#Classical Gem Hunter

[diamondsinthelibrary]

Treasures of NYCJAOS Autumn 2024

Remember last year when I went to the very first NYCJAOS event? Well, the show came back this year bigger and better than ever and I had the pleasure of being there once again! Wanna see what I found? Of course you do! Treasures of NYCJAOS Autumn 2024 The New York City Jewelry & Object Show (NYCJAOS) is a relatively new show – it just launched last year – but it has already more than doubled…

[conceptmobius]

Triple Trouble review is up! What's next?

I apologize for taking so long to post this. My Classic Sonic fatigue got in the way, BIG TIME.

With that done, however, what Sonic game do you want me or @greenyvertekins to review next?

Of course, if you want to review any of these for Concept: "Mobius" yourself, here's what you need to do.

~Ryan

[eirakairos]

Rendezvous Chapter 6

Summary: It has been a couple of months since you returned to the city with Sylus and your daughter. He got everything prepared, all he needed was your approval.

A/N: Thank you so much for tuning in to Rendezvous! This took a while as I was busy for the holidays. It was slow at first, but the spirit of the holidays and 4 hours of classical music made my brain cells work lol

I was planning this would be the last chapter story-wise, maybe a couple of separate side stories in the future. Maybe some drabbles about the vacation, the wedding, or the honeymoon!

Tags: a bit fluff and comfort, MC is a mother, and Sylus and her have a daughter!, pulling heartstrings if you knew about the context esp the myth, Sylus is a girl dad hands down, traveling

It has been a couple of months since you returned to the city with Sylus and your daughter. He is glad that everything is smooth. His daughter is settling in nicely in N109 Zone while you are back working in the Hunter’s Association, but it is remote office work. You return to Linkon for a week, appearing to Tara and other colleagues. It was a joyous reunion as they cannot believe you survived after all those years. Tara was beyond excited about finally meeting your daughter, teasing that she looks more like Skye than you. 

Meanwhile, Skye was amused, watching them from his VIP room. After all, the cafe where you decided to meet them was his. They respected your decision not to return as a Deepspace hunter but offered an office job opening since they can consider your condition if you decide to go for it. Sylus gave you the liberty to do so, despite stating that you don’t have to work that hard anymore because he will take care of everything.

“Why is Mama not with us?” his daughter asked. The waiter served pasta and wine for Sylus, while his daughter got a sandwich and a peach drink.

“She is going to meet her friend Tara today, girl’s day and all,” he responded. “Then, why are we here in the cafe?” she asked. Sylus hummed and patted her head. “Very inquisitive, my daughter,” She looked at him, he seemed to be a bit nervous. “We are here because…” Her father pulls out a black box and places it on the table. She gasped. “As my daughter, I would like to ask your permission, to marry your mother,” Your daughter opened the box and it was a ring of a red gem with a black band surrounded by diamonds. “That day… I was going to spend a long vacation with her and ask her hand in marriage,” he said, remembering that fateful event. “Then I lost you two, now that you’re here, I think it's time to pick up the loose ends,”

“Papa,” Your daughter said in a serious tone. “Just marry Mama! Of course, I’m happy for you two!” Sylus blinked and chuckled. He was a bit nervous the whole day because he was not sure what his daughter thought, he still had yet to know her more. “I only wish Mama and you get married faster!” He chuckled again. “Well, that is if your Mama will say yes and if she wants to,” he said. Your daughter was confused. “Papa, of course, she will say yes. Do you want to marry her already?” Sylus shook his head, it's like dealing with a mini kitten. “Of course, sweetie. If I can marry her the next day after the proposal, I would,” he followed. “Papa, you’re just nervous,” The little girl giggled. “Thank you for the encouragement,” he said, patting her head again. She looks at the ring. “This is the ring before getting married, right, Papa?” she asked. “Yes, an engagement ring. We don’t have wedding rings yet,” he said. “She has to say yes first,”

“Oh! What if I do the rings, Papa?” she asked excitedly. “What do you mean?” he said. “I’ll draw and maybe find someone to make it! Or I’ll choose a good one! Don’t worry, Mama will let me!” She said proudly. Sylus just smiled at his daughter’s enthusiasm. It would also give a deeper meaning, sealed in matrimony till death and the next under their daughter’s hand.

“After our lunch, we will be out today,” Sylus said. “Where are we going?” you asked. “Our daughter asked to go to the mall today. Maybe she wanted new books to read, might as well use this for us to shop as well,”

Your daughter is amazed once again by how luxurious the mall is. It is big and has a lot of nice food and things to offer. Sylus opened his wallet, you saw that the photo in his wallet was a sonogram. You gasped quietly as he turned to you and handed over his black card. “Here, buy whatever you like. Luke and Kieran already have my other card for her,” he looks at the little girl, having fun with the twins as they accompany her. You hold the black card, knowing this is virtually limitless in amount but you notice something else. “That sonogram…” You pointed out his wallet. Sylus blinked and looked at it. “I learned about it from the medical file Luke and Kieran found. It was the only item I had about her,” he responded. He held onto that photo for many years and it did reward him. You smiled. “We can take a photo in a studio or a photobooth together. You can put it beside it,”

You looked at Sylus. He couldn’t stop looking at his wallet. They had just had a photoshoot with their daughter and he now has a new photo beside the sonogram, a solo picture of her. You felt your heart swell in him being happy looking at it as you two are resting in a cafe.

“I hope our little one is enjoying herself,” You said. You missed shopping, but you see the high prices everywhere. Sylus keeps insisting that you get them if you fancy them. “I feel she would like going to a place like a bookstore than in clothes,” he said, making you smile. Sylus shifted, looking serious as he held your hand. “Kitten, I… I would like to bring you somewhere nice. Treat it as a couple's vacation,” he followed. You are surprised, you do want to spend time with him alone, after years of being away from each other. But you remembered your daughter.

“Don’t worry,” he said, placing his hand on top of yours. Our daughter did agree. Luke and Kieran will take care of her… After our trip, we will go with her to another place, and she can choose wherever.” Sylus looked at you; there was a glimmer that he hoped you’d agree.

“Well, okay. This is our first vacation after years,” you said. “Let’s just enjoy it, alright? You deserve it the most,” Sylus said. It is also his first vacation since your disappearance. He got everything prepared, all he needed was your approval.

Now, all is set.

“No sweets after 8 PM alright?” You reminded your daughter. You are at the door giving reminders while Sylus is getting the car ready. “Do call me for emergencies and-”

“Mama, you told me this ten times already! Just enjoy your vacation with Papa, I’ll be alright here with Uncle Luke and Kieran,” You sighed but smiled. This is also the first time that you’ll leave your daughter.

“Alright,” you hugged your daughter and kissed her forehead. Sylus followed and did the same. “We won’t be long, sweetie, I feel a week will be fast at your pace,” he said. He then looked at the twins and nodded. The twins nodded back, alerted, an order to guard her at all costs.

The three waved as Sylus drove away. As the car was in the far distance, the three got excited. “Oh, I hope Missus says yes!”

“She will, you dummy!”

“Yeah! Mama is obviously in love with Papa!” Your daughter crossed her arms, pouting at them. “Okay, time to do our secret wedding plan!”

You are in the private jet with Sylus, you two have been traveling for almost two hours now. You are feeling a bit nervous again as your maternal instincts occupy your thoughts. “Kitten, I can hear your thoughts. Our daughter is fine, I’ll make sure of it,” Sylus said. You smiled at his reassurance. “Sorry, I… I know that,” you replied. “Where are we going anyway?” Sylus gestured for you to look out the window. You did as follows and saw an island. “We’re going to this island?!” You looked in amazement and shock. You heard of this island before, many years ago, you wanted to go here because you heard it is a hidden gem amongst the other getaway islands. You remembered you mentioned it to Sylus at some time many years ago. Your mood completely shifted as you were excited, the view of the island was getting closer as the jet would land soon.

