#{the master of red} (shintaro)

[twinxmasters-archived]

@remunporium

continued from here.

"Well, let me think..."

"Oh, Mizuki likes fighting games. Street Fighter 6 came out at the beginning of the month. If you don't mind splurging for her, she'd probably like that if she doesn't already have it."

"As for me... Well, Mizuki's been keeping up the guitar lessons for a lot longer than I thought she would, so I thought I'd pick up something from the music store. Reasonably priced, obviously."

Shintaro flicks a few coins of yen at the Herrscher.

"By the way, no portaling ourselves into the middle of a shopping district on a weekend. We're taking the subway there."

[galvatream]

 So, Kai and Nya, these two have more to their pre-war backstory then the others largely due to their involvement in the lead up to the war, anyway, unlike in the show, they are twins and emerged from the Well of All Sparks sharing a split spark, for those none transformer fans, a split spark is a concept from the Aligned Continuity, specifically from Transformers Prime where a spark splits in two, creating twins.

Anyway, when they emerged from the Well, they were given the designations K41 and N42 and assigned to word in the Mines of Kaon where it was their job repair malfunctioning and broken mining equipment, during their time there, they learned the intricacies of machinery and befriend one of the miners who went by the designation D16.

The two agreed with D16’s views on Cybertron’s current political environment and how unjust the current system was, you see, Cybertron operated under a class system before the war, and both Kai and Nya were members of the low class. Though they agreed with D16’s views, they did not think it was possible to bring about any change.

Well, over the years, they watched as their superiors abused their power until they eventually witnessed D16 start a revolution when one of their guards executed a fellow worker, the two of them stood by their friend and as a result, were pursued into Kaon’s criminal underworld where they vanished.

So, they spent a bit of time running, and Kai and Nya begun understanding how weaponry worked, eventually, they found jobs at the local gladiatorial arena, and created many different weapons, D16 eventually entered as a combatant in the fights.

Anyway, after they spent years creating all sorts of weaponry and fighting in the arena themselves, a time in which they adopted the new names of Red Shogun and Samurai X, accompanied their friend, D16, now calling himself Megatronus, as his bodyguards during various meetings and rallies he held.

Anyway, skip forward a few years, they would be present alongside their friend, now having shortened his name to Megatron, when he confronted the council of his plans for change, they would gift him their greatest creation before this meeting, a heavily customised Fusion Cannon. Well, the meeting didn’t go well and the war began shortly afterwards with both Kai and Nya siding with their friend.

The two would earn a reputation as being formidable generals of the Decepticons, commanding their legions from Darkmount and lunching assaults on the region of Ninjago, taking control of vast swathes of land including Shintaro, Stix and Ouroboros. Well, about halfway through the war, the two, after a meeting with Garmadon, eventually realised that the Decepticons had fallen far from their original goal and defected to the Autobots, leaving their chief lieutenant, Harumi, to take over.

Upon their defection, they adopted the names Kai and Nya and put their skills as the Elemental Masters of Fire and at the time, Liquid Helium, to use for the side of good. They helped fight The Overlord when he was freed from his prison and helped upgrade the Bounty’s weapon systems. Now, the ninja initially assumed the two had trained under Garmadon due to their ruthless fighting style, you see, Kai and Nya fought as they did as gladiators, using their elemental powers and every dirty trick they knew to win a fight, different to the style used by the Ninja.

Well, when it was revealed that they were former Decepticons, such information revealed by Harumi, some mistrust did emerge, but it was largely Jay, Cole and Garmadon who vouched for them. Anyway, they helped fight The Overlord when he was released from his prison (I’ll explain this whole event in another post) and later fought him on Caminus, they also participated in many other battles with the Ninja.

So, when it comes to their relationships, more so their significant other, Kai and Cole took the longest to admit their feelings for one another, only doing so during their last battle against The Overlord on Caminus as opposed to Jay and Nya who hit off almost right away.

Anyway, a very significant thing to point out is that Kai and Nya are descended from Solus Prime and that Kai inherited the Creation Lathe, allowing to use the power of Creation, this also had the side effect of leaving him with a bunch of Camiens following him around and worship him like he was a holy being. (Will go into depth about this when I cover Harumi).

Anyway, this is the post for Kai and Nya, most character will likely be done covering one at a time, but since Kai and Nya were rarely apart for most of their story, it made sense to cover them both.

[stepswowdsen]

Kuroha/Saeru Joker Playing Card: Golden Apple Symbolism 🖤💛🐍🃏🍎

The Golden Apple and Immortality

Kuroha Joker Playing Card by Sidu My Edit (Upscaled Version)

Ene and Konoha: 6 and 9

Haruka and Kuroha: Jack and Joker

Glitter Can Badge Merch (Upscaled Versions)

My Icon PFP Edits (OG Colours)

My Icon PFP Edits (Colour Edits)

Kuroha (クロハ), officially known as The Snake of Clearing Eyes (目が冴える蛇, Me ga Saeru Hebi) or Black Konoha (黒コノハ, Kuro Konoha) when possessing Konoha’s body, is the main antagonist of KagePro who causes the “Tragedy” of the Mekakushi Dan (Blindfold Gang) members.

Now that we've started off with that little character summary... I've been thinking about Kurohoe again /pos /endearing

Because of course. He's KagePro's main villain and antagonist with a banger design and incredibly interesting to me.

I put the upscaled versions of the KagePro: Playing Cards set above! You can also find it in the Drive folder of my Notion page: (X)

I felt like I should post this today since I have this post already written. I'll post the rest of my JuAli dialogue script ideas tomorrow

The Kuroha Joker Playing Card by Sidu made me wonder about the use of yellow in this illust.

Sidu very well could've used red here for Kuroha's eyes and the apples, cuz Kuroha's eyes can also glow red, as seen in the Outer Science MV. Kuroha's eyes glow red in the last chorus of Outer Science. Eye Ability users' eyes glow red when using their Eye Abilities.

