#“and then the world almost ended that was also crazy” - me explaining the plot

[witchoftrinity]

"...I wouldn't say its nice. But I can see the perspective you are coming from."

Not preparing yourself for things like that was a surefire way of getting one's self all confused when it eventually found its way into life. Death, as morbid as it is, was one of those things that fell into that grey area of knowing to she can be prepared and staying blissfully unaware for her own sanity. And dying really wasn't on her list of things she needed to experience here. Both for her own sake and everyone else's

"And I'm not going to leash her! Wouldn't that be her actual boyfriend or girlfriend's job? At this rate all I can do for them is be a supportive friend." Which still was going to be awkward for her as well. The feelings she had for Nier weren't going to just magically go away. But eventually if she was so lucky maybe some of what she felt could be tossed someone else's way.

...If that person existed out there that is.

"Still I'll try my best to keep her away from you and less drone murdery. Though if she does see you again I'm sure the two of us know what's going to happen." But that was a problem for the future both of them not now. Relaxing was definitely the most important thing now. Or at least trying to find something to relax to.

"Well it wasn't like I was chasing the drama to happen in the first place. Besides I don't want that with my roommate, especially if I'm trying to find a better place for the two of us..."

For Mika? Did she do it for Mika? N-no, she just- I-it's not like she cares or anything, it's just- aaaaagh, forget it! Uzi feels pinpricks of heat on her cheeks as she frowns and looks away, because whatever! But the tension fades as she listens to Mika, and she raises a brow. The stuff Mika's saying... Really takes all kinds here in the city, huh? Guess Uzi's only dumped a bit of her lore, and Mika's probably got some other messed-up stuff going on in her life, too. Uzi already knew she was just using "human" as a handy umbrella term, even if Mika didn't quite fit under it, but hearing all this other stuff is illuminating.

"Huh," is all Uzi can really say at first. She leans back in her seat for a few moments, frowning, before a response comes to mind. "I've seen so many people die, it's crazy to think that some people never see it happen. I saw one of my dad's coworkers get sliced in half right in front of me. Up-and-down," she says, drawing a line down her face.

Being a worker drone just means death is more or less constantly lurking around your back; It's a miracle Uzi reached high school with how high the mortality rate is at times. And on the flip side is Mika, who only knows about death from a textbook. It's... jarring, maybe? Shocking? She isn't really sure how to describe the feeling.

"Must be nice," she says, more tensely than she means to.

But it feels nice that Mika is appreciative. Uzi's starting to realize she's never really... had a friend like this before. Her relationships with N and V came from a place of shared trauma, a burden thrust upon them that they only overcame hand-in-hand. No matter what happens to them, they'll always have that chain linking them together, but with Mika, they just kind of... ended up in the same place. Uzi never really expected them to be friends, she figured this bubblegum-pink girl would end up antagonizing her like so many others did. But Mika is nice. Dumb, but nice. Uzi would rather not not be friends. And that feels weird to admit, even just to herself. She's not used to this!

"Okay, well. As long as you're happy, that's good. And I don't want to kill her, I just don't want to be killed by her. So I dunno, just, like, keep her on a short leash. Maybe she'd be into that." Gotta toss a little levity in there, can't be too genuine.

Sighing, Uzi reaches out towards the kitchen knife that's still lying on the counter. A purple glyph appears around the handle and her fingers, and she guides it back into the block. "Guess we can file this one away under 'done for now?' I'd rather not have any more drama with you anytime soon. Got enough of that in my life."

[cloudmancy]

I have no desire to get you in trouble but I would be curious to hear your thoughts on the new episode and the preview because I also have.. thoughts and I'm interested in what other people clocked as not great or kinda.. idk. other people's concerns, because I have had a lot of them and I never see people really talk about those things

they're doing a new format this season where they film a bunch of rp episodes in a row then take a break when there's a battle so the crew can get the battleset ready, so I understand the dissonance. but the tone of this episode from the tone of last episode was SO jarring. I was ready to chew drywall at the end of episode 17 but we head into the episode 18 fight and at the end all I can say is... damn! that sure is a battle that happened. the entire fight felt really low-stakes even though objectively a few of the bad kids were in mortal danger, but the mood at the table was so relaxed and chill and there was almost no roleplay at all... which drove me so crazy

>no rp except for fun silly party stuff (no callbacks to the adaine elven oracle in a storm thing? after all the fun setup last time??)

>fought 8 different antagonists and none of them said a word

>nobody questioned why or what oisin's grandma or all those dragon were doing there they just started taking them out one by one like raid battles in world of warcraft

>cassandra/nightmare king showed up only to not make any impact or get a single word in

>dos2 lady vengeance fight did the floating boat/ballistas/dragon fight better SMH

and then after all of that we're headed straight into ANOTHER battle episode judging by the preview... and it's against the rat grinders and porter/jace! let me out I want PLOT & DIALOGUE fhjy cannot end like this (5 hours straight of battle where they just kill everyone that moves). there's 2 eps left so I really hope they do the last ep as a 4 hour long roleplay only epilogue episode because as we've all seen ending campaigns on a battle leads to frankly really rushed character and world decisions. it's ultra disappointing too because I loved this entire season so much so far. the setup and buildup and plot points and mystery of fhjy is the best they've ever done it in dimension 20 period

ep 18 fhjy battle was a letdown to me... not giving the party an rp episode after 3 hours of loredump + going straight into a final battle without being able to interact with the world after gaining info is bad. they should've had a chance to process everything they learned about house sunstone, porter's plan, the rat grinders being used as ascension fodder, whatever the whole deal behind ambrosia and lucy frostkettle and why they needed a helios cleric in buddy IN ROLEPLAY. I don't want all this stuff explained to me after the battle by brennan or in some throwaway lines in the adventuring party - I want the bad kids to talk to people! I want them to investigate! I want fig to pull some BS with porter knowing the full extent of all his plans. it really sucks for us as an audience too to be hit with all this lore and get approximately 0 time for it to sink into the implications of how the worldbuilding was shaped by it or realizations of "ohhh that's why that happened at the beginning of the season" before we go straight into killing everyone.

with the way this is going I don't have any confidence they're gonna be able to actually empathize at all with the rat grinders too before they start lopping heads off because in battle episodes everyone kind of just. becomes numbers and an objective to take out except for pet favourite npcs of the cast. and they've mostly been interacting with the rat grinders as nuisances all season 😭 I'm PRAYING to be proven wrong and the last 2 episodes of this are fantastic but it's not looking good folks

[mike-haters-dni]

Scalding, unnecessary take that I'm going to use as an excuse to yap about my hyperfixation characters more than anything, but El's character is actually impossible to stick into coffee shop fanfiction No Supernatural Shit AUs. That's Jane you're writing about. Jane and El are not the same person. At all. And like, Jane is interesting to think about, don't get me wrong. I have thought about Jane. I love Jane. She's adorable and vaguely autistic. But Jane != Eleven.

Eleven is the way she is almost entirely because of her experience/trauma of growing up in the lab and having supernatural murder powers. Her main characters traits are being a self-sacrificing hero and not being sure who she is due to the fact she grew up in an isolated sterile inhuman environment. Unless you're directly translating those things into something unsupernatural (like growing up in a fucked up cult or something and like fighting her way out and now she'll fight to protect other people from similar experiences or something idk) you're writing about Jane the normal gorl who got to grow up with a normal personality in a normal world. And like, you can do that. It's fine it's fandom do whatever u want. But personally, the first thing I come up with when I birth an AU is what crazy powers and fucked up backstory we give Eleven here. Also how do we make her and everyone else really fucking cool but that...might be beside the point idk.

The powers have to basically ruin or have had ruined her life at one point. They have to be a curse that she either reclaims or gets rid of at the end. If she isn't tortured she isn't Eleven Stranger Things lmao

And then yeah yeah my next step is to figure out how Mike AND THE OTHERS OK but mostly Mike get involved in this. Which brings me to my next point: Jane and Mike have no real reason to talk to each other. Mike x Jane is just Normal Gorl x Normal Boy which is like, fine sure if that's what you want, but also you kinda just erased everything interesting about their dynamic. You wanna know what makes El and Mike's relationship so compelling? Objectively? I'm objectively right about everything I'm about to say here? Ok their dynamic is this: Eleven is the most important person in the world, and Mike is the only boy who will ever love her. And yeah that second one sounds really sad but 1. yeah it kinda is :) 2. its not really true that's just what El thinks which is like a major theme for her character TO ME, her underestimating how 'normal' she is esp in her later years 3. it also is kinda true because he's the only boy romantically interested in her who actually understands and experienced all the supernatural/lab trauma bullshit and is actively fighting beside her through the plot of the show, and 4. he's literally perfect and also the only boy she'll ever love and need so it all works out.

