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ironmansuuucks · 5 years ago

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Are You Lost?

dewey finn x reader

hey guys! here I have a little request from the amazing @thewolfisapartofmysoul !! it’s basically the reader has had a rough week and takes her sweet golden retriever out on a walk and meets dewey along the way! this is a sweet little request and i loved writing it so much - i freaking love doggos and Dewey. what more can you ask for? I hope you enjoy! lotsa love x

warnings: angst, fluff

words: 1600

and this unreal aesthetic was also made by the wonderful @thewolfisapartofmysoul

“Come here buddy” you called over your golden retriever, Gus, to get his leash on. He sat down and licked your face as you sorted him out, to which you thanked him by giving him a quick pet and a cuddle. You stuck your hat on your head and zipped up your fleece as you headed out, stuffing one of Gus’ tennis balls in your pocket along with a few treats. It was autumn heading to winter so you had to stay warm.

The world had truly been against you the past few weeks and all you wanted to do was escape for a while. This morning you decided to get your life back together. You figured a long walk with your best friend was the best way to do achieve this. You could let Gus off his leash, let him chase the ball and just get lost in your own little world for some time.

Heading out towards the woods, you could see your breath in the air every time you exhaled. A gentle reminder of just how nippy it was. Gus didn’t care. His fur was warm enough for him and he loved the cold, embracing it with every step of his paws. It was mid afternoon so there was plenty of sunlight to be had.

Autumn walks were always the best. It was quiet, no one really tended to be around the woods. This meant you and Gus could just enjoy one another’ company. Autumn was also the best because of the beautiful colours and leaves. You loved the way they would crunch under every foot step, each one making you forget about your troubles. Gus loved it when you would pick up a big pile of leaves and gently throw them over him. He would snort happily and bound forward towards the leaves, leaving you giggling at him.

As soon as it was quiet, and you couldn’t see anyone around, you let Gus off his leash. He was well trained and you trusted one another. He wouldn’t run off. As soon as you unhooked him from the leash he bounced more ahead of you, wanting you to throw the ball for him. He barks lowly as you throw the ball. As his breed would suggest, he retrieves the ball and brings it back to you, tail wagging a mile a minute, his body swaying from side to side happily. “who’s my good boy” you would praise him and pat his head, taking the ball from his mouth and throwing it again.

You must have been walking for around an hour and a half before you decided that maybe it was time to head back. Your cheeks were all red from the cold and your fingers felt like they might go numb. You had managed to chill yourself out pretty much and felt ready to tackle the world again going home. “right Gussy boy, I think maybe it’s time we head-“ suddenly there was a small rustle from the bush further up. Gus’s head darted round and his ears perked up significantly. His tongue stopped panting. Shit.

Gus all of a sudden raced forward towards, what had now been revealed as, a rabbit. He was fast. “Gus… GUS!” you tried to call him but he was not stopping. You ran after him as fast you could but you were losing sight of him. FUCK! This was the last thing you needed right now. “Gus Stop-“ you were cut off as you stumbled and fell over one of the tree roots on the forest floor. “ouch..”. you got up slowly, wiping the green and dirt off of your fleece and jeans and tried to catch your breath. “shit.. where did you go Gus?”. He was nowhere to be seen.

Your heart started to race with anxiety. These forests where huge. He could be anywhere with his speed. It’s fine, it’s fine I’ll find him – calm down. You mentally told yourself as you started to shout “GUS?!?! Gu-us…”.

* * * * * * *

Dewey was sick of Patty. She was always yelling at him. She made him feel like he was worth nothing, as if he didn’t matter. So he found himself out a thoughtful walk through the woods, as he normally did on these kind of occasions. He loved autumn, with all of its beautiful colours and the cold air. He could stick on his hat and scarf and get cosy to brace the cold. It made him feel better when he was out in the fresh air and had time to himself to think over everything. He was trying his best these days, with his after school club for the kids and his new band. She was just a stuck up bitch who couldn’t get over what had happened at Horace green. I mean Ned had mentioned to him not long ago about how he was thinking about breaking up with her. Dewey really hoped he would follow through on that because he was just sick of..

He was pulled out of his thoughts when he suddenly noticed a little white dot bouncing towards him. He squinted his eyes to focus on what was coming towards him, his face screwed up in confusion. It didn’t take long for him to realise that it was a doggo. He began to smile as it got closer. “hey buddy..” he started but the golden retriever jumped up on Dewey and knocked him over, starting to leave kisses all over his face, wagging its tail frantically.

Dewey laughed and began to pet the dog “where did you come from dude?”. He found the dogs collar, looking for the name tag “Gus?” he questioned to which Gus barked happily. “well we better find your owner bub don’t want you getting lost” he worried as he picked himself up from the shrubberies.

Gus done circles around Dewey’s feet then bounced forward ahead of him, turning round and wagging his tail frantically at him. Dewey began walking in the direction of where Gus came from. “c’mon boy, c��mon” he teased him. “let’s go boy”. Gus followed Dewey through the woods, staying close to him.

After a minute or so Dewey began to hear someone shouting. As he continued walking the voice got louder and eventually he could hear you shouting “Gus!!”. He began to speed up, heading towards the shouting as Gus stayed close to him, apparently oblivious to your calling.

You were only a couple hundred yards away, worried sick about Gus. It had been fifteen minutes and he still hadn’t appeared. This wasn’t like him, where the hell could he be. If he was lost you would never forgive yourself. He was your best friend. As if the week couldn’t get any worse..

You stopped in your tracks when you heard a bark. “Gus?... GUS!”. You called out, speed walking towards the noise. God you hoped he was ok. What if he was hurt?

You got dragged from your thoughts when you noticed someone walking towards you. You squinted your eyes, confused until you seen Gus walking along beside him, looking up at the guy happily. “Gus!” you called out and almost ran towards him in relief. Gus’ ears perked up and he looked at you, jumping up on you when you got closer.

You looked up at the guy, while bending down to pet your sweet boy, “hey thank you so much for finding by dog” you exclaimed. Dewey was taken away. You were so pretty. The way the cold had made your cheeks pink was adorable, and your eyes were sparkling (obvs from crying about losing Gus but he didn’t know that). “uh yeah no bother, he actually kinda found me” he laughed.

You put Gus’ lead back on and stood back up. “I was so worried I’d lost him honestly. I’ve had the worst couple of weeks and that really would have broke me” you admitted. Dewey furrowed his eyebrows in concern. “aw I’m really sorry to hear that is everything ok?”. You looked up at him. He was kinda cute. His little hat and scarf was adorable and he had a sweet face. “I mean..”

You were stopped by suddenly being thrusted towards Dewey, both of you falling to the shrubberies. Gus had walked round the back of both yours and Dewey’s legs and you fell into one another. You both laughed on the forest floor at the antics, before capturing one another’s eyes. He smiled a sweet, giggly smile and you returned, before realising you were basically lying on top of him. You blushed and got up. “ugh sorry about that” you laughed awkwardly.

Dewey got up and brushed himself off “don’t worry about it” he laughed. “He’s really an awesome dog” Dewey said, bending down to pat him. Gus fussed over him and licked his face, making you giggle. “yeah he’s a sweet boy” you also bent down to clap Gus.

You smiled down at Gus, giving his ear a scratch, as Dewey looked at you, adoringly. He was nervous, but when else was he going to get the chance of bumping into a beautiful girl in the forest? “hey, uh, you don’t fancy going to grab some coffee or something do you?” he braved.

You looked up at the stranger. His pink cheeks and soft eyes. I mean, why not? You’d had a shitty week, maybe this could be the tuning point. Coffee with a cute boy from the forest? Hell yeah. You smiled sweetly “yeah that sounds good….” You left hanging, he picked up “Dewey! Sorry, my names Dewey” he laughed.

“well hey Dewey, I’m y/n” you grinned, and he returned. Gus stretched up and left kisses on Dewey’s face which made you both giggle. He got up “c’mon, I know this great place on fifth that allows dogs. AND they do pupaccino’s for this happy guy too”. You liked how he included Gus, and didn’t just expect you to take him home.

