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backjustforberena · 24 days

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Rhaenys's evolving view on female succession and female power:

Forgive me, this is going to be quite a long one, because I got far too frustrated with people. I wanted to take a specific look at Rhaenys and her trajectory throughout the first season, when it comes to the crucial question surrounding female succession because it's fairly unique in HOTD, being both a deeply personal issue for Rhaenys, despite her remoteness to the core conflict, and she's one of the only female characters to undergo a radical change in her opinion as the years go by.

Rhaenys is "The Queen Who Never Was". She goes from believing she will be Queen and capable of being Queen, to being publically denied her birthright and passed over specifically due to her sex, thus cementing the idea that no woman can ever be Queen. This becomes a primary source of hurt in Rhaenys: the rejection, the frustrated ambition and the inability to escape a moniker that becomes her legacy and a shackle. She can't get away from the fact that she is not Queen. She cannot get away from being reminded. She will carry this all throughout the series. For nearly 30 years (I think, the timelines are weird).

A natural defence, and a perverse one, is to then prop up the patriarchy. To assume that the system cannot be touched. Because if the system cannot be touched then it can't be anything personal to do with Rhaenys that she failed. She didn't have a chance in the first place. Much better, and easier, to cope with that than to confront the idea that it was a very, very personal rejection. That they could stomach a woman, just not you.

MORE UNDER THE CUT

This "comfort" gets attacked when Viserys names his daughter as his heir. The man they chose over her because she was a female... then bends the rules to make his daughter sworn as Princess of Dragonstone. If a girl can be the heir... then what was wrong with Rhaenys?

And so we get to Episode 02. Does Rhaenys think that Rhaenyra is going to be Queen? No. But here's the thing... no one else does. This is not Rhaenys being overly cynical. It's not her being bitter. It's her reading of the room as she sees it. She even says: "Oh, how I wish that could be, Rhaenyra." - but if Rhaenys sees the power as being with the men, then the men have already denied better candidates than Rhaenyra.

Is it bitter? Sure! Is she aggressive towards Rhaenyra? Kinda, but they both dish it out to each other. But is she wrong? Nope. That's the whole drive of the conflict. Rhaenyra is equating her position to Rhaenys's failure. And yes, being a named heir is something Rhaenys never got. But there's no stability in that, certainly not at this point in the game.

Does Viserys naming Rhaenyra change Rhaenys's view? No. Rhaenys doesn't see that as a step forward or an indicator that the realm is willing to accept a Queen. She sees it as one man making a decision for an interim period. She will know that it was done out of a political necessity to have an heir other than Daemon. It's not done because Rhaenyra is special or because Viserys has suddenly changed his mind over laws of succession - it's for selfish reasons. It's for political reasons. If it were always Viserys's wish then Rhaenyra would have been named heir the second that Viserys ascended. He didn't. Instead, he's only now lumped her with a title but he's not given her any duties beyond that.

And Rhaenys has no reason to think that, if a son is born, Viserys won't drop Rhaenyra like a hotcake. No reason whatsoever. Because it's not just about a father's opinion but a King's responsibility. It's about what the realm thinks and what Viserys is willing to bat for and, at this time, we don't know he's going to stick to his guns. And even if he does, Rhaenys knows conflict is inevitable: "Whether it’s to my daughter or to someone else’s, your father will remarry sooner than late. His new wife will produce new heirs, and chances are better than not that one of those will be male. And when that boy comes of age and your father has passed, the men of the realm will expect him to be heir, not you."

This conversation is tainted by Rhaenys's own ambitions and political placement at the time as well. Rhaenys is in the middle of trying to have her daughter marry the King. The advantage of that is mainly in the fact that if her daughter is Queen and gives birth to a son, Viserys will name him heir. Because that is the order of things, that is stability, and the realm needs to be stable. Rhaenys doesn't want to sacrifice her 12-year-old for ambitions that will never bear fruit. So, she clings to this idea as a way of making it a good one. As a way of making it a sensible one and a successful one.

If Rhaenyra was an only child or only candidate? Sure, Rhaenys has absolutely nothing against a woman being Queen. It's not a case of: I couldn't be Queen so you can't in any active way by Rhaenys - it's not her actions that are doing this, it's not an idea or a trajectory that she's necessarily powering. It's a recognition of the world they live in. It's a reality, for her, that will happen with or without her intervention because Rhaenys is aware that, when it comes to the "men of the realm" her actions mean very little. If they ever listened or valued her, she would have been on the Throne, after all.

And, at this point, Rhaenys has kind of got a stake in Rhaenyra failing because that could potentially mean a grandson of hers on the Throne. Either way, it is not her responsibility and there's nothing she can actually do, being roleless, other than to put Rhaenyra on her guard or else to make sure Rhaenyra doesn't get her hopes up. Rhaenyra needs to actually be Queen to create a new order.

So the conversation has many meanings. It's a warning, it's advice, it's education, it's wise, but it is also a threat. Rhaenyra cannot be powerful, cannot be the heir, because then what would that potentially mean for Laena?

Then we skip forward three years or so and get to Episode 05. Rhaenys no longer has the same view as she did when speaking to Rhaenyra in Episode 02 because something very crucial and drastic and surprising has happened that makes her rethink: Aegon has been born and Viserys still keeps Rhaenyra as his heir.

That's not the outcome Rhaenys had been expecting. That anyone had been expecting. We see that expressed by Jason Lannister and Otto and Hobert Hightower. It's heavily implied that people were generally expecting that when the King had a son, he will be the new heir and not Rhaenyra. But Viserys has gone against expectations and upholds Rhaenyra's claim and her eventual accession.

We never ever see Rhaenys questioning Rhaenyra's succession. Rhaenys never says that Rhaenyra shouldn't be Queen or that she won't be Queen. Rhaenys believes in Rhaenyra's claim so much that she and her husband betrothed their son to her. They do this in the expectation of Laenor being King-Consort and their heirs sitting the Iron Throne.

