#I hope everyone in the fandom can take a breather now and start trusting the writers more

[nerdishpursuits]

I'm sat here perusing various posts and thinking that even when the narrative is developing in a way that's not utterly predicable and the resolution to conflicts is, mostly, decent or satisfactory? There seems to be cause for alarm. Maybe I'm missing something but it baffles me. Now that Pelayo has revealed himself to be gay, there's concern it might actually be a ruse to entrap Marta in his web of deceit. Judging by the looks of him and the revenue of his company, which far exceeds that of Marta's family, it stands to reason this man doesn't need artifice to ensnare a wife. There must be candidates aplenty. Least of all does he need to play the gay-man-card in Franquist Spain. That his motives go deeper than sheer altruism and helping out a fellow misfit in her time of need? Very likely. After all, next episode he tells Marta he has his eyes set on politics. Whether he will try and convince her they both stand to benefit from a lavender marriage, or something else happens that puts one of them, or both, in jeopardy, thus resulting in a union of convenience? All the speculation as of late might be way off the mark, all thanks to some supposed spoiler, unverified and clickbaity. We'll have to wait and see. What's clear is that he is here to stay and his fortunes will become linked with Marta & Fina. I will say, Pelayo's coming-out scene was one I very much enjoyed. Marta lacks friends, especially ones she can be herself around. Doubly gratifying if said friends could also have her back when it comes to the perilous world of business. Especially now that Marta’s position within the company has been weakened by ceding shares to Tasio. So all in all, it was nice seeing both Marta and Pelayo relieved at having stumbled upon an unlikely ally. The mythical unicorn, as it were. Pelayo: I too went to the Uni of Corn Marta: You? Intro to Introverts? I studied under Dr. Sapphis Cunnilingus, SeraFina Valero, class of 1958

That being said? It’s pretty obvious Pelayo’s request that Marta doesn’t reveal his truth to anyone at all, not even esa chica? Will result in some measure of drama. Mafin is well established as a couple and doubting if they love each other is never the issue. Their next hurdle will be one of communication and one which poses somewhat of a moral dilemma: does sharing someone’s secret with your partner, when said person asked you to keep it, a betrayal make? The drama this will stir can be seen from miles away, Legolas style. Marta’s loyalty resides with Fina, no doubt about it. But I'm guessing they will find ways to draw out this narrative and cause tension between them. If well written? It should be entertaining and result in plenty of rewarding scenes.

I also have to say, in all fairness, it irks me that Pelayo referred to Fina as esa chica. It’s obvious he knows who Marta’s partner is (imho, one glimpse at them in Marta’s office and the wheels are turning). But it comes across a tad condescending. I wonder how Fina will take to him initially, but a picnic it won’t be. Fina’s allergic to most men and this one? This one she’ll find particularly irritating. Especially if she doesn’t have all the information. She’s already worried Pelayo has ulterior motives and that Marta might end up paying the price. I will say, I love the fact that Fina’s not jealous, as her trust in Marta is absolute and their relationship has never been plagued by toxicity. What she doesn’t trust is the good intentions of men, especially those who hold information they could use against you.

And now that I’m thinking about it, I do wonder why it’s such a problem for Pelayo that Marta’s partner learns the truth. They’re all in the same boat. They all walk the gauntlet, every day, keenly aware of the dangers their lifestyle exposes them to. Fina wouldn’t betray him. Though I assume, for someone who wants to enter politics? Trusting a stranger to not accidentally spill the beans might prove unwise. In time, he’ll get to know Fina and change his mind - that's a given. I do believe the three of them will ultimately become the best of friends and it will be satisfying to watch them embark upon this journey together. But until then? I expect some drama awaits, right around the corner (also, shout-out to the novelita for adding a gay man to its list of characters: let it not be said we're not getting spoiled) I’ve also been thinking about the garden scenes. They could well have been symbols of Marta and Fina’s new-found freedom. Open space, fresh air, no walls closing in on them. A place they could fence out the world and pretend they could escape it. Alas. Said world is once again closing in on them, presenting them with new limitations to struggle with.

Their freedom has been hard-won but it’s been infringed upon. As such, the garden no longer feels secure or liberating and the scenes have moved indoors. Like a retreat to the tower, after the courtyard has been taken. It should feel somewhat claustrophobic, which it does: Fina worries someone is spying on them, that their beloved sanctuary isn’t the refuge they had hoped it would be. She’s still licking her wounds, weary and mistrusting. And with good reason. Not only has she been through hell and back, but now learns Marta has been on the verge of being sent to prison herself. That she's been exposed in a way that could lead to her downfall. Their downfall. Fina’s worry has as always revolved around something happening to Marta, leading to the loss of the woman she loves. Her anguished “if anything should befall you, it would kill me” is ever telling. And let's not forget this is the second time Fina confesses to this fear. It plagues her nights and waking hours and the show is now emphasizing it. Must be for a reason, because it sounds almost prophetic. I, for one, would like to see something happen to Marta because I’d be curious to watch Fina reacting to that. After all, Fina’s been stabbed, imprisoned and assaulted. Marta’s been spared so far. Let’s see if that changes at some point, in the name of good ol’ fashioned drama.

On a different note. Damián cautioning Marta that this is the life you chose was a good way of addressing Damián’s lingering bias. He has come a really long way and supports his daughter, but he continues to struggle with preconceived notions that don't align with Marta’s truth. Her response to this was perfect too: One doesn’t choose to be who they are.

Lastly. Carmen continuing to infantilize Tasio, absolving him of any and all fault, is laughable. After all, she trusts him as far as she can throw him and it shows. Nevertheless, her over-the-top anger at Marta is a valid portrayal of the type of woman who makes excuses for her husband and demonizes another woman instead. All because she’s managed to fix him and under her care he’s a reformed man. Room to grow for Carmen here, that’s a given. Furthermore, Tasio himself could have shown more backbone and assumed responsibility for his actions but he’s too scared of Carmen’s wrath. The Harridan’s Tale, a book by Carmen Recas. I do look forward to her and Marta patching things up though, which we know they will. Extra points if Fina gets to be a part of that.

[iliumheightnights]

Let’s go in the garden | Edmund Pevensie x M!reader

Fandom: Narnia

Pairing: Edmund Pevensie x Male!reader

Summary: (M/N) and Edmund go out horseback riding. On their adventure Edmund reflects on how they met.

a/n: I wrote this while listening to everything stays so if you want to set the mood some more put that on while reading this haha.

“Is there anywhere in particular we are riding to this fine evening?” (M/N) asked Edmund.

The two had left Cair Paravel and were now heading south. 

“Can’t we just go out for a nice ride?” Ed asked.

“We can...but we normally don’t. What is it this time? Some Narnians are bickering and we have to stop them? Little Timmy fell down the well...again?”

Ed let out a snort to that. He remembered that day too well, everyone did. “Don’t worry you’ll see. You’ll like it too.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it.”

…

England then.

Edmund couldn’t believe he was here. One of his mother's friends was throwing a garden party and she invited all the pevensies along. Their mother of course was ecstatic to go as was Lucy. Susan and Peter were content enough to stick close to the food. Edmund however was NOT wanting to be here in the slightest. As soon as his mother told he and his siblings they were free to enjoy the party, he escaped to the hedge maze. Here at least he could be by himself and wait for someone to come find him.

“Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t realize anyone would be here.” 

Edmund turned around at the voice. Great someone he’d have to interact with. He didn’t want to talk with any adults if he could help it. The sight he was greeted with was not an adult at all but another boy much like him. The boy looked like he was having about as much fun as he was having.

“I can go if you would like?” The boy staid looking down at the ground.

Yes. He would very much like you to leave and be left alone. Which was why it was so weird when the next words out of his mouth were. “It’s alright. You can stay.”

The boy looked back up at him and gave a weak but genuine smile, like it was the first time someone had asked him to stay. “I’m (M/N).”

“Edmund. You can call me ed though.” Why did he say that. No one gets to call him that, only his parents and siblings have ever called him that and the latter did it to patronize him. “ I just needed to step away from the party.”

“I understand.” (M/N) seemed to hesitate a bit like he wasn’t sure if he trusted him. “This is the spot I come to escape.”

“Escape? Why would you need to escape?” He was curious now.

(M/N)’s body language which was starting to loosen up quickly returned to a shy closed off one. “I am not a big fan of being around people. I’d prefer to be left alone in my room.”

Ed watched (M/N) closely there was something else there. Something bigger, but he wasn’t going to push it. “Me too.”

The two boys smiled at each other and waited out the rest of the party.

…

The two had been riding for a very long time, they were a long way from the castle now. The woods around them were beautiful this time of year. The leaves we’re about to fall as fall was quickly approaching. Most Narnians still hated the snow because of the white witch, but (M/N) could never. Edmund could help but admire the man riding beside him. Both of them had grown so much since they first met in that maze, both mentally and physically.

“What are you looking at lover boy?” (M/N)’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

“I was just thinking of when we first met. Back in that maze. Who would have thought I would get so lucky to find the love of my life that day.”

(M/N) laughed. “I sure didn’t. I just wanted to take a breather and hope to see some ducks. Then I got stuck with you.”

“Hey!” He couldn’t help but laugh and soon both of them were laughing. Eventually the laughter died down a bit. “But seriously, I really am glad you are in my life. I love you.”

