#Amy's Rain Review

[washipink]

Rain by Jocelyn Samara D Year 1: 2010-2011

erSo I recently found out that 1 year ago, a comic that was INCREDIBLY important to me as a trans middle schooler who went to catholic school had wrapped up. This year, I’ve decided I’m going to read through and review Rain by Jocelyn Samara, 1 year of the comic’s run at a time. First up: Year 1, which covers Chapter 1 (The New Girl) through Chapter 6 (Fallen Angel). I’ll be summarizing the story and characters for those unfamiliar, so feel free to follow along.

There’s a LONG-ASS post under that read more. If you have any experience with the comic or enjoy the post, please talk about it with me. It’ll be a good time.

Year 1 Summary

The star of the show is Rain, a transgender 17 year old girl who moved in with her Aunt Fara after her mother’s death. It starts on the first day of her senior year of high school, the first time she’s ever tried to pass as female in front of... anyone???

Based on some of the language used in the character bios, I should be very clear that this comic is from 2010 and written by a trans woman who is most likely older than most of my followers. There may be language used that you personally don’t agree with. I’m not a fan of being called transsexual myself, but there’s nothing wrong with saying it.

Anyway, the basic gist is that Rain passes EXCELLENTLY and attracts a lot of attention from her male classmates, much to her dismay.

But the men aren’t the only people with their eyes on Rain. Lesbian classmate, Maria and her fake boyfriend, Gavin make a bet of 5 United States Dollars out of who can talk to Rain first.

Here’s the rub: During Role, Gavin seems to recognize Rain’s last name. It’s the same as his childhood best friend, Ryan. Gavin and Maria then banter a little bit, jokingly saying “what if that IS Ryan? could ya believe that?”

Little do they know...

One thing about Rain is that its cast of characters is by no means infallible. Even characters that I came to love, like Maria, are kind of insensitive. Just about no one in this cast has ever MET a trans person in their lives prior to Rain. It’s very true to life in that way. You meet a lot of people that are ignorant or accidentally insensitive. And sometimes, they learn to stick up for you.

The realistic portrayal of how trans teens can be treated by other teens is one of my FAVORITE things about Rain.

Anyway, Gavin brings up Ryan Falherty to Rain, which causes her to panic and run away.

And Crash Directly into the fifth member of our main cast, RUDY!!!!

A rather gossipy gay boy that sees up Rain’s skirt and thinks she’s just a REALLY brave gay dude. He tells Gavin and Maria pretty much right away and Gavin does not take it well. The majority of Year 1 is spent on Gavin and Rain repairing their strained friendship after years apart from one another. That begins here, with Gavin confronting Rain about her identity.

Gavin’s super upset about the whole deal, but Maria and Rudy are some of Rain’s biggest shooters going forward. Even if they can ask a LOT of invasive questions.

If I’m being completely honest, there’s no MAJOR developments in Chapter 2. Fara gets a call from Rain’s older Sister about how their older Brother hasn’t talked to either of them in forever. This lays a few seeds for later events, but it is PRETTY unimportant for a while. There’s some really good emotional dialogue in it though.

In Chapter 3, Rudy’s meddling directly causes Rain and Gavin to reconcile. They have a discussion about how the reason she never told him was just that she was scared to lose her only friend.

MEANWHILE, in an attempt to make some actual friends, Fara reaches out to her neighbors and meets Ky(lie) and Heather Coven, a Gender Ambiguous Teen who goes to a different high school and her less approving older sister.

Kylie, also known as Ky, swaps gender presentations incredibly frequently, not really showing any bias for one or the other. So do not expect me to be consistent with their pronouns. Their gender is kinda messy. Almost like he’s some kind of... real person with a real life gender. Crazy.

Anyway, Fara invites them over and she and Heather get drunk, which means she can’t pick up Rain from the mall. Rain needs a place to sleep that night and Gavin invites her to stay with him.

This begins Chapter 4, in which Gavin and Rain realize that things may be different from when they were kids... but there’s a lot that hasn’t changed. Gavin remarks about how much more feminine Rain is than when she was a kid and how that’s WEIRD for him... but they end up playing a game from their childhood pretty much all night. It reminds them of all the good times and ignites within them the hope that they can have MORE good times going forward.

As an adult with friends I’ve had on-and-off relationships to, this speaks to me way more powerfully than ever before. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

The next day, during her hangover, Fara sees Rain’s older brother on an ad for a dating website with his new fiance.

And on the way back to her apartment, Rain meets Ky for the first time. Neither one of them is aware that the other one has ANY kind of Gender going on and they won’t be for quite some time.

The chapter ends with Aunt Fara telling Rain about what happened with Aiken.

Chapter 5 is a simple one, Popular prep girl, Emily is giving out invitations to a Halloween party for her “perfect senior year”

Everyone but Rudy gets one, which causes Maria to give Emily a talking to. She assures Maria that he wasn’t intentionally excluded and it definitely wasn’t because he’s the only openly gay student in the whole school.

Oh, also a dude beats Rudy up for that exact reason, earning Maria’s fury later on. Rain invites Ky to come with the rest of them to the party.

Like I said, pretty simple chapter.

The last chapter of year 1 is Chapter 6: Fallen Angel.

Everyone is showing off their Halloween costumes before they leave for the party. Rudy’s reads as a bit insensitive to rain, as he goes as.... a high school girl.

We’ve all heard this one, right? young queer person that wants to toy with their gender expression uses a Halloween costume as an excuse? It can hit different watching your friend do this when you’re a stealth trans person and especially when you’re one as self-conscious as Rain.

When they reach the address for the party, they find out that Emily... has an older Boyfriend. Like, a WAY older boyfriend. Who lets all these literal teenaged children drink at a party in HIS HOUSE.

also he’s dressed as the devil in case you needed any more signals he was BAD NEWS.

This sounds like a good time for an aside: Fara is on a date with someone she met online. He works at a manga translator and offers to get Rain a meeting with her favorite mangaka.

Meanwhile, at the party, Chase seems to recognize Rain from somewhere. What could this mean?

Anyway, remember how I mentioned the underage drinking? Yeah, Rudy is HELLA drunk. And the results are not pretty.

The whole school sees this and is... BAFFLED. Because of course, Rudy is gay. how could he kiss a girl? Did he do it because he was dressed as a girl? Was it the alcohol? was RAIN Gay? Who knows?

The chapter ends on Rain riding home in tears.

Thus ends the first year of Rain.

Art

Ok, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. This art is... not too impressive. Every character looks like they jumped out of a How to Draw Manga book and Rain’s design is VERY 2010. Backgrounds are infrequent and many panels feature just 2 characters next to each other against a flat color.

But I think that’s okay. While the visual design of Rain is not immaculate, it’s certainly passable. Samara had a story to tell and she didn’t let her art hold her back. She just took pen to paper and let it go. As the comic goes along, you can tell she’s trying different things and experimenting with drawing a variety of poses. That said, the art style never really changes at all during the comic’s run.

Pure Unfiltered Story Opinions

Rain was one of the first real queer stories I’d gotten a chance to read. At the ripe, young age of 12, every word of it was unreal to me. A girl like me made REAL friends in spite of it all and got to be who she was. And now, reading it again, it really holds up.

Rain has a depiction of queer friendships that’s very true to a lot of peoples’ lived experience. Not everyone GETS each other, but they try. Sometimes, they ask a stupid-ass question. Sometimes, you get into fights. 

Also, sometimes people in your high school get prayed upon by creepy weirdos in their late 20s who think they can get easy tail from CHILDREN. (Trust, people. This gets addressed. This is NOT a fucking glorification and if anyone in the notes says it is, they’re blocked.)

I look forward to seeing where the comic goes from here and I hope you’re ready to take that journey with me.

[putting-gourmand-in-restaurants]

Would Gourmand join me for a bite at flaming Amy's burrito barn in NC

“Man, these burritos are great! I like the BBQ chicken nachos.”

- Gourmand

[moviesandmania]

TEST SCREENING Retro sci-fi horror - reviews

Test Screening is a 2024 sci-fi horror film about four teens who discover a test screening is coming to their little cinema. However, the new film is a mind-control experiment that has terrifying effects. The movie was directed by Clark Baker from a screenplay co-written with co-producer Stephen Susco, making his feature directorial debut. It was co-produced by Warren Kohler, Mike Manning and…

[neoclassic-sonic]

Personal Vehicles in (Neo) Classic Sonic Part 1: Fang

First off... The Marvelous Queen!

Fang's vehicle of choice which made its debut in Triple Trouble and reappearance in Sonic Drift! It's got a redesign for Sonic Superstars that was expanded upon in the Fang the unter miniseries (with the side carts made for Bean and Bark)

Although Mauro Fonseca, Lineartist for Fang the Hunter Issue #1 and artist for the Retail Incentive cover for all 4 issues, admits that he thought he had to use the latest design.

Because of this let's say that they're both the same in terms of functionality.

The sidecarts are easily detachable and launchable.

Features its spring from Triple Trouble (I assume he has a Drill as well)

And an Emerald Detector added by Aaron Hammerstrom in Seasons of Chaos...

... that eventually made its way to the Superstars redesign! Speaking of, in addition to all the new features it got for the game...

It seems like it's self charging, probably solar since she hasn't fully charged due to the night and rain.

It's also seen being responsive to whistles.

Which is.... quite similar to another vehicle they've shown off before... Hocke-wulfe's Bike.

It's interesting that, not only does it share visual similarities with Fang's Marvelous Queen, but his bike is noted to be different from Bearanger's and Carrotia's vehicles... I'm not sure if this was intentional from Ian Flynn's part on writing them to be whistle-commandable or Aaron Hammerstrom's part who (I assume?) updated the vehicle designs

Could Fang and Hocke-wulf share the same car mechanic? (LOL)

Anyway, I'll go review the Witchcarter's vehicles another day, back to the Marvelous Queen. While whistling does control the vehicle, it seems she /can/ get commands from far away but her speed is limited when not being controlled as the gang have to meet her half way.

By the end of the series, the vehicle is seen upgraded with the Warp Topaz

Which can teleport it and its riders anywhere the rider wants.

Although it loses its side-carts, taken by Bean and Bark as they ditch Fang. (Interestingly it seems like they're controllable?)

That's it for the Marvelous Queen! Arguably the most popular vehicle from the Classic Era second to the Tornado. A sexy beast of vehicle with a name that matches Fang's pang for riches.

Sonic | Tails | Amy | Knuckles | Fang | Witchcarters

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

please support this blog

🦇 Fall For Him Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❓ #QOTD What's your favorite rom-com (film or book)? ❓ 🦇 Falling through his hot neighbor's ceiling and landing directly into his bed probably wouldn't make Derek Chang hate Dylan Gallagher any less, especially with a poorly timed "It's Raining Men" joke. Though Dylan focuses all his ADHD hyper-fixation energy on getting the repair job done as quickly as possible—avoiding doing anything stupid like acting on his very inconvenient crush—Derek tries to ignore that the tattooed nerd sleeping on the couch is surprisingly witty, smart, and kind, despite the long-term grudge Derek’s been holding against him. But will squeezing all their emotional baggage plus a dog into a tiny one-bedroom apartment be a major disaster…or just prove they’re made for each other? Fall for Him combines banter, hijinks, and heart in a story of finding out what it means to fix things after your life crumbles.

💜 I was fortunate enough to read Andie Burke's debut (and this story's predecessor), Fly With Me, last year, but I didn't expect THIS. Fall For Him is so much more than an enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity, gay rom-com continuation. There's no list of tropes that can contain the banter, hijinks, mental health rep, and heart within this story. There's so much grief, healing, and love within this story, matched by wit, banter, and fun, descriptive prose. All of it grabs and holds readers with the same beautiful intensity of an old-school rom-com. Andie Burke's writing has truly BLOSSOMED between Fly With Me and Fall For Him; a feat I'm always glad to see a year after discovering a debut author.

💜 Since I can't contain it all in a concise little paragraph, here's What I Loved: ✨ The mental health rep (including the misconception that someone is rude or antisocial or weird when really they're trying to manage a condition). ✨ Derek's outrage on Dylan's behalf, then fiercely standing up against Dylan's family. ✨ The. Bat. Man. ✨ Felicity, my quippy, hilarious, bisexual babe, and her Depraved Shenanigans. ✨ Jodi, just entirely, my demisexual, forest nymph queen. Andie Burke. Please. Please tell me the next book is Jodi & Felicity (my two emotional support gingers). PLEASE. ✨ All the home reno/construction puns. ✨ All the nerd references (the crack in Amy Pond's wall!) ✨ Every character description. Seriously. ESPECIALLY the boys describing each other pre-kiss. And after kiss. ✨ All the quippy, silly banter. ✨ Light blue scrubs. ✨ "Stupid, lovesick, radiant joy." / "Kay." ✨ The older sibling protective/fix-it mentality. ✨ Loving broken things.

💙 By now, you know miscommunication and third-act breakups are among my least favorite story elements. However, this story STARTS with miscommunication; one moment seen from different perspectives that's therefore misconstrued. After realizing that, Derek actively tries to keep that miscommunication from breaking them. He's one of the first MCs I've seen that tries to avoid a third-act breakup before it happens. I do wish we'd lingered in that moment a little longer, seen it happen differently instead of time-jumping to a week later, but it doesn't shatter the story the way third-act breakups often do. I will say I did cry at the end of this one, so the conclusion amplifies emotions in a way that works.

🦇 Recommended for fans of Red, White, & Royal Blue or Boyfriend Material.

