#his sense of morality is also so strong | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

imposterogers · 1 year

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"Steve says he's retired. He's not retired. He still keeps an eye on his old neighborhood. And when he sees a problem...well...he knows every hero in the city. He might not be doing the fighting himself, but the problems get solved." ~ Daredevil (2016) #4

Yeah, I kind of agree with you. I think they should have had him pass the Captain America mantle to Sam and have him get a new identity.

its almost as if the best most in character and comic accurate choice was staring them straight in the eyes and marvel still managed to miss it

#imo steve rogers was done with cap almost from the moment he defrosted. he spent 70 years in the ice and when he woke up #captain america had evolved into a legend. a symbol. a definition of who the world thought he should be #he was back to being the performing monkey #and it weighted hiim down rather than make him stronger #he saw this new rold and realized it had just as many (if not more) issues for him to stand up and fight for #and he did!#the sokovia acords #hydra infiltration and the corruption of the govt #enhanced individuals illegally locked on a raft #bucky #but every time he did what he thought was right there was someone asking why captain america was making these choices #acting illegally becoming a fugitive. acting on his own #sam became a fugitive with steve bc he agreed that was the right thing to do #his sense of morality is also so strong #he is kind and empathetic #loyal and determined #but he is not as jaded as steve #and dare I say not as short tempered #he sees the power captain america holds and he knows he can harness it #that not only is he able to but he can/will do great things #he is the best person steve could pass the shield do #I just wish we saw /our/ steve rogers handing it off

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moreaugriffins · 6 months

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Every day i just want to write a post that just says "The Brigadier is so damn autistic."

but I then worry about what other people might say if I do that

but fuck it

The Brigadier is so fucking autistic, and nobody can change my mind

#classic doctor who #brigadier lethbridge stewart #'hes just like that because hes a military man' no he's like that because he's autistic and in the military. there's a difference #(please - we see so many soldiers in classic who and he's so different to them)#lack of expressions (especially s7) which caused others to comment his 'lack of emotions' in certain situations (he has commented that he #does in fact feel..)#the constant swagger stick with him (they arent common for soldiers nor officers to have.. havent been since past WW2 i believe) which he f #fiddles with and holds #stickler for the rules and hates disorder (things not being done 'right')#(thinking of the 'rules arent rules for alistair' bit from Daddy Fights Monsters)#his reaction to mushrooms in The Green Death. that's it. that's the point (he just hates mushrooms and so do i)#he's so.. military when he speaks even when speaking to civilians or when he's off duty. ik that's not much of a point but in the military #you're told exactly how to speak and interact with others and to be blunt and clear and to the point with your words. you're saying he does #find comfort in it?#and this man's strong sense of morals! my god. he can have quite black and white thinking in situations (so does 3 which would probably #explain why they butt heads often) and he is insanely stubborn #im sure i'll think of more things as time goes on but this is all i have for now #also im sorry i might be a bit tipsy when posting this but i really need courage lmao

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movedtodykedvonte · 11 months

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I sometimes wonder if Miguel ever tried recreating that sense of family he had with Gabriella with Miles and Gwen...except Miles and Gwen only received that toxic parental side from him and not the healthier, wholesome part he had with Gabi because he's mentally unwell and grieving and punishing himself daily as penance.

This is a really good thought cause Gwen alludes to this in her rant at Miguel during the Go Home Machine sequence, “Maybe you weren’t hard enough on him!”. Miguel views his actions based on being Spider-Man not as being Miguel. Either way, he is acclimated to loss in grief in such a unique way that it just seems difficult for him to understand that others aren’t or don’t become susceptible to his alternative to grief/guilt.

It would be plausible that Miguel is sort of worried about gaining a connection with members of the society (especially the younger ones) as he’s lost a lot in his life (if his backstory is any similar to his comic + gabi) and the healthier side would undoubtedly led to a less formal work relationship and something that bleeds into what little life he has outside of Spider-Man as Miguel.

For all intents and purposes Miguel genuinely believes that he is being reasonably protective of Miles and Gwen by over-protecting the canon as he doesn’t want them to experience the pain of over-stepping cosmic and normal boundaries like he did along with dampening his emotional investments in them by being harsh. I mean, recently people have been pointing out he tears up when Miles tells him he can’t not save his dad.

His intentions and sentiments towards these kids are pure and based in altruism but his actions and executions of them are destructive if outright hostile.