What Rhaenys does express, however, is the continual steadfast belief that a male claimant being around will lead to conflict if they are not careful. That it is dangerous. Corlys subdues this somewhat by saying it would be daft for anyone to try anything, given the Velaryons being on Rhaenyra's side is a slam-dunk ("our house controls the realm's navy and half its dragons").

Rhaenys is starting to see the reality of a Queen on the Throne being a far greater possibility. Just not without difficulty. And then everything happens with Laenor and the kids and Rhaenys just sort of ends up in a position where she hates everybody by the end of Episode 07. But her actions never threaten Rhaenyra or her chances of succession and Rhaenys never expresses any wish that Rhaenyra not ascend to be Queen.

Expressing caution or dislike or anything negative about Rhaenyra's succession or Rhaenyra as a person is separate from how Rhaenys sees the validity of Rhaenyra's claim and the idea of female succession.

An identification of dangers and a wish to confront those dangers to mitigate them (particularly surrounding the Driftmark succession chat with Corlys and her viewpoint on the boys' paternity) is not indicative of an invitation to those dangers. Quite the opposite. And you can attribute her lack of action over Laenor's "murder" as a recognition that Rhaenyra will be Queen i.e. whether Viserys is alive or dead, she is untouchable in this matter. Justice for Laenor is unachievable due to Rhaenyra's status and power, as well as a recognition of Rhaenys's own lack of power.

Rhaenys in Episode 08 is a purely independent creature. And I mean that both in terms of "teams" and in terms of her husband. Corlys hasn't been around in six years. She is acting on her own. She's still bound to him in terms of running Driftmark and her power being contingent on his (should he die, she is left with nothing). She's aware of his wishes but until Viserys walks into that room, it is not politically safe for her to abide by them, unless she wants to get taken down a peg alongside Rhaenyra and/or become a threat to the Greens.

This is where things sort of take a turn from Rhaenyra's succession to women's agency in general and, particularly, how she interacts with the idea of the patriarchy aka the system at the time.

There is GREAT indication that she was not going to do what Corlys wanted. Rhaenyra acknowledges that Rhaenys's intentions are different to hers - that's why she needs to broker a deal with Rhaenys, so that she will back Luke. And backing Luke is what Corlys would have wanted. Ergo, if Rhaenys's original plan was not to back Luke, then she wasn't going to do what Corlys wished.

She does, in the end, because the power in the room changes and she weaponises Corlys's name and her relationship to Corlys to safeguard herself. This recognition of her own limitations and the political landscape is another reason why she doesn't push for Baela as Lady of Driftmark. Believing a woman can and should rule or has a claim does not mean that that overrides every other survival instinct, especially if it would not be successful and would only invite danger for herself and for Baela. It would be utterly futile to bat for Baela.

When Rhaenys speaks to Alicent, she is not being hypocritical. She's not even trying to threaten Alicent or take her down with the line regarding toiling for men or with prisons. She's empathising, just as much as she is trying to unbalance her. It is figurative language that recognises Alicent's plight and Alicent's position within it and how Alicent sees herself.

Rhaenys has spent her life in the space between. A woman who could have had all the power, but was relegated to a position where she can only claim a small amount, either against other women or through her husband. She sees the heights she could have reached but has been made to wade in the mud. She uses soft power, political power, propelled by frustrated ambition and has been relegated to silence as much as she has to being in the position to speak. She has never "won", even in the previous episode. She has only survived.

There is an argument to say that Alicent has much more power than Rhaenys. She is Queen. She says she is a true Queen. But Rhaenys sees the limits that Alicent has placed on herself. She does not wield the power of a Queen. She has little agenda of her own other than that of her father, her husband and her son. She does not even have ambition: she has never pictured herself on the Throne - in the position of ultimate power. Rhaenys is the one locked in a room and yet Alicent is the desperate one.

I could say more but I won't, but Rhaenys is not hypocritical with Alicent. The point is this: Rhaenys's view on the patriarchy and the amount of power a woman can claim for herself is light years ahead of Alicent's. Rhaenys sees and knows a woman's capability. She sees the strength in their sex. She knows they are made for more. Alicent cannot. Alicent doesn't, due to Alicent's experiences. Rhaenys compliments Alicent, and Alicent cannot even accept that: it comes back to duty, rather than a skill or a trait.

Alicent, also, asks for Rhaenys's support because Alicent views Rhaenyra's cause as hopeless and bloody. It will destabilise everything: that is her worldview. When she brings up Rhaenys's claim and her capability for the Throne, it's not to flatter her and then say "so help me usurp another women", it's comparing them. If Rhaenys, with all her claim and her strengths and her spotless reputation, couldn't be suffered as Queen, then what hope does Rhaenyra have in being accepted? Rhaenyra, who has broken every single rule and has a less clear claim than Rhaenys did against Viserys. This is not an argument that Rhaenys agrees with.

In Episode 09, Rhaenys still wholeheartedly backs Rhaenyra. There is a distinction between believing Rhaenyra is the rightful heir and starting or going to war on her behalf because Rhaenys's priorities are still the lives of her husband and grandchildren and she doesn't know if there will be a war or what that will look like. But from the beginning, Rhaenys accuses Alicent of usurping the Throne. Rhaenys unequivocably sees Rhaenyra as the rightful heir and the heir her cousin wished to succeed him.

Her journey then, through Episode 10, is not only seeing Rhaenyra as the rightful heir, but a worthy one. It's not a choice of not backing her claim, it's a choice of whether or not to fight on behalf of that claim.

And it's also about Rhaenys taking her own power. Her instinct is to do what she's been doing for 30 years (there or thereabouts). What she's been doing for so long that it's muscle memory, even if it's not instinct. She wants to hold the ones she loves, and flee to safety. She doesn't want to head straight into conflict and feel like she's putting her loved ones in danger. It takes Baela (who has not been burnt, who is still young and hopeful and idealistic) to remind her that there is another way. And that Rhaenys is more than capable of picking that way: she can fight.

Anyway, those are my thoughts. Inbox open if you agree or disagree. I love talking about this sort of a thing.

