#(narrator: ... but the big engines couldn't)

[mean-scarlet-deceiver]

also imagining FC1, in the Tense Meeting i definitely think he had with Edward off-screen, concluding that he can't think of a worse punishment than Edward having to do Thomas's job (deal with the big engines and their shit) for a while

and Edward (who could have definitely thought of something worse, by this point if he'd been grounded in the sheds for even a single day he would have instantly turned to dust) just scarcely, for the sake of pure friendship, trying to work up the nerve to venture to hint that maaaybe the fact that Thomas's job is the worst punishment FC1 could think of was the entire fundamental problem here

[v6quewrlds]

❝ sky full of stars, j. burrow. ❞  ‎ ‎ ┉  

‎ ‎ ⁎⠀┉⠀summary: joe's a big space nerd. you're a big space nerd. it's a match made in space nerd heaven.

‎ ‎ ⁎⠀┉⠀author's note: literally laid awake last night thinking about this. decided to write it during my lecture. short and sweet but i love writing joe in love. suppressing the urge to cite my sources on this lol. ty to wikipedia's black holes article <3 also don't worry y'all will still get a game day fic on sunday 🙂‍↕️

‎ ‎ ⁎⠀┉⠀warnings: science talk, general cheesiness.

‎ ‎ ⁎⠀┉⠀pairing: joe burrow x nasa engineer!reader.

‎ ‎ ⁎⠀┉⠀word count: 1k.

Your eyes scanned the living room, your gaze lingering on the framed LSU jersey hanging on the wall. A soft chuckle escaped your lips as you thought of Joe's insistence on displaying his pride so prominently in his Cincinnati home. Despite his celebrity status, he remained as down-to-earth as the day the two of you met eight months ago, a quality you cherished deeply.

The gentle hum of the air conditioner filled the quiet room as the documentary's narrator droned on about black holes. Joe's breathing grew even and steady, his head comfortably nestled in your lap. You felt his hand twitch in his half-sleep, his thumb brushing against your thigh through the fabric of your shorts. You gently stroked his hair, a soft smile playing on your lips.

Your thoughts drifted to the upcoming mission you were helping to prepare at the Johnson Space Center. The excitement of possibly making more discoveries on your Mars probe was palpable, and you couldn't wait to get back to Houston. Yet, here you were, feeling more content than ever, with a man you never thought you’d end up with. The rhythmic beat of Joe's heart against your palm was a reminder of the love the two of you had found amidst your two dramatically different lives.

You leaned back, your hand still cradling Joe's head, and refocused on the documentary. The TV screen flickered with images of stars, galaxies, and cosmic phenomena that you knew so well from your work, yet seeing them here, in Joe's home, made them feel so much more profound.

“So, how do black holes, like, eat stars?” Joe’s sleepy voice interrupted the silence. His eyes remained closed, but his mind was clearly still processing the information he had been hearing.

“It’s not so much that they eat stars, but rather they have such intense gravitational pull that nothing can escape them, not even light,” You explained, your voice a soothing murmur. You felt Joe’s head shift slightly, his curiosity piqued.

“So, it’s like a cosmic vacuum cleaner?” He mumbled, a hint of a smile in his voice.

You laughed, the sound echoing lightly in the room. “In a way, yes. But a vacuum cleaner you definitely don’t want to get too close to. Once something enters a black hole, it’s gone forever.”

Joe’s eyes fluttered open, and he looked up at you, the corners of his mouth tugging into a smile. “How can something be that powerful?” His gaze was earnest, the curiosity in his eyes warming your heart.

“It’s all about the mass and gravity. When a star dies and collapses, it can become so dense that its gravity is just too much for anything to resist. Not even light can escape, which is why we call them black holes. They’re like the universe’s trapdoor.” Your voice was soft, your eyes shining with the same enthusiasm that had captured Joe’s attention when you’d first described your job to him.

Joe nodded, his eyes drifting back to the TV screen. His fingers twined with yours, and you felt a gentle squeeze. “And what happens when something does fall in?” His question was genuine, his curiosity a bridge between your worlds.

“Well, we think that anything that gets too close gets stretched out like spaghetti. But before that, it passes the point of no return, gravity gets so intense that it bends time and space itself. It’s like nothing we can truly imagine.” Your words painted a vivid picture in the quiet room, your voice a mix of wonder and knowledge.

“You’re like nothing I could truly imagine. You’re like my own black hole, pulling me in with your brilliance every day.” Joe’s words were a gentle whisper, his blue eyes opening to find yours, a warmth that didn’t quite match the cosmic chaos on the screen.

Your heart fluttered. “You’re not so bad yourself, Mr. Heisman.” You leaned down to kiss his forehead, your smile tender. The room felt smaller, the universe’s mysteries forgotten as the two of your shared a moment of quiet intimacy.

The documentary played on, but your attention had shifted. Joe’s hand found yours again, fingers interlocking. He pulled himself up, dirty blonde hair messy from rest, eyes squinting in the light. “You know I’m going to keep asking questions until I understand everything you do, right?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Joey. You know I love talking about this stuff with you.” Your voice was filled with affection as you reached for the remote and paused the documentary. The room was bathed in the soft glow of the TV, the only light source in the otherwise darkened space.

Joe sat up, his hand still holding yours. He leaned in, your eyes locking for a brief moment before your lips met in a gentle kiss that grew in passion. His arms wrapped around you, pulling you closer as you shifted on the couch to face him. Your kisses grew deeper, a silent declaration of your love and appreciation for one another’s differences and shared moments of wonder.

As you pulled apart, Joe whispered, “You know, I still can’t believe you agreed to go out with me. A guy who throws a football for a living asking out a NASA engineer.” His self-deprecation made you laugh again, the sound music to his ears. “Still not sure why you’re with me.”

“Why not?” you said, your voice filled with warmth. “You’re smarter than you give yourself credit for, Joe. And you’re incredibly good at what you do. Maybe not launching rockets, but you have your own kind of rocket science going on out there on the field.”

Joe chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest and into yours. “You always know what to say to boost my ego.”

“I’ll say whatever it takes to get me ahead of Ja’Marr in your heart,” you teased with a laugh, leaning forward to steal another kiss from his pink lips. The warmth of his breath tickled your skin, sending a shiver down your spine.

Joe’s arms tightened around you, his eyes lighting up with mischief. “I don’t know, he’s pretty good at catching my throws.”

“Well, I’m pretty good at catching your heart, so I think we’re even,” you quipped back, your eyes sparkling with love and amusement.

Joe’s chuckle grew louder, the sound rumbling through the room like thunder. He leaned back, pulling you with him until you were lying on top of him, your legs draped over his. “You definitely win that title, babe. No contest.”

Your smile never left your face as you looked down at him. His strong arms wrapped around your waist, holding you in place. You felt his heartbeat beneath you, a steady drum that matched the rhythm of your own. The air between the two of you was electric, the kind of charge that could spark a star into existence.

[toomuchracket]

Ok not smutty (not necessarily at least) so feel free to ignore but I was listening to the nyer radio hour and having bday party thoughts… does girly record her own audiobooks? Or maybe she doesn’t usually but chooses to do the audio for an essay she wrote for anthology and matty goes with her to the studiooo. Tbh I have no idea how any of that works, maybe she records it at home studio lol I’m feral for that au if you can’t tell

the essay collections haven't made it into audiobook form yet and your novel was actually narrated by florence pugh (big fan of yours. when she found out amy was named after little women she sent her a gift lmfao), BUT when condé nast come calling about radio hour and ask you to read a piece they just published of yours... you jump at the chance. they offer to set you up with studio time and a sound engineer, but before you can reply to the email matty's like "nahhhhhh you don't need them. i'll record it for you!! we'll make time in the studio for you next week!!", and he's so excited about his Bring Your GF to Work day idea that you agree. so, the following week, he practically skips into the studio holding your hand and leads you into the booth and explains how it all works - and takes a pic of you with the headphones on cos "oh my fucking god you're so cute" - before letting you record in peace. well, not quite; he sits at the deck looking at you lovingly, so lovingly that he forgets hit the button and your entire first take goes unrecorded lmfao. the second time is a lot better, although he's too busy running into the booth to hug you and be like "you're a natural. i should get you on the next 75 record" to forget to hit stop, so that and you replying with a giggle and a "me? i couldn't be on an album. what would i even do?" - naturally, then, that clip of you closes one of the songs on the next 75 album, a love song about you and how happy matty is to be with you (his version of everywhere by fleetwood mac, he likes to say lol). but yeah! the essay is a hit with the listeners, so that's definitely not the last time you go to the studio with matty to work on your own shit. cute <3

[littlewestern]

favorite non-engine exhibit at the MSI?

I see that you have sent a variant of this question to me and @greatwesternway so let me start by thanking you for that! Gives me the opportunity to point out that she has answered in the *spirit* but not the *letter* of the question, and I never miss an opportunity to nitpick as the Winton is, of course, an engine. I understand the assignment, however.

There are a few objectively good answers to this. I'll start by naming my runners-up as well since I'd be remiss in not mentioning them.

One I didn't expect to like as much as I do now is actually the Fairy Castle. When I was young I never really "got" this exhibit and might have even missed it on a couple of grade school field trips since it is neither science nor industry. In fact, on our last trip to the MSI, I asked DJ point-blank what she thought the castle was even doing here in the first place. DJ said, quite simply, that she thought it was a way to get girls to go to the museum at the time, and I couldn't argue with the logic. It's just a big dollhouse.

But the room it's in is very dark and - owing to the waning popularity of the exhibit - usually quiet, which is always welcome. The ambience is nice, and each side of the dollhouse has a directional speaker over it that narrates a little story (complete with airy music and soothing nature sounds) about each room and points your attention to specific objects inside it. When you allow yourself a moment to be immersed, it can actually be a novel experience.

The attention to detail can be genuinely breathtaking, and I think there's merit to having something like this around even if it doesn't necessarily fit the theme of the museum itself. And kids are still enjoying it to this day! When we went last, we were letting the small children in front of us inspect the garden when one of them turned to us and asked if we could see the fairy the narration was talking about, because he couldn't find it. It was very cute.

It's hard to indicate the scale of these things without seeing it in-person, but the larger rooms are big enough to stick your head inside. My favorite rooms are the bathrooms because the tubs have fake water in them. I love fake water.

Another one I make a point to stop in on when I'm there even though it objectively contributes nothing in its current state is Yesterday's Main Street, which I will show to the best of my ability. Because it's so dark down there, it photographs like dog ass so it's hard to really capture why I find it so charming in images alone.

Yesterday's Main Street puts you in the shoes of a 1910s Chicago resident where you walk along a (very, very wheelchair unfriendly) cobblestone street complete with curb and sidewalk past period-accurate storefronts and down to a little movie theater that shows a reel of 10 silent films on a loop.

It's another spot that's quiet, dark, and mostly disused. This doesn't rank higher because it's another exhibit that contributes very little to actual discussion about science and industry and hasn't been updated in probably 20 years or better. It feels dated, not vintage, and I suspect it will be on the chopping block very soon.

That said, I don't think it's a waste of space or anything. The MSI's traveling exhibit space often features things from popular film franchises, and there's room here to talk about early film as an industry or the ways in which a shopping district street from 1910 undergoes infrastructure changes in the course of 100 years. Like, this isn't a total swing and a miss, but it would need so much extra investment of time and money to bring it in line with current exhibit standards, I just don't think it's feasible. I'm very interested to see what is done with the space in the next 10 years or so.

Okay so after all that. What's my favorite non-engine exhibit at the MSI?

I don't think anyone expected this, but I have a few good reasons for why I chose YOU!. This is, in my opinion, the best example of the MSI's ability to modernize their science exhibits. There are a ton of little diversions and screen-based games but it also makes sure to incorporate the museum's history in a way I think is modern and sensitive while still being educational and fun.

If you know the history of the MSI, you'll know that body science has always been one of their primary interests. The giant walk-through heart was a cultural touchstone for children in Chicago, and anyone my age and older will remember it as a right of passage for any grade school science field trip.