#the idea that these actions of his are simply tough love opens a new light to why he tried to break Miles spirit towards the end #he genuinely recognized he was getting dangerous as in that position he could’ve easily bitten or knocked out the kid but was still trying #to talk him down in a sense #as cruel as his words were he wanted Miles to realize the weight of his existence and definitely got to angry and heated before hand to be #effective the fact Gwen thought they could still talk after implies she still thought him reasonable and hints this was a show of care of n #his side that went completely south Miguel likely just wants what’s best and it just so happens to include having people get hurt #also supporting the idea od strict harsh parenting as he’s trying to build them up to be strong spider people sort of like parents who want #their kids to be prodigies I mean you can parallel his meeting with Miles to the meeting with his parents #expectations of what he needs to do or should want vs his own sentiments #miles morales #gwen stacy #ghost spider #miguel o'hara #spiderman 2099 #spiderman #atsv #across the spiderverse #spiderverse #ask #anon #atsv spoilers

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lanaluthorlang · 6 months

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s2 “I don’t want to hurt anyone” lana vs s7 ‘kidnapping lionel and hitting him with a shovel when he tries to escape’ lana

#smallville #lana lang #I just think that she!!!#like I don’t subscribe to the notion that she should have went the villainous route #bc she’s so driven by love and compassion for others #but she’s also driven by a strong sense of loyalty!#and as an adult she would do ANYTHING to keep her loved ones safe #even lie and steal and hurt ppl #I’d say she’s probably closest to Ollie in terms of ideology???#but s8 tries to align her more with Clark…when like they never got past his distrust of her in s7 #bc they put her in a coma as soon as they started mending their relationship #n e ways…I just think that Lana’s morality is complex and interesting but gets glossed over bc #like most things about her character #the writers aren’t really sure what they want to say and keep changing their minds

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torgawl · 8 months

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never thought i'd see people try to argue or analyse wriothesley's murder in regards to his personality. i think people are missing the point. the situation has nothing to do with him and has everything to do with an extremely traumatic environment that made a small boy think the only solution so save himself and the people he cared about was to take the life of his abusers. it's not supposed to be rational, it wasn't premeditated, it wasn't about getting away with it. if you read his description of the murder you can see how out of it he was. his goal was to protect himself and his siblings and that's what he did. that's why he admitted to the crime so easily and why he is keen to associate the fortress as a rebirth place. he was just young, lost and traumatised and that's about it when it comes to the extension of it all.

#people acting like they're disappointed because he's a 'manipulative' and cunning individual or because he's cold and that it doesn't match #the crime as if at that time he wasn't just a kid experiencing extreme distress and without a safe space to seek help #i also don't personally think he's manipulative at all. he isn't like ayato or yae miko. he has very strong values and he does everything #to abide to that. if that means ommiting information at some point to make the best out of a situation he will do so but he doesn't do #things for personal gain and as soon as he can be truthful he lays all the cards on the table #this reminds me of that ayaka situation where people tried to paint her as manipulative when all she did was ask the traveller to hear #people's stories so traveller could take their own conclusions about the situation in inazuma shsjsh #it's also the way wrio isn't even cold. he's serious and composed but goddamn if he didn't show how empathetic he is #also how lightweight his personality is during the archon quest...#at this point i'm just questioning myself if we're even playing the same game #wrio 'i believe in restorative justice rather than punishment' the slay #wrio 'there's a prophecy about a flood dooming the entire country so i'm taking matters into my own hands and building noah's ark to save #my people' the slay #wrio 'i have no reason to trust you but i will still offer you a cup of tea' the slay and people still try to pain him in an obscure light #he's not even that morally grey 😭 he's morally gray in the sense everyone is #wanting to stop people who hurt others isn't controversial or shouldn't be #also because we KNOW that's his last resource #his job is literally to give people a second chance the same way he took his except he actually wants to make life easier for others #than it was for him and people are so vocal about how grateful they are of him like???#he's such a good guy genuinely #and just because he's intelligent and usually composed doesn't mean he isn't emotional sensitive or even prone to being put in situations #where's he's forced to react a certain way because that's just human nature #he's literally just a silly guy with trauma and big responsabilities set him free from the shackles of mischaracterization please 😂#not that i'm better i'm a fool i may just be talking shit really #but seeing people act like the murder is somehow badly written or that he is dark and dangerous make me go ???#having the ability to do something doesn't define you as a person and i feel like judgement without context makes no sense #but maybe that's just me

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katierosefun · 1 month

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watching the walking dead as someone who despises jump scares and also zombies is just like. i keep skipping past the really gory scenes. also omg glenn rhee i love u glen rhee :)))) [grows attached to a character] [looks up if they're going to die in this episode] [looks up the entire plot of an episode before watching] repeat.