After landing, you are like a little kid, giggling and smiling. You two are being welcomed warmly by the staff, as Sylus lets them carry the luggage. You’re not used to this kind of treatment as Sylus’ hand went to your shoulder. “Sweetie, just enjoy being on your island. We can go on many adventures if you want,” You blinked and looked at him. “What do you mean “your island”?” you said. Sylus walked ahead of you to go to the limousine. “Sylus!” you ran to get to him. “What do you mean by that?!” you huffed. “It’s your island,” he said as he looked down at you. “I… What?!” you stuttered. You’re unable to comprehend what you just heard, this island, this entire island, is yours. “I bought it for you many years ago,” he replied. You just blinked as he guided you to the car, being speechless in the revelation. “How?! Why?! An island?!” you yelled. Sylus rolled his eyes and was irritated but in a teasing way. He poked your forehead before going inside the car. “Because you desired it,”

You still can’t get over that Sylus bought this island, especially since it is for you. You arrive at the resort, which is very lavish. You’re still not used to the special treatment as you shyly follow Sylus to the suite. A few guests are in the lobby using the resort's amenities; they seem very esteemed. You gasp when you see the suite. It is intricate and huge; it looks like a small house already. You ran and looked around the suite like a little kid, amazed at the amenities and the small kitchen where you can cook food. Sylus is amused, feeling a bit of pride that you are enjoying.

“Kitten,” you stopped and turned around as Sylus walked closer and ruffled your hair. “You can use all of the facilities, do pamper yourself before our dinner tonight,”

After that long travel, you used the jacuzzi to relax your nerves. You hear the faint noise of the violin being played in the study room, as Sylus plays music while doing some work. You felt your body relax by the warm water and bubbles beneath you.

“Care for me to join?” you gasped a little and looked behind Sylus with only a towel wrapped around his waist. You blushed in response to his perfectly formed body despite him getting older, trying not to slap yourself so that you don’t need to blush that much in seeing him naked, you two have a child already! You nodded gently as he chuckled and walked towards you. You looked away as you felt the water splash and a heavier body presence was beside you. “Still shy, kitten?” he whispered. “It’s only been a while, but nothing changed between us, is that correct?” He followed. You peeked at him, his eyebrows were slightly furrowed. Your thoughts wander, and you are surprised that nothing sensual has happened between Sylus and you since he found you, maybe he is waiting for you to adjust. You smiled that he was understanding. But it seemed to be a long while indeed. You leaned onto his shoulder as an answer. He hummed, wrapped his arm around your waist, and lifted you to his lap. You squeaked, you thought that he would just put his arm there. “Sylus!”

“Kitten…” He said with his deep voice. His head went to your shoulder. “Just… Let me recharge,” he followed. He was busy the past week, maybe finishing some of his deals before going out on vacation with you. You let the gentle water soothe you both as he seemed to have fallen asleep, he was that tired, you thought. You kissed him on the forehead.

“Thank you, my beloved, for everything,”

You let Sylus rest as you wandered around the island. The staff gladly takes you to a boutique to buy a dress for dinner tonight. As usual, you are surprised by the prices, but the dresses are so pretty. The staff recognized you and assisted instantly, probably Sylus gave an order to them. After roaming the store, you saw a nice short red dress in the corner. It reminded you of Sylus because of the black streaks around the waist. You tried it on and wowed yourself as you twirled around in the fitting room. You go around to get accessories and shoes, especially those black heels with few diamonds, what you love the most is the red bottoms of the shoes.

You then went to a salon to get your hair, nails, and makeup done. You were surprised that it was all paid for, probably by Sylus. By the time you were done, it started raining. Your phone started to ring and it was Sylus (with a red heart at the end of his name).

“Sylus?”

“Kitten, are you outside of the salon?”

“Huh? How did you-” You stopped before realizing this is Sylus you’re talking about. “Okay, okay never mind that… Yes, why?”

“Okay, go back to our suite,”

“I thought we were going to have dinner?”

Sylus sighed. “Kitten, I’ll explain when you get here,” He sounded a bit agitated.

“Alright, I’ll be going there,”

“Okay, ask the staff to accompany you,”

You arrived back at the suite dry and alright. Based on Sylus’ tone on the phone earlier, you felt something was up. You opened the door and saw Sylus wearing a nice red and black suit. “Sylus? Is everything alright?” you asked. In knowing him for years, you can sense his distraught despite his calm demeanor. “Sylus?”

He sighed. “Well, the dinner program was outside but since it was raining, it would be canceled for tonight,” You looked at him, he was probably planning it on this trip and was disappointed with it. “Maybe we can go to the restaurant nearby,” he asked. You hummed and thought. “Or we can have dinner here in the suite! I’ll cook!” Sylus looked at her bewildered then shook his head, he could just suggest they could have room service but… He would want your cooking better.

You started to cook something quick but good enough as a fancy meal. It's the only thing you could do so Sylus won’t be that much mopey. He was probably looking forward to that dinner and watching the sunset together. “Sylus, the meal is done,” you walked to the living room and gasped. The lights are low and there are flowers all around the room. Classical music was playing from his vinyl player, a much more romantic theme this time, complementing the rain pitter-pattering outside. “Oh…” You said as Sylus helped you set the table. You both stared at the table with plates of steak and potatoes with glasses of wine. You managed to get some nice pastries from the nearby patisserie shop.

“I think we did a good job!” You said in glee.

Sylus smiled and felt a good silence between you two, only the slow orchestral music was playing. He offered your hand. “May I have this dance, Miss?” he asked. You chuckled and took his hand. “Of course, though I might step on your foot,” Sylus hummed as he took your hand and held your waist with his other hand. “I’d rather have you step on my foot many times than lose you,” he smirked as he led you on and you blushed in his response. You two circle the room in a waltz, under the music and the rain.

“I still can’t believe you bought an island,” you huffed. “I can give you a planet if you like,” he said, smirking. “What about the universe?” you teased. He spins you in melody, and both of your hearts soar as you breathe at this moment, reminiscing of all the hardships you went through over the years. And still, in the end, he found you through the impossible. “Well, it will take a while, but if that is my beloved’s desire,” You looked at his eyes, from the eyes of menace to the eyes of longing, and now the eyes of eternal love. “I’m okay with anything and anywhere, as long as I’m with you,” you giggled as it was cheesy. He swayed you and did a dip on you. “Then, whether you like it or not, you’ll have me till the end of time,” You gazed at each other, and you thanked the gods that his soul was intertwined with yours in this lifetime, hopefully forever. He brings you back to his arms, slightly panting due to dancing. He gently kissed your hand. You two smiled as he gestured to the table.

“I feel you are famished, let’s have the dinner,”

You are happy seeing Sylus’ mood improve and seem to appreciate your cooking. You are happy just being in the suite with him, eating steak, and listening to soothing classical music. Outside, the rain has stopped as well. You are tired as you yawn, tired from the traveling and dancing. Sylus smiled. You felt he wanted to do more or say something. “Come on, you need to rest. Let’s retire for the night,” he says as he carries you.

You did sleep for a couple of hours. You rouse and see Sylus reading a book. You’re getting his night owl habits when you get together again, but you were really tired yesterday. “Had a nice sleep, sweetie?” he asked. You nodded as you went closer to him, lying your head on his chest.

