Of Whistling Piece and a Letter

I find it really confusing and amusing that some people deem romance as high import and significant in validating a character. I’ve read some posts about the lack of S-Supports and romance, the invalidation of a certain main character (Shez) in the casts’ stories and lives because they didn’t achieve anything romantic with anyone, and, of course, the comparison of two main characters (the current and previous one) regarding their access in S-Supports. Does romance really matter that much? Does it have to happen just to evaluate and validate a character’s story and development in the plot? Does it help speak more about the characters’ relationship towards one another? I have thought of these questions after playing almost 200 hours on Three Hopes, and to my growing contentment, it came to me that Three Hopes did a spectacular job as a Fire Emblem game in explicitly showing the earnest relationship that Shez developed and harbored with everyone without any semblance of romance. And if they did, it seemed pretty vague at best; almost an implication and up for interpretation and debate.

Because, really, one of the problems that I see with the Fire Emblem fandom is its fixation and stickler for romance and S-Supports that it undervalued the game and the characters’ underlying issues and stories as a whole. So focused with its romantic notion they completely missed the point. This is, of course, my opinion, because who am I to negate what people enjoyed? Even I love seeing the characters’ blooming relationship and how this relationship becomes something more. I just really don’t mind romance that much.

I just sincerely think Three Hopes did wonderfully despite the lack of romance in Shez’s side. In fact, I think it’s much better that the S-Support option didn’t make it through in the game, notwithstanding the interview of the devs. Shez didn’t need a romantic partner. As much as I can glean from my playthroughs, I did not see them showing any interest in being in a relationship. They see the whole cast as their comrades—friends that they didn’t have before but now they do. They care for their friends and would go to such extremities and lengths just to keep them safe, but they would also not hesitate to keep them in their toes. And this friendship is deep, almost spiritual, bordering much more than the planes of just being plain friends. Almost like Studio-Ghibli friendships/relationships (at least, for me that is). The Merc Whistle and the letter in the finale proved that.

Don’t get me wrong though. I love an S-Support (I did hope prior the released date). I want to see the growing relationship of each character and how they inspire each other in becoming better (the romance is just a bonus for me), but after playing this game for a while, it just came to me that I don’t need an S-Support. The Merc Whistle and the letter in the end is good enough to represent Shez’s sincere and unique friendship with the sender of the letter, and that is more than enough for me. The Merc Whistle feature, in particular, is even unique because it symbolizes a deep bond, a mutual understanding beyond human comprehension, a whistling piece and a part of Shez that they willingly gave to the person they (you, a player) found a friend in, someone they knew they could trust in the depths of this world. When you think about it this way, it could also serve as an S-Support, just not in the instant-romance-kind-of-way. And that's what I love in this game, because it gives us more space and leisure and liberty on how we want to proceed with Shez's relationship with the character we have chosen. It's all on us—on our interpretation whether they remained as steadfast friends or something more—and I say that's a pretty big win. (Although I may be speaking for this in behalf of my demisexuality lol)

But I digress, of course everyone would not agree with me in this, and that’s fine! I just think that Three Hopes did really well as a Fire Emblem game that doesn’t need a romantic option just to explicitly show the earnest relationship that Shez (and the casts) developed and harbored with everyone. Shez is a wonderfully written character who has a different personality, story, flaws, and identity. They are their own separate person, and they don’t need romance for some validation to be declared as a character.

yeah man gimmie the dead fish

this is how I feel when I play azure moon

"And Edgin saw something he'd never seen in the young half-elf's face before. [...] It was as if, when his life was on the line, his back to the wall, Simon finally stopped being afraid." — The Road to Neverwinter

beautiful orc girl leed helllOOOOO beautiful leed alert oh my GOD she's so cool WOOAHHHH beautiful siilly girl she was really pretty and awesome and so kind i think shes wonderful and there should be a statue made just for her thats really big and in the center of everything and she should get anything she wants ever smile face

the brainworms are kiiling me. have a dad and son 👍︎

The fact that you depict characters as both aroace and in relationships makes me actually so happy because everyone always thinks that shipping is off the table for those characters and forgets sex/romance stances exist, you filled me with so much joy ;w;