And to explain the first one, I mean, you know she's saved the world twice right? She kinda literally is the most important person in the world considering its up to her to stop the apocalypse probably in the end? But its not the being important exactly that makes Mike love her ok, that's more of a meta character thing. Like she doesn't have to literally be the key to saving the world and the most powerful being in the universe. Its more that she has to have something really special about her that draws Mike specifically to her and binds him to her permanently and inseparably and he belongs to her forever and ever and they die in each other's arms. Like she deserves. In canon I imagine objectively and correctly that it went like this: Mike is a natural outcast collector and protector due to his pervasive unconscious need to be needed and his fear of losing the few people who like him, who meets the ultimate outcast girl who literally has nothing and needs him in a very real way, and this gives him an excuse to just pour his entire self into her, fulfilling one of his deepest interpersonal needs. The best part is that she's super selfless and amazing and she loves him the same right back so its actually a beautiful thing they get going. Basically the idea of being anything less than perfect for her is so sad and horrible due to how fucked her life was that it drives the already caretaking Mike into overdrive to make her happy. Not at the cost of him still being an individual person, mind you. But that's the vibe. Also let me just say, all the self-sacrificing vibes and obsession and desperation can become toxic under certain circumstances and that is absolutely a feature not a bug. Sorry you don't like watching your faves yell at each other but we are not the same.

Anyway what the fuck was I talking about? AUs? Yeah ok so when translating Mike (AND THE OTHERS...and the others) into other stories there's more flexibility u kno because he's mostly just Some Guy. He really just needs (TO ME) an excuse to be fighting with Eleven (she has to be fighting something with the powers I know you gave her). He shouldn't be directly involved with whatever gave her the powers but he should generally know of and be somewhat affected by it. Or become aware of it/involved with it over time. Like in the show. You get it. Honestly his only real consistent character traits are being kinda moody and being the leader of the party in whatever vague or not way. And being intelligent. Like he has to be leader for a reason. I guess that's a decent base for a character right there.

oh right side note: you have to do something fun with her name. like she was basically branded Eleven by the freak that gave her the powers so u gotta take that energy and translate it into another branded name that has el in it because she needs to get the nickname ofc. unless its a cyberpunk au in which case Eleven is a pretty normal name and she can just go by that lmao.

So the point ig is Jane and Mike break up when they go away to different colleges and don't talk to each other again until their next high school reunion, while Mike and Eleven are...well you should know by now.

[bumblebriez]

Out of this world. (Mark Grayson x AFAB!Reader) Pt.1

SELF INDULGENT

⚠️⚠️⚠️: NSFW content, Gore. Blood. Death. Swearing. Everything else you would see in the show.

This is an interesting one. Mostly self indulgent. This is very much an experiment. For me and you guys. I just had a dream about it and thought I might as well get it down and see how it does.

This is basically just an introduction chapter, they should be longer and not soo rushed. It should follow the story line enough but also not really. Not completely anyway. Strictly my own plot with a mix of invincible plot

This will be a series. Also a crossover.

Reader is Half-Saiyan. Daughter of Son Goku. Who is not present. I'm not going to give off much of the plot right now, because it is a work in progress!

Reader is a bit of a bitch in the beginning but will eventually come around. It just fits the scene for me. I will try my hardest to make the character fit themselves!

Mind the mistakes, I tend to miss them.

**********

**********

It all started that day when Mark first laid his eyes on that very unfamiliar face. She was gorgeous. Stunning. He could not pry his eyes away.

Her long black hair framed her face well; though it was a bit crazy.

Deep dark onyx eyes that held almost no emotion. She was intriguing. Mark was very much intrigued.

Her posture was strong, straight. Head held high but still no emotion. Students avoided her path, splitting up and allowing her to pass.

His eyes followed her down the school hallway, completely ignoring everything his best friend was spitting at him.

"Dude? Where did you go?" William exclaimed, waving a hand furiously in Mark's face; finally grabbing his best friend's attention.

"Huh? What? I'm here. What were you saying?" Mark sputtered, shaking his head.

"You're ridiculous." William sighed deeply, running a hand over his features before starting his dilemma from the beginning. Mark tried to focus on William's words but his mind was elsewhere.

Who was that girl.

The rest of the day was just that. He didn't see that girl again. No matter how hard he looked, she was no where to be found. Completely disappeared.

Mark tried to look around in the cafeteria for this unknown girl but atlas she wasn't there.

He tried asking William but the boy had no idea what he was talking about.

"You do realise there are lots of girls here right?" Mark groaned lowly, feeling like he was going crazy. No one had seen what he saw. It was driving him nuts. There was no way he imagined her up.

His mind was going haywire, could this be another sup that quite literally slipped right under everyone's noses, except his own. Mark couldn't understand why his mind was filled with this one person, constantly filling his brain with all kinds of thoughts. Some good and some bad.

He needed to see her again. 'Obviously' to make sure he wasn't going crazy.

Mark had managed to find a way to preoccupy his mind, his powers had finally decided to arrive, seeing as he had tossed a garbage bag presumably half way across the world.

From learning how to control his powers and basic fighting skills from his father to helping save the world, that girl he saw had completely fluttered from his mind. Almost nearly forgotten.

That was until he saw her again and he wasn't the only one to her this time. She appeared on the school grounds and school bag in tow.

Mark quickly prodded his best friend to turn around and see what he was seeing "That's her! That's her! See I told you!" William's eyes widened slightly before rolling his eyes. Another girl for Mark to basically fawn over and do nothing about it.

"My god. You're ridiculous. I thought you were with Eve." Mark scoffed loudly, shoving his hand in his best friend's face. "I told you we're aren't together. We are just friends." William eyed the boy suspiciously. Then how can he explain that they always end up leaving around the same time. Both missing in action.

That girl caught Mark's eyes once again when she was approached by that asshole, Todd. Feeling a sudden surge run through his body, he was going to intervene. Before he could even make a move to go over there after witnessing Todd grab the girls arm, roughly.

She broke out of his grasp before her knee was thrusted aggressively into Todd's stomach, causing the towering boy to double over in pain.

A stunned Mark stared intensely at the scene that unfolded infront of him. This unfamiliar girl had brought this boy that was much bigger than her to his knees. It was impressive.

A thought went through Mark's mind, thinking she might not be just some normal girl but you never know.

People might surprise you.

Mark had to know who she was. He was determined.

"Damn. New girl's got some grit." William exclaimed quietly as the boys watched her, brush past Todd, leaving him grovelling in pain.

She sure did. She was fearless. Radiating with pride and confidence. No normal new girl. That's why she was intriguing.

For the next few days, Mark would always spot her. She seemed to like being alone. Multiple students would try and strike up a conversation with her but would be brushed off. She had no interest in making friends, it seemed. Bummer for Mark.

Mark would watch as she would purposely find a spot where she wouldn't be disturbed. As soon as someone tried to sit down with her, she would gather her things and walk out without a word. It would seem Mark would have trouble down the line, finding away to converse with the girl.

Mark would later find out her name was Y/N from his trusty and nosy best friend. He thought it was a beautiful name. It suited her well.

"I think you're way too basic for a girl like her." William teased as he shovelled some of his lunch into his mouth, his eyes stuck to his phone. Mark glared slightly at the brunette "Gee thanks for the confidence boost."

"Hey I'm just being honest." Mark waved off his best friend before poking at his food on his own tray. What would he know? I can be interesting. I'm Invincible. A small smirk appearing on Mark's lips; hidden from view. Just a thought.

As Mark was preparing for his next class, grabbing the remainder of his book from his locker. The door closed aggressively on him, thankfully he had pulled everything he needed out. His face flushed red when he realised just who had done that.

"Can you stop watching me." Her voice was like honey for his ears. He was almost awestruck but quickly broke from this trance not wanting to make to the situation more worse.

"Huh? Uh- Was I? I didn't think I was." His hand scratched the back of his head, nervously. For a superhero, he still felt like a dork.

Y/N crossed her arms across her chest, her eyebrows furrowed deeply. Even though she looked angry, she was cute in his eyes. Almost like a dangerous cute.

"You were. Stop it. It's creepy." Without another word, she strutted away from Invincible. Leaving the boy a wreak. Mark felt so stupid and scared that he had ruined the chance to actually get to know her.

Mark gripped his hair tightly, feeling overwhelmed with stupidity. A deep sigh releasing from his throat. Great. Now he's a creep. His mind was running with the thought.

The next time he conversed with her was an interesting one. More than interesting. Insane. It all made sense. Why you were so... strong.

He witnessed it the second time the flaxan invasion happened. Just as they were about to smash those guys into the ground, she showed up; pushing through teen team.