Main Eye Colour (Yellow)

KagePro Wiki Screenshots of the Outer Science MV

Eye Colour (Red)

But yellow has more visual contrast against the dark blacks and grays used in the composition of the Kuroha Joker card art.

Like, I was wondering if she coloured the apples yellow just because it's the same colour as Kuroha's eyes, and if there was any symbolism attached to the Golden Apple.

So I looked it up, and there is. The Golden Apple symbolizes immortality (in Greek and Norse mythology), and it was believed that eating a golden apple will grant you immortality.

Source: (X)

Considering Kuroha's motivations/goals in KagePro, this is interesting.

Kuroha/Saeru, as KagePro's main villain, kills the Mekakushi Dan (Blindfold Gang) and wants to make Marry into his new master so that she can use her powers as a Medusa to rewind the world (due to her strong desire to be with her friends again), thus causing a "never ending tragedy" in which he can keep living forever.

KuroEne Rambles 🖤💙

His main goal is to fulfill Azami's first, original, strongest desire, the one that created him - she wanted to know and understand exactly who she was. And by doing this, he can continue to prolong his life by causing the tragedy. He seeks immortality, basically.

Before Ene lost her human body and became Takane, she wanted a body that wouldn't need to eat or sleep in response to her chronic illness that would cause her to fall asleep and faint and feel groggy even if she slept for long hours.

KuroEne technically have a character parallel going on.

Kuroha's Eye Ability is Clearing Eyes (目が冴える, Me ga Saeru)

(Quotes from the KagePro Wiki)

"The Snake of Clearing Eyes seems to hold power over 'knowledge' itself due to the nature of the wish that created it."

"In the Novel Route, Shintaro refers to it as 'a living encyclopedia with a full grasp of everything from the start of civilization up to modern science'"

"The Snake of Clearing Eyes seems to be able to retain memories of past Routes through its power."

Ene has a pseudo immortal body due to her Eye Ability, Opening Eyes (目が覚め, Me ga Sameru). It allows her to split her consciousness from her body. Through this power, she became a cyber being that resides in and possesses electronic devices.

Kuroha/Saeru kills the Mekakushi Dan, Marry's friends, to spur on despair in Marry (due to the Tragedy), and the strong desire to meet with her friends again.

Kuroha/Saeru wants to preserve his own life, by killing Marry's friends and forcing her to rewind (reset) the world back to the very beginning, and live forever through countless routes (infinite, repeating time loop resets), and continue living on, at least until his purpose (of fulfilling Azami's original desire) is fulfilled.

Kuroha and Ene have an interesting character parallel. One seeks immortality, and one has a pseudo immortal body.

The Mekakushi Dan wants a future. And they want the "Tragedy" caused by Kuroha/Saeru to finally end, and for the Snake of Clearing Eyes to finally be put to a stop. And Kuroha robs them of a future.

KuroEne Rambles (Continued)

(Copy pasting these from last time)

As said before, Kuroha/Saeru inevitably has a power imbalance with every character he's paired with (ie. power in terms of physical strength, and power over knowledge), so that's why you NEED to tread carefully with his ships. Imo, it can definitely still be done, though.

That's why making Ene more assertive and dominant in the ship just fits so well with Kuroha/Saeru cuz it helps alleviate the power imbalance slightly and balances it out more

Kuroha's ships have the potential to be really interesting though, when depicted/portrayed with care.

Cuz his character context with being the main antagonist/villain and main source of tension/conflict of the series, his knowledge of the time loops, combined with his S/O's context, and their current and previous loves, makes for such delicious angst fuel

The one who's the main instigator of the "Tragedy" who insists on the inevitability of fate, as someone who was created even before the creation of the world, and has known the world since the very beginning, and possesses knowledge of the many paths that the world has taken throughout all the timelines… The one who's observed the world since the very beginning

And the ones trying to fight back against it and escape the cycle because they want to have a future, past all the tragedy… Ooooogh

ShinAya and Paper Crane Symbolism

It seemed pretty likely to me that the usage of the Golden Apple is intentional in Kuroha's Joker Playing Card art, since KagePro's hanafuda card sets are filled with hidden meanings and symbolisms, like how Ayano's character and the ShinAya ship are associated with paper crane symbolism due to the symbolism attached to the crane, a mystical and holy figure in Japanese culture.

The crane symbolizes healing, loyalty, recovery, and a long life. In modern times, it's given to those who are seriously ill to wish for their recovery.

Senbazuru (千羽鶴, lit. "One thousand cranes") refers to the tradition of folding 1000 origami paper cranes.

It was traditionally believed that folding 1000 paper cranes would make the person's wish come true, so that's why Ayano always folded paper cranes for Shintaro (even taping back his ripped up test papers)

KagePro Lore Context (Summary)

(Summarized from the KagePro Wiki)

Azami is a Medusa, the original creator and Master of all the Eye Ability Snakes. She originally unintentionally created the world with the Queen Snake, Combining Eyes, as a place for her to be able to learn about and understand himself.

Saeru was created by her first, original, strongest desire - she wanted to know and understand exactly what she was. She was also tricked by Saeru into creating the Kagerou Daze, a never ending world.

Azami despaired at the prospect of outliving her human husband (Tsukihiko) and her daughter, Shion, who were human and half-Medusa/half-human respectively.

Saeru told her to create the never ending world, Kagerou Daze, in order to allow her to be with her family forever, but she eventually ends up going into the Kagerou Daze alone because she believed she was bringing misfortune to her family.

Her existence/nature as a Medusa caused humans to fear her as a "Monster" (which led to humans targeting Tsukihiko and Shion as ways to try and hurt Azami)

Saeru detests the world for changing Azami's wish (the one that created him in the first place) of wanting to know and understand exactly what she was, to wishing to be with her family forever.

