Emotional support (NaLu edition)

Original post: February, 2018

Most potent relationships featured in many series, despite their differences in dynamics and characters, share some common traits.

One of these traits is a consistent and natural development, based on a chain of meaningful moments; other being constant stress on their relationship; the combination of these elements resulting in a solid chemistry. Some of you already know how this goes

The important thing to remember is that when writers play their cards right, such elements can help characters to organically develop an emotional attachment to their potential partners. Thus making their relationship, as well as their potential, far more compelling, believable, and attractive.

This is a significant part of what makes NaLu a potent relationship. Take a look at how Lucy little by little became attached to Natsu to the point they were incredibly close in a matter of months. In fact, she was the one who motivated Natsu to do what he never did before: form a team. It becomes clear Lucy was already having an effect on Natsu.

From the very beginning to the Phantom Lord arc Natsu also left an impression so strong that Lucy naturally displayed a remarkable faith/trust in him. Just by hearing his voice she threw herself from a building fully confident Natsu would be there to catch her.

When she was feeling down because of the trouble the guild was going through. Natsu himself kept reassuring Lucy she still had a place with them at Fairy Tail, this bit of emotional support kept building up an attachment to both the guild, as her new family, as well as to Natsu himself.

As they kept going through several adventures and spent more time together, the connection between them became so strong that supplemental material pointed them out at each other’s closest companion, something that still remains true to story and characters

Natsu already felt so close and comfortable around Lucy that he even slept in the same bed, much to her embarrassment of course

But this didn’t scare Lucy away, she still drew closer to Natsu to the point she didn’t even consider taking missions without him, as the “Watch Out for that Guy!” Omake revealed.

In this regard, some omakes played a significant role in putting their development into context. Take for example something we already analyzed: The “Rainbow Cherry Blossom” Omake

Lucy was unable to go and see the rainbow cherry blossoms because she was sick. Instead of enjoying the festival like the rest of his guildmates, Natsu decided to make a great gesture to fulfill her wish of seeing the rainbow cherry blossoms, by uprooting an entire tree just for her

He would later do something similar for Lucy during the 2nd movie. However, at this point, it’s easy to understand how Lucy became so attached to Natsu. This level of closeness it’s what allowed a couple of interesting moments to happen during the battle against Kain and later against Hades.

When they fought Kain and Natsu was temporarily immobilized, Lucy refused to run away from a superior fighter (Kain) and was willing to face death with a smile rather than abandoning Natsu because in her own words: 

“It’s More Fun When We’re Together”. She bravely stood her ground before an overwhelming foe, just because she got to be with Natsu…

Of course, they survived and the battle gets a comedic climax. Nearing the end of the arc, when a bigger team faced Hades and everything seemed dark and hopeless, Lucy’s first instinct was to hold onto Natsu. While scared she sought the person that always made things right for her.

Now, this moment worked for both characters involved for Lucy’s presence reignited his will to keep fighting, which would motivate Lucy and the rest of the team to stand up too. They gave each other the support they needed to go on

This is revisited during the 1st Fairy Tail movie: when Lucy is devastated at the loss of her new friend, the first person she goes to look for some relief and comfort is Natsu himself:

This is further expanded on during the GMG arc where we see how much of an impact they have on each other’s character

One thing that makes NaLu so attractive it’s the fact that all of this build-up makes each character faithful to one another. Actively providing emotional support, and growing closer because of such gestures, is part of the charm of a potent relationship

Something a lot different from what shippers promote: some of them even go as far as portraying Lucy as someone who would cheat on Natsu while being in a relationship with him; and/or Lucy going after Gray or Loke looking for pleasure. And one thing Lucy proved over and over again is that she can be loyal and faithful to someone she cares for very deeply

On the other, there are those who claimed that Natsu wouldn’t care if cheated on him. But according to the manga, he would care. Let us recall the special “The Day of the Fateful Encounter”, even though it was ultimately retconned the story and the portrayal of the characters all come from Mashima

Cana told Lucy she would have a fateful encounter. During the day Lucy meets a boy who later invited her to dinner. Natsu and Happy were preparing a special surprise for her in their next job so when Lucy refuses to go Natsu gets depressed. When Mirajane told Lucy of Natsu/Happy plans she decides to go with them rather than having a dinner with a guy she just met:

The change in Natsu’s expression (at the prospect of Lucy choosing him over that unknown “appointment”) and Lucy’s joy at realizing Natsu was her fateful encounter are the highlights of the ending

So the emotional development in NaLu, as well as their chemistry, prove that they would be faithful to each other and supportive of one another no matter what

Emotional support (LuNa edition)

Original post: February, 2018

One common consensus among non-shippers regarding the relationship between Luffy and Nami was: Luffy is Nami’s emotional anchor.

