#paulletters

[goshdangitpaul]

reminder that Varian did not get his puppy eyes from his mom. Those are QUIRINS pathetic little looks. Watch the one episode where there’s a flashback with the brotherhood it’s right there

[goshdangitpaul]

for some dry noodles

[goshdangitpaul]

if the dream smp were utensils

techno: spork

tommy: two-pronged fork

tubbo: spoon with a sharp end

ranboo: the one really long spoon

philza: fork

dream: serrated on one side knife

yes I can elaborate. and yes I have more

[goshdangitpaul]

yeah I believe in bunnyblade

[goshdangitpaul]

guys what if dsmp ghosts’ memories are based off of the last feeling they had. Wilbur was happy when he died. Tommy was terrified. Ranboo was… honestly I don’t know what’s up with Ghostboo but Ranboo was resigned (mostly)

[goshdangitpaul]

okay @sethdomain I did it

small and crappy analysis of Technoblade’s anarchy:

This is a Transcript from a video on phone:

Okay this may be a little cringe but I am going to very slightly analyze the anarchistic ideals of Technoblade. Anarchy in the way Technoblade applies it isn’t what we normally consider anarchy to be— like anarchy is this violent force against government and in the lack of government the strong overpower the weak, but what Technoblade wants is the abolition of all authority (which encompasses government), which means that he would oppose the strong vs the weak because the strong would be the authority in this case. (Although he does describe anarchy as that to a couple of people, he doesn’t believe anarchy is that). He’s very loyal to his anarchist ideals, but the type he created, not the kind normally associated with anarchy.

Is his anarchy right for the Dream SMP? This is a bit of a question, because anarchy did exist for a moment on the server when L’manburg was destroyed and there was no supreme power over most people. You had the developing Eggpire and the Kingdom of the Greater SMP, but neither were exerting that much power over L’manburg’s previous inhabitants. Obviously it wasn’t super free, and there were still a lot of events going on, particularly with Dream. This fit into the anarchy not supported by Technoblade, because Dream still held a lot of control over the people, even while in prison. Technoblade wanted everyone to be equal, but not in a communist idea in that the state owns everything, but that everyone has the freedom to own their own property (although they may have to defend it) and is obligated to protect themselves (rather than the government protecting its citizens). 

We see this in the Syndicate/arctic commune, which aren’t a government, obviously. Technoblade is very strong, and he could be viewed as a Dream-like figure, but he doesn’t present himself in that way nor is he actually Dream-like in the slightest. Technoblade is strong because of his preparation skills—yes he is really good at pvp, but most of the time that’s because he’s so prepared. He is better than other pvp-ers because he is, for example, when the Butcher Army showed up, splashing down potions. In Doomsday, cc!Techno notes in discord that Sapnap almost killed him and he had to retreat. Doomsday was able to happen only due to major preparation and Techno teaming up with other well-armed players and a complicated plan.

Anyway, back to the point I was trying to make with the Syndicate. The Syndicate is not ruling over the arctic commune nor does Techno exude authority over the rest of the members due to fear/respect. The Syndicate is a bunch of being discussing how to press their freedoms and anarchism over the rest of the SMP— with a focus on abolishing TYRANNICAL governments specifically. Techno’s goal (and the Syndicate’s in term) may have been to end all governments on the server, but it never really seemed like they were doing that. They only went up against the ones that were dangerous (mostly the Eggpire). They were chill with Snowchester (Technoblade even resolved his conflict with Tubbo and spoke with him about his concerns over Snowchester, in which he later deems Snowchester not needing to be destroyed). The arctic commune is what Technoblade is idealizing: a free area where a bunch of friends live together, with no person being more powerful (or more specifically, using their power) against another person, and everyone is able to support each other (which is an important aspect of Technoblade’s character: he wants friends). There are rules that the commune follows, but it’s less so laws and more things that the people agree would be messed up or counterintuitive to the safety of the commune (don’t reveal the Syndicate’s secrets, don’t blow up people’s houses, at least try to help other people when they need it).

So with that clarified, would Technoblade’s idea of anarchy work for the Dream SMP? Yes, actually. This is mostly because Technoblade’s anarchy works for a small group of people/friends, and the SMP doesn’t have many members. Technoblade’s idea is that each of these groups of friends make basically a little village where they live together and support each other, while remaining friends or at peace with the other villages. The only person that might be against this, might be Dream, but I’m confused by his character most of the time. I do know that Dream wants control, so the multiple villages out of his control (which was basically L’manburg, although they did just make a monopoly and constantly diss on him), might upset him! 

