Steven Grant got to know that Layla like French poems and French language and hasn’t stopped talking to her in that language ever since. Talk about being obsessed with your other personality’s wife! Although I’m a little confused about how this dynamic would work eventually, is she THEIR wife now or just marc’s, like how do you separate this thing?!! I wonder if people with DID get married or live with different personalities
Khonsu and Ma’at are interesting because their images coincide greatly with the appearance of other Gods. Knowing how to identify Khonsu from the images of Osiris and Horus can be helpful, as well as being able to tell Ma’at and Isis apart.
Khonsu
Khonsu, like many Gods, had two different forms including one with a human head and one with a falcon head.
The main way to tell if an image is representing Khonsu is by looking for the lunar disk. While he is in falcon form, this disk is essentially the only thing separating him from being Horus or Ra. Generally, however, Khonsu is represented as a young child with green skin, wrapped in mummification linens and bearing the sidelock of youth in his hair. His symbols include the crook and flail, so you will often see that as well. His human form is certainly similar to that of Osiris but the differences are thusly; Osiris has a beard, Khonsu does not. Osiris is almost always shown wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt, whereas Khonsu is shown with a lunar disk representing the full and crescent moon. Khonsu also has a sidelock hairstyle whereas Osiris has no hair showing.
Khonsu’s falcon form is nearly identical to Horus and Ra so the only thing you need to look for to identify them is for the crown. If it’s the solar disk with the uraeus snake it’s Ra, if it is the double crown of upper and lower Egypt then it’s Horus, and if it’s the lunar disk, it’s Khonsu.
As a reminder, this is what the solar disk with the uraeus looks like:
If you are looking at a large wall inscription, you may also come across Khonsu’s name in hieroglyphs:
Ma’at
Ma’at is similar in representation to Isis. Both are well-known images of ancient Egypt, but few people realize they are posting Ma’at when they want to be posting Isis, and vice versa.
She is represented with her wings spread; very similar to Isis. The image above is Ma’at, and the image below is Isis.
So the main difference here is not the hair––that’s something that changes from art piece to art piece––it’s again, the crown that they wear. Isis is represented with the Throne of Egypt on her head; it’s part of her name in hieroglyphs, whereas Ma’at is represented with the feather of truth on her head. This is a big thing to notice! Both crowns are instrumental in the characters of Isis and Ma’at, and confusing them is to confuse Goddesses who don’t have much to do with one another.
Funnily enough, there is yet another Goddess shown with spread wings. Hathor is also sometimes represented in this way, but to know when it’s her, you again look at the crown. Hathor almost always wears the crown of the cow she represents, whose horns hold up the solar disk. Here’s a quick image so you know what Hathor’s crown looks like.
Going back to Ma’at, there are very few images of her. She had no temples built for her and few worshippers, simply because she was an intrinsic part of the universe, and worship of any other God was based around her powers of calming the chaos of primordial waters.
Like most words and titles in Egyptian hieroglyphs, there were a few different ways to record Ma’at’s name. One is shortened, but I’ve included both long and short versions below.
It has been a while since you saw Steven and Marc, knowing they had unfinished business with Harrow. But the longer they’ve been gone, the more you worry they won’t return. (1.4k)
some mentions of violence, kinda fluff, kinda angst idk
Sitting in the flat, your eyes wandered from the pages in front of you to the lonely goldfish swimming around in his tank. “I know, Gus.” You sigh, closing the book and leaving it on the small coffee table, piling it on top of the various books you’ve been reading in a feeble attempt to keep your mind occupied.
It has been a week since you last saw Steven, and well Marc in turn.
Marc barely told you anything, knowing you’d only worry and rightfully so. He kept Steven at bay, despite his protests when wanting to at least say goodbye, knowing more about what this would entail and that they might not return.
“Come on, Marc. Let me say goodbye to her, at least.” Steven pleads, brows deeply furrowed at the sight of your confused expression.
“So you’re going somewhere, and won’t even let me know where or when you’ll be back?” You question, crossing your arms in annoyance and rightfully so.
You’d known about Marc as long as Steven had, and though it hasn’t been an easy transition in your relationship, you were learning to embrace it as Steven was. Yet, despite this, Marc was still secretive about certain aspects, including his missions with Khonshu.
Marc huffs loudly, turning his back on you and facing Steven in his reflection. “It’s for your own good.” He states to both of you. “I’ll be back soon, just keep Gus alive.”
Without another word or chance for you to see Steven, Marc picks up his bags and places the spare key in your palm. He closes your fingers over it and squeezes lightly before walking out, leaving you alone with a whirlwind of thoughts.
