#ask hamliet
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Do you have any thoughts on how RWBY handled the white fang storyline?
Unpopular opinion: it's decent?
Now, now, before people come at me with pitchforks: yes, it's overly simplified. The entire story is a fairy tale, though, so that's not out of place. It also complements the rest of the story thematically, and manages to incorporate nuance and complexity in despite the simplification of issues.
I think it's a mistake to look at the White Fang as a 1=1 of the real life struggles of marginalized groups. That said, there obviously are parallels, and so people aren't mistaken to note those. I just think it's not meant to be an instructional manual and shouldn't necessarily be viewed as one, but rather a conversation starter in some ways. And yes, those conversations can and should include critiques.
So I'll go over the points that I think it did well and how those ties into real life, but also specifically how they work for RWBY's overall story. This does not negate criticisms, especially those by marginalized groups.
In contrast to some other fictional depictions, RWBY actually is better as well because it avoids the number one pitfall of such issues: the X-Men fallacy. I've talked about this in terms of Attack on Titan before, but essentially it's the idea that the problem with depicting discrimination against superpowered people is that, well, there is a logical reason for people to be concerned about superpowers; hence, it almost justifies that very discrimination it seeks to condemn. This isn't present in the faunus/human divide. They are both capable of superpowers.
It also doesn't fall into another common pitfall: the idea that people have to be perfect to be victims of discrimination. The White Fang... has senselessly and cruelly murdered people; doesn't mean faunus discrimination isn't also cruel and senseless and doesn't justify it. And this is something that we do see in real life too--people trying to either completely whitewash the actions of radical anti-oppression movements, which can do awful things, or trying to use these awful things as evidence that these people deserve discrimination when really it's a result of rage and desperation at a society that refuses to give them anything. That doesn't justify the pain of the victims of the awful things (see, Weiss) but nor does it negate the righteousness of that anger.
It does portray the faunus as a fairly diverse group too, when fiction often portrays marginalized groups as a monolith. That's not true. People from one group have very different ideas about what liberation looks like, and what they want to achieve. People in marginalized groups are people, and they can be motivated by a variety of selfless principles and egotistical validation, and neither negate the other. See, Sienna vs. Ghira vs. Adam.
Now, of course within RWBY Ghira's more nonviolent principles more or less win out. That's because RWBY is again a fairy tale where you have to fight to live, but that also doesn't endorse violence. If you expected otherwise, wrong genre. Of course the real world is far more complex, but it's not as if there is no real world basis for this either. Peacemakers exist, and nonviolence has accomplished a lot before. Whether or not that's the be-all-end-all of the faunus struggle in RWBY isn't even clear, so I don't think it's intended to be the be-all-end-all preached moral as it applies to the real world either.
Story-wise, the White Fang functions as a Jungian shadow of society. If you do not take charge of your own life, you are letting others decide for you. The faunus who disagree with the White Fang take it back, because they have to acknowledge it to move forward in society. They have to integrate with it, and accept their own humanity: capable of good and what they might rather deny.
This faction--the faunus who don't like the White Fang--are represented in Ghira, who becomes passive and steps back from aspects of the movement. However, when Blake arrives in Menagerie, this changes, because Blake's entire arc is about integration. Ghira then becomes active, working for the rights of the faunus and for the White Fang to be better rather than simply disavowing the White Fang in an attempt to be a good person, because doing nothing isn't exactly good.
On a more character level, the White Fang exists for Blake's arc. Her Jungian archetype is the Shadow. Like, it's literally her semblance's name. Hence, the idea of the shadow is gonna be important. If you want more on this, @aspoonofsugar has written a meta on it here and another here.
So, for Blake, on a personal level the White Fang (especially under Adam) represents the parts of herself she doesn't like. The part that ran from her family. The part that is violent. And yet, she cannot abandon it or simply disavow it. No, the answer is instead:
We’re not going to destroy the White Fang. We’re going to take it back.
She has to integrate with it, take the good--the righteous anger, the focus on justice and equality.
The White Fang also comments on the microcosm/macrocosm of alchemy.
For the unaware, RWBY is an alchemical story, and the principles of alchemy are represented in the symbol for the philosopher's stone, as seen above. Microcosm: the smaller circle enclosing two people in the center who come together (hence chemical weddings). The square is the four elements: water, earth, fire, air. The triangle is body, heart, and mind. The larger circle is the macrocosm.
The Shadows for Blake on a personal level--microcosm--is Adam. The Shadow on a worldwide, big picture scale--the macrocosm--is the White Fang. Integrating with the shadow isn't only an individualistic endeavor, but also one that benefits society as a whole and brings life to the entire world. The main point of alchemy's philosopher's stone, which Blake, along with the rest of RWBY, are symbolically being transformed into.
I think the main issue with the White Fang, by the way, is its handling of Adam. Typically you don't kill the shadow, though I do think Blake kinda had no choice. Still, I don't think the show fully explored him.
Yet what does work with what we have is that Yang has to face Adam, Blake's shadow, to be with Blake. Yang losing her arm to Adam parallels her being upset about losing Blake to fear, because symbolically Blake can hurt her deeply in the way only a lover can. Blake has to stop running from her shadow and allow herself ot be known and seen by Yang to be with her.
#ask hamliet#rwby#rwby meta#blake belladonna#yang xiao long#white fang#adam taurus#bumbleby#sienna khan#ghira belladonna
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My guy, Hawks is unraveling more and more each chapter and I’m just wading in it like a wave pool. Absolutely giddy. I’m not sure how correct this translation is, but someone said he told endeavor to stop dabi “at all cost” and if that’s true, what an absolutely buck wild thing to do. Because the subtext is pretty clear. He’s telling enji to kill his son.
Yep. No, it's very exciting when Hawks gets like this, like all aboard the Hawks-acoaster, murder attempts ahead. I have no idea if this pun works in Japanese, but man, was this dude spot on about creating a world where heroes have time to kill.
(badum-tsch. thank you, I'll be here all night.)
Giddy is really the perfect word for it. Hawks's premonition about cornered people is honestly about himself. He says he feels "Free" in 299, but also tells us that true natures come out when people feel cornered or feel finally free. And like, according to Hawks he's currently the latter, but he's about to be the former.
And that the people around him won't see his true nature until he feels cornered. Or at least the hero side, because Jin did and Dabi learned too late about what sort of person Takami Keigo is.
Between having to face his actions (Twice), his fantasy of heroism breaking in front of his eyes (the Todofam drama), and the immense amount of pressure on him at the moment, this is Keigo's time to break. Hence why I wrote that little meta on his veneer cracking.
So, yeah, after four and a half years of being one of the most complex and confounding and contradictory characters, to the point where my initial statement from my first meta, that Hawks is a character that says one thing, thinks another, and does something else entirely, still applies, we're finally going to see who he is.
And the fact we have Dabi involved, who we all knew would be involved in this from the moment we saw them in 191? Heck, even earlier?
And that's he's repeating himself - he said they need to kill the twice clones (and Toga i guess), and now he's telling Enji to put his son down? Yeah, that's the thing - that's who Hawks is. This is the man who smiled at another man and called him good and a friend and none of that stopped him from killing him.
None of that stopped him from singing his praises after killing him, either. One of the fascinating parts of his whole deal.
I think it's just going to be abundantly clear that Keigo is this ruthless person who just doesn't understand ties of friendship and family as well as other people. He tells us he understood his parents were broken, It was hinted at during the raid when he essentially told Dabi he wasn't reacting right to the death of a friend, but I think it showed that Hawks has a very set idea, almost textbook like, of human behavior and it needing to fulfill certain patterns.
This is, of course, very common in extremely abused children. And children raised in institutions have this issue. I also want to make it clear that Hawks believes he's doing the right thing. Or necessary things for the right reasons. That's a core part of his personality no matter what. He might be extremely ruthless and lacking in what others take to be humanity, but Hawks wants to be a good person. You can't understand him without accepting that he does awful things for what he believes are good reasons and manages to keep "sane" by telling himself that they need to happen or that he has no choice in the matter (removing his own agency to not take accountability).
Hawks is at once both extremely perceptive but also somewhat incapable of understanding some of the nuances of complex relationships. I don't think he truly understands why Jin picked the League over what he was offering him, even if he admires the kind of person Jin is (in a moment of self-awareness knowing that he isn't that sort of person and likely cannot be). And I am very, very sure watching Enji Todoroki reach out to his murderous, villainous, and likely in Keigo's eyes, irredeemable son at the expense of their society (and thus Keigo himself) will be the final straw for him. Because Keigo never got that from his parents. Keigo has done 'good' all his life, and is now shunned by the people (civilians) he's been breaking himself for.
