#BEETH TOO FUNNI

[salted-bird]

Unique interactions aside I adore how Sinclair Who Shall Grip's character is reflected on the gameplay side, we are told through his Uptie story that he doesn't believe in Faust's cause as much as he *wants* to, and it shows, because he is just godawful at the job she gave him.

For starters, Nails, the thing that defines the faction; Shall Grip Sinclair can't inflict any stacks of it.

All other N-corp IDs we have so far can apply at least one Nails, and we are informed in N-corp Don's Uptie story that the nails possess a symbolic importance for them because "the reason we pierce evil with nails beeth to utilize them as tools so the One Who Grips may enact justice". It's all about the One Who Grips, and even at his worst Sinclair is unable to aid her beyond the surface level, quite literally he can't help Faust carry out her Execution because the skill requires Nails and he can't give them.

Though it doesn't end there, the more you use them the clearer it becomes that the Faust Who Grips and Sinclair Who Shall Grip IDs don't mesh together at all. Faust's nails inflict Bleed count, Sinclair needs Burn Count, Faust's passives heal SP, Sinclair needs to stay at low SP, Whistle gives Fanatic to two allies, Sinclair hogs one stack due to always being the lowest SP ally by kit-design, but then there's how he can't make proper use of the Fanatic buff because of the SP heal ruining his tails flips, so rather than helping it's like trying to put a torn band-aid over a wound when that Fanatic could be going to someone actually capable of benefiting from it.

Sure, his skills include effects that involve other N-corp units, but first, it's a selfish interaction, they can help Sinclair but the most he will give them is a pathetic 2 Bleed on the last hit from Amoral Enactment, and second, what little ways they have to help Sinclair pale in comparison to letting him fight alongside IDs from other faction, what's a 15% damage increase compared to rolling 30 on each one of Self-destructive Purge's coins, and what's 5 Burn Potency compared the obscene amounts of Burn Count Liu Hong Lu can provide for his second skill and E.G.O? The N-corp effects are pretty much just there as lip-service, which applies to Sinclair's half-baked belief in their cause too, he shines the most when going against Nails and Hammer, and that keeps being the case even for the ID that's supposed to be on their side.

I find it funny how the closest to a synergy you can find between Faust and Sinclair is Faustie's Gaze buff, which sums up their relationship perfectly. She points to something and Sinclair kills stuff, Sinclair's core personality remains unchanged just like how the only thing that Gaze does is provide a crude damage-buff that doesn't help with any of Sinclair Who Shall Grip's obtuse mechanics, but the 'Sinclair kills stuff' part is enough for Faust.

Lastly, another point that I love is Sinclair's physical types and resistances.

All his skills deal Blunt damage, which is exactly what the N-corp Inquisitors are weak to.

Other N-corp units deal Blunt damage too, but they also have Pierce skills that the Inquisitors endure, Sinclair on the other hand doesn't waste a single bit of damage when it comes to killing them ASAP, and unlike the rest of N-corp Units, Sinclair Who Shall Grip has an Ineffective resistance for Blunt, at the same time his resistance against Pierce is normal rather than fatal, meaning he can go against the Inquisitor enemies without worrying about dying in a blink because they simply can't strike his weakness.

But of course, there's one N-corp character who Sinclair can't deal with, and it isn't Kromer, you must have seen already how she gets staggered if you bring Sinclair against her.

No, the one Nails and Hammer member who can claim the title of best counter against Sinclair Who Shall Grip is funnily enough, Faust Who Shall Grip.

Emitter is weak to Lust but it doesn't matter because Faust resists the physical type of all her skills, her passive ruins Sinclair's rolls to the point he can hit 0 as a coin value, and guess what, Sinclair's base E.G.O, Branch of Knowledge, has a fatal weakness to Pride, the element of Faust's Execution skill.

There's something so twisted yet beautiful about the fact that even in gameplay terms, Sinclair can't hope to go against Faust, while she could easily get rid of him if she ever felt like it.

But of course, what I find even more beautiful is that Sinclair Who Shall Grip has one small means of rebellion left, one last tool that can he could use to hurt Faust if he ever dares go against her: Branch of Knowledge, the E.G.O that encapsulates Sinclair's sin.

Emitter also has a fatal weakness to Gluttony, and unlike Sinclair Who Shall Grip's own skills, its physical type matches Faust Who Grips fatal weakness to Slash, making it the ideal tool for killing her.

Given how turning a blind eye to everything as a way to cope is a big part of Sinclair Who Shall Grip's character, I like how the one thing he could theoretically use to break free from his dependence on Faust is a manifestation of his inner psyche literally called Branch of *Knowledge*, I would assume these are all coincidences if it were any other game but PM has put crazier details on their works before.

[shuskas-story-book]

Leave it to the Bees

Based off the song "Let it Go" by James Bay.