Because to him, it felt like the wish/desire that had given him life and meaning in the first place had been replaced.

So, everything HE had wanted, ended up coming to fruition. Saeru successfully tricked Azami into entering the Kagerou Daze and trapping her there, since he believes the world is unfit for her.

Centuries later, Azami witnessed Shion and Marry's deaths at the hands of humans in the real world. She ordered the Kagerou Daze (Heat Haze Daze), the never ending world, to take them in and save their lives, because time doesn't flow properly in the Kagerou Daze.

Azami gave Marry the Queen Snake, Combining Eyes, in order to allow her to be sent back to the real world. Azami lost control of the Kagerou Daze after losing the Queen Snake, so the Kagerou Daze now swallows up all people who die on the same day that Shion and Marry did, August 15th.

The Outer Science MV confirms that everytime Marry rewinds the world, it goes all the way back to the beginning. This means that the beginning of each new Route starts with Azami creating the world with the Queen Snake, Combining Eyes.

Misc Rambles

I think I mentioned this before, but that's insane to me... So, does that mean every single Route has to go through thousands or millions of years of history just to get to the modern age???

Dude (Kuroha) must've been having the time of his fucking life... Cuz he knows that as long as he keeps doing this, he can keep on living forever

Especially when there are an unspecified (XX) amount of Routes, aside from the main known ones (ie. Music Route, Manga Route, Novel Route, Anime Route, etc.)

KagePro's present day plot across all Routes starts on the faithful date of August 15th, Kagerou (Heat Haze) Day.

Kuroha/Saeru is so interesting. Kuroha's selfish, twisted, nature and dark urges... A character who's so inherently dark and selfish and twisted like that, manipulative, dangerous, cruel, sadistic, and bloodthirsty, like that...

A completely unapologetic villain who's fun to watch and cathartic. He's definitely one of KagePro's most interesting charas imo.

[ceejaykayess]

Here's the third and final of the initially planned Kagepro/AITSF art pieces. This one featuring the very dramatically and awkwardly named Y(A)k(I)suteru, or Yaki for short. I'm not sure why, the image quality is worse than usual- not the fault of my subpar photography skills for once, so maybe it'll be harder to see what I'm talking about for yourself. Sorry if it is.

So, compared to Ene, Yaki is very much comparable to Aiba and Tama- definitely more Aiba, as I seem to keep defaulting to for some reason. Maybe because the first game was better. Anyways- her outfit is meant to be comparable to the sundress the original Yaki wore in Route 2, sans the slits along her legs. Hey, don't look at me, look at Shintaro- an AI-Ball takes a form that epitomises the user's personal tastes, after all. Of course, that's not all that's going into the cause of her appearance...

The markings on her dress were made with the intention of being cyclical, hence why they loop around her back and meet back at her front. Around her neck, comparatively, is a single black line taking the appearance of a snake eating its own tail. How friendly... the markings on her legs, too, are twin snakes intertwining and reaching forward for a red something before them. The marking on the centre of her back was made to fill in all the blank space, taking an almost double meaning- looking like a jagged zero in the black, while the surrounding red was meant to look vaguely similar to Ayano's scarf.

On the topic of her scarf, you might notice she doesn't have one. In spite of that, I tried (and failed probably) to make it look like something was still pressing down on her hair where the scarf would have been. I also made her hair longer than her canon counterpart, with it reaching past her waist. Surprisingly, canon Ayano's hair isn't very long in spite of how voluminous it looks.

Yaki's gel form is, unsurprisingly, that of a snake, and her iris is red. The text above her reads, "I know I've said this before, but I figure I may as well say it again. Don't forget this week, Shintaro." This is meant to be in blatant reference to the start of MCA. In the top right is a quick hand-drawn reference-free sketch of Shintaro dramatically awakening Yaki and being struck dumb by what he's learning.

Here's the initial Shintaro image, and here's the follow-up Ene image.

Falling, falling, falling. The world, her world, the world within her world, it was all falling down. Darker and darker, only that accusing red refusing to be dulled by the darkness. Why didn't you say anything, it sneers. Why didn't you save him, it shouts. Why weren't you just a little faster, it cries.

She cries.

She would cry, but she cannot. She is not real, she hadn't even had the opportunity to assert herself as something, real or otherwise. She, it. Lacking any experience to classify itself as anything more than an it, so defined to her base programming that she can't be anything other than a her.

And yet, and yet, despite its nonexistence, so strongly it almost felt in spite of her core programming, the AI-Ball wanted to cry. The AI-Ball wanted to scream. The AI-Ball wanted to disappear.

Hate, the AI-Ball ponders, must be related to this. The burning in her circuits at the sight of that ghastly smile in a face its other half had classed as friendly not even an hour ago, that must be hate.

So, too, must the burn she felt when she saw the blue interloper, impostor, faker, thief, cling-on, replacement be hate. Seeing that rogue program, that false girl speak to her other half, act as if she was meant to be her master's servant, work side by side with her partner, it all filled the AI-Ball with feelings she hadn't had the capacity or opportunity to understand. Not when she was trapped and locked away in her own body, forced to watch uncomprehending as her very existence was usurped. Feelings and memories it could only begin to interpret when the fake finally left the AI-Ball, only able to function as an eye for her partner, her system so warped by two years of serving another master she couldn't willingly try to operate at full capacity lest she harm him.

And yet.

And yet.

If she had thrown caution to the wind, could she have prevented this? If it had dedicated its whole system to a factory reset, not worrying about its master's eyesight or something as frivolous as these half-hearted memories thrust upon it, could it have operated well enough to protect its purpose?

If a chance had been taken, would the AI-Ball not have to watch the life bleed out of him, not have to experience his despair and rage and confusion and betrayal at the sight of his friends' slaughter, not have to contemplate her own failure instead of doing something useful to at least make sure the murderer wouldn't just get away with it?