Since that day, you stayed at their flat. Initially, you told yourself it was for Gus’ sake, he was always used to the company and didn’t want him to go without. However, as days turned to nights you realised you just wanted to see them come home safe and more importantly, alive.
Flicking through channels on the small TV, you could barely focus as the moonlight blared through the old windows. “Fuck you, Khonshu.” You mutter, curling up into the arm of the sofa, closing your eyes and imagine it was Steven holding you in his warm embrace, or even Marc on a softer occasion.
A loud scream causes you to stir from your attempt at sleep. You reach for the nearest object, which happens to be a hardback book and hold it up to your chest for defence. “Okay,” Muttering to yourself you try to control how fast your heart is beating from the abrupt awakening.
Another noise sounds, yet it isn’t a scream from the streets below. Instead, it is coming from outside of the flat.
“Shit.” Lowering the book momentarily, you scan the sofa for your phone, hoping that Marc and Steven, wherever they are still have their phones at least.
With shaky hands, you try to type out a message, unsure of what good it’ll do. ’someone’s here.’ Is all you manage to type before sending the message when footsteps approach the front door, that awful creaking floorboard that sits outside of the flat causes your ears to perk in fear.
The doorknob continues to rattle, causing your fear to spike as you desperately search for a potential weapon. “Fuck.” You whisper, tears now forming in your eyes whilst you scramble around toward the kitchen for a knife.
Quickly grabbing one, you freeze at the sound of the lock clicking.
A tear falls from one of your eyes as those hinges creak for a second before slamming open against the doorframe. A series of books fall to the ground, muffling your gasp as you cover your mouth, trying to hide in the corner of the kitchen.
Entering the flat, three men with hoods stand in the doorway. Each of them eyeing the contents, you hear them muttering to one another.
“Search everything.” One speaks up, the other two nodding in agreement as they step further into the flat and begin to pull books from the shelves, bedding from the mattress and inching toward your hiding spot.
With your eyes remaining tightly shut, each ruckus causes you to flinch. ‘Please ignore me.’ Mentally you repeat the sentence, hoping you’re the least of their priorities as they ransack the place.
Then it goes quiet.
Too quiet.
“What do we 'ave here?” One of them pipes up, the other two standing beside with sinister smirks as they spot you quivering, eyes still closed, wishing for it to all be a nightmare.
Stepping toward you, the leader of the trio kneels in front of you. His fingers glide across your cheek, hearing you whimper in fear as you apprehensively open your eyes.
“Hi, beautiful.” He chuckles, quickly noticing the knife in your grip, almost useless. “Now, we don’t wanna cause any harm here, do we boys?” Looking over his shoulder, the others shake their heads teasingly. “We are looking for Marc Spector,” The man leans closer, brushing your hair from your ears and whispers. “know where he is, sweetheart?”
You can’t help but shudder as his breath fans your neck, hating how defenceless you feel. “No.” You answer.
The man rises to his feet with a sharp breath. “Sadly sweetheart, that isn’t the correct answer.”
Before you can even glance upwards, a foot plummets into your ribs, causing you to keel over into a fetal position. “You fucker!” You cry out, the knife you once held discarded beside you.
“Now, wanna try that again?” Another steps forward, cracking his fists in eagerness.
“I don’t know where he is.” Again, answering truthfully.
Bringing your knees closer to your chest, you force yourself upright, leaning against the kitchen cabinets. “He wouldn’t tell me shit, so good luck with whatever you’re trying here.” You laugh weakly, the pain from your ribs increasing by the second.
The leader merely hums. “You’re his womanthough.”
“His woman?” You remark, scoffing. “What decade are you in dude?”
That comment lands you a punch in the face, a searing pain you struggle to comprehend. Silence ensues from you whilst they converse, unaware of your eyes drooping or the sound of the floorboards outside creaking.
*
“Come on, come on, Y/n.” A hand gentle taps your cheek, a voice you know and seek comfort in. “I know you’re in there, come on, please.” He mutters, bringing you into his lap.
Uneasily, you begin to open your eyes. “Marc?” You mumble, groggy from the dull pain in your face and ribs as you shift, only to be shushed in response.
“I wouldn’t move, love.” Steven comments, his soft smile easing your discomfort. “And I wouldn’t look around either, someone got carried away.”
“I didn’t get carried away.” Marc rolls his eyes. “Someone else did.”
Furrowing your brows in confusion, Marc helps bring you closer into his chest, keeping your back turned to the three lifeless bodies strawn the flat. “I’ll explain everything, I promise.” Marc tells you softly, his hand still palmed on your cheek, feeling your tears coated with dried blood.
“We’re really sorry, Y/n.” Steven tells you, tears brimming in his eyes at the sight of you all bloodied up. “Marc knows now, he, he should’ve explained everything.” He stumbles over his words, feeling the lump in his throat rising further up.