Eridan smiled over at the Asian male next to him, miss-matched eyes smiling back over the table back to his own odd violet ones. He couldn't help the small quirk to his lips as the waitress came over and sat down a set of drinks for the boys to enjoy, Sollux taking his drink and taking a drink with a soft little 'ah' afterwards. "Tho..... Friday night, and I'm already theeing a bunch of Thirtth jutht waltzing into the bar." he commented with a smirk as another male walked into the bar, his tie undone and a 5 o'clock shadow highlighting his jawline.

Eridan couldn't help the soft giggle that escaped him with a nod, reaching out and taking his own drink with a curious sniff at the strawberry filled liquid. "Sol...what did you order for me again?" he asked, head tilting to the side as he took the straw between his lips and tasting it with a shocked little hum. Eridan hadn't expected it to be so good, his boyfriend having been bad about ordering a strong drink and not warning him about the bitters or the high alcohol content of the drink in question.

Sollux smiled a bit and watched eridan over the edge of his sunglasses with a curious gaze. "It'th called a midthummernight dream. Got'th vodka, two Ruthian alchoholth, and a thit ton of thtrawberrieth" he explained. Eridan nodded and looked to the pink drink in his hand again. "Well for once, it tastes amazin and I'm glad I let you choose my drink" he replied with a small hum in his throat.

"And what, pray tell, did you choose for yourself?" he asked, folding his fingers together and resting his dimpled chin upon them. Sollux blinked and looked at the amber liquid in his glass. "uhh....I think it'th called a 'headleth horthman?" he asked himself, head cocking to the side slightly as he took another sip and nodded "yea. think that'th what it'th called. But anywayth, we have a lot to talk about." Sollux cooed, resting his chin in the palm of one bony hand as the other reached out to carefully rub against Eridan's arm.

The Ampora arched a brow and watched the computer calloused fingers as they trailed over his pale skin. "Oh? and what would we need to talk about Sol? Did I do something wrong to one of your builds?" he asked, unfolding the well manicured fingers and moving them to hold his lovers. "Or....is it the fact that were moving in together?" he asked with a small smile, head tilting to the side.

Sollux couldnt help but snort softly and nod. "of courthe it'th the move Danny. Jutht think, we'll be in our own plathe. Cronuth can fuck off, Tuna wont be able to barge in on our cuddle thethionth......or....anything elthe" he teased with a wink that caused Eridan to blush dark. That inuendo had happened more than once to the duo and had ended in a very embarrassing conversation with Psiimon over what was not allowed in his house.......again.

"W-well....I still say that wasn't our fault. He should know not to barge into his big brother's room....Mituna is 13 now after all!" he huffed softly as Sollux just laughed and shook his head. "Yea yea yea. But you know my dad'th thuper protective of Tuna" he hummed, moving his hand to rub a thumb over Eridan's knuckles.

The conversation slowly trailed off between the two as they finished their drinks off, Eridan still being a lightweight even after Cronus and his military drinking habits dragged the younger along for the ride. Sollux wound up taking the keys away from his lover and hooking an arm around him in order to help walk the short distance to their taxi.

Time passed very differently for them during times like this, soft kisses and gentle touches that had them both calm and comforted as they fell asleep in one another's arms. They were still tangled up with one another, light dancing across sleeping limbs when they're woken up by a hyperactive little brother. Mituna was more than excited to see Eridan again, almost pulling the Ampora from his still sleeping lovers arms in an attempt to get someone to play a video game with him.

Sollux wound up being woken up and games played as breakfast was made and plated. Eridan couldn't help but think of how cute it would be to have their own little family like this. He sat his chin on a palm and watched the two brothers bicker over the fact that Mituna did not, in fact, need half a bottle of syrup for his stack of 5 pancakes with a smile on his face. "You two are so cute together like that you know?" he mentioned softly, a loving look on his features that had Sollux blushing a bit and Mituna puffing up his cheeks with a defiant little 'nuh uh!'.

Eridan laughed softly and shook his head. "Sorry. I guess I'm just holding on to that old dream of having a family. Deffinately something we dont need right now," he cooed, looking up to Sollux who rubbed the back of his head nervously. "heh....uh...yea Danny.....That'th thomething that can wait a few yearth to make thure were actually ready" he agreed softly, both of the older boys jumping when something shattered over near the sink.

Mituna was standing there, hands over his mouth, eyes wide, and one of Sollux's favorite mugs in pieces on the floor. The poor boy looked like he was about to burst into tears when Sollux knelt down to pick up the largest piece with a sigh. "well....tho much for that one" he muttered, head shaking a bit.

"I-I'm th-th-thorry Th-Thollux!" Mituna sobbed softly, backing away against the cabinet as Sollux frowned. " Woah woah, hey.....Tuna no come on. Let it go. Thith broke, jutht let it be. It'th no ithue tho jutht keep being happy little you and I'll be normal grumpy me. It'th jutht a mug, and like everything elthe that breakth, we'll leave it to the beeth." he stated with a smile, collecting the broken shards before stacking it in a pile and sitting it in a bin dubbed 'for bee houses'.