What’s an anchor? The literal definition would be a device dropped by a chain to the bottom of the sea, to get a firm hold that provides a vessel or a ship with stability despite the motion of the waters.

Why can we conclude Nami sees Luffy as her “anchor”? Because Nami can hold onto Luffy to get emotional stability in the form of hope, comfort, relief, and even strength. Luffy became this to Nami by actively and personally reaching out to her, fighting his way to her heart despite people telling him not to trust her (I know that sounded shippy, but it’s doesn’t mean they’re already in a romantic stage). Until Nami finally gave in and decided to hold onto Luffy for hope, comfort, and strength

After that first time Luffy personally gave Nami relief and comfort during such a hard time, she kept holding onto him on several occasions. Let us remember once again Luffy Vs. Enel round 1

Nami had learned to trust in her captain’s prowess. The moment she panicked didn’t happen because of a lack of faith in Luffy; it happened because she found herself overwhelmed by uncertainty. She was fearing the possible consequences of Luffy beating Enel right there at that very moment.

What was Luffy’s response to Nami’s worries?

In his very own way, through a very familiar gesture, Luffy reassured her she had no reason to panic. For she’s the future Pirate King’s companion. Appealing to their mutual faith/trust, Luffy manages to quell Nami’s fears. He instilled in his navigator confidence and strength. Nami herself would later draw courage from her captain to stand her ground against Enel

Nami progressively grows more and more emotionally attached to Luffy as the story goes on. A remarkable moment happens by the time she finds him before the Aqua Laguna strikes Water 7.

Some perceptive readers could see a clear difference between how determined and tenacious Nami proved to be when facing the task of rescuing Robin.

But as soon as she gets to Luffy, she tearfully opens her heart to express how she honestly felt! As she was revealing the truth behind Robin’s desertion, Nami fully opened herself to her captain

To Luffy, this is a very important matter. One of the reasons why can be easily found in the Arlong Park arc. After Luffy crushes Arlong, Genzo (Nami’s sorta father-like figure) makes Luffy promise something:

Luffy’s final answer to this promise was both subtle and obvious:

So, one of the reasons that motivate Luffy can be summed up as a sense of compromise. One side of Luffy’s character that people don’t see very often.

Becoming Nami’s “emotional anchor” was a choice first. It turned into a compromise the moment Luffy accepted Nami’s smile, her happiness, as his responsibility. A role he can fulfill by providing Nami with comfort, relief, hope, and strength. But in order for Luffy to provide Nami with such emotional support, she must keep up that remarkable trust and unwavering faith she developed for him.

For Luffy, this goes beyond a sense of compromise. Let us remember once again his response to the prospect of Nami doubting him and his capabilities:

A large portion of the emotional narrative Oda cooked for SW revolved around Luffy/Nami bond. So, in this regard, Luffy proved how much of an impact Nami’s perception of his person has on him. This is not just because he has to fulfill a role to keep a promise; now this is more about how Luffy wants Nami to see him. A sign of a strong chemistry developing between these characters

It’s no surprise to those who saw the movie, and read the manga, to see that Nami not only highly appreciates the active and personal efforts Luffy made to ‘keep her smiling’, she also responds to Luffy by putting a similarly great deal of faith/trust in her captain and making it her duty to safely guide him to his next adventures

This is why Nami running to Luffy and opening to share how she felt was something both natural and consistent…

…because Luffy gives her that 'firm hold’ that provides her with the emotional support she needs as they go through hardships

This is one of the reasons why Nami took it so personal when Sanji brutalized Luffy while trash-talking his dreams. He physically and mentally assaulted the source of that strength, support, and comfort she received so many times in the past

While none of this is explicitly romantic, it still holds a much greater value than what some people usually seek in shipping: a relationship based mostly on the fleeting thrill of “sexy” physical interactions rather than a bond nourished by emotional chemistry. While they try to add to their premises this sense of depth, they only accomplish their task by ignoring and/or downgrading what the story portrays as more significant and impactful moments