That TV that so captured his attention as a child is about to lose its signal.
I don't think Hawks will able to understand why Enji would want to save someone who doesn't want to be saved. Remember what he told Jin? That when neither side (heroes or villains) don't want to give up, someone has to die? That's what he sees here, and the main issue is that Hawks will absolutely see this as Enji giving up. Endeavor isn't Endeavoring (which means Enji isn't doing the things Hawks likes him for). So, yeah, I think he'll either try to do it himself or snap and harm Enji (which would be a perfect time for Shouto to stop him).
So, yeah, I'm excited. I mean its awful that he's telling Endeavor to kill his son, but man have I waited for the follow breakdown when Enji doesn't do this for years.
#this is just what I'm predicting#I think Hamliet has very good theories on Hawks attacking Dabi#and I'm very eager to see them happen#hawks#asks#i know my view on him is very cynical but damn I've gotten a lot right about his manipulation and ruthlessness#I have a good gut instinct he's about to snap
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do you think the song out for love says something about Camilla and veggie and to veggies character arc
Hi!
Yes, it does. I want to talk about Vaggie in other metas too, so in this analysis I will focus on her relationship with Carmilla, since this is what you are mainly asking about.
Before I start, though, I am gonna link to you this meta by @hamliet, where she talks about the main message of the song:
You're gonna fight without gloves
And when that push comes to shove
Yeah, you just might rise above
Long as you're out for love
If you love, you might rise above. So Vaggie, a fallen angel, regrows her wings by choosing love and protection over hate and revenge. The meaning is crystal clear. Love makes you worthy of Heaven. Just like in the finale Pentious ascends thanks to his selfless sacrifice.
This is the meaning of the song when it comes to theme and to the series as a whole.
At the same time it is not by chance this theme comes out so strongly in relation to Carmilla and Vaggie, as they are both tied to "love".
FAMILIAL LOVE AND ROMANTIC LOVE
Carmilla Carmine: So I, I'll be your keeper
Do whatever it takes, I'll make the mistakes
I'll keep you safe and keep this secret
Vaggie: So I, I'll be your armor
Do whatever it takes, I'll make the mistakes
I'll spend my life being your partner
Carmilla and Vaggie are set up as foils in episode 3, when they share the song Whatever It Takes. This ballad is a love song, but Carmilla and Vaggie express two different kinds of love:
Carmilla is singing to her daughters (familial)
Vaggie is singing to Charlie (romantic)
This is a pattern throughout the show:
There are two versions of More Than Anything - the first one is about a familial bond, whereas the second explores a romantic relationship
Sir Pentious gets redeemed after expressing his feelings for Cherri (romantic) and sacrificing himself for the Hotel Crew (familial)
So, Hazbin Hotel goes out of its way to celebrate all kinds of positive bonds: platonic, romantic, familial. All of these relationships are enriching and help people grow. Vaggie and Carmilla are two characters linked to this very concept, as they are ready to fight and suffer for their loved ones:
Both: Whatever we go through
I know I~ (Carmilla: I'll be your keeper)
(Vaggie: I'll be your armor)
Whatever it takes (Carmilla: I'll make the mistakes)
(Vaggie: I'll make the mistakes)
Whatever it takes
They are both warriors, but fight for love. They are out for love. However, Whatever It Takes also highlights a major difference between them.
TRUST AND SELF-EXPRESSION
Scrambled Eggs is an episode about trust. This is true especially for Carmilla and Vaggie, who have opposite secrets:
Carmilla killed an angel
Vaggie is an angel
Throughout the song the conflict between Heaven and Hell is mentioned by Carmilla and is present in subtext in Vaggie's stanza, as she looks at her old home.
Both are struggling under the pressure of these truths and are confronted by a loved one:
Zestial: Carmilla, what troubles thou? Losing thy composure is unlike thee.
Carmilla Carmine: It's nothing, Zestial, really.
Charlie: Vaggie, don't say that! You do so much! It's-
Vaggie: I'm sorry. I'd… I'd like to be alone for a minute.
Carmilla chooses to open up to Zestial and tells her daughters how much she loves them. Vaggie instead closes herself off and refuses Charlie's attempt to talk. She is singing to Charlie, but Charlie herself isn't present to hear her out. Even when it comes to their respective secrets...
Carmilla says hers in the song:
Carmilla Carmine: I always thought that I would keep blood off my face
But when that thing attacked, I had to act
To cross that line and keep them safe
But if anyone knew, then all of Hell would rise to war
And who's to say who'd survive the fray?
I might lose the ones that I was killing for
Vaggie only alludes to hers in the lyrics:
Vaggie: When I saw your face
You made me feel like a stranger in a brand new place
And it felt so good to be understood
But there's so much I wished that I could say
Vaggie meets Charlie and feels like a stranger in a brand new place because at the time she is in fact a stranger in a brand new place:
So, Carmilla is able to express herself, while Vaggie can't. This isn't surprising, as Vaggie is basically a child-soldier:
Adam: Do you really think I wouldn't recognize one of my top girls just cuz you're out of uniform? You were on the front lines, I wouldn't forget a bad bitch like you. It's why I named you after the best thing ever. Vaggie.
She is brought up in Adam's army and is taught that love is conditional. She is one of Adam's best fighters, but the moment she makes a "mistake", she is discarded:
Lute: Sinful filth like you has no place in heaven.
This is why she feels Charlie will love her only if she is useful and never messes up:
Vaggie: I'm supposed to make your dreams a reality. I'm supposed to protect you. I'm supposed to never fail you. (...) If I can't help you, what's the point of me?
This fear of abandonement and rejection is also at the root of Vaggie's inability to tell Charlie about her past:
Adam: I guess I'll just tell little miss butterflies and rainbows that she's been fucking someone who's killed-- thousands of her people. I'm sure your relationship will be fine.
Still, despite her communication issues, Vaggie's heart is in the right place:
Rosie: If there's anything I've learned, it's that words are cheap, but actions, they speak the truth. So, what have her actions said?
Vaggie is a person of few words. This may be why she has less songs than other characters. Still, she lets her actions speak, so she is given a ballet lesson by a very talented ballerina:
DANCING THROUGH LIFE
Carmilla has a ballet motif, as her outfit resembles that of a ballerina and her two daughters are called after protagonists of famous ballets. So, it is only natural that she teaches Vaggie a new way to fight through dancing.
Vaggie was taught to fight with hate and anger. So, her fighting style is aggressive and focused on attack:
Carmilla: You leave yourself open with every swing. You fight like someone unafraid of harm, and this is what you'll take advantage of. Angels wield no shields, little armor and fight with reckless abandon.
Carmilla tells her she should instead dedicate herself to love, protection and defense:
Fuel yourself with the fear of losin'
That somebody who's your reason to live
Harnеss your heart and you can't help choosin'
To fight with all you can give
Vaggie shouldn't just fight. She should dance:
She shouldn't hate:
I see you're driven by your detestation
Your every step is stoked with animus
You need a different type of motivation
Or there's no way that you can handle this
She should love:
Out for love~
Love~
Think of who you care about
Protect them and be out
For love~
Love~
Vaggie listens to these teachings and applies them in the finale, in two ways.
She sings her love for Charlie in More Than Anything Reprise:
Vaggie: You've already done so much
So many lives you've changed
So many souls you've touched
And in the end, if it's only me you've saved
Charlie and Vaggie: There's something that I've been dying to say
More than anything, more than anything
Need you to know I love you more than anything
More than anything
As stated above, Vaggie doesn't sing much in season 1, but in the final episode she gets a short moment to express how she feels to Charlie. This is in contrast to Whatever It Takes, where she sends her girlfriend away before she starts singing. More Than Anything Reprise shows Vaggie's progress when it comes to self-expression.
She follows Carmilla's advices while fighting
On a practical level she covers herself up in a battle suit inspired by Carmilla's outfit, she wears a harness on her heart and ties her hair:
Vaggie: I'm not used to fighting with long hair.
On a thematic level she reveals her wings and defeats Lute, when the exorcist threathens Charlie:
Lute: So, I'll spare you the pain of seeing your demon bitch die.
And Vaggie eventually chooses not to kill the other angel:
Lute: Do it, then. Correct your mistake.
Vaggie: Seriously, you're pathetic, you know that? Ready to die rather than accepting mercy? No, live. Live knowing that you only do because I let you, the failure.