It stood there for over 50 years! At some point, it stopped justifying the space it was taking up. What once impressed children in 1954 no longer lights up the eyes of the jaded youth of 2024. Or even 2004. The hard truth is it had to go. But the replacement circulatory system diagrams are interesting, in an open and inviting space, and make the inside of the human body seem much more natural and inviting and less... monolithic and intimidating. I think this is a good change.

The fetuses and body slices are a similarly positive change. The MSI has an extensive collection of real, human specimens which they have displayed in various ways over time. Not all of these were obtained in a way current societal standards would deem unobjectionable, but the fact is the samples are here now. Rather than hide them in storage, YOU! puts them in the best context they can and gives the spaces (in my opinion) both dignity and purpose. You can argue whether or not that's the correct thing to do, but I think there's value in having that discussion and using the exhibit as a vector to do so is another way in which I think YOU! is quite modern and educational.

It also has a "Create An Ad" game which prompts guests to think about the ways in which media can influence us, which is a pretty abstract concept to introduce in an exhibit that could easily just be about the mechanical functions of the body. Taking the idea of "you" as a person away from the esoteric and medical and into the realm of the real, the present, the everyday, is what childrens' museums should be all about. Also the game is fun!

Before the 2020 renovation of the Pioneer Zephyr exhibit, I think YOU! is the best example of the MSI taking their old, weird, sometimes controversial (and maybe even boring), stuff and updating it to be interesting and modern and fun again. It's old now, so there are some things that could use another overhaul, but it's much closer to what I think the ideal science exhibit at the MSI should look like.

Thanks for the ask!

[atlantis-archive]

Audrey Lets Off Some Steam!

Written by: Michael Stewart Pencils by: Erik Doescher Inks by: Jim Amash Published in: Disney Adventures Collector’s Issue! Atlantis: The Lost Empire Volume 11, Number 6 (pg.72-75). Publisher: Buena Vista Magazines Inc. Publication date: circa July 2001.

Text:

Page 1: Mole: [Sacre bleu! The Digger is out of control!] [Stupid! You are a stupid machine!] Audrey: [Have you got rocks in your head Moliere!?!] [I told you to stay out of that thing until we reach Atlantis!] [Shake a leg, you guys!] [That machine can bore through solid stone--you do not want to get in its way!] Narrator: [All systems are go as the massive undersea vessel Ulysses begins its quest to find the lost continent of Atlantis.] [But down in the ship's garage deck, chief mechanic Audrey Ramirez already has a big problem!]

Page 2, Panel 1: Milo: [Excuse me, I'm Milo Thatch, the new ship's linguist] Audrey: [Good grief!] Milo: [I was looking for the crew's quarters, but I got a little--] Panel 2: Milo: [--lost.] [Oh my!] sfx: grab! Panel 3: Mole: [This is not happening] Audrey: [Out of the way, linguist!] [Or don't you know the meaning of the word "squashed"?] Milo: [Oof!] Panel 4: sfx: KER-SMASH! Audrey: [Why are you running a digger in my garage, Mole?] [You figure maybe Atlantis is hidden on the other side of that bulkhead?] Mole: [Now I must go!] [So much to do!] [Preparations to be made--on the other side of the ship!] sfx: VRRRRRRRR

Page 3, Panel 1: Audrey: [There it goes! Right through to--] Mole: [Ack!] Panel 2: Audrey: [The engine room!] [You there--damage report!] mechanic: [Just a scrape on the leg, I'll be fine!] Audrey: [Damage report for the engine room, if you don't mind!] mechanic: [Oh! The automatic steam release valve was crushed!] [We have to stop the engines--] Panel 3: text: DANGER mechanic: (from offscreen) [--we're building up an incredible amount of pressure!] Panel 4: Audrey: [Shut the engines down during a mission?] [Not while I'm chief mechanic!] mechanic: Wait! Panel 5: Audrey: [I'll open that valve manually!] mechanic: [It's too dangerous!] Audrey: [You're probably right about that!] sfx: PSHHHH Panel 6: sfx: PSHHHH Audrey: [The pressure's reaching the breaking point! The engines can't take it!] [Time to let off some steam!]

Page 4, Panel 1: Narrator: [Once the immediate danger is over...] Audrey: [Hoist that hunk of junk back to the garage deck--pronto!] [And let's un-crush that release valve--] [--before we all take a steam bath!] Panel 2: Rourke: (over speaker) [Bridge to engine room! Come in, Audrey!] Audrey: Oh great...] Panel 3: Rourke: (over speaker) [Rourke here. Just wanted to congratulate you.] [We're on course and running at full power.] Panel 4: Rourke: [More than full power, in fact!] [How do you manage to coax that extra steam pressure out of the boilers?] Audrey: (over speaker) [Uhh... hey, no big deal... just gotta keep things in tip-top shape. As usual, sir!] Rourke: [You're some kind of miracle worker, Audrey! Rourke out.] Panel 5: Audrey: [-:Whew!:- You don't know the half of it!] sfx: PSHHHH Narrator: [The end!] [But where's Moliere? Turn to page 76 and see!]

Notes:

This story takes place between the Ulysses launching and Milo meeting Mole and Sweet in his bunk. As you can see here the engine room and vehicle storage are at nearly opposite ends of the ship, and separated by munitions storage and the Sub bay. So we have to assume Mole's joyride was slightly longer we see here. This, of course assumes that the layout isn't contradicted by other sources such as the Visual Guide. We are introduced to three unnamed mechanics:

Mechanics 1 and 2 are wearing yellow shirts and grey overalls, which might be the garage uniform. I don't recall if we see any of these uniforms in the film. 3 (the only one with dialogue) is dressed in a white shirt and blue overalls which matches the ones we see in when the Ulysses starts flooding, which may mean it's the engine room's uniform. I couldn't see his glorious mustache during that sequence, though.

[chain-draws-stuff]

Hold up- I haven't posted my checkpoint au in 2 days holy shit wait- *found it* found it! *posts*

Hey sorry for taking to long for posting this au I was really busy with school and my assignments...sooo as in return I wanted to post the 6th chapter of EndKing!Steve AU! Sorry for keeping you guys waiting!

END KING! STEVE AU

CHAPTER 6

Watching lies.....

Narrator pov:

As night had passed by,Shaw got up from his bed his hair messy and shirtless. He got out of bed heading downstairs and went to he bathroom taking a quick shower. After he was done he got back upstairs to get changed to his normal police officer clothes, as he steps foot out of he house feeling the fresh air flying by and started heading for the garage. Shaw opens the garage door, grabbed his car keys and sat in the driver's seat. He started the car engine and drove off as the garage door became to close shut now heading to Chris and Austins house. But Shaw couldn't stop worrying about the boy, he must have been kidnapped or...worse...

IN CHRIS AND AUSTINS HOUSE

Narrator pov:

Chris woke up first (obviously) while Austin and G.U.I.D.O were till sleeping. Chris went down to his laboratory to check if anything was touched or stolen...

!CRASH!

Chris turned around to see one of his potions shattered and fallen over...but who did it? It's not like there's a ghost living in his basement or anything. When Chris came to see the damage that the shattered potion did he noticed...purple liquid. He substance began melting through the ground leaving small holes on the floor where the potion shattered and fell. Chris looked around to see if something was stolen or missing but luckily none were taken. He sighed at relief still suspicious (sussy??? haha ok ok I'll stop XD ) about what happened to one of his potions. Chris got out of his laboratory heading to the bathroom to take a shower. After he was done he went back upstairs to get his casual clothing his long sleeves and is casual armor he always wore. He got back downstairs to cook breakfast (I want u guys to guess what he's cooking >:) ).

Austin woke up the delicious smell of eggs and bacon in the morning. G.U.I.D.O to also finally woke up Austin carried G.U.I.D.O til. They were downstairs Austin still had there pajamas on and G.U.I.D.O still had there little hat (idk what its called). After they were done eating Austin went to the bathroom to take a shower.

After waiting for Austin to shower and change Chris went to the door opening it seeing Shaw already there at his door! (Whoa that was fast) just in time

Chris:hey Shaw! Your early today...what's the big deal?

Chris questions Shaw forgetting the conversation they had last nigth

Shaw:have you forgotten?

Shaw questions Chris, replacing his question with his own. Chris tries to remember the talk they had last night eventually...

Chris: ohhh! Yeah! The investigation we scheduled that night! Almost forgot about that hehe...sorry sarge

Chris says feeling embarrassed for almost forgetting what he told Shaw that night. After that awkward talk Chris told Austin and G.U.I.D.O that they need to do an investigation at the end portal...where it all began.....

WHEN THEY GOT TO THE END PORTAL BEING MORE THAN 40 MILES-

Once they finally got to the portal they see that the problem must got even worse...the endstone was now across the caution tapes and started to turn the overworld into a floating wasteland...Shaw was in fear and shock it was the first time this had happened in more than a century! This could be the END of the world. Without Steve the earth was doomed, they have to move fast because this could lead to an infestation. Chris had seen nothing like it...but have heard of it...this wasn't just an infestation...it was a beginning fight between WORLDS. The end had found its new KING. Meaning the NETHER KING would rise up to the nether's surface by any second...

Chris was walking around going through the caution tapes looking for clues on who or what started this...he couldn't get something off his mind...where he threw Steve's lying corpse into the portal...he felt guilty for that to be honest he actually loved Steve not as a friend but...as his uhh (guess you guys what I'm already talking a out at this point but eh...) boyfriend, he couldn't bare to betray him like that but he lied. He lied to all of them...his friends, Shaw, Austin and even him...he couldn't hold back his rage for much longer...so he did what has to be done...ENDING STEVE HIMSELF 

When Chris, Shaw,  G.U.I.D.O and Austin were checking out the portal they couldn't help but feel a strange feeling...like they were being WATCHED...

??? Pov

???:hold on little more longer little mortals...soon I will be claiming this dimension once and for all...

End of chapter 6

First chapter/previous/next

[kylesvariouslistsandstuff]

A real change of pace... To cool off... Here's a hyperfixation of mine that dates waaaaay back, to when I was little...

THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE & FRIENDS...

I've been thinking about the show's third season (1991-92) lately, for some reason.

Season 3, as I had learned in the recent years, was filmed in two separate portions - unusual in that every season in the classic series (approximately Seasons 1-7, 1984-2003ish) was typically filmed in one go. Not Season 3, for whatever reason.

It's been speculated by some fans that a showcase of the many props in London sometime in late 1991 impacted the filming, thus newer sets were built to accommodate the last portion of episodes. Maybe something else came up. Maybe something pertaining to the Japanese special THOMAS AND THE U.K. TRIP. Who knows...

And upon knowing the season's production history, you can't unsee it...

The first portion of Season 3, first released all at once on VHS - albeit with alternate, earlier narrations from Michael Angelis - in the UK in November 1991:

vs.

The second portion, aired in the spring/summer of 1992:

I kind of look at Season 3 as the coziest one. If Season 1 had a more pastoral, simplistic look with a chuffy synthesized soundtrack, and if Season 2 had a more dirty, sooty, industrial look... Season 3 is bright, colorful, cute, just warm and cozy really. Especially the nighttime scenes, which are real standouts here. Glossy models and softer faces constructed for the engine characters, too.

The music, composed by Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell, is what holds the season together - tonally, along with Angelis' narrations - or George Carlin's, if you grew up with the U.S. version like I did.

Sets in Season 3, Part 1 included the likes of Henry's Forest in addition to a lot of countryside paths, and a much more spacious beach. Knapford is the big station here, while Tidmouth is the big station in Part 2. The roundhouse interior is a real giveaway, too. Season 3, Part 2 seems a little greener, you have the the three-way set (bottom left), those big harbor buildings (top right), and the castle tunnel. Whatever the story called for, they built it: A scrapyard that Oliver escapes from, the China Clay Works, Bulgy's bridge, etc. Even without their major sets, they still made up for it with the new ones.

It's still quite cohesive and distinctively season 3, but someone like me? I notice the minute differences. You can easily tell which episode is 3A, or 3B.