“Where are we supposed to go to anyway if it wasn’t raining?” you wondered. He stopped and looked away before his eyes went back to you. “Well, I can show you right now, but it rained last night and will be dampened,” You look outside, and you can see the night sky is getting lighter. “It is already dawn, we can check it out,” you smiled. He sighed and smiled. “Alright… Dress nice,” he reminded you.

You and Sylus arrived at a row of trees and an intricate fence in front. You are wearing one of Sylus’ favorite dresses, it is a similar dress to the one when you first danced with him many years ago, while Sylus wears another customized red suit. You thanked the staff for giving you a ride from the hotel’s car. “Let’s go,” he said as he held your hand and entered the fence, then walking through the vast rows of trees. You looked around, it was peaceful and lush. The sunlight is still peeking to the end of the forest, showing the view piece by piece as you get closer. You felt your breath was taken away as you stepped out of the forest. A field of red datura flowers is scattered under you as the sun slowly rises. Everything was damped but it doesn’t matter. No wonder Sylus wanted to go here, it is beautiful.

“Oh! It's so wonderful here, Sylus! So many flowers!” You yelled as you let the breeze touch your skin. You turn around and see Sylus not standing.

But kneeling on one knee, holding a small box.

You blinked, you felt the air being knocked out of your lungs, your heart beating fast as you processed what was happening. It felt like time stood still, petals from flowers wisping around you and him.

“My beloved,” Sylus looked at you and opened the box, revealing the red gem ring. “Will you bind your heart and soul with mine for eternity?” You smiled as tears fell from your cheeks, and you quickly pounced on him, screaming “Yes!”. He was surprised as his reflexes went in sync and caught you as you both rolled together. You ended up being on top of him. He chuckled, smiling wider than usual. He is relieved he held onto the box, he plucked the ring and held your hand, slowly inserting the ring into your ring finger. You stared at the ring, sinking in that you are now engaged. You realized little by little why Sylus was looking a bit nervous and was disappointed the dinner plan didn’t go well. But it did end well from your point of view.

You and Sylus felt immense joy, he looked relaxed now. You plucked three flowers and placed one on his head and one on his shoulder. He hummed and smiled, tucking the last one in your ear. “You know, our daughter wanted us to marry faster,” he said. You chuckled as he wiped your happy tears. “I told her that it is your decision, but if I were asked, I would want it as soon as possible, too,” You laughed and gazed at him with adoration, as he guided your head to move closer to him and kissed. It felt right, like everything was in place again, like a promise being delivered. You parted panting, as it was getting a bit intense.

You smiled mischievously. 

“We did our waiting… Okay then, let’s get married after this,”

Back in the N109 Zone base, screams of laughter and cheers were heard from the twins and your daughter as they looked happily from a screen being recorded live by a particular crow flying above.

[loud-kid2]

@peaches2217 KB headcanon time since it's all I've been able to do today (I have no clue what's going on, I just feel like crap for no reason)

So I HC that there are three King Boos, nobody knew that for a while since they collectively decided to fuck with everyone by pretending to be the same person. They're also triplets (based on my HC about how Boos are born, I'll share that at some point). They also have a mild Irish accent that they got from the Boo that raised them, they also all have a unique power that only they have. They have different names but share the same title, their names are Alexander, Henry and King.

This is Alex, the eldest of the three

He's the smallest and nobody knows why exactly, he's just kinda like that. His unique ability is the manipulation of sound and sonic screams, he's ok at controlling his powers but because of his extremely condensed power it's not easy to do so, when he's extremely upset or frustrated there is a very high chance his powers will act up. His job is external affairs, things like trade, alliances, and publicity stunts (kart races and sporting events mostly). Alexander is the most energetic of his brothers by far, he often needs to be reigned in either by Boo-Hoo (the guy who raised them and their advisor) or his wife Rosemarie.

The second one is Henry

The friendliest of the three, his unique ability is the manipulation of disease, he uses it on people who don't respect the dead and/or dying. Henry's got a severe fear of the dark and being confined because of a very traumatic experience where some amateur ghost hunters captured him and kept him someplace dark, Henry also hated it when his younger brother got himslef captured because he'd become extremely paranoid for a while after, he's never told anyone about what caused his fear of the dark and fear of confinement mostly because he's not ready to confront that trauma quite yet. His job is mostly internal affairs but he does have one external affairs job and that's going to political parties, mostly because he's the friendliest but also because Alex can't be trusted with alcohol, he also sometimes helps new ghosts adjust to being undead. A little fun fact about Henry is that if he is confined in a dark place for too long he will physically regress to look how he did when his trauma happened (due to a shape-shifting ability all three of them have)

The youngest is King

His unique power is contol over illusions. He's the most temperamental of his brothers, often snapping at people when he's upset, frustrated or things aren't going his way. His job is literally just managing their alliance with Bowser, other than that he spends most of his time listening to opera music (all three are fans but King's the most obsessed), restoring paintings or turning people into paintings. Before he got that gem in his crown he was actually the weakest of his brothers, any and all abilities he had weren't what they should have been, the gem put him on par with Henry, he's always been insecure about being "the weak link" of his brothers so after he got his power boost he's been over compensating by being way to overconfident and extremely aggressive.

All three of them are classically trained in a different instrument, Alexander is a violinist, Henry's a flautist and King plays a pipe organ.

The triplets are also extremely close, despite not spending much time together anymore they do keep in regular contact. When they were young they were practically inseparable, and when they were babies they'd cry when one of them had to be taken out of the other two's line of sight. They were also commonly found sleeping in a little cuddle puddle (Henry and King often found unintentionally crushing poor little Alex) as both kids and babies, despite having their own rooms as kids

@silly-inky I'm tagging you here too because of new info I haven't shared with you yet

[lunastars21]

Welp, today is one year since Sonic superstars came out,

so for this special day I’ll finally put all my thoughts in this blog, so I can finally put this gosh darn game behind me! XD, so read if you like and enjoy the ride!

My (Hopefully) last Superstars Rant:

Well, this is it. Today is Sonic superstars first anniversary, and unlike the two classic games before it, this one doesn't come with a plus version at all. To say I'm not surprised is an understatement.

Now before we start let me get some things out of the way, First of all: This is MY OPINION on the game, if you like it that's fine, if you hate it that's fine too! I just want to get my thoughts out now and finally bury this game into the ground where it can stay there, alright! Second of all, I have no hatred for Trip, I may sound like I hate her, but I do think she is really neat and fun to play as and I hope she returns in future classic titles.

Now with that out the way let's begin:

I became obsessed with Fang the Sniper/Hunter on August 15, 2022 (yes, I remember the exact date), and when I finished reading all the information, one thing was clear to me.

Okay, I'm NEVER seeing him again

Pretty simple mindset I gave myself because of a few reasons!

1. He's a classic character, so he isn't allowed in modern with cool cutscenes nor voice acting

2. He hasn't had a big appearance since sonic the fighters and only had a cameo in mania

3. What kept him relevant was Archie, and that got canceled in 2017, so his only hope was idw. But they only do classic for anniversary specials, so once again, nothing for a good while anyway

All of it was clear to me that Sega wasn't going to use him, nor Bean or Bark. So I immediately adopted them as any fan who has been waiting for their return for over 20 years would, I gave them headcanons and their own story, Because if sega wouldn't, I will!

..and then Jun 8, 2023 arrived during a direct. Sonic superstars was revealed, and Fang would return in it. A coincidence I got into him a year before his return!? I dunno! But I thought it was a blessing in disguise! I was excited about it! October 17th was gonna be the best day of my life, I thought.