✨ The Vibes ✨ 🔨 Mental Health/ADHD Rep 🫀 Contemporary Rom-Com 🖱 Enemies to Lovers 🩺 Forced Proximity ❤‍🩹 Grief Rep/Healing 🐕 Animal Companion 🧠 2nd in a Duology 💙 Dual POV

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #FallForHim

💬 Quotes ❝ I love that English uses the word falling to describe the initial rush of love, capturing the stomach-sinking danger of opening your heart over a chasm of what if. That anyone could love all those deep-inside, messy, jagged bits we try to hide from even ourselves feels like the greatest impossibility. But after all, it’s the impact with the ground that hurts, not the fall, so I guess that’s why the best partners are the ones who cushion us. ❞ ❝ Much like a home renovation project wherein hidden, expensive disasters are created when you try to fix the cosmetic parts only, sometimes you have to break things down entirely before anything gets repaired. ❞ ❝ I wrote it at a time when I needed a reminder that people who feel like their bodies and minds and souls are being held together by caffeine and off-brand Scotch tape deserve to find and can find their person. Because when the ground beneath our feet is crumbling in every possible sense, sometimes we don’t just need a safe place to land. We need a safe place to fall. ❞ ❝ Breaking something sometimes doesn’t mean you’re broken. ❞ ❝ Awkward social interactions created small fractures in his mental armor. Every crack allowed old insecurities to slide right back into his brain. ❞ ❝ That smile did things to Derek. Things he’d rather not admit. ❞ ❝ “I looked for you when I woke up.” ❞ ❝ In his personal experience, every time he invited someone into knowing about his sexual identity, it felt like a small test with big stakes. It was like whispering Are you going to be comfortable with my existence? into a void and just hoping what came out didn’t attack you. ❞ ❝ You deserve stupid, lovesick, radiant joy. ❞ ❝ “I think Felicity wakes up each day and chooses violence.” “You’re not wrong.” ❞ ❝ “Do not ever let someone make you feel that small again. Because you, Dylan Gallagher, are not fucking small.” ❞ ❝ Because if he broke down, how could he still be the one who fixed things? ❞

[ramonathinks]

5 Husbands by @kingkonoha review contains spoilers under the read more

playlist of a lot of songs that i think fit the vibe of my reading experience and what i felt matched up with the story

Playlist: crack rock by frank ocean, dreamer and valentine by laufey, when im in your arms by cleo sol, ophelia by pinkpatherress, daydream by Ariana Grande, miss romantic by cleo sol, fall in by Esperanza spalding, rain by fauna hues, slow motion by karina pasian, sunshine cleo sol, k by cigarettes after sex, used to love by chloe x Halle, sunset by the internet, pain is inevitable by daniel caesar (fawk him), cinnamon girl by lana del rey , let me know by winona oak, lost by frank ocean, butterfly by corinne bailey rae, piano song by eryn allen kane, float by fauna hues, how does it make you feel by Victoria monet, ivy by frank ocean, step on me by the cardigans, sad girl by lana del rey, wet by dazey and the scouts, frank’s ballad (wiseman) by Alex mankoo, who gets your love by margie joseph, what it is, between the cheats, will you still love me tomorrow, the girl from ipanema by amy winehouse the entirety of amy winehouse back to black album, take the box by amy winehouse

General Review:

Just wow. I did in fact spend like all day reading this and I do not regret it and even though it’s not done… this is literally a 5/5 read. Firstly the way that my baby Tay writes is so phenomenal and the depictions of the relationships and the amount of emotions and thought they she puts throughout the story makes everything so worth it. I really felt so attached to the characters and the overall story like i didn’t care how long the chapters were because i was so interested in the world she build and the CHARACTERS. Like it just keeps getting better and better; the amount of drama and messy that kept me on my toes every chapter. I cannot wait for the next chapter. The amount of stuff that went down in this fic and the route it’s going down idek how she got the life depicted in the first chapter because it’s shit happening every second like whew. I literally got so emotional reading this especially the more recent chapters because my heart hurtssss for reader so bad and it’s just so much strain on her and idgaf that’s my girl! I support women’s wrongs and she got a lot of them but that’s my baby like omg!

Now let’s delve in to my reactions ofc 🙈

CHAPTER 1: okay so obsessed with the fact that reader has a daughter firstly. The way you describe reader’s relationship and the dynamic she has with Armin and even the shift to his pov was very seamless and perfectoooo. The way you got in his head and i feel immersed inside of his thoughts about her and i just thought it was really well written and so beautifully executed. “Being with you but not truly being with you was like having an itch that begged to be scratched.” Like that line right there? It burneddd me and make me feel for him and overall i got invested. Can I add that Armin working in a bakery was very on par with his character lol? Like i love it. Your description of anything is very addicting as well let me add, im a sucker for details so i loved it. I was cheesing DOWN during their moments and when he took her to their childhood hangout place and the hold “date” bit came up and the “but even so, the implication of romance with him felt as natural as breathing.” Likeeee omg i was blushing. “I was always planning on leaving, but…not without you.” Oh that moved me like bad. I’m a sucker for childhood friends to lovers and hearing them reminiscing and just wanting to move out of where they are to make a lifeee was so good. “Since when was he ever so lucky? Since when did fate decide to show him a little bit of pity and mercy? The universe had taken everything from him before he was even old enough to know how to spell the word “universe.”” UGHH you’re killing meeee. And then armin’s backstory stop 😞😞😞. WHEN ARMIN SAID HE WANTED TK MARRY HERRRR OH MY HEART like 😭 crying omg!! Munch Armin Agenda >>>>

Mikasa Cameo yesss. Armin sending reader money 🥲🥲 even though he’s literally going through it ugh, my loveee. The proposal and reader finally getting her steak & lobster please love that for themmmm. Eren… pmo!! … “What they loved more, however, was the fact that he never took his eyes off of you the entire time.” 😄😄😁😁 oh okayyy, don’t know who im rooting for after eren two second cameo. “Nowadays, you had seen more of him than your own husband, and that broke your heart into pieces.” Naurrrrr 🥲 please… ““Is it ‘cause we’re all alone, baby?”” Eren… ERENNN R YOU KIDDING ME MOVEEE like moveee “Can’t control yourself when it’s just us, can you?” MOVEEE

“If you were with me, you’d only be making money for yourself. No one else, baby. It’ll take you wherever you wanna go, buy you whatever want, fuck you however you want. You’d like that, right?” OH FAUK YEWWW, but … omg that’s sexy like please don’t piss me off😭😭

OH FAWK HERR??? FAWK HER MY GODDESSS IS READER SERIOUS RN?? FAWK HER SO BAD FOR THIS IDC

CHAPTER 2: “It was an indisputable fact; scientists measured the elements of his face and declared the handsome man as the literal definition of physical perfection.” Oh that ate !

Eren defending reader yesss #RealMan . “Still though, it’s Eren. Same man who took you away from the person you’re writing about. There’s no way he’d be okay with this.” Jean clocked her im sorry LMAOO??

“You were more than just a pretty face. You were more than just a lovely voice. You were a distraction.” Real… so real.

“You’re such a damn jerk,” Jean snapped. “You can’t take everything you want like you rule the goddamn world, Eren. You stole her away from her ex-husband, but no one’s allowed to steal her away from you, right? Not until you get tired of her and move on to someone else?” CLOCKED LMAKDKA CAUSE WHY WAS I LITERALLY THINKING THE SAME THING LIKE PLEASE MOVE LMAOOO

“Is it true that your ex-husband pushed for your success? And you left him for Eren Yeager?” JEAN MIGHT AS WELL THAT BEEN THE ONE TO ASK THAT BECAUSE INTREEVIEWER CLOCKEDSD HER ! Marriage 😞 please move 👎🏾 why they just pissed me off. J-JEAN ! SIR!!

“Well now, Sarah, there is the possibility that she could have been having an affair! She did leave her first husband for Eren. Who’s to say that she wouldn’t leave Eren for someone else?” THEY CLOCKING HER 😭😭😭😭😭😭 back to back!

Reader locking down all the munches like that’s queen right there! “It was the first time you had ever slept next to him without his arms wrapped around you.” 😞😞 and Jean leaving the band omg… Levi so real lmaoooo

JEAN SO MESSY??? EREN COMING OMG?? EREN ACTUALLY BEING THEREEE OH MY GOSH PLEASE MOVE!!! “But, apparently, all of it was stupid. He felt stupid as he stood there, watching his best friend kiss and touch you. He felt stupid as he thought about the day he proposed to you. He felt stupid as he thought about how much he loved you.” Naur… MY GOSH READER SO ??? she done pissed me off!

CHAPTER 3:

Mikasa clocking her 😁😁🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️ karma x3 and “i want him back” and “that’s not the same thing” LMAOO CLOCKED! LIKE GOT HER

“I didn’t even know that Eren was there! He was avoiding me for weeks a-and said he wasn’t gonna show up. I fucked up, I know that, but he stopped speaking to me. Stopped looking at me. He acted like I didn’t exist…and I was fucking lonely.” She kinda ate idk she back to winning me over. FAWK EREN 😭😭😭

Levi…is he crazy telling her to come with him?? 😭😭😭 like he finna get fucked up about her too is he MAD? “You’ve fooled around with three guys back to back. It’s a little hard to tell which one of them you like the most.” FUCK CLOCKED HER SKSJSK ?? “You’re a homeless woman who’s sleeping at her manager’s house because she cheated on a famous rockstar with his bandmate.” Levi it’s 10am in the morning 😭😭😭😭 please chill. “Last thing I need is for the public to start making rumors about us.” He so damn funny lmaoo

“Yes. Men like Eren and Jean took pure advantage of your naiveness. If you ask me, you should have been the one doing the punching. Don’t sit back and let them walk all over you.” Okayy Annie period queen.

“The singer with more failed relationships than original songs.” 😭😭😭 i be giggling down like the industry is clocking herrrrr bad

Annie and Sasha correct actually 🤷🏽‍♀️ coming from the uno champ myself. “Did I just make you laugh? And smile?” 👀 he better relaxxx he see the reader effect !

Not even divorced and literally got a meeting and kissing on Reiner like 😭 is she mad??

CONNIEEEE??? I AINT EVEN PWEP

“Gonna punch me too? Try it. Go ahead. Do it, and let’s see what fucking happens.” CLOCKED! Lmaoooo

Hickey… why i already knew something like that was gonna go down. Broke my baby heart omg 😞!

“If you loved him, you wouldn’t have cheated on him. If you loved me, you wouldn’t have left me. So you’re still fucking lying.” Armin just came back and clocking her lmaoooooo “I think it’s easier for you to act like you’ve never cared about anyone than it is to take responsibility for your actions. It’s less painful to pretend that you’re completely the victim in this situation than it is to accept that you broke my heart. Eren and Jean’s heart as well. I’m not saying that anyone is in the right or wrong, but I know you. I know you loved me, even if it was just a little bit.” Tea… like girl it’s okay.

CHAPTER 4:

Connie is crazyyy 😭😭? “You know your life is in my hands” & “don’t make me do some easy shit” OHH he crazy

Marco…. Yo?? And they wondering why Connie went mad like be serious.

Arminnn, glad to see he okayish. “You never thought he’d use it on you.” Welllll?? The love of his life fucked him over 😭😭😭 um be serious.

“I love you, and I understand what money and influence can do to a person, but I just miss you. I miss the old you, the person who made everyone laugh during card games and didn’t treat everyone like garbage.” 🙂🙂🙂 ohhh he clocked her this like one of the worst ones.

“No ordinary human being enjoyed the realization that they had changed for the worse. It felt like your insides were twisting up, as if the old version of yourself was begging to come out, buried underneath this new, shallow, perfect celebrity.” ☹️☹️☹️ nooo queenie.

“You’re so in love with Hollywood now, I didn’t think you’d come at all if I told you the truth.” 😟😟 oh um! this is crazy to say ?? why even invite her at all lmaoo??

Reiner’s place is so lived in and loved around like your description really got me cause I can feel it all around and buzzing so lively whew i felt home! Reiner is EXACTLY the type of man who would bring you to meet the family and to propose so i smiledddd because yes just yes!

Jean messy as HELL! THE BREAK IN IS CRAZY AND HER JUST ASSUMING ITS ARMIN

HER SUCKING LEVI IS CRAZY???? MARRIED FOR HALF A SECOND IS SHE MAD?? LEAKED PHOTOS AND ALL THAT IS CRAZY AFTER THE BREAK IN OMG??? 😭😭😭 she cannot catch a break, she been famous for like maybe 2 years what is her problem.

CHAPTER 5:

ARMIN AND EREN GETTING JUMOED BY CONNIE MEN IS SO INSANEEEE. Levi OKAYYY king shitttt yesss. Why is Connie so messy?? Why is he trying to ruin her like omg…

“Y/N’s the only client you give a damn about now. You don’t even give a damn about yourself. Your life is ruined, and yet, here you are, worrying about her.” CLOCKED LMAOO?? JEAN BE CLOCKING EVERYONE LIKE LMAOOO

Album called Heartbreaker, she kinda mother for that 😹😹 like literal queen shit. The story… my eyes almost popped out my head like okay.. Not jean and eren popping out yo! Um Connie and Flint is so…messy for all this. They really getting a personal fuck you.

😹😹 Eren just clocked Flint like I hope he don’t get beat up later but he ate. OH MY GOSH?? What the fuck is wrong with Connie yo?? He can’t hate eren this bad like he’s literally a monster….

NAH READER STFU?? BEFORE HE GET SOMEONE TO WHOOP YOUR ASS TOO LIKE OMG?? BUT WHY SHE VERY MUCH SO CLOCKED HIM LIKE IM GIGGLINGGG 😭😭😹😹 GET HIM AGAIN!

Someone gotta kill Connie like wtf is his problem and to even threaten Levi and the way he doing reader, not even letting her see Reiner… like i feel for her so bad omg. Why is he ruining her lifeeee omg ?? Like im finna cry ??? And then to do that to Reiner :((( omg i feel for everyone in here omg

NAH CAUSE LEVI RIGHT ACTUALLY?? LIKE CONNIE IS LITERALLY OBSESSED WITH HER!

Them being worried about who she gonna end up with is kinda crazy like she being held hostage 😭😭? Thank you Levi for getting them back in order. WHY REINER JUST CLOCKED ALL OF THEM LIKE LITERALLY ALL OF THEM LMAOOOO

CHAPTER 6:

ERWIN JUST FUCKED EVERYTHING UP ??? YO??

“She doesn’t have any loved ones, just a bunch of stupid guys hoping to crawl into bed with her. That’s all she’s good for.” Alright?? Fuck you??

CONNIE SHOOTHIM HIM IS MADDDD OMG

The car ride having me on the edge of my seat just paragraphs in. Connie trying to do small talk like please move…

“Because that would mean leaving, and you knew better.” I’m crying like idgaf she don’t deserve none of this 😭😵‍💫😵‍💫???