A deep and meaningful emotional bonding, that grows up naturally, can enhance and improve any potential intimacy between the characters, and it worths a lot more than claims of “sexual tension” or “high sexual drive” headcanons

One Piece Translation Notes: Chapter 889

Original post: December, 2017

Made by swans-anime-ramblings

Ffs guys. Tumblr is THE WORST with failing to upload blogs from mobile. This is take 3 🙄

Anyway, here’s some notable translation differences between Manga Stream and Viz. I’m going to say it every time I upload a translation difference…Manga Stream DOES NOT go for accuracy. Most of their translations are pretty loose. Sometimes this is okay, but it CAN change your reading experience.

I’ve got a couple of noteworthy examples below.

1. Jinbei’s explanation of Mink powers

The Manga Stream translation is clunky, awkward and not as a clear.

Mangastream:

Viz:

2. Sanji’s thoughts about Nami.

So the difference isn’t ginormous, but MS does read a bit more “shippy” if that makes sense. I’ve noticed MS makes EVERYTHING seem more shippy, so if you’re reading the manga looking for hints for your OTP, keep that in mind.

So for this section, Sanji is concerned about Nami (i.e remember when he tells Luffy he was upset his actions put Nami in danger) but I feel like Viz reads more like, ‘Holy Shit! There’s a Yonkou chasing the Sunny. Be safe until I bring the cake Nami!” And less like, “I’m almost there for our glorious reunion!” You might disagree. That’s fine.

Also, MS made Chiffon’s statement to Bege way less personal for some reason. Not sure what’s up with that.

Mangastream:

Viz:

3. Jinbei’s final order

So with this section, the meaning behind what Jinbei said was translated accurately, but not the way he said it.

MS translates everything so casually it spills into how characters talk. Jinbei talks quite formally. In fact, the OP anime dub has Jinbei speaking without contractions. He says “do not” instead of “don’t”. I feel Jinbei’s way of speaking is lost here. I don’t think he’d ever say, “we might have to ditch the ship” as if he has no regard for Sunny.

Just something to think about.

Mangastream:

Viz:

And that’s all I got for this week’s chapter. And as always, support the official release if you’re eligible and able! You get a lot for what you pay for.

If you’d like something clarified, just ask! I’ve had my subscription since December 2017. 😁

Nalu Development: Natsu’s change in attitude towards Lucy

Original post: July, 2014

Made by jhayni-in-the-rain

From the start, Natsu has appreciated Lucy. When she fed him and Happy at Hargeon, he thought she was kind. When Taurus saved them all from plummeting to their doom at Mt. Hakobe, he realized she was trustworthy and useful. When Gajeel was astounded that the bunny girl could fight, Natsu was unsurprised.

However, Natsu used to interact with Lucy in ways he wouldn’t now. Both used to be rougher with each other.

Natsu’s recognition of Lucy as a good partner did not prevent him from calling her useless when she failed to get a job as a maid in Everlue’s mansion:

And in Edolas he pointed out that she wasn’t the most reliable of mages.

More recently, though, Natsu has shown nothing but appreciation for Lucy as a combatant.

In Tenrou, he did not complain when her magic failed during their fight with Kain.

At the GMG, he told her she’d been incredible even though she lost to Flare.

And his FACE when Minerva called Lucy “useless trash”.

Natsu–nor any one else on her team–did not blame Lucy for losing to Minerva. It was Lucy herself who felt badly about it, and the others who provided reassurance.

And Natsu’s been very considerate of Lucy since Alegria, acknowledging her awesomeness and telling her to rest while he and others took care of the Gates.

In Fantasia, Natsu had no problems sparring with Lucy (she refused):

And, after Edolas, he punched her in his sleep (he was dreaming about fighting Gray).

I can’t imagine that happening now, even accidentally. Natsu’s more careful with Lucy in general since the timeskip. Erza’s the one who’s borne the brunt of accidental punching (beginning AND end of the Sun Village arc).

Natsu’s a physical guy, and physical comedy is a part of Nalu. It’s taken a slightly different form post-timeskip. You’ll get boob squashes and tumbling around in a bell and Natsu picking Lucy playfully up in the pool. But I don’t think he’d want to fight her.