I was there for the comic short, I was there for the trio of trouble animation, and I was planning to buy his miniseries books once they were READY in January! I was prepared to give my full support so Fang could have more appearances just like Mighty and Ray! Hell, even hearing that Sonic Superstars takes place BEFORE Sonic Adventure gave me hope that if this game does well! They'll finally put classic characters in modern, this is where the barrier was and if Fang could break it! That would be awesome! I had my hopes way too high, and that was my mistake.

October 17th finally arrives and I buy the digital deluxe version, giving sega 70 smackeroons for the art book mostly and to support my jerboa in his career.

And then I played the game. It took probably 3 to 4 days to finish all the stories. My pros about it! Mostly great stages and atmosphere, I love the little cutscenes that were in, the controls were okay, and Trip as a playable character was fun to play as! Basically, being a better knuckles and Amy combined, the emerald powers could use work, but overall, I thought it was a neat idea to have these gems show they weren't useless on their own! This game has a ton of potential with all the ideas they were cooking with!

And uh

That's about it

Now for why you're probably here and why I'm writing this to begin with

The cons..

First off,

WHY DOES THE MUSIC SWITCH BETWEEN GOOD AND DOG SHIT!?

I WAS ABSOLUTELY EXCITED TO HEAR FANG'S THEME REMIXED AFTER ALL THESE YEARS AND YOU GAVE THAT TO THE OTHER GUY INSTEAD OF TEE LOPES!? YOU DIDN'T PICK THE COMPOSER WHO MADE THE FIRE SONIC MANIA SOUNDTRACK YOU GIVE IT TO THE GUY THAT USES THE SONIC 4 SOUNDFONT!?(No offense to them)

I have mixed feelings about Fang's theme in this game, it's groovy at first but then when we get to the part the song usually drops and goes into an absolute banger, it LOOPS early and doesn't play the part! My favorite part of his theme is CUT OFF from the song! Making it shorter and more annoying! And I can only listen to it maybe 2 times before I get sick of it!

Listen to the srb2 version that is more of a banger.

Another Con is the lack of story! I KINDA get the idea of what's going on, but where is this STUPID EGG FROM, HOW DID IT GET UNLEASHED? There's no cutscene that shows Eggman or Fang opening it up! It just spawns on its own and then gets sealed away, fucker doesn't even have a name it's just DARK DRAGON. Also the animation in this game that's 2D went down in quality compared to its trio of trouble short! What happened!? And why does Fang have SHREK EARS, just remove the tube's, don't give him earholes its fine! It's not supposed to make sense anyway!

Also, Trip's story is the same as knuckles, she's the last of her kind in an isolated island because her people fucked with the emeralds, she's now it's quote on quote guardian and she gets tricked (more like forced) by Eggman and Fang to be their tour guide through the islands untill she meets sonic and defeats them together, Lack of FIGHTING sonic because despite the game calling her an antagonist she doesn't really do shit against the heroes at all. But she's BASICALLY knuckles but a shy girl. We got this story before man, come on.

Okay, got the small points out the way, now for the spotlight of the hour..

Why the fuck does this game market Fang when he RARELY SHOWS UP!

This game went full force on marketing for Fang when it was announced, he got a mini comic explaining why he's there, he got an animated short, he got a miniseries announcement, HE FINALLY GOT A MINI FIGURE! He had comics in super fast friends that were going on at the time! And other official art from the main account!

But when you play the game, yes he shows up in cutscenes, but you only face him off 3 times and TWO OF EM ARE OPTIONAL, you have no choice but to play level sonic to run away from him, but the golden capital Boss fight (which is really time consuming) can be skipped via a glitch, and you DON'T have to fight him In trip's story if ya don’t want too, ya could just play and finish the main story and put it on the shelf bam boom ya done!

“But I wanna fight the dragon”

Not worth it, it's a pain in the ass like the other boss fights. So in reality if you skip golden capital and never play trip's story, you fight Fang

ONCE

And it's not even a fight you just run away from him!

This game was fully marketed for him, and he only made ONE ACTUAL SHOWING, and that's it! He doesn't have an ending cutscene. He doesn't show up at all during or after the dark dragon fight. He just vanishes. The End.

When I finished the game, I was absolutely pissed about it. I gave Sega 70 dollars to show my support, and he only showed up for a few minutes, and then he peace sign vanished. Ya wanna stay with him for 2 hours? Play his final boss fight because that's how long it took me to beat him.

Speaking of, I actually had a more annoying time with the Eggman final boss than Fang's. The second phase of eggmans was always buggy with me and kept killing me, at least with Fang my deaths were more of my mistake than a bug and his ending blow with his nose made me actually laugh because I didn't expect it and found it funny, and his boss theme is a banger too. (So that's a plus)

Another fault with Fang is the scene after his golden capital fight, where Trip stands up to him after he kicks Her in which the whole Fandom started calling him an abuser (even tho she has armor on so it shouldn't even do much) and now it's all over his god damn wiki, doesn't help his miniseries supports that now more too. And I know, people will love a genuine asshole character, but what bothers me is that

He is just EGGMAN 2.0 IN THIS GAME

Who else mistreats their allies, eggman

Who else builds a giant robot of themselves, eggman

Who else runs away when things get dire, EGGMAN

The only difference between them is that Fang is still greedy, but they are basically the SAME CHARACTER HERE.

I thought this game would go a different direction for him because the animated short and Fang's big break have the same morals.

Learning from your mistakes.

In both stories, Fang struggles against a giant animal ( the giant flicky and giant snake), but once he calms himself down or remembers a past experience, he focuses and defeats the foe! Both stories show how smart Fang can be if he puts his mind to it, and he is not called a hunter for nothing!

So I thought superstars would do the same thing in that scene in golden capital Zone, Fang would realize he is out numbered, his robot isn't done and Trip moved to the hero side, taking all the emeralds he had. at that point, it wouldn't be worth it, especially if Eggman already paid him in advance, and team up with the heroes instead to save his own hide. At the start of the game, Fang ALREADY got what he wanted. He could leave if he wanted to. Those stories showed Fang was smarter than he seemed, but instead in this FUCKING GAME he doesn't do that! He still goes in the UNFINISHED ROBOT and gets one shot by Trip.

I get that at the end of the day he's still an antagonist, BUT PREVIOUS STORIES SHOWED ME HE WASN'T THIS STUPID, SO FUCKING WHY.

This continues in his miniseries! Doesn't wanna go back for Bark, wastes TWO ISSUES searching for an 8th Emerald and getting nothing, and the 4th he separates from bark and bean because of his stupidity Not learning at all to be grateful or show any remorse, which is fine if people like him that way it's cool, but once again that just makes him EGGGGMMMMAAAAAN.

What I found cool about Fang is that he could be NEUTRAL! he'd be an enemy of sonic in triple trouble, but then the next beats up eggman and saves the world in sonic the fighters, and even fights THEN TEAMS UP with sonic at the end of the season of chaos special.

It was clear to me that fang can be a bad or good person as long as it benefits HIM. So him jumping in that Mech and kicking Trip DIDN'T benefit him at all, and losing Bean and bark didn't either because them not being there leads to his fate in superstars.

You can like the hooligans being together or not, but the whole thing stands, these boys were last seen in archie together, which got canceled and didn't show up again till season of chaos. At this point, specifically archie fans, WE GOT ATTACHED TO THEM as a team, we saw them up there with the other teams! And I got an entire discord server to prove it!

So, just splitting them up like that is a stab in the gut. That despite all of the waiting, sega decided to listen To fucking 2, 3, or more people (no offense to you) who hated team hooligan to seperate them and blame it all on fang.

