#GOD ITS BEEN SUCH A RIDE WITH THIS MANGA

[ywpd-translations]

(Heads up, Yowapeda is going on a bit of a hiatus for the next three weeks! So there will be no new chapter until 8/3!)

Ride 737: New pedals

Pag 1

3: New... “pedals”

4: Yeah

Pag 2

1: Try using them

You'll probably be able to use them!!

Pag 3

2: Huh

3: …..!! Be able to use them!?

4: The.... pedals!?

5: Rokudai-kun

Ye-yessir, teh

The senpai of my senpai, the “super senpai”!!

6: Sorry but could you please bring here Onoda's bike?

Pag 4

1: Yessir!! Right away!!

3: So fast

3: Here!!

Thank you

Thanks

He's really so fast!! As expected of his hardcore manager spirit!!

Pag 5

1: Waaaa.... I officially touched Back-ga-.... Onoda-san's bike....!!

Why are you being all bashful by yourself now, Rokudai....

2: I'll install them right away

3: Ah-uhm

4: Uhm.... actually

I can't accept them

7: Teh!?

Onoda-san refused them..!!

Pag 6

1: You purposely cam here to encourage us, you even offered me a drink – I can't accept the “pedals” too, in addition to that!!

2: You even greeted the first years

That's plenty, thank you so much!

Onoda-san....

4: Is that so?

Yes!!

5: I thought they would suit you, Onoda, but..

Pag 7

1: I- I wanted to see the new pedals, teh...

He said “he'll be able to use them”, I wonder what that meant

2: Maybe the shape is different?

Maybe they're difficult to use? Like there are two on both sides

How would you even step on them, teh

3: I actually got these for myself....

4: With my style of pedaling I tend to lose torque near the limit, so I tried using these

5: But it didn't suit me

So I went back to use the old pedals

7: And while doing so I suddenly thought

8: That you, Onoda... your pedals

Pag 8

1: How long has it been since you last changed them...?

2: Huh

6: The pedals used for bicycles racing are consumable

Pag 9

1: When you fall, they're the first thing that hit the ground, and they're shaved by the impact

2: The structure is simple but surprisingly useful, but still metal isn't perfect

3: They receive the torque and the force from the legs, so you can say the pedals are one of the most important part of a bike

And there's no guarantee they'll never break right during an important race

4: A race...!!

5: Of course you usually bring your bike to Touji-san, and I don't think he'd fail to notice something like this

6: But, has it ever happened before that your feet unfastened during an important moment and you had troubles because of it?

Pag 10

2: …. during the Inter High's third day... at the end...

Yes, it happened....

3: You fought in the Inter High twice

4: You ran in the prefectural qualifiers, every day you use your bike for practice

5: And you're overusing it now during training camp

6: When they'll break it won't be surprising

Onoda, sometimes.... caring... isn't just about the club members....

Pag 11

1: It's about your own bike, too!!

2: The pedals I received from Teshima-san on that rainy day during training camp onmy first year

3: I asked Touji-san to fix them on my new bike, since they were important to me

5: Looking closely, they're all ruined

Pag 12

1: The bike that connects me to everyone

And what connects me to this bike

2: The pedals

3: You went to the Inter High with the pedals I gave you, and you delievered our jersey to the final gate in the end

4: Twice

And I, who gave you those pedals, also am happy and want to thank you

5: But, it's enough

They carried out their role perfectly

Pag 13

1: Let them rest

3: Waaa it's already this late!? That's bad, I got a lecture tomorrow next period

4: I have to go back!

Th- that's bad!

5: …. ah, but you refused these new pedals. I can't give them to you... you said

Ah- wa-

Ahh, what should I do

Ah-

6: Well it can't be helped

Pag 14

1: I'll forget them in the lobby and leave

4: Do your best during this training camp!

Yes- thank you so much for coming here!!

5: Say hi to the others for me, too

6: Share those with everyone and eat them

Pag 15

1: Thank you so much...!!

If you speak so loudly you'll wake everyone...

He....

He's such a nice senpai...

2: I could see ans feel the Sohoku bond, teh!!

Righ!! It's so strong!!

3: I'll change them now

4: The pedals!!

6: I wonder what kind are they, teh, these new pedals!

He said “you'll be able to use them”!?

7: Huh!?

These are the pedals!?

It's the first time I see them in this shape, the... the tip...

Pag 16

1: is round!!

Pag 17

1: The part where I put my feet is a round pedal...!!

2: Amazing, since this pedal is round

3: I can move my heel left and right

4: With incredibly wide movements!!

5: My ankles... and my knees are incredibly free to move!!

And also, these pedals...

Pag 18

1: They feel so close to the sole of my feet

2: I feel like I can turn my pedals so much more like this!!

3: Thank you so much, Teshima-san!!

Pag 19

1: Have you noticed, Hotshot?

Onoda-kun's....

Yeah, his pedals are new

2: “Speed play”

3: It's the only kind of pedal in the world that has the cleat and fastening mechanism on the side

4: Your legs' range of motion left and right becomes wider, so when you're swinging the bike you can still under all circumstances pedal at an high cadence and apply torque

It's perfect for Onoda's pedaling style

5: Was it Touj-san?

Who knows... I sense some kind of intention behind the guess of giving him those pedals

6: And from those donuts lineup choice, maybe

Pag 20

1: It was Teshima-san!!

2: Onoda....!! Pedal, until your limit

3: I told you before...!! I want to see

4: How strong you can become!!

[thatdeadaquarius]

GREETINGS! How are you doing? I've been practically gobbling up your posts (there very tasty)

Ok so hear me out- I've seen a couple posts like this but imagine-

The almighty all powerful wise creator isss

✨️A literal child✨️

Thanks for hearing me out! For you ->->❤️

Baby you taking on the world aw

DAMN SORRY FOR TAKING FOREVER!! i started fics before i answered my askbox :/

Aw i fucking love child reader stuff,

Lots of isekai animes/manhwa/manga do it and i eat that shit up everytime-

I also deeply appreciate when its not done creepily, like being turned 8 again, and having crushes on others who are... yknow, actually 8 yrs old or sm fucked up shit, like even if its 16 yr olds that doesnt make it any better, bc the protag will actually be like,, actually 20?!?!💀 the straights r wild man, i feel like it happens either way too, like its usually a male MC but thats just bc theyre more common tbh, like regardless of gender of protag 🥲

☆

Sun: Child God Reader (you/they/them)

Orbit: Short Headcanons

Stars: Mondstadt ppl bc i don't show them i love them enough

Comets & Meteors: Content Warnings: none known & Trigger Warnings: none known.

Please comment any I missed. /gen

Klee has recruited converted you to throwing bombs with her.

You are the only leash on that child too and the only thing standing between Jean and full head of gray hair. 💀

Kaeya doesn’t know whether he’s endlessly worried or endlessly amused that the most powerful god is currently a child

if Jean isnt freaking out over ur whereabouts, Diluc is instead, and worst case scenario, Noelle/Lisa/Albedo is in charge of you

and YES someone has to look out for you, bc ur ass will just start making a hot springs spot like ur in ur teapot or smth in dragonspine (Albedo was fascinated it stayed warm despite the weather so he let you make it/enjoy it before asking u to restore natural order lol)

(Albedo has definitely asked to study you and, unfortunately for Jean, asked u to demonstrate several powers u have)

You do work as a lucky charm for Bennett tho so he does babysit u sometimes

it mostly consists of Fischl, Benny, and Razor “adventuring” by trying to do smth like who can jump on the Anemo slimes and ride them around longest

(the answer is you btw, u managed to get a small fleet of them to bus you around, the teens were simultaneously terrified running around below u to catch you and also amazed)

Noelle is so happy making toddler you all the pancakes you can eat, Sucrose had to stop her from going overboard and not just listening completely to kids when it comes to food

She is now very concerned with making you a balanced diet, tho she will still make u an ungodly tall stack of pancakes every now and then <3

They kind of all equally provide for you, obv ur their god, and ur a literal cutie patootie child, they cant just leave you

(also u might like move a mountain or change the weather or smth if they don't watch you so most are a little paranoid of that too)

Lisa gets u all kinds of cute outfits, still stuff you'd like, but definitely snuck in some sumeru looking clothing lol

Fischl lends you all kinds of books to read, Bennett shows u all the cool views in the city and outside of it (when Jean lets him get away with taking u that far), and Razor…

Razor brings you to Andrius and the wolf pack for a wolf pack party and gives u all kinds of shiny trinkets he’d collected for you

Diluc/Jean/Noelle/Eula nearly had a heart attack when they found out

Amber lets you have all the piggyback rides you want lol

she even managed with her own crafting powers (and your probably editing the game code or smth) she somehow makes a reinforced glider with a small harness on the back for you to glide with her

(Venti has definitely helped for some fun flights by boosting the winds for you two)

SPEAKING OF BARBATOS

ur absolutely spoiled rotten by him (and Dvalin, and Andrius, and the wind sprites)

if this god had money he’d spend it on wine and you lol

takes u flying all the time, any time, would drop everything to go to Mondstadt wilds and use his archon form wings to take you wherever you wanna go

tries to bring u to Angel’s Share but Diluc nearly hits him on the head with a wine bottle and brings you back home after kicking Venti out and giving you grape juice (yes you get all you want, within a healthy amount)

anyway the most important part abt you being a god and child is that you can now fulfill your childhood dreams of riding a dragon whenever you want

(one way to quickly get Mondstadt citizens to trust Dvalin again was just constantly seeing him flying overhead, occasionally seeing a small child on his back also helped lol)

(neither you nor Venti tell Jean you ride Dvalin and keep it an active secret from her.)

☆

srry i took so long! i hope u liked my hot mess of writing (i think its even sloppier than usual bc of all the fic writing full sentences lately)

and if not, I'm sorrryyy 😭😭

I'm focusing on getting thru a haul of asks before getting around to posting that Eldritch AU Part 2 if anyone reads this :)

hope u guys are have a great weekend, thanks for all the birthday wishes!! :D

Safe Travels Anon,

💀♒

If you wanna join a taglist, DM me what for! "Pspspsss, please tag me for [All SAGAU posts, Only SAGAU Language AUs, diff fandom, etc.]!"

(If you ever wanna drop, just DM me! "No more taglists/[specifically this AU/fandom] please!")

