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cherrynojutsu · 3 years ago

Text

Title: Like Gold

Summary: Sasuke grapples with love and intimacy regarding his developing relationship with Sakura after returning to the village from his journey of redemption. Kind of a character study on Sasuke handling an intimate relationship after dealing with PTSD and survivor’s guilt in solitude for so long. Blank period, canon-compliant, Sasuke-centric, lots of fluff and pining, slowly becomes a smut fest with feelings.

Disclaimer: I did not write Naruto. This is a fan-made piece solely created for entertainment purposes.

Rating: M (eventual nsfw-ness)

AO3 Link - FF.net Link - includes beginning/ending author's notes

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Chapter 3/?: Focalize

It is a tranquil spring evening by the time Sakura appears within view behind the hospital's glass entryway, a blur of carnation and sage and ivory. It is just a few minutes past seven; it seems she is waving goodbye to what he assumes is the receptionist further into the building, out of sight. Then she’s pushing one of the doors open with her shoulder and coming into focus, pastel colors subdued in dusk.

Sasuke notices she’s carrying a plain tote bag, and that there are also two large books and what looks like something reminiscent of a magazine in her hands, neatly stacked and held to her chest. She is wearing a sweater that is slightly oversized, a desaturated green.

Her face lights up when she sees him standing there, leaning against one of the blue columns situated a few steps away, closer to the road; her expression belays something like a mixture of ardor and avidity, and as she approaches, he also observes her cheeks match her hair.

His heart swells pleasantly in his chest; any shred of loneliness he felt in the past few hours dissolves.

“Sasuke-kun,” she chimes in affectionate greeting as she ambles over to him, all lenity and upturned lips.

“Sakura.” Her eyes flash lighter, more vibrant, as she gets closer; they are reflecting glow from a nearby streetlight that flipped on promptly at seven, an electrified yellow-green.

There is a short moment in time where they just gaze at each other, scant amount of steps between them, an oblivion of chartreuse and charcoal in spring twilight.

“How was your first day back?” She finally asks, smiling up at him.

He thinks it over for a second as he studies her, a gentle breeze of springtide. “...Fine. I saw Kakashi and the dobe.”

Her smile shifts into a knowing one. “I’m going to guess paperwork and Ichiraku’s.”

He pulls the health screening forms out of his pocket in answer, and her dimple makes an appearance.

“You can come by tomorrow just after eight in the morning, if that works for you; I’ll be here.” Different hours than today, then, he presumes.

He feels he should clarify that she’s not coming in early just for his sake. “...Shouldn’t I make an appointment?”

Sakura shakes her head. “Thursdays and Fridays I don’t have appointments or surgeries until a little later in the day. The majority of those mornings are set aside for medical research and correspondence with some of the clinics. As long as it’s before eleven, I can step away from things for a bit.”

Research. Interesting. She hadn't mentioned much about that in her letters; he hadn't realized it was something she did regularly. “What kind of research?”

She blinks in surprise, and he thinks she looks a little sheepish. “...It depends. Right now we’re doing some longitudinal studies on mice; behavioral assessment in accordance with certain stimuli, neurobiological response, brain scans, that sort of thing... I’ve also got some poisons I’m looking at for antidote development, but they’re pretty rare, so it’s not super pressing.”

His eyes flick to the books in her arms, a silent question. Her lips quirk upwards even more, then; he tries not to focus on them for too long, because she��s shifting the texts so he can read the titles. The thin magazine-like one is labeled Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry; it must be a research journal. The top book reads Neuroanatomy Through Clinical Cases, and the other reads Molecular Mechanisms of Neurotransmitter Release.

“...Some light reading,” he comments dryly, his version of a joke, and he revels in her soft exhale of breath, a shy version of a laugh. He has missed it.

“I suppose. I actually need to return these; they’re almost due. I meant to do it yesterday, but...” She’s blushing again. Vivid eyes meet his hesitantly before sweeping away. “...I forgot.”

Heat edges up his neck.

“I… wasn’t sure what you wanted to do this evening,” she continues, pursing her lips a little as her fingers clutch the books closer to her again. “I thought maybe we could swing by the library? I’d like to take a quick look to see if they have some new things in yet; it shouldn’t take very long.”

Sasuke muses that Sakura absolutely is the type to visit the library regularly. He used to go often, when he was younger. He wasn’t checking out books of that caliber, though; he wonders how long she’s had them. He also ponders momentarily if rogue ninja status is enough for the powers that be to revoke your library card from the system. Probably.

He hasn’t been able to read regularly for awhile, being away; books have been unnecessary weight, something extra to carry, and also a distraction from what he was trying to accomplish. Though he would accompany her wherever regardless, he realizes he would like to start reading again. It would be something to occupy his free time, when she is busy.

He nods his assent.

“Okay,” she breathes, looking a little relieved and meeting his eyes again, luminescent jade. "They close at eight today, so we should probably get going."

He nods again, glancing down at the books still in her arms. He considers for a second, then holds his hand out. Sakura blinks in confusion, long lashes skimming her cheekbones.

“...I’ll carry them,” he offers, neck heating up again as she stares. “...If you’d like.”

Her skin blooms with color, darker than earlier. “Oh. Thank you.” She hands them to him carefully, soft fingers brushing his. Her touch is delicate, incredibly distracting; her glowing cheeks, even moreso.

She adjusts her bag over her shoulder and then turns; he falls into step next to her as if it's the most natural thing in the world.

They walk just east of the hospital, which tells him the library is likely still in the same location, despite Konoha’s changing landscape. Some of the buildings they pass along the way are under construction. That seems to be a recurring theme in the village right now; much of what he saw earlier today passing through with Naruto was the same. Sasuke wonders if the library will have expanded, too. He doesn’t think he’s passed by it, yet.

There are a few people milling about, but not nearly as many as earlier. He supposes the majority of residents must be retired for the evening, inside their homes with family. There are a few restaurants they pass that smell fairly appetizing, but Sakura doesn’t say anything, so he concludes he was right in thinking that she has eaten already.

“So, how were things with Kakashi-sensei and Naruto?” Sakura asks conversationally, peering up at him from his right. “Anything other than paperwork?”

Sasuke contemplates before responding. “...Naruto and I went apartment hunting.”

Pink brows furrow a little bit as she grins. “Did you invite him?” She asks, though he suspects by her expression she already knows the answer.

He shakes his head. “Kakashi mentioned it as I was leaving and he invited himself.”

She laughs, then, glancing in the direction of the mountain of faces at their old sensei. “Yeah, that sounds like him. He probably appreciated a morning with Naruto out of his hair. He’s been helping there a lot, when he’s not on missions.” She pauses, then adds, “I imagine apartment hunting with Naruto would be pretty draining, though. He’s gotten a little better at cooling it with the nonstop chatter since Hinata, but not by a ton.” She stops again, thinking, before inquiring, “Did you end up finding a place?”

Sasuke nods. “It’s north of here.”

She smiles again, then purses her lips as if she’s considering whether to say something more or not. Finally she adds, green eyes darting to his and then looking away shyly, “...Not too far away, then.”

His gaze softens. “...Not too far.”

They amble by a few street vendors selling gardening supplies, closing up carts for the evening; they must be doing fairly well, as all that’s left over from the day's plantable wares are saplings here and there, and a few starters, small labels detailing their required care poking up from the dirt containers they’re sitting in. There are several taller displays interspersed between carts, stocked with watering cans, spades, gloves, and the like. Sasuke thinks it is quite trusting of the merchants to leave their goods out overnight, evidently without fear that they will be stolen or damaged; many of them are walking away holding only money boxes. It speaks to the relative security of Konoha, in comparison to most of the places he's been.

“Did you get everything you needed for your apartment today?” Sakura asks him after they meander a few more steps.

He blinks. “...Mostly."

“Was there something in particular you wanted to do, after the library? We could stop by a store, if they’re open, and get what you're missing.”

He shakes his head, then admits, “I… didn’t have anything planned.” He worries, then, that maybe he was supposed to plan something. They’re together now, or at least he hopes they are; he'd kissed her, and he would like to, again, if they're alone. Maybe this should have been more formal. He then thinks he should answer the second part of her inquiry: a box and a drying rack would probably be easy to find at a general store, but the majority of places in Konoha that are open past seven only sell food. “...I think the store I went to closed at seven,” he adds.

Sakura looks as if she’s deliberating again. “What are you missing, still?” He notices she doesn’t seem upset that he didn’t plan anything; maybe it’s okay.

It takes him a moment to respond, carefully. “...A small storage box, and a laundry rack.”

She brightens. “I actually have a spare drying rack that I'm not using, if you want it. The washing machine in my unit broke in February, and when my landlady replaced it, she got a washer/dryer combo.” She thinks, then adds, “...And I think I have an empty shoebox in my closet; would that be big enough?”

Something like serendipity unfolds in Sasuke’s chest and begins to vine between his ribs. He thinks unbidden of the blooming cherry blossom tree he can see from his window, just within reach, if he only goes beyond the glass.

He nods. “...Thank you.”

Multifaceted eyes peer up at him warmly. “No problem.” Her cheeks darken again. “We could… walk for a while, and then swing by there at the end. If you want.” Her fingers are gripping the strap of her bag a little tighter. “I wouldn’t mind walking by your building at some point before that, so I… so I know where it is.”

Sasuke nods again, heart skipping a little. He had hoped she would show him where her apartment is tonight, too; he would like to walk her home. He also hopes ‘walk for a while’ means he gets to spend more time with her between the library and going by his building, before they go to hers.

He thinks maybe he should voice that. It comes out as a question. “...We could walk around a bit after the library?”

She’s gazing up at him with red cheeks and smiling with a gentle light in her eyes. “...I’d like that,” she murmurs.

His ears feel warm again.

They turn a corner, and then they are at the library. There is a small expanded portion of the building on the south side now, and it is painted a slightly different mauve-leaning gray than it used to be, but otherwise it appears the same. When they near the entrance, Sakura pulls open the door for him, since his hand is occupied.

“Thank you,” he says quietly, before they head inside, bell on the door jingling.

The librarian working at the front desk nods at Sakura in recognition as they enter, a fairly young woman with chestnut hair. The librarian Sasuke remembers was quite a bit older, elderly now that he’s thinking about it. He briefly wonders if she passed away in his absence. The thought makes him morose; he hopes she just retired. She had always been kind to him.

“Finished with those already, Sakura?” The woman asks, friendly and motioning to the books in Sasuke’s arm as he makes his way to the desk to set them down, Sakura beside him. She must know her well.

“Yes; the journal was interesting, this time. Very relevant to the experiments we're running, and much more substantial than the last edition.” There is something somewhat critical in her voice regarding the referenced last edition, as if something in it wasn’t up to her academic standards. She’s well within reason to be captious; she has become an expert in her field in a rapid amount of time, and if she’s doing research regularly, he’s sure she has the data to back up her assessment. He wonders just what kind of experiments she’s running that have to do with neuro-psychopharmacology; whatever they are, he imagines they must be complex.

The woman is wearing a name tag that reads Ichika, Sasuke can see now that they’re closer. Sakura pulls out what must be her library card from her tote bag; it’s connected to a lanyard with several keys and what he presumes is an ID badge for the hospital.

“Thank you," the librarian says as Sakura hands her card over. As she does so, the woman glances at Sasuke with brown eyes, and then back to Sakura, as if waiting for an introduction. “And this is?”

“This is Sasuke,” she answers, smiling, then adds, “Uchiha.”

“Welcome,” the woman named Ichika greets him, without any malice. Sasuke wonders if she just doesn’t know who he is, or if she’s being friendly because of Sakura’s presence. Maybe it’s because she’s a civilian.

“...Thank you,” he offers sincerely after a moment.

“It was nice of you to carry those books. I know from experience they’re quite heavy. My name’s Ichika.” She gestures to her name tag. “I don’t suppose you like to read as much as Sakura does?” Ichika laughs as she hands Sakura’s card back and starts scanning the books as returned. “I think by now there are more books in the library that she’s read than ones she hasn’t.”

Sasuke glances at Sakura knowingly, and she looks downwards bashfully for a second.

“...I like to, but I don't think I’d understand half of what’s in these,” Sasuke answers honestly, turning his gaze back to the librarian. He sees Sakura flush out of the corner of his eye.

Ichika laughs. Sasuke thinks then that she really must not know of his prior rogue ninja status. “I usually have her write down the titles of the books she’d like us to add, because I don’t know that I can even spell some of the words.” She squints at the last book. “ Molecular Mechanisms of Neurotransmitter Release. I haven’t the faintest idea what a neurotransmitter is, or what it would be releasing.”

Sakura smiles. “Neurotransmitters are the body’s chemical messengers. A release is when the neurotransmitter causes a response in the receiving neuron; they can be disrupted in diseases and biological toxins. Tetanus is a good example; it goes up synaptic terminals of interneurons where it blocks the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters. The result of the block is that motorneurons become overactive, and then cause muscle contractions and spastic paralysis, like lockjaw.”

Ichika blinks blankly. “I don’t know where you keep that information in your head, Sakura, because it certainly wouldn’t fit in mine. Guess I’ll try not to step on any nails in the meantime.” She’s shaking her head, but her tone is amicable. “Well, they’re all checked in, with a few days to spare. I left out the new journals and that other book you asked about in the usual spot, back in the Medicine section.”

Sakura nods, and the librarian’s gaze turns back to him.

"Would you like a library card?”

Sasuke is glad he won’t have to ask. “...I used to have one. I’m not sure if it’s still on file.”

“I can check our records, if you want to browse in the meantime. If it’s not still on file, we can set you up with a new one; you can take books today either way, if you find some you’re interested in.”

Sasuke nods; that was easier than he thought it would be. “...Thank you.” Ichika turns to approach a row of filing cabinets a bit further back behind the main desk area, he assumes to check for his name in their database; he turns to Sakura.

She’s smiling at him as if she wants to ask him a question, but she doesn’t say anything. When she turns to journey further back into the library, he follows. They pass through two interior rooms, organized by genre and alphabet just the same as they had been years ago. The shelves are a little fuller than they used to be; with the population expanding, it makes sense that they now have a wider selection available.

They turn a corner to another interior room, and suddenly he sees a familiar face. His replacement is hunched over in a corner, nose buried in a book that appears from its cover to be about painting. When Sasuke inspects the rest of the room, he sees that the majority of the books in this section have titles related to art.

“Oh, hey, Sai,” Sakura greets casually, heading over to him. Dark eyes glance up at her from his book. Seeing him here must be a regular occurrence, given her lack of surprise.

"Hello, Ugly,” he responds, somehow both cheerful and monotone all at once. Sasuke frowns. He’d been around Sai a few times following the war, before he left for his travels. He never liked his nickname for Sakura.

Sai then looks to him, still standing at the threshold of the room, keeping his distance. He knows him, but not well.

“Welcome back, Traitor," he adds, tone friendly enough. Sasuke supposes that one’s fair. He inclines his head minutely, hand in his pocket.

Sai twists his gaze back to Sakura. "Have you recovered from your birthday extravaganza?"

Sakura blanches and stiffens a little in surprise as Sasuke eyes her with great interest; clearly this was not something she’d expected to be asked about. "Uh… Yeah. It doesn't take long; I eat during and can heal my headache the morning after."

Sai nods. “Yes, Beautiful said you didn’t get nearly as plastered as she wanted you to.” The way he says it is with way too positive of an inflection, as if he’s talking about it being great weather outside instead of crude wording for getting drunk.

Sakura rolls her eyes, then. “She would think that.” She pauses, then looks at Sai carefully. "Ino should be back tonight, right?"

"Yes. I am excited. I'm feeling quite amorous."

Sasuke twitches and his frown sinks deeper, but Sakura rolls her eyes as if she is used to this lack of filter, and gently pushes his book into his face, firmly but carefully so as not to damage it.

"Too much information. Just say you miss her."

Sai smiles as he moves the book away. "It is less information than Beautiful gives."

"That's because she's not normal," Sakura replies, sighing. Sai nods almost mechanically, as if he is cataloging this tidbit on human social interaction away in a filing cabinet for future reference.

There is a pause that is just a bit too long, before Sai offers, “I am researching for an upcoming painting.” Sasuke doesn’t know Sai well enough to understand, but Sakura does; apparently this is his way of telling her that he is busy with his book.

"I won’t keep you, then. Don't let her forget about our plans, though, and tell her I missed our spar this week."

Sai smiles. "She was preparing a new playlist prior to her mission." This also interests Sasuke, but not as much as Ino trying to get her ‘plastered’. He is for some reason having great difficulty imagining Sakura even a little drunk.

Sakura sighs deeply through her nose this time, and says flatly, with no enthusiasm, "Great.” After a beat, she adds, “Well anyways, tell her I say hi. See you. Good luck with your painting.”

Sai nods, and Sakura then turns to go a different direction, Sasuke following close behind. They pass through four more interior rooms before they finally make it to the Medicine section towards the back of the building, where one book and two more medical journals are sectioned neatly away in an empty portion of shelf. The book is just as thick as the one she’d just returned.

“I didn’t know you liked to read, still,” Sakura mentions as she carefully picks up the stack. She’s smiling at him again; that must be what she wanted to say earlier. Maybe she’d expected Sai would be there, that they would pass through the room he was sitting in, and that’s why she’d held off.

Sasuke nods. “...I haven’t read much in a while.”

Jade eyes are soft on his. “Well, if you want to look for a bit, I could look, too.”

He nods again.

XXX

Roughly twenty minutes later, Sasuke leaves the library with Sakura, comparing what they’ve checked out underneath the streetlight just outside; the light has faded enough that it is a bit difficult to read without it.

They still had his information on file after all, though the woman, Ichika, had him fill out a renewal slip and updated his contact information to his new address before giving him a new card. It is a strangely comforting and nostalgic feeling, to know that he was still present in the archives of Konoha in ways he had been unaware of.

He had picked out two books: one about the history of kenjutsu in Fire Country, and another historical text documenting the overthrow of the daimyo in the Land of Silence. He has never been there, given it is beyond the reach of Shinobi authority; he figured it would be interesting to read about. With it being a samurai-led country, it made sense to read at the same time as the book on kenjutsu.

“These sound like you,” Sakura says after scanning the titles of what he’s picked, glancing up at him kindly as she rotates so he can read the information of her own. Cradled in her arms are the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, the other scholarly journal, Human Brain Mapping, the book from the Medicine section titled Translational Research in Traumatic Brain Injury, and what appears to be a fiction book, an addition to the others, titled Spoiled Suitopi.

“You read fiction, too,” he observes as he reads the title of the last one, and she takes this as her cue to shift them back together neatly into one stack, largest to smallest.

She laughs a little. “I try to. It’s a good mental reset after reading medical texts; everything starts to blur together after a while. This was actually a recommendation from Ino; she’s into the dramatic stuff, clearly. Sometimes they’re decent.”

Curiosity gets the better of him, and he decides to ask. “...A birthday extravaganza?”

She smiles timidly, expression shifting to something a little embarrassed. “I wouldn’t call it that; she showed up at my apartment last weekend with ingredients for drinks, and then we watched terrible movies in my living room.”

Sasuke is learning all kinds of things about Sakura this evening. “No Sai?”

She shakes her head. “No, that’s a me and Ino thing; he doesn’t really pick up on the nuance of them being terrible, and we figure we don’t want to give him poor examples to follow… he’s got enough of those already, dating her.” She grins a little, then. “Also, he can’t really handle his liquor.”

Sasuke thinks Sakura must be able to hold hers fairly well; she had seemed pretty confident earlier, regarding the morning after. He knows her mentor Tsunade has quite a reputation. He himself has never drank much.

“He’s... interesting.”

Sakura shrugs nonchalantly. "He's better than he used to be, regarding the oversharing. Ino is worse, honestly.”

He considers her words, then decides to drop the subject, because he doesn’t want to think about that. Sakura had said in her letters that Ino and Sai were together; he can only imagine what she knows about them, likely most of it against her will and learned in the manner he's just witnessed.

He shifts his attention upwards; a few stars are starting to peek their way into the night sky. He follows their path north, to the barest hints of lavender sinking below the horizon. It has become even more silent outside, fewer people and slightly cooler temperatures. There is still a breeze. They spent longer in the library than he'd anticipated.

He’s not sure what time she usually goes to sleep; if she works at eight, it’s probably early. He wonders if he should ask.

