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notesbutnotfromunderground · 6 months

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About the 25 Lazari miracle??

Hullo dearly beloved Good Omens fandom.

So, we all know by now that between hell and heaven, heaven is the one more strict when it comes to tracking and monitoring miracles; RE, Aziraphale once mentioned he was reprimanded for doing so many miracles (or something like that).

So, about the 25 Lazari miracle. Kinda makes me wonder now that when the half-miracle Crowley and Aziraphale did to hide Gabriel was supposed to be a "tiny miracle", why is it that only Heaven was alarmed or triggered? And even when Crowley was hinting on Shax, "Who says it wasn't me?", Shax pushes it off. I mean, my point is, why was Crowley's miracle detected by Heaven and not by Hell?

[For now, I take this as more than a hint towards Crowley being a former Archangel of sorts, not necessarily Lucifer (well, since NG already said they were different, and this is a topic for a different day)] I'm definitely not the first one to think of this.

Like, did I miss the part where heaven can also monitor the miracles being done by demons, such as Crowley? Or a part where Hell just doesn't care about demons miracling miracles away as Crowley does. But that's kind of off because Crowley has been on the watchlist of some of the demons, so someone must noticed his miracles, particularly that big of a miracle. And also, when he did a good deed, he was punished and pulled back to hell for some time.

[Edit: Beelzebub would have noticed something's off as well and she would've confronted Crowley by then as well. She might have been able to put the pieces together and figured it out by herself. But that didn't happen. Shax was the one who has been going up and down.]

I guess what I'm really trying to ask is: somewhere in the ineffable bureaucracy of heaven, does Crowley's miracle(s) still count as a(n) angelic miracle(s)?

But then again, we do see him literally pull his miracle upward, pulling from down hell, compared to Aziraphale's downward hand gestures as pulling from heaven.

We can definitely factor in the following as well:

- they were holding Gabriel, so the miracle could have been amplified

- Crowley is a really powerful Angel demon

- Crowley and Aziraphale complement each other, and they are therefore powerful together (which some of you have already pointed as the reason why Metatron is trying to rip them apart)

Like I know Aziraphale is not just a low ranking or a weak angel because after all, he was the Guardian of the Garden of Eden. But he doesn't seem to be the kind to be making 25 Lazari miracles in just a tiny effort.

Oh, Crowley, you Pandora's box.

How did you become the Angel who "Let there be light." to the Demon who vaguely sauntered downwards?

And what specific sets of questions did you ask for you to fall from God's grace?

What part do you play in this ineffable chess game? Or are you, just like God, watching from the outside?

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miabrown007 · 8 months

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Felonies and Other Love Languages

Adrien Agreste: rich, lonely, freshly aware of the fact that he's expected to take over not a fashion, but a drug empire. Marinette Dupain-Cheng: broke, angry, freshly aware of the fact that bringing down drug empires is a blast. But where would she be without her team, Alya and Nino, and her very good friend, Luka? Not to mention the team’s newest addition, the kind, the funny, the ultra charming Chat Noir. If Marinette likes him, that’s alright, though. It isn’t like she’s dating Adrien Agreste for real. It’s all just part of her ten-step plan to make the Agrestes meet their demise.

Chapter 3 - Pandora’s Box (12,708 words, 3/32 chapters)

Adrien would like to walk along the edge of the curb with his arms outstretched. Like he used to when his mother was there, her palm hovering a breath away from his, ready to catch him anytime.

Instead, he scurries between patches of light on the crushed stone path of Place des Vosges. He doesn't understand why being late fazes him.

He shouldn’t even be here.

He should be up at the office, checking the CCTV footage with Kim to notify the police about the break-in. Or he should be at dinner, informing his father about today’s mishap. He shouldn’t be sneaking out under the disguise of meeting Chloé for drinks. And he definitely shouldn’t, under any circumstances, be searching for Carapace’s hooded figure in the shadows of the park.

In his head, Adrien knows that. But he follows his heart. And his heart rounds a corner with a leap, only to come to a halt in front of a well-lit fountain.

“I thought you wouldn’t come,” Carapace says, his eyes shining brightly over his green facemask. He has his arms crossed over his chest in what seems to be a futile attempt at keeping himself warm in the spring chill, dressed in nothing but a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles T-shirt.

Adrien doesn’t hold back his grin. With his own mask in place, it’s not like Carapace can see it. “You know what they say about curiosity and the cat.”

It’s a stupid joke, but if he made up a cat-themed persona for himself, he intends to commit to the bit. Plagg would surely be proud of him. (Even if, realistically speaking, Adrien knows that house cats, much like fathers, are never actually proud. Still, he likes to pretend that what they share is special and goes beyond owning a Blue Ribbon pedigree.)

“You expect you’re walking into your doom and still show up? Admirable,” Carapace chuckles, unaware of the truth those words actually hold. “Now come on, the others are waiting for us. I promise we don’t bite.” He starts on one of the paths leading out of the park, muttering under his nose, “Well, most of us.”

Adrien decides he doesn't actually want to know what Carapace means by that. In his hurry to catch up, the gravel almost slips out from under Adrien’s sneakers, but by some miracle—or years and years of athletic training—he keeps himself upright. “What did you say, who are these people we are meeting?”

The light of a street lamp glinting in Carapace’s glasses as he spares Adrien a glance. “I didn’t.”

It’s more than fair to receive the same non-answer to his question as Adrien had given earlier that day. Still, his chuckle is nervous. He fights the fidgety feeling that urges him to double check that the GPS on his phone is switched on.

“Don’t stress about it, they are friends,” Carapace adds in a softer tone as they exit the park on the northern side and stop in the shadow of the arcades. “We’re almost there, so I’ll have to ask you to put this on,” he says, handing Adrien a baby blue knitted scarf.

“There’s a dress code? This place must be really fancy,” Adrien laughs as he takes the piece of fabric and wraps it around his neck.

Carapace blinks at him, twice, before a chuckle leaves him too. “No, it’s— It’s for your eyes, actually. Just a precaution until we know we can trust you.”

Thank god it’s pitch dark and he can’t see the way Adrien flushes.

“Yeah, I— I knew that. Obviously!”

With much more reluctant motions, he re-ties the scarf around his eyes. He had considered swapping his contacts for glasses—for the sake of an even less Adrien Agreste™-looking disguise—but now he’s glad he’d dropped the idea. Blindfolding himself with them on would be a pain. Actually, merely existing with glasses and a facemask on is a pain, as Adrien was forced to discover this afternoon after much experimenting with the concept.

So, contacts, and anxiety over being only fashionably late it was.