Which by the way Bean ANNOYED me in the miniseries, and not in a good way, him and Fang arguing EACH issue was getting on my nerves, issue 3 being the best of the whole thing because they RARELY argued in that one. That issue showed the potential of the Hooligans and how good they worked as a team. AND SEGA THREW IT OUT THE WINDOW!!!! FUCKING GENIUSES HERE.

Plus they could've EASILY left In issue 2 if they could separate the side cars from the Queen since they could already LATER ON in issue 4. (Bean and Bark ya both fuckin stupid ya not escaping my wrath either I'm ANGY

I Still love yall tho)

I'm fine with Fang being a jerk, But there should be a limit and getting him to “abusive Level” isn't it, despite issue 3, I wasn't happy or laughing as I thought I would for the game or miniseries, Because the hooligans are like looney tunes for me, when I see them, I wana laugh and have a good time. Not be depressed. And I know people like when Fang is cool and serious, I do too, but he was also made to be funny. If you want a 100% serious character, Shadow is RIGHT THERE.

Superstars was marketed for Fang fans. Everything related to it was, it was SUPPOSED to be his grand return. But no, it's a lie. This game was made so you could feel bad for Trip and like her. Fang was just a tool used to lure people to the game and love this lizard. That's all it was. He was just bait, so once Trip got the fans sega wanted, they would throw him away into the vault again, but this time with no Bean, no Bark, not even a bloody popgun, they just left him there to suffer.

That's how I view sonic superstars, a game baited to classic sonic fans, making it seem like an old character's return, when in reality, it's to get people to like Trip, a new character. Who won't even fucking show up till a new classic sonic game comes out or a new anniversary special.

That's why I find it so frustrating, and no matter how much I try, I won't be able to fully like this game because of this information, HELL SHE GOT A FULL SUPER FORM! NOT EVEN AMY, TAILS, NOR KNUCKLES GOT THAT SHIT.

They just got “Super powers” ooOoOo

Bullshit, and the fact your friends can't play as the same character in their levels sucks, Kirby easily did it for magolor, but nope! Ya gotta play level sonic with one player as your friends watch.

Anyway, I think that's everything. Thanks for reading this far. Once again this is just my opinion, I wanted to finally let that all out as for certain there's no plus adaptation for this, and that I want to finally forget this game, I already made a fanfic chapter doing it my way to satisfy how this story actually ends while being consistent. And maybe Fang will get another chance in another 20 years. But until then, I'll enjoy the small moments that did make me smile in that game and his miniseries, like him using an ice sword or having a big mech, and if you actually Enjoyed the game and everything it came with, and still love Fang despite it all, good for you! I'm glad you still like fang, whether he's good, bad, or neutral in your book! All I care about is that you like him, so thank you. :] but I'm fairly certain. Rarely any Sonic fans will celebrate its anniversary. If anything, mostly Trip fans will as it's her birthday.

…

ALSO BRING BACK HIS POPGUN YOU COWARDS! WHY DIDN'T HE USE IT DURING THE MINISERIES HE DIDN'T BREAK IT YET BY THEN AAAGGHGG

Cough if you want a better 2D game with more playable characters and a good story with great music.

Play Mario Wonder

Or play the new mario party! That's out today! ^^

Okay, have a nice day <333

[basedkikuenjoyer]

Let's have a fun one. I'm really excited for the next batch of Hunter x Hunter and plan to have a lot of fun here with the new chapters. Probably going to shoot for full reviews like I do One Piece, Jojolands, and Skip & Loafer presently. When you have these big cast shonens, I feel like it really helps to know what kind of fan someone is. Who do they gravitate to? This is the bulk of my top 10, #1 is after the cut but don't think there's a super important order. It was hard to pare it down to 10. The rest of the main quartet, Ging, other Phantom Troupe members like Machi, Shizuku, Kalluto, & Chrollo could have been on here.

Pariston & Pouf are such good antagonists. "I can't wait to see what I do to someone I hate" is a line that goes so hard. Melody on the other hand? She's just so lovely and the whole Sonata of Darkness quest is really cool world building. Alluka is a sweetie and we say trans rights here. Kurapika is a sweetie and we say trans rights here. I kid...but Pika's easily my favorite of the main four. Shocker given how much I loved Kurama in YYH.

Nobunaga's my favorite in the Troupe. I love samurai, even more when their backstory implies he probably went with that aesthetic because of some old samurai movie he found in the Meteor City trash heaps. I want a drag off of Morel's pipe. His ability is so cool. If you've followed my Kakin Succession stuff you probably know I like the twins and yes Katty & FuuFuu can share a slot. They just keep getting better. I love a good brat especially when one like Kacho has a heart of gold underneath. Speaking of brats, my most controversial entry but I love Neon Nostrade. Lovely Ghostwriter is my favorite ability, funny lil brat at first but she develops well. So now for #1...

Oh Biscuit. Bisky. Bisky-chan. Miss Kruger. I have loved this girl since she first showed up. Top-class hunter despite her ability being completely useless for combat. I think that says it all really. She's still that fearsome even if she uses much of her Nen for cosmetic reasons. Buff Biscuit is always a classic gag, especially this new guy on the boat who is absolutely smitten. All wrapped up in a lovely Fujoshi package.

I like that she's a mentor figure, especially the twist of being Wing's master, but how it fits in her own goals. Biscuit is a Gem Hunter, she sees her students as uncut gems. That's something I can really relate to especially as I get older. I love nothing more than working with younger people who want to better themselves. And that's why she's my fav.

[thehorrortree]

Deadline: February 29th, 2024 Payment: 0.05 per word, maximum payout of $400 Theme: Fairy tales being retold as science fiction About Once Upon a Future Time, Volume 4 Return to a future full of mystery, magic, and malevolence. How can you tell friend from foe when faced with the cold darkness of outer space? The asteroid belt holds as much danger as the darkened woods, and the huntsman may be just another bounty hunter. The same warnings and concerns that were whispered over baby cradles and guarded by knights in shining armor can be found in the far reaches of space, but just a bit more…alien. The future is as expansive as the universe and full of untold stories. Rumors whispered in the dark of night and legends shared throughout the day. Is Cinderella’s fairy godmother truly a fairy, or is she perhaps a visitor from another world? Perhaps the rings of Saturn are giant gems and the far off supergiant is nothing more than glowing cotton candy. Was the beast transformed by a curse, or is he an offworlder in disguise? There are as many tales as there are stars in the sky and now is your chance to share yours, once upon a future time. This anthology will be the fourth anthology installment based on fairy tales retold as science fiction. Submission requirements: All genres welcome. Submissions must be all ages appropriate. Original, never before published content Submissions are to be 250-15,000 words Based upon a fairy tale or folk tale (Include title of original tale after author name in the manuscript) Standard manuscript format (https://www.shunn.net/format/classic/) No AI generated work No prior submissions No simultaneous submissions Period of exclusivity until three months past publication Author grants non-exclusive global, English language hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook licenses in perpetuity for use of the work in the anthology “Once Upon a Future Time, Volume 4.” Those authors whose stories are selected for inclusion within “Once Upon a Future Time, Volume 4�� will receive a complimentary copy of the book, access to a special author discount rate for copies of the book, and paid at a rate of $0.05 per word, maximum payout of $400 (submissions longer than 8,000 words will only be paid for 8,000 words). No other royalties or payments will be made. Submissions accepted until February 29, 2024. Submit at The Brother's Uber Moksha. Via: The Brothers Uber.