“that sounds good to me Dewey”.

tags: @thewolfisapartofmysoul @large-unit @little-miss-shy-goth @paxenera @heknowshisherbs @missihart23 @geminiacally @go-commander-kim @gegehaddock @baby-beej @sadpuppetshows

#dewey finn #dewey #dewey finn x reader #school of rock #pupper #Alex Brightman #cute

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homestuckisautistic · 6 years ago

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Thoughts on the new Friendsim

I want to preface this with a gore warning for the end of Nihkee’s route. If you choose to hesitate instead of accepting her training you’ll end up viewing a series of flashbacks to the old friendsims as well as an image of Nihkee’s mangled leg with bone sticking out. Be careful!

I’ll talk about Daraya first.

Firstly, I think it’s really interesting that they’ve confirmed that the jades aren’t this close-knit group of friends like we’ve all assumed. The fandom in general up until now has assumed that and depicted the jades as super close buddies but Daraya’s route confirmed that wasn’t the case. She outright says that she hates Bronya and Lynera. I really hope that something will actually come of this and that it won’t just be forgotten about.

I also want to note that at times Daraya really looks like Gwen from Total Drama Island at times (they’re both goth but that’s about all they have in common), and that I loved Chahut’s cameo because uhhhhh I’m lesbiab!

I really liked the conversation between Tyzias and Daraya, it functions as a parallel to actual leftist discourse that happens every day on this website and in real life too I guess. There are people who once they realize how shitty this world is become depressed and nihilistic and there are others who get pissed and try to change things. One is certainly more constructive than the other but neither is the right or wrong way to feel about society.

I think these two worldviews also apply to the autistic community and the various way in which we interact with our own oppression in society. When I first self-diagnosed with autism I was 14 getting ready to turn 15 in spring 2015 and I was very eager to share my newfound knowledge about autism with the world (like identity first language and why functioning labels are bad etc.) so I went around talking to basically everyone I trusted about it. But as we all are well aware of here, talking to allistics about autism is like talking to a fucking brick wall. And this got very exhausting very quickly and when you put so much effort into trying to change things with no results you eventually get to the point where you just say fuck it and stop trying. This is what happened to me and honestly I’ve actually regressed a bit since I first self-diagnosed in that I used to boldly flap my hands around my family and close friends but now I can’t because I’m too ashamed. I’m too ashamed to flap my hands around my best friend of 11 years who has known me and loved me and accepted me before I even fucking knew how to pass as allistic which is uh a big problem and it’s one that I’m working on.

It’s also kind of dangerous to talk to allistics especially NTs about autism because you never know how they’re going to react. Sometimes it’s safer and wiser to just let that asshole who sits next to you in 4th period to keep using autism as an insult because there’s no way for you to educate him without outing yourself or him suspecting that you’re autistic because you’re awkward and don’t have any friends in this class and risk him starting to bully you vs. keeping yourself safe and trying to ignore this guy who you won’t ever see again after you graduate in a few months. In other words, to quote an old country song: “You've got to know when to hold 'em Know when to fold 'em Know when to walk away And know when to run”

And it fucking breaks my heart that this is a choice we have to make on this bitch of an earth because nobody should ever have to ask themselves “is it worth it to risk abuse/bullying if arguing with someone for a few minutes will ensure that they have a change of heart years down the road?” because no matter what choice you make you lose.

Daraya strikes me as autistic with a special interest in...idk how to phrase this...rebellion? Societal power dynamics? Idk but if you’ve played through her route then you know what I mean I’m sure. Daraya is also obviously depressed and suicidal, and unfortunately I get the sense that she doesn’t get much support from the other jades which doesn’t help. It’s heavily implied that she just lets herself burn to death in the fire at the mall, which is one hell of a way to die. Ask anyone who’s survived a fire and they’ll tell you that burning is on a whole other level pain wise. Heck, if asked then I’d say that a cigarette burn is among the worst pains I’ve felt in my life. I hope that Daraya gets help somehow. It really broke my heart when she asked if she could go to Earth with the reader.

Onto Nihkee

Nihkee’s route was a fucking wild ride. And I loved it.

This is minor but I really liked those horse statues in the background. The indigo caste almost has this ancient Greece/Rome (idk I’m into American history not European history and my world history class was 4 years ago) theme to their culture which I find interesting and I think it really works, aesthetically speaking. I also really like that they made Nihkee explicitly buff and didn’t sexualize her at all. Not that I think Hiveswap is the type of media that would do that but even Zarya from Overwatch, which is a game that tries to be progressive, has fucking boob divots in her “armor” which is not practical at all!

Nihkee seems autistic to me too (come on, who the fuck would be that enthusiastic about something if not for it being an autistic person’s Special interest) she’s really into wrestling and being buff, and even though I haven’t ran any significant distance since my freshman year of high school, I’m fucking here for it! Yeah I don’t have much serious analysis to talk about here because Nihkee’s route just was more lighthearted except for that one ending with the gore. I really liked Tyzias and Stelsa’s appearance though, I’m always happy to see them! I really want to see more of Nihkee because her character is so ripe for situational comedy imo. A conversation between her and literally anyone else would be fucking hilarious.

Also in the background at the beginning of Nihkee’s route there’s two trolls wrestling in the cage and we later find out one’s a purple blood (which was obvious because, I mean come on look at his face) and that the other one is an olive blood that uses she/her pronouns but the thing is that she appears to be shirtless? Damn, tiddies really are just out for Nihkee I guess.

I think it was a wise decision to pair Daraya’s somber and serious route with one that was more lighthearted like Nihkee’s.

I also want to stage why I didn’t make a post about Fozzer and Marvus’ friendsim. It’s no secret that I’m biased towards the girls and that mindfuck at the end of Fozzer’s route just didn’t appeal to me analysis wise and Marvus’ route was like 40 minutes long on YouTube but I bit the bullet and watched a few minutes and at the first mention of concert diapers I noped on out of there.

- Mod Jessica

#mod rei-mary #friendsim #nihkee moolah #daraya jonjet

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captusmomentum · 7 years ago

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Excessively detailed asks: 1-19 odds only for Inan, 20-38 evens only for Tace plz :D

fuck me running this is a lot OKAY HERE WE GOOOOOO

INANALLAS

(heads up the pronouns are gonna jump around here bc inan uses they//them and she/her so hopefully doesn’t get too confusing rip)

1. What does their bedroom look like?

Surprisingly Clean. They’re exactly the type you’d expect to be super messy but thanks to living in such small spaces like aravals all their life they’re very good about keeping things in come kind of order. This stands even for modern verses, they’re very good about it. In verses they’re inquisitor they actually rearrange the room a lot, putting their bed on the balcony and making the main floor more of an office/living room as well as creating panels to help block out some of that sun bc HOLY SHIT WINDOWS, they also have a panel set to block the view of the bed which is really just wedged between it and the railing. The little bed alcove is very cozy and the main floor is much more functional and better for have friends up :D In modern aus, like say amd, they’re one of those people who’re like ‘ live in an apartment that’s only 90ft big :D’ and when they show you how it’s like part science miracle and part acrobatics bonanza. Like look at any tiny home or tiny apartment type show/place/thing and thats’ how they Roll. Mainly bc they’re fucking Broke AF, creative/innovative and well trained by dalish life for it. So bedrooms are usually like, lofts and shit like that which can mean it’s not much more than the essentials of Snoozing.

3. Do they exercise, and if so, what do they do? How often?They do! Inan works out pm everyday in pm every verse. Their style of magic is very, very very physical so it requires a lot of working out and training even in verses where they’re not constantly murdering ppl like canon ones they gotta get diesel for magic. In most verses they primarily do a variety of martial arts (or just one elf/dalish one? depends on how deep into worldbuilding you wanna get here honestly) and then things like running, weight lifting general kinda fitness exercise things. I imagine in modern verses and such (maybe more canon ones too tf do i know) that places like Arlathvhen’s there’s like, a sort of pow wow/olympics type event that goes on and clans have people representing them and Lath was disqualified for cheating bc she’s Weak in the temptation of Victory so Inan is the Obligatory Contender in at least some of the mage events, usually like, dueling bc it’s ironically her specialty. So she really does have to stay sharp when in verses where there’s no fighting bc she’s gotta bring home gold for clan Lavellan.