“Sorry, it’s part of the protocol. Let me spin you right round here for a second,” Carapace says, his voice lighthearted. He grabs Adrien by the shoulders and turns him around a few times, until he has no idea what is up and what is down. “Thank you for choosing the Rena Rouge entertainment park, we hope you had a good time,” he says, in the worst imitation of a carnival pitchman.

Still, it somewhat eases the knot in Adrien’s stomach that’s as tight as Nathalie’s hairdo on any given day.

“And now, this way. We’re almost there,” Carapace says, grabbing his upper arm and guiding him forward.

The irony of their first meeting going almost exactly like this—only with their roles reversed—isn’t lost on Adrien, but at this point, he just follows the instructions. He's pretty good at that.

Losing his sight serves to draw his attention to his other senses. He’s acutely aware of the silence stretching between them, the noises of cars and buzzing electric advertisements on shops’ façades.

The pavement under his feet takes a sharp turn, and the city’s noises melt into the background, signalling their approaching arrival. Adrien can’t decide if that or his still spinning head is the reason he feels like he’s going to throw up his supper.

“Who is Rena Rouge?” he asks, despite his nausea.

The beam is evident in Carapace’s voice, even over the sound of a door opening and closing behind them. “Oh, Rena Rouge? Just the most amazing, passionate, talented girl in the whole wide world, who, coincidentally, also makes the best colombo.”

"Your girlfriend?" Adrien guesses.

"For the time being," a cheeky voice slices through the vanilla and pastry-flavoured air.

Carapace comes to a sudden halt. "Hey, what‘s that supposed to mean?"

"Well,” presumably-Rena Rouge says, “we are getting married sometime in the future, aren't we?"

"That's like, the worst way to put that, babe," he argues but laughs along nevertheless.

There’s another giggle, one that eases the trembling of Adrien’s stomach. "Um, guys. The plan."

"Right, the plan!" Rena Rouge confirms, as if she has completely forgotten they are, indeed, in the middle of something that is starting to feel suspiciously like a hostage situation.

Adrien, who at this point would really like to see his surroundings, shifts on his feet. "So, what's the plan?"

Suddenly, someone removes his scarf, two bluebell eyes staring into his soul. "You are the plan, Chat Noir!"

[read the whole chapter on AO3]

#miraculous ladybug #ladynoir #ladybug #ml fanfic #chat noir #miaraculous writing #heist au #faoll #felonies and other love languages #enemies au #in which Chat Noir joins the team dead set on terminating the Agrestes. nothing goes wrong

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celestiall0tus · 2 months

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Heavenly Light, Hellish Shadow - The Pandora Box

Here we go everyone. The closest to a miracle box you'll see in my works. Now, let's reintroduce the kwamis:

Humilitas and Superbia, Humility and Pride.

Humilitas, Kwami of Humility:

Favorite food: Anything

Weapon: Sword

Miraculous: Earrings

Superbia, Kwami of Pride:

Favorite food: Prime Rib

Weapon: Broadsword

Miraculous: Earrings

Castitas and Libidine, Kwamis of Chastity and Lust

Castitas, Kwami of Chastity:

Favorite Food: Cake

Weapon: Lasso

Miraculous: Belt Chain

Libidine, Kwami of Lust:

Favorite Food: Strawberry

Weapon: Whip

Miraculous: Belt Chain

Patientia and Ira, Kwamis of Patience and Wrath

Patientia, Kwami of Patience:

Favorite Food: Anything made from scratch and homemade

Weapon: Scythe

Miraculous: Pocket Watch

Ira, Kwami of Wrath:

Favorite Food: Jerky

Weapon: Pitchfork

Miraculous: Pocket Watch

Diligentia and Desidia, Kwamis of Diligence and Sloth.

Diligentia, Kwami of Diligence:

Favorite Food: Croissants

Weapon: Glaive

Miraculous: Ring

Desidia, Kwami of Sloth:

Favorite Food: Anything quick and easy, requires no effort

Weapon: Staff

Miraculous: Ring

Caritas and Invidia, Kwamis of Charity and Envy

Caritas, Kwami of Charity:

Favorite Food: Anything

Weapon: Bow

Miraculous: Necklace

Invidia, Kwami of Envy:

Favorite Food: Whatever someone else is eating

Weapon: Bow

Miraculous: Necklace

Temperantia and Gula, Kwamis of Temperance and Gluttony

Temperantia, Kwami of Temperance:

Favorite Food:

Weapon: Dagger

Miraculous: Anklet

Gula, Kwami of Gluttony:

Favorite Food: Anything and everything

Weapon: Sword

Miraculous: Anklet

Liberalitas and Avaritia, Kwamis of Generosity and Greed.

Liberalitas, Kwami of Generosity:

Favorite Food: Bread

Weapon: Staff

Miraculous: Bracelet

Avaritia, Kwami of Greed:

Favorite Food: Anything very pricey

Weapon: Spear

Miraculous: Bracelet

Some quick things to get out of the way with my kwamis and this newest batch.

Animosity and Wrath: While these two seem fundamentally close, which they are, Animosity is ultimately hate, not just rage. Hate is often a byproduct of anger, hence why they are so closely related, but Animosity doesn't always need to come from a place of anger, but 9 times out of 10, it usually is. So, Ira is the pure essence of anger and a short fuse, while Orikko is hatred personified.

Sloth and Lethargy: These two were a little harder to explain at first, but ultimately comes down to the definitions of them and their pairs. So, Sloth is the reluctance to work while Lethargy is low energy, but not reluctance. This is further shown in the pairs. Diligence is careful, persistent work while Determination is firmness and unyielding. They are both what leads to Diligence and Sloth, but not them at the same time. So, here's the explanation for them:

Diligentia is the act of the hard work that could take years to accomplish and the keen eye for every detail in the work. Sloth is the refusal to work. Determination is the unyielding force that drives us. Lethargy is that low energy state when we need to relax and take a break.

The Pandora Box:

I wasn't going to call it this, but I like it, so it stays. Now, this is where I say it's the closest you'll get to it being a miracle box because this box contains the jewels of the Sins but is guarded by the Virtues.

Now, the box:

The box itself is very unassuming. The most notable things about it is the bizarre art/markings and that there is no way to open the box. This is because the box is more of a prison, crafted by the Virtues to hold the Sins. And while the design is near flawless, there is but one flaw to it. While no ordinary mortal can open it, a holder would have access to the contents within. Something the Virtues will keep away from the holders and other kwamis.

The Virtues and Sins are the result of Velze's "death" just as is the creation of Gimmi. They were once a core ensemble of the family as the core beliefs, good and bad, that Velze upheld. The kwamis as a whole embraced them, until the Sins started causing trouble that their virtuous pairs deemed them too dangerous to leave to their own devices, containing them against the wills of their siblings.

Now the Virtues have assigned themselves the task of watching over the Sins and keeping them contained until they are all called back on the final day. At least, that's what they hope.

