I don't now what was in Endo sensei mind the day he draw this illustration but if it was to serve,all my congratulations sensei.

i think there should come a point when yor has had enough of yuri's nagging about loid and says something like "HE MAKES ME HAPPY YURI"

after which point yuri slowly and begrudgingly begins to see the value loid has brought to yor's life, and even if he is still snippy and overprotective, he begins to open up the slightest bit. eventually during a 1:1 conversation he admits to loid that he's only overly critical bc he can't bear the thought of someone hurting the person who gave up everything for him, etc etc

and THAT is when loid feels real guilt for the first time. we already know from passing thoughts that he plans to leave the forgers after the mission is over, and sometimes he has his reservations and moments of 'i'm a hypocrite', but this is when he's truly like shit. Shit. I finally won yuri over but it was better when he hated me because i do not deserve to have this kid telling me that i am worth his sister because i'm not. he was right, i am just gonna hurt her all over again.

just steep the man in guilt please thank you 🙏

Sorry for staying on this but I think we’ve hit it. Part of the reason AI image generation is talked about as “democratic” or even as An Important New Human Right— with the free and accessible means of creation being deemed not good enough, too time-intensive, too harrrrdddd— is the same reason artists have to hear “I can’t even draw a stick figure” all the time. The conversation around art is that it’s a thing you do as a kid or as a pro, but otherwise why bother? You can’t paint an image like Product, so it sucks. The only thing that matters is Product.

We all can draw really cool shit, if we were open to it, but look what we did. We gave ourselves Art Diet Culture and Dysmorphia

I absolutely hate it when people bring up "what if a disabled person wants to make art?" as a gotcha too. Because the act of creating, the act of doodling some silly strokes of a pen on the back of a receipt despite my inflamed joints just satisfies the itch of making something. That's fun. If I say "computer, generate some airbrushed perfect image of a bird", the computer did that. That's not fun. Should I tell the computer to eat my dinner and watch a movie too?

"The conversation around art is that it’s a thing you do as a kid or as a pro, but otherwise why bother? You can’t paint an image like Product, so it sucks. The only thing that matters is Product."

This is exactly it right here. The arguments around Algorithmic Image Generation are all essentially screens for the core purpose: proving that people should not do art, and need to do something more "productive" instead (read "do jobs that produce more wealth and serve the executive ruling class"). If a computer algorithm can generate an image that is good enough for business purposes, there's no reason for people to make art. Every action that can be done sufficiently by automation MUST be turned over entirely to automation to do. There is no room for any human action that does not serve wealth.

It does not matter if the art you make is "good enough", what matters is that you make it by your own choice and action. It's not just an act of expression, it's a declaration of autonomy. You can do something because you choose to do it, and it serves no other purpose than your personal desire to.

Keep your hands off my woman!!

Leaving aside the most important part of the chapter, Yor must kiss her husband for world peace and the Twiyor nation to be happy.

I think it's a good message if we look deeper into how the stereotypical duality of women is portrayed to us, which I think is a message that can encompass anyone in general.

The most conventional romantic movies are usually about the man being - stereotypically - the strongest and the one who must protect the woman, who wins his sensitive heart and makes the hero bring out his sweetest feelings.

Becky being a little girl has in her heart the fantasy of a sweet romantic love just like the one in her novels and movies. But sometimes, people are not so conventional.

Both Anya and Yor, don't feel comfortable being pigeonholed into “girls waiting to be passively rescued”, because within themselves the love for the people around them is a drive to be strong, take action and save others.

I feel that one of Endo's best points, is her way of undertaking a concept of what femininity, or rather, “feminine energy”, represents. Feminine energy is a force that comes from feelings, it is fluctuating and unpredictable, sometimes like a gentle breeze and sometimes like a terrible hurricane.

Most of Endo's female characters are strong, independent women who do not need to be rescued. And they are very willing to put themselves in the face of danger to protect those they love. This is something we have seen, with characters like Yor, Sylvia, Martha, Fiona, and they have been able to save other men or take on subjects much larger and more muscular than them.