(if u wanna get a sense of how inan fights it’s a LOT like pm anyone from avatar the last airbender/Legend of Korra especially Korra and Katara(atla) )(apologies about the katara vid and that shit music there’s So Little out there sobs)5. Cleanliness habits (personal, workspace, etc.)

Inan isn’t the most organized or together person which is combined w/ their dalish upbringing is why they’re Hyper Organized. Things have places and they go there ALWAYS otherwise they’ll never be found again ever. Also lots of labels. Their own living spaces are more organized than their work spaces, generally bc other ppl touch things or put things on their desk. Every time someone touches their things they have a small heart attack bc it means that something CRITICAL might have been moved and will never be found again. Seriously they are held together only by the power of their aesthetically pleasing organization and labeling. So school is Really Fun in modern aus (read: i’ve considered having them be a high school dropout for Various Reasons).7. Favorite way to waste time and feelings surrounding wasting time

They Dream of wasting time. They Long to waste time. Everyday they pray they can waste time. Usually a lot of her time goes into things like Clan Stuff, Magic Stuff and Work Stuff so any chance they get to dick off they do. They fave method in modern verses is tv or youtube but in canon-y verses its Tavern w/ Bull or Tavern w/ Sera, the 2 people most likely 2 not call her out for Ditching Shit. Drinking w/ Dorian and/or Varric is very high on the list in all verses.9.Makeup?

Naaaahhhhhhhhhh. Generally too lazy for it and doesn’t like feeling of it on her face. Also it’s a real Bitch bc she’s always got tats on like 70-90% of her face and freckles (which she actually likes) so like foundation’s a Nah but you can’t do things like cover her dark circles w/o foundation otherwise the difference is Too Obvious like it’s just a Disaster. She can be convinced to wear it at special events and things but someone else has gotta do it.

11. Intellectual pursuits?Some and very disorganized. Generally answering any Burning Mystical Questions they have regardless of worth or importance, debating (fighting) about topics involving analysis in books and things, Fade Stuff, Learning Elvhen. They don’t really actively pursue a lot of things bc they’re doing so much shit normally, they really only pursue it when the interest strikes. Also, proving that the occult is Real and Valid.13.Sexual Orientation? And, regardless of own orientation, thoughts on sexual orientation in general?hoooooooooo boy dksjlgjfdsgfk, pansexual demisexual/grey-asexual is probably the best description. they don’t know they just like people and they don’t think about it they don’t think about Sex Stuff or ppls orientations it’s all W/E IDK and while they’re not prudish or squeamish about it they will run screaming for the hills things get too raunchy. Sex –especially sex involving them– has them looking for the nearest exit, not necessarily bc they’re sex repulsed but they are Extremely Anxious and Scared of interpersonal interaction so kissing is yiKESSSSSSSSSSSSS15.Biggest and smallest short term goal?Hmmmmm that’s really hard. Biggest is usually like: Not Die. Smallest is something like: whatever is next on to do list. They live a life of unnecessary extremes. 17.Preferred mode of dress and rituals surrounding dressGoth mori/strega fashion vibes. Lots of skirts and layers and looking very much like a peasant wizard. Usually they just dress for the weather and put on as many layers as they can to feel safe and protected (and snuggly). There’s a lot of similarities in their logic about it with Uthvir but with miles of soft fabrics instead of spikes. Usually darker colors with an emphasis on blues. There’s not too much in the way of ritual around it since they’ve tailored their wardrobe so they can grab things put them on, and look good w/o any real effort.

here’s the for inan fashion stuff

19.What do they think about before falling asleep at night?

Usually they go through a very specific ritual when going to sleep since they’re a dreamer to help keep that shit on lock which involves a lot of emptying of the mind and relaxing and preparing to deal with Fade Shit. If they don’t it’s just existential dread, anxiety and depression shit and panic. So they don’t not do the thing…….

TACE

20.Childhood illnesses? Any interesting stories behind them?Tace wasn’t really sick much more than the normal amount and kinds as a kid and was the kind who conks out the whole time and doesn’t say, try to get up and play. As he got older and his dreamer abilities started to kick in he reacted to it like someone who was very sick, fevers, hot and cold, sweating. slept too much or not enough. He began to have trouble keeping food down and lacking an appetite which he still has problems with to this day along with sleep trouble and exhaustion. 22.Given a blank piece of paper, a pencil, and nothing to do, what would happen?either doodles of dicks and such or a rude, raunchy or somehow unacceptable letter to someone whether he knew them or not he wrote for a laugh with no intention of sending. He’s very mature24.Is there one subject of study that they excel at? Or do they even care about intellectual pursuits at all?He actually excels in a lot of things, he’s a pretty gifted mage. He just Hates the Circle and all that academia type shit so regardless of his skill in them he doesn’t want to do them. He thinks intellectual pursuits are on a whole a waste of time because they’re mainly just there to make people feel more important and fancy.26.Do they have any plans for the future? Any contingency plans if things don’t workout?NOPE. NONE. past maybe ‘consult with that statue of Eleni Zinovia back in Ferelden about what to do w/ my life’ and ‘get a boyfriend’. 28.Who do they see as their best friend? Their worst enemy?hoooooo that’s Rough. Probably Banal though he’s more a father figure. He wasn’t very close to his other mages and hated the templars. Later when he meets Keshet and Shalev I guess they become his best friends which is...... very gay and lame.

Worst Enemy is Cullen and Meredith but Meredith is dead so fuck youuuuuuuu Culllleeennnnnnnn.30.Reaction to sudden intrapersonal disaster (eg close family member suddenly dies)Boy This Sucks [Drinks like a monster even more than usual]

he’s pretty desensitized to tragedy but also a shambling mess so it’s really just his usual self but like 1000000000000000% worse for a while

32.Thoughts on material possessions in general?

MORE PLEASE. he loves shit give him all the stuff he wants to lounge in a gaudy parlor on a opulent chaise. He never got to have much in the way of possessions in the circle so he lots shit now. also he’s just a material little shit.

34.Thoughts on privacy? (Are they a private person, or are they prone to ‘TMI’?)He doesn’t care about other people’s privacy pretty much at all and loves getting into people’s shit but he’s VERY intense about his own privacy. He’s deeply protective of himself and his things and privacy. So he’s a wildly hypocritical guy.36.What makes them feel guilty?Not fucking much. He occasionally feels bad about how he’s treated someone but it’s not often and he’d never say it out loud. just kinda adds it to the pile of fuel for self-loathing.38.Would they consider themselves a Type A or Type B personality?

He’d be a Type A if it weren’t how his life has gone so I guess he’s like, a burnout Type A.

#theladypirate #answered #answered meme #inan hcs #tace hcs #inanallas #tace #i feel bad i didn't put ass much time in on tace but i'm battling a headache so RIP

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deborahcastellano · 8 years ago

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The Scene Is Never What It Used to Be: A Retrospect on Glamour and Steampunk

Can I make some old/femme/goth/steampunk/the-scene-is-never-what-it-used-to-be noises? Back in my day, a hundred years ago when I was the con head for SalonCon, Steampunk was still being defined. Like, to the point that I needed to make my assistant (The Baby) explain what exactly it was, many times. I was interested in Neo-Victoria for many reasons but I also became interested in The Past that Never Was (Steampunk) for many reasons coming from an intersectional feminist standpoint. Mostly, we became involved in Steampunk because The Baby was interested in it and we couldn't afford to pay her and it was a reasonably easy way to compensate her for all her time and energy. We wanted her to have a space to enjoy herself as a thank you for her hard work.

This was . . .ten years ago.

Penny Dreadful wouldn't be out for another seven years and cybergoth was most fashionable at the club, along with a modern high gothic aesthetic which had a lot of velvet but also a lot of straps and snaps and spikes. Chokers had been out of fashion for a while as we were in the late aughts so you couldn't just pop over to Forever 21/Hot Topic for one.

