ok i tried everything. i just can't beat him. fuck the green monster. Got the scrapped watchmen first try but this thing? even with an specter? idk. king of puppets was somehow fun and even victor was "easy" after i knew his moves. but the monster seems to have no window for a attack? he's constantly moving and I can't land a punch. for the first time i really don't enjoy this game ffs.

I've seen a post on redshit saying deghinsea was racist and I don't understand how people even came to that conclusion. The fandom isn't ready to Tellius remakes

Are you sure it was on redshit and not here anon? lol

If it's about the branded issue, Deghinsea received a very crappy hand to deal with - and we sure as hell don't see what happens or how the Branded are dealt with in Hatari, save for a meaningless "kumbaya" because the Tellius verse completely falls on its head with this question -

Tellius is all about discriminations and how stupid it is - only to, uh, biologically, tell you one race is "superior" to the other because the other "dies" when both races mix to make a baby.

Ergo, if beorcs and laguz "coexist" peacefully and make tons of babies, the laguz will cease to exist - because each time a branded is born (or even just conceived?) the laguz parent ceases to be a laguz.

In a context of racial tensions (Tellius isn't very clear on the details, but there used to be a war where laguz enslaved beorcs, then beorcs enslave laguz?) revealing this to the public meant ultimately yes, Laguz were going to go extinct unless they got rid of beorcs.

In a way, I find it very different from the manakete - dragon stone - problem, because Manaketes still can access to their power through a device, but they are still manaketes. In the Archanea verse at least (but it's suggested even in Elibe?) the dragon parent doesn't lose their power, even if they have a dragon stone, when they hold hands with a human to make a baby, Nah exists, the Nini siblings exist (and iirc it's implied their mom was a dragon when she went "missing"?) etc etc.

But in Tellius?

Lehran wanted to kill himself because he wasn't a "laguz" anymore, he can't sing, he can't hear the voice of the Goddess, he can't transform - he is not a laguz anymore, but he isn't a beorc either.

In an era where people genuinely thought Claude "killed the CEO of racism" and don't even want to think more than 12 seconds about the Nabateans and what revealing the truth about them may create as a result (it's a egg hunt, but this time, humans are hunting chocolate eggs for easter, they hunt living beings to vivisect them to create more shiny weapons or magic milkshakes to gain a longer life and superpowers), Tellius remakes and the kind of themes and discussion brought by this duology are completely inaudible.

(and especially since Tellius's main lead doesn't give a fuck about the world or the consequences of his and the general party's actions as he fucks off to another continent with his besties, letting everyone else piece back and rebuild the continent)

What was Deghinsea supposed to do? Reveal to Laguz that yes, coexistence is impossible because they are bound to disappear if they coexist too much with Beorcs? How would the Laguz react? Lash out against Beorcs and exterminate them to make sure the Laguz, as a race, will continue to exist? And how would the Beorc react? Feel even more superior because whatever happens the "punished" parent for branded unions will forever be the Laguz and not the Beorc, and thus will start to call Laguz "subhumans" even more recently than they do in canon?

What was the solution? His lie sure led branded to be shunned and outright despised - but let's be real, if he revealed the truth, wouldn't branded still be despised by Laguz, who would see them as symbols and reasons why "their race" loses to Beorcs ?

I've seen some fics try to dance around the question by saying, more or less, Laguz are seen as giving their powers to the baby and it's a gesture of affection - but still, why should the Laguz be the only to "pass on" something to the baby when the Beorc can just, you know, get said baby without "losing"/"passing on" anything ?

I really don't know what IS was thinking when they made this "rule" - especially coupled with Yune's insane "teehee it was never intended it just happened like that!" that made Stefan weep, at Deghinshea's lie, of course, but in general, at the entire "Branded issue" ; ffs the Goddess (or one half of the goddess) said Laguz and Beorcs cannot coexists, and it wasn't something that was planned, it just happens.

I honestly consider this message "race A is superior to race B because race B ceases to exist if it breeds too much with race A" as bad as Fodlan's "imperialism good akshually" and honestly don't know why IS went through this route.

To add more drama maybe, but damn if this is a stinky message to have in a series about acceptance and coexistence - especially coming after Elibe and the heavily implied (as of FE7) dragon hybrid hero (of FE6).

‘The Boiling Rock, Part 1’

I love how the start of the episode shows that Zuko is still getting teased by the rest of the Gaang, but it's kind of becoming less vicious, even from Katara.