(M/N) looked different yet the same all at the same time. He looked like the boy from the garden. Like he wasn’t sure if it was real or not. Yet he also looked like...like he was free. Like he was alive. “I love you too.”

Their ride eventually came to an end when Edmund called for the horses to stop. They were at the entrance to what seemed like a hedge maze. (M/N) looked over at Edmund in confusion.

“What is this place? What are we doing here?”

“Well I found out that before the white witch arrived in Narnia. The Narnians had a large maze that they would come and enjoy walking through. I wanted to see it myself and figured you’d want to join me.” He held out his arm which (M/N) wrapped his own around.

“Well... I guess it wouldn’t hurt.” The two entered the maze.

It took a long time to reach the center. Apparently Ed thought it would be a fun idea to enter the maze blind without reading any maps of it. The two ran into many dead ends before they reached the center. The center however was worth the wait. A large body of water with an island in the middle,bridges extended out to it. 

Edmund leads (M/N) over the bridge to the island. The island had a couple large trees and benches on it. (M/N) could only imagine what this place would have been like in it’s prime. It was still beautiful nonetheless. Soon the two were on the island and Edmund let go of his hand and backed up a bit.

“It is a pretty beautiful place. I still don’t understand why you wanted to come here though.” (M/N) turned around and lost his breath.

Edmund was there on his knee, a ring in his hands staring at (M/N). “(M/N) we’ve known each other for a long time. And you have been a light in my life this entire time. From the moment we met in that maze to when you watched as I was crowned king and clapped like a mom at soccer practice. I knew I loved you, and I was so happy when you agreed to be my boyfriend. I have never felt more alive than when I’m with you, I want to feel like that forever...with you. (M/N) will you marry me?”

(M/N) couldn’t help the tears that fell down his face. This really did feel like a dream, one he’d hoped he could live,but it wasn’t. This was real. He started nodding furiously. “Of course I will! Is that even a question?”

Edmund slid the ring onto (M/N)’s finger and then lifted him off the ground,spinning him around. Setting him back on the ground the two kissed and engulfed each other in a large hug. Neither have felt more alive than in that moment.

[unik0rnu]

Page 18 is out.

“Welcome to Lucy's diary - a set of short pages of her minor adventures in Nuka World and embracing the raider life along with Gage by her side and mysterious figure following her behind. Where would a pre-war killer, disappointed in justice system, crocked and bent towards criminal life find her new home? Could it be between the most hated society, along raiders as the Nuka World signal calls her one last time?”

Chapters: 18/?

Fandom: Fallout 4 Relationships: Porter Gage/Female Sole Survivor Words: 46178 

Page 18 -  A Guest,  

(Words: 2440)

The burn stench and smell of blood was still felt throughout the streets of Nuka town even if heat of the battle was put down to the dust of its dirty grounds. The pack raiders were cheering and howling in a victory leaving the operators faces just slightly disgusted of such a behavior but letting the smirk show up on their faces anyway because it was indeed an important fight that they just won.

 Lucy was walking towards Fizztop with Gage supporting her gently with an arm wrapped around her, she didn’t care about other’s people eyes this time, she was relieved but tired and still having in the back of her head the newly raised problem in a shape of Harrison. She felt a pinch of happiness seeing him back again, still in a shape of a metallic skeleton but she knew it was still him, the same one she left 200 years ago. The only thing bothering her was how to deal with his arrival in the glance of the whole town but for now the focus got switched to the Black duo and Mason awaiting them at the bottom of the Grille mountain.

- So the Overboss not only strikes a plan but makes it out alive after all. Mags started, brushing with a napkin the remains of the blood from her fingers.

- Did what have to be done. That was a deal. Lucy responded while moving out of Gage’s arm and nodding to him in a grateful manner.

- And you have our respect for that. At least enough to not consider killing you anymore. Mags chuckled, trying to joke but still sounding way too serious in her stiff voice tone. Lucy could only smile with a corner of her lips, raising an eyebrow in a response.

- Anyway...did any of you see Nisha? Mason? She turned to the pack leader.

- No, Boss. We already scoured every corner of the street. The chicken bitch probably ran away to strike later like a coward when we ain’t looking. He shrugged, a little grump heard in his voice but he was still standing proud, cheerful enough of having a chance to finally crash some necks he wanted to strangle before anyway but rules were keeping him away.

- Now at least we can organize a decent civilized meeting. William started, steeping up to Lucy. - With the bloody psychos gone we can think of finally getting hands on the power plant, make this place really shine, Boss. He looked down at her with a shine in his eye that only made Gage release a deep sigh.

- Okay, hold on. We will get to this but let her catch a breather too. It’s been hell of a run. Gage interrupted, stepping up and convincing to leave them, at least till the next morning.

- Alright, Boss ,we will be around. Stop by us when you are ready. Mags sighted and pulled William behind her, back to Parlor. Mason still went for a stroll through the streets, keeping his nose up and eyes open, searching for any disciples potentially still hiding around.

- Ah, Boss, before i forget. Mags turned around and handed to Lucy the most smooth and perfectly folded piece of suit she have ever seen, its color dark olive like wearing a swirly gold shiny ornaments all over. Lucy’s eyes shined, looking down at it as she gently took it from the operator’s boss hands. - A gift...that you are part of us, now, the Operators. Mags nodded with a soft smirk as Lucy whispered a quiet and honest “thank you” between them two. It felt warm and welcoming, a nice change and good place to start a cooperation.

When everyone left back towards their quarters Lucy pushed the entrance door to the Fizztop, shutting it right after her and dropping her head down while leaning with her hand on a door wing, other one holding a suit under the arm.

- Finally....some fucking peace but we have another problem. She pushed herself away.

- Harrison....right? Gage took her by the arm and lead towards the elevator. Lucy only nodded in response, corners of her lips turning downwards, not even a clean shiny suit smelling of pre-war perfume could change that. - So...what the fuck is he exactly? He asked.

- A fairly successful pre-war experiment....a mix of human and synth...something about probing a human soul and injecting it into other sources. At least its what i heard from him right before...well i shot him. She brushed the inner corners of her eyes, leaning her head on Gage shoulder as the elevator was taking them up to his room.

- I don’t know if i want to ask more...shit. All that weird scientific mumble wasn’t something that was easy for him to understand but he tried his best to at least not call this bullshit.

-Still..what are you planning...what is he planning to do? Stay here? I mean...what are going to tell the others? Gage walked behind Lucy’s back, unloading a mouthful of questions that she could no longer bear the moment they arrived in the middle of his room.

- Gage, i don’t fucking know! She punched the wooden table standing next to her. Gage stopped abruptly, closing his mouth. He reached for her shoulder as she leaned against the table, her head facing the floor.

- It all happened so fast yet more problems arise...i mean...i’m kind of glad to see him, he saved my fucking ass but i’m just tired and we need solution, fast. She squeezed his hand as he shook her shoulder and pulled her to his chest.

- Mags probably will find out even about the Institute deals, sooner or later, its her nature to dig for every secret. Maybe we just tell them truth. Gage suggested, shrugging his arms, looking down at her doubtful look.

- About deals it won’t hurt but Harrison? No....they won’t trust him unless he looks at least like human. Right now i need to find someone who can repair him and keep his mouth shut. She sighted and walked off to Gage’s bed, dropping gracefully onto it and holding up the suit. - It looks nice....reminds me of the office..back then.

Gage sat next to her and leaned down, sweeping the strand of hair off her forehead, taking in all the peace and quiet this park never seen since her arrival. Despite the bed being made for just one person he still squeezed and lied next to her, taking the suit away from her and putting it down next to bed.

- I might know someone who can help us with this...guy of yours but how bout we take a moment to ourselves before jumping into the wheel of murder and mayhem again?

- That’s so fucking poetic of you. Lucy chuckled and started taking her armor parts off. - So much better.

- You don’t have to stop there. Gage grinned, trying to look away but he couldn’t dodge that pair of amber eyes accompanied with a honest smile, striking him like a bullet in the heart. They were lying down, their sides pushed to each other and their faces just looking at one another.

- I don’t think you will need it right now. She reached for his eyepatch, slipping it slowly away. Gage hesitated, raising his hand to stop her but eventually allowed it. She got his full trust on that.

- We should talk over the plans for the morning, it will be even harder to sleep now that Nisha’s hiding, hell knows where. She turned to him, throwing her leg over his and digging her nails in the fabric of his top.

- Yeah...we definitely should. He turned as well and pushed her close, not waiting any word longer to kiss her, now that they have all that moment just for themselves, not knowing how long it will last he just decided to use it all. As she returned the kiss back to him, trying to crawl on top of him it only pushed him and his stuffed deep emotions harder, pushing her back onto the bed and ending instead on top of her, the kisses getting more deep and passionate, letting the soft shiver crawl the back of her neck. That was completely something else, more romantic and thoughtful even if rushed but the only sound she could release was the one of pleasure sights and soft moans as his lips went down her neck and his hands crawling up and down, all over her body, stripping down to the underwear in no time.

- I swear i will shoot anyone trying to disturb us right now. Gage pulled off his shirt and threw it to the side. She was scanning his chest, eyes slowly going down, not feeling the heavy blush coming up on her face. As they were about continue the sound of a broken glass came from the hallway.

