#I forgot to give RT to some drawings that I liked

[elecalice]

CHANNELETTES SKETCH DUMP

Context: This is for my idea of Channelettes, which are Antropomorphised TV Channels. Or TV Channels Gijinka.

I love Gijinka ever since I became fixated with OS-Tans when I was young. Gijinka, in my opinion, is a good creative exercise in giving human qualities and characterization on non-human things.

I'm planning more on this project. But for the moment, have this sketch dump.

The First Sketches

Featuring early designs of ITV's Anglia, Southern Television and Channel Television. All being part of the United Kingdom's ITV Network.

While I did some ideas of TV Gijinka before, Adam Martyn's Ident Review Extra episode of the ITV Idents inspired the whole new Channelette Project, and with it, those first three designs.

The design for Anglia convinces me, while the others need more refining. Especially Southern Television. Although, Channel Television will be a catgirl, without doubt.

Deutsche Welle (Or DW-Lette)

Made in May.

Sorry for the weird pose, I tend to do those. I don't know what's missing on DW-Lette's design.

RT-Lette

Based on the State-Owned Russian channel.

(Before I did this drawing, I did some sketch with her and CGTN. But I'll not post it here, since it's kinda unintelligible)

She will be portraited as a selfish daddy's girl (The "daddy" being of course The Pudin, You-know-who) who uses the majority of the money given for her own benefict. She doesn't like the other Channelettes. And the other Channelettes doesn't trust her.

She's CLEARLY made for satire. (NO Russophobia allowed with the character!! Xenophobia will NOT be tolerated!)

TV3 Catalunya

Based on TV3 of Catalunya, Spain.

The reason of me making this Channelette is because the 80s TV3 theme is so DAMN EPIC SOUNDING!!

I imagined a Gacha-Inspired animation of TV3-Lette with her flag-carrying spear. It was so cool, I HAD to draw her design.

I tried to draw her with a traditional Catalunya outfits. Making the flag was REALLY hard, though...

EARLY, PRE-CHANNELETTES IDEAS

(Note that NOT every design will be there. Because I sketched in different notebooks and I ended up missing some sketches)

1984 TVN Gijinka (or 1984 TVN-Lette?)

Done in January 2023. Based on Chile's TVN logo from 1984 until 1988.

I LOVE this TVN logo, even if it was short-lived. I love it due to how beautiful and creative the idents are, with those two ribbons moving around. Really elegant idents, also.

I tried to make her design look so formal (Authoritarian? because ya know, dictatorship)

She needs a more defined design and a bigger drawing. Random idea, she will have Ribbons on her main design.

BBC News Early Design

Okay. I forgot that this sketch was from 2020!

I Watched the BBC World News channel and sometimes I watch it with my dad's TV box. And I liked watching the idents and the intros. And I love the countdown.

And I tried to draw her more, but I stopped with this. She needs a better design, still. BUT the idea of her using a antenna-inspired spear as her main weapon will carry on her design.

UCTV Early Design

Based on UCTV, actually named Canal 13, from Chile.

Oh god (ironic), this design also comes from 2020! The idea was older than I thought.

His design was based on a priest, because the UCTV at that time was owned by a Catholic university from Chile. (WAS, nowadays no more, since... Late 2000s early 2010s)

Also because the channel used to show off some priests telling reflections before the channel signs off. (I remember catching some of those Reflections when I was a kid. But I didn't payed attention to those)

While I like this design, I think I'll redesign him. Spoiler of the new design idea, the channel used to have bumpers with angel cartoons, and it's why UCTV was nicknamed "The Channel of the Little Angel" ("El Canal del Angelito"). Wink Wink.

There was this 2022 redraw of UCTV-Lette's design, with another designs for two other Chilean channels.

UCV Televisión, which design is the one with heels and one-eye covering hair. She's was the oldest Chilean TV channel, so i'll try to give her justice on a upcoming design.

AND Telecanal. Which is the one who's holding a box exclaiming "Buy My Shit". The joke refers to the fact that Telecanal's programming consists of an ABSURD majority of infomercials, and little to NO original content... I'm still baffled that this channel SOMEHOW is STILL AIRING. Sorry for the random rant. I'll try to come up with a better design.

I'll be continuing posting more sketches, as well as develop more of the Channelette project.

I'll be making a Masterpost of the whole Channelette later.

When I return to digital drawing, I'll try to digitise the designs. (And Hopefully do more drawings in general. I'm trying to make drawings from my tablet but... I need to build confidence with it)

Hope you like it!

_Elec

[awesome-opossum-after-hours]

rewatch details/thoughts part 2 (s2 ep4- s2 ep9)

-okay so the beginning of ep4 bears a STRIKING resemblance to the whole "Chrissy wake up" scene (except obviously Will doesn't get killed). so why did Vecna keep him alive when he could've easily taken him?

- also, Will's drawing of the Mindflayer is almost identical to Creel's spider drawing, but obviously a different setting

-can we talk about Will's breakdown to Joyce and him just sobbing "I just want this to be over!" because thats so fucking heartbreaking

-Hopper has one if those stupid bass fish decorations on him cabin wall. why, bro?

-why did I JUST realize that El was so upset about the TV being taken away, not just because it's a source of entertainment, but because she uses it as white noise to contact Mike? maybe I'm stupid

-Dustin relocated his turtle and never put him back. rip Yurtle

- I feel like the fact that Dustin also used to like Max is pretty overlooked. don't get me wrong, Lucas and Max all the way I mean they're adorable. but it would've been interesting either way

-so at the end of season 4, Will says that the "He" that was in his mind in season 2 was Vecna, but in s2 they pointed to a drawing of the mindflayer and asked if that was the "he" and Will said yes. so either he said that because of how often he'd see the Mindflayer in his visions, or Vecna was presenting himself as it in Will's mind. either way I wanna see that touched on more in the last season.

- the demobat trailer scene heavily parallels the junkyard demodog scene in s2 ep6, just in a different sequence. in the case of Eddie, they build the defense on the trailer, run inside and defend against bats trying to come in, THEN Eddie runs out and sacrifices himself. in the case of Steve, they fortify the old bus, Steve uses himself as bait, and then (as he should've) ran back into the bus to ward of the demodogs

-most of El's clothes are WAY too big, specifically her flannels. are they Hopper's?

-Kali has different powers than her siblings, and it's not ever said if she also has telekinesis. it seemed like 10 had sloghtly different powers too, which is a bit of a red flag for Eleven, seeing as she has the exact same powers as 001.

-the captions on ep7 made me realize that I've been singing Runaway by Bon Jovi pretty incorrectly lol

-the way the term "mouthbreather" got pretty dropped is sad :( it held a lot of power

-are the streets of Chicago really that scary? someone from the area please tell me

-Kali's power sorta does tie in with 001, actually. so maybe each kid has a little part of his overall abilities? El's telekinesis/ mind communication, Kali's illusions (like the clock, since anything else is actually in the victim's mind), and 010 seemed to have that sort of "true sight"

- Kali's room has a half lit neon sign of a Hamsa Hand- the universal sign of protection

-some of the graffiti in their hideout says: "Hottie", "So Long and Thanks", "Mena", "Forgot", "TR 117", "Wicked", and "Stinky Fa-" (rt..?) didn't catch the rest of that one

-if Kali escaped before the massacre, Henry possibly helped her. if she had helped him back like El eventually did, maybe it would've happened earlier, taking Eleven down with them. reason being, the speech she gives to El about tapping into strong and angering memories is strikingly similar to the advice Creel gives her in the rainbow room flashback. maybe Kali got the same advice?

-I miss Funshine.

- though "Dead End Justice" was a good choice, I think "Cherry Bomb" would've been equally as badass for El's bitchin makeover

-am I the only one who forgot that the guy Kali and El torture literally SAYS that Brenner is alive??? and it's just brushed over. like, I still thought he was dead until season 4 lmao

- while hyping himself up in the mirror, Billy oils up his... yk...

-speaking of Billy, he has a "Kill Em All" poster on his wall. the duality of 80s Metallica fans, apparently

-again, on the topic of Billy's room, he also has a Mötley Crüe album and a dartboard sitting on his bureau

-if I was Bob in that one scene, I'd be shitting my pants. shaking, crying, throwing up, quaking in my boots. mans was playing a real life FNAF Sister Location or some shit. idk my sister made me play once bc she couldn't beat the part with the flashlights and the endoskeletons and I hated that enough. no thank you, I'd rather be out in the open schmaking the shit out of demobats than bolting down dark hallways.

-joyce's trauma seeing Bob die in front of her got so overlooked in s3, plus eventually seeing Hopper "die" as well. it makes the scene in the Russian prison where Hop is using himself as bait a lot more powerful, I'm glad they brought that up so it wasn't just forgotten

-everyone's methods of understanding and dealing with these things are so different, and it's seen clearly in the part where Steve and the kids are left alone at the Byers' house. Steve uses sports terms, Max wanted cut and dry evidence, and the boys resorted to DnD analogies.

-"[The Mindflayer] its so ancient, it doesn't even know its true home" is an overlooked line, I'd like to see that explained more in season 5. the whole "it believes its the master race" though reminds me of Vecna saying how humans were a special kind of pest

-i wish we got to see Joyce's reaction when she found the demodog's dead body in her fridge

-

[windmaedchen-fairytail]

Summoned Ivan

I had an idea for a redeeming moment for Ivan... after his death. xD (With the ongoing headcanon I have here, he's choosing to go out doubling down on his antagonistic position to the main cast.)

Years after the canon ends, most cast members have kids and family. Still, they are part of Fairy Tail and the guild as a whole gets into trouble again and they, for some reason or other, come across something to which only Ivan might have an answer to.

He's dead, but why would that matter when you have Wendy and her Milky Way spell? They have nothing to loose by trying so they get everything ready, however, hesitate when they realise that Ivan would hardly just give them a helping hand out of the kindness of his heart. But how do you convince or bribe a spirit, who's time of consciousness is limited without any use of material things?

You get them by unexpected sincere flattery. And how do you do that? By sending in Ivan's biggest fan - Laxus's first born son.

That boy may have fair skin and blonde hair (his mother looks the same) but he's got the same ears. He's not fond of his ears (even though "Uncle" Erik helps with his self-esteem) until he finds various pictures of his grandfather. Oh boy, did the questions come flowing. Evening after evening he'd pester his dad to tell him about Ivan while looking at the same pictures again and again. He would get sincere, fond stories of Laxus's childhood but also was told about all the crap Ivan did later on (albeit in a watered down version). The boy would proceed to make his own cloak (based on the clothes his granddad would wear), he drew tons of pictures of them together, and he recently was allowed to go to the old Raven Tail base together with his family and "Aunt" Flare (who did end up joining FT after all). He never gets tired of telling everyone that when he's big, he'll make Raven Tail come back and then RT and FT guilds would be the best partner guilds on earth.

So, yeah, imagine a slightly confused Ivan being summoned and all he sees is this 10-year-old in front him with shiny eyes, drawings scattered about him, so excited to talk to him that he skips the introduction and goes straight to "They are just like mine!", presenting his ears with the biggest grin between them.

Ivan has no choice but to respond. He can walk away from things that can't communicate (like screaming or incoherently babbling babies), but once they have that skill of communicating in a language Ivan understands, they can hold his attention no problem. xD

Ooookay, anyway, I could probably spend an hour talking about their interactions, but ... in the end... when Ivan finally asks what all this about, the boy presents the object/question the guild needs an answer to. It wouldn't have mattered what it was, Ivan knew he was gonna respond positively to it. For in these few minutes, besides the innocent admiration flattering him to the core, he realised that the family he once left behind now held the memory of him dearer than he would ever have expected while he was still alive (although this sentiment is primarily due to the fact he is but a summoned spirit who's time is limited). So yeah... he willingly provides the help the guild needs and when it was time to depart, he leaves a kid behind who's bawling his eyes out for the rest of the evening (because the boy forgot to ask so many things).

...

... I kinda wanna write that and draw illustrations for it. Or at least, draw ONE illustration for it. T_T

[huntsman-ash]

RWBY V8E5 LiveThoughts

And now for the last episode before the HUGE break they’re taking. Seriously, February? Damn, whats going on at RT?

It matters not. Lets see what this weeks episode has for us.

And here we see Aminety Colloseum, the place that Atlas SHOULD have weaponized the moment it rolled its way back here. Seriously look at it; floating free away from everything else...you could mount missile launchers and laser batteries and CIWS batteries on it, launch fighters from it, let dropships deploy through its base...a floating aircraft carrier of unprecidented size.

Or maybe turn it into a weapon...use its drive system to focus Dust energy into some kind of gravitational force...thats just me though.

Missed oppertunites...ah well.

You CAN see its been adjusted though, it looks less like the sports arena from its last apperance and more like a floating coms hub, with those dishes on the outside and the huge spire.

Intersetingly if you look in the upper right corner the moon is there but almost completely covered by the storm Salem summoned. Interesting.

Wait why is PEITRO out there? With like...no supports? Seems kinda dangerous to send the weak old dude out there...

...thats a bomb. A Dust bomb in pipe bomb style form but thats very much a bomb.  Yes, Penny, danger indeed.

Atmospheric orbit. Ahhh that must be the low-level orbit path that they need to ensure it doesnt loose power. The part where you coast along with almost no drag.  Like what the X-15 hit in our world, and punched through at least once.

WAIT WHAT THE HELL IS THAT. Thats some kind of loader mech. THATS A FUCKING UTILITY TITAN. WHEN DID ATLAS GET ONE OF THOSE?!

Also thats a jet engine.

And Maria’s piloting it. To quote Daimon Baird; I know wha thappens when you let an angry chick loose with a power loader.

Multiple bombs...wait. Thats the mine that RWBY fought in with the Aces, the one that almost blew the fuck up. They’re... Oh. I get it now. They’re gonna use the blast to fling Amneity into upper orbit and stabalize it. Clever. Not exactly SAFE, but clever. Just hope the mine doesnt go anywhere important. Those tunnels are going to turn into firestorms.

Cute, she thinks she can stay and help. Trust me, Penny. You’re better off running.

MARIA CASUALLY DOING THE MEXICAN GRANDMOTHER THING WITH HER MECH...THE HIP HAND. MY GOD.

Oh, and his chair has gravity restraints too. They...gonna handle the impact of the launch? I mean thats literally a fuel/air bomb under them. Dust/air...

Well Maria seems alright with it.

OH GOD DAMMIT. Its Cinder isnt it? Fucking bitch...

On the positive side if she DOES hitch a ride then they get a chance to give her the ol’ “Long fall special”.  Lets see your maiden powers save you from a fall from near orbit.

Well then, she burned right through the floor. Interesting. Maiden powers or her own, who knows...I do admit seeing her ride the ship in like that is kinda cool.

The eagerness in Cinders remaining eye interest me. Also, even when using maiden powers, her dead eye emits nothing. So that whole parts just gone. 

Secondary note, I think they’re standing on the...Shade emblem? Shade is the swords I think. Vale is the axes, Atlas is the staff, Havens the lamp. Doubt it means anything.

Ahhh, okay I was gonna say, that launch was...kinda lackluster. But the blast is being used as a BOOST on top of the four existing external thrusters. Like the yellow emergency turbines on the outside of the Pillar of Autumn in the end cutscene of Halo Reach

Dust explodes in its own individual colors. The blast under them looks like a Pride festival.