I understand that Sokka feels terrible about the invasion plan failing and his father and many others all ended up captured. That's a lot of guilt to carry around. So, it's time to reverse the consequences of one bad plan by trying to execute an even worse plan!

So where do I even start with this before I take away Sokka's master strategist badge? Let's start from the top. Going to the Boiling Rock alone and taking Appa. That's just reckless and irresponsible. Also, the going alone because 'I must reclaim my honor'? Ugh, this masculine obsession with honor that makes one suspend nearly all functions of the brain... Sokka, weren't you the smart one? Katara isn't missing her father? How does she not deserve to be involved? You don't want to endanger anyone else? Fine, but... don't you realize that the group can't afford to lose you or Appa?

Okay, while I don't approve of them taking Appa, Zuko's reasoning not to do so is bizarre. Prisons don't have bison daycare centers? Umm, none of the places the Gaang go have those. Also, arriving in a hot air balloon is... not exactly inconspicuous? Do you think there's a landing pad for visitors, and nobody's going to ask any questions when they clearly spot your approach? Yeah, I don't see the air balloon being a better choice here.

This episode does give us some epic Zuko quotes, though. 'I'm never happy' and 'That's rough buddy' are classics for a reason. But for saying that the only one he misses in the Fire Nation is Mai, Zuko gets 20 Bad Brother Points, I mean Jerk Points.

Of course, the balloon crashes and robs them of means of escape. Appa wouldn't have had this problem getting in and out through those steam clouds. Also, Sokka saying that he expected this to be a one way trip... what the hell? Did you also think that when you were about to take Appa? Okay, Sokka is not allowed to ever contribute to the group's plans again, this is... awful.

Okay, I understand the reputation of the Boiling Rock, and sure the coolers seem super unpleasant for the firebenders, but... it doesn't really look any better or worse than any other prison. Sorry, but the 'everyone on Boiling Rock is tortured, ergo Azula tortured Suki' "logic" is simply ridiculous.

It's nice to see Suki again, but I'm still salty that a main character's romantic interest makes only her third appearance in 54 episodes. Like come the fuck on.

I'm actually going to give Sokka 30 Jerk Points for trying to kiss Suki while in the guard uniform. Like dude, don't you realize how that might be terrifying for a female prisoner? Maybe it's something Suki has already had to deal with. I know it was meant to be funny, but to me it was just thoughtless.

Zuko asking the Warden 'how did you know who I am?' I'm dying. Also, Zuko with the most half-assed apology in the world to Suki. Sorry for your island, I guess. ;)

Okay, again... I love Sokka's idea of using the cooler to get across the lake of steam. Buuut... what are you going to do once you're across? Row the cooler all the way back to the Air Temple? Also, the lake is in the caldera of a volcano and those walls look impossible to climb, so... again, Sokka has the engineering part solved. Everything else, not so much.

That's it for now, I'll see you soon in Part 2, hopefully with a better escape plan.

Jerk Points for Book 3:

Zuko - 660 Aang – 280  Ozai - 250 Sokka - 110 Roku - 100 Hide - 80 King Kuei - 60 Toph - 50 Haru - 30 

and then The Other Meme for spencer: 11, 16, 27, A

Uncommon OC Questions

11. How do they cope with confusion (seek clarification, pretend they understand, etc)?

Spencer is the epitome of "hang on I gotta google something" "ok this is funny". Literally, as in she'll take the first chance she has to research it, but until then she tends to opt out of the conversation or act like she knows what they're talking about—not really speaking until spoken to means, others usually slide right over her, and she likes it that way!

But, if in a direct conversation, she isn't actually above asking—well, saying "Explain." It's this type of thing that's at the intersection of Spencer's haughty, brusque superiority & her desire to perform well; so much of her pride comes from the fact she isn't scared to admit she doesn't know something and is instead willing to learn & so much of her frustration with her coworkers comes from their refusal to. There are exceptions to that of course, but it is ultimately destructive to presume you know best—that's what makes her a better team player than you'd think; she's willing to work with a given team's expertise and fill in the gaps. Uh. Theoretically, at least. She just doesn't like risking getting called an idiot in her own right for bothering to ask, ergo her defaulting to figure it out herself.