Vaggie is asked to choose between her hate for Lute and her love for Charlie and she chooses the latter. This is why the scene ends with Vaggie leaving Lute and flying to help Charlie. She is given the chance to get revenge, but doesn't take it. She is given the chance to hate, but she loves:
I know you're thirstin' for vengeance, Vaggie
You're out for blood
But you'll only stand a chance if you're out for love
This is important in two ways:
1- The macrochosm - Vaggie refuses Lute's ideals and defies her expectations. For Lute it is normal that Vaggie is going to kill her. After all, Vaggie is discarded because she shows pity to a sinner, which makes her weak. Still, Vaggie bests Lute in a fight, so she is now strong. It is only obvious then that Vaggie has snapped out of her foolery and is ready to kill. She can correct her mistake. She did not kill the cannibal child, but she can kill Lute. This is how Lute understands the world. And yet, Vaggie doesn't finish her off. By doing so, she moves away from the mentality Lute embodies. She is strong precisely because she can show mercy. Adam is wrong. Lute is wrong. Vaggie isn't out for blood. She is out for love.
2- The microchosm - Vaggie sparing Lute isn't just the morally correct choice, but it is Vaggie's first step into healing:
Husk: (To Vaggie) This one. Judges everyone and everything because she hates herself.
Vaggie hates everyone because she deep down hates herself. She despises Heaven and Angels because she can't forgive her involvement in the exterminations. So, Vaggie hurting Lute would be Vaggie hurting her past self. As a matter of fact Lute is Vaggie's dark mirror. She is who Vaggie might become if she gives in to hate.
A person who hurts others:
And herself:
Vaggie instead has to value her life, so that she can protect others. She must save others and heal herself. Only in this way she can be by Charlie's side. She needs to let go of self-hate to embrace a healthy love. Vaggie's arc is her learning self-love through her bond with the Princess of Hell.
Obviously this journey is just at the beginning and our Angel of Love has a long way to go. How will her story contiue? We can make some hypothesis, which once again stem from Vaggie and Carmilla's foiling. This is just a theory, so take it with a grain of salt, but Vaggie may have a secondary personal antagonist in Hell:
Why is that so? It's because Scrambled Eggs sets Vaggie and Velvette up as foils.
RESPECT(LESS)
Velvette and Vaggie are opposites in their interactions with Carmilla. Both girls are younger than the Dancer Overlord and could learn a lot from her. However, Velvette refuses any kind of mentorship and shows no respect:
Velvette: Mad that I acted respectless? Well, it's cause no one could respect this!
You're long past trending! Sorry, bae, but I ain't swiping right! You've lost your relevance-
Vaggie instead comes to respect Carmilla and learns from her:
At the same time, both Velvette and Vaggie confront Carmilla about her secret:
Velvette: 'Oops!' Did I strike a nerve?
'Cause when I brought out the angel's head, couldn't help but observe, that your wrinkled face was turning red!
And why are you avoiding war? That's what the guns you sell are for!
Thanks to my being respectless, one thing I'm starting to suspect is
You know why this angel's headless! Do you have a disclosure?
Vaggie: I know what you did on extermination day. We can talk about it inside, or I can yell about it out here.
They call Carmilla out on killing an angel and keeping this knowledge to herself. Not only that, but both argue that it is necessary to fight back to stop the exterminations:
Velvette: We found it during Extermination day. If these Holy Rollers can be killed, the game has changed. We can take the fight to them. The boys and I have come up with a full assault plan!
Vaggie: Miss Carmine, I'm here on appointment from the princess to enlist your aid in the defense of hell from the angelic extermination. We know an angel fell at your hands and we need to know how.
Still, Velvette fails to get through to Carmilla because she uses war rhetoric:
Velvette: Oh, I get it. So Grandpa is too pussy to fight, so I guess there's no point, right? Oh, what's the matter, Fossil? Too senile to make a real power grab...
She speaks of violence, strength and power.
Vaggie instead convinces Carmilla to help because she mentions the necessity to fight for loved ones:
Vaggie: We didn't pick this fight, but it's here now. And they aren't going to stop with us. You didn't see the look on their leader's face. With us out of the way, it's only a matter of time before they come for the rest of you. They won't stop until all of hell is wiped out, so you can help us make a stand here together, or you can stand alone tomorrow.
She speaks of protection, love and comraderie.
In short, Vaggie succeeds where Velvette fails. Of course, this is true for Charlie's group in general when it comes to the Vees:
Vox: My dear people! We at VoxTek Enterprises have always been at the forefront of innovation. And now, with this new oncoming threat, we are shifting our focus, to your protection. We are pleased to announce VoxTek Angelic Security is coming soon! Trust us, with YOUR safety.
Katie Killjoy: Breaking news - Extermination day is cancelled! Charlie Morningstar managed to fend off the angelic attack with more than just nice words.
The Vees make big declarations of how they are gonna protect the people of Hell, but in the end it is Charlie and her friends who fight for the sinners.
When it comes to Vaggie and Velvette specifically, it is going to be interesting if their foiling is expanded. If so, then I guess Velvette is gonna help Vaggie mature a little bit more, so that when our ex exorcist faces Lute (her nemesis) again, she is gonna be ready for it.
#hazbin hotel#vaggie hazbin hotel#vaggie#carmilla carmine#velvette hazbin hotel#chaggie#charlie x vaggie#hazbin hotel meta#my meta#asksfullofsugar#anonymous#hazbin lute
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Fic WIP Meme
Rules:
In a new post, post the names of all the files in your WIP folder regardless of how non descriptive or ridiculous.
Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them and post a little snippet or tell us about it.
Tag as many people as you have WIPs. If you don't write, list your art WIPs!
I got tagged by @curiousserpent (hi!) and had to grapple for a while with what should count as a wip for this - if it has a separate file? what if it's just one line of a concept? eventually i decided fuck it we ball and im including those only if i have something to say abt them at least sorry
So we have:
Ubongo Stray Dogs <3
skk idk
The Beach Episode We Should've Gotten
Ocean man take me by the hand (let's nap)
Decide to Sing (How to Make a Portrait of a Bird)
Fyolai Shit <3
Beauty and the Beast AU
Court Jester
Reincarnation AU
sad fyolai night
post ep 11 thots <3
5 times they used their relationship as an excuse (and one time they weren't lying)
... these are all bsd except for the last one (mysterious lotus casebook) i have serious brainworms
I'm tagging @t4tpolypd @ratwars @hamliet and @oh-no-here-we-go (if you still write) No pressure for anyone and if you see this and want to participate too consider yourself tagged by me!
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Heya! I wanted to ask you… do you have any hope that the books will come out and we’ll finally know the real ending? And what do you think Jon and Dany’s endings will be? I keep on being optimistic we will get the real ending. And all I need for it to be perfect is Dany and Arya and Jon (my three favorites) surviving and being able to find peace and happiness after the hells they all suffered. As much as I want Dany and Jon to be King and Queen, I’ll settle for them living. But what do you think?
Hello my friend, thank you for the ask!! :)
regarding the books, I'm sure we’ll get to know the ending some day, one way or another. Whether they'll ever be published, I have little hope, but never say never. At least I assume that after his death there will be a "GRRM – Unpublished Works" collection or something similar in which we can read chapters from Winds and Dream of Spring as well as many other short stories about our faves.
As for Dany and Jon’s ending, I highly recommend @hamliet 's meta’s. I love reading all of them but especially the analysis of Dany as a romantic heroine. It tells us so much about what we should expect for her endgame and why (it all makes so much sense!!).
I assume Dany will set King’s Landing on fire. Not intentionally, but because her father hid the Wildfire under the city and Daenerys will accidentally blow it up with her dragons fighting against f!Aegon. I don't see her killing innocent people as some collateral damage, but I see her fighting her enemies with fire and blood (which imo makes all the difference).
The incident in KL will throw her into a crisis and I think only with Jon's help she’ll get out of it and pick herself up to fight with him against the real enemy aka the Others (I’m sure their decision to form an alliance is one of the last scenes of TWOW and in ADOS they’re already a couple romantically involved with each other).
So I guess Winds will be about Dany conquering Westeros while Jon is a little lost, has to deal with the aftermath of his mutiny and then later his parental reveal, while A Dream of Spring will be more about their relationship and the Battle for the Dawn. I think Dany will be Azor Ahai and save Westeros with Jon by her side, but no one will thank them for that because of what happened before in KL (and also the general prejudice against their family). And that this is one of the essential elements that make the ending so bittersweet (as George has indicated).
She and Jon will be the true heroes, the bastard and the exile, but no one is going to see it or give them credit for that.
