#moltage

YOUR TAGS OLIV HELPPPPP

I cant form words either you're so kind what the fuck actually speechless at how you took the time to go through it and quote stuff is insane im actually a puddle on the floor look what you've done to me. I needed a distraction and a way to force myself back into writing and I remembered i wanted to do this for Christmas but chickened out at the last minute so here we are. It really was no big deal, its the least i could do for this little corner <33

Hi Oliv comrade!! Good questions incoming, hehehe.

Okay, so I tried approaching this with full on linguistic approach, but as it happens, it gets too complicated with too many variations, so I'll explain without smart words.

So first, there is the full first name - the one that stands in your passport.* It's used in formal settings (in business discussion, for example), and usually it's longer than the informal one. Vladimir, Nikolai, Pyotr, Elizaveta, Natalia (Natalya), Anastasia etc. The best comparison that comes to mind in English would be Thomas, Johnathan, William, Anna, Katherine, Rebecca.

*Nothing prohibits using the short form for passport, but it is an exception, just like using not the most widespread spelling etc.

Then there is the short version of the first name. It is used more often, it's informal, for friends, family, just the most used form, and it's typically indeed shorter (not always). This is how you introduce yourself usually unless it's, again, some super formal setting/unless you prefer your full name used. Some names have more than one version of this form, but the main thing is, despite beng informal, it's the neutral informal/short form. Yes, it is indicating some form of closeness between you (not always, like, if I just met someone, I can still introduce myself with short name. Especially since I am younger, I do it most of the times; more adult people tend to go with full name and then might add which short form they prefer), but it does not indicate affection, so it is not the same as dimunitively-affectionate form. Short forms are: Volodya/Vlad/Vova (for Vladimir, the last might be a step more informal that first two), Kolya (or Nik even though it's not widespread in Russia), Petya, Liza, Natasha, Nastya. For the English ones I would say same tone have: Tom, John, Will/Bill, Ann, Kate, Becca.

And finally, the dimunitively-affectionate form. It can be even longer than the full form, and it is very informal and indicates affection.** There are tons of ways to form these, because Russian loves its suffixes and word formation, they can be formed from the full form or the short form, or be some third way to modify the name that cannot even be easily traced to the original. These are (only some examples, since again, countless versions): Voloden'ka/Vovochka, Kolyen'ka, Petyen'ka, Lizon'ka/Lizochka/Lizok, Natashen'ka/Natusik, Nastyen'ka/Nastyusha/Stasya. For the English ones I would say, even though it feels like there not always is the same affectionate meaning, are: Tommy, Johnny, Willy/Billy, Annie, Katie, Becky.

**Obviously the short and the affectionate forms can be used ironically, so you can very well call the man you're about to throttle Voloden'ka in a mocking way.

***There also are SUPERinformal but not affectionate versions, basically the way a bunch of lads in a boy friend group will call each other (this is not just for boys, I'm trying to explain the vibes here), the "cool" informal names. Volod'ka/Vovan/Vovka, Kol'ka/Kolyan/Kolyanych****, Lizka, Natashka (or even Nat), Nastyukha/Nastyona (although Nastyona is borderline between affectionate and cool). One of the street/cool informal versions that amused me was the following chain (there are more versions of this name, but I'll use one for each step): Sergey (formal)/Seryozha (short)/Seryozhen'ka (affectionate)/Seriy (cool short. It also literally means "gray", like the colour.)

****Kolyanych here is a beautiful abomination born from the fun of Russian word formation. So we here have three parts of a full name: first name, surname and patronym (it's fromed from the father's FULL name and morphologically is made with suffixes that mean belonging, so it's the part of name answering question "whose kid is this?"). The patronyms have the suffixes, but in informal speech they are slightly deformed, so if the full patronym is "Ivanovich", the spoken form can often be "Ivanych". But as you can see, "Kolyanych" looks similar, but is formed from the SHORT version of the name (full patronym would be Nikolaevych or in spoken Nikolayich). That's just what we do. Sometimes boys will call their friends by their given names (not their father's), but form them in a way that's similar to a patronym. Why? Fuck if I know. Sounds cooler, I guess.

SO TO SUMMARIZE AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION.

Yes, Russian names always (might be exceptions I can't think of right now) have short forms. There are neutral informal short forms that can be used by anyone in an informal setting, and there are affectionate informal short forms that aren't always short. There also are superinformal, but not inherently superaffectionate short forms.

There also can be situations where you address someone by the neutral short name, but still use the polite/formal version of "you" (like Sie in German). Also friends can use full formal versions of names for fun and still use the informal "you" (for example me and my best friends sometimes address each other by full names and patronyms in a slightly mangled spoken form. Usually name + patronym indicates SUPER formal setting, we address teachers or big big higher ups this way, but me and besties are just taking the piss).

I hope now everyone understands why the fuck my post about Russian cursewords is stuck in production. There are SO MANY WAYS a word and thus its meaning, tone and connotation can be changed by using a different suffix or prefix. I am sure I'll wake up several hours later and realize I forgot something important in this post, but that's it for now. Thank you for asking, comrade, I love yapping about the language!

I hope you got some sleep! But yeah, Ghostprice is so, so good as a potential dynamic.

The potential for toxicity, co-dependence and violence (one encouraging the other to potentially greater heights of it; the loyal attack dog, the handler that knows the power he wields and how to wield it). It could be so fuckin' dangerous and self-destructive. Especially after Johnny's death and what they'll do for revenge.

But also the shared experiences, the way they can exchange a glance in a situation and know exactly what the other is thinking (and wants to do next) because they've been through so much, the way that Simon would be able to see when Price is struggling, the way Price would be his bulwark when the pain and the ghosts he hides from by becoming one begin to catch up. The way they'd be able to sit in comfortable silence with bourbon and scotch, eventually their heads leaning together as they let themselves crumple in the presence of someone who gets it. Someone also riddled with scars, anger and doubt.

I think Price is... He collects broken or angry boys, puts a gun in their hand and points them at a target he deems worthy by his own moral standards. He knows what he's doing. He knows the game he's playing; he's manipulative, clever. Someone I read recently called him 'sly', and yeah, I see it. Price is morally grey and he has to be to achieve the goals he's set, so I don't necessarily see him as a paternal figure.

(In Kyle he sees a man frustrated by the rules like he is; in Soap he sees someone who shares the same ideals about the world; in Ghost... well, a broken, ruthless attack dog that will go to whatever lengths he needs to achieve the goal. He just needs harnessing, a direction... this is my interpretation so far and may well adjust as I play with the characters more.)