One thing that like. shakes me to the core if I think about the radiant emperor duology. is how Zhu wanted to help Ouyang despite the betrayal, in a way that was more than just a convergence of their fates.
Two things: since the first book, we know they're similar, connected, and that Zhu feels this connection wholly with a fascination that slowly becomes more complicated. She is more open to the connection that Ouyang, because she embraces wholly who she is, knowing her otherness in a complete way that for Ouyang was only pain and self-hatred. Second, Zhu is incredibly strong, mentally and emotionally, in separing herself from those who aren't in her tightest circle. Shelley wrote in two beautiful separate instances in hwdtw how when you witness someone in pain, if you don't hate that person you will be contaminated by that pain, and Zhu has for most of the series such unflinching emotional fortitude that while she observes and acknowledges and fights for other's pain, she doesn't feel it herself, not completely. Book one ends with her killing a kid because he is in her way, we can't forget it.
Ouyang's grief, so potent throughout the entire second book, is fully understood by Zhu only when she loses Xu Da. And Xu Da's death, united with the connection Zhu and Ouyang have nurtured in their fucked up way of theirs, is enough that when Ouyang's deep-rooted disgust and refusal of femininity breaks their alliance, it doesn't break their connection. Sure, Zhu feels true betrayal, and mours the possibility of a future that Ouyang sees only for a brief moment, for himself after the end of his revenge, made possible by Zhu. But Zhu, who is so ruthless she is similar to a person who is more violence than humanity, kind of... pushes the betrayal aside. She will help him anyway. They have the same goal. She keeps on including him in her dream of a future, even after he betrayed her.
When she learns of Ouyang's death, she tries to be happy he at least got what he wanted, completed his fate. She wants his desire for revenge to have mattered for herself, to quench the doubt if everything she's doing is worth the pain, and for Ouyang, sadness in her heart. But she already knows somethins is wrong in the air, in the room where the Great Khan's blood ran down the tiles, and that's what makes me insane. Their bond didn't break when Ouyang rejected their sameness and betrayed her. The bond deteriorates only when his sacrifice was for nothing. Zhu aches for Ouyang. She carries his ghost with her and at the last moment, Ouyang would be her final weapon. Except we've seen how Xu Da's death changed things. How grief, for Xu Da and Esen, shaped Zhu and Ouyang forever. So the fact that the last thing Zhu does before starting her reign is fixing the bond, restoring it to its original resonance, is what proves she was going to forgive him, in a way. She was going to give him a place in the new world.
The entire book is a sequence of tragedies, created by love expressed too late, too little, love that was not enough, yet was also the cause of every tragic end. So there's a little love also in Ouyang and Zhu's tragedy, where their sameness wasn't enough, and Ouyang is the last piece of the old world, made better by Zhu's will for a better future.
“Sorry that it all went down like it did”
Name: Little Beepo
Skill: Fucking Miserable
Quote: Please let me have some grease from the stovetop. I’ll cry if you don’t let me have some grease. I need it.
Zionism 101
Share information about ICWA, Brackeen v Haaland, and Tribal Sovereignty
Share information about rallies, protests, and strategy meetings
Share the donation information of organizations that are fighting to protect ICWA
Donate to those organizations to help them continue to fight
Share the stories of Indigenous adoptees, survivors of residential schools, and the families involved in Brackeen v Haaland
Follow @protectICWA on twitter for live updates
Educate yourself on Tribal Sovereignty, residential schools and the 60s scoop, and cultural genocide as a tool of genocide.
Educate yourself on MMIP/MMIWG2S and familiarize yourself with the tactics those against Tribal Sovereignty use to undermine us.
Learn exactly who is fighting to get rid of ICWA and why. Hint: Gibson Dunn (representing the Brackeens) is the same law firm that supported the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) Now I wonder who benefits from slowly but surely removing Indigenous people from our lands? 🤔
Uplift Indigenous voices that are speaking out and speaking up on ALL platforms. Tell your friends, tell your family, and show up to support us if you can. If ICWA is struck down, we will not be going without a fight. Be prepared.
