Parenthetical.net

That little icon over there refers to what I’ve been calling the “Secular Humanist Hippie Stamp of Approval.” As I think you’ll all agree, that doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. I’ve developed sort of an obsession with this concept, though, so I decided it needs an icon.

Here’s the deal: I’m tired of fantasies in which the character Has a Destiny. Not that destinies are necessarily boring — Buffy is all about coming to terms with her destiny, and anyone who knows me knows my eternal love for that show. But it’s too easy to make destiny a character’s only motivation: “But you must, sir, for you are the heir to the throne / all seventh sons of seventh sons have great power / when you were born it was prophesied that you would defeat Lord Voldemort.” …Or, you know, whatever.

So as an antidote to the “blood is destiny and prophecies are inescapable” style of fantasy, I give you the Anti-Destiny Icon, for fantasy protagonists who start out ordinary, or who have a destiny and buck it somehow. And I have a couple of reviews to slap it on, coming right up. Wooo!

Now it just needs a name. I called it “Destiny Slash” in the alt-text, but that sounds like Spike and Xander being unable to avoid the prophecy that they will someday consummate their passion. Which, um, isn’t the concept I’m going for. Help me out, guys — name that icon!