I'm not a costumer, I'm not a seamstress. I was also working a day job while running SalonCon. I trying to make a thing go that did not previously exist. I would try to explain to local shop owners and club owners (because flyering was still a thing) and even to various ellllll-jaaaaay groups but it was never what the Lolita Goths wanted and it was never kinky enough for the kinksters and it didn't have enough tweet-tweet-stomp-thump for the general goth person. I mean, it was hard to sell a concept then that was very, oh hai! You have to dress up in some fashion, manners matter here and you will be expected to use your brain! Everyone just wanted to drink and dance. Now everyone wants to think and not dance, but that's a story for another time. On my part, there was a lot of crying and vomiting because who knew where the money would come from to pay for everything to make SalonCon go? It was as mysterious as death.

So, I was flat broke and completely stressed out from all of this. I knew I wanted to get people to think and think hard about a lot of nebulous things - What does it mean to dress up glamorously without a dress code? (an issue that would cause many writer friends much angst for reading at SalonCon. Some, I simply lent clothes to, others I reassured) If this is a past that never was, where do people of color, the lbgt community, people with disabilities and other minority communities fit? Why would people want to learn ballroom dancing, sit at a formal tea, engage in theoretical debate together? Who even wanted to do this? It turns out, ten years later, a lot of people do! Year one, it was a very hard sell. A very, very hard sell. I was basically telling vendors, um, I can't promise very much but maybe eventually? You don't have much to lose! Tables aren't expensive! You can say you were here at the beginning! As someone who is also a merchant, I can tell you that I wouldn't have touched us with a ten foot pole. But there were a lot of brave and kind vendors who wanted to try something new and see what it looked like. This very foreign concept of having manners, acting/dressing glamorously and using one's brain in public.

I knew I couldn't get away with what my male con head/club event counterparts could get away with. They could wear jeans and a t shirt because they had to work very hard. I had to learn to run in a corset and heels because I was also the figurehead. If I was going to insist on art, beauty and truth at a hotel in New Jersey, I was going to need to look the part. I was broke, I was a minority as a femme con head and no one knew what Neo-Victoria was, let alone Steampunk which was somehow even harder to explain at the time because there were no visual cues yet. Now, it's a completely different story. My mom could probably take a stab at explaining Steampunk, having been to SalonCon and now having seen it in pop culture.

I needed to have A Girl to help me look somewhat respectable for this. But it was never A Girl, it was always many girls. April1's cousin who did my hair, Fae who did my make up, The Girl from Damaged Goods who lent me lingerie, The Girl from Art of Adornment who made a tiny hat and velvet choker for me (both of which I still have), The Girl from Retroscope who made me a taffeta high-low skirt which are now ubitiquous to Steampunk but then was a concept that required many prototypes and as much money as I could afford to spend at the time (roughly, $150 - if you know anything about concept fashion, you understand that she was doing me a giant favor, even ten years ago) and took several months to make (which I still have as well). It was a village of Girl(s) who would put me together enough to do this.

I realize now, this is what glamour magic looks like at its heart. This thing that isn't a thing yet. You are hesitantly explaining a concept to the people closest to you and then to acquaintances and then to people who run in adjunct circles and then strangers. You are waiting for them to smack you down really hard because this is something new. People either can immediately wrap their heads around this new concept you are trying to give birth to and it immediately blossoms into life with them or it's a seedling that shoots tentative roots as they think about it and become interested or it never comes out of its seed casing and it lies there, dormant and useless. You start there with glamour magic. You bring the concept into the universe and see what it looks like, if it starts to look like something else in other people. You see what common threads twine among them. You see if strangers tell other strangers about it. Is your mythos strong enough to stand on its wobbly colt feet? Then you start spinning, spinning, spinning. You are making offerings at midnight in the crossroads because you cannot sleep without bringing this Thing into being. You are obsessed. You beg and plead with your goddesses, your spirits, your ancestors. You sob, you bleed, you offer anything you have and then just a little bit more. You sell yourself by the inch. You realize you don't know how to get to this Thing but you will learn. You will do anything you have to do. And then you start meeting people who understand what you are trying to do and they will act as midwives because they are struck by this fever too. And they will offer help in whatever way they can - burlesque, Tesla coil experiments, their voices, their songs, their organization, their hands. And it's this beautiful process, your glamour made real through you, through loved ones, through strangers.

Glamour magic has been like that for me and I keep talking about it and I keep writing about it and I keep performing it. I'm in my "third trimester" before the book comes out. I'm talking about it on podcasts, I'm blogging about it, I'm setting up events, I'm finishing my final edits. I'm terrified about it, but it's coming and nothing can stop it. It's bringing me right back to the beginning, right back to Steampunk. That ex I can never quite fully quit, no matter how hard I try.

It's been a very long time and I've been away for a very long time for many many reasons. Imagine my surprise that now one can simply go to Amazon and get a bustle skirt made out of actual cotton fabric (a "real" fabric, per April2 which makes it v. precious) for $30, delivered to your doorstep via Prime in two days. Two. Days.

I will confess, at first I was completely indignant. A real bustle skirt in two days for $30. Velvet chokers at Forever 21 for $3. A $10 elaborate lace necklace. A $15 lace shrug. Arm warmers! Leg warmers! All for pennies. What about all the time, vomit and money I spent on all of my things?

The truth is, coming back to Steampunk many years later, I still feel a bit of an impostor. My palms are sweating as I wonder what to wear. Arm warmers? Cliche! Goggles? Double cliche!!!! I will never be Steampunk enough even if I was one of the midwives of Steampunk. Which is silly, isn't it? Like, how exciting is it that there are Steampunk cliches? I can go to Michaels and buy things to make my own Steampunk jewelry whether I was a sixteen year old girl or a forty year old dude. I can even use a coupon. And I find myself in love that everyone can have access to Steampunk now, whether it's from a one-woman-Etsy-sweatshop, whether you are sketching and designing your outfit yourself or pick up a gear at a retail chain, it's there for everyone to love.

Steampunk and Neo-Victoria were never about being completely "true" to a long gone time period (unless that was your thing, then rock out), it was never about looking like a cookie cutter to something we were making up as we were going along. It wasn't about bankrupting yourself to keep up with the Clockwork Joneses. It was about being as true to your vision as you could be. It was about what made you feel glamourous inside and out.

Find your compass rose no matter how many or few people are doing that outward glamour thing that you are doing.

If I'm being honest, the roots of my book* started here, ten years ago, in this very uncertain place. Feeling out of my depths with this enterprise I had taken on that I couldn't even market properly because it wasn't quite real yet. Feeling out of my depth in my outward glamour presentation in life but especially here in this place. I felt very judged as a women in a leadership role both in how I presented myself physically and how "good" my con was.

My friend Ri had to hold me that first year. I was too sick to even drink at the afterparty (me! too sick to drink at a party! 28 year old Deb!). I trembled v. ferociously in his arms, chanting "I can't do this, I will never do this again, I will never do this again, I will never do this again, it's too much, Ri, it's too much." and he would laaaaaaaaaaaaaugh v. merrily and say, "Of course you will! It's what we do, we Make things. You will keep doing this! You will keep Making things."

And he was right, I did it for as long as I could, until I knew it would break me. I rocked the mike on MTV, I was interviewed by The New York Times and I worked as hard as I could to bring as many people up in their respective areas of Steampunk expertise as I could along the way. I kept my moral compass no matter how hard it was at times and oh at times it was very hard. It was a whirlwind and I never knew who or what I was supposed to be. Was I Janet's assistant who proofed resumes for pharma marketing suits? Was I April1's friend being scolded because I didn't check in enough on my staff? Was I The Con Head of SalonCon, getting recognized in sweats on the streets of New Hope with a bagel hanging out of my mouth? Was I some kind of second rate proto-fashion icon who was also a bit on the fat side and not terribly good at doing her own hair? Was I Josh's soon-to-be-blushing-bride who was also his even-sooner-to-be-ex-wife? Was I my mother's daughter who did not sit up straight enough at tea at SalonCon?