GRRM describes himself as a romantic writer and romantic literature is shaped by the fact that it focuses more on the inner conflict than the external conflict. So I assume that all 3 (Arya, Dany and Jon - who are also my favorites) are mainly dealing with their identity crises in the following books. What is their purpose in this world? How do people's expectations fit with their own desires and ambitions? By the end of the story, these questions should be answered.
I think Arya is pretty safe, when it comes to staying alive. I'm not quite so sure about Jonerys/Snowstorm. As much as I want it, because of course I wish for a HEA for my favorite ship, I actually don't see the two of them ruling together. I think they'll fall in love and Dany will get pregnant (because them having a family with each other has been hinted at way too much and unlike D&D, George isn't just doing that only as "clickbait"). But my fear is that only one of them will be able to see their child grow up…
And I'm not even sure what I actually want for their endgame if anything were possible? Probably to pack up their baby, Ghost and the dragons and then emigrate, lol. Maybe to Lys or somewhere warm? But they both have too much of a hero complex to ever pull that off ❤️
#asoiaf speculation#twow speculation#jonerys#snowstorm#valyrianscrolls#daenerys targaryen#jon snow#jon x dany#george rr martin#asoiaf meta#asks and answers
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High school au masterlist pt1:
Hello everyone!! ╰(*´︶`*)╯
Many people asked for it so here it is: a huge masterlist of soukoku high school fics!!
I found sooo many that I really liked but found it impossible to fit them all in one gigantic post so here we go with part 1! I hope you enjoy it and stay tuned for more!!
Have a great day and let me know wich ones you liked best!!
-f
What’s your name? by CataclysmicEvent: “I said, what's your name?” Dazai snaps to attention to see that Chuuya is staring right at him, and suddenly his mouth feels like sandpaper. Jesus. Who has eyes like that?! “Ozai—” “Huh?”“Dazoo—” “I’m sorry, what?” “Dazai Osamu.” Sometimes--the worst introductions can last a lifetime. (High school AU, slice of life, growing up together.)
Sins Of Staying Together by setosdarkness: Dazai is infamous for saying ‘yes’ to anyone who asks him out. Even if anyone he dates ends up breaking up with him before the week is over. Because he’s a suicide maniac, because he’s a manipulative asshole, because he’s a piss-poor leech who has a staggering ¥1000 to his name, because of a number of reasons. Chuuya’s not curious - okay, he sort of maybe is - but he figures one week of stupidity can’t hurt too much. So he jokingly asks Dazai out. And he starts to regret a lot of things.
A thousand tiny revolution by flyby: When Dazai Osamu shows up to class on the first day of his third year of high school, Chuuya wants nothing to do with him. He's too busy juggling homework and part-time work to have any patience for an annoying waste of bandages, but Dazai has other ideas – and the mystery that surrounds him is about to blow Chuuya's own secrets wide open. Principal Fukuzawa said once that what you do in school can change the course of your life, but Chuuya doesn't think he meant it like this.
The Next Page by Hamliet: Built to keep society's strays off the streets, Bungou Academy proclaims to offer its students and teachers a second chance. If only it really did.
Oh darling it’s alarming to think of us apart (you know you’ve got me in your pocket) by inteludewings: “Okay so if we’re both still single when we’re twenty two,” Dazai’s smile grew even wider. “Let’s marry each other.” By the time Chuuya’s twenty two, he’d probably be in a relationship with someone else, and the possibilities of them even remembering each other were slim to none. And so, Chuuya gave his answer. “Fine, let’s do that.” In short, fifteen year olds Dazai Osamu and Nakahara Chuuya made a stupid promise one day in their school library out of boredom, which leads to the next seven years of their life filled with fighting, burnt notebooks and late night conversations.
The transfer student with a hat by xxalwayssophia: The Armed Student Council find out about and meet their secretary's boyfriend.
Lost All Judgement by todxrxki: “Uh, sorry, but unfortunately I already have a date to the dance.” “Oh, really?” Tachihara says, sounding disappointed. He pauses for a second, clearly processing what Chuuya’s just told him, and then says, “Who is it?”Chuuya certainly hadn’t budgeted for this. Panicking, he tries to think of the people that he knows that are single, and before he knows it, the first name that comes to mind is slipping out of his mouth. “With Dazai.” / After a momentary lapse in judgment, high school student Chuuya ends up having to pretend to date his enemy Dazai to get Tachihara off of his back - and quickly finds it's nowhere as bad as he'd imagined.
Laws of attraction by setosdarkness: Dazai and Chuuya have always been rivals, have always been there at each other’s throats. It’s almost surreal to think that there might come a time when they go their separate ways....But now, that’s a reality that Chuuya has to face, because Dazai’s going to a different university.
Sorry, I have a boyfriend by dangodangomilk: The prettiest girl in class asks Dazai for a favor— fake date her for a week in an idiotic attempt to make her boyfriend jealous. Obviously, Dazai refuses. One, he wants no part in this bullshitery. Two, he has a boyfriend.Things get messy after Dazai declines her request. Luckily for him, he avoids getting plummeted to the ground when his surprisingly protective boyfriend comes to his rescue.
How to love by arkastadt: Chuuya catches his gaze, takes a deep breath, and says, “Have sex with me.” Oh wow, that sounds awfully wrong — “I mean,” he starts again, losing all edge and grace, “I don’t want to have to sex with you — or I do but not like that! — I just want — damn it!” For some reason, he feels like standing, so he jumps up. “I have never been with anybody, and I want to be ready when it comes to it, so just have sex with me, okay, you asshole!”— In which, Chuuya’s tired of failing classes and being a virgin and makes the deal of a lifetime with Dazai.
Exposed ankles in the modern era by setosdarkness: "Nakahara Chuuya-kun, folding up your pants and exposing your ankles for everyone's view is against the school's regulations."
Triangular by setosdarkness: Chuuya and Dazai fight over Atsushi's affections. At least, that's what Chuuya thinks. In reality, it goes like this:chuuya: thinks they're in a love triangle. dazai: thinks they're in a custody battle over their son atsushi: CHAZUKEEEEEE
A change of mind by Lichtstrahl: It's cute seeing Chuuya so possessive of him, he looked like he was ready to bite everyone's head off for looking at Dazai.
You (who gave me the stars) by setosdarkness: Dazai’s pretty sure that Chuuya’s stalking him because he’s in love with him—no matter how much the chibi denies it. That’s why, it’s a complete shock when Chuuya confesses that he actually has been trying to get on Dazai’s good graces so he can ask for help in wooing Dazai’s best friend instead.
Come, I’ll show you around by Lichtstrahl: "What? Are you not having fun, Chibi?" "I'm certain this is not what the teacher meant by showing me around the school." He said with an exasperated sigh.
Pretty in Pink by flowerinaacup: On Valentine's Day, there’s a new dress code. Wear white if you’re single, red if you’re taken, or pink if you’re crushing on someone. Dazai comes to school in pink bandages.
strawberries and cigarettes by inteludewings: Nakahara Chuuya, one of the most popular kids at his school, always had his eye on the quiet yet mysterious Dazai Osamu who sat at the back of the class. After unexpected circumstances, he finds himself hanging out with him for one long Friday night.Faces were slapped, butts were kicked, feelings were shared, tears were shed, people were arrested and houses were broken into. Not necessarily in that order.
Set alighte, we’re afire love by kiroiimye: "There you go!" Dazai forces a smile onto his face, quickly shoving his quivering hands into the pockets of his tan dress pants. "Now my sheepdog won't completely freeze to death!" Chuuya gingerly brushes his fingers across the jacket buttons before he looks up at Dazai, eyes wide with a soft vulnerability that Dazai rarely sees. "Thanks, shitty mackerel," Chuuya says quietly, and Dazai's heart does a tap-dance of beats. Dazai falls for Chuuya in three steps: first unknowing, then slowly, and then all at once. [Or: The fic where Dazai's been planning the most extravagant, flabbergasting confession to his best friend Chuuya...and subsequently messes everything up with a simple text message.]
eternity (I’d choose you every time) by orphan_account: When Nakahara Chuuya wakes up on September 3rd, at 7:37 AM for the third time, he’s irritated. The first thing he does is check the date. When his phone screen flashes Friday, September 3rd, he groans and burrows back underneath his covers.This cannot be happening. Or, Chuuya gets stuck repeating the same day over and over, Dazai is an asshole, and chaos ensues.