♡the beloveds♡

@karmawonders / @0rah-s / @randomnatics / @glxssynarvi / @nexylaza / @genshin-impacts-me / @wholesomey-artist / @thedevioussmirk / @the-dumber-scaramouche / @chocogi / @fallen-starr / @areaderofbooks / @devilangel657 / @esthelily / @justinsomniachild / @nanithefuck / @questionotmystopit

@kiyomi-uchiha777

[hydroj1ns]

manga editor goes to the office commando?!

akaashi keiji forgets his underwear

cw: literally just ogling no sex, trans!akaashi

it’s rare that akaashi has to go to work in person. he’s usually only called in when there are particularly important company meetings.

when he does attend, he makes sure to wear his best suit and tie. however, when he gets ready that morning, he notices that it’s more difficult to squeeze into his slacks. curse that osamu, always giving him freebies when he goes to onigiri miya.

he examines his backside in the mirror, and decides that the way the fabric clings onto his thighs and ass is perfectly appropriate for the office. i mean, he’s not showing any skin, and it’s not entirely his fault that he’s grown out of this two-piece. besides, the suppleness of his lower half isn’t nearly attractive to receive any attention, or so he believes.

by the time he’s on the train and the doors have already closed, he feels an uncomfortable chafing against his crotch. shit. did i really leave the house with no underwear? with one hand clinging to an overhead handle and the other gripping his briefcase, he hopes no one notices his lack of undergarments. his trousers are thick enough, right?

wrong. perverts on the train aren’t uncommon, and a pretty boy like akaashi, well, he’s going to get ogled. it doesn’t take much analyzing to figure out that this spectacled salary man is going commando to work today. all the raven-haired man can do is stare down at his loafers to avoid eye contact as strangers smirk at the way the slim-fit pants frame his cameltoe perfectly. he spends the rest of the ride with a blush that goes up to his ears and an amplified throbbing in his nether region.

it’s after the meeting that akaashi hears his name called by one of his fellow editors, asking for his help to review a recently-submitted manuscript. he decides he has some time to spare, so he heads over to his coworker. propping his hand on the desk, he leans over the other man’s shoulder to quickly scan the contents on the screen.

keiji is unaware of how good he smells, his sweet scent wafting over the other editor’s shoulder. he’s also unaware of how the entire office staff are taking unsubtle peeks at his back profile. and for good reason too. the way the black fabric of his pants are taut over his ass, perfectly complimenting its shapeliness, is impossible not to stare at. and not to mention the slight slight outline of his cunt. some of those in closer cubicles are blessed with being able to lower their heads to get a better view of it, and by god, it was worth it. it’s so lewd, seeing the puffy lips of his pussy through the thin cotton. was he even wearing anything underneath? the rest of his coworkers can only imagine bending him over a desk and fucking him hard and raw as his moans fill the whole building.

when he unconsciously shifts his weight from leg to leg, everyone in the office flinches, thinking that he’s about to turn, but when he doesn’t, they go straight back to staring.

when akaashi is done reviewing the document, he returns to his work area to pack up his belongings and go home.

until his deskmate “accidentally” knocks over a huge stack of papers. and of course, like the good samaritan he is, he helps pick them up. with so many documents, it’s a good ten minutes of akaashi bent over, looking ripe for the taking. however, it’s an unspoken rule that no one can make a move on keiji. but it’s also an unspoken rule to regularly drop things in his path just to see his fat ass in the air and for some extra fap material.

today was an extraordinary day for the office. it had been around a month since keiji had come in, and his fuller frame was surprising, but much appreciated. the way he filled out his clothes had his coworkers drooling, not to mention their first look at his (clothed) pussy.

they couldn’t wait for the next time akaashi came to work.

[canmom]

Ping-Pong The Animation: eps 1-3

So Masaaki Yuasa [AN12, AN28, AN150] can do no wrong, right? OK, well, I'll admit Ride Your Wave was kinda mid, and Devilman Crybaby goes hard as hell at the beginning and end but sorta treads water in the middle, but... generally speaking! No-one does it like Yuasa.

For reasons I don't really remember, I didn't get very far watching Ping-Pong The Animation some years ago. It should be entirely my shit: Yuasa pulling in a gang of wildly creative animators to put their unique spin on something. However, the first episode didn't entirely hook me, and I never got round to trying the second before something else punted 'watching Ping Pong' out of my brain. ADHD, y'know.

This is a shame because even the very next episode seriously goes, as does the one after that. But also this anime isn't entirely what I was expecting (crazy sakugafest full of Yuasa weirdness). Not to say it doesn't do a lot of really unique stuff with its cinematography and animation, but these first episodes at least are more about like... dissociation! ennui!

But more on that in a mo. First I wanna continue the thread of 'how do you animate sports'.

So, ping-pong, or table tennis. Not a sport I know much about, I'll be honest. (To be fair I don't know a lot about sports in general outside of some very specific niches. The sports I've pursued so far are rather eclectic: swimming, fencing, tai chi chuan, and roller derby; I never got particularly far in any and it's been years since I've done them.)

I'll inevitably be drawing a lot of comparisons to The First Slam Dunk, the other sports anime I've watched recently. I do think it's a productive comparison though! Both of them bring something of the visual language of manga into their presentation in unique ways. I have not yet read the Ping Pong manga, but it's by Taiyō Matsumoto, otherwise known for scifi manga like Tekkonkinkreet (god tier movie, still need to read the manga) and Number Five. So that's a pretty impressive track record!

If you go take a look at some scans of Ping Pong, what will immediately jump out is the shaky, rough line style and unusual camera angles and compositions.

The stylisation is also very different from a lot of manga. Noses are fully drawn, eyes are realistically small, and in contrast, lips and mouths tend to get the emphasis - as well as hands.

Knowing this makes a lot of the creative choices in the anime make sense! It also adopts a shaky lineart style, and makes use of heavy line weights and spotting blacks to add definition. It also has a lot of crazy closeups and layouts, and it loves a visual metaphor. But most of all, the most striking element of this anime is how often it loves to split the picture up into little panels...

...which [eli]'s subs do a really good job of typesetting, incidentally, moving the dialogue to fit naturally into the split composition. And while this shot with 7 smaller shots is perhaps on the extreme end, splits of three or more are pretty frequent. It's a really interesting way to evoke the effect of seeing a whole page of manga

So, as you proooobably know, ping-pong is a game of bouncing balls off a little table and directing them into places the opponent will find it hard to hit them back. From watching this anime I picked up that there are a number of styles of holding the racket (e.g. 'penhold grip' and 'shakehand') and approaches to hitting the ball (e.g. 'chopping'). A lot of this pretty much went over my head, but honestly it didn't matter, since the narrative significance was pretty much always evident.

Compared to basketball, though, ping-pong is a pretty tricky sport to make visually interesting! Sure, you have the players running to and fro, and that can lead to some interesting poses, but how do you get the drama and tension into this?

Ping-pong additionally is all 2D, it doesn't have the sort of resources that Toei could throw at making the best looking 3DCG basketball game ever. It is limited to a TV-feasible drawing count. So it has to make use of clever limited-animation tricks to get the most impact out of fewest drawings.

Let's take an example sequence from episode 3. A minor character is about to get his ass kicked by Tsukimoto. Tsukimoto is something of a pingpong prodigy, and yet he is very emotionally closed-off and even standoffish; he doesn't particularly seem to like the game very much, and doesn't particularly feel inclined to flex on other players and get into the status games. But other players, like Wenge, have heard about him and want to see what he's got.

First we have the setup. Other characters are observing and discussing the game. Since ping-pong tends to involve very rapid exchanges, it can follow the classic shōnen model where there's a lot of talking, flashy fight sequence, more talking...

The cut happens in two steps, maintaining the vertical dividing line. This approach to cutting is used a lot in Ping-Pong, and it's quite a creative way to keep visual interest when it's using a lot of largely static shots. The panel on the right is more animated than the panel on the left, a naturalistic depiction of bouncing the ball off the table.

Things start moving faster here. A rapid pan on the image on the left disguises the fact that this anticipation pose is actually not moving at all. This then goes into a rapid, explosive moment as this guy serves.

The final pose is held for a couple of seconds while the voiceover line discussing his intended move finishes. This sort of elasticity of time is a very Osamu Dezaki type of move - it's something that Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata actually really disliked.

A sound effect hits as Tsukimoto appears on the right in silhouette, anticipating his reaction, and setting up the next shot which leaves the split picture and hides the background for just a moment, as if to put us in Tsukimoto's shoes: he only sees the ball.

Tsukimoto follows through and holds this pose - the ball is the only thing moving here. The ball moves mainly on 2s while Tsukimoto moves on 3s and 2s, and he and the ball move on alternating frames. He holds the pose as the ball zips off to the right (bouncing off the corner of the table), with a speed lines-like effect. At the end of the shot, the ball freezes in the air for the moment while the sound echoes.

The actual table-tennis round lasts just seconds, and the drawing count involved is pretty minimal, but it does a lot with those drawings.

We go back to voiceovers and reactions in the next few shots, returning to the split video as Tsukimoto's opponent thinks about how he'd really rather be at the beach...

Often, these comic-like compositions will change one panel at a time, and while one panel is animated another panel will be still, naturally moving your eyes across the screen. It is an approach similar to some experiments I've seen in 'animated comics' viewed in a web browser, where the panels do not appear all at once, but enter with some animation.

So this is the sort of animation technique that Ping Pong uses. It's effective! Elsewhere the cuts are used in a less direct, continuity-editing way and more in a juxtaposition/montage way. For example, Wenge's desire to return to China is symbolised by match cutting/fading to shots of an aeroplane.

And there is a recurring image, which I'm sure will be expanded on, of Tsukimoto hiding in a cupboard and wishing for a tokusatsu hero to come save him from his isolation. As Tsukimoto's feelings about himself change, the toku hero is replaced by a robot. At this points it starts to feel like an outright Ikuhara anime.

There is occasionally a little bit of CG, mainly when Tsukimoto uses a different type of racket surface, and the way the ball and racket make contact is the crucial thing that the shot is trying to convey...

It gets the job done, but I'm glad they stuck with 2D for most of it.

So I went in the first time expecting like, crazy elaborate sakuga - and to be fair, the OP, animated by none other than Shinya Ohira, delivers on that front - but if anything what I've seen so far in Ping-Pong is actually a triumph of storyboarding and limited animation techniques. I think back then I didn't have the eyes to appreciate it in the same way.

OK, that's the film nerd stuff, but what about the story? Ping Pong follows two school friends, Makoto Tsukimoto aka "Smile" (right), and Yutaka Hoshino aka "Peco" (left). Smile is defined by a flat affect and a standoffish persona. He's just going through the motions. He's very good at ping-pong, but to him it's just a way to pass time, and he's scornful about the idea of caring all that much about it. Much like Shinji with his casette player, Tsukimoto is pretty much always staring at a handheld games console rather than make eye contact with anyone.