- Are you fucking kidding me. Lucy crawled from under him, grabbing a pistol from underneath the clothes, unfolding the suit shirt in a rush and putting it on, squinting in the shadows of the hallway, just a gentle candle shade barely lighting up the place. She slowly stood up, Gage was ready right behind, pointing their firearms around. Taking light step after step she noticed a green shine like eyes, staring from shadow in the corner just ahead of her.

- Put that gun down, Feit. Lucy gasped loudly as the metallic arm grabbed and jerked her pistol away, bullet fired in the ceiling, wrecking some structure.

- Fucking....shit..Christ...how did you get here? And how long have you been standing there?! She waved to Gage to put down his gun and leaned over, patting her chest before looking at Harrison again, stepping out the shadows, clearly annoyed.

- Wasn’t he suppose to wait?! I freaking hope none one saw him. Gage gave him a sharp displeased look. Harrison returned it.

- The man owning that garbage started digging around so i had to move. And i don’t like to wait. His synth green bright eye lenses squinted. - If i have to hide like that then i need my body back.

- Your...body? Wait...wait a second. Lucy asked, surprised. - Your body vanished with half the neighborhood when bombs fell, i shot you in Sanctuary, you remember?

- Yeah, nice of you to remind me that. He growled lowly and took a step towards Gage, scanning him up and down.

- What the fuck you looking at now? He wrinkled his eyebrows and crocked the corner of lips downwards.

- Hmpf, interesting company you got yourself, kid. Anyway...i could use a gun and be on my way to Sanctuary. He turned away back to Lucy.

- Hold on a goddamn second. She raised a palm at him. - First, you are fucking broken. She pointed at the other arm being cut away. - And you can’t go out just like that! Institute will snatch you in no time, looking like that and going for a stroll.

- Did you say Institute? That word caught Harrison full interest. - Of course...the kid made in the vault because of your stupid fucking impulsive decisions! His tone raised, taking a step right up to her, staring down. Only then she realized how tall he is, feeling almost guilty for his accusation.

- Boss...i will just leave you to this shit, come see me when you are done with..this..thing, man..hell if i know. Gage felt stupid, observing the whole conversation and trying to understand what exactly is the deal between them.

- Gage..wait, shit. She looked at him disappearing in the patio and turning her head away to Harrison, squinting eyes but being too tired to yell anymore.

- What...? Harrison asked, shrugging.

- Shut up and just wait till the fucking morning, please. We will talk...make a plan..and all that shit. She sighted, tired, stretching her neck and just glancing at him in a begging manner to give her a break too.

- Eh, alright Feit...i will wait here. He looked around and got himself a chair.

- Jezz...thank you. You could keep an eye too since i really need some rest and you don’t, apparently.

He nodded and leaned against the chair, freezing in a place, entering some kind of trans and becoming a guarding figure with its eyes scanning the place around.

-Right....finally. She walked off towards patio, entering quietly and scanning for Porter signs. He was siting at the bar, smoking, the oil lamp throwing a gentle orange shade around.

- Hey...you okay? She placed a hand on his back and took a sit next to him.

- Yeah, just not entirely happy to see him around like that. Freaking Institute, now synth under our roof. He ran a hand through his hair and crashed a smoke in an ashtray.

- Hey, he’s not a synth, he is only trapped in body of one, it wasn’t his fault he got like that.

- And he plans to hang around? He asked.

- I don’t know what he plans but i will help him for now and see.

A quiet moment hang between them, she could feel a slight grumpiness vibing off his tired face. She reached for one of his hand, resting on the counter.

- We will solve it, like every other fucking problem we stumbled upon.

- Kill him? Gage chuckled, lowly.

- Oh no...no, one time was enough. She smirked and stood up, pulling him towards the bed. He followed with a lazy step but noticing her slim shapes popping out of underwear and white classic shirt, open, waving behind he let smile crawl on his face.

- I would rather use last bit of energy for something else, as long as you still have mood. She didn’t let them forget a moment that has been disrupted a while ago and she hungered to have him close, very close now that she was sure he might have a deeper and more emotional approach to their relations.

- You are kidding, right? He eyed her up and down as she sat down the edge of bed, leaning on her elbows.

- I don’t know, am i? She teased him.

- Oh, just fucking come here. He pushed her deeper on the bed, landing where he did before, on top of her, tangled in her arms and soft lips going as long as last remains of energy let them before falling asleep.

[meimi-haneoka]

Thoughts on Chapter 34 of CCS Clear Card

Aaaaand here we are again, at that time of the month, ready to talk and scream (?) about another of Clear Card’s chapters! Sakura and Syaoran have sorted out their problems, no more lies and secrets between them, Sakura even had the chance to witness in front of her eyes how her wishes can instantly turn into “incidents”, and her resolute face at the end of Chapter 33 hinted that she’s not gonna succumb to her fate!

What possibly could go wrong?

CLAMP:

UNDER THE CUT!!

The calm before the storm

First of all, I have to admit it. Those talking with me on the Clow Kingdom discord server might have already heard this, but this chapter left me totally disoriented. I don’t know whether it’s due to CLAMP not planning the storyboard properly (unlikely) or because it was supposed to feel like this, as the focus is all on the cliffhanger on the final pages (after all, this is future volume 7′s last chapter), but the feeling I got is that the flow of events is a bit rushed. We have many POV in this chapter, first we’re with the kids, then Kero and Suppi, then Nakuru and Yukito, then the kids again. 32 pages might not have been enough to develop everything properly, but we had to arrive to that cliffhanger.

And some things look definitely off. Like, Tomoyo is finally made aware of the fact that Sakura is the one creating the cards. And her reaction is “Oooh.” . She’s totally....unfazed? o_o Even seeing the Clear Card that represents her, she just comments with “まあ”?! Ok, Tomoyo might not be a drama queen ok no scratch that, she totally is, but I expected a bit more of surprise from her. Instead, she gushed over the Rewind card’s cuteness and started her usual ranting about recording this and that. It’s getting a bit repetitive and stereotypical, CLAMP? Tomoyo is so much more than that. She may not be my favorite ever but I do like her and her perceptiveness. I went so far that I even imagined she already knew Syaoran was the one behind the Sakura Card’s disappearance. So much for that. I hope CLAMP will find the time to bring out a shiny moment for Tomoyo, as I understand that the pages are what they are, and they have to develop the plot for the new characters, so they inevitably have to sacrifice the screen time of other characters.

We have a brief moment of Suppi explaining everything to Kero, and here I go “eh?” again at the story: Sakura says “Kero-chan is at home, this morning a guest came over” .... Ok? Did Sakura see that it was Suppi??? DIDN’T SHE INSTANTLY GO “WHERE THE FUCK IS YOUR ELUSIVE MASTER?” on him??? Ok maybe not with those terms, but....isn’t she surprised, didn’t she ask him why he was there? Again, a totally confusing part. We’ll see if that’ll get explained later on. We have a cute moment between the two small guardians, and again we have a character who acts nonchalantly about the situation, justifying it with “It’s Sakura. She’s gonna do something about it.”

DUDE

I wouldn’t want to break your world made of unicorns and tasty gourmet dishes, but this is exactly the reason why Sakura is in the situation she is, right now!!  It’s a problem she’s got in herself and she can’t do much about it, at the moment. This is what she is. A 12/13 year old girl with a scary amount of power in herself, that is growing by the minute (and we’ll see how, in this chapter). A power she can’t control. Sakura being Sakura is the source of the problem in itself.

I know, it’s supposed to show that he’s totally trusting his mistress, like he effectively says to Suppi. But he’s the 2nd character out of 3 who is acting in a  way too relaxed manner, in this chapter.

The third one is Yukito. It’s Nakuru to remark this fact, adding that it’s better that way. Sure, if everyone started feeling gloomy it would be a big mess. But even being too relaxed, in a situation like this, might lead them to overlook important things. BTW, it seems Eriol arranged paperwork to enroll Nakuru in college! That’s totally an Eriol move! XD Keeping Nakuru and Yukito together without disrupting Yukito’s normal life, great idea.

Sakura’s anxiety

But it’s when the kids arrive to the classroom, that the “fun” starts. The girls are talking about the swimming class they will have today, and Sakura is her usual cheerful self.

Then, Akiho arrives.

Sakura turns around normally, but when she sees her, anxiety start churning inside of her.

Sakura, who never ever felt anything about Akiho, not even after Kaito rewound time, feels something is wrong with her friend. The moment we’ve been waiting for 26 chapters. But there’s more, she can’t shake the feeling even during the swimming class (OFFICIAL SCHOOL SWIMSUITS, BTW!! they’re even more conservative than before and it’s alright XDD).