Also Penny just going WHAP like that amuses me, whereas Cinder just crouches. Guess she knew what was coming.

I dont see how the blast is helping through...maybe its the pressure wave and we cant see it right.

Now THAT is a command and control table!

Based on the image I can see, the map is showing “Atlas Mantle” in the middle in green, Aminety in red to the north, and the whale as its own red marker just off to the west a bit of Atlas/Mantle. So now we know where everything is stationed.

The scales all kindsa weird tho

Ah THERES the G-force. Emeralds literally stuck to the floor.

And because Cinders an unoriginal bitch, fire swords. Im not impressed ot say the least.  On a side note that DOES mean that radiobandit was right about her powers, so theres that. I’d wager this is a combination of her semblance and the maiden abilities.

For those who follow me, Cinder’s blades here are similar in look to what Ash Vulcan can summon, minus the fire. His are more of a cooled obsidian look.  They are, however, as sharp as these are, but much less sturdy. Ex; the one that pins itself to the wall by Penny’s head would have shattered on impact, which Ash uses as a secondary ability. Because no one likes a hundred glass shards in their eyes...

OH HELL YES. Maria with the mech. Now, Cinder...TASTE METAL FIST.

RT...I salute you. Angry mother figure piloting a giant robot screaming “get away from her you bitch”. ALMOST had it. Almost.

What smacked into her though. Neo?

Yes, Neo piloting their escape craft. Interseting.

Emerald looks completely useless and confused and Neo is suddenly very much in a realization shes inside a tin can and MARIA IS OPERATING A GIANT TIN CAN OPENER

Emeralds semblance works on Maria. Interseting, so it must bypass eyes. Effect the brain specifically. Note to self for Chrys on that...

WHY did Neo take Ruby’s form when shes fighting Maria? On that Maria seems very happy to brawl on the ground now. Old habits die hard, I guess.

Additional math note; “broadcasting range” is, by this numerical, 543.523 of...whatever Remnant uses as units. On Earth, the edge of outerspace is almost exactly 100 km, or 62 miles, straight up. So going by that measurement... (Doing the math here hang on)...1 km is equal to 5.43 of Remnants distance units. Lets just say 5.5. Assuming Remnants edge is the same (but everything we’ve seen so far hints that it is, or at least very close)

Alternatively, since we heard klicks used in V4, but miles used in After The Fall, we can assume this is one of those, meaning that either broadcast altitude on Remnant is ABSURDLY HIGH, because 500km is literally 5 times the edge of space on earth, and 540 miles is ALMOST 9 TIMES AS HIGH. Either way Im pretty sure this is the first measurement of Remnants units we’ve seen.

Alternatively alternatively, judging by the arrows we see, these might be required velocity to maintain orbit, which MAY make a bit more sense but it doesnt really fit. Low orbital velocity on earth for example is 17,000 KPH. Even with the math above, theres still a TITANIC difference.

And now we see the numvers going down again because CINDER BURNED A HOLE IN THROUGH ONE OF THE STABALIZERS. Bitch.

Again on th e weaponizing the colleseum; look at all this empty space. They didnt even remove it from when it was a consorse for the festival. You could put SO MANY weapon emplacements...the landing pads are still there!

Oh so now Cinders a Dawnblade from RWBY is she.

And exploding arrows too. Alright then, sure, why not.

Not sure what the point of this little bit was, aside from Penny trying to draw Cinder off and Cinder going back because...evil? Bait for Penny? Who knows. 

Oh yeah, Marias having a GOOD time. Also, Neos face when she gets kicked in it; “NO, NOT THE SANDEL!”

Also the disrespect from Maria. Yes. Suck it, Neo.

Also theres some timeskippage, as there is NOT a 2 minute gap between when we see the clock the first time and when we see it now. I dont think, anyway. Im sure theres math to be done but it serves the purpose its suppose to, for tension.

Uhhhh...Cinder, please. Your Salem’s most bottom of bitches right now. She favors Hazel and Tyrian over you.

Did Cinder really just try for a does not compute moment. Or is she just out of ideas.

Cinder stealing the maiden powers reminds me of the Grip of the Devourer perk from the Necromatic Grips in Destiny 2. Mainly the green energy flowing. I know thats Pennys aura stuff but it does remind me.

Ahhh they got a plan with Emerald then. Interesting. Also Neo taking advantage of a distraction sounds like her. 

And Penny ONESHOTS Neo. Lets be real here, without aura? She’d be LIQUID. Or maybe ash. Not sure how Penny’s funnels (THEYRE STILL FUCKING FUNNELS DAMMIT) works.

Annnnddd you forgot shes a robot and sees aura didn’t you.  Again, without aura, she’d be dead. Actually, she might legit be dead considering that scream. That sounds like the noise someone makes as their organs are fried by high intensity radiation. Not too mention the MASSIVE BURN MARK on the back wall there.

Either way; GET FUCKED BITCH.

Very dramatic, Emerald, but really, come on. Penny has lasers. You would get maybe one more shot (from a weapon that has, at best from my viewpoint) a caliber equal to MAYBE a 9mm pistol. That stuff doesnt have the penetration power required.

If Penny wasn’t nice and more interested in saving Peitro...you’d be dead. Ripped asunder and Cinder made even worse. 

A pity, really, Penny has a heart. But...hey. Real girl.

I feed upon Emeralds tears though. Mmm. Simpy.

What the HELL is hitting them. Grimm?

Oh boy here we go, more of this. Like...bruh. Just set down for a bit. Always gotta be dramatic dont ya

Aww. Touching. But pointless in the grand scheme of things.

Interesting note but she puts her gloved hand on his cheek, not the one with the glove burned off. For what thats worth again.

Holy shit, that map wasnt lying. That whale’s almost as big as Atlas is from this angle. Mind you, might just be a trick of the location but it would make sense if they were afraid of a Grimm THAT GOD DAMN BIG. I was just seeing it as like, about the size of a normal sperm whale, maybe as big as the Leviathan from the series of the same name, but even that was barely 150 feet long. This things HUGE.

Nope. Pretty sure its about the same size as Atlas is long.

Also the Moon seems smaller from this angle oddly enough.

Wait is she gonna superman this fucking thing?

Okay yes, the numbers were based on distance not velocity, as Penny is pushing the stadium UP, rather than accelerating it in proper stance.

The noises she makes...huh. Glad my sister didnt walk in on those. Sounds...not like someone straining.

Hey look, its clumsy shitface McGee. HES NOT DEAD!

Note about the message; whos the chick with the eye patch next to the faunus in the back left of Ruby.

Im going to assume the first place we see the message played is the Mistral Black Market. Seems fitting for how it is, and the design matches Havens ascetic. 

OH MY GOD THE LITTLE EARED FAUNUS GIRL IN THE HOLE. OH NO. SHES TOO CUTE.

Also in that same shot we see the old Karen from two episodes ago, a mouse girl, Fiona’s mole uncle, and someone new I think. Plus the huge eared girls mom who has a fox tail. And also one of the thirsty moms and her kid maybe?

Hey, Sun and Neptune! Out in the middle of nowhere in Vacuo. So this is the first time we’ve seen it in the show. 

And Ilia’s still alive too!

Hey and Goodwytch too. No voice, of course...she got fired ages ago.

Also hey, so this is where Ironwoods been. I love how Hare turns it off before Ruby finishes. 

I will note that technically Ruby’s not wrong. Ironwood cant be trusted. But then, he couldnt before because (gestures to Atlas’s pathetic, scraggy SOFT “military” instead of THE CHAD FORCES OF...uh...) (Rapid sounds of shuffling papers and files labeled “UNSC” “Coalition of Ordered Governments” “SRPA” “GAR” and “Yukon Confederacy” fly off the table)

Several others. Yes. Lets go with that. (Accidentally bumps paper labeled “Vanguard” off the desk)

Watts is back out I see too. 

Wait wait wait. Penny’s blades operate via chips...part of her, sure. So WHY does she need wires on them? AGAIN. WHY ARE THEY WIRE FUNNELS AND NOT SEPERATE ONES.

Interestingly the inside of the one Watts has resembles a Scroll...did Peitro commender that technology?

No focusing system for the laser. No chamber for acceleration or direction. Odd.

Salem looks oddly glad for this. Probably cause she thinks this is going to spread more fear. 

And Ruby gets to the heart of the deal. You dont beat something that cant be killed. You capture it. Hurt it. BREAK IT. A sentient being can only take so much punishment before it shatters into madness and controllable fragments. You just. Need. To. Hit. It. HARD. ENOUGH. 

Additionally Ruby’s got a point there too. Salem played the shadows until this moment when everything was going her way. So...whats she afraid of.

Annnnddd thats all it takes to hijack Penny? Seriously.

Fuckin god damn useless Atlas bullshit fucking...(LONG SUFFERING SIGH OF A TECH NERD)

Hey theres Taiyang. Where’s Raven?

Wait hold on a second. She catches fire literally two seconds after she falls? You gotta fall a bit more than that for shit to start happening. WHAT THE FUCK IS REMNANTS ATMOSPHERE?! Or is it just dramatic...

Also as a small note the way the coms between her and Peitro cut off like that is accurate to reentry; during the hottest part of a splashdown, a space craft creates such a huge trail of energy behind it, rattling and burning its way down, it creates a blackout with its own passage. So based on the massive Apollo style reentry fire cone shes already putting out shes most likely going to be out of coms until she slows down orrrrrr craters into Remnants surface with the force of a meteor. 

And no. I dont think shes dead. The fact that, DESPITE being surrounded by the kind of fireball that worked its way into the fueltank of the space shuttle Discovery and blew it and its crew to bits on reentry, she was still intact...shes probably going to be fine.

Hacked, certainly, but fine. It takes more than that to finish her. Besides now that shes hacked, she has to fight Ruby. We all want that right?

Ahh good to see Winter in full armor now. Or...close to it. Im sure some of its a support rig for her injuries but I like to think this is the start of Atlas’s Specialist Weaponization Program.

Ironwood makes a good call here. Same thought process as mine.

Salutes in this world are the same as ours. Interesting. Must change that for the HKs

Annnndd of course Watts steals the busted Scroll because IRONWOOD IS A FUCKING DUMBASS

...um.

Im...not even going to COMMENT on what the FUCK this thing is that Jaunes detachment found. 

Also why is there A TREE in the tundra?

Oh, caustic. Interesting.

Mmmm. (Pause. Fingers to lips)

Thats your plan, Salem? To literally leak liquid Grimm into Mantle.

More silence.

Ladies and gentlemen...Salem is, officially, THE WORST VILLAN. OF ALL TIME.

The level of incompetence and stupidity I have seen here today completely obliterates the LAST person to hold that title, President Snow from the Hunger Games.

The amount of unnececary back door work and seecret plotting here astounds me. Shes doing this because she can, Im SURE of it. Theres no other reason.

Unless...she kows in a straight out fight, she’d have Ironwoods metal arm up to her colon in seconds. Which I wouldnt be surprised about.

Either way uh...thats it. Thats the end of the episode. 

Nice fight, at least.

See you all in Febuary!

EDIT: NOT FEBUARY, the break is a few more episodes after this

[ayakashiramblings]

WTFried Episode 3: KFC Otome Game

Bold: Gaku’s commentary Italics: Futaba’s commentary Normal: Official documentary narration (usually in a bad British accent) Bold and Italicized: Answers/Questions to the… game.

In 1910, the Capital, one man had a dream that he made another man work for. That dream would result in the exclusive Milk Hall. A chic cafe that would serve all manner of dairy-based treats… and making only one exception today. A day where we will reach deep into this bucket of…

Oh, Aoi! This logo is such a cute design!

How did you know it was by him?

Did… did you seriously think it was anybody else?

Point taken... Ms Futaba-rt…

Hush, Gaku. I’m just going to leave the drawing to the actual student.

Since everyone is craving for some turkey this winter, the employee has made the employer fetch some slices of this fine poultry. Everyone at Raccord is getting ready for the tender meat AND the festive season as we ring in the new year of 1911! Featuring buckets with the restaurant’s symbol… an old man!

And speaking of the devil, here he comes without… the turkey but some other manner of bird? Thus, Aoi has prepared to strike, dumping the bucket on the counter with a resounding thud.

“Erm… so remember how I said it was ok if I arrived at the turkey place slightly later than usual…?” A sheepish Oji's question can only be met by Aoi's deadpan conclusive remark,

“They ran out, didn’t they?”

Apparently, that was super insensitive because Oji-san has scrunched up his nose and eyes (the more normal ones) and…

Wait, how did you speak in parentheses?

"Nevermind that, somehow the narration was more offensive than Aoi's accusation." Oji’s fake-sniffling is thankfully interrupted by Aoi shaking the contents of the… replacement.

"I don't think it was harsh enough considering your blunder."

“No… it's just that the turkey place somehow became a chicken place! So the party pack is full of chicken!”

And just like that, the bells at the entrance have stopped ringing just as fast as the front door has been shut. And two hearts are now shattered into a million pieces. Why wouldn’t there be shattered souls after witnessing all hopes of savouring a Western classic slipping down the grease tracks of the fried chicken? The sound of the fat fizzing and splattering was supposed to be a welcomed one, not this… this… tinier bird. In particular, Ginnojo knows that he knows too much. See the look of imagining death and actually experiencing it? And Kuro! He’s pouting in slow motion, head down, shoulders slumped, and with an expression that clearly indicates he’s responding but barely able to because of the sheer despair consuming him… AKA, exactly like a puppy.

...Gaku, don’t zoom in on their faces. I’m already describing it, no need to rub it in.

Fine.

“Man, I’m sorry you two. I know you guys were looking forward to the turkey.”

“Old Man Oji, it’s ok! I’m just glad everyone is here to feast at least!”

Of course, the most ferocious growl has to refute that statement and it certainly has to come from an even more ferocious beast… Ginnojo’s disappointed stomach. Does he manage to hide the betrayal well with his stoic face though as the two neighbours/besties/??? eye the substitute meats?

Ok, really, there is no way you can tell me you spoke in question marks.

“I apologize too. Honestly, I should have checked beforehand.” Aoi concedes and offers a temporary white flag in the form of a kitchen towel to see the numerous chunks of fried chicken.

Could it be? The magic of fried chicken is soothing wounds of the past? Can the crispy chicken skin really fully resolve the dwindling festive spirit? Will it be just as great as its twin…

… Sorry Yura and Gaku.

“Be at rest, my Lady. I am sure a dollop of sugar or two is enough to fully restore the chicken to a turkey’s high status.”

I’m glad to see that the sugar dispenser I made is being put to such use, brother.

As Yura makes the sugar cookies even more… sugary, Aoi shakes his head,

“What now? We work with fried chicken? I’ve never really experimented with it before.”

“We… do need to finish this supply eventually. Might as well start now.” was all Oji can offer in this dire situation. Just as everyone is heaving a sigh, two majestic heroes arrive with…

A tengu as a sacrifice for the turkey my brother can never savour now. Crows are closer than chicken to turkey.

“Mhmm?”

“Nevermind, ignore him Kuya. Hiya Koga! Sorry you two, but we’ve only got fried chicken...”

And with that, Futaba witnesses the magnificent wingspan of the tengu… as he flies away at the mention of devouring a fellow bird. At least, he tried to but an oni ogre foils his meticulous plan by… grabbing his ear.

