#I also just find that this season gives me a lot of secondhand embarrassment compared to others

[tomwambsmilk]

Question for any fellow Silicon Valley fans who might be lurking in the ether. How do the rest of you feel about season 3

[ichika27]

Winter 2020: Episode 1

I decided to check out some anime that came out for this season. I’m still not sure if I’ll be watching their entire series so I’m not gonna do the post reacts like I do with ‘Mairimashita! Iruma-kun’ so either I’ll do this kind of thing every week after seeing the episodes of each or would just post an individual overall reaction about each series after they finish or if I ever decide to drop them. I’ll be trying that ‘3 episode’ rule thing everyone does to make it easier for me.

First of all, Madoka Magica: Magia Record.

A ‘Madoka Magica’ spin-off based on the mobile game with brand new characters but the original cast would show up later on, too. The first episode is fun and interesting already with the mystery surrounding the main character’s wish she’d forgotten about and the girl appearing in everyone’s dreams. The feel of the first episode is kind of different from how I felt while watching the original series and not in a bad way. I think I would follow the entire series just because I loved ‘Madoka Magica’.

Next is Bofuri: I Don’t Wanna Get Hurt So I’ll Max Out My Defense.

About a girl named Kaede who isn’t really a gamer but was convinced by a friend to play her first VRMMO. Since she doesn’t like pain, she decided her first weapon would be a shield and that she’d put all of her starting stat points (and every point she’d earn from there on) into increasing her defenses. It proved to be a good idea when she gets achievements that make her stronger. It’s another ‘MC is OP’ but this isn’t isekai and the main character is female which is nice. Not sure if this will have a harem since male versions of this type of stories end up that way.

That said, despite the things I feel about how OP characters in stories like these are created, at least there’s a reason for how it happens to Kaede with many of the achievements being reachable by any player if they’ve played long enough and have good weapons and experience and it’s just Kaede’s defense is strong enough to help her reach those faster.

The Case Files of Jeweler Richard

Nice guy Seiji saves a guy named Richard one night and find out the latter is a jeweler. He asks Richard to appraise his grandma’s ring and this unravels the mystery behind it and Seiji’s grandma. Richard ends up hiring Seiji to work for him and his Jewelry Store.

I like the characters, the art style is good, and there’s hints of bromance that makes me wanna ship the main characters BUT I tried out this show because of the ‘Case Files’ part of the title. To me, if a detective/mystery show isn’t as fun or as good as ‘Detective Conan’ then I’d probably get bored of it and drop it. I can’t really say much about the first episode so I’ll see the next one to find out if this is worth watching to the end.

Socerous Stabber Orphen (2020)

I didn’t see this coming but an anime I watched when I was younger got a remake. The story was enjoyable so I had planned to check this out since I saw the trailer. It’s about a mage named Orphen whose trying to get his friend Azalie to turn back from being a dragon after she got herself cursed. The art is kinda similar to current anime which makes me miss the old art style (he looked better in the old one but everyone else feel like they got cuter). I also really, really miss the OP of the old one ‘Ai, Just on my Love’ as it felt like it fits the magic/badass feeling of the story.

Anyways, the first episode is way different from the old one (sorry if I’m doing comparisons) but here, Orphen meets his companions differently and Majic isn’t even his apprentice yet. The way he meets Claiomh is also different that it didn’t start out with a misunderstanding although this time. This also shows us Orphen’s backstory from the start unlike in the original series where it’s kind of like a spoiler. This first episode isn’t as interesting as the older one but hopefully, it gets there later on.

Toilet Bound Hanako-kun

Kept seeing this guy when playing mudae on Discord and I thought he looked cute and the title of the manga he came from is interesting and looked it up only to find out it’s getting an anime lol. I was planning on seeing this one, too and the first episode was cute and fun to watch! It certainly feels the same way it felt when I watched Iruma-kun. I’m also intrigued by ‘Seven Mystery’ stuff as it’s been a small plot/arc in some stories but this one is gonna have it as it’s actual story.