“Really? You’re working on your eighty-seventh marriage and you wanna lecture me about being a good person? You cheat and get remarried every season, so shut the hell up.” He tried to clock her but it’s tired at this point so 😭😭😭 please gtfo. Connie trying to be lonely too he can get out like i really dgaf.

Nah Reiner clocked it… I wasn’t even seeing Mikasa fr until he just said that because yes I can see it fr! Like wowww. This Mikasa and Reiner conversation is >>> like i love it.

Poor reader like idgaf, she did that to keep them safe obviously! Why would Jean just say that to eren tb licking connie’s boots like his mom’s life was at risk please ??😭😭😭

THE ENDINGGGG OMG??? I canttttt

[broadwaydivastournament]

Broadway Divas Tournament: Round 1C

Tyne Daly (1946) is one of two Divas on our list to win a Tony for portraying possibly the greatest role for a woman in musical theatre. That's right. Mama Rose in Gypsy (1990). She has also received nominations for Rabbit Hole (2006) and Mothers and Sons (2014), and has a long and illustrious stage career. Owing to a hospitalization just days before she was set to begin previews in Doubt: A Parable, Tyne had to withdraw from the production. She was replaced by Amy Ryan, and is on her way to a full recovery.

Tony-winner Katrina Lenk (1974) and The Band's Visit (2018) was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise lacking season. Much of her early career was on the regional stage. Broadway credits include Indecent (2017), Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark (2012), and the gender-swapped Company (2022) which did not earn her the best reviews, but personally I was fine with it. The Band's Visit also earned Katrina a Grammy and a Daytime Emmy.

PROPAGANDA AND MEDIA UNDER CUT: ALL POLLS HERE

"Devastated that Tyne Daly had to pull out of Doubt. It's a major loss to Broadway, especially since she could have been the only theatre veteran nominated in that category. Tyne's an old broad that brings the best from a bygone era. She's got sixteen Emmy nominations to her name, and six wins. But I don't know if I can forgive her for being why Angela doesn't have at least one."

"This woman has some of the hottest, dykiest photoshoots I've ever seen. Just look at her. Her cheekbones are too perfect to be believed. Her performance in The Band's Visit was so fucking gorgeous, and you know, I wasn't too bothered by her Company either. And it considerably improved during the course of the run, so props to her. I got to see it with the rain twice, so that was also exciting. Plus, she's kissed a lot of women on stage and screen, so that's a win in my book. (Though not in Company, even though Bobbie was almost bi (with a Jenn Colella Marta, can you believe what they robbed us of?)"

[allamericansbitch]

Hi everyone! Here’s the newest addition to my Creator Shoutout Series (january 1 - january 8)! For info about the series, I explained it in the first post here, but generally, it’s to show appreciate to editors and their creations that i love from the past week. To track this series or look at previous shoutouts, please check out the tag on my blog *creatorshoutouts. Have a great week everyone!

taylor swift: the great war gifset by @georgesezra​

sza: kill bill graphic by @studiorinagraphic​

succession gifset by @humanveil​

taylor swift: midnight rain music video gifset by @rogerhealey​

stranger things: jopper gifset by @petersevan​

scream 2023 gifset by @glendoll

taylor swift: lover music video gifset by @cherryslips​

wednesday icons by @olivias-cooke​

the menu + letterboxd reviews gifset by @trashcora​

taylor swift: new years day edit by @notmuchfordancing​

glass onion gifset by @buffysummers​

abbott elementray gifset by @naiey

taylor swift: speak now (taylor’s version) concept design by @castlescrumblingtv​

lucy dacus: please stay graphic by @ourobores​

only murders in the building gifset by @trueloveistreacherous​

taylor swift gifset by @amessageinbottles​

101 dalmatians (1961) gifset by @naiey​

pearl (2022) gifset by @slained​​

taylor swift gifset by @tayloralison​

glass onion gifset by @kitherondale​​

gilmore girls gifset by @paramores​​

taylor swift: i knew you were trouble/maroon gifset by @soaheadofthecurve​

the menu: margot gifset by @zen-coleman​

pride & prejudice gifset by @stars-bean​

taylor swift: evermore redesign edit by @ohgaylor​

brooklyn nine nine gifset by @jakeyp

taylor swift: ivy art by @fountainpensongs​

the menu: tyler gifset by @peterparkcr​​

​stranger things: eddie munson gifset by @kingofscoops​​

taylor swift: lover photoshoot gifset by @treacherous​

confessions of a teenage drama queen gifset by @bakerolivia

taylor swift: the eras tour graphic by @ohgaylor​

paramore: this is why graphic by @killrockstar​

the princess diaries gifset by @stydixa​​

taylor swift: fearless (taylor’s version) gifset by @castlescrumblingtv

get out gifset by @anyataylorsjoy

taylor swift: lavender haze graphic by @tossedkeys​

selena gomez: my mind & me gifset by @selenaigomez

taylor swift art by @you-can-face-this​

brooklyn nine nine: jake and amy scrapbook gifset by @levetan​​

stranger things: nancy wheeler in season two gifset by @olivias-cooke​

heartstopper: charlie and nick gifset by @simon-eriksson

taylor swift: red gifset by @santaswiftie @newrcmantlcs

the menu: margot gifset by @nancywheelor

glass onion: birdy jay gifset by @duchessofhastings​​​

taylor swift: haunted gifset by @santaswiftie​ @starsbythepocketful

the office: the ultimatum gifset by @chestnutsroasting​

taylor swift: pantone shades of green gifset by @santaswiftie @felicitysmoak​

the menu gifset by @mike-mills​

taylor swift: stars by the pocketful graphic by @missegyptiana

wednesday: season two gifset by @yenvengerberg​

taylor swift: fifteen x midnight rain parallels gifset by @reputation

glass onion: helen brand gifset by @antifandor

taylor swift: bejeweled gifset by @endiness

glass onion gifset by @lemoncupcake

taylor swift: getaway car graphic by @cellphonehippie

the perks of being a wallflower: you’re on your own kid gifset by @highqueendreamgirl​​​​​​​​​

taylor swift: question? graphic by @andichoseyou

legally blonde gifset by @naiey​

taylor swift: lavender haze gifset by @lovestory

brooklyn nine nine: jake and amy gifset by @glendoll​​​

[themaladaptivewriter12]

Title: Diamonds Are Forever

Part 8.2 of my “Cray-Cray for Cater” series! Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 , Part 7, and Part 8.1 can be found here!

Parings: Cater Diamond x Twisted Wonderland Male OC (Mirai Yuhara)

Summary:

With an extended break, Cater decides to take Mirai on a trip to remember. This trip should have strengthened their bonds, but somehow they break a little too.

cw: Mostly fluff!! Some flirting in the end.

a/n: Do you dock a plane, or park one? Idk, google said it depends, but dock to me sounds better lolol

a/n: The next part will be a shorter one, a smuttier one ! __φ(◎◎ヘ)

a/n: The Hotel referenced is the Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard in London! Their Suite was the Shangri-La Suite! See ya, Dreamers!

Reblogs are appreciated, just use my custom tag, #TheMaladaptiveWriter12, if you do!  (─‿‿─)♡

Cross posted from my Ao3: TheMaladaptiveWriter12

Mirai didn’t realize he had fallen asleep until he was woken up by the turbulence of the plane landing, and Mirai blearily followed their directions until the aircraft was safely on the ground. Once they were docked, Amy and Willow came back to help them get their luggage and escort them off the plane, and Mirai barely remembered any of that. 

“Thank you for flying with Broom Airlines! Hope to see you guys again,” Amy said waving as Cater and Mirai exited the First Class lounge.

“TYSM,” Cater waved. “I’ll be sure to leave a good review. #BestFlightEver!”

The walk from the lounge wasn’t long and the whole way there, Mirai tried to keep his eyes open to walk in a straight line. 

“Stay here, Ima call a MagiLyft,” Cater said sitting Mirai down on a bench.

“Kay,” Mirai mumbled.

Mirai must’ve dose off again, because he was startled awake by Cater shaking his shoulder. Mirai groaned, opening his eyes.

“I know,” Cater cooed, “Once we get you to the hotel, you can sleep.”

Cater held Mirai’s hand as he rushed him outside. Cars, vans, and trucks drove in and out of the parking lot, their headlights distorted by the pelting freezing rain. Now Mirai was sleepy, cold, wet, and agitated.

“Hurry! In, in,” Cater said hurriedly, ushering Mirai into the back of their MagiLyft. Mirai climbed in and Cater rushed to the other side, hurriedly shoving his bag in the back seat, shutting the door behind him. “Man,” Cater sighed, “I’m soaked.”

“Here,” Mirai mumbled, pulling a napkin from his bag, handing it over to Cater.

“Thanks.”

The ride was an hour, and thirty minutes in, they finally reached the city. It was so big, skyscrapers everywhere, cars all over the streets, people everywhere with umbrellas and raincoats. Mirai loved it. There was so much to do, so much to see, there was so much life. It reminded him of home back in California, it reminded him of New York. It was almost nostalgic, as if he’s been there before, and it made him miss home.

“You like it?” Cater asked, chuckling at how Mirai was practically glued to the window. 

“Yeah,” Mirai said, finally more awake than ever. “It reminds me of home.” 

“Do you miss home?”

“Yeah, but not enough to want to go back forever.”

It looked like there was some traffic, but it wasn’t that bad. Their driver stopped behind a line of cars, and Mirai took the chance to admire the big building next to him. It was huge and the entire thing looked like it was made of glass. There were escalators, and three rotating doors, and in the middle of it all was a sign that read Nirvana.

“Thank sir,” Cater called, getting out of the car, “Have a great night.”

The driver waved to Cater, giving him thanks as well, “Thank you! And you too!”

Mirai was speechless. Cater opened the Mirai’s door and took his hand, leading out of the car, and Mirai just moved on autopilot. This was their hotel? They were actually staying here? Cater led him inside where they had to take an elevator to the 35th floor. The way there, Mirai was in awe. The whole building had a black and gold Eastern inspired design, and Mirai couldn't tell what emotion he felt seeing it all. Once they exited the elevator, they were right in the middle of the lobby of the Nirvana Hotel. It was breathtaking. The seating area next to the floor to ceiling windows looked so elegant, and down right classy. 

Just like downstairs, the lobby continued with the white, black and gold theme. The receptionist desk was made of pure marble, and even the floors were marble. On the far wall was a traditional ink brushed mural that Mirai couldn’t get enough of, and all the little accents around the room were what Mirai would call European and Asian inspired. The warm gold lighting was inviting, comforting, casting the room in a hazy golden glow. There was even a roaring fireplace in the corner where a couple of chatting patrons sat around it. 

Mirai walked over to the railing where he spotted another seating area and more so much more. The blonde couldn’t believe he was standing in the middle of it all. Mirai practically gravitated to the windows where he looked down at the city below. It was breathtaking, it really was. Mirai fished out his camera and started taking pictures of anything it would pick up. The lighting, the art, the chairs, the view, everything.

Mirai turned around and Cater was standing behind him, his own phone poised, taking a picture of Mirai. 

“Oh yeah, that’s totes going on my Magicam,” Cater said looking at the picture. “Who knew my super cute boyfriend was so Magicamable?”

Mirai pouted, and took a picture of Cater in return. 

“So, you ready to head up, or do you wanna take more pictures?” Cater asked, flashing their little pamphlet that held their key cards. 

“I’m ready to go up,” Mirai answered.

Cater led them to the elevator where they rode it to the thirty ninth floor. The hall was dimly lit with wooden walls and blue carpets. The couple didn’t even have to walk far since their room was the first on the floor, room 3901. Mirai read the plaque next to the door. It read “The Nirvana Suite.” Cater pulled out his keycard and pressed it against the scanner, it gave a chime and flashed green, the deadbolt throwing, and Cater opened the door, letting Mirai in first. Mirai searched for the light switch, finding a couple of buttons, Mirai pushed one and the entire room lit up, and Mirai was instantly floored. Mirai made a sound akin to a dying cat and Cater cackled. 

“This is not our room,” Mirai breathed, flabbergasted, “There’s no way this is our room.”

“It is,” Cater laughed.

“I can’t, we can’t, how can-” Mirai couldn’t get his words or thoughts together and felt like he needed to sit down.

“Whoa there, calm down, Babe. It’s okay. My dad’s paying for all of it.”

“That’s worse,” Mirai shouted.

“He insisted. It’s fine, really.”

Mirai couldn’t get his words together, he couldn’t get his thoughts together, he felt as if his brain was melting from his ears. He felt like he didn’t deserve any of this, that he wasn’t worthy of this. He felt just being there would somehow contaminate everything.

“Do, do you really not like any of this?” Cater asked, “I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable.”

“N-No, no.” Mirai sighed. “I love it. It’s so nice, but I feel like I’m not worth all of this. I just want to repay you somehow.”

“You don’t have to, Baby, this isn’t supposed to be transactional. Just you being here with me is enough. But maybe I did come on a little too strong with all of this? The First Class plane ride, now the five star luxury suite? Kinda feels like I’m throwing my money in your face, doesn’t it? Talk about #Showoff moment.”

“You're fine. It’s a bit much for me, but I like it. I’m glad that I, of all people, could do something like this.”

“So you’re not put off by all of this?”

“It’s just a lot to take in, to, ya’know, take in I guess. Like yes, this is happening, like yeah, I’m here.”

“Kay,” Cater said, relieved.

“So,” Mirai asked after a moment of silence, “Is this the norm for you, like y'know, at home?”

“Y-Yeah. I don’t like to flaunt it, and I definitely don’t want anyone to know,” Cater said awkwardly, “But I wanted to spoil you, I wanted you to know this was part of me, but even with all of that, I’m still me.”

“And I’d love you no less.”

Mirai and Cater toured their room, it was huge and beautifully decorated, it was like a mini apartment, and one feature Mirai couldn’t ignore was the fact that the whole room had floor to ceiling windows, the room was practically made of glass. You could see so much of the city through them. Near the door was a small bathroom and a huge closet. It was beautifully made, the whole thing was made out of dark solid wood and the outside had a traditional Eastern artwork etched into it. 