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bittersweetresilience · 8 months

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félix and flairmidable as pandora’s myth

because i'm thinking about parallels between them again. this started a month ago:

(plain text in alt. i'm referencing hesiod's myth of pandora in theogony and works and days both because it's the original or, more accurately, oldest surviving account and because it's the one i'm most familiar with.)

briefly, the myth is as follows. after zeus denies mortals the gift of fire, prometheus hides it in a fennel stalk and gives it to them anyway. he is punished with the classic eternal liver eagle situation, at least until herakles rescues him, while mortals are punished with our lovely lady.

hephaistos and several other gods are recruited to create pandora, the first woman. under instruction from zeus, hephaistos sculpts her divine features from clay, athene teaches her craft and weaving, aphrodite gives her grace and desire, and hermes gives her a "dog-like, shameless mind and thieving ways . . . deceits and wheedling words, the habits of a thief." she is named pandora, meaning 'all gifts.'

hermes brings pandora to epimetheus, who weds her, forgetting the warning his brother prometheus had given him against receiving gifts from the gods. pandora has a pithos or greek jar with her containing all of the evils of mankind, and she opens its lid, releasing every spirit within but one: elpis, or hope. elpis stays within the pithos, trapped by the lid pandora has once again closed.

pandora's myth is an etiology or mythological explanation of evil, sickness, human labor, and toil. in a way, to félix, the miraculous are an etiology of the same. why does he feel compelled to obey orders even when they are unfair? why are his feelings troubled whenever he finds something that brings him joy? why is he hurt, blamed, unloved? why does his life seem to be linked to a ring? for him, the miraculous are the answer.

more clearly, pandora is made in the image of men and goddesses and instilled with a devious nature. félix is made in the image of adrien, and by definition their mothers, and he surfaces with a clever, trickster-y nature as well. both are gifts, and both are punishments. the only mixup is which one comes from and goes to whom.

pandora's pithos, funnily also referred to as pandora's box, becomes the miracle box in this story. félix opens the pithos by giving all of the miraculous inside to monarque, leaving only hope, or the miraculous of the peacock. he wears the miraculous of the dog while he does this, with the dog-like thieving ways hermes gave pandora.

with this, the golden age of mankind ends, and an age of toil begins. the released spirits or kwami become the plagues of mankind, such that their concepts replace the names of akumas and sentimonsters as antagonists of paris. and hilariously, the age of toil is the fifth age of mankind hesiod describes, just as the season after félix opens his pithos is the fifth season.

(as an aside, many scholars draw parallels between pandora, made of clay, and her pithos, made of the same. with the miracle box as félix's pithos, félix as a child of magic might mean something new.)

pandora releases every spirit but hope. the meaning of this has always been unclear. was hope meant to be an evil? was its imprisonment meant to be a blessing or a curse? certainly félix wants to keep duusu with him, as elpis with pandora. hope and a weapon, a spirit like her siblings, all at once. and his exchange of the miraculous inspired as much debate about his intentions, origins, and consequences. i don't have answers to the questions about pandora, but with félix in mind, i can raise some more.

both pandora and félix were created the way they were by someone else's hand. for someone else's reasons, with someone else's guiding force, seen or unseen. when pandora opened the pithos, was this an act of free will? what about when she closed the lid? what did she feel keeping elpis inside? was it her fault for being pursued by her nature? could it have been a choice?

the same questions can be asked about félix. his narrative is one of grappling with autonomy. the threat of nonexistence dogs his every footstep. was trading the miraculous a choice or a necessity? was his deception the only natural next step of the life he was made to live? was he free for the first time when the miraculous of the peacock entered his hands? did he feel regret obtaining it? did he feel relief?

in the end, as with all stories, there is room for interpretation. there are countless versions of pandora's myth, because the story changes with the authors, with the culture, and with the meaning of hope. so too for félix's story. he writes his myth himself.

#🌃#miraculous ladybug #felix fathom #felix graham de vanily #i am UNWELL about him #as i should be #ml meta #ml strikeback #ml representation

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perky89 · 1 year

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Okay, someone tell me if I sound stupid or if I'm wrong anywhere, but I think I have an idea surrounding the crossover game.

***Spoilers for the entire Professor Layton series****

Okay, a bit of context/setup: The crossover, as I've heard it, happens between Pandora's/Diabolical Box and Unwound Future. Meaning: Miracle Mask, Azran Legacy, and Diabolical Box have all happened by the time Professor Layton meets up with Phoenix Wright. Hear me out:

Randall "died," came back, then wrecked hell for Monte Dor and Layton, nearly killing Luke. Leon was kidnapped when Layton was young, the next time Layton talks to Leon, Leon's manipulating him by threatening his adopted parents. Layton was adopted away from Descole when he young, the next time they saw each other, Descole's chasing him and throwing debris at him on a massive machine.

See a pattern? He's had several important people get snatched out of his life, only for them to come back and try to hurt him. Now, think about this: Besides Emmy and Sycamore, who were betraying him the whole time they were with him, what adult friends has Layton had to accompany him on his adventures?

...Exactly. Now, I'm sure Layton has adult friends outside of his adventures. Dr Schrader, Luke's parents, Dean Delmona, his colleagues and students at Gressenheller. But how many of those people have gone on crazy adventures with him, probably not many. Where does that change? Phoenix Wright.

And what happens in the third case of the crossover? Layton believes Phoenix is about to die, he goes running to save him, and then Layton "dies." Okay, look, hear me out: Layton didn't know that Phoenix was okay. As far as he was concerned, Phoenix was dead.

And then you know what Phoenix did? He looked after Luke and Espella. Gave Luke compliments, was empathic towards him even as he testified against Maya, lifted Luke's spirits when he turned them down the wrong path and landed them in the wrong place. Volunteered to go in the fire cage so Luke and Espella wouldn't have to, though Luke ended up doing it in the end. He did his best to solve Layton's "murder". Ended up solving the case that they needed to solve in order to solve Labyrinthia.

And you know what he did after he came back to Layton? He helped out the best he could, was genuinely happy to see him okay. AND GET THIS.

GET. THIS.

Even when Layton took the opposite side of the court to Phoenix, and hadn't had time to explain why, Phoenix still didn't treat him like crap. Even when he probably felt like Layton was betraying him, Maya, and Espella he still cooperated. They both still worked together.

I think that, even before the Bezellla trial when they went against each other, Layton was still, though he wasn't showing it, nervous that Phoenix was going to turn on him. And when he didn't in the first place, but especially after he didn't in the Bezella trial, Layton very relieved, and also very thankful towards Phoenix for not only not trying to murder him, but also for still valuing and respecting him.

