I just finished the Time Killing Event, it was awesome, love our trio of detectives. There are just some things I want to ramble about:
Spoilers below:
Tw: suicidal thoughts, suicidal behaviour (even if it is not stated as this and that it may not be to that extent, I prefer to put this in case, so if you’re uncomfortable with these subjects, don’t go past the photo and stay safe)
Just wanted to start with, it was an event so funny, I really liked the comical situations and the story.
I loved all the illustrations (there were so many, it was so nice)
loved the interactions between the members of the bus
loved the focus we got on Rodya and also the bit of focus we got on Ryoshu (it was super nice to see that she had warmed up to the other sinners)
Dante please go talk to Ryoda, she needs to tell someone how she feels and put off her mask for the moment of a conversation
But I have to just ask: Hong Lu, are you okay?
Because like 60% of the time Hong Lu spoke I was like: wait what
I know, we knew Hong Lu’s past was probably as messed up as his family, and this event really confirmed it. But the way he talked about it, the way he talked about the first time (implying that there was others times) his siblings tried to kill him, how he proposed himself to be a bait to this time killing distortion, it was so unsettling but also kind of sad ‘cause Hong Lu clearly doesn’t care about his end or even, in a certain way, himself. And the fact that he understood them wanting him dead, either because Hong Lu also wishes to be dead, or (and that’s probably more this case) Hong Lu understood their hate for him because Hong Lu knows how to read people and how to understand them at a, sometimes, really deep emotional level. We saw it with Yi Sang, we saw it many times, Hong Lu is capable of very profound empathy.
Okay, sometimes he said things that are very off with what the sinner usually meant and so it passes as something pretentious or said by a rich guy who never had to live a hard life but sometimes those lighthearted comments also convey a form of truth or clue for the others to understand.
Hong Lu gave so much the impression that he wouldn’t mind dying or at least doing something akin to dying. And the fact that he just want to experience a lot of things before having to go back to his family I guess, is still concerning for me because even though it seems that his family agreed on having Hong Lu going on a trip, I can’t help but getting the impression that Hong Lu is a teenager who allegedly ran away from home following a crisis with his family. And I know Hong Lu never phrased it like that and everything is pointing toward him going on a little trip with his family’s authorisation , but I can’t shake off this impression that that’s not the case …
And this sentence about the world staying unchanged, what does this mean??? Of course, it made me think about the book, but I don’t know yet how to put it together yet. You see, if I get it right, one of the thing The Dream of Red Chamber tackles is this notion that nothing is truly unchanging, even more, that things are constantly changing and so never the same, never a fix thing/identity. And these changements are something that Jia Baoyu has to learn and recognise as being a part of his mortal life in “our” world. And there is more and more to this theme but I am not going to dwell on this now…
Bref, Hong Lu made it clear that he lived through the Hunger Games when he was with his family and that there are many things wrong with this latest and Hong Lu’s past and everything surrounding it…
Still no mentions of Lin Daiyu, I keep wondering where will she fit in all of this…
Hong Lu also mention his second oldest aunt which could be Lin Daiyu’s mother (Jia Min) or Xue Pan and Xue Baochai’s mother (Aunt Xue) and Baochai is the one who ends up marrying Jia Baoyu in the book …
Anyway, I am also glad that this event highlighted once again that fact that Hong Lu knows how to read people on an emotional level.
On another note, the story of Hong Lu’s new identity was nice because once again it proves that Hong Lu knows how to observe and analyse others and details but his left eye was not mentioned… so idk what to think because is it it hidden between the lines ? Is his left eye not involved in this ? Or is this a reference to the book? See, for the third option, which I find interesting, it reminded me of the fact that even though the jade with which Baoyu was born is recognise as something precious and magical, its existence is not really questioned nor are his magical powers. Nobody really question how, why Jia Baoyu comes to be born with a jade in his mouth, its just a fact.
A crossover between tangled and ducktales 2017 where huey has varian's role and wants to save his brothers. For huey week
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{Family ?}
I wanted to make some changes to the background (less blue more red) of my last drawing, nothing extraordinary but I still wanted to share this version
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[A journey to seek the meaning to live...]