"thee? Nothing wrong. They'll love that blue color" he continued, Mituna nodding along with the fear of broken glass long behind him."Yea! I'll be me and you be you! We can make bee houtheth later!" he rattled off, the older boys easily falling in behind his enthusiasm for the day.

****************************************************

Time passed quickly, the apartment being gotten and their shared world slowly coming together. But things seemed to sour at the drop of a hat once Sollux started doing computer repairs from home more and more. Things seemed to jump back and forth from throwing clothes on the floor at the end of the night, to slamming doors and the two of them sleeping in separate rooms almost nightly.

Sollux had brought home something from his dad's house, just trying to bring some home cooking back into their lives and give a bit of color to the drab grey things had gotten to. Of course, shit hit the fan pretty quickly when the wrong things were said and a fight ensued. in the end, they were sitting at different ends of the dining table so they could eat. Eridan had his head in his hands and Sollux had his nose in his phone to try and just keep his mind off the fight they just had.

Eridan spoke up first, voice shaky as he tried to keep from crying. "Sollux.....if this is it...if these fights are all we're living for......why do we insist on doing this anymore?" he asked softly, sniffling lightly as he turned his eyes up to his lover. "I used to recognize myself but now I feel like I'm just a husk of who I used to be" he continued, jumping a bit when Sollux pushed his chair back with a snarl.

"Well it'th funny how our reflectionth fucking changed now ithnt it? Thinthe we're becoming thomething elthe, I'll jutht leave you here for a while." he growled, storming off to the room. Eridan moved in after him, watching the thin bee lover packing a backpack with tear filled eyes. "S-Sollux.....No come on.....I-I didn't mean it like that, please just let it go!" he begged softly.

"No Eridan!" Sollux snapped, turning to the other with a snarl. "Jutht let it be. You can thtay here and be you. I'm going home, thpending time with tuna, and I'll be me. Everything here ith fuckin broke tho leave it to the beeth alright?! " he snapped, slamming the door to the apartment after pushing his way past his lover and out into the hallway.

By the time he made his way to the lobby the storm outside had finally come to a head, rain pouring down and making it quite hard to see even if you had headlights on. Sollux stood in the lobby for a moment, pausing himself to just think about the situation for a few moments before he heard Eridan's voice call out from the elevator. "I'm not fucking dealing with thith!" he growled to himself, glaring back at Eridan as he pushed through the doors and out into the pelting rain.

Things happened too quickly to really realize what transpired, A bike rider rushing by, a driver going too fast on a slick road, and the crunch of bone and glass before everything just froze around Eridan. Sollux was laying in the middle of the road, a terrified teen getting out of her car with a terrified scream as the rain started to soak her and the male she hit through to the bone. Eridan's blood ran ice cold as he shook his head and ran out into the storm screaming Sollux's name. trying to get some form of reaction from his lover.

*************************************************

"He's not going to wake up for quite a while Mr. Ampora. Please, make yourself comfortable and dont touch any of the wiring near him. " the doctor stated softly, patting Eridan's shoulder with a broad, gentle hand. The smaller male nodded, puffy red eyes locked on the sleeping form of his one and only.

He waited for the doctor to leave him alone to move over and sit next to Sollux's bed with a sniffle. His hand reached out to carefully settle into Sol's, a sob escaping him as his normally warm fingers felt ice cold against the Ampora's.

"This feels so wrong Sol....y-your way too cold" he whispered aloud, tears already welling in his eyes and falling over his cheeks. "God.....There's no force on earth that could make this feel right......" he whimpered, laying his head down on the white sheets of the bed and squeezing Sol's fingers tightly.

"C-come on.......Just....I'm letting the fight go. You're right a-and I'm not being responsible enough with what I've been spending lately...W-we've been pushing this problem uphill and not taking a chance to really.....really talk it through" he whimpered softly, mostly just rambling on to himself in the silence. "I guess it just.....got too heavy to hold tonight and look at what we let happen.....what I let happen" he whispered to himself, head lifting so he could see his lovers face as a tear fell down his cheek. "I think it's time to let our words slide......please....forgive me"

*******************************************

A few months after the wreck, Eridan was settled in his old room, snuggled up next to Sollux as they looked through a thick picture book. "Oh, remember when we went to Alternia beach? That was the best date I think we've ever had" he said, both boys laughing a bit. "Yea....It wath a fun date...Thtill think we thould have left Tuna at home for that one though. We could have gone through and done the turtle thnorkling" Sol purred at his little lover as he stretched out and closed the book.

Cronus came by the room and knocked on the frame of the open door, offering a small smile. "Hey Danny-boy.....Feel like going up to Star Touch Point with me tonight? We can go watch the star shower together like old times....you can even bring Sollux if you want" he offered, the look on his face growing even sadder as Eridan looked up at Sol with a smile. "Yea.....We would love to come watch the shower with you Cro....I'll grab my bag and shoes and we'll meet you out there!" he chirped, sitting up and stretching before reaching over to grab his shoes and socks.