And I find myself very unexpectedly back in that same place, ten years later. And I find myself asked to do things I swore I would never again do . . .and saying yes. Here I am, the derelict Steampunk daughter, back at the doorstep, suitcase in hand. And I feel that same hurricane inside me that I felt ten years ago again, relaunched by my sudden unexpected return to Steampunk but also with the impending launch of my book. It feels much the same, though perhaps I'm a little steadier now. People closest to me acting in ways I don't expect, sudden opportunities that require me to think quickly and act even faster, the uncertainty in not knowing if I will amount to anything, if my book will amount to anything in my publisher's eyes, if these glamour dreams I've been dreaming for so long will result in strangers recognizing me when I am out and telling me or even worse, saying nothing at all so I am spotted a la Gossip Girl and I'm not even aware of it, the constant hamster wheel in my head repeatedly asking what does it even mean to be famous and how do you even know if you are? I slammed the door on that hurricane ten years ago, just before Steampunk became mainstream only a few years later. Truth be told, I was relieved.

But here I am again, right back where I started, my life an uncertain swirl of glamour, writing and Steampunk. This time, I won't slam the door. This time I'll fling it open even wider, hollering, "Here I am! Come and get me, boys!"

* Glamour Magic: The Witchcraft Revolution to Get What You Want, Llewellyn. Available on Amazon for pre-sale!

#Llewellyn #glamour #glamour magic #wicca #wiccan #Occult #Occultist #witchcraft #witch #penny dreadful #steampunk #goth #high goth #corset #convention #saloncon #steampunk world's fair

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haunterrr · 8 years ago

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Because no one would ask anyways

1: How tall or short do you wish you were? 5'4" - 5'6" 2: What’s your dream pet? (Real or not) A fox 3: Do you have a favorite clothing style? A huge mix of goth and punk styles 4: What was your favorite video game growing up? LOZ OOT or Mario Kart 5: What three things/people do you think of most each day: Ghost, music, story ideas 6: If you had a warning label, what would yours say? Isn't as shy once you get to know. Swears a lot. Like A LOT. 7: What is your opinion on [insert person/thing here]? I have many opinions on many things like most people. This was meant to be sent by random people, but alas no one would actually ask me anything lol 8: What is your Greek personality type? [Sanguine, Phlegmatic, Choleric, or Melancholic] Results are in, I'm Melancholic by a landslide 9: Are you ticklish? Yeah, please don't :c 10: Are you allergic to anything? Seasonal allergies is about it. 11: What’s your sexuality? I like people. 12: Do you prefer tea, coffee, or cocoa? Depends on the mood I'm in and what kind each are. Turners Iced Tea, Dunkin Iced Coffee, Hot cocoa is better cold to me 13: Are you a cat or dog person? I like both, but I usually gravitate towards cats 14: Would you rather be a vampire, elf, or merperson? That's a cruel question. Vampire I suppose. 15: Do you have a favorite Youtuber? Not particulary anymore. My interests are too eclectic these days. 16: How tall are you? 5'8" so says the doctor, but I feel like a giant. 17: If you had to change your name, what would you change it to? That's tough... Samantha is an ok name, so I haven't been too unhappy with it. Just too many people with that name. 18: How much do you weigh? I'm actually unsure of this currently. I've been told I look like I lost a lot of weight though. 19: Do you believe in ghosts/spirits? Yes. 20: Do you like space or the ocean more? They both intrigue and terrify me at the same time. I was obsessed with space as a child though. 21: Are you religious? No. 22: Pet peeves? I have misophonia so please do not chew and slurp and crunch food loudly. :c 23: Would you rather be nocturnal or diurnal [opposite of nocturnal]? I'm pretty nocturnal already and always have been. I prefer it. 24: Favorite constellation? Cassiopeia 25: Favorite star? Betelgeuse 26: Do you like ball-jointed dolls? They're kind of cool. Some dolls freak me the hell out. 27: Any phobias or fears? Well I saw final destination 2 in middle school and yeah fuck driving by those big ass trucks. 28: Do you think global warming is real? Yes. 29: Do you believe in reincarnation? It is interesting to think about, but eh. 30: Favorite movie? There are so many good movies out there. Fried Green Tomatoes, Interview with the Vampire, Spirited Away, Girl Interrupted, American Psycho, Dracula, Pride and Prejudice 2005, and more. 31: Do you get scared easily? Not usually, but if I do I try not to let it show. 32: How many pets have you own in your lifetime? At least 16 and I'm not even going to try and count how many god damn fish I had. I shit you not they were all named Bubbles. 33: Blog rate? n/a 34: What is a color that calms you? Green 35: Where would you like to travel and/or live? I want to see so many places. Traveling is in my nature. As for living... somewhere that isn't here. 36: Where were you born? Jacksonville, Florida 37: What is your eye color? Silver blue with bright gold rings around my pupils 38: Introvert or extrovert? Introvert 39: Do you believe in horoscopes and zodiacs? They're just a fun thing to look into 40: Hugs or kisses? Depends on how I'm feeling. I've been told I'm good with both c; 41: Who is someone you would like to see/visit right now? A few musicians I have in mind. It would be cool to just talk to them. Other than that an old friend that lives out in Arizona. 42: Who is someone you love deeply? I'm not sure. 43: Any piercings you want? A few I have in mind right now, but it would be pointless with my current job. 44: Do you like tattoos and piercings? Love, love, love. 45: Do you smoke or have you ever done so? I used to smoke cigs, but I was a broke lady and also I like to smell good. 46: Talk about your crush, if you have one! Oh god. They are person of many talents. Their voice makes me so happy. 47: What is a sound you really hate? Chewing 48: A sound you really love? Page turning and also whispers 49: Can you do a backflip? I wish. I used to be able to when I still did dance. 50: Can you do the splits? Nah. 51: Favorite actor and/or actress? I can't decide right now. 52: Favorite movie? This was already asked... 53: How are you feeling right now? I feel pretty good. I've got some tunes playing, so I'm happy. 54: What color would you like your hair to be right now? Something different. Right now I've got inches of roots and the ends are red. 55: When did you feel happiest? I usually feel happiest at a concert getting lost in the music with the crowd. 56: Something that calms you down? Music or reading 57: Have any mental disorders? Anxiety and depression 58: What does your URL mean? Not much. I was having a hard time finding a url name I liked that wasn't taken. 59: What three words describe you the most? Heart, sad, passionate 60: Do you believe in evolution? Yes 61: What makes you unfollow a blog? Usually too much NSFW content or if their interests change into something I sadly do not care about/ 62: What makes you follow a blog? Similar interests... 63: Favorite kind of person: Passionate, kind, able to make me laugh 64: Favorite animal(s): Fox 65: Name three of your favorite blogs. I like spookyloop, ringrose, and moralvirus 66: Favorite emoticon: idk 67: Favorite meme: I honestly die at memes of Ghost 68: What is your MBTI personality type? INFJ 69: What is your star sign? Sagittarius 70: Can your dog roll over on command, if you have a dog? uhh 71: What outfit out of all your clothes do you like to wear the most? This pretty lacy cardigan kimino that buttons in the front on the chest and goes to my feet, black skinnies, black booties, and my black wide brimmed hat. 72: Post a selfie or two? ehh. they're already on my blog. 73: Do you have platform shoes? Nope. Like I need more height. 74: What is one random but interesting fact about yourself? I don't think I'm all that interesting sooo 75: Can you do a front flip? Probably not 76: Do you like birds? They're okay. Depends on the bird. 77: Do you like to swim? I love it. 78: Is swimming or ice skating more fun to you? swimming 79: Something you wish didn’t exist: Being a slave to the man 80: Some thing you wish did exist: Unlimited money so I can go see my favorite bands... :X 81: Piercings you have? Industrial, stretched lobes, navel 82: Something you really enjoy doing: getting lost in music 83: Favorite person to talk to: Probably an old high school friend. We used to go to a park all the time and sit under the pavillion and just talk about anything and everything. I miss those days 84: What was your first impression of Tumblr? It was a little intense, this was back in 2009/2010. It was hard to get started. 85: How many followers do you have? On this blog 32, on my old one 1500 86: Can you run a mile within ten minutes? Yes, under that actually. 87: Do your socks always match? Usually. Can't go wrong when all you have is black socks 88: Can you touch your toes and keep your legs straight completely? Not anymore 89: What are your birthstones? Topaz 90: If you were an animal, which one would you be? A fox. How many times will I mention this animal lol 91: If a flower could aesthetically represent you, what kind would it be? Yikes, I don't think any represent me. 92: A store you hate? Probably Walmart even though I shop there 93: How many cups of coffee can you drink in one day? My caffeine intake knows no bounds 94: Would you rather be able to fly or read minds? Flying would be pretty fucking cool 95: Do you like to wear camo? Not at all 96: Winter or summer? FALL! 97: How long can you hold your breath for? I don't know. 98: Least favorite person? That bitch ass Trump 99: Someone you look up to: I can't say their name 100: A store you love? I used to love going to the shops down in Southside that weren't chain stores. 101: Favorite type of shoes? Combat boots, booties, high tops 102: Where do you live? Pittsburgh, PA 103: Are you a vegetarian or vegan? No 104: What is your favorite mineral or gem? Emeralds are pretty 105: Do you drink milk? Nope. I don't like it much. 106: Do you like bugs? Depends on the kind. 107: Do you like spiders? They're okay 108: Something you get paranoid about? People not actually liking me and pretending to 109: Can you draw: I used to be decent at it, but after I broke my hand years ago its never been the same 110: Nosiest question you have ever been asked? I guess intimate questions about my body and anything sexual 111: A question you hate being asked? "What's wrong?" my face apparently 112: Ever been bitten by a spider? Yes quite a few times. Not a fan. 113: Do you like the sound of waves at the beach? Its calming 114: Do you prefer cloudy or sunny days? Cloudy. I burn too easily. 115: Someone you’d like to kiss or cuddle right now: :X 116: Favorite cloud type: Cumulonimbus 117: What color do you wish the sky was? I love the night sky... so I think its fine how it is currently. 118: Do you have freckles? Yes. They used to be more prominent as a child though. 119: Favorite thing about a person: Physically: Eyes/mouth Personality: Watching them talk passionately about an interest and their humor 120: Fruits or vegetables? Both. Love me both 121: Something you want to do right now: Find someone to drive and listen to music with and talk about whatever. 122: Is the ocean or sky prettier? I think they compliment each other quite well 123: Sweet or sour foods? For food I prefer savory but for candies I love sour 124: Bright or dim lights? Ah, that's gonna depend. Dim lights are super cozy though 125: Do you believe in a certain magical creature? Not really. 126: Something you hate about Tumblr: How people attack one another and chase people off for simple mistakes 127: Something you love about Tumblr: Finding people with similar interests who share great content 128: What do you think about the least? I guess me getting old cause it freaks me out 129: What would you want written on your tombstone? I'm not sure I will have one, but I'm sure someone else could think of something better I could 130: Who would you like to punch in the face right now? Not anyone in particular 131: What is something you love but also hate about yourself? My daydreaming 132: Do you smile with your teeth showing for pictures? I usually don't like to. I mean my teeth aren't fucked up or anything. I just have a weird smile. 133: Computer or TV? Computer 134: Do you like roller coasters? I love them. I dissociated on one at Six Flags once. It was an interesting experience. 135: Do you get motion sickness or seasickness? Not usually. 136: Are your ears lobed or attached? lobed 137: Do you believe in karma? I don't know if its karma exactly. Its just more cause and effect. 138: On a scale of 1-10, how attractive would you say you are? 4 139: What nicknames do you have/have had? Sam (not a fan), Sammie, Princess (mom), Sweet Pea (dad), Plum (uncle), randoms like to call me Red. I don't have many interesting ones. 140: Did you have any pretend or imaginary friends? I didn't have any growing up. I just day dreamed a lot. 141: Have you ever seen a therapist/shrink? Yes. My childhood one was my favorite. 142: Would you say you are a good or bad influence to others? For the most part good I think? 143: Do you prefer giving or receiving gifts/help? I like to give gifts most. 144: What makes you angry? People that try to control me and take advantage of me. 145: How many languages do you speak fluently? Just one sadly - English. I was decent in Spanish years ago but never kept up with it. Today I helped a deaf man fairly well at work, so I want to pick up ASL again and maybe some other languages. 146: Do you prefer boys, girls, and/or non-binaries? As I stated before. I like people. <3 147: Are you androgynous? I can be. 148: Favorite physical thing about yourself: There is nothing I particularly like. How sad is that? 149: Favorite thing about your personality: My humor I suppose 150: Name three people you would like to talk to right now in person. ******, JT, and Amanda 151: If you could go back into time and live in one era, which would you choose? It was definitely not a healthy era but the Victorian fashion was pretty rad. The OG punks and goths were cool too. 152: Do you like BuzzFeed? not really. 153: How did you meet your spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend/partner? - 154: Do you like to kiss others’ foreheads or hands for platonic reasons? I'll kiss one friends cheek or top of their head, but usually no one else because I don't think a lot of people like that. 155: Do you like to play with others’ hair? I do. 156: What embarrasses you? Myself, oh also being put on the spot randomly 157: Something that makes you nervous/anxious: A whole hell of a lot of things. 158: Biggest lie you have ever told: "I'm fine." 159: How many people are you following? on this blog 329, my other blog is at 3000 160: How many posts do you have on your blog(s)? 664, other 40k 161: How many drafts do you have on your blog(s)? 0 162: How many likes do you have on your blog(s)? 46, other 15k 163: Last time you cried and why: Today because of a beautiful song 164: Do you have long or short hair? Long. Its nearly to my waist 165: Longest your hair has ever been: As it is right now 166: Why do you like, dislike, or have neutral feelings about religon? Organized religion is bullshit. It causes more problems than it helps in my opinion. 167: Do you really care how the universe and world was created? Its interesting to think about for sure 168: Do you like to wear makeup? I do. 169: Can you stand on your hands or head for more than thirty seconds? Probably not anymore 170: Did you answer the questions you were asked truthfully? Yep