Peco on the other hand is the more childish one - playful, kinda arrogant, very much an 'emotions on his sleeve' kinda guy. He sulks when he loses and gloats when he wins, and is constantly seen with bubblegum or other kinds of candy. He provides a lot of our commentary when he chats with the other players.

日本語上手 readers probably noticed the tsuki (moon) vs hoshi (star) symbolism thing they've got going on here!

High-school table tennis in this story seems to be a rather 'tough love' kinda world. Most of these players tend to look down on those who can't meet their level. Going easy on someone is seen as weakness, or cultivating bad habits, by almost everyone. Tsukimoto doesn't play at his full potential because he isn't as invested in winning as all these weirdos, but it seems that might be starting to change...

The coach is interesting. He's an old man and fairly disdainful of the club at large, and prone to speaking English randomly with a heavy accent. But he gets excited at the prospect of getting Tsukimoto to unleash his full potential, in terms that are repeatedly metaphorically compared to romance/marriage.

And when Tsukimoto gets sick of it, he challenges him to a game, with the stakes as...

Cue Makima/Beatrice images here I guess.

Tsukimoto de facto wins when the coach collapses, but this episode marks a change of heart. He starts to think of himself as a robot - the affect of a robot replacing the affect of the toku hero in his fantasy. And in this way he does what people seem to want and plays ping pong with mechanical precision, expressed once again in visual metaphor (shot here from a cool transformation sequence)...

What if I just dissociate harder? This is gonna end well.

So it really is one of those kind of like 'ennui of being a teenager' kind of stories - c.f. say FLCL. 'Boy with complicated emotional landscape' is Yuasa bread and butter, but the particular variant here seems a little unusual for him - they tend to be a little more earnest. I'm curious to see how Tsukimoto develops.

I am definitely enjoying the arrogant Chinese player Kong Wenge. Dude's got a lot of screen presence, and while I'm sure he'll get shown up sooner or later, he makes for a very fun antagonist of sorts.

In comparison to Slam Dunk... one thing that's significantly different about table tennis is that it's an individual rather than a team sport, which means it's harder to have an ensemble cast all contributing to the protagonists' eventual victory - instead it's about a lot of individual arcs interweaving with each other, individual duels. Besides that, it does seem like it will be following a similar arc of a character in an emotional hole (grief for Ryota, depression for Tsukimoto) finding new meaning and purpose through sports - though I can't be sure how things are gonna go for Tsukimoto here!

The tone however is quite different. Even when it's silly, I feel like Slam Dunk is a very sincere story. There's little detachment or irony, or false consciousness - with perhaps the major exception of Ryota's mother, who lets her own grief and trauma get in the way of understanding her son. But ultimately 'why would you care this much about basketball' is not a question that anyone would ask in Slam Dunk. Even the judo guy in the manga who's trying to recruit Sakuragi is just as hot-blooded about his own sport of choice.

There's a difference in like, general affect about the players as well, which has something to do with the sport itself. Yeah, Sakuragi's superpower is his 'genius' ability to predict rebounds, and there is plenty of strategising in Slam Dunk - but basketball is still a sport that very much emphasises physical power, and as much as Slam Dunk will work hard to sell you on a clever trick pass, the visuals are also emphasising the speed that players are dashing, the height they're jumping, their physique. Table tennis by contrast seems to be a sport that's more about prediction and mind games.

That said it is equally just like Matsumoto's style being different from Inoue's. Now I know it's by the guy who wrote Tekkonkinkreet, a lot about this series falls into place! There's a sense of tension here, of being fundamentally at odds with the world. The autismfeels. This is reflected also in the drawings - the characters don't entirely seem comfortable in their embodiment.

So if that's what I'm getting from just three eps, I'm very excited to see what the remaining 8 have to offer. This series is probably too long to cram into Animation Night format, but we'll see...

[hantengus-fuckass-clones]

Hello! May I request any of the clones (or all of them) that get reverse isekaid, fem reader please, she's just a girl surviving her 9 to 5 and then BAM! Who are these people dressed as the clones in her house? What do you mean is not cosplay?

This will only be with Aizetsu and Urogi so apologies

(Y/N) POV

Working in retail sucks absolute ass but the only thing that keeps me going is going home at the end of the day and cuddling with my Hantengu clone plushies. You may say that i’m addicted to the clones and you’d be absolutely right but I don’t care, all I care about is seeing my pookies at the end of each day. Anyway, after locking up the 7/11 looking ass store I begin to make my way home and after one hell of a bus ride, I was home. Slamming open the door and locking it right after I proclaim “I’m home!!!” Even though I live alone which put me on edge as I hear soft but panicked footsteps in my bedroom, my heart leapt into my throat as the door swung open and out shot the best Urogi cosplayer i’ve ever seen. Had this not been a home invasion scenario, I might have started complimenting him on looking exactly like one of my favourite characters. However, I did not get that chance as I was suddenly encased in thick arms and soft wings as the cosplayer(?) lifts me up and swings me around. “Little fangirl, you’re home!” God his voice sounds just like him too, this man must be blessed by the kny gods. From between the wings, which were suspiciously mobile and fluid, I see an Aizetsu slowly creep out my bedroom with my Aizetsu plushy in his hands.

I feel my feet touch the ground once more as these two behemoths size me up, it is now that I notice how the Urogis wings move and begin to think to myself that maybe these aren’t cosplayers. I shake slightly as I look up at them asking “How did you get into my house?” Luckily it seems that they had no problem in understanding the English language as they respond. “We don’t exactly know, one minute we were fighting some slayers and the next we were dropped into your room.” The Aizetsu speaks as the Urogi pokes me with suspiciously sharp talons which I eye cautiously. “The better question is why do you have all these things that look like us and the other clones?” The Urogi chuckles as he squishes my cheeks gently.

“Oh umm…. Well how do I explain this?” I am genuinely struggling to explain that these characters weren’t real in my world and for the next 20 or so minutes I explain it, showing them the manga and bits of the anime along with fanart (the safe ones). All in all I think they took it pretty well, they both seem surprised that people like them, Aizetsu more then Urogi. But soon enough night fell on us and I found myself getting tired, them being demons means that they didn’t need to sleep and I don’t know how I feel with sleeping around wide awake demons in my house but soon enough I found myself on the couch drifting off. In my sleepy haze I didn’t quite clock the arms wrapping around me and the two faces nuzzling either side of my neck as sleep took its hold on me.

I’m quite proud of this one ngl.

[imustbenuts]

nuts reading trigun 4 - i sniffed out the spirit of leiji matsumoto and his galaxy express 999

so this is. a bit of a doozy and a little detour i took...

first off, i thought it was really interesting that chapter 4 is titled Bang!Bang! in EN but ポポ popo in jp. popo is basically pop pop, but also if pitched down, would sound more like 'poooh poooh'. very similar to what sound a steam locomotive makes,

but not quite. the 'correct' one would be ボbo, not ポ po.

like the sound effect here:

sfx: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOH

there's no good way to translate this, to be clear. nightow seems to really like pulling off these weird little japanese wordplay here and there. theres one instance with the escorts trying to sleep with vash, but thats a lot of effort to explain a pun and its not very interesting so. uh. sorry. (these posts take very long to write bc im poopoo)

so. its CH 4: PoPo. 4 =Death? this feels deliberate.

the next chapter is CH 5: 強襲 / Assault. EN title is very accurate here so yippee. but wait.

that. dark contrast and a presence of a vaguely steam locomotive. the framing of the train itself being this romantic machine that was built to send people on their journeys to parts unknown. the presence of 4 = Death.

theres something about the following panel. and i know exactly what it is despite having never read or watched it bc of just how influential this particular work is.

so i went sniffing.

Galaxy Express 999.

and. uhm. i found a thread and a rabbit hole that links back to TriStamp again.

Galaxy Express 999 first ran as a manga in 1977- 1981. Made by the late Leiji Matsumoto (25th Jan 1938 - 2023) who passed away last year.

the gist of this story. we follow a boy named Tetsuro in the super far off future, who wants to obtain a mechanical body so he never again feels the inconvenience of a flesh one. and to also fulfill his promise to his mother who was hunted down in front of him and turned into a trophy by mechanized hunters. he meets a mysterious blonde woman named Maetel who gives him a pass to ride on the Galaxy Express 999, promising him one at the end of the journey, but there seems to be a catch.

the same themes of a train in the darkness, its window the main lightsource, but in GE999 theres the added planets and stars. GE999 is full of promotional material and artwork like this, its iconic

the story is very philosophical and full of questions about death, living, and the worth of a human life. theres a constant theming of the train bringing its passengers to a place unknown, and how its a departure from the base in which they start the further they go. like a wanderer. (something something blank ticket wink wink.)

but anyway. Chapter 2: The Red Wind Of Mars is the interesting one.

i strongly recommend reading this chapter at least, but ill summarize the interesting bits.

the cast arrives on Mars, a Red Planet thats constantly being buffeted by a Sandstorm. its said that the planet is pretty much in a state of poverty and is barren due to people turning themselves into machine bodies and having no need to care for the environment and nurture it.

also an american saloon on this red desert planet wowee--

testurou later gets jumped by a couple who basically wants to steal his pass to the GE999, but once they realize the boy has not been mechanized at all, the couple lets tetsurou kill them. they are then left in the desert to be eventually covered up by the red sand. and then, the final page has this fucking thing:

"They say that the sound of Mars' red wind comes from the wailing of people resting under its sand. This vermilion wind will continue to lament for the fate of those who couldn't make their dreams come true... That's why they say this planet will stay red forever..."

....studio orange. listen.

STUDIO ORANGE. PLEASE

ON WHAT LEVEL ARE YOU GUYS EVEN COOKING. stop sending me on these rabbit hole runs i swear to god ill never finish trigunbookclub at this rate GGGGGGGGGAAAAAH

anyway the sandsteamer arc in the original trigun seems to be a homage to Galaxy Express 999 in a way, and Studio Orange understood the assignment.

[spockandawe]

Hello hello! I'm sleepy and bored at work, but still have two meetings to go, and THEN I stumbled across an ask game a themed reading list! I got linked to it here by a friend, and I've been reading a surprising amount this year compared to what I usually manage, so let's goooo

Author you've read the most books from:

Oh man. This has to be either Terry Pratchett or Mercedes Lackey, even though I haven't gone through the WHOLE catalog for either one. Let's look this up? Wow, more of a difference than i was expecting: Terry Pratchett, 39. Mercedes Lackey, 63.

Best Sequel Ever:

Oh, that's so hard! Arguably Thud! by Terry Pratchett counts, but looking that late in a long series feels like cheating. I'm going to say either Ancillary Sword (imperial radch #2) by Anne Leckie, or The Siren Depths (books of the raksura #3), by Martha Wells. The earlier books hooked me, but then these ones just put me in the salad spinner and went to town.