"Woah woah! Didn't you hear us girl. Get your ass out of here!" Rex exclaimed loudly, Y/n just ignored the arrogant teen; her eyebrows furrowed, annoyed. More at the disturbance in-front of the group. How dare they interrupt her peaceful walk.

Invincible hand reached out towards her, wanting to stop her. What could she possibly be doing. She was going to get hurt. Mark was hero, it was his job to look after the people and allowing Y/n to think she could take this own was assisted suicide.

Yeah sure she flipped the school asshole on his back but it doesn't look like she's a superhero. If she was, she wouldn't be showing her face, right?

"Hello? Are you mute? Get the fuck outta here!" Rex went to grab her shoulder but missed, leaving the redhead stunned. How did he miss a simple touch? Like she completely dodge it without moving.

"You know. Your voice is very irritating. I'm only gonna need 30 seconds. Hold your breath." Before anyone could recollect themselves. Y/n slammed her foot into the ground, a crater formed right under her; startling everyone that was surrounding the mysterious girl.

Not too long after, she let out a loud cry, a golden aura enveloping her. Hair snapping from the band that held it back; sticking up in the air. Turning yellow. Her original onyx eyes turned to a piercing emerald colour. Mark thought she was stunning before, now she was majestic. A goddess.

She pushed herself off the ground, soaring through the air; fist pointed right at the aliens. It all happened so quickly. She bulldozed through the whole army. The team couldn't pinpoint where exactly she was, except from bodies that were flying through the air.

"Ka"

Her hands curled up by her hip, a low light emitting from them. She continued to bounce from alien to alien, delivering lethal kicks.

"Me"

The light began to grow brighter, Mark's eyes squinted from behind his googles as it started to sting.

"Ha Me"

One of the aliens tried to grab her, but she jumped into the air, landing a hard blow to his temple, sending him flying into nearby debris, causing a few to start retreating back through their portals.

Everyone gasped loudly as she appeared right in front of them, the light bright and big; a light blue shining over everything, the ground shaking all around. Bits of rock starting to levitate.

"HAAA!"

A very large blue energy beam shot from her hands, her voice vibrating through the air as she thrusted forward. The beam engulfed the whole army, vaporising the intergalactic beings.

Teen team and Invincible shielded themselves from the intense winds that were pooling from Y/n. Struggling to stand in one place; their feet started to slide backwards.

This power.

None of them have experienced something like this before.

Y/n let out a breath she didn't realise she was holding, powering down to her original form; her hair falling to her shoulders back to the dark ebony.

"What the fuuuck." Rex exclaimed quietly for his team mates to hear.

What the fuck was correct. What just happened.

The mystery girl turned to face the teens, brushing loose debris and dirt from her clothes. Mark released his breath that he didn't really know he was holding in. She said she only needed 30 seconds.

That was 24.

"Don't think this will happen again." She spoke clearly before pushing off the ground and shot straight up into the air.

As the guardians stood around, staring deeply at the spot, she was previously standing in. They didn't realise a certain man had appeared behind them. Cecil. The scar-faced man that majority of the guardians worked for.

"Who was that." He growled lowly, having witnessed the entirety of the fight from his monitor.

"She goes to my school." Invincible croaked out.

[motelroomjesus]

Final Love Sea Ramble ｡⁠:ﾟ⁠(⁠;⁠´⁠∩⁠`⁠;⁠)ﾟ⁠:⁠｡

spoilers ahead!

Guys, I'm fucking siiiiiiick. I can't believe it's over. 😭

Yeah, I definitely got attached to the characters, especially Mahasamut. He's never been wrong in his life ever.

Anyway

I already knew how this ep was gonna go. I knew Mut was gonna take a chance since his time there was running out, and I definitely had a premonition (💆) that Rak was gonna have an explosively negative reaction. Tongrak is very predictable. He's so stuck in his ways and in his past that it makes it easy to map out his reactions. But I appreciate Mut's unwavering belief in Rak. He believed that there was still even the slightest chance that Rak might make a change for himself and take a chance on him, on them and Mut's willingness to let go of Rak had he just said "no not interested". He stood steadfastly by him even if Rak tried to push him away. But, y'know, Mut is only human, too.

I knew that break up was bound to be explosive, but Rak throwing such a thoughtful and unique gift, that he saw Mut explain to him with stars in his eyes, almost literally in Mut's face was like kinda crazy. The things he said, bro.... Mut is bearing his heart, and I understand that's really scary for Rak, but fuuuuck. I fully get why Mut's tone turned to a bit of anger and genuine upset. I would feel like my feelings were being made less than too. I think the worst part is that despite it all, even through the argument, Mut is still trying to leave the door open for him until the moment Rak just fully crashed out. Once Mut fully turned his back to him and walked out, I think Rak realized he fucked up big time. But he still expected Mut to stay, to approach him first, to fix things like he always has. Selfish even then, when things were falling apart and the obvious solution was in his hands, at the tip of tongue. He was not thinking about how Mut was feeling or how that truly affected him. His trauma blinded him so much. Poor Mahasamut.... oh the angst of it all omg.

I'm glad Vie ended up intervening for Rak. Vie is such an amazing friend. I think if Rak had been left to his own devices, he would've chosen to rot away from the heartbreak in his house. Vie, my beautiful mischievous lady, I love you. IDC what ppl say about you.

I'm also glad that Mahasamut did not give in when Rak first showed up. I'm glad he barely even let Rak get a word in during that first encounter at the beach at night. I'm glad he scared Raj by pretending to throw the gift out into the ocean. Mut has maintained his composure for the most part. Seeing Rak follow him after not just breaking his heart but also hurting him beyond that, must've stung so bad. I'm happy Rak was forced to suffer the consequences of the very ditch he dug himself. It forced him to acknowledge the way he hurt Mut. It was obvious that he was never conscious of the way his actions and words hurt those around him. Even if his outbursts and reactions were not intentionally malicious, he has to take responsibility. So, I'm glad that's how it played out. He really had to put in the effort for Mut.

I, for one, really really enjoyed this series. I saw some opinions that said they felt the story fell flat and lost substance as the show went on, and while I agree to an extent, I don't think the fall off was that bad. It was still fun to watch, and characters like Mut, Meena, and Vie really kept me seated. Now, my biggest gripe is with the VieMook side plot. What the fuck was the point of it if they didn't even give us a full resolution for them? It was genuinely so frustrating. I think it might actually be my only gripe

All in all, it was a fun series. It was engaging for me and a pleasure to watch. I'm hoping to see fortpeat outside of the mameverse one day, but I'm not forecasting that for the near future.

8.5/10

maybe it's because Fort is in it or maybe it was actually really good.... the world will never know

[featherstorm2004]

Passing on the blade, a Fukuzawa and Akutagawa theory

In the wake of the s5 finale and me rereading the manga I've been looking at the characters more closely than I did in the past, looking for interesting dynamics, similarities, or fascinating possibilities. During this time I have begun to notice the odd similarities in both Fukuzawa and Akutagawa's stories, and after the ending of the decay of anger arc I can't help but feel they're about to intersect.

But first let me explain the similarities I have noticed in these two story arcs. One of the first things I noticed about these two is that Fukuzawa seems to be an Akutagawa who has already gone through his character arc and joined the side of the light, this is because of what we know of Fukuzawa's backstory before he met Ranpoe. He describes it as him not knowing whether he was killing for the sake of his country or for the sake of his own bloodlust, it's clear that despite himself Fukuzawa found some joy or pleasure in killing if for nothing else than to prove his skills and who dose that sound like?

Akutagawa

Of course their reasons for being down such a path are vastly different but the end results are still the same. However, the president was able to realise this and pull himself away from that dark path, and were beginning to see that same transition happen in Akutagawa due to his deal with atsushi. I believe by the s5 finale we've seen Akutagawa enter that grey transition period that we find the president in before he met Ranpoe, where he's not really sure what he wants for himself but he dose know that he doesn't want to be what he was before.

This stage of development I have deemed the "Lone samurai arc" where the characters take time away from their typical organisations or paths to contemplate themselves and the futures they want.

But of course aside form those narrative links we also have one of their strongest narrative connections at this point in this story and that is their respective connections to Fukuchi.

It's clear by the end of this arc that Fukuchi has had a profound impact on both Fukuzawa and Akutagawa's development. He was the one who kickstarted Akutagawa's rebirth by taking his life and forcing him to come to terms with many truths he had been running from on the form of sacrificing himself for Atsushi. Whereas Fukuzawa is left distraught and angry by the end of this arc being incapable of killing his best friend and being forced to go along with Fukuchi and Fyodor's plot, with Fukuchi sacrificing his life for the sake of Fukuzawa and the world.