#questions #about me

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recentanimenews · 6 years ago

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THE GREAT CRUNCHYROLL NARUTO REWATCH Arrives Just in Time for Episodes 57-63!

Welcome to THE GREAT CRUNCHYROLL NARUTO REWATCH! I'm Danni Wilmoth, and I'll be your host this week as we make our way through all 220 episodes of the original Naruto. Last week, we covered episodes 50-56, and we continue this week with episodes 57-63. This week we see the conclusion of Naruto’s training under Jiraiya and move onto what we’ve all been waiting for: the Third and Final Exam. The main event this time pits genius versus failure as Naruto seeks vengeance for Hinata and Lee against Neji in round one. It’s a raging battle of ideals that leaves everyone asking, “Where the hell is Sasuke?” Before we discuss these episodes, let's take a look at a question WiseJake237 had about summoning: Maybe I'm misunderstanding the Summoning Jutsu, but if Jiraiya is such a horn toad, why doesn't he just use the jutsu to summon attractive women? It seems like one of the Three Legendary Ninjas shouldn't have to go to the lengths that this guy does. Danni: First of all, that pun had me simply croaking with laughter. Second, my understanding of summoning is that a contract has to be formed between the summoner and the one being summoned. I imagine that Jiraiya could theoretically summon women to him, but they’d have to give prior consent first. Exactly the way it should be!!! Now, let's see what the Crunchyroll Features team thought of this week's episodes! So this week’s batch of episodes began with us meeting Gamabunta, my big grumpy frog dad whom I love. I had always assumed summoning animals basically teleports them to your position to assist you, but he mentions something about it being his first time free in awhile. This begs the question, are summoning animals in Naruto basically Pokémon? And since Gamabunta can talk does that make him Detective Pikachu?