Currently Reading (12/'24):

Too many 🥲 I won't even get into mangas and manhwas here, lmao.

Evil As Humans by Nian Zhong

I Became A God In A Horror Game by Pot Fish Chili

SSS-Class Suicide Hunter by Shin Noah

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint by Sing Shong

The Guild Member Next Door by Honeytrap (this hasn't snagged me yet, but the manhwa is extremely charming, i mayyy just stick to that)

Star Instructor, Master Baek (loved the manhwa, NEED full prose context, haha)

Drink of Choice While Reading:

I read a lot on walks, so none, really! If I'm reading in bed i might make tea or grab something cold and bubbly, but i tend to get too immersed to remember my beverages.

E-reader or Physical Book:

E-reader. I was that weird kid who always carried around like five books, and this is so much better. It's faster, it's more convenient, I can word search, it's easier to share snippets with friends, it suits all my needs beautifully. The caveat. Is that I dont trust the permanence of digital media at ALL, especially if drm is involved, so i really try to own physical copies of everything i LOVE.

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Dated in High School:

Oh god, dating, the worst activity. Ummm. Gosh. See. My trouble here is that I have chronically terrible instincts for who is actually good romantic interest material in real life, and that problem was SO MUCH WORSE as a teenager. Let's say Sha Hualing. Is this ending well for me? Nope!

Glad You Gave This Book a Chance:

'C Language Cultivation' by Yi Shi Si Zhou! I'm an engineer, but god, i am not a programmer. But I'm so glad I went into this book anyways! I was able to MOSTLY get pulled along for the ride when characters talked programming, and I think its SUCH an interesting way to conceptualize cultivation in a modern setting. And then on top of that, the plot went crunch and did some really interesting things! I would have balked at this one normally, but it really worked for me.

Hidden Gem Book:

'Evil As Humans' by Nian Zhong. I really need to rave about this one more, because it's one of the best cnovels I've ever read, and I'm so sad it took me this long to catch word of it. I'm not done yet, because i got overwhelmed by Emotions and was afraid of running out of book so I stopped reading, like a dumbass. It's so so so so good. It's got everything. It's got fascinating worldbuilding, amazing characters, glorious imagery, BEEFY plot, and one of my favorite relationships I've ever read. I would recommend this book whether or not someone has read a cnovel in their life before. And it's so sad that hardly anyone talks about it!

Important Moment in Your Reading Life:

Ooh, I think.... that moment in the peak pandemic days when I was finally intrigued enough to check out MDZS. First, I devoured it and it was SO good. Second, I kept reading cnovels. Third, my passion for cnovels got me into bookbinding. This really made a notable impression on the course of my life since then, which I frankly wasn't expecting at this age!

Just Finished:

Hmmm. I'm not FINISHED, but I'm caught up to the current translation of 'The Hunter's Gonna Lay Low' by Baek Sam. The translator said they would hopefully be catching at the end of this month, and god, I really hope so, this book lodged inside my ribcage.

Longest Book You've Read:

'The Husky and his White Cat Shizun' by Meatbun. It's 1.2 million words. If I ever finish ORV that will dethrone it, but for the love of god, montressor

Major Book Hangover:

Haha, any book I like tends to leave me hung over! I notice especially for the cnovels because they're so long and I get my emotions spun up so high, but it's definitely a regular feature. The only time this doesn't happen is if it's a series like Murderbot when I can immediately press on to the next book, until the inevitable SERIES hangover.

Number of bookcases:

Oh, unfair, the sizes vary wildly. In my house, let me see. There's a BIG built-in bookcase in the basement that has most of my prose fiction and craft books. Basement bedroom has a freestanding bookshelf that might be for art instructional books and art supplies, but im still rearranging.

Upstairs, i have a wide/short bookshelf that's also a tv stand, but it's split between western comics and board games. Kitchen has a teeny wall-mounted set of shelves with my cookbooks. Dining room has a buffet where my shortlisted craft books are stored (so I don't have to get them from the basement).

And upstairs, my pink bedroom has two. There's a small built-in that's for my manga collection and small zines. And there's a corner bookshelf that's for sheet music and coffee table books. I think that's everything!

Preferred Place to Read:

On long walks 🥺 It's so nice. I like it so much. The weather is hostile to my fingeys at this time of year, I need to drag out my various fingerless gloves and scatter them in convenient places so i remember yo grab them. Other than that, curled up in bed, either lying down or sitting against a back pillow.

Quote That Inspires You:

Oh gosh. I dont remember quotes very well. And 'inspire' might be the wrong word. But a number of Terry Pratchett ones stick with me, he really just was an incredibly memorable writer

It was sad music. But it waved its sadness like a battle flag. It said the universe had done all it could, but you were still alive.

-Terry Pratchett, 'Soul Music'

Reading Regret:

I don't regret reading books! Even the ones I hate. If I'm not getting something out of the experience, I'm hideously adhd to begin with, I will probably forget to finish rather than even consciously decide to quit. If I have a regret, maybe... I have a lot of other hobbies and obligations, and there are SO many books I wish I'd already read. I regret not prioritizing reading more in my life, even though I'm sure that in this AU, I'd have brand new regrets instead 😂

Series You Started and Need to Finish:

Mmmmm... Imperial Radch. I read the first trilogy l, the short stories, and Provenance. I just haven't been able to find the right headspace to start Translation State. I'm sure I'll love it! But I haven't done it yet.

Three of Your All-Time Favorite Books:

Agonizing!

The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Hogfather by Terry Pratchett

Unapologetic Fan for:

The Books of the Raksura, by Martha Wells!! I love murderbot, but i LOOOOVE the raksura books, they deserve more appreciation

Very Excited for This Release:

Alecto the Ninth please im begging on hands and knees 🤣

Worst Bookish Habit:

Look, I am. Very adhd. I will accept your rec with great excitement and make a reminder to myself to go check out this book asap. Then i will also forage for my own new books, because it's good enrichment in my enclosure. Let's not ask what my follow-through numbers are like. Shh, don't worry about it.

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

Oh, this is gonna drive me nuts. I'm at work, but i HAVE a picture. The resolution, however--

It's the slim hot pink and black paperback. It's an Agatha Christie, and I'm almost positive it's 'The Mysterious Affair At Styles.' But I can't find this edition online to confirm. The book to its left is 'Any Way The Wind Blows' by Rainbow Rowell, the one left of that is 'Alta' by Mercedes Lackey, the one to its right is the complete Sherlock Holmes, and the one right of that is 'Sleeping Beauty' by Mercedes Lackey, so I know my books pretty well! But that ONE. Is driving me nuts 😂

Your Latest Book Purchase:

'Tiger Tiger' by Petra Erika Nordlund! It's sitting on the shelf next to my front door, and I'm POSITIVE I'll enjoy it, but the stars haven't been aligned for me to start it yet, expecially because i do read so much on my phone but i think graphic novels are a Must for physical purchases. If i have digital purchase of comics, they're probably redundant with my physical copies. They're just as ephemeral as prose ebooks, but so much larger to store 😂

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

Ooh, that's probably 'I Became A God In A Horror Game' by Pot Fish Chili. This is an interesting one, because between story arcs I lose momentum and take a longgggg pause. But then DURING story arcs, I can't put the silly thing down. It's gripping as HELL.

[mostlymilkwood]

The old year is dead. Long live the new year. Tell us about some stuff you liked in 2024 (music, TV, movies, cool things you did, whatever!) and some stuff you're looking forward to in 2025

Happy new year! I continue to love yuri!! (and also... sonic the hedgehog... which has yuri in it now so really lucked out there)

2024 saw the end of one of my fav new(er) manga to come out recently, Monthly in the Garden with My Landlord! It really crept up on me for how much I've ended up liking it but dang, what a good ride! Sad to see it go but I'll defo keep up with the author's future works!

I've been doing a lot of catch up this year as there are plenty of longer running series' I just hadn't dug into, such as How Do We Relationship? Delicious in Dungeon and This Monster Wants to Eat Me.

Delicious in Dungeon is now so easily in my top 5 favorite manga of all time. Love the group dynamic, love the funniest morally grey elf Marcille Donato, love that its doesn't feel like it drags or goes too quick within its 14 volumes, just love it!! Also wild to see so much Farcille merch in the artist alley this year, it felt like every other table had something and I can't really think of another f/f pairing that's hit that level within the con circuit merch scene. It was a lovely to see!

On the more textual yuri side of thing: How Do We Relationship? Oh geez, of man, and what god damn read! It took me a few volumes to really get into it but the reveal that it's not “story about what happens after you start dating someone” but is actually “a story about what happens after you breakup with someone” is devastatingly good!

Rip to all the college yuri I'll read going forward because every one of them is going to be compared to HDWR, its set the new standard for me haha. It was so good I had to go and buy the whole thing in print as soon as I finished.

Speaking of which, this year I went back to buying manga in print and I'm really glad I committed to that! At first it was more a reaction to the waves of delisting we've seen but It was a lot of fun hunting down deals to populate the Yuri Tower. This corner of my room now legit makes me smile when I look at it, even if I'm going to have to work out how to fit more books on there soon.

(if you're a UK book/comic/manga buyer than I rec scifier.com and worldofbooks.com, they have good prices and if you google for discount codes you can always grab one that's at least 5-10% off)

On the video game side of things I played an old SNES RPG called Eternal Filiana and was sooo charmed by it. The game is based on a 80s light novel that is very much influenced by Lady Oscar's popularity at the time, having its own protag also be a blonde haired women who was raised as a man for plot reasons.

The part that was most interesting to me though was that the André to Filena's Oscar ended up being a woman she marries within the first 30 mins of the game. Filena and Lila can be a bit goofy in the games (b-b-but we're both women??) but they still have some legit sweet moments and having watched the OVA first, which is tries to take itself more seriously, I now have a real fondness for the pair. Here's to the first married yuri couple!

And finally... Sonic. It's been another good year for Sonic! The comics continue to be a fun read and I really liked Sonic X Shadow Generations despite being apathetic toward Shadow lol. He was good in it though and all his levels ripped! Great game! Third film also fun! Very excited by the characters who show up in the stinger :) I also got into making custom figure with my brother this year so that's been a fun hobby for us to do together.

and that's it!! I mean there were other things I played and read, places I went to but whatever!! the post is long enough!!

For 2025 I'm looking forward to the anime of This Monster Want To Eat Me and suuuuper looking forward to The Moon on a Rainy Night! I need them to break the yuri anime of curse of having trash budgets though..... we cannot have another Whisper Me a Love Song situation..... AND WE WONT!! IM MANIFESTING GOOD THINGS!!