#house of the dragon #rhaenys targaryen #hotd meta #bad meta #<- this tag is ironic but now habitual for me to sort my posts x #but this post was clawing its way out of me

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piosplayhouse · 2 years

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I think something that's underrated about sqq as a protagonist in comparison to the other mxtx protags is that hes literally just a guy. Like obviously shen yuan is just a guy that's like The Isekai standard but even as Shen Qingqiu it's like . He's not a powerful god heir to a vast kingdom or a war hero turned bogeyman he's kind of just the equivalent of the department head of a school who's just known as a huge bitch. But still, the narrative signs all point to him being some sort of chosen one! So because he is the protag, you get this inflated sense of power from him that obscures the fact that nearly all of his "chosen one" missions that fix the world are just shit he was gonna do anyway because he's a decent guy or stuff that he has to fix later by still being a decent guy. The system seems like it should be this holy grail all powerful Isekai weapon for him from the genre expectations, but it's not!! The greatest weapon in svsss is unconditional love fr, but the way it goes about portraying this doesn't read as too corny because it plays off of tropes instead of leaning straight into them

#bad meta #wrote this while i was walking #svsss #scumbag self saving system #long post #long posts

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eisforeidolon · 8 months

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It really does seem that getting too deep into niche shipping fandom absolutely kills some people's media literacy. Like, I was reading this interesting anon post on Nancy's blog [X] about following a rewatcher going on about bi lighting and expecting a romantic HEA from fucking Supernatural and it sent my brain off on a tangent.

I mean, I remember thinking literary interpretation in school was so fucking absurd when it got to the point of analyzing a goddamn autobiography and waffling on about the author remembering the grass in the spring being green when they moved as a symbol of rebirth. As absurd as I still think interpreting on that level is? It did work thematically, because the interpretation matches the surface level of the story - that was when the character's life started through a period of growth/rebirth. Did they intentionally mention the grass for the symbolism of the color green, consciously or unconsciously? Fuck if I know (or care, tbh).

The problem with the way hellers (and other similar conspiracy shippers) try to use this kind of interpretation is that they ignore several majorly important factors that apply when you're talking about an open canon rather than a closed one where you know the ending. When you do this with a story that's finished, where you know the whole picture? Even if you're so openminded about what the story could have been despite all genre conventions and other outside information that your brain is on the verge of falling out and rolling away down a hill? You can filter out the noise of potential symbols and meanings that do not match that finished, overarching story. And there is a lot of fucking noise, because our brains really, really like to find patterns whether they exist or not - but most random details are not intentional symbolism, and most symbols do not have one single definitive meaning. With any sufficiently large text (which SPN definitely is), you could pick out enough random symbols and meanings to point to literally any-fucking-thing you wanted as a possibility - but without knowing the end that's no more an indication of what direction the story is actually heading than any other randomly chosen set of symbols and meanings.

In the above example, let's say you don't know anything about autobiographies in general, that author's life in particular, and stopped reading at that chapter to try and predict what'll happen next. Aha, the grass out of the window when they moved in spring was GREEN! Well, yes, that might symbolize growth and the character's life finally starting on a new positive path now. But green can also symbolize naivety and/or hope, and that could have been a brief shining moment of good possibilities before things went even more to shit. Hell, it can also mean jealousy, where maybe it would turn out their best friend who stayed behind got an opportunity they missed because they moved. Not only are those not the only possible symbolic meanings of the color? The author might have also just decided to describe the grass out the window as green because grass is generally fucking green in spring, yo. A major part of the reason someone can sit and pontificate about the ~*deep symbolic meaning*~ of that passage without potentially being obviously hilariously wrong is that they DO know where it ultimately leads and have tossed out the interpretations that explicitly don't fit the story.

What the shippers in question try to do is insist they know what the ending HAS TO BE ... because reasons. As such, every single symbol they find which could potentially signal that ending must be doing so, despite any number of other possible meanings ... because reasons. Naturally the symbols that they find are actually meaningful symbols as opposed to every single other random detail in the story with potential meaning ... because reasons. Then we reach the end of the story and they're oh-so-shocked that because reasons ... isn't a real basis for anything, actually. HOW COULD MY AMAZING INTERPRETATIONS HAVE BEEN SO WRONG WHEN I CHERRY-PICKED THEM SO CAREFULLY? CONSPIRACY! HATE CRIME! WAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! There was never any basis for their assumption they knew those symbols were legitimately symbols with significance, let alone their assumption they knew the ending - other than their own fixation and entitlement.

Just to finally drive the point home about how absurd it all is? In my original autobiography example, we're talking about an autobiography of a famously successful person. Any remotely savvy reader can make pretty reasonable guesses from the genre conventions of autobiographies, that person being Known Name successful, and context in the surrounding text about how important that move was going to be to the author's life to be such a focus - and therefore what things in the surrounding text might be *cough* reasonable symbolic signposts. There's still some potential to be wrong about the particulars of that moment, but it's a more educated guess about where the story is likely to go because of everything you know about the protagonist and the genre.

Similarly, any remotely savvy watcher who has some familiarity with horror fantasy as a genre, who spent fifteen seasons watching a show where everyone fucking dies and two brothers are obsessively and intensely brothering each other to the exclusion of all their other relationships every episode, from every single premiere through every single finale? Nevermind anyone who also basically ever heard the showrunners and stars talk about it? Is not going to reasonably think, oh, hey, this is totally going to end with the single central relationship of the show indifferently separating to turn into a fluffy HEA romcom with random side characters. Even if you take off the ending of that sentence which is "because I totally found a bunch of secret clues in food and lighting that told me so".

It makes no fucking sense on a micro interpretation level of symbolism and signposts, and it makes no fucking sense on a macro interpretation level of genre and overarching themes. But, like, they really wanted it, so who cares about that? Um, all the rest of us who actually liked the show for what it was, not an entirely different thing we tried to convince ourselves it would eventually have to be ... because reasons. Especially anyone who gives even half a shit about how decent storytelling in media actually works.