Season 3 is one that I didn't have much of on VHS growing up in the late '90s/early '00s. I had seen pretty much all of them via tape volumes I rented back in the day, or through SHINING TIME STATION when it returned to air in 2000 to promote the movie. SHINING TIME, the show that essentially trojanhorsed THOMAS onto American airwaves. The VHS tapes... Particularly the volumes "Thomas Gets Bumped", "Daisy", and "Percy's Ghostly Trick". All grab-bags of episodes from the first three seasons - but they had those Season 3 episodes I often couldn't come by. They were elusive in a way because of that. Everything else I saw was via a compilation tape, like "Thomas' Christmas Party" and "10 Years of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends".

And years later, I would be surprised to learn that an episode like 'Henry's Forest' was from that period - it feels like it could be a stealth Season 2 episode, albeit a calmer and less industrial-looking one. Maybe because it was on the aforementioned Christmas tape, my brain - as a 7-year-old kid - placed it in that era. Ditto 'A Scarf for Percy'. When I got a little bit older, I was able to place - sort of aesthetically - where each episode fell. A skim through IMDb would also help. Most I could reckon were from the '80s, and the rest from the early-to-mid '90s. Even with George Carlin narrating the majority of them.

Something about those episodes hit different to me when I was little, for sure, so I have a bit of an odd soft spot for them despite how I feel about that season overall. I think SHINING TIME's aesthetics and look also helps. I watched STS whenever it was on, as a really young kid circa 1995-96ish? I would remember asking "Why do the trains have faces? But no cowcatchers?" Then it was just the Thomas stories on VHS after that. I wouldn't really check out STS again until reruns came to Nick Jr., again, to promote THOMAS AND THE MAGIC RAILROAD - which Shining Time Station itself was a big part of. And yet my head links that season and STS, more so than 1 & 2. The coziness of both, the nostalgic American train station setting of STS and the comfy visuals of Season 3, just goes together quite nicely. Throw in some unrelated other things I loved back then, and that's one of my nostalgia cocktails in a way lol.

[rygoespop]

Thomas and Friends: Tales from Sodor (Story 16): The Japan Trip

Narrator: The Japan Trip

Scene transitions to Sir Topham Hatt, arriving at Tidmouth Sheds, to see the 9 Engines

Narrator: One morning, Sir Topham Hatt arrived at Tidmouth Sheds with a letter

Sir Topham Hatt: Good morning Engines! I got a letter, from Japan!

Thomas: A letter? From Hiro!?

Sir Topham Hatt: Yes! It's a special job!

Gordon: I wonder how many engines are needed to help over there

Sir Topham Hatt: Alright! *he opens the letter* Dear Sir Topham Hatt, it is with great honor that you send six of your Engines to the Japanese Railway to help out with Hiro

The Steam Team blew their whistles in excitement

Sir Topham Hatt: Silence! Now the 6 engines, by Hiro's request are: Emily

Emily: Oh!

Sir Topham Hatt: Molly

Molly: Yay

Sir Topham: Rosie

Rosie: Yay!

Sir Topham Hatt: James

James: Heh heh

Sir Topham Hatt: Percy

Percy: Oh, that's nice

Sir Topham Hatt: And most importantly of all...

Gordon, Henry, and Edward all waited

Sir Topham Hatt: Thomas the Tank Engine..

Gordon: *flabbergasted* Doh! Thomas!?!

Thomas: Me? Hiro wants me!?

Sir Topham Hatt: That's right! Now all 6 of you, I need you all to go to Brendam Docks, your Rail Ferry will be there

Thomas: Let's go! *he blew his whistle and puffs to Brendam Docks*

Percy, James, Rosie, Molly, and Emily all blew their whistles and puff to Brendam Docks

Thomas: Look out Japan! Here we come!

Scene transitions to the 6 Engines (Thomas, Percy, James, Rosie, Molly, and Emily) all on the Rail Ferry at Brendam Docks, the other engines (Gordon, Henry, Edward, Toby, Salty, and Porter) are there

Narrator: Later that day, it was time for the Ferry to set sail to Japan

Gordon: *annoyed* I don't know why Thomas? Why couldn't they pick a big strong engine like me?

Henry: Oooh, not again, Gordon! Remember what happened last time when you were in London?

Gordon: But that didn't answer my question, why Thomas?!

Sir Topham Hatt: The Japanese Controller requested Thomas to help out, and I must obliged

Thomas: Oh this will be fun, working with Hiro over in Japan! Yet, I wonder who'll run my Branchline while I'm gone

Sir Topham Hatt: Don't worry Thomas, I made arrangements

Stanley: *blew his whistle as he arrives with Annie and Clarabel* Hello Thomas!

Thomas: Stanley?! Your looking after my Branchline?!

Stanley: Yes Thomas, I'll look after your Branchline while your away in Japan

Thomas: Well, time for the 6 of us to get going, goodbye everyone!

The 6 engines blew their whistles as the ferry set sail, the other engines blew their whistles, Toby rang his bell and Salty honked his horn

Narrator: And soon, Thomas, along with Percy, James, Rosie, Molly, and Emily all set sailed to Japan

Scene transitions to the Ferry sailing from Sodor all the way to the Sea of Japan

James: I think I see some neon lights

Percy: Is that?

Rosie: It is

Molly: It's...

Thomas: Tokyo!

The Ferry arrived at Tokyo Docks, the bridge was lowered, and there waiting for the 6 engines, was Hiro

Hiro: *smiling* Hello, my friends

Thomas: *excited* Hiro! *puffs out of the ferry*

Percy, James, Rosie, Molly, and Emily all puff off the ferry as well

Hiro: Welcome, to Japan! My home, and land of the Culture

James: Wow! So this is Tokyo, it looks, very nice!

Hiro: Come my friends, let me give you, the tour!

Scene transitions to Hiro, giving Thomas, Percy, James, Rosie, Molly, and Emily a tour around Japan

Hiro: Here is Shinjuku, a popular location within the city of Tokyo, it's where Hotel Capsules, Ramen bars, and famous Arcades are there for people to sleep, eat, or go have fun

Rosie: Wow!

Scene transitions to Hiro and the 6 Engines puffing at Mt. Fuji

Hiro: Here we have one of the famous landmarks, Mt. Fuji!

Thomas: Wow! It's all covered in Snow!

Hiro: Well, of course Thomas, reminds you of the snow back on Sodor when winter rolls in

Scene transitions to Hiro, Thomas, Percy, James, Rosie, Molly, and Emily puffing through the Japanese Countryside

Hiro: And here, we have one of the shrines, and over there, is the Sumo Gym

Rosie: Wow!!! So this is what a Sumo Match looks like

Hiro: Ha, I knew you like it Rosie

Rosie: I wanna give it a go!

James: Don't be silly Rosie

Emily: Engines can't Sumo wrestle

Rosie: Awww

Scene transitions to Hiro and the 6 Engines arriving at the Sheds

Hiro: And here, are the Sheds

Thomas: Wow! It looks like the older Tidmouth Sheds

Hiro: Yes Thomas, but unlike the Tidmouth Sheds back on Sodor, which has 9 Berths, the Japanese Sheds has 6 berths, so all 6 of you can sleep here

Molly: But where do you sleep?

Hiro: I sleep in my own separate shed

Thomas: Alright then

Hiro: Now then, all 6 of you, go have fun, but tomorrow, we all got a busy day

Thomas: Alright then Hiro, let's go!

Thus the 6 Engines all got spread out and see more of Japan

Narrator: Soon, Thomas, along with Percy, James, Rosie, Molly, and Emily all got to explore Japan

Percy: *arrives at Shinjuku* Wow, it is so busy, kinda like a cross of both Knapford Yards and Brendam Docks

Molly: *puffing around in Nagoya* Oh my, this looks like a nice part *sees a concert* Oh, what's this? *she puffs forward and she was surprised* Oh, it's a concert!

Molly watches a Japanese Pop Concert, but she unintentionally whistled, the Pop Singer was surprised, and finds Molly's whistle to be perfect

James: *puffing around Yokohama* Here's James! *he puffs around hoping for attention, but sees an Artist* You there!

The Artist looks at James

James: Can you do an art of me?

The Artist was confused by he obliges and makes an art of James, and shows it to him, which is in fact, James in Manga Style

James: Ooooooh, looks nice!

Rosie: *puffs back to see an Outdoor Sumo Match* Oooh yay, I get to see one! So much better than the one at Ulfstead!

Rosie's Driver and Fireman climb out of the cab to see the match

Rosie: *observing the words from the Sumos* Dosukoi.. Dosu, koi.. Dosukoi!

The Sumo Wrestlers see Rosie, and they bow to her

Emily: *puffing around Kyoto* My, what a scenic place Kyoto is, Henry would've love to see this

Thomas: *puffing around Tokyo* Hello Tokyo!

A bunch of People see Thomas, one man points out that it's him, due to Thomas being popular in Japan

Thomas: Oh, konnichiwa! *he blew his whistle into the Night Sky*

Scene transitions to the next morning, the 6 Engines are all sleeping at the Japanese Sheds

Narrator: The next morning, after a long night of exploring Japan, Hiro arrived

Hiro: Good morning my friends

Thomas: Oh, good morning Hiro!

Hiro: *smiling* So, how was your time exploring Japan?

Thomas: It was Amazing!

James: I got an artwork of me

Percy: I explored

Emily: Kyoto is beautiful

Molly: I got to be in a show with a Pop Singer

Rosie: And I learned how to speak like a Sumo Wrestler

The other engines looked at Rosie

Rosie: What? It's what I seen

Hiro: *chuckled* Good one Rosie, but now, it's time for work

Scene transitions to Thomas, pulling 2 Oigawa Express Coaches

Narrator: Later, Thomas was pulling some Coaches of the Japanese Railway

Thomas: Huh, this does feel like my Branchline back home on Sodor

Hiro: I bet it does *puffing up*

Thomas: Hiro!

Hiro: I see your on your way to the first station, in Nagoya

Thomas: Yes, and I see it! Hello Nagoya! *he blew his whistle and puffed in to Nagoya Station*

The Passengers climbed off

Hiro: See Thomas, it's like your Branchline back on Sodor

Thomas: Yeah, it does! I wonder how the others are doing?

Scene transitions to Tokyo Yards, where Rosie is ready to shunt an empty truck, but rather than shunting them like how she does back on Sodor

Rosie: Dosukoi! *she shunted the truck very hard, it bumped Emily*

Emily: Ow! Rosie!

Rosie: Oops! Sorry Emily!

Molly: *pulling 4 Coal Cars* Um... Rosie, this isn't the time for being a Sumo Wrestler, it's time for work

Rosie: Your right, I'm sorry Molly!

Molly: That's good *she blew her whistle and puffs off to Tokyo Docks*

Scene transitions to James, pulling some Oigawa Coaches as well

James: Alright, Shinjuku station! *he arrives at Shinjuku Station* Here's James!

The Passengers get off the coaches

Percy: *puff in with freight cars of Fish* Oh, hello James! Pulling Coaches as usual?

James: Well of course Percy! I'm not interested of taking Smelly fish!

Percy: Well, I'm doing fish deliveries, the fish are going to Sushi Bars all around Japan

James: Sushi?

Percy: Yes, Sushi! It's a delicacy in Japan

James: Oooh, that looks good!

Percy: I got to get going, bye James! *he blew his whistle and puffs off*

Scene transitions to Night, Thomas and his friends all gathered at the Sheds, as their crew all have Sushi

Narrator: Later that night, after a long day work, Thomas was getting excited

Thomas: Wow! I never thought Japan could be so much fun around here

Emily: Yeah, Rosie is taking a liking to Sumo Wrestling a bit too much

Thomas: Really?

Rosie: What? I said I was sorry!

Emily: I forgive you Rosie

Molly: As I was puffing to Tokyo Docks, I saw that same Pop Singer from last night, so I helped her get to her show

Thomas: That's one special I ever heard

Molly: Yes Thomas, it is special indeed

James: I saw the same artist, he made that impressive artwork of me, so he made another one

Percy: And those fish were Smelly, but I got them delivered

Hiro: I'm glad, you had a time of working, so thought I take you to a Hot Springs for Engines

Thomas: A hot springs?!