Case and point: I think Phoenix holds a very special place in Layton's heart, for those reasons.

Do this all sound off the mark? Be real with a brother here.

#layton #professor layton #plvsaa #phoenix wright #hershel layton #plvspw #ace attorney #laywright

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lolotheparagon · 4 months

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Professor Layton Games Summed Up

(MAJOR SPOILERS SINCE THESE ARE MYSTERY GAMES AND TWISTS AND TURNS ARE THIS GENRE'S BREAD AND BUTTER)

Curious Village: A professor and his kid apprentice Luke visit a village named St Mystere, thats revealed to be a secret test of character inhabited by puzzle-spouting robots set up by the late baron and his mechanic to make sure his daughter would be looked after until someone outside the village can prove themselves to be her guardian. Now that's fatherly love right there.

Pandora's Box: The professor and Luke visit a town that hasnt been changed in 50 years and visit the duke of the town to ask about Pandora's Box. A duke thinks his fiancé left him for another man when she announces her leaving town. But its actually cos she was pregnant and the town was already suffering from an air-borne illness thanks to a hallucinogenic gas that fucking killed people. And yet the duke stayed in his disease-riddled town cos of duty or some shit and sent an expensive box with a letter inside to his fiance, hoping she'll get a chance to read it. Yeah, this is Pandora's Box btw. He then pretended to be a vampire to scare people from visiting his castle. Then 50 odd years later, his granddaughter goes on this quest to find him and fix this whole misunderstanding. Why couldn't the child of the duke and his fiance be there? Cos she died giving birth, she isnt even fucking namedropped good lord. But the duke mistakes her granddaughter for his fiance cos she's the spitting image of her, but when the girl understandably hides behind Layton, the duke fucking swordfights Layton. then its revealed the duke's youth, the entire town and its people are all an illusion cos he's super high on dem hallucinogens and after the swordfight caused the whole castle to crash, the town is revealed to be a ghost town, the duke is now a withered old man and it turns out the box did make it to the duke's lover all along as there's her response letter inside!... Oh yeah the Professor and Luke were there too. What were the writers smoking and can I have some?

Lost Future: A young man who lost his parents in the collateral damage of a scientific experiment happening literally next door and grew up deciding he wants to be a terrorist. He then proceeds to manipulate and kidnap other scientists for his plans to built an ACCURATE SCALE MODEL OF LONDON UNDERGROUND, pretend to be the future self of the professor's apprentice and convince him and the professor they're in the London of the future. Then builds a giant tower robot to smash through the fake London and the real London to commit terrorism. He then gets Steven Universe redeemed cos of course he does. Fucking hell this story sucks.

Spectre's Call: The professor, Luke and a futch lesbian investigate a spectre that's rampaging throughout a misty town every night. It is revealed to be a plesiosaur fighting an excavating machine, its just the fog made them look they were one entity. And the reason the plesiosaur was fighting the machine? The villain Descole wanted to use that machine to dig up an ancient garden of legend hidden beneath the town and the plesiosaur did everything in its power to stop it cos she wanted a sick little girl named Ariana to be happy again (cos she lost her father and the townspeople thought she was a witch) and wanted to give that garden to Ariana because its pure air will be able to cure her illness. And the plesiosaur - s-she died to save Ariana and there was a beautiful statue of the plesiosaur made by the townspeople in her honour- (crying) GODDAMNIT THIS IS TOO MUCH! THIS IS SO SOFT AND SAD I FUCKING LOVE THIS GAME

Miracle Mask: The professor and the gang visit Italian Las Vegas???To visit an old friend of Layton, Angela and her husband Henry. And they're clearly in need of a divorce. Anyway, a tumblr sexyman wearing a Vendetta mask terrorises Italian Las Vegas and turns ppl into stone and doing fancy magic and shit and the professor investigate. It turns out the tumblr masked guy is actually another old friend of Layton's called Randall Ascot (YEP THATS HIS NAME) whom everyone thought he was dead and his primary motive was that his pal Henry (who started out as a servant to him btw) married Angela and he's pissed off about it so he kidnapped Angela.. Even though Angela didnt even know he survived this whole time. What is it with this series and men going completely off the rails whenever a pretty woman is involved? But oh no it wasnt Randall who was the real villain, it was Descole pulling the strings all along OOOHHHH. What is it with Layton's past friends trying to get revenge on him? Like dude's just standing there, sipping tea. This game was a mess

Azran Legacy: Okay I havent played it nor do I have the willpower to pick the game up and play it without getting bored. So I looked up the plot summary on the wiki and watched the in game cutscenes... I think this clip below sums up my entire thoughts of this game

youtube

#professor layton #spoilers #late night thoughts #level 5 #in a nutshell #curious village #pandora's box #unwound future spoilers #azran legacy spoilers #miracle mask spoilers #curious village spoilers #emmy's true identity is so bogus like omg #and descole despit being set up as the main villain in the sequels #turns out in the final game he too was a pawn #and now this old ass man is now our big bad villain with barely enough screentime to flesh him out #god the sequels were so all over the place

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m00npaw · 3 months

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Okay, so I recently started playing the Professor Layton games again and I noticed a mistake. I know there are a lot of things that don't really make sense in the games, but this is about Inspector Chelmey. He appears in the very first Layton game (Curious Village) and also appears in the next two games (Diabolical/Pandora's Box & Lost/Unwound Future). However, he also appears in Azran Legacy, which was the last game to be released. He really introduces himself in Diabolical/Pandora's Box, so the Professor and Luke know him personally from then on. All well and good, but they should have known him since Azran Legacy at the latest. Because although this game was the last to be released, it takes place before Curious Village. As an illustration, here is the timeline with the approximate years of release:

- Last Spectre/Spectre's Call (2011)

- Eternal Diva (2011) (Movie)

- Miracle Mask (2012)

- Azran Legacy (2013)

- Curious Village (2008)

- Diabolical/Pandora's Box (2009)

- Lost/Unwound Future (2010)

So do the Professor, Luke, the Inspector etc. all suffer from amnesia or why don't they remember each other? I realize it has to do with the first game not playing first, but why didn't the developers just leave him out of the newer parts? Like Flora, for example?

What are your thoughts on this? Have you noticed any other continuity errors? Or am I mabye wrong?