To the right was the dining area, the table seated ten, and a large crystal chandelier hung overhead. Past the dining table was a mirror that covered the entire wall, and etched into it was yet another mural. Mirai and Cater walked past the dining area into a small hallway, where they found a kitchen, the entire thing was fully functioning with an electric stove, a dishwasher, sink, refrigerator, and wine cooler. It even had a coffee machine equipped with luxury coffee pods. They exited the kitchen, looping back to the main room where they entered the living area to the left of the dining area. 

It was so spacious and open. There were two love seats, two couches, an armchair, and in the middle of it all was a dark wood coffee table. Against one of the walls was a desk that was also a lounge chair that ran against one of the large windows where you could relax and take in the beautiful view. They even had binoculars and a telescope to see the city below better. In the next room was a private office equipped with its own tv behind two sliding doors and its own entrance to the bedroom. 

“OMG! This is nice! Talk about #Luxury,” Cater gushed, taking even more pictures.

Mirai agreed with him. The bedroom had to be Mirai’s favorite room. The bedroom, just like the main room, had the floor to ceiling windows. It was on the smaller side, compared to the large layout of the room, but it was still bigger than average. The bed was a super king, the comforter a beautiful white and champagne. The headboard was beautifully decorated with little flowers sewn into the fabric. In front of the bed was a loveseat where you could sit and watch the tv that was behind two sliding doors. Next to the window was another lounge chair where you could look at the city views. 

Mirai ran his hand along the bedspread as he walked by, it was so soft and plush. He doubted he would want to get up tomorrow morning. 

“Babe! Look at this closest,” Cater called from the other side of the room. 

Mirai entered a small hallway where he found Cater standing in a walk-in closet, posing for selfies. It was big, like, really big, even with the two of them standing in there together, there was still more than enough room to fit their bags, and the space for hanging clothes was more than enough for the two of them. Mirai wondered how many outfits would be needed to fill the entire thing.

“Oh yeah, when I graduate, I’m totally getting my closet built like this,” Cater said excitedly. 

Mirai chuckled at his enthusiasm.

“Let’s check out the bathroom.”

The bathroom was amazing. There was a Jacuzzi tub on the far wall, a double vanity with built-in lighting and tv, and a small selection of fancy soaps. 

“Where’s the toilet?” Mirai muttered.

“Maybe behind these doors?” Cater asked, pulling them open. 

Behind one of two frosted glass doors was a huge shower with built-in seating, and behind the other was the toilet. It was nice. It gave whoever was using the toilet privacy just in case someone else needed the bathroom.

“This could fit like eight people in here,” Mirai said thoughtfully, looking at the shower. 

“Oh? Does Mi-Mi wanna throw a shower party?” Cater teased. “So naughty.”

“W-What?! N-No I-”

“How about seven of me?”

Mirai’s words died on his lips, face flushing bright red as Cater crowded him, pulling him into his arms. Mirai was like a fish out of water, mouth opening and closing. Mirai couldn’t get his words out, but the very image in his head had Mirai all hot from the inside out.

“Oh? Thinking dirty things?” Cater teased.

“N-No, I, it-it’s your fault for planting that image in my head,” Mirai stammered.

Cater chuckled, pulling Mirai close, “Hm? You’d like that wouldn’t you?” Cater teased, “Me, you, and six other mes, under all that hot water and steam?”

“Y-Yes,” Mirai shuddered as Cater ran his fingers through the hair on the back of his neck. 

“Eh? For realsies?” Cater asked, flushing this time. “I was more teasing than I was serious.”

“You dug your grave, now you gotta lie in it,” Mirai smirked.

“You sure it wasn't you who dug their own grave?”

“Hm? I don’t know. I guess we’re gonna have to see and find out, won’t we?”

[nightguide]

Mindhunter Spotlight Presents: 9 MILE STADIUMS

STADIUMS OF A WORLD ORDER IS AMERICAN DUBAI (BRAZIL)

ACTORS HELL: RED ONE

FOREIGNER

IO

LUDLOW

HONEY

READER'S INTERNATIONAL

TIME TO GO

STARING MILES

CASHAPP

WET NAKED STICK

HARBINGER'S: ACE

MATT SMITH

PANTONE 2955C

KINGSTON'S SONG

ROSE RED

FINALE EPISODE

AMY'S CHOICE

CENTURION

PANDORICA

NEPTUNE

SCORPIO

MAESTRO BECOME: STARLIGHT

DEVIL

LAST NIGHT

RAIN

TRADITIONAL

EMAAN

MODERCHY

MOROCCO

EXTRAORDINARY

PERRI

LANCELOT

DANTE'S PARADOX: SUNGAZER

GEMINI

AEGIAN

DAMNATION

SHADA

CRUEL PIETY

WULFRUNA

VELARIS

EVERMORE

BLEEDING

ICARUS

NEW AGE: STARDOM

RACES

STIEFVATER

WEISZ

GIZA

IBIZA

LINNA

MONDAY

SATURDAY

CHILDHOOD

NINE

BABYLON UNBROKEN: THE SEVENS STADIUM

YOUWON

UNDERBROKEN

LOVATO

EURIPIDES

MENELAUS

SUNTROPHY

AGADIR

ESSALIAR

ARMENIA

ROADRUNNER

KINGDOM COME: BABY, NO

DONTLIE

TOME

SUNDROP

FALLEN

FEARSTODAY

HUNDREDTIMES

BOOKSUNDERCOVER

HOLIDAY

TOMORROW

SHALLAH

PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM: CLOUD 9

BETHLEHEM

SAJDAH

MAKHTOUM

SALAAM

STARING DAISIES INTERNATIONAL

STOLEN

LACE BOUQUET

CRIMSON

DAMSON

WET NAKED STAR

ANALOG: UNBROKEN (SUE REVIEWS)

TIMETOGO

TELEPATHY

STEREO STONES

KARAOKE

MUSE - STARLIGHT

CHASER

BURNING UP

FLAMES

ARMEGEDDON

VIOLET

[krispyweiss]

Song Review(s): Phil Lesh & Friends - “Cosmic Charlie,” “They Love Each Other,” “The Promised Land” and “Box of Rain” (Live, March 15, 2024)

For those who love Phil Lesh, the poignancy of the former Grateful Dead bassist singing “Box of Rain” on stage surrounded by relative youngsters on his 84th birthday was obvious.

His atonal baritone now raspy, his movements ginger, Lesh sung a fast-paced rendition of the song written for his dying father flanked by his son, Grahame, and guitarist Daniel Donato, and accompanied by Jason Crosby on keys and John Molo on drums while vocalist Amy Helm awaited her turn off stage. Forever searching, Lesh the elder led the band through a unique instrumental interlude before singing the revised, post-Grateful coda:

Such a long, long time to be gone/and a short time to be …

“Box” was one of four livestream giveaways from Lesh & Friends’ March 15 gig in New York. It began with “Cosmic Charlie,” which shuffled across the stage and overcame with music its vocal shortcomings.

Donato was the man at the mic and in the six-string spotlight on “They Love Each Other” and “The Promised Land,” where he shone on the Grateful Dead number and struggled on Chuck Berry’s track.

But the band provided strong support on the musical front as Lesh continued his tradition of torch passing and lighting the way for a new generation of musical seekers.

Grade card: Phil Lesh & Friends - “Cosmic Charlie,” “They Love Each Other,” “The Promised Land” and “Box of Rain” (Live - 3/15/24) - B+/B/C/B

3/16/24

[washipink]

The Rain Review (Finale)

If you’ve been with my blog for the past week or so, You’ll know I’ve been reading a childhood favorite webcomic of mine, Rain by Jocelyn Samara. And you’d probably be wondering what happened to my review of the comic Year-by-Year. The answer? I went on a road trip for a few days and couldn’t help but read the whole rest of the comic. So today I’m here to talk about my overall thoughts.

For the uninitiated, Rain is a slice-of-life webcomic that started in 2010. It’s about a transgender teenage girl of the same name navigating her senior year at a Catholic high school. There’s a LOT of romantic and gender-related drama. Friends are made and lost. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll see yourself in the characters somewhere along the line.

My experience with Rain prior to this project only goes up to about 2014. I started reading it in middle school on Smackjeeves.com. Y’all remember Smackjeeves? I miss it every day. Apparently it redirects to a shitty webtoon clone now. IDK where I’m gonna find peoples’ sprite comics produced in 2013 now.

Anyway, I bring this up to say that I had stopped keeping up with Rain even though she was a major part of me accepting who I was. When I found out that her story had come to a close, I had a real need to find out how.

This time, there won’t be a plot summary because this comic ran for 11 years and it takes me long enough to do just 1. That and, if I may spoil my final opinion, I really want you to give it a read for yourself.

ART

I want to get this one out of the way because it’s a very common critique that even I hold to some extent. The art in Rain is a clear indicator of the era its artist hails from. In 2010, anime and manga had just hit the American mainstream. Everyone was reading those “How to Draw Anime” books and took a lot of notes from them. To showcase, here’s a page from Chapter 1, the first color page in fact.

This page is actually one of the busier pages in terms of art. Jocelyn doesn’t usually do background details much, if at all. Usually, backgrounds are depicted as solid colors that are associated with specific locations. Grey for the apartment, sky blue for outside, light green for school, etc. But the way Rain is drawn here bears a striking resemblance to the styles a LOT of people were using at the time.

While Jocelyn’s style stays rooted in, shall we say, American who got really into anime, her techniques evolve over time. Especially in terms of displaying what’s going on with limited background detail.

As an example, I really enjoy this scene. Rain and Emily are, in universe, speaking over the phone right now. But neither of them are holding their phones to their ears. They’re looking at each other as if they’re in the same room. Jocelyn uses a gradient background to signify that the two of them are NOT in the same room, but as they get closer during their conversation, they get physically closer in the panel as well.

This page is taken from 2014, about 4 years into the comic’s run. You can see that Jocelyn’s brush choices have changed. Everything is far smoother than it was toward the start. While the overall style is as simplistic as year 1, her technique has changed a lot.

That comfort with her work only continues to grow. Below is a panel from a bonus page that released after the comic’s conclusion. The line work is the cleanest its ever been.

STORY AND CHARACTERS

Now this right here is the REAL meat of the comic. Regardless of any feelings I had on the art, the characters really endeared me. And this being a slice-of-life teen drama, they had plenty of time to learn, grow, and clash against one another.

The majority of the conflict in Rain comes from people being set in their ways. Rain’s whole gaggle of queer friends is hiding from the school’s principal, who refuses to acknowledge that maybe there’s nothing wrong with being a little gay. One of the most compelling ongoing threads in the comic centers around Rain’s brother and sister trying to understand and accept her. These personal stakes were a really enjoyable break from the kind of thing I usually read. In Rain, there is no world to be saved or villain to defeat, but there IS a prom to go to. Sometimes, that’s all you need to tell a good story.

The comic has this small-town vibe I care for a lot. Sometimes, a character will exit another’s life and you’ll never expect to see them again. Then they’ll end up dating Rain’s aunt or something. Word spreads fast in Centerville. People are gossipy. Sometimes, you tell someone something and it reaches ears you didn’t want to hear it. That gossip is what makes things so dangerous for Rain. If the wrong person finds her out, then EVERYONE finds her out. The same goes for all her friends.

There’s all kinds of flavor of queer in this comic in a way that mirrors real life friend groups. We have a tendency to find each other like that.

With all kinds of queers being hormonal teens, things get messy FAST. There’s a lot of things that happen in this comic that I feel like baby gays need to see. There’s a point where a gay boy and a trans girl start going out because... this just happens sometimes. Nobody is “the villain” in this scenario. They both just tried to explore themselves and found mixed results.

That’s one of the big themes of Rain. Self-exploration. Every chapter, we’re learning more about these characters as they learn more about themselves. Nobody stays in the same headspace for too long. They’re constantly evolving.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Rain is ABSOLUTELY worth the read. It’s actually a really easy read. I was able to finish it in about 2 weeks, so I’m sure it won’t take up too much of your time. But, it’s a really heartwarming story that I’m sure a lot of us can relate to. Thanks for going on this journey with me. And be safe, Rain Beaus.

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Saturday, November 11th

BUFFY: So. Dawn's in trouble. Must be Tuesday.

~~Once More With Feeling~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

New Skills by veronyxk84 (Spike & Dawn, PG-13)

After School Special by a2zmom (Buffy/Angel, E)

Amaranthine by Lalaith_Quetzalli (Buffy/Angel, T)

daughter by bonniesfire (Buffy/Angel, T)

Yours, Always by buffytargaryen (Buffy/Angel, G)

Insatiable by MadeInGold (Buffy/Angel, E)

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do by NicHawkins (Buffy/Angel, T)

The kitchen won´t collapse if men are cooking! by Liana_Medea (Buffy/Angel, G)

Isn't It Lovely? (To Die At The Hand of The One You Love) by TemperanceCain (Buffy/Angel, T)

Wake-Up Call by MamaBewear (Buffy/Angel, T)

Foreign Festivities by thenewbuzwuzz (Buffy/Angel, G)

Self Love by MadeInGold (Angel/Angelus, E)

Every Night by violettathepiratequeen (Buffy/Spike, G)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Shadowed Suspicion, Chapter 400 by madimpossibledreamer (Ensemble, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure crossover, T)

Alone, Chapters 1-2 (complete!) by Lalaith_Quetzalli (Buffy/Angel, T)

Two Unhappiness (Due infelicità), Chapters 1-9 (complete!) by Phoebes (Spike/Willow, T)

Her Old Fashioned Boy, Chapter 14 by Bobbie23 (Giles/Jenny, T)

Blood and Chaos, Chapter 44 by Aetheron, quote_Amy_unquote (Sannah_banana) (Amy, Ensemble, M)

The Ups and Downs of Loving You, Chapter 4 by Jess_Ann_Perreault (Jenny/OC, T)

New York, Chapter 12 by drsquidlove (Giles/Xander, M)

Spiderwebs, Chapter 42 by Willow25 (Buffy/Spike, T)

Moments that Make You: The Hero and The Princess, Chapter 83 by myheadsgonenumb (Cordelia/Doyle, T)

Gotta Have -Faith- continued by That_Vampire_Slayer (Faith, not rated)

Dead End Plots, Chapyer 15 by Melme1325 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Once More With Feelings, Chapter 3 by Spikelover4ever (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Vampire Whxre, Chapter 3 by ClowniestLivEver (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)