[cheesus-doodles]

Hello, it's been a while since I visited your blog, as the end of school and the beginning of adulthood have taken up more of my time recently. Nevertheless, I'm glad to revisit your blog and see new posts. It brings back memories of the old days when I was in the tokyo revengers fandom, spending weekends reading the manga and some fanfics on tumblr.

I don't think this question has been asked before, but I've always been curious about the personality of the author. I know there are descriptions in your posts, but I'd love to hear more about it in your own words. It seems more intriguing to me.

I'm not sure when you'll read this or what time it is, but I hope you continue to be as creative as you've been. Your posts motivated me to return to writing and develop my talent in that. ♡︎

hello again anon! welcome back to this little corner of the internet, I'm glad to you thought of here enough to return ^^ ahh the transition from school to workplace is definitely not easy, remember to be kind to yourself! super nice ask, yes I most definitely will keep writing as and when I have time, and I'm super happy to hear that my rants into the abyss have motivated you :) take care of yourself anon!

Also if I'm interpreting this correctly, I think you're asking about the personality of the reader? Do let me know if I'm wrong though, I'll be more than happy to answer any questions you have!

Masterlist

A Friend in Me: Chapters 1 | 2‎ | 3

‎

‎

I have done the personality of Boss from the Red Dragonflies AU here previously, so I'll talk more about the nameless reader from A Friend In Me/Going Home here!

I always imagined reader to be this rather socially awkward and emotionally sensitive individual, yet very friendly and easygoing person. Its not like you don't want to have friends - its not easy being the outcast in school, having to be the one looking in all the time and knowing that you weren't going to be picked for teams during physical education class, having to eat lunch alone. Not because the rest of your classmates and schoolmates hate you per se(before the arrival of your Toman boys and their interferrence, at least), but rather because barely anyone knows you exist.

You have never been very good at putting yourself out there despite wanting to know people and make friends, and when you do, you're always nervous and anxious. And this would lead to you believing that even the mere act of reaching out to others makes you a burden. You can't quite trust others on their word even when they were happy to make friends with you, continuing to think that they're putting on an act out of sympathy for you, and at the end of the day, you're simply troubling them.

Of course your confidence increases by leaps and bounds after meeting your Toman boys and seeing that you are actually capable of being sociable and putting yourself out there, and even after the same delinquents you called friends stripped you of your newfound confidence around your schoolmates, this doesn't deter you from attempting to find your own way in the world, much to the boys' chagrin.

In general, you would also be a pretty carefree and easygoing for the most part, happy to just be included in whatever that is going on. The reader I have in my mind when writing is always up for anything that her boys suggest, and despite your rather quiet nature, your sense of adventure hasn't been lost. Be it motorcycle rides in the middle of the night, or something more gut-sinking like watching the boys spar, you never really said no. And though you said you were okay with it, the Toman founders would try never to pick a fight in front of you - god only knows how you would react and they wouldn't want to have to deal with that.

Most definitely an easily manipulated person, you rely heavily on the emotions of the people around you to try and tell if you are being a good friend and if they liked you enough to keep you around. Which makes you susceptible to being influenced by the merest suggestion of unhappiness or anger at your actions, falling over yourself to correct yourself in a bid to stop that friend from leaving you. Even when you do eventually start to stand up for yourself - e.g. when you have someone to defend - enough pressure usually can still get you to fold like a wet paper towel, and it would be interesting to find out when you will finally draw the line.

It is pretty unfortunate that being the pushover you are is part of the reason why the yandere Toman boys like you so much (because you do whatever they want without complaint and pamper them in return for the bare minimum), so it will be a balancing game to try and prevent temper flaring; these are delinquents that you are dealing with at the end of the day, and even if they would hesitate to turn their fists directly at you, the darling of their world, everyone else around you is free real estate the moment you start misbehaving in their eyes. And boy, it'll be a matter of whether you give in first, or someone dies first.

[ofoceansandtombsanew]

Can I ask, if you have top favorite romantic couples (can be canon or non canon) of all time from any media? Why love them? Thx :D

... now this, took a minute to answer in some ways. There a lot of ships I like, so this was really easy and hard to answer at the same time. Some ships it was an immediate yep yep and others I had to go '... but is it a fav of all time, though?" But I think I got it narrowed down.

So here we go, fav ships of all time from any media, no particular order. I didn't get any specific no. to do so I'll just list a handful until I can't think of any others. (Anyone who comes across this that sees a ship on here you don't like and feels the need to say something about it, stay in your lane this ain't about your opinions it's about mine.)

The main FMA ships

Arakawa Hiromu, nigga, you cooked. Imma just put the FMA ships as one and leave it there because if I do it separately, we'll be here all day. But if you wanna see me diving into why I like these ships in a manic ramble, here's a post I made on that here. The romance in FMA is literally a category and a discussion all on its own that I can go about on for hours. FMA has the best romances in shounen so anyone who has consumed FMA will know what I'm talking about. Like, whenever anyone tries to use a manga being 'shounen' to justify shitty romantic writing, I point at FMA's brilliant riding. An animanga's demographic is not an excuse for terrible executions in romance. EdWin, RoyAi, LingFan, AlMei and all the side ships drank and left no molecules.

NaruSaku

Toxic shippers, again, stay in your lane, I don't feel like dealing with y'all any day. I have been shipping this shit for years, always have, always will. Ignore the fact I ship Sakura with literally everyone from the Akatsuki to Hinata to Sai to Shikamaru. (Y'all I used to look up Kisame/Sakura fics, unironically TAT). (Same for Naruto honestly, I've shipped him with Sasuke, Ino, Temari, Tenten, the list goes on and on.) The way Sakura goes from finding Naruto annoying to almost dying multiple times to keep him safe, I will never EVER be over that. Naruto's love going from puppy to something as passionately red as the thread of fate itself. The MinaKushi parallels. I have a lot (and I mean a lot) of ships in Naruto pertaining to these two, but NaruSaku is my absolute favorite. Like it was literally confirmed that Sakura got over Sasuke and then it got retconned for some bullshit. Saying it with my whole chest, argue with a wall, it should have been them. I won't dog any other ships, but yeah, it should have been them. 699 chapters of Naruto being in love with one woman, I sing the praises everyday.

SakuHina

Hinata's prince charming is literally Sakura. I have a whole ass fic I am slowly, painstakingly writing about what Naruto would have been like if Hinata had a crush on Sakura the whole time. I just think they're really cute together, have amazing chemistry and balance each other out. I didn't expect to like SakuHina as much as I did but here we are.

Kyoru

I mentioned it before in another answered ask but Fruits Basket was my first manga (if you're curious what my first anime was, it was Yu Yu Hakusho) and Kyoru was probably my first OTP. There are two characters I think upon so many rewatches and rereads that were prime game for who Kyo and Tohru could have ended up with had things been different (which, I do really ship as well. Multishipper here guys) but I'm not mad about the endgames that we got. From start to finish, Kyo and Tohru's relationship is beautiful and you can feel how strongly they feel for one another. It's like, wow, Takaya really gave us one of the best ships in shoujo and didn't even apologize for it.

Klance

Red + Blue = True. They had chemistry, supplemented for what the other lacked and we really don't need to have me diving into the bs that was VLD. That show wasn't even out long, my god, it was a mess.

NeuviFuri

Should I explain to you the romanticism of Hydro x Hydro? Oof how I love them. A Genshin ship after my own heart, truly. But if anyone is trying to against MiHoyoverse (I was here from the Mihoyo days, leave me alone) in terms of seeing who ships NeuviFuri more, we all lose. They literally paid people to do an ice dancing program in NeuviFuri cosplay, paid a guy to make a companion piece to Furina's song from Neuvillette's perspective and several other animations concerning their relationship in some way. But the Mihoyoverse shenanigans aside, it's the build up of 400+ years of working together, the care they still have for one another and yes the complementary abilities and color palettes. Not enough time in the day to talk about them, I don't think.

AriDante

Almost thought I wouldn't have a gif for them, then I remembered THEY GOT A MOVIE. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is one of my favorite books in the world. I have reread it once a year religiously since 2017 when I first discovered it. This is such a beautiful novel and relationship and if you haven't had the pleasure of reading it or the sequel, please do yourself a favor and buy it or rent it from your local library. It's just, the way Ari has been in love with Dante for so long and didn't even realize it but it's so, so clear to the reader because of just how he talks and describes him? I don't even want to go to deep into this one just in case there's someone here that hasn't read this book because it deserves to be read and experienced blind. Just, just please y'all read it.

[ywpd-translations]

Ride 736: The night of the training camp

Pag 1

2: Who is it? Someone is there....

3: …. rain

At the training camp.....

4: An umbrella....

Pag 2

1: Yo, Onoda

3: …. Te

…. ah..... Te

Pag 3

1: Teshima-san!!

Have you been well?

It's been a while, we haven't seen each other since my graduation

Pag 4

1: Waa- Teshi- Teshima-san! Di you come here on puropose to see ho-how things are going!?

Have you- have you been woll too, Teshima-san!?

Yeah, as usual – woll? (haha)

2: So-sorry this is so sudden and I'm so surprised! Co-come in!!

You do seem very surprised

3: You can put your shoes here, and your umbrealla here

Yeah, I know. I've had the training camp here for three years, too, after all

4: Ahh... but, it started to rain so suddenly

Good thing I had a spare umbrella in the car

5: Sorry I came here so suddenly

Pag 5

1: I thought you guys would have “prepared” if I had contacted you beforehand

2: Training camp is busy, you can't waste even one minute of these four days. I know how busy you are

When a senpai comes in the middle of that, it makes you waste too much time

3: … Teshima-san

4: Bu.... but, it's not a waste

Uhm- ah- we really owe you so much, Teshima-san! 5: And alos, at last year's Inter High.... uhm

6: I think we could win thanks to you, Teshima-san!!

Pag 6

1: Thank you

When you say it with such earnest eyes, I'm happy to think you really mean it

2: No no, I mean, it's true!! On the mountain during the first day... and of course the mountain stage on the third day...

Ahh, I did win that

Yeah well, it's beacause of that....

3: Ah- uhm, dammit I forgot to offer you some tea.... is the tea from the vending machine okay?

Ehi ehi, it's okay. You choose

Huh!?

4: I came all the way here, let me be your senpai

Pag 7

2: Teshima.... san

3: Than-

4: yo-

Waa- Onoda!!

5: My- my bad

So- sorry, this kind of things....

You're really not good at them... I forgot....

Pag 8

1: I see, so Danchiku.... and Sugimoto, too....

2: Yes

3: Well, you have no choice but to watch over them

Yes

6: That's what I intend to do!!