[radiation]

Scary Mummy In Town is an action-packed adventure game available on Android platforms for free. The game is developed by Tribune Games Mobile Studios and is set in ancient times where you play the role of a mummy. Your mission is to run around the pyramid, steal valuables, and survive the hunters and treasure guards. The ultimate goal is to reach the secret temple and find the mighty sword and gems that will bring you back to life.

The game features amazing mummy survival missions, adventurous ancient pyramid eras, and classic controls. The graphics of the scary mummy are impressive, and the 2017 ancient 3D environment adds to the immersive experience. You do not have any modern-day weapons, but you can use your power as a scary mummy and a sword to fight and kill the enemies. The game is a clash of mummies, and you need to show real courage, strength, and instincts to win the war and become a heroic survival that no mummy has ever made.

[thenoisethatkeepsmeawake]

Hi there! It seems like you watch a wide variety of horror movies. Could you recommend some interesting or unique vampire films that have caught your attention?

Hi there anon,

I'd sure like to help. Since you say "interesting or unique" I'll skip over the widely praised usual things. Vampire basics like Bram Stoker's Dracula (looks gorgeous, great cast, perfect soundtrack), The Lost Boys (peak 80s style) or Blade (great vampire action).

Only Lovers Left Alive - vampires are somewhat immortal and living long enough brings its own bag of emotions. Dread, depression, nihilism. Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston play longtime married vampires living mostly apart and drifting back into each other's life for a bit. Also blood sucking isn't all that fun with todays diseases. (IMDB)

Near Dark - this is a classic, but sometimes it gets overlooked. Director/writer Kathryn Bigelow tells a sorta western story, but there are vampires in it, except we don't even call them that. It starts with young dude means a beautiful woman, and oops she bites him and then he falls in with the crowd she hangs out with. Lots of violence in this one. (IMDB)

Stake Land - I really enjoy the film "Daybreakers" about a world with vampires being the dominant species and the problems it causes, that is a wider known film of that variety. "Stake Land" is like the discarded sibling, focusing on a post-apocalyptic atmosphere. A vampire hunter finds a survivor who just saw his family being slaughtered and they drive cross-country to hopefully find a safe place. If you like typical zombie-apocalypse genre conventions, then this is a nice vampire version. (IMDB)

Shadow of the Vampire - really not a hidden gem, but I have to mention it. This film tells the story of the filming of Murnau's 1922 "Nosferatu", but in this the lead actor Max Schreck is actually a vampire. Willem Dafoe gives a wonderful performance and it's just film history wrapped into vampire drama. (IMDB)

What We Do in the Shadows - this was definitely unique when it came out and hey, it spawned a whole tv show. A mockumentary about vampires just living in the real world. Just fun to watch. (IMDB)

Cronos - this is Guillermo del Toro's first feature film and tbh it's been forever since I've seen it. There is a device that grants immortality, but the side effects are pretty much turning into a vampire (the hunger for blood, not going out in the sun). An old man finds the device and a not so noble businessman desperately wants it. Fun to see early del Toro and his use of monsters vs human evil. (IMDB)

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night - an Iranian black-and-white film, about a female vampire who is drawn into some family drama about addiction. Not an easy watch, very stylistic (influenced highly by spaghetti western), but also really interesting with the themes of desire and danger. Unique for sure. (IMDB)

We Are the Night - if I'm really honest, I'm not sure I would even call this a good film. There is so much I'd like to change. BUT I also absolutely adore it for being unapologetic about a group of women doing what the fuck they want - as vampires. And there is a reason they don't turn men. This is something that can be build on. (IMDB)

Byzantium - full disclosure, I saw this once and didn't enjoy it much, but I want to give it another shot, because I think I was in the wrong mood back then. Director Neil Jordan is good with visuals and being weird like in "Interview with the Vampire", "The Butcher Boy" ot"Breakfast on Pluto". And here he tells a long interwoven life story of a mother and daughter vampire duo. In a world where vampires have a strict code and used to be mostly noble men. So there is class and gender in the mix, lots of sexuality (there is rape and prostitution) etc etc. Maybe this could be for you, idk. (IMDB)

Let the Right on in - always to be found on a list like this. There is the Swedish film (based on the book) and an US remake that made a few choice changes, but is overall still worth watching. Kinda a bummer to put it out as a vampire film right away. When I read the book I thought it was just a serial killer story and the twists and turns of who is who was a wild ride. There is a young boy who gets bullied at school, but befriends the new kid in the neighborhood who seems to live a weird life. Heavy themes about grooming and the true horror only sets in at the end. (IMDB)

As for simple vampire action, I do love the "Underworld" series. This year's "Abigail" shouldn't have revealed it was a vampire film at all, but it's very bloody and funny, so a quick watch. Also a bloody good time is "30 Days of Night", and I stand by my belief that red blood looks fantastic on white snow. If you like animated films, the anime "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" is a great gothic vampire love story. There's lots to find.

[the-owl-house-takes]

Here's a non hot topic and non critical ask for the sanity of the blog

I LOVEE the coven heads and I wish we got more of them

Raine is an absolute gem and a sweetheart and I could gush about them for hours

Darius just DRIPS of style and charisma, and him and Eber are real cute bffs together

Terra is deliciously evil like a classic Disney evil villain and Adrian is a girlfailure (no I will not be elaborating)

Even the ones we didn't get to see much of, like Mason and Hitti (I think that's the name?) and Vitimir all have such great designs that I just wish we could have gotten to know all of them personally

Like, imagine the dynamics as all the 9 coven heads are forced to work together for various projects while secretly backstabbing each other (as Hunter said they do all the time in ASIAS) to curry Belos' favour (while Belos just watches in mild entertainment cause they're all equally going to die in the Day of Unity to him) And the CATTS have to navigate this environment while not giving themselves up.

God, this setup lends itself to SO much drama and intrigue and shenanigans that I just wish we could have seen more of

Bonus points if the coven heads all hate Kikimora too

-

[gellavonhamster]

monthly media recap: december 2024

read:

Kingdoms of Elfin by Sylvia Townsend Warner - incredible prose and a believable, masterly look into a society whose values and morals completely differ from the human ones. At times chilling, at times ironic, always beautiful.

Books of Blood Vol. 1 by Clive Barker - besides enjoying the writing, I greatly enjoyed the way this is structured. A framing story showcasing the author's trademarks (blood, sex, and great writing) -> gory horror -> a funny story about a guy and a demon annoying each other -> more gory horror -> a weirdly uplifting tale of the undead -> more gory horror but it's also a metaphor for collectivism maybe? Keeps your on your toes

Hellebore Zine Issue No. 11-12 and Yuletide Hauntings Special 2024 - as usual, fascinating articles, lovely art, and a ton of ideas on what to watch/read/listen to. A perfect read for dark winter evenings.

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin - what a book to finish the year on. Really a classic and a gem, gonna think about it for a long time.

watched:

Your Monster (2024) - cute! This and Lisa Frankenstein are sister movies to me - weird girl horror romcoms that I'd love to see more of. Also wish the musical they were making was real because now I wonder what the story was, haha.

Catherine's Musketeers (Мушкетёры Екатерины) (season 1, 2007) - I had fun but I cannot with clear conscience recommend this to anyone

Straume / Flow (2024) - finally watched this, and the critical acclaim is really well deserved - so moving and deep. And I was so worried for the cat all the time 😭

Jonathan (1970) - certainly interesting visually, but in terms of plot it failed to make me care about what was happening on screen

Zola (2020) - I think you should watch this if you feel like your life is a total mess because you'll be reminded that some people have it messier. And apparently the real story is even wilder? Anyway, it goes from "haha awkward road trip" to "WHAT THE FUCK" very quickly.