They all piled into Cronus's old pickup, the military boy making sure things were tuned up before the drive to their secluded 'brother zone' as they had called it in their youth. They made it right around nightfall and the two younger boys were quick to abandon Cronus at the car to run up to the top of the hill with cheerful laughter. Cro just shook his head with a soft chuckle and let them go ahead

Time seemed to stand still once they made it up overlooking the town in the distance. Sollux smiled and moved over in front of Eridan before waving his hand to the bag. "Tho ED......you ready to let it go?" he asked softly, Eridan's smile faltering a bit "I-I dont know what you mean Sol....Let what go?" he questioned, Sol shaking his head. "Come on ED....Danny.....jutht....let it be"

Eridan started shaking his head a bit "N-no....Sollux I.....Please dont make me do this" he begged softly, Sollux just smiling sadly and tilting his head to the side. "Why not tonight?.....It'th our anniverthary after all. Why don't you be you for tonight. I'll be me jutht like old timeth" He offered, taking a few steps backwards. "Everything broke Danny....."

"NO! Sollux please don't make me do this! Please y-you made it out of the hospital, y-youve been weak but you made it.....please!" he whimpered, head shaking as tears started welling in his eyes. "Eridan pleathe....leave it to the beeth for a while....let them take your worrieth and tearth" Sollux whispered softly, Eridan letting his hand reach down into his courier bag to pull out a silver and gold container.

It was a pretty little thing, Bees etched into the metal and accentuated with gold leaf over the silver of the body and Sollux's name etched into the base gorgeously. "No.....please....I'm not ready to let you go" Eridan whispered, turning his eyes out over the cliffed edge of the hill that separated him from where Sollux was floating over thin air. "Eridan...Let my atheth fall here.....You've held on for tho long....."

"Sollux.....I dont want to let you go! I love you....Please just.....J-Just come back please!" Eridan begged, soft sobs wracking his chest as Sollux shook his head. "No Eridan.....You need to forget m-" He was cut off by Eridans loud sob "NO! NO NO NO.....no....."

"Come on Danny.....don't make thith harder on yourthelf. Let me go.....Jutht....Let me be" he continued, slowly stepping forward to kneel where Eridan had fallen to his knees, clutching the urn to his chest. "Why don't you go live your life.....Go be you.....and I can be me" Sol whispered, Eridan not looking at him anymore as he carefully opened the locked top to the urn and pulled a bit of ash out to cradle in his hand.

As he carefully let the ash sift through his fingers Sollux smiled again, leaning over and hugging his love tightly. "Thank you Eridan......I love you......Thank you for setting me free" he whispered, pulling back and pressing a soft kiss to Eridan's forehead for a final lingering bit of warmth on the Ampora's skin as he faded away in the soft breeze that carried his ashes down over a large field of flowers.

Cronus waited a bit longer after hearing Eridan stop screaming no before moving up to kneel beside his little brother and rest a large hand over the smaller boy's back. "hey.....He's still here.....look, he even sent a little friend to say hello" he offered, a small bee buzzing softly as it landed on Eridan's hand for just a fleeting moment before continuing off towards its hive for the night.

For the first time in four months, Eridan didn't feel that deep stab of guilt in his heart. Instead he felt the light breeze around him, the warmth of his brother's hand, and more importantly, the soft kiss of the night as the first of the stars began to shoot through the night sky.

[bonbonlanguage]

Why English is Weird

A series of poems, sentences, and other works that describe the oddity of the English language. Have fun reading these out loud!

Pronunciation

I take it you already know Of tough and bough and cough and dough? Others may stumble but not you On hiccough, thorough, slough and through. Well done! And now you wish perhaps, To learn of less familiar traps?

Beware of heard, a dreadful word That looks like beard and sounds like bird. And dead, it’s said like bed, not bead- for goodness’ sake don’t call it ‘deed’! Watch out for meat and great and threat (they rhyme with suite and straight and debt). A moth is not a moth in mother, Nor both in bother, broth, or brother, And here is not a match for there, Nor dear and fear for bear and pear, And then there’s doze and rose and lose- Just look them up- and goose and choose, And cork and work and card and ward And font and front and word and sword, And do and go and thwart and cart- Come, I’ve hardly made a start! A dreadful language? Man alive! I’d learned to speak it when I was five! And yet to write it, the more I sigh, I’ll not learn how ‘til the day I die.

~

Verbs: The Past Tense

The teacher claimed it was so plain, I only had to use my brain She said the past of throw was threw. The past of grow -of course- was grew, So flew must be the past of fly, And now, my boy, your turn to try. But when I trew, I had no clue, if mow was mew - Like know and knew Or was it knowed Like snow and snowed

The teacher frowned at me and said The past of feed was - plainly - fed. Fed up, I knew then what I ned: I took a break, and out I snoke.