(Click for better quality)
{Charon in Wonderland!}
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Canto VII provides us with a really good amount of lore on Hong Lu. And to be fair it’s pretty normal since he’s the next one to have a therapy session after Don, so it’s only natural that things are speeding up on his side, and what an acceleration it is, as we’ve had the chance to meet a new member of his family. While we’ve already encountered Jia Huan and heard a few mentions here and there of other members of his family (his father, grandmother, and so on), we hadn’t been introduced to a single family member since Canto I. And honestly, fair enough, because even though the Jia family seems large, they also seem very distant from city life, as it feels like no one knows them, or at least no one recognizes Hong Lu, even people in important positions within the family.
But the most interesting part of this encounter is that we’ve now had confirmation, apparently, that Jia Baoyu’s cousins have become siblings for Hong Lu (who is supposed to be Jia Baoyu), and another small detail is that Project Moon didn’t let Hong Lu’s little sister and her bodyguard use his name. Indeed, Hong Lu doesn’t hesitate to say Xichun’s name, but she, on the other hand, simply calls him “brother,” “my naive brother,” while Wei calls him “young master.” So it’s still possible that Hong Lu is not his real name.
With that, I think it’s time for me to make a post recapping Jia Baoyu’s cousins and siblings to help those who haven’t read the novel (and those who have, because oh boy, this family is so big, it’s easy to get lost among the different branches).
This post aims to introduce the various cousins of Jia Baoyu by briefly giving some info about them. If you’re interested, I also made a post about Baoyu’s family members, including his grandparents, parents, uncles and aunts (by blood, not marriage), and his brothers and sisters just here.
For this post, I’ve decided to talk about each of Jia Baoyu’s cousins in order of birth (from the oldest to the youngest) to help figure out where they might stand in relation to Hong Lu, if Project Moon has kept the birth order (Xichun seems to confirm it, but Jia Huan seems to contradict that, so we’ll see…).
Even though I’m not sure of the exact birth order I’m using (I am not even sure there is a 100% clear one, I’m 99% sure about their placement in relation to Jia Baoyu, knowing whether they are older or younger than him. This is the most interesting part, as this information will help us figure out who can be considered an older brother/sister to Hong Lu and who can be considered a little brother/little sister.
That’s also why, even though I’m not explaining again Jia Baoyu’ siblings, I’ve still placed them in this birth order ranking to help with orientation, especially in relation to Jia Baoyu.
I realize this post doesn’t help with visualizing the family as a whole, but my posts are more informational and serve to share snippets of the lore from The Dream of the Red Chamber, rather than creating a family tree.
Lastly, it’s worth noting that the Jia family is split into two main branches: Ningguo and Rongguo, two of the most prestigious aristocratic families in the capital. These branches descend from a common ancestor but are managed separately. I will try to indicate which branch each cousin belongs to.
To note:
The Ningguo house is the elder branch of the Jia family, descended from the elder of the two founding brothers. Although it is the elder branch, the Ningguo house is in decline in terms of wealth and influence compared to the Rongguo branch. Jia Zhen and other members of this branch are often involved in immoral behaviors, which further contributes to the decline of this part of the family.
The Rongguo house is the younger branch, founded by the second brother of the Jia family. It is more prosperous and influential than Ningguo, mainly due to the connections made by Jia Yuanchun, the daughter of Jia Zheng, who becomes an imperial concubine. This gives the branch an advantage and elevates its social status.
Jia Baoyu belongs to this branch.
Apparently, he is the elder brother of Wang Xifeng.
Son of the elder brother of Wang Ziteng, Lady Wang, Wang Zisheng, and Aunt Xue.
Head of the Ningguo House, the elder branch of the Jia Family. He inherited the title of marquis when his father (Jia Jing) became a Taoist practitioner.
Son of Jia Jing.
Husband of Lady You.
Father of Jia Rong.
Older brother of Jia Xichun.
Jia Baoyu’s oldest cousin.
He is not very focused on work and extremely greedy.
Leads a life of debauchery, preferring to chase women with his cousin Jia Lian.