#caroline talks #and that is how i am on season 2.#listen i despise spoilers as much as the next person #but when it comes to horror shows i Need to Know the Whole Plot #i really do like most of the characters. like even the ones who i'm not totally a fan of i can sympathize a little bit with #i think i just really do love rick and also daryl right now. and glenn.#daryl bc he's grouchy and unpleasant but also i'm like. lmao. this man is deep down a softie i can SENSE IT #and i love u rick bc he's just like. his sense of morality is SO strong and i can't help but adore him for that #and i love u glenn. bc glenn is wonderful. he's very resourceful and quick and also has genuine humor #and i love him for it.

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vividbadsquadreal · 8 months

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🎞 FOR THE WHOLE OF VBS

🎞 - what's a movie au i'd like to see this character in?

this is such a fun one omg (tries to remember any movie ever)

first thought was happy new year au because i’m obsessed with that movie. like imagine vbs heist?? in the middle of a dance competition?? that would be so fun. also vbs collaborating on a revenge plot REAL

alright yeah i will admit i don’t watch many movies. BUT i can (try to) do this for tv shows (future an speaking: i failed)

an shiraishi as the protagonist in a how i met your mother au. kohane is robin. this makes sense i swear

not vbs but n25 house md au. i have a vision here. mafuyu as house, ena as cuddy.

(me when i get this ask and suddenly i’ve never watched a movie in my life fhsjfh)

,,, wxs glee au. sorry.

#asks!!#prsk #project sekai #mod an speaks #in the n25 house md au mizuki would be chase but not in the way that chase is as a person #but like filling his role in the story (being house’s (mafuyu’s) employee for the longest time. being the only surgeon ever)#tsukasa as wilson somehow just makes sense to me #sorry i can’t imagine kanade being a doctor ever she gets some other recurring role #toya also gets to be one of the employees (foreman) bc foreman gets called house lite and toya and mafuyu have so many parallels #someone with a strong moral compass gets to be cameron #<- atp i should just make a whole other post about this shouldn’t i

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designernishiki · 9 months

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I will maybe make a bigger post at some point about other characters’ dnd classes but. thought about it. kiryu would be a battlemaster fighter multiclassed into oath of vengeance paladin. end of statement

#as much as I can see barbarian in certain ways he’s not actually very… well barbaric. he certainly could have the rage aspects #and barbarian Can come with some strong moral codes/ideals/etc depending on the subclass #but I think all-around vengeance paladin matches better imo. the mix of tradition/straightforwardness with his personal strong morals/ideals #that often Result in attonement through violence in one way or another- and the fact that it’s an Oath. in his case not to a patron deity so #much as an intense code he’s imposed on himself. it just makes a lot of sense to me #battlemaster prior to fully developing that complex- straightforward but more adaptable than something like champion #based around techniques and manuevers picked up from training and just fighting wherever and whenever #and makes sense to me that he’d have second wind for sure #hm. I guess one way of putting it is there’s an inherent sense of self discipline that comes with paladin (exception of oathbreaker for #obvious reasons) and kiryu takes on that self discipline complex pretty hard probbbabbly after kiwami 1 or 2.#rambling #kiryu #I think saejima’s a good example of a barbarian (totem warrior specifically). he’s got ideals based in wisdom learned from the world around #him and lived experiences and etc. but it doesn’t feel like a code he has to abide by or a list of commandments for himself #I know I said I wasn’t gonna talk about other characters in this post but I just. have to mention. the other character im pretty solid on #is akiyama. who’d be a bard of whispers / drunken fist monk. which is a WILD and probably very fun to play combo #his charisma and dex would be insane. int and wis also very good. strength meh to bad. but by god his con would be atrocious #kiryu’s like the polar opposite almost. charisma atrocious. int/wis not good. strength and con insanely good. (dex pretty alright tho)#anyway I should stop

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jessekestrel · 9 months

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Stormcatcher is a communist

That's it. That's the post. He's a class-conscious dude :) don't mind my crazed rambling about my man in the tags. I refuse to listen to official lore about him basically being a late-stage capitalist slave driver. It doesn't exist in my mind :D