#professor layton #luke triton #nintendo #inspector chelmey

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cinnaminsvga · 4 months

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zee!!! thoughts on hope?

i always think about pandora's box (or pithos, if you want to be a nerd), how hope was in there with all the other terrible things... famine, war, death, fear... a woman's curiosity birthing all these horrible curses to plague mankind forever... which is so unfair knowing that pandora was created with the sole intent of doing this; it was her fate to release these evil things. cursed with curiosity, the same thing that killed the cat, or whatever.

isn't it strange? that the gods placed hope in that same terrible box, because the gods weren't kind. they didn't place hope in there because they cared about humanity. sometimes hope could be as ugly as the other curses in that box. it's a soothing balm but only temporary; a bandaid on a stab wound. it hurts so much sometimes.

then again, where would we be without it? what can we do, sometimes, when there's only hope? but relying on hope to stand on its two legs alone is rarely the answer... often, miracles need to happen to carry hope to the end.

but hope can also be kindness and love. i see hope in children; it's offering prayers to anyone that can listen to please please please let these children soar, let them rise up but not as icarus did. please allow them a seat at the table, to take a bite of the fruit. let them have full bellies and dreams of creation. hope is in children saying "i have no need for hope for i have what i want." suffer as we might now, but hope needs to prevail so that these horrors are not inherited.

that's why i can't condemn hope. not yet, for when there's still need for it.

#hi idk if this makes sense #to the anon who sent this lol this question is hard to answer for someone who doesnt have a brain (me)#im a stem major this aint my thing HASKDJKAS but i tried to explain what i think #but with how the world is now... its safe to say that hope is a resource we cant afford to lose. not now #anyway goodnight lads i hope ur all doing well (haha hope get it)#Anonymous #answered

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angelbellelc2 · 9 months

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I'm finally done with Azran Legacy which means I completed the prequel trilogy. Azran Legacy was shorter than Miracle Mask which was something that I was hoping it wasn't. Even though it was shorter than it's predecessors in chapters I still enjoyed the story. Learning about Aurora as a character and how she bonded with the others got me attached to her dynamics with everyone. It was nice to see how she grew close to everyone but then at the end watch her go.

Seeing Luke cry for her as she begins to fade away was really heart breaking. Another thing besides from Aurora is Emmy who ended up leaving our puzzle duo at the end. I really enjoy her dynamic between herself with Professor Layton and Luke as she added something special making it feel like the three of them as a family of sorts. I watched the episode that had Luke with Emmy where he didn't want her to leave as he didn't understand why. Poor Luke loosing people he care about so close after one another.

One last thing is that if Descole ever comes back he should reconcile with his brother. It would be a wonderful thing thing to see Professor Layton and Descole being together as both brothers and fellow archeologists.

I'm now working on the original trilogy starting with Curious Village. I haven't fully played either Curious Village or Pandora's box so I have more to catch up on.

#professor layton #luke triton #detective luke #professor layton azran legacy #professor layton curious village #aurora #emmy altava #desmond sycamore #jean descole

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elie-draloup · 6 months

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Professor Layton and the Miracle's Mask thoughts and theories leeeeeet's go : (spoilers for this game and everything happening prior, so original trilogy, Specter's Call, and I don't know if I mention anything from the movie but just in case spoilers for that too.)

-....Everything is different now what happened. I can't blindly tap my screen like a madlad anymore. There's a wen now.

-I don't believe that those statues were actually people, I think whoever did that is a good sculpter.

-Since I still need answers about him and since he wasn't arrested in the movie, I guess Descole is somewhere close. He doesn't look like the mask guy (slightly different energy), but he did make everyone believe he was Dolland, so... It could still be him.

-Whatever this is, I think it's either an organisation, or a mastermind either paying/menacing/manipulating people into doing all this. It seems too elaborate to be done by only one person (especially since I guess the flying guy needs wires or something, and he would need several sculptors for all these statues.)

-Oh... So Layton lost his best friend, Randall, 18 years ago... In an accident where he seems to blame himself. So new theory ! Maybe Descole do have a thing against Layton because of this : Maybe Randall was his brother or cousin or something, and he blames Layton for it. And maybe that's why he wants to make a huge discovery that much: Perhaps it was Randall's dream, and so he decided to do it for him.

Or maybe Randall isn't dead, and is Descole ! Hmm... I dunno, Layton would have remembered him better, especially if he was his best friend. Though he haven't seen his face yet and I guess your voice change from 17 to 35.

Or Randall has nothing to do with Descoll and we'll have to wait the next game for this guy's backstory. Still, Randall's body hasn't been found, so it's possible that he is still alive. But why would he pretend to be dead for 18 years ? Maybe he is the Masked man, and Descoll is waiting in the shadow for whatever his plan is this time. Or maybe Descoll isn't in this game and we'll see him in the third one.

-How many people did Layton lost throughout his life ? He lost his best friend at 17, his girlfriend/fiancee at 27 (and lost her again at 37) and thought for at least a few days that he had lost his mentor in Pandora's Box. Right now he's 35 and I still don't know what will happen to Emmy at the end of those games. Give this gentleman a break please.

-Wait he lost loved ones when he was 17, 27, 37... Ahah, Emmy is saved and only found another job ! But there's a chance Hershel lost someone at age 7. And who knows what will happen when he'll be 47.If I follow this logic (which doesn't makes sense but that's not important), then nobody will die in this trilogy.

-I GOT TO PLAY YOUNG HERSHEL THAT'S SO COOL

-It's so funny to see young Hershel acting like an actual teenager, Luke acts more like a gentleman at age 13 than Hershel at 17. And he doesn't even like archeology yet ! And his room is CLEAN. I'm not saying his office isn't clean, but it's a mess. Here ? There's not even a single book on the ground, not even on his desk, everything is in order on the shelves and that's.. so not him ? It's mentioned that his mother actually cleaned up his room, but still. Can't wait to see more about everything that happened, and how Randall will die exactly. I still wonder if he is really dead, and if he's not, what happened to him then ? But maybe he's really just dead.

-Henry is suspicious. He is waaaay too suspicious. And I'm sure his present self has at least something to do with our case.

-Back to present, I haven't considered Marissa as a possible suspect yet, but now that this Alhponse guy told me about it... Will consider the possibility. But I feel like there's actually many people involved in this... But who ? Do they all know each other identity? Are they all implied at the same level ? Who's the headmaster behind all this ? Who is manipulating who?

-Seemed obvious that all those miracles were actually elaborates magic tricks, but I didn't think we would actually prove it this early in the game. I wonder how they did the statues thing though, because thoses were probably difficult to transport. So they needed a place to hide them, and a way to quickly get them in place despite their weight.

-Grosky's fan told us that there was traces of wheels near the statues incident. So they used a carriage to hide the statues and transport them. You'd still need people with rather strong arms to put these on the grounds this quick without breaking anything.

-The fact that we know it is a rather large group of people taking part on those "miracles "... Are they all under pressure ? Are they all willingly doing this ? For money ? For their own interests? For a common goal ? I bet we already met at least some people who are actively part of it. Seems like I should be careful in whom I trust...

-The circus seems almost too obvious. They're expert at magic tricks, they're a large group of organised people, they happned to have bought lot of costumes lately, but what would be their motives? Would be too early, it's not them.