Hiro: For Engines, yes! It's to relax your wheels, it's like a Sento, bath in Japanese Culture

Rosie: Let's go!

Hiro: Alright

Scene transitions to the 7 Engines, arriving at the Engine Hot Springs

Narrator: Later, when they arrived at the Engine Hot Springs

Molly: Oooooh, my wheels feel so much better

Emily: I do say

Thomas: This feels relaxing

Hiro: Ooh yes, the Hot Springs relaxes your wheels, after a long day

Percy: Wished Sodor had something like this

James: But we do have the Steamworks

The 7 Engines enjoyed a night of relaxation

Narrator: The Next day, Thomas was puffing through Tokyo, until he saw a Workman

Scene transitions to Thomas puffing through Tokyo until he sees a Workman with a Red Flag

Thomas: What's the matter?

The Workout told Thomas about Hiro being stuck on the tracks on the Snowy part of Mt. Fuji

Thomas: Hiro! *he blew his whistle and races off to Mt. Fuji*

Scene transitions to Mt. Fuji, where Hiro is stuck

Hiro: Oh my..

Just then, Hiro heard a familiar whistle

Thomas: Hiro!

Hiro: Thomas!

Thomas: Hiro, what happened?

Hiro: My water tank broke, I can't move, and now an avalanche is going to happen

Just then, the Avalanche started to happen

Thomas: No! *he jumps in and shunts Hiro out of the way, for safety*

Hiro: Thomas, what are you?

Thomas: I saved you before, and I can't let anything happen to you! *he shunts Hiro to safety*

The avalanche happened, but Thomas got Hiro to safety

Hiro: Thomas.. You risked your life to save me again

Thomas: I didn't want you to get covered in Snow

Hiro: Thank you, Thomas *he smiled*

Scene transitions to a ceremony, at Tokyo Yards, a crowd of people were there, including Percy, James, Rosie, Molly, and Emily were there

Narrator: Later that day, Thomas arrived at Tokyo Yards, for a special surprise

Percy: Way to go Thomas! Thats my best friend!

Rosie: Hooray for Thomas!

Thomas: *puffs up, and sees Hiro* Hiro! I see you got a new Water Tank

Hiro: Yes Thomas, I want to thank you so much

Just then, The Japanese Controller arrived

The Japanese Controller: Chinmoku!

The crowd silent their cheering

The Japanese Controller: Let me be the first to say, Thank you, to Thomas of Sodor, for saving Hiro, the Master of the Railway twice from danger!

The crowd cheered briefly

The Japanese Controller: Now let me be the first, to welcome a special guest to reward Thomas, ladies and gentlemen, introducing the Emperor of Japan!

The Crowd cheered as the Emperor of Japan arrived and walked up to Thomas

The Emperor of Japan: *bows to Thomas* Konnichiwa, Thomas of Sodor! For your heroic action, on saving our beloved Master of the Railway, we would like to present you, your medal, of Honor and Bravery *he climbs up on the ladder and puts the medal on Thomas's funnel*

The crowd cheered, evenly Percy, James, Rosie, Molly, and Emily blew their whistles, Hiro blew his whistle the most of all

Emily: Hooray for Thomas!

Just then, the Pop Singer arrived and prepared to sing her song, but she points to Molly for her help

Molly: Oh me?

Thomas: *to the Pop Star* Actually, we'll do one better

Molly: *surprised* Really?!

Thomas: All of us!

The Pop Singer sang as Thomas, Percy, James, Rosie, Molly, Emily, and Hiro all took turns blowing their whistles, as the camera pans to the flag of Japan, and an amazing Artwork of the 6 Sodor Engines and Hiro was shown, in the style of Traditional Japanese Art

Story End

[popculturebuffet]

Thomas and Friends Season 3 Review (Comissioned by Lachiev): Bees, Escaping Death and Angry Reverends

Hello all you silly little engines and welcome back to my Thomas the Tank Engine Retrospective! For those new here yes this is a thing i'm doing and while the money is good, the real reason I do it is for those delightful bits of chaos.

Season 3 of Thomas the Tank Engine was a time of great change. For starters it took 5 years.. which is what the gap between my last venture bros reviews feels like, for a number of reasons: One was that producer Britt Alcroft, whose comapny took over most of the production, was busy making shining time station, an amiecan program that aired the first two seasons segments. The program also became a huge hit in Japan, which makes it coming up in the japan set Bullet Train as Lemon's faviorite show less waht the fuck… it's still delightfly weird that's this man's fascination.. though given i'm a grown man who was paid by another grown man to talk thomas multiple times, I could relate to him. The point is if you haven't seen bullet train watch it and the show took a bit. A lot of the crew also went ot work on Tugs, a show I never heard of but is apparently the darker and edgier thomas the tank engine, to the point instead of the engines just being stupid once in a while with the only real antagonists being the trucks an disel (and Gordon but I don't think that was intentional), there's an ENTIRE TEAM OF EVIL BOATS. As you can probably guess i'll be reviewing this for Lachiev at some point, possibly next time.

At any rate, things came together though weirdly despite the large gap not a lot changed; Most of the same models are used, the towns and what not are about the same: the only big change was that the faces are noticeably more expressive, having been reworked between seasons. It's only by a bit but it's easy to see. They also move more instead of just moving between frames.. the latter is still the primary way these chimera's function, but it's neat.

Another big change is Micheal Angelis replacing Ringo Starr as the narrator judging these stupid train children.. at least in the UK. George Carlin still had his priorties in order

Angelis is a fine replacement though and while it took me an episode or two to get used to him, he's a very useful narrator.

Finally this season relied more on original stories: while they'd done one or two in the past, most of the new books had new characters, which would require more momney funneled in the company just couldn't shill out yet. As such they wrote some stories. The Rev Baldry was not a fan of them, and while normally i'd side with a creator on this part of his problem … was a lack of realisim….

Yeah… look I get it: he tries to keep things grounded despite starring sentient trains whose inner workings are best left unknown lest we go mad figuring them out. But the story he got mad over.. is about Henry being fond of some trees , sad when they get knocked over and a storma nd them being replaneted. Like… how is that remotely unrelaistic? How is it MORE unrealistic than say the fact Trains still get scrapped in this unvierse despite being sentient? What i'm saying is maybe don't expect realisim from your series when you made the trains able to talk and have horrible fleshy faces. You made your horrifying hybrid being bed Rev, and you are lying in it. Granted i'm saying all of this about a man whose long past so i'm not sure either of us is well adjusted. Anyways, join me under the cut for more Stupid Train children, a jam related accident, near euthinasia, and trees.

Seasonal Stylings:

Not much to say I hadn't up above really. THey ad one or two more trains. I will say the switch to original stories actually.. helps the series a lot. It allows for more stories on the characters, gives thomas more to do, and the singled out because god knows why Gordon's Garden is a treat. This is a well written season. Is it that much diffrent? No, it's still clearly meant for young children and not for me, and most of my enjoyment as always is the absolutely weird shit that happens ever few episodes. But it's still a solid season of tank enginery and probably the best paced yet. So there's that sooo

Episode Guide:

A Scarf for Percy:

I won't be doing an image for EVERY episode as i'm limited to 30 now by tumblr, and I have to be careful. And yes it does indeed blow. Anyways the season start strong with this utterly baffling tail: basically Percy sees humans wearing scarfs and since scarfs are dope wants to wear one. Everyone mocks him for this and apparently god's solution for Percy daring to want to be remotely human.. is to make it so a bunch of jam and the Fat Controllers pants end up on him and he gets yelled at by his dad. Honestly this is the angreist and least reasonalbe i've seen the Fat Controller since the early episodes. I was half expecting him to also brick Percy away for always and always till he learned his lesson. But he didn't, so I guess that's what passes for character development in this show. Not half bad and the scarf solution is genuinely funny, if fairly telegraphed.

Percy's Promise:

Percy promises to take the children home from Sunday school. It's a ncie character showcase as Percy doesn't let a goddamn flood stop him. He also get ssome help from Harlod, the helicopter I forgot existed, who also drops hot tea for everyone percy included. Because these things drink now?

Time for Trouble:

Gordon gets a break because he's been working too hard , code for "His conductor needs a break from the smug bastard", so James and Toby take over. But some dick dosne't get that otby is part of the line so the poor guy runs out of water. I do really like toby, partly because he's one of the few members of the main cast to have a fairly unqiue desgin that isn't just a neat paint job, so I was happy to see him

Gordon and the Famous Visitor:

A famous engine visits and is a nice person.. and since Gordon is the worst, something I hadn't forgotten in my long stupid train children break, he has to one up the guy for not having a dome and get punished for his hubris because he sucks dirty ass in thunderstorms.. if not nearly enough. Like percy got yelled at by his dad, jam in his face and public humilation. Most gordon gets his is thing flying off and some light teasing.

Donald's Duck

So Duck is given his own branchline, the little western. Duck is the one who looks kinda diffrent…. he's happy about it but Donald, the engine who speaks in an impenatrable scottish accent isn't, and has his crew drop a duck in Donald's water tank. Donald adopts it as his son and leaves and egg for Duck. So thus Donald becomes the best, a new parent and still you know, has his own line while Donald just has an accent and a twin. Game set an dmatch. I love this one both for the pun and for involving a duck..

And i'm proud of it, so any donald duck refrence, let alone one this subtle and clever, deserves a nod.

Thomas Gets Bumped:

Thomas is Jealous over Bertie but has no need to be. This one sure does exist.

Thomas, Percy and the Dragon:

Percy is a dick to thomas and get shis compuance when thomas delivers a dragon for chinese new year. Another very standard tail but the model for the dragon float is really nice and I appricate they put in the work.

Diesel Does it Again:

Diesel is back bitches! And as Lemon taught us, Disels are not to be trusted. Though the Fat Controller's hands are tied in this case, as Percy and Duck need help and he's all the Controller could get. Naturally the guy with his own cool evil theme song's response.. is to be a dick, delberatley bumping percy then manhandling his trucks. While he's able to scare Percy and Duck into silence with the great captail punishment of "being called tattletales", he fucks up publicly by bumping some china clay trucks into the ocean. This destroys the clay.. though somehow not the trucks. Which I mean i'd get for real trucks but the Trucks of Sodor are living beings. I'd ask if they coudl drown.. but then I remmebered we've had a story or two at this point of the trucks being submereged in water and being fine to be pulled out so apparently they don't need to breathe or, being steam engines, can process the water as well as air. Trust me when just about everything about these trucks biology fascinates and horrifies me it's nice to have some confromation of their limits. Anyways Diesel is sent away forever again. Sure that'll stick given he has his own movie and everything.

Henry's Forest:

Henry's back! YOu remember him right? The one who was bricked away forever and always into being a useful engine? Good times. Anyways this is the one the reverened was mad about… though apparently it was for them not signaling and being too close to trees.

Yeah once again they have sentient trains and it's a very minor thing. I get he takes this seriously and I admire that. But this is being a bhit too anal rentive. While i'm fine with a children's show taking itself seriously and trying to have some sense of logic, being mad because they forgot to write a signal into an FOUR MINUTE SHORT or note that some trees woudln't be too close (Something Britt Alcroft even backed up as having scene and apparenlty does correct next season). Not everything has to end in misery man, just let these trains be happy. You bricked the guy inside a well man, let Gordon just be near trees. Back on the actual episode though.. it's my easy favorite of the season. It's a simple story but it's one of those nice cosy children's storybook stories: Gordon who again really needed this, likes passing by the forest. A storm knocks it down and I geninely felt devistated to see the nature torn down: Sure it's a set.. but it's still disheartning and seeing the fat controller do his part to have trees shipped in to help was really sweet. IT's a realyl nice little fairy tale like story, which is why i'm so defensive of it it's a simple, heartwarming story and a rare one for henry.

