Several dozens more of questions popped into the mermaid's head simultaneously one after another. And he knows that, as utterly absurd as it sounds, there is only one way to answer quite his peculiar set of queries. "...No." The mermaid steals one last glimpse of the photo he denies having cherished even more than his beloved kingdom for the briefest of moments; before mercilessly tearing it into shreds. Through gritted teeth, Genta vows to never again let his heart be so easily swayed by the bittersweet fantasies his mind conjures up to make himself feel at least a little better about the kind of circumstances he was fatefully born into. Until, that very choice led to his doom.

His mates often caught him sneaking out right after class ends, just to take 'a quick peek' at the surface of the water for 'no particular reason'. He got called out for it by his mom too when she heard about the rumors. "I-It ain't true, Ma! I was only checkin' somethin' out, I swear!" But no one believed him. Genta promised to ignore his greed and just live the life already planned out for him. It's a hundred and twenty percent safer that way and he's totally aware of that. But the more he lies, the more he tries to make a fool out of himself, the stronger his desire becomes, the harder it is to fight his greed.  And that's when he snapped. The very people he once called his beloved family, his most trusted friends, and the kingdom he was supposed to serve all turned their backs on him for being the 'ungrateful siren who knows nothing about contentment'. "Tell me," the mermaid pleads, both hands clasped tightly before his chest, "how can I be a human?" A forbidden being, a familiar octopus any sane person would immediately recognize and avoid as fast as possible, raises an intrigued brow. "And why should I do that?" The water around this area feels a tad bit too dark, utterly heavy and suspiciously eerie, even. Goosebumps begin to cover both of Genta's arms, as a sharp chill zooms down the middle of his back. He was always reminded to never go anywhere near here, as a child. He obediently, blindly obeyed that warning, of course. But alas. A decision for life or death has been made. The order of things shall be made different, tonight. Ignoring the uneasiness rising from the pit of his stomach, Genta clenches his fists; perhaps to make himself remember the lengths he said he was willing to take in order to finally satiate his selfishness. With a sigh as deep as his resentment, he continues. "Please. I need to get outta here. Who knows what they'll do to a traitor like me, so please! Please, I need yer help..." "Well." A tentacle reaches out to touch his chin and his body trembles upon the sudden contact. "I do know of a way to turn you into one but need I tell you that what you're asking for comes with a certain priー"  "ANYTHING!" Genta shrieks, eyes welling up in desperation, "Anything, I'll give you anything, you can do whatever you want after this, just please turn me into a human!" The octopus creature smirks triumphantly; as if they had won the biggest, grandest lottery of a lifetime. "Then your wish, is my command." And with a mere snap of their fingers, Genta blacks out.