#soukoku#soukoku fanfiction#soukoku fanfic#dazai osamu#nakahara chuuya#skk#skk fanfic#fanfic masterlist#fanfic rec#high school au#bungou stray dogs#bsd
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bnha chapter 393 adds to my theory of decay being izukus original quirk
izuku x ochako is obviously being pushed people comapred shigaraki and ochako quirks due to them requiring all 5 fingers touching and now ochakos evolving to extending to things she hasnt touched just like with shigarakis quirk evolution
if decay was izukus it would mean that that both ochako ( a quirk that would help with construction) izuku ( help with demolition/destruction) and both can work as a rescue with izuku after evolving it would get rid of inanimate objects that would bury someone ( if he trained it to control what he destroys
“
there are parallels between Tomura Shigaraki and Izuku Midoriya (who are of the same generation) Just as Midoriya is chosen to be All Might’s successor, Shigaraki is being groomed as the successor for All Might’s archnemesis all for one(AFO)
for more on izuku and shigaraki being foils check this post out :
hamliet . tumblr . com/post/182207900119/hero-vs-villain-foils-shigaraki-tomura-and-izuku
at the start of the story both of them are pretty terrible at what they try to do and have to learn from their mentors. Izuku is trying to become the worlds greatest hero, Shigaraki is trying to become the world’s greatest villain at the same time. (shigaraki is the evil counterpart to izuku midoriya)
so it would be an interesting parallel if shigaraki was like izuku originally quirkless and their respective mentors all for one and all might gave them their quirks but all for one gave him a quirk decay unwillingly and without his knowledge so that he would accidentally kill his family
this person gives a lot of evidence for shigaraki being given the decay quirk by afo though makeste thinks afo stole shigarakis quirk and replaced it with a new one instead of being quirkless :
makeste . tumblr . com/post/183799846838/bnha-222
.
AFO engineered this entire situation in order to traumatize Nana’s grandson and manipulate him into becoming the deranged little villain boy we all know and love today.
evidence:
it’s safe to say that Tomura’s quirk isn’t anything like Nana’s, or else All Might and Gran Torino probably would have put the pieces together a lot sooner. so that means that Tomura either got his quirk from his mother’s side of the family, or else this isn’t his original quirk
AFO just happens to find Baby Tenko in the aftermath of him having accidentally murdered his entire family. and he knows exactly what happened. and the circumstances just so happen to line up perfectly for him to gain Tenko’s trust and manipulate him to hate All Might and heroes in general. what I’m saying is, clearly none of this is actually a coincidence. which means AFO either killed Tenko’s family himself and then fudged Tenko’s memories to make him think he did it, or else he engineered things to make it so that Tenko would kill them
Tomura admits to having no clear memories prior to meeting AFO, so he was either traumatized to the point where he suppressed all those memories for his own self-preservation, or his memories were purposely manipulated by AFO. I don’t doubt AFO is capable of this, and right now it seems the more likely option to me. AFO seems fairly confident that Tomura won’t regain those memories but will still retain the emotions
lastly, AFO and Ujiko were clearly not above “tinkering” with him, since Ujiko asked AFO whether or not he should do so after Tenko had his mini-breakdown upon seeing the hands. idk about you guys, but I got a feeling they had already done something and he was talking more about fine-tuning whatever it was, but AFO decided against it
afo stole decay quirk from izuku as an infant maybe the doctor found a way to detect what a kids quirk will be during infancy and allow afo to steal it and gave it to shigaraki who was actually born quirkless. or izukus quirk first appeared when izuku was a baby
I mean the first quirk user was found in a glowing baby so its possible
and it would make an interesting connection between shigaraki and izuku
and add to the parallels between them
while izukus quirk was stolen shigaraki was given that quirk and neither of their fathers wanted them to be heroes
“
All For One having been the one to give a Quirkless Tomura Shigaraki the Decay Quirk would be a good story decision and another great parallel to Izuku Midoriya and All Might.
“the itching being his body rejecting the quirk because it’s not his own or the random stranger who found Tenko on the street and just after that the quirk got activated)“
I may be reaching this theory may be crack but hey bnha is ending soon so I just want to make at least one more theory post of my own
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How come everyone wants Hawks to go after and kill Touya? He knows he can't win? I didn't get that vibe with him distracted with AFO and asking Endeavor to just handle him, until the fandom speculated he'll change course? If it's to give Endeavor an opportunity to step up as a father and protect Touya, then I can see that being great for Touya. Otherwise, I can't tell if it's hate for Hawks because what does going after Touya do for him besides being a big mistake? Chicken is just gonna embarrass himself
Ehh....idk if I agree with some stuff said here. I'll go in order:
Nobody wants him to kill Touya, like, as in succeed. I mean I'm sure some people do, but nobody in this little corner of the fandom wants that, not that I can see
"Going after" or "attacking" is not the same as killing. And this isn't a new take that sprung out of these chapters. This take dates way back to when 299 came out and it became painfully obvious that Hawks was more desperate to hang onto his idealized version of Endeavor than he was willing to face the fact that his childhood hero is a piece of garbage who ruined his family's lives
It's not Hawks hate, I promise. People who genuinely like Hawks to his core, (@transhawks and @hamliet for example) have written extensively on why this would have made sense for his arc. A tragic heroic ending for him was not fabricated from people's minds, it was implanted into the story itself with obvious set up that was just....really obviously backed out of. Hawks's relevance and depth is clear evidence of this imo. From his introduction until the end of his role in the PLF war he was really complex, he was explored internally, his thoughts were complicated. His scene with Twice was, if you're asking for my own opinion, one of the best written scenes in the manga as a whole, but also for both Hawks and Twice. It wasn't a simple hero killing a villain. It was a hero broken up about who he really is deep down, and ultimately swallowing his personal wants in order to carry out a duty--like a soldier. Hawks's actions do not match up with the manga's definition of a true hero, so that's where the negative framing and expectation for a tragic death came from. It's not Hawks hate, it's wanting sensical, compelling writing for a genuinely compelling character.
Idk what Hawks's potential to win has to do with it. Much like other traumatized characters in this manga, when Hawks is faced with an emotionally challenging situation--he doesn't make rational decisions. I don't think that would suddenly change for Touya. Hawks has no attachment to Touya. He has no reason to hold back. He has everything to gain from Touya disappearing (maintaining the good and bad status quo) and nothing to lose. It's not like he's emotionally attached to Touya or anything.
It would be the perfect opportunity for Endeavor to not only protect Touya, but to make the very blatant choice between heroics and family. The answer to what he needs to choose is obvious--family. Hawks is not family, so what does he represent? Heroism. Endeavor can't choose that and have his happy ending where his family is restored, so that means Hawks gets burned.
It's not a positive thing for Hawks to latch onto Endeavor, like it's clearly a sign of negative development. Enjidemption is happening, but I personally see zero ways for Hawks to contribute to that positively when he just...sided with Endeavor, more than anything. There is explanation for why he did, and it makes perfect sense for his character to have done it. I'm not mad at it, but there is a reason this take exists. It's because Hawks is set up to spiral and this is how he could potentially do it.
Again, Transhawk’s rendition of this take:
No killing Touya. Just Hawks fucking up and then crying
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Daemon made and brought Nettles gifts such as “an ivory-handled hairbrush, a silvered looking glass, a cloak of rich brown velvet bordered in satin, a pair of riding boots of leather soft as butter.”
This behavior from Daemon towards Nettles resembles the way he behaved towards Rhaenyra when he supposedly tried to seduce her/taught her the arts of seduction (depending on which tale you believe) early on in Fire & Blood, when King Viserys was still alive.
“Daemon spent long hours in her company, enthralling her with tales of his journeys and battles. He gave her pearls and silks and books and a jade tiara said once to have belonged to the Empress of Leng, read poems to her, dined with her. […] Uncle and niece began to fly “together almost daily, racing Syrax against Caraxes to Dragonstone and back.”
If Nettles was his bastard daughter, or if he cared about her as such and nothing else, he could have sent word to Rhaenyra about it. He could have gone to her himself, since his life was not in danger. Rhaenyra had been clear that Dameon wasn’t supposed to be harmed. If his relationship with Nettles was just platonic or even just sexual, he could have sent her away, realizing that his adventures (or what was perceived as an affair) with the dragonseed had gone too far, and returned to his Queen’s side, to rule beside her and fight her traitors. Daemon could have even killed Nettles himself if their relationship was simply transactional in the sense he wanted someone to sleep with while on his mission, and that would reinforce that even if he strayed away in their marriage, Rhaenyra was still his queen and the one he was loyal to. None of that would be out of character for him.