Vampire Hunter D (1985) and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000) - I am fascinated by the vision of a post-apocalyptic future that is part western, part Gothic horror, and part Nightbreed. The second one is more complex and beautifully drawn, but the first one is also fun.

[petruchio]

Oh my god the moon thing? Yeah let’s unpack because I think you’ve found a gem here?

For sure I see the Katniss Diana connection you are making!! She’s the best hunter with a bow (maybe in all of Panem) and as you pointed out she stays thinking about the moon.

Diana is a practical and pragmatic deity. There are tons of stories of Greek and Roman gods’ infidelity, jealousy, drama, etc. But the stories I know about Artemis/Diana always center around justice for young girls (including herself) or hunting legendary creatures.

Even just being the Goddess of such a practical every-man activity (as opposed to being the deity of parties or “being in charge.”) is very Katniss! And something about being put on a pedestal and celebrated by an audience? Existing in a pantheon of performers with varying degrees of power and commonality with you?

But really I think the moon connection is the most meaningful here, and there’s an interesting connection with night in general! Something something, she comes alive at night, something something surveillance state?

During the day Katniss works and interacts in the district (always wearing her indifferent mask) but at evening/night she’s at home with Prim (the only place she lets down the mask.)

In the games she’s still more comfortable at night (daring to sleep), relying on the cover of darkness to keep her safe. It also protects her from the surveillance as well, she can finally hide her face under the covers. I think she even mentions some of her kisses with Peeta at night being meaningful because they probably can’t be seen by lack of light? (Idk fact check me on that one)

The moon is how Katniss (who’s lucky to get a few hours of electricity in the evenings) navigates her world during the moments when she is most free. I think night is when she’s most confident, most daring, and most likely to be herself!

She even pulls out the berries at night, without a thought to the implications. Understanding that rule breakers are punished is a day time masked Katniss thought, but this is Katniss at home, at night, under the moon with someone she loves.

Idk?? What do you think bestie?

ooooooh loving ALL of this!!

i want to dig more into the artemis/diana connection -- i love the idea of katniss as the the goddess of the moon, the goddess of the hunt. it has to be intentional -- we KNOW sc makes tons of references to classical mythology in thg. i love your connection of diana's stories surrounding "justice for young girls" because what drives so much of katniss' behavior is her desire for justice for the young girls she so badly wants to protect (prim and rue) (also diana is the goddess of childbirth -- thinking about katniss and her struggle throughout the novels with whether or not she feels comfortable bringing children into a world suffering beneath an oppressive regime -- i think there's definitely something there too!) but then i love the way you're also thinking of the concept of "being deified" in a metaphorical way as well -- because katniss DOES become a goddess. katniss' image becomes something beyond katniss herself, she does become a "deity" in the sense that she becomes a symbol of something (or the symbol of many things, to many people) rather than a human being. (also i'm on the wikipedia page for diana and apparently in classical times one of her sacred places was ... a lake. GUYS.)

i'm super intrigued by this idea that katniss is most herself at night -- i'm inclined to agree with you and i like all the examples you brought out. and can we also tease out a connection to those most perfect opening lines: "when i wake up, the other side of the bed is cold." if katniss is most herself at night, is it not so poetically beautiful that the story begins when she *wakes up*!? the whole story being one that is, in a sense, an "awakening" to discover that prim is gone? that she was never going to be saved? AAH!

and also along the same lines -- thinking about katniss and her relationship to the night -- can we think about the night vision goggles from the first book! because she encounters them early on but doesn't understand their significance until RUE explains them to her? so something something something seeing through the dark, rue being the person to illuminate the path forward and set into motion the events that will define the rest of the books? !!!! and to your point that she pulls out the berries at night -- YES. the berries that are called ...?? NIGHTlock?

i'd also be intrigued to dig more into references to the sun in the books if we're exploring this night/moon symbolism. the most obvious that i can think of is when she "transforms" into the girl on fire, she thinks to herself "i am as radiant as the sun" but then she also says she looks like a "creature from another world." so to that point, if katniss is aligned with the moon, then of course when she identifies herself as being as "radiant as the sun" we're meant to understand that she is NOT herself when she is dressed up like that. that moment is when katniss is at her least authentic, her least REAL. (and then there's something to be said about fire itself here in context of the night as well: fire as something that brings light and warmth to cold, dark nights. and we know that "peeta is a whiz with fires" from the first book.)

OH and if we're going into katniss at NIGHT there's just so much to dig into wrt to her relationship to peeta. of course there's the quote that i pulled out about their final night in the arena when he has her look at the moon and "acknowledge its progress" (there's a great meta on tumblr about that line and how peeta gives her hope in her darkest times and forces her to acknowledge the progress of the world around her -- it's one of my favorite lines in the book although it goes by so quick when you're reading.) but then there's so much more: there's the fact that their "piece in the games" conversation happens at night, the night before the games. then in cf, there's the "nights" on the train -- and wouldn't we say that's when she and peeta are at their most "real" with each other? stripped of any of the costume and performance of their relationship during the rest of the victory tour? and the fact that the moment she accepts her genuine love for him is "on the night i feel that thing again, the hunger that overtook me on the beach" -- it's night when she finally accepts and acknowledges that things are REAL? (also how have i never noticed that the whole trilogy opens with her waking up and closes with the night? UGH why is everything in thg so perfect??)

also in my moon research i just found this blog post from 2011 about the moth that land's on katniss' wrist in the first book. and of course there's a lot to be said about moths and the night and the moon but the author of the blog post identifies that the particular green and silver moth is a kind of moth called... get this... a LUNA moth. a MOON MOTH. THE MOON. i'm having a meltdown.

[sitp-recs]

Anime Recs Pt 4

So apparently I can’t get enough of these lists and after the BL recs I’m back with a round of personal favorites nobody asked for 🫡 There are many different flavours here but these are epic stories for those who enjoy fantasy, sci-fi and coming-of-age shonen with emotional damage oof that’s my kryptonite right there! This is basically a mix of formative classics and some new gems that brought back my love for anime. I’d love to chat if you’ve seen & enjoyed any of these!

1. Attack on Titan (fantasy, post-apocalyptic)

Set in a world where humanity is forced to live in cities surrounded by three enormous walls that protect them from gigantic man-eating humanoids referred to as Titans; the story follows Eren Yeager, who vows to exterminate the Titans after they bring about the destruction of his hometown and the death of his mother.

2. Blue Eye Samurai (historical, drama)

During Japan's Edo period (17th century), half-white half-Japanese Onna-musha Mizu quests for vengeance against four white men, one of whom is her father, who illegally remained in Japan during the closing of its borders by the Tokugawa shogunate.

3. Cowboy Bebop (sci-fi, space western)

Set in 2071 in a post-apocalyptic world where Earth has become largely uninhabitable, the story follows a ragtag group of bounty hunters, known as cowboys, aboard the spaceship “Bebop.” As they traverse planets and moons in search of wanted fugitives, each cowboy contends with shadows from the past they can't outrun.

4. Hunter x Hunter (shonen, adventure)

Gon Freecss discovers that his father, who left him at a young age, is a world-renowned Hunter, a licensed professional who specializes in fantastical pursuits such as locating rare animal species, treasure hunting, surveying unexplored enclaves, or hunting down lawless individuals. Gon departs on a journey to become a Hunter himself, and eventually find his father.

5. Jujutsu Kaisen (fantasy, supernatural)

The story follows high school student Yuji Itadori as he joins a secret organization of Jujutsu Sorcerers to eliminate a powerful Curse named Ryomen Sukuna, of whom Yuji becomes the host.