“Sorry about him. And even more sorry for Ginnojo and Kuro. I know you two were looking forward to the turkey.”

Nice job, Gaku! :D

What even is... you know what, nevermind. Thanks, I guess, and the mic’s back to you now.

“Really, don’t worry you guys. It’s more like Gin-Gin and I like the story surrounding the turkey in the festivals. The fried chicken just doesn’t have such an interesting story.”

The gramophone acts up at this precise moment Kuro tries to break the tension. As a wonderful person holds this strangely bulky camera while Gaku rushes to fix the audio camera, he finds that the cause is none other than his own customer… Oji-san with a record-breaking moment. Literally.

“Ok, wait, I’ve lived long enough to tell you that isn’t true. Why, I used to tell this story to Aoi when he was a little lad…”

And Oji-san whips out… a shopping list dated 5 years ago. Additionally, the crayon doodles are really adorable alongside the cursive handwriting.

“Yup, you told me a shopping list that I wrote down and YOU forgot.”

… Edit out my earlier statement.

… I’ll try.

“You know what? We have all this fried chicken for me and Aoi to do something AND tell you more about the tale of the fried chicken this time of year.”

And this folks, is what happened before we come up with the most amazing play…

Before we continue this documentary, we would like to thank our sponsors. Koga Kitamikado. This Oni Ogre is tough as nails and nothing ever gets him down! You can always turn to him when you're in a bind. A… tender bind.

… Why is Koga sponsoring this?

Guess he saw something… like how we are going to see two ayakashi experiencing the world’s greatest interactive play!

Tonight, Ginnojo and Kuro react to ‘I Love You, Colonel Sanders! A Finger-Lickin’ Good Dating Simulator!’. An interactive play scripted by Oji, you, yes you the audience, gets to play as a budding chef…

“Ooh, Gin-Gin is a good one… when you know, he doesn’t go bonkers on the ingredients.” Kuro’s chirp is nearly drowned out by the action at the back where we will be observing how our thespians are preparing.

Aoi and Oji have outdone themselves for this. We don’t have every single thing that you can purchase by queuing up but the menu prepared within 4 seconds is well-represented on this table. Sometimes, it is in a 3-piece meal, a few are in the buckets, and you get the overall picture! No double-dipping needed here, the act is too sacrilegious for such a holy beginning. A beginning… that will melt the frost around here.

Warm yourself from the inside. You’re about to embark on a journey that will end with you sleeping with this warm milk and pot pie….

Thus, these two can’t drink milk. Only eating the pot pie. We… we need them to actually play this.

“This is confusing, our journey begins with the ending?” Kuro asks a question that no one knows the answer to except for Ginnojo,

“Aye, a lot of the greatest heroes stumble upon their best stories after the ending of another. I suppose this is what we are trying to get here with… the pot pie?”

Scepticism is evident even on the usually trusting Kuro’s face. Nevertheless, they put their faith in Aoi’s culinary skills as they see the smoke still wafting from behind the stage curtains that are really just Kuya’s blankets. 

AKA: Koga’s blankets.

Sure, the decor is a bit too… reminiscent of a chicken barn. And yet, observe the first bite taken by the Mizuki and the… other… ayakashi. Creaminess flooding each of their mouths as veggies and fried chicken come together in this glorious, crusted symphony. And at the very end of it all,

“Delicious.”

“Oh my gosh! It’s so good! The chicken, yum! More, please!”

As they chew contentedly amongst dozens of floating… chicken and biscuits… Yura approaches them with the most adorable signboard… and the weirdest customizable one at that. That’s right, we are featuring the talents of Yura and Aoi… for the second time in the latter's case.

“Welcometh, chef! Bef're we start, bid us thy nameth!”

Translation: Give us the coolest names you have Ginnojo and Kuro! Note: no explicit language or demeaning words are allowed.

“Oooh, let’s do a ship name, Gin-Gin!”

“I dislike ships. Especially the black ones. Why can’t humans just learn to be one with the waves?”

Thus, comes the most epic name ever.

Mammon!

“Like, Mama + Mon! Because, I dunno, it feels like a mum made this!”

“The Mon is an abbreviation of Monday, the day we are watching… I mean, playing this theatrical game.”

...

Should… should we tell them?

No.

With the dimming of lights and pot pie nearly finished, Kuro and Ginnojo move on to the chicken wings and munching sounds accompanied the sight of the protagonist… in bed. Since the protagonist is me. So…

I’m taking over the narration from this point onwards. Be grateful. And note… this is the game. So if it’s weird… do not blame me for it.

Oh hush, and get to your job.

Futaba is buried like one zinger in a tortilla wrap. Until the latest alarm clock that I have built with a custom ringtone goes off with the best sound in the world - that of a happy chicken. Sleep in or wake up? What should they choose?

“I’m concerned about the rooster.”

“Yes… but whelp, up and at’em is what I’d say!” was the only warning the poor alarm clock received before Kuro smacked the robot rooster with the goddamned whip of his, ruining hours and hours and hours of…

Don't be so offended, Gaku, it's just a game.

...

“Wow, I better get ready for my first day at the prestigious University of Cooking School: Academy for Learning!” Futaba says in a way-too-enthusiastic voice that is almost on Kuro’s level when he’s drunk.

“Ok, so I’m only familiar with Futaba and Aoi’s schools but I’m pretty sure no one would want that for a name. Oh! Let’s call it Cuddling Chicken School!”

Case in point because as I speak, Kuro and Ginnojo are now enjoying another treat with coke… that may or may not have been spiked. The main focus though is the box filled with delicious chicken and named after popcorn.

“This one’s the most processed. I don’t think I can take another bite. Oh, Kuro? You’ve finished yours?”

“... More like you finished yours and mine within a bite.”

For once, Ginnojo looked more innocent than Kuro was somewhat forlornly staring at his very, very empty container. At least now both could be more invested in the… plot of this play as our main character starts to get changed into a chef’s uniform, complete with an apron and a hat. All that is left to do is for her to actually move but she just has to ask,

“Hmm, I kinda want to daydream and laze about in bed.”

Of course, that’s challenging everything a former Shinsengumi member loves and knows so Ginnojo is quick to call my brother over to reject the option… except that Kuro is a bit more nonchalant about the whole affair.

“D’aww, let her, it’s so rare to see her relaxed.”

“I won’t deny that a girl her age shouldn’t be concerned with hard matters but Futaba wants to go to school. And I shall support her in her endeavours.”

“Except, this isn’t Futaba. She’s being Mammon remember?”

“Very well.”

And just like that, Ordinary Chef Student protagonist Futaba is late and doesn’t have time to sit and eat a full meal. She grabs a piece of biscuit, fluffy… unlike her missing deodorant.

“I knew she had a price to pay.” Ginnojo’s heavy sigh provoked a gasp of realization from his neighbour,

“Are we going to be fried?”

Alas, she was not…

HEY!

By the time she has thrown the biscuit at me, the setting has been changed to the ivory walls of UCS: AL… or the Cuddling Chicken School. And there, awaiting her is the ever-so-perky… BROTHER?!

He volunteered for the role!

Wow, I’m so proud of him! Wait, should I have auditioned… no, I’m just going to record every moment of this now.

Here comes the bestest friend in the world, Yura!

“Many thanks, brother, but I shall now don the name ‘Miriam’ and ask Mammon here if she is highly anticipating our term of 3 days!”

Ginnojo does have to voice out one concern that I am sure most viewers will have as well,

"Hold on, they can graduate in 3 days? Youth these days really are picking up new knowledge."

"I want a degree in English in 3 days. If I take the English food course in 3 days, will that count?"

Before Kuro can learn more about this miraculous development in education, Futaba has to continue with her dialogue and actually focus like my brother,

“Good morning Miriam! I'm sure…”

“Because I most certainly am! Alack, the breakfast I hadst did prepare this morn did not have enough love… whatever shall I do?”

As another branch of the game appears, the choice is rather evident… 

COMFORT HIM YOU IDIOTS!

Finally, sense strikes the two, Kuro furiously slamming the option and poor Nachi as a result. Still, the nekomata behind the Option Board manages to signal to the other actors and Futaba barely adeptly gives my brother a pep talk,

“Ever since we were little babies together and you rescued me from that quicksand box, it’s been clear to me that you’re the most loving, caring person I’ve known! Your tiny… sweets are definitely going to be a hit!”

Part of the reason why this speech is not adequate enough is because Futaba is RUDELY interrupted when someone smacks her books and custom-engraved measuring spoons out of her hands and onto the ground.

“... Aeshleigh.” Futaba finally spat out, or whether it’s from deliberating drawing out the heavy silence to emphasize the sheer tension… or because she is wonder if Kuya cannot spell Ashley.

“This is the fancy name. For the fancy Ashley. Aeshleigh who is better than everyone else.” Ginnojo’s attempt at finding the reason for Aoi’s character name is ultimately thwarted by Aoi starting to get into character EXTREMELY reluctantly,

“Oh, I didn’t see you there, chicken shins.”

"Her boobs are not parallel at all." came Kuro's deadpan remark… and Ginnojo choking whilst looking like a boiled lobster. That, or because he is eating the Crispy Version of the Chicken breast.

“Kuro! Do not look there!”

“Why is she even insulting us for having chicken shins? She has chicken breasts on her thigh socks! Futaba, you should have actually worn chicken shin guards.”

…

Don't be so offended, Futaba, it's just a game.

Across the quad, one can see the rival’s best friend, who has stopped to look at his own reflection in the mirror. Pants so tight, anyone can see him casually working out his glutes while he styles his hair. No lie, they’re rocking glutes belonging only to one Koga.

“Ahem, Van Van?”

“You rang-rang?”

“Damn, Koga, you cougar go!”

“I’m curious about his hair, it’s actually in the shape of a starfish.”

“Don’t you just mean a star?”

“That can work too, I suppose.”

Sure, the pairing seems weird to the current audience but Aoi… I mean, Aeshleigh continues to sneer at Mammon who is slowly getting up with Miriam’s help but quicker with throwing the retort,

“I can’t believe that the University of Cooking School: Academy for Learning would ever allow people like you to attend as students.”

Except that it completely flies over both bullies’ heads as Aoi delicately laughs with icy cold teal eyes, 

“Ara ara, so you do know. We should have gotten our diplomas already with these great skills of ours.”

“Or maybe hire us on as professors. You amateurs could learn a lot from us.”

With the first day of school about to start, there’s just not enough time to properly tell these two off so everyone else resists the urge. As Mammon and Miriam approach the door, they see a goofy-looking kid pushing hard against the window directly next to it. 

“He would have been completely dislikable if it weren’t for the fact the cutest cub is playing him right now.”

On a more serious note, could someone like this also be a student at the school? He must be a great chef, with a name tag that clearly says ‘Bob’ but there he is, introducing himself as,

“Hi! I’m Kogare… Pop! And I think I was supposed to say that I broke this door.”

… And now I know why Fox-Face wants a copy of this film while he is attending Part 1 of the New Year Kitsune Festival…

When Mammon easily opens the door, Kogare… or Bob… or… Pop? Just has to tackle her for a big hug and squeal out, 

“I LOVE YOU!”

“D’aww!” should have been everyone’s response but only Kuro’s was heard over Ginnojo screeching and of course, an epic debate about expressions of affection,

“GAGH! K-k-kogare! Do not touch a lady like that yet! Or profess something that serious until you are of age!”

“What? No! Hug her like you are squeezing the life out of her!”

Fortunately, the actors continue the scene. Unfortunately, it is with this line from Kogare Pop’s mouth that makes you wonder who allowed this writing. Money is on Kuya.

“Did you know my other name ‘Pop’ comes from my great-grandfather Pop pop?”

The critics are not amused, Ginnojo tutting and Kuro making a face like he had just tasted chocolate for the 32nd time,

“Days like these makes me glad I don’t know my lineage.”

“Yeah…”

“Is it just me or is that young gentleman cute?” Miriam tries to note but everyone... and I mean everyone... just has to say,

“It’s just you.”

Miriam and Mammon shrug their shoulders before following Kogare Pop into the building. They stand at the edge of the room, unsure where to sit. Other students wander in and keep themselves busy chit-chatting.

“Where… is the Colonel we were promised to romance for fried chicken? Even now we are stuck with cheese fries… nothing can make up for these soggy… Oh my gosh, so CUTE!!!”

Kuro only stops when he sees a scruffy-looking cat taking his place at a podium at the front of the class, the smallest chef hat on his head. Head Instructor and CEO of UCS: AL is here everyone! Nachi taps his paw against the wooden surface to gather attention… although Kuro is already cooing over the little hat on the nekomata’s head and even Ginnojo smiles a bit in approval.

Out of nowhere, the wind begins to rush around everyone as a swirl of cherry blossom petals fill the air inside the classroom despite it being in the middle of winter in Japan. To be more accurate, the petals are… Kuya’s feathers dyed pink much to Kuro’s delight,

“Nice effects! I kinda wanna play with them now! Guess I better wait for Kuya to fly and leave some behind next time...”

“Wait, the cherry blossoms are blooming for them? Where and when are they?”

A hushed murmur rolls through the classroom as HE walks down the aisle of desks. Suddenly, the room is sweltering. And there… we have Oji as the one, the only…

Colonel Sanders!

...

...

“I’m confused… are we supposed to find him handsome?”

“Did Oji just reveal his true aged appearance or did he just dye his hair white?”

“His eyeliner is as thick as his actual eyes and even thicker than his actual eyebrows and spectacle frames.”

All those statements were slowly cracking the fried chicken skin, with Ginnojo’s final casual observation really roasting Oji’s self-esteem. Nevertheless, the show must go on with the main chef and… love interest... helping the two audience members crack open the ranch. We shall now divulge in a bit of ASMR… ASMRanch as we massage Colonel Sander’s arm that is as thick as his neck. See how he flexes...

“OH GOD MAKE IT STOP!” Kuro squirms.

“FUTABA!!! I mean, Mammon, right, Mammon… MAMMON DON’T MIX WITH SUCH FILTH!”

… We are changing scenes already? Oh, ok, suit yourself.

Here, he wields the spork, his eyeliner game suddenly aligned…

“NO…!!!”

“It… is… rectangular. A rectangular spork.”

“Foon.”

Did that earn a… Kentucky-fried chuckle?

What’s Kentucky? Also, you broke character.

Think this play is broken. Oh, next scene...

The Colonel makes a delicious array of food items in the cafeteria...

“What kind of cafeteria has flowers and a fancy atmosphere?”

“Not Milk Hall Raccord except for the flowers.”

The Mac and Cheese falls flat on the ground, along with Oji’s chef hat,

“THAT’S IT! THE COLONEL QUITS!”

…

Ok, I’m going to resume while Ginnojo eats the rest of the food Oji has left...

Yeah.

And so, the wisest Satori Seer, on behalf of his boss, buries the abominable script and the actually-kinda-nice-art-if-it-wasn't-about-fried-chicken romance.

Hey, should we bury this camera?

WHAT?! AFTER ALL THAT WE’VE BEEN THROUGH???

Ok, ok, we won’t. Besides, there’s still Valentine's day if this show hits more than 1 view.

… Why the 1 view benchmark?

Cus… apparently, there was a dish here that wasn’t revealed here that would work great for a Valentine's Day episode.

… At least my brother can eat it.

Epilogue

For some reason, we have noticed a foreigner digging up the manuscript. He even paid Oji for it. Said it might be the next biggest thing in America for an even weirder reason?