Instead, he allowed Nettles to escape alive and unharmed, in a scene that is written to convey how hard it was for them to be parting from each other and that they weren’t doing that willingly:
“How the prince and his bastard girl spent their last night beneath Lord Mooton’s roof is not recorded, but as dawn broke they appeared together in the yard*, and Prince Daemon helped Nettles saddle Sheepstealer one last time. […] Maester Norren records, “her cheeks were stained with tears.” No word of farewell was spoken between man and maid, but as Sheepstealer beat his leathery brown wings and climbed into the dawn sky, Caraxes raised his head and gave a scream that shattered every window in Jonquil’s Tower.”
Daemon’s actions after Nettles is gone is to fly towards Harrenhal to face Aemond and Vhagar by himself. It’s a suicide mission: he has no desire of surviving and coming back to Rhaenyra.
This ask is in response to this recent reblog.
Thanks for being the next person who did not read the posts I already made against each and every argument you brought up. One of them is a master post darklinaforever compiled, and I reblogged it HERE. If you like, you can click the ones I already gave in that reblog (the first one) I wrote to that person. That's not my issue or responsibility.
But I have others regarding how Gyldayn, Eustace, and some people who look at Daemon and Nettles Maidenpool interactions, Daemon's feelings towards Rhaenyra, and his feelings towards Laena all both have to do with this argument for why I don't think Daemon x Nettles are and ever will be a thing:
POST#1
POST#2
POST#3 (Gyldayn on Nettles)
POST #4 (Lord Mooton, the execution letter, gifts, and bathing)
POST #5 (Laena & Daemon)
POST #6 (or just click HERE for me tracking Daemon's premeeting with Aemond, the actual meeting before they battle, and the aftermath/legacy)
BONUS: hamliet goes over why Mysaria would have wanted Nettles dead HERE.
#asoiaf asks to me#daemon and nettles#daemon's characterization#nettle's characterization#fire and blood characters#asoiaf maesters#laena and daemon#daemyra#asoiaf shipping#shipping
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Heya Mercy! I'm the person who made the teen!wangxian fic rec list yesterday and it wasn't until you reblogged it that I remembered YOU WROTE ONE OF MY FAVORITE FICS EVER (i.e. The Oriole Behind You) so anyways if you don't mind, I would love for you to talk a little bit about that fic. I know it's been a while since that fic was published, but how did you come up with the idea? How did you come up with the ships? What was the process like when you wrote it? How did you come up with the twists and turns?
Anyways, thanks for being awesome. Keep slaying!
Oh! Thank you so much!!!
I didn’t come up with the forced marriages part. My sister @hamliet came up with the idea of Wen Ruohan setting up all these pairings. We both adore Wangxian, Xiyao, Xuanli, Nie Mingjue/Wen Qing, and Sangyu. I’d recently written a fic with Jiang Cheng and Mianmian (Sentiment), and Xue Yang/Chang Ping (Everything But a Father), and Hamliet pointed out that Jiang Cheng and Mianmian is perfect because he always blamed the fall of Lotus Pier on Jin Zixuan and Lan Wangji defending her. If his siblings married the respective defenders, it only fits for Jiang Cheng to marry Mianmian, and I love that idea.
As for Qin Su/Wen Ning, and Su She/Jin Zixun, I’ve written them in Brothers and Sisters and I adore the respective two cinnamon rolls and enemies-to-lovers aspect to our two bitter boys (Yes, I stan Jin Zixun because if I don’t, who will?).
Hamliet asked me to write it instead, and I was all to happy to oblige. I initially set out to have a happy/cracky tone.
And then... Writing the twists and turns was really one of those things where characters take the pen and run with it. I opened with Meng Yao, and by the end of the first chapter, it was entirely different than the idea I’d had when Hamliet first texted me. A-Yao started revealing all this angst, and then Xue Yang arrived and still revealed more angst. Lan Wangji gave me even more angst with his pain in the second chapter.
I wrote it faster than most stories, and the characters just kept choosing where to go. Some plot points remained unchanged: Wangxian had to have their questionable ‘first time,’ Xuanli needed to have Jin Ling. When I began to realize how many characters were having kids and that it wasn’t realistic... that’s when I side-eyed Meng Yao and realized it would make perfect sense for him to have slipped a potion in Qin Su and Jiang Yanli’s food.
Jiang Yanli as the one orchestrating the rebellion was a surprise, but I really liked the idea of the gentle but brave Yanli as the driving force. She may be nice and sweet, but she’s incredibly brave in the novel, and I think she’s the type to risk everything for her son, just like she did for Wei Wuxian at Nightless City.
I’ve always felt a little less comfortable with Songxiao, but diving into the stoic Song Lan’s feelings was really fun to try out and led to the surprising and humorous (to me) reveal at the end that he and Xiao Xingchen had never actually defined their romantic feelings before.
I think I was able to write it so quickly in part because this story was a great retreat during the tumultuous Spring of 2020. A comforting distraction from the outer hellscape. And... everything just kept falling into place based on how the characters worked out.
Thank you for the ask – it’s been really fun to remember. :)
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Hug Me Like You Mean It
A/N: Ever since I read @hamliet 's TG highschool AU I've thought about something similar but with ghouls still being a thing.
"Would you go out with me?"
She puts her tall glass of blood down on the counter, with a clunk. The question makes her feel like the world is on pause for a moment, although there's not much action going on in the dorm's common room to even pause in the first place. It's dead empty, actually, and probably a good time for asking someone out.
She can't help but wonder what kind of human would ask out a ghoul.
She doesn't know that many humans. At least, not on friendly terms, except for Yoriko, and a few people from her dorm - her roommate Akira mostly. She's not counting the ones who used to be human - they still confuse her, tying her feelings into tangled knots.
But Yoriko's middle school friend, Takeomi, is standing across from her, cheeks a bit pink. She's seen enough of him in gym class to know the logical reason he'd ask out a ghoul, instead of the human girls he seems pretty popular with. As humans go, he's a rare kind of strong. The ghoul kind of strong. I bet he'd like someone he can give a real hug to without cracking her ribs. On the other hand, he could've asked out any ghoul. She knows her personality is all spikes and sandpaper on the outside, so...
"Why me?"
He winces and his shoulders slump.
Shit. I gave him the wrong idea.
"Hey. Look at me. This isn't a no, really I think you're a good, solid kind of guy. I'm just curious, 'cause you could've asked anyone, and I know I'm pretty abrasive."
He's quiet for a moment. She can almost hear him thinking through her words.
"Two reasons, I guess. One is that Yoriko says a lot of good things about you. The other is a piece of dating advice from my dad: 'if you find a good woman who doesn't know it, pick her and show her' is what he always said."
She feels her face go hot, she has to be bright red.
"Well I think it's working, because I've been much less grumpy with you than I usually am. One more thing," and she watches Takeomi perk up, "I bet I know why you asked out a ghoul."
He blushes heavily but doesn't say anything. She opens her arms wide.
"Come here and hug me like you mean it."
#lurker writes#tokyo ghoul#kirishima touka#kuroiwa takeomi#touka x takeomi#what to call it? hmm. toukaomi?
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can you analyze the song Out for Love from Hazbin Hotel means to veggies character arc
It's the main theme of the entire series: people can only be redeemed through love.
Hard work, sure. Struggle, sure. Apologies and accountability, of course. But it's ultimately dependent on love.
The only way any lasting change of meaningful measure is made is through love. And yeah yeah it's simplified but it's the main message. Think about Sir Pentious. What is his last action?
Telling Cherri Bomb he loves her.
His sacrifice amounts to nothing at all, but he died to save Cherri alongside all his friends/family in the hotel. It's not a coincidence that Sir Pentious says that line before making his sacrifice: the writers are telling us exactly what they want us to associate his getting into heaven with. Love.
But the song does have really cool Easter eggs so let's go:
I see you're driven by your detestation
Your every step is stoked with animus
You need a different type of motivation
Or there's no way that you can handle this
Obviously, being driven by revenge doesn't work. However, there's a clever play on words here with "animus." See, Vaggie is Charlie's Jungian animus, and vice versa. The anima (or animus) is, inJungian theory, the masculine within the feminine and the feminine within the masculine. The goal is to align with your animus.
We see that in Vaggie and Charlie's respective attitudes and outfits--again, this is simplistic, but as a design choice it was deliberate. Vaggie, the more aggressive one, dresses far more feminine. Charlie, the princess who sings her heart out, dresses in suits. They're each others' animus.
I know you're thirstin' for vengeance, Vaggie
You're out for blood
But you'll only stand a chance if you're out for love
Out for love, love
Think of who you care about, protect 'em and be
Out for love, love
You're gonna fight without gloves, long as you're out for love
Vaggie actually always wears gloves, but fingerless ones, symbolic of how she's partially letting Charlie in but still keeping part of herself back. Except now the truth is out there.