She shook and quook (or quaked or quoke?) With raging anger out she broke: “Your ignorance you want to hide? Tell me the past form of collide!” But how on earth should I decide If it’s collid (Like hide and hid) Or else - from all that I surmose, The past of rise was simple rose, And that of ride was surely rode So of collide must be collode?

Oh damn these English verbs, I thought The whole thing absolutely stought ! Of English I have had enough. These verbs of yours are far too tough. Bolt upright in my chair I sat, And said to her “That’s that. I quat!”.

~

Homophones

The bandage was wound around the wound.

The farm was used to produce produce.

The rubbish dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

We must polish the Polish furniture.

He could lead if he would get the lead out.

The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum

When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

I did not object to the object.

The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

They were too close to the door to close it.

The buck does funny things when the does are present.

A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

The wind was too strong to wind the sail

After a number of injections my jaw got number.

Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.

I had to subject the subject to a series of tests

How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

~

General Weirdness 

There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren’t invented in England or French fries in France (Surprise!). Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren’t sweet, are meat.

Quicksand works slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. And why is it that writers write but fingers don’t fing, grocers don’t groce and hammers don’t ham?

If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn’t the plural of booth beeth? One goose, two geese. So one moose, two meese? Doesn’t it seem crazy that you Can make amends but not one amend. If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? Is it an odd, or an end?

If teachers taught, why don’t preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up and down at the same time and, in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.

Why do you drive on a parkway and park on a driveway. English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible. And while we’re at it, why doesn’t “Buick” rhyme with “quick”?

[courage-a-word-of-justice]

Classicaloid 19 | ACCA 6 - 7 | SGRS 20 – 21 | Nanbaka 21

Not many people use faxes anymore…

It wasn’t just one Hasshie, it was two! Two, I tell you!

There’s an adorable little heart in the title.

Rotten-who?...Oh, okay. Rottenmeier. (It said in the subs what the reference was about but I checked it up anyway.)

One of them was green and another orange! That wasn’t a “black swan” in the slightest! *laughs anyway*

When people say they “watch it for the plot”, they mean Liszt. Definitely Liszt.

It seems even the staff have their pairings. I thought Motz was paired with Beethes in the fandom though…that kinda sucks for all the shippers of that pair now, doesn’t it?

Ah! These pictures of Swan Lake are absolutely beautiful!!! If only the subs weren’t on top of them…

This is “The Power of Shipping: The Episode”. ‘Nuff said.

“Suspension bridge effect”.  It’s a strangely psychological concept for Classicaloid…

So tsundere vs tsundere only devolves into fighting. Gotta remember that.

Where’s Sousuke???

Does anyone ship Kanae x Beethes now…? Or can Beethes love anyone, with enough “effort” on his part?

(ACCA ep 6)

“Peshi-Rokkusu Train Accident”.

Cuprite?

The feathers look pretty, in a North American Indian sort of way.

Yakumo reminds me of Grossular and vice versa.

That green-haired one’s a woman?!

“He’s just like a girl.”

Qualm. Funny name for a man.

(ep 7)

Egrette is how Aigrette’s name is spelt in katakana. Therefore, it shouldn’t be a long I sound but rather a short E.

“Yuki no tama” literally means “snow ball”.

Dang, the food looks good as always but this time it actually looks real.

Oh, it’s Lotta! Kind of.

Oh! The purple bread at the bakery is actually murasaki imo (purple yam…so it should be either taro or sweet potato).

Lotta’s a horribly simplistic person. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Natsume Ono-sensei was a man based on how Lotta’s characterised, but since I’m guilty of not characterising my character Amelie (One Wish They Never Wanted) better, I figure Ono’s a woman. I found an article on ACCA once that said Ono-sensei was a woman, anyway, so no disputes about the gender neutral name “Natsume” right now, ‘kay?

I seem to recall a sugary ball of dough that I’ve eaten, which is apparently called a “shayong”. Alternatively, it can be called something along the lines of “snowball”. It’s very oily and normally sold in paper bags as a result. It doesn’t have chocolate in it though.

Jean has some really large hands…

(SGRS ep 20)

“Speaking of which…”

Sometimes it’s hard to remember Shinnosuke is not actually Yota’s child…haha.

“Your life isn’t yours alone. Don’t even joke about quitting.” – Powerful words from Konatsu there. I have the feeling they could save someone’s life someday.

Those gingkos are probably CGI, but man, they look real.

“The inability to speak properly…it’s hell.” - Hmph, I should analyse this quote one day.

“Little sir”?...Oh, bocchama (young master). That should be the term they used.

Wowee, I never thought Yurie’s backstory would come up. Alsom I realised this is the present day, not the 70s…oops. I made the same mistake in my article (if you’re wondering which article exactly, it’s this one, but I’ve now edited my mistake out of it).

The style of Kiku’s rakugo has yet again been elevated, if that’s even possible. It’s otherworldly, even, but that may be because it’s a relic of time itself.

How old is Yota at this point in time?