“Thank you for going with me. I’m sorry it took a little longer than I thought,” she says, before the question comes to him. He shifts his eyes back towards her; he’s about to tell her not to apologize because he clearly spent time browsing, too, but she’s already speaking again. “You said your apartment is on the north side, right?”

He inclines his head in an affirmative.

“We could walk that direction, if you want; there are a few newer things on that side of town I could point out that are kind of interesting. If…” She pauses, as if considering her wording. “If you haven’t seen them already, I mean.” She gestures to his selection from the library, gripped in his hand. “We could drop off your books, too. Not as much to carry back, then, with the box and the laundry rack.”

“...I’d like that.”

She smiles up at him again, tender effervescence. He realizes as they start making their way north that they both have been talking in more hushed voices, as if the blanket of nighttime shifting atop the village has quieted them in addition to their surroundings.

There is something soothing about treading around at nightfall with her. The village is well-lit enough that it’s fairly easy wandering, and lights emanating from windows cast everything softer, more inviting phosphorescence sifting onto the pathway beneath their feet. Earlier today, trekking back and forth between businesses and his apartment, it had felt more unfamiliar, like there was a disconnect and he was just passing through, despite the knowledge that he was transporting things to a permanent living space. It feels decidedly less transient next to Sakura, a hint of sweetness in tart recollections. He watches their shadows for a fleeting moment, cast close together to the right of them, near touching, and occasionally faded by windowpane glow.

There is a casino she points out a few blocks down where Tsunade apparently used to lose money fairly regularly. She explains it was her mentor’s favorite because it was somewhat close to the residence typically taken up by the Hokage; she used to call it lucky, even though she never won. Sasuke finds out through this story that the Hokage residence is still sitting empty; Kakashi has apparently still not moved there, preferring instead to stay where he has been residing for years. Sakura mentions in a softer tone that she thinks it’s because of his apartment’s proximity to the graveyard where his old teammate, the Nohara girl, is buried.

There is a long stretch of silence in which Sasuke considers just how Kakashi has always seemed able to see straight through him. He’s fairly certain the girl had been a medic, too.

“...Naruto’s house isn’t far from the Hokage’s office, either,” Sasuke observes finally, changing the subject. He’s with her right now; he doesn’t want to ruminate too long. He thinks that's improvement.

Jade eyes sparkle up at him. “No, it’s not. I’m pretty sure that was on purpose; I don’t think they intend to move again. I’m sure he’ll give you the tour eventually - he’s pretty proud of their place; Hinata keeps it pretty nice - but it has some extra rooms.”

He tries not to think about the implications of that for too long. Naruto being in charge of a tiny human is not a very reassuring thought, even with his apparent strides in social awareness.

They pass a yakitori place she mentions is good, a few more blocks down. It seems pretty calm for such a restaurant, not as busy as Ichiraku’s usually is, though it’s later now and they’re likely getting ready to close. “I’ve been there with Naruto and Hinata a few times,” she tells him. “At least, when we can convince him to go eat something other than ramen.”

Sasuke hadn’t realized Sakura was that close with Naruto’s wife, though it makes sense instantaneously; she has known her for years. He thinks for a second before questioning, “Is she still as quiet?”

Sakura purses her lips in thought. “She talks more, now, for sure, but she’s still pretty shy around people she doesn’t know well.” She smiles, then. “I think Naruto has been really good for her, actually. Her for him, too; they balance each other out well.”

He supposes that’s true; perhaps Hinata is the reason for Naruto’s continued emotional growth. He ponders momentarily whether he and Sakura will balance each other out well.

She’s looking at him as if he should say something, so he does. “...He had vegetables in his ramen today.”

Sakura laughs. “Yes, she does force vegetables into his food every once in a while, now, so he's more used to them. I think she might have slipped Teuchi some money to start throwing them in his orders, to be honest."

Sasuke snorts, because of course that would be how that came about.

"It’s for the best," Sakura continues, lips quirking upwards still. He tears his eyes away from her mouth after a second. "He was eating pretty much all noodles and junk for so long. Hopefully it’ll start to cancel out with a few more years.”

As they walk farther, he starts to recognize things from earlier today; a bed of alabaster azaleas surrounding a residential building painted green, and a rather large street sign on a corner, right next to an ornate bench. They are getting fairly close to his apartment building. He holds off on saying something for a little longer, though, because he wants to spend more time with her. He hopes that's not too selfish; he has missed her. A lot.

“There’s an interesting place over there,” Sakura notes, pointing out a clearly aged building that he thinks he walked by on his return trip from the market earlier in the afternoon. “They’re only open two or three days a week, but it’s antiques now. I don’t usually buy anything other than books, but it’s fun to look through; they get rare ones in, from time to time. The owner is really nice.”

He nods. That would be a good way to spend an afternoon. He suspects she must have a collection of books at her apartment, then. He wonders how many.

She is mute for a moment, as if in thought, as they pass through another intersection. He wonders if he should be adding more to the conversation, but it doesn’t feel like an awkward silence; just an easy one.

He spies another familiar sign, this one advertising the market hours. “...My building is a few blocks this way,” he mentions quietly, loath as he is for this evening spent with her to come to an end. She looks up at him for a moment, then nods, and he subtly starts leading her in the general direction of his apartment complex.

His building comes into view a short time later. He points it out right before they pass beneath the cherry blossom tree, and Sakura nods in recognition. “Sai used to live somewhere over in this area, before he moved in with Ino. I’m not sure where, exactly. I know he liked how quiet it was, though.”

Sasuke nods as he pulls his key from his pocket, and they cross the street. He had been right about the light pollution; there is little enough of it that one can see the stars rather clearly, more so than one could from the library.

He wonders if he should perhaps invite her in. He thinks of the letters, still sitting on the small end table in the living room.

She saves him from making the decision. “I’ll wait here,” she tells him politely, leaning up against the old brick. He nods.

He goes up the stairway, down to the last door on the right. Once he unlocks his door, he places the two books on the kitchen table inside, and locks the door again behind him. It only takes him a minute before he is coming down the stairs again.

She smiles at him, then blinks when he holds out his hand. She colors, he thinks, when she realizes he’s offering to carry her books for her again; it’s harder to tell with the lack of light.

As she hands them to him carefully, she says, voice soft, “My place is a little south of the library; not by too much.” Her eyes flit to his, then dart away; there is a careful smile on her lips. “Maybe a little over ten minutes from here.”

They wander together in an easy silence, her leading the way more now. There are a few crickets chirping. It was fairly warm out today, so it makes sense that insects are starting to make their return. A gentle breeze continues to waft through from time to time.

He walks close enough to her that he can faintly smell raspberries, each time the wind blows just right. There are even fewer people out and about now, it being closer to nine in the evening; the road is fairly deserted. They go by the library again, lights turned off, and more closed businesses. It soon transitions into older construction that he assumes must be residential.

She was right; it doesn’t take long, around twelve minutes at a leisurely pace, before she points out a building further down the street. “That’s the one.”

As they get closer, he notes that hers is also an older building, built out of cream brick; there is something nice about that realization, that she also apparently chose something older with a bit of history over something brand new. There are few enough street lights that one can see the stars overhead well at night here, too.

“There’s a patio or balcony attached to each unit,” Sakura remarks once they’re closer, pointing at one on the northernmost part of the second story that is brimming with potted plants, much more than any of her neighbors’. “That one’s mine.”

As they round the corner of the building, he assumes to reach the front entrance, she tells him it was one of the reasons she selected this apartment, aside from its proximity to the hospital and her family's residence. "My parents' house has balconies for both bedrooms. It was strange to imagine not having one. This one’s attached to the bedroom, too; it’s nice to sit out there, if the weather’s not too extreme."

It’s a smaller complex, only two stories high. He thinks there must be six units, given its size and the trio of balconies they passed beneath, three small patios in their shadows on the ground level. It is somewhat close to the hospital, as she’d said, but far enough away that it's not necessarily an area that would bustle with activity, even during the day’s busiest hours; it is very still right now, peaceful. They pass through a glass door that is not locked, leading into a common area with six doors, three on the main level, and then three on the second level, with a metal stairway leading upwards. A huge, two-story high bay window sprawls by the main door, overlaid in a diamond pattern, which must allow light to stream in the majority of the day.

Each of the doors to individual units has at least one or two plants framing it, but he knows which one is hers right away. An array of thriving potted plants surround the upper northernmost side door, spilling out to surround the entire right side of the banister that frames the edges of the building. Hers is also the unit furthest on the upper right, like his; another nice realization. A few of her plants are flowering, but for the most part they are varying shades of green, with accents of paler colors. Desaturated and calming, just as he’d guessed she would like, rather than intensities of marigold and cobalt and fuchsia. It's hard to tell in the dim lighting, but as they get closer, he thinks that the few blooms are pistachio and lavender and blush in color, like her hair.

Or her cheeks. Jade eyes are on him again as he finishes walking up the stairway behind her.

He follows her to her door and leans a little against the railing behind him while she grabs her keys from her bag; he doesn’t think she’d mind if he came in for a few minutes, but she didn’t explicitly invite him, and he wants to be polite.

Once she’s unlocked it, she turns back to him to take her books. Her hand brushes his, and it’s incredibly distracting, again. “I’ll be right back.” She smiles at him before disappearing inside her apartment.

She leaves the door slightly ajar behind her, and he tries not to look. He busies himself with observing what appears by her neighbors’ doorways instead. No light emanates from beneath the doors of any of them; he wonders, this being older construction, if more of the tenants here are older, and are perhaps in bed already. The upper units probably aren’t occupied by extremely elderly people, given the stairs, but the ground level units’ decorations appear more classic and refined, less youthful. He notes the pots surrounding the other doors are very matchy, but Sakura’s are less so; hers are various shades of neutral terracotta colors, soft and inviting, some with unique shapes.

She’s back quickly, foldable drying rack and shoebox in tow, closing her door mostly behind her. She also must have set her tote bag aside; it's no longer situated on her shoulder.

He realizes all at once as she meets his eyes, handing him the items she’s gifting him, that he does not want this evening to end.

“Thank you,” he says, voice husky.

“You’re welcome,” she murmurs, just as hushed.

Sasuke studies her eyes for a long moment, trying to commit the life in them to memory, though he already has, he thinks.

“...May I see you tomorrow after you work?” He finally asks quietly, trying to keep the hope out of his tone. He knows he’ll see her for his medical clearance in the morning, but he would still like to spend time with her outside of that, if she doesn't have plans already.

She looks crestfallen, smile slipping a little before coming back. “I would love to see you, but I have dinner with my parents every other Thursday, since I get off at four. They stopped by for a visit on my actual birthday, but they wanted to do cake and a gift tomorrow night after our usual supper time.” She pauses, searches his expression for a moment. “Maybe the day after tomorrow, if you’re not busy? I get off around four on Fridays, too.”

He nods, committing this part of her schedule to memory. “...I’ll meet you at the hospital, then.”

Her smile gets wider. “Okay. I can show you around the other newer parts of the village, if you’d like. The southwest side has really expanded.”

He nods his head in agreement, thinking. He would like to ask for more time with her, before he starts taking mission assignments again, but he also doesn’t want to monopolize all of it; she has years worth of life here, roots other than him that need tending. He hopes she’s saying yes because she actually wants to, and not simply for his sake.

He takes a deep breath, forcing down nervous vulnerability at his next question. “...And Saturday?”

She blinks, then blushes darker, smile growing wider still. She casts her glance downwards to her feet out of shyness, shifting a bit. “Saturdays I work seven to three; I’m going to stop by the market after for some gardening supplies with Ino, but other than that, I didn’t have anything set in stone.” But then jade eyes flick back up at him, and they are slightly apologetic.

His heart sinks for a second, rejection stinging a little behind his eyes. She doesn’t want to see me that often. He’s been absent for too long. She's probably tired of him already, though she hasn’t said anything. He has enjoyed tonight, but he's aware he doesn't make the best company.

“Naruto sent a clone by this afternoon that was going on about an original Team Seven reunion dinner, though. He mentioned Saturday night as a possibility,” she reveals, and his world comes back into focus, heart reversing upwards back into his chest cavity.

Sasuke huffs amusedly, then, relieved. “...Of course he did.”

She sighs wistfully, shaking her head. “Ichiraku’s, I’m sure. I’m pretty sure I’ve tried everything on the menu in triplicate, at this point.”

He eyes her carefully, trying to dry swallow his fear of rejection like a pill. Corrosion, he thinks. “...After dinner?”

Shimmering seafoam again. Happy, transparently pleased, and he’s glad he asked, shoved away the nerves; he’d do it again in a heartbeat, if it’s going to make her eyes look like that. “Of course. We could… hang out here, if you want. Or was there something you had in mind?”

His gaze softens. “Here is fine,” he answers. It is more than fine, actually. He’d go anywhere, if it meant he could soak in her presence longer, but he’s more than a little curious about what her apartment looks like on the inside. His own is pretty sterile, even now mostly put together after the afternoon, devoid of most anything other than necessities. He has an inkling that Sakura is the type to truly make wherever she's living feel like a home, though, given the pleasant spread of life he’s seen spilling out here on her doorstep.

“Okay,” she confirms, dimple reappearing. “I’ll look forward to it.”

There is something in her eyes after a second, gears turning, a question she must want to ask him.

"Would you…" She's talking even more softly, now, hushed as if she's going to scare him away. Her eyes meet his apprehensively as she shifts her weight from one side to the other. "Would you want to maybe... have tea tomorrow morning? I'm… not sure if you have plans or not, but I have a little time, before I work. There's a good place near the hospital, and then after we could get your exam done at eight like we planned."

The vines between his ribs twist pleasurably. She does want to see him, after all. She's not too busy. She's looking at him nervously, as if he would say no, as if he hasn’t spent the last twenty-four hours longing for her company again.

"...I'll look forward to it," he answers quietly, because he will; he likes tea, occasionally. He thinks he will like it better with her.

Her entire countenance brightens somehow, even as she flushes darker. "Oh. Good." She sounds relieved.

"...I can meet you here," he finds himself saying, and her eyes are sparkling at him, now, at what's implied - longer with her, another walk together. "What time?"

She purses her lips now, apparently still nervous. "Would… seven be too early?" Her voice trails off a little, as if in hesitance, as she finishes the question.

He chooses his next words carefully, meaningfully, so there is no uncertainty. "Not at all."

She regards him then like he has done something wholly wonderful, cheeks a rich red in dim light and expression heart-wrenchingly elated.

There is an expectant pause as the oblivion happens again, dimmer now but just as powerful. He really wants to kiss her; he’s been thinking about it the entire evening. He wonders if she has, too, and if maybe she wants him to. There’s no one around, in this little entry area of her small complex, in front of her door and her plants in faded hues.

He decides to go with his gut.

It’s somehow even better, this time, anticipation and lips meeting and a barely audible exhale of breath through the nose on her part, almost like she’s suddenly at ease; he thinks, pleased, that she must have wanted him to. Her hands gently meet his chest, tentatively pressing against him. He would like to do something with his, but it's still occupied, holding what she's supplied him with. He settles for pressing his lips to hers with a little more confidence than yesterday. It’s tender and over much too quickly, much like the evening they have spent together; all soft light settling, lambent and beguiling.

She is crimson when they part for a breath, before shyly directing her gaze away and shifting back down; he realizes that she must have been standing on the tips of her toes to reach him.

Her hands linger on his chest, and then her gaze comes back up to his, almost determinedly.

“I’m… really happy you’re back.” Her face is still flushed, but she doesn’t look away. Her pupils are dilated, bottomless black dwarfing green.

Heat creeps up his neck. His pulse pounds just below her fingertips, as if she’s tugging at his heartstrings with them.

“...I am, too,” he whispers, before he leans down again.

He thinks that he could stay here forever, clutching all that she’s given him, enveloped in a sweet ambrosia of tart berry and newly unfurling plants and soft lips that he’s thought of all day, now against his again.

She gently drops her hands from his chest when they finally part. She’s smiling; she is so pretty.

“Good night, Sasuke-kun.” Her voice is near a whisper. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“...Good night, Sakura,” he murmurs in response.

XXX

The journey from her place to his really is quite quick; he doesn’t see anyone on his way back. Stars are visible almost the entire way, Leo and Ursa Major and Cassiopeia. The moon is a thin sliver amongst them, raised high in the sky.

Once he's inside, he carefully folds out the drying rack she’s given him in the small laundry closet and lays out damp clothes to allow the air to finish the job. He's glad he didn't need to make another trip to the store. A trip with her was better, and she somehow had just what he needed. He thinks perhaps she always has, and his vision has simply been too blurry, obscured by smudged glass, to see it.

Sasuke retrieves the stack of her letters and places them in the box gingerly so as not to further bend them. He stares at the picture for a long time before also stowing it away, sliding the container onto the shelf in the closet for safekeeping.

He doesn’t feel tired yet, and it's not too cold, so he goes to visit the memorial stone, after, as he’d planned. He feels it is the right thing to do, after having been gone so long.

He confronts many things as he sits there, the bevy of crickets and soft swishing of grass the only sounds on this quiet spring evening, a long list of engravings barely legible in the shadows.

Melancholy is one of them, seeping in slowly, as he’d known it would. Grief and acrimony and betrayal, too. A little bit of anger, still. He also experiences sillage, the aroma of his mother’s flower garden and the scent of his aunt and uncle’s baked goods and the smell of an empty house, all blending together in his olfactory senses like it was yesterday, a bitter incense of nostalgia that is hard on the inhale.

This time, though, semisweet berry and antiseptic are also among them, memory fresh in his nostrils, and he experiences a little bit of comfort, too.

Sasuke doesn’t sleep well, after, but when the nightmare comes, gruesome, and he’s awake for the remainder of the night, he has some books to help steady him until seven comes.

#naruto #sasusaku #ssfanfiction #cherry writes #slow burn indeed we doing a snail's pace out here #like gold #fanfiction

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yurimother · 5 years ago

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LGBTQ Manga Review - The Conditions of Paradise

One of the most significant and consequential moments in contemporary Western Yuri history occurred at Anime Expo 2019. At the event, Seven Seas Entertainment announced that they had licensed Akiko Morishima’s manga magnum opus, The Conditions of Paradise (Rakuen no Joken). More than any other event in 2019, a year which saw record numbers of Yuri releases, localizations, and mainstream success, Seven Sea’s announcement made me realize how far the Yuri genre had come. The Conditions of Paradise is not a current bestseller like Bloom Into You, nor does it have an impending anime adaptation like Adachi to Shimamura. In fact, this manga was initially released in Japan in 2008, over a decade ago. However, it has cemented its place in history as a groundbreaking landmark work and established Morishima as one of the best Yuri creators of the past 100 years. Now, as I stare at this Yuri masterpiece, gloriously translated for a new English audience to experience, I am nearly overcome with the gravity and awesomeness of the situation. This book is the Holy Grail of Yuri, or rather the Holy Gay-il, and I am beyond privileged to have the chance to witness its English launch.

Grandiose exclamations about the greatness of Yuri aside, The Conditions of Paradise is simply a phenomenal manga. The anthology contains eight chapters, three of which are one-shots and the other five split between two couples. The one-shots feature a variety of plotlines, from a tragic love fantasy to a cute and trope-filled school romp. However, all the chapters focus heavily on the featured characters, exploring their motivations and feelings in deep, meaningful, and complex ways. Even the one-shots find ways to showcase the varied histories, passions, and personalities of the characters.

The first three stories in the manga, “The Conditions of Paradise,” “Beyond the Stars,” and “In Dappled Sunlight,” follow two young women. Itou Sarina is an office worker, and her old friend, Takami Sumi, is a traveling freelance writer who often comes to crash with her. The chapters tell of their relationship nonsequentially, showing the two women as friends, physical companions, and partners. Their relationship is full of care, love, and lust. This story is not a class S style emotional relationship, or a carnal “friends with benefits” deal, but a genuine queer partnership. Through the three chapters, readers see them express their interest and affection for each other, and their desire to grow closer and fall more in love. It is incredibly sweet yet thoroughly grounded.