I am very curious to see this mans future impact on both of their stories as Fukuchi appears to have been the whirlwind that knocked Akutagawa onto the right path whilst dislodging Fukuzawa from his.

There's also the fact that Fukuchi shows explicit interest in Akutagawa as a student, now whether this was genuine is up to debate but I believe it is. as I believe if the offer to train Akutagawa as his personal student is a fascinating choice for Fukuchi, it's very clear he didn't want to kill akutagawa to the point he took out Bram specifically to revive him. But the question is why? well I think it's because during their battle I think he saw a little bit of Fukuzawa in this crazy boy who challenged him and almost won.

After all the only reason Fukichi won that fight was because of the space time sword, otherwise he's have been screwed. And I can't help but wonder did Atsushi tell the others about this interest, will it get back to the president who just lost his beast friend but still has to boy he explicitly chose to spare and wished to teach.

I wonder if that will stir something in him.

This is the part where I enter theory territory but I think after this arc Fukuzawa is going to take a step back from being the president of the ada, at least for the moment. He's devastated at this point in time and probably feels responsible for all that has happened since the entirety of Fukuchi's plan hinged on him being pupated around and Fukuchi in the end got what he wanted, he succeeded. And the entirety of the ada, hell even the entire world had to suffer for that to happen so, he probably won't feel fit to lead the ada.

And this is where Akutagawa comes back into the picture, now he's just survived being killed, turned into a vampire and now the end of the world or whatever the heck happed during the two hours after Fukuchi's death. So, overall the guy has been run ragged and is probably going through a lot physiologically with having to cope with ALL of that.

Plus he's finally shed Dazai's coat and his mentor is on the other side of the world, he couldn't be further away from Dazai if he tried. And I can't help but feel that this is purposeful on Asagiri's part, without Dazai's constant influence for the first time Akutagawa has been given the space to think with a clear head and make his own choices.

And this is where I feel Akutagawa and Fukuzawa's plots will finally start to intertwine.

Now, I think we can all agree that Akutagawa's new outfit is fire but as it's been joked about it looks suspiciously like a knights armour and I can't help but wonder if there's as reason for that. We know from interviews with Asagiri that out of all the Characters in this story Akutagawa is the one who goes through the biggest change, and I can't help but wonder if one of these changes is taking Dazai off of his pedestal and excepting new influences, new mentors into his life.

And that might included Fukuzawa, devastated after his best friends death but also desperate to sooth the guilt he feels for all of Fukuchi's crimes. Maybe he'll feel a kinship with Akutagawa who is just as lost as he is and in desperate need of guidance after Fukuchi shatted his world by killing and reviving him. They might just be what they both need during this trying time.

Plus every knight need his sword and I can't help but feel it would be thematically approbate for Akutagawa to begin welding Fukuzawa's blade or hell even the space time sword as an alternative to Rashomon, a way for him to not solely rely on his ability. It can also represent Akutagawa taking back his power and agency by wearing the very weapons that tried to kill him as a power to protect other and himself.

It could also be seen as Fukuzawa passing on his legacy to the new generation of Double Black and finally allowing himself to rest.

But that's just a theory.

*Edit* apparently there's been Akutagawa and blade symbolism longer then I thought. (Quote from Dazai in the dark era)

[ginevrastilinski-ocs]

Narnia OCs Time!!

It's the my Narnia's babies time! Since it seems like we're all in this mood, I thought it was a good moment to introduce them! (Special thanks to @andromedalestrange and @randomestfandoms-ocs for some fcs, I was getting crazy so thank you darlings!)

Also two little things I feel the need to tell: it's been a while since the last time I read the Chronicles (so don't yell at me pls) and! My ocs are going to be a "fusion" of the books and the movies (Like, taking my favourite things from both and changing what I don't like... Susan not returning at all for example lmao) And! It's me finding a different way to make almost all of them immortal/ageless/slow-aging bc I want them being in more than one movie/book lmao

Last thing, I'm gonna to explain so little about their plot/vibes/actual things so if you wanna know more about some specific ocs feel free to send an ask, I can't wait to talk about them more 🥺

Tagging my Narnia besties @daughter-of-melpomene @come-along-pond @dancingsunflowers-ocs bc I think they would enjoy this (tell me if I didn't have to 🥺)

Nevan Dair - basically Powerful Boy so The White Witch kidnapped recruted him as her little puppet right-hand man (yep, he's a child and there's a lot of manipulation here); meets Edmund and goes on full "I'm going to murder for you" so betrays Jadis; basically immortal (but not really, it's complicated) for the spark inside him; looks like they would kill you is actually a cinnamon roll vibe; Edmund Pevensie ship FC: Kit Young

Margaret "Magpie" Kirke - Digory Kirke's granddaughter; lives with her grandpa bc oopsie dead parents; enters in Narnia with the Pevensie sibs (and becomes a Queen of Narnia actually); will come back once again with them (and the third time she'll stay in Narnia lol); Peter Pevensie & Prince Caspian ship FC: Florence Pugh

Elizabeth "Liz" Pevensie - Edmund's twin sister; one of the ruler of Narnia along side her sibilings; will also be the Last Queen before the destruction of Narnia alongside Aine; Aine Meraxes ship FC: Maisie Williams

Verena Mars - Narnian noble, fights against the White Witch, meets the Pevensie sibs, during their reign her and Susan fall in love; when they come back to the Human World Aslan doesn't let her follow them so she finds a way to become "ethereal"/ageless to wait Susan's come back (is ready to kill Aslan anyone that comes in her way of having her happy ending); basically I'm all we supports women rights and wrongs; Susan Pevensie ship ovb FC: Hailee Steinfeld

Arjuna - The White Witch descendant, semi immortal due the Silver Apple her mother ate; will eventually bretray her mother for saving the kids she befriended; Peter Pevensie ship FC: Freya Allan

Avaluna Lohan Kirke - baby born under the Golden Age; wants to visit the Human World so searches the Door the Pevensie arrived with; basically finds it when they found the Lamp-post so she leaves with them and is now stuck in the Human World; gets adopted by Digory Kirke bc how do you explain it to anyone else?; Lucy ship FC: Elle Fanning

Aine Meraxes - princess of a little independent reign on a Isle on the borders of Narnia; they have dragons lol; the Long Winter didn't get there bc a Coven protects it; gets called for help against the White Witch; is a witch herself; uses a similar spell the White Witch used on Charn after the Golden Age ends; will eventually be the Last Queen of Narnia alongside Liz; Liz Pevensie ship FC: Milly Alcock

Killian Evada - leader of a secret organization that plots against the White Witch; turns out that is actually a human that found Narnia; comes back on Earth with the Pevensie sibs; Edmund Pevensie ship FC: Thomas Brodie Sangster

Shivani - world traveller (basically is born with the power of yellow and geen rings); comes from a world that was destroyed before Narnia was born and has lived for non-specified time in the Wood Between The Worlds; the time there made them kind of immortal; ship TBD FC: Jessie Mei Li

Amaranta Ira - High Witch of Narnia (at least she should be); her ancestors used to be the Second In Command of Narnia's Army before the Age of Winter; became basically the Narnian version of a vigilante during the White Witch's reign lmao; (will probably be with the Pevensie when they come back so she is stuck in England for a long time); Caspian and/or Edmund ship FC: Amita Suman

Leocadius Thorne - comes from a family of librarians basically; actually, keepers of the list of every Narnian Ruler since the beginning of everything; no plot just vibes ship TBD FC: Isaac Hempstead Wright

Merletta of Narnia - Aslan's priestess; just a little bit of plot, mainly vibes; ship TBD (but maybe Lucy Pevensie) FC: Ceara Coveney

Neera Merwyna - siren and pirate (sort of); no plot just vibes; Prince Caspian ship FC: Halle Bailey

Fitzroy Mahogany - Narnian noble? this is literally "I just vibe with this fc but I have no plot, might scrap them but until then..."; ship TBD (Peter?) FC: Douglas Booth

[nellie-elizabeth]

Doctor Who: The Devil's Chord (14x02)

Maybe I'm just a hater? I don't know. I liked this one better than the last in some ways, but I still... hmmm.

Cons:

So, I want to narrow in on what I was noticing about the Doctor and Ruby. There are plenty of moments when they play off of each other just fine, but they become pretty difficult to watch, for me, whenever they enter a mode I'm going to call "dynamic duo putting together the clues". It's that classic beat in many episodes of this show where the weirdness is happening, and the Doctor and his companion are riffing off each other, putting the pieces together, throwing out theories. The way these two do it is just... god, it's like, this weird manic energy where they don't actually riff, one of them just says something and the other one just repeats it in a high-pitched tone with a bunch of exclamation points. It's like they trying to manufacture the proper energy of invigoration by force, instead of their energies naturally feeding off of each other. I can't explain it any better than that.