However, it also gives her a greater familiarity in coping with internal confusion—she puts almost a scientific methodology to it, gradually isolating what's giving her trouble and then determining what to do about it. Except if she makes the executive decision to fuck around and find out the hard way, which she's not immune to doing, but still usually involves weighing the likely consequences against how much patience she's working with.

16. What makes their stomach turn?

I never know how to answer this question, it's a pretty common reaction so I don't really know how to narrow it down... I mean, is "danger to herself" too broad or basic an answer? She gets pretty sick thinking about, in retrospect, how often she was at risk of Literal Death at Grizzco. But maybe more interesting than that's the notion that inauthenticity is the same thing to her; she learnt the hard way that dishonesty to herself is its own kind of harm. For example, thinking about her future makes her nauseous, because for a long time she can't conceptualize any version of it in which she can be true to herself. The notion of playing part in a romance does because she understands herself to be fundamentally removed from it. It's the last lingering reflex which holds up her guard around Bernadine no matter how hard she tries to kick it. Spencer's very blunt; she loathes beating around the bush. She also prizes very few things as high as sincerity—after all, her use of sarcasm as a means to isolate herself didn't come from nowhere.

Kind of a tangent but that's the kind of particular physical response I'd write into a scene as it came to me. Basically, whenever Spencer is put in a position where she has to fake something or even thinks she'll have to, when she doesn't want to—it won't sit well.

27. What causes them to feel dread?

Kind of the same answer tbh! At least, that all ^ would overlap with significant dread. It's an emotion she's pretty used to on shift, though, and used to brushing off; there's a distinct resignation to her reaction most of the time. She's not a very optimistic person, and if she's forced to act without a plan, or doesn't have the confidence in her ability to navigate a situation... Interactions with her family are a common one, as are confrontations with unfamiliar emotions. She's used to walking into things she thinks will be to her detriment, but that doesn't mean they don't get to her. Kind of a sticky situation to find oneself in, don't you think?

A. Why are you excited about this character?

That's the kind of question if you asked me IRL I would go on six different tangents and not shut up for multiple consecutive hours. so like. I'll try to not do that. But if you'll permit me to have some ridiculous gravitas about it;

Because she's not Marlo—I hate to define something in the negative like that especially when I've gone on about this at length already, and Spencer has a lot more going for her beyond just "not being Marlo", but. I have not enjoyed writing Marlo—at least not a fraction of this much—since 2018. 2's coming out screwed me over, it really did. I was not prepared to develop Marlo beyond their initial impetus in the least and OE in particular forced an overhaul I wasn't ever content with. It's hard to explain to anyone who only knows their modern incarnation the extent of the anxiety and frustration I felt trying to update them and drum up interaction while I felt profoundly alienated and unfulfilled. Marlo is not a character suited for a modular story structure, not someone with sequential & delineated arcs, and figuring that out in real time was... thanks to the circumstances, immensely detrimental to their character, my ego, my relationships, and my health. I did not like the direction they'd gone and I did not like adhering to a character with so much weight but it felt like a curse I couldn't break. Marlo is very far from bad, but that doesn't make them fun.

I tried so many times to make some other character and switch my focus and I couldn't do it; I gave up trying. (I've said this before many times too, but the only reason I didn't give up wholesale was because I read your and bianca's work and both were a reminder that it was still a worthwhile pursuit.) I don't like defining it in the negative, but the relief of this specifically is significant! and demonstrably, if "not being Marlo" was enough, I wouldn't have had this problem in the first place. Rather Spencer is fun in an extraordinary, uncomplicated way I didn't think I had in me anymore, marking a shift I was trying to force for years. I don't say all this to insult Marlo or anyone who likes them—I'm still proud of them!—and definitely not to whine about myself, I say it to illustrate the fact that: I'm grateful. It got to the point where Marlo was not a choice. Spencer is.

Because I get to utilize my improvement as a writer—The other bonus of starting over, I have a clean slate. That rigamarole with Marlo was in large part because I was still an inexperienced writer and it really showed. I got to come at Spencer with a much better idea of my abilities and how & what I liked to write, plus an open mind, and like, I don't have to explain to you how much it paid off! These two grew Themes and Motifs in record time which only fed their wildfire, and like, it's just inherently exciting to push your skills and really get to tear into the mechanics of what you're working on.