The following two chapters tell my personal favorite story. It follows the budding relationship of a slightly immature 30-year old art teacher, Kiryuu Keiko, and her 20-year old student, Aoyama Emi, who start a relationship after Emi confesses. Like Sumi and Sarina, the two have no shortage of love between them, with many panels dedicated to Keiko gushing over how amazing Emi is. However, I love this story because of the insecurities expressed by the characters. Keiko has anxiety about being intimate with her partner due to the age difference and concerns about her appearance. Even when she manages to overcome these trepidations, she is worried about how she will come across, questioning if she is being too aggressive or acting like a pervert. The resolutions to these conflicts all come from healthy communication, self-discovery, and working through problems logically and realistically.

As previously stated, the three remaining chapters are one-shots. Of these, my personal favorite is “And We Strive for Love,” which tells a cute story about childhood friend turned couples dealing with childhood trauma and the mother of all height differences. While individually, none of these stories are fantastic, and in the case of “Peach Love,” somewhat dull, though otherwise benign, anthologies must be evaluated as a sum, a homosexual combination of all the queer parts within. Here, The Conditions of Paradise succeeds thanks to its strong characters and realistic romances.

Akiko Morishima’s excellent storytelling and characters are not the manga’s only strong points. Her fantastic artwork adorns every page. Although she is not one to do sweeping dramatic shots or emotional closeups, her stellar and realistic character designs shine, fitting each character’s personality perfectly. Expressions and reactions are often exaggerated for comedic effect without distracting the reader or overly distorting the figures. She also makes excellent use of blank space, focusing on the fantastic characters and their reactions to each other. A panel with two smiling characters so effortlessly communicates the sublime love between the women.

The mature themes of the manga are matched by artwork featuring some salacious segments, including snapshots of sexual encounters. These are thankfully not overly explicit or exploitative, with obscured views such as those seen on the title page. And yet the… “action” is still apparent and erotic. My only complaint again comes from “Peach Love.” The younger characters in this story have an unnatural cherubic expression. The large eyes Morishima favors for all characters are combined with overly rounded faces and plump blushed cheeks. The effect, ironically, is that everyone in that chapter looks to have shoved a few peaches in their mouth and are holding them there like some sapphic chipmunk.

The Conditions of Paradise was one of the first, and maybe one of the greatest, showcases of real lesbian relationships. It is not the temporary schoolgirl loves of class s, a genre which was amid a massive resurgence when The Conditions of Paradise was published. Nor is the manga a pornographic exploitation of women made for the gaze of more sexually charged readers. While it contains depictions of female sex and sexuality, these are honest portrayals and compliment the grounded and thoughtful love stories. It is a masterpiece, a revelation, and one of the most important Yuri works ever created. The Conditions of Paradise’s more distinctive aspects and its value within the genre vastly eclipse any small faults with the story or artwork, resulting in a true classic of the genre.

I am so amazed and humbled to have read this book and to see its English release. Thank you so much to Seven Seas for licensing it and to Elina Ishikawa-Curran for a fantastic translation and Asha Bardon for an equally magnificent adaptation. They, and everyone else who worked on this project, have brought this tremendous offering to a new audience, and I could not be more grateful. The only thing left to do is award this masterpiece the perfect score it deserves.

Ratings: Story – 9 Characters – 10 Art – 7 LGBTQ – 9 Sexual Content – 5 Final – 10

Review copy provided by Seven Seas Entertainment

Purchase The Conditions of Paradise digitally and in print here: https://amzn.to/33GBkmB

Support Yuri manga, anime, and game news, reviews, and more on the YuriMother Patreon and on Twitter @holyyurimother

#lgbt #lgbtq #lgbtq+#queer #yuri #the conditions of paradise #manga #reviews #review #lesbian #lesbians #girls love #wlw #anime #history #classic

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bellatrixobsessed1 · 4 years ago

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15-24 on the writing ask?

Also you need to stop being shadowbanned ;-;

This time when I searched me up on my other blog, I showed up? I’ve also been getting a pretty steady stream of new followers, more than I have in a while so I think that it could be a glitch this time.

15. Tell the author your favorite fic of theirs. What’s your (the author’s) favorite fic you’ve written?

My favorite fic that I’ve written by far is I’ll Meet You At The Bottom. I am thrilled to say that, that one is still getting reviews! It is also my longest fic. Wan High was another one that I think was pretty strong. I also really enjoyed writing Kissing Dead Pearls. Protea has been fun too.

16. Do you research for your fics? If so, how deep of a rabbit hole have you gone down by accident when researching?

Yes. Especially for I’ll Meet You At The Bottom. That one deals with drug addiction so I for a while my fbi agent thought that I was an addict. The drug in question was a hybrid of two real world drugs. I’ve also had to research that for a project I’m working on now alongside stuff about pregnancy. So idk what kind of image that paints lmao.

Most recently I had to research how to plant and transplant strawberries xD

For Protea I was looking up a lot of flowers and what they typically symbolism. Each chapter is titled with a flower that I think fits the theme of the chapter.

I also try to research any mental illness that I work with as thoroughly as I can.

17. How obsessively do you sit and stare at your fic after you’ve just posted and wait for feedback?

I usually just check once in the morning. I like to start my day that way.

18. Do you have a WIP that you keep telling yourself you’ll eventually get back to, but deep down you know that’s probably a lie?

I have a list of fics that I want to continue as well as a good five pages worth of blurbs from some fics that I’d like to start. The one I keep saying that I want to get back to is my Bellatrix/Regina crossover as well as the Regina adopts Azula one. And a werewolf Regina one. And...

19. Do you edit your fics after you write them, or do you prefer to just hit post and run (because it’s someone else’s problem now)?

Pffft... no. All of my fics come with a no proof reading disclaimer. Like people have spotted some wonderful typo gems. And I’m just like, it be like that sometimes.

20. What’s your favorite part about the fanfiction writing process?

The daydreaming xD

No write, only finished product.

21. What’s your least favorite part about the fanfiction writing process?

The writing xD

In all seriousness, probably the first sentence. Like I have trouble focusing and so it can take me up to a half an hour to actually get into a good flow. But once I get going I can keep going.

22. Do take fic requests? If so, for what characters and why?

I used to. I don’t anymore due to time constraints. I especially can’t take them now since I have five projects going on. I finished 1 of said projects but just added one more.

Back in the day I used to take literally any prompt for any character in any fandom I was familiar with. Even the weird ones lol.

23. What’s your absolute favorite trope to write?

Hanahaki is so much fun! I also enjoy the ‘ Monstrous Transformation trope (cw: because the image they used is bloody) which is why I like writing werewolf and curse fics. Idk why I enjoy this one but I think that it’s fun to write.

24. What’s a trope that you’d like to never hear about as long as you live, let alone write?

Good girl/bad boy. I also don’t really care for love at first sight type stuff. I’m not fond of smutty tropes either.

25. Do you listen to music as you write? If possible, link your writing playlist.

Music is strictly for the daydreaming process. I can’t listen to music while writing or I will write a scene that directly matches the tone and theme of the song. And my playlist is my ipod. And my music style ranges from Jesus Take The Wheel to Let’s Make Evil. From Ashnikko to Bob Marley. Could also be anything form P-P-Pickle to Within Temptation. So yeah, music is a no go for writing xD

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recentanimenews · 4 years ago

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INTERVIEW: JUJUTSU KAISEN's Music Staff on Billie Eilish’s Influence on the Soundtrack and More

Did the JUJUTSU KAISEN finale feel like a full-body experience to you? There's still one thing I can't get out of my head: the soundtrack. Last month, I got the opportunity to interview four members of JUJUTSU KAISEN's music staff about their experiences working on the series. Below, Music Producer Yoshiki Kobayashi and composers Hiroaki Tsutsumi, Yoshimasa Terui, and Alisa Okehazama share their creative processes, musical influences, favorite scenes, and more. If you're a fan of JUJUTSU KAISEN, you definitely don't want to miss out on this!

This was a rare case where three different composers were in charge of the background music, but could you tell us a bit about how that happened? How did you three go about producing the soundtrack?

Kobayashi: When we had our meeting with Gege Akutami-sensei, he suggested we go with a stylish, Billie Eilish direction. Then director Sung Hoo Park added on that he wanted some hip hop and rock, so I entrusted the work to Tsutsumi-san, Terui-san, and Okehazama-san, who I knew could create unique songs that fit the anime.

Tsutsumi-san is great with rock. He also has extensive experience with additional background music, so I figured Tsutsumi-san would be the center of the team this time. For a while now I’ve thought that Terui-san’s distinctive rhythms, melodies, and riffs are very unique and so is the way he creates them. He’s great with stylish songs. Then Okehazama-san knows how to work a synthesizer well, and her melodies are extremely pretty, so I asked her to join thinking she’d be perfect for the emotional tracks.

There were some co-written songs, but most were composed separately by one of those three. I always made sure everyone could listen to each other’s demos, so we could share the same direction for the show’s music and make sure we didn’t lose track of it.

Tsutsumi: The songs were divvied up between the three of us based on the characters, tone, and music requested.

A few songs were assigned when the composer raised their hand for it, but Kobayashi-san, the music producer, had the final say on the division, and we each broadened our imagination as we made our demos.

We all received inspiration from each other as we worked on the composition.

Terui: I heard that both the original author, Akutami-sensei, and director Park had a strong focus on the music and they also wanted to use a broad range of genres for the background music, so producer Kobayashi reached out to three of us to realize those requests.

We decided who would be in charge of producing each song during our meetings with Kobayashi-san, and then we basically each worked on our own.

I wasn’t in charge of the theme music this time, but I was able to produce a few songs that I co-wrote with Tsutsumi-san and Okehazama-san.

JUJUTSU KAISEN is a unique title with cursed spirits and jujutsu sorcerers. How did it feel to work on a show that would let you thematically address “dark fantasy” in a soundtrack?

Kobayashi: It’s set in Tokyo, and the addition of curses makes it seem more Japanese, but since I had worked with director Park before on The God of High School, I felt that it needed more of a western music feel than a Japanese dark fantasy feel. I felt like I had to respond to the stylishness of the footage that the director sought, and not let ourselves get dragged down trying to make it more Japanese.

Tsutsumi: Rock-style songs are my roots, and I felt like the setting matched the hard musical expression of that well, so it was very rewarding.

Terui: Many of the projects I’ve been involved with so far have basically been more about looking at the darker side of things than going in an open, positive direction, so I was looking forward to seeing how I could bring out my experience in new ways with this soundtrack.

Okehazama: This was my first time creating music for a dark fantasy, so I was a little anxious, but I was much more excited about it.

What kind of research did you do when you were assigned to the soundtrack? If you did any work to deepen your understanding of the title, we’d love to hear about it. If you were reading the original manga before working on the soundtrack, then what kind of inspiration did you take from the source material while composing the music?

Kobayashi: I’ve read every chapter in Shonen Jump since it first started running. It was my job to further my understanding of the title and convey that to the composers, so I participated in the scenario meetings so I could soak in what the director was thinking about, what the themes of each episode were meant to be, and what points they were debating over. Thanks to that I was able to pick on some minor details and proposed adding one more song at the very last minute to the director.

Tsutsumi: I had known about the title before, but the first time I really read through it was after I was assigned to the music. I organized the content of the title in my own way and laid out my own notes on how to convert that to musical expression before our first music meeting.

Terui: Reading through the original goes without saying, but I also researched what kind of music Akutami-sensei likes and I watched director Park’s past works.

"This is right at the heart of the current shonen manga," was the impression I got from the original. I love manga myself, and I found some inspiration in the homages to various other manga scattered throughout.

Okehazama: I began reading the original title after I was chosen to work on the music. I received inspiration from the story and the characters of course, but I also settled on the tone of the music based on the touches in the manga’s artwork.

Itadori watches lots of movies to hone his skill with cursed energy, but were there any movie soundtracks or composers the music team drew inspiration from?

Kobayashi: It was only partial influence, but I imagined the songs coming in cool like they do in Spawn and Black Panther.

Tsutsumi: A TOHO Producer, Matsutani-san, had introduced me to the soundtrack for a movie called Us released in 2019, and I was inspired by its approach to sound.

Terui: This was my first experience with background music, so it wasn’t so much a specific movie’s soundtrack, but I listened to a broad variety of music from movies with a similar direction to broaden my perspective. Outside of soundtracks, I also felt that something which bridged the abstract hip hop of shing02 and DJ shadow with the more recent trap hip hop style would get people hooked, so I referenced those (though ultimately the songs I ended up in charge of were mostly in a rock-style).

Okehazama: I didn’t use a particular title as reference, but I did proactively listen to hip hop and EDM music to gain a variety of ideas.

In Episode 2, there's a scene with Gojo and Itadori at a cremation center with a traditional flute and quiet electric guitar as background music. Not only was it an entirely anime-original scene, but it also shows a ritual that is not commonly portrayed in Japanese media. How did you work with the staff to create the sound to this scene, and what considerations did you take in showing the ritual of kotsuage (a traditional Japanese funeral cremation)?

Tsutsumi: I performed a song with the harmonics of a kantele (a string instrument from Finland) as the main motif in order to express Itadori’s maudlin state of emotion. I felt that the transparent, empty, and dignified air of that tone would support such a quiet scene without intruding on it.

We actually used a low whistle for the flute tones. When producing the music for JUJUTSU KAISEN we never recorded any Japanese instruments since the concept was to express that Japanese style with Western Instruments.

I used the electric guitar to express his inner strength and his resolve for the future that goes with his sadness. (I actually didn’t make this song specifically for the kotsuage scene, but I do believe it fit the mood of the scene and expressed Itadori’s emotions.)

The artist Che Lingo helped provide the lyrics for the fight between Todo and Fushiguro in episode eight. Can you talk about how you found Che Lingo to help write the lyrics for the song and how it was written for the scene?

Kobayashi: Director Park put in an order requesting a rap, so I was introduced to him by Youki Yamamoto-san who I had worked with on Dr. STONE before and who was currently in London. When I heard his rap I thought it was cool and knew I wanted to ask him for it.

I told him the general tone of the music (and the details of the scene) beforehand, so Che came to the recording with a general idea in mind. We couldn’t go to London where he was recording due to the pandemic, so I decided to direct it online.

Tsutsumi: We were introduced to him by a composer living in England, Youki Yamamoto-san. We used the internet to connect London and Japan in order to do the recording. Each composer told Che Lingo where we would be inserting the rap, and what theme we wanted from the lyrics, and then we composed the lyrics and recorded the rap all on the same day as the recording.

When Gojo fights Jogo in episode seven, we’re treated to heavy rock music. Later in the episode, after Itadori and Gojo enter Jogo’s domain expansion, we still hear cool rock music even though there isn’t as much fighting happening. Do you feel unifying the music to a genre like that throughout an episode is an effective way to convey a message to viewers?

Kobayashi: We don’t actually worry about unifying the genre of music in an episode. The reason for that is because there are developments within each episode, and I believe using the music that fits each development is how you should maintain the overall balance of the episode. It just so happened to work out that way in episode seven, but for example, I don’t think it would have been strange for the song for Hollow Purple from episode twenty to kick in with Gojo. Then it would have shifted from rock to EDM. Either way, it would have helped leave that impression of Gojo’s overwhelming strength, so I think following the nature of the show rather than a genre of music helps leads to better unification.

Tsutsumi: Episode seven was the episode that impressed Gojo’s overwhelming strength upon us. I felt the music was effective in emphasizing that strength.

The music that plays when Todo questions each character changes between heavy-metal (during Fushiguro and Todo’s fight), house (when Itadori meets Todo), and even easy-going acoustic guitars (during Todo’s nostalgic high school scene). I found this musical storytelling in Todo’s scenes really charming. What kinds of things do you pay particular attention to in order to convey a character’s personality?

Kobayashi: On my end, I made sure each character was assigned to a specific composer. For example, Itadori and Todo were both assigned to Tsutsumi-san. Nanami and Fushiguro were assigned to Terui-san, while Kugisaki and Gojo were assigned to Okehazama-san, and they each composed for their characters. Because of that, we produced music that drew out their personalities and naturally ended up with a mix of genres.

Tsutsumi: I really cherish the sense and feel that I get when I first picture that character, such as the tempo or the sound of an instrument that springs naturally to me.

For example, when I pictured Todo, the first thing that came to mind was a chorus like a war cry, and taiko or other drum beats, and I felt that mid-tempo matched his unabashed nature, so those were the hints I worked from.

Terui: I feel like I get a lot of hints about the sound I should produce not just from the character’s appearance, but also as I consider their backbone and ideology. Once I’ve listed out as many words that come to mind, I then use my creativity to turn that into sound.

One of the most provocative story arcs is Itadori’s dealings with Mahito and Junpei Yoshino. At the end of episode thirteen, there's a really moving insert song titled “Stand in the Darkness” playing as Itadori monologues about “never losing again.” Was there anything specific about that storyline, or about JUJUTSU KAISEN in general, that inspired this song?

Kobayashi: The director put in a strong request here. It was the end of the first cour too, so he wanted the end of the cour to feel like a final episode and he told us he wanted to add in a song with male vocals. The order he gave us was for a ballad, so I really agonized over that, but I think we produced a wonderful song thanks to Steve Memmlo’s participation.

In the actual anime, the vocals only play for a short thirty seconds. For the first half, we used the instrumentals without the vocals, but that’s because Tsutsumi-san and I discussed it and proposed to the director that we make the first half instrumental-only since Itadori’s emotions haven’t reached that point yet in the first half.

On the soundtrack, you’ll be able to listen to the version with the full vocals that we recorded.

How have you felt regarding JUJUTSU KAISEN’s reception post-debut? Do you think fans are digging the mix of music genres represented?

Kobayashi: Everyone’s had their own unique interpretation, and frankly I feel that’s a job well done. Being able to enjoy your own interpretation of it means there’s more chances for people to enjoy it than a fixed impression would provide. It’s not a negative thing for people who grew up in different environments listening to different music to have different interpretations. I think such diversity is really great.

Tsutsumi: The charm of the original is spreading to so many more people through the anime, and I hope they’re enjoying it from the bottom of their hearts. I do think JUJUTSU KAISEN offers a very unique soundtrack. Even though we held true to the fundamentals of expressing emotions, we all worked together looking for new ways to combine instruments and express things as we created the songs, so I hope people can pick up on that foundational power.

Terui: I think even more people are enjoying the show thanks to the synergy of the original work’s undamaged appeal and the appealing elements of animation like the motion and the performance of all the voice actors.

I’d be delighted if the music is also adding to that.

As for the mix of genres, honestly while part of me thinks some people might hesitate at that, I’m convinced this active approach produced wonderful results.

Okehazama: When I was creating the music I was very worried about whether people would enjoy it. However, after the reactions to the music from so many people through social media after it started airing, all of it positive, I think fans have come to love it too.

I’m very grateful to all the fans who sent me messages.

Having come this far since episode one, are there any personal favorite episodes or scenes you have worked on?

Kobayashi: Episode 16, Panda vs. Mechamaru. Che Lingo’s rap is just cool, and the story’s great, and I loved that episode in the manga too.

Tsutsumi: Gojo and Jogo’s battle in Episode 7. After Gojo proves he’s the strongest in JUJUTSU KAISEN, it makes it very easy for viewers to understand the setting and the power balance between the characters of episodes before and after, so I think that’s a key scene.

Terui: I have several scenes I love, but what comes to mind right now is the scene where Hanami awakens to the joy of battle in episode nineteen.

The animation there is incredibly beautiful, and the music was used wonderfully. I felt my mind getting hooked on MiMi-san’s performance with the hammered dulcimer (a percussion-stringed instrument) in that scene.

Okehazama: There are lots of scenes I loved, but I really loved "Jujutsu Koshien" in episode twenty-one. It’s one of my favorite scenes where we get to see the main characters act like high schoolers, which we hardly see on their typical missions.

There were also new additions original to the anime, and I found myself laughing.

Anything else you would like to say to worldwide fans of JUJUTSU KAISEN?

Kobayashi: I take pride in my role here. I know there are lots of JUJUTSU KAISEN fans throughout the world, there’s only so much I can do, but I hope my ideas and efforts have helped boost the title and make it even more enjoyable.

Tsutsumi: I may be one of the staff members producing JUJUTSU KAISEN, but as an honest fan as well, I love this title and I always want to make it something wonderful. Let’s all share our excitement for JUJUTSU KAISEN!

Terui: I know it’s hard to encounter new things here when Japan is an island nation that doesn’t speak English, but Japan is filled with amazing anime, comics, music, and underground scenes in addition to big titles like JUJUTSU KAISEN, so if you got hooked on this, then I hope you’ll keep going and sample other works as well. You might encounter something wonderful.