-List of people I trust : Obviously Layton, Luke and Emmy, Grosky (not in a "I can count on him way" but in a more "He won't stab me in the back" way), and that's it. Between Angela, Henry and Alphonse, the later seems the less suspicious, but i still don't trust him. I hope I can trust Ludmilla, because she's been helping me out a lot lately, but I hope it's not a trick. Counting her as an ally for now. Also, the mayor seems unaware. If only I had the Black Raven gang to help me out, at least I wouldn't have that much trust issues.

-Yep, I was right, not the circus. Alphonse definitely looks like the less suspicious between him, Henry and Angela.

-Layton is so genuinely polite and still manage to radiate so much chaotic and sassy energy, it's astounding.

-It feels like someone's trying to distract me from my investigations...First "Ho yeah my colleague want to show you something", then "Oh no something's happening at the casino". This entire town is tricking on me.

-How many people are actually part of this masquerade? What if they all know and only tourists don't ? What's even the goal behind all this? I'm so confused. I don't know who I can trust, I don't know who the mastermind is, and maybe there's not even one. Or maybe Randall's death is truly the reason behind all this: If Henry really is part of the Miracle's mask group, then why ? Is it really just to grab tourists , and throw Alphonse in prison ? It can't be just that. I wonder what exactly happened after Randall's accident. Henry said he looked out for him, and he accused Layton of abandoning Randall because he went to London (probably when he decided that spending his entire life at his job doing just that would be a good coping mechanism. Until he met Claire until she died.)

-Oh so the mask guy is Randall. I mean common. He told Henry "you stole everything from me". And like... His researches, his girlfriend, his life... Yep. That's Randall. So he's not dead. But how. And why hasn't he returned until now.

.... Yeah, I'm not certain it's Randall, because I don't know how to explain that he has disappeared for so long.

But story wise, he's the only character we know who could accuse Henry of stealing his life. But if he's not dead... Why didn't he got back sooner ? Did he survive 18 years in the ruins somehow and found a way back just now ?

-Oh wait.... If Randall is alive.... And if Randall is also Descole... Then... Descole's goal to make a great discovery would make so much sense ! However... He did tried to kill Hershel in the movie, right ? Is he.. Actuallly angry at him ?

-oh. Oh okay. I guess I get why Hershel felt guilty for Randall's death. Poor kid saw his friend falling into a seemingly bottomless pit after he desperately tried to hold him and rescue him, and then he found himself alone in some old ruins, had to finish the expedition as it was Randall's last wish, and then spent hours walking alone on the way home. How much did he actually cried during that walk. Someone please give Hershel a break. The fact that he decided to study archeology in memory of his friend is both really sweet and really sad. Kinda like he sticked to a strict gentleman behaviour and sleep with his hat on because it was the last thing Claire told him before her death. Poor dude has been imprinting on the morale and dreams of his lost ones for years as a coping mechanism.

-....... Wait. Randall fell with the mask of chaos. Henry found the mask of chaos. And if I remember well, they never found Randall's body, right ? ... Shouldn't Henry have found Randall's corpse somewhere near the mask ? So option one : I misunderstood something and Randall was indeed found and buried, so he's definitely dead end of story.

Option 2 : Henry found Randall still barely alive, took the mask and the treasure and left him to die there. Would explain a lot if Randall is the Mask guy (and possibly Descole)

Option 3 :Randall was unconscious, got rescued by Aslantes survivors (would explain where the actors come from), and the mask was left behind because it fell behind a rock or something. Then Henry finds the mask, and this idiot doesn't think it's strange that Randall's body is nowhere to be found and just thinks "yay money".

-It looks like Henry is honest about missing and looking out for Randall. But if my theory is correct and Randall is the Mask guy, then Randall absolutely hates his guts. Is... Is all this mess just a huge misunderstanding ?!

-Angela seems kinda... off. She doesn't seem bothered losing the pendant Randall gifted her before his disparition. Shouldn't it be something heavily important for her ?

-I don't trust the hotel guy. He's part of the accomplices.

- I'm lost... Is Randall really dead after all ? Is Randall both Mask guy and Descole ? Or just mask guy ? Or none ? Alive ? Dead ? Honestly the books are just describing Randall life story (or rather death story), and all he's saying is "Henry stole my life and my future wife I fuckin hate him". So yeah... To me he has to be both. Or at least the mask guy.

-YOU FUCKIN BASTARD LITTLE SHIT I DIDN'T EVEN THOUGHT Oh my gosh I want to punch this stupid guy with his stupid hairs. "Hey professor, let's talk archeology later professor, because you're so sympathic to me professor" MY ASS you traitor. Also who the heck is the hairy shadowy guy and why is he talking about what happened in last game and the movie ? And why is he talking about Descole while we haven't seen him the whole game ? (Unless he's indeed either Randall or Mask Guy). Who are they ? What have they done in this entire story ? What do they want ? Are they also looking for the Aslante civilisation ? (Problem is I know the name of the next game, so I guess the endgame will have something to do with the Aslantes anyway so... So like are we gonna bring reason to Randall, team up with him, and stop those new bad guys in the last game ? Is it what's happening here ?

- We're so close to the end and yet I still feel so confuse meanwhile Hershel is like "Hm, yeah, I think I got it". Does he know that his best friend might actually be not dead ?

-I was wrong about everything.

-Well, not everything, Randall is indeed not dead and is behind all this, though he has been manipulated by Descole who is not him after all. So I reiterate my question... Who. Is. Descole.

-Also... Seems like we have unethical archaeological multinational group as new villains! Comfort me in the idea that we're going to have some depths and redeemable qualities to Descole in the end, since we have new big bads badder than the bad guy.

-So the three places we've been to in this prelogy (including movie) are related to the Aslatnte... What is the real goal behind all this ? (Descole goal, and the mafia guys goal ?)

- I was so confused the whole game when the explanation was as simple as "Supposed dead guy is actually amnesic and got manipulated into hating two of his best friends who are both in love with him and fake-dated for 18 years and built an entire town just to wait for him to come home while the professor was drowning his grief with work." which is actually not simple at all.

#finally found the motivation to copy paste the entire thing #professor layton playthrough #professor layton #professor layton miracle mask #miracle mask spoilers #video games #long text #theories

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layton-heritage-posts · 1 year

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Here's a change of pace: Rank all of the Layton games from best to worst and say with, like, one sentence why you like or don't like it.

Finally, a opportunity to give my opinion:

1st Place: Miracle Mask

Look, it was my first Layton game, alright?

2nd Place: Pandoras Box

There’s a reason why so many keep saying that it’s the best/ one of the best in the series.