He had an affair with his daughter-in-law Qin Keping (wife of Jia Rong, Jia Baoyu’s nephew).
Also known as Sister Phoenix.
Daughter of Wang Ziteng, Lady Wang, Wang Zisheng, and Aunt Xue.
Wife of Jia Lian.
(yes, she is also his cousin by marriage because her mother’s sister is the wife of her husband’s father’s brother, I know it’s complicated.)
Mother of Jia Qiaojie.
Sister of Wang Ren.
Proud, scheming, and incredibly capable, she manages the Jia family with rigor.
However, she is also vain, greedy, devious, and cruel.
She always blames others and takes all the credit for herself.
Her life ends due to a serious illness, and her ruined family eventually disperses.
She is the second person that Aunt Zhao (Jia Huan’s mother) tries to kill (besides Jia Baoyu) using black magic.
She is one of the 12 Beauties of Jin Lin.
First son of Jia She (the older brother of Jia Baoyu’s father, Jia Zheng).
Husband of Wang Xifeng (Sister Phoenix).
(Yes, she’s also his cousin by marriage since her mother’s sister is the wife of his father’s brother, I know it’s complicated.)
He also has a concubine (Second Sister You).
Father of Jia Qiaojie.
Half-brother to Jia Yingchun and Jia Cong.
He bought an official title but has some shady activities.
He is a notorious womanizer and has a strong sexual appetite.
His marriage with Wang Xifeng is only for appearance, and he’s more of a dandy.
He manages the finances and hires people with his wife, but they often argue over this power.
He is a frivolous man with flaws, but he still has a conscience.
Already covered in the previous post
She is one of the 12 Beauties of Jin Lin.
She is the first of the quartet of "Springs”, The quartet of springs is the name given to 4 of the Jia daughter
Already covered in the previous post
Son of Aunt Xue
Husband of Xia Jingui (wife who seems to have caused many troubles for the family)
Older brother of Xue Baochai
His father died when he was very young, and as a result, his mother indulges him excessively.
He is the opposite of his sister but holds a genuine respect for her.
Nicknamed the “Stupid Despot.”
He leads a leisurely life and enjoys beautiful landscapes but also a dissolute lifestyle, including his attraction to men.
Arrogant, he relies on the powerful ones to bully others.
He has committed several murders as a result of fights and resolves his issues with money.
He is a typical thug and was a local bully in Jinling City, where the Xues came from.
An extramarital child and the only daughter of Jia She (Jia Baoyu’s uncle).
Half-sister of Jia Lian.
She is honest but timid.
Yingchun is kind-hearted but lacks willpower and is described as having a “listless” personality, indifferent to worldly affairs.
Although she is beautiful and cultured, she does not possess the intelligence or quick wit of her cousins.
Her most notable trait is her refusal to intervene in family matters.
She marries an imperial court official, in a desperate attempt by her father to restore the declining fortune of the Jia family.
After her marriage, she becomes a victim of domestic violence and is ultimately killed by her husband, a general.
She is one of the 12 Beauties of Jinling.
She is the second of the quartet of "Springs”, The quartet of springs is the name given to 4 of the Jia daughter
Youngest son of Jia She and Lady Xing
Younger brother of Jia Lian and Jia Yingchun
To be honest I don’t have anything else on him and I only put him here because he appeared in the Jia Family’s tree
Granddaughter of Grandmother Jia’s brother (the Dowager’s brother).
Daughter of Shi Ding.
Favorite of Grandma Jia.
Her connection with Baoyu is strong, causing initial jealousy from Lin Daiyu, but they later become close.
She is exceptionally beautiful and is described as a tomboy, androgynous, dressing like a man and enjoying eating meat and drinking.
She was raised by her uncle after the death of her parents.
Orphaned, she remains optimistic, joyful, and full of humor despite a difficult life filled with tedious tasks like embroidery.
She embodies liveliness, naivety, optimism, and naturalness.
Very talented in poetry, she is almost as skilled as Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai. She is part of the Crab Flower Club.
She will become a widow after her marriage.