TLDR: if everyone got therapy on that server, Techno’s anarchy would’ve worked.

[goshdangitpaul]

@happeetmblr and @anarchy-and-piglins from yalls AU back in… 2022!!!! Um. Like 804 words

Techno stays human for many reasons. For one, he’s more likely to not be attacked or avoided if he stays human. Other players are more likely to recognize the shape and don’t go after him in order to “make the nether more safe”. Players are more likely not to take wide circles around him in order to avoid an Piglin. And while Techno’s not the hugest fan of social interaction, he does need it. It’s also good practice. (In his opinion, he’s barely gotten better at small talk, but Phil says he’s improved). 

Those aren’t the main reasons.

He’s seen Piglins shoved into holes and players to throw gold at them, before leaving the Piglins to struggle getting out. He’s seen players tear apart bastions and leave like they haven’t ransacked a home. He’s seen players kill Piglins who don’t give them what they want because they’ve ran out of items to trade, as if the Piglin was some cow to be put down when it couldn’t produce milk. He’s seen players with scars from Piglin attacks loudly complain about their existence. He’s never seen one treated more than an animal.

This is to say that Technoblade is not a monster. He’s not an animal. So why would he choose to look like one?

Now, he sort of regrets that; he’s bedridden due to the pain of being shifted. Phil hasn’t checked up on him yet. He probably thinks Techno is going into hibernation again.

Techno’s eyes widen at the feeling of his stomach rebelling. He attempts to lean over his bed so to not choke on his vomit, but the already excruciating pain triples. He thinks he blacked out for a moment, because when he blinks, he’s gasping for air and tears are flowing down his face. His throat feels worn, too, like he screamed for a solid 10 seconds. Honestly, he might have.

As he catches his breath, thudding noises erupt from downstairs, and the telltale sound of someone climbing the ladder to his room grows louder. He can’t move his head, but he peels his eyelids open and looks as far to the right as possible. He can’t see much, but Phil wears such a distinctive green, he doesn’t need to. His ears distantly recognize Phil speaking, but words are too difficult with his brain constantly panging him with indescribable pains.

He can’t hold out like this for much longer. He has to shift at this point, but fear is somehow greater than his pain. He can’t trace the exact thoughts that his anxiety is coming from, but he’s almost sure that it’s from the aforementioned reasons. Phil reaches out and gently feels his forehead. Wordless noises try to escape from Techno’s throat, but none of them have the ability to leave. The touch is like getting shot with fireworks, sparkling and tearing into his skin. A few more tears escape his eyes.

Finally Phil steps back and heads down the ladder, shouting something at someone, maybe him. Techno glances a few times at the ladder, making sure that Phil’s gone, before shifting.

It doesn’t make a pleasant noise, bones shifting outwards and changing shape, nose pressing outwards. It’s something that should cause pain. Yet Techno only relaxes as the pain dips away and becomes nothing. He relaxes as his body settles into the shape of a monster Piglin. 

It’s almost infuriating that he feels no pain now, like he didn’t just spend the entire month slowly losing his ability to walk. Like he didn’t just lose control of his own body as it shook with nearly mind breaking pain.

He pushes himself up, but his natural shape is unfamiliar, and he nearly falls off the bed. It’s not that he’s larger or stronger than normal, just that his muscle distribution has changed so radically he doesn’t know how to use it. He shakes his head as he reorients himself: the weight of his hair is gone, leaving him feeling lightheaded, but his lengthened snout is pulling his head down. How long has he spent in his human form that he can’t even keep his head straight?

Once, Techno had been the most comfortable in his Piglin form. He scurried across nether biomes like a real Piglin, snorted and snuffed in ways only Piglins understood, and wielded a gold dagger in hooves.

Now those hooves struggle to move right in order to scrunch his bedsheets. Those sounds that made language struggled to come out clearly to call for Phil.  Those quick and dexterous movements of his legs struggle to balance while sitting.

He gives up on keeping his head up, letting it fall to his chest. He keeps his eye trained on Phil as Phil climbs the ladder again. He stares with tear soaked fur as Phil’s eyes soften and begin to understand.

(He almost expects disgust, but Phil is different like that).

[goshdangitpaul]

real people with Zane’s haircut:

Colton Dixon