Because my writing partner is as excited as I am, and has respect for me and the way I work. Yeah, maybe that's not much to ask for. But it means a lot, and honestly, saying "it fuels my excitement to write" is like, the definition of an understatement. It's just a fact that Spencer would not exist without Shiloh and I'm really glad I get to write with you.

Because the point is that I'm making something—This one is more of a reminder than a reason but it's still important; my goal with Shiloh and Spencer (insofar as I even have one) is to just, make something, quality be damned. Like of course I want them to be good, and they are, but they're not some grand commentary on human nature & they're not reliant on some sprawling uberwork of intricate detail and planning and all that, you know? The lack of stakes, the point being the creation of art and what you personally get out of it no matter how it is (or isn't!) consumed—that's textually significant, even. It means I made Graveyard Shift into a physical book just because I could (said like you're not the one who wrote it and let me print it in the first place!), I wanna print a funny little zine once we have enough material, I'm drawing traditional art for the first time in ages and trying new mediums.

Because someday I'm not going to write Spencer anymore, and the time I spend on doing so is meaningful. Which like, to clarify, I don't want to sound like I'm mourning something that isn't at all likely to fade for a long time. I'm not; no part of this project's going anywhere for awhile, if the fact I haven't thought about anything except it for four months and counting is any indication. But at the same time, I think it's pertinent that we've got a lifetime's worth of plot—part of the reason it's poignant in the first place is because of the way both Shiloh and Spencer change over time and grow in and out of new circumstances. Having peace of mind about that, and not getting stuck in a rut is kind of the point; when time continues marching forward both of them realize they want to be there to watch it. Like we've said, no matter what becomes of this project, it will have left an indelible mark on us and our writing. Just knowing that makes me all the more invested in it, something that... legitimately significant, you know?

Whatever form it takes, however good it is or isn't, it's novel and I'm having fun with it. Even in just a few months' time they've tangibly impacted my actual life, I have an excuse to be grateful, I am visibly and—again, tangibly—happier than I was; maybe I shouldn't recontextualize the above answers in so many words but! I'm able and encouraged to imbue real heartwrenching authenticity and sincerity into their creation, after I thought I'd never have the chance again and had lost the ability. Both of them really mean that much. I'm excited to try and convey that, share it, do it justice.

Pure Potentialism: Refusing Distractions

So returning to the ongoing exposition concerning the fundamental principles of the philosophy of Pure Potentialism, I'm going to expound a little bit on an important technique in the philosophy which could best be described as refusing distractions. This is a vital proficiency, a crucial metaphysical skill set of sorts, whose main area of regard is found within the domain of pure consciousness. And while this may seem a bit counter intuitive to the way our minds are currently conditioned to view existence, it actually isn't all that surprising once we begin to become intimate with the emptiness of true nature. After all, this is the applied philosophy of Pure Potentialism, a scientifically based discipline of awareness whose primary concern is the subjugation and mastery of the mind. And this is important to understand, as to facilitate clarity of reality, and restore lucid awareness, will be a matter of training the mind sufficiently; as, if one is to bring serenity and stillness to the mind, all else will fall into place all by itself. Who would have thought, huh? We like to think that disciplining the mind means to intellectually focus on instilling conscious direction and control, but true direction and control is realized automatically when the mind is, not so much focused on anything in particular, but exemplified in the ever present immediacy of pure focus itself. And this is difficult to grasp, because normally we believe that the mind is the last place of concern, which is quite humorous when you think about it. Our programming usually only compels us to apply focus to the face value of sensory perception, and doesn't bother to take it any deeper then that. We only care to remain transfixed with what we are perceiving and completely look past the context of perception, disregarding it as either irrelevant, or of minimal concern. This is, as they say, not seeing the forest for the trees. Which is why we waste so much time struggling to control objectified illusions instead of just simply disciplining the mind, which is the source of all projected reality. And this kind of effort is fallacy, and foolishness...