#he is morally grey #neither good or evil #he cares a great deal about his flight but is very utilitarian in his morals #he is willing to do ANYTHING to achieve justice and class equality #this man has a STRONG sense of justice.#he DESPISES the Icewarden for being a 'capitalist pig'#he isn't exactly the nicest to anarchists tho #exiled his mate for having more libertarian views than him #and gave her amnesia OUCH #then he cries the whole 20 years she's away that she doesn't love him #YEAHHHHHHH #Flight Rising #former admin confirmed the Lightning flight is comparable to the USSR #he would gladly kick a puppy so that everyone in his flight can have a good standard of living #he is also willing to nuke the entire Plague flight so yeah #stormcatcher #I must read actual communist theory #stormcathcer flight rising

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astrxealis · 2 years

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conflicted ngl but generally i think fuuta is. ultimately innocent but he still needs some hmm ? yeah ? but i don't think voting guilty for 2nd trial is the right way to go about that because. i'm pretty scared of what that'll do to him

#⋯ ꒰ა starry thoughts ໒꒱ *·˚#⋯ ꒰ა milgram ໒꒱ *·˚#^^ given some stuff i've heard about the drama audio ... augh. this is really complex #the thing is. does he actually admit/know what he did is morally wrong or does he just fear the consequences?#i'm inclined to believe he DOES know. but doesn't admit it outright yet. i think this way bcs iirc he has a 'strong sense of justice'#but who is to say for sure... everything is so complex oh my god #i want to vote fuuta innocent and i think it'd be best but i want to get my thoughts about all of this sorted out too #he. and es/viewers. the same tbh. but the fact is that fuuta still has problems and stuff and agbejhghjebaj how will that be fixed...#the mv this time around is all about yk. his guilt and how he views himself and milgram. i cannot get my thoughts in order anymore ;;;;#i thnk fuuta is a good guy at heart. and i also relate to him. i get his character but also it's so complicated #he is so interesting oh my god. all of milgram is tbh.#aagbhbjhbehbhbhbaebghbs so much to think about oh my god milgram is SO good

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ifeelfreewithoutmyshoes · 1 year

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Giving your main character amnesia for this long is such a gamble and I’m still on the fence

#you can argue that it’s about the nature vs nurture and who would she be without her trauma #but honestly I just really liked her for her fucked up morals #and now she doesn’t have them and honestly she’s become kinda basic #like how she keeps clinging on to uk caring even tho he’s straight up said no #and she just seems more meh #like she was really cool bc she was powerful (both with her powers but also her personality without them)#and I just don’t think the new actor doesn’t it for me #bc she’s played so innocent and pretty and more quaint it doesn’t seem like the same character to me #like I really liked the first season and couldn’t get enough #now I’m on s2 and I don’t have to same want to keep watching at all #but I’m still really curious about her getting her memory back so I’m gonna keep at it but still #it’s like I’m tda when Julian locked away his emotions #it makes sense plot wise but it really made him a boring character to read…..#me #alchemy of souls #yeah I just saw 2 minutes more and that’s what’s annoying me #she was a really interesting strong kinda fucked up /female/ character #now she’s just… kinda like every other female character ig….

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hydrachea · 2 years

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teru for the character opinion bingo??

Character opinion bingo

He's never been my favorite of the esper gang but I can respect a 14-year-old with permanent ulterior motives and who isn't above torture.

#anon #ask #answer #he should be bullied more though #he has a punchable face #and he's strong enough that it'd take some work #someone get to it #i like him his morals are conditional and every condition has a giant * next to it #freak. teen with the mind of an adult. constantly calculating how to get what he wants. these are compliments #his fashion sense also never fails to give me allergic reactions so that's another point for him #he's so talented #mp100

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greenglowinspooks · 7 months

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To be honest. DCxDP where the reason Danny meets the bats is Ace the Bat-hound

Like, just think about it for a second. Danny is in Gotham for college, or maybe he just moved out to find a city where having mad scientist parents isn’t actually that unusual.

He can see ghosts.

The ghosts know this.

Now he’s getting harassed left and right by spirits trying to get closure. Fine, whatever, most of them are a one-and-done type deal, and the amount of ghosts trying to get his help steadily decreases.

Except for this one very stubborn dog.

It just keeps showing up and leading him to crime scenes! He doesn’t know how many “anonymous tips” he can call in to the cops before they trace his phone! And this dog, this incredibly good boy, will not stop trying to help the city. He’s never met anyone with such a strong sense of justice, let alone a dog. Can dogs even have a moral compass?