Amanatto. IIRC Kinshiro likes it.

Oh wow. I never thought there would be that Yuri!!! on Ice-like twist in this show too! (I do have a problem with the fact Matsuda doesn’t look like he’s properly crying though.)

Seeing Yota in tears like this is heartrending…

(ep 21)

Mangetsu’s from Kyoto. (I forgot that.) That’s why it’s East-West.

Higashi no Tabi (Journey to the East). Sounds like a bad parody of Journey to the West.

Yakumo still hasn’t lost his edge. Nice to see that.

“SCARP”?

The ethics behind that revelation though…Higuchi, just how unethical can you be for the sake of art?!

So, say this was a supernatural show instead. Imagine Yakumo as a ghost, freely doing his rakugo. That would make him happier, but it would sure irk the living, LOL.

Note Yota’s not called “Third Generation” in the same way Yakumo is called “8th Generation”.

Bringing back Sukeroku from the dead in more ways than one. It’s not just spiting Yakumo, it’s inspiring him, right?

If you look closely at Konatsu’s fingers, they have bandaids on them. She must have practised long and hard for that to happen.

I don’t seem to recall when this boss man appeared first, so I can’t really put a younger face to “Kido Isao” (was it “Mr Boss Man” from ep 1? Certainly that guy had no respect for Yakumo the way this arrested guy does). Sorry.

(Nanbaka 21)

Nanbaka’s gotten to that “stand and deliver…lines” part of every show…that’s bad news.

It’s rare to see people animate eye blinks for non-dramatic effectthese days.

The problem with Nanbaka is like Aoharu x Kikanjuu, it has problems differentiating between drama and comedy, instead opting for a clear delineation between both genres. Dramedys don’t work too well for me, normally.

I wonder if this whole plot can really be resolved in 3 episodes…most of the second cour has been about cell 5, sure, but it’s dragging a bit.

The thing about this show is that while it is quite good at what it does, it’s only midpoint at what it does and doesn’t seem to use the unique Comico style of vertical manga to its advantage.

All these Journey to the West associations make me think about a “Mago Gosora” pun I saw on TV Tropes. It was from Dragon Ball.

Neurotoxin. Of course someone like Qi should know about that stuff.

[laurenlurver]

English is funky

After you have read this, think of all the poor souls who are trying to learn English!!!!

We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes; but the plural of ox became oxen not oxes. One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese, yet the plural of moose should never be meese. You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice; yet the plural of house is houses, not hice. If the plural of man is always called men, why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen? If I spoke of my foot and show you my feet, and I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet? If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth, why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth? Then one may be that, and three would be those, yet hat in the plural would never be hose, and the plural of cat is cats, not cose. We speak of a brother and also of brethren, but though we say mother we never say methren. Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him, but imagine the feminine, she, shis and shim. Some reasons to be grateful if you grew up speaking English; 1) The bandage was wound around the wound. 2) The farm was used to produce produce. 3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse. 4) We must polish the Polish furniture. 5) He could lead if he would get the lead out. 6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert. 7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present. 8) At the Army base, a bass was painted on the head of a bass drum. 9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes. 10) I did not object to the object. 11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid. 12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row. 13) They were too close to the door to close it. 14) The buck does funny things when the does are present. 15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line. 16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow. 17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail. 18) After a number of Novocain injections, my jaw got number. 19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear. 20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests. 21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend? 22) I spent last evening e! vening out a pile of dirt. Screwy pronunciations can mess up your mind! For example...If you have a rough cough, climbing can be tough when going through the bough on a tree! Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England.

We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. Why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?

Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught?

If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

Sometimes I think all the folks who grew up speaking English should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?

Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which an alarm goes off by going on.

-Author unknown....

�3�u�[

[courage-a-word-of-justice]

SGRS 24 – 25 (FINAL) | Classicaloid 23 | ACCA 10 | Nanbaka 25 (FINAL) | Blue Exorcist: Impure King Arc 11

(SGRS 24)

Hey, I once had a Bungou Stray Dogs fic that was kinda similar to Sukeroku’s situation (it became Chain Reaction, if you want to know), so to see the plot being turned into SGRS is a real dream come true!

“Is the floating world a lie?”

It’s weird to see Sukeroku and Kiku talking in the bodies of their child forms while talking about Miyo. It’s really funny though, and it’s a concept I’d like to explore in more detail.

Hey, Kiku’s wearing white, like he’s a ghost or shinigami from old times…

The fireflies were a nice touch to this scene. I wonder if they were in the manga.

All these jokes about fires are so grim, yet the context states they’re alright simply because this is the underworld.

The decision to change it to manga panels is like suddenly choosing to do one manga chapter without dialogue (to cite Bakuman as an example). It’s so sudden and yet it brings such a punch you have to keep watching!

Shinnosuke? I thought it would have been Yotarou, but…I guess it’s entirely in the perception of Yakumo, meaning that indeed, it would be Shin-chan.