Of course, eh, her frown doesn’t escape observative-boyfriend-Syaoran's stare. She asks him if he can feel something from Akiho, and he says no, AND HE’S NOT LYING DAMMIT, he really can’t feel anything, but how can he explain ALL THE REST to her, with the spell placed upon him? Of course, this is Syaoran we’re talking about, so he tries to say something anyway, and finds himself not emitting a single sound. See, there’s so much to talk about in so few pages, like how we’re again presented with the fact that Akiho is similar to Sakura in the good reflexes too, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER Sakura’s smile to Akiho is so forced and lukewarm that you CAN really feel something is terribly wrong. Or, how we cannot talk about the first YAMACHIHA FLIRTING SCENE EVER?? I was so happy, in a moment of such tension those two managed to give us a breather before going back to the utter mess that is about to unfold. I love those two and their relationship <3

BUT LOOK WHO’S BEING A TOTAL CREEPER WATCHING KIDS IN SWIMSUITS? Our legendary asshole Yuna D. Kaito, of course!! XD Now, I have to be sincere. This is another of those “???” scenes because, ok, they try to explain that he’s there to cause some trouble now that Sakura knows the origin of the cards, but I still didn’t get why he’s doing that. What’s the connection between the two things? He smiles warmly while taking out his staff and he’s the usual smartass we love to hate!

Shit definitely goes down again

Then, panic unfolds. We have the final proof that in this chapter, Sakura could feel things before happening TWICE: one is as soon as Akiho arrives to school, having an uneasy feeling that she never had while looking at Akiho, and now, seconds before Kaito stopped time with his magic. Actually, scratch that: they might be 3 TIMES, as she pulls out her key and Reflect Card even before the real attack comes to her. This is all fun and games, until you actually stop to realize...that Sakura’s power might have increased once again, leading her to new heights of worrisome strong magical powers. 

A whirlpool raising from the pool attacks Sakura, to which she effortlessly responds using “Reflect” and here I’m once again confused because the scene just doesn’t flow right, there’s at least a panel missing to show that the one attacking her is “the pool” and those “arrows” don’t come out of nowhere, like the rest of this attack anyway, as it felt totally random (this might be the part pertaining to Kaito, anyway).

And, as if anyone called her: hello there, “vessel-mode” Akiho! (Ah, actually “vessel” is not a thing anymore, as the term has been completely erased in the tankobon release of volume 6, the latest out. The term “vessel” has been replaced with 中, “inside”. I’ll do a post about it, later on.) Just like last time, the usual assholes are talking through her again, using her as an intercom (though, I’m not sure if these are the Squids or the Association), commenting on Sakura’s powers and then attacking her, still using Akiho, stating that they have to bind her to this book. Yes, the verb used is really “to bind, to file” and it’s relative to books etc. 

Soooooo, now what I want to know is:

IS THIS THE CLIMAX STARTING TO MOVE FOR REAL, this time around?

Is something irreparable about to happen? Will Sakura be trapped in that book?

But most importantly, will Kaito rewind time once again and make the fandom riot like they never had before??? I really want to see if CLAMP are going to put their fan’s patience on the line like that ^^””” Still, it probably feels too soon to wrap this up, considering Kaito said there aren’t enough cards not many chapters ago. She did 3 in one day, yes, but if Kaito was about to cause something before the assholes interfered, it’s probably because he wanted her to give birth to another card. And now we have to see if this will happen or not.

If you’re wondering when next chapter is going to be released, please read my post on the matter.  UPDATE: a confirmation of a break for the July issue came from Nakayoshi’s Twitter account, you can read more HERE .

Thanks to @horitsuba for the scans featured here and thank you for sticking around to the end of this rant!! Mwah mwah! XDD

[scyllua]

As chap.204 would be more of an interlude chapter (a breather after the events of Thursday the 13th and a very intense fanart-sharing moment between amateur artists), the Japanese fandom's reaction to it hasn't been noteworthy. (Bad joke: but it's been a boost nonetheless in comparison to last week! If only because the manga was in hiatus last week and therefore, there was no chapter to speak of! I thought of mentioning this because I noticed my blog at my personal domain had many more visitors last Thursday, I'm assuming, because fans were searching online for the weekly GK chapter and most likely, wondering why they couldn't find it.)

That doesn't mean there aren't highlights in this chapter, though. I'd say chap.204 feels oddly subdued in tone and pacing -in spite of a Wild Wolverine Attack! in the latter half-, but that'd be mostly because the previous three have been rather action-packed. I wrote chap.201-203 would serve as the introduction to the arc to unfold in this volume (which would encompass chap.201-210), and while we've been given more than enough hints about what to expect in the near future (the still ongoing plot with the Partisans and the reappearance of a certain one-eyed sniper), this chapter seems to introduce more subplots while still pointing in the same direction. My usual warnings about mistakes and mistranslations applying as usual, onto CHAP.204! EMPHATICALLY APPALLING!! JUST AS SUGIMOTO AND ASIRPA SHOW US IN THE PANEL AT THE TOP OF THIS POST!!!

In short, Tsukishima gets a telegraph message from Tsurumi informing him that the business he had in Noboribetsu has been taken care of and he'll be heading to Karafuto then. As Tsurumi will rendezvous with them in Oodomari (the same port town in southern Karafuto they arrived in back in vol.14) in two weeks time, he tells the group to stay in Toyohara until then. Koito comments they're to stay in Toyohara because it's a large town with better lodgings, and since there's nothing else for them to do until then, they should just take things easy. While in the town outskirts, Cikapasi and Tanigaki meet a couple of Ainu men who question the boy about where he comes from and who that big guy standing over there is. Cikapasi explains they come from beyond the southern sea, and introduces Tanigaki as his uncle. The Matagi then comments about the extra marginally important information Cikapasi gave the Ainu men about how much endowed he is, and tells the boy how useful and supportive he's been through their journey in Karafuto. As both ponder about Inkarmat in Hokkaido, Enonoko approaches them and asks Cikapasi if he's going back already. In the nearby forest and as Asirpa and Sugimoto get ready to hunt a kuzuri (a wolverine), Tsukishima tells Vasily (who's still following them) to go back to Russia. The wolverine hunt is interrupted by a couple of photographers who seem to have an interest in Asirpa, but just in cue, the little and irascible animal attacks one of the men. After they take care of the wolverines -in a moment vaguely reminiscing of vol.7 and the adventure in the cabin in the woods, there were two of them- and Asirpa cooks them (the very reason she wanted to catch one), the photographers explain the device they're carrying is a cinematograph, and that they're interested in documenting about the Ainu culture.

The chapter's title is 残したいもの (nokoshitaimono), a term I'm having some trouble with. Since the term 残す means "to leave behind", "to save" or "to reserve", and given the group's current activities, I'm understanding the title in the sense of "things we're doing to cherish later" (it literally translates to "things I want to save/leave behind"). Remember how in manga and anime the characters will sometimes state they want to try doing things as to have good memories of them? Asirpa says so in this chapter as she spots wolverine's tracks and decides to catch one... to eat it, of course (and cherish its taste for ages to come, that's it). They're in Karafuto, so they won't be going back to Hokkaido without having a bite of everything that is to munch on in that island! Some random fan comment here: While I understand the social and cultural importance of food in Japan (similar to the culinary traditions we have in my country), I can't but frown a little at just how this girl is in her way to try every possible edible animal that pops up in the story. At the very least, I think I can feel sorry even for the little demonic wolverines they eat in this chapter.

...but starting from the beginning! Plotwise, an important highlight of this chapter would be the piece of information regarding Tsurumi; specifically, that he's making his way to rendezvous with the group in Karafuto. Since he sends word to Tsukishima that the business in Noboritsu has been taken care of, I think that'd be our confirmation that all events in the manga occur in a chronological order; that's it, in the order and within the same timeline as we're shown in the story. I'm mentioning this because I was wondering whether Kikuta's showdown with Toni Anji's group in Noboribetsu (chap.190-195, to be compiled in vol.20) was taking place at the same time as Sugimoto's entourage lost sight of their sniper in northern Karafuto: this indeed seems to be the case. Back then, I also pondered how author Noda would then "speed up" things, for the manga had taken 7 volumes to depict Sugimoto and Kiroranke's groups' journey through Karafuto: either he used an ellipsis, or fast-paced the narration as not to spend other 70 chapters to show us how they went back to Hokkaido. In my previous chapter summary entry as well, I wrote I thought the current arc could wrap up while in Karafuto before all plotlines seemed to be aligning in that direction: Sugimoto's group is still in that island, Vasily is following them (providing us with a good excuse expedited reason for Ogata to make a comeback and have another duel with the Russian sniper), Sofia is making her way back to Hokkaido (via Karafuto? We don't know yet, but that could be a possibility - and a viable reason for her to cross paths with the protagonist cast)... and now Tsurumi is traveling to the northern island as well. I must say I hadn't thought of this scenario (as I'd assumed Noda would favor Hokkaido as the setting for most if not all future and pivotal events), but it'd certainly pace up the plot forward quite considerably.

Some fan pondering here: So, what do you think Tsurumi's arrival in Karafuto will be like? Because of the way the original text is phrased and of just how Japanese grammar is, it isn't that explicitly stated that Tsurumi will be personally going to rendezvous with the group, but that can be implied from the sentence. ...Now, let us remember he hasn't made an appearance in the flesh -and outside a flashback- since chap.171 (vol.18); there's no need for him to show up in a grand and remarkable way with an equally large entourage at the time (but it's Tsurumi: one can never know for sure with this man), though I'm looking forward to seeing him flanked by some of his trusted and skilled men a the very least. Random pondering #2: Since everything turned out just well in Noboritsu -for everyone involved... save Toni Anji's group, that's it-, I'm assuming Usami didn't get that scolding in the end. Good for him. Random hopeful thought: It'd be pretty nice if we could get some more of Kikuta and Ariko then.