Okehazama: To everyone watching JUJUTSU KAISEN, thank you very much. I’m very happy to have people watching worldwide in addition to Japan. JUJUTSU KAISEN has many serious scenes, but the characters are cool and appealing, and the wild action of the battles is impressive to watch. I hope you enjoy watching it all the way to the end.

Did the JUJUTSU KAISEN finale rock your soul? Did it make your heart drop like a base? Let us know in the comments below!

Special thanks to Kobayashi, Tsutsumi, Terui, and Okehazama for their time and the JUJUTSU KAISEN team for their amazing work.

Blake P. is a weekly columnist for Crunchyroll Features. His twitter is @_dispossessed. His bylines include Fanbyte, VRV, Unwinnable, and more. He would like to see Mahito do the worm.

Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: Blake Planty

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

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fuse2dx · 4 years ago

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November ‘20

Cross Code

Cross Code is a game that is trying so very, very hard. The story is based around your character being an avatar within an MMORPG, and its this kind of game-within-a-game setup that is used as a cheeky way to skirt the fourth wall and have its characters make snide remarks at certain design decisions, while also going full steam ahead with them regardless of the fact. Don’t think we didn’t notice, dev team! It plays out as a 2D top-down action RPG, but clearly has aspirations that extend far beyond this framework. Each of its environments is thoroughly layered with subtle verticality, with parkour-esque platforming having you constantly working backwards from your intended destination, and requiring meticulous attention to detail in order to find where it is you’re able to begin your elaborate series of jumps from. There’s a huge array of materials to gather and channel through traders and to craft into gear, and the combat they benefit is both precise and complex, requiring plenty of on-the-fly thinking as well as tight execution. As well as these set-piece battles, the game’s dungeons are full of puzzles that though smart in construction, are tough enough in isolation, and frankly brutal in their relentless frequency. One particularly ill-advised chapter has a series of three such dungeons in quick succession, and perfectly illustrates that just because you can, does not mean that you should.

On a more positive note, one thing the game does have in spades is charm. The sprite work is admirable; even though characters are a touch on the tiny side to be too effective on their own, their portraits and dialogue provide a solid emotive connection to them and the story that builds up around them. In all, it is a game that can be a lot of fun, and plenty rewarding - but the entire thing is overly long and far too regularly punishing. It’s tapped into a number of 16-bit action-RPG ideas well, but has perhaps unintentionally also managed to become the most masochistic presentation of these ideas to date.

Crimzon Clover: World Explosion

A game I’ve technically owned for years now, however the lack of a Windows PC has held me back from playing it - with this debut on the Switch finally granting me the opportunity though to get hands on. Although I’d gleaned plenty from watching super players decimate it before now, even my feeble credit feeding through the game’s five stages has given me plenty of additional appreciation for just how good it is.

It looks brilliant, with chunky, detailed enemies animated beautifully as they move about the screen. The music pounds along to an energetic beat, and the game keeps a solid pace all while plenty of bullets swarm around you in creative and considered patterns. Turning the tides with Break Mode is an incredibly satisfying way to take control of hairier moments, and while I can’t speak for every intricacy of its scoring system, I know that it’s developed by a team that demonstrably understands the value of these. What I can more reliably add to that discussion is that you’re unlikely to find yourself reliant on any one hook to find your fun though; even the most pedestrian appreciator of the genre should find plenty to enjoy. Thoroughly deserving of its regular appearance alongside the biggest names in the genre.

Holovista

There’s often a reasonable amount of scepticism that comes from some folks when you talk of gaming on a mobile phone. Flipping the conversation though, and instead to talk of one of my favourite advantages of the format, it’s great that a developer can lean on the familiarity and the personal connection that you have to the device you’re playing on. As a device that lives by your side 24/7 and increasingly encroaches further into every aspect of your being, Holovista leverages this connection amazingly, spinning its story in a series of interfaces that mimic how your phone acts when you use it yourself. Taking pictures and interacting with people in particular are key interfaces, and that are done in a way that neatly puts you right into the shoes of their character.

It begins with said character taking an interview for a new job that is hoped to herald a new tide of good fortune, and promptly introduces the circle of friends that are there to help with this and that celebrate alongside. As you learn more about the job, things slowly begin to get a bit weird, and then take a turn that is something akin to Black Mirror meets nightmarish introspection. Though not overtly unpleasant, there are some memorably unsettling moments along the way. Sensibly, it does have content warnings that offer some sound advice for those it might not sit so well with, but self-care does end up being a central takeaway from the game as a whole as well as for its cast. On the back of circumstances we’ll generically chalk up to this year’s being what it is, this ended up feeling like a lovely little palate cleanser - a considered refresh, thoroughly original, and a very worthy afternoon’s entertainment.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

One thing that’s always been great about Link’s Awakening came as a result of the technical limitations imposed by the Gameboy - that the Zelda format needed all the fat trimmed, while the mixture of puzzles and action were to be distilled down into their most potent and compact form. Even with the (entirely optional) extras they’ve slipped in with this remake, this still shines through in its design now, where it couldn’t be any further removed from the risks of overly long, dragged out pacing. A small overworld it may be, but it’s full of variety, secrets, and memorable moments. Dungeons are similarly economical with its good ideas - giving you new tools, laying out smart ways to break you into their use, and then letting you get on with things.

While the remastered music is also utterly charming, the real upsell here is the total visual do-over; its tilt-shifted cartoon aesthetic pushing each and every scene to look like a shiny, hyper-cute diorama. For all of the different visual styles that the series has dabbled with in the past, this one definitely feels like the right match for the light-hearted whimsy that comes through from the story and the characters. That’s not to say that it’s flawless either - the blurring at the screen’s edges can be overly intense at times, and the overall presentation does cause the performance to stutter and feel a little sluggish at times. I point at these things only given the bar is raised so - something unavoidable when you already know a game is a stone-cold classic from the off.

Astro’s Playroom

Coming pre-installed on your shiny new (and hopefully not scalped) Playstation 5 console, Playroom begins as a humble introduction to the capabilities of the Dual Sense controller. Touch control, haptic feedback, adaptive triggers and the like are introduced and may well generate some cooing and low-key positivity, however this enthusiasm is elevated by a mighty factor when the game truly begins and everything is put so deftly into practice.

It’s not a complex or particularly challenging title as far as 3D platformers go, with frequent checkpoints and no life counter in sight. Any mould-breaking to be done comes instead from the diversity in how you control various sideshows, with the entire kitchen sink’s worth of interface options being showcased as you climb into a monkey suit, blast off a rocket ship, bounce around as a pinball, and so on. All of these demonstrate ingenuity that could’ve easily gone awry, yet are quickly understood, and grounded in a level of both tactile and in-game feedback that maintains a natural feeling. The game’s worlds serve as virtual tours through colourful, fantasy depictions of hardware components that demonstrates an excellent level of both pride and playfulness, with fellow bots littering both the through-fare and the unbeaten paths, dressed up and enacting smart homage to generations of games and their characters, all while Playstation-themed collectables are doled out in tandem alongside smart, well-natured puns. It arguably borders on propaganda at times, such is the intense positivity. That said, the more extensive your tenure is with Sony’s platforms, the more likely it’ll dull your better judgement to this, instead letting slip a grin at what is essentially the grandest love letter to all things Playstation, and the warmest, most celebratory pack-in for a new console Sony could have ever hoped for.

The showcasing of new features and hardware aside, it’s also a subtle and unofficial coronation of Astrobot as Sony’s newest (and best) mascot. There’s been plenty of candidates in the past who’ve half-heartedly assumed to own the position, but it’s the silent, cheerful charm which makes Astro that much more of an endearing figurehead. G'wan the little guy.

No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle

For someone that loves Suda51 and adored No More Heroes, my reaction to No More Heroes 2 on its original release was comparatively tepid. With a third game due next year, this re-release felt like the right time to revisit it and see it through, and although I found some things to enjoy, I certainly found plenty to remind me why I had bounced off it previously.

Roaming about in Santa Destroy between missions is gone, instead replaced with a short check list of destinations. While not a fan of the change myself, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing - though it does give a misleading impression of tightened focus that is very quickly lost as it lays out a spread of half-baked, and frankly clumsy mini-games. As well as being your prime source for money and upgrades, these do a lot to artificially increase the length of the game, and put simply, they’re just not fun enough to warrant this level of prominence. Even the main story has frequent moments where it veers away from the core 3D hack and slash gameplay, and again, these do more harm than good to the game’s flow.

The fighting underpinning it all has undoubtably been done better since by any number of titles, and though imperfect, it is still serviceable and enjoyable for the most part. Boss battles definitely hold the lion’s share of the game’s highlights, but there’s a few that also stick out with some poorly executed designs that tars its lasting impression. Shades do remain of the ridiculous, irreverent charm of the first game, although they are certainly more infrequent, and a more modern lens also brings into question just how sincerely we should take the sending up of Travis, when cast upon a backdrop of frequent fanservice. Not the best sequel then, but let’s hope 3 gets things back on track.

#cross code #crimzon clover #holovista #links awakening #astros playroom #no more heroes 2

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mleighlikes · 5 years ago

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Instant M’Ls part #29 ~ New 2020 poems :)

Hey Inter World, here is the first Instant M’Ls monthly bunch for 2020. I thought to start off the year in an interesting way so I hope you enjoy these interesting pieces and have a Blessed Day, Much Love to you all :) . P.S. check out what the titles mean on the last 6 poems, you may find them interesting :) .

Also, check out my special offer over on my Patreon “Poem for a Pic” at www.patreon.com/mleighsquickspot. The offer ends Jan 31st :)

(New 2020 Instants)

Out…

Find the way, the path you are to walk on

Make the changes, lead the way

Take those with you who also need a guide

Together, find what you need both from exterior as well as interior sources

A new time is now, a new way of becoming something more than you ever thought possible before

Take this moment to plant yourself firm in your decisions

May it all work out for the best…

With The…

It’s been a journey

You’ve been lost and found many times over

Once I the light only to find yourself back in the dark

The known vs the unknown ad been the theme

Stay strong you’ll get through has been the mantra

You’ve grown beyond your border’s

You’ve stumbled along the rocky way

In time to know, to see, to feel your progression as you look back and then forth will bring you joy

You made it in many ways, you’ll keep making it even when you don’t think you will…

Old…

Nothing that’s reborn is ever old

Ever changing are our thoughts and minds

New ideas, ways of being come to us

We take what we need, returning the rest to the universe; only for another to use it again

Give an old dream life, breathe a breath of rejuvenation

Time has been reset, there is more to spare if you just use it wisely

Just as the leaves and grasses must grow; so to do we as a being

To be left behind or stuck in one place is not our purpose

Nothing is old, all can be made new

Look upon all things as a blank slate, what can you do with it if given the chance…

In…

Come on in, you are welcome here

No need to be shy, take a load off

One smile is all the difference, it’s all you need

Only open arms, open eyes, open minds, open hearts here

Take it all in, no need to fear

Speak freely, learn all that you can

Take your first steps along a path that’s new

What’s done is done, come on in, these words are meant for everyone including you…

With The…

Spark, a flame, new life and light await

Come to the flame, like that of a moth drawn to it’s flickering

Old habits due hard, new traits live on

Refresh your inner most being, the time to do so is now

Give in, give up; these are what not to do

Keep doing all that you can, your spirits flame will in tone roar and burst

Those around you will see your efforts, they will inspire; not go in vain

Strike a new match, light a new flame…

New…

Moreover, a time has begun

A new song, tune, story, chapter now following

Clear away all that has been, bring in all that could be, thus will be

The keys with your grasp, all can be done that you wish to be

The spices smell and taste better, the flowers bloom brighter and bigger

The sounds of triumph are sweeter, all will be better than it ever was before

Take the time, the effort, the stock of what was and think on what’s here now

Let the new embrace you, let the light shine…

Coaquannock…

Stand within the grove of tall pines

Your spirit quest begins for you

Here our mother, her voice speaks to your soul

You must heed here words as they come soft yet strong

Go to where the rivers and sky’s meet

There you will find your purpose

Fail not in your journey, let not yourself be lost among the Black hills of forever night

Ogapogee…

Go to where you will find the shore touching the sea

Take from there the white she’ll that speaks to you

You will know it when you see it and it to will know you in return

Hold it to your ear, listen to it’s whisper’s

Here the voice of nature as it call to you

You will feel as well as finally come to realize your connection and place I this world we all share as our home

Pancanaset…

You’ve come to a little place among many

A place where your mind can be clear and free of worldly thing’s

Sit in silence and take in a breath of fresh air

Let it out along with life’s impurities, you are returning to your true path the longer you let go

Do not leave this place until you know you are safe

Be aware of your surroundings, as your guides guard your essence

Return if you need to, as much as you need to

This place is your among all who have such a location to allow your spirit a place to rest and call it home

Checaugou…

Look to the wild grasses for substance

The editable things that grow among the lands

The wild herbs, and spices used to enhance

Pick the wild onion, cucumber, berries and alike

The animals who walk and slither along the ground as well as in the tree tops get on just fine in this way

O the lost, the weary, the traveler who can’t find their way; take to the streams for your greens

Search the wild lands for all that you need, those before lived this way; why can’t we…

Manna-hata…

Roam the rolling land

Up, climb to reach the Heavens

Down, dip to the pits of below

Here, in between them both; the place where we reside

Travel each height see above other’s as they seek to be where you are

Traverse each low, hold out your hand and help those who have fallen

Each mountain, each valley match in a pattern

The light eclipses the shadows

Rise when they rise, fall when they fall

There is no flat ground to speak of…

Shawmut…

They live, they breathe, they flow

Life within life kept clean and safe

Crystal clear, see the stones along the bottom

The shore’s, vast, pearly white crescent moons turn full with the tide

They run, veins and arteries of our world; passing life’s essence through their channels

Take a drink, refreshing and cool; take no more than you need so the rest may be shared

Let me know what you think and pass the thought along.

#Mleigh #mlinstants #instantmls #New2020instants #mlps #poem #poems #poetry #poetic #questions #thoughts #conversatios #Inter World #Much Love #Patreon #instagram #twitter #facebook

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kay9leo · 6 months ago

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At First Glance... Part I

A fanfic inspired by this post:

https://www.tumblr.com/eternalremorse/751163260305342464/at-first-glance-it-started-off-rather-simple?source=share

... 5.2K+ words

Chapter 1 >>> Chapter 2

...At the New Fifth Year

It started off rather simple really.

At first glance, he only noticed the new fifth year with her unorthodox late arrival for sorting. While he was indifferent to the girl being sorted into Slytherin, he still clapped in support of his house.

The next time he saw her was later that evening in the Slytherin common room long after she vanished when Prof. Weasley wanted to talk to her.

He already had some notion of the person from the bit of rumors spread:

The new girl fought a dragon.

The new fifth year had a ministry escort.

I've heard she’s been homeschooled with Prof Fig as their tutor and that's why she never came to Hogwarts.

Out of all the rumors, the last one made the most sense to him. It wasn't unheard of for parents to homeschool their child in magic if they had the means. Sebastian met those sorts of people before. Most were rich and snotty despite having less fame to their family name like Ominis or money like the Blacks but still had the ego to match.

They were a type he had no pleasure in befriending.

It's that new fifth year.

Can't imagine starting a new school this late.

He noticed the new student from the corner of his eyes as she entered the common room. Everyone at the entrance paused to look at her like she was a unicorn in the wild.

Sebastian rolled his eyes and decided to return to his reading. Unfortunately, he noticed the new fifth year decided to make her way towards him.

Hopefully, they'll go somewhere else. He thought.

However, the moment she was close enough for him to see that she actually wanted to talk to him, he placed his book down with a sigh.

"Can I help you?"

The new fifth year froze before frowning as if he was a professor who had reprimand her for asking too many questions. Sebastian could already see the gears in her mind turning, as if thinking, he's not worth the trouble knowing. Her step back was another proof to his best friend’s statement that he should watch his tone.

"You're become snappish as of late and rude to those who don't deserve it, Sebastian." Ominis told him once before.

"Did you see the way she just waltzed in at the end of the Sorting Ceremony?"

He frowned as heard the whispers nearby. The new fifth year was an enigma everyone wanted to know, a unicorn everyone wanted to see.

And all he saw in front of him was a new peer that had that had that similar look of a lost first-year in her eyes.

So, he decided to rectify his earlier tone before they bolted like a unicorn at the sight of unworthy people. Before she made a poor judgement of himself.

"-ah! You're the new fifth-year." He said with more cheer than what he would usually hold. "I'm Sebastian Sallow. Welcome to Slytherin." He smiled, wondering if he was literally the first to welcome him to their common room with how people talked.

"Thank you." She smiled as he heard another whisper in the room.

They're lucky they didn't end up as dragon food, like that poor man from the Ministry.

The new fifth year winced. It was a micro-reaction, but one he easily caught with the years of living with Uncle Solomon and the need to know his moods for his own sake.

If there was one thing Hogwarts was known for, it was for people talking about others, but never directly asking the source. Ominis can attest to that with all the gossip he gathered like the chocolate frog cards.

And Sebastian wasn't never above asking questions others were uncomfortable to do so. Plus, he was curious as well on what rumors were true. So, he asked them in a sentence that wasn't a question, but a leading statement:

"Not everyone has a Ministry escort to school."

"He’s a friend of Professor Fig's who merely joined us for the ride. Was." The new fifth year sadly smiled.

"Still - impressive. Dreadful way to go, poor fellow." While it didn't explain how the dragon came into play, from the pained look on her face, Sebastian thought best to end this topic. "Glad you and Fig are all right."

But it seems like the new fifth year didn't mind at all as she give a tidbit about herself and Prof. Fig being lucky to escape. While he wasn't able to ask more –not with that distressed look on her face when she responded how much of a blur it was after asking her how they escaped– it seems like the new fifth year took a shine to him as he answered questions about the book he was reading before asking about spells not taught at the school before he bid her adieu as she planned to know more of their year peers.

He couldn't help but to smile as she left to meet others with a bit more confidence in her steps.

That small conversation with new fifth year -MC, as she called herself- told him a few things off the bat.

The new fifth year wasn't a rich snobby kid. He was still on the fence about her being homeschool though.

The girl wasn’t afraid to talk about her recent trauma nor did she try to make herself seem grander for living through it.

She had a curious mind that seem akin to his.

And finally,

4. MC didn't seem to have the same reservation about magic like the others.

A kindred spirit after all. Sebastian thought to himself, still smiling as he returned to his book, spirit lighter than it had been before. Especially with the knowledge that there would be plenty of chances to interact with the new fifth year.

...

Those chanced interactions came quicker than expected.

The first being the duel he lost to the new fifth year. In front of the whole class.

The girl was quick with a wand, treating their battle as if it was a dance and the casted spells were a beat they moved with. He couldn't get in one shot.

Not one.

Worse, she timed her protego perfectly so that it was his own spell that did him in, ricocheting off her shield and knocking him off the dueling platform and onto the floor.

While he should have been embarrassed, should have been upset at this shocking defeat in front of everyone…Sebastian couldn't help but be impressed at her unusual fighting style. He wasn't even angry to see money pass between hands for bets lost with Prewett winning most of it.

No. He was interested in her.

He had to know more about the new girl.

And that’s how he ended up vouching for her to joined Crossed Wands.

The first and only person he ever vouched for.

...

If he thought seeing her fight in Crossed Wands was impressive and fighting with her was a joy, fighting side by side with MC against a troll was magnificence.

They moved like one mind, each covering the other's back, their time as partners in Crossed Wands coming into actual use now.

That seamless dueling partnership ended when the troll knocked him out.

He woke up moments later, to a buzzing feeling that surround his body. The air felt heavy with otherworldly magic and static that made the hair in the back of his neck and arms to stand as a flash of lightning blue surrounded him.

Sebastian was just able to lift his head in time to catch the tail end of MC’s solo fight with the troll as a magical blue volt stuck the creature with a BOOM!

The light was so bright, he had to close his eyes as the struck spell shook the ground.

Then everything was quiet.

The next thing he heard was the quick footsteps and her worried voice saying,

“Sebastian are you alright?” as she kneeled next to him, the smell of her orange citrus perfume greeting his nose.

“I’m fine…just give me a moment. I have a bit of a headache.” He mumbled. Headache being an understatement. It felt like a troll had clobbered him…which to be fair, had happened.