Pag 9

1: You got the “face of a third year”, Onoda

You change like that, when others count on you as a “third year”, your face....

2: Taking good care of the others isn't the only role of a third year

Sometimes, turning them down, or turning your back to them is also important

Just like Makishima-san once did

3: with you

6: Even so, you chased Makishima-san's back and admired him

Pag 10

1: Kohai watch their senpai's back and grow!!

2: If you slack off, they slack off

3: If you work hard, they imitate you

Pag 11

1: If you smile, they smile

2: Who's that guy, teh

He's talking with senpai.... here in the back

How can I know!!

But, he's smirking and has long hair, he's suspicious

4: Earlier, you said that last year's Inter High was thanks to me- what about this year's Inter High?

Thanks to whom will they work hard this year?

6: You

Pag 12

1: This time, it's your turn to become the object of their admiration

Pag 13

1: Onoda

3: That's what brings Sohoku together!!

4: That guy his Onoda-san!!

Do you think we should go there and help him, teh!?

No, wait, now he's stroking his neck!?

5: Honestly, choosing the members is hard

You trouble yourself, pace around, and still you'll have no answer

Ah-

6: But the important thing isn't how it was decided but “who you decided”

Pag 14

1: If you find the answer to “who” after worrying about it a lot, everyone will accept it and move forward

2: …. Teshima-san....

3: Uhm... how did you know that that's what I was worrying about....

I'm the former captain, am I not? Also, it's written on your face

Ah-

4: He wants to strangle him ike that!? That guy with shaggy hair!!

Ahh- this is bad, teh, we have to protect Back-gate-slope-san!!

5: Let's go!! Don't hesitate, Rokudai!!

Yeah, teh....!!

6: Eh!?

Huh?

Pag 15

2: Huh!?

Senpai, let's get away

3: Who are you!? Back-gate-slope-sa.... What do you want to do to Onoda-san!!

Pag 16

5: In the confusion I called him by his real name, “Onoda-san”, teh!! Sorry!!

6: Unathorized people shouldn't be able to enter, it's reserved!!

Right!! Shaggy-hair!!

Rokudai-kun!? Kinaka-kun!?

7:  N-no, you two got it wrong-

8: Onoda....

Pag 17

1: You're really protecting your team members with all your strength

2: Eh-

3: Since you're protecting them, they're protecting you, too

4: What's your name

Yessir, my name is Rokudai Renta- no wait, that's not right!!

5: Huh

6: Since I'm protecting them.... with all my strength.....!!

Pag 18

2: Rokudai, if

Huh!? What

If you clear this training camp and get chosen as a member for the Inter High

Huh!?

3:  Protect Onoda like this with all your strength

Pag 19

1: Huh

…. yes

2: Idiot, Rokudai, don't let your guard down just because of those sweet words!!

Ah!! That's right, teh!!

I'll introduce you: this is Teshima Junta-san

You have some goos first years!

He graduated last year and is now an university student, but

3: He's the former Sohoku captain

4: Cap....

I was nominated captain by Teshima-san

5: ta....in?

Pag 20

1: We- we- we're so sorry!!

It's nothing

2: We did that, teh....!!

To- to such an important senpai!!

3: Ah.... uh... thank you for your work!! What brings such an important senpai like you here?

He came to encourage us

4: Ah also, I brought

6: some new pedals for Onoda!!

[raveneira]

I read the manga and Sarada's character is getting more and more astonishing, oh my god I don't understand anymore her life is only about Boruto, Boruto and Boruto like there is no character development at all she even only thinks about Boruto as if she forgot about Sumire who is beside her that girl I don't understand her character any more. I followed the manga and it became increasingly uncontrollable, very ridiculous, I also sent it with Kawaki and by God, I was very annoyed with the passengers on the sibling ship, they treated everything as if it was just for them, banned all ships and spoke ill of my ship like ksa & bsu, I don't understand So what does the official art mean which always puts them next to each other? What does the camellia flower and the like mean or what does Sumire's feelings mean which has been emphasized many times for Boruto not to mention yesterday's cover? With Boruto, is it not enough to board this ship? what do you think? I'm very annoyed with all the nonsense of people who don't actually know how to read manga or don't, plus the fake news they give so that everyone will believe it, gosh, I just want to see the progress of Sarada and Kawaki, I'm fed up with that girl who seems like she was just made to revolve around boruto characters looks annoying like that

No fr, ppl keep acting like oh your just mad about the ship when its so much more than that, this has gone BEYOND the ship atp, Sarada has completely lost all individuality, all autonomy, everything about her, has all been thrown away in favor of making her some OOC Boruto obsessed MESS.

Like look at this shit

Sarada learns about her fathers past OFF SCREEN and the only reason shes talking about it is to defend Boruto, not her father, but just to say shes defending Boruto the way Naruto defended Sasuke, I must emphasize that her father is considered a traitor too but thats not who shes riding or dying for.

Sarada is so careless and hyperfixated on clearing Borutos name that she stupidly almost blows their cover, forgetting that Ada is not their FRIEND or their ALLY but the literal got danm enemy, yet her mind is so fixated on a danm boy shes not even registering that in her head when shes talking to Ada, the one who actually remembers their mission is Sumire and SHES the one who stops Ada's suspicions, Sarada literally just sat there lookin stupid not saying anything because apparently if it isnt about Boruto she dont know how to open her mouth.

Even though Code is technically talking about Kawaki here, its still disgusting that Sarada's first encounter with Code is literally just for him to ask her where Boruto is, and then try to use her as bait to lure him out thats only there for Boruto to swoop in and have a 'chad' moment and essentially tell Code this is why he gets no bitches.

This is all only just Sarada's first appearance in the timeskip and its literally all about Boruto, not a single bit of her panel time wasnt about Boruto.

But theres 14 chapters so lets see how the other 13 goes.

Her first time seeing Boruto in 3 years and he returns without Sasuke, what does she do? Boruto tells her to leave and go help the civilians, Sarada asks if hes sure, he says yea and like an obedient dog she does as shes told never once asking where her father is, only if hes sure he wants to deal with Code alone.

She lets her guard down in the middle of an invasion and gets somebody nommed trying to protect her, this isnt inherently a big deal on its own but this will not be the first or the last time this happens.

She makes this stupid remark, once again, acting like Ada is their friend and ally when shes actually the got danm enemy, even if Ada did confirm it it wouldnt matter anyway because they'd just not believe her just like they dont believe Sarada about his innocence, and even if they did believe it Sarada's attitude here is stupid af because she talks as if their stupid for suspecting Boruto just cuz shes the only one with blind faith in him. Its not exactly a good look that Boruto literally says hes trying to make a deal with Code, their enemy, so for her to act like their suspicions are unfounded just cuz she blindly trusts him is stupid.

Not only that but her comback at Kawaki is also unwarranted because she knew danm well what he meant but is purposefully acting oblivious because she, like everyone else before omnipotence, DOESNT wanna face the reality that Boruto is a got danm threat, hes not JUST Boruto anymore, he is LITERALLY Boruto Otsutsuki, an Otsutsuki 100%, his and Momos dna have merged to the point that their minds were starting to become one, his karma has worsened to the point where now Boruto cannot even use it without losing control.

Sure Sarada doesnt know that part yet, but what she DOES know is that hes 100% Otsutsuki, that Momoshiki has taken over his body numerous times, that he stabbed her fathers eye, tried to kill Naruto and Kawaki more than once, that Boruto himself WILLINGLY sacrificed himself, begging Kawaki to kill him so that he wouldnt lose control again and kill the ppl he loves, she saw Momo take over again with her own eyes to save Kawaki, yet she has the audacity to compare Kawaki being Otsutsuki to Boruto being Otsutsuki when hes not the one at risk of being taken over and killin everybody.

She makes this equally goofy remark that she wont let him have his way in Konoha, which is hilarious because for 3 years straight that exactly what he's done, hes completely had his way in Konoha while shes been totally ignored and made ZERO progress, so shes talkin a big game but actions speak louder than words, shes all bark and no bite.

She conveniently doesnt acknowledge what Kawaki says here either because she doesnt care, she doesnt wanna acknowledge that Kawaki is right about the threat Boruto is, she doesnt wanna acknowledge that Kawaki isnt just some cold hearted evil guy who just wanna kill all Otsutsuki, and Boruto, for the lolz, but is actually going above and beyond trying to protect everyone in the way he genuinely feels in right.

Sarada is in an extreme case of denial to the point she doesnt even acknowledge reality, notice how at no point not even in part one does she acknowledge the threat that Boruto is or the things he has done while he was possessed, she, like Boruto, kept and in her case still IS pretending that everything is fine when its NOT.

This is by far where Sarada is at her worst, the one and only time she speaks about her dad is simply recalling how he managed to believe her despite omnipotence, the ONE time she thinks about her dad and its about her being able to convince him to save Boruto, NOT the fact that Boruto came back without him and wondering how he is, no, just how her dad believed her about Boruto. Oh but it gets so much worse.

Boruto isnt being specific here, ppl can try to twist it all they want but all Boruto says here is that Sasuke risked his life to save his, I must emphasize this is the SECOND time now Boruto has returned without her dad, and now hes saying how he risked his life to save his, WTF DO YOU THINK THATS IMPLYING HERE? anybodys first thought would be that Sasuke DIED because if he didnt why didnt he come back with Boruto? Boruto is being vague af, he says that Sasuke believed in him, that he risked his life to save his, and Sasuke is nowhere to be found as hes saying this, there is literally NO other way to read this than Boruto implying that Sasuke is dead.

And what does Sarada do?

She knows how Sumire feels about Boruto btw.

This...is absolutely disgusting, if Boruto had left on his own this whole time then this scene wouldnt be bad at all, she was worried about her friend and is happy to see him alive and well, but thats not what happened.

Sarada begs her father in literal tears to go save Boruto, she awakens her MS from that desperate request which is what convinces Sasuke to leave behind EVERYTHING, his wife, his home, his daughter, all to protect a kid he doesnt even remember and believes killed his best friend solely because his daughter asked him to, and for 3 years Sasuke and Boruto have been missing with their status unknown until Boruto comes back, but he comes back ALONE which wouldnt happen unless something bad happened to Sasuke.

With this context, having Boruto return twice without Sasuke, and then implying he was dead, you would think his daughter would ask what happened to him? is he ok? but she not only doesnt ask, but she CUTS BORUTO OFF to hug him and ask what took him so long...

Oh but it somehow gets even WORSE, because THIS is what she thinks after the fact.

Dis-gust-ing, like legitimately disgusting, shes sitting there fixating on being embarrassed about the hug and then has the audacity to say to herself that theres so many things she wants to ask but doesnt know how to start.