So in the final battle, it's fitting that she has new gloves. It's not practical to fight without them, but she has new ones to reflect her internal change.
Fuel yourself with the fear of losin'
That somebody who's your reason to live
Harnеss your heart, and you can't help choosin'
To fight with all you can give
She's also wearing a harness over her heart, literally taking Carmilla's words to heart. Plus Charlie's in a dress and Vaggie in armor, showing again integration following their reconciliation.
Out for love, love
Think of who you care about, protect 'em and be
Out for love, love
You're gonna fight without gloves
And when that push comes to shove
Yeah, you just might rise above, long as you're out for love
If you're out for love you might rise above... to heaven, like Sir Pentious.
Anyways continuing with my argument that Hazbin is actually theologically fascinating for Christians as a work, the focus on love also is very, uh, Biblically sound, considering 1 John says "God is love," and, well:
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
So yeah. Literally angels might have power and be in "heaven," but without love, they are nothing. Which we see in the end when Adam gets stabbed by literally the lowliest at the hotel.
#ask hamliet#hazbin hotel#hazbin hotel meta#vaggie#chaggie#charlie morningstar#sir pentious#cherri bomb
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well, since you've been asked the worst thing hawks had done, what about the best one? (hard question)
So, I find his unhinged actions entertaining, so I tend to think of those in terms of like entertainment value. So, the flying around with Jeanist's Schrodinger level of dead body in a duflebag like it was nothing.
Now, on a good, ethical action sense, while Hawks didn't really mean to do this, I think him kind of pointing Tokoyami into a direction with his quirk is one of the best things he's done. Fumikage was...well, very limited in his quirk, likely do to fear of hurting people around him. Hawks kind of gave him a breath of fresh air and showed him that his quirk could be used creatively. I also think there's a lot of textual evidence that despite ulterior motives, Hawks actually likes teaching people things and makes for a good one. I have a feeling that if we don't get the Hawks Goes Postal ending I'm expecting rn (Hamliet has an excellent write up), we might see him teaching somewhere eventually.
And also this:
#i love how much of a weirdo he is#he has other weirdo moments but truly meowing back at someone is#amazing#hawks#asks
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Ruby and the Splendor Solis
Here comes a quick alchemy meta! Alchemy is an ancient practice, whose goal is to create the philosopher stone. This stone gives immortality, transmutes lead into gold and creates new life (homunculus). From a philosophical point of view, alchemy's aim is to nurture the spirit and to make it perfect.
As @hamliet has explained in several metas, RWBY is an alchemical story, which metaphorically illustrates the procedure to create the stone (RWBY/Ruby).
Today's post will explore Ruby and Maria's interaction in volume 6 episode 8 (Dead End):
As a matter of fact the scene references the 6th plate of the Splendor Solis.
WHAT IS THE SPLENDOR SOLIS?
The Splendor Solis is an alchemical text, which describes how to make the philosophical stone through 22 illustrated plates:
4 introductory plates present the protagonists of the alchemical journey
7 parables illustrate the alchemical death and rebirth
7 flask plates explore the alchemical process from a practical point of view
4 final plates describe the alchemical process from a spiritual point of view
How does Ruby and Maria's scene reference plate 6?
PLATE 6 AND VOLUME 6
Let's begin with describing what plate 6 is like:
This plate has three philosophers under a tree with golden fruits. The tree is a metaphor for the alchemical process as whole. It is the philosophical tree and if you climb it you reach the golden fruit (perfection/the philosopher stone).
The three people embody the phases of alchemy:
The young man climbing the ladder is nigredo (black)
The man who wears white outside and red inside is albedo (white)
The man who wears red outside and white inside is rubedo (red)
Citrinitas (the yellow stage) is instead symbolized by the yellow flowers and by the golden bough the men are pursuing. The scene as a whole represents a transformation, which is why the birds that fly in the sky have some green shades. Green is, thus, the color of transformation.
How does all of this rely to Ruby and Maria?
First of all, the two silver eyed warriors speak under a tree:
With golden fruits:
Secondly, this scene frames Maria as the teacher and Ruby as the student. Maria is initiating Ruby to very important knowledge, so that our young alchemist can continue her journey.
Ruby: I don't know… I don't know anything… What do I tell Jaune and his team when we don't even have a plan? Qrow's out drinking, Ozpin hasn't come back and even if he did, I don't know if I could trust him. And there's always Jinn, but… we only have one more question we can ask her. I feel like I'm letting everyone down…
Maria: If you're tired of not knowing anything, how about we discuss those eyes of yours?
MARIA, THE TEACHER
Maria embodies the archetype of the old wise woman. She is a mature version of Ruby (an older silver-eyed warrior), who comes in our protagonist's life to offer guidance. She is the more expert alchemist:
Maria grabs the golden fruit. Symbolically, this shows that she is far ahead of Ruby in the alchemical quest.
This is made clear by her:
semblance
weapon
Preflexes lets Maria sense everything better than others. Metaphorically, it means she has a better understanding of reality than others. This ties with her having wisdom.
Life and Death is made by two kamas that can be combined in a staff:
They can be separated (solvet) and united (coagula). Solvet and coagula is the mantra of alchemy, as this process aims to create the philosophical stone by separating and uniting the elements. Over and over. Until perfection is obtained. Metaphorically, it means a soul is refined through creation and destruction. Life and Death.
RUBY, THE STUDENT
Ruby is young and ignorant. She doesn't know what to do and she doesn't know about her eyes. She is the alchemist apprentice, who is going through a transformation:
Differently from the Splendor Solis plate, there are no birds in the scene. However, the scenery is full of butterflies, which are another symbol of change. Of death and rebirth:
As far as the nature of Ruby's transformation is concerned, the setting gives us some hints, as Maria and Ruby are speaking in a garden full of white snow. That is because RWBY is approaching albedo (the white phase). In particular, volume 6 climax marks Ruby's passage from nigredo to albedo. This process if metaphorically foreshadowed in Ruby and Maria's conversation thanks to a specific visual cue:
Let's look at Maria's plate:
The grapes are purple/black = nigredo, the black phase
The plate is white = albedo, the white phase
The lemons/oranges are yellow = citrinitas, the yellow phase
The strawberries are red = rubedo, the red phase
The kiwis are green = transformation (plus prima materia, aka the beginning)
In short, the plate and fruits are a metaphor for the alchemical process as a whole. What's interesting is that a little butterfly flies on them:
It pauses for a little while on top of the grapes (nigredo) until Maria gently takes it and has it fly forward (towards albedo). The meaning is clear. Maria acts a mentor, who helps Ruby leave the black phase and enter the white one. She gives Ruby the knowledge she needs to face her "trial of fire":
Maria: The light will only work in the presence of Grimm. Meaning the only practice you'll get will be a trial by fire.
TRIALS BY FIRE
Ruby faces her trial by fire in the climax of volume 6, as she fights the Leviathan:
There she uses Maria's teaching and the relic of Knowledge to defeat her foe through her internal light. This moment is when Ruby and the group leave Mistral and the Black Phase once and for all. They are ready to face Atlas and the White Phase.
Still, this isn't the only trial by fire our Little Red Riding Hood has to go through. She struggles through a second one in volume 9, as she and the group leave the White Stage (Atlas) through the Yellow Stage (the Ever After), so that they can enter the Red Phase (Vacuo). Once again this passage is shown through the Splendor Solis.
There is a giant tree:
A wise woman:
Butterflies:
Once again, Ruby is given guided by an older and wiser woman under a tree. This time she has to make a choice to go through a transformation. A process of death and rebirth:
In volume 6 Ruby learns about her internal light, whereas in volume 9 she discovers her inner shadows. In volume 6 she is given knowledge, while in volume 9 she is offered a choice. At the same time, in volume 6 the Splendor Solis reference is focused on a single meaningful scene, while in volume 9 it is more pervasive and present throughout the entirety of the season. In volume 6 the Splendor Solis comments Ruby's journey (the microchosm). In volume 9 this alchemical texts conveys RWBY's adventure (the macrochosm).
However, this isn't the only difference between the two transformative trials.
IDEAL AND REAL
Volume 6 has Ruby become an ideal:
Volume 9 has Ruby grow into herself:
Similarly, in volume 6 she latches on an idealistic idea of Summer (the Huntress), whereas in volume 9 she accepts Summer as a person (the Mother):
This passage from ideal to real isn't something unique to our heroine's arc, but it ties to everyone's story. Here come two examples.
Jaune's arc
In volume 6 Jaune is inspired by Pyrhha to push forward no matter what:
He wants to become more like Pyrrha, his ideal self.