If Natsu ever hurt Lucy, I think it would a serious, “he’s taken leave of his senses” scene, not a comedic one.

During Fantasia, when Laxus threatened a petrified Lucy with a lightning bolt, Natsu didn’t even comment on it. (I’ve always thought Fantasia to be one of the lowest points of Nalu development).

Granted, Natsu thought Laxus was bluffing, but I can’t imagine him being so chill about it now. Here’s his reaction when Arcadios mentioned needing a Celestial Spirit mage for the Eclipse project:

When the minister arrested Lucy, Natsu had to be tied up to prevent him from rushing off to rescue her. The Kingdom wasn’t threatening to execute her. Compared to Laxus throwing lightning around, this was a lesser threat to Lucy’s personal safety. Yet Natsu took it more seriously.

In the past, Mashima has brought Natsu and Lucy together in some improbable ways. But recently I have the feeling that Natsu is intentionally tracking with Lucy. He’s not obvious about it. He won’t cling to her, and he’s fine leaving her in a safe place. But he’s showing more concern for her welfare, and wants to be near her.

At Mt. Hakobe, Natsu was perfectly happy for Lucy to return home instead of accompanying him on his rescue mission.

But soon after that, he invited her to team up with him and Happy, and has reaffirmed their partnership several times.

His attitude has gone from “Go on home” to this:

Let’s also consider the Nalu omakes.

The earliest one, Watch Out for That Guy, was more of an anti-Nalu one. Lucy thought Natsu was all set to confess his love to her, but it turned out all he wanted was her help in pulling a prank.

But since that time, we’ve had a string of Nalu omakes where Natsu has made thoughtful, even romantic, gestures towards Lucy.

He gave her flowers (still attached to the tree); remembered the anniversary of her joining the guild, which she herself didn’t remember; and was shown to be treasuring keepsakes from their missions together. And in the latest one, Natsu was willing to kiss her, even leaning in for one, although Lucy put up a Happy-barrier between them at the last moment.

One last comparison:

Remember how at Mt. Hakobe, Lucy was freezing and Natsu wouldn’t give her his scarf/blanket (the Kodansha translation says scarf, btw)?

When they return from Edolas and it’s cold and raining, you see Lucy wearing the cloak Natsu had worn as Demon Lord Dragneel.

I don’t think she had to beg him for it this time.

Likewise, Lucy’s attitude towards Natsu has changed for the better. I love the way they’ve subtly, slowly gotten closer.

Nalu Development: Let's form a team

Original post: April, 2014

Made by jhayni-in-the-rain

Natsu brought Lucy to Fairy Tail, but it was not with the intention of teaming up with her. He was more interested in stuffing his face than in her new guild mark, called her Luigi instead of Lucy, and appeared unaffected by her cuteness.

When Lucy invited herself on his rescue mission to Mt. Hakobe, Natsu was more suspicious than overjoyed.

When she complained about the snowstorm, he said she was loud. When she wanted to return to Magnolia, he told her to go right ahead.

But then Taurus saved them all from plunging to their doom at Mt. Hakobe, and Natsu decided that Lucy was nice, useful, and trustworthy after all.

Natsu never does things by halves. Once he decided Lucy was his team mate, that’s the way he persisted in thinking of her, even when she declared their partnership was over.

He wanted them to eat together as a team before their mission.

After Daybreak, he said it was her turn to pick the next job for all of them.

Then he wanted to go on an S-class job with her.

It very quickly got to the point where Lucy wouldn’t go on a job without him and/or Happy.

The one time that Natsu refused to take Lucy with him was when he was trying hard to be chosen as a candidate for the S-class exam:

The exam divided the guild mates, with two-person teams competing against each other. But after Grimoire Heart attacked and Natsu and Lucy met up again, I think it especially sweet that he invited her to reform their team:

And when Natsu was ready to take on Hades, he wanted Lucy and Happy with him again, over all the other people at base camp, including the more powerful Freed and Bixlow.

Then there’s also how Natsu views going on a job with Lucy as a way to cheer her up or celebrate.

It’s the one-year anniversary of Lucy joining the guild? Let’s go on a job.

She found out her father died, and is feeling blue? Natsu brings work to help her take mind off it (and help pay her back rent).

They’re babysitting a six-year-old? Let’s do some easy jobs! (Okay, that one was Asuka’s idea, but still they end up working together… ;).