Maybe you wouldnt have had to worry about that IF YOU HAD JUST FKING LISTENED TO HIM WHEN HE WAS TRYING TO TELL YOU.

Also idc how embarrassed she is about the hug, it is absolutely ABYSMAL writing that she doesnt think to ask about her dad even once, she literally DOES NOT CARE. The fact that she was so awkward that Sumire had to break the ice because once again Sarada apparently forgot how to talk but had no problem running into Borutos arms calling him stupid and askin what took him so long, but now that its time to ask about her dad? suddenly shes mute.

Do you know how crazy it is that she had more of an reaction to Boruto teasing her about the hug than she did hearing her dad had been turned into a tree? idc if he is alive, having zero reaction to your father, who YOU sent away which is what allowed this to happen, to have zero reaction to him being trapped in a tree because of YOUR request is absolutely disgusting.

Whats worse is Sasuke's final words before sacrificing himself were for Boruto to look after her, his final thoughts were literally of his daughter and wanting her to be safe, but Sarada? 0 thoughts or care about him

Do you know how crazy it is that BORUTO had to be the one to bring up her father again because she didnt? it took Boruto bringing it up a second time for her to finally ask about him, if Boruto didnt bring it up again, Sarada would've continued going back and forth about the stupid hug.

Boruto pretty much confirms hes the one whos gonna settle things with her dad, the fact that he says this with zero consideration of her speaks volumes all on its own, like what do you mean you'll save Sasuke? shouldnt Sarada be included in that? I mean it IS her dad right? but nah of course she isnt gonna be involved in that plot, because its not about Sasuke, Sarada's father, its about Sasuke, Boruto's master.

The plot isnt about daughter rescuing father, nor is it about father protecting daughter, its about Boruto atoning for his guilt of getting his master who he idolized in this situation, and making it up to Sarada who sent Sasuke his way in the first place, it is about Boruto honoring Sasuke's final wishes.

I want you to really think about that, a plotline about rescuing Sasuke is more about Boruto than it is Sarada and shes being left out of the plot altogether.

Well not totally

She's his tree clones target to devour, which is once again more about Boruto than it is her cuz its used to have her be a damsel in distress for Boruto to pull a cool last second heroic save.

Now this moment isnt inherently bad on its own...if not for everything that happened leading up to it.

Sumire warns that Sarada is the target, Sarada gets distracted and zapped anyway

Sumire is worried about her and trying to get her to move, but Sarada is paralyzed and unable to

One of the jonin that tried to protect her is burned to death in flames

Konohamaru tries to protect her but is knocked back

Sumire continues trying to get Sarada to move and is zapped unconscious

All of this happens before Boruto gets there, I must emphasize that Sarada was paralyzed and unable to move that whole time which is why 3 ppl got bodied trying to protect her, yet as soon as Boruto got there all of a sudden she was able to move and help fight.

She couldnt help ANYBODY ELSE who were trying to protect her, no she was crippled, couldnt move, couldnt help anyone who was trying to help her, but as SOON as Boruto arrives all of a sudden shes on her feet and able to assist him.

Dont you think its awful odd that she finally got the 'strength' to fight again only when it was to help Boruto get the win? oh and lets not forget the total lack of gratitude she had for anyone that tried to help her but Boruto, one of which literally DIED for her and yet she feels zero guilt, remorse, or gratitude for their efforts.

Imagine saying this to the ppl who just got their ass whooped to protect you, Sumire was so worried about Sarada that she didnt even pay attention to the enemy approaching her, and Konohamaru got knocked back when trying to protect her and barely escaped with his life if he hadnt reacted in time, yet the ONLY ONE who matters in her rescue is Boruto, he's the only one she gives any credit for her life being spared, idc if the rest failed, they still TRIED to help her and one literally DIED, yet she gives zero fks about any of them.

So when ppl try to pretend that this is just about ships, that oh your just mad because its not your ship, your just mad bsa is winning and your not, its complete bullshit and they know it too, they just pretend they dont cuz it works in their favor and thats all that matters to them.

This is about way more than ship preference, this is about blatant character assassination and bad writing that is objectively abysmal no matter how you look at it.

Even when going to the battlefield before it was even known Boruto is there, who does Sarada think about? Himawari, JUST Himawari despite knowing team 10 is there too, which includes Chocho, her bestie, but apparently she doesnt matter to her anymore because of a boy, so the only conclusion I can make for her worry for Himawari is the fact that shes Boruto's sister, because she danm sure didnt care about anyone else there in the same danger she was.

If you wanna know how how bad Sarada's writing is compare her writing to the other girls so far, Sumire is still working with Amado, asking him about Kawaki, trying to get intel outta him, shes also the one whos still conscious of their mission of eventually killing Ada and plays along to not blow their cover.

Chocho, with the rest of team 10, is helping to train Himawari and have seemed to been looking after her over the 3 years since her parents disappearance, and in her fight with Jura Chocho refused to leave her and had to be convinced, the two then promise to go get pancakes together which Himawari says is her fave

Himawari is shown believing in Boruto (Kawaki) despite everyone elses doubts, believing her father is still alive, working hard to get stronger so she could help her brother and her new friends [team 10] and she awakened Kuramas power due to her wanting to protect and save Inojin who almost died protecting her.

Notice how all of them have thoughts, feelings, goals, things going on outside of just Boruto?

The final nail in the coffin is her dressing like this mf, even with Mitsuki being as obsessed with Boruto as he is never sunk this low as to dress like him, even with him not believing his 'sun' is Kawaki, you dont see him dressing up as Kawaki either, this is literally just a Sarada exclusive thing which is just so bad for her character its pathetic.

Fk Ikemoto for what he did to her, there is no excuse or justification for this.

So what does the official art mean which always puts them next to each other? What does the camellia flower and the like mean or what does Sumire's feelings mean which has been emphasized many times for Boruto not to mention yesterday's cover? With Boruto, is it not enough to board this ship? what do you think?

Unfortunately I cant answer this, cuz its become clear since this interview that the anime team and Ikemoto were not on the same page AT ALL and essentially were tellings two different stories so even I dont know whats real, still canon, and whats not anymore. We just gotta wait and see.

For now its safe to say it still means what we thought until confirmed otherwise, so for not just stick to that until further notice.

[kordeliiius]

Hello! I see you in the houseki no kuni fandom quite often. I'm dying to know, what is your review of the series? Your praises and criticisms to it, your favorite parts, and characters?

yooooo i appreciate you asking ^^ i'll keep this brief

the pros:

for those who don't know, i watched the anime first, and like many i was skeptical going in. but it didn't take long for me to change my mind about the 3D medium, or for the story to rock me. since then i've watched nearly everything orange has worked on and they've made wild improvements.

as for the manga, the art style shapes it up to be one of the more unique-looking manga in recent times, and the history/worldbuilding kept me hooked on the story for about 3 years straight. i don't actively keep up with many manga, but hnk provided a sense of excitement in my life and i always looked forward to the monthly community experience.

the cons:

i used to have an unyielding ride-or-die attitude towards the story, until christmas 2020 when i started to doubt everything. ultimately i HATE how the solution was assimilation. all this time, the gems were fighting against the cleansing of their kind, with the admirabilis putting up their own fight in the background, but for some reason this time it was okay?? nah. it would've been more interesting to see some pushback/rebellion from both tribes, all while tying up loose ends that were established soon before. but instead it skipped to the end of any foreseeable conflict.

i've seen more recent reviews stating they liked the last arc because it follows the theme of change / "nothing matters in the end." but to me, a lot of this did matter. (not that it didn't have its good moments; i thought myouken was funny.)

one minor nitpick i have regarding the character designs is that i wish they were more consistent (aside from expected art style evolution). there's times where phos or wer's designs would change and they look a bit too different from how they used to. i get that it's a reflection of their internal development, but you don't always have to overhaul their models to do so.

the faves:

y'all already know. aculeatus has been my fave since the day he strut onto my phone screen in the high school cafeteria. no one understands him like i do 💙

also i didn't really give a damn about ayumu until her face reveal but oh my god she turned out to be one of the women of all time. quickly jumped towards the top of my list.

[danwhobrowses]

One Piece Chapter 1128 - Initial Thoughts

And we are back

(sadly no lego movie gifs this time I looked for one but it wasn't what I was after)

A week break that continues to feel forever long has ended, and One Piece once more leapfrogs another new age manga past its end - I wasn't too familiar with JJK but it is a testament to One Piece's longevity that it has outlasted all of the 'new big 3' lineups fans try to push.

Regardless, we're still in lego, with a mixed bag of outfits and a lot of questions, let's get to it!

Spoilers for the Chapter, Support the Official Release too

Colorspread seems to be broomsticks (well, bamboo mops as broomsticks) and school outfits, Franky's kitted his broom out and Jinbe and Zoro are chilling on a dragon

But schoolgirl outfit Nico Robin...Oda please

The chapter title being RPG does seem to imply answers (also since I watch CR and TLOVM - S3's first 3 eps were great, second one chock full of easter eggs - it's like a convergence)

Already starting off with a laugh as Sanji, Nami in his arms, notes 'too many dudes around to be a dream' XD

Nami he used a super sentai invisibility suit to sneak into a bathhouse I'm pretty sure you know what kind of dreams he's having

Does he need to sleep with blood bags I wonder?