3rd Place: Lost Future

I feel like If I didn’t put this one in the top three the Fandom would be out for blood, but I would have probably done so anyway, I mean come on, it’s lost future

4th Place: Specter’s Call:

I always want to put this one higher on the list, because I genuinely feel like it gets overlooked and there’s lots about it to love, and yet it always gets place four.

5th Place: vs Phoenix Wright:

Great executed crossover imo, I know that the puzzles/court cases were easier compared to the other games of each series, but as someone who never played an aa game it was exactly the right amount of difficulty in court, and that’s what they hoped to accomplish after all.

6th Place: Azran Legacy

Yeah, this is the one from the prequel trilogy that I don’t like that much, the traveling from country to country thing was a nice idea but terrible executed.

7th Place: Curious Village

Classic case of “first game of the series”, though I can appreciate its atmosphere and what it did to create the rest of the series.

8th Place: Mystery Journey

#not a heritage post #ask #not counting in Mystery room because I see it more as a separate thing rather than counting it in with the big ones

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endingboyhansel · 1 year

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Worldplay / Key of Word / Full Moon Laboratory - A Connection to Irina Clockworker

I’m actually making this sound like an essay aren’t I? Okay let’s do this.

Ahem.

In this post I shall discuss these three original Clockwork Lullaby songs and how they connect to Irina Clockworker. Better yet, how Irina is the true singer of these three songs, and my reasoning as to why this is the case.

Full Moon Laboratory and The Song I Heard Somewhere connections

We cannot begin this discussion without mentioning the connection between the melody of Full Moon Laboratory and The Song I Heard Somewhere, especially during the chorus.

On the night of the full moon the experiment begins The scent of reagent drives my heart mad

On the night of the full moon the experiment begins If the era changes, then the song will change again too

Of course the song Irina refers to in Song I Heard is the Clockwork Lullaby. However, note how both songs take place on a full moon and involve the beginning of an experiment. What experiment? In Song I Heard, this is Irina’s transformation into a plushie. In Full Moon Laboratory, this is the singer destroying something and creating something. Which begs into question. What is being destroyed and what is being created?

I personally believe this is a reference to Adam and Eve Moonlit and the Irregulars. Of course the Irregulars represent creation and destruction - the Genesis Girl and Ending Boy. But Adam and Eve aren’t Irregulars until Nemesis destroys the world, right? So then what does this mean? Does this mean the singer have foresight into the future?

Now let’s head back to the previous songs, and start marking some pieces into place.

The Greedy-Hearted Person’s Connections to Seth Twiright

A recurring character in these three songs in an unnamed person the singer is referring to. In Wordplay, the singer wants to convey something to him but doesn’t know how to. Whoever they are the singer clearly has mixed feelings. But we get this specifically:

For example, when you abandoned me What sort of words would apply?

Abandonment is a key theme of all the ghoul children. Irina in fact was abandoned by Seth because she didn’t exhibit any symptoms of HER.

In Key of Word, this is called into question again.

Lu li la lu li la, can this lullaby Heal your heart, I wonder? Carrying a sin called desire And right now still dreaming

Whoever this person exhibits evil and sin - say… a Demon of Wrath. But what makes this singer definitely Seth brings us to Full Moon Laboratory again. We get this line.

Before disappearing, that person said “I won’t return here again Continue with your experiments”

And what was the last thing Seth said to Irina?

Before disappearing, he said “I won’t return here again, continue with your experiments”

It is almost an exact mirror.

Wordplay

In the PV for Wordplay we get this:

In the early dawn today, Tokyo/You can’t trust anyone/Extortion/Inhuman/Aside from me they had vanished/Destruction/There are enemies here/Terrorism/World conquest/Dictatorship

This is again the singer’s knowledge of the events that will happen. “You can’t trust anyone” is echoing Ma Survival:

Survival activates Paranoia outweighs feelings of friendship Is the one laughing behind you Really a friend?

Extortion could be referring to the events of the Dark Star Scandal. “Aside from me they had vanished” echoes Whereabouts of the Miracle:

When I awakened, there was nothing […] But there’s nothing anymore He and her are already gone

The rest seem to refer to Nemesis destroying the world with Punishment.

Key of Word

Again, whoever is singing is connected to the events yet to happen. Two new events are revealed to the listener that the audience knows of.

The flower-like memories And even the mud-like traumas They continue to turn and melt All of it inside of me

The specific use of the words flowers and mud seem to be a reference to Flower of the Plateau and Lich’s mud dolls. Yet there’s a more telling detail.

I peeked into Pandora’s box And continued to search for proof of my existence In the end, I of the miniature garden Wasn't anyone

Where have we heard miniature garden used before? Oh right, Miniature Garden Girl! Whoever is singing must be connected to the Clockworker's Doll somehow.

Full Moon Laboratory

Apart from the references to Song I Heard, there isn’t much to add on except the final lines.

Someday let’s begin that game again Because I’ll be here no matter what, right?

No matter what? What makes the singer so certain that they’ll be here? Which leads into my theory.

Conclusion

The singer isn’t just any old version of Irina. This is Irina during the time loops. These songs are just an extended version of her ‘prophecy’ as Maria Moonlit. She knows what will happen, and knows that she won’t be able to change things “no matter what”.

Also, since Irina is aware of the Clockwork Lullaby, she is aware of the events that will lead to the end. How many times will this happen? How many loops has she been in? Well, one thing’s for certain. She knows unless she changes her fate, it’s permanent. How does Irina break the loop? That too is ambiguous. Maybe the karma of evil is doomed to not end after all…

We do know another thing as well. Irina has accepted that she cannot break the loop, she has stopped trying. While back in Karma of Evil, she told herself she will keep on doing this “over again any number of times”, by the time of these three songs, she’s given up.

#evillious chronicles

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hawkeabelas · 10 months

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Pandora's Miracle Box - A Collection of One Shots

Chapter 1 - some healing spoiler-free Ladynoir fluff.

“When did you first suspect me?”

It’s the first time either of them has said anything, and Chat Noir is very nearly asleep in Ladybug’s lap. It’s hard not to fall asleep sometimes, with her hand carding through his hair, his purrs rumbling through his chest, when he can relax knowing he’s safe and comfortable and loved.

He can’t believe he could ever be so lucky. He would do it all again just to be here with her in the end.

“Hm?” He turns back just enough to glance up at her, and is rewarded with a soft little smile. He smiles too, but lets his eyes flutter shut again. “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” her fingers in his hair stop while she thinks, and he nudges her hand with his head to get her to continue. He’s met with a little mutter of “needy Kitty,” but she keeps petting him. “You said you suspected me of being Marinette before. I’m just curious about why.”

He hums in response, just something to let her know he was thinking. “I think… Probably that time Ms. Mendeleiev caught Plagg and Tikki in the school.”