Akira Ishida is definitely a master of his art when you hear him switch from young man to old man at a drop of a hat.

I started to tear up around the time Yakumo saw Shinnosuke, and now I really don’t want this show to leave. This show is love, this show is life and it draws out such intense feelings, you never want to let go of it…The only thing that makes me happier than seeing SGRS get a proper ending is the fact I saw a spoiler image on the SGRS twitter (that was before I saw the next ep preview) that showed Shin-chan as an adult. I never thought I’d see Shin-chan as an adult, but man, I want 100 of him. *bangs table impatiently*

(SGRS 25)

Konatsu’s such an old lady already. It makes me feel young.

As I said previously, give me 100 ikemen Shin-chans. However, on a serious note, I understand what it’s like to have your talent fade into mediocrity…

Wasshoi – it can mean “heave ho!” in this context.

Hey, it’s a Shibe (Shiba Inu). I wandered around the SGRS Discord and saw there was a Shibe in an image over there too.

C-Could it be…Shinigami? Yes, yes it is!

I thought adult Shin-chan’s voice was different to the young one. It was kinda monotonous, but full of promise…it was Yuuki Ono. I’ll have to keep an eye on that guy too, now.

It was surprising to see that they left an Inokori by Yota-chan over the top of the credits. However, it wouldn’t do the show justice to continue from here – there’s nothing left to adapt, and it’s a work of art as it is. So, farewell, until I get to another show where I can meet you again.

(Classicaloid 23)

Schubert’s notes…Top left: Avocado -> ahoucado (ahou being the Kansai word for fool), around the middle of the left page: existence (sonzai) -> careless (zonzai), below that: alright alright, choral, one’s selfishness (or as the subtitles say, “egotistically”), as one likes, bottom of left page: senpai respect, top of right page: shutter, arcade, favourite food, black clothes, full (of what? I can’t tell), turban shell (yakoukai), scallop shell (hotatekai), rapper, yo yo gyo gyo (gyo being the noise a fish makes.

Why does Mitsuru have a black ring on her thumb?

“We’ll be imposing on you for a while.” – It’s shitsureishimasu, probably.

Now that I think about it, where is Schu?

Prelude…hmph.

I guess all this red stuff means either Kyogo’s in China or Chinatown somewhere, eh?

“…just change the world at will…”

We’ve learnt from previous episodes that if you need a lot of hitting done, you’ll need penguins. Lots of penguins. Therefore, Beethes is your man.

Well, I guess I never expected this…Schu’s on the side of the enemy, eh?

(ACCA 10)

Kino and Baccarat, LOL.

Welp, it’s pretty much as I said previously – it’s a study of multiculturalism through the eyes of people who know it all too well. That and/or globalisation’s effects, but I ain’t here to harp on about globalisation. There are academic subjects that can do it much better than me.

Wait, when did the other chief officers get there?!

I don’t think I ever got why the Japanese call their big gatherings “parties”, even though not all big gatherings are parties.

Ah hey, it’s an underground town! The backgrounds are real pretty. Come to think of it, the only real life underground town I know is Coober Pedy.

From what I know, this sounds like 1950s USA, when people were chasing the “American Dream”. Ono-sensei seems to be inspired by various cities and countries to get ACCA, and that’s part of its charm.

For some reason, Pranetta strikes really close to home for me.

Jean and his meaty hands strike again!

Now that I look properly, Lotta has different colour hair (slightly) from Jean. Hers is more of a cheddar, while Jean’s is a more yellow version of the colour.

I thought Furuwau was based on India. Now that I see the buildings, it’s based on Saudi Arabia…

(Nanbaka 25)

Sure, Jyugo’s foot turning into blades looks cool, but normally it take tonnes of training to get to that kind of stage. It can’t be his rage that’s subliminally letting him make up moves like that on the spot, right? Come to think of it, I’ve been so used to a gradual buildup of experience = more control (to the point where I can naturally write stories that way without thinking) that not doing it bugs me.

What’s the “sara” in “sarabaka” mean?

Finally, something good! Something funny! That’s (the aura thing) what I watch Nanbaka for!

“Before you try to be like someone else, you should re-examine yourself first.” - I think my aunt said that once. However, she said it in much less elegant terms than that…

I half expect Hajime to kick Jyugo in the face and I have no idea why I think that.

So…they left all the plot threads unresolved? Just because this is an ongoing manga doesn’t mean you can do that! *swears into distance*

(Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga 11)

I don’t think I can explain anything this episode because facets-and-rainbows has pretty much covered it all…so enjoy the lack of comments this time around. (Or if you’re here because you like my comments, take a breather and enjoy the show.) Specifically, I’m referring to this post of theirs.

[courage-a-word-of-justice]

Nanbaka 23 - 24 | ACCA 9 | Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga 10 | Classicaloid 22 | SGRS 23

(Nanbaka 23)

Seriously Ruka talks way too much…

I thought Honey’s arrows were only a thing he had when he was angry. They seem to have become a permanent part of him and his character.