“I have some Wigglewend if you want.” She stated.

“Yes please.” Sebastian mourned, unconcerned as to why would she be carrying one around, just thankful that she did.

“I’m going to help you up. I rather you not die from choking on your healing potion after surviving a troll attack.” she teased.

“Haha very funny.” He moaned, head already aching from just listening.

Her hands were callused but soft with him as MC helped him up to lay against her lap. MC handed him the open vial of the green healing potion. Sebastian drank it as quick as he could, not a fan of the bitter taste the potion would leave on his tongue.

Yet, he was less of a fan of an oncoming concussion.

Between the Wigglewend doing its magic and MC’s cool hands on his forehead, Sebastian soon found himself finally pain-free and could open his eyes to see his new friend’s frown and worried eyes greeting him back.

“Why the sad face MC? It will take more than a troll to take me down.” He snickered, feeling even better when he saw her smile despite the roll of her eyes.

“Can you blame me? At first glance, I thought the troll killed you.” She croaked, voice tight and eyes bright with a shine that spoke of tears held back.

“Can’t abandon my dueling partner now, can I?” He smirked.

When he came to sit up, with MC supporting while apologizing for not watching his back, Sebastian saw that there was no troll body to be found. The wind took away the sudden pile of ashes that appeared in the center of their fight.

He glanced back to MC.

There was a nervous smile on her lips and apprehensive eyes that met his. They soon became frighten and her smile fell when she realized he connected the dots.

MC had vanquished the Troll. That there was not even a body left for said being.

Seeing them wield a different type of magic, one that made the very hairs on the back of his neck and arms to stand as they disintegrated the troll should have scared him. Should have told him that trouble found MC like moths to a flame. Should have made him back off from getting closer to the new fifth year for his own sake.

Most students would.

Sebastian wasn't like most students.

Instead, he found himself more mesmerized, a need to know more about this new person. So, he invited her for a butterbeer. Merlin knows his new friend needed one with how her fingers shook holding him.

Then it turned out that apparently, she already made enemies with Ranrok, Rookwood and Harlow. The latter two even demanded for new fifth year when the criminal pair found them in The Three Broomsticks.

Hot anger filled him.

They vanquished a troll when he was taken down, he'll defend them until his last breath here if it came down to it. Sebastian felt a need to protect his new friend he made in the short day they spent together.

With Sirona's silver tongue though and the pointed wands of the clientele, thankfully his dueling skills wasn't needed. But Sebastian found himself keeping an eye on his new friend ever since then.

MC needed someone to look after her.

And Sebastian wanted to know more about her, hoping that his mysterious new partner would finally explain what really was going on in the future.

Hoping he’ll have another chance to meet with them outside of Crossed Wands and class.

Hoping that they still wanted to meet him and be friends as they bid each other goodnight after arriving back late to Hogwarts and split ways.

...

It turned out that chance came in sooner than expected.

Days later after the Troll Takedown –as Sebastian liked to call it– the only moments Sebastian had spent time with his new friend was either in class or Crossed Wands (where the two of them would take on trios and possibility quartets at the rate they were going).

Then his opportunity arrived.

A chance to talk about things outside of school or dueling. A chance to be mutual friends.

While Sebastian had thought of MC as a friend, he wasn’t too certain that he was hers…

“Sebastian, there you are!” MC said as he whipped his head up to greet them.

…until now when she found him in one of the main halls. He was sitting on a bench, reading another book he ‘borrowed’.

“There you are!” He grinned before putting his book to the side with the cover down as he stood up to speak with them. “You promised me an explanation for what happened in the Three Broomsticks.”

Turns out, the more questions that were answered, the more questions he had about his mysterious new friend.

But the one thing that stuck out to his mind was the fact that she trusted him with each secret behind her late arrival. Secrets that not a soul outside of them and Prof. Fig should know. Secrets that he was now privy to.

“Understood. Your secret’s safe with me. Whatever it is.” He nodded.

Secrets that he would now be a part of as he led his new friend to the library and helped her sneak into the Restricted Section. He guided them while making light banter, feeling gleeful on the inside with each positive joking remark she would throw back. He had trouble keeping a blasé too-cool-for-school mask on with each second she spoke.

Everything was going fine until Peeves came along.

The mask broke.

“Let me handle it.” He said too quickly to pass for suave. “I have a way with the faculty when it comes to disciplinary matters. Besides, I like having friends who are in my debt.” He grinned, hoping it would be enough to calm that nervous look in her eyes.

Hoping that she’ll trust their nascent relationship enough that he can pull it off and keep them out of trouble.

“Now go. Good luck in your search.” He even threw in a wink for good measure. Sebastian had a reputation to maintain.

He then left to play damage control.

MC had his back last time. He’ll have hers this time.

It was the reason why it was a painful no brainer to take the fall when he got caught. Painful because he could only hope Anne would cover for him once the disciplinary owl was sent home and keep it away from their uncle. A no brainer because he didn’t even need to think twice about covering for MC.

Dueling partners always had each other’s back. Friends, even more so.

He could only hope she would be able to succeed without him as the librarian led him away from the Restricted Section towards certain doom.

...

Sebastian got a standard detention. The faculty, too accustomed to his unannounced presence in the restricted section saw nothing out of the ordinary with the usual, ‘you’re better than this’ or ‘think of the stress that you’re putting your family though’. While the first comment rolled off his back like dragon to fire, the second statement struck a bit too close to home for his comfort.

While Sebastian didn’t care for what Solomon thought, stressing Anne out was the last thing he wanted for her. At least in his next letter to her, he can at least mention with no doubts that he made a new friend like she wanted him to. The only thing out of the ordinary for this detention was a letter sent that morning that stated that he would serve detention with Prof. Fig tomorrow.

Curious. The only thing more interesting than this letter is what class does the new fifth year have today. I hope I have another chance to see her. Sebastian thought with a frown as he bit into his buttered toast. A late straggler to breakfast due to his midnight rendezvous, Sebastian was quick with his meal before making his way to his next class.

If there was a deity that listened to his prayer, Sebastian will make it a mission to know their name. Especially with the opportunity the class seating provided for him as he watched from his station the new girl walking downstairs before greeting the professor.

“Class, please welcome the newest rose in our garden.” Professor Garlick said as she introduced the new fifth year.

Sebastian stood tall, hands clasped together in front of him as he eyed his new friend, hoping they’ll look his way and notice that there was an empty spot next to him.

MC looked at him and smiled.

It was as if his world had tilted as she made her way to him and took the empty spot next to him. Nothing could bring him down. Not even the screams of the mandrakes as they repotted them or other heavy garden-tending activities they needed to do in order to maintain the plants and securing ingredients for potions for future usage.

How could he be down when the newest rose next to him laughed at his jokes before throwing a few of her own in for good measure. She even thanked him for his help last night with their “late night reading session” at the library. Sebastian wasn’t sure when was the last time he smiled or laughed this much before.

It was the best Herbology class he had in a long time.

...

Potions on the other hand, seems to become his least favorite class ever as he watched Weasley become buddy-buddy with his new friend.

Surely his jokes weren’t THAT funny.

Sebastian couldn’t help but glare at the red head, who didn’t even bother to acknowledge the detestation he was giving. He couldn’t help but sigh when MC finished speaking and left to go to the storage room. It was only then did he bother to focus back on to his own potion –whose color was becoming too blue for his taste.

So focused on preparing and then bottling the potion, he didn’t notice MC stopping by to talk to Weasley or see the delighted grin the boy gave to her. Or the ingredient that switch hands between the two.

Sebastian didn’t notice that anything was amiss until he heard the usual worried voice from Weasley that meant DANGER.

When Sebastian looked up, he saw sparks and fireworks fly out of Weasley’s cauldron as his station mate –Natty and Samatha Dale– ducked and threw their hands and arms over their heads to protect themselves from whatever effects Weasley’s mishaps could have.

Sebastian glanced back towards MC and couldn’t help but smile as he saw her pout shift to a frown as she watched the chaos that naturally came to Weasley.

Maybe that will teach her that Weasley isn’t as fun as she thinks he is. Sebastian thought with a cocky smile.

All was right in the world as Professor Sharp indirectly called out Weasley’s accomplice to answer to him. That’s when that frown on MC’s face turned into a grimace.

Unlike Weasley, at least I know how to keep her out of trouble. Sebastian thought with a frown as he watched MC slowly march towards Professor Sharp with a bottled potion to turn in for grading in her hand and a wince on her face.

The color of the potion she brewed doesn’t seem too far off from the intended goal. He thought. MC shouldn’t need to worry about it being judged too harshly for her first day…unless it was her…but she couldn’t…not with Weasley of all people!

Sebastian never had the chance to know it was her, not with his attention needed on the potion he was brewing and then helping out Ominis with his too. It wasn’t until class ended and MC still hadn’t left the room along with Weasley did Sebastian realize two things later on that day.

He realized who Weasley’s accomplice was

While he just became friends with MC, Sebastian wasn’t the only friend MC made.

That last fact was made clear when at dinner, instead of making her way to her house table, MC elected to sit with Natty and Weasley with a bright grin. Laughter came from the three and Weasley somehow managed to make MC laugh even though he got her into trouble.

Sebastian wasn’t jealous.

Not of Weasley of all people.

...

Chapter 1 >>> Chapter 2

#A Sebastian's POV fic made to better understand how he ticks #sebastian sallow #sebastian x mc #hogwarts legacy #At First Glance #Kay9Leo Fanfic #Edited: Note that I changed up the chapters length to match up to what I have posted on AO3 #And also due to the titles of each chapter matching to the themes within each chapter #Nothing new just moving stuff around

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megashadowdragon · 6 years ago

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usopp will be captured and he will be tortured by queen losing an eye which leads to sanji vs queen

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What if the pirate Oda wants to draw with an eye patch isn't Jinbe but Usopp? It'd be interesting because the pirate captain cliche is that they have an eye patch or a wooden leg. Zeff already has the leg and Usopp with an eye patch + being a godly sniper would do wonders because he'll be down an eye plus it cab also be a way for him to train his haki in some way.

Sanji also promised Usopp he would protect him, about 10 or so chapters ago.

So, whoever captures and tortures Usopp, will be Sanji’s match-up? and queen does love torture

sanji vs queen because of queen being an okama with technology (a mechanical arm ) as revealed in one piece 925 and sanjis history on okama island and him having a raid suit

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Uses tech + wears Sunglasses like RS Sanji Blonde like Sanji Smoker like Sanji Food obsession Opposite of Sanjis code to not let anyone starve, he starves people to keep them under control Obsessed with pretty women he reacts to Komurasakis death same as Sanji. Sent his men after Sanji that Sanji dealt/is dealing with already Has a comedic side to him with his dances and reactions like MR2, Jabra and Absalom all had their quirks.

And now hes also the guy with a plan like Sanji, managing to capture a Yonko like Sanji stopped a Buster Call against all odds, and hes revealed to be a martial artist using wrestling moves in combat like the Brachio Bomb.

Also somehow i just recently realized the connection between Soba Mask and Queen ruling over Udon. Soba and Udon are both iconic type of japanese noodles

Also important to note, Sanji’s Hell Memories was fueled by remembering the torture he has gone through within the last two years and Queen is a cruel guy which is responsible for breaking the spirits of the prisoners. It’s the perfect opportunity to push Sanji to his limits…

I like to add that when Sanji was fighting with Judge and thought about their past, his Dj(Poele A Frire) glowed brighter than than usual.

against judge

Diable Jambe and Poele A Frire against Doflamingo:

also on queen being an okama

The word “okama” generally refers to homosexual men, trans women or heterosexual men who are considered feminine or flamboyant (similar to “onee” or “new half”).

so queen would be an okama though he has shown attraction to women due to his feminine traits and “ having all of the mannerisms of an okama, “

and there is a bit of a pun with queen I mean he is a massive man named Queen with make up and okama mannerism who can transform into a creature classified as a Dragon( his brachiosaurus fruit is classified under the Ryu Ryu (Dragon-Dragon) Fruit family therefore making the dinosaur he turns into being classified as a dragon subspecies. This is so as the Japanese word for dinosaur, Kyoryu, is written with the characters for "Fearful" and "Dragon".). In other words, Drag Queen.

orojackson . com/one-piece-theories-and-speculations/sanjis-new-mode . 2761/

In it Kamen Rider Black RX is a cyborg whose motif is a black grasshopper, which mirrors Sanji’s own epithet as Black Leg. Grasshoppers are known for their incredible spring like leg muscles that allow them to jump incredible heights which allow them to launch themselves in the air to fly. However he also has another motif and that is based on the sun. Kamen Rider Black RX is a photosynthetic warrior who is powered by the sun.

Since Kamen Rider is powered by the sun, he can set his legs and fists on fire to increase the lethality of his kicks and punches, which is basically what Sanji’s Diable Jambe does

and he hada form called the prince of anger where once he reaches a certain point of anger he transformed and

this would be foreshadowing for sanji getting a powerup through his anger on top of his raid suit

I mean there had been 2times where sanji specifically came in to rescue ussopp from death/fought someone who did something specifically to ussopp (specifically fought for ussopp bon clay where he took back the goggles from bon clay who had taken it after beating bon clay up some more and second with jabra where jabra was nearly killed (each got worse damage for usopp) as time went on so it would be fitting for sanjis opponent queen to torture usopp and cause usopp a permanent injury unlike the jabura and bon clay

and the king calamity and queens relationship parallels sanji and zoros

and sanji and zoro have faced opponents who had a similar dynamic to them in the past like kaku and jabura or mr1 and mr 2 . adn how queen both refer to women they have a thing for So Sanji says -chwan and Queen says -tan ,

Some trivia regarding King. In Oda’s One shot, Monsters, where Ryuuma was first introduced, the Strongest Swordsman in the country was called the KING of Swordsmen and Ryuuma ( who looks just like zoro) was traveling to find and defeat him. I won’t spoil who the King of Swordsmen was but short story shorter, Ryuuma ended up acquiring the title of King of Swordsmen by the end. I believe the use of the name King for the Calamity has a double meaning. First it matches the Card theme of the Beast Pirates and second, it’s a reference to Monsters, to say that King is in fact the strongest swordsman currently in Wano. and zoro will fight him

it wouldnt be the first time we got a reference to monsters in one piece

plus zoro needs to killa dragon in wano and kings fruit is of the ryu ryu model

and he also needs to cut flames which is an ability built up for a while

#one piece #one piece theory #one piece theories #op theory #op theories #one piece sanji #black leg sanji #Sanji One Piece #op sanji #sanji op #sanji kuroashi #kuroashi sanji #Sanji Blackleg #roronoa zoro #one piece kyoshiro #dozing kyoshiro #op kyoshiro #king the wildfire #queen the plague

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theinquisitivej · 5 years ago

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SteamHeart Episode 18 Reactions

Chapter Eighteen: Where Will You Be?

The full episode can be listened to here.

An episode of quiet introspection and softly spoken declarations of resolve.

After Abigail made her speech in the theatre to the people of Indianapolis, she spends part of her evening on top of SteamHeart, finding Annie had the same idea. The chapter more or less focuses entirely on this scene, taking the opportunity to delve into some of Annie’s thoughts on recent matters, and Abigail’s questions about the future. The action of Abigail sitting down so that they “tentatively rested our backs against each other” sets the tone. It makes this an intimate moment where the two may not necessarily see each other (suggesting that they don’t have as much of an understanding of one another as they will by the end of this conversation), but they nevertheless share enough trust that they can each have their back to the other person and let their guard down, despite their tentativeness indicating that this doesn’t come easily.

Annie initiates the conversation, commending Abigail on how she handled herself in front of the crowd. She notes the impression of humbleness Abigail gave off, as this is unusual for her. Abigail chalks it up to the stage enabling the performer in her, but Annie follows up on this remark by asking if that means she wasn’t really feeling humble as she said those things. This is the first of multiple points in the conversation where the two characters ask a searching question of the other, hoping to incite honest responses as the interviewee looks deep within herself. On this particular matter, however, Abigail, changes the subject, enquiring whether they’ll be departing Indianapolis tomorrow. Annie answers yes, as she believes the team is ready. Abigail takes her turn at a probing question as she asks if Annie feels she is ready. Like Abigail, Annie hesitates, not giving a definitive answer. It seems neither character has all the answers about how they feel.

Annie apologises for not being a better leader, which, you know, it’s been a little while, so it might be clearer to me where this is coming from on the re-listen, but I felt Annie was being a little hard on herself with this remark, though I do understand why she would hold herself up to high standards. Abigail however responds half-jokingly that she was ready to take the sheriff badge off of Annie herself. Annie starts to share, telling Abigail that the death of the Arlingtons brought into focus how responsible she is for all this. Suddenly the feeling of there always being someone back at high command is pulled out from under her, and it seems like, in practice, her word is where all the important decisions get made. That’s definitely a lot to take in for a mission this important, even for an officer with as much experience as Annie.

Abigail points out that the group and the country still has Truth and Katherine looking out for them. Even after conceding that, Annie worries about what will befall them if they lose Harry. She defies estimation – what Harry can create and invent is so valuable and beyond what other people can either imagine or bring into being, and that’s how Annie saw Thomas and Sarah. They both envisioned a future where humanity could survive into the new century and worked tirelessly to make that happen. Without people like that, people who weren’t just visionaries but actually had a decent idea how to make those visions into reality, Annie doesn’t have high hopes. Abigail argues that, while folks like Katherine aren’t “beyond genius”, that doesn’t stop them from being able to make a difference and contribute to that optimistic future coming to pass. She’s finally able to give Annie an answer and say that she meant what she said during the speech, or at the very least said “what I hope is true”. That’s enough to give Abigail fuel to keep trying to manage the hand she and the rest of the world have been dealt. And whether it’s from her own internal strength, talking this over with Abigail and hearing her words, or a combination of both, Annie resolves to focus not on whether the new higher ups can match up to the old, and instead look to her own status as a figure of authority and work on being a better leader.

Abigail echoes my sentiments from earlier and says that Annie shouldn’t hold herself to “beyond genius” levels of acumen. When Annie deflects this by asking what the consequences will be if she doesn’t shape up, Abigail tries a different approach by running the title question of the episode – where will you be? Specifically, when, or if they are successful in this mission and they survive into the next century, where does Annie want to be? Essentially, Abigail wants to know what Annie’s best case outcome of all of this is, and, more importantly, she wants Annie to know as well, because she suspects Annie hasn’t allowed herself to entertain the thought, and having it might just give her something to work towards.

The first thing she knows is that she wants to live in a future where she’s done killing people, and she holsters the gun which she had out, indicating her vigilance against the threat she’s constantly thinking about. After that, she has fun thinking about the possibility of pursuing her sewing, something which Abigail definitively says she won’t take part in due to her distaste for dresses (which she demonstrated in the run-up to the ball earlier on in SteamHeart). As for Butler, Annie wants him to be safe and done with the army as well, but she shares her worries that it might be difficult for him to give that up after being so adept at it for so long, something which Annie understands and seems to share. It’s not that they enjoy killing, but the pride they take in seeing through the many dangerous missions they’ve taken part in is compelling. Even after knowing each other so well, we see that there are some situations Annie and Butler can’t say with certainty they’d know how the other would act.

When Annie asks Abigail where she wants to be, she’s able to say with relative ease what she’d envision James wanting to do – take on Thomas’ position. However, she admits to having no idea what she wants, as this topic was a means to helping Annie be optimistic about the future. Abigail’s certainty in what the other half of her pairing would want to do and lack of certainty for herself is a contrast to Annie, who has more ease in saying where she’d like to be than she does with giving an answer on behalf of Butler, her partner. Duos and partners with singular bonds are a recurring theme in New Century, but moments like this demonstrate how different each pairing is. The suggestion of following Commander Wilson’s path and becoming an explorer holds some appeal, leading to Abigail listing off his numerous roles, including a spy, diplomat, geographer, and even translating the Karma Sutra, which, even in an alternate America that’s lived with the Wendigo for more than a decade, is causing quite the stir. But that kind of life is not quite what Abigail wants, and, speaking honestly, she admits that the future terrifies her. That’s something I’ve experienced at different points in my life – I vividly remember facing feelings of existential anxiety as a kid when I thought about the future as a concrete thing that I’d have to face one day. I’ve improved and more or less got over myself, but I’d be lying if I said those fears have entirely gone away.

