#modularnra40

[blackkatmagic]

Historical romance trope I love: Secret supernatural community stumbled upon by a plucky heroine who adapts remarkably quickly :D

Paranormal aspects in my historical romance?? I’m more likely to adore it than you think. 

[tehri]

what are your thoughts on the Glorfindel situation? Like, do you like the whole 're-embodied' thing, or do you prefer Tolkein's earlier drafts where Gondolin Glorf and Rivendell Glorf were just two different dudes? What are your thoughts on re-embodiment in lotr in general?

Honestly, I’m not overly well-read when it comes to the earlier drafts, but in general, I don’t actually mind the whole re-embodied thing. After all, that happened with Lúthien and Beren.

The idea of Gondolin!Glorfindel and Rivendell!Glorfindel being the same person is weirdly compelling to me, albeit mostly because imagine this dude straight out of legend. Living quietly in Rivendell. Finding peace. WANTING peace, after all he experienced.But at the same time, I can see the other side of the argument too, that Rivendell!Glorfindel is a different elf altogether (possibly named after the hero of legend, perhaps?) and that he came to be part of Elrond’s household.

In general, re-embodiment seems to be a very special situation in the legendarium. It takes someone exceptional for it. And still, it feels like… a small amount of a cop-out situation.

Because honestly, yeah, compelling though the thought is that Glorfindel came back from the dead because he redeemed himself in the eyes of the Valar… I mean, he doesn’t do much when he comes back. Yeah, he does provide a guiding hand for those leaders of the Elves who remain in Middle-earth. But other than that, his role is honestly minimal, or at least not discussed much.

I like the thought. I don’t really mind it. But yeah, I can sort of see it as a cop-out thing where one doesn’t want to say that the Noble Hero dies.

[knitmeapony]

modularnra40 replied to your post “Okay, I’m having an I don’t even go here kind of moment with Dragon...”

one interesting aspect that I feel might have an impact, is that dwarves don't dream - at all. They inherently have no connection to the fade, magic affects them less, etc. Which just means that the relationship late gen surface dwarves have with human/elf culture has got to be *interesting*

Oh yes I totally agree!  Underground that’s just the normal state of affairs, but up above there are all kinds of references and discussions to dreaming and what it means, from fortunetelling to visits from the dead to your subconcious’s needs and wants -- and for dwarves it’s just like nope, can’t relate.

[despazito]

Sorry you got such weird responses on your ddd post! I think it is an interesting thing to notice and think about - outsider perspective vs first hand knowledge is fundamentally different.

yeah i wasnt complaining?? its just interesting under narrative theory, how somebody not within the societal group can write something very relatable to said people

[obstinaterixatrix]

Thanks yall I wasnt actually expecting answers but these are good ones I love the ocean

[jedifest]

Blind Faith

Submission for Rogue Robin Round 1! Call sign #025

———————————————————-

His mother had been an initiate - a washout. She’d moved on to the agricorps, and was eventually stationed - moved up to a high rank - on Jedha, at the temple there. She left the corp when she fell in love with a pilgrim, not a force user, but devout. A true believer. She’d been happy.

He remembers wondering, as a child, how it was she didn’t resent the Jedi for sending her away. Especially after he was tested, and found lacking in that mysterious connection to the force required to become a Jedi Knight. It wasn’t until many years later he realized the full depth of what the Jedi Knights give up, and realized that he was also grateful and glad that had not been his path (even regardless of the other realities - that had he been chosen he would have died a child in the temple on Coruscant…)

It never feels like he imagined the Force would feel like, as a child: significant and sublime. Instead, it is only that he hears the bolt of the blaster, or smells the sweat of the ruffian throwing the punch, or feels the rush of air before the clubs lands, and has enough luck and quickness to get out of the way. It is only in retrospect, when he is alive and the many who outnumbered and outgunned him are not that he thinks there must be more to it than luck and training - he is often not just fighting local toughs after all, the Empire’s troops are well trained.