I also feel like their affection for each other isn't earned; there are a couple of Ruby/Doctor hugs in this episode, the two of them reaching for each other when scared or in danger, that felt so proscribed to me. And there's this moment where Ruby is insisting, worriedly, "but you always have the answer!" and the Doctor has to give her the dire news that he doesn't know the way out of this one, and it just... I don't know. For one thing, this is only Ruby's third adventure with the Doctor, and he didn't have the answers the other two times either. For another, I think it comes a little too early in the episode to be this moment of despair before the turn to triumph, so it just kind of lands flat.

Also, I promise I'm not trying to be a hater just for the sake of it, but the premise of this episode was so thin on the ground. The Space Babies episode had the advantage of having a sort of cogent message, whereas here it's... if music goes away in the 1960s, by the 2020s, the whole world will be an apocalyptic wasteland? What? Like, this idea about music being the highest ideal of humanity, the thing that elevates the human soul... I guess there's sort of something there, but I kept thinking about people who don't like music or can't access it due to disability, or like... people who like music fine but appreciate other forms of art more. It just felt like such a strange thesis statement to state so concretely without really exploring.

And dear lord, the actors they got to play the Beatles looked nothing like them. Which is crazy because I feel like Beatles tribute bands and impersonators must be a dime a dozen, right? I literally had trouble distinguishing which one was meant to be John and which one was meant to be Paul.

Pros:

Again, I didn't hate this episode, I just... couldn't fully connect to it the way I really wanted to. Our Drag Queen villain, the Maestro, was delightfully wild, and I liked the visuals of the music battle, with the Doctor and Ruby getting trapped in instruments.

I also loved everything about the 1960s vibes, the costumes and the sets and that music number at the end: all a great deal of fun. The same-sex dance pairing moments I thought were really excellent! I also didn't mind the references to the overall plot that were woven in here. First, there's Ruby having a song buried within her from the day she was born, with unusual power that the Doctor, and even a god, can't quite understand. Then you have the Maestro departing with the threat that "the one who waits is almost here", so that's a fun bit of tension building.

And the scene where the Doctor teaches Ruby a harsh lesson by bringing her forward to 2024 and showing her the world in ruin... well. I already said I found this premise kind of shaky and uninspired, but I thought the object lesson on the delicate nature of reality was pretty impactful. Ruby listing the way that music and dancing made her life better also worked to personalize the dilemma of the episode for me.

I wish that instead of the Beatles finding inspiration inside their souls or whatever, it had turned out to be just... a random somebody humming a little tune alone in their home or something. The idea that you can't actually take music from people, and that Ruby playing that song on the rooftop inspired something in someone, that would have worked without it literally being John Lennon and Paul McCartney, you know? But even with that said, I did like the conceit of just a little idea in their head, pressed onto the keys of the piano, and that's enough all on its own to defeat our baddie.

I guess I'll stop there? I do feel like I'm on the outside looking in, so far with this season. I've been seeing fairly favorable reviews, and I guess for me it just feels like... well, the energy is certainly different, than it has been recently. But I'm not sure if different is actually the same thing as better? I'm happy that more risks are being taken, and I still have hope.

7/10

[arwatchesandreads]

Falling Into Your Smile (你微笑时很美) 

Finally back to writing reviews. I’ve watched many shows since the last time I wrote a review but I was just too lazy to take notes on the episodes and how I felt. I re-watched this show a whole month ago but didn’t get to write the review because I fell into a slump. I’m back though. This show is super popular because it has Xu Kai as the male lead, and honestly, I enjoyed this show a lot the first time I watched it. However, after rewatching the show I can say I still enjoyed the show, yet, I wouldn’t say it was super crazy good like how I felt watching Amidst a Snowstorm of Love and Love Me, Love My Voice, etc. The characters were fun to watch, the plot was all about e-sports (which I actually really enjoyed), but I felt like it was missing something to make the show better. 

My Rating: 7.5/10

Episodes: 31

Country: China

Genre: Romance with E-Sports

Aired: June 23rd, 2021- July 15th, 2021

Cast:

Xu Kai as Lu Si Cheng

Cheng Xiao as Tong Yao

Zhai Xiao Wen as Jiang Yang

Yao Chi as Lu Yue

Rachel Wang as Chen Jin Yang

Zhou Yi Ran as Ai Jia 

Sun Kai as Xiao Peng

Gao Han as Lao K

Xiao Kai Zhong as Lao Mao

Merxat as Yu Ming

Cui Shao Yang as Xiao Rui

Wang Yi Jun as Lee Kun Hyeok 

Synopsis:

All-male ZGDX e-sports team loses a player due to a hand injury. They need to choose a replacement for the team. 

Tong Yao is a popular female gamer who is known for her skill but also recklessness. She got into gaming through her ex-boyfriend who ended up abandoning her for the OPL world. The manager of ZGDX, Xiao Rui, messages Tong Yao an invite into recruiting her for the team. At first she is not welcomed by the team, especially Lu Si Cheng. However, as they continue to interact and live at the base, she forms a closer bond with the team and an even closer bond with Lu Si Cheng, the captain of ZGDX. 

This drama was adapted from the web novel “You’re Beautiful When You Smile” (你微笑时很美) by Qing Mei (青浼). 

Beware of Spoilers Moving Forward!!!!!!!!!

What Episode did the Main Couple Start Dating?

OMg. They literally take a whole third of the show just to establish the fact they are dating. They are officially together in Episode 21.

I don’t mind slow burns, and in this case it was fine because there is a lot of plot in this show in terms of gaming and the e-sports world. There is also just a lot of hesitation between the two, as her ex-boyfriend, Jiang Yang, was also an e-sports professional gamer and they lost contact because of it, and therefore, she originally didn’t want to have a relationship with anyone in the same field. She also hesitates as the fandom is highkey crazy and a lot of people were convinced they were already dating before, and were already shit-talking Tong Yao for “seducing” Si Cheng. 

Si Cheng asks Tong Yao very casually in episode 20 if she wants to try, and she asks “try what?” and he says, me. LOLOLOLOL I almost died here. In episode 21, she thinks he was joking, and was very indecisive on what to do but she almost confessed in a previous episode so I don’t know what she was hesitating for. She then accepts him later in this episode. 

Misunderstandings?

They have a misunderstanding in Episode 17 after Tong Yao gets into a fight at an event with another lady who was in charge of that event. She pushes the lady and that lady makes a whole video accusing Tong Yao of physically hurting her and it goes viral. Tong Yao gets banned for one game. During this time, Si Cheng isn’t talking to her and Tong Yao is butt- hurt about it. He explains later on in Episode 18. 

There’s also another time in Episode 26 where Si Cheng is acting cold and distant with Tong Yao after the harmful package incident with Tong Yao. He ignores her and acts cold with her for days. In Episode 27, Tong Yao asks Si Cheng if they’re breaking up because he’s been cold, however, he consoles her and tells her he’s just angry at himself that he can’t protect her. 

Love Triangles?

LOOOOOOOOOL This show is essentially a harem. Every captain from almost every team loves Tong Yao akjsndkfjsdfs. It was kinda funny. But jokes aside. There really isn’t a love triangle at all. 

Jiang Yang tries to get Tong Yao back, however, she was very set in stone that she wouldn’t take him back. She explains to Jiang Yang that the reason she doesn’t want to get back with him is because he never treated her as someone who could walk alongside him. 

Another funny character who was obsessed with Tong Yao was Kun from FNC, he was soooo funny. I laughed the whole time his character appeared on screen. He just felt like comedic relief tbh. 

Second Leads Romance

OMGGGG. Ai Jia and Jin Yang were so fun to watch honestly. Zhou Yi Ran. my love. My obsession. My fav c-drama actor. Akjsndfkjsnkdfs. Zhou Yi Ran playing Ai Jia was a delight to watch. The first time I watched him was in When I Fly Towards you and his character is so different in Falling Into Your Smile. Their romance was different, but honestly, very true. Jin Yang had no interest in the world of e-sports but she supported Ai Jia throughout it. She ended up buying his team too LOL. and she helped him reconnect with his mom again after she kicked him out for wanting to be a professional e-sports gamer. 

Falling Into Your Smile Ending

Falling Into Your Smile has a happy ending where they win at the finals thanks to Tong Yao. Then, we watch Ai Jia and Jin Yang get married and Tong Yao catches the bouquet. It was a typical sweet ending. 