It’s a weird stereotype indeed smhh (harmful even) making it sound like individuals who are aro/ace are incapable of being/falling in love- or just being able to feel love in general

house md is wild because house tells wilson that he’ll sacrifice many things but never himself and then he sacrifices himself for wilson. and then he sacrifices himself for wilson. and then he sacrifices himself for wilson. and then he

❝so wouldn't it make sense if I was yours and you could call me your baby but we say we're just, say we're just friends, just for now❞

FRI(END)S by V of BTS

CHOOSE YOUR CHAMPION

two-headed calf by laura gilpin

Danny had always wanted a brother...but not like this! And not so many either!

It had started when he was fighting Desiree. Everything was normal-well, as normal as fighting an undead genie could get-and then a kid fell out of a portal onto the rooftop next to them.

They both looked over at the kid as he picked himself up. Danny glared at the genie and she held her hands up in a placating gesture, "I swear it wasn't me this time." Judging by how she seemed just as baffled by the situation as him, he believed her.

The kid stared at them through the white outs of his mask. Danny stared down at him and yep. That was a superhero outfit. Complete with mask and cape. He quickly souped Desiree before she could pull anything and floated down to the kid, "Hey buddy-" he yelped and jumped out of the way of the kids sword.

Why does he have a sword?!

The kid didn't seem responsive to anything Danny was saying and Danny spent the next few minutes just dodging sword swipes until he managed to restrain him with one of his parents inventions and brought him home to FentonWorks and changed back into a human (away from the kids line of sight of course)

His friends were a bit shocked that he came home with a living person and he had to explain what happened while Stabby tried to wiggle out of his bonds.

That was when his parents walked in.

Danny had to retell them an altered version of the story from before and they began examining him. The kid was practically feral before his dad exclaimed, "I know!" And ran to the fridge and pulled out some of the Fenton Fudge.

He ran back over and popped it into the kids mouth before anyone could stop him. Everyone just stared as the kid calmed down, looking at them with confusion and wonder as the fudge melted in his mouth.

Aka Danny keeps getting Damian clones via portal delivery and his family keeps taming them with Fenton Fudge and adopting them. The League of Assassins have no idea where all thier clones are disappearing to...

My name is Lew Wentz.

I am a 68 year old gay criminal defense lawyer. I have been keeping journals for 46 years. I am writing a book based on the journals.

I came out as a gay man in 1984. I was married to a woman then. I left the marriage after telling her I was gay.

My younger sister, Zoe, who I was very close to, died rather suddenly of pancreatic cancer in May of 2023. She gave me permission to blog the last two weeks of her life. Those blogs run from May 1 to May 14, 2023.

I journaled my journey through the turbulent 1980's and 1990's. During that time, I was pretty vocal about being gay. I volunteered to help people with aids through their illness and death. And, I believe because of this, I was fired from my job as a deputy Public Defender in Modesto California. I also documented the 12 year relationship I had with my partner, Jim, who died in 2009.

I wrote pretty much daily about these events and many others. I never intended for the entries to be made public. But, I now think they should be, as they weave what I believe to be our common story of what it's been like to be out, human and gay in the past four decades.

And, as I journaled, I developed ideas and ways to journal and wrote about them in the journals. I discuss the impact journaling has had on me. And, the amazing revelation reviewing journal entries for the blog and book of just how incredible our lives have been. Memory fades. The journal details do not.

My hope is that , after reading the blogs, and maybe some day the book, you too will become addicted to journaling. Your life on paper will amaze you down the line.

My blog turned one year old on February 5, 2024.

the shadow and bone writers are at WGA picket lines and if I see a single person saying “but what about all the work we put in to get a season three/crows spinoff!” who fucking cares!! you want the show so bad but don’t care about the people who are creating it? perish.

I will happily forego anymore grisha tv content if that means the people behind it are treated fairly

Created by : ☆Ottergeist☆ Respective credits to the creator ⓟⒶⓇⒶⒹⒾⓈⒺ♡ⓎⓊⓇⒾ

is it gay to be chained up with another man while you have a very important mission to save the presidents daughter. what if you say no homo