Baze scoffs, and reminds him of how long it took him to re-learn the steps of Jedha, that it was his dedication to training that gave him the abilities he has now, not some dubious divine interference. Reminds him of the mundane effort that goes into their skills, and not to forget gratitude to real individuals who have helped them along their path, instead of just offering thanks to some omnipotent Force.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was blind. He was blind and it was hard - he stumbled on paths he had run down every day of his life - fell down stairs he had casually vaulted only weeks before. It did not help that tensions were so high. Many people besides him had been injured in the riots - many had died. Even without a direct presence, the Separatists were doing damage. It was difficult to maintain serenity in the midst of the chaos, and in the midst of the frustration he personally felt. He was supposed to be a Guardian - how was he supposed to fulfill his duty to protect those who seek wisdom like this? He was no legendary Jedi, to see through the Force - he could claim no special connection with the divine power that flowed through all things in the Universe, had no ability to fling things through the air by willing it so, or predict the future. He was simply a man - well trained, but now that seemed so useless.

He was lonesome, too. His… well, his something, was off planet. He did not like how often Baze volunteered for distant missions, but he understood. However, it was hard to let go of the anger he felt - if Baze had been here… It was unfair. The riots had been a complete surprise. There was no way Baze could have known. There was still no telling how long it would be until Baze heard about them - news traveled strangely, thanks to the war. And Baze would yell at him now - walking around a city rife with tension when he can’t do the least thing to protect himself. And he’d be right too, given that Chirrut was about to do something very stupid.

“Hand over your credits! Hand ‘em over or you’ll regret it.”

The rough voice came from down an alley Chirrut knew as a hotspot for unsavory acts. It seemed one of the gangs of ruffians was taking advantage of the unrest to harass someone.

Chirrut wasn’t sure what he was going to do - blind as he was - but he stepped into the alley. He could not allow this to occur unchallenged, the very idea went against everything he stood for as a Guardian. Perhaps he could bluff them - it had happened before, that the mere suggestion of opposition drove petty criminals off.

“I suggest you seek credits elsewhere - should you continue this course of action, it is you who will regret it.”

Chirrut felt the attention of the group settle on him. He wondered how many there were. One of the more common temple mantras passed through his mind: “I am one with the Force; the Force is with me.”

Another voice spoke, it sounded like a woman, and older - unfortunate. Not just a group of youths then, but actual seasoned criminals.

“And how are you going to stop us? You’re blind! Thank him out boys, but make sure not to let go of the Twi'lek.”

One last try at intimidation.

“I am a Guardian of the Whills, I recommend choosing another course of action.”

Of course, it didn’t work.

Three people rushed towards him - he could tell by their footsteps. He heard the closest plant his foot and could practically see it in his head, the number of fights he’d been in - it was complete instinct to dodge the punch he’d known had been coming.

The tough’s punch whistled past his ear. He would have blinked in shock, had his eyes not been bandaged. Luckily he felt the wind from the kick of a second tough, and his instinctual block knocked him out of his surprise. He tugged on the leg he had caught and followed up with an elbow to the temple of the attacker - catching the tough by surprise and knocking that one out of the fight. The first attacker made another punch - Chirrut captured the arm and went to sweep the leg - throwing the first attacker into the third.

He heard yells from further down the alley, the woman who had spoken cursing - and the charge of a blaster. He’d never realized how loud that sound was. He didn’t know if he’d be able to dodge a blaster - the mantra went through his head again - he heard a blaster shot and braced for pain -

“And just what are you doing wandering around when you’re supposed to be on bedrest? Healer Hrock-taw is going to skin you alive.”

“Baze! Healer Hrock-taw will understand; one must listen to the will of the Force after all. It guides as well as protects.”

“The Force ‘guided’ you straight into an armed robbery! It’s me doing all the ‘protecting’ around here!”

“I am one with the Force; the Force is with me.”

[blackkatmagic]

I like Itachi as an example of the issue with greedy algorithms. It takes some,, creative interpretations of canon, but I like think that from Itachi's point of view, at exactly the moment of decision, every choice he made was the 'most correct' of the options immediately available to him. The problem being that he was an abused child, so his ability to think strategically vs. tactically was low, and his ability to choose 'most correct' was... iffy at best, and biased by multiple string-pullers

[blackkatmagic]

All of these asks about people finding out Kuruma's Kyuubi and the resulting reactions (especially kakashi's) just fill me with a mental image: Giant Fox!Kuruma rising up over konoha's skyline, engaged in combat with some other large monster type thing - chaos and battle going on all around. There is a pause in the fighting... Kakashi is perched on a roof, looking pensively at the ongoing battle... Gai stops by, in srs mode because battle, pauses to hear kakashi's thoughts... '...I tapped that.'

Oh my god, I totally just inhaled my wine. That will teach me to drink and read at the same time.