HollyBear

the fact that it's not a single chosen one but a group of three

the fact that the honmoon is not powered by the hunters themselves but by the energy and love of the fans

the fact that gwi-ma turns people into demons by promising that he is the only one who can help them when he is in fact reliant on his army of demons to collect souls for him

the fact that "your idol" is about surrendering yourself to a single higher power while "golden" is about soaring to new heights together

the fact that gwi-ma preys on people's individual insecurities and shame to get inside their heads while rumi, mira, and zoey set them free in the end by encouraging them to embrace their differences and reminding them that they're not alone

the fact that you can see the audience cheering individually and even pushing into each other to get closer to the stage during "your idol"

while they're linking arms and cheering together and hugging during "what it feels like"

i have not seen the live action lilo and stitch but it feels like that movie sits on the opposite end of the spectrum from kpop demon hunters as a case study for how to tell a story in way that is culturally authentic and still resonates with a broader audience

and i think given that the core theme of the movie is all about community over individualism, the ending, particularly as it relates to rumi and jinu's budding romance, is really the perfect culmination of that broader theme

rumi and jinu's connection has all the hallmarks of that all-encompassing, all-consuming, borderline co-dependent first love where you keep your relationship a secret and sneak out of the house to meet up and feel like the other person is the ONLY person who really gets you

i'm the only one who can understand you, i'm the only one who will love you is the kind of thing that sounds romantic when you're 16 until you get older and realize how toxic it actually is and i love that the movie counters that in "what it sounds like" with rumi realizing that she had that love and support all along from her girls, and later, from the fans who continue to cheer them on through their comeback

it's about connection and sisterhood and love and sharing your fears and lifting each other up and becoming stronger and better together

and as compelling as i found rumi/jinu and as much as i would like to see their relationship explored more in a sequel/series, i just really love that this movie, which is clearly targeted at young women, ends on the message that romantic love is not the end all be all, that friendship is just as important if not more so than a romantic partner, that single women can lead successful, fulfilling lives, that true happiness and freedom start from within

"... You're what??"

(EDIT: Muting notifications on this!)

Until recently, a few people in my office had these desk shades to combat the obnoxious fluorescent lights, which is very helpful for people (like me) with migraines or other light-sensitivity issues.

A few days ago, everyone who has them was told to take them down. Different people were given different reasons - It violates fire code (it doesn't) / It blocks line of sight (sort of?). Since this goes against the existing status quo, the union reps (my beloved) jumped on it. Someone jokingly suggested using umbrella hats instead, since hats are allowed in the dress code. Today, the union reps are passing out these ridiculous things in protest:

Rook wakes up in the middle of the night and hears what appears to be a man in boots stomping through snow.

"Emmrich. Emmrich. There's a yeti in the living room."

"Shh." Emmrich presses two fingers to their mouth and purses his lips and does not open his eyes. He's very dedicated to beauty sleep. When he found out Lucanis routinely stays up for 72 consecutive hours, he stared blankly at a wall for four straight minutes. "My love. It's far too early."

Rook swats his arm. "Yeti! In! The living room!"

"Darling, yetis haven't been seen since the Steel Age, and they were native to the Frostback--"

"Why do you know this?" Rook hisses. The evil snowman noises are intensifying. They flop around with the pillows for a moment and eventually succeed in locating their mage knife wedged beside the headboard. When they turn back over, Emmrich grabs their wrist and neatly twists the knife out of their hand--which just proves that he's never quite as asleep as he seems, and also that Rook needs to goad him into holding them down more often.

Thoughts for another time.

"It's Manfred," Emmrich sighs, long suffering, and drops the mage knife over the side of the bed.

"If you chip my knife--"

"Shh," Emmrich says again. The fingers are back. Rook bites one of them and Emmrich doesn't even react, just waits patiently like the owner of a particularly troublesome cat. He says, "Manfred has a bauble--a small sphere--that can show certain sounds and images. He enjoys ones involving sand. Also water, and occassionally nugs."

There's a lot to unpack here, though the one that Rook chooses is, "Nugs?" Emmrich's fingertip in their mouth makes it sound like 'nng?' but Emmrich is, it has to be said, an extremely clever man, so he gets the jist.

"Yes. He finds them funny and cute, I think. There's a particular very clumsy nug living in a defunct Thaig in northern Ferelden that he enjoys watching."

"And the sphere accesses these images by...?"

"Manipulating certain benign energies in the Veil." Emmrich lifts a hand, spreads his fingers and sends little aesthetic swirls of magic puffing up from his fingers. One of them is shaped like a heart. He says, "It's magic, my dear." It's a move he's used before. It's a really good move that he will continue to use because Rook loves it so fucking much and it works every damn time.

"Why is he playing with his orb at Fade o'clock at night?" It's daylight outside, as it always is, but Rook feels in their bones that it's the witching hour. Very late or very early and very liminal in nature.

Emmrich shifts very close to them, bringing his warmth and his sweetness, and traces the pad of his thumb over their cheek. "Manfred does not sleep, and nights are very long. It's easy for a spirit with such a sociable personality to feel lonely in the dark and stillness. He needed something to...help him pass the time, and remind him of all the little, wonderful things he might see in this world."

"Emmrich," Rook whispers, quietly delighted. "You gave him dreams."

"That's...quite astute of you, darling. I suppose, if one looks at it in that way--"

A blast of chaotic sound echoes from the living area. They shoot up as one, and Rook is already halfway through a vault over Emmrich's knees to get their forsaken knife when a sort of apologetic hissing issues frantically from the bottom of the stairs.

"The volume," Emmrich sighs, palm on his face, "is touchy."

(I did Origins but am limited to ten images…but I see you, Alistair “Swooping is Bad” Theirin and Zevran, defo assassin defo farthest thing from a virgin Antivan Crow disaster bisexual. We also go feral for them.)

"Jeremy, I'd really like my orbital sander back ^_^"

"... didn't know it was yours..."

(Legit excited, no sarcasm) "Someone ELSE has the original Box 20-Volt Brushless Cordless Detail Sander with Dust Management?!?!?!?!"

"...no..."

Teacher walking up like "Miss Woods, is that a nail file"

(Elle, blasting compressed air to get rid of the nail file sand)

"Actually, its an emery board. But yes! :D It's a finer grit than what we have, and I've always found these easier to handle"

"...Ok, fair enough."

Elle making friends with the 6 year old daughter of one of her classmates. (Child care ain't cheap, I get it. Bring your kid to class)

Elle learning how to drive a forklift/motorcycle/semi-truck

Elle giving an impromptu lecture in the break room about what gifts to give their wives/girlfriends/mothers

Fucking laser cut "bless this mess" sign on her locker (I lied. It would totally be live, laugh, laser)

Elle's car breaks down and 20+ dudes coming out to show her how to fix it. (And realizing her mechanic is ripping her off)

Every single guy in the building filled with instant despair when she gets with one of the butch lesbians in the program.