They hop off the Big Steinn Castle, which continues to collapse

Down below, Usopp, Luffy and Zoro and his awful eye mask discuss how they met up; Zoro was on the other side of town and spotted Luffy fighting the 'Ear God'

Luffy seemed confident that Usopp could've beaten the cat-lion, but Usopp laments that he 'lost his cool'

It's time for the detective hats to come on

Usopp notes that they're in giants outfits, but they're sized to them which seems inconsistent, Nami wonders if they were gigantified but also that their surroundings are all lego

The group agree to ask the locals, except Sanji who is using his creepy simp sniff to know that Robin at least is not nearby

Luffy and Usopp jaunt to the town, with Nami still not sure why everyone's excited

Zoro also points out that there's no wind, which yeah that'd be a bit off-putting

Something hops their direction, a big dude riding a giant grasshopper like a motorcycle

Really puts the biker allegory in A Bug's Life on its head

Renowned entomophobes Sanji and Nami immediately back away

The guy is big but not giant sized, he's also the one who maintains the Big Steinn Castle

The cat was called the 'Great Iskat' and the cute hedgehog was the 'Needle God'

He calls it the 'Land of the Gods' as Usopp stops Luffy from blurting that they beat up the Iskat

Hahahaha, he's talking about all the trouble they've caused while they try to play innocent XD

He also warns them not to follow the road, it's filled with rabid guardians and nobody has returned

Nami knows Luffy too well, but before she can finish her sentence Luffy's already running in that direction

Nami at least gives a cutesy look to placate the big guy

Even that stupid eye mask won't stop Zoro from looking feral at the prospect of rabid guardians

But yes Sanji, they do enable each other, much like you enable every woman within a 50 mile radius

Chasing Luffy we catch more Lego scenery

Luffy spots someone else running at them with speed, insisting they'll just dodge them

And runs straight into a glass wall

Seems the locals didn't know where they are, since they see the cracks as the sky breaking

It's an enclosure! Which explains why most of the giant animals are pet animals and everything else is normal sizes

The outside looks more like a giant's room, and a sewing machine

Chopper's here! He was outside the enclosure, apparently he was chained and collared

Nami hugs Chopper, but also insists that he owes her for it, which Usopp claps back given how scared Nami was

Zoro deduces that a giant calling themselves the 'Sun God' must've dressed them, with Usopp admiring the craftsmanship

Luffy also spots the lego blocks, which Sanji noting that the bad smell when cooking the Ear God would've been the smell of melting plastic

Which btw is bad, plastic fumes is very unhealthy

They observe the tinted glass too, seems that's not a normal thing in this world

Sanji has an idea but Nami shuts down his volunteering to clean the women's bathroom on the ship

Zoro is liking the enclosure less and less now, but Usopp takes the positive that at least they can confirm they're on Elbaf

Nami's not sure though, the culprit being a giant doesn't confirm that it's in Elbaf

Chopper wants to reunite with the crew, unsure of where they are

Usopp meanwhile wants to ask the locals, seeing what Luffy says

Luffy agrees, but is kinda busywith the giant snake behind them!

Prime Nami and Usopp scared faces too

There's also giant mice and a giant crow with a skull hat, which are believed to be the 'Rabid Guardians'

A giant is coming though, hearing a ruckus

Look at this dude! Premium level cthonic mage kinda design love it!

The 'Sun God' is surprised to see the gap under the door is on fire, overhearing the crew argue about Luffy going overkill

Seems he busted the furnace, causing a fire

'Sun God' meet Sun God

Usopp tells the group to run, but Luffy and Zoro are still wrapping up

Zoro takes out the crow, Muginn, and Luffy takes out the snake, Hyllmungandr

Think these are kinda sneaky mixtures of norse names; Hyllmungandr being a riff on Jormungandr the World Serpent and Muginn being a combo of Odin's ravens, Huginn and Muninn

The group try to run, but are blocked by Iskat

Annnnnd gets bonked on the head, so naturally now it must ride the crew out, with Chopper translating for it

Nami has finally showed some more thievery for the first time since like Zeus, unable to pilfer relics but she has a map of the enclosure

They plan to rush to the other side of the enclosure and break through the wall there, but the 'Sun God' has begun its chase

I mean from a sheltered standpoint you can see why these guys think that's a god

That was probably the strongest Elbaf chapter for me so far

It had comedy, intrigue, action, deduction, chaos, all round a good time. I'm satisfied with it being like an enclosure, it feels fitting to fairy tales involving giants too and I love this fake sun god's design. Can't help feel a little bad for him though, his pets have been beaten up and his pet rabbit eaten...

But we account for Chopper now too, alas it's the Alabasta squad now rather than the East Blue saga squad - could still use some Vivi, think that's all the crew just gotta account for the Sunny. There's not many angles of Chopper's Elbaf outfit but the hat is cute, think he has the same Queen-esque trousers as Usopp.

But this is the injection of fun needed for the arc, because we have to remember, the plot doesn't happen to Luffy

Luffy happens to the plot

[sneezemonster15]

You would think Japan was the only country where western influence (during Meiji restoration) changed its culture and traditions drastically, including appropriating and consequently dismissing their practice and understanding of homosexual relationships and maligning its wide acceptance in society, by making it a punishable offence. But you'd be wrong. Japan is just one of such countries. There are many others.

Another one of them being Hawaii.

And what's even more interesting is that when these Christian missionaries translated the Hawaiian dictionary into English, they translated 'aikane' (same sex relationships) as 'friendship'. Not 'romantic/sexual relationship' which would be the right translation. So as not to offend the sensibilities of their Christian state. So what did they do? They appropriated the Hawaiian LANGUAGE to suit their eurocentric, Christian, heteronormative worldview.

This happens all over the world. Homophobia. Has been happening for centuries. Appropriating gay relationships by giving them terms such as friends, brothers, teacher, business partners, room mate etc is basically rejecting a fair understanding of sexuality so as to keep everything kosher. Lol. It hurts their morals they say. Their pure sensibilities, their civilized tastes that simply don't allow this heathenry. So quash their cultures and appropriate and trivialize the fuck out of it, because you don't wanna see all this immoral, unscrupulous debauchery in the midst of such evolved understanding of the world such as yours. Lol.

Naruto Manga also stresses a lot on language, it's a running theme throughout. So many characters in the manga give so many names to Naruto and Sasuke's relationship. Friends, rivals, comrades, brothers. Even Naruto goes through a roller coaster of a ride to come to terms with his own sexuality. Sasuke keeps asking him everytime they meet, but Naruto says friends or brothers and Sasuke isn't satisfied. Until chapter 698. At Sasuke's emphatic insistence, Naruto accepts that he doesn't know what to call it, but he can explain what he feels for Sasuke. Which finally, finally brings Sasuke's resolution. It's a very very common phenomenon to reduce and appropriate same sex relationships by subsuming them in other categories and appointing them a heterosexually safe terminology. And this happens the world over. Kishi is damn fucking smart, I am telling you. The nuances of a gay relationship in a conservative society itself became the smokescreen and red herrings for the portrayal of SNS. He turned his problem (given it wouldn't have been easy to portray the nuances of a gay relationship/characters in shounen and he obviously couldn't have written it explicitly) into his solution. Smart. Must have taken a hell lot of work though. Planning it out and executing it without a hitch (for the most part). And look at the results. Look at Naruto fans. So many of them simply bypass the love because they are so satisfied with everything else this manga has.

Anyway.

What's even funnier is that the same fans who think they are the chosen torchbearers of Asian and Japanese culture and traditions, aka anti SNS Sasuke stans, think Japan is like some backward ass culture in the context of sexual categorisations. No way Kishi could have written a gay love story or even have known what homosexuality means. They have No clue whatsoever. Like none. They denounce and reject the right understanding of this manga by calling us SNS western gay fetishists, but then turn around and act like the same eurocentric people they are apparently denouncing. Like the irony....with all your intellectual posturing, you couldn't even understand something as simple as this. How embarrassing. For you.

In fact, their theories are just a layman's version of the eurocentric propagation of Christian values and morals that quashes anything 'abnormal' under their foot and then bullies others to take their word as the word of God. Lol.

You guys are hilarious. You have lost all credibility in my eyes, and I think any rational person would feel the same way. Like you need more than big fancy words to prove your theories. It might wash with someone who is impressionable and doesn't have the requisite information. But sooner or later, the truth would come out no? Just takes a Google search. But well, who am I to advise? Honestly, keep embarrassing yourself for eternity and don't learn for the better. I can keep making jokes at your expense. Win win. Lol.

[angrycloudcrown]

~ PINNED POST ~

yeah idk how pinned posts work go easy on me

here's my pronouns page

Fandoms

★ The Music Freaks (All time fav!!)

★ The Disastrous Life of Saiki K (2nd Fav)

(Please talk about TMF or TDLOSK to me. Or honestly just talk about them in general. I'M BEGGING AAAAHHHH)

★ Heathers: The Musical (songs are all BANGERS)

★ Ride The Cyclone (sugar cloud solos!! <3)

★ Sanders Sides (virgil kinnie...)

★ Doki Doki Literature Club (just monika.)

★ Amanda the Adventurer (horror enjoyer at times)

★ Mia's World (webcomic by Mogry331)

★ Cuphead (both game and show)

★ Andy's Apple Farm (horror enjoyer at times part 2)

★ Don't Hug Me I'm Scared (there's 3 of us—)

★ Undertale (sans and papyrus best duo)

★ Be More Chill (do i really have to explain this one?)

★ The Amazing Digital Circus

★ Five Nights At Freddy's (ive been a fan for years how have i never put this in my fandom section. anyway horror enjoyer at times part 3)

★ Kindergarten 1 and 2 Games (DanTDM'S playthroughs got me, great game)

★ Riddle School

★ Baldi's Basics In Education And Learning

★ Nerdy Prudes Must Die

★ My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (not in the weird way. just. just the normal pony show way)

★ Hazbin Hotel (im a bit disappointed for caving and watching the show, but oh well)

★ Pokémon (more specifically the anime, but I am in love with the games too)

★ Steven Universe (the 2018 fandoms never leave, they simply linger)

★ Avatar: The Last Airbender

★ Parappa the Rapper

★ Stardew Valley

★ Ramshackle (ily all, indie animated series)

★ There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension

★ Friday Night Funkin' (getting freaky on a friday night yeah 💥)

★ The Amazing World of Gumball

★ Bistro Huddy

★ Night At The Museum

★ Ouran High School Host Club (HARUHI!!!!! <3)

★ The Outsiders (book only, havent seen movie nor musical)

★ Shadow Children Book Series

★ The Henry Stickmin Collection (genuinely. love the games so much oh my god)

Goddamn my fandom section is getting long

★ From Bureaucrat To Villainess: Dad's Been Reincarnated! (LOOK. LOOK. i know it sounds cliche but the manga is good and its getting an anime too trust me on this. AND NONE OF THE CHARACTERS ARE CREEPS!!! ITS JUST WHOLESOME!!!!!)

★ Arcane (ive never acknowledged league of legends but damn this show is good fr)

(more to be added can't remember them all off the top of my head but these are the main ones I like and interact with)

Basic Info

you can just call me "ash"

use she/her may change, idk???

im aroace and i dont know what gender i am (i mainly identify myself queer)

if you interact/follow and i see anything on your blog relating to you being racist, homophobic, transphobic, sexist, pedophilic, proship/comship, or literally just anything related to being a bigot, im not arguing with you, i will block you without hesitation

(blogs with excessive genuine kink/sexual content will also be blocked, not cause theyre problematic tho, its just one of things im personally uncomfy with)

i don't mind being tagged in posts, but i might not respond immediately :')

i stand in favor of palestine. 🇵🇸

(please do NOT be weird in my askbox.)

Sideblogs

@speedydestinydream - my sideblog for the gacha series "The Music Freaks" by Rosyclozy

@tdlosk-confessions - my sideblog for confessions about the fandom or series of "The Disasterous Life of Saiki K" (both manga and anime obv lol. only one moderator and it is me)

uhm

that's it!!!

I'll add more later lollllll