Icarus, Chapter 2 by HappyWhenItRains (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

the Eyes, Chapter 15 by Dusty (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Icarus, Chapter 2 by HappyWhenItRains (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Gif: Anya banner by NotASlayer (worksafe)

Artwork: Illyria by lonelyhedgehoh (worksafe)

Artwork: Buffy by duvet-cover (worksafe)

Artwork: I’m gonna make Buffyverse so gay you won’t even believe it by junotter (Buffy/Faith, Spike/Angel, worksafe)

Manip: demon Cordelia by thepunkmuppet (worksafe)

Artwork process video: Spike reading by alessandra estrella art (worksafe)

Artwork: Buffy by felixsadlerillustration (worksafe)

Artwork: Spike and Buffy & Angel by Tasha Stark (worksafe)

Artwork: Buffy by rottenhoneyrat (worksafe)

Fanvid: Buffy, can we rest now? by sir fucks it up a lot (Buffy/Spike)

Video: Buffy Scythe build! by michaelcthulhu

Video: Who’s rewatching Buffy the Vampire Slayer? by Creative.Cliche (Buffy cosplay)

Video: buffy the vampire slayer picture day by Jessica Blair (Buffy, Willow, Xander, Cordelia, Giles cosplay)

Fanvid: Klaus and Buffy (Klauffy): My Love Will Never Die by Bobblehead89 (The Vampire Diaries crossover)

Fanvid: BTVS ~ the shape of you by creativeannie (Buffy/Spike)

Fanvid: Set fire to the rain -Buffy and Angel edit by LuNaR_EcLiPsEEE

Fanvid: A Buffyverse Story: Right Where You Left Me by Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Fanvid: Bigger than the whole Sky - Taylor Swift II Tara and Willow BtVS by Sunnydale Sunset

Fanvid: buffy & spike | a little death by Mary Music Videos

Fanvid: Juliana Mikaelson (Buffy) | My Demons by Patriciaa Mikaelson

[Reviews & Recaps]

The Angel the Series novel "Nemisis" by oveliagirlhaditright

Video: ConTinual Fandom: Buffy Season 1 by ConTinual Convention

Podcast: Deep Dive: Buffy the Vampire Slayer [movie] by The Movie Fellas

Video: Spiral-Slayer Sunday by Jane Talks Reel

Video: "The Harvest" | Buffy S01E02 Spoiler Review | The Re-Watcher's Council #2 | by LGRN Entertainment

Video: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Fool for Love Analysis by Becoming Buffy Podcast

Video: The Twisted BTVS Season 1 Re-Cap by Twisted View

Video: ToriJ's Reviews #6: Buffy the Vampire Slayer [video game] by Tori Jacobs

Video: The Buffyverse gets serious: Buffy Season 2: Full spoilers review by Revisiting The Buffyverse

[Recs]

Fic rec: Reading Lessons by RiverDeNile [Wesley/Gunn, PG] recced by lupines-slash-recs

Fic rec: Liminal by aliceinwonderbra recced by Secretly A Summers

[Fandom Discussions]

How do you think the whole Angelus situation reflects onto Buffy and Angel’s relationship? answered by buffysummers

[About the vampire scene in The Body] by Girl4Music

Angel the Series for the ask meme thing by laufire

Spike’s story is the ‘doomed by the narrative’ post except he isn’t doomed by the narrative by muse-write

The continuous thread in season two of BTVS focusing in on Buffy and Spike by winterlovesong1

What was it like being a Buffy fan when "Seeing Red" happened? by Joshua

Little gems - BtVS Season 1 continued by multiple posters

I found the tone shift in Season 3 jarring continued by multiple posters

Is it me, or was Xander done dirty? continued by MapleCourt

Q&A with fanfic writer Hannah (Cosmic Tuesdays) by Hannah and multiple posters

Wesley and Virginia’s father issues by JellyfishDry9464

Missed opportunities for episodes by SafiraAshai

Have they ever given an in-universe explanation in the show or the comics for why wood kills vampires? by AmacoAmico

Opinion: the Buffy/Riley storyline was ridiculous by CockroachGlass4956

Holy water pistols Batman! by booknynaevewasbetter

Buffy’s vulnerability is amazingly well written by Eagles56

“I wasn’t thinking about you when you were here.” by Lojzko

Was Glory an Old One? by GringoSampaio

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Join the editor team :)

[magicstormfrostfire]

If you played/watched gameplay of Sonic Frontiers, what did you think about it? :3

Not gonna lie I....h-havent finished it yet I just got to the second Island with Knuckles *-sob-* i need to pick it back up.

But what do I think? I LOVE it. Its absolutely wonderful. Im not really a huge gamer buff type of person so i cant give like, a really detailed/informed review of the mechanics and gameplay loop so bear with me lol.

I will say it makes me feel so....idk how to explain it. I love RUNNING. I love the open space, the grass, the rain, it feels like I'm outside without a care. The game lets you just. Be free. I love open world stuff and BOTW was probably my favorite game and Sonic captures everything i love about open world just like BOTW did.

I think the story is fairly interesting so far (i have the frontiers tag blocked until i finish it, so i dont know much) and i think Sonic and the other's feel veey much like themselves. Amy's interactions with Sonic are something I always scrutinize because of how she was used in the past (gets war flashbacks) and i really like them here. Amy is her own person, and if she likes Sonic doesn't matter or not in their friendship. She's still a girl who's about protecting others and the power of love, but she's also mature and upstanding.

I think the stuff with Sage and Eggman is interesting in and of itself too. But i havent gotten far enough to see what that's all about.

Also i love just the open world puzzles you can use to get around. Theyre very fun and its just you figuring out how stuff works. (I really appreciate Sonic's little chuckles and grunts anytime you repeatedly hit against a surface. Hes having fun. I tended to do that a lot in when i got stuck on geometry or failed at a wall jump and his little laughs made me less frustrated lol)

The combat is super fun and i love how it feels to hit enemies in combos. And getting new combos! Its also nice that the classic sonic running levels are included in the game in a portal type way. They're still there and required for gameplay, and it feels like they wanted to include both tradtional sonic gameplay and open world experimental stuff. Im actually really terrible at the classic 'running/platforming' format Sonic has to be honest. But im glad its included and made part of the game to progress. Its an integral part of Sonic games after all.

Overall i really like the game and i desperately need to get back to it haha

[kamreadsandrecs]

Title: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (Pink Carnation #1) Author: Lauren Willig Genre/s: romance, historical, Regency romance, contemporary romance, adventure Content/Trigger Warnings: historical period-accurate misogyny, parental death (offscreen, in the past), references to beheadings, violence Summary (from publisher’s website): Nothing goes right for Eloise. The one day she wears her new suede boots, it rains cats and dogs. When the subway stops short, she’s always the one thrown into some stranger’s lap. Plus, she’s had more than her share of misfortune in the way of love. In fact, ever since she realized romantic heroes are a thing of the past, she’s decided it’s time for a fresh start. Setting off for England, Eloise is determined to finish her dissertation on that dashing pair of spies, the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian. But what she discovers is something the finest historians have missed: the secret history of the Pink Carnation—the most elusive spy of all time. As she works to unmask this obscure spy, Eloise stumbles across answers to all kinds of questions. Like how did the Pink Carnation save England from Napoleon? What became of the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian? And will Eloise Kelly escape her bad luck and find a living, breathing hero all her own? Buy Here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-secret-history-of-the-pink-carnation-lauren-willig/11087824 Spoiler-Free Review: So this is actually a reread of this book, which I first read all the way back in the early 2000s, when it was recommended to me by a friend who also suggested I read The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy - of which this book is supposed to be a sequel. (Yes, I know Orczy wrote actual sequels for The Scarlet Pimpernel, but my friend also told me NOT to read those because they were going to extinguish whatever love I had for the first book. I haven’t been inclined to go looking, so I haven’t read them.) Anyway, back to this book! I remember being thoroughly entertained by this when I first read it, and I’m glad to note that it holds up pretty well to my memory of it the first time around. It’s still as fun and occasionally funny as I remember it being, and I’m still utterly delighted by the story as a whole. Amy and Richard’s romance is fun, even if it’s not EXACTLY the type of story that I usually favor, and their hijinks are very much in line with what I remember reading in The Scarlet Pimpernel. In fact, there’s plenty of that DNA in this book, which, if you’re coming right off reading Orczy’s novel, will certainly make this an even more enjoyable read. Rating: five pink carnations

[karlachgale95]

Hearts of the Multiverse-Chapter Ten: The Pitiful Children

Hey guys! I know this one took me a while, but I promise it's worth it! Please read and review. Reviews are like fuel to a writer.

Existence was ending. When they pulled everyone away from the claws of Chaos, herded their souls to safety for another chance to succeed, they had managed to resurrect them: this one last time. The physical strain of doing it wouldn’t be plausible anymore. Repeating and rewinding the timeline would now be impossible. If they didn’t get it right with this timeline…

              They were all doomed. 

              …

              The rain sort of stopped the next day, but the skies were still full of clashing and crashing of angry clouds that loomed ominously where planes flew so freely and carelessly away from here. He’d been helping Katara; it was midday and Giorno hadn’t waken up yet. He wasn’t dead. He’d sometimes flinch or intake a sharp breath, which Katara would soothe with healing water. She was like a doctor, knowing how to treat sudden lurches of pain.

              Truthfully, she was kind of like a mom. She reminded him of his own mom—a nurse with boundless compassion and empathy. He wanted to see his mom again. He missed his family so much. He had to get back to them. Back to what would surely be the past by now. He’d do it by whatever means possible.

              There were footsteps in the hall that echoed to the door. Rei’s voice intoned, “Is he going to be okay? He hasn’t woken up yet?”

              Katara, focusing on healing, said, “He’ll be alright. I’m sensing that a lot of energy has been drained from whatever contract he made.”

              Her hands glowed with the vibrance of the energy of the healing water that encased her open palms. It was an amazing ability—to heal people with something so commonplace and vital. Vitals solved through vitals. He internally laughed at his own joke.

              Kaiba and the others who came with him had gone home. It had at least up enough for them to do that. But all that left was worry: worry that Giorno wouldn’t wake up, worry that the demon would make them all suffer, worry that the monsters would become larger in number, worry that he’d never get home, and worry that he wouldn’t be able to save his…

              No. That one would never be true. He was Spiderman. He could do this.

              “Alright, come on you two,” Makoto spoke up, walking into the room. She, Rei, Ami, and Usagi walked with her. Miles barely had time to look up before Mako was tugging on his arm, pulling him along.

              “We can’t just leave,” Katara began to protest.

              “Not to worry,” Josuke said, pulling the blonde boy who had passed out in the study room and Sokka with him. “We’re competent.”

              “—Enough,” Sokka added in quickly.

              “We don’t even know who this guy is,” Miles pointed out, gesturing to the blonde. “No offense.”

              “None taken,” the boy said in stereotypical, almost insultingly so, Brooklyn accent. “Name’s Joey. Joey Wheeler.”

              “You gotta trust us,” Josuke said, slinging an arm around Joey’s shoulder. “This guy is totally cool. We’ll watch Giorno for now, after all, we might be related.”

              “Are you related to the DIO guy?” Miles asked.

              “Nah. I’m related to Jonathan Joestar, before DIO stole his body. Or so says Mr. Avdol,” Josuke said, pausing thoughtfully. He shrugged. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Giorno and I are related somehow. I didn’t know my dad until a few months ago.”

              “C’mon,” Usagi spoke cheerfully. “Mako, Ami, Luz, Zuko, Hunter, Arven, and I were going to head to the arcade. You should come with us.”

              “Wait,” Katara said, almost disbelievingly. “Zuko wanted to go out?”

              Zuko strolled into the room followed shortly by Hunter and Luz. Arven trailed a little bit behind all of them. “The others could be out there. Especially Toph or Aang. This arcade sounds like something they might like. There’s games and gambling.”

              “For cheap prizes,” Ami cut in.

              “Hmm, maybe Toph wouldn’t like it then.”

              Katara looked from Sokka, to Josuke, to Joey, and back at Giorno. “Are you sure you can handle this?”

              “What’s so hard about watching someone sleep?” Sokka asked with a shrug. He paused, seeming to notice the social faux pas. “That came out wrong.”

              Miles was conflicted. He didn’t know whether he should be going to an arcade right now. Didn’t seem like something Spiderman would do. He couldn’t just abandon Giorno, right?

              “He’ll be fine, Miles,” Luz spoke up. “Josuke is a healer, Sokka is smart, and Joey seems nice. You need a break!”

              “…alright,” Miles agreed hesitantly. He turned to the trio of boys. “You guys will call if you need anything, right?”

              “Yes, Mom,” Josuke said, rolling his eyes. “Go have fun! The arcade is awesome!”

              …

              As the group walked to the arcade, Makoto decided to hang back with Miles, who trailed behind the others. “So…you ever been to an arcade before? Or are those relevant in the future?”

              Miles chuckled. “Yeah. I’ve been to an arcade. They’re pretty fun. Never went with a group this size before.”

              “You haven’t lived until you see how bad Usagi is at the Sailor V game,” Mako said with a grin.

              “HEY!”

              “Prove me wrong!”

              “Oh-hoh! Just you wait until we get to Game Center Crown!”

              Usagi, while throwing her tantrum, had wondered onto the street. Miles sensed the danger before he heard the brakes of the motorcycle. He pulled the two people closest to the street, Makoto and Usagi, far away from the road. Perhaps it was a bit too hard because Usagi toppled onto him, which caused him to fall into Makoto, and all three of them ended up on the sidewalk in a jumbled mess.

              “Are you three okay?” a muffled voice underneath a racer’s helmet asked.

              The cyclist removed said helmet to reveal a tall person with short blonde hair, tan jacket, black shirt, cross necklace, and jeans. Their dark blue eyes pierced through his very being. Her stare was even more intense than Giorno or Zuko’s. It was possibly even akin to Kaiba.

              “Oh hello, Haruka,” Usagi chirruped.

              Makoto looked starstruck. Her face was flushed, and she was blushing.

              “Are you two okay?” the blonde asked worriedly. “I’m so sorry. I was trying my best to swerve out of the way. It’s a good thing your friend acted so quickly!”