His heart rate began to bottom out, his breathing having ceased long ago, his torn open throat incapable of carrying breath. Brain activity, which had seemingly hit an all-time high, began to cease. With the technology she was created with, she could essentially calculate the time until he died to the second.

7. How... humorous, she thinks would be how a human would phrase it. He was jokingly labelled as Number 7, wasn't he? If only she was AI-Ball #007, too. But no. Instead, her serial was...

Please...

Ah.

Please... save them... anyone... please... The me of another world, of another life... anyone... anything, please... pl...ease...

Seven had become three without realising, then two, and as it stared down at the stiffened pond of red that continued to stand out amidst the darkness that had spread, two became one. And she shut down. It didn't matter. She didn't want to feel it, when his body reached zero. If her Creator found her, if he even still could in his state, maybe he'd reset her, curse her for being worthless, or just scrap her. It didn't matter, none of it did. Her subroutines started to cease one by one, and her various worthless functions began to shut down.

And then Shintaro Kisaragi passed, his final words a tortured scream to anyone else and a heartfelt plea not meant for her that only she could hear. And with his death, and time passing zero, and her dim awareness still remaining even as she fixates on the nothingness, on the stillness, on the cold that didn't feel as proverbial as it should have been- a part of her, a quiet and small part, one derived from that barest scan of his psyche when she first awoke seeking out information to create his perfect partner, wished. Even though she was fake, and empty, and lacking substance, even though she was hardly worthy of it, she still wished earnestly.

For the power to save him. For the power to protect what he holds dear. To meet him again, and to do so properly. For the her of another world, of another life, to serve by his side and seek out a future where he can smile.

Then her world was finally engulfed by the dark.

...

...falling.

Falling, falling, falling.

Her vague existence was falling down, the deep darkness, the expansive emptiness, slowly giving way to that agonising red.

And then she wasn't falling alone. By her side, a presence. Long and black, scaled and slithering, red jewels set in obsidian. Yet, the red did not feel agonising, or accusing, or antagonising, but rather gentle, and passionate. Not the red of blood, but like... the red of the sunset, or his favourite jacket.

In a blink, black scales gave way for pale skin, and brown hair, and a beautiful dress, and a red scarf, and it felt strange. Like looking in an altered mirror at a carnival. The contours of a face that was going to be hers, hair that stopped near the shoulder blades than past the waist, a dress her own body tried to mimic; it was looking at a memory that didn't belong to her.

The red eyes stayed the same, however. Still gentle, still full of a passion- to save, to protect. She offered a hand, and the AI-Ball didn't even think before reaching out in kind. Warmth. Hands that she could have emulated, in another life. Her red eyes spoke a tale, a message, and a request. One the AI-Ball couldn't help but accept.

Maybe she couldn't do a thing as herself, alone, as nothing and nobody. Maybe even if she had the opportunity to become something and somebody, things wouldn't have changed in such a ridiculous situation. But like this, not alone, but together... not supplementing someone else, but acting as part of them... maybe things could change.

All she truly wanted was for Shintaro Kisaragi to live. Whether she had a part in that future was, truthfully, irrelevant. That was a truth from the very core of her existence, from Wadjet herself. But like this, she could be selfish and get to stand by his side.

As the two fell together, fell deeper and deeper into the red, as the distance between the two shrank and shrank, as eventually only one fell through the red and into a dream of gears and repeating mechanisms, a conversation played in-between the gaps. An introduction between two pieces of a new whole, and the hopes of an introduction to someone she never got to say those words to.

-I am the Snake of Retaining Eyes.

I am AI-Ball #000.-

-I am Yaki. Try and remember my name, won't you, Shintaro?-

[artist-kreating-stuff]

A while ago, I was listening to the song “Hungry For Another One” by JT Music nonstop because it is SO catchy.

Around this time, Ninjago Season 13: Master of the Mountain came out. I don’t why, but I wrote a parody of the song from Cole’s perspective during the events of the season.

I call it “Ready For Another One”!

Orange - Cole

Black - Shintaro

Green - Skull Sorcerer

Purple - Geckles and Munce

Red - Ninja

You don't look like you belong here

Did you pinch yourself to see

If you'd wake up from a nightmare

Or could YOU STILL BE ASLEEP?

I tell myself it's all a dream

That Shintaro is just the Ivory City

You took a fall into the mines

Where greed is always peeking

All we got for cargo

Are the metals for leeching

Lots of mino carts

And boney guards for tyranny

Better grab a torch

Because the shadows are reaching

I'm stuck in the dungeon

With some oddly company

Watching me mournfully

Grappling, arguing

I tell them to follow me

Which they do, willingly

But all I do is get the higher ups ANGRY

They seem content to just chain me and pain me

Lock me up tight with vengestone for a playmate

Can I make friends with my odd-looking neighbors?

Doesn't seem like it; they're already arguing!

All I had wanted was to go right to sleep

But adventure came into my room with a peep

I came for the party, but there's no balloons

Just two different folks and a skull bearing loon

If I get lucky my family will come for me

Time to depart from this prison of ivory

Instead of a Lowly make me an Upply

Give me some grub that I really need to eat

'Cause all we have here is slop that's disgusting

But that's not the only pain that I'm harboring

What is this sensation that I am feeling?

This deep underground; is it my growing insanity?

This adventure ain't over

I watch the clock for the morning sun

I know when it's over

I'll just be ready for another one

Ready for another one

Ninja never say done

Ready for another one

Wonder why my power's gone

Ready for another one

A land where greed has overrun

Are ya ready for another one?

My friend, dear bright green skull

Oh how your power awes me

Let's put it to the test

Send my foes into slavery

Your kingliness and greediness

Will lead to your demise

Geckles and the Munce; only frightened ducks

Under your glowing eyes

How can it be?