Going on missions with Lucy is so important to Natsu that he keeps souvenirs of their adventures.

Other people also put them on teams together. Mira asked Lucy to tag along during Lullaby and keep Natsu and Gray from fighting. Makarov selected them both to be part of the alliance to take down the OS, members of Fairy Tail Team A, and then on a team with Wendy, Charle, and (of course) Happy to go protect an ex-councilor.

And, notably, once Natsu took himself OFF a team in order to go rescue Lucy. He had no hesitation and no regrets doing so. Getting Lucy out of prison was more important to him than competing on that last day of the GMG.

Their last fight against Franmalth shows what a great team they make.

Here’s to Lucy and Natsu having many more adventures together!

Nalu Development: Lucy’s change in attitude toward Natsu

Original post: March, 2014

Made by jhayni-in-the-rain

Lucy has, overall, grown into a softer, kinder person. She’s not as screechy as she used to be.

So the softening of her attitude toward Natsu, by itself, doesn’t prove she’s developed romantic feelings for him.

Think of this post as a small piece of the whole Nalu story. The things Natsu does that used to annoy her don’t bother Lucy as much anymore.

The first time Natsu and Happy invaded her apartment, Lucy’s reaction was (justifiably) violent.

After that, her response to the housebreakers ranged from annoyed scolding to annoyed resignation.

Then along came one of my favorite omakes, Welcome to Natsu’s House. Lucy enters their house in order to exact her revenge on them for all the times they barged into her place.

Their place is an utter mess. But to Lucy’s surprise, Natsu’s keeping souvenirs of the missions the three of them did together. Lucy is so touched by this, she cleans Natsu and Happy’s house for them. And then she waits and waits for them to come home.

They don’t show and, discouraged and lonely, Lucy returns home.

To no one’s surprise but her own, Natsu and Happy are fast asleep in her apartment.

After her initial exclamation, Lucy smiles, exhales, and remarks how much she’s gotten used to the way they are. She saw firsthand that day how much they treasure the time she spent with them, and experienced the emptiness of waiting for someone who doesn’t show up.

I think that omake came out while the Tenrou arc was happening. It’s also the last time we’ve seen Natsu and Happy invading Lucy’s place in the manga.

Another change is how Lucy views Natsu’s destructive tendencies. At Hargeon, she found him amazing, but to her horror, he destroyed most of the port.

During Daybreak, she forbade him from taking the mansion by storm and insisted they be sneaky and quiet. (It didn’t work.)

She still thinks he goes overboard, but Lucy’s used to it now. In the Tartarus arc, after he dealt Jackal a final blow, she teased him about how he’d destroyed half the town. It’s a different reaction from all the times she used to screech at him for that sort of behavior.

When Natsu punched the annoying ex-councilor, she didn’t yell at him like she would’ve several arcs ago. Instead she closed her eyes and sighed. (She was probably glad that Natsu did knock out Michello).

And when Natsu pulled that over-the-top prank at the royal banquet, coming out dressed in the king’s clothes, her horrified response quickly changed to amusement. She even winked.

I think Lucy no longer sees Natsu as a powerful yet goofy guy who often needs correction. Not only is he now her close friend and protector, but he’s actually kinda… cool.

MY TAKE ON NALU THIS ARC (Tartaros)

Original post: July, 2014

Made by jhayni-in-the-rain

…so far.

Nalu shippers, we are really lucky because we get to see our OTP interact so much. Shipping moments aside, I love seeing Natsu and Lucy together.

Like at the beginning of this arc, as they’re on a team with Wendy and two Exceeds:

Look at how Mashima drew Natsu and Lucy standing so close together. It’s like he knows that Nalu shippers will edit that mangacap and squee over it, or something. ;)

But, in all seriousness, this is a team of competent, determined mages facing a big threat. Gray and Erza, being powerhouses, have split off to be on other teams. Lucy and Wendy, not being as combat-experienced or skilled, are with Natsu. It’s not a shipping moment, but teamwork is a big part of Natsu and Lucy’s overall relationship.

But we’re here to talk about Nalu.

Let’s start from Lucy’s side.

There is no doubt in my mind that Lucy was angry and upset when Jackal’s curse took Natsu down, and that she was concerned and determined to rescue him when he was captured by Tartaros.