ACT II Genta dreams of being pulled ashore. Which he finds completely odd. He knows how to swim, he has a pretty tail, he can even breathe underwater because he's an actual living mermaid for crying out loud; so just why in the world is he being dragged out of the ocean? The answer to that is beyond him. "Hey... Hey!" Oh, he stops. His position shifts too, so now he's lying on his back. Weird, though. He can't feel the lower half of his body. "Hey, wake up. Wake up! Can you hear me? Are you okay?!" Too many questions. Genta mentally frowns. He very slowly pries his eyes open, forcing himself to awaken from his slumber, and the bright, blinding rays of the scorching sun greets him in an instant. "Ow..." "He's awake!" a voice exclaims, "He's awake! Thank God, I knew you would make it!" Genta tries to sit up but the pounding in his head betrays him immediately. "Ah!" "Careful!" whoever is the owner of the voice catches him right before he falls back into the water again. Good save. But their brief happiness ends there. "Sthop. Humgging. Mwe." Genta sternly instructs. "Hm? Are you saying something?" Spitting out whatever was in his mouth, firstーhe refused to know all the details about itーwith a more modulated voice, and more force this time, he reiterates, "I said. Stop. HUGGIN' ME!" Genta shoves the person, the human away from him as hard as he can and they, in turn, tumble back face-first into the ocean. That moment's also when his ear-piercing scream shook the entirety of the coastline area they're currently at. "GEEZ, WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!?" the person, the human lets out a complain equally loud and startled as he is. "YOUー" Genta points an accusing finger at them; his round, lilac eyes could almost already pass as two, three hundred and sixty degree spheres encased in his sockets. "WHAT DID YA DO!?" "Excuse me?!" the person, the human shouts at him again in reply, "that should be my line!"  A handful of tourists enjoying their time at the beach literally had to stop and stare towards their direction out of either confusion or curiosity. But with such a heated commotion taking place, they were going to need more than just an audience to cool things down. And it was only when the assigned lifeguard that day approached them to 'Keep it down a bit!' did they indeed shut up at long last. Cheers to the authority of direct intervention. "Hmph!" The two culprits tore their glares away at the same time; so they're now facing two opposite sides while sitting right next to each other. "Geez, just how ungrateful can you be?" Genta's companion whines, "I literally saved your life!" "Hah?" he rebukes, "Whaddya mean, 'save my life' crap? It ain't even like I was drownin' or somー" "That's precisely what was happening, Mister." He froze. "...Hah?" "You were drowning! In the middle of the ocean! If the lifeguard had not seen your unconscious body just floating around two seconds earlier we wouldn't be arguing like this right now!" Genta couldn't believe a single thing he's perceiving today. First, feet. He has too feet. Instead of two fins protruding at the end of his tail, he sees two feet. Attached to his legs, attached to his hips. And he's wiggling them, feeling them, trying them out as you read this particular sentence. Second, he was... drowning? So what he first saw that seemed like nothing but a simple dream, was actually the real deal. He was so close to death. No wonder it all appeared very wrong to him. He then made a cognitive promise to himself to be more careful next time. Especially now. Now that he's also a human. Genta clears his throat. Nothing much has changed, he concludes. The most notable one is his missing tail though, and he's still quite unused to not having it but then again this was what he signed up for. He has reached the point of no return. He's a human now, and not anymore some ugly siren his fellowmen despised and looked down on so much. He was reborn anew. This is his special chance for a new life; a fresh start. A satisfied chuckle then escaped through his slightly parted lips once the realization dawned on him. "...Why are you smiling all of a sudden?" "Hah? Was I?" "Yeah." "Oh, sorry. T'was nothin'." An awkward silence. Genta should think and act quick. He must not let any human (and technically any mermaid, too) soul know that he isn't, in fact, born human. So if his memory serves him right, and proper manners in his realm don't differ much from those of this realm, then the next, most polite thing to do is... "Sorry about earlier." Oh. A simultaneous apology from both parties. His companion's eyes grow wide, apparently astonished. And so does he. "Nah, I mean it. I'm really sorry. And, well... "Thanks. For savin' me." Genta feels (un)surprisingly light after that. He steals a subtle glance to his side but unfortunately he is unable to decipher why his companion's cheeks have a pale pink shade to them. Or perhaps he just didn't want to jinx himself and risk hearing that the reason doesn't actually have anything to do with him. He held his tongue from saying that out loud, though.  "O-Of course!" they stammered. "Just gotta do what you gotta do, right?" Genta nods in agreement. "Yeah, yer right." Another glimpse of his yields another small smile from them as a result. Genta's getting the hang of this; he starts to wonder how much more he'll grow as a person, as himself in this world. It fires him up and excites him for plenty new reasons. Ah, but then again he must not forget the most important detail. "What's yer name?" he finally asks and earns a light chuckle for another blunt attempt at trying to keep the conversation alive. Efforts are highly appreciated, nonetheless. "Soie." they replied, after a short pause. "You? Oh." They stop for a while, upon catching sight of Genta's little struggle which made them laugh at how silly he looks. "So... Sho... Soeー" "Sow-whee." "Sow-whee." "Perfect!" they cheer, "and you, sir? I believe I deserve to know yours as a reward for my courage today." "Ya sure talk a lot." He's one to speak. "Not like I mind though, but anyway," Genta takes a deep breath. One, massive hurdle is blocking his way and it takes literally every ounce of him to grab onto its handle, hurl himself over it, and land safely to the other side. "Haruto," he says, whilst recalling the meaning of the beautiful name he admires so much, in his head, "call me Haruto."  If he can get past some stupid hurdle, surely, he too can live in a world he was never supposed to learn about, yearn for, and step foot in, yes?

To be continued...

