To whom it may concern:

There's a thin line between being unnecessarily blunt and being honest. Saying 'I'm like this. I'm just being honest' isn't a free pass to be rude.

these trials...they're purifying me.

What if there was a situation that demanded the RO to be sacrificed. Maybe there a singular evil entity who demands this sacrifice to end the terrible things happening in town. But, MC, desperate to save their beloved, is able to convince the evil entity to die in the RO's stead.

The RO learns about this after MC has agreed to be sacrificed. What do they do? Do they try to stop it? Do they prefer to live themselves, and lament MC's death, regretting not doing anything? Do they decide to die with MC instead, since a death is necessary and the evil entity only accepts the RO or MC?

Imre: tries to stop it, feels it’s dishonourable to get sit by and let the love of his life die in his place, he won’t try to kill himself but he’ll die trying to stop this

Nia: kind of stuck. Doesn’t want to die, doesn’t want mc to die either. Will try to trick the devil or if that fails will literally offer up every single living soul in town, kids too she dgaf

Lorcan: too cowardly, is scared to die and doesn’t want mc to die but might let them die in his place. Probably develop a hardcore drinking problem

One of the biggest “I love you”s in Fullmetal Alchemist are all the ways people respect each other’s bodily autonomy. There are two scenes that carry this theme to its fullest potential, and I love them so, so much.

The first one is quite iconic: Riza’s throat was slit and Roy has a chance to save her - by dooming their country and committing human transmutation. And Roy would do it. He would throw it all away just to save her, even though he knows that human transmutation is an unforgivable sin. But she looks at him and signals him to Not Do It. And he doesn’t. He wants to, but he doesn’t do it. Because only minutes earlier, he hurt her again by dooming himself (and potentially the country) with his fury.  And if there is one thing Roy Mustang doesn’t want to do, it’s hurt Riza Hawkeye any more than he already has. Even if that means watching her die. Even if that means letting her go.

He respects her and their goals enough to say no.

He loves her enough to let her die.

The second one is just as heart-wrenching: after Al sacrificed himself, basically dying in the process, Ed tries to think of a way to save him. Both Hohenheim and Ling offer him a Philosopher’s Stone to bring Al back - and Ed says No. Even though he wants nothing more in life than to save his little brother. Even though there is nothing he wants more desperately than the safety of Al. He says no for many reasons - Hohenheim is his father after all, Ling needs the stone to become Emperor - but mostly he says no because he and Al promised to never use a Stone for themselves. And he respects that. He puts Al’s wish above his own desire to see his little brother again. He respects Al’s decision (his own conviction) enough to break the rules of the world to find another way.

Because he loves Al - he loves him enough not to break the fundamentals of their principles. He loves him enough to respect the integrity of their believes.

And the narrative rewards both Roy and Edward for their choice to respect the agency and bodily autonomy of their loved ones - they survive, are saved, are brought back... and neither Ed nor Roy had to force their own desire for them to live on clearly stated last wishes.

So often we see media portray the disregard for bodily autonomy (especially in medical contexts) as a sign of love, the breaking of patient-doctor confidentiality as a sign of care, the violation of a living will as a sign of family - I like to think that Fullmetal Alchemist shows us that there’s strength in respecting it instead.

if you wish I lived closer to you, you can summon me with some sort of ritual or sacrifice, I won't mind.

A hard sell, but I'll take the chance. A win regardless of outcome.

Sauron sacrifices a branch of Nimloth, the white tree of Numenor, in the Temple for Morgoth.

i understand how close we were to a TPK, and i know why Sam did this, but it still hurts.. effing Otohan Thull but at least she is out the picture too....

swapped out the wip for the final (probably??) version to keep my blog looking somewhat clean

society of the snow (2023).

on love and survival.

some are always hungry - jihyun yun | problem area - melissa broder | … - @/ojibwa | euripides - anne carson | crush - richard siken

The masculine urge to be a villain and sacrifice the entire world for a sleepy girl wearing nothing but my hoodie and a pair of thigh high socks

Pain isn't poetic; it's debilitating. There's nothing noble about enduring and romanticizing unnecessary suffering.

– lilacsleeps

(tumblr/twt)

/ Supernatural, Church

An Offering

2022

01/05/2024

"If you cannot afford a lamb, one will be appointed to you."

___

JOKE-OGRAPHY: 1. Joseph continues reading about Jewish law from his brochure (continued from last week's cartoon).  In Jewish tradition, the sacrifice for a newborn boy was typically one yearling lamb (for the sin offering) and one turtledove (for the burnt offering).  As Mary and Joseph discuss this, the Holy Spirit (a dove, but not for sacrifice) shows up to give a knowing glance at Baby Jesus.  You see, Jesus is called the "Lamb of God," and His mission is to be sacrificed for our sins, so it's ironic that His parents are required to sacrifice a lamb for HIM under Jewish law. 2. A few commenters last week were concerned about Mary and Joseph sleeping too close together in their blanket fort, as it challenges the perpetual virginity of Mary (a core Catholic belief).  I argue that Mary and Joseph are a poor married couple sleeping in a barn that's open to the cold and creatures of nature, so the chaste and honorable Joseph would probably stay near his Holy Family for their protection, instead of sleeping apart and leaving them vulnerable.  No scandal here! 3. A few commenters last week argued about the perpetual virginity of Mary (the belief that she remained a virgin after Jesus's birth; a belief held by the early Church even before the Bible was canonized).  I just wanted to say that I'm thrilled and honored that my comics appeal to people of all religions, including other Christian denominations.  It moves me every time I get a comment from someone who isn't Catholic but loves my work.  That said, I AM Catholic, so please understand that my comics follow the canon of Catholicism when I can help it.  No hard feelings.  Of course, you're all welcome to continue giving me suggestions and debating in the comments (good-naturedly, of course).  I've learned so much by listening and looking into your apologetics.