Ginnojo is still eating the whole menu. Kuro has shared the magic of fried chicken with the rest of the troupe and occassionally, the circus-theatre guest. Unfortunately, it is during one of these stunts that a fried chicken cracked the lens. Even more unfortunate, the grease from the fried chicken seeped through the components and short-circuited everything. 

So the only thing hotter than Colonel... is everything. Let’s hope we never see anything like this even in the 21st century. 

Epilogue to the Epilogue

My grandparents sure were naive.

[psycho-slytherin]

Strangers ch. 34

Yoongi finds your phone– and so does someone else...

Pairing: Yoongi x (female) Reader

Word count: 1.8k

Genre: fluff, angst

|mlist|

<–– Prev   Next ––>

You force a laugh. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t lie to me, y/n,” Yoongi says softly, his voice a knife in your back. “These– Jesus.” He exhales sharply as your phone buzzes again, again, again. You would’ve turned your notifications off months ago, but you need Twitter for your jobs. “How long has it been like this?”

@satanhasaholdoffrance: hey @yourname make like a tree and die

@queenynuwu: I hope y/n knows we love her!! <3 @yourname

@gummyyoongi: has anyone found @yourname‘s address yet?

“I don’t know what you mean,” you reply stubbornly. You don’t want your weight on Yoongi’s shoulders, not when you know he’ll blame himself.

“Bullshit. You said this wasn’t happening! You told me that my fans weren’t coming after you.”

“And you never checked,” you reply, your throat tight. “You know what I am. I’m a liar. And you trusted me– that’s your mistake.”

Yoongi flinches. “I know you don’t mean that.”

You begin trembling, your hands and arms and shoulders tensing against your will. “You shouldn’t trust me, Yoongi.” I’ve kept too many secrets from you.

“Well, I do trust you. I know you too well, y/n, and you don’t mean that. But this?” He taps your phone. “This is messed up.”

You take a step back, shrinking into yourself. “I-I’m sorry.”

“What? No. Why are you apologizing?” Yoongi gets up and walks towards you, his eyes intense. “My fans– the stuff they’re saying– that’s what’s messed up. And y/n, I’m so, so sorry this happened. You don’t deserve it.”

“I, uh...” you mumble, confused. Why isn’t he angry at you? You lied to him, again and again and again. “Sorry...”

Yoongi sighs, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. “What are you even apologizing for?”

“I don’t know!” You cry. “I thought you’d be mad at me!”

“I’m not mad at you, y/n-ie.” Yoongi raises his arm and brushes a loose strand of hair out of your face. “I’m just worried. The comments you’re getting, the haters... they’re too much for anyone.”

Your mind drifts to the nightmares, the thoughts that your hate comments have inspired within you.

Yoongi’s gaze darkens, but he’s not looking at you– he’s staring far off, at something beyond. “I’ve seen idols, trainees– friends– that internalized those things, and they didn’t see an escape... no one is equipped to deal with this shit alone, no one.” Yoongi swallows, and his voice wavers. “So don’t try, y/n. You’re not alone, and I can’t lose you.”

You blink hard before drawing back and punching Yoongi in the arm.

“Ow!” Yoongi yelps, rubbing his arm. “What the hell?”

“That’s for being dramatic,” you say, using all your willpower to keep your voice light. “And this–” you poke him in the ribs– “is for being selfish. I don’t wanna lose me either, nerd. It’s not all about you.”

“Sorry, sorry,” Yoongi laughs. “My bad, I almost forgot that you’re a force to be reckoned with.”

“Just don’t let it happen again,” you sniff haughtily.

“I won’t, promise. Hey, do you need a lift to your next job?”

“Nah, I’ll take the bus. I’m not famous like you,” you reply. Besides, you want to be alone with your thoughts.

“Suit yourself. I have to go to the studio anyways.”

“Another BTS comeback already?” You muse, and Yoongi winks.