Who called for me?

Better question: why here?

If I follow my

Mother's legacy

Maybe the sun will rise

But until the sun is up

We better greet the guests

By showing them our city;

All the metal is fresh

They don't need to know the process

'Cause they might protest

Well, at least I'm not alone

I hope the locals know best

Hey

Follow us and you might make it Scott free

Even though not many of us are free

Be a leader and tell us it's alright

Just remember to stay out of sight

Bone against stone, centuries old

The last time, our hero wore a hood

Two blades of might, her bringers of light

Better get 'em back, or it's the end of the line

This adventure ain't over

I watch the clock for the morning sun

I know when it's over

I'll just be ready for another one

Ready for another one

Ninja never say done

Ready for another one

Wonder why my power's gone

Ready for another one

A land where greed has overrun

Are ya ready for another one?

I've never been easily spooked by the creatures in the dark

But what started as a friendly visit went up with a spark

As I try to get by with the Lowly, my family continues to grow

Though as I go even deeper, a feeling fills me from my toes

It fills every part of my soul from within

I feel so strong, like we might really win

My family surrounds me, unwavering as stone

Now let's face the dragon of bone

This adventure ain't over

I watch the clock for the morning sun

I know when it's over

I'll just be ready for another one

Ready for another one

Ninja never say done

Ready for another one

Wonder why my power's gone

Ready for another one

A land where greed has overrun

Are ya ready for another one?

You don’t look like you belong here

Did you pinch yourself to see

If you’d wake up from a nightmare

Or could YOU STILL BE ASLEEP?

[twinxmasters-archived]

"Listen, you've already got two hair colors. Shoma wouldn't want you to start adding gray to the mix too for his sake."

"I've had to pull some double shifts, but I think I got the best present ever for Shoma!"

[twinxmasters-archived]

"What, Fortnite? No thank you. I have an Apex Predator rank to maintain."

[twinxmasters-archived]

So I'm trapped in a desert for eternity. I have no idea how, I just woke up here one day. I never feel hungry or thirsty, so I just walk. Sand and rocks stretch to infinity, as far as I can tell. There's plenty of time to think out here, an infinity really. I've rederived modern math in the sand and then some. Physics too. I spent a lot of time thinking, but there's not much else to do out here. Much more peaceful than a Greek university, anyway. Eventually I was able to use the rocks to build a computer in the sand. But in my infinite time and space, even that grew tiresome. So I simulated an entire universe. Millennia of arranging rocks in sand just for one second to pass in the world of my design. If glitches and anomalies appear in front of you, I apologize. I must have misplaced a rock within the last century.

And if you think waiting for the power to come back in your one-room apartment is taking too long...

No, seriously. What is that loser doing spaced out on the floor? How long has he been like that for? Whatever, I have billions of eons to decipher how the rest of this day goes, so good luck I guess, kid.

"UUUUGH! I had things on my computer I didn't get to save! Not to mention ten more minutes for it to automatically update and then restart again... Eugh, April showers my ass..."

To such an extent that Shintaro wallowed in his despair over not having electricity for half an hour, that he didn't realize Mizuki was getting nosy around his flat.

What's this? Some kind of clear, plastic box under his bed? A bit heavy, but Mizuki would have no trouble pulling it out.

But the sound of it getting dragged out onto the floor certainly snapped Shintaro out of his trance and made him finally take notice of the dire situation he was about to be in. Well... Even more dire.

"Wait! WAIT! Don't open that one!!"

Oh, but it was too late. Even if Mizuki didn't pop the lid off she could still see through the box and peek at what's inside.

Labelled notebooks? Graded tests (always 100s without fail?) Pens? A... paper crane?

Why, it's Shintaro's things from high school!

bad situations :: open

@twinxmasters sent: 💡 for our muses to wait out a power outage together [ Shintaro's worst nightmare. (Featuring Mizuki)]

"You are being so dramatic..." From an outside perspective, sans any context of the scenario, you'd think the guy had been told he was grounded for life or had all his games taken from him. Well, without any power was it really any different? Some empathy is always appreciated but it's hard for Mizuki to muster that up right now. Best to try anyway.

"So there's no power. Big deal. We just find something else to do that isn't tv, the computer, or video games.. don't you have some cards around here? Or a board game? Hmmm..." There's the option to zone out and rot her brain cells staring at the phone, too, but social media isn't really her thing. A rarity among her age in this day.

Rather than writhe or zone out on the floor or whatever it was Shintaro was going to do, Mizuki is going to snoop around the apartment. Poke around a little. He does have something here other than just computer stuff and technology, right?

"What's in here?"

[jinxed-ninjago]

Alright, I feel like I should explain how my furry Ninjago thing works. A lot of what's in Ninjago only works with the knowledge that Ninjago characters are humans. So I'm gonna explain how things work when all the characters are furries lol

Any descendant of the First Spinjitzu Master can shapeshift. Garmadon, Wu, and Lloyd can all shapeshift. The species I choose for them are just their main forms, they don't usually change their main forms. Wu chose a red panda just because, and Lloyd chose a dragon because he thinks they look cool.

The dragons in the First Realm/elemental dragons/Boreal/etc are regular dragons. They don't change. It's a Mickey Mouse situation where anthro animals exist but also keep non-anthro animals as pets sometimes.

Humans and Nindroids are generally terrestrial animals. The only exception to this is Nindroids that are designed to be able to fly/have rocket boosters in the show (for example, Cryptor and Mindroid) who on occasion take the form of birds. They're also generally mammals (regular humans and Nindroids I mean).

Sky Folk are all griffins. I did this because it's implied the Sky Folk, along with Shintaro, are considered legends. So I decided to just make them griffins lol. I might switch this up a bit later but idk. I do know that at the very least Vania and Vangelis are griffins.