#destiew #destihellers #bad meta #long post

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siooin · 5 months

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About Natsume and Ranpo

//spoil about the end of light novel 4

“Good work on finding the place.” Fukuzawa lightly bowed before showing the cane in his hand. “Oh, why, if it isn’t the cane I lost some time ago. You came all this way to return it to me? How commendable.” “Your reputation precedes you, sir. If you would pardon my intrusion, I came to ask a favor.” “Don’t be so formal. Come, have a seat.” Fukuzawa bowed before taking a seat in the nearby chair. Ranpo, on the other hand, quietly stared at the man before him without even moving. “No way… I didn’t notice before, but he’s—”“I owe you my gratitude for saving me that day, my dear boy.” The man cackled. He wasn’t wearing a suit this time, but he still had on a bowler hat. “Oh, okay,” Ranpo mumbled as if he were standing on pins and needles. His voice was hoarse. “You saw through that trap at the theater from the beginning. You noticed the rug’s adhesive, and yet, you allowed yourself to fall into the trap. Why? Was it to lure out the enemy—? No, there were plenty of ways you could have done that—” “Whether I did or not, I owe your father.” He smiled faintly. Ranpo stood absolutely still as if he were struck by lightning. “Don’t tell me… From the very start, you—***” “I came with a request,” Fukuzawa abruptly said, cutting him off. it wasnt in the fantranslate version,but in my physical copy he said “Don't tell me...from the very start,you want to lend me a helping hand—”

In their conversation,it's heavily implied that Natsume purposely got caught because he want to "help" Ranpo.Because he own Ranpo's father(Clairvoyant) some favor.I assumed the "help" here means let him and Fukuzawa meet n cooperate thus deepen their bonds.

It's about building up the agency too,but I believe it's mainly about helping Ranpo.

Makes me wonder if part of the reason Clairvoyant asked Ranpo to go to Yokohama is because of Natsume?Just how cool Ranpo’s dad was that even THE strongest ability user owes him some favor?Maybe we can get some flashbacks of Clairvoyant and Natsume if Asagiri ever wants to develop that part of Natsume's character.though the chance is low since Clairvoyant didn't even get mentioned in anime.

My question is,how much did he do or know to help Ranpo?Did he originally not plan to get kidnapped,but recognized Ranpo in the theater and decided to help him?

Or did he set up Fukuzawa and Ranpo to meet?Isn't it too convenient that V's plan of kidnapping happened the same day they met?Actually everything is a little bit too convenient.Natsume can easily leak his whereabouts to make it happen.

theory about Natsume's pov with Ranpo

Now here's a little theory explaining why he didn't help him himself before,even let him live on the street for a few months.

1.he's busy he's powerful he probably has to save the world once a month or something He couldn't always keep his eyes on him.

2.He didn't know Clairvoyant died and Ranpo's in Yokohama until like idk months later,we don't know when exactly Ranpo's parents gone.

3.Ranpo's father.Ranpo didn't know ability exists until Fukuzawa told him.His parents probably planned to tell when he grow up.Again his parents are very protective.

so Clairvoyant perhaps told Natsume something like"if something happened to me,please make sure my son is okay,but dont drag him into the dangerous world of you ability users"

Natsume didn't interfere at first because Ranpo seemed "fine".Sure he's lonely and unfit,but at least he's safe,he's smart he'll pull it through and find a way to fit into society right?

But he didn’t,things had been getting worse and worse,Ranpo's desperate and helpless.he's homeless,so lonely so close to having a breakdown.HE NEEDS HELP.

Like i said,he couldn't have always kept an eye on him.but i'd like to imagine when he realized how desperate Ranpo actually was,he started to take action,aka finding someone who can help him aka Fukuzawa.

He didn't take him himself because he gotta keep his mysterious vibe and has a loud smart brat would ruin that isn't the best choice when Fukuzawa is right there.Even if Fukuzawa wasn’t there he’ll find someone else for him(not Mori though,that guy is not allowed near children),if there's no other choices ultimately i think he would take care of Ranpo himself.

cannibalism arc

Another theory,Ranpo knew Natsume would interfere in the cannibalism arc.He knew he would be trapped in the book for a few days and there’s no way he thought Ada would successfully murder mori.But he still did it.Why?Because Chuuya is too powerful,his existence would simply change the situation,so to make sure Natsume’s plan won’t mess up,Ranpo had to take Chuuya out of the picture.Fukuzawa will be ok as long as the plan worked.

Relationship

I'm curious what their relationship is like?In untold origins,Ranpo seemed neutral,mostly because he was shocked by Natsume’s words and therefore didn’t have many other expressions.Even after that they’re having a serious conversation so yeah really can’t see much.i think he did respect Natsume to some degree,not so much like Fukuzawa,but still.

Now that he knows Natsume had a connection with his father and mayhaps knows him personally.(yk Natsume didn't have to keep his promise since no one else would know but he still did,either he’s just that loyal or him and Clairvoyant r good friends).He’ll be glad someone else remembers his dad not as “Clairvoyant” but his own person. I think they would have a good relationship.

Actually if they were really that close,do you think Natsume ever told Ranpo how proud his dad would be at him if he’s still alive,or or telling him stories of his father to keep the memories alive.

Ranpo&Natsume AU idea

I'm too deep in this rabbit hole but hear me out.We often talk about what would happen if Ranpo didn’t meet Fukuzawa like instead Mori or Fyodor got him.But what if is Natsume who adopted take in ranpo.Wouldn't it be cool?

If he can’t find someone to help him and eventually he had to take him himself.He can’t let Clairvoyant's son keep roaming on the street like that right?Imagine he thought it’s just temporary babysitting until he found somebody else.But no,Ranpo has clinged onto him and actually is slowly growing on him too.then BANG new father n son duo unlock.

ok but based on how the narrative describes Natsume,he’s very intelligent too.I think Ranpo would be happy around someone who is also smart too.Reminds him of his parents.He can help Ranpo adapt(?.Heck he may even help Ranpo without telling him he's an ability user.

idk what would yhe plotline go.Maybe the ada still somehow establish.Maybe Ranpo become a solo detective that's known for carrying a cat with him when solving crimes.Maybe Ranpo becomes some little assistant of Natsume,appears here and there,mysterious just like him.

ok i remember seeing a fic like that,but it's not focus on Natsume.basically it's just young Ranpo running around with Natsume on him and messed with skk.