And so Danny just accepts the fact that Ace isn’t going anywhere and becomes his reluctant sidekick/dedicated medium. He leans into the whole thing, dressing up in a mix of traditional magic-user attire and accessories that pay homage to the ghost dog.

He becomes somewhat well known. The psychopomp detective following around the shadowy figure of a German Shepard? That’s unusual! That’s weird! I mean, it’s not the weirdest thing in Gotham, sure, but he’s a new vigilante and he’s got a ghost dog that people can only see when it’s around him. Someone’s gonna notice.

Damian, as Robin, is the first to reach out to him.

Ace doesn’t know Damian but he does know a Robin, and while this isn’t his Robin, he’s still friendlier than usual. Danny’s panicking because oh god the bats are here and also is this kid gonna steal my ghost dog, Damian is absolutely delighted by Ace, and Ace is just happy to see a Robin again.

Damian decides that the psychopomp isn’t a danger to anyone, and there’s no reason to put this encounter into his reports, really, and perhaps Danny can help with some of his cases in the future.

Danny is sweating bullets because Damian basically tells him that he’ll keep him secret as long as he gets to play with Ace. Ace is happy that he’s finally getting some bat affiliated crime-fighting assistance.

And so, Danny is now both Ace AND Damian’s reluctant assistant. At least whenever he’s in trouble, he can always call a middle schooler to help him.

(Is Robin even in school? He’s out patrolling damn near every night, and he stays out late as hell. Does he have a bedtime? He should.)

Eventually it gets to the point where Damian is going over to Danny’s house. When he first sees it, he has a damn bitch you live like this moment, to which Danny responds that not everyone has the money to afford a nice place. Damian counters that he could at least take the time to clean up, and Danny replies that he’s working, going to school, and being a vigilante assistant to a ghost dog, something’s got to give.

Danny nearly has a heart attack when he checks his bank account the next day and sees that someone transferred him 10,000 dollars.

And so they get into a routine. Danny and Damian fight crime with Ace at night, and occasionally Damian stops by during the day to play with Ace and have Danny help with his homework.

(Damian is smart enough to do it on his own, but some of the instructions are written incredibly confusingly, and he would never admit to needing help to his family. Danny is just glad that the kid is in school and cares about his education, blissfully unaware that he’s basically emotionally adopted him.)

Damian is used to being in Danny’s company.

Eventually, when going over a case with the family, Damian absentmindedly remarks that he’ll have to ask Danny about some of the clues that they might be missing. Nightwing asks who he means and Damian makes a face like he just swallowed a lemon.

Cue shitstorm.

Who is “Danny?” Why is Damian willing to ask for help from anyone, much less someone outside of the family? Does he know who Damian is? Has Damian been compromised? What the hell is going on?

Damian now has to explain that Danny is the psychopomp with the ghost dog who he might have met hunted down while on patrol and conveniently not mentioned, but he’s not a bad person, really, and he lets him play with Ace, and he’s been quite helpful on certain cases due to his ability to talk to ghosts.

Bruce insists that the family meet Danny. Damian, hoping that he won’t just skip town the second he hears the news, relents.

Danny is surprisingly eager to meet the bats, considering his earlier fears.

Damian, blissfully unaware of what’s coming, sets a time and place to meet.

Once everyone is there, he gives Bruce the earful of a lifetime.

Robin is in middle school! Danny knows that there’s no way to stop the boy from going on patrol, but you could at least shift his schedule so he gets enough sleep on school nights! Does the Bat even know where he is half the time?! (No) And why isn’t he comfortable asking his family for help with both cases and homework? Did they ever even notice how much time he was spending at Danny’s house? If Danny was a bad person, he could have seriously hurt the poor boy! Shame on you!

Nightwing is mortified that Damian didn’t trust him enough to tell him about any of this. Red Hood is laughing his ass off, because yeah Danny is making good points but he’s also chewing out the literal Batman. Tim is recording the whole thing. Steph is delighted by the absolute gall of this Danger Twink™️, and already planning to add him to several groupchats. Damian is more embarrassed than he’s ever been in his entire life.

You, he points to Nightwing, did your academic life feel supported when you were a Robin? Nightwing is too stunned to speak. Red Hood, eternal shit-stirrer, says that oh, we all prioritized patrol over our education, that’s just how it is. Red Robin actually dropped out of high school to avoid distractions, did you know that?