One of the memorable scenes in the novel is in Chapter 62 when Xiangyun gets drunk and falls asleep among the flowers in the Prospect Garden, surrounded by butterflies.
She is one of the 12 Beauties of Jinling.
Daughter of Aunt Xue.
Wife of Jia Baoyu.
(Yes, she is also his cousin by blood since her mother is the sister of Jia Baoyu’s mother.)
Sister of Xue Pan.
She is a calm, distinguished, social woman with a pleasant, tolerant character, in contrast to Lin Daiyu.
She is the only one whose talents could rival Lin Daiyu’s and is described as very skilled in poetry.
She receives praise throughout the Jia household and helps Lady Wang with household management.
At the same time, she is very calculating.
Her wishes are fulfilled when she marries Jia Baoyu (as the perfect wife) and bears him a son, but she will remain alone in the end as her husband becomes a monk and disappears.
Her marriage is seen as a maneuver orchestrated by Wang Xifeng and Grandma Jia.
She is one of the 12 Beauties of Jinling.
Daughter of Jia Min (sister of Jia She and Jia Zheng) and Lin Ruhai (a scholar and official from Suzhou).
(She is, in fact, Jia Baoyu’s cousin by blood, as her mother is the sister of Jia Baoyu’s father.)
Known by the nickname “Princess of the Water.”
She is said to be the reincarnation of the Crimson Pearl Flower and has a deep connection to the jade stone (which Jia Baoyu embodies) that helped her when she was a flower.
She has lived with her maternal grandmother (Grandmother Jia) since the death of her father and mother (which is roughly when the story begins).
She is exceptionally beautiful, but her life is marked by chronic illness, which affects her fragile appearance.
She is a haughty, distant, and very sensitive young girl with exceptional intelligence.
More specifically, she is emotional, prone to melancholy and mood swings.
She is particularly vulnerable and often experiences jealousy, insecurity, and loneliness despite her elevated position in the household.
She is highly talented in poetry, and her poems are greatly admired, especially those composed during moments of melancholy, such as when she buries flower petals.
Her love for Jia Baoyu is mutual and is a major storyline in the novel (she is his soulmate, while Baochai represents the ideal social match).
On the day of Baoyu and Baochai’s arranged wedding, she dies after crying all the tears from her body.
While Baochai embodies the virtuous and practical woman, Daiyu represents sensitivity and emotional fragility.
She ranks first among the 12 Beauties of Jinling.
She is one of the 12 Beauties of Jinling.
She is the third of the quartet of "Springs”, The quartet of springs is the name given to 4 of the Jia daughter
Already covered in the previous post
Already covered in the previous post
Daughter of Jia Jing.
Sister of Jia Zhen.
When she was little, her mother died, and Lady Wang brought her to the Rongguo Mansion.
She has been a devout Buddhist since childhood.
She is mainly depicted as an adolescent or pre-adolescent in the story.
She is a cold woman who always keeps her distance in human relations.
An excellent painter, she is tasked with painting the Prospect Garden for Granny Liu.
The death of the matriarch, the looting of the Prospect Garden, and the family’s expropriation shake her life and drive her to convert to Taoism.
She is one of the 12 Beauties of Jinling.
She is the fourth of the quartet of "Springs”, The quartet of springs is the name given to 4 of the Jia daughter
Voilà! I hope this post will be useful and if i ever made a mistake do not hesitate to notify me :) and I’ll finish this post by saying that apparently Hong Lu would have 15 siblings (14 if we don’t count the one who is dead at the beginning of the novel)
“Close your eyes Little girl blue Inside of you Lye a rainbow
Yellow, blue, red, blue, purple too Blue, purple and green then the yellow”
I really love the result and I can’t wait to see Gosalyn interacts with Darkwing
"Della queen of the moon"
[Repost following an involuntary erasure]
Ducktales 2017 is over, I wish there was more of the season but that's it. There was so much left to explore and I would have liked to see more of Poe and Magica but hey I'm already happy that we managed to have 3 seasons with all these wonderful characters.
it was literally my reaction to the trailer:
Hi ! |She/her| If I'm not drawing I'm probably writing /please do not repost my art without crediting me/
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