#bsd #bungou stray dogs #bad meta #bsd analysis #ranpo edogawa #natsume soseki #bsd ranpo #bsd natsume #reread some part of ln4 to make this post glad its still as funny as i remember it is #anyways plz go read untold origins if you havent #it has ranpo's parents crumbs and fukuzawa's hilarious inner dislogue #found family ranpo n Natsume my beloved #i actually have a lot more to say about the au but im so sleepy rn #maybe ill write more in the morning #this post is pain to organize cause i just keep rumbling and rumbling without focusing on the subject #sorry if it looks like a mess fhaidhs #overannalysis things about Ranpo is my passion

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tinystepsforward · 2 months

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Matt Mullenweg is now sexually harassing Avery on Twitter for posting a selfie and the caption “too hot for tumblr”

what the actual fuck is he doing. where those were sw accounts this is not just completely inappropriate harassment but potentially outing. so fucking far beyond what he was already doing to follow her there.

also noting that he's changed his focus since nobody thought the screenshot of the threat was valid (and i have had multiple ex-staff confirm that it's not against tos, btw). this kind of info should never be dug up and put out there by a ceo having a tantrum, christ alive

#it is 3am so sorry for bad editing #goodnight #tony answers #tumblr meta

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sleep-deprived-person · 2 months

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So apparently KOSA (2024 edition) is getting either thrown out until next year or put into effect in six days. That was a guesstimate based on a different person saying that's when Congress is back in session and may be false.

Update that's going in the main post at the top: it has enough support to pass Congress.

It failed the last two times because people were voting against it.

This time, KOSA has traction among the pro-LGBTQ parties. Because nobody is fucking calling their bullshit and screaming from the rooftops that calling it the "Kids Online Safety Act" is misleading.

What will it passing do?

Nothing much, only prevent any education on LGBTQIA+ (it's that stupid fucking argument about us grooming kids again), shut down nearly every fandom space on the internet, and make it required for most big tech companies to have your ID.

Want to have resources for kids to discover their identity readily available? Yes? Then fucking speak up against this stupid fucking bill.

Fandom spaces like Tumblr, Twitter (? I thought the MAGA assholes liked Musk?), Tiktok, Archive Of Our Own, and any other website that hosts fanfic or fanart? Either shut down permanently, forced to uproot to a different country and down for a while (best case scenario, and they likely won't be able to send any data, and therefore fanfics, to the US), or gutted so that you only get to put G rated cishet ships on there, if any shipping at all. How to avoid that? I've already said it: Call your fucking representatives.

Want to avoid the fucking dystopic task of being legally obligated to give big tech your government issue ID? Again, cause an uproar. Call your goddamned representatives.

If they can pass this, the ripple effects could be catastrophic.

So, for fuck's sake, any Americans that can impact this stupid fucking bill and see this? Do everything in your power to shut it down because you have until February twenty sixth (26th) to send this bill back to where it belongs.

And if you can't do that? Reblog, copy my tags, and boost the signal.

Sorry not sorry for ranting, making you scroll through that, and swearing a probably excessive amount, but KOSA is a bill with a GLOBAL IMPACT being passed by ONE COUNTRY because some old people are scared of two guys with who were told they were girls kissing within five hundred miles of a child. Fuck this shit, I shouldn't have to worry about bad bills in America but I fucking do because I use the internet and would like to avoid mass censorship. Fuck this, fuck conservatives, and fuck the fact that some boomers make your country's policies.

Now, if you won't mind me, I'm going to be up until three in the morning downloading fanfiction or copying and pasting them into a a text file if I can't so I can read them by the end of the week.

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adh-d2 · 5 days

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One of my favorite pieces of canon continuity is that clones cannot lie for shit

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thisisnotthenerd · 12 days

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The Last Stand Exam

This file documents the questions administered to the adventuring party known as the Bad Kids during their Last Standard Exam, in their junior year at the Aguefort Adventuring Academy. This assessment was produced from a variety of class materials relevant to the curriculum of the Aguefort Adventuring Academy, as submitted to the principal Arthur Aguefort prior to the start of the school year. This list is accompanied by documentation of the creatures the party known as the Bad Kids was required to face as part of the exam.

The exam is graded out of 100 points; the scoring involves the students correctly answering the questions in the appropriate time interval as well as their heroic last stands. The students are expected to simultaneously fight off a horde of creatures and participate in the examination equally; each student in this party must answer two of the twelve questions.

Neither exam aids, nor outside interference are permitted during the examination period--this excludes clerical divine intervention, as appropriately performed by a member of the party in question. By standard, the proctor must be protected--death of the proctor results in a 30 point score reduction regardless of circumstance.

By Solisian School District Standards, this party reports excellent grades and a high level of competency with regard to independent adventuring.* They were allotted a grace period prior to exam initiation for preparatory spellcasting and review of the exam parameters. Based on prior academic achievement**, the students were allowed two chances to defer a question or utilize previous materials in their response. Questions where these materials were used will be marked with a **.

Exam Proctor: Gavin Pundle

Assisting Cleric: Buddy Dawn

Party Members:

Adaine Abernant | Wizard

Kristen Applebees | Cleric

Figueroth Faeth | Bard / Paladin / Warlock / "Barbarian"

Riz Gukgak | Rogue

Fabian Aramais Seacaster | Fighter / Bard

Gorgug Thistlespring | Barbarian / Artificer

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Exam Questions

These will be listed with the appropriate subject as well as the allotted time, and prospective solutions. This is ordered with respect to how the students answered the questions, with the primary respondent indicated.