Danny honest-to-god shrieks at this.

He finishes his angry rant and leaves, everyone too stunned to stop him.

And as it turns out, Tim wasn’t the only person recording the whole thing.

The entire internet is blowing up with Psychopomp The Danger Twink™️’s rant. People are taking sides. Things are getting messy. Red Hood literally admitting on-camera to previously being a Robin is somehow not the main focus here.

Eventually someone connects some dots from the video, as well as stories circling the internet about the psychopomp. A ghost dog named Ace, who is the literal only reason that the psychopomp is fighting crime at all, which seems incredibly fond of Nightwing and Robin.

A crime-fighting dog who wants constant attention from both the current and original Robin.

Oh my god, Ace the Bat-hound died and became a crime-fighting ghost.

And, somehow, that’s still not the strangest thing going on in Gotham.

#dcxdp #dc x dp #dp x dc #dpxdc #dp x dc crossover #dc x dp prompt #literally Ace is too good a boy to pass on #this veered wildly into ‘Danny emotionally adopts Damian’ but really it’s what he deserves #sometimes family is an ex child assassin an undead college student and a ghost dog #also Danny gives literally no shits during investigations because he Cannot Die #he will just casually take 40 bullets to the chest like it’s nothing #if he encounters a rogue he will beat the everloving hell out of them and then give them Jazz’s card #(she’s doing confidential therapy for vigilantes and rogues)#except for the ones who are too far gone. like the joker #he’s a bitch and Danny hates him #if given the opportunity Danny would gladly kill him but Clockwork says he’s not allowed to do that #so he settles with beating the hell out of him and then covering all his stuff in glue #and of course alerting the authorities

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cynicalmusings · 1 year

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scaramatra... i love that. Any thanks! I have so many thoughts about his backstory, I'm glad I got a chance to write my own version. I'm hoping we learn something about the temple of silence in the 3.4 update

- lotus ✨️

yeah, same here… hoyoverse seriously owes us some cyno lore by this point…

to be honest, i wouldn’t be surprised if some aspects of it were somewhat similar to what you came up with.

#i’m also wondering… does it have anything to do with his sense of justice?#of course it could be that he’s just a guy with very strong morals #but i feel like there might be some angst or upbringing in his yet-to-be-revealed past that possibly emphasised it…#and i’m so so curious about the temple of silence you have no idea #sent: lotus ✨ anon #r answers

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thewriteadviceforwriters · 3 months

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Crafting Compelling Morally Gray Characters: A Guide for Fiction Writers

In literature, there is often a clear distinction between good and evil. Heroes are portrayed as virtuous and villains as wicked. However, in recent years, there has been a rise in the popularity of morally gray characters - those who do not fit neatly into the categories of good or evil. These characters are complex, flawed, and often make decisions that challenge the reader's moral compass. In this guide, I'll help you explore the art of crafting compelling morally gray characters and how to make them stand out in your fiction writing.

What Are Morally Gray Characters?

Morally gray characters, also known as morally ambiguous characters, are those who do not conform to traditional notions of good or evil. They may have both positive and negative traits, and their actions may be motivated by a mix of good and bad intentions. These characters often blur the lines between right and wrong, making them more relatable and intriguing to readers.

Examples of Morally Gray Characters

Some well-known examples of morally gray characters include:

Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series: Initially portrayed as a villain, Snape's true motivations and actions are revealed to be more complex and morally ambiguous.

Jaime Lannister from A Song of Ice and Fire series: Known for his arrogance and incestuous relationship with his sister, Jaime's character evolves throughout the series, showcasing his internal struggle between his duty and his personal desires.

Walter White from Breaking Bad: A high school chemistry teacher turned methamphetamine producer, Walter's character is constantly torn between his desire for power and his moral compass.

Why Are Morally Gray Characters Compelling?

Morally gray characters are compelling because they challenge the reader's perceptions of right and wrong. They are not easily categorized as heroes or villains, making them more relatable and human. These characters also add depth and complexity to a story, making it more interesting and thought-provoking.

The Power of Relatability

One of the main reasons morally gray characters are so compelling is because they are relatable. They are not perfect, and they make mistakes, just like real people. This makes them more human and allows readers to connect with them on a deeper level. When readers can see themselves in a character, it creates a stronger emotional connection to the story.