              “It’s nothing,” Miles said.

              “I doubt that. You might even be able to beat me in a race with reflexes like those,” the person laughed. “I’m Haruka. Who are your cute friends, kittens?”

              “Kitten?” Luz repeated with a grimace.

              “More of a wolf guy, myself,” Hunter murmured.

              “I’m Miles Morales,” Miles said. “It’s nice to meet you, Haruka.”

              “I’m Luz, Luz Noceda,” Luz said, shooting the blonde two finger-guns.

              Hunter shook his head. “My name is Hunter. I’m Luz’s brother.”

              “I’m Arven,” Arven said, seemingly disinterested in the conversation.

              “I’m Katara,” Katara said with a smile. “It’s nice to meet more of Usagi and Mako’s friends. Everyone they know has been super nice to us.”

              “Yeah,” Zuko agreed. He eyed the blonde suspiciously. “I’m Firelord Zuko.”

              “Oh, breaking out the title,” Luz commented.

              “I wonder why he would do that,” Katara said, almost in warning. It was as though they had their own code between each other that no one else was privy to.

              Zuko shook his head. “I’m trying to be proper.”

              Haruka snorted, “It’s not every day one gets to meet pretty boy royalty…I assume.”

              “You assume correctly,” Zuko said coldly, not taking the passive-aggressive compliment/insult well.

              Makoto let out a small hiss as she glanced to her hand. Her hand was scraped pretty bad from the impact on landing on her palm. Miles flinched. He should’ve been more careful. Miles reached for his pocket Band-Aids, but Haruka beat him to it.

              “I’m so sorry,” the blonde apologized. She took a handkerchief from her jacket pocket and tied it around Makoto’s hand.

              “Oh no! This is way too nice for something like this,” Makoto protested.

              “It’s fine!” Haruka assured her. “You can give it back when we hang out again.”

              “S-sure!”

              Haruka grinned. Her watch alarm started to go off; she frowned and sighed. “I’m afraid I have to get going. I’ll see you around!”

              As she sped off, Luz said, “She’s one smooth customer, I’ll give her that.”

              “She sure is,” Makoto agreed.

              “Mako, do you have a crush on Haruka?” Usagi asked incredulously.

              “U-uh—n-no! Of course not!”

              “It’s not that big a deal,” Luz said. “Though, she’s got nothing on Amity.”

              “Seriously Mako,” Miles said. “If you want to, go for it.”

              “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” Zuko interjected. “There was something—off about her.”

              “Relax,” Katara said. “She was just really flirty.”

              Zuko still didn’t seem convinced. Miles laughed but stopped cold when he heard a familiar voice. Someone he definitely didn’t want to hear. Not here. Not now. He used his invisibility as soon as he sensed her.

              “I’m sure I detected an anomaly here,” Jessica Drew said to the man with purple-slime like hair, cape, and strange outfit beside her.

              The man shook his head and groaned. “You’ve wasted a perfectly good day of relaxation, Jess. I just wanted to go to that tea shop everyone brags about.”

              “Tea shop?” Zuko questioned.

              “Darius!” Hunter shouted, his attention firmly on the strangers.”

              “Well look who it is,” the man, Darius, mused. He smiled and pulled Hunter into a hug. “It’s good to know you’re safe.”

              To Miles’ horror, Zuko ran up over to Jess. “I’m sorry, but did you say something about a tea shop? With really good tea?”

              Darius scoffed. “Obviously. Why would we be talking about it otherwise?”

              Jessica Drew flinched. She knew there was one of them around. She had to know it was him. He was so busted.

              “Who runs the tea shop?” Zuko asked. “Where is the tea shop?”

              “I’ll answer your question,” Jessica cut in. “If you answer mine.”

              Zuko narrowed his eyes at her. For once, Miles was glad the firebender was as paranoid as he was.

              “Go on.”

              “Where were you kids heading?” Jessica asked smoothly.

              “The Game Center Crown,” Usagi chirruped in the background. She stared at Jess and then her stomach. “Congratulations! Do you know if you’re having a boy or a girl?”

              “Nah. My husband and I are waiting for the delivery to find out the sex. Plus, my baby can make their own decision on that when they get older. For now, we’ve got a lot of yellow baby clothes—standard gender-neutral fare.”

              “We’re getting off topic,” Zuko said.

              “That’s true,” Jess said. She cocked her head to the side, studying Zuko. “Is this all of you? Are you sure you didn’t lose anybody along the way?”

              Usagi was about to speak up when Katara cut her off. “Well, my brother had to stay behind with one of our other friends. He’s very sick.”

              “Ah. And who is your friend?” Jess pressed.

              She knew. She knew and she was going to ruin everything. At this point, he might not even be able to trust Hunter anymore if the man who, seemingly, cared about him were on Jess’s side.

              “They’re talking about Giorno,” Arven spoke up. “He’s not been doing well lately.”

              Jess shrank back, not expecting or satisfied with the response. Suddenly a strong gust of wind blew through the area.

              “Oh no! My excuse to see Haruka again!”

              The handkerchief that had been tied to Makoto’s wrist flew into the air, far above any of them. If Jess weren’t here, he might have used his webbing to catch it.

              Makoto ran ahead of the others, giving Miles the chance to do the same. He’d rather follow her than stick around where anyone from the Spider-Society was. She ran until reaching a car lot. Miles, not sensing any other spider around, turned visible again.

              “Ah—Miles!” Makoto said, as she spun, to unexpectedly see him. “You scared me.”

              “Sorry, Mako.”

              She sighed and looked at him for a few seconds. “Is she one of the people trying to stop you from saving your dad?”

              Miles glanced to the ground. There was a rather interesting oil stain that had probably been sitting there for a while.

              “I’m going to take that as a ‘yes.’ It’s okay, Miles. I’m not gonna rat you out. I don’t think the others will, either. I mean, even Arven covered for you.”

              Miles laughed. “That’s true…thank you, Mako.”

              “Hey, no sweat! Now, can you help me look for Haruka’s handkerchief?”

              “Ah. Yeah, can’t have you losing your girlfriend’s stuff. Makes for a bad start in any relationship.”

              Makoto playfully punched his arm, “Hey!”

              Miles stooped to the ground and glanced under a Toyota. Nope. Not this one. The next was a yellow Honda. There was something there. And it crawled up his hand. He immediately shrieked in surprise and fell backwards. Seconds later, a small, yellow and blue spider crawled out and stared up at him. Recounting his exposure to the radioactive spider was not a memory he wished to relive. However, this spider was a little cute? It had four blue eyes that just stared at him inquisitively. It took another small step towards him, a bit of visible electric static pulsed in its small, fuzzy body.

              “H-hey, little guy. You friendly?” Miles asked.

              The yellow spider jumped up, making a cute squeak.

              “Looks like that Joltik likes you,” a boyish voice commented.

              Miles turned around to see a boy, probably no older than ten, standing at the entrance of the lot. He had on a black t-shirt, blue jean vest, jeans, shaggy black hair, and a cap. A Pikachu ran up beside him, announcing himself with a quick, “Pika-pi!” Hunter and Arven stood next to him.

              “Hey Hunter,” Miles said hesitantly. “Where’s Darius and the others?”

              “Don’t worry about that,” Hunter said. “He’s distracting Mrs. Drew. I talked to him about it. Don’t worry. You can trust him. He’s not on her side. He’s our guy on the inside.”

              “You told him?” Miles asked, exasperated.

              “You can trust Darius,” Hunter swore. “He’s going to help you. I promise.”

              “Geez, I thought more people would recognize the world champion,” the ten-year-old murmured.

              “Sorry, we don’t have time for that,” Miles shot back. “We’ve got real problems going on.”

              “There are no problems,” Hunter argued. “Arven can back me up, he was in on the conversation!”

              Miles looked to Arven expectantly. Arven nodded. “He’s telling you the truth. Darius doesn’t seem like a bad guy. He kind of reminds me of Larry.”

              The small spider stepped in front of Miles and squeaked angrily at Hunter and Arven.

              Arven shuddered. “I’ve never been good with bug-type Pokémon.”

              Miles outstretched his palm to Joltik, who gladly climbed onto his arm and rested on his shoulder.

              “Gotcha!”

              A purple glow and Makoto’s shout turned their attention to the brunette girl who scrambled to get away from the daimon forming under the car. Hunter, Arven, and the kid with them stumbled back into a signpost. Miles saw Hunter’s hand brush up against the post of the sign before it also became enshrouded in that signature purple glow. Shoot!

              Hunter was closest to the daimon near him. He acted on his gut and pulled Hunter away first, which turned out to be a good decision because the monster lunged a steel-beam post arm at the spot he was standing. Miles, almost on reflex, drew Makoto closer to him, too. Arven and the kid gave each other a nod. Arven sent out his Scovillain, and the boy directed his Pikachu as the cloth monster that shot out a line of red fabric at Makoto.

              “Pikachu, use Iron Tail!”

              “PIKA!”

              The rope was cut as a loud metal slash hit cotton. Makoto was released from her from its grip. The monster turned its attention to the small electric mouse. It stared up at the sky, looking for something. Finally, it called out, “Lady Kaolinite, help me.”

              A red burst of energy caused five of them to crumble to the ground. Miles grit his teeth from the pressure and pain that drilled its way through his spine to his toes. It was like a cursed electricity he couldn’t control or redirect. Even Pikachu and Mabostiff were put out of commission.

              “You can probably save one of them,” a familiar voice, the voice of the witch Kaolinite, stated. “But not both.”

              His mind flashed back to the intervention with Miguel.

              “I’m Spiderman! I can always do both!”

              “Not always,” Miguel had said in that condescending voice. He had been so sure of knowing what Miles could and couldn’t do, how he was destined to destroy the multiverse, and how he was a mistake. No. Miguel was wrong.

              Miles stood up. The little spider beside him—it’s eyes widened in a strange understanding. It shot a bolt of blue electricity into Miles’ hands. Miles held it for a second before muttering. “Spiderman always does both.”

              He shifted the power of the bolt to both of his hands and shot both monsters out of the lot.

              The witch’s mouth hung agape. “Damn you! We’ll be back!”

              She disappeared in a flurry of rose petals. Miles collapsed to his knees. The small Joltik skittered to him, pawing at his face. He chuckled. “I’m okay, little guy.”

              “I knew it.”

              Miles craned his head up to see Jessica Drew standing at the entrance. She tried to enter something in on her watch—coordinates to her location most likely. Miles knew he was screwed, but he wasn’t going to allow those monsters to hurt Mako and Hunter.

              However, a purple blob monster appeared behind her and knocked the device out of her hand.

              “Contacting Miguel, Jess? Why?” Darius asked, casually striding over to her.

              “Darius, stay out of this,” Jessica warned. “You have no idea how dangerous that kid is.”

              “Don’t call me that,” Miles spat.

              “What else do you want me to call a reckless brat in way over their head?” Jessica asked.

              “That reckless brat saved my reckless brat, so if you and Miguel really want to get into this, as a former coven head, I’d be more than happy to step up to the challenge. And believe me when I tell you this Jessica Drew, you don’t know power until you’ve faced the likes of Darius Deamonne!”

              Five more slime monsters appeared out of nowhere, each bigger than the last. Miles slowly saw Hunter sit up, “Told you we could trust him.”

              Jessica looked from Darius, to Miles, to Hunter. “It’s a wash today. Don’t bother coming back, Darius.”

              Darius shrugged. “I never cared for your little club, anyways.”

              She turned away from the group, hopped on her motorbike.

              He sauntered over to the group, helping everyone sit up. “Easy now. Don��t get up too fast.”

              “Sorry for not trusting you, Hunter,” Miles said. “Do you know where the others are?”

              “We got separated after one of those rogue senshi split us up for some reason,” Hunter explained.

              “I think I’m figuring it out.”

              Zuko stood with the others at the entrance. “They want to track those heart crystal things, too. I’m not sure why, but we should consider them just as dangerous as the witch and her monsters.”

              “That’s probably for the best,” Katara agreed.

              “If Katara thinks it’s bad, it probably is,” Miles said with a nod.

              Arven cracked a small smile. “So did it mean anything when Zuko said it?”

              “Yeah,” Zuko said, raising an eyebrow. “I’d like to know that, too.”

              “Wait a minute,” Ami said, gesturing to the boy. “Who’s this?”

              “I didn’t think anyone was going to ask,” the boy said with a laugh. “I’m World Pokémon champ, Ash Ketchum!”

              …

              Gwen Stacy had been trying to get to the universe Miles accidentally trapped himself in when she got sucked into this world. Apparently, Jess and Miguel were here, too. It was good news that they didn’t have the entirety of the Spider Society behind them. Miles was here. She could sense it. She had to get to him before they did.

              She wouldn’t allow them to hurt him again. Originally, she’d planned to look for Miles today, but Kaiba had asked (told) her to help Connie, Penny and Wyll with the kids while Gale, Karlach, Robin, Ty Lee, and Marcy looked for their friends. She was kind of surprised and disheartened he didn’t keep Karlach around. She was strong as hell, and Gwen was learning a lot about heavy weaponry from her. And Ty Lee had promised to show her how to block someone’s chi.

              Getting stronger and bettering herself was one of her top priorities while they were trapped in this amalgamation of universes. She would never let anyone get hurt, used, or lied to again. She kept picturing Miles’ face as he leapt from the moon monorail; the hurt and betrayal in his eyes was painful to remember.

              “Gwen, you okay?” Connie asked.

              Connie Maheswaran had her own pink sword. It looked like it was made of pure crystal. She was deadly with both a sword and brains. They got along pretty well.

              “I’m fine,” Gwen said with a gentle smile. “We should probably go check on the kids. It’s not fair to leave Penny and Wyll to watch them for too long.”

              “You’re right,” Connie said with a laugh. “C’mon!”

              The two took the elevator up to a level Kaiba had converted into a temporary loft level. It was the smallest level, but still very roomy. No surprise with someone as rich as Kaiba.

              Suddenly, a deep and overwhelming pressure came over her; she was no longer in the elevator. Instead, the hallway was dimly lit, science experiments cluttered desks, and electricity hung in the air, tickling her skin.

              “You swore you’d protect them,” Kaiba’s voice hissed.