Investigation: (2 min)

Question: BONY GIRTH

Solution: NIGHT YORB

Primary Respondent: Riz Gukgak

Athletics: (1 min)

Question: What rival Bloodrush team do our beloved Owlbears most often compete against?

A) Buccaneers

B) Hellions

C) Grapplers

D) Scoundrels

Solution: B) Hudol Hellions

Primary Respondent: Fabian Aramais Seacaster

Religion: (1 min)

Question: Which rad Dwarven deity holds dominion over the art of Shredding?

A) Orrie

B) Ollie

C) Ormry

D) Oggie

Solution: B) Ollie

Primary Respondent: Kristen Applebees

Performance: (3 min)

Question: Please compose a limerick, sonnet, or haiku expressing your feelings and emotions relating to the exam you are currently taking.

Solution:

There was an exam that was hard

But luckily, I am a bard

The demons are slayed

'Cause of how we played

They're hoisted by their own petard

Primary Respondent: Figueroth Faeth

Elven: (1 min)

Question: Please translate the following phrase into Common:

"Pedo Mellon a Minno"

Extra Credit: The word "Mellon" is the root word for which extremely weak form of magic?

Solution: "Speak friends and enter"

Extra Credit Solution: Friendship

Primary Respondent: Adaine Abernant

History: (2 min)

Question: 225 immaculate conceptions occurred on the same day in Solace in reaction to the first public performance of which instrument?

A) The octocord

B) The electric lute

C) The astral piano

D) The hurdy-gurdy

Extra Credit: Nine months later, the newborns were discovered to have been wearing vests in utero. What material were the vests made out of?

Solution: B) The electric lute

Extra Credit Solution: Denim

Primary Respondent: Riz Gukgak

Common: (5 min)

Question: Please write a 300 word essay arguing for a proposed improvement at the aguefort Adventuring Academy in the space provided below.

Solution: We believe a greater amount of our grade should come from the actual good we do in the world. Given the number of times our adventuring party have been put in a situation where the actual fate of our very existence has hung in the balance, it seems only fitting that the result of our efforts impact our academic study. Considering the ultimate goal is to become adventurers, it makes the most sense that actual application of our skills would be most important. If actual adventuring doesn't show our skills, what will? No matter how many class I take, it won't make me a better bard or fighter. I, Fabian Seacaster, son of the great Bill Seacaster, privateer, not pirate... (108)**

Primary Respondent: Fabian Aramais Seacaster

Driver's Ed: (1 min)

Question: What is the proper way to reverse a vehicle's orientation 180 degrees while driving at top speed?

A) Signal the turn correctly

B) Slowly decrease acceleration

C) Engage the emergency brake

D) Rebuild the car facing the other way while driving

Solution: C) Engage the emergency brake

Primary Respondent: Figueroth Faeth

Medicine: (1 min)

Question: What is the most certain way for a wounded adventurer to make a full recovery from even the most grievous injuries?

A) Be healed by a powerful cleric

B) Drink an artifact-level healing potion

C) Receive a greater restoration from a celestial

D) Lie down for eight hours

Solution: D) Lie down for eight hours

Primary Respondent: Kristen Applebees

Arcana: (1 min)

Question: What is the most powerful form of magic?

Extra Credit: What is the easiest object in which to magically trap an opponent?

Solution: Chronomancy

Extra Credit Solution: A Gem

Primary Respondent: Adaine Abernant

Mathematics: (2 min)

Question: Two trains are driving toward one another on the same track. The first train leaves Elmville at 5:05 AM traveling at 60 miles per hour. The second train leaves Bastion City, 135 miles away, at 5:30 AM traveling at 70 miles per hour. What is the exact time that the collision will occur?

Solution: 6:20:46 AM**

Primary Respondent: Gorgug Thistlespring

Biology: (45 sec)

Question: Of the following creatures, which cannot turn its prey into stone?

A) Basilisk

B) Cockatrice

C) Gorgon

D) Manticore

Solution: D) Manticore

Primary Respondent: Gorgug Thistlespring

Written Portion of Exam: Passed (100% + 2 points extra credit)

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Last Stand Monsters

This table documents the monsters faced by the party within the duration of the Last Standard Examination. Note the indicated modifiers for the quantity of enemy combatants and the exam questions.

Format: Monster - Killing Blow

Otyugh - Fireball from Figueroth Faeth

Ochre Jellies - Fireball from Figueroth Faeth, Word of Radiance from Kristen Applebees

Gorgon - Sneak attack with arquebus from Riz Gukgak

Hydra - Attack with Fandrangor from Fabian Aramais Seacaster + Fire Breath from Hangman

Skeletons - Turn Undead from Kristen Applebees

Mimic - Green Flame Blade from Figueroth Faeth

Manticore - Banishment from Kristen Applebees

Shrimp Dragon - Hellish Rebuke from Figueroth Faeth

Roper - Sneak attack with arquebus from Riz Gukgak

Stirges - Spirit Guardians from Figueroth Faeth

Umber Hulk - Sneak attack with arquebus from Riz Gukgak

Wyvern - Spirit Guardians & Booming Blade from Figueroth Faeth

Crab Man - Attack with Fandrangor from Fabian Aramais Seacaster + Bite Attack from Hangman

Rust Monsters - Spirit Guardians from Figueroth Faeth, Erupting Earth from Adaine Abernant, Fire Breath from Hangman

Pentacorn - Green Flame Blade + Divine Smite from Figueroth Faeth

Purple Worm - Soloed by Gorgug Thistlespring

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Proctor Notes:

Party bard Figueroth Faeth used Disguise Self to assume form of proctor

Proctor attacked by Gorgon, not killed

Significant critical hits throughout combat from Gorgug Thistlespring.

Attendant Cleric Buddy Dawn was killed during the exam by unknown assailants; clarification on this event obtained post-exam and reported to the superintendent.

This party is on record as the first party to complete the Last Standard exam without perishing, thereby understanding Arthur Aguefort's intent for the assessment.