The Wrath of God

Do you fear God? When you pray, do you meet The Lord with the proper respect to which he is owed. I am observing Now a days it seems that everyone thinks he is their personal friend. They pray to him with no respect or regard to his Power and Kingdom. Its done in a fashion that people seem to brag about for instance, "I talk to God like this" then what follows is this ignorance as if they are talking to their friend from school/work or around the way. Where is the respect? Where is the approach of honor? The lack of respect for authority is alarming. There are many false prophets, preachers, pastors, bishops and others that are purposefully attempting to dismantle his authority to make it more acceptable for the masses, whereas the masses needs that FEAR OF GOD to discipline them. In the olden times there was a healthy fear of God that people respected. Now, people have turned away from authority. 

I blame the false leaders, the ill mannered parents and society as a whole for not upholding the values. I have been watching Sermon after Sermon and I see a common theme of disrespect. From the self proclaimed Apostle Gino, William Murphy, Mike Todd , Joyce Meyers, Joel Osteen to name a few. They preach the word as if they are walking on eggshells in front of their own congregation. Worried about public opinion and not delivering the fullness of the word. In addition to TD Jakes, I indeed believe that this man was called to the ministry at one point in time by God but through his greed and his sinful acts he has fallen into a pit that only repentance will save him. Yet, in his efforts to save his church he wont admit to any wrong doing but when you take a covenant with the occult, no longer are you fit to leads Gods People. 

Romans 16:18 reads 

For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

Serving their insatiable appetite for fame, money and love by the world. You can clearly see their values do not align with the Good book. Engaging in sin that defiles God and our temples [the body]. Conversing with other fellow Christians, there is this brainwashed response;

Matthew 7:1-2 reads 

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Yet, I counter that with Ephesians 5:11 which reads,

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

Its not judgement, only God can do that. I am not here to Judge or condemn but I am here to shine light on darkness.  I can not sit here and watch the masses drink from your chalice expecting  Living Water but in fact your serving Infested Pond Water. A message with no concrete value that isn't supported by scripture and doctrine. Glorified Lukewarm Motivational Speakers with the audacity to say the God sent you to deliver that message. I rebuke you. 

These people you call "leaders" have conformed to the World and do not stand apart as Gods appointed. Why is that do you wonder? Did it ever cross your mind? Did it feel odd? To witness your preacher engaging in World Music, Worldly activities, Worldly social gathers, Worldly speech? There has to be a moment you see the forest from the trees. We need to wake up before they lead you into the Lake of fire. 

Romans 12:2 reads 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

We are not meant to operate as the World does. That is not true Christianity, God did not instruct us to work this way. Yet we have pastors/bishops and other leaders of the church at Beyonce concerts and playing worldly music inside of the churches to appeal more to a younger crowd. Is this for profit ? Its certainly not for God!

I encourage you to think about your church ? Think of its foundation. Does it truly align with the word of God, the acts of God? and morals of God?. If it doesn’t then you need to Run! Before you follow any man who is flawed you first make sure that he is in proper posture to lead you to God. 

Through my research and connection with God I realized I had a Sacred Encounter.  

Best of VIFF Round 1

La Chimera: Directed by Alice Rohrwacher

Just got out of jail and still searching for his late Beniamina, crumpled English archaeologist Arthur reconnects with his wayward crew of grave robbers to find her and a path to the afterlife.

La Chimera feels like a modernize Italian Folktale that dives into the existentialism of losing a love one. We follow Arthur process his grief and anger as he throws himself back into his questionable work and friends. He watch him be at odds with his work as he is constantly reminded, either told or visual metaphor, that he is desecrating a sacred space in the name of "money", but more so, to find his lost love and a path to the afterlife. This is existentialism at its most personal, and Josh O'Conner does a fantastic job. He masterfully portrays the weight of someone reconciling their grief. Furthermore, I must commend him for learning Italian for this role. I can't speak of how good his Italian was, but he has my respect for learning it.

My Rating: B

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Evil Does Not Exist: Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi

A father and his daughter lives close to Tokyo like the generations before. A modest life according to the cycles and order of nature. However, when two companies arrive to the small town, it becomes clear that their project will have a navigate impact on their way of life.