But there have been some moments that Mashima could’ve used to advance Nalu the ship, but he declined to do so.

First is when Natsu is captured by Tartaros. Lucy is worried, but her reaction is more… muted than one would expect from someone with romantic feelings. Think about how Juvia would’ve responded had Gray been the one captured. Even accounting for differences in personalities, I think Lucy would’ve been more agitated if she was thinking of Natsu in a romantic light.

Second is when Natsu tells Lucy and Happy to think of what’s important to them, to keep Franmalth from absorbing their souls. Notice how Lucy picks groups, not individuals: the guild, her friends, the Celestial Spirits. She doesn’t single anyone out, unlike Happy who goes for, “Charle and fish. Charle and fish.”

Third is when Lucy is fighting off demons right, left, and center, during Alegria. When she fights, she’s again, not thinking of anyone in particular. She’s fighting for all her friends. Everyone keeps saving her in a pinch, so now it’s her turn to save them. 

Let me add a little bit of contrast. In two other battles this arc, we’ve had characters think particularly about Natsu and his influence on them. Read Wendy’s battle with Ezel and take note of how many times she thinks of Natsu. He’s her role model of what a dragon slayer should be like.

Then there’s Gray, who’s reminded of Natsu stopping him from using Iced Shell at Galuna. Natsu is Gray’s friend, his rival, his team mate, an almost-brother.

(Before anyone can point this out, yes, I did notice Lucy’s thought about Jackal: “Even Natsu had his hands full fighting him.” But that was a statement of fact rather than her being motivated by him.)

Let’s move on to Natsu’s side.

When Natsu thinks about what’s most important to him, it’s seeing Igneel again. That’s entirely appropriate. His search for Igneel is what brought him to Hargeon and into Lucy’s path in the first place. This is unfinished business from the past he needs to take care of before he can look toward the future.

Lucy and Natsu’s other relationships are very important. That’s one of the things I love about them!

Natsu is not over-protective of Lucy. He will leave her side to do other things (like go after Mira and Erza). Mashima is fond of bringing them together again, often in unlikely ways. WHAT A COINCIDENCE that Kain sent Lucy flying right into the middle of Natsu’s confrontation with Ultear! WHAT A COINCIDENCE that a dragon threw Lucy right into Natsu from across the city!

But this arc I sense that Natsu is intentionally tracking with Lucy.

After Wendy healed him, he went right after Lucy and Jackal.

While on his way to find Mira, he detoured to rescue Lucy and Happy from Franmalth. Chances are he smelled them and came to get them *first*.

During Alegria, he and Lucy tried so hard to catch each other’s hands and stay together.

And once Natsu was free of Alegria, the first thing he did was find Lucy.

Since then, Natsu’s been nothing but considerate and caring of Lucy:

He doesn’t need to make flowery speeches. Just a few words from him, and Lucy’s all soft and blushing. (Admit it, girl, he makes you melt into a gooey puddle, doesn’t he?). His praise and care mean A LOT to her. And note how everyone else feels it’s Natsu’s responsibility to say those things to her.

Lucy’s generally softened attitude towards Natsu is on display throughout this arc. She teased him about going overboard in the town when he was fighting Jackal. She was delighted when he showed up in the nick of time. And while she was upset over him hitting Taurus, she didn’t screech at him. Even when Natsu went off on the tangent about Wendy and Charle not being rats, she wasn’t impatient with him.

So, this is where we are.

In the last two big arcs (GMG/Eclipse and Tenrou), Nalu has started off small to non-existent and then intensified toward the end. Crossing my fingers for Tartaros to be the same.

However, I don’t see Mashima pushing Nalu development as hard as he did Gruvia’s. When I saw all those Gruvia moments from Gray’s side–like the hand-on-shoulder at the GMG and hand-clasp earlier this arc–I knew he was preparing Gruvia for something big soon.

And that was in the Father and Son mini-arc.

I don’t get the same sense of urgency for Nalu, though I fear bad things are going to happen to Natsu–and maybe even Lucy if I’m right about Marde’s interest in the summoner capable of calling the Celestial Spirit King.

So, my thought is that we’ll see more Nalu moments, bringing Lucy and Natsu closer together, but we’re not going to hit the peak of the Nalu relationship this arc.

Thoughts? Comments? A different interpretation of these events?