              “You can’t do this!” another girl’s voice urged.

              “Miles! No!” A boy’s voice shouted.

              Miles. Her Miles? Where was this place? How—?

              And just as it had happened, the scene was replaced by the main loft floor. Everything was as it should be. A few beds, Pokémon playing in the corner of the room, and Wyll in the center of the room surrounded by an audience of kids listening to his story.

              “And that’s when our brave friend, Tav, fought off the goblins torturing the bear,” Wyll explained. “As it turned out, it was the druid, Halsin, whom we had been looking for all along. Much like you, young man.”

              “Like me?” the green boy in the center’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. Must not be too many shifters where he was from. “Do you know where he is?”

              Wyll shook his head. “That’s why Karlach and Gale have gone out today. They’re looking for our friends.”

              “I should go looking for my friends, but I don’t want to leave you to handle things on your own, Mr. Ravengard.” Penny said.

              “It’s quite alright,” Wyll assured her. “And, please, it’s just Wyll. I need no pomp or circumstance around my name.”

              “You two nerds are in luck,” Gwen said. “We’ve come to help your babysitting adventure.”

              “In case you haven’t noticed, toots, we don’t need a babysitter,” a girl with black hair in a big bun stated. She glanced towards Gwen, but not at her. “Wyll was just telling us about some of his adventures.”

              “Toots?” Gwen repeated, raising an eyebrow. “Didn’t know people still used that phrase.”

              “What I say is unique,” the girl pointed to herself.

              “Oh please, every girl with a Tumblr account has said that at some point—I’ve said that at some point,” Gwen said with a small laugh.

              “I don’t know what Tumblr is, but I do know a dork when I hear one.”

              “You shouldn’t be so down on yourself like that,” Gwen countered.

              The girl paused for a moment and grinned. “Alright. I walked into that one.”

              “What’s your name short and spunky?”

              “Spunky? And you made fun of me for saying toots? My name is Toph.”

              Gwen looked to the others, “And who are your other friends, guys?”

              Bede scoffed. “Hardly.”

              Then why were they here? She wasn’t going to dig that far, though. She didn’t want to be intrusive.

              “I’m Hop. This sod just hates me because we beat him last time we were here,” the boy with the dark indigo hair and jean jacket commented.

              “Keep pushing your luck.”

              “My name is Shauna,” the girl in the frilly pink shirt said with a huge smile.

              “Alola, m’name’s Hau,” the boy with green hair said.

              “W-Wally,” the paler, green-haired kid spoke up. “It’s nice to meet you.”

              “And I’m Augustus, but most people call me Gus,” the shortest kid with pointy ears like an elf said. “Just don’t call me Goops!”

              Toph grinned. “You shouldn’t’ve said that…Goops.”

              “No!” the boy cried, falling dramatically to his knees. “It’s come back again!”

              “Who called you Goops first?” Hop asked, a little bemused.

              “…Eda.”

              “Figures.”

              Gwen’s senses perked up as she could hear commotion outside. She was probably the only one who could hear due to her heightened hearing, but she could always signal to Connie and Wyll to signal help…somehow.

              “Hey, I think I left a pair of sneakers I bought outside the other day. I meant to bring them inside, but I bought too many snacks, and I had to choose between one or the other…”

              They all looked at her, confusion evident on their faces. She sighed. “Look, Penny, can you watch the kids? I need Connie and Wyll to help me look for my shoes.”

              “Why them?” Toph asked, crossing her arms.

              “Because…they’re great trackers.”

              “That was pathetic,” Silver said. “If you’re going to lie, put some effort into it.”

              “You guys just stay here,” Gwen said. She turned to Wyll and Connie. “C’mon, let’s go.”

              Gwen, taking the quickest route, exited the window. The window cleaners could get any handprints, right? The transition to the ground was almost too easy. When she got there, she saw Kaiba glaring at a monster with the color scheme of a Nintendo game controller. Gwen put on her mask and shot the creature with her webbing into one of the glass walls of the building.

              Kaiba’s frown didn’t change, “Someone has to clean that.”

              “Wow. A thanks would’ve been nice,” Gwen said, knowing full-well it wasn’t going to happen.

              “Sato!” A voice from above called out. It was that red-haired witch that popped up every now and then. “Collect Mr. Kaiba and get out. I have elsewhere to be—other targets to pursue. Do not fail me.”

              And with that, she disappeared. Gwen rolled her eyes and effortlessly flung the creature back when it tried to leap up again. Wyll could get rid of it with his weird powers, or Connie could stab it with her sword. Usually, Karlach could finish them off in one blow. It’d just poof back into the object it was made up of; Gwen had been studying the little eggshells that popped out of them when the monster was destroyed. It was completely dead at that point. She wasn’t sure they were ever truly alive to start.

              To top it all off, they were after that device Kaiba was working on that could get them all home. But they needed him to build it for them. If they wanted multiversal travel, that couldn’t mean anything good.

              “Do you freaks not understand?” Kaiba asked the monster. “I’ll never work with you.”

              “You don’t have a choice,” the monster countered. Cables and wiring extended from its torso.

Gwen could sense someone behind her. She used her webbing to pull Kaiba away from the attempted kidnapping and shot up to a Blue Eyes White Dragon statue that was at least four stories high.

“Don’t destroy my statue, either.”

              “You know, I could just drop you.”

              To Gwen’s surprise, it wasn’t Connie or Wyll who had come down first. Wyll had come out second, chasing after the little, blind girl who had managed to get past him.

              “It’s not safe!” Wyll insisted.

              Toph grinned. “And?”

              She shifted her feet quickly. The monster sunk underground until all but its head was buried. Toph walked calmly over to the monster and asked, “Now, why’d you attack Mr. Wright?”

              “We need to find the pure hearts that contain talismans. My boss targeted him due to high suspicion. And she won’t stop until she gets her way.”

              “Yeah?” Toph snorted. “And just what are these talismans, anyways?”

              “Like I’d tell you!”

              “That’s fine!”

              Wyll grabbed Toph. Karlach, seemingly have returned from her journey, brought her great axe down on the monster’s head.

              “Wow, whatever weapon that was, you just cracked the ground with it.”

              “How do you know that little one?” Wyll asked.

              “I felt the vibrations in the earth,” Toph explained. “I listen to the earth.”

              “Right clever trick that is,” Karlach said with a laugh. “I like this one. She’s like I was at her age.”

              Toph grinned. “Oh, she’s cool.”

              Gwen lowered herself and Kaiba back down to the ground.

              “You make quite the damsel, Seto,” Karlach commented. Toph laughed even louder.

              “You do enjoy having a place to stay, don’t you?”

              “Oh, come on,” Karlach said, lightly (?) punching his arm. “I was only having you on. Not to worry, though. Wyll, Gale, and I got you covered where the monsters are concerned.”

              “And I’m just sitting here?” Gwen asked.

              “Come off it, Gwenny. Of course, you, too.”

              The other kids came down and ran over to their group. Mokuba was the first to ask, “Seto, are you okay? They didn’t hurt you?”

              Mokuba Kaiba, unlike his brother, seemed to have a moral compass. Although younger, he was way more compassionate.

              “They’d never get the chance,” Karlach said. “Not while we’re around.”

              Mokuba gave them a grateful look, “Thank you. I—we appreciate it.”

              Kaiba didn’t say anything, but he did give them a nod. It was something.

              “Well, we’ve gotta go,” Toph said. “We’re going to go look for old friends.”

              “Oh, yeah,” Mokuba said. He turned to Seto. “Silver, Bede, and I promised Toph and the others we’d help them look for their friends.”

              “No,” Kaiba said. “Absolutely not.”

              “But I promised!”

              “There are monsters out there. You three aren’t going anywhere.”

              “Now hold on now,” Karlach said. “A promise is a promise.”

              “Oh,” Kaiba said, raising an eyebrow. “And what do you suggest?”

              “Well, I can go with them. Me, Wyll, and Gwenny. We can keep the pups safe.”

              “No,” Kaiba said, a little too quickly.

              Gwen decided to get involved. “So, you’re just gonna keep everyone cooped up here? It’s not healthy. Even you go out, Kaiba.”

              He was quiet for a moment. He sighed. “If there’s one scratch on my brother, I will personally see to your eternal demise. Do you understand?”

              “Of course,” Karlach said. She paused. “Though, not much a threat to someone like me. I’ll teach you better intimidation tactics when we get back!”

              Gwen took off her mask and put a jacket on over her suit. “Don’t worry. They’ll be fine.”

              “As Blade of the Frontier,” Wyll said. “I defend the innocent from all and any harm, and not to brag, but I’m pretty renowned for it.”

              “You’d best hope so.”

              Gwen turned to the kids. “Alright, come on. Better keep up if you don’t wanna get left behind.”

              This earned her another glare.

              …

              Darius had led them to the tea shop. Zuko knew that if those ‘Spider Society’ people gave them any trouble, he and his uncle could handle it. He kind of understood why Miles had trust issues now. After he had chosen to save Hunter and Makoto from danger and was still deemed a threat well…it was a bit like how he had tried to save Lee from those military thugs. The town still rejected him because he was Ozai’s son.

              “But we were supposed to go to the arcade,” Usagi whined.

              “Oh shush. This is important to Zuko,” Rei chastised.

              Usagi grumbled slightly, but her grumbling faded to curiosity. “So, what’s your uncle like, Zuko?”

              “He’s like a father to me,” Zuko said. “He’ll be able to help us. All of us.”

              They walked until finally reaching the tea shop. Zuko swung open the door and walked to the counter where a girl with blonde pigtails stood, giving the group a smile.

              “I need to speak with the owner,” Zuko said. “Now.”

              “Manners,” Katara interjected.

              “Now, please,” Zuko added.

              The blonde girl kept her smile. “You must be Zuko, right?”

              “Oh hey, it’s the flame man,” Pavitr spoke up. He peaked around the corner and grinned. “How’s it hanging?”

              “Pav, why didn’t you tell us Iroh was related to Zuko?” Miles asked.

              “Well, to be honest, I got caught up in trying to find our friends,” Pav explained. “I didn’t give it much thought.”

              “Zuko?”

              His uncle walked out of the kitchen, surprised to see him. That surprise quickly faded into a smile as his uncle pulled him in for a hug.

              “It’s good to see you, nephew.” He peered over his shoulder at the others. “And it is good to see you with old friends and new.”

              “It’s good to see you again, too!” Katara said.

              “Is everyone else stuck here?” His uncle asked.

              “Well, Sokka is with us,” Katara explained.

              “It only stands to reason that some of the others made it here, too.” Zuko said, both knowing exactly who they were referring to.

              “Why don’t you sit down for some tea?” the blonde girl suggested. “My name is Mami Tomoe, by the way.”

              The group took a seat at one of the longer tables. His uncle excused himself to deal with some of the other customers in the building. Zuko was a bit disappointed, but he thought he hid it pretty well.

              “So…your uncle is a good guy?” Hunter questioned, still seemingly unsure.

              “Of course he is,” Zuko almost snapped.

              “Oh. Sorry.”

              “Not the best experience with uncles,” Luz said, patting Hunter’s shoulder.

              “At least you’ll never have to deal with him again,” Darius said. “And don’t worry. I won’t let anyone like that hurt you again.”

              Hunter gave him a weak smile. His uncle returned with tea to their table after dealing with two people. One was a person with short black hair, two hair clips, and a strange white and tear-drop shaped dots. The other person with them had long purple hair, purple jacket, slacks, and shoes. Zuko noticed they were paying attention to their group but were keeping a low profile in doing so. Well, two could play at that game.

              Sensing the tension, the blonde girl spoke up again, “Now that I’ve introduced myself, perhaps those of you I haven’t met can do the same.”

              Introductions were made. Usagi took a sip of her tea and her eyes went wide. “This tea is the best I’ve ever had! Gee Zuko, you really meant it when you said your uncle was a tea master!”

              “You flatter me, young lady,” his uncle said. “I’m simply a man who knows how people like their tea. It’s very good to see that my nephew is still making friends, even in such a strange, new place.”

              “Well, we all think Zuko is cool,” Luz said with a grin. “Though he’s terrible at Mario Kart.”

              “I don’t understand the point of those video games,” Zuko said, shaking his head.

              “Then why did you want to go to the arcade with us?” Makoto asked.

              Zuko felt his face heat up as he turned away from the group. He muttered. “I wanted to make sure everyone stayed safe.”

              “That’s so sweet!” Luz said.

              Usagi nodded. “Absolutely. You raised a good guy!”

              “Ugh. This is getting far too saccharine for me,” Darius said.

              His uncle raised an eyebrow. “Have you been their guardian so far? I hope it hasn’t been too much trouble.”

              “Thankfully no,” Darius said with a small smirk. He gestured to Hunter. “This one is my responsibility. And it just so happens these kids have been helping to protect him, so I am indebted to them now. I suppose I will be watching over them from now on.”

              “You do not have to do this alone,” his uncle said. “I will be happy to help you. Though, I think my nephew can take care of himself.”

              “See, that’s what I thought,” Darius said. “Unfortunately, those monsters out there make that rather…difficult. I’ll be using my abomination magic to set up a perimeter around their shelter.”

              “Abomination magic?” Ami questioned.

              “Those purple goopy guys you saw earlier,” Luz explained. “Amity is proficient in that magic.”

              “As proficient as a Blight can get in abomination magic,” Darius said with a slight smirk. Luz glared at him.

              A tiny, yellow paw stretched out to the table, right where there were some cookies. Zuko’s hand was about an inch away from them, and the yellow creature the boy with disorderly black hair tried to reign in the small mouse (?). Both of them looked pretty hungry. Zuko grabbed a couple of the cookies and handed them to the boy.

              “Here, welcome to the lost club.”

              The boy smiled from ear to ear. “Thanks! We’ve been here for two days, and we have no idea where to go.”

              “I didn’t expect the world champion to be so underprepared,” Arven said. “I camp out around Paldea all the time.”

              “Wow, you live in Paldea? I’ve never been there. What’s it like?” the boy asked.

              Arven frowned. “It’s where I grew up. A lot of people go to Naranja Academy. Miss Class President and I go there.”

              “I went to a Pokémon school in Alola,” Ash explained. “Professor Kukui was the best.”