“Nope.”

~~~

Once Yoongi leaves, you wriggle into another sweater and shrug your coat on over it. You can’t help but feel chilly lately, and you can’t afford to get a cold.

You leave your apartment building and quickly walk towards the bus stop. Your afternoon will be spent on a photoshoot for a new makeup line, and Lisa said you’d be able to keep some of the merchandise.

You adjust your face mask and pop in your earphones, your mind a whirling dervish of thoughts. You imagined Yoongi would be furious– after all, you’d promised no more secrets. You couldn’t help but keep your Twitter mess to yourself, because you didn’t want your friend to stress about it.

Friend... the word seems strange to you, almost wrong.

Well, we’re ‘dating’ now, you think, so I guess he’s my fake-boyfriend instead.

It’s weird; for years you were completely in love with Yoongi, besotted with his face and voice and laugh and lyrics. His shy, goofy nature. His irresistible charm. You remember when you and Lisa would scream together at every new music video, each concept photo, any hint or clue or theory. It seems so long ago now.

Speaking of Lisa... your phone begins buzzing with a call from your manager/friend.

“Y/n, darling, how are you doing? How’s the leg?”

“All healed up now,” you reply, flexing and unflexing your left leg. You lost a lot of blood, but your injury missed all the arteries and important stuff.

“Great. Hey, I lined up a job, it’s yours for the taking if you’re interested. They need an extra in a cologne commercial, it should only be a two-day shoot and we can plan around Moon Over The Sea. What do you think?”

“Yeah, sounds good,” you murmur absentmindedly. “How much does it pay?”

“Pretty well, your cut would be only a little less than you’re making on the makeup shoot today.”

“Alright, sign me up.”

“Great. And... how’s it going with Yoongi?”

You jolt. “What?”

“C’mon, y/n, you can’t expect me not to ask. You’re dating your idol!”

“I-I’m not, really...”

“Oh, shush. It’s official, isn’t it? BigHit confirmed it last week. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were together!”

You grit your teeth– you have to tell her the truth. “Lisa, seriously, it’s not real.”

“I know, I bet it totally feels like a fairy tale, huh? I’m so jealous.” Lisa’s voice gets quieter, pouty. “We have to hang out soon, it’s been ages since we’ve had a proper gossip sesh!”

“But...”

“No buts! I’m ordering you as your manager to hang out with your best friend... who is also your manager... who is also me.”

You can’t help but laugh. “Yes ma’am, just pencil me in.”

“Will do! See you soon.”

“See ya.

Humming to yourself, you continue your bus ride, arriving at the studio a few minutes early. A fashionable young man strides up to you bearing shorts and a shirt.

“Ah, you’re here. L/n y/n, right? Perfect, perfect, put these on and we’ll get you straight into hair and makeup.”

“Uhh...” you examine the outfit he gave you. “Are you sure this is for me?”

“Of course I am, what are you talking about?”

“It’s black, these shorts are made of leather, and...” you trail off, gulping. “It’s all very tight.” That’s right, clothes like these will only hug the curves you don’t have. You’re not a sex icon like some of the female idols you’ve seen Yoongi with on TV. You know as someone in the entertainment industry, you’re supposed to be fashionable– but you’re too much a fan of oversized sweaters and soft pants to let them go. “I don’t know if this outfit suits me.”

“Nonsense, you’re beautiful– you just need the confidence! Besides, you’re gonna have to get used to this type of stuff if you want to get anywhere in your career,” the man chuckles. “Changing room is over there. When you’re ready, head to hair and makeup.”

“R-right,” you mumble, taking the clothes. They look so cold, you shiver just thinking about putting them on.

Ten minutes later, you stare at yourself in the mirror. Staring back at you seems to be a child, a little girl who doesn’t belong, who can barely fill out the tight crop top or shorts. And you’re supposed to be dating Yoongi? You don’t know if you want to laugh or cry. Yoongi deserves better, someone prettier, smarter, who looks like they belong at his side. In your mind’s eye, you can see Yoongi next to you in the mirror– black-haired, a brow raised, his mouth quirking upwards in a lazy smirk. He looks like a prince, a god, and you look like you’re playing dress-up next to him. No wonder so many people are upset; you’re doing Yoongi no favors by being with him.

You sigh and shake your head. You’re cold, so cold, and you hate it. You turn away from the mirror to get your hair and makeup done.

“Okay, can you give me a little lip bite? Something cheeky? Oh, perfect! Yes, hold like that!” The camera flashes while you sit frozen in place. “Cross your legs now, hold the lipstick closer to your face... can you give me bedroom eyes?”

Face flushed, you lower your lashes and pout your lips like you’ve seen real models do, and the camera flashes again and again. The lipstick you’ve got on is a brighter red than you’ve ever dared to wear, and combined with the outfit and your bold eyeliner, you look a little edgy.

“Great, y/n, you’re doing wonderfully. We need one more photo for the spread...” the photographer looks around the photo studio, which is a rather minimalist set. “Can someone get me that chair? Y/n, sit on it backwards and try for a smirk– like an ‘I’m-better-than-you’ face.”

But I’m not. Still you try, channeling your inner Seokjin as you fix the camera with your best downward stare, and then half smiling as though you’ve got a secret– which you do, too many to count. Half a dozen shots later, you’re dismissed with the promise that the money will be wired to your account by Friday.

The next morning, you wake up to the familiar buzzing of your notifications, again and again and again. You haven’t overslept, have you? No, your clock informs you that it’s not even six AM. You groan and flip your phone over to read your new mentions.

@beautyoftheseoul: Check out our new line of matte lipsticks, modeled by #MoonOverTheSea’s @yourname!

@chimyoongles: Omg @2460sunshine did you see that @yourname liked a yoongi thirst tweet? Lmaooo I’m dying she’s rly all of us

@scarletwitchisjunghoseok: I think I love @yourname now that she’s exposed herself as an army lololol

@captainkookie21: why are ppl stanning @yourname for her fuckup lol it just goes to show what a liar and a slut she is.

You blink sleepily. You liked a tweet about Yoongi? You’ve been careful about doing that ever since you became a public figure, in case Yoongi noticed. You tap through your likes and gasp:

@slutfordionysus: rt if you want Suga to crush you between his thighs, like if you want him to use his tongue technology on you ;)

Oh, fuck. You never liked that. You’ve never even seen that tweet. Which means... you’ve been hacked?

[dlartistanon]

Damn I'm ready for next week, but I'm not ready for the haters. Poor Arryn got so many hate from homophobic RWBY fans... Someone even said BB shouldn't happen because it's a "typical ship" like yeah sure mate we often get well-written wlw couples/romance in anime/cartoons. Suuuure. Do you think that that toxic part of the community, which will probably stop watching RWBY if BB happens, will prevent us from having more volumes? Less people paying so less budget for CRWBY?

Arryn is an angel and neither she nor CRWBY deserve any of that hate. It’s especially disgusting because of so-called “fans” using Monty’s name to tear down all their hard work.

“BB is a ‘typical ship’“ Oh right, I forgot how many built up, complex, slow-burn F/F relationships involving well-written characters that have issues and development that don’t center around their sexuality exist in popular shows. BB is obviously just a drop in the ocean of gay representation. What does "typical” even mean in this context? Opposites attract? The fact that you can actually see it happening somehow makes it bad, and a “twist romance” is good? Spoiler alert: Romance that comes out of the blue is bad writing. You’re supposed to see it coming. Good, believable romance should never be a surprise because it doesn’t feel earned.

And honestly, I don’t know how the homophobes and toxic community members will affect Rooster Teeth, if it even does. Someone told me that “RT has a lot of shows and it’s doubtful they put all their eggs in one basket. I’m sure they’re prepared for a potential hit in losses”. Sales from merchandise also make up a large part of their revenue so losing some FIRST members won’t really make that much of a difference unless they were actively buying merch as well. Toxic people are unlikely to be supporting the company with their money all that much. So I doubt it will affect RWBY to a degree where it’ll be cancelled.

They’ve also been pushing gen:LOCK a lot, so that will probably draw in mecha/sci-fi fans.

Plus RWBY having confirmed gay representation is likely to attract more viewers to make up for those who leave because of it.  

I’ve seen before that they said they can’t choose who consumes their content (obviously talking about the bad people). The toxic part may very well be a vocal minority, who are so obnoxious they give off the illusion of being numerous when they aren’t. For every bit of unwarranted hate I see on Twitter for example, I see way more fans coming to CRWBY’s defense.

I don’t know all that much about RT, but I follow a few people who do, who have been RT fans for a long time, for many years, and RT is quite progressive for a company. Miles even tweeted for people to vote blue in a past election. They stumble, sure, we all make mistakes and no one is perfect, but they want to keep being progressive. Bigots may have been drawn to their early “gamer bro” image, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that they want to be more inclusive, and given how a good number of RT/CRWBY are LGBT themselves and have recently been speaking out against community hate, they’re staying true to their word. 

[changji]

No ac is a big dealbreaker I already deal with enough heat at school and if I had to work at a place with none as well I think I’d cry 😔 smoothies are so good, what do you normally drink? Scooping out ice cream really requires some muscle, it takes me forever to do it myself LOL. I’ll do the same if you hurt yourself as well esp since you’re my soulmate now 😤

I’ve had maple syrup directly from a tree or something like that in my cooking class and store bought (maybe fake?) one too and I still can’t tell the difference. Or maybe it’s bc I absolutely drown my pancakes in syrup to the point where everything just tasted the same

Ohh my school offers Spanish courses as well and last year my class would take place right after a Spanish one, so sometimes there’d be handouts lying around or something pulled up on the projector. I’d try to read it and understand it since some words are kinda like french and English mixed together? and yeah it didn’t work out. Spanish is so hard 😩

Why does this give me Jisung vibes when he said the capital of Colombia was Colombia city,, that cracked me up for a good ten seconds. Now I wanna try peets but I’m guessing it’s only available in the us? I’ve never heard of it here. Sksks arella pls your queen & idol ily2 🤧🤧🤧🤧 is anything ur my source of inspiration 😔😔🥴

Lips are literally impossible to draw. Like they either end up like Kylie Jenner’s lips or the most botched pair of lips you’ve ever seen for me. I love the plot for your chan fic!! I read the preview a couple days ago and I’m in love. I can’t wait to read it when it comes out. Stan talent stan arella 🥺🥺My day was pretty good!! I went out with a friend today and stuffed myself with food. I was so tired after that for the rest of the day which ?? When did I have so little energy. How was yours?

-

im surrounded by ac im so weak like i need it, but the ice cream coolers and a fan should be enough. my family literally look to me for smoothies, one time they all woke me up and told me to make a smoothie. i was mad but i did it anyway LOL, i normally like strawberry banana, how abt you? i have no muscle tho i was just born to scoop ice cream, its my calling. guess we both have to not hurt ourselves bc we’ll just end up punching each other (in the nicest way possible but STILL)

i forgot maple trees were a thing omg i was all like. it’s only called maple syrup bc it sounds cool LOL i’m so uncultured 😪 i drown my pancakes in syrup too, people who eat pancakes my itself are weird soz. tbh i’m more of a waffle person LOL

here (in all of cali i think) it’s required to take at least like 2 years of a language, we have ASL, french and spanish at my school but another school teaches german and japanese,, kinda jelly ngl but it’s whatever. spanish is tough i’m just bad at language in general, sometimes i cant even english

honestly such a mood, jisung is such a smart idiot i love him 😔 peet’s is so good omg and it was originally based in california, but there are a few location all around america, and i think there’s some in china? i’m not sure bc when i go to southern cali i can’t even find a peet’s and it makes me 😡😡

i tried drawing jisungs lips like, 20 times but then i gave up and decided to take a break but then my ipad died and all the chargers are being used so i can’t charge it 😔 and thank u! ur a chan stan rt or am i dumb. this is for u bc ily 💞 i’ll make it my goal to make ur heart HURT, but stan talent stan ada 🥺 my day was okay,, school drains the life outta me but it’s okay it’s normal, and i took like 3 naps today i am living. ngl i still can’t get over ur chan vampire fic,,,, my favorite vampire fic oops

[leapingtitan]

Chapter 106 Review - The Final Showdown Approaches

This is by far one of the best chapters of any manga I’ve read and thus one of my favorite SnK chapters ever. Despite the character interactions that are most commonly appreciated among the fandom, I, as someone who mostly cares about the overall lore and little things, was extremely satisfied. Let me just list the things that made it for me.

Eren explaining the issue with Historia: We were questioning for a while whether or not that plan was even known to the others and if Eren was willing to share. Since he did, combined with the info they got from Marley’s soldiers, the overall clarity and knowledge of how to progress was shared among the characters (that’s a weird way to put it but you get what I mean lmfao)

The reveal of how Yelena and Onyankopon came to side with Paradis. Very interesting and it fully explains everything.

Onyankopon referred to a huge plot device which I almost thought Isayama forgot about. The Devil of the Earth/Source of All Organic Material/”God” thing which he says gave Ymir her powers initially and is basically the equivalent of “God” where he made multiple races and such... you cannot believe the hype I felt after reading that. I’ve been waiting for someone to address this for so long. Honestly, this better come into play later as it’s basically the origin of everything, even though it doesn’t directly have anything to do with the current final battle. Of course, it could just be a religion thing, but there’s definitely something back in history that caused all of this to happen. P A T H S

The reveal of Zeke’s plan and how he was truly on Paradis’ side all along, or at least that’s what he wants to them to think. Whether or not he still has agenda is TBC at this point, but I’m satisfied with what we got. That talk with Levi... he’ll meet Eren soon. The proper Jaeger reunion that we’ve been waiting for so long will finally be established, and is also the plot device for the final battle.

Speaking of, the main thing I get excited about in SnK since day 1 in the fandom have been the Wall Titans. Since the constant hints and ominous drawings of the CTs walking around wrecking absolute havoc this arc, I’ve been waiting for them to get more attention and have been 100% hyped since Zackley mentioned using them to prevent the advance of the world’s attacks. At this point, this is how it’s going to turn out.

Armin visiting Annie is interesting. For one, when Eren asked Armin if he saw any of Bertolt’s memories, he was like “Nothing important” but from his expression it looks like he did hide something. I think it may have something to do with Annie, be it affection or overall relationship. Not gonna go into this one as I don’t ship anything in this series, but anyway, back to the point of a character even remotely being aware of the fact that Annie is still in the crystal. I don’t know whether or not she’ll come out but the attention she’s getting gives me hope. Also, Armin is back to his narrating roots. Yay.

It seems like Levi still intents to kill Zeke and keep his promise to Erwin. In any case though, he’s willing to go along with the plan. If Zeke truly does have his own agenda and ends up betraying Paradis, I do think a proper Round 2 will suffice. It seems a bit weird to just leave that conflict unresolved... and I’m glad someone addressed the fact that Zeke turned the Ragako village into Titans and massacred the SC’s in the RtS arc. Really, I love when the little things get pointed out.

And lastly, the final plot line that I think the final battle will revolve around. It definitely feels like it’s coming close. Remember when Zeke was first shown as a sketch by Isayama way before Chapter 70 where he said he was a “Mysterious new character who holds the key to the story”?. Well, here is the key. We finally have the solid confirmation of this entire scheme. I know Armin technically said they planned to “threaten” the world with the Wall Titans, but in my opinion, if they remotely want a chance, they need to side with Eren on this one. Let’s be real, even if the Wall Titans briefly walk out again, the entire world won’t just say “okay fine you guys are too strong, we’ll leave you alone”. The only way for Eldia to be truly free, as Zeke wants, is for them to literally commit mass genocide and kill every non-Eldian in the entire world.. it sounds extreme, though it seems to be what thins are hinting at and the only logical choice.

So in conclusion, from what Armin says, it seems like Marley may plan another attack on Paradis, and it may as well be the entire world military VS. Paradis. After the Jaeger reunion, there really is no other way out. You can’t possibly expect them to retreat and just be like “Fine we’ll leave you alone if you leave us alone.” No no, we’re gonna some huge ass Titans walking around and wrecking shit. This is what the manga has been leading up to and I can not look forward to it anymore than I already do. 

Way to fucking go Isayama, and no sarcasm this time.

[lady-olive-oil]

Distraction Ch.1

Chapter 1

A/N: AYE!!!!!! Here we go ya’ll, here we go! its a longer than i anticipated for the first chapter but it’s something. The title has been changed, mainly because i love Kehlani but still has the vibes of the last title I had. Each chapter will have a different picture, either both of them together or one of each for the characters in their point of view. I have a tag list squad, so if you’d like to be in it, let me know. Alright here we go!

Word count: 1,631

Words in Swahili: Kubeba [bear], Ni habari gani [whats the news?]

Song: Legend Has It by Run The Jewels

{Back to Winston Duke/M’Baku List}

Tag Squad: @itsmegarabitch || @curbedcharybdis [if i forgot your name let me know!!!

enjoy!

-Amina’s POV-

Another day, another dollar. No time for slacking, no time for errors. You can take the girl out of the fashion world, but you can’t take the fashion out of the girl. Being a fashion designer, there was never a dull moment. Just like being the owner of your own boutique. You heard that right, I own The Jungle Boutique, Manhattan. Not too far from where I live, which is Brooklyn. With fashion week being over, I managed to get some random sketches done for fun, whenever I have free time. I do have a little following going on, which isn’t too bad if I do say so myself. WiI had my black Beats headphones in my ears, shielding the world around me, as I sketched a few designs in my book. Bobbing my head to the music, getting a feel of the rhythm of the graphite strokes on the paper. The prismacolors molded against the intricate lines, shaping the garments effortlessly as i went on.

“Amina.” the faint noise of something or someone wasn’t very far.

“Hear what I say, we are the business today, Fuck shit is finished today RT & J, we the new PB & J We dropped a classic today. We did a tablet of acid today, Did joints with the masses and ashes away SKRRRT! We dash away, Donner and Dixon, the pistol is blastin’ away”

“Amina.” there voice spoke again, in the distance that spoke calmly and easily.