A small caption for the chapter reads, "it's golden time!" The term is given in English (and it's an actual expression used in education in this language), but the connotation it has in Japanese, if I'm not wrong, would refer to time spent in leisure or pleasant activities that are meant to be enjoyed and cherished: the accompanying kanji precisely read, 自由時間 (jiyuu jikan, lit. "free time"). And, of course, the term would also serve as a pun for the manga's title for including the word "golden" on it. Well, that's just what our protagonist group will do for the time being.

...starting with Tanigaki and Cikapasi, who meet a couple of Ainu men. When the men question the boy about where he comes from and who the big guy over there is (my phrasing, by the way: they simply ask about "that man"), Cikapasi tells them they come from beyond the southern sea, and refers to Tanigaki as his ojisan. Note that this term in Japanese means "uncle", but it's also a colloquial way to refer to any older man, akin to saying "an old man" or "a mister". I'm going with Cikapasi as literally introducing Tanigaki as his uncle, though, because the word he uses in Ainu is achapo: my knowledge of Ainu being so obviously zero, I do remember acha meaning "father" in this language. Hence, I think the boy is genuinely referring to Tanigaki as an uncle: probably not in the strictest sense, but as a person close to him and with a family-like tie. Explanations over, Cikapasi then adds Tanigaki has... big balls, er, yes. I'm going to take his word for that, as the only adult male character who's gotten clear and full frontal shots in this manga so far has been Shiraishi: we wouldn't know for sure about the rest. He says 金玉, a colloquial term literally translating to "golden ball" and meaning "testicles". Speaking of another Jump-serialized manga and being the irreverent author he is, Sorachi Hideaki titled his best-known story 銀魂 (Gintama, lit. "Silver Soul") as a play-on-words with precisely this term, kintama; given the franchise became so popular as to encompass the manga, several anime series, live-action movies, and a ton of merchandise that was referenced to even in the story canon, it's probable nobody will raise an eyebrow at Gintama's title now, but at the beginning of its serialization some did have a thing or two to say in Japan. Guess Sorachi got away with it in the end... and his detractors had no idea as to what the manga would give them through its publication.

Tanigaki and Cikapasi then have a moment to reflect on their journey in Karafuto. As the boy's (and our loyal Shiba dog, ie. Ryuu) presence has been both useful and supportive through their adventure, Tanigaki is glad they didn't send them back as soon as they were found out as stowaways; Cikapasi thinks back of his family in Hokkaido and in quite the high spirits, wonders about Inkarmat (or more specifically, would think of her, as he refers to Tanigaki, Inkarmat and himself as a family). In equally a good mood, Tanigaki says he's sure Inkarmat recovered and is doing well, and that they should go back to see her. However, a sad moment arises when Enonoka, upon overhearing them, asks Cikapasi if he's really going back now.

Cut to Asirpa calling out to Sugimoto to take a look at something she's just found. But fear not, it's not some more excrement (because even Sugimoto assumed so), but wolverine's tracks. Asirpa hasn't seen one yet, so she asks Sugimoto about the tracks (as he told her he'd meet one of the little diabolical things before); upon the immortal's confirmation that they belong to a wolverine and the animal is worse than a wild bear in some aspects, she decides to hunt it. Well, they're in Karafuto already, so why not catching one and eat it? Another random comment here: we Peruvians have an expression stating that "someone got all the stickers in their album" in reference to completing a trade card album, still a popular activity in our country among adults and children alike. As an expression, it broadly means that someone has done everything in a list, or have completed a collection; in a very negative example, the last person I remember using it was a journalist talking about how a government official was found to have committed a long list of crimes related to corruption. That's to say, the corrupt official had all the stickers in his album, from perjury and malpractice to bribery and running away from the country when he was issued an arrest warrant. Okay, for my Golden Kamuy example, I won't obviously talk about politics here, only how Asirpa has a figurative edible flora-and-fauna album ("Everything You Can Hunt Down Or Find... And Have A Taste Of!") she must have 3/4 full at the very least by now, counting her gourmet experiences in both Hokkaido and Karafuto.

(As it's customary and part of the narration in Golden Kamuy, there's a passage detailing Ainu traditions in this chapter, but... Sorry, I'm skipping all the cultural references as not to incur in any translation inaccuracies.) As Tsukishima is presumably scouting and watching the surroundings (and I'm going to fan-assume here Koito is off somewhere trying to find more reindeers... or any equally cute small wild animals), he finds Vasily doing, well, pretty much the same, it seems. Tsukishima curtly tells him to go back to Russia... and I'm afraid I do have several fan comments to make.

First off, let's take another look at the panel of Vasily turning to face Tsukishima. The small sign by his head (at the left side of the panel) is meant to show he's surprised or just caught on something -in this case, it'd be Tsukishima looking at him-... but taken out of context, and as RavenTears pointed out, it makes him look as though he's shining. Dazzling Russian snipers, indeed. On a personal note, Vasily looks to me as though he somehow aged 10 years or so in the interlude from the previous chapter to this, as he has a slightly more mature appearance now (but not as old-looking as he was in vol.17). Until the next chapter is out and we can hopefully get more panel shots of (and some more interaction with) him, I'm just going to fan-assume the excited moment of fanarts-sharing with Sugimoto in chap.203 had some sort of age-regression effect on both him (physically speaking) and the immortal (mentally emotionally speaking in his case, something not that surprising at all given the hard life Sugimoto has led until now).

Also... is nobody really keeping track of the Russian that's following the group? Since people in this manga have never seen too keen on holding grudges for the most part (as I could argue that Tanigaki, for example, invoked retribution against Kiroranke instead of exacting revenge), I can understand the group isn't worried about a sniper who already targeted them twice and is currently tailing them. Said sniper also merits a mention for tailing them under the same circumstances, ie. apparently not concerning himself with the possibility of a member of the group deciding to be proactive and taking him down as not to risk being targeted by the same marksman for a third time. But Tsukishima's startlement at finding Vasily by his side makes me think they might not be that watchful as one could expect or wish. That said, if a silent Russian sniper can stand by their side without being too much conspicuous or alerting them, I won't be much surprised if the group ends up being ambushed by a Japanese one-eyed sniper making a comeback in the near future. I'll be actually looking forward to it. I mean the sniper's comeback, of course; not the characters being ambushed and targeted and shot down all over again.

And lastly... Tsukishima's line written horizontally in his speech bubble instead of vertically would indicate he's speaking in Russian, which would be relevant in a metalevel (because it makes perfect sense that he's speaking in this language to Vasily). Japanese is traditionally written top-to-bottom and right-to-left, but it can also be written in a horizontal orientation and left-to-right. Until World War II, if I'm not wrong, Japanese was written horizontally for small portions of text (such as in signs or newspapers headers), but from right-to-left. One example in GK would be the Yamamoto Barbershop in the Barato arc (vol.6) which, by the way, it's based on an actual building with the same name preserved for historical reasons:

The sign reads 山本理髪店 (Yamamoto Rihatsuten), but you'll notice the kanji are oriented right-to-left instead: 店髪理本山. Nowadays, horizontally-written Japanese follows the left-to-right orientation, and it's mainly used for aesthetically or design-related reasons (such as in printed matter or ads), but also for practicality (eg. movie subtitles placed at the bottom of the screen or, as a standard, in traffic signs and similar). In manga, however, horizontally written Japanese is usually used to indicate the lines are spoken in another language, such as with Tsukishima's in the above panel. In the Golden Kamuy manga, dialog spoken in Russian is usually given a Japanese translation in the same speech bubble, but written in a horizontal orientation because of space issues. (Ainu is written using the katakana syllabary with a top-to-bottom orientation, just as in Japanese). In several instances, though, no Russian text is written, and only the Japanese "translation" is given, such as Tsukishima and Svetlana's exchange in chap.185: we know they're speaking in Russian, though, because the lines are still oriented horizontally, and that's the importance of this detail.

I can only speculate, but I'm assuming those dialogs aren't always translated into Russian probably because of problems related to time issues or the availability of the consultant/translator at the time of the publication of the chapter. In some other instances, I suppose the text is so short (...such as Tsukishima "go back to Russia" line), it's not deemed necessary to translate them for the sake of the manga's sense of realism: after all, we can watch an English-spoken movie based on feudal Japan and won't be bothered by the fact that they aren't speaking in the intended language. Also, one might argue that they could always use an automated translation for such small lines... but I personally prefer those lines to be left as is, in Japanese and using visual or narrative devices (as the orientation of the text) to indicate readers the text is meant to be in another language: details such as those don't detract from the plot or the feeling of the manga and, most importantly, they might also prevent the manga from making very glaring translation mistakes. Trust me, I've seen enough terribly rendered lines in Spanish in American comics to insist authors and editors better get an actual translator, or not dare use Google Translate at all. Speaking of comics and Russian! A comic I remember where a similar visual device was used is one of Marvel's Winter Soldier series (the original run by author Brubaker, if I remember correctly). The one difference was that many lines in this comic had an asterisk at the end which led to a footnote stating that... they were being spoken in Russian. At the opposite end of the example, I also remember a Vampirella comic that featured some lines written in such a mangled Spanish, it took a couple of rereadings (even for a native speaker such as myself) to make sense of them. And in not-so-awful but still rather bad example, there was the Witchblade comic in which I vaguely remember at least a character having a name in Japanese... written in incorrect Japanese, most likely because the author seemed to have just looked up the terms in a dictionary to put them together without checking even for grammar.