6. Kids on the Slope (music, slice-of-life)

Kaoru Nishimi is an intelligent, introverted first-year high school student from a wealthy family who moves cities frequently as a result of his father's career. He has never made lasting friendships, but discovers jazz music after meeting classmates Sentarō Kawabuchi and Ritsuko Mukae.

7. Link Click (mystery, supernatural)

Using superpowers to enter their clientele's photos one by one, Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang take their work seriously at "Time Photo Studio," a small photography shop set in the backdrop of a modern metropolis. Each job can be full of dangers, but nothing is more important than fulfilling every order without changing the past.

8. Nana (josei, drama/romance)

Two ostensibly opposite women, both named Nana, become roommates in Tokyo and grow inseparable. However, their relationship is jeopardized as the harsh realities of adult life take shape.

9. Naruto (shonen, adventure)

The series follows the story of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who seeks recognition from his peers and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the leader of his village.

10. Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju (historical, drama)

A man is released from prison and becomes the apprentice of famous rakugo performer Yakumo Yurakutei. The story focuses on the backstories of the performers and their struggle to gain popularity, following Yakumo's apprenticeship and rise to fame, and his friendship with fellow performer Sukeroku.

[concook20]

Wild Kratts Headcannon! (OC)

Nigel/Antonio/Andrew/Susan

OC: 1/???

Nigel Hunter William Jr.

Age: 45

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Bi-curious

Birthday: January 15th

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Height: 5' 11"

Weight: 180 lbs

Body Shape: Fit, chubby a bit, though

Favorite Color: Brown and red

Verts: Ambivert, mostly extrovert

Phobia: Pediophobia (Fear Of Dolls)

Hobbies: Hunting, reading, and rock climbing/hiking.

Backstory

This man was born in a family of hunters and sellers, who take animals or anything involved with cash, (like gems, money, etc), where he learns how to use hunting and selling as one. He began to train with his dad, where he met Antonio and Andrew, and the trio began to bond as acquaintances (his words). He doesn't have a tragic background, since he is just a dick, but enjoys the rush of hunting.

Voice Actor

His voice actor is Jack Hawkins, the same voice actor for this sweet fella named Gummigoo, from The Amazing Digital Circus!

If you know, you know. RIP🕊️😔

(Also spoilers, but the trio from the Amazing Digital Circus is what also inspired me to make these three!)

Family and Relationships

Like I said, he doesn't have an issue with his family. He is the only child to a man and woman, and was raised by them to become a poacher, so not much there.

He's a father and husband, he's married to a beautiful woman, Lita, who's 43, for 15 years after the two met at a gun range. He has a daughter who's 6 years old, who he adores so much and would be a wonderful father to her, even doing silly things with her like tea parties and doing make up. My boi is a girl dad by heart. 💅✨

Even if Andrew and Antonio can be annoying, he does care about them, seeing the two as brothers, even if sometimes, he wants to strangle the stupidity out of them.

For the villains, he likes Gourmand, the two even sometimes hunt whenever they want to. He doesn't care much for Donita and Dabio, cause he's not too keen on the fashion things, though his daughter loves her designs. However, he doesn't like Zach and Khris, ESPECIALLY Zach, since him having a crush on Chris is a sign of weakness, and how he just doesn't like how annoying he is.

For the Kratt Crew, he obviously hates them, but he does respect Martin for being protective for his brother, yet that's it. He still doesn't like them, in fact, he's like "Why can't we just kill them?" Most of the time.

Facts For Nigel

Nigel is on the watchlist??? 👀

Nigel doesn't listen to much music, but whenever he reads, he mostly puts on ASMR background noises to relax.

Nigel has a fear of dolls, because when he was young, he gave an old doll he didn't like, since it looked broken, to his neighbor. But one day, that neighbor was found dead and the doll was by the body, which made him immediately scared and asked his wife to buy his daughter some dolls.

Nigel adores the classic movies like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, even some animated films like An American Tail and Pinocchio.

Nigel can drink his whiskey neat~ but really though, he drinks a lot, not as an alcoholic, but close enough ig.

Nigel has anger issues, yet he doesn't know why.

Nigel secretly kept a baby tiger, cause it was cute, and his daughter wanted one, but no one knows, except his wife.

That's all for now! If you have any questions, please comment down!

[satoshi-mochida]

Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III launches July 11 - Gematsu

Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch on July 11 for $9.99 / €9.99, ININ Games announced. Pre-orders are available now for Switch via Nintendo eShop with a 10 percent-off discount, and will open for Xbox Series and Xbox One on June 19. The PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 versions can be wishlisted via PlayStation Store.

Here is an overview of the game, via ININ Games:

About The legendary bubble dragons Bub and Bob are back… in human form!? In this critically acclaimed TAITO classic, available on modern consoles for the first time, the now-transformed Bubby and Bobby embark on a mission to save their neighboring planets. But this time, instead of blowing bubbles, our favorite duo swings colorful parasols filled with magical powers. Use parasols as a shield against enemy projectiles or stun, and pick up and throw foes as projectiles themselves! Parasol Stars released in 1991 as the sequel to Rainbow Islands, marks the third installment in TAITO’s massively successful Bubble Bobble series of action platformers and has lost none of its colorful charm throughout the years. High-score hunters can rejoice because just like in the bubble-filled predecessor skillful play will quickly fill the levels with sweet and fruity collectibles that can be gathered to climb the leaderboard. Look out for a variety of pick-ups to be found granting you all sorts of special powers from bouncing energy balls to screen-clearing magic. Play on your own or bring a friend and take on the challenging levels together! Just like using enemies as projectiles, flinging your buddy against the enemies could be a good strategy. But be careful, as you won’t only stun the enemy you hit but your buddy-turned projectile as well. In the two-player cooperative mode, tactical teamwork is key to clearing the levels and getting the highest scores.

Key Features

Addictive arcade-style gameplay.

Creative and clever game mechanics with magical Parasols.

More Parasols! Enjoy the tactical depth of the action-filled two-player cooperative play.

A cosmic journey with eight vibrant planets (and two secret bonus levels).

Catchy and memorable soundtrack.

Parasol Stars is a retro gem brought back for modern consoles whose bright and beautifully crafted worlds will draw you in, and its simple but addictive one- or two-player gameplay will make you want to come back again and again to reach the top of the leaderboard.

Watch a new trailer below. View a new set of screenshots at the gallery.

Release Date Trailer

[mormon-character-tournament]

Group One Round Two

Character info from submissions under the cut

Gemini (Gem) Twain (Canon) Gem is a student at Harding-Pencroft Academy, a school which trains the best naval warriors, marine biologists, navigators, and underwater explorers. He is a tactical and weapons expert, with a tendency toward bluntness. Gem was born to "hippie" parents, who weren't cut out for parenthood. He and his older brother were raised by their grandmother in Utah. She raised them in the church and now Gem's brother is on a mission in Brazil. Gem is the only Mormon at HP and he has a hard time making friends. He's a stickler about "blaspheming" and once tried to start a conversation with the only Brazilian student by asking if she had met his brother (a classic Mormon blunder, imo). Throughout the book his walls break down and he gets close with Ana and her friends, finding community that he was missing.

Din Djarin (Headcanon) Din Djarin ("Mandalorian" or "Mando" for anyone who hasn't achieved Lv10 friendship with him) was adopted as a child into a very orthodox sect of Mandalorians shortly before the Galactic Empire razed Mandalore and sent its people into diaspora. In the present, he works as a bounty hunter, and a particular bounty has put him in the path of a young force-sensitive child he has to protect from harm. We love a family-oriented man who is devout to a faith with strict rules and a peculiar dress code that other people keep denigrating as a cult!!