Evil Does Not Exist is on its surface an interesting film. It's a slow-burn that only Hamaguchi knows how to do, that dives into environmentalism. This theme are perfectly portrayed as we see the quiet beauty of this forest and the peace that the locals live in. However, these themes are thrown out the window in the last 20 minutes as it decides to become an entirely different movie. This new "movie" does nothing to the story, if anything it contradicts the story. Then when it abruptly ended, my entire theater, including my self, gave an auditable "what?". I don't understand what theme Hamaguchi was trying to show as it becomes a jumbled mess by its end.

On the bright side all of the performances were great and their comedic timing was impeccable. Nearly all of the jokes landed through the movies natural dialog and chemistry between the actors. The cinematography was beautiful as it captures the beauty of winter in Japan. Furthermore, when paired with a knock-off version of Max Richter's "On the Nature of Daylight", you are sure to be memorized by the visual at least. I think Hamaguchi was onto something here, but for some reason unknown to me, decided to abandon it in the final act of the movie. Thus causing a pretentious feel to the movie.

My Rating: C

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The Promised Land: Directed by Nikolaj Arcel

In the mid-1700s, Danish King Frederik V declared that the wild heath of Jutland should be tamed, cultivated and colonized so that civilization could spread and new taxes be generated for the royal house. However, no one dared to follow the King’s decree. However, the land is wild and brutal, yet a soldier came to bring better wealth and honor he had sought for.

The Promised Land is a very simple yet effective story about low born soldier wishing to climb the social ladder. Yet within this story that is as old as time, we see numerous themes such as classism, racism, and greed be masterfully woven into it the story. In which they are explored in the most brutal manner possible in mid-18th century Denmark. From the inhuman treatment of servants to the brutal weather of the Jutland, The Promised Land is not for the faint of hearted. Yet, by the films end, there is still a glimmer of hope and prosperity in finding the life you feel like you deserve. Its a quiet, yet robust period epic.

Mads Mikkelsen delivers a masterfully performance. He is quiet, yet powerful as he is able to convey so much without saying a single word. Simon Bennebjerg plays one of the most despicable villains I have seen in a long time. He is menacing as he is twisted. He is like an adult version of King Joffrey. A perfect antagonist for this period piece. The cinematography is beautiful as it captures the brutal beauty of the Jutland. These visuals transport you back to this brutal time perfectly. Overall, Denmark has selected an excellent film to be their Oscar contender. So be on the lookout for the Promised Land.

My Rating: A-

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My Animal: Jacqueline Castel

Tormented by a hidden family curse, Heather lives in seclusion on the outskirts of a small town. When she falls for the rebellious Jonny, their connection threatens to unravel Heather’s suppressed desires, tempting her to unleash the animal within.

My Animal is an interesting horror piece that explore werewolf mythology and its consequences. For which it ultimately becomes a massive metaphor for a woman's monthly cycle. In this metaphor was obvious from the beginning, and I wished it took it in a different direction. It follows the "horror" coming of age/ sexual awakening beat per beat. But this time it is paired with nauseating cinematography and visuals. So nauseating that I almost had to leave during the showing. The characters were quiet bland, and at points hard to cheer for when they are so irresponsible. Despite these bland characters, Bobbi Salvor Menuez and Amandla Stenberg both do good jobs with the material that they were given with. However, my favorite performance came from Stephen McHattie who had a presence that no one else in the film had. Overall, its an interesting piece but nothing really knew.

My Rating: C+

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The Zone of Interest: Directed by Jonathan Glazer

The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.

While writing this review I am still processing my thoughts on Jonathan Glazer's The Zone of Interest. It was not the film that I was expecting. I was expecting more of a standard period piece, but the one I got was definitely more arthouse than what I was expecting. I am unsure if i preferred it being told in that manner, but one thing is for sure is that is that Glazer shows these inhumane people for the monsters that they are. The juxtapose between a warming and beautiful house and garden, next to a place of death and genocide perfectly captures how horrible these people were. Glazer as found a new lens of showing the horrors of the Holocaust. We are shown only the smoke and the walls of Auschwitz, but we hear the horrors of what is happening inside that dreadful place. The fact that they believe building a home and raising their children next to Auschwitz is horrifying.