Lifting your hand up weakly, you rest it on his cheek with a gentle smile. “I know,” You mutter. “he’s got a lot of explaining to do.” A weak laugh passes through your lips, easing Steven’s pained expression. “Thank you though.”
“You’re our girl, doll.” Marc regards with a light shrug, his hand now resting on your waist lightly, not wanting to risk hurting you. “It’s what we do for the girl we love.” He admits, unable to stop the words from falling.
Feeling Marc tense up, you lean back in his embrace. “You falling for me, Spector?” You tease knowingly, and before he can respond, you lean closer to his lips. “'Cause I might be falling for you too.”
Internally, Steven is clapping his hands in excitement whilst Marc mentally freezes, leaving Jake to front momentarily.
“He’s happy to know, mi amor.” Jake chuckles, watching you tilt back in pure bewilderment. “Allow me to introduce myself, the creator of that mess, Jake Lockley, Princessa.”
It’s Halloween. No, it’s the Halloween beforeShin Megami Tensei V. That means it’s time to remember Kazuma Kaneko. He was a good artist before he was KILLED. Yes, that’s right. He was MURDERED. If you’ve seen him recently it was just a body double. Once Kaneko became old and worthless, Masayuki Doi touched the barrel of a gun to the back of his head execution style, said, “Move over for a new generation, motherfucker,” and pulled the trigger. Kaneko’s brains splattered all over his PC. Doi fucking blew his brains out. Brains. That’s a Halloween thing. Like zombies. Spooky.
Have fun this holiday season comparing details of the above images!
KHONSU: Damn, this fun Halloween mummy is doing a “Vogue” (ヴォーギング) move as popularized by Madonna! Kaneko cites the famous ‘Vogue Dance’ as inspiring Khonsu’s fabulous pose here, illustrated by this model working it in approximate fashion. Man, mummies are scary, like Halloween! This crib is a fucking slam dunk!
GIRIMEKHALA: 32-bit-era Giri is influenced by the 1969 Toei animation The Wonderful World of Puss in Bootsandits Lucifer’s brief appearance as an elephant. Evil elephant, evil source influence I suppose. Giri builds upon details like Lucifer’s spiky crown and skull pendant!
LHAM DEARG: This supremely Scottish ghost is based on supremely French actor Christopher Lambert in his iconic role as THE HIGHLANDER (1986)! Lham Dearg has clearly met a grisly end on the battlefield, but Connor MacLeod is eternal except in the cartoon where he dies almost instantly.
ARTEMIS/DIANA: De-nippled for your protection! It’s common knowledge that these two are take-offs of the Artemis of Ephesus statues. However, it’s no longer believed that those statues’ multitudinous prominences are breasts but rather ornaments such as bull testicles or gourds. So honestly, the de-nippled Artemis and Diana are more accurate… if you’re thinking bull testicles.
We all knew for a while that there was a third personality (the fight with Harrow followers in Kairo, the red sarcophagus, the glimpses here and there). But the moment Khonsu said he will release them both I knew he knew too. And that he had no plans to release Jake Lockley.
I’ve been travelling a lot recently (work and holidays) and I’m swamped at work so I took a hiatus from here (I was watching things but I was to tired to write about them) but the Moon Knight ended and I have thoughts.
I suspected it for a while but it became clear last episode that just like WandaVision was about love and grief this show was about forgiveness and self-worth.
The whole story was framed by two deities who judge people for their sins and judge them harshly. They represent justice and retribution - in Khonsu’s case for the past deeds only but in Ammit’s both for sins past and future. And this leads to a pretty cool dual confrontation between both the gods and their avatars. I think it was one of better final showdowns of MCU (especially for the TV side), especially the Kaiju god version but that part was really a fun distraction from the main thing.
After all the real judgment that matter was that on Marc Spector and the judging wasn’t done by any god (not even Taweret using Anubis’ scales) - it was by Marc himself. The same abuse that lead to his DID is one that left him feeling unworthy.
His mother blamed him for the death of his brother and his father was not really stopping any of it - just explaining her behaviour and so justifying it. Marc would’ve blamed himself in the best circumstances but in these he could never think of himself as anything but worthless. So he made Steven Grant - based on his childhood hero and connection to his brother and better life - to be worthy. The kind of person he would want to be - dutiful, nice and therefore loved - and retreated to him when things got too hard. And when his mother died and he realised he will never receive forgiveness he just let Steven be the one living the real life since he had one free of the guilt.
But he couldn’t just retreat completely. The weight of guilt has already trapped him in servitude to Khonsu. It was another case of failure to save people - he couldn’t stop the archaeologists get murdered - and this time the guilt almost made him commit suicide. And at this low moment he was taken advantage of under a guise of being saved. Still, even being injected with someone else’s purpose could only last so long.