Going back to Abigail, she brings up her desire to find her parents, the one vision of the future she still holds onto, even after so much time having passed since Secret Rooms. This prompts a conversation about whether this is for the best, as Annie argues that she’s chasing the past, fighting against a decision her parents made to safeguard her future. Abigail counters by voicing her own displeasure at having her life be decided for her, a part of her character which the Definitive Edition of Secret Rooms brought into focus. This hurts Annie, as Abigail is inadvertently suggesting that she wishes she led a life where she wouldn’t have met her or the rest of Team Steam. She doesn’t mean to imply she feels that way, but it’s understandably still upsetting to hear. Abigail states she’s “a painfully honest son of a bitch”, pointing out how the openness of conversations like this can be a positive experience with the potential to sooth recent sadness and provide a rekindled sense of optimism for the future, but it can also lead to feelings coming out in the open which hurt to hear, even if the person feeling them doesn’t intend them to. That isn’t necessarily a terrible thing, and can be part of the process of being more honest with one another, but it is something to be conscious of in heart-to-heart conversations like this. In this instance, it leads to the slightly inflamed (but admittedly kind of amusing) exchange of Annie calling Abigail a “stubborn red headed mule” and Abby calling her a “stuck-up murderous pixie” (which, upon reflection, is a harsh jab against a person who’s just shared her regret at leading a lifestyle where she has to kill people). Even so, the two can agree to Abigail wanting to take control by getting to the Wind Doors and hopefully make a difference, and Annie doing her best to help her get there. They get up as the conversation draws to a close, and as they head down below, Annie asks if she can borrow Abigail’s “Indian sex manual”, to which Abigail responds “I left my copy back in Washington” with an audible smirk on her face. It’s a funny, but oddly sweet way to end the exchange, as it’s both a moment of down-to-earth levity after a deep conversation, and one last piece of honesty shared between the two where Annie expresses an interest in the book, and Abigail admits to owning a copy.

Before we reach the credits, we hear Harry’s brief letter to Truth, which was sent from the Indianapolis Outpost, meaning she sent it before they would leave the next morning. Harry misses her sister and appreciates her kindness, but she doesn’t “need” to return home. Instead, she asserts that they are traveling on the road again today. This resuming of the journey has that much more weight behind it as a result of Harry deciding its time to move forward as SteamHeart’s mechanic and driver. And she does this “for mum and dad”. A short but powerful and emotional close to the episode.

The performances of Laureta Sela and Sharon Shaw are spot on in this episode. The chapter hinges entirely on Abigail and Annie’s conversation, and each voice actress conveys the earnestness and emotional weight of what’s being said. It’s not a moment of the story where emotions are exploding out in a climactic fashion, but are instead being softly explored in a quiet setting where each character assesses where they are and where they’re heading, and their performances make that compelling from beginning to end.

#The Inquisitive J #the new century multiverse #new century #new century multiverse #steamheart #fictional podcast #Alternate History fiction #Alternate History #steampunk #the inquisitive j reviews

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gamer-chick-reviews · 6 years ago

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The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince (PS4) Review & Discussion (Spoiler Warning)

Hello! Here again with another video game review. The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince came out on February 12th in the US for two consoles. I became interested in the game ever since my visit to Akihabara, Japan last year. It turns out that the game had released around the time I had went, and I immediately took a photo of the game to look up what it was about.

During the time, it was only released in Japan, so I was hoping that it would get licensed in the US. After a few months, I heard the creator wanted to get it licensed and eventually it did. I’ve been looking forward to this game for a couple months now, so it was great to finally get to play it.

For this review, I’ll be talking about the game in parts. It will be similar to my KH3 review, but not as long due to Liar Princess & Blind Prince being a shorter game.

Hope you guys enjoy!

Graphics:

The game’s adorable art style is what got my attention. I remember reading somewhere that the game is hand drawn (please correct me if I am wrong). The art style is cute and really emphasizes that story book theme. I love theme based things, and it added a lot of charm.

Most of the colors are muted to highlight the black outlines and shading. I really like this approach in the art style because it creates bold figures that can be easily identified within all the games stages.

Overall 10/10 for the graphics.

Music:

The soundtrack for the game is fantastic. It sounds very whimsical, and it really matches the mood of the story.

The transitions for the music is on point. I noticed this especially when it introduced the Witch of the forest. You could get that mysterious vibe from the Witch and the forest stages, while the music would change into something more heartfelt and soft when the Princess and Prince interacted.

The ending song was amazing as well. I think it’s the same singer who sings the opening of an otome game called Chronostacia. I first heard the song in the trailers for the game, so I thought it would be the opening song. I am happy that it played at the end though because it felt more fitting and powerful.

I also want to add that the narrator’s voice is great because she changes her voice slightly when she is portraying the characters. It’s very much like if someone were reading the story to you out loud.

Overall, the music gets a 10/10

Gameplay:

If you are ok with escort type missions, then you won’t mind Liar Princess & Blind Prince’s gameplay. It’s similar to the game, Ico, but in a 2D side-scrolling perspective.

The gameplay is simple, but it was still fun and challenging. I like that the puzzles were not too hard or too easy. It was just right to me.

Puzzles where you would direct the Prince from farther away were the more challenging stages that I had the most fun with. The creators thought of some creative puzzles and ways to use the environment of the forest. I specifically like how they used the flower buds to hit switches or attack enemies. There were also the riddle based puzzles that I felt added a lot of variety.

I did notice a couple glitches in the game. Enemies would spazz out or get stuck in certain parts of the stage. The Prince would also glitch a bit where the Princess could not grab his hand, or he would still look like he was running if dragged by a wall as you are jumping to a higher plane. There is also a slight jump lag that can get a bit annoying, so expect a few retries. I would say good timing is what will get you through some of the puzzles. Other than that, the glitches were pretty minor.

9/10 for the gameplay.

Plot:

Most of the time, indie games can be a hit or a miss in terms of story. I think the ending can really determine how players will feel about these shorter titles. One example of a hit for me would be Journey by Thatgamecompany, while The Unfinished Swan by Giant Sparrow was a miss.

For me, the story of the Liar Princess & Blind Prince is truly sweet and meaningful. It’s wholesome and leaves you feeling very satisfied. In this part, I will make comments on parts of the story and the characters.

The beginning of the story is set up nicely and is simple to understand. I like that they mentioned that the Witch was the ruler of the forest from the beginning. This was a good detail to mention from the start because it shows that the Witch was not just added later for plot convenience to heal the Prince’s eyes. There is a lot of depth to the Witch as well from the flower collectables within the game. The player gets to see how the Witch changed as she continued to grant wishes. This is greatly seen when she comes to care for a human girl. She has a lot of texture because due to the human girl getting killed by the villagers in association to her, the Witch sees that taking human lives as a price is not worth it.

At the end of Chapter 1, it was nice to see the interactions between the Wolf Princess and the Prince. The creators did a great job with their scenes because most of them showed the difference in their personalities. It also showed how they got to know each other better.

In one of the first scenes with the Princess giving the Prince raw meat to eat, it really shows that the creators considered how the Princess did not know the common customs of humans. I thought that was a great detail to add, while it also shows how much they still need to learn about each other.

Other aspects of the story that I like were the scenes with the Family of Goats and the Moles. These scenes were meaningful to me because of how it showed the kindness of the Prince. I think the Princess was able to learn from his actions and overall reflect on their circumstances as they traveled to the Witch’s house. I want to add that the Family of Goats actions to not harm the Prince was great because it showed that they appreciated the help they got from the Prince and Princess.

The Ending (skip over if you want to avoid additional spoilers)

As you play, you know at some point that the Prince will find out that the Wolf is the Princess. The way they sorted out all the lies of the Wolf was great because it shows how the Prince’s words to apologize to the Witch about burning the forest has influenced her to atone for the wrong that she has done to him.

I also felt that the Prince was a fantastic character because he was able to forgive the Wolf and knew that her feelings were true. She had good intentions and he saw that.

The use of granting wishes in exchange for the clients’ most important thing is a plot device that has always been interesting to me. If any of you have watched/read Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles or xxxHolic by Clamp, then you will see similarities within this games ending.

Overall, I am very happy with the ending of this game. It was adorable and heartfelt. I love the story’s simplicity, and it gives little life lessons that are important.

Verdict:

I give The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince a 10/10.

This game was definitely worth the buy! Both the story and gameplay were charming. I enjoyed going back to the game to obtain all the trophies. Those gave more of a challenge because the game has you try to not kill enemies or finish a stage within a set time. The flower and petal collectables were great as well to gain more knowledge on the Witch and see concept art of the game.

I hope this review gets players to try out the game, and thanks again to anyone who likes/reads this review.

#the liar princess and the blind prince #video game #ps4 #video game review

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tediousoscars · 4 years ago

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2020

Predict-o-meter: This year: 9/12; Total: 117/147 (80%)

Hey. What’s up? Anything much happen since we talked last March?

Delayed, but undaunted, it is a minor miracle that the Oscars are happening at all, and even more surprising that they have managed to assemble a fairly strong class of eight films, due in large part to the advent of streaming services as original content creators.

It was a big year for 1968 Chicago, with two nominated films - “Judas and the Black Messiah,” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” - plumbing the depths of that tumultuous time and place (Black Panther Chairman Fred Hampton appears in both films).

And it was a good year for innovation, with films like “The Father,” “Nomadland,” and “Sound of Metal” boldly exploring new techniques in film-making.

But, of course, overall it was a very bad year, but instead of dwelling on that, let’s jump right in, shall we?

The Father is the story of a successful, retired engineer who is sliding into dementia and vehemently resisting his daughter’s attempts to help him by hiring in-home caregivers. Anthony Hopkins (nominated) is breathtaking as the titular father (also named Anthony), but Olivia Colman (also nominated) matches him as his put-upon daughter, Anne.

Most films that deal with such topics do so from the outside. We watch the decline of the afflicted person and judge their reasonableness by the reactions of those around them. When they are delusional or hallucinating we know because the other characters say so, and we believe them.

The genius of “The Father” is that it goes to great lengths to effectively put the audience in Anthony’s shoes. Scenes are shot out of sequence, and sometimes repeated. The time and even the setting change without warning. And, most disconcertingly, the actors playing certain roles may be different from scene to scene. So when Anthony can’t recognize his own daughter we are right there with him because the woman standing in front of him is not the same one originally introduced as Anne.

This leads to confusion and disorientation in the viewer which, if not as intense as Anthony’s, at least allows an empathetic glimpse into his declining mental state. This is no light-hearted romp; there will be no happily ever after. Anthony ends up confused and afraid, sobbing uncontrollably and crying for his mommy. But he is never alone, and he is never uncared for, making this a deeply touching, deeply human story. With impeccable acting and innovative storytelling, “The Father” is certainly a worthy nominee by any standard.

Judas and the Black Messiah tells the incredible true story of the war waged between the FBI and the Black Panther party in Chicago in the late 60s. LaKeith Lee Stanfield (nominated) plays ‘Wild’ Bill O’Neal, a two-bit hustler who flashes a fake FBI badge, claims the car outside is stolen, confiscates the keys, and then makes off with the car. When he is caught and facing prison time for impersonating a Federal agent he decides to become an informant and is sent to infiltrate the local chapter of the Black Panther Party who’s young, articulate, charismatic leader, Fred Hampton (played by Daniel Kaluuya, also nominated) is on an FBI watch list as having the potential to become a Black Messiah and galvanize the minority population across the nation.

The world created in the film is nuanced, complex, and anything but black and white (pardon the pun). On the one hand, Chairman Hampton reaches out not only to a rival Black gang, but also to white supremacists flying the stars and bars, and a Latino gang as well. By making common cause on the grounds of lack of economic opportunity and harassment by the ‘pigs,’ Hampton forms the first Rainbow Coalition, much to the consternation of the closely-watching FBI. On the other hand, Wild Bill’s handler, Agent Mitchell, starts out all gung-ho to fight domestic terrorists, but becomes disconcerted about his superiors’ willingness - even eagerness - to cut legal corners in order to achieve desired ends. For his part, Wild Bill enters the informant agreement as a total cynic looking out for number one. But a grudging admiration for Hampton’s goals and methods leads him to question his role in the unfolding drama.

O’Neal wants out, but Mitchell (and an impending sentence) won’t let him. Mitchell wants to do things by the book, but the FBI won’t let him. Hampton wants to do things peacefully, but the Chicago police won’t let him. All three men become swept up by forces beyond their control that propel them to an inevitable, tragic, and violent climax. Stanfield and Kaluuya both give such commanding performances that apparently the Academy could not decide which of them was the lead, nominating both for Best Supporting Actor in a curious move. The storytelling is fast-paced with several independent plot threads that director Shaka King masterfully weaves into a coherent, compelling tapestry to create a film that is at once edifying and thoroughly entertaining.

Mank is a great movie about the making of the greatest movie. When a young Orson Welles is given carte blanche to make any movie he wants with full creative control, he brings in Herman ‘Mank’ Mankiewicz (played with verve by the nominated Gary Oldman) to write the screenplay. In 60 days.

Mank is a (barely) functioning alcoholic, gadfly, bon vivant, and frustrated auteur who feels that his artistry is constantly being watered down by the studios to appease the masses. Hence he finds Welles’ offer of no studio oversight irresistible. Recovering from a car accident, Mank spends the entire writing process bed-ridden and tended by a stern German hausfrau to care for his material needs and an attractive British woman to take dictation who spends equal time worrying over her husband in the Royal Navy and skewering Mank with disapproving glances at his irreverent behavior.

Through flashbacks we see Mank cut an Oscar-Wilde-esque figure that gains him entree into the world of the upper crust of Hollywood. He becomes a favored dinner guest of William Randolph Hearst because his snide, witty, risqué repartee provides - as the Las Vegas ad says - just the right amount of wrong.

From the opening title to the closing credits the film is shot entirely in the style of 1940s Hollywood: in black and white, with outsized characters spitting rapid-fire snappy patter and sizzling dialog, a melodramatic score, and a large, talented supporting cast.

Arliss Howard shines as studio mogul Louis B. Mayer, and basically steals the entire movie with a sequence in which he violently punches a man to the ground for anti-semitism, cheerfully and grandiosely pontificates upon the glory that is MGM studios, and tearfully enjoins the rank and file of said studio to accept a 50% pay cut due to the Depression - all within the span of about 30 seconds while barely taking a breath. Tuppence Middleton is also wonderful as Mank’s long-suffering wife (universally known as ‘Poor Sara’), who is every bit Mank’s equal when it comes to wit, but who cannot match his irresponsibility and so is back East caring for their children throughout the writing process. What “Mank” lacks in historical accuracy it makes up for in plain old fun. A thoroughly enjoyable film.

Minari is, despite its Korean origins, an unabashed love sonnet to the American Dream. Jacob, played by Steven Yeun in a nominated role, is a world-class chicken sexer with larger ambitions. Because of his amazing speed at separating male chicks from female he manages to scrape together enough money to buy a plot of land in rural Arkansas and pursue his dream of starting his own farm.

His pragmatic wife Monica does not share this dream and reluctantly agrees to move with their two children from the comfortable confines of California - with its thriving Korean community - to the hinterlands, and is discomfited to find that their new home is a trailer parked next to a large, empty field in the middle of nowhere.

They both take jobs as sexers at a local poultry farm where Monica is much slower than her husband but is told that she is “fast enough for Arkansas.” But Jacob is restless and begins to spend more and more time trying to get his ‘garden of Eden’ up and running.

One of the first tasks is to dig a well, and when a dowser comes out to demonstrate his skill at locating water Jacob explains to his young son David that, “Americans believe nonsense, but Koreans use their minds.” The viewer would be forgiven at this stage for thinking that this will become a theme of the film with the Koreans rolling their eyes at the eccentricities of their American neighbors and maintaining an insular distance to preserve their culture, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Rather the theme that develops could be summarized as coexistence without assimilation. The differences between the Koreans and Americans are not ignored, nor are they celebrated; they simply are. When David’s classmate Johnnie asks him why his face is so flat there is no racist animus behind the question, merely childish curiosity. And the two go on to become fast friends. Similarly, Jacob may find his handyman Paul’s tradition of dragging a heavy wooden cross through the back roads of the area each Sunday as very strange, but Paul is a good and loyal worker, so where’s the harm?

Our expectations are further defied with the arrival of Monica’s mother Soonja (played by Yuh-jung Youn in a show-stealing nominated role) from Korea to help look after the kids. We expect a stern, disapproving ‘tiger mother’ but find instead that she is kind-hearted, mischievous, and foul-mouthed in equal measure.

Though 7yo David, whom she had never met before her arrival, is initially stand-offish, the two eventually form a bond and take to going off on exploratory hikes on which Soonja encourages David into more physical activity than his over-protective mother generally allows due to a congenital heart condition.

It is during one of these excursions that Soonja finds a perfect spot on the banks of a creek in the woods to plant the seeds of minari (Korean water chestnut) that she has brought with her from Korea.

Through hard work and perseverance the family seems to be making their way. Monica is accepted at the local church, the kids make friends at school, Jacob and Paul manage to get a crop planted and harvested, and even David’s heart condition seems to be spontaneously healing.

But when disaster strikes and the crop is lost they find that Soonja’s minari - transplanted from Korea - is thriving in America and has spread widely along the creek banks, providing enough of a crop to squeak by.

“Minari” is a quiet, gentle little film that touches upon some large, sweeping themes that we like to think of as American but are really universal: success through hard work and self-reliance, but also the importance of family and community. And, most of all, tolerance of other cultures that is born out of mutual respect. I think we all could do with a bit more of this version of the American Dream right now.

Nomadland blurs the distinction between documentary and feature film. The town of Empire, NV really did essentially evaporate when the local gypsum plant shut down, and most of the people who appear onscreen are actually nomads playing slightly idealized versions of themselves.

The two primary exceptions are Frances McDormand (nominated), as Fern, who blends in so well that many of the nomads didn’t realize she was an Oscar-winning actress and accepted her as one of their own, and David Strathairn as Dave, who sticks out like such a sore thumb that he may as well have ‘ACTOR’ tattooed across his forehead.

The nomads are a cadre of mostly older Americans who have taken to the road in modified vans to eke out a meager existence on the peripheries of society. Fern joins their ranks after the death of her husband leaves her with absolutely no reason to stay in Empire and few resources to resettle anywhere else. After a helpful seminar on what size bucket to shit in and a stern lecture about the necessity of having a spare tire, Fern careens across the American west finding temporary, seasonal work at Amazon fulfillment centers, National Parks, and even Wall Drug.

If I had to summarize “Nomadland” in a single word that word would be ‘bleak.’ Though the nomads form a transient community that is supportive and operates primarily on goodwill and barter, their personal relationships tend to be impermanent (with an over-arching vague promise to meet again ‘down the road’) and their lives tend to be characterized by isolation and desperation, always one medical issue or flat tire away from death.

The film is presented diary style, following Fern’s day-to-day activities over the course of a year, with little narrative superimposed. The closest thing to a plot thread is Dave’s gentle but persistent attempts at a relationship with Fern, which mostly seems inexplicable given that Fern is barely civil to him.

If you are into ‘slice of life’ films that provide a glimpse into another culture then maybe “Nomadland” is for you, but I might recommend upping your Zoloft dosage before watching.

Promising Young Woman introduces us to Cassie (short for Cassandra - the Greek prophetess who was never believed), a woman young enough to still be hot, but old enough to ‘know better,’ who has a very strange hobby: she frequents bars and clubs, pretends to be falling-down drunk, and waits for some ‘nice’ guy to take her home.

When said ‘nice’ guy inevitably makes both his intentions and his lack of concern over her consent known, but before things get too out of hand, she suddenly reveals her stone-cold sobriety and confronts her would-be paramour, much to his consternation and frustration. In the real world one might expect these confrontations to turn violent - either on her part or his - but in Cassie’s world they end with the ineffectual guy feeling chagrinned and Cassie feeling smug.

We gradually learn that Cassie and her lifelong bestie Nina were once promising med students, but Nina got blackout drunk at a party and was gang raped, leading them both to drop out, Nina to commit suicide, and Cassie to resign herself to living with her parents and slumming a dead-end barista job. And that’s just Act 1.