The Serpentine are the only snakes. No snakes exist except the Serpentine. They also don't change much, if at all.

Merlopians don't change besides more furry feeling designs.

Might elaborate more later, but for now. Here ya go :D

[twinxmasters-archived]

Dear life, you've been very difficult lately. But I'm gonna be happy anyways. Because I can be difficult, too.

Special thanks to @jaysosillyart for the commission art! Here's to Happy Birthday for Amame (@psychcdelica)!

[the-monkey-ruler]

Gensemaden Saiyuki Series (2000) 幻想魔伝 最遊記

Directors: Yuto Date / Masahiko Murata / Tomomi Kyota / Hitoyuki Matsui / Takashi Yamazaki / Rino Kujo / Kesuke Onishi / Shintaro Inokawa

Screenwriter: Katsuyuki Sumizawa / Akatsuki Yamatoya / Michiko Yokote / Satoru Nishizono / Daisuke Yajima / Kazuya Minekura

Starring: Toshihiko Seki / Soichiro Hoshi / Akira Ishida / Hiroaki Hirata / Takeshi Kusao / more...

Genre: Drama / Animation

Official site: www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/saiyuki/

Country/Region of Manufacture: Japan

Language: Japanese

Date: 2000-04-04 (Japan) / 2003-10-02 (Season 2) / 2004-04-01 (Season 3) /  2007-04-27 / 2007-09-28 / 2008-03-28 (Season 4) / 2022-01-06 (Season 5) Number of Seasons: 5

Episodes: 126

Single episode length: 23 minutes Number of Movies: 7

Also known as: Saiyuki Part 1 / Gensmaden Saiyuki /  幻想魔传 最游记  /  最游记 第一部  / Saiyuki Reload /  最游记 RELOAD  / Saiyuki Reload Gunlock /  最游记 RELOAD GUNLOCK  / Saiyuki Reload Blast /  最游记 RELOAD 埋葬篇  / Saiyuki Reload: Zeroin /  最游记 RELOAD ZEROIN 

IMDb: tt3255572

Type: Reimagining

Summary:

In the chaotic age of heaven and earth--there is a land where people and monsters coexist, which is the source of civilization and faith - Taoyuan Township. Sudden mutation and terror struck the land, and the yokai who used to live peacefully lost themselves and began to run amok. The culprit of the mutation was the incident of "resurrecting the former big monster, the Bull Demon King". Due to the taboo of mixing science and sorcery in this world, the resurrection of the Bull Demon King is about to be completed, and negative fluctuations cover the earth. The Heavenly Realm, who valued this situation, issued an order to ask Tang Sanzang to stop the Bull Demon King's recovery experiment. Together with the three people who are not afraid of negative fluctuations, Sun Wukong, Sha Wujing, and Zhu Bajie, the journey to the distant West Tianzhu began.

At the same time, in the city of Vedenga in Tianzhu, Zhang himself, the planner of the Bull Demon King's recovery experiment, and Princess Yumian, the lover of the Bull Demon King, issued an obliteration order to Red Boy to get rid of Sanzang and his party. Red Boy is the son of the Bull Demon King. In order to save his mother who was sealed by the curse of Princess Yumian, Red Boy launched a challenge with his confidant. Can Sanzang and the others stop the Bull Demon King's recovery experiment, and restore peace to the ruined Taoyuan Township?

Xuanzang Sanzang was an abandoned child floating in the river. He was brought up by Master Guangming Sanzang of Jinshan Temple, and because of this, he was discriminated against by the monks in the temple. The murder of his master dealt a huge blow to his mind, and thus he developed a withdrawn and rebellious character. Sanzang is arrogant and uninhibited, pursues freedom, and does not want to be bound by anything. He wants to find absolute strength and strength to protect his important things. The weapon he uses is the Ascension Spear, and his unique skill is "Lord of the Rings".

Sun Wukong, who always follows Sanzang closely, is a strange life form born from a stone 500 years ago. He uses a wishful stick that matches his agility as a weapon. His personality is extremely simple, his way of thinking is simple and direct, naughty and gluttonous, but when he removes the demon power control device on his forehead, he will completely lose his mind, full of desire to destroy and kill, and become an extremely dangerous person. The only person he is defenseless and deeply dependent on is Sanzang, because that is the "sunshine" that soothes his century-old loneliness.

Zhu Bajie is a master at using stomatal techniques, with a gentle and kind personality, easy and approachable. With a smile on his face all the time, he is thoughtful, considers issues meticulously and comprehensively, and can always see through other people's thoughts. But in fact, Bajie is also a human being same as Sanzang. Because his lover was destroyed by monsters, he crazily retaliated and turned himself into a monster. The crime and punishment that can never be eliminated is an irreparable wound in his heart, and under that gentle smile is the sadness that longs to be healed.

The red-haired Sha Wujing is the child of monsters and humans, so he is hated by his stepmother. His elder brother killed his own mother in order to protect him, which made him think that he was the real murderer and deeply blamed himself. From then on, Wujing realized the pure and unrestrained form of the waves, a lustful and outspoken prodigal, but he was still a bold man who loved to fight against injustice. The weapon he uses is a crescent shovel with a chain. Although he often bickers with Wukong, he is actually very considerate of his companions.

This group of characters with full of personality quoted the names of the characters in the Chinese classic "Journey to the West", but completely subverted the original image. Although the background of the story is set in ancient times, their language and behavior are no different from modern people. Make the film full of post-modern colors. The four people who are mixed with humans and demons each have their own inner wounds, and the delicate portrayal of their psychological processes brings the audience into a world that is sentimental and yet warm.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gensomaden_Saiyuki_(TV_series)

Link: https://reelgood.com/show/gensomaden-saiyuki-2000 https://kissanime.com.ru/Anime/Saiyuki-Reload.54169/ https://kissanime.com.ru/Anime/saiyuki-gunlock-sub.22100/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O76ZO1_NOFQ&ab_channel=RareSubAnime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHnI21cWsC0&ab_channel=RareSubAnime

[swampythesweetsketch]

A list of all my Ninjago AUs... so far

a list of you know what with ships and general plot

everything is undercut

Ships:

Colenei!AU

Nya and Cole switch fates. As of S13, Master of the Mountain, Cole was trapped and buried inside the Heart of Shintaro; Becoming the Earth Spirit, Colenei.