In this, a girl named Nene hears about the school’s 7th mystery and sought it out as it’s rumored to grant wishes. She meets the ghost ‘Hanako’ who, after several events gets bound to her to help her out of a curse in exchange for her being his helper. It’s really cute and I already ship them XD

Hatena Illusion

Kana comes from a family of famous magicians and secretly, of thieves. She’s very excited to see her childhood friend Makoto again as the latter would be living with them only for her excitement to be shattered once she realizes she has been mistaken all these years as Makoto isn’t a girl but a boy. Makoto on the other hand is happy to see Kana again whom he nicknamed ‘Hatena’ (but is surprised that she now dislikes him) and will also be an apprentice to Kana’s father which is something he’s always wanted.

This is like, romance with a magical girl transformation in it and all that. I think the art is cute and it seems like fun but Kana is uh... kinda annoying? I mean, she’s the one who misunderstood everything and it’s not like Makoto lied to her but she proceeds to insult him, nearly had him kicked out of the house when he had just arrived (she was thankfully persuaded not to), and is just mean to him and in the end wanted to steal something from him that was from her mom saying ‘She wants to help her mother’ and stuff when she’s just being petty. I’ll give this 3 episodes and if I still don’t feel it, I’ll drop this.

Lastly, A Destructive God Sits Next to Me.

Koyuki just wants a peaceful life but unfortunately for him, he’s classmates with chuunibyou Hanadori who wouldn’t stop bothering him as Hanadori thinks that Koyuki is also ‘reincarnated’ like he is. Determined to not let Hanadori’s antics ruin his life and his education, Koyuki strives to ignore the weirdness happening around him but he still ends up reacting and usually getting mad at the chuunibyou.

I wanted to watch this when I heard of it months ago - cute guys that look like I can ship them and the story seemed fun. Also, I needed something after the ending of ‘Chuubyou Gekihatsu Boy’ (still waiting for that ova...) and this seems perfect. Although this reminds me more of ‘Tonari no Seki-kun’ with the whole ‘MC tries to concentrate on studying but can’t ignore their classmate with the strange hobbies’.

The first episode is really funny for me so that’s good. It’s also got that secondhand embarrassment cringe comedy but surprisingly, it’s for the main character and not the chuunibyou (I feel so sorry for Koyuki). Unlike in Chuubyou, the other characters in this show either thinks Hanadori is annoying or weird. To be honest, as much as I’d like not to feel this way, Hanadori is kind of annoying. Hopefully either he gets better or he just ends up growing on me before episode 3 finishes or I may drop this. I mean, no matter how funny it is, annoying characters still kinda get to me.

--

Like I said, I have a lot on my plate now compared to the mere 3 last season and I’m still watching Iruma-kun as it’s still ongoing. Will I watch these all until the end or will I be dropping some? We’ll find out...

[marculees]

Soft Bias Tag <3

Tagged by the lovely @pikachulein, thank you! ^-^

Prepare for soft cringe. So because I’m selfish and lowkey narcissistic hahaha, I kinda have two so this is going to be a 2-in-1 yay. I haven’t even started yet and I’m already laughing?? Anyway lets go~

1. Who is my Bias?

💛 Jackson Wang

💜 Mark Lee

2. What made you notice him?

💛 His laugh, sense of humor and energy! It was contagious and I couldn’t help just OwO at him in every video lololol

💜 Lmao we have the exact same birthday so I was like omg yes finally someone I can relate to. So I looked up his profile and noticed we were basically the same person and was shook O.o

3. What’s your favorite thing about him?

💛 His heart of gold (aha get the emoji reference yeeeah i did that).He’s honestly such a kind and generous person and sjkglsgfdkjf he makes me cry. Like when I see him helping others or taking care of his members or his family especially, my heart skips a beat. He’s my ideal type tbh, as cringey as that sounds. Here’s an excerpt from a letter to my bias thing I have in my drafts cx

“Ideal types may be just a charade to some, but ultimately you are everything I want in a partner. Your kindness and generosity is one of my favourite things about you and is hugely underappreciated by others. How you always go out of your way to help others, be it strangers or loved ones, is so inspiring. You truly have a heart of gold and I feel like it isn’t said enough. Yes, you are fucking gorgeous and a huge idiot but its the kind soul underneath that I love most.”