Even with girls like Anya who we know very well is a very brave girl and has been in the face of danger despite her age (maybe too much, our poor baby is only 4 to 5 years old, God), and has the strength to send a bully flying (and fall in love in the process) on the first day of school.

So …. if women are strong …. men are weak?

Absolutely not!

Everyone, regardless of gender, is strong. We know perfectly well that Twilight is someone capable of taking care of himself, is someone who is physically trained and has enormous intelligence. Even Yuri has survived so many dangers that we wonder how the hell he didn't die. Damian is a brave guy (when he doesn't see an insect lol).

The point is, even though women and men (or any gender in general) are strong. We all have our weaknesses, our sensitive sides.

You can do things on your own, but you don't have to do everything at once....

Clearly, although Yor is physically strong, she has problems with metal and verbal confrontations. Because her insecurities are so great that when they make her doubt herself and her own value, she tends to lose it and that is when Loid is there for her, not to take care of her because she is weak, but to remind her of her own value (because she doesn't seem to realize it herself) and to make her see that she is worthy of the understanding and love of others. In the same way that Yor reminds him that he too can be a little weak and take refuge in her.

Even if we feel weak and awkward, we can take initiative....

I think it is very important, the idea that Yor or anyone in general can have the “initiative” to seek on their own that “love” that you so desire.

Many times we feel that if we don't fit into the expected canon, or social archetype we are not worthy of love. (Feminine women who feel vulnerable and who depend on the guy to live are the ones who get love in the end). When nothing could be further from the truth….

Being weak and vulnerable is something totally natural and not exclusive to one gender or social role. We are all weak and strong at the core, and we need each other to complement each other and to be able to enjoy much more of our own love and the love we can give and receive from others.

Yor's desire to actively seek love (kissing her husband a lot) is not only a way to develop her bond with Loid, but a way to grow her self-esteem and challenge her insecurities. To stop seeing herself as a child in front of the world, but a woman who can get things because she wants them (and has her husband's consent, of course) (But, come on, we all know Loid needs kisses from Yor).

retirement

idk if this is dumb but i’ve been thinking about this for a while

a sxf au in which a depressed worse for wear twilight retired due to an injury of some sort. then he’s asked to protect a young girl wise rescued while they catch her captors. cue healing father/daughter dynamic and stuff.

That is such an inspirational quote for such a dumbass thing to do

my latest fic is complete!

it’s mostly loid, yuri, and franky messing around and being stupid.

read or else

I love when platonic love and romantic love is so blurred that it doesn’t even matter anymore. All that matters is the devotion that’s there, the unwavering devotion

memes are fun and relatable and all that, but don't let them discourage you. all of that stuff that doesn't make it into the final product is part of how the final product gets made

That's super interesting about the title! I did guess it had to do something with Twilight putting on "skins", but it's great to hear about the deeper meaning :D

I can relate with the feeling of wanting to finish up a fic you've loved! I wish you all the best in finishing it, it will definitely be so satisfying to have it all complete. And I'm excited it to read it all!

For the mission.

When Loid and Yor discover each other's identities 🥺

I am mad about cellphone cameras hiding the processing they do, and I am glad about software that lets me control it and opt in and out, and I dictated this rant on insta so I am resharing the images here and will attempt to turn this into a useful text post on my blog in future, when my hand is working better 🤘👍

Here's the website for the app I'm getting so much good use out of: https://opencamera.org.uk/

And here's a big dump of photos from it!

and here's an example of exactly how much this means to me -- I've been really feeling like I'm terrible at photographing my own work, especially watercolour, and i can't seem to really capture what makes a painting special in person.

here's some examples of my attempts to photograph this sketchbook painting using the native camera app on my phone:

it's grainy, blotchy, the colours feel off, the contrast is too much... it really doesn't capture what's on paper in front of me!

so then i try with the processing turned off in Open Camera:

it's fucking night and day!

A clearer comparison for you:

jesus fucking christ what a game changer!

cc: @petermorwood (per previous discussions)

a little more Anya🥰🥰

was suddenly moved to draw a toony sort of character design .. but this is a bit too close to 2013 tumblr sexyman for my own comfort

idk why this has been suddenly getting notes again but scytheguy says thank you