Because his mother dies and Steven judges him and finally Layla learns about this failure and she blames him. She’s sad and angry because he lied about her father’s death and she feels used and she is right but it only confirms Mark’s belief about being unworthy - both of love and life. And then he just doesn’t have the strength to fight any more. He just stands there and lets Harrow shoot him and it’s not that different from suicide.
And then he’s ready to let his ghosts drag him to Duat because he feels he deserves it. Deep down it feels like he deserved it all - his mother’s abuse, Khonsu using him, and now being judged unworthy. This what he has been taught for so long. This was Harrow was using to break him by turning people around him against him. It’s clearly his heart that’s dragging them all down. It’s all his own fault.
It takes Steven to show him different by fighting for him. Steven who judged him unworthy since he learnt about Marc. Who is the normal, moral person and can’t justify the violence that Marc commits even for justice. The worthy part of their system.
Because Steven is also compassion and understanding. Justice is not be all end all. At least not the revenge based one. This is the lesson that made Malazan Books of the Fallen so cathartic and this show is not that - six episodes of a TV show cannot measure to 10 pretty big books - but it’s the same message.
Steven can look at the abuse, at the bargain with Khonsu and even at RoRo’s death and see them for what they really are. He sees what Marc’s guilt cannot let him to see. He was used and abused - but he still matters. And he is worth fighting for. And Steven tells him that but words can barely make a difference when you’ve believed in lies for so long. It takes action and sacrifice. And it takes actually getting to paradise for Marc to believe it.
Marc gets to the Field of Reeds because Steven believed he was worth fighting for. That he was worthy of getting there. And then Marc can show Steven was right when he goes back to him.
I wrote multiple time in The Good Place threads how I think people in Paradise can never bee truly good when they let others being condemned to hell because knowingly leaving others to suffer is evil so I’ll skip the details now as this is already too long. But it felt so good when Marc went back for Steven. This is true redemption - because Steven might’ve been another one Marc failed to save but he didn’t stop trying and that what matters. Humans are fallible and all we can do is try our best and Marc has shown to us, gods and Steven but most importantly to himself that he tries to do his best.
And with his best and the people who love and support him he can save the world. And find freedom form the guilt that was destroying him. He can finally forgive himself.
But then there is Jake. Of course Steven wasn’t the only defence mechanism. Steven was what Marc wanted to be but Jake was what kept them alive. When the abuse got to hard for even Marc to handle Jake would take care of it. And whoever stood in Jake’s way clearly deserved what they got. Because justice must be served and anyone standing in the way is guilty by association.
The three personalities represent the three ways of justice - Steven is compassion, Marc is redemption but Jake, Jake is retribution. The old gods’ kind of justice. No wonder he and Khonsu are friends.
• The scene where Marc goes back to save Steven from the Duat is incredibly sweet. I loved it.
• Yes, most of us called Jake Lockley being revealed at the end. That being said, I’m interested if only he still has access to the suit, or if Steven or Marc can still summon it.
• What exactly triggers Jake taking over? Is it when Marc/Steven are in the most physical danger and need his help? Is it something to do with their heartbeat? Marc/Steven’s heart was beating super hard when Jake emerged this episode. I think I recall it doing the same before they regained consciousness to find they had stabbed all the guys who abducted them from the marketplace in Egypt.
• Is Layla going to change her mind about wanting to be an avatar only temporarily? I’d love her to continue in the role. That interaction with her and the little girl was adorable.
• Will the other gods choose new avatars, or did what Harrow did to their current ones harm them as well somehow?
• Did Osiris only save Steven and Marc, or did he release all the people Ammit prematurely condemned back to their bodies? Did he at least stop those people from being trapped in the Duat, thereby giving them a chance to earn the field of reeds for themselves? If Osiris only made an exception for Marc and Steven, that feels pretty shitty.
• Will we get an über wealthy alter like Marc is in the comics? The license plate on the car at the end kind of leads me to believe so. Or was that just me?
I’m praying that the show gets a 2nd season, because I still have so many lingering questions that I don’t think could be addressed well with Moon Knight only being a side character in a big ensemble film.
How can they not continue after this ending? I think the one and done was a lie to make us believe Khonsu really released them from being his avatar but I knew he would keep Jake the moment he said “release both of you” and now we know it’s not the end.
If you offer him liquor, make sure it’s one you can handle because you are now 100% doing shots with the moon. There’s no ‘i take a sip and pour out the rest’. He once told me to cut gin with fucking wine because it was the closest thing to juice in the house. I had to beg him to not do that.