The Trouble with Mud:

This next one.. may also be part of why. Gordon is just unplesant and we get a whole episode about how he refuses to take a bath. It's not a bad premise mind, I just get tired of gordon: all of these trains fuck up sure but Gordon is just such a smug prick it's hard to like him or sympathize with him compared to the others, who are more like prideful teenage idiots who you can't help but love despite their flaws. Gordon is just an old man yelling at other trains about this not being proper. He's like Sam the Eagle without any of the charm or hilarity.

No Joke For James:

James lies or something.. I honestly have very sketchy memory of this one which happens when you watch 20 episodes of this show in close to a row it happens.

Thomas Percy and the Post Train:

Once I jogged my memory for this one I found it very fun: While as usual one of the characters is a dick, in this case Harold the Helicopter who mocks percy for being late with his post due to Henry taking a while, something the fat controller understands rather than brick up both forever, but the two trains end up having to deliver it again. It's also nice to just see another side of train deliveries nad what not on sodor and i'ts some nice little world building. Trust Thomas:

Bertie is mad at the trains for not delivering his tar so the roads wont' be so bumpy and thomas proves he's great by solving the mystery while james not so much as his bullying some trucks then playing sick… because trucks can get sick apparently? do they take giant things of cold medicine? Do they need giant thermometers? I NEED TO SEE A TRAIN GETING TREATED FOR A COLD SHOW. At any rate Thomas finds the tar and gets Bertie's friendship back. It's not half bad.

Mavis:

We get another disel added to the roster this time Mavis, though Mavis unlike the OG Disel, isn't a complete asshole, simply naive and egotistical. IT's also nice to add a female train to the roster instead of just thomas' coaches. Her issue is more reorganizing and not getting why messing up Toby's coaches without telling him would cause issues.

It dosen't help that as the train eviuqlent of magneto, Disel both tries to convince her of engine's superiority and to not listen to toby, casuing a diasaster when she accidently barrles through his line, with toby only helping because he has to

Toby's Tightrope:

Mavis is at it again, though it once again comes off more as youthful inexperince: she just wants to pull trucks, which is fair enough, but her manager is understandably pissed. Also Iwho is her manager? I thought the king of all trains was The Fat Controller. Anyways she tries to get some trucks to push her but they push toby instead, which ends with him having to tip on tha ttightrope, tip on it.. well something like that. But it does get a happy ending as Mavis realizes what she's done and helps toby, and gets to do trucks ocasoinally. IT's a nice little story and i'm really disapointed we don't see mavis again after this, as it was nice to have a Disel who wasn't even because the reverend and his son hate Disel Trains for some reason. Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party:

The Vicar has a garden party to fund a trip to the seaside for the underprivliged children. This is mostly just a fun side story letting Trevor have a turn and is part of why despite often having nothing to say, I do really like this season: it has a LOT more variety in characters, using at least every character brought into the cast at this point once compared to previous seasons which just sorta.. introduced them then often had them vanish. Trevor is also the parties main attraction for some reason… oh who am I kidding who wouldn't want to ride trevor.

Buzz Buzz:

It's episodes like these that make this whole experince worth it. Well that and Henry getting some trees. That was nice. But "James gets stung by bees for his hubris" may rank up as one of my faviorite what the fuck thomas the tank engine plots, up there with "Henry gets bricked in forever and always" , "one of the trains crashes into someone's living room", and "one of the trains gets lathered up by a barber".

Simply, James says he's not afraid of bees when Duck kinda is, and then has to deal with his words when a beehive breaks on the track. We get a rare bit of animation… as in they'v enever done this before and it looks gloriously janky as a cartoon bee STINGS james which somehow gives him a big red nowse, meaning his grey flesh is malable enough to get swollen

The train company tries nothing and their all out of ideas, then tries actual ideas, cumilating in James the Red Nosed Engine having to drive them back home. Sometimes the simple pleasures in life are just a grown man watching bees sting a train and wondering who thought this up and how many scoops of cocaine it took. But however many was just right. It was some really useful cocaine.

All At Sea:

This one is simple enough and involves the ocean, something I dearly love so i'ts nice enough: Duck sees boats doing a regatta and wishes he could go beyond his rails but a sailor breaking his hand tells him he's.. fine on rails. I guess. The moral makes no sense and comes off like "STAY IN YOUR LANE BITCH", but the setting is fun enougha nd i'ts nice to see Harold the helicopter again.

One Good Turn:

Okay now we're having some fun as the twins, Bill and Ben get into such a spat they end up face to face and both REFUSING TO MOVE in a contest of wills and the fat controllers patience, and forces them to work together by hauling BoCo's goods.. also I GENUINELY forgot BoCo both existed and was in this one. I mean it's nice they eventually went away from Disels are bad adn they shoudl feel bad as early as him, it just speaks to how many characters there are to keep track of.

Tender Engines:

Henry wants a tender and is punished for his hubris with really old tender. This episode sayign tender a lot really makes me want to watch recess.

Escape:

Another one of the seasons standouts and one that's generally as tense as it is fucked up: Douglas, the engine with a cockney accent. While his accent annoys me, he somehow dosen't cut the tension as Douglas has to help new addition olvier escape scrapping. Yeah in this world they STILL kill engines despite sapience, which was implied with toby but has somehow esclated from "the threat of death" to "HAVING TO SMUGGLE OLIVER ACROSS LINES, FOOL A CONDUCTER AND GET HIM TO THE SAFTEY OF OUR HEROES. " His crew is obviously on board with this but like.. why woul dyou kill engines? Just put them in a museum or something. THeir living beings. At any rate the ending is happy and Duck gets a new friend, but it can't wear off the novelty. That said.. this episode was truly excellent being as I said tense, something I never thought i'd say about this series but here we are, and heartfelt and the rusted design for oliver is truly unerving. THe poor guy

Oliver Owns Up:

Oliver gets a big head after everyone promotes him you know.. escaping imminent death. THis one.. isn't the best mostly because maybe the "punished for his hubris plot" dosen't work when the person acomplished something genuinely impressive and praise worth and deserve a tad of a swell head.

Bulgy:

So it's time for one last new character, as we meet Bulgy

Bulgy is a double decker bus and also a gordon level asshole who belives all rails should be torn up, but unlike Oliver who didn't really deserve being punished for his hubris, Bulgy does as he outright STEALS duck and oliver's passengers and then gets caught in a tunnel to learn a lesson for his train racisim. Good stuff.

Heroes:

A thrilling chapter in which Billa nd Ben mess up again, but then save some trapped workmen from a rockslide.

Not not that one… althought I now want to see X-men Versus Thomas the Tank Engine. Someone… please draw that if you do you get a free review.

Percy James and the Fruitful Day:

James slams into some fruit crates and ends up looking like he played Donkey Kong 64 multiplayer.

Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure:

Another delightful christmas adventure to end things off: Thomas and Percy help some villagers and are rewarded with their station being decorated lovely for christmas. A top not way to end the season

While it may not be apparent as sometimes this episode guide can be a lot to get through, this was probablyt he best season yet, mixing the usual stupid train children antics up in fun ways, and letting every engine get lots of screentime. The new additions also seemed less superfluous: Mavis is a wonderful new addition with a unique personality, Oliver had one hell of an origin story and while the worst Bulgy has both a unique design and serves as a nice evil counterpart to Bertie. All in all a solid season

Next Time: Either season 4 or boats. either way i'm happy to keep doing this. While the money is good i've become a fan of these stupid train children and look forward to their continued stupidity for years to come.

[hangofwednesday]

Record Episode 2 Update: Living My Gimmick #237

I had a big opportunity I couldn't pass up that came through last minute. But that means the second episode of RECORD will not be coming out at the end of February but instead it will be released March 4th with another release at the end of March.

Until episode 2 go check out episode 1: https://www.podbean.com/ea/pb-8dm2r-156604a

One thing anyone who travels throughout realities, from one planet to the next in the blink of an eye, within time itself, one thing anyone who walks these paths needs is therapy. Record is one such person and it's a good thing he has a Muse that puts him in his place when needs be.

Telling stories, having our stories told are two of our most healing ways of dealing with death, love, desire, desperation, and hope.

5 episode series monthly. Tune into Tin Pod Radio wherever you listen to podcasts for stories told by someone who hopefully gets something out of these sessions.

You can find the series video trailer here: https://youtu.be/DHp5PJvboN4

Starring:

Rita Amparita as Auxilium

http://www.ritaremixed.com/

Ashlee Craft as Calliope

http://www.ashleecraft.carrd.co/

@Ashlee_Craft on Twitter

Shiraz Engineer as Erato

@OratrixVO on Instagram and Twitter

Stacey Taylor as The Narrator

https://linktr.ee/StaceysParlour

Brian C. Williams as Record

Covers By Justine otherwise known as Redsreferences. You can find more on all of her work at her website: https://beacons.ai/redsreferences

Written  By Brian C. Williams

Record Design By John Delmonte and Brian C. Williams

Theme Song

Startin a War

by Nevada Wild

https://www.musicbed.com/songs/startin-a-war/46336

#fiction #fictionpodcasts #podcasts #tinuniverse #record #mentalhealth #podcasters #podcasting #scifipodcasts #scifi #fantasy #horror #audiodrama #audiodramapodcasts

[candylovesans-officialaskblog]

doing this bc no one will ask me. I also did this for all separate characters, bc i'm in way too many fandoms. I left a few prompts out bc i felt like it.

🌱 Keith (V:LD) (I know, I was literally 9 years old.)

🥀 False Gabriel (Mandela Catalogue) (Self explanitory.)

🎉 Orb Wheatley/Android Wheatley x OC (Portal) (My OC is named Sorren, they like tinkering/inventing, so they like making little things and upgrades for Wheats to test out. They also carry orb Wheatley around like a purse. (affectionate))

📦 Keith (V:LD) (I grew out of the fandom, and even though I'm back in it, (with a remade OC btw) I'm just not as big of a Keith fan as I used to be.)

🎵 Narrator x OC (TSP) (Sweet Hibiscus Tea-Penelope Scott, Your Stupid Face-Kaden Mackay, Home-Cavetown

📝 Death x Red Riding Hood based OC (PIB:TLW)

Red was no stranger to wolves, but she did not like the fact this one followed her around. Sure, she lived her life on the edge, but she was also cursed. Cursed to be stuck in a state between life and death. It had gone on for so many years, but she just couldn't die.

It was confusing, trying to bargain with a sorcerer to bring her mother and grandmother back from the dead. She apparently had managed to piss the sorcerer off, and was now sruck like this. Doomed to have danger waiting around every corner.

But it was okay, at least she had her new friend.

Oh, did she mention the fact her new friend is Death?

Straight up.

💢 Head Engineer Mark (ISWM) (He has a pretty good head on his shoulders. He's not the goodest golden retriever boy all the time, and in some cases, he actually despises the captain. He's still the goodest golden retriever boy, but he knows how to be smart.)

🚩 sans (Undertale) (Lazy, unmotivated, lack of empathy.)

💌 Howdy Pillar x OC (Welcome Home) (While bagging some of Daisy (OC)'s groceries, Howdy sneaks in a little love note. Daisy takes her groceries home, but doesn't unpack, because she forgot she was having a picnic with Julie.

She doesn't see the note until the evening, and sprints to the bugdega as Howdy is locking up. Howdy was a little sad, because he assumed the note got lost or he got rejected. Daisy runs over to him, jumps into his arms, (he catches her, ofc) and Daisy covers him in smooches <3)

💗 Wilford Warfstache x OC (Markipler Connected Universe) (Wilford is drunk off his ass, and is flirting with (his already partner,) Michael (OC.) As he progresses, it gets more emotional.

"Hey, Y'know I- *hic* absolutely adore you, right? I think I'm in love with you..")

🌺 Mordecai Heller x OC (Lackadaisy comic) (Will (OC) and Mordecai rarely cuddle, despite being in a relationship for quite a while. They don't even sleep in the same room half the time, due to Mordecai's need for cleanliness and order.

But whenever Mordecai comes home especially battered and bruised, or even bleeding out, Will cleans him up and they spend time reading together on the couch. The only thing that could be considered 'cuddling' is these moments where Will leans against Mordecai's shoulder or vice versa. I also headcannon Mordecai is not a fan of physical touch, even with an S/O.)