“Doctors of death, Curing our patients of breath. We oughta pay you the trust, Crooked at work Cookin’ up curses and slurs Smokin’ my brain into mush. I became famous for blamin’ you fucks Maimin’ my way through the brush. There is no training or taming of me and my bruh, Look like a man, but I’m animal raw”

“Amina!” The voice yelled this time as i kept on sketching, nodding my head to Legend Has It by Run The Jewels. That was until my right earbud was yanked out my ear, forcing me to draw my elbow back, and send an angry glare at the culprit at hand. Yet i was caught, looking up at a very amused Winston.

“Winston! You know damn well you can’t just yank someone’s headphones out!” My thick and heavy accent had shone through, like many times before when I was either tired or distraught. His laughter was something else. Laughing at my pain in the process, one of his hands rested on my shoulder while holding his stomach with the other.

“Oh come on Mimi. It was just a friendly little getsure, don’t take it to heart. Plus, your receptionist Janice, let me up before she left to switch with some guy named Jonah.” There goes that nickname. It never left the 4th grade. He tried to calm his laughter but it was to no avail, sadly enough. Janice and Jonah, my receptionists and old college friends, never ceased to amaze me. Lord knows i’ll have a fille day with them two asking me questions tomorrow.

With a roll of my sweet chocolate brown eyes, closing my book in the process and leaning back in my chair, I gave him a look. Why was he here exactly? Not that I didn’t mind at all, it was nice to see an old friend, especially him. He was the best friend anyone could possibly ask for in any crises. That’s why I called him bear, when we were kids. Now he’s this big star doing extraordinary things with his career, that makes me proud to be from Brooklyn. Making it seems like anything was possible, and that it can be done.

“OK, i have to ask. Why are you here kubeba? Shouldn’t you be at auditions?” I asked him curiously as i watched him pace around the room with excitement, something must be good.

“Well bunny, kind of. You ready for it?”

What was this boy up to? Whatever it was, it must’ve been a good thing to  make him so giddy.

“As I’ll ever be, oh great one. Release your good news upon the village people.” The look on his face was priceless when it was my turn to laugh. It was do deadpanned that even roadkill was jealous, yet he joined in. Doubling over this time, I clutched my stomach and caught my breath.

He was always a tough one to crack, when it came to jokes. I got him to laugh every time, regardless if it was bad or not. I’d like to see one of his little girlfriends do that, without being all up on him like a starfish. You could say I’m a little protective over the women he chooses to date. OK maybe not a little but you get my drift. None of them liked me anyway, because he’d always ask me to check them out for him, or help to get rid of them like that one movie What’s Your Number. Yeah it never ended well for him or I to be honest. They’d all think i was his girl in the end, and that was not the case by any means. Many a times I have thought about being with him, but then I’d think about our friendship in the end. In school I’d be the one getting picked on because of how darkly pigmented my skin was, different from my brothers. Being Afro-Latina in my way, was a gift as my mother would say. Yes i’ve grown into my head and my body curved itself out but what can you do? Plus, i grew my hair out more and it’s literally larger than life. Snapping back into reality, I grabbed his hand that was waving in my face.

“Earth to madame Jakande. You ok?” His concerned voice was soft and gentle, yet worried.

“Yeah. yeah I’m fine. Just uh, daydreaming again. So uh what’s this grandiose news you have for me, ye old one?” I had to get my mind back in the right state of mind, so i gathered my belongings and headed for the elevator for the day.

“I am older than you, yes, so respect your elders.” He poked my side and caused me to yelp, as he followed in tow.

“You’re only older than me by 10 days, ya goofball. Anyway, ni habari gani?” the anticipation was killing me as to what he had in store, as we both descended down the elevator down to the main floor. Manhattan was always busy, no matter what time of day it was. It was however, currently noon on a brisk Sunday afternoon.

“Well since you spoke in Swahili, it is one of the many languages my character in The Black Panther knows. In fact, I’m also the leader of a tribe.” He smiled brightly at me with soft chuckle. At that moment i stopped us both in front of my boutique store front window, giving him a shocked look with a huge grin.

I gave him a once over one good time before saying anything. He had told me that he had gotten a huge role in a movie that would break possible barriers but never told me what it was. I even looked all over the internet and found nothing despite my search. I grew up reading comic books at a young age, because of my parents and older brother, so i knew a little bit. Once he said Black Panther, I had to think for a bit and then I got it.

“Wait, wait. You’re a huge guy so I can only think of one character for you to be. The great M’Baku, leader of the Jabari tribe!” i squealed way too loud as I gave him a congratulatory hug on his huge accomplishment. His strong arms enveloped me in return, laughing himself.

“Someone knows their stuff! Look at you nzuri! Listen as great gesture for being my right hand girl, how about we do lunch? I pay, you pick the place” Releasing himself from our heart warming embrace, he looked at me with hopeful eyes. Damn him for being 6’4.

“Ugh, deal. You drive a hard bargain, oh great leader. I wonder how your girl, Ashanti is gonna take this.” with a sweet wink and a chuckle, we walked side by side towards Del Posto, to discuss his future.

“About her, we broke up actually. Because she got tired of me working more hours.” The look of defeat fell upon his chiseled features as he explained it, but a smile bounced back.

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that Winston. Listen, you need to stop serial dating and look for a woman to settle down with, you know? You’re in your early 30’s, I think it’s time.” He rolled his eyes at me this time and smiled graciously, as I let out a sweet laugh. If only he knew.

“Yeah, yeah. When the time is right, I will. Now let’s eat and discuss my wardrobe for this premier. You are styling me right?” He offered me his hand to do the Wakandan salute that I know from the trailers, and we both did it.

“Oh hell yeah. You know i am. What kind of friend would i be if i didn’t use skills for good instead of evil?” walking inside the restaurant, we were greeted by an aroma of multiple things and sat at our usual table by the window.

“To us. Two best friends, living their dreams in the city and conquering everything. But, not losing sight of themselves.” he made a little speech before we clinked our wine glasses together.

Oh yeah, this was going to be an interesting year for him, and also me as well.

[misterbitches]

unpop opinionz abt bl or just my opinions. that may or may not be popular. stream of consci. no one has to care or read. i will  do this whenever i like or when i am drunk and/ or high. like now. i do tharntype + sotus, uwma, lbc, and MODC...and long ass writing and spoilers so if u stumble it aint my problem

tharntype:

some user on here blocked me cos i said rape is bad*. and it is. and it’s stupid. and not done right it has no place in these writers, who really cannot write, or producers hands. it’s easy for people to judge it because it allows itself to be judged. and bl doesn’t fix its own issues. it just keeps perpetuating. when you gain an ounce of respect for women mayhaps that will change and we fuck up all that misogynist shit in our brains (FREE YR MIND)

but anyways i skipped til like ep 6. i barely know what the storyline is and id ont care. it isnt that interesting. they’re not great actors but i like the look of that bigger one. together their chemistry is fun i wouldn’t say like....as deep as i would like but watching them is nice

(this is where the wife/husband thing is relevant. i watched 6 - 13 a lot. so the father saying “as long as you’re not the wife i’m ok with ur HOMOSEXUAL rship then” but it turns out his son was the “wife” and guess what? that’s gross. if you can’t write female characters then leave us out of it.)

anyway i can see why people didn’t watch it. i say skip everything and see how they are together. the skinnier one is not as good w like idk. being seductive? but he’s fun to watch lol. together they are nice. i really enjoyed watching their dynamic.

some of the kissing was a lot but not in a bad way. i think if they had a deeper connection i would feel it more. but i saw gifs of them and piqued my interest and i clicked(footnote 2)

 the actors as themselves and whatever their rship is fun to watch..i read some UNSAVORY things about one of the actors with another dude in another show but whatever.

hm what else....yea the show is ok. theyre not great actors. cute together. sometimes when they kiss there was way too much like breathing jesus christ shut up. they totally could have done some inverted tropes but they didnt bc why would they.

a...c? c-? i give it? maybe that. people who had some criticism for it were right (like me :P) idk why i got BLOCKED cos i was JUST SAYING. rape in a story for no reason or as a startoff for lust is ridiculous. disgusting. i wont ever shut up about it. it helps no one and doesn’t help the gay community (can go down a rabbit hole here, too)

C- (this is generous but D+ seemed kinda mean...)

sotus + sequel:

idk why but i’ve seen some things flaoting around about the light guy. idk if they are true or not. i did not like that. i saw this before i read those tho (abt him not being comfortable)

this is what im talking abt...and this is where gmmtv will fail. but most bls. they’re CLEARLY worth something. they make money. the actors are a draw for others. i am not a thai citizen nor a thai teen so but i am assuming many get popular. this is because there’s a formula that is almost always stuck to. i am guessing that the channel is a public broadcast (not an HBO type) so there has to be more censorship

i LOVE seeing what countries with less production $ or a more current industry, (like in SEA tho ppl hav ebeen making revolutionary art foreverrrrrr don tforget there’s more than dramas) create. there’s less money and stuff and maybe the editing isnt good or a certain way the drama is shown is very particular and not always appealing. i am nigerian, i respect that shit. nollywood is that shit too.

and as people ge tmore $ for prods or more public support they get better (i cannot emphasize how MUCH BETTER SOUND HAS GOTTEN FOR THAI SHOWS OMG dramas in general but)

so sotus kind of suffers from lower prod quality. but also the acting is bad. sorry it is. i like the darker guy (sorry im too lazy to google names but...singto? right? hes a good photographer) and he has gotten better or wil get better i think but. yea. terrible acting lol

also like...u can tell that other dude wasn’t totally comfortable or they just didnt know each other enough. i don’t know. it was very much two guys standing next to each other now like kiss once. the reluctance to show like affection even in private settings is BONKERS TO ME. literally it’s like these men have the most sterile rships and that is suchhhh an issue in BLs, particularly the thai i guess. 

tbh if the storyline was better and if they had more chemistry it would be better to me. i know ppl love it, i dont really get it lol...their kisses r ok...idk it’s like a waste of time. i’ve tried watching it like 1000000 times 

thats all i have for now 

*im oversimplfying. i think it was bc ppl were being harsh. but any excucses people want to use the fact is that....rape bad and that’s stupid ok. but it sucks cos i wanna rt their gifs sometimes but nope lMAO

i know im not wrong so...

lbc, uwma, modc: 

I LITERALLY CANNOT WATCH THESE ACTORS. I’M SORRY  I CANNOT. THEIR FACES MAKE ME FURIOUS OR THEIR ACTING. I DONT KNOW WHY. i am shocked i dont totally hate saint bc i abhorred the character in LBC and like. every ounce of it. i dont rly like taht small dude from uwma (the past s/l?) i just cant w his face, and modc...omfg....the guy was so fucking SICK LOOKING

this is where footnote 2 comes in: if i cannot handle ur fucking face i will hate the drama. the secondary char in tharntype like the highschooler? oh my god i wanted to die too but like. shit. i wouulda watched for teamwin but that was barely there. and i could not get through modc. the couple with the age gap is gross, and i lit cannt look at this hot-ass big guy making out with a stick that dies

i cant be the only one. i didn’t like uwma dude’s face in the other drama he was in either. i like him as a person. maybe if i could see him do something else. ...

oh this is also why the first 2 moons....i hated...pha’s....whole.....existence. his face, his attitude, fuck. maybe it’s the playing up the femininity part of someone but then having them being a fuckin doormat. sad cos in lbc and modc the main love interests i like. but they’re also stupid. and just. god. stupid fuckin rships.

too much emphasis is put on love as The Thing but they can’t even exhibit love the way they should. idk what im SAYING IT’S JUST WORDS

had sth else to jot down but i forgot i may update this and remind meself

[arkus-rhapsode]

My version of the Sun Village Arc

Aright, I need to fill in more gaps in my FT rewrite, and let’s get into a small, but potentially big one. Sun Village.

Everybody is adjusting to getting their popularity and status back after the GMG a few weeks ago

Lucy does some exposition about how everyone is feeling, but Natsu is a little bummed out how he doesn’t have much money after everything and thus can’t finance a trip for Igneel

Erza wants to take a high ranking job after the whole GMG and fight with Minerva. She feels shaken how even after all that training she still struggled against Kagura and Minerva

Erza notices that there’s a brand new S-Class request just put up this morning, and it calls for unfreezing a village

She says it’s perfect and asks her team to come with her. Lucy makes a small joke how even though they aren’t S-Class Erza’s asking them to come.

Erza (Scarily) explains that was them breaking rules, this time she’s inviting them with her

Natsu is exited because money for Igneel would be great

They travel to an unknown residence and all feel a strong magic presence

They knock on the door and meet Warrod

Warrod seems kind and humble, but everyone is shocked by this magic coming off him. Erza comparing it to Makarov and Jose.

Gray asks Warrod about his magic and Warrod says its been so long since he’s had company he forgot people are antsy around his magic

Warrod then reveals that he is one of the 4 gods of Ishgar

They are stunned as they remember this feeling from Jura, but this guy is stronger than him

When Gray asks about the frozen village, because there isn’t anything frozen here. Warrod explains how he came across the frozen village, that he’s been spending his days trying to stop desertification from expanding and one area where desert was growing was around this village near the southern part of the Fiore boarder. But it was no normal village, but a village of giants

Everyone is shocked, but Lucy asks if Warrod is a god why can’t he do it himself

Warrod explains his Green Magic and how it won’t unfreeze the giants, Natsu says he can easily

Gray then asks why didn’t just give them the location of the village and Warrod said he wanted to meet the people who would be accepting the job and with his alteration to the landscape it might be a bit harder to find it

Happy makes a small joke how the Woodworth Sea divided Fiore and Seven, now there’s more forest dividing them

Warrod makes a the magic traveling tree for them

While of the way it cuts to somewhere in a grassland, where there is Flare Corona, walking aimlessly saying she needs to see “it” one more time before she dies

Cut back to team Natsu and they are really taken aback by how the greenery is so dense and that it was all thanks to Warrod’s magic. But they don’t dawdle for too long and they do see that the village is indeed covered in ice

Natsu can’t seem to melt the ice and Gray says there’s something strange about it. Lucy asks if it’s similar to the ice on Galuna

While there they are introduced to Team Sylph Labyrinth

Erza says she hasn’t heard of a treasure hunter guild and they gloat how they aren’t part of any government system like mage guilds, Treasure Hunting guilds are underground gatherings of treasure hunters who profit off the treasures they acquire

Erza then just calls them a gathering of thieves and Sylph Labyrinth says they’re the best of the best and are here for the eternal flame

They state that the Eternal Flame is considered an S-Class treasure and that it has magically protected this village for years (Happy questioning why giants would need a protector)

Gray points out that they can’t unfreeze eternal flame because of the ice, but they show off their liquid moon drip

Erza tells them to grab the moon drip, while see checks the village for the flame

Cut away to the sky and there’s a giant winged cyclops beast. On its back is Minerva and Doriate

Minerva talks about the ice covering sun village and that their superior went overboard trying to freeze the eternal flame

Doriate says that given the myths about the flame they couldn’t afford anything less

Minerva pouts saying that they’re essentially acting as a cleanup crew for their boss. Doriate commenting that sub guilds like them exist to do the grunt work. Besides they gotta make sure the Flame has been destroyed and pick off any witnesses. Which Minerva grins at.

Cut to the new forest around Sun Village as Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Wendy  chase after the hunters

They engage in a fight, but it ending in a draw when Happy breaks the moon drip bottle, Natsu then yells that there’s almst no moon drip the melt the whole village, the Treasure Hunters yell that it wasn’t meant to unfreeze a village only thaw a treasure.

Sylph escapes and Natsu says they should split up. He and Happy will go one way, Gray another, and Lucy, Wendy and Carla a third

Back in Sun Village Erza is using Black Wing armor to check the city and sees that there’s nothing resembling a treasure or flame. There’s nothing in any village or its center.

Erza thinks about the location and notices that this village is at the base of a mount chain. Not only that, but the mountains are on the east side of the village

She also thinks about this being the sun village and how the mountains are east like the direction of where the sun rises

She then concludes that the large mountain where the sun would most likely go over in the mornings is the home of the Eternal flame

But she then notices she’s shrinking and sees that she is an adult

Minerva appears saying that Doriate has quite the range. Erza demands to know why Minerva is here and she explains that she joined a dark guild

There’s a small flashback of Minerva quitting Sabertooth, slapping away Stings hand when he asks to help him make a better Sabertooth. She just declares she’ll never be weak and refuses to be a part of this weak guild

Erza asks why a dark guild and Minerva says she’s working up the food chain and that being in the legal world, she’ll always have to be measured up to Erza

Minerva says that she’s here now to make sure the flame is dead, after all, that was the intent of her higher ups

Erza says that a treasure can’t be killed and Minerva calls Erza blind, telling her that no magic treasure guards this village, but a demon

Erza is shocked and wants to know how Minerva knows this and she says that her superiors had been researching. Erza yells at Minerva to stop being coy and tell her who her boss is.

Minerva states it doesn’t matter only now she has an excuse to end Erza

Cut to Natsu who finds his way to the edge of the village and becomes a child

Doriate appears and tells Natsu he’s fallen victim to his law of retrogression

Natsu tries to fight, but Doriate explains that the mages magic also regresses. Eventually Happy pulls Natsu away when it looks like they can’t win

Cut to Erza, who can’t beat Minerva so she also makes an escape to avoid her, by running into tons of giant buildings

cut to Sylph Labyrinth and Rala explains that there are dark mages here now and they’re looking for the flame

Hiroshi complains saying they’re going to go back empty handed, but Drake remembers in their fight with FT, Lucy had golden keys and given their rarity, they can snag a big day