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*Reference files for evaluating adventuring party competency: AAA-BKQ-01-KVX, AAA-BKQ-02-CNK, AAA-BKQ-03-CNY

**This was awarded to Gorgug Thistlespring, for exemplary work as a triple-year artificer student, in addition to the junior year barbarian curriculum

#dimension 20 #dimension 20 spoilers #fantasy high #fantasy high junior year #fhjy #fhjy spoilers #dimension 20 meta #thisisnotthenerd's d20 stats #musings on the solisian school district #the perils of xp leveling #the last stand #the bad kids

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idliketobeatree · 2 months

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The lighting in the S1 1941 flashback is so painfully dark I was rewatching it on a 150% brightness and perhaps I am five years late, but how come I've never noticed that this

is how Aziraphale gazes at Crowley before the "little demonic miracle of my own"???

This is him before the love realisation, just after Aziraphale miracled them both safe from the bomb exploding on the church with the Nazis. No heartwarming acts of service yet — best to his knowledge, Crowley was only there for moral support, because he "didn't want him to get embarassed". And his gaze is— I don't know what to say. Like it would kill him to look away. So fond, so immersed, "oh God, there you are", like hundreds of years have passed, not decades since they saw each other last. Books? What books? What air raid, what war?

Arguably the best part of the scene happens literal seconds after. If you pay close attention to the whole shot, you'll spot the brown satchel on the side. Which Aziraphale would notice earlier too, if he could focus on anything other than Crowley.

#good omens #good omens 1941 #aziraphale #crowley #ineffable husbands #aziracrow #aziraphale x crowley #good omens analysis #good omens meta #ineffable spouses #good omens s1 #gos1 #anthony j crowley #i'm going to be sick #michael sheen what if this is my last straw? what then?#i blame the eternal darkness of these shots that i've only noticed this now #aziraphale was there!! smitten gone so SO BAD for him!!!!! and he was the one who did all the hard bits!!#end me please #marcela talks

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poorly-drawn-mdzs · 4 months

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His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy.

[First] Prev <–-> Next

#poorly drawn mdzs #mdzs #wei wuxian #lan wangji #tulu xuanwu #blood #Vomit on his sweater already; mom's spaghetti #I love drawing teenji because he gets to be a lot more expressive than Older Lan Wangji.#wwx is trying so hard to be supportive and it keeps backfiring for lwj.#“There's no way I would ever want you carnally ^_^” meanwhile the guy who wants him carnally is losing his mind in agony.#Hot tip if you keep finding yourself in Lan Zhan's shoes: consider being more obvious. Give up on trying to be subtle with an ADHDer.#His game is SO BAD. Abysmally bad rizz. I do not think it was possible for these to to have a chance to get together in this life.#He has no plan. He has no healthy outlet for his feelings. He is looking at his half naked crush and losing his shot.#F in the chat for Lan Zhan. He's just been accidently rejected and he is about to be accused of being straight.#Meta commentary moment: I am going to try very hard to be more consistent with outfits and details across comics #I have had some...difficulties in the past with forgetting details (COUGH the vermillion mark COUGH)#New year new goals! Wish my ADHD eyes and brain good luck!

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backjustforberena · 7 months

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How would you describe Rhaenys and Meleys’s bond?

I'm really guided by what Eve says about the dragon-bond, specifically with Rhaenys and Meleys. I think she's got a lovely way of phrasing it and has put thought into it and, obviously, she has that in mind whilst playing the character.

So it's hard, for me, to overestimate how important it is when Eve says that they're almost a part of one another - that Rhaenys is a part of Meleys and Meleys is a part of Rhaenys. And then furthermore, when she likened them to the daemons from Phillip Pullman's books - saying that Meleys is really representative of Rhaenys and, moreover, a hidden part of Rhaenys - a manifestation of Rhaenys's inner wildness. She is a Targaryen and dragons are what they are. And when you're couched in Velaryon colours and held at arm's length from your paternal family, that means all the more, visually, on-screen.

Meleys has also been designed to echo her rider. One of the VFX artists describes her as "Regal, matriarchal, older, wiser," Bell elucidated. "Much more royal in the design, the horns are almost crown-like to a degree.", so all this has been done very deliberately. Whatever Meleys displays, Rhaenys is feeling. Whatever Rhaenys is feeling, Meleys displays. To me, it implies that whatever Meleys does, whatever her flights are like or behaviour, is telling about Rhaenys. Whether that's keeping far away from the wake, whether it's instructing Seasmoke, whether it's controlling her temper or doing a dive-bomb (man do I have a stupid amount of feelings about that dive bomb).

I think there are lots of things to consider, both in general with the bond and relationship and then the more specific to this dragon and this rider. We've seen that dragons are very empathetic towards their riders, that, certainly after a while, they sort of seem to create a feedback loop in terms of strong emotions; pain, especially. We know that after a certain point, they don't listen to anyone else. And with Rhaenys and Meleys, they are the longest bond we've seen.

But more than that, I think there's such a level of trust between them. Of respect. And acceptance. I don't know, that's just the impression I get. I don't believe there's any sort of fussing or infantilising of Meleys. I think they're partners. Rhaenys was willing to risk everything to get to Meleys in Episode 09. She was the first thing she asked about when Alicent held her prisoner. They've been together longer than anyone. Longer than some dragons have even been alive. There are decades of experience there.

There is such a contrast to compare Vhagar and Aemond to Rhaenys and Meleys, specifically their control when their emotions and, more importantly, their dragon's emotions are at their peak.

Rhaenys has her dragon in a confined space, surrounded by loud, yelling people, dust, and guards (a threat), after having burst through floorboards. Yet Meleys never does a thing that Rhaenys doesn't want her to do. Even anything that Rhaenys feels like doing, because she is tempted to just tear it all down. But Meleys doesn't burn, she doesn't stop, she doesn't create more carnage than she needs to. Meleys, in herself, is not volatile in that situation despite the massive upheaval and the massive emotions coming off of her rider.

Whereas Aemond, a relatively young bond, under similar strain, loses control a little bit, resulting in an outcome Aemond didn't want, despite many verbal commands - Vhagar does as she feels she needs to.