The Element of Surprise

Morally gray characters also add an element of surprise to a story. Their actions and decisions may not always align with what the reader expects, keeping them on the edge of their seat. This unpredictability makes the story more engaging and can lead to unexpected plot twists.

The Exploration of Morality

Morally gray characters also allow for a deeper exploration of morality in a story. By challenging traditional notions of good and evil, these characters force readers to question their own moral compass and consider the gray areas of morality. This can lead to thought-provoking discussions and a deeper understanding of complex moral issues.

How to Craft Morally Gray Characters

Crafting morally gray characters requires a delicate balance of positive and negative traits, as well as a deep understanding of their motivations and internal struggles. Here are some tips for creating compelling morally gray characters in your writing.

Give Them a Strong Motivation

Every character, regardless of their moral alignment, should have a strong motivation for their actions. For morally gray characters, this motivation should be complex and not easily defined as purely good or evil. It could be a desire for power, revenge, or even a sense of duty. This motivation will drive their decisions and actions throughout the story.

Show Their Flaws and Vulnerabilities

Morally gray characters are not perfect, and they should not be portrayed as such. They should have flaws and vulnerabilities that make them more relatable and human. These flaws could be physical, emotional, or moral, and they should play a role in the character's development and decisions.

Create Internal Conflict

One of the defining characteristics of morally gray characters is their internal conflict. They are torn between their good and bad tendencies, and this struggle should be evident in their thoughts and actions. This internal conflict adds depth to the character and makes them more relatable to readers.

Avoid Stereotypes

When crafting morally gray characters, it's important to avoid falling into stereotypes. These characters should not be one-dimensional or defined solely by their moral ambiguity. They should have unique personalities, backgrounds, and motivations that make them stand out as individuals.

Show Their Growth and Development

As with any well-written character, morally gray characters should experience growth and development throughout the story. They should learn from their mistakes and make decisions that challenge their moral compass. This growth and development will make them more dynamic and interesting to readers.

How to Make Morally Gray Characters Stand Out

With the rise in popularity of morally gray characters, it's important to make yours stand out in a sea of similar characters. Here are some tips for making your morally gray characters unique and memorable.

Give Them a Distinctive Voice

A character's voice is an essential part of their identity. It should be unique and reflective of their personality and motivations. For morally gray characters, their voice should reflect their internal conflict and the complexity of their moral alignment.

Create a Strong Backstory

A character's backstory can provide valuable insight into their motivations and actions. For morally gray characters, a strong backstory can help explain their moral ambiguity and add depth to their character. It can also create empathy and understanding for their decisions.

Use Foils to Highlight Their Morality

Foils are characters who contrast with the main character, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. For morally gray characters, foils can be used to showcase their moral ambiguity and challenge their beliefs. This can add depth to the character and create interesting dynamics between them and other characters.

Morally gray characters add depth, complexity, and relatability to a story. By challenging traditional notions of good and evil, these characters force readers to question their own moral compass and consider the gray areas of morality.

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emmafrostyyy · 8 months

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y'all sleeping on Astarion/Lae'zel bc this moment is so...the way the flippant demeanor drops and he doesn't hesitate to call her out for sticking with her version of Cazador like their relationship is so underrated fr...

sitting down writing this bullshit like let me peel it like an onion a bit and elaborate why this pairing is fascinating to me

It's really interesting how during the most cathartic, life-altering moment in Astarion's questline, the reactions of the other companions are more about the moral wrongness/guilt of sacrificing innocent lives. Lae'zel doesn't do that and instead relates to his hurt.

She knows what's he's feeling, the lack of control, the unfairness of being powerless for too long. This is a woman who just found out her entire life purpose was built on lies, discarded and hunted by her own people after outliving her usefulness, and groomed to basically die for an insane power-hungry lich queen. She knows all too well that power isn't always real freedom. Her first instinct is to empathize with Astarion to steer him away from his hate and resentment.

Astarion/Lae'zel is so interesting to me because they're such a classic "can we make each other worse or make a better person out of the other?".

They both have genuine appreciation for violence and respect each other's ruthlessness. Astarion was used as a weapon of seduction while Lae'zel was of warfare. Sex with people is meaningless and not real intimacy for them, and while both have little understanding/experience of interpersonal relationships beyond the physical, they still feel and love very deeply. They have no frame of reference for things like friendship and warmth, but they badly want all of that and more, even if they don't know it yet.