Falling Into Your Smile Review- A Fun Romance between Gamers

I gave this show a 7.5/10. I enjoyed it thoroughly as it was a fun show to watch with e-sports, friendship, romance, conflicts, etc. If I’m being completely honest the reason why I can’t rate the show any higher is because I just felt the show was mediocre at best. I don’t know how to explain it. I was happy when the main leads got together, and honestly, some of the conflicts were fun to watch and I understood how they dealt with it. However, it was just a fun watch. I can't say that I was obsessed and eager to finish the show. I think the reason I couldn’t enjoy this show to the fullest was because Cheng Xiao’s acting in this show was mediocre at best. She kind of always had a poker face throughout the show aksjbfksds.

The e-sports plot was fun to watch and I did really enjoy that part of the show as this was my first time seeing a plot like this. The fandom being crazy for the guys were super real, the chronic injuries that professional e-sports gamers face was shown, the stigma of being a professional gamer was also explored. I really appreciated and enjoyed these arcs in the story. 

Falling Into Your Smile is a fun watch where you see pro-gamers explore the world of romance, team bonding, dealing with societal stigmas on gaming, etc. I did enjoy the show and it was a cute, fun watch and I didn’t regret the time I took to watch it. 

[theladyofbloodshed]

I finished ACFTL I wish I could open the Valory Arch, go back in time and forget these books ever existed.

Spoilers ahead for this rambling review.

This was such a boring book. It read like middle grade but that feels insulting to middle grade books. Everything - everything - was spelt out to the reader because they are clearly incapable of making inferences. 1. A seamstress sees the scar on Eva's wrist then mysteriously leaves the room - and then it's explained to the reader later that she left because she must have been informing them of the scar. 2. Explaining that vampires are often called demons due to the story curse, so the demon they are thinking of is actually a vampire. Like yeah, we got that. 3. Explaining that Archer is the man who pulled her out of the well... like girl we aren't stupid.

Once again, Evangeline remains a naive and almost stupid protagonist. 1. Desperately chases after Archer after the assassination attempt, crosses a room then is like actually no I should go to my room, never mind! The definition of forgetting why you entered a room. 2. Her - and other characters - not realising that Wolfric, Honora, and Aurora Vale are actually Wolfric, Honora, and Aurora Valor. It's like pulling a mask off a villain in Scooby-Doo.

There were plot holes and several mistakes that I cannot believe editors and proof-readers missed. For example, Evangeline is bleeding a lot on her gown after taking a knife to the chest but three minutes later - after soaking through her dressing gown - it has sealed. So it surely wasn't deep at all? She was thrown into a well. But also in that paragraph, she was thrown into a wall.

Whilst it's not new to this book, the over the top descriptions are unnecessary. We don't need a paragraph long description of every single outfit in the book. Some of the descriptions make no sense. 'Then, like a pop of soft flowery fireworks, the owners of the voices entered her suite.' What does this mean? When have fireworks ever been soft and flowery? Like in the previous books, there was an attempt at a whimsical, fairy tale fantasy but when the author is beating you over the head with "IT FEELS LIKE A FAIRYTALE" to get the point across, it's lazy. What makes a fairytale a fairytale? Just saying that it feels that way is lazy.

The overuse of words drove me crazy. Everything was little. In the same paragraph, we had a little foolish then a little paranoid. A little broken heart. A little voice. GET A NEW WORD. Speaking of new words, I'm certain a thesaurus was regurgitated - "guards were imbibing" or "diaphanous peach gown".

It felt something like guilt. It felt something like love. Just say it was that!!!!

There was an extraordinary amount of telling the reader rather than showing. Massive info dumps. Pages upon pages of thoughts and talking about a history rather than readers finding out through character's actions.

There was an absolute cop out with Luc. Oh yeah, the vampire pretender for the throne? He's ran away. And that's it. We don't need to tie up that loose end.

I don't even know why Apollo wanted to marry Evangeline? I thought it was just because of the spell in the first book. His motivations made no sense. None of it made sense. It could have been 200 pages shorter because the entire plot was Evangeline bouncing between the two thinking about how cute the world is and how magical fairytales are. I don't understand how they broke Jacks' curse. I miss the Jacks from the Caraval series.

If anybody wants to buy 3 special edition book, let me know!

[secretartquotes]

5 reasons why "Ghost Train" by James Goss is my Favourite Torchwood (non Big Finish) Audio

This is a new thing I'm trying out - maybe I'll do it again, maybe not. It's purely for me and my love for this story but if anyone enjoys this, then good for you. If anyone agrees or disagrees with what I'm about to say - let me know, civilly, this is just my opinions and they're here to be positive, so please, keep the negativity to a minimum. I'm here for the fun and general warm fuzzy feelings this audio story gives me and not to start a war or just an argument.

1. The Performance

Kai Owens performance is the thing that brings everything together to me. He gives an excellent performance as Rhys Williams and just generally has a nice voice. I feel every time I listen to the audio as if I'm there in front of him and he's telling it to me. The character voices he does are really good. I always have to remind myself that it's a one man show not an ensemble cast. He gets Gwen's , Ianto's and Jack's voices just right - they sound uncannily similar to the real stuff. And the voices he does for the new character sound completely different from one another - you really feel they could be the voices of real people. All that really immerses me into the story.

2. The Writing

I'll get this out of the way now at the start - I haven't listened or read all of James Goss's things but from what I've sampled most of his stuff leave me pretty neutral or angry (I'm looking at you 'Almost Perfect'), the only things of his that have left a positive impression on me are Department X , Fall to Earth and House of the Dead, so I'm not exactly an authority on his writing. This time he left me speechless , it was not even before a couple of months that I realised he had written it. I was amazed, because of reasons precisely explained. He gets Rhys's voice so well. He doesn't try to make him out like he is some action hero or that he's Gwen's boring husband - Rhys is plenty interesting and he really understands that. I know that he does - he gets that he is pretty down to earth and that he loves his job, even if it's not as impressive as saving the world, he gets how caring and loving and understanding Rhys is, especially with Gwen. He gets why he's such an amazing character. His descriptions are so evocative - the language is pretty plain , it's not exactly poetic but I think coupled with first person narration , it's a very good in character description that gets what it must across.

3. The Story

I love the story or the plot - it's like a journey. We set out on it knowing where we will end but not how it will finish. The slow burn mystery of what's going on with the missing fridges coupled with the mundane goings-on with Rhys's life and the crazy background world ending Torchwood mundanity makes the story a fun and easy experience. The ending is fantastic, the resolution is amazing and the mystery holds up.

4. The Characters

No story can be without great characters , especially one that has to be in character. And if you don't get the characterizations right you end up with COE. The writing, the performances, the story and the production - it is all fantastic but the uniquely bizarre character choices they made were bad. Most people in the fandom know what I'm talking about. So let's say I'm very happy that everyone is in character - especially the dynamics. Gwen, Jack, Rhys and Ianto are just exactly as they should be at this point of time. Gwen and Rhys's relationship is great and loving and exactly as I like it. Rhys's dynamics with everyone else are also fantastic - especially his camaraderie with Ianto. Great antagonist - mostly in the background but it's not really about them is it.

5. Miscellaneous Stuff I just like for no particular reason

The 3 times Rhys passes out - from having Gwen with him as he wakes , to waking alone in the rain, to finally waking on the ground but Gwen is back with him.

Rhys messing with the coffee machine despite Ianto's protests and the fact he maybe breaks it because they are drinking tea in the next scene.

Gwen's grunts in the morning and her coming off the shower with wet hair and the duvet.

Snoopy mug.

Storage unit with an alien spaceship.

Every exchange between Rhys and the Powells.

The funky music that plays when things are about to get intense.

[jenoutof10]

Hi.... If you don't mind me asking, can I ask, what are your top 10 (or top 7) favorite media (can be books/ manga/ anime/movies/tv series)? Why do you love them? Sorry if you've answered this question before.....

hi! i definitely dont mind, this is such a fun ask so i'm SO SORRY ive only answered now 😭 also im horrible at explaining my thoughts so please bear with me...

1. jujutsu kaisen

i can go on and on about jjk but I'm trying to keep this short so I don't go on an endless rant. OKAY. i love the power system of jujutsu, it's simple but also pretty flexible and creative, i love the historical and traditional aspect of it + how it ties into clan culture, i love how it branches into barrier techniques, reverse cursed technique, binding vows, etc. for characters like gojo in particular i love how he's pictured as the strongest and how akutami shows the gap between him vs all other sorcerers, like he was in a whole different league and how his birth changed/tipped the balance of the world of jujutsu. i love the whole "saving others" thing like how yuuji wants to save everyone, megumi wants to save good people, nobara wants to save the people who mean alot to her, gojo thinking abt how he can only save people who want to be saved, geto wanting to save sorcerers from non sorcerers, etc. i like how the series has aspects of history (like how sugawara no michizane was a sorcerer and how his descendants include the gojo clan is ⅓ of the three main clans of the series, and basically the entirety of tengen (lol)). i love the anime adaptation and how crazy the animation is (when s1 came out i was alr baffled but after watching s2 and looking back at s1 im even more impressed at their development), the manga's artstyle i was a big fan of but now not so much (the scratchyness and alternating thick and thin rough lines around the time of shibuya arc were PEAK). besides that as a buddhist myself, the multiple buddhism references in the series really cemented my love for it as it felt familiar and it feels like ur getting a shout out esp since most shows feature themes of catholicism and christianity.