Getting back to the chapter: a couple of men make an appearance and one of them asks for Asirpa to repeat what she was doing from the beginning. Just as they identify themselves as photographers, or more specifically, cinematographers, the wolverine attacks.

Sugimoto gets it off the man it attacks, but as another wolverine appears, Asirpa takes it down with an arrow as he shoots the first one, though he doesn't instantly kill it. It's again Asirpa the one who must finish it with another of her arrows, all of this as the man carrying a curious-looking device keeps revolving a crank on it (or you'd better say, an old-fashioned device... only that in the Meiji era it wasn't old, naturally, but rather pretty innovative).

Fast-forwarding a bit, we now have the leading-and-now-reunited protagonists eating the poor devils -I mean the wolverines, of course- while asking the men about their business in the vicinity.

They explain the device they're carrying is called a cinematograph (the model would suggest it's the one created and patented by the Lumière brothers in the last decade of the 19th century, as there were other similar devices patented before theirs); after detailing how it works, they add they're interested in documenting about the Ainu culture. End of the chapter!

My first fan-comment here about this passage would have to do with my taking back some of my fan-comments here, specifically those making fun of Sugimoto's poor aiming. I was obviously exaggerating when stating he never hits anything, as we've seen how he's shot several animals when hunting through the manga, and chap.204 would be another example. Still, my comments had to do with him primarily using his rifle to strike or stab instead of actually shooting it whenever it came to attack a human target, so to speak; given he's a melee hand-to-hand fighter, this comes as no surprise (and snipers all around the globe in the Meiji era dread nightmares with the looming figure of the Immortal Slayer Of Any Unfortunately Soul That Dares Attack Him In Vain And So Obviously Fails, Otherwise He Wouldn't Be Immortal, be it on a Thursday the 13th or any other day of the year, actually). But it just turns out Sugimoto does shoot his rifle, and does accurately hits his target one summary entry after I wrote I wouldn't stop making fun of him until he managed to do so, meaning... I've been proved wrong by the immortal in quite the expedited way. ...since I still believe his aiming is awful when it comes to human targets, I'll keep making fun of him, just... not that much. As a counterargument to Sugi's aiming and intended use of his rifle in this chapter, please let us remember that, in his first encounter with Ogata, he almost indirectly kills the wildcat when knocking him unconscious after hitting him in the head with the butt of the rifle; in their latest encounter, Sugimoto almost kills him (oh, again) when he nearly hits him when trying to shoot down the horse he was riding instead. Well, yes, come to think of it, it might also be that I'm very biased against Sugimoto's use of his rifle because of the levels of violence he's shown towards a certain wildcat.

My last general fan comments about the chapter have to do with the introduction of the cinematographers. Their appearance made me think of Hijikata looking for journalists all the way back to vol.13, if I remember correctly (really, it might be time to go back and properly reread the whole manga by now), because he was looking forward to using the media for propaganda purposes in his goal of declaring a second Republic of Ezo. Well, while the cinematographers don't seem to have any propagandist intentions, their interest in filming about the Ainu culture is making me think of them as the equivalent of early National Geographic writers (the first issue of the famous magazine dates back to 1888, after all): the manga's very National Hokkaido Graphic documentary filmmakers, in any case. At this point in the plot I couldn't say for sure if they're going to have a more relevant role to play, but since they've filmed Asirpa and Sugimoto killing the wolverines already, it does seem to me they could stick with the group a little longer to register some of their activities, sort of a Golden Kamuy documentary within the Golden Kamuy manga. Such material would have cultural and historical importance in the plot since, for starters, Sugimoto's group is a good example of multiethnic cooperation and coexistence, featuring Japanese, Ainu, Hayato, Matagi and even a Russian traveling and working together at the time just fine.

...plotwise and theoretically at the very least, the cinematographers have two weeks to follow the lead of a certain Russian sniper and stick to our multiethnic and multicultural group. We know already anything and everything is bound to happen in very short periods of time in this manga (Koito's rescue mission in chap.199-200 began with horses refusing to gallop down a steep path, continue with a drift race in the streets of Hakodate, featured a couple of gentlemen losing some clothing due to an unfortunate transit accident, and included a homage to Freddy Mercury near the conclusion, if you'd remember), so I'm sort of suspecting the days until Tsurumi's intended rendezvous with the group might be... full of eventualities. From more cultural moments to possible ambushes by snipers with hidden agendas -or probably, no agendas at all- and face-offs with Partisans, I wouldn't discard even the idea of the cinematographers filming the first Meiji-era Japanese cam movie, if anything of the aforementioned actually takes place and they happen to still be around to record it.

[professionalfangirlingblogger]

Fare Thee Well...

So...Supernatural is going to end. God, those words don’t even seem real. I mean, Supernatural, as so many fans can attest, is so so so so so much more than just a television show. For me, Supernatural was just there for me. It was a safe place every week to just escape for forty minutes into a world of family and love and fighting for what’s right as well as for one’s self/family. I was really late to the show and have only been watching for a little over two years now, but it has become a major part of my life by now, it changed me to the person I am today. Supernatural is the reason I have two of my best friends right now. Supernatural was there when I was discovering myself and it helped me to not feel alone, it helped me to not panic and to just lose myself in a world where two brothers fight for each other no matter what. Supernatural encouraged me to write and to be creative first through fanfiction then through my own works. Supernatural was there for me every week, it keeps me going when sometimes I want to give up. Every week in school I push through with the reminder of an episode at the end of the week to get me through. Without it, I’m not sure I would be here. It taught me to Always Keep Fighting and for that I have the actors to thank.

First of all, Jared taught me so much about mental health. As a person with anxiety and spurs of depression, I felt alienated and I felt that it was only me going through something, that I was insane and just needed to ‘get over it’. Jared taught me that I am not alone and that I just need to keep fighting. I know that my mental issues are never really going to go away, and that’s why I just need to keep fighting and to learn to take breathers when I need it. I learned to prioritize myself through watching the show because it reminded me to just breathe, at least once a week. I forget quite often and push myself too hard, but when I put on that show, I remember to keep fighting, just like the Winchesters. So for that, thank you so much Jared. Thank you, thank you, thank you for caring so much to share your own story and to inspire so much hope for us little guys.

Misha, where do I even start? Misha taught me to be myself. To not try to be my role model but to be myself and to keep fighting to be the best version of myself. He gave me hope that I am enough, just as I am. He taught me to not try to be normal, to embrace my quirks and to show them to the world without fear of judgement. By him just being himself and telling us about his past, he gave us all hope that we can make it too as long as we stay true to ourselves. So for that, thank you Misha. Thank you for being yourself and teaching us to be ourselves as well. Thank you.

Last, but not least, Jensen taught me that actors can care so much about the fandom as well. In multiple conventions it’s obvious he cares so much about the fan base and the people. He makes me feel important and by watching the show I feel like I’m part of something bigger. His relationship with both Jared and Misha taught me about chosen family and I can’t thank him enough. Supernatural taught me about chosen family as well and I keep fighting for those people I choose, those that accept me for who I am and constantly challenge me. I love them so much and Supernatural has become part of that chosen family as well. So thank you for teaching me about family and about how much you genuinely care. Thank you.

But it’s not only the actors, it’s their characters as well that got me out of a rut. Dean Winchester - funny, brave, geeky, lover of Vonnegut, big brother, protector, strong, loving, caring, badass - kept me going when I needed to just fight through all the shit in life; as an oldest sibling myself, I resonated with his need to protect Sammy, his lil brother, from the crap in the world that sometimes included shit parents. He also taught me quality music and is the reason I listen to classic rock and love it so much; he also taught me about Vonnegut through a brief mentioning and is the reason I found that literary gold mine. Sam Winchester - compassionate, empathetic, fighter, smart college kid, nerdy, strong, protector, book lover, research nerd - taught me to keep fighting through mental health (much like his actor, Jared); he taught me to keep fighting not only for myself but also for family and taught me resiliency and to just talk to people. We constantly see the Winchesters hiding their feeling and causing everything to go wrong, so I learned to not bottle it up and to talk to those I trust when it gets too much. They taught me that I’m not alone and that sometime we need others to help us fight our battles when we are struggling. Castiel Winchester - fighter, badass angel, ignorant to pop culture, caring, paving his own road - taught me that family is worth more than armies; he taught me to keep fighting for what I believe in no matter what others say is right. His love for Dean (subtextually or not) showed me what true love is and what true friendship (maybe more) is worth. Also, Team Free Will in itself taught me to find my own damn way and that I can change my path as long as I keep fighting for what I want, that nothing is hopeless, that there is always another way. To think that I will not have any new episodes to see their lives kills me, but I knew it would come someday or another. I just wasn’t really ready for it to happen now. Not at all.