💜 That he makes me feel more confident and loving towards myself <3

“I’ve always been the black sheep, odd one out, and I still struggle with finding others I can relate to. When I was in school I was friendly with everyone but with my friends I wasn’t really considered part of the group. I didn’t fit.  I was an afterthought, an outsider. I’m in college now and while I do feel a sense of belonging with my new friends, with you I feel not just that but a sense of understanding, a sense of empathy NCT 2018. Since the very first day, I settled on biasing you for these probably selfish reasons alone. I was a kid back then, we both were. And now that we are barely considered adults, I am still following you. But my initial fascination has become much deeper than just that. The more I’ve fallen in love with you, the more I’ve begun to love myself also. You show and teach me things I’ve discredited or put down about about myself. The more interest I showed in you and your group, the more similar I realised we are. From our attitude, ethic, gestures, sense of humor and way of speaking, it became apparent to me that I had finally found someone. Someone who makes me feel like it’s okay to be who I am, because I am not alone. What I perceived as flaws in myself, I saw as endearing in you.”

*pukes from cringe at myself* I am never going to post the full thing

4. Who would initiate skinship more?

💛 HIM WITHOUT A DOUBT. He’s a touchy baby. Tbh it would probably piss me off slightly, like I’m just being honest ahaha. I don’t mind people touching my thigh or my arm for a second but he’s the type to just touch and then stay there lol

💜 Him too, I think. I’ve noticed he’s become a bit more touchy with the members recently! I’m not very touchy but if someone is more chill about it and doesn’t feel like its necessary or has to be like all the fucking time, then I’m more inclined to actually engage in it surprise surprise.

5. Who would hog the blankets more?

💛 I would say him but then I remember him saying he gets really hot at night (it was in one of those GOT2Days with JB lol). I get hot too so he can hog them if he wants cx

💜 He’s pretty chill, like so long as he has his pillow to hug then I don’t think he would mind much. I would insist on covering him up still though. I’m not a hogger at all, in fact usually I end up with literally half/no blanket in the morning because I’ve kicked it off at some point

6. Who would be more clingy?

💛 HIM. I honestly don’t think I need to explain XD

💜 Oooh tough question. I feel like it could be him? I would be more clingy on the inside, if that makes sense?

7. Who would say I love you first?

💛 I think it would be me but just as like a casual thing like, “Ahh you’re lucky I love you”. But he would take it serious and be like “...I love you too”. And then I’d get all giggly and embarrassed because that’s all I ever do T-T

💜 Maybe me? Idk like it would a kind of ‘in the moment’ thing? I’d be thinking it but I wouldn’t say it until I realised I actually had. I’ve done this before ;-;

8. Who would be more easily flustered?

💛 Me!!!! I bet that would be his favourite thing to do too. He’s such a little shit like he’d be all “Aww is someone all blushy?” and then make me even worse and kjdsgfldfmdsfg I would lowkey enjoy it tbh XD

💜 I think him actually! I wouldn’t be over-the-top romantic or cheesy so if I ever did something, it would catch him by surprise and make him uwu haha. I’m not the best at speaking my thoughts but I would write lots of poems and songs for him and I think that would make him get all flustered since he likes writing too c:

9. What cuddling position would you two have?

💛 Aww I honestly love backhugs so anything where I could just wrap my arms around him and lie against his back. The big spoon! But I feel like he would give the best hugs so like sitting in his lap with his arms around me and djkfhdjfhj fuck this shit I’m out T-T

💜 We’re both quite childish and awkward when it comes to cuddling so I feel like it would be just playwrestling and then forgetting that we’re supposed to wrestle so we just lie in a big tangle on top of each other ;-;

10. Which colors remind you of them and why?

💛 Yellow because his blonde hair is beautiful, plus he’s so bright and cheerful like the colour itself  ^-^

💜 Pink! He looks adorable in pink plus he’s mentioned the colour a few times on broadcasts and stuff so I feel like he has a fondness for it~

11. Which season would you like to spend with them?

💛 Summer because he’s probably be sleeveless all the time or even shirtless... ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) I have no shame ahahaha

💜 Winter because I think if it was snowing, it would remind him of his home and then it would be cute af and we’d have a snowball fight and hot chocolate after <3

12. Who would bake the cookies and who would steal the batter?

💛 Tbh we’d bake and steal it together XD

💜 I think he would try so hard not to fuck the baking up but I’d tempt him into stealing the batter with me cx

13. Which one of you would make bad puns and how would the other react?

💛 Ohhh definitely me. And he’d either scream with laughter or just get pissed off oops. I’d just laugh even more though lmao