This linktree has tons of information about ICWA, why it is important, what’s at stake, and what you can do to help. Even simply sharing an article link from here to 10 followers that go on to share to their 10 followers can help!
So does L ever show up at Wammy’s to meet the kids in your AU? I love your art so much 😭🙏
Thank you!! <3 ;^; The short answer is: Yes, he tries to visit once a year and personally met Near, Mello and Matt at least once. The long answer is this:
Hope that clears some things up :'D
ft the rest of the Eungang
Teddy Jin-Used to bully trainees but changed after Gray put him in his place. Is known for his visuals and his vocals, and is a pretty talented dancer too. Is a more introverted member, but he's very perceptive and cares for the other members. Owns a bunch of cats that just wander around the dorm. Ben, Alex and Rowan love them, while Eugene and Gray are okay with them. Gerard likes cats but is allergic. Fans and the group tease him for being an fboy, but he could never actually ask out a girl. Has average stage presence, but still stands out. Manages a Tiktok account that he is very active on, acts tough but is actually a huge softie. Fans make fun of his bowl cut era.
Rowan Im- Very talkative and extroverted member. Might get hated on for being too noisy, but most people love him. Has a slight rivalry with Grape and Eunchan, and glares at them at award shows. Fans really want to know why. Definitely gets very talkative on those talkshows where the group has to compete for a prize. Overshares with fans on lives and ends up spoiling what the MV/Album is about. Company stops him from going live before the MV drops. Is very close with Teddy and Eugene. Has definitely walked the wrong way when leaving stage. Always dyes his hair another colour for a comeback. Keeps two obnoxious sugar gliders as pets that he runs a fan account of.
Eugene Gale- Was a HUGE fan of Big Ben before joining the group and fanboyed super hard when he first met him. Has old posters of Ben. Trained in the same company as Rowan as trainees. Gets super flustered and embarrassed when interacting with fans. Listens to Jake Ji's music and fanboys when he sees him. Watches fan edits of him on a private account at 3 am. Gets shipped with Gray Yeon. Stands timidly at the back of the group when winning awards.
hey its pride month and idk about yall but I Could Use Some Life Altering Top Surgery!!!! i don’t think i’ll be able to raise the roughly 8,000 usd minimum needed for surgery directly off donations but every dollar counts! i got a temp job and was able to afford rent and bills this month, so i can at least put the donations into savings this summer and add to it til this job is over. idk. i’m tired of covering my mirrors ‘cause i don’t like looking at myself. i’ve got 400$ in savings to start my Boob Fund and if you want to help, i have donation links below! paypal.me/treesinspace / cash.me/$junabugs (p.s. send paypal donations as GIFT FOR FRIENDS/FAMILY, not PURCHASE, or paypal will think i’m a merchant and ask for tracking info)
If Trump goes to prison during pride month I will literally never stop laughing like to charge reblog to cast give me all of your evil thoughts and prayers for this freak to get his first ever consequence.
I graduated high school in 99.
There was a student at our school named Wayne.
Wayne was gay. It was obvious. He was unable to stay in the closet even if he wanted to. To make matters worse, he was also Black. From a bullying standpoint, that was not a great combo. Both Black and white students made fun of him relentlessly. He was ostracized from the only community that may have given him protection. Only us theater kids stuck up for him, but not to significant effect.
Wayne was bullied so much that at one point he finally snapped and attacked his bullies with a lunch tray. I was actually seated in perfect line of sight and just sat there chewing my soggy fries in stunned silence. It didn't even seem real as I was witnessing it. The image of him wailing on his main bully as the food on his tray flew off is permanently logged into my long term memory.
The bully he attacked had blood all over his face and went straight to the nurse. Other than superficial cuts, he was not injured.
Before the attack, Wayne went to teachers for help. He went to guidance counselors for help. He went to the principals for help.
He did all of the things you were supposed to do. No one helped him. They wagged a finger at the bullies and warned them to stop.
Wayne's lunch tray melee was the only thing that worked. His bullies stayed far away from him. But a week later Wayne was expelled and the bullies were given no punishment.
So... no.
No one in my school talked about being trans.
Because the only way to survive being openly queer was to bash people with a lunch tray.