🛀 Rad x OC (OK KO, Let's be Heroes!) (When the Plaza is not being attacked, they like to go shopping at the Lakewood equivalent to a Sanrio store would be.)

🎀 Sammy Lawrence (BATIM) (His chest- I mean tibbies. I mean-)

🎠 Tintin (The Adventures of Tintin) (His perseverance)

🎡 Axel/Lea (Kingdom Hearts) (Just a simple sea salt ice cream date at the clock tower.)

💚 Stanford Pines (Gravity Falls) (I'm so jealous of his big smart brain.)

🌠 Bill Cipher X OC (Gravity Falls) (You see, it started as crackship. Bill would always flirt with Maxwell (OC) while dishing out death threats to them at the same time.

"You make me wish I had two eyes, so I could stare at you for twice as long."

"0///0???"

"I could also see your skin peeling off better too!")

🎇 IRL me x therapy (I actually have therapy, but my therapist thinks i'm cool.)

♨️ Susie, Kris, and OC (platonic) (Deltarune) (Peri (OC) is one of Kris and Susie's teachers. She ended up following them into the cyber world, and meeting Swatch.

Kris just silently cringed while Susie made fun of Peri for quote:

"Being a full ass adult, and still not knowing how to function around hot people. Get a damn grip.")

🍦Markipler egos x OC (Markiplier Connected Universe) (They all have mixed opinions of each other, but they all came to an agreement to not screw things up with Michael (OC.)

-

my fingers hurt from typing. it's 1am.

✩ sleepover inspired selfship asks! ✩

send one or more emoji's alongside a fandom or specific f/o! (if applicable)

🌱 Who was your first F/O?

🥀 Talk about some of your fictional crushes and why they aren’t your F/O!

🎉 Tell us some fun facts about your newest selfship!

📦 Who are some F/Os you no longer ship with? Why?

📸 Make a moodboard for you and your F/O!

🎵 List three songs that remind you of your selfship.

📝 Give us a piece of a WIP involving your F/O (writing, art, etc.)

💟 Give us an embarrassing/secret headcanon you have about your F/O!

🧾 What’s your favorite headcanon someone else has made about your F/O?

💭 What’s your favorite uncommon headcanon about your F/O?

💢 What’s an unpopular opinion you have regarding your F/O?

🚩 What are some of your F/O’s flaws? Any red flags?

💌 How did you/your F/O confess your feelings to one another?

💗When did your F/O first say ‘I love you?’

🌺 How do you and your F/O cuddle?

🛀 What’s your favorite mundane thing to do with your F/O?

🎀 What’s your favorite thing about your F/O’s appearance?

🎠 What’s your favorite thing about your F/O’s personality?

🎡 What’s your dream date to go on with your F/O?

💚 Who are you most jealous of when it comes to your F/O?

🌠 What’s a crack selfship that you’ve thought of?

🎇 Which is the most CURSED crack selfship you’ve thought of?

♨️Did your platonic F/Os tease you about your feelings for your romantic F/O?

🔒 What does your platonic F/O think about your F/O? Are they overprotective of you?

🍦 What do any familiar F/Os think about your romantic F/O?

proshippers dni - this isn't for you ✩

[dzpenumbra]

5/10/23

I was woken up again. At 9AM again. It's been like 4 consecutive weeks in a row now, I'm afraid it's becoming a ritual for these people. I did the whole go downstairs, get a bowl of cereal and then pass out in the chair thing again. It just really puts a damper on the whole day when I do that. I never feel fully rested, I never get right to sleep... so I end up finally starting my day way later. It's very frustrating.

I finished the ink drawing. Here, I'll post it.

I like it. I've been kinda... letting these improvised pieces inspire the next one, so it becomes... almost like a flip book. Each one taking the last one and iterating on it. This one brought in a lot more of these blobby shapes that have dominated a lot of my abstract work over the past 20+ years.

There was a big gamechanger that came into the day today. A YouTuber that I've been following since... probably 2015? The one who introduced me to RimWorld. The one who really inspired me to get into streaming at a serious level. Whose VoDs I have used to help me sleep for several years because of his thoughtful and comprehensive narration. He released a video today that... I have never seen any work of his at nearly this level. It was over 3.5 hours long. It was a deep-dive video essay on the incorporation of story in survival games, done through the lens of the game The Forest. It was... spectacular. I couldn't walk away, I couldn't even pause it. It pained me to pause it to even go pee, I was sitting squirming in my chair trying to watch and draw for at least 20 minutes before I caved. It's a really good video essay. Well researched, extremely well edited, fair and generous to the developers, yet... he stands his ground on his point and his perspective.

What kinda shook my foundation with it? He took the end of the essay as an opportunity to do a face reveal. And... it was a strange experience. He... looked like he could be a relative of mine. Like... he looked like a version my dad's younger brother... but my age. (I look more like my mom.) It... was a strange experience. To finally have a face to match the voice that has been setting the background when I went to sleep for years, that I've had on in the background while gaming since... at least 2017. Whose Project Zomboid streams I watched on the last night I spent with my terminally ill dog, and watched in bed while grieving her passing when I couldn't sleep. I have his Banished playthrough that I've been listening to fall asleep to this week, last week it was Planet Zoo. I can't even do the math on how many of these streams I have absorbed. Every Stellaris playthrough he's done, every Space Engineers stream I could find, X3, Kerbal Space Program, Rimworld (of course), good lord his playthrough of Subnautica was one of the most compelling playthroughs I've ever watched. Years and years of material to drift off to sleep to. It had been my routine for pretty much the whole pandemic... to play his streams when going to sleep, and somewhere along the way I started putting music on too so that once the stream ended, there was some sound on so it wasn't just silence.

Needless to say, it's very odd to finally get a face to match the voice. Like finally seeing the person who voices a cartoon character for the first time. It's just... my brain didn't really want to process it. But like... the most unsettling and weird part... is how... familiar he looked. And he, of course, is the one I gravitated towards because we have a ton in common. Though, over the past few years, we have split ways on stuff - lifestyle, entertainment preference, etc. It's just... odd. And it's still sitting with me.

What scares me a bit... I'm afraid it might be a sign he's getting ready to step away from YouTube. He might not, I might be reading into it. I mean, it's been his entire life for a decade. I dunno. Maybe he's just... transitioning? It felt like a big moment. He was always very against the premise of doing face reveals, always felt they were tacky. It validated me a lot, because I never really saw the point of taking up what we called in video and graphic design class "screen real estate" with a static box that just has your blank stare at a computer screen. I feel like it doesn't... contribute anything, it always felt really... vain. And he always echoed the same sentiment, and it gave me a lot of validation in an ocean of carbon copy streamers. And yet... here he is. So, idk. I've gotta get back into his livestreams soon. He's just... he's in UK, so... it's hard to get my schedule to overlap well.

I was so enthralled by the video that I skipped a shower. I ordered a pizza. I ate a bunch of it and then started working on the skull. The skull is in pretty rough shape. A lot of the bone is... nature got to it. It's not bad, it's just... porous and discolored in places. I did my best to get the debris out of the cavities, got most of it. I started to sand it, and it actually helps the look a lot. I might leave it on the windowsill to sun bleach it a bit, in addition to the sanding and polishing I'm doing. I have no clue what to do with it. There aren't really a lot of flat spaces. So... I'm probably going to treat the design work like... like face tattoos or something. I honestly don't know. But I think sanding and polishing it first is a good idea, it'll be an easier surface to work on. Then I can choose whether I even want to carve it, or if I want to just go ahead and ink/paint right on it. Now that it's out and sitting in my workspace, it freaks me out a lot less.

I tried polishing some stones too, some of the ones from the National Park. I just... wasn't really feeling it. That used to be go-to work for me in the past, and now? Now it just felt forced. So... I kinda took it easy today. I guess. I mean, if you want to call working on 3 separate projects "taking it easy".

I'm a bit depressed tonight. Probably the sleep deprivation affecting me. And the whole... not having a big super inspiring "super excited to work on it" project. Despite my anxiety about design elements and the permanence, I was always really excited about working on the hoodie. And the desire path project, I loved it. This skull? I'm just not there yet. I'm sure once I get the surface prepped and start sketching it will get much more comfortable and enticing. I guess it's just the sanding and polishing that I'm just... not really into right now, just in general.

I think I'm going to take this opportunity to head to bed a bit earlier than I usually do. Fingers crossed I don't hear another vacuum or whatever at 9AM, because if I go to bed right this second? I'm only getting 6 hours of sleep.

[mauserfrau]

Trivia Tuesday: Sepulchre

Click To Read ~ NSFW ~ Read The Tags

Events leading up to and immediately after the birth of the Calypso Twins: a love story and a story about Leda and Typhon, though I wouldn't call it a love story about Leda and Typhon. Includes Leda backstory, Typhon backstory, ersatz Siren lore, a somewhat unsurprising OC and detailed explanation of "When we were born, our father had to cut him off of me."

Since I know someone who's reading it right now, behold some trivia. And spoilers.

CH1

I'm not 100% sure that's the first time Niven used the sentence that became the epigraph, but it was definitely the most famous. I see it as an epigraph for the whole series, which is why none of the other installments have them.

I linked the music at the start since the story, despite the genre shift, has such a consistent, melancholy mood I thought the playlist would enhance the experience even on random.

Leda's character design is based off of Ren from Pirates of Dark Water. Her eye-color is sampled from Troy's model.

Jean-Michel Sapphir was named after Edward Sapir and the fact I forgot good old Eddy and his linguistic relativism only had one P in a somewhat unsubtle nod to the fact the entire story was influenced by some very very relative linguistics above and beyond the conceits of "Tlon, Uqbar Orbis Tertius" that factor into the narrative.

Cygnus was originally a throwaway line in Satellite, but I figured later if I was going to be continuing the story, I might as well do something with it.

I actually got to like writing Typhon turning this story out and I hate it. More on this later.

The bit with Leda coming around the corner and seeing the poppies is one of my favorite things I've ever written. I have been paid for words not half that good.

A lot of the interpretive terminology Leda uses is from Camille Paglia. Sorry not sorry.

Holophagia is the first fake book referenced in Grimeverse. It comes up again.

I could rant for pages about why I made the decision to attenuate the seasons on Pandora, but LSS, you've seen my pacing. You know I like my everythings drawn out XD.

Literally the only reason there's anything Christian in Grimeverse is so I could talk about Gnosticism.

“ Eppur si muove! ” / “Yes, the sea moves! You got it, Baby!” = I should be hined for that.

Yes, Tyreen having the same musical taste as Typhon is on purpose. I imagine synth jazz is like an 80s Sade album crossed with Drum 'n' Bass.

The prayer in the temple is not just to take up space :X.

~*~

CH2

I had to do a sad Vault Monster. I just had to.

Leda & Typhon had five robots altogether starting out in this universe. I don't know what happened to the fifth one, only that it existed.

Yes, the splash image is Leda looking down at Ever-Flowing's remains.

Why do I keep calling her Ever-Flowing instead of The Leech? The same reason I say "eat" instead of "leech" for Tyreen. I'm getting a completely different reaction from the audience. AHAHAHA LINGUISTIC RELATIVISM AGAIN. Ahem.

Oh, and she looks like Tyreen, if it's not super obvious.

I specifically put all of the banter I could between her and Leda being as this was their only time to talk. Some of it I wrote in after the chapter was done too.

Because I really wasn't planning to have Ever-Flowing be the twin's sire. However, @wataredis talked me into it with so much joy, I just couldn't resist. She's also responsible for Ever-Flowing being the Aspect of Adaptation and a lot of lore in that regard that's come to permeate Grimeverse. She really made the story so much more beautiful with all the fact I can now use the tag 'ersatz Siren lore'. A round of applause, please!

But, yeah. It wasn't the genesis of the story, but a big part of engineering Sepulchre was making sure nothing the audience was told about Leda was true after all (and she's as much of an unreliable narrator as Typhon!): she's not an Atlas researcher, her team wasn't murdered by Bandits, she did not have two children with Typhon DeLeon and her name wasn't Leda. You can actually back hack what it was if you read around the series though.