Sylph ambush Lucy and Wendy, but they are able to beat back both Rala and drake, but Hiroshi escapes. Saying he’ll prep another ambush, until he’s stopped by Flare

Flare shows up asking what he’s doing in sun village and he says he’s here for the eternal flame causing Flare to try and fight him when he keeps insulting her

Flare defeats Hiroshi and Lucy is shocked to see her hear

Flare says that this is her village. Lucy and Wendy are shocked

Flare has a small flashback showing how she didn’t fit in the giant society and due to her social ineptitude from coming of a village of giants, no one really welcomed her

She then found a home in Raven Tail when Ivan sees her slaughter a bear beast with her magic. Ivan brought her to RT and thanks to her upbringing and social issues she was easy to bend to the ideas of breaking rules

But when she messed up around Ivan he would beat her (established in GMG) and Flare never experienced that only people yelling at her

Wendy asks what happened to Raven Tail and she explains what happened was the same thing that happens every time a guild master s arrested and put in prison, the guild loses its legal status

Lucy asks why Flare isn’t in jail and she just says Ivan was breaking the rules and we were punished by losing our status. She doubts Nullpudding, Kurohebi, and Obra are gong to keep their noses clean

Lucy asks why shes here and Flare says she’s going to end her life. She can’t fit in human society or giant society so she thinks it’s the only option

She came here just so she could feel the eternal flame’s presence one last time

Lucy says she won’t let a mage as talented as Flare throw her life away, Flare says Lucy should want her dead after the whole GMG

Lucy says that she doesn’t forgive Flare, but she doesn’t think it’s too late for a second chance, but she’ll never know if she just gives up

Cut to Gray who meets Doriate and yells if he caused the frozen village and Doriate says he’s just picking off what’s left

Gray turns into a child and is able to use his ice creatively to knock out Doriate

Soon the law of retrogression wears off and returns people to normal, but Doriate quickly awakens and (being pretty livid) turns into a demon

Gray is shocked. Doriate says he threw away his humanity a long time ago and Tartaros made him this

Gray hears Tartaros and realizes they froze the village and Doriate attacks Gray

Gray uses his magic’s ability to mold ice and release a blast of ice and it completely fries Doriate

Gray is shocked at the power of the ice and Doriate says that Gray doesn’t know the power of Tartaros

Doriate, with his last breath whistles for the cyclops monster to come down

Cut to Erza and Natsu who revert to normal age, which causes Minerva to flee given their strength together

Lucy and Wendy show up with Flare, and Gray also appears

Gray says what he heard, Tartaros being the bosses of Minerva and Doriate and this ice coming from them

Erza then confronts Flare and asks if the Eternal Flame really is a demon

Flare says that the eternal flame is “other worldly” but it is a living creature

Flare confirms Erza’s hunch on the flame being located in the mountain and Says she’ll take them up to the chamber

Gray says he’ll go because he can unfreeze the beast and Gray asks Wendy to come to because if this beast is a demon then it’ll need to heal because this ice is wicked effective of killing demons

Lucy, Natsu, and Erza decide to watch if there is anymore Succubus Eye members coming

At the mountain top, they find the frozen flame (It having a vague skull shape to it on the front of the fire)

Back at the bottom the cyclops beast attack and Natsu, Lucy, and Erza try to knock it down, but it won’t go down easy

Natsu tries to meet it in the air with Happy, but still isn’t enough

Cut to the mountain and Gray using his magic and breaking the ice away from the flame and Wendy does find that it’s alive and starts to heal it coming out of the ice, but Wend also notices that it’s smell is familiar.

Natsu is trying to yell and warn everyone to get out of the way because the cyclops creature is heading right for the mountain

The Ice fully breaks and the eternal flame is released. It looks like giant flaming skeleton till it’s neck starts to elongate and yells Fire Dragon’s Roar

The Cyclops monster is burned apart by the roar and Wendy says that it isn’t a demon, but a dragon

The dragon identifies himself as Atlas Flame and says Natsu and Wendy smell like the children of Igneel and Grandeeney

Natsu says he’s Igneel’s son and Atlas laughs saying that it’s been so long. Natsu says he thought only his dad was a fire dragon, but Atlas says there was others that Igneel was the king of fire dragons

Natsu asks why h4e’s here and Atlas explains that 400 years aagon there was a great battle between the dragons of the east and the dragons of the west. Most dragons viewed humans as little more than food in the west and planned to spread east when they heard more were there

This was known as the dragon king festival and it seemed the east was able to keep up with the ferocious nature of the western dragons

It was then, dragons gave their power to humans to fight along side them. The dragon slayers were ambitious, but the war was ultimately won when Igneel and a coalition of western dragons who supported humans turned on the western dragons. But there was a side effect, this war gave birth to Acnologia. Acnologia rose up and was a human turned into a dragon. He slaughtered all dragons, east and west and started searching for more in the world

Natsu asks Atlas to tell him more about Igneel, but Erza still needs an answer of why Atlas is the eternal flame

Atlas laughs saying he can explain both, that after the war there was a new threat in the west a demon known as END

Igneel had grown close to humans and refused to let them die at the hands of this beast

Atlas felt so inspired by this. Watching a dragon defend humanity with everything he could. So Atlas went east on a journey to find something like that. A truly fulfilling cause.

He established this village, because years ago giants were spread out over the land and were hunted by groups of people. So Atlas made a home for them and protected them for years, but now he’s at his end

Gray asks what he means and Atlas says that what this village is covered in is ice devil slayer magic

Gray realizes that this is the reason why the ice is effective on Doriate

Gray reveals thaat this is the cause of Tartaros which causes Atlas to go wide eyed and he says that Tartaros was guild made by the demon END, the demon guild was made of all of Zeref’s demon and that if they are still around then they still have the same motivation, revive END

Erza asks if demons make up Tartaros then why did they try to destroy Atlas if they thought he was one

Atlas explains that they are different from demons and that they are etherios. Artificially made demon produced by living magic and any other demon that isn’t is an obstruction or lesser being

Atlas Says that he must free his people from the grip of demons just like how Igneel did it for humans. He gives his life to unfreeze the village due to there strength of the ice and says that after 400 years his time is up and that this is better because he’s always feared Acnologia coming here

Atlas dies saying goodbye to the village and Flare reunites with everyone

After everything Atlas said, she now wants to live like Lucy said and that she can have a second chance

It ends with everyone a bit shook by the END reveal and wonder when will Tartaros act.

[gear-project]

.  .  .

Videogame QandA Survey.

Source @8bitrevolver

1. First game you played obsessively? Tetris NES / Gameboy

2. A game that has influenced you creatively? Writing, drawing, etc. Legendary Wings / Guardic Gaiden / Guardian Legend / etc.

3. Who did you play with as a kid? My older sister. (She was bad at Mario games.)

4. Who do you play with now? Netplay mostly.

5. Ever use cheat codes? I am a sem-religious Hex-editor whenever I get the opportunity.

6. Ever buy strategy guides? I used to, but Art Books and Material Books are superior.

7. Any games you have multiple copies of? ...Guilty Gear.

8. Rarest/Most expensive game in your collection? Rarest: Final Fantasy Tactics, Most Expensive: Gundam Breaker 3 (because of DLC, but it's worth it)

9. Most regrettable purchase? Super Street Fighter IV

10. Ever go to a midnight game release or stand in line for hours? I've gone to them, but I never waited THAT long.  Lines were pretty short for me.

11. Have you ever made new friends from playing video games? All the time.

12. Ever get picked on for liking games? In College, sure.  It's a social stigma even with my family.

13. A game you’ve never played that everyone else has? Overwatch (Not real in to FPS, sorry.)

14. Favorite game music? Aside Guilty Gear, I liked songs from Sega Genesis Era (Arrow Flash).

15. If it was a requirement to get a game related tattoo, what would you pick? A Gear Mark Seal (should be obvious why).

16. Favorite game to play with your friends IRL? Very few IRL friends live near me... unfortunately.

17. Ever lose a friend over a game? Almost... well, they lost interest in the game at least.

18. Would you date someone that hates gaming? Not in a million years.

19. Favorite handheld console? Anything with Guilty Gear on it.

20. Game that you know like the back of your hand? Guilty Gear (any title really).

21. Game that you didn’t like or understand as a kid but love now? Kid Icarus (sortof), Megaman Zero to an extent.

22. Do you wear game related clothing/accessories? When I can afford to.

23. The game that you’ve logged the most hours into? Gundam Breaker series.

24. First Pokemon game? Red (never played them much and lost interest).

25. Were you ever an arcade game player? Yes, back when the Arcade Scene still existed in my home town.

26. Ever form any gaming rivalries? Oh yes.  They're always out to fight me.  But they never win, lol.

27. Game that makes you rage? Any hardcore survival game (Dark Souls for example).

28. Ever play in a tournament? Not in any majors, but I did go to one once.

29. What is your gaming set up? 3 consoles + PC hooked up to an HDMI switchbox and an ASUS Monitor.

30. How many consoles do you own? I think close to 7, but some are retired for good.

31. Does the 3DS and/or Virtual Boy hurt your eyes or give you headaches? Yes.  VR/Oculus too.

32. Did you ever play a game based on your favorite show/cartoon/movie/comic? I tried a Demo of Voltron once... but it wasn't that great.

33. Did you ever have any bootleg games or plug-n-play games? Yep... It was crap, so I don't wanna talk about it.

34. Do either of your parents play video games? Nope. Never.

35. Ever work in a game store? Or do you have a favorite game shop? Never worked there, but I used to like going to Funcoland back when it was still in business.  Now I frequent Record Head.

36. Have you ever shed actual blood, sweat or tears over a game? I sweat over my games on hot summer days... and my eyes water if I stare at a screen too long.  My controller gets greasy so I gotta clean it more often.

37. Have you played E.T. for the Atari 2600? Do you think that’s the worst game ever, or do you have another nomination? I was never fond of Megaman games, I just lacked the skill to play them, loved the music though.

38. A game you’re ashamed to admit that you like? GalGun Double Peace

39. A sequel that you would die for them to make? Valkyrie Profile 3, dear lord...

40. What to you think of virtual reality headsets or motion controls? They can be disorienting, and they're more or less for novelty if you ask me.

41. A genre that you just can’t get into? FPS, Sports, RTS, Sims, Low-quality Indie Games

42. Maybe it wasn’t your first game, but what was the game that started you on your path to nerdiness? Don't insult me, I am a Gaming Connoisseur!  Joust would be the first game I ever played.

43. Ever play games when you really should have been concentrating on something else? I multi-task usually.  My grades were rarely effected.

44. Arcade machine that has consumed the most of your quarters? NEO GEO / Samurai Showdown III

45. How are you at Mario Kart? I rarely play.  I prefer Rollcage and Wipe-Out Pulse/HD Fury.

46. Do you like relaxing games like Animal Crossing or Harvest Moon? Blehhhhhhh.... boring.

47. Do you like competitive games? To some extent, though I like Hybrid cross-genre games the most.

48. How long does it take your to customize your player character? Hours and Hours and Hours... I'm meticulous.

49. In games where you can pick your class, do you always tend to go for the same type of character? Depends on my mood and if I can use multiple save files.  I like pushing my boundaries.

50. If you were a game designer, what masterpiece would you create? That's a secret!

51. Have you ever played a game for so long that you forgot to eat or sleep? All the time.

52. A game that you begged your parents for as a kid? I never begged... actually I just looked at stuff in a window or kiosk and they 'got the hint'.

53. What’s your opinion on DLC these days? Depends on what kind of content it is... but if it's substantial it's worth it, even as an alternate outfit.

54. Do you give in to Steam sales? I wish I could.  I need a Steam Console one of these days... or a decent Gaming PC.

55. Did you ever make someone you hated in the Sims and did mean stuff to them? I am not that sadistic.  I take all my frustrations out in Fighting Games.

56. Did you ever play Roller Coaster Tycoon and kill off your guests? Never played it.

57. Did you ever play a game to 100% or get all of the achievements? Yes.  BlazBlue Central Fiction is my most recent Platinum.

58. If you can only play 3 games for the rest of your life, which ones do you pick? Gundam Breaker, Guilty Gear, Valkyrie Profile

59. Do you play any cell phone games? Don't own a Cell phone, so nope.

60. Do you know the Konami Code? Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start

61. Do you trade in your games or keep them forever? I very rarely sell games unless I loathe them.

62. Ever buy a console specifically to play one game? Anything with Guilty Gear (or BlazBlue) on it.

63. Ever go to a gaming convention or tournament? Yes.  They're overrated though compared to social gaming.

64. Ever make a TV or monitor purchase based on what would be best for gaming? Whenever I can manage it.  Especially a Tate Monitor for Vertical Shmups.

65. Ever have a Game Genie, Game Shark or Action Replay? Did it ever mess up your game’s save file? I owned them, but I usually kept save backups whenever I tested anything.

66. Did you ever have have an old Nokia with Snake on it? Nope, can't say I have.

67. Do you have a happy gaming-related childhood memory you want to share? Most of my gaming stories are long-winded, so not really.

68. Ever save up a ton of tickets in an arcade to get something cool? Most of what they have is junk, to be honest.  I'd sooner buy candy.

69. In your opinion, best game ever made? It hasn't been MADE yet! *grin*

70. Very first game you ever beat? Super Dodge Ball / NES (I very rarely ever beat NES games so I'm proud of that game).

[studyforwhatmatters]

uhh...when you spell the wrong “stationery” but are too lazy to redo the title...

Thinking about ordering some thinner pens (0.38 mm), but I thought I would go through some of the pens that I already have before I drop that extra moolah $$. And I figured that I could just share with you guys what’s in my pencil case/provide handwriting samples/review some of my favorites in the process haha :P if you have any recommendations/insight on 0.38 mm vs 0.5 mm pens please shoot them my way!

Firstly, I recently discovered #crayligraphy and decided to try it out for my title with some old crayola broad markers I had laying around the house, so please excuse the beginner struggles lol. Maybe I was so focused on the strokes that I spelled the wrong word LOL

The Pilot Precise V5 RT 0.5 mm replaced the Uniball Roller Stick Micro as my daily driver during my freshman year of college. It’s really smooth and pretty inky so when I write quickly I don’t have to put a ton of pressure which is nice. But it also produces a pretty thick line (imo) even though it’s supposed to be 0.5 mm. ALSO as a result of its inkiness and how often I use them, they run out pretty quickly :( sometimes I go through one in a week depending on how much I’m writing. The Uniball is more scratchy and lines don’t come out as consistently, but I still keep one in my pencil pouch for when I need finer lines.

Another one of my favorites is the Uniball Jetstream Color Series Ballpoint 0.5 mm. This is such a great pen! I love it so much that I only use it for special occasions lol. I want to save itttt haha. But yeah it writes super well. It’s really smooth and really thin even though its supposed to be 0.5 mm, which I don’t mind. It’s not super inky at all either which is a plus.

A ball point pen that I surprisingly fell in love with is the BIC Clic Stic Retractable Ballpoint Pen. (This one is actually a freebie from my school’s writing center so it doesn’t EXACTLY say the name of the pen on the barrel, but it looks like the Clic Stic and it has the BIC logo on it so that’s my best guess lol.) It writes so smoothly and it’s also a really nice blue color. It also gives you that thinning out at the end – idk how to describe it...like a flick? a tail? LOL But I really like that. I feel like it’s something you can’t really achieve with a thinner tip – or it’s too thin to be noticeable. My handwriting also tends to be rounder/happier-looking when I use this pen which I don’t mind. It skips occasionally, but it’s not super noticeable imo. BUT at my school’s writing center, the plastic barrels (not the ink itself) come in two colors – burgundy and gold. The burgundy one works like a charm, but the gold one tends to skip a lot more/ink is not consistent and the blue color is more faint. So, I’m not sure if it’s an older batch or if they changed the ink formula, but I’ll just stick to stealing the burgundy ones when I go keke

Two other ballpoint pens that I carry around are the standard BIC Round Stic and the Papermate Eagle Ballpoint. I do prefer the Eagle over the Round Stic though. The ink flows a lot better – smoother, more consistent/less skips, stronger black color, and I don’t usually have to scribble on another piece of paper to get it going.

I bought the BIC Atlantis Exact Ballpoint for my ochem lab notebook but I ended up not using it LOL I guess it was too thin for my taste? Or I’m just too used to thicker ballpoint pens. I still use it occasionally though. (It works really well on skin if you like to draw on yourself like me lul) It makes smooth, thin lines. Definitely smoother than the Round Stic and Eagle. When writing, the nib feels really hard though and the lines are not always super consistent.

Staples Strata 0.5 mm. The needle tips are insanely inky. The flow is actually ridiculous. One time I was super tired in class and I let my pen tip rest on the paper and it made a huge ink splotch. *cries* RIP notes. I got these years ago (without testing them tsktsk) because they were really cheap. I got both the conical and needle tips in black, along with conical tips in different colors. The conical ones aren’t too bad. They have pretty hard tips, write well on printer paper, and you don’t have to put a ton of pressure because it’s so inky, but on certain papers, the ink tends to feather and appears a lot thicker than 0.5 mm (see picture - i crey). I mainly use the colored conical tip pens which are actually great. They don’t seem as inky and don’t feather as much imo. I think I finished the black needle tips because I write really quickly in class and the fact that they don’t require a lot of pressure to write make them a great class notetaking tool.

The other colored pens I have in my pencil case are the Papermate Flair Ultra Fine 0.5 mm. I don’t use these pens for daily writing – they are more for highlighting important terms/headers. The nib doesn’t really appeal to me. Depending on how you hold it, there’s a lot of line variation. It’s also a little scratchy – you can hear the friction between the pen and paper when you write.

The Uniball Signo 207 Gel Pen 0.7 mm is also a pretty common classic. Forgot how well it writes until I did this stationery test haha. Inky pen, bold lines, & smooth writing. Overall a pretty good pen. I don’t use it a ton because the lines come out a little too thick for my liking. And sometimes when you use a little more pressure, you kind of “push” the ink to the outline of the letter...idk if that makes sense. But the inside of the letter becomes lighter while the sides become darker. lol sorry I can’t explain that very clearly. 