💜 We share the same sense of humor so it would be kinda mutual! I’d make a shitty pun and he makes an even worse one on top of that and then we end up getting into a spiral of awful puns and rhymes and before you know it we’ve written possibly the worst rap of all time

14. Who would want to adopt 50 dogs and cats?

💛 Me. I don’t want kids but I’m g with furbabies. 50 is a bit much though XD

💜 ^^^

15. Which one of you would nearly burn down the kitchen trying to microwave a pop tart and who would come to the rescue?

💛 I’d be the dumbass burning down the kitchen, no questions asked. He’d be having a heart attack and be screaming, like I can actually hear his scream right now just picturing it XD

💜 Oh dear, again it would probably be mutual... >.<

16. Who likes to lean over trail railings and who pulls them back?

💛 I’m really protective so I’d help steady him and make sure he doesn’t fall because we know how excited he gets XD

💜 ^^^ But I have seen him holding the members and looking out for their safety in general, so I think it would be him in this case actually~

17. What would watching a horror film with them be like?

💛 “This isn’t even scary. Like look, nothing is happening. Stop hiding behind the cushion, Niamh.” “THE MOTHERFUCKER IS RIGHT ON THE SCREEN, YOU LIAR. I HATE YOU.”

💜 “If you get scared, you can hold onto me” .“You mean, cuddle you because you’re scared, right?”. “Ah...yes, Niamh. Thanks.”

18. Who would be the cheesy flirt and who would be the smooth flirt?

💛 He’d be sooooo cheesy, like to the point where its not even flirting but just straight up cringey. I don’t flirt often but when I do, its like wow I see what you did there. But I’d get embarrassed around him so it would be less smooth and more stuttery unless I got a sudden burst of confidence. He would have no shame flirting though, like he legit would be the type to say “Omg damn girl, that ass” and I’d slap him XD

💜 Eww he’d be cheesy like he’d be walking around and see something and try make it a rap like in the LA vlog lmao. Something really dumb like “You’re so pretty, those flowers don’t compare because you have a cute face and nice hair” and I’d just be like “uhhh....thanks?” and burst out laughing and blushing out of secondhand embarrassment XD

19. Who is more competitive?

💛 We’re both so competitive but I think with his history in sporting competitions (whereas I was too shy to do them T-T), it would give him just a bit more. I’d always encourage him though, like I’d love seeing him try his best and would always ask if there was anything I could do to help. But if it came to games, I don’t take the “I let you win” excuse cx

💜 Me? I take my passions very seriously and throw myself into what I do, like I get VERY into my work. I was v competitive in debating and any time I hear the word challenge, its like yasss bring it on bish. Mark is competitive too but I think he’d prefer taking a support role. He’s so encouraging of his members and I honestly need a little cheerleader like him in my life ;-;

20. Who would be given constant reminders? (Don’t forget your keys, things like that)

💛 As much of a nagger I can be, I feel like he is the type to do this even at random moments. Like we’d be chilling together and then he’ll just say out of nowhere, “Did you eat lunch btw? I’m going to make you lunch”. He wouldn’t listen to any bullshit. He’d take care of me whether I liked it or not haha

💜 Hhmm kinda mutual here but for different things, if that makes sense? Like he’d be telling me to “take your meds and vitamins, bring a jacket, text when you get there”, etc. I’d be like “take a break for a few minutes, I’ll be there soon with some food”, etc, I need reminders for taking care of myself but I give reminders for others to take care of themselves lol

21. Who sends memes and who sends cute ‘i miss you’ texts at 3am?

💛 He’s the sappy bitch with “I miss you” texts haha and being the idiot I am, I would send him memes of himself in response XD

💜 Honestly, unless he was maybe drunk I think it would be me. Like it would very out of the blue and probably make him panic a bit oops. He’d write a long ass ride message in response though because he’d be so worried ^^’

This was very soft and cringey ahaha but I’m going to tag @jaexmins @cosmicrailwaybisexual @happysmilebtr @kikitsaaa @nctdoingthings @castielsinwhite @thefroghyungwon @seulgii-princess and if anyone else wants to do it then just say I tagged you XD