Supernatural has helped me through some of the darkest times of my life and kept me going. When I realized I am Pansexual, I felt alone and the Supernatural fandom - as one of the most accepting fandoms out there - helped me to accept myself (Destiel really helped as well *wink*). It feels like I’m now going to lose a part of myself, but I know that the fandom will never die, I know that the actors will still care about us, I know that I can still come back and find that family again in the show and in the fandom. I will never forget about the show as it has become a part of who I am in so many ways as I know the fandom will never die. I feel like I’m rambling, but I cannot stop crying over this. It has gotten a bit better after the initial shock, but it just hurts so bad to think that it’s going to end when it has been a constant every week. What hurt the most was how torn up all the actors were about announcing this, but the fact that they told us instead of waiting, that’s how important they think we are. That’s how much they care. That is so rare in any tv show that I broke. I know many of us are struggling right now at having to accept this reality, but I want you to know that this is a safe place to talk. This is part of my family and it always will be.

I know that the show might end with the boys dying and, honestly, I kind of hope it does. If they’re alive, I will always hope for the show to return. I just want them to be happy and I think the only way that can happen is if the show ends with them in heaven with Bobby and Charlie and everyone else they lost. For the boys to be in heaven with Cas and Jack coming to live there with them. For Sam and Dean to forever be together as brothers, as the basis of this show. With Cas and Dean in the background holding hands and smiling at each other. Maybe some Carry On in the background. That is how I need this show to end, but I’m terrified they will end it on a miserable note and I would not be able to handle that at all.

I cannot accept this reality right now, but I know I eventually must. I just feel like I’m losing something as I know so many of us feel we are, as if we just lost a loved one, as if we just lost a family. But it will live one. I need to accept that. I will never stop loving this show and this fandom and this family. I will still create fanfiction and I will still keep these lessons this show and these actors taught me for forever. I’m glad these actors have a chance to be with their kids and their wives more and I will never forget the lessons they taught me. Never never never. We live on.

Sending love to the entire fandom. Although we’re mourning, we will live on. Always Keep Fighting and never forget Supernatural and all that it stands for. Fare thee well.

[duckgetsstuck]

Exodus

Hello, friends.

By now, most of you may have heard that @staff released an announcement stating that all NSFW content will be deleted from tumblr. This is copied from their Adult Content article:

What is "adult content?"

Adult content primarily includes photos, videos, or GIFs that show real-life human genitals or female-presenting nipples, and any content—including photos, videos, GIFs and illustrations—that depicts sex acts.

What is still permitted?

Examples of exceptions that are still permitted are exposed female-presenting nipples in connection with breastfeeding, birth or after-birth moments, and health-related situations, such as post-mastectomy or gender confirmation surgery. Written content such as erotica, nudity related to political or newsworthy speech, and nudity found in art, such as sculptures and illustrations, are also stuff that can be freely posted on Tumblr.

Personally, I feel like this is just an excuse to be as lazy as possible when trying to purge pornbots, and it’s failing as spectacularly as everyone expected. Let’s take a look at, oh I don’t know, @wilwheaton for a moment.

Here’s a post that depicted no nudity, no real-life human genitals, no female-presenting nipples, no content that depicted a sex act, yet it was flagged explicit. It did not, in any way, show anything that was considered to be “adult content” that was defined by @staff, and yet it was still flagged. Can you guess why?

Here’s another, though I imagine an argument could be made of one--ONE--of the photos shown, but that’s not the point. The point is that it still fit the guidelines, and was flagged. I wonder why.

And here’s another. Still fit the guidelines. Still flagged.

But it doesn’t stop there. A friend of mine had their entire account terminated because of a sweater. A sweater. Not a woman wearing a sweater and showing a female-presenting nipple, not a sweater hanging off of a very erect cock... a sweater. I’d post the picture in question, but I’m too afraid of this post getting flagged because of it.

Which leads me to the heart of the matter in which I’m writing: the future of DGS.

First, I must apologize for the time that I’ve been away. My mental state has been in decline for the past two years, and all of my attempts to right myself have not been working; if anything, all I’ve done is slow or stop the descent, but nothing has been lifting me back up in any manageable fashion. I have tried my best to stay silent about what happened that caused this shift, out of respect. I don’t want an explanation of the events be turned into a retribution of sorts, because even if that was something I wanted, it wouldn’t change anything.

The fact is that, because of what happened, I’ve lost a sense of joy in creating this readthru. Whenever I see references to Homestuck, I don’t laugh anymore. When the music comes up when my phone is on random in the car, I skip the track. The spoilers only stopped coming in when I stopped posting, and yet I can’t get the final spoiler out of my head. No one’s active in the Discord channel that I can see, and I honestly don’t know if anyone still uses the other channels. 

It feels... lonely. And that, in turn, produces a feedback loop in my head, which spirals me even further down into some really dark places. That’s why my breather became a break, then a pause, then a hiatus. I honestly wasn’t sure if I was going to come back. I felt like a failure, to all of you, and to myself.

So, where do we go from here?

Once I post this, I’m making a full export of DGS from tumblr. I would recommend you all do the same, and instructions can be found at this link. I flag my blogs for containing explicit content as a safety precaution, partly to keep my parents from finding it, but also to allow myself to use profanity and post NSFW content, so my days are numbered. I’ve already noticed that some of my posts are getting removed, so I need to back up everything I have before I lose it all. At this point, it’s only a matter of time before I try to login one day and my entire account has been terminated, and I can’t trust @staff to restore my account without losing something in the process.

My next step will be to find those who have already left tumblr, and research their platform of choice. Most users have been shifting to twitter, instagram, and Discord, but I’m hopeful that more blogging sites will rise as new homes for fandoms and creators. Others have already started their exodus, searching for alternative sites, leaving contact information, saying farewells, and closing their accounts. It’s heartbreaking.

As for me, there are a few places you’ll be able to find me. Follow me on Twitch at https://www.twitch.tv/kaminaduck for my weekly-ish show, Eat The Pixels. I’m going to revive my YouTube channel soon, with some playthrus of some of my favorite games, and you can find me there at https://www.youtube.com/KaminaDuck. I have a twitter account, if that’s easiest for you, and you can find me at https://twitter.com/KaminaDuck. I also still have Discord, and I’m usually available when I’m not at work or in rehearsal. You can find me at KaminaDuck#4975. And when I find a new site--either if I move to a place like Pillowfort or if I build my own Wordpress--I’ll be sure to spread the word on twitter and Discord.

But this will be the last post for Duck Gets Stuck on tumblr.

“I know it’s hard, guys, but I think it’s for the best. And this doesn’t *have* to be goodbye forever. Maybe one day, when the time is right, I’ll come back to see you again. But... it *is* goodbye. For now, at least.”

There’s really no other way to sign off except for what I would always say at the end of every livestream. It’s always been a play off of the last panel in Homestuck, because that was one of the first things I saw when it was over.

As always, and until we meet again, thanks for reading.

[ladyemberswrites]

Vested Interest_chapter I

Title: Vested interest

Pairing: Aluseras( Alucard x Seras)

Fandom: Hellsing/Hellsing Ultimate

Warnings: None

Part 1/?

Summary: Seras has feelings for Alucard, and so does he, however, to Seras, she knows her master better than anyone and knows how he can be and what he is capable of and is completely unsure of her former master intentions or the length of his apparent devotion, and accompanied by an ever changing world, old allies dead, as new ones rise, she wonders if she will be able to pull through, as well as be able to maintain a romantic relationship with her master? 

A/N: This is a serious canon-divergence and is apart of an Au, I’m creating, so this is kind of the first part.

“ Have you changed your mind, yet?”

Seras huffs, before chugging down a significant amount of ice, cold beer and contemplated whether or not to drink until she was too plastered to stand. She couldn’t do this now or more like she didn’t want to deal this now, it was childish of her, she knew, but! But! - UGH!

She just didn’t know what to do. Her heart said one thing, while the more reasonable, sane, logical side of her brain completely argued against her acting on impulsive emotions.

“ If you were human you probably would’ve damned your liver right about now.”

 She finally removed the glass from her lips, placing it delicately upon the bar table with a click.

She looked at him this time for the first time since they’ve been here.

  Here, being a bar, a bar named Igor’s, promptly named after the owner Igor, who was just as ancient as her former Master, except for the fact that he was of the werewolf variety, and except for the fact he did appear worn down by age, from the hard wrinkles by his eyes, the rigid scar that tore through his left eye sealing it shut and a strip of flesh ripped from the right side of his face, giving a grotesque view of his sharp, pearly white canines.

 He was quiet, a type of no nonsense man, responded in gruff, grunts and growls and is an extremely large individual, standing a good two feet above her master. And speaking of her master, Igor wasn’t his biggest fan and wasn’t afraid to show it, since he busted up his bar in some petty fight. Breaking hundreds of bottles of expensive liquor and countless damages in infrastructure. Surprisingly, enough her master paid for the damages with 70% interest drawn from one of the his, probably many treasuries that he has hidden all over western Europe. He was a king before, at least she hopes that’s where his money is coming from, either way she really didn’t wanna know.

  And grudgingly and beyond her comprehension, he let her master come back, he still didn’t like him, but left generous tips, so he left it at that. From what she could tell her master seemed quite fond of the bar. It was small, cozy even and surprisingly, sit -spot clean and she also suspects that honestly what caught master attention the most was that it was pretty quiet, never too crowded and was simplistic in design. For Seras she could almost call it home, she found the place soothing to be in, many times she found herself on raining days, lounging about and reading one of the many novels she picked from her endless library. Not to mention Igor served more than booze and had a array of coffee and teas, much to her pleasure.