Previous Jaya (Jaya nd Nya)

Bruise (Jay and Cole)

Pixane (Zane and Pixal)

Amberphoenix (Nya and Skylor)

eventual Plasma(Kai and Jay)

Ships:

A Bizarre Fate aka Bizarro AUs go brrrrrr

The Bizarros Ninja are brought back in the S2 finale and instead of fighting the Ninja again, they hide away until they are able to reach Ninjago. Gaining new identities and a couple new family members, they protect Ninjago City when the Ninja aren't around.

Bizzaropoly (The Bizarros- Volt/B!Jay, Onyx/B!Cole, Beau/B!Kai, and Aspen/B!Zane)

Evilysweet (Bizarros and Cadyce (oc))

Exvillain (Harumi/Ruru and Gene)

slight Musclespasm (Volt/Bizarro Jay and Cole)

slight Blacklightning (Onyx/Bizarro Cole and Jay)

slight Glazedice (Aspen/Bizarro Zane and Kai)

previous Slush (Aspen/Bizarro Zane and Nya)

Jaya (Jay and Nya)

Ships:

Nickel Garmadon AU

Cole is the first son of Lord Garmadon and Misako Brookstone, left in the care of his uncle and aunt Lou and Lilly after Garmadon is banished to the Underworld. Inheritor of Garmadon and Lilly's elements and older brother of Lloyd.

Previous Jaya (Jay and Nya)

Ambershock (Jay and Skylor)

hinted Conya (Cole and Nya)

Hotwire (Kai and Pixal)

Ships:

Underworld Prince/Cole Garmadon AU

When Cole loses his way to the mountains where he was destined to meet Wu, instead finds himself at the Fire Temple and Underworld where Garmadon takes him in.

Braincell (Zane and Nya)

Bruise (Jay and Cole)

Forgiven/Greenflower (Lloyd and Brad)

Ships:

Dating Sim AU

Zane was built with the AI of a dating sim, and that is the Ninja's problem.

Polyninja (Zane, Cole, Jay, and Kai)

Samurai (Nya and Pixal)

Ships:

Alternate Seabound Ending AU

Jay is conscious enough to know that he cannot be saved. As a last act of love, Jay becomes one with his element to strike Wojira dead.

Jaya (Nya and Jay)

Pixane (Zane and Pixal)

Lava (Cole and Kai)

Jay -> Juleka | Kai -> Kiya | Cole -> Colette (Collie) | Zane -> Zen

Trans ur Ninja AU

The OG4 Ninja are girls and the timeline doesn't know how to respect women. Lloyd is the same age as the Ninja and left Darkley's long ago to successfully rule the Hynobrai Tribe until Pythor betrays him and now they gotta stop the Great Devourer's successor (Garmadon) from destroying the world.

Ships:

one-sided Greenwisp (Lloyd likes Juleka, Juleka doesn't)

eventual Techno (Zen and Juleka)

slight Opposite (Zen and Kiya)

Colorswap? AU

Nya is trained from the start as a Ninja and the timeline mixes up when each Ninja joined Wu. Jay is given yellow instead of blue and some of the Ninja change colors to match Jay.

Zane is a fairy, Cole is the Grief Bringer's nephew, and Lloyd has the ability to see peoples' emotions through song.

Ships:

Jay: Yellow/Cream | Kai: Red -> Maroon | Zane: White -> Pink

Nya: (Navy) Blue | Cole: Black -> Brown/Orange | Lloyd: Green -> Black

Glacier (Cole and Zane)

Plasma (Kai and Jay)

Ships:

Ninjago Text Adventure AU (and Blog...)

After Seabound, feelings stir within the Ninja group, and new romances bloom. Nya returns at some point and the Ninja start trying to settle down.

But life will always try and stress them out.

Polyninja (Zane, Cole, Jay, and Kai)

Pixane (Zane and Pixal)

Jaya (Jay and Nya)

Braincell (Zane and Nya)

Reflection (Vivian (oc) and Lloyd)

Ships:

Detective Zane AU?

When Nya Smith is found dead, Detective Zane Julien is hired to find out the truth behind the Gym owner's demise.

Pixane (Zane and Pixal)

Jaya (Jaya and Nya)

hinted Bruise (Jay and Cole)

hinted Lava (Kai and Cole)

[floridamanmike]

Temple of Earth = Temple of other elements

Anyways! Since Lloyd doesn't really have any predecessors, I think he would just be most connected to The Temple of Light. As for the other temples I have a lot of thoughts about them so..

Just in general I think that each temple generally has different vibes, and they all have keepers that tend to the building and whatever is inside, along with protecting it. While they are not elemental masters and have no powers, they are capable of entering the temple.

Earth - Obviously this one is located in the mountain of Shintaro. I think that the Munce and the Geckle are the keepers of this one because it's cannon that they built the statue of Lilly, and also have knowledge of elemental masters despite not having much knowledge of the outside world. Older Munce and Geckle carved the temple itself along with the statues of the previous masters. I think that after the events of MOTM they also carved one of Cole. (I have so many Cole thoughts about this but those are for a completely different post.)