In-game they can sleep with each other, which is basically the foundation of the normal Tav/Astarion romance. Lae'zel saw him during combat and got horny, who knows. Astarion who's used to luring people with his charms, takes up Lae'zel's blunt offer because she's a strong hardened warrior that can provide protection and be a worthy ally, and he doesn't know how to say no. Navigating the complications between one who wants to be seen beyond as a sex object, and one who comes from a totally alien culture with no concept of love/family/connections and only sex is honestly really compelling to me. It's a transactional, mutually beneficial thing with no emotional expectations. Once you get past the skeevy rockiness of their early relationship, I really like the idea of them slowly seeing something past the exterior and realizing they may have harshly misjudged the other, an unspoken friendship blooms, and in comes the realization that they are essentially loners longing for kindness and a comforting touch in the most desperate of situations.

Lae'zel is prideful, direct, has no sense of courtship talk, and doesn't hold back her thoughts the slightest--she's not sweet/agreeable and what you see is really what you get, which I imagine would be disarming for Astarion who's used to vacuous flattery and has difficulty trusting others. But she's also insanely protective, passionate, loyal, and an initiator-- every romance scene is triggered by her first and she's always showing effort towards her relationships, which would mesh well with Astarion who does need someone to nudge him.

She doesn't purposely suppress her feelings, she's just simply at loss at how to express them sometimes due to her wildly different upbringing. She stops the sparring match you agree to and an easy vulnerability slips instantly out of her: "I don't want to hurt you. I want to protect you, and for you to protect me." and "Thus far I've taunted you, devoured you, battled you. Now I want more than anything to soothe you." are romantic as fuck and Astarion of all people really needs to hear that tbh.

Astarion is also someone who struggles with reinforcing his boundaries, and a key theme in Lae'zel's romance is that she encourages and wants you to challenge her and learn to stand your ground. It's not gentlest method, but hey, relationships are about having to make an effort to learn each other's language.

I think he also would take pleasure "educating her on the matters of Fay-run" (I believe there's a whole banter with him teasing her and teaching her pet names) and would get a kick out of coaxing Lae'zel out of her shell with her shyness at showing public affection, and making her blush. Also it simply would be fucking funny to see Astarion who's used to easy seduction, trying to pass a persuasion check just to get a smooch and generally having to work to earn regular kisses from Lae'zel lmfaooo

Lae'zel also initially struggles to see her chains as chains. When she learns about Vlaakith's betrayal, she copes instantly through denial and shuts it down. Astarion is NOT having it and calls her out, he knows her well enough to recognize that she would value blunt honesty above all.

I imagine he also despises her lack of self-preservation, the way her entire identity is tied to duty and being in service of others, and doesn't understand her desire to still help/liberate the people that want her dead and are hunting her down. He wants to make this duty-bound soldier realize that looking out for herself, and putting herself first may not be the worst thing in the world.

They're so similar to each other but are also polar opposites in some ways that make a more equal, balanced romance I think. It's not a simple, one-sided, feel-good "she/he can fix her/him" fantasy because both of them have to earn each other's love, actually cut through the other's flaws, and actively motivate each other to be better versions of themselves.

They're not at all the other's ideal guiding hand. It's rough, jagged, and imperfect, but that's how healing goes. It's so far from being the healthiest relationship -- but even if their belief systems differ, their moral compass does often align. I imagine it's a slight relief for them to have a partner where there would be less shame and judgment when they expectedly, occasionally slip up and fall into their bad habits.

Also, man, the "You showed me the betweens and beyonds. Beyond war and peace, beyond passion and obsession, most importantly, you showed me freedom.", "First you were my wound, now you were my cure.", "But you saw something else in me - someone else I could be. Someone who could break the cycle of power and terror that started centuries ago.." lines really hit hard when applied to them.

Of course, they can also make each other worse, feed into the other's negative traits that will bring out the worst part of themselves. It's this duality of their pairing that is very interesting to explore, the way it can steer in either direction because it's an intense, fraught relationship at its core.

#when he gets called by omeluum “child of the dark” and her “child of the stars” like yeah..the squid man is being literal but he Gets It fr.#lae'zel #astarion #bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 meta #astarion ancunin #astarion x lae'zel #lae'zel x astarion #the rarest of rarepairs they dont even got a ship name...this is so tragique we need to discuss the pathos and potential of this pairing #bg3 lae'zel #bg3 astarion #also im a sucker for stoic knight/court darling trope and whatever variations of it yeah #bloodbruise

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