~*~

CH3

Leda's routine with the blood is based off of a scene in The Book of the Beast by Tanith Lee.

A lot of this chapter was reverse engineered from things I wrote first that happened later: the crops at the homestead, how the twins were born, Leda calling them fish. The middle one was the weirdest to render from Leda's perspective since I originally described the twin's birth purely for shock value. Laying it out that it made contemporary sense... well, there's a reason that scene gets all wiggly. And they have plums because I was hungry for plums one day when I was writing.

The medical specifics are brought to you by @raidbossmadi's enthusiasm. I didn't actually do that much research. Mostly I verified what I knew off hand and hated myself for knowing any of that off hand.

I wasn't actually planning the conversation between Leda and Typhon about what to do with the twins to get so complicated and emotional. Like I said, I got to like writing for Typhon. It's almost later.

I'm not sure Ever-Flowing's daughter's name was Tyreen exactly, but that's what Leda heard. I'm not sure of the son's name, but I refer to her boyfriend/the one-eyed man as Atticus in notes and YES, he became the serpent. I forget who asked me that.

The twins still have the two pointer charms and you can see Troy's in Several Saturnine Lunchtimes At Doctor Black's.

~*~

CH4

This whole chapter is meant to be read to "Sunset Strip" by Veeshy, the song I picked for Typhon and his very particular variety of awful.

OK, so it's my sincerely held personal belief that even despicable characters deserve their 500 words about why they're despicable, so here's Typhon's. I tried to make his trauma commensurate with the crime he nearly commits, not a justification, but an explanation. And that's why it's really terrible. So terrible, it made me love him for a brief, shining instant. I then went back to hating him.

I also tried to shrink the sentences and vocab in this chapter to match with him not being as book smart as Leda, but I'm not sure how successful I was...

Dido's Siren power sounds familiar, maybe? This is comics continuity somewhere under the madness. Dido was awesome to write and I think I might need to show Maya watching a video of her at some point. Hell, maybe I'll throw Typhon in.

He's already been thrown in enough. Yeah, that thing about Sirens having men who die for them is real in Grimeverse. Real in the games too, far as I can see (so what happened to Maya is a cosmic fuckup of epic proportions) (or would be if I was writing that).

The scene with Typhon falling in love with Leda is foreshadowing for the entire series :X. Yes, I have kenning names for every Siren.

The scene that inspired the whole fic was Typhon finding the twins still alive above the bleached line down the valley.

The rock he left them on is the one Tyreen later uses as a lookout and I almost included a flashforward to her doing just that. Her ability to extend herself and Leech whole areas if she's near death is called 'poofing' in my notes because I am five.

~*~

CH5&6

You know, I estimated this fic would be about 5k. It's more than 30k. Umm. Oops.

If the scene with Typhon finding the twins still alive was the first scene I thought of, one of the earliest notes I added around that was Leda being enchanted with her little fish and I loved writing that so much.

I can see why people mitigate Tyreen's scars in their own fic, but that didn't work for me. And then I figured I'd do them all at once, hence the business with her face. (I admit, I also like the explanations that Typhon is somehow responsible or that she earned them herself by... being herself).

But yes, Tyreen did have issues eating from when she was born and none of you should be wondering if this comes up repeatedly.

And the first person she leeched was her mom. Cute?

Ugh, that was too much surgery. Too me forever to slog through that. Looping the story together with the last line was such a relief.

There was a lighter version of the twins coming around and getting their names that I wrote before I got this far for real, but it went in the trash.

Then I had to go and change my mind about the end. Like I said, I almost finished on a scene with toddler twins... that didn't seem like quite the right choice. So I let Ever-Flowing rant for a thousand words.

There you have it: the twins got in the state they were because Ever-Flowing looked at Leda's genes as a gift from Fate and wanted to play with them.

Oh, and the term "Ever-Flowing" is from "Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius". It means "the ocean" in context. Subtle as a brick, I am.

[worm-writes]

Hero Classes get all the fun. 

“Class, as you know, the sports festival is coming up soon,” Several groans echoed throughout  the support room, “and while this may not benefit us, we still need to participate.” Powerloader sighed as he wrote today's material harshly on the main board. Thanks to a certain student, each student had a miniboard to write on so the main board was just used for lists of material of the day now. 

UA was known for having it’s sports festival to show off all the uprising hero students and to get them internships with heroes, which is a bit annoying when it comes to the other classes as it didn't help them in any way. He looked around with a frown, the sports festival always interrupted the students' invention time as they always ended up getting requests for their hero work. But as he scanned their faces, a single look from one of his most devastating students said otherwise. He paused writing midword, put the chalk down, and walked out the room, Powerloader will deal with the chaos after it happens.

Izuku smirked from on top of his desk, following Powerloader with his eyes as he left the room, oh this’ll be so much fun now that he got his silent go ahead. He pushed the miniboard he was pretending to write on aside. Well, since Powerloader DID give him permission, albeit him leaving the room, he may as well present to the class. Dodging charpel from an explosion, Izuku made himself to the front and quickly erased Powerloaders half written material plans. In its place, he wrote, ‘How to have fun when everyone else doesn't care.’ The students who were milling about as they usually do, complaining, deeply invested in their creations, talking to each other and sharing ideas, everyone seemed a bit frustrated with the news and were dealing with it their own way. Izuku clapped loudly, gaining everyone's attention.

“Since Powerloader has bailed, I have a plan to make the sports festival just remotely interesting this year.” He grinned manically, everyone joining in as enthusiastically as they possibly can. Who said the sports festival needed to be just about hero students? Everyone thought at the same time, all on the same wavelength.

“Hey, don't forget us too!” Hitoshi peeked in and winked at Izuku, the rest of the door opened to reveal a large group of kids form both from general studies and management. The three classes were always benefiting from each other's business, whether it was information or equipment. He quirked an eyebrow at them, and crossed his arms, if they want in on the plan they need to pay. The group smiled brightly as before something was pushed up to the front. A large rectangular package was thrown at his feet by Hitoshi. Smart, Hitoshi was the one person he would most definitely deal with. A stray classmate came up and opened it, looked in a bit, then nodded at him. A large smile broke out on his face and the group sighed in relief. 

From the school, in the teachers lounge, a shiver ran across them as they all heard the Principle crackle with delight.

“Hey! Has anyone seen Mineta?” Denki called out as the class left the waiting room, no one responded to him as the roar of the stadium drowned out any other noise around them. To be honest, even if they did respond, no one really cared where the grape flirt went in the first place. Midnight stood on a tall stage and was whipping at the floor with a smile. They vaguely heard the other classes get called out and looked around to see them. 

“Are they allowed to do that?” Iida called out as the rest of the students met up with the promising heroes.The promised heroes were skeptical when they saw the rest of their student body in their own clothes, mostly leather, and not in their gym uniforms like they were. The teachers heard that Nedzu had approved of multiple things for this year's participants so they wouldn’t know either at this point when they were given a large pamphlet of approved items and it was apparent that Midnight had not read it, not that she needed to. Towards the middle of the group, Izuku smirked, the only rules were that the heroe students were not allowed to be in hero costumes, nothing said anything about the rest of the student body.

“I pledge to win.” Class 1-A and B screamed at Bakugou and his provoking speech as Midnight carried on, stumbling over her words as she explained rules. Mic joked about the speech over the announcement. No one really noticed as the other classes seemed to kick back and watch it all happen. They were all just hanging out with each other, from small groups sitting/laying on the floor, to playing tag. As Midnight called out the event, the hero students prepared to run, not noticing that they were the only one who seemed even remotely ready. Midnight whipped the floor and called out ’go’, having the heroes students shot forward into the slightly small space.

“WOAH! AND THE HERO STUDENTS ARE OFF! BUT WHAT IS THIS!? ALL THE OTHER CLASSES SEEM TO JUST BE STANDING AROUND DOING NOTHING!” Present Mic narrated, just then Todoroki sent a wave of ice through the entrance of the passage of the obstacle course. Near the center of the group, Izuku smiled up at Hitoshi, his head laying in his lap as he played with his hair. He wanted to lay there for a bit longer but, you gotta do what you gotta do. He stood up, with a sigh, calling time as he helped the smiling boy up. They bumped their hips as they walked to the front with a small group of people behind them and spread out in front of the crowd. In sync, everyone pulled out a box from their pocket and tossed it in the air.

The boxes grew, morphing with shape into 4 wheeled first bikes. Screams erupted from the crowds as groups formed around each bike and climbed onto them. Hatsume crackled loudly from besided Izuku, no one climbed onto her bike as it popped loudly, little explosions coming from its comically large exhaust pipes and it looked obviously different from the rest as it was a lot more flashy with puffier wheels. On his other side, Hitoshi gave him a crazed smile.

“May the devilman win.” He called with a wink, and as the last people climbed on the bikes, engines were revved. Then at once, everyone shot forward, Hastume in the lead as her wheels crushed up the ice left by Todoroki. One by one each dirt bike shot out of the entrance, laughter echoing all around at the speed. 

As they reached the bots, two different dirt bikes went to the front, passing some hero kids, and passed a rope between them. The kids in the back of the bike, quickly tying it to the ends, and the bikes broke apart, going to the farthest ends of the path, making the line become taught from tension. As they sped past, the bots, which were frozen due to Todoroki, shattered on impact from rope, sending the debris everywhere. Some hero kids screamed as they were quickly left behind to dodge it, especially this one blond kid that Izuku drove by.

It wasn’t easy to get plans from Nedzu but as Izuku drifted out of the way of falling robot parts, he can't be helped but be reminded of the chess match the two shared between the two. It was risky and hard, Nagamine, one of his classmates, had followed along and almost passed from stress when Izuku didn’t win. Yet, with a grin and a deal, Nedzu happily handed over plans. His crackling haunts his dreams but as Izuku swerved out the way of debris, hands gripping harder around him as his classmates screamed and laughed madly, he couldn't help but think it was worth it.

As they reached the tightropes, a different classmate of his shot up to the front. They stood boldly on their bike, the passengers holding onto tightly as they pulled out a small machine, and leaned over, showing it onto the front of the bike. A white foam shot out of it as everyone neared them, and hardened upon hitting blank air, creating a small bridge under the bike as it rose into the air and across the clearing. Everyone whooped loudly as they followed, passing most of the hero students at this point. Izuku going second to last, Hatsume right behind him as her wheels broke the substance, not letting the heroes even try to join them. 

Everyone fell in line besides each other right before they reached the landmine field. All hitting a small button on the right side of the handles. Out spung smaller cubes from the sides of the dirt bikes, people on the back catching them before throwing them out again, only for them to morph into two wheeled dirt bikes. As their classmates all hopped onto their own individual bikes, it became a one for all. Everyone swirling and bumping into each other, trying to knock people over, setting off the bombs. Others sped up, dodging the landmines and going past Todorki and Bakugou, who were fighting in the front. 

This year, not a single Hero class was going to win, and as Izuku passed the two who were now rushing more to the front, he smiled again. Happy that everyone was having fun, it was his plan after all. As he crossed a line, hearing some stray number get called, he hopped off his bike, and cheered. Watching a few of his classmates joke and play with each other. Hitoshi came in right behind him, the smile on his face was bigger than what Izuku had ever seen. He hopped down from his bike and embraced Izuku, blabbering off about the race. Izuku's cheeks started to hurt as he realized he had as big of a smile. 

Yeah, this year is going to be good.

[shinobicyrus]

I'm fucking laughing because in my mind the next thing Angus knows is that he just wakes up on the fucking Moon because he was asleep and they couldn't just leave the kid unattended. There's a lot of screaming because the THB's brought a literal child to the moon What the fuck. Taako or Magnus probably shushes them because the kid is asleep and Humans need that shit.

I write one little post about Angus picking up the Oculus and suddenly an AU happens okay fine let’s roll with it.

The Director, slumped heavily on her throne, gaped at the three that were somehow her star reclaimers. “I have. So many questions,” she raised her hand to halt all of them from speaking at once. “One at a time, please. Magnus, I just know I’m going to regret this, but unfortunately I am incapable of asking anything besides: why do you have a child?”