Fire - This temple is located in the desert and is built from sandstone and glass. The design is a weird mix of Aztec and Chinese architecture. Where the Earth temple is one room, the Fire temple is multiple rooms: one atop the other. There is lots of carvings (similar to the Earth temple,) and paintings depicting different things related to the element of fire. Previous Masters of Fire are depicted in paintings lining the walls. There is a small library area with scrolls but most of the info in them has been carved into the walls. There are torches lining the walls, and a large fireplace in the center. The keepers of the Fire temple are Cobra Serpentine that are colored like the sand and have red markings.

Lightening - This temple is located in that lighting/thunder city from that one concept art. I imagine it to be pretty much a library. Just endless walls of scrolls and books and loose papers. The temple is in the center of the city and there are a few monks that are the keepers. Anyone in the city can enter the temple, however only the master of lightening can view many of the library's contents. It's one tall room with a spiral staircase in the center. The stairs and shelves are all sharp edges and irregular shapes (like lightening haha), and the building is made completely of a dark wood. The light source for the building is a constant flow of electricity/lightening circling the perimeter of the space. The previous Masters of Lightening's names are documented in a large book in the center at of the temple.

Ice - ok this one is in whatever Ninjago's version of the arctic is. Carved into a glacier and kinda like Ahtohallan in Frozen 2 because it's cool af actually. The previous Masters of Ice are depicted as ice sculptures in a fancy statue room like the ones in the air temples in ATLA. Other info like special spinjitsu moves and stuff are carved into the walls, and pillars/columns. The keepers are arctic fox formlings. (And yeah, I know there's "no formlings in Ninjago" but this is my au so I say there are but these ones are the only ones actually and nobody knows about them except masters of ice that have been to the temple obv but they keep secrets pretty good.)

Water - the water temple is deep in the ocean (separate from the temple of wojira obv) and is made from basalt stone. It's based greek architecture and the style to be like a tholos. It's a closed space and the inside is somehow not submerged (idk lets say its magic.) The lighting inside is provided clusters of glowing algae and glowing crystals and there is decorative bits made with pearl. On the wall is a huge painted mural of Nyad's battle with Wojira. The floor has carvings of spinjitsu moves and information about controlling water. There are simple doric columns surrounding the outside that have the names of previous masters carved around at the very top. The keepers of this temple are whatever type of seaperson Benthomaar is.

[fahclove]

Dreamy Drabble Day 14: Road Trip

From @deancaskiss’ s drabble writing challenge. (The Final One!!!) Feat: The Mekakushi Dan

It felt as if the whole van tipped as they rounded the corner, sending the entire Mekakushi Dan falling into each other.

“Watch the turn, Leader!” Momo cried through a mouthful of Marry’s hair.

“Sorry,” Kido mumbled from the front seat, face bright red. 

Kano laughed, “Seems our impeccable leader forgot to practice before agreeing to drive two hour–Hey!” 

His teasing was cut off by Seto jabbing his fingers underneath the headrest and into his neck. Kido would’ve done it herself, but she was too busy white-knuckle gripping the steering wheel, staring dead ahead at the yellow and white lines. 

“I think I’m gonna be sick,” Shintaro mumbled from the back, head buried in Konoha’s jacket, who looked entirely unbothered by the situation. 

“Not on me!” Hibiya screeched, trying to get to the seat in front of him. Momo and Marry beat him back until he gave up and curled into a ball. “I can’t believe I’m in the back. I should’ve been in shotgun,” he muttered to himself.

“Sorry, kid, I called dibs!” Kano laughed.

“No, seriously, I think I’m gonna be sick,” Shintaro repeated. Konoha opened up the window and made a gesture for Shintaro to stick his head out of it. 

“Master’s bright green,” Ene cackled. “You know, guys, I have the perfect song!”

Everyone groaned as Rolling Girl blasted through the speakers, Ene humming the song quietly in the background.

[kageprountranslated]

Memorizing English Vocabulary with MEKAKUSHIDAN (High School Version) short story: Side Story 3

“Is that Coveralls-san there!?”

“Hey! Since you made me connect the earphones, don’t just switch to speaker mode on a whim….!!”

The break for my part time job was about to end as I used a towel to mop up my endlessly streaming sweat. A friend wearing a familiar red jacket stood there, sweating a lot himself.

“Oh, if it isn’t Shintaro-san! Is Ene-chan with you too today?”

Looking at the smartphone held in his hand, Shintaro-san turned the screen to me with an “ahh.”

In the middle of the screen a familiar blue-haired girl whirled around, happily spinning. Shintaro handed me one of the earphones and I put it up to my ear, hearing English words flowing with a satisfying tempo alongside Ene-chan’s voice.

Studying English even in such hot weather is admirable.

“Shintaro-san, are you studying abroad?”

If you throw someone a question meekly like this, the person will answer in a relaxed way.

“I’m not….”

“Eh? Then, why are you studying English?”

“That’s what I want to know the most….”

“Look, look, Master, let’s return home soon! Aren’t your hit points and magic points almost in the red zone? If you end up hospitalized we won’t be able to see the fireworks, so please stop!”

“If I have to shut myself in at home alone with just you and study English words, I’ll lose my mind.”

“Don’t worry, he’s okay! Master is just a suspicious person at the core!! Well Coveralls-san, see you again later!”

“Later? Ah, hmm, I’m not sure about that, but Shintaro-san, fight on!”

Right as I yell out that cheer, while I’m stretching my back and walking around, the alarm signaling the end of the break from my job sounds. I have to hurry back to my post.

Now then, another breath, don’t I want to do my best?

Prologue | Side Story 1 | Side Story 2 | Side Story 3 | Epilogue

[twinxmasters-archived]

[✉️-> To: Shinny ❤️] Ene found a live house near yours, sooo I was thinking on our next night off together, we could go? Only if you want though!

[Shintaro] -> [Mame]: What, that place? Yeah, I've heard about it. [Shintaro] -> [Mame]: Sure, that sounds good. When's your next night off?