My main mechanical pencil of choice is the Pentel Graph Gear 600 0.5 mm. What I really love about this is that it has fantastic weight. I really don’t like super light pencils – I feel like they’ll just fly out of my hand lol. And with lighter pencils, I feel that you have to put a lot more pressure to get a strong mark. A heavier pencil body kind of does half the work for you haha. 

Another special occasion writing instrument: Pilot Uni Alpha-Gel Slim 0.5 mm. I think the lead really makes this pencil lol. I still have the original lead inside, which is super soft and easy to write with even though it has a lighter body. Really comfy grip too.

I also don’t use the Pilot G2 Roller Ball Pen 0.38 mm a lot. Maybe because I’m not used to thinner lines? But the G2 in this size is also a little scratchy. It does come in handy when I’m in the mood for something a little finer. My handwriting also becomes a little narrower and more “flick-y” when I write with a smaller tip – not sure if I like that or not haha (see the BIC Clic Stic handwriting for comparison). I also borrowed my sister’s MUJI Gel Pen 0.38 mm to try it out. Not too bad actually. Pretty smooth and very gel like haha if that makes any sense. Also has a smooth barrel so there’s not much grip.

wow...that was a lot longer than I expected lol. But I’m thinking of getting some thinner pens (especially as a daily driver) so if you have any recommendations please send them over! Or if you have any insight on 0.38 mm vs 0.5 mm pens please share ^^

[waynekelton]

The Best Upcoming iOS & Android Games 2019

The mobile gamer can look back at 2018 with an affectionate and misty eye, secure in the knowledge that gaming on mobile devices gets more diverse, sophisticated and polished with each year. In this respect, 2019 also is shaping up to be a banner year on this front.

Roughly speaking, the most exciting upcoming games can be split into three groups: the name-brand megahits-in-waiting, boardgame adaptations, and indie projects. Read on to see what the who’s who of mobile gaming are cooking up for this year’s treats.

Dire Wolf Digital (Board Game)

This isn't the name of a game, but the name of a company that announced this year they're making a bucket-load of digital board game adaptations. Because we only have the announcement text to go on, we've decided to keep the new games all in one place until we know more. The games Direwolf are bringing to digital (which afawk also includes mobile devices) are:

Mage Knights – It's worth noting this is the first step in a bigger agreement with WizKids, so it's likely we'll be seeing more announcements this year.

Wings of Glory – A popular table-top aerial skirmish game.

Raiders of the North Sea – An excellent worker placement game themed around the 8th and 9th century viking raids (pictured).

Yellow & Yangtze – a Reiner Knizia tile placement game of civilization building.

Sagrada – A dice drafting game about creating works of art.

Root – the recent Kickstarter sensation about asymmetrical warfare in the woods.

We're not sure which project is due to appear first - possible WizKids & Mage Knights, given the importance that project has within the announcement? We'll update as we learn more.

Evolution (Board Game)

This was on the 'MIA' until recently, when North Star Digital announced that it would finally be releasing on February 12th. This is a digital adaptation of the popular boardgame of the same name, where you play as emergent species attempting to survive and adapt. You must use cards and combine traits to make sure your species gets the food it needs to live. This is a game of up to four players, and will feature a solo campaign vs. AI, as well as cross-platform online multiplayer.

Mario Kart Tour (Racing)

It’s been practically a year since this title was first announced and outlined with few concrete details added between now and then. Nintendo’s mobile offerings have run the gamut, from the premium Mario Run, the Miitomo social & style app everyone tried and forgot about, to the successful and generally great Fire Emblem: Warriors. Mario Kart is a treasured and classic franchise, even amongst Nintendo offerings, so that reputation guarantees some level of careful handling. It remains an open question whether the game will be a premium or freemium model, but the launch date is still projected to be March.

Diablo Immortal (Action RPG)

Diablo Immortal will draw some side-eye and mockery, having been already made notorious because of its horribly mistimed announcement. (Yes, we have phones, but read the room, Activision-Blizzard). Even more puzzlingly, the game is being created in partnership with NetEase, a Chinese developer whose resume already includes ‘Eternal Realm’ (无尽神域) itself essentially a Diablo clone. Weird stuff: the official license merging with a pretender to the throne to make a hybrid project together. Concerns about endless grind or re-skinning of Eternal Realm are well-founded, but while most of us will be as judge-y as possible we’ll also probably still give the final product a try. Good action RPGs live or die by loot, character progression and above all, delicate-yet-accurate controls, so it will be interesting to see if Diablo Immortal will be a good game as well as the inevitable cash cow.

Artifact (CCG)

Two juggernauts of early-aughts gaming, Valve and Richard Garfield, collaborated to create Artifact, a lane-based card game with its theme and heroes lifted from DOTA 2. Launching on desktops this November, the game has been universally praised for its gameplay and just as roundly (and soundly, I might add) panned for its multi-layered pay scheme, which presents significant barriers to entry and requires quite the investment. The game is a purchase upfront, with tournament tickets and the chance to earn cards in-game through other methods both requiring further shills at some point. Yes, there is an individual card market which allows powerful and rapid deckbuilding, but at what cost? Amazing game with an incredibly rocky launch, but its trade winds are already shifting. The game is excellent and its market & monetization can only improve. Watch this space.

Five Tribes (Boardgame)

Five Tribes, oldie but goodie, will make its digital debut this year. Days of Wonder has been updating and digitising its catalogue at a steady pace and with fantastic results. Five Tribes central mechanic is just like mancala. Pick a space and drop the meeples one by one along the path. Dead simple, but if you think it makes the game easy, you’d be dead wrong. The Five Tribes each possess unique scoring criteria and effects, and the turn-order bid means timing depends on correctly valuing the current layout. Many simple bits add up to make a nigh-perfect game.

Scythe: Digital Edition (Boardgame)

In another history, the Great War also ruined Europe and annihilated a generation, but its nations and technologies faced the blight and devastation quite differently. With large mechs, steampunk agricultural combines and faux-Eurasian player nations, Scythe gives each player a unique entity to steer to victory. Engine building games are always efficiency races, conversion puzzles, but Scythe’s unique setting, eye-catching miniatures and indirect player confrontation quickly made a it a fan favorite amongst the gaming community. Its rollout on Steam has been smooth experience, with decent AI and a robust tutorial. The assets and UI will translate well to mobile and what used to cost near three figures will be available to most anyone for a fraction of the price.

Terraforming Mars (Boardgame)

Terraforming Mars sounds like a noble goal for all of humanity. In reality, the game is a push-and-pull competition for corporations to garner by prestige by...terraforming Mars. Three categories: oxygen, temperature and ocean coverage dictate the endgame, but to get there, players will reshape the red planet into a bright blue hope. It’s a Euro though-and-though: precisely balanced, intricately co-dependent and inevitably point-based. But the close match between theme and mechanic makes this game deeply satisfying and intuitive to learn and explain, and the action selection mechanic is uniquely innovative and inspired. Just when I think boardgame design is tapped out, something truly exceptional rises to the top.

Mew-Genics (Sim)

This one has been incubating forever but should be worth it when it finally gets here. Ed McMillen (of Binding of Isaac fame) has been teasing this cat-breeding simulator for ages. The game has been described as a mix of Tamagotchi, Pokemon and the Sims, with its signature art style courtesy of McMillen. All bets for a playful wild game about the weirdness, sweetness, malice and all-around havoc of cat-raising seem to be right on the money. The ideas are there, the premise is promising, the only question remaining is when it will get here.

Overland (Finji) (TBS/Survival) 

Overland is tactical turn-based survival meets cross-country road trip (from hell). Each waypoint is a battle, a flashpoint conflict over some minor life-extending objective. Its overland map and procedural generation seem reminiscent of FTL (or its follow-up Into the Beach) but the setting here is familiar people struggling with post-apocalyptic daily hardship. Water, medicine, gas, weapons: the items are banal but vital. The game uses minimalism and scarcity to great effect, sketching characters and strategic scenarios alike with the barest elements.

Impossible Bottles (Rhythm/Action)

Various robots move about in their bottles and raging about like a bull in a china shop. Each level presents one of these Impossible Bottles for the player to fix by manipulating the environment and repairing the situation, or at the very least soothing its sole occupant. A scientist built these robots as part of a perpetual motion machine for unlimited energy, but they don’t quite work as is. The secret to fixing everything is music, or in gameplay terms: rhythm. One-touch gameplay and lush, fantastic art, with a slated mid-year release.

Nowhere Prophet (Card Game)

Nowhere Prophet: this one is a doozy and a little secretive. The dark horse of this race, if you will. In the game, post-apocalyptic leaders trek across a scabrous landscape to gather supporters and supplies, occasionally clashing with foes or environmental dangers. This card game has grid-based combat as well procedurally generated encounters. It’s a card-battler roguelike, essentially, with a unique setting and what seems to be a robust battle system.

Heaven’s Vault (Interactive Fiction)

Inkle (of 80 Days interactive fiction fame) has been teasing their mechanically ambitious Heaven’s Vault for some time now. An archaeologist-slash-xenolinguist explores the dusty remains of an alien civilization on an unknown planet, with a vivid backdrop of sienna sand and celestial blue. There’s some pretty nifty procedural tricks behind the code-breaking and translation, and while its approach to storytelling is a little less handcrafted, it has the potential to have even more surprises and replayability than the globe-trotting 80 Days.

Other Missing Games From 2018

As a reminder, here is a quick list of some other games we were expecting last year, but never turned up:

Void Tyrant (card game/RPG)

Bad North (RTS)

Exodus: Proxima Centauri (Boardgame)

Dungeon Warfare 2 (Tower Defence)

Epic Card Game (Card Game)

Lord of the Rings Living Card Game (Card Game)

Monster Slayers (Card Game) 

EVE: War of Ascension (MMO)

Best 2019 Mobile Releases So far

There's already been some excellent releases this year, and not all of them were expected/on this list. If you haven't already, check these games out:

Star Traders: Frontiers (RPG)

Legends of Andor (Boardgame)

Seen any other games coming out this year you're excited about? Let us know in the comments.

The Best Upcoming iOS & Android Games 2019 published first on https://touchgen.tumblr.com/

[gravetells]

#CMCon17 Wrap-up & #Giveaway: Four reasons why Coastal Magic is still the best little reader con out there

Putting together a conference is a tremendous amount of work. And it doesn’t really pay…in money, at least. Being a Featured Blogger gives you access to some opportunities and experiences normal convention-goers don’t get, and being behind the scenes really sheds light on the sheer insanity just waiting to bubble over in the background. I have rarely seen such selfless dedication to a cause as Jennifer Morris and her so very generous family members when it comes to Coastal Magic.

GraveTells & Jennifer Morris at CMCon17

This conference only accepts 300 readers total, in order to keep the author-reader ratio generous and intimate. There is, without a doubt, something magical about Coastal Magic. CMCon17 did not sell out, but I’d wager it will start to in coming years, and here’s a glimpse of why you want to be on the leading edge of that wave of reader enthusiasm…

Location, location, location

My room’s view @ CMCon17

A lovely dawn wake-up call

Daytime view from my room

The best breakfast buffet, with custom-made omelets (free for Hilton Gold members)!

Coastal Magic takes place in Daytona Beach, Florida—literally right on the beach. Half the rooms in this rather luxurious Hilton hotel have a view just like the ones above. And boy is it peaceful. From my room I was able to see beach-side weddings (with some very yummy-looking Marines!) and morning joggers and watch the sun rise. I only had to open my sliding window to hear the waves crashing and the gulls calling. So beautiful, so invigorating.

Dynamite panels & activities

If you attend the crazy, massive Romantic Times convention, you’re probably familiar with Damon Suede’s Cinema Craptastique, a social media snarkfest that targets a truly terrible mainstream movie each year. The practice run for RT’s Cinema is at CMCon, and the setting is much more intimate. Many people find this to be one of the highlights of the convention.

Lunch with an Author is also a highly coveted event, giving readers a chance to eat lunch with a Featured Author of their choice in a small-group environment (4 readers to one author). And you never know what other authors will be seated at your table. For instance, last year I sat with Donna Herren (Kit Rocha) and Lorelei James. This year was Lara Adrian, Lisa Kessler, and Tonya Burrows.

CMCon17 Lunch with an Author

Lunch with Lara Adrian

Lunch with an Author at CMCon17: Lara Adrian, Lisa Kessler, & Tonya Burrows

This year’s party theme was Movie Magic, and attendees showed up in an array of unique and striking costumes…

The best Katniss ever, author & blogger Chelle Olson

Drake Austin’s creepy self…what were you again?

Stephen Osborne as the menacing Phantom (not to be confused with the Phantom Menace *shudder*)

Selfie station with Sookie Stackhouse…I mean author & blogger Chelsea Mueller

Queen Graylin Fox…whose tiara I coveted

GraveTells, HD Smith, Alyssa Day, & Tonya Burrows

Mahlet, Sue from GraveTells, Jennifer Morris from Books Make Me Happy, Jen “Twimom” from That’s What I’m Talking About, and author Chudney Thomas

Author Kiernan Kelly‘s facepainting magic

GraveTells and Rebecca Zanetti

Dancing the night away

The Flash Fiction panel draws a HUGE crowd every year. Who wouldn’t want to watch some of the funniest authors at the con making up the most ridiculous(ly dirty) stories on the fly?

Intrepid authors Amy Lane, Julie Kenner, Dee Davis, Becky McGraw, Damon Suede, Lucienne Diver, and Kiernan Kelly

And THEN…

One of my favorite things about being a Featured Blogger for this con is having the opportunity to moderate panels. I always enjoy the Music panel, but totally forgot to take a group selfie. Shout-out to Lisa Kessler, Kathleen Collins, Chudney Thomas, BA Tortuga, and Shannon Bell for being such great fun! I also completely neglected to snag a photo op with the Super Bad vs Supernaturally Bad panel—Kait Ballenger, Damon Suede, JA Souders, Rebecca Zanetti, & Amy Lane—you guys were awesome! Here are a few of my other favorites from this year:

Blue Collar vs White Collar with BA Tortuga, Gail Z Martin, Kristal Hollis, Kate McMurray, Tere Michaels, and Damon Suede

Genre Hopping with Jana Oliver, Katie Reus, Lara Adrian, Rebecca Zanetti, Hildie McQueen, Aria Kane, and Gail Z Martin

The Killing Game with Amy Lane, Dee Davis, Eric Asher, and Graylin Fox

Some of the con’s activities are even more special, set up by the authors themselves as a thank you to their fan groups. Huge thanks to Chelle Eden (author duo Chelle Olson and Tigris Eden) and Lisa Kessler for including me in their smaller parties! <3

Dinner with Lisa Kessler’s Night Angels

Chelle Eden‘s Ellys in Faeryland preview party

Party! Ellys In Faeryland by Chelle Eden

Ellys In Faeryland by Chelle Eden

Making personal connections

This might seem like a duh, but—aside from the incredible location—most of the appeal of Coastal Magic for me is in all the personal relationships I’m able to form with authors, bloggers, and readers. And those relationships last, partly (I believe) because the quality of the time you get to spend together at CMCon is so high. Below are some of the highlights of my shenanigans this year, but in no way covers all the awesome. This post is long enough already!

Breakfast with Asa Maria Bradley

Lunch with Dee Davis

Dinner with Asa Maria Bradley, Tonya Burrows, Boone Brux, Rebecca Zanetti, and Kathy Lyons

Sue (DaVinciKittie) & Gayla Leath, fellow freelance editor!

Terrible lunch, excellent company! Damon Suede, Katie Reus, Kathleen Collins, Stephen Osborne, & Sarah Romsa

One-on-one time with Lisa Kessler

Heart you, Kathy Lyons!

I ADORED getting to finally meet the lovely, talented, and sweet Katie Reus

Elicia Hyder, heres to survivors, warriors, and new BFFs!

A scrumptious dinner with Chudney Thomas, Nicole Plummer, and Amy Lane. Love you ladies!

Hanging with Nicole Plummer, my most excellent panel assistant

And finally, the unforgettable Amy Lane

Winning fab prizes

When I say “fab”, I truly mean fabulous. One of this year’s raffle baskets was a super classy Coach purse. I might have put all my tickets in it. I might have not won it. *pout* Still love you, Dee! <3 This year’s raffle raised $1236 for Habitat For Humanity. We had twenty less baskets donated than last year and still raised the same amount of money. How incredible is that?!

Baskets donated for the Habitat for Humanity raffle fundraiser

I contributed two baskets for this year’s charity raffle, one from GraveTells—full of crazy awesome swag and books signed by CMCon’s Featured Authors—and one from all my ladies and gents over at the San Francisco Area RWA chapter—full of more awesome signed books and swag.

The GraveTells raffle basket

The SFARWA raffle basket

The lucky winner of the SFARWA basket!

Unicorns!

TC Blue is known for her wild animal hunts at Coastal Magic, and this year’s target was the elusive sparkly-horned unicorn. These adorable little guys had raffle numbers that TC used to give out her own prizes. I brought home two and am sending one out in each Prize Pack below (forgot to put them in the pictures, doh!).

Giveaway

Speaking of prizes, let’s give some away now. =) Leave a comment on this post (pretty please?), then fill out the prize widget below to enter. Open to world-wide shipping. I’ll draw one winner for each Prize Pack. Good luck!

Prize Pack #1

Includes:

(Signed!) The Alpha King by Victoria Sue

Free ebook download from Kathy Lyons (the postcard in the middle has a code)

(Not pictured!) One of TC Blue’s unicorns

Notebook & pen from Katie Reus and Chudney Thomas

Mini notepad from Jennifer Estep

Shoe key chain (SO ADORABLE!) from Cynthia D’Alba

Portable measuring tape from Asa Maria Bradley

Sampler booklet from Gail Z Martin

1001 Dark Nights sampler booklet

1001 Dark Nights 2018 Cruise magnet (I’m going! Will I see you there?)

Ellys in Faeryland postcard from Chelle Eden (cover preview – these are very rare right now!)

Postcards from Julie Kenner and KC Burn

Bookmarks from Alyssa Day, Rising Storm serial, 1001 Dark Nights novellas

Prize Pack #2

Includes:

(Signed!) Rising Storm, Episode 8 by Dee Davis

(Not pictured!) One of TC Blue’s unicorns

1001 Dark Nights coloring book with coloring pencils

1001 Dark Nights sampler booklet

Free ebook download from Gail Z Martin (the postcard on the right has a code)

(Signed!) Short story booklet from Kathy Lyons

Goodie pack from Hildie McQueen

Mini notepad from Debra Jess

Vampires pin from Shannon Bell

“Clean hands, dirty books” hand sanitizer from Kiernan Kelly

“Shh I’m with my book boyfriend” door hanger from Julie Kenner

Drink coaster from Evelyn Lederman

Postcards from Nancy Northcott and Diana Marik

Bookmarks from Rising Storm serial and 1001 Dark Nights novellas

Preview card from HD Smith

Entry-Form

from #CMCon17 Wrap-up & #Giveaway: Four reasons why Coastal Magic is still the best little reader con out there