May We All Survive

See, a lot of people remember that line about the Sheep where Chuuya says “They’re just kids” when getting Dazai and the Mafia to spare their lives, but I think the larger weight is given to the line after:

“They took good care of me.”

It’s exactly that. Chuuya is not bargaining for the Sheep’s lives because they’re kids, but because they helped him. They fulfilled his (very minimal) needs for necessities, relative security, and companionship. Chuuya repays his debts. The Sheep took him in when he had nothing, no knowledge, no memory, anything. It has very little to do with them being kids.

“This is one of the simplest personal philosophies we see in BSD, and Chuuya is one of the only characters who have not reevaluated, or expanded upon said, personal philosophy.” <- @itotypes is right and it’s really noticeable. He has always been like this. Before he even remembers, in fact.

It’s why “his will not be an easy path” from the Stormbringer afterword makes me so nervous but also has me on the edge of my seat. Though Chuuya has undeniably grown and changed over time, his core is still the same. In fact, this core sits at the center of his identity - it’s how he defines himself in defiance of Verlaine. We, the audience, are constantly reminded of it - Chuuya repays his debts to those who have helped him. He’s the kind of person who would do so even if he would be betrayed. This philosophy has not changed throughout Fifteen and the hell that was Stormbringer… but it has been emphasized many, many times, and I think that should make everyone nervous.

This sick bleach shirt I made. Something to showcase my undying love for prehistoric cave art.

A woman strolls the beach

Location: Nazaré, Portugal

Do exactly what you're paid for and nothing more

Absolutely refuse to be available to contact when you're off the clock

Never prioritize work over your own health, wellbeing, or family because that would be insane, it's just a job.

Have a little glass of wine

Take as long as you feel like for lunch

Deeply understand that work doesn't matter

Old Millennial American speaking here. I need you to adopt this mentality as early as possible and hold to it. The older you get, the harder it is to begin this practice and claw back the extremely unhealthy effects of a workaholic lifestyle. I am speaking from 20 years of experience.

This does not mean having a shitty attitude at work, or not doing your job, or relying on co-workers to carry your water.

This means you do what it says above. It also means not making work and productively your entire personality; not tying your productivity to your value; and not becoming so emotionally enmeshed in your work and workplace so that you are living and dying by what happens there.

The guards mock her. She's never getting out of here. What's she counting down for?

But for someone who's imprisoned for life, no parole, she seems remarkably at peace. She doesn't cry, she doesn't plead. She reads. She sings sometimes. She counts off her days.

Beyond the walls, the wars are blazing. People are fighting, and starving, and dying. But there are also people helping. People risking everything to save who they can. They still believe in the Hail Mary.

In 2037, Stratt crosses off the last day. This is the day she will escape, when the team who have been working in her stead will meet her outside the prison and whisk her away to her place as the head of operations where she belongs.

And then I was like …oh. This is not about the wonders of caving and the awe of stepping into a place no one has never been before.

So here, I’m giving you a taste so you don’t have to go by yourself <3 (you may have hit one of my special interests so I am trying not to babble too much about it, but more info on the pictures in alt for those interested)