Christian Friedel and Sandra Huller perfectly portray these monsters. Their complete lack of self-awareness, paired with their cruel, inhumane nature is perfectly captured by Friedel and Huller. Both of whom might receive an Oscar nomination. Overall, The Zone of Interest is an excellent film. Even though I might have not of been a fan of how the story was told, I still respect it. Watch out for The Zone of Interest at the Oscars this year.

My Rating: A-

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Mr. Dress-up: The Power of Make Believe: Directed by Robert McCallum

Kindness, creativity, inclusivity, and a touch of magic makes the world a brighter place. Explore the story and impact of Canadian entertainer Ernie Coombs and his iconic series, Mr. Dress-up, which enriched the lives of five generations.

Before going into this documentary, I had no idea who Mr. Dress-Up was. His show was in a different country and was on air before I was born. But from the tearful audience reaction to watching this doc, you can sense the importance he had on so many peoples lives. Mr. Dress-Up is a heartwarming and moving documentary of a man who shaped the lives of so many generations. This documentary was so moving that I was getting tearful by the films end. The film recognizes the impact he had, and does it in an incredibly touching way. Mr. Dress-Up is an excellent documentary that shows the importance to one of the most influential men in Canadian history.

My Rating: A

Daily Devotionals for July 13, 2023

Proverbs: God's Wisdom for Daily Living

Devotional Scripture:

Proverbs 20:19-21 (KJV): 19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. 20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. 21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed. Proverbs 20:19-21 (AMP): 19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore associate not with him who talks too freely. 20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in complete darkness. 21 An inheritance hastily gotten (by greedy, unjust means) at the beginning, in the end, it will not be blessed.

Thought for the Day

Verse 19 - People who talk in a degrading fashion about others cannot be trusted, especially with private issues. Those who are loose with the secrets of others, will not hesitate to share yours. They will also manipulate people with flattery to gain their trust for their selfish gain. They are not truly interested in helping others, only in finding out their secrets so that they may spread them.

Verse 20 - Although the basic meaning of the word used for "curse" can include "to wish or to speak evil," the basic meaning here is "to esteem lightly." Many people say they are not guilty of cursing their parents, but they may not consider that they are esteeming them lightly. According to the Hebrew meaning of this verse, to disrespect or disobey one's parents is actually to curse them. One of the Ten Commandments tells us to honor our father and mother, so that our days may be long upon the earth (Exodus 20:12).

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth" (Ephesians 6:1-2). According to verse 20, the penalty for cursing one's parents is that the children will lose their guidance in this dark world (their lamp will be put out). If we cannot see the proper path to walk down, we will end up on the wrong path, leading to destruction.

Verse 21 - Greed can lead people to obtain their inheritances underhandedly. An inheritance obtained unjustly will not give the benefit expected of it. Genesis tells how Jacob gained his brother Esau's inheritance by deceiving their father. It cost him the loss of a relationship with his brother and many years of living in fear that Esau would kill him for his act of treachery. The whole incident caused years of heartache for the entire family. Jacob also reaped treachery from his sons and suffered bitterly when they sold their youngest brother into slavery. The Bible teaches us to value relationships more than riches or material things.

Prayer Devotional for the Day

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for all the wonderful friends and family You have given to us. Lord, may we always value these gifts of love and friendship and never violate them. May we always be the kind of friend that is trustworthy and that others will know their secrets are safe with us? Guard our mouths and let us only speak edifying and needful things. May we always respect our parents and elders and give them honor. Lord, may we treasure our relationships and always value them above things. If we lose things, they can be restored; but if we lose a relationship because we value material things above our friendships and cause a brother or sister to be offended, we may never win their trust again. Help us always to embrace the truth that -- relationships are more valuable than things. We humbly ask these things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and your Son. Amen. From: Steven P. Miller, @ParkermillerQ, Founder of Gatekeeper-Watchman International Groups @GatekeeperWatchman.Org Thursday, July 13, 2023, Jacksonville, Florida., Duval County, USA. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Sparkermiller.JAX.FL.USA, https://www.facebook.com/StevenParkerMillerQ Instagram: steven_parker_miller_1956, Twitter: @GatekeeperWatchman1, @ParkermillerQ, https://twitter.com/StevenPMiller6 Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/gatekeeperwatchman, https://www.tumblr.com/gatekeeper-watchman,

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