In volume 9 Jaune is taught by Weiss to stop and accept a loss:
He realizes he is good as he is, despite his flaws.
Chemical weddings
In volume 6, Bumbleby goes through their second chemical wedding, where they kill Adam. The focus of Yang and Blake's relationship is that both girls have to become "worthy" of the other:
And now I know I'm worthy of you
(Oh can't you see, you could be with me)
With every smile you told me, "I love you"
(I am your dream, I love you)
They push each other to grow and to become their ideal selves. Yang has to overcome her anger and abandonement issues to stay with Blake. Blake has to stop running away to be by Yang's side. Their fight with Adam tests their progress on their respective flaws.
In volume 9, White Knight has their second chemical wedding, where Jaune dies and is reborn thanks to Weiss. Their bond is about letting go of childish fantasies (the charming prince and the beautiful princess) and to accept the other for who they are:
Weiss: I think you’re asking too much of yourself. We’ve been telling ourselves that failing means we’re no good. But I can guarantee even the best Huntsmen in history… they’ve all lost. But they were still incredibly brave… and good.
They let go of paragons and come to love their real selves with both strengths and flaws. Their conversation in front of the Genial Gems conveys exactly this.
Interestingly, Bumbleby and White Knight foil each other in another way, when it comes to alchemical symbolism.
Bumbleby focuses on death and separation. They represent the "solvet" part of the process.
White Knight is linked to rebirth and union. They explore the "coagula" part of the process.
To be clear, the solvet and coagula parts are present in both relationships. Yang and Blake go through destruction to come back stronger and more beautiful than ever. Similarly, Weiss and Jaune have to face death, so they can be reborn.
Still, the focus of BB's weddings is on death/destruction:
Adam cuts Yang's arm and impales Blake
Adam dies
Whereas WK's weddings climax in resurrection/creation:
Weiss is reborn
Jaune and Ruby are reborn
This is because the two relationships are complementary and illustrate different sides of the alchemical process. However, there is a third ship meant to embody both parts.
RUBY AND OSCAR = SOLVET AND COAGULA
Ruby and Oscar's wedding is kicked off by their first meeting, when Qrow (a bird) brings Oscar to Ruby and unites the Solar King and the Lunar Queen:
Ruby and Oscar's wedding references the imagery above.
It is a union of opposites. The scenery of their first scene together has Ruby marked as fire and air, whereas Oscar is associated with earth and water. Moreover, both the moon and sun are present.
In general, Ruby is moon, silver, red and air, while Oscar is sun, gold, green and earth. They complement each other and are perfectly balanced. So, they don't need a specific focus on neither death nor rebirth because theis arcs are gonna explore both the solvet and the coagula. They are the whole.
This complementarity shows also in Oscar paralleling Ruby during the trials of fire.
While Ruby is talking with Maria and going through an internal transformation, Oscar goes through an external transformation (he changes clothes). Ruby connects with Summer (coagula), while Oscar is free from Ozpin (solvet). Both their transformations are tested in volume 6 climax, where Ruby grows into a leader (macrochosm), whereas Oscar grows into himself (microchosm).
While Ruby struggles with herself in the Ever After, Oscar struggles with Ozpin in Vacuo. Ruby separates her perception of the self from Summer (solvet), whereas Oscar is merging with Ozpin (coagula). Ruby is in a fantastical world symbolic of the inside (microchosm). Oscar is in the real world, which is going through big changes (macrochosm).
Right now, Ruby and Oscar are bound to meet again through Raven (another bird), which might kick off their second alchemical wedding. Not only that, but Raven herself might play the part of the Nevermore, as she wears a Nevermore mask and her name alludes to The Raven, Poe's famous poem and the inspiration for the Nevermore Grimm. If so, this meeting might be Rosegarden nevermore wedding, which for RWBY ships is about overcoming grief and death through love. Another declination of solvet and coagula.
#rwby#ruby rose#oscar pine#rosegarden#white knight#bumbleby#whiteknight#rwby meta#rwby alchemy#my meta
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It seems like you have the viewpoint that Historia’s pregnancy was a red herring and shipping bait that went nowhere. I personally don’t interpret it to have been intentionally that way at all, given there was nothing romantic or sexual about their relationship or 130, she seems scared of him. the anime clearly showed this as well. how would Eren having been the father had made it “better”? Those viewpoints focused on Eren and not Hisu. Not to mention E wasnt interested in starting a fam.
Also no offense but I also don’t think there was much of a mystery with Historia’s pregnancy in the narrative outside of why she chose to do it at that timing and who warned her. 130 completed the mystery. I can understand it being disappointing and I wish she never had to go through this issue. But things being a disappointment doesn’t mean there was this “baiting” intent. Idk, i just have issues w/ accusing authors of having an intent that wasnt there then getting mad. It feels entitled
Sorry, last thing i wanted to say b/c I just wanted to be clear with what I’m trying to express b/c it’s hard with limited numbers: I don’t think there was a mystery about Historia’s pregnancy outside of what the story told us. There really was no other reason for it besides to avoid being titanized. it’s fine to dislike this but ppl not being satisfied w/ it & then theorizing more than already there isn’t the authors fault nor is it a red herring. Eren being father wouldn’t have improved this.
Anon, I'm not sure what you think my viewpoints are but I'm pretty sure you are wrong on at least one of them. I'll share something I saw on @hamliets blog earlier today which I agreed with. Hamliet wrote, "Historia’s arc was a nightmare that went from being top tier to something so horrid it seems like Isayama realized it was awful and ignored it as much as possible out of a desire not to make it worse."
The only thing that would've made Historia's arc worse was if Eren had been the father because. I agree with what you say about that. Eren being the father would have destroyed two character arcs and not just one.
Agree to disagree on the rest I guess. Thanks for the ask!
#chatting with friends#fake pregnancy#I really don't enjoy talking about historia#and anon#If character limit is a problem for you#mobile seems not to have one
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I hope you're answering questions and this one doesn't bother you. I'm curious about Tin/Jupiter and the roles it may have in an alchemical story.
I'm away from my reference books for a while, but off the top of my head the one character who is associated with Jupiter/tin is Ron Weasley in Harry Potter. Ron refers to Jupiter a few times in the series--he exclaims "By Jupiter" for example, if I recall correctly.
I know @hamliet has a copy of Lyndy Abraham's dictionary, so you might want to ask her to look up Jupiter/tin.
One of the plates in Splendor Solis is devoted to Jupiter, so that's a potential source of story ideas for an author who wants to work the "lesser" metals in. I'm unable to upload the image, but here's a description of it by Jorg Vonagel, an art historian at the State Museums of Berlin.
Drawn by two peacocks, their tail feathers down, Jupiter’s planetary chariot navigates its way across the heavens. Holding two arrows as attributes in his right hand, the planetary god sits enthroned in his chariot while an aid, kneeling before him, offers him a bowl. The more noble circles of society fall under Jupiter’s rule, including the nobility and the clergy. The painter of the Splendor Solis expands this group to include alchemists, whom he depicts in the right midground in a state of industrious activity. Here, one of the adepts can be seen leaning over towards a helmet-shaped oven-top known as an alembic, while the other one inspects the flask he is holding in his left hand.
The left-hand side of the picture is occupied by a pigeon-blue palace building which is based on an engraving by Daniel Hopfer. Out the front of the building a pope seated beneath a red baldachin is crowning a new emperor. As is the case with several of the illustrations in the Splendor Solis, the coronation scene incorporates a number of details drawn from a woodcut in Hans Holbein the Younger’s series Bilder des Todes (Pictures of Death). Showing the emperor kissing the feet of the pope, Holbein’s woodcut “Der Bapst” (The Pope) signals the submissiveness of the secular world in the face of the church’s omnipotence. In the Splendor Solis, however, the emperor not only receives the crown with his head upright but is also endowed with the physiognomy of Charles v, who had just been crowned Holy Roman emperor in Bologna in 1530. This discovery is quite remarkable in an artistic sense insofar as the painter of the Splendor Solis took the liberty of updating the stereotypical pope and emperor featured in the original source of 1524-26 in order to capture the latest historical developments.
Set within the angular niche of the inserted panel is a glass flask upon a green laurel wreath. Inside the flask, three birds – black, white and red – are fighting with one another. This renewed allusion to the three principal colours of alchemy is discussed in the text that precedes it. The painter copied the motif of the three fighting birds from the alchemical illuminated manuscript of the Aurora Consurgens. It symbolises the separation of matter by heating, its subsequent purification in the next stage of transmutation, and, as will be seen in the following miniature, its fusion into one bird with three heads.
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