She snorts. “That damn kwami. I would have been so pissed off if that’s what gave us away.”

Continue on AO3

#miraculous ladybug #chat noir #ladybug #ladynoir #ml fanfiction #my writing #my fics

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tracing-rivers · 1 year

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I think the biggest selling point of the Professor Layton series, which has decreased episode after episode and from the trailer I'm afraid is not coming back in New World of Steam is the charm.

Professor Layton is puzzles, a sweet ass accordion-based soundtrack, colorful characters and CHARM. Sure there was always something far-fetched in terms of technology or scale or budget that required you to suspend your disbelief, it's part of the premise, but it was always anchored in an environment that evoked peace, grace and nostalgia.

Charm is everywhere in Curious Village. It's so small and cosy and there's rather few characters, which allows all of them to have some level of pleasant personality.

It's also present in Pandora's Box, especially with the train (because it fits the vibe) and god if nostalgia isn't the core theme of the story.

Unwound Future is the one where it's hardest to suspend your disbelief, the scale is just too grand and the cottagecore element is just gone, but it's fine. It's vibrant old city charm instead of little country town charm. There's something that works.

Specter's Call basically takes you back to a better honed Saint Mystère, with all the technical improvements (cleaner designs, bigger map, better UI in general), which is why it's my favorite game in the franchise. The switch from fast traveling by subway to fast traveling by rowboat is a clear example.

And then came Mask of Miracles, which, ugh. I know everyone loved Randall and baby Layton but Jesus. Las Vegas is the last place in the world I'd describe as charming. Especially in the famous sand desert of Great Britain. It's just gone too far for me, and the (frankly bad) CGI only highlights this more. Same with Azran Legacy and its insane amount of melodrama and loose plot that takes place WORLDWIDE. Where's the simplicity? Where's the nostalgia? Where's the old English cottage vibe?

I'm afraid NWoS is going to be the same. I hope the 3D has gotten better (less margin for uncanny valley on the Switch) but it's all so grey. What the hell is that legged robot Luke is riding. Just, please, give me charm.

#Professor Layton

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okie-writes · 2 years

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Paradox of Demise

It must be wrong to write about something tragic in an impersonal tone. As an outside observer. But I have been doing it for so long that an alternate perspective seems quite impossible. But it is, to a certain degree, imperative. I am not to dive into the differences and nuances of perspectives here, but to leave a commentary, and that, shamefully, of an outsider.

What is to say that could encapsulate the whole thing? Is it the certainty with which those old men surmised the girl’s death? Or the dismaying denial in the faces of the mourners? The thing, the précis of this narrative, however cruel and impersonal, is that a girl died. And I wasn’t there to see her. I did a few years back. We are strangers. But as anyone would, I hoped that this narrative would somehow, by some of the notorious "miracle", food for so many satires, be altered. But hopes aren’t preemptive. They simply give us a vision of a better path. This event is hardly significant. What draws me is the underlying paradox, of death and mourning, and inevitably, of the ludicrous hope.

Let us not be lured by the supernovae and nebulae of the universe. They outshine the human lives perhaps a googolplex to one, this being truer when taken literally. Even the volcanoes and trenches have their potential no less. So let’s condense the world into the little ball made for and by the mighty sapiens, the wise. For with even a peek outside we are overwhelmed with the mountains that change hues with time and weather but still remain unmoved and the perpetual grasslands threatened by none when left alone and ultimately, the pestered, the seemingly everlasting sunsets and rises. They all do change, ever so slightly, but stand stubborn, giving not a damn for the misery of humans. And here, inside our little snow ball, this demise remains a local deluge. Many watch, some mourn and a few take it to their hearts. And then, here arrives our paradox, they forget. No, they do remember, but lock this memory of loss in a tiny corner, of some place that alludes all of modern knowledge. I have hardly a taste of this enigmatic feeling. That is why I present myself as this observer, the wanderer who stays aloof. My feelings on this matter plods on the periphery.

This forgetfulness, this wishful amnesia, as many say, remains the greatest boon for our kind. But what brings it about fascinates every mind that attempts deconstruction of death: digging the grave of not one, but all of the dead. It is curious, and I employ this curiosity, not without neglecting its morbidity, for our purpose here. The process commences with the Burial of the Dead. As the shovel dugs in it uncovers the dead mud, and with it the layers of past. For the mother and father, the growing red lump is stacked from the moment of her birth. It grows larger and taller, until it's let down. Buried. To them the process does not begin there. It does when her brother rushes down the stairs. There is no precise point where the past ends and future begins, but it is at that hypothetical point where the miraculous forgetfulness begin to arrive. This is introduced by not one but two forces, perhaps among the most powerful. The first is the virtue the last to emerge out of Pandora's box, the vicious and virtuous, hope. They give it all sorts of forms, all sorts of meaning, but fundamentally, it embodies the cruellest allure presented by a malefic universe. In its innocence, hope is watching the trees that line the clouds with a belief that elsewhere in the world too there are trees like these, in some place where the darkness hasn't descended, some place where there is a life comparable to that dream. And this hope could the murderer of memories, pernicious to the mind, and thereby the eraser of a past, withholding something dear. This hope, this thing with feathers, could it be the assassin of the girl? It is what they see in the face of the young boy, and what they see in the step they take away from her grave. It is what it takes to take that step. Hope, the balm, the soother, the killer. Not wholly. Here we have the other henchman of this amnesia. And that is Time. These clocks do not lie. All they do it tick away. It does not pause for breath, it does not pant. And no screams for mercy stops its course. I have no definitions for time. It signifies nothing .But rushes forward, hastelessly. Now as to what it does, I have nothing either. For all I know, it is the other half of the cosmic eraser. Like frothing waves, it caresses minds and vanquishes all traces of what existed. There are no sands of time. Time is what effaces those grains of sands. There is but its waves. An ocean that flows eternally, and perchance born at some moment, or never born at all. The most ancient of all gods. And time, with its crafty hands, seizes her memories, to lock them in its depths. All of mankind grapples with that thalassophobia of being cast in there, and all of their fears materialise. For death is eased and erased by the forces of time and hope, cleansing the mind, inducing that cold blooded forgetfulness.

We run all day and night, away from that chasm, the veil to be cast on us by death and the cosmic eraser, and into the same. There is no paradox for death, as there is no uncertainty for dusk. Perhaps the sun may one day explode, leaving an eternal night, survived by neither dawn nor dusk. Even then, the eraser would continue to blot out. For neither death, nor time and hope, is ever exterminated. The paradox lies in the human mind, in its mercurial existence, that make possible the act of the erasure. The mourners forget, the lovers too, and one day the world wakes up, and that name incised on the coastal sands is lost.

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