Kevin: Whether the Summoning Animals are from another world or just a different place but on the same world seems to be inconsistent. Gamabunta indicated that the Toad Realm and the Village Hidden in the Leaves are two different worlds, but if I remember correctly, when Kakashi introduced his dogs he said that they get teleported from a distant place, and the accompanying visual implied that it was just somewhere far away, but you could theoretically walk there. So in short: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Peter: Boruto gets into some weird spirit world stuff when they consult the Snake sages about Mitsuki’s location. I’m not sure if super late Shippuden gets into it. Pretty sure they’re all hanging out in some spirit world as shadows against a cave wall or something. Noelle: If I remember correctly, I think the summoned animals are from another dimension or other realm, as we never see them in the regular ninja world. Not a lot of detail is put into that, but it’s always fun to see what new summons pop up next. I never thought about frog Ryan Reynolds before, but I’m sure thinking about it now. Carolyn: I have no idea how to answer this question, honestly. But if the frog were Ryan Reynolds and/or Danny DeVito I would be here for it. Paul: I believe that ninja summons are merely a manifestation of the individual summoner's will, i.e. that there is no separate, extra-dimensional “Toad Realm” or “Dog Realm,” but that these creatures are temporarily called into being and given form and personality by the magic of Ninjutsu. I think it's closer to the Shadow Clone technique that Naruto employs. Also, Gamabunta is clearly a yakuza, whereas Detective Pikachu is a cop. Joseph: From what I recall there’s definitely another realm. Doesn’t Naruto end up there at some point? I’m going off my memory of the manga so gotta do a big shrug here, but I love the frogs in general. David: I definitely feel bad for Gamabunta in the same way I feel bad for Pokémon, who mostly get let out to fight or do jobs. He spends who knows how long locked away in some vague spirit world, only to get summoned by some brat who literally won’t get off his back. Give the poor guy a break! Kara: Too early for me to speculate. The world of Naruto has a lot of weird rules to it and I’m still trying to figure out the whole “raising children to fight to the death” thing before I go any further. That said, I am glad I’m not a summonable animal of any sort. I can’t imagine being in the middle of a nap or a conversation or whatever and just BOOM. Sorry, you’re here to fight now. Both last week’s and this week’s episodes have contained allusions to a connection between Naruto and the Fourth Hokage, and the Fourth Hokage’s portrait last week makes it pretty clear what that connection is. Did anyone else happen to see that coming before now?

Kevin: I think that literally everyone knows the “secret” before it gets revealed in the show. Make no mistake though, as we go in to Shippuden and more is revealed, the writing will be beating you with a lead pipe of exposition to make sure that you understand every single detail. Peter: During my first readthrough I think I knew as early as Zabuza since Minato appears in some photos and he has the same hair. I knew enough about shonen to know that the main character always has an important dad. Noelle: Same as Peter, I figured it out pretty early on in my original readthrough--if two characters look uncannily similar in anime, they’re probably related. Carolyn: I thought that was always kind of implied. I have seen the show before, but seem to remember making that assumption pretty early the first time around, too. Paul: I assumed that the Fourth Hokage was Naruto's Dad (a.k.a. Boruto's Granddad) from the brief glimpse of him that we got during the flashback of him sealing away the Nine-Tailed Fox way back in the first episode. No real surprises there. The bigger question is who is Naruto's Mom, a.k.a. Boruto's Grandma? Joseph: This is such a poorly-kept secret I forgot it hadn’t been revealed. David: The ‘mystery’ may lie more in why he would choose to doom his own kid to societal ostracization than if he is Naruto’s dad or not. Kara: I mean, between the resemblance, Naruto’s obsession with becoming Hokage, and the way pretty much any references to the Fourth Hokage are framed, it isn’t so much foreshadowing as a brick to the head. You’re telling me it gets more obvious? A good way to tell when a series has settled into a comfortable position is when it begins experimenting in other genres. We saw that this week in episode 58 when Naruto dabbles in horror aesthetics to flesh out Gaara’s backstory a bit. It broke its own mold both visually and thematically. Do you think this change managed to accomplish anything a normal exposition episode wouldn’t have?

Kevin: I always appreciate any work of art being taken in a new direction, so I liked seeing episode 58 do something different, and the exposition where Naruto starts to understand how similar he and Gaara are was definitely one of the more effective moments. That being said, most of the rest of the episode didn’t really work. From Shikamaru’s magically disappearing shogi board to Ino somehow just having the fruit basket to Gaara actually being as stealthy as a ninja for the first time in his life to AN ENTIRE HOSPITAL BEING COMPLETELY EMPTY, a lot of stuff just didn’t add up outside of just needing to be that way to be creepy. Peter: My second run through I was kinda flabbergasted Gaara suddenly got so verbose out of the context of writing goth poetry. That said Naruto’s response where he realized he completely understood the logic that brought Gaara to being a homicidal maniac was *chefs kiss*. Noelle: Horror always requires some suspension of disbelief in order to be functional, so even though there were quite a few things off about the scene, I enjoyed it more so for the mood it evoked. On that end, I think it succeeded-- I’m always here for series being flexible with the genres they try out. Naruto’s dawning realization that had things been a little different, he could have easily turned out like Gaara, mmm, that was good stuff. Carolyn: Ah, thank you for bringing this up. When we first started rewatching I was waiting to figure out why I used to like Gaara so much. Now I remember. Paul: While I enjoyed the way they framed Gaara as if he were the antagonist of a slasher film, what resonated with me the most was when they dug into his back-story, demonstrating how truly emotionally damaged Gaara is. Prior to that, I couldn't take him seriously as a villain, but once I got a taste of the tragedy at the heart of his character, Gaara became much more palatable. It also re-contextualizes the Kanji character 愛 (“love”) that he has tattooed on his forehead. Joseph: I also love Naruto’s reaction here. It’s one of those moments that goes a long way toward making a character more three-dimensional, and is leagues beyond the typical shonen “he’s bad so I gotta beat ‘im up!” attitude. David: I honestly thought it was a little overwrought, but I very much appreciated the attempt to use a different style to bring some weight to a backstory that might have come across as sort of absurd if played completely straight. Kara: I really like Gaara, but up ‘til now it’s been in the same way that I like horror movies: enjoying the spectacle. But the combination of his back story with (as others have said) Naruto’s reaction to it was just wonderful. I actually busted out laughing when Gaara said “You can’t understand what it’s like” because oh boy. Of all the people he could have said that to. And this scene was a reminder that in spite of his occasional annoying spans, Nart’s a good kid. The main event this time around was obviously the fight between Naruto and Neji. It seems like every fight in Naruto gets overshadowed by Gaara vs. Rock Lee, but I think I might actually prefer Naruto vs. Neji between the two. In your eyes, how do they compare with one another?

Kevin: I still prefer Lee versus Gaara, mainly because the exposition was significantly better handled. Lee has a few cutaway scenes to show his progress and one or two moments to blatantly stating what he was trying to do, while Neji pretty much had an entire episode where he just explained his backstory to Naruto (and every single onlooker, but I guess no one actually cares that the Hyuga side family are basically slaves). Comparing the fighting is tougher, since Lee’s fight was much more bombastic and over the top, while Neji’s was more technical and strategic, so I can see the merits of both. Peter: I have some more complex feelings in retrospect knowing Naruto’s actual place in the world. Even without the benefit of that knowledge the idea of hard work and never giving up allowing even failures to rise above geniuses felt a little stale given that Naruto had a chakra demon in his corner. All the emotional beats really hit hard as well. Shame Hinata didn’t get to see Naruto win. Noelle: Still on the side of Rock Lee vs Gaara, since it’s hard to beat the pure energy that comes from that fight. Admittedly, I’m not as terribly attached to this fight, but putting my biases aside, I do think the two fights serve as something completely different. One has more bombast, and the other is more melancholy and introspective. It’s a little hard to compare the two, since they accomplish two different things. Carolyn: Yeah, I also have to say Rock Lee and Gaara. A big part of which is just the fact I like those characters much more. Though, I did really appreciate Naruto echoing Hinata in his fight. He can be a very good friend sometimes. Paul: Naruto vs. Neji is important because it's not just a clash of skills, but of ideals. Naruto triumphs not just because he's tougher and / or sneakier, but because he's got a more flexible perspective and because his desire to actively shape his own destiny is stronger than Neji's fatalism. They also frame it as the catalyst for Neji to grow and change, and I'm a sucker for that kind of character development. Rock Lee vs. Gaara is much more one-sided, in that it only really highlights Lee’s determination. Joseph: I prefer Lee vs. Gaara, but this is a good and important fight in its own right. I did think it was hilarious when Neji stopped everything to laboriously explain his backstory to Naruto and the packed stadium. Hey, the ref said no arguing, he didn’t say anything about no expatiating! David: Naruto vs. Neji is a pretty bad ‘fight’ - Naruto doesn’t do anything particularly special with his skillset that we haven’t seen before, Neji has him overpowered the whole time until Naruto turns on his fox chakra cheat code, and they spend essentially two straight episode on exposition. Lee vs. Gaara wins on that front. However, it is a very good ‘conflict’, with Neji’s worldview nagging at Naruto’s core beliefs in a way that feels natural for both the world they live in and how the series has characterized Naruto so far. In that sense, this Neji battle wins out. It’s also worth noting that with Naruto’s line “I’ll change Hyuga,” he’s officially made his first Hokage campaign promise. Kara: For me, Gaara vs. Lee still takes it for the fight itself. It’s the end result of the Naruto vs. Neji fight that resonates for me more than the actual combat. The whole “gonna be the Hokage” thing, despite it becoming enough of a running gag that we track it every week, is at its core about acceptance and recognition. The fact that we see people applauding Naruto after the fight — even a few people going “Hey, that fox kid’s pretty dang good” — is so important. We’ve seen the results of Naruto’s hard work and training so far, but that’s a reward in his own language, in a way. That’s him being applauded where he was laughed at and shunned. So for that, I at least give it a nod. Sasuke managed to take center stage for most of the Chunin Exams, but in the past few weeks his presence in the show has decreased more and more. In his absence Naruto has stepped back into the limelight to finally show us what he’s capable of. How do you feel about Naruto now compared to the beginning of this rewatch?