Act 2 sees the introduction of a love interest in the form of a former med-school classmate now turned successful pediatric surgeon, and the pair spiral off into a brief rom-com that seemingly puts Cassie well on her way to healing and getting on with her life.

Then a tragic plot twist (no spoilers here) propels Cassie into an Act 3 full of vengeance and, yes, violence, but probably not quite in the way you were expecting.

“Promising Young Woman” is a searing indictment of the rape culture that values the career prospects of young men over the well-being and even lives of young women. Carey Mulligan stars as Cassie and is remarkable. Her nuanced performance captures a struggle with mental illness along with a parallel struggle to conceal it; her Best Actress nomination is richly deserved. And comedian Bo Burnham shows some surprising acting chops as the love interest.

Overall some of the scenarios portrayed may seem a tad unrealistic (a withering stare seems to be all that is needed to put obnoxious men in their place), but the film creates a self-consistent ethos that makes this forgivable. There is a rich and compelling plot, with a couple great twists leading to a conclusion that is both tragic and oddly satisfying. Though it deals with very heavy subject matter the film never feels preachy or heavy-handed. There are no graphic scenes and no nudity. “Promising Young Woman” manages to be thought-provoking without being gratuitously shocking, which, considering the subject matter, is no mean feat.

Sound of Metal. There is a common story-telling trope that goes like this: take a protagonist who is generally happy and comfortable, suddenly rip them from their familiar surroundings into a strange new world, launch them on a quest to return to their ‘normal’ life, but when they finally achieve that goal have them discover that the journey has changed them to such an extent that they no longer fit into their once-idyllic world. Neil Gaiman has basically made a career out of telling stories of this type.

“Sound of Metal” follows this traditional outline in a very non-traditional way. Ruben, played by Riz Ahmed in a nominated role, is living his best life. A former heroin addict rescued by the love of a good woman, he now tours with her incessantly as the drummer of their heavy-metal duo. It’s just the two of them in their RV, traveling the country, doing shows, and loving each other with no rules or restrictions.

This all comes crashing down when Ruben suffers sudden and almost complete hearing loss. His partner Lou leverages some connections and manages to find him a spot in a deaf community and they drive off to check it out. At this point Ruben is very much thinking this is a temporary condition. A doctor has told him about cochlear implants, which he sees as a panacea to get him back to normal with the only barrier being the expense of the procedure. Lou convinces the reluctant Ruben to stay with the community - at least temporarily while they figure things out - and then flies home to her rich parents’ house.

The community is loosely led by Joe, a stern and wizened figure who basically plays Yoda to Ruben’s Luke. Right off the bat Joe explains that this is an immersive experience, so he confiscates Ruben’s phone and RV keys, and explains to Ruben that the members of the community view deafness as a way of life with a rich culture, not an ailment to be cured.

At first Ruben nods along politely, but is clearly not fully engaged. But gradually he learns sign language and begins to assimilate into the community. A major step in this process is Ruben’s involvement with an associated school for deaf children where he is able to bond with the kids by introducing them to drumming.

Eventually Ruben appears to embrace the community fully to the point where Joe offers him a job so he can stick around permanently. But throughout this entire process Ruben has been secretly plotting to get his old life back. He sells the band’s sound equipment as well as the RV to raise funds for the operation, and sneaks into Joe’s office when no one is looking to access the internet and arrange appointments.

While the surgery is nominally successful and restores some measure of Ruben’s hearing, the results are by no means what he expected.

On the one hand, true to his stated policy, Joe informs Ruben that since he is no longer a part of the deaf community he can no longer stay with them.

And on the other hand, the sound Ruben now hears is mechanical and distorted, and while it works well enough to allow him to carry on a one-on-one conversation in isolation, in any situation with significant background noise - a crowded room, a busy street - the distortion becomes overwhelming and he can barely make out what is being said.

When he is reunited with Lou it becomes clear to him that while she still loves him, she has moved on and prospered professionally and no longer pines for their previous nomadic existence. Finally Ruben accepts that his life is changed and he removes the external sound processors associated with the implants and revels in resulting absolute silence.

“Sound of Metal” is a well-crafted film with all of the requisite components - strong characters, compelling plot, good direction. But the genius of the film is in its sound design. We are frequently put inside Ruben’s head and allowed to hear what he is hearing, often to devastating effect. Early in the film the band is onstage and Ruben is pounding on the drums for all he’s worth, but what we hear is nothing but a muted wumpf wumpf wumpf. Later, after the implants, Lou is singing a beautiful song with her father at a party and Ruben stands in the crowd paying seemingly rapturous attention. Then our sonic perspective is shifted to his and we realize that what he is actually hearing is such a garbled mess that you can barely make on the melody. This powerful device increases our empathy for and understanding of Ruben’s journey throughout the film and serves to make his realization that his life, as he knew it, is over all the more impactful. Truly brilliant work from a film-making craft that is often under-appreciated.

The Trial of the Chicago 7. If the phrase “there’s a lot to unpack here” did not exist then it would need to be invented for this film. With more strong characters with independent backstories and plot threads than an Avengers movie, it is truly a spectacle to behold.

Based on the trial of eight defendants arrested for conspiracy to incite the riots that marred the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, most of the action is set in the raucous courtroom with frequent flashbacks to elucidate specific testimony.

The eight defendants can barely stand one another and have little in common save the notion that war is generally a bad idea. This, of course, is awkward for the Government’s case that they conspired together since by all appearances they couldn’t conspire to order a ham sandwich. Throw in an increasingly unhinged judge and an acerbic defense lawyer who collects contempt citations like Pokemon, and all you can do is sit back and reach for the popcorn.

But this isn’t all fun and games. The reason it is the Chicago 7, rather than the Chicago 8, is because the trial of Bobby Seale, a member of the Black Panther Party and the only Black defendant, was declared a mistrial halfway through the proceedings. Abbie Hoffman (played with typical flamboyant exuberance by Sacha Baron Cohen in a nominated role) wryly observes that Seale was only thrown in to scare the jury; he is not even represented by the same lawyer as the other 7. And since his lawyer can’t be present due to a medical emergency he consistently points out that his right to representation is being violated, much to the consternation of the judge.

This all comes to a head when, after one of Seale’s repeated outbursts, the judge orders him removed from the courtroom and “dealt with.” He returns shackled and gagged, which is a bridge too far for the Federal prosecutor who is already concerned that this trial is being pursued for largely political reasons.

There are some serious and substantive discussions of social issues of the day as well, but for the most part the film is a fast-paced roller coaster ride that is just a lot of fun. With a strong and star-studded ensemble cast (is that Michael Keaton?) and sure-handed direction from writer-director Aaron Sorkin (nominated for writing, not directing) who manages to balance entertainment with a strong message “The Trial of the Chicago 7” is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

So which SHOULD win?

The two films that I most enjoyed watching were “Mank” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” and both for similar reasons: great ensemble casts, compelling stories, quick-witted snappy dialogue. But I think the one that would stand up best to repeated viewings is “Mank,” so that’s my pick.

But which will win?

Much to my befuddlement the clear odds-on favorite to win is “Nomadland,” the only film in the bunch that I did not enjoy. At all. “The Trial of the Chicago 7” is a distant second, but there has been some chatter that it might have a chance due to the new ranked-choice voting. The thinking is that “Nomadland” may well win the first-choice votes, but it’s support in the second- and third-choice slots will drop dramatically, which will allow “The Trial of the Chicago 7” to sneak in due to its broader overall appeal. I think this is wishful thinking and so am holding my nose and going with “Nomadland,” but I would actually be thrilled to be wrong here.

And in the other categories …

Best Actress: This is by far the most interesting and most hotly-contested race between Carey Mulligan for “Promising Young Woman,” and Viola Davis for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” The smart money is on Mulligan, whose performance is truly strong. But Viola Davis’ transformation is utterly complete and completely breathtaking. So I am going to apply a little wishful thinking of my own and go with Viola Davis. Frances McDormand for "Nomadland."

Best Supporting Actress: 73yo Yuh-jung Youn should win here for her fabulous portrayal of the irreverent grandmother in “Minari.” How cool is that?

Best Actor: Chadwick Boseman will join Heath Ledger as a posthumous Oscar recipient for his role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” in the closest there is to a sure-thing this year. See this is what happens when you get smug. Anthony Hopkins for "The Father."

Best Supporting Actor: Daniel Kaluuya should beat out his “Judas and the Black Messiah” co-star here. Given the Chadwick Boseman juggernaut for Best Actor the Academy may have done him a favor by nominating him here.

Best Director: *sigh* Chloé Zhao appears to be a shoo-in here for “Nomadland.” I just don’t get it.

Best Original Screenplay: This looks to be a two-way race between “Promising Young Woman” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” with the former a clear favorite. No argument from me! Emerald Fennell for “Promising Young Woman.”

Best Adapted Screenplay: Another two-way race between “Nomadland” and “The Father.” Incredibly, “Nomadland” is the favorite (What? There’s no plot! It feels more like surveillance footage than a feature film!) Whatever. Chloé Zhao for “Nomadland.” Hmpf. Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller for "The Father."

Best Documentary: “My Octopus Teacher” should beat out “Time” here.

Best Animated Feature: The Pixar train just keeps on a-rolling with “Soul.”

Best Cinematography: This is between (wait for it) “Nomadland” and “Mank.” Joshua James Richards for “Nomadland.” I give up.

Best Production Design: The stylized 1940s-movie feel of “Mank” should carry Donald Graham Burt and Jan Pascale to a win here.

Best Sound Design: Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michellee Couttolene, Carlos Cortés, and Phillip Bladh should be runaway winners for “Sound of Metal.” The sound design really makes that film!

And that’s it for this most terrible of years. Hopefully we’ll be able to watch movies in actual theaters again soon!

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rwep2014blog · 5 years ago

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25 Best Things To Do In Lone Tree (Colorado) – The Crazy Tourist

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26 Cool And Unusual Things To Do In Denver – Atlas Obscura

‘s brilliant, dynamic room on Central Street is a stunning way to welcome the day. The beans come from Denver’s Queen City Coffee Collective, which has actually been attracting regional java fans with its artisan, direct-trade coffees since 2007. thebinderydenver.com Uptown & ArvadaWe’re positive avocado toast has nothing to do with millennials ‘low homeownership rates, however paying more than$ 10 for the stylish staple isn’t a great idea for any individual’s budget. The good news is, Steuben’s Avocado Siren Toast will only establish you back$ 5and it’s definitely magnificent. The kitchen area toasts ciabatta, slathers it with an abundant, herby, sour-cream-based schmear, tops it with thin slices of buttery avocado, and also garnishes everything with shaved radish as well as a drizzle of olive oil. Nearly. steubens.com LoDoWe have actually eaten scores of leathery, flavorless omelets over the yearswhich, in a town recognized for the dish, is greater than a little unsatisfactory. Give thanks to goodness for Urban.

Farmer, then, where the Denver omelet obtains its due. Available throughout weekend break brunch and also weekday breakfast, chef Chris Starkus ‘model is studded with portions of roasted environment-friendly chiles, red pepper, and also neighborhood pork and topped with a generous( if ultramodern) put of barnaise sauce. Lastly, we can claim an omelet worthy of our city’s excellent name. urbanfarmerdenver.com Multiple locationsNot only is the Article’s fried hen consistently magnificent, with a magnificently crispy, completely seasoned crust as well as juicy meat withina mighty fine dish all on its ownbut the pleasant dining establishment’s a.m. menu also provides our long for multiple brunch-acceptable methods to consume the modest bird. postbrewing.com Image by Sarah Boyum. BerkeleyIt’s easy to put pancakesfilled with chocolate chips or jam, saturated in fudge sauce or whipped lotion or whatever outrageous spice sweet-toothed guests may take into consideration temptingon a breakfast menu.

What’s harder is to make a pancake that tastes great solo. Wendell’s, the upscale diner that took over the initial DJ’s Coffee shop room on Tennyson Road in 2014, has actually attained the last with its enormous buttermilk charms, which are lightened with whipped egg whites and flavored with brandy, vanilla paste, and also lemon zest. wendellsbreakfast. Platte Management.com Technique: To appoint a cost per individual for each of these dishes, we completed the typical expense of an entre, a coffee, and also a cocktail or beer. Break out your( fancy) stretchy pants prior to tackling the Sunday brunch buffet at this resort near the Park Meadows mall. The cost includes live jazz, endless mimosas, and an all-you-can-eat buffet with made-to-order omelets, a raw fish and shellfish bar, as well as carved prime rib. Its distance to matine reveals at the neighboring Denver Executing Arts Complex simply includes in the allure.

. edgerestaurantdenver.com This Cherry Creek stunner inside the Halcyon hotel supplies special, Italian-inspired breakfast fareincluding the trademark poultry Parmesan and also light-as-air gnudiand fresh-juice Bellinis( cucumber-lime, white peach, grapefruit-pomegranate )are blended tableside from an unquiet cart. Our go-to: a$ 6 Bloody Mary as well as the Fettster (seeded rye toast with caper cream cheese as well as smoked salmon )with a propel top. business broker in Denver. oliveandfincheatery.com With pop-art-bedecked wall surfaces and also a huge lineup of boozy drinks, this two-story Sunnyside area is best for family members and also revelers alike. Order a bacon flight.

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as you dispute between purchasing the Costa Rica Benedict( smoked pork tummy, jalapeo cornbread, pineapple salsa, chipotle hollandaise) or the bacon shrimp and also grits. Get hold of a coffee from Crema Bodega, an alcoholic drink from Curiowe like the rum, apple brandy, as well as citrus mixture called Dead Presidentsand a large cinnamon roll from Izzio Bakery to enjoy at one of the food hall’s lengthy community tables.

denvercentralmarket.com Obtain the most bang for the least dollar at the Sloan’s Lake station of this popular counter-service area. riseandshinedenver.com Image by Aaron Colussi (Colorado resident Tyler Tysdal). Prop designing by Natalie Warady. AuroraIt’s nearly difficult to choose just one item from Annette’s breakfast menu, yet when pressed to do so, cook Caroline Glover’s waffles drift over the rest. Their light appearance originates from a yeasted batter Glover rests overnight for best flavor development and also loft. Also much better, the covering combinations alter once a week and also with the seasons, from apples with salty sugar as well as whipped lotion in the fall to blackberries with lemon curd and also whipped cream in the spring. annettescratchtotable.com LoHiMeals at There Denver are usually riotous events, specifically if you go throughout breakfast, when the restaurant uses rotating entertainment with themes like burlesque, yoga exercise, and also bluegrass music. For $7, you obtain 3 beautiful fried orbs that are crunchy on their cinnamon-sugar-coated exteriors, feather-soft within, and also kindly loaded with tart, house-made raspberryPinot Noir jam. Breakfast with a side of burlesque dance may not be every person’s point, however we’re pretty certain these doughnuts are. therehospitalitygroup.com Capitol HillVegetarian and also vegan Denverites need not suffer via boring tofu shuffles and butter-free salute, thanks to Cap Hill’s hipster establishment, City, O’ City, where the entire a.m. My personal fave would need to be the Queso Arepa. Who doesn’t love mozzarella cheese, avocado and also fried plantains!.?. !? Picture courtesy of @milehighandhungry on Instagram This french salute is the very best brunch option in Denver. It’s a gooey and also beautiful mix of bread, butter, berries, cinnamon, vanilla as well as syrup.

Tyler finished from Georgetown University with a B.S.B.A. in Finance and earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Tyler was the Chairman of a YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization) Chapter, a member of EO (Entrepreneurs’ Organization) and named 40 Under 40 in the Denver Business Journal.Picture courtesy of @milehighandhungry on Instagram Vert is not only housed in the trendy and pleasant area of Wash Park, however it has a killer food selection that is regularly altering. Every active ingredient they make use of is local and also homemade, as well as while they constantly have sandwiches as well as salads, they switch up their specials and sides so you can try something brand-new every single time you go.

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Picture politeness of @infatuation_den on Instagram If you can not distinguish this picture, this is the very best darn pizza in the state of Colorado. Fresh, home made dough and also regional, organic components baked with each other in a conventional brick stove makes these pizzas taste like they’re ideal out of Naples, Italy. Straightforward components and standard approaches make Restaurant Locale a must.

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You reach select the base, protein, sort of curry, veggies as well as flavors to develop a custom-made Indian curry bowl that has unbelievable taste as well as flavor. The components as well as options are amazingly fresh as well as frequently altering, allowing you to change it up every single time you go, however I very advise the coconut curry and poultry.

Photo thanks to @infatuation_den on Instagram grass-fed meat, Tillamook cheddar cheese and fresh lettuce and also tomatoes make this cheeseburger a must-have. They toss on some of their special sauce for the best combination of savory and also tasty, and also their newly baked bun is the cherry ahead. While their yummy burgers are a reason alone to go, Larkburger’s truffle fries are my favorite french fries in Denver, hands down.

I would certainly do anything at any type of provide minute to eat these fries and also I indicate anything people. Image thanks to @infatuation_den on Instagram Bonnie Brae is a true Denver facility. They make their homemade ice cream and cones on website daily, and also have a variety of scrumptious tastes available (Tyler Tysdal SEC).

Whether it’s a summer season’s evening or awesome afternoon, Bonnie Brae is constantly crowded with pleased children, families, as well as big teams of buddies – investor and entrepreneur Tyler Tysdal. Picture politeness of @infatuation_den on Instagram Denver Biscuit Co. has a national reputation for dishing out remarkably good biscuits, and also this reputation might not be extra precise. Their biscuit french salute has the ideal degree of sweet taste and also is delightfully indulgent, while their egg biscuits are one of the most rewarding way to start the day.

syndicated from 25 Best Things To Do In Lone Tree (Colorado) – The Crazy Tourist

syndicated from Originally posted on 25 Best Things To Do In Lone Tree (Colorado) – The Crazy Tourist

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thecoroutfitters · 5 years ago

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Billy is usually a youngster, an innocent, the observer. With this injured, unhinged condition, also, he gets to be a holiday maker as part of his individual daily life due to what’s termed being ‘unstuck within time’. What on earth is wide-spread inside expertise in showdown? Just what can vary depending on the specific struggle? 6.Examine Vonnegut’s after textbooks involving visual cases. Because on the open-handed by using develop fully dialect, intimate situations, and physical violence, Slaughterhouse-Five really should be studied by simply older senior high school or perhaps university students. Discussion and also Writing Comprehension Chapter 1 Slaughterhouse Your five also goes on your title The particular Children’s Crusade: A Duty Party With Dying. Thinking about humankind having the capacity to perspective their lives times as well and not linearly is usually invalid on the viewer, nonetheless Kurt Vonnegut creates on the followers travel the concept of moment family member and just pre-existing within mankind visuallization. The stylistics, form plus location, among various other literary aspects make this e-book an excellent method to obtain dissertation subjects both for senior high school as well as college or university.

What can it suggest to be ‘unstuck in time?I What exactly is Billy Pilgrim able to perform? Explain the 1st practical knowledge they have after he gets unstuck over time. Bond that so that you can just how the Tralfamadorians see the reasoning behind time frame. How come it’s absurd for many years in order to grieve an individual after their particular demise?

The have trouible with PTSD by means of veterans

Billy Pilgrim as a doppleganger pertaining to Kurt Vonnegut

Even though Billy Pilgrim will be technologically the idol in the novel, he is non-traditional often: their overall look to be a jewellry, their detachment utilizing human beings, and the man isn’t going to help make unexpected things happen (things happen to be able to him or her as an alternative). Demonstrate and also illustrate Billy’s detachment and passivity. You should definitely incorporate certain instances with the novel.

Look intended for Recommendations Online There are wonderful recommendations with Slaughterhouse Five article themes on the web. The individuals tend to be decided on by encountered lecturers and canopy a variety of troubles together with wording, style of writing, dialect, topics, personality improvement, etc. This is a helpful referrals workout routines includes report trials and a report on matters. The individuals are categorized based on grade plus troubles covered.

Do you feel throughout aliens? The reason or maybe why not? What is your opinion of individuals that claim they are already abducted?

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Billy sheds his freedom make your best effort, considerably exactly how a drug addict could. Many writers ever have written sci-fi novels coupled with amazing success with these, however only a handful of happen to be as everlasting eventually because Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five. The 2 main, who’ve displaced its a sense of do-it-yourself as well as any this means life used to have, break free experiencing ‘unhinged’ by way of diving on the fictional connected with Kilgour Bass (additionally Vonnegut). Vonnegut includes sci-fi, autobiography, traditional hype, and modern satire in the “jumbled” representation of the duration of Billy Pilgrim. Log with and also register with include this kind of lessons with a Personalized Training.