  But she was getting off track here, trying to avoid the topic at hand.

  From the looks of it he hadn’t moved his gaze from her not once, and it unnerved her to know end, as he peered at her with half-lidded eyes and a passive gaze, which perturbed her more because of the ridiculous beard. He appeared so different……..with that thing on his face, and she desperately hid the urge to want shave it off his smug face.

“ Your one to talk, that’s your fifth glass of scotch.” she nodded  towards the shot glass in his left  hand, while the other supported his chin. He was also, startlingly, dressed casual, a white dress shirt and black slacks, it was a breather, to actually see him in normal clothing, and not any of his tone deaf attire that he is, so fond of wearing.  

“ I don’t get as drunk easily as you, my dear.”

She stuck her tongue at him, mainly because he was right one beer was usually enough to have her slurring her words and giggling like a lune, but she’d be darned if she admitted that to him.

 There was a moment of stillness occasionally sipping on their respective beverages, as they listened to the news which was currently splayed up the small television that sat at, well  more like hung at an angle over the bar, it was cracked and had many wires sticking out of it, but apparently it’s been working for years, seeing that not once did it short circuit, since they’ve been hanging out here.

 Seras, barely paid attention, one thing that about being inhuman these days is that human politics have no affect on her anymore and second, British politics are hell rising or anything involving politics really, and lucky she didn’t have the responsibility to vote now.

Alucard listened more closely, yet remained apathetic, it was all Greek to him, voting, elections, parliament, electoral colleges, primaries, it was all nonsense, it didn’t make any sense to him, leave it to humans to make everything more complicated than it needs to be. Everything was better when the world adhered to monarchies and systems, everyone had a place and duty, where everyone stuck to it and didn’t question things, like the good old days and none of this ……democracy?

“ Why?”

“ Huh.” his attention snapped back to reality or to woman before him. She went silent, her brows raised and her fingers tinkering with her locket that hung from her neck and rested at the valley of amble chest. He knew this look, she was thinking, trying to pick and choose her words, so he gave her, her space which was alright with him as it gave him extra time to just - look at her.

She was wearing a short, black dress, which modestly reached her knees, the prude

And had long sleeves. Her nails and lips were painted a bright crimson and her hair was left untouched as he rolled down towards her waist. After, what, he honestly, couldn’t remember, she stopped cutting her hair and just let it take a course of her own, he didn’t know about her, but to him it was the best decision she made. He liked how soft and curly it looked, how it framed her face, how it made her look mature, like the draculina she’s supposed to or more like is. However, despite this, her expression was sullen, her red lips were set in long frown, as she watched the drips of water slid down her glass.

“ Master, how long have we’ve known each other?”

“ Centuries. Why?” he was a bit taken back, out of all the ways he predicted this conversation, this wasn’t one of them.

“ Remember, back when I told you how I felt,  I told you that I loved you and you rejected me.” it was more matter of fact than anything. She wasn’t upset, because she knew the answer beforehand. She knew he would reject her, and it hurt, but not as bad as it would have been if she  entertained the fantasy of him being in love with her. She had feelings, but she was also no fool. But, no so many decades later-

“ Yet, after all this time, you love me, now. Why?”

She gazed back at him, her sapphire eyes filled with confusion.

He didn’t break contact, as he took another swig of his scotch, revealing in the feeling of the clear liquid burning his throat, giving him the confidence he needed to speak his mind, without hinges, without being vague about his emotions, but he was absolutely sure that by the time this conversation ends, he wasn’t going to be sober, as motioned for another drink, this time straight vodka.

“ People change, Seras.”

“ Meaning?”

“ Meaning, that I have long since stopped viewing you as just my loyal servant. You’re -you’re more to me than just that.”

“ More to you?” she should be ecstatic, yet caution was the only thing blaring through her thoughts. She new her master and knew him well, both the good and the bad, well more bad than good.

“ Seras, look, I know our relationship has been-”

“ Rocky.”

“ I was thinking tense, but I guess rocky works. But anyways, what I - what  I’m trying to say is that I’m interested in courting you.”

Courting was such a odd word then again using the word dating, when referring to herself and Alucard was even stranger. Romantic interests or lovers sounds infinitely better - Wait? She wasn’t no - it’s just.

“ Seras?”

“ Huh-yes.”

“ Will you.”

“ Will I what?

“ Will you let me court you?”

“ Master, I-”

“ Vlad.”

“ What?

“ That’s my birth name. I want you to call me by it from now on.” he raised, a cautious hand, a bare hand, relieved of his gloves, to push a strand of golden hair behind her ear, gently brushing his knuckles against her cheek.

Seras bit her lip, what was she to say? What should she do? She felt the beer she drank want, desperately, to make an encore.

“ Vlad, I -I don’t know.” she whispers, peering down at her locket, again, twirling it between her slender fingers.

“ Why?” he had to stop himself from saying more, before he was starting sounding desperate.

“ What you said before about people changing.”

“ Yes, what about?”

“ Vlad, sometimes……sometimes….. people don’t change. Especially , people like you.”

“ What’s that supposed to me?”  he should of taken offense to that, but the stinging pain of hurt was the only feeling that consuming him at the moment.

“ I know what you are. I’m not blind.  

Please, don’t look at me like that, I’m not saying that to hurt you, trust me.

I love you, I really,  really do. Sure I can deal with all your bizarre excenties, but that was only because our relationship was- well was master and servant, I could live with that then. But, now, now I don’t know if I can. Your impulsive, rude, I can never anticipated your moods sometimes, your fickle when you want to be ,not to mention cruel and bloodthirsty. How do I know you’re going to be committed, and not just one day get up and leave without so much as a single word. How do I know this isn’t all a game to you. How do I know that you truly want to love me and be my equal, if you keep shutting me out all the time or pushing me away when you don’t feel like being bothered. “ she paused  moment, looking him dead in the eye to make sure she got the point.

“I can’t do this,  I can’t be with you, if you’re going to act that way. I can’t.” she didn’t want to cry, she told herself, lectured herself not to cry, but the tears involuntary came forth, warm, as well as unwelcoming, burned a pathway down her face.

He was stunned silent for a while he didn’t know what to say, his mouth felt uncomfortably dry, like sand was just poured in his mouth, but try to wipe her tears away with his thumb.

“ Seras. Seras look at me.” he lowers his voice, to attract her attention. She wiped her nose and face with the back of her hand, sniffling as, she tried to gain the courage to look at him.

“ yeah.”

“ You speak the truth, people don’t change, especially people such as I, we never do nor ever will, but for your sake I’ll do anything you wish of me, I promise you that at least.

I know I’m more monster than man, and I can never be what you truly deserve, but I  can do what I can, if you’d be mine.” he voice was, yet, more importantly sincere, more sincere than she could bare at the more and impulsive need to wrap her arms tightly around his neck and kiss him senseless was overpowering and that’s why she needed to leave. To leave, so she could think rationally and thoroughly.

“ Vlad. Vlad can you give me some time to think about?”

“ Of course, I’ll walk you home-”

“ No. That’s alright I want to walk by myself tonight, if you don’t mind.”

“Are you sure.”

She nods her head in affirmation, slowly sliding off her seat, to leave, however, another wave - call it a need or maybe want, but whatever it was made her lean over and press her lips to his. It was chaste and he certainly wasn’t expecting it, but he returned it with fervor, pulling her closer, and gently biting bottom lip, as she held onto his shirt for dear life. He wanted more, he wanted her, yearned for her taste and her touch, her scent alone, smelling of honey, drove him mad, but in the most delightful ways, he wanted to continue, but was suddenly interrupted, by  loud grunt. Seras immediately pulled away from him, her cheeks flushed, and bottom lip swollen and her hair in slight disarray, she looked absolutely tempting - but the dirty look Igor gave him kept him doing anything further.

“Sorry, about that.” Seras smiles apologetically to the old bartender. He only tips his head in acknowledgement, quickly turning back to washing glasses.

She glances back him a shy expression kisses her lips “ Good night, Vlad.”

“ Good night, Seras.”

“ Alright, see you later.” she waves, as she particularly skips out the front door, the bell up top signaling her departure. He sighs as leans back, having zero intention of leaving anytime soon.

He jiggles his empty cup devoid of anything, but halfway melted ice.

“ Do you have anything stronger than Vodka?”

“ Why do you want to know.”

“ Because I’m going to need it.”

“ Haven’t you drunk enough.”

“ Not until I put myself into a coma that’ll hopefully last until the morning.”

“ I have a bottle of Everclear in the back.”

“ How much?”

“ 95%.”

“ Excellent.”

To be continued

A/N: can you believe I wrote this in one whole day. But anyways, this fic has been something I've been meaning to write for awhile and here it is, not too mention I wrote this  with a terrible stomach ache, ugh, my belly is killing me, I just want the pain to end, but anyways thanks for reading and comments most appreciated 

Next Chapter  http://mrskohakusatowrites.tumblr.com/post/161487962808/vested-interest-chapter-1-mrskohakusato