[winebleeds-a]

   she’s not one to give hallmark cards. her family knows her tradition of handwritten letters as cards all too well; less money is wasted while remaining true to her words & not the generator at the factory. otherwise, for people lesser known or almost not worthy of her time, at least a simple ‘happy birthday’ text (or even holidays if necessary) means more than genetic fonts on cardboard. she avoids the aisle at all cost. but, this time, this one time, she’s going to make an exception.  no matter the pain, there’s an envelope under his door in the morning, slipped through the bottom of his door between returning from a shorten jog & work. despite the hint of embarrassment at checkout a couple days before, she snickers when she walked away. a crooked grin proving glory at the image of his reaction. 

   because, after all this tangled time with benjamin steele, she’s gained a sense of humor; well, not gained, more dug out of her when he finally buried in her heart. the hints appearing in the form of gag gifts, the few joint presents of spencer siblings to parents (that may never went to well), the time she skipped her own birthday party the second closest. yet here’s evidence of the bud in a humorous flower in that damn hallmark card. star wars theme with the theme song blasting when opened. in addition, there’s an infamous starbucks gift card (another secondhand gift; some family members forget starbucks isn’t the only place to serve coffee) within the folded content. her only signature coming from the winky face on the face of the envelope. 

   but wait until he gets home again. when someone actually used their lunch break for part two. when the traditional letter stains the floor during his absence. ben written in the finer scribble of her handwriting, solemn compare to her earlier card. once open, the receipt for the last jedi tickets block handwritten words. when that’s removed, the letter has the following:

surprise bitch. i bet you thought you’d seen the last of me ;)

at least. that’s a similar feeling when you sat next to me in the library. you were suppose to be meaningless like my morning card and not the subject of a birthday letter. i didn’t assume, when your birthday rolled around the first time, that i would find a home in you. that’s why i took two seconds typing happy birthday last year. not spending hours waiting to reserve tickets for your nerdy interests. it was torture.

i’ll go through that torture. for you. science fiction doesn’t capture my interest, but i saw your captivation and that’s enough for me to ruin my reputation at the premiere of a star wars movie. congrats, you convinced me when my brother couldn’t. and i don’t expect anyone else will be able to trick me to such.

so i have october 17th, 1993 to blame that i understand the inaccuracy of han solo’s 12 parsecs one liner. the amount of bland ihop pancakes i have disgusted that became more than an excuse for free food.  and the amount of fucking disgusting shots of vodka i took with you. i blame that date for a lot, but i hate how often you make me smile.  i hope you know twenty four years ago brought me a light to my life

ben, i know i’m not the best at this. i’m not that perfect (don’t say ‘i told you so’). but i feel perfect. with you. all the hours on your couch or my couch doing nothing has been something i look forward when i’m away. because i’m with you. and that makes the difference. by october 17th, 2017, i can admit i am not the same. i’m finally content.

we have room for improvement, but that only leaves the possibility of how the space between now and october 17th, 2018 will be filled. this year has been unexpected when i thought nothing of you to everything, though it took the year to admit i love you. since i am not counting calling you special on that night, despite it being the moment i did love you. you were more stubborn than me. you made yourself the first person i fell in love with.

happy birthday astronerd.

ps: if you’re reading this after 6:30, come to the rooftop asap. there’s one last surprise. it will also count as part of your present this holiday season. 

   at the top of the building, her small figure will lean on the uplifted concrete slab. her hands occupy the big pocket in her hoodie; the chicago winds are much too harsh for any formal clothing. but she feels he prefers the comfort of hoodies & skinny jeans & long warm boots weighing her than the superiority of fancy buttons-ups & tiny dresses of her work. she didn’t give herself the effort to apply touch up on her makeup worn since the morning. there’s no point when he’s seen her human. when she’s no longer afraid of being open with blonde strands whipping over the small slimmer of a smile.

   but she didn’t have time for a transformation, if it was needed. after work, there was setting up the telescope that resides next to her. the miracle is hasn’t topple over is in due part to the assistance of alfred, as he & caitlyn came at liz’s request before the two left for their date. she is cautious of the final present, using the majority of a paycheck to buy the equipment (the time she begged more than usual for him to pay? probably the time she bought the telescope).  truly, for the effort to stay in the cold wind to show off the damn telescope, giving a smile exposing teeth to the frigid breeze, then he is special to her.

      ‘ just because you can’t see the sky doesn’t mean you still would like to try it out. your choice, birthday boy. ’

@cyniceds (happy birthday benjamin steele!)