              Arven smiled slightly, “Lillie said he’s really nice.”

              “Whoa! Lillie is with you guys? That’s awesome! I can’t wait to talk to her again!”

              The bell to the entrance of the shop rang. Mami got up. “I’ll go greet our new guests.”

              A familiar voice chimed in, “Well, look who it is.”

              It was that girl from earlier with another, elegant-looking girl with wavy blue hair like water. Zuko narrowed his eyes at them. Something about them was off. Maybe he was being paranoid, but it was better to be paranoid than careless. They invited themselves to sit at their table. He could feel the scowl forming on his face; Ty Lee would probably yell at him about stress lines.

              The blond sat beside Makoto while the bluenette sat down between him and Hunter, only increasing his suspicion. Why? Why take pains to separate themselves from each other when they seemed so obviously close?

              Luz, Usagi, and Ami seemed enamored with the blue-haired girl. Luz was the first to speak up. “Hey, Haruka, who is your friend?”

              Haruka raised an eyebrow and chuckled. “This is my partner, Michiru.”

              “Oh,” Mako said, a bit downtrodden. “You’re together?”

              “You can put it that way,” Michiru said thoughtfully. What kind of response was that? Were they together or not?

              “Can I get you girls some tea?” his uncle offered.

              “That’d be lovely,” Michiru said with a pleasant smile. “Thank you.”

              It was quiet for a minute before Haruka spoke up. “Michiru thought it would be a good idea to make up the motorbike incident from earlier. I thought I might take you for a drive, Mako and get a bite to eat. Does that sound fair?”

              Makoto nodded fervently. “Y-yeah! Totally fair.”

              “Nerd,” Miles whispered to her. She playfully jabbed him in the stomach.

              “Is your girlfriend really okay with that?” Zuko asked.

              “Yeah, I mean, Amity and I would never,” Luz agreed. Finally, someone on his side! Even if it were for different reasons.

              “Of course,” Michiru answered with a mock glare to the blonde. “It’s only right that Haruka make up for any of her wrong-doings.”

              “I mean, I guess,” Luz said.

              The bluenette turned to Usagi. “Perhaps you and your friends would like to join me at the art museum today?”

              “I think,” Miles spoke up suddenly. He locked eyes with Zuko for a split second—a mutual understanding. Healthy paranoia. “I’ll go with Mako, if that’s okay.”

              Haruka blinked. “Sure. I don’t mind.”

              “The rest of us would love to join you, Michiru!” Usagi chirruped.

              …

              And that’s how Firelord Zuko, Katara, Arven, Hunter, Usagi, Ami, Rei, Luz, Darius, and Ash ended up at an art museum. The Pokémon champion echoed his quiet sentiments: “So…these blobs look kinda cool, I guess.”

              The small Pikachu by his side tried to mimic the shape of the blobs on the painting. It was weirdly endearing.

              Michiru chuckled. “It’s an abstract painting.”

              “It’s abstract alright,” Ash agreed.

              The painting was full of colorful blobs and squares. There were no white spaces. It was still somehow better than Sokka’s paintings.

              “I think they’re kind of neat,” Luz said. “Like glimpses into another world.”

              “You’d know about that, wouldn’t you?” Hunter teased.

              Darius studied the pieces and scoffed. “It’s pretentious, really. I mean, the audacity to call it ‘The Human Condition.’ I’m sure this doesn’t cover all humankind…right, human?”

              “It’s kind of a vague label,” Luz shrugged with a sheepish grin.

              Zuko looked to Usagi who looked just as bored as himself and Ash. “Michiru, are any of your pieces here?”

              “You paint?” Katara asked.

              “Oh yes,” Michiru said. “I’ve got a few pieces in museums around Tokyo. I teach a class down at the rec center from time to time, if you’re interested in that sort of thing. Oh, this piece over here! This is mine.”

              She guided them to a large painting of a ship stuck out in troubled waters. The sky was gray and bleak. The ship appeared fractured and broken. Zuko was struck with the intensity of the realism and feeling behind this portrait. It was almost ominous.

              “Chilling,” Rei commented.

              “Abysmally so,” Ami said.

              “It can’t all be ‘Sunflowers,’” Michiru said with a chuckle. She paused when no one got the joke. “I was speaking of Van Gogh’s painting.”

              “Ah yes,” Ami said. “I remember that one.”

              “Is that the guy who cut his ear off,” Rei asked in a hushed whisper. Ami nodded.

              “Why did he do that?” Zuko asked.

              “There are many stories,” Michiru explained. “One being that he wanted to show a disfigured woman he would stand in solidarity with her. Van Gogh was not well during his life.”

              “It shows,” Usagi said monotonously.

              “Excuse me,” a light-hearted voice cut in. It was a woman with dark brown hair, big flowery hat, a frilly blouse covered by a gray vest, gray skirt, and black high heels. She walked towards them, handing Zuko a pamphlet first. “I couldn’t help but notice that you looked like this was your first time here. This is a map of all the exhibits. It’ll help you see who created what.”

              That intense intuition gnawed at his gut again. Something was off. He looked the pamphlet up and down. There was nothing strange about it. True to her word, it even had a location of the pieces Michiru had donated to the museum.

              She handed one to each of them. Katara nudged Zuko’s shoulder. “Do you think we should ask Sokka to submit here?”

              “Well, if the blobs got in, he’s got a chance,” Zuko countered. He leaned towards Katara. “Something is off here. I don’t know what, but I feel like something bad is going to happen.”

              Maybe it was the visions he’d seen through the fire lately. Nothing good came from them. Is that all seeing into the future did? Heighten paranoia? But if there were something to be afraid of, then it wasn’t really paranoia. Was it?

              “And here you are…target.”

              The lady in the big hat shoved the last pamphlet into Hunter’s hands, causing the room to glow purple. She cast some sort of barrier that shut them inside this area of the exhibit. The woman threw off the wig in disguise while the pamphlet in Hunter’s hands transformed into an origami figure with sharp and jagged edges for arms and legs. It’s face was marred by the names of artists, and its dress was the stormy blue found in Michiru’s painting. Before they could do anything, the pamphlets they had wrapped around their arms, torso, and legs like ropes, sending a paralyzing shock through their bodies.

              “Papyr!” the monster chanted.

              “Papyr,” the red witch said calmly. “Collect the target’s pure heart.”

              Hunter backed away, but there wasn’t anywhere to go.

              “Hunter! Don’t you dare hurt him!” Luz shouted.

              “If you harm that child in any way, I will eliminate you slowly and painfully!” Darius warned.

              “Oh, what can any of you do?” the red witch asked with a laugh. She smirked as the monster raised its hand toward Hunter, who ducked away from an oncoming blast. “You can only run for so long…Hunter.”

Zuko knew he was right! And maybe that was what gave him enough energy to firebend his way out of his bindings. Part of learning firebending from the dragons was learning it could be used to protect people who needed it. He stepped in front of Hunter, causing the witch to scowl.

“Get out of the way!” she hissed.

“I won’t let you hurt anyone here. These people have been nothing but kind to us, and I’ll fight any monster you set after them.”

The witch paused and then slowly smiled. “That can be arranged in the future. I see potential in you. But for now, Papyr! Do as I told you to do!”

Zuko took a deep breath in and hurled a fiery fist at the monster. However, something went wrong. He was consumed in a bigger, agonizing pain than the lightning before. And this was from water. Water. The element that healed. Water. The element that protected. Water. The thing Katara had used to save his life in the fight against Azula. This wasn’t…right.

“ZUKO!” Katara cried out.

He fell to the ground and lifted his head up to see a girl whose face seemed a complete blur. She wore a senshi fuku, but she had been the one to hurl the attack. She was the one who had attacked the monster who had attacked Rei.

“What are you doing?” Ami yelled.

“I need to see what kind of pure heart your friend has,” the girl said, remorsefully. But how could she be remorseful when she was doing this? What was the purpose?

“How kind of you to help,” The red witch said sarcastically. She turned back to Hunter. “Now, hold still.”

Zuko struggled to get back up, but more of the pamphlets flew to him, ensnaring his body. He couldn’t move; it was hard enough to breathe!

“You want to hurl around water attacks?” Katara said, her voice as dark as when Zuko had joined them at the air temple. “That’s fine. Try it again. Or better yet—.”

The water around Zuko was absorbed into the air. The water turned into sharp daggers that flew through the air towards the witch, the monster, and the rogue senshi. By the time they were done, the area was covered in frost, the senshi was nowhere to be seen, neither was the witch, and the monster had been torn to shreds.

Hunter slumped down against the wall and held his head in his hands. “Th-thank you, Katara.”

              “Don’t mention it.” Katara turned her attention to Zuko, who hissed in pain when she tried to prop him up. She began to look over his wounds with waterbending. “Zuko, are you okay? Oh…I’m not sure what that water attack was, but it did quite a number. Don’t get up too fast. Let me help you. There we go.”

              Katara ducked under one of his shoulders while Luz ducked under another.

              “Thank you for helping Hunter,” Luz said quietly. “Let’s get you home. You need to rest that leg.”

              Zuko glanced down to his leg. Something had hit it and caused it to bleed. Had there been ice in that water attack? It did feel sharp and painful. He didn’t have time to wonder. He just wanted to sit back down.

              Usagi, Rei, Ami, and Arven helped Michiru who had been knocked so far back into another hallway and covered in the pamphlets that she’d gotten severely bruised. Ash and Darius helped Hunter get up and start walking.

              One thing Zuko did know was that these witches weren’t going to stop. And he groaned as he reflected back on the witch’s words. He hoped she didn’t mean what he thought she meant by ‘potential.’

              …

              Miles, Haruka, and Makoto were driving all around Tokyo. Haruka, true to her word, treated them to some fancy ramen. It had eggs, meat, and all sorts of veggies. Tasty stuff. Though, Mako kept teasing him for not knowing how much to order. Okay, so he over-ordered, but he didn’t know the system. And he promised to pay Haruka back. Did that count for nothing?

              Now they were relaxing in the park. Miles was walking ahead with Mako, just enjoying the moment. She almost made him forget about everything that had happened to him in the past few months. She was nice, she offered him good advice, she was pretty, and oh…

              Oh crap.

              Not this again.

              “Miles?”

              He could feel the blush in his face as Makoto smiled at him. “You were deep in thought there. What’s up?”

              “Oh, uh, just thinking, I guess.”

              Mako laughed. “Yeah, I do that, too. People call me spacey. Glad to know I’m not the only one.”

              It was quiet before Miles spoke up in a hushed voice. “It’s good to know someone else who can control electricity. I thought I was alone in that. And you’ve been so nice to me. It’s refreshing, you know?”

              “And vice-versa,” Makoto said with a smile. “You know, everyone always treats me like I’m indestructible and strong enough to take on whatever, but you’ve just treated me…I don’t know…like a realistic person?”

              “I get that,” Miles said. “Being Spiderman, a lot of people look up to you. You have to act like you know what you’re doing, otherwise people will lose hope. It’s a lot of pressure.”

              “At least you got that cute little Joltik now,” Makoto said. “Maybe Arven, Nemona, or Lillie can help me catch a Pokémon.”

              “Not a bad idea,” Miles said. “Maybe I can go with you, too.”

              “You seem to be a natural,” Mako said with a laugh. He thought he could see the faintest trace of a blush. “And I wouldn’t mind if you came with.”

              “What about Haruka?” Miles asked with a grin.

              “She seems to be happy with Michiru. I wouldn’t dream of breaking that happiness. I’ll look up to her, but that’s it,” Makoto said. “Besides, it’s like you said Miles, we’re kindred spirits!”

              Oh. Oh no…She was so nice. But…what should he do? Her hand inched closer to his on the guardrail they were leaning against. This scene was all too familiar. He’d done the same with Gwen just a couple of months ago.

              “Mako…I…”

              “SCAR!”

              Like a banshee, the monster from earlier dropped down from a streetlamp above. Miles grabbed Makoto’s hand and pulled her along. “Come on, we gotta go!”

              “I’ll hold it off!” Haruka shouted, pulling back her fist to punch the monster in its face.

              It, instead, grabbed Haruka’s fist and sent her flying into the forest beyond. It then grabbed Miles and chucked him into the water below the bridge. He quickly tried to reorient himself and saw Joltik struggling in the water. He carefully cupped it and held it above the water, before he could even pull himself up. Once he broke through, he could hear Makoto’s screams.

              “MAKO!”

              He placed Joltik safely on the ground and leapt out of the water, landing just feet away from the monster and a barely conscious Mako. He also saw one of the sailor senshi in a dark blue and yellow fuku just standing there—watching as the monster held Mako’s pure heart.

The senshi shook her head. “We both wasted our time here. That’s not a talisman.”

He saw the red witch appear. She sneered at the crystal. “It’s not important then. Destroy it.”

Miles tackled the monster without thinking any further. He grabbed the crystal out of its grip and held it tightly to his chest. The red witch glared at him. “I know you. You’re friends with my target. At least we got to check this one.”

“Mako, I’m so sorry,” he murmured, stooping next to her. He let the heart crystal float back into her body.

She grabbed his hand and whispered, “I’m okay. Thank you, Miles.”

“You’re weaker than the fire-boy, but you’ve got a lot of guts for taking on one of my daimon on your own. I’ll give you that,” the red witch commented. “Unfortunately, that only adds logs to your own funeral pyre.”

“You hurt them,” Miles said. He stood up and glared at the witch. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll get out of here—now!”

“So fierce,” the woman said with a laugh. “Let’s see how that holds up in the future.”

With that, she disappeared. Makoto, got up, dusted herself off, and ran over to the mysterious senshi, obviously on the attack. However, the senshi just gut-punched her, putting her out of commission.

“What the hell?” Miles demanded. “Why did you do that?”

“If she wants to succeed in beating me, she’s going to have to be a bit stronger than that.” The senshi shrugged. It felt as though she were staring through Miles’s soul. “I’d watch yourself. You probably have a huge target on your back now.”

Miles knelt down to Mako, and did his best to help her up. “Mako, are you okay? Not too fast, now.”

“I—I…dammit. I hate those two. How can they wear those uniforms and then try to steal pure hearts just like those monsters?”

Miles sighed. “I don’t know, Mako. I really don’t.”

But he was sure they were going to find out.