2. blue lock

i'm honestly unathletic af idk why im here. i think what hooked me was the whole individualistic + egoist concept and the elimination setting (like squid game) 🙏 for me blue lock's prime is [2nd selection, 4v4] until the end of [u20 arc], i really liked the art style during that period! sadly, i feel blue lock has fallen off ever since the current NEL arc, it feels as if theyve deviated from the original ego concept (fuck this whole "protagonism" thing man wtf) and the artstyle has undergone changes im not particular to. also the anime wack af.

3. bungou stray dogs

im going to be honest. i did NOT like bsd. s1-s3 was too all over the place for me and i really did not get the series at all, i actually thought it ended but then they released s4 & s5 in 2023. almost a year since s4 came out, i came around to watching it and i got HOOKED, i think a big factor was that there was less fillers and a lot more action scenes, plus the detective vs mastermind thing truly popped off in s4 + s5. besides that, i enjoyed the introduction of new cast and the return of previous ones (now as allies). sure, there's plot holes and the anime cuts off a handful of scenes but it WAS an incredibly enjoyable watch. plus i'd say bsd has mountains of content (atleast in comparison with other serieses) because besides your usual manga, anime, and occasionally stage play adaptation. you have the alt univ. BEAST, light novels like stormbringer or 55 minutes, wan!, and even bsd gaiden (which has nothing to do w the main series)

4. haikyuu

THE classic. it was the first anime i got into when i started quarantine and it brought back my animanga phase. i love how the characters all have interesting stories to tell, their own motivations and personalities. lots of teamwork, teambuilding, found family(?) aspects, plus all the themes have their own specific themes which i dig a lot (ex. inarizaki and their foxes + shrines). plus i love how this series captures the thrill of watching sports, it MIGHT be overexaggerated to some but i get lightheaded when theyre at match-point and on the verge of losing so it does provide some kind of high. OH and i like that they show realistic wins and losses.

5. hunter x hunter

i have not read the manga but this show was serious to me. i'm a sucker for meta and power systems, and nen is like... actually insane. i love the characters SO MUCH, the variety of designs and appearances, how the series shows the way they grow throughout their adventures and experiences, the way they show a character's relationship with the rest of the cast, etc. it also gives a somewhat nostalgic vibe? i love the opening, endings, OSTs + narrator. it truly does feel like ur tagging along on their adventures, it was a real tearjerker for me tbh.

6. avatar: the last airbender + the legend of korra

i think atla is an amazing show bcs 1. cool setting and world building 2. the cultural references 3. cool dynamics 4. character personalities and development 5. cool power system and fighting styles 6. found family etc etc... ITS A COMPLETE PACKAGE. im p sure not much are fond of tlok but i love it. i think some reasons include the fact that korra isnt like aang, but i think thats what makes tlok interesting, korra is 17 when the show starts and the show continues to follow how she grows and develops into a fully realized avatar both physically and spiritually. i also think its bcs of how they modernized bending and how lots of the cultural aspect is lost but i think its an incredible and interesting way to showcase real life modernization.

7. jojo's bizarre adventure

jjba CHANGED ME 😭 this series is actually insane like if it was a person please get it to a mental ward. i think as an artist, it holds a very dear place in my heart. the show itself is absurd and unbelievable so it keeps you on your toes (dont mind the plot holes and inconsistencies, at some point you're just gonna have to live with it). but the selling point for me is the characters, everyone has amazing, colorful and distinct designs that match well with their personalities and overall air. not to mention the artstyle and references in everything to everything? lol. the show's different parts also feature different main casts, dynamics and storylines, sometimes they do a callback to a previous part.

okay! it was very hard choosing between the 7 of them but i think they actually were the ones that truly left an impact on me. thank you so much for the ask i finally got the chance to ramble about the stuff i consume 😭😭😭 there's a lot of media I'd love to talk about and mention so maybe one day ill make a post on hopefully all the media ive consumed.

honorable mentions:

genshin impact

i started genshin in 2021 when 1.3 came out, i was dead serious about this game during quarantine. i love liyue so much its what truly got me hooked (everything from the music, the sights, etc. for me liyue/pre inazuma was prime genshin), i enjoyed building characters and doing showcases too. started losing interest when sumeru came out and slowly stopped logging in/playing daily. the reason i wont put this in the actual list is bcs im pretty clueless about the new characters and story, nor do i have much interest in them. (i came back to do the lantern rite event, love the new liyue regions!)

detective comics

i love action and fights, especially when they feature powers, so liking superheroes makes sense 🤷 DC gets shit on alot bcs of the DCEU but the films aside i like DC better than marvel. im particular to gotham and the batfam, it's just more dark and gritty, plus there's lotsa drama going on LOL. the gotham knights cast also branches alot like to young justice (I LOVE YOUNG JUSTICE 😭), teen titans, titans, birds of prey, and ofc justice league.

chainsaw man, mob psycho 100, code geass, assassination classroom, neon genesis evangelion, trigun, fairy tail

[mars-misc]

Review: Partials Series by Dan Wells

Hello, everyone! (Salwa, aerkhastisnau!) - Target Audience: Teens & YA - Genre: Science Fiction - One-Sentence Summary: A girl named Kira wants to save humans from a disease and goes on an adventure enlisting the help of Partials (bio-engineered machines) along the way. The Partials series was a series I read when I was young, but have enjoyed it even now. I go back and reread it every once in a while when I feel like delving into that interesting world again where humans and partials are struggling in a post-apocalyptic world. However, as I have gotten older, I do see the strangeness of a 16-17 year old doing all that she has done. I will not spoil it but certain dialogue and the fact that she does things throughout the 3 books that none of the adults and smartest people in the surviving world have managed to do, does stick out to me as silly. But! It is easy to forget that she is her age and just think of her as an adult. So, I found that I can still enjoy it even now and here are some reasons why.

Character development is good. She changed throughout the books and doesn't remain static. Same with the other secondary characters.

Interesting concept of super-soldiers. This is probably the reason why I like it so much. The Partials, being what they are, are pretty cool! They look human but are grown in vats, have a link-system that connects them through breathing, command and rank is built in which can lead to problems because they are literally made not to be able to disobey orders from superiors, and they have the typical super strength, speed, senses; and highly intelligent. They are also built in batches of different models, making each model have a different specialty. From infantry, officers, generals, espionage, drivers, pilots, and etc. They are loosely a hive-mind concept and were treated before the fall like property of the US. Pretty awesome! I found myself wishing that we could delve into them more, see what its like in their "society" during the apocalypse. Just any bit more of information! However, the author did what was good for the books as if we went and dragged it out by showing all the bits about the Partials then it would mess with the flow of the story, probably. But, I want another novella that is set during the present time of the series, Wells!!

The story seems simple, girl finds cure. Incorrect. The 3 books are nicely put together and the cure thing is just a means to get to the real goal, coexistence. The books have ups and downs and inner plots and big plots. Overall, I enjoyed the flow of the story. The first book, I do warn is kind of slow during the first half, but after that the books keep up a good pace and add in little things that you don't see coming. I have a couple smalls mysteries though that I need answers to, Wells! Was it Skinny or Scruffy??? And what was up with the Partial that ran over to them and said something while they were high-tailing it to the bridge???? If I remember correctly, he didn't get to finish what he said or explain why he seemed to be almost friendly to the group.

Con, I did notice that some other reviews mentioned that the last book felt rushed near the end and I do have to agree with them. It has been a bit since I read it, honestly, but I do recall feeling like something was amiss. Like he was trying to wrap it all up and get it all finished and out. He might've been tired of the series and writing it or so. However, it wasn't horrible and totally fine for an ending. Do I wish there was more to read? You bet I wish!! What reader that enjoys a book's world wants to see it end? Anyone that said "yes", are you crazy?! Just kidding, just kidding!.....There better not be anyone that said "Yes". :P

Lastly, this book is pretty friendly towards young people and those who don't want crudeness and a lot of cussing.

As always, if this piqued your interest.... Go try the book out and come back and let me know what you thought! If anyone found something interesting or figured something out in the story, I'd love to read what you found.