TEACHING GUIDE

It is lots of subjects such as review on the U . 8.Read additional operates Vonnegut. In any literary word, imagery helps the author so that you can attract individual feels using dazzling in addition to detailed words. Billy, for instance Vonnegut, is usually a heir in the Dresden bombing, who seem to sees a lot of wartime crimes.

Catch-22 and also Slaughterhouse Several: Depiction associated with Sadly Chaotic War

Because in the generous use of mature expressions, sexual circumstances, plus lack of control, Slaughterhouse-Five needs to be analyzed by way of more aged high school graduation as well as students. Discussion and Writing Comprehension Chapter 1 The narrative springs among his life situations, the actual Dresden bombing, in addition to stay in hospital acting as the touchstone for his / her current certainty. In the end, Vonnegut’s criticisms continue to be valid in the twenty-first centuries. (Vonnegut 80 : Eighty six) Towards the Tralfamadorians, the heavens are filled up with rarefied, glowing spaghetti (Vonnegut 87) in which human beings view solely superstars. Billy Pilgrim’s apparent approval associated with fate-he responds to every single mention of dying while using the phrase “so the item goes”-actually illustrates Vonnegut’s weight so that you can impaired recognition with socially acceptable cruelty. How would you produce this sort of subject? That opposition will be ilustrated within his interpretation from the massacre at Dresden, along with Barbara’s happiness with draining the woman’s papa connected with his or her self-respect “in the url of like.”

Most among us commonly hear the term ‘all’s good for each other in addition to conflict.A Checking showdown aspect especially, do you believe all is actually truthful around struggle? Am i able to country do anything overseas it is with warfare using? Might the soldier do anything whatsoever to a different one gift coming from a region he or she is during conflict using? Why not consider the particular ordinary people? Does staying in conflict necessarily mean about to catch fairly the cause of how you behave?

Do you suspect throughout aliens? Exactly why or why don’t you? What is your opinion of those that say they have been kidnapped?

The using concurrent plot lines in Slaughterhouse Five

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This ironic factor could be that the a couple of scouts in which forgotten Billy and Roland simply because ended up being high in volume and cumbersome developed into wiped out by what Billy claimed ended up being, “Three inoffensive bangs which originate from far away.In . We worked once again throughout small categories in an effort to carefully consider the thematic write an essay for me challenges found from the initially seven books with Journey. Chapter 2 The audience introduced to the key character, Billy Pilgrim. You’ll find way too many similarities As a result, your reader comes “unstuck within time” in addition to Billy.

Faith, Future. Freedom in addition to War

Regardless of the true quantity of accidents, the particular firebombing connected with Dresden certainly has a high ranking while using fischer attacks about Hiroshima and Nagasaki as atrocities of The second world war. One technique to strengthen your scholars look into the complex complexity from the storyline is always to assign numerous essays, as well as small pieces of publishing having a single core aim. About the Book Published in the elevation in the Vietnam Conflict inside 1969, Slaughterhouse-Five is recognized as by a lot of an unsafe to get Vonnegut’s biggest do the job. It is not surprising this in this particular atmosphere, Vonnegut’s work of fiction accumulated a cult-like pursuing one of the age group this declined exactly what it spotted because the materialism and https://www.insead.edu/faculty-research/faculty/henning-piezunka also shallowness of yankee society.

How would you describe the concept of ‘time’? Providers time take a trip? You think it is possible you can find several other aspect we can’t access?

The complications with time travel

Plot review and also research written by a highly skilled literary critic.

The dispute of performing war

The complications over time travel

The paradox of the funny struggle work of fiction around Slaughterhouse Five

Investigation Vonnegut’s armed service job, and rehearse some sort of plot of land plan to match this so that you can Billy Pilgrim’s. 7.Generate graphic representations on the Tralfamadorians, its place ship, and also Billy’s dwelling inside the zoo park in Tralfamadore. 8.Perform a recording associated with The Ballad of the Natural Beret by way of Simon Sadler. Report data on the fresh to compliment the job in which Billy has dropped effect together with certainty knowning that his or her time period traveling is just a goal of his / her mayhem. It allows him or her for you to as a final point observe that just what he or she experienced, what exactly he / she made it through throughout battle, wasn’t her wrong doing. (Vonnegut Eighty-five : Ninety) For the Tralfamadorians, celebrities tend to be stuffed with rarefied, luminous pasta (Vonnegut 87) in which humans discover simply megastars. Evidently, he / she thought they required to publish the following publication not just to talk about the inner thoughts about the dangers in addition to futility involving battle, nonetheless to supply purpose to help his personal suffering.

Look to get Ideas Online There are wonderful recommendations on Slaughterhouse Five article subject areas on-line. The themes usually are picked out by simply encountered professors and cover an array of issues including context, way of writing, vocabulary, themes, identity progress, for example. Here’s a beneficial research which has papers examples in addition to a number of topics. The topics are categorized according to rank as well as troubles protected.

Slaughterhouse Five for a satire

Consult A person’s Teacher Your coach will be the major source of aid plus advice with educative get the job done. Your educator will provide directions for the location ones document need to consentrate on. It could actually on themes or templates resolved inside the book. A tutor also can like you to pay attention to an individual motif, character, setting, sort, etcetera. There are matters that are highly relevant to the present product as well as score, while other people are not. In truth, in most cases, your coach will give you the topic. Nonetheless, never continue crafting in advance of speaking to your current teacher.

The objective as well as aftereffect of this novel’s plot of land design about the general concise explaination the work

The controversy with performing war

A comparative criticism of any Goodbye of Arms as well as Slaughterhouse Five

Look with regard to Guidelines Online There are fantastic recommendations on Slaughterhouse Several essay or dissertation issues on-line. The themes tend to be picked out by way of skilled educators and cover numerous problems including wording, way with words, vocabulary, subjects, identity progress, and many others. What follows is a handy referrals which also features papers trial samples and a list of subject areas. The themes are classified according to level along with difficulties coated.

(Vonnegut 3) As the visitor never actually leaves the main story brand of your fire-bombing of Dresden for too long, Billy however travels a decent amount. This kind of gives yet another layer involving profoundly human practical knowledge to your new along with enables the readers to check out as well as explore the actual dualities that you can get in this psyches plus the novel. Your Dresden Hearth Bombing was a massacre which had been created by this associates to be able to get rid of as many The german language citizens as it can be. NOTE: Totally free article test given on this page really should be useful for recommendations or taste purposes merely. The way have Vonnegut’s suffers from during Dresden as well as America’s participation with Vietnam play a role in a anti-war meaning in the guide? 3.Study opposite vistas in the fire-bombing regarding Dresden. It’s great deal of subjects which include evaluate on the United states government and also talk associated with existentialism have made essaywriter.org the item a particularly contentious piece of literary works.

Faith, Success. Freedom as well as War

The particular anti-war styles associated with Vonnegut’s work built him specifically used often by your counter-culture mobility of your Vietnam Years. (Vonnegut Sixty nine) This repetition of this specific term not merely de-emphasizes loss of life, but also will help Vonnegut assert therapy for your readers answer from a passing. Slaughterhouse-Five by means of Kurt Vonnegut brings together the particular topics of decline and also determinism to make a narrative in the power disaster. Simply what does which pressure reveal about Indonesia by the end of the war? 2.How are you affected towards the scouts? 3.How come this A language like german wedding photographer please take a photograph regarding Billy’s and Weary’s ft? 4.Why should the particular professional photographer stage a photo of Billy’s seize? 5.Which are the a couple of cause of the actual destruction this Billy devices through in his or her approach to this Lions Golf club interacting with? 6.How much does Billy’s experience together with the Sea big show us regarding Billy’s life-style? 7.Why does the doctor explain to Billy for taking a new snooze each day? What is your opinion brought about Billy’s condition? 8.Summarize this German born supplies who the taken Americans handed down. The following are some producing encourages that will help accomplish this. Since Slaughterhouse-Five is unquestionably an intricate fresh, you might like to present many of the big subjects prior to a person’s students actually begin looking at. Billy thinks of him or her self to be a prophet.

The Mental State with Billy Pilgrim

Billy, like Vonnegut, is a heir on the Dresden bombing, exactly who sees a lot of wartime crimes. Employ these types of issues in major times to offer learners possibilities to assess the complexities in the plan. Chapter 2 The audience introduced to the leading individuality, Billy Pilgrim. Again, you are able to adjust to all these asks to your wants of the students, dependant upon whatever they struggle with essentially the most.

The Mental State with Billy Pilgrim

War provides, undisputedly, been recently a component of every last civilization’s record all over time period, although the source of war, however, is often a theme involving claim. He’s fatalistic, disoriented as well as ill-trained. Vonnegut was obviously a Bang ended up saving from the Dresden bombing for the duration of WWII as he was being kept in a steak locker. The link can also be useful for a work regarding literary techniques including paradox plus satire. “There is certainly not intelligent to say about any massacre” (Vonnegut, Twenty). The concept of human beings having the capacity to see their own everyday life times simultaneously but not linearly is definitely erroneous for the visitor, still Kurt Vonnegut brings in to the audience scalp the thought of time being family member simply active inside humankind creativeness.

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floralbfs · 5 years ago

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WIP Ask Game!

thank u anon!!!!

1: Summarize your WIP in 10 words or less.

orphan gains powers, gets adopted by alien, saves the world.

2: Post a line from your WIP with no context.

'There's a whoosh of air, and Leo suddenly hears a voice he never thought he'd ever be able to hear again.'

3: Does your WIP have a title? If so, explain its significance. If not, what are you calling it for now?

Okay so I have been calling it the Youtuber Superhero AU (because it started as a fandom au but then i made it an original!!) but I thought maybe it could be "Thicker than Water", since my MC, Leo, is an orphan and he lives alone for most of his life (most of his life lmao at least until canon point? read also: around 9-11 years when in canon he's like 19?) in a remote, lowkey magical place/dimension?, but ultimately he comes back to his hometown and creates a family for himself!!!! i won't give spoilers but, since i already said this, part of his found family is his adoptive dad, an alien who is also a superhero!! If not TtW, I would call it maybe,,,,, Moonstone???? at least the first book!!! (ooh, maybe TtW can be the series name and Moonstone the first book's name?) because Leo kind of gets his powers through a moon stone????? it's not actually moon stone; it was a strange rock he found in the magical dimension that seeked out a champion for the god Huitzilopochtli??? and the closest word Leo could get for it was Moonstone, because of its uhhhhh singular qualities!

4: Describe the setting of your WIP.

OKAY, this is a fun one!!! Leo's hometown is named Star Nova, idk why it just seemed cool, and it is a futuristic city!!! They don't follow capitalism Because I Said So, and they're really into, like, environmental stuff!!! So you'd see SO much flora all over the city kshdsjfh like those???? idk what they're called but like the towns overridden with plants? but controlled!!! There's a tiny percentage of the population (tho I still haven't decided if this is worldwide?? I have a way to make it worldwide but idk) who have superpowers, either due to "individual" factors (e.g Leo's powers are bc of the moonstone, and Matthew(his dad)'s powers are due to him being an alien!) or were affected by a weird experiment an Evil Corporation™ were doing; ECtm was trying out an illegal experiment that could alter living beings' genetics to their will, but it went wrong and their substance exploded and went airborne. Those who were working on it knew about its risks and toxicity, ergo they were wearing a special suit and weren't affected, but the gas contaminated and ??mixed?? with the air and spread to the nearest city, Star Nova (the unofficial capital of the Joint Pacific Nations) and affected a Whole Lot Of People!!! this all happened a while before canon, and the corporation got away with it bc they were filthy rich basically. Anyway, a lot of the people who were affected to the "virus" reacted negatively and died, some were uhhh """immune"""???, and a few Seemed to be immune but had actually had a successful celular-level bonding with the substance! It didn't do anything to them, but their children/grandchildren were born with physical or mental anomalies, also known as super powers (gasps)!!!! BUT!!! a lot of the story happens in the magical city of Coatl (it means serpent!), located within a pocket dimension somewhere inside the Mexican southern forest, where Leo finds himself when he's four years old, recently orphaned, guided by a magical ....bird....being....? he lives there for around eleven years, and he's granted Huitzilopochtli's Champion's power once he's like. Not A Baby lmao. Coatl is.... kind of like,,,,, an Olympus, I guess? Only those with like the destiny to find it know where it is, and they can lead other people there if it's for good causes! It's almost like a sentient city, and the Aztec gods kinda. chilled there???? my theory is that a lot of religious mythologies exist, at least in this universe, and they all co-exist on earth, or pocket dimensions inside of it!!! anyway, Leo lived there and was basically raised by gods???? and an AI???? bc i love AIs???? and uhhhh i think that got away from me ajdhsjdhsj does all of this even count as setting??? am i missing anything????

5: Search for the word “knife” in your WIP. If you find it, paste the line and explain the context.

no knives sadly :( i guess i haven't reached Those Scenes yet???? tho there should be one in the first chapter….. my wip document is just kind of very messy ajdhsjdjsjdh i might just have to make a new document????

6: Search for the word “dream” in your WIP. If you find it, paste the line and explain the context.

???????????? why am i not using any words?????????? sorry :/

7: What are you most proud of?

probably the worldbuilding and characters (at least those with superpowers? maybe i should say superpowers period)!!!!! they're very complex and thought-out????? and i THINK they're original!!!!! so!!!!! ＼(￣▽￣)／

8: What is your biggest challenge?

oooooof,,,,,,,, probably..... getting an actual plot lmao????? like i have an overall view of my would-be first and second books, but i don't know if they actually have enough to them to be written as they are?????? like… idk if the conflict is really like??? worthy to be a Main Conflict™????

9: How would you describe your writing style?

oooooooh uhhhhh maybe….. flowery prose???? i'm a poet at heart, so if i don't use loads of metaphors and language uhhhh idk their name in english but language variators??? i will literally die. but seriously nsjdhsjdhsjfh nothing too serious!!!! most of my “”””angst”””” scenes are….. not so sad, i think skfjsjfj

10: How would you describe your WIP’s narrative style? (1st person, 3rd person, multiple POVs, single POV, alternating chapters, etc.)

oh!!!! well, i think it'd be multiple povs, alternating chapters, third person???? i'm still not sure whether to use 1st or if i already have??? p sure that's a different wip i'm thinking about tho

11: Which character do you have the most in common with?

uhhhhhhhhhhhh seeing how underdeveloped she is right now??? probably Persephone???? bc she's genderfluid skfjsjfjdjfh or uhhhh Scott??? bc i too love leo with my heart and would die for him and stay with him in the afterlife. (hypothetically, of course….)

12: Which character do you have the least in common with?

Maeve, probably!!!! she's, uh…. Something.

13: Your characters are stranded on a deserted island. What happens?

They Are All A Mess. akfhajfjajfj Matthew would probably become the leader and like. establish order and shit???? but he's also the hugest nerd so he'd just give the leader role to someone else (probably seph staine?) and goes exploring and cataloging shit skfhsjfhdjf Leo is probably the most resourceful one of the bunch, so he would immediately like. start planning for huts and food and stuff???? also idk if they would have their powers in this situation cause it'd be too easy to get them all out of there????? but let's just say they do but the island is inescapable by flight?? he can talk to animals, so he could communicate with the local fauna and like form alliances???? Seph is a good leader, so he'd probably like….. keep everything in check???? and Leo's friends are all good and resourceful, so they'd make a good team!!!! tldr they basically create order immediately and do their best to not struggle??? after a few days/weeks, some of them start to like. break down? but the adults are like. wise and shit??? and i'm pretty sure at least one of them is like a licensed therapist??? so they help each other out uwu

14: Have you chosen birthdays for any of your characters? If so, when are they?

oh!!!! only for a few!!!! Leo and Maeve's birthday is on March 25, Scott's birthday is on August 27, Matthew doesn't really have a birthday??? because time is different in his planet????, Percy and Persephone's birthday is somewhere in November, and uhhhh im p sure that's all i got akfjsjfjsj i suck at birth dates

15: Do you know your characters’ MBTI personalities?

GOD, no. maybe i should do their tests???👀

16: What would your characters be for Halloween?

Leo… doesn't believe in/care for Halloween, as he didn't grow up around it, but it's totally Scott's jam!!! they are dirt poor in a good first half of the book, though, so they can't really dress up :( they met in the library, and after (spoiler alert!!!) scotty's death, Leo feels it appropriate to dress up as Scott's fave characters every year. Percy and Persephone are (very weak) shapeshifters, so their costumes ROCK!!!!! they always do matching costumes, so they get cliché pair costumes!! Matthew….. uh. he is… way too old for that. he was literally alive before Halloween was even a thing, so it's not really his thing. Leah just……. does her own thing??? she can see ghosts, so she sometimes does like historical costumes and stuff with their help!!! and Ben…. oof tbh that depends on what his fave song/album/whatev is at the moment??? he kinda creates like a story/aesthetic for them and dresses up that way!!!!

17: Does your WIP have any themes or motifs?

uhhhh found family, definitely!!!! i really can't think of any bc i'm an idiot, but uhhhh intelligence??? if that's a thing??? like,,, they're all powerful and shit but it's also like. brains over brawns????

18: What’s easier, dialogue or description?

i think description!!!! neither of them are… hard??? but!!! description is like…… where i can go hog wild akfjskfjsjfb

19: Post a picture or gif that describes your WIP.

20: Post a brief excerpt.

Leo @Leoberry

You asked, I answered. New Q&A video is now up!

[3k retweets, 10k likes, 9k replies] 20 min. ago

[My First Q&A- video transcription excerpt]

[Leo Berry, a nineteen-year-old brunette guy with green eyes, wearing a red shirt with a lightning symbol on it that's loose on his muscular form, waves at the camera and smiles widely, dimples showing up on his cheeks.]

Leo: Hey, guys. You've been asking me to do a Q&A for a while, and the day has finally arrived! I told you to ask me questions on Twitter with the hashtag #AskBerry, and I've picked a few!

[Leo smiles brightly and lifts up his cellphone.]

Leo: First off, here's one by @razzberry- nice username, by the way-: “what's your cat's name? Do you have more than one?”

[The video shifts, and there's suddenly two cats sitting on Leo's arms: a large, orange cat quickly falling asleep on his shoulder, and a black kitten hugged in his arms.]

Leo: I do! This little fella-

[He gasps as the kitten in his arms struggles to get free and runs off-camera.]

Leo: Don't leave me! Okay, that little fella is Onyx, and, as you can see, he doesn't like me very much. Anyway, this little gal asleep over here…

[He points toward a small orange cat sleeping on his shoulder.]

Leo: ...is Tigress! She's my little baby. You've probably seen her around a lot on my vlogs, since she really likes to hang out on my bed.

Leo: Next! @Honeybats asked: ‘“is it true your dad is Jade?”

[Leo smiles and, after a few seconds of trying to school his features, bursts out laughing.]

Leo: You mean to ask whether my dad is Matlal Jade, the greatest superhero of our era?

Leo: ...Well, yeah! My dad- [more laughs] my dad is totally my Jade. His name is Matthew, and I keep asking him to fly me to school. He says it's not funny!

[He sobers up for a second.]

Leo: Jokes aside, he adopted me a few years ago and he'll always be a superhero in my eyes. I was in a really dark place when he found me, and I can't thank him enough for all that he's done for me.

[Leo looks away for a second and loses his smile. The video cuts and skips again, and Leo appears once again, this time sporting an easy smile and a blue shirt, this one tighter around his shoulders.]

Leo: things got a bit too deep! This one was sent by @shazhangs: “are you dating anyone at the moment?”

[Leo laughs.]

Leo: God, no. I mean, I'm not really a people person, you know? And I’ve been so focused on work, vlogging, and, uh, extracurriculars, that I really haven't had any time to socialise.

[Leo laughs again.]

Leo: This one comes from @perspartone: will you collab with any other youtubers anytime soon?

Leo: Yeah, sure! I don't think I have done any videos with other people in the past, so it'd be a fun thing to do! I just have to find a friend first.

[Leo laughs loudly.]

[End of excerpt. For viewing of the video, refer to Leo Berry on Youtube, and find the full transcription here at DailyBerries in a few hours.]

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