Magnus held up a small boy made smaller by the heavily muscled arms he was curled in. “This is Angus!”

“The pleasure is all mine now why is he here.”

“We couldn’t just leave him unconscious on the side of the train tracks, Director!” Magnus protested, as if somehow she had suggested it. “Can we keep him?”

“Do…do you think he’s a dog? Is this revenge for the Bureau’s policy of animals on the moon? It is, isn’t it.”

“I promise to take care of him! I’ll feed him and take him on walkies and play with him on the quad and everything!”

“Aaaand the prophecy has been fulfilled.” The Director sighed and turned to address the Reclaimers’ cleric cleaning…something out of his ear. “Merle: could you not do that please and explain what transpired on the surface?

He flicked the…something away (The Director shuddered from a distant memory of a small ship and very close quarters) and adjusted his belt like a small-town lawyer about to present a spellproof case made of witty country aphorisms. “Well, Director- like you ordered- when we got down to Rockport, we went undercover at the train station.” He cleared his throat and…oh gods, starting speaking in a horrid and unconvincing Scottish accent. “Ai cleverlee prasented ma-self as Leeman Kessler-”

Hiding somewhere behind Magnus, Taako shrieked. “OH GOD IT’S BACK.”

“Y’know what? I’m making an executive decision and nope-ing the hell out of that. You are now forbidden from speaking like a drunkard that heard rumors about Scottsmen from a gnoll in my presence ever again.” Massaging the bridge of her nose, the Director said with a tinge of desperation.“Taako? Taako, you are my last hope. Could you, to your best ability- but better- explain to me how a simple retrieval mission turned into the wholesale destruction of a train and bringing a ten year old into our very secret floating moon base- please.”

Cleaning out the wrinkles of a frayed skirt that had scorch marks, mudstains, stray gravel, and dust, Taako held up his arms in a frustrated shrug. “Like…I don’t know, okay? We got stuck in a swamp and there were bug-things and we got to the train and Merle had this terrible accent, we found out that the Relic was stashed in this safe that couldn’t be opened so we had to go aboard, we made fun of the engineer’s caboose, this shitty wizard with a bow-tie showed us his pleasure chamber that wasn’t a sex thing.” He waved at the boy still soundly asleep in Magnus’ arms. “Encyclopedia Brown here showed up and we had to fight a case of flaming crabs then go solve a mystery because shitty wizard was a diabolically shitty wizard; we caught him robbing the safe and my umbrella got to eat his wand- which was really fucking cool- but since we didn’t know what we were looking for Nancy Drew decides to be really fucking helpful by picking the goddamn thing up and shit went down.”

“I’m sorry he-” The Director interrupted. “He picked up the Grand Relic?”

“Yeah, and then the aforementioned shit went down and got really weird.”

“Yeah!” Merle spoke up. “The world went all black and white like a Humphrey Bogart flick.”

Taako examined his nails hauntingly. “I’m a fab-as-fuck immortal elf dude and even I’m not old enough to get that reference.”

“He used the Oculus to turn the environment into some kind of…detective noir story?”

“Ha! See? She got it!”

“What happened after that? Did you have to defend yourselves against…what? Illusions of…goons with tommy-guns made real by the relic’s power?”

“What? Nah, he just…narrated a lot? The little nerd was just really into re-creating some…mystery from some stupid book series he likes, Kyle Cleaver or something.”

“Carolina Corduroy,” Merle corrected him.

“Casablanca Cortez!” Magnus contributed eagerly.

“Sure that guy love him.” Taako flipped his braid back. “It wasn’t so bad, I guess. Everything was black and white but he gave me this slimming little red number and a magic-cigarette holder, so I like, fantasy vaped and went along with the story for a little bit, then I got bored and cast ‘Sleep’ on the kid.”

“And…that worked?” The Director blinked, surprised. To successfully incapacitate someone under the thrall of a Grand Relic like that…

“Yeah, poor little guy was tuckered out,” Magnus said. “He had a big day.”

“I. Well. Congratulations, Taako. That was, by default, the most coherent debrief of the three.Though- to be fair- the bar was set ludicrously low.”

“That’s how we do.”

“However, I still have to ask why you decided to effectively make the entire Bureau accessories to a kidnapping? With him asleep, you could have simply taken the relic and left him to be found by the proper authorities.”

“But we had to be sure he was okay, Director!” Magnus said. “What if he’s in…like…a Relic coma! We don’t know how these things work, especially on young developing boy brains.”

The Director had to concede that point- the effects of the Grand Relics’ thrall was still a mystery. She looked down at young Angus, glasses askew as his small face shmushed into the pillow he had made of Magnus’ shoulder.

“…I suppose examining a victim of a Relic would give us greater insight to how to defend against them. At the very least, we should confirm that the young man is unharmed- no Magnus, you cannot keep him. After our Arcanists and Healers examine him, I will make arrangements to return him to his family. Once we feed information about this incident to the Void Fish, he will be none the wiser.”

“So we’re just gonna wipe his memory?” Magnus looked down at the boy again. “But he…he did a good job! We probably wouldn’t have cracked the train murderpuzzle without him.”

Taako mumbled something that might have been assent or humming FantasyKe$ha, it was unclear.

The Director was surprised and- dare she admit it- intrigued. “This little boy was instrumental in solving a murder?”

“I guess that’s like, his job?” Magnus shrugged. “He said he was the world’s greatest detective.”

“The World’s Greatest- so you’re saying…he’s some manner of boy-detective?”

“Well, if you want to be reductive…” Merle snorted. 

The Director opted to press on, rather than responding, determined to derail any further and inevitable antics that would eat up valuable plot development. “Helpful as he might have been, I think it would be for the best if we kept him out of Bureau affairs. Taako, could you keep him under your sleep spell while I-”

A small, groggy voice mumbled from Magnus’ arms. “…sirs?”

“Well shit.”

“Ooohhh, that spell has a time limit, doesn’t it? My bad.”

[rygoespop]

Thomas and Friends: Tales from Sodor (Story 75): The Brazil Trip

Narrator: The Brazil Trip

Scene opens with Sir Topham Hatt arriving at Tidmouth Sheds with a Letter

Narrator: One morning, Sir Topham Hatt arrived to see the engines

Sir Topham Hatt: Morning everyone! I got a letter, from Brazil!

Thomas: That means, Raul!

The Engines Cheered

Sir Topham Hatt: Silence!

The Engines were silent

Sir Topham Hatt: The Brazilian Controller requests 8 Engines to go to Brazil! He requested: Molly

Molly: Oh

Sir Topham Hatt: Emily

Emily: Alright

Sir Topham Hatt: Percy

Percy: Oh!

Sir Topham Hatt: James

James: Heh heh!

Sir Topham Hatt: Henry

Henry: I always wanted to see the Rainforest

Sir Topham Hatt: Edward

Edward: Oh, thank you sir!

Sir Topham Hatt: And...

The Engines listened

Sir Topham Hatt: Thomas the Tank Engine

The Engines were surprised, as Gordon was flabbergasted

Gordon: Thomas!?

Thomas: Oh! Thank you sir!

Rosie: Don't worry about your Branchline Thomas, I'll look after it

Thomas: Thank you Rosie

Sir Topham Hatt: Well, there's a ferry at Brendam Docks, so you eight must go there at once

Thomas: Yes sir! Come on everyone! *he blew his whistle as he puffs off to Brendam Docks*

Scene transitions to Thomas, Edward, Henry, James, Percy, Emily, and Molly all on a Rail Ferry, as Gordon, Toby, and Rosie, who is pulling Annie and Clarabel were there

Narrator: As soon as the eight engines were on the Rail Ferry, it was time to set sail

Gordon: First Japan, and now Brazil! Why couldn't a Country pick a big strong engine like me?

Rosie: Because you always boast about Gordon

Gordon: Oh the indignity

Thomas: Well, we better be going to Brazil, bye everyone!

Rosie: Goodbye Thomas! I'll keep your Branchline going!

The eight engines blew their whistles as Gordon and Rosie blew their whistles and Toby rang his bell

Narrator: Soon, Thomas and the other engines were sailing to Brazil

Scene transitions to the Rail Ferry arriving at Rio de Janeiro Docks, where Raul was waiting

Narrator: Soon, the Rail Ferry arrived at Rio de Janeiro

The drawbridge lowered, and waiting was Raul

Raul: Ola Thomas! Welcome to Brazil!

Thomas: Hello Raul! It's great to see you again!

Raul: I see you brought your friends with you

Thomas: Yes! Raul, meet Edward, Henry, James, Percy, Emily, and Molly!

Raul: Ola everyone!

Molly: Hello

Raul: Come, let me show you around *he blew his whistle as he puffs backwards*

Thomas and the others puff forward to follow Raul

Henry: Oooh, I can't wait to see what Brazil has to show us

Scene transitions to Raul showing the engines, the city of Rio de Janeiro

Raul: Here is Rio de Janeiro, it's where the Olympics took place!

Molly: Wooooow

Thomas: It's like the Great Railway Show

Raul: Yes, but for People!

Scene transitions to Raul, Thomas and the others puffing into the Rainforest

Raul: Here we have the Rainforest, home to various Wild Animals

Henry: I, I love the Rainforest! It reminds me of my forest back home on Sodor

Raul: Why of course it does Henry!

Scene transitions to Raul, Thomas, and the other arriving at the yards, in front of them, was an 8 Berth Shed

Raul: And here, is where you'll be sleeping

Thomas: Wooooooow

Edward: I'm impressed Raul!

Raul: Why thank you Edward

The 8 engines got in the berths

Thomas: Wait Raul, where do you sleep?

Raul: I got my shed! Good night, I'll see you all in the morning! *he blew his whistle and puffs off to his shed*

Scene transitions to the next morning, as Thomas was puffing down the line, pulling Freight Cars filled with Fruit

Narrator: The next morning, Thomas was taking Freight Cars filled with Fruit

Thomas: Gotta deliver all this fruit! *he stops as he sees a man waving a Red Card*

Man: Stop!

Thomas: What's going on?! And why are you holding a Red Card?

Man: It means Stop, it's the Brazilian Way

Thomas: Oooooh

Man: Anyways, Raul has broken his safety valve, he's stuck as he was delivering Coffee to cafes! So can you push him?

Thomas: Yes, I'll help Raul! *he blew his whistle and puffs off to Raul*

Scene transitions to Raul, pulling Cars full of Coffee, he wasn't moving

Raul: Oooh why didn't I listen

Thomas blew his whistle as he puffs up to Raul

Thomas: Are you ok Raul?

Raul: No Thomas, my safety valve broke! I can't finish my deliveries of Coffee!

Thomas: Well, what if I give you a push? *he puffs onto Raul's line and buffers up to Raul's Coffee Cars*

Raul: Thank you Thomas, your a good friend, even though we competed each other at The Great Railway Show!

Thomas: Your welcome Raul! *he pushes Raul and his Coffee Cars to the Cafes in Brazil*

Scene transitions to Thomas and Raul arriving at Rio de Janeiro

Narrator: Soon, Thomas and Raul arrived at Rio de Janeiro, where the final delivery is made

Raul: Thank you Thomas!

Thomas: Your welcome Raul

Unknown to Thomas, a familiar Manga Artist was visiting Brazil on vacation as he sees Thomas with Raul

Kyo Yamashiro: Oh! It's him, it's Thomas! *he began drawing Humanized Thomas along with a Humanized Raul*

Scene transitions to Thomas at the Brazilian Sheds, with everyone after they heard

Narrator: Later, everyone heard about Thomas's heroic action

Edward: Well done Thomas!

Henry: Way to go!

Percy: I knew you never let Raul down!

James: I'm impressed

Emily: So am I

Raul: *puffs up onto the Turntable* Yes, as a Matter of fact, we'll be having a Carnival tomorrow!

The 8 Engines cheered into the sky

Thomas: I'm looking forward for that Raul

Raul: So am I Thomas

The engines smiled as the camera pans to the Flag of Brazil

Story End