Seriously, what did Honey do to get into prison? I can kinda guess Trois’ reason for being in prison, but not Honey.

Uno’s pep talk is really sweet and considerate. I want a friend who can do that with me whenever I need it. That way, I can do it back to them.

Is it just me, or does Jyugo look more…kawaii…this episode?

Hey, I think I’ve seen this trick before. It’s the string trick from KHR...

…Yup, I was right! The colour contrast is good, not just because it matches Honey, but because it makes it easier to tell where the string is.

I thought the ripple stuff was more chi at work, but no. It’s actually plausible (in a way that is defined by logic, anyway).

The (somewhat) recycled footage is really making me lose faith in this show…

Seriously, I swear if there was a Nanbaka x Bungou crossover, Honey would be Chuuya…without his Napoleon complex.

Jyugo’s face really sells this part. It’s times like this when I really want to keep watching Nanbaka. (Wait, does that make Uno and Jyugo Shin Soukoku? *le gasp* Jyugo’s voiced by Yuto Uemura, so that does work…kinda.)

We still haven’t gotten to the main Enki plot, which really sucks, but I’ll hang in there for one episode and then say what I will.

(Nanbaka 24)

So…this isn’t the final episode? Is this a 26 episode anime? Update: It’s a 25 episode anime, meaning this is the second last episode.

That one scene with “The dog! The monkey! The gorilla!” really shows how low his standards are for Hajime (to the point where he doesn’t even remember Hajime’s face). Ouch.

The sparkles came back…kind of.

Oh. I never realised it until now, but both of Jyugo’s eyes are red when he uses those blades of his.

The water this episode looks real pretty.

Huh. They actually give hints as to how the blades are made. Never thought that would come up.

Something hit me when Ruka said, “You’re not even worth his time!” Ruka is basically the Beppu twins! That makes Ruka make a lot more sense.

Uno’s troll face, LOL.

(ACCA 9)

ANN updated their ACCA article recently to include the 13 districts’ names. The list of the furthest 3 distrcits from Badon that Jean did right there was probably why.

Why is the symbol for the subway a T???

Café owner from where? When the blonde moustache man took Lotta to the café?

Why is Lotta playing hooky? It’s probably a metaphor, but…

Lotta appears to have a giant ACCA mascot plushie on her bed (the blue feet make it pretty obvious).

A dude called Herring. In a fishing distrct. Go figure. (repeat for Clam)

Was that incident involving the police meant to be funny? It made me laugh.

The languae of ACCA sems to be English-based (if not English itself), looking at Grossular’s document.

“It’s Nevada!” I thought when I saw Yakkara. Then I had a strong urge to play this song, because why not.

Is ACCA a study of mulitculturalism in a world that isn’t our own…? Who knows? (Maybe Ono-sensei knows.)

(Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga 10)

Chakram. I learnt about those through Busou Renkin, but even then I don’t know much about them.

Where’d Rin’s shoes go? Were they absorbed by the Impure King?

Wait, Kyoto Tower has a bath house in it? I still haven’t gone to Japan (as of the typing of this post), so…dangit! Stop making me so envious!

(Classicaloid 22)

What? I don’t even like coffee, and yet you’re pushing your sudden love of coffee on to me?

“There are numerous steps before the drink is complete. And making subtle adjustments along the way is enough to change the flavour.” - The same could be said of tea, Beethes.

Beethoven. Making puppy eyes. In my anime. Now that’s the stuff I’m here for!

Welp, like I said last ep, it’s a Man who can Tell the Difference. Not a Mad (sic).

“Kite Rapper”? Motz remembers Schu like that? Haha.

“the art of flowers” – Highly likely to be ikebana, or flower arranging.

Box Chopin this ep was on point. Gimme 100 of them.

Ume means plum blossom. Surely the lyrics mean umi, or sea?

The font of the credits is all pink and fancy this time. Pad-kun wasn’t around this ep, either…so that was Fur Elise, eh? I thought there’d be an actual “Elise” for him to sing to, but…okay.

I tried out the CR subs with this ep too, and there’s a slight divergence between them (not to mention the font is different…which means AnimeLab sourced it from Daisuki). Also, I love how Rose varies her byline if I never mentioned that before.

(SGRS 23)

I’ve been so inconsistent with how I refer to this show…the most consistent version of the name is counting all the episodes at once, so that’s why this simulcast commentary is referred to as “ep 23” rather than “Sukeroku Futatabi-hen 10”.  

Was it just me, or were Sukeroku’s eyes not red anymore in the OP?

I never knew if dango were meant to be eaten warm or cold. Well, now I know.

For the most part, they don’t show Yakumo’s burnt face and when they show it, they still have the patch on it. It’s quite striking to realise that.

Is tenfura (sic) a typo? Is it tempura or something else?

Palsy? Apparently, Google-sensei says it’s a temporary paralysis.

U-Uwaah…Yakumo’s…dead…