When it comes to existential flow within a delusional mindset, the episodic nature of experience is out of our control. In a sense, it happens to you. You don't unconsciously will it, you don't co-create it, nor do you positive think it into being. As long as you are not fully lucid, you can't consciously direct much of anything, so never mind consciously directing the flow. The reason for this, is because, until we are able to discipline the mind, the mind is mostly in a constant state of fear, for the mind is unaware that it is the source of all sensory phenomena, and for so long as the mind is unaware that it is the source of all sensory phenomena, it is estranged to it's own true nature; thus, it unknowingly contributes to disturbing itself further by producing thoughts, which are like little seeds of anxiety that fall into the fertile soil of the imagination, consequently manifesting fruits in accord with it's kind. See, fear is the mother of all delusion. It is the negligent default state of a mind that is wild and undisciplined; ergo, it is the single most detrimental contributor to the loss of clarity. And it builds upon itself, often culminating into immense intricate webs of delusion. Indeed, whole worlds can be spun into existence from just a single speck of fear. Fear is the main catalyst because it is the only avenue illusion has to seduce existential explorers into delusion. Hence it literally tries to scare and shock lucidity out of it's stronghold; as the only possible way for delusion to prevail is by the mind forgetting it is the source of all sensory phenomena. And the only way for the mind to forget this is by constantly fostering it through the indulgence into fear. Once this decline has stricken the mind of an existential explorer, the delusion further reinforces itself and grows exponentially by way of the thinking function completely taking over control of the mind, which can only add more disturbances to the reality. The game of desires and aversions subsequently follows. Eventually the loss of clarity reaches a critical mass and awareness becomes completely mired in delusion. So from this standpoint, the only thing you might have control over is how you react to the phenomena... and strangely, how you react is not merely negligible, but is of magnitude import, as the reactions have the power to modify this illusory phenomena in a variety of ways. Becoming familiar with this functionality is taking steps towards lucidity. Normally one has a slim chance of discovering this within a lifetime, as our conditioning is wired to the contrary, long before we undergo maturation and reach the age of reason. Hence there is a certain degree of unknowing reckless disregard predisposed in the average man... and this is why the most common mode of reaction in existential experience is derived from undisciplined comportment. Since we accept perception at face value, there is very little left to be taken with a grain of salt, hence we just haphazardly react with our passions and abhorrences. These are the impulsive visceral responses that mostly serve to intensify and empower the illusion, ultimately ensuring that we remain in a submissive disposition relative to our delusion. This is the area of existentiality that requires the work. And through the application of such there will begin to be gradual breakthroughs across ever increasing levels of lucidity.

So illusions will either increase, decrease, or completely dissipate, depending on your response to them. To become emotionally caught up in illusory phenomena is an investment, and it causes the existential explorer to become more entangled in delusion, as to commit to this type of investment is to breath life and power into illusion. To cut off the emotional sustenance from illusory phenomena is a divestment, and it causes the existential explorer to become disentangled from delusion, as to detach from this type of investment is to withdraw life and power out of illusion. As for diffusing illusions, this is done at the outset, at the moment of provocation, facilitated by an unshakable mind that is not compelled to move into disturbance. So, boiled down in a nutshell, it can be stated as such: refuse distractions. Simply refusing a distraction initially will save you a ton of work restoring peace to the disturbance created by an accepted distraction. In other words, be selective with your interactions. There's no need for you to breathe life and power into every provocation by giving it attentive focus. Instead diffuse the illusion, which will then automatically bend the phenomena to the will. And you have this choice. You have every prerogative to simply say no, and refuse any prompts offered by the illusions of sense perception. This is the functionality of the will, and it doesn't determine anything via the intellect, as the intellect is part of the utility that feeds the illusion. What does this mean more specifically? It means that thoughts, aka the voice prattling inside your head, is the instigator and provocateur responsible for every negative manifestation in the reality. A good analogy for it is the standing body of water. When the water is absolutely still, lucid awareness is undeniable. But, if the mind begins to move; that is, begins producing thoughts, it is like stones being cast into the still waters. This of course causes the water to churn and fluctuate, creating ripples and waves, which in turn invite more thoughts, which in turn produce even more disturbances, and the cycle escalates further and further, until the water is in complete turbulence. It may seem an inevitable sequence, but you have the option of breaking the recursive cycle. If something appears on your path inviting a confrontation or reaction, you have the choice of simply rejecting it altogether. You don't have to think about it. You need not superimpose thoughts over what's already evident. This is how to diffuse illusions. If you truly do not take the bait of a provocation, and refrain from becoming emotionally invested in it, maintaining a mastery of mind by staying absolutely calm, facilitating the resolve to not get snagged and drawn into the trap, you retain power and the illusion must dissipate. You do not have to play the game. You do not have to accept it's invitation. You can simply deny it's existence, which isn't untrue, as it doesn't actually objectively exist.