Kevin: I definitely enjoy him more now than at the beginning of the series. I get that his character is supposed to start as someone annoying who doesn’t listen to people, but having him be more focused, competent and actually able to hold his own in a fight and so show people that he isn’t just a screw up is much easier to watch than the kid from the first few episodes who couldn’t even transform. Peter: Naruto’s fights still don’t get the same animation quality so there’s definitely some favoritism going on. Always felt that Naruto was the funnest to root for narratively but Sasuke was the funnest to watch fight. Noelle: I think more focus on Naruto is a good thing- the series is named after him, and we need to see him grow. As well-animated as Sasuke is, he’s already reached the point where he’s highly capable (even if he still has his own struggles), and there’s a kind of effortlessness in his fights. Shonen always features the underdog rising to the top, and that’s Naruto, not Sasuke. Carolyn: Kind of touched on this earlier, but for me, what makes a Naruto fight is the emotion he puts behind it. He cares very much about those around him and that comes through in his performance. Paul: I'm still not completely sold on Naruto as the protagonist. Comparing it to One Piece, I can think of probably a dozen moments where Luffy's heroism crystallizes the themes of the series, where we can see why so many people love and support him, and why he loves and supports so many people in return. I haven't yet experienced that same kind of “come to Jesus” moment with Naruto yet. Joseph: Naruto is still kind of whiny, especially when he wants Jiraiya to watch over his training, but I like the way he’s developing and getting more time to come into his own as the protagonist. David: Between his realized connection with Gaara and righteous anger with Neji’s story, I am actually coming to appreciate the sort of empathy that could make Naruto a good leader in the future - it already goes beyond him being able to Punch Good. Kara: I think what recent episodes have done for me is contextualize what annoyed me about him originally. His actions and feelings make more sense, and we’re seeing that he actually has the motivation to back up his ambitions. As always, what were the high and low points of this week’s batch?

Kevin: As odd as it might sound, Gaara telling Shikamaru and Naruto about his past is both the high and low point for me this week. I love the slow reveal about how similar Naruto and Gaara are, and the scene is effectively creepy, but at the same time Naruto is frozen with fear… which is something that he swore he would never let happen again and so is somewhat out of character for him. Peter: As above, I wish Gaara had been a bit less transparent with his exposition dump. Maybe explaining his logic without also throwing out his entire life story. Could have done that in flashback without him explaining it so that we know even if others don’t. Just getting a bit of insight into Gaara’s perspective allowing Naruto to realize their connection would have made it even more impactful. My favorite moment was Naruto running into Hinata before the exam. Noelle: High point would be the Gaara reveal. While its execution would be a low point technically, I’ve gotten so immune to shonen having lengthy flashbacks or exposition dumps that I’m more surprised when a series doesn’t do that. Carolyn: Surprisingly, as much as I loved the creepy goth Gaara exposition, my high point was Sakura buying more flowers for Rock Lee because she thought the old ones would have wilted. When this show really wants to get emotional, they know how to do it right. Low point … honestly kind of getting burnt out on how many kids have marks and bad dads. Paul: The high point for me was how they dug deeper into the behind-the-scenes politics with the secret schemes of the Kazekage, who is at odds with the peace-promoting plans of his daimyo. I really dig the ninja intrigue. The low point was all of the screen time they squandered on speculating about whether Sasuke had been murdered by Gaara prior to The Final Test. I don't think anyone was buying what they were trying to sell there. Joseph: I wasn’t that high on the attempt at horror and suspense in the Gaara ep. The boarding and execution seemed kind of sloppy and haphazard. The high point was Naruto vs. Neji and the quote of the week was Kabuto behind the Anbu mask saying, "I'm not suspicious or anything." David: Surprised no one has pointed out the almost entire episode spent on Naruto trying to get to the exam on time as a low point, because I was bored to tears. High point is Neji in the hospital after his fight. Kara: Gotta agree on Naruto’s meeting with Hinata being the high point of the week. I like seeing them encourage each other, be it actively or passively. Low point is probably the drawn-out Sasuke non-mystery. Alright, lightning round. You’re nine years old, and it’s time for recess. You and your friends are all about to play pretend as your favorite Naruto characters. Which one is nine year old you picking? Personally, I’m Shikamaru.

Kevin: Me nowadays would pick Shikamaru, pretty much no question. If I’m thinking back to when I was nine though, I’m pretty sure I would’ve picked Sasuke. Not because the girls all have crushes on him or because he’s “an Avenger” with a tragic backstory, I honestly just love all of the jutsus, especially finding interesting ways to combo them together, and he has access to more than most of the other Genin. I also remember that as a kid, the attack he’ll show off next week was one of my favorite techniques in the show, along with the Eight Inner Gates, which is why Lee is the only other person I might’ve gone for. Peter: At 9 I’d definitely want to be Sasuke, at least in this point in the story. I think at that age fighting style would take precedence over any kind of characterization or narrative. If we hit Shippuden already though, 9-year-old Peter would prefer Sasori 100%. Noelle: Young me preferred Gaara and one other character that hasn’t appeared yet and current me feels… the exact same way. My taste in characters has always been consistent, I guess! Nate: Lee or Guy. I'd have paper bags filled with rocks so I could "drop the weights" and then run around faster. Carolyn: Probably Gaara, as 9-year-old me. But now, most likely Shikamaru or Rock Lee. Paul: Believe it or not, nine year old me would go with Sakura. As a kid, I generally identified with the girl characters in male-dominated cartoons, such as Princess Allura in Voltron and Arcee in the animated Transformers movie. What can I say? I like pink. Joseph: I’d be Kankuro, running around shouting “PUPPET POWER!” at all my annoyed friends. David: Back in the day I started growing my hair out just to be more like Sasuke, so definitely him. Kara: Probably Kiba while trying to convince my childhood dog to be my Akamaru. I had a border collie, so it would either have gone perfectly or terribly. COUNTERS: "I'm gonna be Hokage!" count: 23 Bowls of ramen consumed: 29 bowls, 3 cups Shadow Clones created: 258 And that's everything for this week! Remember that you're always welcome to join us for this rewatch, especially if you haven't watched the original Naruto! Here's our upcoming schedule! -Next week, on MARCH 22nd, the Chunin Exams give way to an even greater conflict in EPISODES 64-70 as NICOLE MEJIAS hosts! -Then, on MARCH 29th, DANIEL DOCKERY returns as the Third Hokage springs into action in EPISODES 71-77! -On APRIL 5th, CAYLA COATES stops by just in time to introduce us to a mysterious new shinobi in EPISODES 78-84! Thank you for joining us for the Great Crunchyroll Naruto Rewatch! Have a great weekend, and we'll see you all next time! Have any thoughts on our thoughts on Episodes 57-63? Let us know in the comments below! We’re also accepting questions and comments for next week, so feel free to ask away!!! ----- Danni Wilmoth is a Features and Social Videos writer for Crunchyroll and also co-hosts the video game podcast Indiecent. You can find more words from her on Twitter @NanamisEgg. Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

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