To me, Rhaenys feels most at home on dragon-back. Most settled in her skin. She spends a lot of time on Meleys, flying. Her saddle was designed to show that and show the interest and knowledge Rhaenys has in that, having her own modifications. She's tried and tested, she's at home, she's still made unbelievably happy by it.

She wears armour, red as her. A necklace of spikes, like her. Now she prepares to go to war and she volunteers herself and Meleys. There's a sense of her feeling safe, so long as she has her dragon with her. There is definitely a sense of pride. They are a team. I think being a dragon-rider is an undeniable and intrinsic part of her. Meleys has been her constant, her friend, her companion, her escape, her freedom, her heritage, her home. Her pride and joy.

Meleys is a reminder of all Rhaenys is and can be.

#house of the dragon #rhaenys targaryen #my gifs #bad meta #<- ironic tag

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qaey · 4 months

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it’s crazy how practically every time the bad kids split up it’s gorgug and fabian just kinda having a nice time with whoever they’re with and they go ‘i hope everyone else is doing as well as we are 🥰’ and it cuts to the other group and it’s just flames and screaming

#only when they split up in groups #when they’re alone it’s uh not as good #but anyway the light meta gaming is sooo funny constantly and always #fantasy high #fabian seacaster #dimension 20 #d20 #gorgug thistlespring #dropout #d20 fh #bad kids #the bad kids

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eisforeidolon · 8 months

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OMG, when manipulating people, Lucifer appears to people as their romantic partners, episode 15x19 is PROOF of D/C!!!!

Except Lucifer didn't only appear as love interests or only use love interests to manipulate people. Although we didn't know who was doing the manipulating at the time, he appears to Sam as John in episode 11x04, to further convince him the dream visions he's getting should be followed. We see him manipulating Rooney in episode 12x08, and he is using Rooney's religio-political aspirations as his hook, not a person at all - let alone a dead love interest. We also know he manipulated plenty of vessels offscreen by unknown means - I doubt the Archbishop of Saint Louis was pining for an old lover. Furthermore, I'd posit that Sam knows Lucifer better than anybody but God and Michael by 7x02 post-Cage. So if Lucifer really did only appear as love interests? Hallucifer appearing to Sam as Dean in that episode would be "proof" of wincest.

So there were non-love interest manipulations and manipulations we didn't see onscreen that probably weren't centered on romantic partners. Which is enough to put holes in the theory alone, because its entire substance is just Lucifer appearing to someone = dead love interest. But why stop there? Let's talk about the context of the ones that are supposedly clues Castiel has to be a dead love interest, just because Lucifer did appear that way a few times.

Nick was obsessed with his wife and son's murder, and Lucifer's first salvo was causing Nick to hallucinate a baby's cry and a flood of blood from the empty crib before appearing as Nick's wife, who (unlike the son) could actually talk enough to make a specific bargain. Murders that we find out later were committed by *gasp* demons on Lucifer's orders to make said potential vessel desperate and vulnerable. The hallucinations Lucifer gave him pointedly included allusions to his dead son as well as his dead wife, so it clearly wasn't just about a romantic connection. It was his current weak spot, he was broken because his family were murdered.

When Lucifer goes to Sam in 5x03, Sam is trying to just sit the apocalypse out and live a normal life, hoping that will work to prevent anyone else getting hurt. Just like he thought he could sit the hunt for the demon out at Stanford. Even if Jess had just been his buddy, the girl who fucking died the last time he tried to live a normal life would still be exactly the right metaphorical knife to the ribs in that situation where Lucifer wants to imply that people can't change and there's no reason to hope the world won't end. Even Dean isn't a better choice there when the parallel of Sam getting normal people hurt by existing in their vicinity is so obvious. It was his current weak spot, putting innocents in danger.

Vince Vincente is depressed at least partially because his ex-girlfriend committed suicide after he treated her like crap and therefore blames himself for her death in 12x02. He does say in the moment that all he wants is her back - but actually, we learn an episode later that part of the deal he made with Lucifer was to heal his paralyzed sister because Lucifer sure as hell didn't do that out of the goodness of his heart. So again, even though it did involve a dead girlfriend, that wasn't remotely the only vulnerability Lucifer exploited, just the one that fits their theory. It was his current weak spot(s), the women in his life that he failed/couldn't help himself.

In each case, Lucifer is just using the best weapons he can bring to bear on the weak spots of vulnerable people, y'know, how a manipulator operates. That they involve romantic partners isn't actually the main reason for their use, and again, isn't his only shown tool of manipulation.

So Lucifer doesn't only use romantic partners to manipulate people, but even when he does it is about what the target's current vulnerability is that he can exploit to get what he wants. Which brings us finally to talk about that scene where he tricks the Winchesters with Castiel's voice in the penultimate episode. He needs to get into the bunker to use the Winchesters to trick the reaper to make sure he has the right death book. Sam and Dean are both inside. Most of their dead allies have been dead for a while so the shock and trauma has worn off/been buried - or they are alive enough to take a phone call and say no, they aren't at the bunker's door, actually (if Lucifer even knows enough to know who they are). But Castiel? The trenchcoated angel just carked it again a hot minute ago and wouldn't be able to get through the wards, making him the perfect tool for the job. It literally wouldn't matter if it was Dean or Sam, he's the entity in that moment they'd be least surprised to see resurrected and would open the door for, which is what Lucifer needs. No twue lurve necessary.

This is not the literal stupidest meta they've ever tried to pass off as valid. But yet again, it falls on its face if you actually examine it as a premise. Because they don't remember enough of the canon to know their theory is actively contradicted by other examples they forgot. Because they very pointedly pick and choose what context counts as important. Because they refuse to see other logical interpretations which are very obviously right there. Ultimately and fundamentally? Because they start from the premise that D/C has to be totes real and actively ignore everything and anything that doesn't lead to that conclusion - which is pretty much the entire canon, once you put their "proof" back in its original context and remove the distorted shipper goggles.

#bad meta #destihellers #destiew #mention of wincest #long post #lucifer

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