Fahl!

[sparklingmusicofstars]

Theory about hamefura : Sora's background

Hello everyone ! I find Sora's character very mysterious, after all we know almost nothing about him. So I wrote a theory about his background. I know it is a bit crazy. My imagination runs wild. Here it is ! Attention spoilers !

The little information we know about Sora is a bit of his life in the slum of Ethenell, his encounter with the man he considered as his family, and what happened to him after being sold. We know absolutely nothing about how he ended up in the slums, or who his parents are. He just knew he was an orphan and stuck with it. In this theory, I guess Sora could have one or even two noble parents. The reasons why I think so:

He's very handsome, so since in this world good looks seem to be hereditary, I think at least one of his parents must have been good looking, although it's also possible that they were commoners. (Like Maria's mother)

He has fire magic which is the most rare element before the light, plus in a kingdom where magic doesn't exist, although they mentioned that it was already quite rare for a commoner to have magic (even if his magic is weak, it's still shocking).

He is very knowledgeable, competent and learns very quickly.

His cool and (to me) very noble way of thinking. And he is also very strong and have a good health, after all he didn't die even if he used to live in the slums for a very long time.

We know that in the kingdom where he was born (Ethenell) it is quite common to have concubines or lovers even married. Which was the case of the king of his country who had so many that it was impossible to count them.

We know that the king's various lovers weren't all from Ethenell (Cezar's mother is a good example) which would explain why Sora has magic, maybe his mother was from Sorcier ?

We also know that the king of Ethenell had many children with his various concubines and lovers (I wouldn't be surprised if there were prostitutes among them) like Cezar.

Sora has sky blue eyes and blue hair, quite showy and quirky features. They don't seem common in Sorcier, and I doubt they are common in Ethenell (while silver hair doesn't shock anyone in Sorcier), let alone commoners.

Sora said that as far as he can remember he has always lived in the slums so he must have started living there at a very young age. I don't think he was an infant at that time, otherwise, given the living conditions, he wouldn't have survived.

When Sora was playing the role of a butler, Catarina called him very talented referring to him as "Sebastian" and that those clothes fit him very well.

I don't know if he was abandoned or if it was by accident that he ended up in the slums but I personally think that the king (or another noble from Ethenell) may have had an affair (willingly or unwillingly) with a Sorcier noble and had one or more children with her and, because of the political conflicts between the two kingdoms, they had to get rid of the children to prevent it from spreading. (or just because he didn't want any children)

Obviously everything I say can only be a figment of my imagination and maybe I think about it too much or read too many novels. Maybe he is like that just because he is a capture target in Fortune Lover and that's all. But I wish that weren't the case, it would give a good twist to the story, especially if the characters had to travel to Ethenell for the plot.

[thegeminisage]

tng liveblog of the day, because, plot twist, we went ooone more evening. this evening's episodes were "the battle" and "hide & q."

i thought "the battle" was GREAT actually. 38 minutes into this episode i told cathy it was watchable and i had to STOP so she could watch it with me but i was genuinely invested and i thought the premise and the effects were generally very cool. even wesley only had one annoying moment that was 5 seconds long. EASILY my favorite tng episode so far

things i loved: introduction of the picard maneuver, the implication that he had maybe fucked up a lil bit (even if they didn't have the spine to follow thru with it), the ferengi first officer relieving his captain of duty when he realized the guy was bonkers, the "ghost" effects during the flashbacks, the SCORE, the empty burned out little spaceship ambience!!

it was actually giving conscience of the king a little bit - something set entirely aboard the ship concerning the dark past of the captain. i really wish they had leaned harder into solving the mystery - i had to rewatch to understand that picard's "confession" voice log was indeed the one faked, and we never found out why the ship picard destroyed attacked them to start with

i feel like whether or not they had had a good reason, picard showing more genuine remorse to the feregi captain for having to take his son's life, especially if we knew he had lost some of his own people, would have really brought together the emotional arc they were trying to sell. it was really REALLY good compared to the other episodes so far it just felt like it needed another ten minutes

also i'm having this problem, and this IS a me problem, this is not any crime tng is committing, but whenever tng DOES do anything good i'm like "damn imagine if this had happened in tos" and so i'm now just imagining that the father of a captain of a ship kirk destroyed came back and gave him ptsd flashbacks to cause him to fire on the enterprise as a means to revenge and bones keeps trying to treat him and gets told to buzz off so he goes to spock behind kirk's back and then when kirk is brainwashed and crazy spock has to decide on whether he should FIRE BACK or LET THE WHOLE ENTERPRISE BE DESTROYED and and and and and.................

and i get lost in my mind palace wishing for an episode that doesn't exist. sigh. big task they had, those tng writers. i bet the housewives were doing this too.

"hide & q" was not good at all, although they had the bones for a good episode in there. i think hide & q could also have used another ten minutes at the end, but actually they did have the time! they just wasted it all on q wearing funny costumes and napoleon aliens. which. sure.

almost all of my problems with this episode could have been fixed with another ten minutes. for example: after getting q powers will went nuts too quickly. i think if he had gotten them at the start of the episode and remained steadfast and not cracked until they found the dead girl i would have believed it much more.

AND ANOTHER THING: giving everybody their heart's desire. this was easily the best scene in the episode and we rushed right through it. the worf stuff was fucking horrible - this snarling woman in fishnets who gets slapped around and has no dialogue - but his line, "that world is now alien to me," was REALLY intriguing and we got nothing else about it. also we got a throwaway line talking about the klingons being defeated? girl since when?? i'd looove to know anything about worf ever. unfortunately.

it's a particularly cruel trick with geordi and data - data at least got to refuse and explain why (i did love his momentary panic though), but geordi's whole shit got rocked. he's gonna be thinking about those 30 seconds of sight for the rest of his life and kicking himself for turning it down. if this episode had leaned into that moment of cruelty, even done with good intentions, it would have held up the moral a lot better. instead we got weird klingon sex rituals and also whatever was going on with tasha

here's the thing. i kind of like that she cried despite being so stoic all the time otherwise bc it gives her depth, right? in spite of how horribly they treat her she's definitely my fav female character rn. but firstly the reason she cried was kind of dumb and SECONDLY when picard was like "tears on the bridge are excused when one is in the penalty box" in the kindest most fatherly tone ever and REALLY endeared me to both of them they immediately ruined it by having her FLIRT with him???

anyway, that episode could have been better. conceptually it kind of fucked. execution wise it sucked. also lmao riker didn't grant any of the women's wishes <3

[knolkovu]

Silently losing my cool over recent anime I've watched because they're all "almost" stories.

They've got everything they need to be amazing and you can clearly see the intended story ark, but they're just not. I don't know if the animators didn't have enough time or resources or if the source material is just genuinely an unrefined product.

It's one thing with the newer anime having multiple cut corners in their animations, but the story issues have me reeling inside. Great characters, great storyline concept, but terrible execution like they've skipped the nuance and development.

Randomly throwing in character development that doesn't make sense for their current relationships with other characters, like yes it's tragic but they aren't close enough for it to be as important as it is. Throwing in bonds of love & friendship for characters that aren't fast friends, were disagreeing or even fighting each other only an hour ago and haven't had a real conversation with each other until this heartfelt moment with zero emotional weight for the viewers.

You can clearly see how they could eventually get that relationship if the lead up was actually more detailed and spread across more episodes or just in world time.

Then there are times were multiple questions are answered in a single moment that don't organically fit together with the situation for them to be answered so forcefully and in many cases lead to more questions that are never answered. Pacing things as quickly as possible so you don't have time to process the new information and force the finale to play out in worse shape than it could have been.

Villains not having clear origins or motivations. They just appear, cause shit, leave and get emotional, but aren't just doing it for fun nor just because they're crazy. They've got reasons and palpable intentions that get skimmed over with passing comments that aren't good enough to explain why they do things, but are somehow the answers while being wholly open ended. One anime I watched gave the villain monologue time and it was roundabout, nonsensical and somehow easily understandable and shocking for the MCs while the side characters are also monologuing elsewhere about the villain's intentions and have by some miracle got the right answer despite there being zero context clues upto that point and they just somehow figured it out. It's like if Sherlock Holmes didn't explain anything and just said, "trust me bro," after finding the culprit and people just accepted that like it makes sense to blame this random suspect.

There are some cases of characters encountering things that are clearly important and are contextually major plot points that could shift the whole story that are dropped to make the finale happen. Even cases of characters using brand new, never before seen powers with zero explanations as to how or when they got that power and why they didn't use it before.

These anime have context without impact and development without lead up and it's so annoying to me. They're so close to being good, but everything was forced together and made the key points disappointing and hollow.